~ Chapter Fifty-Two ~

Ascension from the Ashes

Goliath slowly trudged through the stone ruins that used to be the Castle of Hel. He, Puck, Broadway, Xanatos, Griff, Jade, Gabriel, and King Arthur used a portal, wanting to find out what happened, why the Death Curse had pulled back, and why people had stopped dying.

As they walked and surveyed the damage around them, his heart was heavy with grief and sorrow.

The Curse had taken Elisa, his beloved human mate away. His daughter, Angela, Hudson, Bronx, and many Gargoyles in the remaining Clans died. Many souls, with whom he promised their leaders he would protect but failed to do so.

Rose, Brooklyn, Demona, Akira, and Lexington disappeared in a portal to Hel before he could say anything to stop them, and he was dreading what he would find in this destroyed stone fortress.

Puck was leading the way to where he knew the Cauldron of Life to be, and as they walked, nobody said a word to each other.

Their minds and hearts were heavy with sorrow and grief.

Xanatos had lost both Fox and Alexander to the Death Curse, and Goliath feared for his newly-changed friend's heart. The man had come so far from a life of corruption and evil schemes and feared what would eventually become of him without his wife and son to keep him grounded.

Goliath even feared the same thing for himself.

So far, only he and Broadway remained alive in their clan, and he didn't know what he was going to do if they were all that was left. Inwardly, Goliath was praying that Rose, Brooklyn, Lexington, and Akira had lived and found a way to stop the curse, but as he walked through the rubble of the castle, he was terrified of what he was about to discover.

The castle had been leveled to the ground, walls were barely standing, and the ceiling was gone.

It was as if a bomb had gone off.

"The sky's atmosphere has changed," Puck suddenly whispered, looking up at the starry universe above them. Looking up, Goliath didn't know what he was meaning. To him, Hel so far looked to be a dead version of Avalon- with the same night sky he knew so well.

"What do you mean?" He asked him.

"Hel was encompassed in a series of Curses, dating back to All-Father Hel's time. The sky was a constant shade of red; there were no stars, no moon, and no sun. Everything was in constant damnation. But now..." Puck looked at his feet, where the bud of a plant was growing from the dry ground and looked up at them in awe. "Now, it's been freed from its imprisonment! Brooklyn and Rose's group didn't just stop the Death Curse, but they have set Hel free from all curses!"

Goliath didn't doubt his small band of clan members was able to do that, especially when Rose was involved, but he didn't care about Hel's condition at the moment. He merely nodded once at Puck, then looked around the flattened foundation, sighing heavily.

"So, where is this… Chamber of Lost Souls?" Goliath asked Puck, as Xanatos, in his red-gargoyle exo-suit, walked past him silently, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Beneath all this rubble," Puck answered him. "The door should be somewhere down this center hallway."

Goliath followed his gaze and saw some doorways that had survived the collapse, but he didn't let himself feel relief just yet.

"Are you saying they are in the basement of this castle?"

Puck nodded. "Yes, and that's where Demetrius would have kept the Cauldron of Life."

"So, perhaps that means they survived when this castle came down?" King Arthur asked.

"I sure hope so," Goliath said quietly, his heart still heavy from all of the losses he's been forced to bear.

"What made the Castle come down like this?" Broadway asked quietly; he too, still utterly miserable from losing Angela and the others.

"By the Curse, no doubt," Xanatos answered, his back to them. His voice was dark, empty, and quiet. "As Puck and Owen have told me many times, energy is energy, whether it be science or sorcery, and this was ground zero for a significant power surge of sorts. But, of course, this death curse would have extraordinary amounts of power and magic. It only took away everything and everyone we've ever loved or cared about in a matter of seconds."

Nobody said a word but had noted the venomous tone in his voice.

Puck threw a worried glance at him before opening a heavy door, which led to an icy and dark staircase. A blast of frigid air hit them in the faces, but the silence was the most unnerving part of it all.

"The Lost Souls are gone," Puck whispered, his face a tapestry of shock.

"What?" Goliath asked, and Puck quickly blinked his shock away.

"N-nothing. Let's um… just follow me. The Cauldron is down this way."

Goliath glanced at Broadway, Griff, and King Arthur once before Xanatos offered them up a bright light from his exo-suit. Slowly and carefully, they followed him and descended the stairs.

