Landing on the planet, just in time to see The Phoenix resembling her; with its hands wrapped around Alicia's throat as flames appear on their fringes. "Charles, Hope, Jean, Rachel Grey, Nate, Cable, William, Wanda and Strange, hurry I am going to need all of you channel with me. Alicia is fading faster than expected. And has managed to hold on this long is something in and of itself."

The nine quickly dispel gravity. Their energies intertwining; as she sends a burst of energy at their target. Halting The Phoenix drops Alicia who begins to struggle to get up. "ALICIA!" "Calm yourself, Ben. It will be fine now." Switching back to its adopted persona, "Rachel, but how?! Why?!" "I am honored that you have lived for my sake. But you are wrong, if you really think I would stand by and let you hurt those I care about, Kathleen Pryce. Even if you think you are protecting Johnny. You know either way he is going to be hurt."

"But she?!" Moving as one, Rachel and the others are in front of her. "I know that you are doing what you think is right. But if you really think I would be happy about it, then you didn't know me as well as you thought, Phoenix." Recoiling at this and seeing that the rest of Earth's heroes are banded together, waiting for the word. Rachel Summers holds her hands out as Alicia is moved toward them.

As the hands search her face, she halts. "It is alright, Alicia Grimm." Continuing her action, picking up the difference in Rachel's voice. Alicia is quickly able to depict the changes. "And while I am not happy either with what you did either, I forgive you. Now you need to apologize to Johnny. Though, you know him forgiving you won't be easy. Being deceived and lies have never been strong suits for him." Lowering her enough, "Ben."

The Thing quickly takes his wife in his arms. As the rest continue waiting with anticipation. "Rachel, thank you!" She simply nods, never turning her back to the cosmic entity. "Susan, be ready to protect them." "But Rachel?!" The Professor protests. "Charles Francis Xavier, they are going to need you; not just the Xmen." Holding her arms out, she is instantaneously engulfed in The Phoenix's energy.

"All of you thank you. But I will handle this." "But my belle?!" "Remy is right, Aunt Red!" "You all are going to need to keep things at bay. But this fight is between us." Kat begins shaking her head; as the memory is ripped from her, before being displayed to the others. "Rachel, why?!" "Alicia?!" The FF inquiring turning to their friend (Alicia). The realization sinking in, Kathleen takes a couple of steps back, deflating, as her question goes unanswered; as the memory is revealed to the necessary parties.

"I thought you deserved to know. All of you, including you, Lyja. Now you know what he told you was a lie especially after what he did afterward." The Skrull turns to Johnny and the rest of the FF. Johnny holds his hand out knowing that she is being honest with him, them, again. "Ben, I'm sorry. This should have never been at your expense." "Lyja, you too?!" "I may have come to consider you, one of my best friends, Kathleen Pryce. So, you should know by now, Johnny will always be my choice." Rachel hovers by them.

Putting her head down, before raising it. The two lone tears running down her face, before more begin to spill. "I see, I am all alone." Swallowing, Kathleen regains some semblance, "if that is how it has to be, then so be it! And know after this, I shall remain in Olympia; and never return." "Oh, but Kat?!" Ignoring William, a gigantic Phoenix bird appears, encompassing even Rachel's. Bringing her to her knees, as she begins screaming. "Stay back!" She manages seeing her family coming to assist her.

"Hang on, Rachel Summers." The pain begins to worsen as she rises to the sky again. Her eyes turning white hot, as energy begins spilling out of them. And leaking from the rest of her, moving upwards. Her garb clashing from green and yellow, red and yellow and gold and white. Wanda, Simon, William, Hope, Nate, Cable, Charles and Rachel and Jean Grey surrounding her in a circle. Their energies continuing to anchor her.


"But you are not alone, my love! And if that is your decision, we will stand by you; and remain with you. But for now." Ikaris appears with Sprite, Ajax, Ares, Eros Starfox, Mercury, Apollo, Dane Whitman and the other Eternals. The group stand behind her. "Thank you!" "We have seen what occurred, surely there must be a solution to this?!" "Ikaris?!" "My love, I can't waver not even for you. We are still Earth's protectors. And what you have done?!" The scream rips through her defenses; as she lunges for Rachel.

"This is all your fault. If you had just stayed where you had been; and let me handle the situation." Her hands wrapping around Rachel's throat as she begins to suck the life and energy from her. "NOO! STOP!" William hollers as he and the others begin to move forward. Ikaris looks to Sprite, who nods in return; as the rest of Earth's heroes begin converging. The world shifts and becomes unbalanced. Rachel and Kathleen remaining at the center, embroiled.


