Chapter 5: Unexpected Attack/Kidnap
When the sun started to go down, the gargoyles woke up from their stone slumber and jumped off the railing of the balcony to the stone floor. Before everyone went inside the clock tower, Goliath asked Zelda if she could patrol around Central Park. She thought about for a minute and agreed with glee, since she wanted to go see the park again.
Everyone laughed a bit at Zelda's excitement.
"Of course! I've always wanted to go back there!"
"Very well Zelda, you may go now if you wish"
Goliath laughed a bit as well.
Zelda squealed in in excitement as she thanked Goliath.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
As she was about to fly off when she felt someone gently poked her shoulder. Zelda turned and saw that it's Angela and the trio, looking a bit worried.
"Will you be alright on your own Zelda? Are you sure that one of us should come with you in case something happens?" Angela asked, very concerned for Zelda's safety.
"I'll be okay Angela, even on my own too. Thanks for the offer tough. See you guys when I come back!"
Zelda flew off from the clock tower towards Central Park.
The four remaining gargoyles looked at each other with worry. Thinking if one of them should go with her anyway but they stayed to respect her choice. But a certain red gargoyle is thinking otherwise.
'I should follow her, just to make sure that she's okay and nothing happens to her... But I can't. I must respect her privacy too.'
"Brooklyn? What are you thinking about?"
Lexington asked when he noticed Brooklyn was deep in thought.
"Hmm... I don't know but I have a bad feel about Zelda being by herself... alone"
~~~~~{ Central Park }~~~~~
Zelda arrived at Central Park a few minutes ago, sitting on a tree branch that is located in a certain part of the park that people don't go around during the night. She is watching and listening to sound of the lake and the light breeze blowing through the leaves and grass.
'... This park reminds me of hyrule field... I wish that my friends are here...'
Suddenly Zelda remembered what Maggie said, when she first met Talon, Claw and Maggie.
"I see how Brooklyn looks at you. I even see how you look at him before you introduced yourself. It almost sounds like love at first sight."
Zelda blushed after remembering that statement.
'L-Love at first sight?! No, it can't be that! I can't fall for someone that quickly! I-I mean he is sweet, kind, handsome an- Oh!'
Zelda thought, shaking her head with frustration. She jumped off the tree branch that she was sitting on and decided to have a walk to clear her mind. Zelda walked on the path that leads all around the park, making sure that no one was around to spot her.
But what Zelda doesn't know is that she is being watched and followed.
~~~~~{ At the Clock Tower }~~~~~
Brooklyn is still outside, leaning on the railing of the balcony, looking in the direction of Central Park. He is so deep in his thought s that he didn't notice someone behind him.
"Worried about Zelda Lad?"
Brooklyn's body shook and turned around swiftly when he heard Hudson's voice.
"Hudson! Scare me to death why don't you."
"Hahaha, only when you least expected. But I see that your worried lad. Thinking about Zelda?"
Brooklyn sighed heavily and turned back to lean back on the railing.
"Must I be that obvious?"
Hudson nodded then walked next to Brooklyn.
"I just... can't help that something is going to happen. I want to go see if she's okay, but I also want her to have her own privacy too."
Hudson smiled a bit and thought about what Brooklyn said.
"Hmm... Why don't you just fly by there without her seeing you lad?"
Brooklyn thought about it for a minute before he nodded his head.
"Okay, I'll do that..."
With that said, Brooklyn flew off to Central Park... but soon he will be in for a surprise.
~~~~~{ Central Park }~~~~~
Zelda continued to walk for a couple of minutes before stopping to take a break. Sitting on a deserted bench and thinking about her situation with her feelings. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice a shadow figure behind her. Slowly walking closer and closer, til it raised up its's arm and shoots out a net at Zelda. The net wrapped around her in a quick manner that when she felt it on her, she fell onto the floor. Hissing and growling at the net, trying to get it off, she noticed a shadow figure walking towards her.
When the figure showed itself, Zelda let out a small gasp at what she saw. A robotic version of Goliath but the only difference is that it's red. When the red robotic gargoyle got closer to her, it kneeled next to her head. Then she heard a male voice, that sounds a bit robotic.
"Hmm, I never seen you around before. You must be a new member in Goliath's clan I presume."
Zelda just snarled and roaring, refusing to answer. Thrashing around as she is trying to break free of the net.
"Try as hard as you can but I'm afraid that you're only going to be tangled more."
Zelda stooped struggling but continues to growl at the red robotic gargoyle as she heard it chuckled.
"Now, what is your name my dear?"
"Grr... none of your business."
"Hehe, I like you sense of humor, but from what my scans show me, your unique then the others."
