"Saving Trickster Puck"
by Lisette:  Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 08/16/00

Revised on: 11/23/01

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  The characters of Talika, Lisette, and Caleb on the other hand, are of the author's creation and should not be used without her express permission.  In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is the tenth part of the Talika series.  Also, there is a little bit of French used within.  For those parts you will see the translation immediately following in <brackets like these> and anything in italics is considered a flashback to a scene from a previous fic.  Another also... because most of the fic takes place in Avalon, I had to account for Avalon time in which the 'real' world runs 24 times faster than in Avalon.  

Brief summary:  Puck acted to stop what he  felt in his heart was wrong.  Now, it's up to the others to save him from his actions.

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

Previously in "Hope"...

     Gasping, Elisa felt the tears pour down her cheeks as she clutched the little angel to her that she hadn't held since near the beginning of time.  Turning, she met Goliath's shocked eyes.  "My baby's back..."

     As the muzzle flashed on the gun, Elisa reacted on instinct as she twisted her body sharply so that Hope was smashed against her chest as her bare back faced in the direction that Lex's voice had come from.

     And in that instant, a fine spray of red blood flashed out from the middle of Elisa's back as the dark matter bullet tore through her skin, her back arching in pain even as she convulsively clutched her daughter closer.  Not even a second later that same bullet tore its brutal exit as it ripped out of Elisa's chest and then lodged itself in Hope's small body even as the gun disappeared in a flash of light.

     Gasping in pain as the sharp copper taste of her own blood filled her mouth, Elisa slumped forward to the ground as she heard the pounding of footsteps of the others from all around her.  Crying out as the blinding pain made her immobile, Elisa looked down with dimming vision and watched as a faint trickle of blood trailed out of Hope's lips, her small eyes closed and her features relaxed.  "No," Elisa moaned as she clutched at her daughter, Hope's blood mixing with her own as it made her hands slippery.  "No," she whispered as she caught sight of the bloody hole high in her daughter's chest, quickly staining her white dress red.  The scene was too familiar as déjà vu swept over her.  She was losing her daughter for a second time.

     "Owen, what's wrong with her?" Angela asked quickly as the manservant knelt beside her.  In the last few seconds Lisette's tan skin had turned a dusty white as her breathing became low and ragged -- it sounded as though she had to fight for each breath she took.

     "She saved Hope," Owen muttered as he quickly reached forward and placed his hand high over the smooth black material that covered her breast.  When he drew his hand away, his pale skin was sheathed in red blood that the black dress concealed.

     A second later, two things happened at what appeared to be the same instant.  Right before Puck, infamous trickster and caring teacher, disappeared in a flash of light, yanked back to Avalon by a furious Lord Oberon, the dark matter bullet disappeared from its place beside Lisette's caring heart and reappeared harmlessly in a mirrored position inside of Puck.

Avalon -- Throne Room

     "Me Lord an' Yer Highness, I 'ave come t'accept yer invitation ta y'er gala tamorrow eve on behalf of Tom an' th' eggs," Princess Katherine called out graciously as she dropped into a low curtsy before the royalty of Avalon as the murmured words of approval drifted out in the large room, filled to overflowing by the children of Oberon.

     Nodding her head in approval at the human's actions, Queen Titania slowly gestured for the aging woman to rise.  "We thank you, Princess Katherine, for your graciousness and for the help of the gargoyles, Avalon's Honor Guard."

     Bowing once more, Princess Katherine took her cue of dismissal and rose elegantly.  Turning, she linked arms with Tom and began walking past the odd assortment of fey towards the door, Gabriel and Ophelia falling into step behind them.

     Stifling his yawn of boredom, Oberon turned slightly and rested his eyes on his beautiful wife.  "We grow weary of this," he murmured beneath his breath as she turned her enchanting eyes on him.  "Perhaps we should close court for the evening so that we can..." he broke off, his suggestion lost to him as a faraway look, filled with anger, entered his eyes as they began to glow a bright green.

     "What is it, my husband?" Titania asked quickly as Oberon stiffly stood from his throne, his eyes fully blazing now.

     "PUCK!!!" was Oberon's roared response as he raised his hand, the air directly before their raised dais shimmering with magic.

     Startled, Titania could only watch in growing confusion as Puck flashed into existence before them, his magic hampered by her husband as he fell to the hard stone floor.  "Puck, what have you done?" she asked quickly as the room became thunderous with the astonished voices of the fey's brethren.

     Wincing at his sore bottom, Puck slowly climbed to his feet and met his Queen's wide eyes.  "I saved a life that deserved saving," he answered solemnly as he brushed his long white hair from his face, noting that his usual flippancy and sarcasm were no where to be found.

     "No, what you did was openly defy Oberon's decree!!" Oberon roared as magical chains wrapped tightly around the helpless fey, his magic stripped.  "And for that your punishment shall be severe..."

Aerie Building -- Infirmary

     Sighing softly, Lisette slowly felt the layers of her deep, drug-induced sleep peel away, bringing her further and further out of the darkness.  But with that movement towards consciousness came a deep and numbing pain -- so great that the temptation to hide back in the oblivion of darkness gnawed at her mind.  Still, she was filled with warmth at the thought of breaking free from her dark web, knowing that those that she loved would be waiting for her.  And it was that thought that finally propelled her forward out of the darkness and into the light.

     As Lisette's eyes blinked open, the first thing that she became aware of was a blinding pain that radiated forth from her chest and spread throughout her body.  Groaning, she quickly squeezed her eyes shut once more as the waves of pain overwhelmed her.  "Oh là là," she murmured as she fought at the blackness that threatened to devour her.

     And then a different sensation registered in her mind as she became aware of a small weight that pressed against her left side and arm.  Confused, Lisette slowly blinked her eyes open and turned her head slightly till she was looking down at a mop of curly blond hair.  "La petite ânge?" <The little angel?> she mumbled quietly, finding her voice thick and scratchy.  "Mais... où-est moi?" <But... where am I?> she questioned as she slowly turned her head to take in her surroundings.  "L'infirmerie?  Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé?" <The infirmary?  What happened?> she murmured as her soft words mingled with her deep pain.

     And then the small child stirred in her arms and turned till her large blue eyes met Lisette's.  "You talk funny," she declared as she slowly stretched her small arms above her head, her small mouth open wide in a yawn.

     "Excusez-moi?" <Excuse me?> Lisette mumbled in confusion as she tried to grab a hold of her muddy thoughts.  All that she could remember was a faint, wispy dream of Angela as a human, a large gargoyle that looked and sounded exactly like Goliath, and of Elisa and her... daughter being injured?  As her blue eyes widened further with amazement, Lisette slowly lifted one weak hand and ran it across the child's smooth cheek.  "Tu es la fille d'Elisa, non?  Tu t'appelle Hope?"

     "What?" Hope asked as her tiny brows crunched in confusion.  "You don't make no sense!" she cried out as she sat up and stared at Lee-zette.

     "Oh," Lisette murmured as she finally realized that she had unknowingly slipped back into her native language.  "Um... I said that you are Elisa's daughter... that your name is Hope?" she questioned as she shifted slightly in the hard hospital bed, grimacing as a fresh wave of pain rippled out from her chest.

     "I'm Hope, but my mommy is Talika -- not 'Lisa," Hope stated calmly as she watched the pretty lady with interest.

     "Oh, yes of course," Lisette murmured absently as she weakly lifted one hand and began to gently explore the large bandage that rested beneath the stiff and loose clothing that she wore.

     "You have a big owie," Hope volunteered as she was once more looking into Lee-zette's pretty blue eyes.

     "Yes I do," Lisette agreed, a small frown playing on her lips as she leaned back and rested her head on the plump, white pillow, one hand weakly reaching up to pull a strange hose-like device away from her nose.  "Would you happen to know how I got this... owie?" she murmured, stumbling over the word as the pain rolled throughout her small form.

     Frowning, Hope looked at the older girl in confusion.  "Unca Puck said that you got your owie by helpin' me."

     "I did?" Lisette asked in confusion.  Groaning, she wearily closed her eyes.  This was going to be a long day.. or night?

     As his hard-soled shoes tapped lightly on the polished floors, David Xanatos slowly went over the marketing report in his head... or at least tried to.  Sighing, the billionaire finally gave up as he turned into yet another brightly lit hallway, his mind going a mile a minute.  Sunset was still a good four and a half hours away and there was plenty to be done before then.  For instance, Detective Bluestone had been calling his office every hour for the last four hours for word on his partner's condition.  Unfortunately, since he had heard nothing from Owen, he had no news.  As far as he knew, the detective and young Lisette were both still in surgery -- although he had never before heard of an operation that lasted fifteen hours.  

    Still, in the end he told Matt to tell Captain Chavez that he had been notified that Detective Maza had been shot while off-duty somewhere in upstate New York and had been hospitalized there.  In other words, the vaguer the better with Detective Bluestone being too traumatized to remember only the barest of details.... it would do as an explanation for now.

