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, Cindy Ganderquack, Jeffery and Ashley Ruddy, Ronnie and Lisa Mallard, and whomever else I mention in the future. Time Setting: About eight (8) years after the Darkwing Duck series. Rated PG-13/TV-14 WARNING This chapter contains violence, (but didn't the last chapter have that too?), suggestive dialogue (The horror!) and slight substance consumption, AKA Alcohol.

Chapter 7

The sound of police sirens paralyzed the pending felon. A blunt sound echoed when she dropped the pistol causing the crowd to jump. Still in her possession was the teenaged boy. An eternal battle began…Should she drop him or take him with her? Taking him would be kidnapping…

"No," she silently told herself. She wouldn't let herself sink that far yet, not yet. She released the boy and began her escape.

"Quiverwing get out of here!" Honker shouted. He knew that the cops would be looking for a costumed female. He knew the cops were stupid. He was sure they would easily suspect Quiverwing. He was sure 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 the fleeting 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.

The villianess gasped out in pain.

"Oh my God!" a voice shouted.

"Did he kill her?" another shouted.

The kid trembled with the sound of all the garbled voices in the crowd. He looked up and his eyes ached as he stared wide-eyed at the women who had what appeared to be blood dribbling down her back. The muscles in his hand weaken as the pistol fell out of his hand.

"I have to get out of here," the costumed dame informed, her voice a little weak, and her face a little pale, as she ran out of the building just as the cops arrived.

"Stop her!" someone shouted. "I think she was shot!"

Officer Pincher and his partner exited their police car, and made their way into the arcade.

"Could anyone tell me what is going on? Where is the manager?" the officer asked.

The crowd shrugged their shoulders. The mystery woman with little success asked the same thing.

"How about the change person? Is there anyone we can talk to that is part of this organization?" Pincher asked.

"Sir," the teen boy called in a weak, shaking voice, "I think you should go find that masked woman…I think I might have killed her."

Another pair of police officers nodded and went after the fleeing suspect.

"I'm an assistant manager," a voiced called out.

Pincher's partner kneeled down to pick up the pistol. He bagged the item as evidence: he then nodded at both the assistant manager and Pitcher and left to talk to this person. Pincher turned his attention to the teen boy that claimed he killed the suspect.

"What did you say?" he asked the child.

"I…" the child began, shaking as breathed, "She held me hostage. She had the gun on me, but when she heard your sirens she realized me and without even thinking I grabbed her gun and shot her."

Pincher wrote down a few notes. "But if she is dead, where is she? You must have not have killed her. Did she get away?"

The boy nodded, "Yes, but she was bleeding…"

Pincher nodded, "I am Detective Doberman Pincher, and your name is?"

Honker kept one eye and ear at the conversation at foot and one eye and ear searching for Gosalyn.

The boy stalled for a second, before he answered, "My name is Devin, Devin Duck."

Gosalyn, who emerged from a corner now in her civilian dress, froze for a second. Devin Duck? True, Duck was rather a common name in these parts but…She started to wonder if Devin were related to the Ducks that she knew. In all honesty all the Ducks are related, however somewhat distantly, since all known persons with the "Duck" name are said to be descended from Pintail Duck, but the question still burned.

"And how old are you Devin?" Pincher asked.

"I'm thirteen. Am I arrested?"

Pincher shook his head. "Well, since you are underage I can't really go any further without parental constant. I'm going to need the name of your parents, and a number where I can reach them…Stay here," He ordered as he went to find his partner.

Once Pincher left, the crowd made it easy for Devin to ease his way out of the arcade before the two officers even noticed. He couldn't let himself get questioned by the police. He told them too much already. With the information he already indulged, the police department could figure out who is parents are. Within days or even hours, they could be notified of his whereabouts. No, they can not find out where he was. Not yet.

Bella took a sip of her Coors. "All righty girls. This is my party. I am supposed to sit her as a lazy drunken bum and you all are responsible for my entertainment."

Daisy, who grabbed a can of Sprite and opened it, responded. "Well, I guess we can play I Never."

"I never!? Gasp!" Loopy said drinking her bottle of Bud. "Is that the game where you say, 'I Never did so and so' and whoever did do that mentioned thing needs to take a drink?"

Cindy nodded and laughed, "Yup! That is it! Do you have something to hide?" she asked.

Loopy shook her head, "Of course not, we are all friends here. Do you think it's late enough to play 'I Never'?"

Cindy, who was sporting a bottle of Bacardi O, narrowed her eyes, "Wouldn't you think that would be worse? I mean after we are drunken up, words seem to fly."

"So who wants to begin?" Bella asked. "I never stayed up past my bedtime!"

Loopy crossed her arms. "Trying to get us drunk? We probably all did that at least 100 times!"

Bella took a sip of her beer. "You only have to do it once!" she said with a laugh.

Everyone took a drink. "That one was too easy, and you didn't do it right. You are supposed to say something you never did for the game. Hence the phrasing… 'I never'…Get it?" Daisy explained. "My turn. 'I never had sex outdoors.'"

Loopy and Bella took a drink.

