Chapter 7

POV: Clover

"Mystique, an odd name. But how do I know I can trust you?"

"You don't. But I can assure you Magneto will not get you."

Mystique was trying to reach me and connect with me; I could tell she was trying.

"Shape shifting has kept me alive for hundreds of years. It is time to have a prodigy. You, my sweet Clover, are perfect as the new shape shifter of the millennium!" Mystique was laughing now but no to out of control. She kept it in boundaries so I could tell she was serious. I don't know what I should do. Should I let her teach me? She knows better than anyone, even Professor Xavier doesn't know all mutant powers.

Just as I was thinking, Jean Grey, Beast and Alex came into the alley. Mystique wanted to attack them, but held herself back. Jean didn't care though; Jean sent Mystique flying against a wall.

"Are you hurt Clover? Did Mystique hurt you?" Jean asked me. I pushed her away. She looked concerned. Alex walked up to me.

"Listen Clover, I just want to say, I forgive you for earlier. We are all experiencing changes. Some bigger than others; I also know what you have decided." Alex looked at me and nodded. I stood up and walked towards Mystique. She smiled and held out her hand. I grabbed it without looking back. Mystique told me to concentrate.

"Focus on the image of a rat. You will become one and I will change into an owl so we can get out of here safely." Mystique instructed me. I did what I was told and focused on a rat. I could feel myself shrinking and growing hair. My spine began to extend into a tail and my face extended. I wanted to scream but I no longer had vocal chords.

"The first forced transformation is always the hardest. I will become easier as time goes on." Mystique said this before rapidly changing into an owl and picking me up of the ground. As we flew I heard Alex stopping Jean from deflecting us. I felt sorry for Alex though, because I had left her with people she didn't know and I didn't trust.

POV: Alex

Jean was about to use telekinesis to block Mystique's escape with Clover, but I shut her powers off.

"Hey, why'd you do that; they are getting away." Jean shouted at me as Mystique flew off. I laughed silently to myself.

"For a psychic and a telekinetic, you sure are blind of the obvious." I said heading back towards the car with Beast, who was now hairy again.

"Hey, don't go making fun of me. I was busy."

"Sorry, but maybe instead of looking for what you wanted and thought was better you should have been thinking about what Clover wanted. Try not to be selfish and you will find serenity." I said as I got in the car, but Jean pulled me out.

"Don't talk to me like that! I was only trying to help!"

"I know, but you should try not to be as oblivious next time, that's all I am saying."

"You ungrateful…"

We cut her off their and drove off, leaving Jean complaining in the distance. I laughed to myself.

"Why isn't she using her telekinetic powers to make herself fly?" Beast asked then looked at me and sighed.

"Are you going to give back her powers?"

"Nope, I will wait until she gets back to the mansion." I said as we continued down the road to the mansion. We arrived and the Professor was waiting.

"Alex, where is Jean and Clover?"

I explained to him what happened. He laughed when I mentioned Jean, although he looked a little worried.

"Jean does not take to being abused with jokes kindly. As for Clover, I can only hope she knows what she is getting into." He said as he made his way back to his office. I headed for the kitchen to see what I could eat before I went to sleep. Kitty Pride was waiting for me.

"Hey Alex, come over here!"

"What's up?"

"What happened with Clover?"

"She went to train with Mystique; at least that's what she told me. Here, let me show you." I said before projecting flashes of the time I had spent with Clover, Jean and Beast. She looked at me.

"So you're a psychic now to? How cool is that! I love what you did to Jean!"

"Thanks. Just a little power dampening and she was loosing it."

We laughed for a while before I remembered I was hungry. I closed the fridge to reveal Martin waiting their.

"Hey Alex, how have you been? Over heard about Clover; didn't over psychic hear and see, you know?" Martin asked trying to tickle me. I pushed him away but Kitty held me in place as he tickled. I was laughing and crying hard. I can't stand being tickled! I broke free after a couple minutes of torture. Martin and I decided to go back to my room to relax. I agreed and we left Kitty alone in the kitchen.

When we got up to my room, Martin closed the door and looked at me.

"What?"

"Alex, you look so beautiful right now."

"I just got back from a mission and I am filthy and I still look beautiful to you?"

"You always looked beautiful to me." Martin said. Next thing I knew, Martin and I were kissing. It was awkward because we were standing, but in a way it was relieving. We shared the same feelings for each other which are something any good relationship should have.

