Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I
Donald liked adventures. He enjoyed exploring unknown lands, battles, finding treasure, and learning something new, but he didn't enjoy carrying all the baggage. His Uncle Scrooge used to make him carry bags that were too big for him. What he hated the most was when he was used as bait.

"I heard there are unicorns in these woods," Della commented excitedly.

"I hope we can find one." Della wasn't the only one who liked unicorns.

«Nonsense!» complained Scrooge. «There are no unicorns in this forest, otherwise I would be in one of my zoos. What we are looking for is something more valuable.»

«What could be more valuable than a unicorn?» Donald and Della exclaimed in unison.

Donald looked embarrassed at the realization that he had shown more enthusiasm than he would have liked. His annoyance grew when he heard his sister's laugh.

«The fairy queen's necklace».

«Do fairies exist?!» Donald and Della couldn't hide their excitement.

Again Donald pretended to be disinterested and again failed in the attempt.

«Does that surprise you? I think we've seen stranger things on our adventures before. Fairies are magical beings that live in the forest,” he said with a slightly annoyed expression. «They protect the forests, heal injured animals, but more importantly, they possess great wealth. The fairy queen's necklace is one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry and will be an important addition to my collection».

«Are you sure the fairy queen will give it to you?»

“You faithless nephew,” Scrooge muttered under his breath.

Donald and Della began theorizing about fairies and imagining what they would look like. The enthusiasm would wear off after a few hours. They hadn't found anything, not even animals, and Donald was tired, the luggage was too heavy, and his feet ached.

“Uncle Scrooge,” he complained. «Is it far away?»

"Lazy nephew," Scrooge whacked him with his cane, «during my days in the Klondike I could go days without ever finding a nugget of gold, but I never complained.»

Donald said nothing, not wanting to risk getting hit yet again. The group continued on their tour, stopping for lunch an hour later at Della's suggestion.
Scrooge's eye fell on what his nephews had prepared. Scrooge had told them long ago that they must cooperate with the housework, and both Donald like Della, they turned out to be a disaster in the kitchen. They were both good when they followed a recipe, but when they didn't, they made each dish that left you confused. The two brothers enjoyed the somewhat strange combinations. Della used to use too much sugar or too much heat, Donald some weird combinations.
On that occasion Della had prepared a sandwich with popcorn, marshmallows, caramell, gummies, chocolate and a power, which in Scrooge's opinion, should be prohibited, something that would happen years later.

«What are you talking about, Dumbella? I'm good husband material».

Della didn't respond, at least not with words. She started laughing out loud, something that made her brother angry. The two started arguing and it would have continued for a long time if Scrooge McDuck hadn't found what he was looking for.

The fairy queen's necklace was located in a small cave, surrounded by flowers and next to a spring of water.

«We found it!»

Both sibblings stopped their fight to see the treasure. Donald took it, captivated by its beauty, not knowing the consequences of his actions.

The queen of the forest appeared. Her expression was annoyed and her gaze was on Donald.

«That's Titania's necklace.»

Donald handed it back and was obviously a bit embarrassed.

Scrooge was unwilling to give up the treasure and let it be known when he took it back.

«What could we do to reach an agreement?»

The queen of the forest denied.

«Maybe this necklace has only monetary value to you, just another addition to your collection, one more proof that you've been to unexplored places or rewritten history, something you can wear to show off that you are the greatest adventurer of all time, but for us he is something else. This necklace represents Titania, queen of the fairies, and it is necessary for us.»

Donald and Della hung their heads in embarrassment. Scrooge was unruffled, though inwardly he knew what he had meant to do. Like Donald, he used to take his image to the world very seriously, especially in front of his family.

Donald was carrying a piece of toast with sardines, a fried egg and mustard.

«I'm starting to think it wouldn't be a bad idea to pay them for a cooking class.»

Donald and Della exchanged glances, sharing a single thought. Scrooge used to avoid all kinds of expenses. The one who offered to pay for a cooking class was... strange.

The search continued. Donald and Della were somewhat disappointed that they didn't see anything that could be considered magical. Of the affairs they'd had, this was the one that seemed the most normal.

—Fairies rarely let themselves be seen by humans, at least not when they're not looking for a husband. In that case, they not only let themselves be seen, but also offer treasures and fortune to the human they seek.

Della's gaze fell on Donald and then on Scrooge. Then he dropped to the ground and his face showed an expression of annoyance.

—Then we can assume we won't see any fairies.

Donald was outraged.

"I hope you understand that I can't let you go after what you did." The queen pointed at Donald. He will stay with me and help me protect the forest.

Donald, Scrooge and Della disagreed with the idea.

«You can't take my brother away from me!»

«You wanted to steal the heart of this forest so it seems only fair.»

«The necklace is there so nothing was stolen.»

«Intent is enough. I can't let them go without consequences. They might come back or worse still, inspire others to try it and in that case my efforts might not be enough.»

The queen of the forest took the necklace and Donald's arm and before disappearing, leaving no trace. Scrooge and Della searched for him for weeks, but all attempts were in vain.

—We must go home.

«I refuse to abandon Donald!»

«Me too, that's why we have to go back to the mansion. I need to check my library, only there can we find a way to defeat the queen of the forest.»

«Do you think it will work if I say that there are no fairies?»

«Even if those words had that consequence, we can't be sure we'll get Donald back. We need the authorization of the queen of the forest.»

II

The first few days were tense, for everyone. Donald obeyed all the fairy queen's commands, but didn't speak to her unless absolutely necessary. He resented being taken as a tribute and missed his family.

The queen took care of the flowers, but she showed no more interest in Donald than she did in the ground under his feet. Occasionally he would give him an order and it would confuse Donald.
He couldn't understand why the queen had taken him prisoner if most of her time was spent pretending he didn't exist. The idea of escaping crossed his mind, but he didn't put it into action right away. Donald didn't know where they were and told himself it was best to wait for the right moment.

That opportunity came after the second week. Donald recognized where they were and knew he might find a way out of the woods. However something stopped him. He could see a bird, a nightingale, if he was not mistaken, that had fallen from the nest.

Donald reached for some sheets, remembering a piece of advice his grandmother had given him in the past, and wrapped it up. The adolescent was very careful not to touch it, as his grandmother had told him that this could cause his parents to be unable to recognize his scent, then he carefully placed it on top of the nest.
Donald was surprised when he saw the little queen behind him. She wasn't angry, on the contrary, she was smiling and that seemed strange to him.

«I knew I wasn't wrong about you, you have a very noble heart. Would you like to learn magic and become a true protector of the forests?»

Donald used to control his emotions, or at least try to, he liked to pretend that he was someone cold, failing many times in the attempt. At that moment all he could think about was how much he loved magic and how excited he was to become a real magician.

"I'll take that as a yes," the fairy queen laughed, "but first you must promise me that you will not use your magic for evil and that you will respect nature at all times.

«I promise.»

«Will you promise to give me a flower every day and prepare my favorite desserts every day?»

«I promise.»

«The forest and I are witnesses to your oath and we will punish you if you break your word».

Donald remained silent, not knowing if he should do something or if it was preferable for him to remain silent.
The forest queen's stern expression disappeared, replaced by a smile that Donald thought was warm and beautiful.

«Don't worry, it's not a formal oath. It would have to be done through the Styx Lagoon and you would die. I trust that you will keep your word and that you are worthy of being a magician. I'm Reginella.»

«And me, Donald. Nice to meet you, Your Majesty.»

III

«I'm one with the grass, I can feel the forest!»

Reginella seemed amused by Donald's reactions. She hadn't woken him up abruptly, on the contrary, she had shaken him gently and never yelled at him.

"You fell asleep again," Reginella commented between laughs.

Donald felt his face turn red.

«I didn't fall asleep, I was just… meditating. Yes, meditating!»

«I heard you snore.»

Donald felt even more embarrassed than he already was. He loved magic, but it was inevitable for him to fall asleep shortly after closing his eyes. Various negative thoughts filled her mind, she felt unable to concentrate and doubted that she could perform even the simplest of incantations.

«Is this necessary?»

Very necessary. The world is made of energy and a magician is capable of transmuting that energy with his soul and being able to control it, but that is only possible if you are in harmony with the world around you. For example, I can create figures of light and manipulate them with energy so that they appear to be alive and obey my will.»

Reginella reached out her hand and made a group of butterflies materialize. They rose up until they disappeared in a bunch of colored sparks.

«It's beautiful. Do you think I can become a magician?»

Donald had watched the spell with anticipation and had even tried to touch the butterflies. Scrooge used to say that magic only caused trouble, but he didn't understand how it was possible to hate something so beautiful.

«Anyone can become a wizard, it's just easier for those of wizarding ancestry. You just need to learn to concentrate without falling asleep».

Donald smiled sheepishly.

«My parents used to have a terrible temper, they argued even when they agreed, but they never hurt us. They loved us and we love them, even if they are no longer with us.»

«The people we love never leave us. They will live forever in our hearts».

«My sister Della looks a lot like Mom. They are both proud and always do what they want.»

Donald paused, talking about his parents was difficult and he doubted it would ever stop being so. Quackmore was the first to die, a victim of illness, and Hortense soon followed suit, unable to live without the man she loved the most.

He missed Scrooge and Della, too. His uncle had cared for both of them, even when their parents were alive and Della, she was his sister, his half. They both hatched from the same egg and, in Della's words, that made them an inseparable team. Mentally he wondered if they would look for him and had his doubts. Donald remembered every time an affair had been complicated by his bad luck and wondered if they would be better off without him. Just thinking about it was painful.

«Are you okay?»

«Yes, I… I only thought about my family.»

Reginella fell silent and her face showed sadness. Donald wondered if she felt guilty or if she had said something to hurt her.

«I can get you some magic mirrors. You won't be able to leave the forest, but at least you'll be able to talk to them whenever you want.»

Donald was quite encouraged to hear those words. He genuinely wanted to be by Reginella's side, but he hated the idea of never seeing his family again and that included his cousins. Donald loved Fethry and Gladstone despite all the trouble they used to cause him.

«Let's try it again, but this time, try not to fall asleep. Concentrate, forget everything and just focus on my voice. The energy is everywhere, it's inside of you. Can you feel it? It goes from the tips of the feathers to the tips of your feet. Do not fall asleep, try to shape that energy. Are you succeeding?»
«I think so. It's strange, I feel lighter, almost like I'm floating».

«You must be one with the forest, feel the grass, connect with everything around you. Feel the energy of the universe and leave all your worries behind».

Donald's body felt light. Then he saw it, a light of a color He did not know, it seemed to be the mixture of all colors and at the same time a completely different color. Donald reached out his hand and tried to reach for that light, it was so close.

Donald fell down. His face crashed into the ground and he was unable to tell if he had made it. Seeing Reginella's worried expression, she proceeded to tell her what she had experienced.

«You did it. You are now technically capable of magic».

IV

"How about we have a beauty pageant," Della suggested. «The queen of the forest could let Donald go if she could find someone who wanted to marry her».

«I don't think it will work, even if we find someone who is able to give up everything and move in with her.»

Della snorted under her breath. He had said months ago that Donald wasn't husband material, but she had meant it as a joke. She knew that her brother was brave, noble and strong, qualities that would make anyone fall in love and she doubted that the queen of the forest was the exception.

«There must be some way we can get it back».

Scrooge had discovered that Donald could not leave the forest if the queen of the forest did not allow it. They had made a serious mistake trying to rob her and she had retaliated by taking what they wanted most.

«Why should we convince the queen of the forest? We just have to trick her and rescue my brother».

«Impossible. Donald would die if he left the forest without his permission».

«I know, I meant to make her believe that we have something she wants and that we will only give it to her if she gives us back my little brother.»

«It's too risky. Faerie wrath is dangerous and we can't expose Donald».

Della plopped down on the table. He missed his brother and he knew his uncle felt the same way, he could even bet his brother missed them and wanted to come home.

«There must be a way, we promised that we would never spend a Christmas apart again.»

«Then we'll go visit him. We will bring a peace offering.»

V

Della jumped when Donald hugged her. While it was true that he was looking for his brother, it was also true that he had not seen him arrive. She hugged him back, happy to see him once more.

One look at Scrooge was enough to tell that he felt the same way.

"Enough hugs," Scrooge commented somewhat sheepishly.

Donald and Della laughed at that reaction, they both knew that Scrooge loved them, it was something they were aware of since the nexus papyrus incident and that they checked with each adventure, but that didn't stop them from finding his attempts funny. for showing himself as a miserly old man who only cared about increasing his fortune.

«Why do you have a bow?»

Della looked horrified. Donald had been taken as a tribute because they tried to steal the fairy queen, and Della feared the punishment would be greater if he hunted.

«Do you have any idea what would happen if the queen of the forest saw you in something like that?»

«She knows. Don't worry, I took all the necessary measures. I have offered an offering to Artemis and have been using these flowers. They are called Lycoris radiata or Red Spider. Lily and are used to find out if Artemis approves of the hunt or not. They are placed in the prey and we can only eat it if it blooms.»

«It's weird. I thought being a vegetarian was a requirement to be a forest ranger.»

«Me too, but then I found out that the protector of the forests is also the goddess of the hunt. The bow is his favorite weapon and I learned from one of the pages of Oberon, king of the fairies.»

"I'm glad I wasn't around," Della commented teasingly.

«Nothing would have happened. I learned quickly. Reginella said that I have the heart of a warrior.»

Scrooge and Della laughed uproariously. They had both seen Donald escape many dangerous situations so they had trouble believing him.
They were not entirely wrong, Donald was brave and noble, but his learning had not been as easy as he claimed and several of his shots caused disasters.

Donald was slightly offended, which he tried to cover by changing the subject.

«What are you doing here?»

«Anyone would say you're not happy to see us.»

«It's not that, I just didn't expect them».

«Three years ago you promised that we would never spend a Christmas apart again, and I came to make sure you kept your promise».

Scrooge handed Donald a pack and took the bow.

«I came to make sure you didn't become lazy. I managed to get you to study by distance so you won't have any problems when you come back to Duckburg».

«Not fair! I barely have time for my maa…hunting lessons and guardian duties.»

«Nonsense! At your age, I had already become the captain of my own boat.»

«Does it count if it was a legacy ship?»

Donald regretted his words after Scrooge hit him with his cane. He mentally reproached himself for not having seen it coming.

«Disrespectful nephew. I never treated my elders that way.»

«How about we find a place to have Christmas dinner? I bet the queen would be happy to join us.»

«Her name is Reginella and I'm glad you get along.»

«Why? Do you like her?»

Donald said nothing, but his blush said what he couldn't say aloud.

VI

Scrooge's gaze was fixed on the queen. While it was true that he had not found something to negotiate with, it was also true that he was willing to do anything to get his nephew back. He had sworn in front of his sister's grave that he would protect her children, but that wasn't the only reason he did it. Scrooge McDuck loved Donald and Della. They were not his blood children, but he loved them as if they were.

«We brought Christmas cake and lots of food».

«Now that's a Christmas miracle! What are you up to, Uncle Scrooge?»

«Celebrating Christmas with my family.»

It wasn't entirely a lie, but there was another reason and Scrooge was willing to do anything to get his nephew back. Della felt the same way, too.

«Can I invite Reginella?»

«Of course. We need to talk to her».

«Reginella isn't bad, she's just doing her duty.»

«It's the queen, she kidnapped you because she wanted to».

«She protected us. Artemis is the protector of these forests and has cursed all who have stolen anything from her domain. I think the last man was turned into a reindeer.»

Scrooge felt a chill run through his body.

«Well, at least we can try.»

Donald and Della took care of dinner. Scrooge was amazed at Donald's abilities. Proud and surprised in equal measure.

«You can take some meat with you. I have salted it well so it will keep in good condition for a long time.»

Donald led them to the house he shared with Reginella. This was underground. To enter, you had to go through a tunnel hidden under some bushes. Contrary to what one might expect, it was illuminated inside. There were various flowers hanging from the ceiling. There were also various pieces of furniture, all of them made of wood and rustic in appearance.

Dinner passed quietly. Donald and Della chatted about what they had done during their time apart.

«We are very embarrassed by what happened during our previous visit, but I miss my brother and we would like him to come back to us.»

«I'm afraid that's not up to me».

Scrooge couldn't believe his ears. Reginella seemed sincere, but she couldn't and wouldn't accept the possibility that she could only see her nephew when we visited the forest.

«Artemis is the protector of these forests. She usually curses all those who offend her. She hates trespassers and I can't let Donald out without her permission.»

«Then we'll talk to Artemis. Do you know where to find her?»

«In Ithaquack. But be warned, the gods are proud and will be offended if you come up empty-handed.»

Donald served a dessert that he had prepared especially for the occasion. While it was true that he did not expect his relatives to visit, it was also true that he wanted to surprise Reginella with something special.

«I have presents!»

«I thought you didn't know we were coming».

Donald handed them the twin mirrors, then walked away. He couldn't help but laugh at Della's reaction when she saw his reflection in the mirror.

«With this we can communicate at any time. They just have to activate the mirror and that's it.»

Scrooge and Della shared Donald's happiness. While it was true that they both preferred to be able to be with him in person, he knew they would have to settle for talking to him that way, at least temporarily.

VII

Donald closed his eyes, focusing on his own energy and imagining what his wand would look like. Reginella had told him that a wand wasn't essential, but it would help him channel his magic, and he thought it would make him look cool.

The wizard's eyes widened as his fingers tingled. A smile appeared on his face as he saw a scepter in his hands. It was a long stick with a blue hat on the end.

«Amazing!»

«It's a very beautiful magic wand.»

Donald slipped the wand through his fingers. He was proud of his summoning spell and couldn't wait to use his wand. I was sure that from that point on things would be much easier.

«I think we can start with healing magic now. If you move quickly, I can ask Hecate to teach you offensive magic».

The wizard was excited by the idea of learning offensive magic, but disheartened to learn that those lessons would not be with Reginella. He wasn't excited to part with her.

«This is the first time I've seen a magic wand like this, I'm sure you'll be very powerful».

Donald blushed at those words. It wasn't the first time the fairy queen had made a similar comment.

;You can take the rest of the day off.»

Donald looked at the books Scrooge had brought him and sighed heavily. His magic lessons were over, but he wasn't done with all his responsibilities. The wizard knew his uncle well enough to know that he would be in trouble if he failed, though he wasn't sure how he would do the exams.

VIII

Scrooge and Della's arrival in Ithaquack was not something that went unnoticed. The female pilot demanded to see Artemis, but that wasn't the only thing she did to get noticed.
Scrooge and Della confronted the gargoyles guarding the entrance, defeating them with some difficulty.

Scrooge used his staff to block the attacks and to return them. He had to run to avoid his enemy. On more than one occasion he had to duck or jump to avoid the gargoyle's claws, but in the end it was his cunning and Della's help that allowed him to win.

Della didn't use any kind of weapon, just her strength and wits. She ran and jumped so fast that she managed to avoid all blows and even make her target dizzy.
Donald and Scrooge did not speak, but it was not necessary to set up a plan. The older man took advantage of Della's maneuver to make the gargoyle he was facing deal the final blow to his enemy.

Zeus appeared before both of them, his attitude was defiant, however his surprise was visible. Scrooge and Della were the first mortals to visit Ithaquack in centuries and survive the guards.

The gods stopped the party momentarily. Everyone found the two mortals more fascinating than the party they were celebrating.

«What are they looking for?»

«We want an audience with Artemis.»

There was a silence that seemed eternal.

«They've come a long way and defeated two of our gargoyles. Both have earned that privilege».

Artemis summoned them to her temple. The goddess made no attempt to hide her curiosity.

«My nephews and I have made an unforgivable mistake. We disrespected one of their forests. My nephew is paying for our offense, but we want him to come back to us. What can we do to have his grace?»

«Did they bring an offering?»

Scrooge nodded and Della handed him a chest. It contained various jewels such as emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, pearls, and diamonds.
Artemisa observed them analytically for several minutes, ending with a satisfied smile.

«If they want the tribute back, they must find and free the unicorns. They must also ensure that at least one reaches the forest where you committed the offense.»

«How will we find them?»

«That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself».

«We'll need my nephew's help.»

«Get permission from the queen. If she authorizes it, I will give you an authorization, but remember that it is temporary. Go back on their word and you will be cursed.»

Scrooge and Della thanked the goddess and respectfully left. Both became the center of attention of all the gods, but none stopped him.

Della was happy to know there was a chance to rescue her brother. While it was true that they had no clue, it was also true that at that moment they had hope and a plan to follow.

«And you who said that unicorns don't exist.»

IX

Donald swiped his wand over the little rabbit, healing its broken leg instantly. This one had been frightened and that had caused his lower extremities to be injured. It was something that used to happen frequently, rabbits were scary and fragile animals.

The magician returned home. He was exhausted, but he knew he had to continue with his lessons. This time she had extra motivation, Reginella was interested in what she was doing and eager to learn more about humans.

«What will we study today?»

«History, mathematics, chemistry and also literature. Uncle Scrooge told me he would be coming soon and I have ordered several books from him. I'm sure you'll like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden and Neil Gaiman's Coraline.»

«I trust your good taste».

Donald began to read aloud from the history book. He read about the conflicts that led to the signing of the independence act.

«I don't support the war, but I think the way they fought for freedom and the right to be treated as human beings is admirable».

Donald didn't like math, but Reginella did.

«Math is everywhere around us».

«Math is for nuts.»

Reginella laughed at that answer. Donald felt a little upset and very embarrassed. His opinion hadn't changed one bit, but he hated to think that the faery might have a low opinion of him. She was the one who most wanted her to have a good impression of him.

«I love math. Do you think I'm crazy?»

Donald blushed.

«No.»

«I know of a friend who might change your mind.»

The queen stood up, drew a map for Donald, and created a portal.

«I'll teach you how to create them when you get back».

Donald finished his homework before following the directions on the map. The wizard transformed his clothes into those of an adventurer and his bow into a shotgun. Although it was true that the bow was his favorite weapon, it was also true that he considered that the shotgun gave him more style.

Donald knew he wasn't in Reginella's woods when he found footprints shaped like numbers. Many things around him were shaped like that.

«Whoops! It must be a very rare animal».

It was a pencil-headed animal that challenged him to a game of "cat," which he lost.

«What kind of fools will live here?»

Donald walked to the river and saw numbers flowing in its waters. He didn't care and continued on his way. Then he found square-shaped tree roots and a geometrically shaped bird saying the number Pi, something he couldn't ignore. He started calling anyone who could answer his call and his request was heard by someone who seemed to know him.

«Hello, Donald!»

«That's me. Where am I?»

«You are in math land.»

;Math? Bah! That doesn't exist.»

Donald had visited all sorts of places with his Uncle Scrooge. He had seen a papyrus that made what was written on it come true, met a fairy, visited El Dorado, explored the ruins of Pompeii and seen some gummies capable of making him go back in time, but The idea that the land of magic existed mathematics seemed absurd to him.

«It's a very interesting place.»

«And who are you?»

«I am a spirit, the spirit of adventure.»

Donald thought Scrooge and Della would be envious if they found out. His uncle boasted that he was the greatest adventurer of all time, but he doubted he would ever have encountered the spirit of adventure, otherwise he was sure he would have told him. Scrooge loved to talk about his adventures.

«Fantastic! What shall we do?»

Donald loved adventure and was eager to explore the strange place he found himself in.

«We are going to tour the wonderful land of mathematics.»

«Math? That's crazy.»

Donald felt cheated. He expected much more from the spirit of adventure, he dreamed of exploring fascinating lands, and math didn't even come close to his concept of fun.

«Crazy? Wait a minute, Donald. Do you like music?»

That got Donald's attention. He loved music. One of his biggest dreams was to become a famous musician, known for his songs and great feats.

«Well, without mathematics there could be no music.»

And Donald lost interest once more.

«Bah!»

«Let's go to ancient Greece, to the time of Pythagoras.»

Donald's clothes turned into what he used to wear at that time and suddenly he was in Greece, a long time ago.

X

Scrooge McDuck was frustrated. It had been several months since he had traveled to Ithaquack and it annoyed him that he had not found a way to bring it back home. He had given the teaching materials to his nephew as a way to divert suspicion, never believing they were necessary.

Last week, he, Della, and a teacher took a trip to the woods for midterms. Della had insisted that she wanted to support her brother, and he found no reason to complain, reaffirming his decision upon learning that the twins had earned better grades.
The day before he had read several articles that confirmed the existence of unicorns, but these stated that no one outside the world of magic could see them and that was what frustrated him the most. He was Scrooge McDuck, and it frustrated him that he was so far from achieving his goal.

Hearing the sound of the door being slammed made him think of the last person he wanted to see, ironically being one of his most trusted employees.
Bradford had complained. He used to do it frequently so it wasn't anything new so he didn't care. The problem was that the numbers backed him up and he had to sign several alliances to maintain his status as the richest duck in the world.

Flintheart Glomgold had proven himself a fearsome opponent. He was extravagant, he had confirmed it since that time when he saw him enter a cave accompanied by journalists, but he was not inept. He had gotten rich fast, expanding into many markets and becoming someone not to be neglected.
Scrooge was relieved to see that it was not Bradford, but his nephews.

"We want to see Donald," Della told him.

Scrooge's gaze fell on the papers on his desk. There were two hours left before his meeting with the president of Relox, a deal he couldn't lose and wouldn't mind canceling.

«Impossible, I have issues to resolve with Relox and I can't cancel.»

Scrooge was confident that Gladstone's luck would make no compromise necessary. The ringing of his telephone was enough for Scrooge to know that his plan had been successful. The meeting was postponed for two weeks and he had no commitment during that time.

