Fantastic Four Annual #21 (1988)

The Fantastic Four have returned to the Four Freedoms Plaza for a brief rest after their exploration into the mystery of the Beyonders. On their way in they bump into the Fantastic Four's old mail man, Willie Lumpkin, on another mail delivery. After a warm reunion, Willie departs to continue his deliveries. Ben then reports into their receptionist, Roberta to update her on the team's current mission: He explains that while they were searching for the Mole Man they discovered a series of warps where they found themselves transported into Limbo where they fought Belasco, then the Land Within of the Cat People, before ultimately being transported to the alien world of Arcturus IV. There they thought they were trapped with the villain known as Master Pandemonium until they were rescued by Comet Man and his friend Max. It turned out there was a transporter that teleported them back to Earth in the frozen wastelands of the former Savage Land. Now in order to learn how the Beyonders are all tied into it, they are heading into the Negative Zone. When Roberta asks if she should contact the Fantastic Four's former leader, Reed Richards, Ben tells her not to because they are doing fine without him on this adventure. The group then splits up to enjoy some rest and relaxation before continuing on their quest. Drawing a hot bath, the Thing soaks in the water and reflects on how he and Sharon are finally in the relationship that he always wanted from her and that it took her transformation into a She-Thing that helped bring them closer together. When he considers recent events, Ben begins to believe that Johnny and Alicia getting married was the best thing that could have happened to him. In another bathroom, Sharon is taking a bath as well, and her feelings about the subject mirror those of Ben's. While in another shower, Johnny is deciding that after their mission in the Negative Zone he plans on quitting the Fantastic Four because of his conflicted feelings for Crystal and he need to remain faithful to his wife Alicia. Crystal's thoughts are on these issues as well, thinking of how if the Inhuman law did not protect the "sanctity of marriage" she would have been divorced from Pietro long ago. Crystal's thoughts are quickly interrupted by the arrival of her daughter Luna and her nanny Maya. After spending time with her daughter, Crystal meets up with the rest of the Fantastic Four outside of Reed's old lab. Before they can open it up a holographic image of Medusa and Black Bolt appear before them. Medusa tells her sister that Quicksilver's mind has been healed and that she is being ordered to return to her people. She explains that Pietro recently lost his powers and has decided to forgive his wife and ask her to come back. This infuriates Crystal, who is fed up with the royal family dictating the direction of her life and refuses to go back to Attilan. With this act of defiance, Black Bolt has Medusa tell her that they will be coming down to physically return her to the moon. When the Inhuman royal family teleports down to the Four Freedoms Plaza with Lockjaw, Medusa once again demands that Crystal return with them. Crystal refuses and when her sister tries to restrain her, fights back. This leads to a clash between the Fantastic Four and the Inhumans. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the moon, the High Evolutionary and his Gatherers have teleported onto the surface. He orders his Gatherers to attack Attilan and gather a sample of the Terrigen Mists for him to examine. As he watches his minions fly toward the city, the High Evolutionary suddenly senses a presence behind him. He turns and is surprised to see the Earth's Watcher standing before him. The Watcher informs the Evolutionary that he has come to watch and he has been watching the geneticists recent exploits: attempting to cull the Moloid population, an attempt to destroy gene altering drugs, enlisting the aid of the Eternals to get a sample of the Silver Surfer's DNA, his examination of the mutant known as Mirage. The Watcher also tells of the escalating drug war that has resulted from the Evolutionary's tampering. When the High Evolutionary asks if the Watcher intends to interfere with his plans, Uatu reiterate that his goal is only to watch. Not far away on Attilan, the Inhumans try their best to ward off the Gatherers attack. Joining them is Quicksilver, who although no longer having his speed powers, is leading the army into battle. Back on Earth, the Fantastic Four and the Inhuman royal family are still fighting it out. Although Lockjaw is loyal to the family, this quickly changes when Karnak gets close enough to Crystal to knock her out. Lockjaw then quickly turns on everyone, protecting Crystal from anybody who tries to get too close. The battle rages on, with both sides still equally matched, prompting Black Bolt to call an end to the fighting. As they continue to argue over Crystal's place, they are interrupted by the appearance of Fantomask, an Inhuman beaming her holographic image to Earth. When Fantomask warns the royals about the attack on Attilan, Crystal decides that it is time to return home to help her people. Although Johnny protests this idea, Sharon tells him that it's ultimately her choice. The Fantastic Four agree to go along with the Inhumans back to Attilan to help fight back the Gatherers. With the added might of the Fantastic Four and the Inhuman royal family, Quicksilver and his army are able to turn the course of the battle. No match for the added force, the Gatherers retreat to their master empty handed. After they report in, the High Evolutionary grudgingly teleports himself and his minions away, giving the Watcher a dirty look as he leaves. Spotting the Watcher observing from above, the Fantastic Four decide to try and get answers from him. However the Watcher insists that all he does is watch. When Ben reminds him of all the times he has helped in the past, the Watcher still insists that he only watches. Suddenly the FF become aware of another Watcher who offers to tell them what was going on. However before this new Watcher can say anything, Uatu steps in and tells him that they only to observe and teleports away, telling Ben that he is forced to watch from a greater distance now. With the battle over, Black Bolt requests a private audience with his cousin and takes her out past Attilan where the air of the Blue Area is thin. There, he is able to say one word, "stay," without the full force of his powers. This is still powerful enough to cause a massive sonic boom that sends Crystal tumbling across the lunar surface. When Crystal asks why she should stay, Black Bolt writers the word "family" in the dust. When he later brings back Crystal with the others, she announces to the team that she is leaving the Fantastic Four to return to her people and her husband and asks them to tell her how the rest of their adventure will go. While Johnny feels heartbreak for losing Crystal a second time, Ben is perplexed by the whole turn of events, while Sharon finds Crystal's decision both brave and sad.