SHADOW OVER REALITY PART 1

By: Amanda A. Hilliard "Shadowstar" (castaspella68@hotmail.com)

Edited by: Joshua “Flicker” Schwartz

“Any dream worth having, is a dream worth fighting for.” Professor X, The X-Men

~for my mother, Mrs. Spindler, Austin Chase 'three of my main inspirations'

~Josh, thanks for your help... and criticism

This story takes place after "The Gathering" and takes place before "Hunter's Moon."

CHAPTER 1: LOSS

*Two days ago, A different reality*

"Tell me who you are, demon. If you are not of this world, then where did you come from?" Goliath put the question to me with a low rumbling growl.

Goliath held my neck in an icy death grip, his eyes glowing at least as fiercely as mine.

"Goliath, don't hurt her! She's our friend," Lexington said, his childlike eyes gazing up in horror.

"I told you already. I am Shadowstar of the Kindred. I am gargoyle. I am your protector. If you do not let me do my job, he is going to destroy all that you know," I said, gently but forcefully applying my telekinetics to push the monstrous gargoyle away.

"What if I don't believe you, demon?" Goliath snarled, obviously irked by the unseen hands that had shoved him back.

"Believe her Goliath, I have proof that what she says is true," Xanatos said from the castle doorway, his voice causing the ears of all present to perk up at the intrusion.

Goliath turned around to look at his friend and husband of the enemy, Elisa Xanatos.

I can see the confusion in his eyes. I can feel it. He does not know who to trust. I thought he trusted me, but I did not tell him the truth. I did not tell him I am not of his world. Not of his reality. I am of the Kindred, and we are sworn to protect all realities from our enemies.

"So I'm supposed to believe that these things these... Watchers, are evil incarnate and will destroy my world? That's outrageous!" Goliath's voice quaked, but his eyes betrayed a hint of confusion and doubt.

"Goliath, come with me and watch this video tape," Xanatos gestured for the gargoyles to follow him as he entered the castle proper.

I followed Xanatos, Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx into the castle. Lexington took my hand, comforting me. I looked down at the young one. Lex had to be about four or five in this reality. He did not understand what had happened.

"Star, Goliath loves you," Lexington told me.

"I love him, too, Lex, but you know I cannot stay here."

"This place isn't your home," he said, his moonlike eyes lowering sadly.

"I wish it were, Lex. I really do. But I belong with the Kindred. Only they can harness the power which I possess."

I stood behind Elisa, feeling her annoyance at the presence of a gargoyle beside her, aware of her loathing of all things gargoyle, and watched the video screen. The tape was phasing out as if struggling with its last breath to run the film. The world was at war with itself. At times, it seemed to me that this reality would have been better off having never existed.

"I see nothing strange," Goliath looked from the video to Xanatos, "just Owen, your assistant."

We watched the tape. In the flickering, unstable image, Owen looked with a fixated gaze into a mirror. His lips parted in speech as he recited something. Suddenly he reached through the mirror and his features became distorted, arranging themselves as if they were clay. He was a Watcher, his blue face markings and his three slashes of cobalt marked him as the enemy. He looked away, as if having affirmed something in his mind. Angela walked into the room at that point. The Watcher smiled at her warmly for a second, then raised one finger. The tape suddenly phased out as Angela was struck by an explosive blast of plasmic energy.

"He killed Angela. It was HIM!," Goliath turned around, his eyes beacons of rage, "I will kill that monster. I will have my vengeance," Goliath snarled.

Goliath tore out of the room before I could stop him, his violence surprising me even more than the tape had.

"Listen to me, gargoyle," Elisa turned to me and sneered, " you better not screw this up. I want this Watcher killed. I've no great love of gargoyles, but for my husband's sake, I tolerate them. Lucky for you."

"Maybe I can convince the Watchers to take you instead, Elisa Xanatos. You'd probably get along together," I said and ran after Goliath.

I ran down the hall and finally let loose all my telepathic blocks. I could sense the awesome power of the Watcher and located him instantly. I could feel Goliath's revenge and rage in his heart like a cancer. I telekinetically broke open the door to the room without a thought, bursting in just as Goliath confronted the distorted figure of Owen. I could feel my psionic energy all around me, rippling through my being and out like a thing alive. I shielded Goliath from the single plasma blast the Watcher sent towards him.

