SHELLSHOCKED! - PART 3

A Gargoyles/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story

by Stephen R. Sobotka Jr.

DISCLAIMER : This is a fan-fiction story, based on characters and situations from Disney's animated TV series "Gargoyles", and the 4-Kinds Entertainment series "Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles". This has been written solely for other fans of the show to enjoy, not to gain profit for the author. All characters, with exception of one's I created, are TM and Copyrighted by their respective licensees, and are used without their knowledge. The plot and original story are my own creation.

Please don't sue, since this was done as a tribute to the spirit of the original shows.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : Greetings all! Yes, I have returned to my former calling, and this is my first attempt at writing crossover fiction in several years... hope it goes over well.

"Shellshocked, Part 3"

oooOOOooo

Brooklyn : "Previously, on "Shellshocked"..."

Shot of Splinter, being kidnapped by Demona.

Demona : "You are a descendant of the Hamato Clan . . . Are you familiar with the family treasures . . . ?" Shot of Demona revealing the Tengu box. "Especially... one particular treasure, called the hako no tengu?"

April : "...what would this 'Demona' want with Master Splinter?"

Leonardo : "We'd better start looking, while we still have time!"

Shot of Donatello, using his PDA tracker; Shot of the Turtles and Gargoyles finding the old fish cannery.

Raphael : "Ahh, I'm not waitin' any longer!" Shot of Raphael sneaking past Demona's security machines; Facing Demona as she's about to attack Splinter. "Leave him alone, you witch!"

Demona : "I've fought against many of the fighting styles of the humans!" Shot of Demona battling Raph; forcing him down, only to have him toss her.

Raphael : "Yeah, well you ain't fightin' any humans tonight . . . Yer fightin' a turtle!"

Shot of Elisa, Matt and the others arriving at the cannery

Elisa : "Did they find any sign of Demona yet?"

Lex : "I dunno, Goliath told me to wait for you guys..."

Hudson : "We'll go help Goliath then . . . Before Demona either harms our friends, or gets away!"

oooOOOooo

An Abandoned Fish Cannery, Manhattan, NYC...

Inside the Cannery, the main storage area was much like the rest of the abandoned building; old, dust-covered piles of misused equipment, rotting crates and rusting metal. It was here that Raphael had ducked into to seek a place to hide.

Crouched down behind a stack of crates, Raph tried to still his breathing. "Geez, what a psycho!" The stink of ozone filled the air -- from a still-hot gash scored along one point of his shell -- along with clouds of dust as he leaned back against the temporary shelter.

Somewhere on the same floor, but not too far away, he could hear the sound of more laser bursts, followed by the taunting call of Demona, drawing closer.

"Come out, freak! You won't make it far!"

Raph looked over at Splinter, and winced. The segment of the overhead air duct that had fallen had injured the old rat. How badly he couldn't tell, but with his master hurt, he wasn't able to move as quickly as he needed to.

Damnit! Looks like I shoulda listened to th' Beak-Freak! he told himself. This witch's too much f'r one turtle alone! Listening intently, he could hear the noise of Demona's blaster; sounding like it was moving further off.

"Hold on, Splinter!" He grunted softly, picking the old rat up as he tried to keep them hidden behind several massive crates. Moving as silently as he could, he got them to a low doorway on the far side of the warehouse.

"Raphael...?"

"Hold on, Master," Raphael muttered softly. "I'll get ya t'safety."

"No... my son," Splinter replied, trying to keep his labored breathing shallow.

Raphael stared at his master with concern. The Old rat's face was twisted with pain. "Sorry, Mastah Splinter," Raphael apologized. "I didn't think you were hurt this bad!" He looked around, until he found a space between two more large crates to set his master down on the floor.

"What do I do now?" Raph grumbled. "If I leave you here to fight off that harpy, your injuries will get worse! And if I try to get you to safety, there's no guarantee that they won't be any better before I can find the guys!" He shook his head savagely. "Blast it! I should've stayed with the others, 'stead of runnin' off without backup!"

Amid his bemoaning, Raph felt Splinter put one of his wrinkled hands on his arm. "Hindsight... is always sharper than when we are looking... ahead, my son." Steadying himself, Splinter continued, "As it... stands... you cannot... fight this demon!"

"Then, what can I do?" Raph closes his eyes, frowning.

"You... cannot... fight her!" Splinter urged, staring hard at his student. "She... is... too strong!" Shaking his head, the old rat hissed urgently. "The only course... the one that is most logical... you must... find your... brothers! Only with their... aid... can you defeat her."

"No, Master!" Raphael snarled. "I will not abandon you! Even defeating a witch like her would mean nothin'... if we lost you!"

"Hey, no need to be a drama-llama, bro!"

Both Splinter and Raph looked up, seeing three sets of eyes gleaming in the shadows of the ceiling above. "Mikey???"

"Duh! And you call me slow!"

With that, the other three brothers dropped down. Leonardo quickly checked Splinter. "Master, are you-?"

