The Battle, Part 4

Thailog couldn't stop pacing. He was at an impassible impasse. It was like his soul was split in two, like he was two different people trying to live within one shell, both fighting for release or control, he couldn't tell which. Maybe it was a little bit of both? The funny thing was he was almost at peace with it, but also terrified. He was seeing something he couldn't explain, feeling something he didn't understand. Just how had he been created in Xanatos's cloning chamber? Did he honestly have that capability?

He kept seeing himself not as an adult but as a tiny baby, vulnerable and unintelligent. Yet, something happened. Something came INTO the cloning chamber itself and merged with him, making it appear like he was growing . . .

LIES! He told himself vehemently, shaking his head. I am NOT a hatchling!

He glanced at Lady Dragon and Hudson. He hadn't seen where Nassiah and Sonar rushed off to. The fighting was still raging around them so they may have gone off to help some of their people. He almost – almost, he reminded himself – wanted to go off to help them, but even if he wanted to he couldn't. His body was still in a terrible state after the treatment he'd received below. It was only because of the other being emerging inside of him that he could stand so well now.

He thought of Goliath suddenly and frowned. He glared at Lady Dragon and wondered if the other soul emerging was that of Tanner, Goliath's twin brother. They had supposedly been very close – or would be close once the strange affects on the time stream were undone. They'd be like, well, brothers. So where did that leave him?

He sighed and glanced around him, sensing yet another presence. It was female and very similar to that of the clone he'd raised with the very purpose of finding pleasure in her. But this presence was different. It was stronger, aware and not innocently oblivious and unquestioning, like SHE was. This female knew who she was and like Tanner seemed to have been cut off from the world.

He frowned when a name came to mind. "Delia."

It was so familiar. So right!

He realized suddenly that the feeling of familiarity was coming from Tanner, not himself. But who was she? A mate?

A warmth he couldn't explain flooded his flesh, making him flush. But it also made him hurt. How much in life had he missed out on due to his wickedness?

He blinked. And since when had he started thinking that way?

He shook his head and continued his pacing. He had to leave this place. Leave all of its demons and magic behind. Perhaps he should return to Night Stone. He needed the quiet. But somehow even Night Stone didn't feel like somewhere he wanted to be.

Suddenly, Lady Dragon and Hudson moved, running towards them. He jumped, startled, when several dragon-men landed around him, armed and ready to attack. Sonar and Nassiah chose that moment to return and began cutting the creatures down with the same savageness he'd seen when they were protecting those they loved, like Goliath. He knew they sensed the re-emergence of Tanner and he knew they were reacting to his presence.

It isn't me, he realized, and found - much to his chagrin - that it hurt. It isn't me they've come to protect. If not for the precious second soul I carry they'd never have shown such devotion.

He ducked when a dragon-man swung a club at his head and waited as Hudson disarmed and finished it off with a skillful swing of his blade. I suppose I should remember to thank them, he thought with a scowl.

"Thailog, it's time," Lady Dragon gasped, turning to him. "Tanner is awakening, I can feel it."

"But so is someone else," Nassiah muttered, eyeing him funny.

"Yes," he growled. "Tanner's mate. Delia, I believe, is her name."

Lady Dragon frowned thoughtfully. "Yes. I was wondering why the presence felt familiar. Constantine's spell must already be weakening. Or time itself is fighting back, rewriting the damages he has done. Tanner's presence must be significant indeed by now for you to sense her too, my grandson."

Thailog stared at her, surprised. Grandson?

"Where is she?" Hudson muttered, looking around. "Is she spirit or flesh?"

"Right now she's like your Tanner," Thailog growled. "She is neither, just a shadow of a memory trying to reform."

"Where does her presence feel strongest?" Lady Dragon asked him. He closed his eyes and concentrated. A moment later he pointed at the dungeon entrance. "We must go there then," Lady Dragon noted, placing a hand on Hudson's shoulder as she turned to Thailog. "Lead the way."

Thailog nodded and took off at a light job, careful not to irritate his injuries. Hudson followed after him first and he was followed by Sonar.

"Mother," Nassiah muttered, halting her mother with a hand on her shoulder. "That wasn't what I was sensing."

Lady Dragon frowned. "You felt it too, then?" she asked, glancing back at Thailog. "It seems there was more that went in to Thailog's creation than any of us realized. We'll have to watch him more closely from now on. Come! We tarry too long."

They hurried off after the clone, eager to see for themselves the face they thought they remembered.