Minutes passed in silence, and when they reached the bottom and walked through another door, they walked into a room full of pools of lava and lava rivers. It was a hot and sticky room, vastly different than what the staircase was seconds ago. But still, they walked through the giant chamber towards another set of doors, which had been blasted off its hinges.

"Is this it then?" Goliath asked, looking around the empty room. Weapons of all kinds lay strewn everywhere but were abandoned entirely. "Is this the Chamber of Lost Souls?"

"Part of it," Puck answered, walking on still. "But, according to what Queen Titania told me when she was held prisoner here, the Cauldron is past these doors ahead."

Goliath nodded, and he and the others continued to follow Puck silently through the Chamber.

The room was a semi-circular room, with edges of the cliff that led to lakes of lava below. Shelves, which had been filled with glass bottles, now laid on their sides with glass shards everywhere. The ceiling, which Goliath realized was the top of the volcano, had wholly broken open as if the mountain-side itself blew its top and created a whole new surface instead of its massive cone shape.

Looking around more and walking into the room further, Goliath spotted the large, black, cast-iron cauldron sitting on a small dais above stairs and at the base…

"Oh Gods," Broadway moaned, and Goliath froze. Every part of him swore he was about to fall apart, and his pounding heart was growing heavy with each step he was taking.

Lying at the base of the cauldron was Brooklyn and Rose.

Wings drooping in grief, Goliath stumbled closer to them and surveyed their lifeless forms. His Second-in-Command was lying motionless on his stomach, with eyes shut and his face resting to the side. It looked to be as if he were merely sleeping or knocked unconscious.

But, Goliath knew better. He'd seen enough death to know the truth.

Next to Brooklyn, lying in his arms, was Rose.

At the tender sight of them, Goliath rested his claw on his chest, taking large, gulping breaths. Her face was burned, bleeding, and had chunks of skin missing, and she was resting against Brooklyn, with her eyes closed. One hand was still gripped in Brooklyn's, while the other laid above her head at the Cauldron base.

As Goliath stared at the devastating scene, he closed his eyes tightly and let his burning tears stream down his face. Falling to his knees, he then freely wept.

Brooklyn and Rose were dead.

Burying his head in his arms, Goliath's entire body trembled as sobs racked through him. He didn't know what he was going to do. There was too much loss. Too much pain-

"Goliath! Over here!"

Sniffing, Goliath looked up through his haze of pain and tears at what Broadway was calling him over for.

Then he saw why.

Over in the corner of the room, Lexington was groaning and coming from apparently being knocked out.

He was alive.

"Lexington!" Goliath gasped, stood up, and ran over to the youngest male of his clan and knelt next to him.

Lexington rubbed his head as Broadway helped him to rest his back against the wall. He looked slightly dazed but seemed to be okay.

"Hey, buddy," Broadway said softly, "you okay?"

Lexington groaned again, blinked, and sighed, "yeah, I guess." He blinked some more, then seemed to see them there. "Hey, Goliath, Broadway… you guys are alive!"

Goliath nodded numbly, unable to stop the tears from falling down his face or hide his pain. He swallowed a lump and turned his head away, unable to reply.

"What happened?" Lexington asked. "Kevin knocked me out, and Akira, Rose, Brooklyn, and Demona were fighting him."

"What happened to Kevin?" Broadway asked.

"Well, uh, I thought I heard Brooklyn take him over the ledge there…" Lexington pointed to the cliff, where it dropped off into the lava, and Puck made a slight noise.

"They would be a Lost Soul if they fell in there, and it would be as if they never existed."

"Well, since we don't see Kevin anywhere, then it's clear that Brooklyn took care of him," Broadway said, then spat, "good. Death was too good for that bastard!"

"Where are the others?" Lexington asked, looking around.

"We weren't here to tell details, but it appears that Brooklyn and Rose stopped the curse," Griff answered, and Lexington's eyes widened.

"They did? So, does that mean that no one else is going to die? Where are they?"

No one said anything. Lexington suddenly jumped to his feet, pushed past the small group surrounding him, then stopped instantly when he took in the room's damage. Then saw the only two remaining bodies in the room.

Brooklyn and Rose's.

Upon seeing their lifeless forms, Lexington fell to his knees, and his excitement turned into anguish as tears streamed down his face.

"Oh, no… no!"

Instantly, Goliath and Broadway were by his side, rubbing his back.

