"Remember My Love"
by Lisette:  Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 10/30/97

Revised on: 05/28/01

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is the fourth installment to the Talika Series.

Brief Summary: Talika's help is needed as the world faces the biggest threat seen as memories begin to resurface.  

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

Elisa's apartment -- 5:30pm

    Groaning, Elisa reached forward and slapped her hand against the snooze button.  Stupid alarm clock! she grumbled to herself.  To make it worse, this was no alarm clock that gave off an annoying beep or played the radio.. no, she had to buy a talking alarm clock.  That's right, a talking alarm clock.  For instance, what woke her from her deep slumber this evening was a rooster crowing "Cockeldoodledoo!  Cockeldoodledoo!  Cockeldoodledoo!"  And then an annoying hollow male voice saying "Five thirty pm...  Cockeldoodledoo!  Cockeldoodledoo!  Cockeldoodledoo!  Five thirty pm," and so on and so forth.  She felt like throwing the damned thing against the wall but resigned herself to throwing the covers back and hopping out of bed.

    With the shades drawn the room was dark.  Stumbling in the inky blackness, Elisa headed for the light switch.  Instead, she stumbled and bumped into things left and right, cursing as she went.  Finally, she just stopped in her tracks and said, "Let there be light dans ma chambre."  As her eyes glowed a bright green, an audible click was heard as the light switch turned on, seemingly of its own accord.  Blinking in the sudden light, Elisa mumbled, "Gotta love magic."

    More French? she mused to herself.  Searching her vast store of memories, Elisa finally realized why it seemed that at least half of the spells she cast were in French.  Sure she took a couple years of the language while in High School, but still, that was no reason to account for her fluidity in it once her memories returned.  Now she knew... during her very long lifetime, she had spent a good majority of it in France.  It was a lovely country and apparently the language stuck in her head.  "Oh là là!" Elisa said, shaking her head as she stumbled to the bathroom.  She needed to shower, eat breakfast, and then head over to the Aerie so she could greet her love.

    Ever since their return from Avalon a couple of weeks ago, things had progressed like normal.  Her revelation hadn't really changed her perspective on life.  She was still the same person.. albeit with a different given name.  Then again, no one was to call her Talika... that would just cause problems.  Right now she'd just settle for Elisa Maza.  After having it for twenty eight years, she was used to it and even liked it.  It was also a relief to finally be able to have her original form back again.  As for Goliath, the only other person to know the truth... he hadn't mentioned it, to her great relief.  If he pressed too hard then there would be a lot of explaining to do about certain things.. like her motives behind her actions in the past.  Mainly, her motive for creating the gargoyles.  What she had told Titania and Oberon was a lie.

    Since a time long ago, she had always been alone.  Talika was tough, though, and she had buried her loneliness for the good of her people.  Still, The Creator knew of her sadness.. and as a gift to his star pupil, his favorite creation, he gave her visions of a time when she'd no longer have to be alone.  Because of those visions, Talika knew what she had to do -- or at least had an idea.  With a little manipulation on her part, and the blind faith of her friends, the gargoyles were created.  Because of her remarkable abilities and position, she could honestly say that she remembered the day of the first vision like it was yesterday...

Egypt -- 1020 B.C.

    Talika shook her head in anger, the tears dripping down her face.  "Not again!" she moaned quietly.  Her human and mortal love was dead again.  Sure, it was bound to happen sooner or later, but she would have gladly preferred later to sooner.  She couldn't really call it love though, but merely, the human that she cared for most of all.  In this time and place, Talika was known as Sheika, an Egyptian peasant woman.

    A couple of years ago, a young and sweet Egyptian boy fell madly in love with her.  He was so kind and his family well liked, so her father accepted his proposal on her behalf -- she didn't mind.  She really had no choice in the matter anyway, her parents were preparing to marry her off.. it was her time of marriage.  Together, Anghelsh and she lived a simple, if not pleasant life.  She really cared for Anghelsh -- he was her best friend.  A couple of hours ago, though, her mortal mother, Kaeite, came to their small hut and informed her of the tragic accident, the one that ended her Anghelsh's life.

    A few years ago, the pharaoh of the land decided that it was time to begin building his pyramid.  All of the able bodied men in the land were called to work, straining for all of their worth to build the biggest pyramid seen to date.  That morning, Sheika had kissed her adoring husband goodbye as he was off to help in the building.  Apparently, one of the large rock boulders that Anghelsh was helping to move slid back from its position.. right onto her beloved husband.  A terrible injustice that happened all to often in this time.

    I should have been watching! Sheika said angrily to herself.  Even though she looked like a normal Egyptian woman she still had her normal powers.  Usually, as she went about her usual chores, she used part of her mind to keep a close eye on her love.  Today, she was so busy using her powers to destroy a large fire ball that was heading towards their home that she didn't keep watch over him.  That lack of attention cost Anghelsh his life.. making her a young widow, at only the age of sixteen.  When she thought back to it now, Talika was able to put more modern and scientific names to the incident.  What really happened was that once again another comet was speeding towards Earth.. the result would have been catastrophic.  They would have faced another ice age and her race would have perished.  So, Talika did what she was created for: she protected the humans of the world.

    Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sheika walked over to the bed her and her beloved husband once shared and lay across it.  She didn't know what to do.  How many times in the last millennium had she faced this same problem?  How many more times did she need to experience this pain as her loved ones grew old and died before her eyes.  In this case, she didn't even get to share in that love for very long.  "Why Creator?  Why must you put me through this torment?  Why have you destined me to live my life all alone, while Titania and Oberon have each other?  Why do you hate me so?" Sheika asked bitterly as her tears soaked her clothing and the cloth on the little bed.  Then, she did the only thing she knew how to do in the face of such times... she slept... and dreamed.

    Dreaming in itself was as strange as anything else.  Whenever she did dream, it was of the past and her loved ones she had to leave behind.  This time, though, her dream was filled of visions from the future.  She saw herself in her original form, wrapped in the arms of a great winged being.  He was more beautiful than any human she had ever seen.  To make it even stranger, his whole aura seeped of her, Titania, and Oberon's magic.  He towered over her, at least seven feet tall, with long black hair cascading down his lavender skin, with large wings protruding from his back and a massive tail swishing occasionally behind him.  This was no beast -- he was intelligent and honorable.  He was perfect.  And he was hers... not in the possessive way, but in the fact that he loved her to no end, and that she actually returned the love.  

    As Sheika woke from the dream, she knew that this was a vision sent from The Creator.  He was letting her know of a time when she would no longer have to be alone, and that she would finally have the love that she had been craving.  As the days progressed, she also knew how to go about ensuring that this prophecy would be fulfilled.  It was that hope that got her through the remaining trials of the life of Sheika.

    The destruction of Anghelsh marked her for that life.  She was getting old and wouldn't be at the marrying age much longer.  To make it worse, she was then called in front of the mighty pharaoh so he could offer the poor widow his condolences.. when he noticed her great beauty.  Since his previous wives had all died, and Sheika being a newly made widow, she quickly became the old pharaoh's wife.  Now that was different.. he was so old, or at least, old for the time.  The pharaoh was thirty two years old after all!  So, she became royalty.  Most people would consider this a good thing and a step up, but even though her new husband treated her with great kindness and respect, she still missed Anghelsh.  He was a good friend and a good person.

Elisa's apartment -- 5:45 pm

    "Je regrettais toi, Anghelsh," Elisa murmured as the hot water cascaded down her back, which instantly brought her back to the present.  Snapping her head up, Elisa said, "Start paying attention, Elisa, or else the guys are going to start wondering why you've become a fountain of French."  Sighing, she shut off the water and stepped into the steamy bathroom.  Hmmm, French.  That brings an especially painful memory to mind, Elisa thought to herself, once again becoming lost in her new found memories of the past...

Paris, France -- French Revolution

    As Talika stared at the angry mass before her, she knew that there was no getting out of this one.  Oh, I am not looking forward to this, Talika thought to herself.  The times were rough nowadays in Paris, in France at all, and Talika had the misfortune to be stuck right in the middle of it.

    In this time, Talika had been born to loving and caring parents.  Her given name was Jacquelyn.... Jacquelyn le Tailleur.  Even though a war raged in their country, the Tailleur family paid no heed and carried out their lives like usual.  Until the horror of the revolutionary war was brought face to face with Jacquelyn.

