Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"What a fascinating little creature!" Ludwig observed as Bruni crawled around on his hands.

"Yeah, Bruni really loves to explore." Huey nodded. He was currently in a therapy session in Von Drake's office. It had been a few days since coming home from Australia where, not only had they tamed the fire spirit, he seemed to grant Huey powers of his own.

Of course, the adults were nervous with the boy having the power of fire, but Huey was a level headed and cautious child.

...Most of the time.

"And how are you adjusting to your powers?" Ludwig asked, writing down notes.

"It's a little scary, I'll admit." Huey created a little flame in his hand. "But Mom, Uncle Donald, and Lena have been really helping me learn to control them. Though..."

"'Though'?"

"I...don't know if you've heard. But I...kind of...have a temper." He petted Twyla, who was seated on his lap. The cat didn't seem bothered at all by the little lizard spirit as he snuggled up to her.

"Ah, the classic McDuck temper I presume?"

"Yeah. It mostly manifests in what I call the 'Duke of Destruction'. He's basically all of my emotions that I try to suppress."

"I see....you know there is nothing wrong with having emotions, right?"

"Yeah...Lena helped me accept him a while back. But now...I'm just worried my fire's going to go out of control. What if somebody gets hurt?"

"Have you sought help for your temper before?"

"Uncle Donald did anger management a few years ago and he taught me some breathing techniques and to count down from a hundred. But sometimes those don't work! And I'm going to be going through puberty soon! I'll be an emotional wreck! What if-"

"Huey." Ludwig interrupted. "Deep breathes. Copy me. Breathe in....breathe out."

Huey followed his lead and felt himself calming down.

"Than you." He sighed. "But don't you see? I'm a ticking time bomb!"

"No, you're not." Ludwig replied calmly. "You're just a boy who's discovering new things about himself. The important thing is to not be afraid of yourself or your powers, do you hear me?"

Huey nodded.

"Good. They are a part of who you are now, and it's just plain silly to be afraid of yourself! You'd never get anything done. Now, our time is almost up and what I want you to work on for next time is-"

"HUEY!" June barged into the room, startling the inhabitants. "Is your therapy thingy almost done? We're going to be leaving soon for the grand opening!"

"Just finishing up." Huey responded. "You know you're not supposed to interrupt a session unless it's an emergency. There's a sign on the door telling you that."

June looked up at the door and sure enough, there was a sign declaring; 'Therapy session in progress-Do Not Disturb!'. She just shrugged at it.

"Dewey told me that if I came across a sign like that I should just say it couldn't stop me because I never learned how to read...even though I do know how to read. He just said it was a 'meme'...even though i'm still not totally sure what those are. The ones he showed me are pretty funny though!"

Huey just sighed. "I'll be down in a minute. Are you coming with us professor?"

"Of course! 22's been hounding me about getting out of my office and to 'actually see the light of day'. I mean, I was imprisoned for decades and the sun looked exactly the same as when I was captured so i don't understand what the big deal is."

'Mom and Uncle Donald would beg to differ."

Daisy happily turned to the small crowd that had gathered before her.

"Hello everyone and thank you for coming! I would like to officially declare 'Daisy's Boutique' open for business!" 

With a few waves of his hands, Donald made a mini fireworks show appear above them with colorful lights in various designs.

"You're getting pretty good there sailor." Lena smiled.

"I've got a pretty good teacher." He smiled back.

The rest of the family cheered, jumped and clapped...which helped make up for the fact that they made up the largest part of the crowd. Aside from them was a lone reporter and a few people who were curious about the display.

The building Daisy had chosen was small compared to the other, more established shops in town, but she had worked hard to make it stand out. The building was painted purple with pink doors and awnings and a large floral sign saying 'Daisy's Boutique' was posted above the door.

"The name's a little on the nose." Louie noted.

"...The name was the hardest part." Daisy sighed. "Did you know that 'Daisybelle' is a type of chicken? I didn't want that kind of imagery and 'The Blooming Daisy' brought up a...not so child friendly image. So simple and practical it was!"

"This place looks amazing!" Webby clapped.

"The colors are so pretty!" May smiled.

"Thanks girls. Now let me show you all the inside!"

The inside was actually more colorful than the outside, and tastefully done so. Daisy's designs were set up on mannequins as accessories were set up on shelves. In the corner, a changing and mending station was set up. Scented candles gave the store a nice smell and the dress flowers gave it all a natural touch.

"Wow..." May gasped.

"I'm not interested in fashion, but it looks like you've got a nice little set up!" Della gave two thumbs up.

"I see you did a tasteful organization of fabric by color and type." Violet nodded. "Very organized."

"This place is amazing Dais!" Donald gave her a hug. "I'm so proud of ya!"

"Thanks."

"You chose good lad!" Scrooge laughed. "I knew you'd find someone with good business sense. Hopefully she can teach ya thing or two!"

Donald's smile a tight. "...Sure." He then quickly walked away with Daisy.

Scrooge frowned. "What was that about?"

"I think that was a backhand compliment Uncle Scrooge." Huey explained.

"Surely he knows I was joking!" He paused. "...Mostly."

"Oh, that reminds me." Ludwig turned around. "I've been meaning to schedule a double session with both of ya."

"What for? We already worked out the decade long silence."

"Perhaps. But I fear there's more tension under the surface, even back then. We can do one later today."

Scrooge blinked. Had Donald talked about him during his sessions? Scrooge had definitely talked a good deal about them during his own (reluctant) sessions, but he couldn't recall if he said anything that would warrant this.

Daisy looked around the store and couldn't help but be disheartened that her family were the only ones looking around.

"Hey, don't worry!" Louie said once he noticed her sagging shoulders. "A lot of small businesses get a slow start! You just gotta get the word around!"

"....I already had you guys post flyers all over town." She mumbled.

"Well..."

"Sometimes these things just take a little time." Beakley said, looking out the window to the people passing by...people who already looked interested in the front window displays. "I'm sure a bit of luck will come your way."

"Already on it!" June said from the corner of the store. She had opened a window and was walking in a circle while waving a smudge wand.

"...What are you doing?" Dewey tilted his head in confusion.

"Creating a psychic energy circle."

"...Why?"

"Because I don't want to draw on the floor. Now hush! I need to focus!" She stopped walking and handed the wand to Huey, who in turn handed her a picture of clothes and money, along with a candle (which he carefully lit).

"She's performing an abundance spell Elvira taught her." Violet whispered, taking careful notes as June pulled out pieces of citrine and jade from her pockets. "The wand consists of vervain, thyme, honeysuckle and marigold. The candle is shining on what she wants for the store; success and good fortune. The citrine invites success while the Jade increases ambition. By doing all this, she is ejecting good vibrations into the store and Daisy herself, both by her own will and by calling on the Goddess and Horned God. It's a fascinating process."

"Bah!" Scrooge scoffed softly. "Daisy worked hard on this place, I don't see why she would need help from those family meddling gods!"

"Huh. Reminds me of some of the rituals Magica taught me." Lena said, recalling the angry woman' instructions on which candles were necessary to complete a certain spell.

June began murmuring, eyes closed as she held the gems; "Let this place be popular, may it bring her success, may people flock here from all over, so mote it be."

"Well that explains the strange seeds she asked me to order." Beakley recalled.

"I've never seen her so....serious." May whispered to Louie.

"This is bringing back very fond...and very strange in hindsight, memories from our childhood." Della whispered to her brother.

Violet quickly shushed her. "Now she has to close the circle! It's vital for it to work."

Everyone watched in silence as June handed Huey back the things, blowing out the candle while thanking it, and finally walking in another circle while holding the smudge want. The moment she finished, her eyes burst open.

"Okay, I'm done. Thanks Huey! This place be on the path for success now mommy!"

Daisy gave resigned smile and hugged her daughter. "Thanks Junebug. I can use all the good energy I can get."

Della tilted her head. "You're really into Grandma's nature witch stuff huh?"

"Uh huh!" June nodded.

Lena walked to the spot where June had performed the spell, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Huh..."

"What is it?" Webby asked.

"There is magic here..."

June gasped happily. "The spell worked!"

"...but it's strange. I've never felt magic like this before."

"Grandma says it's a special brand her family developed over time."

"It appears to be a blend of native folklore and ancient celtic traditions." Violet observed. "Webbigail, does that match up with the research you've done on the family's history?"

"I'm more specialized in the McDuck's, but that sounds right." Webby nodded. "From what I've gathered, the Duck family has roots in England, Spain, the Caribbean, and the Netherlands. Of course, that's only what I've traced so far. Then you get Donald and Della and then you add Scotland and Ireland to the mix."

"Talk about a mixed bag." Lena said.

"I think that sounds about right. What do you say Della?" Donald looked around. "Della?"

"Uh oh." Dewey pointed to the changing station and they found Della....staring deeply into the trio of mirrors.

"Della?" Daisy gently approached her. Della gave no indication of being aware of Daisy's presence. In fact...it was like her mind had left her body entirely.

"Not gonna get me this time..." She mumbled. "You blink first you..."

Ludwig indicated them to be quiet before gently pulling her away. "Now Della yer reflection's not real." He snapped his fingers and she blinked, as though coming out of a trance. "We're still working on it."

Della sighed. "I did it again didn't I?"

"At least you didn't try to fight your reflection this time!" Dewey offered as encouragement.

"These things take time." Ludwig said. "You just have to keep reminding herself that unless the mirror is magical, that yer reflection is not a real person and cannot hurt ya. You've been doing really well in our sessions."

The bell above the door rang as a few customers came in. Daisy quickly went over to greet them.

"Let's leave Daisy to her work." Donald said, herding the children out of the store. "She can tell us all about her first day later."

"In the meantime, we've got some practicing to do red." Lena patted Huey's shoulder.

Huey breathed in, and breathed out.

"Good." Lena nodded. "I'm gonna be honest...I don't have a lot of experience in elemental magic. Mine's mostly shadow and friendship stuff, but I'm sure a lot of it can apply here. So, let's work on breathing and focus techniques for now. Summon a small flame."

Huey focused on his hand and when he opened it, a small flame was burning above his palm.

Bruni squealed excitedly on the ground as Violet observed him. Tywla also sat in a sunny spot, watching Huey practice.

"Good." Lena pointed to the five candles encircling Huey. "I want you to light all these candles without moving from that spot. Okay?"

Standing in place, he glanced around at the candles Lena and Violet had set up.

I can do this...

Facing the first candle, he took a bit of the flame and shot it forward, lighting the candle without setting the grass on fire. Breathing a sigh of relief, he did that for the next three candles.

For the fifth candle, he decided to try something different. Focusing on the candle, he raised his other hand and snapped his fingers.

The candle ignited.

"YES!" Huey cheered, momentarily forgetting the other flame he was holding, which quickly burst with energy. "Agh!" He tried to get it back under control, but in his anxiety, the fires of all the candles stretched into the air.

"Huey!" Lena called out, jumping away from the fires.

"Why isn't this working!?" Huey exclaimed, juggling the raging flame in his hands.

"You need to calm down!"

"You try being calm!"

"You know the fire can't hurt you! Just-OW!" She fell to the ground as a flame nicked her arm.

"LENA!" Both Huey and Violet ran to her as the fire from the candles extinguished.

"I'm fine!" She held up her lightly singed sweater arm. "It didn't reach skin."

"I am so so sorry!"

"Don't worry, I've done worse to myself." Lena brushed herself off. "But we have to work on not panicking when things start going out of your control."

"How can I not panic!? What if something goes wrong? What if you were hurt worse!?"

"Huey!" Lena stamped her foot, and the candles ignited with purple fire this time, causing her to sigh. "As you can see, I'm not the best at keeping my own magic under control when I'm stressed."

"I can do it." Huey clenched his fists. "I did it before. I just have to lock those feelings away-"

"No. Not like that." Lena stopped him. "Remember what I told you about the Duke? You can't hide away the parts of yourself that scare you. You have to own them."

"Part of me didn't have fire powers before!"

"True, but the same rule applies. The point is...I tried doing that before and it just made my powers act out even more. And remember what happened to Donald and Della?"

He nodded glumly.

"We'll work on this one step at a time."

Bruni crawls this way to Huey's shoulder and gave him an encouraging look while Twyla rubbed herself against his legs in a comforting motion.

"Okay...one step at a time. I can do this."

Ludwig sat with Donald and Scrooge in his office.

"Now Donald, why don't you tell Scrooge why you wanted to have this session."

Donald took a deep breath. "I wanted to do this with you because I think there are some things we can work on our relationship."

"But our relationship is perfectly fine." Scrooge insisted. "Sure we didn't speak for a decade....but we're past that!"

Donald glared at the man.

"Now Scrooge." Ludwig  "The key to a healthy relationship with anyone is open communication."

"Yeah you crazy old bird!" Donald smirked, causing Scrooge to scowl.

"Now Donald, childish names aren't the way to go about it either."

The sailor folded his arms in a pout. 

"Now, why don't you go into a little more detail?"

Donald sighed. "Look Uncle Scrooge I...I know the spear wasn't entirely your fault now. I accept that and I was wrong to take it out on you for so long.

But even before then...there were other things. Smaller things."

"Other things?" Scrooge blinked in surprise. "If they were so small then why are they an issue?"

"Small things are often a contributing factor to larger things." Ludwig explained.

Scrooge waved his hand. "Well get on with it then! Time is money lad!"

"I'm not getting paid for this." Ludwig reminded him.

"Fine." Donald glared at him. "We're here because you're a greedy capitalist who has no concern for others!"

"What!?"

"You heard me old man! You're a an old miser who likes to sit on his ice of gold like a dragon and who goes on dangerous adventures just for the thrill and smells like gold and haggis." Donald smiled. "Hey, I'm feeling better already! Therapy really does work!"

Scrooge's face was boiling red.

Ludwig sighed and rubbed his forehead.

This was going to be harder than he thought.

Penny was reading in the living room-

"Hey best friend!"

-when Della's entrance made her jump in her seat and nearly from her book.

"What ch'ya reading?" Della looked at the book title. "Basic social customs; tips for understanding basic social norms.'"

"Red Della gave it to me. He said it would help me understand your most basic earth customs." Penny played with the book nervously in her hands. "So...how was the opening of Daisy's....bow-tick?"

"Boutique. And I think it went pretty good. Don't really care much for fashion myself."

"Neither do I. Although these articles of clothing you selected for me are surprisingly comfortable." Penny looked down at her yellow tank top, jean shorts and black combat boots. It wasn't as colorful as the clothes the other moonlanders wore but that suited her just fine.

"And they look great on ya too!" Della said before blushing when she realized what it implied. "i-I mean, you look great all the time! Not just in those clothes, but in any clothed! Even without clothes! WHAT AM I SAYING!?" She held her beak shut.

Penumbra's face was also blushing (at least by moonlander standards). "Thank you. I...think you also look nice in whatever you wear. Even if its nothing at all. Not that I imagined what you looked like without clothes either!"

"Ha ha! Thanks!" Why was Della's heart beating so loud? "Well I...should check up on the kids! Yes! That! See ya!" She then awkwardly side stepped out of the room.

Penny covered her face in her hands. "Ugh..."

"You're just as bad as she is."

She peeked through her fingers to see Beakley dusting nearby.

"Not you as well."

"Sorry dear, we just call it like we see it. And frankly subtlety is a trait neither of you possess."

Penny groaned and leaned back. "Why do i feel so weird around her!? Why must she be so...desirable!"

"Perhaps if you told her how you feel-"

"Absolutely not! That cannot happen!"

"Why? What are you afraid of?

"I FEAR NOTH-" She paused.

"Everyone's afraid of something." The Professor had told her. "There's no shame is being scared. It does not make you weak."

"...What if she does not feel the same way I do?"

Beakley gave her a deadpan stare. "Do you honestly believe that?"

Penny nodded.

"....On the minuscule chance she does not reciprocate your feelings, the worst she can do is turn you down."

"I...I just do not want to make things weird for her and me."

"Do you recall when Launchpad admitted her liked you?"

"Yes."

"And you tuned him down. Now, do the two of you avoid each other? Is there a tension when you're together?"

Penny shook her head.

"No. You're good friends and I'm sure you and Della will work it out. But the messy feelings are going to continue unless you say something."

"She is going through a lot right now."

"And what she needs is someone who loves her to stand by her side and help her through it." Beakley took a seat next to her. "I've known Della most of her life. I'm going to be honest, you're different than the other people's she's dated in the past, and not just as a species. Perhaps that's a good thing, seeing how some of them turned out. Either way, she will try with all her might to make things work between you two, regardless of what you end up being."

"What about the children? Will they not find it weird?"

Beakley gave her another blank look. "Trust me. They're going to be over the moon. Pun not intended."

Penny nodded, having recalled at saying as something Della taught her.

