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Ed wasn't certain what it meant when Guin and Annie both dropped to the ground. Whatever it was couldn't be good. Had Chrysi done something to their minds that hurt them? He had in the past been able to heal minds that had taken damage. He wondered if now that would work too. Ed reached into his special coat pocket that had been added to keep vials of each member of the group's hair. He touched the two for Guin and Annie and started to try to heal them.

His magic, the orange light, emanates from him and touches the pair. He has done a lot of healing recently with his time as an X-Man and because of that, he realizes that they are not hurt. But have been imprisoned. He can assume that Chrysi has them. He can reach out to them, and he does. "I believe Chrysi has imprisoned you in her mind." He tells the pair of them.

"They are trapped in a mental prison." Not unlike the bubble, he thinks. An odd stalemate. Would Chrysi let them go if he let her go? But Pietro has a point, his bubble couldn't honestly hold the Phoenix. Not if it wanted out. "I cannot free them." Ed's skill set when it came to mental abilities was to block intrusions.

The idea from earlier bubbled again. If Guin was inside Mary's head could she push out Chrysi and the Pheonix? Could he protect the inside of Mary's mind?

"Guin, I have an idea, can you push Chrysi and the Phoenix out from the inside? I can try to bubble Mary so she is safe and you, now that you're inside, push the others out?" He didn't like the idea on principle. It was too close to break the Laws. However, it may be the only way to save Mary.

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Guin blinked, and the next thing she knew, everyone was gone - everyone but Annie. The botanical gardens were gone, too, leaving them in what seemed like an empty grey void. It took her a moment for everything to click into place - that they were inside of Mary's mind, and this is what she had chosen to show them. Just nothingness, a cage. She hoped it was what remained of Mary protecting them, but she doubted it. Mary wasn't there. She was gone.

Pietro's voice echoed in, cutting in and out of static. Soon another voice joined him - Ed's. She wasn't too sure on the how - magic? Guin's telepathy? Mary's telepathy? Just ambient noise somehow bouncing in and cutting through? But that didn't matter right now. What mattered was his request - to see if they could push out Phoenix and Chrysi from the inside. As far as she could tell, there was no way to say if there was any additional vulnerability here - nothing obvious to strike at, nothing that would cripple or eject any of those forces.

"I don't know. We'll try," she said, hoping that Ed could hear her. The adrenaline was coursing through her system so quickly that she was calm, as she remembered one of her lessons with Professor X - where he had compared a mindscape to a telepath as being really no different than a lucid dream. So she closed her eyes and focused, visualizing what she needed - something to protect herself with, something to fight with, and a way to something other than this void.

When she opened her eyes again, there was a door in front of her and Annie - and a sword in her hand. She gave it an experimental swing, remembering the lessons she'd had with Aunt Natasha as a kid. "You ready?" she asked Annie, before opening the door and walking on through.

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Runa's heart skipped a beat as she heard her uncle's reply, despite its negativity. He was speaking to her, then. That was an opening. If she could get his aid in modifying the bloodline curse, have it target only the Phoenix and not the rest of her house, then this could be a path to minimizing bloodshed and loss. So Runa worked in what her domain centered on - she traded in lies, as she responded silently to Loki: You wish to alleviate a guilty conscience, Uncle. You wish to aid me. I know it to be true.

Her fingers itched to snap, to hear his rejection - the magic was much more powerful that way, strong enough to even bend the will of another god - and shift reality accordingly.

Yet there was no response, and Runa felt the magic slip away from her. Frustrated, she tried again, another desperate plea for aid - for her uncle to see sense, to see reason. Forgive me - you would have tried the same in my position. Is there nothing I can offer you as a boon to seek your help?

His response was immediate: "Not really no."

So Runa cast off the connection, with a final - So falls the House of Odin - before re-centering her thoughts on the present. If they could not stop the Phoenix, all life in the galaxy was at risk - all of Asgard was at risk. Her uncle, for all of his flaws, Runa had genuinely believed had at least some interest in protecting his own family. But if a sorcerer of Asgard would not help her, perhaps they ought to turn their attention to one of Midgard - to the Sorcerer Supreme. Perhaps he could modify the curse - or even better, provide another means of magical assistance. Runa turned to Max, her face solemn. "Maximilian - will you accompany me to see the Sorcerer Supreme? Perhaps there is something in his grimoire that may be of use."

"Before you run off to see Doctor Strange, we're going to need to bring this machine back to Earth - and fast," Ben pointed out. "Majestrix, is it alright for us to take the device now? Time is of the essence," he said. Every minute they spent here chatting in space, the Phoenix was threatening Earth and everyone who lived there - was threatening Ben's family. They had a plan now, they had a weapon. Time to execute it.

Avery nodded, glad that their idea had been well received, but also aware that it was just that - an idea, untested and potentially a disaster. But that was the case with everything when it came to this mission, to this task. They didn't know if the machine would really work against the Phoenix, they didn't know if they'd be able to save Mary, they just didn't know. The only person who this had happened to before was Jean Grey and even she seemed to be a bit out of her depth when it came to all of this. The most likely outcome was that everything would go horribly wrong. The least likely outcome was that they'd all survive.

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Perry watched as Annie and Guin fell. Her heart dropped, wondering if Chyrsi had killed them. Not only would it be a heavy loss but Mary, who was still in there, would be wracked with guilt. Thankfully, Ed confirmed they were okay. Well, as okay as one would expect being trapped in a mind palace.

Perry didn't know what to do. Empathy wasn't useful as it was clear Chrysi was in control and angry. So she turned to her spirits. She didn't want to hurt her unless it was absolutely necessary. If what Ed suggested could happen, Annie and Guin could use some back-up.

"Adonatille? Think you can cause some misfortune?"

