Lost in time and space

[Foxfire]

Guardian's own reaction to the beating of the young girl mirrored her own. Foxfire had not realized this was part of a memory that had to play out. Releasing her tightened grip on Guardian, Blaze took a moment to regain her composure. Her eyes fading back to that emerald green tint. She nodded to Guardian's orders, but the anger was still thriving inside her.

She felt so helpless! This was an awful memory...Blaze sympathized for the child. What a monster Belasco. Guardian alerted someone else was coming? Fox couldn't sense anything, which only added to her frustration.

Hopefully someone to kill this bastard. She thought coldly. The icy winds around the team rang to life as Blaze's hair splashed back at her. Raising a gloved hand in front of her eyes, she looked to the side, trying to lessen the harshness of the winds. Her torch suddenly was extinguished from the gusty winds. Blaze's eyes trying to adjust through the darkness. Lighting lit up the caverns around the team as the light flashed across each of the women's facial expressions. Turning to her torch, Blaze was successful to light another flame for the torch. Slowly the light entered around them once more.

Absentmindedly, Fox jumped at the angry voice. It was so full of rage....but feminine. Was this Darkchilde? Turning to her side, Blaze braced herself from the powerful display of weather. Her torch probably wouldn't last much longer. Bolts of lightning came zig - zagging down in various directions. Foxfire tried to pin - point but the lightning was so hurried, it was impossible.

 

[Ororo]

Storm!

:: a YOUNG Ororo swooped into view, flying at high speeds as she pushed more elemental chaos ahead of her.::

:: Guardian, Foxfire and Black Widow would not that STORM was sporting a MOHAWK, and wearing a striking, provocative leather outfit consisting of a leather bodice which revealed cleavage, straps, thigh high boots and a black cape. a skull arorned the center of her bodice at the cleavage area. Storm looked unholy and sexy at the same time and she was ENRAGED. This must have been the way she was when she finally had begun to master the art of sorcerey in Limbo, which would mean her X-men had died not that long ago::

Storm: Belasco, you son of a bitch! It is not enough that you have destroyed my X-men, now you wish to harm this child as well!? did you think i would let you get away with this!? DID YOU THINK I'D LET YOU LIVE??

:: swooping down as she slams Belasco with a large boulder she carried with her winds, and lands....gesturing menacingly, bright yellow halo's of dark magick form around her hands::

I'm not just a mutant anymore, monster. I'm a sorceress....what YOU made me. Only you didnt realize that magick is apart of my heritage. I've watched as you destroyed the people I love, and now you try to destroy this child...NOW i'll SEE YOU DEAD!


:: Storm savagely attacks Belasco. lashing out at him with her mutant powers AND her magickal powers. the sight of her being so violent is shocking to the women of the Six. Storm cries out like a bird of prey as she makes pass after deadly pass against the demon mage, who attempts to defend himself.::

:: Storm herself seems more demonic at this point, her solid white eyes glowing, her teeth slightly fanged, and of course her unholy, erotic costume.::


:: she beats Belasco back viciously as the young Illyana slowly picks herself up and hides behind a large rock nearby...shaking with fear.::


:: Belasco falls before Storm's wrath, as she now stands over him...her clenched fists radiating with pulsating lightning as she growls with contempt::

Storm: what now oh demon mage, no sick retort, no mocking comment for me now that you cannot do anything MORE than you already have? are you so surprised that the student has SURPASSED her teacher?

Belasco: please......Storm, MERCY!! I BEG YOU!

Storm: YOU beg for MERCY? did you show any of that to my X-men when you MURDERED THEM!?

NEVER!....DIE YOU BASTARD!

SUPREME THUNDER...CRASH!


:: as the winds SPIN around the cavern, Lightning begins to flash and strike all around faster and faster coalescing into a monstrous single force, it is easy to forget just how primal and POWERFULL this elemental force is, but at this moment, the women of the Six are REMINDED as Storm lifts her hands high above....thunder CRASHES and BLASTS so hard that it ROCKS the labryinth HARD.....and LIGHTNING....CRASHES DOWN in such a BROARD , WIDE SCALE that it envelopes the ENTIRE area of the battle where Storm and Belasco are....Belasco screams are blood curdling as the savage blue/white lightning reduce him to nothing but ash and bones....at the high heeled boots of Storm...who stands triumphant.....::

:: she looks up in the air, closing her eyes as tears fall down her face::

Storm: it is done my friends...your deaths are avenged, Illyana is saved....and Belasco is destroyed.


:: she puts her hand over her heart...a look of pain on her face as she weeps...for her fallen X-men. Illyana cautiously comes close to her... As Storm's face contorts again with pain....this is the moment where Storm lost her last shred of innocence, her soul becoming tainted, CORRUPTED by the evil of dark magick..the evil she sought to destroy was now apart of her and that was the ultimate, ironic last lesson Belasco had instore for the weather witch.::

:: as she slowly bends down to pick up a still tearfull and frightened Illyana, Storm begins to softly comfort her as she carries her away, leaving Belasco's ashes to blow away in the winds. Soon she fades away, leaving the women of the Six to take in what they have just witnessed::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh returned the grip on Alison's hand, careful not to squeeze hard enough to crush her bones, as they prepared to leap into a stepping disc... the whole idea made her uneasy... they were just going to jump in and hope they landed in a good place... and Haleigh rather liked KNOWING where she ws headed.... But Alison seemed so sure... and while Blaze expressed the same discomfort Haleigh was feeling, she sucked it up and took a deep breath, trusting that they could handle anything.

