DW/BtVS: The Building Blocks of Good and Evil (4/20)
Title: The Building Blocks of Good and Evil
By: PatriciaTepes (AKA Patricia de Lioncourt @ fanfiction.net; PatriciaLouise @ TTH)
Chapter Title: To Each Their Own
Links to Other Chapters: ONE TWO THREE FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY
Fandom: Darkwing Duck/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer:I do not own Darkwing Duck or Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of their related characters. Darkwing Duck belongs to Disney, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon. Also, I don't own the images used in the art. All is done for fun, not profit.
Author's Note: I decided to go with multiple points of view in this story. Now, I hope you enjoy.
Chapter Four- To Each Their Own
The Negaverse was looking much like Darkwing Duck had never set one webbed foot inside of it. Which was just the way that Negaduck liked it. From his window in The Tower, he gazed happily upon the cracked and broken streets, and drank in the smog filled air. Not one bush was covered with a green leaf, and not one pool of water was crystalline. All the work that the Friendly Four had done had now been undone, and quite easily too.
Negaduck put his back on the view to gaze down at his own little NegaGang-comprised of Binkie, Herb, and Honker Muddlefoot and his own Negaverse version of Launchpad. His group was busily preparing a large iron cauldron, which was bubbling and gurgling away like a sour stomach. Green, filmy bubbles of the liquid within the cauldron kept rising up and popping, releasing a foul smell like rotten eggs. Negaduck loved it.
He had thought that his little trip into oblivion when Darkwing had pulled the Universal Plug had been the end of him. That Dipwing and his justice-loving trainees, the Friendly Four, had won. But when he had been pulled, at the last moment, through the door that lead to the Negaverse right before both disappeared into the abyss, Negaduck had taken that as a sign.
The Negaverse was priority one. His castle, so to speak, from which he was to rule his empire-which he took to mean whatever other dimensions that he could happen upon. So he had returned, triumphant, and trussed up the Friendly Four in a fight that lasted surprisingly shorter than he would have imagined. They were now locked up elsewhere within The Tower. As for his own little rebellious Gosalyn, she was under permanent house arrest until he could think of a better use for her.
He descended the spiral metal staircase down to the main floor of The Tower, both hands clasped behind his back. Instantly, his NegaGang snapped to attention, cowering back as he approached the ever bubbling cauldron. He grinned.
"Lord Negaduck, it's an honor that you have returned to us once more," Herb said, the chains on his biker outfit rattling as he bowed.
"Oh yes, and quite a miracle, from what I heard, Lord Negaduck," Binkie added, following her husband's lead.
"And what does that mean?" Negaduck growled.
Honker rushed forward and bowed deeply, only looking up again when he spoke in his parents' defense.
"Lord Negaduck, they only meant that we heard that you had been sucked into oblivion! We're happy to have you among us."
"Yeah, boss," NegaLaunchpad said, making no move to bow. "How'd you escape oblivion?"
"I have my ways," Negaduck said. "And how did you knobs learn about that mess anyhow?"
"Morgana told us. She also told us that we were cut off from that Dipwing's world now," Launchpad replied.
Negaduck glowered him into taking a few steps back before he grinned again. His world's version of Morgana was quite a different person than Darkwing's Morgana. NegaMorgana was a wicked good time, and wickedly powerful. In fact, years ago, when she had made the decision that she would do anything to become the most powerful witch in the Negaverse, she had begun to steal powers and spells and potions from whomever or whatever she crossed. And, eventually, she had stolen a couple of little spells that had proven quite useful to Negaduck.
"Not quite," Negaduck said, giving Launchpad a good smack across the back of the head for good measure. "You see, Morgana tore us a little hole, a new exit from this world into Darkwing's."
"So what's the plan now, oh mighty Lord Negaduck? Go into Dipwing's world and smash it, crash it, trash it, and burn it into a fiery ash?" Honker said, jumping for joy.
"No," Negaduck drawled, turning to the cauldron.
He could almost feel the confusion radiating from his gang behind him.
"Uh… then what, boss?" Launchpad asked.
"Tell me, Launchpad, have you ever heard of Multiverse Theory?" he asked, gazing down into the sickly churning green liquid.
Again, he could feel the confusion. He rolled his eyes. He would pick intelligent minions if it would not add the worry of betrayal. Keep them dumb, keep them loyal. He sighed.
