Warning: There is an extremly mild sexual part in this. It's there just to describe one of my character's personalities. Cymbeline is pure evil, and actually kind of raunchy. Well, she's kind really sort of slutty, when you get right down to it, but I'll let you decide what she's like when you read her parts in this fanfic.
 
 

A KIND OF DEDICATION : To Fester and Steele, who suffered with this, believed in it, read, cared, cheered and encouraged, stuck pins in sinister dolls, heard confessions, gave absolution and usually paid for smokes. With Love.

If you want to e-mail me with flames, praise or anything else, you can reach me at

pippin_elf@yahoo.com
 
 

PREVIOUSLY, ON GARGOYLES..............

( Show a golden female gargoyle holding a staff stepping out of the darkness )

Aneurin

" Brooklyn, I am Aneurin, the Guardian of Heaven's Gate. I must warn you, if you choose to use this power to help your friends, you must accept everything that comes with it. The good, and the bad things. You were born to do this job, and you must get it done, or else your world is doomed."

( Show the silver male gargoyle stepping out of the shadows )

Hester

" Fear nothing, for I am Hester, the star of the Lord's eye. I am Guardian of the Souls of all, and our Lord has entrusted me to protect, instruct, and care for you in your training. Fear nothing, because you are safe with me." ( humourous snort and pause )

" Nice speech, huh?"

( The last female gargoyle speaks )

Aurora

" I am Reality! The first Dark Mage that ever was, and the granddaughter of the evil one Himself! I am Aurora, and it is I who will awaken your true power in this time of darkness! You are the second last Dark Mage, descendant of mine, so prepare yourself for the coming of ultimate power!"

Aurora ( to Lexington )

" You must use your power to help him. Your power combined with his will defeat that bastard Oberon. You and your cousin must call upon your powers to defeat him."

Lexington

" Why do you keep calling Brooklyn my cousin?!"

Hester ( to Lexington )

" Because he is."

Brooklyn

" You're like me, aren't you?"

From: "Oberon Comes, Prophecy Revealed!"
 
 
 
 

" Life's a bitch. But then again, so am I."

Pippin Sgaileach
 
 
 
 

" Cymbeline's Wrath" By Pippin Sgaileach
 
 
 
 

Manhattan, New York

Somewhere over Times Square

Four Months After Oberon Attacked
 
 

The time before dawn was crisp, and cool. The perfect night for patrol.

The red gargoyle and his small green companion glided above the city on silent wings, ready for action.

The red one glanced to the east, noticing the beginnings of sunrise. He turned to his companion.

~ Hey Lex, we better get back to the castle. It's almost dawn.~ he said, telepathically.

The other gargoyle turned to him.

~ Yeah, we better. Goliath will skin us alive if we don't. This is our third time being late.~ he answered.

They turned and, with one last look below, headed back to the castle.

*******************************

Castle Wyvern
 
 

The two gargoyles landed on the parapets of Castle Wyvern, on top of the Eerie Building. They looked around, and a sudden bark attracted their attention.

Bronx, the gargoyle dog, came bounding toward them, his tongue hanging out.

Lexington bent down to greet him. " Hi Bronx!" he laughed as the gargdog licked his face. Brooklyn followed suit, also getting a slobbery greeting from their pet.

At that moment, Goliath and the other gargoyles walked out onto the parapets to join them. He smiled as he saw the two adolescent gargoyles petting the gargoyle dog.

" Finally, you two have decided to come home early," Goliath rumbled good naturedly. Brooklyn and Lexington grinned.

" Well, we figured it was about time we came home to see our loving family," Lexington teased. Broadway snorted.

" Yeah right," he laughed. " You may want to see us, but we don't want to see you." He tried not to laugh as Brooklyn and Lexington put on sour faces.

" But we looove youuuuu..." they keened in whiny hatchling voices. Angela started to laugh, Goliath raised his eye ridge, and Hudson made a groaning noise in his throat.