"I am... alive, my son," the old rat replied. "However, the demon still lurks inside... this place!"

Just then, April and Lex arrived. "Guys!" April said, relieved to see them alive.

"April!" Donatello hissed. "Quiet!"

"Well, I'm sorry I'm just glad to see-!"

Leo interrupted her, "We know, April... but, Demona's still at large!" He motioned towards Splinter. "You guys have got to get our sensei to safety, now!"

Lex nodded, addressing the four turtles. "We'll get Splinter clear... where's Demona?"

"Back in there," Raph said huskily, looking at Splinter with worry. "Where's the rest of your guys, Shorty?"

"They should be here in a second," Lex said, moving with April to help pull Splinter to his feet.

"We won't have a second if that she-witch starts shootin'!" Raphael growled.

"Another . . . of her, kind?" Splinter eyed Lex warily.

"No, Sensei," April said gently. "He's with us."

"Yeah, I'm one of the good guys," Lex said, nodding to April to help him walk with Splinter.

"Just get Master Splinter out of here," Donatello said urgently. "The others can help outside. There's a first-aid kit in the Battleshell."

"We're on it!" April and Lex moved around the stacks of crates, and vanished out of sight.

"Now," Leo said, placing a hand on Raph's shoulder. "Let's go deal with Demona, alright guys?"

With matching grins of determination, the others unlimbered their weapons. "Damn right!" Raph hissed. "C'mon!"

oooOOOooo

Elisa and Casey were just about to enter another room inside the cannery, keeping low to the floor, when they heard the sounds of laser fire stop abruptly. "Uh-oh . . . that doesn't sound good, that's fer certain!"

"Damn! Demona must know someone else is tracking her, if she's gone all stealth-mode," the detective said.

Casey muttered. "How're we supposed to stop this she-witch, anyway?"

"You won't," a deep voice rumbled from overhead, making both of them jerk their heads upwards in surprise as two sets of white, glowing eyes looked down from the shadows in the ceiling. "But we will!"

"Geez-Louise!" Casey nearly shouted, but he caught himself.

"Goliath!" Elisa hissed.

Both Goliath and Brooklyn dropped into view. "Are the others here with you?" he asked.

"Hudson and Broadway are looking for Raphael with the others downstairs," she stated. "We came looking to help you."

"Nice sentiment, but Demona would love to get the chance to take a shot at you, Elisa." Brooklyn looked at Goliath. "Best we handle this alone."

"Brooklyn is right." He saw the look on Elisa's face, and said quickly, "This may become ugly, and... I'd prefer it if you were safely away from Demona."

Just then, the Shell-Cel at his waist chirped. "Goliath! This is Leo!"

Raising the device, Goliath replied, "Go ahead, Leonardo!"

"We found Splinter! April and Lex are carrying him out, but we've lost track of Demona!"

Goliath looked at Elisa, and he said, "She might be moving to either block your escape or find a way out herself. Move towards the upper floors, we'll join you on our way down."

"Will do . . . be careful!"

"We shall," Goliath said. "You do so, as well . . . Demona isn't a foe to turn your back on!"

"A grand piece of advice!"

Those words were followed by a crimson flash; a beam of laser fire raked between Goliath and Elisa, driving them apart with a shout of surprise. Brooklyn and Casey both whirled, ducking in defense as another beam split the air over their heads, with the beaked gargoyle hitting the floor, chin first, while Casey fell back into the darkness with a yelp of pain.

"Pity you didn't heed it yourself, my former love!" Stepping out from the shadows of another doorway, Demona leveled her laser rifle at Goliath, her finger clenched over the trigger.

Growling, both Brooklyn and Goliath glared at her. "You can't hit all of us, Demona! We all know the limits of that weapon you carry," the tall clan leader said sharply.

"I only need to hit one of you," Demona said icily. "Since you were so kind to bring your dear friend, Detective Maza with you-!" She shifted the muzzle of her rifle to the side, putting Elisa squarely in her sights, only to suddenly find herself sprawling as a large oil drum crashed into her side.

"Ya better learn ta keep track of yer enemies, sistah!" Casey spat, coming into view with a large piece of two-by-four gripped in one fist.

Given the chance, Goliath swooped forwards to put Elisa behind himself. "Casey! Don't be foolish!"

"Sorry, chum," Casey shot back, striding forwards to where Demona was only now shoving the metal drum off of herself. "It's time ta teach this gal how we take care o' business in Brooklyn! GOONGALA!" With that shout, Casey launched himself at the fallen female, raising his weapon with both hands to strike-!

WHAP!

The viscous kick Demona snapped out sent the young man flying backwards, to where he landed against a pile of building lumber with a groan of pain.

"Casey!" Brooklyn shot forwards to try and keep Demona from turning on his friends, but the blue female was already scrambling back into the shadows of the doorway and beyond. "Blast it! She's getting away, moving downstairs!"

