Chapter 3

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The sun was starting to get low in the West as Duckworth pulled up to the Duckburg baseball fields. He was quick to open the back door to let out the other three occupants.

With his professionally blank face, Duckworth opened the door and ignored the banter that was currently going on between Scrooge McDuck and his nephew: Donald Duck.

Donald was the first one to get out of the car, since Scrooge had wisely chosen to sit in the middle with Donald and Fenton on either side of him. He was scowling and his signature temper was clearly reaching its boiling point. Scrooge hopped out behind him, a look of indifference on his face while Fenton slowly and timidly climbed out behind his paramour. The accountant was watching the other two ducks nervously.

"Donald, if I say it once, I'll say it a thousand times-I'm VERY aware Fenton is younger than me. And YES! I'm aware he's around 40 years younger than me! I know!" Scrooge said tiredly.

Fenton, who was trying not to cower behind Scrooge, spoke up, "I can be a really swell guy once you get to know me, Donald! Really! I don't care about your uncle's money! I care about Scrooge himself! Honest!"

Donald muttered darkly under his breath, the peaceful, sunny evening in the park doing nothing to lighten his mood. He crossed his arms, thankful that he was no longer carrying his duffel bag, since it had been left in the car. He turned to face his uncle. "Fine! But I still don't like it!"

Scrooge nodded sympathetically as he reached out to place his hands on Donald's shoulders. "That's all I ask. I don't expect you to understand. Now, let's just forget about who I'm datin' and focus on what really matters!" He stepped up beside Donald and gestured to the large baseball field in front of them. "Such as Huey, Dewey, and Louie's baseball game! They'll gonnae be so surprised when their uncle Donald in the stands, aye?"

The mention of his nephews seemed to do the trick in getting Donald out of his foul mood. His frown was replaced with a large grin. "Oh boy! I've missed those boys so much!"

Scrooge smiled at his nephew before guiding him over to the stands. Fenton was sure to stay on the opposite side of Scrooge. Donald was finally happy and he didn't want to be the reason for another argument.

The three of them quickly settled into some seats higher up in the stands. They wanted to be sure Huey, Dewey, and Louie would see them. The crowd surrounding them was reasonable. Parents of the other players wanting to watch as well. Though it was far from cramped on the stands.

"Blathering Blatherskite! I remember playing baseball in middle school! It was such fun!" commented Fenton as he sat down next to Scrooge.

Donald sent him a side glare on the other side of Scrooge. "Did ya ever even get to 'hit' the ball?" He said this accusingly and as an insult, though his eyes widened at Fenton's response.

The accountant chuckled. "Haha! Hit the ball? As in with a bat?" He thought about it. "Gee, no! But boy! I sure was good at being 'used' as a bat! The older kids liked to swing me around like a bat!"

Donald, having clearly failed at insulting Fenton, raised an eyebrow; perplexed.

Scrooge simply adjusted his glasses and tried to focus on the happenings on the field. There was a whistle that was blown as the coaches of the teams gathered their players and spoke to them. After a few minutes, the teams scattered; officially ready to play ball!

Donald bounced in his seat as his eyes landed on Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who were running out onto the field. Huey went to third base, while Louie and Dewey went to the out field. All three of them wore identical uniforms to match the team's logo, though each had a stripe on their left sleeve in their signature colors to help everyone figure out who was who. All three of them turned to the first batter for the other team; their gloves ready to catch the ball.

Fenton, being his usual talkative self, found himself in need of a conversation. What better way to get to know his Scroogey's nephew than to start asking him questions. "So, Donald, you have a sister?"

His eyes focused on the game, Donald replied without looking away. "Yeah, what of it?"

"Huey, Dewey, and Louie? They're her boys?"

"They're MY boys" snapped Donald instantly. "Della is no longer in the picture."

Scrooge placed a hand on Donald's knee, knowing this was not a happy subject. To Fenton, he said, "The lads are in good hands between Donald and myself, Fenton. That's all you need to know."

Fenton looked down into his lap and looked embarrassed. "Boy, sorry I asked!"

Scrooge then turned his sympathy over to Fenton as he leaned over and spoke softly. "Look, laddie, I see what yer tryin' t'do here, but pryin' into Donald's life won't make 'im like ya any faster. Donald is a very private person. He'll come t'open up t'ya on his own terms."