Seemingly unmoved, the Watcher shifted its steely gaze in my direction. "I know you, Shadowstar. I know your power and your weaknesses," the Watcher leered mechanically.

"No more, Watcher. You will no longer hurt my kind or my realities," I retorted.

I let my psionic power swell up within me, its addictive caress filling me with confidence. Confidence which proved to be unfounded, unfortunately. I released a stream of kinetic energy at the Watcher, knowing full well that there was absolutely no way he could stop it. Right before the wave struck, he unleashed a backlash of power towards me that momentarily placed a jumbling mosaic of confusion in my head. My powers broke free like angry spirits, swelling the room with their unchained forces. I could not shield Goliath. At that moment, I could feel Xavier's hand pulling me back to my realm.

"Xavier, I cannot leave him!" I cried, fighting Xavier's hand. The room was collapsing in on itself in the surge.

I pulled myself away from Xavier's hand and fell to the floor next to Goliath as he gasped for air. I let out every tear that I had. I held him in my arms and spoke all my final words to him.

"Goliath, I did not mean for this to happen... I just wanted to save you and your world... I did not mean for-"

"Quiet, child. No more of your words. Just know that I did love you," Goliath said with a ragged breath while holding her face to his heart.

"No, Goliath, this cannot end. I love you."

I listened to the final beats of his heart. His hands were wrapped around my black hair and my white face was stained with tears. As Goliath's heart stopped beating, Xavier's gentle hands pulled me back to the Kindred.

CHAPTER 2: THE REALM OF THE KINDRED

*The Realm of the Kindred*

"And that is my story," I said summarily to Lorelei.

I looked up from the tide pool of infinite possibilities. My companion, Lorelei, looked at me in sorrow. I could feel her sympathy.

"It is hard for all of us to lose somebody we love... but child, you must know that the Kindred's life is not supposed to be easy," Lorelei said.

"I don't have any choice," I replied.

"None of us do. We have the power to destroy these worlds with a thought. Here, we are taught how to harness it, to use it to protect those worlds. It is the Watchers who use this power for evil. It is they who create the death and sadness you watch every day. They killed the first mortal, and they continue to let their tradition of death live. They bred their brand of hatred into man, and it is our duty to weed it out."

"But I am the only one here from my kind... I'm unhappy."

"Give it time, child. You are of the immortal now. After the shadows, the twilight is always beautiful. You will find your place. Xavier is probably worried about you after you last incident with the XX reality."

"Every time I look at Xavier, I see his counterpart, Xanatos. It is quite... annoying."

"And every time I look at you, I see the most unique gargoyle. Now, get your white tail end back to your castle before Xavier has this Kindred in a noose."

"Thank you, Lorelei. You, as always have been a friend."

"That is why I am here. Now, go, Shadowstar."

I jumped off of the wall where Lorelei and I sat and onto the dusty road, which would take me back to the Kindred Castle, my home in the center of the realm.

We, the Kindred, are the protectors of all realities. We have sworn to defend those mortals which have bore such a precious few. The tide pool of infinite possibilities lets us watch over the rippling mass of universes that are our keepsake. So we watch and find the Kindred among them: those that are born suffused with latent powers. They are brought here to be trained and crafted by the Kindred folk.

But some become corrupt by the power, and they, in turn, become Watchers. I do not know who has given us these powers. I do not know what Supreme One lays above us in this realm, but I do know that the world is much smaller than one thinks.

Truthfully, I want to be normal. I want to find a clan. I want to live in one reality, and yet, at the same time, I know my responsibility. Thus, I have devoted myself to protecting gargoyles from evil. "Shadowstar, hurry up. You should be here at all times. The Kindred may be called into action soon. The Watchers will soon be among us," Xavier said, standing at the door.

