WARNING: The following contains spoilers for New Mutants #16 by Vita Ayala, Rod Reis & VC's Travis Lanham, on sale now
Since the formation of Krakoa, the X-Men have had to be more mindful of diplomatic relationships with other nations around the world and across the galaxy. And while there have been some major successes -- and some potentially ruinous failures -- the new bind that two mutants find themselves could turn a powerful mystic into a dangerous enemy.
The New Mutants just accidentally set off a potential conflict between Krakoa and one of the Kingdoms of Otherworld -- with Merlyn imprisoning Karma and Dani Moonstar when they come looking for a missing mutant.
During a game of "Truth or Dare," a trio of young mutants venture into Otherworld -- only to be shocked by the arrival of Jamie Braddock, Lord of Avalon. While two of the young mutants quickly sprint back through the Krakoa Gate and back home, the third -- Josh -- ended up left behind. Alerting the New Mutants to what happened, it ultimately falls to Dani Moonstar and Karma to venture into Otherworld and find their wayward student. Finding themselves in Avalon, the pair are surprised to find out that Jamie Braddock had actually tried to "help" the young mutant by providing him the means to properly explore Otherworld -- providing him a raptor to ride, some supplies to make his way, and pointing him out into the greater Otherworld.
Braddock does the same for the two heroes. But it isn't long before the pair up following a white rabbit into the Holy Republic of Fae -- the domain of Merlyn. In the past, Merlyn had been an ally to groups like Excalibur thanks to his connection to Captain Britain. He helped turn Black Knight into his champion and was one of the ones to help found the Captain Britain Corps, the multiversal army of heroes who were restored in the climax of X of Swords. Alongside his daughter Roma, Merlyn did much good for the world -- albeit while also manipulating events towards his desired conclusion, occasionally coming up against the heroes he'd helped empower.
In the present-day, Merlyn rules over but one corner of Otherworld and has grown frustrated with mutants -- especially in the aftermath of X of Swords. Exhausted with mutants, Merlyn imprisons Karma and Moonstar for trespassing onto his lands. This could set up a serious problem for Krakoa, especially as the two young mutants admit they could easily escape capture -- but in doing so, could set off a diplomatic nightmare that Krakoa doesn't need. Things are already complicated enough for the X-Men and Otherworld following the chaos caused by X of Swords. The domains of Otherworld are all paying attention to mutant activity in their realm ever since, with the newest edition of the Crooked Caller -- the chief news publication of Otherworld -- documenting his travels and speculating on what mutants could want in the realm.
Otherworld also proved to be home to some incredibly powerful forces the last time the X-Men were in the mystical realm, with their victory in X of Swords coming despite the machinations of forces like the Crooked Man and Saturnyne. Setting off a full conflict with Otherworld would be likely too much even for the X-Men to deal with. The Marvel Universe barely survived the kind of chaos present across dimensions with their victory in X of Swords, with the X-Men barely keeping an army of monsters at bay by unleashing their own armies, the reborn Captain Britain Corps, and a horde of ravenous aliens.
Entering a conflict with Merlyn -- especially given his potential knowledge or connection of powers like Captain Britain -- would be a losing proposition for the X-Men. It might be on Dani and Karma to figure out a way to diplomatically escape Merlyn's grasp, otherwise, the X-Men risk making one of Marvel's oldest and most powerful mystic forces into a full-blown enemy.
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