chapter four • 4
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"training day"

•••

The group all arrived at the Xavier mansion. And they all looked up at the building in awe.

"So, this is yours?" Sean asked.

"No, it's ours," Charles smiled as he glanced back at the group.

"Honestly Charles, I didn't know how you survived," Erik looked at Charles, "Living in such hardship," He smirked sarcastically.

"Well it was a hardship, softened by me," Raven made her way over to Charles, and he kissed the side of her head. "C'mon, time for the tour,"

They made their way over to these huge double doors.

"I couldn't stand living in a place like this," Natalie joked.

Charles chuckled as he pushed the doors open and they walked in and stood in awe as they saw the inside. Charles and Raven went to turn on all the lights.

"You ready?" Raven called out.

"Yeah," They all replied as they slowly made their way over to her.

•••

Charles intended to use this mansion, and the property, to train the young mutants, to use their  abilities to its full extent, so they knew what they were doing. Charles individually helped the mutants out, first was Erik, then Alex, Sean, Hank, than Natalie.

•••

"Charles," Natalie started as they made their way over to an open field of grass. "I've been around for a long time, I think I know what I'm doing," Natalie smiled.

"Ah, that's where you're wrong," He smiled. "Alright, I think here is good place as any,"

Natalie looked around. "It's so beautiful out here, it's, amazing," She sighed. Charles smiled at her.

"Your mutation, is the most intensely creative and delicate, that I've ever seen. It's one of those, beautiful yet –"

"Dangerous," She cut cut in. Closing her eyes, flashes of horrible memories.

"I know about that day, Natalie," Charles placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him. "I feel the pain, and regret that you feel. I know that you use it to create such, beautiful things."

"It's all that I've ever known, I can't do anything, without using that," Natalie sighed.

"No, no, pain, may be powerful, but love. Love is everything and more," Charles let go of her shoulder.  "Would you let me?" He questioned, gesturing to her mind.

Natalie smiled. "You can try, but I don't think you can –"

"No, for all these years, you've let your mutation take control of you, that's what were here for today. Just relax, clear your mind, and I'm sure I can help you," Charles took a breath and placed two fingers on his temple. Natalie closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind.

Natalie felt that force again, it felt so invasive. Then she saw it, that day, it was like she was re-living it.

"Natalie, calm down, it's okay, it's just me," Charles voice whispered.

"No, stop, please, make it –"

"Stop!" Natalie yelled. Causing that force to emit from her body, making Charles fly back, he landed quite hard on the ground.

"Charles!" Natalie spoke aloud, running towards him. He sat up, coughing. Natalie sat next to him.

"My arm, I think you broke it," Charles winced in pain.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, it's just,"

"I know, I know," he groaned.

"Wait, I can fix this, just, stay still," She spoke. Natalie lifted his arm up, and slowly pushed back the sleeve. He winced in pain. "Sorry," She placed her palm over where the bone broke, then her other hand on the ground. Charles looked at her with a confused but curious look.

Natalie closed her eyes, she felt the swarming energy from the ground, it started to flow through her, and it was like a surge of purity. It was amazing, she took a breath and used that energy and it started to make its way through to Charles' arm. Charles gasped and chuckled in amazement. Within seconds the bone carefully snaps back into place, pain free. She opened her eyes and the swarm of energy left her, leaving her exhausted and weak. Charles sat up and looked at his arm in amazement.

"That was," Then he looked at Natalie. "Are you okay?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, just, every time I do that, it like, drains me, instead of the energy I take from the ground that is supposed to leave, it takes mine too," She sighed.

"That was beautiful, Natalie. You're beautiful. I know you think that you can't control it, but what you just did, is just the tip of the iceberg." Charles smiled.

He stood up and held out a hand and helped her up. She stumbled a bit but he got a hold of her. "Are you ready? This time, think of what you just did, use that force to push that memory out of harm's way, okay?"

She took a breath and nodded. Charles placed his two fingers on his temple and she closed her eyes.

"Good, good, now clear your mind," Charles whispered in her thoughts.

Natalie could feel Charles going through her mind, then –

He found something. It was memory. It was a memory Natalie never thought she had.

It was of Chester and Natalie. They were dancing, slowly, swaying to the music. Natalie had her head on his chest, and he kissed her forehead. Then she pulled away and he spun her slowly. Natalie smiled and chuckled. He kissed her hand and pulled her close again.

Natalie opened her eyes. Charles wiped away a tear then gave her a hug.

"That was a very beautiful memory, Natalie, thank you," Charles pulled away.

"I – I forgot I had that," Natalie stumbled. She wiped away a tear and took a breath.

"There's more to you than just pain, and regret. You are more than what your mutation tells you, you are good, pure. You have access to so much more than you think. You just have to believe." Charles held her hand. "Are you ready?"

She took a breath and nodded. Natalie turned and faced the horizon, she held her hands out and used every ounce of energy and that beautiful memory, and vines grew out from the ground, they grew taller and taller, wrapping around each other, the wind grew strong and powerful, Charles had to stand strong to keep his stance. The vines grew into a tall tree, flowers forming, a split halved the tree and water started flowing and the ground below formed into a pond. She knelt down and placed her hands in the water. Soft, green mist emitted from her fingers and small goldfish formed and started swimming through the pond.

Natalie eventually stopped and her arms gave way and Charles laughed and helped her up.

"I knew you could do it!" Charles laughed and he hugged her.

"Hey!" Moira's voice called out. They turned around. "The President is about to make his address."

Charles and Natalie headed inside and stood around the television.

•••

"It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile crossing the embargo line that surrounds Cuba as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union..." JFK spoke.

"That's where we're going to find Shaw," Erik told them.

"How do you know?" Alex asked.

"Two superpowers facing off and he wants to start World War 3. He won't leave anything to chance," Charles shook his head.

"So much for diplomacy," Erik sarcastically said.

"I suggest you all get a good nights sleep," Erik spoke and then walked out of the room.

•••