In the turtles' warehouse sitting above their lair, Donnie, Lexington, and Raph were hard at work crafting a custom motorcycle for the group. Raph was in the middle of some tune ups to his own personal shell cycle, explaining how it worked to an eager Brooklyn.
"You see Brook, this handle here is the brake That's what slows you down. This here, that's the gas. It's what gives this baby the juice she needs to tear up some asphalt."
"Right, got it," Brooklyn replied. "You seem to know a lot about these things."
"Hey, Donnie maybe the genius of the family, but I know my way around a bike."
"Speaking of, you two done yet?" Broadway questioned Donnie and Lex. "You've ridden on one of these things before, so building one can't be that hard."
"You've ridden a horse, can you build me one out of spare parts?" Lex retorted.
"He's got you there, big guy," Donnie concurred.
While the two geniuses continued working, Brooklyn took a bike helmet and poked two holes in it to make room for his horns. He slipped it on over his head, smiling that it was a perfect fit. Broadway chuckled slightly.
"Why bother with a helmet?" he quipped. "Your head's hard enough as is."
Brooklyn then folded his wings in as Raph came over with a biker jacket, which he put on.
"Hey, it's all part of the look." Brooklyn replied.
"Not bad," Raph admitted.
Back with Lex and Donnie, the two were putting the finishing touches on the bike before finishing and setting it up right.
"There, finished," Lex announced.
"Bet if Mikey were here he'd call it something like, 'the garg-cycle' or something," Donnie guessed.
"Well, he ain't here, and frankly, I think this baby needs a test drive more than it needs a name," Brooklyn declared, hopping onto the bike and sliding a pair of aviator sunglasses over his eyes. He then turned the bike on and started revving it up. He then took off out into the street, leaving the others in the dust.
"So… how long do you think it'll be before he gets into trouble?" Donnie asked.
"Five minutes," Lex guessed. "Tops."
"I better go after him," Raph volunteered, getting onto his bike. "Someone's gotta make sure he doesn't get himself pulled over or worse."
"Be honest Raph, you just want to ride with someone that's not trying to take your head off," Donnie countered
"Is that so wrong?" Raph asked, placing his helmet on.
He then revved up his bike and took off after Brooklyn, unaware of the shadowy figure stalking him and his friends from afar.
…
Out on the streets, Raph was able to catch up with Brooklyn pretty easily. The gargoyle was coasting down the street without a care, a large smile on his beak.
"I can see why you like this thing, Raphael," Brooklyn complimented. "It's seriously cool!"
"Glad you approve!" Raph called back. "Though a bike is only as good as its rider."
"Is that so? In that case..." Brooklyn revved his engine, taking off down the street at top speeds. Raph grinned, then did the same.
He pulled alongside Brooklyn again, only to cruise past him with an arrogant smirk on his face. Brooklyn chuckled, and pulled slightly in front of him.
"I guess it's true what they say about turtles being slow!" Brooklyn taunted.
"It ain't nice to stereotype!" Raph called back before speeding past him.
Brooklyn was in disbelief before he ramped up the speed as well. As the two raced down the street, they passed a cop car with two cops inside. Their speedometer went off, and the two cops pulled out into the street. They flipped on their lights and sirens, getting the two riders' attention. Raph glanced at a watch hidden under his wrist wrappings, smirking.
"Seven minutes. Eat that, Lexington."
"What do we do about them?" Brooklyn asked, gesturing to the cops.
"Split up!" Raph told him. "We'll meet back up in the warehouse!"
Brooklyn nodded as he turned down an alleyway and Raph sped off down the street. The cops decided to pursue Brooklyn down the alleyway, much to his irritation. As he continued trying to evade his pursuers, he saw that the alley was about to dead end. Seeing a discarded board on the ground, he drove up it like a ramp and drove into the air, popping his wings out of his jacket and gliding over the wall. The cop car screeched to a halt as the two cops tried to process what they saw.
"You… wanna call it in?" the rookie in the passenger seat asked.
"Kid, in this town, there are some things dispatch doesn't need to know," his more experienced partner replied.
…
On the other side, Brooklyn landed his bike with relative ease. He rewrapped his wings around himself, adjusting his jacket and his glasses.
"Close call. Still, not bad for my first ride."
Just then, he heard other motorcycle motors revving from the street. He looked out and saw several other bikers riding by, a sight he took with great intrigue.
"Sweet," he let out, gunning the engine to catch up to them.