     But even though that portion of the problem had been dealt with, Xanatos still found himself swamped under the bigger picture: Detective Maza and Lisette had both been shot with dark matter bullets, perhaps fatally in Lisette's case.  And that... THAT was the thing that weighed the heaviest upon him.  Not that he didn't get any work done this day, or that he had to manage without Owen, his right-hand man, or even the fact that without Owen there to remind him he had inadvertently stood up the Mayor, forgetting their lunch date.  No, it was the young mage's imminent death that weighed so heavily upon him.  

    During the last year that she had been living with them at the castle, she had become such an integral part of the day to day scene: eating her meals with his family, baby-sitting Alex, working out with he and Fox in the gym, taking her lessons with Puck and Alex, and even helping him out on occasion in the office.  By now, she was as much family as was Owen.

     Sighing, that thought brought Xanatos to an abrupt halt as his frown deepened.  Owen had been in his services for a long, long time, and throughout it all he had been nothing but loyal and obedient.  But beyond that, the man became somewhat of a confidante and, more importantly, a friend.  Owen had even gone so far as to disobey and defy Oberon, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.  That went above and beyond the call of duty and it was an act that Xanatos would never forget... which made this matter all the more difficult.

     David Xanatos was not a stupid man.  He couldn't be or else he wouldn't be where he was today.  Therefore, it was easy for him to see how much Owen cared for the French mage, his feelings carefully hidden beneath a mask of nonchalance.  All in all, that made David even more worried about how Owen would be able to handle the young woman's death.

     Shaking his head, David quickly started walking as he rounded the final corner that emptied into the... empty waiting room?  Puzzled, Xanatos arched one eyebrow before slowly pushing open the infirmary door and stepping into the darkened room.  Squinting as his eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting, David turned away from the curtained off portion to the left and began slowly walking towards the single bed that sat to the right.

     What hit him right away was the eerie silence that filled the room, broken only be the soft sounds that emanated out from the life support machines that were scattered throughout the room.  Not a person was in sight, which made him think that the operations had been finished for quite a while.  "Detective Maza?" he asked quietly as he approached the woman's bedside, noting that besides being pale, she seemed to be alright.. or at least not dying.

     Sighing, Elisa's eyes slowly fluttered open as she focused on the tall man that stood beside her, immaculate in every way.  "Xanatos?" she croaked, dismayed at how weak her body felt.

     "How are you feeling?" he asked gently, or as gently as he could manage given their history together.

     "How in the hell do you think?" Elisa asked crossly as she tried to ignore the numbing pain in her shoulder.

     "Given your attitude, better than I had expected," Xanatos replied with a smirk as he ignored Elisa's glare.  "But I was wondering if you had seen Owen..." he trailed off as the detective's expression immediately fell.  "He... was supposed to notify me of any changes in your and Lisette's condition," he continued as Elisa seemed to struggle to hold back tears.  That, most of all, surprised and disturbed him for the detective was a noted strong woman which made him believe that it took a great deal to reduce her to this.

     "Owen and Hope were allowed in a long time ago," Elisa explained quietly as her eyes drifted to the curtained portion of the room.  "Lisette... wasn't expected to last much longer and Owen and Hope have been with her ever since..." she trailed off as Xanatos turned and began walking across the room.

     As the billionaire and ex-villain drew closer, he heard the soft murmuring of voices.  Sighing, he stopped outside of the curtain and steeled himself for what he thought he would see next.  "Owen," he began as he drew the curtain aside... and stopped and what he saw.  "Lisette?" he asked in confusion as he met her alert but pain-glazed blue eyes.  From the way Detective Maza had been talking, he expected to find nothing more than a body, let alone her away and chatting with Elisa's daughter.

     "That's Alex's daddy," Hope said to Lee-zette as she pointed to the tall man that had interrupted their talk about her kitty, Artemis.

     "LISETTE!!!" another voice screeched from behind Alex's daddy.

     Swiveling, the little girl focused on a young woman who stood just inside the room's doorway, her face pale and framed by wisps of dark brown hair.  "An' that's Angela, 'Liath's daughter," Hope explained as Angela pushed past Alex's daddy and wrapped her arms tightly around Lee-zette.

     Instantly the world swam around Lisette as pain flared within every inch of her body.  "Angela.. s'il vous plaît... stop!" she gasped as tears of pain coursed down her already pale cheeks.

     Immediately abashed, Angela quickly drew back and stared at her friend in horror.  "Oh no!  I am so sorry, Lisette!" she whispered as tears pooled in her large brown eyes.  "Please do not leave me!"

     "Leave you?" Lisette asked in confusion as the pain slowly ebbed away.  "Why would I leave you?  Where would I go?"

     "You were dying," another voice explained slowly.

     Confused, Lisette turned and watched as Xanatos wheeled a bed, similar to her own, beside her, Elisa propped within.  "Dying?" Lisette croaked, her eyes wide as she took in the amazement that was evident on everyone's face... save one.

     "Yeah, but she's better now," Hope stated calmly as she moved carefully over to her mommy's bed, quickly snuggling by her side.

     "But... how is that possible?" Angela whispered as she gently squeezed Lisette's hand, immensely grateful that it was possible.

     "Unca Puck helped Lee-zette," Hope responded as she began absently twirling a piece of her mommy's black hair around her finger.

     "But Owen couldn't have become Puck," Xanatos quickly denied, shaking his head firmly.  "Alex was with Fox the whole day and he wasn't in danger."

     "I helped 'im," she grinned, her large blue eyes twinkling.

     Shutting her eyes, Lisette tried to process the information that she had been given through her cloud of pain.  Puck had saved her?  How?  If he had saved her, then why was she still in pain now?... unless he only took enough to keep her alive!  But could he do that?  Sighing, Lisette shrugged off the questions and instead focused on the only one that mattered: "Hope, where is Puck?"

     "He had to go home," the little girl replied sadly as she slowly sat up and stared into Lee-zette's eyes.. now she realized that they were blue.. a very pretty blue.

     "Home?" Xanatos asked in confusion.  "This is Puck's home."

     "No, Unca Obe'ron made Puck go home to Av'lon... he's very mad at Puck," she admitted solemnly.

     "Uh oh," Elisa murmured as Xanatos quickly swung his head in her direction, all of the pieces finally falling into place.

     "What happened?" David Xanatos asked slowly, his eyes glittering dangerously.

     "Owen turned into Puck and, in the process, went against Oberon again," Elisa explained, wincing as she thought of the trouble that the small trickster must be in.

     "What do we do?" Angela asked slowly, remembering all too well the anger that she had glimpsed during the two times that she had encountered the lord of the third race.

     "Well why don't we just go to Av'lon an' get Puck from Unca Obe'ron an' Auntie Tie'tanie?" Hope asked as she raised her hands slightly and shrugged her little shoulders as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

     Intrigued by her daughter's suggestion, Elisa slowly arched one eyebrow as she regarded Angela and Xanatos.  "Why don't we?" she asked as she turned, her eyes narrowing as Lisette weakly began to pull various wires and sensors away from her body, wincing as they ripped at the younger woman's skin.

     "What are you doing?" Angela cried out in horror as her friend ripped out a needle that had been taped to her wrist, the wound oozing a thick red blood.

     "Well, I cannot very well go if I am attached to all of these... contraptions, can I?" Lisette murmured with a weak wave at her life support machines as she allowed David to tape a thick, white strip of gauze over her wrist, stanching the blood flow.

     "But... but you're in no condition to travel to Avalon," Angela protested as a look of determination covered Lisette's pale face.

     "If you do not take me with you then I will find a way to Avalon by myself," Lisette ground out, clenching her teeth as she concentrated on her magic and weakly shifted her clothing until she was covered in a soft gown of deep burgundy that circled low along her bust line.  All in all, the deep coloring made her skin look even paler as the long sleeves and thick material hid the bandages from sight.  "Puck saved me..." she whispered as tears rushed her eyes.  "... it is my fault that he now faces Lord Oberon's wrath and you can be damn sure that I will not just lie here when he needs me most!" she cried out, her eyes flashing green with her defiance.

     "Well, technically you could say that the blame ultimately lies with whoever shot Elisa," Xanatos put in easily, trying to ease the tension somewhat.

     Instantly, Elisa turned and looked at the man in surprise.  "You mean that it wasn't..."

     "Not that I could tell," Xanatos interrupted with a slight nod at Hope, the girl's bright blue eyes following the conversation closely.  He remembered all to well the intense heartache that the little girl had experienced when her father left, even though she had obviously forgotten for the moment, and had no intentions of putting her through it again -- especially when time was short and Puck's livelihood, possibly his life, depended on their arrival in Avalon as soon as possible.  "You would have to talk with Lexington -- he was the closest."

     "And none of that matters right now!  Rien! <Nothing!>" Lisette cried as she finished ripping off the remaining sensors.  "All that matters is helping Puck and I AM GOING!!!"

     For once, Elisa didn't argue as she nodded her head in agreement.  "And while I am too weak to accompany you all, I should be able to send you to Avalon..."

     "Us all?" Angela asked weakly.

     "Yes, you, Xanatos, and Hope will travel with Lisette," Elisa instructed as Xanatos gently lifted the young woman into his arms, wincing at her muffled cry of pain.

     "But she's even weaker than you are!  A bullet punctured her lung!" Angela cried, watching as Lisette tried to hide her obvious pain.

