Quiverwing Duck Continued: The Quiverwing Quack

Part Four

"You're going to find yourself outmatched, Q. I mean, you're talking about taking on the guy that's taught you everything you know."
Quiver turned from the door and faced the corridor.
"I'm not stupid, Carl; I know that. But I also know that I've been training to kill Darkwing Duck, not be his sidekick."

Quiver's stomach plummeted as he stood in front of Raya's bedroom door, his insides squirming. 'Not my Gosalyn?'
"Easy, Q!"
"I'll tell you to take it easy, Carl. How would you deal if you were Darkwing Duck? Chase and catch, chase and catch, all night, every night. How would you like that job?"
Carl's voice was shaky. "I couldn't do it. I don't know how he does it." Carl said with a sigh. "His stamina is bound to wear down against temptation eventually. I guess you're right."

"No, you see, that's exactly what I'm not saying! Darkwing Duck does it very well. And despite the intent behind the training, his stamina is not at risk. But now there's Darkwarrior Duck. All my training suddenly has an application."
"You don't think you can save Darkwarrior?" Carl asked.
"That would break the very first rule of engagement that my father ever taught me."

"Your dad's not always right, you know."
"Honestly, Carl. I've never listened when he's not making sense. I wish you had a bit more faith in me!"
"But won't taking a hard line make you like Darkwarrior Duck?"
"No, that just makes me smart!" Quiverwing exclaimed heatedly. "You don't even know what my dad says! You don't even want to hear it."

"I'm sorry. Of course I do." Carl apologised quietly, "what is the first rule of engagement?"
"Dad says: 'A duck who knows when to walk away, lives to quack another day.' Basically, you need to keep a realistic attitude to the situation and never go in over your head."
"That's sort of like what my dad says, which is: 'regroup, reinforce, return, and ...' um ..."
" 'Resume'?" Quiverwing answered for him.
"Okay, so you don't think your dad will crack. What makes Darkwarrior Duck so different from your dad?"
"I don't know. I've spent years trying to figure that out, Carl."

Quiverwing was silent for a long moment and Quiver, standing there at the top of the stairs wondered too.
"I mean, what turns a guardian into a demon?"
"Well, that's easy. That happens when he's lost what he was guarding." Carl answered simply.
"Holy zombification." Quiverwing muttered. "That would be me." She was quiet for some moments. "No wonder he bought me so many dolls that first year. No wonder he keeps a sharp eye on you. Carl Eider."
"Yeah, okay, you've got me scared now, Gosalyn." Carl said quietly.
"You should be. You're up against Darkwing Duck!" Quiverwing said in a bold, proud voice.
Quiver found himself a bit shocked, realising that Gosalyn was using he, or rather his counterpart from this universe as a barricade. Did she feel somehow threatened by this Carl Eider? It didn't seem likely for a girl who took down heavily set criminals on her off evenings.

"You've never seen a peacekeeper, have you, Carl?" Her tone suddenly changed into a query.
"Sure, I've met your dad ..."
"No, Carl." Quiverwing responded in a slow dark voice. "You've never seen my father. But maybe you might have heard him once or twice out there. On the street: keeping the evil out of St Canard."

"What use is that if he can't keep the evil out of himself?"
"Nobody's innocent, Carl. Well, except maybe Launchpad and little Raya. And Eek and Squeak, of course. But that's about where it ends. Quiverwing Duck understands that, but Darkwarrior Duck either lost his understanding, or lost the ability to care. When he changed his line, he changed his MO."

Quiver stepped down the stairs. Quiverwing smiled up at him. "Right, we'd better get back to Megavolt. I'm sure he's long since located my father amidst that mess, and it's about time we solve this conundrum before St Canard gets a crimson wash and wax."

A/N: I would love to hear any opinions or advice. Please review!