13
Saga: "Brooklyn, Son of a Trickster"
Title: "Growing Up"
E-mail address:
Author: Night Owl
Disclaimer: The characters and places in "Gargoyles" and "Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles" do not belong to me. I just enjoy them. I do not make any money from this. Any original characters not already belonging to someone else, belong to me. I don't mind sharing, but please ask first.
Summery: This is what I think "Gargoyles" would be like if Puck were Brooklyn's biological father. This story will make more sense if you read "Beginnings" first.
Rating: Should be suitable for all readers.
Note: This is my second story. It closes the gap between my first story and the animated series. Also in my version of "Gargoyles," all three races (humans, gargoyles, and Oberon's children) are biologically compatible. No flames please!
"Growing Up"
-958 A.D. the rookery at Castle Wyvern about two months after the eggs hatched-
"How's Daddy's Little Trixter? Ready to learn some magic?" Puck asked his young son.
~Happy. Ready. ~ was the hatchling's telepathic response.
Puck had sensed his son's mind and magic potential while the child was still an egg. So he was pleased with his son's simple yet clear response.
~How 'bout we start with invisibility and teleporting? It'll be Fun!~ Puck suggested.
The red hatchling enthusiastically responded, ~Fun!~ as he reached for his father, (who was floating just above him and his mother).
"Okay Little Trixter, let's go," Puck said.
~Kay. ~ Little Trixter telepathically replied.
As he gently took his son out of Night Rose's arms Puck couldn't help thinking how much their son resembled his mother.
"I know you've been looking forward to teaching our son how to cast faerie spells, but it'll be time tae feed the hatchlings again in about an hour. If ye still want tae keep the wee lad's magic a secret from our clan you'll need to be back before then. I also doubt the lad would appreciate missing his dinner," Night Rose gently advised her mate.
"Oh, all right," Puck reluctantly agreed with a sigh. He was feeling a little disappointed at having to keep the lesson so short.
"Cheer up, my love. At least Jane and I are on rookery duty right now. If it had been another pair of clan mothers watching the hatchlings, you couldn't sneak the wee lad out without causing a panic," Puck's wife pointed out smiling softly.
"You're right Night Rose. We'll be back soon my love!" Puck responded affectionately.
Jane added "Off with ye now, or you'll have tae wait awhile before another opportunity comes up! And be careful."
Puck then teleported promptly out of the rookery with his son cradled tenderly in his arms.
-A wooded area near Castle Wyvern-
"Okay, it doesn't look like anyone else is near enough to notice us Little Trixter. Are you ready to begin?" Puck asked his son.
Little Trixter gave a happy chirp then telepathically answered, ~Ready. ~
~First I'm going to use my magic to instantly transport us to various locations. I need you to pay attention to how that feels and what each place looks like, then it'll be your turn to take us to those places. ~ Puck instructed. As an after thought Puck asked his son if he understood what was being asked of him.
~Think so. ~ Little Trixter answered optimistically.
Father and son then began teleporting to numerous places throughout the surrounding woods. Puck also showed his son how to make himself invisible. When Puck was satisfied with his son's progress he continued the magic lesson by having the hatchling cast the spells he'd just learned on assorted inanimate objects. Over the course of the latest lesson however, Puck lost all track of time. It wasn't until his son started to fuss and refused to do anymore magic that he began to notice that anything was wrong.
"What's the matter Little Trixter? Aren't you having fun learning magic with Daddy?" Puck inquired looking at his son with concern.
With tears in his young eyes, Little Trixter sniffled and answered, ~Hungry! ~
~ Oh, I'm sorry! Your mom told me when we left that it was only an hour before feeding time! Don't cry. I'll get you back to the rookery quick as a blink. All right? ~ Puck replied soothingly.
~Kay. Go home now? ~ Little Trixter demanded hungrily.
"Yes my boy, we'll go right now," Puck told his son with an amused chuckle.
