next_avenger:

With Charlie gone and as a male member of the Avengers, in addition to being the leader, it was up to James to uphold a few traditions that didn't have to deal with battling bad guys. Though he had to admit that he would rather be fighting bad guys than doing this. It just wasn't his thing.

He wasn't as industrious as Anya, but James had managed to collect the necessary photos. It hadn't been easy and a part of him felt like he was cheating on Val.

Invitations were sent to the Avengers, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, Champions, Excalibur the X-Men and the Defenders guys.

With the help of Jarvis food and drink was laid in. James made sure they had a wide variety of pizza, chips, pretzels and drinks.

He loaded the photos in and took care of the security systems. The girls were not allowed to watch. Now all that was left was people showing up.

nextgen_holiday:

All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as it has been come to be called, is a popular holiday with children and adults alike. It is a holiday that had its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer's End. Samhain celebrated the end of the "lighter half" of the year and the beginning of the "darker half".

On this evening the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be thin and the spirits, good and bad, of the dead could pass through. The spirits of the family's ancestors were welcomed in while evil and bad spirits were warded off by the wearing of masks and costumes. The costumes and masks disguised one as a harmful spirit and avoided harm from others.

It was also a harvest celebration and time to take stock of food stores for the winter. Livestock were slaughtered and the meat prepared for storage. It was the final harvest of the year and the crops were then stored for the winter. Celebrations included bonfires and tales of the family's ancestors.

It was a celebration of the dead and of the harvest.

Today we dress up in scary and not so scary costumes and masks and go door to door for candy or attend costume parties. It is a night for revelry, pranks and fun.

nextgen_misc:

It started out as a normal day in Southern California, but it didn't stay normal. A convoy of tanks and military transports rolled down Palos Verdes Drive and stopped outside of 1800. They spread out along the road in front of the main building of the compound.

General Stihl climbed out of the transport and four heavily armed soldiers flanked him. He walked up to the gate and pressed the buzzer.

nextgen_holiday:

It was a perfect Southern California day. The sun was warm and bright and the water was nice and cool. Traditionally the large bbq pit would be fired up and food slow cooked over it all day, but today the Defenders went for something different. Two very large grills were carried down to the beach along with tables and all of the food. The Defenders' Labor Day celebration would be a beach party.

The volleyball net was strung up and the surf board were carried down. Two brand new jetskis were also purchased and taken down to the beach.

Massive amounts of food were prepared to satisfy godly appetites. A whole pig was set up over a pit and put on a spit, burgers, hot dogs, sausage, barbecued ribs, corn on the cob, pasta salad, salad and fruit salad were just some of the food available to eat. Soda, water, fruit juice and other beverages were on ice.

It was a day of rest and relaxations for those who put their lives on the line for others.

team_mascot:

Zoey was bouncing from the second she got up. Today was HER BIRTHDAY! She was turning seven today and seven was a big birthday. Or so she thought. She had been looking forward to this day ALL SUMMER! Birthdays were special and Mom said she could have a big party, minus the zombies and undead soldiers of course.

She zipped around all day, with the dogs following of course, and helped wherever she could. She helped Sarah make the cake, helped put up decorations and she helped arrange things on the table. She bounced the whole time. When Sarah told her to go get ready, Zoey raced up the stairs to get changed.

She raced down the stairs when she was ready.

It was FINALLY time for her party.

nextgen_baddie:

It had taken time, but Dormammu was a patient being. He had carefully planned all of this out and all of those plans were about to come to fruition. Various items had to be gathered and once he had them all, they had to be forged into one item. It would be the ultimate weapon and his agent would enter the realm of Earth with it and lay waste to all before him.

Dormammu would make his entrance into the mortal realm and finally defeat the cursed Sorcerer Supreme and his rule over the mortal realm would begin. Umar had been defeated, Dormammu released from his prison and the Octet was tipped in favor of Krakken and Cyttorak. Dormammu had the Kestrel Key and the Crystal Ruby of Cyttorak and could call upon the powers of Krakken and Cyttorak.

Balor, armed with a weapon forged from the Soul Sword, the Twilight Sword and the Kestrel Key and forged in the Flames of the Faltine, went forth into the mortal realm. The tear in reality he created sent ripples of magic throughout the world. those sensitive to magic would sense the disturbance. Balor stepped into the mortal realm in a location known as Los Angeles. Fitting that demonic beings would begin their conquest of the world in a place called The City of Angels.

