The sun began to set on another crisp, December day in Manhattan. Up in their clock tower home, the gargoyles began to crack through their stone skin, shattering it with collective howls and yawns. From the kitchen, Willow sat at the breakfast table with a large bowl of cereal in front of her. She scooped up her bowl, her spoon still dangling from her mouth as she went to greet her friends.
"Evening everyone!" she cheered, plucking the spoon from her lips.
"Evening Willow." Brooklyn greeted, pecking her on the cheek.
Hudson remained on his perch for a moment, looking out at the clear evening skyline. He let out a blissful sigh.
"What a beautiful night." He remarked.
Goliath made his way into the tower, approaching the easy chair. On a small table beside it, a large leather-bound book laid closed under a lamp, a small bookmark sticking out from in between the pages. As he sat down, Lexington poked his head into the tower.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked.
"Not tonight." Goliath replied, sitting down and picking up the book. "I have been looking forward to finishing this book for some time."
Broadway then turned to Willow.
"How about you?" he asked.
Willow swallowed another bite of cereal, shaking her head.
"Can't." she replied. "It's Sunday, so I need to get some cleaning done."
Hudson chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"Don't work too hard, lass." He told her.
"Hey, someone's gotta sweep up your stone skin shards." She replied, smoothing her hair out.
The group shared a chuckle, then the trio followed Hudson off of the balcony and out into the city. Bronx watched them go with Willow by her side, then the two went back in. Willow sat back down at the table to finish her breakfast while Bronx settled down on the rug by Goliath's feet to keep him company.
…
With the cool night air coming over the city, fog was not an uncommon sight over the lake of Central Park. However, this night brought a fog that was far from natural. It swirled in an unfelt wind, so thick that one could not see more than a silhouette through it. From this unearthly fog, a small wooden boat emerged, rowed across the water by a lone man. This man was clad in ancient, full body armor with a helm that was reminiscent of Goliath's visage. The man approached a lone dock on the lake, jumping from his boat and making his way out of the park. As he reached the park gates, the man pulled back the visor of his helmet, gaping at the sight of the city and all its people. He recovered quickly though and made his way down the streets, drawing the eye of the passerbyers he came across.
Among the passerbyers he encountered, a trio of punks eyed him. They exchanged glances, then went after the armored man. They waited until he paused in front of an alley, leaning on a trash can to catch his breath. Before he had time to react, the three ruffians grabbed him and shoved him into the shadowy alley. He bounced off the wall with a metallic clang, immediately turning on his heels and grabbing a sword from his belt.
"Hey old man!" one of the punks shouted, holding the lid of the trash can as a shield. "What's with the tin tuxedo?"
"I have no quarrel with ye, sir." The man informed the punk, his voice layered heavily with a Scottish accent. "I'm on a quest."
The punk snorted.
"Sure ya are." The punk replied. "Late for a renaissance fair or something?"
"Let me pass." The man warned, gripping his sword. "This be yer only warnin'."
The punk just laughed, then one of his buddies, who was armed with a large pipe, attempted to bash the man across the back. His armor softened the blow, but it still send him right into the punk with the lid/shield. The punk fell and the man growled, snatching the lid/shield and throwing it at the third punk like a Frisbee. It hit the ground at the punk's feet, allowing him to jump over it. However, it rebounded off the wall behind him and knocked his feet out from under him.
This only left the second punk, who was spinning his pipe over his head before attempting to bring it down on the man. His sword easily blocked the punk's pipe and the two began to trade blows. While the punk was faster, and a bit more agile due to not wearing armor, the man was obviously well trained and easily disarmed him. A swift punch to the jaw sent the second punk send him colliding with the ground.
"I hope ye learned yer lesson, ya louts." The man remarked, sliding his sword back into its sheath.
He turned to leave, then the first punk got back to his feet, raising a trash can above his head.
"No one insults me and gets away with it!" he cried, hurtling the can at the man.
The man easily deflected the blow with his arm, but it sent the can flying into a display window, shattering the glass and setting off an alarm. At the sudden noise, the man drew his sword, as if waiting for an enemy to come out of the sidewalk. The three punks laughed, then they heard the sounds of sirens approaching.
"Scatter!" the first punk, apparently the leader, declared.
The three attempted to run off, but several cop cars quickly cut off their escape routes, forcing them to double back. Several officers ran off in pursuit, leaving Officer Morgan to deal with the armored man.
"Sir, I need you to drop the weapon immediately." The captain ordered.
"Why should I?" the man questioned, gripping his sword tightly. "This city it rot with fools and lawless ruffians."
"Because I am the law here." Morgan replied simply, gesturing to his badge. "See this? Protect and serve. And because I'm saying you can't go running around my city with that sword."
The man seemed to comprehend Morgan's words, falling out of his defensive stance.
"I see, ye are a Guardian, like myself." He declared, sliding onto on knee and offering up his sword in a medieval gesture of surrender. "I apologize for my insult upon yer honor, and willingly submit to yer law."
Morgan took the sword from the 'Guardian' in confusion, feeling its weight the second the man released it. He nearly fell over, eliciting chuckles from the three newly arrested punks, as well as the cops escorting them.
…
Elisa sat at her desk, trying to get some paperwork done. As she typed away at her computer, she heard several officers entering the precinct, all of them jesting with Morgan playfully. Everyone was laughing, even Morgan himself, then a rookie cop made a pantomime of stabbing Morgan with a sword. The officer took it in stride, sipping at his coffee with a smile. Curious, Elisa turned her chair towards the approaching cop curiously.
"Hey Morgan." She called out. "What's so funny?"
"I just pulled in this rangy old guy that was walking around in full armor." Morgan explained taking a seat at his desk right next to hers. "And I'm not talking the fake stuff you see at the fairs. I'm talking real armor, with a real sword and everything."
"Really?" Elisa questioned.
"It gets better." Morgan continued. "We were getting his information, and he said his name was Tom, the 'Guardian of the Eggs' and that he was from 'Avalon'."
Now Elisa leaned in, something about what Morgan was saying ringing with familiarity.
"Anything else?" she asked.
"Just one." Morgan replied. "He claimed he was on a quest to find gargoyles."
"You mean like Ryan?" Elisa wondered, referring to Willow's old, monster obsessed ex-boyfriend.
"I don't think so." Morgan replied, tossing his now empty coffee cup into a garbage can. "He had the gargoyles named. Said he was looking for one called Goliath."
Elisa gasped in surprised.
…
Inside the tower, Willow had just finished the last of the cleaning, flopping onto the rug beside Bronx. He placed his head on her lap, allowing her to give him an affectionate head scratch. Goliath gave them both a small glance, then resumed reading his book. After about a minute, Elisa came into the clock tower, looking more than a bit worried. Goliath set his book aside and Willow jumped up, approaching her.
"Elisa, is something wrong?" Goliath questioned.
"I don't know." Elisa admitted. "Does the name Tom, Guardian of the Eggs ring a bell to you?"
Willow gasped, putting a hand up to her mouth. Both Goliath and Elisa turned to her.
"Willow, do you know that name?" Goliath questioned.
"Of course I do!" Willow cheered, practically bouncing up and down. "That's the name of the little boy the trio befriended back at Castle Wyvern in 994! He was named the Guardian of the Eggs by Princess Katharine, and he helped her and the Magus escort them to Avalon!"
"I knew it!" Elisa let out. "I knew that story sounded familiar."
"Elisa, what is going on?" Goliath questioned, looking a bit confused.
"Morgan brought in a man claiming to be Tom, and he said he was on a quest to find you. He even mentioned you by name." Elisa explained.
Willow's jaw dropped.
"Goliath, if that man truly is Tom, then he survived the trip to Avalon!" she proclaimed. "And if he survived-!"
"The eggs in the rookery…" he gasped, his eyes widening at the very idea.
"Goliath, we may not be the only gargoyles left anymore." Willow rationalized.
Goliath gave a nod, then turned to Elisa.
"We need to learn everything this Guardian knows." He declared. "And if he truly is the Tom from the Tale, then we cannot pass up the opportunity to reunite with my lost clan."
"I understand." Elisa said with a nod. "I'll bring him to Belvedere Castle in an hour."
"We will be there." Goliath promised, looking at Willow and Bronx. "All three of us."
Willow grinned, then rushed off to her room to get ready.
…
Elisa stood with Tom in front of the castle, giving him a very stern talk.
"Now remember, I took a big chance telling the sergeant that I know your family," Elisa told him.
"If you know Goliath, one could say that you do." Tom assured her.
About that time, Goliath and Willow landed in front of the castle, a barking Bronx in the former's grasp. Once they touched down, Bronx ran up to Tom, eagerly nuzzling and jumping on him. Tom eagerly petted the gargoyle dog chuckling happily.
"It is good to see you again." He told the dog before looking up at Goliath. "Especially you."
"You claim to know me, but all I know of you is secondhand stories." Goliath declared. "Are you truly who you claim to be?"
Tom nodded.
"Aye that I am." He answered. "Ye probably don't remember me. I was a wee lad when me mum brought me to Castle Wyvern to hide from Hakon and his cruel Vikings."
He shook his head sadly at the memories.
"The worst night of me life." He let out before looking up at Goliath. "But I imagine it was worse for you, losing yer clan not once, but twice."
His eyes then fell on Willow, blinking in surprise.
"Though it looks like ye found more of yer kind in this strange kingdom." He remarked.
"Willow is part of my clan, yes." Goliath answered. "But we did not come here to speak of the past, or of the present. I wish to know-"
"-about the eggs no doubt." Tom guessed. "It is because of them that I came here. Ye must return with me at once. The eggs are in grave danger."
Elisa, Willow, and Goliath all gasped in surprised.
"So they did survive." Willow let out.
"Aye, but they won't survive much longer if we continue dawdling about." Tom declared, running off towards the lake. "Come with me!"