"Just do it, Blaze."


She said, just before they all took the leap of faith. They appeared, intact, in an underground cavern of sorts... but it was otherworldly... and gave Haleigh the sensation that she TOO was drugged.

"Well... this is... surreal."

she commented, as they descended. she was careful to stick close together with Alison and Blaze.... for she above ALL knew that being separated in Limbo was dangerous... for she had been alone before... and nearly fought to the DEATH with Spellbinder herself... and with the darker, more evil inclined Darkchilde on the prowl... who knows. Guardian talked them through the cavern.... but she stopped.... a girl screamed...

"So young..." Haleigh commented on the voice.... Limbo was no place for children... even SHE knew that much... and as they watched the little girl come into view... Haleigh remembered something from her time with SB... watching something that seemed so real but wasnt.... and poignant thought the scene was... she didnt make a noise OR move to help the girl, as Blaze did.... and she nodded when Guardian reminded them not to interfere. The winds began to whip around them.... lightning gained intensity... and Haleigh looked around as a woman's voice filled the air....

"Is that Storm... we must be in the wrong time... OR.... we are watching a time LOOP.... as I did after the Inferno incident."

Haleigh asks, just before they see Ororo swoop into view... Haleigh stands, watching, in utter amazement. Storm is obviously in the PRIME of her youth... and she absolutely WIPES THE FLOOR with her competition. She is out for blood and Haleigh can identify with that... as they watch and gain insight into the sorceress's motivations and backstory.

 

[Harbinger]

The Summit- underground

:: Guardian's blue/black hair was now whipping in the wind, she had to move it back out of her face as she narrowed her eyes and saw just who was coming::

Goddess....it is Ororo! as she was after she first arrived in Limbo! She's come for Belasco just as she once told me!

:: Guardian felt a secret relief that Storm was here to lay waste to Belasco and make him pay for hurting the little girl. Storm's voice was so loud, like the thunder she commanded, it echoed with a true sense of anger. SHE looked so young, so savage...yet so BEAUTIFULL.::

:: Guardian watched as Storm beat down Belasco and humiliated him.::

She's magnificent!


:: As Belasco begs for mercy, Guardian recognizes this moment...it is what Ororo present day in Guardian's time references as the moment she fell into Belasco's ultimate trap...the evil of dark magick that tainted her soul. the same way that both Alison and Morgan were tainted. As Storm obliterates Belasco...Guardian surprisingly flinches. the primal violence of the attack shook everything around them and his screams...she couldnt WAIT for them to fade.::

:: soon she noticed Storm, speaking out to her dead X-men, Guardian could sense the pain , the guilt that flowed through this young Ororo over the loss of her team. She watched as Storm suffered the effects of her soul now being truly corrupted, her lest shreds of "goodness" and "innocence" being stripped from her even as Belasco was now nothing more than dust::

this is what she meant....the loss of control. this is what she was trying to tell Morgan and myself about before and after the Inferno.

:: as Storm picked up the fightened Illyana and began to softly comfort her, she realized that those two were each other had in this reality. it was no wonder that Ororo was so important to the dark trinity. She could see a glimpse of the Ororo she would come to know as the sorceress comforted the small child and carried her away. Storm and Illyana faded...and the three women were left there as they were before::


:: a stepping disc appears in the air out in front of the, vertically oriented.::

that's our cue! let's go..HANG ON!

:: Guardian rushes forward, with Blaze and Haleigh still hand in hand. they leap off the edge just right to be caught by the disc and TELEPORTED to their next destination.::

 

[Seer]

Fantastic Voyage II

<< once again, the world around them is enveloped in white light as everything spins and blurs. and in the blink of an eye....they are now teleported to...The Summit!?>>

<< it would appear that they merely moved UP from the catacombs to the massive castle itself but in fact they were teleported FORWARD in time and to another reality of Limbo>>

<< in the massive stone Castle, which appeared exactly as it did in Morgan's timeline....a haunting fog hung WITHIN the castle. it was VERY silent but outside of the summit all around a VIOLENT storm raged in the skies of Limbo...it was more violent than anything Haleigh and Blaze had seen before it was as if it raged unchecked.>>

<< Guardian, Foxfre and Black Widow were on the top most floor, the observatory and high above in the domed ceiling, was a large hole that gave a view out into the violent skies as black lightning bolts blasted down randomly through the large hole and winds sometimes whipped in. along the circumference wall of the observatory were massive statues...bearing the images of Ororo, Karen, DARKCHILDE, and three others that Guardian , Black Widow and Foxfire would not recognize. two were of Darkchilde's sister Dire Wraiths, Alessandra and Persephone the other was of Morpheus, the only man in all time and space that captured the icy heart of the Darkchilde, the only man she ever dared to LOVE. these MASSIVE, high reaching statues were of the most important people in Darkchilde's life and they seemed so menacing...even though they were nothing more than stone and all the women of the Six found themselves DWARFED by their presence. everything about this reality was tinged with a sense of chaos and EVIL that was far worse than in Spellbinder's timeline.>>

