Chapter 13
The Gathering: Part 2
David's POV
My father looked at me in shock, but could not reply or ask any questions as Oberon punched the shield.
"I want the children and I will have them." He proclaimed as he tried to get through the shield.
My father touched my shoulder. "This Oberon is like a force of nature."
"Let's just that Owen left us with enough defenses to weather the storm." I said.
David's POV End
Third Person
Goliath and the clan flew toward the Eyrie Building and saw Lord Oberon trying to destroy the force field. They landed on a building.
"Whoa." Broadway awed.
"Looks like we got bigger problems than we thought." Lexington said.
"I think we'd better hurry." Hudson said as he launched himself into the sky again. The others took off too.
Third Person End
Talia's POV
"You dare defy the lord of Avalon? Then feel the power of my wrath!" He summoned lighting to look dramatic and then hugged the force field. Lighting shot out from the field and made his cape bellow in the wind. He groaned as he shrunk.
"The force field's barely holding." David commented while watching his own monitors.
The generators are whirring and overheating. That wasn't good.
Lord Oberon was still shrinking and groaning as he hugged the force field.
"Is it my imagination or is Oberon getting smaller?" Grandpa asked. Could he not see… Or could I feel him getting weaker since I was Puck's artificial Halfling?
"Of course! Owen said it! Energy is energy. And even Oberon must have limitations to his. If we could get Oberon away from the force field and make him use up all his energy, we have a chance." David typed something into the computer.
"What else Owen tell you?" Grandpa asked.
"That Oberon is vulnerable to iron." David said as Lord Oberon was still draining the force field. "Let's see how vulnerable."
Talia's POV End
Third Person
A hatch on rooftop opened up and showed a Steel Gargoyle. It walked out and flew up toward Oberon. Another of the Steel Clan pops out of a hatch and joined the first. The last and third of the modified "Iron Clan" flew off.
"You are merely delaying the inevitable." Oberon said pained.
The Iron Clan shoots at Oberon, getting him in the back of the head. He let go of the building and glared at them.
"You grud mechanical minion iron? Clever, but not nearly clever enough." Oberon caught an Iron Gargoyle and gets shocked by it, shrinking even more.
Goliath and the Manhattan Clan arrive and Goliath yelled as he flies over the lord's head, "Oberon! We know your intent and we will not permit its success."
Petros turned to Xanatos. "I thought those creatures were your enemies."
"Never look a gift gargoyle in the mouth. Anything to keep Oberon burning up energy." David went back to typing.
"What are these children to you, Goliath?" Oberon asked. "They're not of your kind."
"No matter! It is wrong to take an innocent child from their parents." Goliath shouted back.
"I am Lord Oberon! I judge what is right and wrong!" He threw the Iron Gargoyle at the Clan and they dodge except for Lexington. He fell.
"Oberon, you decree that your magic will not harm me or my clan!" Goliath reminded him.
"My decrees are mine to interpret." Oberon scowled as his hair grows in length.
Broadway caught Lexington before he hit the ground as Goliath is entangled in Oberon's hair. Hudson tries to free him, but the hair shocked him and he fell into a fire escape, breaking it, but he's ok. Brooklyn and Angela land where the gargoyle crashed.
"Oberon's magic can't defend against this iron." She told him, picking a piece up.
"Then let's give him a haircut." Brooklyn replied.
Goliath snarls as he struggles to get free. Another of the Iron Clan shoots at Oberon, distracting him.
"Be gone, mechanical pests." He growled and claps his hands, making one of the Iron Gargoyles crash.
Goliath was still trying to get free when Angela and Brooklyn come to his rescue, cutting Oberon's hair with the pieces of iron. Broadway swooped down and tries to tug Goliath free, "Don't worry, we'll get you out."
Renard's airship flew into view. Oberon glared at it. "Now what?"
Third Person End
Vogel's POV
"Forgive me if this question is indelicate, sir, but you hate your son-in-law and your daughter tried to steal your business, why are you risking our lives to help them?" I asked.
"Oberon is after my grandchildren, Vogel. This is family business." Renard explained.
"Understood, sir." I nod.
"Launch the Cybots." Renard commanded.
Outside the ship, a dozen Cybots fly out.