" All right, lads," Hudson chuckled. " Enough. The sun is rising." The gargoyles all went to their places and prepared for their stone sleep.

Just before they turned to stone, however, Brooklyn turned his head to the west.

He frowned, and as his body stiffened in stone, a feeling of foreboding came over him as his eyes went blank.

***************************

Brooklyn opened his eyes, then shut them again quickly, then blinked rapidly.

A weird sound filled the air, something that seemed familiar to Brooklyn.

He shook his head, and looked around. ~ Oh, my God,~ he thought ~ I can't be back here. No please no I can't be back here.~

The sound was like a muffled buzzing, as though he could hear a swarm of bees through a thick wall.

Or maybe static.

~All the sounds here are muffled,~ he thought in confusion.

Surrounding him were trees, huge trees. And off to the left, was a camp. With a sinking heart, he realized he recognized the camp.

It was the same camp he had made with his elder and clan sister the night those creatures had attacked.

Those creatures. Beasts of Hell. If there ever were monsters, they would be it.

What were they? He couldn't remember it all, but God! what terrible, horrific things they were. Brooklyn shook his head again, trying to shake that thought from his head. He didn't want to remember.

A sudden shout attracted his attention. He turned around, nearly falling over in his haste to see something he knew would happen but hoped would not.

Three gargoyles, an adult male, a male hatchling and an adolescent female came running his way.

He watched horrified, as he saw what happened. Again.

A hatchling version of himself hurtled by him, screaming in utter terror. The adolescent female followed next, also screaming. The adult tripped, and fell.

He cried out in pain and grabbed his ankle.

The other two stopped and turned back. The adult, a white haired, ivory skinned beaked male held up his hand to stop them.

" No!" he shouted. " You must run!" He pointed to the young female. " You must get him out of here before they come. Hurry!"

Brooklyn and the white gargoyle watched as the female picked up the young hatchling.

The white male's eyes filled with tears as they ran off, his ears filling with the sound of the evil demons coming his way, coming to devour him.

The crackling, static sound of evil.

" Goodbye, my children," he whispered, as the beasts overcame and began to tear the flesh from his bones. " Goodbye....."

Brooklyn's eyes widened as he heard that. ~ My children?~ he thought.~ He was my father? She was my sister? Dear God.~

He closed his eyes against the bloody scene before him. When he opened them again, he was somewhere else.

He looked around, and saw the female and the hatchling coming toward him. He froze, knowing what would happen next.

The female tripped, and dropped the hatchling. He hit the ground with an " oomph!" and rolled a few times. He got up and ran back to his sister, who was sitting on the ground.

" Come sister!" Brooklyn heard his younger self cry in terror. " We have to get out of here!" The hatchling paused, as the female did not answer. " Sister, are you all right? Are you hurt?"

" No brother," she whispered, as she looked up. Her face was streaked with tears.

" I am not hurt. But I can't go on, either." Brooklyn turned his head from the scene, knowing what was coming.

" But why, sister? If we stay we will die."

" Because no matter where we run, we cannot escape them."

" Yes we can! We have to!" the hatchling protested.

" You can, my brother. You can escape from them."

" But-"

" You have the power. Go."

" But sister-"

" GO! They are coming!"

Brooklyn closed his eyes. Tears dripped down his face. He heard the sound of running feet, the crackling evil noise the creatures made.

The creatures. They belonged to someone.

" Sister!"

Who?

" Sister!"

The monsters. They served an evil witch.

" SISTER!!"

A horrific scream of pain and fear, followed by one of anguish tore through Brooklyn's mind as he fought the sensation of dizzyness and nausea.

Maniacal laughter filled the air.

Who did they serve....dear God! He remembered.

Cymbeline.

***********************

Brooklyn awoke with a roar, louder than usual. He flung bits of stone in all directions, his eyes wild and white.

