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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.”.