Chapter Five: True Power
Two nights later the girls found themselves in their rooms, waiting for dinner. While Alison slept, Kitty and Rogue began talking.
"What do you think the professor will say about it?" Kitty asked.
"I don't know. Are you scared?" Rogue asked back.
"Yes. I've never gotten this kind of an opportunity to do such a thing," Kitty explained. "I've always been the outcast in school. I've just always been different."
"Hey, you're not alone, at least," Rogue told her. "I'm the same way. You and I were meant to be friends together. But I worry about most is what my codname's going to be."
Before they could say anything else, an alarm on Kitty's phone went off, signaling that it was time for dinner.
"Alright, I'm going down there," Rogue told her. "Wake up Alison and meet me at the bottom of the stairs."
Kitty nodded. As Rogue left, Kitty went over to Alison and shook her awake. Alison only covered herself up more.
"Alison, it's time for dinner," Kitty said softly in her ear.
At those words Alison jumped up out of bed and raced to get ready. Kitty followed as she bounded out of the room.
As Kitty turned the corner, she accidentally ran into a very tall and muscular boy, close to twice her size. He had dark hair and gray eyes.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Kitty apologized. "I didn't see you there."
"Not to worry, my dear," he said in a thick Russian accent. "My name is Piotr Rasputin."
"I'm Kitty Pryde," she explained. "Sorry about running into you like that. I'm just on my way to dinner."
"I will be there soon," he said. He then left.
Kitty was left just standing there, not knowing what to do. She suddenly remembered dinner, and hurried back down the stairs to make it, running into a wall in the process.
"Phasing could have really come in handy right there," she said.
When she arrived and had taken her place by Rogue at the dinner table, Rogue leaned over.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
"I ran into this boy," Kitty said. "His name's Piotr Rasputin. Let's just say, he's a whole lot taller than me."
"Well then, nice job," Rogue teased. Kitty only rolled her eyes.
Kitty saw that Alison was sitting on the other side of the table by Storm, conversing with her.
They heard the sounds of an electric wheelchair, signaling Professor X's arrival.
"Hello, students," he greeted warmly, smiling. "I am very glad you are here, and now, because I have arrived, you may eat. Tonight is more of a celebration, and I will explain that later."
As everyone got up, Kitty, Rogue, and Alison were left frozen at the table. They realized that he would be telling the rest of the school of their initiation that night, which scared them, although it scared Kitty and Rogue most of all.
"What should we do when he tells them our names?" Kitty asked as soft as she could.
"I don't know," Rogue said honestly. "Just eat right now, and we'll worry about that a little later."
"A little later is when he'll tell them, Rogue!" Kitty hissed.
"Hey, I feel what you're going through. Me and you are pretty much the same. Just act normal for now."
After 30 minutes, Professor X tapped his glass of water to signal that it was time for him to talk.
"Students, settle down, settle down," he said. "I have great news for all of you. This week we have trained three new students to become members of the X-Men team, and with great pride I announce these three, along with the names they shall use while out in the open while conversing with one another during missions. First, we have Alison Blaire, who, during the Danger Room simulation, blinded the largest attacker there was." Alison made her way happily to the professor, smiling brightly. "Alison, during missions in the field, you will be known as Dazzler." Alison shook his hand, and then went to sit next to Rogue. "Then we have Kitty Pryde. She will become the youngest member of the X-Men. Using her abilities to phase through almost any object there is, she succeeded in phasing through the robot enemy, and then remove its main power source. Come on up here, Kitty." Rogue gave Kitty a little push, as she had frozen in place. Kitty made her way to the professor, scared, nervous, and shy. "Kitty, from now on in the field, you shall be known as Shadowcat." After shaking the professor's hand, she hurried back to her spot. She knew what was coming next. "And now, Rogue, please come up here." This time it was Kitty who pushed Rogue. "Rogue, from now on, you shall be known as Raven in the field." Rogue shook his hand, and then ran back to Kitty. "You three are the youngest members of the X-Men now, and during missions in the field, you will be closest to one another. I believe in all of you, and I know you shall use your powers the best way you possibly can." He smiled at them. "Now, let us celebrate in the initiation of these three!"
Every student in the dining hall cheered for them, and while Alison was taking it the best, Kitty and Rogue had no idea what to do. Then they saw Logan coming over to them.
"I need to show you three something," he said.
The girls followed him to another part of the mansion. There was a stairwell leading down.
"What is this?" Kitty asked.