He leaned over the side of the building and gasped. The other gargoyles turned to look at him, and Goliath stepped over.

" Brooklyn, are you all right?" he asked, clearly concerned. Brooklyn swallowed and looked up at his leader. He smiled weakly.

" Yeah, I'm okay. I just had a nightmare. It's nothing." Brooklyn tried to console Goliath by telling him this. He knew though, that everything was NOT all right.

He could hear them again. Not very well, the sound was distant, but it was there.

He swallowed nervously as he looked to the west.

~The west~ he thought. ~ They always come from the west. It's the way they came before. From the west~

" Brooklyn!" Goliath's voice interrupted his thoughts.

" Huh?" Brooklyn asked, turning his attention back to his leader. " Brooklyn are you sure you are all right?" Goliath asked. " You have been ignoring me." Brooklyn looked to the west again.

" Brooklyn!"

" Oh, uh... sorry. What did you say?" Brooklyn tried to pay attention, but the buzzing sound kept getting in the way.

" Are you sure you are all right? Perhaps you should stay home-" Goliath was cut off before he could finish.

" No!" Brooklyn cried. The others stared at him oddly. " No," he repeated, softer this time. " I have to go out on patrol. I'm not going to shirk my duties."

" It never stopped you before," Broadway commented. Brooklyn growled at him, then looked at Goliath expectantly.

Goliath swallowed nervously. He didn't like the way Brooklyn looked at him then.

It made him nervous, knowing that with a single thought Brooklyn could wipe him off the face of the planet.

" All right, just be careful. I don't want you to get hurt." Goliath said. Brooklyn grinned. He then turned and was about to jump off the roof, when Goliath called after him.

" Brooklyn," Goliath said loudly. Brooklyn turned back to him.

" What?" he asked, almost impatiently. Goliath swallowed and pushed his fear away.

" Take Lexington with you. Remember, the Quarrymen are still around, and as dangerous as ever. Take care." Brooklyn looked long and hard at Goliath for a moment, trying to figure out what he was up to, without reading his mind.

" Okay," Brooklyn finally said, grinning. " Ya coming, Lex?" Lexington hopped up beside him.

" Yep," he replied. Then he looked back. " See ya later guys!"

The others nodded. Brooklyn and Lexington glided off, heading to the west.

The others turned to Goliath, Hudson speaking up when Brooklyn and Lexington were out of earshot.

" All right lad, what's the matter with ye?" Hudson said suddenly, staring at Goliath. " Ye know the lads can take care o' themselves."

Angela spoke up next. " Yes father, remember? Brooklyn's and Lexington's magic is very strong, and I don't think a Quarryman could hurt them anymore."

Goliath sighed. " I know, but there was something strange about him tonight. Almost as if he could see or hear something we could not." He shook his head. " It was very disturbing." Broadway nodded.

" Yeah, it was almost like he wanted to get away from the castle as fast as he could. And did you notice how he was staring to the west? That's the way they went."

" Do you think it could be Oberon?" Angela asked suddenly. " What if he has decided to come back for Alex again?" Hudson shook his head.

" Nay, lass. I donna think 'tis the Lord of Avalon. It seemed different, this time. Brooklyn does nae fear the Lord of Avalon. "

He frowned. " Did ye see the look on the lads' face? It was almost-"

" Recognition," another voice finished for him. They all turned to see Owen Burnette, Xanatos' majordomo, standing behind them.

" You!" Goliath said in surprise. Then he became angry. " What do you know of this?"

" More than you, Goliath." Owen replied, adjusting his glasses. " I know what is wrong. I can hear them as well." Goliath frowned. " Hear what?" he asked. Owen sighed and shook his head.

" I apologize Goliath. I cannot tell you. What I can tell you is this: Master Alex has requested that you come with us when we leave the city. Tonight." " WHAT!" Goliath roared in fury. He growled as he began to advance on Owen.

