Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Starlight liked magic, because she didn’t really have a choice. Magic was with her her entire life. That poor little orphan girl sitting alone in the corner because she was endlessly bullied for her gift, was more than happy when another sorceress adopted her. 5 wasted years were spent in that orphanage, but the next 11 years she was sent to live with a coven of witches, set on revenge. They were all followers of Magica de Spell and called themselves "The Shadows". They had given her the name Starlight, because her most powerful (and natural) spell is making touchable stars that taste like your favourite food.

On her 13th birthday she was given her first mission; to plant a cursed artifact on the home of Scrooge McDuck, it would give him and anyone inside a full month of bad luck. In case she were to go undercover and get in by becoming friends with his niece or nephew she decided on using the name Susan Vanderquack.

Susan would follow orders to perfection, but was always curious as to why they had to hurt some random family just because Magica hates them. Maybe asking questions is what jinxed this mission. Well that or they are really nice and welcoming ducks.

Once she got to the backyard a giant net swooped up and caught her. What?! How'd they know I was coming?! I failed immediately! The Shadows will not take this lightly…

"Oops Sorry! I thought we took all the Santa traps down, guess we missed this one." A girl's voice came from above. "Brace yourself" not one second after she said that the net fell apart letting Susan fall to the ground. "You had one job, Dumbella!" A raspy voice shouted.

"And that's how I met Della and Donald. 8 years later Magica felt threatened by my coven's growing power, so she turned all of them into frogs, goats, and other animals. I managed to get away and made a break for the mansion. Scrooge chased her off, but she kept coming back. Finally after a while, they fought on Mount. Vesuvius and no one has ever seen her in 13 years. After that I took the name 'Susan Vanderquack' permanently". Susan sat at the edge of Webby's bed telling of how she met the Duck family. While Webby was taking some notes for her McDuck Family board.

"Wait, so you were tricked into being an enemy of Mr. McDuck?" Webby was only 8 years old at the time, but was jumping into whatever history of the McDucks she could grab hold of.

Susan nodded. "After I realized that the McDucks aren't bad people, I started part-timing as Scrooge's secretary, then I became a housekeeper with Duckworth." Susan walked over to Webby and picked her up. "Then your granny came along and brought you here".

When Beakley arrived with her granddaughter, Susan immediately took a liking to her. "Did I ever tell you about the day she let me adopt you?" Susan smiled at her daughter.

"While we were all playing in your room, you said your first word. You turned to me and said "Mama". I was so happy, and a little worried of what Beakley would think, but she just said "that's right, she's your mom". Beakley had heard from Duckworth a few days prior that Susan wanted kids but was unable to have any.

"Aw, mom don't cry" Webby put her hand on her mother's face. Susan hadn't realized she was crying.

"They’re happy tears my little duckling...Can you promise me that you'll always be a part of our little family, no matter what?"

"I promise mom" Webby hugged her mother and was feeling more than prepared for whatever the world wanted to throw at them.

Chapter Text

“And you are?” Huey asked the strange duck in pink that just kidnapped him and his brothers.

“Oh right, Webby Vanderquack. My mom and Granny are the housekeepers”. Webby answered and pointed at a section on the board. There were 3 pictures, one of Webby, the housekeeper that gave them the marbles, and a long red-haired duck that looked oddly familiar. “Hey, wasn’t she in that photo with uncle Donald?” Huey asked his brothers.

“Oh yeah, my mom said they were best friends. Wait! Are we friends now?” Webby asked.

“If we say yes, will you let us live?” Huey responded scared.

Webby chuckled, “Good one, new best friend” and processed to tie a string on the board with the word “friends” written underneath.

“So, friend, what do you do for fun around here?” Louie asked.

"Oh I'm the best at fun, um" Webby then kicked a vent open and crawled in.

Elsewhere, Scrooge was attempting to put on a deep sea diver suit when Susan and Mrs. Beakley walked by and saw him.

"Uh Scrooge? What are you doing?" Susan asked cautiously.

"Look at this." Scrooge shoved a newspaper in Mrs. Beakley's face.

"Snow, on the Drake barrier reef." Beakley read the newspaper unimpressed.

"First time in 50 years. That weather report aligns perfectly with the Papia prophecy. A shift in currents may present a pathway to Atlantis! Lost city under the sea!" Scrooge replied in his Adventure voice. Is he gonna go on another adventure? Why now after so long? Susan thought.

Beakley practically answered that question "This is because some children made fun of you isn't it?"