    When Jacquelyn was only eighteen years old, she took her little sister, Carmen, to the market for fresh food for dinner.  Stubbornly, Jacquelyn had pushed all thoughts of Carmen growing old and dying, leaving her side forever, to the far regions of her mind.  All she wanted to concentrate on was the precious time they had together.  Unfortunately, on the way home from the market, the girls saw a young soldier beating a little child.  She had heard tales of this before, where a drunk soldier would take out his anger on an innocent citizen, never to take blame for their punishment.  To make it even worse, the little boy was already lying on the ground, bloodied, and the guard showing no signs of stopping.  He was going to beat the little boy to death.. a child of no more than four years of age.  As Jacquelyn stared around the little alley, she saw other people watching in horror as well.  Still, she knew in her heart that no one would intervene and help the poor child, for to do so would be certain death.  Even though she knew the consequences that her actions would have, and despite the fact that she loved her mortal family dearly, Jacquelyn knew that as her job as protector of the humans, there was no way in hell she was going to just sit there and watch as the little boy was murdered before her own eyes.  Handing her basket to Carmen, Jacquelyn quickly moved toward the soldier, prying Carmen's restraining hand from her arm and giving her a look that all but ordered Carmen to stay put.

    "Excusez-moi, monsieur," Jacquelyn said politely.

    "Quoi? (What?)" the soldier demanded angrily, stopping his fist in mid-air and looking at the girl before him.  His face softened as he took in the sight.  She was gorgeous.  Long brown hair cascaded down her back, with little ringlets framing her white porcelain face, while large blue eyes stared at him above a tiny little nose.  She was wearing a long dress with an apron down the front, covered in dirt and grime, as was most at this time in the city.

    "Qu'est-ce que tu as? (What happened?)" Jacquelyn asked, trying to remain polite as she helped the little boy to his feet and shooed him away.

    "Rien, mademoiselle... mais, ce n'est pas ton souci.  Allez, maintenant! (Nothing, miss... but, it's not your concern.  Go, now!)" the guard ordered, beginning to lose patience with the girl.  No matter how pretty she was, there was no way he was going to let her get away with back talking to him or butting in on his business.

    "Mais, il est un petit garcon! (But, he's a little boy!)" Jacquelyn protested.  She knew that she had to keep the soldier occupied.  As she spoke, Carmen was carrying the little boy away, going for help for him. Deep down, both girls knew that it was already too late for her.

    "Je sais, et tu es une petite fille... tu vas mourir pour ca, fille! (I know, and you are a little girl... you will die for this, girl!)"  Without further hesitation, the manacles were clamped on her wrists, the soldier's face a dark, livid purple.. he was mad.

    Sighing, Jacquelyn allowed herself to be led back to the prison where she was quickly incarcerated.  Luckily, the wait wasn't long and Jacquelyn was quickly brought before judge and jury.  As her family stood watch, they could do nothing but cry as their beloved daughter was sentenced to death by beheading.

    Which brought her up to now.  She was next in line for the guillotine.  Cringing, she watched as another prisoner was forced onto the wooden floor, his head placed over the brace.  Turning away, Jacquelyn decided not to watch the incident, choosing instead to locate her family.  She didn't have to look very hard, for her father and mother were forging their way to the prisoner line.

    "Ah, ma.." her father began when he reached her.

    "Non Papa.. l'anglais.  Je ne veux pas la garde à comprendre. (No Papa... English.  I don't want the guard to understand)" Jacquelyn whispered to her family.

    "Okay, my child.  We will speak in this foreign language that you insisted on teaching us," Mama replied sadly.

    "Thank you, Mama.  Where is Carmen?  Please say that you left her at home," Jacquelyn said worriedly.

    "Yes, we decided that Carmen didn't need to be in attendance at her sister's beheading," Papa said, tears in his eyes.

    "Don't cry Papa.  I chose this path, it was a consequence I was willing to take in order to help the boy."

    "My brave little girl," Mama said sadly, tears trailing down her cheeks.

    "How is the boy?" Jacquelyn asked, hope tinting her voice.

    "The boy died yesterday.. your gift was all for nothing," said Papa.

    "No Papa, Mama, never forget what I did.  Even if he did not make it, that doesn't mean that others cannot.  I did what I knew was right... to help that little child when he needed it most.  If everyone in the world did this, imagine what a place it would be.  Never forget the gift that I tried to give.. never forget the sacrifice I made.  My life for a child's is never in vain.  Please don't forget," Jacquelyn pleaded, her own tears starting to drip.

    "Hush, child," Papa said quietly, wiping Jacquelyn's tears away.  "Do not cry... be brave for us."

    Straightening her shoulders, Jacquelyn wiped away her remaining tears and said, "I'll be brave for you, but you must also be brave for me."  In truth, although Talika had died already in many different ways and in many different occasions, this was her first beheading.  She had experienced all kinds of ways to die, from stabbing, to falling, to drowning, to burning, to rape, to beating... you name it, she'd done it.  To be honest, the guillotine scared her slightly, and she didn't look forward to the pain.  As a matter of a fact, all she wanted to do was blink herself out of this place.  Still, that would be wrong and all it would do would cause her beloved family harm.  They would be suspected of witchcraft if their daughter disappeared right before her decapitation.

    Suddenly one of the guards grabbed Jacquelyn roughly from behind and began to pull her towards the platform.  "Attend!  Laissez-moi tranquille!  (Wait!  Leave me alone!)" Jacquelyn yelled to the guard.  Running, she made her way quickly back to her parents.  They both embraced her tightly as she said, "I love you both, always remember that!"

    "We will see you in the next world, young one!" Mama cried, breaking Jacquelyn's heart even more.

    As she was lead back up to the platform, she thought of her mother's words.  "I'm sorry Mama, but I won't be able to be with you in the next world... I'll never see that place or you again," Jacquelyn said quietly to herself.  When she reached the top step, she was pushed roughly to the wooden floor.  Allowing no more tears, she was made to kneel on the wooden floor, her hands tied painfully behind her back.  All about her was the stain of fresh blood, soon to be joined by her own.  Then, it was time.  As her crimes were read aloud, the executioner forced her shoulders down so her tiny neck fit snugly into the horseshoe indentation.  Then, she heard the call come from the judge, the wooden latch being pulled, and the large blade swoosh down towards her body.  Then, there was a stab of agony in her neck.  Blinking, she could only stare as her head was lifted by the hair till she faced her corpse.  The last thing Jacquelyn le Tailleur saw was her body surrounded in blood, minus her head.

    Then, there was only silence and darkness for Talika.  Next, there was light.  When her eyes adjusted to the light, Talika found herself in the middle of a high and grassy plain.  This is where she always found herself after the mortal body she inhabited died.  Like always, she was alone in the middle of the beautiful field.. a place that could only be reached by death.  This was the gateway between life and death.  And of course, like usual she could go no further.  Instead, Talika sat in the grassy meadow, once again inhabiting her own body.  Sighing, she reached down and picked a red rose sitting before her, her black raven locks fluttering over her shoulders.  Crying out, Talika dropped the rose as her hand began to bleed where a thorn pricked her.  Staring at the blood, Talika said, "I can bleed, feel pain, and love.. yet I cannot die with my loved ones.  If not for the knowledge of my love, I could not live on any longer.  How many more loved ones must I lose before he arrives?  How much longer till the gargoyle love, my soul mate is born and finally finds his way to my side?"  There would be no answer for her in this beautiful place.  Knowing that, Talika picked herself delicately from the willowy grasses, brushing casually her flowing white gown of any dirt particles to be found.  It was time to get back to work, time to find new parents and a new life to take over.  The hope of her winged love would sustain her longer.. she would find peace and love soon enough...

Elisa's apartment -- 6:15pm

    Sighing, Elisa picked up her hairbrush and ran it through her long black hair.  As soon as she finished she could hit the road and hopefully make it to the castle in time for Goliath's awakening.  Thinking back, Elisa had always known that in time, her love would come, and that hopeful knowledge was exactly what she needed to keep her going through the centuries and decades.  He finally had come.  Goliath was the sole reason that his race was created.  A whole race created just so she wouldn't have to be alone any longer... it was amazing to think about it.  Still, it was best not to tell Goliath.. she didn't know how he'd take it.  

    Goliath.. what was she going to do?  Her love had finally been born.. millenniums of waiting over.  But was she to only experience his love for a couple of centuries?  After that, he would be stone for eternity, his life over.  To be honest, she had never really thought about what was to happen after she'd found her love.  She had always just concentrated on the fact that she wouldn't have to be alone any longer.  "What will I do when Goliath's time is over?" Elisa muttered aloud, giving her hair one last ferocious yank.