Loopy eyed Bella. "You and Launchpad!?"

Bella shrugged, "I'm not telling. That's not what Daisy asked. Should I ask you who you slept with outdoors?"

Loopy opened her mouth and then closed it. "Sorry."

Bella smiled, "Okay then, I think it's your turn Loopy."

"Mmm… I never got so drunk that I threw up," Loopy asked.

Cindy took a drink. "Once when I was 15, I felt like hell, and didn't ever want to feel that way again. So now I pace myself. I guess it is my turn. I never cheated on test."

Daisy took a drink of her Sprite.

Donald put his head into the room where the boys and Webby were still playing video games.

"Are you all still playing that same video game since the last time I checked on you all hours ago?" Donald asked. He rolled his eyes. "Remember the days when you all used to play Junior Woodchucks outside?!"

Huey paused the game. "Well, no, not exactly… Earlier Doofus left to visit Launchpad and Mr. Mallard. "Remember he used to worship the ground Launchpad walked on."

Doofus' feathers turned red.

Webby laughed. "But it's true Doofus, and you know it!"

Donald shook his head. "Well, I'm going to go to bed. Are you staying much longer Webby?" Donald asked.

"What time is it Uncle Donald?" Over the years, like Scrooge, Webby came to call Donald, Uncle.

There was a clock just on the other side of the room but Donald answered anyway. "Well, not too late yet, a little after 10, so I'm not kicking you out, but don't stay too much later. I don't need your grandmother upset with me."

"I understand Uncle Donald. Louie could you boys save the game after the conclusion of this level?" Webby asked.

"Sure. We can play something else. Even though I was really meaning to beat this game before I go to college in the fall." Louie announced, almost sad that he did. He was planning to talk to Webby alone about this.

"You are leaving for college? You're not going to Duckburg Community College with Huey and Dewey?" Webby asked. "And besides school's far away, it's only June…"

Donald frowned; he saw was what was happening now, so he slipped away. "Goodnight Boys, Webby," he called before vanishing into the hallway.

"When I look at you I just don't wanna think-- Save the game, and turn it off Huey," Louie ordered.

Huey eyed Louie. "Well, if we don't wait until the next base, we'll…" But Huey cut off after he saw the look on Webby's face.

He turned off the game and turned off the Game Cube, "Hey Doofus have you seen the whole house?"

Doofus shook his head and Huey and Doofus left the room.

Louie dropped his controller and looked up Webby. She was staring into Louie's eyes questioning. "When were you going to tell me that you were leaving for school?"

Louie turned away from Webby, "After the wedding."

Webby reached out for Louie and gently guided his face back to her so she could look into his eyes.

"Please don't avoid me with your eyes," she plead, her voice soft but commanding. "So where are you going?"

"I was accepted to Calisota State University. They have an awesome Pre-med. program. I didn't tell you before because I just received a this scholarship."

Webby folded her hands. "Uncle Scrooge would probably give you some money if you needed it. I know he acts as if he wouldn't but you know he would."

Louie shook his head, "No, I needed to do this by myself. You know how much pride Scrooge has with his story of his number one dime. He started his business from money he got from shining someone's shoe. He always wanted one of us to continue that business for him. Perhaps Huey or Dewey. Though Dewey might actually decide to be a musician. Well he might do both, since the Lone Ducks have been kind of dead for a while, you know with all us going to college. But I want to be a doctor. Use these hands for something really special."

Louie looked down at his hands and remembered how last summer he did just that as Kid Quackules.

"But Calisota State is on the other side of Calisota!" Webby shouted.

It was now Louie that gently held Louie's face. "I know Web, I know. We might have to make a hard decision at the end of the summer, and I just don't want to think about that. I will be back on holidays but for the most part I will be away from you for months at a time, for the next two years. And…"

Webby kissed Louie passionately for about half a minute. Louie held her close, his hand firmly on her lower back.

"Shh…" Webby whispered, pulling back slightly, "Like I said earlier, it's only June…let's pretend September is years away.

"Okay," Louie replied. This time he merely hugged Webby kissing her on the cheek.

He didn't want to think about leaving his sixteen-year-old princess, but he also didn't want to tie her down for two years when he was away at school. He loved her, but he loved their friendship more. He blinked his eyes. He wasn't going to think about this now.

"Maybe I should bring you home," Louie suggested at last.

Webby nodded. "Yeah," she mumbled. "Yeah, I think that is a good idea."

Webby reached down and grabbed her purse on the bed and went out into the hallway. Louie turned off the light and then followed her.

When two reached the door, Webby called out to Doofus and Huey, "Good night!"

Huey and Doofus ran up to the door to wave at Webby.

"Goodnight Webby," Doofus called.

Webby smiled. "I'll call you tomorrow. Or call me. The same number…"

Doofus nodded. "And if not see you at the Wedding."

Webby nodded. "Goodnight. Goodnight Huey."

"Goodnight Webs," Huey called back.

Louie glanced at his brother with a half smile, "Be back in few minutes."

Huey nodded, and with that Louie and Webby left in the car the triplets shared. Dewey was still gone, but he apparently did not use the car.

