Finally! Another chapter in the books! Enjoy!
Gargoyles belongs to Weisman/Disney.
Chelsea, Cody, and Walter belong to me
Findlaech belongs to Awesomefoxgirl2
Wales is known for many things; from its rich folklore to its beautiful rolling valleys that look like they came from a storybook. Not only known for its beauty, but it was said to be the former home of the Kingdom of Camelot. Even though scholars believed the kingdom is entirely fictional, a geographical discovery is about to change.
Two archeologists, Doctors Lydia Dwayne and Arthur Moorwood-Smyth have recently discovered an abandoned mineshaft that's dated back centuries… Even so, besides many cave ins, the two of them were determined to find something worth this expedition.
Smyth grunted as he used his pickax to break apart a large boulder. Cracks began to form, but it didn't give. He picked some more, that was when the rocks began to give. When the dust settled, the man eyes filled with wonder.
"I'm through Dwayne!" he called out. "Come look at this!"
Dwayne just came through some large boulders, her expression becoming worrisome when she heard small rocks crumbling. She looked toward Smyth.
"Careful!" she went forward with a lamp. "This whole shaft could collapse at any moment."
Her partner nodded as both of them made their way through the new part of the tunnels. Dwayne lifted her lamp along with her partners and discovered an old wooden door in their way.
"Strange to have a door in a cave." Smyth muttered.
He lightly pushed the door, and both entered what looked like an old chamber room. Various items laid in the room; a cauldron, a crystal ball, small knit knacks fit for either an alchemist or a wizard. From the cobwebs on everything, both archeologists believe this room hasn't been touched in many years. Meaning they were the first to discover such a find.
As they took in what they were seeing, they couldn't help but feel something was watching them…A cold gust came out of nowhere, making Dwayne and Smyth huddle close. Smyth shivered as if the room had dropped a temperature.
"Where did that come from?" Smyth asked out loud.
Dwayne looked another way. Suddenly, a soft strum of strings could be heard. She gestured forward. "This way."
Dwayne moved forward with Smyth behind her back. Their flashlights took in every antique that laid in the chamber. As they did, the strings became louder. They were coming close to whatever was playing. Smyth moved his light, and discovered what was playing.
A golden lyre, beautifully crafted with seven strings, was playing by itself. Its song had no meaning, but for some reason, it's melody made the two archeologists stare at it in wonder.
"What a beautiful tune." Smyth spoke in awe.
Dwayne on the other had her eyes onto something else. Below the lyre laid a small chest that looked to be as old as the whole room, but still looked intact. Blowing away the dust buildup, Dwayne squinted her eyes at small writing on the lid.
"Ancient Celtic."
"What does it say?" her partner asked.
She adjusted her glasses as she read the inscription. "The Seeker Of Knowledge Need Fear Nothing Here. The Destroyer Everything."
The woman hummed as she lifted the lid without a second thought. Once it opened, swirls of blue light encased the whole room, making the two archeologists jump out in fear. Trying to fling it away, they didn't notice the swirls transforming to what looked like a face of an aging man above them. It looked to be scanning them, whether they are worthy of discovering what is in his chest or not. Time sort went by, its eyes narrowed, then the face faded away as it headed back into the chest.
When the mist completely disappeared, both archeologists looked at the chest with caution. With a careful step, Dwayne came forward, slowly lifting the lid. Inside, both of them found two large scrolls with a wax seal with an emblem. Seeing them both, they could only be-
"The Scrolls of Merlin." Smyth breathed.
"And~~Go!"
Chelsea folded a piece of paper away, then looked up at the ceiling.
"Wie ein König über die irdische Natur weckt er jede Kraft zu unz-" Chelsea paused then scrunched her eyeridges. "unzähligen…Ver-Verwan~dlu~~~ugh!" She looked back down and opened the paper. She scoffed and slapped the paper with annoyance.
"Verwandlugen!" She huffed. "I was close…"
"Hey, German is hard." Cody took the paper from her. He used a red fountain pen and put a slash where she last read. Walter chirped in his small hammock in his cage that was on the brick formation next to the gargoyle.
"And I thought Latin was hard." She spat the language word as she laid her back on Cody's mattress.
"At least you made it past the first few verses." Cody adjusted himself in his cushion chair.
The female turned her head to the other gargoyle. "Remind me again why you're teaching me German?"
Cody shrugged his shoulders as he took out a German book across from him. "Since your teaching me how to be a gargoyle, how about I return the favor in teaching you something I know?"
"Yeah."She hummed with a nod. "You have a point."
Chelsea turned her head to look up the ceiling. She adjusted herself as she brought her arms behind her head. She stretched her wings for a second before wrapping them around her waist like a personal blanket.
"Well," she stifled a laugh and looked back at Cody "at least I'm not reading music."
"I heard that!"
Chelsea slightly flinched, then lifted her back off the mattress. "Butt out Brooklyn!"
"You know, music isn't that complicated compared to German." He called out.
"Really," she rolled the 'r' as she lifted off the mattress. She made her way down where the hothead was reading a music book. She looked over his shoulder, seeing pages of what looked like music notes and explanations.
"All I see are just…notes? How do you understand that?" she asked.
Brooklyn gave her a cocky smile, then showed her the music book he was reading. "Maybe if you read this, you'll learn something."
Chelsea playfully rolled her eyes, then strolled past him, before playfully frizzing his white hair with a giggle. Liking how he was annoyed but let her do it anyway. Before she went down another flight of stairs, she look over her shoulder to him.
"You stick with music, and I'll stick with German."
"Fine by me." The red gargoyle smirked, then went back to his book.
Chelsea then went down another pair of steps where she saw Lexington sitting in the center of scattered books and magazines with Bronx napping in front of him. She stood behind her younger rookery brother as he was reading something.
"Whatcha reading?" she asked playfully.
