Chapter 70: The Queen's Domain
Note: As said, we'd meet the goal and we did! Here's 2 chapters, enjoy!
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The glow of arcane symbols pulsed faintly along the edges of Illyana Rasputina's doorframe.
To most Xavier Institute students, the strange markings looked like harmless decorative trim. To anyone with even a hint of magical sensitivity, they screamed KEEP OUT with the metaphysical equivalent of barbed wire and guard dogs.
Inside, Illyana's room defied expectations that her background might suggest. For the all-powerful Queen of Limbo, ruler of a hellish dimension, her personal space was startlingly... normal. At least at first glance.
A regular twin bed with rumpled blue sheets occupied one corner. Posters of metal bands – Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath – covered one wall, while another held a detailed map of Russia. A bookshelf overflowed with texts in multiple languages, magical grimoires shelved casually next to dog-eared paperback romances.
Only on closer inspection did the oddities reveal themselves. The strange skull on her nightstand that occasionally blinked, the sharp dagger hanging above her bed that sometimes dripped a substance that wasn't blood, and the mirror that reflected things that weren't in the room. Among other things.
Illyana herself sat cross-legged on her bed, blonde hair loose around her shoulders. She wore a plain white t-shirt and, most incongruously, Hello Kitty pajama pants in soft pink.
If anyone saw her wearing silly stuff like this, they might pass out from shock.
Her laptop balanced on her knees as she video chatted, her normally guarded expression softened into something almost carefree.
"There was a certain woman in Russia long ago~"
"Oh, stop it, Luna." Illyana couldn't help but laugh at her dearest friend's antics. She really took advantage of her beautiful voice anytime she could.
"No but, this is so funny. Did you really threaten to send that politician to Limbo?" Luna Snow's voice was incredulous but tinged with amusement. The K-pop star and part-time superhero's face filled the screen, her perfectly styled two-toned hair and flawless makeup contrasting Illyana's casual appearance.
"Come on, he deserved worse, and you better agree." Illyana shrugged, her Russian accent more pronounced in private. "His security team nearly shot a mutant child for approaching him. Besides, I only suggested it. Scott pulled me away before I could open a stepping disc."
Luna laughed, the sound bright even through the laptop speakers. "You're lucky SHIELD doesn't monitor your threats. They take my social media posts more seriously than actual villain monologues."
"This is why I don't have Instagram," Illyana reached for a bag of chips beside her bed. "Too many rules. My brother already follows me everywhere like I am made of glass."
"Speaking of overprotective behavior," Luna leaned closer to her camera, "I heard about the Sentinel attack. It's disgusting how anyone can have the heart to attack a school so brutally. Are you okay?"
Illyana waved dismissively. "Just robots. Boring." She paused, then added more quietly, "But thank you for asking. Well, then again… today was a little interesting. Someone saved us today. Uhm, 'saved' is a big word. We could have managed without him, but it's nice that he helped anyway. He's not a mutant but a boy with weird powers."
Luna's expression shifted to something sly. "Haaah? You talking about a boy?"
"Just some hero-boy with a fancy gadget," Illyana replied, but something flickered across her face. Interest, perhaps. "He changes shape. Nothing special. Just like Mystique and Morph."
"I saw a short clip in the news earlier," Luna persisted. "He's the Diamond dude, yes? I don't know Illyana, you two looked pretty in sync out there. Taking down those drones together? Chemistry much?"
Illyana rolled her eyes. "Pure coincidence. And you know who's the only person I'm interested in," she smirked, biting her lips and eyeing Luna's curves on the screen, making her blush and look away. Illyana burst out laughing. "I'm joking, relax. I know you're not into girls… Anyway, the alien boy only wants to use me as a dimensional taxi service." She popped a chip into her mouth. "Something about chasing a witch through Limbo."
"Ooh, dimensional drama. Better than my last tour schedule." Luna tried to regain her composure by waggling her eyebrows. "Is he cute, though?"
Before Illyana could answer, she stiffened. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on something behind her laptop. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees.
Luna noticed immediately. "What's wrong? You've got that 'someone's about to lose a limb' look."
"There's someone interesting in my room," Illyana replied calmly, not bothering to turn around. Her hand drifted casually toward the space where her Soulsword could materialize. "The wards should have fried anyone trying that trick."
A flash of green light illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows across Illyana's face. Where empty space had been moments before, Ben Tennyson now stood, looking somewhat sheepish.
"Sorry for the dramatic entrance, but if I tried to knock, people would have seen me," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Ghostfreak has his uses."
"Ohhh!" Luna's excited voice came through the laptop speakers. "Is that him? You have a boy in your room! At night!"
Illyana shot her friend a withering look. "I'll call you back."
"Details later or I'll–" Luna's voice cut off as Illyana closed the laptop with a decisive snap.