I just looked at him and kept my steady pace. I folded my wings delicately around me, walked into the door's archway and looked at Xavier. Every time I look at the tide pool, I pick out his counterpart, and every day, I see more of this Xanatos in him. Yet, at times, Xanatos is kind and at others, evil. I could swear that they are twins in one of the realities, but Xavier has been around too long. And for some reason, I am the one with no counterparts. This is said to make me more powerful because I have nobody to share my power with. I came here at the age of nineteen... in gargoyle years, that is, and have remained as young as ever.

"I do not know what your problem is these days, Shadowstar, but you are respecting the elders less and less. You are a rebellious teenager."

"No, Xavier, I am just tired of the same old games."

"You are an immortal. How can you be bored?"

I walked across the room to the mirror. I stared back at the deep blue eyes that were my own. I have never seen a gargoyle that looks like me. I am plain and simple, black and white, night and day, shadow and light. My body is white like chalk. My wings are black with the white undertones. My raven black hair falls down to my wings and blends into the shadows. Blood red lips add a small trace of color to my body. Yet... I do not find myself grotesque, I find myself to look beautiful compared to others I have seen. I want nothing more than to be with my kind. But here, with the Kindred . . .

"I am alone. I do not have anybody like me. Look at me, Xavier. There are no other gargoyles. There are no others who turn to stone when the moons set and wake when twilight dawns."

"What do you want, Star? You know you cannot be one of them. Your power is too strong."

"I never asked for this power."

"Nor did Goliath ask for his death."

"I can't believe you just said that, Xavier."

"Star, wait," Xavier said, deeply regretting his choice of words.

I turned my back to Xavier and headed for my towers. I perched myself on the edge and looked down to the ground below. I stood up and stretched my arms to the moons. My blue clothing twisted and flapped violently to the whim of the strong winds. The tattered edges flapped against my legs. I wanted so much to grab the moons with my heart and take those I have loved with me, but instead, I was bound to the earth and gliding down the currents. I stared at the moons for a short while. Suddenly something wasn't right. A telepathic pattern that was new and unpleasant entered my head uninvited. Watchers.

I glided along in the wind and squeezed through Xavier's window. He was laying in his bed in a thoughtful position, sound asleep.

"By the Supreme, Xavier, a Watcher could blast the ceiling in on you and you wouldn't notice," I said.

I jumped onto his bed and woke him up. I startled him at first, but he could tell that I was in panic.

"Star?" He groggily rubbed his eyes.

"Watchers."

"Get the bracelets. You must stay up past dawn."

I jumped up to the chandelier and grabbed the bracelets that rested around a false candle. I clasped the silver and sapphire encrusted bracelets around my arms and let the magic protect me from the dawn. I rushed out of the room as Xavier threw on his clothing. Xavier quickly followed me with his green cloak trailing behind him on the floor to the Kindred meeting place. Others were there waiting for us. They must have sensed the Watchers before I.

"We are all here, good," Iara looked around in satisfaction, "The Watchers are launching an attack on the realities. We have traces on most of them, but we need to watch for the rest. Shadowstar, they are going to attack your kind first, because they know that your kind is the strongest, and they know that you will do anything to protect them."

"Why me, Iara?" I questioned.

"Because they know that you are the most powerful . . . We cannot let them hurt the realities."

"What is the game plan?" Xavier asked impatiently.

"You have to watch the tide pool, Xavier. You have the power to pull us back through the pool. You also have an eye for the Watchers. You sense them like none other. The rest of us are going in. You all know the rules. Locate the Watcher and destroy him. Do not befriend anybody unless it is of utter importance. Do your job and get out. It is time for the Kindred to depart from our home and go and protect the worlds that bore us," Iara replied.

Iara teleported all of us to the tide pool with the sweep of her arm. Xavier pointed out a Watcher and a Kindred would go after him. It was the same game that we always played.

Xavier pointed to the XX2 reality. He looked directly at me.

"You can sense him there, too, even if we can't see him. Their leader is there," Xavier told.

"Corbeau." I muttered.

"You, child, you are the only one with the power to take down the leader," Iara commented.

"But I'm not as experienced as you."

"You must find it within yourself. Believe in yourself, Shadowstar. You know you have the power."

"What if I lose control again?"

