Saturday

Last night's incident was... bizarre, to say the least. Fortunately, it was not one that many witnessed

One such student, was Anna Marie

Heavy breaths left the girl's lips as she made her way through the artificial maze the Danger Room had simulated for her

The girl didn't pay attention to the alien incident, mainly due to the internal turmoil she had. Her mind had been going through the events of yesterday over and over

Seeing her classmates try and fail, and then the fact that all eyes were on her, not just them, but also the X-Men themselves were looking at her. On the way here, she even overheard some classmates say that completing the first level was how some of them earned codenames

Needless to say, she was grateful you offered to try again, this time without anyone else

So much so, that it was the first thing she chose to do the next morning

A tile below her began to shake, and acting out of instinct, she jumped across and quickly leaped over another obstacle. The fact that she was still standing earned a laugh from herself

Up in the overhanging control booth, Hank taught you the basics of operating the console. The broken window was taken out, but fortunately, nobody had noticed it yet

Hank:...and you crank this dial up ever so slightly like this

You did so as he instructed, and from the wall, two platforms began to move, adding another obstacle to her challenge. A smile appeared on your face upon witnessing the change

You: Oh wow. This is easier than it looks

The blue-haired man chuckled at this

Hank: Don't tell that to Logan. It took him a month to figure it out

Anna Marie's eyes widened at the platforms as they approached her. She narrowly ducked under one and lunged forward to avoid the other one trying to push her off

However, right as she found herself stable on the ground, the platform under her opened up. The girl yelped as she held onto the edge, but she could only hold on for so long before inevitably, she fell

Shortly after, the room flashed red

Computer: ꜱɪᴍᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇᴅ

The maze was disassembled as each panel returned to its place. Merely minutes later, Rogue was revealed to be safely surrounded by a large airbag

Once she had a clear view, she looked at the control booth, where you looked down at her, and gave her a thumbs up

- - -

After changing back to her regular clothes, Anna Marie entered the booth, where Hank and you were waiting for her

You wrote down the results with a nod

You: 70% through. Not bad!

Hank: Quite impressive, young lady

Anna smiled at the compliment. She had to admit, the lack of people watching her prompted her to let loose with ease

You set the clipboard aside and smiled at her

You: How're you feeling?

Anna Marie: Honestly? Like a weight's been lifted off mah shoulders

A chuckle left your lips before you placed your hands on your waist

You: I bet. You can enjoy your weekend now

She sighed in relief upon hearing that while you thanked Hank for his help

Finally, the challenge that had been plaguing her mind was conquered, and with plenty of time to spare!

This same joy stuck with Anna as she made it back to the campus grounds. She found herself watching some students play sports on the court

To think she was on the run not long ago, and now here she was, in a safe haven for those like her, people who could understand her struggle and maybe even guide her through it, like Charles and you

And now, she didn't have to prove herself in front of them anymore. You got the results you needed, and she did better than she expected at this course

The girl took a deep breath and found herself smiling

However, as she watched the others go around their day, a question arose in her mind

She spent all night thinking about this training exercise, but now that that was done, what would she even do?

Hang around the pool? Nah, too many people

Maybe look for her classmates?

Suddenly, Kitty ran across the campus, only for Kurt to suddenly appear

Kurt: Got you!

But right as he tried to grab her, he found himself falling into the ground, as Kitty just phased through and kept running

Kitty: Sike!

Kurt couldn't help but smile and teleported away to catch up with her

...yeah no, maybe later

It wasn't long before her mind presented her with a third option. One that doubled as a reward

One that she hadn't been able to do for a long time now

But first, some fresh air

___________

Anna traded the various trees that surrounded the campus for the buildings of the city

She could vividly remember the last time she roamed the streets. Looking over her shoulder all the time, worried she would be hunted down

While she could still feel that fear, it wasn't nearly as strong anymore. Not since she found the Institute and everyone who's reached out to her

For the first time in a while, she could breathe

But why was she here?

Simple. She was getting some ice cream

It was something so simple, so mundane and yet, for her it meant the world

Having been on the run for so long meant using whatever money she could find only for necessary things. Ice cream was hardly the priority

But that changed today. She could start living again

???: Here you go

The employee smiled as she handed her the treat. Anna was pretty much smiling from ear to ear at the sight of it

Anna: Thanks!