     "I know," Elisa murmured as she gently squeezed Angela's tanned, five-fingered hand, the young woman like yet another daughter to her, "but Lisette may be able to help convince Titania and Oberon and it will take all that I have to transport you there."

     Sighing, Angela closed her eyes and nodded briefly, vowing that at the slightest sign of complications she would find a way to get Lisette back and to the medical attention that she needed.

     As if reading her thoughts, Elisa turned and eyed the young mage.  "Lisette, if you start to have any troubles..."

     "Then Puck will bring us back," was Lisette's soft reply as her eyes slid open, revealing her bright blue eyes filled with determination.

     "But if..."

     "I will not be leaving Avalon's shores without my teacher," Lisette replied firmly as she closed her eyes and rested in Xanatos's strong arms.

     Sighing, Elisa quickly shook her head.  That girl had one of the most kindest and caring hearts of anyone she knew -- and one of the most stubborn.  To make it worse, Lisette actually had the power to back up her threat, or at least to make a good effort.  Frowning, Elisa quickly turned back to Angela and met the young woman's dark eyes.  "Since Oberon doesn't know Lisette and thinks less than highly of his son-in-law..."

     "The feeling is mutual," Xanatos added with a wry grin.

     "... you will have to explain what has been happening with Hope and Caleb," Elisa continued without pause.

     "And Hope?" Angela asked quietly as she lifted the small girl into her arms, turning slightly to see Xanatos standing beside her, carrying Lisette as though she weighed nothing at all.

     "Hope will be there to help soften up her god-parents with her irresistible charm," Elisa said as she winked at her daughter.

     Returning her mommy's wink, Hope turned and felt her bright smile fade away as she saw Lee-zette shake lightly in Alex's daddy's arms.  "You're cold," Hope stated as a frown tugged at her lips.  But before anyone could reply, the little girl flashed a bright green and a moment later Lisette was wrapped in a heavy, flowing black cape that was secured at her shoulders.

     Rolling her eyes at her daughter's extravagantness, Elisa quickly nodded at the four travelers.  "Now, are you guys ready?" she asked, turning serious once more.  At their nods of agreement, some somewhat reluctant, Elisa slowly turned to regard Lisette's pale form.  "And please hurry," she whispered sadly as her eyes locked with Lisette's.  "I don't want her away from the infirmary any longer than she has to be."

     Ignoring the challenge that he knew was shining in Lisette's eyes, Xanatos gently shifted her in his arms, wincing at her groan of pain.  "We will... and tell Fox to take care of things while I'm gone," Xanatos added, almost as an after thought, well aware that time passed by much more quickly in the mortal world than on Avalon.  He just hoped that fact would be their saving grace in getting them to Avalon in time to save Puck.

     "I will, and just remember to let Angela do the talking," Elisa instructed as she closed her eyes and concentrated on what needed to be done.  Because it was dark matter that wounded her, the bullet wound would be one that would only heal with time.  And because of that and the subsequent operation, her body was now very weak.  Still, Puck's very life could depend on her ability to transport the four to Avalon.  She had no choice but to succeed.  

    "Even though he can be irritating... he's helped me out so much," Elisa murmured as her weakened body began to tremble under the force of the power that she possessed.  "Take him the help that he deserves," she whispered as the magic built and surrounded the four travelers.  And as the group disappeared in a flash of light, a scream of pain erupted from Elisa's lips as the raw power drew on her battered body more than it was able to give.

     Seconds later there was a silence that was broken only by the frantic beeping of the life support machines and the panicked voices of the medical staff as they raced back into the room.  Their patient had stopped breathing.

Avalon -- Throne Room

     "My husband, first you should hear Puck out," Titania pleaded, instantly fearing that the life that the little trickster had to save was her son-in-law's... or even worse, her beloved daughter.

     "We will hear no excuses from his traitorous mouth!" Oberon roared as he glared down at the little fey, looking carefree and defiant despite his tight chain bindings.

     "But..." Titania began when a single fey broke loose from her brethren from the back of the Great Hall and strode forward, pushing past Princess Katherine and her entourage who had been quietly watching up until this point, and knelt before them.

     "Lord Oberon, Queen Titania," Selene nodded as she bowed her raven head.  "There are visitors from the mortal world waiting with my sisters who request an immediate audience."

     "Ah ha!  And the cavalry has arrived!" Puck quickly sang out with a confidence that he didn't feel, all the while wondering who would be coming to his rescue... if the visitors were indeed visiting on his behalf.

     Growling, Oberon was about to order the mortals, whoever they were, off his isle when his wife lay a calming hand on his arm.  "Perhaps an audience with Talika?" she murmured, hinting at the fact that denying Talika, protector of the mortal world, an audience would be unwise.

     "Show them in," Oberon murmured, his voice low as his eyes glittered dangerously.  "Although she better not be trying to stick her nose in fey matters.  This is none of her concern," he muttered quietly.

     Nodding her head, Selene rose quietly and moved to the doors of the Great Hall amidst the murmured speculation of her brethren.  A few moments later the three sisters entered as one, their robes flowing around their shapely bodies as a tall human male with broad shoulders, dark hair and a goatee, a young woman cradled in his arms, and another beautiful young human with a long brown braid trailed behind.

     "May we present..." Selene began as they approached the dais, her face expressionless.

     "... David Xanatos, Angela..." Luna continued without pause.

     "... Lisette and Hope," Phoebe finished as the three stepped to the side.

     "WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!?!" Puck suddenly exploded, causing all to jump in surprise as the fey tried to dart forward, only to be halted by a furious Lord Oberon.  "Get her out of here RIGHT NOW!!" Puck bellowed, surprising even himself at his sudden anger.  All he knew was that something horrible would happen if his student remained on the isle any longer.

     "ENOUGH!!" Oberon roared as Titania slowly stared back and forth between her favorite trickster and the young woman that he was obviously referring to, cradled in her son-in-law's arms.  Instantly following their lord's command, the room was filled with silence.  "Now, David Xanatos," Oberon called out, his eyes glittering with anger.  "We are not on good terms with the likes of you and you are NOT welcomed to Oberon's isle.  How dare you arrive here uninvited..." he sputtered, the mortal looking completely unconcerned as Titania lay a gentle hand on his blue arm.

     "Be quiet, my husband," she murmured as her eyes locked on a small face that was peering cautiously from around David Xanatos's pant legs.  "Are you seeing what I am seeing?"

     "What?" Oberon asked irritably as he shifted uncomfortably on his throne, his face red with anger as he glared back and forth between Puck and Xanatos.

     "Step forward child... you needn't be afraid," Titania called out as she slowly slid forward and beckoned gently to the small child.

     Hesitantly, the little girl did as asked as she slowly moved forward and frowned up at her god parents.  "Is Unca Obe'ron mad at Unca Puck?" she asked as the gathered fey craned their necks to look at the small, golden-haired child.

     "Hope!" Titania called out in delight as she quickly stepped forward and dropped to her knees, spreading her arms wide.  Instantly, the little four-year old was off like a shot as she threw herself into Auntie Tie'tanie's arms.

     "How can this be?  We do not understand," Oberon murmured as his wife slid back onto her throne, Talika's child held firmly in her arms as the murmuring of the gathered fey grew louder.  All gathered had heard of the small angel if not actually had seen her when she still lived, yet all knew that she was dead.. or was supposed to be.

     "I can explain everything," the young human with the brown braid cautiously volunteered as Princess Katherine, Guardian Tom, Gabriel, and Ophelia startled at the familiar voice.

     "And who are you?" Oberon asked wearily, the fight having left his body at the surprise of Hope.

     "I am Angela, daughter to Goliath who is leader of the Manhattan clan," Angela proudly stated as the murmured voices in the room grew louder.  Unable to resist, the young woman risked a quick glance at her rookery brother and sister whom she had spied earlier, almost smiling at their evident shock.

     "But you are human," Titania murmured, finally seeing Goliath's daughter in the young woman.

     "Yes, Lisette turned me into a human," Angela admitted guiltily.

     "Who?" Oberon asked quickly, the name sounding familiar somehow.

     "I am Lisette, my Lord," the young blond woman called out as Xanatos gently set her on her feet, his arm wrapping tightly around her waist as her long cape swirled around her.

     "Xanatos, get her out of here!" Puck spoke up once more, his eyes pleading with his friend as he saw that the only reason that she was standing was because Xanatos supported her full weight, her eyes showing her pain as her breathing became shallow.

     "Puck, we will have silence from your mouth!!" Oberon growled, his eyes flashing green in anger as everyone in the room jumped besides the four visitors, Puck, and his wife.  "Or do I need to gag you as well?!"

     Frowning, Titania only half-listened as her husband ranted his anger and instead focused on the young woman.  Besides the fact that she looked remarkably like what she envisioned Hope to resemble as she grew older, the young woman seemed familiar.  Also, it was evident to her that there was something seriously wrong with the girl, her voice weak yet sure with each movement causing a grimace of pain to light up her face... which made her wonder what this Lisette was even doing there.  Then again, just by seeing the love and concern on Puck's face, Titania knew her wonderment was foolish.  She hadn't seen that look since the last time that Puck had defied her husband -- the two obviously cared a great deal for one another.. which also made her wonder why Puck was so insistent about her not being there.  It was almost as if he feared for her safety more so than her health.  Curious, she quickly stilled her husband once more and nodded at the young woman.  "Explain yourself," she commanded as she locked eyes with the human.

