A young girl laid on a couch as she held stared at a beaten and old phone. She quickly typed in the password and scroll past all the game apps, looking for the one she always did. Camera, photos, video. One tap later and the footage begins. Immediately the first thing one could see was the headshot of a young boy in his teens with shaggy black hair and bright light brown eyes peeking out. In the early morning light when he turned his head up they almost seemed to be made of honey.

"Heya, Andrew here! Today I'm here at the beach!" The boy shifted his phone around slowly to show a breathtaking view of the white sand and the blue ocean. As the light touched the waves they seemed to have countless sparkling gems hiding beneath with all the colors that reflected off the water. "It's really quite beautiful here, nothing like the ones back at home. And look! No trash or anything to be seen, it really makes a world of different, people! Always pick up your own trash and never litter! Heck, pick up other people's trash. It may not be yours but it is a world we all live in. Anyways, enough of that, this is my friend Jean!"

The camera suddenly shifted to a girl in blue jeans and a green tank top. Her hair was blowing in the wind causing the crimson strands to look as if a fiery halo had formed on her head, emerald green eyes squinted in the boy's direction.

"Say hello, Jean!"

"Erms, Hello..?"

The girl gave an awkward wave, but that didn't dampen the boy's spirit as the two walked towards the end of the beach. She followed the other's lead as they marched towards their unstated goal, staring in a confused manner at the camera every now and then. She was new to this whole "Youtube" thing, but at least Andrew seemed to be having fun.

"Anyways, the other day I found this cool cave, a bit dark though. Thought I would come to check it out with you guys, oh and let's give a shout out to Jean, this is her first time spelunking!"

"Wait, what? Spelunching? I thought you said we were just gonna check it out or something? What's Spilonking?"

"Spe-Lun-king, and yeah exploring caves is what it means, silly."

Jean's face became as red as her hair at the realization of her mix up.

"Oh!"

The video sped up as the young girl pressed the forward button every now and then. Finally, she got to her favorite scene. The two kids were huddled in a corner, the only light coming from a flashlight from Andrew's helmet. Jean's has fallen a wild back.

"Jean, are you alright?!"

"I-I, sorry, I got spooked, and-" She was dazed she had tripped earlier and when she got up she saw a bat flying towards her face. "Oh my gosh, you're bleeding!" Blood was seeping from his head and was dripping down his chin. The taller boy had shielded her with his larger form as everything went to hell around them. The shock had scared her so badly that her power flared and lashed out, this was back when Andrew had newly arrived, and she ended up not only crushing the flying rat but almost the both of them. The cavern had trembled for over 10 minutes and parts of it collapsed, almost burying the both of them in the rubble.

Andrew only gave her a pained grin and a cheese thumbs up as he carefully got up. "I'm fine Jean, look, see? Good as new!" He wiped the blood off with his hands and just as he said the blood seeped back in his skin and the large cut on his head seemed to mend before her eyes, but she wasn't as naive as he thought and saw through his facade. Superior healing or not, the boy wasn't immune to pain like the rest of them. She had heard his screams through the sound of rumbling rocks.

"It's all my fault... It's always my fault, just like last time... I'm so sorry Andrew" Her mind flashed back to when she and her best friend Annie Richardson was going to the mall to play. A stray cat had wandered into the middle of the road and in her panic, she had caused the car they were riding to swivel into a tree to avoid it. She had caused the death of her best friend then, and she was about to do it once again now, stuck in this cave with no way out.

"Jean, Jean, calm down. Can you hear me? Jean, please."

She didn't notice the tears running down her face until Andrew wiped her face and shook her. He stared at her with clear concern in his eyes before she assured him she was fine. She wasn't, but it wouldn't do to keep worrying him. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Andrew carefully shone the light around them and observed the surroundings, giving a quiet hum in thought every now and then.

"Well, if memory serves me right, the entrance we went through was this way... Alright, I think if I shifted I can make it through the cracks and-" Right, his words were the smart choice. He could just get out and get the Professor or call for help. It was only 45 minutes or so from the mansion. Yet she couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking once more. What if... He just left her? All she brought was trouble, after all, it was her fact they were in his predicament. The thoughts of being trapped here all alone in the dark terrified her as much as the abandonment. Just like her parents, he'd leave her too. She was bad luck, cursed, an unnatural Devil's child.

