Angela's Millennium Memories

All the characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company.
No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Bonnie_S. (a.k.a. Shona of Wyvern).

Elisa Maza had always been accepted as a member of my new Clan without any kind of announcement from my father or any type of acceptance on her own part. The rest of the Clan and I knew this without question, yet my mother is another matter. She showed up at Castle Wyvern one night to reclaim her place in the Clan by our laws, starting a chain of events I do not doubt she regrets to this day. I doubt her regret stems from her challenging Elisa's title and fitness in our Clan meetings, the fact that it opened the way for father to protest the Clan to give Elisa such honors, or even the decisions of both the Clan and Elisa. What she regrets is the results of her challenge to that vote.

It was New Year's Eve – 1999. Elisa had the night off and was spending it celebrating with our Clan. This was suppose to be a New Year's that would not be seen by our mortal eyes again in itself, as such millennium turnings were a once in a lifetime experience on its own. Eight o'clock turned our peaceful celebration into a battle none thought would ever be. Just as the clock stuck the hour, Demona quietly landed in the castle courtyard with a sad look in her eyes.

I had always hoped that my mother would change her ways and return to the Clan and its ways. That night I was hoping that this would be her gift to us all. The look in Father's eye told all to well the distrust she had built in him. That same distrust was mirrored in each pair of eyes that looked on her. From the night that he and the Clan were reunited with her, Demona had tried many times to kill Father and the other males – thankfully she had been unsuccessful with each try.

Elisa came outside and took a position close to Father, which caused Demona's eyes to glow with either hate or anger (to this day I have no idea which it was). The stance and look on both female's face showed that neither trusted the other, yet Elisa remained silent as Demona made her plea – at least at first.

"It is the end of an interesting millennium, is it not?" Her voice was soft and trembling, as if she was about to break down into sobs.

Father took a breath before he answered her. Demona had a temper that could be set off by one wrong word, and my Father knew this well. "Yes, it is. What is it you want here Demona?"

"Only to return to my Clan at last. I'm tired of being alone, and I miss my daughter and Clansmates. In accordance with the Laws of our Clan, I come for your judgment of my past crimes with the hope of being welcomed home." A single tear fell down her cheek, and the pained look in her eyes nearly made me believe her words were genuine. Still, she had said and done as such before – each occasion proving to be a trick.

The look on Father's face told me that he remembered this too. Yet, I knew him long enough to know that he held an infinite compassion and disliked punishing any. That was Demona's saving grace for this long. Father was and still is a kind and gentle Leader.

"We shall retire to the main hall to discuss your request. Remain here Demona until we return with our decision. Come Elisa, I will walk with you. Your say in this will be held highly by one and all."

All of us turned in a start when Demona growled with eyes glowing red. "She is not Clan! She is simply a human friend to this Clan, and has no say in my fate – so says the law! She does not even have the right to be in a Clan meeting of any kind! Or have you forgotten that Goliath?"

Elisa started to leave Father's side when he took hold of her hand and shook his head. He whispered something into her ear that made her eyes grow wide for a moment, and then brought a hopeful smile on her face. "So, we shall have two Clan meetings then! As Demona is not banished by our laws, she has say in this first forum. Elder, I ask for this human female be given all rights, liberties, and responsibilities of any born member of this Clan."

"What ya ask fer lad be a great blessing that can only be given by Clan support or by the answering of any and all challenges. Before we hear from one and all of this Clan as to this human's fitness to be one of our own, what place do you wish she be given?" Hudson had a twinkle in his eyes. I could easily see that this was one debate he had waited to come about for longer than I had made my new home with this Clan.

Father looked down at Elisa, who had remained at his side, with a satisfied smile and a gleam in his eyes. When Elisa looked up into his dark eyes and nodded her acceptance of what had befell so far, Father rested his free hand on her far shoulder. "As my new chosen mate."

"Noooo!" Demona screamed in her anger and tried to attack Elisa. But, an invisible force stopped her.

Puck (holding tight to three year old Alexander Xanatos) chuckled from his seat, high above us all. "Now, now, now, Demona dear. I think that Goliath is going to let you have your say, am I right Big Guy?" When Father smiled and nodded, Puck winked at us – obviously he was on our side in this one. "So just calm down dearie and wait your turn. Nice holding spell Alex. Now to see how it all comes about. Remember it is their choice this time – not ours."

Alexander settled back against his fey teacher and protector. The Clan Assessment of Elisa's possible new stasis continued. We all took positions in the courtyard. This was the first time I had ever been a part of such a tribunal and the first such consideration in the Wyvern Clan for over a thousand years. Yet, this was one that we all were excited to take a part in.

Father and Elisa stood in the middle - as she was the one that might receive the duty, and it was Father who had asked for it to be made so. The rest of our Clan encircled them, as was done when judgment was called for.

Demona remained in the far area Puck and Alexander's spell had detained her to. On her right, our garbeast, Bronx, circled twice before finally settling himself on the ground. Brooklyn stood tall and proud next. Beside him was our Clan Elder, Hudson. He had his arms resting cross his chest, and his face held a half drawn smile. Then there was Lexington, who just couldn't manage to hide the smile on his face. Beside him was my mate, Broadway. I remember how he looked as happy as the night I chose him as my mate. Then I took my place as the youngest and last embraced member of this Clan (as well as its youngest female). I never though that my heart could race so quickly.

Father looked on Elisa who was visibly unsure of what was happening. "Everyone will either give their reasons for accepting or challenging my request to bring you into the Clan as my mate by law. Those who welcome you will come forward to embrace you as a sister, or demand an answer. There are no blows in this deliberation – remember that all." Father said so to us all, but her was looking straight into Demona's eyes.

Hudson spoke up, "as yea called fer this gathering lad, you must give us yer reasons to accept the lass as one of our own."

"Thank you Elder. All of you know my Elisa is a true and proven friend to our Clan. From the night we first met her, she has protected and sacrificed more than I believe than she will admit to for our sakes. She has trusted us just as much as we have her, and has done all that she can to make our lives more bearable.

