Disclaimer- X-Men: Evolution is not mine and I lay no claim on it. I do not own anything belonging to Marvel or the respected artists. I will not profit money wise from this story.

A/N: Hey everyone...that is everyone who may be reading this. I hope you are liking the story so far and same as last time any info or complaints are welcome. Constructive criticisms are always enjoyed. I hope I haven't messed up anyone's favourite character.

Chapter 4

Magneto stood over the inert form of Ava and Pyro.

"She did this to him?" he asked Gambit who stood in the doorway.

"Yes. She packs a powerful punch" he replied, his accent heavy.

Magneto laughed in agreement.

"Thankfully you were there to stop her killing Pyro here."

Gambit nodded before leaving the room.

Ava opened her eyes and sighed when she realised where she was. She reached her hand up and tenderly touched the bump that was rising there.

"Great, just what I need" she muttered.

"Do you remember what I told you I would do if you harmed any member of my team?" she heard a rich voice ask.

Ava turned sharply, wincing as she moved to fast. She saw Magneto standing behind her, dressed simply, his white hair a stark contrast to his dark clothes.

"Yes, I do" she said, resting her gaze on Pyro's still form.

Magneto followed her gaze then raised his hand towards the cage in the background. The metal began to twist and compact inwards, alarming those trapped inside.

Ava's eyes opened wide as she heard the noise.

"Please, don't. I'll behave, I promise. Don't hurt them" she begged.

The cage continued to creak.

"Please, sir. I won't do it again. I'll do what ever you say" Ava was almost grovelling now.

Magneto relented and let the cage return to its original form.

"Good. You know what I want you to do. I will have Pietro or Wanda take over the reports on Mystique."

"But I have only been there for a day. Mystique can't trust me so why would she want me to be a spy?" Ava inquired, still sitting on the floor.

"It is only a cover and believe me, she will be most grateful to learn more of what goes on in there."

With that Magneto turned and left without a backward glance. Ava watched him go and looked at the cage with sad eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she said to the captives; "I will get you out somehow."

Those in the cage ignored her, deliberately turning their backs towards her. Ava noted this sadly and walked away as well.

"Dere, dere, petite. It's all for da good of mutant kind" she heard Gambit explain.

"I suppose you were the one who hit me" she said blandly and she wasn't surprised when he nodded.

"We can't have you hurting Pyro. We may need him in de future" he said in way of explanation as he walked her towards the door.

"Next time you want to threaten me, don't knock me out. You know that I will come willingly, you all made sure of that" she muttered as she slammed the door.

Once she was outside her head began to clear, enough to know that things were never going to be the same after this. She quickly made her way back to the boarding house, hoping that no one was worried.

"You say that you sensed shields in her mind, Jean?" Professor Xavier enquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes Professor. Also she doesn't seem to realise that they are there."
"So she might have been brainwashed?" a dark skinned youth asked.

"No, Evan, I don't think it's that simple" Jean answered him.

"Man, this is confusing" Evan said, scratching his head.

"I agree" Kurt muttered and Scott nodded.

"Maybe she's there for a reason" Rogue said.

All eyes turned towards the gothic dressed girl who was sitting glumly in one of the armchairs.

"What do you mean, Rogue?" Professor Xavier asked.

He always liked it when his students put forward their ideas. He felt full of pride to know that he had helped all of these young adults.

"Well maybe she isn't quite there by her own free will. Maybe she has to be there" Rogue said, blushing slightly as every eye in the place turned towards her.

"I don't get what you are getting at" Kitty confessed.

"Well maybe she's being blackmailed or something" Rogue sighed.

That made the room fall silent as they all looked at each other.

Ava got back to the Brotherhood house just as it was getting dark, making her realise that she hadn't been unconscious for long. She pushed open the door and tried to sneak in only to be confronted by an angry looking Mystique.

"Where were you?"

"I'm sorry, I was trying to...um...I was talking to some of the X-geeks. They seem to think I am being trapped here. Pietro was telling me about them and the bad vibes between them and us. I thought it would be a good idea to, you know, get to know the enemy" Ava babbled.

