Disclaimers

All characters appearing in D.C Comics & Time Warner, Marvel Comics, Gargoyles/Gargoyles: the Goliath Chronicles, cartoons created by Murakami Wolf Swenson Inc. & IDW comics, media created by Joss Whedon and DIC Entertainment. Are property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.

All original characters and concepts are the property of Celgress.

The Oblivion Paradox - Prelude

By

Celgress

Rock Grotto on Avalon, night

Paradox tossed back the hood of his brown colored monk style robe. He knelt down beside the roughly circular pool in front of him. He lazily dipped the black clawed fingers of his right hand into the water and played across its surface. An inky darkness polluted the once pristine liquid turning it a murky gray.

Soft footsteps were heard behind him. Paradox stood up. "Did you retrieve my final prize?" He inquired turning around to face his minions Mephisto, the Weird Sisters along with their chargers the Rose, Steel Spider, Demona & Lucifer.

Mephisto bowed his head. He handed Paradox a large bronze urn. On either side of the urn was carved a monstrous, leering face. "The Pandorica Urn, as requested master."

"Tell me," Paradox said taking the urn from Mephisto's outstretched hands. "Did Baron Mordo or his supplicant Flash Thompson experience any difficulty retrieving the urn from that self righteous do gooder, and its self appointed keeper, Dr. Strange?"

"Not unduly so master," Mephisto said.*

"Rose otherwise known as Debra Whitman-Kingsley, come forth." Paradox commanded. Mephisto stepped aside thus allowing Rose to stand before Paradox. "I have chosen you of all my mortal servants to bestow a great gift upon. In return, I seek only your devotion until my plan is completed."

"I'll do whatever you ask Lord Paradox. Just resurrect my beloved Alistair when my servitude is completed. I cannot live without him." Rose said.

"I shall child. When our work together is done." Paradox said. "Receive my blessing. My other servants, I recommend you stand aside. Least anything, unpleasant should occur to you." His minions needed no further encouragement. They slunk off to a respectable distance.

Paradox wrenched the urn apart with his two mighty hands. Pale green-yellow smoke with a fluorescent quality spilled out. While Paradox chanted unknown words over and over and over again, the smoke snaked up Rose's body in concentric steams of semi-solid matter. Once these reached her head they poured through her purple mask and entered her being via her throat, ears, and nostrils.

Rose tried to wretch. When that failed she screamed in pained panic. Her body which lifted high into the air convulsed violently. Inexplicably a green-yellow crystalline cocoon formed around Rose covering her completely in a matter of seconds. The cocoon then floated over until it attached itself to the nearest wall. A slow, rhythmic noise, which coincided with an intermittent interior strobe of light, could be heard.

"By nightfall tomorrow she'll be ready." Paradox said forcefully. "The Spider Queen will stalk Avalon. Then her dark swarm shall devour this land's very life force. Leeching away the potent magical energies found here, until none remain. Causing this island to wither away until the 'Deathless Land' at last dies, and magic along with it."

"To what purpose, Lord?" Lucifer could not help but ask in spite of his awe and fear of Paradox.

"The end of magic is their role in my master plan, of course. Each of you has his or her own role to play in the grand scheme to which I have exclusively devoted myself lo these many years." Paradox said. "Long have I awaited my true destiny. But, I could not strike until each of the myriad pieces required was painstakingly put into place. Patience does pay, eventually.

"Ah," Paradox said inclining his head towards the pool. "Our friends have arrived. The stage is nearly set." He turned gesturing at the water. In the pool could be seen the various guardians arrivingwith Superman & Superwoman, the altered Spider-Man, Arachnia, the Ninja Turtles and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

"Vengeance will soon be ours," Mephisto said smiling wickedly. Beside him, his cousin Fae the Weird Sisters did the same.

"Patience my servants patience." Paradox urged. "Haste makes waste. Our foes will indeed fall into our hands when the time is right. Which is not yet." His gaze shifted to the slimy cocoon. A large rock lifted off the stony ground landing in his left hand. "Until then, we wait, we plan and most importantly we anticipate our coming victory. When the end does arrive. We strike without mercy!" His eyes flashed orange-red. Then his hand effortlessly crushed the rock to dust which he sprinkled onto the ground. "As I've always contended. Revenge is a dish best served, ruthlessly."

To Be Continued

Author's Note -

* See an upcoming chapter of "West Coast Spider-Man" for these events.