Vogel's POV End
Third Person
Brooklyn cut the last of Oberon's hair on his side and Angela cut the last of it on her side while Broadway pulls Goliath as the last strand snap and they tumble back. The Cybots fly toward Oberon and he smashed some of them in his hands. He breathed in and blew another set of them away. Renard set more Cybots out. Oberon took another breath, blowing them away and hit the ship with his breath.
Third Person End
Vogel's POV
"We can't take much more of this." I said.
"Listen, we'll take whatever he throws at us. And come back for more if that will help my grandchildren." Renard told me.
Vogel's POV End
Third Person
"Distract him." Goliath called to the other before flying them toward Oberon.
Goliath flew in front of his face and Oberon pauses, confused. Then he tried to swat them away like flies and became frustrated when they moved.
"You are not the only stone figures which can come to life." He growled and shot green light at a building, making their statues come to life.
The statues fly toward the clan and one of them tackled Broadway. He yelled out and he hit the force field. Another statue chased Brooklyn. It caught him and choked him. "Ugh, rockhead."
The winged lion chased Angela. She flew higher and it followed. "Angela!" Goliath cried out as Oberon grabbed him.
"Worry about yourself, Goliath. I'll stand for no more meddling." He told the gargoyle.
Goliath struggled to free himself as the airship comes back into view. More Cybots fly out toward Oberon again.
As Broadway fell, an Iron Clan member caught him before he hit the ground. It flies him to an awning and dropped him there. He bounced and landed safely in it.
"You actually saved him." Petros pointed to the screen.
"He could be useful if he wakes up." Xanatos said and his father crossed his arms.
Brooklyn got free and led the statue that was choking him to Angela and they both turned upward before they crash, but the statues don't and they crumble.
"It's incredible how often that move works." Brooklyn looks at her and they fly to help out Goliath.
Cybots surround Goliath and Oberon and they make a cage out of lasers. Oberon reached out to grab one of the bars and got shocked, dropping Goliath. He flew away as Oberon let go of the bar.
Third Person End
Vogel's POV
Renard typed something into the terminal and the cage's energy output increased, making Oberon shrink even more. Renard smiled. "It's working."
I smile as well and fist pump. Renard turns to me. "The energy net is sapping Oberon's strength."
"You're a genius, sir." I said, meaning it.
Oberon shrunk more and yelled in pain. "Anger clouds my judgement." He shrunk down, now voluntarily, and flew through the cage. "I grow weary of this battle. Let frozen rain be your bane!"
Frozen rain fell from the sky and froze all the Cybots and they fell from the sky. Goliath, Brooklyn, and Angela were still flying and the rain started to freeze their wings. They're forced downward. The airship wobbled and starts going down.
"The motors are frozen. We're going down!" Renard yelled to me as I went to my station.
"Prepare for impact!" I shouted as we crash landed in a wooden area. "Excellent piloting, sir." I said as Renard sits back up.
"I failed them. I failed them." He repeated.
"It's not over yet. We've given them a chance." I reassured him.
Vogel's POV End
Third Person
Back at the Eyrie Building, a few remaining Cybots flew toward Oberon, but he dived down and they followed him, along with an Iron Clan member. He sped toward the ground and goes through a puddle while the robots crashed and explode.
"He went beneath the building and the force field stops at ground level." Xanatos ran out of the room. His father soon followed.
At the generators, Oberon flew up through the floor and shot lighting out of his hands. "No man-made lighting rod can match the power of Oberon." He growled.
And then the generators explode and the force field goes down.
"So much for Owen's security measures." Xanatos sighed. "All our defenses and he just keeps coming."
"But you are standing up to him." Petros said to him.
"He's after my children." Xanatos frowned.
"We haven't always seen eye-to-eye, David, but I have never been prouder to be your father." He put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Thanks, Pop." Xanatos said solmely. "Whatever happens, thanks." He returns the gesture as a green light appeared behind them. They aimed their weapons at it. Oberon materialized out of the light.
"I want the children and I want them now!" Oberon growled.
"This is my home. I'll have to insist that you go." Xanatos said as the gargoyles land behind him.
"Leave this place, Oberon." Goliath warned. "You have no claim here."
"I'll leave soon enough." He threatened as he lifts a part of the wall and throws it at them. "With the children."
