She lands not far from where their target is. She is masking the others. All of course are on guard. Her expertise is so good. Not even the Shadow King can spot them. Opening the link, 'we need to see my brother. I know you all are hesitant, but he can be trusted.' Gambit and Rogue move next to her. Clarice and the others a few feet away. 'Pietro and the others will be here shortly.' She tells them verbally before they all move as one.
Coming across Jean had been unexpected. And the others learned that she was right about trusting Scott. For the actions, they discovered he was behind. He and Rachel have a moment. After not having seen one another for years. "We have to make this quick. I've told them how you have helped those in the pits escape.
They've taken Erik, Charles and another that we need to accomplish this mission." Nate is by her side. "Well, well, well; what do we have here?" They turn to see Alex. "If it isn't my misguided siblings and their corrupt friends." He adds. Rachel and the others get ready to take him on. Scott and Jean block her way.
"We will handle him. You have something to do already." He tells her. She sends the thought out to the others. 'Scatter.' To which, they do. She creates a psychic shield anyway to protect them from a possible attack from her unstable estranged brother. They land not far from the citadel. She keeps her back to them.
Pietro, Nate and Remy are instantaneously by her side. Each having picked up by her body language that she is taking off. "You can't leave; my belle, please." He begs afraid he won't see her again. She hugs him. "I will be okay. I have to check on Scott." Not telling any of them that he is losing the battle. "And I have to shut down the Shadow King." She tells them.
Clarice hugs her briefly. Followed by Nate. "This is what you are meant to do. And while I gave you as much as a childhood as I was able to. Don't think of this as doing what you were created for. But as a hero that needs to stop a madman." She puts her hand on his chest.
"What you lack in experience, you make up for in prowess and heart. And that is enough. And that is partly my fault, I sacrificed training you like I should have, in order for you to be a child, which was your right. So, don't be afraid if you think you can't. We are all here for you. And believe in you." She tells him.
Pietro moves to stand a few feet in front of her. Neither sure how to respond initially. The others looking away giving them a moment. Even Ororo, their world is on the verge of ending. She can't allow her negative feelings to stop them from saying good bye. "I know I've said it before. And it may never make up for the choice I made, but I'm sorry. And I love you, Rachel. I always have. I always will. And if I had been a better husband, you might not have lost our child." He tells her.
"That's actually not on you. If I had shut my emotions off like I used, after discovering you still loved Ororo. And had been cheating, I would have no doubt had our child. But who knows maybe I lost the child, because we weren't meant to have one. And I love you too. I'm sorry as well. Rather than fighting for you harder, I left instead. And wherever we are about to go, know that I will always love you, Magnusson." She tells him.
He can't help but smile at this. "It's been a while, since you've called me that." She shuts him up the next moment. Laying the most passionate kiss they have shared. He quickly loses himself in it. It doesn't become long enough for him. For she, pulls away the next moment. She steps back, taking to the air. She sees in the tears in his eyes. That he is refusing to let fall. Still facing them. "This is good bye my friends. I am glad I was given the chance to know all of you." She is gone the next instant. The others stand still for a moment, before leaving to accomplish what they need to. What she is entrusting them to do.
She sees a scene she had never hoped to. She kneels, taking his head in her lap. Weapon X begging for Jean to stay with him in the corner of her mind. She strokes his forehead. "It's okay. I'm here. You did good." He reaches up. Grabbing her wrist, turning to her. "I know you. Don't blame yourself. In the end, we each make our own decisions." He tells her.
She breaks down to this. "You've always been there. And I couldn't even do this for you. Protect you when you needed it." She responds. He laughs sluggishly. "It is the oldest sibling's responsibility to watch out for the younger ones. And while we are accountable for actions. However, we failed Alex somewhere. Rather than helping him, we let him fall through the cracks. Please save him." Every hold he has on her is relinquished as he succumbs to his injuries.
