It was a rather eventful night in Manhattan. Half of the police department were hidden behind a barricade of police cars that surrounded the 6th street bank. They had been here for several hours, trying to negotiate with a group of terrorists that had taken over the fourth story of the bank. Amongst the cops attempting to handle the situation were Matt and Elisa, the former of whom was getting restless.
"This has been going on all day." Matt stated irritably. "We should go in there!"
"No." Elisa insisted. "We've got confirmed IDs on the hostages. Captain says keep trying."
Matt sighed, then stood, producing a bull horn.
"8th time's the charm." He muttered sarcastically before lifting the horn. "It's getting late and I'm tired of people making mistakes! Let's end this right here before anybody else gets hurt!"
A female terrorist smashed a window with the butt of her gun.
"We will never give in!" she screamed. "Our cause is worth any sacrifice!"
She aimed her gun, one of the missing 37 guns from Xanatos' stolen shipment, down at the police cars and fired. The resulting explosion sent both Matt and Elisa diving for cover. As they hesitantly peeked out from behind their car, Matt looked at his partner with a forced smile.
"Think they're starting to see things our way?" he asked.
Elisa felt her phone buzz. Taking a quick peak, she smiled when she saw it was a text.
"We're on our way. – L"
"Not yet." Elisa said as she stowed her phone. "But they will soon."
…
Inside the bank, the female terrorist turned to her four companions. Each of them were armed with weapons similar to her own. Two of them were guarding the hostages, Brenden, Margo, and three almost identical little girls.
"W-what are you gonna do to us?" Brenden asked, looking up nervously at the female terrorist.
"If our demands are met, then nothing." She explained as she powered up her gun. "If not-"
"Please!" Margo cried. "Just let us go!"
Behind her, one of the children spoke up.
"It will be over soon." She insisted.
At that moment, the wall behind the terrorist exploded, making way for Goliath. One of the terrorists raised his weapon at Goliath, only to have it snatched from his grasp. With an angry snarl, Goliath bent the gun like it was a pipe-cleaner, tossing it over his shoulder before doing the same to the terrorist.
"It- It's a monster!" Another terrorist screamed.
"Shoot it!" the female demanded.
All four of the remaining terrorists began to open fire of Goliath. He managed to jump out of the way, but was pinned in the corner. They all began to chuckle, raising their weapons to take him down. Luckily for Goliath, the ceiling above the terrorists exploded as Brooklyn, Lexington, and Broadway came crashing down on top of them. With her flunkeys pinned, the female terrorist made a run for the vault of the bank, hoping the large door would be enough to keep the gargoyles at bay.
She was wrong.
Goliath pulled the door off the hinges, stalking towards the female terrorist. In fear, she raised her weapon, hoping to deter him from coming closer.
"S-stay back!" she threatened.
With a sweep of his tail, Goliath knocked the terrorist off her feet, sending her weapon skidding across the ground. She gasped in fear as she tried to scramble away.
"Don't hurt me!" she begged.
Goliath grabbed her by her shirt dragging her out of the vault.
"You have more to fear from your own cowardice then from me." He told her.
He brought her out into the main area of the bank, where the trio were busy tying up the remaining terrorists. Goliath tossed the female his direction, where Broadway intercepted her. With the threat dealt with, Lexington and Brooklyn approached the hostages slowly.
"It's alright." Lexington assured them. "You're all safe no-"
"Stay away!" Brenden screamed, hiding behind Margo.
"Don't come near me!" Margo shrieked.
Brooklyn groaned as he and Lexington stopped walking forward.
"Don't gush all over us." The red gargoyle told them, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's embarrassing."
"Maybe we should have had Willow come along." Lexington muttered. "She's better at this then we are."
Broadway finished tying up the final terrorist, turning to Goliath.
"We can go now, if you want." He said.
"Then let us take our leave." Goliath announced. "We've done all we can."
Before they could leave, the three children stepped forward.
"The cause is everything until her own life is threatened." One of the children stated. "Still, it's good that you saved her."
"You remember what she has forgotten." A second stated. "That all life is precious. Forget that, and you will be no different from her."
"I will never be like her." Goliath insisted, gesturing to the cowering female terrorist.
"We do not speak of the terrorist." The third child replied.
There was a sudden gust of wind, and in an instant, the three children vanished. Upon seeing this, Goliath grew panicked, fearing something may have happened.
"The children!" he called. "Where did they go?"
Both Brenden and Margo looked at Goliath in sheer terror.
"What children?" Brenden asked.
"Come on!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "They were right here a second ago!"
Margo backed away, trying to get as far away from the gargoyles as she could.
"Please!" she insisted. "There were no children here!"
The gargoyles looked at Margo, and then amongst themselves. After a moment, Lexington spoke up, voicing what all four of them were thinking.
"But, if there were no children, then what did we see?" he asked.
Goliath nodded.
"And who were they talking about?" he added.
…
On the other side of the city, soaring through the night sky, Demona glided across the winds, an old scroll in her hands. She looked down upon it triumphantly as she approached her destination, Pack Media Studios. Inside, both Xanatos and Owen were setting up an array of cameras and technical equipment around a simple grey screen.
"Is it done?" she asked as she entered the studio.
"Everything is ready." Owen assured her.
"It had better be." Demona snarled.
Xanatos looked over at her with a smile.
"Relax. This is state of the art equipment. With it, we can hijack every cable and satellite broadcast."
"I imagine that your spell will be trending quite rapidly on YouTube, once the video goes viral." Owen added.
Xanatos then approached Demona, holding out his hand.
"That is, as long as you have managed to uphold your end of the bargain." He added.
Demona unfurled the scroll, showing it to Xanatos.
"This is how I've lived all these years." She explained. "A spell stolen from the Grimorum Archanorum. With it, I can steal a minute of life from every person that sees and hears it."
Xanatos smirked. While a single minute might not seem like much, a minute times the millions of people living in Manhattan meant that his, as well as Demona's lifespan would gain centuries of time.
"The city will see it first," Demona added, "Then it will spread. As the broadcast plays throughout the day, more and more people will fall under the spell. At sundown, we can end the broadcast, and leave the rest to the humans."
"Then I shall return then." He declared. "No point in me sticking around when you and Owen have this handled."