"New York Magazine." He answered casually. His face lit up as he found something interesting. "Says here the Scrolls of Merlin are to be taken to New York's Metropolitan Museum for further study."
"Merlin? As in King Arthur's Merlin from Arthurian Legend?"
"Yep!" he confirmed as he read a bit more. "Says here after researching what's written in them, they'll be put on displayed for everyone to see."
"Huh," Chelsea found another book near Bronx, The Mists of Avalon. "And I thought Merlin and Arthur were just myths."
"I thought so too."
Chelsea and Lexington looked up and saw Elisa standing with Goliath by the center clock gears.
"But would it be incredible that they were actually written by Merlin himself?" the detective asked with a bit of hope.
"Merlin?" Brooklyn looked up from his reading. "He was a wizard right? Like the Magus…?" he said the last part with a drip of venom.
Goliath turned to the red gargoyle. "He was. A white wizard in the fifth century. There are many books downstairs with different theories about him. It is no wonder why these scrolls are important."
"If they are real," Cody called out from his room. "You think the stories of King Arthur might actually be true and not myth?"
"I hope so." Lexington answered from his spot.
Above on the rafters, Broadway was chowing down on a large hoagie he whipped up. A scoff could be heard as he finished chewing his meal.
"Why do you guys stare marks on a page when you can rent the video?"
"They aren't marks," Lexington grunted as he tried to get a magazine out from under a sleeping Bronx "if you know how to read."
The aqua gargoyle scoffed. "Well I can't read," he pointed his nose up "and I don't think I'm missing much."
Chelsea closed her book, then looked up at the aqua gargoyle with twisted eye ridges. "So, basically you want to be illiterate for the rest of your life?"
That made Broadway look down at her with confusion. "Illitee-uh...Illiterate?"
"Means you can't read…or write."
"Oh, well then," he shrugged. "I'll stick being illiterate then."
Chelsea shook her head, then went against the wall to sit down. While she opened her book, Brooklyn shook his head.
"You know, ignorance is a bliss," he looked up top. "Right Hudson."
Everyone heard Hudson letting out a grunt.
"Leave me out of this," he grumbled as he sat in his chair. "It's time for celebrity hockey. Come here Bronx." As he said that, the gargoyle beast instantly ran to his side, and went back to sleep.
Everyone else continued their own thing, while Elisa checked her watch.
"I got to go," she turned to Goliath. "Matt and I are assigned to the scrolls escort team."
"Do they know what the scrolls contain?" he asked.
"Last I heard they're still sealed. Rumor has it that they're magic spells." She said that last part with a bit of a tease.
Even though it was a rumor, Goliath didn't look convinced.
The police convoy rode over the choppy waves, water crashing against the ship as it headed toward the HMS Churchill. Lightning flashed in the sky; rain poured down when the small boat arrived at its destination.
The female detective adjusted her hat, then looked up toward the ladder. She, along with Matt Bluestone, began making their up on the Churchill.
"We didn't think you'd make it!" Dr. Dwayne called down, lending a hand down.
"I wouldn't have missed this if I have to swim." Elisa called back.
When the detectives arrived on the ship, the convoy left. They were on their own from the mainland. Dwayne escorted them to the main cabin where Smyth stood with two large canisters.
Dwayne gestured to the two canisters. "The scrolls are sealed in theses canisters until they are safely in the museum."
As the two archeologists began recalling their experience in the field, the sonar began making noise as two blips were being seen. Outside, two large jets were about to descend onto the ship, high tech weapons loaded and ready to fire. They fired, the blasts shattering the windows of the cabin. Matt and Elisa brought Dwayne and Smyth down on the ground to protect them from the fallen glass and took them under the ships consul for further protection.
The ships' captain regained his footing, then went to the consul to grab the mic from his cb radio. "Mayday! Mayday!"
Elisa and Matt looked out, seeing the two jets outside in formation. They looked back at the captain who was having trouble with the radio.
"Coastguard, this is H.M.S. Churchhill. We are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack!"
Not far from the ship, the thunder rolled, and the Manhattan Clan (minus Bronx and Cody) were in the air. Everyone were in tight formation, the wind blowing in every direction, but they continued forward.
"You were right Goliath!" Hudson called through the wind. "Those machines must belong to Xanatos."
Lexington looked forward, taking notice of the two jets. "Harrier jets—they can land and take off like helicopters."
"And let me guess," Broadway flapped above him. "You read about it?"
The olive gargoyle looked up at his brother. "Pretty much."
The potbelly scoffed. "When your life is this exciting, who needs books?"
As he said that, goosebumps prickled on his back, and felt his throat clench. Thunder echoed behind him, but that didn't make him gulp. Sweat began to form on his ridge when a shadow lurked over him. He slowly looked up, only to make him wish he didn't.
Lightning flashed, and Chelsea's form gave a demonic presence. She gazed intently at him with piercing black orbs as her mouth curved downward into a deep frown. Before Broadway could do anything, Chelsea made a huff, then flapped her wings forward with the others, leaving the aqua gargoyle by himself.
Broadway turned to Brooklyn who was next him. "What'd I say?"
Brooklyn rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You said it, not me. " He remarked as he glided forward.
The potbelly blinked a few times then gulped. He continued and followed the clan. Occasionally making sure Chelsea wasn't going to do anything…harsh.
The two jets landed on the deck of the Churchill, making the two detectives readying their weapons at the unwelcome visitors. While Dwayne was huddling under the control panel with the scrolls, the captain was still trying to call help.
"Coast guard come in!"
*Zap*Boom!
The cabin door was blasted off its hinges, striking both Matt and the captain, but missing Elisa.
"Matt!" she exclaimed, before turning her attention to the door.
