Twisted Strings of Fate
Chapter 23
The Strings of Fate bind us all together; mothers to daughters, fathers to sons, friends, lovers, and even enemies and rivals, their strings are taut and straight. The Strings have wrapped so tightly around the men I am bound to that they cannot move an inch without cutting into my flesh.
Charity sauntered toward the group of ducks; the way she swished her hips, how the corners of her mouth quirked up, and the look on her face, they were not characteristic of Charity. It was Charity's face and body, but it was not her. Even Launchpad caught on, looking worried but at the same time cautious.
Casting a glance back at Zeus and the remaining gods, Charity said, "You can go now. You've served your purpose."
Zeus's face turned purple, obviously infuriated at being dismissed like a servant, but he seemed unwilling to say anything. Instead of releasing the stress that was building inside of him, he turned around and stormed off—literally—yelling, "I've decided to allow Scrooge McDuck and his family to stay on Ithaquack for the time. However, all mortals better be gone by sunset or woe be unto them."
Charity smiled. No, not Charity. Aphrodite.
It was a hard concept for most to grasp. The one who seemed to be taking it in stride was Scrooge, who stepped forward, not cowed as the gods were by Aphrodite's presence.
"If you've had enough of yanking around the lass and lads, I think it's about time you tell us what you know," Scrooge said with a frown. "You've had your fun with the challenges. You owe it to them."
"I owe it to them?" Aphrodite repeated, looking surprise. "My dear Scroogie, I owe them nothing. You came here on a hunch. I made no promises except that if they passed, they would get to see me. And last time I checked, they didn't win the last challenge."
"We both know those challenges weren't about winning," Scrooge growled. "You were playing with them."
"I'd prefer the word 'testing'," Aphrodite purred. "Mortals who come to Ithaquack, they're always looking for this god or that god, trying to save the world, save some loved one, or go on an adventure. Little ol' me gets awfully lonesome with nobody to come visit. Even you have come to this island for several reasons, but not once did you seek me out." She ran a finger along the bottom of his chin. "I could have helped you so much, especially regarding a certain blonde."
Scrooge battered Aphrodite's hand away from his face, which surprised everyone including the goddess.
Aphrodite's seductive, sultry pose and tone disappeared. "You're no fun."
"I've heard that before," Scrooge said rather proudly. "Well, I suppose you don't have any information for us. We'll be going now. Come on, kids. Now, where did Huey go with that big guy…"
Aphrodite harrumphed with her hands on her hips before succumbing to Scrooge's bluff. "Not that I believe you would leave this girl's body with me, but if you insist, I shall talk. But only to them." She turned to Fenton, Darkwing, Launchpad and Negaduck. "You four are coming with me. We need a heart-to-heart."
A pink fog appeared and enclosed them that smelled of rose petals and lavender. When it cleared, they were in what appeared to be a modern living room that had an obvious air for romance. Pink and red were the dominant colors. Everything was plush and soft with lacy pillows, animal-print rugs and rose petals. A fire crackled in the hearth, which was the only light. There was a table set with champagne, flute glasses, strawberries and a chocolate fountain.
And there were no doors.
The two masked ducks seemed wary, especially Negaduck who felt trapped without anywhere to escape. Launchpad examined the chocolate fountain since it had been a long time since his snack with Persephone. Fenton, meanwhile, was wondering why there were mirrors on the ceiling.
"Ugh, I'm totally not dressed for the occasion," Aphrodite said, touching the bloody bandages that covered her chest.
Raising her arms, her body glowed so brightly, the men had to look away. When the glow died down, Aphrodite had dressed Charity's body in a purple cocktail dress with a plunging neckline, low back, and lots of exposed leg. She stretched, her tail feathers fanning out behind her. The white and blue curls that Charity always kept well-groomed were now stunning in a graceful, shiny wave that cascaded down her back. Charity had always been pretty, but something Aphrodite did to the lovebird's appearance made her gorgeous, like a model that had stepped out of a magazine.
"This is so much better. Don't you think so, boys?" She posed, expecting compliments.
"I think you should leave that body," Darkwing said frowning. So far, he had been complacent because Aphrodite had the information they needed. But he wasn't going to play her game, especially with Charity in the middle.
Aphrodite stuck out Charity's bottom lip into a perfect pout. "Don't be like that. You like this body better this way, don't you?" She moved closer to Darkwing, placing a hand on his chest. "Don't deny it. Embrace your feelings."
For an instance, Darkwing felt something deep inside him flare. His feelings for Charity, those desires he had before, to take her in his arms, to kiss her, to never let her go, they grew more passionate. It filled him so much, he almost couldn't bear just standing there.
