The Terror that Flaps in the Night-before you read this, I must explain the basic situation so you will not get confused. This story is a cross-over of Darkwing Duck and a few Warner Brothers characters from "Tiny Toon Adventures." In this story, Babs and Buster are engaged, and Bugs Bunny has an absolutely stunning wife named Claudia Rabbit. She is flirtatious and can make any man do whatever she pleases. Also, there are a few new characters besides Claudia. One is Petta Stinkay, at this time Pepe LePew's fiance'. Most of the characters are in an incredibly popular band Babs started a few years before called "Baberella." At the moment they are a country band, and have been very successful. Babs owns a race-horse farm called "Hopeful Farms", and her good friend Claudia owns the adjoining ranch called "Double U Ranch." None of these characters know Darkwing, but they are about to meet him. This is just the first in a whole series of stories about these characters. It is how Claudia, Babs, and the rest of Baberella met Darkwing Duck and his most feared enemies, the Fearsome Five. As time goes on, I will send out the next few stories. Enjoy!! The Terror That Flaps in the Night By: Christine Harcinske (DH@zianet.com) Negaduck's glare was bitter as he looked out over St. Canard from a fine condo high in the middle of the town. He could see everything from the condo, and nothing escaped his evil eyes. He was young, not yet twenty-five, but he was cold and evil and as experienced as a seasoned pro criminal. He had lived like this for years, eliminating what ever unfortunate person that stumbled into his path and sucking up the wealth he stole. Even at his young age, he had a reputation to be feared. An older duck stepped up beside him and gave the city a once over. "Are you just going to stand there all day like that, or are you actually going to get your tail feathers in gear?" James Mallard asked coldly. Negaduck's glare sharpened in disgust. "Dad, if you're so worried about the police, you go handle the problem," he snarled, taking a sip from the glass of champagne he held. "They're starting to get leads," James returned bitterly. "If you plan to steal the gold this afternoon-" "Forget the gold, Dad," Negaduck snarled, turning away. "They already know I'm planning to go after that." He walked to the big desk and re-filled his glass from the bottle that sat on it. "What they don't expect me to do is pull a small little petty robbery. And that's exactly what I'm going to do." James shook his head. "You're crazy, Junior," he growled. Negaduck swallowed a deep drink of the champagne glass and glared at him nastily. "How many times to I have to tell you not to call me Junior, Dad?" he snarled. James sighed and shook his head in disgust. Negaduck quickly swallowed the rest of the champagne, set the glass down, and pulled a gun out of the shoulder holster he wore. It was a stunning Ivory-handled Colt, fairly old but in mint condition. Negaduck rubbed the barrel lovingly before he popped open the cylinder and loaded it. When it was full he gave it a cold spin and snapped it shut, then glared up at James. "I'm going to town," he snarled. "Watch the place till I get back. I'm going to check out the scene and find a few stooges to help with the job." With that, Negaduck whirled, and, with a flutter of his cape, disappeared out the door. * * The shadowy figure of Darkwing Duck peered out from the shadows, watching as a rat with cord prongs on top of his head carefully cut a hole through the glass surrounding a display window at a fine jewelry store. Darkwing glanced at the customers and store owners laying on the floor, then whispered to his side kick Launchpad as the rat removed a diamond necklace from the display, "This is it, Launchpad. We've caught Megavolt red-handed. Just wait for my to give the signal, then attack." "What signal?" Launchpad asked, not bothering to lower his voice any lower than a normal speaking voice. Megavolt turned and looked at him, clutching the necklace in his hand, then took off out the door of the store at a dead-run. "Oh!" Darkwing exclaimed. He glared at Launchpad. "Great, Launchpad! You just let Megavolt know we're here and he took off with a million-dollar necklace!" "Gee, DW, I didn't realize-" Launchpad stared to say, then stopped short when he realized Darkwing had mysteriously vanished. "Well Gladys, where to next?" Babs Bunny asked her close friend Gladys Duck as they walked through a crowded mall. "I guess we could stop by the bridal shop to look for a dress for your wedding," Gladys returned. "I still can't believe you're getting married to Buster!" Babs softly giggled. "It still hasn't sank in completely," she replied. They laughed. Suddenly a rat clutching a diamond necklace came rushing head-long into the crowd. Ladies screamed as he crashed into them, and then pushed them aside. He was just rushing past Babs and Gladys when a cloud of smoke appeared and a voice announced, "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the mallard that's crackin' this case! I am Darkwing Duck!" Darkwing's figure stepped out from the smoke cloud, holding a gas gun in hand. He shot Megavolt with laughing gas, and Megavolt went insane, laughing like a mad man. He grabbed Gladys, who was the nearest to him, and held a weird looking weapon up to her head. "I'll kill her! I swear I'll kill her!" Megavolt threatened, laughing uncontrollably. "Back off, Darkwing Geek, or I'll kill her!" Gladys shrieked as Megavolt clicked a switch on the weapon. Darkwing looked around, then stared Megavolt in the eye. Suddenly he jumped, grabbing a rope that hung from the ceiling. He swung toward Megavolt, and Gladys screamed just as Darkwing crashed into them. Gladys landed by the feet of the crowd that had gathered, and Darkwing landed on Megavolt. He took hold of Megavolt's throat, only to be thrown off. Darkwing wheeled and clobbered Megavolt. They struggled, rolling first toward the crowd, then away, then back toward it again. Just when Darkwing had hold of Megavolt's shoulders, Megavolt threw him off into the crowd. Megavolt was climbing to his feet when suddenly someone yelled and jumped on top of him. A little red-haired girl with the rope Darkwing had used to swing into Megavolt hog-tied him and then jumped to her feet, glaring at Megavolt. "You tried to hurt Darkwing, hu?" she remarked. Darkwing climbed to his feet and walked to the girl. "Thanks Gosalyn," he said, hugging the girl. "But I thought I told you to stay home." "Ah, come on Dad!" Gosalyn whined. "You always get to have all the fun." "But I can't risk you getting hurt on one of my cases!" Darkwing returned, walking over top Gladys, who was still laying at the edge of the crowd. He helped her to her feet, replying politely, "There you go, Miss." "Why thank you sir," Gladys said, looking at the floor. "I-" She stopped short as she looked up and her eyes met with Darkwing's. Darkwing was speechless, and he carefully swallowed as they stood there staring into each others eyes. Suddenly a sharp voice called, "Hurry up, Dad, Steelbeak is terrorizing the museum!" Gosalyn glared at her Dad. Darkwing looked at Gladys one last time, then dashed off, his cape billowing out behind him. Babs touched Gladys on the shoulder and asked as Darkwing disappeared around a corner, "Well, I guess Darkwing Duck saved the day again, hu?" Gladys put her hands to her heart and sighed. "Yeah," she said breathlessly. Later that night, on top of a high bridge that stood at the edge of the part of Acme Acres called St. Canard, a shadowy figure with a cape tip-toed up the cables of the bridge. A voice exclaimed, "The city of St. Canard is home to over a thousand criminals, but not one dares make a move." The figure ducked into the shadows and replied, "For this city has a shadowy guardian that hunts them like a phantom in the darkness." The figure looked out over the city and replied, "I am that guardian! I am the terror that flaps in the night. I am the wicked scourge that peaks at your nightmares!" He slid down onto a concert slab atop on of the sculptures on top of the bridge's peaks and declared, "I am Darkwing Duck! And I am-" he paused, looking over the bay below, and exclaimed, "totally bord out of my skull!" He paced the slab, complaining, "What is going on? Are all the crooks on vacation or something? Is there some criminal holiday I don't know about?!" "Oh, take it easy, DW," Launchpad replied from where he sat with a fishing line cast down into the bay. "It just means you're doing a great job crime-busting." "Yeah, I suppose, but I'm not asking for much," Darkwing remarked, pacing past Launchpad. "A jay-walker, a litter bug, anything!" He paused, looking out over the city, his cape blowing around his shoulders. "There's just one thing that bugs me. That girl I met this afternoon in the mall, the way she looked at me, she reminded me of-" Darkwing paused, taking a breath and swallowing. "Stephanie," he finished quietly. Launchpad stopped reeling his line in to look at Darkwing. "Your last girlfriend?" he asked, studying Darkwing without knowing it. Darkwing silently nodded. He turned and paced a few steps, then looked up. "My crime-fighting was the whole reason she left. After that night we spent together she thought I didn't spend enough time with her and that I should quit this job and settle down. I won't listen to her, and one night she left, and then I found Gosalyn and adopted her." Darkwing took a ragged breath. "If only I had listened to her this would've never happened," he said. "Aw, take it easy on yourself, DW," Launchpad remarked, tossing his line out into the water. "You got a great reputation, and you're keeping the city peaceful." "You don't get it, do you?!" Darkwing exclaimed, turning and glaring at Launchpad. "You've never been in love! You don't know what it's like, going through all the sudden changes and