Disclaimer: The X-Men aren't mine, they're Marvel's. The OCs that are specifically mentioned in this chapter are: Zendi Idnez belonging to magicrazy101, Nico Wolfe and Sionnach Fae both belonging to San child of the wolves.

Author's note: Yes! Another!

I came up with a fitting ending to the previous chapter. I wanted to be harsher to Tabitha... but Mrs. Lerry is very hard to work with. Hope you guys like it as well.

Analyze. Appreciate. Respond.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lerry, Professor Xavier, Logan… consequences must come." Principal Darth said, getting up to allow more light to come into his dark office. He sat back down at his desk chair and faced the parents and students. Mr. and Mrs. Lerry sat beside their son, Professor Xavier sat closest to them, next was Tabitha, then Logan and Leo. "This school will continue to be fair in discipline. As I imagine, all of you wish to have your students remain here."

"Why did you allow the other two students to leave with only suspension?" Mrs. Lerry asked. "I don't see why they should get off so easy when—"

"They did not get off easy, Mrs. Lerry." Darth corrected. "Though they assisted in an attack, they actually did no damage, the code of conduct says that their consequence is long-term suspension." He paused. "Now, your son here, has earned himself a one-way-ticket to getting expelled, if not expulsion."

"My son is the victim here, Mr. Darth!" Mrs. Lerry cried.

Logan scoffed. "Victim? Your son bashed Leo's head into a locker, repeatedly!"

"Keith was attacked by both of those mutants!" His mother continued.

Darth frowned. "I'm sorry, I think I missed something. I realize Miss Smith used her powers on Keith, but I don't recall Leo ever—"

"This past summer Leo attacked my son at the Zoo, Mr. Darth." Keith's father clarified.

"As I remember it, your son was attacked by an unidentified mutant, Mr. Lerry." Darth said, his left eye having twitched. "Even if it was Leo, we have no power over what happens outside of the school year. We are here to discuss the continuing attendance of Tabitha and Keith at this school."

The Lerrys glanced at each other but kept silent, finally.

"Ah yes, we would prefer if Tabitha could continue attending here." Xavier said, looking at his young charge. Tabitha swung her legs back and forth under her chair, avoiding his look.

"Well if my son is expelled, we demand she is as well." Mrs. Lerry said forcefully. "That other mutant is perfectly fine now, but Keith is still injured."

"If it wasn't for his powers, he'd be in a hospital." Logan answered gruffly. "I'd say a minor burn ain't much compared to the damage done to Leo." He turned to see Leo still staring a bit blankly. "Really, look at 'im!"

Leo turned his head, shaking it. "Sorry… D-did I zone out?"

Darth folded his hands on his desk and sat forward. "I am willing to lessen both consequences if that will appease all of you."

"No." All eyes turned to Tabitha. She looked up and met Darth's eyes. "I'm willing to take the full consequence… 'cuz I think my buddy Keith over there deserves it too." She leaned forward to look at Keith, and waved her fingers at him.

Keith scowled and sat back in his chair.

Xavier placed a hand on Tabitha's arm. "Now, Tabitha, we can work with these people. Small sacrifices have to be made someti—"

"But I don't want to get off easy just so that asshole can continue going to school here!" Tabitha protested.

The adults, other than Logan, didn't respond well to her 'foul language'.

"Tabitha!"

"Miss Smith!"

"Such rudeness!" Mrs. Lerry exclaimed. "That's it! Mr. Darth, you may allow that girl to continue attending this school because we are pulling Keith and putting him in private school." She stood up in a rush, followed by her husband, and grudgingly by her son whom she pulled up out of his chair. "I will not allow my son to attend school with those kind of p—" She paused, changing her mind on what word to use, "creatures. I don't know how you do it, Mr. Darth… mutants are such monstrosities to be around."

At this point Principal Darth calmly rose out of his seat. His eye twitched as he answered in a low, dark, and threatening tone. "Let me get the door then, Mrs. Lerry, for I will not allow that kind of talk in my office." His voice rose a little as he progressed through his speech. "You have insulted me, the other guardians, and students in here for the last time. Please, if you would like any assistance for finding a suitable institution for your son, don't hesitate to ask, because he will not ever be returning here." He strode across his office and opened the door. Gesturing for them to leave, he stood silently as the Lerrys filtered past.