-Back at the rookery-
~Where are they? They should have been back an hour ago. All the other hatchlings have already been fed and settled down for their after dinner nap. I told Puck before he took our son out that he only had an hour before feeding time. Our son's probably very hungry and I don't know how much longer I can keep the head rookery keeper from noticing. ~ Night Rose thought anxiously.
"Hmm, I know what each new hatchling looks like and how many there should be. We're short one, the beaked red male with white hair," the clan's head rookery keeper observed. Then after looking around the one last time, she dismissed all the mothers save Night Rose.
"You know where the missing hatchling is," head rookery keeper stated, looking directly at Night Rose.
"Um, I…" Night Rose began uncomfortably.
~I hope we're not too late. ~ Puck thought privately as he and his son arrived invisibly back at the rookery.
Before Night Rose could continue, the head rookery keeper suddenly started to sniff the air. Something was different. On a hunch, the head rookery keeper quickly reached slightly upward and to her side grabbing a hold of something she couldn't see. She could smell and feel that something was there though.
"Show yourself faerie!" The head rookery keeper demanded.
Too startled at being grabbed while invisible to do anything else, Puck complied.
"How did ye know where tae grab, or that Puck's a faerie?" Night Rose asked the older female.
"How do ye know this child of Oberon?" The head rookery keeper countered sternly.
"I…um," Night Rose stammered while nervously looking at her feet.
~Maybe I should cast a forget spell on her. ~ Puck thought privately.
~Hungry! ~ Little Trixter firmly reminded his dad, tugging on the fey's hair to make him pay attention.
Looking at his son apologetically Puck said, "I'm sorry Little Trixter. Here we are arguing when we should be getting you something to eat!"
"We'll have tae see if there's anything in the castle's kitchen the cooks'll let him have. The other hatchlings finished off what we brought into the rookery a little over an hour ago," Night Rose commented.
"Aye, hand the wee lad over. The head cook's a friend of mine," the head rookery keeper stated. Then with a stern glare at Puck and Night Rose she added, "When I get back and the lad's been settled down for his nap, you two will be explaining yourselves. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am," the couple responded and exchanged looks of deep concern.
-In the castle kitchen, a few moments later-
"Hello there friend! I was nae expecting tae see ye in here just an hour after feeding the new hatchlings. I thought you'd be checking on the older bunch by now," the head cook stated.
Sighing, the head rookery keeper replied, "That's true enough, but this wee one missed dinner with his rookery siblings."
"How did that happen?" the head cook asked.
"Apparently he'd been taken out of the rookery. He was just returned a few minutes ago," the head rookery keeper explained.
"I'll bet one of the first-time parents couldn't resist taking a hatchling out and just lost track of time. Don't look at me like that! Just because gargoyle children belong to the whole clan doesn't make any of you immune to the desire of taking one in your arms and not wanting to put the wee thing down. Besides the lad can't help being adorable. Its part of being a new hatchling," the head cook told her friend.
"You have a good point Sarah. Still, it was a careless thing to do," the head rookery keeper declared with a hint of annoyance.
As soon as the head rookery keeper finished complaining about the red hatchling's situation, he looked up at her with a hurt expression on his young face. Fearing that they had forgotten that he was still hungry he projected to the grown ups ~Daddy good! Eat soon?! ~
"Oh my, isn't he a bit young to be speaking?" Sarah asked her friend in confusion.
"Aye, that he is," she responded, and began to wonder if the faerie she'd discovered in the rookery had cast some sort of spell over the child. As the head rookery keeper pondered upon the red hatchling's strange outburst, she felt him starting to squirm and fuss in her arms. This drew her gaze back to the youngster and looking into the child's soft eyes, realized that she was now the one getting distracted. "I'm sorry little one. You've been trying very hard to wait for your dinner while we've been gabbing," she told the red hatchling regretfully.
"Well… I think we've got some stew and sweet potatoes the lad could have. Yes, I know you don't usually give your hatchlings cooked food. I doubt he'll mind though," Sarah suggested.
-About half an hour later-
The head rookery keeper could hear a pair of voices anxiously whispering as she brought the red hatchling (now full and sleepy) back to the rookery.
"Are you sure? A spell of forgetfulness wouldn't actually hurt her."
