[Note: the song contained in this section of the story is called "The Candlelight Carol" and may be found on Michael Crawford's Christmas album.]
***
At 5:57 Darkwing stepped out of the Ratcatcher and onto the icy bridge, which had been temporarily closed to traffic by his instruction. He stood in plain sight, his hand on his gun, and waited. Gosalyn watched, unseen behind a clump of snow-covered bushes.
As the distant clocktower chimed 6:00, Alice glided down from a rail far above the bridge. When she landed, the Fearsom Four crept from their hiding places and joined her. Darkwing drew his gun.
"We're unarmed!" Alice shouted. "Please, put that down. We need your help!"
Darkwing lowered his weapon, but laughed. "You? Need **my** help?? HA!!"
They aproached, hands up, and stopped about 5 feet away from the caped hero. "Negaduck is planning an attack on the city tonight," Alice said. "We've done all we can to secure the buildings he wants, but we can't stop him."
Darkwing was somewhat more than confused at the whole predicament, as was Gosalyn, who faught the temptation to rush out and begin rounding up villains. Darkwing walked forward and motioned for the group to drop their hands. They did.
"Now," Darkwing said, "Let's clerify something, shalle we? Who the heck are you?"
Alice spread her wings. "I am the terror that flaps in the night," she grinned. "I am the Dark Angel."
"Hey, that line's been taken!" Darkwing said.
Alice shrugged. "Yeah, I know. I thought it might be kinda funny, though. Anyway, we need your help to stop Negaduck. He's going to take over the city tonight!!"
They huddled in a tight group. Not far off, Gosalyn grumbled to herself about not being able to hear anything. "This is so boring!" she said. "Nothing's happening! Maybe thise wasn't such a great idea after all…"
"Oh, but it was," a deep, sinister voice interrupted the young duckette's complaints. She spun around, her eyes wide with fear.
"Negaduck!" she said.
"That's my name," he said. "Now, I want you to be a good girl and come along nice a peaceful, or I might have to hurt you. Okay?"
"NEVER!!" Gosalyn kicked him and leaped from the bushes, but she was not quick enough. Negaduck grabbed her by the back of her coat and lifted her from the ground, covering her mouth so she couldn't scream. After tying her up and hiding her securely in the bushes, he stepped out into the center of the bridge, glaring at the six conspirators, who were huddled too close to notice his presence.
"WELL, if it isn't my old friends," he yelled. Six pairs of startled eyes turned to him. Alice slapped Bushroot in the back of the head.
"How did he find out?!" she demanded. The four villains shrugged helplessly. Negaduck stepped closer.
"Well, whose idea was it to leave the recorder in the closet?" he asked. Quackerjack's eyes widened. "Ah, you should be congradulated, Quacky," Negaduck said. "How thoughtful of you to allow me to discover your plans. And now, you shall see the price for betrayal." He held up a golden whistle for his apparent captors to see, then blew a high note on it. Darkwing, Alice, and the Fearsome Four were imedietly surrounded by an army of 20 of Negaduck's goons, all dressed in black from their boots to the scarved that covered all of their heads except their beady eyes.
"Go to it," Negaduck said.
The goons rushed forward, swords held high. Chaos ensued. The Fearsome Four were split up imedietly as each was surrounded and attacked. They fought fiercely. Alice once caught Darkwing's eyes. He glared at her as if to say, "When we get out of this, you're history!!"
Meanwhile, Hattie and Lewis Marten stood at the opposite end of the bridge. They knew enough to keep out of sight.
"Lewis! What should we do?" Hattie clung to her husband's arm.
"Nothing. We just have to watch and see what happens."
"Shouldn't we alert the police?"
Lewis shook his head. "No doubt that's already been done. Don't worry. We'll be safe if we just stay out of the way."
Hattie nodded, her lack of confidence obvious. "Well, as long as Alice is safe," she murmered. "It's all right…"
The battle raged on, but to Negaduck's surprise, his goons were loosing. Their superior numbers couldn't compete with the powers of their victims: Darkwing's superior weaponry, Megavolt's lightning bolts, Quackerjack's bizarre and dangerous toys, Liquidator's water that quickly froze on the goons, Bushroot's power to grow long branchlike arms and attack many at once, and Alice's striking beauty. Finally, she was able to spread her wings and find enough running space to soar over the battle and run for Negaduck. There were now only 7 goons still fighting. The situation looked grim, but Negaduck had a Plan B. As Alice ran towards him, wielding a sword once held by a now-dead goon, he pulled Gosalyn from the bushes.