"When we lost the Castle as our home, it was she and you Hudson and Broadway who found our Clan a new home in the clock tower. Then she made me see that where we call our home is where I belong. When she had only known me two nights, she stood guard over me as I slept in the park, far from the safety of our home. She followed Bronx and myself to Avalon, without a thought as to her own safety or her life outside of our Clan.

"As the three of us and Angela traveled through Avalon's mists, Elisa was our guardian and had placed herself in danger many times to keep us safe. She convinced me that some traditions could be changed without us losing our history, which brought me to claiming Angela as my own daughter rather than accepting her as a child of our Clan. If it were not for Elisa Maza, our Angela would have died the night that the Hunters bombed our home in the clock tower. It was Elisa who brought Angela back to life by doing CPR on her. I cannot find one single reason to deny her become one of us or my mate."

As Father spoke of all of the times I was a part of, all that he spoke of came back to me in my memory. Elisa had been a dear friend to my family, and so I gave her my respect and trust without question the first time we met. She was so strong and sure that so long as we stood by one another we could overcome whatever might come against us. She fought ferociously against so much for my Clan to remain on Avalon, just as if they were her children too. She taught me so much about the outside world as we traveled, and had taken the job of making sure my father recognized me as his daughter. When I died, she gave me life again. Suddenly, I knew how I could bring her in strong. All I had to do was wait for my turn to come.

Father took a position in the circle between Brooklyn and Bronx, which surprised Elisa when she found herself standing in the center alone. He was showing how he had released his former mate of the bonds that would have lasted them their entire lives. Hudson spoke up, "Them all be fine reasons to make Elisa one of us by law. However, ya know that all reasons and challenges must be heard before we decide. Lass, each of us get our say in this. If there be a challenge, yea have to answer it wholly and truthfully on your own. Bronx has first say, as he protects us; he be good in judging the heart of those brought ta our midst. If he be pleasant to ya, then we know he agrees. See if he'll come to ya, lass."

Elisa got down on one knee and bent down to Bronx's level and patted her left thigh. "Hey Bronx, come here boy."

Bronx bounded over to her barking happily. He rested both of his front paws on her right leg and nuzzled her chest in an effort to gain a petting from Elisa. Obviously Elisa had his vote without question. Everyone but Demona chuckled at the sight of them, Elisa rubbing the garbeast's back while he merrily panted away. After a moment Brooklyn whistled, and obediently Bronx returned to his place.

Then Elisa turned to look at Father's second in command. Brooklyn was uncomfortable speaking, and rubbed the back of his head until he finally found the right words to describe what Elisa had become to him. "I'll admit that I didn't trust Elisa that first night. But, when Goliath returned and told us of how she had protected him the whole day before … well, my opinion of her began to change. She did all she could to protect us without asking for one favor in return, which is an act that we were not used to from humans.

"When I made a stupid mistake that almost took our Leader from us, it was Elisa that figured out the way to bring Goliath back. There have been times I thought it would be better for all concerned that I left and tried to make it on my own – times when I didn't seem to do anything right. But, Elisa has always shown me how a few mistakes can't ruin our lives unless we allow them too. More than any human we have met in my life, I know that Elisa deserves to be one of us and hope that she'll decide to agree with me this time. Welcome sister." Brooklyn stepped forward and embraced Elisa, who by now was in tears and slightly blushing.

Hudson smiled as Elisa smiled at him. "Well lass, guess it be my turn to talk. Ya don't know how long I've been awaitn' for this night. Ya've been a good friend too us lass, and especially to this old warrior. In the time we've been awake in this place, ya've become more a child ta me than a friend. That second night we were here in this time, I only followed Goliath because I wanted to see fer myself what kind a friend ya'd be ta us, and to see what might be starting between the two of ya. From the time Goliath introduced ya to us, I could see that ya had a hold over him – like ya have a hold over the rest of us too. Ya even talk me into picking me name!"

This made everyone but Demona burst out laughing. I remember well the story that Elisa told me of how Hudson chose that name – from the near-by river he had pointed out to Elisa in defense of him not taking a name. She told him that it was called the Hudson, and he agreed to be called the Hudson as well. Luckily, Elisa just called him Hudson – as she still does to this day.

Once everyone calmed themselves, Hudson continued. "I'm glad to call ya my friend, but not sister – I call yea my daughter. Welcome home lass."

Hudson went forward and clutched Elisa close, his wings wrapping around her figure. It was clear that under his wings, Elisa was either laughing or crying. I later found out that she was doing a little of both. Hudson had told her to take good care of Goliath, as his last mate had broke his heart. Elisa promised that she would, and has not gone back on her word yet.

Lexington gulped before he began. This was his first evaluation gathering too. "Elisa, you're one of my best human friends. You showed me how to start my first computer, helped me link into the police computer so we could help you protect the city more, and even made me feel special when I felt really low. Your window is always open when we need to talk to someone, and you give us gifts I know have to be real expensive for you. But that's what makes you so special, not the money or time you spend on us, but that you do it just because you want too.

"When Angela got hurt, I got real scared. I thought we were going to lose her. But you used CPR to save her. A few nights later, you found us a new friend who taught us how to do it too. That's the way you are; you make sure we have all we need to make it in the city on our own, because of how often we are out on our own. You put all of us before yourself. I'm glad that I have a sister like you around!"

Lexington jumped up into Elisa's arms with a big smile on his face – the largest I could ever remember seeing on him before. After a moment, he returned to his place in the circle and Elisa turned to Broadway. She let out a sigh, mostly because she didn't like being singled out for praises.

"Hey, don't worry – cause you have my vote!" Broadway raised his hands in a defensive posture which made even Elisa burst out in laughs. Demona just rolled her eyes.

"I knew you could be trusted the night Goliath first introduce you to us. Still, I'm glad that you proved me right. When we lost our home, you helped us find a new one, and kept taking care of us. I know that you spent a lot of your money to make sure we had food to eat. You bought us the hot pan so that I could cook for us, and you even suffered through some of my bad recipes. You got us a TV so the place wouldn't be too boring.

"You protected Goliath, Angela, and Bronx while all of you were stuck in the mists. And then you kept my mate from dieing before she became my mate. You forgave my dumb mistake of playing with your gun and almost getting you killed."