Adonatille nodded. "Yes cher, leave it with Adonatille." The voodoo priestess channeled her energy and unleashed it on Chrysi. Perry watched it make contact, hoping it stuck. "Just used a bit of ghost magic. Hopefully she won't be able to fight back against Guin and Annie getting out." Perry eyed the others, deciding to have them be ready should Chrysi finally start fighting back.

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Carolina listened to everyone as they spoke she stood next to Avery's side as she looked towards them hearing their suggestion was actually pretty good they could have a way to hit the Pheonix at least a few times with more than one portal. They needed to get back to Earth as soon as possible and agreed with Lance that they needed to get the device back home as soon as possible.

Her attention turned towards Runa when she asked Max if he could get in contact with Dr. Strange to help them with the Pheonix as she looked at everyone else in the room. Lance asked how the device would work exactly, and it sounded pretty painful but maybe it would be what they would need to get Mary back.

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Bethany could feel her burns slowly healing as she stood up again and looked at the burns as they started to heal, her attention turned towards Ed. "Thank you." Bethany said to Ed what happened next she saw both Guin and Annie's bodies falling to the ground, she started to panic and worry that Chyrsi had killed them. However Ed managed to say that they were trapped in some kind of mind space.

Bethany started to think of other ways to try and help them, but she wasn't sure if Chrysi would end up killing both of them in whatever mind prison that they were trapped in. Chyrsi seemed to be sitting calmly in the little bubble that Ed had created, she wasn't doing anything which was worrying.

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A glance at Perry; OfAll was unconvinced they were past the words working stage. Chrysi added to this uncertainty as she proceeded to simply sit down inside the bubble Edus had erected.

Though looks can be deceiving. . .

Following a combined telepathic attempt of some sort, Guin and Annie collapsed while Rogue seemed somewhat jolted.
Chyrsi had either definitely reacted, or this was some kind of "firewall" that did the job automatically. Considering what other entity they were dealing with, that firewall could be literal. . .Which then, might not even be a Chrysi thing after all.

This situation was complex.

OfAll could see Guin and Annie's chests rising with breath, so she knew they were alive, yet if they had just been burned mentally--

Her concerned brow furrowed at Chrysi's response to her. OfAll hadn't exactly been asking for Chrysi to explain her reasonings -- more OfAll was trying to see if she understood what Chrysi was after, making this feel like a person holding someone for ransom responding to an officer's question of "is this what you're after?" with "I don't have to tell you".

Now OfAll questioned to herself: was Chrysi even after anything except, maybe, her idea of a good time?

Pietro spoke, introducing the concept of her teleporting.
Was that really another thing here?

Another idea was building in OfAll's mind. . .it was something she realized she should've asked before this point.

Edus' confident statement of what happened to Guin and Annie was both assuring and supporting to the concept of Chrysi doing more than she appeared, yet still. . .

"How much do we know about Chrysi?" OfAll addressed the X-Men at large. "Disassociated personalities typically result from trauma. Is she actually protection for Mary in some way?" A warped way, surely. Though that was the quiet part OfAll didn't say out loud. "Mary could be feeling burn-out while misconceiving she can't take a break or even let on because she's leader. I don't know what that helps here. . ." OfAll realized, her eyes falling from the others.

But if Chrysi were some way of helping Mary, then maybe. . .maybe the X-Men needed to shift their focus here.
". . .Maybe Chrysi can cope with the Phoenix better," OfAll added, almost like she was processing her thought out loud more than introducing a further one to the group, though she did raise her gaze back to them.

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Chrysi didn't seem to care about Antoinette’s statement or any of the others. In fact, she seemed down right apathetic. Antoinette frowned and took a step forward before she collapsed. A strange fog coloured Antoinette's mind, like she was waking after a deep sleep or hungover.

Antoinette blinked and sat up to the sound of Pietro's voice in her head, but Pietro was nowhere around her. Grey emptiness sounded her, but as it started to fade she saw Guin was with her. They had to be inside Chrysi’s mind then. But where was Mary?

Antoinette stood, feeling physically unharmed and looked around. ”Mary?” Antoinette prayed Mary's mind was still present. If Antoinette was responsible for breaking the last ties Mary had to holding back Chrysi, Antoinette wasn't sure what she would do.

Edus's voice was a temporary distraction. Antoinette mulled over his words, knowing his plan was close to what she was originally trying to do. Antoinette was willing to try again, as was Guin it seemed. Antoinette watched the door appear and noted the sword in Guin’s hand. Antoinette couldn't help but picture an Artemis-like figure at seeing Guin ready for battle. Antoinette decided she would like to paint that picture. Without further hesitation, she nodded and followed Guin through the door.

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Avery spoke up and offered a different approach to Max's idea. Instead of using his portals as an aim assist or range extension, he could create a series of them to help refract the laser and create what would essentially amount to a web that could ensnare the Phoenix and work it's magic. He snapped his fingers before waving a finger gun at Avery. ”Now you're thinking with Portals. We just need to make sure no one else is in line with one of the portals so that they aren't hit with the crossfires. Especially if we are looking at molecular detanglement. From what I know of the Phoenix Force, while it does bond at a physical level, it also has the potential to bond in a spiritual one as well. Case and Point the most recent and well known one being Jean. But you have to be a perfect match for that to happen. Now assuming Mary isn't a perfectly match, we may be able to help keep her safe while the body…for lack of a better term, suffers. If we can separate her Astral form from her physical body then it would keep the spirit safe as the body itself is being detangled. It could also potentially alleviate some of if not all of the pain her physical form is enduring.”

