POV: Baldur
Meeting Room, Xavier's School, Greymalkin Lane, Salem Center, New York.
A Few Minutes After Receiving the Message.
2016.
"So, what kind of mess have you gotten yourselves into that made Xavier ask for my help?" I ask, sitting in a chair facing three X-Men.
"It's one of our students, she needs your help," Xavier says.
(Damn!)
Any fan would understand who the student is and what her problem is.
"Start from the beginning," I say, more seriously.
Scott, Jean's current boyfriend, tells me the story.
There was a mission in space a month ago where Jean was hit by a solar storm. That would be enough to take down anyone, mutant or not, but Jean re-emerged using the name Phoenix with all her powers enhanced.
Then, a few days ago, a psychic idiot, Mastermind, wanting to gain acceptance into the Hellfire Club, altered Jean's mind with the help of Emma Frost. Things went from bad to worse after that, and in the end, in a last attempt to save Jean, Scott entered a mental battle within Jean's consciousness and lost. In her rage, Jean attacked Mastermind, destroying him and freeing herself from his control, but it also opened the door for the Phoenix to take control.
"So, she left Earth shortly after that?" I ask, puzzled.
"Yes, we haven't had any sign of her since, and we can't follow even if we could track her," Scott finishes his report.
I'm lost now. This event doesn't resemble the old X-Men movies or the new one. And I haven't read the original Phoenix saga, so I'm completely in the dark.
"Your expression tells me you have some information for us," Logan says, sensing my frustration.
"Yes, I know who the Phoenix is. In fact, there are few beings in the universe who don't know who she is."
This makes everyone more serious. Until now, they thought all this confusion was caused by Jean's forced awakening of her mutant potential when she was hit by the solar storm.
"The Phoenix is one of the cosmic entities, beings of immense power responsible for certain aspects of the universe. The Phoenix represents life that has not yet been born, as well as the forces of creation and destruction."
I managed to enjoy the stunned looks on their faces, despite the gravity of the situation.
"And what does a being of such power want with Jean?" Xavier asks.
"That I cannot say, but it certainly helps us understand the situation better."
I'm not lying. It's never been clear how the Phoenix chooses its hosts. From what I know, it's something akin to destiny and their psychic abilities.
"How can we help?" Scott asks.
"When the Phoenix bonds with a host, its power is limited to the level that host can manifest, and that varies greatly."
"That's nonsense, kid. Are you really saying Jean managed to defeat all of us and put several students in comas with just a fraction of this entity's power?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying, Logan. In fact, I don't think she even needed to tap into all the power she can manifest to deal with you all."
"Is there anything we can do?" Xavier asks, already sounding defeated.
He asked a good question. I'll definitely die if I fight the Phoenix, but with Jean as the host, I might stand a chance—unless she's the White Phoenix of the Crown version, in which case only the Living Tribunal can defeat her.
"I won't lie, Xavier. The chances of your student coming back alive are slim."
"But there's still a chance," Scott insists.
"I'll have to consult some friends. They might have more information on this than I do," I say, getting up.
"Why are you helping us, Baldur?" Logan asks, pulling a cigar from his coat.
"It's not your fight," he continues, lighting it.
"Logan, the Phoenix is a cosmic entity made of pure psychic energy. Now she's in a mortal body, full of feelings, doubts, and fears. That's going to drive her mad, and that madness will become a threat to everyone. That's why I'm helping."
I say no more and leave the room, heading to my jet parked on the mansion's football field. I reconsider and tell Alice to control it and send it back to Genosha. Flying is faster; time is short, and I need to use it as efficiently as possible.
A few seconds after leaving Xavier's mansion, I arrive at Kamar-Taj.
"You came faster than I expected, my friend," the Ancient One says, serving tea seated gracefully on a beautiful carpet.
I sit on the floor in front of her, and when she places the cup in front of me, I take a sip to regain some of my patience and calm.
"The Phoenix has found a host, and it's driving them mad," I say, placing the cup back down.
"Yes, I've seen," she replies calmly sipping her tea.
"Two questions: is there anything I can do, and should I get involved?"
"As I've said many times before, I cannot see events you are involved in," she smiles at me, answering one of my questions.
"Any advice?" I ask my friend.
"Take Wanda with you," she answers simply.
"Why?" I ask, puzzled.
"Chaos magic is quite effective against the Phoenix."
So, I have a slight advantage.
"Understood, thank you," I say, getting up. There's much left to do.
When I rise, I feel something I've never felt before, I don't even know how to describe it—it's an ancient and powerful energy, full of life and destruction, like fire.
"Did you feel that too?" I ask her.
"Yes, I believe all beings with real power felt it," the Ancient One replies.
The Phoenix has done something, I don't know what, but something significant, and now various powers across the universe have sensed her resurgence.
"I need to go."
I leave the Ancient One's house and fly out of the city. The entire city is protected by magical enchantments, so I need to leave its confines for Heimdall to hear me.
"Heimdall!" I shout into the sky several kilometers away from the city.
Shortly after, a beam of light in various colors surrounds and pulls me upwards. As always, the sensation of being pulled by a strange force is unpleasant, but it doesn't last long.
"Welcome back, Prince Baldur," Heimdall greets me at his altar, withdrawing the sword from the Bifrost's control center.