Xanatos aimed his gun at Oberon, but Oberon motioned and it's taken out of his hands and exploded. With an angered cry, Xanatos leapt toward Oberon. The fae king moved inhumanly fast and made is so Xanatos fell into the wall behind him then he threw armored human across the courtyard. Petros fired his harpoon and it hit Oberon in the chest. He becam old and frail.
"I am vulnerable to iron. You have hurt me. Hurting me was a mistake." He took the harpoon out of his chest and walked toward them.
He tossed his cape toward Brooklyn and Angela and they get caught in it. Inside the cape, it's a void of purple and blue. They shivered, curling up into balls.
"So cold." Angela muttered.
Oberon paused as he stepped toward Goliath and Petros. With a swift motion, he tossed Brooklyn and Angela out of his cape at Petros. They fall down.
Goliath ran in front of them, eyes white, and he yelled before lunging at Oberon. Oberon turned intangible and Goliath goes straight through him. He landed with an oof behind him.
"This altercation is over!" Oberon shouted before throwing Goliath toward Xanatos. He hit the tower near Xanatos and breaks it.
Oberon sighed. "Finally, all the nuisances have been eliminated."
"I'm afraid, my lord, there's one nuisance left." Owen walked out, no jacket on, and unbuttons his sleeve and rolled it up.
"Do you think a stone fist will stop me, human?" Oberon asked.
Goliath and David stir. "Owen, I knew you'd come back." David smiled
"It was against my better judgement, Mister Xanatos. I assure you." Owen told him. He took off his glasses and sighed, putting them in his breast pocket. "Never the less."
Owen started to spin around, suddenly going very fast. Goliath watched in confusion. The whirlwind started to slow down. "Heeeere's PUCK!" He shouted and smiled.
Third Person End
Talia's POV
"Dad, no!" I yell at the screen.
Talia's POV End
Third Person
Oberon walked closer to Puck. "So, my servant Puck ignores our summons to serve a human."
"I know what you're thinking. How the mighty have fallen. But I can explain." Puck walked toward Oberon.
"Owen has all sorts of hidden talents." David quipped to Goliath.
"I am uninterested in your explanation. Stand aside or suffer the consequences." Oberon told him.
"But it's such a good explanation. And I brought visual aids." Puck smiled as he casted a spell on the rubble. It turned into Titania. "Once upon a time, I spotted Queen Titania, posing as the human Anastasia" As he says this, he turned his wrist in a circle and the stone queen turned into Anastasia and front flips to Oberon, knocking him back.
"You dare attack me?" Oberon asked.
"Don't interrupt. I'm on a roll." Puck smiled as the Anastasia forces Oberon up with his hands behind his back. "I was intrigued. What was so special about these mortals that made the queen tally among them?"
Puck danced around and summoned a wheelchair bound Renard from the rubble. "I decided to join the employment of Anastasia's husband, Renard, in order to find out." Puck made the stone Renard turn toward Oberon and it fired stones at him.
"But who to be?" Puck asked, standing behind a tree. "What role should the Puck play?" He knocked on the tree and a whirlwind of magic blew around it. "That's when I noticed one Preston Vogel." The tree turned into a statue of the man. "The stiffest and most wooden mortal on the face of the Earth."
The statue grabbed Oberon and lifted him up, tossing him aside. "The trickster has played many parts over the millennium, but never that of straight man. I determined to out-Vogel Vogel and created Owen Burnett."
The wooden Vogel turned into Owen and it kept walking toward Oberon, picking him up in a bear hug. "I loved being Owen, but I hated working for Anastasia and Renard. Sweet kids, but boring." Puck tapped the stone statues and they changed into Fox and Xanatos. "I much preferred their daughter, Fox and her then-boyfriend David Xanatos. They were many things, but never dull."
Puck gestured and the Owen statue dropped Oberon. "The truth is we made quite a team. I couldn't resist revealing myself to Xanatos and offer him this delightful choice: One wish from the Puck or a lifetime of service from Owen. He chose Owen." Puck put his hand on the stone Xanatos.
Oberon sighed and regained his youthful form. "I can see his choice impressed you, Puck." He stood up. "So much so that you side with this human against your lord and master."
"Not if you don't make me. Can you forgive and forget and put off the Gathering for a few more centuries? I'm sure I'll be happy to report to Avalon by then." Puck asked.
