Lost in time and space

[Seer]

moments earlier......

<< thunder crashes, energy pulsates and a bell tolls one last time before a radiating ballistic BACKLASH explodes from the point of collision between the two power signatures...the ballistic backlash is glowing, sparkling mixed with the blackness of Alexis and the ice cold blueness of Alison...and as its defeaning thunder errupts all around....the SCREAMS of Alexis and Alison can be heard as BOTH women are slammed by the backlash and hurled back and UP in the air almost in slow motion! both women's bodies are blasted upward in opposite direction and lost a wave of white light followed the black lash that incinerated anything not protected....including humans that were lurking about.>>

<< Guardian and Blackout are blown away....as the backlash consumes EVERYTHING in its path...and now charges for the force dome that was protecting Haleigh and Blaze. Everything and EVERYONE around them was DESTROYED >>

<< the dark nightmare of a destroyed city gives way to a dreamy mist, followed by the visual awareness of a mystical garden that would put "the garden of eden" to shame!. Foxfire and Black Widow were now in Ororo's realm inside of Limbo, her majestic garden. Along with them, the fallen Guardian and Alexis aka Blackout/Shockwave.>>

<< For Black Widow and Foxfire, the arrival here brought little comfort as the image of the destruction and final tragic climax of the battle between them, Malice and Blackout was still fresh on their minds. They were now left to reel from it. But with Ororo here...they could at least BEGIN to figure out WHY and WHAT TO DO NOW? not to mention the fate of Doctor Karen Victoria>>

<< the nightmare was over, the pain of reality just beginning>>

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh turned as Ororo appeared... did as she was told, lifting Alison from the ground as Blaze got Delilah.... and they all were whisked way as sirens filled the background. They reappeared in Ororo's garden, which was normally very refreshing.... but tonight... it had NO effect on Haleigh.... she seemed.... beyond repair. She stood, looking down at Alison in her arms... and the most heartrending part was that Haleigh wasnt even TRYING to hide her grief... she looked up at Ororo... and opened her mouth to explain.... but could get nothing out before losing her composure again... she remembered the LAST time she carried Alison to Ororo's garden... after they destroyed the Cell... and Haleigh felt the first pangs of fear that Alison might die... and now here they were again... only this time haleigh ws without the hope that Ororo could do something.... THIS time Alison was dead... and Haleigh didnt know if she could bear the thought of going on without Alison... not after losing BOTH Morgan AND Cameron... they had JUST truly become a team... and then everyone started dying or disappearing... it was almost as thought they were BETTER OFF hating each other....

Haleigh looked around, trying to pull herself together. Her eyes fell on Alexis... and she took a deep breath.... her tone was bitter, chilling and unforgiving.

"You should have LEFT the traitor."

 

[Ororo]

Limbo- the garden

:: Ororo stood , looking upon them. Alexis was on the other side of the sorceress, beyond the immediate reach of Haleigh. and as Haleigh spoke, Ororo lifted her hand in a stop gesture::

::speaking with a deeper, elegant, clear tone, the goddess replied.::


Ororo: My actions, no matter how hard to understand, are not subject to your approval.

Alexis fullfilled her destiny. From the moment she was born, her life was shapped by forces beyond her control and she lived her life in a most chaotic way. "Blackout" was the ultimate expression of what she would become through the manipulation of Adam Chandler and Helena Quatermaine and later Malice. All things considered She is no MORE a villain than YOU or MORGAN during the Inferno. She, like the both of you, played the hand she was dealt.

Laying the blame solely on her will not change anything.

:: holding her hand palm up, an image bubble formed....with the image of the chocker she once wore while manifesting "Blackout" persona::

THIS was the root of it all, the catalyst for what had been planned from the moment she was born.



::turning to look at Alexis::

A tragic existence, a life governed by what OTHERS wanted rather than by her own wants. I have seen it before...long ago.

She is alive but her psyche, her spirit are damaged to the point that she will never recover. She will stay here.....

:: she extends her hand forward, and a rushing wind sound is heard followed by a clap of thunder as a sparkling green hued beam hits Alexis...and in a FLASH of mystic light, Alexis Quatermaine is transformed into an elegant, gothic stone statue of herself...now standing near the water fall, cemented in a pose. It IS Alexis Quatermaine...in an altered state...now an object of silent beauty as her mind and spirit begin the long process of recovery so that one day, she might be able to return to her life.::

and finally enjoy the peace and tranquility she was denied in her life on earth.

