Twisted Strings of Fate
Chapter 21
Death is the only place the curse cannot follow me. Pain does not exist there. And I wonder if I'm better off with Death.
"Keep your eyes peeled. The map shows that there are monsters ahead." Fenton tucked the map away as they crossed the threshold into the Underworld.
The gate opened up into a large tunnel. A mist flowed languidly in the cool air, damping the light that was emitted by flames dancing in several shallow, wide dishes that made a line into the tunnel. The farther inside they moved, the more shadows darted and dashed beyond the mist.
"Did the map show exactly which monsters we should encounter?" Darkwing asked, remembering the cartoon drawings he had seen.
"There will be some gorgons, centaurs, Cerberus and the Chimera at least," Fenton replied.
"That…doesn't sound good," Launchpad said, tightening his grip on Charity in case they needed to run.
"Gorgons? Like Medusa?" Darkwing said, remembering a bit of Greek mythology.
"Like Medusa. Try not to look in their eyes," Fenton said.
Negaduck swore under his breath.
A growl emanated from the mist, a set of eyes glowing red. A second pair appeared on the right, then another on the left. As the shadow grew bigger, they could pick out the shape of a giant lion's muzzle, the horns of a goat, and a long, serpent's head with flickering tongue.
"The Chimera," Fenton whispered, taking a step back.
Darkwing Duck pulled out his gas gun, aiming it at the monster, not certain if it would do any good.
From underneath the Chimera, a pair of headlights blinked on, shining in their eyes. Honking, a strange vehicle burst out of the mists and skidded to a halt in a U-turn. The vehicle looked like a long golf cart with several rows of benches and no doors. In the front seat at the wheel was a female dog with sharp pointed ears and a wolfish grin on her face.
"Come with me if you want to live," she said in a false, deep voice.
The group looked at the Chimera then at the stranger and decided on the safer choice. They climbed in, Fenton taking the front next to the driver, Darkwing and Launchpad right behind them, and Negaduck in the back.
"Go! Go!" Darkwing shouted, his eyes locked on the Chimera as the lion's head bowed down with jaws wide open.
Just before fangs latched onto the vehicle, the tires dug into the rocky terrain and peeled out, zig-zagging in and around the four large paws and dodging the snake-head tail that pursued them. But as they escaped that monster, several more appeared. Their driver swerved this way and that, hitting a female duck with snakes in her hair and disturbing a flock of harpies.
"Get out of the way, ya old nags!" their driver shouted, honking and shaking her fist as three centaurs galloped alongside them, spears in hand.
The group dodged the pointed weapons as the centaurs tried to skewer them, but soon the vehicle left the hooved creatures in its dust, the seats worse for wear with several tears in the plastic and stuffing bursting out.
"Well, that's the worst of them," their driver said with a laugh. "You're safe now."
Fenton shook his head. "What about Cerberus?"
The driver ignored the question, relaxing in her seat and driving with only one hand. "Yep, it's a good thing I came when I did or you would have been Chimera chow. Now, where can I take ya?"
"Who are you?" Darkwing asked suspiciously.
"Just think of me as your friendly Underworld tour guide," was all she said. "I'm here to take you where you desire."
"Why do you want to help us?" Negaduck asked just as suspiciously.
"Let's just say that you and I have a mutual friend," the driver said. "She's very interested in seeing you succeed in this challenge."
Fenton glanced back at Darkwing who mouthed the name, "Aphrodite?" But Fenton shook his head. That didn't make sense. Just as he was turning around, the mist cleared and revealed three very big, black noses.
"Ahhhh!" he shouted, pointing.
The driver slammed on the breaks. Everyone lurched forward. Even Charity slipped out of Launchpad's grip, landing in the front seat in a crumpled heap.
"Sorry about that," the driver said with a laugh.
"Cerberus!" Fenton shouted.
"Don't pet the dog!" Launchpad yelled along with him.
"Oh, him. Don't worry," the driver said, getting out of the vehicle.
Cerberus gave three long, high whines.
"I have a way with dogs," the driver said, petting all three muzzles in turn. "Away with you, silly doggo."
Cerberus bounded away, causing a mini-earthquake that rocked the vehicle disconcertingly.
"Cerberus won't bother you, at least until you try to leave. He's trained to keep people in, not out. Now, have you decided where it is you want to go?" the driver said with a smile, climbing back into the vehicle.
"You're Hecate," Fenton said, realizing who the goddess was.
"Bingo," Hecate said with a wink. "The Goddess of Crossroads, at your service. I'll take you where you want to go, but I can't make the decision for you."
Fenton pulled out the map. The "You Are Here" sign had moved to the cartoon drawing of Cerberus in the middle of the map.
"How about if we go see that castle?" Launchpad asked, pointing beyond where Cerberus was frolicking with a bone that must have belonged to a dinosaur. "Can we go see that? Charity loves castles."
Hecate sucked in a breath through her teeth. "I don't think you want to go there. That's where Hades lives."
Darkwing shook his head. "Yeah, I think we should avoid the castle."
But Fenton gazed at the castle, feeling an inclination that that was exactly where they should go. "One of the heart pieces is there."
"What? No, you have to be mistaken," Hecate said. "Why would she…send you there?" She looked deep in thought. "But then again… Okay, if you that's where you want to go, who am I to question your choices." She put the vehicle in gear and drove off, going down a twisted path that led to the castle.
"Are you sure?" Darkwing asked Fenton, leaning forward.
"I think so," Fenton said. That was when he realized that Charity's body still lay draped in the front seat, looking none-too-comfortable. "I think you forgot something, Launchpad." He pointed at the body.
"Whoops," Launchpad said, his eyebrows leaped up to his hairline. "I completely forgot about her."