"I know you felt it, Heimdall. Can you tell me what you saw? We're short on time for lengthy conversations."
Heimdall steps away from the altar and walks over to me, then faces the command room's window, overlooking a universe filled with bright stars.
"Such an event caught my attention," he begins.
"What happened?" I inquire.
"A few seconds ago, the new host of the Phoenix teleported to a distant galaxy from Earth. This effort weakened her host, so she devoured a star to regain her energy."
"Damage?"
Whenever I fight in space, I restrain myself to avoid inadvertently obliterating a planet with life, but I doubt the Phoenix cares about such considerations.
"The star was in the D'Bari system. More than four inhabited planets were destroyed when the star was consumed, and another two planets will slowly die due to the disappearance of their sun."
"Looks like we have a stellar hunt ahead," I remark aloud.
"Yes," he agrees.
The people of D'Bari are dead, so they won't seek revenge, but they were subordinate to the Kree. The Kree won't care about the D'Bari's deaths, but they'll see it as a direct provocation to their empire, and given their warrior culture, their next move is quite predictable.
"Will anyone else join this party?" I ask, hoping the answer would be no.
"The Shi'ar are also mobilizing," Heimdall responds.
"That was to be expected," I say.
The Shi'ar have a history of hatred towards the Phoenix. They even have laws to mark any host with their brand of death, which could lead to the erasure of their planet and entire bloodline.
So we have two of the largest galactic empires getting involved in this mess, and it's almost certain that the Nova Empire will also get involved to try to maintain the peace they've achieved with the Kree.
"And the Phoenix?"
"Still in the same place, it seems she has entered a deep sleep to digest the energy she acquired."
(At least we know where to go.)
"Prince Baldur." A soldier in golden armor, holding his spear, appears at the entrance of the Bifrost.
"Yes?" I ask.
"The Allfather summons your presence," he says, then leaves.
"Please keep watch, Heimdall. I will speak with my father."
"I am always watching, Prince, but this time, I will pay close attention."
"I don't want you to keep an eye on the Phoenix, my friend, but on the Nine Realms," I say, drawing his attention.
"Should I ignore an event of such proportions?" Heimdall asks, puzzled.
"It's precisely because it's an event of great proportions that I fear someone will use it as a distraction. So please, keep your eyes on the Nine Realms. I am concerned about the Phoenix."
After saying this, I head towards the royal castle of Asgard.
The royal castle of Asgard remains as it always has been, golden and magnificent. Seated on his throne at its center, holding his spear, is Odin. Unlike our other meetings in the throne room, there are no guards protecting him, indicating that this will be a more personal or secret conversation.
"My son."
"Father." Our greeting is as simple as always, perhaps even cold.
"Even after so many eons, I sense her power," my father says, looking up at the ceiling. This is one of those rare moments when the King of Asgard reveals emotions.
"The Phoenix?" I inquire.
"Yes, I have encountered one of her hosts," my father continues.
"Did you love her?" I ask, knowing the answer.
"Yes, with all my heart."
It's strange to hear my father speak of loving another woman besides my mother, but who am I to judge?
"Is there any way to save the host?" I ask.
"If there is, I do not know it, for I have failed."
(Even the Allfather doesn't know how to save Jean. Great.)
I sincerely don't want to rely on Jean gaining control of the Phoenix and solving the situation herself.
"BANG!"
Odin startles me, pulling me out of my thoughts as he strikes his spear against the ground.
"My son, heed my request," he begins.
(A request, not an order.) I notice.
"Help that child in the best way you can," he asks.
"It will be done, Father."
Before leaving the throne room, my father stops me once more.
"Oh, and there's one more thing you need to know, Bladur, about Angela."
POV: Third Person.
Candilar, Royal Castle of the Shi'ar Empire, Secret Chamber.
At the Same Moment.
Candilar was the planet where the Emperor of the Shi'ar Empire resided. A super-massive planet with over ten billion inhabitants from various species, the vast majority of them slaves whose civilizations had been conquered.
And at the heart of this enormous planet lay its grandest construction, the royal castle. Built by the first emperor, this structure would typically have been surpassed in size by technological advancements, but who would dare build something that would overshadow the emperor's castle?
And within one of the castle's most secret and hidden chambers, known only to the emperor, D'ken, the current Emperor, stood facing a diamond-shaped red jewel nearly the size of the chamber itself.
"My Majesty," someone addressed him.
Still gazing at the jewel, D'ken responded to his communicator.
"Report."
"The signals have proven true, sire. The Phoenix has returned and has taken a new host."
Still staring at the jewel, D'ken now smiled.
"Order Prince Vulcan to retrieve the host alive. He may take one of our fleets and two members of the Imperial Guard with him."
"Alive, sire?" his subordinate asked, finding it odd.
"It's been years since we've had a host. I want to make a grand spectacle for the entire galaxy to witness," the Majesty lied plainly.
"As you command, Majesty. But it seems the Kree are also heading towards the Phoenix."
"No matter. Anyone who attempts to steal what is mine must be destroyed."
With those words, D'ken ended the conversation and continued to stare at the jewel before him. Every second he spent gazing at it, his gaze filled with greed.
"Soon, soon the power to rule the entire universe will be mine!"
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