"But, they… stopped the curse," Lexington wept. "No one else was supposed to die! How can it end this way?"

"The curse took away their lives…" Goliath gritted his teeth, took a painful breath, then whispered, "but Rose and Brooklyn went together, and that is exactly what they both wished. Neither could truly live without the other."

Lexington sniffed and wiped at his eyes. "But, if their bodies are there, and Kevin was destroyed in the lava river, then where are Demona and Akira? They were here!"

Broadway and Goliath glanced at each other, having no idea when Gabriel's voice called out to them from across the room.

"I wish I had better news for you all, but I'd say I found them."

Jumping to their feet, they crossed the room to get a better view at what King Arthur and Gabriel were looking at on the floor- and when they did- even more pain coursed through them. One pile of ash laid at his armored feet while another stream of ashes laid nearby.

It was clear that the ash piles belonged to Demona and Akira.

Broadway let out a roar so loudly, the rubble around the room shook and fell even more. He then slammed his fists into the stone floor, creating divots, and his pain had turned into rage.

Goliath shut his eyes tightly again, his claws clutching tightly into fists so hard it withdrew blood from his palms.

"Akira!" Lexington gasped, falling to his knees near the ash piles. He clutched his head and began hyperventilating, then, after a few shallow breaths, he threw his head back and let out a horrible, high-pitched howl of anguish. When his cries let up, he fell to his face, sobbing, and continued to scream his mate's name.

"AKIRA! AKIRA! AKIRA!"

His sobs were the only thing echoing in the room as everyone stayed silent, thinking of the loved ones they had lost, as well.

"They are gone, all of our mates… and all of our friends," Jade suddenly whispered. His head hung low as he walked over and placed a heavy claw upon Goliath's shoulder. "I hate saying this, but I wish…" he took another deep breath, "I wish I never came here, to this... lugar de la muerte." (Place of death)

Goliath hung his head low. "And I wish that I never brought any of you here." He then turned to face him. "Trust me, my friend, had I known that this tragedy would be our fate, despite us winning the war, I wouldn't have brought so many into death's grasp. I… I am sorry for all of the losses, more than I could ever say." He then turned to face Griff, Xanatos, Gabriel, and King Arthur, his face miserable. "I brought most of you here, asking for your help, and this war has been the deadliest we've seen in all history. I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you have to apologize for, Goliath," Xanatos suddenly said quietly, his face and voice numb. "The curse would have found its victims, regardless of them being on the battlefield or not. Had we not had the warriors we had here, we wouldn't have stopped Lord Demetrius. Either way, we would have either died trying to stop this damn curse and evil or died in ignorance." He stopped, then looked at each of them with cold fury in his eyes. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am glad I at least was fighting to stop all of this madness and fighting my damndest to save my family's life, even if it wasn't enough in the end. I can say that I gave my all."

"I agree," King Arthur said softly. "We knew the risks that come with war, and while we did win this battle, this curse was unleashed by an evil demon- one who slipped through all our fingers- and two strong and brave warriors have paid the price to save all of us from it, with their lives. We must honor their sacrifices."

"Si," Jade whispered, sighing heavily. "We are not the only ones who lost someone we loved, and strangely enough, that gives me some comfort in this devastating tragedy." Tears slowly fell down his face. "That I'm not alone."

Broadway, Griff, and Arthur placed their hands on his shoulder, comforting him when suddenly a flash of green light lit up the room, and they all whirled around.

To their horror and further rage, Anubis, the God of Death, and the three Fates from Hel had appeared before them.

Goliath's eyes lit up brightly and rage coursed through him. He pounced across the room with a deafening roar to take Anubis down, but the God of Death stepped to the side, and Goliath skidded on his face. Growling and snarling, he got to his feet and held his sharp claws out to maim them.

"What do you want?" He snarled, and when Anubis stayed silent, something snapped inside of him. "WHAT MORE CAN YOU POSSIBLY TAKE AWAY FROM US?"

"I have not taken away anything," Anubis replied calmly. "We, as in myself and the Fates, have allowed the great Prophecy of Hel and Avalon to take place- and now that it has- we have come to make sure everything is as it should be."

"As it should be?" Griff hissed, also growing enraged. "As it SHOULD BE? THIS?" He flung a claw out to the destruction all around them. "This is how everything was meant to be?"