Goliath, Bronx, and Willow quickly followed him, Elisa trailing behind. Once they got to the boat, Tom jumped right in, grabbing the stick that served as the boat's oar. Elisa looked at it in surprise, having never seen something like it before.
"Where did this come from?" she questioned.
"Please!" Tom begged. "Hurry!"
Bronx wasted no time jumping into the boat, Willow following right behind him. Goliath went to join as well, but Elisa stopped him.
"Goliath, can we really trust this guy?" she questioned. "For all we know, he could have gotten the name Tom and the whole story about the castle from the Grimorum, which is still in the wind. This could all be just an elaborate trap."
"I do not believe so." Goliath remarked. "Bronx has never been one to trust humans easily, and yet he reacts kindly to Tom."
As if to prove his point, Bronx nuzzled against Tom's leg, earning another head scratch from the Guardian.
"Get in the boat quickly!" he pleaded. "If we don't hurry, the Archmage will destroy the eggs!"
Both Goliath and Willow blinked in confusion.
"Hang on a second." Willow requested, holding up a hand. "I thought the Archmage died back in 984, way before you were even born."
"It matters not how he survive." Goliath declared. "I will not stand idly by while he threatens my clan again."
He climbed into the boat, Willow sliding over to give him room. Elisa let out a sigh, sliding onto the boat as well.
"No way I'm letting you guys go off alone." She declared. "I'm coming too."
Tom waited for them all to get settled, then he began to row them out into the fog, speaking an ancient incantation.
"Vocate venti fortunate
Ex rege Oberonis
et hic navis flugem regate
Ad orae Avalonis."
The fog began to thicken once again, swirling around the boat. Hoping to distract herself from the strange happening of the boat, Elisa turned to Tom curiously.
"I have to ask. If you're truly from the 10th century, then how are you still alive during the 21st?" she questioned.
"The magic of Avalon, milady." He explained. "Ya see, every hour on Avalon is a day in our world. Those of us who sought refuge on Avalon have been living there for about forty years, though for you it has been over 1000. I returned approximately every 100 years in order to check on Goliath, hoping he and his clan had awakened. This time when I went to the sight of Castle Wyvern, I found it abandoned. A local village told me the castle had moved, and I began my journey to your city. I only hope I was able to find you in time to save the eggs from the Archmage."
"Yeah, that's still bugging me." Willow interjected. "The Archmage should be dead. How did he survive?"
"I know not why." Tom answered truthfully. "I only know that he besieges Avalon, and that we must return before the sun rises there."
"We will do all in our power to help you." Goliath promised.
As the conversation continued, Bronx turned towards the horizon, his tongue lolling happily as he began to bark. Drawn by their companion's commotion, the group turned in the direction he was looking and were amazed to see a large island coming into view. The boat pulled up on a lone beach lit by an ancient lighthouse, Bronx immediately jumping out and running across the sand towards a tall cliff.
"Bronx certainly likes it here." Willow let out, looking around the beach with starry eyes.
"He's found the eggs." Tom declared gesturing to the top of the cliff.
Wordlessly, all three of the Avalon newcomers looked up at the top of the cliff, where they saw three gargoyles approaching. They made it to the edge, then jumped, gliding down to the beach. The first to touch down was a female gargoyle with skin the same color as Goliath's. She had long brown hair combed back neatly, and a well mended white dress. Her companion was a green, male gargoyle wearing clothing similar to the garb Hudson wore, and in his arms was a green gargoyle dog. She was a female with a bird-like beak, and the second the male set her down, she ran over to Bronx. The two sniffed one another before they both barked happily and began playing with each other. When the purple female landed, she immediately hugged Tom, smiling happily.
"Guardian!" she cheered. "Welcome home."
Willow looked upon the gargoyles with a wide-eyed grin.
"These don't look like eggs to me." She joked, glancing over at Tom.
"I've always called them that." Tom explained.
The female caught sight of Goliath standing there staring and she approached him cautiously.
"Are you Goliath?" she asked him.
Goliath nodded wordlessly and the female smiled.
"I've heard so much about you." She told him. "This is like a dream come true."
Tom walked over, placing a hand on the female's shoulder.
"Goliath, Elisa, Willow, let me introduce you to Angela." He declared.
Angela gave a bow as both Willow and Goliath exchanged surprised glances.
"I thought Gargoyles didn't have names back in your time." Willow mentioned.
"Of course we have names." Angela replied. "How else could we tell each other apart?"
"That over there is Gabriel." Tom continued, gesturing to the male gargoyle. "And Bronx's new friend is Boudicca."
"We should not linger here." Gabriel warned. "We best return to the castle."
"Gabriel's right." Angela agreed. "It could be dangerous here."
Gabriel began leading the group towards a winding path up towards the top of the cliffside, Boudicca and Bronx still running and chasing one another. Turning their backs on the beach, they almost missed it when the sand began to move on its own. Everyone froze, turning to see the sand rolling and morphing, forming a gritty image of the Archmage. However, he seemed to have changed a bit since the last time Goliath had seen him. His long beard was cut short and neat, as was his hair, though it seemed to be covered by some sort of headdress. The headdress had something embedded on the forehead, but the sand did not provide enough detail to show exactly what it was. He seemed to be dressed in incredibly fancy robes, and he looked down upon the gargoyles in smug distain.
"Dangerous?" The Archmage questioned. "Do you think so?"
"The Archmage!" Goliath let out, unable to believe his own eyes.
"How did you survive?" Willow questioned. "Hudson said he, Goliath, and Demona defeated you!"
"The tales of my demise were greatly exaggerated." The Archmage retorted, another sand statue forming behind her.
Willow barely had time to turn before the second statue struck her with a mace, knocking her to the ground and nearly burying her in sand. Goliath ran to help her, but found his legs entangled in sandy vines, similar ones snaking up Gabriel and Angela's legs. Even Boudicca and Bronx were not spared from the grasp of these bespelled sand monsters.
However, while the gargoyles were taken down, both Tom and Elisa were spared. The Guardian drew his sword and Elisa drew her gun, running to aid their friends. The Archmage form that had taken down Willow turned to Elisa, just standing there despite the gun aimed at his head. When Elisa let off a shot, all it did was form a hole through him, one he easily closed. A sandy hand then formed in his stomach, reaching out for her.
Elisa yelped slightly as she dove out of the way, the hand missing her by scant inches. Tom's sword easily destroyed it afterwards. She attempted to get up, but found herself pinned by similar sandy tentacles imprisoning her allies. Unfortunately for the Archmage, Tom was not so easily bested. His sword tore through the sandy images of the Archmage one by one, until the Archmage managed to ensnare it in the enchanted sand.
"Don't push your luck, Guardian." He warned as Tom tried to free his weapon.
With a shove, Tom was forced into the grasp of another forming statue, the sand swallowing him.
"I gave you time to prepare for death, and you wasted it looking for help." The Archmage chastised, tossing Tom's sword away.
The sand began to swallow everyone, forming more and more figures of the Archmage around them. Goliath and Willow both thrashed, just barely keeping themselves from being buried.
"There is no help for you under the heavens." He continued. "I'm insulted you thought otherwise."
About that time, both Willow and Goliath broke free of their sandy prisons, much to the Archmage's surprised.
"Didn't see that one coming, didja?" Willow taunted.
Goliath grabbed Elisa, pulling her free of the sand that bound her. While he did that, Willow ran to Tom, plunging her hands into the sand in order to grab him. Predictably, the Archmage attempted to fight back, but Goliath easily batted away his sandy projections, tackling the statue to reduce it to a sandy pile. Two more rose up to try and stop him, but Willow, having finally pulled Tom free, tackled one. She clawed at it with abandon, sheering it to pieces. The other was easily punched into submission by Goliath.
While the two gargoyles dealt with that, Elisa and Tom went to aid of Gabriel and Angela. Boudicca and Bronx chewed at their bindings, scratching and pulling until they were free as well. Once that happened, they both ran, snarling and snapping towards where the two humans were trying to free their friends. Eager to help, the two gargoyle dogs leapt onto the two statues, acting like ravenous wolves. With their aid, the two gargoyles were free in a matter of seconds.
Willow and Goliath continued their assault on the Archmage's statues, tearing them apart before they could reform. Eventually, they stopped forming all together, eliciting victorious howls from the two. However, the sand then began to slide across the beach, creating one large Archmage avatar.
"Don't crow so loudly." He told them, slowly sprouting a pair of gargoyle wings out of his back "After all what have you achieved? You beat up a beach. At dawn you all will die. Get used to it."
The avatar then began to petrify, turning to stone much like the gargoyles do at dawn. Once he was fully petrified, the stone began to crack visibly before exploding outward, showering the beach in rubble. Everyone covered themselves, Angela throwing her wings over herself and Tom as Goliath did the same with Elisa. Eventually, the rubble shower died and the Archmage's power was gone.
"Well," Willow let out as she wrapped her wings around herself. "That wasn't ominous at all."
"We need to get back to the palace before the very air starts attacking us!" Tom exclaimed. "Angela, you take point!"
Angela nodded wordlessly, then began trekking up the path. Everyone began following her, Elisa sliding up next to Goliath.
"I know this isn't the time, but I can't help but notice something familiar about Angela." She remarked.
"I noticed that too." Willow added, walking in time with the duo. "She looks kinda like Demona."
"All except for the hair and skin color." Elisa continued, glancing up at Goliath. "Those resemble yours."
"Did you and Demona have an egg in the rookery when the castle was sacked?" Willow questioned. "Is Angela your daughter?"
"Daughters and sons belong to the whole clan. It is why the eggs are placed in a rookery until they hatch." He explained to them both. "It is the gargoyle way."
