Too Powerful? [COMPLETED!]

21- The First Practice

Alex:

"Okay, remember Alex: I'll be here for you. We'll be here for you, if anything goes wrong."

Scott whispers into my ear. I shiver; a combination of nervousness as to what I'll be doing, and the way Scott made me feel.

"But what if I hurt any one of you? You said it yourself, I have to let it all out... but what if this time, I can't control my powers?"

"Shh... Everything will be fine... Remember what Rogue can do? If anything does go wrong, which I'm sure it won't, Rogue will... temporary weaken you. It's okay, Alex,"

I bit my lip, unsure. Across the field, Rogue was sitting on the grass, staring straight at me. She gave me a thumbs-up, confident that I would be able to pull it off. Scott put his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look into his face. There it was again: Faith. Both of them, the people whom I have grown to love and care so much for, believing in me.

Trusting me.

But could I really do this? Could I really pull it off? I knew I could never live with myself if I hurt them again.

As if sensing my conflicting emotions, Scott gave me a small smile, before pulling me into a bear hug. I stood there, tense in his embrace. He chuckled, and my ears, pressed against his chest, could hear his voice travelling through his body, deep and throaty. Scott kissed the top of my head, and despite myself, I could feel my lips turning upwards into a smile.

"See, everything's gonna be all right, Alex. I'll be here for you, I promise."

I took a deep breath, and pulled myself away.

"Thank you, Scott."

He flashed me his crooked smile, before walking over towards Rogue, leaving me alone in the middle of the field. When he reached Rogue, he cupped his hands and shouted "Good Luck" at me. I gave him a thumbs-up, just like Rogue did to me, and slowly turned my back towards them.

This is it, I thought to myself. Today shall be a day closer towards achieving total control. Towards normality.

I took a deep breathe, and shook my head, to clear away my thoughts. To concentrate, just like Scott said I should do. To summon my emotions, to let them run free.

What should I think about? What emotions should I bring on?

Anger. Fear. Sadness, a little voice answered.

Ah. But what memories should I stir up?

Your father, again, the little voice.

My father? But... he was everything to me. He loved me so. He bought me presents, he adored me. How does that help?

You know very well that isn't the only side of him you knew.

Memories of my drunk father, powerful and vivid images conjured from his last few weeks, suddenly flooded my mind. I could feel the familiar sense of pain and hurt clenching my stomach.

No, it's unfair of me to only remember that part of him! He was so good to me all these years, he was my idol...

But he left you when you needed him the most, didn't he? When you were confused, where was he?

But...

Suddenly, Scott's and Rogue's words filled my minds.

Let it consume you...

Concentrate, Alex!

Don't control them.

It's the only way to get better…

Forget about the good times, Alex. The little voice had spoken again, overpowering all my other thoughts. This is your only chance to get better. Concentrate on your negative thoughts. Let them direct your powers...

Again, I could feel the familiar tense of my muscles, the anger boiling within me.

Concentrate, Alex.

I waited a moment, trying to get my fury flowing. I tried to fuel it by reliving the entire memory of my father's attitude towards me after my mother died. Of how cold he was, of how he shut himself out from the world, of how he abandoned me... Slowly, I could feel Power flowing through my veins, coursing through my muscles.

Somewhere, far away, I could hear Rogue's high pitched cheer, I could feel Scott's approval, but I couldn't open my eyes. Not yet.

Concentrate, Alex.

I held on to the anger I felt, and decided to test my control. Slowly, I put out my right hand in front of me, channeling all my rage and power towards... the sense of want. Of need.

Suddenly, I heard a whirring sound, and a startled cry. A few moments later, I felt something in the palm of my outstretched hands. Something cold, hard.

Metallic.

I didn't need to open my eyes, to know that it had worked. I had just exercised Magneto's power, channeling all the negative emotions I had.

I gave a twisted smile, my eyes still closed. Who knew that such emotions could come in handy? I decided to try calling the rain; I could certainly do this. Closing my eyes, I tried to pull in more emotions, to feel the pain. I tried to let my emotions direct my thoughts, control me.

All of a sudden, I heard the Professor's advice, clear and powerful:

Never let them control you.

I couldn't help it, my eyes flew open in shock. I lost all the concentration I had, and suddenly, I heard terrified screams. From way across the field, where the school building was standing, I could hear loud scrunching noises; the sound of metal twisting. I tried to stop myself, but, just like what had happened on Christmas morning, the more I tried to control my feelings, the worst it got.

Very soon, I saw a chunk of twisted metal whizzing straight across the field towards me. My eyes flew open in panic, and after that, everything became a blur.

I saw Scott pushing Rogue out of the way, red lasers burning the metal. Rogue running across the field towards me, her arms bare. Then my vision was obscured, and I was pushed to the grass. I tried to scream, but I couldn't make a sound, for all of a sudden, I felt myself getting more and more drained, more and more tired, before my eyes mercifully closed.

And everything became dark.