Note: You know the drill by now; a lot of characters copyrighted either by Disney or by other fan-fic writers; references to areas copyrighted by outside parties; DO NOT sue.

As Quiverwing's physical condition worsens, Princess Felinoa gives a look of fearful recognition and explains "I've got a theory about what's wrong with Quiverwing, but it is so ghastly that I didn't want to explain it until I was absolutely certain. Now, however, I AM absolutely certain. I'm sure mother injected Quiverwing with a special toxin while she was unconscious. I've seen mother use this toxin on a few of her enemies when I was a child. This toxin is designed to slowly dissolve the victim's body from the inside, but instantly dissolve itself into nothingness once the victim is dead. It's one or her more sadistic methods of doing away with her enemies. Unfortunately, I don't know the antidote; every sample of the toxin was locked away in mother's super-maximum-security vaults until used and I was made to watch the toxin's work from a distance that made it impossible for me to analyze the formula. At THIS stage, I'm afraid Quiverwing Quack only has twenty minutes to live.".

Darkwing Duck glares skyward in a manner that seems to question "Why, lord? Why do you put Gosalyn through this kind of torment? If I have somehow wronged you, punish ME, not HER." before regaining what can pass for his composure under the circumstances and saying "Okay, Morg, I'm going to need you to teleport yourself and the others back to the space transport. Once there, Brain King, Giz-Two and Princess Felinoa are to employ the portable science lab onboard the ship to analyze the toxin while Quiverwing is still alive. After the analysis is complete, Brain King and Princess Felinoa are to combine their scientific skills to come up with an antidote to said toxin since I figure, between the two of you, you shouldn't have a problem coming up with said antidote in time. Morg, you are then to use your magic to super-charge the toxin's antidote to ensure that it is strong enough to save Quiverwing.".

Morgana looks at her husband and asks "Do you mean that you intend to face Empress Mewlexa alone? No offense, Dark, but even for YOU, that is a suicide mission.".

Darkwing looks lovingly at his wife and, as calmly as he can manage knowing that his oldest daughter is dying, replies "Look, Morg, time is of the essence, so I need somebody capable of teleportation to get the others to the ship in time to still have a good chance of saving Gosalyn. Your teleportation spells are at their strongest when you are teleporting along with the others. As long as you've memorized the coordinates of the space transport, which I KNOW you HAVE, you can get them there all right; I just know it. At the same time, however, somebody's got to stay behind to keep Mewlexa occupied and, to quote another cape, mask and hat-garbed avian adventurer, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it." as he raises his gas gun and starts back on Mewlexa's trail before getting interrupted by a familiar voice in the crowd.

"Forget it, Wingy. I'm not going to let you do this alone. I've got a few rather choice words for Empress Mewlexa myself.". Gizmoduck-Mark-One bravely comments as he rolls forward to join Darkwing in his pursuit.

"I, too, want to help keep that nasty Miss Empress Mewlexa busy, Mister Darkwing." Stegmutt courageously volunteers.".

Darkwing nods, silently admitting that Mewlexa IS a bit too powerful for him to fight alone (Darkwing was good enough to make the best of a few lucky shots earlier, but he is smart enough to acknowledge that he's NOT likely to get that lucky twice [at least not twice in one night.]). "Very well; Giz-One, Steggers and I will keep Mewlexa busy. The rest of you get back to the ship and save Quiverwing." Darkwing replies as he, Gizmoduck-Mark-One and Stegmutt head off to face Mewlexa.

In a large, bright green flash, Morgana, Quiverwing Quack, Gizmoduck-Mark-Two, Brain King and Princess Felinoa suddenly appear in front of the Justice Ducks space transport but, while Princess Felinoa and Brain King are rushing Quiverwing to the lab, Giz-Two is helping up the exhausted Morgana. "Are you all right, Mrs. Mallard? You're looking VERY tired." Giz-Two replies in a tone of sincere concern.

Morgana looks at Gizmoduck-Mark-Two and says "I've just been using a lot of magic over the past hour, Webbigail. I really DO appreciate the concern, but I just need a few minutes to regain my strength. There is nothing really wrong with me." as the two head inside the ship to join the others.

As Morgana lies down and Brain King starts running the toxin sample through the built-in portable super-computer in Giz-Two's armor, Brain King simply says in a quiet tone "There really isn't anything wrong with Morgana, Webby; at least there isn't anything wrong that won't resolve itself in eight-and-a-half-months.".

