Penelope's plane proved to be perfect to transport us all to St. Canard. Not only was it roomy enough for us all to sit comfortably, its pitch black aerodynamic design let us slip across borders and into the 'Capital of Crime' with no one the wiser. Once we found a safe place to land and take off from, we used the plane itself as our hideout - properly concealed beneath a large circus tent just outside an actual (if closed) circus - before we began our investigations into what was going on.
Despite all the descriptions of St. Canard as being such a dangerous city and home to so many villains, it's surprisingly mundane at first glance. The buildings are like buildings in any city, with houses and office buildings with restaurants and grocery stores interspersed, and various other city staples...and all the banks and other 'find loot here' locations all the criminals hit. To be perfectly honest, I had to keep reminding myself where I was to keep from getting sloppy while giving the place a cursory look over before we began our full investigation.
Our first step was to find Mrs. Ruby, so we could learn what she needed help with. That proved to be difficult, not only because we didn't know where to begin looking, but the one idea we had to find her for certain...simply didn't work.
Coco sat in meditation, Mask of Dark Earth on her face and Staff of Moonfire in her hooves. She glowed with the power of the Dreamtime as she slipped out of her body, sending passive pulses of her own magical energy across the city like sonar. No one would notice the energy hitting them unless they were powerful mages in their own right and were actively looking, had a natural affinity for Earth magic, or knew her magical wavelength. So Mrs. Ruby might notice, but hopefully no one else would. If she did notice, she could get in contact with them. If she didn't notice, then Coco would locate her.
At least, that had been the plan. Unfortunately, when the waves came back, Coco was surprised to see in her mind's eye lights all over the city representing those with power that could be defined as magical. As the imagery began to overload her senses, she slipped out of the Dreamtime to focus her mind back into reality, and move back into her body.
"So how did it go?" Sly asked hopefully as Coco opened her eyes.
"Not well," Coco answered apologetically. "I got too many signals. I count...at least four powerful natural magi, more Gifted, dozens of Talents, and far too many Touched."
"...come again?" Carmelita asked in confusion.
Coco flushed in embarrassment. "Sorry. Terminology Mrs. Ruby and Guru taught me. Magi are those who are naturally attuned to command a wide variety of magic. Gifted are those who aren't naturally magical, but have become attuned to magic through training. Talents are those who are naturally magical but can only do one or two certain things with their magic. Touched are like Talents, but didn't get that way naturally."
"Considering how many superheros and supervillains are known to be based in St. Canard, I suppose we should have expected that," Bentley allowed. "That sounds exactly like origin stories for all sorts of supers."
"But wasn't the other side of the plan Mrs. Ruby noticing you sounding?" Murray asked hopefully.
With so many other signals, it is unlikely she received a clear signal, Guru offered, only Coco getting the clear, undiluted message while the others got the sense of it. Unless she was actively hoping to feel Coco's magic, she likely assumed it was one of the other Magi in the city.
"So what do we do, then?" Carmelita asked worriedly. "I can't assist here. St. Canard is S.H.U.S.H. territory. If they caught an Interpol agent running around, there'd be hell to pay with inter-agency politics."
"I guess that means it's time to do more footwork," Sly offered ruefully, getting to his feet. "Coco, you stay here with everyone else. If there's that much magic power here, we don't want to draw attention like what happened in Prague."
"Da~ad!" Coco whined. "I only made an army of rage-fueled dark magic golems once!"
Wait, you did what? Guru asked in shock.
"That was you?" Penelope gasped in amazement.
"Once was enough, Coco," Sly insisted. "Those things were terrifying."
"You were all in prison," Coco complained. "What was I supposed to do? I had to get you out of there fast."
"Why was speed so important?" Murray asked curiously. "I get that you missed us-"
"It was a co-ed prison, and I'd already heard from Mrs. Ruby that the Contessa dabbled in hypnosis officially," Coco explained. "I'd seen enough of Uncle Bentley's Hentai to know what was going to happen if you stayed in there too long."
"BENTLEY!" Sly, Murray, and Carmelita all roared out angrily. Penelope glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.
"...god dammit, Coco..." Bentley whimpered as he pulled his head into his shell.
After Dad finished yelling at Uncle Bentley, he went off to investigate the city. Uncle Murray cooled down pretty quick - he's been careful about his anger ever since he recovered from the spice overdose, something Guru's training helped him with - but Mom wasn't disposed to let it go so easily. Thankfully, Penelope managed to convince Mom that letting Uncle Bentley hack local networks was more important than yelling at him about not hiding his porn better. Once Mom had calmed down and Uncle Bentley was hacking...Penelope took me aside and asked if I remembered any specific titles from what I'd seen of Uncle Bentley's files.
Guru said she was kinky. I don't know why. Her tail looked straight to me.
It wasn't long before Dad and Uncle Bentley both had a report. Apparently, the major event happening in St. Canard was some sort of battle for magical dominance between two witches, Morgana Macawber and Magica De Spell. Apparently it wasn't the first time they'd clashed, and Morgana had come out on top the last time. This time, however, Magica had somehow enlisted some heavy duty help to overwhelm Morgana...
...Mrs. Ruby.
Why do I feel like a cute little hybrid child is being used as a hostage?
8146176 There be hell to pay for that transgression.
So, any bets on how long untill Sly and DW buts heads?
Ooh! Next chapters will be interesting!
Though if Coco had to fight at some point... me thinks Coco would win
See Bentley this is why we clear the browser history every time we watch porn.
Hahahahahah! XD Ooooooh Christ... what a chapter, hehe.
Also, that's messed up a bit, its spaced out one paragraph down.
Good show!