POV: Sam

Run! Run! Can't let them catch me! I could hear them, walking around in the forest. I could smell them. Oh yes, I could smell them. It was unmistakable, the scent of Old Spice deodorant, there were two guys after me. Neither of them was psychic, which means I had the advantage. I saw that they were heading back to the mansion. This was my chance. I crept up behind the one they called Cyclops, and before he could react, he was unconscious on the floor. Wolverine noticed this and ran over to Cyclops. He looked around with his adamantium claws out. He sniffed the air.

"Sam? I know that is you! What did you do to Scott?"

"Nothing, he will be fine in a couple hours. You will not find me or capture me, you know that right?"

"Magneto is probably coming, anxious to get an omega level mutant for himself. You should stay with us. We will protect you."

"How do I know that? I just left with no notice! You all probably hate me and will hide the hate and lack of trust whenever I am near. I am psychic! I am not oblivious to the obvious!"

"Please Sam, I did the same thing. When I got my claws, I ran loose in the wild killing animals and living like an animal myself. I know what you are going through better than anyone. Just trust me. Forget about Xavier and just follow me. Please, I can be your guide."

I considered this for a moment. I know Logan has experience with situations like this. I decided quickly.

"I would appreciate your help, but I wish to stay outdoors until I can be trusted again."

"Understood; no one will know I am teaching you secretly. But I can't help you with your psychic abilities."

"I know. That is fine though. With a great teacher like you I am sure they will develop immensely. Even without training."

"You still will need psychic training. Just not know. I will see you tomorrow." He said as we picked up Cyclops and walked away. I helped him until we got to the door of the mansion. I lowered Scott and looked Wolverine in the eye. He nodded and I ran off towards the forest.

POV: Clover

I found myself in a dark place. I was scared out of my mind so I started to change back to my human form. I started getting bigger as my body became more and more human.

(She is definitely going to be fun…)

"Who said that?" I said as soon as my mouth was back to normal. I locked around, but I saw only Mystique. She looked at me funny.

(What could she have heard?)

"I don't know what I heard."

"Clover, are you reading my thoughts?"

"No! I am not psychic! If I was, Alex probably would have tried to communicate telepathically by now."

"Uh, ok."

(She must be thinking she can read my thoughts, or we are thinking similar. OR maybe she is just crazy…)

"I am not crazy!"

(Oh my…)

"Clover, I think that we have a connection."

"What kind of connection? A spiritual connection? A telepathic connection?"

"No…I…never mind."

"Ok, first thing we should work on is what you are capable of changing into. What have you become so far?"

"Um, I have been a rat and the celebrity Lenora lee."

"That must've been when you discovered you powers…"

"It was."

"Very well, first thing is different types of animals. What do you want to try?"

"You're asking me?"

"Of course; it is only fair my prodigy have a favorite form."

I began to think to myself; what creatures do I like? I like dogs, and some cats, oh, but I love dogs!

"Then try to be a dog if you love them so much." Mystique told me. I wondered if she could read my thoughts to. I concentrated on the little West Highland Terrier from the dog food commercials. I started shrinking and sprouting white fur all over my body. My face was elongating into a short muzzle. I looked up at Mystique with my tongue hanging out, trying to look cute as ever. She laughed and picked me up.

"You sure are cute like this Clover, but now we need to continue with other forms."

I jumped out of her arms and changed back before I landed on the ground. Mystique looked at me.

"It usually takes quite some time before you can change that fast. It took me a couple of weeks!"

"Guess I am a fast learner!"

"Guess so. So we have seen dog form and you claim to have done human form…"

"Check this out!" I said as I started to change again. This time I grew slightly taller and my skin turned blue. It was a short change because we were already similar but I was the spitting image of Mystique. She just laughed.

"Good one, but now on to some serious changes." I changed back to my regular self. I wonder what she will have me become.

"My dear, you will change so much over the course of your training that you will almost forget who you really are."

"Ok, so something is going on here. I can here you think and you can here me think. What is going on? Are you not telling me something?"

Mystique looked down at her feet, nervous. She wanted to tell me something but I couldn't tell what.

"Listen Clover; one reason that I wanted you was not for the prodigy crap like I said. I believe that since we share the same ability, you…"

"I what?"

"You are my lost daughter."