:: looking back at Haleigh....::

Delilah's time with your team has come to an end as well. The life a "super hero" was not truly for her. She was Morgan's friend, a trusted ally and confidant to the sorceress who was there for her in all the ways that mattered. But this young woman needs her rest as well.

as for Alison Marble....

::Ororo paused, a solemn look of regret subtlely crept across her face::

there is a small window of opportunity. but we must move her inside my citadle .

::Ororo directs them onward and once inside the massive stone citadle...the elegant silence washes over them. eternal green mystic flames are housed within niches carved out of the walls....banners flow high above with ancient arcane symbols. further up on the top floor of the citadle there are now inside Ororo's observatory where her private apothecary/library is::

Alison's body will rest in the same place as when she was brought here to recover from Imagiomg's posession. I will do what i can...you two have the comforts and sustenance of my garden and citadle for your use. Zachary and Alycia are here as well. You will find them in the guest quaters a floor below.

:: with that, Ororo departs leaving Haleigh and Blaze in the mysterious citadle in the center of the massive garden. She seems far more stern than before almost as if she knows something and chooses not to reveal it.::

 

[Foxfire]

Pleading eyes looked up at the darkened murky sky of the city. Blaze knew it was there doing once more. Nibbling on her quivering bottom lip, she held back the need to fall apart AGAIN! Guardian's body ice cold....even her coloration was pale...like the dead. Wiping back a few tears, she cradled Alison's lifeless corpse. "No...not you..." She sniffled, weeping in her own way while Haleigh checked on Delilah.

She felt the world shift around her, the one person she respected more than anyone was gone. Another valuable team member had fallen to the clutches of MysTech. Who was next Haleigh? Blaze really didn't want to think about it anymore. Her warm hand running down Alison's cheek, her skin soft as velvet. Hugging the brunette, Blaze shut her eyes tightly.

What kind of life is this....the people I LOVE taken from me and my teammates. Why? What could be in store for us?

She thought privately, her eyes opening to reveal blurry irises that were filled with raw tears. Alison saved them...exactly as Morgan did....it was obvious to see why these two were best friends. Key word....were. Blaze didn't want to let Alison go, the woman who saved her from the clutches of Malice, and now Blackout. Guardian skipped death dozens of times but now it seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Morgan will welcome you with open arms....may you both rest in eternal bliss...good - bye my dear old friend.

Letting go of Guardian, Blaze pulled herself together just as Haleigh had done. Haleigh's words sounding inside her brain.

"I KNOW that Haleigh! I know she's gone!" She snapped viciously at Haleigh before she glanced over her shoulder with a grim look, "I'm sorry." Reaching out to touch Haleigh's hand soothingly. "At least we still got D here." She tried to look on the bright side.

Moving over to Morningstar, Blaze brushed a few honey locks from Del's sky blue eyes, which were closed. Blaze couldn't take losing Delilah too. "I can't heal Delilah here....its not safe." She informed Haleigh. Could she even heal Delilah? Blaze didn't think so. Scooping her up, she gently picked up the woman.

"Call for Ororo." But, Haleigh was already ahead of her. Holding Morningstar securely in her arms, while Haleigh took Guardian. Peering up as Ororo appeared, she saw the stern look bestowed on her hauntingly beautiful face. If anyone understood, it was Ororo, she had gone through more teammates than anyone.

Looking one last time at the devastation caused by the battle, Blaze felt her heart ache. Her "home" was destroyed.....nothing left. Looking down she held Delilah closely, fighting back more oncoming tears. Her friends....her family....her CITY were all gone! This wasn't over, Blaze swore to herself....if anything it would cause a new tenacity to fight against their enemies. And just like that, they were gone to the forbidden lands of Ororo's secret garden in Limbo. A place she was all too familiar with.

Returning to the Garden, Ororo also brought Alexis here, but Blaze didn't show hatred like that of Haleigh. Haleigh's heart was far more darker and at times inhumane than Blaze, but then even the mutant carried a torch for her. Stepping closer to admire the statue of Alexis, Blaze oddly felt her heart ache. No! Why should she feel for this traitor! Turning away as Ororo addressed herself and Haleigh.

Delilah's time with your team has come to an end as well. The life a "super hero" was not truly for her. She was Morgan's friend, a trusted ally and confidant to the sorceress who was there for her in all the ways that mattered. But this young woman needs her rest as well.

Blaze looked up, cuddling Morningstar's body. Her eyes leaking heavier tears now. Blaze's knees buckled as she had to physically sit down. Laying Delilah down with her.

