The Anguished Ones
By King Cobra3 (kingcobra49036@yahoo.com)
NOTE: This is a fic I wrote back in 2001. It is a semi-crossover with my "In The Beginning" fic in that mentions an original character from that story.
SUMMARY: How will the clan ever be whole again when one of their own is taken so wrongly and tragically? A serious fic that delves into the world of longing and mutual sadness. Rated PG-13 for violence and minor profanity.
Demona smiled wickedly, her eyes glittering with an unspoken madness, as she held the golden artifact up in her claws. "Ah, my lovely object. You are mine for the taking." She placed the small talisman in her pocketed loincloth, and stood up, stretching her wings to full span. It had been hard work tracking down the Phalebus' Amulet, but the benefits were worth the wait. Demona paused, relishing the feeling of power that rose inside her, and turned to leave, when a familiar sight greeted her. The usual shape that was colored rusty red.
"You're not going anywhere." Brooklyn snarled. "Not with the amulet."
Demona sighed in contempt. "Young one, do not get in my way tonight." The demented she-goyle warned, the tone of anger creeping into her voice. "This talisman has the power to drain life energies. I wish to use it on the humans, not on you." Brooklyn eye's flashed. "You're not using it on anyone!" He lunged at her. Trying to pull the small magical object out of her loincloth, Demona was too slow and Brooklyn knocked into her, forcing her onto her back. Demona growled and they fought wildly, rolling across the floor, both of them trying to get a handle on Phalebus' Amulet.
"Give it up, Demona!" Brooklyn raged. "Goliath and the others are on their way. You can't win! It's over!"
"Not while humanity still exists!" Demona managed to get her foot under Brooklyn's chest and, with one well-placed kick, sent him flying. Brooklyn hit the wall face first and slumped to the floor, dazed. Demona glared at her fallen foe. "You have brought this upon yourself, young warrior." Demona raised the amulet in his direction and began speaking.
"Gramicitus Omne Kilino Hyatt Fronolous Gwaster - UGH!"
Demona's usage of Latin chanting was cut short by Lexington's foot connecting with her jaw in mid-air and knocking her down. The small web-winged gargoyle snatched the amulet out of her hand and scrambled away before the angry gargress could stand up. "Give me that!" Demona screeched. "Never!" Lexington snarled.
"This talisman is going back to Xanatos' display case where it belongs!" Lex crowed. "I said, GIVE IT TO ME!" Demona leaped at Lexington and tackled him to the floor, plucking the talisman and throwing the green shape across the room. Struggling to a standing posture, Demona held the Talisman at Lexington as he lay on the floor helplessly and resumed her chant, watching the fiery red projectile shoot out of the amulet and towards the terrified gargoyle.
"Noooooooooooooo!!!!"
With anguish in his voice, Brooklyn dived, intercepting the deadly soul stealing fireball and falling to the floor. "BROOKLYN! No!" Lex screamed. The beaked gargoyle hit the floor on his back, looking dazed. Lexington could only watch in horror as Brooklyn was suddenly jerked back into awareness and the gray mist came out of his torso, almost like it was being pulled. Lexington only looked on, his face trapped in a look of terror and horror, as Brooklyn screamed, the flesh seemingly losing the feature that made Brooklyn lively and reducing him to a wiry corpse. Finally, Brooklyn relaxed, breathing his last, and Lexington scrambled over to him, checking for signs of life. There were none. "Nooooooo!" The small flying squirrel-like garg screeched in agony. "Brooklyn!" Suddenly remembering Demona, Lexington's look of mental anguish turned to one of righteous anger as he gazed at his enemy, who stood there, smirking like Brooklyn's death was an irrelevant event in her hate-filled life. "YOU!"
Lexington leaped at Demona, intent on knocking her down and ripping her throat out, but the flame-headed gargress swept her arm, knocking him out of the air. "Young foolish one. When will you realize I only seek for you to know the truth?" "You killed Brooklyn, you bitch!" Lexington screeched in anger and fear. Demona shook her head disdainfully. "I offered to show him the truth about humans. He did not accept it. His demise was inflicted by his own choice."
Lexington snarled at her. "You're insane!"
"Enough talk. It is time for you to join him." Demona aimed the amulet at him, but before any of them could do anything further, Goliath, Angela, Broadway, and Hudson crashed through the skylight. Demona shrieked, an angry warrior's howl, as a chard of glass slashed her arm open, and she dropped the talisman.
Lexington grabbed it.
