X-Men: The Gifted Ones

28. MAIN CLASSROOM, XAVIER MANSION, WEST CHESTER, NY

It was time to begin. Charles had already met all of the students, talked with them, and had given some of them their new nicknames. They had only just begun to understand their special talents and skills.

The children had spent the past week adjusting to their new homes, to each other, and to the adults who would be teaching them. It was an interesting time. Charles figured his home had not heard the sounds of children since he and his sister had been young. The Xaviers were never a prolific family, and he lamented that he was the last of the line. At least through the school, he would have a legacy. Jane was wise to see to that.

The children were gathered for their first day of school. They were seated in desks around the room. Charles and Jane were at the desk in front. Hank, Banshee, and Havoc sit next to the desk in armchairs. The children all appeared tense, uneasy, and full of anxiety for the first day of school at a new place, a place created just for children like them.

He took a mental roll call of his students... Evie Clarkson, with the pointed teeth and skin that never seemed to be penetrated. She was a shy child, self-conscious, but seemed to blossom under Jane's attention. She had been pulled from an orphanage. She had no one. She had been rejected by her parents at a young age because of her strange appearance. She asked if she could be called Dragon, because the other kids called her that and she had found she liked it. Charles decided to let her have that. He wondered if she possessed abilities they had not yet discovered. They would come out in time, he was sure. Even Jane's scope of powers didn't come about until she was an adult.

Shiro "Sunfire" Yoshida, the boy who could set off a model rocket or make fireworks with a simple wave of his hand. He was the oldest of their new students and was a friendly young boy. He seemed to get along with everyone, but was very close to Tyson "Longshot" Walters. Charles enjoyed watching their friendly rivalry on the basketball court and often had to chide them about using their powers in what should only be a way to pass time.

Longshot was such a pleasant child, and his family seemed to genuinely miss him once he was up here. They were very well-off, they had won several large lotteries, and they even gave a large donation to the school. Charles wondered if their son had anything to do with their lottery wins. The boy was a real joy to be around.

Ororo "Storm" Munroe, the dark-skinned, white-haired girl who could change the weather at a whim. She seemed to get along well with young Sunfire and Longshot, who were closest to her in age. She must have been in a good mood: The sun was shining, but only on the school grounds. He would need to talk with her about that. He appreciated the sunshine, but nature would have to be allowed to take its own course. Perhaps they could learn about that in science. Already, there was talk about extremes in temperature causing trouble with the ozone layer.

He got to his two youngest: Allison "Dazzler" Blair and Mark "Sunder" Hallet. Allison was an enjoyable child, and tried to make friends with Evie. Evie would laugh and clap with joy at the shows Dazzler would put on for her delight. He applauded Jane's foresight of having children be close in age. He hoped the they would become friends and stay friends through their lives.

Jane would never admit it, but Charles knew that little Sunder was her favorite. The boy often spent his days close to her and she never seemed put off by his strange appearance. He sensed her deep unconditional love. Charles knew that Jane's altruistic empathy would draw her to the boy and ensure his care. He was often found occupying her lap when they had their bedtime stories. He had been pulled from a hellish place called Forest Haven. Charles shuddered at the thought. The place was a hellhole where the mentally ill were sent to die. They could have all the lovely brochures they wanted, but the clean façade on the outside masked a hell within. The place did not even ask the Xaviers for their credentials and seemed happy to be rid of the misshapen child. Jane had all but carried the boy out, wrapped in a blanket, and he had stayed in her arms until she had put him to bed that night. Surely not the family I envisioned, Charles mused, but clearly this is exactly what Jane had in mind. He found he loved her more than ever when he had witnessed the care she lavished on the child. Her idea may have been daft, but it clearly was making a difference already.

Scott "Cyclops" Sommers, Havoc's youngest brother. He was interesting to Charles because he possessed a mutation similar to his brother's. He was relieved the boy's was a bit easier to keep under control. It would be useful one day, he was certain. Havoc was happy to have a brother in his midst, and Charles was certain that Havoc would keep a close eye on him.

His final student was his most fascinating. Little Jean Grey. The Phoenix. That was what she called herself, and Charles decided that was what she would be called. Such an amazing child! She was his favorite, he had to admit. A Class 5! She seemed to only get along with him, and she seemed to try to keep herself from liking anyone else. Charles couldn't help but notice that little Scott seemed quite taken with her.

Charles cleared his throat and called everyone to attention. "Good morning! You are all here because you possess extraordinary gifts. Mrs. Xavier and I met with each of you to discuss these extraordinary abilities and what you are capable of doing. You all have already met Dr. McCoy, Havoc, and Banshee, who will also be teaching you. Here you will not only attend school but learn to use your skills so that you may return home educated and able to control your powers, or stay here and receive advanced training. If you stay, you could become members of what are affectionately known as my X-Men. Here you are appreciated for who you are and what you can do. Here you do not have to hide."

He looked over his students and their anticipatory expressions. A small smile crossed Mark's face. Jean looked angry.

"I know how it feels to hide, children," Hank acknowledged. "We know not every mutant can blend in as easily as others, but that does not make us monsters, or evil."

Jane nodded, "Here you will be taught to love who you are, who others are, and kept safe from people who are scared of you for being different. We created this school to give you a place of security and love." Charles noticed that when she smiled at the children, she singled out Mark. I just fell in love with her a little more, if that was even possible, Charles thought.

Havoc spoke up, "Many of you have only come to know your powers recently. Many of you have not yet experienced the full extent of your abilities. Here you will learn to use them, control them, and not let them control you. You will learn to use your powers to help yourselves and others. It is not easy to learn..."

"I'll say," Banshee added, rolling his eyes. Charles suppressed a laugh. He remembered how he and Erik had pushed Banshee off of the satellite dish so he would finally learn how to use the supersonic powers of his voice to fly.

"I'm talking here, OK?" Havoc added crossly. The kids laughed. Charles tried to be serious. He knew he was failing. Havoc had all but destroyed Charles's father's underground bunker trying to hone his skills.

"You weren't the one pushed off a satellite dish to teach you how to fly now, were you?" Banshee retorted.

The children gasped and looked at the teachers. Hank, Havoc, and Jane are trying to keep straight faces and failing, Charles looked annoyed to keep from laughing. Someone had to set an example of order and discipline. This was a school, after all, not some mutant social club. "All right, the two of you, that is enough. I won't be pushing any children off of anything. That's why we want to teach you all now, when you're young. Not late in life like Banshee, forcing us to use desperate measures to correct years of misuse. Here you will learn how to do things you could never imagine. It all begins today!"

He noticed that the children generally lookedmore relaxed. Mark seemed to be the happiest. Jean still looked unhappy. Henoticed that Scott looked over at Jean and gave her a small smile. To thesurprise of both Charles and Scott, she smiled back.