Everyone cringed as they entered the dungeons. Hudson barely managed to keep in his disgust after coming in a second time but Thailog just barreled ahead, determined to see the face that he – no, Tanner, had been waiting to see for so long. They met only minimal resistance. Hudson and Sonar dealt with it before Thailog could even react. They passed several of their allies on the way down. Many cast them questioning glances as they passed but for the most part continued fighting and escorting prisoners out of the dungeons.

Thailog stopped at a dead end and growled. It was nothing but a wall? What was Tanner trying to do?

"Is this it, lad?" Hudson questioned him, sounding skeptical.

"It's nothing but a brick wall," Sonar muttered, irritating the clone further.

"Learn to look beyond the walls," Lady Dragon told them. "Stand aside, all of you."

Grumbling, Thailog obeyed. Hudson and Sonar did so without complaint.

Everyone watched as Lady Dragon performed some kind of odd magic that caused an outline to appear on the door. Fascinated, Sonar stepped in and pushed on it. He stepped back a little when it moved. "There's a door here!" he exclaimed and pushed harder. It swung open with a loud grating rumble revealing inky blackness in the hidden room beyond.

Nassiah grabbed a torch and passed it down to Sonar. The room was empty.

"What do you suppose this room would have been used for?" Nassiah asked no one in particular, just as confused as the rest of them.

"Wait, over there in the corner," Thailog said, pointing.

They turned and saw the figure of a female gargoyle lying on the ground. She appeared to be in some sort of astral plane. She glowed with a soft ethereal light and yet remained strangely transparent. To Hudson she looked a little like the clone Delilah except that she was older, more mature, blonde haired and didn't quite look so much like Elisa.

"It is Delia," Thailog muttered, his voice full of something they couldn't recognize, or maybe it was full of everything.

"We cannot touch her while she is in that state," Lady Dragon observed, gasping slightly when the dungeon's shook violently. Dust billowed and tiny bits of stone rained down from the ceiling. "But we can't stay here either. We must find a way to wake her."

A soft light filled the room and everyone turned to see Thailog take on a different form. His hair became a light ashy blonde, his skin a darker shade of lavender. His eyes softened and his physique became a little more slender. Tears trickled down the images face as he approached Delia and gently stroked her face.

"Delia, my love . . ."

The voice was not Thailog's. It was deep but soft, almost like Odomus's voice.

The female on the ground stirred and slowly her eyes fluttered open. She smiled, stretched and stood and took the images hand and stood, just like she was waking from sleep.

"We must leave this place."

She nodded once and then, in a flash, both disappeared completely.

Thailog collapsed to his knees, gasping. Lady Dragon rushed to him.

"What was that?" Sonar cried, completely confused. "Where'd they go?"

"To the surface, I'd imagine," Nassiah told him.

"Thailog, are you hale?" Lady Dragon asked the clone.

"Yes, just . . . shaken," he replied, standing with her help.

"Then let us go, now!" she said, taking his hand as she lead him and the rest of them out of the strange cell. As they left the dungeons began to shake violently. Small explosions started erupting everyone. Demons, ogres, trolls and dragon-men, even gargoyles and humans that had somehow been won over to Constantine's side, began to flee.

"Goliath's confronted Constantine!" Nassiah cried. "It's almost over!"

They escaped the dungeon with barely a moment to spare. It collapsed behind them, burying the last of the dungeon-keepers.

The final moments had arrived.

Goliath could feel the tremors in the ground. Constantine's temper was fueled and flooding everything he owned. His own minions suffered for it and began to flee in terror. His lands began to crack open. The earth began to roll. Pillars of stone shot out of the earth, reaching for the sky. Hot lava spit at anything foolish enough to get too close.

It was almost over.

Distantly, he could hear the sound of a heart beat. It beat with power, resonating trough his bones and flesh and through the floor. He frowned. Could that be the heart stone? It seemed distant, far away and faint, yet somehow very close as if it was in this very room.

Constantine still hadn't moved. He remained seated to his throne, stiff and rigid and cold with rage. But then he sighed, seeming to relax and become almost suave. Suave?

"Alas, perhaps you are right," he sneered, still sounding epically bored. "This does need to end and to be honest, I was rather bored watching you." He laughed mockingly. "Is that honestly the best you can do? And here you are coming to do battle against me? The most powerful sorcerer on earth!"

Goliath frowned.

