Ch.20: A Hero Comes Home

Meanwhile, back in Duckburg, chaos continued to reign as Duckworth stepped on the gas, blasting through the streets, covering the last few feet until the limo finally smashed through the gates guarding Duckburg Airport.

Hangars stood silent like sentinels, glaring as the limo curved fast, screeching to the halt. Growls of shades could be heard coming up from behind as everyone raced out of the car.

"This way!" yelled Launchpad, running in the direction of his hangar, Fethrey follwing close behind.

Duckworth and Daisy were about to turn to join them when a blast from a laser suddenly stopped both of them in their tracks.

"Tsk, tsk" said Phantomallard, holding up a smoking X-Transformer Shield, as two shades growled menacingly behind him " the Duck family, always so much trouble. I don't know what you plan to do by coming here, but you were foolish to leave your manor home. Not that it would have saved you otherwise. This whole city is going to fall, and Baylock has given me the oh so glorious job of tying up loose ends,"

"Some speech" shouted Daisy " What changed? I thought that the Duck Avenger was supposed to be a hero."

"He may be" said Phantomallard " but I'm not. Now, let's get this started shall we?"

With that said, Phantomallard snapped his fingers and one of the shades rushed forward, disappearing in the direction where Launchpad and Fethrey had gone. The other one stayed behind ready to help Phantomallard, as it dropped into a pouncing stance ready to kill.

Duckworth and Daisy both shivered, standing ready, even though there was very little chance that they would succeed. Right then though is when a miracle suddenly decided to appear, as five drones blasted it forming a barrier between the two opposing forces, shielding Duckworth and Daisy from the Phantomallards wrath.

"What?" thought all parties confused, as green orbs lit up in the center of each of the drones, speaking angrily towards Phantomallard in a single voice.

" Not one more step!" said Uno peeved "How dare you mess with my friend and threaten his family. That shield doesn't belong to you. Surrender, and call off your attack now."

"Hmph" said Phantomallard " and who do you think you are to make such demands of me?"

"No one, yet every one" said Uno "Surrender now!"

"Don't think I will" said Phantomallard, prepping the shield for another strike " I wondered who could have been interfering once machines started helping the police, but even if you're a secret ally of the real Duck Avenger, it won't take much for me to bring you down."

"Try it," said Uno, and began to hack the shield as his drones attacked.

Sensing prey, the shade immediately jumped in to swipe at the drones, scattering them as they locked in their beams on Phantomallard, slicing mercilessly with its claws, promising metallic parts flying everywhere if one of Uno's machines had the unfortunate luck of getting hit. All drones just barely managed to dodge out of the way, making it through in one piece.

Taking aim at two strays, Phantomallard prepared to blast away a couple of drones, when a green light suddenly lit up on his shield, preventing the villain from firing off another shot.

"Like I said" stated Uno's voice cruelly to the Phantomallrd " this doesn't belong to you,"

With that, the computer activated the anti-theft protocol of the shield and shocked the Phantomallard with a huge surge of electrical backlash, making the duck cry out in a huge burst of pain, before collapsing on the ground defeated and unconscious, a threat no more.

Gasping from their new location, where Duckworth had decided to lead Daisy into when the fighting started, the female's jaw hung open in disbelief as she watched one obstacle come down, with only one more threat to deal with, drones converging on the sight.

She didn't know who their new ally was, but Daisy was very grateful that they were on their side. Sighing her mind turned towards Launchpad and Fethery, wondering how those two were doing right now.


Unaware of the struggle they had left behind them, Launchpad and Fethery finally made it to Launchpad's hangar, opening it just in time to hear the vicious growl of the shade that the Phantomallard had sent on their tail.

"Quick!" said Launchpad, ducking under the rising door with Fethery rolling close behind.

Hastening their pace, Launchpad quickly opened up the cockpit of the Thunderquack and jumped in, starting the process for takeoff, while Fethery joined him, buckling up for the ride.

The shade grew closer, growling at full force as the engine roared, and leaped out with claws outstretched just as the Thunderquack started to rise.

Acting quick, Launchpad speedily pressed a button activating the mouth laser of the Thunderquack, blasting the shade back with a powerful burst, allowing him and Fethery enough time to bust out of the hangar, crashing through its open maw.

Turning around to fire an extra shot for good measure, the Thunderquack's cannon manage to knock out the shade, leaving its unconscious form lying smokingly against the ground.

"That takes care of him," said Launchpad to Fethery, and then steered the Thunderquack to where Daisy and Duckworth were finishing their fight.

Uno's drones had just finished taking down the second shade, while Daisy and Duckworth removed X-Transformer Shield from Phantomallard's wrist, tying up the unconscious villain with airline cables so that he would be safely wrapped up for the police. Daisy let out a huge sigh of relief when she saw the Thunderquack set down.

"You guys okay?" asked Fethery from the cockpit.

