A/N- Thanks for all the great reviews! If anyone reading this is a Harry Potter fan, by the way, I have a new, HP related poll at the top of my profile. Check it out if you want. Enjoy!
Chapter 9
Darkwing hated to leave NegaGosalyn behind with Morgana and his Gosalyn. He knew that it sometimes scared young children to be around sick people, but he didn't want to shock Honker with the sight of a Gosalyn so different than the one he knew. Not to mention, the sight of the actual Gosalyn he knew so sick and weak. So, he had asked NegaGos to stay behind, which she had seemed happy enough to do.
He made his trip to Avian Way quick, picking up Honker with as little explanation as needed. He had simply said, "Gosalyn's in trouble," and Honker had been on board in that same instant. He had caught Honker up on the situations that had passed on the way to Macawber Manor, much as he had NegaGosalyn. Honker was visibly upset at the idea of his best friend sick. Darkwing had been careful not to say the word "dying," but the kid was smart…he figured it out.
They arrived back at Macawber Manor barely an hour after Darkwing had left it. The Mighty Mallard dismounted his Ratcatcher and stared at Honker as he somberly climbed out of the sidecar.
"Are you okay, Honk-man?" Darkwing asked, coming around to place a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
Honker shrugged and turned his head aside, to avoid Darkwing's comforting stare. "Just worried. You didn't quite explain, sir, why you brought me here. It's not to—"
But he let the question hang unfinished. Darkwing could guess what it was going to be. He shook his head.
"No. I brought you here to help us, not to say good-bye. You're the only one of us left that might be smart enough to beat this thing."
"That's a lot of pressure, sir."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Honker shook his head. "If I can get Gosalyn better, it's no problem."
Darkwing smiled the brightest smile he had had since what felt like days…but had probably been more like hours or just simply a day. He put a hand gently on Honker's shoulder and began to lead him into Macawber Manor. After a few confusing staircases, Darkwing cursing the time it took away from them, they finally arrived at Gosalyn's temporary bedroom. Darkwing knocked quickly, and he heard a voice beyond say, "Enter."
The door opened with a loud creak, and Darkwing was halted by Honker…who had frozen in his webbed-footed tracks. His eyes were wide at the sight before him. Morgana had moved her way backing into Gosalyn's room and sat off to the side, slumping slightly in her high-backed chair, pouring over the spellbook NegaGosalyn had brought with her. Gosalyn was stretched across her bed, smiling weakly—in a way that looked more like a grimace of pain—with her hand pressed down on her chest, like she had just received a very bad scare. NegaGos was sitting at her dimensional twin's bedside, with her little brow furrowed. She looked over as Honker entered, her beak pursed together.
She pushed herself to her feet and walked, slowly, over to him. Then, just as slowly, she extended out a hand.
"Honker Muddlefoot?" she asked.
Honker nodded, raising a feathered hand to shake hers. They shook twice and then released.
"Gosalyn…but you knew that, right?" NegaGos giggled nervously. "I'm sorry. In my universe, you're on the side of Negaduck."
"I would never—!" Honker began, but NegaGos smiled, cutting him short.
"I know. They're calling me NegaGosalyn or NegaGos here."
"N-nice to m-meet you," he said.
With a barely audible, "excuse me," he made his way over to Gosalyn. He looked down as she simply waved up at him, apparently unable to draw enough breath for a word.
"She's getting worse," NegaGos whispered to Darkwing. "I moved the television up here, for her to watch. I hope that was okay."
Darkwing stared towards a television which was blaringly on that he had not noticed yet. It was perched on a table at the end of Gosalyn's bed, and turned towards the news channel, which was odd in and of itself. Gosalyn never watched the news, unless it was the sportscast or Darkwing had it on.
"It's fine, NegaGos. Thanks," he said.
NegaGos returned to the side of her twin and Honker, while Darkwing made his way over to Morgana. She was breathing heavily, her eyes half-way closed, and still pouring over the book. Darkwing knelt down beside her.
"Take a break," he said.
She shook her head. "No. There might be something…"
"…Da…d," Gosalyn wheezed, causing both Morgana and Darkwing to turn their attention upon the bedridden duckling.
Darkwing rushed to her side. She pointed up at the television screen, her eyes wide in horror.
"L…ook," she forced out.
Darkwing rested a hand on her, trying to make her rest, and turned his attention upon the screen. The Channel Six news was showing downtown St. Canard. Fires were raging and cars were in chunks along the road. Light posts were bent over, and power line polls looked like they had been hacked down. And that was nothing compared to the destruction being done, as they watched, to the buildings. News reporter Tom Lockjaw stepped into view of the camera.
"And this is the beginning of the destruction that Negaduck and his band of miscreants have caused just in this last hour. Eye witness reports indicate that Negaduck seems to have in his employ a small motorcycle gang and one very powerful witch, of whom we have an identity on."
At this, Tom reached off-screen and accepted a piece of paper being offered to him. Clearing his throat, he continued.
"The identity of the witch is one Morgana Macawber, former criminal," he said.
Morgana growled. Darkwing turned.
"Stay calm, Morg," he cautioned.
"If I had my magic…" she hissed.
Darkwing shook his head sadly. Morgana sighed.
"I'm going back to looking through this book. I can't stand that," she said, doing just that.
"Sir, look!" Honker shouted, pointing at the television again.