This was ALL TOO much for Blaze who covered her mouth with her trembling hand. It was just herself and Haleigh, a missing Karen and Malice. Wrapping her arms around herself Blaze began to sob as she rocked her body back and forth. Shaking her head in disbelief, her sobs quiet at first before they became uncontrollable for Alison.

Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself. Blaze was able to get up this time. Walking over to the statue of Alexis, Blaze found herself staring. Who would have thought? Blaze didn't, not in the least. With Zack here, Haleigh would seek comfort with him. Blaze on the other hand had no one to turn to except herself. Maybe, this was a wake - up call for her. Turning away, Fox looked over to Haleigh. Her eyes trying to avoid Black Widow at all costs. Why? Blaze feared if she got too close, Haleigh would be taken from her too.

But then again...Blaze and Haleigh weren't that close...not since before their deaths. Sitting down to a marble bench like material. Placing both hands in her head, she shut her eyes hoping any minute she would awaken from this nightmare.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh wasnt quite ready to be a big a person as Ororo was suggesting just yet.... the dead weight of Alison's body still weighed heavy on her mind and hard on her heart.... understanding of Alexis' struggle would come later... but at the moment....

"With all due respect, Ororo-- and do get things twisted, I'm very grateful for what your doing for us all-- but YOU can sit up on your high horse and judge this objectively... but I have a far more PERSONAL stake in this... I have TWO MORE teammates to bury.... so I'm sure you'll understand if I'm not ready to forgive and forget right now."

Haleigh said, in a pained voice, before turning her attentions to the only teammate she had left.... she could tell already the Blaze was trying to avoid her... and she knew what was causing it too.... because the instinct was predominent in HER mind as well.... but she fought it.... primarily because she'd lost TOO many people tonight to act out of haste and ostracise yet another. She sat down next to Foxfire on the bench... and pulled her into a hug that they BOTH needed all too badly.

"I know what you're feeling right now.... I feel it too. You're afraid I'll be next.... but i'm a stubborn little bitch... I died once and CAME BACK.... nd I dont plan on pushing up daisies anytime soon. After the Nervous battle... I told Alison I'd be there for her until I couldn't anymore... and I never once thought twice about it... but I'd be shamelessly lying now if I tried to say I wasn't thinking about leaving this ALL behind. As long as we are involved with the Six, we will know DEATH and DESPAIR.... it is a part of our destiny that no one wanted to tell us about.... however... I really think we need each other... and above all... I think the WORLD needs us to stand strong through this... because Malice is still out there... and if we dont stop her... no one will."

 

[Harbinger]

where am i?

:: there was nothing. no feeling, no awareness. was this what DEATH was really like? if so, it was the cruelest disappointment.::

:: but sound, faint sounds began to echo in the distant oblivion around her. it was as though she were breaking through to a new plane of existence bit by bit.::

::the seige perilous...suddenly it looms as large and as wide as she had feared it would one day for HER....but she cant move, cant scream, she doesnt even feel a sense of dread. its as though she's passenger though this whole experience.....the massive cosmic gem...a flawless, smooth faced rub set in the most exquisite gold which ancient symbols etched into it floats before her...LARGER than her team mates have ever seen it before::

:: and as she feels herself drifting closer to it, like being caught in the beginning of a current of a whirl pool, the gem OPENS...revealing the cosmic gate way. was this it? was this how she would meet her ultimate fate AFTER ALL? why couldnt she look back on her life? remember her friends..her family...why didnt she FEEL ANYTHING?::

:: SUDDENLY, a body floats into view from within the Seige Perilous...as if it were floating deep in water. the body is curled up in a fetal position and as ALison feels herself drawing closer to the mouth of the gem, she sees its the body of a WOMAN...a woman with BLONDE HAIR!::

:: Guardian still cant speak, or move as her gets a better view of this body....suddenly realizing its Morgan Victoria!::


in physical reality

:: the body of Alison Marble lays silently in the bed Ororo had her placed in. her eyes closed her body positioned in a resting state, Alison lays so still and looks so peacefull in what is believed to be her death. Ororo is nearby in the dimly lit stone walled room...moving quietly from a table toward the bed.::

 

[Spellbinder]

the seige perilous

her last moments...