Max began to pace in a small circle as he began to think out loud. Trying to solve the best way to approach this matter with as little damage to Mary as possible. A part of him wanted to say if she died it'd be fine, he could just bring her back. But he knew the risks of that now and he wasn't exactly willing to tear the veil for her sake. Besides, the X-men had their own revival methods, but he didn't know what. However, if her soul was separated from the body and the host body was destroyed, that would be more feasible. They could create a body for her, and would require no real resurrection, just binding magics to bond her soul to the new host. That was when Runa brought up the idea of seeing Strange. He blinked slowly, both at the fact that she'd even acknowledged him, and what's more was suggesting a team up of sorts. After all the times he'd called on her and she didn't answer. ”I was thinking the same thing Runa. I have a few queries for my mentor as well that I would like to ask him while we're there. Need details on an idea I have for this to help out chances of Mary surviving, but I must ensure the Veil isn't damaged for her sake.” And maybe they could get some sling rings to help others create portals in the fight.

Max whispered a word under his breath as his hand made a circular motion. The familiar ring of his portal opening up within the room and on the other side, the doors to the Sanctum Sanctorum. He tried to do the same opposite the Sanctums portal, but nothing came of it. His brows furrowed in frustration as he looked towards the others. ”It appears something is interfering with my magic over back in New Orleans. Seems our little friend doesn't want others dropping in. But for now we can make for the streets of New York, where I can attempt to pierce the barrier placed in my hometown from a much closer location. There has to be a weak point somewhere.”.

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The scientist looked at Max when he mentioned being unable to teleport directly there, and with regards to him believing that it was the Phoenix's doing. Xandra actually seemed a bit confused herself, before looking to the scientist. "I thought that the Phoenix has some natural weaknesses to magic?"

"Well the host does, it can more easily hurt the host depending on what type. However I have never heard of the Phoenix being able to block transporting of some sort into any given area."

"...Wait, so you're saying that someone else is stopping Max from just teleporting us to New Orleans with this thing?" Lance couldn't help but blurt out and ask.

"If that's the case I'd be concerned as to who would want to block us out. They let us get to New Orleans originally, and they even let us leave and come here. So who would want to stop us now, and why?"

"If we step through to New York, maybe we'll be able to figure it out there?"

"Well hopefully, otherwise the next thing would be either stealing a jet to fly over there from SHIELD or getting back to the mansion and taking the Blackbird over. Which would still probably cause issues timing wise getting there. Which also begs another question. How are we supposed to move this thing? Especially since we can't just teleport over with it now at the moment. And showing up in New York with this thing is going to make us stand out like a sore thumb over it."

"Well we do have a sort of hovering cart you can borrow to move it, but would not recommend firing it off while it is on it, since it isn't a stable platform."

"So basically make sure it is planted somewhere before firing, got it. But then again, still doesn't answer the question of us walking into the city with this... Unless someone wants to cast an illusion or figure out some other way?"

"I could create an illusion of sorts, to make it invisible," Klara piped up, having more or less just been listening to everyone else and the conversations more than anything. "But the problem with doing that means you might not necessarily see where it is and could easily run into it, or others could. So if you want me to, I can."


Pietro turned and looked at Jaclyn, hearing what she had said or suggested. Though he also noted that she had kind of ignored everything that had been stated about the type of person or being or whatever that Chrysi was that had already been said. Namely that she was psycho, and tended to like killing people. "I don't think you know anything about what you're talking about. Because if you did, you'd know that there isn't anything that could possibly make this or Chrysi a good thing. At all. The only somewhat helpful moment was when she popped up when we were escaping space prison, and now that one is arguably a moment of self preservation, everything else, not so much. You should have seen the reality my sister made. From what I gather she was kind of bad there. Like really really bad news."

"Trauma is what typically will cause it, but doesn't necessarily continue to be the trigger, not even necessarily stress, depending on how serious the issue is," Jean commented, trying to more or less somewhat explain without causing anymore issues.

"You all do realize that I'm still sitting right here and can hear you right?" Chrysi commented with a bit of an eyeroll at everyone.

"Don't think anyone asked you anything."

Jean let out a sigh at the conversations going on, before glancing at the others, "I'll see if I can help the other two, yell if you need something in the event that whatever happens doesn't break my concentration," she commented, before using her own telepathic powers and sort of started seemingly ignoring what was occurring now.

"You know, I thought this would be more interesting, but eh, it kind of isn't working out for me too much anymore." With that last word, she just poked the shield that was around her, and it popped like a bubble. "You all done being idiots now? And as mentioned, it is rude to talk about someone like they aren't there."

Jean let out a sigh at the conversations going on, before glancing at the others, "I'll see if I can help the other two, yell if you need something in the event that whatever happens doesn't break my concentration," she commented, before using her own telepathic powers and sort of started seemingly ignoring what was occurring now.

Something though would seem a little bit off with regards to Chrysi though to Perry and Bethany. Then it would seem a bit more obvious with the fact that despite she was free from the bubble now. She still wasn't actively doing anything, but based on previous interactions that have occurred, it wasn't likely that Jaclyn's idea was the reason. No, it had to be something else. Then it would hit them.

She was stalling.

Stalling for what exactly? That was anyone's guess, but it would be apparent that she seemed to be drawing out the interactions. Who or what she was stalling for, odds were they weren't going to be able to get her to tell them. Anything could have happened in the span of time with people getting distracted by what happened with Guin and Annie, telepathic communication without detection was more than possible.

Guin and Annie
The door led to what looked like a large field of sorts, a large flower field. It seemed almost peaceful and calm there, for the moment anyway. A second later though, and they'd see Jean step up next to them. "Figured it would be easier to potentially help you from this side of things. She either hasn't noticed I'm here or doesn't care, either option is better than nothing. Though this is honestly not a place that I expected to see given the chaos going on in her mind..." she said to them. Though they'd see that Jean wasn't the only other person in this place that they'd see.

Farther ahead sitting on the ground they'd see a young girl, couldn't be more than 8 years old from what they could tell, with long somewhat curly red hair. She didn't seem to notice them, and was currently making a flower crown.

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Perry stared at Chrysi, eagerly awaiting for her to do something. Anything!

Why wasn't she attacking them? Perry had limited interactions with Chrysi but she heard things. Surely this wasn't the same girl in those stories who could cause untold amounts of chaos?

