"A Simple Kiss: Part Two" by Lisette- all comments to: Lisette_1@mailexcite.com All the usual legalese: nothing here is of my creation. Aladdin and the Aladdin crew belong to Disney while Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista TV, I think. They're both really good shows, so I had to make a tie between the two, no profit will be made by me for these. Also, just so everyone knows, I did use a line from "The Craft".. you'll know it when you see it... Right here and now I'd like to thank some people. First of all, thanks to everyone who ever wrote fan fic, cause your good stories encouraged me to finally put this idea on paper. Also, even though you don't know me, I'd like to thank Wayne Seeley for the idea of Elisa's heritage. I kind of used it and expanded on it, thanks! Also, my biggest thanks goes out to Shadow Master. I wouldn't have been able to finish this story and get it out and running without his ideas and encouragement. Thanks!! Also, if you want to read other great fan fic, I highly recommend his (a plug, I know... but I couldn't resist) :) Also, so you know when this takes place, although it's not really relevant and can happen at any time, we'll say after the "Hunter's Moon" incident and before "The Journey". As for Aladdin, we'll say anytime during the cartoon series, or after "The Return of Jafar" and before "The King of Thieves". Brief summary: A crossover with Aladdin and the Gargoyles... will they get Elisa's soul back? WARNING: may be a little harsh for younger viewers, not something shown on tv!! Another WARNING: this is a sequel that takes off directly after part one, which means that if you don't read part one, then you're going to be beyond lost. So, to make a long story short... READ PART ONE FIRST!! Thank you! :) ***************************************************************************** "A Simple Kiss: Part Two" The royal palace in Agrabah Brooklyn walked slowly back and forth across the bed chamber. Things had just gone from bad t unbelievably worse. After they had rescued Elisa from Mozenrath's palace, they left her in this bed chamber to get better. Unfortunately, during the first watch by Goliath, Mozenrath showed up. Goliath couldn't do a thing as a magical vise was placed around his mighty form, holding him still. Matt, Aladdin, the guards, and him had tried to get in the door when they heard Elisa scream, and the roars from Goliath, but the door was magically sealed, preventing their help. When all hope seemed lost, the door had suddenly fell open before him. Not waiting a second, Brooklyn had rushed forward. There in front of him was a sight that he never wanted to see again. His mighty leader was kneeling before the still form of Elisa Maza, sobbing as he held her to his chest. Without having to ask a question, they all knew what had happened. Before Brooklyn could go and comfort Goliath, the great lavender gargoyle jumped up from the bedside and ran to the balcony and swore his revenge. That pretty much left them to their current position. Goliath was withdrawn and sitting by Elisa's side. Matt was sitting in the corner with his head in his arms, giving Elisa's sleeping form an occasional glance, a single tear sliding down his cheek. Aladdin was standing in the middle of the room, holding onto Jasmine. Finally, Brooklyn had had enough. "That's it!" he yelled, turning to face the dejected group before them. "Everyone, pull yourself together! She's not lost to us yet!" Getting up from his vigilant perch beside the bed, Goliath nodded in Brooklyn's direction. "You are right. We must push our feelings aside and plan a way to get her soul back... Jasmine," he said, turning to the princess. At the mention of her name, Jasmine withdrew from Aladdin's embrace and straightened her shoulders, showing to one and all that she for one was not going to give up on Elisa without a fight. "Yes Goliath?" "Mozenrath said that her soul may be able to come back with his death?" "Well, yeah.. but that' the key phrase there, it *might* be able to come back with that." "What do you mean?" Matt quickly demanded. "Well," Jasmine said thoughtfully, "I don't think that he even knew... it sounded like this whole soul taking business was new to him." "What do we do then?" Brooklyn asked to no one in particular. "We can't kill him unless we know for sure that is the way to retrieve her soul." "Man, I wish Genie was here!" Aladdin cried out in frustration. "He'd be able to tell us everything we needed to know!" "You rang?" came a voice out of no where. As the group looked around in confusion and fear, a blue mist began to gather next to Aladdin. Slowly it took the shape of a giant blue guy wearing a standard black butler's uniform. "Genie!" Aladdin cried happily, throwing his arms around his friend. "Ah, shucks!" Genie replied, blushing while returning the hug. "Genie," Jasmine called, running up to the big blue guy. With a blink of an eye, Genie quickly changed back to his normal appearance: blue baggy pants, weird shoes, and no shirt. "I thought that you were on vacation!" "Well..." Genie said with a wink, "the pyramids were getting old, besides... been there, done that last time on vacation. You know, right after the big bad Jafar. Now, what can I do for... whoa!" Genie said, staring wide eyed at the three visitors he failed to notice. "Gargoyles! I haven't seen any of your kind in at least a millennia. Now, tell me," Genie said, changing his form once more, this time to a blue lady with blond hair in tight fitting pink dress with a Southern accent. "Sugar, who's tall, dark, and lavender over there? Not to mention his beaked and red headed companions?" "My name is Goliath," the gargoyle said, stepping toward the strange being before him with suspicion written clearly on his face. "And who are *you*?" "Well, like Aladdin and Jasmine over there said earlier," replied Genie, returning to his normal appearance, "I'm called Genie, and the name says it all." "But I thought tht Genie's were fairy tales?" Matt broke in confused. "Yeah, and Gargoyles aren't?" Genie interrupted the detective sarcastically. "Never mind all that," Jasmine broke in impatiently, "we're wasting time that Elisa doesn't have." "You are right Princess. We need to get Elisa back, and who knows what Mozenrath will do with his new powers," Goliath acknowledged. "Mozenrath?" Genie squeaked in surprise. "Long story Genie," Aladdin sighed. "Well, I'm kind of lost here, I have the rest of eternity to spare, anyone care to clarify things a little here?" "Okay, here's the condensed version," Jasmine said impatiently. "Mozenrath found out that by taking the soul of a human woman, Elisa Maza, he would gain unlimited power, so he could conquer our world. To get her, he opened a portal to her world and kidnapped her. These are her friends: Goliath, the leader of the clan of gargoyles; Brooklyn, his second in command; and Matt, her human partner," Jasmine said hurriedly, pointing them all out in turn. "Following so far?" Genie looked around he room with a dazed expression upon his face. "Um, gotcha." "Good. When Mozenrath grabbed Elisa, they managed to follow her through the portal. Before he could take her back to his kingdom, Aladdin rescued her, sort of." "Sort of?" Genie asked, cocking his eyebrow. "Well," Aladdin replied sheepishly, "it seems that Elisa can usually take care of herself, and my rescue attempt caused her to be knocked unconscious." "I always said that you had a way of making women fall for you... get it? *Fall* for you?" Genie asked, laughing uncontrollably while rolling on the ground. At this display, Goliath's eyes lit up an eery white as he growled low