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Meanwhile, back inside Empress Mewlexa's palace, the villainess silently sighs as she looks at a picture of Negaduck. "Oh, Negs, you'd really have a fit if you knew how OUR daughter had turned ehh.. good (of course Negaduck is Felinoa's biological father; who ELSE would be nasty enough to put up with Mewlexa long enough to get her pregnant?). To think, it's been 25 Earth years since you and I broke up and I STILL can't get you out of my mind. You were the only individual I have ever met who was EVEN CLOSE to as evil as me and, plus, for an Earthling, not to mention a duck, you were darkly handsome. The trouble was we were TOO MUCH alike. You just weren't enough of a challenge. I guess that's why I went for Darkwing the way I have when I first met HIM fifteen Earth years ago; he is physically identical to you and thus, just as handsome as you are, but he is also a lot more of a challenge not only because he is a do-gooder, but also because he has somebody else that he is almost SICKENINGLY devoted to. Ironic that my most major complaints about him are what attract me the most to him because of that challenge factor." Mewlexa thinks to herself as her mind's eye flashes back 26 years.

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26 years prior to this story's setting (also four years prior to the setting of the "Darkwing Duck" series):

Back in those days, Mewlexa WASN'T the empress of her world and thousands of others; she was merely one of many advance scouts sent to find and explore other worlds in the name of their then leader, Emperor Manxosa. Upon a routine exploration trip, Mewlexa stumbled across an interdimensional storm that left her stranded in the Negaverse Saint Canard. Trying to find the proper materials to jury-rig to make necessary make-shift repairs to her starship to get back to her own universe and find a planet with better resources for making better repairs, Mewlexa had a chance encounter with Negaduck which quickly led to both villains' FIRST romantic entanglement. Eventually, by breaking into high-tech science labs, well-stocked auto shops and the like, Mewlexa was able to gather sufficient material to jury-rig make-shift replacement parts for all of her starship's damaged parts, though it took a year longer than planned due to her romantic involvement with Negaduck. Eventually, Mewlexa broke up with him and returned to her own universe, but not before Negaduck ended up getting her pregnant. Within five months of the break-up, Felinoa was born and Mewlexa had successfully masterminded the overthrow of her former master.

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Just as Mewlexa puts away the picture of Negaduck, she gets interrupted by the sound of somebody crashing through the door. Turning around, the super-villainess sees Gizmoduck-Mark-One and Stegmutt dashing in. "How did you two find me?" Mewlexa shouts questioningly.

"Simple; I planted a microscopic, but very powerful, tracking device on you while we were fighting, just in case you escaped." Darkwing says as he calmly strolls in after Giz-One and Stegmutt.

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Back onboard the Justice Ducks' space transport, meanwhile, Brain King and Princess Felinoa manage to complete the antidote to Empress Mewlexa's toxin with just two minutes to spare. After quickly super-charging said antidote with her magic, Morgana just sits back and watches with great tension as Brain King injects the antidote to Mewlexa's toxin into the dying Quiverwing. Within seconds, the red-and-green clad heroine, while not even close to being back up to fighting shape, IS, at least, looking healthier than she did a half-hour earlier and seems to be gradually regaining strength by the second. Within a minute, she is strong enough to survive hugs from all of the Justice Ducks present, though still barely strong enough to stand up straight. Still, they all take it as a sign that Quiverwing is going to be okay. Morgana discreetly slips away and starts to teleport herself back into Mewlexa's palace to aid her husband and the other two comrades that were left behind. Just as she is about to cast the teleportation spell, however, Morgana gets tapped on the right shoulder by Princess Felinoa, who gives her a silently look that implies she wants to go too. Morgana, understanding that Princess Felinoa is just as concerned about Gizmoduck-Mark-One as Morgana is about Darkwing Duck, silently agrees to allow Princess Felinoa to teleport with her but gives a silent look to Brain King, Quiverwing Quack and Gizmoduck-Mark-Two that tells them to stay with the space transport. Before any one of the three can say anything, though, Morgana and Felinoa are already gone in a flash of green light.

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While Darkwing Duck, Gizmoduck-Mark-One and Stegmutt are all doing battle with Empress Mewlexa, the space-villainess presses a button on a remote control device she happens to be carrying. Suddenly, Mewlexa is surrounded by a massive black glow that is making her look far more powerful than she was before. Looking at the multi-screen monitor, Darkwing sees Emperor Buggit, Queen Wireius and King Supmylo surrounded by similar glows, except that those three are looking WEAKER than before rather than stronger like Mewlexa is. Morgana and Felinoa arrive just in time to, along with Darkwing, Giz-One and Stegmutt, hear Mewlexa explain "I planted special devices on all three of my former rivals turned temporary allies. Thanks to that button I just pressed, said devices allow me to transfer THEIR life force into MY own body. Now I've got the combined powers of ALL THREE of my most major rivals mixed with the powers I already had. HAHAHAHAHAHA!".

To Be Continued