Remembrance

Chapter 5

"Come on Honker, I'll telling you this is where he keeps them" Gosylan announced to her friend. She stood in front of the door leading to Drake's Den. No one was ever allowed in there without him present. And Gosylan thought for sure her Christmas presents were stashed inside.

"B…Bu..B…But Gosylan, if you Dad catches us…."

"He won't notice." And with that explanation, Gosylan opened the door and entered. She made a blot for the closet, leaving Honker to wonder around inside. He noticed a lot of awards on the wall and newspaper clippings. The awards were all for Drake Mallard, like is high school and college diploma, but most of the clippings were all for Darkwing Duck, except one. Honker adjusted his spectacles and read the paper…"School Boys Save City!" And there as a picture of Mr. Mallard on the front, when he was Honker's age. Honker smiled; even when he was young he was doing what was right. Honker admired Mr. Mallard to no end, and this added to that.

Honker continued to read as Gosylan as tearing apart her father's closet. He read until he came to the name 'Elmo Sputterspark". That name sounded familiar, but where did he know it from….

"Drat! There not in here." Honker turned around to see that Gosylan had given up, until he heard a voice behind him.

"Maybe this year I decided to give them to a little girl who follows the rules." Drake stood at the doorway entrance, arms crossed and a look of displeasure.

"We're Busted!" Gosylan yelled. "But you have to catch me" And with that Gosylan ran, ducked under her father's legs and disappeared behind the corner. Drake soon followed with a smile wide across his face. Honker decided it would be best to leave the Den now, until he noticed on Mr. Mallard's desk sat a plethora of pictures. Most of them had Gosylan in them and even a couple of himself, but a good percentage had that Elmo guy. Honker knew he had heard that name from somewhere. And with that he left the Den.

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Morgana was just getting through the entire story she had to tell Gizmoduck. She had been against telling him, but knew he could be trusted.

"So that's the dilemma Giz. I think I should do what's right and tell him. He has the right to know the truth."

Gizomduck had been silent through most of the conversation, a real first for him. He had been taken back by the fact that she even called him. At first he had thought Darkwing was in trouble and the City of St. Canard in peril. But this wasn't a Superhero problem; this was a secret identity problem.

"Well Morgana, then I am defiantly glad you called me for advice on this. Cause I think you shouldn't tell him."

"But Giz, it's not our place to…"

"Let me explain something Morg. Out of all the Justice Duck's, Wingy and I share a lot in common. The biggest being, we put on masks and lead a fake life. For me, Gizmoduck is my alter ego, but for him, Drake Mallard is that alter ego. He 'is' Darkwing who pretends to be Drake to keep up appearances. It's Darkwing who lives in that house, and it's Darkwing who has a daughter. Drake Mallard is a mask he wears. Now that may not have been the case when he knew Elmo.

"That being said, if you tell him Megavolt is his long lost friend, Darkwing will be the one making the decisions. He'll be upset, and go harder on Megavolt, maybe even on crime in general. And it will kill him inside. The Drake Mallard in him will finally awake and be a voice in him that cause stress, hurt, and maybe even a hernia or two. In the end, all it will bring is anguish."

Morgana sat listening. He was right. "I think I understand Gizmoduck"

"Good, now there is a problem here. What if Megavolt continues to remember and seeks out Drake?"

"I have an amnesia spell I know. I'm against using it, but to protect my Dark…"

"Then that's settled. Just in case I'll see if I can get off a few days from work and come visit you guys."

"He might get suspicious."

"He'll be too upset that I'm in town to think I'm up to something."

"Thanks Giz, as much as Darkwing doesn't like it, I'm glad you're right across the bay."

"Any time Morg, and anything for a friend." And with that Gizmoduck hung up the phone. He had using a gadget inside his suit to communicate with his teammate as he patrolled his boss' Money Bin.

With his shift now over, he went to go find his employer. He entered an office on the top floor of the Money Bin, "Aye. It's it 5 o'clock already!" He heard an old Scottish voice.

For as brave as Gizmoduck was, there was one man he feared. And that was Scrooge McDuck. That was mostly because Gizmoduck loved his jobs. It was McDuck that kept him employed and out of that bean factory, a place he never wanted to work again. Because of that, Gizmoduck always stammered in his presence. But he needed the time off. Darkwing was a colleague and, whether he liked it or not, a friend. Mr. McDuck would just have to make due without his services for a while.