Afraid of what he might do, Darkwing sprang away. Immediately, the desires died down. "What did you do to me?" Darkwing demanded, feeling goosebumps rise on his arms.
Aphrodite laughed. Although she made Charity more beautiful with her power, she made Charity's laugh sound ugly. "Oh, I only increased what you felt in your heart. Did you feel the burn? Did it make you feel more alive?"
It did. And Darkwing was afraid since he wanted her to touch him again.
Aphrodite went to Fenton, played with his necktie and rubbed his chest.
Fenton grabbed Aphrodite's hand, holding it tight against his body. After a while, as if he were struggling with something, he took the hand away from his chest and released it as if it caused him pain. "Interesting," Fenton said. He frowned, looking uncertain.
"Oh, they're real, my little duckling," Aphrodite said, dancing away from him toward Launchpad. "I can't make someone love another. I can only intensify their feelings and give them a little push." She put one hands one Launchpad's shoulder and another softly on his cheek. Her expression changed to that of tenderness. "I don't just work with romantic love. Love in all its forms is my domain. Do not worry, sweetie. She is sleeping. I have healed her wounds. She is not in any pain."
Launchpad sighed, releasing a large, tense breath.
Then Aphrodite's eyes fell on Negaduck.
The black-masked duck looked like a cornered animal, prepared to run or fight if she approached him.
Aphrodite shrugged and turned her attention to the other three. "It is so good to have real men on the island. And I'm flattered that such handsome ones sought me out." She eyed each of the three as if she were hungry.
Fenton cleared his tight throat. The way Aphrodite moved in Charity's body, it was sending his mind reeling in so many directions. He didn't like that it was Aphrodite in her body, but if it was Charity in there…
Mama would slap me with her chancla if she knew I was thinking such things, Fenton berated himself and concentrated on the task at hand. "You wanted us to come here. I think, even though you've toyed with us, that you want us to know something. Otherwise you wouldn't have invited us here. Since we have entertained you, we deserve to know what you know."
Aphrodite gave a lungful sigh, her sleeve slipping off her shoulder. "It seems I cannot persuade you boys to linger with me. Such a shame." She turned to Fenton, pointing at him. "I think I will talk to you first, man of science." She flicked her finger upward, and the air was filled with magic.
It took Fenton a while to realize that the others weren't moving, as if frozen in time.
"It's just you and me," Aphrodite said with Charity's voice. "You, out of all of them, aren't afraid of me."
"Things that people are afraid of usually are just misunderstood," Fenton said. And although Aphrodite played with his tie, he kept his breathing normal. His heart, that was another matter. He didn't have control over the thumping in his chest.
It's not Charity, he told himself, standing his ground.
"So, I'm misunderstood?" Aphrodite asked, looking at him in a way that made his stomach flip.
It's not Charity, he thought strongly.
"Yes, I believe you are," Fenton said. "And I think you like it that way."
Aphrodite laughed again in that way that was completely not Charity. "I think we understand each other well enough." She sat down in a plush chair, crossing her legs seductively, her dress riding up. "Your talk with Persephone was quite interesting. She's right, you know. If you don't make it clear what you want, she's going to be stolen away by Darkwing."
"He can't steal what isn't his," Fenton said, his voice growling at the end. He couldn't believe he was allowing his feelings to show this much. "If Charity chooses him, I won't get in their way."
Aphrodite smile. "But what if I could give you an edge? It wouldn't be hard. I could whisper little hints into this girl's ear, nudge her in the right direction."
Fenton shook his head. "We're not toys for you to play with. Just like Darkwing said, I think it's about time you returned that body to its rightful owner."
Aphrodite frowned. "I don't take orders from mortals."
"I'm sure you don't take orders from anyone," Fenton said. "Which is why I didn't phrase it as a command, but merely as an opinion. You're invested in Charity's love life. It's not going to progress much if you remain in there."
Aphrodite was smiling again, her ire dissolved. "Well done, scientist. I never intended to remain inside this girl for long. I have my own body, but it's just nice to feel…so young and new again." She looked off in the distance as if reminiscing over something.
"You wanted to talk to me? You wanted to say something to just me. I'm assuming it's more than feeding the rivalry between me and Darkwing," Fenton wondered.
Quirking an eyebrow, Aphrodite stood up. "You don't miss a thing. I'm going to have to be careful around you." She circled him, trailing a finger across his shoulders. "I just would like you to know that she will never betray you."
For the first time, Fenton felt uneasy.
