Gargoyles: A Second Chance

by 416851

One moment can change someone's life instantly. Chelsea is your average warrior gargoyle who was raised at Castle Wyvern in Scotland. Then, everything changed when betrayal hit her and six other gargoyles hard... After a 1000 year sleep, she and her clan are awaken in Manhattan, a strange new world to them. But to Chelsea, it somehow seems familiar to her, but she's not sure why.

17. Buried Secrets

You know what I learned in making this chapter? Well, the truth is...IT TAKES FOREVER! I mean, it took my very soul to get this dang thing done, and wow it was worth it!

I'm so sorry you guys had to wait on this, but now your patience has come to an end! Hope ya'll enjoy this, and the wait was worth it!

Gargoyles belong to Greg Weisman/Disney

OCS in here belong to me!

---

Scotland, 976 A.D.

A clear night at Castle Wyvern, one which is one of the calmest, and has the best winds for the warriors to go on patrol. It especially is great for the little soon to be warriors learning to glide.

On one of the taller towers, one of the females in charge of the rookery (dark orange skin with ram horns, a long black braid and wearing a brown dress) was teaching the hatchlings to glide. Even though the hatchlings started gliding 2 to 3 years after they were hatched, it was good for them to exercise their wing muscles incase anything like an attack or ambush in the castle would happen and would have to evacuate.

The female smiled with pride as she saw some hatchlings gliding as if they were flying their whole life. "Very good everyone! Now remember, don't fight with the gusts of wind, let your wings guide you!"

She turned her head to her left and saw a trio of misfits having the time of their lives. A scrawny red gargoyle with a mop of stark white hair along with an aqua blue potbelly were chasing an olive-green gargoyle with webbed wings, and looked they were having fun thanks to their excited chortles.

"Now," the female pointed up and counted at each of the hatchlings silently. When she finished, she raised a pointed eye ridge. "One's missing." Looking at each of the hatchlings closely, then sighed. She knew who was missing.

She groaned. "Now where did she go this time…?"

---

A young hum was heard coming down the cliffs toward the beach. Her hum was soft as she played a little tune down a winding path. Skipping a stone with her taloned foot, the young female hatching with robin's egg skin with her horns curved back over her long brown hair made it down to the beach with no trouble.

She looked up toward where Castle Wyvern stood and was relieved she didn't see anyone. She hoped no one saw her run off down here all by herself. As much as it was dangerous for her, she didn't even want to stay in the castle when the hatchlings weekly gliding lessons were happening.

The young hatching's talons were touched by soft grained sand as she went to a little pool of seawater at the base of the cliff. Herself being reflected at her. She gave out a small frown as she stared at herself. Her wings were fanned out behind her in a relaxed presence. Her frown then turned into a glare. Her wings…oh how she hated them. This was her reason in hiding away from the others and her gliding lesson.

She still can't glide.

When she first tried to glide, her wings didn't pick up the gust of wind to lift her off the ground, and instead brought her down into the dirt. She remembered the other hatchings laugh at her, and how embarrassed she felt as all eyes were on her. She didn't know what happened next because she ran down to the rookery to hide from everyone. She was comforted by the second in command or his mate, but she was still upset that she was unable to glide like her rookery brothers and sisters.

The young hatchling shook her head. "Why can't I still glide?" With some effort, she wrapped her wings around herself and gently touched the necklace pendent she was wearing. For some reason, every time she touched the pendent, it always gave her a sense of comfort and warmth from the negative things going around her. It was as if a strange presence was with her to comfort her, and she couldn't see it.

"Hey look!"

The young female gasped. She looked up and saw two male hatchings, one with dark orange skin while the other was a dark gray. Each with a mop of brown and black hair, and wings fanned out behind them as they glided down toward her like vultures looking at a dead carcass.

"It's the runt that can't glide!" the gray gargoyle chortled.

The female trembled in fear as the two males surrounded her. Both of them circled around her, each of them leering at her like predators. She held herself close as panic flown through her body, her breaths quickened as the grey one came close to her.

"What are you doing here runt?" he asked.

The female didn't say anything as she tried to get as far away from them. As she took a step back, the two males would inch toward her.

"Came down here to swallow in grief that you still can't glide?" the orange one pushed.

That made the female give a pout. "I can glide!"

"Really? Then why do you always fall in the dirt like a rock?!"

The female felt her cheeks flush out, but she made a brave face. "Because my wings aren't ready!"

The orange male smirked behind as he went behind her and grabbed her right outer wing. That made the female squeak.

"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed. She felt her wing being pulled roughly as pain pulsed where she was grabbed. "Let go!"

"Are these wings even real?" the gray gargoyle teased rudely. He pressed his claws against the female's outer membrane, feeling the stretched skin against his palm. "They feel like paper than actual wings!"

"There not paper!" the female let out with a yelp. She felt her wings being bent in a different direction, and claws digging into them. "You're hurting me!"

"How can you be hurt there when they don't even work for you?" the orange one sneered.

Before he could do any more, wing flaps were heard from up above. All three looked up and saw a silhouette of a gargoyle circling down toward the beaches.

"Oh no! Someone's coming!" the gray male yelped.

"Quick hide!" the orange male ordered.

The grey gargoyle nodded with fright. Both of them pushed the female hatching to the side and ran off into the rocks to hide.

The hatchling coughed as sand went into her mouth and hair. She shook her head as she tried to get back to her feet but cringed as she felt her back shaken in pain.

"There you are!"

The female looked up and saw one of her rookery mothers land on the sandy beaches. It was her gliding teacher, and her crossed face told her she didn't look happy. She went down to the hatchlings height as she brought her claws to the child's shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" the mother demanded.

The hatchling tried to find the words to say, but the mother shook her head.

"How many times do I have to tell you child," she chastised. "You are too young to be by yourself by the beaches. What if you were captured by the enemy? Or get caught in the ocean current?"

The child felt her body fill up with anxiety as her rookery mothers' words hit her like an arrow. Her eyes welled up into tears as her breaths were hard and shaken. The rookery mother had noticed this because she took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled." She said in a calm tone. She brought the child to her chest as she gently rubbed her back. "Shh, It's alright child. You are not in trouble."

Even with her rookery mother's soothed words, the hatchling was anything but fine. As she was held, the child felt her grief still present within her. Unable to be drained away from the comfort of love. Being held by someone like her teacher didn't help her in any way. The child winced when the rookery mother brushed her claw over her right outer wing.

"Huh?" the mother looked down at her and saw her pained face. "What is it?"

"My wings…" the child murmured.

"What?" the mother turned her around, and gasped. Never expecting what she discovered. The hatchling's outer wings were starting to form bluish black marks where her wings connect to her back, and on both outer fingers of her wings.

The mother looked at the child with a scared but serious face. "Where did you get these bruises?"

"I…I…" the child tried to speak up, but felt her throat tighten as she tried to find her words. She looked up at her rookery mother with a frighten stare. She saw her rookery mother's eyes wide with shock, and her face clearly showing worry.

The mother sighed, then looked at the child. ."It's alright my dear, I understand." the mother lifted up, then took the child in her arms. "Let's take you to the healers and make you well."

"O-Okay." The hatchling wrapped her claws around her rookery mother's neck and looked away from her with a crestfallen look.

She heard her mother give out a sigh. "I know it's hard child, but it just takes time. You will glide eventually."

The child didn't say anything as her rookery mother carried her up the makeshift path that led up the castle on the cliff. As much as she was told that her wings will glide her someday, that wasn't the reason she was upset…

---

Present Day, Manhattan

Bronx whined as he laid out on his perch. His eyes still haven't turned away from the lighten night sky.

Ever since the clan returned to the clocktower from going after Maggie, the beast hasn't left his spot looking for any sign of Chelsea's return. Even being told to come inside, the beast still hasn't left his spot.

"Lass still hasn't returned?" Hudson asked as he stroked the beast's head.

The beast whined with sorrow as he turned to his companion. The older gargoyle sighed as he jumped on his own perch at the corner. Coming out of the clockface, Goliath went to his own perch to prepare for dawn.

Hudson turned to his leader. A look of sorrow was on his wise face. "How's Elisa?"

The leader sighed. His stoic stature slightly slouched. "She's resting, I told her she can stay in the clocktower for the day." he shook his head. "She's still grieving for…the loss of her brother."

Hudson nodded, then narrowed his eyes. "I never thought Xanatos could do something so…vile."

The leader nodded with a gruff. He turned his claw into a fist, then rumbled. "Xanatos has gone too far…If only I…" He stopped, knowing what's done is done. Wanting to change the subject, he turned to the elder as he looked down at the depressed beast. "What's wrong with Bronx?"

Hudson sighed. "He's worried about Chelsea; the lass still hasn't come back yet."

Goliath raised an eye ridge. "That's not like her. Why did she leave?"

"After you and others went to confront Xanatos, Chelsea said she wanted to be alone."

The leader narrowed his eyes. He looked toward the glowing horizon of dawn, then shook his head. From last night, he knew exactly why she ran off, but he didn't want to point the finger at anyone. Being away from the clocktower through the whole night was something Chelsea would never do, which he knew something was wrong. Hearing the clock door close behind, he turned and saw the trio heading to their own individual perch. He saw the red gargoyle slump on his perch while the aqua and olive gargoyle gave tight lip expressions.

"She probably perched somewhere for the day," Goliath announced to the others. "If Chelsea doesn't return home after sunset," he felt his throat tighten, and shook it off. "I don't want to think of it."

As soon as the now six gargoyles went their fierce statures, the sun rose up on the horizon, turning them back to stone statues for the day.

---

As the morning slowly went on through the day, Genu-Tech was at hard work on other projects. After the incident with one of the experiments escaping along with the other two who were somehow taken to the companies owner, everyone carried on with other projects that needed to be complete.

When everyone saw 'Sevarius' return back from the grave, the head man told his colleagues that he was merely buzzed by those electric eels, and not killed. He told everyone that there's nothing to worry about, which everyone decided to get back to work.

Speaking of Dr. Sevarius, he was in his office working on some new proposals when his desk phone rang. He merely grumbled that he was being bothered, but picked up the phone anyway and placed it next his ear.

"Sevarius speaking," he answered through the phone.

Muffling was heard on the other line. The scientist narrowed his eyes, but his features changed into a fake smile. "Dr. Phobos, my old colleague, what can I do for you?"

Muffling was heard again, which Sevarius scrunched his eyebrows. "You have what?" Muffling was heard again, and the scientists eyes bulged. "And you want what? A test subject?"

Muffling was heard again. The good doctor nodded again with gleam. "And what do I get in this new project? Because it sounds close to my mutant experiment." Muffling was heard one more time. When it stopped, Sevarius nodded with a bored expression. "Very well, I know someone who can…help. I'll call you again when it's done."

