Author's Note: Who ordered more angst and Wyvern Clan development? Cuz I gotchu this chapter. And whoever ordered more Elisa and Hudson bonding, I gotchu too, fam ;)

This chapter takes place during the events of "The Mirror", specifically right after the Manhattan Clan notices Demona and Puck on the skyscraper, right after Puck changes all the humans in Manhattan to gargoyles. After Hudson tells her, "Ya can't fight all of us, lass". Yeah, you know the part. Enjoy, this is another long one.


"Curse you, Puck!" Demona hissed venomously as she gripped the mirror in her treacherous claws, "This is no time to sleep!" she growled while flinging the fragile mirror over the edge of the building, like it was nothing. And for just a moment, Hudson felt as if the Sun had suddenly risen and locked him in place.

That darkened glass housed in an elegant silver frame was more than just a simple mirror, as the young lass Elisa originally believed. It was the conduit for the very spell that completely altered and shifted her form from dainty and delicate human into that of lithe and strong gargoyle. It was the tool in which the deranged Demona had used for some nefarious purpose in her seemingly eternal quest to eradicate all humans from the face of the earth. And it was the only thing that could repair whatever damage she wrought with it in her mad bid for mystical genocide. The object that unequivocally belonged to none other than Titania, Queen of the infamous 3rd Race, Oberon's Children.

That very same mirror, was what the fiery haired lass casually—purposefully, to distract her former clansmen—tossed over the side of a towering building and sent hurtling toward the cold stone streets thousands of meters below. As if it held no greater significance than an apple core, or perhaps more accurately, a toothpick that she'd used to clear an blockage and straightaway should be cast down and forgotten. How could she be the same daughter that he'd been so proud of at Castle Wyvern? Back when the world still made sense.

"The mirror!" Goliath bellowed in a panic, thrusting Hudson out of his petrification and back to life. Without a single word or exchange of looks, he dove off the roof and rocketed toward the shimmering mirror as it hastened to meet the unforgiving ground.

Stories rushed past in a blur as the distance slowly closed between his outstretched hands and the fragile weapon, hurtling and twirling just beyond his grasp. Taunting him with delicate rotations. His teeth clenched to bite back a panicked shout, the wind whistling in his ears reached a fever pitch, the city lights glimmered from the helpless mirror reflecting them randomly. If he allowed himself any idle observations, he would have been able to notice his own reflection in the mirror as it occasionally looked his way.

But nothing else was on his mind, the rarity of that occurrence least of all, for only one thing in that brief collection of heart pounding seconds filled his thoughts. Do not fail again. Do not allow your weakness, your ineptitude, your love affair with failure, doom everyone. Not again. You cannot fail again, old soldier. There was nothing else he could think, nothing else to focus on, all that mattered was ensuring the mirror was saved. It was sadly, the only thing he could do to help. And by God, he would not allow another one of his mistakes to ruin the lives of his clan. Of Elisa, or any of the other humans under his protection.

It was all on him, everything would be saved or damned by his hand, and all he had to do was grab the blasted thing! Hudson swiped his hand at the mirror as it dangled just a hair's breadth from his fingers. A streetlight rushed to greet him, reminding him of just how close he was to the end of this dangerous dance, mere milliseconds away from the mirror shattering against the ground!

Do not fail! Do not lose! DO NOT GIVE UP! GRAB HOLD NOW!

With frantic speed, he flung his arms open and like the jaws of a mighty dragon, clamped down on his prey, impossibly tight. He managed to wrap his arms around it, safely securing the mirror in his desperate grasp, his wings instinctively shot open and caught the massive gust of wind his rapid descent caused. It was nothing for him to course correct and slow his descent to a safe speed, a deep, shaky sigh escaping him as he tightened his hold on the magical object. For just a moment, Hudson closed his eyes and touched his head to the silver backing of the mirror, his heartbeat throbbing so powerfully he could feel it in his fingertips, his knuckles tense and locked around the mirror's ornate frame. He breathed deeply as his descent halted altogether.

Instinctually, Hudson glided into the shadows of a nearby building, the brickwork giving way to his powerful claws as he created a perch for himself. Regardless of the unwarranted excitement Demona had bestowed upon him, he dared not forget that his existence had to remain a secret to the human masses. That much was abundantly clear. Humans, though Goliath would disagree in part, were better off thinking they were myths to be whispered about in their safe homes and lives. Keep them ignorant, keep them placated, and keep them from going after them like before. Hudson didn't understand what it was about humans, but they were not receptive to anyone different from them.

It was the same in his time as it was in the current century, humans didn't change. Some like Elisa were exceptions to the rule, but on the whole, humans were pretty stagnant. In that, Hudson briefly mused, their two races had common ground, because gargoyles weren't especially fond of change either. He certainly wasn't a fan of it, as he'd made abundantly clear since his awakening in this strange new world. And yet, as soon as he'd repeated the same old mantra he always had playing in his head, he had to stop and correct himself. The trio were mostly well adjusted to the new world, Goliath had been getting along swimmingly thanks to Elisa. Tonight's magical adventure would only help in that endeavor, he imagined.

And Demona... unfortunately, she was completely different from before. Unrecognizably so. She may not like humans, but he would be remiss to ignore just how great a grasp on the modern marvels and societal changes she had. It was almost as if she never went into the centuries long stone sleep as the rest of the clan, like somehow she'd grown and changed with the world, and need not play catch up like everyone had to. Like Hudson still was. The old gargoyle shook his head a little, refocusing his efforts on getting the mirror to a safe place where the others could regroup with him.

With a little effort, Hudson looped his tail through the openings of the mirror's feet, freeing both his hands to climb up the building he was currently hooked onto, his claws digging into the stone as if it were a bushel of hay. In a matter of seconds, he was atop the roof and ready to ride the winds to another waiting perch, the mirror safely back in his arms' embrace. Hudson hopped off the roof, as he'd done a thousand times before, and cut through the air to his next destination absentmindedly looking down below to ensure his presence was still a secret to the humans.

