A/N: This takes place about two years after Chapter 1.  During that time, Willow Forest has been fitting in, but an old enemy has come back and it's going to take everything she's made of to overcome the memories.  I meant to have this set sooner and then realized that the confrontation would loose some of its edge if it was too soon.

Also, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update, but I've got baton practice, and choir trips and homework, and school, and somewhere in there I have to sleep.

Chapter 2

"Hey, girl!" Jubilee Lee greeted her friend. Because neither of them had classes together, they didn't see each other all that often but when they did, everyone ran in fear. The sad thing was that they literally ran for their lives. And all they were afraid of were three teenage girls. Well granted, Logan always stuck around the "crazy psycho girls" as Scott had dubbed them.  But that was just because he was just as insane as them.

Forest had made the transition to being one of Xavier's students remarkably well, although Jubilee and Rogue, because they were her roommates, could have told you that something made her have horrible nightmares. Neither of them ever pressed the girl they often teased by calling Willow Forest.

Jubilee couldn't help but worry about her friend because she'd been on the streets herself, years before.  Jubilee watched her now, her red hair flying every which way as she skipped in a circle around Rogue.  "Wills, do you believe in destiny?" Jubilee asked her seriously.

Willow paused; debating the question for a few moments, until she finally had to sigh. "I believe that God has a plan for all of us, yes.  But an actual destiny? Of that I'm not certain."

"I didn't realize you were a Christian," Rouge drawled.  Of the three of them, she tended to be the calmest—which wasn't saying a lot considering the fact that she was currently hovering four feet off of the ground.

"Gotta believe in something out there," the redhead shrugged.  Sides, the Scoobies haven't survived this long without Divine Intervention, she muttered in Spanish.

"What did you say?" Logan had been passing through and overheard the muttered comment.

"I didn't say nothing," she snapped.

Before anyone could say anything about the blatant lie—or about the bad grammar—Professor Xavier passed them. "We have a new student.  His name's Jesse Santiago.  Come on, I want you all to meet him."

Willow Forest could only stare at him. Her mind was back nearly a decade recalling her first meeting with the boy who would become her best friend. 

Hi. I'm Willow.  Who're you?

I'm Jesse Santiago.

You're new, she'd observed. You still wear a last name and you ain't got scars.

That had been when they were seven. A year later they'd ran away with her brother, Liam, and a semi-new girl named Elisabeth. The four of them were the founding members of the Scoobies and they'd always been damn proud of the fact.  But she hadn't seen Jesse in over two years.

********

"Professor," Willow said timidly. "Professor."

"Yes, Willow?"

"I think you should try getting into Jesse's mind." Willow knew damn well that that wasn't her old friend in there and she was almost certain she knew who it was.

"Willow, I'm not certain why this is so worrying to you but as far as his memories state, that is Jesse Santiago in the lunch room."

"Thank you, sir," she said dutifully. Inside, however, she was seething with rage.  Willow knew exactly who the threat was this time and she wasn't going to be a pushover when it came time to deal with her.

********

Upon entering the lunch room, Willow had to concentrate as hard as she could to keep from revealing her presence. However, it was too soon to tip her hand and she knew it.  "Hello," she said calmly, walking up to where "Jesse" was sitting.  "I don't believe we've met.  I'm yours for the taking, who are you?"

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and stared.  Scott started to get up until Xavier motioned for him to sit back down. "Willow was concerned about who he was. I'm not positive but I believe that she knows something that we don't."

As for Willow, she was oblivious to all of this.  Nature had been the best in her league, the one you went to if you had something you wanted handled uniquely.  Willow may not have been Nature anymore but she was still the best. "I'm waiting," the seductress said silkily.

As for the person everyone else thought was Jesse, she was deeply shaken. "Damn you, Nature!" she called out, her voice starting to change, to become more feminine. "Damn you to everlasting suffering in the pits of Hell!"

"You're just upset that I pulled one over on you," Willow said calmly, still unaware of the people who were intently watching the strange drama.  "Didn't you figure that someone would see through you?"

"I'm just as good as you and Magneto trusts me to handle it!"

"But you didn't plan on running into me. Did you, Mystique?" Her voice was edgier than any of the X-Men had ever heard it, taking on a sharp tone that seemed like it belonged there.

Everyone started to jump up when she mentioned the shape-shifter's name but sat down again at a command from Xavier. Logan especially couldn't help but wonder what information she had about the shifter and why he hadn't smelled Mystique.

"No, I didn't…little sister.  But that's alright because my master has been aching for new recruits."  Mystique had finished her transformation into her typical form.

Willow faced the woman who was her half-sister and her most dangerous enemy as she shot vines from her hands. "He'll never get this girl as a recruit.  I started as a Scooby—as did you. But I stayed on the side of good and you strayed. I almost regret the fact that the rules dictate what has to happen to a traitor."

"Then don't do it," Mystique suggested, for she too knew the rules. She also knew that the vines that were wound around her bound her powers. 

At the adults' table, Xavier looked at Scott. "I know you mentioned wondering if she might have been a member of the 'Scooby Gang'.  As you knew what it was, perhaps you know what the rules are?"

Scott nodded. "The founding members of the Gang didn't want anyone defecting to join Magneto's side. Because of that, they made the rule that if a member did turn from good, they would be killed as soon as a member caught up with them."

"Killed?" Xavier gasped in horror. "Willow!"

She turned around, trailing her captive behind her. "If you don't like the Gang's way of dealing with traitors, fine, but don't try to get me to not kill her."

Jubilee stood up then, clearing her throat. "The rules have always been clear, Professor."

"Excuse me?!" the majority of the school chorused in unison.

"I was a floater," she said with a shrug. "I mainly worked demolitions, but occasionally worked with the assassination team."

"I knew I knew you from somewhere!" Willow said, connecting the dots. "Professor, because you have such problems with me killing, I'm calling a friend for help."

::Tumn? Are you there?:: She reached out with the telepathic channel Autumn had left in her brain years before.

::About damn time you contacted me!:: The reprimand was sharp, but the affection was there, hidden beneath Autumn's bitchy exterior.  ::Where the hell are you, girl?  All of the newbies are hopeless when it comes to killing.::

::That's actually why I contacted you.  I've got Mystique tangled up, but the Professor won't let me kill her.::

::You've got to be kidding me!::

::No, will you send Lorne?::

::Of course. And I'll even come with him.::

::Awesome, Autumn.::

Turning back to the group, Willow announced, "My friends will be here momentarily.  They will take care of…this little problem."

A/N: It'll take a few days, perhaps weeks for me to update again. I'm sorry but my life seems like it's just one big race…that won't end.