With that, Sevarius hanged up the phone, and brought his hands together in front of him. He gave a twisted smile as he had an idea who can help. He picked up his phone again, made a quick dial and placed the phone to his ear.

"Send Cody Matthews to my office. I would like to speak with him." When he put down the phone, he gave a low chuckle.

---

The next night at Castle Wyvern, it was quiet as usual. Guards were at their posts on the battlements, and commoners had there chores like black smithing or delivering goods to inventory. Up at the battlements, gargoyles were doing their usual of guarding their home, or patrolling the skies searching for any signs of danger.

Inside the walls, the hatchlings were being returned to the rookery after playing in the courtyard. Two rookery mothers were standing at both sides of the large doors as the hatchlings entered the rookery with chortle laughs and conversating amongst one another. Well, almost all of them.

Coursing through the courtyard on horseback, a lone figure wearing a dark shawl was walking out toward the castle gates. No one even reacting to this strange being passing them in silence on a gray mare with a black mane and tail. The rider was able to get to the main gate with ease, then galloped out through the bare lands.

Both the rider and horse ran through the lands until they stopped at the entrance of the obscure forest. The figure turned toward the small castle that laid at the edge in the distance but turned away quickly. It made a kissing noise as the horse galloped though the dense wood.

Both horse and rider ran through the forest until they came out the other end. They stopped at a small clearing that was bare a few yards with wisping grass stalks and a large boulder with a resemblance of a ramp. The figure jumped off the horse and let it to graze. The figures' hand instantly went to the clip attached to the front, and the cloak dropped down behind it. Light blue talons laid in front of the bundled cloak.

The young blue female stared up at the large boulder. Determination clearly shown on her face as her eyes narrowed. Since her clan were unable to teach her how to glide, what is the point of staying if they can't help her. She wants to glide, but she doesn't want to see the others see her fall in the dirt and laugh at her like the last few times… She shook her head; she's not going back. Not until her wings give her a chance in the air.

"Okay," she muttered to herself. She turned to the horse that was still grazing away from her. "Wish me luck!" she called out.

The horse looked up from its grazing and gave a snort. Its head instantly went back down to the graze below it.

On top of the boulder, the female stood at the edge of the ramp-like structure, looking out at the scenery before her. The wind blew past her, making her hair wisp down to her back, and her wings slightly twitch behind her. She looked down, and instantly regret it.

The green scenery sort of morphed in a spiral in each passing second she stared down. The female gulped then shut her eyes. She brought her head up, trying to calm her breaths. She opened them again, only focusing on what lied ahead of her instead of what's below.

Stepping forward, she waited until she felt a slight breeze coming to her left. With a gulp, she leapt into the air and felt her wings spread out behind her. She saw herself feel light as a feather in the air…until she crashed into a heap of grass with a grunt.

The mare rose out of her grazing, seeing movement through the grass. She stepped forward but flinched back when the female gargoyle popped out and had pieces of grass sticking out her mouth. The mare brought her head down and snorted in front of the gargoyles face, then took that piece of grass and ate it.

The female shook her head with a huff. "Well, it was my first try."

As soon as she said that she was back at the ledge again. For the past few tries, she would be in the air, but when the wind changed her wings wouldn't catch it and make her crash. There are sometimes that her wings wouldn't catch the updraft and had to use her claws to grab the side of the cliff.

After her…she didn't know how many attempts she tried, the female laid flat out on her back in the soft grass. Her wings pulsed out in exhaustion as they spread out under her. Her body ached as her constant failures kept her from wanting to continue on. Telling her in wanting to give up.

During each of her failures, she had thought of going back home. She knew her rookery mothers would realize she disappeared and alert their leader, but she didn't want to go back. As much as she wanted to, she didn't want to give up as to why she left in the first place. If gliding is her number one priority, then that's what she must do.

As she laid back, she heard her surroundings. The sound of peace laid around. The soft wind, the crickets chirping, horse hooves galloping this way-

Wait, horse hooves galloping this way?

The female quickly went to her feet, her eyes widened, afraid of who it might be. She quickly went behind the ledge but poked her head to give her an eye view. The horse hooves sounded like they were coming closer, but sounded like they were one horse and not a few. That, and she could hear voices, really loud and panicked voices of three males.

"Slow down!" a small voice exclaimed.

"Do you know where you're going?!" another voice demanded.

"Of course I know! I'm not stupid!" the last voice answered.

Just as the voice said that a flash of brown came out of the thick trees. The female gasped seeing that it was a dark bay stallion galloping toward her with three gargoyles exclaiming on its back. When the stallion stopped, it brought its head down and bucked the three guests off his back. The three rolled on the ground with thumps and grunted with 'umphs!'

The female looked forward and exclaimed that the stallion spooked the mare and both of them ran off back into the forest where the stallion entered. When both horses were gone, the gargoyle looked down, in which she was in complete shock and confusion.

Laid flat on the ground, groaning, and itching their aching heads were the mischievous trio from Castle Wyvern. The red one itched his head, then looked up at the female who was still in shock.

"Uh," He gave a sheepish laugh, then waved lightly. "Hi?"

"What," the female shook out her shock, then looked at the three hatchlings with clenched teeth. "What are you doing here?!"

"Well," the aqua gargoyle said, helping the small olive gargoyle to his feet. "We came looking for you."

"Huh? Why?"

"We came to bring you home." The red one added as he came up to her and took her arm. "Now come on before the clan notices we're gone."

As the red one tried to pull her, she resisted back. She wretched her arm free. "No! I can't."

The red one looked at her like she was crazy. "Why?!"

The female brought her arms to her hip. "I'm not going anywhere without finally learn how to glide."

"But can't you learn back home?" the green gargoyle stepped forward.

"I tried, but every time I did, I always fell in the dirt." The female hesitated in what else she wanted to say. "I feel…like a burden to the clan, and I don't want to be like that anymore."

The trio looked at each other, then back at the female. The red one saw how upset she looked but kept his distance in not wanting to say anything bad. From what she was saying, he thinks she's crazy, but saw she wasn't making it up. Recalling that he saw two of his rookery brothers pick on her from time to time about it but didn't say anything. Noting that, he saw how upset she was from her reasons. He knew he wanted to do something, but what?

"Then," the red one thought out loud. "Why don't we teach you?"

The female looked at him weird. "Teach me?"

"Teach her?" the aqua and olive one asked in union.

"Yeah!" the red one burst out in a new wave of confidence. His wings fanned out for a second before they went back behind him. "We can stay here and teach her what we know and come home when she glides like a pro!"

"But" the aqua one pointed out with an unsure look. "Would the clan be worried about us?"

"Maybe," the red one shrugged without a care.

The olive one gulped. "But what about outsiders?"

"We just hide until they leave." The red one turned his back away from them.

"Or staying out before dawn?" The female enquired.

That made the red one pause for a second, but he answered quickly. "We find an isolated spot we know of."

There was a pause as the other three were looking at each other behind the red one's back. The aqua one realized something else and raised a claw.

"What about food?"

The red one turned back at the group. He looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Didn't you eat on the way here?"

"Yeah," the aqua one stopped as his potbelly rumbled. He looked down at it with a sheepish look. "Guess I'm hungry again."

The red one groaned, then turned to the aqua one with a glare. "Is that all you ever think about?"

"Hey," the aqua one crossed his arms in defense. "I was thinking about everyone else."

"Yeah." The red one rolled his eyes. "Sure you are." He ended with a smirk.

The aqua hatchling pouted, which made the green one tried to hide a chuckle, and the female shook her head good naturally. Turning back to the red gargoyle, the female looked at him with a raised eye ridge.

"Why do you wanna help me?"

The red gargoyle looked at her weird. "What do you mean?"

"You know everyone in the clan tried to teach me but couldn't. What makes you think you could?"

"I don't know." The red gargoyle shrugged, not even offended by her words. "I just know you can do it."

That answer made her wings feel stiff as her body felt frozen. A light blush formed on her cheeks, but she shook her head as she pulled a lock of her hair and fiddled with it.

"Come on," the red one called out. "Let's get started!"

Before the female could say anything, the red hatchling took her claw and quickly led her toward the top of the ledge.

---

The next night arrived too long for the clan. After they've awoken, there was still no sign of the female gargoyle returning home. Goliath noticed this, and instantly knew something was wrong. He announced to the clan they would look for Chelsea.

Elisa, who had spent the entire day in the clocktower, decided to help look for her. She told Goliath she can call work that she has a family emergency she must attend. Goliath was concerned if she is alright, but from the detective telling him she's alright, he knew better than to push her away. From her time knowing the gargoyles, she was starting to see them more than just her friends, they were more like a second family, and that family should help one another.

It was agreed that they would split up. While Bronx stayed in the clocktower incase Chelsea would return, Goliath Elisa and Hudson took uptown while the trio went downtown.

Gliding downtown, the trio were passing it quickly as the wind carried them. While Broadway and Lexington were looking at each rooftop, Brooklyn merely brushed past them. He looked like he wasn't even trying from his sadness clouding his features. That made the other two look at him with worry.

"I hate seeing him like this." Lexington whispered to his other rookery brother.

"Yeah, me too," Broadway turned to him. "I know Maggie's rejection hit him hard, but can't he see that he needs to get it together." He clenched his jaw as he turned back to the red gargoyle. "Chelsea could be in danger, and all he could do is wallow in grief."

"Yeah," Lexington gulped, then turned to the potbelly. He saw how tense the potbelly looked and got worried.

"Maybe if he hadn't yelled at her," the potbelly growled. "Chelsea wouldn't have left in the first place."

Before Lexington could speak, Broadway took off toward the red gargoyle in front of him.

"This isn't going to end well…" Lexington muttered as he went to catch up.

"Hey Brooklyn!" Broadway called out.

The red gargoyle turned behind and saw the aqua gargoyle soar next to him, but it didn't look like the potbelly just wants to chat with him.

"We got to talk," the aqua gargoyle growled.

Brooklyn narrowed his eyes. "About what?"

"About last night…"

The red gargoyle didn't let his guard down. "What about it?"

"You're still sulking about Maggie, and you got to get over it!"

"What's wrong with me still sulking?" The hothead asked in defense.

"Chelsea could be in danger, and sulking about your rejection any longer won't do anything to help her."

The red gargoyle shrugged. "Maybe she isn't in danger. She wanted to be alone anyway."

"And whose fault is that…?"

Brooklyn felt his jaw tighten as he turned to his rookery brother with a narrowed glare. Broadway had the same expression as both of them gave a stare off. Lexington, who was in the back, looked between them with a gulp.

