Chapter 71: The Court of the Darkchilde
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The landscape of Limbo sprawled before us, a hellish canvas painted in shades of crimson and shadow. I remained in my Four Arms form, not just for the extra muscle, but because something about this place made me want as many limbs for fighting as possible.
Also because I wasn't sure if I could totally trust the Magik in front of me. If she wanted me dead, I wasn't sure if I could stop her…
Just to put it out there, this Illyana right now was comparable to beings like Hela and Mephisto. It's not an exaggeration, nor was it because she's in her Darkchylde form. This was her domain and she was a Goddess Queen here. There was no catch.
"Stay close to me," Kitty whispered, her voice tight with tension. "When she's like this... Illyana can be unpredictable."
"You don't say," I muttered back, watching as our demonic tour guide sauntered ahead of us, her hooves for feet leaving smoking imprints in the scorched earth.
Illyana – or the Darkchylde version of her – moved with predatory grace across her domain. Every few steps, she'd glance back at us, those pupilless orange eyes flashing with amusement at our discomfort. The Hello Kitty pants somehow made the whole thing more unsettling, not less – like finding a pink bow on a tiger that's about to eat you.
"Don't be so hesitant, cuties, my kingdom awaits," she called back, sweeping her arm to encompass the twisted landscape. "Don't worry. Most things here know better than to attack their queen's... guests."
"Most things?" Kitty echoed weakly.
Illyana's answering laugh seemed to chill Kitty's blood. "Where's the fun in complete safety?"
We descended into a ravine where the rock itself seemed to pulse like veins beneath skin. The air grew thicker, carrying scents I couldn't identify but instinctively knew were bad news. My four fists clenched automatically as movement caught my eye.
From the shadows emerged a pack of what might generously be called hounds – if hounds had multiple heads, skeletal bodies, and teeth longer than my fingers. They approached with a mixture of aggression and deference, bowing their heads to Illyana while growling low in their throats at Kitty and me.
"Meet my pets," Illyana said fondly, running a clawed hand along the spine of the nearest beast. "They're harmless. Usually."
One of the creatures, bolder than the rest, snapped at my leg. Before I could react, Illyana made a dismissive gesture. The following sight was harrowing. The hound disintegrated into ash with a pathetic whimper.
"They can smell the human soul in you," she explained casually, as if she hadn't just obliterated a living creature without touching it. "Some here find it... appetizing."
The remaining hounds slunk back, properly chastised.
"Remind me to pack soul deodorant next time," I said, earning a genuine laugh from our demonic guide.
We continued our journey through Limbo's twisted geography. The terrain shifted without warning – one moment solid ground, the next liquid fire that somehow supported our weight. Kitty stayed close to my side, her hand occasionally brushing my arm as if to reassure herself I was still there.
Our second encounter came at the edge of a cliff that hadn't been there a moment before. A massive winged demon with acid dripping from fangs the size of my forearm swooped down from nowhere, screeching a challenge.
I didn't wait for an invitation, launching myself forward with all four arms swinging. The impact felt like punching concrete, and my blows seemed to have minimal effect. The creature backhanded me with enough force to send me skidding across the ground.
"Everything here has rules," Illyana said, almost bored. "My rules."
She stepped forward, Soulsword gleaming, and touched not the demon itself but its shadow. The effect was immediate – the creature withered like time-lapse footage of decomposition, shrinking and desiccating until nothing remained but dust.
"You know," I said, picking myself up, "a quick explanation of the rules might be helpful."
"Where's the fun in that?" Illyana smirked. "I prefer watching you learn."
After what felt like hours but might have been minutes – it was hard to tell since time wasn't exactly consistent here – we reached what Illyana called the River of Memory. It was unlike any river I'd ever seen. A flowing stream of odd-colored darkness where faces occasionally surfaced, mouths open in silent screams. Souls, I realized with a chill. Those were souls swimming in that liquid darkness.
"We cross here," Illyana announced, striking her sword into the ground. A bridge of bone and sinew materialized, arching over the dark waters.
As we crossed, whispers rose from the river, calling my name. Voices that sounded familiar yet wrong, trying to lure me closer to the edge. The scariest part? There were even voices from my previous life…
I kept my eyes fixed on the far side, ignoring the increasingly desperate calls. "Don't listen," Kitty warned. "I heard they'll try anything to make you fall in."