At the door, two mercenaries she never saw before were at her sight. She took a few shots before one of them, a man with blonde hair, tackled her and kicked her weapon. The other one, a red head woman walked toward Dwayne whose arms were still around the canisters.
"Come on," the merc aimed her gun at the archeologist. "Give them up."
"No!" Dwayne tightened her hold on the canisters. "These scrolls are priceless."
"Oh, man." The merc facepalmed as she put her gun away. "What was I thinking?"
Duane looked hopeful for a second, but it didn't last. The merc did a hard leg sweep, knocking Dwayne to the ground, and bringing the canisters in the air. She caught them with ease and passed the second one to her partner. The man caught it, then he and her partner made their way back to the jets. Once they entered, they powered them up, and the two began their clean getaway.
Or…so they thought.
Hudson came onto one of the jets and smashed through the glass ceiling. He reached over the human to quickly grabbed the canister, but the ship lifted up to make him lose it by a second. The merc increased his speed, making the old gargoyle hang loosely against the side of the plane. While the rest of the clan scattered, Goliath went after the other plane. His claws dug into one of the wings to hang on.
Elisa came out of the cabin, only to see the gargoyles maneuvering around the open fire from the jets. When she saw the lavender gargoyle, she cupped her hands upward.
"Goliath! They have the scrolls!" she exclaimed.
Hudson soon gained his composure, grabbing the canister in the process. The merc, with panic, pounded on the defense field, electrocuting the gargoyle in the process. The old gargoyle was sent plummeting toward the sea with the canister in his claws.
On the other jet, it fired toward Goliath, who jumped off before he could be shot. Both jets then opened fired, making the others scatter in defense. Each of them dodged in many directions, all thinking of wanting to survive this mission and not die. Once they were out of shot, they regrouped and followed the two jets that were getting away.
"Where are Hudson and Broadway?!" Goliath called through the thunder.
Lexington pointed forward. "Over there!"
They looked forward, only to see Broadway hanging on the side of the plane for dear life.
Chelsea blinked twice. "Woah…"
"Hudson's probably on the other one!" Brooklyn stated.
As the clan flew back toward the docks, what they didn't know was that one of them was left behind. Hudson floated unconscious with the canister keeping him afloat over the waves.
The storm soon calmed as the ship was docked. The police were soon called in to not only aid to the two detectives and captain, but also interviewing the archeologists. They asked if they knew anybody who would want to steal the scrolls. So far, they don't have any leads.
"No, no one specific." Dwayne shook her head. "I mean, who wouldn't want them?"
Over the side, Elisa narrowed her eyes as she thought of something about this case. As the investigation continued, she broke away from the group and into the shadows of the large shipping crates. The four remaining gargoyles were all gathered together, all of them showing their growing frustration and anxiety of what happened earlier.
"I fear the scrolls would present too a great temptation." The leader rumbled.
"Xanatos is behind it!" Elisa tossed her hat to the ground. "He made me look like an amateur, but I got no proof and without it-"
"Without it…it falls to us."
Hudson didn't know where he was. Last he remembered he was trying to take the scroll canister, then felt the excruciating pain from the plane shocking him, and the next thing he felt the ocean waves knocking him out of conscious. The rest…he recalled seeing darkness, but nothing else. He wasn't even sure where he is right now.
The old warrior groaned, his brittle body ached mostly around his arms and wings. They pulsed, but felt cascading waves lightly crash against him, and felt what he believes is soft…sand?
He cracked his eyes open, only to see a divided line between the night sky and the dark sand against his cheek. He turned his head forward and let out a cough. Ahead he could see stone statues of gargoyles perched on a brick wall-like fence.
"What the..." Hudson tried to lift to his feet, only for his head to spin and he plopped back on the beach with a thud.
Darkness once again clouded his vision.
The two jets flew over the ocean until they reached a lone stone castle near the ocean. They dove down as a large garage door opened under the castle and they both entered, revealed to be full of different jets and vehicles. After they turned off their machines, the female merc got out of her jet, she went over to inspect the damage of her partner's jet.
"Hey," she laughed "that's not covered by your insurance!"
Her partner opened the broken windows as he glared at her. "It gets worse, I lost the canister."
The smile on her face quickly melted away, quickly turned into utter shock.
"You what?!" she exclaimed. "Oh, the boss will have you for dinner with a spoon."
As the two mercs were talking, Broadway quickly escaped out of the jet he was, and quickly made a getaway with the second canister in hand.
"Hey, look on the bright side," the male merc added. "We still got yours. One out of two ain't bad."
Just when he said that they turned to the other jet, only for their mouths go agape. To see a large gaping hole in the jet.
"Oh damn…" both mercs muttered.
Owen let out a small yawn as he typed away on his computer in the dining hall. Being that it was late, and there were no new projects for Xanatos, and the big man himself was away on…personal business…he thought he would get some work done that was a little past overdue. He was so fixated on typing his last paragraph that-
*BANG
The right-hand man's hands jumped slightly, and felt his heart nearly go up through his throat.
"Xanatos!"
Owen turned to his right, only to see Goliath Brooklyn Lexington and Chelsea barge in through the large doors.
"Hudson, Broadway, where are they?" the lead gargoyle demanded.
"I suppose they could be anywhere." The blonde man responded; his voice clearly laced with annoyance.
"Don't play games! Take us to them!"
Owen's frown curved up in a smirk, not even bothered by Goliaths pearly bright eyes.
"You should know I can't do that."
The leader narrowed his eyes. "Then we shall find them ourselves."
The gargoyles turned their heels, walking out of the dining hall and into the hallways to search for their friends.
Broadway gulped as he hid behind a set of oil drums. The two mercs haven't found out about him and had managed to evade any detection so far. Hopefully he can fool them enough to get out of-wherever he is. He did see the castle and all but doesn't recognize it.
"Where is that canister?" the female merc sounded cross.