"Oberon does not compromise. Oberon commands!" He yelled and green light bursts from him and destroys the statues and throws Puck back.
The whole castle glows green for a few seconds before Oberon stops and he disappears.
Fox picked up something just as Oberon appeared in the room. She turned around and he spoke. "Titania."
His queen appeared behind him. "Let us conclude this business so that we may return home."
"As you wish, my lord." She said to him.
"It is time to relinquish the children." He snarled at Fox.
"Over my dead body." Fox said slowly as she aimed through the scoop.
"As you wish." He snapped as she fired.
The laser bounced off his hand and back at her. She gasped and fell to the ground. Oberon walked to the crib and looked at the baby.
"No…" Fox groaned weakly as the doors slam open, revealing Goliath, Xanatos, and Puck.
Titiania froze them in place in a green light.
The baby looked at Oberon and begins to cry.
Third Person End
Talia's POV
Three things happened at once. The first was that Fox shouted. "No!" and then her eyes glowed green as she shot Lord Oberon away from Alex and through a wall. Then she collapsed. The second thing was less flashy. The second thing was me teleporting to the room and picking up Alex. The third was me suffering from going through the iron bunker.
I silently screamed and felt my body try to stop me from going to the room. The scars on my arms opened up and I tasted the bleach on my tongue. I was starting to become light headed and weak kneed. I used what little magic I had left to make me and my baby brother invisible.
"You hurt him with that one. Do it again." Puck told Fox.
"I can't. I'm trying." Fox got on her knees.
"How did you that?" Titania asked.
"I don't know. I just couldn't let him take my baby." Fox shook her head.
"I have had enough!" Oberon yelled, coming back through the hole he went through.
"Wait, your majesty. This changes everything." Goliath looked at Titania and she unfroze them.
David and Goliath walked over. Puck stayed where he was. David helped Fox up. Goliath knelt in front of Oberon.
"Fox's outburst renders this spell unnecessary." I put Alex back in his crib as Goliath spoke and Fox picked him up. "If she could tap into a talent so woefully under developed, the children can certainly be taught to harness their powers here. They needn't go to Avalon to realize their full potential. He and Talia can stay with their parents. Frankly, it would be less trouble for you." Goilath stood up.
David and Fox were looking at Alex happily.
Oberon hummed. "But the Gathering has begun. Who would train them in the use of their powers?"
"What about-" Goliath thought.
"My father." I gasped weakly as I lost control of my powers and pointed to Puck.
"Talia, you're bleeding. I told you to stay put!" Puck scolded me and came to me, checking my wounds.
"Father?" Oberon, Goliath and David asked.
"I couldn't let him take Alexander away while I was hidden away." I lurched backward and Puck steadied me.
"Easy, Tai. Stay with me, kiddo. You really hurt yourself teleporting through the iron layer of the wall." Puck soothed, brushing my hair behind my ear.
"I don't feel good." I admitted.
"You used too much magic. I didn't teach you how to teleport yet. Or turn invisible. I can't say I'm not proud of you, but you drained your magic. You know how important that is." He blew out air through his nose.
"I'm sorry, Dad." I told him.
"It's alright, Sweetheart. I can fix it. Your eyes still have some green in them." He smiled as his eyes turned green with magic and he shot me with a beam of light.
My scars closed up and I no longer tasted bleach on my tongue. His magic flowed through me and reenergized me. I stumbled backward when he stopped.
"It's ok, Tai, Daddy's here." Puck steadied me again and smiled. "You feel better now?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"What is the meaning of this, Puck?" Oberon asked.
We looked at each other and gulped.
"Don't punish my daughter for my transgression! It was all my doing." Puck told Oberon.
"Dad, don't." I grabbed his shoulder.
Puck looked at me and his eyes shimmered with fatherly love. "I told you I would keep you safe, Talia."
"Not like this!" I shook my head.
"Yes, like this." He smiled sadly.
"No…" I whimpered.
He just kissed my forehead and wiped a tear off my cheek before walking away from me. He stood before Oberon with as much confident as he could muster.
"I saved Talia's life and made her my Halfling, my daughter. I broke your law, my lord, for her. Punish me, but leave my little trickster alone." Puck confessed.
