Kitty Pryde loudly proclaims the issue’s title, still
angry over Xavier’s decision to move her from the X-Men to the New Mutants.
Illyana does her best to listen but gets frustrated with Kitty’s
constant moping as they leave to head to Kitty’s dance practice, all the while
being watched by a mysterious creature! Inside, Wolverine gets ready to head
out to Canada for some solitude and he and Nightcrawler discuss the validity of
Xavier’s decision. Though Kurt argues that this is a dangerous line of work to
place a young girl into, both he and Logan ultimately agree that Kitty has more
than proved herself during her time with the X-Men. They, however, are not the
ones that need convincing.
In the Danger Room, set up as a gymnasium,
Charles Xavier attempts once again to walk with his new body. He encounters the same
problems as before, doubling over in pain after only a few steps, thanks to his
brain psychosomatically expecting the pain that’s been there for years.
Lilandra does her best to comfort him but admits that she needs to head out
soon to try and reclaim her throne from her evil sister Deathbird, while Xavier
needs to stick to his commitments on Earth. At dance class, Kitty keeps messing
up, unable to focus due to her frustration. Stevie Hunter suggests that Kitty
stop moping and try to appeal to Xavier, plead her case, given that he’s not an
unreasonable man. Meanwhile, the following morning, Storm heads out onto the
grounds of the mansion to reconnect with the elemental forces of the Earth that
she draws her powers from. However, a wind whips up that she did not cause, the
forces ultimately rejecting her, implying a personal issue in her soul that she
must resolve.
Over the following days, Kitty does her best to appeal
to Xavier through various means, whether it be through logic, flattery,
passion, etc., but she doesn’t get far. Elsewhere, in Florida, Cyclops drops in
on Lee Forrester, telling her about heading to see his grandparents soon. They
are both unsure about their relationship, both what it is or where it’s headed,
but resolve to enjoy their time with each other now while they can. Elsewhere
yet again, we pop in on Amanda Sefton returning to her apartment to find her
boyfriend Nightcrawler waiting to surprise her and spend the holidays together.
Back at the mansion, Colossus and Illyana offer Kitty to join them in chopping
firewood, but she elects to stay at the mansion to fix a snack for when they
get back. Kitty checks the mansion’s sensors to see who’s all there and notices
an anomaly in the maintenance tunnels. Kitty heads down to check it out, with
Xavier watching over her telepathically, where she finds the dragon she met on
the Brood world, both overjoyed to see each other!
However, that’s not all Kitty finds, as she’s suddenly
attacked by a handful of Sidri hunters! She and the dragon, who she’s named
Lockheed, fight back, and Xavier surmises that they must have laid eggs last
time they attacked the mansion and that these are the new hatchlings. Kitty
fights as best she can, taking out two of the Sidri but is stunned by the
third, being saved by the timely arrival of Colossus! Colossus takes out the
last Sidri, and Lockheed burns the nest, preventing any more from hatching. Upstairs,
Xavier, impressed with Kitty’s performance, offers to rescind his decision,
letting Kitty stay with the X-Men, on a probationary status, provided it
doesn’t interfere with her studies or training. She happily agrees to the
terms. Finally, Cyclops, along with Corsair and Havok, arrive in Alaska,
waiting for their escort from the airport. A woman arrives to collect them and
introduces herself as Madelyne Pryor, stunning all three men, Scott in
particular, given that this woman looks identical to Jean Grey!