Note from the Author of the Insane: I've decided to completely skip The Silver Falcon. I just couldn't figure out a way to integrate Willow successfully into that chapter, though I do plan to make up for the lack of a chapter with another original one. I hope that gets me off people's poop lists.
As always, ENJOY!
…
On October 1st around 2pm in the afternoon, Willow's phone began blaring Waiting for Superman loudly. Now, for any normal teenage girl, this would be a normal occurrence. However, Willow was far from normal. To her, having her phone go off at 2pm was the equivalent of being woken up in the middle of the night.
Despite the earliness of the day, Willow rolled over in her bed, fumbling around on her small nightstand for her phone. Most people in her position would ignore the call, but only Elisa had her number, and if she was calling, it must be important.
Finally finding her phone, she answered the call, flopping back onto her pillow.
"Elisa, do you realize how early it is?" she asked groggily. "Sunset's not for another 4 hours…"
"I'm very well aware of the time." A voice that was most definitely NOT Elisa's responded.
Willow's eyes flew open and she was now very much awake. Sitting up in bed, she snarled into the phone.
"Xanatos… How did you get my number?"
"You used the credit card I gave you to buy it didn't you?" Xanatos responded. "That, and I am still paying your phone bill. It wasn't too hard to get your number."
"Well, if this is some sort of scheme to try and track my location, don't bother." Willow snapped. "Lexington Gerry-rigged my phone so it can't be located via GPS."
"I assure you that is not my intention. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I would like to meet you for an early dinner, if you're willing."
"Let me think…" she told him, feigning indecision. "Umm, no."
Xanatos chuckled slightly.
"I knew you would say that." He told her. "But I swear, I only want to talk."
"Oh. You just want to talk. That changes EVERYTHING." Willow replied, every word practically coated in sarcasm.
"Please Willow." He begged. "I just want to talk."
Something in Xanatos' voice gave Willow pause. He sounded sincere.
"I swear to you, all I want it to talk to you in person." He told her. "No gargoyles, no steel clan, no ulterior motive."
Willow thought for a minute. Xanatos didn't know about her new ability yet, meaning that if he was planning something, she had the element of surprise. More than that, he honestly sounded like he just wanted to talk. Taking a deep breath, she sighed.
"You remember that Japanese steak house I took you to after you got your driver's license?" Xanatos asked.
"The one with the onion volcanos I like?" she replied.
"Yes." He answered. "I'll meet you there, 5:00 tonight."
"An hour before sunset." Willow mused
"Meaning that if you don't return home before 6pm, the gargoyle will know something is amiss." He told her. "If you wish, you can leave them a note or something, telling them exactly what's going on."
"Alright, I will see you then." She concluded.
Willow hung up the phone and stared at it, wondering if she had made the right choice, or if she had just gift wrapped herself for Xanatos.
…
Xanatos sat a one of the reserved tables of Momoya's Steakhouse, watching the front door like a hawk. Looking down at his watch, he watched the hands move from 4:59 to 5:00. As he looked up, the front door opened, and Willow walked in. Xanatos smiled, pulling his sleeve back over his watch and waiting for the server to bring her to the table.
"I'm so glad you could make it." He told her as she sat down.
Willow didn't say a word, simply looking around. As she did, she noticed that the table they were at was set for three.
"I thought you wanted to talk." She said. "I didn't know that you were bringing company."
"The news I have to share requires more than one party." He supplied.
Willow raised a suspicious eyebrow, a spark of green energy temporarily illuminating her eye. Xanatos saw this but brushed it off as a trick of the light.
"So, where's our third guest?" she asked.
"Right here." A female voice responded.
Willow stiffened, her blood running cold as she slowly turned around. Looking up, she saw none other than Fox, the former leader of the Pack. She was standing behind Willow, wearing a fancy red evening gown, a fur jacket, and that notorious blue fox tattoo over her eye.
"Nice to see you again." Fox said with a smile.
Willow's fists clenched, and she forced herself to stay calm rather than Gargoyle Up. She couldn't transform in a public place like this. Perhaps she hadn't thought this all the way through. Fox sat down at the empty seat, turning to Willow with a kind smile.
"I'm glad to see you're doing alright." She said. "Your leg seems to have healed without any problems."
Willow's leg began to tingle as she remembered when she had first encountered Fox and the Pack. Fox had held her at gunpoint trying to escape from Goliath, dragging her on her leg that had been broken earlier in their encounter. Even though it had been almost a full year since that day, Willow's leg still felt weak whenever she thought about the incident, or Fox.
"You seem a bit flustered." Xanatos commented. "Are you alright?"
Willow snapped out of her little reverie, facing Xanatos.
"I'm sitting at the same table as the man who lied to me and tried to kill my friends on multiple occasions, as well as the woman who not only aided him, but nearly succeeded in killing me." She snarled.
Fox gave Willow an apologetic look.
"Willow, I understand that you don't trust me or David, but we only wanted you here so we could tell you our big news in person." She told her.
"We felt you deserved to learn this from us rather than from the gargoyles or from a magazine." Xanatos added.
Now Willow was confused. That is, until Xanatos took Fox's hand in a romantic manner.
"Willow, I asked Fox to marry me." Xanatos explained.
"And I said yes." Fox concluded.
