It has been a week since the impromptu baseball game. She has come to love the game, in spite of Remy's humor steering her in the opposite direction. She knows he meant well. And it is how he is. She has chosen to go to the city once more. Only this time Remy, Paige and Warren accompany her. She sees the attraction between the two blondes. While she has Remy's attention, he has never been used to entertaining those younger than him. And the flirting is oblivious to him.
Remy is walking right by her side. Throwing out information, while the "couple" are lingering behind them. Remy is pointing out all the landmarks as possibilities when he appears out of nowhere. "Erik." She whispers as the others are occupied. As the crowd becomes panicked upon seeing Magneto. She takes to the sky, in order to intercept him.
The three are handling the crowd attempting to calm them. Once everyone is subdued enough. Remy is the first to notice. ''Where's Rachel?" The other look around hoping to spot her. "Belle" Remy says raising his voice. They have no choice but to make their way back to the mansion. Hopefully, she will be back before too long.
(scene change)
She reaches out with her mind. She wants to use her voice, but he is quite far ahead. 'Erik, wait.' She is able to bypass his helmet due to the bond they had in her world. He halts his movements waiting for her. Preparing to strike if necessary. He doesn't know this person after all. He turns as she gets closer.
She speaks out loud at this point. "Why were those people scared of you? I know you aren't a bad person." "Then there is much you must learn, girl." He interrupts her. "I'm not. You may be different from my world's version of you. But I know you aren't an evil person. You may have made the wrong choices. But that doesn't make a person." She tells him.
"You aren't from here. And I am a better person in this world. Do I know my children as well?" He inquires. She turns away. The sting of Wanda's death. And her failure will always be there. "Yes. And they loved you." "Loved?" "That world is just a parallel of this one's if Xavier died in his youth." She reaffirms in words the images she had projected to him. He is gone the next moment. And she doesn't leave knowing what she said and showed him would take some time to comprehend.
(scene change)
Time has progressed and she and Nate have almost been in this reality when what she saw the day she met the FF approaches. She gets up and decides to start the day with a session in the Danger Room. Putting on a red sports bra with athletic shorts (spandex) that cut off at her knees. And puts on biker gloves as a flimsy form of protection. She enters the control room not much long after getting dressed and leaving her room.
She sets up the scenario she wants before entering the arena. She is about half way through her exercise routine when the Professor comes in. She reaches out with her mind, so as to not lose focus on what she is doing. The session is almost over anyway. 'Good morning, Charles. What can I do for you?' She inquires though doesn't get an answer before the attack is upon her.
She turns her head to face him after being thrown to the ground. For once, seeing all his thoughts that he had made her forget up until this point. And the other entity that is residing in him. She starts to struggle to get up to defend herself. And quickly get to the others, to warn them. Before she can exit though, he blocks her way having had become a behemoth of red and purple. In fact, if she didn't know better it would be like she is looking at a Goliath version of Magneto.
She is flung off the ground, before being halted in mid air. His hand plunges into her stomach. She grits her teeth for a moment before the pain is unbearable. The screams emerging as he starts to rip the Phoenix entity from her. She somehow holds on and is able to keep from alerting the others through the mental link she has with some of them.
The last thing she would ever want is to lead them to slaughter. She manages to weakly grab his arm, in a feeble attempt to halt his objective. Acquiring the Phoenix would make him unstoppable. And if there is anything she and others like her aspire to be a symbol for is hope. Him succeeding will take that away. 'Phoenix, please…' She is dropped the next moment at his recoil. With the last of her strength, she jumps to another location masking herself as best she can from him. Knowing that as long as her team remains ignorant, their safety is guaranteed. Though, she needs to hurry for this isn't promised for much longer, since he finally revealed himself.
(scene change)
The family is getting ready to eat. Everyone has just sat down about to give blessing to their meal and the people around them when she appears crashing into the table. The force causing everything to crash to the floor. The boy is taken in his mother's arms as she turns to her husband, whom draws near them. Her brother picks the woman up in his arms ignoring his estranged wife's posture. "Reed." His best friend says.
Johnny has brought her closer to him upon seeing the severity of her state. While he may not have known her for long but through her visits and the (semi)connection she has with his family, she has come to be someone important to him. "Rachel." He whispers. She tightens the grip of his hand that is holding hers as his voice cuts through her subconscious. "Johnny, take her to the infirmary. We will meet you there after Susan and I have taken Franklin to his room." Reed instructs. She wants to tell them not to leave the child alone but still doesn't have enough strength.