"It didn't just walk out of here." Her partner muttered from a barrel.
As the two mercs were distracted, Broadway decided to make haste. He took a much-risked attempt in leaping over other pieces of cargo; however, his antics were not unheard.
"What was that?" the male merc perked from the sound.
The female merc narrowed her eyes and turned to the rest of the cargo. She deployed her gun, and both mercs slithered forward.
Broadway shook his head behind a few crates. "There goes my clean getaway…"
He went behind some oil drums, then busted through them with great speed and a snarl. He sent the two mercs flying back across the room, then scurried his way toward the closed doors. He broke them as if they were mere paper, his mind (and the rainy weather) telling him he was free, but he was wrong…
"I wouldn't move another step my friend."
Broadway stopped in his tracks. His eyes blinked as to see someone in front of him. He clutched the canister close to him. The lightning flashed as the figure revealed to be someone unexpected.
"Macbeth…" the potbelly let out with narrowed eyes.
"The very same," the man muttered. His dog, Findlaech, let out a growl under his feet at the gargoyle.
Macbeth brought out his hand in a nonviolent gesture. "You have something I want."
"Do I?" Broadway tried to make a run for it, only for a certain husky to stop under his feet. The dog yipped, making him stop in his tracks. The gargoyle tried to turn, only for a hand to grip him, felt his world spin for a second, then quickly found himself slammed to a wall and into a large puddle of mud.
"I don't take any pleasure from this, but you left me with no choice." The man told him.
Broadway's eyes popped in a glow, a snarl quickly gave way, and clutched the canister even harder.
"I must say, you have courage." The Scotsman continued. He went to fish something in his pocket. "But the one thing you don't have…is a prayer."
His dog went behind him, and Macbeth threw a small silver ball at Broadway's feet. It exploded, releasing large clouds of green smoke that the large gargoyle unexpectedly inhaled. He coughed and choked, eventually succumbed to the fumes and dropped like a bowling pin. The canister clattered out of his hands, and the husky instantly took it in his jaw. Findlaech brought it to his master and sat infront of him with his tail slowly wagging.
"Good boy," Macbeth praised and took the canister from his dog.
Holding it, he unscrewed it with a gleam through his aged eyes.
"At last, the Scrolls of Merlin." He took the old parchment out and inspected the small golden seal in the center of it. Reading the old language, he read it aloud in English.
"Sealed by my own hand, this second and final compendium-"
Macbeth stopped, and felt his back froze. "Second?"
He heard his dog yelp and growl as the man turn to his two mercs with narrowed eyes.
"Opening this first would be useless, even dangerous to read these out of order." He stepped forward, only for his two minions gulping at his footsteps. "Care to explain what happened to the first?"
The two mercs exchanged worried looks. There fear soon became reality.
Hudson still laid flat on the beach. He tried to stand before, but when he stood, his mind became dizzy, and he settle back down in the sand. Lying on his stomach, he tried to get back into his bearings, only to feel something cold against his face.
"What is it Gilly?" someone spoke out near him. "Found yourself another sand crab?"
Hudson groaned and began to gently push the dog off him. He must have been heard as he heard the voice again.
"Who's there?"
Hudson gasped; his eyes widened when he saw a dark skin man wearing a plain blue turtleneck along with some dark pants. He also had not only a cane, but also wore a pair of dark glasses. His dog next him had some kind of harness that the man took ahold of the handle behind the dog.
"Are you alright?" man asked with no hint of fear.
Hudson blinked. He realized that with the glasses as well as the dog harness and cane could only mean one thing, and he recalled seeing this on television.
His discoverer was blind.
With relief, the older gargoyle sighed in relief that he wouldn't be caught.
"I had uh-" he capped his wings as he tried lifting to his feet. "I had a bit of trouble."
The man shook his head sadly. His eyebrows drooped slightly under his glasses. "This beach isn't safe after dark anymore. Do you need a doctor?"
"No!" Hudson slightly cupped her mouth as his sudden burst. "Forgive me, I just need a place to rest until sunrise." He took the canister and slowly went to his feet, his aching body creaked as age caught up to him. "If I could lean on you…"
He moaned as he slightly leaned against the man, somewhat surprised that the man didn't stagger.
"Come on then," the man pointed toward a small, bricked estate with a wall covered in gargoyle statues. "I've got a fire going."
"There's little I can offer in return…Except my thanks."
The man muffled a chuckle. "That's payment in full."
The two slowly walked through the large gates toward the warm safety of the large house in front of them.
"Where are my manners," the man began an introduction. "My name's Robbins. Jeffery Robbins. And you?"
"Hudson," the older gargoyle replied. "Like the river."
Another storm soon formed over the ocean. It rained hard, but Macbeth's ship soared over the beaches of Manhattan. Scans were active, but there was no trace of the first scroll, nor the one who has possession of it. While the three humans were searching, Broadway struggled in the back against thick heavy chain cuffs that kept him bound in the back.
"You can't keep me like this forever!" Broadway threatened.
"True," Macbeth agreed. "But only until I find the first scroll, you might as well get comfortable."
That statement made Broadway other than pleased. His low rumble was proof of that. Findlaech, who was near his masters feet, looked at the gargoyle, then back at Macbeth.
Over at the other end of the ship, the two mercs were somewhat in their own conversation.
"I blew that old gargoyle away," the male merc muttered to his partner. "Both him and the scroll are probably at the bottom of the sea by now."
"It better not be," Macbeth interjected "Or you two will join them."
The moment he said that, made the two freeze in alarm.
Once the two were inside, Robbins and Hudson were settled in the living room. Hudson took notice seeing what looked like metals hanging in photo frames as well as seeing a uniform behind him and some kind of high-tech weapon over the fireplace. From what he was seeing, the man in front of him was some kind of warrior.
