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Ruriska really didn't give a damn what Megan did with what Megan had made, that was her problem, all she was thinking was that she was going to have another one of those damn things in her house. But this time she managed to keep from yelling and cursing and screaming and stamping her foot on the ground. Why? Because it was actually kind of cute quailing there in Raleigh's hands, all sticky and leaf-like.

"What did I tell you?"


Raleigh shrugged; a little surprised she hadn't done something violent. Turning his head he glared at Ariya. "She didn't do it alone. I was there. And I know more about the powers than you do." He told the woman hauntily, knowing he wouldn't be reprimanded because Ruri always did teach im that it was right to speak your mind.

In fact, Ruri chuckled. "He's got a point there. We both know squat about what it feels like to have powers... unless you call those weird feelings hallucinogens give you, powers... er... Yeah, he's got a point."

Ruriska wasn't too sure why Ariya was so upset, so she eyed the woman disdainfully. The powers could be dangerous, yes of course. But only if one had danger in mind. Raleigh had learnt to control the creation of his beings. With only his consent could they create a creature designed to kill. The corner of Ruri's mouth turned down. She'd never backed down for a fight in her life, but could this even be called a fight? As far as Ruri was concerned Ariya was just being ridiculous.

Raleigh was feeling a little riled. What on earth was her problem? "Separate." He answered shortly. He wasn't going to elaborate. This woman obviously had no understanding of anything to do with powers, so there was no point in even trying. Maybe because Megan was so pathetic with her own powers? That must be it. Ruriska was pretty laid back with it all, since she had a huge wooden dog constantly walking around the place, knocking things over. Ruri knew all about it. Ruri was the only one who understood him.

A tense silence followed Ariya's latest words. Ruriska was still pretty cool over the whole thing, though she was a little annoyed, but Raleigh was on the verge of an outburst and Ruri could see it. Eyebrows quirking up expectantly, she waited.

"I can do whatever I damn want!" Raleigh finally shouted, his eyes narrowed dangerously. How dare she try dictate him? Not only that but she thought he was being dangerous. Like he was that stupid. Megan might be annoying sometimes but that didn't mean he wanted to hurt her. If there had been any trouble he could have easily stopped it. That's what he told himself at least.

The puppy in Raleigh's hand was baring little fangs, the leaves on its back bristling up like fur. The friction in the air was palpable. Through it all, Ruriska stood back. She knew her son could take care of himself in this situation, and it would probably be best if he learnt he couldn't always get his way. Watching, Ruri felt a twinge of pity for both Ariya and Megan. Both didn't seem to know how to deal with each other, having such different personalities. Megan was suffering, away from everything she knew, having to deal with these strange powers.

When Ariya looked her way, Ruri shrugged and gave her a 'what are you looking at me for?' stare. But then she understood and looked at Raleigh. The boy was seething. Seeing the anger in Megan only fuelled his own. Teeth gritted he prepared to fight back against Ariya's attempt to control him.

"Raleigh... let it go."

"..." Raleigh frowned, and turned to his guardian. Ruriska shook her head at him once. The boy stood there for a moment with a look of hatred, before nodding and crossing his arms over his chest. He was still angry; Ariya certainly wasn't on any of Raleigh's Christmas lists. In fact, for the rest of the night he'd probably refuse to talk to her.

Seeing his submission Ruriska grinned. "Now grab Megan and go play whatever game you were playing."

"Fine." Raleigh said shortly, sending a glare in Ariya's direction as he moved to Megan's side. Tucking his new creature under his arm he reached out and grabbed Megan's wrist. "Let's go." Hopefully, once they were out of the room, Ruriska would give Ariya a piece of her mind. Yeah, that would be good.

Ruriska cringed as she heard the crunch. Poor kid. Even though after the creation the two would be completely separate, it would be impossible for Megan not to feel a strong attachment to the creature she'd created. After spending a lot of time watching Raleigh training, Ruri had spent countless nights just staring at the ceiling and just thinking about this ability her adopted son was trying to control.

Meanwhile Raleigh stood there half stunned, his own new creature held against his chest protectively. As Megan sped out of kitchen and up to her room, Raleigh took in a deep breath. "How could you?!" He yelled, as if Ariya had meant to do it. He heard Ruriska curse and then felt her hand around his upper arm.

"Look, I think we'll be going now. I'll come back for the plates and stuff tomorrow or something."

Placing the present she'd brought Megan on the counter, she ushered Raleigh towards the front door. This Christmas dinner had certainly taken a turn for the worse.

RESPONSE TO AVALANCHE'S TAKEOVER

"They kilt him!" Megan flew to AriyaLauna and was tightly holding her, "He's dead!"

"Who killed who?" AriyaLauna let herself be dragged by Megan, expecting to hear some remembered drama from school. Instead, the girl snatched the morning paper and put it under her nose. Past pictures of Flashcharge, Duniya, and Avalanche were on the front page. AriyaLauna read the article while Megan jumped around the livingroom, wailing about the fall of the world.

"Meg, it says he's in the hospital. Alive."

"It said he DIED!"

"No it didn't. Show me."

Megan looked again, confident of finding her answer. Finally she put it back down. "Oh.... Is Avalanche going to kill us?"

"No, he's in Egypt."

"It said Car-oh!"

"CAIRO. That's in Egypt. " She smiled at Megan's confused look, "In Africa."

"OH! Real far away. Was Flashcharge on vacation or something?"

"No, he went to help."

"He got beat up! That guy beat him up! He must be the STRONGEST man ever! Flashcharge never ever loses!"

"Oh, that's not true. Everyone loses sometimes. Avalanche will too and he'll not hurt anyone again."