Willow's mind went blank.
"What?" she said after a minute, her voice unnaturally quiet.
"We're genetically compatible, highly intelligent, and have the same goals." Xanatos told her. "And I do believe we love each other, as much as two people like ourselves are capable of that emotion."
Willow's brain was working overtime trying to process this sudden information. As if on instinct, her eyes went straight to Fox's left hand, and was surprised to see no kind of ring on her finger at all. However, what she saw next sent her mind reeling back once more.
Around Fox's neck, formerly hidden by the fur coat she had worn, was one of Xanatos' most prize jewels, the Eye of Odin. Having spent nearly four years living in the Eyrie Building with Xanatos, she knew how much he cared about his collection. For him to just give the treasure away to just anybody was beyond absurd.
Following her gaze, Fox gently caressed the jewel.
"David's engagement gift." Fox said. "Do you like it?"
Willow could barely form coherent thoughts, much less form sentences. After a minute, she took a deep breath, and finally said something.
"Why tell me like this?" she asked.
"We both figured you had the right to know who your adoptive mother was gonna be." Xanatos explained.
Mother…
With that, Willow flew from her seat, stumbling out the door, her mind a torrent of thoughts and emotions. She left the restaurant, leaving Xanatos and Fox alone at the table.
"That went better than I expected." Xanatos commented. "I half expected her to accuse me of some sinister plot."
"She just needs some time to come to terms with the news." Fox replied. "She'll be fine."
"You're right." Xanatos agreed. "For now, let us enjoy our dinner."
The two called the waiter over to begin their meal.
…
On October 30th, Elisa was walking out of Spirit Halloween, four large garment bags in her arms. As she placed the bags in the passenger seat of her car, she heard the sound of broken glass. She looked over at Wilkin's Grocery across the street and was surprised to see what appeared to be the silhouette of a large animal of some sort. Drawing her pistol, Elisa made her way across the street as the store's door flew open, Mr. Wilkin's running away as fast as he could.
Elisa watched him run, then turned back to the store, peering into the darkness. Near the back of the store, she could hear animalistic snarling, as well as the rattling of cans and other groceries. Elisa took a deep breath, then slowly waked into the store, careful to avoid the minefield of fallen groceries. The noises got louder and louder until Elisa was certain she was close to whatever was in the store.
Steeling herself and readying her gun, Elisa turned the corner and gasped at what she saw. A large creature that she could only describe as some sort of werewolf was kneeling on the ground, its large jaws tearing away as what looked like Mr. Wilkin's display of whole chickens. Its fur was bright red, save for a strange blue patch over the thing's left eye. A metallic glint around the thing's neck revealed a sort of necklace, almost like a medallion of some sorts. It heard Elisa's gasp, looking up from its meal to glare at the woman.
"Jalapeña…" Elisa swore.
The thing snarled loudly at her, then made to charge. However, rather than tackling her, it leapt over her, making its way towards the front door.
"Oh no you don't." Elisa let out.
Elisa spun on her heels, going after the creature. As she turned to corner though, a large furred arm clothes lined her, sending her falling to the ground. Said claw then swiped at her, knocking the gun from her hand. Elisa rolled across the floor, barely avoiding getting skewered by deadly claws and smacking right into a large pallet of flour sacks. The creature grabbed Elisa by her jacket as Elisa grabbed one of the sacks of flour. Thinking fast, she smashed the sack into the thing's face with an explosion of white powder.
As the creature wiped the flour from its face, Elisa slipped out of its grasp, scrambling for her gun. Just as she managed to find it, the creature fled out the store's window. Elisa ran to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse at the thing, but it had mysteriously vanished. Holstering her weapon, Elisa brushed the flour from her hair and grimaced.
"The press is gonna have a field day with this one…" she muttered.
…
It didn't take long for reinforcements, as well as at least seven different media vans, to arrive at the scene. Elisa finished up giving her statement to the chief over the phone as Matt came walking over.
"Happy Halloween." He told her.
Elisa snorted.
"Feels like I'm in some bad Halloween movie." She commented. "That thing's been making a mess of Manhattan all month."
"I know…" Matt replied, leading her over to her car. "Trick or Treating came early for the big apple."
As they walked, Elisa could hear the different reporters giving their reports on the story, each one crazier and more elaborate than the last.
"I just wish we knew what this thing was…" she muttered as she started her car.
…
Xanatos sat at his desk, the news playing on his tablet in front of him. His face was set in a mixture of his usual grimace and worry.
"The creature was first sighted on October 4th. Since then, the frequency of these attacks has increased dramatically-"
Xanatos closed the news app, knitting his fingers together. Seeing Xanatos in a state he had never witnessed the man in, Owen walked over.
"Is everything alright sir?" he asked.
"No Owen." Xanatos answered honestly. "Something is very wrong…"
As he said this, the office door opened and in stumbled Fox. She looked a bit worse for wear, her hair a ratty mess and large bags under her eyes. She clung to a large brown trench coat, shivering as if she was cold, and judging from her bare feet, she wasn't wearing anything aside from the coat.
"Ms. Fox." Owen called out. "Are you ill?"
"No…" she insisted, her voice a bit weak. "I was just… taking a walk."
