Moongrove  by Kiki the Weird 

Yes, I did say that I usually write humor or crossovers.  But 
being Kiki the Weird allows me to be unusual.  This story is
more serious than my other works.  This is also going to 
become a series but I probably won't be able to put the 
second story up until fall of 97.  I won't Internet access all 
summer long.  WARNING!  This series will involve a 
crossover with Star Trek: TNG and the movie Labyrinth. 
Also future stories will involve mature themes.  But this story 
is pretty tame.  Don't worry I'll keep on writing all of the silly 
stuff.  Please send feedback!  This takes place after 
Hunter's Moon and the Goliath Chronicles.  All of the 
Gargoyles' characters belong to Disney.  OK now all of the 
legal stuff is out of the way.  Happy?!?
 
Moongrove
          It had been lonely on the island.  Sara remembered   
sitting on the beach and watching the sunset, night after      
night.  She watched the sunset every night here in New      
York.  For minutes she sat in her rocking chair, just thinking.
          "Miss Firestone, do you want dinner now?"  Sara
looked around.  For a few seconds she was disoriented from
her trance. 
          "Yes I'd love some, Mrs. O'Shea, but could you bring 
it to the library?  I want to do some research."
          *          *           *
          Sara ate her dinner while flipping through an old book.
When she was done with dinner and the book she called
Mrs. O'Shea on the intercom.  A few minutes later Mrs. 
O'Shea arrived.  "Are you all right with my plan?" Sara 
asked.
          "Of course miss, but I had never thought that I'd be 
working for one of the Good Folk."
          "I'm not exactly one of the "Good Folk" anymore.  My
curse took care of that."
          Mrs. O'Shea, sensing the bitterness in Sara's tone, 
patted her gently on the back.  "There, there dearie. It'll all be
fine.  When are you expecting the statues?"
          "Tomorrow and I'll take the collars off then.  That 
should end the spell."
          *          *           *
          The next day the workmen arrived and put the 
statues in the east wing of the house.  There were four 
gargoyle statues: three female and one male.  After they left, 
Sara went in to take the collars off.  Mrs. O'Shea asked, 
"When will they  awake."     
          "Gargoyles sleep during the day they will awake at 
sunset," Sara explained.  So both anxiously awaited the 
setting of the sun.
          *          *           *
          The sun began to sink slowly in the sky.  The two 
women stood in front of the statues.  Finally when the sun
was completely gone the statues began to crack.  The first 
to shed its skin was the eldest female.  She had shoulder 
length brown hair, grey skin, and a large muscular frame.  
She was six and a half feet tall.  The male was next; he had  
bronze skin, white wild hair, and a lean muscular frame.  He 
was two or three inches taller than the female.  The third 
wsa the second tallest female.  She was just under six feet
tall and had blue-green skin, red hair that was bordered at 
each side of her head by three short stubby spikes that 
formed a cresent above her ears, and a lean muscular 
frame.  The last was the youngest female who was about 
five feet four inches tall.  She had blue grey skin and had 
thick curved horns that grew from her forehead and stopped 
at the back of her head.  Under her horns was thick blond 
hair.  She was slighlty pudgy but not too much.
          Sara looked over at Mrs. O'Shea who looked as if 
she wanted to faint.  Sara put a reassuring hand on her 
shoulder and turned her attention back to the gargoyles. 
The eldest female looked around and then she saw the two 
women.  As her eyes flashed red, she began to demand, 
"What are we doing here?  Who are you?  Where are we?..."
          She was quickly interrupted by Sara, "I know you 
have a lot of questions and you probably don't trust me but 
please let me explain.  If you feel that you are in any danger 
you may leave.  I've left this door opened and it is safe to 
leave."  Sara gestured toward an opened door in the gallery. 
She continued noticing that the eldest female had relaxed 
her posture and that her eyes were no longer glowing with a 
bright red light.  "You were bespelled by the sorcerer Terrog 
to remain in your stone sleep until a magical creature 
removed the collars that contained the spell. 
          I once was one of Oberon's Children until I was 
captured by Terrog.  He tried to drain me of my magic but I 
managed to escape.  But before I escaped he cursed me.  I 
am trapped in a human form.  I have eternal life, youth, and 
beauty.  I also retain my Fey magic.  But nothing can 
change my form.  He also cursed and blessed me with a 
human heart with the ablity to love, as you probably know, 
the Fey are wild uncaring creatures.  Oberon couldn't take 
the fact that one of his children was part human and part 
Fey.  So Oberon declared that I was no longer a Child of 
Oberon and exiled me to an island for 2000 years."  
