Get your own Free Home PageLaunchpad gazed at Sadie. She looked beautiful. Her long blond hair was shining, and her blue eyes sparked in the candlelight. She smiled with her eyes, and that was one of Launchpad’s favorite things about her. She was wearing a long red dress, and to Launchpad, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He knew Drake disagreed, claiming that she was too skinny. That was just about the worst argument that he and Drake had ever had. It was his fault really, Drake hadn’t known he was serious about Sadie. HE thought Sadie was the prettiest, kindest girl he’d ever met. He took a deep breath, and dug around in his pocket. He cleared his throat. Sadie smiled at him, and he trembled a bit. He got of his chair and knelt down on one knee.
“Sadie Beacon, will you marry me?” he asked softly.
Sadie’s smile grew brighter, and her eyes glistened. She bent down and kissed him gently.
“Oh Launchpad, of course!”
Launchpad slipped a simple diamond ring on her finger.
Launchpad opened the door of the house in the early morning, he was almost jumping for joy. He was getting himself a glass of milk when Drake whizzed through the loungeroom chairs. He entered the kitchen and Launchpad poured him a glass of milk.
“Slow night?”Launchpad asked.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”Drake sniffed. He gulped his glass quickly and thumped it on to the bench. It reminded him of the western movies, and was about to put on an accent and ask Launchpad to pour another, when he noticed that Launchpad was staring into space. This obviously meant he was thinking, which, frankly, wasn’t something he DID very often. Drake watched, curious. Launchpad just stood. Drake tired of the game soon, and poked his friend in the side.
“Darkwing Tower to Thunderquack. Are you receiving me? Over.”Drake grinned. “Your date was that good, huh?”
“What? Oh yeah, it went well.”Launchpad smiled inwardly. He and Sadie had decided to tell Drake together. Sadie’s parents lived in England, and she was going to tell them herself.
“I missed you tonight. It’s a bit lonely driving around by yourself. I’ll start talking to myself again if we aren’t careful.”Drake said.
“You do anyway!”Launchpad laughed!
“Well, maybe.” Drake smiled “You coming tomorrow night, or am I going to have to find a new sidekick?”
Launchpad stopped grinning. Would Drake have to find a new sidekick? He’d told Sadie everything after she’d agreed to marry him. She’d said she’d suspected something was up, but before they could discuss it properly, it was time for her to ring her parents. She’d said that it didn’t change her feelings for him. He hoped he didn’t have to choose between his life as Drake’s sidekick, and Sadie. Nah, Sadie’d understand. That’s what Sadie was like. Hey, maybe she could just move in with them! The more he thought about it, the more he liked it! It was a pretty big house. His room was large. Sadie could sell the furniture she didn’t want, and the rest would fit somewhere. He looked at his watch. Sadie should be just going to bed. He had to discuss this with her now.
“I’m gonna ring Sadie, okay?”Launchpad told Drake. Drake was rummaging in the fridge for a snack.
“Oh, sure LP.”Drake pulled out some cold pizza, sat at the table and started eating. Launchpad looked pained.
“Drake, would you mind. . . ?”Launchpad gestured to the lounge room.
“Oh. Right.”Drake picked up his pizza and left. He could hear Launchpad dialing.
He sat down and flicked on the TV. He was the only one in the house with who didn’t deal with the opposite sex. Morgana had stuck gold with a perfume and had left St Canard long ago. He missed her sometimes, especially since Gos had started dating, and LP had meet Sadie. He had only the people in this house, and they had so many other friends. Well, Gosalyn had so many other friends, but at least Launchpad had a few. How many did he have? Gos was his daughter, not his friend, and LP, LP WAS his friend. But was LP his friend only so he could be a sidekick? Launchpad had first liked Drake because he was Darkwing Duck. He groaned. Cut off the hero business and what did you have? Not much. Oh, who cares? He’d worry about that when he couldn’t be a hero anymore. And THAT wasn’t going to be for a long time. Another twenty years at least, if he kept in shape. By the end of that he’d be fifty, which was a good age to stop and become a standby. Gosalyn was going to take up the family trade, of course. She’d always loved it. But she didn’t come with him yet. He’d promised, by her 21st birthday, that he’d take her on as an apprentice, NOT a sidekick. Never a sidekick, she’d said. Fine by him, he only needed one. She was 19 now. She looked beautiful. Long reddish hair, greeny eyes, nice shape. He wondered if she looked like her mother. Gos had never spoken about her parents, and only briefly about her Grandfather. Drake had never pushed the subject. He sighed. Launchpad was still on the phone. He sighed again, and went to bed.