"Guys, maybe we shouldn't-"

"What's your problem Broadway?" Brooklyn cut Lexington off with clenched fists.

"You're my problem!" Broadway shouted and pointed a claw at the red gargoyle. "You're so focused on being rejected that you didn't realize you rejected someone yourself!"

"Hey, Chelsea went over the top in calling me a fool!"

"Well," Broadway scoffed, then narrowed his eyes. "Maybe she's right."

That did it.

"Why you!" Brooklyn snarled as he rammed his whole body against the larger gargoyle.

Broadway grunted as he and the hothead were now wresting with one another in the air. Both tumbled in the air, wings flapping, and trying to get the upper advantage but looked to be even in strength.

Accidentally collapsing there wings, both males dropped straight down to one of the rooftops, still going at it with each other. Lexington gasped as he went to follow his brothers.

"Guys stop it!" Lexington cried, but his call were far out of reach from the duo.

Broadway and Brooklyn crashed hard on the stone rooftop but lifted up from continued fighting one another. Each of them throwing an occasional punch and/or kick at one another.

"Chelsea only wanted to help you," Broadway growled as he pushed the red gargoyle on his back. "And you brushed her away like dirt!"

Brooklyn snarled as he used his talons to push the gargoyle off him. He tackled Broadway down, and now he was on top of him.

"She didn't know what she was talking about! She didn't see how much Maggie need our help!"

"Yeah, she did! We all did!" The potbelly yelled as he rolled the red gargoyle under him, and now he was on top. "Chelsea's not stupid! Maggie wasn't even one of us and you went after her instead of listening to your clanmate who we've known for years!"

"Why are you so concerned about her wellbeing?!" the hothead demanded. "Or mine for that matter?!"

"Because Chelsea liked you!" the aqua gargoyle yelled inches before Brooklyn's face.

There was a pause. Both gargoyles stopped there struggling and stared at one another. Broadway took a breath to calm himself.

"Chelsea…liked you." He whispered.

The red gargoyle's anger melted away as it turned to complete and utter shock.

"Wha-what?" Brooklyn words fumbled in his tongue.

Broadway rumbled. "You don't get it!" he snarled. "Chelsea had a crush on you for a long time! I saw it, Lexington saw it, we all saw it! I can't believe you didn't notice that!"

"But" Brooklyn breathed, his head still trying to get around it. "Why didn't she-Why didn't I-" he stopped as he brought his head flat on the ground. He couldn't finish his question as he felt his body shake from utter guilt.

Broadway hissed. "You were so focused on what you wantthan to realize what was going on."

The hothead felt his fire extinguish by the aqua gargoyles words. He squeezed his eyes shut as he inhaled a quick breath. How could he be so…so stupid?! How did he not notice her feelings? He knew her ever since they were young but acted like he didn't notice her at all. Why didn't she-No…why didn't he notice her true feelings...

Chelsea was right, he was the complete fool.

When he opened his eyes, something caught his eye. A speck of light glittered a few feet away from him.

"What's that?" The red gargoyle mumbled as he gestured his head forward.

Broadway turned where the red gargoyle looked at. Lexington, who stood on the stone railing during the whole fight, jumped off to investigate. When he got closer, the olive gargoyle tilted his head in confusion as he picked it up. He turned to his brothers.

"It's a dart."

The other two got off each other and came forward. They both saw that Lexington was indeed holding a silver dart in his claws. Broadway looked over and noticed something on the railing in front of him. Adjacent thin claw marks were seen.

The potbelly went closer to them then turned to Brooklyn. "I think Chelsea was here last night."

The red gargoyle looked between the claw marks and the dart still in Lexington claws. He blinked as dread spread across his face. From where the dart was to where Chelsea stood, it could only mean one thing, and he was too stubborn to believe it until now…

She was kidnapped.

---

When the trio returned to the clocktower, they saw the others have returned and instantly showed them the dart including about the possibly of Chelsea being-

"Kidnapped?" Hudson asked them with shocked. "Are you sure?"

"Where have you found this?" Goliath added as he held the dart in his claws.

"Near Time Square," Broadway answered. "It was on the rooftop where Chelsea stood."

Elisa narrowed her eyes, then turned to the dart in Goliath's claw. "Can I see it?"

The leader showed her the dart, and the detective took it in her hands.

The detective squinted her eyes. "Let's see, this dart looks specific for wild animals, mostly larger game." She twisted the silver dart and found something. "Hello," she brought it closer, and squinted her eyes. "Hmm…"

Goliath looked at the detective with a raised eye ridge. "What is it Elisa?"

The woman gave the lavender gargoyle the dart. "Theirs writing on the dart." She put her index finger at the top part of the cylinder where the red tail was.

Goliath brought the dart close to him, and saw what Elisa found. There was writing on the dart, but only two letters.

The leader raised an eye ridge. "G…I?"

"There probably Initials for the name of either the manufacturer or company." Elisa explained, then she thought of something. "The design of them though…" She turned to Broadway. "Do you still have that bracelet?"

"Uh," the potbelly gargoyle went to the kitchen, going through drawers and cupboards until he found the bracelet (that was broken in half in case the tracking device was working) in a trash can. "Here!"

He gave it to the detective, and she brought the bracelet next to the dart. Goliath narrowed his eyes and blinked. Both g's were the same computer-like lettering, which made the leader rumble.

"Gen-U-Tech kidnapped Chelsea…" he growled.

That made the rest of the clan gasp in shock, but Elisa looked unsure. She placed her hand under her chin.

"So," Brooklyn took a step forward. His face clearly showing worry. "What do we do now?"

"We find Chelsea like any other missing person. Or gargoyle for your case." Elisa gestured to the dart. "We know where she was, how she was kidnapped, but we still don't know who kidnapped her. Gen-U-Tech may be the culprit, but there is still that 'I'."

"Maybe Gen-U-Tech had a partner?" Broadway suggested.

"Probably," the detective nodded. "But I think we need to pay someone a visit." Her eyes narrowed as her mouth twisted with venom. "The owner of Gen-U-Tech."

Goliath gritted his teeth; a low rumble was in the back of his throat as he tightened the vial in his claws. "Xanatos…"

---

All Chelsea saw was darkness. No memory of where she was or what happened after she got knocked out. She remembered waking up from stone sleep, but then saw blackness seconds later. There was only silence until a pierced ring broke through it.

The female groaned as she felt how stiff her arms were and decided to stretch them, but something was restraining them to do so. Chelsea forced her eyes open as she found herself staring at ceiling.

"Ugh…" she mumbled as she squinted from the bright lights.

She looked around, found her arms and legs trapped in metal cuffs on a flat table. She tightened her fists as she grunted with struggle but couldn't get free. She moved her wings but found that they were wrapped in a metal band around her waist. She gawked at it as she looked at her dark surroundings.

"Where…where am I?"

She froze as the sound of a door opening and closing filled her ears. Quickly, she laid her head back pretending to be knocked out. She felt her skin crawl as the sound of footsteps were coming closer to her. A sigh escaped the man as she felt his presence over her body. A few seconds later, another set of footsteps were heard.

"How is our guest doing?" a strident voice spoke that made Chelsea's skin crawl.

"Well Dr. Phobos," a young appealing voice that sounded familiar to the gargoyle. "She still has a little sedative when Bruce shot her, but her vitals are good, and she looks healthy."

"Hmm…very good."

Chelsea felt goosebumps rise around herself. The way 'Phobos' spoke made her want to get as far away as she can but being cuffed to a table made it impossible.

"Let me see her."

The female felt her body go cold as a second set of footsteps became louder, and the presence of someone hovering over her lingered her mind. She nearly jumped when she felt a human hand touched her forehead and took a lock of her hair.

"Who would have thought that we able to capture such a magnificent creature, and to make it more impressive we were able to capture a female." The man's fingers released Chelsea's hair. "Did her test results arrive yet Mr. Matthews?"

"Yes sir," footsteps were heard again including the sound of flipping paper.

"Hmm, let me see," mumbling was heard and clicking of the tongue. "Well what do we have here."

"What is it?"

"Her DNA, its…filled with so much information. I need to look more into this." Phobos spoke with amazement. He cleared his throat. "Have more tests done to her. I need to know more about her, and where she came from."

Chelsea's eyes popped opened, and instantly turned bright red. She gave out a screech, making the two humans she now took notice jump with fright at her glare. The same young man she encountered from Gen-U-Tech, and an older gentleman with aging gray hair.

"I thought you said she was sedated!" the older man, Phobos, sneered at the younger man.

"I thought she was!" the young man with the name tag Cody countered with shock.

The older man turned to the table next to him that had a full syringe. He quickly took the syringe and went toward the female gargoyle.

"I'm not your lab rat Phobos!" Chelsea spat with her eyes pulsing red.

"Oh I beg to differ beast." The older man took the gargoyle's arm, plunged the needle into her arm, and injected the contents.

Chelsea hissed for a few seconds, then felt her head growing dizzy, then her eyes rolled back as her head hit the table. She was out cold this time.

"There," Phobos breathed with relief. He turned to Cody with a somewhat glare. "In future Mr. Matthews, check her vitals carefully next time. We don't want something like this to happen again…"

Cody nodded quickly with a gulp. "Yes sir."

"Now," Phobos turned his attention back to notes that he put on a table. "Let's see what this gargoyle's story…"

The older doctor picked up his notes and skimmed through the data that was shown. Flipping through toward the end, his eyes bulged for a second but turned back to normal.

"Hmm…" the older scientist placed a finger under his chin. He turned to Cody with a smirk. "I want to try something, and it requires your…assistance."

Cody gulped, a little shaken at the doctor's wry smirk.

---

In his office, David Xanatos was working on some paperwork that involves future projects he wants for his company. Knowing that the clan don't have anything else going on after the Gen-U-Tech incident, he could finally get some other schemes he has going on his head and get back to real life.

Just as he thought he could continue, the door opened to reveal his assistant.

"What is it Owen?" the millionaire asked in a bored tone, not even taking his eyes off his computer.

"It seems the gargoyles are paying you another visit," He stated, "and they've brought detective Maza with them."

Xanatos raised an eyebrow.

"Shall we let them in?"

"Let them come," the millionaire leaned back in his chair. He brought his hands together as a smirk laid on his face. "I need a break."

As soon as he said that Goliath threw open the door and the rest of the clan and their human friend entered. Each giving the man harsh glares, but Xanatos didn't react to them.

"I will say, this is an unexpected visit." Xanatos spoke. "What do I own the pleasure?"

Goliath stepped forward toward the millionaires desk and halted over the man's form. He merely glared the man, then with a hiss, he brought his fist out above the table.

Xanatos raised an eyebrow. "Just what are you trying to do?"