Beakley looked her over. "I know this isn't my place to say....but, if Della did set out to find someone to be a part of her and her children's lives, I'd prefer it'd be you."

The housekeeper left the room, leaving Penny to go over their conversation.

Daisy returned to the houseboat later that evening, exhausted but smiling.

"How'd the first day go?" Donald asked eagerly.

"It went better than I thought it would. My being on the It List helped spread the word around and gave it some credibility. If all goes well I can start looking into hiring someone to help me run the place."

"That's great!"

"How'd therapy go?"

Donald winced. "We....may  have to do a few more sessions. There were a couple of things we didn't get through."

Between the shouting and the insults, they hadn't made much progress.

"Just give it time. I'm sure you'll work through this."

He kissed her before noticing the paper she was holding. "What's that?"

"Oh! Someone stuck it to the outside wall, but look!" She rolled out the paper, revealing a colorful flyer advertising a carnival. "It's open this weekend. It's just outside Duckburg but it looks like a lot of fun. Would the kids like to go?"

"Absolutely! They should still be up."

They found the kids playing video games in the tv room accompanied by Scrooge, Della and Penumbra. May and Huey were intensely focused on a fighting game while the others cheered them on.

"Hello everyone." Daisy greeted, causing May to pause the game.

"How did it go?"

"It went really well. I've already got a few orders line up."

"Louie Inc. is more than happy to offer hired help." Louie said, looking at his phone.

"Thanks Louie. But I have something that might interest you kids a little more." She held up the flyer.

"A carnival!?" Dewey gasped excitedly.

"I've always wanted to go to a carnival!" Webby gushed. "I want to eat fried food! And go on rides that are just within the safety perimeters! And play games that are obviously rigged but are still fun anyway!"

"Sounds like overpriced cheap entertainment." Scrooge scoffed.

"Remember the carnivals Grandma took us to whenever it was in town?" Della asked. "We had so much fun! I once threw up on the carousel after eating a ton of cotton candy. It was awesome!"

"Then I would also like to check out this earth entertainment." Penny said. "Though I would prefer to keep the regurgitation to a minimum if possible."

"I've never been to one but I love it already!" June squealed. May nodded along eagerly.

Huey was quiet, eyes focused on the paused video game.

"Huey?" May asked. "You ok?"

"...I'm just not sure if I'm ready to be around large crowds of people yet." He admitted.

"Hey." Donald put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. I know how overwhelming it can be."

"I just need to think about it for a little while." Huey smiled. "Thanks Uncle Donald."

Della gave a tight smile. "If you're worried about your magic getting out of hand, don't worry! We'll be right there to help!"

""This is going to be so much fun!" Webby cheered.

Huey watched his excited siblings slash cousins with a smile. After what they've all just been through, they needed a break to just relax and have fun.

Chapter Text

By the time the weekend rolled around, a plan was decided for the carnival;

Daisy would be interviewing shop assistants so she couldn't make it (The kids promised to win her a stuffed animal).

Scrooge and Donald would be having an all day session with Ludwig as their previous sessions either ended when one of them refused to listen or started insulting the other, so they were stuck at home.

So that left Beakley, Della and Penumbra to take the kids, which was fine by them.

"I'm just not understanding what we're doing wrong!" Scrooge vented to his friend the morning of. "Anytime we seem to be getting anywhere he starts getting snarky and not listening to a word I'm saying!"

"Just Donald?" Beakley raised an eyebrow.

Scrooge looked aside. "...Alright, I may have said some things as well."

"Of course."

"It's just...hard!" He sighed. "Talking about....feelings! About things you didn't just talk about before!"

"I know, it's been difficult for me as well." Beakley looked at him. "We grew up in different times. Therapy has only become an acceptable form of treatment in the past decade or so, when we were young we were taught to just suck it up. To keep those feelings locked up, that some things were simply just not talked about. Any form of mental illness or distress and you were sent to an asylum were they did gods-knows-what. Thankfully, much of that has changed, though some of the stigma of going to therapy still remains."

"I know! And I'm glad it's helping my family-"

"Then why won't you let it help you?"

Scrooge looked at the floor.

"I'm assuming there was an even bigger taboo about mental illness when you were growing up? I've read horror stories about how they treated hysteria in women."

"...You start acting different, you start seeing things that weren't there, heck you tried to talk to anybody about feeling helpless and you were shipped off to the bedlam house. We had this neighbor woman, she was perfectly lovely at first, but after she'd had her fifth baby she just...stopped being all there. Seemed to stop caring about her other kids, always seemed on the verge of screaming, you could see it in her eyes. One day I came back from shining shoes and she was just...gone. Carted off by her lousy husband and her quack doctor to one of those hospitals. Never heard of her again. We all went on acting like she was never there. But I always wondered..."

"It can be hard to shake what you were taught growing up." Beakley said gently. "But the world has changed. We can talk about these things now."

"I spent my formative years traveling all over the world, by myself, facing ruthless bounty hunters, cutthroat business rivals and monsters that could make ya go crazy just by looking at them and I turned out fine!"

Beakley just looked at him.

His shoulders sagged. "...Alright, maybe not necessarily fine-"

"That's what I'm saying! You've been through enormous emotional trauma and never had a healthy outlet to deal with it all. Maybe you think you're fine, but remember this has affected your relationship with your family as well.

"You've pushed them away to avoid getting hurt and wound up hurting them. Need I remind you that Donald and Della were so terrified of letting you down that they hid the fact they had magic to the point of making themselves sick?"

He winced at the memory. Of his kids willing to nearly kill themselves because they were afraid of how he would react...

"Not to mention the younger children, who tried to obtain God powers just to prove themselves to you! You have incredible business sense, I remember you accurately predicting the dot com and housing bubbles bursting, but you have a long way to go on emotional intelligence."

"And you already have some?"

"One has to as a spy and as a parent."

He wrung his hands. "Do...do they really think I'll stop loving them if they disappoint me?"

"Hence why you need to start understanding their point of view, and not be afraid to show yourself to be vulnerable too."

He sat down in a chair and stared out the window. She got up and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You need to do two things; be willing to listen when he tries to tell you something, and open yourself enough to share your own demons. It's once you're both open with each other that things will improve."

He groaned. "Today's going to be an emotional mess, isn't it?"

"Perhaps, but you both know how to clean up after yourselves...most of the time."

He gave her a wry smile. "I honestly don't know where I'd be without ya these last couple of years."

"...And I, you."

"He just won't listen!" Donald complained as Daisy prepared to go and do interviews.

"Donald I know he's an emotionally repressed, stubborn old man-"

"Exactly!"

"-But I also know you well enough that you tend to be just as stubborn at times. Especially when pride is on the line."

Donald folded his arms and fumed.

"Don't pout." Daisy gently scolded. "You look like the kids when you do that."

He groaned. "Why did I agree to do this?"

"Because you want a more honest, open relationship with him and set a good example for the kids."

"It's just that every time I try...it feels like he's looking down on me."

"I'm sure that's not true. You just need to give him a chance."

"Give the great Scrooge McDuck, the 'Smarter than the smarties, tougher than the toughies and sharper than the sharpies' a chance?"

"Yes. He's human too. He's got his faults-"

"I can give you a list."

"-But he's also got his moments. He let you and the boys move in when you had nowhere else to go, right?"

Donald grunted an acknowledgement.

"He's got an old fashioned view of how the world works, especially with regards to poverty and hard work, but the fact that he's willing to do this shows that he's trying. Look at how he found Poe!" She paused. "I mean sure, he's now one of our main enemies..."

He got up and hugged her. "Thanks Dais. I'm just...scared of how this is gonna go."

"Well no matter what, I'll be right there when you get out."

They kissed, one stopping when her phone buzzed.

"Shoot! I've gotta get going!"

"Show that world what you've got honey!"

"Thanks." She gave him one last peck before rushing to her car.

He watched her go before mentally preparing himself for what was about to happen.

Scrooge, Donald and Ludwig waved the kids and women goodbye before heading back to the office.

Duckworth greeted them there while holding a first aid kit.

"What's that for?" Scrooge asked.

"Just in case." The butler nodded, putting the kit down before vanishing.

Don't listen to him." Ludwig advised, taking a seat. He made no effort to remove the kit. "Now, I've been doing a little research and poking around the old place and I think I've found a few things that could help us along." He held up a cardboard box where Donald and Scrooge could hear some things moving around.

"You just took things you found lying around the mansion!?" Scrooge asked.

"Honestly, it's your own fault for leaving some of these lying around. You really should put a lock on that garage door." He set the box down. "Let's save those for later and try talking first."

"Cause that worked so well before." Donald rolled his eyes.

Ludwig shot a stern look.

Donald sighed. "Where do we start?"

"Why don't you start with three things you like about him, and three things you don't."

"Alright...I like that he's giving the kids a better life than I could. I like that he's teaching the kids to get out of trouble, and I...I like how he still took care of me and Della after what happened with Ma."

Scrooge could feel the tears gathering behind his eyes. He pushed them back.

"Good. Now three things you don't like about him?"

"That's easy; he's a greedy miser with an overly simplistic view of the world, he's constantly putting us in danger, and how he thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread."

The tears dried up, leaving behind a pot of boiling water.

Ludwig nodded. "Now Scrooge you do the same. Three things you like and three things you dislike."

Scrooge managed to take a deep breath and hold back his temper.

"I...like it whenever you cook meals for the family. I like how you take care of all the kids even before May and June arrived, and I like it whenever you come on adventures with us."

Donald's mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Good. Now dislikes."

"Oh, I dislike how grumpy he is on adventures, his frustration at the slightest obstacle and that houseboat of his." He replied with ease.

Donald clenched his fists.

Ludwig took notes. Perhaps they could reach breakthrough after all...

After picking up Violet and Lena (Boyd had updates at the lab) Della drove them to a field just outside Duckburg where a carnival had been set up.

"All right everyone!" Della clapped her hands, grabbing everyone's attention. "Few ground rules; One: always keep your cell phones on and with you at all times. Two: some combination of you has to be together, at least two of you to a group. Three: Sad to say, no you can't eat any carnival food you find lying on the ground no matter how good it looks and how much you clean it on your shirt."

Dewey's and June's shoulders sank.

"Everyone got that?" Several nods. "Alright then, go have the time of your lives!"

The kids eagerly rushed in.

"I must say you're greatly improving at setting rules and boundries." Beakley nodded in approval.

"Donald's been making me read those parenting books he got me all those years ago. Believe it or not there's actually some useful stuff in there. So, what are you gonna do?"

"Mostly keep an eye on the children, Most carnivals have too lax sanitation codes and security for my taste."

"Looks like it's just you an me Penny!" Della said as she grabbed her friend's hand and dragged her along, ignoring the flustered look on her face.

Penny looked back at Beakley for help.

"Have fun you two." Beakley said with a teasing smile.

Penny internally debated whether she wanted to hug or stab the woman later.

Through a series of yelling, running and his siblings calling 'dibs'. Huey wound up walking walking around with Violet and June.

"My sister should be more than content with Webbigail. Though Dewford may try her patience." Violet shrugged. "Now is Bruni fine by himself?"

"Uhh...actually..." Huey looked up, and Bruni peeked out from under his hat. "He likes to stick close to me."

Violet blinked. "I really must ask how you can keep so many things under such a small hat."

"Look at all the balloons!" June gasped. "And the tents are so colorful! And everything smells so gross and so tasty!"

Huey guided her to the food stalls. "C'mon. Let's get some snacks first before we look around."

Getting June to decide on what she wanted turned into a debate of grease versus salt versus sweet...at least for the woodchucks. June was up for anything.

Int the end she got blue cotton candy while Violet treated herself to popcorn while Huey got fried dough.

"Mmmm! It's so sweat and light and fluffy!" She gushed. "It's like eating a cloud!"

"Did you know it's also referred to as 'fairy floss' and 'candy floss' depending on where you're from?" Violet asked. "It's mainly due to how the sugar is spun resembling dental floss."

Huey listened with a smile, while picking off pieces of dough and stuffing them in his mouth.

Just a nice, peaceful day...no losing control...

That train of thought stopped when a burst of fire crossed his path.

"Ahhhhh!" He jumped back and turned to see a performer holding a torch.

"Sorry kid!" They apologized. "Didn't see ya!"

"Who's that?" June asked.

"Looks like a fire breather." Violet surmised. "They're a common type of performer at these events."

"They can breathe fire!?"

"Not really, It's just a trick caused by..."

Huey gripped his snack, not listening to a word of Violet's explanation.

Okay....that actually wouldn't have hurt me....but what if Violet or June had walked into it? That person shouldn't have been so reckless with fire! Don't they know what that stuff can do!?"

"...Hubert? Hubert!"

"HUEY!"

"Gah!" He jumped and turned to the girls. "What!?"

"You're burning your snack." June pointed to the smoking dough. He removed one of his hands and saw a hand shaped burn mark.

He groaned. "So much for not panicking."

June reached out to him. "I thought you were doing good-"

He flinched back.

"Huey." Violet said in a stern tone that reminded him of his mom or Uncle Donald. "We trust you. You would never hurt us on purpose, is that correct?"

He nodded.

"Good. Now let us find some rides to go on."

Huey followed her lead, holding his hands close to him the whole way.

Chapter Text

Ludwig looked between the two men.

Things had been relatively peaceful...so far.

But with their temper? That could change at any moment.

Twyla watched them warily as well from her place on his lap.

"Alright, Donald, I noticed that when you were talking about things you liked about yer Uncle...you mainly focused on what he did for the kids."

The sailor sighed. "It's true. During that time I had trouble holding down a job, so money was always tight. That meant I couldn't get them more toys, couldn't let them go on some school trips, things like that. Christmas and Birthdays were the most stressful days of the year. I had to pinch every penny I could just to get them each one gift."

It felt like an icicle had pierced Scrooge's heart.

"And did you often make sacrifices to keep the boys clothed and fed?"

"Of course! Sometimes I would skip meals to make sure they had enough. I took on any job I could, volunteered for any extra shift, no matter how smelly or thankless it was. I...I really needed the money."

"Were the boys aware of how much you were struggling?"

"I tried to hide it, but those boys are too sharp. Huey developed a system of buying groceries to make sure we'd get the most out of every dollar. Dewey began doing one man acts on the pier for change and Louie....I think it stuck with him the hardest. He insisted on helping me manage our finances, and I think that's why he started scheming. Made him feel like he wasn't a burden, that he could help us. Sometimes I would find bills and change on my pillow and they wouldn't take it back."

The icicle twisted.

"So when we moved in with Scrooge...it was a real help. I didn't have to worry too much about grocery bills, health insurance my power bills were lower-"

They would've been nonexistent if Scrooge had his way, but Donald insisted on paying his share.

"-and I was able to actually pay off some of my debts. I kept trying out for jobs, but the same thing kept happening. By the time he offered to hire me and Della as his secretaries, I was just sick of the whole thing and took it. Want to know the irony? It's the best paying job I've ever had, and the one I've kept the longest."

"Hey! I may a miser, but I take care of my employees! That includes full benefits too!"

"Let him finish Scrooge." Ludwig said.

"I still want to be responsible for the kids, be in their lives...but I'm still grateful for Scrooge taking care of most of the costs for them. They shouldn't have to worry about the lights going out because I couldn't pay the power bill, or where their next meal is coming from. They have a full kitchen and pantry to choose from. I'm just...relieved knowing they're secure in that area."

Ludwig nodded. "You're grateful for the financial contribution yes....but what about other contributions> Emotional contributions? The adventures?"

Donald had to think for a minute.

"He's actually really good with the kids. They love hearing stories about his adventures, at least most of the time. He teaches them about hard work and making it square. He's really helped with Louie about making his schemes more legitimate. He actually gives them good advice when they need it. I know he's been focusing more on Webby lately and I completely understand! But he hasn't neglected the rest of the kids. Sure, he gets caught up in his business, but he brings them along when he can.

As for the adventures? ....Well, I'm not a big fan of the danger involved and Scrooge often gets a little too self absorbed by the thought of treasure to pay attention to the kids needs. But I know I can't stop them. Adventure is their blood, and trouble is gonna come their way no matter what I do, and he teaches them how to get out of trouble without getting hurt. Mostly. One time Dewey broke his arm and I know Scrooge should've been paying better attention-"

Scrooge looked away.

"-well, it's not like I can keep a close eye on them all the time either. Kids get hurt no matter how much we try to stop it, especially kids like Dewey. He actually stopped the adventure and brought him straight to the hospital. And they're learning so much about history, languages, culture, they're doing way better than they were in public school.

So...as much as I wanted a normal life for them....I'm glad they have this."

Scrooge's heart felt like it was melting.

"You could've asked." He said quietly.

"What?"

"I could've helped ya with money, taken care of some of the expenses..."