"I'd never have guessed," I replied, my voice strained with the effort of blocking out the whispers.
Our final challenge before reaching the castle was the most impressive yet. A massive volcanic golem, easily a hundred feet tall, rose from a pool of magma, roaring a challenge that shook the very ground.
"Belasco's old guardian," Illyana explained, a note of distaste in her voice. "He never did clean up after himself properly."
The golem swung a fist the size of a bus toward us. I braced myself, ready to intercept, but Illyana stepped forward. Before my eyes, she grew to match the golem's size, her demonic features stretching to titanic proportions. She caught the massive fist in one hand, her claws sinking into the molten rock.
"Bow," she commanded, her voice now a thunderous boom that shook my bones.
The golem hesitated. That was its mistake. Illyana twisted, and the creature's arm came free with a sound like a mountain cracking in half. Magma blood sprayed in a scalding arc as the golem fell to its knees. Illyana placed her hoof on its chest and pushed, sending it crashing back into the lava pool from which it had emerged.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she shrunk back to normal size and casually adjusted her Hello Kitty pants.
"That was… pretty impressive," I managed.
"That was a warmup," she replied with a fanged grin.
The Castle Limbo loomed before us, a structure that defied both physics and sanity. Towers spiraled inward at impossible angles, bridges connected to nowhere, and the entire building seemed to ripple and shift as if we were viewing it through heat waves. As we approached, the castle actively reshaped itself, staircases unfurling like tongues to welcome its queen home.
I swore I saw faces occasionally forming in the stonework, watching us with hungry eyes before melting back into the architecture.
"Home sweet home," Illyana said, leading us through a massive gateway that hadn't existed until she walked toward it. "Ah, I used to hate this place."
The throne room was both exactly what I expected and nothing like I imagined. A cavernous space with a ceiling lost in shadows, walls that occasionally shifted to show different parts of Limbo, and a throne that appeared to be crafted from solidified moonlight. Various creatures – some demonic, some surprisingly human-looking – bowed as Illyana entered.
She settled onto her throne with the casual ease of someone who had done this a thousand times. The effect was somewhat diminished by the cartoon cat face on her pants, but nobody here seemed to find it odd.
"My court will want to meet you," she said, striking the floor with her Soulsword.
The impact sent out a wave of energy that made my teeth ache. I decided this might be a good time to revert to human form – partly because Four Arms was getting odd looks, partly because I felt marginally safer now that we were in the castle.
The transformation flash drew gasps and murmurs from the gathered demons. Illyana merely looked amused.
"Awh, finally," she said. "I really do like this small cute you better."
"...."
The throne room doors swung open with thunderous force. A massive figure ducked to enter – a demon that made even Four Arms look small by comparison. His body was covered in obsidian-like chitin, and two massive horns curled from his head, one broken and capped with metal. His eyes were molten gold, and embers drifted from his mouth when he spoke.
"My Queen," he rumbled, dropping to one knee with obvious reluctance. "You have returned." His gaze shifted to me, narrowing with suspicion. "With pets."
"Warlord Drakon," Illyana acknowledged. "This is Ben Tennyson and Kitty Pryde. They are my guests, not pets. Though that distinction can change at my whim."
"The mortal realm stirs again," Drakon growled. "And you bring its children here."
"I do as I please, Drakon." Illyana's tone hardened. "Or have you forgotten whose realm this is?"
The massive demon lowered his head further. "Never, my Queen."
A shimmering in the air beside the throne coalesced into another figure – a feminine form with dusky purple skin and hair like liquid shadow. She moved with serpentine finesse, her eyes like polished amethyst scanning us with predatory interest.
"Malise," Illyana introduced. "My Mistress of Whispers."
Malise circled me slowly, inhaling as if sampling my scent. "Oh, this one has secrets. Delicious ones." Her voice was like silk over broken glass. "Layers… within layers. How fascinating."
I took a step back, feeling uncomfortably exposed. "Is personal space not a thing in hell dimensions?"
Malise laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. "Your wish is my transaction, my Queen," she said to Illyana, ignoring my question entirely.