To this Elisa had to speak up, "Broadway I told you back then, we both made mistakes. I should have put my gun where no one could've gotten their hands on it. After all, if Dracon had sent someone to get rid of me, it would've been easier and harder to tie the creep to my killing if his hit man used my own gun. Remember how close I left it to the door? What you didn't see was that I had left my front door unlocked that night. You gave me a reality check that I needed severely."

"Oh may I gag now? This is making me sick!" Demona moaned.

Elisa glanced over at the red haired female with a look of condescension, "if I remember correctly, Demona, you brought all of this on yourself. So stifle until we get to you. Unless you relent?"

"Never human!" Demona hissed at Elisa, the former's eyes again blazing red with hate and rage.

Father put a stop to it with a growl aimed at his one time mate. "Enough. Elisa is right. Wait you turn Demona, or relinquish it!"

That quieted Demona, but her eyes still burned red. I shook my head at her. Why couldn't she just accept her responsibility for the past and let it go, just as Elisa does for all of the rest of us? Elisa was more the mother I always dreamt Demona should've been.

Broadway continued. "Through all we have faced, you have stood at our side. I think that this is the least we could do for you. Welcome to the Clan, sis."

With that he went forward and picked Elisa up for a hug. I don't think I was ever more proud of my mate up to that moment. Elisa's face was bathed in tears of happiness. Oh, I couldn't wait until she heard what I had to say! More so, I couldn't wait until Father and Demona heard what I planned to say. When Broadway returned to place in the circle and Elisa turned to face me, I felt as if I was the proudest of females.

"From the moment we first met, I knew that you were special. You may be human Elisa, but you have the heart of a true gargoyle. You did all you could to protect my old Clan and ensured that they would not lose their home. You answered my endless questions during our travels around the world. You helped me save my Father several times then.

"When we got back to the clock tower, I was a little afraid of going in – I wondered if I would be accepted. Your smile told me that everything would be all right. And when I was having problems with a certain trio," this brought blushes and choughs out of the boys, "you helped me work through it.

"From the first time I met Demona, you warned me that she was dangerous and protected me from her evil as much as you could. When I finally realized that she would never be the mother I though she should be towards me, I went to your apartment. Lexington was right about your open window attitude, because I remember that you were asleep on the couch when I got there. I was just going to go somewhere else to cry, but you woke up and talked me inside. The rest of the night we talked over dozens of mugs of hot chocolate. And never once did you try to tell me that you had warned me about Demona, or tried to talk bad about her. You let me talk, and only said things that would make me feel good.

"That morning, I went into stone sleep and you tucked me under the canvas tarp that you usually cover Father with when he spends his days sleeping at your place. You treated me as any mother would her child. Elisa, you are everything that I wish Demona was. You have always been more a mother towards me than she.

"I remember that explosion that nearly ended my life. I remember hovering above everyone. I could hear and see everything that happened. I hate it when Father cries, but I couldn't get back – not on my own. When I saw you pressing on my chest and breathing into my mouth, I knew that you were trying to save me without knowing what you were doing. That night you gave me life, Elisa. That is what a mother does for her child; she gives it life.

"Elisa, that night I died to Demona. I will never again call her my mother, because she isn't anymore. You gave me life, and so I'll forever call you what you are to me – Mother." I rushed up to her and wrapped my wings around her the moment she was in my arms. We were both crying.

I remember how scared I was. Scared that she would tell me that I was wrong in feeling as I did. Or that she would be my friend and sister, but not my mother. And then, Elisa whispered into my ear, "I love you, my baby girl."

That released all of my fear and held back tears. I remember that we were both crying. Elisa took my face in her hands and softly pressed her forehead to mine before giving me a kiss in the same spot. Then we embraced again.

Broadway lightened the mood drastically, "uh, doesn't that make Elisa my mother-in-law as well as my sister?"

Only Demona remained expressionless at that thought. As Elisa and I held one another again, I had to make a comment myself – but only to her. "I don't want to imagine the physiatrist bill for that one, Mother."

"Me neither, baby girl." She whispered back to me. Then she shot Broadway a serious look, "just remember that means if she cries, you deal with me before you do Goliath!"

All three of the trio took a step back at that. Broadway looked over at Lexington with mock alarm on both of their faces. "I think that I would rather face Goliath!"

"Um Broadway, don't think … know that you would prefer Goliath over me!"

That made the laughter worse! Then Brooklyn used his elbow to nudge Hudson in the ribs, "hey, this makes Goliath your son-in-law and Angela your granddaughter!"

"Aye lad. But, I know that Goliath will take good care of my daughter. And the pair of them already take good care of my granddaughter." I couldn't help but hug Hudson for that one. I had always saw him that way, and knew that he treated me as such. But, now he had made it law!

Father looked at me with such pride in his eyes. "I will never forget this night, my daughter."

"Then you are not angry with me?" That was the one thing I was afraid of. I hadn't thought of telling neither of my now parents how I felt. Until that night, I never knew just how to word my feelings for Elisa. It came to me just as the meeting began, so I couldn't warn either of them.

Father smiled down on me. "No. Though I was pleasantly surprised. I was wondering how you felt about my relationship with Elisa, and my decision to take her for my chosen mate over Demona. I love you, my daughter."

"She is my mother, now and forever. If you want to keep Demona as your mate as well, I will not argue about it." I hated the idea of giving Father that kind of blessing, but I knew that inside a part of him still loved the female I once called my mother.

Demona sputtered hatefully, "do you think I would remain with him, when he has chosen a human over me! Dream on child!"

"Demona, my mother is more wonderful than you could ever dream yourself to be! The world needs more females like her, and fewer females like you!" I shot back at her. I never thought that I could hate one being as deeply as I did her at that moment; luckily, Mother interceded right then.

"Angela, don't start Demona. It's just not worth it."

I hugged Father and then held tight to my new mother before returning to my place in our circle; only I moved closer to Broadway by a step. It was Demona's turn. Mother turned to face our worse enemy. The defiant stare on Mother's face made Demona growl in frustration. "It's your turn now Demona, and somehow I don't think you're going to praise me."

"Pathetic human! If anything you should be dropped off of the side of the Castle right now! You think that you can steal away my mate, and my daughter!" Demona began to rant, but Mother just half grinned.

