Disclaimer: For the one in a million chance Disney reads this, all characters mentioned within this fic, except Aviana, are not mine.
Again, I can't thank my reviewers enough. You guys make me feel so loved! *sniffles* Okay I'll stop.
Sleep can be a valuable thing. When you are asleep, you do not have to know how long a single night can be. You are off in your dreams, floating until the morning sun.
Negaduck turned in a slow, threatening manner. In a perilously calm voice he asked, "Come again?"
The woman looked back, equally calm, "I said, you can't do that. You can't really leave."
Negaduck's eyes narrowed. No one told him what to do.
"Oh yes I can. I'm Negaduck. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want."
The woman took a step towards him.
"Alright then, Negaduck, you can leave. But you'll be back."
The mallard advanced a step.
"Oh yeah?"
She stepped forward.
"Yeah."
He stepped forward.
"What makes you so sure?"
She stepped forward.
"Because you were thick enough to mess with that cyborg, now your life has been sworn upon the Devil's Eye, so that means your fate will be forever interlocked with the Eye!"
Negaduck stared back blankly, then quickly regained his composure. He leaned forward angrily.
"So!"
She leaned forward as well.
"So!"
Their beaks were an inch apart and their eyes locked. Electricity seemed to pass between them as two tempers met their match.
Refusing to watch World War III break out for a second time in less than twenty-four hours, Darkwing interjected.
"That's all well and good miss…um…"
"Gadwall," she stated, "Aviana Gadwall."
"Miss Gadwall," Darkwing continued, "but how do you know that? That Eye thingy is a very classified artifact being delivered to a very classified organization. I don't – "
"Oh yeah, real classified. That cyborg just blew up a dock and flew over a city, so no one's bound to notice," Aviana interrupted sarcastically, then added, "God I hate cyborgs."
Negaduck raised an eyebrow.
"Anyway, I don't think – "
"We know you don't think, Darkdung," Negaduck quipped.
"As I was saying," Darkwing said with an edge of irritation in his voice, "what gives you the authority on this Demon's Eye?"
"Devil's Eye, thank you very much," Aviana growled, "and I'm an authority because I worked with a team that studied it for years. We've been all over the world hunting it down, so I know every little detail about that 'thingy'."
"Well, if you guys are so enthralled with it, where's the rest of the Devil's Eye fan club?" Darkwing questioned haughtily.
Aviana's eyes hardened and she bared her teeth. Leaning forward so she hovered right in Darkwing's face, she seethed, "They couldn't make it."
Darkwing gulped and tugged at the neck of his shirt.
"Well, heh heh, sorry they uh, can't be with us, right now, at this moment, heh heh," Darkwing sputtered.
As his opposite withered under the duckette's glare, Negaduck grinned in spite of himself.
Putting on a brave face, Darkwing straightened and faced the duckette.
"So, what are you waiting for? Tell me about this ominous orb!"
"Fine." Aviana took a deep breath. "The Devil's Eye is a cursed object that has the ability to encase the immortal soul of any being in limbo. It is the worst possible punishment; the soul can never find salvation. The Devil's Eye itself can also bring punishment. Any vow proclaimed by the current bearer of the Devil's Eye, or any vow that has something to do with it, will come to pass – like what that cyborg said about you guys – unless the orb is destroyed."
Aviana was rewarded with blank stares. Darkwing and Negaduck quickly glanced at one another, then continued to stare at her.
Aviana rolled her eyes, "The Devil's Eye steals souls and whatever the cyborg said is gonna come true."
Darkwing thought for a moment, then questioned, "So when Taurus Bulba said…wait…what?"
Aviana opened her mouth to speak but Negaduck interjected.
"According to her stupid legend, if the damn thing isn't obliterated, then we're both gonna have a bad day! What don't you understand, idiot?!" he snapped.
Aviana eyed Negaduck in a half admiring half aggravated manner, then added, "He's right. Everyone the cyborg mentioned is involved with the Devil's Eye now. When Bulba said that you and everyone you hold dear will be destroyed, one way or another that's going to happen. And you, Negaduck, he said you were going to suffer. Unless of course, the Devil's Eye is annihilated before any of this can happen."
"Fine then. I'll just get the Hell outta here and I'll never have to deal with any of this crap ever again!" Negaduck cried.
"You can't do that! You're involved now – we all are! Don't you see, none of us can escape it! Your lives were sworn on it by the cyborg. The power of the Devil's Eye is serious. You'll see what I mean in the future. Your fate is tied in with this thing for good." Aviana declared.
"Not a problem," Darkwing replied, "this valiant vigilante will vanquish the villain and…get the Devil's Eye. Piece of cake."
"Yeah, and judging by the way you dropped the thing and the bull flew away with it, you should have no problem," Negaduck quipped.