;We leave in five minutes, I won't wait for anyone.»

Those words were unnecessary. Della, Fethry and Gladstone were ready in three minutes.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: The Last Unicorn

I

Fethry had run to Donald as soon as he saw him. He hugged him tightly and didn't let go until he realized his cousin was having trouble breathing.

“Only Donald could end up like this,” Gladstone commented mockingly.

Donald blew the strand of hair from his eye and pretended to be upset. While it was true that Gladstone used to make him angry most of the time, it was also true that he had missed him and that seeing his family once again filled him with happiness. But there was another reason why he couldn't be offended by his cousin's comment, he didn't feel unfortunate.

Donald loved magic and genuinely enjoyed his lessons. He loved adventures and had explored all kinds of places. He was able to meet the spirit of adventure and it changed the way he viewed mathematics. He had met Reginella and being able to be by her side was something that made him very happy. Yes, he missed his family, but it was impossible for him to see his current situation as a punishment or a curse.

Della, on the other hand, did seem annoyed and it showed when she nudged her cousin.

“Just kidding,” he replied, feigning innocence.

«This place isn't that bad and if you want to talk to me, you can ask Della to lend you the double-sided mirror.»

Donald and Della showed their cousins how to use the double-sided mirror.

«What have you been up to?»

«There doesn't seem to be much that can be done here.»

«You're wrong about that. I have been hunting, farming, curing animals, studying and composing songs. Although I hardly have time to sleep».

Donald smiled as he remembered the song he was writing for Reginella. He liked her and wanted her guitar to express how much he liked her.

«But you don't have any instruments.»

Donald omitted the fact that days ago he had used his magic to transform some branches into a guitar, doing so would be admitting he was a magician. Instead he chose to lie, stating that it was a gift from the queen of the forest.

Shortly after, he would focus on the energy of his familiars and discover that he was not the only one related to magic, something that Reginella would confirm.

«What are you doing here?»

«Fethry wanted to see you and I was bored. Winning so many prizes can be exhausting and even luxury cruises can be boring».

Gladstone was lying, but his pride kept him from admitting how much he had missed his cousin.

«Do we need an excuse to visit family?»

«No, it's just that I was surprised to see them here».

«We also brought you the books you asked for».

Fethry noticed the way Donald was looking at Reginella and knew immediately why his cousin had ordered several books and comics.

“Enough of the introductions.” Scrooge pretended to be angry. «It's been a long journey and I'm hungry.»

«They arrived at a good time, there was a recent apple harvest and I have prepared several desserts.»

Gladstone was glad to hear those words. While it was true that all the cousins used to spend time with Elvira, it was also true that Donald was the only one who had taken time to learn her recipes. Abner was the oldest, but it was Donald who used to take care of them. The goose missed his grandmother and the moments he used to spend in the company of his family. They had always argued, but they didn't spend as much time as they used to in the past.

Gladstone remembered that Abner used to help out on the farm. He used to cut the wood, harvest the crops or feed the animals, Donald cooked with Grandma, while he, Della and Fethry cleaned the house and planned to play pranks, mostly on Donald. Of the five, he was the most naive and easy to manipulate.

Donald led his relatives to the house he and Reginella shared. Gladstone was on the talk throughout the tour, commenting on the prizes he had won.

«You must be Lady Luck's favorite.»

Gladstone beamed proudly. His relatives were not at all surprised because the goose had been blessed with good luck since the day it hatched in the same way that it had happened with its mother.

«Be careful. Tyche will watch over you at all times, but Nemesis will do anything to destroy you if she finds out about your existence or if she thinks you've been too lucky. It wouldn't be the first time he's done it.»

Fethry wasn't the only one thinking about Daphne and Gustave, Gladstone's parents. They had both died years ago, during a picnic Daphne had won. That had taken the entire family by surprise and made many think that the Duck family had been cursed. Eider and Lulubelle had died shortly before, also in a somewhat unusual way, crushed by a breakfast-covered dinosaur. Months later Hortense and Quackmore would also have a fateful fate, victims of a failed robbery.

«I trust that my luck will always protect me.»

Fethry tried hard to hide his sadness. Remembering his parents was always painful. He thought of Abner, his brother, who had moved into the woods shortly after the funeral. It had been months since he last heard from him and it's not like he knew much either. I had only sent his a congratulations card for his birthday.

Fethry missed his brother.

«The gods seem more busy with Zeus' party».

"Besides, I'm not always lucky." Gladstone's smile stopped and his face took on an expression of terror. «I recently won some flowers in a raffle, but they were not planted for me. Is Nemesis after me?»

«I doubt it, she would have hurt you more. Centuries ago he caused a king to lose everything, including himself.»

Gladstone's expression didn't change one bit. It was clear to Fethry that he considered his tragedy to be just as grave as the king Reginella spoke of.

«Gardening is often very rewarding if you give it a try.»

«You can keep them, I won't need them».

«I'll only accept one. In return I will give you a little compost. It won't plant the plants for you, but it will help them grow strong and beautiful, even if they're run by a lazy guy like you».

«I can take care of a garden if I put my mind to it and I assured you that I'll make you go back on your words».

“Sure,” Donald spoke sarcastically.

Fethry laughed. He knew his cousins and knew how competitive they could be, so he wasn't surprised by Gladstone's reaction. What he didn't imagine was that the goose would genuinely become interested in gardening or that the compost Donald had given his had been concocted by magic.

Reginella arrived minutes later. She received them with a friendly smile that later turned into surprise.

II

Scrooge was surprised to see the food that Donald had prepared. It looked good, he tasted it and found that it not only looked good, it tasted even better. His nephew had surprised him once again and for the better.

Scrooge McDuck was unaware that Donald was studying magic, but he was aware that he had been learning many things and that these skills would serve him well during his adventures.

He was proud and suspected he might continue to learn more from staying in the woods, but he didn't want to. Donald was like a son to him and he missed him. He wanted her to come back with him on his adventures, rewrite history, and be the one to teach him about adventure and life in general.

"Well, Gladstone? Don't you have anything to say?»

«I've had better.»

Donald made a move to grab Gladstone's plate, only to be stopped by his cousin. Scrooge smiled at that, happy that they were both still the same as ever.

«Reginella, can we talk?»

The queen of the forest nodded and led him to her room. This room was exactly what he had imagined of the fairy. A bed hanging from vines, walls covered in flowers, and a window on the ceiling that illuminated the room.

«What are you worried about?»

«I spoke to Artemis, she told me that Donald could be free if he managed to find the unicorns».

Scrooge noticed the sad expression on the woman's face and it made him suspicious. a part of him feared that the fairy would do something to keep Donald by her side, even if that hadn't been her initial intention.

«What do you know about unicorns?»

«Not much. One day they just disappeared. I remember they were running from the red bull, but my magic isn't offensive so I couldn't do anything».

«The red bull?»

Scrooge cursed his luck. Finding a clue hadn't brought him any closer to getting his nephew back.

«I don't think the red bull is a normal animal, but I don't know what it could be either. I've only seen it once and I must admit it's terrifying».

Scrooge wasn't bothered by the fact that the red bull was scary, he wouldn't have been concerned if it was a dragon either, he was just bothered by not having any information.

«The bull is likely to serve a master. The bull didn't just want to scare them, it was leading them out of the forest.»

Scrooge and Reginella returned to the living room. The cousins were playing cards. It wasn't hard to tell what the result was, Gladstone had a lot of apple cookies, he was the only one who had them. Donald was the angriest and did nothing to hide it.

«And I win again.»

Scrooge thought it was time to go to plan B. Gladstone was the luckiest duck in the world and he really needed luck to find the red bull and more importantly, locate the unicorns.

«Remember what Reginella said, you could make Nemesis angry».

«You don't have to worry, I'm adorable».

Donald chuckled, which made his cousin angry.

III

It was a big surprise for Donald to see Hecate. Reginella had told her that the goddess would help her practice magic, but she didn't think that would happen so soon, unless she was accompanied by Storkules, God of Heroes.

«Decades have passed since I was last asked to teach a human. Reginella told me that you have potential with magic, well, I want to see if you are worthy. To do this you must defeat Storkules.»

Donald told himself that it would not be easy to defeat Storkules. His adversary was a god, he surpassed him in size and strength. Also in experience, after all he was the god of heroes. But he was Donald Duck, he had accompanied Scrooge McDuck on many of his adventures and had faced a wendigo years before. He couldn't lose, especially when Reginella near.

«Is that all?» he asked with a certainty he didn't feel.

Storkules chuckled.

«I want to see how strong you are.»

Donald was the first to attack. Storkules managed to block his blow with great ease and tossed it into the air.

The mage scrambled to his feet and returned to the attack. It didn't hurt the god, but it moved with such speed that the god couldn't stop it.
Donald told himself that force would not be enough so he would have to opt for magic. He didn't know any attack spells, but he had a plan.

The mage created a portal behind the god, in the ground. Although it was true that he could only keep a few portals open at a time and that these could not be used to travel long distances or reach areas that he did not know, it was also true that he did not need it.

Donald swept the floor with his kick, sending Storkules tumbling into the portal. He opened another portal, about two meters above, and dedicated himself to observing how the god continued to fall without the possibility of stopping.

«The battle is over. Donald Duck is the winner.»

Donald waved his wand and both portals closed. Storkules landed on his legs, and contrary to what Donald expected, he wasn't angry.

«Wow! It's been decades since I had a confrontation like this!» Storkules began to laugh out loud. «You have to become my ward.»

«He will be a wizard.»

«Don't worry, Hecate, there will be few adventures, no more than one a month».

IV

Scrooge had managed to find the red bull thanks to Gladstone. He had made him choose between several maps and he was confident that his luck would make him find the right place, even if he wasn't even trying.

The richest duck in the world studied that kingdom, an abandoned town, or at least that was what the official version said, and he hoped he could go to the place, but for that he needed Donald to accompany him.

If it were up to him, they would leave immediately, but Bradford's hands were tied and he had to meet with the manager of his chocolate factory.
Duckworth took him to his factory outside of Duckburg. His butler had warned him that the place had become a disaster zone, but he had no idea how serious the situation was.

«I curse my bagpipes! What's going on here?»

The entire factory was covered in chocolate. The Beagle Boys, too, were covered in the candy, not having any chance to escape.

They had been seized and detained by J. Gander Hooter and Vladimir Gryzlikoff before they could carry out their robbery.
Scrooge McDuck knew what they were looking for when he saw a model ship on a mound of chocolate. He knew it was a piece of great value, but he had no idea why criminals were so interested in such a small piece of wood.

"We'll study it at S.H.U.S.H headquarters," J. Gander Hooter told him.

Scrooge handed him the boat.

«Just make sure you return it intact, it's a valuable piece of my collection. But I warn you, the Beagle Boys are not the smartest criminals in the area».

V

Gladstone didn't like to study, in fact he loathed anything that involved effort, but here he was, studying with his cousins, even if Donald wasn't physically present.

«I hate math! They're boring!»

«They aren't when you understand it»

Gladstone stared at his cousin in disbelief, and he wasn't the only one to do so. Fethry and Della shared the same expression, even Reginella, though she was not visible through the mirror.

«Who are you and what did you do with my cousin Donald?»

«Donald is not good at math and hates it the most of the four.»

Donald's expression was angry. He knew his relatives were right, he always complained when he had math homework and many times he didn't even finish it, but he didn't feel less offended for that.

«I've changed. I was in the Math Realm and it wasn't as bad as I thought.»

Donald took a string and tightened it in such a way that each time he played a different note.

«Math is everywhere, it can even be used in music and I love music. I recently made a solo lyre with several strings and a piece of wood.»

Gladstone wasn't surprised when he saw the lyre Donald had made. He didn't find it particularly appealing, although he had to admit that it sounded good and served its purpose.

«It's amazing what you can do with math.»

«Then tell us how to do the task, if you know.«

"I can help you with that," Reginella commented.

“She knows a lot about math,” Donald added.

«Boring!»

Gladstone wasn't getting bored. While it was true that math was not his favorite subject, it was also true that he was having fun. He thought it was fun to be able to chat with his cousins, especially Donald.

«We can play when we finish homework».

«Sounds like a good idea. I might as well teach you a few magic tricks.»

Reginella was as good as her word. She used her magic to create several butterflies and made them fly around her, leaving a trail of light behind.

Gladstone liked that spell. He kept his gaze fixed at all times.

«Can you do it with a four-leaf clover?»

Reginella moved her hands and the butterflies transformed into a clover, then she made them explode into little colored lights.

VI

Reginella placed her hands on the seed, stretching out her hands causing it to germinate, and when she spread her fingers, she caused it to grow into a tree taller than she was, towering several feet tall. It began to whistle and a group of squirrels began to climb on it.

The fairy could feel a portal opening behind her and smiled as she felt Donald's energy.

;How did it go?»

Donald flopped down on the grass. He seemed more tired than angry.

«Storkules and I spent the whole day chasing the Thracian mares. The portals didn't work at all because they changed direction all the time and the worst thing is that nobody told me they ate human flesh.»

«I can heal you.«

Reginella placed her hands on Donald, causing light to emanate from them. She could see that Donald was hurt, he had several scratches, bite marks, but nothing serious.

«I think that's enough.»

Reginella didn't move away, and Donald made no move to move away. Their faces were very close, it was not long before they touched.
The fairy could feel her face turn red and her heart race. She didn't understand why the magician's closeness affected her so much or why she was unable to move away.
She wanted to kiss him.

It was the first time he had felt that way and it scared him. She was a fairy under the command of Artemis and Donald was a guardian of the forests. Both had to remain chaste and pure if they did not want to arouse the wrath of the goddess.

Artemis had sent a wild boar against Aeneus of Calydon as he refused to pay tribute which had caused the king's death. Aura's case was no better. The nymph laughed at Artemis, assuring that her body was too voluptuous to be pure. Artemis made Eros shoot Aura with arrows to make her fall in love with Dionysus. They had many children. Aura went crazy and ate one of them. Agamemnon angered the goddess by saying that he was a better hunter than Artemis. The goddess cursed the king, stopping his ships. Agamemnon planned to sacrifice his daughter, something the goddess prevented by recruiting her.

That thought was enough to make the fairy turn away. She enjoyed the magician's company and she liked him, but she wasn't willing to try anything if it wasn't love and even then she had her doubts.

Donald looked a little disappointed. Reginella wondered if he was expecting more and that made her happy, even though it shouldn't. His gaze fell on his beak and the desire to kiss him returned with more intensity. Once again their faces got closer, but the kiss did not materialize.

Reginella didn't know if she should be relieved or upset by Hecate's arrival, but she did have to make her feelings clear and make a decision based on them.

VII

Della loved adventures, knowing she was about to have an adventure that would help her get her brother back made her happy. She wanted things to go back to the way they were, and more importantly, she missed her brother.

The adventurer noticed something strange when they reached the forest. Donald and Reginella who seemed to get along well, were somewhat distanced. Her instinct told her that it was not a fight, they both looked sad, but she was unable to find the reason for that distance.

«We have good news. Uncle Scrooge has found the hiding place of the unicorns.»

«It's not safe at all and I'll need Donald's help. I have a suspicion that the unicorns are still alive, locked up in a decadent kingdom».

Della's gaze landed on Donald and for a moment it looked as if he would refuse, but then his attitude changed.

«Donald can accompany you. Return to the unicorns... and he will be released from his responsibilities as guardian.»

Della didn't understand why her brother seemed disappointed, and she wondered if he didn't miss his family and the adventures they used to have.
Shortly after they were in the airplane. Della was driving while her brother and uncle slept. The pilot could not resist the temptation and drew a mustache for her twin.

«What are you doing, Dumbella?»

Della didn't expect her brother to wake up so easily. Donald used to be such a heavy sleeper and it was so easy to prank him.

«I drive an airplane. Isn't that obvious?»

«You know that's not what I mean.

«Then I don't know what you mean. You should be more clear, little brother.»

Donald made the same expression he used to do whenever he fell for one of his jokes. Della had to try really hard not to laugh.

Della didn't find an airport, but she did find a field that was clear and spacious enough to land on. She had observed several fields of crops, all neglected, houses, in a deplorable state, and deserted streets. That gave him a bad feeling.

«What a horrible place!»

«A people abandoned by their king, at best. There was a time when he behaved like a true tyrant.»

Della jumped at the sound of her uncle's voice. She hadn't heard him arrive and thought he was still asleep. Donald looked upset.

«How am I supposed to know it's an abandoned town?» They haven't even told me where we're going.

«You just need to know that we're looking for unicorns and that you need to watch out for the red bull».

They found nothing that day. They searched everywhere, but were unable to come up with even a clue. Della wondered if it was possible that Gladstone's luck had run out, an idea she found too ridiculous to entertain.

;Do you think this place is protected by magic?»

«There is magic within, but nothing to keep us from entering. The place is so empty… no, there are people, but very few.»

Della's gaze fell on Donald and Scrooge did the same. The pilot couldn't understand why her brother seemed so convinced that this place was not protected by magic and Scrooge…he was suspicious.

«Why are you so sure?»

Donald immediately got flustered, muttering various excuses that sounded incomprehensible, not unusual for him.

VIII

It had been three days since Donald had left. Reginella missed him. He had gotten used to his presence, to his bad luck, to the conversations they used to have, to watching him become a great magician and to take care of the forest by his side.

The queen was certain that Donald would find the unicorns, she knew that he was capable of that and much more. She wanted the unicorns to be rescued, but she didn't want to get away from Donald. She wanted him more than she should.

Reginella worried about what would happen if Artemis found out what she was feeling. She had turned Callisto into a bear when she found out that she had become a mother. She had taken a vow of chastity and felt she was breaking it by falling in love the way she did.

A part of her wanted to go to Titania, the queen of the fairies, and ask for her help, but she feared that she would not be reciprocated and would disappoint all those who trusted her. She was the queen of the forest and had a duty to fulfill.

IX

—I'm Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world and these are my nephews, Donald and Della. I have come here seeking an audience with King Haggard.

The second sentinel waited for the first to speak, but the youngest had only
eyes for Della so she was impatient.

—What are you looking for from King Haggard?

«That is something I will only discuss with King Haggard personally.»

The first sentry was silent for several moments. He then made his way to the castle and entered through the gate. He didn't say a word, but everyone got the message.
The younger sentry inadvertently mimicked Della's every move, which seemed to annoy the pilot.

They walked through a cobbled courtyard. Freshly washed clothes hung down so that they brushed against their faces, and they passed through a smaller door and finally came to a room so vast that they couldn't see the walls or ceilings in the dark. Scrooge wasn't surprised, but Donald and Della were, even though it wasn't the first time they'd seen something similar.

They went through another door and up a narrow stairway. There were few windows and no lighting apart from the weak rays of sunlight that managed to sneak in through the window. The stairway became narrower and narrower, giving the impression that each step turned on itself and that the tower closed in on them as if it were a trap.

Donald heard a thud from a place he couldn't place. The tower trembled like jelly. Donald had to make a great effort not to show his nervousness, he had felt something unusually dark and twisted next to the noise. The guide, however, did not flinch. The younger man whispered earnestly to the only female in the group:

«You don't have to be afraid. It is nothing more than the Bull.»

Donald wasn't sure about that. The bull gave him chills. Scrooge smirked, sure he was very close to achieving his goal.

«I'm not afraid!» Donald blew at the lock of hair that fell over his eye. «I'm an adventurer and I've seen worse.»

«And you've been scared of smaller things, too.»

Donald eyed his sister reproachfully.

«You're always the first to run».

«Just because I don't take unnecessary risks doesn't mean I'm a coward.»

The sound was not repeated.

Both sentinels had been paying attention to that discussion and both seemed interested, for different reasons. However, no one said so much as a word.

The second sentry stopped abruptly, Donald saw him extract a key, he didn't know if it came from his pocket or if the sentry was hiding it elsewhere, it wasn't a thought that made him lose sleep. He didn't know what he did either, only that it seemed to have driven it into the wall in front of his, part of which fell open. inwards.

Shortly they entered a low, narrow chamber with a single window and a chair at the far end. There was nothing else: no more furniture, no carpet, no hangings, no tapestries. The light of the crescent moon filtered through the only window in the room.

"This is King Haggard's throne room," the sentinel announced.

Donald and Della weren't entirely convinced. They both thought that this place was more like a cell and even a tomb than the king's throne room.

«I don't see King Haggard.»

«Are you sure?» replied the elusive voice of the sentinel, untying his helmet, removing it from his gray head, and saying, «I am King Haggard.»
His eyes were the same color as the Red Bull's horns. He was taller than Scrooge, his face was lined with bitter lines, but there was no no indulgence or madness. He had long, cold jaws, hard cheeks, and a lean neck full of energy. He could be seventy years old, eighty or maybe more. Many of its feathers had a greyish cast.

The second sentinel showed his face, one very different from the king's. It was the face of a young man, his eyes, of an intense blue and framed by thick eyelashes, reflected kindness and some curiosity, his beak had a small fracture, the product of an ancient battle, his cheeks soft and his thick neck, full of energy. He was as tall as the eldest and had the countenance of a gentleman.

«This is Lír.»

“Hello,” Prince Lír greeted, «it's nice to meet you.» His smile was gentle and his gaze fell on Della.

«Are you the prince Lír who has been featured in Little Ducks magazine? The one who has hunted dragons and won the title for best smile three times in a row?»

Donald regretted it as soon as he said those words, especially when he heard Della's laugh.

«I've only seen the cover when I was looking for comics and magazines about music, motorcycles, and things as badass as me.»

It was obvious that he was lying and also that no one in his family believed him.

«What do you want from me?»

Scrooge began to cough and it was obvious it was fake.

«I'm here to do business. A duck like me could make this a prosperous place.»

—«I'm not interested».

The king turned around. At first glance he might seem indifferent, but Scrooge was an observant person and he could sense a certain curiosity in the king. He was sure that otherwise, he would not even have allowed them to enter that room.

«I assure you that in a few weeks I will be able to multiply your current fortune. This kingdom will be better than it could have been during its glory days.»

«You bore me» the crisp voice interrupted him again, «and that, I warn you, is very dangerous. In a moment I will have forgotten about you and never I will remember what happened during this meeting. What I forget not only ceases to exist, but has never existed. I don't need a powerful kingdom and I don't want it. My court» he continued, «if you can call it that, is made up of four men-at-arms, whom I would do without if I could, as they cost more than they're worth, like everything else, but they take turns being sentinels and cooks.»

«What about the fun?» Donald was shocked. The music, the conversation, the fountains, the hunts and the masks and the greats banquets Food and music bring happiness!

«That doesn't make me happy. I've had it and never cared for it. I don't want to be around anything that doesn't make me happy.»

Donald walked over to the window. He was not stealthy nor did he know why he was doing it. There was something about the sea that seemed strange and even disturbing to him.

«We agree on that. Everything my nephew has mentioned is nothing more than trivia. Happiness is in adventure, in facing danger and laughing in its face, rewriting history and going where no duck has gone before.»

«I don't like adventure either.»

The prince's gaze fell on Scrooge, he seemed a little more interested, but it wasn't his attention that Scrooge wanted.

—«Give me a week and I'll change his mind. My proposal is something that cannot be refused and if the money does not convince you, there is Donald. My nephew is a mess, I'm sure he'll be able to get a laugh out of him.»

«How are you so sure?»

Scrooge took a strip of photographs from his wallet, most of them embarrassing Donald, some caused by his bad luck and some by his own actions. His temper brought out the worst in him.

Donald was offended when he saw the king start to smile.

«Also, Donald can take care of the housework.»

«Father, you should consider it.»

King Haggard was surprised.

«When was the last time you called me father? When you were five years old?»

«Six years.»

«Never mind.» Haggard's gaze fell on Donald. «I must admit that I am not entirely indifferent. Nothing escapes my sight and yet... Stay still. I want to see your faces.»

His breath rasped like a knife on a whetstone as he watched them, Donald was the most uncomfortable of all of them.

«Closer! he grumbled, squinting into the darkness. Come closer, I said I want to see you.»

"In that case, you can turn on the lights," Della commented angrily. «Too dark for my taste».

“I never light lamps,” the king replied. «What is light for?»

He backed away from them, muttering to himself. He didn't seem angry, but he did seem curious.

«For now you can go. Tomorrow you will be told what I expect of you.»

X

Zeus was tired of Scrooge and his nephews, even if they were only in Ithaquack for a very short time and one of them hadn't even set foot in his domain. If it were up to him, he would destroy them, but he knew it would damage his reputation, and reputation was everything to him.

Zeus had ceased to be the god he used to be before he defeated Kronos. He traded in his rigorous training for finding a mate, and that didn't change when he married Hera. They all knew it, many of their sons had become heroes, some gods, but they all used to pretend it never happened. Hera didn't even claim him and would rather blame his lovers, cruelly punishing them despite the fact that many times they were victims of deceit or manipulation.

Scrooge and his family did not openly challenge him, even though Donald had bested Storkules in combat, but from the way the others behaved, it seemed as if that had been the case.

The gods kept talking about Scrooge and Della, how brave they were to find the land of the gods, how they defeated the gargoyles, and things got worse when Storkules returned from the forest of Artemis.

«This is the first time two mortals have managed to get past our defenses. I don't think anyone else can compare to that pair.»

«You're wrong about that. I had a confrontation with Donald. He defeated me without any combat spells and accompanied me to hunt down the people-eating mares that terrorized the nameless village.»

It was the first time in many years that he had seen him so interested in someone.

«Is that Donald really special?»