<< this apparently was where they were supposed to be...now they had to wait>>

 

[Harbinger]

The Summit- The observatory

:: Guardian looked around, noting the eerie fog INSIDE the castle. things looked like they hadnt been touched or used in YEARS...the gothic castle was as strong as it ever was though as it resisted the terrifying hurricane force raging outside in the skies of Limbo::

:: as Guardian looked upward to the "EYE" in the domed ceiling she could see a decent glimpse of just how bad it was outside::


I don't believe I've ever seen such an atmospheric disturbance on this level in Limbo...not even during the Inferno.


:: looking around the massive statues Guardian pointed to the one that most likely appeared to be DARKCHILDE::

That is Darkchilde, we must be in her time stream. Those others....Karen, Ororo and two other women....and a man...they must be the figures central in HER life.

:: their names were etched into the pedastals on which they stood...along with a description of who they were.::

those two :: pointing at Alessandra and Persephone:: are "Dire Wraiths" ...Darkchilde has the same title. that one :: pointing at Morpheus:: is a "Titan" and Karen and Ororo are "Mother" and "Honored Mother"

something's wrong here....i sense a great tragedy about this room....an event that somehow has something to do with the storm outside.

:: guardian's precognition was working in a limited way, but she had no idea just how dead on she would be. they would all find out as a truly tragic moment would unfold::

 

[Seer]

Death in the family

<< As Guardian sensed a "feeling" of dread hanging all around them, her perception would proove to be all too true as suddenly several individuals began to rush into the Observatory>>

<< Ikaris, Titania, Morpheus, Ororo, Karen Victoria, Riana and Brenthon all beautifull, POWERFUL members of the Masters of Evil rushing into the room, with Morpheus carrying a woman in body contouring eldritch armour. she wore a matching armored headdress and had red horns that came out of the openings of the headdress at her forehead. THAT was Darkchilde!>>


<< the group of people seemed to be regrouping, clearly in the midst of the battle>>

Karen: Goddess be praised, we got her back!

Ororo: Yes..but we cannot rest now, they are COMING for her! Ikaris and I will protect her, Titania, Morpheus, Brenthon, Karen prepare yourselves...this is it..the FINAL battle!

<< the group took their positions. they seemed to work so well together and as Ororo and Ikaris revived Darkchilde the others began to do battle with fierce flying creatures ..."Death Wings" that shot acidic blasts.>>

<< Ororo joined the fray as she laid waste against them by unleashing a violent blizzard against them while Karen cut more down with her mystic force daggers>>

<< Titania, Morpeus and Brenthon brawled with more creatuers called "Hellhounds" making short work of themand as the battle wore on, eventually the group emerged victorious and Darkchilde was awake and revived as well>>

Ororo: welcome back, Farrah.

<< the group rejoiced in the return of DC and thier apparent victory but it was all PAINFULLY short lived as the room is STORMED by a new enemy and Ororo was IMPALED from the back by a steel spike and Karen was thrown into the air before being CRUSHED in jaws of stone. the screams of Karen were so painfull before her body was crushed and she was now left mangled and dead, her eyes opened. The others gasped in horror as Morpheus cradles a dying Ororo in his arms. He loves her as his MOTHER and as she passes on..he roars with grief and rage. the remaining group of individuals, including Darkchilde who is now BESIDE HERSELF with rage now launch themselves into battle with the Original Dire Wraiths of legend. a space traveling band of evil sorceresses who had marked Darkchilde to be their gateway to earth.>>

<< the battle was fierce, and violent...one by one...the members of the group fell and Darkchilde now insane with grief UNLEASHES the SOUL EATER, CRYTO. this demon RAVAGES the Dire Wraiths and devours them UTTERLY before DC detonates what can only be described as an "eldritch ballistic bomb blast"...that destroys EVERY THING....leaving no trace of any creature from the Dire Wraith's army....only DC, on her knees in the center of the observatory, with her hands over her face, WEEPING for her mother, ororo, her friends and her beloved Morpheus. it is a truly sad sight to behold. Darkchilde has just lost her friends, her FAMILY...and as she looks up at the EYE in the obsevatory, a chime sounds off as the castle begins to shake violently...a BLAST of black lightning CRASHES DOWN into the observatory and slams down on Darkchilde...as she transforms into a being a PURE MAGICK...retaining her feminine form, her hair now flows upward, her eyes glow solid white and she is composed of pure energy but clearly no longer human as her heart has cracked with grief over this loss...she removes her family from this battle...and ensures their bodies are buried in Ororo's garden ...and she departs...leaving this castle and retreating somewhere else in Limbo.>>

 

[Foxfire]

Behind the earth shattering rumbles of thunder and the blinding lightning, the mysterious feminine figure revealed herself to be STORM. Foxfire's mouth literally dropped at the provocative costume, the hardened exterior, and the MOHAWK! Not to mention this Storm looked much more youthful. She watched in awe as she destroyed Belasco. The ground the team stood upon trembled and shook. Regaining her footing, Blaze watched as the time line progressed with the young child following Storm. It was beginning to comprehend for Foxfire, who also recalled the stories.