    "Good question, Talika.. what will you do when Goliath finally kicks the bucket?"

    Quickly Elisa whirled around, whipping her gun out of its holster at the same time.  Sitting in mid air behind her was none other than Puck, the infamous trickster himself.  "Puck, what are you doing here?  Oberon's going to kill you, literally, when he finds out you're breaking his rules," Elisa warned, walking out of her bedroom and into the living room of her small apartment.

    "No I won't get in trouble.  You gave me a free night, Talika, and I'm using it!" Puck laughed twirling in circles around the room.

    "I told you never to refer to me as Talika.. I'm Elisa Maza, and don't you forget it!" Elisa warned, a dangerous edge entering her voice.

    "I know you said that.. but you're you, and I'm me, the Puck, no one else is here... what's the big deal?"

    "Never mind," Elisa gave in, knowing that it was a pointless argument.

    "Anyway," Puck singsonged, "what will you do when Goliath dies?  He's not immortal like you, ya know."

    "I know Puck.. what makes you think I didn't realize it?" Elisa said sadly as she stopped to flip her collar back.  By looking out the window, Elisa saw rain, rain, and more rain.

    "Think about it.. one shot from one of your enemies and Goliath goes bye bye.. leaving you for the rest of eternity... all... a... lone," Puck said, drawing out the word.

    Seeing that Puck was really enjoying tormenting her, Elisa stalked towards the door.  "Next time, I won't be so generous with my gift giving!" Elisa called over her shoulder as she opened the door and began flicking off lights.

    "Hey, where ya going?" Puck said, a hurt note in his voice as he saw his prey leaving with nothing he could do to stop her.  With anyone else, he'd just use his magic to bring her back in.. with Talika though, that just spelled out trouble.  She could kill him with the snap of her fingers if she so wished.  Then again, since Talika was a full fledged human, that also meant that she was nicer than most all powerful beings... and more likely that she wouldn't fry his butt in a fit of rage.

    "I'm going to visit the guys.. enjoy your night of freedom Puck, it's the only one you'll get!"

Castle Wyvern -- 7:02pm

    Running up the tower stairs, Elisa burst through the final opening and into the wet night.  Gasping, she bent over and tried to gather her breath.  She had just made it.. as usual.  Standing straight, Elisa wiped the water from her eyes and watched in wonder as Goliath broke from his stone encasing.  He was in his thinking pose again, Elisa noted.  He seemed to be taking that positioning quite a lot lately.. was she the cause?  As he roared his awakening to the dark night, Elisa smiled in anticipation.  Then, Goliath turned to face her, his face lighting up as he caught sight of his love.

    "Elisa!" he called out happily.  Stepping forward, he wrapped her up in his warm embrace, effectively shielding her from the rain, the cold, and the world.  This was what she had been waiting for all those decades.. this was The Creator's gift to her.

    "Hi Goliath, sleep well?"

    "Do I ever not?" he countered, finally stepping back.  "You work tonight?" he asked, taking in her red jacket, blue jeans, and the tip of her holster barely sticking out.

    "Yes, but not till later.. uh, did you want to go inside?" Elisa asked, wringing her long black hair out, laughing with Goliath at the amount of water that fell to the stone floor.

    "You look like a drowned bat!" Goliath said, still laughing as he scooped her up into his arms and glided down to the courtyard below.  Elisa contemplated correcting him on his expression, bat to rat, but decided against it.  He could say it any way he wanted to.  Together they walked into the Great Hall where they were greeted by the rest of the clan.

    "Hello lass, lad," Hudson said as he headed off towards the television room, Bronx in tow.

    "Hi Goliath!  Bye Elisa!" Brooklyn shouted as he ran out the door beside them.

    "Bye Father and Elisa!" Angela yelled, following after Brooklyn with Lexington on her heels.

    "Hi Elisa, hi Goliath!" Broadway waved as he headed for the kitchen.

    "Wow!" Elisa gasped when they were finally alone.  "Where are they all off to in such a hurry?"

    "Broadway to eat, Hudson to watch TV, and the remaining three mentioned something about a new movie playing that they wanted to see at the theater," Goliath explained, bemused himself at the sudden flurry of activity.  "The library?" he asked, cocking his head towards the library.

    Nodding in agreement, Elisa locked arms with Goliath and walked through another set of massive doors.  Once inside, Elisa settled herself on the couch as Goliath set to work starting a fire in the massive fire place.

    "You really care about them all, don't you?" Elisa asked absent mindedly as she played with the afghan she was sitting on.

    "Hmm?" Goliath rumbled, preoccupied with trying to light the wood.

    "You really care about the clan, don't you?" she asked again, focusing on his muscled back as he worked.

    "Of course," she heard him reply as he grunted with his work.  It was funny, he could go through metal with his bare hands, yet he had trouble starting a fire.  Getting up from her position on the couch, she kneeled beside her love and took the matches from his hands.

    "Here, let me try," she said.  As she worked, she rephrased her question, "Seriously, they're the world to you, aren't they?"

    "Of course, they're clan," Goliath muttered as he heaved more logs onto the growing pile.  You could see that she still didn't have his full attention.  "I don't know what I'd do without them.. I probably wouldn't be able to go on if they weren't there by my side," Goliath said, looking up from his work to stare in his love's eyes.  "Why do you ask?"

    "Oh, just making conversation," Elisa said, lowering her eyes quickly to the fire before her.  With a final match struck, the fire finally began to pick up, consuming logs as it went.  Now she had her answer.  For a while, she had been thinking of what to do about Goliath.  Should she make him immortal like herself?  It was a difficult task that could only be accomplished with The Creator's permission, but it'd be worth it.  But now she knew that was out of the question.  Goliath would hate her if he was forced to live for eternity, having to watch the clan die around him while he lived on.  Sighing, Elisa leaned forward and held her hands over the growing warmth.

    "Elisa, are you cold?" Goliath asked, concern touching his face as he quickly wrapped his own massive hands around hers.

    Smiling up at her love, Elisa shook her head no.  The moment was perfect.  Here they were sitting in a quiet and cozy library, a warm fire going before them.  Staring up into his black eyes, Elisa soon lost herself in the darkness.  Goliath was as equally enthralled as he stared within her large, dark eyes.  Slowly, they brought their faces together and sighed as their lips touched...

    ...And then a sudden wind began to whip around the room.  Breaking away from each other, Elisa and Goliath turned towards the source of the commotion.  There standing in what was the empty library was now The Weird Sisters.

    Jumping to his feet, Goliath quickly demanded, "Weird Sisters, what are you doing here?"

    "We come not to speak with you, Goliath," Selene said in her monotone voice.

    "But instead have words.." Luna said in a matching voice.

    "...with the lady Talika," Phoebe finished with a bow to Elisa.

    Stepping forward, Elisa said, "Weird Sisters, what brings you from Avalon to so rudely interrupt me, and calling me by my given name no less."

    "Our apologies, Lady Talika," Selene spoke up once more, the sisters bowing their heads in unison.

    "But Avalon is in great need of your assistance," Luna said.

    "Avalon?  What is the problem with your domain?  More mad archmages to thwart?" Talika asked, her Maza sarcasm showing through her cool demeanor.

    "Lord Oberon and Lady Titania are in need of your assistance..." said Phoebe.

    "In need of my assistance?" Talika asked, worry covering her face.

    "You must come at once," Selene pleaded, a very un-weird sister like thing to do.

    "Why do they need my assistance, what has happened?" Talika demanded quickly.

    "We do not have time for explanations, you must accompany us at once," Luna said quickly.

    "Elisa, don't go like this.. not until you know what's going on.  It may be a trap laid out for you by the king and queen of Avalon themselves," Goliath insisted quickly, holding on to her arm firmly, to remind her of his presence.

    "Don't worry Goliath, I have nothing to fear from Oberon and Titania, but you're right.  Speak quickly Sisters, what misfortune has occurred?"

    Sighing, Phoebe quickly said, "An evil greater than anything we have ever experienced entered Avalon tonight."

    "Only your magic can stop it from taking all of Avalon, and then your mortal world."

    "Lord Oberon and our Queen Titania were taken separately, unable to put their magic together to stop the threat."

    "Now they are both being held in chambers of iron."

    "Too far away for their magic to come together."

    "Our brothers and sisters have been enclosed in similar casings."

