Disclaimer: The characters of Gargoyles are owned by Disney. The characters of Mummies Alive are owned by DIC. Thecharacter of Joshua Blade, Eric Spellburg, Samuel Hawkes Jade and Chris Claw are my characters, and mean no harm to the show. Lucia Dominguez and Trynia Merin belong to Trynia Merin.
By Jade and Trynia Merin
Joshua was on the roof of the Magic Coffee. He was thinking about what happen last month. Most of his past had come to light. It scaried him that it would distory his friendship with the ones he came to love as family. He smiled. It had worked out better than he thought it would and he made new friends. Then there was Demona. His body shivered. That gargoyle was the root of all his problems and strangly she was the giver of his powers.
Eric wandered onto the roof, slowly walking up to his friend. Even though he knew Joshua came here for solitude, he couldn't help but want to comfort Joshua. "Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out to touch his friend's shoulder. Joshua sighed, his shoulders rising and falling under Eric's touch. "I'm just... thinking..." "I know it was a lot of scary things... to find out..." "Eric, my family... all those years..." "Yeah. My family has its secrets too. I had a chance to talk to Puck..." "What did he say?" "Puck said I have great potential... and he offered to help give me lessons..." "How is he going to do that if you're here and he's in..." "He said something about a correspondence course..."
"By mirror..." "Oh, it figures," "Yeah. He said that Oberon had his eye on me for a while... but he wouldn't be allowed to tell me anymore until I had learned more magic first. And proved I had what I took to be a Child of Oberon..." "Figures," "You guys are my family now,"
That day they wandered lazily through central park, his arm in hers, with a picnic basket hanging over his other. Blue skies overhead seemed so peaceful compared to the turbulence of the past few weeks. Lazily they threaded their way through the maze of trees towards the huge open field at the center of the park. If Lucia did not see the spires of Central Park west through the gaps in the trees, she might believe they were in the midst of a forest. Only the presence of a few soccer players, and other picnickers under the bright sun betrayed the fact there was civilization.
"Here's a good spot," she pointed to a pleasant spot under the shade of a red leaf maple, and he tossed down the blanket. Lucia and he perched on the sides of the tartan stretch and began to sort through what they had brought from his kitchen. It was a fun time between the two of them deciding what to take, and how to prepare it. She should not have been surprised that he could cook himself, even though he had a part time chef and a housekeeper on his staff. The sturdy basket was one of those European styles, complete with racks that held real china plates, and silverware. No plastic fare here. A breeze sang chilled her scalp, rustling leaves overhead.
There was fruit salad, fresh sandwiches of several varieties, and even a bottle of Perrier. For the first half hour they did not talk, only glanced at each other with silent smiles as they watched the world go on around them. "Hard to believe those Quarrymen were chasing through here," she commented through a mouthful of ambrosia. She leaned on one side, her ambrosia before her as she held up her head on one folded arm. Across the food from her he lay in a much similar position, head similarly propped on an upright hand. Horizontally the differences in heigh vanished. "I quite agree," he nodded, washing away the remainders of sandwich with a few sips of sparkling Perrier.
Like many in Europe he regularly consumed the sparkling mineral water. Normally he would have brought wine, but there were a few limits to the situation. A few crumbs had fallen onto his partly unbuttoned shirt, pale heather against tanned skin. The outfit was casual academic, dress trousers of a dark brown, and the hound's tooth jacket overtop the collarless shirt. Sturdy leather walking shoes completed the ensemble, freshly polished. Across from him she had on her spaghetti strap sundress with light blue flowers over navy blue. Her cardigan was only buttoned at the top, her long dark hair pulled back into an updo with a spring clip. As always the platform sandals decked her feet.
"Used to come here a lot with my aunt," she shook her head, finishing the last bite of her chicken salad sandwich. "One of those places you could come without spending anything. Had to get really good at it too..." "How fortunate you had lived here of all places," "It has me disturbed lass," "That's the funniest thing. It was all a blur. I remember you asking me to dance..." "And..." "Dressed how?" "No," "Yes... but why were we at Wyvern? I remember something about a Demon," "What did ye say, lass?" "Demona?" "What?" she asked, and blushed where he had kissed her. "you're welcome but I don't see..." "Someone made us forget, lass, and I intend to find out why..."