She stumbled a bit, catching herself on the wall. As she did, the top of her coat partially opened, showing the golden chain holding the Eye of Odin around her neck.
"I see you are still wearing Mr. Xanatos' engagement gift." Owen commented.
"Of course." Fox replied, tightening her grip on her coat. "I never take it off."
Owen went over to her and offered her a hand.
"You appear to be coming down with something." He said, gently taking Fox's arm. "Let me help you get to bed."
Fox allowed Owen to lead her out of the office as Xanatos ran his fingers through his long hair.
"I need to act quickly…" he let out. "I need a plan…"
…
Halloween night came, and all through the streets of Manhattan, little children were running around in amazing costumes, arms laden with bulging sacks of candy. Far above them in the police station's clock tower, the Manhattan clan began to rouse from their slumber, their stone skin cracking loudly. Soon, all six of them were howling and stretching.
"About time you guys woke up." Willow called as she ran onto the balcony. "Come on! I finished the last of the alterations on the costumes."
The trio all grinned, running inside.
"I can't believe we're finally doing this!" Lexington exclaimed. "Halloween is gonna be so much fun."
"I'm just glad to see Willow not shuffling around like a zombie." Brooklyn commented.
"Yeah." Broadway agreed. "Ever since Xanatos told her about the you-know-what, she's been acting out of sorts."
"Not tonight." Willow replied, bringing over the four garment bags that Elisa had been gathering the night before. "It's Halloween night, the one night you guys can walk amongst everybody without fear. I refuse to let Xanatos' marriage to Fox, which I still think is some sort of plan on a least one, if not both, of their parts, ruin that."
Brooklyn smirked as Willow went through the garment bags.
"Alright." She began, holding one of the bags out. "One WWI fighter pilot costume for Lexington."
Lexington took the costume with a large grin of anticipation on his face.
"One Crime Noir detective costume for Broadway." She continued, holding out the second bag.
Broadway snagged his costume, already pulling it from the bag to pull it on.
"And two pirate costumes for you and me Brooklyn." She concluded, holding up the final bags.
Brooklyn took his costume, sharing a grin with Willow.
"We're gonna win that couple's costume party at the block party tonight no sweat." He declared.
Willow took her costume out of the bag with a nod.
"You betcha." She replied. "Now wait here while I go and change."
Willow ducked behind the curtain to her room just as Elisa made her way up to the clock tower. Upon seeing her, Goliath couldn't help a smile forming on his face.
"It is good to see you Elisa." He told her.
"Wish I was here to share in your reverie." She replied. "You got a minute?"
Goliath gently ushered Elisa onto the balcony, closing the door behind them. Once they were alone, Elisa wasted no time explaining what had happened the other night with the werewolf. With each word, Goliath's non-existent eyebrows furrowed.
"A creature like the one you are describing is not one to be trifled with." He said, gently running his claws through Elisa's hair. "You could have been hurt."
"It's a risk that all police officers accept when they take the oath." Elisa told him, placing her hand on top of Goliath's. "The same risk you and your clan take whenever you defend the city."
"I should have been there with you." He insisted.
"You can't change what's already happened, but it's nice to know somebody cares." She told him.
…
Back at the Eyrie Building, Fox clutched the Eye of Odin in her hand, her face full of terror. She looked up at the night sky, the light of the full moon reflecting in her eyes. She was so distracted that she didn't hear the door open behind her.
"Fox." Xanatos called out.
She turned sharply, sweat pouring from her forehead.
"I'd like to borrow the Eye for a little bit." He requested, walking towards her. "I wish to get it engraved."
"N-no." Fox replied, the wind from the open window whipping her hair about wildly. "I-I can't bear to part with it."
"I'm afraid I'll have to insist." Xanatos pressed.
Fox turned away from Xanatos, her teeth clenched in pain and her eyes screwed shut. As Xanatos gently grabbed her shoulder, Fox let out an inhumane snarl, turning to Xanatos with glowing yellow eyes. She grabbed Xanatos' arm, her own arm sprouting bright orange hairs that began to travel up towards her face. Xanatos pulled his arm free, his eyes wide with fear and horror. His eyes locked onto the Eye of Odin, which was glowing an ominous red.
"No…" he gasped.
Fox let out a loud howl as she fully transformed into the large creature that had been terrorizing the city for a month. She ripped off the trench coat she had been wearing, then stalked towards Xanatos like her namesake hunting a rabbit. Xanatos stumbled back at the sight, his shaking hand reaching into his jacket pocket.
"I had hoped that I wouldn't have to use this." He muttered.
He pulled a small gun from his pocket, aiming it straight at the were-fox. He let of a shot, sending a large dart through the air, striking the were-fox's shoulder. It snarled in anger, pulling the dart free and crushing it. The were-fox then swiped at Xanatos, knocking the gun from his hand, then picking him up into a painful bear hug.
Xanatos kicked and struggled, fighting to breathe as his ribs were crushed in the grip on the were-fox. Luckily, Owen had heard the commotion and came barreling into the room. He let off a shot, hitting the were-fox in the back with yet another dart. It dropped Xanatos to the ground, swiping at its back to try and dislodge the dart. Xanatos struggled to his feet, holding his sides painfully.