Having paid for it, she didn't hesitate to start eating it, humming at the delicious taste returning to her after so long

"STOP MUTIES NOW!!"

The chant quickly caught her attention. Her body froze at those words, believing her cover to have been blown

However, when she turned around, she found that it wasn't directed towards her...or at least they didn't know

A bunch of people outside marched with banners and t-shirts. All of them demanding something in hateful unison

Anna left the ice cream shop to get a better view and found her eyes widening at the sheer size of this group marching across the streets

???: OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER BE SAFE AS LONG AS THEY WALK AMONG US

One of them yelled through a megaphone he carried around. The crowds roared at this statement, and some raised their banners with force

If it weren't the 21st century, she'd wager they were about to burn a witch or something

The girl only groaned and looked away

Anna: Can't y'all just go away?

She whispered to herself before she licked her ice cream once again

???: I know right?

Her eyes widened at the third voice, and this time, it was directed towards her

She found this eccentric young man leaning against the wall next to her with a charming smile

???: I'm surprised they still have a voice. They've been at it all day

The girl chuckled at this and shrugged

Anna: Too much time on their hands ah guess...

There was something about him that drew her in. It took only a glance at the white-haired boy to tell he was also an outlier

A silent agreement took place when their eyes met. They knew they were alike

???: I'm Pietro. What's yours?

Anna: Anna Marie

Then, a playful smirk appeared on his face

Pietro: Wanna see something funny, Anna Marie?

Without thinking twice, the girl nodded, and the instant she did, the young man was gone

Anna: What the...?

???: Ah! Watch where you're going, pal!

???: Sorry! I don't know what came over me

She looked at the protesters only to find them in disarray. One of them suddenly tripped, and given how little space was between them, it resulted in many more falling as well, akin to domino pieces

Anna quickly covered her mouth with her free hand to suppress the laughter, when she felt a gust of wind

Before she knew it, Pietro was back, sporting a grin

Anna: How didya do that?

Pietro: I'm fast

Suddenly, he was gone, only to reappear with an ice cream of his own

Pietro: Very fast

He hummed at the taste of his treat, while she couldn't help but smile in awe at what she saw

She had never seen anything like this, especially out in the open, and she had to admit, seeing it happen to the protestors was kind of satisfying

???: What about you?

The sound of his voice caught her attention, but Anna's gaze saddened once she caught the question

Memories flashed into her mind. Of the boy she put into a coma when she kissed him, of the men that tried to assault her, of everyone she's somehow hurt

So she held her hand close to her chest and sighed

Anna: I...I'd rather not say

This made Pietro boy scowl. He tossed the ice cream before he approached her

Pietro: Hey, you shouldn't be ashamed of who you are, you hear me? Not even with all these nincompoops all around us

He gestured at the crowds as they slowly marched away from view

Pietro: The others would agree with me

Surprised, Anna raised a brow

Anna: Others? You're a student at Xavier's?

Pietro burst into laughter, getting the attention of some passerbys, but more than that, catching Anna by surprise

Especially since she didn't know what was so funny

Pietro: Oh no. God no

He wiped a tear before he spoke again

Pietro. Much better

Anna: How so?

He did a mocking bow and smirked at her

Pietro: Follow me

Anna looked at her ice cream for a moment, then at him

Well, he hadn't tried to kill her yet. That was already better than many of the people she's met

However, another pair of eyes from above caught them leaving the scene. She saw what Pietro pulled off, and had reasons to be suspicious of him

"Hmm..."

___________

Pietro led Anna to a warehouse nearby, where other people were already inside.

Needless to say, this was not what she was expecting, and her fleeing smile upon entering only made it more evident

At least she had already finished her ice cream by then

Pietro lifted his arms and stated with a smile

Pietro: Now this is who I meant when I said "the others"!

His voice echoed through the building and easily caught the attention of the others. Anna's eyes widened at the sight of them

Pietro: Anna, I want you to meet Domino, Toad, and Pyro respectively. The gang

The first one to talk was the woman. She frowned as she approached them

Domino: You were supposed to scout the area! What took you so long?

Then, she gestured towards Anna

Domino: You're kidding me. Who even is this?!