Zelda stared in shock when he mentions that she is different. She again tried to get the net off but was still impossible. When she saw the robots hand reaching towards her, Zelda closed her eyes, waiting for it to grab her... but nothing happened. After a couple of minutes, she opened her eyes and saw that the red robotic gargoyle on the ground a few feet away from her with claw marks on it chest that looked new. The net suddenly was off of her as she felt someone help her stand up. When Zelda looked at the person who saved her, she saw...
"Brooklyn?!"
She blushed when she saw that it is Brooklyn that saved her.
"W-What are yo- I-I mean, how-"
"I came just to make sure that you're okay... but it seems that I came here just in time before Xanatos can take you away."
Brooklyn growled while watching the robotic gargoyle getting up.
Zelda looked between the two of them confused.
"Xanatos?"
"Brooklyn, what a surprise to see you... by yourself." Xanatos said as he stood up straight and took the helmet off.
Zelda was shocked and surprised that there is a person in that gargoyle suit.
"A-A human IN a metal gargoyle suit?"
"I'll explain everything when we get out of here and head back to the others."
Brooklyn took her hand and flew up with her following.
Xanatos watched them fly off for a minute before holding out his arm and wrist up to lips and said, "Get them."
~~~~~{ With Brooklyn & Zelda }~~~~~
While flying a long way back to the clock tower, Zelda is still processing on what just happened at Central Park, Brooklyn is still angry at Xanatos for trying to kidnap Zelda. But they didn't notice that they're still holding hands til' Zelda turned and saw their hands still linked.
She blushed at this and tagged his hand to get his attention to notice. When he turned his head to look at her, he also saw their hands and blushed too. They both quickly let go and decided to land on top of the nearest building that looks safe.
"I-I'm sorry, it's just... I just want to make sure that you're okay."
Brooklyn stuttered while scratching behind his head.
"I-It's okay, I'm glad that you came to check up on me. If you haven't, I would probably be in an unknown place. Like a cage probably."
Zelda is still blushing and is rubbing her left arm.
"But I'm still confused. Do you know him?"
Brooklyn didn't want to tell her about what happened between Xanatos and the others, especially not here while they're alone. But he knows that she deserves to know since this might happen again. Brooklyn heavily sighed as he turned to face Zelda completely with a serious tone.
"Zelda, that man, his name is Xanatos, and he has been trying to find and capture us for a long while. Even though he did break the spell that was cast on us thousands of years ago, he tricked us into thinking someone stole his tech. In the end, he was just using us as his 'servants'."
After Brooklyn finished his explanation, Zelda couldn't help but feel saddened by his story.
'This explains why he knows that man and why he is so angry.'
Zelda went up to Brooklyn and took both of his hands into her hands and looked up at him with a sad smile.
"I'm so sorry that happened to guys. I didn't know. I wish that I didn't go on my own tonight and have all you guys worrying, especially you."
Brooklyn stared in shock when Zelda said this, but he snapped out of his shock state when he felt her trembling.
"...and I don't want you guys to get hurt because of me..."
Zelda suddenly hugged him with all her might and slightly crying. Brooklyn noticed this and hugged her back with all his might.
"It's okay Zelda, we'll all be okay. We're not going to get hurt. Even if that happens, we do it to protect each other."
He felt her nodding her head against his chest.
They continued to hug one another for a few more minutes before they let go and stared at each other.
"Let's go back to the others and tell them what happened okay?"
Zelda nodded as she wiped her tears that are threating to come out. Brooklyn couldn't help but replaced her hands with his to wipe her tears from her eyes and face. She smiled a bit at the kind gesture, and he also smiled. They were about to fly off when Zelda suddenly cried in pain.
Brooklyn held her close as he was looking for anything that caused her pain. He saw a big burn-like bruise on her right hip. Zelda held on to him, crying in pain.
"B-Brooklyn! It hurts!"
"Shh, it's okay, I'll-"
Brooklyn stopped when he saw one of the Steel Clan robots with its arm up with a laser gun attached on its wrist, pointing it at them.
He slowly felt rage going through his body when saw the robot. He gently laid Zelda to the ground to sit up and walked towards to robot.
"You're going to pay for that ROBOT!"
Both of them ran towards each other as Brooklyn roared with rage and Zelda's cries and whimpers.
~~~~~{ At the Clock Tower }~~~~~
Broadway and Lexington got worried when they noticed that Brooklyn and Zelda didn't come back yet and it's only two hours til' the sunrise.
"Do you think we should go and find them?" Broadway asked worriedly.
"I don-"
Lexington is interrupted when he and Broadway heard a roar, slightly in the distance. They both looked at each other with great worry.
"You don't think-"
"I don't think, I KNOW. Let's go Broadway, Brooklyn and Zelda are probably in trouble."
They both took off towards the roar that they just heard again in the distance.
