"We won't all live through this, will we, Alex?"

"What are you talking about? We're going to be fine, Nico. We just have to stick to the—"

"People always say teenagers think they're immortal, but I… I don't think that. I mean, all I ever think about is death. When my mom jammed that staff-thing into my chest, all I could think was… I'm surprised I even lived this long."

"I know exactly what you mean?"

"You do?"

"Totally. Even before all this. It's like, everyday, the people in charge seem to make the world a little more screwed up…." She leaned in. "…but there's nothing anyone our age can--"

"Give it back, Chase!" shouted the high-pitched voice of Molly.

"You're going to have to catch me." Thump thump Craaash! "Why so upset, you've got like ten of these anyway."

As if this house wasn't damaged enough already. Nico yawned and stretched her head to see the clock on her left wall. Half-past eleven? Christ, how could she let herself sleep in so late? She threw off her covers and searched frantically for a bathrobe; putting on one of her dresses would not leave her enough time to stop whatever crisis Chase had started. As she stubbed her toe on her nightstand she remembered why she was so tired: last night a simple viewing of a movie Chase had 'borrowed' somehow devolved into a raucous party. She and Victor had to stay up all night cleaning the place.

"I mean it," Molly shouted. "Give. It. Back!"

"Molly, don't throw that couch." THUUUUMP. The room shook. Nico kept from falling over; but her black nail polish was now sprayed across the floor, making crossbones in the carpet.

"Don't waste another spell," she calmly told herself, grinding her teeth. "Don't waste another spell." She pulled her robe off the wall and wrapped herself in it. Marching out, she found Karolina drinking tea in the kitchen.

"Morning," the blonde alien greeted less-than-cheerfully.

"What's going on this time?"

"Chase took one of Molly's hats and now they're running around wrecking the place. I think Klara is following them."

"I never thought I'd say this, but Molly's a bad influence. Is Victor up yet?"

"Haven't seen him."

"Guess it's up to the den mother then." Nico sighed. "You using this knife?"

"No. Why?"

"I need something to shake at them. When blood is shed…" Nico lightly impaled her fingertip until it bled "…let the Staff of One emerge." The Witchbreaker's Staff shot out like a spear from her chest. She grasped it and followed the path of destruction through the Malibu home.

I'm not going to waste a spell, she told herself. I'm just going to wave the staff around and scream my lungs out. Truthfully, Nico felt a lot safer with the staff in her hand. When it was inside of her she felt irritated and susceptible, but holding it she felt secure, comforted and powerful. It didn't stop her from getting angry though, especially when she saw the destroyed room where Molly had thrown the couch. Boy was she going to give it to those two.

"He's heading for the field," Molly's distant voice shouted. "Tower of Flower, wrap some vines around him." They were on the terrace. Nico arrived to see Chase literally heading for the hills while the two tweens looked on. (Molly was shaking her fist).

"Just what is going on here?"

"It's Nico!" cried Klara.

Molly jerked in surprise but quickly feigned a sad puppy look. "Chase started it," she said. "He stole my hat." Molly pointed to her uncovered chestnut hair.

"Chase," Nico called to as he ran further from the house. "Chase!" She screamed. Dammit, she was in no mood for this. She raised her staff and banged it hard on the floor, yelling "Sit Boy!"

A distant thunk could be heard as Chase suddenly collapsed face-first into the ground.

"Coool," said Molly.

"Great," said Nico. "I wasted a spell."

"I think I hear something," said Klara.

"Heeeelp," called Chase from a distance. "This reeealy hurts."

"We. Simply. Cannot keep living like this." Nico had gathered the team in what was left of the living room. Molly, Klara, Karolina, Victor and Chase sat rolling their eyes, expecting 'the talk.' "We've already lost two hideouts. This house has neighbors; it won't be long before one of them calls the police about the ruckus we make. And we don't have Xavin anymore to play camp counselor."

"Sheesh, Nico, it was your idea to find a place instead of living in the leapfrog," said Karolina. "What do you want from us?"

"What do I want? Molly, stop wrecking the place. Chase, stop being an ass. The rest of you, start cleaning up the place."

"As much as I agree with you, Nico," said Victor, "I think our biggest worry right now is cash, not a messy house. After last night, there's no food left in the fridge.

"No worries," said Chase, still rubbing the bruises Nico had given him. "I've been thinking."

"This outta be good," sighed Karolina.

"Our parents were high class crooks, right? Remember Gert's parents? They stole stuff from the past, and we saw some of it in their basement. I bet if we check each of our 'rents' lairs we can find all kinds of valuables, and maybe even cold cash. It pays more than getting a job."

"Yeah, but what do we do with those valuables?" questioned Nico. "Sell them on E-bay?"

"Well, if we're talking jewels and stuff I know some pawn shops. If not, then yeah, E-bay should work. You'd be surprised how much some couch potato collector will pay."

"Except we need cash, not credit."

"Come on, Nico," said Karolina. "Searching our old homes might not be a bad idea. Who knows what we'll find?"

"I had an allowance I hid under my bed," said Molly. "It was at least fifteen dollars. Plus, Klara gets to see my room."

Klara gaped at Molly. "You had your own room?"

"It sounds like we're in agreement," said Victor. "What do you think, Nico?"