Alex is gloating as she puts his head down. Before standing. Her energy spikes. Going on the offensive. She had meant to do as he asked. However, her view of his take on things. And his current reaction pushes the little control she actually has into pieces. She just witnessed the brother she cherishes murdered by her other brother.
Her being flashes red for the briefest of moments, as if it had never occurred. Alex is speared through the abdomen with a psychic fiery blade. She is holding him by the nape of his neck, so he doesn't fall. She whispers in his ear. "Be grateful that your death will be quick. At least, quicker than what I had planned for you. Know also that as your life slips away. Your legacy will be your nightmare. Scarlett is pregnant. But don't worry, my dear brother, I will take care of them." She says, letting him go. Lightly pushing him as he falls backwards. The horror clearly written on his face. He gasps out, trying to speak. He is left to stare at the sky. The last thing he sees, as she walks away. The light leaves his eyes moments later.
She moves away from the door, after hearing the scuffle outside her door. The door falls forward. Thankfully, her instinct to run kicked in. She is against the wall, waiting to see who is there. If it's Alex. They are both done for. Due to nothing being available to defend her and the baby. She waits patiently to see who it is. What else can she do anyway?
She moves away from the wall when seeing who it is. "Rachel." "There isn't much time, Scarlett. If you and the baby hope to survive, you must come with me." After her would be sister in law says this she readily follows. Knowing that in the brief time she has known her, Rachel has never meant her any harm.
They land in the heart of the citadel. Scarlett looks around realizing where they are. The fear radiates off her enough that Rachel picks it up. "Don't worry. I already took care of the Shadow King. And there is too much going on right now for them to notice us. Though we shouldn't stay here too long. Come." She instructs as she starts moving. The other red head behind her.
The two quickly find themselves crossing Erik, Rogue and Nate's paths. She and Nate embrace, while Scarlett stands there awkwardly. "Aunt Rachel, what are you doing here? I thought you had something else to do." Nate questions/says. "The same as you, there has been a slight change in things. Here to end Apocalypse's tyranny. Though, in the end it is up to you. It is what you are meant to do. I meant what I said earlier that I wish this burden had never been placed on you. Thankfully, I gave you as much as a childhood as possible. It's all I wanted for you." She tells him. The four take to the air, while keeping Scarlett close and safe.
Erik and Nate have started battling Apocalypse. The others stay away after spotting Guido. Rachel and Scarlett watch Rogue confront him. Before she can give the final blow, Rachel steps in. "Let me Rogue, you shouldn't have all the fun anyway." She tells her mother in law. "By all means." Rogue responds. "Guido, do you want the power that she took away back?" "Please." He begs. Rachel amplifies her ability, creating enough force that will send him packing. And which he will be unable to absorb. "This is for your betrayal. And kidnapping an innocent child." She says hitting him with everything she and the Phoenix have. His ability is the only thing that saves him, though he is sent packing.
Rogue embraces her son, while Rachel strokes his hair. He is smiling at her. "You can trust her." She answers Rogue's question. The two know that the others are going to need help. The two take to the air. As Charles and Scarlett stay in the background. Scarlett can only imagine this is how she will be with her child. "My mommy, daddy and Rachel are going to stop the bad man?" He asks. "Yes, they are going to stop the bad man." Leaving at least, they will try not wanting to frighten the child.
The battle is fierce and a struggle. Nate is being overpowered. As Erik is taking care of Rogue whom has been injured. "Erik, are you ready? Scarlet can keep watch over her and Charles. Nate isn't going to last much longer on his own." She says. Erik takes an extra moment to make sure his wife and child are safe. Before the father and daughter throw themselves back in the fight.
Rachel intervenes when she sees that Nate can't go on much longer. "Leave this to us." "But Aunt Rachel" He interjects, to which she interrupts. "While this is what you were meant to do. And despite my reservations about this. You've done enough. He is weak enough that we can handle him. Keep the others safe. We'll join you when we are done." She tells him.