…
The castle was surrounded by a dense foliage, a well-worn stone path leading to the main gate. Angela and Gabriel eagerly flew towards the castle as Tom led the newcomers up the path. As they approached, several gargoyles watched from the battlements of the castle, many of them sporting bandages and visible injuries. These Avalon gargoyles eyed the newcomers curiously, having never seen anyone other than their clan and their human allies before. Still, despite their curiosity, they merely watched the procession inside.
"How many are wounded?" Goliath asked Angela.
"Too many." Angela replied solemnly. "We weren't prepared for battle."
"Before tonight, there was never any need to hone our combat skills." Gabriel explain, pushing open the door to the large room that served as a makeshift infirmary.
Inside the room, nearly two dozen gargoyles were all laid out on cots, covered in blankets and bandages. Standing over them and tending to their wounds were two faces Goliath never thought he'd see again; The Magus and Princess Katharine. Both were much older than they had been before, the Magus now sporting a short beard and the Princess' long brown hair now a silvery grey.
"It's them…" Willow gasped. "It's really them."
Upon hearing Willow's voice, Katharine turned towards the door, a relieved smile gracing her wrinkled face.
"Tom!" she exclaimed, running to him and throwing her arms around him. "Oh how I prayed for your safe return."
Out of the corner of her eye, Willow glanced over at the Magus, noting a sigh escape his lips. She recognized the look anywhere, having witnessed Brooklyn wear it after Maggie had spurned him.
"Princess." Goliath greeted, pulling Willow back to reality.
Katharine released Tom, her eyes widening at the sight of Goliath.
"Goliath?" She let out in surprise. "Oh by the stars, you're awake! This is more than I could have ever asked for!"
"I can say the same for how well you have cared for the eggs." He replied, giving her a bow. "I owe you more than I can ever repay."
As he said this, one of the gargoyles laid out of a cot let out a pain-filled groan. Katharine gently approached them, adjusting their blanket gently.
"I only wish I could have done more to protect them." Katharine lamented.
As she adjusted the blanket, Goliath managed to catch a glimpse of the wounds on the injured gargoyle's body, recognizing them all too well.
"Laser burns!" he exclaimed, his eyes glowing white with anger.
Willow glanced over another gargoyle, seeing similar burns on another.
"These are weapons from our world." She realized. "The guns stolen from Xanatos. But that's impossible."
"The word 'impossible' tends to lose any meaning in times like this, young gargoyle." The Magus informed her. "In truth, we thought it was impossible for danger to reach here since Avalon had been deserted long before we came here."
He paused for a brief moment.
"Well, except for the sleeping King." He amended.
"Then, the Weird Sisters led the charge upon us," Tom added, "bringing with them their bespelled foot soldiers."
"The Weird Sisters?" Willow asked, suddenly getting a sinking feeling in her stomach. "How many foot soldiers?"
"Two." Tom replied. "One was a grey bearded human, and the other was your mate Goliath."
"Demona…" Goliath said softly, "And Macbeth…"
"You know of our attackers?" Magus questioned.
"All too well." Elisa replied. "Macbeth is an ancient King cursed with immortality, and he shares his curse with Demona."
"The Weird Sisters must have planned this from the beginning." Willow rationalized. "And I bet that's why they stole the relics!"
"The relics?" Katharine repeated.
"Three very powerful artifacts my clan and I have encountered during our time in the 21st century." Goliath explained. "Among them was the Grimorum Archanorum, the Phoenix Gate, and the Eye of Odin."
"But they were stolen over a month ago by Demona and Macbeth." Willow added. "We found it weird that they were working together considering their intense hatred for one another, but if they were still under the control of the Sisters, then it makes sense."
"What I don't get is why the Weird Sisters had them steal the artifacts in the first place." Elisa commented. "They're powerful beings, and probably don't need such artifacts."
"They may not," Goliath pondered, "but the Archmage might. His power was far beyond what he was capable of before. He has no doubt used the artifacts to boost his own power, giving him the immeasurable strength we witnessed at the beach."
"The Weird Sisters and the Archmage working together…" The Magus let out, having to sit down at the weight of such a suggestion. "This truly is a nightmare…"
…
In a small grotto far within the forests of the island, the moteliest group was gathered in an overlooking gazebo. Macbeth and Demona sat on the stone steps of the gazebo, cleaning their laser guns carefully. Their movements were almost robotic, and they eyes were devoid of any color. The Weird Sisters all lounged in front of a scrying pool, gazing at the water with playful glances. In the pool, images of Goliath and his friends speaking with the Magus and Katharine reflected, the magical images being watched by not one, but two versions of the Archmage. One was reclining on a chaise lounge, while the other stood beside him.
"All of the pieces are now in place." The chaise lounge Archmage declared, getting rid of the watery image with a flick of his wrist.
"Goliath and his clan are doomed." The standing Archmage proclaimed.
"Isn't it time for you to go?" the chaise lounge one snapped irritably.
"I was just about to." The standing one retorted.
"Are you certain you know what to do?" the chaise lounge one questioned.
"I should." The standing one replied, "I watched you do it."
He placed a hand on the Phoenix Gate hanging around his neck, then his entire body was engulfed in fire. In an instant he was gone.
…
SCOTLAND, 984 AD
The Archmage reappeared in the old cavern that he used to hide in. He kept himself hidden, watching as events unfolded, just as they had before. Goliath, his mentor, and his second in command were engaging with his older self.
"FULMINOS VENITE!" The Archmage of the current time period shouted.
Lightning shot from his fingertips, and the gargoyles all scattered to avoid getting hit. They rolled into a hard landing off to the side of the cavern. However, the Archmage was far from done. He shouted the spell a second time, aiming for the older one. He missed by scant inches as the old one tried to get closer.
"We've come for the book!" he proclaimed. "And we won't be leaving here without it!"
"Then your corpses shall rot in these caverns for all eternity!" The Archmage promised.
Another lightning bolt was shot, and this time, it hit the old one right in the chest. The female went to run to his side, only to be blasted as well. The second in command, however, was far luckier. He leapt across the canyon, spreading his wings and gliding through the cave. He landed directly behind the Archmage and tackled him. The Grimorum went flying out of the warlock's grasp and began to fall down the canyon. The second in command quickly dove after it and caught it, climbing back up the canyon walls. The female met him at the edge, pulling him to safety.
"Are you alright, my love?" she asked.
"Yes, and so is the Prince now." Her beloved replied.
The Archmage suddenly screamed in anger, lifting a large stalagmite into the air.
"Filthy beasts!" he cursed. "Give it back!"
The old one intercepted the man, the tip of the stalagmite striking him in the eye. Howling in agony, the old gargoyle lifted the Archmage into the air, hurling him down into the endless dark of the canyon. From his hiding place, the present Archmage shook his head at the loss of his younger self. He placed a hand on the Gate once again, transporting himself down into the canyon after his younger self. He appeared on a small outcropping near the middle of the canyon, looking up at his counterpart's descent.
"Halt." He declared, holding out a single hand.
The younger Archmage came to a sudden stop, surrounded by his older self's power. He was obviously panicked, though his older self was less than willing to deal with such nonsense.
"Oh stop whimpering and show some dignity, can't you?" he requested, pulling his younger self closer towards him.
He positioned his younger self over the ledge he was standing on, then released the power, dropping him onto his feet. The younger Archmage took a moment to gather himself, then turned to his rescuer.
"Who are you?" he questioned.
"Patience." His rescuer requested, using the Phoenix Gate to transport them both.
…
AVALON, 995 AD.
The two Archmages reappeared over the oceans leading to Avalon, the both of them floating a good foot above it. The younger one immediately looking upon the water fearfully.
"I can't swim!" he squeaked.
The older one nodded once, then held out his hand again.
"Vessel." He declared.
From the water below them, an Avalonian skiff emerged, giving the two Archmages a place to land.
"Feel better now?" the older one questioned with a small smirk.
"Are you… me?" the younger one questioned.
"I am who you will become." The older one replied simply.
"Then you must help me recover the Grimorum from that beast!" the younger one demanded.
"All in good time." The older one promised. "The book is now a part of history and must now fulfill its role in the time stream."
"Then why have you brought me here?!" the younger one snapped.
"I could put you back where I found you." The older one suggested.
The younger one wisely dropped his bravado, cowering slightly. The older one gave an approving nod, then returned to the matter at hand.
"Good, now think." He told his younger self. "What do you want?"
"Ultimate power." The younger one answered. "And revenge."
"Then you will need many things." The older one began. "Allies, weapons, soldiers, and a base of operation. Now be silent and watch."
He pointed out into the surrounding fog, where the Princess, the Magus, Tom, his mother, and Finella were all gathered in front of a large vessel. When the younger Archmage laid eyes upon the Magus, he let out a gasp.
"My old pupil…" he muttered, "but he has grown much older. Where are we?"
"The oceans of Avalon, eleven years into your future." The older one explained.
"Are we here to take the Grimorum from him?" the younger one questioned.
"What part of be silent was difficult for you to understand?" the older one snapped. "Now watch. You are about to make some powerful allies."
In front of the two Archmages, the Weird Sisters looked down upon the Magus and his companions.
"Move aside and let us past!" the Magus demanded.
"You know better than that, Magus." Phoebe declared.
"Oberon has named us Guardians of his island." Seline explained.
"No magics may enter here." Luna added, pointing down at the Grimorum in the Magus' grip. "Save Avalon's own."
"You cannot make us go back, or the Princess could die!" Tom proclaimed. "The eggs could die!"
"You screech like barn owls." Phoebe informed them.
"Meaningless chatter of meaningless lives." Seline commented.
"So owls you will be." Luna decided.
As she said this, she and her sisters began to summon up a great deal of power, no doubt to attack the group. Thinking quickly, the Magus flipped through the pages of the book, trying desperately to find the right spell.
"Per usum meum dira te rectus volutare!" He incanted.
