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Pretty good set-up, Movie-Brat. The heroes seem to be cleaning house against the Cybermen whenever they're working as a group. As for the match, Wanda should probably win this easily. Machines and A.I. in fiction tend to generally operate on probabilities and a sense of logic. Not a good combination to use against someone whose main power is to magically alter probabilities.

This is your opportunity to start off with a memorable and marketable domain name. It really can't be overstated how important the choice of your domain name is. Just sayin'.

Heh, good follow-up, broadway. It's almost a little too honorable of Fox Xanatos to want to fight a worthy opponent, though. As for the match, I apparently can't look up Wanted's Fox without running into spoilers for the film, but I'm going to assume that unless she has significant other combat ability besides her bullet-curving, Mrs. Xanatos should probably be able to take her. That is also a distinct possibility.

What he said.

I'm giving it to the eagle, and not just because the eagle has more canonical hand-to-hand experience. Lasers will do nothing due to the counter system and while the reflector should handle most items thrown at the eagle, he will likely have more of an advantage up close.

THE BOTTOM LINE Lin and Brian peeked over the edge of the balcony to witness the insanity below. Hollywood’s finest were engaged in a struggle that was one part bar room brawl and one part Broadway musical. The Music Meister had managed to take control of several “West Side Story” cast members, who were trying to contain Simu Liu. The “Shang Chi” actor dived and dodged past their strikes and delivered kicks to his finger snapping assailants. Samuel Jackson and Uma Thurman danced a tango as they tripped up Jennifer Lawrence and Bill Murray. Meanwhile, Venus and Serena Williams had got in a “Single Ladies” formation behind Beyonce as they fought Penelope Cruz, Kristin Stewart, and Nicole Kidman and Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga brawled on the stage. All in all, it had become a rather bizarre evening. “We’ve got to stop this!” said Lin. “Someone’s going to get killed if this keeps up!” Brian wiped the sweat from his brow. “But how? Those two guys have got everybody going nuts.” Lin grabbed Brian by the shoulder. “We need to get back to the boiler room. There’s got to be another spell to reverse this thing! We just need to get the book!” Brian coughed and pointed towards the stage nervously. “Umm, that book?” Lin looked where Brian pointed and his blood ran cold. On the stage, standing behind Sweet, was Vanessa guarded by three of his demons. And she was clutching the book to her chest. “That demon thing must have had one of those weird puppet guys snag the book,” Brian moaned. “There’s no way we can get past this crowd to get to it.” Lin looked out at his wife, her lips singing along with the clashing melodies. A determined look came over Lin’s face. “I’m going to save Vanessa,” he said, pulling Brian back down behind the balcony wall. “And you’re going to make this right, Brian, if it’s the last thing you do! Now, listen. I need you to get to the control room. This is what we’re gonna do.” The Music Meister looked nervously around the theater. He had controlled half the theater, but now his forces had been depleted. He could feel each celebrity he controlled slip from his grasp as they were knocked out by Sweet’s army, only to be revived and dance to the demon’s tune. Chris Rock was being double teamed by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Tony Hawk was doing backflips over Kelly Slater, and Wesley Snipes was getting overpowered by Jason Momoa. Sweet put his arm around Vanessa as he smirked across the stage at the Meister. “Face it, buddy. You’ve lost.” The Meister started to shake as he pointed at the demon. Music Meister: You think you’ve won! But I’m not done! My victory’s still in view! My hired hands, I now command, To take the fight to you! The Music Meister sings the song the world wants to hear! Stand and fight and hear the song, Of your hypnotic profiteer! The Mu… The Music Meister’s voice fell silent as he looked at the audience in horror. His six minions were not singing with him. They were now dancing to Sweet’s music. The Meister spun to face Sweet who shrugged and started to snap his fingers. “About time to wrap this thing up.” His face still frozen in fear, the Music Meister slowly started swaying and dancing to Sweet’s song, keeping time with his snaps. Sweet started snapping faster and faster, causing the Meister and his minions to dance even more quickly. Smoke started to rise from their bodies as they cried out in exertion. Sweet snapped his fingers one last time, and all seven men burst into flames. Sweet chuckled as they screamed in agony before their immolated bodies collapsed to the ground. Sweet turned his attention to Vanessa, the rest of the theater now still as the entire audience stood motionless in his power. Sweet brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. She flinched and closed her eyes but couldn’t move away as Sweet sang. Sweet: Well, I must confess, That truly was a… blaaast! Said he was the best, But that guy was… just outclaaassed! I could probably burn down this city, Torch all of you! The lights would be pretty! Let’s get partyin’! Time to breathe your laaast! “HEY!” Sweet turned to the crowd and saw Lin-Manuel Miranda in aisle with a mic in his hand. Lin’s face was taut with determination. “This party ends