Disclaimer: I don't own South Park dude. Really. The nerve of you.

A/N: This is a rewrite of my fic Freaks, which was deleted a while back. I really wanted to go a better direction with the plot and here it is.

Dreams/Visions: Hello

Thoughts: 'Hello'

Speech: "Hello"

Mind control/Telepathy: "Hello"/'Hello'

Kenny Talk: ("Hello")

Chapter six: Making up for thin wrists and ankles with an extremely buff mind

I hope that you'll feel how a heart can die
When it's ripped out from inside
I hope you'll learn

~The Storm, Lost in the Fire

Kyle was terrified. Extremely terrified in fact. In a few moments he'd be facing his mother for the first time since the 'assault'. Despite the fact that he knew she didn't remember (and god did it make him wince thinking she'd hit that hard.) and it was rather unlikely she'd suddenly remember he couldn't help but fear she'd take one look at him and know.

He had the irrational fear that she'd take one look at him and see the guilt in his eyes and correctly put together exactly what had happened. Perhaps it was because he had spent so long under her thumb that he was used to her knowing everything about his life. Or it could just be his guilty conscience.

Or, more probable, both.

He did telekinetically fling his mother into a wall like a rag doll. It was pretty reasonable to feel guilty. Perfectly reasonable in fact. It would be far more unreasonable (and disturbing) if he wasn't feeling guilty.

Walking down the hall towards his mother's hospital room he found that thought wasn't as comforting as he'd hoped. And it didn't stop the dread from pooling in his stomach as he got closer, his brother shooting him a reassuring smile while his dad's hand moved to comfortingly squeeze his shoulder.

"You alright there son?", Gerald asked softly.

He gave a short half nod. "Yeah. Just nervous."

"I understand."

Kyle shared a look with his brother that clearly said 'I doubt it' and turned back to face his mother's room, having come to a stop before it. Inside he could just make out his mother's bright red hair, hanging loose rather than up in it's usual beehive style. He felt apprehension freeze him to the spot, his mind saying she wouldn't want to see him despite not knowing what he was.

But his father squeezed his shoulder again, pushing him forward, and he sucked it up he, slowly making his way into the room. As soon as he entered his mother looked up, smiling at him in a way he thought she never again would.

She sat up on her bed, patting the space beside her and smiled. "Oh Kyle my Bubbeh, I've missed you so much." She looked him over and her smile faded to an expression of worry. "Are you alright?"

He gave a short nod, throat feeling suddenly dry. "Y-Yeah. 'M good."

He moved to sit beside her where she'd gestured, the bed dipping slightly as he did, and felt a jolt of nervousness as she pulled him into a half hug. He slowly relaxed into her arms, part of him thrilled by her enthusiasm at seeing him and part of him angry she'd forgotten all that had occurred.

It felt like his whole world had changed in the space of a few days and she didn't even remember it. One of the most terrifying and monumental moments in his life and she'd forgotten all about it. And it was worse cause that's just what he wanted so he couldn't really complain about it.

Then suddenly she tensed, pulling away from him and glaring over his shoulder at the door. He turned and immediately understood why as he took in his brother, eyes nervous and hopeful, being led in by his father.

His mother bristled, giving a sort of half snarl half hiss. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you-"

"Sheila, enough.", Gerald said firmly, arm moving over Ike's shoulder.

"But Gerald-"

He shook his head. "No. You're tearing our family apart with you prejudice and I-I won't stand for it anymore. Ike is our son and he will always be our son mutant, human, or otherwise.", he paused, looking over at Kyle, then Ike, before looking back to his wife. "He's coming back home where he belongs and I won't hear anything to the contrary."

Sheila seemed to stiffen before looking over at Kyle, catching the pleading look in his eyes. He was mentally begging her, his hand intertwining with hers and squeezing tight. And she felt calm wash into her.

'Please Mom. Please accept him. Love him. Please. Please. Mutants aren't bad. They aren't!'

And she nodded, eyes taking on a strange sort of shift. "Of course. I'm sorry. I-I don't know what I was thinking. I've been so foolish."

Kyle looked at her closely, concerned by the sudden shift in attitude before he notice their clasped hands and the hum off her voice in the back of his mind. And it struck him suddenly. He was doing something to her...to make her act like this.

He released her hand as if he'd been burned, turning to look at his brother who was staring at him in confused contemplation. He tried to communicate with his eyes what he was feeling, what he couldn't say aloud with their parents right there.

'I did something to her...I don't know what but I just did something to her.'

Ike's eyes widened and he looked between their parents before turning back to Kyle with a look of awe on his face. Kyle realized the younger mutant had heard him and felt a thrill of both fear and exhilaration.