    "Queen Titania managed to send us before her capture."

    "To get you to aid us."

    "Her final words to us were that you were the world's only hope," Selene finished, casting a hopeful look, identical to her sisters' in Talika's direction.

    "But what of Princess Katherine, Guardian Tom and the eggs?" Goliath questioned, worry lining his voice.

    "The being cast an evil spell upon them, turning them all to stone," the sisters said in unison.

    "Don't worry Goliath, after I'm through with all of this, I can reverse whatever spell he cast," Elisa reassured.  "The spell is probably a plus on my side, anyway, that just means that they're safely out of the way and can't get into trouble.. and possibly killed."

    "Are you sure, my love?" Goliath asked, worry still etching his face.

    "Positive," Elisa confirmed.

    "Then you will help us?" the sisters asked in unison.

    To their relief, Talika nodded her head in their direction before saying, "I will go to Avalon and try to help.  If I do not return or if you are not summoned back, then you will know that I have failed.  I leave you here to guard the castle and all who lie within.  Guard them to your death Weird Sisters, or you will have me to face.  Summon Puck in order to aid you," Elisa ordered, giving each sister a firm look.

    "Puck?" Luna asked.

    "But Puck is banned," Phoebe added.

    "Puck is Owen," Selene pointed out.

    "And Owen is Puck," Talika countered quickly.  "I've given Puck free roam with his powers tonight in thanks to help he paid me in the past.  You can find him wreaking havoc somewhere in the city, no doubt."

    Goliath watched all of this solemnly, as his beloved handed out orders.  Then, she raised her hands above her head.  Without saying a word, a bright flash followed.  When his eyesight cleared, Elisa was still standing beside him, only instead of her work outfit, she was now wearing a loose fitting cotton dress that billowed in some unseen breeze.  It was an outfit that angels would wear.. a simple white sleeveless dress, form fitting around her torso, and then billowing out around her hips to fall loosely down to her ankles.  To top it off, delicate white veils were attached here and there to the dress: on the shoulders and around the neck, draping down behind her back.  Around her neck she wore a gold plated necklace with a small tear drop crystal hanging on the end.  On her wrist was a simple gold plated bracelet, with an anklet around her ankle, where her bare feet stood out beneath the dress.  She wore her long black hair as she always did, hanging loose over her shoulders.  She was beautiful.  "So you're leaving," Goliath said, finally speaking up.

    Turning around quickly, Elisa noticed her love standing behind her.  "Of course I'm going.  Do you need to even ask?"

    "Why must you go, it is a fae matter.."

    "That can and will spread to our world.  Goliath, it's my job to protect, and I can't just sit there on my butt and let my friends be hurt like that!"

    "I understand, but I also know that I am coming with you," Goliath said firmly.

    "Oh no you're not," Elisa quickly said back.  Walking to Goliath, she gently laid her hands upon his shoulders, looking deep into his eyes.  "I love you Goliath, and it's because of that love that you must stay here."

    Looking deep into Elisa's eyes, he saw the person that he knew and loved.  There was no way he was going to leave her to fight this abomination alone.  "Elisa, I love you also, more than I have ever loved another.  Which is exactly why I must come along with you."

    "Goliath, I don't want to see you get hurt!" Elisa insisted.

    "Look, think of it as me being your temporary partner on this assignment," Goliath pleaded, trying to appeal to her logic.  "I'll cover your back while you do the hard stuff."

    "Goliath, I don't need a partner."

    "As Matt once said, it's the times when you don't want a partner that you need one the most.  I'm coming with you."

    Sighing, Elisa finally gave in.  As much as she didn't want to, she found logic in Goliath's reasoning.  "Fine, Goliath.  But you must be careful!"

    "With you watching over me, my love, I have nothing to fear at all," Goliath said warmly, wrapping Elisa in his arms.

    Unfortunately, the embrace was ended too quickly as the Weird Sisters broke the comfortable silence.  "Lady Talika."

    "Time is of the essence."

    "Time is the only thing on our side."

    "You're right.  Are you ready to go, Big Guy?" Elisa asked as she reluctantly pulled away from Goliath's warm body.  At his confirmed nod, Elisa placed her hands in her loves and closed her eyes, looking up to the ceiling and the sky hidden above.  Not knowing exactly what was going on, but having complete faith in Elisa's abilities, Goliath followed suit, tilting his head up while closing his eyes.  Soon, Elisa's melodious voice filled the room as she began her chant.

    As the green flashed around the pair, the invisible winds stirred once more.  Knowing what was coming, the Weird Sisters covered their eyes as once again the bright light lit the room.  As the winds died down, the gargoyle and protector were gone.  "So the battle begins, Sisters," Selene said quietly.

    "Talika shall overcome the odds in her favor," Luna assured.

    "But at what cost?" Phoebe asked.

    Without answering the question, the sisters vanished in a poof of smoke, off to find their brother, the trickster Puck.

Avalon

    As the flash disappeared, Goliath and Elisa allowed their eyes to adjust to the dark night around them.

    "Elisa, where are we?" Goliath asked as he slowly took in their surroundings.  From the looks of things, it seemed that they were in the middle of a very dense forest.  Everywhere Goliath looked he saw tall trees towering over them.  Looking down, he saw that they were standing on a bed of pine needles.

    "We're in the woods of Avalon.  I figured that we should start here and work our way into the castle.. you know, instead of appearing suddenly in the middle of the battle without knowing the situation," Elisa explained.

    Seeing the wisdom in her actions, Goliath nodded his head in agreement.  Just as he opened his mouth to ask a question, he heard a twig break behind some bushes.  Holding his hand out to Elisa, Goliath quickly faced the location of the noise and said, "Who is there?"

    As Goliath and Elisa stared into the gloom, a figure slowly emerged from its hiding place in the shadows.

    "Coyote?" Elisa asked in a puzzled voice.  "What are you doing here?  I thought you'd been captured."

    "Talika, it's good to see you made it safely," Coyote exclaimed in a breathless voice.

    "I thought that all had been captured," Goliath said suspiciously as he looked over the figure before them.  The fey before them looked exactly like the trickster: the same leather jacket and jeans combo.  Plus, he sounded the same -- exactly like Elisa Maza's father when he was young.

    "I escaped before Rastone could bind me as he did my brothers and sisters," Coyote explained quickly, all the while throwing anxious glances over his shoulder.

    "Coyote, who's Rastone?" Elisa asked, as she put her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look her in the eye.

    "I don't know who exactly, except that he's the guy that's managed to capture the Lord and Lady of Avalon, along with all of my siblings," Coyote said, giving Elisa the most serious stare a trickster fey could ever give.

    "Coyote, I need you to tell me how many are with him," Elisa said slowly, not allowing his gaze to travel elsewhere.  This was beginning to worry her.  If this Rastone was capable of making the Weird Sisters and Coyote so frightened, then he couldn't be good news.

    "No one.. that's the worst part.  He's managed to do everything all by himself."

    "What?" Goliath rumbled in surprise, stepping back unconsciously.

    "I'm serious.  Look, I was off on the other side of the island catching up on old times with Anansi, when all of a sudden Banshee came ripping into our clearing.  In that loud wailing voice, she told us that some stranger had appeared in the middle of the courtyard while the Weird Sisters were helping Titania with her flowers.  Titania and the sisters sensed an unusual magic about him, but before they could really do anything, the person said that he had already trapped Oberon and most of the children were soon to follow.  He told them that he was called Rastone and that he had come from a planet far away from our own.  He said that he was going to conquer our planet and become its ruler.  Rastone decided to start with Avalon because he had been observing our planet for awhile and decided that our magic would cause him the most trouble.  Then he started blasting away at Titania and the sisters.  It took all they had just to hold him back.  Then, one of his pot shots got through their defenses and threw Titania to the ground.  Just as Rastone was about to entrap Titania, one of my braver siblings stepped in and tried to help.  While Rastone was distracted, Titania told the Weird Sisters to seek you out and get help and then sent them to the mortal world.  While Banshee watched, Titania was then sealed into a magical bind, almost like a sphere.  Banshee fled to find help and stumbled upon us.  But even before we could start working on a plan, Rastone came into the clearing and captured Anansi and Banshee, I was lucky enough to flee.  I've been hiding out ever since.. what can I do to aid you Talika?" Coyote finished, his eyes glinting with an unsaid fear that he felt deep within himself.