"Demona, I haven't stolen a thing from you. First you tried to kill Goliath I don't even know how many times, and Angela is old enough to make her own choices. I only support her because it is obviously what she wants."

"You are weak. There is no way you could defend this Clan yourself. You'd be one of the first to fall! That alone would make you not suitable for the Leader's mate, and the Clan that is gone would agree with me if they were here!"

Father spoke up for Elisa, "I disagree Demona. If the rest had survived with us, they would have gotten to know Elisa's heart and soul just as we have. I think that they would find her more than worthy. And Elisa would never be alone in defending this Clan, we have made too many friends for that to happen."

"She could never produce an egg! If she cannot help our species survive then what good is she?" Demona shouted.

Goliath roared, "that does not matter to me! I love Elisa for who she is, not for breeding!"

A couching reminded us all of the witnesses we had. Puck smiled warily at my father's angry expression, "may I interject one thought? Since there probably hasn't been a relationship such as this – who can say that you and Elisa can't have kids? As my sisters love to spout out, 'all things happen'."

"She would never survive birthing a gargoyle egg! And I doubt that she could handle a gargoyle baby without it's egg any better!"

Mother glared at Demona, "you don't know what I can and cannot survive Demona! But obviously that reason of yours has been nixed. What else do you have?"

"Any such child would never truly be Clan or human – it would be a creature all its own." Demona grinned that sickening smile I have seen on her face many times. I couldn't think of any response to that.

Hudson spoke up with the best of thoughts! "Every child be a creature all its own, so you have no argument there. The wee ones would always be Clan, and my grandbabies."

That made everyone laugh, while Mother and Father blushed. Demona screeched in frustration, but Puck and Alexander were able to hold her in place. Puck smiled as he patted Demona on the head (which made everyone laugh more), "No, no, no Demona. Remember you have to stay right there."

Demona's eyes lit up, and then she grinned all the more slyly, I didn't like the look of it! "Lexington said it himself, she helps us so that she can have our help defending the humans of this city. She's no better than the humans who betrayed us a thousand years ago!"

"You took his words out of context, Demona. Lexington asked me to help him get into the police computer system. It was the Clan's choice to defend the city – I never asked it of them!" Mother shot back.

Demona seemed to be running out of challenges. "All of you have forgotten what the humans did to our kind! You have been around them for so long that they have poisoned your minds!"

Brooklyn glared at Demona, "you are still spouting that trash? It was you and the Captain of the Guard who helped to destroy the rest of our Clan! When are you going to take responsibility for your actions?"

I decided that this line would be better in the next tribunal, "Each of us will deal with that later. Those who harmed our kind before my time are all dead. You cannot have your revenge on them. Mother has done nothing but help our Clan."

"You have poisoned our daughter against me!" Demona spat at Father, but it was I who answered her challenge.

"If anyone has poisoned me towards you, it was you yourself! I did all I could to love you, to show you what life could've been if you had returned and become what you could've been. But, you refused me."

Demona grew silent. For some moments she said and did nothing. Father finally looked over at her, "are you finished?"

"I hope that you realize your mistake before you die because of her!"

Father wasn't unnerved by that chilling threat. "That makes the discussions complete then. I'm afraid Elisa that you cannot remain during the decisions."

Mother smiled up at Father when he held her close. "I figured on that. Tell you what … I'll go inside. I 'd prefer that she didn't go inside, and it's a little warmer for me in there."

"I'll come get you, Mother." I volunteered.

Mother smiled and nodded at me. When Bronx tried to follow her inside, she tried to get him to remain with us. Father intervened, "let him go with you Elisa. That way you will have some company."

I think Mother knew as well as I that he really meant so she would have Bronx to guard her. Once she closed the door, Father turned back to us. "Only one of our Clan has spoken against Elisa become one of us, have any of you changed you decision? Second?"

"No." That was all that he had to say. The look on Brooklyn's face showed the seriousness of his mindset. He had made his choice, and was standing by it.

Father nodded, a slight smile growing on his face. "Elder?"

"Nay lad. Elisa be my daughter, now and forever. That alone should give her the rights of any member of this Clan. But, I'll wait out for the decisions of the others."

Father's smile grew to where all could just see it. "Lexington, what say you?"

"I would never change my mind about Elisa! She's my closets human friend, and she has more than proven herself."

Lexington's determined face made Father's smile grow more. "What about you Broadway?"

My mate stood slightly taller at the mention of his name. "Nothing can change my mind."

A twinkling in his eyes joined Father's smile as he looked at me. I lifted my head slightly, because I knew that nothing was going to stop this. "Before you even ask, Father. Mother is one of us as far as I am concerned. Nothing Demona can say would change my mind."

I could've sworn that there were tears in his eyes at that moment, though he has never admitted or denied it. But when he looked over at Demona, Father's features became serious. "And what of you Demona, are you still so set against Elisa becoming Clan to us?"

"She may be Clan to you, but not to me! Why would I have ever considered trying to get back into this Clan? You will all die because of her, mark my words."

"We have heard that old threat from you before, Demona. Angela, can you go retrieve your mother from inside? Now that she is a part of this Clan by law." While he spoke to me the sparkle returned to my father's eyes – as did the smile to his lips.

Moments later, I finally found Mother in the Library. She looked so frightened. "Come on mom, do you really think that Demona has that kind of pull with us? Father told me to come get you, now that you are Clan by law."

By the time we got back out there, Demona was chained to the center of the circle! Mother and I both looked over at Puck. "Sorta fitting – ain't it?"

I took my place beside Broadway, while Mother found that Bronx had taken the place that Demona had been standing in. The sweet pet decided he wasn't going to stand (or lay) in between my parents. So Mother stood on my Father's left hand side. The time had finally come to punish Demona for her crimes against the humans, and our Clan.

Father took hold of Elisa's hand as he began the trial. "Demona, you have come forward to accept the judgment of this Clan for your crimes against human and gargoyle alike. We shall all challenge you, and you must answer all of our challenges.