The Weird Sisters unleashed their spell, but the Magus' counter spell sent it bouncing back towards them, turning them all into large barn owls. They all cawed angrily, diving down at the boats. For their assault, the Magus merely used his oar to bat them away. Still cawing at their defeat, they flew away from the group.
"Magus!" Katharine cheered, throwing her arms around his neck. "You did it!"
Magus looked at her, then down upon the Grimorum with great sadness.
"I cannot go with you to Avalon." He informed her. "I cannot bring the Grimorum. This book is as good as a map to Avalon. If Constantine and his sorcerers get ahold of it…"
From their boat across the way, the two Archmages watched as the conversation between Katharine and the Magus slowly changed. Magus' demeanor looked saddened, but he also seemed resigned. He briefly pulled a quill from his robe, writing something along the inside cover of the book, then handed the book off to Lady Finella. The younger Archmage watched that in surprise.
"The mad fool!" he proclaimed. "He's given away the source of his power! Unless… that is what we were waiting for, so we can take it from the woman."
"Weren't you listening?!" the older Archmage bellowed. "The book must remain in play! History cannot be changed."
"This is infuriating!" the younger one growled. "If you're so powerful, why can't you get me the things I need!"
"Because, unless you get them yourself, I will not have them in the future." The older one explained slowly. "Now pay attention, and learn."
The older one turned skyward, where the Weird Sisters were flying in their forced owl forms. He pointed at them, his finger glowing.
"Revert." He commanded.
In an instant, the sisters had been returned to their original forms. They blinked for a second, then looked among themselves.
"Oberon will not be pleased." Phoebe lamented.
"He entrusted us to guard the gates of Avalon." Seline grumbled.
"And now we are banished from that Fair Isle by a magician's parlor tricks." Luna snapped.
"Might I suggest an alliance?" the older Archmage offered.
"We make no pacts with sorcerers." Seline informed him coldly.
"Not even if I could promise you revenge against these mortals?" the older Archmage challenged.
The sisters were silent for a moment, contemplating the Archmage's deal.
"We are listening." Phoebe told him.
"It will take some time." The older Archmage explained with a smile.
"What is time to an immortal?" Luna replied.
"Then I will see you again in 25 years." He told them all. "And soon, we will all have our vengeance."
Once more, he used the Phoenix Gate, transporting himself and his counter counterpart yet again.
…
SCOTLAND, 1020 AD,
The two Archmages reappear in a barren hay field, much to the younger one's confusion.
"Where have you brought us this time?" he demanded.
"Scotland, and it is the year 1020." The older Archmage. "Honestly, try to keep up."
Off in the distance, they could hear the sounds of gargoyles screeching. They looked out to see a hoard on them attacking a food storage house. Leading the charge was Demona, her age showing on her face and in her slowly greying hair.
"Surely these are not more allies." The younger let out. "That female there was my apprentice, and she betrayed me!"
"She's not an ally, she's cannon fodder." The elder explained. "The first of the warriors you will need. Trust me, we're not doing her any favors."
About that time, the Weird Sisters arrived, joining the two Archmages in watching the battle.
…
Once Demona and her clan had made off with their food, the five schemers moved to Castle Moray, where a young Macbeth was sparring with his father. They watched two battle, and they watched Macbeth's expected defeat that ended with him landing in a large mud puddle.
"Don't tell me that young pup is another recruit." The younger Archmage demanded.
"Macbeth will become a great warrior." The elder argued. "If he survives to manhood."
That's when he turned to the Weird Sisters.
"And to ensure his survival, I want you three to watch over him, as well as the female gargoyle." He told them. "Guide their courses."
"Archmage," Luna interjected, "we are not allowed to directly interfere in human events. It is Oberon's law."
"The law that cannot be broken can surely be bent." He replied.
The sisters all exchanged glances, playful smirks gracing their faces.
"This is true." Phoebe admitted.
"Watch for the Phoenix Gate, the Eye of Odin and the Grimorum Archanorum." The elder Archmage added.
The sisters all looked confused.
"But, you already have the Eye and the Gate." Seline pointed out.
The Elder Archmage chuckled.
"Not until you three brought them to me." He told them all. "We'll meet again at the watery doors of Avalon, 996 years in the future."
"996 years?!" the younger Archmage exclaimed.
The elder gave his younger self a withering glare as the Weird Sisters disappeared into mist. Then, he used the Gate to transport himself and his younger self yet again.
…
AVALON, YESTERDAY.
The two Archmages reappeared on the large vessel that the Weird Sisters had used to try and block the Magus' path.
"Soon, the sisters will arrive with the artifacts." He explained to his counterpart. "Once they are in your possession, the ultimate power of which you have always dreamed will finally be yours. What will you do with it?"
"I-… I do not know." He admitted. "I have never thought that far in advance. Perhaps I'll conquer Scotland."
"Just Scotland?" The elder questioned. "Why not the world? You would certainly have the power to do so. However, the world at this time is one of science, not sorcery, and weapons today are as potent as any magic. You'll need a safe place from which to launch your attacks. Somewhere out of reach of mere humans."
"Avalon!" The younger Archmage declared, looking at the mystic isle.
"You're finally getting it." The elder congratulated him. "However, the island is inhabited by a small group of humans, as well as approximately 36 gargoyles."
"Then they must die." The younger figured.
"Exactly." The elder replied.
There was a sound, then the Weird Sisters appeared on the boat, each one carrying a single artifact that the Archmage had requested. In their company was Demona and Macbeth, both of them under heavy enchantment visible through their colorless eyes.
"The Eye of Odin first." The Elder demanded.
Seline stepped forward with the eye, placing it in the younger Archmages hand. The elder immediately took hold of his younger self's head, magically placing a protective headdress upon him. Once this was done, the Eye began to spark with power, floating out of the younger's grasp and onto his forehead. The effect was instantaneous, light pulsating from the Eye and coating the younger Archmage in powerful rays. His entire form shimmered, then in a flash of light, it all faded away. The younger Archmage now looked exactly like his elder counterpart, save for the Phoenix Gate upon his chest.
"You now have the power, but you lack the knowledge to use it." The elder explained. "The Grimorum next."
"Are you mad?!" Seline demanded. "The Eye and the Gate were forged on the island, but the Grimorum is of human make."
"Oberon's law is absolute." Luna decreed. "No magic, save for Avalon's own, may enter."
"You're saying we went through all that trouble to get it, and I can't even take it in with me?!" The younger Archmage snapped, snatching the book from Phoebe's grasp. "What am I supposed to do, eat it?!"
"You are learning." The elder remarked.
The younger was taken aback for a moment, then he looked down at the Grimorum and smiled. The book swirled with power as he opened his mouth, shoving the book inside. The sisters all watched on in slight horror as the book was slowly consumed, all the knowledge it contained flowing right into his mind. Soon, the entire book was gone, and the younger Archmages entire demeanor changed. He turned to his elder with a knowing look.
"Now I understand." He proclaimed. "We bend the law without breaking it. The Grimorum is part of me, and goes where I go."
"Then let us all go to victory." The elder declared. "But first, the Phoenix gate."
Luna handed it over, but not without a concern of hers making itself known.
"But what of the Sleeping King?" she asked the two Archmages.
"You mean he truly exists?" the younger gasped. "I heard the legends, but never dreamed they were true."
"All things are true." Seline informed him. "The King is on the island, asleep in his Hollow Hill."
"Be warned." Phoebe told him ominously. "His power is great."
"Then once we take over the island and destroy all those inhabiting it, we'll just make sure he never wakes up." The younger declared.
"Shall we proceed?" the elder questioned.
The sisters all nodded in unison, disappearing with Macbeth and Demona into a cloud of green smoke. The elder watched them go, a malicious grin on his face.
"Excellent." He proclaimed. "Everything is going according to my plan. As it did, as it must, as it always will!"
…
AVALON, SIX HOURS AGO FROM THE PRESENT,
The sun set over the castle home of the Avalon Clan, with the beginning of another evening, the gargoyles awaken from their stone sleep, eager to begin another peaceful day of their existence. Down below, Tom, the Magus, and Katharine all prepare breakfast for their gargoyle friends, looking up to the battlements to watch them shake off their stone skin. As the gargoyles prepared to join their human friends for their breakfast feast, the walls were blown apart, allowing the Weird Sisters and their two enthralled companions to enter.
"Who are you?!" Angela demanded. "What do you want?"
Her demands went unanswered as the battle waged. The inexperienced gargoyles did their best to try and defend their home, but Demona and Macbeth both proved to be too much for them to handle. Many gargoyles fell by their hands, until they were all summoned away by some unseen power. Then, the Archmage emerged, coming before the gargoyles and their human allies with a victorious grin. The gargoyles charged at him, but he easily fought them off. With almost wild abandon, he fired off shot after shot, scattering the Avalon clan with ease. Unable to watch his friends fall, Tom drew his sword and charged into the fray, gathering them all.
"Regroup!" he ordered. "Here to me!"
They all gathered, aiding their injured siblings as Tom turned to deal with the Archmage. However, he had already disappeared, summoning up a projection of himself in the sky above them.
"This was but a mere demonstration of my power!" he proclaimed. "I give you this night to make your peace, for come the dawn, I will return to destroy you all!"
With that, the projection disappeared, leaving the gargoyles and their friends to contemplate their promised fates.
…
At the gazebo the Archmage had chosen for his temporary hideout, the Weird Sisters look towards the elder one in confusion.
"Why did you call us off?" Seline wondered.
"If we wait until dawn, the gargoyles will be stone." The elder explained, reclining on his chaise lounge. "Then all that will stand in our way will be three humans. Besides, I needed to give them time to go and fetch the last piece of this puzzle. After all, my revenge will not be complete without Goliath."
And so, they all settle in to wait, watching the scrying pool for Goliath's arrival. Once they saw him, and gave him a demonstration of the Archmage's power on the beach, they watched as the Magus and the Princess explained the events that had transpired.
