Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck or any associate characters. All are property of Disney, and are used without permission for the purpose of entertainment, not profit. The plot is my own.


Six Weeks Later

In an insignificant part of the city, in an insignificant house, a seemingly insignificant person was having a restless sleep. The mallard tossed and turned amid a tangle of sweat-soaked bed sheets, mumbling incoherently. Suddenly, the duck shot up with a strangled cry, his breath coming in sharp gasps and his eyes wild and fearful. It took him a few seconds to realize where he was, and when he finally did, he dropped his head into his hands and took a few shaky breaths.

To the few people who knew Drake Mallard, he seemed only to be a devoted father and a rather private person. But to the three who knew him better than any other people on the planet, he was so much more. Drake Mallard, ordinary citizen, was also Darkwing Duck, the terror that flapped in the night, professional crime-fighter, and a terror to any criminal in St. Canard. Right now though, Drake didn't feel as though he could terrorize an ant, much less a criminal.

In his profession, nightmares were to be expected. He'd seen so many weird things and gone through so many harrowing experiences that they were actually pretty normal for him. But ever since his experience in the Negaverse, his dreams had been worse. Something about that alternate universe haunted him. Maybe it was how it was everything he knew, even his sidekick and neighbors, had been twisted into demented evil replicas, or maybe it was seeing his beautiful city in such a decrepit broken-down state. Whatever it was, he couldn't get it out of his head. He was dreaming about it practically every night now. The one thing that really helped though each time he woke up with the fact that he would never have to go back; Negaduck was gone for good.

Drake heard the knob on his door jiggle, and quickly hopped out of bed and wiped traces of his nightmare off his face, just in time for his daughter and sidekick to come barreling into his room.

"Dad! Are you all right?" Gosalyn cried, looking around the room, a baseball bat clutched in her hands.

"We heard you yell!" Launchpad exclaimed almost at the same time.

Drake managed a chuckle. "Me yell? Not a chance! It was—the radio!" he lied. "I went to turn on the radio, but one of Gosalyn's CDs was in there. You know how much those bands scream."

Launchpad seemed satisfied with his explanation and started to pad back off to bed, but Gosalyn looked skeptical. "You never listen to the radio!" she said. "Come on Dad, what's going on?" She suddenly tilted her head as a thought occurred to her. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Drake forced a laugh. "Are you kidding? I'm Darkwing Duck! I am a nightmare, to every criminal in St. Canard!"

Gosalyn rolled her eyes and left the room, muttering her agreement to the nightmare part. Drake sighed with relief and sank back down onto his bed. He knew that Gosalyn meant well, but he really didn't need her worrying over him. She could be the most tenacious girl in the city, but when it came to maternal instincts, mother hens had nothing on her. Besides, admitting that he'd had a nightmare would mean that he would have to tell her what about, and J. Gander had sworn him to secrecy when it came to the Negaverse. Far be it from him to break a pinky swear!

Drake glanced over at his bedside clock, wondering it would be worth trying to sleep some more. Usually his crime-fighting dictated that his sleep be during daytime hours, but last night had been abnormally slow, so he'd hit the hay early. The clock read 7:30. He'd only been in bed for three hours. No wonder he felt so tired still Well, since it was only 7:30… Wait! Gosalyn was supposed to be getting ready for school! Unless his daughter had taken the initiative and started getting ready for school herself, she had only fifteen minutes to get completely ready and out the door! Drake stood and quickly got dressed. Gosalyn getting ready for school on her own was about as likely as Negaduck giving up his life of crime.


On the outskirts of town, a certain mutant plant-duck was conducting an important experiment in his greenhouse. "Okay Spike, just one more drop of vinegar to counteract the base, and my experiment will be complete!" Bushroot cried. The dog-like Venus flytrap at his side handed him a dropper and panted excitedly. Ever so carefully, the mutant held the dropper over the mixture and squeezed out a single drop. The droplet landed noiselessly in the beaker, and Bushroot used the stir stick to mix it in.

"Okay, now for the test." He lowered his leafy hand into the beaker, and after a second's hesitation, plunged his hand into the mixture. "Ah," Bushroot said, relaxing into it. "It's perfect! I've finally discovered the perfect soil mixture!"

"I always knew your hands were dirtier then you let on," a voice growled from behind him.

Bushroot whipped around, his heart in his throat. "N-n-n-Negaduck!" he stammered as he saw the silhouette of the mallard in the shadows. "W-What are you doing here?"

Negaduck chuckled as he stepped into the light, making Bushroot's skin crawl. Negaduck laughing was never a good thing. "I have a job for you."