"Very well, I suppose I shall show myself off a bit," he muttered, standing. "But . . . don't weep if I manage to savagely HUMILIATE YOU!"

Constantine laughed maniacally as he leaped high into the air and arced downwards, plunging into the cauldron. Goliath snarled in surprise and raised the shield to prevent a burst of light from blinding him. He stepped back, looking around wildly. It was quiet.

The room flared orange and Goliath leaped out of the way as a fireball leaped from the fire beneath the cauldron, coming straight for him. He rolled across the ground, grunting with pain and forced himself to his feet again as the throne room doors exploded from the impact. Parts of the stairway also exploded. Debris rained down as smoke billowed but still he did not see the sorcerer.

He turned when Constantine materialized behind him, now clad in black armor. He was grinning like a mad-man, his teeth glinting devilishly. A little fearful, Goliath's eyes traveled to his breastplate which had been knocked off early on. He hadn't even budged to retrieve them when Constantine rocketed towards him while swinging his arm and sending a wave of energy that flung his armor down the steps. Snarling, he leaped out of the way just in time to avoid a deadly swing from Constantine's blade, watching it spark as it hit the floor.

Snarling, Goliath lashed out with his tail knocking Constantine's blade from his hand. Then he struck out with a powerful kick Elisa had taught him and sent the sorcerer flying backwards. He landed on his back with a grunt, then kicked his feet up and back-flipped until he was on his feet again.

Goliath frowned. He is surprisingly nimble, he thought. I cannot afford to underestimate him.

Goliath shot forward with a roar and managed to quick, hard punches to the sorcerer's jaw before he leaped backwards again. Constantine stumbled but he didn't fall.

As Goliath advanced again, Constantine lunged at the eight-foot tall gargoyle, ramming him in the gut with a raised knee. Goliath cried out and staggered backwards, falling onto his back with a gasp. Laughing, Constantine continued his assault, but Goliath rolled away as Constantine's energized fist slammed into the ground where Goliath's head had been, shooting debris and dust into the air. Goliath jumped to his feet quickly and watched as Constantine charged with his sword raised. Goliath lifted his own sword and blocked the strike, ignoring the pain in his arm and chest. Exhaustion was already taking its toll but he was determined to succeed. Too many lives, too many futures depended on his success lest evil and darkness take the world.

Their grunts and yells filled the room as their swords continued to clash. Goliath snarled as he dodged another of Constantine's thrusts and lashed out with his tail again, knocking his opponent off his feet. His back had barely hit the ground when he floated upwards again and darted out of the way as Goliath swung downwards, hoping to cleave the sorcerer in two. Constantine laughed at him, taunting him as he floated to his feet. Goliath charged, their swords clashed . . .

Goliath roared in agony as electricity pulsated through him. He staggered, his knees buckling, but he would not be defeated. By sheer will he managed to deflect the electricity and sent it arching into the contents of the cauldron. It erupted in a huge bubbling mess. The liquid inside rained down on them smelling of herbs, acrid flesh and other things Goliath could not place.

Growling they jumped apart eager to escape the scalding materials. Their gazes met and before Goliath's talons had even touched the ground, he vanished in a blur of motion that took Constantine completely by surprise. Constantine staggered, breath knocked out of him, when Goliath's armored knee slammed into his chin. Grunting with pain, the sorcerer toppled backwards but regained his balance, leaped forward and retaliated with three rapid punches. Goliath dodged and deflected each of them and then forced Constantine back with a blast of powerful energy.

Constantine screamed like a dying animal, surprising his opponent. Irrational rage and uncontrollable terror filled the room for an instant. "Perhaps you are a little better than I thought," the sorcerer snarled, voice deadly. He grinned then and a terrible feeling filled Goliath's soul. "Why don't we up the stakes a little, hmmm?"

He raised a hand and sent several hundred tiny red flares into the air. They soared towards the ceiling and passed through it, disappearing. Goliath frowned at his enemy. What was he doing?

Guardian's Manor, Manhattan

"Don't you think it's about time you made out with the hocus pocus about now!" Hiko snarled, veins appearing at his temples as he caught three horrifically large dragon-men and held them off before tossing them over the edge of the building. The battle had grown too intense for his liking. The creatures attacking them had started using magic and to make things worse they'd figured out how to turn the steel clan robots on themselves.

He watched almost helplessly as the last two steel clan machines were piloted by light bodied female dragon-men straight into each other. The females leaped away before the explosion. They'd ridden on the robot's backs as though they were wild steeds of some kind.

