Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dewey sat in the co-pilot's seat, switching between watching Launchpad pilot the plane and looking out the window to the clear blue water and tropical islands below.

He could barely stay in his seat. Not only were they going to one of his dream vacation spots, but his adult best friend was also there! Along with an actual superhero and his sidekick! And they were going on what would obviously be an exciting and danger-filled adventure!

"Best. Day. EVER!" He cheered.

"Oh really?" His mother gave a teasing grin. "Even more than the day I came back?"

Dewey paled. "No! I-I mean in terms of-"

"Don't worry sweetie.." Della ruffled his head. "I'm just joking. I'm sure we're gonna have a lot of fun-"

Scrooge cleared his throat and gave her a pointed look.

"-I mean no fun on this totally not vacation to a tropical island." She rolled her eyes. "C'mon! I'm sure the water spirit wouldn't mind us relaxing a little while we're looking for it."

"So let me clear something up." They turned to their guest. "You're going to an island, surrounded by the largest body of water in the world, to look for a spirit that is made of and can control water."

"You got it Gos!" Dewey grinned, clearly not picking up his friend's tone.

"Gosalyn there's no need to be snarky." Her guardian chided right next to her. "Especially to the people who invited us to Hawaii of all places with them."

Gosalyn rolled her eyes.

"Thank you again Mr. McDuck for inviting us." Drake nodded to the man.

"It's my pleasure!" Scrooge smiled. "But really you should be thanking Launchpad and Dewey. Launchpad's the one who brought you up and Dewey wholeheartedly agreed with him. And don't worry about St. Canard- I've got Gizmoduck and Gandra keeping an eye on things."

At the name 'Gizmoduck', Drake growled and clenched his hands.

"Besides, Gosalyn is right. This spirit's going to be tricky so we'll need extra sets of eyes helping us. Launchpad, how far away are we?"

"Should be about half an hour!" He called out.

"Just a half-hour until I can relax on the beach." Louie sighed, already in a green Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses.

"I can't believe Violet got sick just before we left!" Webby exclaimed to Lena. 

"Yup. Life can be a jerk when it wants to." Lena shrugged. "Don't worry, Papi said it was just a stomach bug, so she should be fine when we get back."

"In the meantime, I promised to bring back samples of the native plant life, along with rock samples, pictures..." Huey listed all the things he promised to do for his friend. Bruni listened from his shoulder.

"That's very sweet of you Huey." Elvira smiled from where she was reading. June was next to her reading a book about plant magic Elvira got her.

"I feel like everyone is glossing over the detail of going to an island to find a water spirit." Gosalyn emphasized.

"Actually, Hawaii is made up of one hundred and thirty-two islands," Huey recalled. "There are the main eight Hawaiian islands shown on the map and over one hundred islets, shoals, and reefs."

Daisy's mouth dropped. "That many? How are we supposed to find the water spirit?"

"Most of the abnormal water patterns were centered around the island of Kauai," Beakley explained. "It's still a lot of water to cover, but it's a start. It's the northernmost island of the Hawaiian chain. And while it's not the 'main' island of Hawaii, it is the oldest. It was formed over five million years ago."

"It's also the wettest spot on Earth." Donald patted May's head. "At least, above the sea. Mt. Waialeale gets on average four hundred and fifty inches of rain."

"Hence why the spirit is attracted to the place." Drake nodded.

Gosalyn groaned. "What's with all the learning? This is supposed to be an adventure!"

"It's also part of your homeschool work." Beakley pointed out.

"Remember; you agreed to do the homeschool curriculum and I let you come do superhero stuff with me," Drake said. "Darkwing Duck does not tolerate uneducated truants!"

"Do you even know how many movies were shot there!?" Dewey ran up to the redhead girl. "Nearly every movie that takes place in Hawaii! Along with Prehistoric Park, Lila and Sew, and Raiders of the Found Ark! One of my all-time favorites."

"That's cool, at least." Gosalyn perked up. "What else ya got?"

"It's been nicknamed  the 'Garden Island' because of the lush flora growing there." May offered. "Because of the mountains blocking off the rainforests, most of the island is undeveloped and difficult to access."

"Thankfully, we're staying near the beach." Della smiled. "I can see it now! Look!"

The kids gathered at the windows and gasped as they saw the beautiful island come into view.

"And don't worry about finding the water spirit." Lena smiled at Gosalyn. "If Bruni's anything to go by, the spirit will end up finding us."

Aaaaaahhhhhaaaaa

Donald and Della looked at each other and nodded.

"Landing in a few!" Launchpad called. "Everybody to your seats!"

Penny set down the last of the luggage while Scrooge and Beakley worked on transportation to their hotel.

"Hey best-" Della paused, blushing. "-Girlfriend! Wow, gonna have to get used to saying that."

"And I as well." Penny smiled and Della wanted nothing more than to brush her hands through her short white hair. "Are the children settling alright?"

"Yeah, they're just antsy to get started. Except for Louie. He just wants to lounge by the beach, which I totally get because we are in Hawaii of all places!" She took a deep breath. "You know, if I just ignore the smell and sight of fish, I may actually enjoy this trip."

Penny looked out onto the ocean. "I saw it from the moon, but here....it feels like it goes on forever."

"Donald would definitely agree with you there." She looked over to see her brother with his arm around Daisy's shoulders as they looked out to the sea. "Me? I prefer the vast sky. Seeing and knowing what's below me-oh, looks like Scrooge and Beakley got the cars. Let's pack."

They managed to get the luggage and most everybody sorted into two vehicles. The only thing missing was-

"Where's Dewey?" Della asked the kids, who looked between themselves.

"We don't know." Louie shrugged. "It's Dewey. You take an eye off him for a second and he's off."

That's when Penny looked down the dock and noticed the blue duckling. "Blue Della!" She ran over. "It's time to-" 

She paused. Because Dewey was just...standing there. Watching over the sea and appeared to be looking for something.

"Blue Della?" She asked, making the boy jump. "Are you alright?"

Dewey shook his head. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just...searching for the spirit!"

"We can search later. Right now we need to head to our residence for our stay here." She picked him up and carried him back to the car.

The whole time, he looked over her shoulder; at the sea.

Gosalyn huffed as she struggled to carry her suitcase.

"I can take that if you want." Drake was already reaching a hand out to help her.

She pulled away. "I'm fine. It's just my gear. Never know when a bad guy's gonna show up."

"I am both proud of your preparedness and frustrated at your instance at bringing so much with you."

"This is awesome!" Gos dropped her suitcase as Launchpad lifted both her and Drake into a hug. "Travelling the country with you two, exploring the island, battling evil wizards, it's gonna be a blast! Thanks for coming with me."

"Thank you for inviting us." Drake smiled. "We know we caused you to miss the Australia trip-"

"Don't worry about it. We're a superhero family! We look out for each other."

Gosalyn stiffened, before wiggling out of Launchpad's hold. "I'm gonna put my things away."

Drake frowned. "Do you need help or-"

"I got it!" She called, already walking away. Drake sighed as the Pilot put him down.

"I don't know what's gotten into her lately. Whenever we're not out on patrol, she's so...evasive."

"I know. I'm worried too." Launchpad smiled warmly. "That's why I brought you guys along. Figured you needed a break to sort things out."

Drake blinked. "I-Thank you Launchpad. I-I have no idea what I'm doing!" He shook his head. "I know I agreed to be her guardian while we search for her grandfather, but I feel like I'm messing everything up. Being a superhero is easy compared to taking care of a kid. And she's not just any kid, she's Gosalyn!"

"Don't worry. If being Uncle McD's pilot has taught me anything; it's that the best way to solve emotional conflict is with a life-threatening adventure."

"...I'm very concerned that I'm inclined to agree with you on that."

Gosalyn slammed her suitcase open when Dewey opened the door.

"Gos! Did you know there's going to be a Luau with a fire walking pit and...are you ok?"

"Fine." She replied, aggressively putting her clothes in the drawers before slamming them shut.

"Yeesh. I didn't know you could aggressively put away clothes."

"What do you want!?" She snapped.

Dewey flinched. "I-I just wanted to see what you were up to....I'll just go-"

"No, wait!" She sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."

"What's wrong?" He slowly approached her like she was a wild animal ready to lash out.

"I...I'm just frustrated with how long it's taking to find my Grandpa."

"Huey says they're looking-"

"I know! I know they're doing everything they can! I know it's gonna be a while because there is literally an infinite number of worlds he could be in! And I know there's a chance I might not-" She closed her eyes to hold back the tears.

Dewey gently patted her shoulder. "Hey. If I can get my mom back after she was stranded on the moon, you can get your Grandpa back. We're not gonna stop until that happens."

"Thanks Dewey." She wiped her eyes. "But right now it's Drake."

"Did he do something?"

"He's-Whenever we get off hero work he wants to actually do things with me. Watch a movie, help me with my homework, talk about my feelings; boring stuff!" She swallowed. "Parent stuff."

Dewey nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like the stuff mom and uncle Donald do with us."

"Ever since Mr. McDuck got him placed as my emergency guardian, he's been actually trying to get to know me."

"....And that's bad?"

Gosalyn shook her head. "You wouldn't get it."

"Try me!"

"...Nobody before him and Grandpa ever tried to get to know me like that. Not even the foster parents who got stuck with me. I-I don't know how to deal with it!" She began to pace. "We do great when patrolling the city, but when we get back to his house...I don't know what to do!"

Dewey tilted his head. "Have you thought about....giving it a shot?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Just try it out! Who knows? Maybe you'll like it!"

Goslyn still looked doubtful but nodded. "Alright. I'll try."

"Good. Drake's a pretty cool guy. I mean, he's a superhero!"

Gos had to give a playful smile at that. "Don't let him hear you say that. It'll make his head even bigger than it already is."

"And did you know he majored in Theatre? And he's done commercials? That's still T.V.!"

Lena sighed as she leaned back into the lounge chair. "This is the life."

"Don't get too comfortable." Beakley adjusted her straw hat. "We're heading to a beach where locals reported seeing a whale."

"Seriously?"

"It was made of water."

"...Alright then."

Webby sat at the end of Lena's chair with her usual smile. "It's gonna be so much fun! Then after that, we're coming back here for the Luau! I've never been to one of those before! Dewey wants to dance and June wants to eat all the food and-"

A scroll dropped from the sky into Lena's lap. Looking up, they saw a familiar raven flying away.

Beakley frowned. "What is it?"

Lena opened and read the paper. "It's from Poe. He wants to meet me tomorrow."

"Where?" Beakley demanded.

"Some cafe in town. Public area and neither of us have to talk about the spirits or whatever."

The older woman frowned. "You aren't seriously considering going are you?"

Lena glared right back. "I don't remember giving you permission to dictate who I can see."

"Lena..." Webby gave her pleading eyes.