The creature continued its futile grabs at the dart as Owen slammed and barred the doors out of the room. Xanatos then steeled himself, grabbing a large set of curtains from the window and tossing it over the creature. With the thing fighting to free itself from the curtain, Owen and Xanatos attempted to bring it down. The creature's claws quickly tore that plan, as well as the curtain, to shreds, sending both men flying.
Now even more furious, the were-fox barreled towards the doors, smashing them to splinters. Without a second's hesitation, it approached the elevators, strong claws pulling the doors apart and allowing it to climb down the elevator cables. Xanatos watched her go as Owen approached.
"Call security." Xanatos coughed, leaning against the wall. "Catch her at any cost, but don't kill her."
The were-fox continued its descent but was interrupted by a set of elevator doors opening, revealing an entire platoon of Xanatos' guards. The were-fox snarled angrily, causing all the guards to take tentative steps back. The were-fox made short work of the guards, then continued its trek out of the Eyrie building and into the city.
…
Later in Xanatos' office, a medic was wrapping bandages around Xanatos' waist as Owen came in.
"Did you find her?" Xanatos asked, a note of desperation in his voice.
"I'm afraid not yet, sir." Owen replied. "However, I can tell you that the tracking dart is working quite well, and I have a full analysis of Ms. Fox's vital signs."
"What can you tell me?" he questioned.
Owen turned on the office's TV, bringing up a chart of Fox's vitals, as well as a map location.
"Her metabolism is working at a phenomenally accelerated rate." Owen explained. "That could be the reason why she was frequently seen attacking grocery stores and butcher shops when in this form."
"She was trying to maintain energy." Xanatos surmised.
"However, even if she keeps doing that, her body will eventually burn herself out." Owen lamented.
Xanatos felt a lump of cold fear settle in his stomach. Dismissing the medic, Xanatos turned to Owen.
"How long does she have?" he asked, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.
"By my calculations, if we don't find a way to retrieve the Eye of Odin from her before sunrise…" He trailed off slightly before looking at Xanatos sadly. "Then we will be too late."
Xanatos put his head in his hands, fighting to keep his emotions in check. He had never felt such overwhelming fear, save for when Owen had informed him that Willow had been shot.
"I should have known better than to write the old legends off as mere superstition…" he muttered.
Owen approached the desk cautiously.
"What are your orders, sir?" he asked.
Xanatos sat up. His gaze hardening as he stood up, pulling out his cellphone.
"Ready the exo-suit." He told him. "It's time for plan B."
…
"Come on Willow!" Brooklyn called from the living room of the clock tower. "Broadway and Lexington are already down at the block party!"
"Just give me a sec!" Willow called from behind her curtain. "I'll be out real soon."
Brooklyn was already dressed in his pirate costume, complete with a bandana, eye patch, and even a plastic sword attached to his belt. Goliath leaned against the wall of the tower, also waiting for Willow. As promised, she soon emerged from her room dressed in a pirate outfit almost identical to Brooklyn's, only hers was blue where his was red. Hers also came with a skirt rather than ratty pants.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Brooklyn let out a whistle as Goliath cracked a smile.
"Your costume fits you well, Willow." Goliath complimented.
"Thanks Goliath." She grinned. "Now all I need is the final touch."
Closing her eyes, Willow began to spark with green energy, her entire form glowing so bright she illuminated the room. When the glow died, Willow was in full gargoyle form, her costume having also transformed to fit her new body.
"Now we're talking." Brooklyn hooted, hugging Willow.
"No matter how many times I do that, I don't think the excitement will ever wear off." Willow commented.
About that time, Elisa walked from the balcony into the tower, stowing her cellphone into her pocket. From the look on her face, something had happened. Goliath approached her first, Willow and Brooklyn right behind him.
"What is it Elisa?" Goliath questioned.
"I just got an anonymous tip on where to find that…" she paused, unable to think of a good word to describe the thing. "Whatever it was that attacked me."
Goliath's eyes narrowed as Brooklyn and Willow both shared a glance.
"The block party can wait." Willow declared. "Let's go catch that thing."
…
Across town, Xanatos was flying through the night sky in his exo-suit, Fox's vital readout and GPS location on the screen in front of his face.
"The signal's getting stronger, Owen." Xanatos said over the live channel he had open. "She's not far."
Xanatos began closing in on the signal, not even mildly surprised to see the Were-fox making tracks towards a large meat depot. The were-fox tore the metal door off its hinges, making its way inside as Xanatos landed.
Armed with a large tranq gun, Xanatos slowly entered the depot, scanning the darkened building with night vision. He search each row of preserved meat, following the sounds of animalistic chewing and snarling. Soon, he found the were-fox once more, its face right in the middle of a half-eaten whole pig.
"Found you." He let out.
The were-fox snarled loudly, leaping into the air and tackling Xanatos before he could even think to let off a shot. Its jaws sank into the metal of Xanatos' head piece, sparks flying like fireworks. Forcing the barrel of his tranq gun right into the were-fox's stomach, he let off a shot, but the creature didn't even seem fazed by it. It tore the head from the exo-suit, just barely avoiding taking Xanatos' with it.
Xanatos tried to free himself, only for the were-fox to tear through the front of the exo-suit in search of fresh meat. Seeing no other option, Xanatos closed his eyes and went limp, playing dead. The were-fox snarled loudly, as if angered at the loss of its prey. However, when the howl subsided, the were-fox's eyes lost their inhumane glow, revealing the real Fox's bright blue eyes which were misty with sadness.
