Chapter 5: Failure. ((A new chapter! :D ))

"That is precisely the reason why I don't want to make her mad..." Darkwing commented as he ogled Morgana's handiwork. "So what's next? Civil war? More tyranny? A new superhero rushes in to save the day?"

Jacob shook his head gravely. "I'm afraid this city has lost most of its hope. Without hope to nurture spirit and build courage, the only thing left is self preservation."

"'Spirit'..." Darkwing repeated softly. He gasped. "Oh no! Where's Gosalyn?!"

"Drake..." Jacob put a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"No! I have to know! I have to be there for her!" Darkwing exclaimed, shrugging away and looking around wildly.

Jacob sighed sadly, his expression resembling a Basset hound's. "Alright, Drake. I'll show you what happened..."

Darkwing froze. "'What...happened'? Are you saying that...?"

Jacob had already disappeared. Darkwing found himself back outside of the electronics store. He started to protest to Jacob when he noticed something move out of the corner of his eye. He gasped. Gosalyn was standing just inside the door, staring at Launchpad. She backed away, shaking her head slowly.

"Gos, Sweetie, it's alright..." Darkwing tried to console her but she turned and ran in the direction Gizmoduck had been sent flying. She crawled through the rubble, calling out for the hero.

"Gizmoduck?"

Darkwing and Gosalyn both spotted him at the same time. A support beam had fallen across the gizmo suit. The hero was still unconscious. Darkwing reached out to help and watched sadly as his hands passed through the beam. Darkwing sighed and looked at Gosalyn. Her face was streaked with dirt and tear tracks. She whimpered something and Darkwing strained to hear her. "Please, no... –sniff–"

Gizmoduck groaned.

"Oh good, you're awake." Gosalyn barely paused to look at him. "Quick! You've got to help me get this thing off before it crushes you!"

Gizmo tried but the hydraulics in the suit had taken the worst of the hit and Gizmo's own strength was not enough. "Sorry, Little Gizmo Buddy... I'm afraid that's the best I've got."

They both heard running footsteps and looked back toward the sidewalk. Megavolt ran past the building, with the police in pursuit on motorcycles and on foot.

Curious as to what had sent Megavolt scurrying, Darkwing went outside. He gasped. A fire was raging several buildings down the row. The fire department was trying to get the blaze under control. The flames seemed to be resistant to water and retardant and Darkwing finally realized why. The Thunder, er, Gizmoquack had been set ablaze and the jet fuel and surrounding electronics in the store were going up in smoke. Did Megavolt start the fire?

Darkwing never found out. He heard Gosalyn coughing and whirled around to check on her. She had gone back to trying to help Gizmoduck.

Darkwing realized the fire could spread to this building soon and nobody knew a little girl was in here, helping a trapped superhero. Darkwing yelled for help but remembered nobody could hear him. He anxiously watched as Gos put all of her might into shoving the beam. It didn't budge an inch.

"Come on, Gos! Get out of here!" Darkwing pleaded.

Gosalyn paused and looked right at him. His spirits rose with hope. Had she heard him? Could she see him, like she had before? (*refers to the episode "Dead Duck") He opened his arms for a hug as she ran toward him. Gosalyn went through him to the street and called for help.

The police and fire fighters heard her. Moments later, several fire fighters hefted the beam off of Gizmoduck. After he thanked them and refused medical help, they asked if he could catch the electric rodent responsible for the fire or at least put out the flames. Gizmoduck frowned. He pressed the button that was supposed to activate his water hose. Nothing happened. His propeller and rocket thrusters were not working either. He apologized and drove in the opposite direction with his head hanging low.

Gosalyn hurried after him, demanding to know why he wasn't doing anything. He was a hero—he was supposed to catch the bad guy and save lives!

Gizmoduck looked at her with the saddest expression Darkwing had ever seen on his rival's face. "I'm sorry, kid, but I'm nothing without this suit..."

"But...you saved me..." Gosalyn looked confused and on the verge of tears.

Gizmo shook his head, tears falling from under his visor. "The suit saved you...and right now the Gizmosuit doesn't even have enough power to get me back to Duckburg." He started sniffing and wiping at his bill. "I've lost my pilot... —Sniff— And a good friend... Oh, how will I ever explain this to Mr, McDuck!"

"I'm sorry about your friend..." Gosalyn put her hand on his arm, making Darkwing scowl jealously. "But you can't just give up! Everyone still needs you. I need you!"

Gizmo started to look hopeful, but then a media van rolled up alongside them and a camera and microphone were shoved in his face. The reporter peppered him with questions about the two plane crashes (he didn't even remember Bulba's airship), the fire, the new super-powered villain, and the rumor that he had lost in a fight against this new super villain.

Darkwing actually felt a bit of pity for the poor guy. Couldn't these people give him a break?! The man had just lost a friend! Darkwing swallowed around a sudden lump in his throat. Poor Launchpad...

He turned to leave and realized Gosalyn was no longer in sight. He hurried to find her and nearly ran through her. She was sitting on the sidewalk curb again, her hand on her chin, staring sadly at the pavement. Poor kid... Darkwing was pretty sure she was thinking about her grandfather now. He sat down beside her, wishing he could hug her or say something to cheer her up.