"You mean how you totally turned my meeting off topic? Sure, let's go raid our 'rents. We don't have anything better to do." A crooked painting fell from the wall to the floor.

"WE WANT BLAINE! WE WANT BLAINE!" The enormous crowd clapped and stomped their feet alongside the exuberant chanting. A chorus of cheers and shouts erupted when a middle-aged man with light brown, combed over hair and a large, never-ending smile took the podium. He waved and the crowd kept cheering. It was a full minute before they quieted down enough for him to start speaking.

"I see you've all been reading the recent polls." The crowd again cheered. "When I first announced my campaign, I never thought I would end up running virtually unopposed for mayor of Los Angeles."

Blaine again gave the crowd time to cheer. His smile turned into an inward grin; if it wasn't for the death of the Pride he would never be in such a good situation. Amidst the great crackdown on city corruption after that mob's demise, the current mayor was discovered to be involved in a whole host of scandals; the Pride has practically bought his election. Of course, he had good enough lawyers to avoid a lifetime in prison, but the fool still wanted to be reelected. The people wanted someone new, and good old Michael Blaine was there to fill that want.

He gave his speech. It was filled with buzz words and great throwaway lines that really got the people stirred, mostly about all the recent corruption. He promised to end it, of course; never mind how he would do it, he just needed something the papers could quote him on. His writers had been careful to not make the speech too serious; after all, it wasn't like he was running for goddamn governor (although that was a long term goal).

Then came the questions. Blaine widened his smile; he had a prepared list of ambiguous answers for all the hot button issues they were sure to ask about. Immigration, the economy…

"Since the Pride has disappeared there has been a substantial increase in metacrime and vigilantism. It is suspected that during their reign, the Pride kept these types of people out of Los Angeles, but now that they are gone the metahumans are starting to return. It is even rumored that the Pride's children are causing some of the damage. What will be your response if these activities continue to increase?"

Blaine was surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and answered the reporter. "This is not New York. When crime happens, the LAPD handles it like it always has."

"But Mr. Blaine," someone cried, "How can we trust corrupt law enforcers to fight supervillains?"

"There are no supervillains," Blaine emphasized. "Despite what the tabloids say, there's no reason to believe all the big bads in New York are going to hitchhike across the country to a place where law enforcers shoot bullets instead of webs. As for the LAPD, reforms started once the Pride was discovered, reforms which I intend to continue."

"What about the Pride's children?" asked another concerned reporter. "Eyewitnesses say they show up here and there fighting crime."

"Once again, this is not New York. Vigilantism will not be tolerated. If we find the Pride's children, they will face the same penalties as anyone else."

The majority of the crowd cheered; a few shook their heads uneasily. Far in the back, a tall man pulled a hood over his head and briskly walked to a more deserted area.

"Are we all here?"

"The round table can scarcely seat more."

"Then put up the magical barrier."

Gathered in a decrepit library around a circular table were over twenty figures in ornate hooded robes, not all of the same style. One wielded a long, wooden staff with a crooked bend near the top. She tapped the ground twice and muttered some words under her breath. A translucent red shield emanated from her and soon surrounded the entire room. No outsider would be able to hear or see anyone within unless they themselves had arcane knowledge.

"This meeting of representatives of the Guild Arcana will now commence," said the woman with the staff. "Enchanters, Sorcerers, Wizards and Witches, you know our business. Tina and Robert Minoru are dead. Only their daughter remains. Across the Orient, all remnants of the Minoru clan have been hunted to extinction. No other lives. She is truly the last Minoru."

"How ironic," spoke up one of the hooded conspirators. "With the power they gained from that heathenish Pride, we were afraid they were going to rebuild their shattered clan."

"You don't know the Minorus," replied another. "They were a family of cheats and liars, incapable of trust by other users of the dark arts or even each other. They have been the Guild's rivals for centuries."

"The girl has allies," continued the leader, "consisting mainly of the Pride's other children. She may also be in contact with other witches. Initial reports claimed she wielded the Staff of One. Now her power has increased and she wields the Witchbreaker's Staff."

"Impossible," cried another. "The Witchbreaker's Staff was lost over a hundred years ago."

"My toads do not lie."

"Does she have any enemies? Anyone that we can manipulate?"

"The girl and her band of runaways have been defending the cities from minor villains. She is also wanted by Iron Man and the Avengers. If they get to her first then we stand no chance."

"The girl has more enemies than she thinks." A newcomer stood at the door: a tall, lanky man who was hiding his robes under an overcoat. "It seems like the whole city has turned against her. Her little gang too."

"Headwizard Kenyon, glad you could join us," said the leader.

"I'm sorry for being late. The-- what is it they are called in that children's book—the muggles were drooling over a new politician." He walked casually to the table and took the last open seat. "He wants to flush out the girl as much as we do; for different reasons of course."

"We are not to reveal ourselves to any local authorities. One slipup and you'll be demoted to Magi faster than—"

"Touchy, touchy. Don't worry, Headwitch, this isn't going to be a repeat of five years ago. There's no Pride to hand us our asses as the Americans say."

"Getting back to the subject at hand," said another member, "We are having difficulty finding her exact location (I suspect the Witchbreaker) but I have compiled a list of all the Pride's known homes and lairs throughout Los Angeles."

"So it's a stakeout then," said the Headwitch. "Let the hunt begin."

It's my first fanfic. Please review.