Owen was not intimidated. He stared up at Goliath and spoke in the same flat voice as he was accustomed to do in his human form. " I apologize again Goliath. But you cannot know what the danger is that approaches. You would foolishly try to fight it, when you cannot possibly win."

" Why?" Angela asked. Owen shook his head.

" Because what is coming is too powerful for you to comprehend. I cannot tell you more, except this: You would all die if you stayed. Please, Goliath. You must do as I ask." Owen sounded a bit worried, and he looked it, too, now.

Goliath sighed. " Very well. But we must wait for Brooklyn and Lexington to come back."

" No," Owen said. " They are the only ones powerful enough to stop the danger. They are also the ones who requested Master Alex to leave the city with you."

Goliath suppressed a growl, but accepted it. " Very well, we will honour your request." ~ I just hope those two will be all right~ he thought.

*************************

Brooklyn and Lexington were gliding over the city, as fast as they could go.

~ Well, at least Goliath agreed to leave the city,~ Lexington commented. ~ Though I don't know why you'd want him to~

~ I have my reasons~ Brooklyn growled. The two of them were speaking telepathically, as they usually did now. It was mostly because they were training themselves, getting used to handling their magic.

They usually practiced at the Cloisters, the place where Demona had Brooklyn bring Goliath when she betrayed him. They trained there because it was away from the city, where no one could get hurt.

Sometimes though, they just relaxed, and talked to Hester and Aneurin about their magic abilities. They called it 'conference calling'. Their ancestors called it meditating.

After a few more minutes of gliding, Lexington decided he had had enough.

He stopped in midair and waved his hand. Instantly, they were on a rooftop.

Brooklyn turned to look at him angrily. ~ What are you doing!~

~ All right Brooklyn,~ Lex growled. ~ If you don't tell me what's going on with you, then I'm gonna have to force it out of you!~

Brooklyn sighed. ~ All right, Lex~ he said. ~ I'll give.~

Lexington looked at him expectantly. ~ Go on,~ he encouraged. ~ I'm listening.~

*******************

One hour later Lexington was staring at Brooklyn with wide eyes. Brooklyn had given him a visual version of what he had lived through the night the monsters had attacked his father and sister.

~ Dear God,~ he mumbled. He shook his head. Then, all of a sudden, he snapped up, his eyes widening even more.

~ Are you saying that those things are coming back?!~ he nearly screamed in Brooklyn's mind.

Brooklyn nodded. ~Yes. Can't you hear them?~

Lexington strained his ears. ~No.~

Brooklyn shook his head. ~ No Lex. Don't listen like that. LISTEN.~

Lexington concentrated, and found he could hear something. It was really weird. Sort of like--

Static.

~ Is that them?~ he asked. Brooklyn nodded, fear showing in his eyes.

~ How do we stop them?~ he asked.

~ I don't know.~

~ Shit.~

********************

The black female gargoyle with red hair watched through a purple crystal ball, intently staring at the two gargoyles on the roof.

She made a sour laughing sound. " You cannot defeat them," she hissed. She leaned back, arching her back sensually, and stretching her legs over the side of her chair.

Several male and female gargoyles surrounded her. She played with the strands of a blue males' brown hair, then ran her hand down his throat, past his chest and belly, and further. He grunted slightly when she stopped.

" You can never win..."

Maniacal laughter erupted from the large, stone room she was in, and it echoed down the corridors of her castle.

**********************

~ So where are we going?~ Lex asked of his cousin. They had been going west for hours, but he wanted to make sure that Brooklyn was positive of where they were going.

~ We keep going west until we find them,~ Brooklyn answered. Lex growled in frustration.

~ And when will THAT be?~ he grumbled.

~ Very soon,~ Brooklyn was through talking for the moment so he didn't say anymore.

Suddenly, without warning, voices shouted in both their heads. As one, they stopped in mid-air, and vanished, reappearing on a building not far away.

