The Training, Part 4
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Manhattan
Elisa sighed as she left the convenience store. It'd been a long night, a long week for that matter, and she was tired. Nothing much had happened except a few punk kids had tried breaking in to a pawn shop after hours while a drunken nitwit halfway across town started kicking things around, causing damage to cars and buildings and nearly getting people hurt. The rest of the time she'd been stuck at her desk doing paperwork. She'd hated that part the most. At least while on patrol she was distracted enough to keep her mind off Goliath. Sitting at her desk left her time to think about things she'd rather not think about and that irritated the snot out of her.
After depositing her groceries in the trunk, she circled around to the passenger side and deposited her note bag in the seat. She shut the door and turned – only to bump into a complete stranger.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't see y- uh . . . wait a second. Don't I know you?"
A handsome asian-featured man about her height with red hair and a unique scar on his left cheek smiled and bowed. "Not personally, no."
Elisa studied him a moment. "You're Himura Kenshin, the majordomo for that Lyath Wyvern character."
"Something to that affect," he admitted and adjusted the weight of his groceries in his arms. At his side was a small boy about Graeme and Ariana's age. He was his father's spitting image with the most adorable eyes she'd ever seen. "Oh. This is my youngest son, Kennichi."
"Hello," the boy said, bowing just like his father had.
"Nice to meet you," Elisa said kindly before turning back to Kenshin. "Looks like you've just finished your shopping too."
He laughed. "Yes. There were a few necessities to gather."
An awkward silence.
"The clan told me a few days ago you'd given them talismans to stay awake during the day," she said, a note of disapproval and distrust in her voice. Brooklyn seemed to trust this man but she didn't. Not yet.
He nodded. "Mr. Wyvern and I have friends and contacts on Crystal Moon. They fear an attack by forces sent by Constantine."
Elisa sighed. "Brooklyn told me that too," she admitted and ran a hand through her hair. "Look, Mr. Himura, I know you probably don't mean the clan any harm, but . . ."
He smiled understandingly. "You love them very much. As such you are protective. I understand. But I assure you, Miss Maza, I mean them no harm."
Elisa studied him a moment. What was it about his eyes that made her trust him so easily? She'd never seen such eyes. Not even Goliath had eyes this deep.
She nodded reluctantly and decided to open the door. "Have you heard anything from them recently? Have they said anything about how he's doing?"
Kenshin shook his head. "Not yet, but . . ." he paused and glanced at the sky when movement above caught his attention. He frowned and Elisa followed his gaze. "It appears the strike force they promised has arrived."
Elisa's eyes widened. She'd seen a lot of gargoyles on Avalon and in Japan, but this was ridiculous. This was just one strike force? And there were this many warriors?
"I hope they realize the outside world is not as kind towards gargoyles as their happy little island," she muttered.
Kenshin nodded. "They know but if Constantine sends dragon men it may not matter. They will attack anyone and anything."
"Their main goal is the clan at this point though, isn't it?" Elisa asked, still counting the number of warriors gliding over the city. She threw a sudden look around her but hardly anyone on the streets seemed to have noticed the spectacle above – yet. "Maybe we should stop staring so people don't take notice," she suggested.
"Agreed," Kenshin said and glanced in Castle Wyvern's direction.
"Sugoi! There's so many gargoyles!" Kennichi cried happily.
Kenshin and Elisa immediately shushed him and looked around anxiously. They smiled sheepishly when folk passed by with disdaining looks and sighed in relief when others around them still took no notice of the warriors gliding by overhead.
"I really hope their efforts prove unnecessary," Elisa muttered while Kenshin spoke softly to his son. "I don't think this city can handle much more weirdness."
Or perhaps the detective cannot, Kenshin thought sympathetically. You are tired, Elisa, and worried.
"We can all agree, I think," he said. "But we must be prepared." He bowed to her and bade his son do the same. "My son and I must return home, Miss Elisa. I should try to contact the leader of the strike force and meet with Brooklyn."
Elisa sighed and looked up at the castle. "Maybe I'll meet you there. I've been meaning to check in with the clan for a while now and since they don't turn to stone right now . . ."
Kenshin smiled and started towards his car. "I think they would be glad to see you."
"I'd be glad to see them too," she said with a sigh. "I need the distraction."
Kenshin studied her a moment. "You are worried about Goliath."
She nodded. "Yeah."
