The Last Refuge of the Invitalitous (Updated!)

Thanos brandishes the Wrath Stone, summoning a blaze of red rage to block Dark Phoenix' firescream.

But it's only a feint, albeit a colorful and dazzling one. In reality, Thanos is projecting the red flames of rage into the Scarlet Witch's mind.

"Look, Wanda!" he says, assuming an untoward familiarity. "Before you is the killer of your brother. Strike now, from behind, and avenge his murder!"

But behind Thanos, a silvery blur resolves into Quicksilver, who holds up two fingers behind Thanos, making it look as though the mad Titan has bunny ears.

Quicksilver winks.

Wanda smiles, and concentrates very hard on focusing Dark Phoenix' madness so that she can be her own person once more. There are two separate influences: Being Dead and Being Dark Phoenix. Keeping those back is more than Wanda can manage, but she tries real hard. Knocking over all the blocks is the easy use of her power; this is rebuilding everything while storms knock them over.

But she succeeds!

Infused with Wanda's power and control, Dark Phoenix blasts Thanos off the face of the universe! Storm is aware of a Thanos-shaped hole being torn in the fabric of space, letting in some unnameable, indescribable OTHER to which Eternity reacts as though slapped. The tear is rejected, mended, forgotten, as is its inhabitant, Mr. George W. Thanos, Jr.

The continent is quiet. TOO quiet.

Because the buildings of Hala are restored, as though Dark Phoenix had never scourged the world with solar fire. The Sun, too, is back to its wonted orange glow, rather than the furnace-blue heat of its exposed core. Everyone's sunburns are gone.

But the people, who once inhabited this city .... where are THEY?

The Red Skull is gone.

Thunderbird is gone.

For that matter, Dark Phoenix appears to be gone.

All physical evidence of the battle on Hala is now absent, save only the absence of several of its combatants.

But the Infinity Gems, resistant to all the cosmic fireworks and rowdydow, remain, glittering and blinking ... precious, yet attainable.

Spider-Man could easily grab them all with his spider-speed before anyone else could stop him. THEN he'd show Flash Thompson ...