All three of them exchanged sheepish glances that Cerberus had scared them so much they had neglected their duties. Negaduck snickered.
The castle that loomed before them was all towers and sharp points, jagged lines and crooked roofs. It was made of a darker, gloomier gray than the rest of the Underworld. They were almost to the front door when Hecate stopped short just before crashing into a line of ghosts.
Darkwing ducked to the ground.
"You'll have to hoof it from here," Hecate said. "It looks like Hades is taking requests, so he may be too busy to notice you sneaking around."
"Taking requests?" Launchpad repeated, exiting the vehicle with Charity over his shoulder.
"Yeah. He doesn't exactly have the best rep, you know, due to popular culture," Hecate said, whispering as if Hades was nearby. "So he listens to some of the suggestions the dead have to improve the Underworld. You wouldn't believe how many complaints Charon has had against him."
"I can believe it," Darkwing muttered.
"Well, good luck to you," Hecate said with a salute. "Although if you want, you can leave your chick with me. I'll keep her safe."
Launchpad looked uncertain about the suggestion, but when Fenton and Darkwing gave him nods, he set Charity down in a seat carefully.
Hecate had already pulled out her phone and was playing a game as they walked toward the crowd.
"Maybe we should leave the scaredy-cat behind as well," Negaduck laughed, hitting Darkwing's head as he passed the hero.
Darkwing ground his teeth together, screwing up his face with determination. He took a few steps into the crowd before springing away. "You know, maybe I should stay with Charity. Just in case."
"Really?" Negaduck shook his head. "Imagine, my legacy being passed down to that pussy."
Darkwing's face turned red at the insult, but it wasn't enough for him to get over his fear.
"We can't waste any more time," Fenton said. "Darkwing, if you can't come with us, then you stay behind. It might be a good idea not to leave Charity alone. You're the only one with a piece of her heart. We can't risk losing it either."
"Yeah, good idea," Darkwing said. "I'll keep Charity's heart safe."
Fenton rolled his eyes and pushed his way through the crowd. However, he didn't get far before the ghosts shoved him back. This was vaguely familiar. In fact, it seemed to be the story of his life, an endless struggle.
"I think I may have preferred the scaredy-cat. Quit being such a push-over," Negaduck said, coming up next to him.
"Why do I either have to be pushy or a push-over?" Fenton said to himself, envying Negaduck—who made a lot of headway as the ghosts realized he wasn't someone to mess with—and Launchpad—who was big enough that everyone stepped aside for him. "Why can't everyone just be polite?"
He struggled and wiggled through the crowd, saying, "Pardon me" and "Excuse me." Several ghosts gave him dirty looks and whispered impolite things.
"No cutting in line," one growled at him, a bear that rivaled even Launchpad's height.
"I'm not. I don't even want to see Hades," Fenton said with a sigh. "I just need to follow my fri—" He stopped mid-sentence as the crowd pushed, slamming him against a waist-high wall, squishing his lower half.
His eyes widened as the scene seemed to change for a few seconds into a restaurant with people sitting at tables, but then disappeared. He got a sense of déjà vu. "This is…Hey, Launchpad!" he called out.
The large duck turned around and backtracked, Negaduck following.
"I think we're supposed to go this way," Fenton said, hopping the wall. Beyond it was a dark hallway.
"Where does it go?" Launchpad asked.
"I don't know. Somewhere else in the castle," Fenton speculated. "I just know that Charity's heart piece is this way."
Just as he said that, a rectangle of paper floated by, heading down the hallway. It was the size of a business card. Fenton reached out to grab it, but it always kept out of reach.
"Come on," Fenton called, his eyes only on the business card.
They followed the hallway, noticing that while there was no light source the hallway was always lit. In regards to decoration, the walls and floor were bare, showing only carved stone. They turned several corners before coming to a set of doors. The business card slipped underneath.
Fenton knew for certainty that Charity's heart piece was on the other side of those doors. He opened them.
On the other side was the very definition of a cozy, warm and modern family room. A crackling fire danced in a hearth with a wooden mantle above it. Knick-knacks, framed photos and ceramic statues adorned it with a large painting of a duck couple hanging on the wall. There was a TV, a couch, rugs, end tables, lamps, and a coffee table. It was what anyone would want from a home.
Sitting in an armchair that matched the couches was a petite, short green duck with wispy white hair cascading almost to the floor. She was the female duck from the painting. She smiled at her guests.
"Welcome," she said. She obviously had been expecting them.
"Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, I presume," Fenton said, feeling at ease with such a setting. It was startling after the dark and gloomy castle.
"Fenton, Launchpad, Jim, please make yourself at home," Persephone said, gesturing to the couch. She smiled warmly.
They obeyed, sitting on the long couch with Fenton in the middle. The coffee table sat between them and Persephone. On the oak wood was some food: a bowl of chips, a plate of cookies, a bowl of fruit and a pitcher of lemonade with four glasses next to it.
Launchpad reached out to partake of the snacks, recoiling when Fenton slapped his hand.
"Eating anything in the Underworld has dire consequences," Fenton explained quickly. "Sorry."
Launchpad gazed down at the snacks sorrowfully.
Persephone smiled. "Excuse the trick, but I always have to try. I get a little lonely sometimes, and it would be nice to have someone living around."
"Your husband might not like it if we stayed," Fenton said, trying to figure out Persephone's intention and where Charity's heart piece was.
"Hades has dominion over the dead. He has no power over the living," Persephone said. "That's more my area."
"I'm sorry that you are lonely, but you must know that our quest won't allow us to linger long," Fenton said. "We don't have much time, so I'll be blunt. Do you know where Charity's heart piece is?"
Persephone held out her hand. Between two fingers was the business card. "She still had it in her pocket, did you know? After all you've been through, it wouldn't have been necessary. But she kept it anyway."