Another stepping disk appeared with all three women jumping through. This time, Fox wasn't so in favor of this mode of transportation. She stumbled out of the new stepping disk, her equilibrium off balance. She placed a gloved hand on a nearby wall. Looking up she gasped at the unfamiliar statues. Ebony lightning bolts struck in the background only intensifying the gloomy affect of this room.

Foxfire was introduced to ANOTHER statue...one that was a stark contrast to the other statues. This statue was in a crouching position but the long erect ears stood out. Foxfire looked closer at this statue, her eyes falling over the battle armor, and the mischievous grin of the dark faerie known as Betrayal, another member of the Masters of Evil & Guardians of Light. For some reason Blaze felt a deep connection but she did not understand why. Her eyes reading the warriors name, "Betrayal" she repeated to herself. Beside this statue was a SECOND figure. This figure was standing but her facial expression depicting a stern and warrior like look. She appeared human but two very noticeable sais were adored in her hands in an artful pose. Her statue name? Elektra.

Foxfire stepped back, her eyes wondering to the statues of Darkchilde, Persephone, and Alessandra. All these warriors present were beautiful but fierce. Just then more timelines appeared. The events unfolding to broadcast a tragic battle, but no sign of Betrayal or Elektra.

Darkchilde was everything Morgan used to be. The way she protected her friends, the ferociousness in battle, her beauty. Blaze felt as though this was REAL. Touching her throbbing head, she saw the image of DC vanish. Sure, it was fascinating to learn the Dark Trinity history, but it was also overwhelming.


EDIT

This whole realm was unlike anything she had ever seen. Violet skies, black lightning, flying demons of all sizes and shapes. It was in a world of its own. Adjusting to the bitter battle sequences, Foxfire felt the agony of DC, the effects still left behind.

"She was a warrior like us...she too fought for a cause...despite her alignment." Blaze's words cool and confident. "I see parts of Morgan in her...but what do we have to offer Darkchilde?" Blaze stopped again, her eyes falling on Persephone. Wow, she thought to herself. The mutant felt drawn to the statue, but fought the temptation. She kept her footing locked on the marble flooring.

"What does this mean, Guardian?"

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh jumped into the second disc, this time without pause. They appeared in an observatory tower this time... in front of a cluster of statues. Some Haleigh recognized... some she didnt. She was about to ask a question
after Alison gives them a forewarning... but several people burst into the room... all the statues that Haleigh had recognized, including an incapacitated DC, who looked so remarkably like Morgan that even Haleigh worried for her wellbeing....

what followed was a whirlwind of activity, and happened so fast that Haleigh could only stand in place and watch, her eyes going from person to person. She watched as Darkchilde lost everyone, one by one... and she couldn't help but feel for the woman.... for she knew better than most... there was no more severe a tradgedy than being the sole survivor. DC retreats... and the three women of the Six stand in silence, alone once more... Haleigh listens as Blaze ask questions.... and then speaks herself.

"Alison.... can you tell how long ago that took place?"

 

[Harbinger]

The Summit- The observatory

::Guardian watched as the flurry of action unfolded, individual who appeared working as a team rushing in, Morpheus, the titan, carried a beautifull woman in eldritch armour. her horns immediately identified her as Darkchilde. her resmemblance to Morgan was truly uncanny.::

:: the grouped worked fast and in concert, seemingly gaining the victory but then, the battle was rejoined by monstrous evil creatures, the "dire wraiths of legend". Guardian had read of them as well during her travels as a solo adventurer. they'd made several attempts to conqure earth but had been repelled by the shaman Forge, Rom the space knight and Darkchilde herself.::

:: the Dire Wraiths outright MURDERED Karen and Ororo.Guardian covered her mouth in shock::

::spoken softly:: Karen....Ororo!!

:: Alison folded her arms across her chest in an "X" pattern..it pained her to see Karen and Ororo die so violently in this or any timeline and as Darkchilde lost herself in a truly insane grief, she unleashed magicks on a scale beyond anything that Blaze or Haleigh had seen. The woman DESTROYED EVERYTHING that was hostile to her and her fallen friends with such sweeping force...but in Alison's heart...she couldnt have agreed more with Darkchilde's actions.::

good...she got them...she got them all!

::Alison couldnt help but feel the grief and the rage that Darkchilde felt as she cried out over her fallen friends and family.::

:: as Darkchilde transformed...or evolved into something no longer human...but a being of pure dark magick, the transformation was beautiful to behold but Alison knew that Darkchilde's heart was now completely hardened and she most likely would never love another being again in anyway. she was completely isolated from everything now and as DC left the observatory, the images faded away, leaving the three women alone again.::

::Haleigh and Blaze began to ask what happened and other related questions::

::looking down at Foxfire, Guardian breathed in deeply before exhaling and speaking::

I believe we have seen the single most traumatic moment in Darkchilde's life. These were her family, her friends, her loved ones. Clearly they were a team...even her mother was involved...and though they fought valiantly they died, violently. She survived because of her power, and this is her realm...but what price the power if it dooms you to be forever alone?

