Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Gosalyn, Scrooge McDuck, or any characters from either Darkwing Duck or Ducktales...

Author's Note. Fair warning! These stories are all part of the series "The Path Chosen." If you haven't read the other fics in the series "The Path Chosen, Tracker's Story Hidden Dawn, and Meant To Be," I guarantee, this one will confuse you. (It may confuse you if you have read those fics.)

I Am Chosen: Chapter 3

Darkwing cannot help but laugh, "Ah no! I had forgotten! Double -O-Seven! Oh boy!" Then a curious thought crosses his mind. "Eh, since Negaduck is the Negaverse version of myself. I wonder if he was in one of the children's clinics like I was?"

The angel scrutinizes him before replying "Perhaps."

"Well, then wouldn't he have had three numbers marked on his arm to identify him as well?"

"That does stand to reason." The angel remarks, still suspicious of Darkwing's inquiry.

"Would you know what his numbers were?"

"I might." the angel says slowly.

A look of mischief comes across his face. "What's the chances his numbers were 666?!" he quips.

"Interesting theory." is all the reply he receives. She takes his arm ands starts to guide him away from the scene.

"So, now what? You show me all the people in my present life and how I have affected their lives?"

The angel rolls her eyes "We are not doing a reenactment of a Christmas Carol here Darkwing. This isn't meant to show you the errors of your ways. Rather to guide you on a most difficult path ahead."

She pauses before answering. "Darkwing, do you understand about the others?"

"Others?," he can sense what she is talking about "You mean the future versions of myself? Guardian, Flyer...Tr..."the last name catches in his throat. The ordeals

of those months past still haunt Darkwing. Seeing the death of himself in a possible future is not something he will ever be able to forget.

"Tracker." The angel finishes for him. "It's still hard for you to think about him isn't it?"

He nods solemnly.

"But was it his death or his life that weighs so heavily on your heart?" Her comment seems callous considering that it's coming from an angel.

He takes offense. "What a terrible thing to say! He gave his life for Gosalyn and the McDuck boy..."

"He gave up a life he had long ago destroyed, Darkwing. A life you, in one reality, destroyed by betraying your daughters love."

She sees his face grimace with pain at her words. Perhaps because he fears, even after all that has happened, that he may yet cause this occurrence to come to pass.

"Darkwing, look," she tells him as she lifts a hand to motion at the scene before them.

Yet again, everything around them changes, but this time things are very different. This is not his passed. It can't be, he is standing in the house on Avian way. As he watches, he sees himself walking down the stairs. "Hey, I thought you weren't going to do that Ghost of Christmas Present thing with me."

"Just watch."

Within a few seconds, Morgana comes from the kitchen carrying a toddler in her arms.

Upon seeing the baby, Darkwing realizes where they are "This is Tracker's world?"

The angel nods.

"I don't want to be here..." he almost begs. He wants to turn away, to run. But he can't. Something compels him to keep watching.

He watches as Tracker, dressed as Drake Mallard descends the staircase and comes to a stop as his wife approaches.

"Drake, I thought you'd still be in bed." Morgana greets her husband.

"I thought I'd go to Darkwing Tower for awhile and monitor the police communications. A little girl was found just outside of Duckburg last night. They think she's a runaway."

A woeful expression sweeps over Morgana's face. "Dark, you can't keep doing this to yourself, it's been over a year."

"Yeah, and I haven't been able to find even a trace of her. Some hero I am." he maunders. His eyes turned from his family.

Incognizant of the tension between the adults, the baby boy gurgles cheerfully and reaches for his father to take him. But Drake turns and walks away, refusing to even look at the child. Not understanding why daddy doesn't want to hold him, the baby falls silent and watches as his father leaves.

Morgana hugs little Derek close to her affectionately. "It isn't fair, I know. You're daddy loves you so much, he really does. But he doesn't feel he has the right to love you anymore. Not until he brings Gosalyn home, again."

The angel notices Darkwing staring at baby Derek uneasily. She leans close to him. "Beautiful baby, isn't it?"

He nods without speaking.

She waits before saying, "It's not going to happen this way for you."

"How can you be so sure?" he utters coarsely.

"For one thing, the one you are expecting now – it's a girl."

Darkwing turns in astonishment "What? How could you possibly know..." he trails off as he realizes, he's talking to an angel. "Oh, a girl?" he looks back at the vision of Morgana holding a baby boy. "So, that means that things really are different from Trackers reality?"

She nods.

He lets out a very audible sigh of relief.

"Keep watching."