"She doesn't have an agenda. She will love you no matter what happens," Aphrodite continued. "You could call it quits, and she'll still love you. You could fail her, and she'll still love you. You could even hate her, and she'll still love you."
Fenton couldn't keep his emotions on the inside anymore. He turned his head away, not able to look at Charity's body.
"Yes, you do deserve to be loved that much," Aphrodite said, reaching out and putting her hands on his cheeks. "You deserve someone to love you that much, because that's how you love. You deserve someone who is devoted to you, who you can trust, who will always be there for you. Because you're the devoted type." She pulled him closer.
Fenton grabbed her hands, rage in his face. "Get out of my head and get out of her body," he growled. "Stop messing wi—"
Aphrodite slipped out of his grip as she froze him, tilting her head as she looked at Fenton's expression. Oh, it was priceless. The passion on his face. It was a work of art. Well, her work was done here. Now, who's next?
She tapped her finger to her beak before pointing to Launchpad, who instantly unfroze.
He looked around uncertainly, sure that Aphrodite had been standing right in front of him only seconds ago. He examined her warily. "Charity?"
"Not yet, big guy," Aphrodite said, her whole demeanor changing from when she was with Fenton. Her eyes lost their "come hither" look and turned warm and inviting, as if coaxing a wild animal. "I'll give her back soon. I just want to talk." She sat down on the plush sofa and patted it, indicating she wanted Launchpad to join her.
Launchpad did, innocently clasping his hands between his knees.
"That was quite the plot twist, wasn't it?" Aphrodite asked, giving Launchpad a sympathetic look. "You understand why she was hurt during the fight with Ares?"
"It's because…I'm part of the curse, too," Launchpad said. His emotions were guarded.
"And everything that comes with it," Aphrodite hinted, a small smile curving Charity's beak. "I know it's a lot to process. I can't imagine what you're going through." She took Launchpad's hand and patted it.
"I—I've been so blind," Launchpad said. "I don't even…How long has she…"
"Been in love with you?" Aphrodite finished.
Launchpad stared off into space and nodded.
"You poor thing," Aphrodite said, massaging his hand. "You're oldest and dearest friend has deceived you for so long. You must feel so betrayed."
Launchpad didn't say anything, didn't react. It was as if he were delving into the past, trying to make sense of everything.
Aphrodite put her hand on Launchpad's head, stroking his hair. From that simple touch, she saw into his thoughts as he ran through old memories, finding the subtle hints of Charity's feelings and signs of the curse. The way she gazed at him, her loving touch, how she easily took his hand as they walked side-by-side everywhere. He had always interpreted her actions as sisterly-love, but with his newfound knowledge, he read the deeper meaning.
His mind went to all the accidents he had been in, all those skate-boarding, driving, flying, and every other dare-devil scheme he had attempted. Why had he not once noticed he had walked away without a scratch? Was he really that dense and carefree that he thought that he was more skilled than he actually was? Why hadn't he noticed that Charity always had injuries in the same places he should have been hurt?
"So trusting," Aphrodite said. "She should have trusted you." And as Launchpad reacted to her words, she froze him. "So heart-breaking," she said to no one, running a hand down Launchpad's face.
With two out of four done, she went to Darkwing, standing intimately close to him. She traced his jaw with a finger before shaking her head. "I think I'll leave you for last," she cooed, dancing away to the dark figure crouching far from the others. She unfroze him, but even so, she wondered if it had worked. But a small flap of his cape told her that he was aware of her.
Negaduck remained perfectly still, finding comfort in acting as if he were invisible. There was something about this goddess he didn't like. The others, while powerful, didn't intimidate him. They were either all good or all bluster. But this chick, he wasn't sure what to make of her. Not to mention, her power kind of scared him.
When she approached with swaying hips, he took a step back. It wasn't that she was Aphrodite, but the fact that she was inside the girl that made him the most afraid.
"Stay back," he growled.
"Then you come to me," Aphrodite said, crooking a finger.
Negaduck's stomach churned, and he braced for some sort of magic to force him to do her will. But when nothing happened, he glared.
"Afraid of little ol' me?" Aphrodite cajoled.
That was enough for Negaduck to come forward. Possession may scare him but call him a wimp, and he would prove them wrong.
"You have been the wrench in the cog that I've been looking for," Aphrodite said. "The perfect little plot twist that has made this story much more interesting."
Negaduck bared his teeth at the goddess. "Yeah, well, you can play all you want with these saps." He waved a condescending hand at the males still frozen. "But once I'm off this island, babe, I'm gone."
"And you're revenge?"