The elder gargoyle took notice of another frame next to the canister. He picked it up, seeing some kind of medal shaped of a heart. It was held up a purple ribbon and had a cutout piece of paper like it came from a newspaper above it.
"What is this?"
Robbins brought out his hand and Hudson gave it to him. The gargoyle saw the man trace his fingers over the medal, then he sighed.
"My purple heart," he adjusted his glasses. His lips curved a bit. "For this, so busy trying to herd a bunch of green kids through 'Nam that I didn't watch my step." He stood up from his seat, then turned toward the fireplace. He lightly snorted. "Shrapnel…you never see it coming."
Hudson raised an eye-ridge. "Nam?"
"Vietnam. The War?"
The older gargoyle didn't say anything. Vietnam…he remembered seeing Cody reading some kind of book and he asked him about it. All he remembered was that the young one learned from when he was human in a place called high school, and it were some dark times. Just as dark as the Wyvern Massacre.
"Funny," Robbins continued, bringing Hudson back to reality. "Something about your voice made me think you were a soldier once."
"Aye, I still am, I suppose." He then thought of something. "What fills your nights now Robbins?"
"I write novels," the man gestured to shelves upon shelves of books behind him "or I did, until they dried up."
Hudson scanned all the book in utter awe. "You wrote all of these?"
Robbins let out a hearty laugh. "Wouldn't that be something? No, but I did have a few modest successes."
He turned to the shelf, his hand grazing the different types of books until he found what he was looking for. He brought out a light blue book and handed it to Hudson. "Here."
Hudson took the book, only to scrunch his eyeridges. "What are these tiny bumps?" he opened the book, only to find more bumps through its pages. "Where are the…the words?"
"Why, its Braille." Robbins answered. "It's how I can read…and write…" he sighed. "Back when I still had something to write about. Once your cup is dry, it can be hard to fill up nowadays."
He then went back to the shelves and found another book. "Here's a printed version." He showed it to Hudson. "Does it make more sense to you?"
Hudson looked between the two books before letting out a scoff. "Books…Scrolls…what's the difference?"
Robbins stepped up toward him and placed a hand on the gargoyles shoulder.
"You can't read can you?"
The only answer that came out from Hudson, was a shameful nod.
Back out in the harsh weather, Macbeth was still looking for the canister, but to his mere impatience, it was hard to come by. While one hand was stroking Findlaechs' forehead, the other was controlling the tracking system in front of him.
"From this weather pattern showing here," Macbeth spoke aloud. "Our old friend would up wash up on the beach. If not him, then perhaps the scroll."
Despite trying to free himself, Broadway decided to try to get some information from Macbeth. Maybe understand more about why a man such as Macbeth would want the scrolls in the first place? Considering he and the others know so little about the human.
"What's the big deal with these scrolls? Who is this Merlin?" the potbelly demanded. "Just another stupid magician?"
"He was a singular spectacle," Macbeth began to depict. "An old man, and yet powerful, took a ragged boy in and turned him into the greatest king this world would ever see."
From every word, Broadway became entranced by this utter tale. His eyes went into awe as Macbeth continued.
"Arthur was his name; a king who ruled with justice and compassion. He took the torn remnants of warring tribes and united them into a kingdom of peace. Through the good and bad, Merlin stayed by his side…until it fell." To add the end, lighting illuminated behind the man, giving out a strong aura.
As it faded, Macbeth smirked. "You know, its funny. Merlin's magic was stronger than everything, save for the human heart."
Broadway gulped, then finally found his voice again. "You were there…"
Macbeth laughed at that as he turned back to the controls.
"I'm old, but I'm not that old. Obviously I've read about it."
"But you described it like you there."
Before he could reply, the scanners picked up something. It showed an image of a house with a brick wall with gargoyles perched on top. Looking closer, he found footprints in the sand that didn't look human.
Macbeth smirked. "Let's take a closer look."
Back at the Eyrie building, the four clan members searched the whole castle but still haven't found their other members. Owen, not even caring about them still searching, went to his office to read his newspaper. Around him, Goliath and Lexington were pacing around him.
"Goliath, they aren't here," Lexington pointed out "and the sun is about to come up."
Owen narrowed his eyes as he kept on his paper. "You didn't find them? I'm not surprised.
The back of Goliath's throat rumbled and slammed his talons on the assistants' desk.
"We're running out of time." he snarled. "You know where they are! Tell us!"
The only answer that came out of Owen was mere silence.
"They're sure taking their time." Brooklyn mumbled.
"Yeah, and its nearly dawn." Chelsea added with annoyance.
The pair were out on one of the battlements. Both of them looking toward the brightening sky where the sun would come up. Well, one of them. One stayed perched on the stone railing while the other was pacing behind him in thought.
"Owen's not saying anything," Chelsea thought aloud behind Brooklyn. "Not even giving us a clue to what Xanatos is up to. He would always give us something only to spite us, but why not now?"
The red gargoyle turned behind. "Maybe he's distracting us."
"Maybe," Chelsea looked up with a quizzical look. "When we first came in, Owen was annoyed, but he somewhat looked surprised in seeing us. Not even expecting us."
"Wait," Brooklyn gave her a weird look. "You think Xanatos is not behind taking the scrolls?"
"I didn't say that. Just…I don't know." She shook her head, and continued pacing. "I don't see Xanatos as a kind of human stealing magical scrolls from a mythical wizard. I mean, if he did his research like he did on Castle Wyvern and us, he would be interested, but the scrolls were being taken in for study to begin with, so he wouldn't know until they were on the news."
"Well, it's not like he or Owen would tell us who else it could be." He then shrugged his shoulders back. "Even if they know our other enemies pretty well."
Just as he finished, Chelsea stopped pacing as her head perked up. Her eyes popped for a second and returned to normal.
"Wait," She turned to Brooklyn. "what did you say?"
