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.
I Am Chosen Chapter 11
Darkwing watches as the large chunk of cement falls from the collapsing ceiling, his own daughter directly in its path.
Quiverwing doesn't realize what is happening. As she runs for the front doors, she hears the crashing sound from above her. She looks up to see the falling material. She doesn't have time to react. But in the blink of an eye, she is knocked from harms way. She hits the floor of the burning mall as chunks of debris fall all around her. Instinctively, she covers her head, rolling up on the floor, into a protective ball. She is very lucky that the larger ones miss her completely.
Still helping Guardian to walk, GizmoDuck extends a hand to help the girl to her feat. "Something knocked me out of the way." she tells them.
"I know just what that something is, kiddo." Guardian replies nodding for his daughter to look behind her. She turns to see the all to familiar form a large fawn colored dog "Havoc!" she exclaims "How did you get here, boy!" she asks bewildered.
"There's no time for this! We have to get out of here." GizmoDuck insists.
There is no argument from the others. Quickly, they make there way from the burning edifice.
Soon after, the firefighters are able to at last, get the fire out. Though there is little left of the mall, now.
Across the street, in the park, Guardian and his family watch the ordeal. Guardian sits on a wood bench with Morgana next to him, The little girl is quiet on her mothers lap. Quiverwing sits on the ground next to her father, the big dogs head resting on her folded lap. She strokes the animals big head. "You saved my hide in there fella," she says to the dog then glances up at her step mother. "But why did you bring him with you?"
Morgana giggles "As if that big ox gave me a choice. When I opened the car door, he got in and refused to get out! I really think he sensed you were in trouble."
"That doesn't take great abilities on the dogs part, it's just a force of habit. She's always in trouble." Guardian quips.
The girl gives her father a dirty look "I love you too, daddy dear."
"Speaking of abilities. How did you do...that...thing you did, in there? Putting the fire out, I mean?"
Guardian falls silent, he lifts his eyes toward the destroyed building. "I don't know, sweetie. I really, don't know. I just did it without thinking. It's like my own energy passed through my body and acted as a sort of forcefield."
"Dark, that's fascinating." Morgana exclaims. "Has anything like this ever happened to you before?"
"No, not in all the time I have had the armor – Nothing like this has ever happened." Darkwing admits with a tone of fatigue, "But I'll tell you one thing. It sure knocked the wind out of me. I'm still tired!"
"Don't worry, dad. The armor speeds up your healing process too, you know. You'll be out and about in no time."
Guardian leans back against the back of the bench, his new found abilities weigh heavy on his mind.
Watching the entire ordeal from only a few feet away, Darkwing stands next to his angel. He is baffled. "I don't recall Guardian using that particular ability when he was visiting my time." He tells the angel.
"He wasn't in your time very long, Darkwing. You hardly had time to know that much about him." The angel points out. Darkwing turns his attention back to the vision. He gazes from is future self, to his wife, to the little girl on her lap.
The little girl. Their daughter. His daughter. She looked so much like her mother.
The child is quiet as she sits on her mothers lap, holding a quacky-patch doll. She seems so even tempered and patient, Darkwing has to wonder if she isn't adopted as well.
This thought causes him to shift his gaze to Gosalyn. She sits at her fathers feet stroking the head of the large dog. She seems content – happy. Oh how Darkwing hopes she is happy.
His gaze now settles on the dog. For the first time, he takes notice of just how big the animal really is. It really is a giant of a dog. It isn't quite the size of a Great Dane, but not much smaller. Darkwing can't help but move closer to the animal. He is curious. Leaning down, he sees now that the dog is more of a fawn color than brown. The dog has a long black muzzle. He guesses the animal weighs well over a hundred pounds, though it has a lean, tight build. "I hope that thing doesn't sleep with me." he mumbles vacuously.
"Not as a rule." the angel comments "But the two of you do tend to fight over who gets the recliner every night. She chuckles.
Darkwing crosses his arms and watches as Gosalyn scratches behind the dogs ears, playfully. The dog responds by rolling over for a belly rub as well.
"Talk about spoiled." Darkwing remarks. "What did gos call him earlier...Havoc?" He once again takes notice of the size of the dog. "From what I've seen. It fits him."
The angel steps along side of Darkwing and gazes at the big dog. "You know Darkwing, that dog saved your family once. You were gone one night and there was a gas leak. Havoc woke up and alerted Gosalyn to it. There was another time when she was younger, your family took Honker to the beach with you. Gosalyn and Honker were exploring the rocky cliffs around the beach. Gosalyn got to close to the edge and slipped. Havoc caught her by the sleeve of her shirt and pulled her back up. He even got you up in the night once to let you know Gosalyn was sick."