As Brooklyn rode out to join in with the bikers, Raph pulled up from another street. He laid eyes on the gargoyle, said eyes widening once he realized his intended course.
"Oh sewer apples," he cursed, quickly trying to catch up to the bikers.
As Brooklyn rode past some of the bikers, they all stopped and got off their bikes to marvel at Brooklyn's ride.
"Sweet ride," one of the bikers commented. "Where'd ya get it?"
"It's a custom job," Brooklyn replied. "Some friends of mine pieced it together.
"Nice," another one replied.
As they kept talking, Brooklyn naively slipped off his shades and removed the helmet off his head. Almost immediately, the mood shifted to a hostile one as the bikers freaked out.
"It's a freaky monster!" one of them shouted. "Get him!"
Raph then rode up, jumped off his bike, and kicked three bikers in the head before they could reach Brooklyn.
"Nice timing," Brooklyn commended.
"Someone had your pull your tail out of the fir," Raph retorted.
The two ended up back to back as the bikers moved in, armed with chains and lug wrenches. The bikers attacked, with the two creatures bashing, thrashing, and punching everyone that came close. Eventually, the bikers began piling on top of them. Finally. Brooklyn shoved them all off. Raph picked up one stray biker and threw him aside.
'"If humans are good at one thing, it's pickin fights." Raph remarked, drawing his sai.
"If these, 'pigs' wanna fight," Brooklyn replied, tearing off what was left of his jacket. "They got one!"
One biker pulled out a wrench and tried to attack him, but Raph caught it in his sai and twisted it out of his hands before punching him out. Brooklyn picked one biker up and threw him into a stack of bikes knocking them down.
"And here I was, just trying to fit in!" Brooklyn roared.
"Hate to say it," Raph said, kicking another biker aside. "But that's a fool's dream!"
"So I've learned."
Brooklyn then grabbed two more bikers and threw them aside, one after another. Finally, only one was left. He seemed to realize that as he pulled out a gun.
"Let's see if you freaks are bulletproof!"
"Try it, and we'll see if you're sai proof," Raph threw back, spinning his signature weapon.
As the biker aimed his gun at them, something swooped down and struck his hand, causing him to shoot past the two of them as the bullet hit Brooklyn's bike, causing it to explode.
"My bike!" he screamed, eyes glowing brightly from pure rage.
The biker saw his rage and dropped the gun in fear.
"If I were you pal, I'd run," Raph told him.
The biker then bolted in the opposite direction. Once he was gone, Raph turned back to Brooklyn. "You ok, tough guy?"
Brooklyn was anything but. He stared at the burning remains of his bike, the glow never leaving his eyes. "I can't believe it… They just attacked us. We didn't do anything to them, and they attacked us."
"Hate to break it to ya, but that's kinda par for the course in the Big Apple," Raph told him, walking towards him.
"I thought things would be different after a thousand years," Brooklyn admitted.
"Humans never change," a familiar female voice declared.
Raph and Brooklyn turned around to see an all too familiar figure in the shadows.
"You again," Raph growled.
"Demona..." Brooklyn snarled.
Demona approached the pair, her wings wrapped around her and her hands up in a pacifying gesture. "Easy, I just want to talk."
"Talk to the sai!" Raph declared, aiming his weapons at her, "'cause the ears ain't interested.
"Yeah, last time you wanted to 'talk' you tried to kill us! " Brooklyn added.
"That was then," Demona tried to reason.
"And this is goodbye!" Raph responded as he and Brooklyn turned to leave.
"Wait!" Demona begged. The two stopped, hearing the desperation in her voice. "I was wrong to attack you back at the castle. None of you deserved it. I was mad with grief and sorrow."
"Cry me a river," Raph grumbled.
"If you knew even a fraction of what I have seen for the last thousand years, you would not be so dismissive, troll."
"Thousand years?" Brooklyn questioned, turning back around. "I thought you were under the sleeping curse like the rest of us."
"A necessary lie," Demona explained. "You wouldn't believe the true story if I told you."
"Now that, I do believe," Raph retorted.
"Just let me explain, please," she insisted, reaching out for Brooklyn's arm.
"Stay back!" Brooklyn told her, pulling his arm away.
She did as she was told, retracting her arm. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but you and I have history. We were brothers and sisters in arms. We fought the same battles, shared the same loss. Surely that counts for something…"
"That was a lifetime ago," Brooklyn brushed aside.
"Well if it weren't for me, that human would have shot you both. Shouldn't that entitle me to a moment of your time?"