Before he turned to leave, he took Owen aside, whispering in the man's ear.
"Be extremely careful." He warned. "Either watch her or listen to her. Do not do both."
"Of course." Owen promised.
Xanatos walked out as Owen began switching on the cameras. Once Owen gave the signal, Demona began her spell. A strange wind began to swirl around her as the archaic spell was cast.
"Omnes conspecti,
Omnes auditi,
in nocte usque ad saxum commutate,
Dum caelum ardeat."
Alarm bells started going off in Owen's head as he mentally translated the spell's meaning.
"Stop!" Owen exclaimed over the ever growing wind. "This is not the spell you-"
The magical wind sent Owen flying across the studio, where he struck a desk hard. Demona then manipulated the magical energies of the spell, picking up Owen like he was nothing and paralyzing him. With her spell complete, she placed him in a wooden chair, tying him to it with some loose cords.
"You're the tricky one." She mused. "We'll just make sure you stay put."
For an added insurance, Demona placed one of the camera's monitors in front of Owen's frozen face, forcing him to watch her spell play in an endless loop.
…
As the gargoyles returned to the clock tower, the strange three children continued to plague Goliath's thoughts. He couldn't figure out what they were, or what they had been trying to tell them. Even so, his instincts told him that tomorrow night would bring him he answers he sought.
"Brooklyn," Goliath said as they landed. "Go and see if Willow has returned from her trip to the bookstore."
"Way ahead of you." Brooklyn replied, walking inside to check.
He found Willow in her room, fast asleep with a book laying open on her chest. With a chuckle, Brooklyn set the book aside, pulling Willow's covers over her. After she was tucked in, he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead before walking out of her room.
"She fell asleep while reading again." He explained as he climbed up onto his post.
"She's been doing that a lot lately." Broadway commented. "You think she's sick?"
"She's not like us, lad." Hudson explained. "She does not turn to stone, but she needs a full day's rest to recover her strength."
"Willow's tough," Brooklyn commented. "But she is half human. She'll be awake tonight, and I'm sure she'll tell us all about her new book."
With that thought to lighten the mood, the gargoyles faced the dawn as they turned to stone.
…
That evening, about an hour before sundown, Elisa began to prepare for work. As she pulled her jacket on, she heard her cat Cagney hissing at the TV.
"What is it, girl?" she asked as she walked into her living room.
As she rounded the corner, she saw the screen of her television becoming static. Then the static parted to reveal Demona's face.
"Demona?" she questioned.
Grabbing the remote, Elisa attempt to change the channel. However, no matter what channel she went to, Demona's face continued to appear.
"This isn't good." Elisa muttered.
Tossing the remote aside and not even bothering to turn off the TV, Elisa ran out of her apartment, her only thoughts on getting to Goliath and warning him.
…
Elisa sped through the streets of Manhattan, passing by many stores broadcasting the same footage to transfixed audiences. Those who weren't glued to the TVs were watching the videos from their phones. With each passing person, Elisa found herself pushing down harder on the gas pedal. As Elisa's car whizzed past, the three women from the bookstore watched with strange smiles on their faces.
"Isn't this exciting, Luna?" Phoebe asked. "All the pieces are in place."
"Concentrate Phoebe." Seline warned. "We must ensure everything goes as planned."
"Patience, both of you." Luna told her sisters. "We have been working for this day for nearly 1000 years. Everything is going as we have designed it to."
…
Hidden somewhere in the city, a man dawned the Mask of the Hunter, pulling it over his face as he examined the footage of Demona's spell. Before the spell was finished, he turned it off, a triumphant smile barely visible under the black and red fabric.
"Finally." He let out.
…
At the police precinct, Elisa walked quickly down the hall, determined to get to the clock tower to warn Goliath. However, Matt intercepted her.
"Partner!" he called, grabbing her arm. "What's the rush?"
"No time to talk." Elisa insisted, trying to break away.
"I'll say!" Matt practically exclaimed. "The phones have been ringing off the hook since that hijacked broadcast started playing. We need all the help we can get."
"In a minute!" Elisa insisted as she pulled her arm free. "I have other business, then I'll be right there!"
Matt watched her go, eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he didn't stop her, simply returning to his duties.
…
Up on top of the Eyrie building, Xanatos stepped into his private helicopter, where Fox awaited him in the pilot's seat.
"Pack Media Studios?" Fox asked with a knowing smile.
"Of course." Xanatos replied as he strapped himself in.
The helicopter took off as Fox gave her husband a wry smile.
"Take it from a professional, David," She remarked, "That Demona broadcast isn't exactly riveting TV."
Xanatos' eyes narrowed at her words.
"I wouldn't know." He remarked a bit angrily. "I didn't watch it. And I thought I told you not to either."
Fox gave a dismissive shrug.
"What can I say?" she said nonchalauntly. "I was curious."
Xanatos was about to lecture her on exactly why he didn't want her watching the broadcast, but was interrupted by a phone call. Giving Fox one last glare, he turned his attention to the call.
"Xanatos." He answered.
…
In Pack Media Studios, Owen had finally managed to free himself from Demona's paralyzing magic, as the chair he had been bound to. He'd scrambled to call Xanatos on his cellphone, grateful when he answered almost immediately.
"Mr. Xanatos." Owen responded quickly. "We have a problem."
Outside, the sun was rapidly beginning to descend, and Owen's words became faster and more frantic.
"Demona's spell, it wasn't what she said it was!" he tried to explain.
The sun disappeared beyond the clouds and Owen went silent. His entire body froze, petrifying into solid stone. The phone in his hand suffered a similar fate, cutting off the call.
…
Xanatos glanced at his phone, wondering what had just happened. Before he could question further, his helicopter suddenly lurched forward, sending him careening back into his seat. With a horrified gasp, he turned to see Fox.
Or, more appropriately, a stone statue of Fox.
With the copter's pilot petrified, it began to spiral downward, about to take both of its passengers down with it.
…
Up in the clock tower, Elisa was standing over Willow's bed, trying desperately to wake her up.
"Come on, Willow." She said desperately. "Now is not the time to be doing you dead-to-the-world act. Demona's up to something and-"
She never finished her thought, for at that moment, she too turned to stone. Around that time, Willow slowly began to open her eyes.