The lavender gargoyle didn't say anything as his fist opened and the small dart clanked on the desk. Xanatos looked up calmly as Goliath took a step back.

"Where is she?" the leader demanded.

"Who may I ask?"

"Don't play with me Xanatos," Goliath brought his claws on the table and leaned toward the man with a glare. "Where is Chelsea?" he hissed.

The millionaire narrowed his eyes, then turned his direction toward the dart. Watching the gargoyle closely, his right hand took the dart and studied it with intent. He found the initials, and instantly recognized it from one his companies.

The man hummed. "Now I see why I'm your first suspect. This is from Gen-U-Tech."

"So you did kidnap her?!" Brooklyn was about to charge forward with a hiss if not for his rookery brothers holding his arms in place.

Goliath blinked at the red gargoyle, not expecting his change in mood.

"Yes," Xanatos answered not even fazed at Brooklyn's temper. "But it's not from the main building."

Goliath turned back to Xanatos; his eyes raised. Elisa stepped forward next to the big guy.

"What do you mean?" she demanded with narrowed eyes.

"Gen-U-Tech actually has two locations. One researches more simple projects while the other does the more…complicated ones." Xanatos lifted the dart, showing the initials. "From what I'm seeing, your friend may be in where my complicated research is…Gen-U-Tech Island."

Goliath twisted his eye ridges. "Gen-U-Tech island?"

"Why was she taken there and not at the other one?" Lexington's voice popped in the back.

"To be honest," Xanatos stood up from his desk and walked around it. Goliath taking Elisa as they stepped back to give the man room. "I don't know. Dr. Phobos hasn't contacted me in a while."

Broadway came next to Goliath with confusion. "Dr. who?"

"Dr. Phobos. He's another scientist that used to work with Dr. Sevarius. When the company grew, Phobos was given his own laboratory as a promotion, and privacy for my most difficult and private projects." He then brought his hands up in surrender. "But I can tell you this, kidnapping any of you was not in my agenda."

Brooklyn let out a small hiss but stopped when he felt Hudson's claw on his shoulder. His eyes turned to the elder gargoyle but saw the elder giving him a silent order to not start anything. The red gargoyle narrowed hie eyes but turned forward with a rumble.

"I wonder if Phobos captured your friend because he wanted to study you." Xanatos thought out loud. "After all, he did work with Sevarius."

At the mention of Sevarius, Goliath gritted his teeth, but looked down at Elisa. Seeing that she was holding a calm appearance, but her hands formed two hard fists. He narrowed his eyes, knowing that she is still angry at the millionaire turning her brother into a mutant.

Gently pushing her toward Broadway, the leader took a step forward and stood in front of Xanatos. His glare towering over the human as the man stared up at him.

"Where is this island?"

---

Chelsea felt her senses coming back to her once more. She slowly blinked; her world blurry until she saw bright lights above her, making her squint at the harsh light. She felt her whole body sore as if she had been pricked like a pin cushion. Trying to move, she noticed that she wasn't on a cold table, but felt like…grass?

She moved her arms over her head until she felt something brush over her right claw. She glanced over, seeing a blob of blue next to her. Blinking, she could make out that it's a gargoyle.

Chelsea's eyes widened. "What the…?"

Grunting, she slowly rose to her knees. Her body crying in protest of aching muscles, but she pulled on. She crawled over to the new gargoyle and couldn't believe what she was seeing.

This new gargoyle, a male to her surprise, looked just like her! With her blue skin along with her long horns going over his shaggy dark brown hair. The only clothing he was wearing was a whitish blue gown going down to his knees. His wings were spread out under him, which she guessed that was what she felt before. They were just like her own, but instead they were a darker blue membrane.

Recalling, the only remaining gargoyles were from her clan and…Demona. This new gargoyle though…she never him before.

"Who are you?" she mumbled with shock.

As she said that, the new gargoyle moaned, his head twisted as his arms and legs were rising slowly. The new gargoyle cracked his eyes open, then moved his head up toward Chelsea's form.

"What-" the new gargoyle shook head, his vision clearing up for him to see Chelsea surprised expression fully. His eyes popped as he yelped.

"What's going on?" he quickly lifted his back and looked at his surroundings in panic. "W-Where am I?!"

Chelsea looked around, and she felt her body went numb. All around her was an exotic lush green jungle. Tall strange looking trees were high with huge, long fan-like leaves that spread out surround her, large rectangular lights made the room enlighten like during the day, and a large dome-like glass ceiling with white spider-like trimming revealed the broad night sky. Down below, bushes popped here and there with strange berries, and soft green grass tickled her legs. Occasionally, the female could hear the sound of either crickets, a stream trickling a little distance, or the breeze of cool air coming from the air vents in the walls. At first, it seemed beautiful, but for some reason the beauty seemed fake…

"This is…strange." She whispered. The sense that somebody is watching her every movement.

"You're telling me."

Chelsea turned around, seeing the new gargoyle still looking around with worry. The gargoyle turned to her. "How did I get here?"

"I…I don't know." With a heave, Chelsea brought herself to her feet and looked at her surroundings with narrowed eyes. She turned back down to the other gargoyle. The moment she locked eyes with him, he somewhat looked at her curiously. She raised an eye ridge.

"What is it?"

"Uh," the male gargoyle somewhat gulped, then took a breath. "Nothing, just…its crazy how we keep meeting up, you know?"

Chelsea looked at him weird. "I never saw you before in my life. What clan are you from?"

He blinked and raised an eye ridge. "Clan? What are you talking about?"

"I thought my clan were the only ones." Chelsea stated. "I never thought there were more of us in this world."

Now it was the male gargoyle look at her weird. "Hold on, I'm not a gargoyle if that's what you mean."

She scrunched her eye ridges. "I'm sorry, but" Chelsea pointed down, "that's what I'm seeing."

Just as she said that the new gargoyle looked down, seeing his claws. His relaxed presence soon turned to shock. He brought his claws up as if they were foreign to him.

"What are these?" he asked looking up at Chelsea.

"Your claws?"

"My what?!" the new gargoyle looked taken aback. When he felt the base of his wings, he turned behind, seeing his wings as if they were foreign. "Are these…"

"Your wings." She nodded.

The new gargoyle rose to his feet-no talons as he inspected every inch of him. Muttering was heard, and it didn't sound good.

"What? No..no." the new gargoyle lifted his claws toward his head and found his long horns. "This can't be happening. No!" Lastly, he looked behind, and saw his long lizard tail twitching a bit on its own, and his reaction was not pleasant.

---

Outside of the aviary, a loud scream-like roar was heard throughout the halls and offices, which researchers flinched and looked at the direction where the aviary is located. The screams winded through the halls until they came out through any open windows of Gen-U-Tech Islands' research building, and into the open air.

It echoed over the Hudson bay until it reached Manhattan. Some of the locals had to stop at what they were hearing but shrugged it off as they continued with their lives. To them it was nothing, but to another race it was more than what it was.

"What was that?!" Broadway asked as he and the rest of the clan (including Elisa in Goliath's arms and Bronx being held by the potbelly and Lexington).

"It sounded like a scream." Lexington assumed. "But it wasn't human."

"It wasn't lad," Hudson shook his head. "It sounded like a gargoyle."

Brooklyn felt his body go stiff when Hudson said the last word. "No…"

At front, Goliath narrowed his eyes. "Whoever it was, we know where Chelsea is, and we will get her back." He looked back at the others. "Come!"

Goliath flapped his wings, increasing his speed, and the others followed closely toward out of the city.

---

"Hey! Calm down!"

Chelsea grunted as the new gargoyle smacked her on her torso and fell down on the ground with an 'oomph'. She looked up and saw the new gargoyle panicking all around. He jumbled words that the female couldn't hear as he looked at his surroundings with fright.

"This is impossible!" the new gargoyle shrieked. "How did this happen?!" he looked at his claws with shock. "I can't be a gargoyle! I'm supposed to be human!" He wrapped his hands around his head. "How did this happen?! How am I a gargoyle?!"

Before he could panic more, he was tackled down by Chelsea. She held him down by the wrists and kept him on his back.

"Hey hey, it's okay," Chelsea clenched her teeth when the new gargoyle's tail hit her where her ribs are, but she kept a good grip on his wrists. She stared down at the panicked gargoyle.

"Hey, listen to me. You need to calm down." She saw him look up at her with panic. His movements slowing down as he stared at her with wide eyes but was still fidgeting. She gave him a relax presence as she stared at him with a neutral gaze.

"I know your scared, but panicking will only make it worse. Believe me." She looked at the other gargoyle intently. "Just take a deep breath." She inhaled through her nose, and out with her mouth. "Okay?"

The new gargoyle nodded slowly as he took a few breaths in his nose and out through his mouth. He did this a few times until his body was rid of all the tension from him panicking. His muscles relaxed, and his fear started to fade. When she saw him calmed down, Chelsea slowly lifted to her feet. She winced, her side pulsating from being hit as she rubbed it slowly.

"I'm sorry."

Chelsea looked down, seeing the new gargoyle still on the ground, but used his elbows to hold his torso a little bit up.

"You okay?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes. Thank you." She leaned forward and brought a claw out to him. The new gargoyle brought out his own but noticed it as if it weren't his own. He looked back at her with a shaken appearance.

"This isn't a dream, is it?" he implored.

Chelsea shook her head with somewhat guilt. "I'm afraid not."

The new gargoyle sighed again, his body sulking a little bit before realizing what he was about to do. He took Chelsea's claw that waited patiently for his own and was helped to his feet. He looked at himself all over with what little shock he had left and a new form of curiosity.

Chelsea took the time as she circled this new gargoyle in front of her. Unlike Maggie, this new gargoyle looked like more…natural…not like he was created from two animals. What made her still shocked was he looked like looking in a mirror, only it's the opposite gender. She narrowed her eyes.

"You look like me?" Chelsea mumbled with crossed eye ridges.

The new gargoyle looked up from inspecting and turned to her.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Cody," he answered bringing his claw out to her. "Cody Matthews."

Chelsea looked at him and his claw weird. Hearing his name, her eyes popped for a second. She recognized that name, the last name. She heard it before, in that weird room she was trapped in, but the only name she heard that name before was from a-

"Human…" she breathed softly, turning away.

Cody looked at her weird. "What?"

Chelsea looked away, memories forming from remembering the young human she saw before. She saw him before…from the bridge, Gen-U-Tech, the other room she was trapped in, and now…what's in front in her? Wait…is he really the same human?

"You…" Chelsea looked at the new gargoyle with dread. "You're that human…from the bridge?"

"Now you remember!" Cody's exclaim made Chelsea flinch.

"Yeah, but" Chelsea itched in her ear, then raised an eye ridge. "How?"

