Charyus ran his claws over the vial of glowing diamond like liquid eying it greedily.
"At last. The one thing I needed for my magic.", he chuckled.
He looked at the contents of his cauldron bubbling and frothing while changing colors from cold violet to poisonous green to vibrant red and so on as he added ingredients from his shelf.
"Horn of ancient bull from Welsh, tongue of dark elf, eye of an innocent soul, and the venom of a deceased widian from Netheara."
As Charyus observed the contents, his mind reflected back on Netheara, a planet he had visited from Dimensional Limbo. The widians were spider-like humanoids that had built an empire deep in the dense forests while the wasars, their eternal wasp-like humanoid enemies nested in the mountains. Netheara was a planet where the nights lasted all day and every day. The only thing different was the moons. While most planet's moons were alike, Natheara had a natural blood moon to signify night while having the common pale moon for the day.
"How ironic that the war between the spiders and the wasps continues, but it matters not.", Charyus muttered as he held out what looked like a pair of mandibles from a large wasp and let it fall in, "As soon as this spell is active, even the Mighty Ducks won't know what hit them."
He observed the frothing mass and poured in a few drops of youth bestowing water to the mix causing the mass to become clear like glass. Charyus frowned.
"Darn, still missing ingredients for this one.", he grumbled stroking the vial full of blood from Servain, "This is going to take three days to complete. If I only had my book, I'd have this spell ready in-"
He paused for a minute and then smiled.
"Of course. Now that I possess what I need to ensure my magic endures, breaking my wards will be child's play."
He started drawing runes on the ground as Siege, Wraith and Chameleon watched from behind.
"What's he making this time?", Siege asked.
Wraith shuddered.
"Even at a distance I can feel the evil stirring in that pot."
Charyus must have heard them cause the next thing they knew, their cover was revealed and Charyus stood before them looking both suspicious and annoyed.
"If you're going to secretly observe me, you're playing with molten lead."
Wraith knew better than to keep his mouth shut.
"Charyus, what does the blood of Servain do with the magic we already have?"
"Nothing.", Charyus answered, "It ensures the ones I make don't phase and die out like the last batches I've been making."
Chameleon raised an eyebrow, but Siege looked unimpressed.
"So you can make stronger spells now, but your supply is limited."
Charyus didn't look worried.
"This is all I need and when I get that mask-"
"Charyus, I fear that what you seek is out of reach.", Wraith interrupted.
Charyus' expression darkened.
"So I get us set back several times, but with the flow of ballerium crystals, Pretorius and you can put it to good use."
Siege looked smug.
"Let me show you what real power is."
Charyus smiled back cause he was just dying to see how this would blow up in his allies' face.
/
Nosedive was still looking a little shaken and Canard was trying to help calm him down.
"Dive, I know being in a divine being's presence can take a toll on you, but it did feel pretty cool huh?"
Nosedive didn't look assured.
"Did you see what he did when he made an entrance?! Servain would've crushed the whole planet!"
Clearly he was still freaked out, but the other ducks had gotten over it.
"It's fine baby bro.", Wildwing told him, "Servain went back to Sauria which is about on the other side of the universe from here."
At that moment, the large crystal they had brought back began to shimmer and shine. They gathered around it and noticed a small elf fall out. Aside from his reddish hair, blue tunic, cloth pants, and boots, he carried a sword and shield. Canard was a little confused about this, but the the other ducks recognized him.
"Hey Borg.", Nosedive said cheerfully, "What brings you here?"
"I felt a magical disturbance in the-", Borg started but he noticed Canard and turned to Wildwing, "And who is this fine warrior here?"
"Borg this is Canard Thunderbeak.", Wildwing explained, "He's the duck who brought the team together the first time. He got sent to Dimensional Limbo, but we got him out somehow."
Borg extended a hand and shook Canard's as Canard shook his.
"Pleasure to meet you...Borg?", Canard asked feeling a little unsure how to react.
Duke could see Canard was confused so he gave some details.
"Borg is a ruler of an Anaheim where magic is real.", he explained, "We had a couple contacts with him before when Astoroth made trouble."
Canard's confusion left his eyes as Borg noticed the enchantium pendents the ducks were each wearing.
"You've learned magic?", he asked in awe.
"Not quite.", Canard explained, "It's actually enchantium that provides the magic. We just carry it around and use it when we need to."