But as soon as he did, his heart skipped a beat as his body went rigid once again. For the sight of Manhattan's populous going about their night as usual was not what Hudson observed. No, this was something completely and utterly unexpected. Like a snippet from a dream snatched from his unruly imagination was stitched atop reality. On the streets below was not a slew of human beings in their strange clothes playing with their strange devices and speaking their strange vernacular. In fact, there wasn't a single human in sight.

For as impossible as it seemed, as difficult to comprehend as it was, they had all been replaced with... gargoyles. Thousands upon thousands of gargoyles coming in a plethora of shapes, sizes, and colors, were all meandering about as if they had always been there. As if this was their home and all was just as mundane and common as every night before.

Hudson rammed into an incoming building due to being absolutely transfixed on the inconceivable scene before him. Thankfully, he latched onto the railing of a fire escape as he plopped down suddenly, the mirror remained clutched between his arms despite the unexpected landing. He barely registered the catastrophic mistake he nearly made and set his hungry eyes back to the streets below.

His jaw was slack and his tongue lay useless in his mouth as words simply evaporated in his mind, his grip on reality was becoming tenuous at best. He couldn't feel the crisp breeze that whipped his hair about, he couldn't feel the metal railing pressing against his side, he didn't even know if he was still breathing. All Hudson could do was stare with eyes the size of dinner plates at the impossibility just beneath him.

Gargoyles. Strolling down the sidewalks in the bright city lights, clad in human garments and fiddling with human oddities. Gargoyles. Hailing a taxi cab and getting inside the vehicle without fear or argument. Gargoyles. Picking up gargoyle children as they try to run to store windows and press their faces against the glass, just wishing to purchase whatever caught their eye. Gargoyles... living in Manhattan... as humans did.

It turned his stomach in the most confusing of ways. He didn't know if he should smile and cry tears of joy or if he should curl into himself and attempt to awaken from this nightmare he must be having. The old gargoyle didn't know what to make of any of this, he didn't trust himself to go down there and investigate just what in the blue blazes was going on. The thought of approaching one of these... new gargoyles set him on edge. What would he say? What would they say to him? Would he be welcomed or shunned just as the humans they replaced would shun him? Would they even understand him if he did approach them? They weren't real gargoyles... were they?

Too many questions, too many variables to account for, too many scenarios that could end badly. No, the wise decision was to remain out of sight and in the shadows. No matter how inviting the light had suddenly become.

Finally his critical thinking kicked in, the shock of the situation giving way at last. It was clear what caused this mysterious change in the world, and he was currently hugging it like a child would his stuffed toy. This pane of glass truly was Titania's Mirror, a magical relic of incredible power, a concept he thought he'd already understood, but found himself wanting in that area. He couldn't help but kick himself for not piecing it all together quicker, he was the one that realized the flash of mystical light was Demona's doing. He just didn't think to ask what that flash of magic was for, it certainly wasn't a beacon to draw the clan to her. Obviously it was for a high level spell such as this, he was just too stupid to realize...

Hudson shook his head roughly. Elisa's transmogrification was bad enough, but now every human in the city had been changed? Gargoyles once again roamed the Earth, in just one night? It was beyond his comprehension. He dared to believe it was beyond anyone's comprehension, even the shortsighted woman who caused all this mayhem.

Demona, that stark raving mad child, was to blame for confounding him so. In her endless pursuit of vengeance, she once again didn't think about the consequences of her actions and created a massive mess that the clan had to clean up. Still, Hudson knew that even she wouldn't have desired for this level of mischief, she wouldn't want humans transformed into gargoyles, she would want a complete eradication of humans.

Something like this would be... sacrilege in her eyes, he imagined. Serves her right, he grunted. He'd told Broadway to be careful what he wished for, but it seems like she was the one who needed to hear that bit of wisdom. Not that she would have heeded it even if she did hear him. Now she'll get to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

Though, bitterly, he recalled on numerous occasions wishing for the world they'd left behind. Just moments ago, he yearned for the days atop Wyvern Hill, back when Demona was Goliath's Angel and the clan was thriving. Looking out at the colorful collection of gargoyles peacefully going about their lives, Hudson lamented that he too should have heeded his own advice. A pained sigh escaped his lips as his brow furrowed, the ghost of tears prickling tired eyes. This should be, he realized in shame, a wondrous turn of events. He has been graced with a secret look into what this modern world would look like had gargoyles not been wiped out. Had his clan not been the sole surviving remnants of a dying race.

It's a beautiful sight, for the prism of reality to be rotated to reflect in its fractals an entirely new and impossible world that could only be seen in the fog of dreams. Never this clearly, this strong, this... tangible. It was a blessed gift to be able to watch this display of fantasy, a clan of gargoyles thousands strong just living peacefully in blissful ignorance. No enemies to defend against, no prejudice or persecution to endure, no need to hide away in the shadows. They could bask in the warm light, without a care in the world. For it was their world. Oh, how his heart ached with envy at such an existence, one he knew he would never have. None of his clan would, he groaned inwardly.

So cheerfully, he should accept this brief glimpse into a future and a lens to gaze back into his past with fonder eyes. His clan certainly wasn't perfect, there were several abnormalities and undesirable elements in them. But it was his clan, and for that it would always be the greatest of gargoyle clans. His extraordinary children, their sweet and promising younger siblings, their loyal and loving beasts. This was the life he wished for them, more than anything else. With less modern marvels, of course, but this intoxicating peace and serenity. They deserved that more than anyone else. But his reverie was abruptly cut short as his glazed eyes refocused on an... undesirable element.

In the streets below, among the crowd of beautiful gargoyles, stood a particularly disdainful young man. Not due to his actions or the way he carried himself, but from his uncanny resemblance to one of Hudson's children. The one he thought of with more grief and shame than any other. The gargoyle standing at a bus stop bore the unfortunate visage of the raven haired lad who had been the instigator of the Coldstone tragedy. Everything about him, the number of horns, the style of his hair, his long chin with sharp protrusions, even his wing shape and skin color, all of it exactly as the raven haired lad.