"Over a thousand years ago, you conspired with the Captain of the Guards to bring about the fall of our home. In this you claim to have intended for the humans to leave so that we could reclaim the Castle as our home. However, in reality you helped the Vikings storm our Castle, pillage and capture the humans who were under our protection, and succeeded in massacring our brothers and sisters while they were in stone sleep.

"Since our awakening in this time you have blamed me for not taking the entire Clan to frighten off the invaders. Before Hudson and I left on that mission, you tried endlessly to convince me to take all of our Clan, and even had the aid of the Captain of the Guards in this. But, when I disagreed and left with Hudson you only saved yourself from the massacre."

Demona covered her ears with her hands and shook her head in an attempt to deflect the accusation. "No, no, no! You should have taken everyone as I begged you! But, you thought more highly of the humans than of us!"

"You should have known that I would never betray those who look to us for protection. You knew that I would never leave the Castle unguarded. But, instead of warning the others and make sure of their safety, as you keep ranting that you were seeking, you remained silent and sought other shelter to protect yourself from the raid. You survived, but the rest were shattered!" Father's face became so pained at that moment, that it took all of my will power not to rush to his side. Mother rested her free hand on his forearm, her look telling the concern that was in her heart.

Father just smiled at her and nodded, trying to be strong for us all. Then he glared back at the female we all surrounded. "Demona, can you justify the fact that you saved yourself by finding a new place to sleep and not warning the rest of our Clan to do likewise?"

"I didn't think that the Vikings would shatter us! The Captain vowed that he would protect us as we slept!" She muttered as tears fell from her eyes. Funny I think that they were the first real tears I ever saw come from her.

Father's eyes began to glow white at her, "and yet, you sought shelter away from the Castle before sunrise! If you truly believed that the Captain would be able to protect us all on his own, then why did you leave?"

After a moment of gasping, Demona finally looked up at him with such pain in her face. "I did not trust him as you did! I didn't think that he could stop Hakon!"

"Then why did you leave the others to die?"

She barely whispered, "I do not know."

"Second." Father said solemnly as he looked over at Brooklyn.

Brooklyn could only bear to look at Demona, as he began his turn. "When we awoke here, you helped Xanatos to attack us with his Steel Clan. Why?"

"None of you would listen to me! You are so blinded by the old ways that you would follow Goliath to your deaths! Don't you see that he is going to get you all killed? He spouts about the old ways, and how things are in the Clan. Yet, he claims Angela as his own child and not the Clan's child; he would take a human for his mate when such has never been welcome in the Clan! He says one thing and then does the opposite the next moment! Goliath cannot be trusted to lead this Clan!" Demona shouted, but it had no effect on Brooklyn's expression.

"Elisa is a welcomed member of our Clan, which gives Goliath the right to take her as his mate if they both wish it so. And parents claiming their own child was how it once was in the Clan – I remembering our rookery mothers telling us so when we were young. Goliath has done nothing but adapted our ways to keep this Clan going, and he has yet to set his own desires above any of us.

"When we refused to bow to your will, you made clones of us – your new Clan as you put it. When Thailog betrayed you, you blamed it on Goliath. Once you tricked me into thinking that you were right. You only did it to get your hands on the Grimorum Archnorum! With a spell in it, you turned Goliath into a mindless slave. If it weren't for Elisa's wit he would still be just a mindless slave to whoever owned that piece of paper! How can you justify that?" Brooklyn's eyes began to glow as he remembered the past. It had been before I came, and was never spoke of, so this was the first I knew of this.

"I was lonely! I missed having my Clan with me. And then I got the technology to make a Clan I wouldn't lose because of Goliath – but they weren't any of you! It's only Goliath who is hold me away, or I would have returned long ago. That's why I wanted that spell, we could've made him see things our way!" Demona pleaded, but those pleadings fell on deaf ears.

"You just wanted to take over as Leader! And because of me, you almost succeeded. I don't think you missed us at all – not during our thousand-year sleep, nor during the time you have been in self-exile! All you think of is you! Elder." Brooklyn ended his challenge, but Demona gasped out another answer.

"We were doing the right thing! I do miss you Brooklyn. I miss you all! I just know that I could be a better Leader than Goliath! I have led dozens of Clans while all of you were asleep, and I know that I can do the job – I manage humans every day!"

Hudson just shook his head. "For yer own gains. As for the Clans ya have led, where be them now lass? Why are they not here to speak for yea? They are gone."

"No! I was a good leader! It was the humans who destroyed them!" Demon cried out.

Hudson's face became grim. "That was because yea were too busy trying to destroy all humans than taking care of the gargoyles under ya. A leader must put the good o the Clan above personal vengeance. But, ya couldn't see that."

Demona clawed at the ground in her frustration. "The humans were and still are a threat to all gargoyles! They must be wiped out!"

"Nay lass. Elisa, Matt, and even I have a few humans I call my friends; they all prove yea wrong in that. Aye there are humans that would like to see our kind destroyed for all time, but they are becoming fewer and fewer as we prove ourselves to be protectors instead of hunters. Ya've made that a hard task, lass. Why?"

"We have to prove ourselves! We are nothing otherwise! It is they who should prove themselves fit to be under our protection!" Demona spat out angrily.

Hudson just shook his head. "So we should not have to prove ourselves to them, but they have to do so for us? That not be right, lass. You care for no one but yea self. Ya tried to poison Elisa, and then promised to give Goliath the cure to it. But, instead ya tried ta kill him too. If I hadn't gone with him, I do not doubt that yea would've succeeded. Ya even tried to kill me, lass. If ya miss me so, then why'd ya try ta kill me?"

Demona looked up at Hudson, "you were protecting him! I'm so sorry Elder … Mentor. I was in a rage, and wasn't thinking right. I worry for you all with him as your Leader. I wanted to get them out of the way so that I would know that you would be safe. I knew back then that he was falling for the human, and still know that it isn't right!"

"There be nothing wrong with Goliath taking me daughter as his chosen mate! You just want everything your way. I be done with ya. It's yer turn lad." Hudson said to Lexington.

He swallowed as the tears fell from his eyes, "why did you do what you did to Coldstone?"

"We all miss out brothers and sisters, but I could only find his remains! I didn't mean for what happened with Desdemona and Iago. I didn't know that their remains were mixed in as well!" Demona sobbed.

