Darkwing managed to kick Dark Warrior off of him and scrambled to his feat. He started to run through the tunnel toward the entrance. He hadn't gotten far when the grenade went off, sending an explosion throughout the tunnel.

Outside, the explosion was heard all aver the Park grounds. Everybody watched as the tunnel collapsed within itself. A dead silence swept the area. People could only look on in horror. Scrooge felt numb. He swallowed hard and took off running in the direction of the tunnel. LaunchPad followed close behind. The entrance was engulfed in black smoke and airborne ash. "Oh no," said Scrooge in a weak voice "They could not have lived through that." He felt ill, suddenly, feeling that he might have done something to have prevented all this. Lowering his head, he fought back the tears that threaten to flow.

Murmuring of voices rose around him. People asking in whispers and with choked voices of what was happening. "Mr. McDuck?" Scrooge heard somebody call from behind. Scrooge looked up to see Gizmoduck approach. A small sense of relief touched Scrooge. He's actually forgotten about Gizmoduck. The armored superhero was not in any shape to be doing any rescuing at the moment. His Gizmo suit was busted up and Fenton Crackshell, who wore the suit was no doubt in less than perfect health at the moment. "Gizmoduck" Scrooge sighed wearily "I"m glad to see you safe ..and alive."

"A bit worse for wear though. I only came to a few minutes ago, he glanced around the ruins of the park and at the collapsed tunnel. Did Dark Warrior do all this?"

"Aye, the Devil. So many lives he's.."

"What's that?" Gizmoduck interrupted his boss when he saw movement from within the opening of the tunnel.

Scrooge looked to where Gizmoduck was pointing. Somebody was inside. Alive!

They watched through the billowing smoke as two figures emerge, Quiverwing and Tracker. Quickly, Scrooge and LaunchPad rushed to help them. Tracker was still leaning weakly on Quiverwing. "Here lad, let me help." Scrooge said allowing Tracker to lean on his shoulder while LaunchPad picked Quiverwing up and carried her into the fresh air.

"Where's DW?" LaunchPad asked Quiverwing.

She was still choking from the smoke and could only point back into the tunnel. "OH no." was all he could say.

Kid and Nomad help Scrooge with Tracker, sitting him down on the paved ground. Scrooge looked up to see Guardian standing back looking at the scene with no emotional reaction to the entire ordeal.

Rising to his feat Scrooge approached the duck in white "I do not understand you, lad. If you were here to protect this Darkwing Duck, then why didn't you go with him to face Dark Warrior?" As always,, Guardian displayed little emotion concerning the situation. Scrooge became agitated with him "I'm beginning to think that your nothing but a coward. A bunch of hot air with no back bone. You let this Darkwing duck go in there and fight a guy that had him out powered from the start. You don't even care that he's dead!"

"As I told you earlier, Mr. McDuck," Guardian cut him off in his usual calm nature "If anything were to happen to Darkwing Duck. Nobody in our little group would exist." He looked Scrooge squarely in the eye "Yet here we are." He gestured to the other members of the Time Posse. Kid and Nomad were looking after Tracker and Flyer was leaning against a post, battered and bruised but now conscious after his battle with Dark Warrior.

Scrooge gave Guardian's words a moment to sink in before he finally spoke "Then if what you're saying is true, in order for all of you to still be here, Darkwing Duck must still be alive!"

Guardian nodded but said nothing. Scrooge on the other hand took action. "LaunchPad, you and the boys gets some shovels and picks ...and what rope you can find. There may be hope yet. Now everybody that's able start digging!"

"Start on the east side of the tunnel ...about 80 yards from the entrance." Guardian cut in.

Scrooge scowled at him. Why should they start digging there? He started to question Guardian but then thought it best to just do as he said. There was something that Guardian hadn't told him yet, about the Time Posse, about the whole reason they were there and about himself in particular. "lets get digging then," Scrooge called to the others.

He looked at Guardian, for some reason he didn't expect him to help dig. Scrooge decided to leave this stranger to himself. "Mr. McDuck," Guardian called after Scrooge as he turned to leave. 'What is it?" Scrooge asked some what put out.

"The tunnel is artificially constructed?"

"Yes, It is part of a thrill ride."