He smiled wider. "I understand. You love him very much."
Elisa blushed. "Am I that obvious?"
He shrugged.
She sighed. "Anyway, I'll let you go. It was nice talking with you."
"And to you," Kenshin said, bowing as he and his son turned to leave. "If we see you in the castle we will say hello again, but if not, we will meet at a later time."
"I'd appreciate that," she said, waving good-bye. "It was nice meeting you, Kennichi. Take care of your dad, okay?"
"Always do!" the boy called back, skipping happily at his father's side. "B-Bye, miss Elisa!"
She smiled and waved until they climbed into Kenshin's new Toyota Avalon – wait, an Avalon? He was probably filthy rich and he didn't drive a Mercedes? Or even a jag? What about those hot, fancy sports cars so many rich folk crave? He was definitely one person who'd look good in a red Ferrari, or something similar, and yet he drove a luxury/slash economy car.
She shook her head, plopped into the driver's seat and drove away.
Crystal Moon
He was on his own again. It had been six months now since he'd arrived on Crystal Moon. His loneliness had doubled. He'd had no contact with the clan, magically or otherwise, for fear that it might attract Constantine's attention and the time away was killing him. His impatience to go home increased daily. It was worse when he thought of Elisa. Ever since that vision he'd been dying to get home to her, to see if she was alright even though he knew she was.
He sat beneath a tall pine and gazed at the mountain beyond. Despite his pangs to return to Manhattan he was just as glad to be out in nature. The fresh air here was so much better than the stench of sewage seeping up through grates and vents, much better than rotting garbage lying unchecked in the streets. He loved the scent of pine the most. There was something refreshing about it.
After another moment of silent pondering he stood and made his way back towards the palace. He hadn't gotten far when the sensation of being watched tingled at the back of his mind. He paused and looked around, stretching out with his senses. He felt another odd sensation; it felt as though someone had touched his mind with a finger and was trying to pull out his deepest secrets and most private desires. It was discomforting. He put a finger to his temple and set up a barrier in his mind, blocking the invasion.
He started towards home again, but a little more slowly, alert. Had Constantine broken free? Was he probing Goliath, trying to learn how far he'd come in his training? He sought for the identity of the prober, but found nothing but a desire to . . . wait. Was he guessing right? Someone was testing him?
Growling softly, he continued on but kept his mind tuned to further probing. A mind was hidden within the probing, a presence disguised. It wasn't dangerously hostile but it did mean to attack.
A twig to his right snapped. He whirled around but no one was there. His power swirled to life without the need of the old meditative trances and surged outward while drawing strength from the forest around him. Someone was getting closer . . .
"RAAAAARRGH!!!"
Goliath whirled around with a startled gasp to see a familiar figure clad in black with a matching mask and a set of matching swords attack him from behind. Knowing he didn't have time to evade this attack he lifted his arms up in desperation and cried; "SHIELD!"
Immediately, a glowing barrier formed between him and his attacker. The stranger cried out as he received a deep shock that sent him flying back several paces, causing him to lose one of his swords as he crashed into a tree. At the same moment, two twin roars alerted him to a triple attack as two more strangers attacked him from the air with swords raised and magical staffs crackling. Goliath leaped aside with agility he had never had before, watching as the two staffs left explosive craters in the ground where his feet had been. But the two attackers didn't wait there. They charged him again with incredible speed.
"Warrior!" cried a voice from behind him and he whirled around saw a fourth attacker impossibly close to him. Too close. And he . . . no, she! - wielded a long, sharp ended spear that he had no time to escape. All ready he seemed to watch in slow motion as the attacker thrust the spear at his mid-section, knowing he did not have time to save himself.
I need time!!! he thought desperately.
Incredibly, his plea was headed and all around him time seemed to slow. He felt the spear cut into his side as he leaped into the air and spun around and kicked his attacker. He moved with more speed and strength than he imagined and watched as the fourth attacker went down with a pain filled cry, skidding through the grass until she collided with the trees behind them with deadly force. Within seconds time returned to its natural movement and he turned as the other two attacker approached. He caught their gleaming staffs but their momentum threw him to the ground. He struggled to keep the hot points from his face and chest while fighting to get back to his feet. If they pierced his flesh the electrical energy would incinerate him. He had to be rid of them now!