thinking non-stop about someone and just praying to God that they love you as much as you love them!" Darkwing paced the slab furiously, stopping and whirling the other way when he came to the edge. "I just can't take this! I went through it once, and I don't want to go through it again! I can't stand it when they look in your eyes and promise the world to you, then turn around the next day and say they're gonna leave ya! The whole reason I brought up Darkwing Duck, the super hero that saved me as a kid, even though I didn't know it was really me traveling back in time, is because the first one I fell in love with, Cindy, was even worse! She was so sweet to me and got me so I would do anything for her, then suddenly she was gone, leaving a note that read "Good-bye, singed: Cindy!" I just can't take it anymore!!" "But-" Launchpad started to say. "Forget it, Launchpad, just forget it!" Darkwing nearly shouted. "I'm not falling for her, she's not a part of my life, just someone I met, so forget it!!" Darkwing stomped off around the corner of the slab. * * Gladys gazed up at the ceiling and exclaimed softly, "And then he looked into my eyes and I just...just...and he just kept looking into my eyes, and I thought I could the faintest smile on his lips, and..." Gladys faded of, staring blankly into space. "And then here comes the real master of disguise, and he pushes away Darkwing Dweeb and wins the heart of the fair maiden!" Plucky Duck suddenly piped in, sliding his arm around Gladys and pulling her closer. Gladys glared at him, then grabbed a pillow that lay near her on the couch she was sitting on and slugged Plucky with it. He fell in a heap on the floor. "Yeah, but it was so impressive!" Babs chimed in, sliding up beside Gladys. "The way he handled the situation so coolly, and the way he just went dashing off with his cape billowing behind him!" Babs paused, noticing everyone was staring at her blankly. "Oh, come on you guys!" she remarked. "Don't any of you believe us?!" "I do," Claudia Rabbit replied. "I truly believe Darkwing is real. I've never seen him, but I still believe he's out there." "Oh please!" Buster Bunny exclaimed. "He's a walking rumor! A no-one! He only exists on his stupid show! He's not even a has-been, he's a once-was!" Babs gasped. "Buster Bunny!" she declared. "Darkwing is too real, I saw him with my own eyes, and I have to say he's a lot more cunning and handsome than you!" Babs turned her back on Buster and so did Gladys and Claudia. The next day Babs, Buster, Gladys, and Fifi LeFume walked toward "The Sound System," a first-class music store, with the sun setting just to their left. Fifi waited as everyone else went in, then, just as she was about to step inside, she noticed a dark figure creeping along the roof out of the corner of her eye. Fifi stopped short, slowly looked up at the roof, then shook her head, thinking she was imagining things. "Why do we have to come here again?" Fifi asked inside the store. "We are just here last Thursday, oui non!" "Because somebody keeps goofing around at rehearsal and putting a hole in his guitar!" Babs replied, glaring at Buster. Everyone turned and glared. Buster sheepishly grinned and shrugged. A duck, dressed in a red hat, black cape, black mask, and yellow suit suddenly came strutting in. He threw a bag he carried open, then started throwing instruments and stereos into it. He glanced up as the store manager came walking up, yelling to put the stuff back, and shot him with some sort of gas. The man was frozen in his tracks. The duck continued to throw stuff into his bag, the toons watching silently. "Who is he?" asked Fifi quietly. "Like I'm supposed to know?!" Gladys angrily whispered back. Suddenly a cloud of smoke filled the top of the room, and a voice declared, "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the wicked scourge that peaks at your nightmares! I am Darkwing Duck!" Darkwing came crashing through the ceiling, right on top of the duck. "So, Negaduck, you thought you could out-smart the witty Darkwing Duck?!" he exclaimed, grabbing the duck's hands and pulling them behind his back. "Yeah, and I would've if someone hadn't alerted the geek squad!" Negaduck hissed in a gruff voice. He struggled to get Darkwing off his back, but Darkwing all ready had his hands tied. He grabbed the bag Negaduck was throwing stuff into and stuffed him in it, tied it, and threw it out the door just as the police arrived. Darkwing whirled, ran toward an open window, then paused, noticing Gladys. He quickly looked toward the door, then ran to Gladys, grabbed her, and shot a rope with a hook on the end through the hole in the roof. The rope began to pull them up, and Gladys gave a shriek, but was quickly quieted by Darkwing. They were pulled up threw the hole, Darkwing's cape billowing beautifully. When they reached the top Darkwing set Gladys on the roof, then glanced down at the others. Suddenly he dashed off, taking Gladys with him, and the last thing the toons saw was Darkwing's cape flowing back in the wind. "No such thing as Darkwing Duck, hu?" Babs sneered, glaring at Buster. He sheepishly grinned. * * "Why did you bring me here?!" Gladys exclaimed angrily. It was pitch-dark out, and Darkwing had taken her back to his secret hide out on top of the high bridge that ran over the local bay. No one was there; Launchpad and Gosalyn were staying at the Muddlefoots back home. "I don't mean any harm, just please-" Darkwing calmly explained, taking hold of Gladys' arm. "No, I won't!" She cried, jerking away from him. "Just take me back and I'll forget this whole ordeal. But if you don't my friends will call the police! They'll have them all over the place, and they'll find you!" "Wait!" Darkwing exclaimed as Gladys stalked toward the door. "Just let me explain!" Gladys tried to open the door, but when it didn't budge she whirled and, eyes flashing, yelled, "And why should I! Here I was thinking you were some sort of guardian and that you were good, then you go kidnap me! You don't know what the police will do! I'm one of the most famous people in the nation! They'll find you! They'll-" Gladys stopped short, for Darkwing had slowly been moving toward her, and now he stood right in front of her. "Please, just let me tell you something," Darkwing said quietly, softly laying his hands on Gladys' shoulders. Gladys jerked back. "I thought I told you-" she started to say, but Darkwing had drawn her near. "I need to ask you something," Darkwing said, looking her in the eye. Gladys paused a moment, then asked in a whisper, "What?" Darkwing gazed at her a moment, then quickly drew his cape around Gladys. * * "And then it started pulling then up threw the roof!" Fifi explained excitedly to the rest of the band the next morning. Plucky gave her a look. "You sure you're feeling okay?" he asked. Fifi glared at him, then socked him with a pillow. "Oui!" she shouted in his face. "Yeah, but if he really did that, how come we haven't heard anything on the news about the police sighting him?" Harriet Rabbit, Claudia's sister, asked. She looked up from her drawing at them. "Because he stays in the shadows!" Babs exclaimed. "He blends in with them with his shadowy disguise!" The others groaned in disbelief. "Listen, you guys," Buster remarked sternly. "I know yesterday I told you there wasn't a Darkwing Duck, but there is! I saw him!" "Then show him to us!" Plucky declared. "If your so smart, show him to us!" Buster fell silent. "Hi guys! How are ya all?" called a voice. Everyone turned to see Gladys waltz in the room, her hair wavy and let-down. Plucky grinned, then marched up to her. "Ah, so you returned to your nest to greet the charming Pluckster!" he replied, grinning at her has he pulled her closer. Gladys looked him in the eye and returned coldly, "Not hardly." Plucky stopped short and watched speechlessly as Gladys strutted past him toward the others. "So what are ya guys doing in my house, anyway? Surprise party?" She grinned at Fifi. "Gladys!" Babs exclaimed, rushing up to her friend. "Where were you? Do want me to call the police?" Gladys laughed. "Oh no!" she returned joyfully, strolling to the window and leaning on the window, gazing out at the rolling hills surrounding her house. "Don't worry about me! I'm perfectly fine!" She glanced at the others, and added, "Perfectly. "What happened?" Fifi exploded. "What did he do to you?" Gladys turned to the others, grinned, and gazed back out the window. Just as Harriet was about to ask a question, a cloud of smoke appeared. A duck stepped out and exclaimed, "I am the terror that flaps in the night!" He threw back his cape, revealing the roses in his hand, and said, "I am-" He stopped short, noticing all the people staring at him. "Oh, hi Darkwing," Gladys said mildly, grinning at him. Darkwing was about to reply when a soft voice with a hint of a Texan accent remarked form behind him, "Oh, so that's what the terror that flaps in the night looks like." Darkwing slowly turned and laid his eyes on Claudia, stretched out comfortably on the coach with a baby tee and shorts on. Darkwing stared. "Hi-ya, handsome," Claudia replied, grinning at him. Darkwing's eyes widened and he did a double take. Claudia turned to Babs, who stood open-mouthed next to her, and said, "I like this guy." "Darkwing, I'd like you to meet Claudia and Babs," Gladys said, strolling up to the duck when he had finally calmed down. "They're part of the band I'm in called "Baberella"." Darkwing swallowed a lump in his throat, then stood tall, regaining his witty personality. He took off his hat and bowed to them, saying, "Ah, as I was saying, I am Darkwing Duck!" He put his hat back on and took Claudia's hand in his. "Just let me tell you that you're safe as long as Darkwing Duck is on the job!" Claudia gently smiled and shinned her sparkling blue eyes at him. "Ain't that sweet, ya guys?" she crooned. "I think we