12:00 A.M. The stroke of midnight. January 1, 2016.

Cap was not the only one who raised his arms up and cheered in the Vanguard Tower when the monitor showed the Times Square Ball dropping. The entire Vanguard of Justice was also present was this occurred. Every single one of the heroes that had aided in the battle against Surtur moments before, but Kilowog, Valkyrie, Lady Sif, and Mar-Vell merely smiled and chuckled at the sight. Even Odin was present, his arms crossed.

"Vanguard of Justice," Odin began, directing everyone's attention over to him. "As a new year begins on your world, know that you have the eternal gratitude of Asgard for your efforts in defeating Surtur. I also give my thanks to the M-Force, the Green Lantern and the Kree soldier who came all the way from the stars to aid us, and all the other heroes."

Odin nodded his head and smiled. "I will not lie. While I was never disgusted by Midgard, I never thought much of it, either. But this past century has proven me very wrong to feel that way. I wish the best of luck to you all as you continue to be the champions of this realm."

Superman and Cap both walked up to Odin and shook his hand, and then the power of the Bifrost Bridge emanated around the ruler of Asgard, and he was gone.

With that, everyone began laughing and drinking. Cap and Superman walked over to Batman and Iron Man.

"So," Superman said, locking eyes with Batman. "I've been asking around. Shazam, Elongated Man, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch have all accepted offers to potentially join the Vanguard as reserve members."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "I can understand the other three, with some objection, but Billy? You really want a child on the team?"

Iron Man raised his finger up and chuckled. "Bruce, you're not one to talk since you recently got that 'boy wonder' as your sidekick."

"For one thing, Dick's in his mid-teens, and for another thing, I would never consider having him join the Vanguard of Justice at this point."

Cap looked over to the two billionaires. "We'll just have to see what everyone says when we nominate the four as candidates?"

Iron Man grumbled. "I'm going to be pissed if Bruce and I are the only ones to vote against Billy."

Then Hal, Carol, Barry, and Kilowog walked over to the four.

"Can you believe what poozer here did?!" Kilowog shouted out, grabbing Hal and messing his hair around. "The Corps will tell that tale for star cycles to come!"

Hal chuckled. "I'm just happy that it all worked out for the best. And that I got to create all that awesome shit!" he said, sounding drunk.

Carol, laughing drunkenly, wrapped her arm around Hal. "And I'm glad that you're not dead! You gave me a helping hand when I got my powers! That, and I remembered that you owed Barry twenty dollars."

Barry laughed. "Yeah, you do, but pay it up whenever, man. You're good."

Cap and Superman laughed before walking away. As the Vanguard's conference room was full of chattering and drinking, the two heard Hank, Wasp, and Zatanna right next to them.

"So, get this," Zatanna began, raising her finger up as she looked at Wasp and Hank. "Lex Luthor could run for President in 2020, depending on how the '16 winner does. Yeah, I really don't see that happening."

Wasp shook her head and smiled. "Yeah, I simply can't picture 'President Luthor'. He wouldn't even make it past the primaries."

"Hey, guys," Hank interrupted, having a clipboard in his hands. "I want you both to hear about this robot I plan to build soon."

Cap perked his head up at the sound of that. 'Hank? Building a robot? Well, that should be interesting.'

He heard a conversation about a figure known as the 'Winter Soldier' striking twice in the countries of Khandaq and Latveria, within a week, but before Cap could process what the Winter Soldier could be about, he felt a slap on his back. He turned around to see that it was Thor and Wonder Woman.

Thor looked down at the ground. "I will not lie to you. What my father said about Midgard exceeding his expectations…I cannot help but agree with that sentiment. Not once did I ever imagine heroes from this realm would bring down Surtur of all people."

Wonder Woman nodded. "I have never been prouder to be in the World of Man, and to serve as a Vanguardian. Not that it ever wasn't an honor, of course."

Cap patted Wonder Woman's shoulder, before Valkyrie got the attention of the god and the demigoddess. Cap turned his head to face Superman.

"So, Clark…." Cap whispered, leaning in. "I'm no expert on Norse mythos, but I know Surtur was destined to cause Ragnarök. Shouldn't Thor be worried about what could take Surtur's place?'

Superman shook his head. "I agree with you, Steve, but I think Thor just wants to enjoy the night and worry about matters such as those later."

"You are correct, Clark," a voice said, and the two saw that it was Martian Manhunter, who walked up to them alongside the Hulk. "Sorry for reading your mind. I'm usually masterful at not reading minds, but there's an occasional slip-up. While I have you, though, do you know where the Oreos would be?"

Hulk chuckled. "Hulk want Oreos as well. Hulk happy to be part of Vanguard, but Hulk need Oreos in kitchen."