Then he noticed it; a strange hum within the magic of the staffs. It was a quiet whir when they were a safe distance from each other. But close up, the two spears were trying to overload each other. If that happened . . .
Goliath roared and thrust the staffs upwards, jarring his attacker's arms with his movement and crossing the spear heads.
That was a mistake. The electric shock and resounding boom was more than enough to leave him down and out permanently. His attackers were sent sailing into the trees with cries of pain but he knew they weren't dead, just stunned. His head was swimming but if he didn't get up soon he was done for!
He turned as a figure dressed in black, the armor torn, cautiously approached. He thought he saw Hudson's trouser leg beneath the armor but knew it a trick. Hudson had to be in the palace. Yet that large belly was just like Hudson's and his presence was familiar. But he was here to attack and Goliath would not stay down to let that happen.
Goliath groaned and forced his body to move. Every muscle screamed resistance and white stars danced before his eyes. His attacker drew closer with each step, sword drawn, closing the distance between them. Wait! A sword! The other attacker's spare sword was just inches away from him. If he could reach it he might stand a chance.
"Give it up, lad," the figure growled in a strangely familiar voice. "Ye'll not be moving for a while."
No! Goliath thought frantically. I will not lose! Everyone is counting on me! I cannot fail my clan!! His fingers gingerly touched the cold metal of the sword's hilt as beads of sweat dripped off his brow. Elisa . . .!
At last, his hand grasped the sword. With a furious, fatigued growl, he forced himself to stand and took a clumsy, stumbling swing at his enemy. Even disoriented the swing was good. His attacker had to jump back to keep his head and parried Goliath's strike with his own. And then he laughed.
Was Goliath imagining things? Or did his attacker sound . . . glad?
"Good!"
Goliath sneered at the comment. He didn't like being mocked.
The other attackers jumped back in, swinging swords of their own. Their style was familiar and strong but he held his ground. Thrust after thrust and jab after jab was blocked and evaded. He kept blinking the spots from his eyes and feared he'd lose. But he wouldn't. He was determined to win.
"I will not lose this!!" he cried furiously as he managed to lock the two blades together. "I WILL NOT FAIL!!!"
With a roar like thunder, he suddenly summoned a hidden level of strength from deep within himself and released it in a storm of light and magic. The attacker was distracted by the force of it and struggled to shield his eyes and remain standing at the same time as he was forced back by a wind that acted like a giant hand. Self preservation suddenly became more important and his grasp on his sword loosened too much.
"RROOOAAARRR!!!"
Goliath's furious battle cry was the only thing that alerted the attacker to the danger he was in – far too late. He could only cry out as Goliath's sword slashed out of nowhere, shattering the attacker's blade with enough force to jar his wrist. A second later Goliath's fist impacted with his jaw. He spun furiously before hitting the ground and stared up at Goliath in shcok and raised his hands in surrender before Goliath could deliver the killing blow.
"Stop, Goliath!!! I yield, lad! I yield!"
Goliath paused in his euphoria, staring at the figure on the ground in surprise as the strange fogginess in his head melted away.
"Hold, Goliath! Hold, lad!" called another voice, and Goliath barely turned his head to watch as the other three attackers rushed towards him urgently. All three were singed and moving with the same dizziness that he was feeling – or at least it appeared that way – as they stopped a few feet behind him.
"Do not attack your mentor, Goliath!" cried a familiar female voice. "It is us!"
Goliath's eyes widened, and then narrowed suspiciously. "What?"
"Aye, lad," panted the figure at his feet and Goliath watched in surprise as none other than Hudson removed the black mask from his face. "Did nay recognize us, did ye?"
Goliath balked and immediately stepped back. "Hudson!?" he cried in shock, realizing that if they had not stopped he might have . . .
"Aye, lad," Hudson said with a sigh of relief as he sat up, grunting from the aches that were all ready starting to show up. "Och! Ye fight twice as hard now as ye used tae lad! Me old bones are goin' tae be needin' some serious rest."
Goliath was terribly confused – even feeling a little ashamed. "Hudson – I could not . . . . I did not know it was you! I couldn't . . . I – I could have killed you!!"
"Aye lad, that ye could have," chuckled Odomus as he and the others removed their masks as well. There were no visual burn marks on their hides at all. But Goliath could feel blisters forming on his chest where the majority of that shock wave had struck. "Even when stunned, yer will proved greater than magic alone. Far greater."