should have this guy over more often. Who knows, we could even play "Twister"." Claudia grinned sarcastically at Babs. Darkwing turned away from them and strolled up to Gladys. He took her hand, presented the roses, then whispered, "If you ever want to find me, just look up." Darkwing slowly backed away from Gladys, then shot a rope threw the skylight in the roof, and threw a little bomb as the rope began to pull him up. A cloud of smoke burst from the bomb, and when it cleared, Darkwing had vanished. "Isn't that what Superman said?" Plucky asked. Everyone glared at him. * * Negaduck gritted his teeth as the cell door slid shut behind him. He passed the guard outside a dark glare, then took a step and ran his cold eyes over the other occupants in the cell. A duck in a clown outfit was busy drawing on the wall with red chalk, and a green duck who resembled a plant was lounging on one of the bunks. A water dog was sadly squirting at a spider that crawled along the floor, and a rat in a jump suit was busy messing with the light bulb in the ceiling. Negaduck narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth in disgust as he studied them. Just then the clown looked up. "Hey, look guys, we have a new friend!" he exclaimed. The others looked up and stared at Negaduck like a kindergarten class stares at a new student. Negaduck drew in a deep breath, his glare sharpening. "What are you freaks looking at?" he snarled. The villains looked at each other. The clown grinned. "Boy, he's a pretty one," he remarked, studying Negaduck. "Looks very good in those stripes, too." The plant/duck gave a laugh. "Yeah, he's probably one of those up-town playboys who got locked up for breaking some chick's heart." Negaduck cocked an eyebrow. "That's how it started," he snarled with a bloody grin. "Course, if that was all, they wouldn't be trying to send me to the chair." The rat stared at him, then his face brightened. "Hey, I know you!" he exclaimed. "You're that one guy the police were having a hard time catching! You're the one who's been the latest inspiration in the criminal world!" He paused. "Is it Megaduck?" Negaduck's bloody grin widened. "Negaduck," he growled chillingly. "Short for negative duck. Murdering, killing, fiendishly bloody, negative duck." The others paused, staring at him. Finally the rat let out a breath. "Yeah, we've heard of you," he said quietly. "I'm Megavolt. These are my colleagues and crime-buddies Quackerjack, Bushroot, and Liquidator." Negaduck ran his eyes over them slowly. "Let me guess, you got locked up knocking over a bank," he growled. "Hey, how'd you know?" Bushroot asked. Negaduck grinned bloodily. "I have my connections," he snarled. The guard tapped on the call door. "Hey Negaduck," he mocked. Negaduck turned and glared at him bitterly. "Maybe you'll get lucky and only get life instead of the chair, huh?" he asked with a laugh. Negaduck's teeth gritted as he glared at the laughing guard, who tapped the door mockingly again before strolling off down the corridor. Negaduck's eyes burned as he watched him leave. Quackerjack grinned, turning back to his drawing. "Looks like you're in a spot," he remarked. "We only got thirty years." He paused to grinned teasingly at Negaduck. "I guess good looks don't get you everything." Negaduck's lips twisted into a horridly bloodily grin. "Oh, yes they do," he snarled. The others paused and looked at him. Negaduck's bloody grin grew as he studied them. "How'd you guys like to blow this joint and become incredibly rich?" he growled. It was barely that night when the guard returned to find the cell wide open and deserted. A frantic search was made, but the criminals were never to be found. * * Moliarty snickered wickedly as he looked out at St. Canard and Acme Acres. He read his wrist watch: 10:16 AM. Moliarty pulled sun glasses over his eyes and called to the rest of the moles in his clan. "This it is, children. Soon it will be ours, all ours! We just have to get control over the Acme Rubber Factory, shoot a giant mass of rubber over the sun, and we'll be living in our own personal world, without worries except for our own molish reasons! But first we must destroy Darkwing Duck, before he finds out about our brilliant plan and ruins it again!" Megavolt and Negaduck suddenly appeared at his side. "Hey, thanks for bustin' us out, Moley," Negaduck sneered, glaring out at St. Canard. "That Darkwing Dweeb is getting on my nerves. You want me to kill him?" "Yeah, and I'll help," Megavolt said. "That little pea-brained idiot should be the one that's behind bars." "Oh, will you guys calm down!" Moliarty remarked rudely. "If you don't follow my plans exactly everything will go wrong! We'll get to that later, but now we have a world to take over." Moliarty turned and walked back into the hole he had been looking out of, and Megavolt followed. Negaduck stood behind, glaring evilly out at St. Canard. "No little hair ball that has two percent vision is going to tell me what to do," he hissed, clenching his fists in anger. "I'll get rid of Darkwing myself. I don't need the help of two losers with an ego problem. By sunrise tomorrow Darkwing Duck will be a goner and I will have the whole city at my knees, including Moliarty and Megavolt!" Negaduck laughed wickedly. A duck's figure with a cape moved through the shadows outside a jewelry store. He carefully looked around, then flipped a latch on a window, painted the sill, then slowly opened the window. He stepped into the store and glanced at the alarm wire running across the window sill, now covered with paint, and sneered. He closed the window, then tip-toed toward a display of diamond necklaces. Off in a quiet neighborhood Gosalyn Mallard was watching tv with her friends Honker and Launchpad when suddenly the movie they were watching was interrupted by a news bulletin. "This was the scene just moments ago when passers-by notice the local "Black Diamond Jewelry Store" door slightly ajar. A passer notified the police, then, as the police arrived at the scene, the store's alarm went off. Police rushed inside, figuring they had caught the thief, only to find the whole store crushed and all the diamonds stolen. The owner of the store is offering a reward of..." "Hey guys, look at that!" Gosalyn shouted, jumping to her feet. "Where's Dad? We gotta tell him!" Gosalyn ran toward the stairs, yelling, "Darkwing!" Honker and Launchpad looked at each other, shrugged, and followed her. In a room upstairs Drake Mallard sat propped up a pile of pillows on his bed, staring at a picture of a girl duck, her carefree face laughing and the wind blowing her hair back. Drake sighed, then looked up when he heard "Darkwing!" and the pounding of feet on the stairs. Just as the door was opening Drake quickly hid the picture behind his pillow. Gosalyn burst into the room followed closely by Launchpad and Honker. "Dad!" Gosalyn shouted, jumping onto the bed, right on Darkwing. "You gotta come see this! Somebody stole all the diamonds from the Black Diamond Jewelry Store! You gotta get ready! We got a case! And only Darkwing can solve it!" Drake looked at her sternly and set her on the floor. "Did anyone ever teach you how to knock?" he asked mildly. "Dad!" Gosalyn said impatiently. "Quit fooling around! You gotta see this!" Gosalyn took hold of Drake's robe and pulled him, much against his will, downstairs. "Gosalyn, what is this all about?!" Drake asked when she finally stopped in front of the tv. Gosalyn pointed to it, and Drake watched as it showed police investigating the jewelry store and heard what had happened. Drake narrowed his eyes, studying the scene. "Police found a piece of a purple cloth torn on the side of one of the displays, and they are claiming to know who the suspect is. This is Wally Weasel, head chief of the St. Canard Police." The newscaster held a mike in front of a tall, formal-looking weasel. "This is the piece of cloth we found inside the store," he said, holding up a dark-purple cloth. Gosalyn glanced nervously at her dad, then watched the screen as Wally replied, "We believe it came off of Darkwing Duck's, supposed protector of the city, cape. We are warning citizens to stay clear of Darkwing if sighted, and..." Drake jumped. "Excuse me?!" he shouted, glaring at the tv. "What kind of a city is this?! Like I would rob a jewelry store! What would I want with all those diamonds!?!" Drake angrily paced back and forth. "How could I be there when I was upstairs! And how did that cloth get there in the first place!?" "Dad, maybe it was a chameleon or something," Gosalyn suggested. Drake stopped short. "A chameleon?" he repeated. "I remember the case we had with Chameleon." Drake studied Gosalyn. "Are you sure you're really Gosalyn?" "Dad!" Gosalyn exclaimed. "Why would be here if I wasn't?" "Maybe you're Chameleon spying on us, just so you can frame Darkwing Duck!" Darkwing remarked, glaring at Gosalyn. "If you're really Gosalyn, prove it." "Well," Gosalyn said uncertainly, then looked up at Drake, face set. "You're really Drake Mallard, and you have a pair of boxing shorts with little red hearts on them and-" "Okay, okay, I believe you!" Darkwing exclaimed, quickly slapping his hand across Gosalyn's mouth. He turned to watch as the tv showed a screaming crowd in front of a huge stage. "This robbery is making guards take special moves to protect Baberella, the famous music band, at their concert tonight at seven-thirty." Darkwing's narrowed into slits as he noticed a figure with a cape sneaking through the shadows above the stage. The figure glanced out at the crowd, then proceeded to creep along the roof. Darkwing drew back and hissed, "Negaduck." He looked at Gosalyn, then Launchpad, and sneered, "LP, let's get dangerous." * * "Are my ears okay?" Harriet asked Babs backstage. They were making last minute adjustments for their up-coming concert, and every one of the girls were dressed in