now!” The crowd of mind-controlled celebrities took a lunged towards Lin only for Sweet to raise his hand. “Hold it, people. Take five.” The celebrities took a step back and Sweet gave a toothy grin to Lin as he put his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders. “Now this is something. You’re fighting me. Well, to be fair I was distracted. Why don’t you get with the chorus with the rest of them?” Lin could hear the echoes of a song start playing in his head. He closed his eyes and groaned in pain, then looked up defiantly at Sweet. “Sorry, not really in the mood for singing right now.” Sweet glanced back at Vanessa and smirked. “Oh, I get it now. This is your girl, isn’t it? I admire your guts. Not that it’ll do you or her any good.” “You are going to let my wife go,” said Lin firmly. “Set everyone free and set everything back the way it was.” Sweet’s grin grew savage as he stepped to edge of the stage to get in Lin’s face. “And just how the hell are you going to make me do that, mortal? Do you have any idea what I’m capable of?” Lin took a step back from Sweet, not breaking eye contact. “I know you think you can get your way. I know you expect us to dance to the music you play. And I know that’s all going to chance today. Brian!” Brian’s nervous voice rang out over the PA system from the control room. “Ready, Lin!” “Good. Cuz I’ve got somethin’ to say!” A rap beat started playing over the PA. Sweet looked around in confusion as Lin lifted the mic to his lips. Lin: You thinkin’ you got some Master Plan. Think I got nothin’ but sweat inside my hands. You beat a guy dressed purple? Reign in your pride. It’ll take 7 seconds to Kiss it goodbye. Come on Let’s Go Crazy if you want to get nuts. Bring you down like the elevator doors as it shuts. Why the Prince scheme, you thinkin’? Well, I will repeat. I only think of Cream when I hear the name Sweet! Will I beat you in a minute or two, Sweet? Or do it French, like, “Tout Suite!” You can leave now if you want to, Sweet. When the bars click it’ll be “Too Sweet!” So you say you’re a demon, and you think you’re hard. Well, Broadway’s my home, Hollywood’s my yard. Long as I have a beat, I will never quit. Don’t quote me, Sweet, I ain’t said nuthin’ yet! Sweet had perplexed look on his face as he watched Lin continue rapping. But he could see the effect his words were having on the crowd. He saw the celebrities under his control slowly starting to sway to Lin’s rap. Sean Combs and Megan Thee Stallion broke ranks with the crowd, as the other cast members of “Encanto” moved in behind Lin. Lin: I rep my island, Puerto Rico, like a boss! I’m the one rapper no one wants to cross! So I hope you are ready to take this loss! Cuz Sweet’ll be sour when I bring the sauce! Vanessa, you’re my girl! Still leaving me breathless! Remember those times I was broke and making breakfast? I know you’re in there! Don’t give up the fight! Cuz you are going back home with me tonight! I can do Sweet like Sweeney with a blade to his throat! Or Sound off on his Music, let him know I’m the GOAT! I could Weird Al his act, make him laugh at the parody. But I didn’t come here tonight to give Sweet Charity! I might pull a gun on ‘em. I’m not playing around. He hear the “Ch”? I go, “It’s my kind of town.” Give all your songs a rest, cuz they only bore me. Or you’re laid out on the curb like a West Side Story. Vanessa’s fingers started tapping on the cover of the book. Sweet glared down on Lin. “So, you think you got some style? You might be able to swipe a couple of people from me, but you ain’t getting rid of me that easy.” Lin caught his breath and looked past Sweet with a smile. Lin: I’m here put an end to all your crew. I can make people dance to my music too. So what I don’t get an Oscar? I know I got my fam. The only Oscar you’ll get is out of a trash can. All I need is the thing that your cronies took. I can finish all this once I have that book. And if you think I can’t get it? Then you must be wack, son. I don’t believe in demons, I believe in Chris Jackson! Sweet turned to see what Lin was looking at. A fist struck him right between the eyes and sent him sprawling backward. The fist belonged to Chris Jackson, who clutched his hand in pain. “You could have told me how hard this guy’s head was!” he shouted to Lin. But Lin was focused on Vanessa. The demonic henchmen left her side to check on Sweet, and she was shaking her head as if waking up from a deep slumber. “Vanessa!” Lin yelled. Sweet pushed the demons aside as he struggled to get up. “Get the girl!” Vanessa’s eyes suddenly focused. He glanced down at the book then back to Lin. “Lin! Take it!” She tossed the book off the stage, and Lin lunged forward to catch it. The rap beat stopped playing and the celebrities went back to being motionless. The demons started leaping off the stage toward Lin, who held the book up above his head. “Back up!” Lin shouted. “Anyone takes a step towards me and I tear this book apart!” The demons froze and Sweet nimbly jumped in front of them. Chris hurried to Vanessa’s side as she collapsed to the stage. “And just what good do you think that’ll do, Lin?” Sweet asked. “This book brought you here. The spells are the reason this madness happened,” Lin said determinedly. “Maybe that’s the way you all go back where you came from. Or you can just leave now, and never come back!” “Now take it easy, Lin!” Lin looked behind him as Brian pushed his way past the crowd to join him. “Just give me the book! I know the spell that we activated! I can reverse and then we can keep using the