Instantly, Fenton knew the business card must contain Charity's heart piece. "I don't suppose if I asked nicely, you would hand it over?"
With a flick of her fingers, the card disappeared. "I wish it could be that easy, but then you wouldn't learn anything."
"What is it that I'm supposed to learn?"
Persephone reached over to the bowl of fruit and picked up the blood-red pomegranate that sat on top. "You know the story of how I became the Queen of the Underworld?" Her fingernails bit into the fruit's skin and she tore it apart. Juice sprayed in a gentle mist.
"I'll skip over the details, but basically Hades fell in love with you and abducted you," Fenton said, his eyes on the fruit as Persephone carefully picked out individual jewels. "Your mother, Demeter, was so distraught that she neglected her duty and let all the plants on Earth die. Zeus then told Hades to return you back to her mother. But before he did, Hades tricked you into eating some food from the Underworld so you had to return."
"A somewhat bias account," Persephone said, putting another jewel on the coffee table. "It was specifically six seeds of a pomegranate so that I would remain with Hades for six months of the year and six months with my mother." She added another to the row of pomegranate jewels, making a total of six. "We have a lot in common, Fenton. We both have dominant, overbearing mothers, we live in two different worlds, and we all-too-often let things happen to us."
Fenton looked at the round pieces of fruit, knowing each one contained a seed within the flesh. "If I'm reading the situation right, you're asking me to give up six months of my life each year in exchange for Charity's heart piece."
Persephone nodded. "Six months with me during the fall and winter, six months in the mortal realm in the spring and summer."
"You're not asking for something simple," Fenton said with a sigh, leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees. He clasped his hands. "You're asking me to give up being Gizmoduck, being a scientist and be away from my friends and family for six months."
"I know," Persephone said. "Six months away from your life. I'm not asking you to sacrifice anything that I haven't already given up."
"And if I don't accept, I'm sacrificing my morality. I'm sacrificing Charity's soul and any chance for her to break her curse," Fenton said. "I wouldn't be a hero if I did that." In one swift sweep of his hand, he scooped up the pomegranate jewels and popped them in his mouth, swallowing without chewing or tasting them.
Persephone's eyes widened. "Nobody has ever made the decision that quickly," she whispered. Then she smiled. "You truly are a hero."
"I'm sorry, Mamá," Fenton whispered. He hoped that she would understand why he had done it.
"I'm satisfied. I knew I picked the right one," Persephone said, taking Fenton's hands and sliding the business card into them. "And for the record, Hades didn't trick me into eating the pomegranate seeds. I chose to eat them."
Fenton looked down at the card, a warmth spreading through him. It felt as if he were holding a heartbeat between his fingers.
"Are you regretting the price?" Persephone asked.
Fenton shook his head, enclosing his hand over the card. "No."
"And I never have either. Charity is a lucky girl to have you in her life. If only I could say the same thing," Persephone said, a mischievous smile on her beak.
"But you do. I'll—"
Persephone laughed, interrupting Fenton. "Another trick, I'm afraid. Do you think that I keep Underworld food to eat? I'd never be able to leave."
Fenton blinked.
"This pomegranate is from my mother's garden. She knows they are my favorites," Persephone said, putting a few jewels in her mouth. "My husband would never have forced me to remain in the Underworld, just as I would never force anyone to stay and be my friend. Life and Death are fair but never cruel."
"Then…"
"You're free to go. Although I hope that you will come and visit. And don't wait until you're dead to do it." Persephone grinned.
"About time," Negaduck said, slapping his knees and standing up. "I didn't think I could stand listening to this dribble a second longer. Let's go."
Launchpad stood up, his mouth and hands filled with the snacks from the coffee table. "What?" he asked when Fenton stared at him. "She said they weren't from the Underworld. It's safe."
Persephone giggled, inviting him to take a few more cookies. "Oh, and before you go," she said, snagging Fenton shoulder. "It was not a lie when I said we are much alike. I regret not following my heart long ago when I first fell in love with Hades. I waited centuries before he finally courted me and took me away from my mother's iron-clad wing. Don't let the same thing happen to you."
"But my mamá—"
"I'm not talking about your mother," Persephone jumped in. "I'm talking about everyone in your life that you allow to dictate your life's direction. Do yourself a favor: find out what you want and don't let anything get in your way. Don't let people with big personalities stop you from perusing the heart of any matter."
Fenton looked down at the business card, his brows furrowing. "I can't. Not only am I uncertain of my feelings, but I can't be certain of hers. If I try to win her heart, it's just going to be too confusing for us before and after the curse is broken."
"I'm not telling you to win her heart," Persephone said gently. "But you can at least explore if this is something you want. And when you do know, you need to make sure she knows about your feelings. If you keep things bottled inside, how is she supposed to know how you feel once the curse is broken?"
"I just don't want to hurt her," Fenton said.
"She's already hurting," Persephone said. "Unrequited love breaks more hearts than betrayal does."
Fenton cupped the business card fondly before his expression changed to that of realization. He looked at Persephone.
"Hurry. You don't have much time," the goddess said, making a shooing gesture.
Fenton broke into a jog, pulling Launchpad and Negaduck with him. He was so concerned by the idea that Persephone put in his head that he barely noticed how he easily pushed through the crowd of ghosts on the way back.
Darkwing crouched on top of the vehicle's roof, looking like a gargoyle on a gothic cathedral with his cape draped around him like bat wings. The second he spotted the three exiting the crowd of ghosts, he jumped off.
"Get in," Fenton shouted.
"Is everything okay?" Darkwing asked, looking concerned as he jumped into the front seat next to Hecate. "Did you find the heart piece?"
"Everything is fine. I've got it," Fenton said. "Get us out of here, Hacate."
"What's the hurry?" the goddess asked. "Did Hades spot you?"