in his throat, showing his displeasure. "I do not think that I like you Genie, you remind me too much of an annoying fay back home." "Fay?!" Genie asked incredulously. "You know some of the third race?" "Yes, Puck, the banshee, Odin, Coyote, Fox, Alexander, the weird sisters, Queen Titania, King Oberon... we retty much are familiar with them all." Brooklyn said, ticking them off his talons. "Really, it's been so long... I'm going to have to hear all of the stories.." Genie said excitedly. "Later," interrupted Jasmine. "Genie," Aladdin asked quickly, "what we really need right now is why Mozenrath is getting all of this power from Elisa, I mean why her." "Also," Goliath broke in, "what can we do to get her soul back from him." "You mean he took her?" Genie asked worriedly. "Well, he came to the palace and finished draining her," Matt said, looking at his loafers. Then, sending a pointed look at Goliath he said, "there was nothing any of us could do to stop him." "Uh oh," Genie said, looking even more worried. "Did he take the body?" "No... why?" Brooklyn asked curiously. "Good, then we still have a chance. Really, I'm not supposed to do this, but this time I'll break the rules," Genie said, turning serious. Reaching up into the air, he withdrew a book out of thin air. On the front of the book was inscribed a single word, "Destiny". "What's that Genie?" Jasmine asked curiously. "It's the book of Destiny. Everyone's destiny is recorded here. What was the name again?" "Elisa Maza... what does it say about her?" Goliath asked eagerly. "Let's see... hmm, Matthews, Maverick, Mawjah, Mayan, ah, Maza... here we go. Well, it says some pretty interesting stuff here," he said while cocking an eyebrow. "Hmm, a police detective, falls off buildings a lot, friends with the Gargoyle clan from Manhattan, she..." "What? Can we save her?" Matt asked impatiently. "She can be saved, all hope is not lost," Genie replied vaguely, shutting the book quickly. "Hey! What are you doing?" Brooklyn asked angrily. "Um..." Genie stuttered. "There's nothing in the book that can aid us," he said as the book disappeared from his hands. "Genie?" Aladdin asked cautiously. "What aren't you telling us?" "If you are hiding anything from us..." Goliath threatened, his eyes burning white. Genie looked at he being standing before him. The sight was pretty impressive. Before him stood the largest gargoyle he had seen in a long time. An angry gargoyle at that. One thing he had learned a long time ago was not to piss off a gargoyle, and that was what he had done. The signs were all there, the glowing eyes, the extended wings. Shaking his head sadly, Genie spoke calmly to the angry Goliath, "I'm sorry, but I can't help out on this one." "What?" Goliath roared angrily. "If you know something that could help, then you must tell us!" "Goliath!" Jasmine yelled, stepping between her friends. "If Genie says that he can't help us, then he can't. He's on our side, and if he can't tell us something, then it's for the over all good." "She's right," Aladdin sighed, moving next to his blue friend. "Right now we have to think of a plan." Sighing his acceptance, Goliath capped his wings around his shoulders and lead the group to the empty table. Sitting down, they began their planning. ***************************************************************************** Nowhere and Somewhere ~Where am I?~ Elisa thought, looking around. Everywhere she "looked" was black. It was at this point that she realized that she couldn't feel her body. ~What's going on?~ she thought, beginning to panic. "Goliath?!" she tried to yell, yet nothing came forth. ~Okay, calm down Maza, getting hysterical is not going to help.~ she thought calmly. Thinking back, she slowly began to remember her trip through the portal and the struggle with Mozenrath. She remembered being rescued by Goliath, and then sleeping in a bed chamber. Then, Goliath was next to her, and everything was alright. Until Mozenrath came in and ruined it all. The horror she felt when she saw Mozenrath shoot that energy at Goliath was tremendous. Then the monster tormented him. At least she had a chance to say goodbye, and to finally tell Goliath her true feelings. She loved him. She always had, and had never truly realized it till that oment. Before, her feelings and emotions had been a whirlwind of confusion. She had known for quite some time that she had cared for the big guy, proving it with a kiss here and there. Now she knew that he returned her feelings... he had said that he loved her!! If only it hadn't ended there. Or had it? Was she dead? Was this what death was? For some reason, she didn't think so. ~I always thought that death would be a big family reunion with my relatives, not inky darkness... so maybe I'm not dead!~ Mozenrath had said that he was going to take her soul. Which means that her soul was probably with him, meaning that she was with him. Making a decision, she quickly began a mental struggle to come forward out of the inky darkness that was to be her home. It was a tiring process, but with a little work and pure Maza determination, she knew that she would succeed, hopefully before too much damage was done. If she was left in this place for the rest of eternity, she would go mad. This empty blackness she was in was a darker Hell than she had ever imagined. ~Don't worry Goliath, this time I'm coming for you!~ ***************************************************************************** Mozenrath's palace Mozenrath hummed contentedly to himself as he walked the passage ways of his palace. Things were definitely looking up. Laughing, he flexed his gloved hand, feeling the incredible energy that was coursing through his veins. ~Ah, the power..~ he thought to himself. It was greater than he had every imagined. Every step he took, every move he made caused the energy to stir within himself. Elisa Maza was no more. With her energy taken, he had banished her soul to the furthest corners of his mind, never to be heard from again. He still couldn't figure out why, but her soul was the ticket to world domination. He knew without a doubt that victory would be his with her power. The magic he now possessed was almost alien to him. Thoughts of Elisa brought an image of her perfect bdy to his mind. Frowning, he remembered his act of generosity, leaving the body behind. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, another way to show to Aladdin and that Goliath beast that he had truly won. The look on Goliath's face was priceless. To think that the beast actually loved Elisa was beyond his imagination... actually it was hilarious. On the other hand, it was pretty stupid to leave her body behind. To think of what the stupid beast was doing with it was enough to infuriate him. Just as he was about to holler for his pet eel to come to him, a new idea came. He wanted to test his powers, and this was a perfect way. "My little pet eel, I have an ordeal... I need you to be right here beside me!" Mozenrath chanted to the air around him. In the blink of an eye, a flash of light occurred at his side. Shielding his eyes from the sudden glare, Mozenrath turned to find the eel floating at his side. "Masssster... what happened?" "I summoned you with my magic." "Impressssive. What can I do for you my Massster?" the eel hissed quietly. "I desire the body of the human Elisa Maza. I should never have listened to you and left her behind," he stated angrily, easily shifting the blame from himself to the eel. "But Massster," the eel hissed in protest, "I never.." "Be quiet! Now, I want you to prepare the Morlacs... we leave for Agrabah in ten minutes." "Yesss Massster..." the