Having seen the explosion and heard his master's angry question, Kenshin leaped up onto a balcony and nodded. He'd acquired several deep cuts and bruises from the battle. Their beautiful home was a mess. He was only glad that Sanosuke and Kaoru were still holding their own.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and lifted a hand to his face, palm facing his left and fingers stretching for the sky. With a soft cry, he made a few complicated gestures that called a thick wave of energy straight towards him. As it culminated around his aura he yelled and thrust his hand into the balcony floor. The energy around him followed the motion, bounced off the ground and surged up and out, becoming a visible burst of light as it exploded, knocking most of the attacking dragon-men out of the sky. For a moment, the skies were quiet.

Sanosuke scowled up at his friend, zanbato raised high. "Why didn't you just do that earlier, stupid!"

Kenshin laughed at his friend. "Some things must come as a last resort, Sano," he replied.

Hiko scowled at his deshi. Frankly, he agreed with the rooster. That sort of power could have saved them from all this nonsense from the beginning. But then again, watching Kenshin sag slightly from exhaustion, maybe it wouldn't have been such a good idea. That sort of power took great strength to wield and used excessively it could become an Achilles' heal.

"Kenshin!"

Hiko, Kenshin and Sanosuke all turned to look at Kaoru who was pointing up at the sky, face pale and eyes wide with terror. They followed her gaze and gasped. Bright points of orange light were falling straight for them and the city. It was like a meteor shower only everyone knew these things were not meteors. This was pure sorcery.

Kenshin's heart was in his throat. "EVERYONE TAKE COVER!"

The gargoyles from Crystal Moon did their best to shove off the remaining dragon-men and follow his orders. The skies grew brighter the closer this new threat came and dread filled them all.

Kenshin leaped down and met his wife half way. If he was going to die, if SHE was going to die, neither of them would do it alone.

Castle Wyvern.

Lexington managed a lucky hit. He caught the tail of a smaller unsuspecting dragon-man and used its own momentum to swing it between the last two robots as they collided. Just like his clan had done those first nights of their lives in Manhattan, their enemies had figured out how to use the robots one weakness against them. Now the robots were gone.

"Smooth move, Lex!" Broadway called as they doubled back towards the castle, giving each other a high five.

Brooklyn soared passed them, several of their allies from Crystal Moon following him. They were flying very fast.

"Everyone back to the castle, now!" the second in command ordered, his voice oddly strained.

"Hey, what's going on?" Lexington wondered.

"Look!" Angela called, somewhere below them.

Broadway and Lexington glanced at the sky and felt the blood drain from the flesh.

"Is-Is this some sort of weird meteor shower?" Broadway muttered.

"I don't think those are meteors Broadway!" Lexington yelled, and flexed his arms until they stretched his wings back, allowing for a fast drop-dive.

Broadway gasped and followed his friend as the skies turned orange.

All over the world, panic ensued. The clans of London, Japan, Guatemala, Antarctica and many others raced for shelter with their allies. Humans scurried in the streets of cities or dashed about in small towns or simply watched with a sort of terrified awe from their country perches as red fury rained down on the earth.

Hell's Castle, Black Realm.

Goliath roared in fury as the world erupted in flame. He saw deadly sparks of light ignite around Castle Wyvern's spires. He saw the rich looking home of the Wyvern family erupt with destruction. All of Manhattan was under siege. He didn't want to think of what the rest of world was suffering.

Constantine laughed, his eyes turning an odd red. "Delicious, isn't it? With so much power in my hands . . . I CONTROL THE WORLD!"

Goliath was shaking. Still with these games! And it was killing people. Innocent people!

"Is this really what you crave, Constantine?" he bellowed. "Is this really what you are? A MONSTER!"

Constantine stopped laughing and regarded him curiously.

"I know what you really are, sorcerer," Goliath snarled, struggling to hold back the crippling terror that his clan and their allies had been destroyed. "I see your eyes and I realize . . . my father's legends hold truth."

Constantine had gone rigid, an odd look in his eyes. "And what might those legends be," he hissed, blade raised to en-guard position, "may I ask?"

Goliath's breaths were coming out in deep gasps. He had to stay calm. Constantine was probably just trying to bait him anyway, so why not bait him back? If there was one thing Constantine hated most, it was the truth.

