A needle pierced Willow skin, eliciting an angry hiss from the girl. She stood stock still, unable to move an inch, but not letting that affect her tongue.

"Do that again and I'll tear you to shreds." She threatened.

Owen, the wielder of the offending needle, ignored her comment and continued his work. About that time, Xanatos walked into the room, a strange smile on his face. He observed the scene as Willow hissed again, another needle striking her flesh.

"I'm not kidding, Owen." She warned. "I have claws now."

"Come now, Willow." Xanatos chastised. "Let the man do his job."

Willow snarled, her blue eyes sparkling green for a moment. However, she forced it down with a bit of willpower. Another needle struck, and Willow snarled in anger.

"I thought I was here for a dress fitting, not to be used as a pincushion!" she snapped.

Owen looked up from his spot on the ground, where he was currently finishing up the last of the necessary alterations to Willow's dress.

"My apologies, but this would be much easier if you would simply stand still." He said curtly before returning to his work.

Willow clenched her fists and did her best to stand still. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her to get out of there as fast as she could. However, she couldn't. Not now. Not while Goliath was here.

...

Two nights ago

Xanatos and Fox had called Willow, inviting her and Goliath to a meeting at the Golden Cup. Thinking it was some sort of trap, the two arrived prepared for a fight. As expected, the two gargoyles heard the distinct sound of Xanatos' exo-suit flying towards them. Looking up, they saw Fox in Xanatos' arms, dressed in her old Pack outfit complete with claw gloves.

Fox flipped out of Xanatos' grip, aiming right at Willow as Xanatos tackled Goliath to the ground. As Goliath threw Xanatos off him, Willow and Fox began a strength contest, both women attempting to push the other to the ground.

"Looks like David wasn't lying when he told me you were a gargoyle now." She remarked with a smirk. "You look good in blue."

"Thank for noticing." Willow replied sarcastically, her gargoyle strength just barely giving her an edge against the powerful woman. "What's with the getup? Hasn't Xanatos built you an exo-suit yet?"

Fox chuckled before twisting her wrist and pinning Willow's arm behind her back.

"He offered to, but I don't need one." She replied.

Goliath, who was in the process of picking himself up off the ground, looked over at the two women and froze.

"Stop!" he snarled.

Xanatos then walked over to Fox and gave a nod. She released Willow with a push, much to Goliath's surprise.

"All you had to do was ask." Xanatos commented.

Now more confused than ever, Willow spoke up.

"What's going on here?" she demanded. "Why did you call us here?"

"Well, without knowing your proper address, we couldn't send you the invitations by mail." Fox replied, leaning against Xanatos.

"Invitations?" Goliath asked raising an eyebrow.

"To our wedding." Xanatos explained. "We would like for you to be the Best Man and Flower girl at the ceremony."

"Hold on." Willow sputtered. "You want us to what?"

"If this is one of your tricks to expose my clan-" Goliath warned.

"I swear to you, only two other humans besides myself and Fox will be there." Xanatos promised. "One will be the Justice of the Peace, the other will be my father."

Willow's eyes widened, and she held up a claw in disbelief.

"Grampa will be there?" Willow repeated. "But you two haven't spoken in years."

Xanatos gave a small shrug.

"Despite out various differences in opinions, he is still my father, and it is only proper for him to attend his son's wedding." He offered up.

"Besides." Fox added. "There's also my Maid of Honor to consider."

Willow crossed her arms, raising a non-existent eyebrow.

"Who?" she asked. "Don't tell me it's Hyena."

"Demona, actually." Fox replied, a small smile on her face. "And she's promised to be on her best behavior."

The sound of the door opening brought Willow back to the present. Looking over, she saw Goliath walking into the room. He looked a bit weary, but he had been that way since receiving the invitation. Willow knew almost instinctively it was because he was worried about seeing Demona again.

"Xanatos." He greeted.

"Goliath." Xanatos replied.

The gargoyle then looked over at Willow, examining her.

"You look quite lovely in that dress." He complimented.

Willow looked down at the dress, a surprisingly flattering long dress that was a dark blue. She gave a dismissive shrug as Owen stepped away, his final adjustments complete.

"It's nice, I'll give Fox that much." She allowed.

Xanatos' phone went off and he pulled it out. He saw the message sent to him and smiled, tucking his phone back into his pocket.

"Speaking of Fox, she's on her way in with my father." He told them. "I'll leave you two alone."

Xanatos then left the room, Owen following behind him. Once the door closed, Willow stepped down from the stand, walking over to Goliath. The large gargoyle was obviously uneasy, and Willow went to comfort him.

"Hey…" she said softly. "It's not too late to say no. We can fly away and be back home before Broadway finishes making lunch."

Goliath seemed to consider it for a moment but shook his head.

"No." He told her, pulling something out of his belt. "This may be my one chance to see her under peaceful circumstances."

Willow glanced down at Goliath's claw, trying to figure out what he was holding. It appeared to be half of a tiny shield shaped medallion, almost completely gold save for parts that were a light blue, like turquoise. Despite having lived with the gargoyles for nearly a year, Willow had never seen this strange artifact.

"What's that?" she asked.

Goliath sat down, Willow scooting up next to him as he explained.

