Another month has nearly come to past for the citizens of the island city known as Manhattan. It has been nearly a year since an airship carrying the three siblings known as the Hunters had fired a missile into the old clock tower at the top pf the 23^rd precinct building, injuring several police officers and forcing the gargoyles to move to a better location, in the end they had little choice but to move back into their ancestral home along with David Xanatos and his family.

The clan may have been reluctant, at first, they were wary of what Xanatos’s true intentions may have been for them, even after the first few months had flown by without any suspicious activity. They refused to let their guard down and did little to befriend him. Lexington agreed to mend fences with Fox and several other member of the clan warmed up to the former television star and her son, but not her husband. It took several months for even Broadway to warm up to Xanatos and after a year the only ones who spoke with few choice words with the billionaire were Goliath and Brooklyn himself. Still, they cannot complain, not when there were too much danger in the city for the clan too choose any other place to roost for the day.

The clan has grown in size. Brooklyn had disappeared in a ball of flames one night and reappeared five minutes later older and had more muscle gain on his limbs. He had a noticeable scar across the top of his beak, a small scar over his left eye similar to Hudson’s but no yellow cataract and a the top point of his ear had been cut off. His loin cloth was different, black in color with a matching tunic as well as armor plate across his chest and shoulders. He also carried a sword which he had kept in a leather sheath.

He was not alone. He arrived with three other gargoyles and an egg. He had introduced them as his family.

His mate was a lovely turquoise female from Ishimura of the Japanese feudal age. She was turquoise in color that was a shade closer to blue than Broadway. Her dark blue wings were as white as the winter moonlight and had a single claw. Her long black hair fell back to the middle of her back and she had gathered some of it in a bun. Her slender horns curved up like a buck’s but lacked any branches. She favored a white sleeveless kimono with a gold obi and carried the sword that bore her name, Katana.

Their son was eighteen years old but was the equivalent of a child of nine. He had the same color of skin and hair as his mother and had her horns as well, but the wild nature of his hair as well as his beak and wings was that of his brother. He wore a black loin cloth and golden yellow tunic.

Their beast was almost as big as Bronx. He was gold in color and had a large grin. He had a mane of reddish brown curls and horns that curled to the side of his head like a ram’s.

Goliath as well as the rest of the clan had welcomed them into the family.

_______________________________________________________________________

The patrol for that evening was anything but slow. The three ancient warriors had a rough evening that started with a simple mugging, followed by an armed robbery at a department store and a cat burglar who had eluded the police and the clan for a few months. Gliding back towards the stone tower to sleep for the day was the most appealing thought that hankered the mind of the clan leader.

“There is still time for some food?” Broadway was the first to place his high arched talons on the edge of the thousand year stone. His webbed ears were drooping and his large eyes were moist with a pleading look. The expression on his face may have read that he was hungry but the large girth of is ample stomach, protruding over his belt and loincloth told he had nights to go before he earn began to waste away.

“Aye lad,” the tan gargoyle was the last to land. He stood as tall as the corpulent youth with a stout figure that may have been as buff as the clan leader in his youth, but had sagged from years since his self demotion. “I still have time t’ read a few chapter and ye have tm t’ fix yerself a sandwich.”

“We all have a little extra time for ourselves,” standing at over seven feet the lavender gargoyle towered them all, not just in height, but in also physical strenght. His chest and arms rippled with rock hard muscle, accenting the brutish appearance of his face by along with his thick neck and lantern shaped jaw line. “I might join you in the library, Hudson.”

“I’ll fix you some tea and leave it by yer favorite chair,” the elderly gargoyle followed the youth into the castle, cloaking his wings halfway n the process.

“There is one thing I would rather do.” Goliath turned to the city and the direction of Elisa’s apartment.

They were gargoyles, defenders of the night. They were born to protect. There

are those who fear them and those who hunt would rather see gargoyle dead and hunt them down like animals. They were raised to be proctors, beings who could face almost anything. They were not always alone and Goliath’s clan in particular had help, such as Elisa and her partner, Matt Bluestone. They were human protectors who had chosen to protect. They are trained for their

job. There are those who under rare occasions were destined for their roles. They are not

prepared to fight, but they do not have much of a choice.

