Note: This story takes place in the near future (say, a year) and drastic changes have taken place in one of the city's semi-villains. All is explained below...
It was another routine night in the city. Beth Webfoot had just eaten supper, and was now slumped in the chair watching the evening news. She had planned to go down to the Mallards' house later on for Monopoly night, but that wasn't for another hour. Meanwhile, she sat and tugged idly at the collar of her turtleneck sweater, watching the announcer drone on about nothing in particular.
Suddenly she paid more attention when a report came on that there had been a new broadcast from Bushroot X. A second later, the mad plant-duck was on the screen, ranting the usual message about taking over the city and getting revenge on Darkwing Duck. Beth was interested because, of course, she knew Darkwing and knew about Bushroot X. Once simply a misguided, misunderstood plant-duck, Bushroot's life had really taken a turn into dementedville when Darkwing interrupted an experiment he was performing at his greenhouse at a crucial point. The resulting explosion left Bushroot horribly disfigured, and he had disappeared for a time.
Then he reappeared, what was left of him, as Bushroot X. Wearing a mask of his own face to hide his ruined features, encased in an ugly jumpsuit, the plant-duck seemed to have put his old motivations toward plantlife aside and was now only interested in conquest. And he wasn't alone...he had an entire army of henchmen, some of them thugs lured into his clutches by promises of wealth and power, others innocent citizens grabbed off the street, all of them unwillingly brainwashed and turned into fanatically loyal soldiers. The Husk-Men, as they were known, had already had several battles with FOWL and a number of encounters with Darkwing.
Beth stared at the masked madman on screen, looking at those blue eyes glaring out from the dark hollows of his mask. He frightened her...and fascinated her. She couldn't help feeling pity for the old Bushroot, seemingly lost forever. And while she didn't blame Darkwing for what happened, surely the plant-duck hadn't been that big a threat to society. Beth sighed. It really didn't matter now anyway, she thought as she watched him raging on the TV. After another minute she turned it off. Time to head over to the Mallards'. No doubt they had been watching the news as well.
The evening was humid, but Beth kept her sweater on as she walked down the street towards her friends' house. She knew she was more self-concious than she cared to admit, but she just didn't feel comfortable going out in public in anything else. In fact, even at home she rarely removed it except to bathe or sleep...or to change into a clean sweater. Arriving at 537 Avian Way, she was about to press the doorbell when she heard Drake's unmistakeable voice; "Can you believe that guy? What a lunatic!" Beth shook her head. Obviously, it was going to be an interesting evening.
To be continued...
Darkwing Duck and related characters are the property of Disney. Beth Webfoot is property of Rebecca Kelly, used with permission. The concept of Reginald Bushroot as Bushroot X is property of the author. (C) 2008 Eric Smith.