Fenton nodded silently. "I just...I want him to like me, Scroogey...I want him to understand I'm not just playing you for your money! He looks at me and thinks I'm some gold digger! I'm not!"

Scrooge discreetly kissed Fenton on the cheek before saying, "I know, lad. But give it some time. I mean, tarten me feathers-He just met ya not fifteen minutes ago!"

"Come on, Louie! Catch it!" shouted Donald from the other side of the Scrooge. This startled the two love birds back to reality as both billionaire and accountant turned back to the game in time to see Louie catch the ball that had been hit into left field. All three of them cheered loudly when they saw Louie catch it and throw it back to the pitcher.

The happy cries of excitement from the stands gained the attention of Huey, Dewey, and Louie as pitchers were being swapped out on the team. "That sounded like Uncle Donald!" Dewey called out to his brothers.

Huey, over on third base, nodded. "Yeah! It sure did!"

All three of them looked over at the stands and they cried out in happiness when they saw Donald bouncing in the stands; now standing, and waving his arms in excitement.

"Wackarooni! That's because it IS, Uncle Donald!" shouted Louie in surprise.

The triplets started jumping up and down as they waved back to their uncle. "UNCLE DONALD!" they shouted.

Over on the stands, Donald, Scrooge, and Fenton laughed at excited triplets.

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It was an hour and a half later when the game was finally over, the triplet's team having won by 10 points. All the parents had left the stands and everyone was now standing around talking with each other and their kids.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie were the first ones to break away after their post-game team pep talk and they instantly ran over to where Scrooge, Donald, and Fenton were standing.

"UNCLE DONALD!" they all cried out at once.

Before Donald knew it, all three of his nephews were in his arms, holding onto him tightly. Donald struggled to keep standing at the sudden weight of all three boys plowing into him. He held Dewey in his right arm and Huey in his left arm while Louie stood in front of him, hugging his midsection. The sailor didn't even care that there were covered head to toe in dirt. It didn't matter; he was finally home and with his dear nephews!

"We've missed you!" they all cried out in unison.

"Ohh, boys" gushed Donald affectionately as he held onto them. He rested his head on Huey's shoulder. "I've missed you too!"

The triplets soon released their uncle and pulled away from him. "So how long are you visiting? Couple days?" asked Huey.

"Five days, actually!" beamed Donald happily and pridefully as he puffed out his chest.

"Wackarooni! That's great!" squealed Dewey in happiness.

"And he'll be stayin' with us at the mansion, boys" Scrooge added with a wink. "So you'll have plenty a'time t'visit with him."

That only made the boys even happier.

Fenton was the only one not participating in the conversation as the boys started sharing story after story with their uncle. He stood awkwardly next to Scrooge with his hands behind his back; watching the reunion with a wan smile on his face.

He felt as though he was intruding on a private family moment, especially when Scrooge began adding little comments to the stories they were re-telling of their most recent adventures with their grand uncle.

He watched them. Three generations of family. It was quite heart warming. Fenton just wished someday he could be able to consider himself a true part of something so special. Growing up, he had only ever had his M'ma. No one else. He didn't know what it was like to have so many family members and loved ones.

His eyes turned to Scrooge, who was laughing at something one of the others had said. Scrooge was the love of his life; he made Fenton feel like he was a somebody! He had finally earned Scrooge's love; would he be able to earn a place in Scrooge's family though? Donald already had such a chip on his shoulder about Fenton. He didn't even want to think about how any other family of Scrooge;s would react about him.

Absently fiddling with his fingers, Fenton's thoughts turned back to the confession he had told Drake about his intentions of asking Scrooge to marry him. Oh, how he hoped Scrooge would say yes when he finally found the guts to! Then he would finally be a true part of Scrooge's life! Not that he wasn't already-But marriage made the whole affair sound so much more official!

The accountant looked away almost bashfully at his own thoughts. He noted that most everyone else had already left the baseball field and leaving them all by themselves.

After a small debate with himself, Fenton reached out and gently pulled on Scrooge's sleeve. Scrooge looked behind him to see his love looking at him almost shyly. "Yes, Fenton?"

Glancing at the now empty field around them, Fenton replied, "Don't you think we should be heading back home now?"

