Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men.  but I do own Shelby 

This is my first Fanfic so helpful review would be nice.

Chapter 1

The full moon hung in the sky over a beautiful and peaceful forest. An owl landed on branch and hooted softly. Suddenly the air filled with the sound of barking and cursing as a lone figure silently fled through the small clearing.

She was rather tall and looked slightly Chinese. Her black hair had once been brought up into a large bun, but the metal sticks that held it in place had long since fallen out because of her mad dash through the woods.

Seconds after she passed through, several bloodhounds ripped angrily through the undergrowth in pursuit of their prey. A large group of policemen following after the animals shouting words of encouragement, obviously enjoying their little 'hunt'.

Shelby cursed her self quietly. How could she have been so stupid to let her tail slip from around her waist, stupid low rise jeans, and in a sheriffs office too. Well it could not be helped and if she did not get out of this mess soon she was doomed. Cautiously she looked over her shoulder and saw that one dog was getting very close. Suddenly she tripped over the tree root in front of her and went tumbling to the ground.

Before she could blink the dog was upon her and sank its teeth into her leg. With a cry of pain Shelby's skin turned to metal. The animal only had time to yelp once before her now deadly tail hit the dog in the head, killing him instantly. The lifeless body went crashing into the path of the oncoming dog pack, causing them to leap out of the way and stumble.

Shelby winced as hot metal filled her wound making it as good as new. She quickly leapt up and continued running. Suddenly a large, moss covered stonewall appeared in front of her, forcing her to come to an abrupt stop. Small metal bristles extended from her hand allowing her to grip the sides of the wall and quickly climb over the top and hide.

The dogs and policemen began to run along the other side if the wall until they came to a large regal looking gate.

"Xavier's School for Gifted Youngster's." The policeman read the sign, " The gate is locked tight, and there is no way that she could have gotten inside. Lets keep moving before that Mutie gets away!"

With a yell the small mob started running down the road, unaware that they had passed their prey.

Professor Xavier lay awake in his bed. He could not sleep. So he decide to do a quick scan of the mansion, just to make sure that everything was alright. Suddenly he froze, There was some on out side his mansion. He carefully skimmed their mind, trying to find out who they were. He quickly contacted the only X-man who was awake at the moment.

Wolverine.

"Logan, we have a visitor I can sense that they are not one of the brotherhood but I do not think that they came here for a good reason. Please go neutralize the mutant, I have turned off the mansions defense systems. But be careful I do not want the mutant harmed."

"Sure Chuck." Logan replied gruffly as he downed the last gulp in his beer bottle, and quietly seemed to melt into the darkness as he waited.

Shelby let out a sigh of relief and stopped to put her hair back in place.

"Ah, finally my luck is improving! I escape from those idiots and I am inside a rich school filled with spoiled kids. There must be plenty of food and money inside ripe for the picking. I'm sure the brats won't mind." She said with a laugh.

Cautiously she picked her way across the beautiful lawn and crouched next to the back door. Quickly she jimmied the lock and was inside. After entering the kitchen she dumped out a backpack that had been left on the counter and started filling it with food.

Suddenly she froze, and twisted around she could have sworn that she heard a sound. Quickly changing into her metal form she crept around to investigate, but found nothing.

It must just be nerves, besides who would be around in a dark house on a night like this. She smirked and went back to her refrigerator raiding. After almost filling the backpack she warily entered a large living room that was lavishly furnished and looked around.

The moonlight shown eerily through the large windows and cast shadows though out the room. Turning she spotted a purse that had been left on the table. After stuffing it into her bag she looked for more things that might be useful.

Suddenly she got a very uneasy feeling and decided it might be time to leave. But a large shadow blocked her path, with a low growl it stopped her escape.

Angrily Shelby hit it with her tail just hard enough to send it hurdling out of her way, then she ran towards the door. Before she could reach it the man leapt at her with three shiny blades appearing to extend out of its knuckles. She screamed as they started to enter her shoulder and winced at the pain. Furiously she hit the man in the side with her tail, flinging him against the far wall with the sound of breaking glass as a vase fell off a table.

Wincing as her deep wounds filled with metal she turned towards her attacker who had again risen from the ground and was circling her with his blades extended threatenly.

"So that's how you want to do this," She commented as three claws also extended from her knuckles, he merely raised his eyebrows and growled.

"Stop this immediately!" demanded a voice as the lights in the room came on illuminating a bald man in a wheel chair and a large crowd of children of all ages that were staring at her.

Shelby stared and started to jump towards the speaker when she caught sight of a blue, pointy eared, elf in the corner.

"Kurt," she cried recognition,

Without warning Wolverine lunged at Shelby but with the nauseating smell of brimstone Kurt grabbed her and teleported to the other side of Xavier.

"Calm down Logan, ve is a friend." Pleaded Nightcrawler.

"Sure didn't seem that way when she broke in and stole our stuff." Grumbled Wolverine as he lit his cigar.

"Who is your friend Kurt?" questioned the bald man who did not appear at all surprised at what had just happened.

"I am Shelby Ust and you are…"

"Charles Xavier and this is my school for mutants."

"Are you serious? A school for mutants? Wow, wish this place had been around when I was a kid."

" Don't we all. I am one of the teachers, my name is Ororo Munroe but some people call me Storm." Informed a beautiful African woman with white hair.

"Storm? Is that a code name or something?"

"Yes, you should have one too. Everyone around here does."

Shelby laughed, " Well, if I stay here I might come up with one."

Kurt looked at her surprised "You really should stay here fraulien, Mutants are accepted here and maybe you could join the X-men."

"Yes, it is safer here and from what I can see you don't really have anywhere else to go," Ororo reasoned

"Well, I had been looking for a change in scenery, but you had better not expect me to teach. As far as choosing a code name," she grinned, " how about China?"

Kurt grinned. Ororo hid a laugh. The younger mutants laughed while Logan merely grunted at the strong metal covered women in front of them.

Wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes Kurt responded, "That sounds perfect. Just vhat I vould expect from you."

"So are you all going to keep laughing or show me to my room?"

There… now that you have read the first beta'ed chapter………. Review!