          "My 2000 years ended a few years ago.  I was called 
Circe before my curse but here I call myself Sara Firestone 
which I prefer to be called.  A month ago, I found one of 
Terrog's books which described the spell which was put on 
your clan.  I suspect there are more bespelled members of 
your clan out there but you were the first that I have found.  If 
you want me to I will continue looking for the others." 
          "The eldest female interrupted, "Why should we trust 
you?"
          Sara looked at her and said, "You're right.  You have 
no reason to trust me.  But you need me.  You were asleep 
for about 1000 years and the world has changed.  There are 
humans everywhere but I can't say that I've heard of any 
gargoyles anywhere."  Sara saw the gargoyles sadden at 
this news.    After a pregnant pause, she continued, "All I'm 
offering is a place to stay and be safe while I find your clan 
and/or find other clans.  I won't hurt you as I said, you are 
always free to go.  I just want to help you because we both 
suffered because Terrog."    
          Sara waited and let the gargoyles think.  The eldest 
female walked over to Sara and looked down straight into 
her eyes, "We will stay as long as we can leave at anytime 
we wish."
          "That seems reasonable."  Sara went over to Mrs. 
O'Shea, "This is Mrs. O'Shea.  She is a servant and a 
trusted friend of mine.  Other than you, she is the only one 
who knows my secret.  Do you have names?"
          The eldest female regarded her for a moment. 
"According to gargoyle tradition only the leader of the clan 
has a name and I am the leader of my clan.  My name is 
Valkria." 
          "Would you mind if I gave you names?  It would help 
me tell you all apart.  You can take them if you want or take 
other names."
          Valkria regarded Sara suspiciously for several 
moments.  She then spoke to her clan, "I cannot make this 
decision for you.  Although traditionally gargoyles don't take 
names, this is a different world.  Would you like names?"  
          The females shyly nodded.  The male looked at 
Valkria and said, "Whatever you think is best."
          Valkria nodded to Sara.  Sara walked over to the 
male.  "I don't know if you'll like this name; it's the name of 
one of my favorite literary characters.  I'd like to call you 
Cyrano."
          "It is a good name.  Thank you, lady."
          Sara went over to the middle female.  "There was an 
ancient Greek myth about a statue who came to life and 
when she became alive, she was given the name Galatea." 
          The female smiled shyly and whispered, "Thank you."
          Then there was the youngest female,  Sara smiled 
and spoke, "Since you only are awake at night I will name 
you after the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt.  You 
are Artemis." 
          She blushed and shyly thanked her.  Sara looked at 
the clan, "I think that we should have supper and talk some 
more."
          *          *           *
          Sara led the clan to her dining room.  They wouldn't 
eat until Sara had shown them it was safe and until Valkria 
OKed it.  They had a simple dinner of sandwiches (Sara 
ordered them because she thought the sandwiches would 
be more comfortable than having something you had to use 
utensils for) and chocolate ice cream for dessert (which 
Galatea and Artemis loved).  After dinner they talked and 
Valkria told their story.
          "We lived in a castle in England, that was called 
Castle Moongrove.  Humans and gargoyles lived together 
there in peace.  We worked together.  The humans 
protected us during the day and we protected them at night. 
Our clan did more than protect though.  We worked: repairs 
on the castle, what farming that could be done at night, 
taking the animals to graze, etc.  
          Although the inhabitants of the castle didn't change, 
England did.  Gargoyles were being slaughtered 
everywhere.  Several messengers from the king came to tell 
our humans to either cast our clan out or to kill us.  Our 
humans refused so the English army attacked.  They 
attacked during the day but our humans managed to fight 
them off until night.  Our clan awoke and joined the fight but it 
was to no avail.  The English army had Terrog on their side. 
The sun rose and when it set the remainder of our clan 
found ourselves in cages in Terrog's dungeons.  We were 
used in Terrog's experiments.  The only reason we were 
alive was that we were payment for Terrog's services to the 
army.  Many of us died in those experiments.  And I, the 
clan leader could do nothing.."
          There Valkria broke off.  She stared at the floor and bit 
her lip.  Cyrano went over to her, held her, and wrapped his 
wings around her.  He spoke softly to her, "Ssshhh.  There 
was nothing anyone could have done, beloved."  Valkria 
leaned on him, allowing him to cradle her head on his chest.  
          Cyrano took up the story, "We were captives of 
Terrog for many months.  We were given just enough food 
to survive.  Night by night, we waited until the guards would 
come and take us away.  And those who were taken away 
were never seen again.  We've all had rookery brothers and 
sisters, and close friends that were lost."  He paused for a 
moment remembering.