"STOP!" he yelled. "Put the sword down, or the girl dies!!"
Alice had no choice. She dropped her sword. "Curse you, Negaduck. Curse you and your whole family!" she said.
"Ah, but my dear," he cooed, "Think a moment. Join me." He stepped forward. "You know you want to. Remember our… passion… my love… my… Dark Angel…" He touched her cheek.
Alice pulled away, disgusted. "You **pig**!!" She slapped him. "You are incapable of feeling love. I never loved you. You are a delusional fool to say so. And, you kiss like a little girl!"
"I told you once nobody does that to me," he snarled. "And I meant it!!" He threw Gosalyn aside and leaped onto Alice. Gosalyn finally managed to squirm out of the roped far enough to untie the ropes around her beak.
"DAD!!" she screamed. "DAD!!! HELP ME!!"
Darkwing heard the voice. "Gosalyn?!?!" He turned to see Negaduck with his hands around Alice's neck and Gosalyn sitting nearby, her hands still tied together.
"Gosalyn, I'm coming!" Darkwing broke free of the battle. When Negaduck saw him, he let go of Alice and grabbed Gosalyn. He backed away, pressing a gun to the child's head.
"Don't come any closer," he growled. "Not a single step!!"
Back at the other end of the bridge, a sudden realization hit Hattie Marten. "Oh my God, Lewis!! That's Alice!!!!!"
"What?!?!" He looked over to where Alice was sprawled in the snow. Darkwing held her down by putting his foot on her stomach. "Good lord, it **is** Alice," he said as terror crept into his heart. Both parents rushed forward, instinct guiding them to save their child just as Darkwing ran to save his.
As for the goons and the Fearsome Four, they had sensed their leaders' sudden absence from the battle and stopped fighting. The Four ran to help Alice, but they were blocked by the goons. They watched helplessly.
"Let me up, you fool," Alice hissed.
"Never!" Darkwing replied, his eyes never leaving Negaduck and Gosalyn. "This was a setup!"
"It was **not**, you imbecile! Let me up or we're all going to be killed, starting with your daughter!" she grabbed Darkwing's leg and was about to flip him, but two other warriors knocked him over first.
"Mom?? Dad??" Alice said, stunned. Lewis held Darkwing down while Hattie stood, glaring threateningly at Negaduck.
"Get out of here, Alice," she said to her daughter. "This isn't safe. Get out of here."
"No, mom, this is my fight. You get out!" She stood up.
"Your father and I won't leave you to fight that madman, Alice!"
Alice sighed. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, mother," she said apologetically. "But I…"
She was interrupted by her father's voice. "ALICE, LOOK OUT!" Alice ducked just in time for three goons to sail right over her, and right into her mother.
"Hattie!" Lewis cried, rushing to his wife. The four remaining goons let go of the Fearsome Four and ran to attack. In the confusion, all seven began fighting Hattie and Lewis. But seven against two was no battle. The goons won swiftly. They turned from the two unconcious bodies, not knowing what to do next. Bushroot and Megavolt held Alice back from rushing in.
"No, we have to save Gosalyn!" Megavolt said. Alice tore her eyes from the battle to see Negaduck climbing up the bridge. Darkwing followed close behind. Gosalyn was still tied, now clinging to Negaduck's back. Alice nodded.
"I've got a plan." She turned to the Four. "Quackerjack, Liquidator, and Bushroot, get my parents out of here. Sputterspark, you come with me!" She took a running leap and soared into the air. Megavolt followed her to the railing and watched as she soared up and grabbed Darkwing.
"Let me go, you fiend!" he yelled. "I've got to save my daughter!!"
"Trust me, we're doing that!" Alice said. She soared down to Megavolt. "Ready, Sputterspark?" He nodded eagerly. "Do it!!"
Megavolt put his hands on the metal rail and sent a bolt of electricity through it. The sudden shock caused Negaduck to loose his grip. He let go of the railing and plummeted down to the street below. As he fell, Gosalyn leaped from his back and grabbed onto another part of the railing. Again all fighting ceased as the warriors watched.
"HELP!" Gosalyn screamed. "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!"
Alice again leaped into the air. Bushroot held Dakrwing back. "She'll get her," he said. "The little girl will be all right."