Brooklyn let out a sigh of resentment. "Alright."
"Brooklyn, are you serious?" Raph asked.
"I'll hear her out, that's it," Brooklyn told him. "I owe her that much at least."
Raph sighed as well, knowing he was resigned to it.
"Fine," Raph relented, putting his sai away. "But make it quick Demona."
Sirens began wailing in the distance, a sound that had all three of them on high alert.
"We should leave quickly," Demona insisted. "Human law enforcement will be here any minute."
"Right," Raph agreed. "We did leave a bit of a mess."
Brooklyn then picked up Raph as he and Demons took off.
…
Back at the castle, Willow sat on the edge of the tallest tower, looking out at the city horizon. She was doodling aimlessly in a sketchbook creating a few crude drawings of gargoyles and turtles. Mikey was walking past when he caught notice of her.
"Hey Willow," He greeted, walking towards her. "What's up?"
"Just waiting on Brooklyn and the others to get back," she answered. "He promised he'd take me for a spin on that new motorcycle they were working on once they finished testing it."
"Cool," Mikey replied as he eyed the drawings. "Taking up an art class?"
"Nah. Drawing is just a good exercise in fine motor skills, something I'm still struggling with." She looked down at her hand, glowering at it like it had offended her. "Dad says I used to draw a lot, and that I was good at it. I want to be good again."
"Looks like a pretty good start to me," he commented, then her words registered. "Hold up. What do you mean, again?"
She sat up, snapping the book shut and forcing a smile on her face as she waved it off. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."
Mikey just shrugged as Lexington and Broadway flew in, the latter carrying Donnie.
"Hey guys," Mikey greeted as they landed.
"Is Brooklyn with you?" Willow asked eagerly.
"Nah, he and Raph are out joyriding," Broadway answered.
"I hope they don't stay out too late," Lexington remarked. "There's still a few things i need to fix on the bike."
"Hey, it's just Raph and Brooklyn," Mikey responded. "How much trouble could they get into?"
Everyone exchanged worried looks.
"...right. I forgot who I was talking about for a minute."
…
On a rooftop high above the city, Raph and Brooklyn were listening to Demona's words on humanity.
"I want to help you, help all of you.
"Newsflash, lady," Raph interjected. "We don't need, nor want your help."
"You seemed to a few moments ago," Demona responded. "What did you do to upset them?"
"Nothing," Brooklyn replied. "They attacked us without reason."
"Exactly." Demona placed her hand on his shoulder. "That's what humans are like."
"But, Goliath said that once humans get used to us-" Brooklyn began to reply.
"They were used to us a thousand years ago. That didn't stop them from betraying and destroying us."
"Humans suck, no argument here," Raph agreed. "I grew up in this city, remember?"
"Then you know the true depths of human depravity, Raphael," Demona told him.
"What're you playing at, Demona?" Brooklyn questioned.
"What say you, troll? Shall we show our friend what this species is truly capable of?"
Raph fumed a bit, not wanting Brooklyn to be persuaded by Demona, but he knew the gargoyle would find out eventually. "Fine."
"Excellent." Demona then flew off, with Brooklyn following behind with Raph in his arms.
…
As the gargoyles and turtle flew through the night sky, they heard a scream go off beneath them. The two gargoyles landed, Brooklyn setting Raph down and all three of them turning their gazes to the streets below. A young woman struggled to hold onto her purse as a young punk wrestled her for it. After a moment, the punk won, taking off with his stolen loot.
"He's getting away!" Raph snarled.
"It doesn't matter if he gets away or if he is captured," Demona announced. "Even if he is arrested, he would be out in a day. You've seen this happen with Xanatos already."
Raph wanted to respond, but he just fell silent, knowing she was right. Brooklyn was the same, already seeing the faults in human justice. Demona took off a second time, and Brooklyn quickly followed with Raph in tow.
…
After some more flying, the small group landed outside an apartment building. Brooklyn and Raph peered inside to see a couple yelling at each other.
"His grades stink and his friends are nothing but hoodlums!" the man yelled.
"What do you care?!" the woman screamed. "You're never home anyway!"
She then picked up a vase and chucked it at her husband. He dodged it and it shattered on the wall. Brooklyn and Raph watched in dismay, then the two's attention was called to the door. They looked to see a kid, most likely the couple's son, running out of the building and into the night, wiping away tears forming in his eyes
"They can't even share their homes without fighting," Demona continued. "They do not even notice their own young running off. Do you honestly think they will share this world with us?"
