Rise of the Riptide! | Ducktales 2017

(8) Hunting Cardinals and Falling Tides

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It wasn't too difficult to track down the supervillain, especially with the dark blue menacing glow emanating from one of the buildings.

Ariel held on tightly to her spot on Gizmoduck's back. She didn't trust her own thrusters to take her there herself and they simply didn't have the time for Ariel's clumsy flying.

Landing a few blocks away from the glow, the two heroes snuck quietly around the alleyway until they got close enough to a window. It was just who they suspected; the Dark Cardinal was stealing parts from manufacturing machines, stuffing them in their bag. Her back was turned to the window.

"That's them, right?" Ariel piped up quietly from her spot.

"Without a doubt. Just remember; this is your chance to be a hero. You got this."

Cardinal, all of a sudden, stopped in their tracks. Gizmoduck and Ariel gasped from their hiding spot, immediately ducking and hoping they weren't seen.

Then, in a flash, the winged villain crashed through the window, soaring above them.

"Gizmo, I was hoping you'd come by!"

It only took a moment for her to notice the new player. "And you brought a new gizmo, how cute."

Cardinal's condescending tone towards his mentee sent a shiver down his spine. Gizmoduck stood protectively in front of Ariel.

When Cardinal began soaring upward, Gizmo followed in pursuit. Before Ariel could join, Gizmo spoke through the comlink in her helmet. "Do not pursue. We can't let her know about our secret weapon too early. Just stay on the ground for now."

Ariel let out an annoyed disappointed sigh. It felt wrong not coming up there to help while Gizmoduck was in trouble. But she listened; it's not like she was a reliable flier anyways. So she opted to watch the fight above her.

Gizmoduck was practically on her tail, shooting missiles out of his shoulder pads. Cardinal was both fast and clever, and they were able to dodge the incoming projectiles. When one came too close, she used her gauntlet-laser to throw it back the opposite way. Gizmoduck dodged his own missile, flying out of harm's way. Cardinal flew in a strange pattern, hoping to confuse the gizmosuit and take advantage of its bulkiness.

They flew above a couple of the factories. Gizmoduck flew blindly, oblivious to the Cardinal's plan. As she soar on top of the factory, Gizmoduck followed, even as they flew above the smoke stakes. Unfortunately for Gizmoduck, a puff of smoke puffs out right as he's flying past, blinding him through his visor. He immediately crashed into a neighboring factory.

Cardinal cackled. "That'll teach you to not smoke and fly, Giz!"

With Gizmoduck temporarily down, Ariel panicked as she watched Cardinal fly back into the factory. With impulsive determination, she followed them inside.

Cardinal was just preparing to leave when they noticed Ariel. "Oh, Giz Junior, I forgot about you."

Just as Gizmoduck had predicted, a bolt of magic came from their gauntlet. Ariel panicked, letting out a small wisp of water to block the incoming attack. While she was able to protect herself from the bolt, the force knocked Ariel to her tail.

"How embarrassing for you." Cardinal teased, making Ariel flush with embarrassment. "I like the getup, Junior. And who knows? Maybe one day you'll actually convince people that you're a hero. I mean- it worked for Gizmo."

Before Cardinal could leave the factory, they felt a small tug on their bag. They turn to see Ariel with a thin lasso of water. With a small whip, the bag jumps from their arms into her's.