Phoenix stood on the shore of the bayou, her mind thinking of everything that happened. Just days ago, she helped Sam and Bucky finish the Flag-Smashers. Karli perished at Sharon's hand and no one was in doubt there would still be those who would take up their fight. They got some surprising help from John Walker who, in her own opinion, made up for what he had done in Latvia. But this wasn't hers to judge. Sam had claimed the mantle of Captain America and the favor Bucky had called in was his own suit. After the fight was over, Bucky and Sam parted ways for a short time and Phoenix accompanied the White Wolf to the old man Nakajima's apartment. Bucky revealed the truth to the old man and put the last of his ghosts to rest. Several days later, they joined Sam in his hometown, though Phoenix remained hidden.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us, Nix?" came the voice of her best friend. Phoenix just smiled but didn't face him. Bucky came to stand by her side. He crossed his arms, joining her in looking across the water. He rubbed the back of his neck before looking at the chimera. "So...this is it? You're going to leave?" he asked. Only then did Phoenix swing her head to look at him. "Yes," she said simply. Bucky reached out to set a hand under her head and pulling it to his chest. "Thank you for everything. For what it's worth, you've been a huge help just being a friend to me and Sam," he said. The chimera just grunted horselike as she closed her eyes. Bucky brought her head up and his eyes were alight with peace. "Do you think you'll ever come back or is this the end for us?" he inquired, a sad edge to his voice. Phoenix leaned against his hand. "There are no guarantees with the Road. But...I don't think this is our final parting. I feel deep down that we'll meet again. I just...can't tell when that will be," she said.
She shifted into her human form so she could take his face in hand. "Regardless of all else, James Buchanan Barnes, you are and always will be my friend. You've taught me so much and I love you for that. I now owe you a debt of gratitude. I have many regrets in my life, one of the greatest being that I didn't stop HYDRA from taking you so long ago. Your suffering rests on my shoulders and it will be a pain I have to learn to live with," she said. Bucky's hand reached out to take her arm and she found herself being pulled into a tight embrace. "I never blamed you. Not once. Believe me, up until Wakanda...I was never sure if you were real. You know that, Nix. We've talked about this. I won't tell you to put it from your mind because I know it's easier said than done. Just...find a way to forgive yourself someday," he said.
Phoenix pulled away a little to look up at him. He grinned as he hooked her neck to bring his forehead to hers. "Thank you for always being there, Phoenix. Whether you come back or not, I hope you know you've always got a friend in me," he said. The shifter just smiled, closing her eyes. "Before you go...can we have one last dance?" Bucky asked. "Sure," she responded. Just like before, two scarred souls found themselves dancing to a slow tune only they could hear. Phoenix rested her head to his chest, listening to his heart beating. Unlike her pair-bond's, Bucky's heart didn't beat with the weight of millennia. Up to this moment, she hadn't had time to think about how much she was missing Seiryu. Her own heart started breaking as she thought about the inevitable future after she passed and she was also feeling torn. All World was her home but she had spent a lot of time on Earth and it felt like she had become a part of it.
Bucky looked down when he felt Phoenix's grip tighten on his shirt. Her face was screwed up in agony, eyes shut tight. He slowed them to a stop and quietly let her get whatever was on her mind out. His flesh hand brushed her hair behind an ear and he started to rock her a little. He had a feeling her tears weren't for him this time. He decided to keep his peace and opted instead to be her support. "You're going to be just fine, love. You're strong," he whispered. Phoenix gave a shuddering laugh before pulling back to look up at him. He grinned a bit before running his thumbs under her eyes. "I won't ask what got you down all of a sudden but I know you've got what it takes to claw your way back," he said.
The chimera took a deep breath and recentered herself a bit. "You're right, of course. It's just that...I'm having a bit of a crisis about where I truly belong. All World is my home but now...I don't want to leave Earth at all. I don't...want to leave you," she said, hand to her forehead. Bucky just chuckled, causing her to look up in confusion. "From where I'm standing, there's nothing to question," he said. Shoving his hands into his pockets, the White Wolf met her gaze softly. "Your place is in All World, Nix. You belong at Seiryu's side. I've never met the guy and we've barely spoken about him but I can hear the love you have for him in your voice when he comes up. You know deep down that the safest place you can be is in your homeworld," he explained.
Bucky looked out over the water at the sunset. "Look at it this way. You're more at risk from people here on Earth than you are in your homeworld. My greatest fear throughout our conflict with the Flag-Smashers was failing to protect you. When you got shot, I was terrified Seiryu was going to break through dimensions to make sure I paid for it. At least there, you're better able to defend yourself and you told me that you couldn't live here in hiding long-term. I'd rather you put yourself first for once and do what needs to be done. If things line up, we'll meet again. Understand?" he asked.