~~~~~{ With Brooklyn & Zelda }~~~~~
The fight still raged on as the robot and Brooklyn are still clashing at each other when Brooklyn tripped the robot down and hovered over it as he growled and roared. He kept on punching it's head over and over when it stopped his punches with his claws and punches him back to get him off.
Brooklyn rolled over to land back on his feet and stand still, back into a fighting stance. The Steel Clan robot stood up too and Brooklyn just growled louder, and his eyes glowed more with more fury.
The robot suddenly pointed its laser gun towards Brooklyn. He stood completely still and still growling. It walked towards him slowly til it was only a few feet away from Zelda on the left side. Zelda is holding on to her right hip in pain and whimpering. The robot suddenly turned its laser gun to her and made her look at it in fear. Brooklyn quickly ran on all fours towards her and stood in front of her.
"If you hurt her again, you piece of junk, I'll tear you apart!"
The robot was about to shot but was suddenly pushed away.
"What the?"
"Brooklyn! Zelda!"
Both Brooklyn and Zelda turned and saw Lexington and Broadway flying towards them and landed next to them. Broadway went to fight the robot while Lexington ran up to Brooklyn and Zelda.
"Broadway? Lexington?"
"Brooklyn! We heard a roar somewhere around here and thought that you and Zelda are in trouble! And it looks like we are right." said Lexington, when he saw the Steel Clan robot and looked back at Brooklyn.
Brooklyn smiled and nodded in thanks but suddenly turned serious when he heard and saw the robot and Broadway fighting.
"Stay with Zelda while I help Broadway."
Brooklyn ran towards to robot and kicked it away. It slid near the edge of the roof and held itself up when it saw that it out numbered. When Brooklyn and Broadway were walking up to it, the robot suddenly flew away and left the gargoyles in confusion but stood their ground. They snapped out of their confused state when they heard Zelda's cries in more pain along with Lexington's voice.
"It's okay, it'll heal when you turn to stone, but can you stand?"
"I-I don't know"
Zelda tried to stand but almost fell if Brooklyn hadn't got to her in time from falling to ground.
"I'll carry you back to the clock tower. It looks bad enough for you to not walk."
Zelda blushed when he mentioned that he can carry her. She shyly looked in a different direction as she spoke in a low tone but enough for him to hear.
"T-Thank you Brooklyn."
She turned to Lexington and Broadway with a smile.
"And thank you guys for your rescue."
"Yeah, thanks you guys. I probably would have not made it if you guys didn't show up."
The two of them nervously waved their hands bashfully and blushing lightly as they both said at the same time.
"Oh, it was nothing. We were worried though but when we heard Brooklyn's roar, we came to help."
Brooklyn and Zelda laughed a bit and nodded as Brooklyn picked up Zelda bridal style, that made her let out a small squeak, and flew off with his two rookery brothers behind them.
Zelda held on to him with her arms around his neck and shoulders. She also snuggled her head under his chin a bit and closed her eyes with a smile.
"Thank you... for being here with me Brooklyn... "
When Brooklyn heard what she said, he blushed again and smiled. He nuzzled on top of her head in response and suddenly felt his heart beating faster than before.
"Y-You're welcome... Zelda. I'll always be here for you. Noe and forever."
~~~~~{ With Xanatos }~~~~~
Xanatos watched the gargoyles flew away from a good distance and walked away, preparing to leave for another day.
"Hmm, that female gargoyle is such a mysterious creature."
"And VERY unique as you previously said after you TRAPPED her."
Xanatos quickly turned around with his laser gun ready to shoot at who spoke. He saw two creatures that almost looked alien-like. But one of them has its arm up with a hologram coming out of its wrist band. Xanatos saw nothing but a dark big figure with only bright yellow-orangish eyes.
"I'm going to guess that you and her know each other very well?"
The dark figure chuckled darkly while answering, "Oh we know each other VERY well."
"How? Is she, like, your mate-to-be?"
The figure didn't reply but growled in response before answering back.
"No, but she will be... WHEN I CATCH HER."
Xanatos stared at the figure while thinking on what to say or do until he heard the dark figure chuckling darkly again.
"It seems that she escaped from you too... with some help it looks like."
Xanatos wasn't sure if he should take that as in insult or complement when the figure said that.
"So how about we join forces to gain what our hearts desire."
Xanatos gave it some thought and asked, "What is it that you want that could possibly match my interest?"
The dark figure smirked.
"You want the gargoyles and I want the girl. If we both catch them, then we can both have what we want."
"Hm, killing two birds with one stone almost... Very well, I agree to this. I trust that you know how to contact me?"
The figure laughed darkly at that.
"I have ways to contact you, Mr. Xanatos."
Xanatos looked at the hologram in shock a bit.
"How did yo-"
"Know your name? Like I said, I HAVE WAYS."
Xanatos stood silent for a second when he asked, "And your name is?"
The dark figure leaned closer and whispered it to him.
"My name is..."