The portal was now opened and Dormammu made his entrance into the mortal realm.

ohu_amane:

It wasn't expected.

Ohu Amane received an unusual phone call today. And now his room is empty.

It's abrupt, but Ohu Amane has never done anything in half-measures.

He goes from room to room, seeking out the Defenders one at a time to say his goodbyes.

ng_offenders:

The New Man known as the Killer Kobra flicked his tongue out, tasting the damp, underground air of the caverns of the Trolls.  As good a spot to battle as any.  Though the High Evolutionary had considered the gods of Asgard something to be worshiped or admired, he did not.  The only true god to him was the Man-Beast, he who embraced the predatory instincts the New Men were meant to.

He was accompanied by Ms. Hyde, the one Offender he could stand, the only one with the same terribly cruelty and predatory instincts he too possessed.  He did not know he was embracing, in some small way, a tradition, nor did he particularly care.

He would taste flesh today.

nextgen_asgard:

Once the players had all been gathered, Loki transported himself, along with Ardis and Halbjorn, the spider-god Ohu, the mortals Grace, Griffen, and Dawn, and the mysterious woman called Marlow, to Asgard. It was a desolate, abandoned region, where few would ever traverse. He himself had only been here to make certain that the Norn Stones had still been in place, should he require them for a future plot. He had discovered the Grandmaster only by chance.

The Grandmaster, the being who stood before them now.

"Greetings again to thee, Elder," Loki said, feigning humility and feeling disgust at doing so. The Elders were older even than the Asgardians themselves, possibly the one set of beings in the universe who might yet give them pause. He it galled him to know there were beings truly his superior. "And again, mine thanks for thine leave to gather mine champions. T'will make for a most entertaining game, I doth assure thee."

stone_bear:

Halbjorn is definitely all for celebrating having his own body back. Getting Sersi's number was a good start. The night out with Vernique and Svalin was nice as well. But as long as he's on this coast he has one more stop to make. The Avengers may not want him too close to the mansion, but Xavier's put him under no such restriction.
He announces himself at the gates and waits, indicating he's there to see Chris Pym.

godlierthanthou:

Dawn, in the form of Asleif, stood on the beach, practicing spells.   She couldn't even begin to understand the theory involved here, or any of the ancient lore or any of that.  All she knew was that if she could focus on something happening clearly enough--within a very specific realm of effects--the staff and whatever innate magical power Asleif had possessed, could make it happen.

Power bolts were easy, just point and shoot.  But just about anything else, force fields, tractor beams, elemental command, teleporting, illusions, just about anything Asleif could do, that was harder.  Some of it she'd probably never get. 

"<i>Shieldshieldshielshieldsheild,</i>" she chanted, concentrating.  Slowly, but surely, a mystical shield shimmered into existance in the air before her, before fading back into nothingness.  Too slow to form, too quick to fade to have offered any protection.

She stamped the handle of the staff on the ground once in a very specific, precise motion, and with a crack of thunder and light, reverted back to herself, the staff changing into an umbrella.

"I am never going to be able to do this," she said to herself.  "I'm no goddess. I'm not a super-hero.  I don't know what I'm doing here."

At least the nightmares had stopped, since she'd been able to transform back and forth.

shield_maiden:

Svalin had promised Vernique a trip west when Svalin went, but Halbjorn was here in the city to get changed back into a male. Svalin still needed to go and get her other weapons and gear, but she could wait. Her brother was recovering from his injuries and Svalin knew what would help the process along. Mead. And lots of it.

There wasn't mead in the Avengers mansion, but Svalin knew where they could get some. With that in mind she went looking for Vernique. Perhaps she would accompany Svalin and Halbjorn to Asgard.

ng_independent:

They had arrived at Earth and had orbited for awhile before Empress had selected her targets. It had taken some time. She didn't want just ANYONE. They had to be among the best. She WOULD win the gladiatorial games this time. NOTHING would stop her. Not even a small thing like gender.

Empress didn't care if it was cheating. The only thing that mattered was winning and she would win this time.

The teleporters were activated and the selected targets were beamed directly to the lab. There they underwent a little transformation and were given attitude readjustments and then put into a holding cell.

The men would wake up in the holding cell to find a few changes.

shield_maiden:

They were gathered at the gates to the city at the foot of the newly repaired Bifrost Bridge. Tryggvi stood behind Svalin and pawed at the ground with a hoof. "Stop that," she said to her mount. He responded by headbutting her arm. Svalin new he was eager to go. He was always like this before a trip.