"No. I just know where we're going next," Fenton said.
Hecate performed a three-point turn on the crooked path, the wheels getting dangerously close to falling off the cliff into the dark abyss below. "Where to?"
"The Mourning Fields on the double," Fenton said, glancing at Charity. "We have less than thirty minutes before we need to be back at the docks."
"Why the Mourning Fields?" Darkwing asked, hooking an arm over his seat to talk to Fenton.
"It's one of the resting places for the dead," Fenton explained, his tone turning to lecture-mode. "Elysium is where those who curry favor with the gods and heroes go to rest, Tartarus is where the really, really bad people go, and the Asphodel Meadows is where a majority of the souls are sent. As for the Mourning Fields, it's a place where souls go who have wasted their lives away with unrequited love. I think Persephone gave me a hint that we're to go there next."
"Ah, so that's who had the heart piece," Hecate said with a nod. "Our mutual friend."
Fenton looked down at the card he kept tight in his hand. Mutual friend indeed. He had a feeling that Persephone sent Hecate just so that she could meet him.
There was pressure against his other hand. He looked over, seeing the limp body of Charity leaning against Launchpad, staring off into space. Her hand was squeezing his.
He squeezed right back.
Hecate drove like a maniac. They didn't run into any monsters but there were crowds of ghosts wandering all over, which distressed Darkwing. He kept shouting at Hecate to avoid them, to which the goddess aimed for the spirits. The ghosts only vanished in a puff of mist when the vehicle ran through them, rematerializing and shaking a fist behind them.
"Quit passenger-seat driving," Hecate told Darkwing with a grin. "I'm not gonna kill ya."
"That's comforting," Negaduck snickered from the back.
Once away from the castle, the road became straight, heading toward the far side of the large cavern where four tunnel mouths lined against the wall. Before the path split, there was a tollbooth.
Hecate screeched to a stop before crashing into the tollbooth gate.
Three men, a bull, an owl and a duck poked their heads out of three separate windows.
"Hecate! What brings you to our neck of the woods?" the bull asked, tipping his hat.
"I'm just showing a couple of Persephone's guests around," Hecate said conversationally.
The owl adjusted his glasses while scrutinizing her passengers. "They're looking a little livelier than the usual crowd. It's going to be a little harder to judge their souls."
"They're not staying," Hecate said.
"You know the rules," the duck said. "Souls check in but they don't check out."
"Then don't check them in," Hecate said sternly.
"Hades won't like that," the bull said. He spat on the ground. "He's still steaming about Orpheus."
"Like I said, these are guests of Persephone," Hecate said. "If you don't tell Hades, he doesn't have to know."
"Alright, Hecate. But you owe me one," the bull said, waving her through as the gate opened. "And there better not be any extra passengers when you come back."
"Thanks," Hecate said, saluting the three tollbooth attendants.
"Who are they?" Launchpad asked.
"Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus. They judge the souls that enter the Underworld to determine where they should go," Hacate explained.
The vehicle moved toward the four-way split, signs pointing down each path. Hecate turned toward the one that read "Fields of Mourning." She stopped at the mouth of the tunnel.
"This is as far as I go," Hecate said. "Good luck."
Darkwing, Fenton and Negaduck exited the vehicle. Realizing they were one short, Darkwing turned back to look at Launchpad who remained at Charity's side.
"Are you coming?" the masked duck asked.
"Naw. I'll wait with Charity on this one," Launchpad said with a smile, waving at them.
"Are you sure? You don't feel as if Charity's heart piece is here?" Fenton asked.
Launchpad shook his head.
Darkwing and Fenton turned to Negaduck.
"What?" the villain snorted. "Oh, you mean it's my turn to have a mushy moment. Blah." He stomped into the tunnel, grumbling.
Darkwing and Fenton looked back at Launchpad before following.
The tunnel was short, only about twenty feet before it opened up into a misty field. The damp, cave-like feel of the Underworld disappeared to be replaced by grass and flowers growing on small, rolling hills. Trees and rocks dotted the landscape. It would have been a cheerful place except there was no sun and everything was in gray, muted colors.
A low, haunting wail drifted on the air, rising in pitch before falling silent. Following that, there was the sound of a woman sobbing. All around them, they could hear one person's sorrows after another. Both Fenton and Darkwing felt an ach in their hearts as empathy overwhelmed them.
"Charity is here?" Darkwing asked, looking worried.
"A part of her is," Fenton said. He turned to Negaduck. "Which way do we go?"
"How should I know?" Negaduck growled, crossing his arms.
"Both Darkwing and I felt a piece of Charity's heart," Fenton said. "I doubt she suffers from unrequited love from Launchpad, so this one is on you."
"I never asked for this," Negaduck shouted.
"Neither did she," Fenton defended. "I know you feel something. Which way?"
Negaduck pouted for a few seconds before picking a direction. He led the way reluctantly, but after a minute, he changed directions, his steps with more purpose. After going over and around several hills, he stopped.
In a small valley knelt a familiar figure, her long, curly hair cascading down her back. Her hands were braced against the ground, her figure hunched.
"Charity!"
Darkwing and Fenton raced over to her, although the former shirked back when he realized she looked like the ghosts they encountered. He bravely came forward, putting a hand on her shoulder. His hand went right through her.
"It's only part of her soul," Fenton said, looking into Charity's face.
The lovebird's eyes were wide-open, her face twisted in sorrow. Her eyes steadily dripped tears like a leaky faucet, creating a puddle on the ground.
"Charity!" Darkwing called, his eyes darting around. "How do we get her heart piece? What are we supposed to do?"
"We're not supposed to do anything?" Fenton said, his head turning to Negaduck, who hadn't come any more forward. "He's the one that has to get it."