Darkwing's face quickly became indignant.
"I trounced Taurus Bulba and had the Devil's Eye safely in my possession, but someone had to screw things up and try to take it for himself!"
"Hey, I got there first, whose fault is it that you had to pull that justice crap and baby those eggmen!"
"Well it's a good thing I did, seeing as how Bulba was going to blow your tail feathers to smithereens! I saved your life!"
"I had everything under control!"
"Yeah it sure looked like it!"
"THAT'S IT! I'M SICK OF LETTING YOU BREATHE!"
Negaduck lunged and grabbed his nemesis by the throat. Not going down without a fight, Darkwing retaliated and did the same.
Meanwhile, Aviana watched as the two mallards attempted to strangle one another. Finally, she lost her temper.
"Oh for Chrissake!"
She grabbed each one by the backs of their turtlenecks and ripped them apart. They each took a second to catch their breath, and them tried to lunge again. This time, Aviana stood between them.
"You two are the most immature ducks I've ever had the misfortune to meet! That Bulba guy doesn't have to worry about killing you guys because you'll do it for him!"
Darkwing and Negaduck shot daggers at each other from opposite sides of the duckette.
"Now listen to me, um, who are you?"
Darkwing gasped, shocked and appalled.
"I'm Darkwing Duck! I'm the terror that flaps in the night! I'm a world renowned defeater of evil, and you've never heard of me?!" he cried.
"No," Aviana said flatly, and Negaduck sniggered. "Anyway, Darkwing, I'd be willing to help you in any way possible to take down this Taurus Bulba character and retrieve the Eye."
Negaduck's impression of her suddenly took a dramatic plunge. If he had been irked by her before, he loathed her now.
"Well, your knowledge of the Devil's Eye would come in handy. I'll take that offer Miss Gadwall. Here," Darkwing retrieved a small, electronic watch from his pocket and gave it to Aviana. "take this. It's a communicator. I can contact you whenever I get any info on the whereabouts of Taurus Bulba, or vice versa."
"Sounds good to me," she replied, strapping on the watch.
Negaduck rolled his eyes.
"Well I'm glad to see that the do-good duo is getting along so swell. Now, if you would please excuse me while I go retch."
The black-masked mallard turned and walked away. Behind him Aviana called, "You'll be back!"
Negaduck stopped and clenched his fists as his blood pressure skyrocketed. He shook his head and stormed away, muttering, "We'll see about that."
Suddenly Darkwing realized he was letting Negaduck just walk away. He leapt forward to pursue him, but a large bear jumped in his path.
"Vhere is you going?" Gryzlikoff demanded.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm going after that conniving convict. You know, I saved his life, and he didn't even bother to thank me?" Darkwing said.
Gryzlikoff's eyebrows rose.
"Really?" he questioned sarcastically.
"Yeah. Some ducks…" Darkwing paused, and realization dawned on him. "Oh uh, Gryz, thanks before for your help before."
Gryzlikoff smiled slightly.
"You velcome, Darkving, now – "
"'Scuse me Gryz, I need to go after him."
Darkwing tried to get around Gryzlikoff, but the bear stepped in front of him.
"No. You is going vit me to explain to headquarters how you lost dee artifact."
"I lost it!" Darkwing raged, "Well I didn't see you exactly leaping to save it!"
"Fine! Ve both take blame, ve both go to SHUSH."
As he stood on the dock, Darkwing abruptly became aware of he bumps and bruises he had sustained in the fight with the Eggmen. His entire body throbbed with pain, and each tiny movement became a gigantic effort. The effect was intensified by the growing realization that the one person he truly loathed was back in town.
"Look Gryz, it's been a long night. I'll come to SHUSH in the morn – no, afterno…evening. Now, Miss Gadwall…"
Darkwing turned to say goodbye, but she was gone. Shaking his head, the mallard headed towards his motorcycle, the Ratcatcher. He threw off the nets, boxes, and other junk used to disquise it and hopped on. With his helmet and the ignition on, he gunned the engine, hit the gas, and sped off into the empty streets of St. Canard.
*~*~*~*
Negaduck trudged through a dark alley leading to his hideout. He groaned, feeling a serious headache on the rise. As he continued to walk, he began to wonder. If he was truly an infamous villain, why was he walking down a malodorous alley to a desecrated hideout lacking in running water and electricity? And on top of that, he had a psychotic chick preaching about all this Devil's Eye crap. Was it true? Was he really doomed to suffer?
Negaduck stopped and shook his head fiercely.
"Man, I need sleep," he mumbled.
He was overanalyzing things. There was no stupid curse, and if he was lucky he'd never have to see her again.
With that thought, Negaduck almost yelped in surprise as Aviana fell out of the shadows and landed silently before him.
"What the Hell do you want," he snapped grumpily.