Brooklyn crossed his eye ridges. "Xanatos won't tell us everything?"
"No no, the last part."
"Uh," Brooklyn looked up in thought. "He and Owen know our other enemies?"
Chelsea blinked towards him, then they widened with utter realization as she snapped her right fingers. "That's it."
"Wait, what's it?"
Instead of answering, Chelsea hopped on the battlements in quick step. She turned to him, took a hold of the red gargoyle's beak, and pecked him on the lips.
"Only that you're a genius." Was all the azure female whispered to him in a grin. She instantly jumped off her perch and glided toward the center of the courtyard.
Brooklyn just stayed on his roost, still clearly baffled at what had just happened, and didn't know what to say. His brick face shaded in a darker red as only one word came out of his mouth.
"Oh."
Goliath and Lexington soon exited Owen's office. Both of them still frustrated they couldn't get anything out of the man. Closing the door behind him, the leader turned to the small gargoyle.
"Owen is hiding something," Goliath muttered on the verge of anger "and he's not telling us."
"I don't get it, Owen's not even trying to give us a clue to where the others are." Lexington shook his head in confusion. "Maybe he doesn't know what we're talking about."
Goliath rumbled in the back of his throat, then lowered his head in thought. Xanatos was their top choice of wanting those scrolls, but he was nowhere to be found, and Owen is not saying anything to where he might be.
He sighed. "You may be right."
Footsteps were heard ahead of them, which made them turn to the right. Chelsea came down the hallway in quick step, looking a bit winded, but wasn't sweating. She stopped in front of the two males as she pointed toward the door.
"Is Owen still in there?" she asked in lack of breath.
Lexington blinked. "Yeah why-"
"Good." Chelsea stepped between the two and knocked the door.
"Chelsea," Goliath raised an eyeridge "what is it?"
"I have a hunch, and maybe Mr. Burnet could help." When she heard the man's dull voice the other end, the azure female cracked the door. Before she went in, she turned to her leader with an assuring look. "Give me a minute."
Before Goliath could stop her, Chelsea disappeared through the other door. The two blinked, then looked at each other like they had the same thought. What just happened?
What almost felt like seconds, Chelsea popped back out from the office with no negative mixed feelings. In fact, she looked between the two as both gave her looks of somewhat anticipation.
She looked at the two weird. "What?"
"Well, what did he say?" Lexington asked.
"Oh," Chelsea cleared her throat, then turned to Goliath. "Apparently Xanatos's vehicles are being fixed, and he was away on…personal business." She brought her claws up when she said the last two words. She brought them down and continued. "Owen suggested we try Macbeth."
Goliath's eyes widened. Macbeth? He never thought of him because recalling that he was a known enemy to Demona. How and why, it's a mystery for another time.
Realizing their time crunch, Goliath turned and stalked out of the hallway. Chelsea and Lexington following close behind to the exit.
Right after Robbin's asked him if he can't read, Hudson finally admitted it. It was true, the elder of Clan Wyvern doesn't know how to read…or write.
"But I'm too old to learn…" Hudson let out a sigh.
"Oh hogwash!" Robbin's replied. "I had to learn Braille when I was almost 40, and I'll learn a new way to write when I'm 80 if I have to."
"But who would teach me?" the elder asked. "I haven't told my clan I can't read."
"I can teach. But that's not really the point is it?"
Hudson didn't have to tell him. His silence was his mere answer. It was something he was ashamed to admit to anyone. He was supposed to be the wise one of the clan, and if anyone found out about his secret they would think of him differently.
"I understand Hudson." Robbins spoke again with comfort. "There are many who are illiterate, and it isn't shameful. It's only a shame to stay that way."
The elder gargoyle looked down in thought, then the sound of birds twiddled in his ears. Looking out the large windows, he could see the sky brightening. Meaning dawn is upon him. The gargoyle quickly stood, grabbing the canister in an instant.
"I can't stay." Hudson spoke quickly.
"Now I have run you off with my preaching." Robbins laughed.
"No," the elder gargoyle had his claw on the doorknob when he spoke. "It's nearly dawn. I have to go."
He didn't have time to talk more. He quickly exited the home, jumping on the large wall that surrounded it. Perched between two gargoyle statues, Hudson's eyes turned back to see Robbins coming out the door after him.
"Hudson?" he called out. "Wait."
He didn't want to admit it, not until his realization was true, but he wished Robbins knew who he truly is. More than just his name or what they've talked during the night. In other words, he regrets keeping his secret from his new friend.
The sun's rays soon came, and Hudson became a guardian of stone. The noise of stone forming confused Robbins, making his pause in his steps.
"What in the world? Hudson?" Robbins called out, but he didn't hear his friends voice. Even without his vision, he could feel some kind of presence, but at the same time it must be in his head. Thinking it was nothing, the blind man went back into his house and closed the door behind him.
Outside over the home, a familiar hovercraft hung over. Inside, Broadway turned to stone seconds ago, and the three humans were still searching for the scroll. Macbeth looked through his scanners, and he could hardly believe what he was seeing. He zoomed in, and there is Hudson's statue…with the other canister!
While Findlaech rumbled into a bark, Macbeth only smirked.
"There it is," He turned his chair to his lackies. "Take us down."
The mercenaries landed the ship on the beach near the house, in which the noise didn't go unheard. Gilly was aroused from his nap and began barking at the window. Robbins, who was busy cleaning up the coffee table, turned to the sound of his dog's barking.
"Is that Hudson Gilly?" Robbins asked. Gilly's low growl along with a couple of barks made him furrow his brows.
Attaching the harness to his dog, Gilly led Robbin's to Macbeth, who was busy trying to figure out how to get the canister out from the statues hold.
"May I help you?" Robbins' asked.
Macbeth turned to the man who called him, only to smirk when he saw the man can't see him, which gave him a plan.