Before Anna could speak, Pietro stepped up

Pietro: Relax, Dom. She's one of the good ones, and besides, she's cute

Anna's face turned red almost immediately, and his nonchalant attitude wasn't helping. As for this "Domino" person, she only rolled her eyes

Domino: I can't believe you. "One of the good ones"? Really?

Pyro: Oi!

All the attention was stolen by the blond with goggles approaching with a grin

Pyro: Our mate just wanted some good company. Nothing wrong with that

This only enraged the woman further. She pinched her nose before she gestured at Anna

Domino: Yes there is! She could compromise the entire operation!

That's when Anna peeked from behind Pietro with a tilted head

Anna: Operation?

Then, the other person swiftly landed near her, earning a yelp from the surprised teen

Toad: You've seen those protesters outside, right?

But before she could answer, the woman stepped in

Domino: No. Before you even entertain the idea of telling her, she has to prove herself

Anna: Prove mahself? How?

The woman crossed her arms

Toad: Are you one of us?

The blonde stepped closer

Pyro: Yeah, what's your deal, old girl?

Seeing all eyes suddenly on her felt very much like the Danger Room exercise, except this time, there was only one way out

As if looking for reassurance, she glanced at Pietro, who gave her a thumbs-up

Anna: A-Absorption through skin contact

Domino: Absorption? Of what?

Anna: Memories, skills, that sorta thing

A series of impressed "oooo"s followed this statement. Pyro was the first to talk

Pyro: I don't know about you, but that sounds bloody amazing

The other boys found themselves nodding along. Anna didn't know how to take it

"Amazing" wasn't how she would describe it, not after everything she's been through

Pietro: Hmm. It does

Toad: Ever tried it on a mutant before?

She stepped back instinctively as she shook her head. Her attitude shifted at the question

Anna: Ah... ah'd rather not hurt anyone

This got questioning looks from everyone, but that's when a blue blur appeared, and by the time Pietro could be seen again, he was holding Anna's black gloves

Pietro: Let me try!

Immediately, she began to panic. She had just met these people, and she wasn't sure she could control it any better now!

She felt a hand on her shoulder and nearly jumped. It was Domino, looking right at her

Domino: You want us to trust you? You have to trust us too

Anna met her eyes with uncertainty. Compared to Xavier's, this group felt way more hostile, noticing the distress this caused her, Pietro offered a smile

Pietro: Don't worry, I heal quickly too

But his words did little to soothe the girl. She winced just at the idea of Pietro suffering the same fate as those other people

However, it was clear they wouldn't take no for an answer

"What did you just get yourself into?!" Her mind yelled at her

At such a time, the girl felt cornered, her mind raced to find a way to try and get herself out of it. There were four of them, one of which was incredibly fast, so trying to make a run for it wo--

Toad: C'mon girl. We don't have all day!

Anna scowled at Toad. But that's when she realized something. If she were to take Pietro's skills as well, then she could make a run for it, should she need

So she took a deep breath and opened her eyes with a reluctant nod

Anna:...fine

The guys cheered at this, while Domino just watched in the corner. She could still hear the protest outside, so she knew they weren't moving

But she had to admit, even she was surprised by how this little experiment would turn out

So Pietro reached out to her, and slowly, Anna got ahold of his hand. The moment she did, both of them gasped, and just like that, everything went black

Muffled sounds traveled through her mind. Smells, places she did not know

Suddenly she found herself in the house of a Romani couple, laughing and playing with a brunette she called "sister"

Then, running from enraged villagers, with the girl in her arms, leaving behind all of them with incredible speed

After that, following the orders coming from an old man in a purple cape. His presence was commanding, she found herself shaking in fear, but strong in her resolve. Bound by debt, by duty

Lastly, she found herself standing on the ruins of a burning building. People ran in desperate attempts to save themselves

She felt accomplished by the destruction they had caused, and more so than that, by the fear in people's faces

By her side, stood the people she saw at the warehouse not long ago, all satisfied by their work, and all of them stained in blood

Anna became overwhelmed by this last memory, horrified by the pride they took in doing this, and pushed herself off of Pietro, holding her head as she did

This prompted the rest of them to be on their guard. Pyro helped his friend up, quickly noticing the veins in his skin were much more noticeable

The girl shook her head and clenched her eyes shut to try and get rid of the image of the slaughter she just witnessed

Domino: What the hell is going on?