Her soul sword manifested in her hand. She turned to face her uninvited guest, expression hardening into the cold mask most people at Xavier's knew. "Breaking into a sorceress's bedroom. How brave."
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I'd faced many dangerous situations since finding the Omnitrix. Fought alien warlords, taken on the Hulk, even exchanged pleasantries with actual gods. But standing in Illyana Rasputina's bedroom after essentially breaking in? That was a new level of risky.
Especially when I realized what she was wearing.
The fearsome Magik, Queen of Limbo, who'd been slicing through Sentinels like they were made of paper just hours ago, was wearing Hello Kitty pajama pants. Pink ones. With a little bow on her neck.
It was both the most contradictory and adorable thing I'd ever seen. Combined with her loose blonde hair and the t-shirt that revealed more of her athletic build than her usual outfits, she looked… normal. Cute. Hot, even.
[Image Here]
I chose to live by not commenting on her attire. Never mess with Hello Kitty girls.
"Breaking into a sorceress's bedroom," she said with a scary smirk, holding her blazing sword, her accent thicker in private. "How brave."
"Allow me to apologize once again," I admitted. "But we're running out of time."
Illyana crossed her arms, studying me like I was a puzzle with missing pieces. "So you decided to bypass all security and multiple telepaths to... what? Ask again more dramatically?"
"Charmcaster is heading into something she can't handle," I said, cutting straight to the point. "She stole powerful magical artifacts from my cousin and is likely going after whoever killed her father. Meaning that turtle mage you mentioned earlier."
"And this concerns me because...?"
"Because you already agreed to take us there. Everyone downstairs is discussing your kingdom like they have a vote, but I don't see why it stops you. Last I checked, queens don't need permission. Plus, why are you acting like you didn't invite me yourself?" He asked. "My realm doesn't wait for committee approval, Tennyson. Hello?"
Something flickered in her eyes, approval, maybe? I couldn't quite tell. She released her grip and her sword vanished. She moved to her window, looking out over the mansion grounds.
"I did say that, but after thinking for a bit more, I know that it's not that simple," she said after a moment. "My brother will tear this mansion apart looking for me. Xavier will assume I've been 'influenced' again." She turned back to me. "The last time I took someone to Limbo without permission, I was confined to the mansion for a month."
"So we leave a note," I countered. "We go, find Charmcaster, get Gwen's stuff back, and return before breakfast. Problem solved."
Illyana's laugh was sharp. "You think retrieving your friend from Ledgerdomain is a quick errand? Time works differently there. And your witch friend…"
"Chamcaster," I interjected.
"Sure, your more-than-friend," she continued smoothly, "is walking into territory controlled by Addwaitya and trying to kill him. The rulers of the Dark Dimensions become unbeatable while in their realm. You think you can help her beat him? Nah."
Addwaitya. The name of that alien turtle mage. He was bad news in any universe. In the original Ben 10 series, he was an immortal tyrant who ruled Ledgerdomain with an iron fist. If he existed here and was anything like that version… Magik was right.
"All the more reason to hurry," I pressed. "Look, I understand caution. But right now, Charmcaster is running headlong into danger with items that amplify her already substantial power. If she gets herself killed, Addwaitya will gain access to those items, and if she somehow succeeds? Well, who knows what she'll do. The consequences could be massive."
Illyana paced, her bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. "You realize this isn't just about opening a door? Limbo responds to me in... unpredictable ways." Now that was just an excuse.
Before I could respond, a head suddenly phased through the wall beside us. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Sorry for eavesdropping," Kitty Pryde said, materializing halfway into the room. "But these walls are literally paper to me."
Illyana didn't look surprised. "How long have you been there, Katya?"
"Long enough," Kitty replied, fully stepping into the room. "And I think he's right."
That seemed to genuinely surprise Illyana. "You're taking his side?"
Kitty shrugged. "I can go with you, and when we return, I can cover for you. Tell Piotr and the Professor you're helping with something important."
"You'd lie to Xavier? For this?" Illyana's tone was skeptical.
Kitty glanced at me, then back to her friend. "Consider it repayment for the save from Rogue back then, and the Sentinel save today. Besides, I've seen what happens when we wait too long to act because we're busy debating ethics."
A loaded silence filled the room. There was clearly history there, something painful that passed between the two women in that look.
Illyana considered for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But we do this my way."
She moved to her closet and pulled out a worn leather jacket, slipping it on over her t-shirt. I expected her to change out of the Hello Kitty pants, but she caught my glance and raised an eyebrow.
"What? You think demons care about fashion?"
"Fair point," I conceded.
With a fluid gesture, she extended her hand, and the Soulsword materialized in her grip once again. The mystical weapon gleamed with inner light, illuminating her face from below. Another gesture, and silver armor began forming over her upper body, crawling across her skin like liquid metal solidifying into intricate, demonic-looking plates.