Then it hit her. Chrysi wasn't goading them. Sure she was being irritating, but she wasn't outright taunting them to get them to attack. Every attempt was to hold her there, to prevent doing damage to her that would end up hurting Mary, and by extension Guin and Annie.

"She's stalling...." Perry said to herself. Of course, she was stalling them. For what, Perry did not know, but she could hazard a guess. "She's stalling!" Perr said it louder for everyone to hear.

"Was that enough for you to hear Chrysi? I don't know what you are salling for, but I'm through with the games."

At once, both Detective Ed and Barry sprang into action. Ed shot off his taser, hitting Chrysi but seemingly doing nothing. Detective Ed, meanwhile, managed to freeze her feet in place. Perry remained vigilant and ready. Whatever she was planning, it wasn't going to be good.

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Carolina thought for a moment as she listened to everyone talking, magic really wasn't her area and she couldn't really help on that part. "I could ask my sister to loan us a Quinjet whenever we get back home to help transport the thing over." Carolina suggested, her sister Cass did work for SHIELD for a long time and could pull some strings for one if she allowed it.

She looked over at Max for a moment she didn't really know what was going on really. "Maybe your portal powers aren't working properly or something?" Carolina said to Max as she looked at Runa and Klara they used the Bifrost to get here. "Could we use the Bifrost again to get back home and where we need to?" She asked them

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Bethany looked over at Jacyln. "Chrysi isn't really a good personality that popped up and whenever she comes up things tend to be bad." Bethany said to her, as she looked over at Jean as she nodded as she watched Annie and Guin for a moment the two were still breathing which was good. She wasn't sure what Chrysi was doing to them though as her attention went back to Chrysi who seemed to be able to break free from Edus' magic bubble.

Then she started to realize that Chrysi was stalling for something and Perry decided to jump in and start attacking her. "Chrysi what are you stalling for?" Bethany asked she wasn't sure attacking her was a good thing at all as Bethany got ready to defend herself in case she did attack them.

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Guin hadn't really known what to expect as she went through the imagined door with Andy, sword in hand. Maybe a dragon - some sort of heroic scene, with a dramatic castle atop a pit of lava. Instead, they entered what seemed to be a serene field of flowers, without a threat in sight. They weren't alone either - two others were with them. Jean Grey (Guin tried not to roll her eyes at the former host of the Phoenix, tried not to complain that Jean hadn't done a ton to deescalate this situation just yet, as she knew the other telepath would hear those thoughts). And Mary - or a Mary that was, at least.

Guin squinted a bit at the child, trying to decide what this all meant - if this kid was all that was left of Mary, or just a fragment of a greater whole. Or maybe she was reading into it all too deeply. This stuff, telepathy mutant things, they didn't come to her as naturally as machines did. It was like taking a test where the stakes were life and death, but she hadn't even known what subject to study for. She gritted her teeth slightly. "What should we do, Jean? Ask the kid where to go? We're running out of time and we're just.."

Just wasting it, Guin thought somewhat bitterly.

She'd sent a message to her father, explaining the situation and asking him to show up in force with the Avengers if they couldn't deescalate things. She had no idea how much time had passed since she and Annie had entered Mary's head. They could have minutes still - or seconds - or maybe it was already too late.

She had a sword.

Guin wanted something clear and concrete to slay.

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Ben frowned, deeply concerned when his husband wasn't able to open them a portal to New Orleans - the city where everyone he cared about in the world was currently located. His son was there, James and Casper - and as much as he hated him, his father was there still too, no doubt spitting abuse at the dust bunnies after all of his adopted children abandoned him. That had been the one good thing about Ben's death at the age of 17 - it had gotten him away from his father. "Max, if you can't get in - can they get out?" he asked, trying to keep the fear from rising in his throat. He knew James and Casper would protect the kids with their lives - but he didn't want it to come to that. He wanted better for the boys, for Danni and Dorian, than he had had.

More concerning though was what else was mentioned - that the Phoenix couldn't have been the one responsible, as magic was its weakness. (Something Ben wished he'd known earlier - if he had, he would have pushed for them visiting Strange instead of this alien world). It must have been someone or something skilled in magic then - something more powerful than Max, of which Ben didn't think there were more than a handful of mages that met that criteria.

"Wait... The last time this happened, Jean Grey was being manipulated by the Hellfire Club," Avery recalled. They'd attended Xavier's School as a student - and it was hard not to know the story, surrounded by other mutant kids eager to gossip about the school's most famous alumni. "...Maybe that's happening here, too," they concluded. "This person, they could be manipulating the Phoenix." They bit their lip, unhappy with the thought process, but unable to shake themself of the conclusion. It wasn't just Mary that they needed to handle - it was someone else.

They looked to Carolina for a moment, wondering if she ought to ask her sister for more than a quinjet. The situation just seemed to be continuously spiraling out of control, getting worse and worse by the moment. If someone powerful enough to stop Max, the greatest wizard that ever lived, probably the Once and Future Sorcerer Supreme... What chance did they stand? Maybe instead of going off to face the Phoenix, they ought to go beg the Scarlet Witch to construct a new bubble reality for them all to hide in and wait out the destruction.

"Aye, I will call for Heimdall now," Runa said with a nod. She didn't have much of an idea herself as to who might be responsible for this - there were sorcerers and wizards across the galaxy, all with their own motives and opportunities. "Thank you again, Empress," she bowed her head. "Asgard owes you a great debt - as does all living life." And then Runa turned, stretching her hand outwards. "Heimdall, if you please - to Midgard's village of New Orleans!"

And then in a burst of rainbow light, the BiFrost engulfed the small party, and within seconds, they were outside New Orleans - quite literally just outside the city limits.