"You only lose control if you let yourself," Iara told me with complete confidence in my abilities.

"Xavier?" I questioned.

"I have taught you all there is to know. You just have to stop him."

"Then so be it."

"Let me warn you once more. This Goliath may not be like the other. Everybody is different in the other realities. Learn from your mistakes, Star."

"I will do anything to save Goliath once more, Xavier."

"Then go."

"Shadowstar, do not become attached to this clan. That is not your home," Iara remarked.

"I know, Iara."

I put my feet in the tide pool and let Xavier's power wrap around me. Xavier gave me my final instructions while he transported me there.

"The mirrors are your only key to me and this realm. I will be here for you. Do not forget," Xavier instructed.

"I will not forget."

The blue power of Xavier's hand enveloped me in a blue sphere. I blinked for a moment and felt myself falling. I opened my black wings and let the currents take me.

CHAPTER 3: TRUST AND TELEPATHS

Nobody noticed me when I slipped silently into the new reality. Everyone was consumed in their own lives, too busily filling out their ordinary routines to notice the extraordinary under their noses. I find it odd, too, because I am so brightly colored compared to the other gargoyles. I could never blend into the shadows if I tried. I contrast.

"I am a gargoyle, Iara, and I will do things how I please. I will not make the same mistake twice. Following your rules made me lose Goliath's trust once. I won't hurt him again," I said aloud and glided along the horizon.

I went to the only place I knew from my travels to Manhattan. It was now almost an hour before dusk and I knew that the gargoyles would be in stone if they even existed here. I went to Xanatos' tower and found no gargoyles on the parapets of the castle. I looked around to see if anybody had noticed my arrival. I could sense the presence of two heading my way. I shielded myself with my own telepathy hoping they would not see me, but there was something different about one. Owen did not seem to be the one he says he is. He was magical and most likely could tell I was there. Magical ones tend to be able to do that.

"Owen, things would be so much easier if you would just become that little elf and just did as you pleased," Xanatos said at his desk.

"Mr. Xanatos, you know the restrictions of my power," Owen gave Xanatos his blankest expression. Then he started to spin in place.

I watched him curiously. In front of both Xanatos' and my eyes, he transformed into a little elf like creature.

"Owen, you usually never turn into Puck like this," Xanatos said.

"I think it's time for me to teach Alexander another lesson."

I knew it was against my better interests to stay around, but where was I to go? Just possibly, this Puck could help me with my quest. Right then, I had no other options. I could not sense Corbeau so I had to use my instincts and judgement. And judgement told me that this was not a good idea.

Puck was holding Alexander in his arms. He was speaking to the child like a teacher would a student. Puck looked right in my direction, but I knew that he could not see me.

"Now, Alexander, we magical beings sometimes can sense things around us are not usual to say the least. Let your power scan your surroundings and when you feel something out of place I want you to grab it. Would you care for me to demonstrate?" Puck questioned.

"Now that's one way to cheat. Good call Ow-... I mean, Puck," Xanatos said.

“Nah, not cheating... I like to call it, improvising,” Puck smirked.

I leaped in the air and let my telekinesis carry me away quickly, aware suddenly that I was detected. I stopped suddenly and felt magic around me. I could feel Puck's magic in my mind. He felt my presence and more. He almost touched my mind... something a rare few could do.

"Look, Alexander, we caught the little pest. Now, son, you try and take off her shield." Puck said.

Alexander was unable to touch my powers with his inexperienced hands, but a boost by Puck had my powers weakened a bit. Deciding that it would be delaying the inevitable, I dropped my shield to reveal myself. Xanatos became wide eyed with disbelief. I opened my wings and landed on my feet.

"Pleased to meet you." I sneered, a hint of perturbed sarcasm in my voice.

"Who are you?" Xanatos asked stroking his chin thoughtfully..

"Shadowstar of the Kindred. All you need to know is that my job is to find the impostor here, in Manhattan, and destroy him. That is all."

"Impostor? Hmph.. A gargoyle with a mission. Maybe I can help you," Xanatos said and put his hand on my shoulder.