~ Hey kids!~ came a happy, jovial voice. As one, Brooklyn and Lexington sighed, amused.

It was Hester. ~ Hey Grampa, howz it going?~ Lexington asked.

~ Oh shut up,~ Hester giggled. ~ I just wanted to send you a 'good luck' greeting. And, a small tidbit of information.~

~ What?~ Brooklyn asked.

~ Well.....~ Hester paused. ~ You're going the wrong way.~

~ WHAT!!!~ Hester flinched.

~ I said, you're going the wrong way. Your enemy is to the left a few miles. I think it would be a good idea if you transported yourselves there.~

~ Oh. Okay.~

The two gargoyles vanished again, and reappeared a few miles away. As one, they both clapped their hands over their ears.

Damn! The sound was absolutely incredible!

Lexington looked around. ~ Oh Shit,~ Those weird creatures Brooklyn had shown him were everywhere. The two of them looked at each other, and then returned their gazes back to the monsters.

~ Hey Brook!~ Lex called out.

~ Yeah?~ Brooklyn yelled back.

~ I think we're screwed!~

~ So do I!~

***************************

The black female, whose name was, oddly, Cymbeline, stared hard into her purple crystal ball. The two gargoyles were standing right in the midst of her demons!

~ How could my pets not see them?~ she raged. Then suddenly, she turned and ran to the window.

~ I will expose them.~ she thought.

" To me, my warriors!" she screamed into the night. Out of the darkness emerged hundreds of ugly demons, male, female, and those whose gender was unknown.

Cymbeline pointed in the direction of the two Dark Mages, who couldn't be seen by mortal eyes at the moment, and she screamed again.

" To battle! Destroy the Dark Mages!"

At her cry, the beasts of the night took off, blood lust fueling them, their eyes burning with hatred.

***********************

Brooklyn lifted his head, eyes scanning the far horizon. Lexington glanced at him, then to where he was looking.

~ What is it?~ he asked mentally.

~ I don't know~ Brooklyn answered. ~ But it feels.....evil.~ Lexington nodded in agreement.

~ I know. I can feel something too. I don't know what it is but it's strong, and I don't like it.~

~ Neither do I.~

Lexington glanced around at the monsters around them. ~ I hope we come through this alive.~

************************

~ I'm coming for you, Children of Satan,~ Cymbeline hissed. ~ I'm coming for your souls.~

************************

Brooklyn was staring around, not sure how he and Lexington were going to beat the monsters, when he had a feeling.

It was like a silent thunderbolt, and it hit him full force.

Before his eyes, he saw a picture of a black female gargoyle with red hair, leading a group of hundreds of monsters. Her eyes were glowing, and he heard her thoughts as clearly as he could hear his own voice,

" I'm coming for you, Children of Satan. I'm coming for your souls."

~ Dear Lord!~ he thought.

************************

Suddenly, Brooklyn's head shot up. ~ Lex!~ he yelled.

~ What?~ he asked. Brooklyn turned to look at him, his eyes wide.

~ Did you feel that?~

~ I felt it a minute ago you idiot,~ Lexington replied, somewhat annoyed.

~ No, I felt something else. It was similar, but it was more of a vision.~ Brooklyn was practically shaking. Lexington walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

~ Brooklyn, are you okay?~ he asked. What's wrong with him? he wondered. Brooklyn closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were glowing an electric blue.

~ It seems our enemy has decided to show herself,~ he hissed. Lexington backed up in shock, then the same thing happened to him that happened to Brooklyn.

He saw the same black gargoyle, and the hordes of demons behind her. There were also a few gargoyles with her.

~ Jesus~ he thought. ~ What do we do?~

~ We fight, coz,~ Brooklyn snarled. ~ And we don't stop 'till we drop dead.~

~ Boy, that sounds fun.~

***************************

Goliath glanced up into the sky. He and the clan, minus Brooklyn and Lexington, had gone with Xanatos and his family to Xanadu, the billionairres' upstate retreat.