"Man…" she let out. "That has got to be one of the weirdest dreams I have ever-"
Willow cut herself off as she found herself unable to get up, something hard and cool keeping her pinned to the bed. As Willow's vision slowly cleared, she came face to face with the stone statue of Elisa.
"ELISA!" she shrieked.
Willow's scream drew the attention of the gargoyles, who had just awoken from their stone slumber. All of them came barreling into Willow's room, practically tearing the curtain off of its mount. When they saw Elisa's statue bent over Willow and Willow's terrified expression, they all froze.
"What happened?" Brooklyn asked.
"I don't know!" Willow replied. "Elisa was trying to wake me up, then I open my eyes to see this!"
Goliath and Broadway walked over, gently picking up the statue of Elisa so Willow could get out of bed. She scrambled into Brooklyn's arms as they set Elisa back down again.
"How could this have happened?" Goliath wondered, gently stroking the statue.
"Sorcery, how else?" Hudson replied.
Willow then got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Awaken, child, to the city of stone." She muttered, recalling the ending of her book. "Jalapeña…"
"What was that?" Lexington asked.
Willow slipped out of Brooklyn's arms, thankful that she had fallen asleep in her clothes and didn't need to waste time changing. In a flash of green light, she transformed into her gargoyle form.
"I don't think Elisa's the only one that was turned to stone." She told them. "I'm praying I'm wrong, but we need to check."
Goliath nodded.
"A wise idea." He agreed. "Broadway, you and Bronx watch over Elisa."
Broadway gave a nod, settling onto Willow's bed as Bronx gently nuzzled Elisa's statue. The rest of the gargoyles took to the skies, desperate for answers.
…
Xanatos struggled to gain control of the helicopter, all the while trying to keep Fox's statue undamaged. Reaching over, he took control of the main joystick, trying frantically to remember how to fly a helicopter.
The street was getting closer and closer, and with one desperate yank, he managed to pull the helicopter steady enough to make an emergency landing in the middle of an intersection. He powered down the helicopter, then let out a sigh of relief.
"Perhaps I should take a refresher pilots course once this is over." He remarked.
Unbuckling himself, Xanatos quickly examined Fox's statue, relieved to see she was still in one piece. He then hopped out of the copter, only to freeze when he saw the rest of the city. All around him, he could see the entire population of Manhattan frozen in stone. Men, women, children, everyone was a statue. There were car crashes just about everywhere from people caught in their car during the change. Inside were bits of rubble that had once been people, a sight that made Xanatos sick to his stomach.
"I think Demona and I need to have a little talk." He decided.
He turned back into the helicopter, fishing around until he pulled out a large laser rifle. Now armed, he began walking down the deserted streets.
"No sense trying to get a cab." He muttered.
…
On Hudson's suggestion, the clan decided to pay a visit to Robbins, the man who had helped him and Willow during the Scrolls of Merlin incident. Throughout the entire flight, the unnerving silence had everyone on edge, especially Willow.
"There's the house." Hudson called as he pointed.
"But what are all those statues around it?" Lexington asked.
The lump of fear in Willow's stomach grew bigger as she realized what they were.
"They're people." She whispered. "Transformed like Elisa was."
The five of them landed and Hudson quickly knocked on Robbins' door. Almost immediately, Gilly's barking could be heard as Robbins came to the door.
"Calm down girl." He told her. "Why are you so jumpy tonight?"
"Robbins?" Hudson called, holding out his hand.
"Hudson?" Robbins replied, searching with his hand. "Is that you?"
Hudson took his hand and Robbins seemed to sigh in relief.
"It's good to hear from you, old friend." Robbins greeted. "Is Willow with you?"
"Hi Robbins." Willow replied, quickly becoming human before taking his hand.
"How's your head?" he asked.
Willow giggled, a welcomed relief from all the fear she held.
"My head is fine." She replied. "But I'm afraid that I can't say the same for the city."
"Can you talk for a moment?" Hudson asked. "My friends and I have many questions, and it seems you are the only one who… Is capable of answering us."
Robbins stepped outside, closing the door behind him.
"Let me guess, the reason you're here has something to do with the reason I can't reach anyone by phone." He surmised. "And probably why it's so unnaturally quiet tonight."
"Yes." Brooklyn insisted. "How long has it been like this?"
"Your friend is an impatient one." Robbins remarked.
"That's just Brooklyn." Willow replied.
Robbins chuckled, then thought carefully.
"The silence fell around sundown…" he recalled. "I wonder if it had anything to do with that odd broadcast."
"Broadcast?" Goliath asked.
"Yes." Robbins nodded. "This odd broadcast was playing all day, taking over all the channels. It should still be playing. You're welcome to come listen."
The five of them followed Robbins inside, where Demona's broadcast was playing. Willow's eyes went wide when she saw that.
"Oh no…" she gasped.
Goliath's eyes also went wide, but for a completely different reason.
"Lexington!" he shouted. "Turn off the sound!"
Lexington darted forward, his claw mashing the mute button on the TV and silencing the broadcast. Goliath let out a sigh of relief as Robbins walked in.
"I like to listen to the TV, but today, no matter what channel I turned to, it was that same woman chanting in Latin over and over again." He explained.
"Goliath, we need to go." Willow interrupted, a note of desperation in her voice. "We need to find Demona now."
"Yes." He agreed.
They all turned to leave, Hudson looking at his friend.
"What's going on here, Hudson?" Robbins asked. "What aren't you telling me?"
"What is happening at the moment is difficult to explain." Hudson replied. "But I beg ye, stay inside fer the time being. I have a feeling we're in for a long night."
…
The gargoyles flew across Manhattan, searching for Demona. With every passing moment, Willow was getting worse. None of them had ever seen Willow so terrified, so sick to her stomach. However, they knew what she was going through all too well.
"I never would have thought Demona capable of such powerful magic." Goliath muttered.
Brooklyn glided close to Willow, taking her hand in his. She accepted the gesture gratefully, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I wouldn't put anything past her." Brooklyn snarled.
"But there's something I don't understand." Lex interjected. "The entire city seems to be affected by Demona's spell, so why wasn't Robbins a statue?"
"You have to see and hear magic for it to touch you." Hudson explained. "As a blind man, Robbins was immune to the spell."