"It is half of a powerful talisman called the Phoenix Gate." He began. "Though to me, it is much more. In the year 975, Prince Malcolm was wed to Princess Elena. Demona and I watched the ceremony from a high window, and we were both fascinated by your human's wedding ritual."

"You mean the exchanging of the rings, don't you?" she surmised.

"Yes." He replied. "We gargoyles do have Commitment Ceremonies, but we never exchange tokens. At least, we didn't. Demona broke this talisman in half. She took one part and gave me the other. We vowed to keep them and cherish them forever… I still remember the exact words I told her."

His eyes were far away as he looked up at the moon through one of the room's windows.

"I accept your token, my angel of the night." He recited, his mind lost to his memories. "And vow that you and I are one, now and forever."

His claws clenched around the Phoenix gate as he sighed in anguish. Willow squeezed his shoulder, leaning against him.

"Even after everything that's happened, you still love her." She observed.

Goliath gave a solemn nod.

"We pledged our undying love at a wedding." He said. "Perhaps we can rekindle our love at this one."

"Stranger things have happened." Willow replied. "I mean, I'm a magically gifted half-human living with 1000-year-old creatures of legend."

That elicited a rare chuckle from Goliath and a smile from Willow. Together they rose.

"Come on." She said. "You need to get ready and I need to go say hi to my grandpa."

Xanatos stood in the center of the castle courtyard, adjusting his tie and fixing a golden pin onto his lapel. Owen raised an eyebrow at the latter, turning to his employer.

"Sir, is it wise to wear the Illuminati symbol so openly?" he asked.

"A necessary risk." Xanatos replied.

Off in the distance, a large chopper was making its way through the night sky. It approached the castle just as Willow came out into the courtyard.

"Is that him?" she asked.

"Him, as well as Judge Rueben." Xanatos replied. "Is Goliath ready?"

"Of course, he is." Willow replied. "Though frankly I'm still unsure as to why you wanted Goliath as your best man. I mean, me as your flower girl I can understand. Even Demona as the Maid of Honor makes some sort of twisted sense, but not Goliath."

Xanatos just smirked.

"Trust me Willow, everything is as it needs to be." He answered cryptically.

Willow was about to question what he meant by that but was cut off by the chopper finally landing and shutting it off. The pilot climbed out of the cockpit before opening the door. The first person to walk out was an older man. He had the same skin tone as Xanatos, but his hair was much shorter with streaks of grey running through it. He had a big bushy mustache and piercing brown eyes that seemed to bore into Xanatos'. However, they quickly softened when Willow came running forward.

"Grampa Petros!" she called.

A wide smile graced the old man's face as she hugged him tightly.

"Willow." He greeted, a thick Greek accent in his voice. "It's good to see you."

He released her and looked her up and down.

"Look at you." He said. "You've gotten so big. You're not my little sapling anymore."

Willow chuckled at her little pet name, hugging him again.

"I'm glad you're here." She told him. "You're the one Xanatos I actually like."

As if on cue, Xanatos stepped forward, meeting Petro's eye. He smiled while Petro merely scowled.

"Hello, Father." Xanatos greeted. "I'm so glad you could make it."

The pilot approached Xanatos, removing the flight helmet to reveal Fox. She embraced Xanatos and kissed him passionately. Willow turns away, still attempting to come to terms with the wedding. Petro, however, crosses his arms in obvious displeasure.

"Don't you know its bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?" he spoke up.

"Fox and I make our own luck," Xanatos replied as they kiss again.

Pulling away from the kiss, Fox caressed Xanatos' face before leaving to get ready. Petros watches her leave, shaking his head. Behind him, Judge Rueben steps out of the copter with the aid of Owen. The judge seems in awe of the towering castle while Petros appears unimpressed with the evidence of his son's wealth.

"What do you think of the place?" Xanatos questioned.

"Why do you need all this?" Petros asked.

Willow winced, sensing the oncoming verbal conflict.

"The reason, not the need, father." Xanatos told him. "I wanted it, so I took it."

Willow couldn't suppress an angry growl, a spark of green flickering in her eyes. Luckily, both men were too focused on their conversation to notice. They started walking inside, Petro's speaking once more.

"You would've been better off as a poor fisherman like me." He insisted. "If I ever get my hands on the man who sent you that coin, I'll teach not to meddle with my family."

Xanatos let out a sigh, shaking his head slightly.

"That's ancient history, Pop." He replied dismissively. "I'm now worth much more than the 20 grand the coin was worth."

Petro scoffed irritably.

"All this came from that." He announced. "You didn't earn any of it, boy. At least Willow has made a life for herself outside of your ill-gotten ivory tower."

Xanatos was visibly getting annoyed. He stopped in the great hall, turning to face his father.

"Someday I'll prove to you that I'm a self-made man." He swore.

Willow quickly got in between the two men, desperate for the fighting to stop.

"Okay, enough." She begged. "This is supposed to be a happy day. For once, can you two please get along? I'm probably gonna be dealing with more fighting than anyone can handle after the ceremony, so just for tonight, pretend like you're a normal family?"

Both men looked over at Willow, then at each other. Almost begrudgingly, they both nodded curtly. Owen then came forward with the judge, turning to Willow.