"Of all the stupid, idiotic, hair-brained mistakes to make, you just had to make this one!" Darkwing exclaimed, the frustration in his voice growing with every syllable. "If I didn't need you so much, I'd chuck you right out the window!" The object of the mallard's frustration sat there blankly, completely unaffected by his rant. Darkwing gave an irritated sigh and sat back in his chair, entertaining notions of questionable legality.

"Problems, DW?" Launchpad asked, coming out from under the Thunderquack.

"No, I just thought I'd sit here and yell at the computer. Of course I'm having problems LP!" Darkwing snapped. The pilot didn't answer, causing Darkwing to sigh. "Sorry Launchpad. It's just this stupid computer! I spend all afternoon installing updates on this thing, and just when everything is about to finish, an installation error shows up, and four hours of work are completely gone!"

"Why don't you just let Honker do it?" Launchpad asked. "He's really good at things like that."

"Well, I'm pretty good at it too," Darkwing said defensively.

Launchpad raised his hands in surrender. "Just trying to help, DW. It just seems like when you do it, we go through a whole lot more computers."

Darkwing opened his mouth to protest, but suddenly remembered his fantasies involving the computer's destruction a few minutes ago, and shut his bill. He changed the subject. "How're the modifications on the Thunderquack going?"

"Great!" the pilot replied enthusiastically. "Just a little while longer and they'll all be done." Darkwing smiled. Launchpad was a nightmare in the kitchen, his meals were a terror to anyone with taste buds, and he was a bull in anything remotely resembling a china shop, but when it came to mechanics, the pilot was a whiz.

Just then, the whirring of the recliners was heard, and Gosalyn and Honker appeared in their seats. "Hey Dad!" the red-head greeted enthusiastically. "Whatcha doing?"

Darkwing put his hands on his hips. "Did you finish your homework?" he asked, a warning tone evident in his voice.

"Of course!" Gosalyn replied innocently. "Don't I always?"

"No," Darkwing answered, but he let the matter drop. "How was school?"

"Fine. So what are you doing?" Gosalyn asked, coming over to the computer. "Are you using some cool, top secret, high tech gadget to track down some mutant alien from Mars here to destroy the world?" she gestured dramatically.

"Uh, not quite—" Darkwing said.

Launchpad jumped in. "DW was trying to install some things on the computer, but messed up and lost everything."

Darkwing glared at his sidekick as his daughter burst out laughing. Honker hesitantly stepped forward. "Um, if you'd like Mr. Darkwing, I would be glad to help you."

The masked mallard stared at Launchpad just a minute later for emphasis, then turned to Honker. "Thanks Honker, but I think that for—" A sudden beeping from the computer interrupted him as a map appeared on the screen. Darkwing quickly tapped a few buttons on the keyboard and an information window appeared. "A robbery in progress at the St. Canard bank, and Bushroot has been sighted!"

"Keen gear!" Gosalyn exclaimed. "Let's go!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Darkwing exclaimed as he rushed to the Ratcatcher.

"Come on Dad, lighten up!" she said, following him and Launchpad.

"No Gosalyn!" Darkwing repeated as he mounted the motorcycle.

Gosalyn put on her helmet and moved to join Launchpad in the sidecar. "Dad, you know you always give in, and the longer you try to resist, the more time Bushroot has to get away!"

Darkwing wanted to retort, but knew that his daughter was right. He resorted to grudging compliance. "Okay, fine, but you have to stay with the Ratcatcher!"

"Yeah, yeah," Gosalyn said, settling into Launchpad's lap. She turned to her friend. "Hey Honk, you coming?"

"Uh, I think I'll just stay here and work on the computer," the boy replied in his nasally voice.

Gosalyn shrugged. "Suit yourself." The engine to the Ratcatcher revved up, and the motorcycle shot out of the tower and down the bridge cable to the city beyond.


Darkwing pulled the motorcycle to a stop in front of the bank, just in time for the group to see Bushroot disappear into a nearby alley with a great big sack slung across his back. The hero jumped off the seat and replaced his helmet with his fedora. "Now stay here Goz," he admonished the duckling one last time. She showed her displeasure in her frown and crossed arms, but remained in the sidecar, that is, until after Darkwing and Launchpad took off in pursuit of Bushroot.

As soon as Darkwing and Launchpad were out of sight, Gosalyn hopped out to the pavement below, and quietly followed her dad. There was no way she was going to sit out on this one! Besides, the only reason she couldn't watch was because her dad was a great big worry wart. She wasn't going to get involved! Probably.

She peeked around the corner of the building, and saw Bushroot running full speed for the other end of the alley. Darkwing and Launchpad were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly though, a blue cloud appeared in front of Bushroot. "I am the terror that flaps in the night!" The mutant skidded to a stop in front of the dissipating cloud. "I am the overdrawn account fee you didn't expect! I am Darkwing Duck!" The masked mallard flared his cape dramatically in front of the startled villain.

