Future Tense, Part V
Beginning the End
by Kristina Evelina Brannan
AKA Krystiana Slinky
kbrannan@raex.com {or} krystiana@geocities.com
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Standard Disclaimer... Gargoyles and all related characters belong to Disney and Buena Vista
Television. None of the characters in the fic are mine, for once. I'm using these without
permission, *shocked gasps* but that's life. Just don't sue me. Ignore me.

Yes, I did change the title of this fic. I finished this, finally, after forcing myself to. After realising
on January 18, 12:30 AM that I hadn't worked on this stupid things since July... I decided it
was high time to finish it. There isn't much of a plot in this one, but it's the wind-up of the
series.

YES! I WANT E-MAIL ABOUT THIS!! FLAME ME, IF YOU WANNA!! JUST LET ME KNOW THAT
SOMEONE IS READING!!!!

Hey, for once, I'm too tired to babble on too much. Bet yer all just jumping for joy, eh?

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2036 AD

Goliath was back. The news had spread quickly. I suppose I was nearly gloating at about
to get revenge.
I wonder why Demona was not back yet. She should not have been so far away to be
this late. It was unlike her to not be prompt. Perhaps she had come in through the back
entrance...
I turn my head back towards Goliath, who is still studying the statue of Hudson.
"The first hero of the resistance..." Matt explained.
"Hudson, dead?" Goliath's voice sounds sad. I hear a whine and I suddenly realise that
Bronx was there with him. It was a wonder that Bronx had not caught my scent yet.
My attention is averted as I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I turn my head
and see her. I let loose a smile that no one can see. Demona HAD come in through the back.
Now she too, was watching Goliath with curious eyes.
But now I watch her. Although I want to get to teaching Goliath a lesson about
abandoning people, I am relieved that she is back.
I'll never forget the first time I lost her...

* * *

2026 AD

Brooklyn walked quietly up behind the shadowed figure, all features hidden by the dark.
"It's been years, Brooklyn," she said, even though he hadn't even announced his
presense. "How come I can't forget?"
"You cared for one another," Brooklyn said. ""You don't forget someone like that."
"I don't want to forget him!" she said. "I just want it to stop hurting." She closed her
eyes and tilted her head up, letting her face be splattered by the rain.
Brooklyn though for a moment before he said his words so he wouldn't offend her.
"Demona, you've brought so much to this clan and the resistance. I'm positive that if it wasn't
for you, we would have lost the war by now, and Xanatos would have his way and this world.
"But seeing you like this..." He stopped for a moment. "You were always the strongest,
craftiest, and smartest gargoyle I have ever met."
"What about Goliath?" Demona asked bitterly.
"Goliath's not coming back," Brooklyn said, his voice taking on a hard tone. "He
abandoned us, and if he ever happens to come back, I will gladly rip off his head."
"You're not being very comforting," Demona said. Brooklyn eyes softened.
"I'm sorry," he said in a calming voice.
"It was exactly ten years ago," Demona said. "To this night."
"It was a great loss," Brooklyn said with genuine sorrow in his voice. "We'll alll miss
him."
One tear slipped down Demona's face. She turned away from Brooklyn to hide her
tears. Brooklyn placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'd never though I'd catch myself saying this... but... I admire you," Brooklyn said
hesitantly.
Demona turned back towards him in pure shock. "But... I used you!"
Brooklyn put a hand on each of her shoulders now. "I know, I know. And I had managed
to hold onto that anger for a long time. But you diminshed it!" He stopped and took a deep
breath. "Because you helped us all through the war, and you are a part of the clan."
Demona's tears slid away and she stared at Brooklyn as a smile spread across her
face. "Oh, Brooklyn," she cried. "I wanted to apologize to you, but I didn't know how you would
react." She smiled at him, but then frowned. "I'm sorry, Brooklyn. Can you ever forgive me?
Brooklyn grinned back at her. "I already have."
Demona's eyes were shocked. "Thank you. I just needed to know," she whispered with
joy in her eyes. She gave him a quick hug, then walked past the stunned gargoyle to the inside.