____________________________________________________________________________

The sun that had begun to rise over the city horizon would not be felt by the gargoyles. Their skin had harden to stone a mere seconds before the first crack of light. As the warm glow of the sun crept up higher more activity was coming to life in the city. The early shifts of fast food diners and restaurants had begun to heat up the oven racks and brew multiple pots of coffee. Alarms were going off, playing a variety of sounds from a droning buzz to the morning news show of a preferred radio station.

Inside a well to do apartment a modern family was getting ready for their daily routine. A man in his early forties was dressed in a dove gray business suit. His deep blue neck tie was hanging around his shoulders. He had his thinning platinum blond hair combed back. One hand was placing papers into an open brief case while the other held the cup of coffee he was trying to chug from to his mouth.

His wife was in the kitchen, placing a wrapped up sandwich into a brown paper bag. She was dressed in an ironed skirt that matched her light blue blazer. Her light brown hair was not quite shoulder lengthen and was sprayed with enough products to keep her hair from moving. After she had placed the baggie congaing a couple of cookies into the paper bag she folded the top over and carried it to the family table before she proceeded to the bedrooms of her two daughters.

"Laurine, Tracy your going to miss your bus!" She shouted while knocking onto one of the doors.

The door opened and a fourteen year old girl stumbled out of the room and ran towards the bathroom. It was locked. "Laurine let me in," The girl yelled. She was fully dressed in a knee length skirt, yellow blouse and tan vest. Her light blond hair appeared lived in and in a good need of some decent brushing. “Let me in.”

“Take a freaking chill pill.” Her seventeen year old sister exited the restroom. She was taller than her sister ad had the same pale blond color of hair as her father and her sister, but, unlike Tracy it was brushed and styled into shoulder length waves. She had chosen a pair of pale blue denim pants to wear along with a short sleeved, fuchsia shirt.

“Try to eat something.“ Her mother poured a couple of glasses of juice. “Even if it just one of those granola bars.“

“Sure,” Laurine grabbed a cereal bar from the cupboard, her pale blue eyes stared longingly at the car keys hanging from her mother’s hands. "I want to take one of the cars."

"Laurine we discussed this and the answer is still no." Mrs. Cynahaned placed the keys into her purse and turned towards the hallway again. “Dylan, it’s time to wake up.”

“It’s not fair,” Laurine mumbled between bites of her breakfast bar. "I’m one of the only seniors who still takes the bus."

"Gina, rides the bus."

Laurine swallowed half of her juice "When am I going to get my own car?"

"I don’t know." Mother pulled out a wallet. "Here is your lunch money. Tracy!"

"I’ll give her money." She held out her hand and accepted the extra change her mother gave her. "Tracy move your ass!"

"Watch your language."

"Sorry.” She stared at the money her mother had recently handed her. “This a lot of money for Tracy’s lunch.”

“It’s also for your lunch.”

“You didn’t pack a lunch?”

“You are old enough to pack your on lunch. Until you start making sandwiches for yourself I’m giving you lunch money.” She turned to face the hall leading to the bed rooms of her children and clapped her hands. “Tracy, hurry up. Dylan, it’s time to wake up.”

Laurine shoved the money into her purse. “You better hurry, Tracy. Once I grab my backpack I’m out the door."

__________________________________________________________________________

The high school named Central Park High was divided into two tall buildings, each one was ten stories high. The once white buildings had yellowed through the years into a dingy beige color. The windows were kept in a pristine condition. The janitors would clean them at the start and end of the school day. The most noticeable feature of the buildings were the stone gargoyles decorating the tops of both buildings, a decoration that gave the school a classic touch in appearance.

There was no sign of activity in the alley next to Central Park High. The only form of life were the cockroaches that raced across the ground and were able to squeeze their slick shelled bodies through the cracks in the walls, and the long line made up of ants, marching in a single file.

The students were inside the tall buildings, their attentions were divided between their classes and the gnawing jaws of hunger. It would be another thirty minutes before a few students would sneak into the alley, not just to enjoy a private lunch, but also to smoke in privacy.