eel replied, doing his version of a bow before gliding away. "Ha ha ha!" Mozenrath laughed evilly, "Soon I'll be paying a little visit on my old friends of Agrabah. The time for revenge has arrived! Not even Genie can stand in my way now!!" ***************************************************************************** The royal palace in Agrabah "Okay, so what are our options?" Matt asked, looking the group over carefully. "Well, Mozenrath did say that we may be able to get her soul back if we kill him," Jasmine said. "Man, that brings us back to where we were before Genie's arrival. We can't ill him until we're sure that we can bring her soul back!" Matt said frustrated. "But there's no way that we can know for sure!" Brooklyn pointed out. "Then we cannot kill him," Goliath put in firmly. "As you have all pointed out, we cannot be sure, and I will not endanger Elisa's only chance. Whether we like it or not, we will have to take him alive." "That won't be easy," Aladdin said, shaking his head sadly. "I do not care, we will just have to deliver a blow to knock him unconscious, from there we can restrain him and figure out our next move," Goliath said, taking charge once more. Brooklyn sighed a mental sigh of relief, taking notice of the signs of leadership returning to Goliath's face. Even though he was second in command, he wasn't ready for the burdens of leadership just yet. Also, this meant that Goliath had finally pushed away all of his grief and anger and locked it away, for once again his face was cold and impassive. Matt, too noticed the slight change in Goliath's demeanor. Following his example, Matt straightened his shoulders, pushing his anger at his beloved partner's apparent demise to a corner in his mind. ~We'll get our revenge.. and I'm not giving up on Elisa just yet, she was never a quitter, and I doubt she'd start now.~ Goliath slowly rose from his seat at the table and began to pace, aware of everyone's eyes upon him. With a lot of determination, he had finally locked his emotions away, most of them anyway. All that remained was raw anger and determination. Determination to get back Elisa's soul, to bring his love back to him once more. Without her, all would be lost. He had finally found love once again, only to be ripped away while he watched. The feeling of helplessness he felt while he watched her slip away was like nothing he had ever felt before. It was even worse than coming back to find his clan destroyed and the "remains" of his angel of the night. Then, he had no control for he wasn't there to stop it. In this case, he had to watch hi love be destroyed before his very eyes. The love he felt for Elisa may be wrong because of the difference of their species, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from loving her. The feelings he had for Elisa was the most pure form of love he had ever felt before, even greater than the love he felt for Demona. He *would* get Elisa back, that he vowed to himself. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted as yet another palace guard rushed into the room. "Not again!" Brooklyn groaned quietly. Sending a glare in Brooklyn's direction, Jasmine quickly asked, "What's wrong?" "Princess, the palace is under attack again!" "What?" Aladdin called out, "by the same forces?" "Yes. And this time they're killing everyone and everything that they can. We have already sustained heavy damages. Mozenrath keeps yelling about 'revenge being paid' and 'returning for the body that was rightfully his'!" "He's come back for Elisa!" Matt said angrily. "Matt, I want you to stay with Elisa. Protect her with your life, do not let him take her body!!" Goliath said urgently. "Don't worry Goliath, he's not coming near her," Matt said with venom dripping from his voice as he stood from the table. "Good, the rest of you are with me. Let us take care of Mozenrath once and for all... do not forget! No one is to kill him, just make it so we can restrain him!" "Um, Goliath?" Genie broke in hesitantly, an unusually serious look on his blue face. "What?" Goliath snarled at the close mouthed Genie. He had almost forgotten about the strange beings presence. "I will be staying behind with Matt and the body," Genie said, a no nonsense tone in his voice, leaving no room for argument. "Her name is Elisa!" Matt snapped, not trusting the usually jovial character. Genie looked down at his feet remorsefully. "Genie?" Aladdin asked slowly. "Why won't you fight with us?" "I'm sorry pal, but this is one fight that I'm not permitted to help with. You're on your own." Aladdin nodded his head in agreement. Although he ddn't understand what was going on in his friend's mind, he trusted him. If Genie said that he couldn't, then he couldn't and the rest of them would just have to make do without a little bit of Genie help. "Fine, you stay with Matt and Elisa," Aladdin agreed. Genie shot his friend a grateful look and followed Matt into the bed chamber, the rest of the group watching their departing backs. As the door closed, they could hear a heavy grating sound as something was moved in front of the door. Satisfied that Matt could handle it for the time being, Goliath led the group down the passageway and into combat. ***************************************************************************** The Great Hall of the royal palace After many twists and turns, the group finally found themselves in the great hall, the place of the battle. The room was huge beyond imagining. The roof of the room could be found about four to five stories up, and the room itself was circular with the diameter of a football field. Everywhere they looked, they saw palace guards fighting hand to hand with Morlacs, while scattered on the ground were the bodies and pieces of bodies. Morlacs and the guards were falling left and right. Unfortunately, for every Morlac that fell, three more replaced it, while the guards were running low. The Captain of the Guards, a big burly, unkempt man who was missing a couple of teeth ran towards the entering group. "Princess, our forces are being out numbered." "Don't worry Captain, reinforcements have arrived," she said slyly, looking at her gargoyle companions. Without further ado, Goliath and Brooklyn climbed the rock walls of the room and soon launched themselves into the air. From there they began their air to ground attacks, taking out huge numbers of the Morlacs by dismemberment. Aladdin, meanwhile, had grabbed a sword from the floor and was duking it out down there. In the air was Jasmine on Carpet, taking out many of the enemies. Abu ran about playing tricks on the Morlacs, efectively distracting them while the guards finished them off. The allies had started their attack. ***************************************************************************** Brooklyn was amazed at the number of the Morlacs in the room. It seemed that with Mozenrath's new power, he had enlarged his army by the thousands. As Brooklyn looked around, he saw a Morlac sneaking towards a preoccupied Aladdin. With a battle cry that made most cringe in horror, Brooklyn glided down and picked up the unsuspecting Morlac. As the thing struggled in his hand, Brooklyn used his other hand to grab firmly onto the thing's arm. Wrinkling his nose in disgust, he ripped the arm away. Since the zombie had no nerves, it didn't even blink an eye but kept struggling. Sighing in annoyance, he finished the job by pulling all of the major appendages off one by one. Soon, nothing was left but the head, which he promptly dropped into the writhing mass of bodies below. Turning, he looked for another awaiting victim. ***************************************************************************** Aladdin sighed in disgust as he finished off another Morlac. ~No matter how many times I fight with these things, I don't think I'll ever get used to it!