<< Morgan held on tightly to a pole. her blonde double hightlighted hair whipped firecly in the violent vortex....and even with her super strength...she could only imagine how hard it might be for the OTHERS to hold on. She tried to keep an eye on Guardian to see where this stand off with Master Mold would go...and to her horror Guardian was electrocuted and knocked unconscious by the super sentinel. Master Mold's head was gripping the ground but clearly it was not going to be taken away by the Siege Perilous without destroying Guardian OR the rest of the Six. Morgan knew what she had to do>>

<< she let go of the pole and flew out of the bus, flying through the winds toward Master Mold... she powers up...a chime sounds off as she charges with her fists extended and large halos of eldritch magick around them as a sparkling trail flows around her. the look on her face says it all as she screams like a bird of prey she SLAMS into Master Mold's body with ALL her power and super strength....unleashing an ballistic blast of eldritch force which forces Master Molds anchors to lose their grip on the ground....>>

<< Master Mold SCREAMS as he is pulled into the vortex of the Siege Perilous. His head seems to be SUCKED away side ways. Morgan struggles to reach the unconscious Guardian, to pick her up and carry her back to the bus..... But at the last moment...a tentacle wraps around MORGAN'S ankle...another one around her waist.. Master Mold's face reappaers inside the vortex and then another tentacle around her NECK and all together they PULL HER IN AS WELL.....the image of Morgan screaming as she is sucked into the vortex, pulled deeper in until she fades out of site is one that will forever haunt The Six. Spellbinder is GONE. The Siege Perilous begins to deactivate its unforgiving vortex and shrinks down...>>

chaos, thunder, winds, chimes, sprialing vortex, the eyes of mastermold...the black oblivion that feels like a free fall..it all comes around her...as she feels herself being TORN APART; clothes being ripped off; body spinning in a riptide...she screams...but her scream cracks and is silence as it ALL FADES TO BLACK


<< Morgan Victoria floats in a fetal position, in a semi conscious state surrouneded by a bubble of protection. Naked , it almost appears as if she is being kept in another "Limbo"...outside of everything. time passes, and nothing still. No apparent judgement....or is THIS it....to be made to WAIT? She doesnt know, she couldnt care...she's barely alive, but not quite dead..what is she, WHERE is she?>>

<< she floats...cuccooned>>


<<her own voice begins to sound of in the blackness...jumbled and garbled at first....faint and weak...not making sense....but soon>>

where am i...


<< she feels a presence, a soul that she recognizes as someone she knows....slowly, her head lifts up, her blonde hair flows around her in a dreamy like wave as her icy violet eyes slowly open for the first time since she died.>>

<< the vision is grey...blurry, misty....eerie sounds all around her. she's lost in time and space. she does not know who she is...she does not know how she recognizes the cobalt blue eyes that are drifiting closer to her....but like a feshly blooming flower, Morgan begans to stretch a bit....showing more of her naked body, and what a splendid form it is. instinctively she REACHES OUT to the direction where the cobalt blue eyes are descending from...>>

can you help?...can you tell me....who i am?


<< thunder explodes as a ROAR is heard ....suddenly the BLARING RED EYES of Master Mold appear as his evil face takes up the expanse all around them... tentacles wrap around Morgan...covering her mouth, around her waste, her arms, wrists, legs and ankles. Her eyes WIDEN with shock and distress as she is YANKED away from her protective bubble....snatched further and deeper into this dark oblivion as her criese are muffled and defeaned..and just like that..she's GONE again! Why is this happening to her? wont someone help her?!>>

 

[Ororo]

Back in Limbo

:: Ororo sits along side Alison Marble's body which rests within the elegant wooden canopy bed. a soft blue, glowing orb hovers above Alison and myersious, soft hum of power can be heard as the powerfull elemental goddes gestures over Alison's body....a blue light eminating from the palms of her hands::

:: Ororo looks intent as she looks down upon the fallen Seer. she knows something is amiss::

This should not be happening. I have tried several methods to revive Alison and yet she does not awaken, she doesnt reconstitute herself...her BODY is in tact..but her spirit...


:: she trails off....still working her magicks and other mystical knowledge within the quiet, dimly lit room::

something is preventing her from returning...OR she herself refuses to return....if that is the case, if she has indeed moved on, then there is nothing that even I can do, since she did not die IN Limbo.