Negaduck glared at Darkwing. He still felt hate when he looked at the purple costume—his costume—on that guy. But once gods came into the mix, Negaduck wanted anything else but to be around this group. He could always hunker down somewhere, wait until this whole curse business was over with—because he'd know if they would break the curse—and then get his revenge. Seeing how the Darkwing Duck knockoff made googly eyes at the lovebird, he'd go to the ends of the Earth to help her.
And if Aphrodite was watching them every second on this quest, Negaduck had every intention to run in the opposite direction.
"Oh, will you now?" Aphrodite asked.
Negaduck's eyes widened as he realized she was responding to his own thoughts.
Before he could back away, she grabbed his beak, her grip deceptively strong.
"You're not going anywhere," she purred. "What a good story really needs is conflict, and you bring in one of the best I've seen. Unpredictable, scary, but also sympathetic. That little show you performed in the Fields of Mourning, you could even be redeemable."
Negaduck swallowed, trying to keep his breathing even. He fed his rage to keep his fear at bay.
"Now, how am I going to keep you from leaving my story?" Aphrodite asked, pouting. "I don't suppose if I ask you nicely, you'll stay."
Negaduck gave her a death glare.
"Then I'm going to have to use coercion," Aphrodite said with a shrug. "You're not really giving me much of a choice. This is all on you."
Something wiggled its way into Negaduck. It wasn't as if something physical went inside him, but he could feel it all the same. He shuddered.
Aphrodite let go of him, ignoring how he fell onto his knees.
"What did you do to me?" Negaduck demanded, clutching his chest. The sensation had disappeared but he could tell that whatever was inside him was still there. "Take it out, now!"
"You're fine," Aphrodite said carelessly. "It's not going to hurt you. Remember? You can't feel pain. There's not really anything I can do about that, but there are other things I can make you feel. For instance, if you decide to run away, this is what you'll experience."
It was as if a hand wrapped around Negaduck's heart, but this one was made of ice and anxiety and despair. At first, it was uncomfortable and disturbing, but the longer he felt it, the more intense it became. Soon he was breathing hard, his heart beating faster, and sweat oozing out of his pores.
"Stop," he pleaded, hating that he gave in so easily.
Aphrodite waited a few seconds before releasing her magic, looking satisfied. "I think you have an idea of what is in store for you if you run. For every mile you move away from this body, the sensation will intensify. I gave you a powerful dose, but I'll guess that it'll be tolerable for five or ten miles. You might be able to live with fifteen, but I doubt you'll enjoy getting farther than that."
Negaduck continued to pant for a while, gathering his cape around him for whatever protection it could give him. He muttered something incredibly impolite to Aphrodite.
"Hate me all you like," Aphrodite said. "Just make sure I get a good story out of it." And she froze him, capturing the exact second when Negaduck realized he was trapped in her net, that there was no way out.
Aphrodite wasn't kidding when she said that Negaduck was unpredictable. Even the gods couldn't know what he would do next. She was looking forward to the next chapter in the story.
"And it's down to one," she said, sauntering to Darkwing. With a mischievous smile, she wrapped her arms around the masked duck before unfreezing him. "Darkwing," she said, trying her best to match Charity's tone with her voice. Aphrodite may be using her body, but even then, her mimicry wasn't perfect.
The different expressions that crossed his face were all priceless. She wished she could freeze every one and put them on her shelf. He was surprised, then his face softened before he realized it was Aphrodite and not Charity. His face became grim as he pushed her away from him gently.
He looked around, seeing the slumped form of Launchpad on the couch, Negaduck crouched in the corner, and Fenton in mid-yell. He had been aware of his senses blackening out for a time, but—to him—it could have been a few seconds or hours. He guessed it was closer to a few minutes.
"What is it you want from us?" Darkwing asked. He folded his arms defensively.
"What any girl wants," Aphrodite replied. "To have fun."
"I don't think toying with a person's emotions is fun," Darkwing said with a set jaw.
"Oh, you don't? Isn't that what you're doing to this girl?" Aphrodite asked, touching Charity's chest lightly. "Isn't that what flirting is?"
"That's different. I-I wasn't…" he stuttered.
"Doing anything wrong? Or the fact that you didn't know just how much of an effect you had on Charity?" Aphrodite asked. "If only you knew." She reached out and grabbed Darkwing's hand. "Even with me in control, her body reacts to your touch. If only you could feel her heart pounding right now. Or did you already know? How could you not with how she blushes under your attention?"
"It's still different," Darkwing defended. "What you're doing is manipulation?"
