At a séance to contact the murdered
Valkyrie's spirit, the
Enchantress appears to inform the
Defenders that Val is not dead: her soul is locked within her sword Dragonfang, and her body is a prisoner in Niffleheim. Enchantress will gladly reunite Val's body and soul if the Defenders journey to another world and retrieve the fabled Rose of Purity for her. The heroes debate the issue, realizing that if Val's true body and soul are reunited, the soul of her host,
Barbara Norriss, will die. Out of loyalty to Val,
Hellcat agrees to the Enchantress' terms, along with
Hulk,
Sub-Mariner and
Son of Satan;
Doctor Strange believes there must be another way to rescue Val, and is supported by
Gargoyle,
Beast and
Spider-Man. Hellcat's party is magically transported to the distant planet. At this point, Enchantress reveals why she wants the Rose of Purity: she is in love with Love himself, and cannot merge with him until her soul is purified from its evil, and for this she needs the Rose.
The quartet of Defenders arrive on the planet to discover it is a paradise in which a pair of aliens live in bliss under the eye of their god, the Rose. The heroes are delighted by the prospects of paradise…until Hulk mentions that they are there to take the Rose. The huge alien monster attacks the men and Hellcat seizes the opportunity to try to cut down the Rose. The alien woman pleads with her and after a few moments, Hellcat realizes she can't destroy someone else's paradise just for her friend, to which Val agrees. The enraged Enchantress leaves the heroes trapped on the other world.
Meanwhile, Dr. Strange and his team have arrived to prevent the Enchantress from destroying Val's body, summoned by Love, who is disgusted at the wickedness within the Enchantresses' soul. Love frees the soul of Barbara Norriss and unites with it. Valkyrie, her body and soul now reunited and her full memory restored, vows vengeance on her long-time foe.
Excelsioring your collection
Excelsioring your collection