But the fates had already decided otherwise. Even as Alice rose on the wind to catch Gosalyn, Negaduck reached weakly for his gun. His movements were painful, but his mind was broken as well as his body. With his last ounce of strength, he pointed the gun and fired. The echo of the gunshot rang throughout the silence on the bridge, bouncing off the falling snowflakes. The bullet flew fast and true. There was a child's screech of pain, then silence again. Alice caught Gosalyn as she fell from the high rail, and set her down in the snow near Darkwing. As the goons ran to take their fallen leader from the battle scene, the Fearsome Four gathered around their leader, who knelt with Darkwing and his daughter in the snow.
"Gosalyn?" Darkwing said. "Gosalyn, can you hear me??"
Gosalyn opened her eyes and looked lovingly up at her father. "Dad," she whispered. "Merry Christmas…"
"You'll be okay, sweetie, just lie still. Shhh… you'll be okay…" Darkwing cradled the child's head in his arms and looked at Alice. "I… I was wrong…" he said softly. "I'm sorry."
Alice watched as the red stain on the snow grew wider. "No need to apologise," she said. "I know."
Gosalyn's eyes fluttered open. "Dad?"
"What is it, Gos?"
"It hurts, dad."
"I know. I know it hurts. You'll be all right. The ambulence is on its way."
"Sing me a song, dad?"
"I… I don't know …" Alice put her finger to her lips to quiet him.
"I'll do it," she said. Darkwing nodded. The Fearsome Four huddled closely, watching with wide, sometimes tearful eyes as Alice began her song.
How do you capture the wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure the love that surrounds you?
Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?
Candlelight, angel light,
Firelight and star glow
Shine on your pillow 'til breaking of dawn.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Shepherds and wise men will kneel and pray for you.
Seraphim 'round you their vigil will keep.
Fears of tomorrow may haunt you and test you,
But father will hold you and sing you to sleep.
Darkwing took Gosalyn's hand. He continued the song.
Candlelight, angel light,
Firelight and star glow
Shine on your pillow 'til breaking of dawn.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Darkwing held his daughter close to him as she drifted into unconciousness. Alice was interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked into Megavolt's eyes, which were overflowing with stubborn tears.
"I'm… sorry, Alice," he choked. "We tried…"
Alice gasped. "Oh God, my parents! Where are they?!" He tried to get up, but Bushroot forced her back onto her knees. He shook his head.
"…we tried to help them. The goons… did their work well."
"NO!!!" Alice cried. She pushed Bushroot aside and scrambled back to the battle grounds. Her parents had been laid neatly in the snow, holding hands. Alice pressed her cheek to her father's chest. "No! You can't leave me, daddy! Please!"
Just then, several police cars screamed onto the bridge. The ambulences followed closely. Uniformed men swarmed the road, running around in a sea of flashing lights. The medics put Gosalyn swiftly onto a stretcher. Darkwing rode off with her to the hospital. The Fearsome Four stood back as Alice's parents were also put onto stretchers and rushed away.
Alice was left kneeling in a stunned silence in the bloodstained snow. Her battered, bloody wings hung limp at her back. Her clothing was torn in several places, and her arm was cut deeply near the shoulder. Bushroot was the first to step bravely forward. He tore a few leaves from hmself and bandaged her wound with them. If Alice noticed, she gave no sign. Bushroot looked back to the others helplessly. Megavolt stepped forward and sat beside her.
"They took your parents to the hospital," he said. No response. "The police are looking for Negaduck and the goons." Still no response. "They think Gosalyn will be okay."
Alice only sighed softly. For the first time in all the years he had known her, Megavolt saw tears on his friend's cheeks.
"Alice, talk to us," Megavolt pleaded. "We won! Negaduck has been defeted! The city is safe! You **saved** us, Alice. All of us. If not for you, Negaduck would already have the city in his grasp! We'd still be his slaves, just… just crawling worms to him!" A stifled sob caught in his throat as he spoke the last words.
Slowly, Alice turned to look at Megavolt. "All I ever wanted," she whispered, "was to live a simple life with my art. People like me…" she looked off towards the river, "…were never meant to be heroes."
"But you are a hero, Alice!" Quackerjack broke in.
"Yeah," Liquidator said, coming towards her. "A hero's life and a villain's life are really the same. So we know that to be a hero, you have to loose a lot, maybe even your own life, or the lives of those you love. You have to be willing to go where no one else has gone! That's what made us what we are today."
Alice shook her head. "Maybe so… But… not this way! I am not proud of the fact that I had to choose my parents' lives or that child's."
"You made the right chioce," Bushroot said. "They would have wanted you to choose the child's life over theirs. That was their choice. They chose to save you rather than themselves."