"All courtship is manipulation," Aphrodite justified with a wave of her hand. "You're just mad that you're the one whose heartstrings are being tugged for once." Aphrodite smirked, seeing the disbelief on Darkwing's countenance. "You can't tell me that Charity isn't the first girl you've made blush, not with that face. I know how much of a heart throb you can be when you set your mind to it."
"You may be right about that, but you have to stop pushing my emotions," Darkwing said. "I need to know…I have to know that everything I feel is real. These desires, I won't act on them unless I know they are natural."
"As I told Fenton, I can't create emotions, just intensify them," Aphrodite said, irate that she had to repeat herself. "I can't make you fall in love, just help things bloom. Your feelings for her are real. I've just been pushing you a little into acting on them."
"You've been doing it this whole time?" Darkwing growled, remembering how he had cornered Charity that morning and almost kissed her. He had been over-bearing, almost demanding. What about before that? Had Aphrodite been pushing him from the beginning?
"So what's the problem?" Aphrodite asked with a shrug. "You want her. She wants you. You could make each other so happy." She reached out to Darkwing, her face full of longing.
"Don't!" Darkwing ordered, raising a finger in warning. "Don't touch me."
"Are you sure? I know how much you've wanted to kiss her. We could experiment right now?"
Darkwing gulped. He knew it wasn't Charity, but it was so hard to tell his heart that. As Aphrodite approached him, he felt his old desires flaring up. The burning in his chest grew in intensity. She didn't need to touch him to twist his emotions.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of me," Aphrodite said. She rubbed Charity's hips seductively. "Or is it this body that you're afraid of?"
Was it his imagination or did the neckline of Aphrodite's dress lower?
It's not Charity. It's some other girl. Just pretend she's someone else.
The desires to embrace Charity, to enfold her in his cape and protect her from her curse, to kiss and lie with her took up his every thought. Aphrodite was right; he wanted her. And he could make her happy.
But this wasn't right.
"You're not Charity," he said.
Aphrodite was just a hair's breadth from him, her breath against his beak. "I could be," she whispered.
Darkwing stepped back and, with all his might, slapped his own cheek.
Aphrodite's jerked back, raising a hand to her cheek. Her eyes widened in rage. "How dare you?" she hissed, twisting Charity's features. "You dare to touch—"
"I didn't touch you," Darkwing spat. "And that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't taken what doesn't belong to you."
Aphrodite sneered. "You would hurt this poor girl just to get to me. You're not as noble as you pretend to be."
"Charity will understand. She's not as fragile as you think she is," Darkwing said.
After giving Darkwing a once-over with her eyes, she grumbled, "You were a lot more fun before."
"I can be a lot less fun," Darkwing threatened. "Stop pulling at my emotions."
"Fine. I promise not to influence you anymore." Aphrodite said with a bored shrug.
Darkwing waited, then cocked an eyebrow. "How about starting right now?"
Aphrodite blew out a breath of air, stirring some of Charity's hair. "You're no fun." She waved her hand. "I wasn't even pushing you that hard. However, whatever you feel right now, that's the real thing. Whether or not that it's true love or just physical attraction, that you're going to have to figure out on your own."
"I can live with that," Darkwing said.
"I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with that one kiss with Fenton."
Darkwing clenched his fists, an automatic response to a surprising twist. He turned to look back at Fenton, still frozen.
"He wasn't that good, but an innocent little thing like him probably hasn't had much practice," Aphrodite said with a giggle. "But I bet you're experienced. Why don't you show me?"
Darkwing released the tension in his body, using a few breathing techniques he learned while studying martial arts. He must stay in control. He studied Fenton, recalling their time in the jungle. "I may not like Crackshell-Cabrera, but I trust him a whole lot more than I do you. You're lying," Darkwing said. He folded his arms, calmness personified. "I've figured out your game. You're yanking us around like you're some sort of—" He stopped suddenly.
"Like a god?" Aphrodite helped.
"That doesn't give you the right to do what you're doing," Darkwing said. He looked at Launchpad and his sorrowful expression. What had she said to him to make him feel like that?
"I have every right," Aphrodite said. "This body, I could keep it if I wanted to. And if I truly desired it, I could keep all of you here to do with as I liked. I have the power, and that makes me right."
Darkwing crouched, his reaction instinctual once he heard the threat.
"But I won't," Aphrodite said. She moved away, playing with a vase of red roses on a table. "I have no desire to be that kind of goddess. I am the Goddess of Love, and it's not in my best interest to get into a power struggle with you five."
"No, you're best interest seems to be to cause a rivalry between me and Fenton," Darkwing said. "That's what the challenges were all about. They were to make me more competitive against him when he should be an ally. It backfired. I have…some respect for him."