"Of course you haven't," he said. "Well, let me see if I can dumb it down for you. Multiverse Theory says that for every dimension, there are an infinite number of parallel universes to it. Now, some of these worlds are very similar, and some of them are very different. You follow?"
"Uh… uh-huh," his NegaGang muttered in unison. He sighed again.
"Now, recently, when I was in Darkwing's world, I saw that he had a new little goody two-shoes friend from another dimension. Now, despite how freakish that this woman looked, she did have super strength, super agility, super… well, you name it. And that got me to thinking."
"Is that what the cauldron is for, Lord Negaduck? Are we going to boil this freak alive?" Herb asked, excitement lighting his face.
Negaduck rewarded his minion's interruption by punching him square in the beak, knocking him back and off his feet.
"Never interrupt me. Ahem. Now, my plan is to use this nifty little spell that I, uh, borrowed from Morgana to try and find a universe that would be a Negaverse to this Buffy chick's world."
"What a delightfully wicked little plan, Lord Negaduck," Binkie trilled, clasping her hands together.
"But, uh, I don't get it. What'll that do for us?" Herb asked, scratching his head beneath his leather cap.
"You knob," Negaduck growled, bopping him over the head. "Don't you get it? If we were to combine our forces, we would be utterly unstoppable. Worlds would crumble before us!"
"Awesome plan, Lord Negaduck!" Honker said, punching the air.
Negaduck patted him atop the head. The boy would make a wonderful full time addition to his minions once he was a little older. But it did warm his heart to know that such a youthful boy could be so cruel.
"Now, shut your traps while I work this spell," Negaduck ordered, turning and extending his arms up and over the cauldron. "It's very tricky, and we wouldn't want to end up smears on the pavement just because of a wrong word."
This achieved the desired effect of his gang gasping and backing away. He grinned. Becoming a smear on the pavement was of very little concern, in all actuality. However, summoning some horrible monster from some unknown dimension was a very real concern… but honestly, that just sounded like a fun time to the Mallard Menace.
"A whirlwind of power, a lock, and a door," Negaduck shouted down into the cauldron."A twist and a pull, and a little bit more. Find for me the one I seek! Find for me the negative of Buffy!"
Outside the window, a clap of thunder roared, and lightning flashed. A great gust of wind picked up, swirling and crashing through the windows of The Tower. From behind him, the NegaGang gasped, and Negaduck turned to see them huddled together, trying their best not to be blown off their feet. He huffed. Wusses. He turned back to the cauldron, laughing in the face of the storm that was spontaneously brewing.
The liquid in the cauldron was churning and turning, forming a smooth, acid green whirlpool. It was decreasing in volume, and Negaduck threw his arms out, slowly curling his hands into claws, facing upward at the ceiling.
"Come on, come on!" he shouted down into the cauldron. "Give me my negative Buffy!"
Suddenly, the liquid whirled into a large, thick bubble. And then, just as suddenly as it had formed, the bubble raised itself up above the cauldron, it burst, spewing not liquid, but a bright burst of green light. Negaduck scowled and shielded his eyes, turning his head away.
He opened his eyes slowly, testing them against the dark. He turned back, searching the space around the outside of the cauldron.
"Did it work? Did it work, Lord Negaduck?" Binkie asked, the first to break free of the minions' protected huddle.
Negaduck did not answer, instead moving around the large iron cauldron. Laying on the floor there, her featherless skin covered by a tight, red leather outfit that was rather revealing around its neckline, was a blonde woman, her face hidden by her pale, bare arms. Her hair was gathered atop her head in a rather sharp bun. She lifted her face, confusion-not fear-coloring her green eyes. She stared up at Negaduck, her face the exact image of the Buffy who had fought with Darkwing and set like stone.
"Where the hell am I?" she demanded, again no fear present.
Negaduck only grinned.
#
Back inside Darkwing Tower, Buffy's accidental hosts had made her quite comfortable, seating her in a large, fern green recliner set before an enormous television monitor thing. Sitting at her feet was Gosalyn, who Buffy had discovered was a very inquisitive and spirited nine year old. Launchpad had taken a seat in the tan recliner beside hers, and Darkwing seemed to be fuming over something, pacing back and forth in front of the group.