"Actually, never mind. Who knows if that's actually the right way. With how everything looks the same around here I've lost my orientation. Let's just wait here for rescue, Professor Xavier will know somethings wrong when we don't get back later. Best to stay put, eh?"

She tried not to look as relieved as she felt even as guilt ate at her insides.

They simply sat together and chatted to pass the time, even the wet muddy ground didn't bother them. Jean's phone didn't have a signal but still had a number of games downloaded and Andrew's own had an extensive playlist. A lot of time must have passed as Jean's stomach growled.

"Oh, I guess it must've been some time since you had breakfast, right?"

She gave an embarrassed nod as she brought his jacket closer to hide her face. The boy gave a small laugh before scrunching his face slightly in concentration before a small branch grew out of his shoulders. A series of flowers grew on it with five small petals a soft reddish-pink color and a yellow center. Within moments a pair of bright red and juicy apples grew before dropping onto his open palm.

"There ya go, 100% organically grown honey crips apples, no artificial flavoring or chemicals I swear."

She took the offered apple and took a tentative bite. It was weird considering he saw Andrew literally grow it out of his own body, considering she could move things with her mind it wasn't the strangest thing she supposed. The weirdness of eating something that was once part of someone else's body was quickly forgotten as the sweetness that gushed into her mouth after a satisfying crunch.

It was good, incredibly so.

She had to keep wiping away the juices that dribbled down her chin, thankfully Andrew didn't seem to mind that she was using his jacket to do so.

"It's really good." It was hard to feel bad about her situation when she had a friend with her to deal with it and good food. Even though it was cold, damp, and scary, with him it seemed almost as if they were having a picnic or a camping trip. She spent the time growing more various fruits, and once he ran out of those he transformed into animals.

Having a tap-dancing and singing frog surprising did wonders for one's mood. Even if she was pretty sure it was tone-deaf.

She soon got sleepy from all of the excitement as she huddled closer, clutching the boy's arm tightly. He gave her a brief glance before scratching at his cheeks. "You know, if you're tired you can go ahead and take a nap, I'll keep and eye out for anything."

She shook her head.

"..? Huh? Why not?" As far as Andrew knew, rescue wouldn't be coming until quite some time since they usually got home by 6 p.m and if he was to hazard a guess it was only around 1. If one was tired it was only natural to sleep, forcing herself to stay awake wouldn't be good for her health mental or otherwise.

"If you're worried about me then relax, with music and Angry bird I won't be bored."

"...I'm scared."

"Of the dark?" he ventured. A reasonable assumption, plenty of kids were scared of sleeping in the dark in their own room to say the least of being in a dark and spooky cave. He really wished he knew how to make blankets and other stuff besides clothes. He already spread out a large towel for them to sit on, but it just didn't keep them warm or as comfortable as an actual blanket.

He made a mental note to learn how to make pillows too, heck maybe even an entire bed while he was at it! He already knew how to shape wood more or less so why not?

He could make every college student's dreams come true, bringing your bed everywhere with you on the go!

"... That you won't be here when I wake up, that I'll be all alone again. I- I know you wouldn't just leave me, but I can't help it. I'm sorry, it is stupid. I'm stupid. Everything's my fault, and I even ruined your video."

"Jean, first of all, you're not stupid. In fact, you're one of the smartest girls I know, like period. If you're stupid, then nobody's smart. Secondly, it's not your fault and its not a big deal. I'm actually having fun. As long as you're with me I'm usually having fun, honest. Except when you hog all the hot water during movie night. Cold showers are never fun."

The camera suddenly twirls through the air before landing face down in the dark. Nothing could be seen but the video didn't end as voices could still be heard.

"The video isn't important. I just do it because I'm so excited about being here at Xavier's school with you and the professor and all the people I'll get to meet in the future as part of the X-men. I'm here to stay Jean, and I'll be here for you when you wake up, I promise. Ok? I'll always be here for you, when you open your eyes I'll be here. Pinky promise! Everybody knows you can't break a pinky promise!"

The camera didn't show it but Jean could remember nodding before falling asleep on his lap. Xavier had informed the authorities and a rescue team soon rescued them in time for dinner. Apparently she never left his side the entire time even as they were dugout, he had carried her on his back as they went back home.

The video soon ended as a soft song lulled her to sleep. Some anime opening she couldn't for the life of her remember nor pronounce.

