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Verse IX: Schools of Magic
Apocalypse hands the other members of the “Excalibur” team the skulls of the slain Warwolves. He gives one to Gambit as he states that Morgan Le Fay is defeated, and that King Jamie Braddock sits on the throne of Avalon, adding that they are not at war with Opal Luna Saturnyne, and yet the Starlight Citadel remains hidden to them – and hidden to Captain Britain. Apocalypse hands another skull to Rogue, who wears the skin of a slain Warwolf as a cloak, while Apocalypse informs his allies that the forces of the White Witch refuse their messengers, so Captain Britain must seek the audience of the White Witch on their behalf. Jubilee is handed a skull next as Apocalypse explains that the skulls will light a beacon that will guide them to the citadel, but that they must be careful, as it is contested land. As he hands the fourth skull to Rictor, Apocalypse tells the others that they must not be scared, for wherever a seed can take root, they will not be defeated. Captain Britain sits in between her teammates, as Apocalypse tells the others that when he was young, distance meant something – that generations lived and died on the same acre, and when someone went away, they rarely returned.
While thinking about Morgan Le Fay, chained to a table in one of his labs, Apocalypse remarks that Krakoa makes it so mutants may never know distance again – nothing can keep them apart. He thinks about the joining of the islands of Krakoa and Arakko, boasting that he made it this way, that it was brutal and bloody, but he did it because he is the only one who could. And only he could have sent his four finest warriors into reddest hell – worse than asking them to die for him – he asked that they live, fighting eternally. 'You want me to thank you?' Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit snaps. 'No. I want you to do something for our people' Apocalypse replies, as somewhere demonic creatures rise from fire, and Apocalypse announces that to protect this era they have built for themselves he would stop at nothing – and neither should they.
Later, rain beats down outside Excalibur's lighthouse, while outside, the four Warwolf skulls are positioned on the coast, and glow through the darkness. Inside the lighthouse, Gambit brushes Rogue's hair, while Betsy Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain sits in a chair, reading a book, and Jubilee trirs to get her son Shogo to get to sleep. She tells him that if he goes to sleep now, she promises him he will get to be a dragon for a whole week starting from tomorrow. Shogo squirms in Jubilee's arms, and Rogue smiles: 'I'm with ya, li'l guy' she tells him, remarking that she can't sleep either. At that moment, a car arrives outside, and a man in a trenchcoat and hat steps out into the rain. Betsy looks up and tells her friends that she will be right back. Rogue remarks that this makes her sad, thinking about Krakoa being lonely, longing for your other half like that – as half of a thing, always feeling like some partr of you has just gone.
Outside, the rain drenches Betsy as she shouts 'Brian! I see you!' and moves down the slope from the lighthouse towards where Brian is standing in the rain. Her twin brother looks up at her, but says nothing. 'Brian...?' Betsy calls out, but Brian makes his way back into his car and drives off. Betsy returns to her friends in the lighthouse, 'You see something out there?' Gambit asks. Betsy frowns and doesn't answer him, instead she states that she can't sleep either, and that they should leave tonight.

Meanwhile, in the glistening Starlight Citadel, that floats above Avalon within Otherworld. 'Cristabel!' a voice calls out, as a woman with glasses wearing a long white robe runs down an elegant corridor, trying to catch up to a woman with short red hair, who also wears a long white robe. 'Finally. Her Royal Whyness has been waiting' the woman with the red hair mutters. Cristabel apologizes and explains that she had to find her way up here. Holding a small bag, Cristabel remarks 'In all my time working in the vault, she's never actually called down for anything before'. The other woman knocks on a large door, and a panel opens 'Give it here' a voice calls from the other side of the door, and Cristabel passes the bag through the panel, which then slams shut. 'Well...that's that, I suppose. Back to the -' Cristable begins, before her red-haired companion tells her to wait. 'Do you see that?' she asks. 'Better questeion – does he see us?' Cristabel asks as they look up at the sky, where Apocalypse's face cab be seen, peering down over Avalon.
The red-head tells Cristabel that they are completely cloaked during wartime, and that if they were in any danger, the lady would see it in her mirror, and the entire Citadel would hear the peal of the bells – as if on cue, the bells throughout the Citadel begin ringing, their sounds echoing across the Starlight Citadel, heard by other White Priestesses – and Opal Luna Saturnyne herself stands on a balcony and gazes out to the sky, her room behind her a mess, and her mirror cracked and broken.
In London, a meeting of Coven Akkaba is underway, with High Priestess Marianna Stern standing on an altar with Rueben Wilmott. 'Merry met, inheritors of Akkaba' Rueben remarks. 'Merry met!' the Coven Akkaba members respond in unison. Rueben states that after Marianna's efforts to empower their connection to Otherworld in Lady Morgana, they found theirb connection severed  recently, but intelligence suggests that she has been deposed, and is currently missing. 'So forgive me if I betray the greeting. I am not. Merry' Rueben declares. He uses magic to create illusions of Apocalypse, Captain Britain and Jamie Braddock, as Marianna informs the coven that there is a mutant on the throne – a reality-warping madman who is backed by one of their kind's most dangerous. Rueben states that, like most mutants, this one is quick to anger and violent in retaliation. Marianna tells the coven that they will prevail, as they always have. 'But I warned you. And you did not heed my warnings. Who will suffer here for Lady Morgana's fate in Avalon?' she asks.
Marianna continues, 'Who among you will serve both as an example and a  sacrifice?' she enquires. 'I shall' a man among the red-cloak wearing followers of Coven Akkaba announces. 'I would be honored to suffer in her name' he adds as he drops his cloak, and steps naked towards the altar. 'Then suffer you shall' Rueben tells him. The man lays down on the table on the altar, while Marianna holds a jagged dagger above him, 'With your death we will kill our failure! You will die with the shame of defeat!' 'Yes, High Priestess, yesssss -' the coven member repsonds, before screaming as Marianna plunges the dagger into his chest. Standing towards the back of the gathered coven members, a woman looks shocked, the turns and runs from the ritual, while Rueben announces that this is a mercy compared to what Morgan suffers at the hands of witchbreed. 'Turn away from the truth if you must!' he calls out, while the sacrifice continues to scream as the ritual continues.
The screams can be heard down the corridor, as the woman continues to run, before she bursts out a door that leads onto a street, where rain pours down onto her. 'Meggan!' a voice calls out, identifying her as Meggan Braddock. Meggan looks up and sees her former teammate Pete Wisdom, currently of MI:13 standing nearby. With tears in her eyes, Meggan informs Pete that they were hurting each other, and that she is sorry, but she got as much information as she could. Wisdom opens an umbrella, 'Your poor thing. C'mere – no more tears. What happened?' Wisdom remarks as he holds the umbrella over Meggan. They walk down the street as Meggan tells Pete that it was awful, but that they spoke freely – and they plan to provoke Jamie into doing something foolish. 'Well, that won't be hard' Wisdom mutters, before Meggan looks at him and tells him that she quite liked helping out, and that she likes spy work. 'You're damn good at it' Wisdom tells Meggan, who suggests that if the coven are targeting Jamie, that will get them off Betsy's back for a minute.
Wisdom thanks Meggan for the help and asks her if she isn't sore at that he snatched her up from paradise and took her into this weather. Meggan remarks that she can't be far from home for long. 'And now that Brian's back, I -' Meggan begins, before turning and wiping her eyes. 'Heyyyy, that's a goodd thing, though!' Wisdom exclaims, before asking how Brian is adjusting. Meggan informs Wisdom that Brian treats himself so poorly, and is so sad. Meggan turns back to Wisdom, revealing to him that she tells Brian that she is sure that he could come live on Krakoa, that if they spoke to the Council, they might make an exception – and maybe the sun will be good for him. Wisdom tells Meggan that he hates the sun, too, so he can't blame Brian, and sand is awful. 'But I hear there's a whole lot of nudity, so I keep meaning to make time to visit' Wisdom adds. A portal to Krakoa opens and Wisdom tells Meggan to buck up, that she and Brian are two of the finest, most stubborn fools he has ever met, before asking where Brian is now. Meggan reports that Brian is home with Maggie, that she always makes him smile, and he is such a good dad. 'And I'm heading right home to him' Meggan exclaims as she walks to the portal, before turning to Wisdom and telling him that the awful wizards didn't say anything about his girl. 'My girl?' Wisdom asks, confused. 'Betsy!' Meggan calls back, causing Wisdom to go wide-eyed.
Meantime, on Avalon, Captain Britain and Rogue fly alongside Shogo who is in his dragon form, carrying Jubilee, Gambit and Rictor. 'There it is' Rogue remarks as they see the Starlight Citadel up ahead. She points out that Apocalypse actually did it, although she refers to him by his Krakoan name. Captain Britain admits that she is surprised, too, before picking up a mental projection from Shogo and informing Jubilee that he is hungry. 'Hard same' Jubilee replies, before she tells Shogo that she doesn't know what he is craving, but they should think more apple orchard and less sheep farm. 'One seems less upsetting to have to replace' Jubilee explains as Shogo sets them down in a field. Rogue admires their new surroundings and remarks that it is beautiful out here. 'It's freezing out here!' Gambit replies, hugging himself, while Rictor crouches on the ground and reports that he has found some flint. 'Give it' Gambit tells him, using his power to kinetically charge the flint, and starting a fire.
Rogue wraps her arms around Gambit as they stand over the fire, although Gambit admits that he was not sure that would work. Rogue tells him that she thinks it is kinda romantic out here, but Gambit isn't sure he would agree, and that he is feeling a little on edge. 'So you don't want me to get the tent set up early?' Rogue asks. 'I didn't say that' Gambit smiles, before Jubilee tells them to knock it off, and Betay appears, holding up two rabbits, she asks if anyone is ready for dinner 'Now we're camping!' Rogue exclaims, while Jubilee covers her mouth and looks away, muttering that she doesn't want to eat a bunny. She pulls a protein bar from her satchel and remarks that she is just going to eat this. 'Gimme one' Rictor tells her, while Rogue asks Betsy if she has been to  the Citadel. Betsy confirms that she has, while Rictor looks at the bar Jubilee gave him and points out that they are candy bars. Rogue asks what is at the Citadel, and Betsy reveals that there was a time when there were lots of Captain Britains. 'Mosta them were Brian, right?' Rogue asks. As Betsy roasts the rabbit over the fire, she confirms that is correct, and explains that there were Captain Britains in many, many dimensions – but no longer, as they were destroyed. 'And now?' Rogue asks. Betsy closes her eyes and admits that she doesn't know – but she is certain she needs to find out.
