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It’s nighttime in Earth-6 in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The sidewalks are flooded with people, eager as they head to Times Square to kick off 2019 with a bang only New Yorkers can muster. While everyone is gearing up to ring in the New Year, Mickey Villanueva’s apartment is filled, people packed from wall to wall...“Umm, yeah,” Mickey says to Gwen. “I think I made too many invitations.” He scratches his head with a worried look on his face.Gwen chuckles, shaking her head. “Well, I mean, yeah. You kinda overdo it, sometimes. I mean, to be honest, I thought our dimensions were weird, but…”She points to the chaotic party in Mickey’s living room. Despite the cold from outside, Mickey's apartment is filled with warmth from good food and generally good people.Inspired by Gwen’s genius idea, Mickey wanted to enjoy the New Year in a big way: an interdimensional party. Sending out invites across the cosmos was a big gamble and a dangerous risk, but, given the quirks he’s obtained through the symbiotic bond with Duke and Grey – Duke and Duchess Agares – Mickey wasn’t worried. At least, he wasn’t at the time.Now, as he sees his guests, Mickey scratches his head, staring at Gwen’s interdimensional watch. “That’s a hell of a device. It’s a great way to undo some of this mess. I mean, mein Gott, just let me borrow it, please? I'm kinda havin' second thoughts here!”“Yeah, no. Still not for sale, by the way.”“C’mon! I mean, look, Gwen!”He presents the room’s members to her in all of their chaotic splendour: their friends and bandmates, Luna and Luke, talking to Jenny, Katherine, and Ava about more experiences with the band; friends from their boroughs and Avengers Academy; Mickey’s fighting buddies from the world across the Divide; Miles’ parents; Gwen’s father and her roommate/former bandmate, Betty Brant…And some new guests both Mickey and Gwen weren’t familiar with. “Alright. Let me be clear,” Jeanne says, her voice – though still reserved – taking a somewhat curious tone. “The four of you, including your two friends, are known as Anomalies, am I correct?”Moon, Gabe, Karen, and Hannah all turn to each other and back to Jeanne as they nod. “It does sound a bit cliché, but trust me, there’s a strong reason for that,” Gabe says. “And it’s not just because we stand out.”“Plus, Jeanne, Nadine and I aren’t Anomalies,” Karen says, joining in. “Well, Nadine can be quite…um, special in her own ways.” She points as they all watch Rashid enjoying a nice cold-cut sandwich.Suddenly, his hands become lit with hot sparks; the culprit being a small, mostly harmless bed of fire, created by Nadine’s Fire Magicka. Nadine snatches the sandwich from Rashid, smiling as she revels in her victory.“Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!” Rashid says, pouting at the crafty Breton mage as she winks at the laid-back fighter. “No fair!”Nadine chuckles. “Perhaps. But you should always keep your eyes on the—""That looks so good!” says Katherine, using some of Mickey’s talents to snatch the sandwich from Nadine, fixing her round glasses with a wink and a smirk. “Thank you…”“Hey!” Nadine, slightly miffed, turns to her friends she raises her arms in disbelief.Jeanne looks back to the rest as she blinks. “You need more perceptive friends,” she teases.The four friends all turn to each other. “Yeah,” they say in unison. Meanwhile, Gwen chuckles. “Well, I mean, I guess you have a point…” She sees Miles caught up in a heated video game session with Axel and the Parr siblings, Violet and Dash, now older. Concentrating and highlighting their friendly bond, Violet games on top of Axel's head.“I’m gonna win!” Dash says.“No, you’re not,” Axel replies.“Yeah-huh.”“Nah, man.”“Yeah-huh!”“Naaaaaah.”“Yeah-h—”Miles frowns. “Guys, c’mon. Stop arguing or else she’ll—"“Too late! Sorry, boys!” Violet says, slapping Axel's shoulders. The race is over – with her coming out on top. “Looks like I win again!”Axel and Dash pout as they turn to Miles. “You distracted us,” Axel murmurs.With a look of bewilderment, Miles scoffs. “W-What? C’mon, man, I did not!”“Yeah-huh,” the boys say.“G-Gwen! Luna!”Katherine and Luna turned to Miles. “Yeah?/Geulae?”Defeated and slightly salty, Miles drops the controller as he shakes his head. Violet laughs as she turns to her parents, mingling with Gwen’s father and Miles' parents. “Yeah, you should probably call them in for dinner,” Gwen says to Mickey. “Miles whines a lot when he's like this."Mickey rubs his face with an upset laugh. "Ah. Yeeeeah, I know...""Don’t worry, I’ll help you out later.”“Good idea, meine Freundin. Danke. Duke!”Gotcha, Boss, Duke echoes in Mickey’s mind as the latter’s hair and eyes momentarily turn red. “Alright, alright! Come and stuff your gut full o’ food, everybody!”