The contrast between the magical armor and the pink Hello Kitty pants was... something.
"One rule," she stated firmly, pointing the sword at me. "When we're there, you do exactly as I say. Limbo isn't just dangerous, it's alive, and it knows your fears."
"Got it. You're the boss," I agreed quickly.
Illyana drew a circle in the air with her sword. The space within the circle began to shimmer, then split open into what looked like a hole in reality itself. Through it, I could see a hellish landscape. Red skies, twisted rock formations, what might have been fire in the distance. Looks a little scary.
The magnitude of what I was doing submerged. I was about to step into an actual hell dimension with a half-demon sorceress I barely knew, without telling Gwen or Grandpa Max.
"Ah right. Shouldn't you get your cousin?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I considered that for a moment. But when I recalled what Charmcaster had done to Gwen in the Alien Force show, sucking all her mana dry to revive her father in the Ledgerdomain, I shook my head. "No. Just me alone will be alright."
She shrugged. "Too late for second thoughts. The portal won't hold forever." She stepped through without looking back. Kitty gave me an encouraging nod.
"Well, good luck to us," she mouthed silently, stepping close to me. Taking a deep breath, Kitty and I followed Illyana into the portal.
The transition felt like being pulled through ice water, then suddenly dropped into an oven. Heat slammed into me as my feet touched solid ground.
We stood on a barren plain of cracked red earth. The sky burned crimson above us, no sun visible but light somehow permeating everything with an unnatural glow. In the distance, impossible geography stretched to the horizon – floating islands, rivers that seemed to flow upward, mountains that twisted in on themselves like optical illusions made solid.
Dominating it all was a massive dark castle perched atop what looked disturbingly like a mountain of skulls. The structure seemed to shift subtly when viewed from different angles, towers appearing and disappearing as if the architecture itself couldn't decide what form to take.
The air felt dense, heavy with magical energy that made the hair on my arms stand up. The scent of brimstone hung in every breath, and something else. A metallic tang that reminded me uncomfortably of blood.
"So this is Limbo," I said, trying to sound casual. "Looks... cozy."
"Really?" Kitty poked me with her elbow.
As for Magik? No response. I turned to find Illyana standing rigid, her back to me. Her breathing had become ragged, her shoulders rising and falling rapidly.
"Illyana? What's–"
A strangled cry escaped her, cutting me off. Kitty gasped in shock, jumping back. Illyana doubled over, the Soulsword clattering to the ground beside her.
Something was very wrong. I clicked down on the Omnitrix, cycling quickly to Four Arms. The transformation washed over me in a flash of green, and I braced myself, four massive arms ready for whatever threat had affected Illyana.
But the threat was Illyana herself.
Her scream tore through the air, a sound of agony and transformation that raised the hair on the back of my neck. Her body convulsed, and before my eyes, she began to change. Kitty suddenly looked like she regretted every decision in her life.
Illyana's skin darkened to a deep purple-red hue. Horns sprouted from her forehead, curving elegantly upward. Her legs transformed, bones cracking and reshaping into digitigrade limbs ending in cloven hooves. When she finally straightened, her eyes glowed with eldritch power, pools of pure golden light without pupils or whites.
This was the Darkchylde.
Illyana's demonic form, ruler of Limbo.
[Image Here]
I stood over Kitty protectively and took a defensive stance, unsure if she was still an ally or if I was now facing an enemy in a dimension where I had zero home-field advantage.
Illyana slowly met eyes with me. To my surprise, she laughed. It was a sound both musical and deeply unsettling, vibrating, like wind chimes made of bone.
"Don't look so worried, handsome," she purred, her voice resonating with strange harmonics. "I'm still me... just more. Ah, I wasn't confident if I'd be able to control myself quite well."
She approached with predatory grace, trailing a finger across my muscled chest. Four Arms was nearly twice her size, but somehow she made me feel small.
"Mhm, I like your human form better. It looks cute. Can you go back?" I shook my head, unwilling to put myself in the face of danger. "Ooh, rebellious. You are lucky I'm in a good mood. I feel... perfect," she said, stretching like a cat waking from a nap. "Always do, here. This is where I belong."
Her entire demeanor had transformed along with her body. The reserved, cold Illyana was gone, replaced by something primal and uninhibited. She was still recognizably herself, but with all restraint stripped away. Kitty relaxed seeing her friend still in there.
"Now," Illyana the Darkchylde flashed a fanged smile that was equal parts alluring and terrifying, "let's go hunting for your little witch."
As her laughter echoed across the hellish landscape, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd made a serious miscalculation. This wasn't just a trip to another dimension. I'd walked straight into the lion's den, and the lion seemed very, very happy to have company.
The castle in the distance seemed to pulse, as if responding to its queen's pleasure.
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