     Nodding, Lisette tried to draw strength from her aching body as she leaned heavily against Xanatos.  "We were sent by Talika on her behalf to speak for Puck..." she trailed off as Titania lifted one slender hand.

     Upon the mention of her old friend, Titania nodded her head slowly.  Now she remembered where she had seen the blond girl and had heard the name -- Talika's last visit had been to inquire about the girl's parentage about two weeks ago, a year in mortal time.  "Where is Talika?"

     "Mommy's got an owie," Hope volunteered, her bright blue eyes so serious as she looked from Titania to Oberon.

     "What?!" Oberon and Titania asked simultaneously as they turned as one to Goliath's daughter.

     Sighing, Angela quickly glanced apologetically at Lisette's wan face before meeting the eyes of the Lord and Queen.  She knew that her friend was in pain and needed rest, but one glance into the eyes of Lord Oberon and Queen Titania was enough to convince her that not another word would be spoken about Puck until all was explained.  "About nine months ago Caleb, Talika's ex-husband, attacked us in hopes of restoring his leadership and relations with her," Angela explained slowly, beginning to feel uncomfortable as she realized that the entire room was focused on her words.

     "Caleb?" Oberon asked in surprise, speaking aloud the name that hadn't been spoken by the third race in millenniums.

     "Yes, he used dark matter against us and protected himself with a white stone," Angela explained.  "Lisette, somewhat protected by her heritage, was able to get the stone away and... hurt him with a blade of dark matter," she murmured, wary of Hope's small eyes on her.

     "Hurt him?" Titania asked in confusion as she gently hugged the small child that sat in her lap.

     "We think that someone has been helping him and while we thought he was... out of the picture, he really must have been recuperating," Angela quickly explained as a look of puzzlement covered the Queen's regal face.

     "An... intriguing tale," she murmured as she slowly pondered the young woman's words, her husband silent beside her.  "Yet how do you explain Hope?"

     "We think that with this person's help they were able to bring her back," Angela explained as she absently brushed a stray lock of brown from her face.  "And then tonight, Talika and Hope were shot with dark matter bullets..."

     "What?!" Oberon roared as he jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing yet again.  "How dare you!!  Lord Caleb would never harm his wife, let alone his child!!!"

     Thinking back to the knife wound that 'Lord Caleb' had induced upon his 'wife,' Xanatos felt his lips pull up in a smirk.  "We don't think that it was Caleb," he said quietly, his smile bright even as worry gnawed at his mind.  He had never been to Avalon before, and while the enchanted isle and the bizarre assortment of fey fascinated him, Oberon's obvious anger did not.  Then, there was also Puck's frantic pleas for him to get Lisette away from Avalon.  He knew that the young woman was weak and in tremendous pain, but he didn't think her condition could turn life-threatening by being away from the infirmary... which made him wonder what Puck knew that he didn't.

     Somewhat calmed, Oberon stiffly sat down once again and glared at Xanatos.  This was difficult for him... Caleb had been the closest thing to a real friend that Oberon had ever had, and it took everything in his power to put Caleb away all those years ago when he had turned against the humans.  Now, to hear that he was back... it made Oberon feel guilty in the worst way -- like he had betrayed his own friend.  "And who do you think did this?"

     "Good question," Xanatos replied with a grin as Lisette sagged a little more against him.  "This only happened last night, so we haven't had a chance yet to sort through everything."

     "And you believe that this.. mysterious benefactor of Lord Caleb was the one who attacked?" Lord Oberon asked slowly, finally pushing his anger aside so that he could ponder the mortal's words.

     "It's crossed my mind a time or two," Xanatos admitted, seeing by Puck's features that he had been thinking along the same line.

     "And that's how Talika was injured?" Titania asked, concern crossing her features as she imagined what it would be like if it was her or her husband shot, only with iron bullets.

     "Yes, Detective Maza was shot in the back in her shoulder," Xanatos explained, slightly amused to see the color drain from the faces of the King and Queen of Avalon.  "Luckily the bullet passed right through her and into Hope and she should recover in time..."

     Holding up his hand, Oberon quickly stilled the human as a frown covered his face.  "We do not understand," he stated as he turned to look at his goddaughter's wide blue eyes.  "You said that Hope was..."

     "Lee-zette made me all better," Hope interrupted with a bright smile as she played with Auntie Tie'tanie's hand.

     Nodding in understanding, Titania turned and regarded the silent young woman once more.  "So that is what ails you, child?" she asked, noticing for the first time that what she mistook for a normal ivory complexion could actually be how very pale the young woman was.

     "Oui, your highness," Lisette murmured as she tried to hide her growing pain and the fact that she was growing weaker by the minute.

     "She would have died, too, if Puck had not taken the dark matter from her," Angela quickly volunteered, seeing an opening that she couldn't hope to pass up.

     "I see," Titania murmured as she stared at the young woman in interest.  "And earlier something was mentioned about your heritage protecting..." she trailed off as Puck lit up once again, yanking at his chains.

     "I don't see the relevance!" he quickly interrupted, drawing all intention away from his student, the way that he preferred.  "We are all here to discuss me and my punishment for disobeying once again, yada, yada, yada," he quickly rattled off as Daddy Oberon became livid once again with anger for the small fey.

     "Apparently the Puck realizes not how precarious his position sits," Oberon growled as he stiffly rose to his feet, his hands crackling with his magical fury.  "Apparently he does not realize that no fey has ever lived after crossing Oberon twice!" he roared as the room erupted in amazed and frightened voices.

     "Apparently he does not care," Puck muttered quietly, mimicking Oberon, not realizing that he spoke aloud until it was too late.

     "I WILL HAVE NO MORE INSUBORDINATION IN MY COURT!!!" Oberon bellowed, his fury having no limits as he lost the royal 'we' and the third person speech that was so evident for him.  In his mind, Puck had just sealed his fate as Oberon quickly lashed out with his magical fury.

     And then, as Lisette's senses were overloaded by the powerful magic, she grabbed onto a strength that she didn't know that she possessed as she stepped away from Xanatos and became sheathed in a green light.  Her body and mind knew only one command and acted as one entity to carry it out: save Puck.  Screaming out his name, Lisette felt her magic drain from her and poured out in a single green beam of light that collided with Oberon's deadly ray, both dissolving one another as her world went dark once more.

     As her husband unleashed his fury, Titania felt everything move in slow motion.  "No!" she cried out as she felt the force of his magic, knowing that without his magic to protect himself, Puck would surely be killed.  But even as her cry mingled with that of the others, another scream shattered the quiet.  Swiveling in slow motion, Titania watched as a bright green wave of magic poured forth from the young blond woman who was now standing alone.  And then in amazement she watched as Lisette's magic dissolved her husband's, leaving Puck unscathed as the young woman tumbled unconscious to the stone floor.

     "LISETTE!!" Puck called out in horror as he tried to rush to his fallen student, only to be held back by Raven and Coyote.  Instantly, Xanatos and Angela were kneeling down beside her, concern evident on their faces as Titania slid from her throne, setting Hope gently on the ground as she joined them.  All the while Puck's numb mind registered the fact that Oberon sat back on his throne in shock, a thoughtful expression on his face as he watched the scene unfold with an air of detached curiosity.  Shaking his head, Puck briefly struggled against his captors as he cursed Lisette's actions in his mind.

     "Hold still!" Raven grumbled as he tightened his hold on Puck's magical chains.  "We're doing this for your own good!"

     "Let me go!" Puck cried out, his face livid as his eyes locked on Lisette's still form.  She looked like a fallen angel with her burgundy dress spread around her, the black cloak protecting it from the stone floor, as her hair fanned out like a halo beneath her head.  "I have to help her!"

     "You would be helping her most by staying out of Oberon's way," Coyote said quickly, hoping to calm his friend.  "Besides, she looks to be fine," he soothed, barely able to believe what he had just witnessed -- he doubted that even he would have been able to do what the young woman had.

     Sure enough, the words barely left his mouth when Queen Titania slowly raised from where she had been inspecting the young woman and nodded at her husband.  "She will be fine... she just needs some rest," Titania announced, her voice even and clear.

     "We should bring her back to her doctors," Xanatos said as he gently pressed his fingers against her throat, quickly picking up a faint but steady pulse.

     "Nonsense," Titania quickly interrupted as she turned to regard them with calm eyes.  "She shall be taken to a room in the castle to rest, and when she is feeling better, we shall continue with these proceedings," she stated with a note of finality as she gently lifted a frightened Hope into her arms.

     "But..."

     "Honestly, David," Titania interrupted, the tiniest bit of annoyance in her soothing voice.  "I was married to Halcyon Renard for how long?  And the title of 'Doctor' before Anastasia Renard was not merely for show -- I do know what I am talking about!"

     Sighing, Xanatos understood what lay beneath the Queen's, his mother-in-law's words: they didn't really have a choice in the matter.  Nodding, Xanatos gently lifted the unconscious mage into his arms, Angela standing silently beside him.  "Just lead the way," he muttered, forcing his dark thoughts away as he slipped into his 'poker' face.