"If we are to find Demona, then we need to split up." Goliath announced. "Hudson, you and Lexington return to the tower to fetch Broadway and Bronx. Brooklyn, Willow, you two stay with me."
"What about Elisa?" Willow asked.
Goliath hesitated for a moment, a flash of fear crossing his face. However, he brushed it aside as quickly as it came.
"She will be safe at the tower, even without us there." He replied, assuring her as well as himself. "Demona will not find her."
Hudson and Lexington branched off to do as they were told. Brooklyn then looked over at Goliath.
"Even split up like this, it will take us forever to find Demona." Brooklyn surmised. "She could be anywhere!"
"I fear finding Demona will be easier than you think." Goliath replied solemnly.
Willow held onto Brooklyn's arm, squeezing it in fear.
…
Down in the city, Demona pranced about like a little child, brandishing a mace like a baseball bat. All around her were the crumbled remains of nearly an entire street of what use to be humans. Cackling, she swung her weapon, destroying another statue with a maniacal grin.
"How does that human song go?" she asked a statue of a teenager on their phone. "That's right."
She swung again, reducing the statue to rubble.
"And another one bites the dust!" she cheered.
Hooking the mace on her belt, she then brandished a large laser rifle, aiming it at a statue of a woman carrying several grocery bags.
"Lets me help you with those." Demona offered sarcastically.
Two consecutive blasts completely destroyed the woman's arms while leaving the rest of her intact. The she-gargoyle's laughter practically echoed through the streets as she leaned against the window of a clock store. She looked at the time and let out a sigh.
"Oh how time flies." She remarked. "I need to meet Xanatos at the studio."
She walked off towards Pack Media Studios, but not before blasting two more statues to dust.
…
Flying above the city in a high-tech aircraft, the Hunter continued to play Demona's broadcast. He kept it muted so as not to be affected by its magic while continuing to try and find its source.
"Locked onto the TV override signal." His onboard computer declared.
"Identify the source." He ordered.
"The signal's origin is Pack Media Studios." The computer supplied.
The Hunter set a course for the studios, a hard grimace under his mask.
"Soon, Demona." He swore. "Soon."
…
Goliath, Brooklyn, and Willow landed in the street, the very street Demona had come through not an hour before. Immediately, Willow fell to the ground, unable to hold the contents of her stomach any more. Brooklyn held her as she wretched, tears pouring down the sides of her face at the sight of all the rubble.
"It's the Wyvern Massacre all over again." Brooklyn muttered, stroking Willow's back.
Goliath bent down, picking up the stone head of a small boy, probably no older than five. His heart broke as he punched the ground in fury.
"Has Demona learned nothing?!" he howled. "Every life is precious!"
Willow looked up, nothing left in her stomach to wretch. She wiped her mouth, clinging to Brooklyn as he picked her up. She shimmered, turning into her human form as he wrapped his wings around her.
"Men, women, children… she doesn't care…" She sobbed.
"Had Elisa not been in the tower… she could have been smashed too." Brooklyn realized.
"Never!" Goliath screamed.
Both Willow and Brooklyn looked at him in shock.
"We will put an end to Demona's evil…" Goliath swore. "once and for all…"
"Yes, she must be stopped." A young voice called out.
All three of them turned to see three identical statues. Strangely, while both Brooklyn and Goliath saw three children, Willow saw the three women from the bookstore.
"But remember your own words, Goliath." One of the statues told him.
"All life is precious. Take care not to become that which you fight." The second one added.
"Vengeance begets nothing but a vicious cycle of pain and suffering." The third one concluded.
Goliath looked at the three statues, then back at Brooklyn and Willow. When they all looked back, they were all gone. They all stared for a moment, then reluctantly turned away.
"Come." Goliath muttered. "Demona cannot be far off."
…
Demona walked into Pack Media studios, happy to hear her broadcast still playing on the monitor. Then, she laid eyes on Owen. His statue stood at one of the desks, his cellphone petrified to his ear. Her eyes glowing red, she raised her mace to smash the statue.
"Step away from him." Xanatos' voice ordered her evenly.
With a hiss, Demona looked over her shoulder to see the man aiming his rifle at her. Keeping her at gunpoint, he injected a flash drive into the controls of the entire system. On the monitor, Demona's broadcast began to pixilate before completely turning to snow.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded.
"Uploading a virus I acquired thanks to your old friend Coldstone." Xanatos explained. "After editing the code, I programmed it to target a specific file, no matter where it is. I had hoped I wouldn't have to use it, but better safe than sorry. Especially when dealing with you."
With her video gone and no copy left, Demona howled in rage, launching herself at Xanatos. He rolled out of the way and fired. Demona barley dodged, bumping into Owen's statue in the process. The statue began to shake, then began sliding towards the ground. Ditching his weapon, Xanatos dove forward, catching Owen before he shattered.
As Xanatos pushed Owen back onto his feet, Demona tackled him, raising him into the air. However, before she could throw him, the wall of the studio exploded. Both Demona and Xanatos looked to see the Hunter standing amidst the dust.
"Demona!" he snarled
"The Hunter!" Demona howled, tossing Xanatos aside like a piece of garbage. "How many times must I destroy you?!"
Completely ignoring Xanatos, she tackled the Hunter, both of them rolling through the hole the Hunter had created. They rolled, each trying to pin the other down. Eventually, the Hunter managed to kick her off of him, grunting in pain as he did. Before she could recover, he aimed a taser at her, catching her right in the chest. As she screamed in pain from the electricity, the Hunter seemed to suffer from similar convulsions. Demona saw this and her eyes widened.
"It's you…" she whispered, a note of terror in her voice.
Forgoing fighting, Demona leapt for the roof, trying to put some distance between herself and the Hunter.
"How did he find me?" she wondered.
Back on the rooftop, the Hunter watched her go, still reeling from the strange mirrored pain he seemed to share with Demona. He summoned his aircraft, determined not to lose her again.
"You won't escape me this time, Demona." He promised. "I'm ending this… tonight."
His craft arrived and he climbed inside, taking off in the direction Demona took.
…
Back inside the studio, Xanatos got onto the internet, making sure that his virus had eliminated all traces of Demona's video. He let out a sigh of relief when he couldn't find any trace of it.