"Maybe that was my intention all along," Aphrodite said with a coy smile.
"Maybe," Darkwing admitted. "Or you don't care much about the result. You just want to screw around with our heads." Darkwing rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the stress of trying to figure out this goddess's twisted intentions. "So, to repeat myself, what do you want from us? Because if you really wanted to help us, you'd tell us what we needed to know and let us go on our way, but you're not."
For the first time, sadness touched Charity's face while Aphrodite wore it. "I just wanted to feel once more," she said, turning her back away from Darkwing. "I am quite powerful, but it came at a cost. I feed off of emotions, but I can't feel them without help. It's been so long since I've felt love. Or being loved." She turned large eyes onto Darkwing, catching him off guard.
And she froze him, leaving him a statue with the perfect expression of sympathy. She tilted her head back and soaked it in. Fenton's indignation, Launchpad's sorrow, Negaduck's despair, and Darkwing's sympathy. Oh, she could have basked in those emotions all day. But even frozen as they were, the feelings would fade eventually.
Not to mention, Zeus was probably getting anxious to kick the mortals off his beach. Unless she wanted to deal with a cranky lightning god, she best get on with the plot.
"Time to get changed," she announced to no one, sashaying to the nearest wall. With a flick of her finger, a door appeared and opened to a small space no bigger than a broom closet. On the other side was a body draped in a white, silk robe. The figure had long, luxurious blond hair, but her facial features were covered by a veil.
Taking the hands of her real body, Aphrodite concentrated on moving her soul. However, it didn't take much energy. It felt as if something was pushing her out.
The switching of bodies was jarring, and Aphrodite gasped, her breath stirring the white veil covering her face. It was like jumping into a pool of cold water, returning to her body. Before she could adjust to the change, the girl pushed her physically. Unbalanced, Aphrodite braced herself against the closet walls. It was a good thing it was a small closet.
Charity scrambled away, weak in the legs and frightened. "Don't you ever do that to me again," she cried out, horrified.
"I healed you girl. And if it meant borrowing your body for a while, I don't think that's too much of a sacrifice," Aphrodite said, her voice sweet and melodious. While it was fun to "body surf," there was no substitute for perfection.
"I don't care. What you did with my body was disgusting," Charity accused. "The things you said to them. Playing with Darkwing… How could you? And what you did to Jim!"
Aphrodite's eyes widened. "You heard all that? You were aware?"
Charity couldn't stop her sight from blurring, and it was hard to push back the tears. "Everything," she confirmed. "I couldn't move. Do you know what it's like to be a prisoner in your own body?"
If Aphrodite reacted to that, the veil hid everything. "You weren't supposed to. You should have been asleep while I took over." Her tone held no kind of apology.
Charity stood up and rushed over to Launchpad and touched his face. But he remained in place, stuck in the same position that Aphrodite left him. Her heart ached as she recalled how Aphrodite played on his emotions. "Let them go. Unfreeze them or whatever you do."
"I thought we could talk first," Aphrodite said, leaving the closet.
"I think you've done enough talking," Charity spat. She stood between Aphrodite and the males as if to protect them.
"But don't you want to know about your curse?" Aphrodite asked.
Charity paused, considering. "If you're going to tease us some more, then I'd rather leave. But they," here, Charity gestured to the four ducks, "already paid a hefty fee for the information. I don't want their sacrifice go to waste, but I won't let you manipulate them anymore."
Charity wished that Aphrodite didn't wear her veil; she wanted a read on the goddess. But the whole "makes men's heads explode" thing might be a bad idea. At least Charity wasn't a man. When she knocked Aphrodite down, the veil did waft up a bit, and she caught a glimpse of a gorgeous face with a soft, delicate beak, but the view was so fleeting that Charity couldn't rely on her memory to imagine Aphrodite without the veil.
"You can't keep all four, you know that, right?" Aphrodite asked, her voice filled with humor. "You may claim them now, but if you break the curse, things may not go as you thought. You may still love all four or none of them. Hearts will be hurt regardless. Can you—"
"Stop it!" Charity shouted. "Let us go! I don't care anymore. Even if you have the cure, I don't want your help."
Aphrodite folded her arms, resting her weight on one leg. "Oh, stop your temper tantrum, child. You're acting like a toddler who had her toys taken away. Although, perhaps that's exactly what happened." Aphrodite raised her hand. "Here's your toys back."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the others stirring. She turned in time to see their different reactions when they saw her. Negaduck fearful, Darkwing bewildered, and Fenton still angry as he finished shouting the sentence he began several minutes ago. The worst was when Launchpad turned his face away.
They still think I'm Aphrodite.
