Okay, so Duck's been kidnapped, Fakir is seriously pissed off, and everybody's freaking out! What's a body to do? Just keep reading, I guess.

This one might be a bit shorter, but we'll finally get a little Duck action! Enjoy!

"I did not come across the world to lose you now." – Westley, The Princess Bride (the book)

Chapter 11: Bellycrawl
Fakir was in rare form as he and Malen bent over their paper pads. The words almost came faster than he could write them and he was grateful for it. He had let Duck slip through his fingers twice now; he would not let it happen again! He remembered being in a nearly catatonic state when Autor came over in their boat, practically pried his hands off the other one, and all but dragged him aboard. Now the writer was bent over his story in the light of the tower window. They all decided to make the tower their home base. While Fakir and Malen worked, Autor kept watch at the window and Uzura joined Rey at the bedside, where Rue was sleeping.

"We must be very quiet, Uzura," the man said, "Let the princess wake up when she's ready."

"Okay," she nodded, "but where's Duck, zura?"

"I don't know," Rey sighed sadly, "but wherever she is, I'm sure she's safe."

Uzura looked down with a sad face; she started to cry a bit, so Rey picked her up and held her in his lap.

"Don't cry, kinder," he said, "Keep your chin up. Everything will be all right."

"What'll happen to her now, zura?" she asked pitifully. Fakir looked up and sighed. He closed his pad and walked over.

"Come on, Uzura." He picked her up. "Let's go for a walk."

"No!" she objected as he carried her out, "I want Duck, zura!"

"Poor Uzura," said Malen, "She must love Duck very much."

"Yes," said Autor, "She does." He remembered how attached she was to her while he was training Fakir.

"Ouch," Malen winced and nursed her drawing hand.

"Here." Autor gently took it and started massaging it.

"Um…" she blushed, "Thank you. I, uh…"

"What?"

"Um," she said shyly, "Thank you for saving me…earlier."

"Don't mention it," he said without looking up.

"I guess I should learn how to swim, huh?" she chuckled.

"Maybe next time," he half-smiled, "For now, just stick close to a swimmer."

"Heh-heh," she smiled, "I will." She stood up. "I think I'll take a break and check on Uzura." Autor watched her go and stood himself. He looked at Rey.

"Any advice?" he asked. Rey smirked with amusement.

"Just keep doing what you're doing," he answered, "and don't leave her side for a moment, not until this story is over." Autor looked thoughtful for a moment; then he nodded and left the room. Now there were only Rey and the princess.

The princess stirred and opened her eyes. She looked groggy for a bit, but then a look of horror slapped itself on her face.

"DUCK!" she shot up, "DUCK, WHERE ARE YOU?" She looked at Rey and backed away across the bed, "Who are you? Where's Duck? What have you done with her?"

"My name is Rey, mein prinzessin," he said calmly, "I came here with Fakir and his friends! We've come to rescue Duck!"

"If you've come to rescue her, then where is she?" she demanded, "The last thing I remember is taking her away in the boat and those shadow things were chasing us, and—" She stopped. The blood drained from her face.

"Yes," he answered her unasked question, "They've taken her to the witch."

A cry of shock came from the princess' lips as tears poured down her face. "No…!" She got off the bed and covered her face. She ran around the bed and tripped; she threw her arms out and found them securely caught by the strong hands of the stranger. She looked up at him from her half-fallen position with anguish in her wet face.

"What'll we do now?" she cried, "What can we do?" Rey looked sadly down at her and lifted her to her feet. He then knelt to her and held one of her hands to his lips.

"Princess," he said fervently, "Command me and I will obey." Rue blushed through her tears.

"I don't like to give commands," she said, "but please, if you can…save my friend! Save her and bring her back out to a place where she'll be safe!" Rey bowed, stood, pulled up his hood, and left the tower through the secret exit. Seconds later, Fakir burst back into the room.

"Rue, you're awake!" he said, "We heard you scream!"

"Fakir!" she grabbed him, "The witch! She sent her shadows to capture Duck!"

"I know," he said seriously, "I saw it happen and I tried to stop it." He looked around. "Where's Rey?"

"He left," she said strangely, "He…he went to save Duck from the witch. He asked me to command him but I only asked him."

