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 an 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 / Arachnia Ink, Ronnie Mallard, Lisa Mallard, Detective Doberman Pincher, Devin Duck, and whomever else I mention in the future. Time Setting: About eight (8) years after the Darkwing Duck series.

WARNING

This story is rated PG-13 and/or TV-14-LSDV, which means it may or may not (chapters may vary, some will be possibly PG rated only or a less severe TV-14) include references or incidents of mild/moderate language, sexual content and/or themes, mild or moderate violence, and possible other adult themes. Not a porno, or even R-rated, but be advised and please no flames.

Chapter 22

Chapter Notes:

Less than a month, not too bad, right? Stuff like research papers slowed this down, but better than three months, right? So, I did keep my promise, lol. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

"Who are you!" Darkwing demanded.

Quiverwing emerged from behind her father. "That's Arachnia Ink!"

"You met up with her before?"

Quiverwing nodded, "Oh, yeah. We met."

"Ah yes," Darkwing stated. "Of course, you are the new wannabe villainess that almost got my…a bunch of fine citizens shot up."

Arachnia flashed an uneasy smile at Quiverwing that made both Major Mind and Darkwing uneasy. The Speed Prince raced over to stand next to his love, and glared at his brother.

"Wannabe villainess eh?" Arachnia ventured.

Major Mind placed a hand on her shoulder but she gently pushed him away.

"I suppose I am just a sheep following my shepherd mother's footsteps," Arachnia cryptically answered. "Yet, I also felt a little abandoned. I never had much family. It was just me and my mom, and well, my adventurous Aunt Scarlet that never seemed to have much time for me. But then they both died, or so I thought. And in this crazy environment it kind of makes sense. When you left mother to learn your craft, and my special ability's were trendier than your own. You felt it was in the right to just forget me all together. So after Aunt Careen died, I went to live with my father. And I met the best friend that I could ever have while I worked at the bar. See he had a story that wasn't much different than my own. His mother left him at a young age. She was practically dead to him, and his father well, he was even more non-existent. He, like me, was left to be raised by an aunt or uncle. And it was a good life. But then the world crumbles and you find out that your bitch of a mother was actually out living it up with a rich drake and just allowed her only daughter to grieve her life. It's not fair."

Splatter rolled her eyes. "Do you think it is fair to waste brilliant talent on something as drab as comics? You had potential Ashley."

A collective gasp shook the room.

Arachnia pulled off her mask. Her braided brown hair fell from the make-shift bun and rested against her now exposed ash brown feathers.

"Hello."

Huey glared at Ashley. "You!"

"Yeah me," Ashley weakly replied.

Between fighting off two paint monsters, Kid Quackules took a moment to observe the advancing events. Ashley Ruddy was Arachnia Ink, and she was the one at the arcade and the one that threaten Quiverwing, and apparently Major Mind knew more than what he was telling. What was wrong with him? How could he choose a villain over his family? Was he that much in love with her? Wow…and he was freaking out about leaving Webby for a few months.

"What do you want?" Darkwing demanded.

"A place…"

Tank Muddlefoot was ease dropping from the kitchen. His mother called the cops, and he knew they were going to be arriving soon.

"I used to date a villain's daughter?" he quipped amused. "Wait until the boys hear this."

"The boys are not going to hear anything. I knew that girl was bad news Tank, and now you will never see her again!" Herb added.

Binkie nodded and snuggled next to her husband, "This is surely not a good location for weddings. I surely hope when Gosalyn finds herself a husband, they get married in an old fashion church."

Herb agreed. "This place is cursed ever since Drake and Morgana's wedding."

"Question is mother, what do you want with me? Why after all this time?" Ashley demanded. "And what are you doing with him?"

Splatter turned and saw that her partner in crime was still unconscious as the result of Morgana's spells.

She grinned. "My business, my dear. However, I shall share just a minuscule--Ever wonder how the Fearsome Five ever got out of Brazil? Especially after they greatly reinforced the guards?"