"It just wouldn't be right my love. I truly doubt she'd hurt our son for being half fair folk. He is a child of the clan after all."
"True, but she immediately recognized that I'm a member of the third race. She had also grabbed me while I was floating invisibly. I suppose I'm just worried Night Rose. That's all my love."
"I understand Puck, and I'm worried too."
"Well now, that would likely explain this wee one's outburst earlier. Now then, I believe you two have something tae tell me," the head rookery keeper firmly stated.
Puck and Night Rose looked at each other, then at the intimidating figure before them. She did not look pleased. She was a stout female whose hide was blue green in color. Her hair was blue grey with a row of three small, round ridges poking up through it. Her wings were bat like and her ears had a fin like shape to them. That wasn't what really bothered the couple though. What worried them most was that she was the clan leader's mate! If she decided she didn't want a faerie-kin in the rookery, she might persuade the clan's leader to banish them and their son from the clan forever.
Taking a deep breath to help calm her self, Night Rose finally answered by asking, "Do ye want the long or short version?"
"I suppose the short version will do for now, but I expect a full one later," the head rookery keeper replied. She was still feeling a little irritated that one of her charges had been out of the rookery when he shouldn't have been.
Although they were hesitant at first, Puck and Night Rose soon gave the blue green female a brief explanation of their relationship to each other and to the red hatchling. They also told her how they wanted their son to be taught the gargoyle way and learn to use the magic he inherited from Puck. The couple then let the head rookery keeper know that her mate had been informed of these things the next night after the eggs had hatched. A short summery of that discussion and its results followed.
"Hmm… that's an interesting story you've got there. My friend Sarah suggested it was only a minor matter where a first-time parent was too busy enjoying holding the wee lad to notice it was past his feeding time. I can't say I like the idea of a faerie or a halfling faerie being around." the head rookery keeper said. She paused seeing the disappointed looks on the couple's faces. Then the blue green female added, "Still it's not the lad's fault he's half fair folk, so I'll consult my mate on the matter. In the mean time, ALL the hatchlings had better be present at their meal times from now on. No excuses!"
Night Rose and Puck nodded their heads and softly agreed to the head rookery keeper's terms. They hoped she would allow them and their son to stay. The young couple was relived the next night to find out that the leader's mate had come to the conclusion that their son was still a child of the clan magic or no magic and needed the guidance and protection of his gargoyle elders.
-968 A.D.-
The gargoyle leader looked over his assembled charges with a tolerant, knowing smile. The hatchlings were eager for the opportunity to hunt like their elders. The warriors who had been chosen to supervise were less than eager to watch as their younger siblings noisily ran about trying to catch their prey. With a loud clap to focus the gargoyles' attention, the clan leader announced, "All right now lads and lasses, I know you young ones have been looking forward to this hunt since ye first awoke this evening. You'll be going in small groups to different areas near the castle. If ye have any trouble while you're hunting just give your elder siblings a shout. There will be two in each party." Not missing a beat he added, "Being chosen to oversee our clan's children as they develop their hunting and tracking skills is an honor, and not just some chore. Don't forget as you guide our youngsters that everyone makes mistakes. It's part of learning. I certainly made enough of them when I was a hatchling."
Little Trixter was surprised to hear this. He looked up at the older gargoyle and with wide eyed wonder asked his leader, "You were a hatchling?" Some of his elder brothers and sisters had a difficult time hiding their amusement at such a question. His rookery siblings on the other hand, were as surprised as he was. They didn't see what their elders found so funny about a perfectly good question.
The brown skinned leader smiled and answered the red hatchling with a twinkle in his eyes, "Aye lad, even I had to learn from my elders how to be a hunter and warrior." He then addressed the entire group saying, "You'll all be divided into groups of five or six hatchlings with two warriors tae supervise. Each party will hunt in a slightly different part of our protectorate not too far from the castle."
"Why?" asked an olive-green web-winged hatchling who was standing between two of his favorite rookery brothers. The brother on his right he knew was really half third race, though most of the clan had no idea such a hybrid existed. The brother on his left was bald, a little bit heavyset, had fin shaped ears, bat style wings, and blue-green hide.