Inside the Starlight Citadel, Opal Luna Saturnyne stands on an altar before the Priestesses of the Starlight Citadel. She tells the men and women before her that each of them serves her, that they are a hand of the  Omniversal Majestrix, an agent of balance and a protestor of the realm – but now, the balance of power in Otherworld has become upset. The Priestesses raise their hands, and energy darts around them, as Opal Luna Saturnyne tells them that from miles away, the one called Apocalypse peers into their sacred space. Headbands appear from the magic, and the Priestesses place the bands on their heads. Saturnyne declares that the corruption that began with Morgan Le Fay's foolishness has only expanded. 'Hunt them. Bring them to me' she instructs her followers, whose eyes roll back in their heads, and energy darts up from the headbands.
Back at the campsite, 'Dinner's ready!' someone calls out. Rogue takes some of the meat over to Betsy, who is sitting away from the fire. 'You know what it means when you're sitting alone among company, right?' Rogue remarks. 'Means you got another conversation on your mind' Rogue smiles. Betsy appears distracted as she takes the meat that Rogue gives her. 'I know a whole lotta pals who can read minds, but I ain't one of them' Rogue adds. 'Why would she hide from me, Rogue?' Betsy asks, adding that the Starlight Citadel was the hub of all realities – where every Captain Britain met. 'Why can't I got there?' she wonders. Rogue suddenly reports that she hears something, and Betsy hears it, too – singing.
In the surrounding forest, a beam of brilliant light accompanies the singing from the Priestesses, while several others shoot large energy arrows.
Jubilee rides on Shogo as they go to explore, with Jubilee asking Shogo what he sees. 'I bet if you did a sweep of that pond you'd get some fishies -' she tries to encourage her dragon-son to swoop down lower – but Shogo suddenly cries out in agony as an energy arrow strikes one of his wings. 'Shogo!' Jubilee utters, while down below, the rest of Excalibur see the trouble, and realize Shogo has been struck. 'He's going down!' Captain Britain exclaims. 'What shot him?' Rogue asks. Betsy tells her that she doesn't know, and as she uses her psionic powers to try and calm Shogo to help him land safely from a distance, she asks Jubilee if she is all right. 'No. I am not' Jubilee mutters as she clings to Shogo, while Betsy tells her that she is so sorry. 'I can help him land – but he's really hurt!' Betsy calls out as she and Rogue fly up towards Shogo. 'Down here! We got space for him!' Gambit calls out.
'Betsy, tell Shogo – tell him for me -' Jubilee begins. 'Anything, Jubilee. Anything! What?' Betsy calls back. 'Tell him not to look up at Mommy' Jubilee replies as she leaps up off Shogo, her plasma fireworks darting around her hands, while Betsy and Rogue reach Shogo and help direct him to the ground. 'Jubilee?' Betsy calls out, as Jubilee releases a furious display of plasma energy, directing it down at the forest from where the arrow was fired at Shogo – causing the surrounding area to explode in blinding light.
Opal Luna Saturnyne sees this display of power through a scrying mirror in her chamber. 'The Mutant Kingdom and their new Excalibur would escalate this to war' she frowns. Saturnyne vows that she will send as many priestesses as she has to, as it is the right of the Majestrix to make any sacrifices necessary to maintain balance. She holds up a small bag and declares that to put a stop to whatever madness threatens the balance of the Omniverse she will destroy whatever she sees fit. Four alternate reality versions of Rogue, Gambit, Rictor and Jubilee then appear before Saturnyne, the quartet wearing versions of the Captain Britain costume – the new Captain Britain Corps!


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[Assistant]
Verse X: A Crooked World
London, where part of the city is set ablaze by fire that falls from the sky. Civilians run in fear, while Betsy Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain turns to her teammates – Rogue, Jubilee and Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit, asking them if they are all right. Pushing a large slab of rubble away, Rogue reports that she is all right, and asks if that was some kind of air striker. 'Seems like' Betsy replies, while wondering where they are coming from. 'You tell us, muties' a voice calls out. Betsy turns to see several soldiers standing nearby, aiming their weapons at her. 'Hands up. We're shooting Krakoans on sight' one of the soldiers announces. 'Stand down. I'm one of you. In the name of Queen and Country -' Captain Britain begins, to which one of the soldiers interrupts her: 'Not your country, mutant' before instructing the others to open fire – they  do so, but at that moment, the ground around them suddenly breaks apart, knocking the soldiers over. 'Stand firm!' one of them calls out, to no avail, as Julio Richter a.k.a. Rictor emerges from the ground, telling his teammates to hurry up.
The others follow Rictor, who assists in the getaway by raising the ground up behind them, while Captain Britain asks what the hell is going on, as she doesn't understand. 'You don't?' Jubilee replies. 'Well, $%&#. That's bad. Because I don't either' Jubilee mutters. The heroes arrive at a Krakoan gateway which has been set ablaze, as Jubilee tells Captain Britain that they were hoping she was about to explain it. 'Oh mah God... the gates. Effigies?' Rogue asks as she sees two large statues of Charles Xavier and Jean Grey next to the burned gateway. 'When did all this happen?' Rogue wonders. Betsy looks up at the burning monuments and remarks that this feels like a living nightmare. 'I feel like I'm being trapped. And I don't like that' Gambit tells the others. But Betsy starts to dig near the gateaway and tells her teammates that they are not trapped, that they are never trapped. 'We are Krakoans' she points out as she holds up a small blue flower, but Rictor tells her that is not going to work, revealing that he was trying to regrow the gate when he saw them all about to get shot to death.
Betsy holds the flower and declares that she is Captain Britain, and that if the people of this land reject her, she will fight for the land itself. 'The land isn't too fond of you, either' Rictor remarks, explaining that London has been warded hard against mutant powers, that it is coven magic, asa if they were expecting them. 'Saving your asses took a lot out of me' Rictor adds, before Rogue asks Betsy if she can take them to Otherworld and then they can get to Krakoa through the gate there. Concentrating hard, Betsy reveals that she has been trying, but she just can't bring them back, it isn't working. 'Damn it, I don't know why!' Betsy shouts, before Gambit reports that he is going to go to the river, as it looks like the only way to get out of here is if he steals a boat. But Betsy tells Gambit that there is no way in hell they will get ahold of a boat, because if Britain is at war with another island, then everything larger than a dinghy has been commandeered – and even if they could get a boat, she is sure fuel is at a wartime premium. 'Well...that one seems to be doing just fine' Rogue points out as a large floating ship appears before them, with someone shouting onboard. A rope ladder drops down in front of the heroes, and someone calls out 'Okay, Excalibur. No time to sightsee. Stop staring and get on the flying ship!' The heroes look up and see Captain Kate Pryde waiting for them on the ship.
Once aboard, Captain Kate leads Betsy down to some rooms and informs her that the first air strike hit London some time ago, that no one has taken responsibility, but it wasn't hard to determine where the missiles came from. 'Wait, you don't mean -' Betsy begins, to which Captain Kate confirms that they are Krakoan. 'It wasn't -' Betsy starts to say, to which Kate assures her that it wasn't them, and that the whole Council is in chaos, while Britain is declaring it an act of war, and people are terrified. She adds that everyone is being recalled back to the island, and that she is on her way back too, but just picked up some stragglers and stranded. 'The Krakoan gates are on fire, and here you are on a flying ship. Does this thing run on vegetable oil or something?' Betsy asks. 'Well, that wouldn't account for it being able to fly' Kate replies as she opens a door, and they enter an engine room, where Rachel Summers is hovering, wearing her Hound costume, while energy glows around her. 'For that, we had to get a specialist' Kate smiles. 'Rachel?... Marvelous!' Betsy gasps.
Kate explains that Rachel is pretty focused on getting them in and out of here without dying at the moment, so suggests that Betsy doesn't bother her. 'Hey, Bets' Rachel smiles, looking over at Betsy. 'Hey yourself. Kate says I shouldn't bother you – you're working' Betsy replies. 'My girl worries. I can multitask' Rachel replies, to which Kate sugests that she doesn't multitask right now, before Betsy asks them how they found her. Kate reveals that she went to the lighthouse first, and tells Betsy that everyone on the island is terrified for them. 'You weren't there, but uh, Pete was. I picked him up' she announces. 'Pete Wisdom is here? Just napping or something? Where the hell -' Betsy begins as she rushes past Kate, who quickly informs Betsy that she wasn't the first to get to Pete.
Betsy finds Pete and puts her head against his as he lies motionless in a bed. Kate stands in the doorway and explains that Wisdom wouldn't come to Krakoa when they were recalled, that he said he wanted to die fighting for his home, not some tiki bar. 'You absolute ass' Betsy whispers to Wisdom, while Captain Kate remarks that she is taking his body back for proof and protocols, that he will be sent through and then wake up again on the island he has been trying to avoid. 'He's gonna be so pissed. Can't wait to see it' Kate adds. Betsy asks Kate to take them to the lighthouse, but Kate reminds her that she just came from there, and Pete was shot to death by special forces. 'It was a bad scene' Kate remarks. Betsy strides down a corridor and informs Kate that she can either fly her team there so she has backup, or she will fly there all by herself. 'Either way, I'm going to that lighthouse' Betsy announces. 'Dammit. Omega-level stubborn!' Kate mutters.

