"Why are we fighting in the pool?", Wildwing asked.

The ducks had met up in the base's pool area where Canard had asked them to. Wildwing had come in with the others and noticed Canard was already there wearing swim trunks and a towel over his shoulder.

"Underwater fighting of course.", he said very pleasant, "We can't always fight on land and in the air you know."

Nosedive didn't look so sure.

"You mean, get in the water?", he asked nervously.

Canard noticed this as well as a few others.

"What's wrong kid?", Duke asked, "Afraid of taking a dip?"

Nosedive tried not to look under pressure.

"I'm not a very good swimmer."

Canard's smile didn't fade.

"Well consider this your first swim lesson then. Okay, everyone get changed and meet back here. We'll begin when you do."

After a couple minutes, Wildwing, Duke and Grin came out wearing trunks while Mallory and Tanya sported swimsuits. Wildwing then turned and noticed Nosedive still behind.

"Okay baby bro, what's the hold up?"

"I feel silly.", Nosedive answered, "I'm not coming out."

"Oh come on.", Canard told him, "Don't be such a baby."

"Okay, okay. I'm coming out.", Nosedive answered, "Just don't laugh."

Nosedive came out wearing trunks only his were pink with blue flowers patterned around it while the others' were plain black. Canard noticed this and was fine in keeping his posture, but unfortunately he was the only one as the other ducks laughed out loud. It lasted for a bit and then Canard jumped in the pool with a splash.

"Alright Nosedive, here's lesson one: getting in the water."

Nosedive really didn't look like he wanted to, but then he slipped and fell right in( I have no idea how that happened) and he was soon splashing around frantically. Wildwing jumped in beside him and held his arm out.

"Dive, stand up.", he said smiling.

Nosedive looked to see the water only came up to Wildwing and Canard's waistlines.

"Oh.", he said looking totally embarrassed.

Canard didn't look phased.

"Well, lesson one is complete. Now you two can demonstrate the beginner's float and we'll go to underwater fighting."

/

Charyus stirred the contents of his cauldron as it frothed and boiled fiercely.

"It won't be long now.", he muttered to himself, "Chroma should be getting that piece I asked of him by now."

Charyus paused for a minute and then opened a flask of clear water.

"Fortunately I still have that enchanted jar of water from my special spring.", he stated as he poured a portion of it into the cauldron, "And for precautionary measures, I took the liberty of placing a special distortion spell around it so no matter how close anyone gets, they can't find it unless I will it."

He recapped the jar and it magically floated over to the shelf that was lined with all kinds of weird ingredients as Charyus went over what he put in.

"Hmm, let's see here. Eyebrow of cat, boney tail of dead rat, fingernails of leper, water of youth, and flesh of frostbitten children. Add the venom of a black mamba, the tentacle of octopus, and the teeth of wolf. All that's needed now is a test subject and Chameleon will be fetching it at this very moment."

He was interrupted by a zapping sound and Charyus quickly deducted that Dragaunus had already found that human he mentioned. After extracting the crystal that had formed in the cauldron and placing it on a stand to cool, he grabbed his staff and headed in the direction of the sound. Sure enough there was Dragaunus and Chameleon in front of a monitor that showed what some would call a superhero, but Charyus didn't show interest at all.

"Am I to believe that this is the one you spoke of?", he asked with disgust lingering in his words.

"Alvin may be egotistic, but he does possess the knowledge of how to make that Ducktonite he used last time."

Charyus raised an eyebrow. That was one element that didn't cross his mind, then again if it would tip the scales in his favor, he would go for it.

"When do I meet him?"

"Immediately."

Charyus turned to see the person on the screen standing beside him.

"I understand you can make my powers permanent.", Alvin said proudly.

Charyus' expression darkened. He could obviously sense the weakling underneath the buff body and empowered abilities. Still, what did he have to lose?

/

Nosedive's mood hadn't lifted and Wildwing felt a little guilty about what happened back in the pool.

"Hey Dive, there's no need to feel so bad."

Nosedive didn't look his way, but Wildwing knew he had his attention.

"I'm just saying that I'm sorry I made fun of you and your trunks. I shouldn't have taken your feelings for grant and it was wrong. Can you forgive me?"

Nosedive looked his way smiling.

"Apology accepted."

Canard noticed this as he was reattaching his com and it took him back to a time in Dimensional Limbo when he met two alien sisters who were there for each other like Wildwing and Nosedive were. The hard times he tried to forget, but the lessons he learned remained. At that moment, Drake 1 sounded the alarm and the ducks regrouped in the Rec Room.