The conversation must have been over, because Donald heard his words and glared at the accountant. "Don't you mean 'we' should be heading home!?" he snapped. His eyes landed on Scrooge. "He's not coming with us is he uncle Scrooge?"

Scrooge looked slightly offended. "Aye, and why wouldn't he come with us?"

"Yeah! Fenton's over at the mansion all the time! He practically lives there with us!" chipped in Louie with a big smile on his face. The boys clearly didn't realize their uncle's dislike for the accountant.

Feeling the need to defend himself, Fenton added in, "I AM dating Scrooge after all! Isn't that normal? For couples to spend time together?"

"Whatever, ya great palooka" grumbled Donald. He turned away and focused his attention back to his nephews.

Fenton opened his beak to say something, but Scrooge stopped him with a gentle wave of his hand. "Quiet now, laddie. I told ya. This will take time" he whispered.

"Don't you like Fenton, Uncle Donald?" one of the triplets asked.

"No" was Donald's blunt reply, his voice telling them he clearly didn't want to talk about Fenton.

"Aww!" sighed Huey. "He's actually pretty great, Uncle Donald! He plays with us all the time and helps us practice baseball and even helps us with our math homework! He's really good at numbers!"

Donald only seemed to get more upset at Huey's words. There was a coil of jealousy twisting in Donald's stomach as he pictured Fenton playing with his boys; spending more time with them than he has in a long time. "Next you'll tell me he's good friends with my girlfriend, Daisy!"

Fenton pressed his lips together in a straight line and looked up at the blue sky. Well, he and Daisy certainly weren't enemies, especially after she helped Fenton and Scrooge out with the media shortly after the world found out they were dating. She had supported them immediately and helped shed a new positive light to the world about their relationship.

As the six of them headed back to where Duckworth had parked the car, Fenton sighed. He supposed he couldn't really blame Donald for not liking him all that much straight off the bat. The accountant certainly was invading a lot of Donald's life after all by getting so close to his family!

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"Are you ever gonna put me down?" groused Gosalyn.

"Probably not" teased Drake.

The three of them were currently following Launchpad through the park and back to his little house. Gosalyn grumbled and she shifted in Drake's arms. She was about to be a teenager! She was not supposed to be carried around by her dad like a little toddler!

"I will admit though" spoke her dad as though reading her thoughts. "You are rather heavy." He panted slightly, feeling his arms start to tire.

Gosalyn's eyes narrowed. "Watch it!"

Drake only laughed at her anger.

"Boy" sighed Launchpad as he walked beside them. His eyes had a distant look in them and there was a dopey smile on his face. "I never thought I'd hear that sound again." Drake and Gosalyn looked up at his quizzically. Seeing their confused looks, the pilot blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Your laugh, I meant, DW! I haven't heard ya laugh in what seems like ages! It's good to hear it again!"

Drake found himself blushing as well as he awkwardly, "Oh, I see..."

Gosalyn looked between the two of them before prying herself out of Drake's arms and placing herself on the ground before them; making both adults stop in their tracks. "Okay, hold the phone! Before we get any further I need to know what all has happened between you two!"

Both hero and sidekick were now blushing. "Happened?" squeaked Drake. "Nothing happened, sweetie!"

Gosalyn narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Look, that Magica lady told me some of what has happened and she said that you Launchpad-" She pointed an accusing finger at the pilot. "Have been harboring feelings for my dad! Is this true!?"

Suddenly placed on the spot, Launchpad didn't know how to respond. "Uh, well, gee, Gos, I don't know! This is all sorta new to me too, to be honest! I didn't really realize I had...err...feelings...for yer dad-uh, DW...Till just last week. It was the night you-didn't die...I guess..."

Drake rolled his eyes.

"Well, I can't say the night she DID die, cause she didn't! We know that now!" defended Launchpad.

Despite himself, Drake snorted in laughter. "Yeah, I suppose so. But yeah, Launchpad told me about his feelings-or rather-I guessed he had feelings and was proven right while I was under the effects of the potion. And...I brushed him off. Twice. And then after I got my emotions back...well..." He looked up at Launchpad as if for support. "Well...we haven't really talked much about it."