Betsy makes her way to the deck and stares out towards the lighthouse which the boat flies towards. Kate, Rogue, Jubilee, Rictor and Gambit gather around as Betsy, who utters 'My family's place of power'. 'And it's still there. I checked on it for you, okay?' Kate replies. But Betsy tells Kate that she misunderstands her – it isn't the lighthouse she is insisting on seeing – it is her family.
At that moment, in the laboratory of Apocalypse located on Otherworld, Jamie Braddock, Betsy's older brother, sees the flying pirate ship carrying Betsy through some sort of crystal ball, which he holds up, and asks 'Did you hear that?' but the woman he is speaking to, Morgan le Fay, is chained to a table, a clamp over her mouth so she cannot speak. Jamie tells her that she doesn't have to answer, as she is all tied up. Wearing a large crown n his head and a toga that is draped over his body, Jamie tells Morgan to forgive him for being amused by his own pocket reality. 'They break off from the main one so easily – so long as you hit them hard enough'. Jamie clenches a fist and the crystal ball vanishes, 'And all those moving parts to play with! Knights. Castles. A dragon'. Jamie turns his attention to the lush landscape he can see through a window, 'Speaking of dragons, did you see that? Out there?' he asks Morgan, before remarking that she is all tied up.
Wide-eyed, Morgan looks nervously around as Jamie walks towards her, telling her that dragons and swords are fun, but slow – notb as modern as missiles, for instance. Jamie adds that it is easy to go too hard and spoil the whole thing – but what does he care? It's only reality. He puts two fingers on Morgan's head and smiles, telling her that this gives him an idea – there is just one Captain Britain, but time was, there were hundreds. 'You could even go to that Citadel and meet them. But now they're all destroyed. As are the realities from which they hailed. No matter. We can make new ones' Jamie grins as he leans in close to Morgan, whose eyes roll back in her head. Jamie declares that it is easy enough to start a war – that you can make it look however you want – and if the results aren't what you wanted, then just hit them again until you get it right.
At the lighthouse, 'Incoming! I'll try to shield it as best I can!' Captain Britain calls out as she raises a psychic shield, but Gambit suddenly steps between Betsy and the missile, 'Capitaine, look out!' he exclaims as he uses his kinetic energy tob neutralize the missile by tearing it apart in an awesome display of power. Gambit falls backwards, and Rogue goes over to check on him as he coughs and tells his wife that he is okay, that it takes a lot of energy to take on a missile. Rogue remarks that she is pretty sure those missiles ain't Krakoan, to which Betsy agrees, but points out that they are made to look Krakoan – by someone who can make it look however he wants. The heroes look over to where Gambit destroyed the missile, and see a Krakoan flower growing up from the dirt. 'Damn it, Jamie. I wish they'd left you dead! What are you doing to Krakoa? To us? Just tell me!' Betsy shouts, clenching her fists.
'This is bananas. Should I be on the lookout for goblins or something?' Jubilee asks. Rogue tells her to get serious, to which Jubilee exclaims that she is serious, pointing out that if Jamie is just walling himself off in Otherworld and making it look like Krakoa is starting wars, she has no idea what they should look out for. Suddenly, a unicorn races towards Jubilee and shoves its horn through Jubilee's shoulder, skewering her and tossing her into the air. Jubilee falls to the ground as Rictor goes over to her and checks on her, and Jamie can be seen riding on the unicorn. 'Goblins? Bah, they don't look nice enough' Jamie declares. Rictor tells Jubilee to hold on, while Betsy asks her brother what is wrong with him and what he is doing. 'Is any of this real?' Betsy asks. Jamie tells his sister that he is happy to talk, he just doesn't want her bothering him in his home. 'You have all of Avalon to worry about. Why would you attack Britain?' Betsy demands.
Jamie explains that he just broke reality, but her mind is what fixed it, filling in the gaps. 'Did I turn Britain against you? Or did you do that with your internal dithering about which one is your real home?' Jamie asks. Betsy tells Jamie that she doesn't know how he got them here, but that he needs to get her back to her true reality immediately. 'You poor dear' Jamie remarks. 'This is your reality. This one that I just made' Betsy looks shocked at this revelation, while Jamie smiles as he boasts that it worked so seamlessly that Betsy completed it, the justifications and all. 'You're a different Captain Britain entirely. Why, if you're lucky, you might beat her there to be the first of a new corps'. Jamie claims that his Betsy is in Otherworld, deep behind enemy lines, and she has no idea that he is doing this.
Betsy scowls and tells Jamie that she has terrible news for him – she isn't the one he knows best, but she is still his sister – which means she still adores kicking his ass. Betsy then attacks Jamie with a powerful psychic blast that forces him off of the unicorn. Excalibur gather around and Rictor asks Rogue if she can drain Jamie and use his powers to restore reality, but Rogue isn't sure her taking Jamie's powers is a good idea, pointing out that they don't know what he can do, or if he's even holding this place together. 'I'm not' Jamie utters. 'I'm rather destructive, in fact...I've got another volley incoming to blow this reality up too' Jamie adds, as a screeching missile sounds – and then strikes, knocking Captain Britain backwards and furious fire, causing Betsy to scream. 'Capitaine!' Gambit calls out. '... Betsy?' Jubilee utters. Betsy doesn't move, and Gambit lunges at Jamie, 'You sonuva -' Gambit begins, as reality around them begins to crack, and Jamie alerts Excalibur to the breaking taking place around them.
'Oh God, Bets' Rogue utters, covering her face with her hands as she and the others gather around Betsy's unmoving body. 'She's...dead' Jubilee remarks. 'Capitaine. Wake up now' Gambit declares, while Rictor asks if she is dead. Each of the heroes then hold up an amulet, as a voice tells them that they have been tested, that they have served Otherworld, and even though they hail not from Britain, when Otherworld was left without a defender in its hour of darkest need, it was they who have chosen to take up the amulet and serve in glory. They are told that by taking the amulet in the hour of need, and through their service to Otherworld, they have shown themselves to be a true hero. 'Hail, Captain Britain!' the voice repeats four times as each of the heroes raises the amulet overhead, and is transformed into their own version of Captain Britain.
Meawhile, in Otherworld, Opal Luna Saturnyne stands before her White Priestesses, while flags representing the new Captain Britains hang from the ceiling. Saturnyne tells her priestesses that as she once earned her own title, they too have earned their place as her agents in Otherworld. Christabel and her red-haired friend look nervously at each other as they stand among other priestesses, and Saturnyne announces that these are not the captains she has once known – they are pretenders. She points out that these rebel Captain Britain Corps gains numbers without their permission by the moment. She tells them that they can see that when mutants return to Otherworld, chaos reigns – so they must not let this come to pass. Saturnyne raises a fist and shouts 'DEATH TO THE CAPTAIN BRITAIN CORPS!'


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[Assistant]
Verse XI: Blood of the Changeling
Otherworld, where two women in green tunics walk through a snow-covered forest towards a fountain which sticks up out of the snow, water flowing down the fountain. 'Do we know who brought the beast down?' one of the women asks. 'Not yet' the other replies. 'Do we know if it's going to die?' the first woman, with dark, curly hair, asks. 'Not yet' the second woman, who has red hair, responds, adding that the beast cries like it wants something. 'It's a dragon!' the first woman declares. 'I know! But it cries like a baby!' the second woman remarks as they wash their hands in the fountain. The first woman asks if the beast wants milk. 'No. it wants what all babies want, silly. It wants its mother' the other woman declares.
Nearby, inside a hollowed out tree trunk, Jubilee is shrouded in darkness, but she can hear what the two women are talking about. She releases a small burst of power, which illuminates her dark surroundings and listens as one of the women asks if she is dangerous. 'You saw what she did' the other woman replies. 'But if she is that thing's mother... can you blame her?' comes the response. Tears stream down Jubilee's face, as the woman with red hair remarks that she is going to see if Jubilee has decided to become calm and speak with her – but as plasma “fireworks” burst out of the tree, the women realize that Jubilee has not calm down. 'Oh dear' the woman with red hair remarks.
The women turn to the sky as they hear something, and the woman with red hair points out that it would appear something is coming to free Jubilee anyway. 'More dragons?' the other woman asks. 'No no. It's Captain Britain!' the woman with red hair exclaims, as Betsy Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain drops towards them, 'Surrender Jubilee or face my sword!' Captain Britain calls out, her psi-shield and psi-sword at the ready, with Rogue, Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit and Julio Richter a.k.a. Rictor at her side. 'Does she understand who we are?' the woman with the curly hair asks, holding her bow and arrow at the ready. 'Almost assuredly not' the other woman replies, before her companion instructs her to get her bow. 'We aren't going to be able to explain ourselves anytime soon!' the woman with curly hair adds, while several more men and women in green tunics emerge from the forest, shooting arrows towards Captain Britain and Excalibur. Gambit hurls several kinetically-charged playing cards towards the mysterious people in green tunics, while Rogue flies towards one of them, fist at the ready, and Rictor raises himself up on a mound of earth.
Inside the tree, Jubilee sits with her knees pulled up to her chest, when she hears Betsy calling out to her telepathically. 'Betsy!' Jubilee exclaims, sitting up, she reaches for a glowing burst of psionic energy and tells Betsy that she has to get her out of here. 'They've got Shogo, I don't know where, but I can feel he's near me. If they killed him -' Jubilee begins, but Captain Britain assures her that Shogo is alive, and that he will be okay. 'Did you find who did it? Did you kill them for me?' Jubilee scowls, tears continuing to stream down her face. Betsy tells Jubilee to breathe and to listen, as she informs her that it was Saturnyne, through some of her agents – her Priestesses. 'Oh. I'll kill her' Jubilee replies. Betsy tells Jubilee that she needs her to be patient and strong, and thate Shogo needs that. 'Find your strength. Even if it's just a loan against your later revenge' Betsy adds. Jubilee clasps the psionic energy in her hands as she asks Betsy where Shogo is, and where she is.  'Get me out of here!' Jubilee pleads. Betsy informs Jubilee that she is right outside, with some of the priestesses. Jubilee pauses before asking if they are still alive.