Donald clenched his jaw. "I didn't need your help! I did just fine before I moved in."

Scrooge gripped his cane. "Ye just said ye had money struggles!"

"We were getting by!"

"That's not-"

Ludwig clapped his hands. "Focus please!"

Scrooge and Donald stopped.

"Good. Now Scrooge, you said something similar, about liking how Donald took care of the boys?"

"Of course! He's a natural father. I....I see now it wasn't easy raising triplets on a limited budget, but he didn't let that stop him. And not just the boys! Webby called him 'Uncle Donald' even before we found out about the relation. And look at May and June! I just wish-" He paused.

"Wish what?"

"...Wish he had stopped being a stubborn fool and let me helped!" Scrooge sat up straight.

"Oh come on!" Donald exclaimed. "You wanted me to come to you crying and begging!?"

Ludwig sighed.

And things had been going so well...

Penny threw the ball straight at the bottles, causing them to completely shatter.

"Alright Penny!" Della cheered as the nervous attendant handed the alien as giant stuffed panda.

"I do not see the point of stuffed toys as 'prizes' but that was enjoyable nonetheless." She quickly handed it to Della.

"Aw thanks!" She hoped the bear hid the blush from her face. Gah! Why did Penny have to be so adorably oblivious!?

By the time they stopped to get lunch, Della had more stuffed animals than she had kids.

"You're really good at these games y'know?" She said, taking a bite of her corndog.

"Yes, it was actually quite entertaining." Penny smiled. "I actually wish we had something like this on the moon."

"See? I knew Earth would win ya over." She picked up the stuffed lizard. "You think Huey would like this one?"

"It does bear a resemblance to the fire spirit..."

That's when Penny noticed Della's smile falter and her hands shake for just a second. Her gaze also moved away.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah! Why wouldn't I be!?"

"You seemed upset when i mentioned the fire spirit."

"It's fine! I like Bruni. He's a cute little guy."

"Red Della seems fond of him as well. I can see why they bonded."

There it was again.

"Y-Yeah!" Della's hands fidgeted. "And now he's got crazy cool fire powers!"

"You do not sound entirely pleased by that."

"What?! Of course I am! He's got magic just like me and Don! Which means..." She clenched her fists.

"Means what?"

"...Nothing." She shook her head before realizing she had frozen her hands to the table. "Not again..." She pulled them off.

"Della, you can talk to me."

"I know! I-I'm happy for Huey. I'm sure he's loving having powers right now and I'm gonna support him every way I can!"

"...If you are sure." Penny sighed. 

They walked on, Penny not bringing the subject up again and Della quick to distract them with the performers. They had just seen a guy juggling knives when they came upon Dewey, Webby and Lena.

"Hey kids!" Della gave he biggest smile. "Having fun?"

"You bet we are!" Dewey exclaimed.

"...Some of us more than others." Lena glared at Dewey. "Especially when certain people don't get the hint when two people just want to spend time together. Alone."

"How can you be together and alone at the same time? I don't get it."

"Nevermind."

"We just came from the 'Mystery Shed'." Webby rolled her eyes. "It was a total sham! You could tell it was all fake. The 'three eyed gopher' was just a taxidermied gopher with googly eyes on it. Googly eyes!"

"And that 'rock that looks like a face'?" Lena scoffed. "I told ya Pink. Those things are just designed to con people out of their money."

"Yeah. Everyone knows that if you want to see some real freaky stuff, just walk around Uncle Scrooge's attic." Della said. "That or the other bin. That's where he keeps all the good stuff."

"Note for later." Dewey nodded. "Anyways, we were just about to check this place out. Wanna join us?"

"Sure-" Della looked up and her heart froze when she saw the sign.

'Mirror Maze - run from yourself to find your way out!'

"Dewey!" Webby hissed. "You know about the you-know-what!"

Dewey's face dropped. "Oh gosh! I'm so sorry mom! I forgot that-"

"It's fine!" Della assured them, a smile plastered on her face. "It sounds like fun! I'd love to join you."

"You would!?" Four voices asked in shock.

"Della, are you sure this is wise?" Penny asked.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to!" Webby waved her hands. "We know how you are with mirrors and stuff."

"If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to go in." Lena said gently. "Don't feel pressured to do something you're not ready for."

"Oh I'm more than ready!" Della's too wide smile was still going as she stepped through the entrance. "C'mon everyone! Race ya to the other side!"

The three kids and one alien looked at each other before following the woman in.

They figured someone should be with her in case anything happens.

Despite Violet's and June's best efforts, Huey remained anxious the whole day.

On the carousel, he gripped the reins hard enough for smoke to appear. When throwing a ball at the dunking game, the ball caught fire when he threw it.

This was most certainly not his day.

"So rides and games aren't your thing!" June tried to reassure him as they walked along. "There's lots of other stuff to do! We could-oof!" She had bumped into something and fallen to the ground.

"So sorry little miss!" The person in question was a large dog nose man wearing a bright red ringmaster jacket. He helped June to her feet before tipping his hat. "The name's A.L. Carnum! How are you enjoying my lovely carinal so far?"

"We are having an excellent day." Violet said, looking at the man with narrowed eyes.

Carnum quickly took notice of Huey. "Aw what's wrong kid? Having lousy luck at the games?"

"No! No!" He quickly shook his head. "I'm just a  little anxious right now. Your carnival is really fun!"

"Thank you! And I must say you seem like quite the little fireball yourself. With all that red."

"F-Fireball!" Huey began to sweat. "Oh no! I'm as cool as a cucumber! Yessir! No fire here!"

"Well then, how about a little game to test your coolness?" He led the kids over to a ring toss game.

Huey relaxed his shoulders. "Well this seems easy enough."

"It's also one of the most commonly rigged games." Violet pointed out.

"You know what's not rigged? The laws of physics!" He pulled out the JWG and began flipping through its pages. "According to the JWG you can win any ring toss game by calculating wind speed, force of the throw along with the weight of the rings."

Violet still looked skeptical while June looked completely lost.

"My head hurts."

"Let's go!" Huey grabbed the first ring and began doing mental calculations.

Carnum kept a smooth smile on his face.

After a moment, Huey tossed it....and it clinked off the side of the bottle.

"What!?" Huey asked, disheartened. "But I did the math!"

"Hubert. It's alright. We can go to another stand-"

"Why not try again?" Carnum asked. "After all, hardly anybody wins the first time."

"I got this." Huey growled ready to try again.

Violet and June looked at each other.

Neither of them thought this was going to end well.

"Alright..." Ludwig sighed as he took in the mess. Papers were torn, the chairs flipped over and his scale model of the brain was still smoking (how that happened was anybody's guess). "Clearly, it's time for a new tactic."

The people responsible for said mess sat across from him, arms folded glaring at each other.

"It's not my fault he doesn't want to talk!" Donald growled.

"And it's not my fault if he doesn't want to listen!" Scrooge huffed.

Twyla howled at them from under Ludwig's chair, as though telling them both to shut up.

"You are both going to talk, and you are both going to listen." Ludwig said. "Let's move away from your relationship to the kids and your relationship to each other."

"Why? He clearly never wanted one with me!" Donald exclaimed. 

"You kept shutting me out!" Scrooge argued. "Whenever I tried to do something with you, you were always grumbling and moping! It's like your teenage years all over again!"

"You never understood me!"

"You wouldn't explain anything to me! It felt like those speech therapy sessions were a waste of money!"

"Oh, so now I'm a waste of money!?"

"Quit twisting everything I say!"

Ludwig sighed. "Well, time to pull out the big guns..." He reached into the box-

Aaaaaahhhhaaaaa

Donald froze, and began looking around.

"Quiet, both of you." He mumbled. Twyla let out a whine and began scratching at the door.

"What are ya goin' on about-"

"I heard it. The voice. But why-"

Then Duckworth floated in through the wall.

"Sorry to disturb you all. But I there's something outside that requires your immediate attention."

Ludwig sighed again and stood up. "We can finish when we come back."

Duckworth led them out of the mansion and into the woods.

"What could be so important that you needed me for this?" Scrooge grumbled. "You know how to handle Beagle Boys and Glomgold-wait..." He frowned. "It's not Merlock is it!?"

"I would hope not." Duckworth stopped and pointed ahead. 

Scrooge, Ludwig and Donald looked on in shock and confusion.

"Curse me kilts! What is that!?"

Chapter Text

Della could do this. She'd done mazes before. She was an expert on them! Even the mirror ones!

However, that had been ages ago. Before the moon. And now...

She looked around, trying with all her might to avoid looking at all of her reflections' eyes.

"Okay Della, you got this..." She took a deep breath. "Just make your way to the exit without smashing every mirror in your path. Simple."

Or was it?

But every turn she took seemed to have her bump into a reflection of herself, stuck at a dead end. They seemed to be mocking her. Taunting her for her failures.

She could hear the other's voices.

"There's so many of me!" Webby squealed.

"Each one as cute as the original."

"Looking good other me's!"

"I will not let some reflective surfaces best me!"

She just had to follow their voices, easy.

But every turn she took just seemed to get her more lost until-

She was in a round dead end surrounded by reflections of herself.

Only they didn't look like her.

They looked like her from the moon. From her nightmare.

No no no no no.....

She couldn't do this.

She dropped to the ground, face buried in her knees and arms covering her head, taking quick, shallow breaths.

She wanted go home.

Huey threw the ring with all his might along the calculated path, only to have it bounce to the ground. He just needed to try again.

And he did.

Then twice more.

Then five times after that.

With each failed toss, Huey's face slowly started to turn as red as his shirt.

WHY. ISN"T. THIS. WORKING!?

"Huey..." June said gently. "I think you can stop now..."

"WHY ISN"T THIS WORKING!?" He shouted. "I'm in control of the ring and it won't listen to me!"

"Hubert I think you should stop now." Violet said sternly.

"I think he's doing pretty well." Carnum shrugged.

"Do not listen to him. You need to calm down." She glared at the man. 

"I"M COMPLETELY CALM!" Huey shouted, eyes a crazed red.

"What's wrong with him?" June whispered.

"Gamer rage." Violet said. "The drive to succeed at a game no matter how many times you lose. Combined with his natural temper?" They noticed the smoke coming from his hands. "Combined with his powers? I fear terrible things if we do not end this now."

June nodded. "Got it!" She stepped towards him.

VIolet's eyes widened. "June don't-"

Huey noticed June and growled. "DON"T YOU-"

It was too late.

She reached out and grabbed his shoulder, clearly intending to physically pull him away from the game.

What she got instead was-

"AAAAHHHH!" She screamed, pulling her physically red hand away and waving it around. "OWIE! OW! OW!"

"JUNE!" Violet gasped before reaching into her bag. "I've got some cold  water right here!"

It took Huey a full minute to process what just happened. And when it did, all his anger faded away.

Leaving nothing but fear and guilt.

"Oh no..." He mumbled, shaking his head.

What had he done?

"June I am so sorry!" He stepped forward, ready to help.

Without thinking, she flinched away.

Something in Huey snapped.

Without another word, he turned and ran as far as he could.

"Huey!" June called out, instantly regretting what she had done. "COME BACK!"

"Keep pouring this over your hand!" Violet instructed, handing the bottle over before running after the fire boy, June at her heals. "HUBERT! WAIT!"

Carnum watched on with a knowing smile.

It looked like a cave, albeit one made out of crystal spikes laid over and against each other, and one that had certainly not been there before now.

Ludwig looked the strange structure, examining it. "Strange...I can't identify these crystals. It looks like they just spurted right up from the ground!" He walked around the back. "And it doesn't continue! You shouldn't be able to take more than a few steps in."

"It could be a trap." Scrooge warned, stepping towards it. "Everyone stay on guard."

"What!?" Donald gasped. "You're not actually going in there are ya!?"

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaa

Donald froze.

This had to be one big joke.

"It came from in there." Donald murmured, pointing to the structure. "The voice."

"Ye canna be serious!" Scrooge exclaimed.

With a loud meow, Twyla dashed into the structure before anyone could stop her.

"Twyla!" Donald raced after her. "Come back!"

"Donald!" Scrooge chased after his nephew.

"Well I guess we are doing this!" Ludwig ran in after them.

After a minute of chase, Donald finally caught the cat in his magic and lifted her into his arms. "Twyla you can't run into mysterious structures like that!"

Twyla only meowed in protest.

"Lad!" He turned to see Scrooge and Ludwig arriving. "I told ya to be careful!"

"Incredible..." Ludwig looked around in amazement. "Bigger on the inside than the outside! What a marvel! I wonder if it allows time travel as well?"

That's when it dawned on Donald where he was.

The cave's walls and floors sparkled with a strange crystalline substance, their reflections perfectly clear.

"What is this place?" He asked.

"That's what I want to know." Scrooge carefully poked one of the walls with his cane. "I've never seen anything like this before. Even in the Crystal Caves of Mexico don't compare to this. The crystals there grew out of the walls, not make them up!"

Ludwig laid a hand on the wall. "Odd. Usually crystal structures result in extreme temperatures. But these feel room temperature."

Donald slowly spun around, taking everything in.

This place was magical. He could feel it all around him.

He raced out his hand so he could lean against the wall and try to comprehend it.

The moment his hand hit crystal, his amulet glowed and the walls and floor followed suit.

"Donald what did ya do!?" Scrooge asked in panic.

Before he could try to come up with an answer, the cave burst into a blinding light.

Della could hear the voices...

Selfish...

A failure...

A terrible mother/niece/sister...

She should've stayed on the moon...

Wonder who I got THAT from...

"Della?"

So annoying...

She knows nobody actually likes her, right?

"Della!"

Such a burden for her Uncle and Grandmother...

"DELLA!"

She opened her eyes to Penny's concerned face.

"Penny?"

"Are you alright? I noticed you weren't right behind us."

"I'm...I'm...." She took a deep breath.

It's not real....

"I need to leave."

"Very well." Penny nodded. "Hold my hand and I will get us out of here."

Shaking, Della nodded and got to her feet.

Her heart raced even more when Penny took her hand.

Keep it together Della! You nearly just had a breakdown in front of her!

Gently squeezing her hand, Penny ran her free hand along the mirrors, trying to find the path she had come from.

"This can't be right..." She muttered as she encircled the room. "I just came from here."

She went around the whole room, but there was no exit.

They were completely encircled by mirrors.

"Something's wrong..." Penny gripped Della harder.

Then their reflections vanished.

Penny and Della jumped to the center of the room as the surface of mirrors began to ripple.

"THIS IS A TRAP!" Penny looked around in horror.

Della could only cling to her as cruel laughter echoed around them.

"Come on out and face us ya big palooka!" Della took a fighting stance.

A shadowy figure appeared in one of the mirrors.

With a warrior cry, Penny leaped and punched the mirror-

-only for her arm to go through.

"What!?"

Them she began to feel herself be pulled through.

"Della!"

"Penny!" Della grabbed her hands and tried desperately to pull her out, but the force was too strong.

With one last cry, Penny's hand slipped from Della's as she was pulled into the mirror.

"PENNY! NO!" Della fell to her knees.

More echoey laughter.

Them the mirrors began to move closer...

"You can't hide Della  Duck!"

Della spun around but there was nowhere to run as the mirrors closed in.

"No...no...."

Then she saw her reflection again.

It had cold eyes, her feathers and hair tinted with blue, a venomous sneer, and was surrounded by shadows.

It pointed at her.

"Monster."

An arm from behind grabbed her waist.

A hand shut her beak.

And Della felt herself be pulled in.

Chapter Text

They stood in an old temple, vines growing from the cracks in the walls.

"Um....I didn't do it!" Donald exclaimed, touching the wall again. Only this time it felt like stone.

"I knew it!" Ludwig exclaimed. "A time machine! How wonderful! These engraving indicate that we're somewhere in South America." He ran his hand over the walls which held carvings of stone figures.

"Wait..." Scrooge narrowed his eyes and looked around. "This seems awfully familiar..."

"Statues of Monteplumage and his court! They're glorious!" A very familiar voice echoed....

The trio turned and saw...

...Scrooge, Della and Donald!?

"Bless me bagpipes!" Present Scrooge gasped. "Of course! This is the temple of Monteplumage! I remember this adventure. This is where we found-"

"This is reputed to be Monteplumage's Greates treasure....A Golden Chicken." Past Scrooge explained as Della picked up the cage.

"Uh oh! I remember what happens next!" Present Donald reached for his sister. "Della don't-"

He reached right through her, as if she were a ghost. 

"Huh?" He looked at his hand; as if it held the answers.

"It appears this place is a time machine...of sorts." Ludwig watched Past Donald be pecked by the golden chicken. He stuck his arm out and the figments passed right through it. "It appears to be showing us memories of the past and allowing us to walk around in them to gain a new perspective. And look!" He walked a bit away. "There was a wall here earlier! And I can actually smell the ancient ruins! How unique!"