I believe we have just seen the ultimate downside to being a part of the dark trinity. Each woman...Spellbinder, Magik , Darkchilde has had their lives painfully blighted by pain, loss and betrayal. Is it any wonder that Morgan has been so icy, so bitchy and disdainfull? she knows the mantle that she carries, she knows what she can do, and how far she can go and what that means for those around her. The Inferno was but ONE result of a loss of control on her part.

:: as Black Widow asked if Guardian could determine when this happened, Guardian touched her hand to her forehead, her cobalt blue eyes glowed solid white as she attempted to "see" into the past and the present...but of course it would yield limited results::

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly, except that a SUBSTANTIAL amount of time has passed, just looking around the castle and this observatory it would seem that no one has been here in quite some time...only the faintest traces of any kind of battle remain. The feeling of "abandonment" is all around though, Darkchilde must have left this place and relocated to some other area of Limbo. We are at least in HER timeline, now it's just a matter of finding her before.....

:: a crash of thunder heralds the opening of a stepping disc in front of the group of women. it is in the center of the room where DC once grieved for her fallen friends and family::

well, we know what to do...

:: taking Black Widow and Foxfire, the three women slowly stepped down into the disc. all of them had been touched by this terrible event..it was a painfull object lesson as to the price of being a member of the Dark Trinity. As they stepped into the disc, they are once again bathed in light as everything spins and whirls and in the blink of an eye..they are moved to....Ororo's Garden::

 

[Seer]

Midnight in the garden

<< the three women now found themselves in Ororo's garden but something was obviously different. the whole expanse of the garden was in the grip of a never ending "midnight" state. so pitch black was it that only the swirling black clouds in the skies provided any sense of the space above. thunder rumbled slowly across the area, randomly crashing in the sky and the first time this happened, all three women were caught off guard.>>

<< the air was thicker, it smelled more of a dense jungle than a fresh blooming garden. a myst hung in the air all around them and drifted slowly as well...with only the sounds of crickets and other insects in the air playing against the randomly blasting thunder.>>

<< the feeling of abandonment that Guardian had described was here as well....all the flora, foliage and other natural wonders of the garden seemed old, wilted and not nearly as vibrant as before....and the streams and the water fall were now either barely flowing or stagnent.>>

<< there was an eerie feeling about them, but even Foxfire and Black Widow could tell that Ororo was not here anymore...a sad sign that they were still in Darkchilde's timeline. The only piece in the garden that still stood tall and vibrant was the massive, high reaching oak...it was the first thing Ororo had created from a single acorn, the first symbol of her reclaiming her soul from belasco's evil corruption...and through all of the splendor of the garden, this oak stood tall and strong. it was a sort of focal point for the three women...a reminder that even though Ororo was dead, some of her influence, her efforts remained just the same>>

<< off a few fet away, near the stream that lead toward a water fall...was a peculiar looking statue, it was roughly near the same spot as were ALEXIS new stood in Morgan's timeline of limbo. But this statue was far older, vines wrapped around the statue..and a few small dark faeries flitted about around the statue. the look on the statue's face seemed to be one of discontent, it was a WOMAN...who looked like she came straight out of the age of greek antiquity...a "goddess" of some sort.>>

<< several feet away from THAT was Ororo's own castle...dark and clearly uninhabitied...the castle simply stood tall and rested, the myst flowed through and around it as well>>

 

[Harbinger]

Limbo- the garden

:: Guardian, still in the middle of the group, slowly looked around, she IMMEDIATELY sensed the "Long time" absence of Ororo from the sprawling garden which now resembled a slowly aging forest or graveyard. the errie silence, the swirling midnight skies, the melancholy chrip of crickets and other insects...this was definately the darkest hour they had ever seen in this once beautifull, sprawling oasis::

This is the same timeline....Ororo is no longer here to sustain the garden and it shows.

:: Guardian's spoke with a mournfull tone. She hadnt realized how much it hurt and even UPSET HER to see Ororo and Karen die so violently...and it didnt matter that it was in this timeline as opposed to their own.::

:: she stepped forward a bit::

walk carefully, this myst hangs low and thick..but I feel we are finally where we should be. a clue to finding Darkchilde is here within this decaying garden.

:: the smell of "dense jungle" didnt sit well with Alison, as she twitched her nose. She'd been to places where the air was "rank" and while this wasnt as bad...to know what it had ONCE BEEN and why it was now this way....it all made her feel so gloomy.::

:: looking around trying to navigate through the myst, Guardian spies in the distance an aged statue. with vines that wrapped around it at various places...and mysterious, oddly glowing little dark faeries flitting about around the statue.::

in the distance, that way ::she points::

I see a statue...could it be Alexis?

::she begins to lead the group forward::

that shouldnt be possible, because Alexis did not exist in this timeline and there's no evidence to suggest that she was represented among those that we saw back in the observatory in the summit.

:: as they came closer, they saw that the statue was infact NOT of Alexis but of Persephone. only this statue seemed more detailed, the outfit that it wore, even the expression on its face, that of discontent was so intricate...it seemed too coincidental that this would be JUST another statue of someone OTHER than Darkchilde::

there's something about this statue...something that is more than what we see....we need to find Ororo's castle. there may be more information in her apothecary, assuming the layout is the same as the one in our timeline.