"There are quite a few reasons to do this. First, small hunting parties are less noticeable to their prey. Second, you'll need to have enough energy left to come home. Don't forget our clan protects the castle at night and we can no more stop doing that than breathing. Third, I said so and ye need tae follow orders," Leader answered firmly yet kindly. Seemingly as an afterthought he added, "I also want everyone tae be back around midnight. Good luck!"
-Little Trixter's group, a little over half an hour later-
"How do they expect to catch anything crashing about so noisily?" a blue female gargoyle with red hair wondered aloud.
"They are still young, my sister. In time, they will learn to be great hunters," her tall lavender rookery brother replied good-naturedly as he watched their younger clan siblings enthusiastically chasing their prey.
Little Trixter spotted a rabbit jumping out of a small bush that one of his rookery brothers had just chased a squirrel into. He immediately began to pursue the startled rabbit. It was very fast and kept changing directions, so the red hatchling dropped to all fours to run faster. The young hybrid thought that after showing his elders something he'd caught himself, it would be very satisfying to eat it. He hoped that he could catch the rabbit soon. Seeing the rabbit duck into a set of large bushes, Little Trixter reached into them and made a grab for it. He felt his talons close around what he thought was his rabbit and started to pull it toward him. He was wrong!
An immense wild boar had been resting comfortably under a group of huge bushes. Suddenly, it felt pain as sharp talons dug into its snout and pulled. The bulky creature was now wide awake. It let out an enormous squealing bellow of hurt and anger. Then it charged!
Little Trixter heard a loud, unfamiliar sound come from the bushes he'd been reaching into. With a startled squawk he let go of whatever he had grabbed and began hastily backing away. The thing he saw charge out of the bushes barely missed him by a couple of inches. It was enormous, at least as big as a fully grown watch beast! The massive animal looked about angrily for a moment or two before focusing on the red hatchling. Seeing this, Little Trixter turned and ran on all fours as fast as he could go. The boar swiftly followed the youngster in hot pursuit. It was rapidly gaining on the youth. A short distance ahead Little Trixter could see a big tree. If he could just get to it fast enough he might get away from that thing. Looking back, he saw that the huge creature was almost on top of him. He also couldn't see either of the two warriors or any of his rookery siblings from the group he'd been assigned to. That meant he was on his own! The young hybrid doubted he'd be able to run any faster and the tree was still several yards away. Feeling desperate, Little Trixter used his magic to teleport to the base of the tree. Upon reaching the tree he rapidly climbed up the trunk stopping near the top. From the treetop the red hatchling felt a jarring sensation. It didn't take long for him to realize the boar was attacking the tree. He didn't want to be eaten. Not knowing what else to do, he began to chirp loudly with distress and hoped his elders would hear him.
"Have you seen the red hatchling recently sister? I fear something terrible may have happened to him," a tall lavender warrior confided to his red-haired, blue-skinned rookery sister.
"No brother. Perhaps he tiered from chasing his prey and stopped to rest a moment. He's sure to turn up sooner or later. Besides, Leader would never send hatchlings here if he thought this were a dangerous part of our territory," she replied.
"I suppose …" he began. Then thinking he heard something, the lavender gargoyle cocked his head to listen better. He wasn't mistaken. It was there, a repetitious thud accompanied by a chirping sound. The latter, he realized with a sinking feeling, was a hatchling's distress chirp. "Watch the others!" he ordered his rookery sister urgently as he dropped to all fours and ran quickly to investigate. The large male was not reassured by what he found. He could see a huge boar repetitively attacking the base of a big tree, and close to the top of it was the missing hatchling he'd been worrying about earlier. Briefly assessing the situation, the lavender warrior climbed a nearby tree and launched himself into the air. He then swooped silently down on the boar, taking it by surprise. He sunk his talons deeply into the animal knowing that he needed to tire the creature before it could be successfully killed. It struggled violently to shake the gargoyle off. This was more than an annoyance, it was a matter of life or death and both combatants knew it! Eventually the boar lost the contest of endurance. The lavender warrior took full advantage of the respite. He shifted his position slightly and with just a little bit of difficulty slew the wild boar. Now all he had to do was let the hatchling know it was safe for him to come down now and that they had a great deal of meat to take back to their clan.