Phoenix could only blink, wondering where this side of him was coming from. She then smiled and took another, calming breath. "Funny. I'm older than you but you're showing that you're wiser than I am," she said. The White Wolf just smiled. "You're right, as always. I guess I was coming from a place of fear. My attachments are few but they are strong. I'm always afraid of inadvertently breaking them," she said, retaking her true form. She shook her body out. She was hesitating, he could tell. "Bucky?" she asked. "Yeah, doll?" he replied. "Our friendship will stand the test of time and separation...won't it?" she questioned. "I know it will, Nix. I believe with everything in me that eventually, our paths will cross again, no matter what. You just need to believe it, too, and focus on what's really important," he responded.
Bucky and Phoenix locked eyes. He reached out to set his hand on her head again and rested his forehead to hers, just under her horns. "I love you, Phoenix. Don't be a stranger now," he said. The chimera closed her eyes and smiled. "I love you, too, Bucky. Until next we meet," she said, pulling back. She turned around and started walking away. "Oh, and Bucky?" she said, turning her head back. A quizzical look appeared on his face. "I want you and Sam to know that I'm proud of both of you. I'm sure Steve would say the same thing. And while I do regret my inaction from decades ago, our shared experiences since then far outweigh that regret. Thank you, Bucky...for accepting me when few others would," she said. The White Wolf smiled at her again, crossing his arms. Phoenix turned her head forward and started to walk. Just like that, she was gone.
Bucky went back to the docks and caught up with Sam. "She head home?" the new Captain America asked. "Yeah. She got a bit teary for a bit but she'll be fine. I guess I'm not meant to understand what it's like to be her. I've had to live with and carry a lot but I haven't the foggiest idea what it really means to be a chimera, a so-called abomination of science. She's also proud of us," the White Wolf responded. He turned his eyes to the sky as if expecting to see All World hanging in it. "You going to be okay with her gone, Bucky?" Sam asked. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Every time she left, there was always this understanding that we'd meet again. We just don't know the where or when. We're both stronger now. I can stand on my own without her and she just needed to be reminded that she's stood on her own far longer than she's known me. If I'm being honest, I think I needed her more than she's ever needed me," he responded. Sam pat his shoulder. "Let's do her and Steve proud," he said.
Phoenix stepped down in Seiryu's East. All World's familiar energy filled her soul and contentment settled in her heart. "Bucky was right. This...is where I'm meant to be," she thought to herself. A roar filled the air and she looked up. Twisting through the sky, coming her way, was Seiryu. The High King of the East alighted on the ground and brought his blue eyes down to meet her violets. "Welcome home, my love," he said, his sky blue scales catching the light. "It's good to be home," Phoenix agreed as they touched noses. Seiryu drew his head tall as he considered his pair-bond. "You seem...troubled in heart," he noted. The chimera dropped her gaze with a sad smile. "Just thinking about the future...after I'm gone," she admitted.
The serpentine dragon set his head on her back. "I know we will both feel intense pain when your time comes, Phoenix, but I still chose to bond with you in spite of it. It's still far in the future. I've watched countless friends come and go in my long life. I know our bond will make our parting even more painful but I promise you I won't do anything to harm the East in my grief. And our separation won't be forever. We'll be reunited in the Afterworld of Paradise once my final duty to fight in the Tribulation War is fulfilled. From your perspective, no time will have passed between your death and mine," he assured her.
Seiryu pulled back to meet her eyes again. "Have you made your peace with knowing you will outlive your human friend from another world?" he asked. Phoenix looked at her pair-bond lovingly. "Yes, but we both know I will have my good and bad days in regards to that. I'm merely mortal, after all. I will hurt in ways as much as I rejoice in others. I never thought I could bond with a human as tightly as I have with him and I never thought such a human would ever want to befriend me. He's never looked at me with anything resembling fear or hate. We've grown to love each other in our own ways. That will last me the rest of my life," she responded. The High King smiled before alighting in the air.
"Are you coming to the Castle or do you need more time?" he asked. "I'll come to the Castle. If it's all the same to you, I'll just walk there. A lot has happened on this visit to the other world and I need to sort out my feelings," she responded. "Very good then. I'll meet you at home. And just a forewarning...a certain Monkey King is due to arrive. He's a bit...nuts but he's harmless," Seiryu said. The two creatures laughed together before the dragon gained altitude and turned towards the mountains. Phoenix watched him fly home and she started walking. In one of those rare times in her life, she felt as if the burden she carried was lifted and she owed that to all the bonds she had. Seiryu, Queen Allianna, Sam, Bucky...they all made her stronger so she would do her part to ensure their faith in her wasn't shaken.