The regain of Fox's senses was a fleeting moment as the Eye of Odin sparked red once more, returning Fox to her wild were-fox self. It threw Xanatos to the ground and ran off in search of new prey. Once it was gone, Xanatos opened his eye, watching her run with a pained expression.
"Oh Fox, what have I done to you?" he questioned.
Outside of the meat depot, the were-fox jumped from a window, landing in the loading dock below. There, it began panting heavily, acting as if it had just run a marathon. As it stood there, three silhouettes appeared in the sky. Looking up, the were-fox howled in anger as Goliath, Elisa in arm, landed a kick right in the Were-fox's face. The were-fox went stumbling back as Willow and Brooklyn landed on either side of Goliath.
"That's the creature." Elisa said as Goliath set her down.
"Then your tip wasn't far off." Brooklyn replied.
As he did, the were-fox pulled itself to its feet, snarling at the four interlopers. On instinct, Goliath ushered Elisa to safety as it began stalking closer. Goliath drew its attention, matching the were-fox's predatory motions as Brooklyn and Willow closed in slowly. As expected, the were-fox jumped at Goliath, but was met by a well-placed upper cut. It went flying back, right into Brooklyn's tail, then into a kick from Willow.
With each blow, the were-fox grew angrier, especially when its attempts to attack one gargoyle were met with subsequent blows from the others. In its anger, it managed to grab ahold of Goliath, claws and teeth attempting to tear the large gargoyle apart. Not wanting that to happen, Brooklyn and Willow leapt onto the creature hoping to pull it off their leader.
Not wanting to be left out of the action, Elisa drew her gun, attempting to level a shot, but with the three gargoyles in the way and the were-fox's constant thrashing, she wasn't able to get a clear shot. Finally, Willow manage to get a solid grip on one of the Were-fox's arms while Brooklyn grabbed the other. In almost perfect unison, they yanked the were-fox off Goliath, sending it flying into one of the large metal doors of the loading dock. It landed with a loud bang, then slid to the ground, seemingly unconscious.
"That was way too close." Brooklyn said as he brushed red fur from his clothes.
"What is this thing?" Goliath asked.
Willow looked closer at the beast and gasped.
"No way…" she let out.
Before anyone could ask what was wrong, Xanatos came into the scene, his exo-suit sparking and only barely working. Without hesitation, Elisa aimed her gun right at the man.
"Xanatos…" she practically growled. "What are you doing here?"
"This is a private affair, Detective." Xanatos replied, approaching the were-fox. "I would appreciate it if you don't interfere."
Brooklyn stepped forward, barring the man's path.
"Is this another one of your mutated victims, like Maggie?" he demanded.
"She is not a mutant, that I can assure you." He informed the gargoyle.
Willow then turned to him, a look of anger on her face.
"Don't lie, Xanatos!" she snarled. "This has your handiwork written all over it."
Xanatos stared at Willow, his brain trying to figure out who this new gargoyle was. However, the second she opened her mouth, Xanatos' eyes widened.
"Willow?" he questioned. "Is that you? How did you-?"
"Don't change the subject!" Willow demanded. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't recognize this?!"
Willow went to grab the Eye of Odin from around the were-fox's neck. The second her skin touched the jewel though, red electricity coursed through her. She screamed in agony as Brooklyn and Xanatos both pulled her away from the were-fox. Willow held her hand, wincing in pain as the last of the red electricity faded. Goliath and Elisa both ran to her side.
"Are you alright?" Elisa asked.
Willow then went wide eyed, pointing behind them.
"LOOK OUT!" she shrieked.
Goliath spun around just in time to see the were-fox back on its feet and launching itself at the group. Goliath intercepted the creature, catching it in a headlock to try and subdue it peacefully.
"You need not fight us!" he tried to explain.
"If Xanatos is your enemy, then trust me, we are not!" Brooklyn added, trying to catch the creature's thrashing claws.
The were-fox kicked at Brooklyn, sending the red gargoyle flying into a stack of boxes, then flipped Goliath over its shoulder before taking off down the darkened alley.
"Wait!" Elisa called out futilely.
The creature only howled at it went farther and farther into the alley before disappearing all together. Xanatos prepared to pursue, but Willow quickly grabbed his metal arm as Elisa aimed her gun at him.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Elisa demanded.
"As I said before, this is a personal matter, one that requires my immediate attention." Xanatos insisted. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
Xanatos activated his suit's rockets, forcing Willow to let go or risk getting burned. He took off into the sky, four sets of eyes watching him leave.
"What do you think that creature was?" Brooklyn asked. "Do you think it was like Maggie?"
"Or like Derek?" Elisa added.
"I think that was Fox." Willow replied.
Everyone turned to her in surprise.
"What makes you think that, Willow?" Goliath asked.
"The creature had the same eye tattoo as Fox." She explained. "More than that, its general shape was that of a fox. And if that's not enough, the thing was wearing the Eye of Odin, which Xanatos gave to her as an engagement gift."
Goliath rubbed his chin in thought.
"I think it's time for us to get some answers." He declared.