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The Phoenix was weak to magic? Damn how could he have forgotten that. With all his knowledge of the mythical creature (was a creature still a myth if it was real?) he'd forgotten that one basic principle of it. He didn't think this varied from host to host either, but then could it even take a magical host like Strange or himself? Max mused to himself as the conversation continued past that, talking about transporting and how best to fire it or something, until Carolina suggested that Max simply just…failed. Sure his magic was finicky at times, especially in high stress environments when he attempts to push himself past limits he's usually done, but opening up two portals at once in the calm of a lab was as easy as a snap. It was down right offensive to him that she'd not only suggest that, but offer a secondary version of teleportation involving our Asgardian friends. Luckily he had a distraction for now, focusing his attention on Ben as he placed a hand onto his shoulder.

”Don't worry, they're safe and sound far away from New Orleans remember? I left a portal open for them back home to leave through. It was enchanted to close the second they left so that no one could follow behind and bring them any trouble. And that was before we even left New Orleans for the Bifrost.” Max reassured Ben. He'd show him visuals if need be, but for now they had to focus on the matter at hand. A third party member was blocking them from entering his home, and that frightened him. Who not only knew about them being out and was strong enough to keep them all out? It seemed Avery had figured it out as well. Someone else was pulling all these strings, but who? Before Max could ask Runa if she was ready for Stranges, she reached out and used the power of the Bifrost to move them all outside of the city's limits. ”Well unless Heimdall is having an off day Carolina, then I'd say someone is working overtime to keep us outside of this city. At the very least keeping us from teleporting on. But who?.”

Max queried out loud as he placed a finger onto his bottom lip. He hadn't had a chance to use his artifact since that night with Avery, but… Max tugged on the leather strap underneath his shirt collar and pulled it out from under his shirt. A small, heavy metallic eye now sat on his chest. It appeared to resemble Strange's Eye of Agamotto, but the centerpiece was different once he opened it. Max mimicked the same motions he'd seen Strange use before, activating the amulet in an attempts to peer further beyond. To peer the truth. At first it didn't want to open, fighting back as it budged slightly and then closed. He tried again, and as it opened it instantly shut once more. It concerned Max, beginning to feel as if maybe he wasn't meant to know this information. Like the Eye was shielding from the truth. A last attempt finally saw the Eye partially open, enough for the Eye of Agamodin to reveal to him only that magic was incredibly stronger than he is.

Max stared at the magic before him, watching it's workings from outside before it vanished back as the Eye closed once more. ”I know not who cast this veil on my city. But I can ascertain this much. They are a Sorcerer or Sorceress of immense power, beyond my own it seems. And enough to keep the Eye of Agamodin from wanting to reveal it's truth. I have a theory of who this individual may be, but no true basis for it…” Strong enough to hide from the Eye, pulling strings of chaos and descent, and they just so happened to have two Asgardians with them this day? It wreaked of Loki, the tricks the chaos, the ability to hide away from Odin's sight. A Sorcerer of his own right. But Max had no true clue if he was right, but who else to hide themselves so well than a God of Mischief and magic.

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Antoinette looked around while she walked with Guin. A clearing formed around them with a small girl sitting down and making a flower crown. Antoinette immediately walked closer, vaguely aware of Guin and Jean's conversation. Antoinette walked closer until she was a couple feet away from the girl before kneeling down.

”May I join you? These flowers are absolutely lovely,” Antoinette said honestly. She rested her hands on her legs, looking at the various species and colours of flowers. ”Did you grow these?” Antoinette asked curiously. Antoinette assumed the girl was Mary, perhaps the innocent version of the woman Antoinette now knew. Mary was trying to communicate with them without Chrysi knowing, that's what this had to be. •

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Ed's bubble around Chrysi had been frustratingly easy for her to dismiss. The options people were postulating were in some ways viable. In others not. His understanding of the Phoenix had led him to believe that they could not contain or control it. He remembered their last time in space and the man's fear at learning Phoenix was among them. He had not liked the man because of the threat he represented to Mary. And here they were threatening her.

Treating her like she was a delicate flower. Ed knew Mary had her cracks, her soft spots, but she was a strong woman. Too much had been placed upon her shoulders and they had let it stay that way for too long.

"Mary is our friend. We want to help her. That is all we ever wanted to do. How can we help? What do you need from us?" The circling around the problem wasn't going to help. Ed took a step forward, knowing that the others had his back if need be. As long as he wasn't killed instantly there was hope.

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"The list of people who could do something like that is pretty small when you think about it. Problem is whoever it is manages to stay hidden, and currently there is a different threat that's kind of a little more pressing. Maybe we can see about talking about that while we figure out the first of our several problems. Honestly should just start making a list that at this point is a mile long for it.

"Like where to set up the giant laser." Mira spoke up, looking at the others. "Simplest thing would be to find a place that we could set a trap for her, and then find a way to lure her to said trap. Issue here? The fact that the city has a lot of civilians, so we'd have to tread cautiously. And find the best place to set this up. Then figure out who'd be the best person to actually fire it off..."

"Max, you and Ben live here, do you have any idea where would be the best place to set this whole thing up would be..."

"I actually am a bit curious as to who you think is the one whose responsible for the magic blocking. Not sure if there is anyone around who'd be able to accomplish the feat." Klara commented, looking at Max with interest. She sincerely was wondering who it was that Max thought was the one responsible.

The conversation was interrupted however, by the sound of a rather loud crash sound, coming from a decent way away from them. Wasn't the sound of an explosion, no it was the sound of almost like a car crash, just about 5 times louder.


"Now see, you keep saying you want to help, but unless you've got a time machine that can send you back in time about a year and a half to fix things, because let me tell you. When someone basically mind controls you to do something you wouldn't normally do, and then having other people just constantly yell at you for stupid things within two seconds afterwards does tend to make one snap and not in a good way. That being you know, after the other slight stress that happened only 2 months before where literally everyone nearly got killed and then oh yeah, that big yelling blow up that occurred. So yeah, get a time machine and everything would be fine, you just might screw a bunch with the time line which might not be a good thing." Chrysi mused, laughing a little bit at what Ed was saying.