The teen sighed. "Look-"

"He's Magica's De Spell's brother!"

"I know-"

"He's working for Merlock!"

"I know!"

"He nearly got May and June killed!"

"I KNOW!" Lena jumped out of her seat. "I know he did all that and I know it's crazy but I'm going tomorrow and you know what? There's nothing you can do to stop me! Because you're not the boss of me!" She marched away.

"Now see here-"

"Granny." Webby put her hands on the woman's arm. "Lena's thought about this."

"Has she1?"

"Yes." She met her Grandmother's eyes. "She knows the risks. She ran it by me and Violet. She knows not to give away what we're planning. She's lived with Magica. She knows to be careful."

The woman sighed. "I just don't understand why she's doing this anyway."

"Because she wants to give him a chance. She just wants to see if there's a chance for the two of them to work something out. She's not rushing into anything, and the last time they talked was in Australia. I don't fully understand it either...but this is something she feels she needs to do. And I'm gonna be there for her no matter what."

Beakley smiled and stroked the girl's head. "When did you become so wise?"

"Louie says it's the trauma!" She said with a smile.

Poe watched the encounter.

The older woman, Scrooge's housekeeper, seemed like she would be a problem but the pink girl appeared to take care of it for him. Finding a good hiding spot, he transformed back into a duck before summoning a piece of paper and pencil. When he finished, he snapped his finger and the scroll disappeared into a puff of smoke. It was a simple message; the family had arrived and what they were up to so far.

The family would be heading out soon, he would follow them to the beach and then back to the hotel before reporting back to Merlock.

After that, he had a very important meeting to prepare for. One he was quite looking forward to.

Chapter Text

They arrived at the beach to find it full of tourists and locals alike. However, none of them were swimming or surfing, they had all sorts of cameras out, all pointed at the sea.

Scrooge located the lifeguard and asked what was going on.

"Everyone's looking for that crazy water whale." They shook their head. "The ocean started acting crazy a few days ago, one minute it was like a hurricane was about to come and the next, completely still! I've lived here my whole life and I've seen some crazy stuff but nothing like this. Thankfully nobody's been hurt yet."

"Good." Scrooge nodded. "I and my associates are here to look into it. If you need certification just look up the name 'Scrooge McDuck'."

That was enough for the lifeguard to nod and allow Scrooge to do what he needed.

Huey brought out his binoculars and looked out. "I don't see anything. The waves look fine to me."

Elvira shook her head. "The water spirit normally loves attention and people swimming in their waters. They're very energetic and constantly changing form."

"Sounds like Dewey." Louie grinned and turned to his brother, only to realize he was gone. "Dewey?"

"Dewey!" Webby ran over to the blue duckling, who was standing near the shoreline looking out. "Did you see something?"

Dewey blinked, suddenly remembering where he was. "Oh! Uh...no."

Scrooge eyed the crowd. "C'mon. Let's try a more isolated spot. We don't want anyone getting hurt."

They made their way further down to a deserted part of the beach. "Alright. Kids, you stay on the beach-"

This was met with several groans.

"And tell us if you notice anything odd."

"Happy to help." Louie set up a towel and laid down, closing his eyes.

Scrooge sighed. "We'll get a boat and go out on the water tomorrow. Right now we just want to see if it is near this island. Elvira, Lena, and June will try to call it out. Della, Launchpad, go back and talk to some of the people and see if they know anything. Everyone else, comb the beach but stay out of the water."

"It's too late in the day to do a more thorough search," Beakley explained. "The sun will set soon and being on the ocean at night is dangerous in normal circumstances. Is that clear?"

Several nods.

"Ugh." Gosalyn lay in the sand. "And I thought stakeouts were boring."

"With Bruni, we at least had a trail to start off with." Huey petted the little lizard. "This spirit, well...." He looked out to the large body of water. "Not much to go off other than sightings."

"If it decides to stay hidden for a week or so, I'm totally fine with it." Louie relaxed on his towel.

May, relaxing in the sun on her own towel next to him, nodded. "I'm with him on this one. This spirit can stay put for all I care."

"Now that Uncle Donald and Aunt Della are here, I'm sure it's bound to show up soon." Webby's head replied as June finished packing the sand around it.

"Surfing's gonna be a blast once we get the spirit on our side." Lena patted the buried girl's head.

"Yeah, Dewey you said you wanted-Where's Dewey?" Webby's eyes scanned the beach.

Gosalyn looked around and saw Dewey slowly steeping into the sea. "Hey Dewey! The adults' said we're not supposed-oh who am I kidding? I wasn't planning on paying attention to them either." She frowned when he didn't reply. "Dewey?" She got up and headed towards him. "This isn't funny!"

She forcibly twisted him around and he blinked in confusion. "What-Gos?"

"Stop freaking me out!" She folded her arms. "Were you doing your Zom-Dewey impression again?"

Dewey looked at his feet. "I-I didn't-"

"Alright, kids let's-HEY!" Drake marched towards Gosalyn and Dewey. "We told you two to stay out of the water! It's not safe!"

"I was trying to get him out!" Gosalyn snapped.

"Today was a bust." Della lifted Louie in her magic and rolled up the towel, much to his annoyance. "Let's head back to the hotel and enjoy the party!"

"We did get more reports of water behaving strangely around the island." Scrooge looked around. "Some of them seem to think it's a local goddess causing all of it. Now, where is-"

"Ow." Webby winced as Scrooge's foot landed on her head.

Scrooge blinked down at her before sighing and digging with his hands. "If I wanted buried treasure I would have gone after Long John Bronze's stash..."

As he walked back, Dewey couldn't help but glance back at the water and noticed something moving in it. He narrowed his eyes.

"DEWEY HURRY UP!" Lena called. "THERE"S POKE CALLING MY NAME!"

He forced his attention off the water and hurried to the car.

The tiki torches were lit, food as far as the eye could see was laid out on buffet tables and there was even a man dancing with fire sticks. This should've been Dewey's scene.

But instead, he sat at an empty table, thinking back on the day.

What is going on with me!?

Ever since they had landed it felt like the ocean, or something in it had been...calling him. Like a siren, he couldn't hear but feel.

Who was it? What did it want from him? Was it something like Hu-"

"Hi, Dewey!" Webby took a seat, handing him a plate of laulau. "We got you food."

"Did you know June has like, a bottomless pit for a stomach!?" Gosalyn asked excitedly. "Her plate was stacked higher than she was! She even had some of that weird goopy stuff and liked it!"

"It was Poi." Webby explained. "It's a staple dish around here." She looked at her brother/cousin. "Dewey are you ok?"

"Yeah. I'd figure you'd be dancing on the tables by now." Gosalyn said with a playful smile.

Dewey just looked at his plate. "I've just been feeling...weird all day."

Webby frowned and placed a hand on his forehead. "Doesn't feel like a fever. Is your stomach ok? We could find Aunt Della-"

"Not like that!" Dewey shook his head. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Is everything alright?" Penny walked over, flanked by Drake and Launchpad, who was currently balancing a stack of haupia on his hand.

"Dewey's feeling funny." Gosalyn said, taking a piece out of the coconut treat.

"I'm not sick." Dewey insisted.

"Did you take your medication today?" Penny narrowed her eyes. Dewey nodded.

"Maybe you just need a distraction?" Webby suggested. "Why don't you show Penny around the Luau? You can even teach her the hula you've been practicing."

Penny's face paled. "I-I am not a dancer-"

"Just wait until I'm done with you!" Dewey grabbed her hand and dragged her away.

"Well, he's back to his version of 'normal'." Gosalyn flipped another treat in her mouth.

"Not too many, you'll get a tummy ache," Drake warned.

Gosalyn scowled and crossed her arms. Webby wrung her hands nervously.

"Oh look! Lena's waving at me! From over there! Gotta go!" She was off like the wind.

Drake looked at Launchpad, who gave an encouraging nod.

"Goslyn do you want to do anything?" Drake asked. "There's some games set up, or the performer or-"

"Games sound nice." Gosalyn said slowly.

"OK!" Drake nodded eagerly. "Let's go check some out."

As they walked off, Launchpad nodded. "I'm sure everything will be just fine."

"So these.... loo-ows-"

"Close enough."

"Are a traditional celebratory feast in this region of the world?" Penny eyed the dancers wearing grass skirts and dancing in a very different style than what she's seen in Duckburg.

"Yup!" Dewey nodded. "And those guys and doing a 'Hula', a traditional Polynesian dance that also tells a story. Each move has a special meaning."

"You are quite knowledgeable."

"Don't tell that to Huey. He's supposed to be the smart one. Stuff like dancing, music, that's where Dewey shines!"

A man passed by and dropped a string of flowers around their necks.

"...These are not threats right?"

"No. They're leis. Flower necklaces."

Penny looked around again.

"...More stuff you didn't have on the moon?"

"Yes." She sighed. "I used to think our civilization was the greatest. But there is so much down here that makes me realize how...limited we were."

"Hey, I'm sure there was a lot of great stuff on the moon!" Dewey said encouragingly. "Those super cool outfits! The lasers! Mom told us all about it!"

"I'm sure she did." She hesitated. "Are you...alright? With me and your mother?"

His jaw dropped. "Are you kidding? It AWESOME! My mother is dating a real-life alien! How many people can say that and not get called crazy!?"

"I appreciate it..."

"Plus, you're a super cool warrior lady! You crashed into a giant rocketship and survived! You've gotta tell me all about the monsters you saw up there!"

Penny smiled. "I would be more than happy to tell you about my battles."

Dewey nodded before frowned at the ground. "Hey...can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do...you ever just get weird feelings?"

"...Yes. Quite often. I am still getting used to being in a family and there are a lot of emotions there."

"I know but...ever since we got here it felt like something was...calling me."

"What do you mean?"

"Something...in the ocean."

Now it was Penny's turn to frown. "That...sounds an awful lot like Red Della described with the fire spirit."

"You...You don't think."

"We will have to talk to him and your mother."

"No!" He shook his head. "Can I just...think about them a little more? It could be nothing-"

She kneeled down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know Della and your family would help you with this. They want to help you whenever they can."

He sighed. "I know...I just want more time to make sure it's actually that and not a bug or something."

"I am not sure what bugs have to do with anything, but I will respect your wishes."

"Thanks, Penny. If it's still there tomorrow I'll tell them, I swear."

"Good. Now let us enjoy the festivities while we can."

Dewey happily dragged her around, explaining what each part was about, and she found she liked listening to him talk about things he enjoyed.

Lena smiled and handed Webby a glass with a twisty straw and a little umbrella. "You've got to try these Webs. I can totally see why people want to come here just to drink these on the beach."

"Lena?"

The girls turned and say Beakley standing there.

Lena scowled. "What do you want? Are you trying to tell me what I can and can't eat now?"