"Your determination to succeed no matter the cost may be the difference between victory and defeat for all of us," said Lady Dragon with a smile. "You did astonishingly well, my son."
Goliath looked between his friends, absolutely flabbergasted, as he rubbed an aching head. "But – But I do not understand. What just happened here?"
"It was a sort of test/lesson, lad," Odomus told him, and at Goliath's confused expression he elaborated; "We had been discussing yer progress so far and decided it seemed appropriate. Ye see, Hudson has been anxious tae help ye, tae do what he could tae test ye with us. And we ourselves have been observing ye for a great while and yer personal progress has been – well, fantastic. Ye've done more tutoring for yerself than we have put together. Ye've come much farther than even I had first anticipated." He smiled ironically. "And out of everyone here, it is I who knew what ye were capable of, my son. And that is the best. And so far, ye have nearly surpassed that."
Goliath regarded his parents and mentor for a moment, then sighed heavily. This 'test' just now had shown him on a deep level just what it was he might be facing when he at last went to meet Constantine in battle, and somehow it was much more dangerous than anything he had ever faced before. The Pack, the Quarrymen, the human race and its bigotry as a whole was nothing compared to the evils that waited with Constantine and his hoard of creatures. Nothing. And quite frankly, he was more than a little intimidated. He didn't think he could defeat Constantine and live.
"It is not going to be good enough," he said softly, the first hints of despair evident in his voice. "Even if we somehow manage to complete this training, or what of it we can before Constantine wizens to us, it still will not be enough! I may die before his evil is fully vanquished!"
Hudson and the others shared worried looks.
"Lad . . ." Hudson said gently as he rested a supportive hand on his young Leader's shoulder.
Goliath shook his head as he shivered involuntarily. "I cannot fail in this!" he snarled. "I failed once all ready in preventing that monster from returning to this world. But I will NOT fail in keeping his evil from spreading. One way or another, I will defeat him!" He looked away sadly, his thoughts traveling regretfully to Elisa, to Angela and then the rest of the clan. "I will defeat him," he said again in a quieter tone, "even if I must die to do so."
"Somehow, my future Guardian, I doubt that death will be your destiny," said a voice, and Goliath into the face of Titania as she approached. "Your destiny will be life, light and peace," Titania told him warmly. "If there is anything that I have learned in my past meetings with you, it is that you are a warrior of powerful convictions. And all of those convictions come out of truth, virtue and a desire to do good for all. You could be like Demona, considering the destruction of your clan in the past, and harbor hatred, scorn and blood-lust for the race that so offended you." She cocked her head at him and her eyes twinkled with an unmistakable look of pride. "But you instead recognized that it was not the entire human race who had betrayed you, but only a mere few. You also recognized that one of your own kind was part of that treachery, proving that your race was just as capable of making wrong decisions as the human race. Granted, your trust in the human race has faltered. But you are not hateful. More cautious, possibly, but not hateful. And that talent, that gift to show mercy, love, forgiveness and compassion – even when in its smallest degrees – is what will help you win this fight."
"Constantine once lost everything as I did, my son," said Lady Dragon sadly and Goliath turned to her. "But where I did not turn my back and become bitter or vengeful, he did. He turned to a source of dark magic in hopes to end his pain, but only cursed himself. By killing in anger and hate he became that which he feared and hated the most. And yet he hides from that and he listens only to the selfish, destructive ambitions of the creature that now imprisons his soul. His shame defeats him now. It is no longer Constantine that resides within that shell, but Lamen."
Goliath stared at her. "What?"
"Never mind that now, lad," Hudson said warmly as he patted Goliath's shoulder. "For now, let us return home, eh? My old bones need some rest."
Goliath allowed himself a small smile and then turned towards the city with his family. Hudson, Odomus and Lady Dragon walked ahead of him talking excitedly together. He lingered behind in deep thought. He as both pleased and disturbed by his ferocity just now. If Hudson hadn't spoken up he'd be dead. Goliath couldn't live with himself if he'd been the one to slay his oldest friend.
"Goliath? Does something trouble you?"
Goliath looked at Titania in surprise. He hadn't realized she had been walking beside him. Her character seemed so different on this island . . . almost changed.
"It is nothing," he growled in reply. "I only – contemplate on what the future holds in store for us."