At that moment, he and Elisa were standing in the living room, looking out the large window.

Goliath swallowed. ~ I hope Brooklyn and Lexington are all right~ he thought.

****************************

~ All right, Lex, ~ Brooklyn said quietly. ~ It's time to show ourselves and kick some ass.~

~ Right on, coz.~ Lex answered. Brooklyn closed his eyes, and Lexington did the same.

Suddenly, the two of them appeared in the middle of a swarm of demons. The monsters turned, saw them, and screamed in fury, leaping at them.

With roars to match Goliath's, the two leapt into attack positions and began to fight.

************************

Xanadu, Xanatos' Upstate Retreat
 
 

Bronx raised his head, whimpering. Alex looked to west and began to cry. Fox moved quickly over to her son and picked him up, trying to comfort him.

" What's wrong?" Broadway asked nervously. Angela slipped her hand into his and squeezed.

Owen's eyes widened and he spoke in a soft, fearful whisper.

" It has begun," he said.

*************************

Cymbeline snarled. ~ So, they have begun the battle~ she thought. She smirked nastily. ~ It will be the last battle they ever fight.~

Out loud, she began to laugh hysterically as she and her hordes of demons came within sight of the fray.

**************************

Brooklyn pulled back his hand and threw a large ball of energy at one of the demons. It screamed and disintegrated into dust.

He turned and attacked another one, with his talons. He slashed down it's face with fury, shrieking a battle cry of rage.

Not far away, Lexington was fighting a similar battle. He shrieked as he let loose a powerful blast of energy. He didn't look behind him, so he didn't see the demon sneak up from behind.

Brooklyn however, did see. He howled in fury, and leapt in between the two, recieving a glancing blow to the face.

He reeled back, hands to his face, blood seeping between his fingers. Lex saw this, and spun around, eyes blazing. Fingertips touching lightly, he formed an energy ball in between his hands.

The demon began to claw Brooklyn, who couldn't see to fight back. It slashed it's claws across his back, his wings, and then, it's claws skimmed just across his throat. A small rivulet of blood ran down his throat as he slumped to his knees.

Lex snarled.

Crossing his wrists, he raised his hands above his head. He arched his back as the ball of light covered his whole body. He screamed as he let it loose, the light growing brighter as it flew it's deadly path toward the demon.

He heard Brooklyn cry out his name as the creature brought it's fist down to crush his skull.

************************

Brooklyn groaned. After he had saved Lex, the demon had turned on him. Unable to see, it had slashed and hacked him until he hit the ground.

Now, lying in his own blood, Brooklyn finally looked up and saw the creature rearing above him, preparing it's final strike. He swallowed blood, and cringed as it's huge fist came down.

He cried out to his cousin, to Lexington, hoping he could save him.

" Lex!!!!!"

A sudden bright light came between Brooklyn and the demon, illuminating the demons' features. It screamed as it's flesh began to melt away, reavealing it's black skull beneath.

It disappeared in a last flash of light, and Brooklyn sat up, holding his hand over his ruined eye.

With his good one, he looked at Lexington, who was standing not far away breathing heavily. He grinned, and Lex grinned back. With a groan, Brooklyn got to his feet. He looked around.

That last blast had taken out the rest of the demons that the two gargoyles had been fighting. Dead bodies lay strewn about, and black blood coated the ground.

Brooklyn felt bile rise in his throat. ~ Ugh, gross. I think I'm gonna puke.~ he told Lexington telepathically. Lex made a face.

~ Do it somewhere else.~ was the reply. Lexington paused. ~ God, Brooklyn, your FACE....~

~ I know.~ Brooklyn growled. He shook his head, and wiped the blood out of his good eye. ~ What does it look like?~ he asked.

~ Like shit.~

~ I thought so.~ Suddenly, a strange feeling came over Brooklyn. He looked up, and saw another horde of demons.

