Ch.10: Two Battles, One Victor

With every attack Rage's power seemed to reach unimaginable heights. Demona and the others were soon pushed back despite their combined efforts to bring Rage down.

The white light in Brooklyn's/Rage's eyes were flaring now with more intensity than the sun. Goliath couldn't stand to look at those eyes any longer and stood out in front of his clan.

"Everyone stand back" he called " I'll take care of Rage,"

"Bring it on" Rage hissed " old man,"

And without further words the two gargoyles clashed. Goliath was no fool to Rage's increase in power and was well aware he wouldn't hesitate to use it. Both gargoyles grabbed each others claws leading into an airborne power struggle between skill and strentgh.

The spines leading along Rage's back suddenly stuck out like a porquipine's quils. Before Goliath had a chance to dodge this unexpected twist Rage's tail spiked againist his back making Goliath scream in pain.

Meanwhile, inside of Brooklyn's mind, Rage and Brooklyn were still duking it out when they heard Goliath scream. Rage laughed which Brooklyn did not see as a good sign.

"What have you done?" yelled Brooklyn.

"I have posioned your beloved leader" laughed Rage " he'll be dead within three hours from now,"

Brooklyn could feel his anger rising towards Rage, but soon realized that was the last thing he could do. Instead Brooklyn focused his concentration on getting Rage out of his body.

Brooklyn didn't know if what he had planned would work, but there was no time to think about an alternative. Sitting down in lotus style with his wings tucked into his sides Brooklyn began to whisper some strange words so that Rage would not hear.

Rage did not know what his light counterpart was trying to do, but whatever it was he wasn't going to let it finish. With a screeching cry Rage lunged towards Brooklyn only to become a victim to a bright, white light.

Back outside of Brooklyn's mind the struggle between Goliath and Rage had stopped as Brooklyn's body plunged towards the ground at terrifying speed. Wasting no time Demona raced after Brooklyn's falling body and caught him before it hit the street below.

Later all seven gargoyles returned to the clock tower to treat each others wounds. It did not take long for Elisa, who had come over for a visit, to discover that Goliath had been posioned from Rage's last attack. It took some doing, but she finally managed to extract the posion so that the large, grey gargoyle was in no longer danger.

A groan suddenly reached their ears as they all turned to see Brooklyn averting back to his orginal state. The spines from the back of his neck to his tail disappeared, as did the extra-sharp fangs and claws. Soon he looked like he always was. But was he?

Everybody gathered held their breath as the red, beaked gargoyle slowly opened his eyes. Taking a lazy look around the room and all its occupants Brooklyn smiled weakly.

"Didn't expect a welcome committee when I woke up,"

Everyone knew that then the Brooklyn they all knew had returned. After all the welcome cries and hugs of relief Brooklyn said "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you these past few days,"

"It weren't your fault lad" said Hudson " Demona admitted to be the one who started this,"

"Yes" said Demona sincerely " and I am really sorry,"

"Apology accepted," said Brooklyn smiling and he knew that from then on everything was going to be fine.

Or was it?

-----------------------------

The chess game was over and Fox had won out over her husband cheerfully taking the Brooklyn piece. Xanatos smiled, Fox was a lot more tricker than he thought, and he reached down beneath his desk to retrieve a completely different piece.

This one bore much resemblence to the Brooklyn piece except that it's skin was painted crimson, with silver wings, and bright yellow eyes. Fox smiled knowing what her husband was thinking.

"It's not over yet,"