Avalon: The Closing Door
Shimmer's brain wasn't processing what was going on around her. She recognized who was near her, but where was she? She had never stepped foot on Avalon before.... only saw it from across the sea. But when she looked out the window, it dawned on her that she was in Dierdre's castle.
"But my family... I-" She stammered looking a little dumbfounded as her child like eyes suddenly looked older than they were and less happy as they usually did.
One of the Paragons told her, "Your family is in good hands... those guys will take care of them."
She nodded and looked at Dierdre still a bit confused, "Why am I here? How can I serve Avalon? What's wrong?"
"The prophecy I had was tainted in a way, Alana. Part of it was stolen and hidden away with my husband by somebody long ago. When I was given the rest of the prophecy, your friends here realized that you are the person that it speaks of. Our new queen will be of fairy born with hair of gold and orange... and eyes like yours."
As Deirdre spoke to the bewildered girl, the hawk like form of Brand crashed into the barrier outside the window. Small splinters could be seen in the shield protecting them. Deirdre quickly called out her directions.
"Brand's power grows stronger as the hour draws to a close. Get Alana onto that throne," She pointed to a large golden throne that was centered in the room. The light from the ceiling's stained glass window seemed to magically cascade down onto it. Still in shock, some of the Paragons helped Alana move to where she needed to move.
The light outside of the window seemed to fade as Dierdre started to move slower... the strain from Brand was putting pressure on her own power which was weakening as the night moved on. The shift in power was going to happen if she couldn't complete her life long task. She put her hand on a mirror and chanted a spell. The mirror rippled again and a crown floated out.
"Somebody, put this crown on her head... it's the crown for the rightful heir to Avalon's throne... if I move any further Brand will surely break the shield. My power is draining as his age is almost ready to dawn."
The two almost princesses rushed to her aid and took the crown out of her hand. Both girls quickly moved the crown to Shimmer on the throne. As the last rays of light seemed to reach the horizon. The crown lay flat on Shimmer's head as Brand crashed through Dierdre's shield.
Silence.
A gasp for air and pain. Brand collapsed onto the floor as a glistening golden light started to pour around the throne that Shimmer sat on. The white staff that Deirdre held started to beam with light. Dierdre slowly stood up with her regained power and said, "As the chief adviser to the throne, I banish you Brand to the hitherlands. Your power is done here."
As quickly as the bright light came, it went. Brand was no more.
"My family is saved, and our lands are saved..." Shimmer stood up recollected, "Thank you X-Men. There are no words for how brave you all are... It's time for me to send you all home... I'll make you all as you were... but be warned that time has moved differently. I hope to see you all again."
Around each of the three teams no matter where they stood a gold glittery light wrapped around them. It was the same light that brought them to this place. And in the mist and magic, they were transported back across realms. Shimmer sent them back home and returned them back to their normal form with pajama bottoms, uniforms, and whatever else they had on them when they left whether it was a jug of milk or a glass of mimosa. The only problem was that she left them all on the front lawn with six inches of snow on the ground."Damn it, I hate wet socks," Evie muttered.
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