"Lena..." Webby put a comforting hand on her arm.

Beakley took a deep breath. "I just wanted to apologize for earlier."

The teen's eyes widened. "Seriously?'

"Yes. Webby helped me realize that even though meeting him might not be something I approve of, you've taken the necessary precautions and thought this through. You're mature enough to reach out, but also to set your boundaries and stick with them. If this is something you feel you truly need to do, then I, like my granddaughter, will support you with whatever happens."

Lena's jaw nearly unhinged itself. "Wow....thanks teatime. That means a lot."

"Thank you. Though it appears that maturity doesn't extend to nicknames quite yet."

"Don't expect it to."

"Attention everyone?" Everyone got quiet as a light brown duck wearing a lei walked onto the stage. "For those who have just arrived on our wonderful island, I am Mayor Keli'i. First, I just want to welcome you all. This luau is the traditional one we hold the night before our big Surfing competition in honor of the Goddess Nāmaka."

"She's the Hawaiian sea goddess." Webby whispered.

"Even given recent events, the council and I have decided to continue on with the competition. However, strict water safety rules will be enforced. The rules will be posted on the website and the message board at the front of the hotel. We want to honor our tradition but we don't want anyone getting hurt in the process. For beginners, free surfing lessons will be offered in the morning before the competition in the afternoon. If anyone has any concerns you can speak to me tomorrow.

Thank you and I hope you all have a wonderful trip."

"They can't seriously go on with it?" Lena frowned. "The spirit could hurt somebody."

"Scrooge and I tried to warn her and the other local officials," Beakley explained. "Unfortunately this competition is a deeply ingrained part of their traditions. And apparently, the tourism it brings is necessary for local businesses to survive, so we were outvoted. A few of them even seemed to think it was Nāmaka herself causing the ocean to behave strangely."

"Oh come on!"

"They said they were posting safety rules." Webby offered.

"And the gathering of people may encourage the spirit to appear," Beakley murmured.

Lena eyed her. "You guys aren't seriously gonna use those people as bait?"

"Heavens no! But it's highly likely that it will appear. Elvira said that it likes attention and people swimming in its waters. So we're going to be there both to keep people safe and to tame the spirit. So we'll need you to come to the beach after your meeting with Poe."

"Got it." She nodded.

"This is so exciting!" Webby bounced. "We get to take part in local culture and fight a nature spirit! How could this get any better!?"

At a table in a far-off corner, two women sat, having been watching the party unfold but never quite joining in.

"Why are we here again?" One of the women complained. She had long, blonde hair that she seemed annoyed by.

"Because even yer brother can only see so much." The other woman, the one with black hair in a braid. "Besides, the closer you can get, the more you can learn, and it looks like tomorrow is prime for the water spirit to rise."

"And to see if Merlcok's theory holds up."

"That too." She watched Dewey and Penny walk around the pavilion, meeting up with Della and her kissing her girlfriend. She also saw Donald and Daisy performing a (very clumsy on his part) hula that Daisy seemed to enjoy. May was copying the dancers while Louie relaxed nearby, Huey and June were heading for the games while Launchpad was showing a very confused Scrooge how many coconuts he could fit in his mouth (which was surprisingly a lot).

Magica narrowed her eyes at Lena and Webby. "I don't know why Poe is so insistent on dragging in that little shadow creature. She wasn't worth the effort of severing my own shadow and giving it life. All family does is hold you back."

Hortense eyed her. "Oh really?"

Magica's brain finally processed what she said and she looked away. "That was your brothers' fault. I don't know how the two of you come from the same gene pool."

"I ask myself the same. And some family are more trouble than they're worth." She looked between Donald and Della. "Other times, they can be very useful. And I know that whether you admit it to yerself or not, you still consider that girl yer family. You made her and trained her. Why else would you have her call you 'Aunt'?"

Magica folded her arms and huffed, but she didn't say anything.

Drake watched as Gosalyn carefully adjusted her stone with precision. They were playing Ulu Maika, and Gosalyn had to roll a disc between two stakes several feet away. Drake had done well on his turn, now he wanted to help Gosalyn with hers.

"Be patient." He advised. "If you put too much energy into it, you'll completely miss the goal."

"Got it." Gosalyn nodded, not taking her eyes off the game.

"You also have to account for gravity. Make sure to keep your wrists straight so the stone doesn't turn."

"Hear ya."

"And remember to-"

"Drake!" Gosalyn snapped. "I got this."

With one last adjustment, she rolled her stone...and overshot her goal.

"Hey, you came closer than last time." He put a hand on the disappointed girls' shoulder.

"I just don't get it!" She threw her arms up. "This was my fourth roll!"

"You're putting too much into each roll. You gotta learn to hold back. Precision beats power in this case."

"You sound like my Grandpa." She smiled softly. "When I was learning hockey, he told me I was putting too much oomph into each strike and that's why it kept missing the goal."

"You used to do hockey?"

"Yeah, I was the best striker on the team! Then...Grandpa disappeared and all our old stuff got put into holding or sold off or whatever. I also had to change schools a few times..."

"Y'know, there's a youth center nearby with a hockey team." He offered, trying to stop the train of sad memories in its tracks. "I think they're holding tryouts in a few weeks."

"Really!? Even with the superheroing stuff?"

"I'm sure we can work it around our schedule. We can also pick up some new equipment-"

He was cut off by the red head hugging him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My last place said hockey wasn't fit for 'young ladies' and the place before treated sports like the plague!"

"Both ridiculous statements." He said, mentally remembering his own aversion to sports before going into the acting business and learning to do his own stunts.

But the feeling of this girl readily embracing him made his heart warm. He wondered why...

"Hey, how's it going?" They saw Launchpad and Dewey walking towards them.

"Drake said he's gonna let me do hockey!" Gosalyn exclaimed.

"That's awesome!: Dewey cheered. "Can I come over and play? Y'know my brothers and I once took one the beagle boys-"

"See?" Launchpad smiled. "I told ya we were gonna be our own adventure family!"

At the word 'family', Gosalyn froze.

"Gos?" Dewey waved a hand in front of her face. "What's wrong?"

She frowned. "...Nothing. I'm gonna head back to my room."

"But there's still a party going on!" Dewey argued.

Drake frowned. "Are you feeling ok? If you're tired you can lie down."

"I'm fine." She mumbled, walking off.

"Do you want to get breakfast tomorrow? Just you, me, and Launchpad?"

"That's fine." Too soon, she was gone.

"I don't understand." Drake sighed. "We were doing so well...."

"And then I ruined it." Launchpad deflated. 

"No, you didn't." Drake insisted. "Whatever is going on with her, we'll figure it out. Together."

The pilot's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"You're my partner after all. I can't imagine our team without you."

Launchpad smiled and pulled him and Dewey into a hug.

Chapter Text

Having become accustomed to doing his superhero work at night, Drake's sleep schedule was a bit out of tune with most people's, which is why he found himself in the lobby of the hotel at dawn, waiting for Launchpad and Gosalyn so they could meet up for breakfast.

Just the three of them.

Why did that sound so daunting?

"Hey Drake."

He was pulled from his worries by Donald greeting him.

"Hey yourself. I didn't think anyone else was up this early."

"Sun magic." Donal took a seat next to him. "What can you do? I'm used to it anyway, but Daisy likes her beauty sleep."

Drake put a finger to his chin. "That's right...you raised triplets for ten years."

"When you're dealing with three babies and toddlers with enough combined energy to power Duckburg, you learn to run on little sleep."

"Hey...Can I ask you something?"

"You're already doing a good job with Gosalyn."

The former actor's jaw dropped. "How-"

"I recognize that 'new parent panic' anywhere. Trust me, I know the feeling all too well. Plus Dewey told me what happened last night."

"I just don't know what I'm doing wrong! I keep trying to get her to open up to me outside of Darkwing. I know she thinks she's only staying with me so she can be my sidekick while we find her Grandfather, but I don't want her to feel like she's a guest in my home. She..." He looked around making sure they were alone. "She has nightmares a lot. I know she does but when I try to talk to her about it, she'll brush them off or deny them. And sometimes she'll just get this look in her eyes...I want to help her. But I've never taken care of a kid before, and I especially don't want to copy my own parents."

Donald looked at him long and hard. "Drake...why did you take on your 'night job'?"

"So I can protect people?"

"And to help them. What you do is basically parenting. You're protecting it from bad things, which is great, but it's not enough. You also have to nurture it, give it a helping hand, show that you can be relied on even without a crisis."

Drake stared blankly at him. "I think I lost the point you were trying to make."

"Well, think of what you do at night, is very similar to parenting. You're protecting her, keeping her safe, that's a good start. But you're already doing more by trying to nurture her, help her grow, make good decisions, and letting her know she can come to you for anything. You're already doing a great job."

"But-"

"But it's not just on you now." Donald interrupted him. "Gosalyn's been through some things before she came to you, so her ability to form healthy attachments and relationships with people is strained. You already built the bridge, she has to be the one who decides to cross it.

So right now...you just have to be patient and be there for her when she does decide to open up. You're already doing good on your end, you just have to wait for her to reach out."

Drake sighed but nodded. "And here I thought my night job would be the hardest part of my life."

"Trust me; there's no job more complicated, frustrating, and rewarding as parenting. That's why it's not for everyone."

"You got that right..."

"Dad!" May ran into the lobby, fuming. "June crushed up the pretty shells I found yesterday as ingredients for some dumb potion!"

"You just left them on the nightstand!" June followed. "I didn't know they were yours! Besides, you threw the flowers I got in the pool!"

"June we talked about taking things without permission," Donald said, not even raising his voice.

"I know but-"

"First, you're going to apologize for taking her shells."

June glumly nodded, turning to her twin. "I'm sorry I took your shells without asking."

"Good. May, it's your turn."

"For what!?" The yellow girls demanded. 

"Just because June took your belongings didn't give you the right to take hers."

May frowned but agreed. "June, I'm sorry I took your flowers."

"Good. June, Grandma, and Daisy can help you find new flowers. May, you can find new shells when we go to the beach later. Does that work?"

"Yes Dad." Both girls said at the same time, freaking Drake out a little.

"Alright. Now since you're both up, let's get breakfast and then get ready for the beach. And remember Junebug; we ask before we take something...at least with family. You got that?"

"Yes daddy."

Drake watched the trio leave, wondering how Donald managed to calm the situation and wondering if he could ever do something like that.

"Drake!" Launchpad eagerly walked in...carrying Gosalyn in his arms. "Are you ready to go? I heard there's a great place in town."

"Sounds good to me. How about you Gos?" He watched the girl carefully.

She shrugged. "Fine by me."

Just be patient. He kept repeating those words to himself, hoping each time it would stick.

Goslyn quickly shoved a forkful of rice into her mouth.

