Authors Note: Again, this fic ties in with "The Path Chosen." This is one of the alternate realities that Darkwing could have chosen. Fair warning; another Darkwing Duck / Ducktales crossover!
Hidden Dawn
Part 7
The days that followed the events at the river, I - or should I say the new Masked Mallard, as the media has dubbed me, has become quite a hero in the eyes the people.
Is there a new hero in Duckburg?
New improved Masked Mallard at large?
Look out Gizmoduck, there's a new Super Hero in town!
I am oh-so thankful that I was wearing a mask that day! Though, I have to admit, I enjoy the press coverage as long as nobody knows it's me! It's kinda fun playing a mysterious masked avenger. Though, I don't think I would ever want to make a career of it!
As a safety measure, Scrooge has insisted that I stay at the mansion with his family. There is more space for me there than at Gyros. "More breathing room until things blow over." is what he says.
I suspect what he really means is more room to hide me.
New reports have scoured the city in an attempt to find this new masked hero. They even showed up at McDuck Manor asking Scrooge if he knew anything about it.
"If a person has it in mind to dress up in leotards and a mask and run around rescuing people, he does not need my permission to do so." Was Scrooges reply.
I'm standing at the top of the stairs with the children listening to McDuck talk to the press agents that are at his door. One of them points out that this new hero calls himself the masked Mallard, the same name Scrooge had used when he played Super Hero.
His reply was "I don't recall that this new hero has identified himself by any name. The new Masked Mallard was a title the Media cooked up. Not that I mind if he does go by the name, he's welcome to it. The matter of fact, I believe there is some masked crime fighter running around St. Canard that is called, among other things, the Masked Mallard."
Crime fighter in St. Canard called the Masked Mallard? Why does that strike a chord with me? I step to a window and look out at the world that I hide from. Out there, somewhere is the answer to all my questions. Who am I? How did I get here? Is there somebody waiting for me? If so, are they out there looking for me, right now?
As I stand gazing out the window, wondering, something catches my eye. A black van is parked out beside the rode, right across the street from the mansion.
It seems out of place. It makes me uneasy for some reason. There's movement in the front seat. For an instant, I see a face looking out the window towards the mansion. I only get a glimpse, most of his face is in the shadows. But I saw something. A piece of metal, that seemed to obscure at least part of his beak. Boy, I hope those weren't his braces! My attention is drawn away from the person in the van by a loud, somewhat annoyed voice.
"It's getting close to dinner time, so I'll be bidding you all a good day!" I hear Scrooge shout as he slams the door.
He turns to look up at me from the bottom of the staircase "Considering that you only put on that suit once, Lad, I say you've made quite an impression."
"Yeah, well I'm sorry to cause you all this trouble Mr. McDuck." I say apologetically.
"No need to apologize," Scrooge assures me as I descend the stairs with the children bounding ahead of me.
Scrooge leans on his cane casually as I reach the bottom of the stairs. "I do wonder about you though."
I look at him oddly, perplexed by his remark.
"I mean about all these things you seem to be able to do. You obviously know something of the art of self defense. You showed that when you got the better of those two bullies in the park. Now with this rescue of those people under the water. It took some ingenuity on your part to come up with that makeshift oxygen tank. Not to mention, the courage you've shown."
I really don't know what to say, I just shrug.
Scrooge smiled and winks jokingly "You know, my wee nephews maybe on to something with their Secret Agent theory."
"I prefer mine. I was just some guy out fishing and I fell in." I reply with a slight smile.
"Well, we can debate theories after dinner," he paused and looked at me for few seconds before saying with heart felt sincerity. "You know Lad, what ever it is you're hiding from behind those things," he motions at my visors "I hope you know you don't have to hide it from us. We trust you. Mind you, I had suspicions about you at first, but no more." he pats me lightly on the shoulder "I hope that you will come to trust us as well." with that he turned to head into the dining room.