"You may come down now young brother," the lavender warrior called up to the red hatchling.
"No! It's going tae EAT me!" Little Trixter insisted and tightened his grip on the tree.
"My friend, I promise you that the boar has been slain and can not harm you. I killed it myself. Do not fear young one. If you come down now, I promise you may have your pick of meat from the boar's carcass before anyone else in our clan," the older male offered. He hoped he sounded reassuring enough. He wasn't used to dealing with hatchlings much and this one had just been through a very frightening experience for one so young.
"Promise it won't get me?" Little Trixter asked.
"You have my word, it shall not harm you. Now, please come down my brother," the lavender warrior requested gently.
"Okay," Little Trixter agreed in a soft voice. He then jumped out of the tree and instinctively spread out his wings to slow his descent.
-Castle Wyvern a short while later-
"What portion of the boar would you like to take your share of the meat from? Go ahead and choose lad. It won't bite," the tall lavender warrior said as he gently nudged the red hatchling toward the slain beast.
Little Trixter felt a large hand grip his shoulder reassuringly as he hesitantly approached the unmoving animal. Looking back he saw his lavender elder smiling encouragingly at him. Taking heart from this, he smiled up at his elder clan brother and continued forward feeling a little more confident. Then he heard a voice call out, "Wait!"
"Is there a problem?" the lavender gargoyle asked.
"No. It's not so much a problem as a proposition brother," the voice answered.
"Oh, and what might that be?" the tall lavender warrior inquired. Turning to face the speaker he quickly realized that the voice belonged to his dark brown rookery brother who had blue-black hair and wings that were divided in an almost moth like manner.
"I would like make a trade. I have a pair of foxes which I caught earlier this evening. If you allow me to select a choice cut of meat from the boar you caught before anyone else, I will give you these foxes," the dark brown warrior elaborated.
"My apologies friend, but I have already promised our young red brother here that he could make his selection first," the lavender warrior stated solemnly.
"So? He's only a hatchling. I, on the other hand, am a skilled warrior and hunter. Surely you can see that I am far superior to that mere child," the dark brown male argued.
"Our younger brother's skills are not at issue. I have made a promise and I intend to keep it," the tall lavender male responded firmly.
Little Trixter looked back and forth between his two elders, uncertain of what he should do. He soon heard a voice coming from behind his elder clan brothers. "What's all this noise about?" the voice demanded. It was Leader's voice! Before anyone could stop him, Little Trixter ran up to the clan leader and quickly told the older gargoyle what his two elder brothers were arguing about. He also informed the leader that the lavender warrior had saved him from the very animal being argued over and how he'd been talked into coming down from the tree he'd fled to.
"Well lad, it seems that ye had quite an adventure tonight," Leader commented to the young hybrid.
"Yep, but what do I do now Leader?" the youth inquired.
Before the older gargoyle could form a response, the lavender warrior spoke up, "My rookery brother has not changed my mind. I shall keep my word and you will choose which portions of the boar you wish to take your share of the meat from. I would not have this large catch if you had not found it, so enjoy your meal my young friend."
"Okay, and thanks for saving me elder," Little Trixter replied and hugged his kind elder. Then he picked what meat he wanted from the beast and found a quiet place to eat it.
-972 A.D. a small clearing in the woods near Castle Wyvern-
"Why do we have to keep this secret even from our clan? Leader says that 'Without trust there can be no clan,' besides I want to show my brothers and sisters some of the things you've been teaching me," Little Trixter complained.
Puck let out a somewhat exasperated sigh. He briefly shook his head at his son's comment then said, "Little Trixter if a wizard or sorcerer ever found out that you're half faerie your life would be in great danger."
"Why?" Little Trixter persisted.