Goliath circled his opponent warily, sword and shield at the ready. "That you are NOT the cold hearted, blood thirsty creature that you have become," he growled out, wincing slightly at the pain in his body. How he had managed to ignore such crippling agony thus far was beyond him. "Nor were you. Ever. Only the demon, Lamen, could claim such wickedness."

Constintien paused and stared at Goliath. He wasn't surprised Goliath knew all about that and he wasn't surprised to be confronted by it, but he didn't like being confronted by it!

"He invaded you like a disease, overtaking you," Goliath continued, not quite sure where he was going with this or if it would even work. "Now it must fall to us both to flush him out. Help me defeat him once and for all!"

Something was happening. Goliath couldn't decipher what it was but it was there. He noticed it first in Constantine's rigid form, then in the blood-red glow of his eyes. Something inside of the man was contorting, writhing.

"Stop it," the sorcerer hissed, low and deadly.

Goliath narrowed his eyes. Stop? He would continue! He wasn't certain yet, but it felt like Constantine's soul was stirring. That odd essence he'd felt in Constantine for so long was breaking up. It was like he was becoming two different people.

That's because he is two different people! He reminded himself, snarling. "Constantine, please! You will not be given another chance at this. None of us will!" he roared.

Constantine sneered at him, hissing like a cobra and advanced. Goliath took a step back, trying to by himself a little more time. If he could just reach the real Constantine . . .

"Bring out the heart stone," he ordered. "Help me destroy it, help me destroy Lamen! Then you can restore the peace you've wanted so desperately for so long!"

"SHUT UP!" Constantine screamed and attacked. The force of his attack surprised Goliath, and Goliath struggled to stay standing under the sorcerer's powerful thrust as their blades locked together. "Don't SAY that! I will kill you!"

"Constantine, fight him!" Goliath roared. "Bring forth the heart stone!"

Constantine screamed with rage, a burst of explosive energy escaping his body. Goliath cried out in alarm and pain as he was thrown back several dozen feet into the downed pillar and fell to the floor with an agonized grunt and moan. He sat up as a fierce wind began to howl, and red lightning danced in the room. He stood slowly, blinking into the gale and gasped when Constantine vanished.

He looked around wildly. His senses were useless. He couldn't detect Constantine!

He whirled to the left when the sorcerer's presence flared to life again and gasped when he saw the sorcerer charging him with a huge axe. At its opposite end was sharp spear tip. He leaped away when Constantine swung at him, leaping up and over the fallen pillar. Constantine followed him, swinging wildly and screaming like a beast. There was definitely a change in him. He was glowing a strange green with hints of red and gold.

The pillar was chopped up several times as their weapons clashed or as one dodged the others strike. The cauldron received equal damage and toppled when one of the supporting legs was hacked off. Constantine roared in rage, watching his precious brew spill on the floor. Then, he vanished.

This is getting ridiculous! Goliath thought furiously, leaping over the pillar again and looking around, senses at the ready. They weren't so muddled this time but he was still struggling to locate his enemy.

Constantine appeared behind him, swinging the axe. Goliath ducked and rolled, tapped one clawed foot on the ground and watched as a pillar stone shot towards the ceiling, pinning Constantine with painful force. Goliath vaulted towards him, blocked a swing with his shield and then let his fists fly. Constantine screeched with pain and disappeared, letting Goliath's right hook smash into the ceiling.

Growling, Goliath glided towards the ground again and began blocking a dozen different magical attacks. The room became a blaze with light as they struggled to gain supremacy. Goliath yelped and ducked as Constantine soared at him and rolled away as the axe swung for his neck again. He yelled in pain as the axe made a lucky hit and left a deep gash in his back. He glared at his enemy, but Constantine wasn't laughing and taunting him like was earlier. He had turned even deadlier. His only wish now was to kill Goliath. And yet, something was holding him back. His limbs were shaking. His gaze was wavering.

Constantine, the real Constantine, was fighting back!

"RRROOOAARRR!"

Both combatants turned in surprise as Odomus sailed towards Constantine, tackling him. A strange rhythm, like a heartbeat, started pulsing thorugh the floor. "Father!" Goliath cried, watching as the two ancient enemies tumbled to the ground, fighting like two school boys.

"Blast you, Odomus!" Constantine screamed, but Goliath the subtle change. It wasn't the voice he was used to.

"It ends now, LAMEN!" Odomus roared, punching his old foe in the face.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Constantine roared, and pushed the large gargoyle off him before he disappeared.

"Careful, lad!" Odomus called, turning to his son.