Hudson's fists tightened as his stomach knotting even tighter than before, as he took in the human turned gargoyle. The sight of one of his greatest failures absentmindedly looking at his wristwatch as if nothing was the matter. But Hudson did all he could not to reel away from him, the familiar thoughts powered by regret and failure plagued him. Even as the man walked past a lass who looked similar to his golden haired sister, the poor girl he lusted after obsessively, Hudson panicked. He nearly leaped from the fire escape to stop the cycle of pain that he truly believed was inevitable to those 3, no matter their form.

But when he saw that they casually walked past each other, exchanging nothing more than a nod, as he got on his bus and she continued on her way, Hudson slowly slinked back down, yet couldn't help his mind running away with him. The constant string of infractions and mistakes he piled on top of himself weighed him down like a collapsing tower. So much pain and disgrace that just didn't have to be, had he only been a better clan leader, a better mentor, and a more vigilant warrior.

The young lass that shared his rookery sister's form continued on, alone and unconcerned with the excruciating history that her mere presence trudged up for Hudson. Probably forgetting all about the raven haired man riding away, never again resurfacing in her life or her mind. A cruel and stark contrast from the real story she unfortunately continued to play a part in.

And the pain didn't stop there, for the third and main player in the Coldstone tragedy had just left a restaurant with a completely different lass on his arm. Hudson realized, even at a great distance, that this Coldstone shared even less with the real Coldstone's appearance than his "rookery siblings" did with their real selves, but there was enough consistency between them to sting. To bring the unbearable memories of clashing with a cobbled together abomination of his beloved clan children back in full force.

The fetching lass on his arm, laughing her troubles away, was the spitting image of another of his rookery sisters. One Hudson had considered for leadership along with Goliath, once upon a time. She was one of his favorite daughters, with her fiery disposition both on and off the battlefield, her light brown skin that always made him think of the lushes coats of wolves dwelling in the forest. This lass wasn't as tall as his daughter, but her deep red wings like dried blood and her brow so similar to his own left him with the strong impression that fate was awarding him one last chance to gaze upon her.

She never did make time to find a mate, the poor lass, too busy arguing with Demona and himself over Goliath's promotion to clan leader, one she found unwise and unfair, to use her own words. She desperately wanted to be the next clan leader, but Hudson saw a lack of foresight and patience in her decision making, which is crucial for a leader, thus she was passed over.

She was unapologetic in her challenge of Goliath when Hudson officially pronounced him clan leader, in the end, they came to blows and she lost the battle. She became bitter afterwards, cold and argumentative, which also kept her from finding a mate. Hudson tried to talk to her about all this, several times in fact, to help her come to terms with his decision... but she never did.

He knew it was borne out of petty jealousy, he'd seen it several occasions before, in time she would concede to her new clan leader and settle down with one of her nice rookery brothers. One that could keep up with her high-strung pace and maybe produce a few high-strung tykes of her own to relax her and round off her rougher edges. He chuckled without humor. Aye, in time...

Still, to see her so unabashedly happy and on the arm of someone who seemed to think the world of her, and who needed someone uncomplicated like her to be with, did his troubled heart well. Finally, a touch of sweet to accompany all this bitter, he huffed. Hudson had realized that whatever happiness and levity he should be getting out of this was distant and minuscule at best, nothing but shame and agony danced in his mind.

This development could be seen by the others as a wondrous change from their current lives, but to him it was a thinly veiled parade of his failures dropped into his lap. A stark reminder that this was, in fact, not what happened all those centuries ago, peace was not in his grasp nor will it ever be, the likelihood of this many gargoyles existing together again was an impossibility.

And everyone down there reminding him of his darkened past were not going to be cathartic releases of his pain, nor bittersweet remembrances of days long past. Quite the opposite, they were the twisting of the knife that had already been buried in his back, by fate most cruel. To plaster everywhere all the things he was doomed to never have, due to his shortcomings and mistakes... it was unforgivable.

But even with all that, his torture didn't stop there. For just as he'd taken all he could stomach of this pitiless display of misery, he took to the skies once more to get to a more prominent vantage point so his clan could easily regroup with him, from the corner of his eye, he saw something. The single most brutal, yet beautiful sight he'd seen that night. In this sea of faces, from familiar to entirely unique, he managed to catch just a glimpse of the one face he dreaded and yet hoped to see most.

The old gargoyle's heart once again leaped into his throat as he completely lost his composure and nearly dropped the all important mirror. A startled shout bellowed from his mouth as he quickly gripped the mirror before it completely slipped from his faltering grasp.

Hudson dropped to the ground with a loud thud, his earlier concerns of being detected a distant and unimportant memory. He wasn't sure how quickly he was moving, for to him it felt like an eternity of wading through gargoyles to get to her, but it just as easily could have been mere seconds. His sense of time, of distance, of all things, seemed to leave him as he moved forward, as if he was in a trance. Whatever the people around him were saying, or more likely chiding at him, were nothing more than white noise wafting past him. He had to know, he had to see, he had to be sure that his mind wasn't playing tricks on him.

With one last parting of the crowd, he found himself frozen on the spot for the 3rd time that night. His jaw hung wide open like a drawbridge as his eyes immediately prickled with misty tears. His mind wasn't play tricks on him, his eyes did not deceive him, there was no mistake. It was her...

The gargoyle woman turned to look at him and it was like he'd traveled back a thousand years for a stolen moment. Her skin was the same peachy-orange that rivaled the ripest of fruits, her hair was the same deep brown of the smooth rocks that eternally bathed in the crashing waves of the sea. Her ears were the same adorable fins as the majestic ballan wrasse, perfect in size and even the subtle movements they made when she was surprised. Her crest was the same delicate, almost human length, with 3 cute horns lined up vertically atop her forehead to her crown. Even her wings were the same, the rarest variation a gargoyle could have, with thin lines of fingers in her inner wing, like dainty threads of silk strung at the perfect angles.

But even as he scanned her over, obsessing over every minute detail that matched the woman of his treasured memories, Hudson noticed the differences. For one, she wore those spectacles that many humans sported in this time, her clothing was equally modern and hid her most intimate of features. Her lips, plump and rosy, were covered in that ridiculous makeup that human women had always been fond of for some reason he couldn't fathom. This woman didn't sport nearly as many tiny scars and indentations that she'd earned over a lifetime of battle, each one with a story that he knew by heart.