I stay behind, pondering his words. I step up to a small mirror hanging in the foyer. I look at it a bit apprehensive, considering the odd dreams I've had concerning mirrors. But maybe that was my subconscious mind, as I'd thought before, trying to tell me something. Something about who I really am. I move in front of the mirror and slowly remove the visors to look into the face of the person behind them. Whoever he maybe. Perhaps McDuck is right. Maybe I should trust them enough to take the visors off.
That little voice deep inside is objecting to this thought in a powerful way. But maybe it's time to stop listening to that little voice and trust somebody else for a change.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see something move past the small window near the mirror. Instincts take over, immediately. I put the visors back on and go to the window. I look out just in time to see two people dressed in ugly yellow jump-suits and helmets that remind me of eggshells go around the corner of the mansion towards the back. They are armed!
I turn to go warn McDuck and the others, when I hear heavy foots steps upstairs. I slip into the shadow and watch. Soon three guys dressed in the same suits as the two I just saw come charging creeping awkwardly down the staircase. They are also armed. These guys mean to do somebody harm. Not if I have anything to say about it!
I press against the wall next to the archway of the foyer and wait. I wait. The thugs reach the bottom of the steps and start in my direction. I hold my breath as they entre the room and walk right passed me headed for the dining room. In a heart beat, I spring into the air delivering a kick to the head of the one in the middle, knocking him out. And in a classic maneuver, slam the heads of the other two together with such force that it renders them unconscious.
I land stealthily on my feet and head quickly to the dining room to warn McDuck, but I'm too late. I hear Scrooge yelling orders to somebody to get out of his house.
I quickly and quietly slip out the nearest window and go around to a window of the dining room. I peak in.
Armed thugs, all dressed in those icky yellow jumpsuit and matching helmets have taken them hostage. The family is standing huddled together in a corner, held at gunpoint. The apparent leader of these hoods, a sharp dressed Rooster with a metal beak is sitting on the side of the dining table.
I can hear him talking. "Now, Mr. McDuck, you don't want to be playing games with me." I hear him say. "Just tell us where your guest is and we'll take him and leave." he reaches over and picks a grape from the bowl of fresh fruit sitting on the table "Then you and your family and finish your din-din, nice and peaceful like." He pops it in his mouth.
"Why do you want Bill?" Scrooge demands "He hasn't done anything to you!"
The Rooster almost chokes on the grape. "Hasn't done noth'en to us!" He screeches out. "If it weren't for that guy. F.OW.L. would rule the world by now!"
"F.OW.L?" Scrooge gasps "As in the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny!"
"Yeah you got it pop, now hand him over!"
Huey grasps his uncles arm " Then Bill really is a secret government agent!"
A government agent?" the rooster exclaims. "If he were just some dumb by-the-book stuffed-shirt, we'd done away with him long ago..." he trails off as he studies the confused looks on the faces of his hostages, realizing they really don't know who Bill is."
It takes him a moment to let it all sink in then laughs with great amusement. "Oh man this is sweet. I mean we heard that he'd lost his memory and all, but we thought it was all just a put-on to throw us off guard. After all, Darkwing Duck is famous for that kinda trickery!"
I hear all to clearly, the astonish voices of the entire household exclaim in sync "Darkwing Duck!"
"That crime fighter in St. Canard!" Mrs. Beakly asked in surprise.
I sink slowly back to the ground, stunned. So now I know who I am. I am a crime fighter called Darkwing Duck. The name means nothing to me, though. It jars no memories.
I shake off the shock and gather my thoughts. This F.O.W.L. agent it a dangerous character and he has McDuck and his family hostage.
Well, Darkwing Duck, if you are indeed a crime fighter - if you are a hero, then it's time to be one now!
To be continued...
Authors Note: Ohhhhh, you have no idea how close I came having "Bill" turn out to be Negaduck! Hey, I never made a clear connection that Bill was Darkwing in the earlier chapters (except the purple mask reference in the first chapter.) But the it wouldn't have fit into the Path Chosen storyline, so...