Much as I'd feared when I first started exploring the tunnels, I wound up searching through the entire structure to find what I was looking for...and it wasn't even remotely safe. Not only did each large chamber have built in security, the wider passages between them were regularly patrolled. While the lackeys Magica had hired for he job (the files Uncle Scrooge had shown us identified them as 'The Beagle Boys') were easy enough to evade to the point they could almost be ignored - seriously, I actually walked an entire patrol right behind the biggest one and he never noticed me - the halls also had magical security that was a much greater concern. Not only were the magic constructs far more aware of their surroundings than the Beagle Boys, they followed the weave of the enchantments on the volcano itself. If I broke even one of them, it would set off an alarm throughout the entire structure. Thankfully, they were Dark Magic constructs designed to detect magic anomalies, and I could hide from them if I activated the Mask of Dark Earth and held perfectly still...which would unfortunately make the Beagle Boys notice me if they caught sight of me sitting there. Not. Fun.
While I didn't bother exploring any chamber unless it was the one I was looking for, I did snap numerous pictures as I went through, to get Uncle Bentley as much information as he could. The glowing red stone walls of the various chambers were uniform uneven rock, and otherwise uninteresting. I could only hope the pictures I snapped of the contents would help Uncle Bentley plan some way of assaulting the place if needed.
Finally I found what I was looking for. Magica was too clever for her own good...
The central chamber of the volcano was a straight up-and-down tower-like room that ran from the caldera opening straight down to the magma core of the volcano, where all the magic was anchored. This was the most vulnerable spot of the entire structure, since the shaping of the magic meant the magma core had to be exposed to open air far above. However, it was overlooked at dozens of levels by the paths honeycombing the structure, turning that obvious entrance into a death-trap ambush for anyone trying to get in from the top. The volcano sloped inward towards the top, making each higher overlook vulnerable to the one beneath as a single shot to the right place could send it falling outward and into the magma below. At the same time, all the overlooks on one side were plainly visible to those on the other three, and could just as easily be knocked out from there. There was no safe, direct way to assault the chamber, and trying to lead a rescue force through the tunnels would be just asking for trouble.
And down below, right next to the magma core in a cage of dark magic charged obsidian, was little Felicia...the cage's magic being the only thing protecting her from the punishing heat.
Coco thought quickly as she observed the situation. A cage charged with dark magic could easily be opened with its opposite, and she did have the Staff of Moonfire with her. If she could get Felicia safely out, the whole thing would be over. Despite being tiny for a gator-dog hybrid, she was still big enough to carry Coco on her back if the pony could get her moving. A bit of magic application to the temperature control technique she'd learned early in her career and she could protect Felicia from the heat, and then they could make their way through the smaller tunnels - too small for pursuit - to the outside. Then they could either fly out on the copter, or Felicia could swim them across the bay. Coco could already see the muscle definition in the hybrid's small frame. She could make the distance easily...and even if she couldn't, Coco recognized the shell pendant she wore. It was one Mrs. Ruby had taught Coco to make, an alarm pendant that would send a strong magical signal when exposed to water. Get Felicia in the water, and Mrs. Ruby would make a beeline to them.
It all seemed so easy...until Coco pulled out the Staff of Moonfire. No matter what she did, she couldn't get it to ignite. Damn, she thought to herself. The Dark Magic in the volcano is just too strong. I can't spark the magic within the staff. To use it, I'd have to activate it before entering, and keep it activated as I made my way through...and a Light Magic beacon like that would trigger every alarm system in here.
Putting the staff away, she turned back to Felicia. "Don't worry," she whispered just under her breath. "We'll get you out of here...somehow." Turning, she took several pictures of the area before making her way stealthily back to the outside.
Unfortunately, all the photos got us was a firm realization that as we were we could not assault the volcano or rescue Felicia. Getting into direct contact with Mrs. Ruby was also a bad idea, as she was probably under strict orders about what she was and wasn't supposed to do in order to keep Felicia safe. We were stuck for what to do.
Until Uncle Murray had a stroke of genius...
"...can I ask something?" Murray spoke up as everyone mused over what to do regarding the situation.
"Go ahead," Sly responded. "We're at our wits end."
"Well, this magic battle can't be good for civilians," he pointed out logically. "If the super-crime here is balanced out by vigilantes, how come they haven't gotten involved yet?"
Everyone turned to stare at Murray. "...Murray, you're a genius," Bentley finally stated in amazement.
"...I am?" Murray asked in shock.
"The entire city is crawling with super-powered individuals, or those who know how to deal with them," Bentley elaborated. "If we can't get through the volcano, we just need to look hard enough to find who can!" Turning, he began accessing the net rapidly. "We need someone with a good success record, with a variety of skills, a way to handle just about anything we saw in those pictures, and a willingness to put a lot on the line to save an innocent. And then we need a way to get in contact with them without arousing suspicion, and a way to convince them to help us."
"I don't know about the contacting part," Carmelita spoke up, "but from communications between Interpol and S.H.U.S.H., I know exactly who we need." All eyes turned to her, and she sighed ruefully. "It's going to be three kinds of headaches by the time this is over...but let's get dangerous..."
Hey no stealing Darkwing's line like that, he might just sue you for copyright infringement..........pulls out a boombox and hits play for DW's theme song.
Daring duck of mystery
Champion of right
Swoops out of the shadows
Darkwing owns the night
Somewhere some villain schemes
But his number's up
(3-2-1)
Darkwing Duck (When there's trouble you call DW)
Darkwing Duck (Let's get dangerous)
Darkwing Duck (Darkwing, Darkwing Duck!)
