Braced Company

A Disney Duck Fanfic:

Instead of being purely based on one entity, this story takes background from Classic Donald Duck cartoons, Ducktales, and Darkwing Duck.

Contains Major Spoilers to Double Triangle Trouble

Written By

Stef with a F

Disclaimers: Disney owns most of these characters. Dumbella's past as Bella Widgeon is mine, as are the characters of Melanie Widgeon, Gregory Widegon, Cindy Ganderquack, Jeffery and Ashley Ruddy, Ronnie and Lisa Mallard, this mysterious figure, and whomever else I mention in the future. Time Setting: About eight (8) years after the Darkwing Duck series, mid June. Rated PG-13/TV-14

Chapter 6

"Come on it Doofus!" Launchpad called, inviting his long lost friend in. "How long as it been? Years! You were just a boy back then and now, you are all grown up. How are you now? 19? 20?"

Doofus walked in. "Thanks. Yes it has been a long time. I'm good. I'm 19 now. I heard that you are getting married and I didn't get invited!"

Launchpad frowned. "I didn't know where you were, my old sidekick!"

Drake entered the room. "Hello? Did you say 'sidekick'?"

Launchpad pulled Drake over to Doofus. "Drake please meet a good friend of mine. This is my old buddy Doofus. Doofus this is my roommate and best friend Drake Mallard."

Doofus extended his arm and shook Drake's arm.

"Nice to meet you. When I was a kid. Launchpad was my idol and I was determined to become his sidekick one day."

Launchpad stood proudly, with the formation of a huge grin on his face. He glanced slightly in Drake's direction, as if he was goading him to make some sort of reply.

"Yeah," Doofus said again. "Launchpad was my very own super hero when I was a kid. Much cooler than even GizmoDuck."

Drake smiled sweetly at Doofus. "I see." Drake tried his best not to show his frustration in front of a good friend of Launchpad. Though, the fact that he wasn't a Gizmo Buddy was an encouraging sign.

"Oh yeah!" Doofus continued. "Launchpad is the greatest."

Launchpad folded his arms. He surely wasn't getting enough of this fantastic praise. He loved his friend Drake of course, but it was always nice to see his friend knocked down a few pegs for good measure.

"You know word on the street was…in Duckburg that is. Well, I never believed it, but there once was a rumor that Launchpad was actually GizmoDuck. All the reporters even believed it. Especially that one time Launchpad had on GizmoDuck's suit. That convinced a lot of people."

Drake stared at Launchpad. Why did he never know this?!

At the same time Drake was staring at Launchpad, Doofus spitted out, "Well, not that GizmoDuck is that bad…but still."

Doofus, now noticing Drake silently questioning Launchpad, blushed. "Did I let the cat out of the bag? Your roommate is just one amazing guy."

Drake nodded. "Apparently even more amazing than I already know. Nice to meet you too Doofus," Drake said at last extending his hand.

Doofus accepted Drake's hand and shook it.

"I can't say I was surprised when I first found out that Launchpad came to be teamed up with the Masked Mallard himself, Darkwing Duck. He is so cool," Doofus stated.

Now it was Drake that glanced at Launchpad.

Not, as cool as you of course, Launchpad," Doofus added.

Launchpad lifted his head proudly.

Drake scowled under his breath.

"There was once another Masked Mallard in Duckburg…though it was not really copyright infringement because well, the well the St. Carnardian version is Darkwing Duck," Doofus noted.

"There was another Masked Mallard?!?!" Drake shouted.

Doofus laughed. "Yeah, but it was only Scrooge McDuck."

"What?!" Launchpad and Drake shouted this time in unison.

"Oops!" Doofus said covering his mouth ashamed. "I shouldn't have told you that. Sometimes I am such a dork."

Drake bit his tongue. That wasn't the word he was thinking of. But overall, Doofus seemed like a nice kid.

"So," Doofus asked at last, directing the question to Launchpad, "Is he going to the wedding?"

"Who?"

"Darkwing. I mean you are his sidekick."

Drake went wide-eyed.

"Um…Of course he is!" Launchpad answered. "Of course. I'm his sidekick! Heh."