a fancy, low-cut, full-skirted dress. Harriet messed with her ears, which hung loosely over her eyes. "Oh, quit worrying about your ears, Harriet. They look great!" Fifi replied encouragingly, taking hold of Harriet's hands and gently pulling them away from her ears. Harriet grinned. "Thanks, Fifi. I guess it's just because Pierre's out there." "Pierre, hu?" Gladys said, grinning as she strutted up, carefully putting on earrings. "At least he's here. I know Darkwing; he's off somewhere kickin' some criminal in the b-" "Hi-ya, guys," called a feathery voice. Everyone turned to see Claudia waltz up, wearing a low-cut, full fitting, lilac-colored dress that twirled a foot off the ground at her slightest move. She brought with her the soft fragrance of lilacs and roses. On her left arm was Bugs, who wore an expensive, neatly pressed tuxedo. Everyone stared. "Did I hear somethin' 'bout that cunnin' Darkwing?" Claudia crooned, smiling at Buster with her eyes. Buster swallowed. "Oh, yeah," Gladys remarked, rolling her eyes and fastening her earring. "I just sayin' how lucky Harriet was to have Pierre here and how Darkwing is probably out crime-busting at this very minute." "At least he doesn't cheat on you!" Fifi jumped in. "That jerk James let me catch him cheating on me with Candice, then came crawling back to me, begging like a dog for me to forgive him!" Fifi glared out at the front row in the crowd at a black and white skunk with green eyes wearing a chocolate brown leather jacket. "Ooohhh! How I wish James would just dig a whole, crawl in it, bury himself, and DIE!" Fifi turned away in disgust. "Don't worry, Fif," Babs replied softly, hugging her friend. "You'll find someone. Just take Harriet: she wasn't even lookin' for anyone, then she gets introduced to Pierre and BAM! You have the perfect couple!" Fifi looked out into the crowd, further down in the front row, at a smoky and white colored skunk with sea green eyes wearing a teal blue silk blouse and a black, double-breasted leather jacket. Next to him stood a black and white girl skunk with long hair wearing a full-fitting, shimmering red dress. Beside her, his arm in hers, stood another black and white skunk with a top of the line tuxedo on and a very formal looking attitude. "Harriet is so lucky to be going with Pierre," she replied, motioning to the skunk with the silk and leather jacket on. "I mean, they're so in love they don't even care that one of them is a rabbit the other one's a skunk!" "Right!" Babs exclaimed. "And then you have Gladys and DW, brought together by some guy trying to steal a diamond necklace and a little red-haired girl! DW probably never would have more than glanced at Gladys if Megavolt hadn't of taken her hostage. The whole reason he noticed her is because he knocked her over trying to get Megavolt, and then helped her to her feet. Man, when you see two people look at each other it makes you wonder how they manage to stay away from each other!" Fifi paused, then smiled at her friend. "Oui, you're right, Babs," she remarked. "I do not care if James is alive, but, if he dies, I shall throw the biggest party and celebrate every anniversary!" They laughed. Darkwing sneaked along the rail holding up the lights above the stage. The stage was still dark: the concert had not began yet. Darkwing paused, looked around, then whispered, "No sign of Negaduck." He looked out at the crowd and wondered, "I wonder where that filthy little-" Suddenly somebody jumped down from the roof on top of Darkwing, and they both fell to the floor with a loud THUD! Babs turned to her band, who were eagerly awaiting the start of the concert. "Well, guys, this is it!" she declared. "Put on your performing talents, and let's rock this joint!" The band cheered. The lights over the audience suddenly dimmed, and the sound of a single note being struck and held on a guitar filled the stadium. The crowd rose it's chatter to screaming, then suddenly the band struck up playing the club mix to their biggest hit, "No One Else on Earth." The stage was flooded with light, and Buster and Claudia stood at the front of it, playing together a rocking opening line. Claudia then strutted down the right side of the stage while Buster left for the back. Darkwing quickly kicked off Negaduck, then turned and kicked at him. Negaduck jumped, then took off up the ladder leading to the light rail, Darkwing one step behind him. "I've been a-rockin', I got my fences," Claudia sang. "I never let them down! When it comes to love, I keep my senses! I don't git kicked aroun'!" Negaduck glared down at the stage, then grabbed a rope and swung across it as Babs strolled up beside Claudia and sang, "I shivered once, you broke into my soul! The damage is done, and now I'm out of control!" Babs and Claudia sang together, "How did you get to me?" The rest of the girls joined them to sing, "No one else on earth could ever hurt me! Break my heart the way you do! No one else on earth was ever worth it! No one could love me like-no one could love me like you!" Darkwing stared after Negaduck as he landed on the walkway to behind the stage, then threw down the ladder that lead up to the rail Darkwing was on, leaving him trapped. Darkwing glared at Negaduck in warning, but Negaduck only tipped his hat to DW and saughtered off as Buster and Claudia played a short line before Harriet strutted up to the front of the stage and sang, "You can make me want you, anytime you want to! You're burning me alive!" Darkwing looked around, then grinned when he saw a thin rail leading to the walkway. "I can't deny you, even when I've kept you! Even through weak alibis!" Harriet continued. Darkwing was about to start out on the rail when Gladys walked up beside Harriet and sang, "'Cause when the night falls you make me forget!" Darkwing paused and, grinning, gazed down at Gladys as she sang, "Your love is killing me! And it ain't over yet!" They sang, "How did you get to me?" All the girls sang, "No one else on earth could ever hurt me! Break my heart the way you do! No one else on earth was ever worth it! No one could love me like-no one could love me like you!" Claudia and Buster stepped to the front of the stage, and Buster went into a solo. Claudia started to play the same thing a split second later, so that she was echoing Buster. They smiled at each other, admiring each others playing. "Hey, Loverboy," a harsh voice called. Darkwing wheeled from where he watched the concert, still on the rail, and saw Negaduck about to cut the last rope holding the railing. Darkwing glared at Negaduck. Fifi stepped to the front of the stage when they were done and sang, "I shivered once, you broke into my soul! The damage is done and now I'm out of control!" The band was about to go into the chorus when suddenly the rail holding the lights came crashing down on the stage. The crowd screamed, and for a moment the whole stadium was pitch black. When the lights came back on, half the band lay in the crowd, the other half either on the stage or backstage, and Darkwing and Negaduck were struggling in the middle of the stage. The crowd gasped, then went into a frenzy, running for the doors only to find them locked shut from the outside. Darkwing swung at Negaduck with a long pipe, but Negaduck ducked, then jumped at DW, landing on him hard and pinning him to the floor. Darkwing glared up at him, then hissed, "When I get through with you, you'll be sorry you messed with the masked mallard!" "HA!" Negaduck sneered back, grabbing Darkwing's hand as he freed it and pinning it back to the floor. "And when I finish with you, you won't even be here to see your precious city melt into a watery grave!" Negaduck pulled out a short-bladded knife, and it sparkled when it hit the light. Darkwing's eyes filled with fright. Gladys gasped, then ran up to Negaduck and grabbed his cape, pulling him off Darkwing. Negaduck turned in surprise, then glared and jumped at Gladys. Grabbing her roughly, he raised the knife. Gladys screamed as a purple streak came racing toward them, bashing into Negaduck head-long and throwing him to the floor, knocking the knife across the stage. Negaduck turned and laid eyes on Darkwing Duck, glaring over him, breathing heavily. Negaduck started to climb to his feet, then yelled as he jumped at Darkwing. They crashed to the floor again, rolling every which way as they struggled. Darkwing sneered at Negaduck, who sneered back, staring right back into his eyes. Darkwing stared back, then made a jump for the knife laying near by. Negaduck yelled, "NO!" then jumped after Darkwing. But Darkwing was a half a step ahead of him, and, gripping the knife tightly, he turned on Negaduck, who drew back, then dogged the flying knife. Negaduck's eyes flashed, then suddenly he let out a shout as Darkwing jumped, landing on him solidly. Darkwing struggled to grab Negaduck's flying hands, then pinned him to the floor. He thrust the knife through Negaduck's sleeve, pinning his left hand to the floor, then stuck a piece of glass lying nearby in his right sleeve, leaving Negaduck pinned threw the floor. Darkwing climbed to his feet and glared at Negaduck, who was struggling to free himself. "I told you you'd be sorry you messed with the masked mallard!" Darkwing gloated, glowering madly down at him. Negaduck glared up at Darkwing, his eyes flashing. Darkwing noticed some one holding his arm, and turned to see Gladys standing beside him, shaking violently. Darkwing looked at her a second, then turned and held her close. "Gladys, are you okay?" Babs exclaimed, running up to her friend. Gladys pulled out of Darkwing's arms, gazed at him a moment, then turned and hugged Babs. "Yeah," Gladys said breathlessly. "Darkwing's here." Babs drew back and looked at Darkwing. "Ah, thank you, Mister Darkwing," Babs said quietly. Darkwing grinned. "Call me DW," he returned. Suddenly some one gasped behind him. Darkwing turned and