~ he thought to himself. Suddenly, he heard a great roar from behind and above him. Turning in surprise, he saw another Morlac right behind him, about to run him through with a sword. Before he could move, the Morlac thrashed in protest as he was lifted high in the air by a grinning Brooklyn. Smiling his thanks, Aladdin dove back into battle. ***************************************************************************** Mozenrath was enjoying this immensely. Sure, he could just use his heightened magic to destroy everyone in the room with a snap of his fingers, but what would be the fun of that. All around him his evil minions were destroying the palace's forces. Laughing gaily, he watched as another Morlac slaughtered an innocent palace guard with hi sword, the blood flowing to the ground as the guard looked down in horror at the gaping wound in his stomach. Stumbling, the man fell to the floor, agony creasing his features, and then slowly fading out as the man died. Mozenrath laughed once more, wondering to himself if the man maybe had a loving family at home. With little kids waiting at the door for the caring father who was never to return home to them again. ~Oh, it's just too perfect!~ Mozenrath thought, breaking into another wave of uncontrolled giggles. Sighing he scanned the room and checked out how his arch enemy was faring. As usual, Aladdin was in the middle of things and faring pretty well. Not a scratch could be seen on him, making Mozenrath wonder how no one was ever able to draw blood from the street rat. Sure he had a couple of bruised ribs once, but that's the worse that had ever happened to the rat! Oh well, soon he would be drawing plenty of blood. Looking at the rest of Aladdin's cohorts, he laughed once more as he realized that soon, he would indeed be drawing a *lot* of blood as he tortured and killed Aladdin's friends right before his eyes. How fun indeed. ***************************************************************************** Nowhere and Somewhere Elisa sighed mentally to herself in frustration. She had made it so far! Even though there was nothing to judge her progress by, she could tell that slowly, layer by layer she was peeling the thick fog away from her. Grunting in anticipation of the strain that lay before her, she struggled into battle once more, fighting the black mist that enclosed her. Suddenly, she broke free of the confines she had been placed under. What she saw before her boggled her mind. She still couldn't move anything on her own, but now she had the rest of her senses back, mainly the senses of touch, hearing, and sight. All she felt was a smooth cloth covering her body, pants and robes. What she heard was a different matter. All around her she heard the sounds of batle: swords clanging against swords, cries of victory, cries of defeat, and the cries of the dying or those in great agony. What she saw, however, was the worst. Before her eyes she saw the disgusting Morlacs fighting the palace guards. Suddenly, her eyes zoomed in, not of her own accord, on the figure of Aladdin fighting a Morlac. It was then that she realized that no, this wasn't her own body. As the eyes turned, she caught a sight of the body she was in... she was in Mozenrath's body! ***************************************************************************** The Great Hall of the royal palace Goliath soared high above the crowd of fighters, helping out occasionally as was needed. Mainly, he looked for his prey. Finally he spotted Mozenrath, who was floating above the crowd on the far corner of the room. It looked as though he was amused by all of the death and destruction surrounding him. Roaring his anger, Goliath dove down from above and rammed hard into the unsuspecting figure below him. With a crash and a groan from his enemy, Mozenrath fell to the ground under his weight. As he disentangled himself from the sorcerer's limbs, he backed up and watched at Mozenrath slowly regained his senses. Before he could try anything, Goliath charged again, driving the man that stole Elisa from him into the wall behind them. Suddenly, without warning Mozenrath brought his fist up and connected it with Goliath's face. Rearing behind the force of the blow, Goliath stumbled back. Looking up, he saw Mozenrath's eyes glowing brightly with his hands pointed at him. ***************************************************************************** Elisa could do nothing at all to stop what was happening before her. She, well actually Mozenrath, was getting the crap beat out of him, and it hurt. She was able to feel all of the pain. When her/his vision finally cleared after the last hit, she could feel the magical energies inside Mozenrath start to build. To make it worse, the energies andhis gaze were all being aimed at Goliath who was standing before her/him. ~NO!!~ she yelled in her mind. It did no good, for no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't gain control of the body that she was now inhabiting. ***************************************************************************** ~Ouch, that one hurt!~ Mozenrath thought to himself as he slowly regained his footing. Before he could completely come back to his senses, a massive lavender form charged him, pushing him into the wall. With his new strength, he wasn't as dazed as he usually would be. Shaking his head, he finally decided that enough was enough. Without warning he punched the offender in the jaw. As it stumbled back, Mozenrath finally got his first look at his attacker. There before him was Goliath. That stupid gargoyle had gotten the best of him, and for that he would pay! Gathering all of his magic, Mozenrath slowly levitated up into the air. Screaming in anger, he let loose a volley of magic at Goliath. As the magic hit Goliath, is quickly encircled him in a strong vise, like before only tighter. Just as he started to squeeze the fool to death, a sudden impulsive idea popped into his mind, why not let him live? He would trap him with the others and make the leader of the gargoyles watch while the rest of his friends died. Nodding, he turned to the rest of the room. He was sick of the game and was ready for the end. With a snap of his fingers, all of the bodies of the dead disappeared. Next, all of the palace guards disappeared and reappeared inside a metal cage lying in the corner of the room. Then he laughed in amusement as he made Carpet disappear under the flying Jasmine. Aladdin, seeing that his girlfriend was about to plummet to her death, jumped from his position and caught her before she hit the ground. Kind of clumsily though, for under the weight, they both ended up on the hard marble floor. Before they could regain their senses, another metal cage appeared over them. Pointig across the room, he made the rest of the main characters of this little episode disappear, only to reappear in Aladdin's cage. First went Abu, then the red gargoyle, and finally Goliath, with Carpet appearing behind him. Laughing in amusement, he then telepathically searched the rest of the palace for anyone else hiding within it's bowels. Sighing, he only sensed two other presences. A human male was with the sleeping Elisa. With a mere thought, the human was instantly transported into the cage with the rest of his friends. Now, all was complete and ready for stage two... revenge. ***************************************************************************** Goliath sighed wearily, rubbing his aching jaw. The rest