"Miss Willow, I require your assistance in informing our guests about the nature of our Maid of Honor and Best man." He requested.

It took Willow a second to realize what Owen was asking, and she immediately groaned.

"Do I have to?" she let out. "In front of Grandpa?"

"Can you think of a better way to tell them?" Xanatos asked.

Willow glared at Xanatos, her eyes glowing green.

"I hate you." She snarled.

Goliath stood in one of the castle's windows, overlooking the large throne room where the wedding was to be held. It was the very same window that he and Demona had stood in when they made their vows. He found himself lost in his memories, until the distinct sound of leathery wings on the wind drew his attention.

Demona glided through the sky, landing on the window right next to Goliath. When she laid eyes on her former mate, her eyes began to glow bright red.

"Demona-" Goliath began.

"Save your words, Goliath." She demanded. "I'm only here to ensure my continued alliance to Xanatos. I neither know, nor care why you're here."

Her harsh words stopped Goliath's from leaving his mouth. Before he could make a second attempt, Xanatos came into the throne room, beckoning them to come down. They both landed in front of him, Demona glaring at the man in utter disgust while Goliath looked at her in pained sadness.

"I'm glad you could make it in time Demona." Xanatos told her.

Demona let out a soft snarl but said nothing. Xanatos then reached into his pocket, pulling out two golden rings. He held out one to Demona and the other to Goliath.

"As Bride's Maid and Best Man, it's your jobs to hold onto the rings." He told them. "Willow will process in first, then you will-"

"We know what to do, human." Demona told him, taking the ring and stalking off. "This is not the first wedding ritual we've attended."

Goliath took his, watching Demona leave. His gaze softened a bit, partially happy that she remembered the wedding they had both attended in their youth.

The ceremony began not long after that. Willow went down the aisle first, scattering bright red rose petals from a small basket. The entire time she walked, the judge, as well as Petros, never took their eyes off her. They seemed quite uneasy and became even more so when Goliath and Demona approached the altar. Goliath followed their gaze to Willow and bent down slightly to whisper in her ear.

"This is the first time that I have not been the one to draw prying eyes." He muttered.

"I don't want to talk about it." Willow curtly replied.

"Xanatos had you transform, didn't he?" he guessed.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." Willow hissed.

Demona looked over at the two, curious about their conversation, but turned away when they attempted to meet her gaze. After that, Xanatos and Fox came down the aisle. Judge Rueben, after tearing his gaze from Willow and the two gargoyles, opened his book and began the ceremony.

"We are gathered here tonight to join together David Xanatos and…" He stumbled over Fox's name, turning towards her in an attempt to be discreet. "What is your real name?"

"Fox is my real name." She replied. "Legally."

The judge gave a small, albeit flustered, nod, and continued.

"Join David Xanatos and Fox in holy matrimony." He turned to Goliath and Demona. "The rings?"

The two gargoyles produced the rings, Goliath handing his to Xanatos while Demona handed hers to Fox. They slipped the rings onto each other's fingers as the judge closed the book.

"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife." He concluded.

He was barely able to say 'you may kiss the bride' before Demona turned on her heels, walking out of the throne room. Willow and Goliath both shared a nod and quickly went after her. Xanatos and Fox joined arms, turning towards the doors themselves.

"And now, the fun begins." Xanatos commented with a sly chuckle.

Petros walked over, grabbing Xanatos' shoulder with an angry expression on his face.

"This is your wedding!" He exclaimed. "Have you no respect for anything?!"

"I'm sorry Pop." Xanatos said, pulling his arm free. "But we're in a bit of a hurry."

He and Fox then left, Petros following behind muttering under his breath.

Out on the balcony, Demona stood leaning against the stone railing, staring out at the night sky, brooding. Goliath and Willow arrived and the former signaled Willow to wait. He approached Demona cautiously, pulling his half of the Phoenix Gate out of his belt.

"Long ago, you and I also exchanged vows." He told her. "I know you remember them."

Demona looked over Goliath, an almost wistful expression on her face. Her gaze fell on the Phoenix Gate half in his claws.

"I promised to treasure this for all time." He said, lifting the piece. "And I have."

Demona straightened up, reaching into her own belt and pulling out her half. She held it next to Goliath's piece, the two of them slowly pushing the two halves together.

"So have I." she replied.

The halves touched, and the Phoenix Gate began to glow, coming together as a single talisman once more. For a moment, Goliath smiled, believing he had finally reconnected with his former mate. However, her cruel laugh quickly dashed those thoughts.

"You sentimental fool!" Demona chuckled. "I should have known you would still have it. Now I have the Phoenix Gate in one piece, and I intent to use it!"

Willow began running towards Demona, hoping to try and stop her. Xanatos and Fox, who had arrived at the balcony just seconds into Demona's little speech, also came barreling towards her. Confused, but understanding that something was amiss, Petros also followed. The she-gargoyle clutched the Phoenix gate tightly as golden flames began to swirl around the rag tag group.

"Deflagrate muros temporis et intervalia!"

With that final word, the flames engulfed them all and they disappeared. Owen and Judge Rueben stood in the doorway of the balcony, the latter blinking in surprise.

