Ch.19: Hurricane of Chaos
"Aggh!" Donald screamed, as he fought fiercely to break out of the thick, black bars of the cage Baylock had locked himself in.
The bars didn't break, and Donald backed down with frustration, chest heaving heavily as he breathed in quick, in and out, in an attempt to calm down.
Not long after the white light had flashed, Donald found himself trapped within this hellish landscape. He was still dressed in his Duck Avenger's uniform, but the shield was gone, and the ground outside the cage was rotten, flimsily supporting two large screens. One featuring Duckburg, while the other showed where Scrooge and the nephews were currently held.
"Curse you Baylock!" spat Donald out into the dark.
No doubt the demonic duck planned to watch him suffer as he struggled helplessly to save the ones he loved, ultimately failing as he was forced to watch everything he cared for burned.
"You are not going to get the last laugh!" Donald thought determinedly towards himself "One way or another, I will get out of here, and when I do, there is going to be hell to pay."
Hopefully, everyone and everything could survive until he did.
Meanwhile, back in reality, the city of Duckburg was in chaos. Shades terrorized the streets, slashing and destroying everything with their claws, while Pahntomallard laughed, sniping at citizens from above with Donald's X-Transformer Shield.
The media was out, foolishly trying to capture the panic, while the police scrambled to restore order, although many of them trembled and ran away, valuing their own safety instead of doing battle against these shadowy, cat-like, orange-eyed beasts.
"This is crazy!" Daisy thought to herself, as Duckworth reluctantly speeded the limo directly towards town.
Fethery and Launchpad sat smooshed beside her, worry mirrored in their eyes. Webby had been left back in the mansion under the guard of Gizmoduck, who worked double duty to defend both Scrooge's property and the little girl from the shades.
"Um" said Fethery, looking at Daisy concerned " What exactly are we going to do when we get into town?"
"I've been wondering the same thing," quoted Duckworth from the front.
" I don't know" Daisy sighed " but we have to do something. I'm sick of sitting around and doing nothing while my boyfriend and family are in danger. Duckburg is under attack and needs our help. Just really wish we had a weapon or some kind."
Launchpad suddenly got a brilliant idea.
"Hey, the Thunderquack!" shouted Launchpad " I flew in on it and left it in the airport hangar while I helped Mr. McDee hunt for Donald. If we use that, then we can no doubt knock those nasty, villainous shades back to where they came."
"Sounds like a plan" said Fethery "It won't be easy making it to the airport, but we have to give a shot no matter what."
"Well you heard them Duckworth" said Daisy " To the airport! Go man go!"
With that said, Duckworth pressed down the pedal and stepped up the gas. Now that they had a strategy it was time to speed up and roar at full tilt, chaos-filled streets just beyond the rise.
"Hey!" shouted Angus, pounding desperately on the Channel 6 doors with his fists " Let me in! Why do I have to be out here? I don't get paid enough for this!"
"It's your story Angus!" shouted one of his coworkers from inside " Good luck. Try to stay alive okay,"
"Thanks a lot," said Angus in defeat, then sighed focusing his attention on the chaos ahead, regretting in his mind that he thought that this reporting thing would be a glorious career.
Uno felt little to no pity for the reporter though who had so quickly slandered the Duck Avenger's name on national TV, not to mention antagonize Scrooge's family when he had discovered Donald Duck missing as well. Angus had been a jerk and was now suffering the consequences for it.
Right now though, the AI had more important things to focus on besides sick efforts of one reporter and their flaws. Chaos consumed Duckburg, and some heartless imposter was now sniping at people using Donald's shield.
Uno was infuriated as he watched The Phantomallard laugh. He had no clue how the foul criminal had wound up with Donald's shield, but the priority now was to get it, while at the same time helping the police defend the city with the help of his robotic drones.
The shades were tough, and as Uno had observed from Donald's previous encounters, almost un-killable by using conventional means. The drones were having little luck landing a bit of ever-lasting damage, but were helpful at keeping a majority of the threat safely contained.
Thoughts were shifting to Donald again, when Uno spotted something new suddenly speeding in from the horizon. Phantomallard noticed as well as Scrooge McDuck's limo came into the scene.