"What children? I spend a few hours cleaning the other side of the mansion and you're inviting some random kids in?" Susan was cut off guard by this. Especially since Mrs. Beakley insisted that Webby be home schooled, she tried to get her to reconsider, but as Beakley was her only living relative she knew there wasn't much she could do.

Beakley leaned down close to Susan and Whispered "It's the boys, Della's kids". While Susan stood there with her beak open wide.

"Nonsense, I'm not the has-been, they're the has-beens, I am an am-now." Scrooge grumbled. "Make a list!" Scrooge threw a notepad and pen at the two girls, completely ignoring the fact Mrs. Beakley mentioned Della.

In the vents above, Dewey began to overhear the 3 adults' conversation.

"We have enough excitement caring for Webby" Mrs. Beakley said.

"Scrooge you haven't had any adventure in 10 years, are you sure this is a wise decision? Why don’t you just have a quiet night in with the boys?" Susan proposed.

"Oh aye? Hang up my spats? Become the doddering old relic everyone thinks I am, spinnin' yarns to those loud-mouthed young'uns about the man I "used to be"?" Scrooge replied.

"You've avoided them for 10 years" Beakley added to Susan’s dismay, Beakley, now's not the time for a guilt trip.

"Because family is Nothing but Trouble!" Scrooge retaliated.

"Hey Beakley, have you seen Webby, or Scrooge, or the boys? I couldn’t find them anywhere, I thought they'd be back by now after that gold hunting dragon, Pixiu. It's been hours" Susan asked after cleaning up the after-maths of the fight in the garage.

"Scrooge took them to Atlantis" Beakley answered informatively.

"WAIT WHAT?! He Can't Just Take Them Without Telling Anyone! And Atlantis?! They're New To Adventure, No Experience, His "Protection" Is Always Sticking Them In The Back Seat Where –If The Boys Are Anything Like Della Or Donald– They'll Sneak Away And Get Into Trouble! AND WEBBY! I Know She Can Take Care Of Herself But Her Kind Soul Will Cause Her To Follow The Boys Into Danger To Make Sure They’re Okay! I'll Show Him, I'll-" Susan threw the front door open but Mrs. Beakley grabbed hold of her and pulled her back.

"Webby called me earlier, I believe they are on their way back from Atlantis. I'm going to the docks to pick them up. You can yell at Scrooge all you want when we get back." Beakley answered then walked out the door.

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"AND NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO TAKE WEBBY ON AN ADVENTURE YOU TELL ME FIRST!!". Susan had grabbed Scrooge by the collar with both hands and was yelling at him for a solid half hour in the middle of the foyer.

"Susan?" Donald stood in the doorway surprised after guiding Launchpad to put the houseboat into the pool.

Susan dropped Scrooge immediately "Donald, Y-you’re back."

Donald laughed slightly "Yeah, Uncle Scrooge and I made up so-" Donald couldn't finish his sentence because Susan captured him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Finally… I hated it when you two split up" Susan pulled away but kept her hands on Donald's shoulders, and looked over her shoulder to see Scrooge making his way to the two.

"So, have you met the boys yet?" Scrooge asked.

"Oh no, everything just happened so quickly I didn't get a chance too." Susan responded, sounding a little defeated.

"Well come on!" Donald grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her up the stairs to where Scrooge said the boys were staying. 

"Boys! Meet Susan Vanderquack, my best friend." Donald said the moment he opened the door, holding Susan in a sideways hug.

"Hi, sorry we didn't get a chance to meet earlier, I'm Webby's mom". Susan looked around the room, Louie was on the bottom bunk with his phone in hand but was paying attention. Dewey was on the ground next to him, looking like Donald's sudden entry intruded on his moonwalk. Huey was sitting next to Webby on the top bunk, both holding a book that Susan recognized as the Junior Woodchuck Guidebook. Just like Della…

"Hi mom!" Webby waved then jumped down to hug her mother.

"So this is the woman you pointed out in pictures but couldn't visit because 'she lived too far away'. Well it's nice to finally meet you" Huey said, causing Donald to blush a little in embarrassment.

Susan laughed, "That might be because he wanted a break from magic, like this". Susan put her hands together like she was crushing something, when she opened them a dozen bright stars flew out.

"Woah," Dewey said, mesmerized.

"Go ahead touch them, they taste like your favourite food". Susan said with a wink.

As the kids each grabbed 3 stars and snacked, Susan pulled Donald out into the hallway. "Sorry not sorry to say this but, Welcome back to the rollercoaster Don".

