Note: brief description of gore; and more than one character dies here. Rachel being one of them; though the story is far from over. And this will be another parallel about something happened in the comics to other characters (one in particular) that will be shown here. Only an OC and Rachel taking place of these two characters. And there will be a slight voyage back into the MCU/Agents of SHIELD.
She falls forward; letting herself plunge toward the ground. Feeling the pressure, halting her movement. Her face is grabbed; "look at the destruction and pain caused all for you. When will it be enough?" Rachel looks to see as Scott is the first to fall. Reeling back, she is able to break Gladiator's hold. No sooner than she touches the ground; as the quake comes out of nowhere. Doing her best to shield herself and Scott; her eyes tighten close.
Turning to see Remy standing above them; the rock now floating around them in pieces. "Remy." "My belle." He pitches forward as the hit at the back of the head comes out of nowhere. Rachel closing in on herself. 'No, no, no. This wasn't supposed to happen.' The trench coat appears in front of her; looking up she sees the man firing his gun. "I have to say I am disappointed. The Rachel I have come to care about would never allow such things happen to those she cares about. Nor would she hide as others fought her battles for her." "Frank, I…" She turns to see Sam land not far from them; before screaming as he explodes with the area around him.
Rising to her feet; just as Castle moves on. The shackles and suppressors still hindering her to an extent. 'Frank is right. This needs to end now. It has gone on long enough. After all this time; after telling those other Avengers about not changing things; so as not to upset the balance wasn't wrong. But like Jean, I am tired of fate dictating my life. No more control. No more soulmates. Just me and what I want. I am tired of fighting. And they should never have to pay for my mistakes and decisions.'
Turning to the Shi'ar emperor; Rachel lets herself become engulfed in flames. "ENOUGH!" She sends out an energy wave powerful enough to upend all of the Shi'ar present; as her eyes start glowing red as her uniform appears, bypassing becoming green and yellow. Going to being red and yellow as the Phoenix burns through her restraints. Moving before Gladiator and the others could catch her; she lands near Remy, Simon and Alex. "GET OUT OF HERE! YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME!" "NO! WE AREN'T LEAVING, NOT WITHOUT YOU!" Clarice shouts appearing through one of her portals.
Seeing the movement; she rescinds the Phoenix before moving, shoving Remy out of the way. As the blade slides right through her midsection; before the next sinking through her chest, as the last cuts through her throat. She falls forward; as the blood pools beneath her. The light in her eyes starting to go out; as the Phoenix appears resembling Rachel just as Gladiator calls his force back as the threat is over for the time being. The entity takes her vessel in her arms; turning her. "No, no, Rachel, you can't. I…" "I'm sorry. Tell them. I know you will take care of them." Rachel's hand goes limp; as the Phoenix replicating her closes her eyes. "I promise." "Thank you."
As the tears flow down the entity's face; the ground quakes again. A scream accompanying it as Alex lands near them; raising his hands unleashing his power. Earth's heroes watch and wait. "This is far from over. The Phoenix still poses a threat. While we all know nothing is permanent when it comes to this creature; all of you can leave now. Return to your lives; provided you leave it here" Gladiator tells them.
Remy stands in front of her. "We aren't leavin' without either of them." The shock and surprise courses through her. "Stand down, Remy LeBeau" it tells him. "I will not. And neither will the others. She didn't give up everything; just for you to sacrifice yourself." "You're wrong. That is exactly what she intended. And I can't say that I disagree with her." Looking down at Rachel's broken body. "The price is too high. She loved and cared for you; therefore, you all matter to me as well. I can't in good conscience let you die for me."
Simon picks up Rachel holding her close to him. "The choice is yours, Gladiator. She may not like our choice; but we won't have let her sacrifice be in vain. The Phoenix being one of the ones she had been trying to protect. And if we simply walk away; to keep ourselves safe like she intended. Well, we will have not only failed all the ideals she held dear. But our principles as well."
"Well said, Frank Castle. However, I can't allow that. There are too many people and races at risk; though, I will honor Rachel. I am not like Lilandra. If Rachel taught you anything; then you know what will happen if you lose control. You are free to go now, Phoenix. You and the others; but go now before I rethink my decision. Though, be warned, you lose control. And we will return and there will be no amount of persuasion that will sway me next time."