"All of the pieces are now in place." The elder Archmage declared, getting rid of the watery image with a flick of his wrist.
"Goliath and his clan are doomed." The younger Archmage proclaimed.
"Isn't it time for you to go?" the elder one snapped irritably.
"I was just about to." The younger one retorted.
"Are you certain you know what to do?" the elder one questioned.
"I should." The younger one replied, "I watched you do it."
He placed a hand on the Phoenix Gate hanging around his neck, then his entire body was engulfed in fire. In an instant he was gone, leaving his elder as the sole Archmage once more.
"Finally." He proclaimed, leaning back on his chaise lounge. "I thought he'd never leave."
…
"Nightmare or no, we cannot allow the Archmage and the Weird Sisters to just wipe us out." Willow declared. "There has to be something we can do."
"That's the entire reason I went for help in the first place." Tom explained. "I'm just thankful Avalon dropped me right in your laps."
"We're running out of time." Katharine told them all.
"If we do not succeed in winning the Archmage's battle before sunrise, we will lose the battle altogether." The Magus said with a resigned sigh.
"Sunrise is in less than three hours." Gabriel explained. "That's not much time."
"We've done more with less." Willow told him before turning to Elisa and Goliath. "That, and the three of us have dealt with Macbeth and Demona before. We can take care of them easily."
"I'm afraid the Archmage will not be so easily bested." Goliath remarked. "Not without a sorcerer of our own."
"Then I'm afraid you are out of luck, old friend." Magus bemoaned, walking off in defeat. "Without the Grimorum, I am useless."
"That's not true!" Katharine snapped, going after him. "Don't say it and don't think it!"
Leaving the two of them alone for a minute, Angela grabbed a map of Avalon, rolling it out on an empty table.
"If we don't have a sorcerer, then we'll just have to level the playing field." Willow suggested.
"The artifacts." Elisa declared with a snap of her fingers. "If we manage to get those away from the Archmage, his power will be greatly diminished."
"That is an idea." Goliath agreed. "However, a frontal assault would be a fatal mistake. If we want any hope of victory, we will have to take him by surprise."
"Then you will need a guide." Angela announced.
"Two." Gabriel corrected. "We know every inch of this island."
"Then you two will accompany me and Willow." Goliath declared.
"Me?" Willow questioned.
"I do not know why, but the Weird Sisters seem to have a connection to you, one vastly different from the one they hold over Demona and Macbeth." He informed her. "With you alongside us, they may be less inclined to attack should stealth fail us."
"And if you're wrong?" Elisa wondered. "If your plan to get the Eye and Gate fails?"
"Then I leave it to you to find an alternative plan." Goliath answered. "I can only pray it does not come to that."
With that, he took Angela, Willow, and Gabriel and left to deal with the Archmage. Elisa watched them go, then turned to the Magus and the Princess.
"Tell me everything you know about the Sleeping King." She requested.
...
At the grotto, the Archmage and the Weird Sisters all watched as Goliath and his team approached their place of hiding. The sisters noticed Willow among them and all of them grimaced.
"The Child of Two Worlds…" Luna remarked.
"We should have known she would accompany Goliath." Seline let out.
"We cannot allow her to perish." Phoebe warned.
The Archmage looked at Willow with a grimace of his own.
"I fail to see what is so special about that beast." He remarked.
"Oberon has decreed that the Child of Two Worlds must live." Luna informed him. "To destroy her, is to cross all of Avalon."
"Oh very well." He said with a wave of his hand. "I'm sure I can keep her as a pet or something. Besides, the rest of the gargoyles do not have such… protection."
…
Goliath and his team raced through the woods, running on all fours for speed reasons. After they were deep enough in the woods, they all paused.
"If the Archmage does have a hideout somewhere on the island, it would be the grotto not far from here." Angela declared.
"He won't be alone." Gabriel added. "No doubt the sister and their pets will be there as well."
"Willow and I will act as a diversion." Goliath planned. "You two will retrieve the Eye and the Gate, then get out."
The two gargoyles nodded and raced off.
"Don't try to be heroes." Willow warned them. "It won't end well."
Goliath watched the two run off, then took Willow by the shoulder and led her in the opposite direction. Unbeknownst to him, Demona watched them leave from the bushes, having heard the entire exchange. She walked off, no doubt to warn her allies, but in doing so, she revealed herself. Both Goliath and Willow looked back, growling.
"Jalapeña…" Willow swore quietly.
"She knows our plans…" Goliath gasped. "We must hurry."
…
"The Sleeping King is an ancient Monarch by the name of Arthur Pendragon." Katharine explained to Elisa. "Aside from that title, little is known about him."
"Just that he'll sleep here until his country needs him." The Magus added, pointing at the Hollow Hill on the map.
"How do I get there?" Elisa asked.
Katharine and the Magus both looked surprised.
"You would dare awaken this King?" Katharine said in shock.
"Who knows what enchantments surround his Hollow Hill." The Magus warned.
"We have no choice." Elisa rationalized.
"She's right." Tom agreed. "We must leave no stone unturned."
Tom went to dawn his armor, but felt the Magus' hand on his shoulder.
"Hold, Guardian." The Magus requested, taking hold off a long wooden staff. "I must do this."
"Not without me." Elisa interjected. "My idea, remember?"
…
At the grotto, both Angela and Gabriel were crouched behind a bush at the edge of the surrounding forest. Down below, they could see the Archmage pacing about, the Weird Sisters still lounging by the pool. The two exchanged glances, then prepared to move. However, before they could, Angela felt something cold get jammed into her back.
"Hands up." Macbeth's voice ordered. "And don't move."
Both of the gargoyles turned to see Macbeth and Demona right behind them, the two aiming their weapons directly at them. They both rose to their feet, prepared to defend themselves, then Goliath and Willow came out of nowhere. They shoved the guns away, the laser fire missing its targets.
"Stop this, Demona!" Goliath begged, clutching onto Demona's arms. "These are our clan's children!"
Demona remained stone-faced as Willow held Macbeth back.
"I know you hate humans…" Goliath continued. "But these are innocent gargoyles."
For a moment, the color returned to Demona's eyes and her gun was lowered.
"Im…possible…." She let out.
"Macbeth." Willow tried. "You claim to be an honorable man, and yet you would willingly slaughter defenseless foes?"
Much like with Demona, the light returned to Macbeth's eyes. Willow slowly backed off of him, watching as he too lowered his weapon.
"The Archmage is using you two." Willow informed them. "He and the Weird Sisters have been using you from the beginning."
Before she could continue, a cruel chuckle emanated from behind them all. Everyone turned to see the Archmage materialize.
"I now see why the Sisters are so keen on keeping you alive." He told Willow. "You are quite good, you and the beast, but appealing to their better nature is futile. They're my creatures now."
As he said this, the color disappeared from Macbeth and Demona's eyes, returning them to the lifeless white. They straightened up once more, aiming their weapons at the group.
"I have great plans for you, monster." The Archmage declared, pointing at Goliath. "And I did promise the Weird Sisters to spare the blue one, but the young ones are expendable."
He walked towards Macbeth and Demona, his eyes glowing with power.
"Destroy them." He commanded.
The two enthralled warriors prepared to do so, then all of a sudden, Bronx leapt out of the bushes, tackling the three foes to the ground. Seeing perhaps the only opportunity they would get against the Archmage, Angela lunged at him, grabbing at the Eye of Odin upon his brow.
"Angela, be careful!" Willow tried to warn her.
The second Angela's hand touched the Eye, violent red light shot out of it, striking both Angela and the Archmage. Howling in pain, Angela released the eye, falling to her knees.
"Angela!" Gabriel called out, running to her side.
"We need to get out of here now, before they have a chance to recover." Willow insisted.
"Willow is right." Goliath declared. "Everyone, back to the palace!"
The four gargoyles took off, Bronx immediately following suit. The Archmage, Demona, and Macbeth all got to their feet, the former practically seething in unbridled fury.
"I generously allowed them to live until dawn," he exclaimed, "but if they're so eager to die!"
He took hold of the Phoenix gate, surrounding himself and his two puppets in its mystical flame before all three of them disappeared.
…
Elsewhere in the seemingly endless forests of Avalon, the Magus and Elisa made their way towards the Sleeping King's Hollow Hill. The Magus was running surprisingly fast for a man of his age, and Elisa was having a difficult time keeping up, mostly due to not being used to such rough terrain.
"Wait!" she called out to him. "Slow down!"
The Magus turned, slowing somewhat so she could catch up. She was panting slightly as she did.
"I'm on your side, remember?" she said.
"I do apologize, Elisa." The Magus replied, continuing at a much slower pace. "I'm just used to being alone."
"What do you mean?" Elisa questioned. "What about the Princess and the Guardian?"
"Yes…" Magus said wistfully. "Katharine and Tom."
"I thought you were all one, big, happy family." She informed him.
"It started out that way, yes." Magus agreed. "When we first arrived, we felt a sense of peace and tranquility unlike any we had felt before. Then, as time went on and Tom grew older, he and Katharine fell in love, and began to rely more and more upon each other rather than on me. In time, they were living as husband and wife, raising the gargoyles as if they were their own children."
"And yet, your feelings for her never went away." Elisa noted. "You still love her, but you didn't fight for her. Why?"
"Because…" The Magus sighed. "Because without the Grimorum, I have nothing to offer the Princess. Tom is as strong as any knight, and he has done more to protect Avalon than I ever could."
"Then why stay?" Elisa wondered.
"You've read the tale I inscribed in the book, yes?" The Magus questioned. "If you have, you know of the great wrongdoing I did unto Goliath and his clan. What I did was unforgivable, and the only way I could atone for my sins is to watch over the eggs. That's why I stayed."
Finally, the two of them arrived at a majestic hillside, where a gurgling waterfall fell beside a small staircase leading into a tunnel deep in the hill.