Negaduck huffed, his teeth bared. "How?" he growled. He felt his past and his present selves warring within him. It had been a long time since he felt the pull of Jim Starling at his mind.
"I don't know," Fenton said. "What do you feel? Do you have any connection to Charity?"
"No!" Negaduck yelled immediately. "She means nothing to me."
"What about Launchpad?" Darkwing asked, his back to Negaduck. "Does he mean nothing to you? Or your other fans?"
Negaduck sneered. "I don't care about anyone."
"That's not true," Darkwing said, turning around. "You pushed Launchpad out of the way before the ceiling caved in. Remember?"
Negaduck looked away.
"You do care about your fans. That's why you kept going to all those appearances," Darkwing said. "I was there. Even as the crowds dwindled year after year, you kept coming even though you weren't making that much money. You kept writing Darkwing Duck books, even using your own funds to publish them. You can't tell me you didn't do that for your fans."
Negaduck lowered the brim of his hat, covering his expression.
Darkwing grabbed Negaduck's coat. "I've seen how she looks at you. As much as I hate to admit it, she loves you. She's been a fan of Darkwing Duck since she was a kid, and not once has Darkwing Duck let her down."
"You're Darkwi—"
"No, I'm not. Darkwing Duck connects us to her. He's more than the two of us," Darkwing said. "And as much as I want to be the Darkwing Duck that saves her, that's not my call. It's you that needs to get that heart piece. And if you don't, you're going to let down one of your biggest fans."
Negaduck looked back at Charity's broken soul crying on the ground. He bared his teeth before giving out a short yell. Grabbing Darkwing, Negaduck pulled his counterpart to a large, oak tree, pushing him against the trunk.
"Take off your clothes," he shouted as if he were mugging Darkwing.
"What?" Darkwing cried out, confused and horrified.
"I can't be Darkwing looking like this," Negaduck sneered. "And your…whatever that is…is the best we've got." He looked disapprovingly at the skin-tight costume that Darkwing wore.
Quickly, they exchanged costumes, Drake wearing the red and yellow tattered costume since there wasn't an alternative, although he refused to put the mask and hat on. As for the cape, his old one lay in a heap. He was about to give it to Negaduck, but when he turned around, Starling was gone.
The oak tree was perfect. Although it had been years since he had done such a stunt, everything came back to him like riding a bike.
He hated how the spandex felt against his feathers. He missed his old costume. A jacket and turtleneck was much more comfortable. At least he didn't take the cape. The black and red didn't go well with the rest of the costume, but he needed his old cape.
Finding a branch with the right height, he settled in a crouch, taking his time to keep his balance. Oh yeah, it's definitely been too long since he'd done something like this. And a part of him missed it.
Shaking away that thought, he reached into the belt and pulled out some smoke pellets. That imposter had even gotten the belt right with the same compartment and latches that were used in the TV show.
Throwing the smoke pellets against the tree, Negaduck…no, that wasn't his name for the moment…Darkwing Duck stood up, spreading his cape.
"I am the terror that flaps in the night," he said, the words flowing smoothly off his tongue. "I am the telemarketer that calls you at dinner time. I am Darkwing Duck." The smoke cleared with perfect timing, revealing him to the audience.
He almost forgot that his audience was only the imposter and the skinny smart guy. But then he saw the shining eyes of the girl—her soul—looking at him, finally moving from her place of grieving.
Snapping his cape and engaging the strong wires build into the fabric, Darkwing Duck jumped off the tree, floating to the ground in a perfect, controlled glide right in front of Charity.
"He did it!" the imposter exclaimed, looking dumbfounded. "How did he do it?"
Darkwing Duck couldn't help but smile. Even at his age, he knew how to make an entrance.
The girl was on her feet, her face full of awe for him.
He posed just as he did on stage for hundreds of conventions and autograph sessions. "Let's get dangerous," he said. Even after all this time, that phrase never got old.
"Darkwing Duck," Charity breathed, looking up at him in adoration.
His memories before waking up on Ithaquack were fuzzy. His hatred and anger lingered with clarity for the imposter, but he recalled moments when the face before him had been filled with terror and worry. It was odd to think that she could still love him after all he had done.
There was a sliver of remorse for what he had done because he hadn't meant for Charity to be involved in his revenge. He had let wrath blind him to everything but his ultimate goal, the ends justifying the means. But now…did he want to be the kind of person who used a girl to hurt his enemy?
He glanced at the imposter, the bare face of the actor who stole his role. He had only eyes for the girl. It was obvious that he cared for her.
Darkwing Duck turned his attention back to the girl. Yes, he would use the girl to hurt his enemy, but there had to be boundaries. He was a monster, but even he had to have principles.
Casting a sneaky smile over his shoulder just to make sure his audience was watching, Darkwing Duck swooped to Charity, wrapping her in his arms and dipping her over his knee. He heard her squeak in surprise before he covered her beak with his own.
As he felt the lovebird respond to his kiss, he almost shut out the entire world, almost missed hearing the two watching the altercation protest his actions. Being Darkwing Duck wasn't the only thing he hadn't forgotten how to do. How long had it been since he had kissed a woman? Held someone in his arms? Had someone hold him back? The last few years were a blur, obsession and depression tilting his grasp on reality back and forth.
Who was he really? Who did he want to be? Jim Starling or Negaduck? In that moment, he was neither. He was Darkwing Duck.
He broke the embrace, his thoughts tumultuous. Kissing Charity for revenge wasn't something that Darkwing Duck would do. Nor would Jim Starling. But Negaduck would.
His mood darkened once more as he grasped on his chosen name.
And Charity vanished in his arms, leaving behind a photograph on the ground. He picked it up. It was of a younger Jim Starling standing next to a teenage Charity, both smiling. By the background, they had been at a convention.