     Nodding, Titania turned back to her husband and seeing him deep in thought, quickly took control of things.  "Coyote, Raven," she commanded as she eyed the two tricksters, Puck standing between them, his face unreadable.  "I want you to take the Puck to my chambers and wait there with him until my arrival.  Sisters Three," she continued, turning to Selene, Luna, and Phoebe as Raven and Coyote led Puck away, the latter with his head craned in Lisette's direction the entire way.  "You shall show David and Angela to an empty chamber so that Lisette may rest," she commanded as she handed Hope to Angela.

     "And after, my Queen?" Selene asked as her sisters bowed their heads in obedience, silver and gold framing her to either side.

     Pausing, Titania quickly pondered how to best put her following words.  "You shall not leave Lisette's side until you hear from me.... in case she needs anything."

     Smiling at her queen's command, Luna raised her head beside her sister.  "We shall do..."

     "... as you command," Phoebe finished as the sisters three left the room as one, Xanatos, with Lisette in hand, and Angela following close behind.

     "And as for the rest of you," Queen Titania called out as she addressed the roomful of fey and four mortals, "you are all dismissed for the evening.  Princess Katherine, we shall see you and the gargoyle clan tomorrow eve."  With that done, she nodded once more and then turned back to her husband and lord.

     "And what of Puck and his defiance?" Oberon asked, his anger replaced by a calculating and detached air -- an even more chilling thought.

     "We shall deal with that matter later.. for now I am curious about this young mage," Titania admitted as Oberon slowly joined her and began walking with her toward her chambers.

     "Yes, she is of the intriguing sort, isn't she?" Oberon asked as his countenance darkened.  "Did you realize, my love, that she blocked magic so powerful that only a handful of our children could boast the same?"

     "Yes, I did," Titania murmured as they stopped outside her chamber doors.  "But you go on ahead... I shall come to you soon and then we can discuss all," she murmured as she reached up and kissed her husband softly.

     As she turned away Oberon gently reached out and caught her hand in his.  "Would you like for me to accompany you?" he asked as he tenderly brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles.

     Chuckling softly, Titania remarked to herself once again on how quickly her husband could change from a roaring beast to her loving Oberon.  "No, my love... I will come to you when I am finished," Titania smiled as she slowly slipped into her chambers.... she had some answers to get.

Castle Wyvern

     Sighing, Fox slowly wiped the tears from her eyes as she noted the time on the clock mounted on the waiting room wall.  "Sunset," she murmured as she quickly composed herself, rearranging her sleeping son on her lap.  She knew that she didn't have long before Goliath and the others were upon her.. and then she would have to break them the news that she didn't even quite understand.  And then the clamor of heavy footsteps and loud voices could be heard from down the hall.  Sighing, Fox realized that she was on as she slowly rose and faced the short corridor that led into the waiting room.

     A second later the clan poured into the room, all in attendance and wearing masks of worry, confusion, and grief.  If possible, even Bronx seemed to share in it as he shuffled slowly in beside Hudson.  "Goliath, wait!" Fox cried out as she stepped between the massive gargoyle and the infirmary door.

     Growling with impatience, wanting nothing more than to see his love and reassure himself that she would be alright, Goliath was about to push past the woman when he noticed her tear streaked face and red, puffy eyes -- she looked a mess.  "What is it?" Goliath asked, barely restraining his impatience as his clan gathered around him.  "They are still not in surgery, are they?" he asked, his voice growing thick with worry.

     "No, but there has been... some complications," Fox explained as she shifted Alex in her arms.

     "What complications?  Are they alright?" Brooklyn quickly asked, his beak clenched tight.

     "And where's Angela and the others?" Broadway asked as he surveyed the empty waiting room.

     Sighing, Fox quickly lifted a slender hand and began massaging her forehead as she skipped over Brooklyn's question and moved onto Broadway's.  "I don't know," she murmured, her face a mask of confusion.  "We don't have any security cameras in the infirmary, just out here in the waiting room," Fox explained, her green eyes becoming distant.  "The cameras out here showed Owen, Angela, and Hope entering the infirmary about seven hours ago... Angela left a half hour later, and then David entered about two hours later with Angela close behind and since then the only people going in and out have been the medical personnel and Alex and I."

     Confused, Goliath slowly shook his head.  "Then the others are still in the..."

     "No," Fox quickly interrupted, knowing what the lavender gargoyle was going to say.  "They're all gone."

     "Gone?" Broadway asked, his large blue face twisted in confusion.

     "Yes, David, Owen, Angela, Hope, and even Lisette all disappeared from the infirmary about four hours ago," Fox explained, worry and a little bit of fear mixing with her concern for her husband.

     "What do you mean they disappeared?!" Broadway growled, his eyes glowing brightly at one particular name on the list of those missing.

     "What else does disappeared mean?!" Fox snapped, strung out from the drag on her emotions.  "They're missing, gone, vamoose and we have no idea what happened, how they left, or where they are!!"

     Sensing the growing tension, Goliath calmly placed one hand on his second's brick red shoulder.  "What does Elisa think happened?" he asked, thinking through the situation as logically as an illogical situation could warrant.

     "That's another thing," Fox muttered as she glowered at the linoleum floor.  "We think that where they went, Elisa sent them magically," she explained, not bothering to look up.

     "An' why do ye think that, lass?" Hudson asked slowly as he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

     "Many reasons: magic is the only logical explanation for their disappearance, Elisa was probably the only one able to move them all because of Owen's restrictions, Lisette's condition, and Hope's age," she said, counting the reasons off on her fingers as she balanced Alex in her arms.  "But the main reason was that when the doctors left Elisa six hours ago she was awake, stable, and out of the woods.  About four hours ago something drained on her so much that she was almost killed," Fox replied bluntly, almost sorry for her words as Goliath visibly paled.  "Now she has slipped into a coma and can't tell us where my husband or the others have gone!"

     Wincing at her words, Broadway slowly looked around at the faces of his clan.  "Uh... what's a coma?" he asked quietly.

     "She's sleeping and can't wait up," Lex explained as simply as he could as he began to uneasily hop from one foot to another.

     "I see," Goliath murmured slowly, his heart constricting painfully in his chest.

     As a tense silence fell over the room, Brooklyn slowly asked the question that he hated to ask.  "Um... what... what was Lisette's condition before they disappeared?"

     Sighing, Fox briefly closed her eyes as hot tears swarmed up. "I ran into Angela before she went back to the infirmary for that last time..." she whispered, feeling her grief surround her once more.  "She... she said that she had said goodbye to Lisette two hours ago and that... she was probably dead by then," Fox murmured as the wet tears poured down from her haunted eyes.

     "No.." Brooklyn whispered hoarsely, slowly shaking his head as he slowly backed away.

     "I'm sorry Brooklyn.. the doctors confirmed it... said they couldn't remove the bullet and it was draining on her..." Fox trailed off as Brooklyn paled, his eyes unnaturally wide as his head continued to shake in denial.

     "Angela and the doctors were wrong," Brooklyn stated weakly, backing away further as Goliath tried to put another calming hand on his shoulder.  "She has to be okay!!" he growled, his eyes burning with his determination.

     "I'm so sorry... they said that she was dying..."

     "Nnnnnoooooooooo!!!" Brooklyn suddenly roared as his head tipped back, his body tensed with grief as the roar of denial turned into an animal-like plea for mercy from the pain of her truth.. her truth.

     As the truth of her words tightened painfully around his chest until each breath was drawn in fiery agony, Brooklyn quickly turned and scampered from the room, dropping down onto all fours.  Ignoring his clan's cries from behind him, their pleas for him to stop, Brooklyn tore through the building as Lisette's haunting blue eyes tormented his every move... her soft laughter that tinkled around him... her bright smile that was almost always evident... but most of all, it was her bright eyes that always sparkled with warmth that stayed with him as he dove off the first parapet he reached and soared into the dark night sky, his lonely cry lighting his way.

Avalon

     As the three sisters swept off to the side of the room, Xanatos slowly stepped forward and gently placed Lisette on the hard bed.  Turning, he took in the small chamber with a critical eye, noting that besides the bed and cold fireplace the room was bare.. almost like a jail cell -- whose cell still yet to be determined.

     "Is Lee-zette otay?" Hope asked quietly as she crawled out of Angela's arms and moved carefully beside her new friend.

     "I think so," Xanatos replied as he gently placed a hand on the young woman's forehead, his face unreadable.

     "It's cold in here," Angela murmured absently as she gently rubbed her bare arms, her beigish-skin prickling with goose bumps.  Startled, the young woman then realized what she had just said.  She had never before been cold in her life... gargoyles didn't get cold... then again, she quickly decided that she didn't like it.

     Without saying a word, Luna quickly sparked a flame in the fireplace beside them with a small thrust of her magic.  A moment later a large fire was roaring in the hearth, fueled by magic, and quickly heating the small room.

     For some reason, their act of 'kindness' only furthered to fuel Xanatos' growing anxiety.  Something was amiss on Avalon and, thinking back to Puck's earlier pleas, he would bet anything that it revolved around Lisette.  "Angela, stay here with Hope and Lisette," he murmured as Goliath's daughter slowly sat on the large bed beside her friend.

