Ch.18: An Avenger's Rage
"Uh…What in the blazes?" groaned Scrooge, as he slowly woke up to find himself gripped within different surroundings.
Other groans sounded as well, attracting the old duck's attention, and he gasped in shock to find that Huey, Dewey, and Louie had been dragged here as well.
"Lads are you alright?" asked Scrooge, running over to his nephews.
"Uncle Scrooge" said Dewey " where are we?"
"Good question" thought Scrooge " I wish I had an answer,"
Wherever they were, it sure didn't seem like Duckburg anymore; more like a massive, dark forest with twisted trees and black soil that screamed of evil cloaking the foggy sky up above with red mist that floated down over their heads, hanging like ghosts.
Scrooge had been on enough adventures to know that somehow black magic was at work, although he doubted that his arch-enemy Magica De Spell could have come up with something as devious as this. No, whatever magical force that brought them here was stronger, far stronger than the sorceress could ever hope or dare be.
"Stay close lads" said Scrooge " and we'll find a way out of here. I have a feeling that whoever's behind this mess will show himself very soon."
Meanwhile, back in Duckburg, Daisy and Uno were also wondering what exactly was going on.
Awaiting further contact after his friend had finished breaking into Glomgold's mansion, Uno was worried when the Duck Avenger failed to respond to any hails questioning if the mission was indeed complete.
Donald never failed to make contact before, which could only mean something terrible had happened, confirmed several moments later by a bright, white flash that exploded over the city.
No damage had been done to Duckburg as far as the AI could see, but Uno could tell instantly that something in the air had changed, and that danger lurked at the next horizon, in which they must all be prepared.
At the mansion, Daisy could tell that something terrible was about to happen too. In the aftershock, she had panickedly searched the mansion to make sure Scrooge and the others were alright, only to freak out even more when she discovered that Scrooge along with the nephews were gone.
Worried, she instantly ran around to wake up Fethry, Duckworth, and Launchpad, alerting them to the dire situation, and the concerning need that they should be ready to fight. Darkness was coming, and they would need all the help they could get to weather the storm.
Meanwhile, glaring down over the city of Duckburg, a dark figure stood crouched down in the shadows, looking like a gargoyle sinisterly looking over a rooftop's ledge. Phantomallard breathed, slowly soaking in the dark quiet around him. The time had finally come. It was time for chaos to begin!
Standing, Phantomallard brandished the X-Tranformer Shield he had stolen from Donald and motioned around him, inviting the shades of Baylock's design to creep out into the light.
While Baylock played with the Avenger and his family in his own world, the city was his to take. Finally, after all these years, justice would be served, and revenge, would taste sweet.
Back with Scrooge and the boys, things were unsettling as they continued to stroll on, ignorant of the immediate danger Duckburg would soon be in, and clueless to their own whereabouts as fear sunk deeper and deeper into their hearts.
Despite the unpleasantness, Scrooge kept on a brave face as he continued to lead the boys forward. Like it or not, standing in one place certainly would not get them out. They had to brave up and find an exit, facing whatever obstacle they could to make it home alive.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie didn't speak much as they followed Uncle Scrooge's lead, but all three boys were wondering about the strange, white flash that had brought them here. If they were the only ones selected to be trapped in this strange place, what was the reason? And, would everything be alright back home with Daisy and the rest?
Louie shook, wishing for Uncle Donald right now. He looked towards his siblings, noticing the sadness in their eyes noting that, inwardly, his brothers were wishing the same.
All of this trouble over a single question, a question of love, and a horrible decision they could never take back or break.
Suddenly, a groan was heard, breaking the silence, and the four ducks rushed into a clearing, where the body of Donald Duck could be seen, laying against the ground.
"Uncle Donald!" cried out the nephews, wanting to rush instantly to his side.
"Hold up lads" said Uncle Scrooge, stopping the trio with his cane " something's wrong here,"
As much as he wanted to believe that this was Donald himself, he had dealt with magic long enough to see through certain illusions or tricks. There was no way, in this world, that the four of them had been brought to this hell-scape only to find the person they had been searching for so very long.
"Reveal yourself you blighter!" screamed Scrooge into the abyss "You will not fool us with your illusions! Reveal yourself and the real Donald now!"
"As you wish Scrooge" said Baylock, appearing over Donald's limp form " You were clever to see through my trick, but the real treat will be to watch you suffer, as the real Donald views this, helpless to aid you from his torturous cage."
"This one at my feet may be a phony, but the emotions and hatred within are real. Care to deal with the monster you created? Go on then Duck Avenger, make them suffer with every blow."
With that said, the fake Donald woke up and transformed into a more devilish version of his Duck Avenger, complete with a horrific-looking, new X-Transformer and years and years of the real Donald's penned up hatred and rage.
Yes, justice would be served. With a demonic scream the Duck Avenger charged, while Baylock, reveling in the carnage that was soon to come ahead.