"You shall see, mortal," Anubis said, his demeanor still calm and unconcerned by their anger. "The hand of death has come upon all life in a random strike. It has taken the rich, the poor, the mortal and immortal life- of all ages and genders- but now, thanks to the Goddess of Death, things are as they should be."

"YOU'VE MURDERED MILLIONS OF INNOCENT LIVES!" Gabriel suddenly roared, his face twisted in unfathomable rage.

"I thought Oberon's law decreed that you Third Race freaks weren't allowed to interfere in mortal's lives?" Xanatos added in a hostile hiss, activating a gun from his arm and pointing it at Anubis.

But the Jackal God paid him no heed as he merely nodded his head once at him.

"That, my Lord, did."

"So, why did you let this happen?" Xanatos pushed. "Why have you taken away everything and everyone we've ever loved or cared about? What can you possibly gain from this world in this empty state?"

Anubis continued to stare at Xanatos, his face expressionless. "I have nothing to gain from any of this, mortal. I am merely a guardian and protector over the delicate balance of life and death. I have been a mentor for the Goddess of Death as she's made her journey across realms, and while she has fulfilled her destiny, I have made sure that all the souls taken in death have returned to their prior state."

Goliath blinked. "Prior state? What do you mean?"

"The Death Curse had to occur," one Fate suddenly said, and all looked at her. "Because the Goddess of Death faced her fears and showed us that she was worthy of its powers, the Prophecy has come to pass. Now that she has saved all souls from this death, all has been righted. The curse has been reversed."

"Reversed?" Goliath repeated, looking between all of them. "What do you mean it was reversed?"

"The Goddess of Death, as well as her beloved mate, paid the price as 'one being' to save the good of all," The second Fate said softly. "Because of their sacrifice, the curse has been reversed and has released all souls back to their bodies. Thanks to Rose's wisdom, that includes her and her mate, as well as their unborn child. Soon, all souls will return from the Mortal Underworld. When Rose chooses to release them, they all will live again."

Goliath's eyes widened, not believing what he was hearing. It didn't feel like Rose was the same type of God in front of them, but he did not doubt that she was strong and powerful enough to do that. But, he couldn't bear to receive false hope.

He had already lost too much-

"Including the Gargoyles?" Broadway asked softly. "The Humans…?"

"Everyone who was taken away," The Third Fate replied gently. "All manner of creatures, mortal and immortal, genders, ages, and magicks will live again. All are returning home."

Everyone stared at them in shock.

"Including children?" Xanatos suddenly asked; his face was a mask of pain.

The Fates smiled at him. "All souls are returning home… right now..."

Everyone glanced at each other with jaws hung open and eyes wide.

They didn't know what to say or think-

But before they could, a bright light appeared before them in the center of the room. It swirled around like a glowing white portal, and suddenly, with blasts of magic, people from their armies began to reappear in the room—Humans, New Olympians, Asgardians, Avalonian creatures, Third Race beings, and Gargoyles.

Goliath gasped and jumped to his feet. All those who had died were now coming back, in whole and uninjured forms.

Just then, a bright light appeared in front of him, and standing before him in a black tee-shirt and her regular light blue jeans was Elisa. Her long black and blue hair hung down to her waist, and her honey brown eyes found his dark ones. Her dark tan skin was flawless, and when she saw him, she blinked and held a hand out to his face as if she wasn't sure that he was the real one.

"Goliath?"

His jaw was still hanging open in disbelief, but the moment she touched him, he grasped onto her hand and stared at her with tears swimming in his eyes. When he felt the familiar warmth and pulse from her skin, the tears streamed down his face, and a heavy gasp of relief left his throat.

"Elisa?"

Elisa smiled then, and he swore his heart was about to burst with joy.

"Hey, big guy."

Goliath caressed his talons across her smooth face, dug into her silky-smooth, beautifully smelling hair, and brought her face to his.

"Oh, my love! My Elisa! You're ALIVE!"

With another gasp, he enveloped her mouth wholly with his and kissed her deeply and passionately. His strong arms wrapped her entire body to his and were never going to let her go again. He was never going to stop loving his beautiful mate for the rest of his life, and the way she was holding onto him, she was more than okay with that.

More flashes of lights, and out of the corner of his eyes, more Gargoyles appeared, but Goliath kept kissing Elisa, wrapping her in his wings and touching every inch of her.