laid his eyes on Claudia, standing shocked at the edge of the stage. "God!" she exclaimed. "He's even cuter than the last time I saw him!" Darkwing took off his hat, walked up to Claudia, and took her hand in his. "Claudia," he said, looking into her eyes. "Just let me ask, just this once, may I?" Darkwing raised Claudia's hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. He gazed at her a second longer, then walked back to Gladys. Claudia sighed, holding her hand to her heart. "Anytime," she sighed. "Everything's okay," Darkwing replied to the band. "You might as well go on home." "But-" Fifi started to say. "Oh no, don't thank me!" Darkwing interrupted. "It's only duty." "But-" Fifi tried to say, but Darkwing continued to ravel on. "Yes sir!" Darkwing gloated. "Night or day, rain or shine, nothing can stop the daring Darkwing Duck!" "But Negaduck got away!" Fifi shouted. Darkwing looked at her with a start, then looked at where Negaduck had been. Instead of Negaduck there was a piece of paper pinned to the floor by a knife. Darkwing picked up the paper. Scribbled on it was: "Sucker!" Darkwing glared out at the night, then turned and stalked back to Gladys. He quickly took her in his arms, kissed her, and whispered, "I'll be back." Then he stepped back and threw a bomb, which busted into a cloud of smoke. When the cloud cleared, Darkwing was gone. * * Darkwing came saughtering into his secret hideout on top of the bridge, grumbling, "The one time I get that filthy hair ball and he has to disappear, leading me on some wild goose chase, then vanishing into some unknown place." Darkwing tossed his hat onto a chair, then started pacing the room. "Maybe he was a chameleon. Naw, I can't get that started again. Or maybe the knife was fake and he planned this whole thing? Or maybe-" Darkwing stopped short, noticing Gladys standing by the door, her figure silhouetted by the moon behind her, the breeze blowing her hair softly. "G-Gladys!" Darkwing stammered, watching her as she walked into the room. She wore a light blue robe that hung loosely down to her knees. "What are you doing here?" "I just thought I'd keep you from thinking about tonight and how Negaduck got away," she replied softly, stopping when she stood only a beak's lengths away from Darkwing. "Gladys, you shouldn't be here!" Darkwing exclaimed, glancing around nervously. "You don't know who's out there!" "It doesn't matter," Gladys remarked, gazing at Darkwing. "As long as Darkwing Duck is here, the whole city is safe." She grinned at him, playing with a piece of lint on Darkwing's suit. "Yeah, but...you really shouldn't be here," Darkwing continued. "I just remembered I gotta go check out the bank! They said they spotted Negaduck there." Darkwing started to leave, but Gladys caught his arm, holding him back. "Gladys!" Darkwing exclaimed. "Oh, come on! What if the bank is getting robbed?" "There ain't no bank gettin' robbed," Gladys replied, looking him in the eye. Darkwing drew back, then paused. "Darkwing, quit being so antsy," Gladys remarked, letting go of his arm. "I'm not antsy!" Darkwing protested. "I'm just trying to-" He stopped short, noticing the light in Gladys' eyes as she gazed at him. "Is there really a bank you're supposed to be watching?" she asked quietly, putting her hands on his chest. "If there is, then go, but otherwise, just let me say something to you. Now, is there a bank?" Darkwing was silent, then swallowed and said, "N-no." "Good," Gladys replied. She gazed at him. "Now let me ask you something." She fell silent a moment, gazing into his eyes. "Did you ever really love a girl?" Darkwing stared at her a moment, then took a step toward her. "Not as much as I love you," he returned quietly, softly putting his arms around her. He looked at her a minute, then drew her into the shadows. * * "I gotta get rid of that blasted Darkwing Duck!" Negaduck exclaimed as he paced the room. He was at Moliarty's secret hideout under Acme Acres' Central Park. Moliarty stood at a table constructing some sort of an experiment. Megavolt looked up from where he watched tv, the show "Ren and Stimpy" blaring out from the speakers. "Ah, come on, Negaduck, sit down and watch some tv," he prompted. "Moly will have Darkwing screaming for mercy in no time, or at least when he finishes with his invention." Megavolt turned to Moliarty. "Hey, Moly!" he called. "How's that Double-whatchacallit comin'?" The mole turned and glared. "How many times to I have to tell you!" he exclaimed, strutting up to Megavolt and conking him on the head with the torch he had in his hand. "It's Moliarty, Moliarty you dope! And it's not Double-whatchacallit, it's a Double-Bone-crucher-" "Would guys knock it off!" a harsh, sharp voice suddenly shouted. Negaduck stalked up to the two, he eyes narrow and glaring. "All ever hear is you two arguing! Did anyone think that I might like some peace and quiet so I can think of a way to get rid of that no good Darkwing Duck!!!!!" Negaduck stopped and glared at the two, breathing heavily. Moliarty crossed his arms. "Hump! And you put you in charge? I far as I can remember, I set this thing up and I was in charge." Moliarty did a double take and stared along with Megavolt at Negaduck, who had a vacuum-like machine aimed at them. "But not for long," Negaduck hissed, his voice low. "This is the world's first molecule execrator that I stole last summer. It will speed up all the molecules in your body, causing you to age at super speed. I know 'cause I used it on that blasted Darkwing. Either that or you'll blow up, but, whatever, it'll be a blast." Negaduck pushed a button on the vacuum and a ray shot out at Moliarty and Megavolt. They quickly grew old and gray, then Negaduck threw them into a wired cage. Negaduck glared at the two, then strode a few strides away. "Now I can get rid of that rodent for good!" he hissed, then jumped into a vehicle and sped away. * * Claudia carefully turned on the radio, turning the volume down soft. She lit a candle nearby, then turned out the last light lighting the room. The room was softly lit by a dozen candles placed around the room. Claudia turned, her night gown swaying as she softly danced to the melody. "Ea, I guess that race you won today put you in a good mood," Bugs said, watching her from the desk he sat at. "Well, the roses and wine helped," Claudia returned, floating over to his side. She leaned and looked at the computer screen to see what he was working on. Bugs paused and looked at her face. "You're absolutely beautiful, Claudia," he said quietly. Claudia paused, then looked at him and smiled. She gently touched his face, then gave him a peck on the lips. "Why thank you, my knight in shinning armor," she returned. Bugs smiled, then allowed her to sit on his lap so they could work on the ranch's files together. * * "What do you think of this one?" Babs asked Fifi as they strolled down the corridor of Hopeful Farm's barn that held the racing stock. Babs motioned to a spirited flaxen filly in a stall. "I think she's no competition," Buster commented, pulling her nearer. "Buster, you promised this was only a business walk," Babs protested, pushing him away. "Nobody said that I couldn't warm up for after the walk," he returned, grinning. Fifi laughed. "He has a point there, Babs," she remarked. She laughed with Buster. Babs rolled her eyes and groaned, then led the way down the corridor. * * Darkwing suddenly looked up from the newspaper he was reading, glancing around him. "What?" Gladys asked from where she stood mixing cream into her coffee. "Thought I heard something," Darkwing answered. "It was probably the wind," Gladys said, going to his side and rubbing his shoulders. At first he let her, then he drew back. "No, it was something else." Darkwing stood. "Darkwing," Gladys started to protest, but when he kept walking toward the next room she straightened and exclaimed, "Drake!" Darkwing came strutting back into the room, now dressed in his shadowy costume. "I thought I told you not to call me that," he said coolly, walking onto the deck and looking out around the city, studying every movement in the early morning hours. "Well sorry!" Gladys replied sarcastically, pulling on her robe as she came to stand beside him. "What do you think it was?" "I don't know," he remarked, studying the city more intensely. "Maybe it was just a bird flying by, or a car, or..." Darkwing paused, noticing a black and red vehicle speeding along the street below. "Oh my gosh!" Darkwing blurted out. Gladys sensed the fear in his voice. "What!?" she asked, gripping his arm. "Gosalyn!" Darkwing exclaimed, then wheeled and, without saying a word to Gladys, shot a rope to the rail above him, threw a smoke bomb, and disappeared. * * Gosalyn glared at the masked duck as he grabbed her, tore he off his car, and dragged her into an old warehouse. "You're going to be sorry when Darkwing Duck comes Negaduck!" she shouted, fighting his grip. "He'll skin you alive!" Negaduck turned and glared at her, his eyes evil slits. "Shut up kid," he hissed, gritting his teeth. "That dim-wit could never be worth more than a pile of dust, and if you want to live another day, you better lay off it. Darkwing Duck won't be able to save you, and if you keep this up, I may be forced to waist a bullet." Gosalyn gulped and shook in fright. * * Darkwing glared down at the city as Launchpad carefully guided the Thunderquack through the towering sky scrapers. "Can't believe we lost him!" Darkwing exclaimed angrily. "I had him in perfect sight, then suddenly he's gone!" "I don't know, DW," Launchpad replied. "It gives me the creeps. Maybe we should just head back." Darkwing studied the city some more, then sighed. "Oh, I suppose," he answered, not yet ready to give up. Darkwing stepped into the dim light of his hideout, whispering, "Gladys?" He looked around, walking about the room. "Gladys?" he called. "I'm back. I