Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Gargoyles/Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles and all characters appearing in Doki Doki Literature Club are property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holders.
Gargoyles A New Clan – Episode Seven Eye of the Beholder
By Celgress
23rd Precinct Clock Tower October 31st, sunset
Captain Maria Chavez silently made her way up the stairs. She frowned while thinking of the latest precinct expense account bill. Her discretionary budget for the year was almost exhausted. Their gargoyle allies certainly ate a great deal of food.
"Greetings Captain Chavez. How are ye this fine evening?" Hudson asked when Captain Chavez emerged onto the rooftop.
"I'm doing well, yourself?" Captain Chavez said with a smile. Of all her unexpected guests she had the most in common with the old warrior. Both Chavez and Hudson were driven by a deep sense of duty.
"I cannot complain," Hudson said petting his ever-present companion Bronx.
"Have you heard about the 'winged beast'?" Captain Chavez asked.
"The creature from the news?" Hudson said.
"Yes, I was hoping you and the others could help us track it down, assuming it does indeed exist." Captain Chavez said.
"I promise we'll do our best, captain," Demisa said appearing with the others after finishing their nightly meal.
"But what about our plans for tonight?" Sayori pouted. "Tonight is Halloween, the only night we can walk the streets without suspicion."
Sayori and the other young gargoyles were already dressed in their costumes. Sayori was Snow White. Yuri a vampiress. Monika a witch (a choice Natsuki teased her about by saying "it suits you well, eh Monika?"). Natsuki and Lexington were the Dark Magician Girl and Yugi Moto. Broadway was a detective. Brooklyn a pirate.
"You kids go have fun. Goliath and I will find the 'winged beast'." Demisa said.
"Thanks, Demisa," Sayori said immediately brightening.
"Isn't that right, Big Guy?" Demisa said putting her arm around Goliath's shoulder an act that seemed to make him uncomfortable. He had been fighting off her seemingly constant advances for six weeks now.
"Quite," Goliath said shrugging off Demisa's casual embrace which raised more than a few eye ridges. He remained deeply confused and conflicted by Demisa's presence in their lives and why only he knew she was a lie.
Captain Chavez still found it hard to believe that one of her best detectives Elisa Maza had been fused with one of the gargoyles about six weeks ago (during the events of "The Mirror" according to Chavez's fabricated memories). The next night the fusion approached Chavez opening up a world of high strangeness. It would appear that Earth was a far more complicated place than Chavez ever suspected: gargoyles, Fae, magic, evil sci-fi type billionaires, the works.
"Hopefully you can locate the creature tonight if it exists." Captain Chavez said.
"We shall do our best, Captain Chavez," Goliath assured her with a slight bow.
Streets of Manhattan that evening, several hours later
The young gargoyles received countless compliments on how "realistic" their costumes were. Everyone thought they were supposed to be "demons" of some sort dressed as humans for Halloween. No one suspected their clothing was their true costumes.
Everyone was having a ball especially Monika. She enjoyed the attention lavished upon her by young mean (and a few older ones) at the block party. As the night wore on, the ivory female's behavior towards her admirers went from playful teasing to highly sexually suggestive posturing. She rubbed up against many an admirer until she settled on a young Hispanic man dressed as a biker. Monika gave him a fiery kiss then ran her hands through his curly black hair. She was about to go somewhere more private with him when Natsuki spotted the pair. Natsuki excused herself to Lexington and a group of like-minded sci-fi fans they were mingling with.
"Hey Romeo, I need a moment alone with my sister. I'll give her back in a sec." Natsuki said.
"Okay," The biker said reluctantly parting from Monika.
Natsuki grabbed Monika by her arm pulling her away until they were off by themselves.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Natsuki said.
"Having fun, is that a crime?" Monika hissed.
"No, but killing a guy is," Natsuki said.
"Believe me I don't want to hurt him. He's magnificent." Monika said glancing back with longing at her catch. She licked her lips at the thought of getting to know the attractive young man better.
"You might not want to hurt him but in the throes of passion, you'll lose control. You'll probably break every bone in his body if you're lucky." Natsuki said.
"I'd never do that." Monika protested.