As they watch, they find themselves in Darkwing Tower. It's dark outside. A solitary figure stands on the ledge of the tower, looking down, listlessly upon the city below. Darkwing steps out on the ledge and gazes down on the bright colorful lights below. Festive music rises from the busy streets. "It's Christmas?" He asks the angel.

"Yes,"

The figure, dressed in a long dark trench coat turns and walks back into the tower.

Darkwing and the angel follow. As they watch, the figure they know to be Tracker walks down into the corner of the tower used for wardrobe. He kneels and opens a small hidden panel at the bottom of the dresser. Inside are two small brightly wrapped packages. Both tied with ribbons and bows with cards attached.

Darkwing comes up right behind Tracker and leans over him to better see. He can make out the cards "Merry Christmas: To Gosalyn Love Daddy."

"Two gifts." he hears the angel tell him. "One for each Christmas she's missed. There were many more before – well before he was able to set things right."

As they watch, the solitary figure pushes the gifts back into the drawer and locks it. Sinking to slowly to the floor, he buries his face in his trembling hands and sobs uncontrollably.

Both onlookers are moved by the sight. Darkwing feels a lump come to his throat

"This, this isn't going to happen – ever?" he croaks. He lifts his eyes to see the angel as he fights back the tears that sting his eyes.

"Not as long as you remember what you see before you. Not as long as you remember, Tracker. Remember his mistakes and never repeat them. For without Gosalyn, you can never know your true destiny."
Her words cut deep into Darkwing's heart. He can't find the words to speak, he can only nod.

"Let's go," the angel says taking his hand.

As they turn and walk, the scene fades and they are in the light again.

Darkwing feels very tired right now. He is thinking about Tracker. He is thinking about a future without Gosalyn and it frightens him. He knows now more than ever that without her, he can never be whole. He can never be Darkwing Duck.

Now back in the area of light, Darkwing ponders what he has just witnessed. His life, as it would be, if Gosalyn were to ever leave him. He has little time to think on this however before another vision unfolds before him. They are once more in the house on Avian way. They are standing in the living room as the chairs begin to spin, and then stop. There is an occupant in one of the chairs. He is dressed head to foot in a black spandex costume.

"Flyer" Darkwing mutters as he watches the figure rise from the chair.

"Daaad!" a high pitch cry comes from the top of the stairs. As Darkwing watches, Gosalyn comes sliding down the banister. Instinctively, Darkwing yells and rushes to the banister to catcher her. Of course, she passes through him like an unnoticed holographic projection.

She lands feet first on the floor, loses her balance and falls back on her tail feathers. "Ooooph!"

"Yeah, well let that be a lesson," Darkwing snaps, still forgetting that she can not see or hear him.

"That had to smart!" Flyer laughs striding over to scoop her up in his arms playfully. He swings her wildly around the room before they both fall onto the floor with a plop.

"Hey! What's wrong with you! I'd never be that irresponsible with her!" Darkwing shouts.

"You know of course they can't hear you?" he hears that melodic tone. He glances over his shoulder at the angel.

"Yeah, I know. But It makes me feel better to yell at them anyway." he glances at the sight of Flyer seated in the middle of the living room floor with Gosalyn on his lap, then to the angel. "I knew Flyer seemed to be a happy-go-lucky type, but I could never be that irresponsible of a Father to Gos."

"He isn't irresponsible in the least, Darkwing. He simply doesn't know her any more. You know of Tracker's reality and Guardian's, but you never really knew much about Flyer's life. In this reality, you Darkwing Duck, do not remember ever being Darkwing Duck. You have amnesia, and it is permanent."

"Per - per- manent?" Darkwing stammers? "You mean as Flyer, I wouldn't remember Morgana or LP or..." his eyes turn back to his daughter, he gulps hard "Gosalyn?"

"None of them." the angel replies. She looks at Flyer who cradles the girl affectionately in his arms, allowing his long silky cape to drape loosely over her.

"Flyer had been having to wing it, if you'll pardon the expression. But he's done an admirable job. Not to mention, he is far more laid back than any of your other selves."

She looks at Darkwing's face. His gaze is fixed on his alternate reality self and his daughter. In this existence, he may never have driven her away, but doesn't forgetting her count, in some sense, as losing her?

Knowing Darkwing's thoughts the angel speaks "You two are kindred spirits, Darkwing. You have a powerful connection. Your bond transcends simple memories."

He understands that part. He had a connection with Gosalyn from the start. It's not hard to imagine himself falling in love with her spirit and zest for life all over again. "Where – where did I get that getup anyway, all-black was never my style."

"It was given to you by Scrooge McDuck." she answers.