She jumped in, but Pietro stopped her the moment he recovered with a gesture of his now-healed hand, and he placed another hand on Anna's shoulder

Pietro: Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm here

But when she saw him, the massacre flashed into her mind again, and she promptly pushed him off of her

Because she didn't find herself amidst outcasts anymore, she was surrounded by terrorists

Anna: Y-You...you killed them...

She was quick to put her gloves back on. Their confused gazes quickly turned hostile at these accusations

Pietro: What?

Domino: What are you even talking about?

Anna: Ah saw it. You killed people, a-and you're gonna kill them too!

She pointed at the window. Now understanding what she meant, the others didn't try to hide it

Why would they? It was for mutantkind

Pyro: Don't go rogue on us now, love. You heard the shit they've been yelling!

Pietro: You're the one who wanted them to go away!

Anna: They're awful but that don't mean I want 'em dead!

Domino approached with crossed arms

Domino: Just days ago there were 50 people. Now they're well over 400. They won't stop until we stop them

A sharp breath left Anna's lips upon hearing that. Yet another confirmation of her fears

Instinctively, she took a step back, only to be stopped by Pietro already behind her

Pietro: We're standing up for ourselves, Anna, and for those who can't fight

She yelped and jumped back, but her fear quickly turned into anger

Anna: I ain't no murderer. It was a mistake coming here!

She took a step to leave, but that's when she heard the click of a pistol. Behind her, Domino took aim

Domino: That's not possible anymore. You know too much now

Pietro got ahold of her gloved hands to force her attention back to him. His eyes were pleading with her

Pietro: Please, Anna. Just give us a chance

Pyro: Yeah. We're just standing up for ourselves here!

But these pleas fell on deaf ears, and all they got as a result was a scoff

Domino sighed, knowing it was of no use

Domino: A shame. I would've loved to have another woman in the team

Anna gasped when she turned around. There was a flash of light and suddenly, everything changed

People were frozen in place, as did any sound, but the world had not stopped, Anna concluded as much when she looked at Domino

She could see the bullet coming out of the weapon. It left a faint trail as it steadily made its way towards her

It was then that she realized things had not stopped, she was fast now, very fast

Not wasting any time, the girl moved out of the way and pushed her attacker off of her

What she wasn't expecting, was Domino being hurled into the wall by that small push

Everyone got on high alert. For them, it was just a blur

Quickly, they looked back at where Pietro stood, only to find him just as shocked as they were

Suddenly, Anna was feet away from where she once was. Only then did everyone realize what had happened

Pyro: Oh no you didn't!

He lifted his arms and flames poured out. Anna squealed before she dodged. It was then that she also took notice of Toad using his unsettlingly large tongue as a whip

Anna: Ugh! Gross!

She easily ducked under the attack, but that's when she got thrown into the wall with brutal force. Her body screamed at the bricks colliding against her body, and a little bit of blood escaped her lips

Pietro: You did not just use my power to hurt my friends!

All charm and friendliness had left the young man's eyes, but it hardly mattered, for an explosion above forced everyone to take cover

???: What do we have here?

The members of this brotherhood stopped shielding their eyes to look at this new opponent, and when they did, panic took over

Pyro: Aw hell!

Toad: It's her

A yellowish glow surrounded the Avenger as she floated down into the scene, taking in every person present here. Domino got back up and growled at the sight of her

Domino: Wonderful...

C. Marvel: I had my suspicions when I watched your little prank. Looks like I was correct

Everyone quickly looked at Pietro, who could only groan

Domino: I SWEAR TO GOD, PIETRO!!

Pietro: The one time I choose to have fun!

But while the others grew wary of her presence, Anna saw something else, an opportunity

Anna: They want to kill the protesters! We ought to stop them!

The captain raised a brow at Anna's distress, while the others shot her murderous gazes, Domino even lunged at her

Domino: YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!

She tried to punch her, only for Anna to dodge quickly using the powers she borrowed

C. Marvel: You really are a messy bunch

But right as she flew in to intervene, she was blasted by fire, which forced her to shield her eyes

Pyro: Where do you think you're going, love?