The teams start gathering their dead; as Phoenix takes them away. "Are you sure it is wise, Emperor?" "No. But from one warrior to another; as well as being friends and comrades, I can't help but honor Rachel and all she stood for. But I meant what I said Oracle; the Phoenix slips up again. They won't get a second chance. Come, let us return home for the time being. It is only a matter of time; before it succumbs to its nature once more."
Walking into the building; his hands in his jacket pockets. No one stops him from walking to the elevators. "What floor would you like?" "Where are the others, specifically Johnny?" "They aren't in close proximity of each other. I can call them to where you wish to go, sir?!" "Yes. Thank you, Roberta." He waits quietly as the elevator ascends; 'I hate this. This never gets easy. They are all going to be hurt. And he is going to be crushed.'
"What are you doing here? You being here could only mean?" The younger Storm asks; before stalking off, his question sinking in. "JOHNNY?! "Give him time, Sue. He is going to need it." Reed holds her to him; as he reaches out with his other arm, laying it on Ben's shoulder. Lyja going the direction Johnny went. "I'll go check on him. You need to be there for them and the children." "And what about you? She was your sister after all" Reed adds. "It's why I need to be the one to go to him. She may have been really important and loved by all of you. But I know how hard he is taking it; their relationship was one of the ones she bothered to let herself take a little further than just being a friend. One of the few she blessed and let pass her walls; into her inner circle."
He remains quiet. "Johnny?!" "Not now, Lyja. I would like to be alone, please." Lyja looks down before walking past him; barely acknowledging him. He takes his time reaching the man sitting on the ledge; looking at the horizon as the wind blows his hair. "We should have been there. I should have been there." "Johnny, she wouldn't have wanted that. It hurt her enough that we were there. And witnessed it. That we suffered because of her; lost Sam."
"She knows that we would have done no less. What was she thinking?!" "You know she has carried burdens for so long. It became second nature to her. And while we wished she had put more trust in us; her mind had been made up. There was no alternative for her. She loved us that much." He breaks at this. Johnny gets up and embraces him. "The funeral is Sunday. I better be going now." Johnny tightens his grip on his arm; "Thank you, Alex."
She lays the brush down; as her mom starts calling her. 'This is a nightmare. It can't be true. What I know about her and have learned about the legend of the Phoenix; she can't be dead. And is still out there somewhere. And once I see those closest to her; I will know it is all a ruse. What she told me all those years ago hasn't left me.' She turns to see her mom standing in the doorway. "Caitlin, come on. We are going to be late."
Her mom is parking the car as she walks to the row and seats assigned them. Just as the procession begins, as reality hits. For she sees Rachel Grey; her siblings, Hope, Alex, Scott, Wanda and Johnny flanked by Lorna, Pietro, Simon, Kitty, Clarice and Remy; with William, Ted, Thomas and Christopher behind them. All with tears in their eyes. Julia Carpenter standing next to the rest of the Fantastic Four. 'No, no, no. She can't be dead. I can't.' She turns and runs; as she passes one of the leaders. "Ma'am?!" She ignores Captain America as she blindly searches for a way out; before it becomes too much. "Thank you all for be here today…"
"Caitlin?! I looked everywhere for you. Mr. Rogers helped me find you now that the ceremony is over. What happened? He said you ran off." "Mom, I…" The sigh is evident. "I know it is hard to accept. You have always idolized her; from the moment you met." "But she wasn't supposed to. Having the Phoenix makes dying beneath her." "Maybe. But you are forgetting, Cate; that she was still human. And we don't last forever. Not in this form anyway. All you can do know is keep what she told you within and be the best person your father and I along with her can ever be. Now let's go home."
(scene change; consider this a bonus. And things that wanted to add but don't fit anywhere else/in other chapters in length. And make sense with what has just happened.)
"Are you sure about this?" "It would have been easier if Rachel were still here." The energy surge appears before anyone else can answer. Natasha and Steve turn at what images the energy has shown them. 'Thanos has claimed another victim by sending her away. Even though, that choice was hers. She wouldn't have had to make it if she hadn't been transported there. Clint and Thor no doubt know now. Maybe even Tony. She had, had a tight enough bond with them.'
He is watching as his wife and children are chasing each other; as Coulson isn't far away. "What is that?" Phil turns to see it coming their way. And none fast enough to avoid it. As the energy hits them; the three adults see Rachel succumbing to her injuries; as an image of her looks at them smiling, before turning away from them, before disappearing. Lincoln reaches Daisy as the tears fall. Skylar tugging on Phil's pants. "Who was that?" "A friend and hero."