Lexington didn't seem effected by it. "What about when you kidnapped his body while I was trying to help him?"

"I knew that you couldn't help, so I decided to help our brother myself."

"By convincing him that all there was to life was destroying Goliath! We gargoyles protect! We do not use our brothers and sisters for personal gains, and we do not abandon them when we know danger is coming! Wherever we call our home, we guard with our lives – even if those we want to protect hate us! You don't act like a gargoyle anymore! Why would you be against Elisa, who has more of a gargoyle heart than you, when it is yourself you should be considering?"

Demona sighed before going on. "If we cannot protect ourselves and our home, how can we protect anyone else? Why should we protect people who think we don't even have the right to live?"

"Because it is who and what we are. We all know why gargoyles protect – to fulfill the promise that was made so long ago! Demona, you were the one who taught the story to me! How could you forget it?" I could see the tears in his eyes. I knew that this was one trial that Lexington didn't want to sit through.

"No one knows if that old story is true! Personally, I think that it was just make believe. To make us protect from the time we could understand on – to brain wash us all!"

Lexington growled as his eyes glowed white with anger. "Liar! We protect because it is the right thing to do! I'm through with this! Broadway."

"You put the humans in a stone sleep, and tried to shatter Elisa – just as our brothers and sisters were long ago.  And then you made a virus that would have killed everyone! You always have to have things your way, or someone would die!" My mate's challenge seem just like that, a challenge instead of questioning Demona about her actions.

Looking over at Mother, Demona's eyes glowed red. If it weren't for the chains that held her in place, I would have been worrying for my mother's safety because of this thing we had surrounded. "She is a human! They shattered our Clan, they deserve nothing less then the same!"

"Elisa has always been our friend, and is more a gargoyle female than you have been in a long time! You never think about what will happen because of what you do!" Broadway roared. I had never seen him this angry in all the time I had known him, but I understood how he felt.

"If Goliath hadn't shattered the praying gargoyle, we would've been fine! All of the gargoyles in the world would have been sick for a few nights, but the humans would have been gone forever! The world would belong to the gargoyles, just as it should!" Demona spat.

Broadway growled, "you're wrong! Nothing would have been fine! All you wanted was to be the boss, to have everyone do as you say!"

"And what's wrong with that dream?" The look on Demona's face made my stomach turn!

"I don't think that we'll ever get through to you. Your turn Angela, maybe you can talk some sense into her."

Well, it was my turn. Sure enough Demona looked up to me with a pleading in her eyes. But, I had no love for her left. To be honest, I was tired of it. This was supposed to be a night of celebrations, but here we were reliving all of the bad times instead. "I agree with my mate. All of this talking to you, trying to make you see the truth, it is probably a waste of our time and breath. Can't you give me one reason other than blaming others for the way you have behaved?"

For a few minutes, Demona sat there quietly. I could see that she was really trying to come up with some excuse or another. Finally, she bowed her head in disgust and frustration. Because she knew that she couldn't. That didn't surprise me in the least.

"I thought as much. You're next Bronx."

Father spoke, "as with Elisa's consideration meeting, if he is friendly to you then he accepts you back. Try and call him to you, Demona."

Demona got down very much as Elisa had, and patted the same leg. "Bronx, you know me boy. Come here. Be a good boy and come here."

But Bronx didn't go to Demona; instead, he growled at her with his eyes glowing. It didn't surprise me when he got up, padded over to Mother, and whined for her attentions. When Mother began giving him a scratch behind his ear, Demona hissed at the poor garbeast! Mother snapped back, "enough! He was telling me that it's my turn now."

"You have no say in my life, human!" Demona growled, as she strained to get free of her chains.

Father's roar soon calmed her down. Then he set the female in her place. "That's where you are wrong Demona! Elisa is a member of this Clan by gargoyle law! Which means she has every right to speak! Go ahead, my mate."

Mother nodded and smiled up at Father. Then she looked down on the chained female with a stern look on her beautiful human face. "Angela finally got you to admit that you have no real reason for your actions, except when you put the blame on others. Now, I'm going to give you a reality check. Had Goliath not destroyed that praying gargoyle, and had it worked, you would have killed yourself as well."

"I shall out live you by a long measure of time human! That potion would have killed you and your kind!" Demona shouted with rage.

Elisa just remained calm, as if the threat didn't affect her. Puck chuckled heartily, "I really am sorry for interrupting again, but it so funny! See, I had a back up plan for the possibility that the Clan failed to stop you Demona. If you had succeeded in releasing the poison, I still have a small amount of manageable power in store. After changing Xanatos, Fox, and of course Alexander, I was going to change Elisa's form. See I am rather fond of this lively human we call Elisa. Given that I could not save the whole world, I would have to save some of it. So, until your poison went away, I'd make the Xanatoses and Elisa into gargoyles – just like that one time you had me do so to Elisa when you had Tatiana's mirror."

"I would have killed her in the air, fool! She wouldn't know anything about being a gargoyle, or how to guard herself from attacks coming on wing!" Demona screeched.

Mother just stood there calmly as the males of our Clan growled with their eyes all glowing white. But her words calmed them swiftly. "No you wouldn't have. See, if that virus had been released, it would have killed the very human MacBeth as well. The spell that binds you to him forever says that once one kills the other, both will die. In effect, you would have killed yourself. So, I think that you should thank Goliath for that saving grace."

"You're wrong human! He cost me my victory!" Demona screamed.

Mother calmly answered, "he saved your life. I don't think you are sorry in the least. In fact, I doubt that you want to return to our Clan. All you want to do is take it over. I'm finished, my mate."

"So be it then. The discussion is over. Demona you will remain where you are chained until we bring back our decision. Puck, can you and Alexander make certain that she does not go anywhere?" Goliath asked.

Puck bowed his head slightly, "it would be a pleasure. So Demona, how's life treating you these days? Has it been weighing you down?"

Everyone sat in the Library. Mother sat in one chair with Father standing behind her, Hudson and Lexington taking the other chairs, Brooklyn stood next to the fireplace, while Broadway and I sat on the couch. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was already a quarter to ten.

"Well it is certain that Demona will not be welcomed back into the Clan. The question before us all now is what do we do with her?" Father's voice rang with pain.