"Wh- What happened?" the judge questioned.

"It appears the honeymoon has begun earlier than expected." Owen replied.

In a darkened woods, a small candle-sized flame appeared in the middle of a small clearing. Said small flame quickly grew into a large blaze before abruptly vanishing, leaving two gargoyles and four humans in its place. Everybody looked around in utter shock, save for Demona, who smiled triumphantly.

"Where are we?" Petros asked.

Willow's eye caught something in the distance and her jaw dropped.

"I don't think it's where, Grandpa." She told him. "It's when."

Everyone followed her gaze towards the darkened silhouette of Castle Wyvern, restored to the glory it know over a thousand years ago. Willow was then shoved out of the way by Demona, who attempted to flee the scene. Goliath went to help her but was waved off.

"You stop Demona, I'll stay with Xanatos." She told him.

Goliath gave a nod, taking off after Demona. The she-gargoyle took off into the sky, Goliath directly behind her. With a cruel smirk, she clutched the Gate once more, muttering the incantation a second time.

"Deflagrate muros temporis et intervalia!"

She disappeared into the mystic flames, seconds before Goliath could catch her. Howling in anger, Goliath made for the castle, convinced that was where she'd strike. Back on the ground, Petros approached Willow, helping to her feet. As he did, the group could make out what sounded like fighting off in the distance.

Following the noise, the four of them spotted masked swordsmen on horseback surrounding and attacking two other riders. One, a woman with a shield but no sword, was shoved from her saddle to the ground. She landed at the feet of one of the attackers, the assailant lifting his sword to strike. Unfortunately for him, he ended up getting a flying kick from Willow mid-transformation.

"Oh no you don't!" she snarled, the magical green energy only adding to the attacker's surprise.

Another attacker attempted to bring Willow down, only to be tackled by Fox.

"Watch your back, Willow." She warned.

Willow snarled, her eyes glowing white as she twisted around, her tail wrapping around the third attacker's sword arm. This allowed for Xanatos to confiscate the weapon and use its hilt to strike the attacker in the gut. The fourth rider was unhorsed by Petros, who used his jacket as a makeshift weapon. With all the riders removed from their steeds, the four formed a barrier between them and the two victims of the attack.

"Go on." Willow snarled. "Try again."

With a tactical sidestep and a whirling kick, the fifth and final attacker was sent flying, disarmed, across the clearing by the male companion of the woman. The masked men picked themselves up and ran off. Sighing in relief, Willow's form shimmered once more as she returned to human form.

"See?" she said, looking over at her Grandfather. "I knew there'd be more fighting tonight."

Xanatos and Fox quickly gathered up the abandoned horses, climbing onto them. Petros also took one, and even Willow hopped aboard.

"Having fun?" Xanatos asked Fox.

"A marvelous time." she replied happily.

The male companion went over to the group, a relieved smile on his face.

"We are most relieved for your help, strangers." He told them. "Though I will admit, I was surprised to see you had a witch among you."

Willow bristled, crossing her arms.

"I'm no witch." She replied curtly.

"She blessed with a gift from one of the fair-folk, from what I have learned." Xanatos explained. "She can become a gargoyle at will."

"A most helpful ally." The man responded, his eyes catching sight of the Illuminati pin on Xanatos' lapel. "Especially to people like us."

He threw back the hood of his cloak to reveal a standard Norman haircut and pulled off his glove, revealing a signet ring with the Illuminati symbol.

"I am the Norman ambassador." He explained as he and Xanatos exchanged a special handshake. "My companion and I have come with gifts for Prince Malcolm of Castle Wyvern. You wear strange garbs, but you are also an excellent fighter, and," he added in an undertone, "a fellow Illuminatus." He straightened back up and continued. "We would be honored if you would accompany us the next few miles to the castle. Prince Malcolm will be most generous in rewarding you for your deeds."

Willow's eyes widened at the prospect of meeting the Prince. She'd heard the gargoyle's stories, but never in her life had she ever thought she'd be able to meet the figures of those stories. And yet, now it was an actual possibility. Without even knowing it, a wide smile broke out on her face, like a fangirl being told her celebrity crush was coming to town. Noting this out of the corner of his eye, Xanatos gave a smile of his own.

"The honor is ours." He told the ambassador.

With that, the six of them turned their horses and made their way towards the castle.

Goliath arrived at the castle, landing softly on one of the stone towers. As his eyes scanned the sky for the mystic flames of the Phoenix Gate. A shadow passed overhead, drawing his attention. He let out a gasp when he saw the shadow belonged to none other than Demona. She flew around in the sky before landing on the other side of the tower. Goliath ran to the edge to see where she went but found himself thrown by the sight.

Demona, or what Goliath was beginning to realize was his Angel of the Night, landed before a younger version of Goliath himself. They embraced happily, their love in full bloom under the bright moon. The sight brought grief to Goliath's heart, knowing that this love would not last as long as his younger self believed.

He was so caught up in the events of his past that he failed to hear someone land behind him.

"You're away from your post, lad."

Goliath jumped at the sound of his mentor's voice. He turned around and came face to face with the younger Hudson. He still had both his eyes, and from the authority in his voice, he was still in charge of the clan.

