The Firedrake's Lost Heir

Chapter 4

Somewhat short again but I guess it is fine to have short chapters sometimes in stories.
....
Brooklyn meanwhile glided aways from the castle, his heart still feeling betrayed by his clan. He didn't think he could face them ever again.

After a few minutes gliding he found a secluded place; where Elisa first met with Goliath. He went to lay against a wall for an entrance into the building, unable to stop his tears coming. Why must he be picked to be a freak? Why must he be part dragon?

He could hear that voice again in his head. "My hatchling... please come home..." it murmured, starting to feel like a fatherly voice now. It made Brooklyn ache in his chest, shaking his head wildly. "I'm a gargoyle, please leave me alone," he whined, covering himself up with his wings and wiping his eyes, not hearing someone land next to him. It was Hudson.

"Lad?" He asked carefully, seeing the young gargoyle curled into a ball, sniffling. "Go way!" Brook cried, unable to even look at the elder he once looked up to as a father like Goliath. Hudson pulled his hand back but then reached out again, gently putting it on Brooklyn's shoulder who clenched up from it.

"D-don't you think I may be dangerous to the clan? B-because I'm part dragon?" Brook asked tearfully after a time, Hudson's touch somehow having an effect on him. Hudson sat down. "No. Goliath was right when we say we always loved ye, dragon or not. He just didn't want to make ye feel like you couldn't belong with us. But we did plan to tell ye your true heritage when you were ready."

Brooklyn was somewhat stunned with wet eyes. "R-really?" He asked. "Y-you already planned to tell me?" Hudson nodded. "But Goliath couldn't bear to do it since he had grown so fond of ye. Ye were like a son to him, too. But now you can have the best of two worlds, dragon and gargoyle, two races to belong in and get to know yer real dad," Hudson finished, rubbing Brooklyn's back gently now. Brooklyn hugged himself, staring out into the city. "I don't know if I want to leave anywhere, not without my brothers," he whispered, trembling. "And how would I even get to where my father is?"

Hudson knew someone who could help. "Maybe Puck. He could do a spell to send ye to Middle Earth. If ye'd come back we can help." Brooklyn wasn't sure about facing his adoptive family again, especially after snapping at them. Hudson noticed this.

"Don't worry, I'll be next to ye," he assured. This calmed down Brooklyn a little, allowing Hudson to help him up. The two then began to glide back.

....

Goliath watched out on the horizon, still guilty at how Brooklyn learned about himself instead of telling him straight up. The others were anxious too and Broadway had called Elisa to tell her the news. She didn't buy it at first because she had always thought of Smaug and Middle Earth to be fantasy. But then Broadway brought up her talking to living gargoyles and Avalon so she reconsidered this idea, rushing over right away.

She had an arm around Goliath. "Hudson will help Brooklyn and they'll be back, you'll see," Elisa said gently. Goliath nodded until Lex pointed. "Look!" He called out, spotting Hudson and Brooklyn from afar. The two landed, with Brooklyn having a shadow of guilt in his face, gazing at his brothers and sister in fear. But all they did was run over and give him a big hug. This startled him slightly but then he accepted, happy tears now falling down his face. After breaking apart Elisa had also hugged him like a mother would, Brook wrapping her in his wings for a bigger hug.

"We understand that you want to go find your real father, Brook. But I hope you won't forget us." Broadway said in a shaky tone. Brooklyn just gave a sad smile.

"You know I won't. But I'm sorry I called you liars. It-it just slipped out from my anger," he said shyly. Lex took his hand. "Don't worry about it. We still like having you as a brother," he assured. Goliath gazed down at his Second who still looked shy.

The lavender gargoyle put a gentle hand on his Second's shoulder, caressing his cheek like a father would. Brooklyn sniffled slightly, now hating himself for yelling at them. "I- don't want to go..." he said faintly to Goliath who understood his feelings.

"You need to find your heritage, Brooklyn. Your dragon heritage. But no matter how far you are your family will always be with you," Goliath stated, giving Brooklyn a gentle smile, but looked sad. Brooklyn then nodded, and he and Goliath went to find Puck.

Puck had been waiting in the library, floating crosslegged and had a hand on his head, elbow on his knee, muttering until he saw the two. He perked up. Brooklyn was a little surprised he was still here.

"Uh, how long have you been here?" He asked shyly. Puck folded his arms. "Long enough to tell you that time is wasting, we gotta send you to your father! And I have a spell. Been able to find Middle Earth with it and will be able to send you there."

Brooklyn held Goliath's arm, still nervous about going to a totally different universe but Goliath rubbed his shoulder, nodding encouragingly. Brook gulped, stepping forward. Puck first conjured a cape, which was a brown red with silver fastenings.

"You may need this to disguise yourself beaked one, for I don't know if those people would take kindly to seeing someone like you," he said. Brooklyn rolled his eyes a bit at that cliche but accepted the robe. He gazed back at the rest of his family who were all watching him. Hudson had tears. "Take care of yerself laddie. Say hi to your father for me." Brooklyn nodded, eventually earning one more hug from his brothers as all three of them said tearful farewells. Even Xanatos shook Brooklyn's hand goodbye.

"I will one day come back, I promise," Brooklyn choked, before turning away and nodding to Puck to begin.

Puck grinned. "At last. Let's get this over with." He began to chant a spell; some magic starting to swirl around Brooklyn. Brooklyn flinched from the lights, gazing back at his family once more, a hand raised in farewell, as his form disappeared from Earth forever.

Brooklyn would now begin his quest to find his father and legacy in unknown turf.