«He has Yolaus's heroic spirit and cunning as well. Donald is strong and brave. His anger, like Megara's, is dangerous and destructive. I've seen him take on enemies that are bigger than him and defeat them all. I have seen him run, I have seen him be afraid, but still overcome adversity.»

Zeus couldn't remember seeing Storkules behave like this before. Yolao and Megara used to be her favorites and the people she used to refer to with the most affection.

«It's been decades since I last had an apprentice like him, maybe centuries. Donald has the potential to become the most powerful wizard in this universe.»

Zeus did nothing to hide his annoyance and it wasn't necessary. The other gods did not pay the same attention to him as in the past and that was something he could not tolerate.
The god of thunder was an expert in deceit and manipulation, skills he used in the past that often drew Hera's wrath. The god suspected his son was in love, something he planned to use to his advantage eventually.

Zeus took three days to come up with a plan and used a strategy similar to the one he used with Pandora, a gift that, although seemingly harmless, would unleash chaos.
The god needed Eris's help. It was not difficult to convince the goddess of chaos. She didn't hate Scrooge or Della, but she didn't admire them either, and Donald was indifferent to her. Zeus knew his granddaughter and knew that she would cooperate as long as she could have fun.

Eris took three weeks to finish her order, and she was proud of the result.

«Athena helped me with the content. Don't worry, she doesn't know anything. She thinks it's a very elaborate prank to annoy Dad so I don't think he'll ask many questions».

Zeus also thought the same thing. Athena was a vengeful goddess and her enmity with her brother Ares was no secret to anyone.

«Well done. It's time to move on to the next phase.»

Hermes was in charge of delivering the book to Scrooge. The messenger god had no trouble locating him despite the fact that he was in King Haggard's domain. He complied with his father's order, but he did not leave immediately. Scrooge and Della intrigued him, as did Donald, and seeing him made him understand why Storkules admired him so much.

«It's only a matter of time» Zeus thought wickedly.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Walpurgis Night

I

Scrooge McDuck knew that the unicorns were in the castle and he didn't just because Gladstone had told him and he knew his nephew's luck was never wrong. There was something about Haggard that made him suspicious, and it wasn't just his lack of interest in everything. Scrooge used to have a similar behavior with what did not generate interest. It was something else, something the richest duck in the world couldn't explain.

«I'm beginning to believe my cousin's luck isn't infallible. Donald would be happy to know».

"Especially since he'll get to spend more time with that fairy," Scrooge commented thoughtfully. He was also suspicious of Donald and had a feeling he was hiding something from him.

«Nonsense! Donald loves his family and we have many adventures and places to explore.»

«I never said otherwise. It's just...Donald might be interested in having his own adventure.»

Scrooge could sense some discomfort in Della and thought he knew why. Donald and Della used to be inseparable since they were kids and she seemed to be the most affected by the separation.

«But I don't think that's the case. King Haggard is hiding something.

«It seems to me that it hides a lot of things.»

Scrooge thought so too.

«I meant unicorns».

Della didn't say anything this time, but she looked a little surprised.

«We've searched the entire castle and we don't know how much time we have before King Haggard gets bored with Donald.»

«I think we have more time than you imagine and that we should use other alternatives, some more… magical.»

«I thought you hated magic.»

Scrooge looked somewhat surprised.

«Only when used against me.»

II

Donald was surprised to learn that the kingdom had a real wizard. Haggard hadn't mentioned it and he didn't seem to be the kind of person to deal with magic, or so he thought.

Donald met Mabruk on one of those rare occasions when he managed to get away from King Haggard. The wizard approached him and seemed intrigued.

«There is already a real wizard in this castle.»

«I'm not here for the wizard job, in fact the king doesn't even know I'm a wizard.»

Mabruk began to laugh out loud.

«That one knows everything. He's probably also seen the magical potential in you and is waiting for the moment when something happens.»

«I'm unlucky, the only thing I've shown him is my ability to get into trouble.»

Mabruk began studying Donald. His gaze swept over him in its entirety, as if it were a very strange object of study.

«What coven do you belong to?»

«What is a coven?»

«How can you be a wizard and not know what a coven is? Covens are everything, they are our meeting points, sources of work and knowledge. In the coven we all help each other and share secrets.»

«Sounds like a cult.»

«I assure you that it is not, but don't worry, you can see for yourself.»

The wizard was true to his word two days later. Mabruk appeared in her room just before midnight and asked her to follow him into the woods. The most sensible thing to do would have been to decline his invitation, but Donald was curious and couldn't resist the temptation.

The two of them walked for what Donald considered an eternity. The teenager had no idea where they were going, but he did know how to get back. It had left several marks, something he had learned during expeditions with his uncle.

«Is it far away?»

«You'll know when we get there.»

Donald got a very different answer when he asked that question again. Mabruk moved some bushes, revealing a small clearing in the woods. In the center there was a bonfire and a large group of witches who chatted pleasantly or entertained themselves by dancing.

«Welcome to Walpurgis Night».

III

Scrooge had a bad feeling the moment he saw Hermes. It wasn't because he was the god of thieves, but because he was the messenger god and he suspected that he was in that place on Artemis's orders. Donald was a guardian in one of her woods and she was afraid that she would not be willing to let Donald go so easily.

He wasn't entirely wrong.

Hermes was visiting Castle Haggard at the behest of the gods, but not Artemis.

«I have a present for you.»

«A present?»

«From Zeus, he says it's a reward for all his exploits. The gods are fair and generous, Zeus is more so and here is proof of it».

Scrooge did not believe him, but he considered accepting the gift the worst of evils. He had read several of the poems written about the gods, and although he was aware that not all of it was true, she knew how to read between the lines.

«This is a know-it-all book. Ask him and you will get the answer you need».

«I am very grateful for this gift and assured him that I will know how to use it in the best way.»

«I'm sure of that. Few mortals have shown as much courage as you and Della did.»

The messenger god was gone before Scrooge could reply. The richest duck in the world did not trust him and he did not trust him only because of what he had read, he was the god of thieves and that was enough to make him distrustful.

Scrooge thought of asking about the unicorns, but he remembered that they were a gift from Zeus and that changed his mind. The richest duck in the world suspected a trap and his suspicions were not unfounded. He decided to hide it and hide it from his nephews, afraid of what they might do with a gift like that.

IV

Donald's gaze fell to the sky, fascinated by what he saw. The view he had was beautiful, but in his opinion, not as beautiful as the sunsets he had seen in Reginella's company. Thinking of the fairy was painful and that was something the wizard didn't understand. Donald had tried to communicate with her through the mirror, but all his attempts ended in failure. The wizard needed to know that he was okay and to be able to see his face once more.

He missed her.

«What are you thinking about?»

Donald turned around at those words. In front of him was a witch with black hair and a red dress. The magician blushed when he felt discovered.

“Someone I miss,” he replied, he did not know this woman and would prefer not to give details.

The woman's smile widened.

«A girlfriend, I guess…or maybe it's a boyfriend. Don't be embarrassed, no one will judge you here.»

Donald blushed even more because he wasn't even sure what his feelings were. Reginella, but he wasn't sure he called it love. The witch had mentioned the possibility of a boyfriend and she couldn't rule it out entirely. Prince Lir and Storkules seemed very attractive to him and on several occasions they had made him feel a bit nervous.

«My name is Morgana. You must be new. I'm sure I wouldn't forget a face like yours.»

Donald felt his cheeks heat up and a question popped into his mind. "Was I flirting with you?" He quickly dismissed that idea as unlikely.

«I am. In fact, I have only a short time in the world of magic.»

«How did you hear about Walpurgis Night?»

Donald pointed to Mabruk.

«He invited me.»

«Have you thought about joining a coven?»

Donald shook his head.

«This is the first time I've heard of covens».

Morgana's smile widened. She began to tell him about her coven, especially her teammates. Donald listened to her in fascination, wishing for the first time that he could join a coven. The only thing that bothered him was the fact that he wouldn't be able to tell his family anything, especially his Uncle Scrooge.

«The Black Moon guild is one of the best and I'm not saying that because it's the guild I belong to. Our leader, Eda, is amazing. If you join us, you will learn useful things like scams and how to win card games.»

That interested Donald. The last time he'd played cards with his cousins and Della had lost it so badly he wanted a rematch. He thought of Scrooge and had his doubts. He used to say that he had made his fortune fairly, but Donald didn't believe him. Not because he thought he was a bad person, but because of how tight-fisted and ambitious he was. He was sure that his uncle had used many legal loopholes to get what he wanted.
Many wizards joined that conversation, not all from the same coven, but all with the same purpose, to convince him to join theirs.

«You should join Fairy Tail. There are the most powerful magicians and I assure you that you will never get bored.»

«Nonsense. Black Moon shouldn't even be considered a coven. It is made up of dark witches and wizards, for a reason they call it the coven of rebellious witches. Fairy Tail is famous, for all the wrong reasons. He is always causing trouble and destroying everything in his path. Your only option is the Children of the Moon, if you know what's good for you».

V

«What can I do for you?»

Della snorted under her breath. Prince Lír had gone to his room to tell him the details of his latest mission, and that had made his mood worsen considerably. She did not regret having traveled to that castle, she was aware that it was the only way to get her brother back, but it did bother her to be locked up and not having made any progress in days.

«I have slain the dragon and have its head as proof.»

Della just gave him a dismissive look. She wanted to go on adventures, rid the towns of the evils that stalked her, explore the unknown, not listen to the stories of a prince who wasn't even her friend.

«Doesn't my bravery surprise you? Don't you see the nobility of that act?»

«Should I? Why don't you go talk to Donald? I bet my brother would value those stories more. I don't know if you've noticed, but he's your fan.»

The prince lowered his head, noticeably disappointed. It was the same expression he used to have whenever he left Della's room.
The adventurer did not experience any kind of guilt despite the fact that she considered that her way of speaking had been cruel. She considered it necessary because she did not know how to make the prince understand that she was not a damsel in distress, that she did not want to hear epic stories about battles between knights and dragons, that she wanted to live them and that spending so much time locked up was hurting her.

«Donald must be someone fascinating. It's been years since my father was so interested in anything. I think it's the first time I've seen him so attentive.»

«My brother is not the greatest adventurer of all time, but he is a lot of fun. I guess the king saw that and knows it's a potential for disaster.»

"Or maybe it was something else," the prince commented thoughtfully.

Soon after, Lír left the room. Della could never know what was going through his mind, although it wasn't something that interested her either. At that moment, she was more concerned with getting her old life back, with having adventures again with her uncle and brother. Time later he would have forgotten, but not of his own free will.

VI

«What can I do for you?» Prince Lír asked.

Donald's gaze fell on the prince. Shortly before he had celebrated that the king had decided to leave him alone, happiness that ended with the arrival of Lír. However, he had to admit that his presence was not so annoying. Lír was not watching him attentively, eager to see him commit a mistake. He had just sat next to him and just sighed while he made dinner.

«You can peel the potatoes».

«No, that's not what I meant. I mean yes, I will, if that's what you want, but I was thinking about her. That's what I tell him every time we talk.»

«Sit down and start peeling the potatoes».

They were in the kitchen, a cold, small, damp room with a strong smell of rotting vegetables and fermented beets. In one corner were stacked a dozen earthenware dishes and a very small fire shivering under a tripod, trying to bring a large pot of gray water to a boil. Donald was sitting at a table covered with potatoes, leeks, onions, carrots and other vegetables, most of which were stained. Prince Lír stood before him, swaying slowly on his feet and twisting his great, soft, feathered fingers.

“I killed another dragon this morning,” he commented in a way that tried to appear casual.

«How many have you already had?» asked Donald, unable to hide his curiosity.

«Three. This one was smaller than the others, but it actually gave me more work. I couldn't walk closer so I had to attack with the spear and my horse took quite a few burns.»

Prince Lír sat across from Donald. He took a dagger from his belt and morosely began to peel the potatoes. Donald watched him with a slight, slow smile. He had read a lot about this young man and meeting him had not made him feel disappointed even though not everything said about him was true.

«I brought you the head. He didn't even want to see her.» The prince sighed and cut his finger on the dagger. «Wow! That didn't bother me. When I walked up the stairs, it was a dragon's head, the most magnificent gift you could give someone, but when she refused to look at it, it suddenly turned into a sad, battered mess of scales and horns, gristly tongue, bloodshot eyes… I felt like a village butcher who had brought his girlfriend a nice piece of fresh meat as proof of his love.” He stabbed into a potato and cut himself again.

“Cut away, not toward you,” Donald advised as he took his hands and cleaned his wounds. «Do you know something? I think you should stop slaying dragons for Della. If three haven't impressed her, I don't think four will make a difference.»

“I've tried everything for her.” Prince Lír looked desperate. It hurt Donald to see the sadness in her eyes. «I have swum across two rivers, all fully swollen and over a mile wide. I have climbed a mountain that has never been climbed before, I have slept three nights in the Swamp of the Hanged, and I have emerged alive from that forest where the flowers burn your eyes and the nightingales sing poison. I've ended my engagement to the princess I agreed to marry, and if you think that's no feat, then you don't know her mother.»

The prince raised his head. Confusion and sadness could be seen in his eyes.

“And all for nothing,” he lamented, «I can't touch her no matter what I do. For her I have become a hero, I, Lír the Sleepy, solace and shame to my father... Though I might as well have remained the same bored idiot, for my great deeds mean nothing to her.»

Donald didn't know how to react to that information. The magazines he had read spoke of great deeds, of a prince who managed to make a tyrant king stop mistreating his people, of a young man with the most beautiful smile, but the reality seemed to be very different.

A part of him felt betrayed, but he could let it go. He liked Lír and could tell that, at least at that moment, he was indeed the duck the magazines described, that his smile was even more beautiful in person, that he was much more attractive than he appeared in photographs. Or at least that was what he thought.
Donald picked up his own knife and began to cut the potatoes.

«What about magazines? Are they lying?»

«Exaggerations. I thought if I pretended to be someone important my father might notice me and I would be worthy of calling him "dad." It didn't work. Now I wanted to try being a real hero.»

«Then Della may not be won over to great deeds.

The prince stared at him, frowning in puzzlement».

«Is there any other way to win over a maiden?» he asked and he was sincere. «Donald, do you know if there is another way? Will you tell me?» He leaned over the table to hold his hand. «I really like being brave, but I'd be a lazy coward if that's what she wants. Every time I see her I want to fight all that is bad and ugly, but i also want to sit still and be miserable. What should I do Donald? Do you know how to win her heart?»

«Della is an adventurer. She doesn't want to listen about great feats, she wants to experience them. She doesn't need a prince to save her. This may surprise you, but it is more likely that she will save you than you will save her. I know my sister, and I know that you will not win her over in the same way you might win over another maiden. I don't know many women, but I know that by generalizing you are only making a mistake. Every woman is different, beautiful in her own way.»

A copper-and-ash kitten with a white chest leaped into his lap,
purring loudly and leaning on his hand.

But Prince Lír was staring at the kitty with the crooked ear.

«Where did it come from? Is it yours?»

«No, I just feed him and sometimes I hold him in my arms» Donald had been happy to hear those words and it was because he had grown fond of that kitten, he had even thought of a name. He stroked the cat's fine neck, which closed its eyes. I thought he lived here.

«Impossible, my father hates cats.»

«I'm glad to hear that.»

«Why?»

«Because that means he doesn't notice everything.»

«Do you have something to hide?»

«Do you like being watched 24 hours a day?»

«I guess you're right.»

The truth was, Donald had many secrets, and over time the list would grow longer.

VIII

Scrooge's gaze fell on Zeus's gift. The richest duck in the world was tempted to use the book, but he did not consider it appropriate. His gut told him the thunder god was up to something and his gut was rarely wrong. There was also his pride. He considered losing to someone like King Haggard unforgivable.

His plan to restore the kingdom was stable. He wouldn't be able to make it one of the most prosperous places, Haggar had done him a lot of damage and not only when he was in his time as a tyrant. When he wanted to be a cruel king, he locked up many innocent people just because he was bored, he ordered the destruction of entire crops, he closed factories on a whim. The villagers were afraid, but leaving the kingdom was impossible. King Haggard had shut down communications, allowing only what he wanted to be said to be said, and that included the stories about Lír, feats that, before Della's arrival, were far from reality.

His plan to get Donald back was far from what he would like. In theory it should be simple. He only had to rescue the unicorns and he knew they were in that castle, but the red bull, or perhaps the king himself, had hidden them well and he was beginning to believe that it would be impossible to find them.

At least using conventional means.

King Haggard had decided to let them stay longer. None of the plans Scrooge showed him were effective, but Donald made him laugh and that was enough.
That was why Zeus's gift was so tempting. A book that knew everything was just what he needed.

“Maybe if I take a look at it. Nothing will happen if he used it just for a moment, just once”, he thought as his hands slid over the cover.

Scrooge opened the book and the pages were blank. That seemed strange to him. Hermes had told him that this book contained all the answers in the world, yet he couldn't see anything. The idea that this was the trap flashed through his mind and he even imagined Zeus laughing at him as he imagined his despair at seeing that his only hope was nothing more than a hoax. That idea disappeared as quickly as it came. Zeus was a god and he doubted that everything he did was something so small and harmless. He closed the book and tried something different.

«Where are the unicorns?»

Scrooge opened the book once more and the pages were not blank. He read the contents and became even more frustrated than he already was, thinking once again that he had overestimated the god, that he was not a vengeful genius, but just a capricious child, unable to accept that he was not the best at everything.

“They are in the sea”

Scrooge had already seen the sea and all he saw were the waves crashing against the shore.

IX

«This soup smells delicious, Donald.»

“Smells too delicious for this place,” another commented as everyone sat around the table. Haggard doesn't like good food. It says that no food is good enough to justify the money and effort that goes into preparing it. “It's an illusion,” he says, “and an expense. Live like me, without tricks” the man flinched and grimaced and the others laughed.

"To live like Haggard," another man-at-arms commented as Donald served him a helping of soup, "that will be my fate in the other world if I don't behave myself in this one."

«Then why are they still in your service?» Donald asked. «I didn't mean to be rude, I was just curious.» He sat down with them and rested his chin on his hands. «He does not pay them any salary, the food is not good, he makes them go out even if there is a storm to steal for him. He forbids everything, lamps and lutes, fires and fairs, singing and sinning; from books and beers and talking about spring to games.»

The four old men looked at each other nervously, coughing and sighing.

«Age. Where would we go? We are too old to look for another job and a place to live.»

“Age,” said the second man-at-arms. «When you're older, what doesn't bother you is comfortable. Cold, darkness and boredom have long ceased to bother us; instead, the heat, the songs and the spring… No, they would be nothing more than annoyances. There are worse things than living like Haggard.»

"Haggard is older than us," the third commented. «Prince Lír will become the king of this country and I will not leave this world until I have seen him. I have always liked the boy, since he was little and I have high expectations of him, especially now.»

«Yes, love has turned him into another man, a better person.»

Donald noticed that none of them were hungry. Looking at the faces of the old men around her and listening to the noises they made as they ate, she was suddenly glad that King Haggard preferred to eat alone.

Cautiously he asked them:

«Have you ever heard that Prince Lír isn't a nephew Haggard adopted?»

The men-at-arms were not surprised. Donald wondered how often they had heard that question. He didn't think there were many, so he thought about the possibility that they had heard him when they went to the village to steal supplies or dig through the garbage.

“Yes,” replied the older one, “we know the story. It may be true because the prince is nothing like the king, but we couldn't care less. It is better that a kidnapped stranger rule the kingdom than a legitimate son of King Haggard.»

«I shudder at the thought of that possibility.»

«I doubt anyone is worse than King Haggard, but this kingdom has suffered enough already. I couldn't stand someone like that.»

«But if the prince was brought from Hagsgate, he is the man who will make the curse on this castle come true!»

And he repeated the poem that the man called Drinn had recited at the Hagsgate inn, which he had heard while traveling with Storkules:

"But only one who was born in Hagsgate can bring down his castle."

The elders shook their heads, smiling, showing teeth as unkempt as their clothing.

"Not Prince Lír," said the third.

«Impossible».

«The prince can slay a thousand dragons, but he won't lay waste to any castle or overthrow any king, especially if that king is Haggard. He is a responsible son who sadly just wants to make the man he considers his father proud of him.»

«And he also wants to win the heart of the young woman who accompanies them, don't forget that.»

«But what if the poem is about him?»

“Even if it were about Prince Lír,” added the second, «even if the curse had marked him as a man of prophecy, it would be useless, for among the King Haggard and any fatality stands in the way of the Red Bull.»

An awkward silence settled in the room. The expression on the men's faces turned grim and Donald feared he had said something rash.

«That is the real reason we continue to serve King Haggard. He doesn't want us to leave, and King Haggard's wishes are all the Red Bull cares about. We work for King Haggard, but we are prisoners of the Red Bull.»

It wasn't the first time Donald had heard about the red bull. Reginella had said that the red bull was responsible for the disappearance of the unicorns and the red bull seemed to be closely related to King Haggard.

«What does the Red Bull mean to King Haggard?»

The oldest man-at-arms responded.

«We don't know. The Red Bull has always been here. He serves Haggard as an army and as a bulwark; it is his strength and the source of his strength. I bet it's her only Mate, because I'm sure he goes down to his lair at bedtime, going down some secret stairwell... I couldn't tell you why the Red Bull follows him, in fact I think Haggard is the only one who knows, but he would never tell.»

The fourth man, the youngest, leaned toward Donald, his eyes anxious. «The Red Bull is a demon, now he obeys King Haggard, but it's only a matter of time before he takes his toll as well.»

«The Red Bull is a slave to King Haggard and will do nothing until he can be freed.»

«Nonsense. The Red Bull is just an extension of King Haggard, he would never do anything against him.»

That conversation would have ended in a fight if it hadn't been for Donald's intervention.

«Do you know what a unicorn is? Have you ever seen one?»

The four men blinked, burped, and rubbed their eyes, only the cat seemed to look at him with understanding.

X

Della wasn't sure why she had accepted Prince Lír's invitation. She admitted that she didn't hate him, but she didn't like him either, much less understood why her brother liked him so much. Her brother had even confessed that everything he had read about him was nothing but lies.

«Well? What's on your mind?»

«I heard you were into adventure and thought you might like to come to Swanville with me. I heard they're having trouble with a giant.»

Della didn't take pleasure in the misfortunes of others, but learning that an adventure was ahead of her had made her very happy. Knowing that she would be able to leave the castle and fight an enemy that outnumbered her was something that excited her a lot.

It took Lír and Della three days to reach Swanville. No one had been to that place before, but even so they were certain that they had reached the designated place. The destruction around them was a sure sign.

«We just have to follow the trail of destruction to find the giant.»

Della ran off. She was not someone who used to follow plans and this occasion was no exception. Lír followed her without taking her eyes off her at any time. His gaze was that of a duck in love.

The giant stopped destroying one of the houses as soon as he saw Della, and the way he smiled gave the adventurer a chill.

Unpleasant, she thought with annoyance.

«Hi, babe, would you like to go on a date with me?»

«No».

«Wrong answer.»

The giant tried to capture Della, but she was faster and managed to escape. It was disappointing for her to see that he was strong, but very slow. Defeating him was not challenging or anything she would have hoped for.

Della ran up to the giant, who made no attempt to dodge her, perhaps because he thought she wasn't a threat or thought she was going to hug him. The adventurer didn't know and she certainly couldn't care less.

The giant stumbled, and that was the opportunity Lír needed to defeat him. A single swing of her sword was enough to decapitate him.

The villagers came out of hiding, all happy to see their tormentor defeated. Della was disappointed, but that didn't stop her from joining in the celebration. She loved parties and considered that it was always a good time to have one. Especially when the other option was to return to a castle that suffocated her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: The book that knows everything

I

Donald and Della were surprised. Scrooge had just told them everything he knew about the all-knowing book and they had trouble believing that something like that could exist.

It was too good to be true.

«Why did you hide it?»

«Isn't it obvious? The gods are not trustworthy.»

Donald thought of Storkules and told himself that he was trustworthy. The god of heroes was not only attractive, but he also had a very noble heart. Accompanying him on several of his missions had allowed him to verify his willingness to help, the selflessness of his gestures and the nobility of his actions.

But that was something He couldn't say. Storkules was very involved in his wizard training and did not want anyone in his family to know that he was capable of magic or how much he loved being a wizard.

«I bet that book knows where the unicorns are.»

“I bet that book knows where Reginella is or why she's not answering me”

Donald regretted the direction his thoughts were taking. Reginella had shown that she loved him and he doubted that she had any reason to distrust his affection. She was the guardian of Artemis' forest and she wanted to believe that everything was fine and that she had her reasons for ignoring his calls.

«Hermes told me that the book knew everything and I don't think he was lying. But I also think there is a hidden trap.»

If Della had paid more attention she would have noticed a certain impatience in Donald and how he debated whether or not he should use the book.

«Books are boring, but not dangerous».

«You would be surprised at the damage that can be done with information alone and not only when it is incorrect. That's not counting the curses that can be placed on these».

«What do you mean?»

«Information can make the difference between a good or bad business. I wouldn't be the richest duck in the world if I didn't know that. A long time ago I heard about a poisoned book, everyone who touched it died, and another made with wood capable of killing vampires».

Donald was not entirely convinced and a simple glance was enough for him to know that his sister also thought the same.

«Did you ask about unicorns?» Della asked. She didn't care if Zeus was planning something against her or not, she just wanted to end this adventure as soon as possible and return to her usual routine.

«The book says that unicorns are in the sea».

