Chapter Five

"Mmph! Mmmph!" Megavolt muffled indignantly through his gag. The supervillain stomped and struggled, shooting sparks from his gloved fingertips as he fought to burn through the ropes the lumbering Frankenduck-looking creatures had used to tie him to a tall wooden post at the far end of the dock. "Mmmmph!"

High overhead, the duck in the top hat and cape called out through the fog, barking orders from the deck of the creaking ship. Megavolt wasn't an expert on nautical terms, but he'd seen enough pirate movies to realize the monsters on board were getting ready to sail.

The Frankenducks had started loading the coffin-like boxes from the ship into three trucks waiting by the edge of the dock, their brake-lights turning the thick fog an eerie red. Megavolt couldn't make out the logo through the haze, but from the back they looked disturbingly like restaurant trucks…maybe seafood or surf-and-turf.

"MMMPPHH!" Megavolt cried in frustration, releasing a bolt of electricity that lit the whole sky.

The Frankenducks paused and looked up; the caped duck shouted in fury. Striding to the prow of the ship, he raised his staff and a soft colored glow began to bloom in the distance, far out over the harbor.

Megavolt's eyes grew wide behind his goggles, his chest filling with horror as the glow took on a distinctive shape…growing nearer…nearer…

"Mmaaaaahhhhh!" he yelped through his gag, renewing his struggle against the ropes. "Mmhe Mmhost Mmaat! Mmit's mmhe Mmhost Mmaat mmof Mmaint Mmaanard!"

A soft explosion sounded from the deck of the ship, cutting into Megavolt's panic. It was closely followed by a familiar plume of purple smoke – and an even more familiar voice.

"I am the terror that flaps in the night!" the voice intoned as the purplish smoke faded into the fog. "I am the plot hole that guts your whole movie! I am—"

"Mmarkmming Mmuck!" Megavolt exclaimed.

"Ssshh!" another voice shushed from behind him. "It is I, Quiverwing Quack! Stay still and don't zap me, and I'll get you out of this."

Megavolt felt small fingers working at his gag's knot and he gasped in relief as the cloth fell away.

"Oh, thank you," he said, sagging against his bonds as he turned his eyes toward the sounds of shouts and scuffling commotion from the ship looming above them. "But—"

"Explain what you're doing here," Quiverwing ordered, stepping out in front with her hands on the hips of her purple and green costume. "What's going on with all these weird coffins, and what do you know about that haunted ship!"

"What makes you think I know anything!" Megavolt exclaimed. "I came here to find out what's going on, same as you! So quick, untie these ropes and let me go. The Ghost Cat—!"

"I got the ropes," Launchpad said, clomping down the ship's ramp to cut Megavolt free. "But, Gos, those monsters up there! I think they got DW!"

"They're gonna get us too if we don't move our tails," Quiverwing said, pointing with her bow toward a hulking crowd of Frankenducks lurching up the dock through the fog. "Quick, to the ship!"

Megavolt stared at her. "You're going to board that ship? Are you nuts! We gotta get out of here! Can't you see the Ghost Cat is—"

"No one said you had to come," Quiverwing said, talking right over his warning. "But we gotta help Darkwing! Come on, Launchpad!"

"Wait!" Megavolt called as Quiverwing and Launchpad raced up the rickety ramp to the ship's shadowed deck. "Oh, why do I bother," he groaned and turned to face the choppy harbor. Ghostly lights flashed through the fog, crackling in brilliant arcs of blue and green, purple and gold. Whatever it was, it was undeniably beautiful. It moved as if it were playing, gracefully tumbling and dancing over the waves. But always coming closer…closer…

Shivering hard, Megavolt looked from the Ghost Cat to the approaching Frankenducks, at their thick arms and outstretched hands reaching toward him through the haze, and he let out a terrible moan.

"Trapped! Oh, why isn't that blasted Darkwing Duck ever around when I need him!"

Raising his arms, Megavolt backed up until his heels hung over the edge of the dock then quickly jumped forward before he lost his balance. Clenching his fists, the supercharged rat faced the oncoming monsters, realizing his only chance was to make a stand.

"I don't know what you are or what that creepy boss of yours is up to," the supervillain said, "but, Halloween or not, I'm not about to let a bunch of zombie monsters and vampires take over my town. Eat sparks!"

Lightning lanced from Megavolt's fingertips, striking the bolts in the Frankenducks' necks. The powerful surge of electricity made the monsters pause and shudder - but only for a moment. Before Megavolt had a chance to make a run for it, the Frankenducks resumed their lumbering approach, groaning as they reached out to grab him.

"Yiikes!" Megavolt shrieked and ducked under their arms, dashing up the wobbly ramp and onto the deck of the ghostly ship. Looking around, he thought he caught a glimpse of Darkwing Duck's cloaked silhouette through the fog and shadows. From the sound of things, he seemed to be in the middle of a heated conversation with a tall, slender woman dressed in red - a woman Megavolt found strangely familiar. But, before he could approach them or even get his bearings, the flicker of colored lights dancing across the foggy bay grew overwhelmingly bright. Electric arcs lashed around the ship, licking the railings and masts, illuminating every crack and cobweb as they leaped from port to starboard. Shielding his eyes, Megavolt looked up, finding himself staring straight into the gaping maw of the Ghost Cat as it swallowed the ship and everyone aboard with a great, gulping slurp!

To Be Continued…

Happy Halloween!

Thanks so much for reading! :D Sorry again for the long delay between chapters, but be sure to stay tuned for the story's conclusion, and please let me know what you think! Your comments are always welcome, helpful, and very much appreciated. Thank you! :D