Hitting the barrier with another fire blast, "we need to hurry!" "Tuc, Wanda, William and Strange are working on it, Torch. Jean, what are you and the others getting?!" Gabriel says. "Johnny is right. Rachel isn't faring well. It's not helping that we are dealing with our own problem(s)." Pietro and Crystalia are able to prevent Makkari rendering them useless.

"Well, that definitely brought back some memories." Crystalia simply raises her eyebrow at him. "Right?!" The two are gone the next moment, leaving the unconscious Eternal. Barely missing the punch, "PIETRO!" Crystalia creates a sphere of dirt that is quickly sent through the air with Ikaris's next punch. Scott, Alex and Gabriel amplify their powers, letting their energies hit the other before creating a beam that strikes Ikaris, who begins laughing. "Oh, this is good! I am sorry it has come to this! But I won't regret what I have to do; not if it will keep my wife safe. Just wish there was another way."


All the telepaths adjust their attention, slightly as Rachel falls to her knees; flames beginning to engulf her (and not in the usual, good way). Doing her best to fend off the internal attack, she raises her arms in a defensive gesture. "KARNAK, BLACK BOLT!" Jean calls to them. Releasing Ahura, he puts him by Medusa's side. Grabbing their cousin, he takes to the air. Seeing that his family is about to be attacked, he opens his mouth as Karnak covers his ears and Charles, Jean, Rachel, Nate, Cable and Hope direct the sound waves, preventing catastrophic damage.

Placing him by the weak spot, Karnak hits it; as Blackagar opens his mouth again, concentrating on their former allies at the moment. As The Summers telepaths continue to direct it as the magicks and Susan protect everyone else. The Eternals and Greek deities succumbing to the pressure just as the shield shatters. Earth's heroes begin to rush forward; well, those still conscious at this point, anyway.


"NOO!" Hitting Kathleen with his flames, just as Rachel collapses to her side. "Really, Johnathon Storm?!" Seeing her own family's state, the scowl appears instantaneously. "ENOUGH FUN AND GAMES! I WILL TAKE BACK WHAT IS MINE!" Moving, she hovers above Rachel Summers. "You gave it your best effort, Phoenix R.S. Wagner. If you think I wanted this you are wrong.

But none of you let me serve one of my purposes; so now, this isn't on me alone." Rachel begins screaming again as steam starts leaving her as the entity is forced out of her. No sooner is it ripped from her, then the voice is heard; "Aikaterine?!" Everyone looks to see Ajax supporting Ikaris. "Apollo." The deity moves to Rachel's side.

"My love?!" "I meant what I said. I wasn't going to bend even for you, Kathleen Pryce. And while I meant I wouldn't regret defending you, either. This…this is cold blooded murder! The Aikaterine I know and love would have never even conceived such a thing?!" "Ik…Ikaris?! Ajax?! Sprite?! Thena?!" Seeing that there won't be much sympathy, "I see. I wasn't wrong. I am all alone!"

"Aikaterine!" "No, Ikaris. Alicia Reiss Masters-Grimm needed to pay for what she had done. And rather than let this occur, they got involved, especially her." "Kathleen Pryce, did you really expect otherwise?!" Seeing the hurt and betrayal on her face, "I, see?! What has happened to you?! Knowing all of us, did you really think any of this would allow such a thing?!"

William touches down. Thomas, Ted, Tuc, Luna, Crystalia, Pietro and Simon stand by his sides. His hate filled gaze never wavering from Kat's. The Summers clan joining them. Scott, Gabriel, Adam and Alex create a circle around Rachel. Apollo, Bennet, Strange, Wanda and Danny working on her just as Kobik and Bucky appear. Phoenix standing between each side as Kurt and Ray approach her.

Looking up at her brothers, she shakes her head. Weakly, placing her hand on Apollo's arm. "Phoenix R.S. Wagner, please, take me away from here. I don't want them to see it; not…not this time!" As gently as possible, she picks Rachel up. "HEY, WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Alex and Johnny cry out. "HE WAS HEALING HER!" Looking to Kathleen, "Johnathon Lowell Spencer Storm, Alexander Summers, there isn't much more I can do." Apollo replies.

"But you can't give up, you are known for your healing prowess?!" "Not even I would refuse one's request." "BUT?!" Turning, they see Phoenix flying through space. Seeing that her "cousin" is about to move, "Billy, we have lost. Do you really want another round?! You barely managed this one; and we all know it was because they hadn't tried enough. And with what clearly happened, I don't even think my being here would have changed much of anything." Kobik says.