"Slowly, you don't want to choke." Drake advised.

The girl rolled her eyes but slowed her eating.

So far breakfast had been awkward, Goslyn only speaking when she ordered her meal.

Drake glanced at Launchpad, who gave an encouraging nod.

"Gos...you know that if you ever have a problem, you can talk to us, right?"

Green eyes looked at him suspiciously.

"No rush, but whenever you feel comfortable, I'm right here."

"Me too." The larger man nodded.

The redhead pushed her food around for a minute. "I'm sorry. About last night."

"It's alright," Drake assured her. "This is a big change for both of us. We don't have to dive into anything right away."

"Thanks."

"But if we want our arrangement to continue, we need to communicate with each other. Even outside the night shift."

"Alright. I'll try."

"Thank you."

"See? Everything's alright." Launchpad smiled. "Did you watch the Darkwing video I played on the flight here?"

"It was alright." Gosalyn shrugged. "You could tell it was made in the nineties though, with all the cheesy one-liners and the lame CGI."

"'Cheesy'?!" Drake gasped in horror. "Those are the height of comedy, and also a tool to strike fear into Darkwing's foes, to bring a ray of light into the dark underbelly of crime! And I'll have you know what little CGI was used was the height of technology at the time! Besides, Jim Starling didn't use any of it!"

"Yeah! He did all his own stunts, and no matter how banged or beaten he was, he always got right back up to fight again!" The pilot gushed.

The girl rolled her eyes again, though this time with a smile. "The fighting was alright, nothing close to what we do of course. And his whole 'I work alone' act got a little old after a while. I mean, they could've at least given him a funny sidekick. Add a little personal drama to mix it up a little."

"Darkwing Duck is a solo act." Drake explained. "It was his sacrifice to keep the city safe. Being a hero meant being put in life-threatening situations and he wasn't going to drag anyone else into it."

"And we're here because...?" She teased.

"W-Well I didn't mean, I would never-"

"Relax. I like working with you. And besides, you're always telling me 'stay by the bike' and to 'only fire at a distance'."

"Not that you ever follow those rules..."

"Well the old Darkwing might've been a loner, but it's different now. Now he doesn't have to worry about being lonely, or being hungry because I always make sure to pack snacks. He has backup in case things get out of hand. It's something nobody has ever seen before! "Launchpad grinned. "Bad guys lookout; there's a new hero family on the block!"

Goslyn froze, then scowled. "Except we're not a family!"

"Huh?"

She turned to Drake. "You're just taking me in until I find my real family! Don't try to pretend otherwise!"

Drake stepped back. "I-I'm not! I just want-"

"I don't care what you or Launchpad want! Neither of you are my family! My real family is lost in another dimension! You're just stand-ins until I can go home and never see either of you again!"

With that, she stormed off out of the cafe.

Drake felt his heart begin to crack.

"...Was it something I said?" Launchpad asked softly, wondering what he did wrong.

"No Launchpad..." Drake shook his head. "I don't think you said anything wrong. I don't know what's going through her head but right now we have to find her in case she gets hurt!"

"I thought you couldn't access most of the island?"

"You really think that will stop her?"

Launchpad didn't need to be asked twice as he picked up Drake and followed Gosalyn.

Dewey stood on the shoreline, the waves barely touching the tips of his feet.

Something inside him wanted to go out there. But why-

Wait! Something had moved. But what-

"Dewey?"

He jumped when he spotted Webby right next to him. "Don't dew that!"

"Sorry. Hey Dad and Uncle Donald rented a few outrigger canoes."

"Out-what?"

"Outrigger canoes. Traditional Polynesian style boat. It's what let them travel all across the pacific. Elvira thought a motorboat might upset the spirit too much and Donald wanted something that could navigate the island without the risk of engine damage. They're going to teach us how to sail them! Want to come?"

Dewey glanced back at the ocean. "Sounds great. Let's go!"

Donald ended up taking Daisy, May, and Huey in one boat while Dewey sailed in the other one with Webby, Penny, and Scrooge.

"Learned how to navigate these when I got stranded in Maui looking for a giant pearl." Scrooge smiled, setting the sail. "And today I get to teach you two."

Having grown up on a boat, Dewey and his brothers knew how to sail like the back of their hand. They knew nearly every sailer know how there was (and a few Donald had created that Huey added to the guidebook), how to check the tides and waves, and to check the wind direction. 

"You're a natural at this lad!" Scrooge grinned. "I'm surprised you don't want to be a sailor like yer Uncle."

"Can you do a triple loop dew loop with a boat?"

"...I don't even know what that is."

"And the people in this part of the world used these boats to sail all across the sea?" Penny asked Webby.

"Yup! Or at least something bigger. They used these to sail from Asia all the way to Hawaii!"

"Incredible..."

Eventually, Scrooge stopped the boat. "I'm gonna go under and see if I can spot anything."

"Is that not risky?" Penny asked.

"If I can fight a rock monster in the mountains, I can handle a water spirit in the sea." He smirked before diving right in, leaving just the three of them to keep the boat steady.

"Did you tell Della?"

Webby looks at Penny, confused. "Tell her what?"

The blue child rubbed the back of his head. "I didn't get the chance?"

The alien frowned.

"Dewey what is she talking about?" Webby demanded.

"Blue Della you have to-"

"Why do you care!?" Dewey snapped. "You're not my mom! You can't tell me what to do!"

"Dewey!" Webby gasped.

Penny flinched. "I-I'm sorry I did not mean-"

Regret poured over him. "No, I'm sorry. I don't know why...." He scrunched his face and curled in on himself.

"Dewey we just want to help." Webby said gently.

Dewey looked between them before settling on Webby. "Ever since we got here, I've been feeling...weird."

"Puberty weird? Cause Granny told us-"

But Dewey just shook his head. "It's not that. Ever since we landed I felt like something in the water is calling me." He looked at the sea. "I don't know why or what it is, but something inside me wants to jump off this boat right now and dive down as deep as I can. I know that's wrong, but I can't help it!" He could feel tears slipping down his cheeks. "I don't know what's happening to me!"

Webby instantly brought him into a hug. "It's okay. We can figure this out."

Penny looked at the water. "...This is how he felt."

"What?" The Ducklings looked at her.

"This is how your brother told me he felt in Australia." She looked at him. "With Bruni."

Webby gasped. "You don't think?"

"There's a good possibility." Penny nodded. "But you must tell the rest of your family. They will help you with this."

Dewey looked at the sea, then at her, and nodded. "Okay. I'll tell them."

Penny hesitated, before reaching out and pulling both ducklings into a hug. "Thank you. Just try to relax and stay out of the water until then."

"That probably would have been good advice before we got on the boat." Webby noted.

Dewey snuggled into the hug before noticing a strange wave approaching the boat.

"What-"

A splashing sound and some grunts signaled Scroge's return...from the opposite direction Dewey had seen the wave.

"Couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Good current though. There's gonna be some good waves today." He looked at the three of them cuddled together. "Did I miss anything?"

Dewey looked back at the water, but the wave was gone.

Beakley watched the ships set out to sea. In particular, she kept an eye on the one with Webby and Scrooge on it. The old man said something that caused the girl to laugh.

"They're very sweet together." Elvira looked up from her book. She sat on a chair next to Beakley's. A little ways away, Della and June were building a sandcastle on top of a sleeping Louie.

"Yes. Even before we knew..."

Once they had actually started adventuring together, the pair had clicked naturally. Webby had idolized Scrooge since she was little, collecting every little piece of information on him. Beakley worried a bit, but it kept her busy and, more importantly, safe inside the mansion. Scrooge was also eager to tell her about the McDuck family, his adventure, and pass on the skill he had picked up.

In hindsight, Beakley realized all the clues were there, right in front of her. But she didn't see them.

Didn't want to see them.

"Scrooge tells me you had a daughter?"

The former spy forced herself to take her eyes off the boat. "Yes. Her name was Joan. She was an artist and a good one too. She even got her work in several galleries. Who knows what she could have accomplished if..."

"I'm sure she would've taken the art world by storm. Was she married?"

"Franklin Vanderquack. He was a librarian. He was quiet and intelligent and Joan loved him dearly. They had a nice, quiet life."

"Very different from your...former occupation?"

"Yes, and I was grateful for it too. I missed out on so much of her life growing up and I was nearing retirement so I thought that at least...." She sucked in a breath.

"You don't have to talk about that part if you don't want to."

"I...She wanted to go to an island to paint and he rented a boat. Something went wrong with the engine...they died instantly."

"I'm so sorry."

"Want to know the worst part? I looked at every angle, followed every lead I could....and despite everything, it wasn't F.O.W.L. I was keeping them too busy to threaten her. I looked through every file a few months ago and they had nothing to do with it. It was a genuine, stupid malfunction in the engine. I don't know if that's better or worse."

She was breathing heavily now, but she couldn't stop. "All that time and effort, taking down every villain I could find to make the world a safe place for her and her family and it's all taken away by a stupid chance of fate! Everything I did was for nothing! I raised her and loved her and encouraged her and it was all taken away! She was a loving woman with a bright future and plans for a family! And the universe didn't care! It had to be one sick joke!"

She was shouting now, at the ocean, the sky, at the universe. Once she saw people looking her way she took a deep breath. "I was supposed to be a grandmother and then I wasn't even a mother anymore. None of it made sense."

"It never does."

"But then I found Webby and I thought that despite everything, the universe was giving me a second chance. So I vowed to do everything right this time. I retired quietly and started working for Scrooge and...I started pretending. That she really was my granddaughter. That I was really her grandmother and that nothing could ever hurt us."

"You are her grandmother. You've loved and raised Webby her whole life."

"Thank you, but she has a father now. Her real father." She glanced up and saw the boat sailing further away from the shore. Further away from her. "At the end of the day, I'm just a random woman with no family who can't play pretend anymore."

"You do have a family." Elvira's voice was stern, as though she were scolding one of her grandchildren. "In me and Scrooge and the whole household. Ask any of us. You're still Webby's grandmother and Donald and Della loved telling me about you."

Beakley gave a sad smile. "That's sweet. But they deserve better than a failure of a spy and a mother. I couldn't keep any of them safe, I couldn't keep her alive."

"Well, I couldn't keep all three of my kids alive. What does that say about me?" Elvira folded her arms.

Beakley's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness. I didn't think-"

"Daphne was my middle one, my only girl. Luckiest woman alive and she passed that luck onto her son. Have you met Gladstone? She was the sweetest thing alive and she and her husband die in an eating contest of all things! Her luck didn't help her then.

My eldest boy, Eider....it was hard after his wife died. She was the only woman he ever loved and he also had two boys to raise...he ended up working himself to death because he didn't want to stand still and think about all he had lost. He was the last to go.

Quackmore was the first and...you know what happened to him."