Della leaned on the balcony and remained there for several minutes.

«But there is nothing.»

«I thought the same thing. I bet it's just a bad joke from Zeus».

«The gods are overrated. They are not as amazing as the stories say, in fact they are very childish.»

«I doubt they will allow stories that portray them in a bad light.»

«That explains a lot of things».

«Not all. What about all the stories about Zeus's infidelities? I doubt Hera would approve.»

«But Zeus does. His ego is such that he always wants to intervene.»

«I guess that makes sense.»

Donald sighed. He didn't know if what he felt was relief that he wouldn't have to leave Reginella's side or sadness that his mission seemed increasingly distant.
He loved his family, especially his sister, so the distance was painful.

He was so confused.

II

Fethry was a duck of hobbies, a new one every week and at that time he was interested in magic. His interest arose from a book, the story of a boy who survived a killing curse and who grew up under a cupboard, ignorant of what fate had in store for him.

The novel talked about magicians who did not have magical ancestry, so he believed that he could also try it. While it was true that the story he read was fantasy, it was also true that Fethry did not know it and that meeting a fairy had made him think that everything he read was real.

Fethry couldn't wait to travel to the magical forest. He wanted to learn magic, become a wizard just like his favorite character and be able to spend time with his family, especially Donald. The young man was unaware of what had happened to his cousin and the punishment he had to serve, nor was he aware of Donald's training, although he suspected it. For him it was unthinkable that Donald would be in a magical environment without him being involved. He also didn't know what Scrooge thought about magic, although he probably wouldn't have cared.

III

When Donald was left alone, he rested his face on the kitten's undefined fur. He could feel the way his magic enveloped the feline, although he wasn't entirely sure.

«It's easy, you just have to follow the king's path to reach the Red Bull».

Donald grabbed her so fiercely that she screamed in protest, like
a mouse. He was happy, but also worried about leaving the magical forest, especially Reginella.

«Do you know the way?»

Donald placed the cat on the table and took his hands off her.
The cat did not respond for a long time, but her eyes became increasingly brighter and brighter: the gold trembled to hide the green. His crooked ear He trembled and the black tip of his tail and nothing else.

«When the wine drinks itself» she said as she sat on Donald's lap «when the skull speaks, when the clock strikes the correct time... Only then will you find the tunnel that leads to the Bull's lair» she tucked her paws under her chest and added «Although there is a trick, of course.»

"I can imagine it," Donald commented thoughtfully, two contradictory feelings fighting inside him. He know there's an old skull, looking ready to crumble, on top of a column in the living room, but it hasn't had anything to say for a while and he doubt it can. The clock that is nearby is crazy and strikes the time whenever it wants: midnight at all hours, seventeen at four or it doesn't ring for a week. And the wine... «Come on, kitty! Wouldn't it be easier if you showed me the tunnel? You know where it is, right?»

"Of course I know," answered the cat, with a bright, wavy yawn. «Of course it would be easier if I showed you; That would save us a lot of time and difficulties».

Her voice was beginning to drawl drowsily and Donald realized that, like King Haggard, she was losing interest.

«Tell me something, then. What happened to the unicorns? Where are they?»

The cat yawned again.

«Near and far, far and near» she murmured «They are getting closer and they are getting further apart.»

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

«Is it necessary to speak in riddles? Why do you do it?»

One eye opened slowly, green and gold like sunlight in the forest. The cat responded:

«I am what I am. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, because you have been kind with me, but I'm a cat and there isn't a cat that has given anyone a straight answer».

The cat fell asleep with her eye partly open. Donald had her in his lap and He caressed her while she purred in her sleep. The magician closed his eyes, wondering what he would do and mentally told himself that it was the best, that if he found the unicorns he could return to the forest and find out what had happened to the little queen.

He wasn't so sure.

IV

"I can't see anything," Della said, somewhat annoyed. Donald, can you make light?

«How could I? I'm not a magician».

Scrooge and Della showed a somewhat confused expression.

«Never imply that you were. A Junior Woodchuck could improvise a torch with what he has on hand».

«But I'm not, remember how they expelled me because of Jones?»

«Did you seriously think they would believe that absurd story?»

«I thought it was real.»

«That's because you're a fool».

«Dumbella.»

“Children,” Scrooge scolded them. «This is not the time for one of your stupid arguments. Besides, it doesn't matter, a light would only give us away».

«How are we supposed to find the skull?»

«There» said the magician. He strode towards the skull and spent a long time peering into the broken, almost destroyed eye sockets, nodding slowly and muttering solemn things to himself.

Della looked at him with the same gravity, but often she glanced at her Uncle Scrooge.

«What are we supposed to expect?»

«Let the skull speak, isn't it obvious?»

«Are there really spells to make a skull talk?»

«Yes, in fact there are spells to make anything speak. Great wizards have always liked to listen, so they have invented ways to enchant all things in the world, both living and dead, to make them speak to them. In this. It consists fundamentally in being a magician: in seeing and listening».

«How do you know?» Scrooge asked accusingly.

Donald felt a little nervous. He had spoken without realizing it and wasn't sure how to answer that question. The wizard knew that his magic could be of great help to them at that moment, not only to make things easier, but he was still afraid of his uncle's reaction and the last thing he wanted was for his uncle to despise him.

«I heard it from Reginella».

«Has she given you magic lessons?»

«She has taught me everything I need to be a guardian. I heard there is a real wizard in the castle, we could look for him.»

«I doubt he wants to help us and even if he does, it's too risky.»

«The king is the one who uses this path and he is not a magician so there must be a non-magical way to travel» Donald was not sure of his words, but he needed an excuse to be able to act without his family becoming suspicious.< /p>

The clock struck twenty-nine... At least it was at that point that Della lost count. She was the first to walk away, looking for anything that might help her. Donald was left alone with the skull and began to recite various incantations in a low voice, no louder than a whisper.

A light covered the skull, but nothing else happened. The musty bells were still echoing on the floor when suddenly Donald threatened the skull with both fists and shouted:

«What's wrong with you, you pile of moldy bones? Speak or I will make you speak the hard way!» Donald shouted while throwing one of his usual tantrums.

Scrooge and Della were surprised, but not by the outburst, but by the fact that Donald had taken so long to have it.

«Very well, said the skull, shout, wake up old Haggard.» His own voice sounded like twigs rustling and crashing in the wind. “Scream louder,” he insisted with some mockery. Anyway, the old man is probably around here somewhere. He doesn't usually sleep much.

Donald calmed down a little, calmer at the thought that his secret was safe and that they could reach the unicorns. Scrooge seemed intrigued while Della looked curious.

«Come on, ask me how to find the Red Bull, or better yet, how to defeat him. You can't go wrong asking me for advice. I am the king's watchman and I am in charge of guarding the path that leads to the Bull. Not even Prince Lí knows the secret path, but I do».

With a bit of caution, Donald asked:

«If you're really on guard here, why don't you sound the alarm? Why do you offer to help us?»

The skull began to laugh.

«I've been in this place for a long time» he responded. «In the past I was Haggard's main henchman, until he cut off my head just because. This happened during his days as a tyrant and he wanted to find out if it was what he really liked. It wasn't like that, but he probably thought my head was of some use to him, so he stuck it up here to act as a sentinel. I think I have reasons for not being entirely loyal to the king.»

Scrooge was not entirely convinced.

«Then you will tell us how to get to the Red Bull».

«No» said the skull and began to laugh out loud.

«Why not?» Donald shouted furiously. «What kind of game...?»

The long yellow jaws of the skull did not move, but it was some time before that despicable laughter stopped.

"I'm dead," said the skull. «The only fun I have is annoying and annoying the living, it's not like I get to do that often. It is a sad loss, because, when he was alive, he had a rather infuriating character. I'm sure you'll forgive me if I indulge a little with you. But don't be discouraged, maybe I'll tell you tomorrow.»

«But we don't have time!» Della pleaded. Donald nudged her, but she ran up to the skull and appealed directly to his vacant eyes. «Adventure doesn't wait and I have many plans.»

«I have time» answered the skull thoughtfully. «Actually, having time is not so wonderful. Hurry, scramble, desperation, you are missing one thing. You have left another behind, that is too big and does not fit in such a space reduced… This is how life has to be.» <\br> «You're supposed to miss some things.» <\br>«Don't worry about that.»

Della would have continued pleading, but Scrooge took her aside. He didn't seem at all upset and that was a bit strange.

«Don't insist. Don't you see that that thing has spoken? Maybe that's enough».

«It is not» the skull informed him «I'll talk all you want, but I won't tell you anything. Gross, right? You should have seen me when I was alive».

Scrooge's expression did not change.

«Where is the wine?» he asked «Donald. Let me see what I can do with the wine.»

Donald hesitated before taking a saddlebag out of his bag. He had searched the entire castle without finding anything so he had opted for a transformation spell he had been practicing previously.

«I found this one, but I don't think it's very good.»

Scrooge took it the wrong way.

«It has a good consistency, something strange for something taken from the cupboard Haggard».

Donald felt a little nervous. He had used magic to get that wine and the last thing he wanted was to give his uncle cause to be suspicious.

«He probably stole it from some town not so close» Scrooge leaned it over to drink; Then he shook it and pretended to throw it away. «It's a shame, because I don't like wine and my nephews are too young to drink it».

«No, wait… Hey, no!» the skull protested, causing Scrooge to stop. «Do not do it!» he moaned «Only a monster would waste wine. Give it to me, if you don't want it, but don't throw it away!»

The skull swayed and shook on the column, whimpering.

A mocking smile spread across Scrooge's face.

«And why do you want wine, if you don't have a tongue to taste it or a palate to
taste it or swallow it? You've been dead for fifty years. What can you do?»
«Remember," he said «I remember more than wine. Give me a drink, that's all, give me One sip, and I will savor it like you never will. I have had time to think, to remember».

Scrooge shook his head, smiling, and said:

«It's true, but lately I also feel a bit resentful.»

For the third time, he raised the empty vial and the skull groaned, in mortal suffering.

«Please» begged the skull.

«Of course, if you remembered the entrance to the Red Bull Cave as well as you remember the wine, maybe we could negotiate.»

Scrooge turned the bottle nonchalantly between his fingers.

«Deal!» exclaimed the skull instantly «Everything is for a little drink, but give it to me right now! Thinking about wine has made me thirstier than I ever was even when I was alive. Give me the wine and I swear I will talk.»

The rusty jaws began to grind against each other. Slaty teeth of the skull trembled and fell apart.

«I will give it all to you» replied Scrooge, «after you tell us how we can find the Bull.»

The skull sighed, but did not hesitate for a moment.

«You enter through the clock. You simply cross the clock and that's it. The wine! Give me the wine now!»

«Through the clock.» Donald turned to look at the opposite corner of the room, where the clock was. He was tall, black and thin, the twilight shadow of a clock. The glass cover had been broken and the hour hand was missing.

Behind the gray glass he could barely see the mechanism, which moved and turned so restless like fish. «Do you mean that when the clock strikes the correct time, it It opens and then there is a tunnel, a hidden staircase?»

«I don't know anything about that» answered the skull «If you wait for this clock to strike, you will lose all your feathers. Why complicate a simple secret? Go through the clock and the Red Bull is on the other side. Just give me the wine».

«But the kitty said...»

«Did you talk to a cat?»

Donald did not know what to answer to that question. His sister viewed him with distrust and his uncle seemed worried about something else.

"Do you expect me to believe that?" Scrooge commented coldly. «Do you think you can fool us? It is possible that the path to the Bull goes through the clock, but more remains to be known. If you don't speak, I will throw the wine on the floor so you can enjoy its aroma, but not its flavor.»

But the skull laughed again, this time making a thoughtful, almost friendly noise.

"Remember what I told you about the weather," he said. «When I was alive, I thought, just like you, that time was as real as I am. It said "one o'clock, as if I could see it, and "Monday," as if I could locate it on a map, and I saw the passage of time as if I were really moving from one place to another. Now I know I could have gone through the walls.»

Scrooge and Della looked confused, but Donald nodded his head.

«Yes» he said «that's how real magicians do it; but the clock...»

«The clock will never give the correct time» said the skull « Haggard took care of that, but the important thing is that you understand that it doesn't matter if the clock is going to strike ten or seven or fifteen o'clock. You can you can set whatever time will be the right time for you».

At that moment, the clock struck four. Before the last bell stopped ringing, a sound was heard coming from below the hall. It was not a roar nor the violent grunting that the Red Bull used to make when he dreamed, but a low, inquisitive sound, as if the Bull had woken up after noticing something new in the night. All the stones on the floor hummed like snakes and the darkness itself seemed to shudder as the glowing nocturnal creatures scampered madly towards the edges of the room. Donald knew, suddenly and with complete certainty, that King Haggard was nearby.

"Give me the wine," said the skull. «I have kept my part of the bargain.»

"Do it," Donald whispered to his uncle, "the king is near, I can feel it."

Scrooge obeyed and that was strange for him. The skull gurgled, sighed, licked its lips and finally said

«Ah! Ah, this is real wine! Do you understand now what I was telling you about time?»

«Yes, Donald answered, I think so.» The Red Bull repeated that curious sound and the skull drummed against the column. Donald looked nervous. «No, I do not know. Is there no other way?»

«How could there be?»

Della heard footsteps; then nothing; then the weak, cautious movement of a breath, but he couldn't determine where it was coming from and he found that so frustrating. Donald looked for her and his face showed fear and confusion, but there was also a spark of hope in his eyes.

"I think I understand," he said, "I'm really not sure, but I can think of something we could try."

"It's a real watch," Della stated. «And I can go through a real clock. I know where we have to go» she said, "and that's as good as knowing the time."

The skull interrupted her:

«I'll give you a little advice, since the wine was so good. Destroy me. You just have to throw me on the ground and I will fall to pieces. Don't ask, just do it».

The skull spoke very quickly and its voice was nothing more than a whisper.
Donald and Della were incredulous.

«How? Why?»

The skull repeated its request and Scrooge asked:

«Why would I do something like that?»

«Do it!» the skull insisted «They have to do it!»

The sound of breathing was approaching from everywhere, closer and closer.

«No» Donald commented, horrified, “you're crazy.”

Scrooge turned his back and walked a second time towards the dark, rickety clock.

Donald took Della's hand and they both followed the older man.

«It's okay» said the skull sadly. «Just don't tell me I haven't warned you» the skull began to scream and its voice was horrible «Help! The king! Guards! Thieves, bandits, robbers, kidnappers, thieves, murderers, slanderers have entered! King Haggard! Attention, King Haggard!»

Scrooge and his family looked at Donald in disbelief.

«I'm sorry; It's my nature, but I've tried.»

Donald did not want to wait for answers, he took his sister and uncle's hand before running away. In the distance they could hear the sound of footsteps and the voice of the last person they wanted to see.

Then the king's voice crackled violently above the tumult:

«Idiot, traitor, you told him so!»

V

Fethry's gaze fell on Gladstone and waited for him to answer his question. His first choice had been Della, but when he went to visit her she wasn't home. Neither did Scrooge, so he assumed that Gladstone was the only one who could accompany him.

«Do you know that Uncle Scrooge hates magic?»

"Yes," Fethry answered, somewhat confused, "but I know he'll change his mind once he sees what I can do."

Gladstone's face took on a look of terror, but he said nothing. Fethry didn't ask any questions either, he was used to getting that reaction most of the time when he talked about his projects, especially the craziest ideas.

Donald was no exception. He often seemed angry and several times refused to participate, but he tended to have an explosive temper and what was most important in Fethry's opinion was that his cousin always supported him.

«It will be fun! And the most important, we haven't seen our cousins in a long time.»

«Do you know where you are?» Gladstone asked, and Fethry knew he had convinced him.

«No, that's why I need your help.»

«I guess I'll have to let my luck take care of it.»

Gladstone began to walk carelessly and three minutes later he had found the solution. A flyer came into his hands about an extreme adventure trip, the opportunity to visit a kingdom in decline. The flyer didn't offer any kind of discount, but they didn't need it either because, once again, Gladstone's luck had given him the money he needed. It was the day before, when he visited a fair.

«When are we leaving?»Fethry asked helplessly, unable to hide his emotion.

«Why wait if we can go now?»

VI

When they arrived before the clock, they had no time to hesitate or to understand what was happening. The men-at-arms were in the hall and the echo of their footsteps resounded loudly between the walls, while King Haggard continued cursing them.

Della was the first to cross the clock, she did not hesitate for a second to do so. Through the opaque, mottled glass, Donald could see the weights and the pendulum and the ulcerated chime, all swinging and burning as he watched. There was no door on the other side, only the rusty avenue of the mechanism, which led his gaze towards the rain. The weights swayed from side to side, just like the seaweed.

In the distance, King Haggard shouted:

«Stop them! Smash the clock!»

Donald looked for Scrooge, he wanted to tell him that he had the suspicion that he had understood the words of the skull, but his uncle was no longer there, King Haggard's hall had disappeared and the clock was gone. Donald was with his sister, in a cold place.

He heard the king's voice and it came from a distant place and, more than hearing it, he remembered it. He continued to turn his head and found himself looking at Prince Lír's face. Behind him a fell brilliant mist, which quivered like the flanks of a fish and looked nothing like to a corroded clockwork.

Prince Lí bowed his head seriously to Donald, but addressed Della first:

«Were you planning to leave without me? -said-. Did they not hear anything?»

«I was planning to return, although I'm not sure why.»

«No» said the prince, “we both know that's not true.”

Before he had a chance to add anything, Donald interrupted him.

«What does all that matter? Where is Uncle Scrooge?»

«Where is it?» asked Della, who shared the same concern as her brother.

Scrooge emerged from the fog with his head bowed, as if leaning against a wind
strong. With one hand he touched his temple and, when he removed it, a little blood came out.

"It's okay," he said, seeing the blood falling on Donald's hands.

VII

“What a nasty place!” Gladstone thought as soon as they reached their destination.

One look was enough to tell that Fethry's opinion was different.

«We must explore this place!»

«No! It is horrible and many houses look like they are about to collapse. I would prefer to find Donald as soon as possible.»

Gladstone was glad to see that those words were enough to make Fethry give up.

«How will we find it?»

Gladstone laughed and you could see the arrogance on his face.

«Do you doubt the power of my luck? We'll be with Donald and Della before you can think of another crazy project».

«I don't think about crazy projects.

«Whatever you say, F-feathers.»

VIII

The path was so wide that everyone could walk alongside it, however they chose not to. Scrooge went ahead, by his own decision. Prince Lír, Donald and Della followed him, even though the only lighting they had was a lighter carried by the oldest of the group.

Della didn't know where they were, but everything felt so real. The cold wind made him shiver from the cold and the darkness made it difficult for him to walk. The trail felt so real, especially because of the stones that hurt your feet.

“Bad time not to wear shoes,” Della commented jokingly.

The rest felt somewhat unreal. The course followed the impossible direction of a dream; inclined and slanted, turning on itself; first falling sharply and then rising a little; with a given moment leaving and descending little by little, and then returning calmly to take them once again, probably, under the hall where it was very likely that old King Haggard must have been furious in front of a fallen clock and a shuddering skull.< /p>

Della began to talk about her adventures, about the many trips she had made in the company of her uncle and her brother. He told him about all his attempts to catch Santa Claus, the wendigo and the mysterious child who came from the future. She also talked about the time her brother shrank and how they managed to get a very special chicken, their meeting with a supposed prophet and the candy that allowed them to go back in time. Della hoped the prince would be more interested in learning about her heroic birth than the real reason they were here.

Prince Lír marveled suspiciously.

"I have known for a long time that the king is not my father," he said, "but I have tried hard to be his son, all the same. I am an enemy of whoever plots against him, and it would take more than a foolish prophecy to cause me to bring about his downfall. As for the other thing, I don't think there are any more unicorns and I know that King Haggard hasn't seen any either. How can a man who has seen a unicorn even once be as sad as King Haggard? If I had seen them, even just once and never again, I would be very happy.»

The prince paused, somewhat confused as he realized that the conversation was leading to something painful. Donald listened attentively, but Della stayed on the sidelines, ignoring what was happening.

«However, the king must hide some happy event in his life» Donald pointed out «Did you notice any sign… a trace in his eyes?»

The prince remained silent as they sank into darkness. Donald didn't know if he was going up or down, but he did crash into the wall several times and he suspected that the same thing happened to his companions. There was not the slightest sound of the Red Bull, nor flashes of its evil light, but when Donald touched his wet face, he could smell the red bull between his fingers.

«Sometimes, after having been in the tower, commented Prince Lír, there is something in his face, in his expression. that I couldn't explain. It is a clarity that is not entirely a light. I remember, when I was little, it didn't happen when I looked at myself, or when I looked at someone else. At that time I had a dream.» He spoke very slowly, dragging his feet «It was always the same dream, I looked out my window in the middle of the night and saw the Bull, I saw the Red Bull...» the prince fell silent, unable to finish the sentence.

«You saw the Bull leading the unicorns toward the sea, Donald commented thoughtfully. It wasn't a dream. Haggard has them all, he has them prisoners for his enjoyment.»

The prince lowered his gaze, he did not seem surprised by those words.

«Donald, now you must walk. It's there, it's there.»

The first thing Donald saw were the horns. He covered his face to avoid the light, but it was not enough, the pale horns relentlessly made their way through his hands and eyelids until they reached the center of his brain. He saw Prince Lír and his sister standing before the horns, while the fire bloomed on the walls of the cavern and rose into the boundless darkness.

Prince Lír drew his sword, but it took on a reddish hue and began to burn in his hand as if it were fire. He dropped it and it broke like ice. The Red Bull hit the ground with one paw and everyone collapsed.

Scrooge had hoped that they would find the Bull waiting in his lair or somewhere with the space necessary to do battle, but he had gone silently up the passage until he found them; and now it stretched before his sight, not only from one burning wall to the other, but, somehow, into the walls themselves and beyond them, expanding infinitely.

However, that was not a mirage, it was the Red Bull, which was emitting smoke, breathing with a tremendous roar and shaking its blind head. Donald stood up slowly, ignoring the Bull, listening only to his hidden seashell self, remembering the magic lessons he had had with Reginella. But no power hinted or spoke in it. He only heard the distant, faint howl of the void in his ear, the same sound, the only sound that old King Haggard had ever heard when waking or in his dreams.

IX

Fethry placed a mark on the tree, confident that it would serve him well in the future. He and Gladstone had been wandering for more than an hour without being able to find any trace that would lead them to their family.

"I don't understand it," Gladstone complained. «Have I lost my touch? It is impossible! My luck is infallible!»

«Maybe Donald is in another dimension and that's why we can't reach him.»

Fethry noticed the way his cousin looked at him, but he preferred to let it go. Many had looked at him that way and he always used to act as if nothing had happened.

«Maybe» he commented after a long silence. «And I doubt my luck. What nonsense! There is nothing that can beat my luck and I can always count on my luck! After all I am Gladstone, the luckiest duck in the world.»

X

The Red Bull cowered and charged. It arrived without warning, accompanied by the sound of hooves scraping the ground; and, if he had wanted to, he could have crushed all four with a single attack, but he allowed them to scatter and lean on the rough walls. It passed them by without harming them and then launched itself at them a second time, with its snout almost level with the ground and its neck swollen like a wave.

That's when he roared. They fled and he followed them; not as fast as when he had charged, but enough so that each of the pursued could feel alone in the wild darkness.

Donald could feel the earth vibrating under his feet, but he could not hear the prince or his relatives. Each roar of the Red Bull caused earth and stones to dislodge and collapse on them, but that did not prevent them from climbing, although with some difficulty. The fact that the bull did not stop chasing them made everything more complicated.

The red bull attacked once more and the prince stepped into its path, using his body to protect Della. The Red Bull passed him by, but not without hurting him. Lir hit the wall and looked a little dizzy.

Donald was terrified. The bull turned out to be stronger than he had imagined and he was beginning to think that it would be necessary to use his magic. Thinking about his uncle stopped him, he didn't want her to hate him and he wanted to believe that he could get out of that situation in another way. Suddenly, Donald could smell the sea.

The path suddenly widened and they ended up in a kind of cave. “The bull's den,” Donald thought. The stench of his dream was so thick and ancient that it contained a note of sickening sweetness. The cavern took on reddish tints, as if its light had rubbed the walls until they were worn down and had become embedded in the cracks and crevices.

The Red Bull snorted again. Prince Lír fell on his face and stood up, he was bleeding. The Bull's roar grew louder and his swollen, blind head suddenly lowered and hung like one of the scales of destiny. Lír's brave heart was suspended between the horns, as if already dripping from their tips, as if the prince himself were crushed and torn to pieces; His mouth was twisted in a grimace of pain, but he continued without moving.

Della lunged at the bull, holding on tightly to its horns. Donald would soon imitate her. It took only minutes to immobilize him.
Scrooge did not seem surprised, Lir, on the contrary, watched them with fascination. His look was one of love.

Above their heads, from the top of the cliff, King Haggard's castle rose into the green and gray morning sky, dotted with thin, milky clouds. Scrooge was sure the king was spying on them, although he was never able to see them.

Some stars shone on the blue sky that stretched over the sea. There was no tide, and the deserted beach had the gray, wet sheen of a naked crustacean, but at the edge of the shore the sea bent like an arch, indicating that the ebb had ended.

Donald and Della approached the prince, but Donald was the only one who treated his wounds. It was something he used to do during his adventures with Scrooge. It was common for someone to end up hurt and almost always that someone was him.

No one noticed the moment the bull stood up.