I could sense that he was not a friend. I brushed his hand off my shoulder. He grabbed my arm tightly. "Just a minute pal," he started. I picked him up with my telekinetics and threw him backwards a few feet.

"Don't even think you can stop me, Xanatos. I have enough power to wipe this planet off the face of the universe," I said.

"'twould be a shameful use of such power, this world is so much fun," Puck gave Shadowstar a curiously humored look.

"I actually need your help, Puck. You sensed me. I need you to help me find the impostor," I told him.

"Wish I could, but I'm forbidden. Don’t need the boss man himself on my back. Then again, if I had a gargoyle like you around..." Puck said thoughtfully.

"Fine, then, I will do it on my own. I thought you both might like to have a grasp on things you could only imagine existed, but I was wrong. I suppose I'll go ask Goliath for help instead," I said as I started to walk away.

Xanatos got up and took a step towards me, uncertain. Just to throw him off I lifted him into the air an inch, and he suddenly threw his arms out for balance. "Don't toy with me, Xanatos," I said.

"Put me down, gargoyle."

"If you insist."

I threw Xanatos behind me and left him. I climbed the castle walls to glide out onto the wind. I heard mechanical noises behind me and saw a giant gargoyle robot. I quickly glided away hoping not to have to destroy it. I turned around and saw the twilight rising. Goliath would be awake. I used my telekinetics to smash the head of the robot and flew off. I turned back around only to collide with Goliath, himself.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay? You look panic-stricken . . . You are gargoyle," Goliath said almost amazed.

"As are you."

"What are you doing near Xanatos' castle?"

"Hoping to get help from . . . well, truthfully, it's a long story, Goliath."

"You know my name?"

"Yes, and that, too, is part of the story."

* * *

I looked around the clock tower at Goliath's clan of gargoyles. All seemed to be fascinated or skeptical. I once more put up my telepathic blocks so that I wouldn't have all their thoughts entering my mind. It could drive a gargoyle mad.

Some of these faces were very new to me, but most I knew well. Lexington was quite a bit older than when I last encountered him. Bronx, as always, took kindly to me. Angela was thankful to have another female around, but she also didn't want her father falling in love with me. She is very protective and jumps to conclusions at times, but she seems to be the most level headed of the younger ones.

"Geez, Goliath, you have all the fun when you leave for patrol. You just barely left, and you found another gargoyle," Lexington said.

"A very unique gargoyle. I'm An-" Angela started.

"Angela," I finished for her.

"How do you know my name?" She questioned stunned.

"I know yours, Goliath's, Bronx's, Lexington's, Xanatos', Owen's, Elisa's. Please don't start me on that. I guess it is time for me to explain who I am if you open your mind to believe me."

"Yes, do explain," Brooklyn said in a very uneasy voice as he shuffled his crimson wings.

"I am Shadowstar of the Kindred," I said.

"Shadowstar, eh? Who are these Kindred?" Hudson questioned.

"The Kindred are a clan of very powerful beings. We exist beyond this world, this reality. In our realm, we watch your realities, sworn to protect them from our rivals, the Watchers. The Watchers are what cause death and hatred and want to conquer existence as we know it."

"So I'm supposed to believe that these things, the Watchers, are evil incarnate and will destroy my world? That is outrageous!" Goliath said.

"That's what you said to me last time," I replied.

"Last time?" Angela questioned.

"I was sent to stop a Watcher in the XX reality. In that reality, the world was at war with itself. Even Xanatos' technology was becoming poisoned and sour. Goliath, Lex, Angela, and Bronx were the only ones left in the clan. Elisa was a gargoyle hater married to Xanatos, a gargoyle lover."

"Elisa? Hate gargoyles? She could never do that... Elisa's our best friend," Broadway said.

"This is more difficult that I assumed it would. Would you allow me to let all of you share my memories?" I questioned.

"Sorcery?" Goliath questioned me.

"No, telepathy."

"So be it. I want to believe you with all my heart because you are of my kind," Goliath said.