And worst of all, the look on her face... it was as if this woman had spent her life worrying and fretting over every little thing. The creases on her beautiful forehead were permanently affixed to her visage. Whereas the spritely woman of his past would never have permanent worry lines adorning her face, she was as untethered as autumn leaves dancing in the wind and as cheerful as a child. Her smile her greatest virtue, a gift from heaven itself bestowed on any and all who knew her. This woman almost looked as if smiling was a chore that she'd eventually get around to, but wasn't particularly looking forward to the event.

There was no question, upon careful inspection. It wasn't her, not really... but it didn't matter. Whether through stubbornness, insanity, stupidity, or the unholy combination of the 3, Hudson swore he was staring directly into the eyes of the one woman he never imagined he would see again outside the realm of dreams.

He was staring at the reincarnation of his Queen of the Night. Every delicate curve and sharp angle perfectly balanced and attached creating the lovely form that danced across his mind every morning as he slept. Haunted his thoughts when he allowed them to wander her way. Her siren's call always just beneath the surface of his consciousness, beckoning him to let go and fall back into fantasy with her. A song that he on more than one occasion obeyed, as much as he hated to admit it.

The tears flowed down his cheeks unchecked as he held his Queen's hand once more in his own. But even that was not untainted by the reality of his situation, for her talons were perfectly filed and even painted white on the tips. Covered in jewelry and trinkets only humans would find especially appealing.

And as she finally opened her mouth, her disapproval of his unwarranted touch clear in her face, Hudson once again admitted to himself. It wasn't her, he knew it wasn't her, it could never be her... But she was close enough.

"Excuse me, sir? Would you mind letting go of my hand?" she asked in a way that somehow felt more like a demand. The worry lines in her forehead sharpened as she yanked her hand away from Hudson's, evidently revealing her question didn't require an answer. Or that she just couldn't be bothered to wait for an answer.

Hudson remained frozen there as his heart sank. Her voice, even her voice, was painfully similar to his Queen's. Even laced with irritation and offense, she sounded almost exactly like his blessed Queen of the Night. It was almost too much to bear all at once.

"I... I... can't..." he croaked out before a sob halted his train of thought. He shut his eyes tightly to staunch the flow of bitter tears, but they refused to obey. An uncomfortable groan left the woman's mouth as she deflated and reached out to Hudson's hunched over form.

"Are... are you alright? Are you hurt?" she asked in a tone completely opposite of her earlier attitude. A tone much closer to his mate's demeanor. Soft, sympathetic, impossibly loving. And it only made the pain that much worse.

Hudson felt his heart ache—burn, with questions he had long thought dead and buried. Questions that plagued him when she first disappeared, but thankfully over time eventually disappeared into the furthest corners of his mind, to be one day forgotten and discarded entirely. But with the image of his affections and pain right in front of him, not in memory or dreams, but in the flesh, so too did the agonizing queries revive as well. Queries that were deceitfully simple, but whose answers were most likely far more complex than he could stand.

"Should—should I call 911?" the woman asked, rubbing soothing circles on his shoulder as they wracked with silent cries. Hudson lifted his head and looked her in the eye, startling her into jumping back a pace from him. His questions swirled into a torrent of interrogation in his head as he pinned the woman under his pained gaze.

Where did you go? Why did you leave? Did you try to return to the castle? Did you try to find me? Did you want to go or were you forced? Who forced you, who could have forced you to do something like that? And for what purpose? How could you leave the children without a clan mother, when they needed one the most?

Did you foresee what was to happen to the clan? To the castle? To me? Is that why you left? To abandon a lost cause? To save your skin? To cut your losses and start over? Where did you go? What did you see? Did you ever think of me, of our clan, of our love? Or was it a light thing for you to throw away our life together? Why couldn't you take me with you? Take the clan with you? If you found a new home, would you have told me? Or was I just another shackle you had to free yourself from?

But the one query that cut through the rapids of emotions that threatened to drown him, scared him to the core. It came from somewhere deep inside that he never dwelled, never allowed himself to venture. Despite all of his self flagellation and mental berating, he never went where this question laid. It was too painful, too hard, too heavy. But the truth of it, the harsh unforgiving reality it carried, refused to be ignored.

"Did you ever truly love me?" he heard himself say, like someone else had asked it for him and he was just another bystander in this moment.

The thought peeled away every layer of protection he wrapped himself in and exposed his naked aching heart like prying open an oyster. He hated thinking of her this way. Hated to admit the feeling was so familiar and pure. But there it was, the dank fog that clouded every memory of her. The question that refused to stay dead, even after all these centuries.

He came to the realization long ago, a few years before The Wyvern Massacre, that if she never really loved him, then her disappearance could make sense. As tragic and excruciating as it would be, it could at least be explained, it could be resolved and eventually, through a long, rough grieving period, be dismissed. It wouldn't be a subconscious plague on his mind, like so many things tended to be. But without a concrete answer, he couldn't dismiss it, he couldn't begin to heal from it. How could closure ever be achieved in such a state of confusion? How could healing begin when the wound remained untreated and festering?

And when the woman resembling her struggled to answer him, Hudson stepped closer to her.

"Did you ever... truly love me, my Queen of the Night?" he repeated as he reached his hand out to her, desperate to hold her one last time. Even though he knew it would tear him apart all over again.

The woman shrank back again, her eyes darting this way and that, looking for an escape, no doubt. Before he could take another step, something swiftly and staunchly blocked her from his view and grabbed onto his outstretched wrist.

"Hey pal, do we got a problem here?" the man said, biting off the words forcefully. He was an older, average gargoyle, save the bushy mustache. His horns protruded from his hat and his glaring eyes were set behind a pair of spectacles of his own, and Hudson noticed the hand that grabbed his wrist sported a golden band on his middle finger. He faintly recalled feeling a ring of some sort on the hand of his Queen's counterpart as well.

"I said, do we got a problem, buddy?" the mustachioed man reiterated, even more antagonistic than before, his face mere inches from Hudson's. The man's nose was flared in disdain and righteous indignation was clear in his voice as his grip on Hudson's wrist tightened to refocus his attention on him.