Launchpad hung up, face shining. She said yes! As long as Drake didn’t mind, she’d move in here. Perfect! He could be a sidekick, AND be a husband. He went up the stairs smiling.
The next morning at breakfast Launchpad told the others that he and Sadie wanted to talk to them.
“Sadie’s coming at around ten. You guys gonna be here?”he asked.
“I will be. School holidays mean no homework!”Gosalyn cheered.
“You KNOW I’ll be here.”Drake grumbled. He had a feeling he knew what was going to happen. He glanced at Gosalyn, and she winked at him. So she guessed what was going on too. He was about to say something when Gos shock here head at him and put her finger to her lips. Say nothing? Fine. Gosalyn looked excited. Drake wondered what he felt.
“I’m going to work at the tower till ten, then. Oh wait, I’ll come back before then, in case she comes early. If I’m not back, keep her in the kitchen.”Drake said.
“Um, Drake, she knows.”Launchpad shrunk back, knowing what was coming.
“Oh, LAUNCHPAD! You DIDN’T?! Really....”Drake looked like he was going to exploded. Gosalyn was fascinated. He’d never been this angry at LP before. Suddenly he seemed to deflate. He throw his hands in the air and walked out saying “Fine. It’s only a secret identity. It’s not like it’s important or anything. I mean, really, being Darkwing Duck is only a hobby. It’s not like I ENJOY it! Actually I HATE being Darkwing Duck. Trash it, tell everyone. I don’t need a life! I don’t need anything or anyone!” He stalked to the chairs. “No one at all.” he muttered.
Launchpad looked like he was going to burst into tears. Gosalyn patted him on the arm. He looked at her and forced a smile.
“Well, it could have gone worse I guess.”he grinned.
“Don’t worry LP. He’ll get over it.” She hugged him.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m going to get dressed. You think he’ll come back at ten?”
“Yeah, he’s to curious to stay away.”she laughed.
Drake sat at the computers in Darkwing Tower, working while he tried to put Launchpad out of his mind. He regretted everything he’d said, but he wasn’t going to say sorry. That wasn’t his way. He’d just make an effort to be nice to Sadie and Launchpad. He didn’t understand it all really. He’d loved Morgana of course, but he would never have married her. And he felt he was the only one with the right to tell his secrets. It hurt that Launchpad had told her without asking. He hadn’t thought Launchpad would have EVER done that. It was part of his job. Well, Gosalyn just better not start. He looked at his watch. 9:58. He’d better make an appearance.
Sadie beamed at Gosalyn. Gosalyn began to feel uncomfortable. Sadie had come half an hour early. She wished Dad would hurry up. Suddenly the chairs started to spin and Drake appeared. He didn’t get up. He crossed his legs and made himself comfortable.
“Good morning.”he said to Sadie, smiling. He hoped he didn’t look to fake. Be nice, he reminded himself.
“Well, now that everyone is here, we’ll get down to business.”Launchpad nervously said. He took Sadie’s hand. She smiled at him. This encouraged him and he blurted “Me and Sadie are getting married.” He grinned.
“That’s great!” Gosalyn yelled. She jumped up and hugged Launchpad, and kissed Sadie.
“Yeah, wonderful!”Drake stood up and did his part. After they all sat down again, he asked “What are you going to do? Where are you going to live?”
“Well, we thought we’d travel for a year. After that we’d like to live here, if that’s okay with you guys?”Sadie half stated, half asked.
“Hmm, let me think about it. . . .OK!”Drake laughed.”Of COURSE you can stay here! I think we’d miss LP to much if he left!”
“Keen gear!” Gosalyn added her say.
“Great!”Launchpad and Sadie said at once.
“It’s agreed then! I’m very happy for both of you.”Drake smiled. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go for a walk. Think things through a bit. Later!” Drake went out the front door, and headed for the shops.
“It must be hard for him.”Sadie said, after Gosalyn had gone to her room.”You two are really close.” She lent on Launchpad, and he put his arm around her.
“Don’t worry. He’ll get used to it.”he said, repeating Gosalyn’s advice.
Drake wandered towards the shops. He didn’t mind Launchpad and Sadie living with them. It was a big house, there was room. He liked Sadie, but he didn’t like change, that was the thing. And what was he going to do without Launchpad? It was lonely guarding the city for just one night, let alone a whole year! Gosalyn wasn’t ready yet.
He was walking past an alley when he heard a “psst!” He assumed a defensive position and asked “Whose there?” The alley was full of shadows, and out of one stepped a female duck. She was very short, shorter than him even, and she had long brown hair and green eyes. She smiled.
“Hoi, hoi u embleer Hrair, M’saion ule hraka vair.” she sang. Drake looked blank. She rolled her eyes.