I nodded to Goliath's words. I opened my mind to theirs, letting telepathic images go through cross in front of their eyes. They saw everything from the last reality from the death of Angela and Goliath to Goliath's love for me and Iara calling the Kindred into battle. When I reached out to Goliath's mind, his was much stronger than I predicted. A small backlash hit me and I stopped. I put up my telepathic blocks and dropped to my knees. I held the quartz orb around my neck as I fought for composure.

"Shadowstar, are you all right?" Angela questioned running to my aid.

"Yes, I didn't expect Goliath's mind to be that strong. The less the counterparts in other realities, the stronger the minds. I have none. That explains my strength, but Goliath, I assumed, had many," I replied.

Angela helped me to my feet. I just looked around the room. Goliath was the only one with any hint of skepticism on his face.

"Believe me or not, Goliath, I need your help, and I need to make sure that Corbeau does not hurt any of you," I said, "I broke all rules to learn from my mistakes. I will not watch you die again."

"Give 'er a chance, lad. There is no harm in listening to the lass," Hudson said.

"There isn't. You have my word," I confirmed the elderly gargoyle.

"So be it," Goliath said gruffly.

"Now... what is your relationship with Xanatos?" I questioned.

"He feels like he owes Goliath much because Goliath saved Alexander," Lexington answered.

"If he feels like he is indebted to you, then, you, Goliath, can get me the help that I need. I need Puck," I replied.

"You have the power to do this yourself, why do you need us?" Goliath asked.

"Because I want to watch out for all of you. I don't want to see any of you hurt, and I don't really want to do anything by force if necessary," I replied.

"Come on, Goliath. It will be an adventure. We can watch her back as she does her job," Lexington coaxed.

"I think we should give her a chance. What if she speaks the truth, father?" Angela stated.

Goliath turned his back to me. He wrapped his wings around himself and clenched his fist. I could hear him growling. He turned around with glowing eyes.

"You had better not be lying to me, demon," Goliath said.

This was not like Goliath... in any reality. I could sense the questionings of his clan. They didn't know what has gotten into their leader. Yet, I could understand where he was coming from.

"Then we leave tomorrow when you all wake," I said.

"You are gargoyle, yet you do not sleep?" Angela questioned.

I held up my wrist to show the two silver bracelets.

"Sorcery, Angela," I said as they walked out onto the tower's ledge.

When the dawn struck their eyes, they turned into stone. I watched them curiously and realized at that moment how much I missed my kind.

CHAPTER 4: TWO BECOME ONE

I stood looking at the sun setting into the horizon. As soon as the final rays of light vanished from sight, I heard the roar of gargoyles waking from slumber. Their wings flew to the heavens with stone skin flying to the ground in all directions.

Goliath seemed to look down at me with different eyes. He smiled at me.

"Goliath, why such a change?" I questioned.

Goliath paused for a minute, drawing in a large breath of air. "Maybe the world is meant to be looked at through different eyes."

"Curious," I said to Angela as Goliath and the others walked into the clock tower.

"Yes, I know," Angela replied.

"I sense Elisa in there," I said.

"Come meet her, Shadowstar," Angela offered.

"Not this time, Angela. I have no more time to waste," I said.

"I understand."

"Are we going to go with you?"

"Yes, Angela. I don't want to leave you out of my protection with Corbeau around."

"Any suspects?"

"Sadly, no. As soon as I find Puck, I will have a fuller range of contact."

"You're going to... manipulate his powers?" Angela said cautiously.

"Yes, I am. He can't use his powers because of Oberon's restrictions. . . It's a wonder what you find out as a telepath. . . The only way for me to tap into his power is to manipulate my powers in the worst ways. I hate using my telepathy to influence others to this degree, but Corbeau is dangerous."

"I can see in your eyes that you tell the truth."

Goliath and the others walked back out onto the balcony. I looked at Goliath silently. He nodded in understanding.

"It is time. Goliath, Angela and I are going to lead first. Trail behind us to make sure we have no trouble. It may be an unnecessary precaution, but nonetheless, it is a precaution," I told the others.

"We understand," Brooklyn commented.

Goliath, Angela and I let the winds guide us to Xanatos' castle. Our momentum took us to the stone floor of the castle.

"He knows we're here," I said.