Back in San Francisco:
The Three people with one robot was waiting for a person to show up to talk to them. Two of them were « machine and « human. The other human was a human wolf.
The room was like a scene from a Egyptian tomb. "Man what a place." The woman looked around as her brother tap his foot. "So where is this guy?" "Forgive the wait but I had to look after something. Welcome, I am Harris Stone." "Hello Mr. Stone. We have heard that you might have a job for us." "Yes. I know you are mercenaries with special skills. I hope you will be up to the very specific task I have in mind..." "Shh!" "Yeah..." "We live for unusual heads... to bust!" "The whopping type aside, what does this entail?"
Back in New York City, travel plans were being made. Lucia had just happened to come to Prof. MacDuff's mansion for a history lesson, only to find him packing several suitcases. "I'm verra sorry, I must have forgotten," MacDuff apologized, as the housekeeper had brought him in from upstairs. The grand lobby was at least three stories high, a long bannister running along the length of the upper stories. A large stained glass window was set high into the wall, and Lucia saw the silhouette of a female gargoyle soaring before a full moon. Far below a bearded silhouette looked up to her.
Pillars decorated with creeping stone ivy held up the roof and separated the second story from the first. All along the walls and corridors she could see the oil paintings gazing down on them. Stuff looked as it had been laid out for a trip, as the suitcases were neatly lined up. "It's okay... it can wait," she held up her hand. "Do you have to go?" asked Lucia, of her Professor."Aye lass. There is something about that boy that makes me wonder..." Prof. MacDuff added. Do you mean Joshua?" He nodded. A horn was heard out side. "The cab has arrived Mr. MacDuff." "Thank you. I'm afraid I have to go now Lucia. I make sure to call a when I get there." "Be careful, Professor," "Dinnae worry," "Good luck... and please come back.... soon...."
On the plane, Prof. MacDuff scratched thoughtfully on a legal pad with a silver plated pen. He struggled to make sense of the tangle of recent memories. Now more then ever he was certain he had been placed under a memory fogging enchantment. Just who cast it he struggled to determine. Who was the mage at Wyvern? Young Alex... and... Puck! That name sprang to mind, and he realized what must have happened. Puck, casting an enchantment. There was something Xanatos was wanting to hide from him, and the two college coeds. Just what it was had something to do with the boy Joshua Blade. Then Lucia had mentioned Demons and shadows. She too had been there, under the same memory blackout, moving groggily at his side when Xanatos and Fox called their names. Squeezing his eyes shut he remembered he had been wearing his armor, fully armed. He took that memory and sharpened it in his mind. That one element diffused the mystical shadows hazing his recollection. "The Kiss of forgetfulness enchantment! Curse you Puck," he muttered under his breath, and sipped a bit of hot coffee to wash away the distaste in his mouth. "Just when I was on the verge o' sorting oot just what happened ye had t' come along and..."
But wait. There was another boy. A red head, with a same sort of magical aura. Another elf? Or a half elf perhaps that snapped into his mind. Puck was showing him... showing him something. Demona... yes... she must have been there too, for he wrestled the images to mind. It all exploded at once into memory. Past the haze into his brain it all flooded back. "Demona... how could ye? They are just children!" Joshua Blade... and... and Eric... Eric Spellburg! That was the red headed boy's name! Macbeth put it all together now! Those two boys had somehow tumbled into Titania's mirror the last time he had seen them. When Rayna had disappeared. He and Keith had the help of two armored figures. At last the puzzle made sense now! "I will find out what yer up to, Demona," Macbeth slammed his coffee mug down. "And I will know that boy's secret. He could be in worse trouble then he ever imagined!"
Such a spell that Eric had cast might have worked to cloud the girl's minds, making them forget. But Eric had forgotten that he was dealing with a man who had lived for centuries. Macbeth's knowledge of magic, and his sheer force of will had wrested the stolen memories back. The girls, he muttered, biting into a bit of cheese Danish. Sharon just had to blunder into things, didn't she. But Lucia, she had only been concerned for her friend. And him perhaps? Wanting to gallivant and dabble in adventures, or was it something different? He gave an amused, if awkward smile as his mind contemplated this thought.