"Glad to see you're in a good mood," she retorted, "I need to talk to you."
Pushing past her, Negaduck replied, "I don't fraternize with happy heroes."
Aviana blocked his path.
"Sheesh, I'd expect someone like you would spot a double-cross from a mile away. I lied, stupid. It'll be easier to get what I want with him on my side. And I need you on my side as well."
"Isn't that nice. So now I can just magically assume that you're not lying to me too."
Aviana rolled her eyes and replied sarcastically, "Oh no, I would never lie to a supervillian. It's much too scary."
Negaduck glared at her, but responded, "Well, you scored a few points in my book for double-crossing the dope, but I don't take sides with freaky, idol worshipping chicks. I should just kill you right now and be done with this."
Aviana reached forward and grabbed Negaduck by his turtleneck. Pulling him up so he was an inch from her face, she whispered, "Go ahead. What are you waiting for?"
Negaduck tried desperately to think of something sardonic to snap back, but his mind seemed wiped of all thought. Their eyes met again, and for the first time he realized that he was eye level with her. He was surprised that he had not noticed it before; very few in St. Canard were his height.
His eyes narrowed, and he asked suspiciously, "You're not from around here, are you?"
Aviana grinned slyly and released his shirt.
"No, I guess not. Where I come from, big time criminals don't hang around alleys that smell like fish."
Negaduck scowled.
"Shut up."
Still grinning, Aviana continued, "Okay, listen. I'm here for the Devil's Eye, nothing else. That cyborg is obviously powerful, and I doubt I can get it on my own. I was watching you guys before, and from what I saw, Darkwing seems like the type who would turn in a hundred bucks he found on the street to the police. Now, whether you like it or not, I was serious when I said you guys were involved. Darkwing could very well get the Devil's Eye, and I'm afraid that he'll hand it over to that 'classified organization' of his. You, on the other hand…"
"What?" Negaduck said, eyeing her skeptically.
"You seem more like the…underhanded type. And you seem to have a certain aversion to that Boy Scout as well. If you help me get the Devil's Eye, I'll leave Darkwing right where you want him. Well, that and I have an entire family inheritance I won't be using. You can have that too."
Negaduck played with the option in his head. Having Darkwing on his knees was tempting indeed, but he really didn't feel like having some whacko following him around and telling him what to do.
"Sorry. Too busy," he said shortly, and tried again to push past her.
"Doing what! Robbing banks?"
Negaduck gulped down his surprise at her lucky guess and stared at her fiercely.
"No! Of course not! I'm doing…other stuff!"
"I see," Aviana muttered, raising an eyebrow, "so what do you plan on doing when that cyborg has you at gunpoint again?'
"Look, I don't do group projects. Been there, done that, don't work. Besides, I don't know what you're on, but I refuse to believe all this 'involvement' nonsense. If luck is on my side, I'll never have to see you again!"
"It would be rewarding not to have to see you again either, but unfortunately I have to."
The two had another intense stare-off before Negaduck finally turned to walk away.
"It's been a pleasure, sweetheart…NOT!"
"See you soon Fuzzy."
With his back facing her, Negaduck glowered. Gritting his teeth, he stormed off angrily. Making sure no one was watching, he entered Billy-Bob's Fish n' Chips. He heaved his hat at the wall, not caring whether it landed on the hook or not. The mallard unbuttoned his yellow jacket and tossed it on the floor. He peeled off his mask, and laid it gently on the table, and threw himself onto his dirty mattress.
"Man she's annoying," he commented, and was out like a light.
*~*~*~*
A few miles away in a St. Canard slum, Aviana kicked opened her apartment door. She walked into her room and with a violent slam, she snarled, "Man he's annoying."
The faded wallpaper was peeling from the walls and the sound of little creatures scampering under the floorboards could be heard. A cracked mirror and a cheap vanity dwelled on one side of the room while an undersized, ratty bed sat on the other. On the opposite wall was a small window adorned with bars. The apartment was a wreck, but Aviana did not care. It was cheap and she wouldn't be here long anyway.
She kicked off her boots and pulled off her long-sleeved black chemise and replaced it with a loose-fitting t-shirt. She glanced momentarily at herself in the dirty mirror. A tired, angry face looked back at her. She ran a brush through her dark hair a few times and tossed it back on the vanity. People had always told her that she had good looks, but that did not matter to her. Hand-to-hand combat was much more interesting.
Without changing out of her black cargo pants Aviana laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She mentally prepared herself for her nightly ordeal and slowly drifted off to sleep.
*~*~*~*
The Ratcatcher hummed monotonously as Darkwing hurtled down St. Canard's vacant streets. Desperately trying to keep alert, the mallard concentrated on his bed waiting for him at home, so nice and warm and soft…
Darkwing Duck's mind had been on the verge on drifting away when he noticed that he had instinctively slowed down. His eyes narrowed and he glanced around, then he felt a twinge of guilt in his stomach when he observed where he had stopped.