Five mechanic gargoyles greeted us in a hail of laser fire. One fired at right at me, but I rolled out of the path easily. I unleashed a telekinetic burst that completely destroyed the robots.

"Star, we have to have you around more often," Angela commented.

"Things would be so much easier," Goliath replied.

Xanatos appeared from the door almost instantly, looking forlornly at his destroyed robots.

"It's so hard to build good help these days... My dear, you have cost me more money that I wish to expend," Xanatos said.

"I believe you owe me many favors," Goliath commented.

"Yes, I know, but I hardly expected you to come looking for them," Xanatos answered.

Brooklyn, Hudson, Bronx, Lexington, and Broadway landed behind us as Xanatos gave in and let us enter his home.

"What do you need?" Xanatos asked curiously.

"A large room, a mirror, and Owen," I said.

"Quite an interesting choice, wouldn't you say, Goliath?" Xanatos questioned.

"Quit wasting my precious time, Xanatos. You have seen my power once already," I replied.

"Yes, I know," Xanatos mumbled.

* * *

I stared into the mirror, knowing that I may need Xavier's help more than I have led anybody to believe. Xanatos had left us for a moment to retrieve Owen.

"What is your plan?" Goliath questioned.

"I cannot reveal that. For all I know, Corbeau could be here," I answered.

Xanatos walked into the room with Owen at hand. Owen just looked at me and smirked.

"I had a feeling you would be back," he said, "And you know I have restrictions on my power."

"And you know that I have the power to make you do whatever I want," I said.

"You can't manipulate me," Owen said transforming into Puck.

"I don't want to, but I think you know I have to," I replied, "You touched a part of my mind when you used your magic. You and I both felt it."

"If you weren't so powerful, I'd teach Alexander to dispose of you, now, or turn you into some useful household furniture," Puck sneered uneasily.

"Yes, but you can't. So," I started.

I telekinetically shut the door and looked directly into Puck's eyes.

"It begins."

At that instant, my wings and arms stretched out above me. Green psionic energy poured from me in a venomous colored cloud. I took a hold of Puck with my manipulations and entered his mind. I reassured him that no harm would be brought to him.

I could feel his mind thanking me for such a manipulation of power. He wanted to release it. Our powers merged on the psychic plane was almost a freedom to him. In front of the eyes of Goliath and the others, the magic was mixing.

The powers of two mystical beings was reaching out to all planes in search of the doppledanger. Our astral bodies raced through labyrinths and secret doors, but we were constantly knocked out of the truth. Puck would grab a hold of his feet, but Corbeau was too strong. His power was too near us. The answer stuck my mind and I released the telepathic hold.

Puck and I dropped to the ground. Xanatos helped me up off the ground. The gargoyles just looked at me.

"He is near," I replied knowing that the Watcher was among us.

"Puck, are you all right?" Xanatos questioned.

"That was a rush," Puck said, a strange little smile crossing his faery face.

I walked over to the mirror. I could see the reflection of everybody head on. I touched the mirror with my white hands and it started to ripple like the pool. Xavier looked at me.

"Xavier, I can't get a lock on him. He's too powerful," I said.

"I've trained you with all you need to know. Now, shut the mirror, he can tap into the pool! Close it NOW!" Xavier yelled.

I did as he told and felt the presence of Corbeau growing stronger. He was playing my game, and I was loving every minute of it.

"Handsome fellow that Xavier is," Xanatos said, "Well, Shadowstar, what are you planning to entertain us with next?"

I paid no mind to Xanatos' words. From the look on the clan's faces, they felt I was playing with fire, but they didn't know me. I refuse to be burned.

"Star? What are you going to do?" Brooklyn questioned.

"There was once a myth that if you looked into the mirror with the corner of your eye, you can see the future. Mirrors are the key to all realities. You have to look at them just right," I said glancing at the mirror.

I glanced at the mirror quickly through the side of my eye. Cobalt marks flashed across my field of vision in the mirror. I turned around quickly with my eyes glowing bright blue.

"Shadowstar?" Angela questioned fearfully.

"Very good, Corbeau. I would have never guessed," I said looking at my enemy.