    Elisa understood perfectly... Coyote had to watch as his brothers and sisters were captured before his eyes, unable to help out or doing anything to stop it.  "Coyote, you've already done enough.  Right now, I'm going to send you to the mortal world..."

    "But Oberon's law forbids any of his children to travel there without his permission," Coyote broke in, fear entering his eyes at the thought of breaking Oberon's rules.

    "Listen, it's okay.  Oberon will understand.  Anyway, I'm sending you to the mortal world for one purpose.. I want you to find my family.  Dad may be surprised to see you, but you needn't explain why you're there.  Stay there and protect them to the best of your abilities.. please," Elisa pleaded.

    "I've always watched over Peter before, I'd be delighted to do so now, Lady Talika," Coyote said with a formal bow to Elisa.

    "Good.  Now that we've got that settled," Elisa said quietly.  If she didn't succeed, than at least she knew that she'd have taken care of her families as best as she could.  Puck and the sisters would watch over the clan to their death, as well as the Xanatos family.  Also, she knew that Coyote would protect her family to his death.  "If you want, it may be a wise idea to transport Mom, Dad, Beth, Derrick, the Labyrinth clan, and my partner, Matt Bluestone, to the Aerie building.  There, you'll have the support of the sisters and Puck."

    Nodding his head, Coyote silently agreed to her plan.  "Together we'll make our stand against Rastone if needed."

    "Good.  Now, let's send you to where you're needed," Elisa said as she raised her hands above her head.  As her eyes glowed an eerie green, Talika began her chant.  "Forces of nature bend to my need, send my friend to where I heed.  Avalon ce n'est pas where he is needed, mais the island of Manhattan is where his path is leading."

    Covering his eyes, Goliath waited patiently for the winds to die down and for the bright afterimage to leave his eyes.  Taking a chance, he lifted one eyelid slightly and peeked out.  Seeing Elisa giving him a bemused look, Goliath quickly snapped both eyes open and blushed slightly.  "If you had to constantly look at the light you give off, you would be closing your eyes too," he huffed defensively.

    Smiling, Elisa looked up into the night sky and said, "So Big Guy, care to fly us to the palace?"

    Happy that she wasn't going to tease him more, Goliath walked over and lifted her easily into his arms, her white dress soft against his skin.  Hanging on to her with one hand, Goliath quickly sunk his talons into one of the nearby trees and began to climb.  When he reached a suitable height, he launched himself into the night air, wings spread to their full length and quickly caught an updraft into the night.  As he turned in the direction Elisa pointed, he asked, "So, what is our plan?"

    "Uh, plan?" Elisa asked, looking at her love with a false look of innocence.

    "There is no plan?"

    "Well, I figured that since we're both dealing with something new to both of us that we'd just land and play things by ear."

    "So there is no plan."

    "Well, I have the general idea down.. we go in there and I use my magic to take care of Rastone."

    "And you think this plan will work?" Goliath asked sadly, his voice dropping a notch in pitch.

    "Don't worry Goliath, I can handle this guy," Elisa said softly, trying to convince herself at the same time as Goliath.  "Remember, I have twice the power of Titania or Oberon."

    "I just hope that is enough," Goliath muttered quietly.

    "Hey," Elisa said softly.  As she unhooked her hands from around his large neck, she planted them on Goliath's face, which was looking directly ahead, and turned it till he faced her.  "Goliath, be very careful... I don't want to lose you.  Just remember that I will always love you.  Remember my love, for it's been there since the beginning of time."

    "You only met me two years ago," Goliath gently chided.  It was so unlike Elisa to exaggerate so.

    "I've known of my love for you since 1020 B.C., Goliath.  My love has always been there, and not once has it faltered.  I love you."

    Goliath stared at her in amazement.  1020 B.C.?  But I wasn't even born till the tenth century... if Elisa is telling the truth, which she always does, then she's known of me for over three thousand years... over two thousand years before I was even born, Goliath thought to himself.  It was almost too much for his brain to comprehend.  Unfortunately, his questions would have to wait because there before them was the castle, torches burning brightly along the walls.  It looked deserted.

    "Good, we're here," Elisa said, her voice turning hard and business like.  "Let's land down in the courtyard and figure out where to go from there."

    Doing as asked, Goliath glided silently down to the courtyard.  Setting Elisa down gently, he could only stare in amazement at the sight before him.  Scattered here and there around the courtyard were statues of gargoyles.  "The eggs," he gasped in horror.  Then, his fears were confirmed when he saw a statue of Princess Katherine and Guardian Tom.  Walking slowly over to the pair, he found the statue of Tom standing in front of the princess, as if he was trying to protect the princess from something.  Carefully, Goliath ran a talon softly over the smooth curves of the stone.  His quiet reverie was broken by a hand laid softly on his shoulder.  Turning, he found Elisa behind him, an understanding look on her face as she took in the horror.

    "Don't worry Goliath, I'll bring them back when this is all over.  Right now, though, we need to go," she said, nodding her head towards the grand entrance to the castle.  Nodding, Goliath followed his love into the castle, unsure as to when they would find their next surprise.

    Unfortunately, they didn't have to look very far, for right beyond the door to the castle, in the Great Hall, they found Oberon's children.  All of the assorted fae were sealed in their own bright sphere, assorted looks of horror, fear, and surprise frozen on their faces.  It was like they were in suspended animation, frozen in one act or another.  Elisa and Goliath only gave them a quick glance before continuing on their way into the bowels of the castle.

    "Shouldn't you try and free the fae?  We could use their help," Goliath whispered to his love as they started climbing a stone staircase.

    "I can't break any of the fields until he himself is gone.  Don't ask how I know, I can just sense it," Elisa whispered back.

    "Well where are we going?"

    "The throne room... it seems the most logical place that Rastone would be.  I didn't see Oberon or Titania back there, so he must be holding them in there."

    Nodding his head, Goliath followed his love once more as she lead the way through the twisting and turning hallways of the castle, following a trail that only she could see.  Finally, their walking ended as they emerged into the grand throne room of Avalon.  The sight was one that neither thought that they'd ever see.  Beside the two thrones on a raised dais stood the frozen figures of Oberon and Titania.  Oberon's face was frozen with a look of anger and horror upon his face, while Titania had only a look of sadness and pain.  You could see that neither would be happy campers when they awakened.  They were both sad to see that the room was not empty besides their friends.  Sitting in Oberon's throne was a being like Goliath had never seen before. It could be no other than Rastone.

    He was basically humanoid in appearance, only instead of the usual assortment of skin tones, his was a dark red, the color of blood.  Instead of oval eyes, Rastone had the eyes of a serpent, slanting up with yellow irises.  For clothing, he was covered in black robes of a silk like material.  To make it worse, he was staring right at them.  Without hesitation, Elisa stepped fully into the room, Goliath following behind her.

    "Ah, so Talika, the protector of the humans and her gargoyle love has finally arrived," Rastone said in a low voice as he clasped his hands together, his sight never wavering from Talika's face.

    Talika blinked in surprise before speaking, "So you know of me.  How is this so?"

    "I got the information that you would be coming from one of the magic weilders before I captured him in my sphere."

    "I see... unfortunately, I cannot return the favor, for I have never heard of you, Rastone," Talika said coldly, staring him down.

    "I'm a traveler, and I have been watching your world for quite some time.  It would be unlikely that you would know of me," he said in a condescending manner.

    Sighing as though she was bored, Talika said, "Look, as far as I'm concerned, you're pondscum.  So, Troll, can we get this over with?  I have appointments elsewhere that I'd like to keep."

    With a roar at the insult just delivered, Rastone stood up quickly, his yellow eyes turning a deep blue color.  As his hands began to glow, Goliath quickly turned to Talika.  Not surprisingly, her eyes were now glowing the greenish tinge of the fae, her hands at her side crackling with green energy.  Goliath didn't have to have magical ability to feel the magical energies building in the room.  Moving slowly, Goliath began to edge around the room towards Rastone.  If the need arose, he would jump Rastone, hopefully giving Talika the time she needed to do her thing.  