:: peering about through the fog, Guardian directed Foxfire to provide a torch once more and they carefully made their way through the garden, wary of any demons or hostile creatures that may have been able to breach the barrier now that Ororo was gone.::

 

[Seer]

looking for answers

<< the three women made their way to the gothic castle of Ororo's. With its mistress passed on, the castle had become covered with vines and other plant like growths around its exterior. the myst that hung low outside was also flowing inside through all the floors. but the torches of green eternal mystic flames still flickered softly in the carved out niches in the stone walls inside the castle. haunting , eerie sounds of "settling" could be heard all around on every floor. the place seemed so empty, so gloomy without Ororo. even the few enchanted creatures that hid in the shadows seemed sad and lost without their mistress>>

<< Guardian, Foxfire and Black Widow made their way to the apothecary, the room on the top floor of the castle. this place, housed ancient books of spells, scrolls, parchments and other important documents as well as mysterious potions, elixirs and talismans...all possesed with an ancient past and mysterious mystical properties. on a large oak wooden table, there lay a parchment, a large book that appeared to be Ororo's own book of shadows and a small blue bottle that was covered with dust.. a small candle with the green eternal flame flickered nearby, illuminating the dust covered table. on the end, a window, carved out of the wall itself gave them a higher, more aerial view of the garden. they could see the mysterious statue from a different angle, she was located near what appeared to be an actual GRAVE YARD with 6 headstones. a large weeping willow tree overshadowed the statue and the grave stones and its leaves slowly swayed in the mournfull winds of the dark midnight sky.>>

 

[Harbinger]

Limbo- the garden

::inside the now eerie and spooky castle, Guardian walked with her team mates. her high heeled boots causing an echo as she walked along the stone floors.::

this place is so gloomy, so empty. you can FEEL the darkness and coldness that has permeated this once beautifull oasis.

:: Guardian's cold tone also echoed, blending in with the winds as they whispered through the circular hallway.::


::finally on the top floor in the apothecary, Guardian and others arrived. Guardian marveled at the mystical knowledge and treasure that was housed here...relics from times on earth and in limbo long past, secrets that most mages would never know of. some of them Guardian had studied or even seen in use before.::

there's Ororo's book of shadows, and its open to a specific page, a potion is nearby.

:: walking over, she stood over the table and with a beckoning motion, a rushing, chiming sound is heard as Guardian tk's the candle closer to them so they can better see. it is infact Ororo's book of shadows, and it appears that the page it is on is the last entry she made...before her death.::

:: looking down, she noticed what was written::

The moment I have feared is upon us. Darkchilde and her friends have come to Limbo for refuge from the original dire wraiths that have returned to carry out the plans they had envisioned for Darkchilde. They intend to use her as a living bridge through which they would subjugate the earth. Ikaris, Titania, Persephone, Alessandra, Brenthon, Morpheus and Riana have joined the fray as has Darkchilde's mother, Doctor Karen Victoria.

After two rounds with the Wraiths and their hordes of Death Wings and Hellhounds, Darkchilde and Persephone have been wounded. Darkchilde will recover, but Persephone, due to her own unique nature is ill suited to the realm of Limbo. She is deteriorating faster than I would have expected. As we prepare for the final show down to drive the Wraiths out of this plane of existence once and for all, Persephone insists upon joining her sister dire wraiths [alessandra and darkchilde]. with her weakened state, I cannot allow her to place herself or us at risk and though she protested, I have cast a spell upon her transforming her into a living statue to remain in the safety of my garden.

The rest of us will go and do what must be done but should some or all of us not return, i leave the potion and reversal spell for future beings that may come and undue the spell i have cast on persephone so that she may at least live her life free of the danger that once loomed. she will understand why things had to be this way.

:: Guardian looked up and over , out through the window , seeing the statue again.::

That statue is IN FACT Persephone! she's been there...ALL THIS TIME courtesy of Ororo's spells! that means she's been preserved and spared all the pain that that took place in the observatory on the summit....that also means she does not know what happened to the rest of her team.

:: Guardian pauses as she looks at Blaze and Haleigh::

We have the means to free her, she may be able to help us locate Darkchilde without having to travel through another disc....

::Guardian picks up the potion and runs her gloved hands over the incantation that Ororo has listed in her entry::

Darkness swell, within, without
Of her stone form let there be no doubt
The stone skin she once wore now shed like the snake's very own
Powers of magick, recast her flesh and her bone!

let us return to the garden...and face the statue. so that we can release Persephone.

 

[Foxfire]

apothecary

Guardian answered her question with both knowledge and sympathy for Darkchilde, who lost her mother, friends, and lover. Alison’s interpretation proved to be enlightening with her comparison to Morgan. The young mutant listened with interest the more Guardian unraveled the history of the time line. It was almost like traveling back through a history book, except this held Foxfire’s attention not only because it was so realistic but because it reminded her of Morgan.
The rumble of thunder was just an entrance for the stepping disk, which appeared. Her fingertips intertwined with Guardian, who then took a hold of Black Widow’s. Together the entourage jumped through another stepping disk. It was anyone’s guess to say where they would end up next.