Hudson stared up at the man, who had to be no more than 5 inches taller than him, and saw behind his antagonism a true desire to protect the woman behind them. The look and behavior of a man who would do anything and everything to keep the ones he holds dear safe. A look he remembered seeing on his own face, once or twice, when he still had the fire to protect the one he held dear. He was at fault here, not this man or his poor mate who unfortunately caught Hudson's eye this night. So with regretfully slow shame, Hudson cleared his throat and tried to adopt the most sheepish smile he could muster.

"No... no problem, good fellow. I was mistaken..." he assured, his throat still scratchy with choked back sobs. "I apologize fer disturbin' yer peaceful evening" he quickly finished as he looked down at his side, where Titania's Mirror remained under his other arm. A clear reminder that now was not the time for this foolishness. That all of this was a fruitless, pain-filled exercise in weakness.

"Well, good" the mustachioed man replied, less bristly than before, confusion clear in his tone. He released Hudson's wrist as he continued, "Best be on your way then, sir".

Hudson rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand as he tried to regain some semblance of decorum, "Aye, yer right" he chuckled, an empty sound ringing in his ears.

As his tears were brushed aside, he noticed the man had walked back to his mate's side, her tentative gaze still on Hudson, worry lacing her features. Another clear difference between his Queen and this imitation. Another reminder that his folly was not contained to his own torment, but had spilled over to innocent humans transmogrified into gargoyles and ignorant of their true forms. Just as what had been done to Elisa—he would have kicked himself if he could bend that way—Elisa was still on the roof where they left her!

She was turned into a gargoyle, but like every other human turned gargoyle, she couldn't use her wings! They were mere decorations for them, which had to be why he'd yet to see any of them so much as leap, let alone glide through the night sky. That's where he needed to go, where the clan would certainly return to plan their next move.

Before he started his trek back to the poor lass, he paused to take in the sight of his beloved one last time. There was no doubt in his mind that the clan could defeat Demona and get the elven character she had chained up to reverse his spell and return everything back to the way it was. Thus... this really would be the last time he would see her, outside of his precious memories and the realm of dreams. This was it. He swallowed hard as he struggled to find the words to part with the gargoyle couple forever. But ultimately, he fell on an old, but simple farewell.

"You be sure to take care o' her, ye hear? Don't let her outta yer sight fer even a moment, lad" he said, as serious as a heart attack, shocking the man, who was still unsure of what was happening, into taking a step back. But Hudson's harsh gaze didn't waver, his clawed finger thrust right at the mustachioed man that withered a bit under his stare. The man relented and nodded awkwardly to Hudson, earning him a wry smirk from the intimidating old warrior.

Finally, he shifted his gaze to her, the dazzling beauty that remained a pale reflection of his true Queen of the Night. His wry grin melted into genuine love and appreciation. She wasn't her, his Queen was gone and it was impossible for her to return. No matter how badly he wished it, no matter what questions he still had unanswered, that was certain. And this woman, though not her, still gave him a gift he never thought he'd receive. He got to see and hear the next best thing to his mate, after all these years of wishing for that very thing. And for that, he couldn't help but smile at her.

A softness he reached deep within to access enveloped him as he addressed the woman. "And to you, madam..." he bowed to her, in deep, profound admiration and gratefulness. "I wish ye a wonderful, happy life" he strained as he felt the threat of tears yet again.

Hudson remained lowered as the woman struggled to respond. "Th... thank you?" she squeaked out, caught between flattered and confusion.

With that, Hudson raised back up, huffed a satisfied breath, and looked one last time at the imperfect image of his one and only. Then, without another word, he slowly turned and backed away from the gargoyle couple, the crowd of people swallowing him back up as he drifted further and further from them. They hastily walked away, continuing whatever journey Hudson had interrupted, checking on each other's wellbeing as they ventured through the city. A dull ache gripped his heart as he lost her voice in the crowd, but he steeled himself and refocused on the task at hand.

He turned around and ran down an alleyway, before leaping atop a dumpster, then the top of a fence, then towards a building's wall. His claws dug deep into the rock as easily as ever, with his toes following suit. Once again, he swiftly laced his tail between the spaces in the mirror's feet and began scaling the building's surface, remembering the building they left Elisa atop as he climbed. Red brick structure, grey brick frame, water tower on second level roof, approximately 20 floors... he recited before pondering a moment more. Clothesline with pale green sheets hanging to dry, he added resolute.

Those details added with the approximate distance from the skyscraper where they'd cornered Demona, narrowed down Elisa's position greatly. Now all he had to do was take flight, which at his current altitude, he was more than ready to do. Hudson flung himself from his perch and flapped his wings open as they faithfully caught the wind currents and led him where he desired to go in one graceful motion. He flipped his tail in front of him to toss the mirror in front of him so he could resume his normal hold on it. For a second, he could see his reflection, and he was surprised the mirror didn't crack at his withering visage.

No wonder the woman wasn't happy about him grabbing and gawking at her, he looked horrible. Worse than he'd ever thought he did before. Perhaps it was this brave new world wearing him down, perhaps it was just old age. Maybe a combination of the two. Regardless, he was glad to ignore his reflection as he scanned the buildings below for any details of Elisa's roof. It only took a few minutes to find it and swoop down to make sure she hadn't gone anywhere.

Sure enough, the lass was pacing back and forth on the lower roof, impatiently whipping her tail back and forth. Did she know she was doing that or was it just instinctual, he wondered distracted.

"Oi, lass!" he called out to her, causing her to whip her head in his direction, flashing a quick stern look to him before he landed. "Been waitin' long?" he finished, trying his level best to sound relaxed and nonchalant. No sense in workin' her up, especially in her current state, he reasoned.

"You could say that, yeah" she answered back, crossing her arms and tilting her head a bit, as she always did. But in the form of a gargoyle, she appeared particularly unamused.

"Apologies, lass. There's quite a commotion goin' on down there" he said as he carefully laid Titania's Mirror against the wall.

"Doesn't sound like a commotion from where I'm standing" Elisa replied curtly.

"No, I don't imagine ye could hear the entire city of humans turnin' ta gargoyles" Hudson answered back, sitting on a nearby box.

Elisa snapped out of her anger and lit up, "You mean, everybody's back to normal?"