"Leave her for now, Brooklyn!" Goliath ordered, as Elisa moved to where Casey had fallen.

"But, Demona-!"

"She will not get far!" He flipped on the Shell-Cel, speaking into the pick-up. "Leonardo! Demona just attacked us, and is heading back down towards the ground floor!"

The reply came back quickly : "Understood! We'll be waiting for her!"

Turning the device off, Goliath joined Elisa, who was helping Casey to rise to a sitting position. "Is he seriously hurt, Elisa?"

The sable-haired detective shook her head, giving Casey a quick look over. "She rang his bell pretty good, but I don't think he's hurt too bad," she said. When Casey winced and grabbed his side, she reached down to touch him herself and muttered, "Okay, I lied . . . damn! Looks like he's got some busted ribs here!"

Hissing, Casey growled, "Darn, that blue witch . . . kicks like an Army mule! Ow!"

"I've got to get him out of here," Elisa said to Goliath. "He's going to need a doctor!"

"Brooklyn," Goliath said to his second. "Help Elisa. I'll follow Demona, and hopefully join the Turtles on my way down."

As Brooklyn moved to help Elisa, Casey shook his head forcibly. "Nah! I ain't missin' . . . this fight!"

"Hey, chuckle head," Brooklyn said with a wan grin. "You think I wanna miss it, too?" Lifting Casey easily, he added, "First things first; get you to a safe place, then we'll deal with Demona!"

Nodding, Elisa looked back at Goliath with a worried expression. "Just be careful, Goliath. Don't let her get the better of our new friends, okay?"

"Don't worry," Goliath said grimly, before turning to head towards the doorway where Demona vanished through. "She's not going anywhere!"

oooOOOooo

Reaching the ground floor again, Demona snarled softly as she took stock of her situation: Goliath and his human ally were above her, along with Brooklyn and who knew how many more of the Clan with them . . . the rat and his mutant 'son' -- she shuddered at that thought -- were still in the warehouse, if what she overheard Goliath saying could be taken into account, and she was alone, with only a half-charge left on her primary weapon.

Blast . . . I should retreat with the box, until I can face my enemy better. she told herself. Still . . . without the knowledge the rat has, the box is useless to me! She glanced this way and that, sniffing the air to get a sense of anyone nearby . . . and, with a touch of surprise, she caught the scent of the turtle mutant; very close, perhaps within a few dozen yards away.

Good . . . I might be able to salvage something of this blasted evening's folly! Lifting her weapon to let the point of her particle rifle lead the way, Demona started towards the direction of the being she scented.

She stepped through a doorway, leading into a larger room in the back part of the cannery; piles of unused materials, stacks of lumber and other refuse littered the floor, casting dark shapes in the dim light around her. Her eyes glittering with crimson sparks, Demona stared into the inky shadows.

"Come out, mutant! There's no other way for you to escape me now," she called out. Punctuating her words as she thumbed the safety on her weapon, she added, "Make it easy on yourself and the old rat! I promise to give him a quick death... but for you, you'll suffer for a long time, for interfering in my plans!"

Stepping further into the room, Demona was so focused on the walls and the space around her, she didn't notice the four deeper shadows, moving with cat-like stealth through the naked support beams overhead. Moving closer, they all fanned out, matching her movement as they bracketed her in silence.

"Blast you, freak!" Demona finally lost her patience. "If you won't come to me, I will level this building around your-!"

From behind her, a voice growled, "Yo, she-witch!"

Whipping around, Demona squeezed off a shot; lighting the darkness with a crimson flash . . . but, all she hit was a stack of empty cans. They clattered to the floor, filling the air with a cataphony for a few seconds.

"Blast!" she said, stepping backwards to avoid the small avalanche of metal. When the noise had died down, she shook her head and started to turn-.

"Heeeeeey, dudette . . ."

Demona's eyes went wide, as she spied the shadowy face of what looked like the turtle mutant, leering at her from the darkness beside a support beam!

"BOO!"

Demona lashed out with one hand, forgetting her rifle for the moment, growling when her claws connected with the bare metal of the support, raking a trio of gashes over its surface.

"You are not making this easy for yourself, Demona!"

"Freak!" she snapped, her eyes now full-crimson as she glared at the room around her. "Come out, face me!"

"Lady . . . you had so better rethink that lil' request!"

Before Demona could reply, the sound of movement in front of her made her look to where a single, dim beam of light seeped in through a crack in the ceiling . . . where Raphael suddenly emerged; his hands clenched into fists.

Demona brought up her weapon. "Foolish of you, just stepping into the clear!"

The turtle teen's voice dripped with pure malice, "I'm only a fool for thinkin' I could take you on, by myself." His face then split into a wide grin. "Good thing though . . . I'm not alone this time, you blue witch!"

As Demona tried to fathom if he was simply mad or something else . . . she heard another voice to her left! "Raph's right, Demona, and as much as we pride ourselves in loving a good rumble . . . ."