He looked closer, and saw her. The enemy.

Cymbeline.

~ Hey Lex,~ he thought. ~ Heads up. We're in for another rumble.~

Lexington looked up. ~ Goddamn,~ he said. ~ I guess we are.~

~ Get ready, coz.~ Brooklyn growled.

~ I already am,~ Lex replied, taking position beside Brooklyn.

The two watched as the black gargoyle and her minions descended from the sky, ready for battle.

*********************

~ So, they defeated my warriors,~ Cymbeline thought. ~ Well, they will not beat me.~

With a loud swoop! she landed in front of the two Dark Mages, followed by her gargoyle servants.

" You two have become a thorn in my side," she said aloud to them. " You may be the children of my master, but he is not pleased with the path you have chosen. You are given a choice: Join him, or die."

Brooklyn and Lexington looked at each other, then back at her.

" What do you think, Lex?" Brooklyn said sarcastically. " Shall we?"

Lex shook his head, an amused smile on his face. " Nahh. I can think of a better way to waste my time."

Brooklyn looked at Cymbeline, a nasty smirk on his face. " No."

Cymbeline growled. ~ How dare they insult me so?~ she thought.

~ We dare because we do,~ Lexington intruded into her thoughts.

She snarled. " How dare you listen to my thoughts!" she screeched. " Attack, my warriors!" She pointed at the two gargoyles and screamed again. " Do not let them live!!!"

The demons came at Brooklyn and Lexington, shrieking and howling in fury.

The two gargoyles leapt into the air, not gliding, but flying. They vanished from sight, and reappeared a few seconds later behind the chaos.

The demons, too stupid to know where they had gone, or to even look, were now fighting each other. Brooklyn shook his head, thinking, ~ And THAT'S all she could come up with? Jeez!~

" Hey, Witch!" he called to her. She spun around, snarling. " Miss me?"

" Bastard child!" she shrieked, leaping at him, talons extended.

" Leave my father out of this!" Brooklyn yelled back. The two collided, slashing with talons, kicking, punching and howling.

Brooklyn swiped at her face, leaving bloody claw marks on her face. He punched her in the gut, then tripped her with his tail.

He noticed that she was wearing a strange stone ring around her throat, and it was glowing brightly.

It looked vaguely familiar but he couldn't place it. ~ Whatever it is, I don't think she should have it,~ he thought.

~ You're right,~ came a soft voice in his head.

Aneurin!

~ Get it away from her,~ Aneurin whispered. ~ It does not belong to her.~

He turned his head to see Lex finishing off the demons with magic blasts.

~ Hurry!~

Brooklyn reached out and grabbed the ring from around her neck. He yanked, and the string holding it tore, which left the ring in his grasp.

~ This is too easy,~ he thought. As though she had heard him, Cymbeline laughed.

She pressed her hand to his face and a blast of light erupted from it, blinding him. He screamed and covered his eyes, stumbling back.

Cymbeline started to reach for the ring still clutched in Brooklyn's hand, but stopped when a voice boomed out of nowhere.

" ENOUGH!!!"

Cymbeline stopped and looked up. " What is it, Master?" she asked.

" I want you to return to me, NOW," the Voice replied.

" But--" Cymbeline started.

" NOW!!!" the Voice roared. " I have another job for you."

" Yes Master," she said. Then she turned to Lexington and Brooklyn. " Until next time."

Then, in a puff of red smoke, she was gone. Lexington stared for a moment, then turned to Brooklyn, who was sitting on the ground, holding his face in his hands.

~ Hey, coz, you okay?~ Lex asked mentally, to tired to actually talk.

~ I can't see ~ Brooklyn said. ~ That stupid bitch did something to my eyes!~

Lexington bent down next to him, and grabbed his wrists, forcing his hands away from his eyes. ~ Let me see,~ he said.