"Darkwing!" the mutant plant-duck cried, stumbling back as the hero's gas gun appeared. "Where did you come from?!"

Gosalyn saw Launchpad quietly step out behind Bushroot, cutting off his escape. "Give it up Bushy! This burlary's busted!" Darkwing said, advancing on the plant. Gosalyn sighed. It looked as though this was just going to be another boring arrest.

To the duckling's surprise though, the mutant, with uncharacteristic boldness, suddenly cried, "Not this time Darkwing!" He swung his bag of loot at Darkwing, knocking the surprised hero back on his tail feathers, then he took off back down the alley, plowing right through Launchpad!

Bushroot was already halfway down the alley before Darkwing overcame his surprise. Gosalyn saw that there was no way he could catch up to the mutant before he escaped the alley, and knew that she needed to buy him time. Just as Bushroot burst out of the alley, Gosalyn stuck her foot out into the plant-duck's path, sending him sprawling onto the pavement with a startled cry.

Only seconds later, the mutant was back on his feet, and towering over Gosalyn. "You?!" he cried as he recognized the girl.

The duckling was suddenly rather uncomfortable under his angry glare. She gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, I, uh-- just remembered, I have homework to do," Gosalyn said, starting to edge away.

Bushroot suddenly grabbed her up and started to stuff her into his sack full of money. "Hey! Let me go!" Gosalyn cried. She kicked wildly, catching the mutant in the chin and allowing herself to wriggle back out of the bag. Where was Darkwing?!

"Ow! Hey! Stop it!" Bushroot said as Gosalyn kicked him again, this time in the shins. The duckling completely ignored him and stomped on his foot. "Ow!! Okay, you asked for it!"

A vine appeared out of a crack in the sidewalk and wrapped itself around Gosalyn's body and beak, pinning her arms to her sides and rendering her helpless. "Now be good and you won't get hurt!" the plant-duck warned her.

He hoisted her onto his shoulder and turned back to face the alley. "Hey Dorkwing!" he called. Gosalyn could now see that her dad and Launchpad were struggling with a weed problem of their own, but as Darkwing saw Gosalyn in the villain's grasp, the hero froze. "If you don't want the girl to get hurt, you leave me alone!"

Then he took off down the city street, Gosalyn over his shoulder and the sack of money completely forgotten.


Instead of his greenhouse as she'd expected, Bushroot took Gosalyn to an old warehouse near the bay. The mutant approached a broken down door and pushed it open, the creak echoing in the abandoned building. Stacks of crates still remained inside, making rows down the warehouse floor and towering high above the pair's heads. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and the heavy odor of mildew hung in the air. It was obvious that no one had been there for a long time.

Bushroot took Gosalyn over to a rickety old chair and plopped her down, inadvertently loosening the vines wrapped around her beak, then headed for a dark corner of the warehouse. "Hey! What's the big deal?!" the duckling demanded. "Kidnap me, dump me in this old warehouse, and leave?! Darkwing's going find this place, and when he does, feathers – er -- petals are going to fly!"

"Ooh, quit talking!" Bushroot cried, turning back to face her. "Or else I'll have to fix that vine around your beak!" Gosalyn shut her mouth as she got her first clear look at the mutant's face. He was terrified. The villain's movements were nervous and twitchy, and he looked as though he would jump at his own shadow. What was going on? And how in the world had worked up the courage to rob a bank, then run away from Darkwing?! Bushroot was definitely not himself. There was something weird going on here, and if Gosalyn wasn't worried that the mutant would do something stupid, she would have demanded to know what.

Satisfied though that Gosalyn was going to be quiet, Bushroot took off into the darkness of the warehouse, disappearing into the shadows and leaving the duckling alone. She wasn't alone for long though. Only a couple minutes after Bushroot had vanished from the duckling's sight, she heard voices. One was easily recognizable as the plant that had kidnapped her, but she couldn't tell who's the other's was at first. They were obviously keeping their voices low, but the concrete floor and walls carried the sound right to the young captive. Gosalyn still had to strain her ears a little to make out the words.

"Where's the money?" the mystery person asked.

"I-I left it when Darkwing showed up," Bushroot stammered.

"You left it!" the voice boomed, echoing through the structure. It was Negaduck! There was no mistaking that angry tone. It was almost exactly the way her dad had sounded when he'd discovered Gosalyn's handiwork with the VCR and sealing wax. But what was Negaduck doing here? Didn't her dad say that he would never be back?

"I forgot it!" Bushroot said fearfully. "I thought you just wanted me to lead Darkwing here. He'll come if I have the girl."

"I told you to get the money!" Negaduck growled. "That girl is worth nothing to me after Darkwing gets here!" What was going on? Why did Negaduck want Darkwing here? What was he going to do with him?

"I-I'm sorry, I'll go back and get it," Bushroot said, trying to placate his furious boss.