…
The three had moved across town, standing on a rooftop and viewing what looked like a murder on the street. Forensic teams were photographing the area, picking up a murder weapon to be analyzed. The morticians bagged the unfortunate victim, carting them off to be autopsied. The three creatures observed from atop the adjacent building.
"They hold each other's lives completely without worth," Demona said with a shake of her head. "Do you honestly think they would accept us with open arms?"
"What about the human friends we've made?" Brooklyn asked. "Elisa? Willow?"
"Yeah, and my bros and I have made some human friends ourselves," Raph added. "Humanity is rotten to be sure, but they ain't all bad."
"Suppose there are a few exceptions to the rule," Demona allowed. "They are a scant few in a city of millions. They cannot protect you, just as the Captain could not protect our clan. We cannot trust them, only ourselves."
"Sounds pretty narrow minded, Demona," Raph told her.
"You want an example, fine." She said. "Your friend Willow. Has she told you that she is not Xanatos' true child?"
That legitimately threw both parties for a loop.
"What are you talking about?" Brooklyn asked.
"Willow Xanatos does not share any blood ties with David Xanatos. Before she was Willow Xanatos, she was someone else entirely. A different name, a different family, a different life."
"So she was adopted, so what?" Raph interjected.
"So if she kept this from those she considers her friends, who's to say what else she might be keeping from you. She could have even been in league with Xanatos from the beginning."
"No way!" Brooklyn snarled, tears of betrayal in his eyes. "She wouldn't-"
"Don't you find it odd that she didn't inform you of the truth of the Pack until after their trap was sprung?" Demona offered up. "If she truly had your best interest at heart, she would have told you immediately."
"I… well, she got hurt during that!" Brooklyn tried to reason.
"Selling her performance," Demona dismissed. "Anything to get you to trust her."
By now, even Raph was beginning to question Willow's loyalty. "So what do you suggest?"
"We must be united. Standing strong together and be willing to do whatever it takes to deal with the humans."
"Doubt Goliath or the others will see it that way," Brooklyn remarked.
"That is why we must make them see the truth. Humanity will never trust, or accept us."
"And how exactly do you expect to do that?" Raph asked. "No offense, but you don't have the best track record with Goliath these days."
"I've thought of that. The Grimorum Arcanorum contains a truth spell that will open Goliath's eyes. The same can be done to either your leader Leonardo, or your Master Splinter. Once they see the truth, the rest will follow."
Raph and Brooklyn considered this, looking back over the crime scene as the law enforcement vehicles drove off.
"When should we get it to you?" Raph asked.
Demona smiled in response.
…
Back at the castle, the gargoyles were taking their places on the battlements as the turtles and Willow looked out for Brooklyn and Raph.
"Great, first Lex and Donnie, now Raph and Brooklyn," Leo let out. "This is starting to get repetitive."
"Look, there they are!" Willow cheered, pointing to a figure on the horizon.
Brooklyn swooped in towards the tower, dropping Raph onto the ground. Willow immediately ran up to him, careful on her casted leg as she prepared to hug him. He just brushed past her, much to her confusion.
"Uh, so," Leo let out, trying to make things less awkward. "How was your little joyride?"
"Illuminating..." Brooklyn let out, stalking towards his post.
"Let's just go home, Leo," Raph insisted. "I uh… need to talk to Master Splinter about something."
"O...kay." Leo was more than a little weirded out. "You good Raph?"
"It's just been a long night," he replied, heading towards the elevator. "C'mon."
Leo just nodded as he, Donnie, and Mikey caught up with him, passing Elisa as they walked by.
"Hi Elisa," Mikey said. "Bye Elisa."
"Hey guys," she greeted as she made her way up the tower. "Goliath!"
"Elisa," Goliath greeted. "Is something wrong?"
"There will be. Xanatos' sentence is almost up. He'll be out of jail in a month."
"What?" Willow let out. "It's only been a month! How could his sentence have been reduced so much?"
"Time off for good behavior I guess," Elisa said with a shrug. "But that's far from the biggest issue. He'll be returning to the castle, and he'll be out for blood."
"So you have said," Goliath replied. "I've said we have nothing to worry. Xanatos was beaten. The castle is ours now."
"How do we know that?" Brooklyn asked. "What if you're wrong and he tries taking it back?"
"He will take it back," Willow announced. "I know that much. Maybe it would be best if you guys found a new place to live."