"What's happening?" Goliath inquired, approaching him. "Where are the others?"

"Still fighting," his father replied, looking around.

Both gasped when the room began to shake, rather violently. The floor started rolling like small waves, unsettling their footing. Bits of the ceiling fell away, smashing to the ground around them. A sudden blast of invisible energy finally succeeded in knocking them off their feet.

Goliath snarled as he landed on his back and struggled to sit up, but it was like some strange force was holding him down. It didn't help that the floor was ridiculously volatile. He couldn't get a good standing. Every time he'd manage a good hold, the floor would drop low taking him with it. It was like the floor was a giant rug and someone was shaking it out, with him on it.

I've got to get off this floor! He thought anxiously and vaulted towards the ceiling, roaring.

"GOLIATH! LOOK OUT!"

Goliath whirled around in time to see a huge boulder fly at him, but he didn't have time to block it. He cried out in pain as the boulder collided with him. He fell to the ground, dizzy and aching. He sat up slowly, gasping, as Constantine appeared a short distance away, laughing maniacally. He stood slowly, shaking, and faced his enemy while that pulsating power intensified. A red glow had surrounded Constantine. Something was feeding him power.

"The heart stone!" he realized.

"Aye," Constantine purred, his voice even stranger than before. His face had contorted, looking even more demon-like. "My heart stone. So good of you to call it out, GUARDIAN!"

He raised a hand, and suddenly boulders and stones, small statues and candleholders were bombarding Goliath, anything that could add distraction or pain. Snarling, Goliath defended himself as best his could, using his sword and the powers granted to him. But it was very hard. The injuries had weakened his body, making it very hard to accurately wield his powers.

He felt strengthened when his father joined him and with a breath of relief, advanced. His father's ageless, immortal strength produced a shield that kept everything out, protecting him.

"That won't save you," Constantine snarled. "That won't save either of you!"

He stomped a foot and a wall of stone rose up between father and son the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite, hurtling them in opposite directions. Goliath landed on his side a few feet from the heart stone. His sword fell from his grasp and slid across the floor. His helmet rolled from his head. He looked up in horror when Constantine flew at him and threw the spear. Time seemed to slow.

His father tackled Constantine too late. The spear hurtled towards him. The heart stone finally materialized, sparking with deadly energy. Its heat touched his skin. Its pulse was low and menacing, looming and ominous. It seemed to be waiting. Waiting . . .

Goliath called his sword to his hand and launched it at the heart stone just as the spear pierced his chest.

A brilliant flash lit the room. A crash like thunder sent everyone to their knees. Constantine screamed in anguish as a shock wave of power slammed into him, draining his living being of all the power he had ever obtained. Odomus was flung away from him, crashing onto his back with an uncomfortable grunt. He sat up in surprise, watching Constantine writhe in pain. Then he noticed his son, and froze, horrified.

"No," he cried. "NOOO!"

He raced to his son as the throne room began trembling again, this time in death thralls. With Constantine's power destroyed the palace could no longer hold itself together. It was falling apart all around them. Odomus's one thought was to get to his son.

"You've ruined me!" Constantine screamed, his wailing cries of agony something terrible to behold. "I'll kill you!"

He stumbled towards his enemies, barely managing to stay standing. As he moved, a white light surrounded him.

Odomus knelt at Goliath's side and touched his face. The younger warrior groaned and stared up at him, barely conscious.

He looked up in surprise when Constantine loomed over him, taloned hands extended. But Odomus wasn't afraid, and neither was Goliath. They could see him now. They could see the ghost of Lamen hovering somewhere between life and death.

With his strength draining, Goliath called his sword to him one more time. It dropped into his palm and he tightened his fist around the hilt. Feeling his father's strength one last time, he thrust up with all his might and felt it connect. His hand dropped a second later.

Constantine's body writhed even more fiercely than it had before. Lamen's image began pulsating with insane rage. He was trying to hold on to the life plain.

"No more monster!" Odomus roared and thrust the blade even deeper. A shock wave knocked him to his feet. He lay at his son's side a moment and watched the spear disappear. He touched Goliath's cheek and felt the tears flow.

Sucking in a deep breath, he sat up, took his son in his hands and disappeared, leaving the dying creature behind.

"Get out of here! Run!"