"Ah, Gizmoduck, I hope it was an uneventful day for you." The old Scotsman sat at his large desk. A happy grin was placed on his face. Giz figured he'd just gotten through swimming in all of his money.

"Yes Mr. McDuck. No villain would dare touch your Bin with GIZMODUCK protecting it." Giz rolled into the office.

"Well good job then, See ya tomorrow."

"About that Mr. McDuck, I think I'm gonna call in a personal day."

"What? With the Beagle Boys and Magica DeSpell out there, I think not!"

"But Mr. McDuck!"

"What's wrong, is you're mother sick?"

"No…I…..a friend…."

"That's what I thought; you just want to get a day off so you can go be with Gandra again."

"That's not it Mr. McDuck. The Justice Duck's need me."

"Ever since you've joined that team, it's been nothing but a one way relationship. You always go to St. Canard to help that vigilante, but does he ever come here to help you!"

"He would if I asked, and he's not a vigilante, he's a superhero."

"Then what's his power eh? No, he's a clown in a mask who thinks he can compete with you."

"He's bested me before Mr. McDuck, in fact I believe he's the only one who could."

"Great, so that means if ever he turns evil, not even you could stop him. That's what you're telling me Fenton."

"Or if the Beagle Boy's ever figure out how to control me again, he would be the only one to stop me from stealing your Money."

McDuck stopped. He never considered that. "Hmmm…So if I let you go, he'd owe me one?"

"Technically I'm going for Morgana."

"Then what's in it for me?" Scrooge loved this game. Any form of haggling he enjoyed and considered it a sport.

Gizmoduck sighed in defeat; he knew this would now cost him. "Alright, Mr. McDuck. You can suspend any amount of pay you want."

Scrooge looked at him. He was never able to win this easy. Gizmoduck must be serious then. "Well lad, that won't be necessary. I can see you really want to go help. Just try to back as soon as ya can."

"Thanks Mr. McDuck!"

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Megavolt sat in front of the phone, unsure as to what to do. Bushroot and Quackerjack stood, awaiting to see what that would be and trying to give as much advice as possible.

Quackerjack spoke, "But you don't need that Drake guy, you have us!"

"As much as I hate to admit it Megs, Quackerjack is right. It was a long time ago, and if nothing did happen to him, then he's moved on in his life."

Megavolt looked up. "But what if something did happen to him?"

"Then it happened 9 years ago." Bushroot added. "You don't even know if that number will still work, and even you said it doesn't belong to Drake."

"But it belongs to a friend. I think he might know where Drake is."

"You can't even remember who to ask for." Quackerjack spoke up trying to reason.

"I'm sorry guys, I have to do this."

Bushroot and Quackerjack looked at each other. "Well if you feel that strongly about it, then we'll help."

"You guys go, this isn't your past"

Quackerjack smiled. "But it's yours Megs, and you're our friend"

Bushroot agreed, "You guys have been then only ones ever to really care about me. There's no way I'm letting you do this alone."

"Thanks guys….Well here goes nothing…" And with that Megavolt picked up the phone and dialed the number at the top of the newspaper.

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J. Gander Hooter sat at his desk filing out paper work. A giant of a bear stepped inside the office. "Director Hooter?" He spoke with a thick Russian accent.

"Yes, Agent Grizlekoff. Has Intel reported in yet?"

"Yes Director. It appears FOWL is up to something. We believe Agent Steelbeak is behind it again."

"That rooster will never give up."

"Please Director; assign me the case this time. I've always wanted to give him another beating"

Hooter smiled, remembering the time that Griz was referencing. "I'm sorry Grizlekoff, Darkwing has too much experience in dealing with FOWL, and I must assign him this case."

"Very well Director, I trust your judgment."

Just then the Flash quack went off. "Speaking of Darkwing" Hooter walked over to the communications relay in his office. "That's strange, it's an audio signal only, and it's not coming from Darkwing's liar"

"But who else has Flash quack number?"

Hooter thought a moment. "Grizlekoff I must ask for some privacy"

"Director?"

"Please, old friend."

"Very well, I will get started on the paper work needed to request Darkwing assistance." And with that the Agent left.