Beakley could only nod as Elvira dabbed her eyes with her towel.

"I often wonder what I did wrong. What was going through his head when he and Hortense...He regretted it. But it was too late. Much of my identity was centered around being a mother and being the guardian of the stones, and suddenly I had lost both those titles."

"It wasn't your fault." Beakley insisted. "You couldn't have prevented any of that."

"And you couldn't have prevented what happened to Joan." Elvira retorted. "That's just life. It can be unfair and cruel, but at the end of the day we just have to learn to live with it."

They two sat in silence for a few minutes. Contemplating their failures, the unfairness of it all, all the plans made and shattered with neither being able to do a thing about it.

Then Elvira smiled. "But life can also be wonderful. I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren I wouldn't trade for the world. While I do often see Eider, Daphne, and Quackmore in them...they're still their own people, each working to make their mark on the world in their own ways. As much as I regret what happened with Merlock, or how I wish they were never caught up in his schemes...I'm proud of who they turned out to be. And I love every bit of them for it."

"And I'm glad you do. I truly am." 

But you got a group of real grandchildren while I had to steal one. You still have pieces of your children.

Beakley quickly squashed that little voice.

"I know what you're thinking, and Webby is your granddaughter. Blood doesn't make a family, love does. And every person in that mansion loves you. They might not be Joan, but she'll always be a part of you. You still have her love and memories. Those don't go away that easily."

Beakley lifted her glasses to wipe the tears starting to spill. "Thank you, Elvira...I didn't know I needed that. But sometimes I wonder if I was just trying to replace her with Webby.

"No, you didn't. Webby isn't Joan. You knew that. But you still gave her the love and family she needed."

"And she to me."

"And even though she has Scrooge...that doesn't mean less for you. It means more for her."

"Yes, I see that now."

And more for Webby was all she ever wanted for over a decade. And she wouldn't take it back for anything.

Lena wrung her hands as she took a seat.

"You got this Lena..." She whispered to herself. Still, the doubts were there as she looked around the families and couples sitting, eating, and laughing together, all unaware of the emotional whirlwind she was in. "Just a meeting with a long-lost relative that just so happens to be working for the bad guys. Nothing weird there."

"Lena?"

She turned and blinked. Standing there was none other than Poe De Spell, looking exactly like he had before, only with white feathers instead of green.

He chuckled. "Yes, the green can be a bit much. I wanted to meet you as I was without drawing unwanted attention."

"You're doing a good job of that." Lena took note of the other customers glancing over to Poe, still with his yellow eyes and extravagant cloak. He took a seat across from her and picked up a menu.

"So tell me about yourself! I got an overview from Magica but I feel it was...a little biased."

Lena took a deep breath. "So, your sister created me from her own shadow just before she got trapped in Scrooge's dime over fifteen years ago."

"So that would put you as...sixteen?"

"Not really. I didn't age at all when she was my shadow. We did some studying and biologically I'm only about a year older than Webby. I only really started 'growing up' after I got out of the shadow realm."

"Interesting..."

"She made me as a way to steel keep a hold in the mortal realm and as a ploy to get his number one dime and destroy him. That...was a mixed bag."

"So I've gathered. Where did the name 'Lena' come from anyway?"

"I chose it myself actually. Magica just called me 'shadow creature' and 'niece' but I needed an actual name to move around. I started looking through books and I saw it and made it my own."

"Light."

"What?"

"Lena." Poe smiled. "It means 'light'. Along with, 'shining' and 'bright'."

"Yeah, I liked the irony of it. A shadow being named light. Magica hated it but she got used to it."

"I would've preferred something like 'Minima' but that's just me."

As a waitress came tog et their orders, Lena actually felt like this wouldn't be as bad as she imagined.

Chapter Text

"Alright, I told you a little about me, now tell me about you."

Poe stirred his iced tea. "Magica and I were twin sorcerers ruling over a small town lifetimes ago."

"You're twins?" 

"Yes. Same egg and everything. Now, I suppose you heard about the rest?"

"Taking the people's gold, turning them into goats, and Scrooge and Magica turning you into a raven." Lena listed off her fingers.

At Scrooge's name, Poe's hand clenched but he quickly calmed himself. "Yes. I don't remember much from that time. Magica never bothered to learn to turn others into animals that retained their consciousness."

"Sorry."

"I've moved past it. Now let's move back to you. Tell me about the...Sabrewings?"

"Violet's my sister. She helped get me out of the shadow realm and originally took me home so she could 'study' me and my magic. Her...Our dads heard about what I'd been through and they offered to adopt me."

"How sweet." He smiled. "What do they do?"

"They're professors." She decided to keep most of the personal details secret.

"Very respectable."

"One's from Mexico and the other was born in Duckburg. That's all I feel like sharing about them for now."

"Of course. Now let me tell you about the De Spell's."

Lena frowned. "Magica never really talked about anyone else in her family. I didn't even know you existed. She was always going on about our 'centuries olf blood feud' with the McDucks but I could never pin it down before."

"The De Spells were one of the oldest and most powerful families both in England and the magical community," Poe explained with a hint of pride in his voice. "We were some of the most powerful witches and sorcerers the world had seen."

"Wow." Lena blinked.

"Though I'm afraid much of that had diminished even by mine and Magica's time. Our parents feel like a whole different conversation altogether, though they're no longer around."

"Sorry."

"Please, let me just say that neither I nor Magica shed a tear when they passed, and with good reason. Magica did say our grandmother was still around, but it's been a while so who knows?"

"Seriously? Even after all this time?"

Poe grinned. "The De Spells are notoriously long-lived, through various means. She also mentioned our cousin Adelia was still around too."

"You have a cousin!?"

"Yes, though I'm afraid to say she's the metaphorical 'white sheep' of the family. Declared she was now a 'good fairy', she's half-fae, and that her mission was to, and I quote; 'spread joy and light to those around her and teach them the wonders of the natural world'."

"Ew."

"And according to my sister, she's still going on with it. I don't know where she is currently but I can track her down if you want."

"Let's save that for later." She stirred her soda. "Aunt Magica never told me any of this. I thought it was just her and me."

"She's had a....thing against family since I vanished. But I want to help change that. Starting with you, if you want."

Lena's phone buzzed and she quickly read the message.

"I have to go. They need me." She left money for her drink and got up.

"I enjoyed our talk. We must do this again sometime."

The teen paused, thinking, and then smiled. "Yeah...I'd like that."

"I'll message you soon."

Poe watched the teen leave with a smile.

The seeds were taking root, now he just to tend to them to make them grow.

"Gos? GOS!"

Launchpad shouted through the foliage. They had lost sight of the girl and had decided to split up to cover more ground, with Launchpad checking rainforest just in case.

"Looking for someone?"

Launchpad turned around to find a green hawk in a leaf skirt, bracelets, and necklace. His body was covered in various tattoos, but his most notable trait was the horns growing out of his head.

"Yes! Her name is Gosalyn, red hair with a few combs lost in it, short, really good with a crossbow."

"Sounds like she's a pretty capable young lady."

"Yeah, she's amazing." He sighed. "And then I went and ruined it."

"How?"

"I have no idea! We were just talking and then she got upset. Just like last night." He ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe...I'm the problem between her and Drake. Things would be just fine between them if it weren't for me."

"They also wouldn't have it each other if it weren't for you. You were the one to bring them together, made them a superhero team."

"I guess. But sometimes it feels like I'm just there, you know? Like the fourth wheel on a tricycle."

The figure raised an eyebrow. "Isn't the expression 'third wheel'?"

"Tricycles are supposed to have three wheels. Maybe they're better off without me."

"Hey." The figure put a hand on Launchoad's shoulder. "Who encouraged Drake to become Darkwing Duck for real?"

"I did but-"

"And who encouraged him to listen to Gosalyn when she needed help?"

"I did."

"And who supported Gosalyn when she was scared to face Bulba?"

"I did..."

"Exactly. Don't sell yourself short, Drake and Gosalyn need you and they know it. The whole superhero group wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you. You've been looking out for them both on and off duty.

Now as for what's going on with Gosalyn...that's something she has to tell you herself. It's not your fault, it's something she has to work through. Just give it a little time."

"Alright." Launchpad nodded. "Thanks, mysterious forest man!"

"Any time. And I'd head down to the beach if I were you. The tide's about to come in."

"What?"

"Just trust me."

"You got it!" Launchpad immediately headed towards the beach.

He paused. 

"Hey, who are you-" He turned around and found nobody there.

"Huh...probably nothing!" He smiled and went on his way.

"Hello and Welcome to our annual surfing competition!" Mayor Keli'i announced into the microphone. "All surfers please line up."

The beach was now crowded with locals and tourists, drinking, eating, and looking forward to seeing people riding the waves.

All except for one group of people.

"Dewey honey, are you sure?" Della asked, keeping eye contact with her middle son, who nodded.

"It's exactly what I went through in Australia." Huey nodded. "Right before I met Bruni." 

The little lizard kept his eyes on the ocean.

Donald closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. "We should have seen this coming. It started with Huey and now..."

"Well, he's certainly not gonna dive right into an angry spirit!" Della stomped her foot.

"But why?" Scrooge glared at the sand, as though it would give him the answers.

Daisy was looking at the sea, at the surfers, when her eyes widened. "Donald..."

"Dewey has a connection to the water spirit," Elvira told Della. "Just as Huey has a connection to the fire spirit." She paused. "I wonder..."

"Donald."

"Wait wait wait..." Louie spoke up. "Does that mean I'm gonna have a spirit?"

"That would be so cool!" June squealed. "Do you think me and May will get our own!?"

"It should be fine once we get it under control," Lena assured them. "Just keep Dewey out of the water. If it's anything like last time, the spirit will go for him first."

"Donald!"

"We will just have to wait for the spirit to show up." Penny said.

"But how long will that take?" May asked.

"It can't be too long," Beakley answered. "The fire spirit seemed to become  very active once we showed up."

AAAAAAaahhhhhaaaaaa

Donald and Della froze.

Then looked at the ocean.

And saw a giant sentient wave crushing surfboards as the surfers swam to shore and people ran off the beach. What were once great surfing waves now looked like a hurricane was approaching.

"Glad that voice could get your attention at least." Daisy folded her arms.

"Curse me kilts!"

"What do we do!?" Huey asked.

Scrooge looked them over. "Donald, Della, Elvira, and I will take a boat out to sea and try to calm the spirit down. The rest of ya help get everyone off the beach and out of the water. Except for you Dewey; stay out of the ocean. Try to find Drake and Launchpad and get them over here."

"I haven't heard from them since this morning." Dewey frowned. "Gos said they were just going to get breakfast-oh there she is! GOS!"

Gosalyn was running across the beach towards them, but she didn't slow down. Instead, she grabbed Dewey's arm and dragged him along before anyone could stop her.