Darkwing grimaces at the name. It is obvious he is holding a stubborn grudge against Scrooge for what happened at the museum.

The angel asks "Why are you so angry at him? You know he didn't intend to get you hurt."

"If he hadn't interfered, I would have gotten the Fearsome Five and the jeweled Ornaments back. I had then beat until he showed up!"

The angel studies Darkwing's face quietly. "How many times as your daughter come along in the middle of one of your fights with a criminal and caused him to escape. How many times has LaunchPad done something by mistake that let the bad guys get away? You don't begrudge them for it."

Darkwing shrugs "That doesn't count."

"Because it isn't really the incidentally at the museum that you're angry over, is it?" her words are more of a statement than a question.

Darkwing turns his head from her for a moment before speaking "No, I guess it's not."

"Then what?" she asks sounding quite innocent, but Darkwing has a feeling she already knows the answer. Just the same, he doesn't feel like talking about it.

In an attempt to change the subject, he asks "So where to next? Maybe when I was a kid and decided to run away from the clinic to see the world?"

"I was thinking more of a little intermission, actually."

" Intermission?" he asks, not understanding her meaning.

She takes his arm and starts to lead him "You'll see."

As they walk, a very strange feeling overtakes him. He begins to feel weak and lightheaded. His eye sight dims and the light begins to fade...

... "Come on DW, please! You'll be okay, I know it!" he hears a voice. He knows the voice well. In his semi-conscious mind he moves toward the voice, slowly.

As he moves forward in his mind, he becomes aware of pain throughout his body, as if he were on fire inside and out.

Slowly, oh so slowly, he starts to open his eyes.

Where is he?

"DW?" he hears the voice again. Launchpad?

He's back in his body then?

As he opens his eyes, everything is blurry around him. He hears LaunchPad's voice

"DW! Oh thank goodness!"

He tries to move – Ooch!! he is definitely back in his body! Ouch!

It takes him a while to become aware of his surroundings. Through the tented visors he can see ruin, rubble, and ash. All around them is the remains of the once beautiful museum. The air is still thick with the dust.

They don't have much space, everything is caved in around them.

He tries to speak but his throat is so tight, he can't get the words out. He can just make out a figure leaning over him – LaunchPad.

"DW?" The pilot's voice rings with concern. "Hey DW, You'll be okay. We'll get you out of here."

Darkwing wishes he could answer his friend. Tell LP he knows he'll make it. But he can't speak.

Oh, the pain!

LaunchPad pulls back out of his sight. Darkwing can hear voices, three of them.

He knows them, LaunchPad of course, Scrooge , and Finton Crackshell -aka – Gizmoduck.

Soon, another figure is next to Darkwing, it's Scrooge. Darkwing can almost feel his blood boil. The angel is right, he has some issues with McDuck, ones that do go beyond Scrooge's stunt in the museum earlier. But he honestly doesn't know what it is. Scrooge did pay to have Darkwing Tower and SHUSH headquarters rebuilt. He did contribute a lot in the battle against Bulba. So what is the problem.

"Just take it easy lad. Helps a' com'en." Scrooge tells him in a low unsteady tone. He is obviously shaken. Through the dark visors Darkwing can see that McDuck's clothes are tattered and torn from the explosion. This causes Darkwing to wonder for the first time just how he had survived the bomb! After all he was laying on top of it when it went off!

He can feel Scrooge touch his shoulder. He also begins to feel himself drifting out of consciousness. He vaguely hears McDuck's voice saying something to him about regretting his actions.

Darkwing can't remember the exact words, as he once again is pulled into darkness. This time, however, he does not emerge into a world of light. Rather, he finds himself standing in the middle of a clearing, near the woods, just outside of St. Canard.

There are others there, all gathered near a hilltop in the clearing.

Immediately, he knows where he is. This is the place where the vortex had opened. The vortex that had brought the future versions of himself into this time.

Before him, the scene plays out for a second time. He sees it all again. Himself sitting under a nearby tree talking to Tracker. He sees Scrooge approach Guardian and speak to him.

He remembers that day. Yes, He had spoken to Tracker, who had warned him about the possibility of losing Gosalyn. He recalls making a vow that day, to never take his daughter for granted. To never neglect her or ever do anything to make her doubt his love for her.

He also recalls well that uneasiness that swept over him when he saw Scrooge and Guardian talking.

As Darkwing watches it all happening over again, he becomes very curious. Just what did Scrooge and Guardian say to each other that day. He moves closer to them and listens.

As it happened that day a year and a half ago, in the clearing near the woods...