"Well," Cody paused. He scratched the back of his head as he tried remembering. "I…I don't know. I remember standing with Dr. Phobos when you first arrived, then the next thing I knew, he wanted to do a test." He looked down at his claws. "Guess he succeeded in that, but…"

Chelsea looked at him weird. "But what?"

Cody looked at the female, then shook his head. "It's probably nothing, but I need to get to Phobos' lab to figure this out."

Chelsea looked at him weird, but then she realized something. She wants to escape out of this jungle while the other gargoyle wants to get to this Phobos' lab. She narrowed her eyes; a plan came into her mind.

"You want to escape?" Chelsea stepped forward.

Cody blinked at her. "What?"

Chelsea narrowed her eyes in serious. "You need to know how Phobos turned you into a gargoyle, and I want to get out of here. If we want to escape, we're gonna have to work together."

Cody looked at her like she was crazy. He thought about what she said. She's right, he does want to investigate on how he looks so much like the gargoyle he sees in front of her, but the thought of escape?

"Look," Chelsea continued. "The longer we stay here, who knows if we'll ever get out of here." She started to pace as she placed her claw under her chin in thought. Knowing the clan, they would stop at nothing in looking for her, but they don't know where she is. Knowing that, she's on her own until they come. If they ever come.

"We need a plan." She whispered in thought. He turned to Cody. "Do you know where we are?"

Cody looked around. Seeing that all around them was a complete jungle. "I think we're still on Gen-U-Tech Island. We're probably in one of the building's aviaries."

Chelsea raised an eye ridge. "Aviary?"

"It's like a giant bird cage," Cody looked toward a large metal door that's a few feet from them and found that it had two camera's looking toward them. He stepped in front of the door and brought a claw over it-

Zap!

"Ow!" Cody brought his claw back after the door shocked him. He itched his slightly burned claw. "Well, we can't get through this way." He gestured to the cameras. "And I think our associates don't want us to leave."

Chelsea stepped next to Cody as she looked at both cameras. He's right, both cameras were indeed watching them, but only at an angle that was staring down at them on the ground or at the base of the tree trunk. Realizing that, she turned her attention above. Turning away as if she were gazing around, she took notice that the trees with the fan-like leaves were awfully close to the large air vents that were at top close to the edge of the glass dome. She narrowed her eyes, curious about something.

Turning to Cody, she cleared her throat loud enough for him to hear her. The new gargoyle turned to her, and instantly stood next to her.

Chelsea leaned next to him. "In case they hear us, act natural and whisper." She moved her eyes upward. "See that air vent?" the other gargoyle nodded. "I'm going to try and open it. While I'm doing that, act like you don't know anything until I call you."

Somewhat unbeknownst to the two, they were indeed being watched. Inside a security room, the same man that captured the female gargoyle…Bruce…was watching the two gargoyles with intent. After dropping the two off in the aviary, Phobos 'kindly' gave the poacher the job to watch his 'trophies' while the doctor was looking over some notes. As much as Bruce is not much of a guard, he seemed to have a sense of pride in watching the two strange creatures on camera. He has hunted much bigger game during his time as a freelance poacher, but this really took the cake. Not only he got hired to do what he loves, but his paycheck may have a raise after this week of capturing these gargoyles.

Turning away for a second, he took a swig in his flask, and gulped the strong liquid in his throat with delight. He sighed. "Can this night get any better?" He sneered. "Yes, it-" Before he could finish his accomplishment, he turned to the screen, and his smirk faded.

"What the…" Bruce leaned closer to the screen and saw that there were no gargoyles on camera. "No…" he took his joystick on the left side of the console, and the left camera moved in any direction he moved the joystick. "Where are they?!"

On camera, he didn't see either the male or female gargoyle anywhere. Complete and utter shock spread across his face, which soon turned to sheer terror. His trophies are gone!

"What am I going to tell the boss?!" he pulled his blond hair with wide eyes.

Out of the man's vision, an air vent's grille laid flat on the grass while the large vent itself was open above a palm tree. Inside the dark vent, Chelsea crawled ahead on her claws and knees, somewhat followed by Cody who was having a hard time catching up to her thanks to his new wings.

"I forget," Cody grunted as he made a tight turn through the vent. His wings opened a bit without his knowledge and made him stop to clip them back in front his chest. He looked ahead to her almost fading figure. "I didn't catch your name."

Chelsea stopped as she looked between two paths. Her mind completely occupied in wanting to escape. "My name's Chelsea."

Cody felt his body freeze for a second, a light gasp escaped his lips. The female gargoyle cast her eyes back to him.

"What's wrong?"

After a second, Cody shook out of his shock, then crawled forward. "Nothing, um," lost memories began to form in his mind as he would never see them again. "It's just, I had a sister named Chelsea."

"Oh…" her body froze at the word 'had'. She shook her head, then looked forward. "Let's keep moving. Which ways is Phobos's lab?"

"Huh?" Cody looked over her shoulder. He pointed to the left. "Try the left."

Chelsea crawled left, and both gargoyles continued onward. One was seeking answers while the other was seeking freedom once again.

---

The clan continued gliding over Manhattan until the Upper Bay was ahead of them, but they continued forward. According to Xanatos, Gen-U-Tech Island is more than a laboratory and not far of a flight. They just keep soaring until they reach a lone island in the middle of the bay. He even pointed out that it used to be a gambling resort but was closed down due to budget cuts. Unlike the main building in the city, Gen-U-Tech island stores its more…complicated…projects. Knowing that, security may be tight, so the clan knew they have to be careful.

In the back of the group, Brooklyn was lagging behind. Ever since Broadway told him about Chelsea's feelings, he had been thinking…a lot. Thinking about the fight, and how naïve he was for the past few nights, and wondering if Chelsea is okay. He can't believe he didn't see what Chelsea was telling him about Maggie, and he rejected her. He was so caught up in wanting to help Maggie, including what he personally wanted, that he wasn't listening to his friend's concerns. He never thought Chelsea cared for him more than a friend. They have been close since they were young, but never thought she like him more than that.

So why didn't he see it?

"You alright lad?"

Brooklyn's thoughts were interrupted as he turned to his right. Hudson hovered next to him; a look of concern edged his wise face. The red gargoyle looked down at the passing ocean. His mind in a whirl of how he should answer.

"I…I don't know." Brooklyn shook his head. "God, Hudson, I think made the worst mistake…"

Hudson merely stared at him as the hothead continued.

"When I first saw Maggie, I thought we weren't the only gargoyles left... I felt we might have a better future if there were more of us around. I didn't even see how scared she was…of me. I thought that fear was from the humans and not us.

"I kept convincing myself Maggie needed our help because I wanted to believe it the worst way, but I didn't see her true fear. Chelsea did, and I…pushed her away." He scrunched his eyes and let out a sigh. "Even if we find her, I don't think she'll forgive me."

Hudson nodded. "Maybe."

Brooklyn turned to the older gargoyle. His eyes popped. "Huh?"

"Chelsea might not forgive you," Hudson explained. "But now you know what you did was wrong, all you can do is tell her what you believed was wrong, and just accept whether she'll forgive you or not." His stoic expression lifted up a little. "But knowing you two since you were young, I don't think she'll hold a grudge on you too long."

The hothead digested everything his mentor told him. Will Chelsea forgive him? Even knowing each other since they were young, will it be enough for the female gargoyle to forgive him? Will they still be life-long friends again? Just like what Hudson said, all he can do is when they find her, he just has to accept her choice.

Even if it means losing her friendship, he doesn't want to think about that now. All he cares about is making sure Chelsea is safe…That's all he wants.

---

"So, basically, I was working full time trying to get to med school," Cody muffled behind the female gargoyle. "Never thought the job required me to become a lab rat."

As the two gargoyles continued creeping though the tight air vents, both decided to take the time to get to know each other. So far, Cody told the female that he's an average 23-year-old trying to make ends meet in wanting to go to medical school to become a doctor.

"So Chelsea," Cody looked over the gargoyle in front of him. "You said there are seven of you that came from Scotland right? What made you guys want to move here? The loudest city known to man?"

"Well, coming here to Manhattan wasn't what we wanted." Chelsea made a left and looked forward as she thought about her clan. "After saving the humans from the Vikings, a human called the Magus casted a spell on us." She merely shrugged. "We've been in stone sleep for a thousand years."

Cody's eyes popped as he halted while Chelsea crawled forward. His mind felt like it stopped for a second, then resumed again.

"A thousand…years?!"

"Mm-hhm." Chelsea nodded as she continued forward. "To make it short, we were saved by a man called Xanatos, who eventually became our enemy because he used us for his own gain of power, and right now we're living our lives protecting the city like how we did it back in Scotland. Including hiding from the human eye."

Cody merely gapped his mouth then instantly closed it. "And I thought my life was crazy."

That statement made the female grin and let out a small chuckle, which made Cody shake his head good naturally.

"What?! What do you mean they escaped?!"

Chelsea and Cody froze at Phobos' rough voice. Chelsea's wings twitch as they were capped around her chest, and slightly banged on the side of the metal walls.

"Phobos?" Cody whispered.

"Shh," Chelsea slowly made her way forward when she saw a soft glow coming from the floor of the tunnel. More muffling was heard when she quietly crawled to it.

When she slipped closer to it, it revealed to be a medium sized grated vent way, which to her guessing what the two were looking for. Through the vent, she could see Dr. Phobos standing over his desk, a look of rage spread over his aged face at the other man. She narrowed her eyes, recognition bloomed over her as she saw the dusty blond hair and heard the weird accent.

"It's just like I said boss," Bruce exclaimed, his fingers fiddling in his palms. "I look away for a second and *poof, they vanished! What do you want me to do?!"

The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose with a hiss. "I wanted you to keep those creatures in there cage," he banged his fists on the table with a popped vein, "not running amok in my laboratory!"

The blond man gulped as he pulled his collar. "Err…now what? Do we tell everyone?"

"And let everyone here yelling in sheer panic that there are two gargoyles running like mice?!" the doctor shook his head. "Not yet." He looked down at his desk, where there are scattered lab reports flailed out. He took one piece from the center and gazed at it with a smirk. "I have some research to dive in."

"Huh?"

Before the doctor could say anything else, the doctor strolled past his table and exited his office without another word. Bruce scrunched his eyebrows then itched his head.

"How did I get hired at this wacko of a place?" he muttered as he exited the room and closing the door behind him.

Silence overcame the small laboratory, with the occasional white rats grating in their cages on the counter or water dripping from the leaky faucet in the corner. Shaking from the ceiling air vent was heard, then like a soda can, it popped out from the ceiling. Before it fell to the ground, a blue claw caught it and was sucked in the dark hole.