Kneeling outside the tree, Betsy telepathically informs Jubilee the priestesses are taking care of Shogo, as these aren't the priestesses who hurt him. She reveals that there are factions, that it is a bit complicated, but they can help. 'If you come out, you can see him' Betsy adds, telling Jubilee that she knows Shogo wants to see her. One of the Green Priestesses approaches Betsy and tells her that they are not violent but that the forest is their realm to protect. 'If she continues  to threaten us with her blasts of light, we will have to -' the priestess begins, but Betsy asks her to wait. The door into the tree then open and Jubilee turns to Betsy, tears streaming down her face, she remarks that she is done, and that she would like to see her son now.
Shortly, Betsy stands on a balcony of a hut built into a tree and looks down at Jubilee, who is hugging her son, Shogo, who is in his dragon form. 'So what now?' Betsy asks. Rictor, Gambit and Rogue are standing behind Betsy, warming themselves around a fire, as Rictor asks  if they can plant the gate here, then take Shogo back to Krakoa for hhealing, get another gate flower and leapfrog their way back. Betsy explains that she suggested to Jubilee they bring Shogo back to Krakoa for healing, but that they don't know what it would do to him, as his wound is larger than his whole tiny body, so there is a chance they take him through the gate and he just falls apart. 'Boy needs his mama' Gambit remarks, reminding the others that they have a misssion to get to that citadel and plant a gate, suggesting they split up, otherwise they are stuck here.
Betsy tells her team that she is more inclined to leave them all here with Jubilee and go forward herself, because if need be, she can move through Otherworld without a gate. 'You kidding me?' Rogue asks, reminding Betsy that Saturnyne shot the dragon out of the sky. 'Whatta you think she's gonna do to you when you roll on up there?' Rogue asks. Betsy looks over to the citadel which shimmers under the night sky and replies 'I'm Captain Britain. Why would she keep the citadel closed to me?'
Later, most of Excalibur sleep in hammocks, except for Rictor, who pulls a hooded cloak over his head and remarks that he can't sleep as he steps out of the hut and bare-foot onto the forest ground. He comes to a stop when he notices something glowing in the forest ahead. As he approaches the clearing, he sees two priestesses with antlers protruding from their foreheads standing near some glowing rock formation. 'Greetings, druid. Welcome to the heart of our home' one of the priestesses utters. 'Priestesses! May I approach?' Rictor asks. 'Of course. You mean this earth no harm' one of the women responds. Rictor pulls his hood back and as he approaches the glowing rock formation and remarks that it feels nice here, like following a good smell to the kitchen. One of the priestesses informs Rictor that this forest is beloved, that the earth here is beloved and protected – and fought over. 'When we die for something we love, the earth is what collects our heart's blood' she states, adding that some believe that is the power inherent in earth, and that the power is about to rise.
Blood-like veins run from the glowing rock into the earth, as Rictor asks 'More... blood?' to which one of the priestesses tells him 'More war'. The other priestess tells Rictor that it will be soon, but not now. 'So I just... touch it?' Rictor utters, putting his hands to the glowing rock, he suddenly hears something. 'I can hear myself... is someone listening?' he wonders, his eyes glowing, he looks panicked. 'Who the $#%& is listening to my thoughts?' Rictor asks, when the voice of Apocalypse responds 'My dear boy. I have been eager to hear from you'.
Apocalypse is one of his laboratories, he remarks that far in Otherworld, he cannot hear the Captain's powerful thoughts without some sort of amplifier. 'How is that you can hear me now?' Rictor responds. Apocalypse tells Rictor that he would asusme that he is meditating upon a place of great power, and that it is increasing his personal psychic reception, before asking why the gate is not yet built. Rictor explains that Shogo is down, that Saturnyne sent some  of her priestesses to stop them, and Shogo was shot out of the sky. He adds that they don't know why, but that they aren't going to be able to just walk up to the citadel and plant a gate now. 'The gate is but one element of what is to come' Apocalypse replies, placing his hand on an old book called the Grimoires. Apocalypse announces that there is a take, and that now is the time for Rictor to know. 'This is not my first coven...' Apocalypse begins, as Rictor sees images flash through his mind.
c. the Twelfth Century C.E.
For centuries Apocalypse has believed that mutantkind seeks one another by nature – more than wanting to live among one another, they are intended to, for their own protection – and the High Lords understood that. Selene, who is dressed as a nun, Nicodemus, the purple-skinned Crule and the bearded Saul gather and each take a sword. They are Externals, although they prefer the name High Lords. When they desire to meet, it takes little more than a thought to bring them together, and for that reason, they almost never call upon one another, because they are connected in other ways as well – their energies are like that of a single organism, so if one of them dies, the others feel themselves become stronger, as though one had distributed the contents of them among them.
So, when one of their number had a plan to extract her own life energy and place it into a stone, it was in Apocalypse's own interest to help. Candra appears before the others, and the creation of the infamous gem that once held her life force was, in many ways, Apocalypse's first ritual. Candra laid down on a slab, and the blades that the other High Lords carry begin to glow with energy. It was power they could have all shared, but Candra chose to remove it from herself and keep it rather than share it among her kindred, and when Apocalypse sunk the blade into her heart, he could have taken that energy for himself. Some of the High Lords felt like it was theft, to keep a shared thing like that in a stone – where could Candra hide it from them, anyway? But, the power contained within the stone was a temptation for impatient men – lesser men.
Apocalypse placed the gem on Candra's throat, and while individual power comes and goes, Apocalypse knew the ritual of the coven, the mastery over power that their kind has always been destined for. The gift of rebirth. And Candra suddenly opened her eyes, while energy from the red gem swirled about.
Present:
'And what does this have to do with me and the gate?' Rictor asks. Apocalypse tells him that their life in stones, their blood in the dirt and their home on Krakoa – power over the earth is power over them all.
The sun rises, and Rictor tells his teammates that they have to leave for the citadel, but that Shogo has to stay here, so the priestesses are in luck – they have a roughly immobile and very friendly dragon who can melt anyone that gets too close to them. 'Rictor, no! I'm not leaving him -' Jubilee begins. 'And you'll also have the protection of his psychotic mother' Rictor adds. 'What?' Jubilee asks. Betsy informs her that they have to continue to the citadel, but that she can't ask her to come with them, not with Shogo wounded. 'I don't want to stay here, but...' Jubilee's voice trails off, before she and Betsy hug, and Betsy tells Jubilee that Shogo will be up and hos old self in no time, back home and torturing Maggie. 'I'll keep in touch?' Betsy asks. 'Be careful' Jubilee tells her. S
One of the priestesses reports that Dragon fire is forbiddden as a weapon of war in most of the provinces, but that desperate times call for desperate measures, and that they are grateful for the gift of his flame. Rogue, Gambit and Rictor adjust their costumes and cloaks as Captain Britain states that Avalon's war with Saturnyne is over and Morgan was deposed, while King Jamie has no quarrel with thse kingdoms. 'Does he?' Betsy asks. 'Why all the talk of wartime?' The priestess tells Betsy that there is much of her brother's deeds that she does not know. 'But trust us – the war we fear hasn't yet begun'.
Rogue asks if they are really leaving Jubilee and Shogo behind. Betsy tells her that they don't have a choice, and that if they can get the gate set up outside of the Citadel, they can come and go as they please and return for Jubilee and Shogo when they need. 'Big if, that' Rogue points out. Gambit asks how they will get to the Citadel. 'We tried to fly up on a dragon and got shot down. How we gonna walk up on her lawn?' Gambit enquires. 'Oh, we aren't going to walk up on her lawn' Rictor smiles, energy glowing around his fist. 'We're going to go under it' he annnounces.
Shortly, there is a loud BRA-DOOOOM as the cliff-face of a mountain that slopes down near the Citadel bursts open, thanks to Rictor's mighty powers, and Captain Britain, Rictor, Gambit and Rogue emerge near the Citadel. They are seen by Saturnyne, who looks out a window in her citadel. 'Ah, Celber' she remarks, while the heroes scale down the side of the cliff face, 'So much for sneaking' Gambit points out. 'She shot Jubilee's son out of the sky, Gambit. I don't know that peace was ever an option' Betsy replies, while several winged White Priestesses fly from the Citadel and begin to fire arrows of energy towards Excalibur. Betsy holds her psi-shield up to block the onslaught of energy arrows, while Rictor asks who has the gate flower. Betsy confirms that she does, but points out they aren't anywhere near the citadel yet.
Betsy tells her teammates that they have to get the gate onto the citadel grounds, but admits that she didn't expect this kind of resistence. 'Give it here' Rictor tells Beetsy, who hands the flower over to him as he suggests that they get this started a little early, as plants like that. 'C'mon, l'il baby, get some roots' Rictor tells the flower as he uses his power to move some dirt around the flower, then he raises it upwards, on a bridge of dirt. 'Follow that flower. As soon as that gate gets anchored, jump through and get outta here!' Rictor tells the others, adding that he will follow 'On the way!' Rogue shouts as she and Betsy follows the bridge. Rictor raises slabs of rock that Gambit uses as stepping stones to run along after the bridge and throws kinetically-charged playing cards ahead of himself, 'I'll clear a path. Taget practice, non?' Gambit calls out, as the cards strike the winged priestesses.
'We go through that gate, we leave Jubilee behind all alone in the Otherworld!' Rogue remarks, but Betsy tells her that won't happen. 'One thing at a time – let's see if that gate took hold' Betsy remarks as the bridge reaches the Citadel, Rogue and Betsy drop down to find the Krakoan gateway has started to take formation. Gambit and Rictor join their teammates while Rogue tells Betsy that she knows what she is doing: 'You're doing Psylocke stuff. Gonna make everyone else worry boutcha while you save the day in secret'. Betsy frowns and tells Rogue to watch it. 'Ah ain't playing!' Rogue snaps back, clenching her fists, she warns Betsy that if she stays behind, then she will too, and so will Remy. 'We can't all stay behind!' Rictor calls out. 'Someone has to use the gate!' he points out, adding that someone has to go back to Apocalypse. 'You volunteering?' Gambit asks. 'I think I am' Rictor replies.