Nobody was within the area to see a brilliant sphere of light develop high above the buildings and slowly descend towards the dumpster. The sphere kept it’s shape and form until it came in contact with assortment of filth that had nearly reached the top of the waste bin. A brilliant flash of light filled the dumpster, pouring out and sending every cockroach that had dared to emerge from their comfy homes from within the buildings to scuttle back inside.

The light hadn’t completely dispersed when a small pair of silver paws grabbed onto the edge of the waste bin and helped hoist the sleek form of their owner. A cardboard box, the former home of a large crank powered pencil sharpener, was attached to the sleek form of the silver rabbit. The rabbit sat at the edge of the dumpster and tried several attempts at shaking off the box, only to fail every time.

The rabbit leaned forward and tried to brace it’s body against the front of the metal bin as it tried to descend to the ground. It’s paws stumbled a bit upon reaching the asphalt, but it did not fall. The rabbit rubbed it’s head against the ground, hoping to remove the box. It followed up the failed attempt by keeping it’s head on the ground and used it’s paw to try to push it off. Nothing seemed to work

____________________________________________________________________________

The final fifteen minutes of school on a Friday was practically wasted if a teacher wished to continue their lesson and their students to give them their full attention. Many teachers were aware of the allure of the weekend grabbing onto the students full focus. Some would conduct a small discussion session for the students to speak whatever is on their mind. English teachers allowed their students to indulge in some reading time. Other teachers decided to use the last fifteen minutes of class for the students to study or work on homework.

Not Mr. Noss. The thin algebra II teacher remained on talking. His starched sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his suit jacket was draped over his chair. He had his back facing his students, giving them a full view of his balding area on his head, surrounded by dark brown hair

Laurine Chancerdd tapped her pencil impatiently against her notebook while Mr. Noss droned on.

She hated math, the complex combination of numbers only created one result, and several equations were extremely hard. She would have understood the steps to solving each problem much clearer if her teacher wasn’t extremely dull and wooden. She wrote the final steps to figure

out the problem and checked her watch, there was only ten minutes to go until the weekend. She looked at the desk next to her.

Gina Vale, her best friend, looked as bored as she did. She had her head propped up on one arm, her pencil was held in her other hand. She looked like she at least was attempting to pay attention while working on the problems Mr. Noss had pointed out in the text book.

Behind her Ricardo Cabellero was cleaning his sunglasses. He had half off his Algebra II book placed on top of his desk, the other half hung over the side with the pages wagging back and forth. It was an accident waiting to happen. If he hadn’t have his elbow pressed against the half on his desk it would have fallen off.

Laurine yawned when there was only five more minutes. How much longer was the monotony going to continue? It was finally Friday, the end to another bland week. Normally she would be excited but she staid up late the night before making a clay mask. She refused to crawl into bed until she had finished the last detail and set the mask to dry on the card table covered in newspapers.

Finally the bell had run ending the week and beginning the weekend. As if Pavlov commanded it the students slammed their books closed and unzipped their back packs. Ricardo removed his arm, sending his book to slide to the floor.

"Remember class test on Monday." Their teacher said as the students grabbed their stuff. The students were too busy packing their things to protest.

_________________________________________________________________________

The hallways were filled with the sounds of footsteps, locker doors slamming and students discussing their weekend plans.

"I can't believe Mr. Noss is giving us a test on Monday," Gina said as she and Laurine walked

to their lockers. "Like he expects us to study over the weekend."

"Yeah, Miss William’s gave us homework but at least she apologized," Laurine said running her

hand through her pale blond hair. She didn’t need to get anything from her locker and only stood next to Gina while her friend grabs her things.

“It’s not really a hard assignment,” Gina opened her locker door. The contents within the thin metal locker were books and folders stacked neatly in a row. A few pictures of her favorite actors and bands covered the back an sides and the inside door. A small locker mirror was also set against the interior door. “We just have to watch the local news, right down some of the topics that affect our community and write our own feelings on the subject.”