Chelsea slowly and carefully squeezed out of the tight hole with little to somewhat difficulty, but silently landed in the laboratory. She quickly scanned the room to make sure they were alone, then turned her attention to the squirming gargoyle trying to get his tail to come out with his lower half. Only the base of it came down, but not the end.

"God, this tail has a mind of its own." Cody's voice came from the vent with a few bangs. His body froze. "I…think I'm stuck."

"Hold on." Chelsea brought her claws around the other's waist, making her blush at his slightly boned body, then took ahold of his tail.

"Don't scream."

Before Cody could say anything, Chelsea quickly pulled Cody's tail out, then the gargoyle slipped out of the vent with a hard slam on the floor. Chelsea gasped at Cody who laid flat on the ground in a daze.

"You alright?" she asked.

Cody moaned as he rubbed his head. He gave a trembling thumbs up. "Never better."

That made the female turned to her surroundings. "So are we in the doctors lab?"

Cody got up from the floor in a heave. He stood next to the female as he followed her movements.

He nodded. "Yep, this is Phobos' personal lab." He stepped to his right where the doctors lab desk that had a ton of paperwork. He picked up a few pages, seeing that each one was signed by the doctor, and each report had some personal note at the edge of the paper. He narrowed his eyes as he continued reading.

At the front door, Chelsea was on lookout. She saw the LED lit hallway was bare, but for some reason she felt they were being watched. It made her stomach churn every second gazing out through the small window. Occasionally, she turned to Cody to check on him. She would hear him mumble a few words as the paper crumbled in his claws.

She still couldn't believe it, Cody, who was a human and turned into an actual gargoyle. He didn't even look like he was made of two animals like the mutants but was as if he belonged to a gargoyle clan. Unlike Maggie, Cody wasn't afraid of her, which was odd. Recalling, he did say they've met before, but she never thought he could warm up to her so easily. The strange part was that he looks just like her. Same skin, a little bluer than her own, same wing structure, and even the same horns. The thought of escape was still in her mind but was a little curious how Cody was turned into an actual gargoyle.

"What the…?"

Chelsea's thoughts stopped as she turned to the other gargoyles' mutters. She saw his whole body froze, his claws shaking as the paper wiggled in his grasp. She instantly knew something was wrong.

"Cody?" Chelsea gave a caution as she stepped forward. "What is it?"

"This can't be," Cody muttered, completely ignoring Chelsea completely. "The gargoyle DNA interacted with my own with no complications," he flipped through some pages, "because it had the some of the same DNA markers as mine? How?"

Cody looked up from his reading and turned to Chelsea. He narrowed his eyes as if he were studying her. When he looked down, his eyes popped for a second. A shiny flicker came from under Chelsea's wing clips.

"Hold on," He took a step closer to the female and saw the flicker was Chelsea's necklace. He gasped, a looked of familiarity spread across his face. He pointed at it.

"Where did you that locket?"

Chelsea looked at Cody weird. "Locket?"

"Your necklace? Where did you get it?" he almost sounded desperate to the female.

"Uh," before Chelsea could say anything, a gasp was heard behind.

Both gargoyles turned behind and instantly both blood ran cold. A young security guard stood at the ajar archway of the door. His right hand instantly went to his walkie talky.

"Hey, I've found the subjects," the guard exclaimed in a Brooklyn-like accent. "There in Phobos' lab! I need-"

Before he could continue, Chelsea jumped on the man with a hiss, and brought him down to his back. He instantly lost consciousness with a bang on the floor. Chelsea took the talkie and instantly crushed it in her claw.

"They know we're here," Chelsea turned to Cody. "We need to get out of here, now!"

Cody's frozen stature extinguished when Chelsea mentioned the word leave. Suddenly, a blaring alarm shook the room, making the gargoyles froze with caution. Shaking it off, Cody quickly turned back to the table and took some of Phobos' papers.

"What are you doing?!"

"I might need these." Was all Cody told Chelsea, then ran past her, and turned left. "Follow me! I know where the exit is!"

Just as they exited, they ran down the hallway in a quick pace. Including following the exit markers that were on the ceiling. Soon as they turned a right.

"There's the exit!" Cody gasped, seeing the double doors coming closer and closer as they scurried. "Oh freedom here we come!"

Just as he said that, there luck quickly went downhill. Security guards came barreling on both sides and formed a thick line that blocked the doors. Both gargoyles slid to a complete halt.

Chelsea turned to Cody with a glare. "You were saying?"

The guards instantly fired their weapons, forcing the two to jump into the nearest doors. Chelsea shook her head, then turned toward a pipe that laid on the floor to her right. She picked it up, then twisted it around the doors' cross bars like a pipe cleaner.

"Whoa…" Cody whispered in awe.

"That won't hold them for long," Chelsea gestured to the banging door. She turned back to Cody, only to see a set of stairs going up. Her eyes widen.

"Follow me."

Springing on her claws and talons, she quickly scaled the stairs with agile reflexes. Cody on the other hand just ran up and occasionally skipping a step.

"Hey wait up!"

Both gargoyles scaled three flights until they reached a lone door. Chelsea tackled the door, which lead them out to the rooftop of the building. The female instantly unfurled her wings, letting them feel the cool night air pass her as she stepped toward the edge to investigate her surroundings.

The building itself was surrounded by what looked like part of a mountain that had been destroyed, with the occasional exotic plant blooming here and there around the building. About three to four yards away, she could see a pier holding many kinds of boats.

"Listen, I hate to be the downer here, but" Cody pointed out with panic, "aren't we supposed to be out of the building and not on top of it?"

"You see that pier?" Chelsea pointed forward as Cody went next to her. "Can you get us a boat?"

"Uh? I can try, but how are we going to get there? I don't know how to use these things." he gestured to still clipped wings that were acting like a dead cloak.

Chelsea merely stared at him, which made the other gargoyle gulp at. Seconds later, Cody was exclaiming as he held onto Chelsea's arm as she carried him in the air with strain.

"You couldn't have warned me?!"

"You would have said no!"

As she flew, they were getting closer and closer to the docks. The female looked down and saw the dock just about below her. She angled her wings as they swooped down and let the other gargoyle on the boardwalk.

Chelsea flew back up and saw the same guards coming out of the building. She turned back down to him. "I'll distract the guards while you try and find us a boat."

Cody gawked. "No Chelsea, it's too dangerous, you'll get-"

"I'll be fine, just concentrate on finding one."

Before Cody could counter, Chelsea angled her wings up and made a U-turn back to Gen-U-Tech. Her eyes glowed as she screeched, making the guards turn their attention to her. Upon seeing her, they opened fired. She dodged the red lasers with acrobatic soaring with ease. She lifted herself higher, glaring down at the little dots below. Seeing that there not giving up.

"Hurry Cody," she murmured. "I don't know if I can hold them much longer." She grunted as she twisted and mazed around more lasers.

Meanwhile, Cody was ransacking through different boats, looking for any set of keys that were left out and about. So far, he wasn't having the best of luck.

"Keys…keys…keys." He muttered circling around the deck of a small yacht. "Where are you?"

When he didn't he them, he pounded the railing with gritted teeth. Suddenly, the sound of keys clanking was heard behind them. He turned at the helm and found a single set on the wooden floor below where the ignition was. He stepped forward and picked them up.

He smirked as he spun them in one claw. "How did I miss you?"

More lasers were heard behind him, and he turned to them with a gasp. He saw Chelsea still in the air distracting Gen-U-Tech's guards. The female gargoyle flew past the buildings, which the fire-armers carelessly hit the building instead of the gargoyle. In the process, it soon caught ablaze.

Chelsea turned to the building, and gasped as the alarm was going off. She saw tons of human's in lab coats scurrying out of the building, and heading toward the docks that were far from the flames. Turning her direction toward the said spot, she saw a single yacht riding out into the empty waters.

"Chelsea!"

The said female felt her whole body shake with goosebumps. She turned to her right, and her eyes instantly widen. All she saw were five dots, but looking closer, they became shapes that she instantly recognized. The first one though, she instantly knew who called to her.

"Brooklyn?" she muttered with bafflement.

Down on land, a single rifle was being loaded with a single dart. *Cla-clink! The rifle slowly lifted up and aimed toward the lone gargoyle still in the air. His prey, completely oblivious of the danger. Except one.

"Behind you!" the red gargoyle yelled.

Chelsea quickly turned behind and saw Bruce aiming his gun at her. Before she could move, the shot was fired with a bang, and the dart hit its mark on her thigh. She grunted, then felt her mind growing fuzzy, and her world spinning until it went completely black. Her body going heavy as he felt herself going down like a rock.

"NO!"

The hothead folded his wings and dove headfirst after the azure female who was falling face first toward the watery depths. He snarled as he saw Chelsea crashed through the ocean, but still followed her though the abyss.

"Brooklyn!" Goliath exclaimed, seeing both his clan members disappear in the dark waters.

---

"I…I can't do this." The azure hatchling gulped as she stared down at the edge of the cliff. She looked up and saw the trio hovering in front of her. All waiting patiently for her to come join them.

"Sure you can," the red one encouraged. "Just do like I said. Feel the gust coming, let your wings carry it, and jump. It's easy!"

"But what if I fall?" the female felt her eyes well up, remembering the constant number of times she fell, and hearing her rookery siblings laugh at her failed attempts. The constant teasing repeated in her head like a top as she held her head. She shook her head, then covered her eyes to hide her tears.

"Then I'll catch you."

The female uncovered her eyes and looked forward at the red gargoyle. She saw how serious the red hatchling was gazing toward her, but not so intimidating.

She sniffed, then wiped her nose. "What?"

"I'll catch you," the red one repeated, then gestured to his two friends. "We'll catch you. You just got to believe it." He gestured her to come forward with a smile. "What do you say?"

The female just stared at the red gargoyle. Should she? Should she believe him that they'll catch her? Will he catch her? All she has to believe is his words, but will they be enough?

As her questions were answered, she felt a slight breeze come at her, and her wings quickly caught it.

"Come on!" the green one called out.

"Glide!" the aqua one added.

"Catch the wind!" the red one ended.

The female took a deep breath, then felt a new sense of bravery fill in her core. She gulped as she felt her talons running on the runway, getting closer and closer to the edge until she jumped and felt nothing. She didn't stop, fear slowly melted away as she got closer. Jumping, she felt her body be light as air until it dropped.

The trio gasped, and were about to dive down until…

The female exclaimed with ecstatic as she flew past over them. Her wings were spread behind her as they rode through the wind gusts.

The red one was in awe. "She did it…"

"She gliding!" the green one exclaimed.

"Whoo!" the aqua one pumped his fists.