"Mom. Dad. Ky and I are gonna go get some snacks...is that okay?", Ike asked, voice more cheerful than was really necessary (or normal).

Gerald gave a nod, looking at his sons. "Sure. Would you mind running down to Tweek's for some coffee while you're at it?"

Kyle hopped off the bed and moved to his brother's side, nodding. "Sure thing dad."

He dragged Ike from the room and down the hall, stopping only when he was sure they were far enough from their mother's rooms not to be overheard. As soon as they stopped Ike turned to him, both of them speaking at the same time in a rush.

"You heard me!" "I heard you!"

They froze for a moment before laughing at the coincidence, both leaning slightly on each other. When they finally settled down Kyle could feel a wetness dripping down from his nose and he ran a hand under it, pulling it back and gasping at what he saw.

"Shit. Ky, you're bleeding.", Ike said, staring at the red smeared on his hand.

Kyle looked down at it before nodding slowly. "I think whatever I did was a bit too much for me."

He wavered a bit, Ike helping him to sit in a nearby chair. The younger teen leaned beside him, giving him a small smile.

"Was pretty cool though. I mean You Jedi mind tricked mom and talked to me in my head."

Kyle gave a small half chuckle. "What can I say...I'm the great Jedi Master Kyle. That's apparently what I do."

"Mind reading and awesome Telekinesis. Why'd you get the cool powers?" Ike asked wistfully, putting a hand to his chest.

Kyle gave him a sorta glare. "You mean why did I get the dangerous powers?"

Ike nodded, a teasing gleam in his eyes. "Exactly."

"Let's just go get dad his coffee.", Kyle huffed.

He stood up slowly, making sure his nose had stopped bleeding, before grabbing his brother's arm and dragging him off towards the hospital exit. As they strode out into the cool morning he had a sudden idea, turning to Ike.

"Wanna see if Stan and Kenny want to meet us?"

The Canadian nodded, turning to grin at his brother. "Totally. We can tell them what you did with your powers."

Kyle nodded slowly, pulling out his cell. "I was thinking we could have them help us bring the coffee back and act as moral support, but whatever."

Running through his contacts he clicked down and dialed, lifting the phone up to his ear.

Cartman sat alone in the park, waiting for Stan to meet him there and watching the nearby kids on the playground. He'd shifted into Kyle and called the black haired teen telling him they had to talk and to meet him at Stark's Pond. Then he'd rushed over to wait, trying hard to act just like Kyle.

This would only work if he was convincing. Stan and Kyle were to close for Stan not to notice any un-Kyle like traits and if he did then it was all over. His whole plan would be ruined and there'd be no salvaging it.

His biggest advantage was the fact that no one knew he was a mutant and no one knew he could shapeshift. If he gave up that advantage it would make it all the harder to trick Kyle into helping him. And Cartman needed Kyle to be on his side.

"Ky, dude you said we had to talk?"

Cartman jolted, turning to look at Stan with as much of a Kyle-like expression as he could. "Yeah. I-It's important."

Stan sat down on the bench beside him, eyes concerned. "What's up? I thought you were visiting your mom in the hospital today?"

Cartman grinned, unaware that Stan was watching him closely with concerned eyes. He faced the teen and put on his most convincing Kyle face, eyes wavering a bit for good measure.

"I-I was. I just had to talk to you first."

Before Stan could answer a ringing filled the clearing, the raven haired teen fishing in pocket for his cellphone. He pulled it out, frowning at the screen and gestured apologetically at Cartman.

"Hold on, I gotta take this?" He stood up, moving a ways away before answering his phone. "Hello?"

There were a few minutes of silence before Stan's brow furrowed even more and he glanced sideways at the disguised Cartman. He seemed to look the teen over, eyes suspicious, and Cartman suddenly felt very nervous.

"Coffee? Yeah...sure. Sounds good."

He paused again, listening to whoever was on the other end of the line and nodded his head, fingering his keys in his jacket pocket.

"Yeah. I can get Ken. Just-Just give me a sec. I have to take care of something first.", he looked over at Cartman then back ahead. "I'll call you back."

He hung up the phone, eyes narrowing at Cartman before making his way back over quickly. Cartman tried to remain calm, figuring he was safe as long as he didn't give anything away. I mean, there was a chance Stan didn't realize-

"So...that was you on the phone. You wanted to know if I wanted to meet you and Ike for coffee and come back to the hospital with you.", Stan growled, hands beginning to spark with purple energy. "Weird huh?"