Soni's voice carried from the small hill on which he stood, signaling the army to flee. Their enemies had already fled, driven out when Constantine's powers vanished. Humans and gargoyles alike scurried for the portals opened to grant safe access to Crystal Moon. Not everyone would make it, however. With each quake in the earth a new fault would open up, often swallowing dozens of people whole while other faults spit out fountains of lava which buried others alive. Even those who flew the turbulent skies were struck down by stray bolts of lightning, lava bombs and debris flying off the dying castle. Even with the battle over, the island's death thralls still took lives.

"Father!"

Soni turned and smiled, his heart rejoicing when he saw his son rush up to meet him. Both embraced. "You're alive! Thank the dragons!"

"I'm a warrior," his son retorted, grinning while supporting a broken arm. "Of course I'm alive!"

A violent tremor nearly knocked them off their feet.

"Come on! Move it!"

"Mother!" Sonar cried, racing towards her. Soni followed and joined the bunching army at the portal doors.

"Where are Goliath and Odomus?" Hudson called from a few paces away. He had several tears in his wings, many cuts and bruises and his bad eyes was swollen shut, but he was otherwise whole.

"I haven't seen them come out yet," Soni called.

"We have to go back for them!" Hudson snarled, but Lady Dragon stopped him.

"No time, the island is dying," she said. "They can protect themselves now let us leave this place!"

A lava bomb struck the ground a short distance away, showering them with hot debris and dust. Hudson spared the castle one last glance and gasped when it exploded. He felt the shockwave where he stood and compared the sight to the eruption caused by the atomic bomb. He'd watched a documentary on the weapon's power quite some time ago, but the image of the 'mushroom cloud' as it was called had stayed with him forever.

He turned and fled through the portal as the last of the island's magic surged towards them. The next thing he knew he was standing on a grassy plain, a strange calm permeating the air. He turned with a gasp when a brilliant light permeated the night sky and heard the tale-tell explosion of a dying island.

It was over.

A great cheer erupted in the remaining warriors. It broke his heart that they would not be able to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades but care must be given now to the wounded so they at least could be spared.

"He did it, friend," Nassiah said as she approached, and Hudson turned to her. He smiled at the tears in her eyes. He felt the same way. "My brother has won. Constantine is defeated."

"Aye, lass," he said.

"Look!" someone cried, and everyone turned as two beings appeared, both of them gargoyles. Hudson was surprised to see that the tall male was almost an exact duplicate of Goliath, just like Thailog, only his skin was much lighter, his hair an ashy blonde. The female shook her head as she looked around and regarded the army. She blinked her serene eyes and smiled. Both were clad in simple tunics and loincloths and both were fully in the flesh.

"I-Is that . . .?" Nassiah stuttered and felt a hand on her shoulder.

"It is," Lady Dragon said serenely, smiling at the newcomers. "It is your younger brother, Goliath's twin and his mate. They are alive again. Constantine's curse on them is broken."

Hudson stared at the pair as they shyly approached and looked around. Thailog had completely disappeared. He knew it was ridiculous to hope or assume that the clone was lost on the island. Thailog was smarter than that.

"Look!"

The shout raised the alarm and everyone turned as a figure walked towards them, surrounded by mist. Everyone tensed, wondering if it was an enemy but relaxed when the figure materialized into Odomus, the island's steward. Smiles formed all around but died quickly. Something was wrong.

"Lad!" Hudson cried, horrified to see Goliath lying limply in his father's arms.

Beside him, Nassiah and Lady Dragon gasped and ran to meet them.

Tears were streaming down Odomus's face as the warriors gathered around their leader.

"My son!" Lady Dragon cried, touching Goliath's cheek. "Oh no, no!" She buried her face in his shoulder and neck, ignoring the blood that stained his tunic.

The other warriors looked on with a sense of grief. Tanner and Delia stepped forward, somehow calm in the face of tragedy.

"He still lives," Tanner said, his voice soft and warm. "I can feel it."

Delia looked at Odomus. "We can help. We can heal him."

Odomus's eyes pleaded with them to do whatever they could, but he did not speak. His voice had failed him. It was hard enough to keep from crying out. Had he lost one son again to regain another?

Tanner nodded and approached his twin. He gingerly touched Goliath's brow and sighed. Tears formed in his eyes and he smiled. "It's too soon for this big brother, much too soon." He placed his other hand on Goliath's chest and closed his eyes. He felt his mate's hands cover his own and felt warmth flow through him. He didn't see it but he knew a soft glow had surrounded them. It passed from them to Goliath, enveloping him in a healing blanket.

