Withdrawing from the chaos the Vanguard leaves the scene of their first hollow victory; the destruction massive and while the casualties had been kept to a minimum it still echoed throughout the news that day about how the Vanguard had almost been beaten. The best of the city's heroes, and they'd met a imposing new villain who seemed terrifyingly more powerful than any other villain presently active in Omegatropolis.<br/>It was indeed a Pyrrhic victory.<br/><br/>Though, they are all alive, and with Arianna at their side the Vanguard finds themselves one friend richer. The trip back to their base is solemn, and their presence there greeted by Fenris who pulls Val aside to speak to her. Then the day passes into history, and a new one dawns as the group begins to train and prepare for the inevitable appearance of Pantheon again. Days turning to weeks and then months as the Vanguard forges itself anew in struggle against the city's villains. though part of it breaks as Chance is offered a spot on the UWG (United World Governments) seat of Superpowered Surveillance Directive. Though Arianna proves herself to be a worthy addition to the team as the young woman proves to be very capable, and fighting with magical weapons makes her even more so.<br/>And, as the group grows closer, it leaves way for dynamics to form; as Valkyrie begins to go for movie nights with the RRT detective Clarke, and Lady Omega starts dating Valkyrie's father/mentor Fenris. The two female heroes also going on nightly crime-stopping missions whenever Barb isn't working on improving her armour. During their time together, the two female heroes find Val's father/mentor Fenris brutally beaten and are forced to get him to a hospital. Swearing vengeance Valkyrie and Barbara hunts down the two villains responsible; Blackguard and Ironstrike. After a long and brutal battle in the central park the heroes emerge victorious, with Blackguard going off to jail and the cleaners wiping away pieces of what remains of Ironstrike after the insane merc decided to blow himself up trying to kill Val and Barb<br/>For Dreamshard, her time spent with improving her magic repertoire gives the Atlantean a taste of home, and the hope they seem to hold for the Vanguards success. For Arianna, she gets a room at the HQ, and a taste of being part of something much greater than a solo career.<br/>Dreamshard and Arianna encounters and together takes down a new vampiric villain named RavenHeart which they manage to vanquish by combining Ari's combat abilities with the fiery magic of Dream and in turn gain a nemesis as the villain returns less than a week later, swearing vengeance agains Dream and Ari in particular.<br/>And then there's the small issue of the lawsuit brought against the Vanguard on behalf of Cutting Edge Systems; the people who owned the box which Valkyrie smashed. As it stands, the lawsuit s only a few days old but the CAR(Canadian American Republic) is fractured as some of the conservative powers that be advocate leashes on the superheroes and more governmental control while the supporters of the Vanguard and similar individuals cry out in anger.<br/><br/>While this happens, a new hero has begin to skulk the shadows; her path entwined with the Vanguard whether either party knows about it, but as of yet the threads of fate hangs loosely. However, coinciding with her appearance is the arrival of a new villain, Kage Sasori...Who avoids the Vanguard, but who they hear about form the OPD as whatever he is he's gathering control over the city's underworld.<br/><br/>It is now that the next chapter begins, it is nearing Christmas, and there's actually a tree with gifts placed beneath if in the HQ. Where and what are the heroes of the city doing on this day?<br/><br/>((OOC: More to come, rushing posts, not best idea.))<br/>