“You’re right,” Laurine nodded in agreement. “I’m more worried about our test. It’s hard for me to learn from a guy who is the voice twin of Ben Stein.” She turned around at the mention of her name. Several of her and Gina’s friends walked passed them and she waved to them. “I think my GPA is going to suffer.”

“Your GPA because of math? “Gina’s voice had taken on a snide turn as she exchanged her English book for her Economics book. “Your worried about how your average in math is going down because of a teacher?” She paused to stare at her reflection and brushed her fingers through her dark bangs. The rest of her hair was styled in a short cut which looked adorable with her natural curls.

“Hey! I worked hard to maintain my C average in math,” Laurine pretended to sound hurt.

______________________________________________________________________________

There was a total of eight school buses parked in the front of the school. Most of the students lived too close for the school to consider them to be apart of the bus zone. They would either walk, ride a bicycle, take the public bus, or ride home in a friends car.

All of the doors to the busses were opened. There was no need for any students to stand in a line, or form a crowd, yet there was a crowed gathered near the corner of the left school building. It reminded Laurine and Gina of the cluster that usually formed around two students who got into a fist fight.

"Hey what’s going on?" Laurine had ran up to the cluster. There was plenty of time for her to board her bus. She searched the outer fringe for any familiar face to fill her in on the details. Ricardo was easy seen by his sunglasses.

"Hey Ricardo what’s the deal?" Gina asked. She tried to peek through the students to see what was going on.

"There's a rabbit with its head stuck in a box," Ricardo explained. Both girls could not see his dark brown eyes behind his sunglasses but were sure they were narrowed in disgust to match hi frown. "Some kids are betting how long it’s going to take for it to get the box off."

"That’s mean." Gina responded with a appalled tone of voice. “I can’t believe that no one has tried to take it off themselves.” She gave Ricardo a not too hard slap on the shoulder. “Why haven’t you tried to do something?”

"Unbelievable," Laurine added and walked through the group. She had actually had to push some students aside. She couldn‘t believe what she was doing.

The students hadn’t giving the small gray rabbit a large amount of room to walk around. The poor creature only managed to walk a few steps before it bumped into the feet of one of the teenagers who had made a bet.

"Here bunny, let me help you," Laurine bent down and grabbed the small box with one hand while gently holding the rabbit with her other hand. She ignored the cries of protest from her fellow students, and a few cheers from several others as she carefully lifted off the box.

The rabbit shook its head once it was free. It was not a complete solid gray color. A golden ring with six spokes was in the center of It’s head. The rabbit opened its green eyes and looked at Laurine.

"That is unusual," Laurine reached out to try to mark on the rabbit’s forehead, but the second she had raised her arm the rabbit shrank back. It blinked once and ran through the break in the crowd. “Poor thing must be frightened.”

"Way to go Chancerdd," an underclassmen complained.

"Bite me!" She snapped back before racing after Gina towards their the bus.

___________________________________________________________________________

"So are you coming to the Gardens later?" Gina asked as they rode home. She had decided to risk being struck by a paper projectiles by sitting next to the aisle. “My mother has some new plants to unveil. She might need our help planting them.”

"Sure I'll just drop my books off and I'll be on my way," Laurine said. She didn’t care for the view on the ride to and from school. She hated having to brush out spit wads that accumulate in her hair during the ride when she sat on the aisle. Gina’s shorter haircut attracts fewer pieces of paper, but Laurine agreed to switch with her, until one of them was able to get a car.

"Do you need a ride?" Gina raised up her hand in time to block a paper airplane from crashing into her head.

"Nah, I have my resources."

__________________________________________________________________________

The bus pulled to the designed stop that was only a block away from the apartment building where Laurine and Tracey live. A handful of students raced through the doors and down the sidewalks, including Laurine and her sister.

Both girls ran for their home as soon as the elevator stopped. Tracy headed straight for the telephone, dropping her backpack en route. Laurine set her backpack on the kitchen table before she approached the refrigerator She removed the note from the door before she pulled out a can of diet soda and a corn bread muffin. Laurine read the letter as she ate her snack.

“Laurine I'm going to get some foam rubber for you. If you use your hot glue gun, please don't leave it on the floor. Please do the following: put away your laundry, feed your fish, water the plants, and put the two pizzas in the oven. thank you love mom."