He had met her before, but he couldn't remember that day. Yet she probably cherished this photo with him all this time.
Negaduck ripped off the purple mask and hat, disgusted with himself, but for what? For kissing her? Or for posing as Darkwing Duck to do it? Stomping toward the imposter, he threw the mask and hat to the ground and shoved the photo in his chest. "Here!" he shouted before racing away. He had to get out of there. He couldn't stand the wailings and sobbings of the other residents of the fields.
Launchpad paced around the vehicle after the others left, every once in a while glancing at Charity.
Hecate watched him, one arm resting on her seat, the other on the steering wheel. "If you keep that up, you'll wear a hole to China," she joked.
Launchpad rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry. I guess I'm a little nervous," he said with a half-smile.
"It's okay. The living shouldn't feel comfortable among the dead," Hecate said.
Launchpad faced Hecate. "It's not that. I just…I'm not sure about a lot of things," Launchpad said. "There's a lot going on in my head, and it's not letting me rest."
Hecate nodded. "You know, it's best to unload on a stranger when you have a full head. I can be your sympathetic ear."
Launchpad smiled and sat in the seat next to Charity's limp body. "It's this challenge. I guess I should be really excited about being with Darkwing Duck and Gizmoduck—even though he's not in his suit—and with Jim Starling—even though he tried to kill me yesterday, but I forgive him—and with my best friend Charity. I just wish that I could talk to her right now."
"What would you say to her if you could?" Hecate asked.
"I don't know."
"Yes, you do."
Launchpad sighed. "It's just…I don't understand some things about this curse. It's confusing me. I'm glad that I can help and that I get to be with her, but…"
"You think she's hiding something from you," Hecate finished for him.
"We've never kept secrets before, but then I found out she's been lying to me this whole time," Launchpad said, scratching his neck. "I didn't like how that felt."
"Betrayed."
"No. She had her reasons. But I wish she could have been honest with me from the start. And now, things feel different."
"She's been spending time with Darkwing and Fenton," Hecate said. "She's making new friends. She's having her own adventures. She's seeing the world. Does that bother you?"
Launchpad frowned. "It shouldn't. But she's changing."
"She's growing," Hecate corrected gently. "And so are you."
"I don't like it," Launchpad said, sounding a little angry. "It feels like we're growing apart."
"Is that really fair?" Hecate asked. "After all, you're the one who left her behind first. You learned how to fly. You found a job. You made new friends. You traveled all around the world. When you were having hundreds of adventures, where was she?"
"She was at home," Launchpad said sadly.
"Don't you think she felt this same way, as if you left her behind?" Hecate asked.
"She never said anything," Launchpad said, taking Charity's hand. "She was always so happy whenever I would come to visit. She never complained."
"But you saw the signs," Hecate said. "Did you really think she was happy?"
A chill ran through Launchpad and he squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them again when he heard a noise that didn't belong in the Underworld. He looked down to see a pill bottle rolling across the seat toward him. He picked it up.
"No," he said through clenched teeth. "Not that." He covered his face with his hands.
"Tell me about that day," Hecate prompted.
"She was taken to the hospital," Launchpad said. He no longer hid his face but rested his chin in his hands. "They had to pump her stomach."
"Go on," Hecate pushed when Launchpad didn't say more.
There was a lump in his throat that made it hard to swallow. "When I walked into the room, she smiled. It was so like her. And then…then she said…"
"I love you, Launchpad," Charity whispered.
Launchpad turned to her prone form, but she remained as lifeless as before. "I couldn't believe she would do that. Whenever I visited, she was always laughing and smiling. I thought she was happy."
"But she was also lonely and in pain," Hecate said.
"But she had her parents…" Launchpad's argument died.
"And you had your job, your boss, your family both old and new," Hecate listed. "You have so many people in your corner. Who did she have?"
Launchpad dug his fingers in his hair. "Why didn't she tell me? Why did she keep her feelings a secret? She didn't have to take all those pills. I would have done anything for her. I'm supposed to be her big brother, and I couldn't even protect her against herself."
"It's not your fault," Charity said.
"You are protecting her," Hecate said. "You made a promise that night. What was it?"
Launchpad laughed at the memory, and he realized his cheeks were wet. "I promised I would stop flying if she promised never to do that again. Her mom hated that I was a pilot. But then she yelled at me and told me that she wouldn't do it again as long as I kept flying."
"Do you trust her to keep her promise?" Hecate asked.
"Yes."
"Even if she's keeping something from you, do you trust her?"
"Yes."
"Does she trust you?"
"I don't know," Launchpad admitted. "She hasn't trusted me with the truth."
"She's trusted you with part of her heart," Hecate said.
"The heart piece I'm supposed to find?" Launchpad looked around the bleak Underworld. "Ever since we got here, I haven't felt anything like the others. Maybe Hermes was wrong about that. I'm not meant to find one of her heart pieces."
"Or maybe it's because you've had it all along," Hecate said with a smile. She pointed down to the bottle in his hands.
Unscrewing the lid, Launchpad poured out the contents. It was a cheap, plastic necklace with half a broken heart as the pendant. "I thought I lost this."
He remembered the day they got the matching necklaces. It was the day before he had left for flight school. They had spent the day together at one of those fairs that moved around during the summer. They played games, rode rides, and ate too much fried food. Charity had won the necklace at a ring toss.
She told him that as long as they had the necklaces, they would be best friends forever.
He wasn't sure when he lost it. It could have been that one time he was in Australia or perhaps when he went pearl diving with Mr. McD. He had been so busy that he hadn't realized it was gone.
"Charity still has her half," Hecate said. "She wears it even now."
Launchpad reached around Charity's neck, feeling a silver chain necklace that replaced the plastic one, her half of the necklace worn and faded. He hadn't noticed that she wore it since she always wore high-necked shirts. He brushed the hair out of her face before kissing her forehead.