of the group was sitting around dejectedly as Mozenrath had his fun. Getting up from his sitting position, he checked on the rest of the group's condition. "Aladdin, Jasmine... are you alright?" "Yeah..." Aladdin groaned wearily, "I just have a sore butt from Jasmine's fall." "Sorry Aladdin," Jasmine said sheepishly. "Personally, I'm fine Goliath... how about you? How's your jaw?" "Fine, nothing that a day's sleep won't cure. Brooklyn?" Before Brooklyn could answer, a bright light blinded them all. As they blinked away all of the spots in the their vision, they were surprised at the sight before them. Slowly, Matt groaned as he picked himself up from the center of the cage. "Matt?" Brooklyn asked. "Are you okay? What are you doing here, I thought you were watching Elisa?" "I was," Matt groaned again, finally pulling himself straight with Aladdin's help. "Genie and I were guarding over Elisa when all of a sudden Genie up and disappeared. I looked all over for him, but I couldn't find him. Then the next thing I know I'm picking myself off of the floor in here with you guys... what happened?" "It must be Mozenrath," Aladdin said grimly. "Genie must have gotten away before he found you and teleported you here." "Oh, so now he's a coward too, huh?" Brookyn asked sarcastically. "Brooklyn," Goliath said, a warning in his voice. "Don't worry," Jasmine said reassuringly, "I'm sure that Genie had a good reason for doing what he did." "We only hope so," Aladdin said thoughtfully, Abu nodding his agreement. ***************************************************************************** ~Well, everything is complete now, except for interrogation.~ Mozenrath thought to himself as he slowly lowered to the ground. Turning to his Morlac warriors he said, "Bring me Aladdin." Whistling, he walked over to the throne and lowered himself down into the comfortable chair. Just as he was about to be completely relaxed, he was disturbed by a commotion below. Smiling he looked up to see Aladdin struggling, each arm being held by a Morlac. "Aladdin!" Mozenrath called out, with a tone of happiness in his voice. Getting up from the throne, he walked quickly to his arch enemies side. "I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?" At this, Aladdin struggled even harder in the Morlacs grips, to no avail. Their grip was like a vise, making him unable to move in the slightest. "What do you want Mozenrath... to gloat even more?" "No, that will come later. Right now I want to know where Genie, the Sultan, and that stupid pet Raja is, not to mention that worthless parrot Iago." "I'm not telling you anything!" Aladdin yelled defiantly to Mozenrath. At this display of courage, Mozenrath only laughed delightedly. "I was hoping you'd say that," he said as he reached forward and slapped Aladdin across the face. He watched in satisfaction as Aladdin's head whipped sideways with the force of the blow. As he turned to face Mozenrath once more, everyone could see a faint trickle of blood running from the corner of Aladdin's mouth. "Ah, so you do bleed. Care to answer me now?" With even more determination, Aladdin said, "No!" Laughing his evil laugh again, Mozenrath punched the vulnerable street rat in the stomach. Aladdin groaned as he doubled oer in pain. This could go on forever, but fortunately, or unfortunately, depending upon your view of things, Mozenrath finally got bored with his primitive torture. Sighing he turned to another waiting Morlac. "Fetch me the princess." "No!" Aladdin said. ***************************************************************************** A couple of minutes later, Princess Jasmine ran from her captors to her bloodied boyfriend. "Aladdin! Are you alright?" she asked, fear in her heart and eyes as she looked over his wounds. Before Aladdin could calm her fears, the Morlacs grabbed her and dragged her away from them. "Now Princess Jasmine," Mozenrath said, looking at the sobbing princess, "maybe you will be a little more cooperative. "Never!" Jasmine said, sticking her lower lip out in defiance. Ignoring her last statement, he asked "Where's your father, Genie, Iago, and Raja?" "I'm not going to tell you anything!" Jasmine said, making Aladdin proud. "Fine then, Morlac," he said pointing at one of the waiting zombies. With no further wait, the Morlac quickly stepped up to Aladdin and started to beat him severely. "NO! Stop!" Jasmine half screamed half sobbed. With a snap of his fingers, the Morlac stopped the beating. "Answer me Princess, unless you want your boyfriend to pay the price of your insubordination." "No.. Jasmine, don't tell him anything," Aladdin wheezed in between gasps for air with his bruised ribs. Before Jasmine could answer, Mozenrath gave the signal for the beating to begin again. "Stop!" Jasmine pleaded. The abuse stopped quickly while Mozenrath merely raised an eyebrow at her, waiting for her response. With tears in her eyes, she looked over at Aladdin. The only thing that was holding him up anymore was the Morlacs on either side of him. His eye was already darkening, while his lip was bulged and swollen. The rest of his body was also turning black and blue and covered in blood. "Fine," she sobbed, "you win." "Good," Mozenrath answered, a glint in his eys, "where are they?" "They're all gone. My fathers been on a trip to visit a foreign land for the past two weeks... he took Raja and Iago along." "And Genie?" "He's on vacation somewhere in the world." "Thank you princess. Morlacs, take them back to their cage," Mozenrath said, following behind the group. It was time for their demise. ***************************************************************************** Elisa couldn't stand it much longer. For the past twenty minutes, she had watched and had taken part in the beating of Aladdin. As much as she tried to resist, she couldn't stop Mozenrath's hands, her hands in a way, from beating the crap out of poor Aladdin. The police part of her just wanted to get out there and stop the interrogation right then and there, but she couldn't. Finally, Jasmine gave in. Not that Elisa could blame her, for if it was Goliath being tortured, she would have caved also. As they walked back to the cage holding her friends, one thought rang loud and clear through Mozenrath's mind, it was time to kill them all. ~NO!~ she had to stop him somehow. Suddenly, her friends were before them. They all gasped in shock as they got a look at Aladdin. Voicing their displeasure, Brooklyn and Goliath turned hot white eyes at her, or Mozenrath. "Mozenrath! You will pay for this outrage!!" Goliath roared. "Oh," he/she replied, "so the mighty gargoyle would like to be the first to perish... fine! For some reason I was sparing you, but no longer!" he/she yelled with Mozenrath's voice. "Prepare to meet your beloved in the beyond..." then he/she got a devilish look upon his face as he/she said, "oh wait, I guess you'll be all alone cause Elisa will always be with me right here," he/she finished, tapping his/her head. "Mozenrath! I do not know how, but somehow you will pay for all that you have done us here, if not by me, or the people here, then by my clan... you *will* pay!" Goliath roared angrily at the evil person before him. He/She just laughed as the power athered and he/she slowly raised her hands and pointed at Goliath. ~No!~ Elisa screamed to herself. ~I've finally found my love for him and I refuse to let this psycho tear it all apart... he will not hurt Goliath! Never!