"It leads down to where we X-Men meet," Logan answered. "I noticed how you're different than Alison, you two," he added to Kitty and Rogue.
"Me and Rogue are sort of different, I guess you can say," Kitty told him.
Logan realized how much he felt for Kitty. He realized that he was seemingly a father-figure for her.
Rogue put her arm around Kitty. "We might be different, but what matters most is that we're together as friends and teammates. And you're like my little sister."
"Alright, enough family crap," Logan said. "We have arrived."
The girls looked around and saw three leather costumes hanging on the walls.
"What or who are these for?" Rogue asked. "Are they for us?"
"Yes, they're for you. Pick whichever one you want."
Kitty saw one that had a light blue color around it. She decided that she would be wearing it for her missions.
"You guys won't be wearing these for your first missions, though," Logan admitted to them.
"What? Why?" Rogue asked him, holding one with white surrounding the black.
"We need to see how you do normally out in the open. Once we know that, then we'll allow you to wear these."
"Sounds good to me!" Alison said.
Kitty and Rogue looked at one another, not surprised that Alison had said yes, but surprised that their normal clothes would be worn instead of the costumes made for them.
"Alright then, you girls may go," Logan finally told them. "Hope you sleep well. And Kitty..." She stopped as he said her name and turned back. "Nice job. I knew I could count on you." He smiled.
As soon as they were out of the chamber, Alison said, "Coming back to the party?"
"I'm too tired for a party," Kitty told her. "I'm sorry."
"Same here," Rogue admitted.
"Well, I'm off to party, guys! See you two later!"
Kitty and Rogue watched her go, and then went back upstairs to their room.
"I think I'll be turning out the lights now," Kitty said once she'd gotten comfortable. "Do you mind?"
"No. Night, Kitty."
"Night, Rogue."
Rogue hoped for the peaceful sleep, but there were still problems in her mind, just as there were for Kitty.
"You have no control on what is to come, Rogue. You will carry out the plans that your true destiny has set out for you! And it all starts once you come back to us. But the last thing you must know is that you must do it once you finish the job!"
There was a sudden vision of Kitty lying on the ground, bloody and beaten, her eyes wide open, her body unmoving, not breathing...
Rogue jumped up in bed, frightened by her vision. She looked around the room and saw that there was now a thunderstorm going on outside.
Alison had returned to the room. She realized that it was late.
She heard someone sniffling, as if they were crying. She looked over to Kitty's bed and saw that she was sitting up, knees up to her chest, shaking with what seemed to be fear.
"Kitty?" Rogue said softly. She got up and made her way over. "Are you alright?"
"No," Kitty told her, still crying. "I'm scared."
"Why? What's the matter?"
"I have a fear of thunderstorms. When they come, all I want to do is hide. They just scare me so much."
"It's alright. I can see where you're coming from. I'll help you get through this one, okay?" She got into Kitty's bed and hugged her. "You're okay, Kitty. Nothing's going to happen to you. You're such an amazing person. Once I met you, I knew something good would be coming of it all. And now it's been proved. You did so well during the Danger Room simulation; you were able to keep a cool head, while me and Alison were all scared."
"I didn't have a cool head, Rogue," Kitty sobbed. "That was just a last-minute thought. It worked, but I know that it won't always work, for me or for anyone. I'm nothing but a failure, Rogue."
"You are not a failure! You're better than I'll ever be! Kitty, you don't know how much I trust you! I trust you more than my parents! Especially my dad, because he was a little abusive when I was a child."
"Rogue, no matter what happens, there are times when I can't concentrate hard enough, and I can't use my powers. I know that one of these days, I might die because of a mistake like that."
"No, you won't!" snapped Rogue, doing her best to keep her mind off the vision. "Kitty, I promise you that if anyone attempts to kill you, I'll stop them. They won't be able to get anywhere near you. You're not just like a sister. You are my little sister, and I'll make sure to always take care of you, no matter what happens, no matter the consequences." Rogue hugged her, which Kitty returned happily. "Tomorrow I'll make sure to stay close to you, because it'll be storming like this again at that time. You'll be alright. You don't have to worry about a thing, because I vow that I'll never leave your side. Now, I'm going back to bed now. Try to get some as well. Just close your eyes. Everything's safe and sound." As Rogue got back into bed, she saw Kitty go to sleep. She smiled at that.
Rogue was ready for what was to come, and she would be going through that with Kitty. They were sisters, and that meant that they were more powerful than anything else.