Puck took in a deep breath and answered, "The magic you inherited from me can only be used directly by Avalon's children and our kin. You're young, inexperienced, and impressionable. Most mages wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of that. They would use you to increase their own power. Many people, especially mortals, tend to fear what they don't understand. Unfortunately, that includes some of your brothers and sisters."
"But we're a clan. The others wouldn't…"
"Maybe not, however you still need to be careful my boy. You aren't immortal."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Does that ever bother you?"
"Sometimes, but I try not to think about it too much. Now on a lighter note let's practice some levitation."
"Okay. When we're done will you tell me and my rookery siblings about some of the things you've seen and heard during your travels?" Little Trixter requested.
"Sure! Anything for my son," Puck replied.
"Thanks Dad!" Little Trixter exclaimed happily as he gave his father an affectionate hug.
-975 A.D. Castle Wyvern-
"David, look over there!"
"Over where Fox my dear?"
"Over there, at those three gargoyles by the stables. They look like they could be younger versions of Brooklyn, Lexington, and Broadway. Do you think it might be possible?" Fox whispered intently to her new husband.
"Well… Goliath's clan did originally com from late tenth century Scotland. I suppose they must have been children at some point in time," David speculated. He quickly added, "Let's go talk to them. It might be interesting."
"Are you sure that's wise David? We don't know anything about them, and they might not react well to us," Petros cautioned.
"Don't worry Pop, we'll be fine," David insisted.
"Where did I go wrong?" Petros softly muttered to himself as he shook his head in resignation.
As the three humans approached the stables they heard the young blue-green male gargoyle asking the red one, "Why bother? We have wings and our elders finished teaching us to glide just last year."
"So? Humans ride horses all the time. It doesn't look that hard, and I think it would be fun," the red male argued.
"Yah, but you're not a human. You're a gargoyle and the horses probably wouldn't let a gargoyle ride one of them anyway," the olive-green male declared.
"I'll bet I could get one to let me ride it," the red youth stated adamantly.
"I bet you can't," the blue-green youth challenged his friend.
"I could too!"
"Could not!"
"Could too!"
"Could not!"
"Hello, are we interrupting anything?" David asked the three quarreling gargoyles. The young trio looked up at the strange human with a combination of surprise and fear. The olive-green web-winged gargoyle recovering before his brothers did asked the unfamiliar human who he was.
"We're merely visiting travelers," David responded vaguely.
"So, what was all that shouting about?" Fox inquired.
The gargoyle that Fox thought looked like a younger version of Broadway shrugged and pointed to the one who reminded her of Brooklyn (but younger) saying, "He wants to try riding a horse. I don't see why though, since we can glide now anyway."
David arched an eyebrow in interest at this. "What would you be willing to trade with me for a ride on one of those horses kid?" he asked the red male.
Little Trixter considered the human's offer. After a brief moment he replied, "I could catch a rabbit, or fox for you, or I could find you some fresh honeycomb."
"Hmm… that could take some time we might not have. We aren't planning to stay here long. Besides, I was hoping for something a bit more valuable," David told the beaked youth.
"Oh, come now David, can't you see how little these young gargoyles have? That boy is offering what he can!" Petros scolded his son. Seeing the disappointed expression on the red gargoyle's face, he told the youth, "I'll take you for a short horseback ride around the castle courtyard if you'd like. I won't make you give me anything for it either."
"Really?" Little Trixter asked.
"Yes, really," Petros answered with a warm smile.
"Thank you!" Little Trixter said, hugging the human enthusiastically.
-A few minutes after the horse ride-
"That was fun! Are you sure you don't want me to catch something for you, or get you some honeycomb? I really liked riding that horse with you," Little Trixter stated happily.
"It's all right, you be a good kid and go play with your friends now. I need to rejoin my friends soon myself," Petros told the young gargoyle.
"Okay, goodbye and thank you," Little Trixter replied.
-976 A.D. near the rookery-
"How much longer will it be before you lay your egg?" Little Trixter asked the human.