“Gee, I didn’t think it was that long ago! Okay, I guess 16 years IS a while. Try now.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated. Suddenly she disappeared, then reappeared as a human girl. Her hair was shorter, and her eyes were a greeny hazel. She winked at him, then turned back into the duck. Darkwing’s mouth fell open.
“Thlayli?” he gasped.
“In the flesh! Well, cartoon really I suppose. Well, how about that! It remembers!”
“You look different. You look nice, but different.”
“Well, I thought it was more appropriate. Didn’t want to scare anyone. Don’t know why you’re so surprised to see me. I SAID I’d come and see you.”
“Well, you took your time! I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”
“Tell me what’s been going on. I’ve got a lot to catch up on.” she sat down on a box, and he sat down beside her. He told her about Gosalyn growing up, about Launchpad’s engagement, and how he wasn’t sure what to do about Launchpad’s impending absence. He fell silent. Thlayli patted him on the back.
“You always were a good story teller. But tell me, how do you feel about LP’s marriage?”
“It’ll be good for him. Sadie’s a nice girl .”
“You don’t sound very happy.”
“I’m happy for him, if you are implying I’m not!”Drake was insulted.
“Are you happy for you?” Thlayli raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I’m happy that LP will be happy. But I feel that I’m being left out, left behind. A bid fuddy duddy.”he groaned. “LP’s the only friend I ever had.” Thlayli looked put out, and elbowed him. “Oh, besides you I mean.”he quickly said.
“That’s better. But you guys are family right?”
“Yeah. So?”
“Families care for each other no matter what. And change is good for everyone. But even while they change they still love you just as much. That’s what friendship and families are about. Everyone changes, but love doesn’t.”She tickled him. “YOU’VE changed. Before you didn’t worry about anything, just let it all happen. Now you like to be a part of things. Cool, huh?”
“You might be right there. I guess Sadie’s just gonna be another person to love.”
“You got it! Now, what are you gonna do with me?”
“You seem to have all the answers, Rah. You should decide.”he said, using his special name for her.
“No. Rah means chief, and I’m not the boss any more. This is your universe.”She laughed again. “Your storm, Drakey-rah. Use it.”
“That’s a VERY bad take off.”
“Still, don’t call me Rah. Just call me Thlayli. Deal?”
She put out her hand. He took it. They shock hard and grinned.
“Don’t tell anyone where I come from, or my real name. Everyone needs a secret.”
“Sure. But we still don’t know what to do.”pointed out Drake. “THAT didn’t get us anywhere.”
“True.”Thlayli mused. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. You need company, and I need a place to stay. Here’s the plan. You get Gosalyn to get some of her friends, I’ll team up with them, and we’ll all team up with you. You’re in charge, of course. We won’t tell them your identity, I’m sure Gosalyn will think of some way to get them to help. She’d love it, my staying is justified, and you aren’t lonely at home or working! What do you say?”
“I say....I don’t know. There are bugs.”Drake hesitated. Thlayli ruffled his feathers.
“I’m sure the great Darkwing Duck will fix the flawed plan.”
“Well, it could work.”Drake mumbled, embarrassed. “But you’ll need names.”
“We could be the ...er.... QUACKETTES! I can be Quetzal Quack and..” She was interrupted by Drake.
“Why the Quetzal Quack? The Quackettes is good, but QUETZAL QUACK?”
“Aww, come on. They can all start with Q and end in Quack. And I’m the Quetzal Quack cause I can do this!” she said, suddenly rising into the air and swooping around.
“WOW! How do you do that?”
“This isn’t my universe, remember. Laws of the dimensions says I can look like or do almost anything. It just gives me a headache at first, that’s all. YOU could walk through walls and shrink when in my universe.”
“Oh yeah. Well, we better go home. It’s way past lunchtime.”
Drake and Thlayli tried to look causal as they walked through the door. The others stared at Thlayli. She lent over and whispered “Do you EVER have friends over?”
Drake shook his head.
“Are you lost, honey?” Sadie asked Thlayli.
“She thinks I’m a little kid!”Thlayli whispered again.
“You ARE!” Drake hissed.
“Not THAT little! I’m a teenager, for crying out loud!” She pouted.
“Er, no. This is my friend, Thlayli. She’ll be living here for awhile.” Drake finished his brief explanation. They stared at Drake instead.
“Dad, are you okay? No offense, Thli, but where are your parents?”
“Oh, they’re in another time and universe.”Thlayli breathed. Drake squashed an insane urge to giggle.
“Um, they’ve gone far away. Uh, real far, and they ..er..want me to stay with you guys.” Thlayli said lamely.