Presley, Elane, Cythina and Walter ran into the SF Zoo. Eric walking with Joshua. It was a nice day for a field trip. Joshua though wasn't happy, but it was his turn on helping out as a chaperone. He was given this group of kids as Mr. Huxley looked after another group. The kids ran towards the Lion's cage. Presley was trying to talk to Cythina. Eric looked at his friend and shook his head. The lions pace back and forth in the cage. "Wow they are active today." "Yes they are Walter." "Nothing," "Let me go!"
Inside the Sphinx.
Ja-Kal's amulet gave off a glow. "Quickly our prince is in trouble." "Who would be going after Presley now that Scarab got his immortality." "Well our prince is calling for help so don't stand there."
Rath had the strangest feeling when he held up his ankh, the closer they were getting. They had to drive by the airport to get to the zoo, and he could swear he sensed another ancient soul on the ankh. Indeed it glowed and sparkled momentarily as a plane streaked into a landing. "What's that noise for, Rath?" JaKal asked. "I could swear if I didn't know the Young Prince's astral frequency, that I sensed the soul of another ancient king. Not as old, but just as powerful!" "We'll worry about that later, Rath!"
Joshua was thrown into the bush. "Joshua!!!" Dark green eyes glowed with anger. "With the Strength of Ra!!" Red and black energies surrounded the young shadow man as he jump out of the bush. Golden metal clanked on the ground as a Vulture faced the Pack. "Let my friend go or you will be facing your nightmares!" The golden staff glowed with black energy. The woman looked at her brother and then laughed, "Hahaha! You think you can stop us with that little stick." "You've been warned. Shadow's Nightmares!!!" "I said run!"
The weapon hit Wolf in the face. Eric fell to the ground and then suddenly a roar, and a figure slam into Wolf. "Jade!!" "What the??" "I'll be a toaster oven. Another Were-Wolf."
Joshua had his hands full with the Robot. "Well now what do we have here?" "I could ask the same question. Who or what are you?" "They call me Coyote."
"Eric are you okay?" The Hawk had a sword in his hand. The boy nodded. Presley had helped Eric up off the ground. "Get your selves out of here now!"
Presley and Eric turn to run but JaKal got in the way. "Now kids we aren't going any where are we?" "Matter of fact we are. Strength of Ra!!"
Green/red glow surrounded the boy. Then Eric shouted, "Dragon's power, dragon's might, give me wings to fight with Might!" It was a blast of wind and there stood the boy in dragon armor with wings. "If you want me that much come on and fight me." The wings flapped and Eric took off. Jackal was taken back for a second and Presley ran past him. Then a fire blast rained down on the cyborg. Just then the Mummies showed up. "Samuel what is going on here?" "I don't know Ja-Kal but this side-show is after Eric not Presley. Now are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
Eric had flown down and stood beside his friends. Suddenly screams were heard all over the Zoo. Then a Loin jump out of the bushes. "This isn't what we had in mind for an easy way to stop the fighting." "Run!!!!"
"Sorry but that kid is our meal ticket. Hand him over." "Eric run." "Maybe, but it what I do." "Wolf stop playing with the locals and Hyena it's time to go." "But I was having fun."
Macbeth was at a loss only for a short time. Quickly he reached into his briefcase, pulling a small crystal ball out. He plugged the cord into the terminal of his laptop computer for a power source. Slowly he waved his hand over the ball, whispering, "Spiritus, Minutus, Illustrious appare! Tiny spirit of fire and power, find those friends I seek this hour!" A small sphere of light loosed itself from the glowing mass, firing off towards parts unknown.
Macbeth hoped it would find Josh before too much longer. "Now, where are ye lads," Macbeth muttered, setting the laptop down on the passenger seat of his car.
The sun was lower in the sky when the Pack return to the Black Pyramid. By this time Joshua's armor had run out of power. He hid his staff under his black jacket. The robot open up the compartment and threw out Joshua. He looked up and saw that he didn't wanted to, Harris Stone. Joshua knew better than that. His powers of shadows could break through spells of 'masks' a word he made up for concealment spells.
"What do you want you bag of old bones?"
"I'll be the one making the demands around here little shadow boy. Now where is the other one?"The group looked at one another. "Now he told us there would be some others but he didn't say any thing about there being an army. "What do you mean an Army?" "Ja-Kal and his friends showed up silly old man. Do you think you can get what you want in one attack."