"Who do I have now?" she asked. "I'm alone…"
"You have us," Megavolt sniffed, putting his arms around her shoulders. "And who do we have but each other?" The other three nodded in agreement. Alice leaned closer to Megavolt.
"It's so cold," she whispered. "So cold…" The others sat around their leader and leaned close as she sobbed softly. Tears fell from their eyes also as they mourned the loss of souls they never knew, with a friend they had known only a short time.
*
Prologue:
The day Gosalyn was released from the hospital, she and her father returned home to find Alice, spruced up wings and all, waiting with the Fearsome Four on the porch. Gosalyn rushed forward into Alice's arms.
"You're the angel I saw!" she laughed. "I know you!"
Alice kissed the girl's forehead. "Go on inside," she said. Gosalyn ran in, followed by the Four. Darkwing looked at Alice.
"The Dark Angel." He shook his head. "The brightest star in the heavens couldn't outshine you. Thank you."
Alice looked at the floor. "Don't thank me. Just go see your daughter."
"Come in?" Drake asked. Alice nodded and followed him into the warm house. They stood in the doorway to the living room watching the scene before them. The Four were sitting on the couch together. Bushroot was playing with the controller trying to find the nature channel. The Liquidator was trying to help and getting Bushroot and the couch wet. Quackerjack was attempting to amuse Gosalyn with Mr. Banana Head, but Gosalyn apparently was having more fun trying to get Megavolt to let her try his hat on.
"I never thought I'd live to see this," Drake said.
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Alice said. "They're a lot more personable than you'd think. Of course, they're never going to stop doing what they do. They're villians. Nothing you or I could do can change that."
"I figured," Drake said. "Oh well. The balance has to be kept somehow. You're welcome here whenever you want, Miss Marten."
"Oh come off it. It's Alice." She poked his beak. Just then, there was a buzz of excitement from the couch potatoes.
"Alice! Look at this!!" Megavolt yelled. Alice and Drake rushed in. All eyes were glued to the television, where an announcer was standing on the bridge speaking excitedly into the camera.
"We're live at the scene of the tragic Christmas Eve battle, which left most of supervillain Negaduck's goon army permanently out of business and claimed the lives of Hattie and Lewis Marten."
Drake put his hand on Alice's. The announcer continued: "Today marks the end of the long search for Negaduck. His body was discovered in an abandoned warehouse not far from here. And following up on the progress of Gosalyn Mallard, the nine-year-old who was shot during the battle: She was released from the hospital today and is in good condition. According to several witnesses, including St. Canard's very own masked crusader, Darkwing Duck, Gosalyn's life would have been lost if not for the heroic efforts of a woman calling herself the Dark Angel. This video was taken by a witness returning from a Christmas party."
The screen flashed to a shaky video recording of Alice taking Darkwing from the bridge, Megavolt sending electricity through and knocking Negaduck down to the street, the gunshot, and Alice narrowly managing to save the wounded child. The scene flashed ahead to a shot of Alice kneeling in the snow singing to the child, then Gosalyn being rushed into the ambulence, then back to the announcer.
"Does St. Canard have a new guardian in its ranks? According to Darkwing Duck, it was this same winged heroine who was responsible for destroying Negaduck's plan to take over the city that night. The story of this woman's deeds will live on long after she has gone. Dark Angel, whoever you are, St. Canard thanks you."
"Three cheers for the Dark Angel!" Megavolt yelled. The room erupted into cheering and clapping from all. Alice bowed.
"So, **does** St. Canard have a new guardian?" Drake asked.
Alice shrugged. "Could be," she said. "One never knows. Anyway, we'd better be going."
"Aww, can't you stay a little while longer?" Gosalyn said. Alice shook her head.
"Not today, little one." The Fearsome Four shuffled out with Alice close behind, but as she was about to leave, Gosalyn tugged on her seashell dress. Alice turned. "Yes, little one?" she said.
Gosalyn held up a small box. "I know it's a little late for Christmas, but this is from me and my dad." Alice opened the box. Inside was a tiny purple angel pin.
"It's beautiful," Alice said. "Thank you."
"My dad says even angels need a guardian angel." Gosalyn grinned. "I think he likes you," she said secretively. Alice knelt by the child.
"Can you tell him a little rhyme for me?" she asked. Gosalyn nodded.
"Sure, I'm great at remembering rhymes!"
"Okay, then tell him this: Tales of Wonderland are told 'til the fire burns down to a sparky ember. But after your fairy tales grow old, I'll be the Alice to remember." With that, she ran down to join the Fearsome Four as they walked back to her apartment in the snow.