* * *

The exchange outside had apparently gone unnoticed by the rest of the clan, because
no one said anything or acted any different.
Demona went on patrol as usual a few nights later. When she didn't check in at the
usual time, it went by without much concern. But when another hour had gone and still no
word, it was time to try and contact her.
"Demona, can you read me?" Brooklyn said into the communicator. Silence. "Demona?"
he asked again, uncertainly. When there was still no reply, he looked up with blank eyes. "Turn
on the trackers, Lex," he said in a low voice.
Lex booted up the tracking program and loomed in on Demona's position. She was
apparently standing still, and surrounded by several... somethings...
Brooklyn's eyes widened and then narrowed. "We'll go on foot. Come on." He ran out
the door on all fours, the others following and Matt lagging behind.

* * *

They arrived at the scene and saw that Demona was all but standing still. When you
were being shot over and over again, it was hard to stay in one spot. The Thailog soldiers were
all circled around her. None of them gave notice to the gargoyles, mutate, and one human
running up behind them.
Brooklyn saw Demona's predicament, and then leapt into the air, ramming right into
the back of one of the Thailogs. He barreled into two more, and then threw one against a wall. The others quickly joined in.
Matt suddenly yelled a warning as several mutates began running towards them,
drawn by the commotion.
Brooklyn swore inwardly. The mutates were stupid, but they fought in great numbers.
They weren't easy to beat.
Matt turned to him. "Get to Demona!" he shouted. "We'll hold the muties off!" Brooklyn
silently nodded, leaping high and kicking a Thailog in the head. He fought his way over to the
azure female.
She wasn't in very good shape. Nearly unconsious, she had several bruises on her face
and body. She stared at Brooklyn through slitted eyes, one close to swollen shut. "Brooklyn-"
she croaked out, before Brooklyn shushed her.
"Quiet. Don't move. I'll get you out of her." He picked her up and looked at the others
fighting off the mutates. They were winning easily, so he ran off, away from the commotion
with Demona in his arms.

* * *

She woke up to something wet on her forehead. She opened her eyes to see Brooklyn
looking down at her worriedly.
"You lost your pulse about 15 minutes ago for a few seconds. But it came back, and
the swelling in your bruises faded."
Demona smiled weakly. "Magic of the Sisters."
Brooklyn took away the cold compress and wet it again. He touched it to one of the
quickly fading bruises on the side of her head tenderly. "You had me scared."
Demona caught his hand as he tried to put the compress to her head again. She
stared at his face in wonder. "You were... scared... for me?"
Brooklyn slowly nodded. "I was afraid you would die."
Demona shook her head. "But I thought-"
"I already explained I had forgiven you for that," Brooklyn interrupted.
Demona paused for a moment. "You were afraid I would die?"
Brooklyn hesitated, sucking in a deep breath. "I was afraid... that I would lose you." Demona looked into Brooklyn's dark eyes as he continued. "I didn't realise how much I
had to lose until I thought you were gone."
Demona touched the side of his face with her hand and continued to search his eyes. "Brooklyn..." He was trembling.
"Demona, you are my last anchor to sanity. Goliath abandoned us, and then Hudson
was killed. I would have lost it that night if you hadn't been there." Demona smiled, sitting up. "Demona, I-"
She drew him into her arms, stroking his white hair with her hand. "Brooklyn... how can
I be your anchor to sanity?" She paused and smiled weakly. "I was the one who was always
called insane."
"You're not insane..."
Demona laughed. "Do you really think so?"
Brooklyn drew back from her. "I know you're not insane. You're probably more together
then me."
"I wouldn't say that..." Demona smiled. She suddenly sat up all the way and looked at Brooklyn. "Where are the others?" she asked.
"They called me a few minutes before you woke. They're fine, and they scared off the
mutates and Thailogs. Now they're helping the people you were trying to protect by yourself." He smiled at her. "Why didn't you call for help?"
"My communicator was smashed before I realised I was overwhelmed." She tried
standing up, but she was suddenly taken by dizziness. She nearly fell as she began blacking
out, but was stopped by a pair of strong arms. She looked up weakly at Brooklyn, who looked
concerned again. But as she watched his face, his concern slowly melted into something else. Understanding.
Demona was the one trembling now. She understood, too. She reached up and put a
shaking hand to the side of his face. "I'm with you," she whispered almost inaudibly. "I belong to
you."
Brooklyn held her. "I'm a part of you." He leaned his head close to hers.
Demona closed her eyes. "Born for this..." she whispered. She closed the gap between
them and their lips met.
"Born for this..." she repeated, and they kissed again.
"Born for this."
"For this."

