The Shadow King Strikes!

Back in PG's office, the Kryptonian and the X-Woman awoke and looked each other in the eye.

"I'm guessin' all that's left to do is test things out, huh?" Rogue asked nervously. While she had the utmost confidence in Power Girl, a lifetime of being unable to turn her powers off wasn't easy to shake.

"Pretty much," PG answered, extending her hand. "You ready?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Rogue answered, grinning nervously as she remover her gloves. "I'm still nervous... but if you ain't afraid, I'm ready."

"You're not going to hurt me... I promise." PG reassured her, taking Rogue's hand and holding it firmly.

"Y... You're right," Rogue said, her eyes widening. She couldn't believe it. PG didn't show any signs of fatigue or pain... she seemed just fine. Had her solution really worked? "You ain't hurt, are ya?" she asked, her heart fluttering as she held PG's hand.

PG smiled warmly at Rogue. "I feel great," she confirmed.

Rogue's eyes began to tear up. She could finally touch another person without worry... and it felt incredible. "Thank you, Kara..." she whispered. "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure, Anna," PG whispered back, leaning in to kiss her lover, but before she could, Rogue pulled back, grabbing her head in pain. "AGH!"

"Rogue! What's going on?!" PG asked urgently, trying to steady the X-Woman. She had a good idea what was going on... and she hoped this wasn't what she thought it was.

"It's the Shadow King... he's in my head, Kara... I can't..." Rogue trailed off as she screamed in pain. Suddenly, her face contorted into a twisted grin. "I told you, you can't have her," a twisted voice told PG -- it was still Rogue's voice, but it was obviously the Shadow King speaking. "I might not be able to hold on to her mind, but I can still rip it to pieces..."

PG didn't respond; she didn't even hesitate. She used her psychic link to contact Lilith, and prepared to jump right back into the Astral Plane.

You'll have to get through me first, PG thought as she once again found herself navigating her way to Rogue's mindscape.