Charity was filled with ire for the goddess. She demanded, "Now show us the exit. We're leaving."
"Charity? Is that you?" Fenton asked, his expression quickly changing.
The lovebird nodded before turning a glare to the goddess.
"But you still haven't gotten what you came here for," Aphrodite tantalized. "Your visit to Ithaquack would be fruitless."
"Then tell us. Otherwise we're not going to listen to another word you say," Charity demanded. She felt the four men move closer to her, creating a wall around her.
With a heavy sigh, Aphrodite sat in a comfortable lounge chair, crossing her long legs. "Play time is over," she said wistfully. "Have any of you heard of the Strings of Fate?"
Charity glanced to either side of her, checking with the others. They all shook their heads. Her gaze lingered on Launchpad, wishing that she could have time to talk to him. The air between them felt heavy.
"No," Charity spoke for them all. "What does that have to do with my curse?"
"Nothing," Aphrodite said with a shrug. "But it is the path you must take to learn everything you need to know about the curse."
"What do you mean by that?" Charity asked, feeling uneasy.
"It's easier if I show you while I explain," Aphrodite said, waving her hand.
In a blink of an eye, Charity felt something tight on her pinky finger. Looking down at her right hand, she saw four satin, red ribbons tied to her pinky. She followed one, seeing that the end tied to Launchpad's finger. Darkwing and Fenton had one as well. She felt a tug in the opposite direction, and turned to see Negaduck pulling on the ribbon attached to his pinky. These ribbons sparkled and shimmered with a bright, white light.
Both Fenton and Negaduck had a second ribbon on their fingers, the former's looked dull and faded, the latter's was frayed and broken on the other end. These two ribbons didn't sparkle with light.
"I have dominion over the Red Strings of Fate, which represent romantic connections," Aphrodite explained. "Oh, it looks like one of your bachelor's has another crush. A little competition for you, my little lovebird."
"What does this have to do with my curse?" Charity asked.
"It's easy for me to show you the Red Strings, but the others, I can give you a glimpse. Here's yellow."
The five mortals gazed in amazement as yellow, rope-like strings appeared around their wrists. Fenton, Charity, Launchpad, and Darkwing were all connected to each other while many other strings led away out of the room, disappearing through the walls. Negaduck had a few of his own, but none that went to the others. After several seconds, the yellow strings disappeared
"The Yellow Strings represent friendship connections," Aphrodite said. "And the Blue Strings are family connections."
Again, several Blue Strings appeared, tied to their biceps. All of these led outside the walls, most likely to their family members so far away.
"Green represent admiration or envy, depending on your view," Aphrodite said, a chuckle in her words.
Darkwing frowned as he felt the Green Strings appear over his forearm, one going directly to Fenton. Admiration, huh? Or was it envy? However, one did run from him to Negaduck. The same with Charity and Launchpad. However, Launchpad and Darkwing's Green Strings of admiration for Jim Starling looked to be fraying close to Negaduck's forearm.
"There are others," Aphrodite said, sounding breathless as if she were exerting herself. "But let's cut to the chase, shall we. There are Black and White Strings of Fate, which indicate bonds made through magic. The White represents good or neutral magics, which you could see within the Red Strings of Fate. The Black Strings of Fate, which represent dark magic, are what we are after." Aphrodite snapped her fingers.
Suddenly Charity couldn't breathe. Something sharp and thin was clamping tightly over her throat. Gagging, Charity dropped to her knees, her fingers scrambling at her neck.
"Charity!" several voices shouted.
Wrapped several times around her throat was a black, wire-like string, digging into her flesh. And just as suddenly as it appeared, it disappeared.
Coughing and gasping, Charity massaged her throat, her eyes wide.
"Let me see," Fenton said, kneeling in front of her. He gently pushed aside her feathers and gazed at her throat with that look that said he was using his Gizmoduck lenses. "I don't see anything. No bruises or damage. It's like there was nothing there."
"They're merely symbols," Aphrodite explained. "Symbols can't hurt us but we can still feel their effects."
"But what does it mean?" Darkwing asked. "The Black String is connected to another person, right? But the curse happened so long ago."
"Your guess is as good as mine," Aphrodite said with a shrug. "But you are correct that the Black String is connected to two people. You'll find answers when you find the other end of the String."
"Unless you plan on joining our little questing party, how are we supposed to do that?" Charity rasped, her throat hurting when she spoke.
"I doubt you'd enjoy that, child," Aphrodite said with a chuckle. "You'll need an item, the Orb of Yue Xia Lao."
Charity sighed. "And where do we find that?"