But, as Rictor steps into the gateway, he remembers that the Otherworld gates need crystals or something, and screams as he begins to fall, calling out to Apocalypse, by his Krakoan name. 'I can hear you' Apocalypse says, speaking into Rictor's mind. Apocalypse asks Rictor to make himself like the firmament, and tells him to be like a place on the earth, an anchor so that he may find him and bring him to him. 'Yeah. I can do that. I've done that before' Rictor replies, before announcing that he is ready, and he closes his eyes for the process.
'Betsy Braddock? Why are you storming my castle?' Opal Luna Saturnyne asks as she steps towards her “guests”. Captain Britain tells Saturnyne that she will not be kept from the Starlight Citadel, not even if she sends a hundred thousand arrows her way. Saturnyne frowns and tells Betsy that she is much less cooperative than her brother. 'I don't prefer you to him as Captain Britain' she reveals. 'I'm sorry to hear that, my lady – because I'm the only Captain Britain you've got' Betsy responds. Betsy, Rogue and Gambit follow Saturnyne into the citadel, but Saturnyne asks Rogue and Gambit what they are doing here. 'I'm through with you two. You're dismissed' she informs them. 'We're staying with -' Rogue begins, but Saturnyne interrupts her and tells her that she can go.
Rogue and Gambit find themselves on a balcony and Rogue tells her husband that can just hang out here until Betsy needs them. 'That Saturnyne is one rude lady' Gambit frowns. 'She might be. But for all them scrying mirrors and looking balls, she ain't seen her mistake' Rogue replies. Gambit asks Rogue what she means, to which Rogue replies 'She sent us in the hall. She thinks we just gonna sit here and twiddle our thumbs'. Rogue smirks and points to a closet, asking Gambit what he thinks is in there. 'Buncha goodies?' she asks. 'Dieu' Gambit resonds. 'Attaboy' Rogue smiles as Gambit goes over to the closet and opens it. 'It wasn't even locked!' Gambit utters as he looks at the mirrors, old books, jewels and other objects in the closet. 'Well, why would it be? We ain't supposed to be here. All Saturnyne's flyers got called to the fight. Dunno if I should encourage you like this, but I like to see ya smile Rogue smiles.
'Lucky for me' Gambit replies, before he finds a deck of cards. He laughs, and supposes that he may as well fill his pockets. Rogue looks around nervously and tells Gambit that she likes letting him take his time, but that he best hurry before they get company. 'Yeah, sorry bout dat. You know I'm a sucker for a pretty thing' Gambit smiles as he holds up a red stone.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Verse XII: The Beginning
Krakoa, specifically the External Caldera, where Apocalypse descends a long flight of stairs, down into a crater where seven powerful beings, his fellow Externals, or High Lords, are waiting for him. Once upon a time, Apocalypse was a hero to his people. But his people, young as they were, could not understand. Immortality is not a blessing, and nor is it a curse. It is a clarity of perspective, and in that, it can be lonely. To see all of the ants in a colony, one must stand far above them. 'High Lords. What brings you here?' Apocalypse asks. The muscular, purple-skinned External called Crule tells Apocalypse not to play games with them, and points out that they are here because he summoned them. 'Exactly correct' Apocalypse frowns. He tells the Externals that throughout the ages they have been of immense power and capability, but that two things unite them all – firstly, they can all summon one another at any time, nothing can keep them apart if they wish to commune. 'What is the other trait that defines us?' Apocalypse asks.
'I'd heard you'd been playing at being a sorcerer, but I didn't know you were stooping to riddles, too' the sultry Candra remarks. 'Oh, no riddles, Candra. The time for jokes has long passed' Apocalypse replies. 'Eternal life. We can't be killed. We return from beyond any death' the wicked Selene calls out, answering Apocalypse's earlier question. 'Precisely' Apocalypse tells her. A man wearing a red and purple costume called Nicodemus tells Selene not to play Apocalypse's game, and asks Apocalypse what his point is. 'Do you hear what she says of our gifts? Nothing could raise a hand to kill us without suffering our rebirth, and no one could keep us apart if we wished to use our gates' Apocalypse responds. He reminds the Externals that some of them were there when he came to them with the promise of Krakoa, and that some of them thrilled at the promise of amnesty, a place to operate, excused from their crimes. 'But we were offered more than that. We were offered community among our people' Apocalypse remarks.
'Now they have become as powerful as we have always been. As a whole. As one' Apocalypse states, adding that humans almost knew this once, when they were young, but they have replaced community with mechanization and individualism, and it has caused them to forget. 'We will simply succeed where they have failed' Apocalypse states. 'You have summoned us here to tell us we are now obsolete?' Nicodemus asks, as orange smoke billows up through cracks in the crater. 'I dare any of these young mutants to stand and face us ancient ones!' Nicodemus snaps. 'Obsolete?' Apocalypse asks, scowling, while Gideon stands next to him. 'The intelligence of eons and you still get it so wrong' Apocalypse remarks, stating that the High Lords have always been first of their kind to do new things. 'We are not obsolete – we were the first mutant coven' Apocalypse explains. 'Coven?' Candra asks. 'As someone who has wriggled out of being burned at a few stakes, I find that rich' Candra declares.
Candra then asks Apocalypse what the purpose of all of this is. 'Are you confessing to your plans before heaving yourself into this volcano?' she enquires. The bearded Saul and the blond Absalom stand next to Gideon as Apocalypse tells his fellow Externals that they are not obsolete – they are useful. 'We have a community to feed, and you are the fuel' he explains, telling the Externals that he had hoped that, in their wisdom, if he explained the importance of what they do here today, they wouldn't fight back, and at that moment, lava begins to rise up through one of the cracks in the crater.
Trapped in the earth, Julio Richter a.k.a. Rictor calls out to Apocalypse by his new Krakoan name. 'Where are you?' Rictor pleads, the lava boiling around him. 'What is this?' Rictor wonders as his eyes glow, he pleads 'You brought me here! Please don't do this – Apocalypse – where am I? What did you do to me?' and a moment later, Rictor screams as he bursts up through the crater, screaming, as lava bursts upwards, striking Crule and Nicodemus, while Rictor's shirt is torn to shreds. 'Behold: this mutant is not a High Lord. Once, he was even powerless, the lowest of the low. When I found him, he was miserable. Now he has learned of mutant community, divorced from a human world that taught him cruelty' Apocalypse informs the Externals, adding that among his people, Rictor excels, and that he can be a High Lord. 'As are all mtuants. So you see the problem, my External brothers and sisters. You have a choice to make: Give me yur ancient bones to the empowering of this gateway and let our kind evolve and expand...or die denying the inevitable' Apocalypse tells his fellows, as begins firing energy blasts from his hands.
'What is this? What did you do to me? Was this just some kind of stress test of my powers? Are we just some experiment to you?' Rictor asks angrily. As Crule falls motionless in front of apocalypse, the ancient mutant tells Rictor 'No. You are the future. They are the past. For the good of our kind, they must die to serve you'. 'You would dare try to sacrifice us without our permission? You fool. The lives of the Externals are connected' Nicodemus snarls, telling Apocalypse that he damns them and damns himself. Apocalypse looks shocked as Nicodemus uses his power to direct the fire building up in the crater towards him. 'Selene, Rictor, Gideon – to my side!' Apocalypse calls out. Rictor rises up above Apocalypse and tells him not to order him around. 'You answer me. I watched you do it to Rogue. I think you've done it to Betsy. You can't just hold us down and threaten to kill us to unlock some sort of inner strength!' Rictor exclaims, his eyes glowing as he tells Apocalypse 'You can't scare us with death anymore!'
'Yes, my boy. That is what I have wanted you to understand' Apocalypse smiles, before earth rises up in front of Apocalypse, Selene and Gideon, protecting them as shield from the bone spikes that Absalom hurls at them. 'They seem to desire a fight' Selene points out. 'They think they do. I will show them the error of their ways' Apocalypse replies. Absalom calls out to Selene, asking her if she stands with Apocalypse over them. 'It is the young that feed me, Absalom. Not the old. Not the dying' Selene responds, before Rictor asks if she can drain him, transform him into stone like the ritual that she did. 'I see you've told him many secrets' Selene remarks to Apocalypse, before stating that they can. 'If you will do the ritual with us' Selene tells Rictor. 'Okay. I can do that' Rictor replies, before asking what is happening to Saul. Nicodemus tells Apocalypse that he has forgotten so much, and declares that within each of them is the power of the ages – the ancient magics that permit anything – taught by their own Garbha-Hsein. 'A greater form awaits me!' Saul cries out as he transforms into a large dragon.
'We could arrange for your exile without lifting a finger, whelp!' Nicodemus warns Rictor. 'We could make ashes of your Council if we choose, could rule mutantkind from the shadows as we have done in the past -' Nicodemus boasts, but Rictor tells him that he can't, and that he doesn't understand. 'The rules have changed. You aren't special!' Rictor tells the Externals. 'If what Apocalypse says is true, you and I are equals now, old man. And I believe him!' Rictor declares, rising up on the flames in the crater 'Krakoa belongs to all mutants' Rictor shouts, using his powers to sends shockwaves through the crater, which causes the lava to wash over Candra, Nicodemus, Absalom and Saul in his dragon form. They look anguished, in pain, as the noise searing flames against their flesh can be heard, while from behind their protective barrier of earth and rock, Apocalypse tells Selene and Gideon to remember that the weak who would not die for the greater good do not deserve its comforts.