"Always, huh... Then when are you coming back to keep your promise?"

So much had changed ever since the second X-men's disappearance over two years ago. It seemed like almost everyday Spiderman was making the front page news, and superpowers and mutant sighting has been rapidly increasing. So were Heroes and Villains. The kidnapping of Tony Stark, the emergence of Iron man, Hank's transformation into Beast and official X-men status. New family members in the form of Night Crawler, Shadow Cat, Angel. New enemies with the Brotherhood of Mutants and Magneto, the Green Goblin, and Doctor Octopus.

It seemed as if every day the world was changing so fast.

"If you don't hurry up, I'm not sure I'll even be able to recognize you anymore... Storm will get taken if you keep dragging your feet, Andy."

Suddenly the sound of knocking could be heard. She was broken out of her reminiscence as she got up and turned towards the source. Scott was all suited up and she knew what that meant. Another day, another criminal with some mad plan, and as always it was up to superpower teenagers to save the day. Sometimes Jean felt as if her life was a big joke to someone up there.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but something popped up. Peter's in downtown fighting Rhino and Mysterio, he needs some help."

"I see. I'm on it." As she left to get suit up herself she stopped as Cyclops stared at her from behind his visor.

"You've been watching those old videos again, huh..."

"... Yeah."

"Do you... Do you think-" The boy decided to stop his words but it was too late and the thought was already planted in their mind, was Andrew even still alive at this point? However, he hastily changed his words. "Do you think he would like the new costumes? He always was a fan of black, wasn't he?" The fumbling attempt of humor got a dry smile and nod out of Jean before she left.

The others may have given up, but not her. She knew he was still out there, and one day he was coming back. He'd never break a promise with her after all. Even if she had to find and drag him home herself.

Jean Grey wasn't on the level of Charles Xavier yet, but it was only a matter of time and experience before she surpassed him. There wasn't a day she wasn't training nor using Cerebro, and at this point, it was highly likely she knew it better inside and out than its own creator.

X-23 didn't know what she was up against, but then again she never asked. She never asked. A weapon does not speak unless spoken too, and then most certainly did not question orders. She was trained to be an assassin and she was trained well, regardless of the lack of detail she was a survivor and this was simply another training exercise she had to complete.

One amongst thousands and she shall complete it as flawlessly as the others.

Well, flawless might've been the wrong term. It seems whether she succeed or failed she was always punished, it was only a matter of to what degree.

She had been given a small piece of cloth that contained the target's scent and was currently chasing after it from across the Canadian forest under the careful watch of The Facility. The "stealth" droids were irritating as they tended to blow her cover when against well-trainned opposition or those with similar enhanced senses, but she wasn't in a position to complain.

She wasn't in a position to do anything besides what she was told.

She took a deep whiff of the wind to confirm Subject 001's position. She was currently downwind and had intentionally slowed her heartbeat as she stalked the creature she was told was in the guise of a boy. Supposedly the thing was a human but its scent confused her like nothing else. As if someone had gotten a giant blender and shoved in an entire zoo and barn's worth of animals and blended them all together. Sometimes it smelt more like a bird, other times a wet dog, and today it smelled like... Apples, turkey, and a hint of mongoose?

Absolutely bizarre and jarring.

Still, she was a professional and shapeshifter or not she'd hunt it down as told. She could see it now drinking some water. Apparently lapping it up with an unnaturally long tongue was talking far too long for its liking as it soon shoved its entire head underneath the stream. Her keen eyesight showed her the small gills that grow on the side of his neck.

Seeing the golden opportunity for what it was she quickly jumped down from her perch above the boy and busted out of the treelines, claws unsteathed right before the impact and buried itself deep within the other's back, severing the spine, puncturing the heart, lungs, and intestinal tracks.

He violently twisted it before tearing them out, kicking his body away from her to avoid getting any unncessary blood on her uniform.

It lasted all of 3 seconds, quick, quite, and ruthlessly efficent just as she had been taught. She tapped her earcom and was about to call for a pickup as she finished her kill, but suddenly the water exploded upwards as the boy she was so certain she had just killed landed on the bank and growled menacingly at her, its eyes glowing sulfur yellow.

She bit back a curse as now she was most definitely getting punished for making contact before confirming her kill. Perhaps she could blame it on a tumble with 001? She crushed her earcom at the thought, but knew it was too late and they were just hopeful thoughts.