In her mind they had no idea the amount of stress that went into a lot of the choices that she made for various things. None of them could even possibly understand the thoughts or anything like that. So the only way to help would be to ensure that none of it happened. Which would have some big consequences. "Now, as for what exactly I'm stalling for, well, I'll let him explain."

"Wait who?" Pietro said, immediately looking around to see if someone else was there.

“And so I find the deceivers, inhibiting the good work of the Lord Thy God, the Phoenix who bears the cross in her genes - and she called unto me, her loyal servant, and bade me to spread her glory. And so I shall!” a voice called out, and Pietro's face went a bit pale hearing who it was.

Flying above them, was a familiar figure, with a bus floating above his head, as it was none other than Exodus. The guy who almost straight up murdered the speedster only a month before. And he launches it at the group.

Well, this was not going to end well. So Rogue had managed to grab Annie and Guin's bodies and pull them out of the way in time to avoid any damage. Meanwhile, Ed would be able to avoid the attack, getting out of the way. But the others oh no. Pietro they'd be able to see before the bus hit just completely froze up. He didn't even seem to try to avoid the attack like he was panicking. Jaclyn, Bethany and Perry all also would get hit by said bus. And all who got hit by it would get thrown backwards and have a lot of bumps and bruises and such. There would be a slight cracking sound as Perry would land awkwardly on her wrist, and Jaclyn would hit her head on the ground.

Though Pietro would not be doing too well. Having essentially taken a bit brunt of the hit. There was a very loud crack as Pietro hit the ground, and they would see his right leg and arm from where he landed were both now at very awkward angles that no one should be able to do ever.

"Will admit, was not expecting a bus but eh, you certainly know how to make an entrance."

Guin and Annie
The younger version of Mary glanced up at Annie when she spoke, before looking back towards Guin and Jean who were there. "Yes I did," she said simply, as she stood up from where she was, before turning around to face them all, tilting her head to the side. Almost like she was listening to something. "...I know why you came here... Though what you are going to try to do isn't exactly simple..."

"We figured it wouldn't be so simple... Do you know where we should go?"

"Well, see..." she started to say, before she took the crown she had been making and threw it forward, eventually it turned into a gateway, though they couldn't see what was on the other side. "She's hiding through there somewhere... You might find another version or two. Different aspects of who we are... But you'll probably know the one your looking for when you find her. Just the um... Other one is looking for her. So you might want to hurry. Probably won't be long until she comes here... It isn't so bad if she tries to destroy a piece here or there... But too many disappear and the chances of bringing her back are slim. So you hurry through. Because if you get caught there wouldn't be anything anyone could do to help you. If you can't find her through this portal, wherever you end up will have another doorway that's hidden... Good luck, you'll probably need it."

Through the portal, they'd find themselves now in a very familiar setting. Xavier's office. Charles Xavier was behind his desk, and there were a few other people who would be easily familiar in the room to them. Beast, Wolverine, and Mary were all there. Though Mary seemed a bit younger, not necessarily in full appearance, more of in terms of weariness. More like how she was back when the team had been working with SHIELD.

"You are crazy if you think it's a good idea to have him around," Wolverine grumbled, staring at Mary, and she sort of just rolled her eyes at that response.

"Last I checked you don't exactly get a say too much in it Logan, though I'll take your opinion into slight account. But tell me, isn't this place supposed to be somewhere sort of a safe haven for mutants who have no where else to go? So why not? Plus he helped us out. That explosion could have ended with casualties if he hadn't helped us out! Having him around will be better in the long run and you know it."

"Perhaps we should give him a chance," Beast mused, and Wolverine shot him a bit of a glare. "You don't have to necessarily like it, or want to be around him, however Marygold is correct. This is supposed to be a place for all mutants to come to, and live if they need a place."

"I can't believe you are actually entertaining this. After all he has done in the past you actually want to have him around. He's tried to kill several people, including some in this room right now, including you only a few years back." That line would allow Guin to likely figure out who they were talking about, and when this occurred, before the Mary in the room said anything.

"Get over it, people change and Pietro Maximoff never actually has killed anyone and you know it. He literally had his father more or less ordering him around for a decent chunk of his life, he chose to more or less turn himself in so to speak, to us, to try and make up for all that he had done in the past. We should give him a chance to prove himself and he deserves that second chance. Everyone deserves that sort of chance Logan, as long as they try to go forward to fix things and help."

"I don't know about this."

"Look, I get it. Most people don't agree with me, hell if Remy was here I'd probably get chewed out since he holds a bigger grudge over that whole thing I swear than anyone. But Pietro is trying to do the right thing. He deserves the chance to do it."

Xavier had been fairly quiet just listening to the arguing, before he spoke, "While Quicksilver has caused issues in the past for everyone here. I agree with Marygold, that he deserves a second chance to try and make amends. We should let him have that chance."

Logan left the room clearly not thrilled with the conversation that just took place. And Beast followed along afterwards. Mary ended up taking a chair by Xavier's desk, and the group would be able to hear them sort of discussing the events of the Hansen Power Plant, as well as Pietro having told them about a facility in the city that Magneto had.

One thing was apparent, that this didn't seem to be the Mary that they were looking for. So now came the hard part... Trying to find another doorway or portal through which to move around this area. Though the pair would hear another voice coming through. It was Pietro, and he sounded very panicked, Guina we literally just got hit by a bus by Exodus! was the only words they'd hear, but his voice was strained a bit.

---

OfAll appreciated Jean's diplomatic response, not that Pietro's had her feeling on the fence -she didn't feel stupid for bringing up the avenue, though did for doing so to the others instead of directing the thought to Chrysi herself. That was like 101: always speak directly to the person.