~ she thought to herself as she began to fight even harder against the restraints. ***************************************************************************** The group looked on in terror as Mozenrath gathered his mystical energy and began to channel it towards Goliath. There was nothing any of them could do except watch as their friend and leader was about to executed. Mozenrath's hands began to glow and eery green as his power came to a boiling point. Just as it seemed he was about to unleash it all, a blank look came over his face. Without blinking an eye, the hands lowered back to his sides and he sat there, looking at nothing and no one, apparently unaware of his surroundings. "Goliath?" Brooklyn whispered to his leader, "what's going on?" "I do not know, my friend, I do not know." ***************************************************************************** The psychic plane "Oh God, what's going on?" Elisa said a loud as she picked herself up from the ground. Looking around in amazement, she found herself in the middle of a rocky plain, that stretched as far as her eyes could see. The sky above her was black and stormy with lightning flashing every couple of seconds. To top it off, a cold wind was blowing from all directions. Oh well, at least she had her red jacket on... red jacket? ~Wait a minute, I have my body back~, she thought to herself as she looked herself over. To top it off, she was even in her traditional outfit again, instead of Jasmine's drafty one. Quickly she checked her holster and was disappointed to discover that it was minus her revolver. "Where am I?" she asked to no one in particular, considering that she was the only one here. Or was she? Suddenly, she saw a shape laying on the ground a couple feet from her. Movingslowly, she walked forward and recognized Mozenrath's form. Now it all made sense. Quickly she backed away as the figure began to stir. "Oh, my aching head," Mozenrath mumbled to himself as he sat up. When he looked up, shock was written clearly on his face as he recognized Elisa Maza standing before him. "You! What are you doing here... you should be sleeping, you have no control!" "Well, it looks like I've regained control, and I want my body back!" "Your body? But..." he stuttered, until realization came to his face. "We're still in my head aren't we?" "Gee, for some big and powerful sorcerer, you sure are slow on the pick up!" Elisa said, scanning the horizon. "Well, then I guess that I'll just have to put you back where you belong, so I can finish what I was doing before I was so rudely interrupted!" "Don't you even think of hurting Goliath!" Elisa yelled, her eyes turning an eery green. "Hey, what are you doing, what's going on with your eyes?" Mozenrath asked, fear finally coming into his eyes at the sight before him. ~Oops, I guess that I pushed her too far here, what is she?~ he thought to himself. Before his very eyes, Elisa started to float a few feet off of the ground, her eyes green, and her raven hair billowing out behind her. "You dare threaten me? You take me from my home, from my dimension! You touch me in ways that I've never permitted you to! You take my soul! You hurt, beat, and torture my friends! You threaten my love! You think that you can get away with all of these atrocities?" Elisa said, the color intensity of her eyes becoming even brighter. By this time, despite his fright, Mozenrath's own anger had been raised. Straightening his shoulders he reached forward his gloved hand toward the floating Elisa. "Yes I do! Don't think that a puny little human with a few tricks up her sleeve can stop my plans for world domination! There's no way you're getting back to your body. And after I seal the consciousness of your soul in the darkest corer of my mind, I will kill all of your friends one by one. Then I will move on to your beloved gargoyle, letting him watch them all die and knowing that it was your soul that was providing it! Then I will use your body in ways that you can't even imagine! After I conquer this world, I will conquer you dimension and wreak destruction on your friends and family!! No one will be safe from the powers of Mozenrath!" he ranted crazily. "My God, you are *so* pathetic!" Elisa said, laughing in his face. "What is with bad guys and ranting about their plans for world domination? Do you think that your threats could possibly scare me? Me? Geez, join a help group or something. Oh, wait, better yet I can introduce you to someone back home... his name is Xanatos and you guys would get along great. Or better yet... have you ever heard of Demona, I think she's more your style." At these repeated jabs at his ego, Mozenrath had finally had enough and let loose a volley of magic against Elisa's hovering form. Shock covered his face as Elisa was not destroyed like planned, but instead absorbed the energy shot at her. The more magic she absorbed, the brighter she got. Soon, when it didn't seem that it could get any brighter, all of the energy exploded back out of her hands and into him. The force of the blow threw him high into the air and back into... his own body. Shaking his head, Mozenrath slowly got to his feet and looked around him. His prisoners in their cages were staring at him with open mouths, pretty understandable considering that for apparently no reason at all, he had just flown halfway across the room. Angrily, he attempted to teleport back to the cage, something that should have taken a snap of the fingers with his new powers. Now though, nothing happened. ~Her soul is gone, and with it her power!~ he thought to himself urgently. Fuming to himself about his defeat in his mind, Mozenrath quickly stalked over to the cage. Well, he still had his normal amount of magic, and that as more than enough to finish his enemies off, starting with Goliath. Smiling evilly, he pointed his gloved hand at his awaiting victim. Just as he was about to let loose his volley of magic, he noticed that his captives were not even looking in his direction. Instead, everyone seemed to be looking a little off to his right with their jaws nearly touching the floor. Looking in that direction he saw the same hovering form of Elisa Maza once more. "Not you again!" Mozenrath yelled at Elisa. Not wasting another second Mozenrath bolted from the room and started running up the winding stairs of one of the many towers to the palace. "Elisa?" Goliath asked amazed. There at the door to the room was Elisa, floating at least three feet off the floor. Not only was she back in her own body, but her eyes were glowing an eery green color and her hair was being pushed back by an invisible wind, the silk of her clothes rustling in it. "Yes Goliath?" Elisa asked in her normal voice. "Uh, Elisa?" Matt said quietly, "you're floating." "I know Matt, but we can worry about that later... right now I need to set you free and then take care of Mozenrath." "Sure, what ever you say," Brooklyn added in, joining the conversation. Jasmine nodded her agreement and then elbowed Aladdin gently in the side to remind him to close his mouth. Quickly, Elisa floated towards the cage. As she set down on the floor, she looked at the door to the little prison and chanted "The little prison that confines them here, I deem now to disappear." At the end of the chant, green energy flowed from her hands. As the mist surrounded the two prisons, it tightened in and then disappeared. The guards and her friends looked at her, shocked in amazement at the show of magic. Suddenly everyone's attention was drawn away from Elisa as Aladdin slumped to the floor. "Aladdin?" Jasmine called quickly, running to her love's side. Elisa too ran over to Aladdin, guilt covering her face. "Aladdin, you've done so much for me, and becuse of my magic this happens," she said, anger replacing her features once more. "Magic?" Goliath mumbled. Until then he was a quiet observer, still getting over the shock of seeing his love return from the dead so to speak. Without replying to Goliath, Elisa knelt down beside her injured friend. "Here, let me help." Not really knowing what she meant, Jasmine complied and moved away from Aladdin. Curious, she watched as Elisa made Aladdin lay on the stone floor, and place her hands upon his bare chest. "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," Elisa chanted quietly, so that everyone had to lean forward to hear. Suddenly they all backed away as green light spread from her hands to his chest, and quickly enveloped the groaning Aladdin. Within a matter of seconds, all cuts and bruises to be seen on Aladdin's body slowly disappeared like there was nothing there in the first place. Then, the green mist left Aladdin's body and came back into Elisa. ~Oh God the pain!