::Ororo knows that Haleigh and Blaze are very distraught and distressed. IF she delievers this news to them now...they will be crushed. she secretly hopes that there is more to this then what she is immediately realizing. she knows ALL TOO WELL the pain of loss. She can identify with Haleigh more than Haleigh might suspect for it is easy for them to forget how LONG LIVED Ororo is since first arriving in Limbo many years ago....what happened to HER TEAM when they came here to rescue THEIR reality's version of Spellbinder...aka MAGIK.::

:: being the sole survivor and forever living with the pain of loss has been one of her crosses to bear...so although Haleigh doesnt realize it...she VERY MUCH does have a personal stake in THIS TEAM of "The Six."...she is MORE than the guardian of the dark trinity...she is the menator and "mother figure" to members of this team past and present.::


::she continues to weave her magicks ....silently calling out to Alison on the astral plane with her spells .....offering a beacon to lead her BACK to this side::

 

[Harbinger]

the darkness shatters

:: Alison SNAPPED out of her dream like state, finally regaining herself of self...as the apparently rearranged Morgan called out to her in a soft, weak voice....::

Morgan!?


::But still, Alison could not move, she couldnt even sense her own physical dimensions..it was as if she were traveling as a passenger in a spiritual riptide....as she struggled to understand what was going on and why it was happening....the thunder, the ROAR and the appearence of MASTER MOLD'S cranial unit.....it all made Alison SICK to her stomach...as she wondered if in fact this was her fate....her HELL to watch as Morgan was ripped away from her in EVERY life..not just the physical realm.::

:: Morgan's defened cries struck Alison to her core....as she suddenly REMEMBERED who ELSE she had left behind!::

Haleigh, Blaze, Delilah...KAREN!!


:: she struggled to gain some sense of BALANCE and direction...as the Seige Perilous STILL surrounded her in this darkness....but yet it didnt pull her in. soon, she heard another voice in the distance...a faint rolling rumble of thunder....as a deeper toned, clear spoken , elegant voice called out....::


Ororo: Alison????? ::the voice echoes...on the faint rubles of thunder::


:: a soft, blue orb in the distance catches Alison's attention....a beacon ...a way BACK! BACK TO LIFE and REALITY as she remembered it!?::

:: Alison somehow began to WILL her way toward the beacon...away from the seige pierlous, which actually represented ALISON's idea of the gateway to the after life.::

Ororo: Alison?? :: faint rumble of thunder, followed by an echoing breeze....the blue orb pulsates softly ::

ORORO!? please....HELP ME!!

:: the fear, the chaos that she felt at the moment she and Alexis died was now coming back..she remembered what happened...she knew what she had faced.....::

:: as she followed the orb, she felt her body coming back together...her astral self finally taking shape and she began to RUN down the path illuminated by the orb.....running frantically....knowing what she had seen before Ororo called for her...remember what she had seen before she died....::

ORORO!!

:: she ran and ran....she wanted to come back, she wanted to be with her friends and family....but she also wanted to save MORGAN.::

:: she finally saw Ororo at the end of the path, the orb floating above the majestic sorceres who held her arms out as a mother would to welcome a lost child b ack home...::

Ororo: come back, Alison, come back to us....

:: Alison cried out as she ran into Ororo's embrace...and the DARKNESS...the OBLIVION around her SHATTERED like a picture window b eing destroyed. the shards hurling away as Alison Marble CAME BACK..BACK TO LIFE and REALITY!:

physical reality

:: Alison Marble BOLTS UPRIGHT in the bed...crying out! she gasps and coughs....flailing her arms about as she struggles to breath, to acclimate back into her body and to struggle to understand what she saw, experienced in the realm BEYOND life....::

 

[Ororo]

in Limbo, Ororo's citadle

:: a VIOLENT gust of wind is heard THROUGHOUT the citadle ...followed by the orb that hovered above Alison's bed SHATTERING. a bright, JAGGED bolt of lightning flashes outside that catches the attention of Haleigh and Blaze.::


:: Ororo herself opens her eyes, which shift from glowing solid white back to the mysterious blue they normally are...as she reaches forward for the disoritented and frightened Alison.::


ALISON....BREATHE child....its ALLRIGHT!

:: Alison cries with distress as she reaches for Ororo. Ororo sits on the bed now, holding Alison and stroking her hair as she begins to shush the young witch...slowly rocking her as she helps her to calm down...a gentle, cool breeze swrils around them at Ororo's mental command to help Alison breathe more easily::


:: Ororo knows that the sudden shock of being returned to life, back into a physical body is jarring and disorienting....so she continues to hold Alison as a mother would hold a frightened child::

shhhhhhhhh!! its allright Alison, your back where you belong. you're safe. just breathe, child....breathe.....shhhhhhhhh!