(scene change)
The four are waiting for them. But the two have yet to appear, Ben is starting to lose his patience. Lyja is about to calm him when her husband arrives with their unexpected guest. "Took you long enough." Grimm gets out. "I apologize, Ben. Its my fault. I insisted I didn't need to be carried." She tells him. Johnny's arm still around her for support. "He had to practically drag me. Thank you, Johnny, I can manage now." She says releasing him taking a step forward.
She is caught by Reed extending his arms after she starts stumbling forward. He places her into a chair close to them. She puts her hand to her left side. Her vision starting to swim once more. All remain patient at her condition at this point. "Before we are delayed anymore, we are all about to be under attack. And not just talking about this family and the Xmen, I am talking about the Avengers and any other hero out there as well." She says before taking breaths in to push the blackness that is still threatening to overtake her.
"When Xavier shut down Magneto's mind, he fell prey to Erik's darkness. And now this evil has become strong enough that he doesn't need Charles or his body to exist anymore. I have known about this for almost as long as I have been here. But he is strong enough to actually make me forget, and every time the memory surfaces, he controlled it until now. Now he is ready to strike and if he succeeds, the result won't be much different from my world." She tells them.
She doesn't get much further, to ask where Franklin is knowing he and others she cares about are at the center of this when they are told that Xavier is there. They decide to let him in, to hear what he has to say. As Reed and Susan as are objecting, Rachel decides to wander, hoping she can find Johnny in order to give him comfort, like a friend is supposed to even though she is still recovering.
She walks in, only to see that he and Lyja are having a moment. Before she can say anything and about to turn away, a blinding light appears from the corner of their eyes. She turns when she feels the being making itself known. She is gone making her way to Franklin, knowing that Johnny and the others will have to handle the situations involved in. Knowing that they were more than capable of surviving, coming across Charles in the process of trying to take Franklin.
"Get away from the boy. If you want someone then take me." As she says this, Franklin clings to her. "Rachel?" He says worried. "Its okay. As soon as we are gone, you need to go to your parents." She tells the Richards child. "And why would I take you instead of him, Rachel Summers-Maximoff? You can barely stand at the moment.
And clearly willing to let the Phoenix go just to deny me its capabilities. Franklin has been easier to bend to my will." Charles questions and tells her. "If it is power you want then let Franklin go, and I will give myself and the entity up, but if I do this you also release my nephew." She tells him. "No, as tempting as what you are willing to sacrifice isn't enough. It may take the place of one of them, but not both." He answers. She attempts to shield herself and Franklin just as the mental backlash occurs.
(scene change)
She is the first to awaken. And while she may have been unconscious, the Phoenix fills her in on what she missed. She turns her head to see the others sprawled out around her. She starts pulling herself to the Richards/Storm family; crawling forward for she isn't strong enough to support herself after everything that has happened. She sends out a mental wave to wake them up before sending it out further touching the Avengers and Xmen that showed up before collapsing next to the Fantastic Four. 'This is still the best I can do at the moment' she thinks before passing out, still needing more time to recover from her injuries.
(scene change)
She awakens to find herself alone. She slowly sits up, still feeling the tiredness. However, the pain and soreness from her injuries is gone. Telling her enough time has passed that the Phoenix was able to heal her sufficiently. She reaches out scanning for the others that made the stand against Onslaught. She disappears after getting what she needed.
Johnny and Bobby are facing off. Hawkeye gets between the two, attempting to diffuse the situation. Fighting amongst themselves is the last thing they need. "Clint is right. There is no need for this bickering." She says before turning to Johnny. "Storm, we will get our nephews and Xavier back. As for you, Bobby; Xavier has no one but himself to blame for this predicament we are all in. Johnny has every right to be upset. If you want a fight, we can go now." She tells Drake.
Jean is by her side the next moment. "Rachel…" She tells her sister in law. "I am not trying to start a fight, Jean. However, we are all on edge; some more than others. And if some want to start one with someone whom has the right to, then I will take their place. And fight for them, especially when it is an opportunity to go against the Iceman." She informs her brother's wife.
This timeline's counterpart of her nephew approaches two of the most important women in his life. "Aunt Red, you and Jean are able to reach into Xavier's mind. Maybe we can use that to our advantage to get Charles, my other self and Franklin back. You seem to have healed enough would you and the Phoenix be able to be undetected, if the three of you try this." He inquires, leaving himself out of the equation. While he is strong enough telepathically, he has always been more about (physical) strength than anything else.