"I sent you to the battlements!" his mentor chastised. "Not the tower!"

Goliath didn't know how to explain what was going on, and he felt his heart beat a little faster when Hudson came closer, scrutinizing him curiously.

"Lad?" the mentor asked in a confused voice. "Is that you? You look… Older…"

That's when the old gargoyle saw his second in command down on the battlements, still holding his angel with a smile. The old one gasped in utter fear, backing away from the edge of the tower and staring at Goliath like he was some sort of monster.

"Sorcery!" he cried.

Goliath quickly slapped a claw over the old gargoyle's mouth, dragging him away from the tower.

"I can explain everything, my mentor." He whispered.

Elsewhere, Willow and the rest of the time travelers arrived at the main gate of Castle Wyvern. Despite having lived in that castle for several months in her time, Willow was in complete and utter awe of the sight. She was grinning from ear to ear, a spectacle that made Xanatos and Fox share a private smile over.

Once they passed through the gate, they were greeted by several pages who took their horses just as Prince Malcolm came to greet them. Followed close behind was the Archmage, who eyed the travelers carefully. When the Prince saw the travelers, along with the Norman Ambassador and his companion, he let out an obvious sigh of relief.

"We are much pleased by your safe arrival, Ambassador." He said as he shook the Ambassador's hand. "But where, prithee tell, is my bride?"

The companion stepped forward, pulling down her hood to reveal a royal circlet around her brow. Willow gasped, recognizing her from some of Hudson and Goliath's stories.

"Princess Elena…" she whispered. "I know when we are. We're in 975 A.D."

"It was hoped that by traveling in secret that we could avoid the attentions of rogues and thieves." The ambassador explained, cutting off Willow's train of thought.

"We were wrong." Elena added before gesturing toward the time travelers. "But, these kind travelers aided us most valiantly."

The Archmage's eyes widened in shock, then he turned on his heels and walked away, a scowl on his withered face. Around that time, the ambassador then leaned in, whispering in Prince Malcolm's ear.

"The female with the blue hair is a shape shifter, gifted by the fair folk with the ability to become a gargoyle." He explained.

Malcolm looked over at Willow, then at the rest of the travelers. Feeling it was proper, Willow gave a curtsy as Xanatos took a low bow. Malcolm approached, reaching into a small bag on his belt with a grateful smile on his face.

"This is but a small token of your reward." He said as he pulled out a handful of gold coins. "You'll get fine food, fine lodging, and fine clothes."

He handed the coins to Xanatos, causing Petros' eyes to widen. He then turned to Willow with a knowing smile.

"And fear not, young maiden." He assured her. "I can assure you that none will think ill of you for your gift. My castle is a haven for many beings, including gargoyles. You will be treated fairly."

Willow gave a curtsy; silently thankful she knew how to without falling over. Malcom then turned his attention to Elena, stroking her face tenderly.

"We were to be wed tomorrow, but this attack has me anxious." He told her. "We shall be wed tonight!"

The Prince walked off to prepare for the ceremony while some pages led the time travelers off to get them cleaned up. Elena also went to follow but was stopped by the Norman ambassador.

"Milady, is your father's gift safe?" he asked.

Elena pulled off her riding glove, slipping the Phoenix gate out of her sleeve and into her hand.

"Aye," she replied. "And I will present it to my husband after the ceremony."

Back up on the tower, Goliath was struggling to keep his mentor quiet. The old gargoyle struggled violently as he tried to free his mouth, all while Goliath tried his best to explain.

"My mentor, I am not a creation of sorcery." He explained. "I am merely a traveler from the distant future."

The old one finally freed his mouth, but rather than scream or shout, he merely turned to Goliath, shoving him away.

"Sure…" the old gargoyle agreed sarcastically. "And I suppose you glided back in time on the wind."

"Not exactly." Goliath replied. "In my time, a dangerous enemy of mine used a magical talisman called the Phoenix Gate to open a rift through time. I fear that their intentions are far from noble."

He looked over the edge of the tower, down at his younger self with his angel, that same sad look on his face.

"And I especially fear for the well-being of my younger self, and his angel love…" he let out.

The old gargoyle's hard gaze seemed to soften somewhat as he saw the way Goliath watched him. Perhaps there was some truth behind his words.

"Lad…" he let out.

"My mentor, you must help me protect them." Goliath begged. "Please?"

He was still skeptical, but the old gargoyle eventually sighed and gave a small nod.

"Very well, lad." He told him. "I'm with ya."

Inside one of the highest towers of the castle, which served as The Archmage's workshop, the old warlock angrily tossed a vial of green potion at the wall.

"Curse those interlopers!" the old mage shrieked, knocking a stack of books and an old skull off a table. "Because of them, my bandits failed to take the Phoenix Gate! I must have it!"

He grabbed a candlestick, heaving it at the wall. Luckily, the flame was extinguished before the candle hit anything flammable. He slammed his fists on the now barren table, panting in anger. He looked across the way at his magical book, the Grimorum Archanorum. Upon seeing it, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"With the book in my hand, I need only the Eye of Odin and the Phoenix gate to unlock the ultimate magical power." he muttered to himself. "But how will I get it now?"