Cartman felt a growl tear from his throat as he jumped up just in time to miss Stan's hand brushing the bench and the bench exploding. He barely rolled away from all the shrapnel, Stan seeming unphased by it.

Loud cries filled the air as the children and their parents at the nearby playground began to panic, backing away in a scared chaotic crowd. Stan didn't seem to care, too focused on Cartman who was beginning to get worried.

"Ah shit.", He huffed, standing up and taking a quick look around for an escape. "Shit!"

At the same time Stan drew closer, eyes glowing faintly with purple light. "Who are you?"

Cartman grinned, shifting quickly into Stan himself figuring it would distract the teen long enough for him to find an out. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He looked around, quicker this time, and caught sight of the panicking crowd, running away from the scene in a big wild mess. He made a mad dash for them, Stan charging after and began shifting into a new form as they entered the group.

Everyone scattered at Stan's arrival and Cartman easily slipped into the crowd, blending in seamlessly. He was a quick learner and it wasn't that hard to utilize his normal manipulative and sneaky habits with his shapeshifting and vanish among the masses.

As the crowd (and Cartman) dispersed Stan was left standing there alone in the park, the sound of sirens ringing in the distance. He growled in frustration before hurriedly making his way to his van and sliding in the drivers seat.

He so did not want to get caught by the cops for 'abuse of mutation'. He'd get seriously grounded.

He floored it quickly, speeding off in the direction of Kenny's house, and prayed to god no one in that crowd had been calm enough to see his face and figure out who he was. He was a pretty well known guy in South Park. Hell, he Ken, Ky, and Fatass where well known in all of Park County!

That was so not a good thing for a mutant.

He pulled out his phone and shot Kyle a quick text telling him he was on his way to get Kenny and they'd be there soon, then turned his attention back to the road.

He approached Kenny's house, the blond already waiting out front, and pulled over letting Kenny hop in. As soon as he was buckled up the hooded teen turned to look at him, eyes twinkling with amusement.

("Dude, what took you so long?")

Stan chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "You are not going to believe this..."

By the time they'd arrived at Tweek's Coffee it Kenny was utterly amazed by Stan's story and couldn't wait to share it with Kyle and Ike. I mean, a real live shapeshifter!

He literally threw himself from the van as soon as it was stopped, grinning at the waiting brothers and bouncing around energetically.

("You guys will not freaking believe this!"), he yelled, grabbing hold of Ike and Kyle's arms. ("Stan met a-")

"Shapeshifter?", Kyle asked, cutting him off. "Seriously?"

"How'd you know?", Stan asked, making his way over to them with more patience and control then Kenny had.

Kyle gave a half shrug and blushed. "He's -thinking? Yeah.- thinking really loud. And touching my arm."

Kenny snorted, letting the brothers go. ("What does touching your arm have to do with reading my thoughts?")

"Touch makes it easier.", Ike said quickly. "But he can do it without. He did it in mom's hospital room today. It was soooo cool!"

("Really?")

Kyle sighed, running a hand over his face and looked up at Kenny then Ike with exasperation. He whapped each of them on the arm, giving them pointed glares, and gestured back to Stan.

"Can we get back to the shapeshifter please?", then, turning to Stan. "Do you know who it was?"

The taller male shook his head. "No clue. I don't think I ever saw what they really look like since I'm pretty sure they're not you or me. But we need to find out. They were planning something, obviously something to do with you."

"How do we even find out who they are if they can be anyone?", Ike asked, frowning.

Kenny grinned, throwing an arm around Kyle. ("Mind reader dudes. We have a mind reader!")

Kyle pushed away, frowning halfheartedly at him and crossing his arms in front of his chest. He looked like he was about to say something when his phone went off and he fished it out of his pocket, sighing.

Ike frowned. "What's up?"

"Dad's wondering what's taking us so long.", he replied, texting back quickly before shoving it back in his pocket. "Let's grab the coffee and get back. We can talk about the shapeshifter in the car."

They made their way inside, Stan pausing in the door with a frown on his face. Kyle noticed him stop and turned to look back at him, concern on his face.

"Stan?"

The raven haired teen frowned. "Won't your mom not want Kenny, Ike, and I in the room? I mean, she hates mutants..."

"N-Not anymore...", Kyle said softly.

Stan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I might have changed her thoughts..."

Tada! I'm back baby! I finally got my muse back after sooooo long feeling totally unepic.

Poor Cartman, foiled by today's technology. But he'll be back and sneakier than ever. We have yet to see the last of him and his evil meddling.

And Poor Kyle, mind whammying his mama like that. That's gonna have some consequences later on I'm sure. :) HEHE!

Anywho, please review and tell me what you think!