Svalin was not so eager to go. This would be the last time she saw her siblings for awhile. They would return to the Defenders and she would be going to the Avengers. Father's idea and Svalin had thought it a good one, but it didn't mean it would make this any easier.

She stood a little distance away from her siblings and waited for her chance to say goodbye to them and her parents. Father and the Mothers were saying their goodbyes to the other three.

Hrimhari, Lady Rahne, Moira and Danielle were a little ways off saying their goodbyes to each other.

Amorason stood off to one side.

shield_maiden:

Svalin walked the upper battlements. It was still a few hours before dawn and she couldn't sleep. A dream had woke her and she could not find sleep again so she walked the battlements. There were guards stationed at regular intervals and they nodded to the princess as she passed. Svalin returned their nods as she passed, but that was the extent of her acknowledgment.

Most of the other inhabitants of Asgard were asleep, most were passed out. Asgardians celebrated as hard as they fought. The celebration had been going for days and Svalin had tired of it after the first night. She didn't see the point of drinking excessively for days.

The wind was cold as it whipped over the battlements. A stray thought popped in her head that if she were on Migard, the wind would be warm and it would carry the smell of salt. She was loathe to admit it, but she did miss being on Migard a little. She had been studying Hellenic and Roman warfare tactics and she missed having the books nearby. She also missed chocolate, but that went without saying.

Svalin took a deep breath and stopped walking. She looked out over the city and into the night.

nextgen_asgard:

The Great Hall of Odin is awash with people and noise. The fallen heroes have been honored and it was now time to celebrate their victory. It was also time to celebrate the acts of courage and bravery in the heat of battle. Mead flowed freely and the tables were pregnant with food of all kinds.

Stories about the recent battle were exchanged as well as stories of previous battles. Songs passed down through time were sung as well as new ones.

The air was light and merry and it was a festive time in Asgard.

shield_maiden:

Odin's Great Hall was almost silent. The gathered crowd waited for Thor, current ruler of Asgard while Odin slept, to speak. They were gathered to honor their fallen warriors. The battle had cost many lives and it was only fitting and proper those lost lives were honored.

Svalin stood next the throne and next to her father as Princess of Asgard. She was uncomfortable standing in front of so many people and as the princess. She was a warrior born and had a warrior's heart, not some speech maker. Barking out orders or yelling battle cries were more her style and easier to do.

Her father looked at her and nodded once.

She swallowed against the lump in her throat and looked out at the assembled warriors, her people. It was so hard to stand before them and talk about the ones that she had failed. The ones that had died because of her actions and her disregard of her duty. By Odin's beard this was hard. Her hand shook and she nearly dropped the goblet of mead she held.

"When mine father said I wast to speak to all of thee today, I didst not know what I would say. I wast scared to stand before you all and speak for I art much better with sword and shield than with words." Her voice started out a little shaky, but got stronger the more she spoke.

"Today I doth not stand before you as a princess of Asgard nor as a warrior. Today I stand /with/ you as a daughter of Asgard and the words I now speak art from mine heart."

She took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Sons and daughters of Asgard, we art not here to celebrate victory with food and drink. We art not here to sing songs of our prowess in battle. We art /not/ here for us. Today we do not mourn the loss of our sisters and brothers, but today we honor them. We honor their strength, their bravery, their unparalleled courage, and their sacrifice for Asgard.

Mine father hath tried to teach me and mine siblings humility as his father had taught him, but naught hath made me more humble than to see our sisters and brothers standing up in battle against an enemy that outnumbered them. I wast deeply humbled to see them do their duty to Asgard and to pay the ultimate price for the home and people they loved."

Another deep breath to steady herself. Tears clouded her eyes and she blinked them back.

"We feel the painful loss of our fallen brothers and sisters, but we must take comfort in knowing that they art now in Valhalla with the honored slain. They hath been reunited with our brothers and sisters that hath fallen in battle before them. Take heart brothers and sisters, for one day we shall be reunited with them, whether it be in Valhalla to wait until the final days or at the end of times in the final battle when we once again fight side by side with our honored brothers and sisters.

Honor their memory and their sacrifice each day by celebrating and appreciating the life they have given you by giving theirs. We must not let them slip from our memories or our hearts."

She raised the goblet in her hand.