The stepping disk opened horizontally and out all three women dropped. The environment here seemed lifeless and morose. The midnight clouds huddled together to mask any violet skies that had once painted the earth. Fox found herself feeling a pit in her stomach, between the vicious deaths of DC’s friends, Ororo, and Karen all seemed lost through time and space. The air was muggy and humid with a stench of decay in the air, mostly from the garden.

Blaze did see a more pleasant sight, one that centered inside the garden. A large oak tree, which seemed still in tact, which was about the only thing here. From the corner of her eye, Blaze saw another statue. It was encompassed with thick green vines and a group of faeries. Walking closer to the edge of the stagnant water, Blaze tried to get a better look, but her vision had been handicapped in this realm.

Instead she could only make out shadows of the face, depicting small signs of emotion. The figure looked familiar as Foxfire linked the one of Persephone with this one. Why would there be more than one? Blaze turned to Guardian, who warned the group of the dangers that lay inside the dense fog. Guardian’s question about the statue, brought her attention back to Persephone.

"I don’t think that is Alexis...but perhaps someone who shares similar physical qualities."

Already both mutant and Seer were on the same page, it was too coincidental that the statue was just left there. And with the lingering faeries surrounding it, which was abnormal as well. Following Guardian closely, probably a good three steps behind, she wondered why such a beautiful statue was left unattended to unless the statue had been human...somehow?

As Guardian directed Foxfire to move in front of her, to shall we say, shed some light on the subject. Foxfire moved slightly ahead with her torch giving a better perspective in this circumstance.

"I agree, the statue seems too detailed....no matter how good an artist is you can’t depict such intense emotions like that."

Entering inside the abandoned castle, Foxfire felt a chill run up her spine. "This place seems haunted in a way." She said, looking around to stare into small beady eyes of a creature. The surrounding fog hiding the small creature, only for it to disappear into a small crevice inside another secret passage. "Where is that sound coming from?" She looked around, not finding any possible clues or indications to where the sound was entering from.

Moving into the apothecary, Blaze was exposed to a more magical environment. Stepping through the doorway, she moved to an old bookshelf that housed hundreds of books. Ancient books that provided various incantations, mostly from Latin. Leaning in, Blaze blew several inches of dust away, only to cough from the dust inhalation. Her gloved hand reaching for a thick crimson book, the binding of the book torn in the upper half of the corner. Her eyes lighting up with her curious nature. "This explains why Ororo was so powerful....her thirst for knowledge. Look at these books...they must be hundreds of years old."

She said with amazement, placing the book back on the shelf.
Walking around the room, Blaze stopped upon the small aerial view of the window. Crouching down she pressed both hands to the window, wiping away some condensation. She found a focal point to the statue and a graveyard with several headstones, she figured them to be DC’s friends and loved ones. The air itself chimed as Blaze looked over her shoulder, seeing Guardian near the oak table. Walking up behind her, she read over Alison’s shoulder.

"Book of Shadows." She said, looking at the ancient book with awe. The pages of the book appeared to be centuries old, and the coloration was that of a stained yellow / beige. Her eyes rushing through the journal like entry. It now all made sense, as Fox turned to lock eyes with Guardian.

"Your right, Guardian, let’s go." She said, with a hint of excitement in her own tone. It was a good plan, Fox could only hope Persephone would listen to them first, without becoming hostile.

 

[Harbinger]

Limbo-The Garden

:: back out in the dreary, gloomy , midnight shrouded garden, the three women: Guardian , Foxfire and Black Widow from the castle across the way to the mysterious statue and the grave yard near by.::

:: standing in the center again, Guardian looked over a bit beyond the statue and saw the headstones, the graves. Her own marble hard heart felt heavy with regret and sorrow, it was so...so unreal to see people that she had known in her timeline, now DEAD before in this one. the finality of it touched Guardian in a way that she hadnt felt before, she too had been dead, but the woman responsible for bringing her BACK was now DEAD herself...it really made Alison realize how fortunate she was.::

:: she couldnt help but to stare, but she snapped herself out of her own trance, shaking her head as her cobalt blue eyes blinked a few times::

Oh...ah...sorry about that!

:: hurridly stepping forward. before looking back at the other two women::

Here goes!


:: standing tall and steadfast, Guardian recites the spell composed by Ororo::

Darkness swell, within, without
Of her stone form let there be no doubt
The stone skin she once wore now shed like the snake's very own
Powers of magick, recast her flesh and her bone!

:: as the spell, ignited by Guardian's own mystical power began to ignite ....a soft, errie hum could be heard in the still air around them...the lines of detail on the statue began to glow a sparkling green as the eyes began to glow as well. Guardian then throw the potion at the base of the statue, a sparkling green trail slowly rose up from the smashed bottle and began to encircle the statue.::

:: as the humming grew louder, thunder began to rumble in the swirling black skies around them. soft flashes of lightning eminating from the billowing clouds as the winds began to swirl around the statue. Still Guardian did not move or flinch, she stood strong and fast, as her own blue black hair began to blow in the wind and ground around the base of the statue began to tremble and SHAKE as the statue's stone began to CRACK at various points......the spell was beginning to restore this statue ...returning her to her original human form!::

it's working....she's REVIVING!