When the lava and steam subside, Apocalypse, Selene and Gideon steps out from behind the barrier and approach Rictor. 'Such power you have with magma at your fingertips. So many of our High Lords...laid low' Selene utters, as the skeletal remains of Candra and Nicodemus can be seen scattered on the grounds, and the large unmoving dragon, burnt nearby. Absalom is alive, however, and looks up at Apocalypse, while Rictor explains that he wasn't trying to kill them, that he could feel them, their energy, when the lava went through them, he formed it. 'Because you have learned, Rictor. You have read the grimoire and studied the gifts of your people' Apocalypse explains. 'Sabah Nur... help me!' Absalom cries out. Apocalypse looks down at Absalom and tells him that he is lucky. Rictor, Selene and Gideon look on as Apocalypse raises his boot to Absalom's face. 'You have shamed yourself, Absalom. And now you are skin and fragile, delicate bone'. Apocalypse turns from Absalom, he doesn't stomp his boot onto him. Instead, he admits that he has need of Absalom for his numbers, and instructs him to get on his feet, as the ritual must begin.
Selene stands over the dragon-skull remains of Saul, while Gideon folds his arms as he stands behind Nicodemus' remains. Absalom holds his weary body up as he stands over Crule's skeleton, and Apocalypse stands behind Candra's body as he tells the Externals 'See how easily we become one, when we put aside our differences. We have done this beore. When Candra was young. Even then, it was four. Always four'. As pink crystals grow up from the crater, Rictor remarks that something seems wrong – admitting that he doesn't know what right looks like. 'We are missing one. But how...' Apocalypse begins, puzzled. To plant seeds in a garden is to know one might die before tasting the fruit – but Apocalypse had lived so long, surely it was time to reach for what was growing. Whether or not it was ready, it was time. He had waited so long. Apocalypse goes wide-eyed, and looks down at Candra's body, while Rictor tells him that their bones all feel energetically empty, which makes sense, as they used them to make up the gate. 'But Candra's feels different. Like it's been empty for a while' Rictor explains.
Otherworld, where Rogue and Gambit walk through the Starlight Citadel. Rogue peers around a corner and tells her husband that the coast is clear. 'All the goodies I found you in that closet and you're playing with that dumb stone' Rogue remarks as Gambit throws a red amulet into the air and catches it. 'Why do I recognize that thing?' Rogue asks – but Gambit tells her that he doesn't remember. Rogue asks Gambit if he recognizes the stone, if that is why he took it. 'Be honest with me' Rogue asks, but Gambit tells his wife that he isn't sure. He asks Rogue to forgive him for being a little shaken up and admits that he still wishes they had stayed home. 'You always say that' Rogue retorts, suggesting they get a little camera so Gambit can look in on his cats. She suggests they get eyes on Betsy and get out of here.
'You are lying to your wife' a voice calls out, and the ghost of Candra appears, clinging to Gambit's shoulders. 'That is... so exciting for me' she utters. Remy frowns and tells Candra that is nothing to get excited about. 'You're here 'cause I don't trust ya, and I'd rather have ya in my hands than anyone else's' Gambit states. Candra tells Remy that the tw of them have that in common. 'So you did know it was me in that stone? Are you rescuing me from a castle, Gambit?' Candra asks. Gambit continues walking as he asks Candra what she is doing here, reminding her that last time he saw her, she was a nasty child and now she is back to grown up, sitting in a stone in his pocket in Otherworld. 'That's awful lucky that you turn up here, even for you'. But Candra reminds Gambit that she is the goddess of thieves, and doesn't need luck.
Candra smiles as she reveals that Apocalypse has been very inviting, as just about anyone can step through and take a look around King Jamie's throne. 'You could have just told Rogue you recognized my heart gem' Candra suggests, asking Remy why he didn't, as she could have said hello. 'Last time I saw you, you chained up my wife, which -' Gambit begins, and Candra interrupts him, telling him to go on and make the obvious joke. But Gambit frowns and tells Candra that she forgets he has been a thief for a long time, and that thieves do more than just steal good things. 'We fence 'em off to whoever's buying. You best start talking clearly or I'll see who's in need of a mouthy paperweight' Gambit warns Candra. 'If you must know, that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid' Candra scowls.
Candra informs Gambit that this sorcery business is nothing new for Apocalypse, and that he has always been a meddler, so once he aaw what he could do with the bones of ancient mutants, her days were numbered, and she needed to stay out of his hands. 'So you put yourself here? You know he been watching this place' Gambit replies, informing Candra that Apocalypse sent them here to make a gate, and that he will be outside any second now. 'Yeah, but Saturnyne hates him. What's safer than within her walls?' Candra asks as she drapes herself over Gambit's shoulders. Candra then steps in front of Remy and puts her hands on his chest, asking him to protect her from Apocalypse. 'Remy?' Rogue calls out, turning around to Gambit, she asks him why he is dwadling, and alerting him to the fact that company is approaching down the hall. 'Oh no, save me!' Candra utters when she sees several white priestesses marching down the hallway. 'Shush up!' Gambit mutters. 'Who the hell you think you talking to?' Rogue snaps, but Gambit doesn't answer, as one of the white priestesses sees them, 'There are the witchebreed thieves! Stop them!' she calls out. 'Not you – I promise!' Gambit tells Rogue as they run from the priestesses. 'You better hope so. Hurry up!' Rogue replies.
In another part of the citadel, Betsy Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain tells Opal Luna Saturnyne that it is only right thay she introduces herself to her, as Captain Britain. 'My lady? Hello?' Betsy calls out when Saturnyne doesn't answer her. Betsy informs Saturnyne that Jubilee's son is gravely wounded and Rictor just took an unpowered gate from the Otherworld. 'Who knows hwat that will  do to him' she adds, before reminding Saturnyne that she sent Rogue and Gambit away, and asks her if she has nothing to say. 'You said you're the “only Captain Britain” I've got. That is demonstrably untrue' Saturnyne presses a panel and an elevator door opens. As they step into the elevator, Saturnyne remarks that Betsy is a fluke, and that is the trouble – there is no evidence she is the control group. 'When the Captain Britain Corps was destroyed, I lost much' Saturnyne adds.
As they travel in the elevator, Saturnyne explains to Captain Britain that she was forced to open her tower like a school to find those who would learn her teachings, who would protect and defend this place so that she could manage reality – but there are no heroes among them, and at best, her priestesses are insects acting as a swarm, her lessers. 'Once upon a time, I had a sworn sword. Brian Braddock. And he was so good – that he did the job in just about every reality. Imagine that' Saturnyne remarks as she steps out of the elevator. Betsy follows Saturnyne into some sort of library, although the book shelves are empty. In the room though is some large crystals which they approach.
Saturnyne continues her tale, revealing that Otherworld has been in chaos – alliances shattered, embassies shuttered. 'And in the midst of the worst and most unprecedented chaos this realm, this ever-standing and vitally important nexus of reality, has ever endured – in walks you'. Saturnyne scowls. Betsy looks shocked as she sees the crystals – and contained inside the crystals are versions of her teammates – Jubilee, Rictor, Rogue and Gambit – dressed as Captain Britain Corps members. 'What am I seeing? Where did they come from?' Betsy asks. Saturnyne explains that they are abominations, mistakes from rogue realities, and states that the role of Captain Britain is about more than who is willing to do it. 'You can't just pick up the medallion and swear to serve people who don't want you' Saturnyne adds. 'You don't know what you're talking about. I have done Captain Britain's work before' Betsy informs Saturnyne.
'Would you like to talk about what I can do that he can't? Brian is brilliant and strong and kind, but he is human' Betsy states, as she begins to manifest her psi-blade. 'I know that. And so does all of England. What happens when their hate for your kind overwhelms your sense of duty?' Saturnyne responds. The two women stare at each other as Saturnyne informs Betsy that she has looked at so many realities, and tells her that hate wins far too often. They hear the sound of a gong alarm and Saturnyne announces that there must be intruders. 'You want a chance to defend my citadel? You may begin now' she tells Captain Britain.

Back at the External Gate, Apocalypse holds up Candra's remains and declares 'She tricked us. Cowardly witch'. Selene suggests to Apocalypse that he always expect these sacrifices of others, but never of himself. 'It's a bit transparent' Selene frowns. Apocalypse tells Selene to be quiet and remarks that she has not even begun to consider what he stands to lose. Apocalypse touches the large pink crystals that have formed in the crater, and one of the others asks him what he is doing. Apocalypse explains that Candra's spirit is elsewhere, that she has locked it away in one of her trinkets, and so she was not truly present to empower the gate. 'We will need the ancient power that is within' Apocalypse explains. 'What are you doing?' Rictor calls out as energy begins to radiate around Apocalypse. 'You can't sacrifice yourself to empower the gate – you said it – you won't be reborn!' Rictor exclaims. They're stuck like this!' he adds.
In the Starlight Citadel, Captain Britain stands ready to fight, when Rogue and Gambit appear near a Krakoan gate, and Betsy asks her friends if they are what set off the alarm. 'Drop what's mine. And back off' Saturnyne warns the heroes. 'Do what she says, gorgeous. Let the lady have her gem' Candra suggests as she drapes herself over Gambit's shoulders. 'Ta gueule' Gambit replies – telling Candra to shut up in his nativve French. 'Fine, fine. I won't attempt to plead my case any further' Candra replies, before reminding Gambit that Apocalypse wants the gem – and so does she. 'So you either help me...or you help him'. Saturnyne commands several priestesses who enter the room to destroy the gate, but Betsy tells them to wait, and telepathically communicates with Rictor and Apocalypse, informing them that she can hear them. Apocalypse tells Captain Britain that he can feel Candra's soul is there with her. 'Candra? That old bat? I haven't thought about her -' Betsy begins.
Candra tells Gambit that they are going to tear down the gate anyway, that it is not going to matter, so he should give her soul back to her. 'Nah, chere' Gambit replies. Betsy looks at Gambit and sees him holding the stone. 'That needs to go into the gate. You know she deserves it Betsy tells him. Gambit frowns as he looks at the stone and asks if it is for Apocalypse, reminding Betsy that she knows he doesn't want to do anything more for him. 'I wanna see him sulk real bad. But there gon' be time for me to settle things with him later' Gambit remarks, before announcing that today he is going to handle Candra – deal with it one External at a time. 'No!' Candra cries out as Gambit hurls the stone containing her soul into the gate. There is a hissing sound and the ground around the gate begins to change. 'What have you done to my citadel?' Saturnyne exclaims.