"Raise your drinks and voices to our honored fallen brothers and sisters and keep their memories alive until the end of times."

She looked out at the people before her and then a quick glance over at her father. "To our fallen brothers and sisters. May you rest well in Valhalla until we see all of thee again in the final battle."

Svalin poured a little of the mead on the floor as an offering and then took a long drink of mead.

nextgen_asgard:

An eerie calm fell over Asgard for a few brief moments. The forces of dark were outside of the shield over the city and were still. Inside the Asgardian warriors waited for the moment when the shield would come down and the battle would start. They were warriors, men and women, caught in an endless struggle against the dark forces that were camped outside the walls.

This would be another battle in an almost endless series of battles. Two forces locked in a constant struggle until the day the last battle came and all would be decided. Today was not the day of that last battle, but it was a day of battle.

The warriors inside the shield had taken up their proper places and waited for the shield to come down. The warriors armed with swords, shields, axes and other weapons were on foot and horseback. Beserkers waited to unleash uncontrolled fury upon their enemies. Magic users stood perched upon high battlements waiting to unleash their spells upon the enemy. Archers also lined the battlements, waiting to rain a storm of arrows upon their foes. Valkyries waited to take to the air to strike at their enemies from above. The battle commanders paced the upper battlements looking out at the forces, dark and light, below them.

Everything was still. Man, woman, horse and enemy. Not even a breeze blew.

The shield came down and chaos erupted.

stone_bear:

The information from Anya had been most helpful. He's had to go through channels, but with the Defenders' connections it hasn't been a problem. He's sent invitations to two of his favorite women he's met on Midgard: Chris Grant-Pym and Vernique Denning, asking them to join him for Valentine's Day, if they're free. No, he hasn't checked with anyone on the propriety of asking them both.

circle_of_seven:

Asgard had seen a rare period of peace. That peace was about to be shattered. Dark forces gathered in a far corner of the realm. Trolls, dark elves and giants fathered their forces and prepared for an assault on the city and the cursed Asgardians.

Soon the city would fall and Asgard would be theirs to rule.

Alfun looked at the assembled troops and smiled. They would make a great distraction. Alfrun knew they wouldn’t succeed in defeating the Asgardians and taking the city. Countless times they have tried and failed. The Asgardians always won.
Until today. The troops were a distraction until the real weapon could be brought onto the battlefield. With the two, the Asgardians would fall. This would be their Ragnarok. The final battle for them.

Alfrun ran her fingers lovingly over the parchment. How very nice of that dwarf to give her this wonderful piece of parchment. With it she could bring about the downfall of Odin, Thor and the rest of Asgard. Then she, Alfun daughter of Eisa and granddaughter of Loki, would sit upon the throne of Asgard as queen.

“Send them!” she said. “I have to start the ritual.”

Treg grunted and then bellowed orders. The troops started moving.

ng_independent:

The Empress was most pleased. Very pleased indeed. Things were going according to her plan. The recent fights had been entertaining and she had her champion. Now she could win the games here on her home world. Her champion would win no matter what and she now had more soldiers in her army. She was quite pleased indeed.

She was stretched out on her litter as four of her soldiers carried her to the area. It was the start of the games and by the end her champion would be victorious.

Everything was going according to plan.

anyastark:

Anya had made a promise to Halbjorn and she was finally going to keep it. Keeping her word was very important to her and she wasn't going to start breaking it now. She left a message on Steve's phone telling him she'd be back late tomorrow night and was going to California to go sky diving with Halbjorn and checking on the Defenders' computer systems.

Commercial flights sucked, but she did at least go in first class on a direct flight to LA. From there she grabbed a cab to take her out to the compound.

Without her Avengers access, she had to do this the complicated way.

She rang the buzzer at the gate.

shessomarvelous:

It had taken her awhile, but Grace had managed to locate Defenders HQ. Granted, she got lost a couple of times on the way there....but she was there now.

Her heart was beating loudly and felt like it would fall out of her stomach. Her palms were sweaty and her feet felt like blocks of cement.

She could do this. She wanted to do this for seventeen years. Well...granted, she didn't know who her father was until recently, but she'd still wanted to meet him just the same.

Inhaling and gathering her courage, Grace walked up to the door and pressed down on the buzzer.

nextgen_misc:

Friends, family and loved ones are bound to notice the disappearance of some females.

shield_maiden:

Svalin was always a bit disorientated after one of Asleif's teleportation spells. She shook off the nauseous feeling and looked around. This was the realm of the Celtic gods, but more importantly the lair of Manawydan. Somewhere inside one of the buildings up ahead, her sister was being held prisoner.