As soon as they left Darth closed the door softly behind them and sat back down in his black armchair. He smoothed his silver tie out and faced the X-Men once more.

"I would like to apologize for what just happened. It seems the other parents have no issue with Tabitha attending school here. I believe we are done here." Darth's tone sweetened almost too fast.

Leo blinked. His mind wasn't exactly sure what entirely happened, but he knew it had been immensely weird. "Uh… soooo?"

"We get to leave, runt." Logan shrugged, pulling the teen out of his chair. He, Leo, and Tabitha filed out the door.

Xavier remained in his spot.

"Can I help you Professor Xavier?" Darth asked, pulling his chair around so the desk was no longer between them.

"I believe I can help you, actually." The professor answered.

"Oh, really?" Darth asked with a curious grin. "Please… explain."

"I remember in your speech not too long ago you said you were working out a way for mutants without control to still attend Bayville High and receive a bit of training. Tell me, have you reached a solution?"

"I'm sorry to say, we haven't"

Xavier smiled slightly. "Then let me offer my services, I think having Bayville High partner with the Xavier Institute will benefit everyone."

Darth grinned. "A brilliant idea! Let's get arrangements underway now."

"Swing harder Nico!" Clay urged.

The younger boy, who looked like a silver dragon, and her were sword fighting in the common area of the squad's floor in the Haven. Of course, they were using wooden swords, there was no need for someone to have to get Ash to heal them just for stupidity.

"I'm trying!" The younger boy yelled, clutching the sword with both hands and swinging it around his head toward Clay's midsection.

Clay blocked easily, but was pleased with the vibrations that traveled up her sword. "Great! Again! And don't be afraid to use your tail!"

Pretty much most of the squad sat on the couches and chairs in the room and watched. For their safety, and the television's, the furniture was moved up against the far wall. Usually this kind of training would happen in the arena, but it was being used by another team.

The spectators watched with a mix of anticipation and indifference. Everyone knew how these sword fights ended, either Clay won or she 'lost'. Every match was a way for Clay to better calculate her teams' limits and strengths. Those who knew how terrible they were at sword fighting tried to pay more attention, as to reduce their pain. Ash paid especially close attention, since it was her brother, losing the blank expression her eyes normally held.

Both competitors wore padding on their chests and forearms. Nico also wore his ripped jeans, spikes jutting out everywhere. Clay, on the other hand, only wore a black tank-top and athletic shorts.

Clay chopped her sword down, striking Nico's shoulder. The dragon yelled out and whipped his tail around. Without much thought he impaled his leader's shoulder with the point.

She yelled out in sudden pain, and fell to one knee. Nico's jaw nearly fell to the ground.

"Oh, oh! Sorry Clay!" He apologized hastily, pulling his spiked tail from her shoulder. There was a 'squelching' sound, and some of the team members winced, expecting blood. There was none.

Their leader stood shakily, and grabbed her shoulder. A clean hole was pierced straight through. "Nice job, Nico." She groaned, with a tone of happiness and pride. She winced when she pulled her hand off and saw the damage done.

Muttering under her breath she grasped her shoulder again. When she pulled her hand away the hole had disappeared.

Sionnach's eyes widened, and he whispered to Rena (in her human form) next to him. "I didn't know she could do that."

"Nor did I." Rena responded. Although it would explain a few things.

Clay straightened herself up and looked to her squad. "Alright, who's next?" Seeing no one volunteer she smirked. "Fine then, I guess our new guy wants to go then."

"Not necessarily." Sionnach replied, sitting back. In his few days at the Haven they had discovered that he could be restricted from using his powers of possession if something covered his eyes. Soon he was given a pair of mirrored sunglasses that were silver on the edges and reflected back a gold color on the lenses. His true style had also come out, it was hard to find him not wearing a white baseball cap, a maroon T-shirt with a black and white jacket over it with a large cartoonish-looking fox face on the back of it, and simple light blue jeans that are ripped at the knees. He still wore a pair of black and white tennis shoes, but had also started covering his hands with black fingerless gloves. He flinched as Clay tossed him one of the swords, but managed to catch it regardless.