"This is it." The Magus declared.
"This?" Elisa questioned in surprise. "I was expecting something a bit… grander."
They made their way inside, the Magus taking the lead as they entered an enormous, high-ceilinged cave. The walls were decorated with ancient carvings and inscriptions, large suits of armor displayed in small alcoves all along the circular chamber. In the center of the chamber, across a long, stone bridge leading to an island in the center of a seemingly bottomless chasm, a large marble pedestal was guarded by two incredibly large suits of armor. Upon this tall pedestal laid the Sleeping King, completely unmoving and untouched by the ravages of time. As they made their way across the bridge towards the pedestal, the two suits of armor guarding it began to move, making their way towards the pair. Immediately, Elisa drew her pistol, aiming it at the suits.
"Stay back!" she warned.
The enchanted suits were not deterred by her threats, so she attempted to fire upon them. Much like with the Archmage's sand statues, her bullets were proven useless. The worst she did was knock off the helmet of one of them, but it just kept going. Finally, the Magus stepped forward, lifting up his staff and pointing it towards the suits.
"Armored warriors who would stay
Upon the winds of yesterday,
You have discharged your promise bold,
So sleep you now; grow still; grow cold!"
As he spoke his spell, light green energy traversed from the ground beneath his feet, flooding through his entire body before shooting out of his staff. It struck the suits if armor, freezing them at first before they simply fell apart, the spell allowing them movement broken. Once the suits fell, the energy pulled away from the Magus and he collapsed to his knees with a gasp. Elisa was by his side in an instant, helping him get back to his feet.
"That was amazing." She told him. "But, I thought that you said you had no magic."
"Magic is the lifeblood of Avalon." The Magus explained, leaning heavily on his staff. "Here in the Hollow Hill, it is particularly abundant, and with my training, I can tap into the source. However, without something to act as a conduit, such as the Grimorum, it is extremely difficult, and comes at a cost."
Once she was sure that the Magus was okay, Elisa approached the pedestal for a second time. As she made it about halfway through, the stone beneath her began to crack. With a gasp, she backed away, watching in horror as nearly half of the bridge connecting to the Sleeping King crumbled away into the bottomless pit.
"Magus, the path!" she cried.
"It is a leap of faith!" he called back to her. "Trust yourself!"
Elisa looked down at the gap, gulping a bit before taking a few steps back. Then, with a running start, she ran and jumped, making it all the way across, albeit, landing flat on her face. As she took a deep breath of relief, she looked back and was surprised to see that the bridge was still in one piece. She didn't have too long to dwell on that before she heard a sound behind her. Turning, she watched as the large pedestal holding the Sleeping King lowered, making it so Elisa could easily reach him.
"Arthur Pendragon," He declared to his body, "King of all Britain, you are needed."
Once she said this, Arthur's body began to glow, beams of magic shooting out of him. After a rather impressive light display, all of the magic died from around Arthur's body, and the ancient king opened his eyes.
…
Goliath and the others returned to the castle, Katharine and Tom looking over them all.
"None of you are hurt, thank the stars." Katharine said in relief.
"I'm just glad Bronx followed us." Willow remarked, giving the gargoyle dog a well-deserved pet. "We would have been toast if he hadn't."
As they spoke, the doors opened and Magus, Elisa, and a now awake Arthur entered the room. Everyone gasped in surprise, especially Willow, who recognized the crest of his armor from all of the legends.
"It's him…" she whispered, "King Arthur Pendragon."
"I take it your back-up plan was more successful than the original was." Goliath noted, his eyes never leaving the King.
"Thanks to the Magus, yes." She replied before getting down to business. "MacBeth and Demona are two of the greatest warriors ever, and you have to admit it, you've never actually beaten them."
"It's true." Willow agreed. "Every time we've battled them it's always ended in either a loss for us, or a draw."
"That's why I brought the greatest warrior of all time." Elisa declared, gesturing to Arthur. "If anyone can help us, it's King Arthur Pendragon."
Arthur let out a small cough, then approached the group.
"While I am flattered by your praise, would someone kindly explain what is going on?"
…
Back in the Archmage's grotto, he paced around the gazebo, conversing with the Weird Sisters.
"I have been too complacent." He rationalized.
"Demona and Macbeth are on their way to Oberon's palace." Seline informed him. "No one will survive."
"Good." The Archmage told her. "We will take no more chances. Go to the Hollow Hill and dispatch the Sleeping King."
"And while we do your bidding?" Luna asked curiously.
"I will wait here," the Archmage replied, his eyes going white with power as he summoned a flame into his palm. "For when the beast returns."
…
It didn't take long for the gargoyles to explain their plight to King Arthur. His face was grim as he learned of the horrors the Archmage had unleashed, as well as his threats to wipe them all out. As their tale came to a close, Princess Katharine looked at the King with a beseeching expression.
"Will you help us?" she pleaded.
"I fear there is little I can do." Arthur explained, looking about the room at the gargoyles and humans that filled it. "You have awoken me early. I have neither Excalibur, nor my knights. Not even my old friend and mentor Merlin."
"Your sword and your knights don't make you King Arthur." Willow argued. "When Merlin found you, you had none of those things, and yet you rose to unite all of Britain."
"With his aid, yes." Arthur pointed out. "However, you do make a valid argument, and your plight is a dire one. I will do what I can to help you."
Before hope even had a chance to settle into their hearts, the sound of the doors opening drew the attention of all those gathered in the hall. They all turned to see Gabriel running in, looking quite terrified.
"The two bespelled warriors!" he cried out. "They've been spotted in the orchard!"
"Guess the Archmage decided not to wait until sunrise." Willow rationalized, getting to her feet.
"Our attempt at the Eye has him riled." Goliath guessed.
"This could work to our advantage." Arthur declared. "Come sunrise, there will be too few of us."
He turned to Gabriel and Tom, looking them up and down with an analytical eye.
"You two look like capable warriors." He said before turning to Elisa. "And this young woman has faced these enemies before. I will lead them against the advancing party."
"But what about the Archmage?" Willow questioned. "He's still a major threat."
Goliath put a hand on her shoulder, drawing her gaze.
"I'm the one he wants." The large gargoyle told her. "I will face him."
"Not alone you won't." Angela interjected, stepping forward.
"An excellent idea." Arthur declared before addressing the rest of the group. "Those who remain should stay here to protect the wounded."
"Those ruffians will not harm my eggs again." Katharine declared. "I'll promise you that."
"That leaves only the Weird Sisters." Arthur continued.
Everyone exchanged worried glances, fearing that none of them stood a chance of defeating them. However, that's when The Magus stepped forward, a determined look on his face.
"Leave them to me." He declared.
"I'll help you." Willow told him. "They won't hurt me, and we could use that."
The Magus nodded, then the entire group split of to deal with their assigned tasks.
…
In the Palace orchard, Demona and Macbeth made their way through the grove of trees, advancing closer on the castle. From the surrounding bushes, Elisa aimed her pistol, letting off a shot that nearly grazed Demona's arm. Immediately, Demona went in to retaliate, but was knocked out of the sky by Gabriel. Once Demon hit the ground, Tom came barreling out of the bushes, pinning her down quickly. His hold on her was short lived as she used her laser gun as a club, sending the Guardian flying backward. Demona took aim at Tom, but before she could let off a shot, Gabriel pounced again.
"I won't let you hurt him!" he snarled, delivering a kick to the she-gargoyle's head.
Macbeth groaned from the pain of Demona's blow to the head, but forced himself to power through it. He trained his gun on Arthur, who ran to avoid the blows. Ducking behind a tree, the ancient king gripped the mace serving as his weapon, watching the electrical blasts whizz past his head.
"What manner of magic is this?" he wondered aloud.
"It is your death." Macbeth replied, his voice emotionless as he blasted the tree Arthur was hiding behind.
The tree toppled to the side, revealing Arthur to be nowhere in sight. Macbeth moved in for a closer look, but was quickly intercepted by Arthur, who wrapped his arms around the immortal Scotsman in a bear hug. Macbeth struggled in Arthur's grip.
"Who are you?!" Macbeth demanded.
"I am Arthur Pendragon!" The ancient king declared, shoving Macbeth forward.
"King Arthur?" Macbeth gasped, narrowly avoiding a blow from Arthur's mace.
"The same!" Arthur answered.
"Well, I always wanted to see how I would stand up against the best." Macbeth declared.
Farther into the grove, Gabriel was tossed into one of the trees by Demona, who raised her claws to destroy him. Before she could, Elisa jumped down from the tree, delivering a kick to Demona much like Gabriel had done earlier. Once again, the pain of the attacks Demona suffered was felt by Macbeth. This distracted him for a second, long enough for Arthur to take his arm and pin it behind his back, shoving him to the ground. Over where she had been felled by Elisa, Demona groaned in agony, her arm throbbing. Arthur noticed this, putting two and two together.
"Each feels the others pain!" He shouted. "Our blows count for double!"
Realizing a terrible weakness had been discovered, Demona got to her feet in an attempt to flee.
"Stop her!" Elisa shouted. "We can't let her get to the palace!"
Gabriel immediately went to do so, tackling her to the ground. Macbeth and Arthur continued to struggle against one another, the former's weapon letting loose a wild shot. It struck Gabriel, allowing Demona to fly free. Even though both Tom and Elisa attempted to intercept her, the she-gargoyle merely used them as jumping off points, gliding into the sky before disappearing out of sight.
…
At the Hollow Hill, both the Magus and Willow sat at the base of the waterfall, waiting for the Weird Sisters to arrive. As they sat, the three identical women approached the duo, confident smirks on their faces.
"Seems your hunch was right, Magus." Willow let out. "They did come here."
"Taking a rest, grandfather?" Phoebe questioned. "Or have you chosen this place to be your grave?"
"We've been waiting for you." The Magus declared, rising to his feet with Willow by his side.