Scooping up Elisa, Goliath took off into the sky, followed closely by Willow and Brooklyn.
…
Xanatos landed on the top of the Eyrie building, where he was greeted by Owen. When he saw the state of the exo-suit, Owen seemed to shake his head.
"It would appear that Plan B was unsuccessful." He commented as he helped to pull the suit off Xanatos.
"Unfortunately." Xanatos mused. "However, Plan C is currently in motion. Goliath and his clan will find Fox, hoping to get to her before me. I have no doubt that they will take the Eye from her after what it did to Willow."
"They brought along Willow on this hunt?" Owen asked. "I thought she was still without some form of weaponry."
"It appears that she has somehow gained the ability to turn into a gargoyle at will." Xanatos commented. "Any theories on how that could have come to pass?"
Owen suddenly pointed up towards the sky.
"Perhaps you can ask her yourself." He told his boss.
Looking up, Xanatos watched as Goliath, Brooklyn, and Willow all landed right in front of him.
"If you think you can manipulate us that easily, you are sadly mistaken." Goliath snarled as he set Elisa down next to him.
"I hope you have a Plan D." Brooklyn remarked.
Xanatos looked at the four intruders, all of them giving him the most hostile of glares. Willow stepped forward, walking right up to Xanatos and poking him in the chest.
"I knew you had some sort of ulterior motive for this farce of an engagement to Fox." She growled. "You just wanted to use her, just like you use everybody around you. The world is nothing but pawns to you."
She turned away from him.
"Well not anymore." She snarled.
Willow's words stung harder than Xanatos would have thought. He watched as she, as well as the rest of her group, went to leave before quickly calling out to them.
"Wait." He begged.
Something in his voice made the group pause. They all turned back to Xanatos, who had a look of pure defeat on his face.
"This situation…" he let out, looking down. "This is beyond my control. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I can't."
Never having heard her adoptive father admit defeat over anything, Willow found herself giving Xanatos her undivided attention.
"As you have no doubt already figured out, that creature…" he choked on his words, unfamiliar emotion making it difficult to speak. "That Were-fox…"
"It's Fox, we know." Willow interrupted. "What did you do to her?"
"For once, I am not to blame, though I understand if you do not believe me." He answered. "The Eye of Odin is a legendary jewel, said to be the actual eye of the Norse God Odin, transformed into a powerful talisman by the Dark Elves."
"Oberon's children…" Goliath mused.
"The legends said that the Eye had the power to endow the wearer with power and insight." Xanatos went on. "Though it is also said to bring out a person's innermost self. If I had known its capabilities-"
"You would have used it on yourself." Willow interrupted again. "But you needed to test it first."
"No!" Xanatos shouted almost desperately. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I believed the Eye to be nothing more than a piece of jewelry, albeit, a priceless piece of jewelry. If I had known it was that dangerous, I would never have given it to her."
Willow was taken aback by this. The way Xanatos was acting, the pleading look in his eye and the desperation in his voice, he was acting the same way Brooklyn got when she was in trouble, or how Goliath would act when Elisa was in danger.
"Willow, Goliath, please…" he begged desperately. "I need your help."
That was when Brooklyn stalked over, taking Willow's arm.
"We're not some pawns you can manipulate into doing your will, Xanatos." He snapped.
"Exactly." Elisa added, stepping forward. "You couldn't tell the truth if your life depended on it!"
"It's not my life that's on the line." Xanatos replied, though his voice sounded almost forced, like someone trying to keep themselves from crying. "It's Fox's."
"Even so, we have no more love for Fox then we do for you." Goliath commented, approaching Xanatos. "And even if we believed you, why should we help you?"
"Because you know what it means to lose the ones you love." He answered.
Willow and Goliath exchanged surprised glances, neither of them having ever thought Xanatos was capable of such emotions. However, before either of them could say a word, Brooklyn and Elisa quickly stepped in.
"Don't even think about it!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "This is his Plan D!"
"And if it fails, he'll just move on to E or F." Elisa agreed.
Both Goliath and Willow sighed, then turned and walked away. Xanatos quickly grabbed Willow's arm in a desperate motion.
"Willow, please-" he tried one final time.
Brooklyn quickly grabbed Xanatos' arm, his eyes glowing as he snarled.
"Don't. Touch her." He warned.
Goliath picked up Elisa as he turned back to Xanatos one more time.
"This is your mess, Xanatos." He told the man. "It's time for you to take responsibility and clean it up."
With that, the group made their way off the castle wall and into the night. Xanatos watched them go, then slammed his fists on the castle wall in frustration. He then turned to Owen.
"How long will it take to repair the exo-suit?" he questioned.
"The damage is extensive." Owen answered. "Two, maybe three days at best."
"Fox won't last that long…" Xanatos let out, leaning against the wall. "What am I going to do?"
…
The block party was in full swing as the group joined in. All around, people were in so many different elaborate costumes, but the clan's costumes took the cake. So many people complimented on their idea of "double decker costumes" completely unaware that they were only wearing one costume.
"I love Halloween." Lexington said with a smile.
"Me too." Broadway replied, stuffing at least five caramel apples into his mouth. "The snacks are amazing."
Brooklyn and Willow walked hand in hand, a big smile on the red gargoyles face.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this." He said with a smile.
