Disclaimer: Of course I don't own X-Men: Evolution. I do own Natalie and Byron and other various characters not associated with the X-Men at the moment. The first few chapters explain Natalie's background a bit, with a brief mention of the X-Men probably happening around Chapter 3 or 4 or so. I'm sorry that the writing seems awfully choppy, but you have to realize this part is from Natalie's memories, and it's how she's perceiving things. If you have any questions about Natalie's background, a lot will be explained in more detail after she meets the X-Men, so while I appreciate your questions, I think most will be answered later on in the fic. If you'd like to archive this, just e-mail me and ask.

Natalie

The first time she could remember it happening was that day on the playground, eight years ago.

She had been seven at the time, and it was the day that changed her life forever.

Natalie had always been a bit of a loner. It wasn't that she didn't have friends-she did have a few-but she found that she couldn't seem to relate to anyone. She knew she was different; she just didn't know how or why.

She stood quietly alone by the edge of the playground. As she looked around, she noticed two big groups at opposite ends of the playground. Natalie frowned. The Blues and the Cards, rival gangs. Usually they got along pretty well on school ground-it was practically a neutral zone-but she had a bad feeling that today was going to be different.

It hit her unexpectedly. The world seemed to fall away and her vision narrowed. She was aware that she was unable to move, and then the vision overtook her.

In her mind, she saw the Blues and the Cards heading toward each other, pulling out guns. There were little kids, her age, between them. She recognized a few, a friend named Destiny in particular. They were shooting now-Destiny, look out!-and then a bunch of boys playing around knocked into her, running away and it was over.

Across the playground, the African girl known as Destiny looked up as though she had heard Natalie's mental cry. But she shook it off and lowered her head again, intent on her playing.

As soon as Natalie was aware that she could move again, she ran haltingly to the teacher on recess duty, half-stumbling and tripping from overly sore muscles.

"Ms. Larson!" she called. "Ms. Larson, something's going to happen-" But Ms. Larson cut her frantic ramblings short, shushing her.

"Nothing's going to happen, Natalie, now don't be silly-" Shots rang out, and Ms. Larson turned. She saw the two gangs and pushed Natalie to the ground. People were screaming now, and Natalie saw Destiny fall to the ground as well. But Destiny wasn't safe, Destiny wasn't all right, because Destiny was dead and other kids were falling too, shot and killed in the crossfire.

Suddenly Natalie started screaming, because the feeling had washed over her again, and she couldn't shut her mouth to stop the screaming.

Again she had a vision, only it wasn't about Destiny this time, it was her parents and they were screaming too because a car had hit them and they were dying, dead-

Natalie was still screaming when they put her in the ambulance that had come and took her off to the hospital for examination.