Ava saw her raise an eyebrow and continue to stare.

"So I went to the mall with three of them. They really believe that I am only here because you have me brainwashed or something. I hope you aren't mad" she mumbled in way of apology.

"I'm not mad, just curious as to what you found out. I have been in the institute before but I could never stay in there for long" she said, although Ava knew that Mystique was still angry. She could hear it in her voice.

"Not much, just stuff about what they learn there and little things. They seem okay just a little too perfect but then again maybe they are."

"They like to think they are" Mystique muttered.

Mystique was not happy with Ava at this moment but she thought back to the conversation they had last night about her never claiming to lie.

"How do I know if you are concealing the truth?"

"I have no reason to, do I!" Ava replied. "I thought that if I gained their trust I could help you learn more about them. Maybe find out if they are happy there but obviously this town still lives in the sixteenth century and you are actually a witch hunter in disguise" Ava yelled, her voice going up a couple of octaves before storming up the stairs.

The minute she got into her room she was back to normal, she hadn't really been angry at Mystique. She fell back onto her bed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Damn it" she hissed in pain as she hit the bump on the back of her head.

She jumped up and wandered over to the mirror. Glancing at her reflection she wanted to smash the mirror. Her eyes were dark and her skin looked pasty. Her hair looked as though she had suffered a severe shock.

"I just want to be normal" she frowned as she lifted her fringe.

The strange marking seemed to move under her skin but she knew it was just her imagination. Well at least she hoped it was her imagination.

She looked back into the mirror and nearly screamed.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's a free country. You do know that much about America don't you?" Pietro sneered.

"You are just like your dad" she shot back and was actually glad when he frowned.

"Have you told Mystique about your idea?" he asked.

"My idea? Oh you mean your daddy's latest delusion. Not yet. I thought that it would seem slightly suspicious."

Pietro cocked his head in amusement and just as quickly as he had snuck in he was gone.

Ava sighed and slammed the door, making sure to lock it this time. She turned back and decided to attempt her homework. Opening the first page of her history book she felt her eyelids droop and she fell asleep.

~*~

Logan watched the new recruits run through a danger room simulation while at the same time listening to Charles go on about some new kid who was staying with the Brotherhood.

"Hey, iceblock, watch out for your team-mates" he yelled as he saw Bobby run ahead in the room.

This distracted Charles from his story.

"How are they doing, Logan?"

"They're all right" Logan growled.

"Could you please be more informative?" Charles grinned.

"Drake is showing leadership, when he can stop showing off. Ray is too hot-headed. Amara is doing better. Jamie is still having trouble controlling his multiples and Sam is too quiet" Logan muttered, as it was quite a sentence for him.

"That's good to hear, Logan. Now onto this girl. Jean says she has blocks in her mind similar to Rogue's. I think that maybe Mystique may have something to do with it because she doesn't seem to know that it's happening."

Logan grunted in agreement.

"So why do I need to hear this?"

"I like to hear what each of my staff members have to say" Charles replied simply.

Rogue sat under a large tree watching the moon rise over the institute mulling over past events, mainly those that lead her here. She wasn't paying attention to anything around her when she realised that she wasn't alone. Craning her neck she looked up to she the one person she really didn't want to see.

"How did you get in here?" she asked angrily.

"Now, now, chere. I have some information that you might like to hear" the tall Cajun said as his red and black eyes locked onto her eyes.

Rogue stood up and placed her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"What would that be, swamp rat?" she muttered.

"I'm hurt, chere" he grinned.

"Like I care" she drawled, her accent strong.

"There is a new girl in town, if you didn't know already. She wants to go home but she had a strong metal attraction to this place if you get what I mean" Gambit said before disappearing.

Rogue watched as he disappeared, her features softening.

"It won't do you any good to fall in love" she told herself.

She then thought about the message that had been delivered.

"Metal attraction?" she said aloud, thinking that it was a mistake.

Her eye widened as she realised what he was hinting at. Forgetting her troubles at the present she ran back to the mansion.