"Humans don't lay eggs young one. We bear live children," Princess Elena answered. Softly chuckling, she added, "I'll have the baby soon. If you're very careful, after the wee one's born I may let you hold him or her."
-A week later, about 20 minutes after sunset-
Prince Malcolm was pacing back and forth as he waited for his wife to give birth to their first child. He fervently hoped it wouldn't be their last. Soon (much to his relief) he heard a baby cry and the loud announcement of, "It's a girl!"
-Half an hour later-
Guided by one of the castle servants, Little Trixter approached the chamber where Prince Malcolm's wife and new daughter lay resting together. The young hybrid was nervous and excited. He knew he'd have to be on his best behavior for this. As he and the servant entered the room, they could hear the Prince and Princess talking to someone. Little Trixter quickly recognized the other voice. "Jane!" he exclaimed, running up to hug the human who was a clan elder to him.
"Well now, what brings you here young one?" Jane inquired.
Pointing toward the servant he responded, "That human brought me. He said that Princess Elena wanted to see me. The human didn't say why, only to come. Do you think she laid her egg? Oops… I mean had her baby?"
"Yes lad, she had her baby and I helped deliver the wee lass," Jane said with a smile.
Princess Elena tiredly spoke up from her bed, "Come here youngling, I'd like ye tae meet Princess Katherine."
Little Trixter did as he was told, then asked if could hold the baby.
"I don't know… gargoyle talons are very sharp and hard," Prince Malcolm hedged.
"I'd be extra careful, I promise," Little Trixter pleaded.
The Prince eyed the young gargoyle skeptically for a moment before agreeing to let the youth hold the newborn princess saying, "Very well, so long as you're careful and Jane helps you, you may hold my daughter for a short while." The Prince then handed the young princess over to the red gargoyle.
"She's so soft," Little Trixter whispered in awe.
"Aye and she's very precious," Prince Malcolm agreed.
-984 A.D. shortly after sunset-
"It's time tae tell the rest of our clan," the elderly brown gargoyle advised the lavender warrior who would be taking his place.
The large male responded with a deep rumbling sigh, "I shall do as you say my friend, and gather our brothers and sisters so that the whole clan will know of your decision to step down as Leader."
By midnight the entire clan knew of the change in leadership, and Little Trixter found himself with an odd dilemma. Should he tell the new clan leader about his magic? The Archmage was gone now, but there was still the Magus. The young hybrid looked up to his elder clan brother as a hero and roll model. Even so, the large gargoyle had expressed a strong dislike for magic and a wariness of both mages and the fair folk. Finally, Little Trixter decided he would simply have to observe his new leader for a while and hope that a time to come when he would no longer need to keep his magic a secret.
-994 A.D.-
Little Trixter could hardly believe it! Goliath had sent him, two of his winged rookery brothers, and the watch beast they'd been playing with down to the rookery like hatchlings. ~We weren't really going to hurt those humans, just scare them a little. Besides they started it by calling us 'beasts' and 'monsters,'~ the young faerie-kin thought somewhat rebelliously. As he entered the rookery he looked to his leader one last time saying, "We meant no harm."
-The following night-
As the sun set, four young gargoyle warriors awoke. They hoped that their brothers and sisters wouldn't tease them too much about being sent to the rookery. While approaching the rookery doors they noticed the air seemed to have a thick, hazy quality to it. Hesitantly poking their heads out the door to see if Goliath had returned yet, the friends were shocked by what they saw. "…couldn't be," Little Trixter said in a near whisper. Not long after that he saw his leader gliding toward him and his rookery brothers.
"Were any more down in the rookery?" Goliath asked hopefully.
"None, only us," the largest of the young gargoyles answered sadly.
"All the humans are gone. Taken prisoner most likely," the brown elder, who had lead before Goliath stated.
"Then we will find them! We will save the humans, and we will have our REVENGE!!" Goliath ordered growling with his eyes glowing brightly as he spoke.
-Hakon's camp later that night-
"You fools, she'd still be alive if you hadn't come!" the Magus angrily exclaimed.
"What's he talking about?" the olive-green web-winged gargoyle asked his friends.