"A real Rin—Tin-Tin, huh." Darkwing laughs. "Looks like the puppy dog is playing guardian angle to my kid." With those words, realization dawns on him. He stands back up to see the angels face. "Uh, is that," he asks pointing a finger toward Havoc "what you meant when you told Gosalyn's Guardian angel, he was getting some help?"
A look of amusement shows on the angels face "Let me put it this way. When old Rover's time finally comes. We are fitting him with his own set of wings and a halo and sending him back down, again."
Darkwing smiles and looks back down at the big harry animal. "Well, he does make her happy, doesn't he? I guess that's worth giving up my recliner every night."
The angel smiles warmly "We need to go. There's something else you need to see."
She takes his hand and they turn again to the light.
They walk a short way though the light before coming upon the next vision of the future.
It's evening, now. They are in Darkwing tower. "Now what?' Darkwing asks the angel.
She doesn't reply, but takes his arm to lead him. They go to the part of the tower that has been used for recreation purposes. There is a television with a few video games, comic books, sports magazines, and a fridge full of goodies.
There is also an easy chair that is at the moment, occupied. Guardian sits back in the chair, his fedora tossed carelessly to the floor next to him. His visors lay on his lap. He has his eyes closed and he is taking long deep breaths in an attempt to relax. There is soft classical music wafting through the otherwise quite room.
Darkwing moves closer, he leans down to inspect his future self's face. In spite of the apparent relaxing atmosphere, there is a troubled expression on the Guardians face. "He seems troubled." Darkwing comments to the angel. "Is it over what happened in the fire? I mean, the new found powers – or what ever you'd call what he did?"
"Yes, in part, anyway." the angel answers as she moves next to him. "I told you earlier on, your path ahead is a difficult one."
Just then there is the sound of air being displaced and the low hum of a gears operating. Somebody has entered the tower by way of the spinning chair. Guardian opens his eyes and replaces his visors, quickly. He wonders who it could be. He isn't left guessing, however. The unmistakable heavily accented rants of the richest duck in the world resound off the metal walls of the tower. "Crazy modern contraptions! The blasted thing makes a body so dizzy, he can't stand up!"
An amused smile spreads across Guardians bill "You could have just called, Mr. McDuck." he calls out. The note of amusement is very evident in his voice.
There is the faint sound of some unintelligent muttering before Scrooge answers "Aye, I suppose I could have, lad," he calls back.
The echo of footsteps on the metal floors is heard. In a few seconds, Scrooge appears in the recreation area. Guardian starts to get up to greet him. "Now, you just sit ya self back down lad, I understand you've had quite an eventful day."
Heaving a deep sigh, Guardian flops back into his seat. "I take it you've been talking to GizmoDuck."
Scrooge ambles leisurely up to Guardian and sits on the side of the overstuffed ottoman Guardian has his feet resting on. He is quiet for a moment as he scrutinizes the face of the hero. "I understand from Gizma'Duck that your – new found abilities really drained ya."
"Yeah, I suppose it did." Guardian admits wearily "I'm still feeling the effects."
By the look on yer face, I'd say that wasn't the only thing that you're feel'en lad."
Guardian falls silent. He studies Scrooge for a moment before turning his eyes. Without looking back at the older duck he answers "Yeah, this armor seams to get a little heavier every day." He takes a ragged breath before leaning forward to place his hands over his face. "I am so very tired. I just gotten back from a mission to recover stolen government blueprints from FOWL. No sooner had LaunchPad picked me up then I got a message about the mall fire. I went to help my daughter."
"You've been pushing yourself too hard lad." Scrooge states. "I've been keeping tabs on ya in the news. You haven't allowed yourself much time to rest."
"Crime doesn't allow me time to rest." Guardian responds with a hint of agitation.
Darkwing watches with bewilderment. This doesn't sound like the Guardian he met that day in the amusement park. That Guardian seemed nearly flawless in character. He was strong and calm and wise. But Darkwing again reminds himself, he wasn't really acquainted with the Guardian. But Scrooge had gotten to know him
in the short time he was there.
Scrooge had spoken to Guardian, spent a little time with him. In truth, Scrooge McDuck knew his future self better than he did.
Bingo.
This is it, as plain as day. The reason he harbors hard feeling towards McDuck. Scrooge has come to know a part of him, even he didn't know very well. This makes Darkwing feel – vulnerable. Moreover, when Scrooge looks at him, he sees more than what Darkwing is, he's sees what he is someday meant to be.
Ohhh...this irritates Darkwing.