"Well go and find the boy. Here is part of the money for bring in this trouble sum brat but you will not get the up grades until you bring me other." The Pack left and Harris Stone was gone in a flash of purple light. Scarab looked down on Joshua. " I have done as you asked Miss Dominique Destine. So please come out from the shadows." "Hello little one. You know who I am for real don't you, that power of yours is innate in your family."
The sun began to set. Both, Dominique and Scarab cried out in pain. He watched as the woman became a Gargoyle once again. He turned to leave but a group of shabti were standing at the Exits. So the young shadow man remained still.
"My dear child. I told you my little one you be mine." "Get a life Demona. What's your part in all this, Scarab?" "That isn't your concern dear boy but for now your guess. Shabti!!"
Eric was up set as well as was Samuel. It was the first time the young warrior had lost a friend to the enemy. Ja-Kal was watching his friend, his son. He could see the spirit of Padjet was showing around Samuel.
Jade spoke up. "Come on these people where not normal okay we are lucky that they didn't get all they wanted." "What do you mean not all human Jade?" "Well two of those villains were haft human and haft bot." "Well then maybe we should give Trynia a call."
Trynia depressed a button on her computer when she heard the phone ringing. Directly through her terminal the phone came up with Rath's English accent. "Rath.. what's wrong?" "It's terrible! Josh Blade has been kidnaped... by some very odd machine creatures... we were hoping you could assist us..." "Wait Rath, Machine creatures?" "As you can see he's quite distressed... can you meet us at the Sphinx as soon as possible?"
Macbeth continued to gun his black Jaguar down the highway. It was the one he had in New York, except he'd had it crated here for use on the trip. Still the crystal ball showed its strange images. A computer link converted the will of the wisp's searches to coordinates that plugged into his Geostart navigation system. He spotted an image of Josh, absconded by strange clay figures. Macbeth's brow furrowed. He had seen these Shabti before, back when a certain Wizard had stolen his immortality! Anger filled his features! Had this sorcerer taken Josh somewhere?
Eric was fighting as the group was waiting for Trynia to show up. Samuel didn't like waiting either but Trynia would know how to deal with the Cyborg. Now that were-wolf was easy to deal with as was the robot. "Don't worry Eric, Trynia will help us to get Joshua back and keep you safe." The boy looked at his foster father. It was only a few months ago that the papers went threw. Samuel had to work hard at this but it showed the child-care people that he could be Eric's father. Suddenly a blue and silver hovercraft was heard out side. It drifted gracefully to the ground. A white and gold cheeked figure in dark black and silver coveralls waved to them as she enter the room. "Sorry to take so long," Trynia responded, parking her hovercraft. "That's okay," Sam said. "We're just glad you could come! Eric said we were having some difficulty with some cyborg... they call themselves..." "Jackal and Hyena, of the Pack," "Please you gotta help us find Josh..." "I promise I will endeavor to do so..." "What are we waiting for?" "I think I recall..." "The one Robot resisted my magic..."
"Sam, Eric, you'll come in first. They'll be expecting you..." Trynia said. "And you'll show up as a rear guard, right?" Sam nodded. "Just like in Thebes..." "Right! The Senenmut maneuver!" "Who or what is it?" "An ancient power... not as ancient as Scarab, but old... do you think..." "Demona!"
"Now you will be mine!" Demona laughed, advancing upon Josh. "Never!" he snapped. His dark green eyes stared at the demon he didn't want to bond with.
Suddenly a green smoke swirled around them, making them cough. "What the heck?" Scarab coughed. "It's not me, boss..." Hecka coughed. "What..." Demona began to hack, and then suddenly her eyes flared crimson in the dark. Lightening slammed into Scarab, knocking him flat. Demona too fell on the ground. Josh glanced back and forth, and saw a shadow moving behind the smoke. "Who dares!" Scarab coughed. He summoned a wind to dispel the smoke, but was not very successful. Demona felt someone kick her in the back, and Scarab moaned again. This was getting to be tiresome! Something cut into Josh's bonds. "Easy there laddie..." "Professor?" "Stop right there!"