Without warning, Goliath seized his former love roughly, pulling him close to stare accusingly into her eyes. "What have you done?" he rumbled loudly but softly, taking no notice to the dead gargoyle flopped on the floor nearby. Demona glared balefully. "The humans must die, Goliath. Only with the amulet of great-grandfather Phalebus can we create a better life for out kind." Goliath growled. "No! A gargoyle's purpose is to protect, not to take innocent lives and endanger civilians!" "Oh, by the way, Goliath, take a look over there. What do you see?" It was for the first time that Goliath looked over, and his very breath turned to ice. For a minute, it seemed like he could not breathe. There was Brooklyn, obviously dead, on his back on the floor. Lexington was weeping, while Angela and Broadway tried to comfort him. "You killed him..." Demona's smile faded. "Yes, Goliath, like you, he would not accept the truth. Humans are our enemies! They must be destroyed for the good of our kind!" "No..." Goliath disagreed. "A Gargoyle is not meant to kill, but to live. To protect and care for others." He pointed a shaking, accusing finger at his former mate. "You have forgotten this, and so seek the destruction of those that we should protect."
"Humans will never accept us!" Demona raged. "They betrayed us a thousand years ago, in Scotland, and they'll betray us again!" Goliath shook his head. "The humans did not betray us. At least, not entirely. Hakon and the Cpatain of the guard, the ones who did betray us, are long since dead. The betrayal is on your shoulders." "No!" Demona screeched in self-denial. "It was the blasted humans!"
Goliath looked at Brooklyn's body, and then at her. "I cannot face you now. Go before I inflict bodily harm upon you." Taking her opportunity, Demona climbed the wall and glided off through the hole in the skylight. The large behemoth of the clan sank to the floor beneath his fallen second. He wept, as did all the others.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Brooklyn...my second-in-command...my pupil...my friend..." Goliath spoke somberly, gazing at the small crowd before him.
They were on the docks near the Hudson River. Brooklyn had died the night before, and now his body was being buried at sea. His funeral was attended by the clan, the Xanatoses, Elisa Maza and her family, as well as Maggie and Claw, plus Matt Bluestone.
"He had a rebellious spirit, and an indomitable nature." Goliath continued, his voice tinged with sadness. "He was what I believed occasionally to be young and foolish, but inside his soul lurked the presence of a fiercely wise warrior." He looked at the casket. "You have a incredible personality, and I hope that, wherever you are, you are at peace forever." Goliath watched, a look of emotional drainage on his lavender face, as the rope tied to the large mahogany box, which was operated by a crane that Matt was using, lowered the corpse and his final sleeping spot into the dark waters.
The bubbles that rose to the surface upon impact soon diminished, and Goliath knew that his clan, his remaining family, would be different from then on. The steely hard looks on Lexington's face proved this, as did the sorrowful expressions of Broadway and his mate Angela who was crying into the Aqua shoulder. Elisa was weeping silently, tears flowing down her lovely cheeks. Even the Xanatoses were saddened, with Fox dabbing a tissue at her eyes, and David putting his arm around her, speaking faint soothing words to her, trying to relax her. Little Alex was old enough to grasp what was happening, and he sat there, his lip quivering, and crying. Matt just watched in unspoken anguish, unable to say anything of comfort to the clan or the mourners assembled at the scene.
Goliath just stood there, watching as Brooklyn's body was lowered to the bottom of the river, and everything was complete. Starting to leave with his family silently, Xanatos excused himself and approached Goliath, placing a hand on his ally's shoulder. "Goliath, I-" Goliath glared ice daggers at him. "You brought Demona back into our lives. Demona killed Brooklyn. This is all your unwitting doing." Xanatos stared at him, knowing that Goliath was right. With a sigh, he went back to his family, and they all walked away. The clan, still visibly upset, started to leave, and Goliath glanced down at Lexington, still sitting staring straight ahead at the river. Not looking at him, Lexington spoke softly. "Just give me an hour. I'll be all right." Goliath nodded, knowing it was useless to argue. "Very well. I shall expect you back at the Castle in an hour." Lex didn't reply, and Goliath staggered away.
Lex seethed inside. Brooklyn had been his serious friend when they were hatchlings. They had gone through so much together, starting in ancient Scotland, and leading up to present day. The beaked gargoyle had been Lex's world, with no parents and no mate to turn to when he needed comfort or company.
Brooklyn had fought at his side countless times. Against the Pack on that barge that had ended up sinking. Saving him from falling during that first steel clan attack. Servarius. The clones. Xanatos. Even Demona. Brooklyn had stood by his side through thick and thin. Just thinking about Demona sent an emotion of inextinguishable rage bubbling through his soul. She was the one who had taken his closest friend and ally from him.
And Lexington would make her pay. Oh, yes.
The End...For Now.
Any opinions, comments, praise (which wouldn't really surprise me with the high numbers I get daily) should go to me at this e-mail address:
kingcobra49036@yahoo.com
Until the next fic comes out, take care of yourselves, and I wish you all merry Christmas and happy New Year's.