Brooklyn spoke up without moving his eyes away from the fire, "more like what can we do with her. We tried imprisoning her, but she escaped. It's doubtful that she'll stay away."

"Lad, we have nothing that we can do. All that we have before us be casting her from the Clan." Hudson seemed so sad as he spoke.

Lexington spoke up next, "and that means that she'll will try all the harder to destroy us. We have protection during the day by staying here in the Castle, but Elisa doesn't have the luxury. Demona will plan to strike her when we can't protect her."

This brought down everyone's already low mood. The thought of losing my Mother to Demona made me shutter, but poor Father was taking it worse. I could see the turmoil in his face. Mother would never give up her career as a detective just to remain safely locked away within the Castle walls.

I wasn't the only one who looked when Bronx began barking at the window. We all walked over to see what it was that had his attentions.

Poor Demona was in a deep rage as Puck teased her – keeping Alexander a safe distance away from the action of course. Mother began to softly chuckle to herself and shake her head. "Would that be too cruel – even for Demona?"

"What my love?" Father half cloaked Mother's shoulder with one of his wings.

"To allow Puck to prescribe a fitting punishment for Demona until she finally faces the truth?" Mother looked up into Father's face with one eyebrow raised and a half grin on her lips.

Everyone gave a mock shutter at that one, followed by peals of laughter. This seemed to aggravate Demona all the worse, because she started fighting all the harder against her chains just to escape the sound of our laughter. Of course this made us chuckle all the harder.

"Is there any who would be against such measure being taken?" Father finally asked once we all calmed down.

All of us but Mother simple shook our heads in response. Mother sputtered out in shock, "I was only joking guys! Why do you always take my every word so literally, Goliath?"

"Because it is a good suggestion. Demona would one day learn her lesson, and I would not worry for my mate when you are unguarded in the world." Father brushed a stray lock of Mother's hair back behind her ear.

"No way to change your mind?" Mother sighed in resignation. Father simply answered her with a solemn shaking of his head. "And what about the rest of you, no chance of a doubt or two?" The rest of us answered just as Father had. "Alright then. Wonder what Puck will come up with."

Minutes later we were back outside, and in our previous positions. Demona, straining harder against the magical chains that bound her to the ground, hissed and glared at Mother, who seemed impervious to the hinted threat. I don't remember Father ever looking so proud or strong in the years I had known him.

"As my chosen mate was the one who gave the suggestion of your punishment Demona, I ask her to pronounce it. Elisa." Father reached out and Mother answered by accepting his hand into her own. The smile on her face was as bright as what I daydream the sun must be like.

"Puck, we are going to need to talk to Lord Oberon. Is there anyway that you could persuade him into coming here?"

One eyebrow rose high on Pucks face at the request, while Alexander giggled. "Grandma could make him come, Uncle Puck."

"Yeeesss … but why is it I'm risking my life to get dad to show up for?"

Mother chuckled, "just asking a favor of him."

"Well it's your head I hope you know. I can bend rules, but even rules have breaking points." Puck complained as he rolled his eyes. "Okay Alex, let's send grandma a call.

"Alexander wants to see his granny and his paps,

Allowing Puck out from underneath Owen's oh so stiff wraps.

Queen Tatiana and Lord Oberon hear what I now say,

Alexander wishes for the two of you to come this way!"

A green glow balled in Puck's hands, and within a moment it was gone. "Now we wait to see if they come a calling. I think they'd come to Alex - but with the Gathering on Avalon in full swing, it's hard to say."

For few moments all was silent. Knowing the time difference on Avalon, we knew that it was a good chance that this could take some time. But when five minutes passed, Demona got a triumphant smirk on her face. "Looks like your little plan for me failed, Maza. If I were you I would be watching my back very closely from now on. 'Accidents' do happen you know."

"And you would do well in making sure such 'accidents' do not happen to Ms. Maza, Demona. After all she is one of my grandson's protectors, and is one of his favorite human friends – should something happen to her that you could have interceded on, well I know no one who would trade places with you then." The voice echoed and reverberated throughout the courtyard. It looked like Puck's spell had gotten through.

Stepping out of a ball of fiery green light were Queen Tatiana and her husband, Lord Oberon! Neither had a pleased look on their face - that is until Alexander squealed and rushed over to Avalon's Queen. "Grandma! Grandpa! I missed you!"

"Alexander, it is good to see you as well child. But, why did you ask Puck to send your message? Are you not able to send such yet?" Tatiana asked while she shot a suspicious glance over to the floating fey.

Puck gulped and raised his hands as if he was readying for an attack. "Actually, detective Maza asked me if I could get dad to come by. Alex said that you might be able to persuade him to come, sooo …"

"So now that we are here, what is it that you wish to speak with me about detective Maza?" Oberon gazed over at Mother.

I saw her take a breath before she began to speak. "Lord Oberon, Demona is the problem I want to talk to you about. The Clan has decided that she is guilty of too much to be welcomed back among us. However, you have heard that she is still a danger to us – locking her away will be of no use because she'll find a way out, and killing her too is out of the question …"

"Why is putting an end to her life not an option?" Oberon interrupted, his irritation thick in his voice.

Mother was unprepared for that question. I saw her take a moment's pause to think of her answer. "There are times where killing a criminal is the only option – Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy to mention a few. These men were not sorry and were pleased with the evil they did; they had no regrets. Demona has her regrets, even if she says otherwise. I know that she regrets all that has happened since the Wyvern Massacre, and will continue gaining more mistakes to regret if she is not stopped."

"And this involves me how?" Oberon was clearly not impressed by Mother's explanation, though I was. It's hard to make a case where killing one individual and not another is the right thing to do. I wondered whom those men she mentioned were and what they did that made killing them justified.

Mother stood taller, meaning she was a little more than nervous around the King of Avalon. "All I ask is to give her fate to Puck's magic. If anyone could give Demona a fit punishment without killing her, it would be Puck. And besides, he has a debt of ownership to return to her as I remember correctly."

Demona's eyes grew wide when she obviously realized what Mother had meant by her words. "He is not Clan and has no say in my life! I held a debt over his head and required payment from him! Not even Oberon can curse me for that!"