"Aye. The Golden Chicken turned out to be Monteplumahe's greatest nightmare." He watched fondly as he and Della solved the wall puzzle. "Look at that lass go! I knew I'd raised brilliant kids!"

"In case you forgot, I wasn't having as much fun as she was." Present Donald pointed to Past Donald being sat on by the now giant chicken.

"What are ya talking about? Ye did a great job keeping her distracted while we found a solution." Scrooge smiled.

"I see you also forgot what happened next." 

They all watched as both Donald and the chicken were shrunken by the cocoa beans.

"What? We caged the chicken back up!"

"I had to ride back home in a clay pot!" Donald fumed. "Della spilled her hot chocolate on me!"

"We found the solution to turn ya back to normal size! It took us a full week of research. What did ya expect us to do!?"

Donald crossed his arms. "Alright. This time may have been circumstantial, but I can think of plenty of other times you used me as dead weight."

"Hm? What's this?" The duo turned to see Ludwig examining a small crystal stand that Twyla was using as a scratching post. It came to about his waist and had a flat surface on top.

"That certainly wasn't here last time." Scrooge said, walking up to the pillar.

Donald peered at the stand and placed his hand on it. Was there some sort of trick to-

The room flashed again and they were no longer in an old temple...this time they were in a desert surrounded by Vikings!

"I remember this one too!" Scrooge grinned. "We went here to search for the Silver Star after sheep kept appearing all over Duckburg! The sheep kept the Vikings safe from the harsh climate but they begun to run out of power."

"Oh, I definitely remembered what happened next." Donald watched as their past selves herded the sheep into the center of the cold vortex.

"Wait! I'm taking a head count..." Past Della shouted. "There's only ninety nine sheep!"

"One is missing!" Hilda cried. "The vortex won't charge without one hundred!"

"I need another sheep!" Past Scrooge exclaimed. "Or something close to it! I need-" He spotted Donald nearby and pushed him into the vortex. "-YOU!"

"Me?" Past Donald shouted.

The trio watched as the sheep were frozen...along with Donald, who ended up in a block of ice.

"It took me hours to thaw!" Present Donald shouted.

"Well...we were in a rush!" Scrooge shrugged but avoided looking at his nephew. "They needed the sheep and there wan't time to look for the last one."

"So you used me instead!?"

"Now Scrooge, that was a bit inconsiderate." Ludwig waved his finger.

"Oh, you should see the next one." Donald put his hand on the stand. "I think i know how this works. I just think of the time-"

The world flashed again, and they found themselves in an old castle.

"The castle of Nostradogmus." Scrooge nodded. "We found his time traveling jellybeans."

"Time traveling jellybean!?" Ludwig gasped. "Do ya still have one? If i can recreate the recipe..."

"Who cares about the jellybeans!" Donald shook his fist as Scrooge and Della confronted Nostradogmus's ghost with a gian cookie. "They baked me into a cookie! Then had kids eat me out!"

"We needed a way to trick him!" Scrooge defended. "I told ya ye were brave and resilient!"

"Scrooge..." Ludwig tapped his foot.

The Scotsman's shoulders sagged. "Alright! Alright! Maybe I could have asked what you would have done, or tried to find another way out! But you were essential in those adventures! We couldn't have gotten through them without ya!"

"Now Scrooge, while it's important o tell how much someone means to you, you also have to show it."

"Exactly!" Donald nodded

""Show you'!?" Scrooge repeated. "Fine! I'll show ya all the times I had to bail ya out from yer own actions!"

Scrooge approached the stand and placed his own hand on it.

Now they were in a county jail.

"Oh no..." Donald muttered.

"They are right in here señor." A tanager in mexican police uniform said, guiding Scrooge through the cells before coming upon one containing Donald, Panchito and Jose.

All three of them looked like they had a wild night. One they spotted the rich Uncle, however, they somehow looked even more defeated.

"Donald?" Past Scrooge stated calmly.

"...Yes?" Past Donald replied quietly.

"Remember what you promised me if I let you do this little 'tour' with your bandmates?"

"...Always check on the local currency exchange and tax rates?"

"And?"

"...Don't wind up in jail because you won't bail me out?"

"Exactly."

Panchito and Jose eyed each other, not liking where this was going.

"If you'd just let me explain-"

Past Scrooge held up a hand, silencing any protests.

"I don't want to hear it. Now, officer?"

The officer nodded and unlocked the cage.

"You're free to go." The officer said. "You're lucky your Uncle paid the bail."

Past Donald looked up in surprise only to wither when he noticed Scrooge's disapproving stare. Past Scrooge pointed his cane out the door.

"If you want to try apologizing, say it to yer sister. Had to drag her out of studying for her flight exams just to come down and drag yer behind back to the states. And you don't even want to know what yer grandmother's gonna do."

Present Donald winced as he watched the past figments of him and his friends march out of the station solemnly. He recalled Della's annoyed mood the whole way back home. And Elvira? He shuddered when he remembered her lecture.

Ludwig looked at him for an explanation.

"In college, I was in a band...we did tours during school breaks and....this one kind of got out of control."

"Hm...." Ludwig raised an eyebrow at him.

"And there are plenty of other times as well." Scrooge touched the stand, and they were in another old temple.

"Donald!" Past Scrooge's voice echoed. "Get back here! It's not safe!"

"Easy Uncle Scrooge, I know how this goes." A younger looking Donald strolled through, walking like he built the place himself. "We go through a few hallway traps, find the treasure, battle whatever's guarding it then go home! We do this all the time."

"And he called me overconfident..." Past Della muttered.

Past Donald dodged the arrows, the spikes and the pendulum with surprising ease.

But Present Donald knew what came next...

Past Donald came upon a floor od engraved tiles. He eyed them with a smirk.

"I know this one! We have to step on the tiles egg to chicken, easy!" He skipped ahead before Della could stop him.

But Past Scrooge was looking at the engravings on the walls and gasped. "No! Donald wait-"

Past Donald landed on the picture of an egg....and was nearly fried to a crisp when a tower of fire fell from above. In his pain and confusion, she stepped on another random tile, setting off a wave of arrows. After avoiding that, he landed on another tile....and found himself clinging for life when the tile gave way to the pit of lava far below.

"Aw phooey..." Donald muttered, trying to keep a grip on the other tile, which set off a sharp pendulum above.

"Donald!" Past Scrooge's can appeared in front of him. "Grab on!"

He held tight and felt himself be tossed back onto safe ground.

"Donald you big palooka!" Past Della looked him over for injuries. "The inscription said we needed to reverse the flow of time to make it across! You needed to land on the tiles in the reverse order! Chicken to egg!"

Donald looked across the hallway and saw Scrooge avoid a big spike that had emerged from the spot he had just been on.

He had deliberately did the trap wrong to save his life.

"Ya see!?" Present Scrooge pointed to the scene. "I do look out for ya! Even when ya were being a stubborn, reckless layabout!"

"Now Scrooge, we've talked about insults..." Ludwig scolded.

"Yeah!" Donald nodded.

"But now it appears your relationship is more complicated than I realized. Donald, he may lack the words to properly say it, but Scrooge has looked out for you."

Donald looked back out at the frozen scene. At Scrooge ducking under a poison dart to save Donald from his recklessness.

He clenched his fists and felt his face heating up.

It wasn't fair...

"Now, you both have trouble communicating your true thoughts and feelings." Ludwig explained. "However, it is also abundantly clear that you both care about each other deeply. That's good."

"I coulda told you that." Scrooge threw his arms up..

But Donald wasn't so concinved.

"Please, he just did all those things because grandma would've had his head if he didn't."

"Donald!" Scrooge gasped. "How can ye say that!?"

But Ludwig began thinking. "Perhaps this would be a good time to gone the 'things you don't like about each other' list we discussed."

"Ludwig!"

"Scrooge, trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Scrooge sulked, but nodded.

"Now Donald, I believe this event fits into number two of your list; that he's always putting you in danger."

"Exactly!"

"And you admitted that adventure is in our blood!"

"Scrooge...."

He went back to pouting.

"Now, you've come to associate Scrooge with the arrival of danger, correct?"

Donald nodded. "My memories can tell you that?"

"Now, can you tell me of the times your or yer family were in danger when Scrooge wasn't around?"

Donald blinked. "What?"

"Danger is all around us. I want to see how you reacted to it when Scrooge wasn't there?"

"W-Well...."

"Take yer time."

Donald sighed and put his hand on the stand, and now they found themselves on Elvira's farm. Nearby, a younger Donald and Della were working on the tractor alongside younger versions of Gladstone and Fethry.

"Ya done yet Dells?" Past Gladstone asked from where he, Donald and Fethry were seated.

"Just about..." Past Della shut the engine lid. "Done! Now let's take this bad baby for a little joyride. We should be to Quacktown and back before Grandma realizes we're gone!"

"This is a bad idea." Past Donald said as Past Della climbed aboard and took the wheel. "Grandma's gonna kill us if we're caught."

"C'mon Don! This'll be fun!" Past Della grinned. "Besides....I thought ya wanted to impress Billie Barnes?" Imagine how they'll react when we show up on this baby all by ourselves!"

Donald blushed and nodded. A hormone addled teenager was not always the most rational decision maker.

Della turned the key and the tractor roared to life. "Ha! Let's get moving!" She moved the tractor forward and everything went smoothly.

.....For about two minutes.

"BAWK!" A chicken had escaped from the henhouse and was now coming straight for them!

"Duck!" Gladstone gasped.

"Actually it's a chicken." Fethry corrected.

"EVASIVE MANEUVERS!" Past Donald commanded as Della took a sharp turn.

The chicken, frightened and erratic, jumped up to where the cousins were seated.

"WAAK!"" Past Donald shouted as the chicken pecked at his head. Fethry tried to grab it, only to flock over to Della.

"Ah! Get it outta my face!" Della tried to knock the chicken away while also keeping an eye on where she was going. But between the loud clucks, the feathers flying and the sharp talons it was only a matter of time until-

BAM!

-they crashed into the side of the barn, scaring all the animals still inside.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON OUT HERE?!" Elvira marched over to the guilty cousins. "WHAT WERE YOU ALL THINKING!? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT!"

Scrooge laughed at the scene.

"Oh I remember Elvira telling me all about this!" He wheezed. "Ya couldn't come with me to search for the crystal skull!"

"Because we were grounded and had to repair the barn and the tractor." Donald mumbled. "I think I get the point. There's actually a lot of cases where I've been in danger and Scrooge wasn't responsible for it."

"You're admitting that quite quickly." Ludwig noted.

"I'm just remembering some stuff I'd rather not bring up, but yeah, with my family history and bad luck combined; I'm a danger magnet."

Scrooge looked at him oddly, wondering what he could be remembering that he didn't want Scrooge and Ludwig to see. "Well that just comes with being in this family. Remember your first adventure? I remember you and Della running towards danger every chance ya got!"

"Yeah..." Donald chuckled half heartedly. "Dangers gonna come whether we want it or not, and Scrooge taught us how to deal with it."

"Thank you."

"But that doesn't change the fact that he's a greedy old miser who doesn't see the impact he leaves behind."

"I believe we're now getting into the other things you dislike." Ludwig nodded.

"I can accept being a greedy miser." Scrooge folded his arms. "When you grow up as I did, you learn to pinch every penny you can."

"Here we go again!" Donald groaned. "Another story about how you shined shoes-"

Scrooge placed his hand on the stand and the scene changed to a dingy, tiny apartment.

They watched Fergus and Jake return bone tired after spending all day digging ditches.

"Did you know da saved up a month's work just to buy me my shoeshine kit?" Scrooge asked without expecting an answer. "He cut back as many meals as he could. I could see it and I didn't understand until he gave it to me."

They watched Downey wash baby Hortense's diapers and reuse them while also taking on as much sewing work as she could.

"Wasn't much good work for women back then but she took on whatever she could get. Washing, sewing, lookin' after our neighbors babies. I wonder how she had any energy left to take care of us."

Andy finally Scrooge and Matilda, the former shining every shoe until they shone in the sun and the latter creating schemes to generate money though generally selling flowers.

"Well dressed people spat at us, kicked us, some even worse of than we were tried to mug us for what little we had. But we never let mummy or daddy know. Didn't want them to worry. Learned to fight fast. Learned to keep yer money hidden. Learned to get the most out of every coin you had."

Donald watched every event Scrooge described in silence.

"...How come?"

"What?"

"How come you never told us this stuff? The specifics? You always said your were poor and had to shine shoes growing up but you never really went beyond that."

"There's a lot not worth mentioning." Scrooge shrugged. "And a lot I'd actually prefer to forget. And that's just before I left Scotland at thirteen. Other boys my age would either be in the workhouse or the factory by then, if they made it to that age at all. But my family wanted to keep us away from that."

"Name one."

"Name one what?"

"Name one event you said wasn't worth mentioning or wanted to forget."

Scrooge winced. "Donald-"

"I want to hear it." Donald took a deep breath. "Please."

He didn't know he needed to hear it, but he did.

Scrooge was silent for a minute, then put his hand down again.

"There was this one neighbor that....he was a brute. Beat his wife. His kids. He had over a dozen of them, and I trust yer old enough to know how they came to be from someone like him."

Donald knew, however he wished it wasn't so.

"We could hear their screams. The nights were especially bad as...well, we quickly figured out...what marriage meant.

There wasn't much we could do. Ma and Daddy were too tired and too preoccupied with us. We were kids and he was bigger. He sent all his kids out to work in factories, workhouses, anything and it didn't matter that they were dangerous or if they lost a finger or two. Then he'd take all their hard earned money and waste it on drink. And you know what the worst part about it was?

By law, he was allowed to do all that. He had the legal right to force himself on his wife, to beat his kids, to take their money. Why? Because he was the 'man of the house' and all they had belonged to him, and he took everything he could. I hated him. One of my many regrets was letting him die before I was old enough to deal with him myself.

My da drilled it into my that if I ever became the 'man' of my own house...I would be a good one. Even if he hadn't....I never wanted to be anything like that man. I kept swearing to myself that I would treat my family right."

Donald watched a young Scrooge cover his ears with his pillow to block out the screaming.

"...You never told us this."

"Ye were kids. Ye wanted to hear all about the fun adventures and how I earned me money. And as I said....some things weren't worth bringing up. Back then these things weren't talked about. Just swept under the rug and we would pretend nothing was wrong. It was what our other neighbors did too. We demanded they do something once and they yelled at us to mind our own business. My world was completely different than yours and believe me when i say that I am completely grateful for that no matter how much I may whine about the modern world. Do ya understand that at least?"

Donald could only nod.

Then he began to wonder how well he thought he really knew his uncle.

Chapter Text

"Alright. I kinda get why you're like this." Donald sighed.

"Aye. And I managed to climb my way to 'richest duck in the world'." Scrooge nodded. "So I'd say I deserve to be proud of myself."

"I concede that."

Scrooge looked at him through narrowed eyes. "There's more isn't there?"

Donald turned to him. "Like you said; the world's changed."

"And?"

"And the concept of 'hard work' has changed too."

"What are ye talking about?"

Donald sighed. "Remember how hard I worked to take care of the boys? And what did that amount too?"

Scrooge paused. "They're growing up into three wonderful young men."

"Thank you. But I still had trouble affording their basic necessities. You've seen my resume! Do you know how hard it is hearing that all you need to do to succeed is 'work hard'!?" His face was growing red. "I worked hard every damn day of my life and I could still barely keep food on the table! You think you're so special!? Well what if  Granda or Grannie hadn't been great parents!? What if they had been like that neighbor you described!?"

"How dare-"

"It's a 'what if'! What if they had died before you left Scotland and you had to take care of your sisters!? What would you have done then!? What if you had died on one of your adventures!? Who would help your family then!? Or what if you were disabled!?"

Scrooge couldn't think of a response. His shoulders sagged.

"You had a loving family with a long history! That's more than some people have! Face it: You did work hard, but you were also lucky! Lucky that you had your family, lucky nothing bad happened to them, and lucky that you're still alive today!" He stomped over to the stand and put his hand on it. As he continued speaking more images appeared.

"You know how many people I've met at soup kitchens and the unemployment offices!? A lot of them were there through no fault of there own and there you are sitting on top of your pile of gold lecturing everyone about 'hard work'! Do you know how many single parents I've seen!? How many people who grew out of the foster care system and had no family to turn to!? Do you know how many lives you could change with all that loot!? Look at what Mayor Owlson did for St. Canard!

You're a legend alright! A legendary hypocrite! You hold yourself on this pedestal like your better than everyone else but your not! You're just a greedy old capitalist who doesn't care that his own family is intimidated by him and know they will never live up to him!"