"I think you're not the only one with that dream." Willow replied.
Looking behind them, the two could see Goliath walking down the street with Elisa, who was dressed like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Willow smirked at the costume, noting the irony. As they walked, the two couples saw an area where other couples were dancing. Willow and Brooklyn smiled, then made their way over. Elisa and Goliath watched them go with happy smiles.
"May I have this dance?" Goliath asked.
Elisa's telltale smile was the only answer he needed. The two danced gracefully across the street like the original Beauty and the Beast, Brooklyn and Willow beside them. As they danced, Broadway and Lexington watched with wistfully happy expressions.
"They should have Halloween more often." Lexington commented.
"Yeah…" Broadway let out
…
The two couples danced for what felt like hours before breaking away for a breather. As they leaned against the wall on an alleyway, a kid dressed in a werewolf costume jumped out from behind a dumpster, snarling in a very realistic manner. Goliath tensed, believing the monster to be real for a moment, until Willow and Brooklyn gave playful snarls back.
"Nice try dude." Willow told the werewolf boy. "But no dice."
The kid pulled off his werewolf mask and smiled.
"Had to try." He said. "Nice costumes by the way."
As the kid went back to the party, Brooklyn chuckled slightly.
"If only he knew, right?" he quipped.
"Yes…" Goliath let out. "Things aren't always what they seem."
Willow and Elisa both looked up at Goliath, recognizing that he wasn't talking about the costumes.
"What do you mean?" Elisa asked.
"What if Xanatos was telling the truth, and Fox's life truly is in danger?" he wondered.
"I've been thinking the same thing." Willow replied. "The way he acted… even he isn't a good enough actor to fake that kind of emotion."
"Come on, you two." Elisa chastised them. "We all know that Xanatos isn't capable love. I mean, think about it. He claimed to love you Willow, and how many times have you been hurt because of him?"
"That isn't true, Elisa." Goliath argued. "Remember when she was kidnapped by Ryan?"
Willow suppressed a shiver as Brooklyn hugged her.
"When we went to the castle to confront him believing him to be the culprit, he appeared quite worried, and he did everything in his power to help us." Goliath recalled.
Elisa had to agree with that. She had been there, had heard his voice that day, and now that she thought about it, she could see where Goliath was going.
"If what happened to Fox truly was an accident, and if she truly is dying, then I cannot simply stand by and let it happen." He went on.
"Goliath's right." Willow chimed in. "I have more than enough reasons to hate Fox, but letting her die? I can't."
"You're going to help him, aren't you?" Brooklyn asked.
"Yes." Goliath replied.
"Me too." Willow echoed.
"Well, if you two are going, I can't exactly stand by either." Brooklyn decided.
"I think you're all nuts, but then again, I probably am too for agreeing to this." Elisa concluded.
"Thank you." A fifth voice interjected.
The four of them turned to see Xanatos emerging from the shadows of the alley. He was wearing a large leather duster over what looked to be like a smaller, blue version of his exo-suit.
"How did you find us so quickly?" Goliath demanded.
Xanatos gestured over to Willow.
"Check your arm." He told her.
Willow raised a non-existent eyebrow in confusion, until she remembered how Xanatos had grabbed her arm before leaving the castle. She looked over her shoulder and was mildly surprised to see a tracking dot stuck to the sleeve of her blouse.
"How did I not see that?" she asked as she pulled it from her shirt.
"Old habits die hard I guess." Xanatos commented.
This earned him a glare from the four of them. However, their glares subsided as he pulled out his I-pad, which had Fox's location broadcasting on the screen.
"She's not far." He said. "We need to hurry."
…
Back at the party, Lexington and Broadway were mingling with the crowd, chatting with so many different humans and eating so many snacks, they were practically in heaven.
"I never want Halloween to end…" Broadway sighed.
A bloodcurdling scream, followed by an inhumane howl drew the duo's attention. They turned to one of the stores near the edge of the block party's perimeter to see several people running away.
"That's got to be that monster Elisa told us about." Lexington surmised.
"Let's get it." Broadway growled.
The two went to run in but were quickly intercepted by Goliath.
"No!" he ordered. "You two stay out here and make sure no innocents come this way."
"We'll handle this one." Xanatos added.
Both Broadway and Lexington were surprised to see Xanatos but elected not to question it, doing as they were told. Brooklyn, Willow, Elisa, Xanatos, and Goliath all slowly made their way into the building. Elisa had her gun ready as Xanatos closed the doors. It was a futile gesture but hope springs eternal. Making their way deeper into the building, the group could see the remnants of the small cafeteria the party had set up, the food that hadn't been consumed scattered about the floor.
"She's in here somewhere." Brooklyn whispered.
"But where?" Willow asked.
From the balcony of the second story, the were-fox howled loudly, drawing their attention. It leapt from the railing, aiming right at Xanatos. It tackled the man to the ground, then went to rake at him. Brooklyn and Willow quickly stepped in, each of them grabbing one of the were-fox's arms and doing their best to hold their grip.
Seeing an opportunity, Elisa leveled a shot at the were-fox, but Xanatos quickly took the gun, crushing it in his metal claws. As he handed the mutilated back to Elisa, the were-fox managed to throw Willow off, sending her careening into Goliath. He managed to catch her just as Brooklyn was also thrown loose.