The Bull passed over Prince Lir and left him lying on the ground. The side of his head hit the sand too violently and one leg kicked three times before immobilizing. He collapsed without a cry. A blow of pain paralyzed Donald and Della, who remained as silent as the prince. The Red Bull stopped as well and maneuvered to attack the twins. He resumed his affected, choreographic advance, but the brothers paid him the same attention as a courting bird.

Donald looked at the twisted body of Prince Lír, unconscious, but alive.

The tide was rising with a great noise. The beach had shrunk to an increasingly narrow strip. Seacaps and other fish scattered in the dawning dawn, but Scrooge could not see any unicorns.

The sky was dyed scarlet over the castle and, in the highest tower, King Haggard stood out as sharp and black as a winter tree. Scrooge could see the straight scar on his mouth and his dark nails. But the castle could no longer fall. Only Lír would have achieved it.

Donald shouted and took a firm pose. He and Della lunged at the Red Bull, which was dodged. Donald's eyes were shining and everything about him showed the attitude of a warrior. Donald charged again and the Bull gave up more ground, heavy and confused, but still fast as a fish. Its horns were of the color and appearance of lightning, and the slightest swing of its head caused it to stagger, but it continued to retreat directly towards the sea, without resistance.

Once it was there, it froze, with the foam swirling between its paws and the sand slipping between them. He didn't intend to fight or flee, and Donald realized that he could never destroy him. Despite this, he prepared to attack once more, while the Bull lowed quietly, stupefied.

For the prince, the world had stopped at that moment. As if she were situated in a tower higher than King Haggard's, she contemplated a pale shell of earth where a toy man and woman, with woolen eyes, followed the evolutions of a clay bull and a delicate unicorn of ivory. There were other abandoned toys, a half-buried doll, and a sand castle with a wooden king propped up on a leaning tower.

The tide would sweep everything away in an instant, and only the limp birds on the beach would be left flying in circles.

“Children,” Scrooge called them. He could hear the ocean waves approaching.

The rough, large, heavy waves that radiated whitish curls from their green heart, dissolved into smoke as they crashed against the sandbanks and the viscous rocks and scraped the beach with the roar of the fire.

The birds began to take flight, shrieking loudly, but their energetic protest was lost like a pin in the lament of the waves. From the whiteness you could see how sore bodies bloomed, these sprang from the frayed water, bodies sore from the crashes against the striped marble hollows of the waves, whose manes and tails, along with the fragile beards of the males that sparkled in the sun. He had dark eyes that seemed set in jewels, similar to the bottom of the sea. Their horns had the seashell glow of their horns and stood like the iridescent masts of silver vessels. But they could not step on the sand as long as the Red Bull was nearby.

The unicorns were wallowing in the shallows, spinning madly, they were scared like a fish when the nets are hoisted, no longer in the sea, but about to lose it. Hundreds were snatched up in every wave and thrown against those who struggled to avoid being pushed onto dry land, and those who struggled desperately, rose and fell and stretched their long, clouded necks to the limit.

Donald and Della threw themselves at the Red Bull, both with their fists raised and the same defiant expression. If the Red Bull had been real flesh or a ghost, the blow would have burst it like rotten fruit. Instead he turned around as if he didn't notice anything and walked towards the sea.

The unicorns that were in the water rushed wildly to make way for him, kicking and lashing the waves that were reduced to a tremulous veil. Their horns were dressed in the colors of the rainbow; but on the beach, on the cliff top, and throughout Haggard's kingdom.

The earth breathed a sigh of relief when it felt free of its weight. The bull went a long way before beginning to swim. The largest waves broke at hock height and the timid tide was beating in flight. But when at last he sank into the current, a great portion of the sea rose up behind him; a green and black wave, deep, uniform and hard as the wind. It grew silently, encompassing the entire width of the horizon, until it covered the humpbacks of the Red Bull and poured out again.
Scrooge released the wounded prince and ran with his nephews until the cliff face cut them off. The great wave collapsed like a deluge of chains.

It was at that moment when the unicorns came out of the sea. Della couldn't see them clearly, all she could perceive was a light jumping towards her and a scream that dazzled her eyes. The image he had made her come to the conclusion that no mortal was destined to see all the unicorns in the world. It wasn't something that bothered her, she preferred to focus on trying to find her own unicorn so she could watch it at her leisure. But there were too many of them and too beautiful.

Donald placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her from running after the unicorns.

“Look up,” said Scrooge.

The castle was collapsing. Donald and Della obeyed. They both watched as the towers melted as the unicorns scaled the cliff with gigantic strides and the way they scattered around them, it was as if they were made of sand and the sea was undermining them.

The castle crumbled into huge, icy pieces that shrank in size and turned the color of wax as they spun in the air, until they disappeared. Everything crumbled and vanished without a sound. Not even ruins remained, either on the ground or in the memory of those who witnessed the fall.
A minute later, they couldn't remember its location or what it looked like. The same did not happen with King Haggard. The monarch, who was completely royal, fell among the remains of his castle disenchanted like a knife thrown through the clouds.

Donald heard him laugh once, as if his hopes had been fulfilled, and that didn't seem as strange as he thought it would.

Once the sea had erased the diamond-shaped footprints of the unicorns, there was no trace of their passage or of King Haggard's castle, but Della could remember the unicorns and she was not the only one who could. p>

«We should take them to town. Lir needs medical attention and the unicorns are free,” commented Scrooge.»

«I guess you're right.»

«I always have it, I don't know why you say it as if it were strange.»

Donald carried the prince on his back and followed his relatives along the path they had taken to reach that place. The same couldn't be said for the clock they entered through.

The wizard took advantage of being behind to recite small spells. He was treating the most serious injuries, making sure his friend could receive the medical attention he so desperately needed.

«Hurry up!» Della told him and her gaze fell on Lír «Do you think it's okay?»

Donald nodded.

«He's strong, he'll be fine.»

“And I have treated his most serious wounds, he just needs to rest,” Donald thought, although the blood that soaked him made it difficult for him to feel calm.

«It's too much blood».

«Trust me, no wound is deep.»

«How can you know? Are you a doctor?»

«Reginella has taught me medicine».

Della stared at him and Donald didn't know how to interpret that look.

«I guess I have no choice but to trust you. Be careful, Lír's life is hanging in your hands».

«I know and believe me when I tell you that I worry about him too.»

Haggard's men were outside the castle. Donald looked down at the real wizard. He expected them to reproach him, but that wasn't the case. They all looked relieved and that didn't seem so strange when he remembered the conversations he had had with them.
Four young men, covered in rusty and broken armor, wandered dazedly through the absent corridors, turning incessantly in the empty space where the great hall was located.

The royal magician was in charge of attending to the prince. There were only superficial wounds to be treated, but he did not comment on them.

It wouldn't be long before Lir woke up. The prince looked for Della, but the relief he felt was short-lived when he saw what had happened to the palace.

«Was I the cause? The curse claimed that I would bring down the castle, but I would never have been able to. Haggard wasn't good to me, but that was my fault. If only it had been what he wanted. Did I cause his ruin?»

“You saved Della, and she and her brother were the ones who drove the Red Bull into the sea,” replied Scrooge. «The Red Bull caused the waters to rise and, in the process, set the unicorns free, they were the ones who demolished the castle. Now that you know, will you still think the same?»

Prince Lír shook his head.

«But why did the Bull flee? Why didn't he stand up to them and fight?»

«The Red Bull never fights» answered the royal magician «He conquers, but he does not fight." The magician placed a hand on Prince Lír's back. «Now, you are the king.»

The men fell on their knees before Lí and shouted at the same time:

«Your Majesty! Long live King Lír!»

Lír's face turned red and he tried to force them to stand up.

«It doesn't matter» he grumbled «it doesn't matter. Who are you?»

Scrooge and Della had the same question. Not Donald, his magic had given him the answers he needed.

The prince examined the faces in amazement, one by one. «I know them, I'm sure, but how is it possible?»

«It is true, Your Majesty» said the first with great joy «We are King Haggard's men-at-arms... the same ones who served him for so many weary, cold years. We fled from the castle as soon as the clock disappeared, because the Red Bull was bellowing and all the towers were shaking and we were scared. We knew that the ancient curse was finally going to be fulfilled.»

«A great wave fell on the castle, said the third, just as the witch had prophesied. I saw it pour down the cliff, as slowly as snow, but I can't explain to you why it didn't sweep us away. The wave split to surround us," said another, "something I had never seen before. The water seemed strange, like the ghost of a wave, seething with an iridescent light, and for a moment it seemed to me that...» He rubbed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, smiling with indecision painted on his face «I don't know, it all felt like a dream».

«But what happened to them? Lír asked. They were old when I was born, and now they are younger than me. What kind of miracle is this?»

The three who had spoken held back their laughter and exchanged glances.

«You said it, it's a miracle»

Prince Lír's gaze fell on Della and the tenderness in his gaze could be seen. However he did not have the opportunity to say any words, Scrooge prevented him. He took him by the shoulder and took him to a secluded place.

«You are the king of a devastated country, a place where there has been no king but fear. Your real task has just begun now. You may never know if you succeed, but you will know if you fail. But don't worry, I told Haggard that I would make this kingdom a prosperous place and I keep my word if you want to work with me.»

«I will, you three have proven to be trustworthy.»

«We better go to town. This place doesn't seem safe».

Chapter Text

I

Gladstone couldn't believe his eyes. A group of horned horses were running, destroying everything in their path. They did not behave like enemies, but as if they were fleeing from something, or at least that was what it seemed to him.

Fortunately no one was hurt. The town was destroyed, that was something that no one could deny, but there was only material damage.

The crops were almost completely crushed, as were the houses. Several stables were destroyed so the animals fled, following the unicorns and destroying the place even more.

Not everyone could see the unicorns. Many believed it was a large group of horses and that was something he discovered when he heard his cousin arguing with some villagers.

«Don't pay attention to him, my cousin has a lot of imagination».

For Fethry it was strange that everyone was so calm. Their faces showed sadness, but they didn't seem too worried. He thought about the places he had visited before arriving in that town and felt even more confused. That town, unlike the others, had been in better conditions than its neighbors.

«He must be crazy. Otherwise I can't explain how anyone could confuse an earthquake with a herd of unicorns.»

«That's absurd, I think it's pretty obvious that it was a surge.»

Fethry did not feel offended by those words, he was too used to that kind of comments to give it importance.

«Do you see them?»

«To our cousins? No, but if my luck brought us here it's because there must be a reason.»

Gladstone took his cousin and took him to another area. He didn't like that place and hoped to be able to leave very soon.

Rage turned into sadness and anger into resignation. The villagers just sat down, as if they were waiting for a miracle or were too tired to do anything.

II

Donald and his group arrived at Hagsgate shortly before nightfall, finding a scene as strange as it was desolate.

The plowed fields were destroyed. The orchards and vineyards, rich in the past, were devastated and not a sad sapling was left standing. This seemed like the work of the Red Bull, but Della thought that fifty years of contained calamities had descended upon Hagsgate at once, while as many springs finally comforted the rest of the kingdom. The trampled earth looked ashen in the evening light.

«What happened here?» King Lír asked calmly.

“Ride on, Lír,” replied Scrooge. «Keep riding».

The sun had set when they passed through the ruined gates of the city, and they led their horses slowly through the destroyed streets.
The floor was littered with boards, furniture, broken glass, and remains of walls, windows, fireplaces, chairs, kitchen utensils, roofs, bathtubs, beds, shelves, and dressers. All the houses in Hagsgate had collapsed and there was nothing left to break.
The inhabitants of Hagsgate sat on their doorsteps, if they still existed, thinking about the tragedy. They had always looked poor, even in the midst of plenty, and ruin made them feel almost relieved, but in no way poorer.

Della felt sorry for them.

They barely noticed Lír's arrival, until he spoke:

«I am the king. What has happened here?» "It was an earthquake," murmured a man lost in his daydreams.

«It was a storm that came from the sea, from the northeast» another contradicted him. «It shattered the city and rained hail, stones as big as fists.»

Another man insisted that a powerful wave had hit Hagsgate, a wave white as dogwood and heavy as marble, which drowned no one but destroyed everything.

King Lír listened to them with an inexorable smile. Della thought that he was something to admire and that he could become a great king.

«Listen carefully because I plan to repeat nothing of what I will tell you. King Haggard has died and his castle has been destroyed. I am Lír, that child from Hagsgate who was abandoned at birth to prevent the witch's prophecy from being fulfilled.» With a gesture of his hand he encompassed the destroyed houses. «Stupid and miserable people, the unicorns have returned, those that were hunted by the Red Bull and that you ignored. It was they who destroyed the castle and the city. But they are not the ones to blame, it was you with your greed and Temos who caused this».

The citizens sighed with resignation, but a middle-aged woman stepped forward towards the king and said with a certain temper:

«Forgive me, my lord, but everything seems somewhat unfair. What could we have done to save the unicorns? We feared the Red Bull. What could we have done?»

“A word would have been enough,” replied King Lír, “but that is something they will never know.”

Della's gaze fell on the king and she noticed that he was about to leave. She agreed with him, but suspected that her brother's opinion was different and not wrong.

«Lír…, little Lír, my son, my king!»

Della turned around and could see an individual running up, with his arms outstretched, panting and limping as if he were older than he really was.

«Who are you?» asked the king «What do you want from me?»

«Don't you know me, my son?» The man's face showed a mixture of sadness and something else that Della couldn't recognize. «No, of course, how could you know me? I probably doesn't even deserve it. I am your father..., your poor, old and very happy father. It was I who abandoned you in the market square one winter night, many years ago, and thus led you to your heroic destiny. It was a hard decision, but necessary because thanks to that you fulfilled your heroic destiny! My child, my baby! You have no idea how proud I am right now!»

Della could see that, although she was not crying, her nose was running as if she were crying sincerely.
The king didn't say anything, he just pulled the horse's reins and walked away from the crowd.

The old man dropped his arms outstretched to his sides.

«Raise crows! Ungrateful son, will you abandon your father in the hour of disaster, when a word from your sorcerer would have put things right again? Despise me if you want, but I've had my part in putting you where you are, and you can deny it! Evil also has its rights.»

Della wanted to hit that man. He had said “raising crows”, but he had not even raised Lír. He had abandoned it shortly after it hatched and would never have shown itself if it hadn't been for the benefit of it. Or at least that's what Della thought. In her opinion, rewarding that man made as much sense as feeling indebted to an ex-husband's lover because she made you realize that that relationship was not worth it or thanking the person who made your life impossible because that helped build character.< /p>

The king wanted to retreat, but Donald stopped him. His face showed a kind expression and that was enough to calm Lír.

«Can we talk alone?»
Lír nodded and followed him to a somewhat secluded place.

III

«I knew it!» cried Gladstone as soon as he saw his relatives. «I always knew my luck wouldn't fail me! You should apologize, cousin of little faith».
Fethry ran to where his relatives were and hugged them tightly.

«And Donald? I bet he'll be happy to see his favorite cousin».

«It's true, but as proud as he is, he won't admit how happy it makes him to see me.»

Della and Scrooge looked a little confused. Neither of them expected to see Gladstone or Fethry in a place like that.

«Do you have a problem?»

«I would like to learn magic and I thought Reginella could teach me.»

"I bet she'd like it," Della commented bitterly. «She is an expert separating families.»

«Magic only causes problems, especially in the hands of someone so chaotic.»

Fethry preferred to ignore the fact that his uncle was talking about him.

«And Donald? Where is he?»

«Why so much insistence? You're going to make me jealous.»

«It's just curiosity, you know we love you, cousin.»
Della hugged them. The truth is that the was just joking.

IV

"It's not your fault," he said in a whisper as he handed him the all-knowing book, "but if you want, you can ask the book. I admit that it seems like a book like any other, but it has the blessing of the gods. It is a gift from Zeus and has the power to answer any question. It is the book that knows everything».

Lír followed Donald's advice. While it was true that a book that had the answers to all his questions seemed absurd to him, it was also true that he had seen stranger things and that he blindly trusted Donald.

“That man and the others really mean what they said. It is likely that things would have been different, but it is unlikely that they would have had a happy ending. You must be their king and rule with as much kindness as if they were the bravest and most faithful, because they are part of your destiny.”

Donald looked away, looking somewhat uncomfortable. Donald didn't want the villagers to be abandoned, but he didn't want Lír to carry such a heavy burden.

«I don't believe in destiny. The book may know everything, but there are cases where it is more important to be loyal to yourself than to follow the rules of a know-it-all book.»

«We'd better get back to the others.»

«Lír, you don't have to…»

«Thank you for your help. That book hasn't said anything I haven't thought about before. I would be lying if I said I didn't hold a grudge against that man who claims to be my father. How can you talk with so much pride about abandoning a child? I could have died and I don't think he cared.»

«You don't owe anyone anything, even the book states that there is nothing to ensure that you owe them anything or that everything was part of a higher plan».

Then the king met with his subjects. Lír raised his hand in the direction of the people of Hagsgate. Those present pushed and elbowed each other.

«I must leave with my friends and accompany them. But I will leave my men-at-arms here and they will help you rebuild your city. When I return, soon, I will also collaborate. I will not begin to erect my new castle until I see Hagsgate standing once more.»

«What about the real wizard? A wave of his wand and Hagsgate would return to its former glory.»

«I couldn't even if I wanted to. There are laws that govern the magical arts, just as there are laws that govern the seasons and the sea. Magic once gave them wealth, while the rest of the country's people were poor; But the days of prosperity are over and now they have to start again. This earth will have an existence as miserable as the hearts that inhabit it. They will work hard, but they will not regain their former glory, ever... until you learn to enjoy them for no reason. In your place, I would have children» he advised, his eyes devoid of anger, but full of pity.

It was at that moment that Donald saw his cousins and his expression was the same as Della's. He didn't have time to speak, Fethry ran to his side and hugged him.

«Are you going to teach me magic?»

«How could I? I'm not a magician.»

No one noticed the way the royal wizard looked at Donald.

V

«Do we have a deal?»

«I would never work with a being as vile and cruel as you.»
The sorceress smiled upon hearing those words. It was not the answer she would have wanted, but it was the one she expected.

«You won't achieve anything with your compliments. All I want is what everyone wants, power. But if you don't want to cooperate, it will have to be the hard way.»

The sorceress took the two-sided mirror and began to caress the edge. She mentally wondered what her brother would do if she were in her place. She would have turned her into a goat or a chocolate, but doing so would be limiting her options.

«I know about your apprentice and it's nauseating, but it could be useful.»

«He would never help you.»

«We'll see about that. I bet he'll be more cooperative once he finds out what I'm doing with you».

«I'm not afraid of you».

«You should, because unlike you, I'm not afraid to hurt anyone to get what I want.»

VI

Donald waited until everyone was asleep before looking for the magic mirror. The last time he had tried to connect with Reginella also had no results, but he did not lose hope.

Donald had consulted the book that knows everything three days before the release of the unicorns and it had told him that the queen was busy and could not answer the phone. That had hurt him, but he was glad to know that he hadn't ignored it because he was in serious trouble.

Or at least that was what he thought until someone took the two-way mirror and answered his call. The person on the other side was Spell Magic, although that was something he didn't know at the time.

«Who are you and what are you doing with Reginella's mirror?»

«I am the powerful Magical Sorceress of Spell and I want to make a deal with you. If you want to see your fairy again, you must bring me Scrooge McDuck's first coin.»

Donald laughed mockingly. The all-knowing book had told him that Reginella was fine and he hoped to see her when he returned to the forest of Artemis.

«Why should I believe you? She is fine.»

Mágica's face was replaced by an image of Reginella. Donald couldn't recognize the place he was in, but he was sure it wasn't Artemis Forest.

«She is well and out of your reach. If you want to see it again you will have to accept my conditions. Use this mirror when you're ready to make a deal, but I don't recommend taking too much time.»

Magica disappeared and Donald ran in search of the book. He wanted to believe that the sorceress was lying, but he needed to confirm something first.

«Is it true that this woman has taken Reginella away?»

«Yes».

«Why didn't you tell me?» Donald asked furious and worried about the fairy.

«Because you didn't ask me. You wanted to know if she is fine and taking into account that she does not have any physical injuries or illnesses, I can conclude that she is fine. Should you be more specific with your questions.»

Donald massaged his temples in an attempt to calm himself. Scrooge had warned her, but he didn't want to agree with her or lose the opportunity to save her.

«How can I find it?»

«Reginella is in a place outside of space and time so you can only find her if you have permission from someone within that realm or if you have the key and Magica de Spell is the only one who has that key. In both cases it is of great importance that you know the location.»

«Magica de Spell What are you planning?»

«Finding her brother and total dominion».

Donald got a chill when he heard those words. He didn't know who Spell's Magica and Poe were, but he could sense a certain evil in her and he feared what she might do. The magician thought of Reginella and knew immediately that she would be against working with the sorceress.

«Typical of villains. Couldn't they be more original?»

«Humans are simple beings. As long as they satisfy in…»

«It wasn't a question for you and I'm not interested in the answer».

«As I said before, be careful what you ask».

«Could you shut up?»

«Yes.»

«Then why don't you do it?»

«I am the book that knows everything, I was created to ask questions. I will continue talking as long as you ask questions.»

«What would happen if I destroyed you? I could put my hands on either end of your pages and break you.»

«That would work with an ordinary book, but I am the book that knows everything. I was created by the gods, blessed by the goddess Athena and her wisdom. You threaten to destroy me, but there is only one way to do it, in the lava of the volcano at the end of the world.»

Donald lay down on the ground, mentally wondering what he would do. He didn't like the book, but he hadn't given him reason to think He was lying. Spell's Magica had told him she would help him see Reginella again and he wanted to do it, but he doubted it was the right thing to do.

«Tell me, book, what would Reginella say if she knew about this?»

«I'd say it's not worth the risk, that Spell's Magica could betray you and she'll be fine, even if she doesn't remember you and you'll never see each other again»

Donald closed his eyes, imagining Reginella, wondering what he would do if she were in his place. He had thought about that too.

«You say she's fine?»

«Yes.»

«Would Spell Magic hurt him?»

«She wouldn't kill her, killing a fairy curses you for life, but he can hurt her. She has erased her memory, but that's all. Neither of them will be able to see each other again and that is enough for her».

Donald sighed. The thought of never seeing Reginella again was painful, but it was a possibility he had considered. Accepting Magica's deal from Spell wasn't even an option. Donald didn't know her, but his actions were enough to earn her dislike and distrust.

VII

Fairies and unicorns were sacred creatures. Killing any of them was synonymous with a curse and Magica knew it. However, Donald's refusal had made Spell's Magica consider it.

“He's an idiot. It would have wasted my time even if I had accepted,” Magica thought with annoyance. At that moment he considered it more important to finish looting Reginella's house and resume his search.

The sorceress did not know that she had been dealing with Scrooge McDuck's nephew, probably if she had known, she would have been more insistent. Some time later he would see him again and he would regret having underestimated him.

VIII

Fethry met Donald while he was consulting the book that knows everything. He saw his cousin asking him some questions and that was enough to get his attention.

«What are you doing?»

«I answer this mortal's questions because, as my name indicates, I know everything.»

«I want to try it».

Donald covered his face in an attempt to hide his laughter. The book claimed to know everything, but he knew his cousin and knew how chaotic he could be.

«It is useless for you to do it, there is no question that I cannot solve.»

«What color are my underwear?»

VIII

Scrooge McDuck was awake when he received a visit from Lír. He had received a call from S.H.U.S.H so he began to investigate the galleon that they wanted to steal from him. I didn't understand why this seemed to be so important, but I was willing to find out.

«Is it true that you will leave tomorrow?»

«Yes.»

Lír sighed sadly and Scrooge was sure he knew the reason. It was a secret to no one that the king was in love with Della. Lír had not even made an attempt to hide it.

«Can I consult the project that I was going to present to my father? I think Hagsgate should work to make up for the damage they did by hiding what they knew about the unicorns, but the rest of my kingdom is innocent and they have suffered for so long».

«You can count on it. I'm a business duck, I would never throw away a project I've worked on for so long, much less when it's something profitable».

«I'm glad to hear that. I would not like to lose contact with you.»

«Especially with Della».

«And Donald. Both are important to me».
Scrooge was not expecting that answer. He could tell that Lír was sincere, but he never imagined that Donald would care so much.

«Don't get me wrong. I love Della, but Donald, he's my best friend».

IX

«What would happen if Pinocchio said his nose was going to grow?»

«That depends on what Pinocchio thinks. If Pinocchio thinks that his nose is not going to grow, he would be lying, therefore it would grow, otherwise, it would not grow».

«But Pinocchio's nose only grows when he lies».

«Any statement or denial made by someone who thinks or suspects that it may be false is classified as a lie. Whether that statement is correct or not is a separate point. We can take lie detectors as an example, they generally record variations in blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and galvanic response or skin conductance».

«When you take a photo next to the ComCon Super Snooper, is the man inside the costume smiling too?»

«That depends on the person inside the costume. Since it is hidden, there is no rule that forces it to do so.»

«Why do we press the buttons on the remote control harder when it's running out of batteries?»

«Because mortals are irrational beings and their actions do not always…»

«Are you alive?»

«No. My voice is not my voice. What you hear is the voice of Athena and I am only an echo of her greatness.»

«How do you write zero in Roman numerals?»

«Impossible…»

«You don't know.»

«I know everything and I know that there is no equivalent to zero in Roman numerals».

«If wool shrinks when it gets wet, why don't sheep shrink when it rains?»

«Because the sheep's wool has not gone through the procedures...»