Not only because McDuck knows him, in a sense, better than he knows himself. But Scrooge is also expectant of him. Scrooge is watching him. Watching the Darkwing Duck, the arrogant, flashy, even pushy crime fighter, transform into the Duck in White.
Darkwing watches them talk, Scrooge McDuck and Guardian. Like two old friends. It doesn't sit right with him. He doesn't see how he and Scrooge could ever be good friends. Friendly acquaintances, yes, but real friends!
"I can't believe that I would confide in Scrooge McDuck for any reason. If that guy was any tighter with his money, the IRS would have to pay him taxes." Darkwing grouses.
"Oh really. Didn't he pay for the Darkwing Tower to be rebuilt?" the angel inquires.
"Well yeah, but..."
"You'll come to see, Darkwing. Scrooge isn't a bad person. I met him before. He can be nice, at times."
"Nice?" Darkwing scowls "Scrooge McDuck?" the image of the old miser placing a cool cloth on his forehead flashes through his mind. "Well, maybe if he almost gets you killed, but I..." he trails off as her words dawn on him "Hey! When did you ever meat Scrooge McDuck?"
"Oh," the angel replies. "That is a story for another day."
"You can not save the world single handedly lad." Scrooge says understandingly. He takes a pause before adding "What about this organization you've been asked to head up? The Guardians of Justice, or something like that."
"What about it?" Guardian replies dryly.
"Wouldn't you be training others to be heroes, to protect the innocent?"
"That's what they tell me. But I don't like being put in the position of leadership. I'm not comfortable with it."
"Bah, what does comfort have to do with it?!" Scrooge scoffs. "Lad, If I only did what I felt comfortable with, I'd still be back in Scotland, playing the bag pipes in
second rate pubs!"
With a heavy sigh, Guardian rises to his feet and strolls around the recreation area. He paces for a few seconds then walks back to the chair to stand behind it. Again he sighs. "In truth. You aren't telling me anything I haven't already thought about. I – I just don't know." Guardian rolls his shoulders forward tensely. He seems to hold his breath for a few seconds before relaxing again. "So much has happened. Some times it feels like I'm expected to keep the whole world from falling apart at the seams."
"Aye, I can relate, laddie. It some times feels like I'm expected to pay off the whole worlds debts. But I've learned that this is just the price of power – what ever form it may come in." Scrooge says with a note of compassion.
"I suppose that's it..." Guardian starts to reply as he lifts his eyes to meet Scrooges. But he is all at once over taken by the strangest feeling.
Then to Darkwing's shock, Guardian turns and looks straight at him. Looking him
in the eye, yet, looking through him, as well.
Darkwing feels a chill rush through his entire body.
"He sees me!" Darkwing exclaims to the angel. "He sees me!"
"No," the angel says calmly. She places a reassuring hand in Darkwing's arm. "Just listen."
What's wrong, lad." Scrooge asks seeing an almost haunted look sweep over the Duck in White's face.
For a long tense moment, Guardian doesn't speak. He just stares in the direction of his past self and the angel.
Finally, he replies in a voice that is as shaken as the expression on his face. "N-nothing...I guess. I just had this very strong feeling of déjà vu."
Scrooge's brow furrows slightly. "In what way, lad?"
"Like all this has already happened before. You and I talking about the same subject, word for word. You were sitting in the same place and I was here." He motions to the place he is standing. "But," he adds cautiously " it's as if I were standing over there watching myself the whole time."
Scrooge gazes over to the area Guardian is pointing, the very spot Darkwing is standing. He shudders "You're given me chills, lad. But ya know, we've all had that feeling. Like we've been someplace before." he replies.
Guardian forces himself to turn away. He spins to face Scrooge. I suppose your right. Maybe it's just the stress of the day."
Scrooge stands "I'm sure that's all it is, lad. Now, I have to be going. I was just in town on business and thought I should drop by to see how ya were fairing." He pauses before adding "if ya ever need to talk, Ya know where to find me."
Guardian smiles and nods.
With that, Scrooge turns and leaves.
"That was weird!" Darkwing exclaims turning to the angel. "I mean -really weird!"
She laughs "I know." She glances at Guardian who has chosen to dismiss the whole thing as his imagination. Guardian picks up his fedora from the floor and starts for home.
When Guardian is out of sight Darkwing looks to the angel. "I can't picture myself being all chummy with old Scrooge. But I could never imagine, either, having the power that Guardian seems to possesses. It's all so overwhelming."
"You just need to take it one day at a time. You'll make it." the angel assures him.
"Well, now that that's over, tell me something."
"What?"
"Just when did you ever meet Scrooge McDuck?"
The angel laughs as she takes his arm to go "As I said, Darkwing, that is a story for another day."
To be concluded (I hope)