"If there's one thing that really honks us off, it's when someone threatens one of us," another voice said, coming across as mockingly-funny from her right.

"We especially don't like it when that 'one of us' is Master Splinter."

When the fourth voice stopped speaking, Raph nodded as he crossed his arms across his chest. "Especially, when it's Mastah Spintah." At that, three shadows moved into the light, joining Raph to stand before Demona, to reveal to her-.

"Four? Four mutant freaks!?" Demona asked.

"Hey, fellas," Raph smirked at his brothers. "Looks like the witch can count!"

"It's amazing what someone can do with a decent education behind them," Donny quipped.

As shocked as she was, Demona never dropped her guard. Baring her teeth, she snarled. "Four or four hundred, it doesn't matter! You're all dead!" With that, she snapped her weapon up, firing several long bursts at each turtle. Such a barrage would have cut anyone else down in a scant heartbeat. but the foursome had already moved; out of range as they vanished back into the shadows.

"Nice try, Demona," Leo said from somewhere above her.

"But we're used to goons with weapons trying to hose us down," Mikey chortled.

"Is there anyone who hasn't tried to kill us with an ammo overdose?" Donatello murmured.

Looking down at her rifle, Demona grimaced when she saw that her temper had caused her to waste another quarter of the weapon's dwindling charge. With the odds now four-to-one, and with the possibility of dawn looming in the back of her mind, she knew she had to end this quick, or break and run.

Growling, she looked around and flared her wings. "So, the rat has four sons . . . then come! Fight me, you cowards, or is your courage best left in the shadows, where you hide from a real fight?"

Mikey made an uh-oh tone. "Dudes, I think this Smurfette-reject is trying to call us 'chicken'!"

"Not exactly the words I was going to use . . . but, strangely fitting, Mikey," Donatello said archly.

Demona gritted her teeth in barely-checked rage; her anger in such a fine rage, she almost missed the sound of someone landing directly behind her. Whirling about, she caught sight of two flashing blades, just before her weapon flew apart; severed into three neat-but-useless segments.

Standing before her, Leonardo glared at her from his crouched stance. "Turtles always fight with honor, Demona! If you want to battle us in the clear . . . then that's fine with us!"

Grabbing her mace from her belt, Demona snarled, "The only thing I want is your head, freak!" She drew back and brought her weapon down, aiming for Leo's head-.

"WHAP!"

Screaming in pain, Demona twisted away from the attack from her side; Donatello, who had connected with pin-point accuracy against her ribs with his staff. She recoiled and swiped at him wildly, only to be hit twice as Michelangelo rolled beneath her swing to rap her across both knees with his spinning nunchucks.

"Come on, I'll bite yer kneecaps off!" Mikey growled in a phony accent, before getting to his feet.

"What, are you gonna make her bleed on us?" Donny quipped.

Demona dropped and made a sharp, whipping motion with her tail; classic gargoyle tactic for sweeping your opponents off their feet. However, Raphael landed squarely on her tail, pinning it to the floor when he dropped in from above. Despite the sheer volume of her pain-filled shriek, Raph never paused as he snapped out a roundhouse right that sent her spinning to the floor with a loud smack of bone against concrete.

"The only thing she's gonna bleed on is th' floor," he said, whipping out his twin sais.

"You can't do that, Raph!" Dony gasped.

"Can't I?" the hot-headed turtle growled, watching as Demona started to crawl to her feet. Flipping his sais around to point downwards, Raph took two steps to put him right behind Demona. "Watch me!" he hissed, raising his hands to plunge his weapons into her unprotected back.

"No!"

The call came from Goliath -- emerging from the open doorway, followed by Hudson and Broadway. Arriving in time to see what Raph intended, the Manhattan leader shouted, "You cannot kill Demona!"

"Come again?" Leo asked, surprised they would speak in her defense.

"She cannae be killed, laddy, 'cause of a magic spell on her," Hudson shouted. "Ye'll only be makin' her madder than a wet cat, if you try!"

Raphael scowled down at Demona, who was still trying to recover. "Swell, she's not only a psycho, she's an immortal psycho!"

"So, like what do we do now?" Mikey asked.

"Guys, we'd better do something, because she's getting her second wind back!" Donny said.

True enough, Demona was back on her feet; albeit moving slowly as she fought through the effects of her stunning.

Leo set his face in a grim mask. "We take her down!" He glanced at his three brothers. "Hit her with the Four-Winds Technique!"

At that, the four turtles moved to a position at her left, right, front and back, pulling up their weapons to a ready-position.

Demona growled low and threateningly in her throat. "Do your worst... mutant scum!" She screamed in defiance, turning to lash out at the closest one.

"Ky-AHH!"

"HA!"

"KI-YA!"

"BOO-YAH!"