"Come back!" Webby began to chase after them.

"What was that!?" Louie asked.

"GOSALYN!" Drake panted, gasping for air. "Chased her....around island....two laps...don't know why she..."

"Oh no..." Della muttered.

Gosalyn dragged Dewey to one of the boats, threw him in, and pushed the boat out before they could catch her.

"COME BACK!" Huey shouted.

"What..." Drake gasped.

"The water spirits here and it wants Dewey!" June explained.

They watched in horror as they sailed further out, into the increasingly turbulent sea.

"Gosalyn what's going on!?" Dewey demanded and his friend set course away from the island.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't deal with them right now!" Gosalyn tried to steer the oar, causing the boat to turn wildly against the waves.

"Gos stop!" Dewey grabbed her hands away. "This isn't safe!'

The girl looked at him as though he just announced he was giving up Dewey Dew-Night. "Seriously? You of all people are scared because 'it's dangerous'!?"

"Yes because the water spirit is here and it's angry!"

Gosalyn's eyes widened before a large wave soaked them.

"Oh man...I really messed up."

"And the worst part is I think it wants me!"

"What!? Why!?"

A hard wave nearly knocked the boat over. Dewey grabbed the rope and tried to keep it steady.

"Try to help me get back to shore. Remember what I told you about Australia? I think it's happening to me too!"

Gosalyn took control of the oar. "But why!?"

"I don't know! Why did you drag us out here!?"

She looked away guiltily. "I-I messed up with Drake and Launchpad! Things were going fine and then Launchpad started talking about us being a family and...I just got mad!"

"Why!?"

"Because-" Another wave rattled the boat. "Should we really be talking about this out here!?"

Dewey waved her off. "Trust me, we do this all the time. But why did you run off?"

"Because I was scared!"

"Of what?"

"OF BEING A FAMILY OK! My whole life it was just me and Grandpa! He was the only one who wanted me! Not those dumb foster families I had to put up with! Everyone said I was 'too much' for them and they 'couldn't handle' me anymore. I'm not too much! Grandpa told me I've just got lots of spirit!"

"Can relate."

"I know! But what if...What if Drake decides he doesn't want me either? What if he's just putting up with me until we find Grandpa? What if he decides he doesn't need me for superhero work anymore? What if-"

"GOS!" Dewey struggled to adjust the sail. "You have to tell him that!"

"WHY!?"

"Because you can't spend your whole life being too afraid to do things. You're never going to get answers until you ask him yourself. Besides, Launchpad's been telling us how much Drake loves having you with them, and not just for Darkwing Duck! They like having you around!"

"R-Really?"

"Yes, but-look out!" The boat sailed over a large wave, flying for a second before crashing into the water again.

"THat was-DEWEY LOOK OUT!"

Dewey looked and saw a large wave of water hovering right behind him.

"Aw phooey..."

The wave sucked him in, pulled him off the boat, and pulled him into the water.

"DEWEY!"

"DEWEY!" Della and Donald cried.

"GOSALYN!" Drake exclaimed in horror.

"GUYS!" Launchpad rushed up to them. "I was heading over here when my 'Dewey and Gosalyn are in danger' sense started going off. What happened!?"

"The water spirit has Dewey!" Huey shouted, grabbing his head.

"Goslayn's on the boat!" Webby continued.

"No more time talking!" Scrooge commanded. "We have to go out there and help them!"

A purple puff of smoke surrounded them.

"I am the terror that flaps in the night. I am the hermit crab you find in your seashell. I am...DARKWING DUCK!" Darking jumped forward, holding his cape out dramatically. 

"Is now really the time for that?" Beakley asked.

"We need a hero! Launchpad, Donald, Della, and I will head out on the other boat and get the kids. Everyone else clear the beach!"

"Let's do this already!" Donald climbed on board. 

Della and Drake quickly joined him, with Launchpad hopping on after he had pushed it into the sea.

They had two kids to save and a spirit to calm.

Chapter Text

Dewey was pulled further and further under the waves, away from the boat.

But he wasn't scared.

No, he was definitely scared for Gosalyn and his family, and for all the other beachgoers caught up in the spirit's rampage.

But he wasn't scared for himself.

Being in the water, the pressure building around him was oddly soothing. It was as if he belonged here.

Too bad he needed to breathe.

He didn't need to worry about that for long. As soon as his feet met with a rock shelf, the water around him spread out, creating a sizable air bubble and allowing him to cough and inhale.

As soon as the burning sensation lessened in his lungs, he looked around and was met with two glowing eyes belonging to a tiger made of water. Then it shifted, turning into a horse.

"Um...hi?"

The spirit looked him over and Dewey knew, for some reason, that they weren't going to hurt him. He took a step forward.

"I'm Dewey. I...I always liked swimming. In the ocean, the pool, wherever there was enough water. I also like theatre and flying and going on adventures."

The spirit tilted its head and slowly, Dewey slid his hand through the wall of the bubble. The spirit looked it over before putting its head on it, allowing Dewey to pet it.

"Huh. You've got surprisingly soft...water?" He ran his hand over the snout and even through their waterfall mane.

"They like you."

Pulling his hand back, he turned and saw a blue duck in a flowery dress similar to what he had seen the locals wear. Her shoulder and wrists had elegant tattoos on them. A seashell necklace graced her neck.

"Hey, I know who you are!" He smiled. "You're the goddess lady that gave mom her powers right?!"

The woman laughed. "Yes, to oversimplify it. I must say, you've been adapting to all this change beautifully."

"Because it's been awesome! Who wouldn't be excited to learn their family has powers!?"

"Hmm...and what about the less than awesome changes?"

He paused. "You mean Merlock and....yeah, those suck. Especially for mom and Uncle Donald. It's been really hard for them."

"You're a very insightful young man."

"Thanks, I just have to make sure to remind them how awesome they are. And they really are!... Most of the time. Even Uncle Donald."

"I'm sure they appreciate what you've been doing."

"Do they? It's just....everything's been so crazy and everyone's been so distracted, even Gosalyn! I thought we were going to have fun, but she's got her own problems and it feels like Launchpad's hardly ever around anymore!"

"What you feel is completely natural." She said gently. "And you've been doing such a great job helping others with their own problems. But you have to remember one thing."

"What?"

"That you're just as human as they are. Remember how you talked to Penny and Webby on the boat? If you start to feel overwhelmed, you can talk to them."

"I know, but it feels like they hardly look at me anymore."

"Just because they haven't been able to give you their full attention, it doesn't mean they don't love you. It can be hard being the middle child, constantly feeling overlooked. But you're also surrounded by people who love and support you. Who you love and support." She put a gentle hand under his chin. "Talk to them. Even if they can't always be around, or have to focus on something else for a little bit, they will always love you. Then they'll find a way to make time for you."

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome."

"So can you help me with this water bubble thing? Or keep the spirit from trying to drown my family?"

"Sorry." She shook her head. "The water spirit still has to test them. Don't worry, you know they can do it."

"I know. But still." He looked up and saw his mom and Uncle doing battle with the ever-changing spirit. "Hey-"

He looked around, but the woman was gone.

"Mom's right. It's really creepy how she does that."

Donald and Launchpad steered the boat through the waves as Della and Darkwing kept their eyes on Gosalyn.

"GOSALYN!" Darkwing shouted. "STAY IN THE BOAT!"

"DUH!" She retorted.

"What was she thinking!?" He asked Della. "Going out on a boat like this! Was...was it because of me?"

"What are talking about? You've been doing great with her!"

"Have I?"

"Yes! Trust me, what she's going through right now is something that is in no way your fault!" Della assured him. "I went through something similar when I was her age. She'll come around?"

"What if she doesn't want to stay with me anymore? Or be my sidekick? What was I thinking when I agreed to this!? I'm no good for her! She deserves someone who has their life figured out. Who has more experience with kids. Who-"

"Do you love her?"

"WHAT!?"

Della kept her gaze steady. "Do you love her? Do you want her to grow up happy and healthy? Do you want to sometimes bundle her up and lock her away so nothing can ever hurt her? Do you see her as your family?"

Darkwing looked at her, then at the small girl alone in a boat.

"Yes. To all of that. I know it's crazy and I only met hew a few months ago-"

"I've only known my kids for less than a year." She retorted. "And before you ask, biology has very little to do with it. Have you met my mother? It doesn't make sense, we had so many screw-ups, so much time lost, so much getting to know each other, but we love each other. We're a family! No matter what anybody else says."

"But what if that's not what she wants?"

"So ask her."

Finally, Donald tossed a rope and pulled the two boats together. Darkwing promptly grabbed Gosalyn out and held her close.

"Are you ok!? What were you thinking!? You could have been seriously hurt! Do you know what you put me and Launchpad through!?"

"...I'm sorry." She mumbled into his chest, holding him just as tightly.

He sighed. "We can talk about that later. Right now we have to get back to shore."

"You take that boat back," Della instructed as she and Donald commandeered the other one. "We've got a water spirit to tame."

Launchpad nodded, separated the boats, and steered him, Drake and Gosalyn away.

Donald and Della looked around, at the waves that looked ready to drown them with a single hit.

"Let's do this." Donald cracked his knuckles.

Penny fought against every instinct that told her to swim out and help Della and Dewey herself. Instead, she focused on lifting two surfers out of the water and getting them on dry land.

"This should be the last of them!"

Beakley nodded. "Good. Now let's head further inland ourselves."

"But what about Dewey!?" Webby demanded.

"Donald and Della will get him." Scrooge lifted her with one arm. "It looks like it's focusing on them now. So we shouldn't worry about anybody else getting caught."

"They're at a disadvantage though." Beakley looked over to them. "That spirit has a whole environment suited to its needs. At least with the fire spirit, they could isolate it."

"I'm sure they'll manage."

That's when Penny noticed Launchpad struggling to sail his boat through the waves.

"Lena!" She turned to the sorceress. "Keep the small Della's safe! I will meet you there!" She ran down the beach.

"Penumbra!" Beakley nearly gave chase when Scrooge grabbed her arm.

"She knows how to handle herself! We'd only get in the way. C'mon!"

With one last glance back at the alien woman, she picked up Louie and June and followed her family inland.

Darkwing helped Launchpad as much as he could with trying to get the boat back to the island.

"Hoist the sail!" Launchpad ordered and Darkwing adjusted the sail while Gosalyn kept the ropes tied.

"We're almost there!" Darkwing exclaimed, trying to reassure them.

Unfortunately, that reassurance didn't help when another wave hit the boat, this one big and powerful enough to turn it over.

Gosalyn was pushed deep under the water. Having grown up in the lab and having her best athletic experience on frozen water, she was never the strongest swimmer in her age group.

She flailed her arms wildly, too panicked to notice she had kicked something.

Her lungs burned.