Hi fire encased the scene for a moment, but it would hardly last, as a silhouette lunged from the blaze and flew straight towards him with a clutched fist

C. Marvel: That's enough of that!

She uppercut Pyro with enough force to crack his goggles. By the time he hit the ground, he was unconscious

At the same time, Domino kept swinging at Anna with little success. A frustrated growl left her lips before she tried a different tactic

She shot Anna, with the same result once again. However, her target was too busy dodging her punches to notice the bullet bouncing off the wall and grazing Anna's leg through her pantyhose

The southern belle cried at the stinging pain and fell to one knee, only to be punched into the ground

Domino grunted and aimed once again, but she would never get to fire again, as a blast of energy pushed her through the wall and knocked her unconscious

C. Marvel: So much for brotherhood, eh?

The girl looked up to find Captain Marvel lowering a smoking hand before tossing an unconscious Pietro next to the already-defeated Toad. It was now just the two of them, the good guys

Then why didn't Anna feel safe?

C. Marvel: I thought you guys didn't sell each other out

Anna tried to get up, but the stinging pain in her leg forced her back down with a grunt. Even then, that didn't stop her from trying to explain things to the hero

Anna: Sell out? I'm not even part of them!

Then she pointed at Pietro

Anna: He turned me here! Ah tried to turn back the moment I found out they were gonna kill everyone!

Her anger turned into uncertainty when she heard laughter coming from the last person she would expect it from

Anna: Why are you laughing?

Once it died down, the blonde shook her head and placed her hands on her hips with a smile

C. Marvel: Oh nothing it's just...you already tried that one

Anna tilted her head

Anna: What...?

C. Marvel: Right, you weren't there. The last time your merry band tried the "we're actually good guys" thing, three police stations were burnt to the ground

A gasp left the teenager's lips, and it only got worse when the hero's fists began to glow

C. Marvel: Don't worry, I'll tell the MRD you were very cooperative

With that, she lunged at the terrified girl, who barely managed to dodge her speed, and jumped back when her glowing fists slammed into the ground. To make things worse for her, she no longer felt Pietro's speed

She only managed to push her away for a moment

Anna: I'm not letting the MRD get ahold of me! They'll torture me!

Captain Marvel charged again, this time, energy surrounded her body and granted her more speed. Anna tried to get away, but to no avail, and soon, she would find herself on the ground yet again, pinned by the hero

C. Marvel: They're not the bad guys, kid! They're just trying to help!

Anna: Like hell they are!

Seeing no other option, she took off her gloves and got ahold of her head before her charged fists descended on her. Anna's mutation immediately activated, forcing a gasp from both women as the energy transfer took place

Much like with Pietro, Anna witnessed as her mind took her to places she had never been to before, to live the memories of another life

When the fog cleared, she found herself inside a jet, soaring through the skies with an immense feeling of freedom. Nothing but clouds around her, and the afternoon sun painted everything in a gentle orange

But then it shifted to a burning pain on the side, and a struggle to stay awake as she was being carried away by an alien soldier. Explosions could barely be heard in the back before she closed her eyes

She felt empowered and proud when she looked at herself in the mirror months later. A superhero suit designed with the help of her friend Janet, it was then that she allowed her to fully embrace the other aspect of her life that emerged so suddenly

This same pride and empowerment stuck with her as she fought alongside the Earth's mightiest heroes. Gods, monsters, soldiers from another time, all fighting together against the hordes of a crazed robot

But something was wrong, the memories didn't stop coming, and neither did the energy

C. Marvel: W-What are you doing?! Get off of me!

Anna tried to pull away like she did with Pietro, but she found herself unable to. This discovery filled her eyes with dread, her powers had turned against her

Anna: I'm tryin'!

The hero tried to shake her off, but it was much easier said than done when she felt the energy being sucked out of her, Anna screamed as the energy began to burn into her and destroy part of her sleeves, it was too much, more than she could absorb

Captain Marvel tried to fly but couldn't lift herself off the ground for too long before she fell, with Anna still latched onto her

C. Marvel: I...I said...

Despite feeling her life being taken away from her, she focused all her might into her fists, which flickered with energy until they were charged enough. She reached back and got ahold of Anna, and with a roar, she commanded

C. Marvel: GET OFF OF ME!!

Anna was blasted with even more energy, enough to send her flying through a wall and into the streets, earning panicked screams from people nearby

She shrieked at the overcharge in energy coursing through her body, it was as if she were burning alive from the inside

At first, people approached to help, but when they noticed Anna's veins glowing, they panicked and pointed at her in horror

"A MUTANT"

"DON'T APPROACH HER, SHE'LL KILL YOU!!"