Donald finally ran out of breath and just wheezed for a minute, trying to get his lungs back in order.

Man had he wanted to say that for a long-

"I'm sorry."

He looked and didn't see the great adventure-capitalist.

He saw a man that actually looked his age. Whose pedestal had just collapsed underneath him and he had no idea how to put it back together.

"I-I never realized."

"When you're surrounded by your own success, it can be easy to forget other people's struggles." Ludwig explained. "Especially when today's struggles are different from the world you grew up in."

Scrooge went quiet for a moment, thinking.

"Do...do the kids feel that way? Della? Everyone else?"

Donald took a deep breath. "The kids are just starting to figure that out. Della's further along but she's still getting used to modern day stuff too. And for the people who don't constantly idolize you? Yes. I can show you blog after blog about what I just said. I joke about all the time with Daisy, Fenton and Gandra."

Scrooge looked at the floor. "...I've always wondered, why Della took the spear..."

"It was because she wanted to be like you. A lot of that's her own fault. I get that now. But you've been enabling that behavior for years."

"...The kids tried to get god powers just to prove themselves to me."

"Do you see it?"

"Aye. You don't go on a rant like that unless it's something you've thought about for a long time. I...I want to change. I want to be someone my family can be proud of. Someone the kids can look up to without..."

"You know being a great person doesn't mean you're a good one?" Ludwig asked. "I know it seems strange, but you can be 'great' without being 'good'."

"I....I want to be a good person. I want to be a good father! A good Uncle! A good businessman! I want to be the opposite of everything you just said I am!"

Oh no. Donald could see tears gathering in his Uncle's eyes.

His uncle was a proud man, and to him that mean not showing vulnerability. Keeping up a solid front and crumbling in private.

Showing those tears in front of him means he meant every word he said.

Donald clenched his teeth. This wasn't how it was supposed to go at all.

"You wanna be a good person now!?"

"Donald?" Even Ludwig looked confused.

"Where was that attitude when I teenager! When I acted out all I ever got was grounded!"

"What are ya talking about!?" Scrooge was genuinely confused.

"Donald, could you please clarify?" Ludwig asked gently.

Donald marched over and slammed his hand down on the stand. Rather than the whole world changing, figments appeared and voices echoed.

"Donald why can't be more outgoing like Della? Look how many friends she has!"

"Can't you show a little more enthusiasm lad? It's an adventure! Look at yer sister! She's rearing to go!"

"If ya put a little more effort into whatever ya do, yer sure to succeed! Just look at Della!"

"Della this! Della that! He even made her a freaking rocket when she learned she was expecting the boys! You've always liked her better than me!"

"I do not!"

"Oh yeah! I bet she's never argued with you half as much as we did! Whenever you wanted to do something you always went to her!"

"We asked you to join too! But you always said no!"

"Because who wants to 'relax' by scuba diving into shark infested waters to search for a ship that sank there over a century ago!"

"If I may interrupt?" Ludwig stepped forward, not bothering to wait for an answer. "It seems the problem here is that Scrooge simply had more in common with Della. They were able to bond over adventure, treasure hunting and thrill seeking. But Donald simply isn't keen on those things and thus you both had a hard time understanding one another. Is that right?"

"He never wants to do anything with me!" Scrooge argued.

"Maybe not the things you want to do. How about doing some of the things he wants to do?"

Scrooge thought it over for a minute before sighing. "Alright. Whatever he wants to do, we'll do it."

"Good." Ludwig nodded with approval. "High risk adventures aren't for everyone you know. And we saw what happens when you force someone into them against their wishes."

That memory made Scrooge wince. 

"Old Isabella Finch was an incredible woman, but her parenting techniques were...questionable so to say. I'm afraid she herself only realized that when it was too late. When you force someone to only do something you want to do, you'll only get resentment."

Scrooge shook his head. "I don't want my family to resent me! I don't any of them to end up like....I won't let it happen!"

"And with that you've taken a step in the right direction. Next time you go on adventure, make sure to ask if any of them wants to sit it out. Or if the kids want to do something with you that's out of your comfort zone, go for it! It's a bonding experience and you might learn something new."

"Alright." Scrooge nodded. "Thank you Ludwig."

"And this is why you called me to be you therapist." The Professor straightened his jacket. "Now let's continue with....Donald are you ok?"

Donald's face was as red as Scrooge's jacket. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears.

"Donald?" Scrooge asked gently.

"NO!" He screamed. "THIS ISN"T HOW IT WORKS!"

"Uh....this is actually how therapy works." Ludwig said. "Though usually without the magical memory cave."

"I YELLED AT YOU! I INSULTED YOU!" Donald cried again at his uncle. "YOU"RE SUPPOSED TO YELL AT ME! WE"RE SUPPOSED TO FIGHT! THAT"S HOW IT ALWAYS GOES!"

"I don't want to keep doing that!" Scrooge held his hands up. "I-I want to be a part of this family! I want to get along with you like we used to! I want to have a conversation with you that doesn't end up with us arguing loud enough for Duckburg to hear or us not talking for a decade! I want to change that! That's why I agreed to do this! Donald what else do ya want from me!?"

"I-I...!"

"Donald try to take a few deep breaths." Ludwig said gently. "Then you can tell us what's really bothering you."

But didn't calm down. He didn't want to.

"WHY CAN"T YOU ADMIT THAT YOU HATE ME!?"

Scrooge and Ludwig could only stare open mouthed as Donald ran off.

Della felt like she was being pulled underwater, only sideways. She fought, but the hands kept a firm grip.

Finally, she was pulled through....another mirror? and into a dark cave lit by torches on the wall.

Then the person holding her whispered in her ear.

"Hello mo leanbh."

A chill went down her spine. She quickly broke free and turned to face her captor.

"Why did you bring me here!? Where's Penny!?"

Hortense gave her a wry smile. "Is that any way to greet yer mother?"

Della grit her teeth. "Where's. Penny?"

Hortense sighed as though Della were being a stubborn child. "Very well. Follow me and I'll bring you to her."

"And why should I go anywhere with you!?" Della's hands sparked with magic.

"Because you really don't have much of a choice." Hortense pointed behind her, and Della saw that the mirror she had come through vanished.

"Why did you bring us here!?"

"Why I just rescued you, of course."

Della cocked an eyebrow. "You really expect me to believe that?"

"No. But if you want to see your friend, you'll come with me and I'll explain."

"Or I could freeze you to the spot and go rescue her myself." She held up her glowing hand.

The red haired woman didn't look impressed. "And if you did that....I couldn't guarantee her safety now, can I? Merlock doesn't appreciate people coming into his home and attacking his allies."

"Why-you-!" Della sucked through her teeth. "Fine. But I'm watching you!"

"Very well." Hortense began walking town a tunnel, Della at her heals. She didn't know what this woman was up to, so she had to bite her tongue, at least until she found-

"Della?"

"Penny!?" Rushing ahead of Hortense, she followed the sound of her friend's voice.

"Della!"

"Penny! I'm here!" She came upon a cavern and saw Penny standing at the center, looking dazed.

:"Della!"

"Penny!" She rushed over and gave her friend the tightest hug she could. "Oh thank goodness you're alright!"

"How sweet. A very touching reunion."

Della felt her heart nearly stop as she let go and turned around to see Merlock himself standing by the entryway next to Hortense.

Pushing her nerves aside, she took a fighting stance. "Alright you big palooka! Start talking! Why are we here!?"

"The universal question. Why are any of us here?" Merlock shrugged carelessly.

"You know what I mean! Let us out of here!"

"'Us'? You must be mistaken my dear. There's only you."

"What?" Della turned her head to see Penny standing there, completely still.

Then Merlock snapped his fingers and Penny turned into an ice statue before crumbling.

"Penny!" Della gasped.

"A rather simple illusion." Merlock explained. "But it got the job done. Perhaps I can teach you how to do them."

Della turned back to them. "What are you-"

Merlock's hands glowed and Della found glowing cuffs on her wrists. With a wave of his hands, Della was now chained to the spot, arms spread where the magical chains sun in the ground.

"Hey!" Della pulled, but they didn't budge. She tried to use her magic but it felt....stuck.

"These chains precent you from using you powers." Merlock explained.

"No duh." Della pulled her eyes, hoping to mask the sense of dread she was feeling. "Whatever! I don't need magic or my hands to take you down!"

"Is that so?" Merlock took a step forward and Della instinctively stepped back. "You're shaking." He grinned.

"A-Am not!" She tried to keep her voice steady.

"Good. Because the more afraid you are, the stronger those chains will hold."

"...What?" She could feel the blood drain from her face.

Then she felt the chains tighten around her wrists.

Aw phooey...

"This is for yer own good lass." Hortense stepped forward.

"S-Stay back!" Della tried to step away but the chains tightened again as Hortense gently took her face in her hands.

"We aren't gonna hurt ya sweetheart." She summed her thumb against the captive woman's cheek. "We really are trying to help. This is just to prepare ya."

"Prepare me for what!?" Della demanded, heart beating against her chest. "Where's Penny!? What did you to to her!?"

"Come Hortense. Let's give your daughter some time to think things over."

"Think what over!? Why are you doing this!?"

Hortense simply smiled and kissed her head before leaving.

The door closed, and Della was alone in darkness.

Lena, Dewey and Webby were starting to get nervous.

Lena looked at her phone. "Alright. It's been half an hour. I'm gonna go back in and look around. If I don't make it back, get me a really cool tombstone."

"What tombstone?" The trio turned to see Beakley approaching....while carrying a cross looking Louie and May. "I already caught these two setting up a fake performer scheme."

"Hey! My stunts were the real deal!" Maya argued

"And the card games?"

"Literally every game here is rigged!" Louie countered. "People pay to see May's ninja moves and if they want to try their luck at a few card games after, who are we to stop them?"

"Not when you slide May the winning cards. We can discuss this further at home. Now where are Della and Penumbra?"

"We lost them in the mirror maze!" Dewey pointed to the building.

"You let MOM go into a place full of mirrors!?" Louie gasped. 

"She insisted!" Lena sighed. "And it's been over half an hour since Penny went back in to get Della."

Beakley frowned. "Something's not right. Did you try calling them?"

Webby held up her phone, showing several missed calls to the two women. "We tried but they never picked up! We couldn't even hear them ringing!"

Beakley put down May and Louie. "Nobody goes back in there unless I say so. Lena and Webby; find Huey, June and Violet and bring them here. In the meantime I'll try to get a hold of your uncles and fathers. Louie and I will stay here while Dewey and May go to the entrance in case they do find their way out."

The kids looked at each other. This wasn't just strict housekeeper/Granny Beakley talking. This was Agent 22 talking.

And that meant things were serious.

So nobody protested or asked question as they went off to their assignments.

Chapter Text

Della pulled against the chains with all her might, but they wouldn't budge.

"Dumb evil wizard.....dumb evil mother...."

"Well somebody seems to be in a tight spot."

Della recognized that voice immediately.

"Magica!" She shouted, turning her head rapidly. "Figures Merlock's new crony wouldn't be far behind."

"Like you're one to talk....always hanging on to your Uncle's coattails..." Magica's voice encircled her and the low lighting made it was difficult to tell where she was.

"Still sticking with the whole 'Sorceress of the Shadows' shtick?" Della quipped nervously. "Y'know I always took it to mean you were just scared to face life had on."

"Oh, you can learn much by sticking to the shadows." Della turned her head to the right. "Such as how to use people's fears against them. How to get what you want without being caught." She turned to the left. 

Then something was breathing down her neck. "And how to drive your enemy to the brink of insanity. But you're already there, aren't you?"

Della looked back as far as she could, but she couldn't make out anything. "Where are you!? Show yourself you coward!"

"But this is so much fun!" Her voice echoed around again. "Seeing you squirm like this...."

"Stop hiding!" Della moved her head so much her neck began to ache, but she couldn't spot the witch.

At least, until she looked forward and found herself staring into yellow serpentine eyes.

"Gah!" She jumped back as far as the tightening chains allowed.

"Scared you?" The Sorceress asked mockingly.

"N-No!" Stupid shaking voice...

"You're adorable when you're trying to be brave, you know that?" 

"S-Shut up! What do you want!?"

The Sorceress shrugged. "Just wanted to see how far along you are to accepting your true nature."

"True nature?"

"As a cold-hearted witch does what she wants regardless of the consequences." Magica paused. "Oh wait...you're already there aren't you?"

"No, I'm not!" Della shouted before crying out in pain as the chains tightened even more. "I'm not like that at all!"

"Quite a temper!" Magica tsk'd with a smile. "You really are just like your mother."

Della grit her teeth. "I'm nothing like her!"

"Ah yes...It's not like you ever hurt your family for your own selfish desires."

Della's mind ground to a halt and her stomach dropped.

"Oh wait! You did, didn't you?" Magica said with glee. "You wound up driving your whole family apart, caused your brother to raise your now motherless offspring by himself and your Uncle to spiral into an isolating depression!" Her laughter was like a direct stab at Della's heart. "I must admit I'm impressed! Even at the height of my power, I could never accomplish that!"

"I-I didn't mean to!" Della pleaded.

"And I'm sure you didn't mean for the moon to invade so you could play the hero, hm?" Magica smirked, circling around the woman like a wolf stalking its prey. "And wound up getting your Uncle beaten and humiliated in the process?"

"I DIDN'T!"

"Wow, you've managed to cause more pain accidentally than I have intentionally!"

"SHUT UP!"

"And look at you dragging your girlfriend and your son into all this!" Magica shook her head in mock disappointment. "I wonder what he'll say when he sees you like this? Especially since you've passed your burden onto him as well."

"YOU STAY AWAY FROM THEM!" Della snarled. "I MEAN IT! IF YOU HURT THEM I"LL-"

"You'll what?" She challenged. "What will you do once we take care of the alien and lock up the fire child right next to you?"

"I"LL KILL YOU!" Della's scream echoed. "I"LL FREEZE YOU AND SMASH YOU INTO A MILLION PIECES! I"LL SEND AN ICICLE RIGHT THROUGH YOUR BLACK HEART! I"LL SMASH YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH YOUR STAFF! I"LL-GAH!" The chains tightened again, bringing Della to her knees.

"You really have thought this through haven't you?" Magica asked with more amusement than fear. "Fitting that your heart is as ice-cold as your powers."

"LET ME OUT OF HERE AND I"LL SHOW YOU WHAT I"M MADE OF!"

"You seem to be forgetting that you're weaker during the day. So I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few hours for that." Now standing behind the chained woman, she put her hands on her shoulders.

"DON"T TOUCH ME!" Della swung her head back hoping to land a hit but the sorceress just took a step back. "I"M WARNING YOU!"

"Warning me of what?" Magica scoffed. "That you're so terrified of who you really are, you run, hide and lie?" She leaned forward. "No matter how much you deny it, how much you say and act otherwise; you're a cold, black-hearted creature who enjoys hurting others, who makes a mess wherever she goes, and brings trouble to those around you like a curse. You're a monster, plain and simple."

"N-No..." She blinked hard, hoping to keep the tears back. "I-I'm not..."

"Oh....it's alright...." Magica cooed, stroking her hair. "You can't help being born one. It's your very nature. You can try and fight it....but at the end of the day that is who you are. Don't worry." She whispered directly into her ear. "Your mother will be absolutely delighted. And Merlock, Poe, and I will be more than happy to take over your training. We're going to have so much fun teaching you dark magic!"

Della could only hang her head, her throat too tight to form a response.

"I'll leave you to reflect in your wallowing misery. Ta ta!" Magica slipped back into the shadows.

Alone, chained in the dark again, Della could only let her tears run down her cheeks.

Huey ran as fast as he could, not knowing or caring where he was going.

He just knew he had to get away, for everyone's safety.

Because he was nothing but a monster who hurts people.

He was so consumed by his thoughts that he almost didn't notice a blue duckling jump in front of him, blocking his path.

"Huey!" June shouted, causing him to fall backward.

"S-Stay back!" He quickly got to his feet and ran left...only to come upon a dead-end fence.

"Hubert!" He turned and saw June and Violet slowly approach him.

"Stay back! I-I don't know what I'll do!"

"Huey I'm so sorry!" June sniffed, tears welling up.

"Why are you sorry!?" He asked in disbelief. "I'm the one who hurt you!"

"Hubert. It was an accident." Violet said, keeping her tone steady. "You didn't mean to hurt her."

"And it's all better now! Look!" June held up her hand, with only had a few light red spots remaining.

"But what if I did worse!? What if I was actually on fire what-"

It was then Bruni crawled out from under his hat, down his body straight towards the girls.

"WAIT! Don't hurt them!"

"He's not gonna hurt us." June leaned down and let the spirit crawl up her hand. "Hi Bruni!"

The lizard snuggled into her hands.