Borg looked confused.
"Never heard of enchantium. But this crystal here gave off a strong vibe through my kingdom and when I looked into it, I got warped here somehow. It must be some kind of warp stone."
Mallory looked sure herself.
"That explains how Servain got here."
Borg's expression turned fearful.
"Servain was here?", he asked.
"Yeah, giant reptilian deity of Sauria.", Canard explained, "Part of his heart was taken and he chased the thief to here. It was not very long before he got it back and he left peacefully. You know him?"
Borg nodded.
"His name is often mentioned in myth, but none would dare steal from him lest they face his divine wrath."
After a couple minutes, Borg reached into his belt and pulled out a book that had faint runes dancing around the center.
"What's that Borg?", Wildwing asked.
"I don't know.", Borg answered, "I was just minding my own business and when I got back home, it was in my belt."
He opened it and saw that all the pages were blank.
"Well that was a rip off.", Duke said plainly, "The book is blank."
Canard's eyes narrowed.
"Not necessarily."
Grin looked equally concerned.
"One must not judge by outward appearances. I sense great power in this thing."
Borg set it on the table.
"I've tried just about everything and nothing seems to work.", Borg said plainly, "Apparently this tome is protected by some kind of magical ward."
"All the more reason for you to hide it and keep it safe.", Wildwing said firmly, "We can't let Charyus get his hands on this."
The other ducks nodded and Borg retrieved the tome and after the large crystal shimmered again, he vanished and it crumbled into a fine powder.
/
Charyus cringed as he struggled to hold himself up. He was on his way to Dragaunus when he felt a sharp pain in his side and apparently Dragaunus noticed cause he was nearby.
"Having difficulty are we?"
Charyus had regained his focus and stood firmly straight.
"Something has happened."
Charyus conjured his magic bauble and it showed the tower he once resided in and then it showed an empty stand. Charyus' eyes went wide.
"It's not there! My lexicon isn't there!"
Dragaunus smiled. At last a moment he was enjoying.
"Looks like your edge eluded you. And now the ducks will be using your own magic against you."
Charyus frowned.
"No, the wards made sure that it wouldn't be read. But if I don't get it-"
Dragaunus' smile got bigger.
"Well you seem to be so eager to get it back, why don't you do it yourself?"
Charyus' expression darkened.
"Chroma!"
Chroma materialized nearby and bowed.
"You called?"
Dragaunus rolled his eyes.
"You focus on finding the Saurian Lexicon.", he ordered, "I'll have a plan that will work and not involve magic."
Charyus didn't share the enthusiasm.
"Such boasts before my lord, and you're still no closer to dominating this miserable mud ball."
Dragaunus ignored him and went in the direction of the bridge.
"Are you going to use some kind of machine again?", Charyus asked.
Dragaunus didn't slow his pace. Charyus turned to Chroma.
"I felt a disturbance in the magical force. My lexicon has been moved from it's place. I need you to search throughout time and space and find where it is. The wards will radiate allowing you to find it easily."
Chroma nodded and warped away.
/
Back in Anaheim, the ducks were cruising along in the Migrator and Morpha settled under Nosedive's chair as it would often do. Wildwing tried looking focused, but the opal he had been carrying for so long still haunted him mind.
"In the darkest hour, I shine brightest.", he thought to himself, "What does that mean? And who is it talking about?"
Canard saw Wildwing's expression and could feel the aura reading off him as confused and concerned.
"Don't despair Wing. It'll show it's power soon enough."
Wildwing tried calming down. He knew Canard was right and he was sure Canard could feel what he was thinking due to him being such a good aura reader. And then a huge explosion sounded off nearby.
"Let's get ready to rumble.", Nosedive said with determination.
They shifted the Migrator into battle mode as Tanya got a reading.
"It's a portal from Dimensional Limbo and it's expelling multiple targets."
Canard's expression darkened.
"We need to shut that portal."
"How?", Mallory asked, "We got nothing to close it with."
Canard turned to Nosedive.
"Hey Dive, I need you to create something for the Migrator."
Nosedive's face brightened as his Create spell materialized in his hand.
"What do you need? A massive rocket launcher? A giant hammer? Black hole generator?"
"I was going for a portal closing mechanism."
Nosedive looked disappointed.
