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I don't own your freakin' X-Men! Do I look like someone who can draw?

Chapter 8: Powers

"John! Put me down!" Doria shrieked. He was lifting her up by her waist as she feebly beat at him with her cast.

"Oh, come on! I'll give you a piggy-back ride!"

Sandra was lifting me towards the stovetop...

"NO! PUT ME-" THUNK. Doria fell onto her burned and bandaged feet, and let out a small cry. Looking up, she saw Pyro. He was spasming relentlessly, clutching his head and moaning. Behind her, the microwave exploded.

Mystique walked into the kitchen for a sandwich. "John!" She could tell he was near unconscious. Doria sat in the corner crying.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to!"

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Magneto stared at Toad across the desk. "You were right about her powers revealing themselves early. From what I can tell from what happened to the microwave and Pyro, is that her mutation pertains to electromagnetic waves. With this sort of power trained properly, she could learn to magnetize metal, short out electricity, and disrupt brain signals. I believe that it would be beneficial for her to start training right away."

"Yes. I don't want another episode like that. I can train her in martial arts, but I'll leave the magnetic stuff up to the master."

"Very well. As soon as her breaks heal, we will begin training." The phone rang, and Magneto waved Toad out of his office.

"Erik, it's Charles. We need to talk."

"Of course, Charles. Always happy to chat with you. Even when your students don't have the decency to attack us when we are fully clothed."

"If I recall, you did just fine in your pajamas."

"Don't delude the facts. One of my men took out two of yours in his underwear, Charles. I think your training might be getting too easy."

"I'm a telepath, Erik, and I'm afraid distracting me from the point of my call won't work. Now, it has come to my attention that there is a young girl staying with one of your assassins. Care to explain?"

"She's a new member. That's all I have to say."

"The youngest so far. Come now, Erik, what are you doing with the girl?"

"She's a mutant. She has sought refuge here, and we accepted."

"What parent would allow a child-" he cut off, "Dear Lord, Erik. You haven't kidnapped her, have you?"

"Charles, I'm hurt! That you would put it past me to kidnap a mutant child, and keep her against her will! I assure you, her parents are quite happy with her being here."

"Don't think you've heard the end of this. I intend to look into this further, and I will not allow you to poison another young mind with your visions of a promised land. Good day, Erik."

"Good day."

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Mort watched Doria through the glass as she looked on at the unconscious Pyro. He turned to Mystique. "'Ow's 'e doing?"

"Not as bad as it could have been. If she had been any stronger, he might have died. Doria overloaded his brain with electromagnetic energy. He'll be in a coma until his mind can dispose of it. It may take days, weeks, or months. We really can't tell."

"I can' stand to see her like this. 'E probably deserved it, knowin' 'im, bu' she feels so guilty. It's no' like we all 'aven't done somethin' like this when we go' our mutations."

Mystique sighed. "She'll feel better when he's awake."

She had been sitting there, staring at him for at least fifteen minutes, her lips moving gently as if she was speaking to him. Slowly, her small hand moved towards the boy's face. Her knuckles brushed his cheek bone. She opened her hand onto his cheek, and closed her eyes methodically. I just want to take away the hurt. I just want to draw it out. She pulled with her mind gently, and to her surprise, beneath her eyelids she saw flashes of light drifting by her. Doria's head began to throb, but she took no notice as she felt with amazement the energy surging through her. It danced through every inch of her. It filled her.

Toad's eyes widened when Doria started twitching. She's having a fucking seizure! Him and Mystique ran through the door, pulling her hand away from John. She collapsed into her father's arms.

"Woah," said John, "what did she do?"

The girl's elated yellow eyes opened to meet her father's. He looked up. "She fixed you."

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Candy for those who guess at what that horrible pansy, Eightball McGoody-Good (aka Xavier) is going to do!