"What's the sitch?", Wildwing asked.

Tanya was at the monitor and typed in the dashboard.

"We're getting a very powerful reading and we even have a visual."

The screen flashed on and revealed a surveillance footage of what looked like a superhero flying past.

"Oh great.", Mallory groaned, "It's not Alvin Yasbeck again is it?"

Canard looked confused.

"Isn't that the guy you said was given superpowers by Dragaunus and used some kind of material that almost killed you one time ago?"

Wildwing nodded.

"Yep, the very one."

"And it looks like he's back for a rematch.", Nosedive added.

Grin shook his head solemnly.

"He's given himself over to his inner conflict and until he sees the truth he'll never know peace."

Canard smiled.

"I agree. I've face enemies like this in Limbo even though I didn't want to."

"Let's move out ducks.", Wildwing said with determination, "But be careful, he could still have that Ducktonite with him which could spell trouble for us."

As the ducks filed into the Migrator, Canard got into the copilot's seat with Wildwing taking the driver's.

"Punch it Nosedive."

"Roger that.", Nosedive answered as he floored the ignition.

/

Thrash was setting up the new batch of comics when he pulled out the latest "Zoltar" issue.

"Man, I can't believe we got a mint condition first edition of issue 34.", he told Mookie all excited, "Man, Dive is going to love this."

Mookie smiled as she came down from the shelf she was on and put the feather duster she was using on a hook on the wall.

"I'm sure he will.", she answered, "Hey, did you hear the news?"

They turned to a television they had installed so their customers could see the latest newscast.

"In related news, the one time hero Mondo Man is seen flying around the streets of Anaheim this morning after the disappearance of Alvin Yasbeck late last night."

Thrash and Mookie both looked alarmed. Thrash got out the communicator that Nosedive had given them and pressed it. Nosedive's face came on the small screen.

"Hey dudes, what's up?"

"You see the news Dive?", Mookie asked him.

Nosedive nodded.

"We know. You guys still have Morpha?"

Mookie turned to see Morpha shift from the feather duster she asked him to take the form of and it trotted over to her side.

"Yep.", she said, "He's still here and he was a big help in cleaning up our store. We'll keep you posted in case Alvin does anything."

As Thrash hung up, Mookie noticed Morpha had turned black and tan which ment it was worried and she stroked it's back.

"Don't worry little dude.", she assured him, "I'm sure Nosedive and the ducks are going to be fine."

At that moment, the ground rumbled and Thrash and Mookie went outside with Morpha following only to be met with a large crater opening up on the street with hot molten lava flowing from it. Pedestrians fled and some had gotten hit by the flaming bits of earth. Thrash and Mookie leaped in to help and with Morpha helping managed to get the pedestrians to safety only to see a colossal flaming beetle rise up from the crater waving it's massive horned head. Thrash then noticed Morpha had gotten more withered than normal so he quickly administered a drink from his water bottle which stabilized it allowing Mookie and him to get him to safety. They had just gotten to safety when something caught their ears.

"There's no need to fear. Mondo Man is here!"

/

Dragaunus and Charyus observed their "hero" in Charyus' enchanted bauble with Charyus' expression getting sour.

"Don't be surprised if my way of getting rid of the ducks outranks yours.", Dragaunus said smugly.

Charyus' expression darkened further.

"This rigged fight better not fail to display him as a better hero than what we're already dealing with. Luckily for you my mind control spell is so good it's victim acts like they're not under a spell at all."

As they watched Mondo Man pound the beetle into submission, Charyus waved his hand and the beetle vanished with the lava.

"I must say my lord, if he truly has given himself up to his evil nature, than he could be-"

"He'll stay human.", Dragaunus said firmly, "I may have been willing to let Dr. Pretorius go through that change you bestowed, but this one I decide."

Charyus' expression didn't change.

"As you wish my lord."

The two lords continued watching and Dragaunus was clearly enjoying this, but Charyus had other ideas.

"I knew he was egotistic when I first met him, and clearly he demonstrates that when desperate people are offered opportunity, they will not hesitate to accept whatever deal is presented to them. Still, once I extract that formula for his special material, I will be able to turn the tide in my favor."

Dragaunus had moved away to his control panel and had made a call.

"You did well Mondo Man, return to base at once and await further orders."

