Beyond Evolution

It happened without any real signs that something was about to change. New York had been quiet, the summer relatively uneventful after the attacks on the city and the school. Like the world was actually taking pity on them, and giving the residents of Xavier's a break.

Because it did that so often.

It wasn't the world this time, though, that was about to test them. No cosmically bad universe-timing was the cause of this, no random invader wanting to cause mayhem or holding a vendetta. This was done out of love. They needed to be tested. All of them. This wouldn't be understood by them, their so-called friend knew that much. They would be sure it was another attack, perhaps the Brotherhood again, someone trying to trip them up. they wouldn't understand that it was being done to make them stronger.

Because they needed to be stronger.

Their friend would not let them continue like this. They needed to be steeled, to be made stronger, to face down what held them back and know that they could defeat it. If they had to be forced into it, then so be it.

((Narrative, closed))