:: Alison slowly ceases her struggling and wild flailing...and her hyper ventilating begins to slow into steady breathing...but she still cries ...only not as loudly. cluting onto Ororo's blue robe as she tries to vocalize what she saw....::

 

[Foxfire]

elsewhere in the castle

Blaze didn't even have to look up to overhear Haleigh's stiletto heels clicking softly on the marble flooring. Sighing audible under her breath, her hands still obscuring her face. Her cheeks stained and flushed with raw emotion and tears. Tears for her beloved Guardian, a sister to Blaze who looked after Morgan's baby sister. The agony and realization of this was overbearing, overwhelming, and devastating. The city destroyed, which was a pleasant way of wording it, Delilah was most likely comatose, and Karen was missing. Blaze felt her own internal guilt for losing the Doctor. Had she not allowed Malice to violet her psyche in such a perverse way, she mind have tracked Dr. Victoria.

The old stone bench was smooth and cold. But it creaked from the added weight of a second person. Sniffling behind her hands, Blaze kept herself hidden from Haleigh. No! Go away Haleigh....they'll take you too!" She thought to herself, utterly scared to latch on to her friend and teammate.

But, just as the mutant guessed, Haleigh too was stubborn. Her hands reaching out to Blaze, gently removing her hands. Blaze's eyes dull and blood shot from crying. Hales could see AND feel Blaze's own heartache, which would match Black Widow's.

Staring back at the auburn beauty, Blaze nervously tucked a loose chocolate lock behind her ear. She allowed Haleigh to embrace her in a hug. At first Blaze was not receptive but she caved in. Her arms wrapping around her friend tightly as she bit roughly on her quivering lip. Her green eyes daring to leak more tears, but Fox fought them back.

"I....I....can't believe she's gone." She started, her voice shaken from the battle and from the shock of death. She tenderly held Haleigh with the other woman holding Blaze. "Your right...but its never easy to deal with. Just when you think its easier, life throws you a wildcard. I can't let her go Hales....I don't believe she's dead....why didn't she warn us?" She asked. The warm - inviting hug consoling Blaze some.

Just then a violent gust of wind HOWLED throughout Ororo's castle. Blaze pulled away abruptly, her eyes searching around the area. Cocking her head to a better angle she could hear. Her forehead crinkling into a contemplative frown. The winds reminiscent of Morgan's power when she was raging. But, Blaze knew Ororo harnessed the wind and other weather factors. It was just probably the ancient castle and the magic drifting through the air. As the orb inside of Guardian's room shatters, Blaze easily identifies the sound. Bolting to her feet in haste, Blaze was still uneasy from the battle and it showed. Her body language was skirmish like that of a cat when a storm brewed.

"Do you hear that?" She turned to ask Haleigh, maybe her friend heard it too. Even before Haleigh could answer lightning struck, lighting up the whole room the two sat in. Blaze's eyes studying the jagged bolt. "Something has happened....Hales...maybe I'm crazy...maybe I need a sabbatical but I say we check it out." She pointed in the direction of the lightning. "Its unnatural....that bolt came down so....fiercely....its a sign!"

 

[Black Widow]

"I know... I know.... I can hardly accept it myself, the thought of going on without her is MORE than I can bear..." Haleigh began... she found the act of comforting Blaze was easier than she'd thought... and it helped to calm herself as well as she answered Blaze's questions thoughtfully. "I reckon for the same reason she didn't tell anyone except me that Morgan was to be taken from us... she knew that it was the way it HAD to be... and that telling us would alter the only time thread that would allow ANY of us to live."

She offered, revealing for the first time that she had KNOWN what was going to happen to Morgan, without even thinking about it. It was the best possible explaination for Alison's actions. Haleigh tried not to resent Alison for keeping this from her... she could only assume it was with the best of intentions.

Wind howled and Blaze gave an anxious start... Haleigh nodded. "I heard SOMETHING..." she said, as lightning struck. She too had the distinct sensation that something had just happened... she strained her enhanced hearing to listen for anything of suspicion. "I can hear Ororo's voice... but I can't make out what she's saying.... someone's crying.... it sounds like--" Haleigh looked up at Blaze, unable to say it for fear she was hearing things, and not wanting to get her hopes up. She stood, one hand on the pair of shoulder-holstered guns that Blaze had given her [courtesy of Zach] earlier... she had taken them quickly, without thought before... because so much else had been going on... but now she was thankful to have them.... thankful to know Zach was safe, as she had forced herself to believe while Alexis taunted her. "Ororo's in the citadle.... I agree... we should find out what's causing all this comotion. I'm pretty sure we're SAFE here... but Chaos pretty much follows us in WHATEVER dimension we inhabit... so let's go check it out... just to be safe." She agreed... in a somewhat spooked voice...