"STAY AWAY FROM US"

But all these voices faded into the background, for all Anna could hear was ringing in her ears, and the heartbeat that raced to try and keep up

Her ragged breath made it hard for her to get up, but her mind begged her to do it. She was not safe here, she had to get away

If even one of them got to her, it was over

Her home, the friends she wanted to make, everything would be ripped away from her

So going against every cell in her body that begged her otherwise, Anna Marie got up

However, she wasn't the only one who did

???: You...

Slowly, she lifted her head and gasped, as did the civilians nearby

???: It's Captain Marvel!

???: She looks ill! What did that filthy mutie do to her?!

???: Get her, Captain Marvel! Teach her a lesson!

They began to cheer for her, but that too fell on deaf ears, as all semblance of calm and even that arrogance had left the Avenger

When she laid eyes on Anna, there was nothing but rage. Her eyes began to glow once again

"YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT"

___________

In the mansion, students hung out in the rooms, be it studying, reading, and of course, looking at their phones

A certain blonde walked by when she heard one of them gasp

She looked over her shoulder to find him beyond confused

???: Hey, isn't this that Marie Anne chick?

He shared the phone with a friend, whose eyes went wide

???: Anna Marie? What's she doing fighting Captain Marvel?!

???: You think she got in trouble?

Before the other could even answer, another voice chimed in

Emma: Let me see

The students froze and looked up at her, finding the woman standing before them with a terrifying glare. Without hesitation, the first student showed her the live video and sure enough, it showed a distressed Anna trying her best to escape the Avenger, who looked pissed

Emma: Where is Professor L/N?

???: He went out with Ms. MacTaggert. I think she needed his help with something

Emma groaned at this and returned the phone

Emma: I suppose I'll have to take care of this one

???: Take care of what, Emma?

She looked at the commanding voice of another woman, and when she found the source, she couldn't help but smile

___________

Anna dodged another blast as she ran into an alley and jumped over a car but in doing so, she accidentally flew into a wall and caused some considerable damage to it, with a couple of bricks falling off

C. Marvel: What did you do to me?!

Anna: Ah didn't mean for this to happen! T'was an accident!

Despite the damage sustained, Anna could not afford to stop. Her eyes remained fixed on the Avenger pursuing her

It took only one look at her eyes to realize it wasn't her. She lacked the swift and precise movements or the taunts. Despite everything Anna had made, she still kept going like a machine hellbent on completing an objective

Anna ducked under an energy blast but was sent flying by another. This brought her to an open street, once again, surrounded by many people who were eager to see the spectacle, some even cheered as they thought they were witnessing a hero taking out a bad guy

Captain Marvel hovered towards Anna with her glowing fists but stopped to glare at her with heavy breath

C. Marvel: I tried to be nice to you

Anna: P-Please! Just let me explain!

But this only got a grunt from the blonde

C. Marvel: I think we're past that

She didn't even notice the people nearby. Her only focus was getting even with this girl

So much so that she became oblivious to the skies darkening above her

Suddenly, lightning struck right in front of her, forcing the hero to shield herself. She growled, but when she looked up, she found the source of this attack

Storm: That's enough, Captain

Anna let out an exhausted cheer at the sight of a friendly face after such a day

Then, a gloved hand reached out for her

???: Come on, darling, on your feet

Anna turned to this other voice and gasped upon realizing Storm did not come alone

Captain Marvel's behavior shifted immediately at Ororo's presence. The energy that surrounded her dissipated while the mutant slowly hovered down to ground level

Emma helped Anna get back on her feet and helped her stay up. As for the girl, she let out an exhausted breath, thankful for this intervention

C. Marvel: Storm? I was wondering when the X-Men were going to show up

That's when she took notice of Emma

C. Marvel: And who might you be?

Emma crossed her arms, her gaze narrowed at the other woman

Emma: A teacher who doesn't take kindly to her students being harassed

This answer caught not just the Avenger by surprise, but everyone else. It was the first time they'd heard Emma refer to herself as a teacher

But when Anna looked into her eyes, she found the unwavering determination she was known for, and couldn't help but smile

Captain Marvel, on the other hand, didn't take it so kindly

C. Marvel: Harassed? She tried to drain me to death!

That's when the girl stepped up, metaphorically speaking

Anna: Ah didn't mean to! You tried to arrest me!