"My name's Lennox McDuff sir," he introduced walking toward Robbin's. "I'm a friend of Hudson's. I was concerned about him, and was wondering if you've seen him?"
Just hearing Macbeth's voice, gave Robbin's cold ice. "I'm afraid not. You just missed him."
"Then I won't trouble you, good day." The man walked back into his ship, before taking the canister out of stone Hudson's clutch.
Gilly barked again, which made Robbin's go down on his knees to comfort the dog. His ears caught the sound of jets firing and soon dimmed down as if something was leaving in a hurry. From listening to this McDuff's voice to the sound of those jets made him suspicious. If Hudson ever returns, he needs to know the truth from him.
Sunset came in an instant. The sun slowly crept behind the large house, and soon disappeared behind it. Once there was no sunlight, Hudson's statue began to crumble. Like breaking out of his cocoon, Hudson broke free in a roar and jumped into the sky.
The roar was not unheard as Gilly aroused the whole room. Robbin's head followed Gilly's movements as the dog went up the screen door where Hudson now.
"It's only me Robbins."
"Hudson?"
Gilly went back to Robbins and led him to the screen door. Robbin's opened it, only for Gilly to lick Hudson's claw happily and the disabled man patted the gargoyle on the shoulder.
"I'm glad you came back." The man acknowledged.
"I'm afraid I can't stay," Hudson lifted from petting the dog and turned to the man. "But I think I left something on the terrace this morning. Have you've stumbled upon a large canister?"
Robbins shook his head. "No, but a friend of yours was on the terrace. You know a Lennox McDuff?"
Hudson squinted his eye ridges. "I don't know any Lennox McDuff."
"I thought as much. It seemed phony. Lennox and McDuff were characters in a play by Shakespeare…Macbeth."
Hudson froze. "Macbeth?" Instant realization shown on his face as he started to turn tail. "I've got to go Robbins." He took a few steps toward the door, only to realize something. He slumped. "I…don't know where he lives."
"Who?"
"Macbeth—uh-McDuff." Hudson's brain seemed to scramble through his words. "I do know him, but he's not a friend."
"Well, maybe this will help." Robbins opened what looked like a braille version of a phone book. His fingers scaled over the pages as he muttered the last names under M.
"Here he is," he declared and poked the name. "Macduff Lennox, and here's his address. Just like that."
Hudson stood behind him and looked at the book with widened eyes. "Magic book…"
Robbins chuckled. "Aren't they all."
Broadway felt like he was in a bind…literally. Whenever he or the others were always trapped or captured it always involve with chains or cages. Well now he was in chains a few feet up on a pedestal, and Macbeth stood in front of him preparing to open the scrolls.
He struggled more in his imprisonment, trying hard to break the chains, but they were not budging. Broadway panted, then looked over at Macbeth who was reading some large book.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Finding the safest way to open the scrolls." Macbeth answered plainly.
"Okay, now that you have them, why am I still here?"
"Well," Macbeth turned to the gargoyle with a devious smirk. "How else will I find out what powers Merlin wrote in these scrolls?"
Broadway tilted his head, then his body went cold. Scrolls, plus him, plus what Macbeth said equals…oh no! The aqua gargoyle struggled even harder in his chains.
It didn't take long for the rest of the clan to spot Macbeth's castle. Goliath remembered where it was from rescuing the three gargoyles a few months ago, so he was able to lead them to it. The four soon landed in a wooded area outside the castle's walls. They noticed the two mercs from before were up on the battlements with special eye goggles and
"They're expecting us." Chelsea muttered with realization.
Brooklyn turned to her before turning to the others. "So, now what?"
Wing beats were heard right above them. Everyone took clear as Hudson landed before them. "Now we go in." he replied.
Chelsea gasped. "Hudson!"
"There you are." Brooklyn added.
"We were worried." Lexington spoke with relief.
Hudson looked between everyone, then raised an eyeridge. "Where's Broadway?"
Now it was Goliath's turn to raise an eyeridge. "We thought he was with you."
The latter shook his head. "I have not seen him since the battle."
Lexington turned to look up at the castle. His eyes caught something. "Up there." He pointed, and everyone turned to see smoke coming from the center. That alone, gave them a clue as to what might be happening.
"First it was recovering scrolls, and now it's a rescue mission?" Chelsea lightly scoffed with a chuckle. "Fun times."
Macbeth believed he finally found the right mixture in breaking the scrolls seal. Pouring its contents in a ceramic bowl, he hovered the first scroll over the steaming liquid. Periwinkle colored smoke seeped up as Macbeth brought the scroll in the cloud. The unbreakable seal melted away, and the man was able to open the scroll. His eyes blinked when he saw familiar writing.
"We got trouble." He heard the female merc called out.
The old man looked up and saw the familiar silhouettes through the moons glow. He resisted the thought of rolling his eyes as he looked back at the scrolls.
"Then take care of them." He replied casually.
The two mercs immediately went to action. They pressed a button hidden in the stone wall, and large cannons that looked like came from a sci-fi movie appeared from the floor. They each took their positions and began to open fire on the gargoyles. The clan dodged and weaved through the laser blasts, and the leader took notice of their clanmate trapped in chains.
"Broadway!" Just he was about to dive down, more lasers shot out and hit in on the arms. He retreated back into the air with the others.
More shots were fired, which the blasts ricochet off the castles' towers and down toward the courtyard. Debris crashing down in a mighty force, and Macbeth had to dodge to not get squished and to keep the scrolls safe.
"It's over Macbeth!" Broadway called out to him.
The said man struggled back to his table with the first scroll in his hand. His body ached from some of the debris hitting him, but he continued on as he applied a seal remover to the spell.
Back up in the sky, the gargoyles were in a jam. No matter which direction they take, the mercs shot fires at them, and they had to retreat back up.