"Hold up, I'll go get some," Superman said. Then he zoomed away. Cap, the Martian Manhunter, and the Hulk waited for a few moments, before Superman came back with four bags of Oreos, throwing them over to the two green Vanguardians, who thanked them before parting ways.

Cap began to nod to Superman. "I took a few months, but I think I finally got used to it."

Superman crossed his arms. "What do you mean?"

"I finally got used to the sheer insanity of this world. It goes beyond waking up 70 years in the future. Gods, kings of advanced kingdoms, space cops, aliens, telepathic gorillas who can take control of all of us…the world really is so crazy that it almost comes back around to being normal again."

"I wish I could argue against that, but given that I was rocketed trillions of light years from my home planet to a world whose inhabitants just so happen to look exactly like me and whose sun gives my extraordinary abilities…" Superman began, before pausing and cupping his chin. "I don't think I can really argue with that."

Superman and Cap continued walking around the conference room, and they saw Black Panther, Aquaman, and Shuri conversing with one another, with Shuri leaning back and cackling.

Cap cleared his throat. "T'Challa, how has Wakanda been recovering?"

"Thanks to our vibranium, Wakanda has been recovering stupendously," Black Panther replied.

Shuri sneered. "And I really hope this whole battle is the last time I have to deal with magic. For real this time."

Aquaman crossed his arms and laughed. "You never know, Shuri. You really just never know."

The kings and the princess resumed their previous conversation, and Cap looked around at everyone in the room. It was truly a sight to see, having so many superheroes in one room at the same time.

Cap stared off into space, wondering about the reserve force that Superman would propose for the upcoming meeting. Would the Tower be this crowded all the time?

"Oh, hey, Clark!" Iron Man said, placing his hand on Superman's shoulder. "I forgot to tell you some great news."

Superman raised an eyebrow. "What would that be?"

"Next week, Stark Enterprises is going to buy out The Daily Planet. We'll bring in more efforts to digitize all of you since print is dead, but more importantly, I will be responsible for your paycheck!"

Superman's mouth went agape. "Um…that sounds great. Are you going to try to use this against me at Vanguard meetings?"

"Maybe I'll do just that, Clark. Maybe indeed," Iron Man said, chuckling. "I kid, of course."

Batman was standing next to Iron Man, and he had his eyes on Cap. "You know, Steve, my company will be opening up an office in the Bronx soon. We have a department that focuses on metahumans and meta-tech that you are welcome to work at. I would allow you to teleport directly into the lab."

"I will have to think about it," Steve replied.

"Please do. The pay would be great, and I believe you would be a valuable employee."

Cap had not thought much of getting a job since he revived back in July. His identity was public, so he didn't think that many places would feel worthy of hiring him anyway. But as he chatted with Batman about the prospects of working for Wayne Industries, he nodded at the thought, and wondered if the job would help shake things up in his life, if just a little.

Then he locked eyes with Batman. "You know what, Bruce? I'll do it."

Batman nodded. The two discussed what exactly Cap would be doing at Wayne Industries and when the Super Solder would start working for the Dark Knight. After that, Iron Man left to try some Asgardian nectar while Batman was asked about his new adoptive son by Wasp.

"Here, hold up, Steve," Superman said, tapping Cap's shoulder. "I believe Lois and Sharon wanted to talk with us."

Superman led Cap to the monitor, and after pressing a few buttons, two windows popped up onto the screen. One showed Lois, in what appeared to be pajamas at home. The other showed Sharon, who had some bruises and cuts on her face as well as hair that extended upwards.

Sharon smirked. "Sorry for looking like such a disaster. It was one hell of a night," Sharon began.

Steve bit his lip. "You could certainly call it that."

"Before anything else," Lois pipped up, raising her finger. "In a few days, there were be memorial services for those who died in the invasion. I assume the Vanguard will be attending at least some of these services."

"Of course we will," Superman replied.

Lois looked down on the ground. "Good, good. I just wanted to check up on you and make sure you were doing alright. And that you weren't celebrating too hard without me."

Superman chuckled. "Don't worry about that, Lois."

"Yeah," Sharon said, taking a moment to sigh. "I was just calling for the same thing. With those demons storming the Helicarrier and all, my own day has been…rough."

Cap cleared his throat. "Well, Sharon, I got some news that I think will make you feel better: I'm going to have an actual job."

Sharon lit up. "Really now?"

"Bruce Wayne is creating a new office for his company in the Bronx, and he asked if I would help out in his metahuman department."

"Proud of you, Steve. Are you ever gonna move out of the Tower?"

Cap rubbed his neck. "That, I don't know."

"I'd think about it if I were you."