"Well look at what he did to me!" Huey held up his flaming fist. "I can't even get out the JWG because I know I'll burn it to a crisp!"

"Grandma said-"

"I don't care! It's not a blessing! It's a curse!"

Violet looked at him with sympathy. "You know...Lena said the exact same thing about her powers."

Huey paused. "Well she's different!"

"She's the living shadow of Magica De Spell who learned to utilize her magic through the power of friendship."

"Exactly! She was born like that! I didn't get these powers until a week ago!"

"And you are still learning how to use them. Lena had to do the same. In fact there are several instances where she has harmed me and others. Always accidentally of course."

"...Really?"

"Yes." Violet stepped forward. "It is just a part of the learning process. Once you learn to accept them, then it will become easier."

"B-But I already had to deal with the Duke of Destruction! Did Lena tell you that!? I could barely control him before and now he has literal fire powers!"

"Is that when you get really angry and your eyes turn all red?" June asked, Bruni lounging on her head. "Because you did that while we played video games a few days ago. It was scary...but also really cool!"

"And I ended up melting my controller!"

Violet frowned. "Huh..."

"What?" Huey raised an eyebrow. He knew Violet's thinking face pretty well.

"Nothing. Just a hypothesis. But more on that later. Huey...you are not a monster."

"I didn't say-"

"But you were thinking it. And you are wrong. Did you mean to hurt June?"

"No! Never!"

"A monster would not feel guilty like you are. Therefore; you are not a monster. You are someone who is passionate, dedicated and intense. You love your family and your desire to help them is inspirational." She was right in front of him now. "Hold out your hand."

"What!?" What if I-"
"You will not," Violet said with complete conviction. "I trust you."

"Me too!" June stood next to her and held out her own hand. "I'm sorry for invading your personal space by the way. I know you're really big on that."

Huey looked at the girls, at their hands and at Bruni, who gave him and encouraging look.

He took a deep breath. If he could-

"GUYS!"

Huey jumped back as Lena floated down from the sky carrying Webby in her magic.

"What are you doing back here!?" Lena demanded.

"Well...." How could Huey explain it?

"No time!" Webby shouted. "We have a situation!"

It took Scrooge a full minute just to process what his nephew just screamed at him.

"He...he thinks I hate him?" He whispered, wishing it weren't true.

"That is what he said." Ludwig shrugged. "I was honestly hoping we could get rid of that mindset with the shared sessions, or at least, learn why he thinks that."

With a fire burning in his chest, he raced down the tunnel.

Ludwig watched on. "We'll give them a few minutes to sort things out." He looked at Twyla, who meowed in agreement.

Scrooge managed to find Donald sitting on the floor in a side tunnel, face buried in his arms.

"Lad?" He asked, slowly approaching the vulnerable man.

Donald looked up at him through red eyes, all the rage from before gone. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you do all that?" Donald wheezed, his voice even more hoarse from the shouting. "My mother stabbed you in the back! You could've just left us with Grandma and be done with us! You'd never be reminded of her again!"

"I didn't want to-"

"Then I was an ungrateful brat my whole life! Always arguing with you! Lashing out! Doing the opposite of what you said just to spite you! But you still took me in! Still took me on adventures!"

"Of course I-"

"Then I blamed you for the spear! I took the boys from you! I didn't talk to you for a decade and you still let us move in! Then he...he said I was your 'most trusted companion'. Why!? Then we brought our weirdo magic into the family and you hate magic! And you're still helping us! WHY!?"

Scrooge looked at him for a long time through glistening eyes. Finally, he wiped the tears away before dragging Donald to his feet and back up the cave.

"Hey! What's the big idea!?" He cried, struggling against his Uncles' ironclad grip.

"Because I'm not good with words, so I'm gonna show ya!" They returned to find Ludwig petting Twyla while lounging against the stand.

"Ah, pardon me!" He quickly stepped aside as Scrooge placed his hand down.

The cave flashed and a new scene took place before them.

Donald recognized it as the farmhouse, but the room was set up like a nursery with two cribs. Something in one of the cribs was making an unearthly sound.

"Alright alright. I'm coming!" Donald jumped when the figment of past Scrooge walked through him, reaching into the crib. "Just don't wake yer sister. I already told yer Grandmother I'd give her a break tonight."

Donald felt his heart nearly stop when Scrooge pulled out...baby him, who was sobbing and thrashing about, but seemed to calm down once Scrooge brought him into his arms. Then past Scrooge sat down in a rocking chair.

"I know yer not hungry. I can actually breathe through my nostrils without gagging, so that isn't it." Past Scrooge murmured to the upset baby. "Ye have a bad dream?"

The baby whimpered.

"Thought so. I've had my own share of bad dreams lately. Though hopefully yer not old enough to remember your's."

"Mama..." The baby whined in a barely understandable voice. "Dada..."

Past Scrooge paused, holding his breath. "I know. I know you and Della want them, but I'm afraid yer stuck with me and Elvira. Yer parents-" A faint green chain glimmered on his beak. "You should have two loving parents. A normal family. But I failed. I failed you. I failed them. What happened was more complicated than you'll ever know and I wish it wasn't that way, but here we are. It's all my fault and it's selfish, but I pray you'll never know the truth.

But here's another truth; I'll be right here. Me and yer grandma. We know we're no good substitutions for the real thing, but we love you more than you'll ever know. Because we're family. And family...looks out for each other. Loves each other." He sighed as he rubbed the baby's back. "Even if we're a mess, even if we make mistakes. We love you two. I made a terrible mistake before; tried to cut myself off from it, but we need each other if want to stand a chance in this world. It's a scary new adventure, but I've never been one to turn them down."

The scene faded, and new images flashed before them.

"That's right Donald, come to Unca Scrooge! One step at a time..."

"Ye can speak! I don't care what those yokels said! We're getting you a speech therapist. I understood ya well enough! And even if they still don't understand, you'll MAKE them understand!"

"Pull the arrow all the way back to yer cheek. That's right..."

"Ha! Yer a natural-born sailor lad! I've got a few friends who can teach you some things. Maybe one day you'll have yer own boat and sail around the world!"

"Well done laddie! Ye found the hidden treasure!"

"I love you." Present Scrooge said as the memories flashed by. "I'm so sorry I never showed it right. Never told ya enough. Acted in any way that made ya think I hated ya."

Donald had to keep wiping his eyes to see the memories. "But ma-"

"I don't care about Hortense! She chose her path, you had nothing to do with it. Yes, ye may remind me of her sometimes, especially when yer angry, but that doesn't matter! Yer my nephew! My family! I wanted to be in yer life the moment I laid eyes on ya."

Donald sniffed. "Ya should hate me..."

"Well, I don't. In fact, I love ya, so there. If anything you should hate me."

"WHAT!?" Now it was Donald's turn to look shocked. "I don't hate you!"

"Don't try to spare my feelings-"

"No! I don't hate you at all!" He sighed. "I'm frustrated by you a lot, but...you're family. You did a lot for me and Della even if you didn't have to."

"I wanted to do all that. Even when ye were being a stubborn little child. We're McDucks! Fighting with each other is in our blood! But at the end of the day, we have each other's backs. And as for the magic? I told ya it doesn't matter. I'm starting to realize it's a part of you now, so I'll learn to love it too."

"B-But the kids....we gave it Huey. What if the others-"

"Then I'll love them all the same. Even if whatever cockamamie prophecy Merlock cooked up drags them into it too. That isn't yer fault either. None of this is. We'll figure it out together."

"But my luck...All I ever do is drag everyone into danger with me. Put their lives at risk because my life is one big mess."

"Don't you dare say that!" Scrooge demanded. "That is not your fault in any way! That's just life!"

"But-"

"No buts! Things tend to go wrong for you more often than others. So what? I've had my share of terrible things happen and you know what?"

"What?"

"That's how you find the people who will stand by you." Scrooge straightened his back. "If they can't handle it when bad things happen out of your control, then good riddance! You don't need them. The people who really matter stick with you through thick and thin. Like Daisy and yer band friends! They don't care about all the bad things that happen. If they can stick around after seeing your temper, then they're people worth keeping around. But you can't beat yourself up for every little misfortune that befalls you."

"I believe you just tied into one of the things from your dislike list," Ludwig said. "The fact that Donald gets easily frustrated over the slightest obstacle."

"Yes. Because I know he's faced and will face worse, and that he will best it with all of his might! That's why I hate it when he acts like the world is out to get him. The world is just showing him how strong he is and who his real friends are."

"Uncle Scrooge..." Donald whispered, wiping away a few tears.

"And with that, we have our breakthrough." Ludwig smiled.

Donald couldn't believe what his Uncle had just said.

That he believed Donald was capable of anything? That the world was actually looking out for him?

"Donald?" Ludwig interrupted his thought. "Do you have anything to say to that?"

He swallowed. "The houseboat."

Scrooge blinked. "What?"

"That was the other thing on your dislike list. My houseboat. Why?"

"Because it's old and falling apart and keeping you from moving back into the mansion."

"You...you want me to move back in?"

"Of course I do! I've been trying to hint that to ya for ages-"

He stumbles as Donald launched into a hug.

"...I love you Unca Scrooge." He whispered, holding tight.

Scrooge held on just as tightly. "I love ya too laddie. Don't ya ever forget that." 

Ludwig wiped a tear from his eye. "And this is why I got that Psychology doctorate."

A loud meow echoed in the cave as Twyla made a dash for the entrance.

"Looks like someone's tired of memory lane." Scrooge smiled. "Let's get out of here. Duckworth's probably wondering what we're up to."

When Donald left the cave, with the warm sun shining on him and a fresh breeze blowing by, he felt lighter than he ever had in his life.

And he liked that.

"Better call the others to see how-" Scrooge frowned at his phone. "That's odd. I've got several missed calls from them."

"Guess magical memory caves don't have great service." Donald checked his phone and saw several missed calls too, from Beakley and-

Oh no.

Scrooge's phone rang then and he immediately answered.

"Beakley? I'm sorry for not answering but...What's happened?.....WHAT!?....We'll be right there."

"What's going on!?"

"We need to get to the carnival right now. Della and Penny are missing....and all signs point to kidnapping."

Chapter Text

Huey, Webby, Lena, June, and Violet found Beakley and Louie standing guard by the exit of the mirror maze.

"I've finally managed to contact your uncles," Beakley said in lieu of a greeting. "They're on their way now, but it could take a while."

"Mirrors are prime targets for temporary portals." Violet looked over the building.

"Is everyone alright?" They turned and saw Carnum standing there, hands behind his back. "Because I've noticed two little younglings keeping people from my mirror maze."

"Your mirror maze?" Beakley narrowed her eyes.

"Al Carnum." He bowed. "I own this fine establishment. Now if you'd just-"

"YOU!" June pointed a finger at him. "It has to be him! He got Huey mad on purpose!"

"I suspected something was up." Violet glared at the man. "Where are Della and Penumbra?"

"Would someone explain what is going on here?" Beakley demanded while still keeping the ringmaster in her line of sight.

Carnum eyed June. "You know...I suspected the hummingbird was onto me. But I didn't think you would be the one to pinpoint it so quickly. You're don't exactly strike me as the sharpest knife being tossed."

June blinked. "That was an insult, right?" She whispered to Huey, who nodded.

"My point exactly."

Lena glared daggers. "Who are you? And what did you do to my friends?"

"Straight to the point. I can respect that." His smile turned into a smirk. "You see... I and my loyal troop have been traveling around the country for a while, entertaining kids, stealing money from their parents....while also feeding off of their excess emotions. Fear, excitement, anger, the works. The higher the emotional output, the more power for me. Occasionally taking people who got too close to the truth and...incorporating them into our attractions."

Webby's eyes widened. "Lena....do you remember how I said those wax sculptures looked like they were actually looking at us?"

"Oh yeah...." Lena's hands glowed.

"This whole carnival is one big con!" Louie gasped.

"Exactly! Though you should see what a normal carnival is like! Now we were planning on coming to Duckburg anyway. Lots of high emotions here, you know? When who should show up in my office but-"

"Merlock." Everyone said in unison.

"Precisely." Carnum nodded. "You could imagine how nervous I was when he appeared! Thought he was gonna burn the big top to the ground! But no. He would actually let me do my thing. As long as I helped him...acquire a few visitors."

"You let him turn the mirror maze into a trap!" Dewey gasped from where he and May followed the man.

"It was already a trap, but yes. I let him take it over. I normally take and drain any magical people I find for myself, but you don't make demands out of the great Merlock! I had other traps set up for the rest of you, but it appears the tales of your adventures were no exaggeration!"

Beakley cracked her knuckles. "Tell us where Della and Penumbra are. You're outnumbered."

"Am I?" He snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the entire atmosphere of the carnival changed

Carnies, both working the booths and entertaining guests stopped what they were doing.

Then...they changed.

The stiltwalkers limbs stretched to the point where he didn't need the stilts anymore, the lady running the target hitting game grew sharp teeth and claws and the fire-breather grew scales and began breathing fire all on his own. Everywhere the carnies transformed into monsters of all shapes and sizes. The guests screamed and began running for the exits, only to find their way blocked by the mutant entertainers.

Beakley looked at the approaching monsters. "Aw phooey."

"You just had to jinx it, didn't ya?" Louie snarked.

"Louie, you and June go to the entrance for your Uncles. We'll help everyone else escape."

"Dibs on this clown." Lena put on her sorceress form.

"Uh....wouldn't you rather take care of that clown?" Louie nervously looked over to where, indeed, a monster clown was scaring a mother and child.

"But what about mom and Penny!?" Dewey looked nervously at the mirror maze.

Huey, the one closest to the maze, took a deep breath. "I'll find them!" He raced in.

"Hubert!"

"Huey!" June called, racing in after him.

Louie's jaw dropped. "June what-"

"Louie take May and go get your Uncles! NOW!" Beakley said as she dodged a punch from the strongman.

May grabbed Louie's hand and ran to the exit as everyone else started dodging, punching, and blasting.

"We just wanted a break!" Louie exclaimed. "A nice, normal, danger-free day! Is that too much to ask!?"

Huey looked around warily, hand lightly grazing the wall.

Junior Woodchuck Rule #522: For any given maze, keep your hand on the right wall and eventually you will find the exit.

The only problem was that rule didn't account for the fact that he didn't want to find the exit, he wanted to find his mother.

It also didn't account for magical mirrors.

"Huey!"

He jumped and found himself face to face with June.

"June!? What-"

"Behind you."

He turned away from the reflection and found himself facing the actual June.

"Hi!" She gave a wave.

He sighed. "What are we going to do? I have no idea how to get to them."

"Hmm...if we had a wand or dowsing rod..."

It was then Bruni crawled out of Huey's hat and onto the mirror, racing down the wall.

"Or we can follow the magical fire spirit." She shrugged before they gave chase.

After a few turns, Bruni put a claw on the next mirror....only for it to ripple at his touch.

"He found it!" June cheered, ready to charge in.

"Wait!" Huey held his arm out. "We don't know what's on the other side!"

"Aunt Della and Penny are."

"Well, yes! But it could also be a trap!"

"We don't have time to worry about that! Auntie Della and Penny are trapped over there! Besides, if we run into Merlock you can just throw fire into his face!"

"But I can't control it yet! What if-"

"You can't live your life by 'what if's! Sometimes you just have to go for it!"

Huey looked at her confident face, then at Bruni who smiled at him. He took a deep breath.

"Okay. Let's go for it!"

Holding each other's hands, they dove into the mirror.

Scrooge, Donald, and Ludwig arrived to chaos.

Which, really shouldn't have been a surprise at this point.

Louie led a family out of the carnival before approaching the trio. "So, long story short, the carnival's a scam staffed by monsters and the owner cut a deal with Merlock."

Scrooge sighed. "Of course..."

"Dad! Uncle Scrooge!" May called as she kicked a knife thrower. "There are people in that booth! Help them!"

"Glad I finally get a chance to use this!" Ludwig pressed a button on his watch....which transformed into a laser. He laughed giddily as he began blasting.

Scrooge grinned at his nephew. "Just like old times?"

Donald grinned back. "You bet!"

They jumped into the foray.

Huey and June landed on stone flooring.

"That was fun!" June smiled. "Can we do that again?"

"When we get out of here, yes. Now let's find Mom and Penny."

Bruni quickly crawled out and made himself comfortable on Huey's shoulder as they started down the tunnel.

"This place is a maze!" Huey groaned. "It could take days to search them all!"

Then they heard something echo down one of the tunnels.

"Release me from this cell! You shall know the might of Penumbra of the Planet Moon!"

"Penny!" Huey and June gasped happily as they followed the voice. They soon found a glowing metal door being pounded on from the inside.

"Let! Me! OUT!" They heard the moonlander's voice through the barred window.