The warriors looked on, their eyes shining with unshed tears and their hearts beating with hope. Some had fallen to their knees in prayer. All of this added strength to Tanner and Deliah's power and soon Goliath began to stir.

"Come on, lad," Hudson pleaded silently, hands clenching and unclenching anxiously. "Come on!"

Color was returning to Goliath's face. His brows knitted together as though in discomfort. He stirred drew in a deep breath and woke.

"He's alive!" Sonar cried, jumping for joy and embracing his uncle at the same time as everyone else. Odomus crushed his son against him, kissing his cheek as everyone around them cried with joy.

Tanner smiled and held his brother's hand while staring into his elder twin's face. Goliath didn't seem to know what to think staring into his own image. Tanner chuckled. "It's going to take some getting used to, isn't it my brother?" he said with a slight accent.

Goliath smiled faintly and nodded.

"Come," said Odomus. "Let us return home so he may rest." He turned to Soni. "Old friend, are ye well enough tae remain here until the armies are organized? There are wounded that need tending tae."

"Aye," Soni confirmed. "I'll join you shortly." He placed a hand on Goliath's shoulder and smiled. "I am proud of you, lad. Rest well."

Goliath smiled and offered his arm, which Soni grasped before he broke off. "I'll stay here as well," Hudson said. "There's still much work tae be done. Just take good care of our leader."

"Count on it," Lady Dragon said, and with a wave of her hand, they disappeared.

Night Stone Unlimited, Manhattan.

Hyena was as bored as bored could be. She kicked the wall in front of her and turned from the window. The city's skyline was the same as it always was so it was pointless to keep looking at it. Nothing at all aside from the normal workings of this big mega company had happened since Thailog had left them to pursue, well, whatever it was he was pursuing. His little 'CEO' was working double time and still casting nervous glances over his shoulders in case Thailog should pop up somewhere.

She smirked. Funny. Maybe Thailog should disappear more often? The doofus seemed to work harder then.

"How long does he plan on staying out?" she muttered, almost to herself as she joined her brother and Wolf at the table. The two were playing cards. They were always playing cards.

"Probably until he's beaten Goliath, which is fine by me," Jackal retorted, smirking when Wolf growled under his breath. Everyone knew Wolf wanted to be the one to take the big guy done and grew angry whenever someone else beat him to it.

"Which might be never," Hyena spat. "Did you see what just happened? The whole city is burning up. But I don't remember any reports of possible meteor showers, especially nothing like what we just saw."

"Are you sure they were real meteors?" Coyote inquired from a few feet away. "They were in awfully high concentration and seemed to hit particular places, like Castle Wyvern."

"Yeah, I noticed that," Hyena said thoughtfully.

Wolf snorted. "Well, whatever they were, I think –"

He was cut off by a blinding flash and a loud crash. Game forgotten, everyone rushed for the main room, weapons at the ready. They stopped dead when they saw a figure, a very large figure, lying in the room. The building had been out of power for hours now since the meteor onslaught but there was still enough back-up lighting that they could see their invader and it wasn't really fair to call him in invader.

"Thailog?" Hyena gasped, taking a few steps closer.

The clone was as he had left them, except his old wounds had returned and now . . . well, she couldn't quite place it yet but there was something different about him. His horns looked longer, twisted and there were scaly marks on his body. His wings seemed to be the only part of him truly healed but even they seemed twisted. The scowl on his face was nastier than ever even when he was unconscious. What had happened to him?

"What happened to him?" Wolf whispered, unnerved.

"He lost, obviously," Jackal sneered, but for some reason he couldn't stop trembling.

"He doesn't quite look like himself, does he?" Hyena said. She looked at her twin. "Do you wanna wake him up?"

Jackal stiffened and backed out of the room. "Frankly, I'd rather not be there when he wakes up. I think I'll take a little stroll."

"I'll go with you," Wolf said, a little too quickly. "Just to . . . guard your back?"

Jackal snickered. "Sure, hairball. But you have to keep up."

He promptly opened his jetpack and flew out a nearby window.

"Hey!" Wolf howled. "I don't have a jetpack!"

"I'll get you one," Hyena growled, just as eager to leave the building as her companions. "Just stop your whining."

In the silence that followed, only the sound of Thailog's deep breathing permeated the silence and the only one left with him was Coyote. He stood there studying Thailog intently and shuddered. If machines could truly feel horror this one did.

There was something inside the clone.

The End.