The female laughed, then continued her acrobatic fun. Doing somersaults, spins, even trying to go upside down. She couldn't believe it, before this she couldn't even lift off the ground, and now she's having the time of life in the air. The excitement of being off the ground, the feeling of wings carrying her for miles, and the freedom. Oh how she wanted to feel it so badly.

And now she found it.

---

Peace…that was all Chelsea could feel. No fear, no danger, just…peace. She's sensing she's in a safe place, and not…wherever she was before. She moaned, feeling her back is laid on something soft. A second later, she heard familiar voices.

"Hey, I think she's waking up." It was Lexington.

Talon scrapes were heard in the background and hearing her clan muttering with concern. The azure gargoyle was confused. Is she back at the clocktower? Is that why she feels safe here? She has to be safe; she has to be…

She tried moving her head, but it felt like rocks filled her brain as it tilted to her far right. She soon felt two claws gently taking ahold of her head. Her eyes fluttered as colors began to form shapes, then familiar faces.

"Hudson?" she murmured at the light brown shape in front of her.

The elder gargoyle shushed her as his thumb caressed above her eye. "It's alright lass, your safe now."

Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief. She found that she was sitting in Hudson's recliner as the clan and their human friend were around her. Her eyes moved through everyone who looked at her with concern. When her eyes fell to Brooklyn though, a flicker of anger sort of flickered inside of her, but it quickly diminished when her head spun again. She pressed her claws on the bridge of her nose.

She brought them down when she looked at everyone. "How did you find me?"

"Xanatos," Goliath took a step past the group and went down on his knees to Chelsea's height. "He told us that Gen-U-Tech has two locations, but he wasn't the reason for your capture though."

"It was someone named…Phobos?" Broadway added.

Chelsea nodded. "The doctor who captured me and…" her eyes popped. "Wait, where's Cody?"

"Who?" Lexington piped up.

"He was with me at the island and was on a boat the last time I saw him."

"You mean this guy?" Broadway pointed behind.

Everyone turned behind and found the said being sitting on the steps. They saw Cody flinch when everyone's eyes fell onto him. Bronx, who was laying below the gargoyle's feet, turned to him with narrowed eyes.

"It's okay Bronx," Chelsea straightened herself in the chair. "He's a friend."

The beast turned to Chelsea with a confused expression, then relaxed when Lexington petted him behind the ears.

"How did you two meet?" Goliath turned back to female gargoyle.

"Well," Chelsea glimpsed at Cody, then back to her leader. "You'll probably won't believe me, but…"

The clan listened intently as Chelsea started explaining her experience of Gen-U-Tech Island. How she was captured by a man named Bruce, meeting Dr. Phobos who wasn't even at all frightened of meeting a gargoyle; it was as if he knew they existed before he met her. What made the clan shocked was that Cody was the same human from the Coldstone incident, somewhat met him at the main Gen-U-Tech building, and that he was turned into a gargoyle.

"But how's that possible?" Hudson gasped.

"You don't look like those mutants we've met before." Lexington added as he circled around an awkward Cody.

"Well uh," Cody fiddled in his gown pockets and took out the paperwork he took from the island. He skimmed and found what he was looking for. "Phobos used Chelsea's blood on me, and…" he picked up one of his wings and somewhat stretched it out. "These grew."

"So basically," Elisa spoke for the first time in a long time. "Xanatos or Phobos wanted to make more gargoyles, and it looks like he succeeded."

"What I don't get," Brooklyn added as he looked between Cody and Chelsea. "Is why do you two look the same? I mean, you look like twins."

Cody flipped through the papers again and found something. "Says here Phobos did a blood test on both me and Chelsea, and" he gulped again "Both of us have the same blood markers."

"Blood markers?" Goliath quirked an eye ridge.

Elisa turned to the lavender gargoyle. "He means Chelsea and Cody have similar blood like…siblings."

Goliath's eyes popped. "Buts that's impossible, both of them cannot be related. Chelsea's been a part of my clan ever since she was a hatchling."

"I should know," Chelsea slowly got out of her seat and stood next to Hudson. "I was living through all of it. Both good and bad."

Elisa brought her hand under her chin as she was thinking.

"Well uh," Hudson's mutters alerted the clan.

Everyone turned to Hudson who looked like he was remembering something.

"What is it Hudson?" Goliath asked.

"Well," the elder gargoyle thought out loud. He turned to the female, then to Goliath. "I don't believe this is important, but remember how we found Chelsea?"

"Found?" Broadway repeated.

"Before Castle Wyvern was formed, Chelsea was found by me, Goliath, and Demona. We thought she was a lost child that was either abandoned by her former clan, or she was just lost." He crossed his arms as if he were thinking. "When we first took her in, she was found in what looked like a wizards circle, and…she had a vague scent of human on her."

"I don't recall you ever mentioning the scent of humans." Goliath looked at his elder with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't think much of it at the time. I thought it was because maybe a human was holding her, but the scent was very potent like it was a part of her."

"But it still doesn't explain why she has the same blood as Cody."

"Uh, I think I could help."

Goliath and the others turned to Cody who raised a claw. He took a step forward and stood in front of Chelsea.

The azure male brought a claw out. "Can I see your necklace please?"

The female made a weird face but didn't refuse. She went behind her neck and took her necklace. She held the charm by the silver chain and gently placed it in Cody's waiting claws. He inspected the necklace with great intent as he occasionally looked at it all over.

When he flipped the necklace over, his eyes popped as a light gasp escaped his lips. "It's still here…"

"What?" Chelsea muttered.

Cody took the necklace where the chain connects to the locket, then showed Chelsea what he inspected. Two letters, D and M, were engraved in the back behind the opal. Even though the letters were somewhat invisible because of some tarnish over them, Chelsea could still see them.

"Letters?"

Cody took a deep breath. "D and M were my mother's first initials. Her name was Donna Matthews."

"Was?" Elisa asked, but she knew what he meant.

Cody looked down. "She died; 18 years ago a car crash killed her, and my-" he stared at Chelsea as if he were looking for something. "baby sister…"

The female gulped, looking at this new gargoyle in front of her as if she were looking at a puzzle. She didn't know what to say, all of these questions were starting to pile into her, but she didn't have the courage to ask them, nor wanted to know… When her eyes caught her necklace in Cody's claw, she quickly took it and latched it on.

Goliath looked between the two gargoyles. He narrowed his eyes, something about all this is making him on edge. He went forward, and brought a claw behind Chelsea's back, then gestured her to sit back down on the recliner. Turning back to Cody, who looked intimidated by his height, he looked down at him with his dark demeanor.

"What were you doing on the island?"

Cody gulped at the lavender gargoyles hard stare but kept his cool. "I just got a job promotion and was transferred there to work with Dr. Phobos. When I got there, my first job was involved with her." he gestured to Chelsea. "The next thing I knew, Phobos asked me to be a part of an experiment, but I never expected I was it."

"You were also at the Brooklyn bridge," Broadway pointed out. "What were you doing there?"

"In short, curiosity got the better of me. I wasn't sure if you guys were actual gargoyles or not. That, I don't know, I had this strange feeling of wanting to meet you guys."

"Are you sure though that Chelsea's necklace was your mothers?" Goliath asked.

"My mom never took it off unless she needed too. She only took it off and put it over my month-old sister when we were in the car that night. After the accident, both the necklace and my sister were gone. I knew instantly she couldn't be gone because the necklace just…disappeared. The police couldn't even find it, nor my sisters body."

His eyes met Chelsea's again and felt a lump in his throat. From explaining about the blood markers, listening to Hudson's story, to seeing her locket, it all came together.

"Chelsea…are you my sister?" he muttered.

The female gargoyle felt her blood ran cold. Listening to everything, she couldn't believe any of it. She gave a hard gulp, but no words came out. She didn't know what to say.

"I don't believe any of it." Broadway spoke out.

Everyone turned to the potbelly.

"You can't actually believe that Chelsea was once human? She grew up with us! If she's Cody's sister, how did she get sent back in time from Manhattan to Medieval Scotland?"

Hudson straightened his beard as he thought of this. Trying to remember anything from long ago.

"I…I don't know." He muttered.

Chelsea, who was still sitting at the recliner, couldn't take anymore. She felt her mind fill to many questions; she needed some air. While the clan were still exploring her origins in a somewhat disagreement, she quickly snuck away outside, her presence leaving did not go undetected.

---

Outside, Chelsea perched herself on one of the sides of the dome of the clock face. Her wings caped as her back was against the dome. She stared out in the night sky as she thought of everything that happened.

She couldn't believe it. One moment she thought she was a gargoyle raised by her clan of Castle Wyvern, and now she was told by a stranger that she was human. She didn't know what to think or understands any of it. Recalling, Cody looked so hopeful while he looked at her locket. Telling his story of how he lost his sister, who had the same exact name as her, she couldn't say anything to make him upset. She doesn't believe it, she couldn't believe it, she…is just confused. She knew she wasn't like the others growing up. Always a little far behind in spreading her wings and was always picked on because of that.

The female brought her locket in front of her. The opal charm glimmered for a second from the moonlight. If her necklace really belonged to this Donna Matthews, does that mean that her life was a lie? Is she not a true gargoyle like her clan?

"Chelsea?"

Chelsea's skin crawled at the unexpected call. She rose from her back, then leaned forward to look down below. She scowled. It was the last gargoyle she did not want to see…It was Brooklyn. He stood along with Bronx, looking up at her with somewhat puppy eyes and knitted eye ridges.

Chelsea lightly scoffed and didn't say anything. She merely went back to her sitting position and leaned back with a crossed face. She crossed her arms and held her breath as she turned away. Her stomach constricted like a knot and getting tighter every second.

"I know I'm the last gargoyle you want to see, but I just want to talk." Brooklyn's voice called up to her. "You don't have to come down if you don't want to."

The female took another breath. She felt her eyes well up, but they didn't release any tears. She was angrier at the hothead below than upset. She still had not forgiven him from last night.

Letting her tension go, she sighed, and wiped her unshed tears away before she could speak. "What do you want?" she sniffed.

"Just checking to see how you're doing." He answered. She heard him clear his throat. "You know, about what happened and-"

"Oh now you're concerned. For me?" She sharply turned down to him with gritted teeth. She narrowed her eyes. "Thought it was Maggie you were only concerned about."

She saw Brooklyn gulp and his body flinched a little. He itched the back of his head as if he tried thinking what else say. "Well, you see," He looked down with his ears drooping. "She didn't want me, nor my help."

The female scoffed. "Wow Brooklyn, what made you think that?"

He looked up at her seeing her roll her eyes and her claws at the edge with tight fists. She turned her head away with a huff.

"I told you, but did you listen to me?" She looked down at him with a heated glare. "No."

