Dani knew this whole stopping Ultron thing was serious business, but she was excited to be doing some superheroing on a big stage like this. She had already gotten suited up, and was now anxiously waiting for their cue. In the meantime, she talked her sister’s and Liz’s ears off. “You know, I’m not going to be 12 forever. Maybe I should use a different codename besides Spider-Girl. Maybe Spiderette? Spinderella? Hmm… I’ll work on that. You know while were at we could also use a Team name. Ooh, what about The Spider-Sisters!” And then she looked at Liz, and remembered she did not share DNA with them, nor was she a Spider. “Uh… it’s a work in progress.”
Just then, the Ultron Bots sprung forth. That was obviously their cue. “Let’s gooooo!” Dani did some springing forth herself, and kicked an Ultron Bot in the face. Then spun a pink web to grab two more bots, and smashed their heads together.
—-
Chase was determined to do something special for Danny's birthday, especially after everything they had been through. With the help of the team, he planned a small surprise celebration in one of the less-used rooms of the Hostel.
As night fell, Chase gathered everyone together. He led Danny to the room, insisting that he had something important to show him.
Danny followed, a bit confused but curious. When they entered the room, the lights flicked on, revealing a makeshift party setup with a small cake with pink frosting, some decorations, and a few hastily wrapped presents. The team shouted “Surprise!” Danny's eyes went wide.
“Happy birthday, Danny!” Chase exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.
Danny couldn't help but smile. “You guys did all this for me?”
Nico nodded. “It was Chase’s idea. We all figured you deserved a little celebration before things get really serious.”
Molly added, “Yeah, consider it a morale booster.”
Danny chuckled. “Thanks, everyone. This means a lot.”
They spent the next hour enjoying the simple celebration. Danny opened his presents. There were an assortment of items. Chase got him some upgraded Webshooters. They shared cake, and for a brief moment, it felt like they were just normal teenagers having a birthday party.
As the celebration wound down, the mood changed. The weight of what lay ahead returned, and the team knew it was time to focus on their mission.
Chase pulled Danny aside, his expression more serious now. “I wanted to make sure you had a good birthday, especially with everything going on. But we need to be ready for tonight.”
Danny nodded, appreciating the gesture. “Thank you, Chase. I needed that. Let’s go save the world.”
The team gathered, going over their plan one last time. Alex took the lead. “We know the ritual is happening tonight. We need to be in position before it starts. Remember, our goal is to stop The Pride and prevent the Gibborim from coming through.”
Cloak added, “I’ll use my powers to get us there undetected. Once we’re in position, we stick to the plan. No improvising unless absolutely necessary.”
Nico nodded, her staff glowing faintly. “We’re ready. Let’s do this.”
With that, Cloak enveloped them in darkness, transporting them to the location of the ritual. They arrived silently, their presence hidden by Cloak’s abilities. Tensions were high as they waited for the right moment.