"If and when Xanatos returns, we will deal with it," Goliath spoke. "But we are not leaving!"
"But Goliath-"
Before Brooklyn could finish, the sun rose and the gargoyles turned to stone. Elisa and Willow looked up at the sun in surprise.
"Well, that's one way to avoid a conversation," Elisa quipped.
She turned and walked away, Willow giving Brooklyn's statue a quick, worried glance.
…
Back at the turtle's lair, Raph found himself in the dojo, wailing on his usual punching bag. The truths Demona shared with him were still fresh in his mind as he dealt blow after blow. He couldn't help but shake the notion that Demona was right.
"Raphael."
Raph perked up, looking over and seeing Splinter standing in the entryway.
"You have been at that for some time," Splinter noted. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah…" Raph tried to brush off.
Splinter simply nodded before turning to leave, causing Raph to sigh.
"Wait," he let out, causing Splinter to stop. "There… is something. Can we talk?"
"Of course, my son," Splinter replied, walking into the dojo. "What is on your mind?"
Raph leaned against a wall, trying to articulate his thoughts
"It's..." he began, unsure of how to put his feelings into words, "Do you think humans will ever accept us?"
Splinter stroked his goatee in response to this. "That is a… difficult question to answer. Humanity has a nature to fear what it does not understand. It takes remarkable circumstances to break that nature. What brought this on?"
"I've just been… thinking. It's just…. If humans will never accept us then what's the point of protecting them? Why should we stick our necks out for a species that will never accept us?"
"Because acceptance has never been our goal." Splinter reached out, putting a hand on Raph's shoulder. "Just as fear is the nature of humans, the desire to protect and preserve life is ours. You and your brothers have been raised by the ideals of Bushido. The ideals of honor and justice, to protect those who can't protect themselves."
Raph sighed forlornly. "You make it sound so easy."
"It rarely is, though we should not let it discourage us. Even humans have trouble finding acceptance among their own, yet they continue to do what is right."
"I guess so," Raph admitted.
"Though there is a comfort in all this. We do have those who would fight by our sides. April, Casey, and now the gargoyles. While they may be few in numbers, they are there, and they care for us no matter what we look like. So in that respect, we are never alone."
Raph smiled at this, realizing Splinter's point. "Thanks Master Splinter. That helps a lot."
"Anytime my son," Splinter said in response as Raph left the room.
…
Dusk soon arrived, and the residents of the Eyrie Building were slowly waking up. The gargoyles stretched and shed their stone skin as Willow came out to greet them.
"Hey Willow!" Broadway greeted.
"Willow, always a pleasure to see you when we awake," Goliath spoke.
"Thanks guys," she greeted. "Owen's got breakfast out in the dining hall. Enough pancakes and bacon that even Broadway won't be able to eat them all."
"Sweet!" Broadway let out. "You coming, Brooklyn?"
"... Maybe later," Brooklyn finally spoke.
"Oh come on, Brooklyn," Willow insisted. "I even managed to snag you some of that molasses you like."
"No thanks," Brooklyn responded sternly.
Willow raised an eyebrow in confusion as he walked away, heading into the building.
"What's with him?" Lex asked.
"No clue," Willow replied as the elevator opened up and the turtles came out.
"Guys, have you seen Brooklyn?" Raph asked, sounding a bit desperate.
"He kinda stormed off in a huff," Willow admitted. "He's been giving me the cold shoulder too."
"Which direction?" Raph asked.
"I'll show you. I want to talk to him."
"Great, let's go!"
The two then went off into the building as the others went to get breakfast.
…
Brooklyn entered a small art gallery deep within the building. Among the many treasures and art pieces displayed, one stood out to the red gargoyle: the Grimorum. He lifted up the glass case, picking up the book. He turned around to leave with it, coming face to face with Raph and Willow.
"Okay Brooklyn, what's going on?" Willow demanded.
"Nothing that concerns you," Brooklyn replied.
"No, don't give me that," Willow snapped. "Talk to me, please. I'm your friend."
"You're not thinking straight, Brook," Raph told him. "You can't do this."
"Since when did you become a saint?" Brooklyn asked. "You were on board with me last night."
"Except while you were in a stone sleep, I had a chance to clear my mind," Raph retorted. "You're still letting Demona cloud yours!"
"Demona?!" Willow let out. "She's still alive?! Did she hurt you? What did she do?"
"She told me the truth!" Brooklyn answered. "Which is more than you've done."
Willow blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? She shook her head. "What are you talking about?"