A third figure materialized, this one appearing silently at Illyana's side. This one was a loyal servant, I could tell from how close it stood near her. A seven-foot-tall form encased in ornate, obsidian armor that seemed to drink the light around it. No flesh was visible beneath; instead, a swirling vortex of shadow and pale, ghostly light filled the gaps. Its face was a smooth, featureless helm, but emotions were conveyed through the intensity of the light that shone from within the visor – currently a soft, curious blue.
"Kaelen, my Shadow," Illyana said, her voice softening slightly. "Always punctual."
Kaelen didn't speak but acknowledged me and Kitty with a slight nod.
Finally, a robed figure formed from swirling parchment and floating letters, its "skin" covered in shifting, glowing runes. Where a face should be, there were only two pools of shimmering silver ink that served as eyes.
"The Archivist," Illyana finished. "Keeper of all knowledge in Limbo."
"The coordinates of probability suggest multiple outcomes," the Archivist intoned, its voice like pages turning in an ancient book. "Your journey through the Nexus barriers has created temporal ripples, my Queen."
Illyana waved dismissively. "And? You think I'll stop using my powers just because of that? No. I did not summon you for portents, Archivist. I need information about breaches to Ledgerdomain."
The court's reaction to this request was immediate and varied. Drakon's embers flared brighter, Malise's eyes narrowed with interest, and Kaelen's visor shifted to a more alert amber. The Archivist simply tilted its parchment head.
"Why concern ourselves with Addwaitya's domain?" Drakon demanded. "Let the Turtle Tyrant handle his own problems."
"Because," I cut in, drawing all eyes to me, "someone important has gone there with powerful magical artifacts, and we need to find her before she gets herself killed."
The silence that followed was deafening. I got the distinct impression outsiders didn't typically address the court of Limbo so directly.
To my surprise, Illyana laughed. "This is why I like him. Such courage for such a small frame."
I was getting a little tired of her calling me small and cute. I was 6"3, what was she on about? But when I recalled that her brother was none other than Colossus, I had a quick understanding of her views.
She turned to her court. "A sorceress named Charmcaster has entered Ledgerdomain, likely seeking revenge against its ruler. She carries artifacts of considerable power. I want her found."
"To what end, my Queen?" Malise asked, her tone carefully neutral. "Do you desire these artifacts for yourself?"
"I'm simply helping friends," Illyana replied, gesturing to me and Kitty. "A concept I realize is foreign to most of you."
Drakon scoffed. "Wasting resources on human matters…"
"Are you questioning me, Warlord?" Illyana's voice dropped to a dangerous purr.
The massive demon immediately backed down. "No, my Queen. I shall send aerial scouts along the borders immediately."
"Malise, activate your spy network. The Archivist will research similar past incursions." Illyana's gaze shifted to the silent knight. "Kaelen, you will protect the castle and our guests in my absence."
Each member of the court acknowledged their tasks, though with varying degrees of enthusiasm. As they dispersed, I couldn't help but feel like I'd just watched a bizarre fantasy court drama unfold. If the situation weren't so serious, it might almost be entertaining.
Illyana rose from her throne, stretching like a satisfied cat. "Come. While my court does its work, I'll show you my castle."
The tour that followed was like walking through a fever dream designed by someone with a serious case of architectural ADHD. We passed through a room where gravity pulled toward all walls simultaneously, a garden where plants sang in the voices of the damned, and a library where books read themselves aloud in languages that made my ears hurt.
Eventually, Illyana was called away to deal with some demonic issue, leaving me alone with Kitty in a relatively normal-looking sitting room – if you ignored the furniture made from materials I couldn't identify and definitely didn't want to ask about.
"So," I said, dropping onto a couch that felt disturbingly like it was breathing beneath me, "is she always like this here?"
Kitty sank into a chair opposite me, looking exhausted. "Well, I've been here once before, but I did see the Darkchylde a few times. It isn't just a form," she explained, keeping her voice low. "If I have to explain in simpler terms… it's who she truly is without Earth's restraints, I guess. Imagine spending years in a cage, then suddenly being released. The wildness isn't new, it's just finally free."
"And you trust her like this?"