What followed was a sight neither Goliath, Hudson or Broadway would ever forget: the ninja turtles moved like a precision-tooled machine, each one darting in to hit Demona from the side she wasn't protecting, before pulling back out of range of her talons, claws and tail. The flat of Leo's swords... Don's staff and Mike's nunchucks... and Raph's fists and feet, they all hit home with bone-cracking force. Within moments, Demona was reeling from the pain and shock of their attacks, barely

able to keep her guard up against the following strikes as they turned her around, hitting her from every side and angle.

From the side, Broadway winced after a vicious spin kick from Raph connected with her middle. "Ouch . . . good thing Macbeth isn't around."

By then, Demona was hardly keeping herself upright, her arms now hanging limply at her sides. The turtles had stopped their assault, seeing as she wasn't even attempting to fight back at this point.

"Hey, guys," Mike said, nodding at her. "Think she's had enough?"

Leo and Don looked to Raph, who rolled his eyes in mock-thought for a second. "Wanna give her a 'Nutcracker'?"

Mike grinned. "Sweet!"

At that, all four ninja teens reared back, cocking one fist. "On three?" Leo asked, before he nodded. "Three!"

The last thing Demona saw was the green blur in front of her eyes... just before four, stone-hard green fists smashed into her head from all four sides. The quadruple impact was too much for her injury-riddled body. With a hissing moan, she dropped to her knees as her legs turned to wet noodle-mush, and then slumped to the side in an unconscious heap.

Bracketing her body, the four turtle teens looked at her for a moment longer, then at each other. "Well, that's that!" Raph grimaced, with a touch of triumph in his tone.

"Score four for the Mean Green Machine," Donny grinned.

"Got one better, dude," Mike crowed. "I'd say De-moan-a is suffering from a severe case of . . . shellshock!"

At that, the others looked at Michelangelo with a wan smile. "Mikey, yer gettin' worse every day," Raph chuckled. "But, in this case, I'll let it slide."

Off to the side, the gargoyles looked at one another. "Um, guys, you get the feeling if we hadn't surprised them earlier," Broadway offered, "that they'd be mopping the park with us?"

Hudson nodded, "Aye . . . I'd say they would at that."

Goliath just nodded once, before he stepped forward to address the turtles. "Impressive work, my friends. You did well against Demona." He looked down somberly at her unconscious form. "The battles we've fought against her, have never been easy for us."

"Not to sound big-headed, Goliath-," Mikey started to say.

"Too late," Raph quipped.

"What he's trying to say, Goliath," Leo offered, "is that you've never had us to fight alongside you."

"Turtle power makes all the difference," Don added with a grin.

"So it would seem," Goliath nodded. Looking down at Demona, he added, "For now, we'd best take our leave of this place. With all of the commotion happening this night, the regular authorities are certain to arrive soon."

"In short, let's get the shell out of here!" Raph huffed.

"What do we do with Demona though?" Don asked.

"Leave that to us," Goliath rumbled, scowling down at the fallen form of his most hated enemy. "Broadway, Hudson . . . come, I know of a place where she can be kept. For the time being."

"Best we get going too, guys," Leo said. "We'll need April to help see to Master Splinter."

"Yeah, his injuries aren't gonna heal all by themselves," Raph said.

Hudson chuckled, "If I know anythin' aboot our friend, Elisa, I'd wager yuir master is in verra guid hands, right now."

Don cocked his head at the old gargoyle. "What makes you say that, sir?"

Hudson nodded as he said, "Trust me, lad . . . we gargoyles have some friends, in high places."

oooOOOooo

The Main Hall of Castle Wyvern, Manhattan, NYC...

"Well, well . . . this is certainly a new development."

From one side of the spaciously-decorated room, the billionaire businessman known as David Xanatos and his wife Jeanine Fox looked on with equal measures of curiosity and concern, at the scene before them.

"Kitchy-kitchy!" Mikey was down on his belly on the expensive Persian rug, making goofy faces at the red-headed toddler sitting in front of him; chuckling along with the boy's amused giggles.

From one side, standing behind a plush couch, Raphael rolled his eyes as he stared at his brother playing with Alexander. "Will ya look at that. Looks like Mikey finally found someone that's on his maturity level!"

Seated on the couch in front of him, April sighed as she worked to finish wrapping a bandage around Master Splinter's arm. "Just leave him alone, Raph," she said. "At least he's staying out of trouble." She glanced over at Casey, who was being tended to by Xanatos' major domo. "Which is more than I can say for you, Mister Jones!"

Casey started to say something, but was cut off by a sharp hiss of pain as Owen Burnett cinched a splint against the side of the young man's chest.

"Save your breath, Casey . . . just be glad all you've got to show for going up against Demona is just some busted ribs," April said.

"Indeed. Demona is a formidable opponent," Owen said, looking at his handiwork with a bland expression. "You are lucky to have survived the experience with your life."

Groaning, Casey said, "Yeah, she sure can kick ya where it counts, too."