“Doesn’t have time to make lunch but she has plenty of time to write a note,” Laurine shoved the last buttery piece of cornbread in her mouth and wiped her hands on a paper towel. Her mother probably put her laundry in the dyer before leaving the house.

The chores were too easy for her to do. She loaded her basket with her dry clothes and left it in her bedroom before she watered the seven different flowering plants in the house and sprinkled the different kinds of food for her three aquariums, one in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in her bedroom.

"I'm going to the Garden's Tracy," Laurine yelled to her sister as she slipped her Metro card into her purse. I need for you to cook the pizzas.“

“What pizza’s?” Tracy asked after she put her hand over the receiver.

“The ones in the freezer. You just stick them in the oven for about thirty minutes each. Mom asked me to do it, but since I’m going out you can cook them.”

“Mom asked you to do it.”

“She didn’t leave any chores for you. You can handle this.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to argue,” Laurine stepped out the door. “When you get hungry enough you will cook them.” She closed the door behind her.

___________________________________________________________________________

At any other time Laurine would have loved to take the time to just walk around the Botanical Gardens and admire the natural beauty, but not that afternoon. She promised she would go to the back where they allowed botanical geneticist, like Gina’s mother to plant her latest creations.

Laurine was halfway to the back when she could see Gina runnng up to her. She was dressed in the burlap smock her mother had created for people to work out in the garden. Firm gloves made out of strong material clothed her hands.

"You didn’t roller blade all the way over here?”" Gina stared at Laurine’s shoes, noticing the lack of her friends skates. “I am shocked.”

"My way isn‘t always by skates." Laurine chuckled, "So what’s your mom got planned this time?"

"She actually made a limon tree.”

“She was able to cross the genes of a lemon and a lime tree. We can make limonaid.”

“Not for a months,” Gina pointed out. “She also made jalapeños that taste like bell peppers, and glow in the dark roses."

"Wow being a botanical geneticist is really something" Laurine followed her friend towards the back , past a fenced area that no one except for woman was in. A do not enter sign was planted on the fence.

"Hey, mom,’ Gina stepped over the rope. “Laurine is here and she wants to know if you need help with anything?"

"Sure you can,” Dr Vale smiled. Her present appearance was a far cry from her usual attire she wore around her lab. She was no longer wearing her white lab coat and was dressed in old sweats with her smock on top. Her dark brown hair was tieback with a scarf. A smudge of dirt decorated the bottom of her chin. “fill these pots with soil and put these trees in them,” She pointed to the stack of terra cotta flower pots and to the small bunch of saplings. Their roots were clothed in soil and covered with a cloth that was tied around close with string. “Then add some of these minerals."

Gina grabbed one of the flower pots while Laurine removed the spare cloth draped across the table and the two extra gloves.

_______________________________________________________________________

The gardens had plenty of visitors that afternoon. Hardly anyone noticed Dr Vale working on planting her experimental plants and her two young teenage helpers and no one gave second notice to the one lone woman dressed a pale green blouse with a knee length black skirt with a matching jacket. Her legs were clothed in nude stockings. A large black hat rested on top of her head, casting a shadow over her face. She wore no jewelry save for a pair of dangly jade earrings, carved in the shape of leaves.

The woman glanced around her to make sure no one was paying any close attention to her before she touched one of her earrings.

"Borice, I'm at the gardens," She said. "There are several people here."

“Several?” A voice that was as deep and slick as crude oil permeated though her earrings. “I would expect more.”

“There are at least a hundred,” The woman almost sounded hurt from the disappointed tone of the oily voice.

"A hundred is a good place to start," The mysterious voice softened. "I have studied the mistakes Beryl had made in the past and do not wish to remake them again. You have done great work so far, Sylvite. "

The woman smiled as she gave her earring another touch, to turn off the communication between her and her boss.

______________________________________________________________________

They had only worked on replanting the test plants when Laurine began to feel a tight pain in her shoulders. The knot that had developed in the back of her neck was worse than the pain she had felt when she lost hours of sleep trying to study for a math test. She had to stand a couple of times and move her head around to relieve the tension.