"Too bad." She smiled as he got to his feet. "Now, do you have any sort of experience with swordplay?"

"No."

"Alrighty then! Let's see what natural skill you possess. Here are the rules: we play to disarm or strike a mortal wound. Since these swords are," she tapped hers against the ground, getting a wooden echo, "wood, you won't actually die from the strike." She tossed him the padding Nico had worn. After he had it on she tapped his chest with her sword. "Chest, stomach, and head or neck areas are fatal wounds, resulting in an end of play. We won't assume limbs are chopped off so ignore it if I hit an arm or leg." She adjusted some of his straps on the padding and continued. "You can use your powers if you want, but I won't use mine." Stepping back again she held her sword out in a defending position. "Any questions?"

Sionnach looked down at his sword and adjusted his grip. Both swords were long and straight, and he could see no trick behind either. "No questions."

"Great! New guy gets the starting blow." She teased, standing at the ready.

Sionnach swung his sword down across her body, with ease she deflected it and moved in. Her style was graceful, yet terrifying, the product of years of practice. He soon found himself fighting a lot harder than he anticipated, and she didn't even break a sweat.

He was more used to watching, and using, Pencak Silat, a fighting style that was more about grace than the rough sword fighting Clay used. Sionnach wasn't quite able to believe the strength Clay displayed behind her sword, since little in her appearance would suggest that.

Clay whirled her sword over and around her head and brought it down hard. Scrambling like mad Sionnach just barely managed to deflect it, stumbling back as a result.

"You fight too flowery!" She shouted as their swords met again. "Don't try to impress me with your style, try to disarm me at least."

The shape-shifter grinned and flicked her sword, knocking off the fox mutant's hat. He didn't take it well.

He growled and pressed forward harder. "That's… my… hat!" Not that he really cared that much, but the fight was getting him in a worse and worse mood.

The two continued to dance around with their swords. As they fought more he noticed a flaw in her defense. She was a tad slower in defending her midsection, especially on her right. He grinned to himself and started attacking only on that side.

A slight look of disbelief and fear flashed in Clay's neon green eyes. So Sionnach could pick up on flaws, she figured this could come in handy. Before long she found herself a bit tired, the ache from an old wound slowing her down. Wanting to end it fast she stopped going easy on Sionnach.

She attack with such fury that he was unable to stop a blow to his arm. His sword went flying across the room, and before he realized it, he was on the ground and Clay's sword was at his throat.

"Wanna call it?" She asked, slightly out of breath. The heat from his gaze was sensible even from behind his glasses. She reached her hand down.

With a slight growl Sionnach swatted it away and dragged himself up. "You're slow on your right side. Isn't that a fatal flaw for one of your skill?" He asked snidely.

Clay narrowed her eyes at him.

"You can't hide it, it's written all over your face… and you without a mask." Sionnach continued.

"You're damn lucky I was going easy on you, Fox-Face."

"Language!" Ash whispered. Her little brother was still there. Normally Clay would heed what she said, but this time she ignored her. Sionnach was her main conscern.

The two glared at each other. "You wanna know why I'm slow on my right?" She snarled, tearing off her padding, and lifting up her shirt to show her side. The whole team took a sharp intake of breath.

A chunk of her side was missing, looking as if it was burned out, surrounded by ashy gray skin.

"Clay… I thought that healed by now." Zendi gasped. She knew Clay had a rapid healing factor, incredibly so if it was a pierce wound, so this was… surprising. Apparently her fight with Jaller took more out of her than she let on.

Clay met her friend's eyes. "Alas… no." She turned on Sionnach. "Happy now? Big guy got the explanation he asked for!" Suddenly she whirled around and stormed down the hall and entered her room, slamming her door.

An awkward silence extended until Zendi spoke up. "I'll go talk to her. Training dismissed."