Beside one end of the couch, Leo and Donny were standing with Goliath, Brooklyn, Lexington and Elisa; talking among themselves, just as the presence of Broadway entering the hall got their attention. Looking at the burly warrior, Goliath asked, "How is Angela?"

"She's still stuffed up with that cold, but she's feeling better," Broadway said with a smile. "She's a little upset that we had all the action we did tonight, but . . . I think we can be forgiven."

Nodding, the lavender leader said, "As we should probably forgive our young friends, for their earlier transgression." Looking at Leo, he nodded before saying, "Given the circumstances, we're it one of our clan taken from us-."

"Believe me, Goliath, we didn't mean any ill towards you," Leo said. "In any case, I'm glad to see we could all come together to save our sensei's life."

Donny nodded. "I'll say this much, working together we made an awesome team! We've been fighting the criminal element from the underground for years-."

"The guys have been doing their fair share against crooks as well . . . and, come to think of it, there has been a pretty noticeable drop in the city's crime rate over the recent months." Elisa rubbed her chin, thinking for a moment. "Between the two groups, it's no wonder the NYPD has gotten a bit of a breather lately."

"So it would appear, we are making a difference in this city," Goliath added.

"I'd say, in Demona's case, an impact," Brooklyn said archly.

"Speaking of which," Leo asked, "what happens to Demona now?"

"For the time being, she will be kept prisoner here," Goliath said firmly. "She has much to answer for, due to past actions against our clan, and this city."

"Something I don't approve of," Elisa said. A look from Goliath

made her trail off.

"We shall discuss it, later," he said gently.

"So, now that Demona's under wraps, where does that leave us?" Donny queried.

"For the time being," April said, coming up to stand next to them. "Nothing too exciting, I hope. Both Splinter and Casey need time to rest and heal." She looked at Elisa and said, "Listen, Detective, I'm sorry for being so . . . well, hot-headed earlier."

Elisa just shook her head. "Considering we were both trying to keep our friend's secret safe, I'd say you're forgiven, Miss O'Neil."

April sighed with relief. "That's good! Last thing the boys or I need is to be on the wrong side of the law."

"Even so . . . there is one matter that needs to be dealt with."

At that, everyone turned to face Splinter; the old rat was rising from the couch with Mikey's help, so he could move across the rug to join the group. "Mastah Splintah?" Raph asked.

"I am all right, my son . . . well enough, to speak with Goliath and his clan, about secrets." Nodding, he faced the gargoyle's leader with a calm expression on his aged face, before he looked at each of his sons in turn. "Until now, Miss O'Neil and Casey have been the only people in all of New York, to know of our existence. They have been our only allies, against a world that would not understand us."

Goliath looked to his fellow clan-mates. "We can understand how you feel, Master Splinter." He bowed and said, "We gargoyles have had to rely on others, to keep our own place in the world."

Splinter folded his hands over his middle, nodding. "I sense that you and your clan would be kindred spirits, and powerful friends to myself and my sons. Though, I would ask . . . for their sake, can your human friends be as trustworthy."

At that, all three members of the Trio bristled. "Hey! Elisa's our friend!" Broadway said.

Brooklyn seconded the big gargoyle's ire. "Yeah, how can you ask-!?"

"Brooklyn, enough!" Goliath didn't move his gaze from Splinter, but he did motion to Elisa to step closer to them. "Speaking for our friends, Master Splinter, I can say that if there were any humans you could trust in this city . . . then you can name our friends among them. Elisa, Matt and Xanatos and his family have been protectors of our 'secret', for as long as we've arrived in this modern world."

Splinter turned his gaze towards Elisa. "Is this so, Detective Maza?"

Elisa didn't raise her voice, but it was clear from her stance she was prepared to take further umbrage from the old rat. "Believe me, Master Splinter, the gargoyles would not have me around, if they didn't trust me." She added as she held out one hand towards him, "If you would allow us to, we'd all be willing to keep your secret as well . . . and, if you allow us, to call you 'friend'."

To the side, Brooklyn said, "It's sort of a package deal, you see?"

Mikey grinned. "Sorta like 'you keep our secret, we'll keep yours', rig-OW!" He reached up and rubbed the back of his head, looking sourly at Raph. "Hey!"

"You just don't know when ta shut up, don'cha?" Raph growled.

Splinter rolled his eyes. "Kids," he murmured, and this made everyone else smile a bit. Looking back to Goliath, the old rat bowed low, then he reached out and took Elisa's hand and shook it. "My sons and I will gladly call you our ally . . . and, our friends."

Broadway gave Lex a nudge. "Guess this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, eh?"

"To think it all started over Demona taking their father," Lex said.

"Aw, man! That reminds me, sensei! Just what was Demona after you for, anyway?" Mike asked.

Before Splinter could reply, a voice called out, "I think we can shed some light on that score."

As one, the assembled group turned towards the entrance to the hall, where Matt and Hudson had appeared; the later carrying a cloth-covered object.