"Whew, we are done.” Gina said, removing her work gloves. She had appeared as sore and tired as Laurine.

“Not a moment too soon,” Laurine stood up. She had to peel the gloves off her. The insides were sticking to her sweaty skin.

"Thanks you two, you have been great help," Dr Vale appeared the least tired of the three of them. Her dark hair was still in pace, except for a few loose strands "Laurine do you need a ride home?”

"No I have my wheels," Laurine said grabbing her purse. “Good old fashioned, public transportation.

“Call me when you get home,” Gina said as she grabbed several of the spare pots and stacked them together.

“Do you need any help cleaning up?”

“This will only take a couple of minutes,” Dr Vale told her. She grabbed a few more supplies and placed them into a large cardboard box.

“Are you sure you don’t need help with carrying the extra supplies back to your minivan?”

“We are pretty certain. Not too mention you have helped enough.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Laurine checked her watch as she approached the nearest subway opening. It was only a few minutes to six. She would probably get home around seven, might get a lecture from her mother, grab some slices of pizza, shower and then crawl back into bed.

“I hope I don’t fall asleep on the subway,” she mumbled. It would be a better idea if she stood up while she rode. It would keep her from falling asleep.

The soft sound of squeaking to grab her attention brought Laurine’s gaze to the ground where a silver colored rabbit was sitting in front of her. The rabbit was a solid in color except for the golden ring on it’s head. Bright green eyes blinked before the rabbit wriggled it‘s nose.

“You look exactly like that rabbit I rescued today.” Laurine had to wonder if there was any possibility that the rabbit seated in front of her was exactly the same as the rabbit she had saved from ridicule.

The rabbit squeaked again before running towards the nearest alley. It stopped halfway to turn around and stare at her before continuing on it’s way.

Laurine had no idea why she was following the rabbit, nor did she know exactly why how there was a rabbit running around in the city. Had she fallen asleep on the train and started to dream? If she was dreaming she was still in control and would be able to do anything that was normally physically impossible.

“All right rabbit,” she stopped a few inches behind the animal. “What does this dream have in store for me?”

“This is not a dream,” the rabbit spoke. She sounded serious despite her soft tone of voice.

“Talking rabbit that lead me into an alley,” Laurine felt her eyes widen. Dream or not the image of a talking animal was still a shock. “This is obviously a dream.”

“I’m afraid it isn’t.” the rabbit approached her. “I hate to do this, but we don’t have all evening to discuss whether this is a dream or not.” She reached out with her paw and struck it against Laurine’s leg. Her claws were able to penetrate though the cloth but did not leave a mark on the skin.

“Hey!” Laurine jumped back. That pain was brief and only felt like a few pricks. “I felt that.” Her tongue went numb. She had actually felt the claws. She wasn’t dreaming. “How?” She fought to reclaim her voice as she slowly backed up.

“I really don’t have much time to explain how I am able to talk. We need to go back to the gardens.”

“Why?” Laurine still couldn’t believe why she was standing in the middle of the alley talking to an enchanted rabbit, or how such a rabbit came to be.

“I have been following you.” Her eyes narrowed. “There is something sinister at the gardens.

“What are you, and why are you telling me this?”

"My name is Celeste. I was sent here as an agent for the forces of good and to serve as the guardian for the Galactic Ladies."

"Saturday Morning cartoons much?” Laurine raised her eyebrows “Could your dialogue be any more microwavable?"

"Excuse me?"

“Microwavable. Like popcorn. I'm saying that what you just said was corny," She sighed. "Never mind."

"Corny or not I'm on a mission. The forces of the Dark Kingdom have already started to their sinister plans."

"And your tell me this because?" She made strange circling motions with her hands when she trailed off.

"You are one of the Galactic Ladies I have been searching for.” She pointed a paw at the girl. “All I need to do is awaken the warrior inside."

"Beep Beep Beep Back up.” Laurine held out her hands in front of her while she shook her head. “I am not a warrior. I'm not the type."

"It's your destiny"

"I have read comic books and seen movies I do not fit the profile of someone with a destiny."