Kurt ported around the mansion trying to figure out what exactly happened after school.

"The one day I leave on time…" He mumbled, landing on the top of the couch behind Bobby's head.

"Gah! Watch it Kurt!" Bobby yelled over the machine gun rattle in his game. "You almost messed up my killing streak."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "And what a shame that would have been."

Time to check somewhere else. Benj's room?

He ported into the room Benj and Leo shared, only to find it empty. Benj must have gone skating with Vince. Kurt sighed. He was running out of people he could ask. Amara was here somewhere… she saw most of what happened right? Where could she be?

I'm not trying to be a busy-body. I just want to know! Kurt thought to himself as he ported again, disappearing in his usual puff of smoke.

He hadn't really been thinking of where to go and suddenly found himself in Ty- er… Spades' room.

A small "oops" escaped his lips. Spades wasn't one for visitors anymore; which made it all the more surprising to see the red demon looking at him expectantly. Almost like he was lonely.

"Thank God, finally!" Spades gasped. "First I hear Leo's got himself in some fight… then the professor insists I don't need to come to the meeting with the principal for!"

Kurt raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "Are you feeling okay?" Spades was a little too… energetic.

"Answer me something Kurt, why didn't you tell me I was being a moron?"

"What?" Now he was absolutely bewildered.

"No one can hide from the world forever…" Spades explained. "And yet I thought I could."

Kurt let his words sink in. "So… you're not going to stay locked in your room all the time?"

Spades nodded. "And… I take back what I said about my human name. My mother gave me that… and she loved me more than anything."

"Ty, you haven't been that moronic. I mean I felt that way for a while. We have some things in common…" He grinned, "the best part: our tails!"

Ty chuckled. "Yeah… um… have you heard anything about Leo?"

Kurt shook his head. "No, and I have no idea about Tabitha either."

A phone buzzed on Ty's desk. When he picked it up he met Kurt's eyes. "Leo" he mouthed, answering it.

"Hello? Leo! Are you okay? … No, no I'm glad you stuck up for him… Professor X said I should stay here… And Tabitha?" Ty chuckled. "Acquitted? Really, you couldn't just say she wasn't suspended? … Of course not… Okay, see you soon. Adios."

Kurt smiled. "So it all worked out."

"Rah!"

Clay slammed her fist into the hard stone wall. Anger vibrated through her form. Snarling again she grabbed her sword off its rack and slashed it at the wall as well. Deep cuts formed with every stroke. She would never have to worry about it breaking though, seeing as it was made of Adamantium. As she struck out her eyes glowed harder and brighter. Sionnach wasn't the only one with anger issues.

A tentative knock sounded on her door. Clay knew who it was. Zendi was probably the only person, well besides Cloak, who'd known her forever. She wasn't willing to give up on her, no matter what Hell she got herself into.

"Door's open." Not like I ever lock it. Clay muttered, putting her sword at her side.

Zendi walked in the door and shut it behind her. Tucking her dark brown hair back so her pointed ears showed she walked over to Clay.

"Alright, what is it?" Zendi asked. "You've been on edge, hard, and cranky for weeks. Normally you're only slightly paranoid and angry." She looked at the cuts in the wall and sighed. "You need to back off of that Sionnach."

"He needs to move on; I'm just trying to help him." Clay responded in a monotone without turning around.

"The kid just lost his brother! Not to mention any sort of contact with the rest of his family!" Zendi shouted. "He needs time. Remember how it was when you—"

"I moved on Zen."

Zendi scoffed. "No, you didn't. To this day you carry those police officers' deaths around with you. You think I haven't noticed what you do on the anniversary of that day?"

Clay sniffed.

"You go to that cemetery, you leave a few flowers, you haven't forgotten, haven't moved on…"

"H-how did… You knew that?" Clay asked, turning around.

Zendi nodded. "We all do. No one's sayin' you shouldn't… but you can't expect Sionnach to move on if you have not."

Clay opened her mouth to say more, but then thought better of it. Laying down her sword, she sat down on the mat on her floor cross-legged. Zendi joined her.