…end…
***
At 5:57 Darkwing stepped out of the Ratcatcher and onto the icy bridge, which had been temporarily closed to traffic by his instruction. He stood in plain sight, his hand on his gun, and waited. Gosalyn watched, unseen behind a clump of snow-covered bushes.
As the distant clocktower chimed 6:00, Alice glided down from a rail far above the bridge. When she landed, the Fearsom Four crept from their hiding places and joined her. Darkwing drew his gun.
"We're unarmed!" Alice shouted. "Please, put that down. We need your help!"
Darkwing lowered his weapon, but laughed. "You? Need **my** help?? HA!!"
They aproached, hands up, and stopped about 5 feet away from the caped hero. "Negaduck is planning an attack on the city tonight," Alice said. "We've done all we can to secure the buildings he wants, but we can't stop him."
Darkwing was somewhat more than confused at the whole predicament, as was Gosalyn, who faught the temptation to rush out and begin rounding up villains. Darkwing walked forward and motioned for the group to drop their hands. They did.
"Now," Darkwing said, "Let's clerify something, shalle we? Who the heck are you?"
Alice spread her wings. "I am the terror that flaps in the night," she grinned. "I am the Dark Angel."
"Hey, that line's been taken!" Darkwing said.
Alice shrugged. "Yeah, I know. I thought it might be kinda funny, though. Anyway, we need your help to stop Negaduck. He's going to take over the city tonight!!"
They huddled in a tight group. Not far off, Gosalyn grumbled to herself about not being able to hear anything. "This is so boring!" she said. "Nothing's happening! Maybe thise wasn't such a great idea after all…"
"Oh, but it was," a deep, sinister voice interrupted the young duckette's complaints. She spun around, her eyes wide with fear.
"Negaduck!" she said.
"That's my name," he said. "Now, I want you to be a good girl and come along nice a peaceful, or I might have to hurt you. Okay?"
"NEVER!!" Gosalyn kicked him and leaped from the bushes, but she was not quick enough. Negaduck grabbed her by the back of her coat and lifted her from the ground, covering her mouth so she couldn't scream. After tying her up and hiding her securely in the bushes, he stepped out into the center of the bridge, glaring at the six conspirators, who were huddled too close to notice his presence.
"WELL, if it isn't my old friends," he yelled. Six pairs of startled eyes turned to him. Alice slapped Bushroot in the back of the head.
"How did he find out?!" she demanded. The four villains shrugged helplessly. Negaduck stepped closer.
"Well, whose idea was it to leave the recorder in the closet?" he asked. Quackerjack's eyes widened. "Ah, you should be congradulated, Quacky," Negaduck said. "How thoughtful of you to allow me to discover your plans. And now, you shall see the price for betrayal." He held up a golden whistle for his apparent captors to see, then blew a high note on it. Darkwing, Alice, and the Fearsome Four were imedietly surrounded by an army of 20 of Negaduck's goons, all dressed in black from their boots to the scarved that covered all of their heads except their beady eyes.
"Go to it," Negaduck said.
The goons rushed forward, swords held high. Chaos ensued. The Fearsome Four were split up imedietly as each was surrounded and attacked. They fought fiercely. Alice once caught Darkwing's eyes. He glared at her as if to say, "When we get out of this, you're history!!"
Meanwhile, Hattie and Lewis Marten stood at the opposite end of the bridge. They knew enough to keep out of sight.
"Lewis! What should we do?" Hattie clung to her husband's arm.
"Nothing. We just have to watch and see what happens."
"Shouldn't we alert the police?"
Lewis shook his head. "No doubt that's already been done. Don't worry. We'll be safe if we just stay out of the way."
Hattie nodded, her lack of confidence obvious. "Well, as long as Alice is safe," she murmered. "It's all right…"
The battle raged on, but to Negaduck's surprise, his goons were loosing. Their superior numbers couldn't compete with the powers of their victims: Darkwing's superior weaponry, Megavolt's lightning bolts, Quackerjack's bizarre and dangerous toys, Liquidator's water that quickly froze on the goons, Bushroot's power to grow long branchlike arms and attack many at once, and Alice's striking beauty. Finally, she was able to spread her wings and find enough running space to soar over the battle and run for Negaduck. There were now only 7 goons still fighting. The situation looked grim, but Negaduck had a Plan B. As Alice ran towards him, wielding a sword once held by a now-dead goon, he pulled Gosalyn from the bushes.
"STOP!" he yelled. "Put the sword down, or the girl dies!!"