     "Why?  Where are you going?" Angela asked as Hope crawled into her lap, concern marring her lovely features.

     "To talk to Puck and find out exactly what's going on," Xanatos muttered as he slipped from the room.  Ever since Owen had showed up at the nursery door with Goliath, Talika, and Hope in tow, his carefully constructed and meticulously manipulated world had been thrown helter skelter.  From then on he had been on the defensive and trying to react to each new development that was thrown his way.  

    Well, not any longer.

Titania's chambers

     Turning the handle, Titania slipped quietly into the sitting room of her bed chambers, a mass of swirling satin and veils.  Smiling, she nodded at Coyote and Raven, indicating their dismissal before turning her soft eyes onto her favorite trickster.  "Puck," she acknowledged as the little fairie's chain bindings disappeared in a flash of light.

     Rubbing his bruised arms lightly, Puck nodded his thanks at his queen, quickly realizing that his magic remained restricted.  "What, dontcha trust me?" he asked, trying his best innocent grin on the queen.

     "After your vehement and pathetic pleas for my son-in-law to remove young Lisette from my isle?" Titania scoffed, her voice gentle and calm.

     "Well, I prefer to think of them as endearing," Puck grinned as he plopped onto one of the many plush settees that littered the large room.

     Waving his comment away, Titania slowly began to pace before him, her expression thoughtful.  "I wonder about you Puck... about your reasons for wanting her to leave..."

     "And I wonder about your questions and about your reasons for wanting her to stay," Puck retorted as he crossed his arms stubbornly across his chest.

     Surprised, Titania stopped and stared deep into the little fey's eyes.  "You really care for this girl, don't you?" she asked, surprise registering on her face.

     "Don't let her hear you calling her a girl," Puck muttered as he shifted on the couch.  "She's very proud of the fact that she's almost twenty."

     Amazed at the evident scowl on Puck's face, Titania slowly shook her head.  "You really care for her.. why?" she asked in curiosity.

     "She's my student, of course I care for her," Puck muttered as his eyes roved the room, looking at every and anything but his queen's probing eyes.  Instantly Puck regretted his words as he mentally kicked himself.  He didn't like Titania's structured questions and her curiosity for his student -- in the end it would only lead to trouble.

     "So you have been giving Lisette lessons while teaching Alexander?" Titania asked quickly, pouncing on the small bit of information that she had been given.  "I imagine that the lessons must have been holding her back seeing as how she was being taught stuff for beginners, right?"

     At her questions, Puck kicked himself even harder as he clammed up once again, crossing his arms stubbornly across his chest.

     Noting this, Titania sighed in annoyed disbelief as she gracefully settled on the settee beside him.  "Puck, why do you fear my questions so?" she asked, her voice light and beguiling as she gently placed her hand on the shoulder of his brightly colored tunic.

     "The birth of Alexander Xanatos -- need I say anymore?" Puck retorted as he stood up and away from her touch and sulked in the corner.

     "I helped manipulate events in my daughter and grandson's favor," Titania quickly stated in her defense as she rose once again.

     "Perhaps," Puck muttered in reply, not giving his favored queen any slack when it came to his students.

     Sighing, Titania started for the door.  "It saddens me, Puck, to know that my words fall on deaf ears, yet I shall leave you with this solemn promise: Lisette shall not be held on Avalon against her will," she murmured before slipping from the room.

     Once out in the hallway she then placed an enchantment on the door, allowing anyone to enter and exit as they pleased, save Puck who remained trapped within.  Smiling that smile that could only be described as enigmatic, she then turned and walked slowly down the darkened hallway.  She had learned what she had set out to discover from Puck -- his stake in the young woman's affairs.  Now she only had to learn the rest of the story.

     As Xanatos rounded the hallway, his quick eyes latched onto a flare of green that emanated from a shadowed finger.  Turning, he quickly hugged the wall as the hidden figure sashayed out of darkness and into a brief pool of candlelight, revealing a lithe greenish form that dipped into an impossibly small waist and then out into Queen Titania's curvaceous hips, her hair a cascade of green silk.

     "She's your mother-in-law!" he quickly reminded himself, stopping his appreciative and roaming eyes with his disgusted words.  Shaking his head he quickly darted forward, sticking to the shadows until he was standing in front of the door she had just exited.  Sighing, he debated his options.  He needed to find Puck and he was willing to bet that Titania had been visiting with him... then again, Oberon could be the one waiting behind the double doors and not the little trickster.

     Shrugging his shoulders carelessly, Xanatos quickly threw open one of the doors and strode into the brightly lit room.  Instantly he was ambushed from the side and crushed to the thinly carpeted stone floor.

     "David, buddy ole pal!" Puck cried out in delight as he slowly jumped off his friend and gallantly extended a helping hand.

     Groaning, Xanatos glared at the trickster as he ignored his hand and pulled himself up.  Turning, he quickly closed the door before inspecting the little fey closely.  "Okay Puck, tell me what's going on," Xanatos ordered, his face an unreadable mask.

     "Whatcha mean?  What, no hello?  How are you doing, Puck?  Glad you're not fried bacon?" Puck asked innocently as he began to tinker around the room, absently inspecting the different artifacts and nick-knack's that were lying on shelves and in cases, most of the magical.

     Frowning, Xanatos watched the charade for a few moments before his patience finally ran thin.  "Why do you want Lisette away from Avalon so badly and why is my mother-in-law asking so many questions about her?"

     Smiling slightly, Puck was immediately pleased that the mortal had been as uneased by his queen's questions.  Still, he wasn't quite ready to discuss all of that.. first he had his own question to see to.  "Tell me Xanatos, why in the world would a bright mortal like you bring someone as weak as Lisette is traveling?!  To Avalon no less?!?" he asked as he quickly turned away from an enchanted walking stick that leaned against the wall.

     Arching his eyebrow at the fae, Xanatos crossed his arms over his chest as a small smile brightened his face.  "Because she threatened to find her own way to Avalon to save you if we didn't take her along.  We decided that she would be the safest with us."

     "Well... why couldn't you just... keep her drugged up or something?  Lock her in iron chains?!" Puck asked quickly, his eyes glittering madly.

     Laughing, Xanatos quickly shook his head.  "Would you listen to yourself?" he cried out as Puck's pale face flushed in embarrassment.  "Of course we weren't going to keep her drugged or locked up!  What's wrong with you?!"

     "She isn't safe here," Puck mumbled as his eyes became downcast, suddenly finding the pattern on the ancient Persian rug very interesting.

     "Why?" Xanatos pressed, his interest instantly piqued.

     "The less they know about her the better," Puck grumbled, his earlier exuberance having disappeared with the change in topic.  "They're already curious about her and capturing the interest of the King and Queen of Avalon is a dangerous thing for a mortal to do."

     "How so?"

     Sighing, Puck briefly closed his eyes before focusing on the richest man in the mortal world.  "Because they like to keep special people near them for amusement and to satisfy their curiosity -- special people like your son and Lisette," he said, watching as the man visibly paled.  "Heck, I bet that if Talika would let them get away with it then they'd have Hope by their side as well."

     "I see..." Xanatos slowly trailed off as a whole new sense of urgency consumed him.  "Then what do we do?  Titania has the Weird Sisters standing guard over her..."

     "We try to keep Lisette's past hidden and keep what they do find out as boring as possible," Puck interrupted with a grim smile.

     Sighing, Xanatos quickly shook his head.  "Then we really have our work cut out for us."

Lisette's chamber

     Sighing softly, Lisette sleepily blinked her eyes and focused on her surroundings.  "Qu'est-ce que c'est..." she murmured as she saw an unfamiliar room with three strange women, looking identical save for their hair color, standing against the far wall.

     "You talkin' funny again," Hope quickly replied, surprising the young woman as she left Angela's side and gently hugged her friend.  "But I'm glad you're awake," she mumbled as she gently kissed Lee-zette's pale cheek.

     "Thank you, Hope," Lisette replied as she slowly and painfully scooted back until her back rested against the bed's wooden backrest.

     "Queen Titania insisted that you rest here on Avalon until you were well enough to continue matters concerning Puck," Angela explained, answering her friend's earlier question.

     At Angela's words, Lisette felt a flush warm her pale cheeks as she remembered the earlier events.  "Zut," she murmured as her expressive eyes filled with worry.  "Are Lord Oberon and Queen Titania very angry with me?"

     "Not at all, child," Queen Titania responded as she slipped into the small chamber.  "Just curious, is all," she continued with a small smile as she nodded at the Sisters Three, indicating their dismissal.

     As the robed women slowly filed from the room, Lisette eyed the strangers curiously.  "Who are they?" she asked, her voice growing stronger by the moment.

     "They are the Weird..."

     "The Sisters Three," Titania interrupted, knowing how much the three detested the nickname that Puck himself had bestowed upon them long ago.  "The raven haired sister is Selene, the blond Phoebe, and Luna with the white," she explained as she gently sat on the bed a respectable distance from the young mage.

     "Ah oui, Craigen once told me stories of them," Lisette replied with a small smile.

     "And who is Craigen?  A friend?" Titania asked innocently as Hope crawled into her lap, falling asleep, warm and safe, almost instantly.