    Suddenly, Goliath jumped back in surprise as Talika and Rastone let out a volley of magic at the same time, the two colors meeting in the middle.  It was like any classic magical fighting scene Goliath had read in a number of books, the magics meeting in the middle and moving forward and backwards as it tried to beat back the opposing magical energies.  Overcoming his shock, Goliath continued edging around the walls, drawing closer and closer to his destination.  Another look at the fight in the room brought hope to his chest as he saw that his help may not be needed after all.  The war was still waging, and the effort used by both was obvious.  Rastone was now on his knees on the raised dais, his hands still raised in front of him as he blasted his unending stream of magic.  Talika too, was showing the distress of the battle.  She was still standing firm, but now beads of sweat were seen dotted along her brow, and her skin had taken on a paler shade of color.  Still, it was obvious to Goliath that Talika was winning the battle.  Where before there was a connecting stream of magic, one half green and the other the dark blue, now the connecting magic was about three fourths green, and only a quarter blue.  Slowly but surely, Talika was pushing his magic back, beating him in the process.. she was stronger than Rastone.

    Deciding that it was better to be safe than sorry, Goliath continued edging along.  Then, for some strange reason, Goliath had an overwhelming feeling to look up.  Doing so, his gaze focused on Rastone, who was now looking directly at Goliath.

    Smiling evilly, while keeping the stream of magic going with one hand, Rastone quickly swung his other hand in Goliath's direction.  Before Goliath could move a muscle, he felt the magic fly forth till it surrounded him in glowing chains, making him float five to six feet off the ground.  To his horror, the chains began to tighten around his chest.  Gasping, Goliath could do nothing as he was slowly crushed to death.

    Still, while the being conducted this torture on Goliath, he was also maintaining the stream.  Although, with some of his magic diverted, Talika started to push her magic faster and faster towards him, all the while completely unaware of the battle between Goliath and Rastone, being so caught up in the magic.

    Suddenly, Rastone's voice rang out through the room, "Relinquish your magical assault on me, Talika!"

    "And why would I do that?" Talika ground out as she pushed at the opposing magic harder than ever.  This was the hardest fight she had ever been involved in.  Here she couldn't rely on her fighting ability or her gun, now it was all self control and will power.  Gritting her teeth, she pushed harder, feeling her power push beyond his capabilities.

    "Because if you do not relent your strike, I shall destroy your gargoyle love," Rastone yelled out, tilting his head in Goliath's direction.

    "What?" Elisa asked quickly in amazement, letting her control and concentration lax slightly as she glanced in the indicated direction.  There she saw Goliath suspended in chains, being crushed to death.  "Stop!  What are you doing?" Elisa yelled out.  Quickly she stopped her attack on him, allowing a stale mate of sorts.  She still had their energy forces connected, only now she wasn't pushing his back, but merely holding her ground.

    "If you stop your attack on me, I'll let your love live.. if not, then you shall watch him die."

    "But then you'll be dead!" Elisa pointed out quickly.

    "Then I shall take him to the grave with me!"

    "If I stop, then you'll win and conquer the world..." Elisa murmured.

    "Yes, but your love will still be alive," Rastone reasoned.

    "Goliath?" Elisa asked, looking into the face of her beloved.  How could she sit there and watch her love be killed before her eyes.  After all the centuries and millenniums she had waited for him, now she had to watch him die after only experiencing his love for two measly years?  Looking up, she found Goliath looking at her sadly.  Sweat lined his face and he gasped in agony.  He was being crushed to death.  Still, he managed to find the energy to speak.

    "I’m sorry," Goliath rasped, pain etched on his face.  If only he had stayed back and out of the way…

    "Shh.. it’s not your fault," Elisa whispered, tears dripping down her face.

    "Elisa, you have to destroy him."

    "But Goliath, I can't let you die!" Elisa said as tears dripped down her face.  How many times did she have to be placed in this position?  What, it had to be at least twice in the last couple months that she was put in this position.. but in all of those other cases, there had always been a way out... she didn't see one this time.  "I love you Goliath, I can't let you die!"

    "Elisa, you are the protector of the human race..." Goliath gasped, as the chains tightened another notch.  "You cannot trade a race for me..."

    "Yes I can, a whole race was created for just you before!  I can't let you die now!  No, Goliath, I can't.. I love you too much!" she cried, the tears pouring unchecked down her cheeks.  Why did life have to be so unfair?

    "It's your job as the protector.. you must protect them!  Think about it Elisa, is this the fate you shall resign Angela, the clan, your parents, Beth and Derrick too?"

    "Your love will die if you do this!" Rastone yelled, seeing that the gargoyle was actually starting to convince the woman.

    As the tears ran down Elisa's face, she knew that Goliath was right.  The entire reason she was created was to protect the human kind... she'd be going against her whole purpose in life to do otherwise.  Her job was costing her the life of the one she held most dear to her heart.  "I'm sorry Goliath," Elisa sobbed, never breaking her magical stalemate.  As she closed her eyes against the sight, Elisa continued her magical assault.  Keeping her eyes closed, she felt her magic drawing nearer towards the evil being.  Still, that could do nothing to keep out the sounds that greeted her ears. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't block out the sounds of the grinding chains as they tightened around Goliath's torso.  Nor could she block out the sound of Goliath's agonized roar as his bones snapped like twigs and as he began to bleed internally.  Elisa couldn't stand the sounds any longer.  Sobbing brokenly, Elisa squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could bring her hands to her ears to block out the sound.  God, make it stop!!! Elisa yelled in her head.  Screaming along with her love, Elisa yelled out at the unfairness of it all, the pressure and pain of her broken heart building in her chest till she thought she would burst.

    She was right, for suddenly everything building in her chest burst with a wild charge of immense magic that shot throughout her line.  She felt her link extend until it was suddenly broken off.  Opening her eyes, Elisa screamed to the world, her tears falling as though they'd never stop.  Looking across, she saw the wasted corpse of Rastone, nothing more than ashes after her magic was finished.  Gasping for breath, Elisa turned to where she had seen Goliath dangling in the air.  Now all she saw was a huddled form lying brokenly on the stone floor.  Running, Elisa tripped over the long material of her dress as she ran to her love, dropping by his side.  As the tears flowed down, Elisa slowly turned Goliath over.  Looking at him, she saw that he looked the same as ever, but Elisa was not fooled for she knew that the real damage was inside his body, where all of his organs and bones had been squeezed into one.  Crying, she leaned over and brushed his lips with hers.
 
    "Remember my love."

    Gasping, Elisa leaned forward and realized that the tender words had come from Goliath's own lips.  "Goliath, you're still alive!" Elisa yelled happily.

    Coughing, Goliath shook his head slowly as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, the only blood to be seen, coming from the inside out.  "I'm.. sorry.. lisa... love you..." he gasped as his blood continued to trickle.

    "No, don't you see Goliath?  I can save you yet!"

    "No..." Goliath gasped out.  He finally understood through the haze of pain he was feeling what Elisa was talking about.  There was still hope for him.  Elisa was going to take his agony away and put it into herself.  But once Elisa Maza was dead.. there was no going back to that body.  Still, Goliath could do nothing but watch.

    "Don't worry, Goliath.  I'm not letting you die," Elisa said, a note of delirium in her voice.  It was true.. she was not exactly sane or with it at this moment.  Who would be after knowing that you almost killed the one you loved.. maybe not directly but inadvertently.  Now she had the chance to take back that decision, no matter the consequences.  Leaning forward, Elisa placed her hands on Goliath's chest and said, "Forces of magic that I call upon to undo this horrible and mighty wrong.  This person before me should not be in pain, so now I take it and thus do contain."  Like all the times as in the past, the bright green trail of magic left Elisa's hands and enveloped Goliath's own body.  Then, at the height of brightness, the magic drained back into Elisa's own.  As Elisa drew her hands away, she lay back slowly on the ground till she was staring up at the marble ceiling high above.  Then the magic began to do its work on her.  Biting her lip, Elisa tried her best not to cry out as she felt her insides be squeezed together until it must not have been more than a bloody pulp.  Then, the glorious sight of her love's face filled her vision.  From far away, she heard him whisper something, his voice full of tears.

    "Oh Elisa, what have you done?"

    "I.. love.. you..." Elisa choked out, the blood now dripping from her own mouth.  Soon, her vision began to darken as her love's face floated away.  Don't worry Goliath, Elisa thought to herself, no longer capable of forming words.  I've done this before.. I've died many times before.

    "Oh Elisa, I love you so much..." she heard from miles away.  "The pain will be over soon.  We'll be together then...."

    "I love you," was the last thing Elisa heard as her mind disconnected from the body she inhabited and as her heart beat its final rhythm.  Elisa Maza died.