"No, there's no time now. Dorkwing will be here any time now. You have two days, and I want triple the amount you lost, or else I'm going to give you a new part in your hair." The revving of a chain saw punctuated his statement. "Now get lost bush breath."

Bushroot came stumbling out of the darkness, and made a beeline for the door. "Hey, you just going to leave me here?" Gosalyn called.

The villain completely ignored her, but continued his mad dash for the exit, practically mowing the door down in his rush. To be honest, the duckling couldn't blame him. If she were him, she wouldn't want to be him when Darkwing got here either. Gosalyn squirmed in her bonds, trying to work the vine loose, but the plant held tight. She was still stuck.

As the red-head stopped her struggles, her ears detected a strange new sound, unlike anything she'd ever heard before. It was almost a cross between the sound of a Star Duck phaser and the Centennial Falcon going to warp, but with some magic sound effects thrown in. The sound built until it filled the warehouse, then it suddenly stopped as a green glow appeared behind a row of crates. What the heck was Negaduck doing over there, auditioning for a new sci-fi show?

"Hey Goz," a voice whispered in her ear. The girl turned her head and saw Launchpad, who was starting to work on the vine that bound her.

"Launchpad! What took you so long?" the duckling whispered.

"We uh, went to the greenhouse first before DW realized that Bushroot had gone in the other direction."

Gosalyn rolled her eyes. Typical Dad. The vines wrapped around her went slack and she hopped out of the chair, glad to be able to move her stiff muscles. She saw her dad now standing in the shadows between her and the green light, and rushed over to him. The hero had his gas gun out and was watching the pair, apparently waiting to make his move until he knew Gosalyn was safe. When he saw her running toward him though, he quickly stepped forward to meet her. "Gosalyn, honey, go with Launchpad," Darkwing said quietly. "He's going to take you home while I take care of that pusillanimous plant."

"No way! Besides you don't know what's been happening here!"

"Whatever it is, I'll find out. Now go with Launchpad." Darkwing's tone was gentle, but firm.

"Dad, Bushroot isn't even here! He left like five minutes ago!"

"Gosalyn, go home." The mallard was deadly serious now, his tone and expression leaving no room for argument.

Gosalyn tried anyway. "But-"

"Launchpad, take her out of here," Darkwing said, cutting his daughter off. Launchpad grabbed the duckling's hand and began to lead her out.

The red-head seriously considered resisting and telling her dad whether he wanted to hear her or not, but decided against it. If her dad wasn't going to listen to her, that was his problem.

"I am the terror that flaps in the night!" the words rang out behind her, echoing throughout the abandoned warehouse as a blue cloud started forming in the glow of the green light. "I am the loose shoelace that ruins your getaway! I am Dark-"

The hero's abrupt halt in his monologue caused Gosalyn to turn around, wondering what could have possibly stopped her dad's tagline, and was surprised to see that her dad had completely frozen, staring at the source of the green light with a look of horror on his now pallid face. Alarmed, she pulled out of Launchpad's grasp and ran to her father's side, apprehensive of what terrors waited behind the row of crates. What she saw only puzzled her more.

A door of green swirling energy stood in the middle of the walkway, casting the emerald green glow that Gosalyn had seen from her chair. The energy was brilliant in color, but its cloudiness kept it from being blindingly bright. It almost looked like a swirling green hurricane that was being lit with a billion lightning bolts. She'd never seen anything like it in all her years of science fiction experience. It was actually pretty cool looking.

Her dad didn't think so though. "It can't be..." he whispered, totally oblivious to his daughter's presence.

Gosalyn looked up at Darkwing. "What is it, Dad?"

Before he answered, the pair saw a figure move in the shadows behind the doorway, and Negaduck stepped out into the green glow, causing Darkwing to physically blanch. "Negaduck!"

Negaduck chuckled, evidently enjoying his double's consternation. "Hello, Dipwing. Well, I'd thought this little meeting would be interesting, but I never thought your reaction would be as entertaining as this."

"How did you escape?" Darkwing asked, making an effort to regain his composure.

Negaduck pulled a small silver box out of his jacket. "This little baby right here. It's actually quite useful; it opens a portal between your universe and mine, so I can come and go as I please. Evidently, it works between universes as well. I was actually just about to leave your pitiful world." The villain stepped in front of the portal, then turned back. "Here." He tossed the box to Darkwing, who caught it without thinking. "I think you'll want this." Then he stepped into the wall of energy, disappearing into the green swirls, and then the doorway shrank in on itself until it vanished.

For a moment, Darkwing continued to stare at where the portal had been, then he looked down at the small box in his hands. The top was covered in buttons, and totally uninteresting in looks, but when he turned it over, the pair saw with shock the word stenciled on the back: SHUSH.