Alice had no choice. She dropped her sword. "Curse you, Negaduck. Curse you and your whole family!" she said.
"Ah, but my dear," he cooed, "Think a moment. Join me." He stepped forward. "You know you want to. Remember our… passion… my love… my… Dark Angel…" He touched her cheek.
Alice pulled away, disgusted. "You **pig**!!" She slapped him. "You are incapable of feeling love. I never loved you. You are a delusional fool to say so. And, you kiss like a little girl!"
"I told you once nobody does that to me," he snarled. "And I meant it!!" He threw Gosalyn aside and leaped onto Alice. Gosalyn finally managed to squirm out of the roped far enough to untie the ropes around her beak.
"DAD!!" she screamed. "DAD!!! HELP ME!!"
Darkwing heard the voice. "Gosalyn?!?!" He turned to see Negaduck with his hands around Alice's neck and Gosalyn sitting nearby, her hands still tied together.
"Gosalyn, I'm coming!" Darkwing broke free of the battle. When Negaduck saw him, he let go of Alice and grabbed Gosalyn. He backed away, pressing a gun to the child's head.
"Don't come any closer," he growled. "Not a single step!!"
Back at the other end of the bridge, a sudden realization hit Hattie Marten. "Oh my God, Lewis!! That's Alice!!!!!"
"What?!?!" He looked over to where Alice was sprawled in the snow. Darkwing held her down by putting his foot on her stomach. "Good lord, it **is** Alice," he said as terror crept into his heart. Both parents rushed forward, instinct guiding them to save their child just as Darkwing ran to save his.
As for the goons and the Fearsome Four, they had sensed their leaders' sudden absence from the battle and stopped fighting. The Four ran to help Alice, but they were blocked by the goons. They watched helplessly.
"Let me up, you fool," Alice hissed.
"Never!" Darkwing replied, his eyes never leaving Negaduck and Gosalyn. "This was a setup!"
"It was **not**, you imbecile! Let me up or we're all going to be killed, starting with your daughter!" she grabbed Darkwing's leg and was about to flip him, but two other warriors knocked him over first.
"Mom?? Dad??" Alice said, stunned. Lewis held Darkwing down while Hattie stood, glaring threateningly at Negaduck.
"Get out of here, Alice," she said to her daughter. "This isn't safe. Get out of here."
"No, mom, this is my fight. You get out!" She stood up.
"Your father and I won't leave you to fight that madman, Alice!"
Alice sighed. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, mother," she said apologetically. "But I…"
She was interrupted by her father's voice. "ALICE, LOOK OUT!" Alice ducked just in time for three goons to sail right over her, and right into her mother.
"Hattie!" Lewis cried, rushing to his wife. The four remaining goons let go of the Fearsome Four and ran to attack. In the confusion, all seven began fighting Hattie and Lewis. But seven against two was no battle. The goons won swiftly. They turned from the two unconcious bodies, not knowing what to do next. Bushroot and Megavolt held Alice back from rushing in.
"No, we have to save Gosalyn!" Megavolt said. Alice tore her eyes from the battle to see Negaduck climbing up the bridge. Darkwing followed close behind. Gosalyn was still tied, now clinging to Negaduck's back. Alice nodded.
"I've got a plan." She turned to the Four. "Quackerjack, Liquidator, and Bushroot, get my parents out of here. Sputterspark, you come with me!" She took a running leap and soared into the air. Megavolt followed her to the railing and watched as she soared up and grabbed Darkwing.
"Let me go, you fiend!" he yelled. "I've got to save my daughter!!"
"Trust me, we're doing that!" Alice said. She soared down to Megavolt. "Ready, Sputterspark?" He nodded eagerly. "Do it!!"
Megavolt put his hands on the metal rail and sent a bolt of electricity through it. The sudden shock caused Negaduck to loose his grip. He let go of the railing and plummeted down to the street below. As he fell, Gosalyn leaped from his back and grabbed onto another part of the railing. Again all fighting ceased as the warriors watched.
"HELP!" Gosalyn screamed. "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!"
Alice again leaped into the air. Bushroot held Dakrwing back. "She'll get her," he said. "The little girl will be all right."
But the fates had already decided otherwise. Even as Alice rose on the wind to catch Gosalyn, Negaduck reached weakly for his gun. His movements were painful, but his mind was broken as well as his body. With his last ounce of strength, he pointed the gun and fired. The echo of the gunshot rang throughout the silence on the bridge, bouncing off the falling snowflakes. The bullet flew fast and true. There was a child's screech of pain, then silence again. Alice caught Gosalyn as she fell from the high rail, and set her down in the snow near Darkwing. As the goons ran to take their fallen leader from the battle scene, the Fearsome Four gathered around their leader, who knelt with Darkwing and his daughter in the snow.
