"Theres too many of them!" Bushroot cried as he and the Liquidator attempted to stop the people under the scepters control. No matter what the two of them did, the mob just wouldn't stop, and it seemed to be growing.
"I think a tactical retreat is in order!" the Liquidator replied. The two of them broke away and hurried down the street with the mob right behind them.
"So whats the plan, Dark darling?" Morgana peered curiously at the masked hero. The group had stopped at Hamburger Hippo in order for Darkwing to go over his plan with them, and they waited anxiously to be filled in.
"Its simple," Darkwing replied, "Liz said an act of love negated the power of the scepter the first time."
"Yeah," Gosalyn spoke up, "she also said whats-his-names brother had to kill himself to do it."
"No ones killing themselves," Darkwing told her. "Liz said any act of love would work, right?" He glanced at the girl.
"Well... yes," Liz replied. "In theory... but..."
"Good!" Darkwing interrupted. "Your love for Negaduck may be just what we need."
"You can't be serious!" Gizmoduck could hardly believe his ears. "You're not thinking of letting Ms. Liza face that cad alone?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Darkwing rolled his eyes, "We'll be there too, but the fact that Liz is able to feel love even toward someone like Negaduck, well... I think thats about as pure as one can get."
"Or as stupid," Neptunia snarked.
"Well, that too. No offense, Liz." Darkwing flashed the girl a small smile.
"None taken."
"How do you plan to get close enough to Negaduck to give Ms. Liza a chance?" Gizmoduck asked.
"Oh, well.. heh heh," Darkwing shrugged, "I'm uhh... still kinda working on that part."
"Well you'd better work fast," Gos told him, pointing down the street, "cause we've got company!"
The others stood, their attention drawn to where the kid was pointing. Bushroot and the Liquidator were rushing toward them, but it was the large mob behind them that filled the group with dread.
"Looks like Negaducks army is growing," Launchpad remarked.
"We can't keep running," Darkwing leapt onto the counter. "We'll have to fight our way through. Come on team... Lets get dangerous!"
"Do we have to get dangerous?" Launchpad whined. "Thats a really big mob... couldn't we just get slightly risky?"
"Don't be a baby, LP," Darkwing pulled his gas gun and pointed it at the approaching mob.
"Wait," Liz cried, "you can't hurt them, they're innocent people!"
"Grr..." Darkwing lowered his gun. "I was afraid you'd say that. Okay fine, team... lets get... slightly risky." By now the mob had reached the hippo stand and the odd group found themselves overwhelmed. "How are we supposed to get through them if we can't ACK!" Darkwing was cut off as one of the possessed citizens grabbed his cape, pulling him off the counter.
"Oh no, Dark!" Morgana dove after the hero as he was pulled through the mob.
"Enough of this!" Darkwing fired his gas gun into the middle of the mob. The ones holding him let go, all of them coughing violently as a cloud of smoke erupted in their midst.
"Okay," Liz shouted as the others jumped into the fray, "just try not to hurt them too badly. Eeek!" Someone grabbed the girls arm and she swung her book at them, conking them over the head. Sparks flew and vines sprouted from the pavement as large sets of novelty teeth and toy soldiers darted through the mob.
"We can't keep this up forever!" Gizmoduck yelled as he fought off several of the controlled citizens.
"Hes right," Quackerjack added, "theres over 300,000 people in St. Canard, and Negaduck can control every one of them."
"We need to get out of here!" Bushroot cried.
"Stegmut!" Darkwing called to the duck turned dinosaur, "Clear us a path!"
"Okay, Mr. Darkwing!" Stegmut pushed his way through the mob, clearing the way for the others to make their escape. As they were fleeing, someone called out to them.
"Gosalyn!" A young boy in glasses was hurrying toward them.
"Honker!" Gosalyn rushed toward the boy. "You're alright!"
The boy paused, clearly out of breath. "My... my.. p-p-parents," he could barely speak, "they.. they've been possessed!"
"Yeah," Gos grabbed the boys hand and pulled him down the street away from the mob, "theres a lot of that going around."
"Where are we going?" Liz asked as she hurried to keep up with Darkwing.
"We need to get to Negaduck," the hero told her, "but with that mob in our way, we're gonna have to find another way over to the lower east side."
"Try 3rd street," Megavolt said as he caught up with them.
"No," Quackerjack piped up, "you wanna take east Main down to the docks."
"3rd would completely bypass the docks."
"Yeah, but then you'd have to circle all the way back around."
"Will you both shut up!" Darkwing shouted at the two villains.
"Elmos right," Liz spoke up, "3rd would be our best bet. We can take 3rd down to Deville drive, then over to Mockingbird Lane. That should take us straight to the hideout."
"Okay," Darkwing paused once everyone else had caught up, "I think we've lost that mob for the time being. Just... give me a moment to think of a plan."