"Do I look like a treasure map?" Aphrodite asked snarkily. "The Orb's origin is China, but the last I heard, it no longer was in the country. If I were you, I'd find an expert treasure hunter to help you. And last I heard, you keep company with the best."
The group exchanged looks, each thinking the same thing. Scrooge McDuck.
"And now that you have your information, I'm sure you are eager to leave my company," Aphrodite said. "But you are welcome to stay if you please."
Nobody was entertained by her teasing.
Aphrodite waved her hand, and a door appeared. "You are free." She sounded sardonic.
The group didn't hide their desire to put as much distance between them and Aphrodite as they moved toward the exit, the door opening directly onto the beach where the Duck family waited. The minute their feet were on the sand, the five felt a heavy weight lift from their hearts. Although the lead was small, the fact that this leg of their quest was over relieved them.
"What happened? Did you lift the curse?" Webby shouted, running toward them.
"Five challenges that almost get us killed, and we come back with another wild goose chase," Negaduck muttered, ignoring the little girl edging around him nervously.
"Another wild goose chase? What is he talking about?" Webby asked, keeping her distance from the dark-masked duck.
Exhaustion hit Charity like a sledge hammer, and the thought of explaining everything, of asking Scrooge McDuck for even more help, drained her. That morning, she had high hopes that the cure was in sight, and now she was as far away as ever.
"We'll tell you in the plane," Fenton said, taking the lead. "It's time for us to leave."
Mrs. Beakley and Scrooge McDuck nodded.
"Come on, kids. Let's load up," Mrs. Beakley announced, her arms spread as if to gather them up.
With the sun setting on Ithaquack, everyone was ready to get onto the plane and go home, even those who seemed to have never-ending energy.
"Launchpad, get the plane started. Let's get off this spit of land before the natives decide to fry us," Scrooge ordered, waving his cane in the air.
Zeus looked ready to do just that.
"Um…could you have Della do it?" Launchpad asked, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not feeling so good."
"Ha!" Della shouted, looking triumphant. "Finally. He has relinquished his throne."
"What about your concussion?" Dewey reminded his mom.
"Concussion, fooey. I'll show ya boys how a real pilot flies," Della yelled, running to the plane.
Only Charity seemed to have caught on that Launchpad had misled the group. She knew that this was coming and lingered behind with him. What was she to say? "Sorry" wasn't enough. This was all her fault. She should have told him right from the beginning. She should have ignored her mother telling her to keep the curse a secret. And now she had years of lying to own up to.
"Okay, Launchpad. I'm listening," Charity said, giving him her whole attention. "You say what's on your mind."
"When did it happen? How long ago?" Launchpad asked softly.
Charity folded her arms. "That day that you saved me from Linda Tyler and her gang of mean girls. Back in the seventh grade."
Launchpad's face grew more wrinkles.
Charity swallowed. "It's been twelve years."
Launchpad was silent.
"Launchpad, please talk to me," Charity requested softly. "Say anything. Be mad at me. Yell at me. I lied to you. You should be mad at me. But don't be sad." The tears came suddenly. "Please don't hate me."
"All this time, I saw you as my little sister," Launchpad said. "And I was your big brother. I was supposed to protect you. But it turns out that all this time, you've been protecting me."
Charity's eyes widened as Launchpad dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her legs. He buried his face into her stomach.
"Thank you for protecting me," he said.
Her tears rained down on his red hair as she returned the hug.
"I love you, Launchpad," she whispered.
"I love you, too, Charity."
"Like a sister?"
Launchpad didn't reply.
"Launchpad?"
"You don't love me like a brother," he said, his voice muffled against her stomach.
Charity dropped to her own knees. "Don't! Don't think about that. Please. I don't care how this stupid curse makes me feel. I love you like you're my brother. You'll always be my big brother, Launchpad. That will never change."
Charity was engulfed into Launchpad's arms, and despite her fatigue and the feelings of hopelessness that the day's efforts were for naught, she felt warm and comfort from his embrace.
"You always give the best hugs," Charity said. "I'm so glad I met you, Launchpad. I'm so glad I fell in love with you. I wouldn't take it back, not one single scratch or bruise. It was all worth it to know and love you."
(Author's notes: Thank you every one for reading and commenting. This fanfic story has brought me such happiness writing and posting it. It also makes me very happy to have so many people supporting me and making them happy. You readers make it all worth it.
A warning for the future. I am in convention mode. I have a convention coming up that I will be preparing for-I make plushies-so I may be posting later in the day, much like today. I may even post past midnight, but don't worry, I intend on posting once a week. I will post in an author's note if that is to change in the future.)