"Well well, what have we here?" Jackal laughed at his sister. Jackal's cybernetic eye caught site of three figures flying in what appeared to be a silver hovercraft. "If I didn't know better I'd say we had company," Hyena laughed. "It's that girl..." Wolf sniffed. "Let's invite them to the party!" Hyena laughed. "I'm in the mood for a fight!" The twins were ready to fight. This time Jade was in her Hyena armor. She didn't like the feelings she got fighting that other were-wolf. She held her battle ax. Chris was in his Cheetah armor hammer in his hand. Trynia was at the controls of the hovercraft.
At this same time...
Samuel and Eric were clawing their way up the building on the other side. "What do you think Scarab is doing to Joshua?" "I don't know Eric but we aren't going to sit and wait for Scarab's next move."
Joshua strain as he tried to keep Demona rap in the shadows. "I don't want any thing to do with you Demona get that threw your head." "I beg to differ."
The shadows slowly lost their grip on Demona. ~No!!!~ was the last thing Joshua though of as he lost consciousness."Joshua!" Macbeth shouted, and aimed a blast at Demona. Lightening snaked around her, stunning her to the ground. Simultaneously, Coyote's blast slammed into Macbeth's back. The robot grabbed the immortal king in a vise grip that Macbeth could not hope to break.
That was when all hell broke out. Samuel and Eric came crashing threw the window. It was the first time Demona seen Samuel in his magical armor. The Eagle of gold, purple and blue. The helmet hid most of his face but when he looked at Demona she remembered him. "You! You are one of the fools that stopped me from taking what was might in NY." "And I will stop you again. I will not let you take any of my friends." "You don't know what your dealing with." "We will see. Ask your partner about my track record."
Demona hissed at him. Eric had run over to Joshua. The boy/elf shook his friend. Dark green eyes fluttered open. Eric then turned his anger at Scarab. "Dragon's breath, angel's might, I send you now, out of my sight." Green/red light blasted out of Eric's hands and hit Scarab. "Aaaahhhhh!!!!" screamed Scarab as he disappeared from the room. To where is any one's guess. Scarab found himself on the other side of Western Gate. "Oh well at least I can finish that card game with Anubis." The Wizard then headed for Anubis' place.
Outside...
Trynia's hovercraft was underfire. Hyena and JaKal had taken to the air to blast the ship out of the air. That when Jade jump from the ship into JaKal. "Now you're going to tell me what you did with my friend or I will start reprogramming you." She jammed a deice that Trynia gave her in to his neck. "Eeeeekk!!" "Leave him alone!"
Trynia's nanotechnology swirled back onto her own systems. Wolf's foot slammed into Trynia's chest, knocking her over. The hovercraft lurched, and Wolf picked up Trynia and prepared to toss her. However, Chris Claw slashed at Wolf's feet. He leapt up, tossing Trynia. The cyborg slammed into the rear of the craft, and then leapt to her feet. Wolf pushed against the were cheetah, grunting, "You second rate amateur! I won't let you stop me!" "Leave my brother alone!" "Uh... Trynia..."
Demona did not like the new odds. She wanted Joshua badly but he was too far away to grab as was Eric, but there was the other one. Muttering in Latin she ran and as she finished the spell, she wrapped herself around Samuel. "You may have won this battle little one," she pointed her claw at Eric and Joshua, "But I have your friend." "Samuel!!!! "We will find him, lad,"
It was then that they noticed Jade struggling to lift Trynia. She wasn't having too much luck, and Chris moved to help her, with Macbeth nearby. "Who is that?" Macbeth asked, looking at her very oddly. Slowly Trynia came round, and glanced at her friends."Sam... he's gone..." Eric sobbed, and Josh held him close. "Rayna..." Macbeth rubbed his eyes"What happened to ye lass... ye were a gargoyle when last I saw ye... but what is with the cybernetics, lass?" "Who is Rayna?" "This is Trynia Merin... our friend..." "Well we have to think about other things right now. Let's get out of here and think on where Demona took Samuel and before this circus wakes up."
A few minutes later the group had enter the Magic Coffee. Jade made sure of the closed sign was up. Trynia sat down and started the healing program. Chris took Eric up stairs to sleep. Joshua was sitting in the shadows. "Would you like to have a drink Mr. MacDuff?" Jade asked.
"Some Scottish whisky in a small glass. Would be nice lass." Jade nodded and walked over to the bar. "So what now?" "We look for Demona and get yer friend back." "No!!!"