Hudson sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Nay, Elisa. Ye and all the humans are supposed to be, well, humans. But thanks to Demona and her magical friend, there aren't any humans in Manhattan anymore"

"And that's... bad?" Elisa asked, scrunching up her nose.

"Fer the love'a—" Hudson stopped himself, before sighing again. "Yes, lass. That's bad. The spell has wracked yer brain too, so ye think you've always been a gargoyle. But the truth is, you were human all yer life until tonight"

"Like Goliath kept trying to tell me" she said, placing her knuckles beneath her chin, struggling to come to grips with the revelation.

"Aye" Hudson merely rolled his eyes. The sooner this spell was reversed, the better.

"But if that's true, then why did Demona make that guy turn me into a gargoyle? I mean, she hates me, why wouldn't she just tell him to kill me?" she reasoned, piquing Hudson's interest.

"A poignant question, Elisa. But one I'm afraid I don't have the answer to" he said as he stroked his beard in thought.

"Right. Guess we'll just have to wait for Demona to explain herself" she joked as she looked in the mirror, studying her looks. "It's crazy... you guys keep telling me I was human before tonight, but everything about me is exactly the same as it's always been"

"No, lass. I'm afraid what ye feel and what ye see is all the doin' of one'a Oberon's Children usin' that mirror ta play with yer mind"

Elisa shook her head in disbelief, "But that's... that's crazy! Look at me!" she exclaimed, gesturing to her whole body. "I've always been a gargoyle, I've always had a tail, I've always had wings, I've always had fangs and claws! This is really me, right down to my ears!"

"Elisa—"

"You guys are the ones that changed! I mean, you're completely different from what you're supposed to be!" she said, flinging her hand in his direction. "How do we know the magic guy didn't cast a spell on you guys?"

"Because lass, unlike you, none of us has ever seen a sunrise" Hudson soberly explained, silencing Elisa. "None of us wear human clothes, none of us have rode in an automobile, none of us have walked down the streets of your city and been welcomed with open arms" he looked up at her as she slowly turned to her side, her eyes widening the more he spoke.

"Why do ye think that is, lass? Because we don't want those things? Or because we can't have those things?" he asked in a more pained tone than he intended. But the encounter with the phantom image of his Queen had left him embarrassingly raw and fragile.

Elisa slowly found her voice again, "Because you're really... gargoyles..." she looked down at her hands, deeply uncomfortable. "And I'm... really a... human" she finally croaked out.

"Aye, now ye got it" Hudson nodded, exhausted with the entire ordeal.

Elisa put her hands over her face as she huffed some panicked breaths. "I... I don't..." she managed between breaths, before swallowing hard. "I need a sec..." she groaned as she dropped next to him.

"I understand, it wasn't exactly easy fer me to see a city of gargoyles so suddenly" Hudson said calmly, patting her shoulder gently. "Take all the time ye need, lass. Goliath and the lads should be back soon. We'll get this all sorted then" he assured as he gave her slender shoulder a light squeeze.

Elisa looked up at him, a small unsure smile lighting up her downcast face, "Thanks, Hudson" she placed her hand atop his on her shoulder. "You're pretty reliable, ya know that?" she added, causing Hudson to blink rapidly in surprise.

"Ack, hardly" he scoffed as he pulled his hand back from her frame and rubbed it against the back of his neck, at an awkward pace.

"You are. Really" she repeated purposeful as she leaned up to look him in the eye. "I'm glad ya came back when you did, I was goin' crazy by myself. And now with this... human thing..." she struggled with the word, as if speaking it was equivalent to lifting a heavy stone above her head.

"I'm just glad you're here, is all" she shrugged as she leaned against him a little, shifting her gaze to the cityscape stretched out before them. Hudson looked down at her hair, as deeply blue as a patch of blueberries, and allowed a small smile to creep to his face.

"Me too, lass" he answered back quietly, as he settled in his new position as lean post for Elisa. The one other touch of sweet to counter all the bitter he'd received tonight, as she had consistently been since he'd met her. As painful and disturbing as having the ghosts of his past resurface in the least cathartic way possible, Elisa remained a bright spot in his darkened mind, no matter her form.

Though he had to admit, being a gargoyle really agreed with her. It wasn't as if he hadn't noticed her beauty as a human, she was clearly among the most gorgeous of females in her species. But that was by human standards, which were completely alien to gargoyles, same as gargoyle standards being completely alien to humans. But seeing her here, now, in this form. There was no question that she was breathtaking in every way. It's no wonder Goliath took no time to start flying with her back at the clock tower.

He knew the way they looked at each other when they thought they were being discreet, saw it the second night they'd known each other. The way Goliath held her in his arms and wore that goofy grin like he'd just discovered human women in that moment. He noticed the way her voice raised in pitch when speaking to him, how she had a habit of touching Goliath in ways that bordered on romantic without ever breaching entirely into that arena. And how Goliath never once stopped her from doing so. The lad may have still been thick when it came to the fairer sex, but Hudson had been around far too long not to see the signs.

However, thanks to this unforeseen transformation of hers, he knew Goliath had to pick up on all the signs, and realize his own attraction for the lass. The boy couldn't take his eyes off of her, it took a literal magical explosion of light to snap him out of his trance! He chuckled to himself, rumbling his chest a bit as Elisa eyed him.

"What's funny?" she spoke up, a laugh beneath her breath.

"Nothin', lass. Nothin' at all..." he replied, pleasant and unconvincing.

"You havin' a private chuckle at the human girl who thinks she's a gargoyle, hmm?" she said, playfully nudging Hudson's arm with her elbow.

"Not at all! Fer what it's worth..." he began, shaking his head ruefully, "I'm glad Goliath got ta see ye like this, lass" he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Elisa blinked and went rigid. "You are?" she quirked an eyebrow.

Hudson nodded, "Aye. The lad's never looked happier" he dropped knowingly, before looking back at the skyline.

"Is that right..." she quietly breathed, as her gaze shifted across the roof, her mind running away with her.