think I should take you home." He paused, waiting for a response. The only sound was the waves crashing softly against the shore on the bay below. Launchpad shifted his hat and stood by, not knowing what to do. "Strange," Darkwing replied. "It's not like her to not answer." He wandered about the room, pausing as he came to an archway. He looked out across the city, then noticed a piece of light blue clothing hanging off one of the sculptures. Darkwing took it and studied it thoughtfully. "Now where did this-" he stopped short, his eyes filling with fright. Launchpad noticed and hurried up to him. "What is it DW?" he asked. "He's got Gladys!" Darkwing remarked frantically, then wheeled and dashed off toward the Thunderquack, Launchpad a stride behind him. * * "I'm so nervous!" Fifi replied, fiddling with the straps on the nearly strapless blue dress she wore. "Oh don't worry!" Babs said merrily. "I just know Mepe will show you a good time! You need it too. Believe me, he's fun! The time he spent with us he could have entertained Bill Clinton!" "Really?" Fifi asked, turning to her friend. Babs smiled, then led her out the bedroom door. "Come on, I'll show you." They met a black and white skunk wearing a jade silk shirt that matched his eyes and a black leather jacket in the fancy, richly furnished living room. He was talking with Claudia, who was dressed causally in a purple t-shirt and jade Wranglers. Although she was relaxing, Claudia still looked fabulous. Mepe smiled when he saw Fifi. "Aahh, my little Cherri!" he replied softly as he took her hand in his and kissed it. "Let me show you what love is all about, if I may." Mepe motioned toward the door, gazing at Fifi. Fifi was speechless. She looked at Babs, grinning in amazement. Babs smiled and gave her a wink. "Hey guys, wait up!" a light, carefree voice called. Everyone turned to see Petta and Pepe stroll up, dressed in casual, light-colored riding suits. "Me and Pepe were just going off to ride the new jumping course; anyone want to join us?" "Sorry Petta, I have to fill out breeding certificates," Babs answered. "We were just going out for a move," Fifi added. Claudia laughed lightly. "Oh, how could she resist? Mepe sure is Pepe's twin brother, ya kin tell because he has the same charmin' attitude." Claudia paused and grinned at Petta. "And speakin' of ridin', heck, I can't pass up jumping my new two year old!" Everyone went their separate ways with one last good-bye. Later that afternoon Baberella met at the big gallery in Claudia's mansion. Everyone warmed up, while the girls sang bits of different songs. "Where's Gladys?" Petta asked. "She's never been late before." "Come to think of it, it is a little strange she isn't on time," Babs replied. "If she was going to miss practice or even be late she would have told me. This isn't like her." "Maybe we should try calling?" Harriet piped up. "Tried it," Claudia declared, walking up with her cellular phone in hand. "Answering machine's all I got." Babs sighed. "Something's going on and I don't like it." "Maybe she went somewhere and forgot?" Bugs suggested, strolling up with the other guys, who had overheard the conversation. Fifi shook her head. "Gladys always remembers. She loves this band. Why would she miss rehearsal?" As they stood in silence a cloud of smoke appeared. The band turned to see Darkwing running toward them. "You guys! I know where Gladys is!" he exclaimed. "Where is she?" Babs asked, running up to him. "Negaduck kidnapped her and now he has her and Gosalyn at the old Acme Anvil Factory!" Darkwing started to dash off. "Wait a minute!" Babs exclaimed. Darkwing stopped short and turned to look at her. Babs looked around at the others. "Is it just me, or was it a little pointless for you to just show up, tell us where she is, and then dash off?" "Huh?" Darkwing asked, not catching on. Claudia crossed her arms. "Yeah," she started. "Why did ya just tell us and try take ta off? Do ya expect us to just sit here now that we know where she is?" "Um, kind of, yeah," Darkwing said sheepishly. Claudia rolled her eyes. "DW, darlin', ya have to take us know. We're not just going to sit here while Gladys is in danger." Darkwing stopped short. "No, no, no," he remarked. "You guys are NOT going with me. Darkwing Duck works alone!" With that he drew his cape around him and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The band was silent. Claudia looked around at them, then pulled out her car keys. "Let's go, guys," she remarked. Quickly they followed her out the door and stuffed themselves in her Towncar. Claudia started it up and followed the plane that flew by overhead. Launchpad carefully landed the Thunderquack outside an old warehouse that loomed black against the evening sky. Darkwing carefully stepped out, then whispered to Launchpad, "Stay here. If anything happens, call for backup." Darkwing started to slip away into the shadows, but stopped short when he heard some one clear their throat. Darkwing turned and looked upon Babs, Claudia, Harriet, Fifi, and several other members of the band. He stopped short and stared. "What are you guys DOING here?" he exclaimed. Claudia crossed her arms, giving an impatient grin. "Well, we told you plain as day, Darkwing," she crooned. "If you didn't take us, we'd follow you." Darkwing stared at her, then scowled. "You guys are nuts!" he muttered. "Stay here. I don't need any MORE trouble." Darkwing started to tip-toe away when Babs protested, "No! Gladys is my best friend and I'm not going to sit around helpless while she's tore limb from limb!" "Yeah, and I'll go with you," Claudia added. "Same here," Harriet and Fifi said together. Darkwing wheeled in surprise. "You can't go in there! It's too dangerous! And we'll make too much noise!" "You tell me what could be more dangerous and noisy than me punching your face," Claudia hissed, taking hold of Darkwing's shirt. Darkwing gulped. "Follow me," he whispered, then led the way past the window of the warehouse. * * Negaduck glared at his little gang, made up of Dr. Bushroot, Quackerjack, and the Liquidator. "That blasted Darkwing Duck is getting too close," he sneered. "We gotta act now, or else that dim-wit will find out our plan and I'll have to kill him too soon." "W-why don't you just kill him now?" Megavolt, still old and gray, asked. "Because, what fun would it be if I didn't get to see him suffer, first watching his precious girlfriend and kid accelerated into old age, then watch him, tied high on a post, melt into dust along with them!" Negaduck glared at Megavolt. "I suppose I ought to let you help." He switched on his accelerator, aiming it at Megavolt. Megavolt quickly grew young, then he was his normal age. Megavolt smiled in relief. "Gee, thanks Negaduck!" he exclaimed. "You had me worried there-" "Quit your blabbin'!" Negaduck snapped. "If you want to stay this way, you better git to work!" Negaduck sneered as Megavolt scurried off to join the others, then turned and glared at Moliarty. "I suppose I should decelerate you, too," he muttered. He aimed the vacuum at Moliarty and zapped him. Moliarty gave a sigh of relief, but stopped short when he saw the evil grin on Negaduck's face. "What-" Moliarty started, but Negaduck quickly slapped a hand over his mouth. Negaduck grinned and held a finger to his lips, then drug the villain toward the cage that held Gladys and Gosalyn. "I have no more use for you, old friend," he growled quietly. He opened the door and tossed Moliarty in . "Except for a hostage!" Negaduck gave a wicked laugh and watched him cower in the corner, then laid his eyes on Gladys. "I can see why that jerk would come to rescue a classy girl like you," he hissed, studying Gladys carefully. "Anyone would, 'specially with eyes and hair like yours." He glared at her, gazing at her frightened blue eyes. Negaduck gave an evil grin and approached Gladys, who balked away from him. "Oh, come on Pumpkin," he said a little quieter as he took hold of her arm. "I just want to give you dinner." He drug her toward the door, declaring, "I won't do anything to you..." He paused, then grinned wickedly at Gladys and touched her face. He hissed, "At least, not yet." Negaduck pulled Gladys toward a dinner table, Gladys giving a little shriek at his roughness. * * Darkwing turned to the others as they watched Negaduck lead Gladys around. "She's lucky he's treating her this way and that her hasn't blown up on her yet," Darkwing replied. "Negaduck has one of the worst tempers you could ever think of. You make him mad, and he plans revenge." "So what do ya plan to do?" Claudia asked. "Well, ah..." Darkwing started. "I was... just working on that." "You mean ya led us here without a plan?!" Claudia exclaimed. "Hey, wait a minute!" Darkwing remarked. "How could ya? Ya tryin' to git us killed or somethin'?!" Claudia went on. "Well what do you think?!!" Darkwing shot back. "That I'm just some clown in a costume? That I don't even care about Gladys or Gosalyn, just my reputation!!" "Yeah!" Claudia returned coldly. "You can stay here with this new-age weirdo," she said to the others. "I'm going to find Gladys myself." Claudia stalked off. * * "Wait," Negaduck suddenly said. Everyone froze. "Did you here that?" They stood in silence, then Negaduck glared. "It's that scheming Darkwing Duck. Everyone! Get ready!" Negaduck pulled Gladys around so she was facing him and hissed, "We'll talk later, but for now I got to kill a loose rat." "Hey!" Megavolt exclaimed. "I thought I told you to get to work!" Negaduck shouted. Megavolt jumped, then ran as fast as he could to join the others setting up a trap. Negaduck glared wickedly after him, then threw Gladys back into her cell and went over to a table, where he started tying a rope in a tight knot. "Nag, nag, nag," Bushroot grumbled out loud as he helped the others load a cannon. "That's all he ever does. Like we're his slaves or