"Luckily it didn't get any farther then the city, right Owen?" He remarked.
Owen's statue didn't reply, eliciting a groan from Xanatos.
"Right." He let out.
He turned off the computer, and stood up. As he turned around, he was suddenly greeted by Goliath, Brooklyn, and Willow walking into the studio. From the looks on their faces, it was obvious they had followed Demona's trail of destruction to get here. Willow looked absolutely horrid, her skin pale as Brooklyn held her in her human form. Despite this, Xanatos couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"Willow…" Xanatos called softly, unable to hide the relief in his voice. "You're not a statue."
"Xanatos…" Goliath snarled.
"Where's Demona?" Brooklyn snapped.
"You just missed her." Xanatos explained. "She took after someone she called The Hunter."
Willow perked up at that name, recognition dawning. Goliath, however, just stalked towards Xanatos in pure fury.
"Then you were her partner in this sorcery?!" He demanded.
Xanatos gave a solemn nod.
"She promised me the secret to her eternal life and youth." He replied. "So I gave her access to the studio."
Once again, Willow perked up, as if the pieces of some puzzle in her mind were falling into place. Once again, Goliath focused solely on Xanatos, grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt and hoisting him into the air. The man didn't even bother to fight or try to break his grip.
"I should make you pay for all the lives she has destroyed!" The pissed off gargoyle howled.
Willow quickly scrambled out of Brooklyn's grip, taking hold of Goliath's arm.
"Don't!" she insisted. "He was tricked! Sure his intentions weren't honorable, but even he wouldn't want this!"
Goliath looked down at her, seeing the truth in her words.
"Besides, he's gonna help us fix this." Willow added. "Right?"
Xanatos didn't even hesitate to answer.
"Of course I will." He replied. "This is bigger than any of us can handle on our own."
Goliath set Xanatos down and the man straightened his coat.
"At least until the city is safe, truce?" he asked.
"Truce…" Goliath agreed.
The two shook hands, knowing that it was the only way to save the humans they loved.
…
Sunrise came, and with its bright rays, all of the petrified humans were returned to flesh and blood. Up in the clock tower, Elisa returned to normal, almost immediately falling onto her face because of her position.
"Ow…" she muttered.
As she got up, Elisa was surprised to find herself in the living room of the clock tower.
"I could have sworn I was standing over Willow's bed…" she said to herself.
Elisa was even more confused when she saw that the sun was rising outside, and that the balcony was devoid of all gargoyles. A quick peek into Willow's room showed that she was gone as well.
"Where is everybody?" she wondered aloud.
At that moment, her phone chimed, signifying that she had a voicemail. A quick peek at the caller ID revealed that it was Willow. In a flurry of motion, Elisa quickly played the message.
"Elisa, if you're hearing this, then that means the spell isn't permanent, or at least it has a time limit. I'll try to explain as best I can. Demona cast a spell over Manhattan using a broadcast you're no doubt aware of. Everyone who saw and heard the spell has been turned to stone."
"Stone?" Elisa repeated. "Is that what happened to me?"
"We managed to shut it down before it could spread, but the city will still be effected. There's gonna be panic, confusion, not to mention a lot of missing people and unexplainable rubble… It's bad Elisa. We know you'll do what you can to help the city, but please promise us… promise me something. Stay safe. If you feel like the spell is returning, get somewhere that Demona can't find you. She's already smashed countless innocent people. We don't want you to be added to her list."
The message cut off there, leaving a stunned Elisa holding the phone. For a good two minutes, she just stood there, trying to process what she had heard. Then, her eyes hardened as she put her phone in her pocket, stalking down the ladder with a fiery anger in her eyes.
"Demona…" she snarled.
…
At the Eyrie building, the Manhattan clan gathered on top of the tallest tower. They all stared down at the courtyard, where Fox's helicopter sat waiting. It had taken all six of them to carry the large machine out of the intersection where it had been parked, bringing it to the castle. Xanatos leaned against the metal frame, switching between looking at Fox's statue and the statue of Owen that he had brought along.
Willow had long since fallen asleep, Brooklyn still holding her as the sun's ray's turned to him and the rest of the gargoyles to stone. Along with sending the gargoyles into their stone sleep, the sun's rays also pulled Owen and Fox out of theirs.
"-Demona's going to turn the entire city to stone!" Owen cried into his cellphone. "We must-"
After a moment, he got his bearings, realizing he was standing in the courtyard of the castle. He cleared his throat, tucking the phone into his pocket.
"Good morning." He greeted.
Fox emerged from the helicopter, pulling off her helmet and blinking in confusion.
"I thought we had taken off." She questioned. "Why are we in the courtyard? And why is it morning?"
"Demona tricked me." Xanatos explained. "The spell she gave us was not what she promised."
"Indeed." Owen said with a nod. "I'm assuming you stopped the broadcast."
"And deleted all traces from the internet." Xanatos nodded.
Fox then pointed up at the tallest tower, where the gargoyles were perched.
"Looks like Willow and her friends decided to have a sleep-over." She noted.
The three of them began walking up the tower towards the sleeping gargoyles.
"Willow managed to convince Goliath to form a truce between us." Xanatos informed the pair. "The gargoyles are going to help us stop Demona and break the curse on the city."
"If you're looking to break the curse," Owen began, "then perhaps searching the Grimorum Archanorum will-"
"Even if we had the book, I doubt it would work." Xanatos interrupted. "None of us are practicing magicians, and I have been told that mixing magic can be quite dangerous."
They reached the top of the tower, where Xanatos gently pulled the sleeping Willow from Brooklyn's grasp.
"If magic won't work, how about a scientific cure?" Fox suggested. "That's how you broke the curse on the gargoyles, isn't it?"
Xanatos gave a nod, adjusting his grip on Willow so he could comfortable carry her back down the stairs.
"It is a possibility." Xanatos nodded. "Owen, what was the exact translation of Demona's spell."
Owen cleared his throat.
"All who see this, all who hear this, turn to stone throughout the night until the skies burn."
The three walked down a small path towards Willow's old room in a castle tower. Aside from dusting and cleaning, the room was just as Willow had left it. Xanatos laid her on the bed, pulling off her shoes before tucking her in under the covers.
"Then I guess we'll have to set the sky ablaze." Xanatos remarked.