Abigail, Turquesa, Coco, Claw, Talon, Staghart, Bronx, Boudicca, Kai, Yama, Sora, Ilana, her sister, Ella, Fox, Alexander, Hudson, Angela, and Akira all reappeared.

At their return, screams and cries of joy erupted from everyone present. Most of the other clans had stayed away from Hel, too grieved from the losses, but soon they would learn the truth of what had happened. And soon, all tears would be wiped away, and unfathomable joy would fill Avalon's isle.

Mates ran over to mates, friends to friends, and the Chamber of Lost Souls filled up with found loved ones.

Gabriel ran over to Ophelia, instantly kissing her fiercely, Griff over to Staghart and Coco, and Xanatos over to Fox and Alex, sobbing and kissing his family.

Lexington and Broadway watched in shock and amazement at the reappearing souls when suddenly two bright lights appeared before them, and suddenly, their beautiful mates were back.

Their roars of happiness filled the room.

"ANGELA!"

"AKIRA!"

Running forward, Akira and Angela met their mates halfway and, sobbing, grasped each other in their arms, holding and kissing each other passionately.

Goliath and Elisa broke away, and while he wanted to keep kissing her, he realized that more of the Clan was returning.

"Later… my love, you are getting my full and undivided attention," Goliath whispered, running his claws down her face.

Elisa smiled cheekily and gently pressed her lips to his mouth. "I'm counting on that."

Shivers ran down Goliath's spine with the way she said that, and when Elisa turned away from him and moved her hips as she went, he swore he could have fallen at her feet to worship her right there. However, with his daughter and Akira's return, he quickly snapped out of it and walked with Elisa to greet them.

Angela was kissing Broadway madly, but she pulled away from her mate and ran towards him when she saw him approaching.

"FATHER!"

Opening his arms, he hugged Angela and let his tears fall freely- but this time out of sheer joy and relief.

A loud booming bark then filled the room, and Bronx came bounding over, launching himself on Goliath. With a grunt, he fell onto his back as Bronx attacked his face with sloppy kisses. Laughing, he petted him and hugged the beast back.

"I know, I know… it's good to see you too!" He pushed Bronx off him, stood, and gasped as his elder and dearest friend, Hudson, came walking over to greet him. Goliath took his claw, let him pull him to his feet, and then embraced him in a tight hug.

"Dying twice in one night, huh, Hudson?"

Hudson chortled, clapping Goliath on the back, and then let him go. "Yeah, I suppose so. Yeh can't get rid of me that easily, lad."

Goliath grinned and clasped his claw tightly in Hudson's. "I know, and I'm thankful for that, Hudson." He then bit his lip and tried to pull himself together as his newly reunited clan encircled him. "I am relieved to see you all alive and alright again, more than words could say. Losing all of you was the worst and loneliest feeling, and… I never want to feel that way again."

"Neither do we," Angela whispered, leaning into Broadway's hold as he kissed her neck, over and over again, holding her from behind.

"Yeah," Lexington added, holding Akira to him. "I still feel like I'm living in a dream or a haze and that this isn't real. Losing you-" he looked into Akira's eyes and held her jaw gently, "was unfathomable, my love. You enrich my life, you complete me, and I am completely in love with you. I never want to be parted from you ever again." He then stopped and whispered, "Itoshi teru, Akira." (I love you, Akira.)

Tears filled Akira's eyes, and she gently cupped his jaw, staring into his eyes tenderly. "Watashi mo anata o aishiteimasu, rekishinton." (I love you too, Lexington).

Smiling at each other, they pressed their lips together and kissed deeply and soundly.

Everyone watched them kiss with happiness until Broadway suddenly looked over Angela's shoulder and sighed heavily.

"I just wish that Brooklyn and Rose could have had the same happily-ever-after that we are having."

Akira and Lexington broke apart and stared at them with sad eyes as Angela asked, "what do you mean?"

Broadway lowered his gaze, then held his claw out to show her the tragic sight at the base of the cauldron. Angela blinked as she stared at the foot of the stairs at their motionless bodies, and then she gasped in horror.

"They died for us, babe," Broadway said sadly. "Rose, Brooklyn, and their unborn child all were sacrificed to stop the curse."

"But…" Akira whispered, also tearing up.