something!" "SSSHHHH!!" Quackerjack warned. "Negaduck will hear you!" "Oooo, I'm shaking like a leaf!" Bushroot quipped, waving his branch arms around. "I hope it's not on my account, Bushroot!!" Negaduck shouted, suddenly standing by Bushroot and glaring evilly at him. Bushroot quivered in fright. "Oh no, no no, your Evilness!" he said, bowing to Negaduck. "I was just joking around!" Negaduck glared in warning at him, then rest his gaze upon the others, who were staring at him in fright. "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!!!" he shouted nastily. Everyone was suddenly in motion. Negaduck crossed his arms, his eyes burning pure evil. His whole face was nothing but evil, a burning hatred glowing brightly in his presence. He stood glaring at the others, then turned and stalked back to his table. * * Darkwing and the girls looked carefully in the window at Negaduck. Someone suddenly tapped Babs on the shoulder. She jumped in fright, then turned to see Buster standing with all the other guys, including Pepe and Petta. Babs sighed in relief. "Oh, is it good to see you Buster," she said, hugging him. "Well, Petta and Pepe suddenly were here, and everyone was getting worried, so we came looking for you," Buster replied. "At least we don't have to worry about you guys," Harriet remarked. "Where's Claudia?" Bugs asked. "Well..." Babs began, but suddenly froze. "I'd be glad to answer that," a light voice with a Texan accent declared from behind the group. Everyone turned to see Claudia stroll up, Negaduck glaring beside her. "Claudia!" Babs exclaimed. "Watch out! Negaduck's right beside you!" "I noticed," Claudia returned, grinning at the duck, who's dark figure was glaring at Darkwing. "But it seems ya've got this turned the wrong way." Claudia snapped her fingers, and the rest of Negaduck's gang stepped out from behind her. They stepped toward Babs and the others and started tying them up. "Claudia!" Babs cried in fright. "What are you doing?!" "I think ya know very well," she said coolly, glaring at the band with a copy of Negaduck's glare. "But if ya don't, let me explain; I set ya up, Babs. That's why I ain't wearing a rope and I'm standing by Negaduck an' ya're not." "How could you!" Petta screamed in rage. "After all we did together!" She strained against the ropes tied around her, but they wouldn't budge. "After all the times we spent together and all the secrets we shared!" Claudia laughed nastily. "It was fun, gal," she hissed. "But times change." She turned to Negaduck. "What do ya want me to do with them?" Negaduck stopped glaring to turn to Claudia, his eyes slightly softer. "Take them into the warehouse," he sneered to the rest of his gang. They started to lead to band away, but Bugs paused beside Claudia. "Claudia," he pleaded. "Don't you love me anymore? I love you more than all the movie awards in the Nation! I hope you believe me." Claudia softly smiled. She walked to Bugs and touched his face softly. "Believe me Bugs, I loved the time I was your wife. But like I said to Petta, times change." Claudia laughed. "Git 'im outta here!" she exclaimed. Megavolt quickly lead Bugs away, who looked back at her hopefully, hoping she would change her mind, but Claudia just glared after him with Negaduck. Inside the warehouse Claudia and Negaduck saughtered in, watching as the band was thrown in the cell along with Moliarty, Gosalyn, and Gladys. "When we're done with them we can rob all the banks in the city!" Negaduck exclaimed. "Why not the world?" Claudia suggested. Negaduck stopped and thought. "Hey that's not a bad idea!" he sneered. "That'll make me the richest duck in the whole world. Thanks for the idea." Negaduck stalked over to Megavolt, who was messing around with a toaster. "Who told you to stop working!" he shouted. Megavolt sulked and turned to Negaduck. "I-I was j-just trying to fix t-the toaster!" he stammered. "Not while I'm around you're not!" Negaduck yelled. "How many times do I have to tell you guys to work and not sit around and play!" Megavolt scampered and away, and Negaduck shouted after him, "If it wasn't for me, you knobs would still be robbing candy stores!!" Negaduck stood glaring at his gang, his eyes once again filled with evil. "Halfies, hu?" Claudia remarked, stepping up beside him. Negaduck snorted. "Ha," he hissed. "They couldn't take a pencil from a first grader." He turned and paced a few steps, Claudia following him closely. "If only I found a way to carry off this job without them," he thought out loud. "It would be so much easier not to have to worry about them getting the job done." "Hey, once you're done with them ya kin just dump 'em and we can buy the whole world and rule it!" Claudia exclaimed. Negaduck stopped and glared admiringly at her. "Hey, I like the way you think," he sneered. "You got a mind that has some use to it." "Ya've only see half of it," Claudia replied, lowering her voice and gazing at Negaduck. "There's plenty more where that came from." "I'm sure there is," Negaduck returned. They stood looking at each other, then suddenly the silence was shattered by a loud crash. Claudia and Negaduck wheeled to see Quackerjack lying at the foot of a stack of fallen boxes. Negaduck glared. "You KNOBS!!" he shouted. "You've ruined everything, you've-" He stopped short as he noticed a map lying among the scattered boxes. He picked it up and studied it carefully, Claudia looking over his shoulder. "The abandoned Townsend mansion!" she softly exclaimed. She and Negaduck looked at each other. "This is perfect!" he hissed. He turned and hurried to a chest. He opened it and gazed at the gold coins that filled it. "It's all mine, handed down by my great ancestors. Together we can take over St. Canard, then Acme Acres, then the world!" "It'll never work, Negaduck!" Darkwing shouted. "You really think you can buy the world!?" Negaduck glared at him. "I guess I'll do what I want," he threatened. "When I'm the richest duck on this earth, everyone will have to bow down to me." "Not everyone will!" Darkwing shot back. "When you lest expect it I, the Midnight Mallard, will plan a surprise attack and ruin your wonderful life!" "Pretty strong words for a guy who's going to be dead in another 48 hours," Negaduck hissed. "I see you have a lot of spirit." Negaduck paused, glaring at Darkwing. "I hate that," he growled. "Oh, Darkwing always was full of comments," Claudia quipped, walking up to his side. "I just knew his mouth would get him into trouble one day." "Ha, it doesn't matter!" Negaduck declared. He turned to Claudia, putting his arm around her. "Just picture it; miles and miles of destruction, millions of people at our feet, begging for mercy. Soon it'll be ours, all ours!" Negaduck laughed. "Negaduck!" Quackerjack called. "The truck's ready!" Negaduck laughed again. He turned toward the band, a welding torch in his hand, the flame blazing brightly. "All right," he sneered. "Everyone into the truck. Give me any trouble, and I may have to roast some early dinner." "Do you want us to tie Darkwing up with this rope?" Bushroot asked. "Darkwing won't be needing a rope," Negaduck hissed in a low, evil sounding voice. "He'll need an ambulance!" Negaduck laughed, talking a step toward the band. "Now," he growled, laughing a wicked laughed, "want to play moth to flame?" Negaduck laughed evilly, striding toward the band, the torch burning brightly. The band gripped each other in fright as Negaduck laughed uncontrollably in a wicked, pure evil laugh, his eyes narrow slits that burned evil as he strode toward them in big, long strides. * * Babs and the band struggled to free themselves of the steel cell, now placed in the rich-looking ball room of a 150 room mansion. Negaduck walked up and glared at Darkwing with the same old horrid glare. "Things ain't like they used to be, eh Darkwing?" he sneered. "You just have to feed your own self-centered ego," Darkwing hissed, glaring back at him. Negaduck grinned evilly. "You may be right," he remarked. "Are ya sure?" a voice called. Negaduck and Darkwing turned to see Claudia standing posed in the doorway of the ballroom in a red-violet sparkling dress that was full-fitting at the top and full-skirted at the bottom. "As far as I remember you just wanted a reputation," she replied. Darkwing and Negaduck stared, mouths open. "And she ran to you," Darkwing said in awe. Negaduck grinned. "Yup," he replied. "And she's all mine. Beauty, ain't she?" Darkwing silently nodded. They stood staring, then Negaduck glared at Darkwing. "All right!" he exclaimed. "This ain't no joy show!" He pushed Darkwing farther into the cell. Claudia waltzed up to Negaduck and took his arm. "I just hope he doesn't fall in love too much," she hissed. "Then he'll try to rescue the band and me." She grinned devilishly. "Not that he'll succeed." "What be-witched me and made me think you were a trusting friend I don't know, but I wish it would kill me now before I have to stand another minute of watching you strut around with that rich snob!" Petta screamed. She drew back to punch a hole in the steel, but when she did, all she got was a slight vibration and a badly bruised hand. Negaduck glared at her. "Why I otta-" he started, but Claudia held up her hand. "Let it go," she replied. "If she wants to die, she will, along with all her other little friends, but for now we must plan." Negaduck glared threateningly at Petta and the others. "I'll deal with you guys later," he said, then followed Claudia over to the chest of gold. "How did your ancestors ever find so much gold?" Claudia asked in awe. Negaduck gazed at his finger nails in self-importance. "Well, my great, great grandpa was Negaduck, the scourge of the Seven Seas. He was a great pirate, and he stole this chest of gold from the royal family." "The way I remember it my great, great grandpa, the great Darkwing Doubloon, saved the treasure and defeated Negaduck not once but three