     "Oh no... Craigen... was my teacher and a surrogate father of sorts..." Lisette trailed off as a faraway look entered her eyes.  "But he died many years ago."

     "I'm sorry..."

     "You don't have to talk of such painful memories," Angela quickly interrupted as she gently squeezed Lisette's hand, both girls missing Titania's look of annoyance.

     "Merci, mon amie," Lisette replied with a small smile, "but remembering the past is good for me."

     "Oh, Angela dear," Titania broke in with a false smile, "before I forget, didn't you want to spend some time with your clan while you're here?"

     Surprised by the sudden topic change, it took a moment for the young gargess-turned-human to digest the queen's question.  "Well... yes, of course," she replied hesitantly.

     "Well, your time here is limited.  Why don't you go visit with them now?" Titania suggested with a kind smile.

     "But I don't want to leave..."

     Smiling, Lisette laughed lightly at her friend's obvious concern.  "Do not be silly, mon amie!  You have no reason to worry.  I shall be fine here.. go see your clan!" she urged as she shoved her friend away, knowing how much she missed her clan.

     "Are you sure?" Angela asked, uncertain as her loyalty demanded her to stay beside her weak friend while her heart demanded to see her clan.

     "Positive.  Go have fun!" Lisette laughed as her friend smiled and then slipped from the room.

     Touched by the young woman's kindness, Titania favored her with yet another bright smile.  "Now, child tell me all about yourself..."

Manhattan

     Closing his eyes as a single tear trailed down, Brooklyn allowed the warm wind currents to carry him as they pleased, the city of Manhattan twinkling merrily below.  It had been a week since Hope had appeared; a week since Caleb had threatened the clan; a week since the mysterious being shot Elisa and her daughter; a week since Lisette, Angela, Xanatos, Owen, and Hope had disappeared; a week since Elisa had fallen into her silent coma; and one week since Lisette had died... since his world had fallen apart.

     During that week everything was beginning to disintegrate:  Fox was beginning to have difficulties covering for her husband and Owen, the president and vice-president of Xanatos Enterprises; Matt was having similar troubles holding off Captain Chavez and stalling their investigation to see where Elisa was being held and what her condition was; Broadway was worried sick about Angela to the point that he had stopped eating altogether; Goliath spent his nights at Elisa's bedside, undeterred by the doctor's words saying that she may never awake; and he.. he was just a mess, plain and simple.

     Patrol was forgotten as he spent his nights gliding aimlessly over the city, their castle, as he tried to find solace in the darkness.  While Lisette had only been with the clan for a little less than a year, he felt that it was a true love that they shared from the word go.  Now he was finding life without her almost too much to bear.. perhaps it was too much for his young shoulders to bear the tremendous weight of.  How did one continue without the one that they loved?

     Roaring quietly in a way that bespoke anguish of the heart, Brooklyn looked down at the city as hot tears burned his eyes.  As she slowly regained consciousness, Brooklyn was immediately struck speechless by her beautiful blue eyes.. eyes that seemed to stare deep down into his soul.  In that moment, he knew that never before had he seen eyes like this strange woman's before.  <"New Beginnings">

    Closing his eyes, he clenched his teeth, pursing his beak against the pain.  Before Brooklyn could say another word, Lisette quickly turned the book a couple of pages further, familiar with the work.  "Personally, I prefer this one," she whispered quietly.  "'A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous,'" she whispered before turning slowly and meeting Brooklyn's fiery gaze.  Smiling, both slowly leaned towards each other until her lips met his beak -- together sharing their first kiss.  <"New Beginnings">

     Moaning quietly, Brooklyn winced as his heart constricted painfully in his chest. "Lisette," Brooklyn gasped out as he located the body that accompanied the soft timber of the stranger's voice.  There was his worst nightmare come true.. his first real love in the grasp of a strange lunatic, blood dripping down her face, with a knife pressed against her throat.  Then again, wasn't that everyone's worst nightmare come true?  <"New Beginnings">

     Hissing his breath in between his teeth, the soft whistle joined the moaning night.  Shrugging his shoulders, Brooklyn slowly lifted the flute to his lips once again and began to blow.  Instantly, instead of the music that should have come, the same haunting words issued forth from the white flute.  Gasping, Brooklyn drew the flute away again.  "Lisette?" he asked in confusion.  "Where are you?"  Suddenly, tears stung at his eyes as her whispered words registered in his mind.  "No," he whispered quietly.  "No..."  <"La Rose D'Or">

     Surprised by the quiet noise he quickly wrapped his brick red arms tightly around himself.  Hesitant, Brooklyn waited for Elisa's nod before slowly approaching the devastated woman.  When before her, he slowly got to his knees, wary of his touch sending her away, and whispered quietly, "I love you..."  Before he even had a chance to finish, Lisette was away from the wall and in his arms, her own wrapped tightly around his neck.  Surprised, he knelt in shock for a brief moment before wrapping his own strong arms around her slim waist.  Idly, he heard Goliath and Elisa shepherd everyone from the room as he gently cradled the crying mage into his arms and carried her over to her bed.  Moving slowly, he then leaned against her array of fluffed pillows and arranged Lisette so that she was snuggled up against his side, her head lying on his chest as her arms were wrapped tightly around him and his around her.  <"Dreams">

     Drawing his arms away, he quickly extended his wings and reached out towards the dark night, the wind feeling so fragile and tremulous.  Shuddering at the remembrance of so much blood, Brooklyn held Lisette closer.  She seemed so small and delicate as her thin frame shook like a leaf in his embrace.  She felt so different from before -- so weak that his protective instinct kicked in full force.  He wanted to shield her from the world and keep the hurt from her past, the present, and any that lay hidden in the future far, far away.  "Shh, Lisette, I'm here mon amour," he whispered gently against her ear as she hid her face from the world in his chest, her arms at her side as he gently brushed his mouth against her soft, golden hair, his arms holding her tight.  <"Hope">

     "Mon amour," he whispered hoarsely, his voice thick with raw emotion.  "Why did you leave... why did you go?!?" he roared as the soft and gentle wind quickly carried away his question to the heavens with soft hands, echoing it over the city for all to share in the lone gargoyle's anguish.. all alone.

Avalon -- Oberon's chambers

     "And where have you been for the last five hours?  Oberon has been waiting," Oberon asked with a small frown as his wife slipped into his chambers.

     "Visiting with young Lisette and learning quite a great deal about her," Titania responded with a sly smile as Oberon rose to kiss her gently.

     "How intriguing," Oberon murmured, his eyes roving lovingly over her beautiful face.

     "Quite, actually," Titania responded as she slipped from his arms and danced away, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

     "And what about Puck?" Oberon asked, getting back to the subject that most concerned him.

     "Forget Puck... your wounded pride is nothing compared to this enigma, my love," she cried, softening her words with a kiss.

     Intrigued, Oberon arched his eyebrow at his wife as he reclined back into a chair, watching as she restlessly paced the floor.  "Enigma?" he asked, his curiosity finally peaked.  "This human is an enigma to you?"

     "Halfling," she quickly corrected, her face a mask of concentration.  "She puzzles me because I can sense Elisa Maza in her..."

     "Talika?" Oberon asked in surprise.

     "No, the human Elisa Maza... yet I do not..."

     "What?  We do not understand!" Oberon laughed, his mirth lost on his queen.

     "I can sense Elisa Maza in her yet I cannot... like I can sense Avalon fueling her magic, yet the isle doesn't..."

     "She is an enigma," Oberon murmured thoughtfully as he pondered his wife's confused words.  "And you want her to stay on Avalon?" he guessed, easily reading his wife's motives, just like before with her grandson.

     "Yes, my husband, but there is a problem," she admitted.

     "Besides Oberon's decree against interfering in human affairs?"

     "She is a halfling, my love, and because of her magical prowess as demonstrated, arguably more fey than human," she stated as Oberon nodded at her to continue.  "I gave Puck my word that his student would not be held against her will..."

     "Your exact wording?" Oberon cut in, mischief shining in his hard eyes.

     "Close enough," Titania nodded, a small smile curving her lips.

     "Then there are ways to get around it.  Come, time to gather the children and end this affair," Oberon declared as he rose and held out his hand to his wife.  There was work and much manipulation to be done.

Twenty minutes later

     "Trickster Puck," Oberon bellowed as the Great Hall fell silent.  Once more Oberon's children filled the large room while Puck stood before the Lord and Queen, no longer bound but his magic restricted as his mortal friends stood behind him, Hope finally giving into exhaustion and sleeping in Angela's arms while Lisette, being too weak to stand, rested in the arms of David Xanatos.  "For the crime of betrayal we punish you to the fullest extent -- death!" Oberon ordered as his eyes glowed with magical fury.

     "What?  No!!" Lisette cried out, her voice mingling with dozens of others, none truly wanting to see the death of the fey, no matter how irritating he could be.

     "But he didn't even get a trial!" Angela protested, unable to believe the unfairness of Oberon's words.

     "Oberon is the Lord of Avalon, the only judge and jury that the third race needs," Oberon proclaimed, his eyes dark and flashing.

     "Apparently not," Xanatos murmured as Lisette turned her pleading blue eyes to him.  