Little Trixter just shrugged and gave his rookery brother an 'I don't know either' look.
"They would have ransomed us both! But you invaded their camp, and now…"
"What's all this? Where's the Princess?"
"Dead, and could I but wield a sword I would send you all to join her! But this will have to do instead…" Magus replied angrily. He then cast a magic spell on the gargoyles, trapping them in stone sleep until the castle rises above the clouds.
-1994 A.D. sunset, Manhattan-
One by one the gargoyles awoke from their long enforced slumber. Shortly after waking, Goliath enthusiastically greeted what was left of his clan announcing, "We are awake! We are alive! We're together again."
"Yah… Huh? Oh!"
"What's this?"
"Can't be…"
"Where are we?"
"You are the one called Goliath?" a strange human asked.
"Yes," Goliath replied cautiously.
"Excellent!"
-Later that night-
"A fine mess you made out of that kitchen lads. When I heard that crash I thought I'd…"
"Look, Goliath's talking to that human!"
The four gargoyles quickly decided to join their leader from separate directions. Upon arriving, Little Trixter sniffed the human and asked if she was a new friend. The human muttered that she hoped so. After that, Goliath introduced her to his clan.
The following night Goliath allowed the younger members of his clan to explore the city. Later that same night he also explored the city. Unlike his young charges however, he was being guided by Elisa Maza, the human he'd met the previous night.
-Third night in Manhattan, shortly after sunset-
Little Trixter was feeling worried, Goliath hadn't made it back before sunrise last night. The brown elder, who used to lead the clan, swiftly proceeded to reassure the youth and his brothers. A few moments later the young warrior sighted his leader gliding in and pointed him out to the others.
The younger gargoyles were a little bit surprised when Goliath called their elder 'Hudson.' Shortly after hearing this, Little Trixter suggested that maybe the rest of them should have names too.
"Oh, and what might those be?" their leader inquired.
Thinking for a moment, the red youth replied, "Um… Brooklyn, I'm Brooklyn!"
"Broadway."
"Lexington, do you like it?"
"They're all fine names," Goliath answered. Amused by all the fuss being made over names he supposed that they might as well give their watch beast a name too. Brooklyn responded enthusiastically to this and named the wingless blue gargoyle 'Bronx.'
Shortly after the younger gargoyles had finished naming themselves, Goliath was informed that Mr. Xanatos wanted to see him. When he returned, he wasn't alone. He had his 'Angel of the Night' with him. Brooklyn and the others were surprised and delighted to see her. Like Goliath, they thought she'd been shattered. She soon convinced Goliath and the rest of the clan to help Xanatos retrieve the disks he claimed had been stolen from him.
After being briefed by Xanatos, Goliath divided his clan into three groups, each going after a different disk. Brooklyn, Lexington, and Broadway are among the first to leave. The trio's group is also the first to return. Next are Hudson and Bronx, followed by Goliath and his love. Shortly after their arrival, Goliath leaves to see his human friend despite his Angel of the Night's objections. Upon returning to the castle, he finds his clan under attack by metal gargoyles. A mighty battle ensues. As the fight nears its end, Goliath learns that his love helped betray the castle and that she too has a name now…Demona. She tries to convince him to help her destroy all humanity for what had been done to their kind. He refuses to make war on an entire world and points out her own hand in the decimation of their clan. Demona declares Goliath her enemy and tries to kill him, only to be thwarted by Elisa.
-Near dawn same night-
Demona was gone and Xanatos had been arrested. Elisa and Hudson did their best to reassure Goliath that he did the right thing. Broadway wondered if there was enough time to eat something before sunrise, surprising Lexington as the larger gargoyle had already eaten a short time ago. Bronx brought Brooklyn a pair of sunglasses that the red gargoyle had dropped during the battle, but they fell apart when he tried to put them on. Just before the sun rose, Elisa suggested that she and Goliath catch a 'Giant's game' some time. The questioning look on his face when he turned toward her repeating "Giants?" was amusing and as the clan turned to stone for the day she wondered if the world was ready for them.
The End
(for now)