King Cobra3.
By King Cobra3 (kingcobra49036@yahoo.com)
NOTE: This is a fic I wrote back in 2001. It is a semi-crossover with my "In The Beginning" fic in that mentions an original character from that story.
SUMMARY: How will the clan ever be whole again when one of their own is taken so wrongly and tragically? A serious fic that delves into the world of longing and mutual sadness. Rated PG-13 for violence and minor profanity.
Demona smiled wickedly, her eyes glittering with an unspoken madness, as she held the golden artifact up in her claws. "Ah, my lovely object. You are mine for the taking." She placed the small talisman in her pocketed loincloth, and stood up, stretching her wings to full span. It had been hard work tracking down the Phalebus' Amulet, but the benefits were worth the wait. Demona paused, relishing the feeling of power that rose inside her, and turned to leave, when a familiar sight greeted her. The usual shape that was colored rusty red.
"You're not going anywhere." Brooklyn snarled. "Not with the amulet."
Demona sighed in contempt. "Young one, do not get in my way tonight." The demented she-goyle warned, the tone of anger creeping into her voice. "This talisman has the power to drain life energies. I wish to use it on the humans, not on you." Brooklyn eye's flashed. "You're not using it on anyone!" He lunged at her. Trying to pull the small magical object out of her loincloth, Demona was too slow and Brooklyn knocked into her, forcing her onto her back. Demona growled and they fought wildly, rolling across the floor, both of them trying to get a handle on Phalebus' Amulet.
"Give it up, Demona!" Brooklyn raged. "Goliath and the others are on their way. You can't win! It's over!"
"Not while humanity still exists!" Demona managed to get her foot under Brooklyn's chest and, with one well-placed kick, sent him flying. Brooklyn hit the wall face first and slumped to the floor, dazed. Demona glared at her fallen foe. "You have brought this upon yourself, young warrior." Demona raised the amulet in his direction and began speaking.
"Gramicitus Omne Kilino Hyatt Fronolous Gwaster - UGH!"
Demona's usage of Latin chanting was cut short by Lexington's foot connecting with her jaw in mid-air and knocking her down. The small web-winged gargoyle snatched the amulet out of her hand and scrambled away before the angry gargress could stand up. "Give me that!" Demona screeched. "Never!" Lexington snarled.
"This talisman is going back to Xanatos' display case where it belongs!" Lex crowed. "I said, GIVE IT TO ME!" Demona leaped at Lexington and tackled him to the floor, plucking the talisman and throwing the green shape across the room. Struggling to a standing posture, Demona held the Talisman at Lexington as he lay on the floor helplessly and resumed her chant, watching the fiery red projectile shoot out of the amulet and towards the terrified gargoyle.
"Noooooooooooooo!!!!"
With anguish in his voice, Brooklyn dived, intercepting the deadly soul stealing fireball and falling to the floor. "BROOKLYN! No!" Lex screamed. The beaked gargoyle hit the floor on his back, looking dazed. Lexington could only watch in horror as Brooklyn was suddenly jerked back into awareness and the gray mist came out of his torso, almost like it was being pulled. Lexington only looked on, his face trapped in a look of terror and horror, as Brooklyn screamed, the flesh seemingly losing the feature that made Brooklyn lively and reducing him to a wiry corpse. Finally, Brooklyn relaxed, breathing his last, and Lexington scrambled over to him, checking for signs of life. There were none. "Nooooooo!" The small flying squirrel-like garg screeched in agony. "Brooklyn!" Suddenly remembering Demona, Lexington's look of mental anguish turned to one of righteous anger as he gazed at his enemy, who stood there, smirking like Brooklyn's death was an irrelevant event in her hate-filled life. "YOU!"
Lexington leaped at Demona, intent on knocking her down and ripping her throat out, but the flame-headed gargress swept her arm, knocking him out of the air. "Young foolish one. When will you realize I only seek for you to know the truth?" "You killed Brooklyn, you bitch!" Lexington screeched in anger and fear. Demona shook her head disdainfully. "I offered to show him the truth about humans. He did not accept it. His demise was inflicted by his own choice."
Lexington snarled at her. "You're insane!"
"Enough talk. It is time for you to join him." Demona aimed the amulet at him, but before any of them could do anything further, Goliath, Angela, Broadway, and Hudson crashed through the skylight. Demona shrieked, an angry warrior's howl, as a chard of glass slashed her arm open, and she dropped the talisman.
Lexington grabbed it.