On Krakoa, the stone bounces across  the ground towards Apocalypse. 'It is done' Apocalypse states. 'One of our coven chose to do his part. See how the community can triumph over one' he tells Selene, Gideon and Rictor. The pink crystals rise higher, and orange steam billows into the air. 'Is that it, then? Your great work of evolution completed?' someone asks. 'No' Apocalypse replies as he reveals  that this is merely a permanent gate to the Starlight Citadel, and that the Otherworld will now open wide before them.
Energy rises up under the Starlight Citadel, while Apocalypse, Rictor, Selene and Gideon stare into the External Gate. 'To persist past today is to accept an unknown future. But we have learned the value of sacrifice' Apocalypse remarks.
And in that moment, the magician of mutantkind spoke the bardic truth – he would indeed lose more than he had planned for.


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X of Swords, Chapter 9
Once upon a time there was a mutant who became a hero to a people who were not her own. She had hardly settled into her own skin before it was dressed in the colors of a nation. To be a hero is not a blessing, nor is it a curse. It is clarity of perspective – and in that, it can be lonely. To be everything to everyone is to be very little to yourself.
The Starlight Citadel, Otherworld, where one of the White Priestesses alerts other priestesses to get to their posts. 'The Kingdom of Avalon approaches!' she shouts as she sees two large birds flying towards the citadel, carrying King Jamie Braddock and his brother, Brian Braddock, the former Captain Britain, both who laugh. 'Eyes up, King Jamie!' Brian tells his brother. 'Captain Britain welcomes us to the Starlight Citadel!' Brian remarks as he sees their sister waiting for them on a balcony. Betsy – the current Captain Britain – looks up at her brothers and tells them to come on in and land. 'Are you cross because your brothers didn't bring you a griffin?' Jamie asks as white priestesses tend to the large birds. 'I'm not cross, I'm busy' Betsy snaps back. 'If you're through faffing about, there are a few nations at stake. Yours and mine' Betsy declares.
Brian extends his arms to hug Betsy and smiles: 'Come here, serious girl' he tells her, asking for one good hug before everything goes pear-shaped. 'What is that on your hip?' Betsy asks as she looks at her brother. Brian tells her that he brought it for her, but Betsy tells him that she doesn't want it, that he can take it to Krakoa and stick it in the sigil. Brian puts his hand on the sword hanging from his hip and tells Betsy that the Sword of Might was named in the prophecy, as were they, so one of them has to wield it. 'It's all yours, then' Betsy responds, as she turns and starts to walk away. 'For heaven's sake, can we talk about it?' Brian asks. Betsy tells him that there is no need, and that she will keep the amulet, as her sword suits her fine. 'Call me when you need a mutant to walk you through the gate' Betsy adds.
But Brian tells Betsy that he came here to thank her, not to fight her. '... do you even hear yourself? To thank me. As if this whole Captain Britain thing was simply a favor to you' Betsy snaps, turning back to Brian. 'It was. And when I was too angry and hurt to take the amulet in my hand again, you were there for me' Brian reminds Betsy, informing her that he is ready now. 'You have to say it. If you want it, you have to at least be able to bloody ask me for it' Betsy responds, before narrowing her eyes and asking her brother what it is that he wants to take from her.
'Captain Britain!' a voice calls out before Brian can answer. The Braddocks look over to see the Majestrix of this realm, Opal Luna Saturnyne, approaching them. 'I sent you to greet our guests, not to belittle them' Saturnyne remarks, hands on hips, before inviting Jamie and Brian in, informing them that she has had tea prepared.
Jamie asks if they are the first of the provinces to arrive. 'Needed an extra morning to sniff my brother's pillow?' Jamie asks Saturnyne, who ignores that comment and simply states that it is true what they say – the new King of Avalon is a babbling mad. 'What a shame. I know your family so well, I had hoped we could reach some sort of understanding' Saturnyne reveals. 'You can get to know me just as well. I don't mind if you sniff my pillow' Jamie replies. Saturnyne glances sideways as she tells Jamie to comfort himself, and that he is her guest, and although Captain Britain may try to waste their time, they are actually on a tight schedule.
Saturyne leads the Braddocks through an indoor garden, where several statues stand tall, glowing under the light that shines through large windows. 'Long have I known your illustrious family, Braddocks. And now you arrive as the royal court of the Kingdom of Avalon. How things have changed' Saturnyne remarks. She states soon this citadel will be alive with guests, and moments to pay respect to their fallen will be in short supply, so it was important for her to take the three of them here now. Brian looks around and asks Saturnyne 'What is this place?' Saturnyne explains that this is the memorial garden which stands in honor of their illustrious Captain Britain Corps whom they lost when a great incursion destroyed many of their Multiverses.
Saturnyne tells the Braddocks that since the loss of the Captain Britain Corps, Otherworld has lacked a corps of true protectors. 'Pardon me, your Whyness. But we have a Captain Britain Corps' Betsy declares. 'What? We do?' Brian asks. 'They are heretical and have been dealt with accordingly' Saturnyne explains. 'Heretical? They may have been generated by Jamie's stupid games, but they're still captains. They have rights' Betsy declares, crossing her arms. 'King Jamie' Jamie quietly corrects his sister. Saturnyne explains that tradition dictates that Captain Britain be given the choice – the amulet or the sword. She adds that the offer is made, by Merlyn or Roma, but no longer. Saturnyne states that any captain who hasn't made the choice is unorthodox and must be declared rogue – at which point they are held until she determines them ready to be destroyed.
'That's ridiculous. I didn't have to make the choice' Betsy replies. 'Your words. Not mine' Saturnyne smirks, before declaring that one day they will have a corps again – she has seen it. 'I've had about enough of this' Betsy mutters, adding that they have until tomorrow. 'There's a whole Starlight Sword we haven't even begun to acquire -' she starts to say, before Saturnyne smiles wickedly and points to an exit: 'The exit is the other way. Through the garden, if you please' she snaps. 'Oh, for heaven's sake...' Brian mutters, shaking his head. As Betsy strides away, Saturnyne tells Brian and Jamie that this is an unpleasant beginning to their visit. She adds that as Captain Britain's brothers, they must be used to this sort of outburst from her, and that Captain Britain has been worn so thin lately. 'It's exhausting her' Saturnyne comments, deciding that Captain Britain is not meant for this sort of work, the face-front type, as she has always been more of the “lurking in the shadows” sort, not inclined towards heroics.
Betsy continues on through the garden, past more memorial statues of the fallen Captain Britain Corps members, when a voice calls out 'Dammit, Betsy -' and Betsy spins around, her psi-sword clanging against Brian's sword as he prepares to raise it from where it is sheathed at his hip. 'Stop following me' Betsy tells her twin. 'If you would just talk to me!' Brian replies. 'You left the scabbard on, but it's a start. Pick that up and draw it' Betsy tells Brian. 'No' Brian replies, asking Betsy if she saw what happened when he drew it before. 'I don't know who that hero is or what he fights for. I won't draw a weapon in anger for a cause I don't recognize!' Brian exclaims. Betsy tells Brian that no one is going to make him into anything he doesn't want, and that he shouldn't be a coward. 'You just want your damn job back' Betsy snaps.
Betsy turns away from Brian and continues on through the garden as she tells Brian that they are running out of time. 'What was the prophecy about the Starlight Sword? “As above, so below. From one womb came two -”' Betsy begins, while Brian tells her that it is a job, and asks her why she wants to be Captain Britain. 'Honestly, you live in another country -' Brian starts to say, before telling Betsy that he never expected her to do this forever. 'Did you ever consider that maybe I'd want to?' Betsy asks, glancing back at her brother, she tells him to pick his sword up. 'Not to fight you' Brian replies. 'Pick it up!' Betsy snaps as she swings her psi-blade, which narrowly misses Brian's face. 'Have you gone bloody feral on that island?' the shocked Brian asks.
'You want to fight, Betsy?' Brian asks. 'Stop talking!' Betsy responds. 'Is this how you want to settle this? Like some skinned-knee little tomboy still? Scrapping in the garden?' Brian asks. Betsy tells her twin to shut his mouth, and that he has no idea what this means to her. 'It is an honor, not a birthright, Brian! You are owed nothing!' Betsy exclaims. 'Neither are you, Betsy! Least of all this!' Brian retorts. Betsy is knocked backwards by a surge of energy as Saturnyne approaches. 'There you are!' she calls out. 'Oh, dear. Please don't sit on the roses, Captain Britain. You really ought to know better by now' Saturnyne remarks, before turning to Brian and asking him if things will be  cordial between them by supper. 'I believe so, my lady' Brian responds.
Later, night has fallen and a moon glows down on the floating Starlight Citadel. In the room where Jamie is sleeping, a figure creeps through the darkness, but Jamie suddenly wakes, 'Izzat you Saturnyne? Come to tuck me in?' he asks, before he utters 'Oh, noooo' as a woman grabs his arm and announces 'Jamie Braddock the Mad, King of Avalon... the Captain Britain Corps sentences you to die!' and Jamie screams as the Captain Britain Corps versions of Rogue, Rictor, Gambit and Jubilee loom over him.
Betsy is in the garden, training by using her psi-sword against the Captain Britain Corps monuments, and looks over at where the Sword of Might is lying nearby – when suddenly, she hears Jamie scream. She runs through the garden up into the palace, and is joined by Brian, who runs at her side. 'I heard him. Came from the south hall' Brian reports. Betsy tells him to prepare for the worst, to which Brian remarks that he needs a weapon. 'I thought about that – here, take this one' Betsy responds as she hands Brian the Sword of Might. 'Dammit, Betsy...' Brian mutters. 'I don't need it' Betsy declares as she as she raises her psi-sword.