(Later that evening…)
On his way to the dinner table, Mickey spots Ed staring with mischief at the decadent turkey announcing its arrival. "Damn, that looks good!""¡Ay! Easy there, Ed," Mickey said with a chuckle. "Let those hungry eyes watch something else, Mein Freund. We ain't ready yet. We're waiting for more people!"“Yeah, catch yourself on!” With her hand locked with Axel’s under the table, Hannah joins in as she turns to Mickey with a giggle.“Yeah, what she said!” Mickey’s eyes dart from Ed to his new, peppy friend to Axel.Axel's island charm turns on yet again. “It means ‘don’t be ridiculous’, my brother,” Axel says with a grin.“Heeeeeeey! I knew that!”“He’s lying. He doesn’t,” Jeanne says as she and Mickey exchange a look and a smile.“Um, Mickey,” Hannah murmurs. “Will there be—”“Yes, Hannah. I got some veggie meals for ya. Don't worry.”Hannah squeals. “Eee! Thank you.” She sticks her tongue out at Ed.The young Neo-Shadaloo boxer chuckles as Falke gives him a light poke with her elbow. "We're guests here, Ed," she whispers to him. "Manners." She turns to Mickey as they exchange a pleasant smile.Dishes such as tamales, potato salads, sausages, and others are adorned at the table, complete with Mickey's special turkey. He grins as Sakura and Ava are beside themselves with hunger and shock."Mickey-san made all of this for us? You were busy!" Sakura says as Ava chuckles."You said it," she grins. "Who knew you had it in ya? Qué buena onda!"Humbled, Mickey chuckles before he hears the doorbell ring. "Oh, crap, they're here! Okay, meine Freunde! Moment of truth."Jeanne and Nadine smack Rashid's hand as he tries to take a cheddar biscuit. "Hey! Can’t a guy get something to eat?" He whines to the two ladies as they turn to him.They answer immediately. “No.” The two look at each other, exchanging a warm nod.A sad Rashid turns to Ryu as the latter softly chuckles, shrugging his shoulders.Sitting beside a giggling Luna, Helen shakes her head before turning to her intriguing host. "You know, Mickey, you could’ve called on the two of us to help you out.”“It’s true,” Bob says, “My wife can be pretty flexible in the kitchen.” The rest of the partygoers – even including Jeanne but except Rashid – groan at the terrible pun. “It’s just dad humour! Besides, we could've helped you make more food..."“It’s only fair, so we might—""Heh, don't worry, guys," Mickey says with a smile. "I’m from Queens. We always find a way to handle overwhelming tasks." He points to the large, food-adorned table as the three exchange a warm laugh. The doorbell rings again. "Alright, alright. I'll be back!” He turns to Jeanne, pointing at Rashid. “Foucault...""I know." She stares a shocked Rashid down.“C’mon, not you too, Mickey!” He teases.Mickey laughs as he heads to the front door, welcoming his Academy ‘name buddy’ Mickey Musashi along with his best friend Erika 'Hush Puppy' Andrade. “What’s good, H.P.?”Erika smiles. "I’m good, I’m good. Oh, Decapre said she's coming with the rest shortly."Oh, boy. "Great!”You asked for this, Michaël, Grey echoes in Mickey’s mind with a slightly evil giggle.
Oh, don’t laugh, Grey. Since you helped Gwen put me up to this, the both of you will help me clean up, too.
Grey scoffs. But-but, I am a Grand Duchess of He—
Grey, I’ll tell Luna about the time you paid to have Chippendale dancers at one of her afterparties. And you know I don’t bluff. So, try me, 'große Schwester' ('Big Sis')…
She gasps before relenting to Mickey’s threat. Okay…Satisfied, he beams warmly. “What about Mel—”“Right over there.” With a smile, Erika points to a sight Mickey never expected to see. He sees Melissa guide his once-estranged mother to her son's apartment.“Mama?” Teary-eyed, he greets her as she wells up herself.“Es bueno verte otra vez, mijo… (It's good to see you again, my son.)”Mickey turns to Melissa. "Thank you," he whispers, forming a twinkle in his eye. “I’ll pay you back.”She smiles warmly at him, grateful for her gift. "Happy New Year, tough guy. And you will."With the cute beagle Elvira in her arms, Gwen watches with Miles and Luna as Mickey turns, still hugging his mother. The four friends exchange a warm smile as they all ring in the New Year…With a pleasant, new surprise.
For you, the reader:
Luna is front and center as Gwen, Miles, and Mickey are all behind her, Melissa and Jeanne off to the side.
“From all of our friends, families, and allies, this is Luna Snow on behalf of the Champions of Earth-6 wishing you and yours a pleasant end to your holiday season. Modu saehae bog manh-i bad-euseyo. Oneul bam, ulineun nega meosjin 2019nyeon-eul bonaegileul balanda. Neon hangsang chaempieon-i doel geoya.”
Mickey and Jeanne whisper something in Miles’ ears before they nod with a grin. Miles turns to you.
“Happy new year, everyone,” Miles says. “Tonight, we want you to have fun in 2019. You'll always be a Champion."
They wave goodbye to you as they all hug an alarmed Jeanne. Slowly...very slowly, she sighs before she smiles.
"Goodnight," she says.