"Penny! It's Huey and June!" Huey called out.

"Small Dellas!? Can you find a way to open this door?"

Huey ran a hand over and felt a tingling sensation run up his arm. A symbol glowed. "It feels like it's sealed with magic! If only we had Lena-"

"Or you could try melting it," June suggested. 

Huey blinked at her.

"What? Just because magic is keeping it locked doesn't mean we can't break it. I can be smart!"

Huey looked at his hands. "B-But what if I lose control and hurt Penny? What if-"

"Huey, we trust you." June put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

She didn't flinch or pull away.

"I trust you as well red Della!" Penny called out. "But to be on the safe side I will stand as far from the door as I can, so do not worry about holding back!"

Huey took in a breath. "Ok. Everyone stand back."

June went to the opposite wall and gave him two thumbs up.

Keeping his breathing steady, Huey felt his hands warm up.

Fire comes from the breath. Elvira's words echoed. Keep your breathing strong and steady, and your fire will follow.

He put his hands on the door, and it began to heat up.

You gotta focus! Lena's words came next. You wouldn't leave any fire unattended. Your magic is linked to your emotions. You gotta be careful, but confident. Show it who's boss!

He could feel the metal began to give way as his fire increased. The center of the door began to soften.

You are someone who is dedicated, passionate, and intense. Violet's words repeated. You love your family and your desire to help them is inspirational.

Soon, there was a giant hole in the door, large enough for Penny to squeeze through.

"Give it a minute," Huey warned. "The edges are still hot."

"I can handle extremes in temperature just fine," Penny said as she stepped over the molted mess. "Thank you. Now let us rescue Della."

"But we don't know where she is!" Huey pointed out. "It could take days-"

Bruni made a loud squee and began running along the wall.

"Or we could just follow Bruni again." Huey sighed. "Just going along with this."

They followed the lizard down another tunnel until he stopped on a wooden door.

Huey ran a hand over it. "Looks like they didn't bother with a magic lock for this one. Normally I would allow Louie to do the morally ambiguous act of lock picking but at least I can put that badge to use." He pulled out two paper clips and got to work while Penny and June kept an eye out for Merlock.

With a click the door opened. "Got it!" Huey grinned and opened it the rest of the way.

It was Della, kneeling on the floor bound to clearly magical chains.

"MOM!" Huey ran in.

"AUNTIE DELLA!" June followed his lead.

Della looked up just as they latched themselves onto her. "KIDS! PENNY! You're ok!"

"Della?" Penny was shocked at her friend's state; her shoulders sagged and her eyes red with tear stains running down her face.

Huey quickly noticed her appearance too. "Mom? Are you ok!? Did they hurt you!?"

"Tell me who it was." Penny clenched her fist. "I will show them no mercy."

But Della shook her head. "No! Listen, you all have to get out of here! Forget about me!"

"No!" June hugged tighter. "We're not leaving without you!"

Huey tugged at the chains. "One of us should get Lena. She might know how to break these."

"No. Just leave me here and get everyone else out. I'll be fine-"

"Do not say that," Penny demanded. "We WILL break these chains! Whatever we have to do, we will do it."

"BUT YOU CAN"T!"

The trio winced at Della's tone.

"Why?"

Della stared at the floor.

"Mom?" Huey put a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

She sighed. "The more scared I am, the stronger they become."

"So then stop being afraid!" June stomped her foot.

"It's not that easy sweetie." Della shook her head.

"Well then what are you afraid of?" Penny asked. "Because we will take care of it. You have nothing to fear with us around."

"You can't beat this up, Penny!" She groaned.

"What can we do?" Huey pleaded. "Please let us help! Remember when you became trapped in your nightmare and we-" He paused, eyes widening. "-this has something to do with that, doesn't it?"

"Some of it."

"Then please." Penny got to one knee to meet her friend's eyes. "Tell us what is keeping these chains on you."

Della closed her eyes. "Merlock."

"You are afraid of him?"

"We all are." June's smile was soft. "He's scary, but we'll beat him! We've beaten worse!"

"It's not just him." Della chocked. "It's what he's done to mom! What he's done and what he's going to do with me and your Uncle! To our family! It's.....What am I?"

"What?" Penny tilted her head.

"If mom's been working with Merlock for so long....what if he did something to me and Donald before we were born? And that's why we have these powers? What if he turned us into some kind of monsters? And that's why Merlock needs us? And no matter how much we try to fight it-"

She was cut off when Huey and June wrapped her in a double hug.

"...You're not a monster," Huey said softly, wrapping his arms tight. "You're a flawed person, and we love you for it. If this is about the spear, we forgave you."

Bruni crawled off him and onto Della's head.

"But look at you! What if you only have those powers because I passed on whatever he did to me to you and your brothers!? And now you're wrapped into whatever he's got planned!

"I hurt so many people; my friends, my family, even after I came home. And now....no matter how hard I try, I keep hurting people, dragging them into danger. Maybe there's something deep down inside me that is evil and nothing I do will change it."

June gently pushed Huey away and took her Aunt's face in her hands.

"I was made to help destroy adventure." She stated. "May and I were made and raised to be evil. But then we met you guys and....we wanted to be good. We choose to be good. Look at Lena, she was made from a shadow and she chooses to be good too! And BOYD too!"

Della nearly cried with love, because she looked into this little girl's eyes and saw her brother and Daisy, and a little of her grandmother too.

"We all made mistakes. Remember how I almost broke Dewey's wrist when we were arm wrestling? Or when May and Huey started to wrestle each other over the video game? Huey burned me a little earlier-"

"WHAT!?"

"-But it was an accident! I'm fine now. I know he didn't do it on purpose. He said he was sorry."

"Allow me." Penny took a deep breath. "Huey-"

Huey's jaw dropped.

"You are a very responsible, very nurturing child. Your powers do not change that. I know you will use that fire to protect the people you love. You are also temperamental, but you focus that temper on protection, just like your Uncle. You are also intelligent and diligent and never give up, just like your mother. Your fire is beautiful and powerful and I know you will accomplish great things with it."

A warm, comforting heat filled his chest as he smiled. Even Bruni seemed to glow with happiness.

"And Della....you are one of the most annoying, impulsive, and talkative beings I have ever met. When we met I wished for nothing more than to get rid of you."

"Gee thanks Penny...." Della said in a flat voice. "Really know how to cheer a girl up."

"But things changed...You kept being nice to me, kept trying to get to know me. Nobody had ever done that before. Not even....him. I was confused, frightened even. I didn't know what to make of it, but part of me liked it too.

And the way you kept talking about your family....how much you wanted to see them. How much you missed them. How much you loved them. I was both touched and envious because I didn't have what you did. And I thought I never would. You kept trying to fix the rocket no matter how many times it broke, you cared enough about my people to grant their wishes to see earth even though it would delay your own trip. And....no matter how many times I yelled at you, threatened you, and downright insulted you....you never held it against me. You kept trying to be my friend."

Della sniffed. "Penny..."

"I had given up on being close to anyone, of having a family. I told you my family was...complicated. And the worst part was that everyone knew. I thought that meant I could never be close to anyone."

"Penny my mother literally shot my dad in the back!" Della exclaimed. "What if I am like her!? I mean, I literally broke my family apart! I only cared about my own desires without any consideration of how it affected them! Just like she did!"

"WELL, MY MOTHER WAS A MEAN DRUNK!" Penny shouted back. When she saw the kids' shocked faces she took a deep breath. "Remember those fermented moon beverages I told you about?"

Della dumbly nodded.

"She took those...a lot." Penny winced at the memories. "She did not care if she screamed at me or my father when she was like that. Did not care if...she hurt us physically. She kept doing it for whatever reason and I do not wish to ever understand why!"

"I had no idea...."

"Because I did not tell you. Because I did not wish you to know. And all the other moonlanders knew."

"And they didn't do anything!?" Huey asked in disbelief.

"I think they tried....but they are usually timid people. I get my bluntness from her I'm afraid. My father was good to me....but he was weak. He couldn't stop her. Didn't know how to. No matter how many times I begged him, he just kept letting it happen. I loved him but he was weak. I vowed to never be like either of them. I wanted to be strong, but not in a way that hurt innocent people.

"But the others...I could see it in their eyes, even if they didn't dare speak it. They were waiting for me to turn out like her. To crumble, to trample on those close to me. But most of all....they pitied me. I couldn't stand it. So I trained myself, dedicated myself to fighting our enemies, to keeping us safe to show everyone how strong I was. To show them how different I was from her.

"But in doing so...I kept myself distanced from everyone. Never let my guard down, never let myself 'cut loose' because...I was afraid. That if I did, something in me would do what she did. That they would see the broken parts of me and realize I was more like her than I wanted to admit. So I kept those feelings locked away.

"Then you came and welcomed me into your family. And I realized that I wanted to be a part of your family. That I would protect them with my life if it came down to it. And...that I would never be like her. She would never have this, she never would've done the things I did.  I had advanced far beyond the person she was, and the person I had tried to be."

"Penny you are so much more than she was." Della's eyes were glistening. "You're one of the best people I've ever met."

"And you are so much more than your mother is. You fought every day to get back to them. You fight every day to make up for it. Whenever you do something now, you always think about how it would affect them. You want to do right by your children. You want to support Donald and his decisions. You put your family first...that is something your mother will never be capable of. You do make mistakes...but you work to make up for them. You hurt them, but you also apologize and work to make it right.

"You are one of the most incredible people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Of being friends with. Of...." She groaned and brushed a hand through her hair. "Why is this so hard!?"

"Penny?"

"I....have been feeling things for a while now. But I was afraid to face them. Terrified to tell anyone else about them. Things that relate to you. But I think the easiest way would be to..." She grabbed Della's scarf. "I am about to do something that is completely terrifying, but also what I have wanted to do for a long time. But it also involves invading your personal space for a moment. Do I have your permission to do that?"

Della was now completely nlost. "Ok? But what-"

Without hesitating, Penny leaned forward and kissed Della on the lips.

Chapter Text

For a second Della's brain froze at what was happening. It couldn't believe what was going on. It was sudden and quick and....exactly what she needed.

Then she let herself lean into it. Let herself enjoy the moment. Let herself sink into Penny's warm embrace.

The lips were stiff and closed, having no experience in this act. But they were also gentle. Wanting to dive in while also respecting Della's boundaries.

They only stopped when Della had to come back up for air, and even then she wanted to go right back to it. But Penny was already talking.

"I love you! I love you Della Duck with all your annoying tendencies but also your intelligence, compassion, and ingenuity! And I want to spend the rest of my life with you and be a good parental figure for your sons.  Because I love them too! You've helped me become a better person and while I'll know I can never pay you back for that I want to support you whenever I can, whenever you need it. I will protect your children with my own life.

"Even...Even if you do not feel the same way. I will still be there. If you do not reciprocate my feelings that is fine. We never have to talk about it again but I still desire to be a part of your and your family's life."

Della's eyes sparkled. "You...you were scared to do that?"

"Yes. Because I have never felt this way about anyone before you and I did not know how to handle it. But I cannot keep denying or hiding it. You deserve to know. And what I just did and said was far more terrifying than flying a ship into an engine...but I'm glad I did it."

"You love me? Even though I'm-"

"You are Della Duck. A flawed, wonderful woman who loves her family. Who is a hero. Who works hard to correct her mistakes. Who is a caring mother, sister, niece, and friend. And I know you might not feel the same-"

Della's laughter cut her off. "Are you serious!?"

"I do not see what is funny about this." Penny frowned.

"Because I wanna kiss you again!" Della exclaimed, smiling. "I wanna kiss you and snuggle you and....so things I can't say out loud because there are kids here! I wanna spend every day with you because.....because I love you too."

Now it was Penny's turn to look stunned. "You-you-"

"Just kiss me already!"

Penny didn't need to be told twice.

"Operation Dellumbra: Success." Huey whispered to June, watching in wonderment at the sight. Bruni even ran circles on Della's head in joy.

June tilted her head. "It's nice....but do they have to kiss? Mommy and Daddy do it all the time and it's kinda gross."

"It's romance! It's love! I told you about it!"

"The love part I kinda get, but the romance part sounds weird. I don't know why you and May like to watch those sappy things on T.V."

Della only heard half of what they were saying, so focused she was on Penny, that she almost didn't realize-

"You're standing!" Huey gasped.

Della reluctantly pulled away and realized that the chains had loosened enough for her to stand up again.

"Huh..."

"You are doing great!" Penny smiled. "Now we just need to-"

"Need to what?"

Everyone looked and saw Hortense and Magica standing at the doorway.

Scrooge used his cane to hop onto the stilt mutant and knock them into the cotton candy stand.

"Everyone this way!" Louie shouted, guiding another group of people out of the carnival. "I think that's nearly everyone!"

"Good! Now-"

"Look!" May pointed to where Lena was battling against Carnum, who had turned a bunch of stuffed toys into monsters as well and were tossing wave after wave at her.

"She needs help!"

"We're a little busy right now!" Louie dodged a swipe from one of the 'Mystery Sheds' displays.

Donald ran a light bolt of electricity through his fingers. "I got this."

He ran over managed to send out a bolt that electrified a swarm of sharped toothed teddy bears.

"Take care of the other monsters!" Donald commanded. "I got him!"

Lena gave a playful salute before flying off to help the others.

"So you must be Donald Duck?" Carnum grinned. "Merlock warned me about you. I can sense quite a bit of power in you as well."

"Let me give ya a demonstration pal!" His fist glowed, and the wind began to pick up.

Penny took a fighting stance.

"Oh! You seem fun!" Magica grinned, staff glowing. Bruni hissed at them.

"Don't hurt them!" Della shouted as she felt the chains start to tighten.

"Don't be scared!" June encouraged.

"Trust me, child." Magica said. "it's not us you should be scared of." She looked directly at Della.

"Don't listen to her!" Huey held up two flaming fists. "She doesn't know you as we do."

Hortense's eyes lit up. "Look at you lad! Already doing so well with yer powers. Now if only yer mother could do the same..."

Della looked between her hands. Could she really do it?

Huey shook his head. "There's still so much I have to learn about them. But I know what I'm going to do." He glared hard, eyes tinted red. "I'm going to use them to protect my family from you!"

"That's sweet laddie. But you don't know what yer mother even is."

"Della..." Penny glanced behind her. "Who are you going to listen to? The people who love you? Or the people who want to control you?"

She closed her eyes. She thought of Scrooge and Elvira raising her and Donald and tried to recall any dark shadows or hints of regret.

Instead, she saw Scrooge encouraging her dream of being a pilot. Elvira comforting her after a bad breakup.

Her Grandmother telling off the people who complained about Della's inability to sit still, her Uncle embracing her when she found out she was expecting.

She saw her sons running up to her after her return. 

Her brother yelling at her before hugging her when they were finally reunited. Daisy laughing with her at a bar.

Mrs. Beakley (at Scrooge's behest) telling her about her body and that there was nothing wrong with liking both boys and girls. Duckworth making her favorite meal after a bad day.

She saw Penny, loving her despite all of her flaws.

She opened her eyes and could feel the magic coursing through her veins.

Hortense scoffed. "I'm her mother! I laid her egg! I think I know her better than you-"

"No." Della stated, clenching her fists.

"Excuse me?"

"No. You don't know me at all. You gave that up when you joined with Merlock and killed dad. I hurt my family too, I admit that. But I came back! Because I loved them enough to put my own desires behind me. I'm working on making up for every missed moment. You've been stuck on getting what you want for three decades. I've been so terrified that I'd turn out like you when we couldn't be further apart!

"And when Huey got his powers, I was scared that I'd somehow cursed him as well." She smiled at him. "But it's not a curse. He's still the same brilliant, caring boy as before and he's going to use his fire to protect the people he loves. I couldn't be more proud of him."

Huey smiled back.

"I don't know what's going on inside me, or what's going to happen, but one thing's for sure." She glared at the two women. "I'm not scared anymore. Of either of you."

With that declaration, the chains shattered to the ground.

Hortense's and Magica's jaws dropped as Della crafted a sword out of ice.

"This is my power. You might've put it in me. But I'm the one in control of it. I decide how it's going to affect my life. And right now I'm going to use it to protect my family!"

She charged forward, swinging her sword with new determination.

Donald sent a light ball through a giant stuffed dragon, burning a hole in it.

One toy down....a hundred more to go.

And that didn't count the man controlling them.

Whenever Donald got too distracted dealing with the toys or whatever monster was attacking him, Carnum would sneak a magical blast at him. Thankfully, Donald would notice at the last second and dodge.

But that couldn't last.

"My power is fed by emotional output boy!" Carnum laughed. "The screams of the people, whether from joy or fear, they give me strength." The next blast hit the ground next to him, blasting up dirt which both knocked Donald back and blinded him for a moment, leaving him open to being hit by a popcorn cart. "The more you put out, the more I gain!"