As it was, OfAll's thought process hadn't exactly been what the others took it for. A protective being could still be malevolent--that fit the "psycho" label quite well, actually: someone with their own idea of right and wrong. Chrysi could think destroying the world was in service to Mary, for example (and happen to enjoy it). OfAll hadn't been positing Chrysi was a good thing so much as, perhaps she was a different entity than they thought -warped, sure, though not an all out, nuance-free, incarnation of evil -or at least that this situation wasn't exactly what they were taking it for.

And it wasn't. . .It seemed to click for everyone at once.

Stalling. . .

Perry seemed to take the tact of breaking whatever this stall was with action, while OfAll watchfully eyed Edus as he stepped forward in a continued attempt at reasoning. Was it pointless, or not? . .in fact, Chrysi did open up. But it came to feel like a kind of. . .sloughing off of pain, a "too little too late" last ditch effort at sharing the problem, in the course of dealing with it in a more destructive way, as Exodus came onto the scene.

OfAll had just been processing Chrysi's words, thinking back on events; what all she could be referring to, when OfAll's processing had to turn to the bus in Exodus' hands. She'd thought too late she should manifest -or should've back in the first place- Edus's protective powers, and then she could hardly think at all as her head hit the ground, rendering her state of consciousness unstable.

A vague course of action then came to her. Or perhaps the course was clear, just the windshield foggy. . .The answers were in Chrysi's mind. Guin and Annie were there, perhaps not exactly trapped. . .perhaps finding a way. . .Now with Jean. . .

. . .perhaps it was time their -rescue- crowd become a party.

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Carolina looked over Max for a moment and rolled her eyes slightly. "Well sometimes powers don't work the way that they are supposed to do." Carolina said as she sighed slightly, they at least had a better idea now that it seemed like it was being blocked by someone or something from getting back to New Orleans. Carolina wasn't sure who would be able to block Max from using his magic to get them back to New Orleans. "Maybe it's Loki thats doing it?" She suggested, and luckily Runa would be able to transport them to New Orleans.

She looked around seeing that they were outside of the city, they just needed to get the massive weapon over to where they could lure the Pheonix somewhere out in the open. "What was that?" Carolina asked after she heard what sounded like a massive car accident she looked at everyone before making her way over to where the sound came from.

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Bethany listened to Chrysi as she started to mention what happened before and she remembered what had happened. "If you are referring to what happened when OMEN was around we are sorry for everything that happened that day with all of the infighting that happened." Bethany said, knowing that it probably wouldn't really do much good when she heard a familiar voice and looked up to see that it was Exodus carrying a bus with his powers and flung it at them all. Bethany wasn't able to dodge in time and ended up getting hit with it but only got a few scrapes and bruises from it.

"Oh great it's the crazy religious fanatic again." Bethany said rolling her eyes slightly as she slowly started to get back up again and used her powers, sending a tendril of solid shadow forward and managed to wrap around Exodus. She slammed him down a few times onto the ground, but didn't do much to hurt him, and she tried to do it again but missed.

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Max looked at Runa and shook his head. ”Runa were you raised in a barn? We didn't even get a chance to close the portal back in Shi'ar before you took us here. That could have had dangerous consequences had it been an invading planet or someone who wished us harm. It may still have consequences if someone mistakes it as a threat on Earth and attacks them without knowing.” He was surprised to hear that Klara wanted to hear his opinion on the matter. It was just speculation for now but he had a fairly good idea as to who he believed the culprit to be. ”Well, if we believe a third party is orchestrating this and puppeteering Mary then it'd need to be someone who was cunning enough and sneaky enough to do so without notice until now. Couple that with the fact that they are able to escape the gaze of my amulet who is seeming to shy away from the truth other than to say they are powerful, and ontop of all that is actually powerful enough to effect not only my magic but Heimdals as well, I think the answer clear but I'd hate to point fingers at one of your own kind…but as Carolina so sorely pointed out when you had asked my opinion… I believe it to be Loki. God of Mischief and a Sorcerer capable enough to avoid the gaze of even Odin.”

Max was trying to think of where best to place the laser when there was a sudden streak across the sky and a loud crash. He turned to look towards the area it had come from and noted it would be around the Botanical Gardens. He looked towards those around him, trying to find a course of action. ”Ben, honey, remember that spot our date ended in the Botanical gardens? Take the laser there and set it up. Runa if you could help with a sling ring or portal to transport the laser over, and for Odins sake close the portal behind you, or if you could use your gift over lies to obfuscate yourselves visually to help keep my husband safe. I'd greatly appreciate it. Lance could you cover me with a protective barrier while I help treat the wounded from the bus crash?” Max didn't wait for responses before he broke out into a full sprint making his way over towards the injured. Pietro was clearly worse for wear as his leg was bent out of shape. His arm didn't look too good either. ”I'm going to try and get you guys patched up. Just try not to move too much.” He said, wishing James was here.

Max placed his hands over the leg, his magic trying to emanate from his palms as he held them over the break. But nothing happened. Not a single bit of the wound was healed. Then again, Max had learned that magic was all about intent. Want. And if he was being honest, he didn't want to heal Pietro. He'd been an ass since day one, and at first Max figured that was just his persona in WandaWorld, but no it persisted into the waking world as well. But he had to push past his own grievances and do what was good for the betterment of the team and mutantkind. And that meant getting their speedster back up and running. So he tried again, this time his magic rolled off in waves. Healing most of the damage but still not finishing the job when Max realized he'd forgotten to set the bone. James had shown him so many times back at the clinic but he'd hoped with magic it wouldn't be needed.

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Antoinette smiled at the younger version of Mary, and remained kneeling while Mary addressed the others and explained what the three of them needed to accomplish. With a new portal opened and their team updated, Antoinette stood and followed the other two through the door.