"Ah!" Splinter smiled, looking relieved as the pair joined them. "You recovered it . . . but how-?"

"Talk to the man with all the connections," Matt said, nodding towards Xanatos; who had let his wife and son leave as they were arriving. "It was thanks to him we got this out of the precinct impound."

Hudson lumbered over, placing the antique box gently on the floor. "Ach, tis' a guid thing this wee thing's nae part o' a matched set. Matthew had a devil of a time gettin' it out o' the elevator."

"Well, at least you got it down the hallway, Hudson," Matt said, grinning. "I'd never have made it before sunrise, if I was carrying it."

Xanatos nodded to his assistant. "Owen, I assume we didn't have any problems in helping Detective Bluestone make the acquisition?"

"None, sir." Owen replied. "Per your instructions, I coordinated with Det. Bluestone. We both managed to convince his superiors that the box would be in safe hands with us."

As the Gargoyles, Turtles and their human friends formed a loose half-ring around them, Hudson removed the cloth to reveal the antique box.

"This... is what Demona was after?" Elisa asked. "Looks like some old antique junk box to me."

Splinter looked at the dusky-skinned detective and shook his head. "This is not as it appears to be, Detective Maza. It is a treasure from the ancient days of Japan . . . a hako no tengu.

"A Tengu box," Leo said softly.

"Tengu?" Broadway asked, puzzled.

Donatello piped up to explain, "The Tengu were considered legendary spirits of ancient Japan. Thought by many to be cunning tricksters and wise teachers, or so the legends tell."

Splinter nodded. "When the first clans of the ninja were formed, they lacked certain skills and abilities that were needed to carry out their missions of assassination and covertness." He closed his eyes briefly, facing the lacquered box. "It was said, in the histories of the clan, that the eldest and bravest of each ninja clan sought out the Tengu, and begged them to teach them their ways of cunning and stealth.

"The Tengu agreed, but only if the clans would honor them by keeping a special treasure in their care," Splinter continued. "They say that each clan was given a special box - ones like this one - to guard as well as their most sacred artifacts. The Tengu said that, if these treasures were not touched for thirty generations, then if the need was great, an elder of the clan could open the box, and each member of the clan would receive a special gift. A Gift of the Tengu."

Hudson and Goliath looked at one another. "So, that's what Demona was after," The old soldier rumbled. "Surely as a means tae use against us!"

"But, the gifts couldn't be claimed by her!" Elisa exclaimed. "Demona's not a member of any ninja clan."

"I would assume Demona had planned to use some form of spell or enchantment to counter that fact, Detective," Owen said sagely.

"Well, we've got this doo-hickey back," Raphael said firmly. "Just what do we do with it now?"

Leonardo addressed Splinter. "Master, what do we do with it?"

Heaving a deep sigh, the old rat reached out to place his hands on the smooth surface of the box. "I have been thinking of that, ever since you four - and our new friends - rescued me from Demona's clutches. Since she still knows that the box was recovered, it is certain she will seek it again to claim the treasures inside."

"Can't you just give the box to someone to keep it safe?" Brooklyn asked.

"The police can move the box to a better location," Matt offered.

Splinter shook his head slowly. "No... no matter where it is put away, I fear the lure of the treasures will drive Demona to seek it out."

"Not if it's kept here," Xanatos offered. "Demona wouldn't dare try to steal this box, if it was locked it away here in the castle."

Splinter turned at looked hard at Xanatos. "You would keep this treasure safe, for us? And not seek to claim it for your own?"

"He will not . . . not while we guard it as well," Goliath said. "With our protection, Demona will not get the treasures inside. That I promise you."

"You have my word, Master Splinter," Xanatos said, bowing in respect.

Splinter bowed to them in return. "Then, before it is locked away, we must see if the treasure has not been disturbed from all of its mishandling." With a soft chuckle, Splinter stated, "I would imagine it would be a comic irony if box was empty, after all that has happened this night."

At that, all four teens looked at one another. "But, how can we check?" Don asked. "I mean, doesn't the box need a member of the Hamato clan to open it?"

"That is true, but since Master Yoshi was the 34th generation of his clan, and I was a student of his - after a fashion - I believe we can met that requirement, my son."

"But, Sensei! Hamato Yoshi never told you how to open the box," Leo stated. "Surely there was some spell or key that-!"

"My son," Splinter cut off Leo gently, but firmly. "In this world, you will find that faith - with a little help from within - can work miracles." With that, Splinter placed one of his hands over the ornate crest of the Hamato Clan, which adorned the side of the Tengu Box. Closing his eyes, Splinter went as still as a rock.

In that instant, there seemed to be a sudden charge of power in the air. The gargoyles sensed it, and Owen certainly reacted; his eyes narrowed into slits as he backed up a step.

"Jalapena!" Lex breathed.

"It's like... a moment before a storm breaks," Hudson muttered, tense as a bowstring.