"Yes you do watch," The rabbit leapt in the air and flipped, performing a complete somersault in midair. A trail of energy followed her cottony puff of a tail and swirled around as she leaped. It gravitated towards the center followed by a flash of light. A metallic pen appeared where the light was and fell on the ground making a metallic clattering sound. The rabbit pounced on it and picked it up with her teeth. Her eyes were still narrowed as she approached Laurine and placed the object in front of her.

"Here you go." Celeste stepped back

"So what do I do with this?" Laurine asked picking it up. The silver pen was silver in color with a brass top that ended in a clear, sphere shape. Within the sphere was a strage symbol that looked like a crooked letter V.

"Hold it in the air and shout Andromeda Galaxy Power Make-up."

"Why?"

"Your friend and her mother may be in danger."

“Gina and Dr. Vale?” Laurine asked.

“Precisely,” Celeste nodded

It was all that Laurine needed to hear. She raised the pen above her head." Andromeda Galaxy Power Make-up!" Laurine’s vision was filled with bright silvery light as she felt her whole body tingling with an energy she cannot fathom. When it had settled and Laurine could see again she checked herself out. Instead of the outfit she was wearing that day she wore a white leotard with a silver collar shaped like large petals, and short fuchsia sleeves ending in a silver trim. A fuchsia belt wrapped around her middle held a silver knee length skirt that had ruffled streamers sewn into it. Her legs were clothed in fuchsia tights, and her sneakers were replaced with silver, ankle high boots. Thick silver arm bands dressed her arms between her wrists and her elbows.

She looked at her reflection in them. Her pale blond hair had turned white. She wore a silver head band. Two fuchsia, star shaped, barrettes were in her hair.

"What. Just. Happened?" She asked, slowly stressing out each word "What happened to me?!

"You are now Lady Andromeda," Celeste answered in a tone that was too calm for Laurine‘s liking. “I have awakened the warrior from within.”

“There really is something evil in the gardens?” Laurine’s voice strained. She had hoped Gina and Dr Vale had made it out safely.

“And you are the one who can stop it,” Celeste turned towards the dead end of the alley. “Follow me.”

“How am I supposed to get there?”

“Now would be a good time to show you how your agility and reflexes have improved.” Celeste continued to run.

__________________________________________________________________________

 It was dark inside the Gardens, and not dark because the lights had been turned off. Their was a dark gray cloud covering the ceiling. The temperature had dropped several degrees, causing Laurine’s skin to turn into goose flesh. Bodies of weak and tired people filled the floor. They looked sick. Their faces were pale and clammy, eyes shut with gray bags underneath them. Their lips was chapped. A few moaned.

In the center stood a woman dressed in a green dress that ended in flower like skirt and had a floral pattern. Green leaf like fringes framed the collar and sleeves. Her long light brown hair held two flower and leaf barrettes. She wore green eye shadow and had her nails painted green. She chuckled evilly to herself.

“She’s the one responsible,” Celeste whispered.

“Ya think?” Laurine asked. She had no idea how to handle this woman. All she knew was that she was able to cause people to drop like flies.

"Yes you pathetic beings,” the woman waved her hands around a glowing sphere that hovered in front of her. “Give your energy to the us."

“Lady Andromeda,” Celeste looked at her. “What are you waiting for?”

“I have no idea what to do,” Lady Andromeda said. “Just because I get some costume and my hair changes color doesn’t make me into some super hero.”

“Look inside your self. You will know what to do.”

“Look inside myself,” Andromeda said and closed her eyes. She felt something tugging at the back of her mind, but she didn’t know what yet. Still she had to do something. "Freeze you witch!" shouted.

“That is not what I had in mind,” Celeste said.

“What the hell?” The strange woman turned around ."Who are you?"

"I am Lady Andromeda ,Uh...Champion of justice. I'm here to stop you." Great, and she accused Celeste of saying corny things.

"Yeah right." five sharp looking leaves appeared in the woman's hand. She threw them at Lady Andromeda.

The Galactic Lady dodged them, flipping and tumbling and nearly landing in a azalea .

"Lady Andromeda what are you doing?" Celeste ran up to her.