Svalin hoped they had arrived before the wedding.

She drew her sword and readied her shield.

"For Asgard!" she yelled and held her sword aloft. Talking was not an option at this point.

sydney_ashcroft:

It was a perfect winter day to be out and about in Los Angeles. The sun was bright and the air was a very mild seventy two degrees and more importantly, Zoey was in school for the day. It was perfect for shopping and Syd wasn't going to pass the opportunity up.

With her substantial increase in salary she could afford to treat herself to some new clothes. She asked if anyone wanted to go along and Aridis had taken her up on the offer. Syd also called her sister Bryn because if anyone loved to go clothes shopping it was Bryn. The woman lived for clothes.

Right now they were taking a break and grabbing a bite to eat. It wasn't anywhere fancy, far from it, but Pink's did have the best hot dogs in the entire city. Possibly the United States. Syd worked on a chili cheese dog as they sat outside at one of the tables.

nextgen_misc:

There's a piece of paper and a pen attached to a bulletin board. Across the top is written:

New Year's Resolutions
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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Anonymous entries accepted.

nextgen_deviant:

The brides were clad in white and lined up in front of the altar. A semi-circle of priests stood behind the brides and were chanting. The magic in the air became more powerful as the priests chanted. A small circle appeared in the air before the brides and started to get bigger.

Standing behind the priests was a large group of deviants. They were witnessing the rebirth of their god into the mortal realm. It was an honor and privilege to be witness to this historic moment.

nextgen_holiday:

The beginning of a New Year, a time for new hopes, new experiences to come. A time to reflect on times past, remembering fond memories happily and trying to put less pleasant thoughts and experiences in the past.

It is a time of renewal, a time of rebirth. And for much of the world, it is a time of celebration. This is no less true for the super hero set as anyone else. If anything, they just have that much bigger of things to look forward to.

old_saint_nick:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday, it's true, but it also has become increasingly secular. It is an opportunity for love, charity, and goodwill, even in Los Angeles, arguably the most superficial city in the country.

There is some debate within mystical circles if there is indeed such a creature as the embodiment of Christmas Giving known as Santa Claus. But whether or not there is such a being, the spirit of giving itself is very real, be it incarnated in a fat man in a red suit or not.

Throughout this small blue planet of Earth, people have brought trees into their homes, decorated them with lights and ornaments, and placed them in locations of honor. Stockings have been placed on the chimneys. And gifts have been placed under the tree.

Some are looking forward more to the receiving than the giving. But for many, it is the act of giving which warms them, which fills them with the holiday spirit.

Each person, in their own way, becomes a part of this spirit of giving. Each person, in their own way, becomes Santa Claus.

The Defenders Manor has been decked out with lights, as has most of the grounds. Ohu has made hanging lighting a top priority, and every tree on the grounds -- including the palm trees -- is well lit with multi-colored lights. Despite the warm location, Ohu has made sure that there's plenty of snow on the grounds, too, with a bit of magic. As for the gods themselves, and their mortal keepers...

ohu_amane:

It's taken much of the day to prepare. Thankfully, Griffen's been in his lab for the entire time. And now it's time to get him.

The spell keeping too much sound from reaching the lab has held. The webbing on the door to the lab remains sturdy -- he hasn't tried to leave the room yet.

He adjusts his beret, pulls the two tiny triangles of his temporary mustache out to fine points, and tucks the old-style megaphone under his arm.

He dispells the webbing, then opens the door to the lab, ducking his head in with a big smile.

"Friend Griffen!" he calls. "Are you in here?"

nextgen_misc:

In Los Angeles, the stretch of Wilshire Bvld between Fairfax and La Brea Avenues is known as the "Miracle Mile".

In the early 1920s, Wilshire Boulevard west of Western Avenue was an unpaved farm road, extending through dairy farms and bean fields. Developer A.W. Ross saw potential for the area, and developed Wilshire as a commercial district to rival downtown Los Angeles. Ross's insight was that the form and scale of his Wilshire strip should attract and serve automobile traffic rather than pedestrian shoppers.

Wilshire saw a few firsts in American automotive traffic flow; dedicated left-turn lanes, the first timed traffic lights in the United States; he also required merchants to provide automobile parking lots, all to aid traffic flow. Major retailers such as Desmonds, Silverwood's, May Co., Coulter's, Mullen & Bluett, and Seibu eventually spread across Wilshire Boulevard from Fairfax to La Brea.