A sound at the window drew the Archmage's attention. He turned as an evil smile played upon his face.

"Of course." He realized. "You, my apprentice, will steal the Phoenix Gate from the Princess and bring it to me."

From the window, the young female gargoyle landed, giving a sweeping bow.

"Yes, Archmage." She promised.

Elsewhere in the castle, Willow and the rest of the time travelers had received some new outfits as a token of gratitude from Prince Malcolm. Xanatos was wearing a purple robe with a red sash across his waist. Petros wore a similar robe, but his was a dark green with a lighter green sash. Fox was wearing a light blue dress, a golden crown resting on her braided hair. Willow's dress was a darker blue and her short hair had slight braids in it, a silver circlet perched on her head.

They all stood in the courtyard, watching as the Norman ambassador bid the castle farewell. Before he left, Xanatos slipped him a sealed envelope. The ambassador gave a nod, riding off into the distance. Both Willow and Petros watched him leave, both curious as to what happened.

"What are you hatching now?" Petros demanded.

"Yeah." Willow added. "What was in that envelope?"

Xanatos chuckled, his arrogant smirk dominating his face.

"That envelope contains two further sealed envelopes and instructions to the Illuminati." He explained. "It tells them to wait about exactly one thousand and twenty years, then deliver the first envelope to a young David Xanatos of Bar Harbor, Maine."

Willow quickly caught on.

"The gold coin that started your fortune." She whispered.

"Exactly." Xanatos said with a nod. "One of Prince Malcolm's coins, though almost worthless now in 975, will be worth about twenty grand in 1995."

"And the second envelope?" Petros asked.

"The second envelope is set to be delivered to be delivered roughly 20 years later, about two weeks ago back in our time to be exact." Xanatos went on. "That one contains a detailed account of how the coin was obtained, and all of the factors and variables needed to ensure that the events unfolded as they were supposed to."

Willow was completely and utterly confused.

"Wait, you're saying that the anonymous benefactor that sent you that antique coin back when you were a kid was actually an older you sending it to yourself from the past?" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just thinking about it is giving me a headache."

Xanatos shrugged.

"You could put it like that, but I have a simpler way." He replied, giving his father a knowing smile. "I am a self-made man."

Willow shook her head in disbelief, sitting down on the stone steps of the castle. Fox gave Xanatos a peck on the cheek, whispering her praises in his ear. Petros, however, merely crossed his arms and stared at his son.

"Alright, Mister Big-Shot Time Traveler, you obviously have this entire venture planned." He grumbled. "So, how's about you answer one important question."

"Of course." Xanatos replied.

"How do you plan on getting us back home?" Petros questioned.

Up in Princess Elena's bedchamber, the young female gargoyle perched on the window sill, watching the princess run a brush through her long brown hair. Resting upon a window-side table, the Phoenix gate proves to be easy prey. With a quick snatch, the gargoyle disappeared, not even disturbing the princess' wedding preparations.

She escaped to the tower of the castle, examining the gate with fascination. It seemed to spark in hand, as if reacting to something. Curious, the she-gargoyle examines the gate closer, only to be caught completely off-guard by a small flame suddenly appearing beside her. She turned to it, watching in fascination as it grew in size and brightness. Shielding her eyes, the female watched her older self, Demona, emerging from the flames.

Up on the highest tower, Goliath watched the two incarnations of his beloved meeting face to face, his heart heavy with dread.

"Demona!" He muttered.

"Who?" the old gargoyle asked.

Back down below, the younger gargoyle backs away in utter astonishment.

"How- What- You like just- But how-?" she stammered. "This can't be real…"

Demona held up the Phoenix Gate, leading the younger her to look down at her own artifact.

"Believe me, I am real." Demona assured her younger counterpart.

"But- How is this possible?" the younger questioned.

"I will explain everything, but first, we must go somewhere more private." Demona insisted.

Taking her younger self's arm, Demona began to mutter the incantation to send them hurtling through time. The glow began to attract the attention of the young second in command, something that severely worried Goliath.

"Mentor, I beg of you." Goliath insisted. "Waylay my younger self. He must not be allowed to investigate."

The old gargoyle, now a bit more receptive to Goliath's time travelling story after witnessing Demona's arrival, quickly flew down to stop his lieutenant. With no more time to lose, Goliath leapt from the tower himself, diving into the bright light just as Demona completed the spell. In a blinding flash, the three of them vanished.

994 A.D.

Castle Wyvern was still slightly ablaze after Hakon and his Vikings had sacked it. The walls crumbled, the rubble mixing with the crushed remains of many gargoyles. Perched on the highest tower, surrounded by his surviving brethren, Goliath had already entered his thousand-year stone sleep.

Up on the tower where his statue perched, that same little flame formed. It began growing in size before vanishing, leaving Goliath, Demona, and her younger self in its wake. Demona wasted no time, grabbing the nearest piece of debris and bringing it down on Goliath's head. He fell over unconscious, much to the younger female's horror.

"What are you doing to my beloved?" she asked, cradling Goliath's head.

"He is not your beloved." Demona explained. "He is your beloved's future self, just as I am yours."

"Then why do you strike him so?" the young female demanded.

Demona gestured over the edge of the tower, down at the still smoldering wreckage of the castle.

