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, The Ruddys : James, Jeffery, Suellen, and Ashley / 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 23


30 seconds Earlier…

The sound of the gun caused Lisa's bedroom to shake.

"What was that Mommy?" Melanie asked.

Lisa hid behind her brother.

"It sounded like a gun," Ronnie answered.

"That is what I was afraid of," Bella whispered, knowing it was not worth lying to the children. They were young but not stupid.

"Melanie, I'll put you in charge. Keep an eye on Ronnie and Lisa."

"No…I'm the man," Ronnie insisted, his arms crossed.

Bella smiled patted Ronnie on the shoulder. "You can help Melanie."

She ran down the stairs, her eyes wide, she had to support herself on railing of the stairs as she witnessed her son, Huey's (Speed Prince, technically, but the concerned mother in Bella was overlooking that fact at present) bloody form.

She stared at Darkwing, hate in her eyes.

Darkwing's heart skipped a beat as he remembered his own terror only moments before when he thought it was his own daughter that was shot. So, he couldn't blame Bella for being upset.

Kid Quackules ran to his mother and held her hand. "Mrs. Widgeon…"

"What's going on here?" she cried, trying her best not to weaken the secret of her sons' secret identities.

"Mrs. Widgeon…" Kid Quackules repeated.

The address sounded foreign to Bella coming out of her son Louie's mouth, and also since she was only minutes away, she hoped anyway, from forever abandoning Mrs. Widgeon for Mrs. McQuack.

"The blood," she whispered.

"It isn't blood, Ma...I mean, Mrs. Widgeon," Major Mind revealed once again, this time for his mother.

Bella looked desperately to the unmasked female to Dewey's left and then to the police officer at the front door.

"Huh?" she asked, as anything more comprehensive was denied access to her throat.

She felt the present of a gentle hand on her shoulder that would have been a welcome presence if it did not startle her so. She jumped only to be relieved to see Launchpad's smiling face. Was it bad luck to see him? – Tough. She cringed to believe things could get worse, and either way, knew she wanted and needed Launchpad's gentle touch protecting her from further harm to her psyche.

She burrowed into his arms, allowing his strength to sooth her.

"What is going on here?" Detective Pincher repeated. His stern expression focused on the unmasked Arachnia.

Ashley took a deep breath, before she answered. Dewey, he too, was next to her, and she tried her best to remember he would be there if she fell. Hell, she was even sure Tank would help her and at the very least Jeffery would stand by her. Or would he? Would her foolish evil ways forever hinder her relationship with one of the few people she really trusted? And then it hit her, she didn't trust him. She kept him in the dark about everything that was bothering her. She told herself it was to protect him from her past. But that was a weak excuse. She felt she had to be alone in her battle. A battle for a truth, that almost got Dewey's brother killed, and successfully repeatedly interrupted what was to be the best day in his mother's life.

"My name is Ashley Ryan Ruddy. My persona is Arachnia Ink, who, like my mother…" Ashley paused to direct the crowd to the now captured Splatter Phoenix, courtesy of a team effort from present members of the Justice Ducks. "For one reason or another, felt separate from this plan of existence… She used paint. I used ink. And we created our own plan of existence. I made mistakes. I will make more."

Detective Pincher stepped closer to Arachnia, and with a gloved hand, picked up the discarded gun.

"Did you shoot this man with this gun?" he asked.

"No, but it is my ink gun. It dropped, and fired. The ink capsule exploded, I don't know if it touched him or not…"

Quiverwing, finally found the courage to check for wounds, terrified too, for the results when she felt reassurance grasping her shaking hand.

"Quiv…I'm fine," Huey... or rather Speed Prince, as Quiverwing had to mentally remind herself at present... said as he handed her the burst ink capsule, which only slightly grazed his skin.

Without thinking, Quiverwing helped him up, and then proceeded to embrace him without inhabitation in front of all the invited and uninvited guests.

With Darkwing and Gizmoduck's assistance, the police officers rounded up and cuffed Negaduck, Splatter, and their gang.

"What the hell happened?" shouted a disorientated Negaduck, as he was led out of the building.

"You have the right to be silent, everything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law" a police officer named Webbington said. "We have been looking forward for this moment for years, number 2."

Negaduck growled in frustration. "I team up with Splatter Phoenix and I am still number 2! This is not over. No prison can keep Negaduck locked up for long!"

The officers (as well as both Darkwing and Gizmoduck, who were both within earshot) sighed in frustration as they knew how unfortunately true that was. Even the super-maximum-security prison for super-villains hasn't proven up to the task

Splatter Phoenix smirked. "Like the phoenix that rose from the ashes…" she whispered to her daughter.

Ashley closed her eyes tightly, only to open them after Dewey telepathically told her mother was taken away.

"Am I to be arrested too?" she asked Pincher in a steady voice.

First glancing at his brother, Speed Prince testified that it was really Splatter that aimed the ink gun at Quiverwing. Yet Quiverwing, still hot to the touch, couldn't help to reveal that it was she that robbed the arcade days before.

"I figured as much. A young man told me that he killed you," Pincher shared, somehow amused.

Devin…"I cannot deny that. I have the scars to prove it," she glanced to Major Mind and tried to smile.

She offered her wrists to Pincher. "I'm ready."

Pincher cuffed Ashley. Sadly, he added, "You have the right to be silent, everything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Ashley nodded, and then she was led outside.

"Sorry for interrupting your wedding, miss," another police officer stated.

Bella nervously nodded, "What could you do?" she whispered as acceptance of the apology

"Are you ready to call it quits?" Launchpad whispered in her ear.

It was in a jokily tone, yet her answer kept him captive every second she paused to answer.

"Nah…" Bella shook her head, which she found was not only part of her body that was shaking. "I just need to powder my beak…five minutes."

Launchpad laughed. "Okay…Love you."

"Love you too."

To Be Continued