"Thanks to some unexpected help" said Daisy, nodding to a lone drone as it approached, while the other four drones split up, setting two up to guard each shade. "We wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for you. Thank you, whatever you're named."

"Uno" spoke the drone to Daisy " You're welcome, but there's still the rest of the city to be saved. I'll send some authorities to come and collect these scum, and help you rescue the rest of Duckburg now that we have some sense of Darkwing's welcome, yet unofficial aid. Keep the shield safe for now, I plan to return it to a very special friend soon."

Nodding that she understood, Duckworth and Daisy went to join Launchpad and Fethery in the Thunderquack, taking off with the help of Uno to make sure Duckburg was once again safe.


Meanwhile, back in Baylock's twisted and dark dimension, safe was the last word on the nephews' minds as they stunningly watched their long lost uncle reappear before them and then instantly leap into battle against his darker side.

Baylock growled, unsatisfied and enraged that Donald had managed to escape.

Donald paid the demon little mind though, focusing on his immediate fight. His nephews apologies and heartfelt remorse had been heard and had given him strength. At last his question of love had been answered, and he would fight to defend his family, giving his all in return.

Still, it never had crossed Donald's mind before that he would ever engage his hatred and rage in the flesh like this. Their battle had always been silent, warring about fiercely in his mind. Now, thanks to Baylock, it was out in the open, posing a threat to all of the ones that he held dear. Time to settle this conflict once and for all.

"Rah!" Donald screamed, pushing harder against his darker side.

Donald's darker side was no pushover though, and the nephews had trouble from keeping their mouths from hanging open as they ran over to check on Uncle Scrooge while side-eyeing the fight.

They always knew that Uncle Donald was stronger than he seemed to be, but here he was, dressed as a superhero, quite skilled and looking very confident as well. He had the heart of the lion and the fierce focus of a seasoned warrior. Any inkling that before he had always been viewed as an unlucky, lazy, good-for-nothing failure seemed so ludicrous now.

"We have a lot to make up for when we get out of here," thought Louie looking over at his siblings, eyes sharing agreement with his brothers.

By the looks of the battle, an end soon seemed to be within sight.

Baylock had been watching over everything going on with growing venom, hissing harshly as Donald somehow found a way one up his darker side. The duck held no weapons, but somehow was able to disarm his opponent of theirs, and they were now engaged in a fierce clash of fisticuffs, blows heavy with back-breaking accuracy and rage.

The Dark Duck Avenger was growing smaller, slowly falling to love and courage bursting from his lighter side. If things continued like this, Donald would win and his revenge would be lost. Pain echoed throughout Baylock's body as he felt that good was suddenly about to claim victory back in Duckburg as well.

"No, things will not end like this," thought Baylock. It was time to put one last card into play.

Just as Donald was about to land another blow against his evil counterpart, Baylock suddenly swooped down with a scream towards his nephews, distracting him from the punch, causing his dark double-ganger to knock him down, gaining an upper hand. What his opponent just did didn't matter to the hero though. Donald's eyes widened slowly with horror as he watched Baylock descend, the demon swinging out towards his nephews, before he managed to snatch up Louie, clutching the poor duckling cruelly in the air with his claws.

"No!" cried Huey and Dewey, reaching out towards their brother, while Donald quickly switched into father mode, ready to rage against Baylock, yet stood cautiously by, fearing Louie would be harmed. The anger he felt inside was unimaginable, unconsciously letting the dark side of himself regrow.

He was pinned against the ground; furious, helpless. A claw was drawn across Louie's cheek, making the duckling bleed. Huey and Dewey cried out desperately, begging for the demon to stop.

Suddenly an unexpected sound occurred.

"Pop!" went the sudden whiz of a bullet, striking the demon Baylock in the arm. He screeched, dropping his hold on Louie, allowing the duckling to be caught by his brothers before reaching the ground.

"Rah!" yelled Donald, springing up to knock his dark counterpart away before rushing towards Baylock, throwing a brief, grateful glance to the side.

A now conscious Uncle Scrooge caught the glance, smiling in return, smoke disappearing from the end of his cane he held tightly in his hand.

"To late Duck," said Baylock, smiling wickedly as he barely dodged Donald's incoming charge.

Phasing into a stream of smoke, he zipped past, fusing with Donald's dark counterpart before transforming into an even larger version of his demonic form.

"Ah…" Baylock breathed " Nice. Things are beginning to get a bit one-sided here. I think it's time I evened the odds."

With that said, Baylock slammed his claw on the ground, turning the whole world went white. Shielding themselves from the flash, the duck family panicked before falling into utter confusion when the world and sounds around suddenly them changed.

Hardly any of them could believe for a second when they finally opened their eyes, but they had been transported back to Duckburg, right in the middle of chaos. Scrooge hadn't seen this much desperation and panic since the stock market crisis or World War II.

"All Hail!" announced Baylock, looking directly at Donald as he levitated about menacingly in the air " The hero comes home, but will he or the city live to see another day?"