"We can't risk Liz getting hurt!" Quackerjack cried, throwing his arms around the girl. Liz squirmed as the other three also threw their arms around her.
"Liz is the only real friend we have," Megavolt said. "Well.. except for Amy, but shes visiting her parents in Florida."
"Don't worry," Darkwing told them. "I'd never let anything happen to her." He smiled at the girl. "Shes my friend too, you know."
"So whats the plan?" Bushroot asked.
"Well," Darkwing replied, "something tells me that as long as Negaduck has the power of the scepter, we'll never be able to just sneak up on him. So we're gonna have to get him to come to us."
"How do we do that?" Stegmut wanted to know.
"With Liz," Darkwing told him. "Negaduck wants her, so maybe he'll come to us to get her."
"Wait," Gizmoduck held up a hand, "you said you weren't going to let her face him alone."
"She won't be alone, we'll be with her."
"Are you sure thats a good idea?" Neptunia asked. "She IS friends with five major villains, and she did steal the scepter in the first place."
"Yes, but I trust her," Darkwing replied. "Liz has been a great help to us tonight... her and that book. And now she can help us stop Negaduck for good."
"How do we even know her love is pure enough?" Gosalyn asked.
"Liz," Darkwing turned to the girl, "do you love Negaduck?"
Liz blinked, "I... yes, yes I do."
"Even though hes a terrible person, completely incapable of love?"
"Yes."
"Do you love him even after hes used you and tried to kill you AND nearly destroyed the city?"
"...Yes!"
"Why?"
Liz thought for a moment before answering, "Because love, true and honest love, is pure. It doesn't know anger or hate. It doesn't know regret or revenge. Love is compassion and forgiveness, even toward someone thats wronged you." She paused. "Especially toward someone thats wronged you. I love Negaduck with all my heart, and I will always forgive him."
Darkwing nodded, "Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. Lets go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Its gone!" The group had arrived at the location of Negaducks hideout, but other than the remains of some warehouses, the area was completely destroyed.
"Well thats just perfect!" Darkwing sighed in exasperation, placing his hands on his hips as he surveyed the area where the hideout once stood, "How're we supposed to find Negaduck now?"
"Umm," Honker suddenly spoke up, "may I make a suggestion?"
Gosalyn glanced at the boy, "What is it, Honk?"
"Well," The others gathered around as the boy bent down and began to draw a diagram in the dirt. "Judging by the destruction in this area of the city, I believe this is the epicenter of the earthquakes. The seismic activity started here, then spread out in a wave, hitting the theater where Gosalyn and I were, and then the bridge where everyone else was." He paused in thought, then continued. "Factoring in the location of the fissures throughout the city, and the rate at which people seem to be falling under Negaducks control... I believe we need to head toward the center of the city."
"Why the center?" Gos asked. "If this is where it started, shouldn't this be where we need to be?"
"Not necessarily," her friend replied. "The scepter of Quackzamelket acts sort of like an eye, like in a storm. We need to find a place in the city that hasn't been destroyed yet. The first of the earthquakes started here, but the rest of the destruction seems to be originating from another location."
"You heard the kid," Darkwing told them, "everyone head toward the center of town."
"Better hurry, " Liz cried, "looks like they've found us again!" Indeed, Negaducks mob seemed to have located the group again, and was quickly advancing on their location.
"We need to do something!" Bushroot cried. "We'll never get to the center of town with that mob on our tails!"
"I've got an idea," Liz said as she hurried down the street. "Morgana, try to stall them!"
"I'll try," the witch replied. She waved her hands toward the mob and magic flew from her fingertips. The ground began to shake as an earthen wall sprang up between the mob and the group of heros and villains.
"That was great, Morg!" Darkwing was obviously impressed.
"Its not gonna hold," Honker shouted as the wall began to crack. "Where did Liz go?"
BEEP! BEEP! A large city bus suddenly tore around the corner, smashing into several parked cars, before skidding to a halt in the middle of the street. The doors opened and Liz grinned at the group from the drivers seat. "All aboard!"
Her friends exchanged glances, before piling onto the bus just as Morganas magic wall crumbled. "Are you sure you can drive this thing?" Darkwing asked, taking a seat behind Liz.
"How hard can it be?"
"Have you ever driven a stick before?"
"The simulator down at the arcade is a stick," Liz replied.
Darkwing shook his head, "Thats not the same... look out for that car!" The bus stalled, then lurched violently as Liz attempted to shift gears. "Clutch, Liz, clutch!" Darkwing stood up, struggling to keep his feet as the bus continued to lurch. "Move," he told the girl behind the wheel. "If we live through this, I'll personally teach you to drive a stick, but we're not gonna get anywhere with you driving right now."
The bus screeched to a halt. Liz moved out of the drivers seat and Darkwing slipped behind the wheel. "Everyone hold on," he shouted over his shoulder as he shifted gears and stomped on the gas.
