Disclaimer: The characters in the story are not mine, save for the thugs. Note to you readers: Dislike this paticular story of the plotline, if you will. I admit, when I looked back over it a while after writing it, I thought that I must have been crazy when I started it, so I'm not too crazy about this story myself, but it's part of the storyline, so here goes.
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I headed for a pay phone, put some change in it & dialed the number for the Amsterdam Caf�. I made a reservation for two people using Destine to identify it. I then called Nightstone Unlimited, to arrange for Dominque Destine to meet someone for lunch. I gave the secretary the name of the caf� & the time, then hung up, & headed back to the Eyrie Building to put on some shoes & my cloak.
At one o� clock, I stood in front of the Amsterdam Caf�, waiting for Dominque. I spotted her coming up the sidewalk. She didn�t look happy at being called to meet someone who didn�t leave her name. But I did it for a reason. I saw Dominque look up, see me at the entrance, & run the rest of the way up the walk, where she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.
�Jasmine, you're human. But� how?� Dominque exclaimed.
�Let�s go in & I�ll explain everything,� I answered.
We walked inside & I said, �Destine, table for two,� to a waiter. He nodded & led us to a reserved table.
�Why did you use my last name?� Dominque whispered after the waiter left.
�Can�t a daughter use her mother�s last name?� I shrugged.
Dominque looked shocked for a moment, then smiled. �Jasmine Destine,� she murmured. �It sounds beautiful. Now, how can you be human?�
�Well, it all started last night�� I began. I told Dominque about Puck & Alex�s favor to me, purposefully leaving out the part about Elisa. I didn't need Demona attacking Elisa out of jealousy. I told about the favor�s details & the events leading up to now.
�So you�re a gargoyle at night, but you can be human or gargoyle at sunrise.�
�That�s right.�
�This is great. Let�s go shopping while it�s still daylight.�
We left the restaurant, boarded a bus, & headed for the Upper West Side, where we shopped for hours. I bought something for everyone in the clan, as well as something for the Xanatos family, Owen, & Matt. I even ran into Kayla, a half-human, half-gargoyle, who was a friend of the clan. I introduced myself & told her about the favor done to me. Kayla said she would see me at the castle. Later, Dominque left for her company & I boarded a bus to go back to the caf�.
I headed back home at seven o� clock, so I could change without anyone seeing me. As I walked through an alley, an arm shot out of the darkness & grabbed my arm. Turning my head, I saw a punk with three other punks behind him.
�Let me go,� I growled. �You�ll be sorry if you don�t.�
�Give us your money,� the punk holding me demanded.
�Not on my life,� I spat.
�Have it your way.�
Before he could to anything, a voice rang out, �Unhand her! And I mean now!� Then a shot flew through the air & detonated a trash can.
�I repeat. Let her go!� the voice demanded. The punk did so & he & his pals ran off.
�Are you all right?� the voice asked.
�Yes, thank you. Who are you?�
�Can�t you tell from my voice?�
I thought hard. The voice did sound familiar. Where have I heard it? Suddenly, it hit me. Could it be? Only one way to find out.
�Are you Darkwing Duck?�
Blue smoke erupted in front of me. �I am the terror that flaps in the night. I am the jailer who throws away the key. I�am Darkwiiiiing Duck!� I was correct! The smoke cleared & there he stood!
�And who are you, my fair maiden?� asked Darkwing.
�You don�t know me?�
Darkwing studied my face thoughtfully. Then his face lit up.
�You�re Princess Jasmine from Aladdin!�
�Yes, I am.�
�I liked you performance in the movie. Especially your spirit.�
�I liked your cartoon show. You were great!�
�Yeah� well,� Darkwing was actually blushing.
I looked at the sky & saw that the sun was almost gone! I was going to change soon. But I couldn�t do it now. Not here!
�I�I have to go,� I said nervously.
�Why? We just met.�
�It�s almost nightfall.�
�What happens at nightfall?�
I hesitated. Should I tell him? What would he say? I decided to take the plunge.
�Just watch. You�ll see.� I took my cloak & shoes off & set them in a bag. I looked at the sky & it had just turned midnight blue.
I gritted my teeth as my hands changed into talons & my skin changed color. My wings sprouted from my back & my tail grew out of it�s tail hole in my pants. My legs grew further apart & clawed. My eyes glowed white, as I stretched & let out a jaguar scream. I looked at my friend & saw him look at me in shock & fright. I folded my wings, so to appear less frightening.
�Darkwing, it�s all right. It�s me. Jasmine,� I said to calm him down.
�What�are you?� came the reply.
�A gargoyle. I wasn�t sure if I should tell you. I mean, I didn�t want to scare you.�
�You didn�t scare me. Just startled me. I�ve seen weirder things.�
I let out my breath that I didn�t even know I was holding. Okay, so he didn�t seem to think that my changing into a gargoyle was weird.
I realized then that the clan was probably worrying about me. I needed to go back to assure them that I was okay & tell them about last night.
�I need to go home. Maybe you & I could see each other another time,� I suggested.
�Of course, but I�ll come to see you. Just tell me where you live.�
I pointed to the Eyrie Building in the distance. �There. In the castle at the top.�
�Okay. See you another time,� Darkwing promised, vanishing in a puff of smoke.
I grabbed the shopping bag with my tail & started to climb up the wall. Then, I let go & glided toward the castle. As I glided, I felt like the world was perfect. I did barrel rolls, spirals, & dives. I landed in the courtyard, where the clan was, after performing a perfect flip.
�Where have you been? We searched the whole castle & we couldn�t find you,� demanded Brooklyn.
I told everyone about last night, what happened at sunrise & all the way to present. I passed out the gifts, while I explained.
After everyone accepted my story, they asked me questions, as we headed inside the castle to watch television, take care of Rose, & have supper.