"Then we best hurry." Owen told him as the three of them left Willow's room. "We have only 12 hours until sunset, and we'll need all the help we can get."
…
As Willow had predicted, the city was in complete chaos. The broadcast was gone, allowing for the news channels to come back on, but they were all asking the same things. What happened last night? Why can't anyone remember?
Watching all the confusion from an unknown location, the Hunter lamented the loss of their prey.
"I finally find her after all this time and she slips from my grasp once again!" he shouted.
He pounded his fists against a table, screaming in anger and frustration.
…
At the police station, the phones were being blown up once more. This time, there were missing persons reports, multiple traffic accidents, and one woman who had gone hysterical after somehow losing both of her arms in a blink of an eye.
The lobby was full of frantic citizens who were desperate to find out exactly what they had experienced. Nearly all the cops who weren't busy answering the phones were trying to calm down the people in the lobby. Amidst the chaos, Chief Chavez managed to pull Elisa and Matt aside.
"Our technical team managed to trace the source of the broadcast before it was erased by some sort of virus." She explained.
"So who was are mysterious hijacker?" Matt asked.
"Pack Media studios." Chavez replied. "I sent a team down to investigate. There were signs of a struggle, but no hard leads."
Elisa's fists clenched. Xanatos was involved. The look on her face must have been quite terrifying, because at that moment, Matt looked at her.
"You okay partner?" he asked. "You don't look to good."
"I'm not." Elisa admitted.
…
Willow awoke slowly, stretching widely as she let out a yawn. As she opened her eyes, she was surprised to find herself in her old room back at the castle.
"How did I end up here?" she wondered.
Then, the events of the night before came flooding back. The spell, the destruction, and the truce.
"That's right." she remembered. "We stayed at the castle because we're working with Xanatos."
Willow quickly got out of bed, putting her shoes back on and walking out of her room. She found Xanatos and Owen in the throne room of the castle, both of them working on upgrading the Steel Clan robots. Strangely, Xanatos was wearing his exo-suit.
"I'm guessing since Owen's not stone that the spell has a time limit." She said as she walked in.
Xanatos turned to her and smiled.
"The spell is only effective at night." He told her. "Luckily, I think we've got a solution to the problem."
Willow looked at the Steel Clan robots, noting that they were now carrying strange packs on their chests. Even Xanatos' suit was equipped with one, but his seemed like it was detachable while the steel clans' were welded into place.
"I'm guessing you found a way to break the curse." Willow asked.
"Yes." Xanatos replied. "Come here and I'll tell you the plan."
Willow stepped forward, eager to break the curse over Manhattan. As Xanatos explained what was going to happen, the elevator began beeping. Owen looked up from his work, turning on the security camera in the elevator.
"It would seem Detective Maza is stopping by for a visit." He reported.
Willow suddenly got a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"She knows." She whispered. "And she's gonna do something stupid."
Sure enough, the second she emerged from the elevator, she immediately went off on Owen, who went to intercept her.
"Demona's broadcast originated from Pack Media Studios." She stated angrily. "Xanatos owns it, so, like always, he's involved!"
"Mr. Xanatos is attempting to repair the damage done by Demona." Owen tried to explain. "What are you doing to help?"
Elisa went to answer, but then saw Willow next to Xanatos. The fear in Willow's eyes was evident, but not for the reason Elisa thought. All of a sudden, she snapped, grabbing Owen in an attempt to throw him aside to get to Xanatos. However, before the scuffle could get much further than that, the sun sank over the horizon, reducing Owen and Elisa to stone statues. Willow sighed in relief, leaning against the work table.
"A bit too close." She said softly.
"I'll agree." Xanatos nodded. "It is one way to settle an argument."
The two took over where Owen had left off, preparing seven harnesses with packs similar to that of the steel clan. By the time they finished, the gargoyles had shaken off the last of their stone skin and were walking into the room.
"Perfect timing guys." Willow called. "We just finished up."
That's when Goliath noticed Owen and Elisa's combined statues.
"What is Elisa doing here?" Goliath demanded.
"Whatever it is, she doesn't look happy." Broadway remarked.
"She's not." Willow replied, handing out packs to each of the gargoyles. "She figured out the origins of the broadcast and came to confront Xanatos."
The gargoyles all looked at the packs in confusion.
"What is all this?" Lexington asked.
"To break the spell, the sky needs to be set ablaze." Xanatos explained. "Inside these packs are a special gas. It's harmless to any living creature, but it is also highly flammable."
"We take these packs and spread the gas across the sky." Willow added. "The Steel clan will also take part. Once the entire city is covered in the gas, we just need to ignite it, and boom! A burning sky."
The gargoyles began attaching the packs to their chests as Willow transformed into her gargoyle form. As they did, Hudson spoke up.
"How do ye plan of igniting this gas?" he asked. "It's not like ye can drop a match on it."
"This is true." Xanatos admitted, gesturing to his laptop where a timer was waiting to be turned on. "The packs will detonate at a pre-set time. Your packs are detachable, meaning you can ditch them once the time is almost up. I'll have to sacrifice my robots, but it's a small price to pay."
Bronx, who was unable to fly due to a lack of wings, began sniffing the air, snarling at a tapestry hanging by a nearby window. Willow came over to him, scratching him behind the ears in an attempt to calm him down.
"Don't worry, boy." She told him. "We'll be back soon."
She stood up, looking at Brooklyn and taking his hand.
"I hope…" she added quietly.
The gargoyles took off into the sky, Xanatos and the steel clan right behind them. Together, they began dispensing the gas all across the city, using the wind currents to aid in their efforts.
…
Back in the castle, Demona emerged from a secret passageway hidden behind the tapestry that Bronx had been growling at. She had a mace in her hand and an evil grin on her face. As she surveyed the empty room, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"There are secrets about this castle that even you don't know about, Xanatos." She said, turning towards the statues of Owen and Elisa. "Now, time to take care of some unfinished business."
Demona took hold of her mace once more, her eyes glowing red as she approached the statues. Before she could act, Bronx came barreling at her, knocking her aside and successfully saving Elisa and Owen. Demona tried to get up, but was pinned by a snarling Bronx. Knowing full well the strength of the gargoyle beast, Demona began to soothingly try to calm him down.