~ Elisa thought to herself as she absorbed the agony from Aladdin. As soon as the light died away, Elisa staggered to her feet. Holding her head in her hands, she almost fell before Goliath caught her. "Elisa? Are you alright?" he asked quickly, concern written all over his face. "Yeah, fine... just remind to invest in Tylenol when we get back!" she jested to him. "Uh, Elisa? Not to interrupt or anything," Matt cut in quickly, "but what about Mozenrath?" "He's not going anywhere!" Elisa said, her anger making her eyes glow green once more. Not waiting for anyone else, Elisa quickly chanted aloud, "Forces of Avalon allow me to go, bring me to my hated foe!" As the mist started to surround her once more, she was slightly surprised to feel two pairs of hands latch onto her, dragging themselves with her. When the mist cleared, she looked around and found herself on one of the highest balconies of the place. There before her was Mozenrath. Not waiting for him to notice her she quickly threw a bolt of green at him, hitting him in the back. With a groan, he slid to the ground. Not wasting another second, she quickly cast a spell on him, similar to the one that was put on Goliath, a vise that held him standing up right at the edge of the balcony. He couldn't move a muscle. Mozenrath quickly gained his senses and vainly began to struggle. When he discovered it was useless, he looked up to Elisa, cringing at the green glow of her eyes. "How does it feel to be the one in the vise? Not a lot of fun, huh? Maybe I should begin to squeeze it like you did to Goliath, what do you think of that? I think that's a good plan. For now you shall die Mozenrath, so you can never harm me or my friends again!" Elisa yelled, as she prepared herself for the final squeeze. "Elisa, no!" Matt yelled from beside her. "You're a cop, you can't do it that way, it's wrong!" "Matt, you weren't there, you don't know what it was like!" Elisa said, not turning around. Then she heard the voice that she knew belonged to the second pair of hands she felt... it was Goliath. "Elisa, this is not you." "Goliath, he caused so much pain and suffering, he must be dealt with." "That is not your way... it's his! To do so would be lowering yourself to his levels," Goliath reasoned calmly. "The decision is yours." At this statement, Elisa lowered her head sadly. Goliath was right. "There must be something else that we can do to make sure that this never happens again," Matt pleaded quietly. "Well, there's something that I can do," she said, ~although I don't know how, I do know that this is going to take a lot out of me~ she thought to herself. She didn't want to say that last part out loud, for chances were that Goliath wouldn't permit her too, but it was the only way. Walking away from her friends, she stood next to Mozenrath at the edge of the balcony. "I bind you from doing harm Mozenrath, harm against other eople and harm against yourself. I bind you Mozenrath from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself. I bind you Mozenrath from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself. I bind you Mozenrath from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself. I bind you Mozenrath from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself." As Elisa kept chanting, a green mist formed around her and connected to Mozenrath's form. As each phrase went out, the mist got brighter and brighter. Shielding their eyes, Matt and Goliath could only watch in awe as their detective friend produced magic that they never knew she was capable of. About five minutes of chanting later, the light suddenly exploded. When their eye sight cleared, everything looked the same. Mozenrath was still standing next to Elisa, only now instead of a plumber's glove, his hand was back. Also, to top it off, he had a dazed and confused expression on his face. Goliath turned to see if Matt had noticed it also, when he heard Elisa moan. Turning quickly, he noticed something else that he failed to notice earlier. Elisa looked pretty much the same only a whole lot paler. Before he could take a step in her direction, Elisa fell to the side, which happened to be the short wall of the balcony. As Goliath ran towards her, Elisa fell limply over the side and began to fall. Roaring out in protest, Goliath sailed over the side of the balcony and started his glide down. In order to go faster, he tucked his wings to his side, doing a head first plummet. It reminded him of his first dream in this strange land. He couldn't let it end like the dream! Slowly, he began to gain on his beloved below him. "Elisa!" he roared, "I'm coming." Suddenly, about twenty feet before the ground, his reaching arm grasped onto her hand. Getting a firm grip he pulled out of his deadly dive. With a little bit of luck and years of gargoyle experience, he was able to pull out of thedive, with only five feet to spare. As he soared back into the dawning sky, he pulled Elisa up and carried her in his arms. Weakly, Elisa looked up and met her rescuer's eyes. "Goliath?" Goliath smiled down at his love and said, "I told you I'd 'catch you ever' you fall!" Smiling, Elisa nodded weakly in recognition of the verse of the song she had played for him. "So you did." "Are you okay Elisa?" "Yes, just tired.... I used up the majority of my energy on that one." Nodding, Goliath circled around once more and landed on the balcony, Elisa cradled in his arms. Looking around, he saw that the palace guards were putting manacles onto Mozenrath, and that the rest of the group was there. "I told you that she fell off buildings a lot!" quipped a cheerful voice from behind Goliath. Turning quickly, he saw Genie floating behind him in a puckish manner, namely sitting Indian style. "You! Now can you tell us what is going on?" Goliath demanded angrily. "A little, but we should wait until sunset, I think that Elisa needs the sleep.. that spell was a doozy!" Genie said with a wink at Elisa. "Also, the sun will be up in a matter of minutes. Nodding in agreement, the group decided that questions could wait till later. Now was time for clean up and rest. Actually, the clean up was all being handled by Genie and his "construction crew", in other words, more of himself in jeans and tank tops. Elisa was given a room, and she fell asleep immediately when Goliath laid her on the bed. Matt soon fell asleep on a couch beside her bed, not able to leave her side. Like Matt, Goliath and Brooklyn took their perches on the balcony outside the room, not able to stray to far from her side. They all figured that it was due to the fact of how close they all came to loosing her. With a last look over his shoulders, Goliath turned to stone, with dreams of Elisa waiting for him. Dining room of the royal palace That night, they were all gathered