"Were you ever going to tell me you weren't Xanatos' kid?" Brooklyn asked.
"Not Xanatos'..." Willow went pale. "How did you…"
"Demona told us., Raph told her. "Some sick attempt to turn us against humanity."
"Brooklyn please," Willow pleaded. "You have to understand that I-"
"No, I'm done listening to you," he declared. "Both of you!"
He turned quickly, hitting them both with his tail and knocking them hard into the wall. They slumped hard against it, out cold.
…
After a short while of gliding, Brooklyn reached the rendezvous point where Demona had arranged to meet with him, a castle known as the Cloisters.
"I knew you'd come," Demona told him, coming out of the shadows. "Where is Raphael?"
"He… he changed his mind," He told her.
"A shame," She lamented. "I guess it will have to be just us gargoyles going forward."
"I guess so," Brooklyn agreed, pulling out the Grimorum. "I brought the book."
Demona smiled as she took it from him.
"Excellent. Now all we need is Goliath. But how to get him here?"
"I'll handle that. Anything to make him see the truth."
"I knew I could count on you," Demona told him. "Take your time. I must study the spell. It's complex, and I cannot afford to make a mistake."
"Right. See you soon."
Brooklyn then took off, leaving Demona to study her spell.
…
Slowly, Raph stirred from his little slumber.
"Is he okay?" Leo's voice seemed to ask.
"Ya think I have enough time to draw on his face?" Mikey's voice pondered.
"Don't...even think about it…" Raph replied, regaining consciousness.
"That's a no," Mikey lamented.
"Are you two okay?" Leo asked, helping Raph up as Lex and Broadway helped up Willow. "What happened?"
"Brooklyn," Willow answered, rubbing her head. "He stole the Grimorum."
"He what?!" everyone sans Raph exclaimed.
"Why would he do that?" Broadway asked.
"Last night, he and I ran into Demona and she tried to sway us to join her," Raph answered. "I talked to Master Splinter and he helped me realize she was full of it."
"I thought I saw you two talking earlier," Leo recalled. "Well Brooklyn just left with Goliath. We have no idea where he's going."
"I do," Raph reassured. "Demona told us to meet her at a place called the Cloisters."
"Whatever she has planned for him, I don't think it's good," Willow let out.
"Then we better haul shell!" Leo declared.
…
Meanwhile, Brooklyn and Goliath arrived at the Cloisters. Goliath looked around at the structure before him.
"See?" Brooklyn spoke up. "What'd I tell you? It's just like the world we come from."
"It's beautiful," Goliath commended. "I wish we had brought the others."
"It's good you didn't," Demona declared, stepping out of the shadows with the Grimorum in her grasp. "We wanted you here alone after all."
"Demona!" Goliath let out in surprise. "So, you did survive."
"I always survive," Demona retorted, flipping through the Grimorum's pages.
"The Grimorum," Goliath noted. "Brooklyn, what is going on here?"
"Just listen to her, Goliath," Brooklyn insisted. "She has something very important she has to say to you."
"Yes Goliath. Listen…and obey." Demona lifted a hand and wiggled her claws slightly, gathering a small bit of power. "Sine Dubio Instantium!"
The power Demona had gathered quickly shot at Goliath. It enveloped him, seeping into his very skin as he howled in pain. Goliath then fell to his knees as the spell took hold over him, his eyes becoming a solid green. In fact, they were the same shade of the power Demona had summoned. He slowly got to his feet, just standing there like a zombie. This unnatural behavior instantly freaked out Brooklyn.
"What's happened? What have you done? I thought the spell was supposed to open his eyes."
"It will," Demona confirmed. "Watch. Humans are our enemies."
"Humans are our enemies," Goliath repeated, his voice devoid of life and emotion.
Brooklyn lurched back in shock.
"No, this wasn't the plan," Brooklyn responded. "I-I wanted to open his mind, not enslave it!"
"That's what you get for trusting that witch!" Raph shouted.
Brooklyn and Demona looked up to see the turtles, Broadway, Lexington, and Willow arriving at the castle.
"I suppose now would be a bad time for an 'I-told-you-so'?" Raph guessed.
"Say it all you want when we save Goliath!" Brooklyn told him before charging at Demona. "Give me that book!"
"Brooklyn wait!" she insisted, holding the book close to her chest as she backed herself against a wall. "You must trust me-"
"I was a fool to trust you!" Brooklyn snapped. "Raphael was right, you were clouding my mind! Well not anymore!"