* * *

The others had returned to the clocktower and discovered what Brooklyn had missed
in his worry for Demona - the place had been ransacked while they were gone. Xanatos had
figured out where they were.
Brooklyn swallowed. "We need to leave, then. And soon."
"But where are we going to go?" Broadway asked.
Brooklyn looked at Claw. "The Labyrinth."
And so they took whatever they needed the most, and left.
Brooklyn looked back one more time, as did Demona. As they watched, they head a
loud boom. The clock faces of the tower blew outward, and the ceiling collapsed. The Xanatos
goons had set a bomb.
They arrived at the Labyrinth, which was darker then the night outside. They quickly set
a few vital things up, and Lexington almost immediately started working on things to make it
more homey.
Brooklyn looked at Demona, who smiled at him. He then turned back to the remainder
of the clan and cleared his throat. "I have an announcement to make," he said. As everyone
gave him their attention, he continued. "I've decided to make Demona my new second."
Demona gasped. "Why me?"
"Because you've had more fighting experience then any of us," Brooklyn said seriously.
"I-I..." Demona stuttered.
Matt spoke up. "I'm fine with that. I think it's a good decision."
Demona looked shocked.

* * *

A few nights later, Brooklyn and Demona were on patrol. They glided by the ruins of the
clock tower, and the landed.
"I can't believe I feel so bad about losing that tower..." Demona said. "I've lost hundreds
of homes, and never felt so angry."
"Yeah," Brooklyn agreed. "I almost feel like I've lost a friend."
Demona looked up at Brooklyn, smiling. "But we're still together. That's something that
matters."
Brooklyn grinned back at her. "Yeah. We're still here."
Demona looked back at the clock tower with a small smile on her face. She knew that
the war against Xanatos was far from over. But with Brooklyn by her side, she knew they
would beat him. They could accomplish anything.
They were born for this.

* * *

2036 AD

I smile as I think of that night.
Demona makes eye contact with me, hikes an eyebrow and throws me a small smile.
I turn my attention back to Goliath. He looks terribly saddened by the loss of Hudson.
Matt is speaking now. "None of us have seen Xanatos in person since."
Goliath shakes his head, his hand still on Hudson's statue. "I saw his broadcast image.
He does not look forty years older."
I growl softly, and decide it is time to make my appearance. "The rumor is that he's
realised his dream of immortality," I say as I step out of the shadows. I noticed Demona tense
up across the way.
Goliath looks sincerely happy to see me. "Brooklyn!" he exclaims.
"Welcome back, Goliath," I say.
"I've been waiting a long time for this."

* * *

Epilogue

2036 AD
Three Hours Later

Amid the wreakage and the dying the embers with their lasting glow, lay a gargoyle
body.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the chest rises and falls, then is still.
It rises and falls again.
The breathing is forced and noisy, but necessary.
The eyes open and slowly focus on it's surroundings. The computer was gone, blown
away, so to speak. But one screen somehow still let off a glow. It said but two words, and it
meant so much.
"Download Successful."
The forced, noisy breathing becomes jagged and irregular, as if he's...
...laughing...
Yes, it was true.
The age of Xanatopia had indeed begun.

The End?

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That's just BEGGING for a sequel, don't ya think? Well, I'm thinking it out, and maybe a series
could produce. "The Age of Xanatopia," or just plain "Xanatopia." What do ya think?

It's over and done with. YAY!!!

Coming Soon!!

Time - Elisa is sent back... can you guess where? And when?