Disclaimer: I do not own any of the X-Men movies, and the original concept belongs to Marvel.

Summary: Some mutants gain their powers at puberty. Some are born with them. Some gain them much later in life. On average, the ones that develop younger are stronger. Why?

CHAPTER ONE

Mutation is a genetic abnormality, but, like all things, it is affected by our minds. We must have the will to access and control our powers, relying strongly on the belief that we can do it.

Those who discover their powers as a teenager often manifest in a very obvious and dramatic way. This is partially due to the trauma of the event, as teenagers, while still growing into themselves, have a defined sense of what is, knowledge of what should and shouldn't be possible. A teenager's sense of self is shaky enough, without the sudden ability to set them apart from their peers even more than they already feel.

By contrast, a child's view of the world is much more simplistic. A child who is born with a mutation, or develops very young, may know that they are different, but have little to no recollection of being anything but what they are. There is no sudden change, just what has always been, and they have nothing to compare it to. Ironically, someone who is different from birth may find being a Mutant much easier to accept than those who discover theirs as an adolescent or adult.

Until the age of five or six, a child's mind is very impressionable. 'Impossible' is a very abstract concept. They see a desired result, not always consciously, and bend their minds to achieving that result. In a normal human, it may simply be playing make-believe. In an early-developing Mutant, it is a fairy-tale come to life.

In many cases, the visual proof that they can do something, even if they have no idea how, is enough to inspire them to try again. Some will find it easier using a particular emotion, while others simply have to want it enough.

A mutation is like a muscle, in that it must be used, and exercised, in order to be strong, but lack of use, or deliberately trying not to use it, will inevitably cause problems.

We can therefore reasonably conclude that one who develops their mutation at a young age stands a greater chance of being stronger and more at ease with their ability, if only because of the timeline.

-excerpt from 'A study of Mutants', by Professor Charles Xavier.

X

X

X

X

A/N: This has been bouncing around my head for a while, and a psychology essay got me thinking. Think of the mutants we know of who had powers from a young age. Jean/Phoenix. Wanda/Scarlet Witch. Storm. Nightcrawler. Magneto. Mystique. Even Jamie/Multiple and Beast, to an extent. Most of the most powerful Mutants we know of developed early, which made me wonder if there was a connection between age and power.