"Not intentionally," Natsuki said.
Monika carefully considered Natsuki's words for a minute then sighed. "I guess you're right. I'll let him down gently." Monika said feeling and looking deflated. "It isn't fair. You guys each have somebody. I'm all alone, just like before. Maybe I'm destined to be lonely forever."
Monika's words surprised Natsuki who temporarily did not what to say in return. "Monika, I'm sorry you're alone but I'm sure someday you'll find somebody special who'll by yours." Natsuki finally said even though she knew it sounded cliched and lame.
"You don't know that, Natsuki. How many other gargoyles can there be in this world and how many of those are unattached young males?" Monika snapped but then added with another shorter sigh. "But thanks for trying to cheer me up." Acting on instinct, Natsuki gave Monika a quick hug. "What was that for?"
"I thought you could use a hug. Don't ever tell the others, they'll think I'm going soft or something. I have a reputation to main you know." Natsuki said adopting her usual tough girl demeanor.
"It'll stay between us," Monika assured Natsuki while fight back a smile.
A Nearby Rooftop
Goliath, Demisa, and an exosuit enclosed Xanatos were engaged in an intense battle with the "winged beast" a massive red-haired creature (bigger than Goliath) that resembled a monstrous bat-winged werewolf! Xanatos had dared not wear his Thailog form after being advised by Owen that doing so might react badly with the "winged beast" should he tough her. Mixing magical energies was never advisable.
Just when the trio was making some progress in their battle, the roof access door burst open. Onto the rooftop poured dozens if not hundreds of snarling werewolves of various hues! They were smaller than the "winged-beast" but no less vicious. They galloped at the trio and soon threatened to engulf them. These poor souls had been infected by bites or scratches from the "winged beasts" over the course of the past week. Everyone knew time was running out decisive action was required.
Demisa who happened to be the closest grabbed the blue gemstone held around the creature's wide neck by a thick gold chain. Mustering her own considerable strength against her violently struggling target, Demisa pulled as hard as she could her eyes a solid red. Meanwhile, a white-eyed Goliath and Xanatos fended off the horde. At last, the gemstone broke fear.
A massive amount of magical energy was released in a blinding flash of blue-white light. The werewolves, Goliath, and Xanatos were tossed about like dry leaves in an autumn gale the werewolves reverting to their original human forms before passing out. When the light diminished the "winged beast" slowly and painfully revert to Fox! On either side of the unconscious naked young woman lay Elisa Maza and Demona who were likewise unconscious. Unlike Fox, the other two ladies were fully clothed in their regular attires.
Offering a silent prayer of thanks to the Dragon, Goliath now back on his feet wobbled over to pick up Elisa. Xanatos scooped up Fox followed by the rapidly cooling gemstone. Xanatos was about to depart when Goliath snatched the gemstone away from him.
"A deal is a deal," Goliath said mimicking the billionaire's words from earlier that night. "The Eye of Odin stays with us."
"Fair enough," Xanatos said with a wry smile. "But you can't fault me for trying, can you Goliath." Goliath did not respond. Xantos looked down at Demona. "What about our mutual friend here?"
Before they could decide what to do about the restored Demona she woke up. Shaking the cobwebs from her head, Demona slowly regained her footing. For a moment she appeared to be confused, but once she noticed who stood around her Demona grimaced.
"Demona we should talk," Goliath said. Demona stared at him, then at Elisa cradled in his arms, and finally at the grinning Xanatos and Fox for a time before she turned away and flew off without saying a word.
"Fascinating," Xanatos said. "While normally I would love to learn what that was all about and why we thought Demona and Elisa were a gargoyle named 'Demisa', Fox requires medical care, perhaps some other time." Xanatos fired up his jet pack then followed Demona's lead.
Mansion of Dominique Destine several hours later, near dawn
Demona was furious. She rampaged around one of the rooms of her enormous residence tearing apart everything in her path for hours on end. She did not care these were just things they could be replaced, unlike her lost dignity.
"How dare Puck put a spell on me without my consent! How dare those witches join me with any human much less Elisa Maza! They will all pay!" Demona raged.