Fethry had interrupted the all-knowing book once again and Edo made Donald wonder what would happen first, if his cousin would find a question he couldn't answer or the book would get angry. In the case of Fethry, both options seemed equally likely.

«What was your great childhood love?»

«I am a book, those concepts do not apply to me. But if I had to choose a quote, the necronomicon seems to be interesting».

«If gods exist, who created them?

«Of course they exist, I was created by several of them and, although I may be proud, I must admit that I am their greatest work. And the answer to your question, the gods are children of the Titans who in turn descend from Uranus and Rhea.»

Donald was distracted as soon as he felt something rubbing against his leg. He looked down and found the cat he had spoken to shortly before.

«Lír told me that you were not King Haggard's. Would you like to come with me?»

Donald knew that Scrooge didn't want pets, he had made it clear when he didn't allow him to bring his pets to the mansion, but he hoped it would be different this time or that Elvira would agree to take care of her so she could get a house of her own. .

The cat did not respond with words. She sat on Donald's lap and fell asleep instantly.

«I'll call you Tabby.»

«How long will they remember you after you exist?»

«That is different for each person and depends on the impact it has. If we talk about your case, I won't be able to forget you so easily.»

«Really?»

«Yes, you are annoying.»

«Who tries the best-tasting new brands of dog food?»

«The dogs and a decision is made based on observation.»

«How would we know if a word was misspelled in the dictionary?»

«You can consult another dictionary or one of the entities that compile and approve the rules of the language in which that word was written.»

«Why do you lower the volume of the music in the car when you park?»

«I already said it, mortals are irrational».

X

Gladstone woke up after hearing the sound of banging and explosions. Curiosity led him to the cargo section, meeting Scrooge, Della and Lír along the way.

«Donald will be in serious trouble if he is responsible for this».

«Uncle S, when it comes to Donald, it's obviously his fault».

They found the all-knowing book in the middle of the disaster, throwing out sparks and lightning. Fethry and a cat they didn't recognize were hiding behind a frightened Donald.

A box passed close to Gladstone, but he was lucky that it passed just a few centimeters from his shoulder.

«What is happening here?»

«The book that knows everything…»

Fethry did not finish speaking as the explosions grew larger.

Scrooge gripped his staff, ready to attack, but it was not necessary. A golden bell, which they had found during an adventure, fell on the book, containing all its attacks.

«And my luck once again saves the day.»

Gladstone was not entirely wrong. It had been a lucky coincidence that the bell was on the plane, but that was not the reason they had been saved. Donald had taken advantage of the confusion to create one of his portals and make sure to isolate the book that was causing them so much trouble.

«For now, but we must destroy it as soon as possible. The bell will not be able to contain it forever.»

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: The gods must be crazy

I

Initially Donald and Della would be the only ones to take the all-knowing book to the volcano at the end of the world, but Gladstone and Fethry decided to join. In Fethry's case, he had said that his new dream was to become an explorer, Gladstone simply said that he was bored.

Donald wanted to complain, but Della managed to convince him. Gladstone could be annoying, but they needed him, he was the only one with a driving license and his luck could be a big help. None of them had any excuse to prevent Fethry from accompanying them.

The first hours were quiet. Fethry had fallen asleep, Donald was listening to music, and Della was playing her favorite video game. Gladstone had not complained even though he had been driving for hours.

"Donnie, you should find a place where we can rest."

"Why? Are you tired of driving?"

"Yes, and if I'm honest, my butt hurts too. Driving is more difficult than you imagine."

Donald and Della grimaced.

"We didn't need to know that" they said in unison.

"I can say more things if we don't take a break. For example, my butt..."

"Okay, you win. We'll take a break, just shut up".

Della recognized the area as the neighborhood where Abner lived and suggested they go visit him, an idea that was well received.

Abner was not someone they had problems with, but he was someone who appreciated solitude. He had gone to live on a ranch as soon as he came of age.

Abner greeted them with a smile and ushered them in immediately.

"Abner, your house!!" Fethry commented and he wasn't the only one surprised.

—Is there a problem?

"It's organized!"

The expression on Abner's face showed annoyance.

"And it smells good!"

"It smells like… lemon."

"Why are you surprised? I am a responsible adult."
Donald did not think otherwise, Abner was the oldest of the cousins and since he was little he had been one of the most independent, however order was not a quality that set them apart.

"No offense, cousin, but the last time we visited you you had the ax next to the television, the dirty dishes in the laundry room, and your socks in the living room".

"It's different. I just went to cut the firewood and now..."

Abner blushed slightly, which was strange for him.

Donald smiled mischievously, seeing an opportunity.

"Is there someone you like?"

Abner's blush deepened.

"I can't believe it, our cousin is in love."

"Her name is Donna, I think she's the sister of someone who was at summer camp with you. Donna told me that you were very close, best friends, she even showed me some photographs. Do you remember someone with a pink hat?"

Donald knew immediately who his cousin was talking about. Years ago he and Della had gone to summer camp. It was a great experience for both of them and, although they wanted to return, they couldn't do it. Hortense and Quackmore died shortly afterwards.

"D" had accompanied him in many of his pranks and he was convinced that he couldn't have had a better accomplice, even if he never knew the real name. They both got into a lot of trouble together and there wasn't a single camper or instructor who didn't become victims of their pranks.

"But we've already talked enough about me. How about they tell you about their lives while we serve lunch? They must be hungry."

Shortly after, the five of them were in the middle of the road, encountering the first incident of the trip.

"Why should we push the cart?"

"Because we ran out of gasoline".

"Why doesn't Gladstone do anything?"

Gladstone lifted her sunglasses and placed them on her forehead. His face showed indignation.

"You offend me, Donnie. I'm doing the most important thing, focusing my luck so we can find a gas station. It's exhausting!"

Donald snorted under his breath and did not stop complaining until they found a gas station, which to the group's good luck, was very soon.

"You can always count on the luck of Gladstone Gander."

Donald was too happy to pay attention to those words, something that did bother his cousin.

"How good! They also have a minimarquet"!

Donald was in charge of supplying the car with gasoline while his relatives bought food. They opted for snacks only, something Donald not only expected, but also approved of.

Shortly afterward they regretted that decision. They had left the city and there were no stores nearby.

"It's official, we're out of food."

"And without money, although the strange thing is that we would have gotten this far with the money that Uncle Scrooge gave us."
Donald sat on a rock. Part of him wished he could use the book that knows everything, another part of him wished he could resort to his magic or wait for his cousin's luck to help them.

"Hey, Donnie! You are a hunter and we are in a forest! Could you hunt something?"

Donald nodded. He didn't have his bow, but he could use his magic to transform some branches.

"Gladstone will accompany you. With your luck and your skills we will have a good dinner tonight."

Donald thought it was not necessary, he could locate any animal using only his skills as a hunter, but he feared that if he said so, Della might suspect his magical abilities.

"What will you do?"

"Fethry and I will take care of the camp, Abner will go get firewood."

"It sounds exhausting and horrible. I want pizza."

"Gladstone, we are in the middle of the forest. There isn't a pizza place nearby and I doubt the weather forecast is pizza rain".

"Cousin of little faith. There is nothing impossible when it comes to my luck. I just have to wait and the pizza will come to me."

"No. You and Donald are going hunting. With your luck and my brother's skills that won't be a problem".

"It's exhausting!"

"For you, everything is exhausting. We better hurry or it will be night".

II

Scrooge looked at the small wooden boat. He had been aware of its value even before learning that it was a treasure map, he was also aware that it was in code, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not decipher it.

"What does “Gannawondat” mean?"

"I doubt that that word exists in Spanish. If that word doesn't mean anything, it must be in code."

"What type of encryption do you think they used?"

Scrooge fell onto the couch and began to massage his hair. His first option had been Caesar's cipher, but he had not reached any convincing conclusion.

"I have a suspicion. The letter A equals one. The letters represent numbers, such as latitude and longitude."

Mrs. Beakley checked the map and found the place indicated by the coordinates, a place called Ronguay.

"Good news, Mr. McDuck, it looks like we have something".

III

Glomgold was in a meeting with his financial advisors. The results obtained that week were good, but not what he expected. The profits, although good, were insufficient to surpass its rival.

His bad mood was evident and once again it was his employees who had to deal with him.
Zan Owlson was considering quitting. It wasn't the first or the last time he would have those kinds of thoughts. Working with Glomgold had caused me to have daily migraines and headaches.

"The results obtained are superior to those expected. Glomgold was the most difficult boss he had ever dealt with, but he couldn't quit. She was proud and considered that working for the second richest duck in the world had its advantages".

"But they are not enough to make me the richest duck in the world. There must be something I can do".

"I doubt anyone will call to offer you the solution to your problem."

A phone call interrupted that meeting, which somewhat calmed the millionaire's bad mood.

"Money talks, I listen".

"Mr. Glomgold Would you like to be the richest duck in the world?"

Those words were enough to catch Glomgold's attention. He didn't care if it was something illegal or not, it was enough for him that it allowed him to surpass and humiliate Scrooge McDuck.

'The richest said?"

IV

Donald did not expect to find a boy scout in the middle of the forest. At first he thought it was a hunter, but he discarded that idea when he saw the Junior Woodchuck uniform and the notebook in his hands.

"Hello!"

Gladstone's greeting caused the boy scout to panic and trip over his scouting equipment.

"You know? If you are going to be in the middle of the forest, you should be more careful and remain on constant alert. You never know what dangers you might encounter".

The boy scout blushed slightly.

"I know, but I got distracted studying the squirrels in that tree. It usually happens to me when I find something I'm passionate about."

"Boring".

Donald gently hit his cousin on the sides. It wasn't painful, but it was annoying.

"Donnie knows a lot about animals, he could help you with the research if you help us get food. I want pizza".

Donald hit Gladstone once more, obtaining the same result.

"I can help you if you don't mind the vegetarian pizza".

"It's pizza and that's all I need to know."

"I also have water and canned food".

"Then we have a deal".

Donald snorted under his breath. He knew his cousin well enough to know that nothing would change his mind and he had seen the boy scout very excited so he considered it cruel to reject him.

"I'll stay eating pizza while you guys can play boy scouts."

Gladstone took Bertie's backpack, not bothering to ask first. The goose found a box with pizza, he was not surprised to see that it was still hot.

"What are you waiting for? It will soon be night".

Donald was preparing to play a prank on his cousin, when he was stopped by the boy scout.

"Are you a Junior Woodchuck?"

"I was a member of the Junior Woodchucks, then a member of the Little Boneheads. I was recently living in one of the Sagebrush Forests and learned a lot about nature and wildlife".

Donald chose to ignore the young scout's expression when he mentioned the Little Boneheads. He was aware of the reputation that group had, in fact he had been transferred due to his bad temperament, but he still felt proud.

"I have always dreamed of traveling to one of Artemis's forests, but they say that she is a vengeful goddess and suspicious of her domains."

"I was there. There are two things she values very much, chastity and the spirit of a warrior. You cannot enter their domain without their permission or hunt without first paying a tribute. It is important to stick a special flower on your prey and if it blooms, it means you have the blessing of Artemis."

"What kind of flower?"

"I don't remember the name, but if you give me your phone number I could find out."

Donald wasn't lying, but that wasn't the only reason he made that proposal.

"Are you a researcher?"

"No, an adventurer. My uncle Scrooge, my sister and I have traveled to all kinds of places and discovered all kinds of treasures".

Donald closed his eyes and focused on the energy of the forest. He could sense the presence of several animals, none that could be used to prepare dinner, but that he considered could be of interest to his companion.

"Would you like to study a unicorn?"

"I would like to, but it is impossible. I know they're real, they appear in the Junior Woodchucks Handbook and the Junior Woodchucks Handbook is never wrong, but it's been years since one was last seen. I'm afraid to say it, but they probably went extinct".

"I found one ten meters away."

Donald began to talk about their adventure in King Haggard's castle and how they had rescued the unicorns. However, he suddenly fell, feeling embarrassed when he noticed a small detail.

"I haven't asked your name. I am Donald Duck".

"And I'm Bertie McGoose, nice to meet you".

V

"It's a shame I can't send you money".

Scrooge was lying. Donald had commented that his uncle had given them little money and he was not wrong, however he had not taken into account that this amount was greater than what his uncle had initially considered and that he had only done it at Duckworth's suggestion.< /p>

"I'm sure you could find a way if you put your mind to it. You are Scrooge McDuck, there is nothing impossible for you".

"I'm sorry... I'm going through a tunnel... I don't hear anything".

Scrooge had taken a ball of paper to imitate the sound of interference, a trick he had used on many occasions like this.

"I know you're using a paper ball and you disappoint me, it's the oldest trick in the manual..."

Scrooge hung up. He knew his nephews and knew that they could complete the mission with ease, regardless of Gladstone's fate.

Finding Glomgold on the other side of the door was something he had not expected.

"I see that you are so stingy that you don't wash your clothes".

It was not unusual for Scrooge to be insulted by Glomgold. It had been that way ever since he had tried to rob her in Africa. Scrooge could not forgive his betrayal and Glomgold could not forget the humiliation he had put him through.

"What do you want, Glomgold?"

"I want to buy your candy factory".

"Sure. Give me a price, double it and add..."

Scrooge stopped talking, thinking how strange this request was. His candy factory wasn't even his most profitable business, especially after the incident with the Beagle Boys. Cleaning the chocolate would cost a fortune and he was considering whether it was worth it.

—Wait, why do you want it?

"Forget that, I'll give you two million dollars".

Glomgold's insistence should have made Scrooge distrustful, but it did not. His rival's offer was tempting and that was enough for him.

"Done. It will cost you more than that to clean it. You were always a bad businessman."

"I have more skill in one finger than you have in your entire wet body."

"That's not true. The day I can't swim in gold coins, I'll eat your silly hat."

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is? Triple challenge."

Scrooge looked back unfortunately at his rival. He was not a child, he knew that Glomgold was provoking him and that it was not good to give in, but his pride was greater and he was not willing to lose.

"What is the regulation?"

Glomgold laughed mockingly, a gesture that made Scrooge even angrier.

"Regulations? No rules, whoever makes the most money out of nothing in two weeks wins, the loser eats my hat."

Scrooge knew Glomgold and knew that he was not someone to trust. He had stolen from him shortly after they met, betrayed him even though he had helped him. Scrooge knew that it was not sensible to accept a bet without rules, but his pride was greater and he could not avoid falling into the trap.

VI

Della and Fethry did not fulfill their task. They had both left the camp and were exploring the forest.

"These branches appear to be of good quality. Tell me, Fethry, do you have the basket weaving badge?"

Fethry shook his head and did not need to add another word. They both began to collect branches and other materials, a task to which they dedicated several hours.

Abner was the first to return to camp, carrying a fairly heavy load of wood. The oldest of the cousins immediately lit a bonfire. Donald and Gladstone arrived shortly after, accompanied by a young man whom Della and Fethry immediately recognized.

"Della, Fethry Did you also come for the birdwatcher's badge?"

"I don't have that badge so I might as well take advantage of the opportunity."

"The same".

"We have a mission. Did they forget?"

Donald couldn't believe what his relatives were saying. The book had given no problems during the trip, but he doubted that would continue for long. Scrooge's protections and his magic did not seem to be enough to contain him.

"It can wait, now our insignia is more important".

"And it's almost nightfall."

"Exactly, we will have to wait for dawn to continue the trip."

Gladstone yawned. Until then he and Abner had limited themselves to witnessing the discussion.

"I will take care of the camp".

"I'll go to sleep, don't wake me up."

Donald snorted under his breath. He went to the trunk of the car and reinforced the protection spells. His relatives were talking to Bertie so he wasn't worried about being discovered.

"There is a robin's nest nearby, 100 meters to the east."
Della looked at her brother suspiciously.

"How do you know?"

Donald was nervous. He knew that his sister was very observant, a quality that his uncle often highlighted, and he was worried that she might become suspicious.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm a Little Bonehead".

"I wouldn't brag about that. Everyone knows that us Junior Woodchucks are better. In second place are the Little Chickadees and lastly the Little Boneheads".

"Nonsense! I bet I can find more species first."

"Is it a bet?"

"It's a bet".

Fethry was the only one who wasn't interested in participating in the twins challenge, but he ended up doing it. He just wanted to get one more badge and spend time with his family.

The rules were simple, everyone would go their separate ways and meet at camp shortly before nightfall. Gathering evidence would not be a problem, they all had a camera.
Bertie had taken her for his research and Gladstone had won several during the beginning of the trip.

"Donald, that is, the loser, will have to do the dance of defeat."

"I'm not going to lose. I will defend the honor of the Little Boneheads."

"You cannot defend what does not exist".

"I don't think they'll think the same when I win".

VII

Bentina's gaze fell on the plane. She knew she shouldn't be surprised, that when it came to Scrooge McDuck that was the norm, however she couldn't stay silent.

"Have you ever considered buying your own airplane?"

"Why would I do something like that? Airplanes are expensive".
Bentina pointed to the airplane, placing special emphasis on its condition.

"I am sure that it works perfectly and that we will travel very comfortably among all that cargo".

Bentina had traveled in worse conditions so she wasn't really concerned about comfort.

"You are an adventurer, I am sure that a personal airplane is more than necessary".

Scrooge would have been very angry if those words had come from anyone else, but Bentina was one of the few people he trusted so he decided to give her a chance.

They both boarded the airplane shortly after and fell asleep almost immediately. That was a long journey and there was not much to do.

Scrooge was the first to wake up and when he did he dedicated himself to checking the map. Bentina looked at the window and only needed a few minutes to reach an alarming conclusion.

"Mr. McDuck, I doubt that this plane took us to Ronguay."

"Are you sure?"

Bentina pointed to the window.

"As you can see from the position of the sun, we are flying in the opposite direction."

"Impossible. It is the cheapest flight to Ronguay, but it is safe. I'll go talk to the pilot."

Scrooge went to the cockpit and called the pilot, but got no answer. He tried to use the communicator, but all he got was a pre-recorded message, something that made him angry.

"I guess it's time to change strategy".

Scrooge hit the door hard and managed to break it down, but that was not the only thing he did. The impact had caused him to lose consciousness.

At first glance there was nothing unusual in the cabin. The pilot was in his seat, ignoring what was happening around him.

Bentina noticed that it was a robot so she hurried to unplug it. A superficial analysis allowed him to discover who had tried to sabotage them.

Scrooge, who had regained consciousness, stood next to him, quickly finding the signature of the culprit.

"I'm not surprised that Glomgold is behind this, but I'm surprised how he found out".

"That doesn't matter now, the airplane is falling."
Bentina sat in the pilot's seat and hurried to maneuver the airplane. She didn't have an aviation license, but it wasn't the first time she had been through a similar situation so she knew exactly what she had to do.

The airplane landed in one piece and that was enough for Scrooge to consider it a successful landing. Seeing the town's inhabitants so desperate to leave the place was something they did not expect.

No one gave it importance. Scrooge was more concerned with winning the bet and locating Glomgold.

"We better go get supplies."

VIII

For Donald the bet was no challenge. In the forest there were a great variety of species of birds and his magic allowed him to find them with great ease. However, that was not the only thing he found.

"What's wrong, Bertie? You look pale. Ready to admit the supremacy of the Little Boneheads?"

Bertie grabbed Donald and pushed him into the bushes.

"He is not the great mogul. He is Sam Boga, leader of a band of guerrillas. I saw it on the news, the government is looking for them for a terrorist attack. You better go back to your camp and get help. I will protect my companions."

Donald concentrated on the Junior Woodchucks camp.

Donald concentrated on the camp.

"There are eleven children and four adults. The children and the mogul are locked in the third tent, one of the terrorists is watching them. Two are in the second store and the last one is in front of us".
Bertie sighed in relief.

"They are alive. I'll go free them."

"I can help you".

Rescuing them was not debatable, although Donald did not know how. The idea of using was on his mind and he would have done it if it hadn't been for Bertie. He had an idea.

"I just saw some midnight flowers, you can use them to prepare a powerful sleeping pill. I could make a bomb and throw it, but it would give us away".

"I'm a hunter, I can shoot them if I can get smaller arrows."

"I recently met a bushman and he taught me a couple of tricks. Look for your relatives while I make the tranquilizer arrows."

"I'm not going to leave you alone".

"Della and Fethry don't know anything, they could run into the terrorists and they would be in trouble".

Donald could not contradict his partner. His gaze fell on the camp, the Young Beavers were still tied, but he doubted they would be harmed because they needed them alive if they wanted to negotiate with the government.

"I guess you're right. I'll be back soon, don't do anything reckless."

IX

The landing was violent. Scrooge and Bentina had even ended up falling, but the airplane was still functional and they were alive for what Scrooge considered a successful landing.

The richest duck in the world analyzed the place with his eyes. He found no sign of Glomgold, but he did see a crowd that seemed to be in a hurry.

"Did he say… Monzuppes?"

"That's what I thought. Do you know what it is?"

"It's probably a party."

"I doubt it. Those people seemed scared, I would even say terrified."

Nonsense. People usually react that way when it's a party, especially if there's liquor".

Bentina did not seem entirely convinced, but preferred not to press the issue. The two headed to the nearest store, discovering that there was little merchandise and that the owner seemed to be in a hurry to close. Those details would have worried Scrooge if there weren't treasure and a bet involved.

The first incident was with some quicksand. Scrooge had walked on them and was not aware of it until it was too late.

Neither of them had seen a warning sign, but it was not due to carelessness. Glomgold had been there shortly before and had removed it.

Bentina knew Scrooge McDuck and knew that he was capable of great feats, but for a moment she came to believe that this was the end of him and that there was nothing she could do for him.

The richest duck in the world managed to get out thanks to his searching equipment. He didn't have any injuries, but he did look upset. The reason, the poster in his hands.

This reeks of Glomgold.

"Do you think it could be close?"

"I'm sure, although I don't know how he found out about the treasure. Bentina, we must be alert. I know Glomgold and he won't stop so easily."

X

Donald needed a few minutes to be able to use the weapon that Bertie had made. He had used a similar one when he was at summer camp so it wasn't a problem.

The magician concentrated and let his magic flow.
He could feel his relatives nearby, their gazes on him and how tense they were. Donald could feel the gang members and how upset they were. The latter worried him because he feared that the hostages would be the ones who would pay the consequences.

"What are you waiting for?"

Donald expected a mistake. He knew the sleeping pill was effective, but he didn't want to do anything that would alert them.

"Don't talk, you're distracting me."

Donald fired and hit the target. He noticed how one of the gang members reacted and shot him immediately.
The magician looked for the other criminals and it was so easy to knock them out. They did not suspect anything so they had no opportunity to defend themselves.

"That was the last one. Now we can go to camp".

"Are you sure?"

"He didn't hear anything, if anyone was awake, they would be looking for us".

"Let's go get my companions, they must be terrified".
Bertie ran to the camp and confirmed what Donald had said. He looked for his companions while Donald, Della and Fethry were in charge of tying up the guerrillas.

"Bertie…"

"I know and don't worry". They are unconscious and the police are on their way.

The mogul looked surprised and relieved.

"How…?"

"I had help".

Bertie smiled as he remembered Donald, he was really impressed by the courage he had shown.

The police did not take long to arrive. They knew that the guerrillas were nearby so they were around the area.

"What they did was reckless and very risky".

"And very impressive."

"True, very impressive. In my entire career as a Junior Woodchuck I have never seen anything like this. You have all earned several badges".

"I am a Little Bonehead".

The Junior Woodchucks did not hide the displeasure they felt upon hearing that phrase, but none of them said even a word about it.

"I guess I'll talk to one of the people in charge so you can receive your badges."

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: The Treasure of the Golden Suns

I

Scrooge's gaze rested on the sky, he could notice how the sky was beginning to cloud over. It didn't seem to be a simple drizzle.

"We should look for shelter before it starts to rain. It looks like there will be a storm".
Scrooge knew that Mrs. Beakley was right. The sky was beginning to darken even though it was a long time before nightfall and I could recognize the signs of a storm. However, her opinion was very different from that of her partner.

"Glomgold won't seek shelter and neither will I."

Bentina sighed softly. She knew Scrooge well enough to know that it was useless to try to change his mind.
However, Scrooge and Mrs. Beakley decided to pause. The llama needed to rest and eat something, so they both decided to take advantage of that opportunity to check the map.

"We don't have much time".

Bentina remembered the bet between the two millionaires and assumed that was the reason why Scrooge was impatient. She didn't believe her boss needed that treasure to win the bet.

"I remember that years ago I heard a very curious story in a bar. It was about a strange event that occurred every hundred years, heavy rains and storms that occur every 100 years and flood the desert".

Scrooge and Bentina exchanged glances. They both shared a similar opinion.

"The map is a century old, but it does not match the landscape".

"Do you think we are in the wrong place?"

Normally Scrooge was incapable of admitting that he was wrong, but this time it was different. They had both searched for hours and the lack of results was beginning to demotivate them.

"I think Monozobi is not a party, but that phenomenon you heard about at the bar".

Scrooge's gaze rested on the sky, paying special attention to the news. He could sense that what was about to begin was not a simple rain, but he still had his doubts. It seemed unlikely to him that a story heard so long ago would have the answer to the situation he found himself in.

Seeing the llama trying to escape with the supplies was enough to make Scrooge abandon his thoughts. The billionaire began to chase the flame, he was not willing to lose the money invested.
Scrooge smiled as he mounted the llama. It had turned out to be easier than he had imagined. Or at least that's what he thought. The flame threw him to the ground and he escaped before he could get to his feet.
The billionaire cursed under his breath. Bentina didn't give it much importance.