"Couldn't picture being anywhere else".

Chapter Text

"Where have you guys been? It’s morning, the sun's coming up". Susan asked the moment the kids walked inside the house.

"Sorry mom," Webby began.

"We got lost, and this girl named Lena helped us get back" Louie finished, the kids had decided on the way up the hill that it was probably best not to mention being kidnapped by the Beagle Boys, again.

"Alright, I'm just glad you're all okay. Now go get ready for breakfast, you guys must be starving". As soon as Susan said that, the kids ran up the stairs to their rooms. But Dewey hesitated, standing just at the turn.

"Um, Ms. Vanderquack? Can I talk to you later after breakfast?"

"Of course, is everything alright?"

"Yep totally! See you at breakfast!" Dewey darted up the stairs and out of sight.

So that's a no …especially with an answer like that, Susan thought.

Breakfast went by and Susan found Dewey in the TV room holding a picture.

"Dewey? What did you wanna talk about?" Susan sat down beside him as he put the picture on the other side of him.

"... D-do you know any stories about my mom?" Dewey asked shyly.

The photo, Della smashed Donald's head into their cake… "Of course, your mother was one of the bravest ducks I've ever known. In fact, she once saved your uncle Donald and Scrooge's life from a horde of mind controlled natives, by swooping in at the very last second for maximum tension. It was a risky move but she always did things like that without hesitation if it was to save her family". Susan was doing her best to recall stories about Della without crying.

"Uncle Donald doesn't talk about her a lot…" Dewey said with his head down.

"He just misses her. If you or your brother wanna hear any stories about your mom, I'd be happy to tell you all. There’s about as many as the coins themselves in Scrooge's money bin, in fact there was this one time…"

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"3… 2… 1… Go!" Donald, Susan, and Della were trying to race by seeing who could swim in the bin's money the fastest. First, the other side won. For a while it seemed like they weren't even moving till Della got creative and started grabbing handfuls of money like she was making a tunnel. It didn't do much but she gained about a half-a-meter lead on Susan and Donald.

Suddenly they heard a jingle of coins and Scrooge jumped out leaning against the wall. "I win".

"You cheated, plus you entered at the last minute." Susan said while trying to pull Donald, who was somehow upside down, out of the gold.

"How do you swim in it? It's solid!" Della asked.

"I've spent years perfecting the skill. Building up my muscles, I might just teach ya one day lass" Scrooge answered.

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"You tried to swim in the gold?" Louie had overheard the story and was draped over the top of the couch.

"Technically it was Della's idea. She even managed to convince Scrooge to let me use some magic and turn the gold into cold liquid gold for one race. Surprisingly Donald won". Susan responded 

"Aye, I even took some of the liquid gold, when you turned it back it actually doubled me money". Scrooge added as he entered the room.

"Scrooge!" Susan wasn't expecting to see Scrooge from the moment Dewey mentioned Della. "I-is everyone listening in? It's a big mansion, how?"

"Hey Sue, can I talk to you for a sec?" Donald poked his head through the door.

" And that answers my question , alright I'm coming".

"What are you doing?" Donald whispers-shouted in the hallway.

"Telling them about Della so she's not forgotten Donald " Susan retaliated. "What's so wrong with that?! Why are you avoiding her?!"

"Alright, hold your horses. We all know she's a sensitive topic to talk about, but the boys at least deserve to know what she was like.” Beakley had joined into the (not even close too secret) conversation completely unannounced.

"They’re better off safe from those crazy adventures! I did what was best and kept them away from the mansion, what's the big id-"

"You're scared that's what, you tucked your tail between your legs and ran because you thought you were the only one who lost her!" Susan interrupted Donald and was talking in a blind rage.

Unknown to any of the adults, Dewey and Webby were secretly listening in, leaning against the door.

"I don't think your mom is going to tell us what happened to my mom". Dewey said.

Webby sighed “I was really hoping she would help, my mom said she doesn’t like keeping secrets. She always seemed so happy when talking about Della or Donald”.

“This is the greatest mystery of our lives! Even Uncle Scrooge’s housekeeper can’t tell us because of her loyalty”. Dewey was now ecstatic at the thought of solving the greatest mystery he’s ever known; What happened to Della Duck? Even if only one person was on his team to find the answer, he vowed not to be deterred from this “amazing” quest.

Chapter Text

Ms. Beakley, Launchpad, Susan, Lena, Webby, and the boys stepped out of the theatre and began to talk about their favourite scenes. "What'd you think of the movie mom?" Webby asked her mother.