It doesn't last much longer between them and Apocalypse. The two can tell that Erik is weakening as well. He uses the last surge of his power. And tears the dictator of their world apart. Rachel looks to him. Her clothes are lightly smudged, along with her face. She and Erik approach their family. Each takes their direct family in their arms.
"Will you three be okay? I have to go check and see if the others are well." She inquires/states. "We'll be fine. Thank you, Rachel, Scarlett." Rogue says. "You're welcome, Rogue." Rachel responds before leaving, taking Scarlett with her. The two wind up where Pietro and Clarice are. Scarlett grabs Rachel's sleeve. She has never seen one like Clarice before. Leaving Scarlett experiencing a certain level of fear and trepidation.
Blink appears in front of them. Scarlett's hesitancy having not gone unnoticed by her. Rachel hugs her. "Clarice." She says. Pietro appears the next moment. "Rachel, who is she?" Clarice questions. "My sister, Alex got her pregnant. And I plan to take her away, in hopes that she and the child will have a chance." Rachel responds.
She grabs Scarlett's hand. "We don't have much time left. I am going to miss you." She tells them. They are only her best friend and husband after all. Clarice hugs her once more. "I know that he may not readily address his feelings. But he loves you more than he ever shows. You know this deep inside as well. There is no better time than now to forgive him." Blink tells her.
Rachel smiles as she pull back from the embrace. She can't waste any more time. If she does, she might not be able to do so. And she can't cheat her niece or nephew out of a chance at life. "Scarlett, go first. I'll be right behind you." She instructs. She is about to go through when she feels the grip on her arm.
She turns to see Pietro. But before she can focus on this, he pulls her into another passionate kiss. He pulls away first this time laying his forehead against hers. Both of their eyes still closed. "I failed you as a husband, but I've always loved you. Where ever you go and come across my version there, I hope he comes to realize how special you are." She opens her eyes at this. Despite their connection, she always doubted that he reciprocated her feelings.
She slowly lets go of his hand. Not looking back, she finally enters the thing that will transport her. She is trying to locate Scarlett, but before she can the residual energy that has come out of nowhere creates a backlash, throwing her off course. She reaches her hand out, as her last thought is 'help me.'
The hand reaches out for her as well. Taking her in their arms. "It's okay. I'm here. I'll take care of you, Mom." The person says. Laying her down, giving her the rest she needs. Knowing that she will awaken soon enough. She bends down laying Rachel's head in her lap. Staring at her until she awakens. It doesn't take too long.
Rachel looks at her for a moment. "Who are you?" She questions. "I've been waiting to and wanting to meet you, Mom." She replies. Rachel gets up at this and hugs her. "I never thought I would see you again." She tells her daughter. Her daughter smiles at this.
"You will. I will be born again." Rachel smiles at this statement. She takes her daughter's hands in hers. "I'm sorry. You didn't get a chance to come into this world." She tells her. "It wasn't time for me yet. But it will be soon. I've been watching you, father and the rest of our family. When you finally have me, the family dynamic will be different.
But you mustn't stay here any longer. Your new life awaits. Reach out to him, like you had me. And he will become an anchor for you, drawing you there." She tells Rachel. "Before I leave, what is your name?" She asks. "You and Dad named me Katherine Magda." Katherine laughs. "Naming children after the matriarch and patriarch becomes a habit.
You must go now. And not linger anymore." Katherine tells her. Rachel hugs her, which is repriciocated. She pulls away the next moment, pushing some hair off Katherine's forehead. "I love you." She tells Katherine. 'I know." Katherine replies before fading. Rachel sees her lips saying the same but no sound is coming out. As the world fades around them.
Rachel looks to see she is suspended in the air. And is blinded by all the color. It takes her moments to adjust. Since all she has known is been devoid of so much of a prism of color. She closes her eyes, concentrating on what her daughter told her. It doesn't take too long to find him, Katherine told her about. She focuses all her energy, before taking a nosedive. Accelerating her momentum letting his mental signature be the beacon.
.