"I don't understand. How could they not be back yet?" Angela whispered tearfully. "They were in the Underworld with us, where Rose brought us back to life. Anubis also said that the curse would bring back everyone it killed, including them and their child. So, why aren't they alive and awake yet?"

Everyone turned around to face Brooklyn and Rose's bodies and found that they weren't the only ones.

All of the returned Gargoyles, Asgardians, and Third Race beings walked up towards the Cauldron and surrounded them- paying them tribute- as Anubis walked through the crowd and up the stairs towards them, with the Fates following behind him.

A hush fell over the crowd as the Jackal God knelt next to their bodies and gently placed a hand upon Rose's head as the Fates spoke in unison-

"The Goddess of Death will triumph and all life will be in a stir.

Avalon will fall, but one being shall sacrifice their all for the good of all, thus sealing this prophecy with the most powerful force on Earth. A New Avalon shall rise from the Ashes, finding rebirth.

A balance obtained, a Bond in unity to forever remain unfeigned."

Nobody uttered a word.

Then, Anubis placed his hand upon Rose's burned and bleeding face. "Awake, Rose. It is time to rejoin life. All of the souls have been restored home, including all of the humans. The prophecy has now been fulfilled."

Just then, another portal opened, and three bright white lights of power streamed down. One landed inside of Brooklyn, while two landed inside of Rose. A bright light encompassed both of their bodies, and for a moment, everyone was blinded by the magic.

Goliath lowered his claw from shielding his eyes and stared in shock at what he was seeing before him. The entire room fell into a hush of absolute silence.

When the light faded, Brooklyn and Rose's bodies had been healed from their wounds, and their faces weren't burned anymore, dirty, or had any manner of blood. Nothing happened for a few seconds until Brooklyn's talons suddenly twitched, then he gave a big breath and groaned.

"Brooklyn!" Broadway cried out, going to jump forward, but the others stopped him, and Angela whispered, "Give them room to wake up."

Brooklyn's eyes fluttered open, and he moved some more. After a few seconds of coming back into reality, he opened his eyes wider and realized that Rose was lying inches from him, with her eyes still closed.

Lifting his claw that was intertwined in her frozen ones, he gently caressed a claw down the side of her newly-healed face.

"Rose?" Brooklyn whispered, leaning forward so that their lips were inches from each other. When she didn't respond, he glanced up at Anubis's glowing red eyes once, when suddenly her fingers moved, and she took a giant inhaled breath.

Tears of relief filled him as he continued to stroke her face and hair. "My love, come back to me." When she remained still, he leaned down and gently kissed her lips. "Come back to me, Rose."

With a low moan, Rose's eyes fluttered a few times before opening slowly; then, her gleaming amber eyes met his dark brown ones.

Then, their soul-bond exploded to life within their bodies and souls. The life force flowed through them, charging, reviving, energizing, and connecting them with every pleasant tingling through their limbs and cores until their hearts synchronized. Light blasted through their souls, so bright and pure, they both gasped and shut their eyes at the sensation.

Their souls were revived, unified, electrified, and connected-

Until they became one.

Tears slowly fell down Brooklyn's face as he stared into his beautiful mate's face, smiling lovingly at her.

Rose slowly raised her hand and clasped it around the claw holding onto her face. He was resting over her and was cupping her face tenderly. Rose blinked a few times, then smiled at him.

"Brooklyn?"

Tears fell down his face as he choked out, "that's right, baby, I'm here. I'm here…"

Rose slid her hands up his face, touched his beaked jaw in reverent awe, and was thankful that she could feel him again. Tears spilled from her eyes as she shut them tightly, exhaling in relief. Brooklyn continued to stroke her face and brought his lips inches from hers.

"You did it, Rose! You brought everyone back and defeated the Curse!"

Rose exhaled out in relief, losing herself in his handsome eyes, in how he felt against her skin, how tantalizing their soul-bond felt, how his body felt when pressed against hers. She could stare at him in awe and run her hands along his face and body for the rest of her life. She stopped and gently cupped her small and rounded stomach- remembering about their child-

Their son.

"Gnash is safe and sound inside of you, my love," Brooklyn whispered. "I made sure of it the moment I returned to my body. He's safe and cooking inside of you." He stopped, then gasped, "we did it, Rose. This nightmare is all over. We are safe now."