"What about Morgana though, dad? I thought you two were still dating?" was Gosalyn's next question.

Drake made a face filled with shame. "Yeah. About that. I pretty much dumped her on the spot after you-After we THOUGHT you died."

"What? Why?"

Drake looked away, but Launchpad spoke up. "Ya see, Gos. After you fell, Morgana was still busy trying to get her magic to start working again. Your dad here rushed over to catch you before you fell, but didn't get there in time. Well, Morgana, in her rush to get her magic working, conjured up a lit candle and threw it over the edge and down where you were without thinking. And since you were literally sitting on a pile of explosives, it was only natural for us to think Morgana was the cause of you...dying."

Gosalyn turned to Drake for confirmation. "So...You thought Morgana had killed me?"

Drake nodded. "Yeah...We didn't know Magica had saved you at the last minute. The explosion still went off with you there and-Let's just say it was hard for me to even so much as look at Morgana, let alone date her."

Gosalyn sighed and moved in so that she could hug her father. She pulled herself close, resting the side of her face against his chest. Drake accepted her hug with open arms, resting his chin on her head. "I can see how that would be hard."

Drake nodded. "Very hard. And...I think I hurt Morgana in the process. She didn't show it, but I know she feels guilty about everything and I think she feels I blame her for what happened."

Gosalyn pulled back and looked up at him. "Do you?"

Drake shook his head. "No. Not really. She certainly didn't help but...It was bound to happen sooner or later. We're crime fighters, Gos. We live dangerous lives and what's worse, I LET you live such a dangerous life. Because of that, I'm not a good father, Gosalyn."

Drake was suddenly being pounded in the chest by Gosalyn's fists. He backed up in shock. "You stop talking about my dad like that!" she shouted. She stopped pounding on his chest and stepped back to glare up at Drake. "You are NOT a bad father! You're the best dad a kid could ask for! Sure, you're a little pretentious and a little self-centered and you can't remember to pack my school lunch to save your life, but you're loving and caring and you always put my needs first!"

Drake smiled. "Thanks, Gos. That means a lot to me."

"So! We'll have to call Morgana and let her know that I'm okay!" concluded Gosalyn as she turned and the three of them continued walking. "And I'll be grilling you later for more information! Not just ANYONE is allowed to date my dad, after all!" She shot this last bit as Launchpad who pulled nervously at his collar.

"Right, um...Gos...You'll first want to call Honker..." mentioned Drake quietly.

Gosalyn stopped dead in her tracks, causing Drake to nearly collide with her. "Holy smokes! If you guys thought I was dead and Morgana thought I was dead-" She whirled back around to face her dad. "Honker thinks I'm dead too, doesn't he!?"

Drake nodded slowly and sadly. "Afraid so."

Gosalyn's mouth was hanging open in horror of the idea of her best friend thinking she was dead. "Oh! Poor Honker!" She shook her head. "Well, there's no time like the present! Come on! Let's get to Launchpad's place so I can call Honker and let him know I'm actually just fine!" She began stomping her way to the direction they were going.

Drake and Launchpad looked at each and shrugged.

Once the three of them made it to Launchpad's little shack, Gosalyn had to look at them in reassurance that they were at the right place. "Really, guys? I'm gone a week and this is what we're reduced to?" groused Gosalyn once her eyes took in the little shack that was known as their current home.

"Watch the sass, little lady" reprimanded Drake with a frown. Though that frown was instantly replaced with a large grin. He clapped his hands together and held them in front of him. "Oh! I still can't believe I have my sassy little girl back! I've MISSED your sassy remarks and trouble-making ways!"

Gosalyn's eyes widened as she watched her father warily. "You're not gonna carry me around like a baby again, are you!?"

Drake smiled down at her. "it's tempting" he goaded her.

Launchpad laughed and placed a hand on Drake's shoulder. "Gee, Gos- I guess you just don't understand. You're dad was a total mess this past week! Give the guy a break! He's finally smiling and laughing again!"

Gosalyn sobered up a bit at the pilot's comment. "I'm sorry, dad. You know I just don't like being babied."

Drake nodded. "Trust me, I am VERY aware."

Launchpad opened the front door to his little home and the three of them walked inside.

Gosalyn scanned the room and crossed her arms. "Well, its not Plaza Hotel" she deadpanned.