 

[Seer]

discovery

<< Haleigh and Blaze made their way down one floor of the ancient, gothic stone citadle. though they were in the safety of Ororo's garden, which was a realm WITHIN Limbo, and they were under Ororo's protection...the fact that she was far older , wiser and knew things they did not about this realm made their time here somewhat awkward. Ororo could be nuturing, but she could be just as unforgiving and cold it seemed. her objectivity made her seem aloof at times, and they never TRULY knew how she felt deep down. she was elegant and mysterious...but if nothing else, they knew she would watch over them and help to guide them, as she had done for the past year. it was the biggest bonus of having known Spellbinder.>>

<< making their way through the dark, silent halls...they felt themselves being watched by the shadows...and touched by the myterious winds that howled and flowed through the citadle. finally they found their way to a circular hallway that lead to the room where a soft light could be seen. Ororo's voice was clearly coming from there.....she was comforting someone, almost as if they had just been born.>>

<< when they arrived, they would find her holding a disoriented Alison who clearly had just been revived. How Ororo had pulled it off was anyone's guess...but all would be revealed shortly. MORE than either would expext>>

 

[Foxfire]

Nodding to Haleigh, both women made their ascend to the upper floors of the castle. It was creepy in here and the air itself was stale, containing an almost mildew scent. Each woman felt on edge but that was to be excepted. Her eyes tracing the high cathedral ceilings, noticing the small indent of cob webs high in the corners. Looking back to Haleigh, Fox saw the pair of handguns held snugly in her hands. It was a brilliant move to be armed, just in case despite the supervision of Ororo.

The mutant was confident she could track the wise weather witch. It was just a matter of not getting lost in such a dense labyrinth. Glancing over her shoulder, Blaze's skin started to crawl revealing goosebumps. Rubbing her arm to soothe her frail nerves, she sucked in a cool breath. In the back of her mind she swore she heard light whispers. Her first thought was Malice! Opening her palm, a bright display of fire rotating around her tanned palm. The fireball's flames giving light to the more Gothic look of the castle. Blaze was becoming more pro - active too, she wanted to be prepared more than anything.

Continuing their destination they walked up a circular stairwell that would lead to the circular hallway. Blaze could distinctly trace Ororo's scent more dominantly now with the wind helping to fan a better trace on the former X - Men. Faint words traveling through the lonely hallway to greet both Haleigh and Blaze.

Blaze could gather some of the wording but it was barely recognizable. Following the florescent glow of what appeared some sort of life sign. Blaze turned to share a bewildered look with Haleigh. What, were they walking into now?

What, they would find would shake up their whole word. Having Ororo's back to the twosome, Blaze could not specifically see Alison, not yet anyway. Stepping closer out of curiosity, Blaze inched closer. Who she saw was a scare indeed. At first Blaze thought she was dreaming or even hallucinating.

Blinking her eyes a couple of times, she looked back at Haleigh. Had she also been exposed to this? Blaze was frozen in place....no this was not Alison! She was dead, Blaze looked to Haleigh, "its MALICE, she plays games on minds...she did it to me back in MysTech. She perverted my mind...torturing me...this HAS to be her...what else can explain this!" Blaze didn't understand what was real and what was not. Malice had done a phenomenal job at twisting Blaze's mind and warping it all together.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh slid her arms into the holster and pulled out one of the handguns, out of pure prepared habit. She walked slowly in an armed military type stance, scanning every new room they came into, on edge and preparing herself for the worst... she followed Blaze with a wariness that she was used to.

As they approached the room Ororo was in... Haleigh nodded to encourage Blaze to enter... the first thing Haleigh did as she followed was clear the room... and then she looked to Ororo.... and.... Alison. Haleigh stared.... looking as if she had seen a ghost... in effect, she WAS looking right at one. she holstered her handgun... as blaze made the first suggestion that came to mind... and Haleigh shook her head, approaching a shaken Alison.... but stopping ten feet or so away.

"No..... no. Malice cant get us here... not here." Haleigh says, frozen in place, her eyes bloodshot and threatening to fill with tears of joy.... but Haleigh was cautious...

"Ororo... I think it would be ideal to give Blaze and I an explanation... Its been a LONG night... and we're both a LITTLE confused here."

 

[Ororo]

Ororo's citadle

:: Ororo was aware of every living thing in her garden, the movements of Blaze and Haleigh had not gone undetected but as they arrived, she did not look at them immediately....over hearing their comments about Malice::

Ororo:Malice's power does not extend to this realm.