"See for yourself." She told her counterpart.

Almost hesitantly, the young female approached the edge of the tower, gasping when she saw what remained of her home. Tears came to her eyes as she spotted her brethren smashed to rubble. She collapsed to the ground, her body shaking in sobs.

"This is a nightmare…" she cried. "It must be…"

"This is no nightmare." Demona threatened. "This is your future. Our home destroyed, our people murdered, and that's not even the worst."

The younger looked up, as if asking how it could be worse. That is when she laid eyes on Goliath's statue, perched in his brooding stance despite the darkness of the night. Scrambling to her feet, the younger ran to the statue.

"My love… Frozen at night?" she gasped in disbelief, running her hand along the jawline of the statue. "How is this possible?!"

"The humans!" Demona shrieked. "They sacked our home, they murdered our kin, and they placed this spell upon those who survived."

Collapsing in despair, the younger looked up at Demona.

"Please… stop this!" she begged. "I don't want to see anymore! I don't want this future!"

Demona looked down at her younger self, pulling her to her feet.

"This doesn't have to be your future." She promised. "You can stop it, you hold the power in your hand."

The younger female looked down at the Phoenix gate in her hand, then at the one Demona held.

"With the Phoenix Gate, you need but think of a time and place, speak the incantation, and you will be transported there." Demona explained. "With it you can accomplish anything."

Demona's voice took on a more desperate note as she took the arms of her younger self.

"Do not give it to the Archmage, do not share it with-" She hesitated, but started up almost immediately. "Do not share it! Use it. Destroy all the humans! Rule the gargoyles! Rule the world! It's all within your grasp!"

The younger female backed away in fear of Demona. As she did, she nearly tripped over Goliath, who was slowly beginning to come to. She went to help him up but was yanked away by Demona.

"Believe me," Demona told her, "I know exactly how you feel. But you cannot trust him, he's weak. He cares more for the humans than for our clan. He protects their kind rather than fight beside his true family."

Goliath attempted to rise but was thwarted by Demona stomping down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. The young female gasped in shock, facing Demona in disbelief and anger.

"Put him out of our misery." Demona ordered. "You must know I'm right. Can't you see I am what you will become?!"

The young gargoyle yanked her arm free of Demona's grasp, her eyes bright red in anger.

"I will never be like you!" she howled.

Demona sighed in what seemed to be resignation.

"I do not wish to hurt you." Demona threatened.

"And I do not wish to be you!" her younger self retorted.

The younger dove for Demona, hoping to deal any form of damage. However, Demona had literal centuries of fighting skills her younger self didn't possess, which quickly showed in how easily she brought her down. Demona stalked forward, cracking her knuckles and flexing her claws.

"If I must beat this lesson into you, then so be it." She snarled.

Demona raised her hand to make good of her threat, but thankfully Goliath intervened, catching Demona's hand and preventing blow from falling.

"No!" he exclaimed.

Demona snarled, raising her free hand to rake at Goliath's face, but was in turn stopped by her younger self.

"I have heard enough from you." The young female threatened.

With a sudden tackle, she sent Demona against a wall, the impact knocking her out instantly. She crumbled to the ground, her Phoenix Gate rolling across the ground until it came to rest at Goliath's feet. He picked it up, turning to the young female.

"Are you injured?" he asked.

The female shook her head, merely looking up at the stone statue of Goliath.

"Is what she says true?" she asked. "Is this truly our future?"

Goliath gave a solemn nod. The tears returned to her eyes as her body shook with sobs.

"What am I to do?" she cried.

Goliath slowly turned her around, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Do nothing," Goliath informed her.

"Nothing?" the younger repeated in disbelief.

Goliath nodded, caressing her face as he once had a long time ago.

"Do not worry." He insisted. "Do not wait or look for this catastrophe. Live in the moment. Attend the petty jealousies and angers that prey upon your heart. Fortify yourself with love and trust. Do this, and you need not fear this future. But most of all, fulfill the vows of love you make, for they can surely save you."

Demona closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and wiping away the last of her tears.

"I shall." she vowed. "You have my oath."

Goliath turned from her, looking down at the unconscious Demona. He gently picked her up, cradling her in his arms.

"A long time ago, I had hers as well." He lamented.

He looked upon her, then at the now whole Phoenix Gate in his hand.

"I do not think I know the full incantation." He said in slight self-loathing.

The young female placed a gentle claw on his shoulder.

"I do." She informed him.

Using her Phoenix gate, she muttered the incantation as the fire swirled around them. In an instant, they were swallowed up, leaving the burning castle and Goliath's statue behind.

Willow perched on the tower of the castle, searching the skies for any sign of Goliath or Demona. She was beginning to get worried, and more than that, she was getting extremely tired.

"Come on Goliath, where are you?" she muttered.

In that moment, that familiar candle sized flame appeared before her. Already knowing what was going on, Willow stepped back, nearly running into Xanatos, Petros and Fox.

"You asked me how we were getting home, Pop." Xanatos spoke up. "Well, here's your answer."

Goliath emerged from the flames, holding the unconscious Demona in his arms and followed by the younger version. Willow immediately ran to him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "How much damage did she do?"