He sat in front of a decently sized Victorian condo that seemed out of place in the huge city. Lightening flashed ominously above the house, giving it a striking resemblance to a haunted mansion. Darkwing felt an urge to go inside…to tell the resident that he didn't mean what he said…
Darkwing's pride got the better of him and he shook his head. Gunning the engine, he sped towards Audubon Bay Bridge.
Minutes later, after a quick stop at the Tower, Darkwing spun into his living room. In a zombie-like state he trudged through the quiet house and up the stairs. Without bothering to change out of his clothes he collapsed on his bed. Through the window he could see gentle pinks and soft yellows beginning to appear in the dawn sky. The deep blue hues slowly faded into oblivion and a sliver of sunlight peaked over the St. Canard skyline. The new day had arrived, as it always would.
With an ominous thought of what he had to tell Gosalyn tomorrow, Drake's eyes closed and he fell asleep.
*~*~*~*
Dusk was approaching in Nega-St. Canard. The setting sun illuminated the city, which itself seemed to be on the brink of making a dramatic downward spiral. The authorities were losing their validity, while in the mean time a crime wave was gaining force. Everyday was a continual petty crime spree, from grocery store hold ups to old lady muggings. Lately, however, it had been quiet. Too quiet.
Eight-year-old Drake Mallard sat high atop the oak tree in his back yard, clutching a long stick. Across from him sat a hissing, wide-eyed tabby cat that belonged to his neighbor.
"C'mon kitty…I'm not gonna do anything."
He leaned forward and poked the terrified feline, who in turn cried out and swatted the stick out of the boy's hand.
"Hey! I'm just tryin' to help you get down! Sheesh!"
Suddenly Drake heard noises from inside his house. Whipping around, he peered through the branches and watched his kitchen window. He could see familiar silhouettes moving about within. His parents were home! But that was funny, they never came home this early.
Under normal circumstances Drake should not have been in his backyard. He should, in fact, have been at St. Canard Elementary Daycare. However, if there was one place he hated more than school itself, it was the bullying, get-made-fun-of-every-stinking-day daycare. So, he simply went out the door when no one looking and, well, went home.
"Jim, no, we can't – "
"Yes we can, Kathie. We've got to. You know what happens when we don't obey the orders. Besides, this one is big. Really big."
"Listen, not tonight. Give it some time."
"It's gotta be tonight. Tad's not a patient guy, he's gonna want the hit tonight."
Drake observed his parents with a puzzled look on his face. For one thing, he hadn't the slightest idea what they were talking about, but also, he had never seen his father so emotional. He seemed stressed, nervous, but excited all at the same time. Jim was never home really. Drake's mother told him it was for "business", but when Drake questioned just what the business was, they ignored him. But more than that, he wanted to impress his father. No matter what he did, Jim never seemed to be happy with him. Drake's most desperate was to make his father – and mother – proud.
"Listen, Kathie, We're going through with it. There's no turning back now."
Kathie's sparkling brown eyes focused hard on her husband's black ones.
"Okay, if you're sure. Get the stuff and meet me in the car."
Drake's eyes lit up. They didn't know he was home! He could jump down and surprise them right now, and maybe then they'd be happy!
Drake hopped down from the tree, but paused. If they knew he was here, then they probably wouldn't leave the house. And if they didn't leave the house, then he'd never know what they were up to.
Suddenly, his face brightened as if a light bulb had suddenly been turned on. Why not just go with them? What was stopping him? It sounded exciting and dangerous, two ideas he loved.
With a quick check to make sure no one was looking, Drake tiptoed forward towards the family station wagon. He opened the back door and crawled inside on the floor, wedging himself between the front passenger seat and the back one. A few minutes later, his parents entered the car, and the two of them drove off with their stowaway son right behind them.
Negaduck's eyes snapped open and he took a sharp intake of air. Now wide-awake, he pushed himself up, and his mind reeled. He had not thought about that in a long time. It had been dormant in the back of his mind for years, why did that memory suddenly come up in his dreams now? But then again, that's all it was, a memory, right? And at least it hadn't gone any further…
Negaduck closed his eyes and shook away the unpleasant thought. Trembling slightly, he turned and looked out the broken window. The sky was a perfect baby blue, complete with a tinge of foreboding.
NOTE: As fate would have it, Northeastern United States has entered the next Ice Age, so midterms and my paper were temporarily postponed (by the way, thanks GreenLeoFiend for the support ;) ). Anyway, I still have to take midterms and write the paper, which sucks, but yeah well. I know this chapter was a little slow, but it's setting up for the rest of the story. I'll try and update as soon as possible. Thanks everyone!