Darkwing turned just in time to see his diabolical double wrench the microphone from Lockjaw's hand, shoving the news reporter off screen. With a sinister smile, Negaduck said, "Hello, Darkwing."
NegaGosalyn gasped, looking back at Darkwing and then once again to the television. Darkwing growled.
"Negaduck," he hissed.
"I've had to move my plans up some, but no matter. I'm here, Darkwing, tearing up your beloved St. Canard the same way you set those wimps loose to tear up mine! And I'll continue to do so…unless you wanna come down here and do something about it! You know where I'm at, Dipwing, now come and get me!" the Mallard Menace said, laughing maniacally.
After this, he tossed the microphone nonchalantly to the side, and turned to continue about his destructive way. Darkwing tugged down his hat.
"I have to go," he said, turning with a swirl of his cape.
However, NegaGosalyn beat him to the door and blocked it. "You can't!"
With a smile, he knelt down. "It's okay, kiddo. I've fought Negaduck several times before. I can beat him."
"Not with this new witch. She killed Tank—uh, NegaTank! I've seen her power! She's too strong. She'll kill you too. It's no use to go after Negaduck until we can fix this," the pigtailed duckling reasoned.
Darkwing blinked. "He's destroying my St. Canard, my city, NegaGos. I can't allow that."
She shook her head. "I know…but you don't stand a chance. Trust me. Not against her."
"Oh my God," Morgana suddenly gasped.
All eyes turned upon her, whose own eyes were wide with horror. She had a shaking hand held in front of her beak, staring down in utter shock at the spell book. She shook her head.
"No, no. I thought this spell had been destroyed centuries ago!" she muttered.
"What is it, Morg?" Darkwing said, stepping forward.
Honker moved to stand beside the Masked Mallard while NegaGos relaxed her guard on the door. Morgana looked up at them.
"It's an All Fall Down spell," Morgana answered, looking around at her audience.
"What's that mean?" Honker asked.
"It's from the time of the Black Death…you know, the bubonic plague. Or so it is often taught. You all know the lyrics to the children's song with that line, 'All fall down,' in it, right?" she asked.
"'Ring around the rosies/ pocket full of posies/ ashes, ashes/ we all fall down,'" Honker quoted, for everyone's benefit.
"Right. Well, it's often taught that that meaning refers to the Black death…the first line refers to the sores that came from the disease, the second line refers to the pockets full of flowers they would use to mask the scent of rotting flesh, the third line refers to the burning of the dead or to the ashen skin color of a sick person, and the last, of course, refers to the death caused by the disease. But that's not what it really means. Its true meaning lies in the history of the magical arts," Morgana explained.
She paused here, to catch her breath, and Darkwing took the opportunity to ask a question.
"If that's not what it means, then what does it mean?"
"It refers to this spell, which is the one that Negaduck cast on me. What the spell does is reach across dimensions and takes something from one person, transferring it from the original holder to its look-alike in the other dimension. But the original is not meant to live without this thing, and often dies."
"We know that's what he did, Morg," Darkwing said simply. "Why is it called All Fall Down?"
"It refers to what it does to the walls between dimensions. It doesn't just make a tear, like Megavolt's Tronsplitter did for you and Negaduck. It brings them completely down, eventually, causing utter chaos."
"But what does the whole song mean?" Darkwing questioned.
"It's the process of the spell. What it takes to do it."
"Can it be stopped?" NegaGosalyn asked quietly.
Morgana furrowed her brow and shook her head. "There's no known counter-spell."
Darkwing growled. "I'm so tired of hearing crap like that."
Morgana smiled. However, and very suddenly, her face contorted into one of shock and she went ridged.
"Morg!" Darkwing shouted, running over to her.
She had slumped down further into her seat, her eyes completely closed now. Darkwing put two fingers on her throat, finding—thankfully—a pulse.
"Is she?" Honker asked.
Darkwing shook his head. "No. She just lost consciousness."
He gently shook her, trying to wake her, but to no avail. He sighed and picked her up, taking her across the hall into the other bedroom and laying her down upon the canopy bed. He returned with a heavy heart. Things were not looking up…
"D..ad!" Gosalyn wheezed and pointed to the television once more.
All eyes turned upon screen which was busy showing NegaMorgana, blasting away at a few different buildings. The news had been showing this for a few minutes now, and it had taken NegaMorgana most of that time to make a dent in the side of the building. Now, suddenly, she shot one bolt of magic at the brick structure…and it crumbled. The camera crew got a close-up of her wicked laughter.
"S…he's…str…ong…er," Gosalyn said, pressing down even harder upon her chest, trying to make it take in air.
"Don't talk," NegaGosalyn cautioned her twin. "Just rest."
"What are we going to do?" Darkwing muttered, trying to think.
He turned to Honker, who had not spoken for quite some time. It appeared as if he had been lost in thought. Finally, he looked up with a wide-eyed stare at Darkwing.
"Did Miss Macawber say, 'Tronsplitter'? Does Megavolt still have it?" he asked.
Darkwing blinked, trying to follow his train of thought. "I think so. Why?"
"Because I think we could really use it about now," he said.
End Notes: Okay, another slightly cliffy chapter. NegaMorgana is stronger and Darkwing's Morg and Gos are getting worse. What's a duck to do? Please review!
About "Ring Around the Rosies": I was taught, in tenth grade, that this is what the song meant, about the Black Death. Now, I've recently heard an opposing argument to this, but I choose to believe, until giving conclusive evidence, that the Black Death is, indeed, its meaning.