As wealth and newcomers poured into the fast-growing city, Ross' parcel became one of Los Angeles's most desirable areas. Acclaimed as "America's Champs-Élysées," this stretch of Wilshire near the La Brea Tar Pits was named "Miracle Mile" for its improbable rise to prominence.

Although the preponderance of shopping malls and the development in the 1960s of financial and business districts in downtown and Century City lessened the Miracle Mile's importance as a retail and business center, the area has retained its vitality thanks to the addition of several museums and commercial high-rises. The Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (LACMA) A+D Museum: Los Angeles, and La Brea Tar Pits museums, among others, positioned "Museum Row" on the Miracle Mile.

A sculptural bust of Ross stands at 5800 Wilshire, with the inscription, "A. W. Ross, founder and developer of the Miracle Mile. Vision to see, wisdom to know, courage to do."

Today the Miracle Mile saw a different sight. Two very large individuals faced off against each other amidst the stopped LA traffic. It was one of the busiest streets in America and today the traffic was at a standstill. People fled their cars as they sought shelter and safety in the various surrounding buildings.

nextgen_misc:

All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as it has been come to be called, is a popular holiday with children and adults alike. It is a holiday that had its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer's End. Samhain celebrated the end of the "lighter half" of the year and the beginning of the "darker half".

On this evening the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be thin and the spirits, good and bad, of the dead could pass through. The spirits of the family's ancestors were welcomed in while evil and bad spirits were warded off by the wearing of masks and costumes. The costumes and masks disguised one as a harmful spirit and avoided harm from others.

It was also a harvest celebration and time to take stock of food stores for the winter. Livestock were slaughtered and the meat prepared for storage. It was the final harvest of the year and the crops were then stored for the winter. Celebrations included bonfires and tales of the family's ancestors.

It was a celebration of the dead and of the harvest.

Today we dress up in scary and not so scary costumes and masks and go door to door for candy or attend costume parties. It is a night for revelry, pranks and fun.

In Los Angeles and Hollywood it could be said that every day was like Halloween. People were always dressed up and most were costumes. On Halloween just about everyone dressed up, not just the normal ones.

sydney_ashcroft:

Movies and curled up on the couch with her daughter was a great way to spend a Saturday night in Syd's book. Dinner for Syd and Zoey consisted of pizza (cheese of course) and soda (it was a treat since they hadn't had movie night in awhile) and a huge bowl of popcorn with lots of extra butter on it.

Movie night started with Beauty and the Beast, which was Zoey's all time favorite movie, and moved on to Monsters vs. Aliens. Syd hadn't the chance to take Zoey to see it in the theater, so as soon as it came out on DVD she purchased it and they planned a movie night. It was a cute movie and Syd had the feeling they would be watching it many times in the near future since Zoey enjoyed it so much.

It was just a little past nine pm and Zoey was asleep next to Syd. Syd looked down at her daughter and smiled. Cuddling with her daughter was always a good thing. Syd was dozing as Independence Day just started.

nextgen_misc:

The sun was starting to sink on the Western horizon and into the Pacific Ocean as another day was ending. A few miles south of 1800 Palos Verdes Drive the ground erupted in a spray of dirt. One by one soldiers came forth from the ground. Some were Spartans, some were Roman legionnaires, and some were Norsemen. A total of three thousand eventually stood in the dying light. They moved into formation and started marching.

ohu_amane:

Ohu is in the living room, playing one of the latest games. And he's grinning widely even as Zoey is trouncing him completely.

He doesn't think it would be fair to use his magic to beat her. And he's used to using cheats when playing these games, so he's finding that, using his natural talent, he's utterly inept.

But this doesn't stop him from enjoying the game with little people in go-carts, with occasional turtle shells floating around.

He waves the controller about. "Look out! Here I come! ...oh, wait. I'm going backwards now. You just lapped me again."

sydney_ashcroft:

School shopping with a very opinionated five-year-old was an experience Sydney would like to forget, mutant power aside. It had been a constant battle for the past three hours. Zoey loved being out and loved going shopping, it was just her taste in clothes. Everything the child picked out had been black. It wasn't any place strange where she picked up her taste in fashion, but did everything have to be black?

It just made school shopping VERY difficult.