"You interfered with a mortal's life, Puck. That is against my law. Yet you show a side of which I have never seen. You claim this child as your own and shower her with affection. Why?" He asked.
"I've grown to love her." Puck answered.
"I see." Oberon hummed.
"Puck would make a fine teacher. He wishes to stay and he is already protective of the children." Titania interjected before things could spiral even more off track.
Puck teleported himself and I to Fox and David. David put his hand on my shoulder and I look at him. My third father is smiling at me. Puck played with Alex's hair while speaking. "I suppose I could teach the children a few pointers."
"Very well, Puck. You have made your choice. And now you shall live it." Oberon said threateningly. Puck backed away from us and watched his old master. "Forever. You are eternally banished from Avalon, Puck. Never again will you sample its paradise."
"No, wait! Not eternally!" Puck cried out.
"We here by strip you of all your powers, save when you are training or protecting the children." Oberon shot him a twin green beams and he shouted out in pain.
"Dad!" I tried to go to him, but David held me back.
"Such is your punishment. So speaks Oberon." The lord of Avalon stopped the spell and Puck fell to his knees.
"No, my lord, please reconsider. I'll do anything." He begged.
"Pathetic." Oberon frowned.
Puck turned back into Owen. "Forgive me, my lord, you must do what you see fit. I will stay here with young Alexander and my daughter." Owen put his glasses back on.
Oberon sighed. "Come, my queen. Never have I so badly desired departure."
They start to walk away when Goliath asks. "What about the city? Everyone is still asleep."
"The humans will awaken in the morning and this will seem like not but a midsummer night's dream." He casted a spell toward the window.
"Allow me one moment more, my lord." Titania walked toward us. "Be well, Fox. I plan to look in on you and your children from time to time." She smiled and tried to touch Alexander.
"Must you?" Fox took him out of reach.
"Why are you angry? Didn't things work out to your satisfaction?" She asked.
"That hardly changes what you tried to do." She glared at her mother.
"What makes you think this isn't exactly what I've been trying to do from the beginning?" Titania smiled and then leaned into whisper something into Fox's ear. Then she held her chin with her fingertips and smiles mysteriously while Fox frowns, confused, and walks off to Oberon.
"Till we meet again." She waved.
"Which for your sakes, had better not be soon." Oberon warned us and they disappear in a white light.
Talia's POV End
Goliath's POV
"Hey, where's Goliath?" Lexington asked as I walked out.
"Our work here is done." I said, giving Brooklyn a thumbs up and Hudson a handshake.
We walked toward the city facing wall and prepare to jump off it when a metal hand touched my shoulder.
"Wait." Xanatos told me.
"What?" I asked.
"Without your help, I would have lost my children tonight. I owe you all a debt of gratitude that I may never be able to repay. But I will try." Xanatos held his hand out. "I promise."
"And I should trust this promise? After all that has passed between us." I said.
Xanatos looked at his out stretched hand and put it down.
I smiled. "Still, I know from experience the transforming powers of a child's love. And the future is not written yet." I jumped off the building with Angela by my side and the rest of the clan followed.
Goliath's POV End
Owen's POV
"Owen, when were you going to tell me?" Xanatos stood in the doorway.
"I lead her to you so Oberon could not have her easily. It was my intention to serve her as I serve you, but…" I smiled and brushed her hair back.
"You fell in love instead." Xanatos smirked.
"Yes." I said.
"I guess Talia was right. You are a better parent than me." He chuckled.
"Talia was your first child. You were going to make mistakes." I told him.
"I shouldn't have neglected her. Maybe she wouldn't have run away so much if I paid attention to her." He frowned.
"It doesn't matter now. Our daughter is safe." I said.
"Owen, don't say in public." Xanatos said sternly.
"I won't. I already told Talia not to call me Dad in public." I said seriously.
"We better leave." Xanatos gestured toward Talia.
"Yes, sir." I glanced at her.
"Go ahead, Owen. I know you want to." He huffed, smiling.
I kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, Sweetheart."
She gave a soft, sleepy hum and nuzzled her toy fox. I smiled and left my daughter's room, closing the door softly.
"What would happen if I used one of your nicknames?" Xanatos thought aloud.
"I'll kick your ass." I adjusted my tie. Xanatos laughed.
Then we both went to bed for the few hours we had left before morning.
Owen's POV End