The mysterious figure, held the young teen's arm, tightly, tightly enough that the teen could not get away, yet the pistol in her arm served a similar purpose.

"I want to speak to the owner damn it!" the female figure shouted.

Honker moved closer to several of the spectators, acting as a fence for Gosalyn to seek Quiverwing.

"How old are you?" the figure whispered to her hostage.

The boy looked up at his captor, "I'm thirteen, and don't think I'm not old enough to fight you. And I don't care if you are girl. I mean…you have that gun so you are apparently not a lady!"

"Nice," she said. "If I could just get a manager or something…"

Pitiful laughter filled in the room.

"Missy, the only thing you are going to accomplish is a trip to the police station. I'm Quiverwing Quack, and you are?"

The villainess cracked a smile. "Yeah, I know who you are, you were there when my mother died."

Quiverwing stared at the vixen wide-eyed, she still didn't answer her question, but now her interest was piqued. "Do I know you?"

The wicked dame shook her head, "I think not, but you shall."

Quiverwing rolled her eyes.

"Listen lady, I have dealt with baddies so evil, so demented that they will give you nightmares. I can totally tell that you are a newbie. So why don't you drop that gun before…"

"Before what?!" the women demanded.

The sound of police sirens paralyzed the pending felon. She dropped her pistol immediately, causing the crowd to jump. She still had the teenaged boy in her possession, should she drop him or take him with her. Taking him would be kidnapping… No she didn't want to go that far, just not yet.

She let go of the kid and ran toward the door.

"Quiverwing get out of here!" shouted a voice, Honker's voice. He was correctly assuming that the cops would be looking for a costumed female. Knowing the intelligence of the cops around here, it was not too much to suspect that Quiverwing could be falsely accused.

Quiverwing nodded and soon disappeared in the chaos of the room.

The teen boy, now free, reached out for the gun on the floor and aimed it at fleeing fiend.

"Drop it you idiot!" someone shouted in the distance.

Yet the boy did not listen as he pulled the trigger, causing the room to drop to floor.

Elsewhere, Bella and Morgana were tucking in Melanie and Lisa into their sleeping bags.

"Will you two girls be good so your moms can hang out at the campfire and do grown up stuff?" Bella asked her daughter and her friend. "I got you two a couple of flashlights and you have your tote bag of books. But don't stay up too late,"

"No problem, Mommy," Melanie said.

Lisa yawned. "I wonder if Daddy, Gosalyn, Ronnie, and Launchpad are having fun back at home?" the child asked.

Morgana smiled. "Well, probably the usual," Morgana answered. She truly hoped that her husband, stepdaughter, and soon departing houseguest didn't get into too much trouble when she was gone. She was almost glad Ronnie was spending the night with her father. She felt it was only fair since she regretfully had to tell her son that the campout was a woman only outing. Gosalyn was also to come, but not surprisingly she opted to stay in St. Canard so she would only be a few miles from her boyfriend Huey. Morgana laughed at herself, to be a teenager again…

Morgana kissed her daughter on the forehead and left the tent. Bella too kissed her daughter but on her cheek and, she too left the tent.

The two friends started to make their way to the campfire when Bella noticed Daisy staring at moon in the distance. It wasn't that dark yet, as the sunset only minutes before, this mid June evening.

Morgana flashed Bella a questioning glance. Bella nodded and Morgana made her way to the campfire where Cindy and Loopy were sitting, as Bella met up with Daisy.

She placed an arm around Daisy's shoulder.

"Do you want to go home tomorrow?" Bella whispered. "Loopy will probably fly you home on her chopper? I am betting she wouldn't mind. I can ask?"

Daisy sighed.

"Yeah, that might be a good idea."

Bella made a half smile.

"I don't mind, honest. You have to be with Donald right now."

Daisy nodded.

"Come, we are going to play some campfire games…" Bella invited, offering her right elbow.

To Be Continued

Author Note: References to Launchpad wearing the Gizmoduck costume, and the Masked Mallard, AKA Scrooge McDuck are references from the show Ducktales. Thanks again for all your replies and reviews.