Two growls filled the clearing as the teens circled each other slowly like the predator that they were. It was the boy which broke off the stalemate off first, charging at her with his hands shaped into claws.

X-23 ducked backward, timing it so that it only barely fly past her so that she could immediately counter-attack. The calculated move soon came to bite her in the ass because just as he was about to plunge her claws once more into the boy, this time aiming for the head unlike a certain God of Storms, the arm instantly shifted into a bear's and sent her flying into and through a tree.

So her info wasn't good or the target had changed. Knowing the sadistic folks at The Facility she was willing to bet it was the former. No matter, a small hick up. She soon rolled onto her feet just before an elephant slammed past her previous position. Just as he rushed towards it, it turned into a hummingbird and flew past.

As she turned around it was now diving towards her. She reached out and tried to punch it when she got a first-hand experience of what it was like to have a moose fall on top of you.

Fun fact, when cars and moose meet, it's usually the moose that walks away while the car gets totaled.

having a thousand pounds suddenly dropped on someone would have been more than enough to kill anyone else or turn them into ground beef, but for someone with such an advanced healing factor, it was merely a minor set back. Her lower half was pulped beneath the creature as she didn't manage to completely dodge. Without a moment of hesitation, she bisected herself at the waist, her hand dug deep into the dirt as she went into a handstand and flipped away. By the time she hit the ground her legs had already grown back and she was crouched and ready to jump back into the fray.

Snarling with anger she crossed her arms in front of her face and prepared for tear into the giant steroids taking wolf in front of her. It seemed the beast was feeling to same way before it suddenly stopped.

It tilted its head in confusion as it observed her, its postured seemed to relax some. The female assassin didn't understand why, nor did she care. Normally she would simply take advantage of her target letting down its guard, but she was still feeling weak from her grievous injury. It would take a bit more time for everything to properly set and she could use the breather.

Strange. This girl. She was... familiar? The collective animal consciousness that had arisen as a defensive mechanism of Andrew was currently in a predicament. It was being attacked, and yet it was pretty sure it wasn't supposed to harm the girl now that it had gotten a closer look.

Green eyes and black hair with a pair of hauntingly familiar claws. And that posture... A faint image in the back of its mind called out to it. A certain shorter and gruff man in a yellow and blue costume. Another flash and it saw Andrew huddling in a corner of his room in another earth holding onto an old and worn out comic. The faint echos were enough for it to stand down, especially after it saw the X shape the young girl was forming with her claws.

X-men.

They, they were important. Protect, yes. It must protect X-men.

But X-men were hurting it, hurting Andrew?

It was confusing the chaotic assembly of consciouses that was made of more wild instinct and aggression than thoughts and did not know what to do and so it did the simplest thing it could. Nothing.

Perhaps eventually the little girl would tire herself out?

After five whole hours of the girl repeatedly screaming and shanking it, it decided that this wasn't working out with its limited thought process so it decided to tie the girl up as a giant anaconda. If only she would stop struggling and go to sleep. Turning the front of its body back into Andrew's while keeping the long snake tail and the girl tied up it went about its day.

It didn't get very far before it's body is almost liquified from multiple kinetic bombs setting off simultaneously.

Every object has it's own natural frequency regardless of outside forces, and once someone vibrates at its natural frequency the force is greatly amplified many folds. Subject 001 quickly lost control of its hold over X-23 as a helicopter soon flew over to retrieve the two weapons.

However even as blood pooled down all its orifices from burst blood vessels the body crouched protectively over the girl growling menacingly. The raven-haired girl merely blinded in surprise at the reaction as the hold over her was released and a giant wolf covered her from the armored men's views. Even if it couldn't speak, X-23 was well versed in body language and dissecting tones and people alike.

It was a surreal moment for the girl who has had people out to hurt and make sure of her ever since she was born, especially from someone, she was out to kill.

A loud whine was heard as the beast was taken by surprise from having the one it was attempting to protect slice open its stomach. Even so, the wolf barely flinched and maintained its defensive vigil regardless.

It just made it all that much easier for it to be taken down, especially when despite its strong front it could barely move. It was nothing more than a paper tiger. Soon all it saw was darkness and two gleaming green eyes full of barely hidden confusion.

Everyone was a victim of their circumstances and cages came in more form than iron bars it seems.