 

[Foxfire]

Foxfire could feel her own heart crash against her chest due to the adrenaline rush. In a morbid way it was restoring someone's life! Blaze hoped in her heart of gold this woman...this Goddess could assist them in their journey. She hoped the team made the right decision by freeing Persephone. Wait...why did that ring a bell? Searching her own memory, she recalled her Greek mythology...no this couldn't be a Goddess! Or could it?

Stepping next to Guardian, by her left side, Fox watched as Guardian read the incantation, before tossing the potion at the base of the statue. She watched with amazement as the statue crackled and crumbled from rubble. The stone was chipping to reveal a human body...well a Goddess! And the more Blaze stared the more hypnotized she felt.

Running a gloved hand to her temple, she took a moment to register this. All this danger and excitement had left Blaze feeling exhausted. Sage green eyes staring at the animated statue...soon all would be revealed.

 

[Persephone]

:: Wind rushed around the statue of Persephone as it began to crack in various places. The winds began to pick up, circling around the stoned figure like a tornado, picking up bits of dead leaves and branches as it circulated. Thunder crashed above and lightning struck soon after. Suddenly, a woman's scream could be heard faintly, increasing in amplitude until suddenly, the statue exploded and a blinding white light illuminated the garden. ::

:: The garden was silent, only the soft rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance. The light soon faded, revealing, Persephone. Standing tall on the small stone piling that her statue had sat on, Persephone was slightly hunched over, her waist length, curled, chocolate locks cascading in front of her face, shielding it. Taking in slow breaths, it felt like a sledge hammer had slammed into her chest; everything was very disoriented and unclear. ::

:: Still in her battle attire, the black catsuite with plunging neckline and tank inspired sleeves, clung to the goddess' six foot tall, toned frame. A platinum vine wrapped around Persephone's torso and upper right thigh, further decorating the attire. Finally regaining her barings, Persephone opened her forest green eyes and lifted her head; her mass of hair tumbling away from her exquisite face, finally revealing herself to the three woman. Slightly taken aback at their presents, Persephone's eyes darkened, immediately believing they were sent by the other Dire Wraiths. With lightning speed, Persephone's reached for her shoulder, the platinum vine that was wrapped around her body suddenly turning into her infamous transfiguring whip. Whipping it in the air in a circular manor above her head, she snapped it down in front of the woman twice to keep distance between herself and them. Slowing stepping off the pedestal, Persephone's instincts were to attack immediately, but Ororo was no where to be found....and her last memory was of speaking with her. She needed information....::

"Who sent you! Where's Ororo!"

:: The goddess' beautiful English accent rolled off Persephone's tongue, as she demanded fiercely the where abouts of Ororo. ::

"SPEAK!"

 

[Foxfire]

The statue's cracked stone imploded as chunks of stone scattered throughout the garden. Raising a gloved hand to shield her head for safety purposes, Blaze's eyes sparked as the Goddess was freed! Thick branches spun wildly in mid air, leaves, and other debris thrown backwards from the velocity.

Lowering her gloved hand, Foxfire's eyes locked onto the Goddess, who could easily dwarf the mutant. Hell, who couldn't? Blaze was probably the shortest of her teammates, but she was quick and agile for her physical size. Her eyes falling down the Goddess attire, still trying to register a Goddess was in their presence.

Persephone stepped down from the remaining entrapment she had been encased in. As the Goddess reacted with her whip, Fox stepped closer. With lightning speed of her own, she CAUGHT the whip in her gloved hands.

"We are in need of your help, Persephone. We do not wish to quarrel with you..." Blaze's eyes sparkled like that of an emerald gem. Persephone could feel as though she were looking through an alternate version of her comrade Elektra. She could FEEL the fiery essence of the mutant and her courage.

"Guardian...has freed you of your imprisonment, which she will explain." She released the whip, letting it drag across the stone wall. Blaze's eyes falling back to Alison, for a more detailed description.

 

[Harbinger]

Limbo- The Garden

:: Guardian watched as the reversal spell climaxed and Persephone finally emerged from her eternal stone state to return to her beautifull, etherial form. The seer's cobalt blue eyes were firmly locked on the woman, who appeared to be as healthy as she was at the time she was turned to stone::


Blaze, Haleigh, keep back.

:: Guardian motioned for the two women to move back as she stood tall, taller than Persephone and un fazed by the woman's whip, but noting her fluent command of the weapon::

:: speaking in a cold, definative tone::

I am Guardian, I'm a witch and a seer. This is Foxfre ::gesturing to Blaze:: and this is Black Widow ::gesturing to Haleigh.::

We have freed you from your enternal stone state, but I regret to inform you....that Ororo has passed away....quite some time ago. As nearly as i can determine...you are now standing here before us....25 years later.

:: Guardian motioned for Persephone to look behind her and over...she would see through the drifting mysts, the headstones...where the small dark feares were now flitting about..providing a haunting illumination of their graves::


:: thunder rumbled in the dark midnight skies as Guardian's factual statements were heard by Persephone::