Disclaimer: I do not own X-men evolution or its characters. I only own my own characters and story.
Thank you for following with. As promised, an extra chapter for this week. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 6: Finals
It was the week before Spring Break, and while all the children were excited and very talkative about their vacation, and the fun that they planned on having, they were also stressing out. The teachers usually gave difficult tests right before any long break, and on top of that, it was rumored that there would be individual danger room tests. Rogue and Kitty told Lilly that it was because they wanted to see where everyone's mutant ability training has progressed and that they wouldn't actually be graded on it. Lilly was seriously worried, as she knew that she still could not control her abilities, even after two weeks of training with Jean, Ororo, and the Professor. She was severely disappointed in herself.
Lilly walked into the library and saw that it was full of students studying and stressing out. She then went into the common room, game room, and dining room, and was met by the same sort of atmosphere. What did it take for a girl to find a peaceful place to study, outside of her room? She went outside, and felt the warming cool air. There was a slight, gentle breeze that brought on the delicate fragrance of freshly bloomed flowers with it. She could feel the calming beauty of nature and knew that this was where she would find a place to study. She found a very large tree a little distance away from the mansion, and sat underneath it, opening her books class by class and studying until the sun was high in the sky. Two people came and sat down beside her, causing her to look up from her books to see Kitty and Rogue.
"Hi guys, what's up?" Lilly asked.
"Well, we like totally noticed that you've been out here studying all this time, and we thought we'd bring you a sandwich," Kitty answered.
"Seriously?! I was just thinking about how hungry I was. Thank you guys so much," Lilly exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, what are friends for?" Rogue smiled. The three girls spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and hanging out with each other.
"So how are you guys feeling about your tests?" Lilly asked the girls.
"Like, I can't wait til they're over. I am so excited for the break," Kitty responded.
"I'm just tired of all this studyin'" Rogue stated.
"Me too!" Lilly explained. All three of the girls laughed.
Periodically through the rest of the week, students would be called, one by one to the danger room. Some of the students would return happy and joyful, while others looked extremely worried or upset. Only a handful of students were left for the last day before Spring break started. On top of the danger room test, they still had to complete their regular finals. Lilly was happy going through the tests because she knew most of the answers on the tests. She had studied hard all week, and it looked like it really paid off. After the last test she went to the library, which was now empty, for an hour before she felt the telepathic message from the professor to come to the danger room.
Lilly made her journey, dreadfully, to the danger room. She was scared that something would go terribly wrong. She rode down the elevator in silence and then entered the room, standing in the middle of it. She had also been practicing this all week long, with very little results. There was now only one element she could control, which was better than at the beginning of the week, but still not where she wanted to be.
"Okay, now show us a little demonstration of your mutant abilities," Xavier said through an intercom system.
Lilly took a deep breath and closed her eyes, using the calming techniques taught to her. She stretched out her hands in front of her, palms to the ground and then concentrated. She could sense the ground beneath her, and sense the life growing within. In a moment she was able to grow some vines up out of the ground, making them blossom with light purple, star shaped flowers. She looked at the flowers and smiled.
"Very good Lilly. It seems your control is growing. Please show us the other abilities," Xavier stated.
"Do I really have to?" Lilly asked, a little frightened. Her voice cracking, and her body trembling.
"Of course you do not have to, but in order to help you, I need to test where you are at. Do not worry, you are safe in the danger room," Xavier coddled.
"It's not me I'm worried about hurting," Lilly stated.
"We are perfectly safe up here, you won't be hurting anyone."
"Okay, I'll try."
Lilly stood in the middle of the room, closing her eyes again. This time, instead of focusing on the earth below her feet, she focused on the heat and warmth surrounding her, drawing upon that. She spread her arms wide, turning her palms to the walls, fingertips stretched out to point towards the ceiling and tried to summon the fire. That's when things began to get bad, and the fire swirled around her uncontrollably. She tried to get a hold on it but it lit the whole danger room on fire. Lilly raised her hands above her head and then tried to conjure a storm, but all she was able to bring was a bunch of clouds and lightning that threatened to strike her down as it bounced off the walls. She ducked down trying to avoid the lightning strikes and intense heat of the flames.
Ororo quickly took control of the storm, getting rid of the lightning and causing rain to fall down and put out the fire that had been raging just moments before. Lilly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Ororo and Jean walked into the room behind her, the others left, giving the girls some space. Ororo placed her hand on Lilly's shoulder, and Jean sat down on her knees in front of Lilly.
"Hey Lilly, it's okay. These things happen," Jean said quietly.
"But...I've...tried...so...hard...and...it...hasn't...gotten better!" Lilly said in between sobs. "I feel like a failure."
"You have made progress dear. What you were able to do with the plants was beautiful. Rome wasn't built in a day, it took a lot of trial, error, sweat and tears to get to where it was. Just like that, you will become stronger too," Ororo explained.
"You really think so?" Lilly asked, looking up, her sobs ceasing, and her tears drying on her cheeks.
"It's been like that for all of us, and we're all still learning. So it will happen for you too," Jean smiled.
"Thank you ladies," Lilly smiled at them.
"Of course," Ororo and Jean said together, making them all laugh. They left together, enjoying the rest of their day.