Bronx whined as he looked between Brooklyn and Chelsea. One was practically showing his regret while the other was showing her slow burning rage. The beast wasn't sure which side he should be with, but from what is going on, he would rather listen than take a side. The beast sat on his haunches as the two continued there…conversation.

"I know," The red gargoyle turned away, and looked down. "I should've listened." He looked up at her. "Chelsea, you can yell at me until dawn freezes us, but I just want to say this." Brooklyn shut his eyes as he took a deep breath. Releasing it, he looked up at the female that was high over him. "You were right."

Chelsea raised as eye ridge. Her face clearly twisted with confusion, and she didn't have to tell him.

"You were right about everything! Okay?!" Brooklyn spread his arms went out in protest. "From Maggie being afraid of us, to not wanting anything to do with me. I saw her fear in what I wanted it to be, but I didn't see what she was scared of." He shook his head as he calmed himself. "You saw it better than me, and I was a complete fool. Because of me, you got captured, and…got hurt." he gritted his teeth as he looked away.

Chelsea just stared at the red gargoyle before him. She wasn't sure if Brooklyn was being serious from his expression or if his words were honest. She didn't move from her spot, but something inside her was telling her to stand with him. Looking at him, he saw his regret pouring out from his words and body language, but is that enough? For her to forgive him? She needs to see more.

Rising up from her perch, she jumped down, using her wings to softly land on the stone railing and stood over the red gargoyle. She kept her wings open as she saw him staring at her with sort of entranced wide eyes. She ignored his stare as she stood high with her right claw on her hip.

"I just landed somewhere in the open and got caught." She said with a shrug. "That wasn't your fault."

"But you got hurt," the red gargoyle pressed. He looked away. "And I'm the one who made you leave." He shook his head. "I shouldn't have yelled at you…"

"Yeah, but…" Chelsea mumbled, turning away with a frown. She looked back to him. "I didn't get killed."

He turned to her with wide eyes. "You almost did!"

The female clenched her fist as she narrowed her eyes. She jumped off the railing and stood in front of Brooklyn. "But you saved me!" She jabbed a claw in his chest. "You pulled me out of the water B. I would've drowned if it wasn't for you!"

Brooklyn stared at her with shock.

"You said you wanted to help someone, and you already did. Also," Chelsea straightened her back as she took a gulp. "I never thanked you," she turned her head away with a downward expression. "For saving my life."

The red gargoyles' shock melted away as he gazed at her. He opened his beak in trying to say something, but he couldn't think of anything. All he did was stare at the only female gargoyle in front of him.

He slowly stepped forward, making sure not to provoke her. When he didn't see her reacting to his movement, he collected her in his arms. He felt Chelsea freeze at his touch, but instantly relaxed as he felt her claws wrap around his waist and her head laid on his upper chest. He lifted a smile as one of his claws found her soft hair and gently pet it.

"So uh," he tried to think of words to say to her. "Are we okay?"

He heard Chelsea lightly hummed, then she turned to the red gargoyle. Her frown he saw before turned into a half smile, but it occasionally changed as she thought of everything that happened.

"It's…a start." she nodded. Her smile lifted a bit more. "I don't want to hold a grudge too long." Suddenly, her smile faded as she turned away.

"Then," Brooklyn quipped an eyebrow. "What is it?"

She felt a new wave of feelings rise up, so she looked up as if she tried to hide it. Chelsea slowly got out of his embrace and wrapped her arms around herself. She gulped.

"It's just…everything I guess," she shook her head. "I-I don't know." She looked down as she held herself tighter. "All my life I was told I was a gargoyle of Castle Wyvern," she felt her feelings turned into slight anger. "Then the next thing I'm told I was human? And that I have a brother I never knew? How?"

Brooklyn crossed his eye ridges. "You were human for like what…a month. You've been a gargoyle your whole life."

"But I was still human," Chelsea protested. She looked down at her claws as if they were new to her. She closed them into a tight fists, then looked away with a gritted teeth. "It explains why I was left behind from the others, and how I couldn't glide with them."

"Chelsea-"

"I couldn't get it like you or the others," she turned out into the city below and looked at it with gloom. She shook her head. "I didn't have the true instincts of a gargoyle." She brought her left claw to where her wings attached to her back. "My wings were like…like paper on my back."

"But they made you glide later." Brooklyn argued.

"With sheer luck!" she argued back.

"It wasn't luck!"

Unknown to her, Brooklyn took her shoulders in his claws and brought her in front of him. Chelsea gasped at how close he was to her but saw how serious he looked to her. She didn't struggle, nor tried to find a way to break free. She merely gawked at him with wide eyes. She saw him gasp at her, as if he made a mistake. He turned away for a second with his claw over his brow, then he looked back at her. His face soft yet serious.

"You worked hard to catch up with the others and now look at you." Brooklyn told her. "You glide like you've done it your whole life."

Chelsea blinked at Brooklyn, shocked of his choice of words. Knowing him from when they were little, she never expected him in giving out words of advice. Calming her composure, she wants to know something that only he could answer.

"Brooklyn," she looked at him with a solemn look. "What do you see?"

The made the hothead slightly jump at her words. "What are you-"

"What do you see me as? Now knowing I'm born…different…am I still one of you?" She gulped. "Or…a freak?"

Brooklyn's eyes popped when she said the last word. His claws still gripped to her shoulders as he felt her soft skin under them, but they slacked as he thought of what she asked. What does he see her as? Does it have to be a simple answer, or can it be more? The only way he needs to know, is to just speak of what he sees in front of him. The red gargoyle took deep breath.

"Chelsea," he let our with a calm presence. "Even though you weren't born like me or the rest of the clan, you're still one of us."

The said female blinked at his answer. "But Brooklyn, I-"

"Someone gave you a reason to live as one of us." He cut her off. "You died human, but you were reborn as a gargoyle."

Chelsea tried thinking what else to say to make him wrong, but his soft gaze was clouding her mind as she felt one of his claws slowly lifting up.

"You may have been born human Chelsea, but you'll always be a gargoyle…in my eyes." Brooklyn continued as his right claw slowly caressed her robin's egg cheek. "I don't care where you came from or how you became one of us, but I see…you." His thumb lightly brushing against it with tenderness.

The female gargoyle felt her inner feelings that were boxed in were finally pouring out. A thin stream of tears wept out on one eye, but the red gargoyle stroked it away. She let out a giggle as she took ahold of his claw in her own. She sniffed as she wiped her tears away.

"Well," she spoke in a soft voice. She sniffed. "I guess I would have found out sooner than later. Huh?"

"Yeah maybe," the hothead lightly shrugged with a shake, but his face changed to seriousness. "But you're still one of us. Don't you dare think you're not."

Chelsea let out a warm smile as he returned the expression. Both of them haven't moved since Brooklyn took ahold of her. Even Bronx hasn't moved from his spot since then. After moments of silence, the female realized something that she needs to be honest about. She gulped as she took a breath.

"Okay," she breathed out as she moved her head awkwardly. "Since we're here spilling out our feelings," she smiled as she saw Brooklyn chuckle. "I actually have a confession to make." A few seconds later, she breathed out. "I was jealous."

Brooklyn blinked. "What?"

Chelsea frowned as she gets out of his caress as she took a step back. "I was jealous! Okay?!" she exasperated. She pointed her index finger at his chest. "Jealous that you fell for Maggie so quickly, and I don't know." She crossed her arms as she lightly shrugged and looked away.

"I guess I was worried for your well-being, but it was mostly because I had these strong feelings for you for a long time, and I couldn't say it because you were so-"

She stopped as she was swiftly brought into the hothead arms and felt the red gargoyle's beak pressed against her lips. She quickly took a breath as she felt herself spinning quickly like a top. When she felt there lips part, she lightly slapped him on the chest and stepped back.

"What was that for?!" she demanded with shock.

Brooklyn smirked. "You talk too much."

That made the female gawk. "Huh?"

"Well, you were jealous, and it had to stop." The corners of his beak turned up. "Did it work?"

The female gawked for a few seconds until she shook her head. "That's not how…" she tried thinking what else to say but couldn't. She shook her head with a chuckle, then pointed at him. "You have issues."

"Hey," Brooklyn pointed at her in a good manner. "I made you laugh."

Chelsea's giggles turned into a heartfelt laugh, which Brooklyn looked at her with a heartfelt smile. When she stopped, the female gargoyle turned to the red gargoyle with a warm smile.

"You think fate wants us more than just friends?" she asked in a lighthearted tone.

That answer made Brooklyn grin. "Yeah, I think so." His face had become a deeper red as he turned and lightly scratched the back of his neck. He looked back at her. "If…If you want."

Chelsea opened her mouth to say something, but her mind was in a blank. She merely stared at Brooklyn, studying every inch of him. She took a hard breath as butterflies were in her stomach. She was afraid of what she wants to do next, but her body is telling her otherwise.

Letting out, she grinned. "Yes."

Before Brooklyn could acknowledge, Chelsea instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips at the tip of his beak. The red gargoyle was shocked at first, but instantly relaxed as he brought his claw behind her head with the other one around her waist bringing her close. On instinct, Chelsea tilted her head as her wings wrapped around the red gargoyle while he brought his own around both of them. Their lips following each other with growing passion and desire as they pressed themselves closer to each other, never wanting to let go. They heard Bronx give out a light bark, but they ignored it as they were having their precious moment. Both of them, finally alone at peace.

Well kind of…

"It's about time!"

Both lovers quickly released each other with equal shock. They turned to the face of the clock tower and saw the clan pooling out onto the terrace. While Goliath and Hudson gave smiles of approval, Broadway and Lexington gave out smirks of approval. While Brooklyn froze as he stared at the others, Chelsea leaned her head against the red gargoyles' chest.

"They heard everything…" she murmured.

"Yep," The hothead adjusted his arm around her back. "They did."

The rest of the gargoyles merely laughed as they all began to head to their perches. Brooklyn and Chelsea came out of their cocoon, they decided to perch next to each other. Settling, the red gargoyle's tail quickly took the azure ones, which made her gasp in delight.

Back at the archway, Elisa and Cody came out, watching everyone getting settled. The new gargoyle gave a sigh.

"I just can't believe it," Cody muttered.

The detective turned to him.

"One moment, I'm working as a geneticists assistance, the next I'm a man with wings."

"Yeah," Elisa lightly shrugged. "Life gives you stuff like that."

"The question is," Cody looked at his newly formed claws. "Is this real? Or a bad dream?"

The moment he said that the sun rose over the horizon. All the gargoyles froze as stone guardians, while two young ones were gazing at one another with enlaced tails. That made the detective lightly snicker.

"I always ask myself the same-" When Elisa turned to her company, her blood ran cold when she was met with a stone statue of Cody Matthews. "Question…"