Even with proof all around her, Rose couldn't believe it. She and Brooklyn were alive, their son was safely and happily growing within her womb again, and when she looked out at the celebrating crowd, she finally realized the truth-

"We did do it, my love," she whispered in awe, then turned and looked at him. There was so much she wanted to say. "Brooklyn, I… I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did without you. You gave your life and all of your strength to me and trusted in my powers." She paused, then gasped, "I cannot believe you did that for me."

Brooklyn chuckled and held her tighter to him. "Is me giving my all to you such a strange thing?"

"No," Rose chuckled, stroking his face lovingly and leaning towards his lips. "No, it's not."

Their lips barely touched when cries and the sounds of footsteps ran up the stairs towards them. Breaking apart, they saw it was their entire clan.

"They're back! They are alive!" Lexington cried out, running up the stairs towards them. "Brooklyn and Rose are back!"

Brooklyn pulled away from her lips, chuckling, and helped her sit up. The moment she did, Lexington, Akira, Angela, and Broadway wrapped their arms around them. Rose cried as she held her family, looked over to her right as Anubis stood from kneeling next to her.

"Welcome back, Rose," He whispered, and she smiled.

"Thank you."

Nothing else could have described what she felt towards the last remaining God of Death except gratitude. She understood why he and the Fates couldn't straight up tell her what was going to happen. Had they told her that she and Brooklyn would have had to die for others to live, she wasn't sure if she would have gone through with it.

And if she didn't…

She didn't want to think about it.

In the end, by trusting herself and being willing to give her all to those she loved, everyone lived. Including her, Brooklyn, and their son.

Tears welled up in her eyes and shed down her face as she smiled at Anubis, and with what she swore was a smile, he nodded his head and backed away to give her space.

Bronx boomed out a loud bark, bounded forward, and knocked into them like bowling pins. Everyone laughed and cried out his name, but the large puppy nuzzled his way in and began sloppily kissing both Brooklyn and Rose.

"Alright, alright, boy," Brooklyn laughed, pushing him off his chest, but hugged him tightly. "It's good to see you too."

Bronx moved over, more gently to Rose, but sat on her lap and licked her face repeatedly. Rose threw her head back and laughed but wrapped her arms tightly around him and ran her fingers through his short but coarse fur.

"Thank goodness you two are alive!" Goliath said, kneeling next to them and wrapping Brooklyn in a hug. "When I saw that you were..." He couldn't seem to speak anymore, and Brooklyn chuckled but gently punched Goliath in the bicep.

"Hey, it's alright now. I'm sorry to have worried you, but things turned out alright in the end."

"And thank goodness they did," Goliath said, nodding. "I need my Second-in-Command to live." He looked at Rose, then wrapped her in his arms. "I'm also thankful you are alive, Rose. This clan isn't whole without you."

More tears streamed down her face as she hugged Goliath. Elisa knelt and took her in a hug next.

"Oh, Elisa," Rose whispered, crying into her sweet-smelling hair. "Thank Goodness you're alive!"

"Thanks to you," Elisa whispered, pulling back and wiping her tears away. "Look…" she gestured to the room and at all the people who were celebrating. Lord Oberon and Queen Titania had appeared in a bright flash of light, and behind him were all the Children who had died.

Grandmother, Coyote, The Banshee, and Phoebe.

All were hugging the other Children as Queen Titania ran into Lord Oberon's arms and held him tightly. Then, out of the corner, her Manticore beast appeared with some more of his kind. Demona and Angela were hugging each other, and Akira was now hugging her father, Kai.

The Avalon, Ishimura, Labyrinth, Mayan, and English Clans. All were back.

Including the millions of Humans. Just then, Ilana came over, grinning, and took over, hugging her when Elisa released her.

"Oh, Ilana," Rose whispered, holding her friend tightly.

"You did it, Rose," Ilana whispered, looking back at her in amazement. "We are all free, and it's all thanks to you and Brooklyn."

Rose glanced over lovingly at Brooklyn, who reached out and pulled her to sit by his side. He cupped her face and guided her face to kiss him until Oberon's voice echoed through the Chamber, and they stopped.

"My Children and all fellow friends..."

Everyone turned to face Lord Oberon, who was holding Titania in his arms. It had appeared that she had forgiven him for his past actions, and now it was all of Avalon's turn to hear him out. He was surveying the room with tears in his eyes and humility.