Emma: Sounds like self-defense to me

The captain scoffed

C. Marvel: Yeah right, the Brotherhood tried to kill people in self-defense

But while Emma raised a confused brow, Ororo tensed up

Emma: What Brotherhood?

The other mutant turned to her

Ororo: They are an extremist group who believe humanity and mutants cannot coexist. We've fought on numerous occasions

A gasp left Anna's lips. So they were trouble, and the worst kind by the looks of it

Anna: That would've been nice to know!

She thought out loud, while her teachers gave her a quizzed look

Emma: What exactly did you get into?

Anna: Ah...ah could show you...

Ororo: Emma?

Storm turned to her, in her eyes, a request. The blonde picked up on it and nodded

Emma: On it

Then, she turned to the Avenger

Emma: Care to see what really happened, Captain?

But she scoffed

C. Marvel: I was there

Emma raised a brow

Emma: During the entire incident?

C. Marvel:...fine. What are you going to do?

Emma: Anna will be kind enough to share her memories with us, and we shall see the truth

This got a nod from the Captain, who then scowled at Anna

C. Marvel: You better not fabricate any lies, kid

Emma: It takes incredible skill to lie to a telepath. We're talking about a kid that's struggling to even stand up

Then she glanced at Anna

Emma: No offense darling

Anna: None..taken...

With that, Emma began to focus

Emma: Now keep your minds open, ladies

Ororo took a deep breath and closed her eyes, with the captain reluctantly following suit. Emma acted as a conduit for Anna's memories, so when she started to think, the rest could see it as well

From her buying an ice cream, to meeting Pietro, to discovering the truth about the Brotherhood, and finally, the sudden appearance of Captain Marvel

They felt it all, the excitement for the treat, the intrigue caused by Pietro, the uneasiness those other mutants have her, and the dread and horror she experienced ever since she connected with the young man

Finally, Emma let go, and Ororo looked at Anna with saddened eyes

Ororo: Oh child...

She then brought her in for a hug, which the girl gladly returned, while Emma turned to the hero

Emma: As you can see, the only thing she is guilty of, is being at the wrong place and the wrong time. She's been defending herself from everything

The captain and her locked eyes and stayed silent for a moment, but the Avenger was the first to talk after a sigh escaped her lips

C. Marvel: Okay fine. I get it, she was just trying to do the right thing

Then, she glanced over to Anna with a stern look on her face with crossed arms

C. Marvel: But she better get a hold of her powers or she will put someone in a coma one of these days

Storm blocked her view and nodded gently

Ororo: We will see to it. You have my word

C. Marvel: You better, or I'll hand her over to the MRD for good

???: YOU GET THEM CAPTAIN MARVEL!!

???: YEAH!! SHOW 'EM!!

They turned around to finally acknowledge the crowds surrounding them, or at least the ones who had stayed back to see what was going on

C. Marvel: Keep moving, there's no fight here

???: But--

C. Marvel: Keep. Moving

She floated with the energy she had as if to appear more imposing to the crowds, and it worked

???: You heard 'er people, move along

With that, the protesters rejoined their allies and soon left the three women alone. The air felt noticeably lighter shortly after

Captain Marvel returned to the ground with a bit of trouble, finally starting to succumb to exhaustion. This didn't go unnoticed 

Ororo: Captain, we all saw how much energy was absorbed, and I'm inclined to ask, do you need assistance to get back to the Avengers Mansion?

She looked back at Ororo and nodded

C. Marvel: I...yeah, I'd appreciate it

Storm nodded and turned to her coworker

Ororo: Can I trust you to take Anna back home?

Emma: Of course

With that, Ororo got Captain Marvel to lean on her and they flew off together. The two women watched as they disappeared from view and shortly after, Anna let out a heavy sigh

Anna: I'm so sorry, Ms. Frost...

This got the blonde to raise a brow

Emma: For what?