Demona jumped up pulling down the massive chandelier that illuminated the room. The chandelier landed on top of Demona who failed to pull away in time pinning her to the floor. One of the curved light tubes broke off impaling her through the stomach. In terrible pain, she pulled it free after extracting herself from the wreckage. Demona watched in horror as the wound failed to heal in short order as such life-threatening wounds always did. Blood gushed everywhere. Her vision blurred. A terrible notion dawned on Demona before she passed out from blood loss: she was no longer immortal!
Luckily for Demona dawn arrived freezing her in revitalizing stone sleep otherwise she may very well have died. Demona's last conscious thoughts were that she had limited time now to implement her master plan. The humans must perish or her kind would. While she did not want to harm her former clan if they got in her way she would. They were woefully naive especially the four young adopted females. What she was about to do was for their own good, why couldn't they see that? Operation "City of Stone" was the last best hope for Gargoyle Kind and Demona vowed she would see it become a reality no matter the cost.
23rd Precinct Clock Tower near dawn, several hours later
"So, you were fused with Demona by a trio of scary Fae witches for an entire month?" Sayori asked Elisa her eyes wide.
"Yeah, I was," Elisa said unsure how to process her latest adventure.
"How strange," Yuri said. "And none of us were any the wiser. The ability of magic to alter reality and our perception of that reality is truly impressive and concerning." She could not help but steal a glance at Monika remembering what the other former human did to them in the game world and how eerily similar it was to this latest occurrence.
"I wonder if we're done with the Fae?" Brooklyn said.
"I hope so," Broadway said.
"Yeah me too," Lexington said. "Give me advanced technology any day, at least I can understand tech."
"I fear they are not finished with us," Goliath said clasping the Eye of Odin in his left hand.
"Umm, speaking of which. Should we really keep that thing around us?" Monika said gesturing at the Eye of Odin. "Having it here is like painting a target on our backs for any marauding magical beings."
"The lass makes a good point," Hudson said.
"Captain Chavez, could you please place the Eye of Odin in the secure off the record evidence vault where we're storing the Phoenix Gate and Grimorum Arcanorum?" Elisa asked.
"I think that would be best." Captain Chavez said accepting the gemstone from Goliath. After exchanging a few more words Chavez left along with Elisa. Goliath and Elisa knew they had much to discuss but that could wait for another night neither was ready for the hard talk that was to come.
The sky was rapidly lightening. It was time for the gargoyles to assume their daily positions. Halloween had ended for another year. "You know, I wish we shared a Halloween adventure. Goliath and Elisa will never forget this night. Sure, hanging out with humans our own age was fun and all but we didn't do anything truly memorable." Brooklyn said to Yuri who was perched to his right.
"How about I remedy that deficiency?" Yuri said. She reached out gently taking Brooklyn's face in her hands. the violet female who resembled a small dragon used her stout to place a somewhat awkward kiss on Brooklen's beak. Brooklyn was surprised by this but quickly accepted Yuri's advance eagerly kissing her back. They tongue wrestled until Natsuki interrupted.
"Way to make the first move Yuri. You go girl!" Natsuki cheered while the other young gargoyles laughed at her enthusiasm except for Monika who glared at the pair before her expansion became neutral.
'It is what it is.' Monika thought with acceptance. 'I'll always be alone but that's no reason I can't be happy for my sisters. I don't want to fall into the same trap I did before.'
The pair pulled away from each other. Yuri blushed a deep purple while Brooklyn struggled not to make eye contact with her or anyone else. "Um, sorry, if I overstepped my boundaries, Brooklyn." Yuri stammered.
"No, no need to apologize, Yuri. I enjoyed it. I hope we can do it again sometime. You're very beautiful." Brooklyn said once again looking at Yuri.
"And you're very handsome," Yuri said regaining some of her fragile confidence.
"Want to go see a movie together or something, just you and me?" Brooklyn asked.
"Like a date?" Yuri squeaked.
"Yeah," Brooklyn said looking away again.
"Of course Yuri will go on a date with you Brooklyn," Natsuki said. "Jeez, if I left it to you two we'd still be here next Halloween." The other young gargoyles again laughed as the sun froze them in stone for the day.
To Be Continued