Charyus noticed a pause and then Mondo Man answered.

"Just as soon as I clean up the rest of the city. Mondo Man away!"

Charyus felt Dragaunus' temper flaring and then it died away.

"Feeling like you made an error?", Charyus asked.

"I will be putting my plan into motion once Chameleon and Pretorius finish making that ducktonite."

A loud bang came from the chambers down the hall and Charyus could tell that the two saurians Dragaunus had assigned were not getting anywhere. Clearly Alvin was the only one who knew how to make the stuff which ment they had to wait til he came back. And then Charyus had an idea.

"Play all you like mortal.", he purred as he observed Mondo Man in his bauble, "You'll soon come to realize that with great power comes great restraints."

Then he noticed the Migrator pulling up and Mondo Man engaging.

"Well well. Now he gets to prove he can handle the magic I gave to him. That is of course if he doesn't bungle it like he would normally."

The fight lasted a while and Charyus noticed something that made him smile: Canard had been hit by the special spell he had Alvin use which made the ducks retreat for now.

/

Back at the Pond, Tanya did a body scan as Canard flinched and clutched his side which was bleeding slightly. Mallory came over and helped put pressure on the injury while the others watched on.

"How is he?", Wildwing asked.

Tanya looked solemn.

"I don't know. Alvin must have used some kind of venom and it's causing Canard to go in and out of shock."

Wildwing grew worried, but at the same time he was more than a little bit angry.

"Alvin got his superpowers from Dragaunus, but where did he get all those magical spells he had?"

"From me."

The ducks turned to see Charyus' image hover near a wall.

"I needed a little field testing."

Canard had managed to hold off his condition to give Charyus a cold glare.

"Now you're using common criminals to do your dirty work?", he asked.

"Anything to get an idea on how you work.", Charyus answered still smiling.

"Are you just scared to face us yourself you coward?", Mallory asked coldly.

Duke gripped his saber and looked just as determined.

"Yeah, you're always hiding behind other people. Why don't you face us and we'll see how tough you really are."

Charyus didn't look phased.

"If I was you, I'd be more concerned about your comrade's condition. He's running out of time and I'm even tempted to give you a hint on how to cure him."

Wildwing's eyes narrowed.

"Forget it Snow Scales.", Nosedive said gripping his Puck Blaster, "You're just setting up an ambush so that Wing will hand the mask over to you."

Charyus raised an eyebrow.

"Am I? Here's a little information: there exists an ancient flower on Earth that can neutralize the poison Canard has been injected with, but it can only be found where no man would ever wonder."

Wildwing wasn't buying this.

"How do I know you're not lying?", he asked.

"Then don't go.", Charyus answered, "And when Canard's last breath is used, it will curse the very team who failed to save him. Toodles."

Charyus' image vanished and Wildwing sighed.

"Tanya, can you and Mallory stay here and try to keep Canard stable?"

Tanya nodded.

"We'll do what we can. And I have an idea where you might find that flower. I'll communicate over the coms."

Wildwing nodded before coming to Canard's side.

"You okay staying behind?"

Canard smiled before flinching.

"I'll be okay. Promise me you won't give up."

Wildwing smiled back.

"Don't worry buddy, we'll find that flower."

/

Dragaunus was not in a good mood.

"You gave them a hint?", he asked Charyus coldly.

Charyus held his nerve.

"As if your little superhero could best them without my help?"

Dragaunus sighed. Wraith and Siege were also there and clearly not impressed.

"My lord, I think we should assault their base while they're gone.", Siege suggested.

Wraith didn't look so sure.

"We've tried that already and if that flower is found, we'll be back to square one."

Charyus smiled.

"I agree Wraith. That's why I'm sending Alvin on a trip to get the flower first."

Dragaunus smiled.

"Yes. Once we have the flower, we can use it as leverage and finally get the mask once and for all."

Charyus gave him a hard look.

"Just don't destroy it."

Dragaunus' expression darkened.

"And why is that?", he asked coldly, "You can't use it the way the ducks can."

Charyus didn't let up his expression.

"I have something big in the works and in order to make it work, I need that mask in one piece."

Dragaunus was about to blast Charyus for simply saying that, but then he smiled.

"So be it. But if this fails, you're out of here."

Charyus raised an eyebrow.

"Am I being threatened? Cause if I am, I'll be happy to undo the magic I used to make Alvin your servant."

Dragaunus didn't phase.

"Well played."

To be continued...