          "One day, when there was only a small number of us 
left, there was a proclamation from the king.  He was a new 
king, the son of the king that had attacked us.  The new king 
wanted to get rid of the gargoyles but not through slaughter 
but through magic.  That's when Terrog invented the collars. 
Before he put them on, Terrog told us what the collars would 
do and he said that we should be proud because our statues 
would be used as trophies for the king.  So he could show 
other countries how brave he was."  He said these last 
sentences with a mixture of anger and sadness that Sara 
was moved with pity.  Cyrano continued, "The next thing I 
remember is waking up here."    
          "You can stay here if you wish.  Dawn is coming 
soon."
          Valkria broke out of Cyrano's embrace, "Thank you, 
we will stay here and I hope we can become friends."  And 
with that the sun rose.
          *          *           *
          Several months passed.  The clan and Sara became 
good friends.  Sara taught them about the modern world and 
they taught her about gargoyles.  One night Sara walked by 
the library.  Galatea was staring out of the window with a sad 
look on her face.  Sara put her hand on Galatea's shoulder, 
"What is the matter?"
          Galatea jumped up, "Oh, it's you Sara.  I'm just a bit 
sad I guess."
          "Why?"
          "I don't know.  I just feel that I'm going to be stuck 
here for the rest of my life.  It's not that I'm not grateful but I 
keep finding myself wanting more."
          Seeing Galatea's distress, Sara reassured her, "I 
know what your feeling.  But do you know exactly what what 
you want?"
          "I think I'm lonely.  I look at Valkria and Cyrano and 
realize that I'll never have that...excuse me."  She then left 
the library.  Sara couldn't help but see how sad Galatea was. 
She thought about it for awhile.  *That's it!  It may not be a 
permanent solution but it may work,* she thought.
          Later that evening, Sara had a talk with Valkria.  "I 
think you should see the city."  Valkria started to object but 
Sara stopped her, "You need to get out.  You need to learn 
about the city.  What if something happened and you need to 
go into the city?  I think you should explore the city.  You can 
do it and stay hidden, at the same time."
          Valkria thought for a while, "I think you're right.  We 
should go tomorrow."  Valkria left the room.  
          Sara sat thinking for a long while.  She had to look 
harder for the bespelled members of the clan.  She 
searched for the rest of the night and found a few good 
leads. 
          *          *           *
          David Xanatos sat at his desk waiting.  Some idiotic 
rich twit wanted to hear about his gargoyle statues.  Of 
course he insisted on having this meeting during the day just 
in case she wanted to see the statues.  "Miss Firestone is 
here to see you," Agnes' voice came over the intercom. 
Agnes was taking over for Owen on his day-off.  
          "Hello Mr. Xanatos."
          The voice belonged to a beautiful woman.  She was 
wearing a fashionable green suit, which matched her jade 
green eyes exactly.  Her red-gold hair was in a ponytail with 
a few strands that had come loose.  Her skin was lightly 
tanned and her lips were a soft shade of pink.  If he wasn't 
married to Fox, he'd ask her out in a second.  
          "Please call me David."
          "Then you must call me Sara."  She continued, "I'm 
really interested in gothic art and I heard that this castle had 
some rather interesting gargoyle statues.  I thought that I'd 
have a look and if I like them maybe I'd make you an offer."
          "I'm afraid that I'm not interested in selling the statues 
but I'll let you take a look at them."
          "That will be fine.  I can always get ideas about the 
different styles." 
          He walked over and took her arm.  Xanatos led her 
through the castle and finally they got to the gargoyles.  Sara 
walked up to Goliath and pretended to look at each statue 
carefully but she had seen enough.  None of the statues had 
collars on them.  None of them were members of Valkria's 
clan.  She walked over to Xanatos.  "They sure are lovely. 
Oh well if your unwilling to sell then I guess I'll go."
          "Please stay for lunch."
          She accepted his offer.  She met his wife, Fox and 
son, Alexander.  Through the lunch she acted as if she were 
a airheaded worthless heiress.  She had to make them think 
that she had no ulterior motive for the visit.
          Sara left and drove home in state of depression.  She 
had hoped to find some more gargoyles, especially for 
Galatea's sake.  Sara knew that Galatea was coming to the 
age were she would become an adult and would have 
chosen a mate.  But now Galatea would get older but there 
would be no one to mate with.  Sara did know how Galatea 
was feeling because she felt just as lonely. *I'll never have 
enough courage to love anyone,* she thought, *especially 
after what happened to me on the island.  I'm glad that I 
didn't tell the clan what I was going to do.  They've been 
through so much, I don't want to disappoint them.*  Sara 
spent the rest of the drive home lost in her thoughts.