"Gosalyn?" Darkwing said. "Gosalyn, can you hear me??"
Gosalyn opened her eyes and looked lovingly up at her father. "Dad," she whispered. "Merry Christmas…"
"You'll be okay, sweetie, just lie still. Shhh… you'll be okay…" Darkwing cradled the child's head in his arms and looked at Alice. "I… I was wrong…" he said softly. "I'm sorry."
Alice watched as the red stain on the snow grew wider. "No need to apologise," she said. "I know."
Gosalyn's eyes fluttered open. "Dad?"
"What is it, Gos?"
"It hurts, dad."
"I know. I know it hurts. You'll be all right. The ambulence is on its way."
"Sing me a song, dad?"
"I… I don't know …" Alice put her finger to her lips to quiet him.
"I'll do it," she said. Darkwing nodded. The Fearsome Four huddled closely, watching with wide, sometimes tearful eyes as Alice began her song.
How do you capture the wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure the love that surrounds you?
Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?
Candlelight, angel light,
Firelight and star glow
Shine on your pillow 'til breaking of dawn.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Shepherds and wise men will kneel and pray for you.
Seraphim 'round you their vigil will keep.
Fears of tomorrow may haunt you and test you,
But father will hold you and sing you to sleep.
Darkwing took Gosalyn's hand. He continued the song.
Candlelight, angel light,
Firelight and star glow
Shine on your pillow 'til breaking of dawn.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Angels are singing,
For nightmares are gone.
Darkwing held his daughter close to him as she drifted into unconciousness. Alice was interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked into Megavolt's eyes, which were overflowing with stubborn tears.
"I'm… sorry, Alice," he choked. "We tried…"
Alice gasped. "Oh God, my parents! Where are they?!" He tried to get up, but Bushroot forced her back onto her knees. He shook his head.
"…we tried to help them. The goons… did their work well."
"NO!!!" Alice cried. She pushed Bushroot aside and scrambled back to the battle grounds. Her parents had been laid neatly in the snow, holding hands. Alice pressed her cheek to her father's chest. "No! You can't leave me, daddy! Please!"
Just then, several police cars screamed onto the bridge. The ambulences followed closely. Uniformed men swarmed the road, running around in a sea of flashing lights. The medics put Gosalyn swiftly onto a stretcher. Darkwing rode off with her to the hospital. The Fearsome Four stood back as Alice's parents were also put onto stretchers and rushed away.
Alice was left kneeling in a stunned silence in the bloodstained snow. Her battered, bloody wings hung limp at her back. Her clothing was torn in several places, and her arm was cut deeply near the shoulder. Bushroot was the first to step bravely forward. He tore a few leaves from hmself and bandaged her wound with them. If Alice noticed, she gave no sign. Bushroot looked back to the others helplessly. Megavolt stepped forward and sat beside her.
"They took your parents to the hospital," he said. No response. "The police are looking for Negaduck and the goons." Still no response. "They think Gosalyn will be okay."
Alice only sighed softly. For the first time in all the years he had known her, Megavolt saw tears on his friend's cheeks.
"Alice, talk to us," Megavolt pleaded. "We won! Negaduck has been defeted! The city is safe! You **saved** us, Alice. All of us. If not for you, Negaduck would already have the city in his grasp! We'd still be his slaves, just… just crawling worms to him!" A stifled sob caught in his throat as he spoke the last words.
Slowly, Alice turned to look at Megavolt. "All I ever wanted," she whispered, "was to live a simple life with my art. People like me…" she looked off towards the river, "…were never meant to be heroes."
"But you are a hero, Alice!" Quackerjack broke in.
"Yeah," Liquidator said, coming towards her. "A hero's life and a villain's life are really the same. So we know that to be a hero, you have to loose a lot, maybe even your own life, or the lives of those you love. You have to be willing to go where no one else has gone! That's what made us what we are today."
Alice shook her head. "Maybe so… But… not this way! I am not proud of the fact that I had to choose my parents' lives or that child's."
"You made the right chioce," Bushroot said. "They would have wanted you to choose the child's life over theirs. That was their choice. They chose to save you rather than themselves."