Xavier's office looked the same as it always did, but it felt different. Antoinette looked around, taking in the new atmosphere and the people who crowded in around the desk. Antoinette was unfamiliar with the topic of conversation but she appreciated the nostalgia. At the mention of Pietro, Antoinette glanced at Guin to see if there was some recognition about the moment.

However, as pleasant as the trip down memory lane was, this Mary seemed more or less stable and not the one they needed to find. Antoinette moved about the room, looking for some sort of trap door or object that might represent another portal to open.

Sitting on one of Xavier's shelves rested an antique Webster Mantel clock. Often impassioned by antiques, Antoinette was drawn to the piece. The steady ticking of the minute hand was comforting while the hour hand slowly moved towards the next hour. Antoinette brushed her fingers across the top of the piece, but it remained dormant. However, the draw she had originally felt, didn't pass.

”I think this clock might be the key to unlocking another part of Mary's mind,” Antoinette said. The question was, how?

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Guin hated this.

She vowed she was never going to go to an escape room again.

This felt too much like one.

They were probably already out of time, and they were no closer to solving this problem than they'd been at the start. Her patience was rapidly thinning with each passing second. There was another portal for them to move through, and Guin didn't waste a beat before rushing on through it, hoping that the universe would have mercy on them and they'd find Mary - or just make some tangible metric of progress. On the other side, she landed in Professor X's office - with a younger Mary. A Mary who looked like how she did when Guin first met her, before she even knew she was a mutant - when she was just a cocky kid, recovering from addiction by throwing herself into the most high-stress environment she could possibly find for herself, her last name buying her access she shouldn't have been allowed.

Guin hadn't been here for this conversation. But she'd heard about it. It'd been so long ago.

"Fuck. Exodus is out there. He's certifiable. We need to get out of here now before they kill everyone," Guin wanted to scream, to kick something. Instead, she took a breath, and nodded as Annie said the clock seemed relevant. She approached it slowly, running her hands over it, trying to get some sort of spark of intuition - but all she could think about was how slow they were moving, how they were running... out... of... time.

Time.

Guin pushed the hour hand forward, and the clock began to glow, a portal appearing soon after - a portal that lead to the mansion's parlor, where voices were growing near.

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Ben's shoulders sank a bit in relief, as Max reminded him that James, Casper, and the boys were already out of the city. "Good," he breathed, a little calmer for the moment. The idea of not being able to get to them... It had been so terrifying that for a moment, he had forgotten that Max had already taken care of it. Gods, he loved that man. Being around Max was such a nice change of pace as it came to being around Casper. He knew his husband had a reputation for being chaotic, but Max's chaos had a shape to it, a sense - Casper's chaos was... Casper shaped.

Runa's eyes widened and she found herself shrinking back slightly as Max.... scolded her. He'd just been a boy the last time she had met him, but now he was carrying himself with this aura of authority, and despite being over six hundred years his elder, Runa very much still had the maturity and mentality of a 16 year old by Midgardian standards. Her own parents had never even scolded her before like this (they weren't disciplinarians at all, preferring to more or less allow their children to raise themselves). "I... I'm sorry, Max," Runa bowed her head slightly. She did not mention that she had a tendency to do this - that she never could remember to shut a door behind her when at home in her parents' palace either.

Max then revealed his guess that Loki was behind all of this, and she winced. But before she could open her mouth to offer an explanation, to share that she had been communicating with Loki to request his aid not too long ago, Max had devolved into giving his list of instructions. She really hoped he wasn't about to tell her how disappointed he was.

"You know I remember that spot," Ben said with a slight smirk. However, the smirk filed as he asked for the teenage goddess to protect him. He knew he wasn't as powerful as the rest of his family - he wasn't an omega level mutant, and he wasn't one of the next in line to be Sorcerer Supreme - and yes, he had been murdered in this city almost two decades ago, but he wasn't weak. He could defend himself. "I don't need a child to watch after me, Max," he complained.

But he didn't get a response from his husband, as Max took off at a run into danger. Ben sighed a bit, before turning to look at his Asgardian babysitter. "Well. You got a portal?"

Runa nodded, slipping on her sling ring - one of her favorite Midgardian artifacts - and she began to trace circles in the air, locking onto the point that Ben helpfully described for her. It was difficult and challenging, some sort of interference still cutting through her spellwork. She just got out sparks for a while, before finally the portal opened up in front of them, revealing a spot among the flower beds - she angled the portal carefully, positioning it so the laser essentially was transported straight on through, followed by Ben and Runa hoping on into the portal.

"Wait!" Avery shouted, before concentrating. New Orleans was known for many things and had many names - but in this moment, they were thinking of one in particular. The City of the Dead. There had to be some here, some parts that they could work with. They dug deep, searching into the ground, until finally a familiar sensation unlodged itself in their gut, as they grasped onto a small cache of bodies. Ten of them. Green mists filled their eyes and swirled around their hands, as dead arms shot out from the ground, breaking the soil and shambling upwards, as the zombies rose. "Defend," Avery instructed, before the zombies shuffled through the portal.

Ben winced slightly, seeing the undead host come on through. He couldn't help but wonder how many of their spirits were still around, watching as their bodies were puppeteered. Not all ghosts remained behind. Maybe these poor things had moved on already, been braver than Ben ever had been and went to go see what really was on the other side. His own body had looked like this, when his friends had retrieved it and brought it back to Genosha - a decaying mess, filled with maggots and rot. For a brief moment, Ben was frozen, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at the shuffling masses.

"Ben?" Runa inquired. "The weapon?"

"On it," he said, forcing himself to shove all of those thoughts into the back of his mind, as he set to work getting the weapon operational. His father had made them practice this at least once a month, preparing a random device that they would have to either assemble or disarm. If they failed to do so, the consequences were always severe. He remembered each failure with perfect recollection. The experience served him well here. It took some time - more than he would have liked - but the laser was prepared. "Done. We're ready here."