          *          *           *
          After the sun set, the gargoyles prepared to leave. 
Sara gave each of them a celluar phone, which they all 
knew how to use.  And they took off.  Galatea and Artemis 
were in awe of the city.  "Look at all of those lights," Galatea 
gasped.
          "They are beautiful but remember to keep out of sight 
and stay alert."  Valkria warned.
          They explored, unseen, the city for several hours.  All 
four gargoyles were in a good mood.  They started to head 
back.  As they were flying they chatted about the sights they 
had seen.  Suddenly someone was firing a laser at them. 
"Scatter!" yelled Valkria.  Valkria and Cyrano went in one 
direction.  Artemis went in another direction.  
          And Galatea glided toward the alley below her.  The 
attacker raced after her.  He was on a sort of flying 
motorcycle.  Galatea looked back at him but she couldn't 
see who it was because he was wearing a black ski mask 
with three red slashes across the face.  Galatea glided 
faster than she ever did and she dodged him the best she 
could but still he pursued.  Exhausted, she landed on a roof. 
Just as she was catching her breath the attacker appeared 
again  and pulled out a gun.  Galatea was frozen to the spot. 
He fired the gun and ... WHAM!  Something smashed into 
her and she was slammed to the pavement.  She looked up 
and saw a male gargoyle leaping up from beside her and 
attacked the man.  The male had red skin, white hair, a large 
beak, and two horns on his forehead.  She jumped on the 
bike and tried to help the male.  The attacker pulled out a 
small gun and shot her with some sort of beam.  Pain ripped 
through her body and her world went back.
          *          *           *
          Slowly, Galatea regained consciousness.  The first 
thing she saw was the strange male leaning over her, 
looking very worried.  She tried to sit up and failed so the 
male then helped her.  "Are you all right?" he asked.            
          "Yes, I'm fine.  Thank you."  She smiled at him and he 
returned the smile.  A worried frown crossed her face. 
"What did he fire at me?"
          "It was a stun ray.  Don't worry it doesn't have any 
lasting affects."
          "Do you have a name?"
          "My name is Brooklyn."
          "And mine is Galatea."
          He smiled at her.  "That's a lovely name, Galatea." 
She blushed but quickly stopped, "My clan!  I have to find 
them."
          "You're going to have to wait.  The sun is rising."
          *          *           *
          Galatea and Brooklyn awoke with a loud roar.  "I have 
to find my clan to make sure everything is all right."
          Brooklyn nodded, "I'm going with you.  You might 
meet the Hunter again."
          "Was the Hunter the one who attacked me?  Why did 
he want to hurt me?"
          "The Hunter hunts gargoyles especially one gargoyle. 
They call her the Demon but her name is Demona and she 
is really evil.  But the Hunter doesn't distinguish between 
good and evil; he hates all gargoyles."
          "But why did he attack me especially?  When our clan 
scattered, he went straight after me."
          "You have red hair and sort of blue skin.  He saw you 
from afar and thought you were Demona.  She also has red 
hair and blue skin."  As Brooklyn spoke his hate for Demona 
clearly showed.  Galatea was slightly taken aback.  A 
worried frown crossed her face. 
          "I'm sorry," she whispered. 
          "Don't be.  You're nothing like her.  You're really nice 
and uh," he stammered, "Uh, We should really go now." 
          "My clan!"
          They both jumped off the building and glided away. 
As they were gliding toward Sara's house, they talked to 
each other.  Brooklyn made her laugh several times and as 
they landed they were good friends.  Galatea went inside the 
house and Brooklyn followed her.  "Sara, are you there?"  
          "Galatea is that you?"
          "Yes, are the others there?"
          Sara walked in the room, "No, they were kidnapped 
by someone that calls himself the Hunter.  He left a note." 
She handed Galatea the note.  Galatea opened the note and 
read it aloud, "Demon, if you want to see your clan members 
alive again, meet me at three AM in Central Park."
          Galatea looked up, "I have to face him to save my 
clan."  .  Seeing the worried look upon her face, 
          Brooklyn looked at her.  Seeing the worried look upon 
her face, he tried to reassure her, "Don't worry.  You'll face 
the Hunter and get your clan back but you won't do it alone. 
We have six hours.  You and Sara are coming back to meet 
my clan.  We will help you, the Hunter is an enemy of ours."