"It's alright my pet." She told him. "See?"
She dropped her mace, flicking it away with her tail. Bronx noted this, jumping off of Demona and snagging the mace. Demona let out a sigh of relief, happy to no longer be pinned by the beast.
"Your little human friend is safe." Demona whispered. "For now."
Bronx dragged the mace over to the statue of Elisa and Bronx, dropping it in front of it and settling down at the feet of the statues.
"I can keep occupied destroying Xanatos and Goliath." She told him, turning her attention to the laptop Xanatos had left out. "Do you think they'll like my little surprise?"
Bronx just growled, gently nuzzling Elisa's statue.
"It will be a big one." Demona promised.
Demona began typing away, overriding the timer on the screen. It switched from saying there were about 21 minutes left to only being about 13 minutes left.
"The gas will ignite too soon for the gas to ignite and break the spell." She explained. "And far too soon for any of them to survive."
Bronx snarled at Demona, not liking what she was saying. Still, he did not leave where he lay, doing his duty to protect Elisa.
"Won't that be fun?" Demona asked, turning back to Bronx. "And once they're all gone, my laser cannon will take care of you, Owen, and especially her."
Bronx stood up, stalking towards Demona and forcing her back. She let him, walking towards the tapestry again to watch the fireworks.
"Then, there will be no one left to stop me." She concluded.
"No one, Demona?" The Hunter asked.
Demona gasped, pulling away from the tapestry as the Hunter emerged from behind it.
"Have you forgotten about me so quickly?" he asked.
"How did you find me?" Demona demanded.
The Hunter shrugged, stalking towards Demona menacingly.
"With all the city's inhabitants frozen in stone, it wasn't hard to notice all the robots and gargoyles taking off from the roof of the city's tallest building." He answered. "So I investigated, and found exactly what I was looking for."
Demona scoffed, trying to put on a brave face.
"It matters not." She insisted. "Goliath and Xanatos only have 13 minutes left to live. Nobody can save them now."
The Hunter just shook his head.
"I'm not here for them." He said. "I'm here for you. I want it over between us."
Demona just stood there, letting the Hunter finish his speech.
"I have hunted you through the centuries for my vengeance." He declared.
Demona just scoffed.
"Take off that mask." She told him. "I know who you truly are, Macbeth!"
…
Up in the sky, Willow was aiding the gargoyles in spreading the gas. As she flew, she heard strange voices echoing in her head.
"This plan of yours is doomed to fail,
and the monster's curse will soon prevail.
Gather your friends and return post haste,
before your efforts go to waste."
Willow clutched her head, a gesture both Goliath and Xanatos noted.
"Are you alright?" they both asked.
Willow shook her head.
"Something's not right." She said. "We need to go back to the castle."
"The gas is not yet spread." Xanatos insisted. "If we return now-"
"Trust me on this." Willow interrupted. "I don't know why, but something's telling me we need to go back."
Willow twisted in the air, turning back towards the castle. The two watched her go, then Goliath took off after her. Xanatos just shook his head.
"This is the epitome of stupidity."
He turned in the sky, following the two gargoyles back to the castle.
…
The Hunter removed the mask, revealing Macbeth underneath. He dropped the mask dismissively, stepping on it as he walked towards her.
"Your hatred for the Hunter is what brought us together." He explained. "I thought it would be fitting if the Hunter drew you to me once more."
Demona once again backed away, recognizing the deadly anger in Macbeth's eyes.
"You know the rules." She told him, trying to reason with him. "Killing me will bring you nothing but your own death."
Macbeth was unfazed. He calmly drew his electric taser, aiming at the gargoyle.
"After this long a lifetime," he replied, "I have no fear of that, and no desire to live in the kind of world you're creating. Revenge is a dish best eaten cold, Demona, and I have waited nine hundred years for this meal."
He fired, forcing Demona to dodge. She rebounded off the wall, launching at Macbeth. The force of the blow knocked the gun from his hand and reduced their fight to a bout of physical blows. With each hit landed by one, both parties felt the pain. Every punch, every kick, every scratch, both of them felt the pain.
It soon became clear that a physical fight would never work, and both participants laid eyes on Macbeth's fallen gun. They dove for it, a struggle for control of the weapon resulting in the gun going off, shattering the chain holding up a large chandelier. A second blast created a large hole in the ground, one that began growing at an alarming rate, spreading towards the statue of Owen and Elisa.
At this time, the doors of the castle flew open, revealing Goliath, Willow, and Xanatos. They all took one look at the room and quickly acted on instinct. Goliath dove for Elisa and Owen, grabbing their statue before they could fall. Willow joined him, helping to pull them to safety. With both Elisa and Owen no longer in danger, Willow watched as Demona and Macbeth tumbled down the hole, realization dawning.
"For centuries they clash and fight, but all of that will end tonight." She whispered, reciting the end of her book once more. "This is what it meant."
Xanatos ignored Willow, turning his attention to the laptop. When he saw the reduced time, he let out a grimace.
"This isn't good." He muttered. "Demona must have tampered with the timer. The packs are going to detonate about 10 minutes too early."
"Can you reset it?" Goliath demanded, landing next to Xanatos.
"I'm trying." He replied. "Demona locked the system and changed the password."
"Then she's the only one who can save the city." Goliath realized.
"And your friends." Xanatos replied.
"I've got this." Willow suddenly called.
Goliath and Xanatos watched as she flew down the hole after the two combatants.
...
Underneath the castle was Xanatos' private greenhouse garden. It was a large, multi-tiered garden with full-grown trees, a waterfall, and a swimming that spanned the entire second tier. Criss-crossing above the pool was a series of walkways, and it was here that Macbeth and Demona had landed.
Demona was unconscious, most likely from the fall, and Macbeth was just barely holding onto consciousness. He stood up, grabbing Demona and hoisting her into the air. He found a piece of the walkway's railing that had been broken by some falling rubble, providing a spike to impale his enemy on.
"I will end this, once and for all!" he declared.
"STOP!" Willow screamed.
Macbeth stopped, looking up as Willow landed in front of him. She transformed into her human form, eliciting a surprised expression from the man. Still, he shook it off quickly, meeting her gaze.