Hudson chuckled again, before sighing. There's was an unusual love, but not unwelcomed, least of all by him. Not after a night like this. It had already been a long ordeal and they still had much work to do. Demona was still out there with one of Oberon's Children as her temporary slave, this spell needed to be reversed, hopefully while erasing the memory of it from everyone's minds, they still had to return Titania's Mirror, not to mention what any of their other enemies could be doing right now with the power of a gargoyle. His brows furrowed as he blinked curiously at that thought.

Hudson found himself pondering what the great David Xanatos would look like as a gargoyle. Probably uncannily like the raven haired rookery brother of Goliath. He certainly shared a similar personality to him, he thought bitterly. The Pack and their charming personality corresponding with animalistic gargoyle forms, more furry and fuzzy than his clan. He recalled seeing a certain clan, on his brief travels before Wyvern Hill, looking quite like angels with their feathered wings, but perhaps that was too kind a comparison for The wretched Pack. Maybe something akin to Elisa's brother Derrick—or Talon as he preferred to be called—and his "clan" would be closer to what The Pack would be.

MacBeth as a gargoyle, now that'd be a sight to see, he admitted with a start. He wondered if he'd know he was originally human, considering how intensely he desired to hunt Demona. And considering, if his word was to be trusted, he was the one who bestowed the grizzly, yet accurate name to her in the first place. If anyone could realize he was under this transmogrification spell, it'd be MacBeth, the man who was extremely confident that he would be able to learn the great Merlin's spells from the Scrolls of Merlin. Good thing Hudson could regroup with the clan and they were able to stop him, thanks to... Robbins.

And just like that, Hudson entertained the though of Robbins as a gargoyle, his one human friend suddenly becoming just like him. It was odd, that he'd never thought of it before now, but this spell probably effected Robbins as well. It turned Elisa into a gargoyle without anyone seeing or hearing the spell, the entire city of Manhattan couldn't have heard and seen the green flash of magic earlier either. Yet, here they all were, gargoyles instead of humans. Fae magic at its finest.

Though there's no way he'd see Robbins in the city during such a late hour, Robbins had mentioned he liked to be home around sunset and spend a relaxed evening at home. Who could blame him? Even so, Hudson wondered with more curiosity than all the other humans he'd thought of what Jeffery Robbins would look like under the effects of this peculiar spell.

Hudson took his time and searched his entire lexicon of gargoyles, every shape, size, and color to find one that could most closely resemble Robbins. Using Elisa's new form compared to her human one, he factored in everything he could to get this right. He found it quite strange that he was actually invested in this little thought exercise, but he really was. Robbins... deserves the effort, he supposed as he continued to search through the possibilities.

Finally, one gargoyle came to mind, a strapping lad one generation after Hudson's, as he recalled. He was a tall, powerful and extremely serious warrior, bald and with graying brown skin. His brow was smooth and he had horns that came out from the side of his head and wrapped behind him, almost like a crown. He had Brooklyn's wings, with a dark lavender inner wing, from what he remembered of him. They split from the clan with a few others several years before The Massacre, so perhaps he lived a full life somewhere out there while Hudson slept for 1000 years. One can hope...

Hudson shook his head and admonished himself, this was supposed to be an amusing distraction, not a depressing one. He supposed that if Robbins could look like any gargoyle, he'd probably look like a shorter, thinner, older version of the bald fellow. Whatever that would look like, he rolled his eyes. Gilly, probably would look just like Bronx, just prettier, he reasoned. What a pair they'd be, he smiled to himself as he fantasized about Robbins in gargoyle form with Gilly in beast form by the fireplace.

Flicking through books with his long talons, knocking things over with his obtrusive wings... accidentally breaking his teacup when he stirs in his sugar because of a dramatic increase in strength... his horns tearing through his favorite chair! His claws shredding his precious books as he tries to read the bumps! His tail getting caught underfoot, causing him to trip and fall!

Panic shot through him as he tensed from the awful thoughts. That was the real danger of this kind of magic. There was whimsy in it, enjoyment to be derived, merriment for a time to excuse its presence. But that was just to mask the true dangers and malice behind the spell caster. Magic was not to be used to trifle with the natural order of the world, no matter how tempting, how outwardly amusing, how seemingly harmless. It was a ploy, a trick, to lull people into a false sense of security and keep them from realizing they're playing with fire. The kind of fire that doesn't just burn you, it burns everything around you, no matter how you try to douse the flames. The kind of fire only a Fae could conjure.

Blast that mad woman for causing all this pain and confusion! Why must she continue to drag everyone into her crazed revenge plots, human and gargoyle alike? Didn't she remember the stories of Oberon's Children that he and his Queen taught them all as hatchlings? You can't trust them, you can't underestimate them, and you can't control them. They don't care for mortals, humans and gargoyles are the exact same in their eyes, toys to be played with until something breaks or they get bored and leave things an impossible mess no one can clean up. And now the white-haired elf had gone and done something as reckless and harmful as reconfiguring every human's form into that of gargoyles, it was unforgivable!

If that fanatical Demona's machinations with that blasted Fae have caused harm to Robbins or Gilly in any way, I swear I'll

"Hudson?" Elisa spoke up beside him, snatching his attention back to the present. "You okay?"

Hudson coughed awkwardly before answering, "O'course, lass" he turned his face away, trying to adopt a calm demeanor as his grip against the crate they sat on relaxed. Any longer and he would have ripped through it without even realizing.

"You started growling under your breath a little there..."

"Oh, sorry lass. Don't know what came over me" he coughed again, as he went to rubbing the back of his neck. Elisa just looked him over, her transmogrification still threw him for a loop, her pointy ears poking out from her hair were really prominent in that little gesture. She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly her attention was stolen as she noticed something in the distance and her face lit up again.

"It's the guys!" she exclaimed, pointing at four distant figures soaring in unison closer to their position. She jumped to her feet and ran over to where they would land on the roof, excitement barely contained, as she practically danced on the balls of her feet as the lad's came ever closer.