"No, no, it can't be him," Broadway said.

I unleashed a psionic beam that knocked Goliath backwards. The gargoyles jumped on top of me for they could never believe that their leader was a Watcher. I watched a wicked smile come across Goliath's face as the six tried to hold me back. I pushed them away with my unseen mental hands, but Corbeau used this as a weakness. He attacked me as I was vulnerable.

As soon as the clan saw the crimson energy pouring from the hands of their leader, they knew it was not the Goliath that they loved.

"Very good, Shadowstar. I didn't think you had it in you," Corbeau said.

With a flick of the wrists, everybody in the room was intertwined with his power and rendered motionless, suspended in mid air.

"You just led me to what I need. The combined powers of you, Puck, and myself will be quite enough to do the bidding of the Watchers," Corbeau said.

"I won't let you do this," I answered.

"Oh, you and what army. I thought you would really catch on when I used a backlash against you, and honestly, how could Goliath have made it to Xanatos' castle to find you in the amount of time he did? Really, Shadowstar, I though you'd be smarter than that," Corbeau replied, "I guess the Kindred are really getting weaker."

I reestablished my link with Puck. The green and blue energies merged into one being. I could feel myself transferring all of Puck's essence into myself to create one force.

"So this is what it feels like to be a gargoyle," Puck said in my mind.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," I said with Puck ringing in my ears.

“Oh, don’t worry, I will. All aboard the one way express to mystical massacre. Hey Corbeau, eat telekinetics and die!” Puck chanted living up every moment of this freedom.

We used my telekinetic power with his mystical power to create a force field around the others. Corbeau threw waves after waves of energies at us but lost control. He dropped his persona of Goliath to reveal his true, dark form. His black robes flew out behind him with the force of the power. He filtered a giant ball of energy from a neighboring star and threw it at us. In a flash both Puck and I responded, snatching the energy he had fired and sending it spiraling back to him the moment it left his hands.

"No, you can't do this," Corbeau screamed in his dying moments.

"We just did," Puck and I said as we were one.

I used all my will power to throw the final blow at Corbeau. Puck and I watched Corbeau die and revert to a virtual nothing.

Puck and I separated harshly as Oberon tugged at Puck’s powers, leaving us both breathlessly lying on the floor. All the energy suddenly dropped from the room. Xanatos and the others rushed over to their fallen friends.

"Star? Puck? Are they?" Angela questioned.

"No," Xanatos said, "Their power protects them."

I sat up and looked around at the people next to me. I held my quartz orb necklace as I often would when I was casting magic and had to release it. It was burning furiously.

"Didn't ye see it, Star? It glowed madly when ye were joined," Hudson told me.

"What is going on here? Is this orb the controller, the protector of my power? Only do I reach the pinnacle of my will when I wear it," I said aloud but to myself.

"I think, Shadowstar, your people are not telling you everything you need to know," Xanatos said.

"I think I must agree with you," I said.

I pulled myself up off of the ground. I helped Puck up and looked at the elf creature.

"I hope Oberon can forgive me for manipulating you like that," I told him.

"That, was amazing," Puck said almost in awe with the experience.

"I could feel your freedom," I replied.

Puck shook his head slightly feeling the same thing I did. His forehead wrinkled in question towards me.

“Powder, I can feel your thoughts,” Puck replied.

“Well, congratulations, to the first five customers that enter my mind, you receive a free complimentary psi link,” I replied with Puck’s humor wearing off on me.

“Oh this is going to be fun,” he snickered, “Can I exchange it for cash value?”

“Only on Sundays... and well, this is Tuesday,” I smiled.

I walked to the mirror and saw Xavier's hand stretched out for me. Despite the light hearted atmosphere, everything just felt wrong. I turned around puzzled. I walked to the charcoal cloaks that Corbeau left on the ground pushing them around with my pale toes. I looked up at everybody with concern on my face .

"If that wasn't the real Goliath, then where is he?" I questioned.

Angela and I both looked into each other's eyes. We both came to the same conclusion. . . our adventures had yet to begin.

*****to be continued in "Shadow Over Reality II"*****

~Finish~