"Even with the Child of Two Worlds by your side, you are no match for us." Seline taunted.
"There is no future for you." Luna concluded.
Willow snarled and leapt at the sisters, claws raised and fangs bared. The three easily glided out of the way of her attacks, chuckling at her attempts to harm them. The Magus went to aid her as well, swinging his staff at them. Like Willow, he had no luck in landing a single blow.
"Is this how you will defeat us?" Phoebe questioned.
"No piece of wood can harm us, and neither can the Child's claws." Seline informed them.
"We'll see about that!" Willow growled, her tail coming up to whip at Seline.
She managed to strike the raven-haired sister, sending her stumbling back. In a rare display of emotions, Seline gave Willow a glare, raising her hands up as green energy surrounded them.
"By Oberon's own decree, no child of his can harm you." She informed Willow. "However, his decree speaks nothing of containing you!"
All three sisters raised their hands, aiming them at Willow.
"Shimmering waters of the falls
Listen now to the sisters' calls
A chill of ice upon the child
Temper now, her fury wild!"
From the water fall behind the group, the waters began to spark with green power before rising up out of the lake. It swirled around her, forming a circle of water around her before freezing into a thick dome of ice. This trapped Willow where she stood, a foot of ice now between her, the Sisters, and the Magus.
"This just leaves the old wizard." Luna declared.
"Without his magic, what chance does he stand?" Seline quipped.
The Magus' eyes narrowed as he gripped his staff, aiming it right at the sisters again.
"Mystical Avalon, hear my plea!
Fill me with your energy!"
As it did before, green energy traveled up the Magus from the ground, focusing through his staff before striking the Weird Sisters in unison. They all cried out in pain, Willow punching the air from inside her icy prison.
"Way to go, Magus!" she cheered, though her voice was badly distorted by the thick ice.
The energy soon dissipated, leaving the Magus drained and barely able to stand. The sisters, however, quickly recovered from the blast. Unfortunately for the Magus, all three of them looked pissed off beyond reason.
"You hurt us, sorcerer!" Phoebe exclaimed.
"You steal the power from the land of our birth!" Luna screamed.
"You will suffer!" Seline shrieked.
All three sisters lifted off of the ground. Not even bothering with an intricate spell, the three began pouring magic out of their eyes and mouths, the raw power striking the Magus with more magic than he could ever hope to manifest. From her icy prison, Willow screamed out in fear, banging against the ice desperately. Unfortunately, it was doing little good, and already she could feel a chill running down her spine.
…
Back at the palace, Demona glided up to the walls of the castle. Those few gargoyles still capable of fighting attempted to bring her down using bows and arrows. Unfortunately, their aim left much to be desired, unlike Demona's own. She easily blasted the stone beneath the gargoyles' feet, sending them tumbling down and out of her path. She landed on the wall, and was soon set upon by both Bronx and Boudicca. Before they could reach her, she jumped off the wall, leaving the two gargoyle dogs growling and barking at her escape.
…
In the infirmary, Katharine tended to the many wounded gargoyles, flinching at the sounds of the battle that waged beyond the castle walls. Her attention was soon diverted by the doors of the infirmary being thrown open, Demona standing in the doorway with her gun primed. One gargoyle, desperate to protect her rookery siblings, launched herself at Demona. The bespelled she-gargoyle easily dodged the young gargoyle's attack, pushing her to the side before leveling her gun on her.
"No!" Katharine screamed, putting herself between Demona and the fallen gargoyle. "Are you mad!? These are your children!"
Katharine's words fell on deaf ears as Demona simply growled, preparing to fire.
…
Out in the orchard, Macbeth's gun was knocked out of his hand by Arthur's mace. A secondary blow easily reduced the gun to scrap metal. However, Macbeth was far from cowed. From his coat, Macbeth drew a sword, bringing it up to block a third attack from Arthur's mace. With a powerful kick, the ancient king was send flying, landing hard on the ground. Before he could get back to his feet, Macbeth levels the tip of his sword with Arthur's throat.
"Now, this ends." Macbeth declared.
…
At the grotto, the Archmage awaited Goliath's arrival, summoning up a swirling vortex of clouds in preparation. He soon heard the gargoyle's war cry over the wind, a cruel smirk playing on his face.
"So, the creature finally shows himself." The Archmage declared, chuckling darkly.
From the sky, Goliath descended upon the Archmage, taking a swipe at him. He missed his target, the swirling winds acting as a shield by forcing Goliath off course. The Archmage chuckled, summoning crackling energy in his hands.
"Is that the best you can do?" the old wizard taunted, blasting Goliath with his power.
The blow struck Goliath hard, sending him plummeting out of the sky. He landed on the ground before the Archmage, the old sorcerer laughing cruelly as he closed in on him.
…
Gabriel barreled into the infirmary, jumping in through one of the windows and swinging off a chandelier before landing between Demona and Katharine. He delivered a kick to the she-gargoyle, sending her flying backward before she could hurt the Princess.
"Are you so much of a coward that you flee from your own kind?" He taunted.
Tom ran in from the open doorway, embracing Katharine in relief before drawing his sword to face Demona. Demona got to her feet, eying the three of them before clutching her weapon tighter.
"How cozy." She remarked. "Now you can all die together."
A bullet then whizzed past her face, striking the wall inches from her nose. Demona followed the bullet's path, her lightless eyes widening at the sight of Elisa, her gun smoking from the shot.
"Wouldn't you rather have me?" Elisa snapped, attempting to fire again, only to find herself out of bullets.
"Always." Demona replied, tossing her gun away before going at Elisa bare-handed.
The two woman ended up in a rolling wrestling match, each one trying to pin the other down.
…
In the grotto, Goliath remained on the ground at the Archmage's feet, the effects of the sorcerer's power still crippling him immensely.
"I have waited a millennium for this moment." The Archmage declared, hitting Goliath with continuous magical attack.
Goliath howled in agony, his body writhing and contorting as the power seemed to set every nerve in his body alight. This went on for a minute before the power vanished. Goliath collapsed to the ground as the Archmage crouched down, grabbing Goliath by the hair and forcing him to meet his eyes.
"And it was worth the wait." He added, spitting in the gargoyle's face before dropping his hair.
Before Goliath even had a change to regain his breath, the power struck him again, sending new waves of indescribable pain and anguish coursing through his body.
…
Demona had managed to get on top of Elisa, the cop just barely keeping her claws at bay. Desperate to help her, Gabriel and Tom charge at Demona together. The two manage to pull Demona off of Elisa, struggling to pin her to the ground.
"Hold her!" Tom shouted. "Hold her!"
Demona flailed in their grip, her claws tearing through Gabriel's wing like it was made of paper.
"Let go of me!" she demanded, attempting to rake at Tom's face.
Elisa tackled her from behind, and together, she and Tom force Demona onto her stomach.
"I'll destroy you all!" Demona threatened, reaching for her gun.
Gabriel, his wing still stinging like nobody's business, jumped into the dogpile as well. Bronx and Boudicca, who had been trying to get to Demona this entire time, soon barreled into the room. Boudicca growled at Demona in a threatening manner as Bronx picked up the gun in his mouth, trotting over to Katharine and out of Demona's reach.
"Enough of this!" Katharine shouted, taking the gun from Bronx and aiming it at the wall above Demona. "Get clear!"
Tom, Gabriel, Boudicca, and Elisa all scrambled off of Demona. The she-gargoyle barely had time to get to her knees before Katharine fired. The blast utterly decimated the wall, reducing to rubble that buried the immortal gargoyle. Everyone stared at the rubble, gasping in relief as Katharine lowered the gun.
"Nobody threatens my eggs." She declared.
…
Outside the Hollow Hill, the Magus struggled against the onslaught of power the sisters were directing at him. In a desperate move, he channeled their own power through Avalon, sending it back at them with a silent counter spell. The sisters were thrown back, landing in the water as the Magus ran to Willow's ice prison.
"Child!" He shouted. "Hold still, I will free you!"
Willow, her wings wrapped around her to try and preserve her warmth, merely nodded in reply before her eyes widened.
"Magus, look out!" she screamed.
He turned just in time to see the three sisters emerging from the waters, their forms sparking with power as the sky darkened ominously.
"Avalon!" the three shouted in unison. "Aid your children!"
Lightning began to dance as hurricane strength winds began to blow. Almost immediately, the Magus was blown off of his feet. Desperate to avoid being blown off the island, he stabbed his staff into the ground, channeling magic through it to transform it into a large, powerful oak. The thick trunk provided the Magus with shelter from the unforgiving winds, but a lightning strike soon began to destroy his only means of protection.
"Magus, run!" Willow screamed.
Physically weakened from his continuous use of Avalon's magic, the Magus knew he didn't stand a chance against the three witches. He also knew he only had enough energy for one last spell. In desperation, he turned to the entrance of the Hollow Hill, using the last of his tree's protection to reach it safely. The Weird Sisters turned to pursue him, leaving Willow to continue her futile escape attempts.
…
Arthur batted the sword away from his throat with his mace, jumping to his feet to continue his battle. Macbeth easily kicked him again, sending the ancient king right into a tree. The force of the blow caused Arthur's vision to temporarily blur, much to his chagrin.
"You've been sleeping for far too long, old man." Macbeth taunted, moving in on Arthur.
He went for a deadly swing, but Arthur quickly dodged. The sword ended up stuck in the tree for a hot minute, just long enough for Arthur to strike Macbeth in the stomach with his mace. Both he and the sword went flying backward, the Scotsman landing hard on his stomach.
"And you shall not defeat me!" Arthur declared.
Macbeth turned onto his back, raising his sword in his defense. However, Arthur merely brought the mace down hard, shattering the sword like it was made of glass. Before Macbeth ever had a chance to react, Arthur kicked the hilt out of his hand before using the same foot to pin Macbeth to the ground.