'Oh my god. They got out' Betsy gasps as she and Brian arrive at Jamie's room, where they find him warping reality around the Captain Britain Corps members. 'Is this the Captain Britain Corps you mentioned?' Brian asks. 'Real shame about that. Because now I've got to kill them all!' Jamie exclaims. 'They aren't even British...' Brian mutters, while Betsy tells Jamie to put them down, warning him that she is already halfway prepared to make him put them down. Eyes glowing with energy, Jamie turns to Betsy and tells her not to try that on him, or he will put her in here with them. He informs his younger siblings that he thought if he kills them, Saturnyne would probably reward him, maybe with an extra province, or a kiss. 'Sure, I'm no Brian. But a Braddock's a Braddock' he adds, before remarking that he might split the difference and kill one of them – and an instant later, Jubilee's face is blown apart, her body dropping to the ground.
'Had to even the odds. You understand' Jamie remarks. 'You kill her!' Gambit exclaims. 'Death to Mad King Jamie!' Rogue declares. Jamie goes over to stand with Betsy and Brian and holds a sword towards  Rogue, Gambit and Rictor as they stand up and approach him. 'You monumental ass. You didn't have to do that, and now they're furious'. Jamie tells Betsy that he prefers “royal pain”, before the three Braddocks begin to run, as the Corps members chase them. Betsy warns Brian that he is going to need to get a sword that can actually cut people soon, but Brian states that he will not draw the Sword of Might in anger. Jamie laughs and suggests they head to the grand foyer. 'I hate to hit a man in the back!' Gambit calls out as he hurls a kinetically-charged playing card towards Jamie. Brian sees this and warns his brother to look out, while raising the Sword of Might to block the card. 'Ahh – it's burning the scabbard!' Brian exclaims as the energy from Gambit's attack sizzles. 'Brian, don't let go!' Betsy calls out, while energy surrounds Brian.
When the energy subsides, Brian stands, Sword of Might raised at his side, he is now clad in a black, red, gold and white costume. 'Stand back. I draw the Sword of Might in defence of the family Braddock and the life of my brother, King Jamie of Avalon' Brian announces. 'I am -' Brian starts to say, before Jamie interrupts: 'Mine!' he calls out. 'All mine! I'm going to call you Captain Avalon!' Jamie adds. 'Then Captain Avalon I shall be. And as it has been my displeasure to cut down a Captain Britain Corps before, I would ask it not to have to happen again' Brian adds, while Rogue, Rictor and Gambit look on in shock. 'Brian?' a voice calls out – it's Saturnyne and she approaches Brian, touching his face, she tells him that this is heresy, and that he should put the ridiculous old Sword of Might down and take the fraudulent captains to the prison cells for her. 'You can only hold them if you intend to give them a trial. That's how the corps used to handle it, right Brian?' Betsy remarks.
Saturnyne turns to Betsy and uses magical power to drag the Amulet of Right from Betsy's neck, telling her that she thinks they have seen enough of Betsy Braddock, warning her that she will be getting her own cell among the other rogue captains. Betsy clings to the amulet in an attempt to prevent it from detaching itself from her, while Saturnyne informs Brian that if he wants the amulet when she is done with it, he will fall in line. 'Saturnyne, please!' Brian calls back, while Betsy announces that she doesn't need the amulet, and that neither does Brian. She then begins to crush the amulet with powerful psionic energy. 'What do you think you're doing?' Saturnyne calls out, before the amulet shatters. 'The Amulet of Right! How dare you!?' Saturnyne snarls. Betsy states that she doesn't buy into much of Apocalypse's sorcery, but that there is one very powerful magical law she has come to rely on – the power of a psychic's raw will. 'Without an amulet, you'll have to rely on one of us rejects' Betsy points out.
White Priestesses arrive and begin to escort the Corps members out of the garden, while Saturyne snaps 'I will do no such thing, you insolent little b--!' She grabs Betsy by her hair and tells her that she has no idea what kind of mistake she has just made. 'But you and the rest of these counterfeits will have all night in the Tenebrous Cells to consider it before you die at dawn' Saturnyne announces. She encourages King Jamie to return to his chambers, before turning to Brian and asking him if he will escort her to her chambers. Brian follows Saturnyne, while glancing back at Betsy. 'Excellent. Wise choice. Smart boy. Don't worry about her anymore' Saturyne tells Brian.
There was a time when she might have drawn a knife, twisted their minds and sneaked away – but she has become a hero since those days, whether or not she was ready, it was time. Betsy is surrounded by darkness in the dungeon. She sits cross legged on the floor and tells herself that she will give it one more try, but then she isn't sure what she will do. She telepathically calls out to the Captain Britain Corps, asking them if they were actually put in cells, and not just cast out a window. 'Oui' Gambit utters, to which Betsy asks him if he is on this floor, nearby, and if the others are with him. Gambit confirms that they are, and Betsy tells him she will come to them, that she will find a way. But Gambit warns her not to, and reveals that once you get out of the cell, it is a spell, nothing but black up and down – Rogue tried to fly out in it and got real cold, and now she can't get warm. Betsy tells Gambit to stay put, and that Saturyne can't cage them up like this, as they deserve a proper trial in front of the corps, even if that is just them. Betsy makes her way to what appears to be a window sil, and Gambit asks her to hurry up and come back for them. 'I'll do my best, captain' Betsy's thoughts reply.
Betsy goes wide-eyed when she detects someone else's thoughts in her mind. 'Who the hell -' Betsy begins, before Jamie greets her: 'Hello, luv. It's the king'. He then instructs her to jump out the window and into the blackness for him. Betsy tells Jamie to get out of her head. 'How are you -' she begins, to which Jamie explains that the connection was open, so he patched himself in. '... what if I say no?' Betsy asks. 'Then get yourself out there for all I care. Or die at dawn' Jamie replies, adding 'Except if you die here you come back... all wrong, yeah?' Betsy closes her eyes, 'Yeah' she tells Jamie. 'Worse than this, maybe' she admits, before she throws herself out the window and into the darkness – where she suddenly lands with a WHUMP on the back of a griffin that Jamie is controlling. 'Her Whyness thinks I'm back in my chambers' Jamie tells his sister. 'But who could sleep at a time like this? Come on. We've got to get in there to rescue Brian' Jamie exclaims. Betsy asks where Brian is, and Jamie replies 'Oh, you know where he is...'.
At that moment, Brian sits on a chair in Saturnyne's chambers, while Saturnyne sits on Brian's lap. 'Brian... there is much I brought you here to share with you... and while your ardor pleases your lady... I had planned for this to happen in the morning' Saturnyne remarks, explaining that Brian's sister played so eagerly into their hands with her little drama, trashing that silly old amulet. Saturnyne stands up and declares that the amulet is just a relic from back when Merlyn and Roma used them to choose the captain. 'But now it's only me here in the citadel' Saturnyne points out as she creates what appears to be a pool of water, and staters that she doesn't need a choice, so they don't need the amulet. From the water, Saturnyne draws a glowing sword and explains that now Captain Britain will be her knight, as the Starlight Citadel itself contains the doorways to every reality. 'Now you will defend the citadel and all of reality... with a blade forged from its very walls'.
Saturnyne tells Brian to leave behind the Sword of Might and take what is his. Brian gets up and goes over to Saturnyne, wrapping his arms around her, he kisses her and tells her that he would love nothing more. Saturnyne drops the sword to the floor as she falls backwards onto the bed, with Brian on top of her. 'Oooh, would you look at them!' Jamie calls out from where he and Betsy are perched outside the doorway. 'I'd rather not' Betsy replies, before telling Jamie that this is absurd, and asks if they really just enter like this. 'Is that the Starlight Sword? Just sitting there?' Betsy enquires as she sees the sword on the floor. 'Looks like. Want me to pick it up and find out?' Jamie asks. 'I -' Betsy begins, before suddenly, Brian shouts 'Betsy, take it now!' to which Saturnyne kicks Brian backwards and she gasps 'How? I wrote those prophecies! This is my game!'
Betsy lunges for the sword and raises it overhead, as energy glows around her, and she remarks that Saturnyne was awfully confident that Brian would fall in line with her when she wrote that prophecy – but that if she didn't, she had an ace in the hole, kept in the one place that she would only take Brian – her bedchamber. “A hero destined to brandish what the earth hath swallowed, and an echo doomed to yearn for what the stars hath forsworn” Betsy quotes, adding that she knows Saturnyne hoped it would tear her and Brian apart – not that Brian would find his purpose defending Jamie, and that they would choose for themselves. Saturnyne looks over at Brian and asks him if he is another betrayer, but Brian states that he is Captain Avalon, a humble servant to his family's kingdom, a role that means more  to him now than any offer Saturnyne can make him. 'And a married man. But one who is willing to distract you for a cause' Brian remarks as he goes over to Betsy. 'Well played, then, I look forward to another round' Saturnyne declares as she turns her back on the Braddocks.
Later, Betsy and Brian arrive on Krakoa, with Brian – Captain Avalon – carrying the Sword of Might, and Betsy – Captain Britain – carrying the Starlight Sword. 'Excellent timing back there' Brian tells his sister, admitting that he isn't sure what Saturnyne was about to demand of him. 'I have a feeling you would have suffered the humiliation of it all' Betsy replies. 'Betsyyyy' Brian remarks as he places his sword on the sigil, where 10 symbols are displayed on the ground. 'But I applaud you for not succumbing to her charms. With her at the helm of this game, we have no idea what we stand to lose' Betsy points out as she places her sword on the sigil. And, in that moment, the hero of the people who were not her own spoke a bardic truth – she would indeed lose more than she had planned for. With Magik, Cypher, Wolverine, Storm and Cable standing around the circle, Captains Britain and Avalon take their place with the Champions of Krakoa. 'For queen and country -' Brian begins. 'Mine and yours?' Betsy interrupts him. 'Mine and yours' Brian agrees.