Mallard McQuack Family

Mallard McQuack Family is the family ship between Launchpad McQuack, Gosalyn Mallard and Drake Mallard from the Darkwing Duck and DuckTales fandom.

Let's Get Dangerous!
Drake is wallowing when Launchpad points out someone breaking into McDuck Enterprises. He points it out to Darkwing, who is reignited with energy and proceeds to follow them. As the thief makes their way to the ramrod machine, Drake appears in smoke, only for them to start running away. They run into Launchpad and fall over, and Drake quickly grabs them. He realizes that it's just a little girl, who becomes angry and kick him in the face to drop her. She then quickly escapes as security enters the room.

As Drake does an interview with Dewey, with Launchpad as the audience, the girl appears in Darkwings hideout. She says that she was able to find them easily, and Drake tries to grab her, only for her to start running around the hideout. Launchpad tells Dewey to do something, when Drake finally gets the girl to talk. She explains that her name is Gosalyn, and that she was trying to expose Taurus Bulba as a villain who stole the RAMrod and did something to her grandfather. Drake asks for proof, but Gosalyn thinks that her story is enough. Drake says that he can't go ahead without it, and Gosalyn angrily tries to leave, pushing past him and Laucnchpad.

As Drake puts the arrows Gosalyn grabbed back in the display case, he notices Launchpads reflection in the glass. He knows what Launchpad is going to say, but can't go through with the investigation. Launchpad says that they can at least check it out, but Drake says that the city needs him. Launchpad also points out that Gosalyn does as well, and Drake looks to her talking with Dewey. Launchpad reminds Drake that he wanted to make a difference and the four of them hop on the ratcatcher back to Bulba's lab.

When Gosalyn and Drake fight Bulba, Bulba ends up throwing Gosalyn off the building, and Drake jumps off to catch her. Once he does, he tries to get his cape to "swoop" so they can glide down, but it's not working. Gosalyn comes up with an idea, and ties Drake's cape to his feet and they're able to slow down towards a landing. Launchpad then runs onto the landing and catches the two of them just in time. They cheer, and Drake hops out of Launchpad's arms only to fall. Launchpad quickly helps him back up, and calls what he just did awesome, almost as awesome as the original show. He thanks him just as Gosalyn thanks him for the save. She says that they can now use the RAMrod key to find her grandpa, but Drake had to leave it with Bulba to save her life. She says that they have to get it, only to find him gone.

As the city is being torn apart by the fearsome four, Gosalyn asks what the plan is and Launchpad says that Darkwings been planning for this his whole life. Drake turns to them and says that he has come to one conclusion: that they are doomed! Gosalyn slaps him and tells him to get a hold of himself, he was the one who wanted more crime to fight. Drake points out that that was true, but the fearsome four are supervillains with superpowers! Launchpad thinks that it's his fault, since he wished everyday for the Darkwing show to be real and today it came true! Drake freaks out and grabs onto Launchpad, saying that there's no point in dreams since they turn into nightmares, when Gosalyn tells them to stop. She says that Drake is the "terror that flaps in the night" and needs to start acting like it. She thinks the villains will be easy to defeat, and they can just break into the lab again like she did earlier. Drake say it isn't like last time, since the lab is fortified. They can't just beat up a villain and make them let them in the lab, but Gosalyn thinks that's a great idea. Drake thinks it's too much and that she'll get hurt, but Gosalyn thinks she can take care of herself. As Drake stops her from hoping back into the ratcatcher, Launchpad points out that kids are normally the most daring adventurers of a family. He then gets the idea that that's what they need, an adventure family. He thinks that Gosalyn should be the Dewey, Drake would be the Launchpad, and he would be the uncle. Gosalyn says no thanks, since she's still looking for her own family, and doesn't need another one. WANDA then informs them that she found Quackerjack, and Gosalyn says that they can take on at least one supervillain. Darkwing gives in, and says that they should get dangerous, much to Launchpad and Gosalyn's excitement. He then add's they would do it in the safest way possible, disappointing Gosalyn. Launchpad then picks her up and places her on his lap in the sidecar. He then puts a helmet on her head and the three take off.