The large pilot behind her made a hurt sound. "Hey now! This place isn't all THAT bad! Sides, it was all I could afford! I may have worked for Mr. McDee for years, but that doesn't mean I had good pay!"

Gosalyn shrugged as she hopped up onto the little hammock. "Yeah, well, one would think being the personal pilot of the world's richest duck and carting the old stiff around all over the world would pay better!"

"Gosalyn!" reprimanded Drake. "Show some manners! That happens to be my new boss you're insulting, I'll have you know!"

Gosalyn's eyes lit up at this. She hopped up and down in the hammock, making it sway back and forth. "Keen Gear! What are you-His personal crime fighter!? His very own detective! I'll bet he's paying you lots then, cause not just anyone can employ Darkwing Duck!"

Drake stood opposite of her, leaning against Launchpad's little wooden kitchen table. "Heh heh, well, actually..." He pulled on his collar. "I'm his new Data Analyst Manager..."

The young duckling titled her head in confusion and made a face. "His Data Ana-what?"

"Data Analyst" corrected Drake. "I work at his Money Bin. Fenton Crackshell helped me get the job."

"Who's he?"

Launchpad was the one to reply as he pulled out some bowls from his cupboards and a large bag of chips. "He was there with us earlier this afternoon. He was the other guy Taurus Bulba had captured. He was-"

Gosalyn's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered the tall lanky accountant from earlier. "Wait a minute!" she hollered louder than she needed to. She stood up from the hammock and stepped up to Launchpad, causing the pilot to step back till he was pinned against the cupboards. "You mean that guy who turned into Gizmoduck?!"

Launchpad didn't even have a chance to reply before Gosalyn whirled around to face her father. "You got a job working for Mr. McDuck by GIZMODUCK?!"

Drake scowled as he realized just how true that was. He stuttered as he tried to brush it off. "Well-I-I didn't KNOW he was Gizmoduck at the time! I just found out his secret identity too, ya know!"

"This is still Mega Cool!" gushed Gosalyn. "I need to meet this Fenton guy! He must be amazing if he's Gizmoduck!"

Picturing Fenton and trying to put two and two together that he was the same person as his most hated fellow hero, he made a face. Swaying his hand back and forth in a wavy manner he said, "Meh...I wouldn't say AMAZING. I mean-Not nearly as amazing as I am!"

There was silence as Gosalyn and Launchpad just looked at Drake, who grunted in irritation.

"Anyone want some chips?" offered Launchpad.

The three of them began munching on chips; Drake and Launchpad trying to fill in Gosalyn as much as they could.

"It was that witch, Magica, you know! She was the one who gave Morgana that potion for you to drink!" spoke Gosalyn once there was a lull in the conversation.

Drake nearly dropped the bowls he was eating his chips out of as he flinched at the news. "W-What!?"

Gosalyn nodded as she dried off some spoons with a clean towel. "Yeah! That witch who showed up earlier? That was her. She wanted you to drink that potion, dad!"

Drake frowned and furrowed his brow at this new information. "But why? What have I ever done to her? I've never even met this...this Magica de Spell lady."

"I have" sighed Launchpad.

Gosalyn and Drake looked up at the pilot in question.

Seeing their perplexed looks, Launchpad began explaining as he ate the last of the chips from the bag. "I know her from back when I worked closely with Mr. McDee. Magica de Spell is an evil enchantress who is constantly trying to get Mr. McDee's Number One Dime to use for her magic."

"Wait. Number One Dime? What is that?" asked Drake as he guided Gosalyn over to sit in their little hammock.

"It's the first dime Mr. McDee ever made. The first time he ever earned money from hard work. I guess it has some special properties to it because it means so much to him. That's why Magica has always wanted it. She's not someone to be taken lightly either. She can be really scary when she wants to be" explained Launchpad.

Drake placed a hand under his chin in thought. "Hmmm...I still don't get what that has to do with me."

"I don't know, dad. But Launchpad's right! She's not to be taken lightly. She had Taurus Bulba, one of your toughest enemies, wrapped around her finger and you saw how easy it was for her to destroy him! Just think what she could do to us!" gulped Gosalyn.