The bus tore through the city, narrowly avoiding cars and street lamps as Darkwing steered them toward the center of town. All of a sudden Honker called out, "STOP!"
Darkwing hit the brakes, "What? Whats wrong?"
"Look," Gosalyn pointed out one of the windows, the others followed her gaze. The bus had stopped in front of a large skyscraper that appeared to be completely intact, unlike most of the buildings around it. "That must be the origin of the destruction."
One by one the group filed off of the bus and stared up at the building. "You hear that?" Quackerjack asked.
"What?" Megavolt wanted to know.
Liz tilted her head slightly. "Nothing," she said. The others listened. The girl was right, not one sound seemed to penetrate the area around the building. No thunder, no car alarms, none of the sounds that reverberated through the rest of the destroyed city. In fact, the area immediately surrounding the skyscraper was eerily calm and silent.
"The eye in the storm..." Honker mumbled.
"Alright lets go," Darkwing hurried toward the entrance. "Everyone stay together and be ready for anything."
No sooner had the group entered the lobby when the doors suddenly slammed shut behind them and the lights flared to life, illuminating the odd group. "Welcome, do-gooders."
"Negaduck!" Darkwing started to rush his counterpart, but Negaduck held up the scepter. A beam of light shot from it, engulfing the heros and rendering them completely immobile.
"Ugh!" Gizmoduck struggled, "I.. I can't move."
Darkwing glared at his counterpart, "You won't get away with this, Negaduck."
"On the contrary," the villain replied. "I already have. And you," he pointed at Liz, "this is the second time you've betrayed me."
"No," Liz shook her head. "I would never betray you, Negaduck. I love you."
"Pah!" Negaduck rolled his eyes.
Liz ignored him and continued, "Your destructive tendencies will only bring about your own end. You should know me well enough by now to know that I can't allow that to happen. I love you and I will always forgive you... just like I will always be there to save you from yourself."
"You always were a sentimental fool," Negaduck spat. "I should have killed you in the museum when I had the chance. Oh well, no time like the present." He pointed the scepter at the girl.
"No! Liz!" Bushroot cried out as a beam of light erupted from the end of the scepter, heading straight for the girl.
The light stopped mere inches from where Liz stood, as if hitting some sort of force field. Closing her eyes, the girl smiled faintly. I love you, Negs. Suddenly the light retreated back into the scepter with enough force to throw Negaduck across the room, the golden rod in his hand falling to the floor as he smacked into a pillar. His head hit with a loud CRACK, and he slumped over into the floor.
"Negaduck!" Liz rushed forward. The force that had been holding the others was released and Darkwing grabbed the scepter.
"How do you work this thing?" the hero asked.
"Try making a wish," Gosalyn offered.
"Its a scepter, Gos, not a magic lamp."
"Negaduck?" Liz knelt beside the fallen villain. His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving. "Oh, Negs, I'm so sorry... please forgive me." She leaned forward, pressing an ear to the man chest and sighing in relief when she caught a faint heartbeat.
The scepter in Darkwings hand began to shake, a beam of golden light shooting from the end of it, up through the building and into the sky. As the light spread across the city, it began undoing all of the destruction. The fissures were sealed, the fires disappeared, the bridge and cumbled buildings were restored, and the waters turned blue again. Outside, the mob that had surrounded the building came to, blinking in confusion.
"Good show, Wingy!" Gizmoduck slapped the hero on the back, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"Well, I think we all owe Liz some gratitude."
"Say," Gizmoduck glanced around, "where is our young friend?" Liz was gone, and so were Negaduck and the other four villains.
"Should we go after them?" Neptunia asked.
"Nah," Darkwing shook his head. "Not this time. I think Liz has it under control."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ugh.. what the..." Negaduck slowly opened his eyes. He was laying on a battered mattress in the backroom of his hideout. Liz sat on the edge of the bed next to him.
"You're okay!" The girl suddenly threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Negaduck tensed, growling slightly, "You've got about three seconds to take your hands off of me and tell me what the hell is going on."
Liz released him and sat back, "You don't remember?"
"I remember trying to steal that scepter... and then Dipwing Dork showed up."
The girl smiled. "The scepter was a fake," she lied. "You got knocked out in the fight with Darkwing. I saved you and brought you back here."
Negaduck raised an eyebrow, "YOU saved me?"
"Mmhm, I had a feeling something bad would happen, so I followed you to the museum." She grinned. "I knocked Darkwing out cold too."
"You... you took out Darkwing Duck?"
"Sure did!" Liz replied.
"Well," Negaduck smirked. "I guess you're not as much of a goody two shoes as I thought. Are you sure thats all that happened? I feel like I'm missing something."
"I'm sure," Liz smiled. "Everything is as it should be."
-FINIS-
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