"Oh come on. Where's the fun in that?"
Canard was about to snap, but then he smiled.
"Mind making it part of a particle projection cannon?"
Nosedive's expression brightened again.
"One portal closing particle projection cannon coming up!"
Nosedive started writing in his spell as the ducks turned to a street where large monitor lizards scaled around the area flicking their forked tongues, scrapping the pavement with large claws and large spikes along their spines. A large portal was overhead in the air and looking ominous and something was crawling through it and it was huge.
"Cannon is ready.", Nosedive reported.
Wildwing nodded.
"Grin, you get Canard and Mallory and see if you can round up the lizards, Tanya, take Duke and get the Migrator in place. Nosedive, you're with me."
Morpha looked his way and a couple tendrils formed a question mark and and arrow pointing at itself. Wildwing noticed this.
"Okay, Morpha can help by giving us cover."
Morpha's blue color points turned yellow stating it was happy.
/
As the ducks got into the fighting, Pretorius watched and raised the DNA accelerator.
"Good thing I managed to whip up one of these in my spare time.", he muttered, "Not exactly DNA splicing, but it will prove most effective."
He activated it and the lizards turned bigger and more dinosaur like after they were hit. Their spines glowed and radioactive flames came from their mouths.
"Well, as much as I would love to dissect you ducks, Charyus promised me the DNA of all kinds of creatures I can't wait to experiment on."
He chuckled maliciously to himself.
"At last, I'll be able to make the genetically engineered creature that will not only be the next step in evolution, but will triumph over anyone who gets in my-"
He was cut off cause a rock hit him on the side of the head. He turned to see Wildwing and Nosedive with Morpha a little distance away.
"Did anyone tell you that you're one crazy fruitcake?", Wildwing asked.
Pretorius aimed the DNA accelerator at them, but before he fired, Morpha shifted into a lasso that Nosedive started swinging.
"Ye-ha. Time to grab some creepy lizard.", he said trying to sound western as he tossed the lasso.
Pretorius tried to move, but the lasso then shifted into multiple ones that not only wrapped him up, but knocked the DNA accelerator to the ground where it broke apart. Morpha's dog head formed in front of Pretorius' and it stuck it's tongue out. Pretorius looked sour.
"Why you gained sentience I don't know, but it will make a nice matter to-"
Morpha tightened cutting the crazy lizard off. Wildwing took a hand cannon and aimed it at the portal. With a blast of grayish white light, the portal shuddered and the lizards began to go back into it. The Migrator extended several grappling hooks that caught the other ducks before the force pulled them in. While that was happening, Pretorius pressed the teleporter on his wrist and vanished in a flash of light. Morpha shifted back into it's dog form only it was now red and tan while baring it's teeth the way any dog would showing it was angry. Nosedive came over and stroked it causing it's red coloring to turn back to it's original blue and tan look. Wildwing called Tanya on his communicator.
"Everyone okay?"
"All present and accounted for.", Duke reported.
Wildwing noticed Nosedive and Morpha gathering up the broken DNA accelerator pieces and then got concerned.
"Hey Tanya, can you analyze what Pretorius was using?"
Tanya paused for a minute.
"It'll have to be back at the lab, but I think I can."
That was all Wildwing had to hear. Back at the Pond, the team started getting in some practice out of the way.
"Any idea what Pretorius would want with a DNA accelerator?", Canard asked.
"Cause he's now an evil lizard who likes doing evil stuff?", Nosedive suggested as he passed the puck and avoided getting checked by Grin.
Tanya passed to Duke who almost got checked by Canard, but then he got checked my Mallory who stole the puck back. She made her way to the goal only to have the puck stolen back by Nosedive. Morpha had shifted into a full team of cheerleaders and was clearly getting into cheering.
"Go left, go right, raise the toll. Get that puck into that goal!"
They practiced for a couple hours and the timer went off signaling practice was over and the ducks hit the showers. Morpha met up with them after they changed and met back up in the Ready Room where Phil was already there.
"Man I can't wait til this goes public! Ducks battle inter dimensional reptiles!"
The ducks rolled their eyes.
"Phil may have feathers and a beak, but he's still the same overeager opportunity grabbing manager he's always been since our last season.", Nosedive said(breaking the fourth wall as usual).
"You said it.", Canard agreed.
And the ducks laughed out loud.