"What if he doesn't?"

"He will."

"How do YOU know?"

"Because there are lots of good people that'll stop him, and if they get hurt too, they'll train and get better and stop him."

"What's so special about Egypt? It's got lots of dead mummies. And sand. Those are stupid."

AriyaLauna put her hand over her mouth to keep from smiling too much, "He took over the country so now he thinks he's got a lot of power over a lot of people. That way he can get whatever it is he wants."

"Oh! That's smart! He's the leader so no one can tell him what to do. *I* wanna country!"

"Megan! It's wrong, and he's in big trouble. He'll be put in jail."

"Nah-uh, he's the most powerful man EVER. He killed Flashcharge... I mean beat him up...But he's not too smart. I don't want mummies and sand. I'll be smart and take something like... like... France!" Megan jumped around, making crashing sounds and flew up to her room.

"Why, yes, Charles, Megan thinks Avalanche is smart and is her new role model." ARiyaLauna muttered sarcastically, then curled up on the couch, letting herself get depressed, "I'll never get through to her."

RESPONSE TO FIVE HEROES BEING CLOBBERED BY AVALANCHE

"NOW do you think Avalanche will lose? Huh, huh, huh?" Megan bounced around AriyaLauna, crowing excitedly. They'd just seen the breaking newscast on a TV in a store.

AriyaLauna put the groceries in her car, trying to be unpeturbed about it. At least Megan had had the decency to be quiet about it with people around, "Eventually."

Megan held up her open hand in AriyaLauna's face, "That was FIVE superheroes against one guy! That's REAL good!"

"No, that's horrible. Avala--"

"I bet you couldn't defeat HALF a guy!"

"Megan, that man is bad. Him winning is an awful thing. Since no one wants him and he's such a bad person, he WILL lose. It just.. might take awhile. to find out how."

Megan nodded, really she'd been quiet upon hearing the newscast and the momentary energy had been a show. Her seriousness actually matched her guardians, "But how do y'know that bad is bad? What if it's jus' the way you think? Like... like... whatif the people DID like him?"

"Well, good and bad isn't exactly a matter of popular opinion. What's wrong is wrong."

"But if people liked him, that would make everyone else really bad because they were getting rid of a leader people LIKED.. and it would start a war...and THAT would be bad.. So he would be GOOD... Like...what is bad was good and good was bad?"

AriyaLauna could see that Megan was being serious, and struggled to come with an answer, "It's not going to happen that way, because if murder was good, then no one would be alive because we'd all be killing each other. And he's a murderer. ANd if coming in and suddenly taking over a country was good, then we'd be in chaos.."

"Not if you were the biggest, most powerful! You're brainwashed. You just repeat and don't think and..."

"MEGAN ANNE!" AriyaLauna didn't know where Megan picked it up, she kept begging Charles to let her homeschool the girl, but thus far the man had been staunch in his approach.

Megan rolled her eyes,"Hillbilly. We'll be late for class." SHe put on her seatbelt and stayed quiet, looking out the window, the drive to the Judo class.

POST PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Since the increase in crimerate with Flashcharge unable to fight, Megan's training with other mutants had virtually stopped. That had meant that AriyaLauna increased the girl's home-training time, but it really wasn't the same.

At first, Megan had been quite pleased. No stupid Supers to have to listen to! ARiyaLauna ended up challenging her to think about what would happen if there was ever a nearby mutant attack and Megan couldn't help because she didn't know how to hand that type of power.

That was when Megan began to sulk. And worry. What if there WAS a big mutant attack? Flashcharge was gone! And what if she ever ran into a mutant that had a different sort of power anyway? She could never throw rocks or fly or things like that! Megan became rather preoccupied with those sorts of thoughts, and soon decided that she was gonig to run into another Evo and die. She presented AriyaLauna with all sorts of scenarios.

"What if I ACCIDENTLY run intoa GOOD guy and can't control my powerse? I'll die anyway! I hate being a stupid evolved freak! I have the supidest powers ever!"

Well, good. That had only taken two years for hre to understand, "Meg, baby, that's why you're a part of this group. THey all want you to be able to useyour powerse and not hurt yourself."

"I can't learn EVERYONE'S powres!"

"No, but you can learn categories. Take what you're learning now... Survival skills, hand-to-hand combat..those are important. You know how to use a power like Darebone's. That's a big deal. And when Flashcharge gets better, energy powers will be eas---"

"What if he kills me?" Megan demanded.

"Get over it! Megan, we all have to take risks!"

"Oh." Megan stared at AriyaLauna, then sighed, "Why do I hafeta do school this summer?"

"Because I don't want you to fail in life," AriyaLauna continued to snap, patience lost somewhere, "You don't do work during school, you'll do it now."

"I hate it! And it doesn't have nothing to do with me being a great Super!"

"Oh yes it does! It--"

"Are you going to go out with that man?"

"What? Who?" AriyaLauna blinked in surprise.

"You let him kiss you! Didn't even slap him like you did to--"

"Enough. I'm not 'going out' with anyone and--"

"Good, because I'd kill him."

Megan was serious, but for some reason, it made AriyaLauna smile, "Why?"

"Stepdad's mess ever'thing up. Only my Daddy's good, but you don't like each other."

"There are good men, but I'm not looking for anyone. And won't ever."

"Even if you find a good man?"

ARiyaLauna shook her head, "Couldn't have you killing anyone."

"Oh, well, maybe if I REALLY liked him..." She grinned, "You should marry Avalanche. He's smart, and real powerful."

"Only if you marry Charles!"

Megan squealed her protest, and raced upstairs, screaming about AriyaLauna and Vince sitting in a tree....