Hooter hesitated as to weather or not to pick up. The only two people ever to receive this number were Drake and Elmo. It wasn't Drake, and it couldn't be…..

"Hello?" Hooter answered the line.

"Umm…yes….who is this?"

"Are you joking? How did you get this number?"

"It uh…was written on an old newspaper"

Hooter's eyes widen. It couldn't be….

The voice continued, "I need your help. I think you helped me before."

"That depends. I've helped a lot of people."

"You helped me save the city, my school, and my best friend, at least from what I remember."

It couldn't be……

"I'm going to ask you again, who is this?" Hooter did not play games, especially when it came to the subject of Drake and Elmo.

"……Elmo"

"If this is joke, you're laughing at the wrong person. Elmo Sputterspark has been missing for almost a decade"

"I swear, I'm Elmo. I need to find Drake, but I don't remember enough to know where to start looking."

Hooter had had enough of this conversion on the phone. He wasn't about to give up the location of Drake to a stranger. And if this was in fact Elmo, Hooter wanted to see it with his own eyes. "Meet me at the Hamburger Hippo on 5th street. If you are who you say you are, I'll see what I can do. If you lying, you've made enemies with the wrong owl." And with that Hooter cut the line.

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Fenton sat on the bus. It was going to be about an hour before he reached the city of St. Canard. He looked over at his suit case that sat next him. Darkwing was going to get help weather he knew about it or not. Fenton smiled, thinking about both their differences and similarities. He thought back to their last encounter together….

Taurus Bulba had been revived and was after little-gizmo-buddy Gosylan. Darkwing legs had been broken because of a previous skiing accident as was having a though time. Luckily Launchpad recognized this and had called him. With the combined strengths of Gizmoduck and Darkwing Duck, Taurus Bulba was finally defeated.

But then there came a problem. Darkwing never wanted to share the spot light with Gizmoduck, and reporters swamped the scene that was the final battleground of Bubla. As usual Gizmoduck answered every question. Darkwing began to feel jealous, as if he couldn't take care of the situation without Gizmoduck showing up. He began to call old Giz names again.

"You're just a walking tin can, if it weren't for that suit…"

"This suit gives the power to help others, and that's what I do, weather there grateful for it or not."

"Face it Gizmoduck! You're nothing with out that suit."

Fenton was starting to get angry, "Oh yeah…Well at least I'm not..." And with that Gizmoduck pressed a button activating is X-Ray scan on his helmet. He didn't mean to cross the secret identity line, but Darkwing had pushed him. Gizmoduck gasped when he saw who was behind the mask…."Dra…."

Darkwing seeing the reporters, immediately shouted, "Hey I bet Gizmoduck wants sign autographs" He then looked back at the metal man. "This isn't over." And with that, a cloud of smoke appear, and then he was gone, wheelchair and all.

That night Fenton went to his hotel room. He had just given about every reporter an exclusive interview in the city. He was ready for bed.

A smile cross his face as the thought about Darkwing. Fenton didn't mean to cross that line, but now he had one up over the mask mallard. He scratched the back of neck, then noticed something, A tiny homing devise in the shape of the Thunderquack. The phone rang and Fenton picked up.

"I guess now where even" Darkwing said over the line.

Fenton looked out his window and saw on a joining rooftop, Darkwing waving at him. "I guess so Drakeroonie" Fenton smiled, knowing that Darkwing had outwitted him.

"Thanks for the help, Fentonittoo"

Fenton smile remembering that night. Only a hand full of people knew who he really was, and he was glad Darkwing was one of them. Like he said before, one of his greatest fears was what if something happened to his suit that he couldn't control. What if it was used to hurt people? Fenton new that Darkwing would never let that happen. Darkwing was the one person who he trusted with that responsibility now. And with that thought, Fenton decided it would be best to take in a nap before reaching the city.

Author's note: I feel like I'm spoiling everyone with long chapters now. So many guest cameos in this story. I really wanted to emphasis the Batman/Superman relationship between Darkwing and Gizmoduck. The story of how they found out each other's identities came almost verbatim from the Batman vs. Superman Movie. Also the explanation Gizmoduck gives to Morgana is from the Batman comics, I think 'Cataclysm' but I may be wrong. Once again reviews are welcome and thanks for reading.