In the end most of Zoey's clothes were black, but Syd had managed to get the child to agree on some clothes with other colors in them.

Syd sighed as the front door closed behind her. She dropped the numerous bags she carried in the foyer. First something cold to drink, then she'd come back and grab the bags to put the clothes away. This year Syd had bought her at least double what they had bought last year. It was nice to have a good paying job and to be able to provide for her daughter. Zoey's birthday was in a week and Syd would be able to make it the best birthday of Zoey's life. She just had to find time to go shopping without Zoey.

She made her way into the kitchen in search of that cold drink.

pym_kitten:

Chris smiled to herself as she watched the tarmac approach, feeling the familiar grinding and bumping of wheels as they met the ground, her flight finally setting down at LAX. Mom living on the other side of the country may make it a bit of a jaunt to visit, but she loves coast-hopping. Mom and Dad's separation wasn't easy for her to deal with, but she'd never held it against either of them. She'd made it blatantly clear, even with how young she was, that she wasn't going to be bounced back and forth in whatever custody agreement. It was why she'd wound up with the X-Men; Avengers-Hank had talked to X-Hank, who talked to the Professor. So, Xavier's; best place in the world for a kid to grow up learning how to master their freakish ways.

No need for baggage claim, since everything she needed was at Mom's, and there would be shopping. Chris was still struggling with resisting the urge to bolt down the hallway on all fours when she spotted the familiar face.

"Mom!" She waved, but didn't bother sprinting the rest of the way down the hallway to the welcome area. Last time she did that she accidentally clocked someone with her carry-on.

ohu_amane:

Ohu sighs happily as he drops a bag of groceries on the counter and begins to unpack it.

"Well! That was quite an adventure retrieving groceries, was it not, Syd?" He smiles to his shopping companion. "Purchasing groceries doesn't always involve armed robbers in the store, nor a naked prophet running through the streets, nearly causing accidents, to warn us of a 'clothing armadeggon.'" He grins. "I suppose we are just lucky. Though he seemed to be unaware that Armageddon isn't an event, but a location..."

nextgen_media:

Los Angeles, California Strange things were happening at Disneyland. The normally cute, harmless characters and props were suddenly real and running amok in the park. The puppets from It’s a Small World were chasing tourists with axes and tried to harm them. Two what could only be called Vikings battled the kraken and defeated it. The situation was handled by Avenger Simon Williams, known as Wonder Man. After the situation was resolved, it was announced that the West Coast now how its own superhero team. The Defenders will be based out of Los Angeles and keeping the West Coast safe from evil. CONT on page 2.

New York, New York There’s still no word on billionaire Tony Stark’s condition since the explosion on June 24th. There has been no official word from the Stark family or company, but rumors about Stark’s death abound along with rumors of a coma or possible brain damage. CONT on page 3

New York, New York Explosions rocked different areas of the city last night as the attacks on mutant shelters and recreational centers escalated. The perpetrators of these crimes are unknown and the police continue their investigation. CONT on page 2

Memphis, TN The Young Avengers stopped a three hundred foot monster from rampaging downtown Memphis. The team managed to lure the monster away from the city where they proceeded to destroy the monster. What it was or where it came from is unknown, but it will no longer be terrorizing the residents of Memphis. CONT on page 4.

madscienceman:

Griffen had decided he was going to start ordering parts for new computer upgrades. It wasn't his thing but it had to be done. That was when he had noticed someone was already doing his job for him. That was a little surprise.

He smiled a little as he picked up one of the boxes to check out what was being installed. He gave a low whistle of geek approval as he wandered into the computer room. He looked up and had a moment of surprise.

"Miss Stark?" He blinks again then offers her a smile. "It's good to see you again. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

He doesn't seem as shy as he once was but then again the first time they met was in the middle of a crisis and the next time they were around each other was when the Defenders got called in. Griffen notes that they never really got to talk before.

team_mascot:

Summer vacation was about half over and Mom had yet to take her to Disneyland. It was the one big thing they did each year and Zoey wasn’t going to let the summer go by without going to Disneyland. This year it could even be more fun. She knew her new friends had never been there. They hadn’t been anywhere on Earth which was really weird. She also knew that Ohu would love Disneyland. It was the happiest place on Earth after all and Ohu was always happy. He’d fit right in. Maybe Asleif would smile if she went to Disneyland.