    Looking down, Goliath held Elisa's hand as it squeezed his own, her eyes searching for his own.  Soon, her eyes stopped searching and her hand grew limp in his.  Reaching down, Goliath closed her eyes gently, not wanting to look into her dark brown eyes when they were so vacant.  She was dead.. Elisa was really gone.  There was nothing that could bring her back.  As the tears flowed down his cheeks, Goliath picked up her limp body and cradled it in his arms.  Even now her skin was growing cooler as the blood on her lips dried.  The pain was too much.. the pain growing in his chest was unbearable.  Unable to hold it in any longer, Goliath let out a heart wrenching roar, and then sobbed brokenly as he held his love.  Nothing more than a broken doll...

    As the light cleared, Talika found herself sitting once more in the green grassy meadows of the halfway point between life and death.  Picking some of the green grass before her, Elisa idly watched the flowers bend in the light breeze, her own hair and white dress shifting back and forth in the warmth.  Looking into the blue sky, Talika realized what she had given up.. the identity of Elisa Maza.. and therefore her love.  Goliath was forever lost to her now.  The rules of the game were that she couldn't return to a body once it died... she could never again be Elisa Maza.  Her family, friends, the clan, Goliath -- it was all lost to her forever.  She never had lost so much with death before as she had now.  What was she to do now?  Pick another mortal life to lead, one away from her loved ones, was the usual choice.  "No!" Talika sobbed, dropping her head into her hands.  "I don't want to leave them all behind!"

    Suddenly, the breeze shifted.  Curious, Talika tilted her head up.  Standing there before her was The Creator.

    "What is wrong, my child?" The Creator asked, laying a gentle hand upon her shoulder.

    "I have died," Talika explained quietly.

    "But my protector, you have died many times before.. why do you cry now?"

    "My love has finally come to me, and I had to leave him behind.. for the rest of eternity," Talika said sadly, the tears dripping down her cheeks.

    "How so?"

    "By our own rules, once a mortal body has died, you can never make a new one or return to that life... I can never return to the body of Elisa Maza, meaning I can never have her life or my love."

    "Ah, I see," The Creator said slowly.

    Shaking her head, Talika continued to sob brokenly, hiding her face in her hands.  "Why must my life always be so unfair?  Creator, you gave Titania Oberon and Oberon Titania... yet I have no one.  You answered my prayers by sending me word of Goliath, but now must I leave him?  Now must I be alone for the rest of eternity, never to know of this love again?" Talika asked, raising her head to look at her master.

    Sighing, The Creator settled beside her.  It didn't try to pat her back or comfort her in any way, for although it was love in and of itself, that wasn't its way.  Its creations must deal with their own pain and solve their own problems, without it giving more than advice and ideas.  As it looked into the bright, cloudless blue sky, it allowed the wind to pass over and through them.  Paradise, plain and simple.  This place was more perfect than Avalon could ever be... it was its home.  Deciding to break the silence, it said, "Talika, you know that you have always been my favorite creation... why would I want to hurt you like this?  Surely you must have learned something from your fae kin?"

    "What?" Talika asked, taking her hands away from her eyes and turning them to her mentor.  In no time, the warm sun dried her wet face.

    "All rules that cannot be broken can surely be bent."

    "How so?" Elisa asked, a glint lighting up in her eyes.

    "Is it not so that the body you inhabited was a replica of your own?"

    "Well, yes.. it was an exact copy."

    "Was your voice the same?"

    "Yes.. maybe my speech and accent were a little different, but it was mainly the same."

    "So why don't you return to the mortal world in your own body, not taking on one of a mortal, and take up the life of Elisa Maza and her name?" The Creator asked while it began toying with the long strands of grass.

    "I wish it were as simple as that, but Elisa is known to be dead," Talika pointed out, her mind spinning as it tried to come up with a solution to her problem.

    "Is she?  By who?" The Creator asked casually, in a way that gave Talika the impression that it knew exactly who and was just doing this to allow her to see the answer for herself.

    "Well, Goliath saw me die," Talika pointed out.

    "And no one else knows of this?"

    "No," Talika hedged, unsure as to what it was getting at.

    "Cannot Goliath be trusted with your secret?"

    "Of course he can!  I'd trust Goliath with my life," Talika insisted firmly, viciously yanking the strand of grass she had been playing with out of the ground by the roots.

    "Well, there you go.  You can still have your love and the mortal's life," The Creator said simply as though the problem had been solved.

    "It would never work!  I mean, what's everyone going to think when they start aging and growing older while I never do?"

    "That would be a problem... but it would at least give you another four or five years before everyone began to wonder, more time with your loved ones."

    "But would that be better?  I'd have to leave them then, which would just delay the hurt I'm feeling now.  I'd still be without Goliath."

    "Not if you tied Goliath to yourself."

    "What?" Talika asked in disbelief.  The Creator couldn't be serious, or was it?

    "If I've heard correctly, didn't some of Titania and Oberon's mortal/immortals cast a spell on some of your mortals, where one feels the other's pain?"

    "Yes.. but how would that work with me?"

    "Simple, my child... change the spell around so that you two are forever linked.  You will feel his pain, to a lesser extent of course, and he with you.  Because you are immortal and can never die, he will never die as well.  You'll be linked to the end of time.  Is this what you want?"

    Talika's eyes were aglow with a new found hope.  "I couldn't ask for anything more.  But what if Goliath comes bitter towards me, like MacBeth with Demona?  He would never be able to pass away if he chose."

    "Child, child, you should know that it'd be no problem adding a little side note to the spell so that you can take him out of the spell whenever you so choose."

    "It could work," Talika breathed, a smile lighting up her face as she stared off into her own little world.  It seemed as though she was staring at the never ending hills of green, but The Creator knew that it was into her own memories she looked.

    "If that is all, I suggest that you get back to your love before he has to suffer any longer," The Creator said quietly, breaking Talika from her reverie.

    "You're right, Creator.  I shall follow your advice.... thank you."

    "My pleasure Talika.  I am always here to serve you.  One more thing before I go... this time, make sure you cast the spell before he is almost killed."

    Smiling, Talika nodded in agreement as she watched The Creator disappear into the green.  Getting to her feet, Talika cast one final look around her.  It would probably be quite some time before she inhabited a mortal body that could die... quite some time before she would again see the beauty of this place.  Maybe in the far future she would take one once more, and Goliath and her could live side by side in a world without such prejudices.  Her race and the race she created could do it... it would only take time, the thing that she had plenty of.  Grinning even bigger, Talika raised her hands above her head and chanted.  "Take me to my place of death, which shall now be my place of birth..."

    As the green flash disappeared, the wind continued unheeded through the long grass, peace prevailing.

Avalon, Throne Room -- ten minutes later

    As Talika appeared in the throne room, she noted that not much had happened since her abrupt departure.  Oberon and Titania were still frozen in spheres of magic, their appearance unchanged.  Also, there were still the ashes marking what was once Rastone.  Over by the side of the circular room was the place where she had died.  There, she saw Goliath sitting on his knees, her corpse cradled in his arms.  The body looked horrible.  The skin was now turning a grayish color, a smear of dried blood on the corner of her mouth.  "Goliath?" she asked softly, quietly stepping closer.

    Quickly, Goliath whirled about, the corpse still in his arms.  There behind him was a sight he thought he'd never see again... it was Elisa, well, Talika.. looking just as normal as ever.  Confused, he looked down into his arms and found his beloved's corpse.  "What?  I... I don't understand," Goliath stammered, looking back and forth between the two.  "Are you a ghost?"

    "No, Goliath.  It's me, Talika."

    "Talika?  But.. I thought..."

    "Come here, Goliath," Talika pleaded, tears in her eyes.  Nodding, Goliath gently laid the body on the floor and stepped closer.  Very hesitantly, Goliath reached out a claw.  When it encountered only soft, warm skin, Goliath let out a cry of joy and quickly gathered her into his arms.  As his wings folded around her, Goliath lay his head upon her soft hair and squeezed tighter, vowing to never let her go.

    "Goliath," Talika pleaded, "can't breathe!"

    Laughing with joy, Goliath let her go and looked deep into Talika's eyes.  "What happened?  I thought I had lost you?"

    "Goliath, it wasn't me who died.  I'm immortal, remember?" she asked slowly, concern lighting up her face.

    "Yes but, where did you go?  And who's that?" Goliath asked, pointing a talon at the body laying on the floor only a few feet away.

    "Someone did die, but it wasn't me.  The body of Elisa Maza did die, there was nothing I could do to stop it...

    "But.. no!  Don't tell me that you're leaving!  I love you, no matter if you're Elisa or Talika!"