"So, Doofus," Huey began, "How was your meeting with Drake and Launchpad?" Huey would never dare address Drake that way in person, but he felt comfortable using the informal name in informal conversation with Doofus."

"Well…" Doofus began.

The mysterious woman after running two blocks as fast as she could made use of a nearby alley to catch her breath. She looked over her shoulder to be satisfied that no one was following her.

She rolled her eyes, "Those cops are so stupid. Well, good for me."

She lifted up her costume a bit to reveal a nasty little cut.

"Owww…" she cried out. "That little brat."

"Gosh Ashley when you try to rob an arcade what the hell do you think was going to happen. Did those cops do that you?"

The masked woman paused for a moment before replying her back still to the male voice, "Ashley? What are you talking about? My name is Arachnia Ink!"

"Arachnia Ink? Is that why you are wearing an outfit that resembles Spider-Duck?" the male duck asked, laughing. His voice lowered when he saw the nasty cut. "Are you okay Ms. Ink?"

He ripped a piece of his cape and wiped a bit of the blood.

"Wait this isn't blood…well, some of it isn't. If shot I would imagine seeing more blood…what is this red ink? Wait…let me get this out of your skin…You still might need stitches."

"Hey don't touch me!" Arachnia said turning around. "The cops are going to find me…"

Arachnia stared at her companion, and gleam of recognition arrived, "Major Mind!?"

"You know of me?" Major Mind smiled. Though he was a little disappointed that Ashley…umm Arachnia Ink, didn't recognize his voice like he did hers.

"Well, yeah, you were in Brazil last year…I read…I wasn't shot by a bullet. Well, not a real bullet, it's a capsule of some sort, of my own design; it grazed my skin, cut me up pretty well. Some of the red gooey stuff is in fact blood, yet a good amount is also is a non-toxic form of red ink. I think I made it too dangerous though because when that kid shot me, hell, it really hurts! And why did this hap-- I'm not a criminal…"

"Oh and you didn't just try to hold up an arcade..."

"How did you know that?! Were you there?"

"No. Cop radio." Major Mind, also known as Dewey Duck removed his cape and made a bandage for Arachnia, grabbing it around her back just above her hip. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"Why are you helping me?!" Arachnia shouted.

"Trust me! Come on get on my bike and let's get out of here!" Major Mind demanded.

The sound of the upcoming sirens prompted Dewey to jump on his bike.

Back at home Drake was pacing back and forth. It wasn't yet 11, but Gosalyn ensured that she would be home by 10pm. Where was she? What happened? He heard on the radio that some new villain was about and there was a shooting, he was just about to don his Darkwing costume when the phone began to ring.

"Hello?!" Drake shouted.

"Umm, Dad?" Gosalyn said on the phone.

"Gosalyn! Are you all right!?" he shouted. He didn't want to ask too many questions on the phone, but he wanted a few answers immediately.

"Yeah Dad, I'm alright. I had to talk to the police about that shooting…did you hear about that shooting?"

Drake stared at the phone. "Did I hear about that shooting!?" he shouted into the phone. "Of course I did!"

Gosalyn rolled her eyes, "Shh…I'm alright. Back to what I am saying. I was at the arcade. Some wacko with a gun tried to rob the place. Some kid tried to shoot her, she took off and I had to make a statement. Everyone had to. And well, I'm heading home now so you don't have to worry. Ciao!"

Click!

"Gosalyn?!" Drake shouted into the phone but it was too late, Gosalyn hung up.

Launchpad walked into the front room with a piece of pizza in his hand. Even though Launchpad brought home Hippo Burger earlier for himself. Once Doofus showed up for his visit it was apparent that something like a pizza was more appropriate.

"So, have you figured out how Darkwing is coming to the wedding yet, DW?" Launchpad asked. He paused for a second, for he realized how funny that sounded. Yet after that second passed he took another bite of his pizza. "So, who was that one the phone?"

"Gosalyn. Someone tried to rob the arcade," Drake informed.

Launchpad put down his piece of pizza. "Oh wow! Quacker Jack?! Does she need any help?"

Drake shook his head. "No, it was someone new and she got away. Gosalyn is on the way home."

Launchpad nodded. "Oh good. Wow a new Villain! It's been a while."

"Yeah!" Drake said. "Though it sounds like we might have another wannabe super hero. Gosalyn mentioned that someone shot him, I mean her."

"Wow. Interesting!" Launchpad exclaimed. "I always admired a new mystery."

To Be Continued

Author notes and extra disclaimers: Detective Doberman Pincher, his partner, and the rest of the police officers in this chapter were created by me. Feel free to use any of the unnamed ones in fan fictions, but Pincher is mine. I, GreenLeoFiend / Stefwithaf, do not promote underage drinking, everyone one playing the game in this chapter are over 21 years of age. If you are over the age of 21, still play at your own risk. Okay then. So no flames. Pintail Duck, is a Disney character though… He established the Duck family. He was born on 1530 in England. It is as of yet unknown if he is a descedant of The Clan McDuck. He joined the English navy. Thanks again all! :-)