"Silence gargess!" With the flick of a hand, a metal plate suddenly covered the entire of Demona's mouth. I wonder if I was the only one who had an urge to applaud the grace of not being subjected to Demona's whininess? "It is hard to understand why you would let such a vindictive creature live when she would eagerly end your life, detective."

Mother gave an answer that stunned all around her, including Demona herself. "That is because Demona is only acting as she was once treated. I remember the stories the others have told me of how things once were, and how they are still treated today. She has given up and decided to take blood for blood, while in reality all she is doing is proving those who despise her and all of the various Clans right. Demona should be given the chance to start this new millennium without her past haunting her so that she can show what she really is on the inside."

Looking around, I saw that I wasn't the only one who was surprised by Mother's defense of Demona. Even Puck and Queen Tatiana stood in awe of Mother's strength and conviction. Yet it didn't seem to surprise Lord Oberon. What it did do was bring out a curious smile on his face.

"A pity you are not … is it a lawyer I'm thinking of. You would be unbeatable, detective." Oberon actually chuckled! I had never seen it before in my entire life!

Mother just smiled at the rare compliment from the King of Avalon. "I'm where I'm best settled for, Lord Oberon. Besides, I doubt that I would have met the Clan if I had been a lawyer."

Again Lord Oberon chuckled! "Very well. Perhaps even my wayward children can learn such lessons as well. Puck, when the event come forward where your magick would be useful without giving yourself away as one of Avalon's own, you are free to do what you are best suited to in that situation alone!"

Green energy shot out of Lord Oberon, across the courtyard, and into Puck's body! A few moments later Puck had his old mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Thank ya daddy dear! Now, my dear friend Elisa, how can the Puckster help the Clan? Hmmmmm?"

"If anyone can come up with a way to make Demona see the truth before she makes another mistake to regret that is the size of the Massacre, I think that it is you." Mother smiled at the floating fey in front of her eyes.

Puck began to really think, floating all around as he did. At one point he was even hanging upside down in front of Demona, eye to upside down eye!  When she strained to get at him, Puck turned right side up and backed away. After a few minutes of silence (which is a long time for Puck) he snapped his fingers and grinned with a sneaky gleam in his eyes. He quickly cleared his throat and cracked his knuckles before rising above us all.

"Demona, your Clan asks me to teach you a lesson for your past wrongs many,

All looking for you to show signs of regret or being sorry for any.

So, to give you the chance to see things from the flip side of reality's coin,

Your new life with those you most hate Puck shall adjoin!

Those memories that give you pain now see in a different light,

Past in perspective now give you the chance to choose what shall be wrong or right!

The way you were treated drive you no more,

Remember what happened but your hate now ignore.

Listen to your heart instead of your head,

And we soon shall see what happens in the year that is ahead."

Again there was the green glow surrounding Puck, but this time it went into Demona's body! In a few moments, her body went limp and collapsed to the ground. Cheerfully Puck announced, "she's okay folks – just needs a few minutes for the spell to take a hold."

Tatiana carried Alexander over to Lord Oberon, "my Lord a favor I ask of thee?"

"What is it your heart desires, my Lady and my Queen?" Oberon took his wife's hand and pressed it to his lips.

"As we can return at any time we please to Avalon, can we spend a little while longer here? I have not seen my daughter, and it is good to be spending some time with my grandson." Tatiana pleaded.

Oberon smiled on his Queen. "Only because it is you who asks it of me, my Queen. And I would like to see how this David Xanatos treats my adopted daughter and grandson. Puck where shall we find them?"

"Right this way big daddy!  And thanks for the cool present – it was just what I wanted!" Puck chuckled as he floated just before Avalon's rulers towards the interior of the Castle. The group didn't stop until Mother cleared her throat and nodded towards a still unconscious Demona.

"Oh yeah … right … the PMS Queen." Puck chuckled

"Chains of iron and irony fall away

Disappear from Demona now I say!"

In the blink of an eye the chains were gone, but the large metal gag remained. Before any of us could say a word, Oberon pointed to the female and said in a loud voice, "be gone!"

Demona was out of it on the ground – no binds and no gag. It took us a few minutes to recover from the whirlwind that had just happened before our eyes. Father took Mother into his arms and gave her a deep kiss.

"I could never be more proud of you my mate and my love. You just proved why you are the very best of all humans."

Mother blushed just slightly at that, "well, I wouldn't say that I'm the best – but we know that I'm nowhere near the worst. Still, I know when to push and when to back away."

Demona groaned and moved somewhat. "What … happened? Where am I?"

With a quick glance up at and nod from Father, Mother moved towards our enemy. "You're still in the courtyard. Are you alright, Demona?"

"I'm not sure … I'm just not sure. I have to leave. I have to get out of here and think!" And with that Demona ran for the battlements and glided off into the night.

I rested my head on Mother's shoulder as we all watched Demona go. "What do you think will happen now?"

"I just don't know baby. I just don't know," was all that she said.

"Hey guys, it's still 1999!" Brooklyn shouted happily.

Lexington and Broadway both gave Father's second a strange look as they asked in unison, "yeah, so what?"

Father answered for him, "so we are going to celebrate the ending of one millennium and hope for a better one than what we have lived through."

That brought everyone's spirits back up in a second. Hudson smiled as he winked over at my parents, "yeah, with the mating ritual coming up, at least the start of this one shall be a bit brighter!"

"Why not end this one with one happy memory? Unless I'm pushing when I should be backing off …" Mother shyly smiled up at Father.

Father stopped just before opening the door and turned to look Mother in the eye. "Do you wish so, my Elisa? I do not want to rush you …"

"I don't care when we have the ceremony, just so long as you are my mate. I love you Big Guy, and I don't want to be with anyone other than you!"

I never thought that I would see Father smile so merrily! "And I love you, my Elisa. Brooklyn, go get Talon and the other mutates quickly. Broadway, Angela, and Lexington, the three of you go explain and return with Elisa's parents as fast as you can."

And so my mate, my rookery brother, and I were off to retrieve my new grandparents! The Magus was right when he said that all endings just lead us to a new beginning. I just wish that he was here to see this ending and beginning.