"Goliath! Restrain him!" Demona ordered.
Goliath then lumbered towards Brooklyn. Broadway and Mikey leapt onto him, trying to hold him down. Goliath grabbed Mikey and threw him off. He then picked up Broadway and tossed him into an oncoming Donnie. Lexington leapt onto his back and wrapped his tail around his neck.
"Goliath, you don't have to do this!" Lexington tried, keeping his tail tight. "Please, fight her!"
Goliath then grabbed Lex but the tail and threw him into Brooklyn, knocking him away from Demona. Leo then ran towards Goliath and clashed his swords against his claws. Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu as Goliath tried slashing at him,
"Goliath please!" Leo insisted. "We're not your enemies! Demona is!"
Goliath then spun around and whipped Leo with his tail, knocking him aside. Goliath then moved towards Brooklyn, who was quick to get back up and out of his way.
"Goliath, it's me, Brooklyn!" He practically shouted. "Stop!"
Goliath made a grab from Brooklyn, but the red gargoyle easily slipped away. Meanwhile, Willow approached Demona with what looked like a wooden baseball bat in her hands. She swung it at Demona, but the she-gargoyle easily dodged.
"Foolish human!" she snarled, kicking at Willow's leg.
Willow shrieked, the bat tumbling from her grasp as she fell to her knees.
"Did you honestly believe that you could stand a chance against me?"
"It's called a distraction, lady." Willow replied, still holding her leg. "Broadway, the book!"
Broadway then tackled Demona in a mad attempt to get the book. As the two tussled, Broadway tried to pull the book away. Demona had a death grip on it though, not so easily willing to let go of her power.
"Why are you fighting me, Broadway?" Demona questioned. "Don't you see? This is the only way for our clan to survive!"
"You brainwashed Goliath!" Broadway told her. "Why should we ever listen to you?!"
Demona snarled, her eyes glowing brightly as she kicked Broadway away. She then flipped the book open a second time in annoyance. "You will listen to me, Broadway. "All of you will!"
Before she could do anything else, Mikey's chain wrapped around the book and he pulled it away, sending it sliding across the floor. Willow dove for it, covering the book with her body and curling up around it.
"Goliath, please!" she begged. "Stop attacking us!"
Goliath then suddenly stopped in his tracks. Everyone blinked in surprise, and Demona howled in rage.
"The spell!" she shrieked,
She tried moving to reclaim the book before Mikey's chain caught her around the waist.
"I get it," Brooklyn pieced together. "Whoever controls the spell controls Goliath."
"In that case, Goliath!" Willow called out. "Stop Demona!"
Goliath then moved towards Demona, much to her irritation. She snapped the chains on Mikey's kusarigama, quickly dodging around Goliath and moving towards Willow. She picked her up and tore the book away.
"Insolent human!" she fumed. "Do you think I've come this far just to let you stop me now?!"
She threw Willow across the room, where Brooklyn quickly caught her. Demona then turned back to Goliath, who was still closing in on her.
"Goliath, destroy them all!" she ordered.
Goliath did no such thing, continuing his assault on Demona.
"What? What is happening?"
Willow began laughing, holding up a set of papers in her hands. "You may hold the book, but I hold the spell," she taunted, tucking the papers into her jacket. "Goliath, get that book!"
Goliath charged at Demona, trying to grab the book. She barely dodged him however, and struck him in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. Before she could make another move, Raph tackled her to the ground.
"You're not gettin away that easily, sister!" Raph told her.
"Unhand me, troll!" she told him, punching him off.
As he stumbled back, she got up and picked him up into the air, throwing him at Goliath, knocking them both down. She then picked the book back up and made her way up to a stain glass window.
"We have to go after her!" Brooklyn declared, already running towards the windows.
"C'mon guys, hurry!" Raph insisted.
She crashed through the window and flew off, with Goliath and the other gargoyles following afterward. The turtles vaulted through the window as well, taking off on foot.
…
Demona soared through the sky, almost every member of the Manhattan Clan on her tail. Realizing that she wouldn't be able to get away easily with the Grimorum in hand, she quickly opened the book, ripping several pages out, tucking them into her top. Goliath then swooped in and tackled Demona, causing the two to plummet towards the ground. Demona twisted herself around, using the book as a club to strike Goliath as they fell, tumbling over one another until they struck a tree. They separated, the book flying across the ground.