"Meh, it was cool I guess. The surgeon cutting the mole queen in half is definitely one of my favourite scenes, but it just lacked some drama". Susan responded.

“Thank You!” Louie responded, shoving his half empty popcorn bucket into the air.

Huey and Webby began to talk about real life mole people when Launchpad screamed, causing Dewey, Louie, Mrs. Beakley and Susan to go check on him. He was tearing at the movie’s poster, claiming it was a mole monster in disguise.

"Launchpad it's just an ad" Mrs. Beakley tried to reassure him.

"That's exactly what the sheriff said to those reckless teens!!" Launchpad responded hysterically.

After sorting out the damage to the poster and the mens washroom, Susan noticed Webby, Huey, and Lena were missing. "Um, Where's Webby? Or Huey? Or-"

"Lena" Mrs. Beakley grumbled.

"What do you have against Lena? She’s not causing Webby any harm". Susan curiously asked.

"She's being a bad example for the children. Now come on, let's go find them before they're hurt." Beakley stated as she headed for the subway.

The group made their way down the stairs and through the abandoned subway track. Ms. Beakley led as Susan followed, casting her stars as a light source with the guys behind her.

"Why would Lena want them to come down here?" Ms. Beakley grumbled.

"We don't know if it was her idea" Susan fought back, "but I'll bet they're searching for Terra-Firmians"

"That legend that Webby was talking about?" Dewey asked.

"Yeah, once there were these weird earthquakes happening under the bin. So Scrooge sent Donald and I down to investigate, I didn't see any but Donald ran shouting that he did". Susan responded.

"The Mole monsters almost got him!" Launchpad said as he panicked and lifted Dewey into the air, shaking him.

Susan sighed in exhaustion as she rolled her eyes, “Donald was talking about how it looked like a mutilated rock that “ Could Have Killed Him! ” for hours. But he was perfectly fine, all he got was lucky to see a Terra-Fir-” Susan was cut off by the sound of Lena screaming.

“Lena!” Susan ran off ahead with the others right behind her.

The group stopped running after her when they saw she was trying to get into an abandoned train on the tracks, “I think they’re in here”. Susan stepped out of the way, for Ms. B knocked it down in one rush.

A rock flew through the air nearly hitting Louie, “Ah! Hey, watch it!”

“Louie?” Huey said surprised.

“Did you think we were Terra-Firmians?” Susan asked as she and the others stepped into the dim light of the subway train.

“Mom? Granny?” Webby asked.

Launchpad screamed again behind Susan and Dewey “Those Are Moles!”

“Launchpad, it's just the guys.” Dewey reassured him, but Susan noticed him doubting, counting the kids and wondering if there were always three.

“I can explain,” Webby said as she walked up to her grandmother.

“You are all in big trouble. I assume this was your idea.” Ms. B said, scowling at Lena.

Lena scoffed “Sure, blame the mysterious rebel playing by her own rules.”

“No back talk!”

“HEY! You can’t just assume things onto people Beakley! Or are you trying to set an example of what to do in a situation you barely know?” Susan responded as literally stepped in between the kids and Beakley.

“Aren’t you supposed to be crazy adventure family? This is like an afternoon field trip for you people.” Lena added.

“Well, there won’t be any more afternoon field trips for you. I can assure you that.” Beakley said as Susan grumbled at her.

“Granny, Lena didn’t mean to-” Webby was cut off by a sudden earthquake. While Webby claimed it was Terra-firmians, and Huey claimed it was just “Naturally occurring tectonic shifts”. Susan casted a quick shield over all of them in case the train would give out and crush them.

As soon as it was over, Susan let down the shield as Beakley looked outside of the train car to see the damage. Luckily no one was hurt, it only hit a train car behind them. Ms. Beakley sighed, “Splendid, we’re stuck. Susan, do you think you can teleport us all out of here?”

Susan was sitting on one of the seats holding her head, “Sorry no can do, I’m not used to using my magic, just a quick spell like that can make me light headed. I’ll be fine but we’ll need another way out”.

“Well then, it looks like the only safe way out of here is to get this train moving. Launchpad, get to the control room.”

“No, Ms. B I can’t leave you alone with…” Launchpad gestured to Dewey, making everyone confused. “I mean, uh… I don’t know if I can. I’ve never crashed a train before”.

