"The Next Generation: Part Two - Moonstar"
by Bull (Sandkings)

Danielle Moonstar has gone through many changes since her first appearance in the New Mutants Graphic Novel. Cheyenne, MLF, Co-leader of the New Mutants, Valkyrie, member of X-Force are all words to describe Dani's past. After Dani's powers manifested, her grandfather decided that she should join the Xavier school. In her first appearance, Donald Pierce's men killed her grandfather. Somewhat reluctantly, she joined the New Mutants. At first, her powers were quite simple. Dani had the ability to pull images out of a person's head; most effectively used when she used the image of what that person feared most.

Mirage became the co-leader of the New Mutants along with Sam Guthrie. Her powers would become more defined over the years due to the influence of many different battles. Her powers were advanced when she became a member of the Valkyrie in Asgard. Here, she gained a death sense that allowed her to "see" death. She also developed a sense of empathy with animals, most commonly associated with the shape changer, Wolfsbane. Her powers were advanced again by the High Evolutionary during the Evolutionary Wars. This allowed her images that she pulled from people's minds into solid shapes. Her final days with the New Mutants were under the control of Hela, the goddess of Death in Asgard. The rest of the New Mutant class came to Asgard and freed Dani, but she decided to stay in Asgard with her horse, Brightwind.

Moonstar was not seen for several years until she turned up with the Mutant Liberation Front. When she returned, she worked undercover for S.H.I.E.L.D. as she learned more about the M.L.F. . Her powers now were more defined as she used he psi-powers in a psychic bow and arrow. Dani faced off against X-Force during her time with the M.L.F. as they were unaware of her covert operation. After Operation Zero Tolerance, Dani rejoined X-Force where she went through yet another major transformation of powers. The girl Arcadia used her own powers on Danielle. Now, Dani's psi powers seem to have disappeared. She now has the ability to use chaos powers in a variety of ways.

X-Force is now going through another shake up. One of the two remaining original New Mutants on the current team, Dani and Sam Guthrie seems to be in the team for the long hall. Danielle has been on more teams than any of the other originals, including The New Mutants, X-Force, M.L.F., SHIELD, and the Valkyrie. Now that she has re-joined with her old friends, Danielle Moonstar will be facing some of her greatest challenges as her powers change and develop. Yet, the future may be grim as Apocalypse looms on the horizon.