    "I know Goliath, and I love you just as much.  Look, the only way that I can possibly be with you is for me to return to this world in my own body."

    "Your own body?"

    "The body that you hugged and touched was nothing more than a costume that I donned.  Usually my costume would look nothing like myself, but this time it was an exact replica," Talika explained.

    As the confusion cleared from his eyes, Goliath's smile widened.  "Then you are returning to me!  If your body looks the same, then you'll just take up her life with your own body!"

    "That's right Goliath, but there's a few problems," Talika said, cupping his head in her hands.  Of course, in order to do this, Talika had to stand on her tip-toes.  "Goliath, because I am immortal, I'll never age beyond what I am right now.  I can never die either.  If I'm in a situation where I'll be hurt or killed, then I'll have to leave in order to spare my family the pain and confusion.  In five to six years I'll have to leave also, by then people will begin to wonder why my body is not aging."

    "No, I will not allow you to leave me once more," Goliath said firmly.  He had lost her too many times already, and he couldn't do it again!  "I want you to be with me till the end of time!" Goliath pleaded, not being able to help the slight whining tone that entered his voice.

    "That's exactly what I want.. which is why I want to do something for you.  I want to cast a spell that will link us, much in the same way of MacBeth and Demona.  Because I can't die, neither will you.  We'll be together till the end of time, or until you decide that you are ready to leave me."

    "Why would I want to leave you?" Goliath asked in a puzzled voice.  "We could go on to the next world together."

    "Goliath, you don't understand.  I am the protector of the humans, like you pointed out earlier.  That means that I can't leave them under any circumstances.  If you were to travel on to the next world, I would not be able to join you.  I will never be able to die."

    Shaking his head quickly, Goliath hugged her to him once more, vowing to never let go.  "I understand.  I also want to do this."

    "Are you sure Goliath?  Do you realize what you'd be giving up?  Once those five to six years are up, you'd have to leave the clan forever."

    "We'll see about that when the time comes.  As for the deadline, the clan wouldn't get suspicious of my not aging for ten to twelve years.  Don't forget that gargoyles age at half the speed of humans."

    "Touché," Talika said, a smile on her face.

    "Talika, if it means spending the rest of eternity with you, I would pay any price!"

    Smiling at his words, Talika felt a single tear burn at her eye -- a tear of love.  "Okay Goliath, here it goes," she said, her heart warming at his words of her love.  Closing her eyes, she raised her hands above her head, the white dress she wore rustling in the sudden breeze.  "Magics of creation granted to me, hear my plea and do as I command.  Across the mists of space and time, I pose this covenant sublime.  The Creator hath granted his permission to link us as one till the end of time.  While he with fang and claw and wing doth swear, sweet love shall we forever know.  By our acceptance we are confined unto each other's fates; aligned forever an eternal vow and each the others pain resound.  The pact is made and my work is done, make our love eternally spun."

    With the final words spoken, the whirlwind of green magic that had surrounded them finally ceased and settled into nothingness.  As Talika opened her eyes, she was faced with the most beautiful sight she had ever seen: Goliath.  "How are you big guy?"

    Opening his eyes, Goliath looked around the room carefully before replying, "I feel no different."

    "Well, if you don't believe me that it worked, you can always kill yourself and see what happens... personally, I don't recommend it.  If I were you, I'd just take my word that you are now immortal."

    Smiling, Goliath nodded in agreement.

    "Um, Goliath?  Is it okay if I get rid of that?" Talika asked, indicating the corpse of Elisa Maza lying on the floor behind them.  "It's giving me the creeps, even worse than Delilah ever could!"

    Looking over his shoulder, Goliath noticed the body, having put it completely from his mind.  "Gladly," he said disdainfully.

    Smiling, Talika pointed her hand at the body and with a poof of green smoke, it disappeared.

    "So, are you going to do anything about them?" Goliath asked, indicating the king and queen of Avalon.

    Sighing, Talika said, "I suppose you're right."  Closing her eyes once more, the winds began to stir as Talika lifted her hands above her head.  "The magic of Avalon shall always prevail.. as stated in Oberon's decree, all magic not of this origin shall vanish from thee.  The force of Rastone shall not be seen for the rest of eternity!"  Opening her eyes, Talika was relieved to see Oberon and Titania sitting on the floor, a look of confusion on their faces.

    As Titania looked up from her position, she locked eyes with Talika and said, "Ah, I see that the Sisters succeeded in summoning you from the mortal world.  Any trouble?"

    "Nothing that I couldn't handle," Talika said casually, effectively hiding the anxiety of the past events.  Then she lifted her hand and indicated the pile of ashes in front of Oberon's throne.  "Oh, and I left you guys a mess too."

    "So I see," Oberon said as he nudged the pile with his toe.  Then, as if his senses picked up something, he quickly looked at Talika and Goliath.  "Why Talika, you're in your body?  And what has happened to Goliath?"  Staring closer, he stepped back in surprise, "You linked him with yourself?  Did you have The Creator's permission to do this?"

    "Very astute my friend," Talika said quietly as her eyes lowered to the ground.  "The battle didn't go as smoothly as I said... I had to forfeit the body of Elisa Maza in order to save Goliath.  While in the midway point, I talked with The Creator and asked his permission to link Goliath to myself.  Please, call me Elisa."

    "But you can't expect to go back to Elisa's life, Talika," Titania insisted.  "That's against the rules.."

    "But rules that can't be broken can be bent, Anastasia" Elisa said, a smile on her face.

    "How true, Elisa Maza," Titania said, a smile on her face.

    Placing a hand on Goliath's shoulder, Elisa said, "Come on Big Guy, let's go home."

    Nodding his head in agreement, Goliath held onto Elisa's tiny shoulders, preparing for the return trip.  Once more the winds began and the green mist surrounded them.  As it cleared, Goliath was relieved to find himself standing on the highest tower of the castle.  Looking to the east, Goliath saw that he had maybe fifteen minutes before dawn would come.  Turning to Elisa, he was surprised to see her glowing green once more.  Before he could get a question out, all of the green energy discharged down into the castle below.  "What did you do?"

    "Well, I sent the sisters and Coyote back to Avalon, turned Puck back into Owen, returned my family, the Labyrinth clan, and Matt back to where they should be, while erasing all of their memories along with the Xanatos family and the clan's memories of this incident."

    "I see," Goliath murmured, surprised at all she had accomplished in such a short time.  Then, to her surprise and delight he then enveloped her in a warm hug, wrapping his wings tightly around her.  Holding her close, he then laid his head on the top of hers, breathing in the sweet scent of her long black hair.  "I love you, Elisa."

    "I love you, Goliath," Elisa whispered back, finally at peace in her heart.

    As Goliath broke the embrace, he tilted Elisa's head up till he was looking into her dark eyes and said, "What did you mean that you knew of me for so long?"

    "Oh boy," Elisa muttered as she broke his grip and moved to sit on one of the bricks on the parapet.  She hadn't really wanted to get into this just now.. but what better time than the present?  "Okay.  As you know, I have been alone for so very long... I began to feel very  depressed... I didn't want to go on.  Then, The Creator sent me visions of a time when I wouldn't have to be alone any longer... he sent me visions in 1020 B.C. of now, of you.  It was because of those visions that I created the gargoyles.. so I could have your love.  The knowledge of your love was the only thing that kept me going all these decades.  Goliath, the gargoyles were created for you.. I love you!" Elisa said, tears dripping down her face.

    "I'm so sorry, Elisa," Goliath said sadly as he knelt beside her.  "I had no idea of the trials you've had to face, but why are you crying now?  We are together and will be till the end of time."

    "Because I'm so happy!" Elisa laughed as she wrapped her arms around him.  Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed Goliath.  This was no simple kiss and soon they had their arms wrapped around each other.

    When the kiss finally ended, Goliath looked up in surprise and said, "Elisa, the sun!"  There before him was the most glorious and beautiful thing he had ever seen... the sun rising before him.  Looking at the glorious shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow, Goliath casually glanced below and was surprised to see the clan on the lower parapet, all in stone.  He had never seen any of his kind as they slept before.  Turning, he looked at Elisa and saw a large smile on her face.

    "I can't give you the world, Big Guy.. but I can give you the sun."

    Goliath didn't know what to say.  Never before had anyone ever given him such a glorious gift as this.  Walking forward, Goliath once more encircled Elisa in his arms and said, "I love you."