"Filing my taxes,” said as she sat back up and dusted off some of the dirt. “What does it look like?" Andromeda leapt trough the air and landed in front of the witch.

"Take this!" The villainess produced a long stick that had thorns sprouting out from it. She swung at Andromeda. Lady Andromeda blocked with her arms. The stick struck the bands snapping off many thorns.

"Hate to steal energy and run," The woman grabbed the glowing sphere.

Andromeda grabbed the discarded stick and threw it at the ball. It disintegrated into energetic dust that seemed to migrate to the people.

"How dare you!" The villainess screeched! "Trapjaw take care of this pest." She vanished.

A tall green monster was left behind. It had a body as thick as a tree trunk and covered with bark. It had long gnarled branches for arms and roots for legs. It opened it's venus flytrap like jaws and drooled sap. Its whip like vines were flaring around.

“What do I do now?” Andromeda asked as the monster rushed toward her.

“You have to destroy it,” Celeste said.

“That’s a lot of help,” Andromeda said as she turned around and ran away from the beast. She ran past the discarded stick and picked it up. “Maybe I can use this.” She spun around to see the monster still chasing after her.

The monster opened it’s mouth as it neared her. Lady Andromeda placed the stick in it’s mouth, forcing the top trap to stay open. As the monster struggled she turned to the people who were just starting to stand up.

The tickling at the back of her mind grew stronger. She could envision words. "Andromeda Protection! protect these people from this thing." She watched as the victims developed a soft glow.

“Behind you,” Celeste shouted.

The monster had destroyed the stick.

“Crap.”

Celeste jumped on the monster’s back and bit down on it’s shoulder before jumping off and running in the opposite direction.

The monster turned to back chase her. Lady Andromeda grabbed its vines and pulled. The creature fell, backwards and landed on the ground with a thud.

"Now use your sound wave," Celeste said.

Sound wave? Andromeda had no idea what that rabbit meant, except a new tingling was in her head. This time it felt more like a rush that charged from her soul. "Andromeda Sound wave Shatter!" Andromeda’s arms moved like she was playing a guitar. An energy wave rippled from her hand as a sound of guitar being played was heard. It struck the monster. The creator vibrated before it was rendered into mulch.

"I did it?" She asked. She couldn’t believe it was over, but the smoking pile that used to be the monster proved that it was. "I did it!"

"Way to go," the rabbit said.

The people behind them started to applaud.

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"Time for the news," Laurine’s father said as he turned on the TV. He had changed from his work clothes to old tattered t-shirt and shorts

"That was sweet of you to let her keep that rabbit," Her mother told him. She was wearing a night gown and had a glass of soda and ice in her hand.

"I don’t know why I said yes,” Mr. Chancerdd scratched the top of his head. “I have heard of stray dogs and cats, but not a stray rabbit.”

“It is unusual,” his wife nodded. “I’ll schedule an appointment with a vet.”

They both quieted down as Travis Marshall began his report.

"Earlier this evening a disturbance took place at the botanical gardens," The reporter said. "A strange woman and what people are saying is a monster attacked visitors here. Many have reported sick and tired. The disturbance might still be going on if it weren't for a mysterious girl who calls herself Lady Andromeda. More details of the event where we go live with Curtis Holland."

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The dark inner universe where the remains of the Dark Kingdom remain has always felt cool to Sylvite. Now it was even cooler.

"What happened Sylvite? where's the energy?" the oily voiced leader asked.

"It's not my fault there was this girl," Sylvite said in defense. She could not look up at the handsome face of her ruler, not after her recent disappointment.

"It's true," her brother, Azurite said. "She is a great fighter, and very beautiful. There is something about her."

“You best be careful,” Borice said. “We do not wish to make the same mistake’s as Beryl.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “Beryl.” He whispered their former queen’s name. “We will take over this world. We will do it for you.”

“We all will,” Sylvite said as she stood back up.

_______________________________________________________________________

"We are not always ready," Goliath’s voice said. "but when evil is looming we can not afford to ignore it. We must be thankful for new heroes, not matter who they are. As gargoyles we defend the city at night, but we can not defend it during the day."