"Now it is your turn to sleep." Arthur told him before punching him in the face, knocking him unconscious.
…
In the Hollow Hill's inner chamber, the Magus stumbled towards the now vacant pedestal. With great effort, he pulled himself up the few steps, leaning onto the pedestal with shaking arms. It was there that the Weird Sisters caught up to him.
"You only delay the inevitable." Seline told him, her voice tense with anger.
"Where's the sleeping king?" Phoebe demanded.
The Magus remained silent, his hands quaking hard as he clenched his fists. Forcing himself to turn around, he leaned on the pedestal, staring down the sisters one final time.
"Iron armor, swords and riches,
Form a chain to bind these witches."
Channeling power straight from the heart of the Hollow Hill, he aimed it at the scattered remains of the armored guardians he had dispelled earlier. The armor began to melt, reforming into a long chain of iron. Before the sisters could react, the chain pounced on them like a snake, wrapping around all three of them before tightening cruelly. With the cold iron now binding them, their magic withered away, leaving them helpless and vulnerable. Once the three were bound, the power flooded from the Magus once more. Shaking hard and gasping for breath, the wizard fell backward, collapsing onto Arthur's stone bed.
…
"Did you think I had forgotten our last battle?" the Archmage taunted Goliath.
Another magical blast cut off any reply Goliath might have had, sending him onto his back.
"Well, I am not that weakling." The Archmage continued. "I could destroy you with a single word."
"Then why don't you…?" Goliath snarled, fighting through the pain and trying to get back to his feet.
"Because I'm having too much fun!" the Archmage declared, resuming his endless torture of Goliath.
He was so focused on his 'fun' with Goliath, he failed to see the figure swooping in from the sky. By the time he noticed, Angela had descended from the sky, pouncing on him and knocking him to the ground.
"Fools!" the Archmage screamed, grabbing Angela's head and channeling his power into her.
He forced her to the ground, her screams like music to his ears. They didn't last long before Goliath, having finally been allowed a moment to recover, pounced upon him. The two rolled out of the pagoda and onto the sandy shores of the lake. Goliath was the first to regain his senses, immediately making a grab for the Eye of Odin. Red energy coursed through the both of them, awakening the Archmage so he could retaliate. The Archmage tossed Goliath into the lake, immediately focusing his magic upon the water.
"Ice!" he shouted, forming a thick layer of ice across the surface of the lake.
When Goliath attempted to surface, the icy layer stopped him. He banged against it, watching through the shimmering layer as the Archmage stood over him, laughing triumphantly. Goliath sank deeper into the water, and for a moment, the Archmage relished in his victory against the Gargoyle. His reverie was incredibly short lived as Goliath propelled himself back up at the ice layer, gaining enough momentum to shatter it and grab at the eye.
Once again, red energy poured through the two of them as Goliath tried to pry the Eye from the sorcerer's brow. In a desperate attempt to shake the gargoyle, the Archmage used the Phoenix Gate, transporting the two across the lake over and over again. This continued on until Goliath finally wrenched the eye from the Archmage's forehead, sending the old sorcerer flying back onto the shores of Avalon.
"You lose again, Archmage." Goliath declared, marching towards his fallen foe.
The Archmage turned, his long, scraggly beard returned, his once vibrant robes nor back to the desolate grey they had been before.
"You fool…" The Archmage snarled, parting his beard to reveal the gate still hanging around his neck. "I still possess the Phoenix Gate, and the power of the Grimorum courses through my veins!"
As he said this, his skin began to crack, bright white light pouring from it. His eyes widened as he looked at his hands, which were starting to crumble like cheap pottery.
"What?!" he exclaimed. "The Grimorum! The power! It's too much!"
The cracks began to travel up his face.
"Without the Eye, it's too much!" he screamed.
Goliath shielded his eyes as the Archmage began shrieking in pain, his body exploding in a large display of energy. As the light faded and the smoke cleared, Goliath turned to see the torn cloak fluttering to the ground, its occupant now gone for good. He walked over to it, sifting through the fabric before finding the Phoenix gate. He picked it up, letting out a sigh.
"It is over." He said in relief.
…
With their enemies dealt with, everyone convened at the Hollow Hill. Princess Katharine made short work of Willow's ice prison with the laser gun, shattering the ice with ease. She shimmered into her human form, Goliath picking her up and wrapping her in his wings for warmth.
"T-thank you." She stammered, her teeth chattering.
"The Magus, where is he?" Elisa questioned.
Weakly, Willow pointed towards the entrance. Together, everyone entered the cave. Upon seeing the felled Weird Sisters and the weakened Magus, everyone rushed in.
"Oh Magus, what have you done?" Katharine questioned.
The Magus weakly opened his eyes, giving Katharine a tired smile.
"Princess… I-"
Katharine gently shushed him, helping him to lay down on the stone bed properly before resting his head on the pillow.
"Just rest now, Magus." She insisted softly. "We'll get you back to the palace, and then-"
"No…" Magus interrupted. "No Katharine. I think… I would like to stay here."
Goliath stepped forward, gently passing Willow to Gabriel as he took the Magus' hand.
"I owe you a great debt, Magus." He told the wizard.
"You?" Magus asked, genuinely confused. "But… I cursed your clan…"
"You saved my children." Goliath corrected.
The Magus let that sink in, a small smile on his face.
"Thank you… Goliath." He said, his eyes beginning to droop. "I am so tired…"
"No, Magus please!" Katharine pleaded, tears in her eyes. "You cannot leave me now!"
"Never." Magus declared, his eyes slowly closing. "My… Princess…"
His chest heaved one last time before going completely still. Katharine collapsed upon him, sobbing loudly. Willow hiccupped as well, burying her head in Gabriel's shoulder. Angela leaned into Tom and Elisa into Goliath as all of them mourned the loss of a good friend.
…
On the shores of the Island, Goliath, Elisa, Willow, and Bronx all prepared to leave. Goliath embraced Gabriel, a sad smile on his face.
"I will miss you all." He told him.
"Our home, my home, is here." Gabriel declared. "The others are already rebuilding the palace. Your clan is welcome to join us, including your Halfling friend."
"No." Goliath replied with a shake of his head. "Gargoyles and humans must learn to live together again, or it will never be safe for us in the outside world. Besides, much like Avalon is your home, Manhattan is ours."
"Then perhaps it can be mine as well." Angela requested all of a sudden.
"Manhattan is nothing like Avalon." Willow warned. "It's a dangerous place, even for beings like us."
"However, if you wish to come, you'd be welcome company." Goliath declared.
Angela visibly brightened at the idea, then she turned to Gabriel. Her face fell slightly upon seeing his worried expression, so she went to his side, taking his hands.
"Gabriel, I have to go." She insisted. "See the world and find my place in it."
Gabriel sighed, his smile returning.
"And so you will." He told her, pulling her into a hug. "But I will miss you, my rookery sister."
As the two embraced, Elisa looked over at Arthur with a curious glance.
"How about you?" she asked. "What plans do you have, your majesty?"
"I too will explore this new world." He declared, marching towards one of three skiffs set out on the shores. "However, I must journey alone. While I enjoy your company, I hope to travel a bit less conspicuous."
Goliath couldn't help but laugh at Arthur's declaration, remembering his first experiences with the modern day.
"Well, if you ever find yourself on an island called Manhattan, look up my clan." He insisted.
With a nod, Arthur shoved off, riding on the enchanted skiff into the swirling fog, disappearing from view. Once he was gone, everyone turned towards the Weird Sisters, still bound in the Magus' iron chains and held by Tom. Willow approached them, her expression serious.
"Okay you three, whatever spell you have Macbeth and Demona under, remove it." She commanded.
The Weird Sisters look over to a second skiff, where a pair of gargoyles held Demona and Macbeth prisoner. With a token of reluctance, all three of them begin to summon their power, speaking in unison.
"We free you from our dreadful geas
Do as thou will, and as thou please."
A shimmer of green began to pour out of Macbeth and Demona, congealing together above them before disappearing all together. Immediately, the two were rendered unconscious. The two gargoyles holding them released them, running back to the shore as Goliath pushed their skiff out to sea.
"They will have no memory of any events from after the spell was cast weeks ago." Seline informed the group.
"Now, free us." Luna seemed to plead.
Goliath approached the sisters, snapping the chain easily. Once the iron fell away, the sisters surrounded themselves in an aura of green power before vanishing all together. With their last problem finally dealt with, the weary travelers made their way to the final skiff. Bronx wasted no time jumping in, eager to get home. Katharine intercepted Goliath before he stepped in, taking his hand.
"I cannot thank you enough, Goliath." She told him. "You, Elisa, Willow, you saved us all."
"Good bye, Princess." Goliath told her, giving her a small bow.
"Good bye." Both Elisa and Willow said in unison.
As the three got on the skiff, Angela and Katharine embraced, sharing a final hug.
"Goodbye, Angela." Katharine said softly.
"Goodbye, my Princess." Angela replied.
With all their goodbyes said, the travelers all got onto the skiff, Goliath shoving off. As he claimed the stick in order to begin rowing, Willow noticed a sack hanging on his belt.
"Goliath," she questioned, "is that-?"
"The Eye of Odin and the Phoenix Gate." He answered. "I will personally ensure that both artifacts are never used again."
"Good luck with that." Elisa chuckled. "My personal goal is to get back to New York as soon as possible."
"I second that, Elisa." Willow agreed. "Brooklyn's probably worried sick about me."
"I'm sure they're all worried about us." Goliath remarked. "But we will see them soon."
"What are ye talking about?!" Tom shouted from the shore. "I though you all understood! Avalon doesn't take ya where ya want to go. Avalon sends ya where ya need to be!"
"Wait a minute, what does that mean?" Elisa questioned.
"I have a feeling we're about to find out." Willow declared.
The four travelers looked into the swirling mists, wondering what they will see once they part.