Brooklyn allowed him to pull his hands from his eyes, and tried to ignore the pain.

Lexington gasped. ~ Oh, God,~ he thought. Brooklyn's face was an absolute mess. One slash mark was overlapped with another, which crossed his right eye, while the other part of it went down his cheek.

His eye itself was gross enough. It was filled with blood, and there was no longer a pupil. The grey colour was now a light silver, with blue around the outside of it. It was pretty obvious to Lexington that he would be blind in that eye for life.

Scars were all up his arms, and across his back. His wings were shredded pretty badly, and he obviously needed a doctor for the wound on his thigh.

Brooklyn looked up with his good eye, and grinned wearily. ~ You don't look so good yourself coz.~ he snorted. Lex jumped. Brooklyn must have been looking through his mind.

Lex frowned. He himself was okay, just a few slashes on the back of his neck and shoulders. ~ Nothing to worry about.~ he reassured his friend. ~ Just a few scratches.~

~ Whatever~ Brooklyn said. He groaned. ~ Lex?~

~ Yeah?~ Lex looked at him.

~ Help me up,~

~ Oh! Sorry coz,~

~ S'alright~

*************************

Owen looked up into the sky. He smiled.

" What is it?" Angela asked. He looked back at her, a small smile on his face.

" It's over," he said. Goliath walked to where the clan was standing.

" Who won?" he asked. ~ Please let it be us~ he thought.

" We did." Owen's smile got bigger. " It seems as if we need to congradulate some friends of yours when we get home."

" And when will that be, lad?" Hudson asked.

" Now."

Suddenly, the gargoyles and the Xanatos' found themselves on the parapets of castle Wyvern.

" Hot shit," Broadway mumbled. Goliath looked at him sharply. " Sorry," Broadway amended.

" Hey, look!" Angela cried, pointing out to the west. " There are Brooklyn and Lexington!"

The others all turned to look. Brooklyn and Lexington had appeared out of nowhere, and they didn't look too good. Brooklyn especially.

" Goliath do something! He's gonna fall!" Elisa cried. With a gasp, Goliath leapt off the parapets to Brooklyn's aid. He caight his second in command in mid-air, and glided back to the castle with Lexington hot on his heels.

" Is he all right?" Angela said, running up to them. Brooklyn groaned.

" I think I missed my mark, huh, Lex?" he said weakly. Lex grinned.

" Yeah. We were supposed to land on the parapets but we were too tired to concentrate." Lex said to Goliath. He nodded.

" Dear God, Brooklyn, your face..." Angela whispered, cringing.

Brooklyn sighed, annoyed and exasperated. " Why is everyone going on about my face!!" he nearly yelled. " I know what it looks like!!"

Hudson chuckled. " Aye, lad. It's all right. It's almost dawn."

" It wont heal, Hudson," Brooklyn said softly. " I'll be blind in that eye forever. Like you."

Dead silence.

" Well!" Broadway said, breaking the silence. " What's that?" he asked, pointing to the stone ring in Brooklyn's hand.

" Oh, I don't know," he said. "Cymbeline had it around her neck and I just grabbed it off her. Aneurin said it would not be a very good thing if she kept it, so I took it."

" Who is Aneurin?" Goliath asked. Brooklyn and Lexington looked at each other, then back at Goliath.

" Just a friend." Lex said quickly.

" A very good friend." Brooklyn chimed in.

Goliath and the others looked at them, then seemed to shrug it off.

" What does it do?" Elisa asked.

" I don't know," Brooklyn admitted.

" Well, we will find out some other time," Goliath said. " The sun is about to rise."

Just before they turned to stone, Brooklyn and Lexington both heard Hester's voice in their heads.

~ Kids,~ he said. ~ We have a problem.~
 
 

THE END

To be continued in 'The Fellowship Of The Ring', my next fanfic. Coming soon! Read 'Prophecy' first, though. Things will make more sense if you do.