Titania smiled. "If my intuition serves correct, it will hold no ill for any of us," she told him. "The struggle will be great, and the burden you will soon carry may be even greater. But you will arise victorious. You are not one to give up easily. And I am . . . . proud of you for that."
Goliath studied Titania a moment. "That is not something I would have expected to hear from you, milady," he told her with a slight air of suspicion. "In our last encounters . . ."
Titania sucked in a deep, angry breath. "I am aware that our past encounters have been . . ." she paused, ". . . less than commendable. I have perhaps lived a most distasteful life. But it was my choice. Perhaps . . . Perhaps not the right choice, I will admit. But it was still my choice."
Goliath looked away with a sigh. "I had not meant to make you angry."
Titania's anger softened. "It is not you I am angry with," she said, almost to herself. "Now that I am here, I find myself contemplating my life in ways I never thought possible. I never imagined I could even once regret my obvious arrogance."
She fell silent. The silence held for several long, awkward moments. Goliath could feel her inner turmoil and embarrassment, could feel her confusion, her desires – the good and the bad. But he also felt an incredible need; a need to be forgiven, to be accepted. And there was that horrible underlying fear that she wouldn't be. But why? What had she to fear from him?
He looked at the mask she carried in her arms and suddenly quirked an eye ridge. The mask was not a mask at all, but rather a sort of helmet. It was a faded gold with a hem of cloth hanging at the edges. On the brow of the helmet was a large jewel, like a faded sapphire.
Clearing his throat, he said. "Milady, what do you carry?"
Relieved for the change in topic she looked at the helmet in her arms. "This is the helmet of Prog," she told him.
"Prog?"
Titania nodded. "He was a sorcerer from ancient times; times before even my people."
Goliath quirked an eye ridge. "What is it for?"
Titania paused mid-stride, a look of excitement on her face. "It is a tool for the mind," she replied, and at Goliath's interested expression she elaborated. "It was designed to fool the mind of an enemy during battle, Goliath. It blocks all recognition and turns friend against friend, brother against brother. And sometimes, when a mind is strong enough, one can even destroy an opponent with a thought alone."
Goliath blinked at her. "But you all ready possess that ability without the helmet."
Titania nodded. "That I do," she said with a small smile. "But you have all ready developed such a powerful mind block and defensive mechanism inside your mind that even I had to resort to this." She gestured at the helmet. "And still, I was only able to confuse your mind, to place a fog in the center of your recognition processes. I could not once get you to react with pain or even drop into unconsciousness. You have all ready subconsciously prepared yourself for the worst, Goliath."
Goliath regarded her in surprise and then looked at the helmet. He gingerly fingered the jewel that fed power to the rest of the helmet. "It is a good bet that Constantine will be using something like this, or at least supplying many types of this device to his minions."
Again Titania nodded. "Indeed he will, for he himself has a more powerful mind than I do. Of all the beings on this world that might have the ability to master myself and Oberon, it would be you, Odomus and Constintien."
Goliath regarded her. "But you were able to cloud my mind this night, my Lady. If the rest of you had not called me to stop . . ."
"Indeed, you probably would have killed Hudson tonight," Titania agreed. "Your desire to defeat your known enemies is proof enough."
Goliath growled in frustration as he thought of what he still had to learn. "Titania, you must teach me how to overcome the magic of this device! If it is anything like the strength of Constantine's mind, you must help me become even greater!"
Titania rested a hand on his arm and nodded firmly. "We all will, my Lord. That I promise."
Goliath blanched. "Why do you call me Lord? I am no king, I have ascended no throne."
"But soon you will," Titania told him. "As is your destiny. For soon when you take up the mantle of Guardianship, you will indeed become a Lord among all gargoyles."
Goliath stared at her for a long moment. He'd begun to feel a great weight on his shoulders since the first day he'd come here. No, he'd begun to feel it even before then. Even so, he was still terribly unprepared and reluctant to take command of that many warriors. How in the world was he supposed to call them together? There was no way he was going to convince the clans, let alone the leaders, that he was lord over them all. It was a terribly human declaration and very out of order. Why was he needed as a Guardian anyway? He understood that a warrior was needed to hold all the clans together, but still . . .
Goliath sighed and continued towards home. Destiny had reared an ugly face.
The End.
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Author's note; Turned out WAY sappier than I'd originally intended. There's still plenty of mistakes even after going over it but – ah well. Please leave review! I love to know how I'm doing?