Launchpad and Sadie exchanged looks.
“Drake, I think we need to talk. In the kitchen.”Launchpad said firmly. Drake looked at Thlayli and shrugged. They entered the kitchen. Launchpad grabbed Drake and shook him.
“What do you think you’re doing! She’s a kid! I can’t believe you’d...”Launchpad trailed off, looking sick.
“LP, what are you talking about?!”
“Drake, you never even asked Morgana to move in! How long have you known this girl? She’s underage! It’s against the law! I never, EVER thought you’d do something like this Drake! I’m disgusted!” Launchpad was steamed. Realization hit Drake like a thunder bolt.
“You thought me and her...DON’T BE RIDICULES LAUNCHPAD! I’d never do that, you know I wouldn’t!” Drake was shocked. He hadn’t thought of that perspective.
“Drake, that’s how it looks. I guess if you say that isn’t it, then it isn’t, but you gotta convince the others! I’ll tell you what it looks like, it looks like you couldn’t handle me getting married, and you wanted to as well!”
“I’m not that childish, for a start!”
“Well, what’s your explanation then?”Launchpad was curious.
“I..”Drake was stuck. “It’s a long, unbelievable story that she wants kept a secret. But we go back a long way, longer than she is old. But we are just friends, LP.”
“If that isn’t confusing, then I don’t know what is! Oh well, whatever you say, DW. Hey, does she know you’re Darkwing?”
Drake smiled. “Launchpad, she MADE me Darkwing!” He patted his friend on the arm. “Trust me.”
“OK, but the girls won’t buy that.”
“I know, I know. You stall them, and me and Thlayli will think of something.” Drake walked back into the lounge room. “Me and Thlayli have some business at the Tower. We’ll explain later. Bye!”
He and Thlayli sat in the chairs and left. Gosalyn and Sadie turned to face Launchpad. Launchpad gulped.
“LP, he was getting mad at you this morning for telling Sadie, and then he goes and tells some kid he just met!”Gosalyn was upset. “This isn’t like him. I’m worried ‘Pad. What if he hit his head or something when he went walking?”
“Nah, he’s okay. You’re just going to have to trust him. You know, we know zilch about his past. For all we know, that could be his sister!”
“Did he tell you?” Sadie asked.
“All he said was that she made him Darkwing.”
“WHAT! Darkwing existed long before she was born!”Gosalyn was getting even more upset.
“I know, I know.”he said soothingly. “I’m sure it’s nothing. We still haven’t had lunch. What’ll it be?”
“I’m not hungry. I’ll see you both later.”Gosalyn stood up and went to her room.
“Actually Launchpad, I’m feeling tired from last night. I think I’ll go home and take a nap.” She stood up and gave him a long kiss. Then she waved “Bye!” and walked out the door.
“Bye.” Launchpad whispered. She shook his head to clear his thoughts. Maybe a doze was what he needed too. He settled himself on the couch.
In Darkwing Tower Thlayli was awed.
“WOW! This place is fantastic! I always wanted to see Darkwing Tower for real!”
“It’s not much, really.”Darkwing was embarrassed.
“No, this place has a real ambiance to it. I like it!”
“Well, good.”
“Thanks for getting me out of there. This is gonna take some getting used to!”
“What did they do?”
“They just stared at me! It was unnerving, really.” Thlayli twisted her long hair in her fingers. “I don’t think they like me.”she said softly.
“They don’t know you! And you didn’t even talk to them!”
“Oh yeah.” Thlayli looked rather silly. She sighed. “I guess I’m gonna have to get used to your adult reasoning, huh?”
“Guess so. I’m old and improved!”
Thlayli groaned at the weak joke. “Okaaaay...! Joking apart, how are we gonna do this? You’re family thinks you’re crazy! Course, they could be right...”
“Hey, what happened to joking apart?”Drake pretended to be hurt.
“Who’s joking?”she quipped.
“Anyway, crazy or not, I have a plan. I just go up to Gosalyn, tell her that I want to raise some proteges, tell her the rules, she picks friends that can handle it, tells him it’s like an after school job, she brings ‘em to Darkwing Tower, I give them the low down, and there you have it. Gos will help work out the rest.”
“Gee,”she snorted. “There’s a complex plan!”
“Hey, it should work! Now, come on, I need to talk to Gos.”
They left the Tower.
Drake and Thlayli tip-toed past Launchpad. They crept up the stairs to Gosalyn’s room. Thlayli kept going and went into the guestroom, to see where she was staying. Drake knocked at Gos’s door.
“Gos, honey, can I come in?” he said quietly, not wanting to disturb Launchpad.