Cap began to think about it. A job was one thing, as it would at least allow him to pay for his own meals, clothes, appliances, etc. but as he started at the ground for a split-second, he figured that he honestly didn't want to move out of the Tower. It provided everything he needed for a home. Martian Manhunter and the Hulk had been back for a few weeks, and Cap hoped he could get to know them a little more.

As he and Superman chatted with their girlfriends, Cap had the idea of what this new year would hold out for him. And not only that, but the years to come after that. With everything he saw in seven months, what could seven years provide? He thought of Jay, Alan, and Namor, and how he would try to see them more often moving forward. He thought of the Vanguard, and what threats would strike in the future. But what was at the forefront of his mind is what the future held for him and Sharon.

"All I can say, Sharon," Cap said to Sharon on the monitor, his hands on his face and his face showing an ear-to-ear grin, "is that I can't wait to explore the next chapter of my life, and to protect this world further."

Screams and cries of agony consumed the skies, and the skies themselves were an burning, glowing red.

Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull, walked across a stone pathway that lead to a palace. The palace was metallic and golden, and looked to be the size of a mountain.

The cracking of whips soared into his ears, while the sounds of slaves being forced to move heavy machinery circulated its way around. Johann had long since gotten used to the sounds of the slaves in their torment, so he continued his way to the palace.

As Johann did so, his homeworld came into his mind. Every now and then, he wondered how much things on Earth had changed since he was whisked away from it. He grumbled at the reality that Hitler and the Nazis were unlikely to have won the war. Not only that, but the Imperial Japanese were not as strong as Hitler had thought them to be. He had many scenarios played out into his head. The he felt to be most plausible was the one where Germany surrendered not too long after his disappearance, and then the Americans invaded Japan, with the war ending after another two to three years.

Not that it truly mattered to Johann. He snarled to himself whenever these curiosities came to mind. It had no bearing on the life he lived on this new world.

As he drew closer and closer to the palace, he wondered who his overlord had to meet with. He wondered why it had to be him that had to be there for this meeting, and not another member of the Elite.

Once he opened to the doors and stepped inside, the red tint from the outside world was replaced by an orange tint that emanated from within the palace. There were many lights that revealed the brown and rough walls of the palace, with many lines appearing throughout them.

Schmidt kept his head down to the ground and walked straight. Not too far from him was the throne of the being that ruled over this world – the being that had pulled him away from the Power Stone at the last second, all those lifetimes ago.

After a minute or so of stepping closer and closer to his overlord, he finally looked up and saw the grand throne that the latter sat upon. The being was hidden by the shadows, but even that was not enough to hide the sheer size of this being, who stood at nine feet tall.

"Schmidt…" the being said, his voice deep and bellowing. "You are perfectly on time. Our guest is just about to arrive."

Mere seconds after the being said those words, a purple portal opened up from behind Schmidt. He looked over his shoulder to see who it was. The portal whirled around and let out a humming sound for a few moments, before a figure finally stepped out from it.

His armored boots clanked onto the ground. This figure's boots were a shining gold. He was coated in the armor, which covered him from head to toe. There were some areas that revealed heavily muted purple donned under the clothing, however. Even the figure's helmet was gold and muted purple, while he himself was a light violet in skin tone.

"It has been such a long time," the figure said, his voice similarly deep and rough.

Upon seeing the figure, footsteps came down from the throne. Johann looked to see the being that he now served. He had cracking dark grey skin, and his upper torso was donned in blue armor with a red sphere on the center. He wore boots of the same color, while black clothing was exposed from his chest down, with a red, colossal "U" shape on his belt. There were also areas of gold around him.

The two figures locked eyes onto each other.

"Darkseid," the purple figured said.

"Thanos," the gray one replied.

"We have much to discuss."

"Yes. Yes we do."

Holy shit, does it feel good to finally mark this story as complete.

But this is not the end. In three to four months, Age of Wonders: Volume II will begin uploading. I'll do some teases now: Spider-Man and Constantine will appear in supporting roles, while Sinestro and Marvel's Enchantress will appear as antagonists. In addition, I am planning out a spin-off, Age of Wonders: Showcase, which will focus on other corners of this universe besides the Vanguard of Justice, such as the M-Force and a merged Suicide Squad/Thunderbolts team. I hope to begin that one shortly after II and publish both somewhat concurrently.

I am very happy that a lot of people enjoyed this work, but I have a slightly different format in mind for both the sequel and the spinoff. I feel that this new approach will lead to both better-quality stories (not that I consider this fic here to be bad by any means)...as well as allow both to be written and published in a much more timely fashion.

I hope to see you all when that times come. Until then, SuperJimmy out!