times!" Darkwing suddenly spoke up, glaring out of the cell at Negaduck. "Really?" Gladys asked, sliding her hand into his. "HA!" Negaduck sneered. "The Darkwing Doubloon was just some clown in a costume, same as you!" Claudia noticed the two glaring darkly at each other, and suddenly pulled at Negaduck's shirt. "I love it when ya talk that way," she said, gazing at him. Negaduck stopped glaring at Darkwing to look at her in surprise. "Oh really?" he sneered. "Really," Claudia crooned, lowering her voice and gazing at Negaduck. He grinned in pleasure. "I knew you'd be worth something," he replied. "Not only do you have a great mind, but you're a sight more entertaining than those knobs." He turned to the others. "Bushroot! Quackerjack! Keep an eye on the others. You other two keep working. I'm going to go relax!" With that, he and Claudia saughtered out of the room arm in arm. The band stared after them in surprise. "I would've never thought..." Harriet said. "Now there's a side of Claudia we haven't seen before," Babs remarked. "She's actually let another guy steal her heart." "Oui," Fifi spoke up. "She has changed, no?" Someone suddenly groaned. The band turned to see Bugs, a pale green in color, lying propped up against the wall. "He's not feeling too good," Buster replied. Babs shook her head. "I can't believe this," she said. "All of a sudden Claudia's some criminal and our lives are about to end." She went to Buster and hugged him. "I just can't believe it." Claudia sat down on the edge of a king-sized bed that was richly decorated with silk sheets and a canopy. "So this is what ya do in your spare time," she replied, lying down on the bed on her side and turning to gaze at Negaduck, who stood glaring in the doorway. "Actually, I usually rob a band or two," he said, coming to her side. "But this time I'll make an exception." He laid down beside her, running his hand softly down her cheek. "You know, I'm not for compliments, but I must say you are one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen." "That's what they all say," Claudia said, grinning at him. "But none of them have the self-confidence you have to say it." Giving a wicked grin, Claudia pulled Negaduck closer. About an hour later Negaduck and Claudia returned, Claudia's arm in Negaduck's. Negaduck glared around. "Well, you knobs finally did something right!" he exclaimed. "We're not knobs!" Megavolt protested. "And we'll prove it!" They stalked over to the band and grabbed Gosalyn. She screamed as they dragged her toward a table and tied her on it. "See," Bushroot gloated. "We're not knobs. When the candle burns through the rope, the negahammer will come crashing down and BAM! We'll have a new Frisbee!" They laughed. "No!" Darkwing shouted as Quackerjack lit a candle that burned close to a rope holding up a huge hammer that was aimed for the table Gosalyn was tied to. "Well, this changes everything," Negaduck hissed. "Maybe now I can get to my secret hideout." "Ooo, you have a secret hideout?" Gosalyn replied, straining against the ropes that held her to see Negaduck. "You bet we do, Missy!" Megavolt returned, but Negaduck quickly kicked him in the stomach. "You idiot!" he exclaimed. "You want her to find out everything?!" "Well, we didn't tell her about the map that shows how to get to your hide out and that it's on your desk," Bushroot replied. "What map?" Gosalyn asked. Negaduck glared at his gang, breathing heavily. "Oops," Bushroot said. Negaduck shouted and pulled out a gun. The others jumped in fright and ran away, and, with a angry shout, Negaduck followed them, screaming in rage. "Skin him alive!" Petta shouted. "Don't let him chase you like that! Kill him! Rip out his-" "Shut up!" Claudia shouted, glaring at Petta. "Why don't you-" Petta started to say, but Claudia slapped her hand over her mouth. Claudia lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "Ya wouldn't want him to hear, would ya?" Petta stopped struggling to look at Claudia in surprise. Claudia grinned and pulled some keys out of her pocket, winking at the others. They smiled. Claudia rest her eyes on Darkwing, who winked back. "Buster, go untie Gosalyn," Darkwing whispered as he stepped out of the cell. "I'll get Negaduck, and maybe this costume clown can still be a hero." Negaduck finally cornered the others and raised his gun, aiming first at Megavolt. "This is just a little something to show how much I enjoyed having you as a partner," he hissed, his eyes burning evil. Megavolt squeezed his eyes shut in fright. Negaduck was about to pull the trigger when a voice declared, "I am the terror that flaps in the night!" Negaduck wheeled and looked frantically about the room. "I am the rash you cannot itch!" Negaduck glared at a cloud of smoke. A duck stepped out of it and exclaimed, "I am Darkwing Duck!" "Suck lead, do-gooder!" Negaduck shouted and pulled the trigger. Darkwing quickly threw a smoke bomb and it burst into a cloud of blue smoke. Negaduck glared at the smoke, sure he had shot Darkwing. Suddenly someone kicked the gun out of his hand. Negaduck landed hard on the ground, and Darkwing caught the gun as it came sailing down out of the air. "When are you going to learn that I'll always win, Negaduck?" he gloated. "You haven't won yet," Negaduck hissed. "Negaduck does not run from a fight!" He leapt at Darkwing, grabbing for the gun. Darkwing quickly wheeled and tripped Negaduck, but Negaduck jumped and turned toward Darkwing. He quickly grabbed for the gun, but Darkwing threw another smoke bomb. Negaduck coughed in the blue smoke, then glared around. Suddenly somebody shouted, and Negaduck turned to see Darkwing's foot flying right for his face! Negaduck yelled, then fell to the ground. He jumped out of the way as Darkwing jumped at him, then grabbed Darkwing and threw him to the ground. They struggled, Negaduck trying to pry the gun out of Darkwing's hands. He finally did, then aimed it at Darkwing's head. "Pleasant dreams!" Negaduck hissed, then squeezed the trigger. Darkwing's eyes grew wide in fright. Negaduck looked up as someone shouted. Again he saw a foot flying toward him, this time Claudia's. She kicked him off Darkwing, then grabbed the gun. Negaduck glared at her as he pulled himself off the ground. He jumped at Claudia, catching her off guard. Grabbing the gun, her aimed it at her head. Darkwing gasped, then jumped to his feet. "Darkwing!" Gladys called. "Do that double-reverse paddle-drop boom, boom kick that you always use on the show!" Darkwing glared at Negaduck, then stood on his head, bounced on his feet, then went into a flying spin. Negaduck stared at him, then yelled as Darkwing suddenly kicked the gun out of his hand. Darkwing caught the gun and aimed it at Negaduck, lying on the ground. "Make a move and I'll have a new trophy-head to hang up," he hissed. Negaduck swallowed. * * "Yup, yup, one more evil villain foiled," Darkwing replied as he watched the police drive away from on top of the mansion. Gosalyn ran to him and hugged him. Darkwing hugged her back. "Boy is it good to see you in one piece!" Darkwing exclaimed. Gladys came to him and they hugged. "Boy, that was amazing how you just went and kicked him!" Petta exclaimed. "I mean it was just like BOOM! and he was lying on the floor!" "Claudia was pretty impressive too," Babs replied, smiling admiringly at her friend. "How did you come up with a plan like that?" "Well, you know how when we were looking for Gladys me and DW kinda lingered behind? Well, we were planning. We had the part about tricking Negaduck down, but how I would get away from ya guys without ya noticing we couldn't figure out. Then suddenly Darkwing got an idea." "The fight," Harriet replied. Claudia smiled and nodded. "It was our only lead. We get in a fight and I go storm off. It seemed only logical to do that. Then Negaduck found me I struck a deal with him." "You sure had me tricked," Fifi remarked. Babs nodded. "She had us all tricked. She's always been such a good actor." Claudia blushed. "Well, I couldn't have done it without Darkwing." "And I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you," Darkwing said. "Yeah, well-" Claudia started to say, but quickly stopped as Darkwing gave her a big hug. He grinned at her, then turned and walked away. Claudia stood gazing after him, totally speechless. "Gladys, just let me tell you," Darkwing said, talking Gladys' hand in his, "that I my life was never complete till I met you." He slowly turned away, then walked to the awaiting Thunderquack, which Launchpad had hovering by the edge of the building, Gosalyn sitting in the back seat. Darkwing got in, closed the door, then flew away. Gladys gazed after him, then slowly opened her hands. She gasped when she saw the shimmering diamond ring in them. Babs gasped when she saw it, then looked up at Gladys. "I guess he plans to keep it that way," she replied. Gladys just smiled and gazed after the Thunderquack as it flew toward the bay, slowly growing smaller and smaller, until finally it disappeared. ***Baberella and all related characters (Claudia & Harriet Rabbit, Petta Stinkay, Mepe LePew, Gladys Duck, James Mallard, Pierre Rownolon) are copyright of Christine Harcinske and Beth Jerabek. Please do not use these characters without the written permission of the author(s). Darkwing and all related "Darkwing Duck" characters are copyright of Disney. Bugs Bunny and all related "Tiny Toon Adventures" characters are copyright of Warner Bros. They are used without permission but with a lot of admiration and respect. The song "No One Else on Earth" is copyright of Wynonna and was also used without permission. You can copy and distribute this story as long as it is not changed in any way, the author(s) are given credit, and you do not try to make money off of it. Permission to use the new characters can be obtained only by writing to either Christine or Beth at DH@zianet.com.***