"We must find that llama as soon as possible. I spent a lot of money on those supplies".

II

"I'm bored".

Della lay down on the car seat. Normally she enjoyed teasing her brother and adventures, but that wasn't the case.

"We're on a mission, remember?"

Della complained under her breath. That wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.

"We've been driving for hours and nothing has happened".

"I don't see the problem. It's a nice change after encountering a gang of guerrilleros".

Della lamented once more.

"Boring. I want adventure, danger, excitement, drama".

"I want to rest"Abner commented boredly.

"Boring!"

"I have an idea!" Fethry commented and all eyes fell on him. Donald was somewhat distrustful.

"What do you think about some rules? Rule number one, don't use roads, rule number two, take every detour that appears, no matter how sudden. Rule number three, only visit dark and unknown places and rule number four, we will have fun and laugh without spending money".

"It sounds fun, but we're on a mission. We must go to the volcano at the end of the world".

Della and Gladstone were more excited than Donald and Abner.

"All roads lead to the end of the world so I don't see the problem. Let's do it!"

"But…"

"It will be fun!"

"We could do it later."

"And we will do it!"

"You worry too much, Donnie. With my luck guiding us we can do both".

Donald sighed softly, knowing it was a losing battle.

"In that case I have a rule. We must not deviate too much from our route".

"Boring!"

"Della, it's serious. I don't know how long I can hold the book".

All eyes were on Donald and he knew he had made a mistake.

The artifact that Scrooge had given them was not enough, so Donald had to resort to several containment spells. The wizard did not know if it was a way to stop them or if the damage the book had suffered was too great, but he did know that it had to be destroyed. The torn book was even more dangerous than it had been when it was in good condition.

"It's not like I'm doing anything, it's just that I'm worried that the trunk or Scrooge's gadget might contain it."

III

The rain had started. What started as a small drizzle threatened to become a storm.

"I learned to do this when I went hunting in Borneo. It is called the Malaysia umbrella."

The water had formed several puddles. Scrooge and Bentina suspected that the place could flood at any moment.

"We better look for shelter."

"What about Glomgold? I know he's still out there, planning something against us".

"Then we will do the same. Don't worry, I have a plan".

IV

"The city looks deserted. Maybe the locals are having lunch".

Della had her doubts. Part of her believed that something strange was happening, another that it was just her desire for an adventure.

"All at the same time?"

"So what? What matters is that we are together."

Della thought her brother was right and felt guilty for not having thought about it. It had been so long since he had spent time with his relatives and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to have some fun.

"Right, Don, now let's find a place to rest and continue."

Donald was in charge of looking for a place to leave the car, an opportunity he took advantage of to reinforce the containment spells.

The group of cousins continued to advance. Gladstone was the first to find a place where they could rest.

"This hotel doesn't look bad".

Abner, Fethry and Della thought the same as Gladstone. Donald, however, had a different opinion.

"And maybe expensive".

Donald was the first to leave in search of another hotel. It didn't take them long to find it.

"What about this one?"

The reactions were the same as in the previous hotel.

"No. I found the perfect place."

On that occasion Donald was the only one who agreed. Gladstone, Fethry, Abner and Della did not seem entirely convinced.

"Good afternoon! How much does a room for three cost?"

"If you're brave enough, five dollars per person, per night."

That answer was enough to change Della's opinion. The hotel seemed to lack many amenities, but the receptionist's words sounded like a challenge.

"We take it".

The woman looked at them with regret, a gesture that only Della noticed.

"This place is quiet and so is the whole city."

Della hoped her brother was wrong.

"So what? They arrived when I go to bed".

"Do you go to bed at seven? Is it a healthy lifestyle?"

The cousins ​​laughed when they heard Gladstone's words. The receptionist, on the other hand, seemed annoyed.

"Bah! Take the keys and leave."

The ducks headed to the room they had been assigned. Gladstone was horrified to see the room they would have to share.

"The other hotel looked better".

"And expensive".

"But…"

"Gladstone, remember the rules."

Gladstone complained under his breath.

"The room is not that bad".

Abner lay down on one of the beds. He didn't seem to mind the room. He had a place to sleep and that was all I wanted.

"That's what you think".

"What Donald means is that there is nothing worse than this".

Gladstone agreed with Fethry, but that wasn't the problem. He was used to luxury and was sure they could have gotten something much better.

"Where does the music come from?"

Donald and Della leaned on the balcony. Both of their faces reflected surprise.

"Wow!"

There were many people in the streets. Some were dancing, others were talking or eating, but it was clear that a festival was taking place.

"Maybe everyone uses the same alarm clock".

Everyone turned around when they heard the snoring. The oldest of the cousins ​​had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

"I want to sleep too," Donald commented before lying down on one of the unoccupied beds.

"But I don't want to sleep," Gladstone complained. The festival was the only thing that interested him about that place.

Donald and Abner were snoring.

"Patience, Glady, we'll leave in an hour."

The music continued. Gladstone thought the celebration would last all night.

"You're right, some rest will keep us awake".

"That's the spirit! I'll go take a bath and see you later."

V

It was frustrating for Glomgold to see how all his plans ended in failure. He had managed to seize the airplane in which Scrooge would travel, but that did not prevent him and Bentina from reaching their destination. He had managed to trick Scrooge into falling into the quicksand, but he had managed to escape. He didn't know what to think about the last plan, because of a flame he had to save the life of his nemesis.

Glomgold never believed a flame could cause so much trouble. The animal had eaten the copy of the map, leaving them without any clue.

"What do you propose? Follow Scrooge until he finds the treasure?"

"That old fossil wouldn't even catch a cold at the North Pole. No, I have a better idea".

Finding Scrooge and Bentina's refuge was not difficult. It was night so they both assumed they were asleep and that stealing the boat would be very easy.
The darkness made moving around difficult. No one could see anything and finding the map seemed almost impossible.

"Where is the ship?"

"The ship is not here."

Glomgold and companion fall into Mrs. Beakley's trap. They both ended up hanging upside down.

"Goodbye to the surprise factor".

VI

"Fethry, Donald and Abner woke up, let's go".

Gladstone and Della were eager to join the festival.

"Now that I rested, I can go party."

"Great. I hope the party lasts until dawn".

The cousins went out into the street, but what they found was very different from what they had imagined.

"What…? What is this desert?"

There was no music and there were no people celebrating either.

"I knew this would happen".

Donald and Abner looked confused. None of them remembered having slept for so long.

"Maybe they went to bed…?"

"Everyone?! At nine?!"

The cousins sighed. The party was over and there was nothing they could do to change it.

"There are no stores open and I'm cold."

"Time to ask my luck for assistance."

Gladstone walked a few steps and stretched her hands to her sides. His face showed a concentration that was unusual for him.

"Oh, my great star! Find a fun place… not too far away."

"What are you saying?"

Fethry was confused.

"Let it work."

"Let's go this way... I feel like I'll find something."

The ducks walked for several minutes, passing through several closed premises.

"Here, I see an open restaurant."

It was the only restaurant open in the area.

"Incredible."

Fethry was the first to run, however his relatives were not far behind.

"Hello! I want a pineapple pizza, sour cream, chocolate, beans, vanilla ice cream and onion".

"Together?"

The waiter looked confused and a little disgusted so Gladstone decided to intervene.

"Don't listen to him, we want five pizzas with tomato sauce, mushrooms and mozarella".

"I want it with pineapple and anchovies."

"Let the fifth pizza have pineapple and anchovies".

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Five Duckcolas."

The ducks looked for a table where they could sit. It didn't take them long to find one, conveniently located next to the window.

"Gladstone, your luck always surprises me".

"You have to help your luck, being optimistic and confident".

VII

The first thing Scrooge noticed when he left the cave was that everything was flooded. What were once mountains were now small islands.

"I guess this was the view they had 100 years ago".

Scrooge was beginning to regain his optimism. He and Mrs. Beakley continued walking, entering the cave and encountering something very unlikely.
In that place there was a sunken ship and the treasure. It was a lot of gold, Scrooge estimated more than three tons of gold.

"I won, Glomgold!"

Scrooge was almost sorry that Glomgold was trapped. He wanted to see his defeated expression, but knew he had to settle for the moment when the bet was over.

"Any idea how to get out of here?"

Scrooge pointed to the gold. He had never stopped smiling.

"I think we have enough material for a few repairs".

Scrooge and Beakley repair the ship using gold. None of them had experience handling gold, but they felt they had done a decent job.

"Look, all mountains are islands. It makes sense that we didn't know them."

Scrooge and Mrs. Beakley used the cannon to make their way. They both advanced until they left the cave, certain of victory. That feeling would soon disappear.
The captain and Glomgold had managed to escape and were willing to take the gold, even if they had to resort to violence to do so.
Scrooge and Mrs. Beakley had no choice but to abandon ship and board a small lifeboat.

"You will pay me, Glomgold".

Scrooge was upset and felt humiliated. He wanted revenge, he longed for his enemy to feel what he was feeling. He wanted revenge.

Glomgold laughed mockingly, which fueled the anger he felt.

"Now I'm the richest duck in the world, try to surpass me whenever you want, but I don't want you to leave empty-handed. Here, don't say I'm not a good winner".
Glomgold threw a coin at Scrooge, hitting him square in the face. That gesture not only provoked Scrooge's anger.

"You have thrown away my gold, my gold. Get off the boat. You are of no use to me."

The captain tried to get Glomgold off the boat, but the billionaire was not willing to give in so easily. The two began to struggle, sinking the ship in the process. One cannon shot was all it took to destroy a vessel more than a century old.

Scrooge managed to save Glomgold, but found no trace of the captain.

"It seems that no one has won".

Scrooge couldn't help but smile. He could taste revenge and he loved it.

"What are you talking about?"

Glomgold looked confused. The captain had gone down with the ship and the treasure. His face went from confusion to indignation as he understood what was happening.

Scrooge showed him the coin he had given him shortly before, the last thing that remained of the treasure.

"Are you still thinking the same thing?"

Glomgold took his hat and began to eat it.

VIII

The car had run out of fuel so they decided to stop and take a break. Fethry was eating ice cream when he saw a group of teenagers running. They didn't seem scared, quite the opposite.

"A famous magician in the city!"

"It's Red Diamond!"

Fethry didn't know who Red Diamond was, but he had heard that he was a famous wizard and that was enough to get his attention.

"Let's see!"

Della was the only one who seemed to share Fethry's enthusiasm.

"Do you mean the magician who controls fire magic that can be bought in stores...?"

"Oh, it's very popular! He asked me what it will be like".

Finding the magician was not difficult. There was a fairly large crowd around a tall man with a thick beard. He wore a cape and a staff adorned with details of red flames.

"My heart is beating too fast," commented Donald, who had brought his hands up to his chest. "Is it because he is a famous magician? Is that why my heart is beating so fast?"

Della noticed her brother's behavior, but it didn't seem strange to her. She just laughed and paid attention to the magician.

"We're having a party on the boat tonight. Please come. It will be on my private yacht".

"A party on a yacht? We have to go".

Fethry, Abner and Della agreed with Gladstone. Donald had disappeared.

IX

"No, it can't be. It is a coin from the treasure of golden suns."

Scrooge hastened to recover his coin. It was the answer he expected, but I preferred to pretend distrust.

"It can't be. That treasure is just a legend".

Scrooge needed to be sure before acting. There was a lot of money involved and he didn't like to lose it.

"Maybe. This is the second coin that has come to light."

"I found a ship full of coins. If the legend is true I could find it. Where is the other coin?"

Scrooge holds the expert's coat, he needed answers and doubted he could get them any other way.

"Hidden in a mountain in the Andes and the owner hates tourists."

Scrooge released his grip on the man. From the antique dealer's reaction, he seemed to think that was a problem.

"Yes, but he has never faced Scrooge McDuck."

X

Donald was missing.

His relatives had tried to call him, but got no answer. They asked everyone they met, but no one knew anything.

"Impossible! Donald couldn't just disappear without a trace".

Della was worried. She wanted to think that her brother was strong, but she knew of his bad luck and his temper so she wouldn't be surprised if he had problems or that he had gotten involved in something he couldn't deal with.

"We were at his side. It is impossible for it to disappear."

"Oh, my star! Lead me to my grumpy cousin".

Gladstone walked in front, leading her cousins. The security he felt disappeared when they reached a yacht.

"Are you serious?" Della demanded.

She also wanted to attend the yacht party, but she didn't think this was the time.

"I'm worried about Donald. If my luck guided us there, there must be some reason."

Della considered Gladstone's luck to be infallible, but she had her doubts. It wouldn't be the first time that his cousin put his selfish desires before the needs of others.

"It seemed to me that Donald was very interested in the magician".

Abner, Gladstone and Della looked surprised at Fethry's words. No one had considered that option.

"Donald doesn't like magic. I know my brother and I know that he hates her almost as much as Scrooge".

"But maybe he does like the magician. He seemed... in love".

Della started laughing.

—That's absurd, he doesn't...

"Maybe you don't know your brother as well as you think."

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: The cousins' great trip

I

Minnie sat down and began to check her map. A meow from Figaro was enough to get his attention. She took a cookie from her bag and handed it to her pet. The witch had anticipated that her trip might be long so she brought some snacks, unfortunately, that was the last one she had left.
The thought of returning to her apartment crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Her people were counting on her and it had been so long since she last had any relevant information.

"If our information is correct, Red Diamond must be in this city. Let's go!"

That was a town dedicated to fishing, less than 10% was dedicated to magic, but several rumors indicated that that place was the place where the magician he was looking for was located.

The sound of a group of women talking caught her attention. It wasn't difficult to locate them, the crowd was quite noisy and growing quickly.

"Did they say Red Diamond?"

Minnie smiled when she heard her pet's meow. Those young women were talking about a fire magician and she could only think of her master when she heard those words.

Her heart was filled with joy and hope. She firmly believed that Red Diamond was the only one who could help her, but that was not the only reason for her happiness. She missed him and was really worried about the reason he disappeared.

"Do you mean the magician who controls fire magic that can be bought in stores...?"

"Oh, it's very popular! I asked me what he will be like.
The women ran away, joining the crowd. It was impossible to ignore the place where the magician was. There was a rather loud crowd that ignored it.

"Looks like we've finally found it."

Minnie approached the group. She saw an older man, tall and with a full beard, someone who didn't match the description of the wizard she was looking for. Her heart raced despite the disappointment she felt.

She didn't understand it. She should be furious, there was a wizard posing as her teacher, probably dirtying her name, but she could only feel something very close to love. She liked that magician a lot.

A duck pushed her causing her to fall to the ground. Minnie was about to complain to him when she noticed how blushing he was and the way he was holding his chest. Everything made sense to her in that moment. Her contradictory feelings had a reason and she felt foolish for not considering it.
However, this was not the time to think about it. The expression of absolute adoration on the face of the duck that had pushed her made her think the worst.

"Wait!"

Minnie's words were ignored, but it didn't matter. She knew where she was going and the reason for her behavior.

"I'm sorry, Figaro, but it looks like we'll have to change our plans. That wizard needs us."

II

Scrooge McDuck visited the S.H.U.S.H headquarters early in the morning. His goal was to get an airplane that would allow him to travel to the place where the second coin was located and he wanted to get it as soon as possible. Scrooge McDuck didn't like to wait, especially when there was treasure involved.

"Mr. McDuck, what a pleasant surprise to have you here".

It was unusual for Scrooge McDuck to enter the S.H.U.S.H facilities, even though he was an active member. Officially he was not part of the organization, he was not a spy, but he was a close friend of J. Gander Hooter, director of the Saint Canard section, and Ludwig von Drake, director of the Duckburg section.

"I've come to get some equipment. I need an airplane that looks like a condor."

"Can we know the reason for this strange request?"

"No".

It wasn't distrust, Scrooge simply considered that providing that information was unnecessary and he hated wasting time.

"I understand. Follow me, our scientists will finish your order in a few weeks."

Scrooge's face showed annoyance. That was the most logical answer, but not the one he wanted.

"Weeks? I need it for tomorrow."

The billionaire didn't want to give Glomgold a chance. He had been especially careful to avoid any leaks of information, but he knew that one could never be too careful when it came to his rival. His latest adventure was proof of this.

Agent 55's face looked horrified, a reaction that was not unknown to Scrooge McDuck. It was not something that bothered him, on the contrary, because it was a reaction that he intentionally sought.

"But…"

Scrooge's gaze intensified, his expression was threatening. Words were not necessary.

"I can wait until tomorrow, but that's all."

The agent shivered. He had had to deal with the billionaire in the past so he knew it wasn't a good idea to keep him waiting. Everyone in S.H.U.S.H knew it.

"I understand. We will start working immediately. Rest assured that your airplane will be available tomorrow."

"I hope so."

Scrooge McDuck left without waiting for a response.

III

Abner hated crowds. That was one of the main reasons why he had gone to live in a forest. He enjoyed the solitude and peaceful life in the country. However, his cousin had disappeared without saying anything and that worried him.

"My luck is infallible, I'm sure. If we haven't found Donnie it's because there's nothing we need to worry about."

Abner had his doubts. He loved his cousin, but he knew that Gladstone often only thought of himself and that his luck was not perfect.

Thinking about Daphne was painful. She and her husband had died at a picnic, many claimed that the luck she was so proud of had been the cause of her tragic fate. Some even claimed that Lady Fortune had abandoned her in favor of Gladstone or that he had stolen her luck. Abner hated that kind of comment.

"But Donald's luck is the worst. Sometimes I think it's stronger than your good luck".

"Impossible. There is nothing more powerful than my luck."

"Maybe it's at the Duck-Colas stand."
Gladstone raised an eyebrow in disbelief, even looking offended.

"Why would there be a Duck-Cola stand on a yacht?"

"Because they are delicious."

"Yes, but it's not the kind of drinks a magician like Red Diamond would have."

Abner, Della and Fethry seemed to have a different opinion.

"Do you know Red Diamond?"

"It's the first time I've heard your name, but an elegant duck like me knows about style, elegance and luxury. I bet Donald couldn't wait and must be out there having fun".

Gladstone smirked. He was not only proud of his luck, but also of the luxuries he used to have access to. He had appeared in fashion magazines on more than one occasion and always bragged about it when he had the opportunity.

"I know what I'm talking about, after all a month ago I did a collaboration with Gucci and appeared on the cover of Ducks magazine".

Abner snorted under his breath. He wasn't in the mood for that kind of conversation, and he knew his cousin well enough to know that it could go on for hours.

"Or getting a date. I saw him very interested in that magician."

All eyes fell on Fethry and, for the first time, they were not looks of disbelief. Abner thought that made sense. While it was true that he was worried that Donald had disappeared without saying anything, he also had to admit that his cousin tended to avoid responsibilities. He had often run away from the farm to avoid Grandma's chores, and he remembered Della telling him about the time Donald had become king of the pumpkin people.

Fethry was the first to see Donald and even tried to get his attention. Donald ignored him. The duck continued walking next to Red Diamond.

"I've never seen him like this, he seems dazed".

It was impossible to ignore the way Donald saw the wizard. The nervous gestures, the blush on her cheeks and the admiration in her eyes, everything revealed a feeling of intense love.

"I'm not surprised. I think that if my brother wants to look for a boyfriend, we should do the same."

All eyes fell on Della.

"I don't want a boyfriend, I want to have fun and we're at a party."

"On a luxury yacht. I propose something to you, let's meet here at midnight."

"Why at midnight?"

"Because the hotel closes ten minutes later."

IV

Duckworth went through his list. A smile appeared on his face when he saw that he had finished most of his work, but it was erased when he saw what was next. He knew his boss well enough to know what to expect.

"Mr. McDuck, are you ready for the dance?"

The billionaire looked up, his face showing boredom.

"What dance?"

That was the answer Duckworth expected, but not the one he wanted. The billionaire seemed to ignore everything that was not related to adventures or increasing his already considerable fortune.

"The Fleur de Lis dance."

Scrooge's face did not change. Again, that was the answer Duckworth was expecting. The butler considered it ironic how little importance his boss gave to the billionaires' club, especially considering everything he did to be part of it.

"The Billionaires Club Charity Ball".
Scrooge's face took on an expression of displeasure.

"Charity? Those old people don't know that word. The only thing they are looking for is an excuse to pay less taxes and in the process clean up their public image. They're just hypocrites".

Duckworth had a similar opinion to his boss. Scrooge was not the first billionaire he had dealt with. The butler school had given him a lot of bad experiences and strengthened the bad image he had of the members of that club.

"Glomgold will be there".

Duckworth knew Scrooge well enough to know that he couldn't ignore his words. Scrooge McDuck's dislike of Flinheart Glomgold was greater than his dislike of the billionaires' club parties.

"I bet he's planning something. Duckworth, prepare my best suit for tonight's gala."

Duckworth said nothing. He had gotten what he wanted and that was enough for him. His smile said it all.

V

Donald was nervous. Red Diamond had asked him to wait for him in one of the yacht's many rooms. The magician had told him that he wanted to talk to him alone and he couldn't help but create thousands of scenarios in his head, each one more fanciful than the last.

Donald took the weekly magazine “The Enchantress” in an attempt to distract himself and make the wait less overwhelming. A smile appeared on his face when he saw that it was a magazine specialized in magic. He was a magician, but he couldn't get many items due to his limited budget and Scrooge McDuck.
Donald was aware of how much his uncle hated magic and he didn't want him to hate him too.

"Fairy Tail has caused problems again. They destroyed the lair of the great family of thieves. But they also destroyed seven other citizens' houses".

Donald started laughing. Not because he was amused that seven families had lost their homes, but because he was close to the scene and knew what had really happened.

On that occasion he had not been able to see any magician, but he had been able to see the consequences of his actions. Scrooge had been so happy to learn that the destroyed lair belonged to the Beagle Boys that he offered to pay for the damage.

Donald knew it wasn't free, his uncle never gave anything away, but he had to admit it was a win-win deal.

"There's a poster of Samantha from Fairy Tail! I wonder if a girl like her is reckless."

Donald's gaze fell on the door. Red Diamond had told him that he had to fulfill a few hosting duties before meeting him.

"What does it take to get into Fairy Tail? Will I have to learn some very strong magic? I wonder if I'll have to go to an interview?"

"I can help you. I don't know if you know this, but I'm Red Diamond from Fairy Tail".

Donald was startled, he had been so focused on the magazine that he had not seen it arrive.
While it was true that he was only curious about this coven, Red Diamond's words made him want it more than anything in the world.

"Really? I have been told that covens are essential for a magician and I am just beginning my training".

"It's serious. I know talent when I see it and you are much more than a pretty face".

Donald blushed when he heard those words. He couldn't explain it, but there was something in him, a desire that he couldn't explain, that made him want to receive praise from that man, that drove him to seek his company.

"What is your name?"

Donald looked down. His heart had raced and he felt unusually shy.

"Donald, sir."

"Donald, huh? It's a nice name."

The smile on the duck's face grew bigger. The young man covered his face in an attempt to hide his condition.

"Thank you."

Red Diamond took out a glass and a bottle of wine from the mini-bar. At first Donald didn't give it any importance. He knew that the magician was of age so he assumed that they were just for him.

"Let's have some toast with wine first."

"But I'm a minor".

Donald regretted it as soon as he said those words. Denying something to the magician in front of him felt so wrong.

"Okay, okay. I just felt like I wanted to drink with you."

Donald felt guilty. He didn't want to drink, but there was a voice inside him that urged him to obey without asking.

"Try opening your mouth. The pearls of wine will enter slowly."

The magician brought the cup to his beak. He was clearly not willing to take no for an answer, and Donald wasn't sure he could say no again.

"It's so cool!"

Those words had been enough to break all his hopes. Donald had prepared to accept the drink when he saw it fall to the ground and break into a thousand pieces.

The cup fell to the ground, breaking into a thousand pieces.

"What are you planning?"

Minnie was screaming. Donald was sure it was the first time he had seen her and Red Diamond looked unusually happy.

"My girl, I'm sorry for neglecting you. If you want you can stay here and keep us company".

Red Diamond prepared to pour other drinks. However, the response he received was not what he expected.

"Why would I do something like that?"

Red Diamond did not stop smiling, even though his eyes showed anger. It was clear that this was not the answer he was expecting. Donald didn't know who Minnie was, but he already felt like he hated her.

"Because if you don't, I'll be sad."

Red Diamond pretended to be crying. Donald stood up, it was more than he could tolerate. The wizard couldn't understand why those words affected him so much and he certainly didn't care. All he could think about was that someone was hurting Red Diamond's feelings and that he had to act.

Donald repaired the glass with a spell and stood up.

"You should be kinder. Mr. Red Diamond only offered you a drink."

"That's a sleeping pill, right?"

Red Diamond looked offended.

"That's absurd. Why would I do something like that?"

Donald not only believed Red Diamond, but also struck an offensive pose.

"Using a spell to get admirers is horrible, mean, and illegal."

Donald agreed with Minnie, but thought there was no way Red Diamond could do something like that.

"Donald, she wants to come between our love. Capture her".

Donald obeyed. He summoned his wand and cast his first spell, Megaflare. Minnie made no attempt to dodge him. That took him by surprise.

"You're a bad girl. If you had just let him sleep, you wouldn't have to get hurt."

Donald felt a little guilty when he saw Minnie surrounded by flames. He didn't want to hurt her, but his entire being demanded that he obey Red Diamond, he couldn't think about anything other than his happiness.
A group of men entered the room. They smiled as soon as they saw him, completely ignoring the burning woman.

"Oh, good job, Red Diamond. We haven't had a boy in a while and this one is especially handsome."