          Galatea looked at Sara, to see what she thought.  "I 
think we should go with him.  It is the only way will get the 
others back," Sara said.  Galatea agreed and they left with 
Galatea carrying Sara.  
          They glided to Castle Wyvern and landed.  They all 
went into the castle.  Galatea and Sara had trouble following 
Brooklyn's quick pace until they reached some sort of rec 
room.  Three young gargoyles sat watching a televison.  An 
elderly gargoyle sat in a recliner reading a book.  Brooklyn 
spoke, "We have trouble.  Where's Goliath?"
          The female answered, "He's in the library." 
          "Lex, go get him."  A small green gargoyle with wings 
attached under his arms left the room.  Sara heard a voice 
behind her, "Hello Circe." 
          Sara turned around and recognized the man 
immediately.  He had a glamour on him to look like a stern 
faced blond man but she saw through the glamour.  "Hello 
Puck."
          All of the gargoyles turned their heads.  The elderly 
gargoyle looked at Sara and asked, "How do you know that, 
lass?"  As he was saying that the small green gargoyle 
returned with a large male gargoyle, David, and Fox 
Xanatos.  Sara began to talk and told her story.  After she 
was done, Galatea told them about her clan and the Hunter.
          *          *           *
          The field was illuminated with moonlight.  Galatea 
stood silently waiting.  A roar of loud noise interrupted her.  It 
was the Hunter.  Chained to the back of his aircycle was 
Galatea's clan.  The Hunter regarded her, "You're not the 
Demon."
          "Yes but you attacked me and that is my clan!" 
Galatea's eyes glowed red with anger.
          "You might not be the Demon but at least I'll get to 
destroy four of her kind."  He grabbed Artemis and pointed a 
gun to her head.  Galatea screamed, "NO!"  Out of the 
woods leapt Goliath's clan who surrounded the Hunter. 
Galatea looked at the Hunter, "I brought some friends with 
me."
          "Good, so did I."
          Four Quarrymen stepped out of the darkness behind 
Galatea.  One raised his sledgehammer high was about to 
bring it down on Galatea's head.  Galatea spun around and 
grabbed the hammer and ripped it out of his hands. 
Everyone attacked.  Goliath made his way over to Galatea's 
clan.  He tried to rip the restraints off of Valkria's wrists but 
they were too strong.  Broadway managed to get Artemis 
out of the Hunter's hands but couldn't get the restraints off 
her wrists either.  Galatea, Lex, Brooklyn, Angela, and 
Hudson managed to chase the Quarrymen away.  Goliath 
grabbed the Hunter and found the keys on his belt.  The 
Hunter kicked Goliath in the chest with enough force that 
Goliath was forced to drop the Hunter.  The Hunter ran to his 
aircycle and flew away.
          Goliath walked over to Valkria and released all of the 
members of her clan.  "Who are you?" Valkria demanded.
          "I am Goliath."  He then introduced his clan and 
Valkria then introduced hers.
          "I think we should get back to our castle."  Valkria 
nodded her assent to Goliath's suggestion and both clans 
glided back to Castle Wyvern.  There, Goliath told Valkria's 
clan about how they got to castle: the Magus' spell, how 
Xanatos awakened them and tried to betray them, the 
Avalon trip, and the Gathering.  He told them about the 
enemies of his clan: the Pack, Demona, etc.  And he talked 
about friends: Elisa, Matt, the Xanatoses, the Mutates, etc.
A few minutes after he was finished the sun was going to 
rise so they all took their positions.  
          After the sun rose, Xanatos and Fox left leaving 
Owen and Sara alone on the balcony.  Sara turned to Owen 
and asked him, "I felt the magic of the Gathering.  Why are 
you still here?"
          "I disobeyed and didn't go back for the Gathering. 
Because of it I'm stuck here in exile, like you."
          "NO!  You are not like me!  You didn't have to stay on 
that island while Oberon sent the dregs of humanity to attack 
you.  Thieves, murderers, the insane, and worse came to 
that island.  Do realize half of the things that were done to 
me!  How dare you sit there all high and mighty, protected 
by your friends, and try to empathize with me!  You probably 
expect me to get all weepy and we become good friends. 
Well it won't happen!  When Oberon exiled me in front of 
everyone just because my form was changed, no one 
defended me and stood by my side.  You were part of crowd 
that cheered Oberon for his wise decision.  So don't expect 
any pity from me!"  Sara walked away with tears forming in 
her eyes, leaving Owen speechless.

The End (until I finish the second story of this series)