"There are maintenance passageways throughout the caves?"

Scrooge looked at Guardian oddly "Well yes, for the repair crews to use."

Guardian looked back over his shoulder. "Those passageways lead back to the main building, don't they?"

"Yes, of coarse ...why?"

Guardian didn't answer, he just turned and headed for the main building, one of the few structures that still stood.

Scrooge watched him go hen turned to help the others start digging for Darkwing.

On the far-side of the main building, near the utility room, a wooded door slid open. Dark Warrior steps out of the maintenance passageways that he'd managed to get to before the explosion brought the tunnel crumbling down upon him. "Everything has gone wrong! But ,I Dark Warrior, will not be defeated! Darkwing Duck will..."

"Follow the path he was destine to," Somebody cut in.

Startled, Dark Warrior jumped, peering around for the owner of the voice. "Who's there?," he demanded "show yourself!"

"Behind you." called the voice.

Dark Warrior whirled around to face Guardian, now, for the first time. He had fought and defeated two members of the Posse that had chased him into this time. Still, there was something disturbing about the one he now faced off against. But Dark Warrior would not be defied. Jumping into the air, attacking with a flying web kick.

Guardian dodge the attempt spinning around and and hitting Dark Warrior it the ribs with an elbow strike, back-fist combo.

Dark Warrior staggered back but kept his balance. He thew a punch which Guardian again avoided. Guardian delivered a knife-hand strike to the back of Dark Warriors neck which sent the evil overlord tumbling across the pavement. Dark Warrior clambered to his feet and turned again to fight. He rushed Guardian again, this time,however, he pulled a knife from his cape. He lashed out at Guardian, slashing his lower right arm with the sharp blade. Guardian grabbed his arm and stumbled back. It was all the chance Dark Warrior needed. He drove a punch into Guardians stomach that brought the duck in white to his knees. Dark Warrior followed up on the attack by bring his knee up into his adversary's chest. Guardian was knocked onto his back. Dark Warrior wasn't about to take chances with this one. He lunged forward with a spear-hand strike; aiming for the throat. But his attack was stopped abruptly as Guardian managed to grab his wrist. Dark Warrior attempted to pull his knife with his free Hand. Guardian reached out and caught him by the free wrist and twisted it violently, causing Dark Warrior to drop the knife.

Dark Warrior was astounded that this stranger could be such a match for him. He actually felt his own strength draining in the struggle.

Guardian and Dark Warrior were both on their knees by now, neither willing to give in.

Dark Warrior couldn't pull his wrist free from Guardian's strong grip, then in an instant he found himself being tossed to the ground. He landed on his side. He just lay there weakened and disheartened, he had nothing left to fight with. He took one last look at Guardian and simply gave up. As Tracker had said in the tunnel "The truth is in all of us to know." And indeed he knew and at long last excepted, that his existence as Dark Warrior was never meant to be.



At the tunnel, the rescuers had been digging for 45 minutes with no luck. Tracker and Flyer had both regained enough of their strength to help dig. Quiverwing was becoming frantic as she helped pull out rubble shards of plaster and rock (the tunnel was artificially made). "Oh please dad, please be alive." She pleaded, her eyes now full of tears.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and startled in surprise. She turned to see the young woman they'd called Kid. "he'll be alright Quiverwing, just have faith." Kids said with a soft smile then walked away. Quiverwing watched her go thinking her very odd for some reason.

"I found him!" LaunchPad's voice rang out from within the deep hole the rescuers had dug into the fallen structure. Everybody gather around the whole. A couple of fire fighter reached into the hole and in a few seconds were pulling Darkwing out. Cheers went up as the crowds saw the Mask Mallard alive and conscious, though not in perfect health. He had suffered significant injuries from the explosion but he had survived. Nomad and a paramedic carefully helped Darkwing away from the scene.

"Where is Dark Warrior?" LaunchPad asked gazing back over the debris. "Perhaps we should keep looking."

"No need for that." somebody called. People turned to see a rather battered Guardian standing with a defeated Dark Warrior in tow.

Gizmoduck moved up along side Scrooge. He looked at his own damages, the fallen Amusement Park and then Darkwing "This has been a very long day."

"Aye, it has at that...," Scrooge agreed wearily.