around the dining room table once more. Everyone as feeling rested and ready for a question session. Before anyone could start, Elisa turned to Genie and said, "Hi.... I guess that we haven't officially met yet. My name is Elisa Maza." "Hi! I know who you are already, it'd be hard not to. As for me, my name is Genie. Also, I'm a Genie." Shaking her head ruefully, Elisa said, "Gee, I never would have guessed. First, do you know what happened last night?" "Which part? Mozenrath? The cage? My departure? Or would you be talking about your magic?" "The magic part," Elisa said with a little laugh. "I mean, I'm just an ordinary detective. What happened?" "If you're anything, you're not normal!" Matt said, receiving an annoyed glare from Elisa in return. "Sorry." "Well, he's right you know!" Genie broke in on Matt's defense. "I mean, I can't answer all of your questions, but from what I've read about your destiny, you're anything but normal." "What you've read about my destiny?" Elisa asked, cocking her eyebrow in trademark fashion. "Long story," Jasmine sighed. "Good call Princess!" Genie called out happily, "hey, have you ever considered that as a profession.." "Genie..." Jasmine said warningly. "Okay, all that I can tell you is that the magic I sensed from you was definitely the kind only found on the third race. I heard that you know the King and Queen of Avalon... if I were you, I'd take it up with them," Genie said, in a matter of fact tone of voice. "What?!" Elisa asked incredulously. "Why did you not aid us in this fight Genie?" Goliath rumbled, closing Elisa's jaw. Thankful at the change of topic, Genie quickly said, "Because Fate ordered me to stay out of this one, I could only be an observer and kind of an informant at the end of the journey. Besides, no matter what I did, only Elisa could have returned her soul to her body, only her and her magic." "Yeah right!" she said, slowly getting to her feet. "Either way, we really should be heading back home." "Wait, a couple more questions Elisa.." Aladdin calledout to the mystical beauty before him. "Yeah?" "What happened to the Morlacs?" "What do you mean?" "Well, just as he was about to zap Goliath, the room was crawling with Morlacs, but then you came in, and in all of the commotion, it didn't really dawn on me till now, but all of the Morlacs were gone." Grinning, Elisa shrugged her shoulders as she said, "Well, when I first got there, I figured that the first thing I should do was get rid of any possible interference, namely the Morlacs." "Oh, one last question... what happened when you healed me?" "I was kind of waiting for that question. Well, for some reason, which will be figured out when I get home, I knew how to heal you... all I had to do was take your pain away from you and put it inside me." "Ouch, where is it now?" "When I first found Mozenrath upstairs, that's what I hit him with, everything he inflicted upon you!" Elisa laughed. At this, Aladdin merely smiled, glad to have his pay backs in at least some small way. "What about Mozenrath?" Jasmine called out, a hint of fear in her voice. "Mozenrath won't be harming anyone anymore. The spell that I cast on him, which I still don't know how I did that, made him without magic. To make it even worse, he probably doesn't even remember anything at all. It's like he's already been through a correctional institute. He's been redeemed and is ready to start a new life," Elisa replied calmly. Now it was Aladdin's turn to be incredulous. "Yeah, right." "Just save your judgment till you see him," Elisa warned. With that settled, the group began their goodbyes. With everything said and done, Aladdin and Jasmine watched as their new found friends launched into the air: Goliath with Elisa cradled in his arms, and Brooklyn with Matt on his back. After a couple of minutes, the group found the mirror in the alley way again. Slowly Goliath reached forward and hesitantly touched the glass. To his relief, his hand passed right through. "Good, it's still operational," he sighed. "Ldies first," he said to Elisa and watched as she disappeared through the glass. Next was Brooklyn, then Matt, with Goliath bringing up the rear. As Goliath was pushed through the other side, he sighed in relief. They had arrived with little time to spare before dawn. Hurrying, the group ran out of the spooky mansion and to the street below. Elisa sighed in relief when she saw her car where she left it, with no noticeable vandalism present. Turning quickly she caught Goliath's eye and said, "Meet you at the castle." Nodding an affirmative, Goliath and Brooklyn quickly began to climb a building close by, to gain altitude for flight. Sighing, Elisa and Matt hopped in the car. After dropping off Matt at his apartment, Elisa continued on to the Eyrie building. Sighing, she quickly parked her car and used the elevator to get to the top of the castle. As she ran onto the ramparts, she was greeted by a mass of hugs and talking, with Brooklyn and Goliath in the middle. Standing around them was Angela, Hudson, Broadway, Lexington, Bronx, Owen, Fox, and Xanatos. All were questioning them furiously as to their whereabouts for the last four nights. "Goliath?" Elisa called out from the doorway. All conversation stopped immediately at the sound of her voice. "Elisa?" they all said giving her glances that varied from surprise (Lex, Broadway, Hudson), to admiration (Angela), to envy (Fox), to plain appreciation (Xanatos). Wondering what they were looking at, she once again turned a dark shade of red as she realized that she had forgotten her clothes back at the palace and that she was still wearing Jasmine's skimpy clothes. "Uh... long story," she said quickly. "Goliath? Can I talk to you?" Nodding quickly, Goliath rushed forward and enfolded her in his arms. Running quickly, he jumped off the parapets and soared up to his perch on the highest tower. Sighing in relief at avoiding the questions, he turned to Elisa and asked, "You wanted to talk?" "Yes... Goliath, we almost lost each othe here, and that made me realize something..." "What?" Goliath asked curiously, although he already suspected that he knew the answer. "That I love you," Elisa said simply, looking at the ground. Smiling, Goliath drew Elisa into his arms, folding his wings around her frail body, "I love you too," he whispered softly into her ears. "And no matter what is going on, we will go to Avalon together to face it!" he said fiercely, his eyes growing a fierce white. Calming down, he reached down and lifted Elisa's chin, so she was looking him in the eyes. "I do love you, and nothing will ever change that!" he said as he lowered his lips to her, sharing their first "real" kiss. Sadly, the kiss ended all too quickly as Goliath jumped to his perch and faced the coming sun. ***************************************************************************** Red eyes glowed evilly from one of the dark corners of the castle. ~They think they love each other do they? That's what they think! Goliath is mine, and that puny human won't get in the way!~ Demona thought to herself as she left her hiding place and rushed to a nearby roof. Gritting in expectation of the pain to come, she lowered herself to the roof. She wasn't disappointed as she barely made it down before the transformation took place. Luckily, she had long since learned to control her screams of agony. Standing up a few minutes later, Dominique Destine sighed as she watched her love in his daily perch. The human will soon be no more, and then there will be nothing standing in her way of her love and her family. *******So, what'd ya think? E-mail me with your comments, good or bad*******