"What the heck are they doing?" thought Uno, as the limo dodged and weaved its way through the shades and citizens still screaming in the streets.
Given the direction of their travel, it was obvious that the vehicle was heading for Duckburg Airport, but why? What kind of stupid pilot would be crazy enough to risk flying them out through a hurricane of chaos like this?
Phantomallard grinned, not really caring about the answer to that question. A new target had appeared, and it was Baylock's will that they should be destroyed as well. Anything to make Donald suffer was all fair and game.
Uno gasped as he witnessed Phantomallard jump and start taking off after the limo, circuits sparking with frustration as his motherboard started to heat up with steam.
If there were two things you should never mess with it was Donald Duck and his family. Uno considered himself part of the family as well, and was determined, now more than ever, to bring the Phantomallard down.
Meanwhile, back in the space where Scrooge and his nephews were trapped, Baylock laughed as he watched, floating from up above, as the Dark Duck Avenger mercilessly attacked, striking for fatal blows against Scrooge and the teens.
He could hear Donald's screams of protest as the duck fought back in his cage, but there was nothing that could be done. He could only watch helplessly as all his friends, family, and the city fall.
Scrooge McDuck though was not going to go down easy. Urging the nephews to stay back as he tried to block most of the Dark Duck Avenger's attacks with his cane, the old duck fenced fiercely against this deadly foe, using his many years of knowledge and experience against battling strong opponents to aid him in this struggle.
"I may be getting on in age" thought Scrooge " but don't underestimate my skills when my family is at stake."
Baylock frowned, while the boys watched on with amaze, cheering their Uncle Scrooge, excited but worried as the Dark Duck Avenger nearly struck two fatal shots with his shield.
Scrooge might have had some success in blocking his foe, but the playing field was still uneven. Quickly, Huey, Dewey, and Louie thought amongst themselves, discussing what they should do to help Uncle Scrooge with his fight.
They had no weapons to aid them, only themselves and their wits. It would be risky, but they had faced tough situations before, surely everything would turn out alright.
"Don't count on it boys," said Baylock, appearing briefly right beside the three ducks.
"Wah!" the nephews cried, distracting Scrooge from his fight. Taking advantage of this distraction, the Dark Duck Avenger thrust out his shield, stabbing Scrooge, and knocking the older duck out like a light.
"No!" Louie cried, watching his uncle go down.
"Yes," said Baylock, hovering in the air again "Let the hopelessness sink in to the darkness around you, a darkness of your own design. Now my pawn, finish what must be done. Erase away all of your anger and pain. Dispose of them, like they would you if you didn't give in to their precious demand."
With that said, Baylock let the mask of the Duck Avenger crack, revealing his true identity to the nephews who stood in shock and stared.
"No way," said Dewey.
"It can't be," said Huey.
"Uncle Donald," said Louie, the truth surprisingly easy for him to believe.
It might be another trick, but some instinct in Louie's mind was telling him it was not. Flashes of some more of Donald's odd behaviors seemed to solidify this as fact. Their uncle had a whole other secret life that he kept from them, stories they never knew.
However, realizing all of this in this moment didn't change the fact that danger was approaching them now.
Water began flooding the area, changing the terrain as the Dark Duck Avenger stepped, with the fiery shadow of Baylock floating, smiling wickedly by his side.
"The waterfall!" thought Louie. This was how the demon intended for them to die.
To feel the panic and pain their Uncle Donald had felt on this day, hopelessly struggling, and feeling unloved even after he was 'rescued' by his nephews, whom he cared for with all his heart.
Guilt radiated through all three nephews, and simultaneously they wished it to be over quick as they shouted out loud to Uncle Donald that they truly were sorry, and they truly all loved him with all of their hearts.
This may be final chance to give an answer to the question that was deserved, and as the Dark Duck Avenger raised his hand up to the deliver the killing strike, a golden light suddenly flashed up, shielding all the three nephews, blinding them with comforting light.
As the glow faded, a demonic growl slipped from Baylock's lips as the silent figure of Donald Duck grinned wickedly in return.
"Times up Baylock," said Donald, and with that said, the real Duck Avenger stepped in to fight.