"We can't get past those cannons." Lexington stated.
"I have an idea." Hudson suggested. The old gargoyle took point while the rest followed after him.
The mercenaries watched them until they unexpectedly disappeared. "Where they'd go?!" the lady exclaimed.
Her scanner picked up their signal and fired aimlessly at the fleeing creatures. Suddenly, Goliath crashed right on top of one of the guns and instantly threw the first merc off, the gun aimlessly firing until it gave out. The second merc did what the first one did but took notice of Goliath and decided to take aim. Before he could fire, Hudson dove down and tackled from behind. The mercs' gun going out of control, leading the man to jump out of the machine.
More explosions occurred, and Macbeth did not give up on his task. The scroll was still close to him and found that the seal remover had worked. His eyes gleamed as he slowly unraveled the scroll apart, and golden words of Gaelic caught his eye.
"He was a scabby old boy when first I saw this once and future King." Macbeth read the ancient words. "Had I known what his destiny held, I would've laughed aloud?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Hold on." He continued reading. "Though young and not yet formed, his mind was open and eager—there are no spells! It's just a diary!"
He was so distracted in reading that he didn't see Goliath coming until he kicked him right in the stomach. The man fell hard as the lead gargoyle caught the scroll in his claws, and he picked up the second one with the other.
Macbeth gritted his teeth. "You caught me in a foul mood monster!"
Barking was heard behind him, and Goliath turned to see Findlaech running toward him. Before the dog could jump on him, Chelsea swooped in and caught the dog in her arms and held him tight. The dog struggled, but the female kept a good hold on him as the others landed behind her.
"Release Broadway." Goliath ordered.
"Or what?" Macbeth demanded, drawing out his gun.
"Or I'll burn the scrolls…" the leader brought one of them close to the wild flames in the copper basin.
Findlaech barked and struggled even harder, but Chelsea kept her hold with muffled grunts. The man looked at the said scrolls, then merely scoffed.
"Go ahead then, they are worthless to me. No spells means no magic at all."
"No wait! They are magic!" Broadway called out.
Goliath turned to the aqua gargoyle and saw him shake his head.
"You can't burn them Goliath! You can't! It's Merlin's life in his own words." Broadway's shocked demeanor lessened. "When you read them, it's like he's taking you to his own timeline. It is magic Goliath, if you believe in it."
Goliath looked between his clanmate to the single scroll in his claws. His eyes narrowed in whether to believe it or not. If this is indeed Merlin's diary, then these scrolls were truly magic, but…what if they aren't? His claw slowly descending down to the licking flames, but a voice stopped him from doing it.
"He's right lad." Goliath's eyes turned to Hudson who slowly came to his side. "It would be a great shame to lose them. Whether we believe it or not."
Hudson's words not only made his leader understand, but the whole clan were enthralled by their mentors words. In fact, everyone was surprised that he would be at all interested in the scrolls to begin with; somewhat recalling that he didn't seem interested at all with them.
Macbeth, on the other hand, seemed to have mulled over all the elder's words, then he exhaled out.
"You're all trespassing." He took a small remote out of his coat and pressed a button. "Take the scrolls and go."
The chain's on Broadway snapped in clinks, making everyone surprised at the action. They all didn't waste their time, taking off without a second thought.
"Okay let me get this straight," Cody mulled as the two scrolls laid on the small table in front of him. "So these scrolls you guys thought were his magic spells, is actually his diary? And this guy named Macbeth was the one who stole and not Xanatos?"
"Mm-hm." Chelsea nodded, sorting some of the books that were on the floor and placed them back on the bookshelf. She looked back to him with a grin. "Crazy huh?"
"Pfft," Cody rolled his eyes. He looked down at the scrolls with a cocked ridge. He crossed his arms. "The longer I stay with you guys, the more surreal I'm starting to see now. Gargoyles, magic, the fact that Merlin was actually a real person and not a piece of fiction is probably the most shocking."
"Too bad the scrolls are in Celtic." Lexington recalled as he came over to look at the scrolls.
Cody looked at him weird. "Thought you guys lived in Scotland. Don't you guys speak the same language?"
A muffled chuckle was heard from Brooklyn by the counter. "We may have lived there, but we didn't speak the same."
Goliath, who was listening to the young gargoyles conversation on the side, came over and lifted one of the scrolls. "Before we gives these scrolls to Elisa, I can read them to you all if you like."
"Ach, no thank you lad." Everyone turned to Hudson who was in the back. "We'll read them ourselves. As soon as we learn how." Was all he told them as he turned his talon and began to make his way out of the clocktower.
That statement brought to everyone's attention with shock. Recalling that Hudson didn't seem at all interested in either the scrolls or reading in whole, and now he wants to learn how to read. He was a completely different gargoyle.
"Please tell me we heard the same thing right?" Cody broke the silence.
In a moment of pause, everyone nodded in agreement.
It was late at the Robbin's household. Once Hudson left, the man had a lot to think about. Bringing down his newspaper, he looked up to where his dog is.
"You know Gilly, all this fuss over scrolls and Merlin has gotten the old juices flowing." He curved his lips as he picked up an old tape recorder. "There may be another book in me yet."
He hit the record button and began:
"The Sword and The Staff: A Book of Merlin. The written word is all stands between memory and oblivion. Without books as out anchors, we're cast adrift; neither teaching nor learning."
Standing outside on the wall of the house, Hudson was there listening to every word Robbins was dictating. Words of wisdom he thought to himself. They are words that affect anyone and everyone. A pleased smile graced his lips as the man continued.
"They are windows on the past, mirrors on the present, and prisms reflecting all possible futures. Books are lighthouses, reflected in the dark sea of time."
So the poem that Chelsea was reading to Cody was an actual poem that I found online, but I forgot to source it. It doesn't belong to me, so just wanted to tell you! Thank you!