“Sure.”
He opened the door and went in. Gosalyn was lying on her bed, looking at a photo. She put the picture down and waited.
“Gos, what are you looking at?”
“It’s the picture we took of Drakey, you, when we went back in time. I was wondering. LP said that you said that Thlayli made you Darkwing. But she’s to young. Then I thought, what if she’s from another time! Am I right?”
Darkwing’s face twisted from surprise, to confusion, to panic, and then to resignation.
“Wait right there.” he gasped, and went to find Thlayli.
“She guessed that you were from another time. She could guess the rest.”Drake told Thlayli.
Thlayli had been lying down. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Well, I’d better tell her myself then. She’s less likely to tell others that way.”
“One question. Why do we always have to keep it a secret?”
Thlayli paused. “Why do you have a secret identity? It’s just like that, only I have three identities. Besides, it makes the story more interesting. You know, that’s why Superman is interesting.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t think it makes much sense, but it’s your call.”
“And THAT’S what happened.” Thlayli finished her story. Gosalyn was amazed.
“You have to be joking.”
“Why? You know time travel and universe travel is possible. What’s wrong with dimension travel?”
“It’s just stupid. Darkwing Duck is a cartoon in your world?”
“Yup. A bit of every universe or dimension occurs on TV. Neat, huh?”Thlayli grinned.
“How many dimensions are there?” Gosalyn was curious.
“Three. The largest and most powerful, the Human Dimension, my place. The smallest, the Combined Dimension. And this dimension, the Cartoon Dimension.”
“Oh. All right.”Gosalyn resolved to think about it later. “I still don’t get what you’re doing here.”
“Ahh.” Drake shifted uncomfortably. “That’s really my question. You see, I’m going to miss Launchpad. I’m happy for him and all that, but I’ve never been one for change.”
“But he’ll still..”Gosalyn tried to interrupt, but Drake cut her off. “Please don’t interrupt. Anyway, it get’s really lonely riding around the city by yourself. Sooo, what to do. Well, I know you’re going to be my replacement someday. I know you think you are ready, but I don’t want you as a sidekick. You need someone very dependable for that. So, I’ll take you on as an apprentice, but with a few others. Safety in numbers is true when novices are concerned. I’m taking on you, Thlayli, and if you pick some friends, I’ll take them too.”
“Ahh, I’ve been thinking about that. Actually, I think that it would be better with just me and Gos. More people would just complicate things, and risk security.” Thlayli fiddled with her fingers.
“It was your idea in the first place!” Drake half yelled. “Could you ever make up your mind?”
Thlayli was insulted. “Well, I think I’m right this time.”
“She is. Too many newbies would be too many people to keep track of.”
Drake grumbled, but agreed.
“Err, Thlayli. I don’t mean to sound insulting, but what are you going to do? You don’t look that strong, and you’re a bit little, and a bit young.”
“I mentioned that in a different dimension, the same laws of physics don’t apply. I can do this..” she hovered in the air “and this..” she shrunk “and this.” Two bunny ears and a rabbit tail appeared on her, both brown.
“Keen gear! The flying and shrinking would come in handy.”
“It does. But it gives me a headache after a while. But I’m actually more comfortable with the ears and tail. So I may often have those in private.”
“Well, are we all agreed?” Drake smiled. He put his hand out.
“I’m in!” Gosalyn put her hand on top of his.
“Same here!” Thlayli put hers on top.
“Darkwing Duck!” Drake yelled.
“Quiverwing Quack!” Gosalyn cried.
“Quetzal Quack!” Thlayli shouted.
“GOOOOOO DUCKS!” They all cheered together.
“Let’s make that a kind of ritual.” Thlayli giggled.
“Why?” Drake and Gosalyn both asked. Thlayli shrugged.
“I like rituals!”
Drake and Gosalyn looked at each other. “OK.” they agreed.
“BTW Gos, don’t tell anyone where I come from. Not even Launchpad.”
“Why?” Gosalyn received a look from Thlayli and Drake. “Oh, all right. But Thlayli, is Thlayli your real name?”
“Nope. Thlayli is the name of a rabbit in a book. My real name is something that you don’t need to know.”
Gosalyn giggled. “That sounds really mysterious!”
“Hey.” Thlayli winked. “Everyone needs a secret.”
“Well, your secret is safe. Right Gos?” Drake said.
“Right. To crimefighting, and secrets!” Gosalyn hi-fived them.
“To crimefighting and secrets!”
Story copyright Rachel Baker ‘98. Thlayli, the Quetzal Quack and Sadie copyright Rachel Baker. All others copyright Disney, and used without permission.
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