"I love you, too, Charity."
"Like a sister?" Her eyes looked up into his.
"Like a sister," he repeated, the words familiar since he had said them to her dozens of times. "Charity, I miss you."
But her eyes had already gone blank again, whatever lucidity she experienced was gone.
"Trust her, Launchpad," Hecate said. "Trust her like she trusts you with her heart."
He enfolded his fingers over the necklace as if it would fly away if he didn't.
The two sat in silence for a while before Darkwing Duck marched out of the tunnel mouth. No, that wasn't Darkwing Duck. Launchpad recognized the face of Jim Starling, no mask covering his features. Why was he wearing Darkwing Duck's costume?
Starling went to the back of the vehicle, gripped the side as if to climb in and stopped. Then he began kicking one of the tires, muttering curses under his breath.
"Hey! This is a rental," Hecate shouted at him. "Don't make me take my deposit out of your hide."
Negaduck glared at her before folding his arms and leaning against the vehicle.
Drake and Fenton exited the tunnel, the former dressed in Negaduck's coat and his arms loaded with hats, capes and masks.
"We have to move. We only have ten minutes to find the last heart piece and get to Charon's ferry," Fenton said, jumping into the vehicle.
"Let me get dressed first," Negaduck growled, grabbing his mask and hat. "I can't stand being in this thing another second."
"We'll change on the way," Drake said, pushing Negaduck into the back seat. "Do we know where we're going next?"
"Good news, fellas," Hecate said as she turned on the vehicle and revved the gas. "Launchpad found the final heart piece while you were in the Fields. You're good to go. That is, if you can figure out how to put the pieces back?"
Darkwing unbuttoned the yellow jacket, keeping out of sight of the goddess. "Put them back? Like inside Charity?"
"That's kind of where a heart belongs," Hecate said. "Since you guys seem to be in the dark, lucky for you, the judges of the Underworld have that unique skill."
"The tollbooth guys?" Launchpad asked with one raise eyebrow.
"Oh, they're more than they seem," Hecate said. "They'll fix your girl up lickity-split."
Darkwing fastened his cape and straightened his hat, now fully dressed. "If they can give Charity back her heart, then let's go for it."
Hecate raised one hand, her thumb and finger spanning less than an inch. "There's a teeny, tiny catch. They'll want to judge her heart first. They're funny that way."
"That's not a problem," Fenton said, chuckling nervously. "Not only is Charity still alive, but I doubt she's done anything that would condemn her to Tartarus."
Hecate grimaced. "Well, that's not all they judge. If they find something within Charity's heart still wanting or if they can't get the heart pieces to conjoin together again, they may just decide that Charity might as well be dead and send her soul to her eternal rest." Hecate frowned, looking as if she expected an answer from the four.
The passengers were quiet as that sank in.
"You mean she could die?" Darkwing asked.
"With eight minutes left, I don't know if we have much of a choice," Fenton said slowly. He turned around, looking to Darkwing and Launchpad for confirmation.
It was Launchpad who made the decision. "We need to trust her," he said, looking down at his closed fist. "She trusts us with her heart, so we need to trust her."
Hecate smiled and urged the vehicles to go faster.
As they came up to where the tollbooth had been, they were surprised to see that the building didn't look the way it had been. Instead, three courtroom benches sat in a row with a bowl on a marble pillar. The three tollbooth attendants sat at the benches, their uniforms exchanged for robes.
Hecate stopped right in front of the bowl.
"Bring the heart forward," the bull said.
The four men exited the vehicle, Launchpad holding Charity in his arms. Darkwing was the first to step forward and put the keychain in the bowl. It disappeared, turning into a sphere of light.
"Hmmmm. This part of the heart contains a lot of worldly pleasures. Gaudia's influence is prevalent. But they are harmless and don't overshadow the heart's goodness," the bull said as he watched the scales.
"Next," the owl said, gesturing to Fenton.
Fenton put the business card in, which joined with the ball of light, making it bigger.
"Ah, I see our queen's influence here," the owl said with a smile. "If she has judged this part of the heart herself, then we cannot presume to know better than Persephone."
Fenton smiled.
As Darkwing stepped forward again to put the photograph into the bowl, the last judge held up a hand. "That is not yours to present," the duck said. He pointed to Negaduck. "You must put it in the bowl."
Hecate made a little gasp. "I didn't think they would do this," she whispered.
"Do what?" Darkwing whispered back.
"It's not just Charity's heart that is being judged."
Darkwing's brow furrowed in worry. "Maybe we should stop. We can find a different way to put Charity's heart together."
"It's too late. Once the judges start, they must finish," Hecate said.
Negaduck, having heard the whole conversation, didn't hesitate to take the photo and put it in the bowl.
The duck judge watched as the photo dissolved into a ball of light, remaining separate from the larger orb.
"Hmmm, it appears this part of the heart is tarnished," he said with a frown. "It came from the Fields of Mourning, which makes sense. A heart that is given to someone who won't care for it cannot be mended easily."
Negaduck growled before slapping the pedestal that the bowl sat on. "That's not on me. And it's not that girl's fault either. And if any of you goons try anything, you'll have me to deal with," Negaduck shouted at them, baring his teeth.
The duck judge didn't look intimidated. However, he did raise an eyebrow as the larger sphere absorbed the smaller one, making it bigger. "Hmmmm, it seems that despite your flaws, the heart has forgiven you."
Negaduck took a step back, looking surprised. He shook that off quickly, shrugging.
"Let the last piece come forward," the bull said.
Launchpad, with Charity still in his arms, walked to the bowl and dropped the necklace inside with a metallic clank. When it turned into a ball of light, it moved away from the larger orb.