Cloud of smoke and he appears
Master of surprise
Who's that cunning mind behind
That shadowy disguise?
Nobody knows for sure
But bad guys are out of luck
'Cause here comes (Darkwing Duck)
Look out! (When there's trouble you call DW)
Darkwing Duck (Let's get dangerous)
Darkwing Duck (Better watch out, you bad boys!)
Darkwing Duck!
Pinkie what are you doing here, this is Coco's story.
What, can't I come by and see a friend of mine?
Okay, as long as you don't go breaking anymore 4th walls then.
Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!
Anyway great chapter and I can't wait to see what happens next to Coco and the Cooper team.
HOLY LAVA LAIR, BATMAN! That is some SERIOUS security De Spell has!
8162292 Well she is in the super-crime capitol...Plus I bet a maternal instinct driven Mrs. Ruby would plough through anything less to save her little girl.
8162303 That and Magica being the most competent of all the Baddies in all the Disney cartoons being mixed with our good author, so really this isn't really all that tough a situation that they COULD be finding themselves in.
Amusingly, DW doesn't actually have any powers. He's basically a tech / skill hero, like Batman.
8162290
But Pinkie appears in almost every Adopted Displaced story! Now we will not see her great jokes. Hopefully she can find a way to keep doing them while keeping her promise.
8162356 Okay, fine then........Pinkie Pie I hear by release you from your Pinkie Promise.
YAY.......I'M FREE........FREE FROM A PINKIE PROMISE!
8162338 Whit an EGO the size of jupiter.
DUCKS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
...Seriously though, this is going to be either incredibly awesome or incredibly hilarious. Quite possibly both.
Ha! I saw what you did at the end.
This certainly is a towering situation they have to face but I'm certain the Cooper gang can keep this whole situation S.H.U.S.H. like without raising too much suspicion. A pity Coco can't easily Mask her presence though.
Edit: I forgot, the paragraphing thing happened again on my end. Not sure if it's just my side this time.
8162426
I saw the paragraphing thing too, Sans ... in those same spots
8162378 img.pandawhale.com/157277-Peter-Griffin-ah-she-said-it-s-M6sb.jpeg
She said it, she actually said it!!!
Something's up with your something, cause you keep getting new paragraphs where spaces should be.
if this ends up going where I THINK it's going, Coco Cooper and Rarity Wayne/Batmare are going to end up having some VERY interesting conversations if/when they end up meeting later on...
Hehehehe... oooooh I have no idea who they're talking about.
Good show
Uhm.... i'm having a weird sense of déja vu....
Seems Carmelita knows that When there's trouble you call DW.
will we get to meet Goslin? we already met Huey, Dewey, & Louie
why is this going to look like a new disny cartoon???
darkwing duck!
8162364 shouldn't bee "hereby"?
8162366 that's a far to small an measure of his ego... I'd set it up more as 7'777,777x with Jupiter being 1x
8162378 both would be a safe bet
8162290 Summoning Jutsu!
DUCK TALES FOREVER!
(Summons every single Duck Tales character)
"NO MORE NARUTO FOR YOU COCO!"
Now Darkwing duck?! My inner child is going crazy
DARKWING DUCK!!!
This is gonna be good! There is no way DW can leave a child in danger and I hope he's in serious mode the whole time just so we get to see him kick Beagle Boy butt and save Felicia.
Also, given Coco is attuned to Earth Magic, how would an encounter with Bushroot go???
Think there's a chance Scrooge might send Gizmoduck to help?
...STOP GIVING ME NOSTALGIA TRIPS! I CAN ONLY WATCH SO MUCH EVERYDAY AND I JUST FINISHED DUCKTALES!
8162292 Someone's been reading the Overlord List
8166109 I was more trying to reference the 60's Batman show.
Duck Tales, the Sly Cooper games, and now Darkwing Duck? *Looks at my collection.* Got it, got it, got it, just four more and you've got all of Disney's line up. I can't wait for Talespin. Maybe even Gargoyles? Oh, Hell, lets just give them everything, Even the Mighty Ducks! DUCKS RULE! *looks around* Yep, that still sounds dumb.
8166449
Ducks ROCK, you mean. Not Rule.
8166157 I know, still doesn't change the fact that she read it.
8168108 I thought you meant me.
8162338
If this was the shadows (shadowrun) I would say he Darkwing has been blessed by all the deities of luck and chance. Also about time he got into this mess.
8166472 Haven't seen that show since it was on the air, you'll have to forgive me if I misquote it. So when are we headed to Cape Suzette?
I have not seen Darkwing Duck and yet I where cooking is the last line, there!
8166449
We've got Gargoyles through Three More Things, but I don't know about the other two...
8165067
Not really scrooge McDuck is a known quantity across the globe if one of his agents starts kicking in doors in one town everyone within three continents is gonna know who's nephews to kidnap, not to mention how donald would react to the backlash.
8166472
Shadowrun would be an interesting crossover idea...
Especially if you find a pwny that can bridge the tech and magic sides (normally tech breaks magic and eventually SAN, but the right one...)
Even if not going full mecha-suit or cyborg, I am sure that the tech they have there could be rather interesting to bring back, not to mention the spells.
"It's going to be three kinds of headaches by the time this is over...but let's get dangerous..."
FUCKING KNEW IT!!!