8146226
Or you use your private tabs. Leaves no trace.
huh Morgana? why do i get the feeling that could refrence Persona 5? Does this mean we'll see some Phantom theives ? bee a nice head to head VS between the coopers and them
8146202 By the end of next chapter if he's gotten the normal IQ boost our author has a tendency to give beings. IF he's left alone, a face plant somewhere in the middle of the arc finally brings him in where the kids have been telling him to be at for a story time of three weeks
LETS GET DANGEROUS!
8146202 Here's a thought: What if DW's on Scrooge's payroll and therefore aware of the Coopers, Coco included?
8146292
DW may be bumbling at times, but he always succeeds where it counts. DW has even met Scrooge and is probably dating Ms. Macawber if I'm looking at the timeline right. As such he'll definitely want to be involved.
I don't follow the comics all to well, but a lot of crazy things have happened to Darkwing and mind you he's mostly normal compared to all the stuff he deals with and defeats. The only thing Darkwing really has going for him is stamina, impossible endurance and the fact that he can take hundreds of injuries without any of them ever being crippling in some way, the exception being the rare occasion where injuries actually persist. One example I can think of was when DW was fighting Taurus Bulba with a broken leg in a wheelchair, he'd be clearly understanding of the situation if he was well informed about whatever is going on here.
I believe Darkwing won't be told of the situation until he's done something really dumb, which is the norm for him and he will eventually fix things. Like most heroes he has ended up creating some of his own villains by accident and because of his normal attitude. As such I agree and can even believe as to him stumbling into this blind and with his mask on backwards, but in a way that makes him seem hyper-competent when he's actually in the wrong. Never underestimate the underestimated or the one who looks the most like a fool, they just might surprise you.
Quiver Wing Quack or QQ would be interesting for Coco to meet and befriend, a pony needs friends in many places.
"...And I'll be dammed before I let anyone make Mommy a sub!"
My first thought with Bentley was "...god dammit, Coco, that was shared in confidence..."
And then they were yelling at him for not hiding something well enough that Coco couldn't find it. Really? Even if it is electronic, she has Backpack, who would probably steal and show it just for kicks.
just outside an actual (if closed)
circus - before we began our investigations
1. Is this another one of those weird paragraph but not actually paragraphed things again?
Seems Bentley is getting some shelling done.
Poor Coco isn't gonna get a straight answer out of Guru... yet.
Least we know Coco's education for this part was all on video.
..........How old is Coco again?
Cause I'm pretty sure Coco is still too young to even know what the word 'Hentai' means. Let alone be looking at anything related to it.
......Bentley's probably into Meganekko. Just saying.
look forward to when you complet it.
Poor Bentley, getting strangled by Carmelita
8146265 Morgana's a witch from Darkwing Duck
NObody make the obligatory turtle dick joke.
... Shit.
8146240 Maybe next time he'll remember to browse in Incognito...
Geez, Bently.
Talk about using Darkwing's catchphrase "Let's get dangerous."
Let's take into account that DW is basically the Batman of the DIsney cartoon universe and he's dating or married to a powerful sorceress, has Scrooge's personal pilot on the payroll, has rambunctious daughter, a quantum counterpart who's just as evil as DW is good by the name of Negaduck. Is friends with Gizmo duck who might as be a technomagi/accountant (He is the latter). Has a number of enemies who technically ELEMENTALS has a couple allies that are too. Has a rogues gallery that not only includes two said elemental, water, plants, but also an Electrical tech guy, another rogue who's basically a combo platter of Joker/Toyman just slightly less homocidal. Has a future verison of himself that's gone FULL Dark Knight Returns/Kingdom Come.
Also while I doubt he'd be included in this Arc but, DW actually inspired a DINOSAUR who I think is trapped in amber? It's no wonder that Coco got what she got. Hell St. Canard is basically GOTHAMLITE! Hell I'm pretty sure St. Canard has it's own STAR labs Equivlant
Sounds like things are about to get heavy.
8146202
I'm willing to bet its gonna happen. but its all in the matter of motivation on both sides for it to happen.
8146906 Dude/et you just made me go threw memory lane... and i died
8146906 well, to be honest, St. Cannard is the 3rd city with most Super powered crime in creation (Gotham is 1st. Townsville is 2nd.) yet the ammount of magic based blimps was... surprising, to say the least...
(gasp) Tat is doing a tie-in with the Darkwing comics!!!
This was during an invasion of Darkwings from several other dimensions, as well as the return of Paddywak.
8147302
No. That was the previous confrontation between Magica and Morgana, as mentioned in the chapter.
8147580 Oops. Must have read over a few words in my excitement. Darkwing Duck was as big a part of my childhood as Duck Tales.
Poor Bentley . Quit picking on the cripple. It Ain't Fair.
lol BENTLEY! fave line so far in this context...
This is clearly a case of Magia taking Felicia hostage. I hope Felicia is giving her hell and get rescued by Coco or Sly soon so Mrs. Ruby can turn on Magica and Morgana can defeat her.
Childhood innocence makes for some of the best jokes
I know Magica at least is a Ducktales reference. She was one of Scrooge's recurring villains.
8151419 Morgana is Darkwing's Love intrest
8151521 Ah, thanks. Been a long time since I watched Darkwing Duck.
8146202 Better question, when will we see Launchpad?
8152100 Yea, him too.
Hmm, whit all these flyers do anyone thing we'er going to Cape Suzette at any point?
...why is it the quiet ones that find this stuff?
Fluttershy found Scout's hentai. Now Coco found... why does Bentley?! ...pervert nerd stereotypes. Got it.
8154274
Don't. just. don't.
Bentley she is only a filly!
That's something you don't hear often, AND it's just as funny in context!
As for Uncle Bentley's video collection... nope. Whole lotta nope.