All three judges frowned.
"Very troubling," the owl said.
"Tis a shame. She had such a good soul so far," the bull said.
"It's too bad that the heart will remain broken," the duck said.
Launchpad shook his head. "Please, there's got to be something you can do," he pleaded. "She doesn't deserve to remain here."
"Isn't that what she wanted?" the bull asked. "Agony was left at the gate. There is no pain here. No hunger. No fatigue. She can be at rest."
"But…but I don't want her to go," Launchpad said, holding her tight. "And I don't believe she wants to leave either."
"Her heart was weak. She let it split apart. She allowed it to be broken. And she cannot accept this part of herself," the owl said. "It is not up to us."
"She's not weak," Launchpad yelled at the judges. "It's because she had to be strong for too long. If anyone should be punished, it's me for realizing that she wasn't strong enough. I should have seen that she was lonely and unhappy. It was me who broke her heart first."
As if they were two magnets, the smaller orb zipped right to the larger, joining together into one about as big as ping pong ball. It floated off the bowl and zoomed right for Charity, absorbing into her chest.
Her eyes that had been staring into space blinked several times, light returning to them.
"Launchpad?" she asked, looking up into her friend's face. "You're crying?"
The large duck crushed the lovebird to his chest, burying his face into her hair.
"Launchpad, you're going to break my ribs," Charity said with a muffled chuckle.
"Don't ever, ever leave like that again," Launchpad said. "You promised you wouldn't. Don't make me stop flying."
Charity returned the embrace. "A promise is a promise. I'm not going anywhere."
"Uh…I'm sorry to interrupt," Fenton said politely. "But we have less than five minutes."
Launchpad withdrew his hug but still held Charity in his arms. "I love you, Charity."
Charity smiled. "I love you, too, Launchpad. Like a brother."
Launchpad grinned before rushing them to the vehicle, jumping in the middle seat with Darkwing, Fenton in front and Negaduck in the back.
Hecate slammed on the gas, giving all her passengers whiplash.
"Where are we? What's going on?" Charity asked, looking around the gray, cave-like landscape. "The last thing I remember is falling into a hole and then…nothing." She frowned, talking again before anyone could answer. "Are we in the Underworld? Did you guys kill us?"
Negaduck laughed loudly in the back.
"Long story later," Fenton said, trying to stay seated throughout Hecate's crazy driving. "Short story: Yes, we're in the Underworld. Your heart was split into four pieces which we had to find. We succeeded but we only have about thirty minutes to get out of the Underworld before we lose the challenge and are trapped here."
Charity's eyes widened. "I have…so many…I have all the questions. All of them," she said.
But she didn't get to vocalize any of them as Hecate raced into the misty tunnel where all the monsters lived, turning the wheel this way and that to avoid claws and jaws that reached out for them. "Hang on," she shouted, spinning the vehicle in a one-eighty, quickly switching into reverse, and driving the rest of the way backwards. When she finally slammed on the breaks, they were going down the steps outside the gates of the Underworld.
"Well, guys, it's been fun," Hecate said with a grin. "Bonus: I didn't get you killed. Good luck. Oh, and tell the duckling in green that I want five gold coins on the favorite to win."
The five mortals were too stunned by the wild ride to understand her words. Not to mention, Charon was about to pull away from the docks.
"Wait! Wait!" Fenton shouted, waving at the ferryman. "We're here. Don't leave yet."
Charon waited patiently for all five to make it to the end of the dock before holding out his hand. "Can you pay?"
Darkwing looked at Fenton and Launchpad before pulling out their last coin. He looked pleadingly at Charon.
"One coin, one soul," Charon said. "Who is coming with me?"
"Charity," Fenton, Launchpad and Darkwing said together. Negaduck calmly stayed silent.
"But—" She was pushed into the boat.
"Don't argue," Darkwing told her.
"But arguing's my best subject," she said. She turned to Charon. "You have to take them, too."
"Why?" Charon asked.
"Because…I'm not whole," Charity said, touching her chest. "My heart isn't whole. They each have of a piece of me with them. How can you take my coin and leave part of me behind?"
Charon straightened as if surprised. And he wasn't surprised often. From within the hood, he grinned. "You're right, miss. I cannot be a true Ferryman if I take payment and leave part of a soul behind. I will take all of you across."
Charity beamed.
(Author's Notes: By common consent, it seemed the last chapter was the most popular. Thank you everyone for the praise and support. I hope this chapter was satisfactory, because it was satisfying to write. The characters finding the different heart pieces hit me as a writer hard since it shows just how deep Charity's relationships are with each guy. I could go on and on about this chapter because I feel that (while not my favorite, probably third favorite of all the chapters) it goes deep into the different characters (except for Darkwing, but he's already had enough moments, lol).
I'm sorry that Hades did not make an appearance. He was awesome in the show, but unfortunately, he wouldn't have fit into the story. All creatures and gods featured in this chapter are from Greek myths, but their portrayal in the Ducktales universe are of my own creation. Please feel free to use the physical descriptions for your own stories. I do not mind.)
By common consent, it seemed the last chapter was the most popular. Thank you everyone for the praise and support. I hope this chapter was satisfactory, because it was satisfying to write. The characters finding the different heart pieces hit me as a writer hard since it shows just how deep Charity's relationships are with each guy. I could go on and on about this chapter because I feel that (while not my favorite, probably third favorite of all the chapters) it goes deep into the different characters (except for Darkwing, but he's already had enough moments, lol).
I'm sorry that Hades did not make an appearance. He was awesome in the show, but unfortunately, he wouldn't have fit into the story. All creatures and gods featured in this chapter are from Greek myths, but their portrayal in the Ducktales universe are of my own creation. Please feel free to use the physical descriptions for your own stories. I do not mind.