"So what about that wound from when you fought Jaller? I thought that-" Zendi began.

Clay held up her hand. "Yes, I heal fast, but he didn't just stab me Zen. Jaller broke the rules… used a Taser. I… I've always known to be careful around electricity…"

She thought back to that day… that fight. It seemed normal enough. Guys had challenged her for position as head of the Haven before, but Jaller was the only one who won.

Rules are that the challenger must fight by the style the challenged lays out; sometimes it's single combat, other times it's team combat. The other rules include what weapons are allowed: only "archaic" weapons (swords, daggers, pikes, spears, staffs, etc.,), and that the fight was to be non-lethal. Any sort of fatal weakness couldn't be exploited, because like it or not, the Haven didn't want to lose anyone to one of their own.

Jaller broke two rules: one, he broke a Taser; two, he knew that Clay could be felled with electricity.

During the fight Jaller got in close, he fought with a longer heavy sword but also was good at hand-to-hand combat, and jabbed the Taser into Clay's side. The electricity tore away at her flesh, annihilating it, causing it to crumble as it turned to ash. He knew to pull away fast and to replace the Taser with a dagger, which he also stabbed her with for good measure.

He'd smiled as she blacked out.

"Clay, most of us knew about that weakness… why didn't you declare it afterwards when it was so obvious that Jaller had cheated?" Zendi asked, confused. She just assumed Clay had finally lost at something; then again, everyone knew what they said about when you assume.

The gray skinned girl leaned back and rested her head on the wall. "Because at that point I was too weak to do anything. I woulda been a bad leader then. At that point I figured if Jaller was so willing to win, he deserved to get a shot at leader."

"And how's that working out?" The elf laughed.

"Ah… shut up."

The two sat there for a little while before Zendi spoke up again.

"But what about now? You still didn't answer why you're so on edge."

The older mutant closed her eyes and didn't answer.

"Did you… have another vision or something?" Zendi asked. She knew it was a bit of a private subject, only she and Cloak knew Clay had seer-like abilities.

When Clay didn't answer again, it confirmed Zendi's suspicions. "You did! And by the way you aren't saying anything I'm guessing it had to do with your family. Your sister—"

Clay swore. She hated her family. "Thank God it didn't, if I had to run into that load of self-absorbed cretins… I would die."

"But Darth—"

"He's the only exception, well, and my grandmother… but that's it. My father, Darth not that… other, has kept me from them and I'm grateful."

"So if it didn't have to do with your family…" Zendi prodded again, leaning closer to Clay to try to pressure her into talking.

Clay's eyes got sad and far-off. "Listen… all I can say is there's a crossroads coming up. Both lead to pain and suffering of mutants, but one brings a world beyond repair. The Haven only survives in one of them, and the one it doesn't…" She screwed her eyes up to the ceiling. "I saw the survivors…"

"Don't tell me, Clay. Just don't." Zendi silenced. "Let's forget about this. You're in a slump."

"I don't think that's a word."

"Well it is now! Come on… I heard GEOtech got a new security system and I'm dying to break it in for them!"

Clay chuckled, pushing her dark thoughts aside. "You give those men such a hard time."

"Oh! But it's so enjoyable! They tempt me… they want me to break into their facility. Why else would they say they have a 'state of the art' security system? Come on!" Zendi whined, standing up and jumping up and down.

"You're insane… you know that?"

Zendi laughed. "What? And you aren't? We all have a few screws loose here!"

Clay couldn't help but laugh, her foul mood evaporated. Standing up she grabbed her uniform and slipped it on. She tugged her mask over her face and rubbed her bronze wrist guards.

"Alright, lead the way!"

Lots of foreshadowing in this chapter, a little lead-in for the Alternate Realities fic coming soon. You get to learn more about Clay later though. You didn't think Havens Origins would only explain those spectactular OCs I got from you guys did you? Of course I was going to give some insight to my own as well! I'll have to try and get back in tune with Ty's original character now. I liked him so much better before.

Until next time (which could be a little while, we're in the home stretch for school).