A plan began to form in her mind. It was probably even better than her last plan and that one had been awesome. Zoey couldn’t wait to tell her friends at school about the fighting and how Svalin and Aridis beat up the knights. Even the dragon wasn’t scary now. She bet the kids in her class had never seen a real dragon before or a flying horse for that matter.

Thinking of flying horses, Zoey had to remember to grab some carrots and sugar cubes for Tryggvi and take it down to him. The two dogs got treats all the time because they were allowed inside and their treats were kept in the cabinet near the sink in the kitchen. It was Zoey’s job to make sure they had fresh water and to give them a treat every evening at six. She liked the dogs. They were nice and they liked to play and they made her giggle when they licked her face. They licked her face a lot.

Right. Disneyland. Mom had said they would go and Zoey would make sure they did go. She wanted to bring her new friends with them.

Zoey looked up from her book (not having read any of it in the past five minutes) and looked at her mom who was sitting across from her reading a book. Mom always set time aside each day for the two of them to read. Today they were in the library where it was quieter than the rest of the house. Zoey was still amazed she now lived in such a big house. It was A LOT bigger than their last house.

“Mom?”

ngmastersofevil:

The attack on the Young Avengers had been successful. The Stark girl, the Rogers boy and the Rhodes girl were all successfully taken. Temujin would be along shortly to pick up the Starkling. Hadelinde would deal with the Rhodes girl and the Rogers boy would be executed. It had been a good day and was about to get better.

Egghead had set everything up in Times Square while Hadelinde and the others retrieved the three young Avengers.

Hadelinde and the rest arrived right after their successful attack on the Avengers. She dropped the Rogers kid in the middle of the hovering platform and turned toward the crowd in the streets below. Enforcer held the Stark girl. Stark would have a front row seat at her brother's execution. Frenzy held the Rhodes girl. Hadelinde would deal with her after this.

"Attention world," she said, her voice amplified by a small device attached to the neck of her suit. The event was also being transmitted around the world via satellite thanks to Egghead.

"Years ago Captain America killed my father. Today justice will be served as his son pays for his crime."

Hadelinde motioned for Enforcer to ready the Rogers kid. Egghead had constructed a modern guillotine. Hadelinde had always been a fan of be-headings.

nextgen_misc:

It had taken a little effort and a lot of talking and explaining, but the Asgardians, Ohu and Griffen O'Niell were moving to California. They were going to act as the Avengers' west coast team and would go by the name of The Defenders. Their headquarters would be at the former West Coast Avengers base Avengers' Compound located at 1800 Palos Verdes Drive just outside of LA.

The 15 acre estate featured one main building, five bungalows, garage, hangar, tennis courts and a private beach. It would be a good base for the Defenders and keep the collateral damage out of city.

Today was moving-in day.

shield_maiden:

Teleporting was always disconcerting and disorientating. One moment they were in Oklahoma and the next they were in New York City right outside of the Avengers mansion.

Tryggvi reared and pawed at the air. Svalin put a hand on his neck and tried to calm him down. "Easy! Calm down Tryggvi! Please."

A second after their arrival the alarm started sounding.

ohu_amane:

Ohu Amane means "Sees Danger" in Twi, the modern language of the Ashanti, and the name is quite appropriate. The eldest son of Anansi, Ohu was gifted with the ability to see danger. He used this power to help save his father from a giant river monster (with a little help from his siblings, he supposes). He knows when there's serious trouble.

But he's never had a chance to really explore the realms of mortals before. He's always been kept at home, in the realm of the Ashanti gods. Which was boring. His father being the keeper of all stories, Ohu has heard all the stories from the mortal realms, and he finds them fascinating. Of course, these days, there are more stories coming into his father's realm than ever before -- a person can't keep up! So Ohu finally convinced his father to let him come to the mortal realm*, accompanied by other gods, the children of Asgardians.

This should be a most exciting expedition! They've already shown up in Oklahoma, surrounded by wheat. If they can just find a cornfield, he's sure there will be evil there. There's always evil in cornfields in the stories.

But the field gives way to a road, and Ohu, the guide for his friend Asgardians, choses a way and begins walking it. They are heading for New York, and certainly all roads must lead to New York eventually.

The occasional car or truck passing by, Ohu leads them down the road, over two bridges, and into the city apparently named "Kingfisher." Around them, the populace gives the gods strange looks.

"You see, my friends? I have lead us to a place where we may acquire transportation to the glorious city of New York!"

*If, by "convinced his father," one means, "ran away without telling him."