"We can try. But we should all come up with something, if it fails. We aren't the only ones being dragged into this. Or our loved ones at stake, Scott, Reed, Captain; what do you suggest, if Jean and I's attempt to go against Charles fails?" She questions. Each leader gives their analysis and how to react with any given scenario they can come up with, with the limited time, knowing time is of the essence.
"So, it's decided. This is what we are going to do. I'll take us there." Rachel tells them. She releases the psychic mask over her face revealing the scars on her face. As her body and eyes change colors, fire appears surrounding them but not consuming them. Leaving behind Scott Lang and Lyja in their wake, left wondering what will become of their friends now. After everything they have been up against, they and theirs have yet to see something like Onslaught before. And that is definitely saying something
They land at the epicenter where she managed to pick up Onslaught's presence. She masks the other teams while she and the other Xmen give it a go. It is initially their responsibility after all. And if they fail, then it will come to the others to help out or continue the fight. Before she actually enters the fray however she reaches out to see if she can contact Nate or Franklin. Or at least, see if they are okay. She tethers herself to them before cutting the link dormant. Though Onslaught may already know what she has done. As the others are finishing either taking care of their comrades in Four Freedoms Plaza. Or helping the civilians whom have got caught in this.
She links herself so that when or if they fall, they will take that as their cue to enter the scene. Even with her at their side, it doesn't take long for the Xmen to fall. She is near Scott when Onslaught appears and Joseph attempts to take him on alone. Charles is revealed to them as Scott has to change their plan, giving the order to face Onslaught head on. She remains by his side for support, for Charles is becoming just as important to her as he already is to her brother.
Joseph's, Nathan's, Scott's, Sue's and Thor's efforts free Xavier from his creation and captor's clutches. She picks up on the attack just in time. Shielding everyone as much as possible, bringing herself, Scott and Charles near Susan, Thor and Nathan. Xavier tells Susan he is unable to reach out to see if Franklin is alright. She does instead, hoping Onslaught's explosion will keep him occupied enough. She turns to Susan, while taking Charles in her arms. "He and Nate are fine. He may not need Charles anymore. But as long as he is alive, so to are our nephews. They are too important to him. We just now need to get them out before we kill him." She tells her friend.
(scene change)
She remains by Charles's side in case the behemoth they are facing strikes, which he will more than likely will. The two had become separated by everyone else. Before Onslaught can attack, he is hit from behind them. Rogue grabs the professor as she moves out of the way, following the other woman. She stays by Xavier once more to protect him if need be. Their attacks fail once more as the others arrive after the message she sent.
It is also starting to dawn on her, why the other Xmen's attacks keep failing. She goes to Doom whom she senses has figured this out, wanting to test this theory. She feels that her nephews have made contact with each other. Trusting Cable to retrieve his counterpart and Franklin. Vision and Rogue's attempt fails which Reed picks up on. She could be their last chance when she sees the Hulk fall. Not only does she want to be the lone wolf, unleashing the full potential of the Phoenix can be disastrous. Something she tries to avoid as much as possible.
She reaches out to Franklin and Nate. This may be the only chance left to save the two, as Reed is explaining the theory she and Doom already figured out. She senses Xavier and Joseph are on doing just that. Just like Wanda's ability protecting her from strengthening Onslaught, the Phoenix should do the same cancelling out her natural gifts. She and the others give their all after Reed gives Scott instructions on what to do, as the others start sacrificing themselves.
Nate and Franklin are out taking the last of Onslaught's entity. But before he vanishes completely, one of his arms reappears. She is caught off guard focusing on her nephew and Franklin's well-being, having sent the Phoenix away for the moment. She and his arm are gone within the next instant. Everything becomes black as everything she has come to known is no more.
(scene change)
"…" She moves trying to focus on what the voice is saying. Things coming back to her. The fight with Onslaught. The heroes she had come to know and respect in the short time she had been in that particular reality having perished. She starts moving. Opening her eyes, she sees the voice again, which happens to be coming through a transmitter.
"I already know that you aren't from around here. But I also already know you don't pose a threat, but before I can trust you enough. I would like you to do something first. There will be two people whom will be assisting you in a few moments." The person tells her. She looks down to she has restraints before looking at the new arrival. At least, she knows why she can't reach out with her mind. She gets up to stand in order to meet this person.