Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #231

In a strange place, Magik seems to be under some sort of spell, witnessed by Colossus in strange dreams. In the Australian outback, Colossus smashes apart some rocks when Rogue flies over to check on him. She noticed that something’s been bothering him and that he’s been out in the sun so long, he’s white hot to the touch! She flies off and his troubles increase when the sheer heat emanating from his metal body causes his drawing of Illyana to burst into flames! Gateway watches from a distance, silent as ever, when Storm comes to cool Peter off with a localized rain. She flies Peter and herself back to the town while probing him about what’s eating him. He admits that his dreams have caused him to worry that his sister Illyana is in danger. He has no way to know for certain though and feels like the interests of the team are more important than his worries.

Later, the X-Men are doing dishes after a meal and Colossus’s worries keep causing him to underestimate his strength, resulting in several broken dishes. Dazzler and Havok both raise their opinions that Colossus should go check on his sister, given that he’s one of the few like them who have family out there. Gateway then suddenly arrives in the doorway and beckons for them all to follow him. He opens his portal, letting Colossus step through it and be sent to where Illyana is. That turns out to be Limbo, where Magik, in her demonic Darkchylde persona, is currently in battle over the realm with the demon S’ym! She prepares a necromancy spell in order to summon a departed soul and at that moment Gateway’s portal opens and Colossus appears. Given the timing, Illyana thinks he’s just her brother’s spirit brought forth by her spell, letting him prolong the belief that he and the other X-Men are dead. Colossus attacks S’ym, remembering him as one of the ones who initially helped Belasco capture Illyana and turn her into what she is now. Colossus shatters S’ym back into mechanical parts and asks why his sister summoned him.

Magik reveals that he’s here to help save the New Mutants and recounts what happened. She was reading The Master and Margarita for an assignment when several characters from the book sprung up out of nowhere and grabbed her! They took her downstairs where the other New Mutants had already been defeated and trussed up by the Baba Yaga! Magik used her teleporting power to escape to limbo where she hoped to call forth Colossus’s spirit, knowing that magical beings have a weakness to iron! Magik then teleports Colossus to the now transformed Xavier School where he crashes through and quickly locates the New Mutants. He fends off some monsters while the Baba Yaga flees further into the house with the New Mutants. Colossus chases after them but discovers the passage is too narrow for him to fit through. He concentrates and through great strain is able to turn back to flesh and blood in order to slip through. The Baba Yaga attacks him in his weakened state but just as she’s about to bite into him, he turns back to organic steel causing her to erupt and vanish!

Later, back in Limbo, Magik casts a spell to return the New Mutants back to normal. Illyana then expresses her fears that she’s becoming too evil and corrupted and can only be good when she wants to be. Peter then points out that her very desire to, and attempts to be good, are what truly matter. He uses the opportunity to have a proper farewell with his sister as he departs through another portal. Illyana feels gratitude that her brother was able to save her one last time as she takes herself and the New Mutants back home. Not long after, S’ym reforms himself and states that while Magik and Colossus won this battle, they’re going to lose the war!