"Trust is complicated with Illyana," Kitty sighed. "But yes, I do. Unlike most of the other X-Men, I met her when she was a child, when she was still normal. Ever since then, she has saved my life more times than I can count. She was kidnapped by the previous ruler of Limbo at an early age and spent years there. On Earth, only seconds passed. This is why she looks 19, while mentally she's 26. Or more, but she doesn't want to talk about it. She's been fighting her new nature ever since then because that's what Xavier and her brother expect. Here, she doesn't have to fight it."
I nodded, processing this. "Must be exhausting, constantly holding back who you really are."
"Speaking from experience?" Kitty raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe a little. The Omnitrix gives me powers, but there are limits to what society accepts. Even heroes have to color within the lines."
"Deep thoughts from a guy who turns into aliens for a living," she teased.
"I contain multitudes," I replied with a grin. "So, what's your story? How does a nice girl like you end up best friends with the Queen of Hell?"
"Nice girl? I'm glad I've managed to change your opinion of me from last time," she said with a grin. "And that's a long story involving kidnapping, resurrection, my very complicated relationship with… her brother, and some dragons," Kitty said with a straight face. "Maybe I'll tell you over drinks sometime."
"Ooh, you and Colossus? Crazy. That aside, was that an invitation just now?" I asked, leaning forward with a smile. "Because I happen to be free once we rescue our magical thief and get back to Earth."
Kitty gave me a dry look. "I didn't mean it like that. Do you have no shame? You flirt with everyone."
I shrugged. "Not everyone. I haven't flirted with Illyana or Darkchylde yet."
"And I'd advise against it," she said, but I caught the hint of a smile. "Demons take propositions very literally."
Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a procession of servants – some human-looking, some decidedly not – carrying platters of food. The feast that followed was simultaneously appetizing and unsettling. Fruits that pulsed like hearts, meats of unidentifiable origin, and drinks that changed color with each sip.
Illyana rejoined us, clearly amused by our caution with the strange dishes. "Relax. Nothing here will harm you without my permission," she assured us, biting into something that looked like a cross between an apple and a jellyfish.
"Not the most comforting guarantee I've ever heard," I said, cautiously sampling a purple bread that tasted surprisingly like cinnamon.
The meal was interrupted by a commotion at the entrance to the dining hall.
A bat-like creature with multiple eyes crashed through the doorway, its wings tattered and body bearing signs of recent combat. It landed hard on the table, scattering dishes.
"Mistress... found... the witch..." it gasped before collapsing in a heap.
Drakon strode in moments later, his massive form filling the doorway. "My Queen, our scouts have located the human sorceress."
"Where?" I demanded, already on my feet.
The warlord's molten eyes fixed on me with obvious distaste before turning back to Illyana. "Your human witch has breached the eastern boundary of Ledgerdomain."
"And your scout?" Illyana gestured to the injured creature. "What happened to it?"
"Addwaitya's sentries are... vigilant," Drakon replied, his tone suggesting this was a severe understatement.
Malise materialized from the shadows, her purple lips curved in an odd smile. "I have additional intelligence, my Queen. The witch seeks an audience with the Turtle Tyrant himself. She carries powerful artifacts as offering."
"It's all to lure him in and try to kill him," I said, remembering what Charmcaster had told me about avenging her father. "She's using Gwen's stuff as bait."
The Archivist drifted into the hall, its parchment body rustling softly. "If that is the case, the probability of her survival approaches zero. Outside their respective realms, even a battle between my Queen and Addwaitya is uncertain."
No, the way he said it, it was certain that Magik would lose if she fought Addwaitya outside her realm. Especially in his realm. What chance did Charmcaster have?
I moved to the nearest window, looking toward the shimmering boundary visible on the horizon. Somewhere beyond that dimensional barrier, Charmcaster was walking into a death trap of her own making. Whatever pain had driven her to this point, whatever grief she carried, it wasn't worth dying for.
"Hope," I murmured. "Whatever game you're playing, it's not worth dying for."
Behind me, I heard Illyana issue commands to her court, preparing for what came next. Her voice had taken on a harder edge, the playfulness replaced by something colder and more focused. The Queen of Limbo was mobilizing, and for the first time since we'd arrived, I felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe we weren't too late after all. Maybe.
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Author Note: The Next goal is naturally Top 2. Unlike usual, we're very close. Exactly 102 stones, as I'm seeing it. We might cross Emmanuel! (Turns out he's not doing bonus chapters this week since he's sick, get well soon bro 🫂)