Goliath went for the book, but Demona grabbed a large rock, chucking it at him. He dodged it easily, forcing Demona to dive for the book quickly. She just barely managed to grab it before she was forced to evade Goliath's attacks once more.
"Even with no will of your own, you're a force to be reckoned with." Demona reluctantly admitted.
"What does that make us?" Donnie asked as he and the turtles came up with their weapons pointed at her.
Demona snarled loudly, then lifted the book over her head.
"You win, this time!" she declared before throwing the Grimorum over the side of a steep cliff and taking off into the sky.
"NO!" Brooklyn screamed.
Goliath took off after the book, still obeying Willow's orders. He managed to grab it seconds before it hit the water flowing at the bottom of the cliff. He landed in front of Brooklyn, who was still holding Willow, offering her the book. She took it, holding it to her chest.
"We've got the book," she sighed.
"Think there's a spell that can snap him out of it?" Mikey asked.
"If there is, we'll find it," Leo promised.
"Then let's go home," Brooklyn decided.
…
Back at the castle, Willow tore through the Grimorum looking for some way to snap Goliath out of his trance. She sifted through each page, getting more and more desperate.
"Nothing!" she proclaimed. "I can't find a single reversal spell in the book!"
"You mean he's going to stay like this forever?" Broadway asked.
"This is all my fault," Brooklyn let out. "I never should have trusted Demona. I'm so sorry everyone."
"Hey, she got under my shell too," Raph reminded.
"At least you could see through her lies."
"Hey, don't beat yourself up," Leo insisted. "There's gotta be a way to reverse this. Any ideas, Donnie?"
"Hey I'm a scientist, not a sorcerer," Donnie replied. "This isn't as easy as rebooting a computer."
There was a moment of silence, then Leo perked up, an idea forming.
"Hey..." He let out, "Maybe we can reboot Goliath."
"What do you mean, Lad?" Hudson asked.
"Willow, hand me the spell," Leo requested.
She pulled the loose pages out of the book, handing them over him.
"Alright Goliath," Leo commanded. "I order you to spend the rest of your life acting like you were never under the spell."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Goliath blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes. As he lowered his claws, his eyes had returned to normal, and a smile grew on his face.
"Very clever Leonardo," he complimented. "It worked."
The turtles and gargoyles cheered in response to this.
"Goliath, I am so sorry," Brooklyn apologized. "Everything Demona said… it sounded like the truth."
"Of course it did," Goliath replied. "It's a half-truth that she has thoroughly embraced. But it's not the whole truth."
"Yeah," Raph agreed. "True humanity has some issues, and they don't think highly of creatures like us, but we still have friends out there, and we can't let the hatred of others distract us from that."
Brooklyn nodded in agreement, then Willow stepped forward.
"Brook… You need to know that I didn't keep my adoption a secret to be mean. Hurting you was never my intention. Honestly…" She took a deep breath, as if gathering her strength. "I was… in an accident. I never learned the full details, only that it was bad. So bad that… that I had to relearn how to be a person."
That stunned everyone on the roof. "The doctors said I had the mental capacity of an infant, that I would most likely end up being disabled for the rest of my life. I couldn't do anything for myself. I couldn't walk, couldn't feed myself… and everything about who I was previously was erased."
"Whoa…" Brooklyn let out.
"That's what you meant before," Mikey realized.
Willow nodded. "I don't know who I was before I was Willow Xanatos, but thanks to Dad and Owen, I was able to defy the odds and regain my independence."
"At least this explains why you knew squat about the city," Raph commented. "I just assumed you were some sheltered rich kid."
"In a way, I am…" Willow turned back to Brooklyn. "But… I hope I'm also your friend."
"Of course you are," the red gargoyle replied without a moment of hesitation,
The two exchanged smiles, then hugged one another happily. As the two of them reconciled, the sky began to slowly lighten, signaling the dawn of a new day.
"Come," Goliath declared. "Dawn approaches."
The gargoyles hopped onto their roosts, Lexington finally remembering something.
"Hey, what happened to the motorcycle?" Lex asked.
Brooklyn looked sheepish, running his claws through his hair in embarrassment. "Umm… It… Blew up."
"Oh." Lex then registered what Brooklyn said. "Wait, what?!"
He immediately froze, leaving Willow and the turtles smiling in response. Leo placed a hand on Raph's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you bro," He told him. "You stepped up big time tonight."
"Eh, any of you guys would have done the same, I'm sure," Raph dismissed.
Leo smirked, then ushered all of his brothers out of the tower and off to home.