Leo and his brothers all watched with keen interest. "Splinter's drawn his entire focus on the box," he explained. "I think he's trying to use his chi to unlock it!"

"Yes... this is not like Avalon's magic," Owen stated, drawing a surprised look from Elisa and Xanatos.

Suddenly, a low humming sound began to emanate from the box; slowly building in volume until the table began to vibrate, rattling against the stone floor.

"Geez! What's Splinter tryin' to do? Shake the box apart?" Raph exclaimed.

"Bet that's good for makin' a killer milk shake," Mikey grinned.

"Mikey!" Leo hissed.

Just then, the vibrations stopped, just as a loud CLICK - like the report of a gunshot - filled the room. Opening his eyes, Splinter pulled back from the box, relaxing and going slightly limp as he stared at it. "It . . . is done!"

With that, the top of the box suddenly separated into two parts; hinging backwards to let a sudden burst of light emerge from within. Shocked, everyone backed away from the table . . . save for the four turtles and their master.

"What sorcery-?" Goliath started to say, but he fell silent when the light grew brighter, then dimmed; he cascade of bluish-white quickly coalescing into a faint, winged shape that hovered over the box.

WHO HAS OPENED THE MOST SACRED TREASURE OF THE TENGU? a voice rumbled, deep as thunder and as powerful as an ocean swell.

Splinter gazed up at the glowing form, squaring his shoulders as he bowed his head in respect. "I am Splinter, student of my Master Yoshi, of the Hamato Clan! It was I, who released the seal."

WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?

Splinter said with much piety, "To fulfill the legend of old, so that your gifts will be safe from an evil warrior, who seeks them for her own, wicked gain!"

The form slowly turned, as if gazing down at the gathered host. One by one, it focused on the four Turtles. I SEE NO MEMBERS OF THE HAMATO CLAN HERE...

Splinter replied quickly, "These four youths I have trained, have the skill and strength and courage of the honorable Clan of my Master Yoshi! Let them be found worthy to receive your gifts, Honored One!"

Again, the being gazed down at each Turtle in turn. I SENSE DISCIPLINE... HONOR... STRENGTH... ALSO RASHNESS, HIGH-THINKING, AND BRASH FOLLY, AMONG THESE PUPILS OF YOURS, SENSEI SPLINTER!

Raphael bristled at this, but Leo held out a calming hand. Donatello just stared at the being, as did Mikey, who was idly swirling a pair of nunchucks at his side.

STILL... I FEEL THEIR COURAGE, AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE OLD WAYS. the being rumbled. SO KA... RECEIVE OUR TIDINGS, WARRIORS! With that, the being flared back into a shaft of light, almost blinding everyone, before it

vanished out of sight, back into the box.

"Whoa!" Mikey exclaimed, before anyone else could react. "Spookiler!"

"You mean, that was it?" Raphael groused, blinking to clear his eyes.

Even the gargoyles and their friends were perplexed. "So, what happens now?" Elisa asked.

Splinter simply moved towards the box, closing it with a deft touch, before he looked at each of his pupils with a nod. "The Tengu have been appeased. They will grant you a boon, when next this box is opened."

"Cool! Just what I always wanted!" Mikey crowed, then he frowned. "What's a boon?"

Owen cleared his throat. "In the sense of this matter, the spirits of the Tengu shall grant you a wish or shall perform a task that you require to be finished." He looked at each turtle in turn, with an extra hard look at Mike. "Such a prize is never to be taken . . . lightly."

"Oh," Mike gulped.

"So, we each got a wish comin', eh?" Raph asked. "Well, what do we wish for?"

Leo held up his hands. "I don't think Master Splinter means for us to ask for this boon to be granted right away. Something like this needs time to be considered."

"Especially something involving magic," Xanatos interjected. "Trust me on this."

Splinter nodded. "There may come a time, my sons, when this boon will be needed . . . perhaps to change your lives for either good or ill. Until then, it is best you do not worry about asking for it to be granted."

"Whatever you say, Master Splinter," Raph replied. "Seems ta be a big goose-egg ta me. We had all that excitement, an' for what?"

"Well, I'd say you guys came away with something, Raph," April said. "You got Splinter back, saved the treasure from Demona-."

"As well as find some new friends," Elisa added. "I'd say we all got something on that score."

"Indeed," Goliath said, moving to stand next to Leo and Splinter. "In due time, it will be interesting to see where our bonds of friendship take us." Holding out his hand, he gripped Leo's hand in a warrior's handshake.

"Our sensei speaks for all of us, Goliath," Leo said.

"Ya know," Raph said to his brothers, "I just gotta wonder, now that we know about these guys, just what th' future's got in store for us now?"

"I'll tell you this much, shellhead," Brooklyn said with a grin. "Whatever it is, with characters like you guys, it promises to be interesting."

Hudson shook his head, chuckling. "Ach, I feel we're in fer some adventures ahead, lads and lasses."

That accord was agreed on, by everyone present.

THE END