A New Hope

Chapter Thirteen

By: Lily Handle

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Author's Note: While I've been packing for college, still in a cast for my broken ankle mind you, I've been working on this. Why? Because I was bored, and frustrated thinking up a new idea for the Hope Series, so I finished this in one manic writing spree. Enjoy!

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Hope looked out the window, looking out over Bayville, her mind blissfully blank for once. It seemed like she hadn't had a moment to herself since she'd woken up to see a startled Logan gaping at her. First there had been the doctors, asking her how she felt, if anything hurt and other question that gave Hope a head ach. Then there were the cops, who wanted to know who had taken her, what had happened and other question that Hope had had to lie through her teeth to answer. Her parents had come next, smothering her in hugs, kisses and tears, which was a nice break from having to talk. She'd gotten a little rest, per the doctor's orders, but now she had her next set of visitors in her room. The students and staff of the Institute had crammed into her room, being careful of the flowers and other gifts Hope's friends and family had sent her. She was happy to see them, they were like a second family to her, but she was reluctant to talk with all of them standing around watching her.

"It's good to see you all," She said, turning to face them and lean her back against the window, "I can't believe they let all of you in at once."

"Have Professor, will travel," Kurt said from where he sat on the floor. Hope laughed along with everyone else, and it felt good. She spent all of the visiting hour catching up with the week and a few days she'd missed while lying unconscious in the hospital bed. It seemed that the Infirmary needed to be cleaned and organized again, that her car had been fixed, and her room was waiting for her to return. When the visiting time was up the nurse chased everyone out, and Hope sat gratefully down on the bed. It seemed she got tired so quickly these days, but she knew that would go away as she recovered.

"How are we today Dr. Chandler?" Hanna, her nurse asked, picking up Hope's wrist to check her pulse.

"Just fine, Hanna, but I'm itching to get home," Hope replied.

"You're suppose to get rest," Hanna said, releasing Hope's wrist and then shinning a pen light in her eyes, "Follow the light. You're never going to get rest with that bunch."

Hope followed the light with her eyes, "I know, but they're very sweet. Did you see the mass of flowers they brought in?"

Hanna chuckled, "Honey you'd have to be blind to miss all those flowers."

"I know," Hope looked towards the massive array of flowers that she'd placed in one corner of her room. It seemed that everyday she was out Hank had brought her a small tasteful bouquet, her mother had sent a huge spilling array of honey suckle a few days after arriving in Bayville and then had sent another huge one of daisies when she'd gone home. Hope didn't know what to do with the mix-matched set the Institute had given her, and the few others her old co-workers had sent. She didn't get it, from what the doctors had told her she wasn't in that serious of a condition. While Hanna finished her check up Hope ruefully rubbed at her collar bone, The door gave a large rusty groan then suddenly jerked open, spilling Hope outside. She landed on her shoulder, gasping as she felt her collarbone snap, she remembered the sharp, swift kick of pain from that, but when she'd been brought in it hadn't been broken. Nothing was wrong with me but an abnormal heart rhythm and the neurosurgeon said that had a slight swelling in my brain, but it left no permanent damage, Hope thought, what had happened. She remembered Magneto's hands tightening around her neck, then the world went white, she had felt hot all over, and then nothing until she woke up in the hospital. Hope laid back down in bed, staring at the ceiling, I need answers, she thought. The people who had the answers, those from the Institute had left and seemed determined not to remind her about what happened to her. Hope appreciated their concern, but she was okay with what happened, or she would be when someone gave her an answer.

"Dr. Chandler?" Hope sat up in bed to see Hanna standing in the doorway, "Mr. Xavier wants to talk with you, and your doctor said it was okay, but I thought I should check with you first."

Ask and you shall receive, Hope thought, "Sure, Hanna, let him in." Hope perched on the edge of her bed, waiting as Charles came in, stopping in front of her.

"Now, if it gets to be too much for you, Doctor, just ring for me and I'll get Mr. Xavier to leave," Hanna said before leaving, softly closing the door behind her.

"I didn't think you'd wake up, Doctor," Charles said, looking up at Hope.

"I'm glad I did, Mr. Xavier."

Charles smiled slightly at her, "But you still have something on your mind."

Hope looked away for a second, glancing out the window again, "I need to know what happened to me, I blacked out and I can't remember what happened after that." Hope looked back to Charles, "You can tell me can't you?"

"Are you sure, Doctor?" Hope nodded, and Charles moved forward, pressing his hand against Hope's forehead. "Relax, and let me in."

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She saw the train yard from above, and she knew somehow that she was seeing everything from Charles's memories. She could see the battle raging and recognized Scott, Jean and Kitty just to name a few, but mostly she recognized herself. She was kicking, clawing and fighting against Magneto's hold, but she didn't seem to be getting anywhere. His hand was solidly around her neck, while she could see the fight draining out of her. Slowly her head dropped forward, her hands fell away from where they were clawing at Magneto's wrist and her legs stopped moving. Her head dropped back and Hope could see that this was the moment when everything had gone white. It was only a second before she seemed to explode, white bolts seemed to pour from her, and for a second they went helter-skelter through the train yard, before turning like some living entity towards Magneto. The combined power of the bolts hit him with enough force to have him stumbling back three steps before dropping like a rag doll to the ground. She dropped to the ground, just as limp, but the beast of blots which had been pouring from her collapsed back into her, and she was no longer still. Lying there in the dirt her body jerked and twitched violently while those around her stood as still as statues.

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Hope jerked away from Charles, stunned by what she had seen, "You have immense power, Dr. Chandler," Charles said, watching Hope carefully.

"I…it felt like fire," Hope rubbed her arms unconsciously, "The doctor's didn't mention anything about a seizure."

"We kept it quiet, we couldn't find a way to explain it away." Hope sighed and rubbed her hands over her face.

"I'm a mutant," Hope stated, trying out the phrase. She'd known she had the gene, but she'd been a non-active mutant, until that moment in the train yard.

"I have to ask you, Dr. Chandler…Hope, would you try again? To see if you can recreate those bolts," Charles asked when Hope pulled her hands down from her face.

"I don't know how," She said dumbly.

"I'll coach you through it, Doctor," Charles looked confidently towards her, "I'm just asking you to try."

"I bet you give this speech to all the new mutants you encounter," She joked, trying to ease the tension in the room. Hope knew she could probably go back to her old life, ignoring the X-gene but she knew she wouldn't. She had to try, if only for the fact that she couldn't live her life knowing she was a mutant who had no idea of what she could do. "Tell me what I've got to do."

"Hold you hands out, palms facing each other," Charles instructed and Hope followed his order, "It's very simple, Hope, watch you hands and see the bolts in your mind's eye. Watch them jump between your fingers and control them." Hope was more focused on Charles's voice, so controlled and soothing that when the bolts actually leapt between her fingers she jumped, but the bolts stayed between her fingers.

"Wow," She said, smiling at Charles from between her hands.

"I'll let you get some rest now, Doctor, and everyone is eagerly waiting your return."

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Magneto paced the length of the living room in the Brotherhood's house, the tension radiating off of him in waves. No one spoke, they knew that if anyone said anything at this point they'd end up on the other side of the room, in pain.

"We'll wait," He said suddenly, "The doctor can wait for now." Magneto turned and faced down those gathered in the room, "We have more important things to attend to."

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Author's Note: Now that you've read this, I suggest reading the second story, The Effects of Hope, oh and the third story as well, Hope Returns. They are also good, like this one. Read and review!

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