They find Quackerjack, and Gosalyn is ready to jump in but Drake grabs her by the back of her coat to stop her. He says they can't just run in there and asks Launchpad on his read of the situation. The set up reminds Launchpad of a Darwking episode, and the two get distracted and sing the theme song, while Gosalyn slips out of her jacket to search for Quackerjack. Drake then finds Gosalyn snooping around the warehouse and says that he's trying to keep her safe, but Gosalyn insists that she can take care of herself. Launchpad joins them, recapping the episode that they were thinking of, but forgetting what happened next. Suddenly, a giant robot appears out from behind the boxes, and Launchpad remembers.

As they are chased through the city on the ratcathcher, Gosalyn insists that they're going the wrong way, but Drake's pretty sure getting away from the robot is the right way. Launchpad points out that family tends to playfully argue, and Drake moves the ratcatcher through the city. They're eventually able to shake it after hiding under a bridge. Gosalyn's upset that they lost their chance at Bulba, but Drake's pretty sure she's living in a fantasy. She can't exactly fight a 30ft robot. Launchpad writes orange slices on his list of things to bring next time, just as Liquidator shows up. Gosalyn excitedly jumps out of the ratcatcher and runs towards him, much to Launchpad and Drake's shock. They race off to join her, and Launchad quickly pulls her into the sidecar as they do.

They arrive back and the lair, and Drake tells Gosalyn and Launchpad to get some rest since he has things to take care of. Gosalyn assumes he means that they should change clothes before heading out again, and the two start to argue. Gosalyn angrily says that Drake isn't her family, so he can't tell her what to do, before running to the window. Launchpad follows her and Gosalyn is aware that she's being hard on Drake, but needs to find her Grandpa. Launchpad then tells her that Drake has been staying up with Fenton to try and find a way to get him back, much to Gosalyn's shock. She listens to the rest of the Drake's conversation with Fenton before tucking helping him get to sleep. She find herself a spot to sleep, and Launchpad cries as he watches.

Launchpad wakes up Gosalyn, only for her to realize that Drake had left to fight Bulba without them. The two formulate a plan and sneak into Bulba's lab just in time. Gosalyn is able to drop a smoke bomb and Launchpad sneaks in to free Drake. As the smoke clears he attacks Bulba, as the fearsome four attack. As Bushroot snakes towards him, Gosalyn is able to use her crossbow to stop him, only for Quackerjack to attack her with Banana bombs. Drake jumps in front of her and uses his cape to send them back at Quackerjack. Megavolt then tries to blast them, but Launchpad knocks him aside before throwing him across the room. The fearsome four the regroup and get ready to attack. Drake tells Gosalyn to get to the RAMrod, while he and Launchpad take handle the four. Gosalyn questions how they're going to take out the villains, but Launchpad and Drake point out that Bushroot isn't technically a villain. Gosalyn exclaims that she forgot they were nerds, and they all get dangerous.

Gosalyn is packing her things away, when Drake comes up and sits beside her. She sadly says that she's stuck with the reality she's got, but Drake doesn't think that's a reason she should give up. Launchpad does know a surprising number of scientists that could help. She may have gotten knocked down today, but what's important is that she gets back up. While he helps her find her grandfather, he awkwardly asks if she wants to be his crime fighting partner. She excitedly says yes, and Launchpad and Dewey cry as they watch. Dewey tells Launchpad to go to them, and Launchpad rushes to join them, saying that he'll also stay. He'll spend his days in Duckburg and his night in St. Canard (he'll sleep on the drive in between. Their moment is interrupted by WANDA saying that there is currently a crime in progress. The three share a look and hop into the ratcatcher, racing off into the night.

Let's Get Dangerous!

 * Launchpad and Gosalyn end up landing on Drake when they drop into the office.
 * Launchpad watches Drake comfort Gosalyn.

Fanon
The dynamic between Drake, Gosalyn and Launchpad is the main dynamic focused on in the original Darkwing Duck series. It is well like by fans, and many found their family important growing up. This was especially felt by many LGBT fans as found family is very relevant to the community, and enjoyed having it played out in the series. Fans of the DuckTales reboot, were happy when Gosalyn was announced for season 3, and that they would get to see the family reunited once again.

On AO3, Mallard McQuack Family is the fifth most written relationship for Drake, the fourth most written for Launchpad, and the third most written for Gosalyn. It is also the tenth most written in the Darkwing Duck (Cartoon 1991) tag.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

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Variations

 * Darkwing Dad refers to the ship between Drake and Gosalyn
 * Drakepad refers to the ship between Drake and Launchpad
 * Launchdad refers to the ship between Launchpad and Gosalyn