Hudson leaned his elbows on his knees and exhaled a long sigh of relief. Or was it exhaustion? He could no longer tell, for as welcome a sight as Goliath and the lads were to his old eyes, especially after a nightmare down memory lane like tonight had been, he knew their work was not yet done. There was a rogue gargoyle still at large, one of Oberon's Children under her temporary service, every human in Manhattan, and possibly the world, was in danger. And like it or not, the clan were the only ones capable of dealing with such a threat, especially since the rest of the humans in the city were currently busy being gargoyles who can't glide, can't fight, and therefore can't defend themselves.

Hudson rubbed his hands over his face, kneading and pulling his loose skin as he tried to get himself ready for... the unexpected. For what seemed like the hundredth time this week. The lads landed on the roof and walked towards him, clearly confused and unsure what to think about their current predicament. At least he wasn't alone in that regard.

Even so, they would face this threat together, defeat Demona once more, and restore order to their castle, Manhattan. Fulfill their duty as gargoyles for another crazy night, before things got any worse.

And free the humans from this terrible curse.


Author's Note: Alright, so! Lots of gargoyles and descriptions, some are of gargoyles we've already seen, a few in particular are of gargoyles we have yet to see. I guess we should go in order of appearance in this chapter.

Iago's lookalike, from the Coldtrio, the gargoyle that Hudson always refers to as "raven-haired lad" considering Iago isn't his given name, just a production name. I thought the visual parallels between him and Xanatos were striking and their personalities, as far as Hudson is concerned, would have many similarities. So thought I'd make that connection this chapter.

Desdemona's lookalike, from the Coldtrio, the woman in that tragic love triangle. She didn't have much of a role, just thought it'd be fascinating for Hudson to see an Iago and Desdemona that don't even know each other and don't have any connection briefly interact. The same goes for the next character in the Coldtrio.

Othello's lookalike was the least focused on because, quite frankly, I find him the least interesting of the Coldtrio. Nevertheless, I wanted to do something special with him and pair him with someone else entirely to show just how distant this lookalike is from the Othello that lives for Desdemona alone.

That other female gargoyle that was hanging on "Othello's" arm and loving every second of it, was the lookalike of Hyppolyta, the biological daughter of Hudson and Queen. I took the little that Greg Weisman revealed about her, including her appearance, and added just a tad more. I like the idea that Hudson's biological daughter wanted his approval more than the others and when she didn't get it, reacted badly. But tragically, she would have gotten over it in a few short years... that she never got to live to see, thanks to The Massacre. Still as sad as that is, seeing one of his chronically unhappy children find happiness with her rookery brother that also deserves a drama free life, that had to give Hudson a smidgen of happiness. I didn't want to consistently beat him over the coals this chapter. Though, I do give him quite an emotional beating XD

Last, but most certainly not least! The main gargoyle that this chapter was meant to develop, was indeed Queen of the Night aka Hudson's Mate aka Queen. She does not have an official description yet, though speculation of her design abounds. I pretty much ignored all that and went with my own thing, I hope you didn't mind XD What I did is I took attributes from several different gargoyles that I think would make a really interesting, striking, gargoyle that complimented Hudson's design. Her color is identical to her son Broadway's clone, Hollywood, light peach-orange. Her crest and horns are identical to her biological daughter True, a small crest and 3 horns atop her head, with room for hair. Her ears are identical to Broadway's, fin-like. Her hair and wings are identical to a gargoyle named Ophelia, long brown hair and wings with thin lines on the inner wing. Ophelia is the second in command of the Avalon Clan, which is made up of the Wyvern Clan's eggs in the rookery that survived The Massacre. Queen also shares a body type with Ophelia, albeit shorter. Hudson's height, if not a tad shorter.

Okay there's one more, I lied XD Queen's human lookalike has a husband, and for him I just took one of the humans turned gargoyle designs from the episode and made him her husband. If you want to know which one in particular, in the shot of Demona initially noticing that the humans have become gargoyles, there's a guy with a green hat, green turtleneck, and brown jacket with a yellow collar. He's got a mustache and a beard, but Hudson ignores the beard because mustaches are odd for gargoyles to have, that was more of the focal point for him XD. I chose him because he seems like a good foil for Hudson, visually speaking. Like, you look at him with Queen and you could imagine how things might have been for Hudson if she had remained with him instead of mysteriously disappearing one day. Seemed interesting to explore.

Okay, wait there's another one, dang it XD The gargoyle that Hudson thinks of for Robbins as a gargoyle is called Second. That was the production name given to him because of his position as second in command to Demona after the Wyvern Massacre. He was part of the Splinter Wyvern Clan, a collection of gargoyles that left Wyvern Hill between 988-994, a decade or so before the Wyvern Massacre. Before he left, I don't imagine he and Hudson interacting very much, but he's around the same age as Hudson and he just kinda looks like Robbins would as a gargoyle to me, so I picked him as the basis.

But yeah, that's all the gargoyles of importance this chapter. None of the actual gargoyle characters, but many different lookalikes to ruminate on and compare to the actual gargoyle characters. As for the plot itself, if you notice in the episode, Elisa is pretty clear headed when we regroup with the Manhattan Clan, she seems to know for a fact that she's supposed to be human and the gargoyles have always been gargoyles. I believe whatever lingering doubt she had about that was dispelled by Hudson while they waited for the boys to return. And it created a nice bonding moment for the two of them.

Hudson thinking about the various human characters turning into gargoyles was just a fun exploration that I've always had concerning this episode. What would all those guys look like as gargoyles and how would they react to being gargoyles, if at all? I still think that out of all of them, MacBeth would realize he's not supposed to be a gargoyle because of his long history with Demona and gargoyles in general. Xanatos might realize something's not quite right, and of course Owen would be immune OwO

Robbins being turned into a gargoyle was a natural conclusion to that train of thought, whether Hudson's concerns for Robbins doing damage or hurting himself thanks to his new form are legitimate or not are, in this context, irrelevant. Mainly, I just wanted to highlight that Robbins is absolutely effected by this spell, as the requirements to be touched by Avalon magic isn't limited like Mortal magic. So Hudson's line in "City of Stone Part 2" about needing to see and hear magic to be touched by it, doesn't apply here sadly. Or happily, depending on your point of view. C:

Alright, I think that's it for notes. Just a lot more setups and such to be further developed and paid off later. Next chapter we're still on The Mirror episode, just... in another part of the city. You'll see. ;)