"I do not know what exactly to say… other than this…" Oberon paused, took a deep breath, then continued somberly, "it was all my fault that my brother ended up taking over Avalon. Completely my fault that all of these terrible things occurred. I lost sight of what is most important in life and let my hatred for my brother and Hela blind me. I humbly ask for forgiveness from all of my Children and Avalon. From all of those that I have wronged." He paused, looked around at each of the Children's faces, and stared intently at Rose. "Rose, Brooklyn, you have saved us all from uncertain death, and for that, we thank you and are forever indebted to you both."

Just then, Oberon knelt on his knees before them, and with a smile, Titania then followed after his lead. Rose placed a hand upon Brooklyn's chest, staring at them in shock, but then gasped when the rest of the Gargoyles, Children, Asgardians, and New Olympians knelt on their knees before them.

They were all bowing before them, paying respect to them.

"I see what you mean about always hating unwanted attention," Brooklyn whispered in Rose's ear. "This is kind of embarrassing."

But Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"Eh, let them. We deserve to be appreciated for what we did."

"What? Really?" Brooklyn looked surprised. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

Rose shrugged. "I guess that's what happens when I walk through the infernal fires of Hel. It changes a person, and what I used to fear doesn't affect me anymore."

Brooklyn smiled lovingly at her, pulled her in his lap, and squeezed her in a hug.

"Like a diamond shines the brightest from the refiner's fire. You, my love, now burn hotter than all of Hel's flames."

Rose seductively gazed into his eyes, tossed her braided hair away, being vigilant in pressing her chest against his throat and grazing her lips across his.

"Only you can tame the heat, my love."

Brooklyn's eyes flashed in desire, his claws found her backside and squeezed, but Oberon's voice suddenly pulled them away from their intimate moment.

"Now, as for the rest of our brave warriors from all realms and Clans…" he stood back up and helped Titania to her feet, "we shall have a celebration tomorrow night to thank them for their service! I will repair Avalon, and in celebration of a new Avalon, all are invited to attend. Mortal and immortal, and every creature. Furthermore, I revoke all who have been banished and invite them to the Avalonian Castle to live and stay. I wish to welcome all of my Children back home."

Ilana gasped, and, smiling, Rose side-hugged her. "Hear that? You're no longer banished! You can stay home with your sisters!" Tears streamed down Ilana's face, and when her younger sister Ella came running over, she hugged her tightly and sobbed into her shoulder.

Looking around, Rose watched many creatures hugging each other in relief and joy, then locked eyes with Oberon and Titania, who were looking at her, smiling.

Relieved that Oberon was already fixing things, she nodded at him.

"Furthermore, to celebrate our warriors and the sacrifice Rose and Brooklyn did for all of us, we shall celebrate the rise of the New Avalon," Oberon continued to announce. "I will repair Avalon back to its original beauty, but we shall never forget what we've learned from this war. So, for now, let's go home and celebrate our victory."

Oberon held his hand up, and bright green magic flowed out of it, encompassing the entire room, creating a portal out of Hel. Cheers erupted from everyone, and the Children, Asgardians, Avalonians, and the Clans began to venture through the portal to greet everyone who had stayed in Avalon.

With a blast of Oberon's magic, stars began falling against the atmosphere, the full moon was back to its usual glow, and everyone stared up at the sky in awe at the cosmic celebration. Rose and Brooklyn turned to face each other at its beauty and inched towards each other's lips.

Wanting one thing, and one thing only-

"Hey, Brooklyn and Rose!" Broadway called out to them, interrupting their moment again. They looked over at him, smiling in slight irritation as he pointed up at Hel's newly star-kissed sky. "Check out the sky!"

Rose knew what he was pointing to, and while she was relieved that Hel's red-hued atmosphere was no longer cursed, she didn't care. There was only one thing she wished to do now.

"You know what?" She pulled Brooklyn to her and fearlessly straddled his waist. "I think we've seen enough."

She then pushed him into a lying position on the Cauldron's dais and crushed her lips madly against his. Brooklyn's eyes went wide with shock, briefly, but quickly shut them, and wrapped his arms tightly around her body.

Broadway chuckled at their passionate display of affection, shook his head, but guided Angela, Lexington, and Akira through the portal to give them privacy.

Then, under Hel's newly star-kissed night sky, Brooklyn and Rose made out with all the energy of their newly-beating hearts until dawn broke over the horizon.

Just a few more chapters to go! We're almost there! :D