Without warning, Goliath seized his former love roughly, pulling him close to stare accusingly into her eyes. "What have you done?" he rumbled loudly but softly, taking no notice to the dead gargoyle flopped on the floor nearby. Demona glared balefully. "The humans must die, Goliath. Only with the amulet of great-grandfather Phalebus can we create a better life for out kind." Goliath growled. "No! A gargoyle's purpose is to protect, not to take innocent lives and endanger civilians!" "Oh, by the way, Goliath, take a look over there. What do you see?" It was for the first time that Goliath looked over, and his very breath turned to ice. For a minute, it seemed like he could not breathe. There was Brooklyn, obviously dead, on his back on the floor. Lexington was weeping, while Angela and Broadway tried to comfort him. "You killed him..." Demona's smile faded. "Yes, Goliath, like you, he would not accept the truth. Humans are our enemies! They must be destroyed for the good of our kind!" "No..." Goliath disagreed. "A Gargoyle is not meant to kill, but to live. To protect and care for others." He pointed a shaking, accusing finger at his former mate. "You have forgotten this, and so seek the destruction of those that we should protect."
"Humans will never accept us!" Demona raged. "They betrayed us a thousand years ago, in Scotland, and they'll betray us again!" Goliath shook his head. "The humans did not betray us. At least, not entirely. Hakon and the Cpatain of the guard, the ones who did betray us, are long since dead. The betrayal is on your shoulders." "No!" Demona screeched in self-denial. "It was the blasted humans!"
Goliath looked at Brooklyn's body, and then at her. "I cannot face you now. Go before I inflict bodily harm upon you." Taking her opportunity, Demona climbed the wall and glided off through the hole in the skylight. The large behemoth of the clan sank to the floor beneath his fallen second. He wept, as did all the others.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Brooklyn...my second-in-command...my pupil...my friend..." Goliath spoke somberly, gazing at the small crowd before him.
They were on the docks near the Hudson River. Brooklyn had died the night before, and now his body was being buried at sea. His funeral was attended by the clan, the Xanatoses, Elisa Maza and her family, as well as Maggie and Claw, plus Matt Bluestone.
"He had a rebellious spirit, and an indomitable nature." Goliath continued, his voice tinged with sadness. "He was what I believed occasionally to be young and foolish, but inside his soul lurked the presence of a fiercely wise warrior." He looked at the casket. "You have a incredible personality, and I hope that, wherever you are, you are at peace forever." Goliath watched, a look of emotional drainage on his lavender face, as the rope tied to the large mahogany box, which was operated by a crane that Matt was using, lowered the corpse and his final sleeping spot into the dark waters.
The bubbles that rose to the surface upon impact soon diminished, and Goliath knew that his clan, his remaining family, would be different from then on. The steely hard looks on Lexington's face proved this, as did the sorrowful expressions of Broadway and his mate Angela who was crying into the Aqua shoulder. Elisa was weeping silently, tears flowing down her lovely cheeks. Even the Xanatoses were saddened, with Fox dabbing a tissue at her eyes, and David putting his arm around her, speaking faint soothing words to her, trying to relax her. Little Alex was old enough to grasp what was happening, and he sat there, his lip quivering, and crying. Matt just watched in unspoken anguish, unable to say anything of comfort to the clan or the mourners assembled at the scene.
Goliath just stood there, watching as Brooklyn's body was lowered to the bottom of the river, and everything was complete. Starting to leave with his family silently, Xanatos excused himself and approached Goliath, placing a hand on his ally's shoulder. "Goliath, I-" Goliath glared ice daggers at him. "You brought Demona back into our lives. Demona killed Brooklyn. This is all your unwitting doing." Xanatos stared at him, knowing that Goliath was right. With a sigh, he went back to his family, and they all walked away. The clan, still visibly upset, started to leave, and Goliath glanced down at Lexington, still sitting staring straight ahead at the river. Not looking at him, Lexington spoke softly. "Just give me an hour. I'll be all right." Goliath nodded, knowing it was useless to argue. "Very well. I shall expect you back at the Castle in an hour." Lex didn't reply, and Goliath staggered away.
Lex seethed inside. Brooklyn had been his serious friend when they were hatchlings. They had gone through so much together, starting in ancient Scotland, and leading up to present day. The beaked gargoyle had been Lex's world, with no parents and no mate to turn to when he needed comfort or company.
Brooklyn had fought at his side countless times. Against the Pack on that barge that had ended up sinking. Saving him from falling during that first steel clan attack. Servarius. The clones. Xanatos. Even Demona. Brooklyn had stood by his side through thick and thin. Just thinking about Demona sent an emotion of inextinguishable rage bubbling through his soul. She was the one who had taken his closest friend and ally from him.
And Lexington would make her pay. Oh, yes.
The End...For Now.
Any opinions, comments, praise (which wouldn't really surprise me with the high numbers I get daily) should go to me at this e-mail address:
kingcobra49036@yahoo.com
Until the next fic comes out, take care of yourselves, and I wish you all merry Christmas and happy New Year's.
King Cobra3.