Drake groaned and sat on the hammock next to Gosalyn. "Oh, boy...I'm beat. I'm too tired to worry about what some crazed enchantress wants to do with me..." He laid back, pulling Gosalyn to lay down beside him too. "You know what? I don't even care about that right now. I'm just so happy to have you back, Gosalyn." He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "My little girl blue..."

Gosalyn smiled and snuggled in closer to him. "So...what are we gonna do now?"

"Hmm?"

"What do we do now? You burned out house in St. Canard. And now you guys are living here?" asked Gosalyn, looking disdainfully around the little shack.

"Hey, this place isn't that bad!" admonished Launchpad defensively.

Drake and Gosalyn sat up to raise an eyebrow at him. "For three people? No, don't think so, LP" replied Drake sardonically. "But, it'll have to do for the time being until we can find ourselves a new home..."

The three of them were silent for a while until Gosalyn finally broke the silence. "Well, this has been great and all, but WOULD SOMEONE FIND ME A PHONE SO THAT I CAN TELL MY BEST FRIEND I'M NOT DEAD!"

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Meanwhile, in the cold metal cells of the St. Canard, buried deep within walls of concrete and being held in the high security portion of the jail, sat Negaduck.

The yellow clad villain was currently without his fedora as he sat on the thin cot that was currently being served as his bed. The angry mallard was grumbling darkly under his breath as he tenderly rubbed the deep wound on his hand where Darkwing had cut through his palm with a knife.

Negaduck snarled at the bandages that the medical team had wrapped his hand in shortly after he had been carted away to the prison. The only reason he had let them anywhere near him to do so was because the amount of blood that had been pooling out of his hand and around the bit of fabric he'd torn from his cape was quite alarming. The material had been soaked through and he had been leaving a trail of blood everywhere he went. And, though he would never admit it, the high amount of sudden blood loss had started to get to him. He had decided it was best to let the sniveling little nurses live another day and help him.

He had been given six stitches on his hand, three on the back of his hand and three on the palm of it. They had then bandaged the would up in gauze.

"Wait'll I get my hands on that Darkwing!" growled Negaduck. He groaned as he pushed just a little too hard on his hand, sending pain shooting through his hand and up his arm. He closed his eyes and grunted until the pain subsided slightly. "He's going to PAY for this! The Twerp that Falls in the Night really pushed it this time! He's out of his mind! I always knew he'd crack, but not like this!"

There was the distant sound of keys clanging together and some chortled laughter from some of the prison guards, which Negaduck ignored. He simply continued staring at his injured hand.

"What the hell pushed him over the edge so much? I mean, I get it; he lost that little brat of his. But he said something about a potion? No emotions?" Negaduck shook his head in annoyance as he spoke quietly to himself in his jail cell. "The idiot was a rambling fool! I would mind getting back to the person who GAVE him that blasted potion in the first place! I'll bet it was that broad Morgana!"

"Oh, please, Dah'ling! You insult me by such making such claim!" came a woman's voice from the darkened cell.

Upon hearing the voice, Negaduck's eyes widened as he immediately stood; his fighting instincts on full alert. "Who's there!?" he called out into the otherwise empty area. "Show yourself!"

There was a puff of grayish smoke on the other side of his prison's bars and Negaduck laid his eyes on Magica de Spell for the first time.

Magica stood there, flaunting her magical arrival. She flipped her shoulder length black hair behind her and grinned at Negaduck. "Why, Magica de Spell, at your service!"

Negaduck narrowed his eyes. "Magica de Spell? I've heard rumors about you."

"Oh? I hope they were good ones" replied Magica as she winked at him.

Amused by his sudden guest, Negaduck crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at her. "And just what do I owe for this sudden visit?"

Magica casually ran a finger along the metal bars of the cell. "Oh, just one villain helping out another..."

"How kind of you" sneered the mallard in yellow. He shifted his weight as his light smirk faded from his beak and turned to a frown. "Listen, toots, I'm not exactly in the mood for idle chatter. So unless you want to see my bad side, I suggest you start tellin' me the REAL reason you're here!"

Magica laughed. "Eh heh heh! You? Hurt me? When inside this cage of yours? Heh heh! You are funny, little mallard!"

Negaduck gave her a sickly sweet grin that would normally send shivers down anyone else's spine. "Call me 'little' again and it's your funeral!"