:: Ororo turned, her eyes firmly fixed on Haleigh and Blaze. she held her hand up to silence them. Growing tired of Haleigh's impertinence....she hesitated before speaking::


Haleigh, Blaze, you should not have come down here.

:: thunder crashed and echoed through the citdale::


:: Alison, who was taken aback by the site of the two new comers became slightly agitated.::

Sit down, over there.

:: she pointed to two dark wood chairs with red velvet plush cushioning::


Do not frighten the child, she is not yet herself.

:: Ororo once again began to calm Alison down, stroking her blue/black hair as she held on to the Seer and the Seer clung to her::

Alison, has just been reunited...her soul and her spirit answered my call and followed my beacon on the astral plane. It is in many ways like being totally reborn. the process is traumatic and requires time for her to settle.

:: Ororo's tone was cold, matter of fact..and the whistling winds in the halls around the citadle provided a haunting background::

I suspect there is a REASON why it took me so long to revive her. I thought perhaps she might have completely moved on, but much to my relief she has not. On the astral plane, she came running to me, the look in her eyes suggested that she had seen something...something truly upsetting. But I will not know what that is until she is coherent again.

:: Ororo turned back to Alison...who was trembling a bit. Ororo continued to hold her, and rock her gently. Haleigh and Blaze were weary...Ororo understood that, but they had to realize that SHE would not lead them into more pain or heartache. she was there to help them.::

 

[Foxfire]

Breathing a heavy sign of relief, the brunette listened to Ororo's instructions of the rebirth and what the repercussions would be. She breathed easier knowing the White Queen was forbidden in this strangely unique realm. Blaze stared into Alison's blank cobalt eyes, which usually were fierce and bewitching. The mighty Seer reacted like a frightened child, and immediately Blaze's maternal instinct increased.

Quietly walking to the velvet chair, crossing one leg over the other. Blaze looked back at Haleigh with a mist in her own sage eyes. Their friend, teammate, and "sister" was alive...or resurrected to an extent. Trying not to stare, Blaze avoided looking at Alison. She looked so frightened it was heart breaking for Blaze. She was used to seeing Alison cold and aloof, not vulnerable and weak.

Folding her arms across her chest to keep herself warmer, it was chilly throughout the old castle. Unlike Haleigh, Blaze knew Ororo was a long - time friend and ally of the Six, especially to Morgan. Ororo was like a mother figure to each of them. Keeping quiet, Blaze sat back in astonishment their "Guardian" had returned. The only question would be, was this the old Alison or a new revolution?

 

[Harbinger]

returning to self

:: after what seemed like an eternity of agony, the sudden influx of sensory awareness, sounds, sites things that were just starting to come back together in Alison's mind, the seer settled more and more as she finally let Ororo lay her back down in the bed. she quieted herself...and began to rest...breathing normally, and closing her eyes::

::she was ALIVE again, physically whole. Death has a way of affecting you...a way that Alison could never had guessed before even as a precog. but as her mind and her soul began to make sense of where they were..back in their former shell...they began to acclimate and her total being began to center::

:: she hadnt exactly registered Haleigh or Blaze yet even though they had seen her. she remained quiet and restfull as long as Ororo stayed nearby....she continued to hold Ororo's hand and the sorceress, in turn, held the Seer's hand reassuringly...gently squeezing it. Ororo's soft words of comfort helped Alison to remain at ease as her allies looked on::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh, stunned by both Alison's 'return' from the dead, and Ororo's explaination, was, for once in her life, quiet and accepting of what she was being told... She trudged over the the chair next to Foxfire and sat down on the edge of it, obviously a little off balance. She rubbed her eyes... there were a million questions in her mind now... but at least SOME things had been laid to rest. She felt a great sense of relief... one that was both unexpected and welcome.

Like Blaze, she too nearly broke out in tears gain... she SHOULD be used to this kind of night... ROLLERCOASTER... she'd had many since joining the Six nd had the distinct feeling that there'd be many more. Her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands, she tried to wrap her mind around everything... and relax her mind enough to CALM back down.

She sighed.... "Many more nights with you people and I'm going to have to get my head shrunk." She grumbled... whether she was serious or just trying to lighten the mood was unclear.

 

[Foxfire]

Reaching out to Haleigh this time, Blaze pulled her friend close into a hug. She smiled down at Hales with misty eyes, "if you make the appointment...I'll go with you." She was half serious, half joking.

She couldn't believe Alison was ALIVE....it was another tug on her heart. The mutant couldn't quite adjust to this....which is why she pulled Haleigh close.

Hopefully the night would be better for the Six, but who was to say?