"So, do you have any other super powers? I mean, can you shoot lasers from your eyes or anything like that? Melt things with your mind?" Gosalyn asked, turned and gazing up at the slayer.
Buffy shook her head. "Nope. Sorry. Just super strength, an instinct tuned to creatures of the night, and I heal really fast. That's about it."
"Well, just how strong are you?" Gosalyn asked.
"Hello?" Darkwing said, stopping in front of the group. "Doesn't anyone care that Negaduck is still on the loose?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Dad," the duckling said, waving her hand dismissively in her father's general direction.
"Well… I can break a gun in half. I can also smash bone into powder. So… yeah. Pretty strong, I guess."
"Keen gear! Being a slayer is like, the coolest job ever! Fighting vampires and demons, stabbing them in the heart, cutting off their heads! So wicked cool!"
"Hey," Darkwing whined, "I thought I had the coolest job ever…"
"Yeah, Dad. You do. So, Buffy, how many vampires do you usually kill in a night?"
Buffy looked up, seeing the obviously hurt expression crossing the masked mallard's face. Shaking her head and sighing, she glanced down at Gosalyn.
"You know, Gos, this job isn't as great as it sounds. I mean, I've died doing it. Twice. Yeah, I get super powers, but I've also lost a lot of loved ones to it. Seriously, I would take your dad's job any day over my own."
Buffy flashed a quick grin up at Darkwing, who had rather appreciative smile on his beak. But Gosalyn looked crestfallen, like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar before dinner. Even her pigtails seemed to droop. Buffy bit her lip. It seemed like she just could not win for losing.
"Well, it does have some perks."
Gosalyn grinned, jumping to her feet. "I knew it. Can you-?"
But Darkwing cut in, clearing his throat obviously and loudly.
"Were we not on our way to Morgana's to see if she could get you back to your own world, Buffy?"
Buffy blinked and stood. "You're right. I mean, when I was yanked out of my world, my gang and I were in the middle of a big smackdown-to-be. My sister was there too. The sooner I get back and find out what happened, the better."
Launchpad stood, chuckling. "Gee, I think we might be topping Morg with the weirdest thing ever, showing up with Buffy in tow."
"I'm coming too!" Gosalyn shouted, making a beeline for the Ratcatcher.
"Fine, fine, fine. Can we just go?" Darkwing said, pulling his hat a little lower on his brow.
"Whoo-hoo!" Gosalyn shouted as she slid down the ladder.
Buffy smiled as she watched the little red-haired duckling pile onto the back of the Ratcatcher, fastening her helmet in place. Darkwing moved past the slayer, but she placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"I really appreciate your help, Darkwing. I know that you don't have to do all of this," she said.
Darkwing stopped, his eyes wide in surprise. Finally, he smiled, blinking the look away.
"I'm a hero. Heroes help. I would've thought that you'd get that."
Buffy grinned. "Yeah. I guess I do. It's just been a while since I've needed help as badly as I do now."
Darkwing shrugged. He put his back to the slayer, his cape whirling behind him, when Buffy stopped him again.
"She's a good kid, Gosalyn. I'm sorry that I kind of stole her attention, but she reminds me a lot of Dawn."
The masked mallard turned, a sad look in his eye as he glanced, momentarily, back at his daughter.
"Dawn's a spirited one, is she?" he asked.
Buffy nodded. "She's always eager to help."
Darkwing chuckled. "Yeah. That sounds like Gosalyn. You must really be worried about your sister. I mean… when I ended up in the Negaverse, Gosalyn was-"
"All you could think about? And Launchpad? And I'm probably guessing this Morgana, right?"
Darkwing nodded. Buffy sighed.
"Yeah. I miss my friends and family too. And I'm worried."
"Then let's go see if Morgana can help. And if she can't… we will find a way, Buffy. I promise."
Buffy let Darkwing get a little bit ahead of her, watching as he hopped on the Ratcatcher and turned to make sure Gosalyn was properly buckled and helmeted. She grinned. Of all the worlds she could have ended up in, at least she was in one with good people… or ducks. Whatever.
End Notes: Okay, so the end of that was a little sappy. And I know I took some liberties with what Darkwing might've been feeling during "Life, the Negaverse, and Everything," but this is fanfiction. I mean, I'm supposed to take some liberties, right? Well, I hope I have kept everyone sufficiently interested. See you next chapter! Please review!