It was true. Donald could see it. No matter how hard his family fought, there were just too many monsters and not enough of them. He began to seethe.

Overhead, dark clouds gathered.

While knocking away a clown with a magical morning star, Violet looked up. "Huh..."

"What is it!?" Webby asked, avoiding the hair tentacles of the bearded lady.

"The weather called for sunshine all week."

"THAT"S what you're worried about!?" Lena exclaimed.

"You mean we might get a light drizzle?" Louie gasped. "That would be terrible! It'll completely ruin my plans! Even more, than the monster carnival acts are!" He glared at the girl.

Violet shook her head. "There's something odd about it-wait. What are Uncle Donald's powers again?"

Lena shielded them against a popcorn gun. "Sun stuff! He can make light balls and lightning-" She looked up at the sky with wide eyes. "Oh...."

Donald clenched his fists.

He could feel it, the energy-charged in the clouds above...

"Shame I have to give up most of you to Merlock." Carnum shook his head. "He did say I could keep the leftovers as future acts though. I saw the yellow one bouncing around earlier. Impressive stuff! I can see it now; a new star attraction! I can put her with the acrobats, balancing over a pit of spikes or acid, without a safety net of course-"

Donald's face turned red.

"-Of course we'll have to make a few changes. People will love her cute little claws and fangs, don't you agree?"

Thunder roared.

The wind began to howl.

"Oh boy..." Louie muttered.

Then two things happened.

Donald let out his famous 'WAAK!" the same moment a bolt of lightning hit the small army of dolls, burning them all to a crisp.

Violet held out her hand and felt raindrops on.

"Well....this should be interesting...."

The four of them managed to bring the fight into the hallway.

Della and Magica traded blows, sword to staff while Penny managed to get a punch at Hortense, knocking her back. The woman grabbed her amulet, ready to fire when a burst of flames made her step back even further.

"We can't worry about them!" He shouted. "We have to help everyone else. The carnival is a trap! The ringmaster's an evil wizard!"

"Of course he is." Della grumbled as she dodged another of Magica's blasts.

Huey slammed his hand on the ground, creating a wall of flame between them and the villains. "Let's go!"

As they ran off, Magica snarled and prepared one more blast....only for Hortense to lower her staff. "We aren't honestly going to let them get away again!?"

"We already have what we needed from them." Hortense smiled. "I hate it too, having to be patient. But it's all going to be worth it in the end."

"Play the Long game Magica'." Magica groaned. "Everyone here is starting to sound like Lena."

"Sounds like she has a better understanding of long-term scheming than you do. Maybe there is hope for that lass after all..."

Unaware of the conversation the two women were having, the group of four approached the mirror.

"It's back!" Della gasped.

"Let's move." Penny picked up Huey and June and tossed them through. "Della?" Penny saw the woman frowning at the tunnel.

"Something's up Pen."

"We can worry about that later. Red Della said the others are in danger."

That seemed to shake Della out of her head. "Right, let's move."

One jump through the mirror and they found themselves back in the maze. Della's heart began to beat faster.

"Uh...Penny?"

Penny immediately grabbed Della's hand as Huey led the out of the maze.

"They should be right....oh/" Huey stopped at the exit as everyone stared at the scene before them.

It wasn't just raining, it was a typhoon. The wind cut through tents like knives as the monsters clung on for their lives. The waves of raindrops melted the cotton candy blob and rendered the popcorn gun useless. As for the bigger monsters? They were dodging lightning bolt after lightning bolt.

And at the center of it all was Donald, in full rage mode, blasting at a very terrified Carnum.

June tilted her head. "I think we missed something."

Della spotted her family taking cover under one of the still intact booths. "Go over to them! I'll take care of Don!"

Penny nodded, picked up the kids, and ran towards the others.

Dewey's and Louie's brightened when they saw them. "Huey! Penny! June!" They quickly embraced their brother as soon as Penny put them down.

"June!" May pulled her sister into a tight hug.

"What happened?" Beakley asked.

"It was a trap set up by Merlock. Red and Cyan Della helped us break free." Penny stated. 

"Cool." Louie nodded. "Turns out Carnum made a deal with Merlock and he's also some kind of energy vampire wizard thing?"

"He says he feeds on strong emotions," May explained. 

"Hence the carnival with lots of high emotions." Beakley continued. "His carnies are also monsters of some sort."

"Also Uncle Donald can control the weather now!" Dewey cheered.

"Or at least has some form of weather manipulation powers." Violet clarified, looking outside. "The amount of control he has over them is debatable...."

"Merlock, Hortense, and Magica had Auntie Penny locked up behind a door and Auntie Della in weird magical chains!" June talked fast.

"I should've known those three would be behind this..." Scrooge grumbled.

"Kinda glad I didn't have to deal with her this time." Lena shrugged.

"But then true love saved the day!" Huey gushed, hand over his heart.

Everyone looked at him.

"He means Penny and Della did that gross kiss thing and talked and the chains broke." June shrugged. "I don't get it."

"WHAT!?"

"What the blazes-"

A huge light from outside caught their attention.

"If I know anything." Beakley squinted as the light faded and the clouds cleared. "I'd say that means Donald and Della just took care of Carnum."

"DONALD!" Della shouted over the wind. "DON!"

The man paused mid-attack and turned to her. "DELLA!" He quickly swept her up in a hug. "Are you ok!? What happened!? Louie told us about Carnum and Merlock!"

"Yeah....turns out I'm still not ready for mirror mazes just yet." She rubbed her neck. "It was a trap but I'm fine now!"

Lightning struck a nearby pole, causing both of them to jump.

"What was that!? Did that weirdo mess up the weather too!?"

Donald gulped as he looked around, finally realizing the extent of what was happening. "Actually...I think I'm doing this."

"What!?"

"I know! I can just...feel it! Carnum said he was going to hurt May and I-"

"Yup. Makes sense." She nodded. "But I don't think being out in a lightning storm with a metal leg is a good idea, so could you turn it down a notch?"

"I_I don't know how!" He exclaimed. "I barely know how I did it in the first place!"

Lightning struck again, closer than before.

"Okay, you got this." She put her hands on his shoulder. "Just look at me and take a deep breath. Good, just like that."

The wind began to die down and the rain began to lighten, quickly becoming a mere light drizzle.

"...This is kinda like what Jones taught me." He said. "Where did you learn it?"

"Ludwig taught me that during our 'mirror exercises'. And it works. See?"

The weather had calmed down to where it was still dark and raining, but far from the typhoon from before.

"Now that that's taken care of where's-"

Donald knocked Della to the ground as a blast of magic hit the wall behind them.

Carnum was still there, and he looked furious. "You-You little menaces! You've completely ruined my carnival! You know what? Forget Merlock! This is pure revenge!" He roared.

Donald and Della looked at each other, and both grinned.

The carnival was 'meh' anyway." Della took her brother's hand.

"Why don't you let us give ya a real show?" Donald squeezed as their hands began to glow.

Thunder boomed directly overhead. Carnum looked up to the dark clouds with dread.

"Oh, dear..."

A streak of blue lightning shot down from the sky and hit him. When it was over, he was dazed, singed....and frozen inside a giant ice cube with only his groaning head peaking out.

"Nice. I honestly didn't know what was gonna happen."' Della smiled as Donald waved his hand, clearing away the clouds and letting the sun shine on them again.

However, they found themselves knocked to the ground....this time by a group of small ducklings with shouts of 'Mom!' and 'Dad!'.

"Hey kids!" Della laughed, picking up her sons and giving them each a kiss on the head. Donald did the same for his daughters.

"Well done you two!" Scrooge examined the now captive mage. "We'll need to find a place to put him and his hooligans. Can't have them draining emotions anywhere else after this."

"I can have S.H.U.S.H. here in an hour to take them into custody," Beakley said, pulling out her phone.

"Good." Lena sighed, restraining all of Carnum's monster minions. "We really need to find a place to keep any magical monster we find."

"Uncle Scrooge usually keeps them in his other bin." Della shrugged. "Though given that these guys are sentient and we don't want them near the kids, I'll go Beakley's idea."

A slow clapping drew their attention to the mirror maze.

"An excellent display you two! Quite a show indeed!"

"Merlock!" Donald and Della gasped and pushed the kids behind them.

"I must congratulate you on breaking those chains as quickly as you did." He turned to Della. "I'm glad to see you finally start to embrace who you were meant to be."

Della glowered and her hands glowed.

"And Donald! That was quite the impressive storm you made, especially since it was your first." He raised his finger in a 'come hither' motion and Donald found himself flying into his grasp.

"Donald!" Scrooge tried to run over, only to be held back by Ludwig.

"You know I knew Carnum would lose to you." Merlock shrugged, holding Donald by the collar with one hand, unperturbed by his struggling. "He's all show and no substance, and you're all too smart for that. But he served his purpose well."

"What purpose!? And put me down!!" Donald demanded.

"Bringing you all here. Unlocking more of your abilities. Congratulations, you now have the ability to manipulate the weather. I look forward to seeing how you use it." He tossed him back towards his family.

Donald sat up, rubbing his neck, and glared at him with all the burning intensity of the sun.

"You can keep Carnum and his experiments. I have no further need of him." He turned around and glanced back. "I look forward to our next confrontation." He disappeared into the mirror maze.

Scrooge ran in after him, only to return moments later looking defeated. "He's gone."

"He must have opened another mirror portal," Violet concluded.

Beakley sighed. "We'll wait for S.H.U.S.H. then pick up Daisy and head home to talk about today."

"A lot did happen." June began counting on her fingers. "Huey had trouble with his powers, that Carnum guys attacked us, Penny kissed Della, I ate ten of those fried dough-"

"WHAT!?" Donald gasped.

"What? I was hungry."

Donald turned to his sister, who smiled sheepishly.

"I'll....explain it to you and Daisy at home."

Chapter Text

"I did it again." Daisy moaned, head in her hands. "I put you all in danger, just like in Cape Suzette."

The family, after dropping Lena and Violet off at home, now sat around the dining table of McDuck manor so each part could explain what had happened to them.

"No Daisy..." Donald gently rubbed her back. "You didn't know."

"It seems as though Merlock left the flyer on purpose," Beakley concluded. "Or at least had someone do it for him. I'm sure they have plenty of ways to disguise themselves."

"I've known this family for how long?" Daisy asked. "And I still didn't think 'Hey! This seems suspicious!'"

"In your defense, we didn't realize something was up either." Louie shrugged. 

"If we assume everything is a trap we'd never do anything!" Scrooge explained. "At least we made sure Carnum couldn't hurt anyone else ever again."

"And Merlock?" Daisy raised an eyebrow. "We're nowhere near closer to figuring out what he's up to."

Della kicked the wall in frustration. "I hate this! Every time we think we got one over on him, he makes it sound like it's exactly what he wanted to happen! It feels like every time we try to fight him we're playing right into his hands!"

"And until we do figure out what he's up to, we're just going to keep doing it." Beakley sighed. "We have no idea to properly disrupt his plans until we know what they are."

May narrowed her eyes. "This is starting to sound familiar...."

"And look what nearly happened there!" Louie exclaimed.

"But we made it out," Scrooge said with determination. "And we'll succeed with Merlock as well!"

"But what about Hortense?" May asked. "She's your sister! She's a McDuck! Even Bradford thought she and Merlock were dead! Who knows what they've been up to all this time?"

"Hortense may share my blood and my name, but she lost the right to call herself family years ago!" Scrooge declared. "Family isn't just blood lass....it's the people who choose to be part of it! Like yer mother."

Donald gently took Daisy's hand, and she smiled at him.

"And Penny!" Huey smiled at the blushing alien next to also blushing mother.

"Oh, right..." Della chuckled nervously. "We should really talk about what comes next..."

"I mean...whatever you are comfortable with." Penny nodded. 

"Move into my room?!" Della asked quickly, before backpedaling. "I-I mean if you want to! No rush!"

"I will move my stuff in tonight."

"C-Cool! I'll help!"

"Two moon moms!" Dewey cheered. 

"And Lena now owes me ten bucks." Louie smiled, still genuinely happy for his mother.

June looked down and saw Twyla purring as she rubbed against Penny's legs. "Twyla likes you, so you're good."

May raised an eyebrow. "You're taking the cat's opinion just like that?"

"Twyla's a good judge of character."

Bruni crawled across the table, looking at her expectantly.

"And you are too." She scratched his chin.

"Well, I'm glad you two finally expressed your feelings to each other." Beakley smiled. "Honestly all the beating around the bush was getting old."

"And I'm glad you found someone who gets what this family is about." Scrooge grinned at his niece.

Penny gave the man a salute. "I swear to love and protect Della and the rest of her family with all I have sir!"

"I know you will. And what's this about 'her' family? Yer a part of it too!"

Penny lowered her arm and gave a grateful smile.

Donald clapped his sister on the back. "Congratulations Dumbella! You actually got a good one this time!"

"Hey, you've picked out some crazy ones yourself," Della smirked back. "Where's that memory cave you were going on about? It can help me prove my point."

Donald jumped up. "The memory cave!"

"Curse me kilts! How did we forget about that!?"

"Now that is irony! Though in all fairness." Ludwig shrugged. "It was a very busy day."

They followed Donald and Scrooge through the woods and found-

"It's gone!" Donald explained, looking around in desperation.

Scrooge scrounged the dirt, but sure enough, the cave was gone, with no sign of it having ever been there in the first place.

"Okay, this is getting really freaky," Della said. Louie nodded in agreement.

"Freaky as it was, it was much more effective than what I had planned," Ludwig said.

"Wait..." Donald narrowed his eyes at the professor. "What was in that box you had earlier?"

"Just some knick-knacks I picked up around the mansion." Ludwig waved his hand. "A rope that makes you tell the truth, voodoo dolls for roleplay, and a set of cursed art supplied May found last month. In the end, I didn't need any of it. Talk about a red herring!"

"What?" Huey asked.

Webby rubbed her hands. "Another mystery for the board..."

"But where did it come from?" Scrooge scratched his head. "And why did it appear then and not now?"

"It sounds like it only appeared when you and Donald needed it." Ludwig looked between them. "As though it came to help you sort out your relationship issues."

"But why?"

Donald and Della looked at each other. "You don't think..." Della muttered.

Scrooge kicked the dirt. "No good nosy gods! They need to mind their own business!"

Donald frowned. "But the weird voice was coming from inside it. Did it really want to help us?"

Bruni crawled around, sniffing at the ground before returning to Huey.

"Well, I suppose it'll have to wait for another day." Scrooge sighed. "What about you lad? How are you handling everything?"

Huey looked at Bruni, then flicked his hand, causing a small flame to appear. "I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I have to be careful, but I like having it. It's not a curse, it's something I have to use and practice. It's scary and I don't know a lot about it yet, but I can't hide from it. It's part of me now."

June reached out, the paused. Huey dismissed the flame and held open his arms. She quickly accepted the invitation.

"Good." Scrooge nodded. "Remind me to call Owlson later. I want her to help me learn to put my money to better use."

Donald's jaw dropped. "You were serious about that!?"

"Aye. I....I've been thinking about what ye said and yer right. I want to leave a better world than the one we have now." He looked over at the kids. "A world that they can enjoy. I'm not quite sure how to do that, but if anyone can help me get started, it's her."

"Better late than never." Daisy put an arm around her still shocked boyfriend.

AAAAAahhhhhhaaaaaaa

Donald and Della looked around.

"There it is!" Della gasped.

"What does it want now?"

Then Scrooge's phone rang. "Hello? Gyro? What is it?.... Are you sure?... Well, at least it's not as far as last time. Thank you." He hung up. "Launchpad's coming back tomorrow right?"

"Yeah, but why?" Dewey asked.

"Because Gyro was picking up strange water current patterns originating from the Hawaiian Islands, and Manny sensed a magical disturbance causing them."

Della's eyes widened. "The water spirit..."

"It's looking like it. Thankfully we don't even have to change time zones this time."

"This is AWESOME!" Dewey jumped. "We're going to HAWAII!"

Merlock stood over his crystal ball, watching with intensity the image that appeared in it.

"It appears we are heading to the Hawaiian Islands next."

Hortense raised an eyebrow. "The water spirit?"

"Yes. This will be the chance to see if my hypothesis, pun intended, holds water."

"I get Pow ready," Magica said. "He's been looking for more chances to influence Lena."

"Good. I also want to congratulate both of you on today's events. There were a few unexpected turns, but in the end." He grinned and reached into his robe. "We got exactly what we wanted." He pulled out a single white feather.

Hortense smiled and pulled out one as well.

Magica grinned. She might not like the patience or subtly, but she couldn't deny that it was working. 

Just a little longer and she and Poe would have more power than they could ever dream of.