"None." Goliath replied. "And what of Xanatos?"

"Aside from ensuring that he will become the rich and wealthy dirt bag we know and hate, nothing at all." She replied.

The young female took stepped away from the travelers, leaning against the edge of the tower and looking at her Phoenix Gate. Goliath gave her one last glance, then turned to Xanatos.

"If I didn't fear the damage you would do to the time stream, I'd gladly leave you here." He growled.

Xanatos gave a smug smile, one that made Willow want to deck him hard.

"But you won't." David retorted. "Because you didn't. Time travel's funny that way."

Goliath's eyes narrowed, and Willow just sighed.

"I swear BBC made time travel seem a whole lot less complicated." He muttered.

Goliath gave a nod as everyone gathered around him. Looking down at the Phoenix Gate, he closed his eyes, remembering the incantation.

"Deflagrate muros temporis et intervalia!"

The flames swirled around them until they all disappeared in the blinding light. Having seen the light from a distance, The Archmage came running up the stone steps. In a panic, the female gargoyle hid the gate behind her back, tucking it into her belt.

"I saw the flames!" he shrieked. "You lost the Gate! Admit it, you stupid beast!"

"But I-" she tried.

"Fulmenos Venite!" The Archmage interrupted.

Green lightning shot from the Archmage's hand, striking the female right in the shoulder. She screamed and fell as the Archmage loomed over her menacingly.

"I will tell Prince Malcolm that you stole the Gate!" he threatened.

Before he could utter a second spell, the old gargoyle landed between them.

"And why would you suspect this child of stealing anything from the Prince?" he questioned "And if she had, precisely who would she have been stealing it for?"

Frustrated at the valid points the old gargoyle had brought to light, the Archmage turned and stalked away.

"I will not forget this." He swore.

Taking himself down the spiral stairs, he tried to come up with some sort of plan. The Gate was out of his reach, but he needed to ensure that he would not be blamed.

"Those four meddlers have disappeared." He mumbled. "The theft of the gate came be blamed on them."

Back up at the top of the tower, the second in command came flying down. The young female's face lit up at the sight of her mate. She ran to him, embracing him warmly.

"My love!" she cried. "You are here!"

He accepted the hug, still slightly thrown by the sheer force of it. Still, he was not complaining.

"Come." He told her. "Or we will be late for Prince Malcolm's wedding."

"It appears the honeymoon has begun earlier than expected."

Only a few seconds after Owen had uttered these words, a small, candle sized flame appeared before both him and Judge Reuben. It quickly grew to immense size before disappearing, leaving Goliath, Demona, and the rest of the time travelers in its place. Almost immediately, Demona began to stir. Goliath leaned forward, hopeful that his words had gotten through to her. However, his hopes were quickly dashed.

"Get away from me, you sentimental fool!" she snapped.

Goliath slowly released her as she backed away from him in disgust.

"You may have prevented me from altering the past, but you failed too." She informed him coldy. "I remember your little inspirational about keeping her vows of love. I never forgot it, but it changed nothing. Obviously, history is immutable."

"More's the pity." Goliath replied.

Demona took off into the air, disappearing into the night sky. Goliath then turned to Willow, who was beginning to fall asleep on her feet.

"Come Willow." He said as he gently picked her up. "It's time to go home."

Petros took the big gargoyle's arm, stopping him before he could fly.

"You're the one who's been protecting my granddaughter these past several months?" he asked.

Goliath gave a silent nod, to which Petros replied to with a genuine smile.

"Thank you." He told him. "You're a better man than any human I know."

Without another word, Goliath took off into the sky, gliding straight for home. Petros watched them leave, that smile still on his face. It disappeared quickly though, when Xanatos let out a small cough.

"Well Pop, did you have a good time at the wedding?" he asked.

In answer, Petros fished into the pocket of his robe, flipping his son a small coin. Xanatos looked at it in confusion.

"What is this?" he questioned.

"A simple American penny." Petros replied. "Not worth much now, but in a thousand years, who knows? It's my wedding present to you. Because it's all you seem to care about."

Shaking his head in disappointment, Petros walked away from Xanatos, ashamed to call that selfish man his son.

At the Clock tower, the rest of the Manhattan Clan, as well as Elisa, waited for Goliath and Willow to return. They were all anxious, and both Brooklyn and Elisa feared the worst.

"They've been gone too long." Elisa muttered. "Something must have happened."

"I knew this was a bad idea!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "We should go rescue them."

Goliath's silhouette appeared across the clock face, much to everyone's relief.

"It appears that won't be necessary." Hudson told them.

The door to the tower opened as Goliath walked in, Willow's sleeping form in his arms. He handed her off to Brooklyn without a word, walking past the rest of the clan.

"Did something happen?" Lexington wondered.

"He doesn't look good." Broadway commented.

"What about Willow?" Elisa asked.

Brooklyn adjusted his grip on her, carrying her towards her room.

"She's just asleep." He told them. "But I'm worried about Goliath."

Hudson, who had a pretty good idea of what happened, just shook his head.

"Don't be lads." He told them. "Just give him some space for the time being."

The clan did as they were told, leaving Goliath alone with the Phoenix Gate, and his torrent of thoughts.