"He went without us?" Autor popped.

"Oh," said Fakir, not surprised, "That explains why I wrote him in just now…or vice versa." He sighed again. "Well, if he's going to get her out of there, I'm going to be the one who makes sure he does."

And right then and there, Fakir sat on the side of the bed and continued to write.

Clara smiled her evil smile and she blasted Mytho back. She then cast a spell that arrested his limbs, forbidding any movement. She brought him over to her.

"Come, Your Highness," she said, "I believe you have a royal guest."

"What are you talking about?" he asked intensely. She led him out of the room.

"I took the liberty of sending a few of my darling shadows to your mother's tower," she explained as they went, "Don't worry about your princess, now. I already told you I care nothing for her."

"Duck," he realized out loud.

"Bingo!" she chimed, "My, how smart you are!"

"I swear on my sword, Clara," he seethed, "If you touch even one hair on that girl's head, I'll—"

"What?" she taunted, "Dance me to death like a male Wili? Ha!"

She stopped at a door that was intricately carved with vines and flowers. Her hand touched the curved handle.

"Clara, don't!" Mytho shouted. But the witch ignored him and opened the door…

Into an empty room.

The prince and the witch both looked shocked and for once, they had the same thought: Where was she?

"Impossible," said Clara as she ran inside, "She must be here!" She searched under the only bed, the hutch, even checked for loose floorboards. "She can't have vanished!" She grabbed Mytho by the shirt.

"What have you done?" she shook him, "Who did you get to steal my body?"

"I've been too busy fighting you to give any commands and you know it," he answered calmly, "Besides, this entire wing is deserted. There's no one here to give orders to!"

"Well, she can't have just gotten up and walked out on her own!" she exclaimed in frustration, "She hasn't even the strength to stand!" She released him and turned away. "Where are my shadows? They should be guarding her!" She held out a hand palm-up and it flared up with a brief fire. An image of her shadow servants appeared. They were lying down.

"What?" she exhaled, "They're dead!" She put her hand down. "Something's astir here. The girl could never have killed them on her own."

"She would never kill at all," Mytho added, "Someone's here for her." Clara looked at the prince with a scrutinizing eye.

"Yes," she grabbed him, "and you're going to tell me who."

As a matter of fact, Duck had been belly-crawling two floors above them at the moment Clara came in. The only strength she currently had was in her arms, thanks to Rue's nursing exercises. She didn't know where the shadows were that had taken her, but as long as she was alone, that meant she had the chance to escape.

So here she was, dragging her dead weight body on her tiny arms, with no idea where she was or how to get to safety…or, for that matter, if there was any safety to be found!

"I've got to find Rue," she strained to herself, "She'll be so worried."

"Peekaboo!" a shadow popped up and scared her, "My partner may be busy, but I think I can handle you."

"No!" she cried helplessly and shut her eyes tight. But the cold, hard grip she expected never came. Instead came the gurgling cry of a minion being slaughtered and the thump of a body hitting the ground. She looked to see her pursuer dead before her!

"I'm sorry, my lady," said a man's voice behind her, "I must've missed that one."

"Who are you?" she turned and asked. He offered her his hand.

"My name is Rey," he smiled, "It's an honor to meet you at last."

Duck took his hand, feeling a strange sense of trust from him. He looked familiar too, but she couldn't explain it.

"Thank you," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "but why are you doing this?"

"Let's just say I'm holding you for a friend," he answered with a smile before carrying her off.

Author's Review:
Several weeks have gone by between the chapter and this Author Note; there are a few good reasons for this.

1. My parents can't stop watching Netflix.
2. My sister has forbidden me to use her laptop for fan fiction (haters gonna hate).
3. I just took a second job (McDonald's—not the most glamorous job ever, but I just don't make enough with my current job at the grocery store deli) and it's very energy-draining. But the good news is that I've had a stroke of inspiration concerning this story! (I came up with a better ending!)

So please have patience with me; I know you guys are waiting on me (and believe me, that is a real confidence booster), and I'll get back to you with chapter 12 as soon as I can.

P.S. – I'm saving up for my own laptop so that reasons 1 and 2 no longer have to be relevant! Wish me luck! (In case you want to know, I've got my eye on a MacBook Pro!)