This was it. She was going to die here. In the deep, dark ocean.

Her head hurt.

She never got to see her grandpa again.

She felt herself sinking further.

She never got to Drake and Launchpad that she-

Two strong arms grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up.

The moment her head breached the surface she was gasping for air. A blanket wrapped around her, bringing her closer to the warmth.

Finally, she managed to open her eyes and realized it was Darkwing who had saved her, was wrapping his cape around her and was holding her close while using his other arm to keep them afloat.

"Are you alright!?" Despite the mask, clear concern and fear could be read.

"...I...I think so...?"

"Darkwing!" Launchpad. Launchpad was there and he was waving over another swimmer.

"Grab my hand!" Penny swam out and extended her hand, which Launchpad eagerly took. Then he reached out his other hand and Darkwing took that, keeping a tight hold on Gosalyn.

Fighting against the sea, Penny managed to lead them to land. Once he got his footing secure, Launchpad picked up Darkwing, who was still carrying Gosalyn and jogged them further inland.

"Why? She groaned.

"Why what?"

"Why did you save me?"

She expected something cheesy about 'that's what a hero does' or something, but she wasn't prepared when he softly replied;

"Because you're my kid. Whatever you want to call us, we look out for each other."

"Yeah." Launchpad nodded. "No matter what."

Gosalyn closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the warmth these two were giving her.

The twins looked out at the waves.

Then they looked at each other and nodded.

Della jumped out onto the sea, each step creating a little ice float keeping her above the water. 

"Come on out ya big palooka!" She shouted.

"DELLA!"

She turned around and saw a giant wave hurdling the boat, with Donald still inside, right at her!

"Aw phooey..."

The boat pushed them both several feet under. They began to swim for air when a horse with glowing eyes manifested in front of them It looked them over before disappearing.

They raced to the surface taking a few deep gulps of air before Donald was flung several feet into the air!

"DONALD!" Della shouted as she was pulled under.

A water bear was now pushing her further and further under. She pressed a glowing hand against it, freezing them before quickly melting.

Donald managed to cling to a sea rock above the surface when he noticed something underwater heading straight for him. Gritting his teeth, he dived below and blasted the spirit with a beam of light, breaking its form.

The spirit then took the form of a shark and grabbed his foot and began to drag him through the sea, right towards Della!

She sent a blast of her own magic at it, breaking its form before dragging her brother upwards. She made a sheet of ice large enough for both of them to climb on.

"Alright!" Electricity sparked from his fingertips. "Time to show this shapeshifter who's in charge!"

"Have you lost your mind!?" Della scolded him. "Electricity plus water equals bad things! Dewey's still down there!"

"Well, what else do you have in mind!?"

"Well, what did you do when Dewey's having a tantrum?"

"You have to hold him until he calms down!"

Their eyes widened.

"Oh no..." Donald mumbled.

"Oh yes!"

"But how-"

A second later they found themself flying through the air as a giant water whale rammed through their float.

Creating a rope from her magic, Della lassoed the whale and managed to get a ride on its back.

The whale dived deep into the sea, trying to shake her off, but Della held firm, grabbing her brother and pulling him on. He grabbed her hands and added his own magic, making the lasso glow blue and yellow and become stronger.

The spirit shifted into an elephant, running around on the surface of the water, but they held on. It turned into a horse again, running wild shaking their head.

But the twins didn't waver.

They made ran around the whole island before the water began to calm.

"Feeling better?" Della asked.

The spirit gave an affirming neigh.

They returned to the beach, where the spirit let them get down. They each gave a slight bow.

"Thanks for the ride." Donald smiled.

"Now if you could give my son back, that would be great."

The spirit gave another whinny and dived down below.

"...Think it understood me?"

Chapter Text

Dewey had seen the fight. At least, the underwater scenes.

The spirit had the entire ocean at their disposal and yet his mother and Uncle had fought with unrelenting determination.

He hoped to someday be able to do that himself.

But when they didn't appear again, fear began to grip his heart. Where were they? Had the spirit gotten them at another part of the island? Where-

He looked around and realized the currents were slowing down. He stuck his hand into the water.

It was calm.

The spirit was calm.

They appeared again, this time in the form of a merperson. Dewey smiled at them. And when the bubble around Dewey collapsed, he didn't panic and felt the arms of the spirit wrap around them.

Then something strange happened.

Well...stranger than what was already happening.

The spirit began to glow blue...and that glow spread to Dewey, who felt a dam had burst and a flood was going through him. The glowing faded when they reached the surface, still a ways from shore.

Dewey could see the rest of his family start to gather. He looked down at his hand, then at the spirit, who nodded.

He pushed his arm forward, and the water responded.

A wave carried him back to the beach where he was quickly embraced by his mother.

"Dewey! Are you ok!?"

"I'm better than ok!" He leaped down. "Look at what I can do now!" He held his hand out and, focusing on the ocean, lifted them.

Everyone watched in stunned silence as a wave of water rose, and stayed there.

"Woah...." Lena mumbled.

"Just like with Huey..." Della looked between her son and the retreating spirit.

"Wait..." Launchpad tilted his head. "So is Dewey like part spirit now or....?"

"So cool...." Webby's eyes sparkled.

"So my theory was right." Elvira looked Dewey over. "All the boys have connections to the spirits."

"What does that mean?" Gosalyn demanded.

"Right now it means we inform the mayor that the ocean should be safe now and head back to the hotel." Scrooge replied. "We can explain later when we're less shaken up."

Gosalyn sat by the pool, a towel wrapped around herself. She needed time away from large groups of people.

"Hey Gos." She saw Drake and Launchpad take seats on either side of her. She didn't move. "How are you doing?"

"...Alright."

"That's good." Launchpad nodded.

"I'm sorry. About earlier."

"No, I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but if I said anything-"

"You called us a 'family'."

Launchpad paused. "Do you not like that? Because we don't have to call ourselves that if you don't want to!"

She shook her head. "It's fine, it's just...My parents died when I was a baby."

"I'm so sorry." Drake said gently.

"Don't be. It's not like I remember them.

"My whole life it's just been me and Grandpa. None of my other relatives wanted me, even after he disappeared. The CPS people just had me pack up a few things and shipped me off to the first foster family they could find. When I told them my Grandfather was still alive, they just laughed at me! I ran off, got picked up by the police, and got sent to someone else. I told you they hated sports right? Yeah....that didn't last long either. And the last place was the worst! They tried to completely change me, turn me into a 'nice young lady'. They hated that I liked science and sports, or how I ran around and got dirty. Everything Grandpa said he liked about me. I ran away from there the night I met you.

"The point is...none of those other 'families' wanted me or just got tired of me. The only family I've had, the only one that wanted me, was Grandpa. You and La8nchpad keep saying you want to be a 'superhero family' with me, but how long is that going to last? How long before you both decide you can't handle me or try to change me?"

"Gosalyn Beatriz Waddelmyer," Drake said sternly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We are never going to get tired of you and we most certainly would never want to change you."

"Yeah!" Launchpad agreed. "You're Gosalyn! You're one of the greatest people I've met. Why would we wanna change that?"

Gosalyn couldn't look at either of them. "When you kept calling us a 'family'...I got scared. And mad. Because my Grandpa isn't here. He's the only family I've ever had and I don't know how to be part of a family without him. It...it feels like I'm replacing him."

"We would never dream of trying to replace your grandfather." Drake assured her. "We're going to find him. One way or another. And if I'm being honest...I'm not sure how to be part of a family either."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I haven't spoken to mine since I was eighteen."

"What? Why?"

"They didn't...accept the way I presented myself. You...You know how sometimes when a baby is born the doctor writes down the gender? Well...sometimes when the baby grows up they realize that the doctor got it wrong and-"

"Dude, I know what transgender means."

"Oh...that makes it easier. The fact that I'm also bisexual only made it worse."

"Your family sucks."

"They do. And that's why I don't see them anymore. And why I've been so nervous about this too. Because I don't have a lot of positive family experiences to fall back on and this whole thing is terrifying and-"

"Wait, you're scared?" Gosalyn raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Because I want to do what's best for you and I don't know what that best is-"

"I think the problem with those other 'families' was that they weren't real families." Launchpad interrupted. "Real families love you and care about you no matter what. Unless you're evil....and maybe a little then. Point is, we take care of each other, and when we make mistakes, we work to make them right."

"And if those other people can't appreciate that fact that you've got more spirit than a the McDuck's ghost butler, then that's their problem," Drake said with conviction.

"'Spirit'?" Gosalyn whispered.

"Yeah that's what I-"

He was cut off by Gosalyn leaping onto him and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you. For looking after me. For helping me."

"It's our pleasure." Drake hugged her back.

"And if you don't want to call us a family, that's ok." Launchpad said. "We're not going to force you into something you're not comfortable with."

"Actually, we can try the 'family' thing." Gosalyn smiled. "I'm probably going to mess up at it-"

"Not as much as I will." Drake smiled back. "That's a promise."

"I mess up at it all the time!" Launchpad grinned. "But Mr. McD still keeps me around, so I must be doing something right."

Gosalyn grabbed him and pulled him into the hug.

They still had a lot to learn, but they would figure it out together.

"So one of my sons has fire magic and the other has water magic." Della said in an attempt to make sense to her. They had all gathered by the pool.

"Yup." Lena nodded, having finished her own magical scan of Dewey.

"But why!?" Donald demanded.

"Again, we won't have any answers-" Elvira started.

"Until we get all the spirits." Donald sighed.

"I was taught that the God and Goddess work in mysterious ways but even I'm starting to get frustrated."

"Really? She seemed really nice when I met her." Dewey said, making a stream of water fly around himself.

"And that guy with the horns seemed cool." Launchpad nodded. "Helped me figure some stuff out."

"So it seems they appear whenever one of us needs guidance." Beakley concluded.

"Some actual answers would be nice." Della snarked. "Why is this happening? What's Merlock planning? Those would be helpful."

"At least we have two of the spirits." May said, making Bruni squeak and a water dolphin jump in the pool.

"...How did they get in the pool?" Gosalyn asked.

"Aqua can appear whenever there's enough water. Doesn't matter if it's connected to the last place or not." Dewey explained, stepping into the pool. Aqua formed just a bit and let him ride on them.

"'Aqua'?" Louie asked.

"That's their name. And don't bother trying to give them a gender either." He pulled Webby on and they laughed as Aqua took them on a few laps around the pool.

"Of course." Elvira smiled. "You can't assign an earthly gender to something as fluid as water. Even Bruni is only male because that's how he chooses to present himself."

"Gotta say, your people are sounding cooler and cooler." Lena grinned.

"We have a less rigid way of looking at the world." 