“Well, maybe you can drive the train without crashing it.” Ms. B responded to Launchpad’s confusion. “Just get to the control room and see what you can do”. If it weren’t for Susan’s ringing ears and slight fog in the corners of her eyes, she would have seen Launchpad take a pipe with him and stop whatever he planned to do.

“I’m going to the rear to see if I can detach us from the cave in. You, with me” Ms. B pointed at Lena “You’ve caused us enough grief”.

“Aye aye, Colonel Crumpet” Lena responded, making Susan laugh a little.

“We’ll stay here and be on the lookout for Terra-firmians. It must be about halftime at The Great Games, so it’ll be easier to spot one” Webby pointed out.

“Okay, just stay put” Ms. Beakley took Lena outside of the train car with her.

Huey sighed “Please talk some sense into Webby, you don’t really believe that rock monsters are playing earthquake games”. He asked both his brother and Susan.

“Huey’s usually right about nerd stuff” Louie said.

“If you asked your Uncle Donald, he’d give you an hour's headache about the time one nearly “killed” him” Susan added.

“Those aftershocks are actually a revolt, led by the lost Terra-firmian prince. He’s using the games as a distraction to storm the Califermy Citadel!” Webby fought back. “It’s all in this artist’s rendering” she opened her journal and showed her pics.

“Ooh, that all sounds awesome, I want that to be true.” Louie said.

Huey grabbed his JWG from under his hat “Earthquakes are a result of shifting tectonic plates!”

“But who’s pushing the plates, Huey? Who’s pushing the plates?!”

“Other plates are pushing the plates”

“Now, who sounds ridiculous?”

“Louie, whose side are you on?”

“Oh, neither. This is just way more entertaining than that movie” Louie said as he ate his refill of popcorn.

“Kids, PLEASE , do me a favour and don’t yell” Susan said as she massaged the side of her head.

“Sorry mom,” Webby said. Just then a giant boulder fell onto the roof of the train car, Webby gasped and immediately jumped off the wall to pull down the ladder to the roof. “I’m coming, your highness!”. “Webby, wait up!” Susan came after her daughter, a little slow but still eager to see.

Sadly the Vanderquacks were disappointed to see only a boulder from the cave in.

“Hey, just because this is only a rock doesn’t mean there aren’t Terra-firmians still out there.” Webby said keeping her hopes up.

“So we’re supposed to examine every rock in this tunnel? That actually seems pretty fun, Wait, that’s not the point!” Huey said.

The two ended up bickering for a while with Susan attempting to end it every 2nd sentence. It only managed to stop when they were suddenly aware that the rock had disappeared.

“Um, anything could’ve happened to that rock, could’ve rolled off” Huey tried to reason.

“Rolled off up and out of this dent? I don’t think so” Webby noted, only proving her theory about Terra-firmians. But Huey still tried to remain reasonable, listing off different ways it could have disappeared. But Louie stopped him once he noticed a red light moving around under the pile of rocks from the cave in.

“That? That’s, uh, sparks from faulty wiring, or maybe a crazed sewer killer with a flashlight?”

“I think that’d be worse Huey” Susan said, staring at the light.

The lights didn’t stick around long, “it’s gone” Huey said. “Oh that’s way creepier” Louie noted.

The train's lights turned on and it began to move, the kids stumbled a bit on the roof while Susan, who was half way inside, fell back down into the train. “KIDS! Get Inside!” Susan called from below, as she saw a giant dent at one end of the train. She was about to go after them when she heard them scream, but they were already coming down. Once Huey was down the ladder, a boulder hit the entrance, then appeared to jump forward? Terra-Firmians!

The train threw everyone as it was knocked off the tracks. Susan was knocked unconscious in the chaos of it. She regained consciousness when she heard Webby calling her, her left arm was under some rubble that Huey and Louie were moving out of the way. Her arm was sore and bruised, but otherwise okay. The group climbed out of a window and met up with the others, before more rubble completely smashed the train car.

Huey ran ahead of everyone when he saw light in the tunnel, thinking it was a way out. The kids ran after him to see a Terra-firmian standing before him and several others rolling by. Once they stepped into the light, they looked a lot less menacing.

“Oh my stars, they’re real… Donald was right” was all Susan could say to herself.

Huey slowly approached one of them and touched its finger (like E.T.).

“That was interesting, we still need to find a way out of here” just as Ms. Beakley said that, The Terra-firmians smashed a hole in the wall as an exit. “Finally! I really need to lie down” Susan said as everyone climbed out the exit and made their way to the car so they could head home, rest and possibly have some breakfast without any interruptions.