success spell!” Sweet started laughing, and his henchmen followed suit. Lin looked confused. “What’s so funny?” “Lin, baby, you’ve barely scratched the surface of what that book can do! I don’t know what this guy has been telling you, but the spells in that book haven’t seen the light of day in, oh, I’d say about a hundred years or so.” “But that’s not true!” Brian argued. “I’ve been using them for years now!” “Oh, really?” said Sweet condescendingly. “Did you do the spell right? Did you make the circle? Put the candles in the right shape? Get the blood of a sacrificed virgin?” Brian started scratching his head uncomfortably. “Um, yeah. I might have used some pig blood instead. I didn’t think it was a big deal! When the accolades kept coming in…” “Hold on!” Lin interrupted. “You mean that my wins were legit? It wasn’t from this book?” Sweet shook his head. “But you could have a whole lot more success. Just hand the book to me, and I’ll unlock all it’s mysteries for you.” “Don’t listen to him, Lin!” Brian begged. “Now that I know how I messed up, we can do it right now!” Lin looked back and forth between the demon and the agent. He gazed up at the stage where Vanessa was still passed out. He turned his attention back to Sweet and Brian. “You both want this book so bad? Fine. Let’s share!” Lin raised the book back above his head. Sweet and Brian lunged for him. “STOP!” “LIN! NO!” But it was too late. With a mighty tear, Lin ripped the book down it’s spine. The book began to spark and glow with the same light as before, enveloping the entire theater. “Music has always played an important role in the world of movies. The following composers and lyricists have created works of art that theater goers will cherish forever.” Lin found himself sitting back in his chair in the theater. Everyone in the audience was back in their seats and looking on as Jake Gyllenhaal and Zoe Kravitz presented their award on stage. Lin looked behind him to see Brian sat a few rows back. He smiled and waved at Lin, crossing his fingers. Lin felt a familiar touch on his arm. He turned to see Vanessa and Chris sitting next to him. “Well, I guess this is it,” Vanessa said. Lin was speechless for a moment, then gave Vanessa a hug. “Vanessa! Vanessa, you’re okay!” he said in between kisses. Vanessa laughed as she gently pushed Lin back. “Lin! What’s gotten into you?” “I’m sorry. It’s… it’s impossible to explain. I’m just so glad you’re here right now. And I love you so much.” Vanessa smiled and shook her head. “And I love you too, Lin.” The couple started kissing again as the presenters went on with their introductions. “Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for ‘No Time to Die’, “No Time to Die”. DIXSON and Beyonce Knowles-Carter for ‘Be Alive’, “King Richard”. And Lin-Manuel Miranda for ‘Dos Origuitas’, “Encanto”.” Chris nudged Vanessa as the cameras panned to them. “Um, guys?” The crowd starting laughing and cheering as the big screen showed Lin and Vanessa embracing. They looked up at the screen then back at the crowd. Lin laughed nervously as he acknowledged the audience and Zoe Kravitz grinned down from the podium. “Hope we’re not interrupting anything, Lin?” Lin smiled and shook his head. “Well, in that case,” Jake Gyllenhaal said holding up the envelope. “Let’s get back to the show!” Vanessa held Lin’s hand tight. “Just remember,” she whispered. “You will always have my love. No matter what.” Lin put his free hand over Vanessa’s. “No matter what.” “And the Academy Award goes to…” “Come on! I want to see the rest of the show!” The bouncer walked the woman towards the back door of the bar by the arm. “Listen, lady. For you, show’s over! You’ve been hogging that TV all night. I’ve got people who want to see the game! Not a bunch of celebrities in suits thanking each other!” The woman struggled to free herself. “But I’m a celebrity too!” she slurred. “I’m a singer! Back in 2011 I was bigger than all those sell outs!” “Yeah, yeah. And I was a stunt double for Robert Downey Jr. Out you go!” The woman flew unceremoniously out the back door and into an alley. She clattered into a row of garbage cans as the bouncer closed the door behind her. “You can’t do this to me!” she screeched waving her fist. “I’m a star! I can make another hit anytime I want to!” The woman slowly got to her feet, brushed off her jeans, and was about to leave the alley when something caught her eye. Sitting on top of a pile of trash, was a white, paperback book. It looked so clean and out of place in the alley, that the woman reached out and picked it up. She flipped through the book and settled on a page. “The following spell will make one adored by all mortals. One must first take the blood of a sacrificed virgin…” “Hey, Rebecca!” Rebecca turned and saw another woman in her early 20s hurrying into the alley, stepping carefully so no garbage got on her designer clothes. “There you are! We’ve been looking all over town for you! I thought we were going to watch the Oscars at your place, but you weren’t there!” Rebecca slipped the book in her back pocket. “Oh, right, sorry, Blair. It just slipped my mind.” Blair took Rebecca’s hand and helped her step over a fallen trash can. “Well, let’s get you home. The other’s are waiting in the car. Do you want to sit in the front seat or the back seat?” Rebecca said nothing as they exited the alley. Her mind was thinking on the book she found. It might take the rest of the week to understand what it all meant, but when she did? She had a feeling she would definitely be looking forward to the weekend.