Anna: Ah fiddled with things beyond my control and y'all got dragged into this mess

Emma fully turned to her and placed her hands on her shoulders

Emma: As much as we try, we can't always control how things go, Anna. What matters is your intent

She gave her a smile before letting go and started walking

Emma: Now let's get back

There was no opposition there. The girls used a vehicle to get back home, back where everyone was a Mutant and were not hunted down for it, back where she could feel safe

By the time they got back, so had you, even if you looked like you had some stories to tell yourself, your eyes filled with relief the moment you laid eyes on Anna, and vice versa

You rushed to meet them and pulled Anna in for a hug

You: I heard what happened, I'm so glad you're okay

Emma watched the two of you embrace with melancholy washing over her, but she quickly put up a smile when your eyes met

You: Thank you

Emma: Don't mention it, darling

With that, he walked off, but when Anna returned the hug, you couldn't help but groan in pain, as she applied an unexpected amount of force

You: You've...been hitting...the gym...?

The moment she understood what you meant, however, she let you go and looked at you with panicked eyes

Anna: Sorry, sorry! It's just...since I came across Capt'n Marvel I...

A sudden silence took over upon realizing what she just said. You exchanged glances upon coming to the same conclusion

You: ...are you up for another visit to the Danger Room?

Anna: Uh-huh

...

Heavy breaths left the girl's lips as she made her way through the artificial maze the Danger Room had simulated for her. A tile below her began to shake, and acting out of instinct, she jumped across 

However, something was different. She saw something

A ghost-like apparition of Captain Marvel flew over the tiles as if telling her what to do, and following that example, Anna tried to leap, only to end up flying over the obstacle. Even when the platform below her opened, she didn't fall, instead, she was floating

Laughter left her lips at the realization of this, but it was then that a tile tried to push her off, only for her to swiftly fly out of the way and land back on the ground

Over at the control booth, you were overseeing her performance, but you were not alone. Hank and Moira were there as well, using monitors that showed her vital signs and collected information as she went through the course

Moira: This is astonishing 

Hank: Most definitely. It's like we're looking at another person entirely

You: Anna's absorbed skills tend to last minutes, but this is something else

As Anna leaped over an obstacle, she felt herself faster, stronger. So much so that by the time robots emerged from the ground to try and stop her, her first instinct was no longer to run and avoid them, but rather, tear them to shreds, and that's exactly what he did

Following this ghostly guide, Anna flew and fought through the maze with ease. Before she knew it, she had reached the other side of the maze, and the room flashed green

Computer: ꜱɪᴍᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇᴅ. ʟᴇᴠᴇʟ 1 ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ

All three of you looked at the computer with wide eyes. 

Hank: My starts and garters, she completed the level!

Moira: With flying colors too

You looked down at the girl to find her celebrating her victory, and couldn't help but smile

You: Did you gather enough data?

Moira: For the time being. Go congratulate the girl

With a smile, you nodded and left the room, while Moira and Hank looked at the monitors

Moira: Superhuman strength, speed, durability and flight. It's like we're looking at Captain Marvel herself, minus the energy projection

Hank: It's been over an hour, yet she still looks as energetic as ever. Could it be due to the amount of energy she absorbed?

Moira: Maybe...

Then, she looked past the monitor to see you talking with Anna, and laughing together

"Or perhaps we are looking at a permanent mutation"

...

Anna: Didya see that, Mr. L/N? I aced it!

You: Hell yeah you did!

You high-fived her with her gloved hand

You: So, I take it you're feeling alright?

This got a nod from her

Anna: Ah could do without bein' chased around by crazy people or an Avenger, but these new powers are totally worth it!

To say she was excited was an understatement. Her powers had brought her nothing but trouble today alone but with these? She felt like he could take on the world and it would be an even fight!

In her eagerness, she began to hover once again without noticing

You: Woah, woah. Keep yourself grounded, Anna

She looked down and laughed nervously

Anna: Sorry, sorry

You chuckled

You: Well, I'm glad you're taking this in stride, plus you're the first in your class to complete a course, so congrats!

 Anna cheered once again, but that's when something crossed her mind

Anna: You think I've earned myself a codename?

You tilted your head

You: A codename?

Anna: Yeah! Like how people call Logan Wolverine, or you Puppeteer because of your golems. Even Captain Marvel called Ms. Munroe Storm

You:...They call me that?

You shook the question off and returned your attention to her

You: Anyway, I think so, why?

Anna: Well, because I think I got the perfect one!

With an intrigued smile, you raised a brow

You: Oh yeah? Let's hear it, then

She puffed out her chest and put her hands on her waist akin to some sort of her and proudly, she looked at you and stated:

"You can call me Rogue"