"Who do I have now?" she asked. "I'm alone…"
"You have us," Megavolt sniffed, putting his arms around her shoulders. "And who do we have but each other?" The other three nodded in agreement. Alice leaned closer to Megavolt.
"It's so cold," she whispered. "So cold…" The others sat around their leader and leaned close as she sobbed softly. Tears fell from their eyes also as they mourned the loss of souls they never knew, with a friend they had known only a short time.
*
Prologue:
The day Gosalyn was released from the hospital, she and her father returned home to find Alice, spruced up wings and all, waiting with the Fearsome Four on the porch. Gosalyn rushed forward into Alice's arms.
"You're the angel I saw!" she laughed. "I know you!"
Alice kissed the girl's forehead. "Go on inside," she said. Gosalyn ran in, followed by the Four. Darkwing looked at Alice.
"The Dark Angel." He shook his head. "The brightest star in the heavens couldn't outshine you. Thank you."
Alice looked at the floor. "Don't thank me. Just go see your daughter."
"Come in?" Drake asked. Alice nodded and followed him into the warm house. They stood in the doorway to the living room watching the scene before them. The Four were sitting on the couch together. Bushroot was playing with the controller trying to find the nature channel. The Liquidator was trying to help and getting Bushroot and the couch wet. Quackerjack was attempting to amuse Gosalyn with Mr. Banana Head, but Gosalyn apparently was having more fun trying to get Megavolt to let her try his hat on.
"I never thought I'd live to see this," Drake said.
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Alice said. "They're a lot more personable than you'd think. Of course, they're never going to stop doing what they do. They're villians. Nothing you or I could do can change that."
"I figured," Drake said. "Oh well. The balance has to be kept somehow. You're welcome here whenever you want, Miss Marten."
"Oh come off it. It's Alice." She poked his beak. Just then, there was a buzz of excitement from the couch potatoes.
"Alice! Look at this!!" Megavolt yelled. Alice and Drake rushed in. All eyes were glued to the television, where an announcer was standing on the bridge speaking excitedly into the camera.
"We're live at the scene of the tragic Christmas Eve battle, which left most of supervillain Negaduck's goon army permanently out of business and claimed the lives of Hattie and Lewis Marten."
Drake put his hand on Alice's. The announcer continued: "Today marks the end of the long search for Negaduck. His body was discovered in an abandoned warehouse not far from here. And following up on the progress of Gosalyn Mallard, the nine-year-old who was shot during the battle: She was released from the hospital today and is in good condition. According to several witnesses, including St. Canard's very own masked crusader, Darkwing Duck, Gosalyn's life would have been lost if not for the heroic efforts of a woman calling herself the Dark Angel. This video was taken by a witness returning from a Christmas party."
The screen flashed to a shaky video recording of Alice taking Darkwing from the bridge, Megavolt sending electricity through and knocking Negaduck down to the street, the gunshot, and Alice narrowly managing to save the wounded child. The scene flashed ahead to a shot of Alice kneeling in the snow singing to the child, then Gosalyn being rushed into the ambulence, then back to the announcer.
"Does St. Canard have a new guardian in its ranks? According to Darkwing Duck, it was this same winged heroine who was responsible for destroying Negaduck's plan to take over the city that night. The story of this woman's deeds will live on long after she has gone. Dark Angel, whoever you are, St. Canard thanks you."
"Three cheers for the Dark Angel!" Megavolt yelled. The room erupted into cheering and clapping from all. Alice bowed.
"So, **does** St. Canard have a new guardian?" Drake asked.
Alice shrugged. "Could be," she said. "One never knows. Anyway, we'd better be going."
"Aww, can't you stay a little while longer?" Gosalyn said. Alice shook her head.
"Not today, little one." The Fearsome Four shuffled out with Alice close behind, but as she was about to leave, Gosalyn tugged on her seashell dress. Alice turned. "Yes, little one?" she said.
Gosalyn held up a small box. "I know it's a little late for Christmas, but this is from me and my dad." Alice opened the box. Inside was a tiny purple angel pin.
"It's beautiful," Alice said. "Thank you."
"My dad says even angels need a guardian angel." Gosalyn grinned. "I think he likes you," she said secretively. Alice knelt by the child.
"Can you tell him a little rhyme for me?" she asked. Gosalyn nodded.
"Sure, I'm great at remembering rhymes!"
"Okay, then tell him this: Tales of Wonderland are told 'til the fire burns down to a sparky ember. But after your fairy tales grow old, I'll be the Alice to remember." With that, she ran down to join the Fearsome Four as they walked back to her apartment in the snow.
…end…