This only made Magica laugh more. With a wave of her hand, Negaduck suddenly found his throat close tightly as he was suddenly unable to breath. He gasped at the invisible vice that was currently around his throat. He moved his chin high as his hands grasped at his throat in a desperate attempt to pry the force away. "Ack!"

Magica's laughter died as her face turned more serious. "I suggest you stop threatening me and listen or I will make that knife to your hand feel like a tickle!"

With another wave of her hand, the force binding Negaduck's wind pipes was suddenly gone, leaving the mallard to nearly collapse as he sucked in air greedily. Panting, Negaduck rubbed at his throat as he warily watched the enchantress on the other side of the bars.

"Now that I have your full attention" began Magica as she paced back and forth in front of his cell. "I am offering you deal."

"Oh yeah?" growled Negaduck, his voice slightly deeper since his throat was still recovering. "Well you-" he paused as her words from a moment before finally clicked with him. "Hold on! How did you know about the knife incident?!"

Magica smiled coyly at him. "Hmm? Oh, you mean emotionless Darkwing grabbed knife and sliced your hand?"

Negaduck just continued to glare at her.

Magica shrugged her shoulders. "I MAY have been the one to give him the potion in first place" she explained. Seeing Negaduck's growing anger at the confession, she pressed on. "You see, having Darkwing drink potion was only one part of very long and complicated plans. He was a mere puppet I needed to use. Not my fault you went and blabbed your big beak out around the city and grabbed his attention!"

Negaduck growled. "So what was the point of it all then? Why would you want him to drink something like that?"

Magica lowered her eyelids. "Because I needed to turn someone with a pure heart dark."

Negaduck's glare eased away as his eyebrows raised. "Really? And what you would need something like that for?"

"For a very difficult and very dark potion I will be brewing. It doesn't get much darker than what I have planned, let me assure you, Dah'ling" confessed the enchantress.

"Fine, alright. What does this have to do with me?" was Negaduck's next question.

Magica shrugged and feigned innocence. "Can't an evil enchantress just want some company?"

Crossing his arms again, Negaduck tapped his foot on the cement floor. "Gonna need a bit more than that to convince me, toots."

Her patience clearly waning, Magica frowned at him. "You want out of here, no?" She gestured to the prison surrounding them.

"Hell yeah!" barked Negaduck as though she had just asked if the sky was blue.

"Then come with me. I promise if you join Magica and her plans you will get to watch Darkwing Duck suffer!"

Giving her a wicked smile, Negaduck couldn't help but admit to himself that the idea did sound promising. Certainly better than rotting in a jail cell as he waited to be carted off to a higher security prison for Super Villains. Not that he wouldn't be able to escape; its just that it was a lot of effort he never liked putting forth.

Negaduck shrugged. "Fine. But how do you plan to get me out of here? Those pigs they call guards should be coming back any minute now-"

The moment the words left his beak, the doors of the hallway opened and two security guards came strolling into the hallway that held Negaduck's cell. One of the guards was a dog while the other was a pelican; both of them on the tall and muscular side. Upon seeing Magica standing there in plain sight, both guards yelled in surprise before they got out their guns.

"Halt! Put your arms in the air and anything you say will be held against you in court!" shouted one of them out of habit.

Magica rolled her eyes and looked back at Negaduck with a bored look. "You wanna see pigs?" Negaduck just gave her an evil smirk, waiting to see what she would do. "I'll show you pigs!" She began to mutter an assortment of foreign words before twisting her hand at the guards in gesture.

There was a quick puff of smoke and Negaduck leaned against the bars to his cell so that he could get a better look at the guards who had been turned into terrified squealing pigs dressed as security guards. "HA!" he cackled in delight.

With more foreign words, Magica turned her magic on the bars containing the yellow clad mallard and after a moment, the bars were gone; freeing Negaduck in the process. Negaduck stepped out from his cell and looked at where the bars once were with interest. "I've gotta learn some magic one of these days..." he muttered mostly to himself. He then turned to Magica, who was watching him expectantly.

"Now, will you be trusting Magica and come help me with my plans, little mallard?" she asked him.

Negaduck gave her a large devilish grin as he narrowed his eyes and nodded.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Author's Note: The plot begins to thicken!