It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse.
Except…
Down in the living room, a rat hummed tunelessly as he carefully unscrewed Christmas lights. "Don't worry my darlings! I shall set you free from this terrible chain gang!"
Except…
A wheeled duck slipped out of a child's hand, springing upright and weaving back and forth over the bedsheets as he tried to find his balance, only to drop off the edge with a thud. "I'm okay ma!"
Except…
A small duck carefully took aim with his grappling hook, as he peered into the deep darkness of the bedroom. "Don't worry Launchpad! I'm coming to save you!"
Except…
On a work table, another duck grumbled lightheartedly as he poked and prodded his helicopter. Trying to find the problem with the rotors.
"The brave hero surveys the dark expanse, wary of the giants that inhabit this strange land." Darkwing narrated as he darted from doorway to doorway. "Seeking his lost companion despite the many dangers!"
The house creaked as it settled, and Darkwing jumped and rolled, his cloak wrapping around him as he leapt out of the moonlit landing behind a chest of draws.
He poked his head out, and laughed nervously to himself. "The hero bravely stalks the night." He reminded himself, sneaking along the landing.
"Now where would they have put the Professor…" Darkwing wondered, poking his head under another door to see if he could spy the somewhat familiar luggage.
"Ah ha!" He spied the Professor's dressing gown hanging on the back of a chair, and wiggled beneath the door. His cape caught, and Darkwing squeaked as his slightly round figure popped out from beneath the door. He tugged on the cape, and flinched as he heard the fabric tear.
He frowned and inched his way into the moonlight, holding his cape up to the light. He ran his hand over the fabric, and sighed in relief, the cape had only snagged. He pulled it straight and tossed it back over his shoulder.
"Now where would he be hiding…" Darkwing gazed around the room.
"DW!" Launchpad yelled from on top the vanity table, his red hair made dark in the moonlight. "You came!"
"The hero must come, when danger calls!" Darkwing said, surveying the room for anything he could use his grappling hook on.
He spotted a lamp attached to the top of the vanity table's mirror, and took careful aim, the hook latching on and away he went!
He clipped the table, but his quick reaction had him bouncing and swinging from the lamp, only to get squeezed half to death by Launchpad.
The grappling hook let go, and wound itself back in.
"Alright, alright, enough already!" Darkwing said.
The lights flickered. Then it went dark again.
They both looked up.
"Oh no." Launchpad said.
"Megavolt!" Darkwing exclaimed.
Gizmoduck tumbled down the stairs, whirling back and forth in distress. "Oh dear, oh blathering blatherskite!" He tried to jump up the step again, and accidentally fell down another couple of steps when he bounced off and couldn't control his landing.
He sighed. "It seems the only way is down." He declared.
He swung himself over the edge, in the vague hope of being quieter.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He landed at the bottom of the stairs, head whirling after going heads over wheels.
The lights flickered on. Gizmoduck yelped, and dived under the coat rack, before the lights flickered off again. He peered out from beneath a heavy brown coat, "Megavolt!" He hissed, rocking slightly as he whirled forward.
"Halt evil doer!" He declared loudly, rolling into the living room.
Megavolt looked up from his bag of Christmas Lights.
"You can't stop me!" He grabbed the bag and ran for it.
"Hey! Come back here!" Gizmoduck yelped, speeding after him and growling as the rat bounced around the room, easily climbing up the furniture.
Megavolt poked his tongue out at Gizmoduck from the safety of the sideboard, while Gizmoduck could do nothing but circle around him in figures of eight.
Then a grappling hook shot out from the doorway, latching onto the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
"I am the terror!" Darkwing exclaimed, swinging into action, and landing on the sideboard.
Megavolt screamed and leapt to the nearest chair, scrambling up the back and checking in the light bulbs he was rescuing.
"Darkwing Dingbomb!" Megavolt hissed.
"Give it up Megavolt!" Darkwing declared, "You can't win this!"
The lights flickered again.
"And stop that! You'll wake someone up!" Gizmoduck whined.
"I'm not going back! That kid's a menace! He's already broken five crayons! What do you think he's gonna do to me?"
Then he squeaked as Launchpad tackled him from behind. Darkwing leapt from the sideboard and grabbed the bag of light bulbs.
"Judging by this afternoon, he's gonna carry you everywhere." Launchpad said.
"Well…"
"Hey, Gizmogeek, think you could put these back on the tree?" Darkwing asked, holding the bag out.
"It would be my pleasure!" Gizmoduck said, catching the bag as it dropped.
"Great, then we can get back upstairs before the kids notice we're gone."
A/N and so we come to an end. For some reason I'm rather fond of this story, so it would take very little encouragement for me to continue with a few oneshots featuring the further adventures of the kids and their toys.