"Calisota has been one of the most progressive states in terms of homosexuality, gender identity, and women's rights." Huey lectured. "Cornelius Coot separated us from California and wouldn't agree to become a state unless the government agreed to allow us to keep these guidelines. Many historians attribute this as influence from his wife, as these guidelines match up pretty well with the ones from her tribe."

"Grandma Kaya was a stubborn woman." Elvira smiled. "And Grandpa Cornelius took many of our people's teachings to heart. He understood the value of the natural world and the power that couldn't always be seen. He helped keep things peaceful between us and the settlers and help us keep our ancestral lands safe and preserved."

"It should be illegal to learn stuff while on a tropical island." Louie groaned.

"Returning to the matter at hand." Scrooge got their attention. "It appears that a pattern is forming."

"Huey got fire." Daisy listed. "Dewey got water."

"Wait..." Louie's eyes widened. "That means I'm gonna get magic!?"

"Either Earth or Air from the looks of things." May nodded.

"Of course, we will have to wait for the next spirit to appear." Penny said.

"Which could happen..." Drake looked at them.

"At this rate anywhere from a few days to next year." Beakley said. "We have people on the lookout but the other spirits might not be as inclined to make themselves known."

"Thankfully we have a mysterious echoey voice that usually lets us know when they turn up." Della smiled.

Drake blinked. "Of course you do."

"The spirits don't seem so bad after Donald and Della get to them." Della looked on and saw Dewey, Webby, Gosalyn, and June were playing with the water spirit, with June laughing as the spirit-lifting her in a water sprout. "They never actually hurt the kids."

"That's right..." Penny frowned. "They separated them, but never harmed them. It's as though they were....protecting them until Donald and Della passed their challenges."

Huey looked at Bruni. "Bruni wouldn't let Merlock or Hortense near me. And Aqua kept Dewey in an air bubble."

"Well, that's one less worry I suppose." Scrooge sighed. "I suppose it's back to waiting."

"Aw...but we've only been here for two days." Webby hopped out of the pool. "And a lot of us nearly drowned today. Can't we stay a little longer dad? Please?" She batted her eyes at him.

The old man fumbled with his hat. "I suppose staying the rest of the week wouldn't hurt..."

A round of cheers broke out.

"Louie! It worked!"

"Told ya it would."

Lena finally managed to get Webby to herself for a few minutes as they walked around the resort.

"So how did the meeting go?" The duckling asked.

"I think it actually went pretty good. He's different than Magica. He actually seemed interested in me."

"Really!? So you're going to be talking to him more?"

"Probably. I'm waiting to hear back from him."

"That's great! Do you think he's interested in joining us!?"

"Slow down there. I-I don't know about that yet. He's hard to read."

"What did you talk about anyway?"

"Myself. I didn't go into specifics but he was listening to the parts I gave him. He talked about himself and Magica....did you know there are others?"

"Others?"

"Other De Spell's! Apparently, they have a cousin and a grandmother somewhere out there. One's half-fae! Magica never told me any of this stuff!" Lena waved her arms around. "I have a whole history I never knew about until today!"

"Weird. I never found any info on them in dad's files."

The teen paused. "I'm a jerk aren't I?"

"What!?"

"For hours all I could focus on was the fact that I had more possible non-evil sort of biological relatives when I have two dads and a sister waiting for me at home."

Webby put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lena you wonderful dunderhead, you are not a jerk. You're just realizing there's more to your history than you thought. And who knows what you'll learn next? Your dads and Violet will still be there. You said they were fine with it right?"

"I mean, it took a lot of convincing..."

"But they know you need to do this for yourself. You're not selfish, you're curious. That's part of what we love about you."

Lena smiled and pulled Webby into a hug. "Thanks Webby. I don't think I could do this without you." 

They walked away, not noticing a very pleased raven flying away.

Poe flew to the mouth of the cave and turned back into a man.

"So I assume everything went as you expected?" He asked as he strolled in.

Merlock, grinning, moved pieces resembling Dewey and the water spirit. "Indeed they have. The child is now connected to the water spirit. My dear student, it appears our work was only the beginning. We didn't even have to do anything to your grandchildren and they will soon possess the power of the ancient spirits."

Hortense smiled with glee. "I always knew my children would be greater than anyone else before me. And now my grandchildren will carry on that greatness! I don't know what else a grandmother could ask for."

"And now it's back to the waiting game." Poe scrolled through the books.

Magica looked over from where she was stirring a cauldron. "So how did the meeting go?"

He picked up a book and began to thumb through the pages. "I think it went rather well. She was rather receptive to learning more about our family. Really Magica, haven't you told that poor girl anything about her own family history?"

She rolled her eyes. "You think I was going to go crawling back to them while I was stuck as a shadow? Besides, Adelia would, ugh, try to teach her to be a 'good witch' along with all her hippie-dippie nonsense."

"...That's fair." He shrugged. "It'll be nice having her around. We can teach her everything we know."

"Growing sentimental are we?"

"You're the one who made her resemble us. She's your spitting image when you were her age."

Magica pressed her beak and continued stirring.

The rest of the week actually went pretty well. May and June loved going to the beach, especially once the other kids taught them all the things one could do at a beach; go swimming, build sandcastles, and playing volleyball.

"Finally one of these adventures pays off." Donald sighed, cuddling up with Daisy on a beach blanket.

"I wouldn't mind having more adventures in places like this." Daisy smiled.

"It is oddly soothing." Penny said, enjoying the shade of an umbrella with Della curled right into her.

Gosalyn, riding Launchpad's shoulders, shot down the volleyball Drake's way, causing him to jump out of the way.

"Nice shot Gos!" Launchpad offered Gosalyn a fistbump which she eagerly met.

"Hey!" Drake protested. "You nearly took my head off!"

"Not my fault you can't hit!" She grinned. 

Drake huffed, but a small smile made its way onto his face and a warmth grew in his chest.

Dewey let out a whoop of excitement as he surfed on his first, small, wave.

"This is awesome-ah!"

He fell off his board, only to reappear on a water deer's back, who proceeded to hop around with the laughing duckling.

"He really is the most like you." Penny said.

"Yeah." Della lazily smiled. "I've heard that a lot."

"They all take after you. Him most of all. But he is still his own person."

"And I love every bit of him."

"Indeed. Even though he is more tolerable of those slimy water creatures."

Della shuddered. "We all have our flaws. I-I'm just hoping he makes better mistakes than I did."

"He will be fine. He has us."

"'Us'?" Della grinned. "Pretty bold statement there."

"I am just stating facts."

"I know you are." She kissed Penny's cheek, causing the alien to blush.

"You know, I've been thinking about what you said."

"Really?" Lena took a sip of her soda.

"You said Violet originally took you home to study you?" Poe asked, hands folded.

"Yes?"

"Forgive me for being concerned, but is she still doing that?"

"Yes." She sighed. "There's still a lot we don't know about me. My biology, my magic, it's not like we have a guidebook or something."

"Indeed. I myself have never come upon anything like you. You are most certainly the most incredible person my sister has created."

Lena felt her face heat up.

"I'm just making sure it's benefitting you as well as her."

"Violet loves me." Lena narrowed her eyes.

"Not disputing that fact. But you did say she was mainly interested in you for scientific purposes when you first met. I just want to make sure she hasn't done anything...less than safe."

"I'm fine. She always asks me if I'm comfortable before we do any experiments and she always apologizes if anything goes wrong." Her voice was hard.

"Of course. And...How does Scrooge feel about you?"

"He trusts me."

"Even around his daughter?"

"Yes. He told me himself."

"Really? I was under the impression that someone like him wasn't the biggest fan of magic."

"He wasn't....but he's getting better!"

Poe didn't look convinced. 

"Look I-I don't fully get him either. But Webby loves him."

"Sounds like a biased opinion."

"I...okay, that's true." Lena wrung her hands.

"I'm guessing she tells him everything that happens to her and her friends, no matter how small and insignificant?"

"She's not spying on me."

"I didn't say she was. I'm sure she believes what she's doing is completely innocent and harmless. Telling her adventurer father and housekeeper grandmother all about her day. It's perfectly natural."

Spy Grandmother A small voice in Lena's mind whispered. And monster hunter father.

Shut up!

"I'm sorry if I made you upset! I just worry about you being around him so much given his history...."

"I-I'm fine. He never hurt me."

Yet.

Shut up!

"Well if you're sure. I trust you know what you're doing."

Lena suddenly didn't feel so certain of that anymore.

The day before they left Beakley and Elvira managed to get Scrooge out of his room to relax at the pavilion.

"Have you ever taken the time to just relax and enjoy the places you visit on your adventures?" Elvira asked him.

"Not really." He shook his head. "Usually I'm running from my enemies or I want to get a treasure back to the mansion as soon as possible. For us, 'relaxing' usually means staying home."

"I have to say I can see why you enjoy traveling. Between the farm, the grandkids, and my duties as guardian, I haven't left Calisota before we went to Australia. I thought about traveling the country when you got Donald and Della those summer jobs at...where was it again?"

"Ducklair tower. I had them help clean the place up before renting out the floors. Gave them their first taste of working for a living."

"Yes, I remember they really enjoyed it. I thought about traveling but never got around to it."

"When you've spent your whole career traveling from place to place," Beakley said. "The perfect retirement seems to be actually staying in one place for more than a few weeks."

"I can imagine it wasn't an easy transition for you."

"No...but it was necessary. I don't regret it."

A waitress brought them their drinks.

"How did the rest of your family take the news?" Elvira asked, sipping her lemonade.

"Eh?" Scrooge nearly choked on his tea.

"It just occurred to me how upset they must've been once they heard the real story about your sister. I can't apologize enough for forcing you to lie to them. If they're in any way upset at you just tell them to blame me instead."

"N-No!" Scrooge shook his head. "It's not yer fault! I should've-"

"It was neither of your faults." Beakley sighed. "Hortense and Quackmore were both adults who made their own decisions. Tell that to your parents and Matilda."

"Yes...." Scrooge wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I'll be sure to do that...When I get to telling them."

"What do you mean?"

Beakley narrowed her eyes. "Scrooge...you did tell your family about Hortense, right?"

"Maybe...in not so many words?" He grinned nervously and looked at everything except them.

Now it was Elvira's turn to sigh. "Scrooge, you have to tell them as soon as possible. I know I'm the last person who should be saying this, but they deserve to know. Things are getting serious."

"I know!" He groaned. "I'll call them as soon as we get home I promise! Besides, it's not like Hortense can stop there for a surprise visit. The mists won't lift for another four years."

"If any of this has taught me anything, it's that nothing in life is certain. I'm sure she's picked up a few tricks these past decades."

"Have you even told them about Webby?" Beakley folded her arms.

"....I mean with everything that's been going on-"

"SCROOGE!"

He sank into his chair and actually let himself feel like he was on vacation.

He would need it after all; he was in for a whirlwind of family drama when he got home.