Scrooge looks over at Darkwing who was now talking to LaunchPad "Back at the Park, when you all revealed who you were. I noticed that Darkwing couldn't look you in the eye for some reason. He didn't seem to have that trouble with the others. Why do you suppose that is?" Scrooge is asking because he feel something very special about this Guardian and believed what ever it is, Darkwing has felt it as well.

Guardian smiles "We all have out choices in life Mr McDuck. We have different paths we could follow. Most of us have the knowing deep with in our hearts which of those paths to choose. Just the same Ones destiny isn't always easy to face when we do recognize it."

Scrooge's face flushes. "You ...you mean. You are what he's meant to..." Scrooge glances over at Darkwing in utter shock. He composed himself then continued "That's how you knew so much more than your friends. For you, this is how it all happened isn't it?"

Guardian smirks "Well, from a different point of view the first time." he nods at Darkwing.

Scrooge again looks at Darkwing who seems to be having trouble with his vision. "Does he know?"

Guardian nodded "he knows. I knew. The moment I saw that duck in the white and silver costume, I knew."

A look of sorrow swept Scrooges face as he looks closely at Guardian's features "His eyes are damaged than."

"His vision will slowly start to bother him. He won't accept it at first. He'll make excuses. Finally, he admit it to himself and go to SHUSH for help. They'll fit him with a pair of visors that will help his eyes. He'll see well enough, but his eyes will be sensitive to light for the rest of his life. Not that he'll let it slow him down," Guardian adds assuringly.

Scrooge is inspecting Guardians features. "I take it he'll need that plastic surgery after all," He says taking note of how small and fine Guardian's bill is. "He'll pretend to be upset over it for awhile, but in truth," Guardian laughs "It was a definite improvement!"

Scrooge grins and nods. "I'll not say a thing about this Guardian, you have my word."

"I know you won't Mr McDuck."

"Yeah, well you got a lot more faith in him than I do fella!" Darkwing snorts.

In a few seconds, this scene too, fades into darkness and is replaced by a more recent event.

He is now in McCawber manor, before they had it completely renovated, obviously.

He is in the upstairs hallway. Something compels him to start walking. He hears voices in the small alcove just off of the library. He follows the sounds of the voices. He steps into the alcove to finds Scrooge and Tracker talking.

So this must have been when the group stayed the night with Morgana. The time they were fighting Bulba. Darkwing walks over to the fireplace where they are talking. He listens.

Tracker closes his eyes tightly. "What I tell you, Mr. McDuck, I ask you not to repeat it to another living soul. I've never told this to anybody else, not even my daughter." He looks woefully away from the rich duck. "I was born with a very mysterious illness. Mysterious and life-threatening.

As a child I would have these episodes where I would stop breathing, my vital signs would shut down..." He pauses to turn back to Scrooge who is listening intently. "You've heard of people who have had near death experiences and how it changed their lives?"

Scrooge nods but doesn't speak.

"Well, I had more than my share of them. As I can remember, on four different occasions, I found myself...somewhere else.

The first time I can remember I was very young. I was playing when all at once, I stopped breathing and collapsed. Everything went black around me. Then I was in this place. It was bright and warm and cheerful. Like an entire world made of soft sunshine. But there was also a place nearby of darkness. I could see – creatures – monsters in that darkness, but they couldn't cross into the light.

I wasn't afraid of them either. Then I recall hearing somebody talking to me. They were telling me things. I don't recall much about that except that they kept saying that I was called. They referred to me as a guardsmen. A Twilight's Guard. They told me to go back...and I did. I woke up in a hospital bed. That was the first time. There were others. Times I almost died, but was sent back for some reason. I'm not really clear on all of that any more. I've forgotten."

Tracker sighs heavily rubbing his fingertips over his forehead.

Scrooge is staring at him, captivated by what he has just been told. No wonder Darkwing Duck seems so otherworldly at times. It takes Scrooge a moment to find his voice again. "That would explain a few things."

This could be the source of the special something Guardian and supposedly Darkwing both possessed. Scrooge always heard that those who had these near death experiences saw things in a different light that others.

"But, I don't understand lad. You had the experience. Why could you not wear the Armor with the same success as the others? You said you lost it. How? What did you mean?"

"I made some mistakes, big mistakes. Ones I had every opportunity to correct – until it was finally too late. I lost everything that made me Darkwing Duck, even the memories of those child hood experiences. It's all gone."

The scene fades...

Darkwing turns his eyes from the scene, disquieted by this realization "He knows?"

To be continued...

From the Author: Is it my imagination or are my chapters getting longer? Again if the plot is getting to complex, let me know. I'll try to simplify it a bit.