    "S'il vous plaît," she murmured, "we must do something..."

     "Don't worry, Titania won't let him..." he trailed off as he noticed that the queen was sadly nodding in agreement.  "Or maybe she will," he muttered thoughtfully.  He knew that the Queen had sat with Lisette for awhile before he had returned, but even with his arrival her questions never slowed with Lisette innocently answering each one as honestly as a child.  To make matters worse, every attempt of his to change the subject, lie, tone down the bizarreness of the tales, or get her to leave were promptly shot down or ignored completely.  In the end, the woman knew everything from her past, her magical capabilities, to her relationship with Fox, her relationship with Talika, to her love of Brooklyn and even to her dietary habits!  The only thing the mage didn't reveal were the personal details that she shared with very few, let alone he and a stranger, even if she was the queen of Avalon.  "This doesn’t make sense... something's wrong," Xanatos muttered as he tightened his grip on Lisette and slowly began backing away, almost as if he was afraid that someone would try stealing the young woman right from his very arms.

     Meanwhile, Xanatos watched as Oberon made a show, a very convincing one, of preparing to execute Puck as the room filled with shocked and confused voices.  No one could believe that Titania would sit back and allow it to happen.  After all, it was no secret that she cared a great deal for the trickster -- why she would stand by now and watch his destruction was a mystery.  And while the rest of the room was in an uproar, Puck wore a look of boredom as he rolled his eyes at Oberon's antics.

     "Oh, get on with it," he muttered as he shifted his weight to his other foot, putting on a look of nonchalance even as Oberon drew back for the fatal strike, the powerful magic so tangible that one could taste it.

     "No," Lisette whispered as she struggled vainly in Xanatos's arms.  All she knew was that her teacher was about to be destroyed and she was once again powerless to stop it.........

     "The world is no longer safe for you my child... the people of Gaul believe you to be a witch.. not even the people that you saved at the château would come and help me to save you... you're no longer safe here, and until the world is once more safe, you must sleep," Craigen said quietly with a sad smile.

     "Craigen, I..." Lisette started, the tears pooling in her eyes as she no longer found the energy to lift her arms or head.  ~He must have cast the spell before I entered~ Lisette thought as her eyes remained fixated on Craigen's kind old face.

     "There are about ten coins in the pot by the wall, and we're sealed in, so you'll have to use your magic to get you out once you awaken..."

     "No," Lisette whispered as a tear drifted down her cheek.

     "Lisette... be careful and always remember that I have always loved you as my daughter..."

     "Please don't leave me Craigen..." Lisette whispered one last time as darkness stole over her vision and Craigen's face disappeared from view.

     "I... love you," Craigen gasped as the spell took hold and Lisette fell into a timeless sleep.  At the same time, Craigen felt his heartbeat slow as he fell to the cold stone floor.  He had used all of his magic and energy to cast the sleep spell, and now was left with nothing.  His dying thoughts were of his adopted daughter, Lisette, for whom he died to save.

     "Oh Craigen, aidez-moi... help me," Lisette murmured as her eyes became misted.  "I will not lose anyone close to me ever again... s'il vous plaît, aidez-moi and give me the strength..." she murmured as she pulled and drew upon the magic that was the very life force of Avalon.  And then, in a flash of light Xanatos's arms were empty and she was sitting weakly before Puck, her legs draped in burgundy to the side as her shaky hands supported her weight, the heavy black cloak contrasting sharply with her pale blond hair.  "Arrête!  S'il vous plaît.... I beg of you to stop this madness!" Lisette pleaded, her bright eyes filled with unshed tears.

     "Lisette, you can't..." Puck started urgently when a gold plate magically appeared over his mouth, instantly cutting off his words as he was lifted into the air before her.

     "Please, stop this!" Lisette begged once again as Xanatos and Angela rushed to her side, her eyes on her teacher's frantic thrashing above her.  "I know that you are angry with Puck, but there must be another way!"

     Seeing the opening that she had been waiting for, Queen Titania quickly placed a hand on Oberon's shoulder, stilling his movements as she turned her bright eyes on the weak young woman.  Feeling slightly guilty, Titania saw the genuine fear for Puck in her expressive blue eyes and realized once again that this mage had never before experienced the caliber of manipulation that she was now undergoing -- she had no idea.  Then again, she needed to remind herself that such innocence was the only thing that would get her what she wanted.  "What do you mean, child?" she prompted, her question perfectly poised.

     Sensing the trap that was about to be sprung upon the unsuspecting girl, Xanatos quickly stood up and glared at his mother-in-law.  "Lisette, do..." was as far as he got before Oberon encased him in a prison of ice... a very familiar prison.

     "What are you doing?" Lisette quickly asked as she turned her wide, frightened eyes away from the statue of her friend and back towards the royalty of Avalon.  Everything was happening too quickly for her brain to process it and her strong will was being crushed under her growing confusion.  Her senses were screaming at her that there was something very wrong, but she couldn't figure out what besides the obvious.

     Ignoring her question, Titania gently beckoned to the young woman.  "I asked what you meant by your earlier statement," she repeated, her smile gentle.

     Confused, Lisette slowly looked at Angela, her friend seeming to mirror her feelings.  "There.. there must be another way... something else that would appease your anger besides Puck's death," Lisette suggested as she turned and looked back and forth between Oberon and Titania.

     "And you would be willing to help in this matter?" Titania continued, her voice light as she watched the young woman struggle to hold her own weight.

     "Well... of course!  I will do anything to help," Lisette quickly replied, obviously puzzled by the queen's question even as her unease grew.

     "I see," Titania replied as her smile grew.  Those were just the words that she wanted to hear.  Standing up she quickly eyed her faerie kin and addressed the murmuring crowd.  "The Trickster Puck shall be spared his life and released back to the mortal world," she announced before turning and staring into the young woman's bright blue eyes, "provided that the halfling Lisette remains on Avalon in his stead."

     "What?" Lisette cried out in surprise as she felt Angela kneel beside her, a hand resting gently on her shoulder.  She felt so used... like she had been cornered into this spot.. so...

     "Tricked," Angela murmured as her friend weakly turned her tired blue eyes towards her.  "Queen Titania is a master of manipulation and she has just manipulated you into getting what she wants."

     "Me?" Lisette asked meekly.

     "Yes... and you're going to stay, aren't you?" Angela whispered as she held Hope tightly in her arms.

     "Do I really have a choice?" Lisette murmured back as she turned back and saw that Titania was waiting patiently for a response.  "Release Puck and I shall remain in his place," she responded as Xanatos became real once more and as Puck was slowly lowered beside her.

     "Then it is done," Oberon proclaimed as he magically lifted the plate from Puck's mouth and changed him back into Owen Burnett.  "Prepare yourself to depart from my isle..."

     "Wait, Lord Oberon," Owen quickly protested as he knelt before his lord, biting back his angry retort.  If Owen Burnett was one thing, it wasn't stupid.  He knew when he had been bested.. for the moment.  "If you would give me a moment to say goodbye to my student," he asked, waiting for his request to be accepted or denied.

     Suitably impressed with the man's actions, Oberon slowly nodded his head.  "Perhaps the Puck should take notes from the part that he plays," he laughed as he indicated for the wooden man to proceed.

     "Perhaps," Owen replied dryly as he bypassed Xanatos and Angela until he was crouched before Lisette.  "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly as he gently took her chin in his hand and stared into her large blue eyes.

     Shaking off her shock, Lisette smiled softly.  "Better than before, thanks to you, mon professeur," Lisette murmured as Owen gently reached forward and lifted her into his arms.

     "I apologize for getting you involved in this.. you never should have come to Avalon," Owen whispered woodenly as Lisette weakly lifted a slender hand and placed it gently on his cheek.

     "If you had not then I would be dead..." Lisette trailed off as Oberon cleared his throat from behind them.

     "Oberon has decided that it is time for you to depart.  Eight days have passed during the eight hours that you have rested on my isle -- long enough," he declared as Titania rested a gentle hand on his arm.

     "Coyote, step forward and relieve Mr. Burnett of his burden," she commanded as Owen leaned close, his lips brushing with Lisette's ear.

     "We shall return shortly with Talika to bring you home.  She will not stand for this," he whispered as Coyote gently took her from his arms.  Sighing, he then moved till he was standing beside his fellow trespassers of sorts.  "Mr. Xanatos, Miss Angela," he acknowledged quietly without turning to face either.

     "Owen, good to have you back," Xanatos replied with a grim smile as he continued to stare straight ahead, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.

     "Angela, please tell everyone that they will be in my thoughts," Lisette murmured, forcing her voice to be strong.  She would not allow them to see how much this hurt her.. besides, within a few minutes to a few hours they would be back with Elisa to take her home.  "And... tell Brooklyn that I love him..."

     "I will," Angela promised, holding the sleeping child even tighter in her arms as Coyote slowly backed away.

     "Do not fear.  Lisette shall be in good hands -- the hands of her kin," Titania called out as the mortals were encased in a shroud of green.

     These are my kin? Lisette couldn't help asking herself as she surveyed the odd group that filled the room.  "Oh là là," she groaned as her friends disappeared in a flash of bright light.  "Please, hurry back..."