"She's too strong!" Brooklyn gasped.
"We can't give up!" Xanatos snapped.
The were-fox used this moment of distraction to jump through the doors, shattering them to splinters. It then began climbing up the walls of the building, hoping to escape into the night. However, Broadway and Lexington tried to interfere.
"You're not going anywhere!" Broadway shouted, grabbing onto the were-fox's tail.
The were-fox howled as Broadway yanked on its tail, Lexington also helping to pull the fox down. Unfortunately for them both, the were-fox fell directly on top of them, crushing them both under its full weight. It then got up as if nothing had happened and resumed its climb. The clan approached the two, checking to make sure they were okay, and were happy to find that they were.
"Brooklyn, stay with your brothers." Goliath ordered. "We'll handle Fox."
"Be careful." Brooklyn replied, already helping his brothers to their feet.
Goliath took to the building, scaling at his top speed with Willow hot on his tail. Xanatos shrugged off his duster, revealing a much slimmer version of the exo-suit, minus the gargoyle features and the wings. It did, however, come with a rocket jet, one he was obviously about to make use of. Elisa ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck.
"I trust you about as far as I can throw you." She told him.
"I don't have time to argue." He replied.
Xanatos wrapped an arm around Elisa's waist and activated the rocket, sending the two of them flying after the two gargoyles and their prey. Up on the roof, Goliath pulled himself to his feet, then reached down to help Willow. Once they were both on solid footing, they began scanning the rooftop for the were-fox. Willow went left as Goliath went right, both oblivious to the were-fox watching them from the top of a radio tower.
The were-fox locked its sights on Willow, until it heard Xanatos landing. He barely had time to release Elisa before the were-fox dropped in front of them. Xanatos stepped forward, gently ushering Elisa behind him in a selfless gesture that surprised the detective.
"Fox." Xanatos pleaded. "It's me. It's David…"
The were-fox stopped for a minute, its eyes momentarily clearing as it looked over at Xanatos. However, the Eye began to spark once more, and the were-fox snarled, turning towards Elisa. It went to tackle her, but Willow rounded the corner just in time.
"NO!" the she-gargoyle shrieked.
She launched at Elisa, knocking her out of the way and getting caught in the were-fox's grasp instead. The two wrestled as Willow struggled to gain the edge but found herself almost completely outclassed by the large creature.
"Let her go!" Goliath shouted.
Goliath grabbed hold of one of the were-fox's arms as Xanatos grabbed the other, allowing for Willow to get free. She wasn't leaving emptyhanded though. Determined to win this battle, Willow grabbed ahold of the Eye of Odin, gritting her teeth against the coursing electricity, and yanked hard. He went flying back, falling to the ground in a heap, the Eye of Odin in her claws.
"I got it!" she called as she stood up.
In Goliath and Xanatos' grasp, the were-fox sparked with that familiar red electricity. Instinctively, the two let the creature go as it began howling in pain, its animalistic features beginning to slowly morph back into Fox's human form. Her monstrous howl was reduced to a thready scream, and then to silence as the now fully restored Fox fell to the ground. Elisa quickly ran to her side, unhooking the long skirt attachment from her costume to cover Fox. Xanatos also approached but stopped a few feet away.
"Is she-?" he began.
Elisa felt for a pulse, then sighed in relief.
"She'll be alright." She replied.
Xanatos let out an even greater sigh of relief as he bent down to pick up Fox. She stirred slightly in his arms but remained asleep. As he stood there, looking down at the unconscious Fox, Owen arrived at the scene in a helicopter, landing on the roof next to them. Xanatos walked towards the helicopter, stopping for a moment to look over at Willow. She clutched the Eye of Odin close to her.
"I don't care what you say." She told him. "I'm not giving this back to you."
"A small price to pay." Xanatos replied, adjusting his grip on Fox. "So long as Fox lives, I don't care what you do with the Eye."
Willow smirked, chuckling under her breath.
"I was wrong before." She said, approaching him. "I thought your wedding to Fox was some sort of plan. A trick of some sort. But after tonight, there's no doubt about it. You really do love her."
"A weakness you and the gargoyles will no doubt exploit." Xanatos replied almost solemnly.
Willow shook her head, turning away.
"Only you would regard love as a weakness…" she muttered.
The rest of the Manhattan Clan had made their way up to the roof and quickly joined Goliath and Elisa as they watched Xanatos leave with Fox.
"Are you sure we should just let them leave?" Brooklyn asked.
Willow looked down at the Eye in her hand, then over at Xanatos, a strange smile on her face.
"Yes." She replied. "Let's go home."
Over by the helicopter, Owen had a smile on his face as he helped Xanatos and Fox inside.
"I must agree with Willow." He commented. "You've never looked more heroic."
Xanatos seemed to hesitate for a moment before meeting Owen's eye.
"A momentary lapse, I assure you." He insisted.
As he said this, Fox began to stir, blinking and looking up at Xanatos.
"What happened?" she muttered.
Xanatos brushed a lock of hair from her face, a genuine smile on his own.
"Only a bad dream." He told her. "And it's over now. Willow had the right idea. Let's go home."
Owen closed the main doors to the helicopter before climbing into the driver's seat, a knowing smile on his face.