Before anyone could answer, Splatter answered. "It was I. I made him an offer that he could not refuse."

"But why the outsiders? Why not use the Fearsome Five?" Darkwing asked.

Splatter rolled her eyes, "They are dreadful irksome fools: that is the reason why." She walked to Ashley and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ashley fought not to tremble under her touch.

"Now, for what I came for." Splatter grabbed Ashley's hand, and urged her to come with her. "Come with me, child."

Ashley pulled away. "I'm not a child anymore. You had your chance."

Splatter looked at Ashley like she was crazy. "Then why the Arachnia persona then if it wasn't for my favor?"

"It was for your justice! But mother you are not dead! And I don't know what is worse. Am I even James Ruddy's daughter?"

"Of course you are, you are a mirror image of him..." Splatter spewed. She clenched her fists in anger as she attempted to drive away the pangs of self pitty caused by her own abandonment.

Suddenly the sound of sirens approached the house. "You called the cops?" she growled. "You ungrateful…"

Ashley shook her head desperately. "No, I never left this room. You know that…Why would I anyway?"

Darkwing sighed. "Who called the cops? We were handling it!" he complained.

One look at the paint monster invaded room would challenge that opinion.

"Well then since, I have nothing to lose…" Splatter reached out in her bag of tricks and pulled out what appeared to be a gun.

"A gun!" "What?" cried distant voices in the next room.

Splatter still had a firm grip on her frighten daughter's wrist as she continued. "Nice gun Ashley, I have to say I actually like it."

Ashley stared at her mother; somehow she snatched the ink gun without her knowledge. "What do you plan to do with that Mother?"

"Revenge…"

She aimed the gun at Quiverwing.

Darkwing didn't waste any time, he fired his gas gun at Splatter, the popgun feature successfully knocking the gun out of her hand.

It bounced off the floor and fired.

"Darkwing!" Quiverwing shouted.

Grasping to breath Darkwing turned toward the direction of his daughter.

"What did I do…" mumbled under his breath. "G…Quiverwing?"

"I'm fine Darkwing…" she said weakly.

She tried to sit up staring at the blood on her feathered hands.

Ashley stared at Quiverwing and realized it wasn't her blood she was covered in.

She pulled away from her mother's grasp and read toward Quiverwing but a firm arm restrained her.

"Speed Prince!" Kid Quackules shouted and he ran to his brother.

"Are you all right? Quiverwing, is he all right?"

Quiverwing looked up at Kid Quackules but could not speak. She had a frighten look on her face and could barely breathe. He didn't think Quackules; he just pushed me out of the way and took the bullet for me. Quackules…"

Quiverwing, in attempt to lure the tears away, turned to anger instead.

Major Mind wanted to check on his brother, but Quiverwing wouldn't allow Dewey to even one step closer to Huey while he had Arachnia in his grasp.

Quackules checked on Huey, while Major Mind sighed in realization, he could use his helmet to communicate with his brother.

"Quiv, he is okay," he said with great relief. "I think the impact just knocked him out. I don't think he is shot at all."

Quiverwing started to laugh in near hysteric form. "Then what is all this blood?"

"It's ink," Major Mind revealed.

"Ink?" Kid Quackules rhetorically asked in astonishment. "How do you know all this?"

Quiverwing stood up, now satisfied that she could safely leave Speed Prince's side. Kid Quackules momentarily took Quiverwing's place for good measure.

"Good question. What the heck going on here?" Quiverwing demanded.

Bella ran down the stairs, just as Officer Pincher and his crew stormed into the room.

Glancing over to the unmasked Arachnia, he added, "I think we all want the answer to that question."

To Be Continued

Author Note:

Notice parallelism between this chapter and a previous chapter of Braced Company? Note the parallelism of this book from the first? Good. I am planning to write a quick Halloween themed insert next, but don't worry, chapter 23 will be coming very soon. Please tell me what you think because the heart loves attention, as does my writing inspirations. Thanks again.