"Why are you stopping me?" he asked. "You saw what she did to this city, and I have seen what she has done over the centuries. The world would be better off with her gone."
"But will that change what she has done?" Willow asked.
Macbeth hesitated and Willow approached him cautiously. Unbeknownst to either of them, the three women from the bookstore watched from the shadows.
"Death doesn't change anything." Willow explained. "Just think. Duncan was afraid that your father would make you king. Did your father's death stop you from becoming king?"
"No!" he retorted.
"You wanted revenge for your father's death." Willow continued. "Did Gillecomgain's death settle that score?"
"No." he replied, his voice becoming quieter and more resigned.
"Did your own death save your son Luoch from Canmore?" Willow concluded.
"No…" he whispered.
"That's because death isn't the answer." Willow explained. "Life is."
He stepped away from the spike, setting Demona down on the ground gently. It was then that the three women emerged.
"I'm just so tired…" he muttered.
"Then sleep." The three women told him.
They surrounded him and he crumbled to the ground unconscious. Willow stared at them, everything suddenly coming into full clarity.
"You… You're the Weird Sisters." She whispered. "You've been manipulating these two all their lives."
"Yes, we have." Luna replied.
"But now is not the time for stories." Phoebe added.
"For your part is not finished yet." Seline finished.
They then turned to Demona, waking her up in a trance-like state. Willow approached her cautiously, but somehow knew what she needed to do.
"Demona." she said softly. "Please give me the password."
Demona's voice was blank, and her voice almost emotionless.
"I will have vengeance for the betrayal of my clan, vengeance for my pain." She replied.
"But who betrayed your clan?" Willow asked. "And who caused this pain?"
"The Vikings destroyed my clan." Demona argued, the pain and sorrow evident in her voice.
"Who betrayed the castle to the Vikings?" Willow argued right back.
"The Hunter hunted us down!"
"Who created the Hunter?"
"Canmore destroyed the last of us."
"Who betrayed MacBeth to Canmore?"
Realization struck Demona as her eyes widened. Tears came to her eyes as the truth sunk in. Willow approached her, feeling pity for the gargoyle.
"Demona, your lust for vengeance has brought you nothing but pain and suffering." Willow explained. "But you can end the cycle. Please, tell me the password."
The tears began to fall as Demona answered.
"The password is… Alone." She said quietly.
Willow quickly broke away.
"XANATOS!" she screamed. "THE CODE IS ALONE!"
Up on the floor above, Xanatos dove for the laptop. On the screen, there was only a few seconds left. Xanatos quickly typed in the code, unlocking the system, terminating the countdown with a few seconds to spare. He let out a sigh of relief, which earned him a knowing grin from Goliath.
"What?" he asked.
Goliath just turned away, taking off into the sky as Xanatos reset the timer for the right amount of time.
…
Back below, Demona came out of her trance, groaning and nearly stumbling. Willow quickly caught her.
"You okay?" she asked.
Demona looked at Willow and hissed in anger, pulling away from her.
"You… You tricked me!" she howled. "You had me under a spell!"
Willow backed away, right into the arms of the Weird sisters. They put themselves between Willow and Demona as the gargoyle recanted all that they had learned.
"None of this was my fault!" she howled. "It was the humans! Always the humans!"
Willow shook her head.
"Will you ever learn?" she asked.
Demona turned to her, eyes glowing red and claws raised in anger.
"I will never accept your lies!" she promised. "I will have my revenge!"
Phoebe and Seline walked forward, talking hold of Demona's arms. She struggled to try and break their grip, but was unable to move her arms even in the slightest. Luna then stepped up, facing the furious gargoyle and waving a hand in front of her face.
"You are tired." Luna said softly. "Sleep."
The glow faded from Demona's eyes as she fell to the ground, much in the same way Macbeth did. Willow looked down at them, shaking her head.
"What now?" she asked.
"We have written their stories." Phoebe explained.
"They are our responsibility." Seline added.
"They are our children." Luna concluded.
The three of them surrounded Macbeth and Demona, a strange glow surrounding the five of them. Before they disappeared, Luna looked back at Willow.
"You have done well, Child of Two Worlds." She said. "It is clear why Puck chose you."
Willow's eyebrow raised and she stepped forward.
"Wait!" she called. "What do you mean chose me?"
As the five of them began to disappear into the light, Willow could just make out Luna's words.
"That is a story for another time."
The light soon faded, and the five of them were gone, leaving Willow alone in the garden.
…
A little while later, the gargoyles all gathered on the battlements, all of them freed of their packs. Above them, the Steel Clan made their last few rounds as the timer clicked down to zero. With a mighty bang, the robots all exploded, igniting the gas. In a brilliant flash of light, entire night sky was filled with a fiery light.
"Wow…" Willow gasped, smiling at the sight.
"Indeed." Xanatos agreed. "It's quite the sight."
After about 20 seconds, the fire died away without a trace. Hoping their plan worked, the group turned towards the statue of Elisa and Owen. They all broke into big grins as the stone faded away, leaving the two of them disoriented, but flesh once more.
"Elisa!" Willow cried.
Elisa turned just in time to be hugged tightly by Willow. She stumbled back a step, only to be attacked from all sides by the rest of the gargoyles. Even Hudson and Goliath hugged her, Bronx barking happily and nuzzling her leg.
"It worked!" Goliath shouted triumphantly. "You're alive!"
Elisa was still confused, but accepted the hugs gratefully. Xanatos approached Owen, clearing his throat.
"You'll forgive me if I just shake your hand." He said, offering his hand.
"Of course." Owen agreed, taking the hand. "I'm… quite glad the plan worked."
The gargoyles and Elisa walked out the door, Goliath and Lexington doing their best to explain what had happened. Willow stopped in the doorway, turning back to Xanatos.
"Hey!" she called.
Xanatos turned and was surprised to see her smiling at him.
"Thanks." she said. "We couldn't have done it without you."
Xanatos smirked.
"That's the first nice thing you've said to me in a year." He replied.
Willow shrugged.
"I still think you're a sociopath." She told him. "But, you have your moments."
Xanatos took the compliment with grace as Willow took off after her friends. They took off into the sky, watching with great elation as the city came out of its stone sleep. It would take a while to bring order back to the city, but at least now, the spell was gone, and everything was as it should be.