"And the young girls out there are beauties."

"He is mine. I can't let go of such a powerful wizard."
Donald wanted to trust Red Diamond, but it was hard to ignore those words. There was no room for misinterpretation. His gaze fell on Minnie once more and he noticed that she... was eating the fire.

"Thank you for the food, I was hungry."

Everyone present seemed confused. Donald felt somewhat relieved and also confused. All he could think was that nothing made sense.

"Who are you?!"

"They must be accomplices of that magician and he is using you."

Donald's gaze fell on Red Diamond. He could feel how his feelings diminished and even how the admiration he felt turned into displeasure.

"Do you feel like love is decreasing? That's because that spell has a weakness, it's weaker the more you know about it."

Love disappeared. Donald was sure that everything he had experienced was the fault of magic and he could feel nothing but disgust and repulsion for the man in front of him. He felt used and hated it.

"Welcome to our slave ship. I'll have to ask you to be quiet until we get to Bosco."

"Huh?"

"I already told you it's a slave ship. I brought you as a commodity from the beginning. Just give up".

"What?"

That was much more than Donald expected. He knew Red Diamond was up to no good, but he still had trouble understanding his level of evil.

"Oh?"

"You had a good idea, Red Diamond, when girls are influenced by magic, they will praise us just so we can turn them into our merchandise".

Minnie and Donald acquired offensive poses. Red Diamond did not seem to care about the actions of his subordinates. It was evident that he still trusted his spell.

"It seems that the spell has lost its effect... we will have to train them a little".

Both henchmen laughed sinisterly. Donald tightened his grip on his wand. Minnie, next to him, also looked furious.

"Let me mark you as the slave that you are, first it will be a little hot, but you must endure it. Do it for me".

"You know the spell no longer works, right?"

The smile on Red Diamond's face disappeared and, for the first time, he looked worried.

"I'm Red Diamond from Fairy Tail, are you sure you want to face me? It is useless to resist".

"I'm Minnie from Fairy Tail and I've never seen you before."
Minnie showed a mark on her shoulder. Donald recognized her instantly, it was the same one he had seen in the magazine. The men in front of him did as well. They looked noticeably scared.

"What…!!! That tattoo"

"It's true, Merlock!!"

"Idiot!!! Don't call me by that name!!"

Minnie covered her hands in flames and launched herself into the attack. Her fists knocked out the henchmen with ease.

Donald knew that she could defeat them easily, but she couldn't stand by and do nothing. He shouted one of the few combat spells he knew and threw a block of ice at the imposter. None of the attacks were fatal, but the enemies were seriously wounded.

VI

Scrooge was bored. The party had turned out to be everything He expected and more. Several of the partners took the podium, talking for hours about the donations they made and how they would benefit many people.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: The volcano at the end of the world

I

There were times when Reginella thought her life had started two months ago, even if a part of her thought it was absurd.
None of her memories were older than two months and Reginella was unable to imagine her life outside the bubble in which she found herself, however, she was unable to feel that place as a home.
Everything there was unknown, foreign and sometimes disturbing, but that was not the biggest of her problems. She felt like something was missing and that something was very important, even if she couldn't remember what it was.
The loneliness was painful. Reginella could see the sea creatures that inhabited the surroundings, but could not interact with them. On more than one occasion she wondered if she was trapped inside a bubble, if that was the punishment for some crime she committed.
The fairy had tried to get out on numerous occasions, she wanted to look for what she was missing, but all her attempts ended in failure.

II

Scrooge decided to call his nephews before his adventure with Goldie. It had been a long time since he had last contacted them and he thought it prudent to make a call.

"We're bored. All we have done is travel and look for supplies."

Scrooge had his doubts. He knew that Donald was usually the more level-headed of the twins, but he also knew how easy he was to manipulate and how reckless Della could be. She always ended up in trouble, even if she didn't look for it.

"Are you telling me the truth, Donald? Because all I can hear are lies."

Donald remained silent and that made Scrooge's suspicions increase. Lately he had the suspicion that his niece was hiding something from him and that it was something big.

"Donald, turn on the speaker".

Donald was silent for a few moments, something that made Scrooge's suspicions increase. Della and Donald were not his children, but he knew them and loved them as if they were.

"Donald, turn on the speaker."

"Donald left us to go have fun. Fethry thought she was trying to impress a wizard, but she was flirting with someone else".

The word “wizard” caught Scrooge's attention, but he let it go when he heard that it was just a misunderstanding.

"That's not true!"

Scrooge smiled as he heard Donald's response. He sounded embarrassed, something that reminded him of Hortense when she was asked about Quackmore.

"You left without saying anything, but I'm glad you didn't get involved with that wizard, he wasn't trustworthy".

"No magician can be trusted".

Some time later, Scrooge would regret those words.

"But he was much worse. I spoke to one of the police officers who arrived at the yacht. I think his name was Merlock and he led a human trafficking gang".

Scrooge was horrified and for the first time considered going after his nephews. While it was true that they had proven their worth in the many adventures they had, he was beginning to believe that they were not ready for the mission he had given them.

"Merlock? That name seems familiar to me. Isn't he an adult?"

The teenagers were silent for a few moments, something Scrooge took as a sign that he was not wrong.

"Yes".

"And it didn't seem strange or dangerous to you?"

Scrooge could sense the answer and he didn't like it. It was at times like that that he remembered that his nephews were teenagers.

"That magician seemed to be a celebrity, we didn't think he paid any attention to Donald".

"Where are You?"

The nephews took a while to respond. Scrooge could imagine the reason for the delay.

"Gladstone and Abner are with us."

Those words were enough to convince Scrooge. Knowing that there were two adults involved, even if Gladstone wasn't the most mature, made me feel more confident.

"You said Donald was flirting with someone else… please tell me he wasn't an adult".

"She was a cute little mouse, she didn't seem to be much older."

III

Minnie returned to Fairy Tail shortly after her encounter with Donald. She smiled as she saw all her coven mates chatting amiably. One of the things she loved most about Fairy Tail was that they made her feel like part of a family from the first moment.

"We are at home."

"Minnie, Figaro, welcome,” Samantha greeted her with a sincere smile, which faded when she saw her friend's expression. Come sit down, I'll buy you a drink.

Minnie accompanied Samantha to the table she shared with Mickey, Daisy and Goofy.

"You seem discouraged. What happened?"

"I didn't find Red Diamond. The magician they were talking about was an impostor".

Samantha, Mickey, Daisy and Goofy were outraged as soon as they heard those words. Minnie knew that the anger would be greater once they heard the rest of the story and that they would know it even if they didn't say anything.

"I think his name is Merlock. He used a love spell to recruit witches".

"Merlock?"

"Do you know him?"

"No, but I think I've heard that name before. He must be someone horrible if he used that spell to trick innocent witches".

"A monster, the good thing is that you took care of him."

Minnie thought about Donald. She knew she couldn't have done it without him, and she was sure that only the boss could compete with his level of power.

"How did you discover it?"

"A magician pushed me. It wasn't his fault, it affected him more than anyone else".

"Was he powerful?"

"Very powerful. He summoned flames and his fire was not only hot, but also very delicious."

Samantha and Daisy exchanged knowing glances. Minnie ignored that gesture.

"I admit he tried to kill me, but I'm sure he wouldn't have done it without Donald."

"So Donald. Nice name".

Minnie once again ignored what Samantha was implying. Daisy didn't, she even covered her smile.

"Probably. Donald asked me to meet him at the dock tomorrow."

Minnie fell silent as she remembered her encounter with the magician. Donald looked nervous the moment his relatives arrived. Minnie couldn't understand why the duck was hiding his magic, but she respected him so she decided she wouldn't intervene.

"Is this a date?"

"Not really. Donald said he knew someone who could help me".

IV

Scrooge could see the impatience on Goldie's face, something he found amusing. While it was true that initially he didn't want to bother her, he was worried about his nephews, it was also true that he was enjoying it.

'I'm counting on you, Bentina. Let me know as soon as you discover something about Merlock."

"Really, Scroogey? It's not like you to waste time with girlfriends when there's treasure involved."

"Jealous?"

"Dream about it."

Scrooge was sure that Goldie was lying, but he let it go. She was right when she said it wasn't like him to postpone searching for treasure. They both entered the pyramid, encountering something they did not expect to see. It seemed to be a religious ceremony.

"See how our father the sun watches over his children and blesses us with the golden coin again."
Those words were applauded, but that was not what caught Scrooge's attention. The man in front of the crowd showed a gold coin.

"Look, Scroogey, it's just like yours."

Goldie took a photograph, an action that had consequences opposite to those they both would have wanted.

"Intruders!"

All eyes were on them. Scrooge remembered the warnings that had been given him about that place and told himself that he did not wish to verify how much truth there was in them.

"Run."

"By the power of the coin, I order you to destroy them."

Scrooge and Goldie couldn't get too far. They were fast, but they were facing a cliff so they knew they didn't have many options.

"Come on knuckleheads, we're ready to fight."

The fact that the coin ended up on the ground was not something Scrooge planned, it was just a lucky accident.

"Golden sun".

All the natives began to kneel, something that caught the attention of the leader of that town.

"Why are they kneeling? I ordered them to destroy them."

A smile spread across Scrooge's face. He was beginning to understand what was happening.

"Golden sun" the natives repeated.

"But, my children, they are enemies".

No one seemed to agree with what the leader was saying. Scrooge was not sure if this attitude was due to loyalty for the coin or the fact that the natives were tired of the leader's attitude. The duck thought that this information would be useful to him.

"Welcome, priest. I am Juanin Flori, your honorable host".

The people supported that phrase with an ovation and a banquet.

Goldie seemed amused by the situation. Scrooge was sure it was only a matter of time before she stole something.
The first thing he did was ask the leader for a private meeting, which was accepted.

"What do you want?"

Scrooge showed him the coin that he had stolen from him shortly before. The man's reaction was what he expected, it was evident that he was furious.

"Well, meddling old man. I want that coin before you ruin my little theater with those retarded savages."

Scrooge decided to ignore those words. He thought it was despicable, but at that time it had other properties.

"I have some questions".

"It all began 400 years ago, when my ancestor and his companion stole a treasure from the valley of the Soles Dorados. The captain took off with the treasure, leaving Mark and his companion behind with a single gold coin.

"Then you know where the valley is."

"Not necessarily, Mark and Juan Taramara made a map and split it in two before going their separate ways. Juan sailed across the sea and was never seen again. My ancestor came to the land of the sun worshipers. This coin is what is really important, with it I can control those superstitious people."

"You are despicable."

The man did not seem to be affected by those words.

"The coin for the map".

"That map has been in my family for generations".

Scrooge felt like laughing. He didn't know the man, but he doubted family meant anything to him.

"With this coin you will be doubly powerful".

Scrooge did not need any more words to convince him and he naively believed that there was no reason to worry.

"Look, my children. That priest was a charlatan, now I'm the only priest. Go and destroy it."

V

Donald had left with the excuse that he needed some time alone. He pretended to have stomach problems to make sure no one followed him even if he was delayed. He had promised Minnie he would help her, but that wasn't his only motive. Donald wanted to see her again.

Minnie showed up to the meeting on time. A simple look was enough to notice the excitement on his face.

"Can you help me?"

"I am a novice wizard, but I know a powerful witch, capable of breaking any spell. This is my teacher, Hecate."

"Hecate? Is she named after the goddess of mystical arts and sorcery?"

Donald did not hide how proud he was. Those words had been enough for his ego to grow.

"No, she is the goddess of the mystical arts and sorcery."

Minnie's face reflected surprise and some disbelief. She didn't know Hecate, but she was sure that she would only take a truly exceptional wizard as her pupil. The memory of the battle against Merlock changed her mind.

"I had the feeling that you are a powerful magician from the first time I saw you, but I guess I underestimated you. Hecate wouldn't accept just anyone as her ward."

"I know," Donald answered proudly, but his smile faded as he remembered Reginella.

The book that knows everything had told him that she was fine, but he didn't completely trust the book, nor Magica de Spell. A part of him feared that she wanted revenge on him, another part feared what might become of the little fairy.

"Donald, are you okay?"

Donald could see the concern on Minnie's face.

"I was thinking about Reginella. She was the one who introduced me to the world of magic and who introduced me to my teacher, Hecate. I know she's fine, but..."

"I understand you. My teacher also left without saying anything. He's strong and I know he's okay, but I can't help but worry. Especially after what happened in my kingdom."

Donald was afraid to ask. He could see the sadness on Minnie's face, but, like the day before, he was afraid to say the wrong thing. Della used to say that he had the touch of a teaspoon and he was beginning to believe that was true.

"I can take you to my teacher now."

The sadness disappeared from Minnie's face, being replaced by worry.

"Should I do something before seeing it? I'm afraid I'll do something that might make her angry."

"Hecate doesn't usually receive visitors, but she said she would make an exception for her favorite student. You just have to bring a tribute. What do you think of a stone statue?"

The expression on Minnie's face made Donald suspect that his words had been inappropriate, although he couldn't understand why.

"Or we could look for something else. I would offer you the all-knowing book, but my cousin Fethry tore it up and now it's kind of… unstable. The book, my cousin Fethry has been unstable even when he was in the egg."

"I think my friend Daisy could help me, she is very good at choosing gifts."

Donald handed a piece of paper to Minnie.

"This is my phone number. Call me when you're ready."

VI

Reginella did not know of her magic before the shipwreck near her bubble. She could witness the tragedy and how people struggled to survive, but there was nothing she could do.

Or at least that's what she thought.

The bubble opened and the castaways were able to enter their shelter. Reginella could feel how life was returning to the majority and that let her know that things were far from over.

The queen moved driven by instinct. She approached the castaways who were in the worst condition and used her magic to heal them.

The process took hours and Reginella was exhausted, but no one had died and that alone was enough to make it feel like it had been worth it.

The queen could notice several eyes on her. Men and women who looked scared and somewhat confused.

"Welcome to…Pacificus".

Reginella did not know the name of the place where she was and did not even know why she had said that word. It was simply the first thing that crossed his mind.

"Does anyone remember how they got here?"

The answer was the same for everyone. But it wasn't just the fact that no one remembered the shipwreck, everyone had forgotten their identity and everything they had experienced before entering the bubble.

"Is there anyone who knows what he will do from now on?"

Everyone denied. Reginella didn't know what to do either, but she wasn't about to let anyone die. She took a look at the place where she lived and figured that space wouldn't be a problem.

"You can stay with me, if you are willing to work to make this place a real home".

At that time Reginella believed that it would be temporary, however that opinion would change over time and various events.

VII

The first place Bentina visited was the town where Donald had met Merlock. Scrooge had told him about it, though it wasn't necessary. Many newspapers talked about how Fairy Tail had destroyed a dock and how the police had captured three of its members.

The spy overheard a group of teenagers talking about the incident and decided that they could be a valuable source of information, even if they were not entirely trustworthy.

"What do you know about Merlock?"

"Who?"

The teenage girls looked confused, some even seemed uncomfortable.

Bentina did not know who Red Diamond was, but she did know that that was the identity that Merlock had impersonated. Scrooge had told her and she confirmed it when she read the newspaper.
The teenagers' expressions changed. Some of them seemed proud of the information they had.

"It's garbage, fortunately the Fairy Tail wizards managed to stop it."

"What did they stop? The best party in the world?"

"To a woman trafficker."

"Nonsense. Red Diamond is not a criminal, he is a handsome and powerful wizard."

"I heard that Red Diamond is a member of Fairy Tail."

"Are you still under his spell or are you stupid?"

"Who do you call Dumb, Dumb?"

"To the only fool here, fool."

"My mistake. What do you know about Red Diamond?"

Bentina took a deep breath. He wasn't in the mood to deal with teenagers, but his gut told him he might get some useful information or at least a lead.

"What spell are you talking about?"

Those words were enough to calm the teenagers.

"A love spell, although I don't know how it works. The Fairy Tail wizards stopped him before we were kidnapped and sold".

"The newspapers say they destroyed the pier."

"The newspapers are not trustworthy. Fairy Tail arrested a criminal who was involved in trafficking in women."

"Are you sure it was the Fairy Tail wizards who stopped him?"

"Yes, I could recognize Minnie from Fairy Tail. She is amazing".

"What about the duck that accompanied her?"

"Probably her boyfriend and coven companion".

"I doubt it. I know all the members of Fairy Tail and I know I wouldn't forget someone so cute."

Bentina wasn't sure if they were talking about Donald or Gladstone. Her instinct told her that it was probably the first one, after all the duck seemed to have a knack for getting into all kinds of trouble, something that didn't happen with Gladstone.

"And powerful. I heard rumors that he was the one who defeated the fake Red Diamond and who destroyed his yacht."

Those words were enough for Bentina to rule out Scrooge's nephews. She didn't believe any of them had magical powers and that included Gladstone, whose luck could seem magical.
Agent 22 decided that Fairy Tail seemed to be a valuable source of information, so she set out to visit the coven. Several hours later, the spy was received by the leader. A simple glance at Nereus was enough to see how tense he was.

"Good morning, can I help you with something?"

"Good morning. Yes, I'm looking for information about Merlock and the dock incident?"

"What dock?"

Bentina showed him the newspaper she had bought at the scene. No more words were needed.

"I apologize for the actions of…"

"I'm not here to complain" Bentina interrupted him. "As I said before, I'm interested in information. I want to know who Merlock is."

"I only know one Merlock and I hope this wizard is not that Merlock."

The spy could notice some concern in the magician and that worried her. She knew that Nereus was a powerful wizard, the strongest in Fairy Tail, and according to rumors, Fairy Tail was one of the most powerful covens. Merlock must be someone especially powerful if he reacted this way to the possibility of his return.

"I would like to know more about that Merlock".

"I'm afraid I don't have much information. Until recently I believed that Merlock was dead."

"It doesn't matter, just tell me what you know".

Bentina had a bad feeling. Scrooge had told him that he was worried about his nephew becoming involved with a much older man, but he was beginning to believe that was just the tip of the iceberg.

"Merlock and Felldrake are the founders of the Jinx coven and neither of them are known for good reasons. Both were dictators and both were overthrown many centuries ago."

Bentina knew little about Jinx even though she had researched him in the past. Unlike Fairy Tail, Jinx did not often appear in the media and its members tended to keep to themselves.

"I heard that this magician was dedicated to human trafficking."

Nereus seemed a little surprised, but he didn't say anything about it. Bentina didn't know if she was being cautious or if she was ignorant of what was happening. She was leaning toward the former. Bentina, like Scrooge, did not trust wizards.

"In that case, let's hope he doesn't regain power. Merlock is one of the cruelest wizards in history."

Bentina said goodbye and prepared to return to Duckburg. Her daughter, Bianca, was participating in the school play and she had promised to attend.

VIII

Donald was worried. The book became increasingly unstable. Its erratic behavior reminded him of the microwave that Fethry had damaged some time ago. The microwave was sending out sparks and the book was sending out dangerous energy waves that had not harmed anyone thanks to its containment spells.

"What are you doing, cousin?"

Donald was startled. He had not listened to Fethry and complained about it. As a magician, he considered it too big an oversight.

"Why are you scared?"

"Who, me?" Donald noticed the book in Fethry's hands, although he knew he would regret it later, he asked him about it.

"I bought it during our last stop. It is a book of magic".

The smile on Fethry's face let Donald know that he had achieved his goal.

"I didn't know you wanted to be a magician".

"I didn't want it, but I saw this book in a store and I felt it calling me. It is my destiny to be a powerful magician".

Donald doubted it. It wasn't that he thought his cousin lacked the skills to learn magic, but he did lack discipline. Donald had seen Fethry have three different interests in a single week and he claimed to have a great passion for each of them. He was sure this time would be no different.

And he wasn't wrong.

"What is that book about?"

"Hypnosis, can I try it with you?"

"You can, but I don't guarantee it will work."

"I know I can be a powerful magician, the best".

"It's not you. Hypnosis only works on weak minds and I'm sorry to tell you that my mind is not weak at all."

Donald sat in front of Fethry and watched him take out a watch, which he assumed he had bought in the same store where he had bought the hypnosis book. His cousin began to move it in front of him.

"You are sleepy, very sleepy."

Donald wanted to laugh and even considered that the only thing he felt was boredom, but he couldn't. His eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.

IX

Scrooge hesitated before allowing Goldie to proceed without him. It wasn't worry, he knew her well enough to know that she could take care of herself, but distrust. That woman had robbed him the first time she saw him and had deceived him many times in the past, more than he could count. However, he knew he had no other option.

The villagers were chasing them and they were too close for their liking.

Scrooge stayed behind to distract them, giving Goldie a chance to reach the airplane. Watching her turn on and walk away made him think that trusting her was a mistake. The billionaire had to run with the little strength he had left and jump to be able to grab the “extremities” of the vehicle.

Goldie did not let him up until they were both many kilometers from that town, far from any threat.

"Were you thinking of leaving without me?"

Goldie pretended to be offended.

"Your distrust offends me. I knew you would make it."

Scrooge showed him the treasure map.

"I think we both know the real reason."

Scrooge swore under his breath.

"Why are you so upset? We have the map".

"That idiot has betrayed us and…"

Scrooge fell silent when he saw two coins in Goldie's hand. He smiled mischievously. Julián Flori had taken advantage of these people for a long time and they could finally take justice into their own hands.

X

"How did your date go?"

Minnie was confused.

"It wasn't a date".

Daisy and Samantha looked a little disappointed.

"Donald said he would introduce me to Hecate and yes, I'm talking about the goddess".

Daisy, Clarabella and Samantha were surprised, but neither accused her of being a liar.

"Why do you seem worried?"

"I'm sure Hecate will be able to help you."

Minnie sighed.

"Donald told me I should bring a gift for Hecate and I'm afraid of offending her."

Daisy, Clarabella and Samantha exchanged glances. Neither had interacted with a god before, but both had studied the subject and knew that the gods were not only proud, but they were vengeful and that their revenge was something to be feared.

"I guess we only have one option. Go shopping at the mall!"

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: Minnie's Melancholy

I

Reginella was usually the first to get up. The first thing she usually did was go to the hospital and check on the injured. No one had died, but many had been hurt and there were some who needed special care.

"Trouble sleeping?"

The woman shook her head. She had been found protecting a little girl, her daughter. The woman had used her body as a shield, preventing her daughter from getting hurt, but breaking several bones in the process.

"Any change?"

The woman's response was the same.

"How is my daughter?"

Reginella thought it was a very curious thing. The woman didn't remember her name, nor that of the child she was protecting, but she hadn't forgotten the bond that united them nor had she stopped caring for her at any time.

"She's fine. She's been helping with some small tasks."

Most of the castaways were adults, but that wasn't the reason why the smaller ones had been assigned minor tasks. Reginella had considered that healthy adults were the ones who should take care of the heavier tasks.

Not everyone agreed, but everyone obeyed.

"Thank you".

Reginella smiled, but her eyes reflected sadness. The fairy had used her magic to heal the most serious wounds, but her memory problems and the number of wounded had greatly hindered her work, something that had left her feeling helpless.

After that, she used to visit the crop fields. Many of the castaways did not know how to sow the land, so she had to teach them. Her magic had proven to be very useful.
At first it was hard. Many refused, claiming that they did not want to get dirty. Reginella stood firm. A stern look was all she needed to make them agree to work.

"Everything is so full of life. I'm sure that soon we will have a great harvest".

Everyone was happy to hear that answer. Food was becoming scarce and many feared that soon there would not be enough.

“Would you like to try a tomato? I plant it.”

Reginella’s gaze fell on the man who had offered her a share of his crop. The queen smiled, proud of his dedication and touched by his gesture.

"It would be a pleasure."

Reginella usually visited the construction site until the end. That was the most demanding and time-consuming task. Many had no place to live and the fairy knew that the remains of the ship were only a temporary solution.

"Using the remains of the ship was a good idea".

"Yes, it definitely saved us a lot of work."

"Although it would have been better if we could have repaired the ship and returned to our homes".

All eyes were on the goose who had said those words. Reginella had not forbidden anyone to talk about the surface, in fact she had not made any prohibitions and had only asked for two things: to live in peace and to work for the good of the community. However, that was a taboo subject. Many had given up hope of returning and some, most, had chosen to pretend that nothing existed beyond the bubble.

"What? I just said what we all thought".

The looks became more severe, something that managed to intimidate the goose.

"Who's hungry?"

II

Bentina was unable to attend her daughter's play. She thought she could talk to the police and Merlock before the performance, but nothing turned out as she had expected.
The first incident occurred at the entrance to the prison. It was visiting day and there weren't many people so she didn't have to wait long. The problems started as soon as she was attended by one of the guards.

"I would like to see the prisoner Merlock".

The guard looked surprised. Bentina wondered if that reaction was because she had used the real name of the fake Red Diamond or because she had heard about the capture of the magician, something she considered absurd since it had appeared in several newspapers.

“Are you a relative or friend of the prisoner?”

“No.”

“In that case I’m afraid it’s not possible.”

While it was true that Bentina didn’t expect to be let in, it was also true that she expected a higher level of security. The information she had gathered made her suspect that Merlock was dangerous, but the measures used didn’t seem to be any different than those used with any other inmate.

“I think this might change his mind.”

The guard showed an angry expression, it was clear that he was offended. Bentina wasn’t sure if she was dealing with an honest person or if the guard was afraid of being discovered. It wasn't something that really mattered to the spy.

"Do you know that trying to bribe a public official is a crime punishable by jail time?"

"If you paid more attention to what I'm showing you, you'd know that it's not a bribery attempt."

The guard complied and his expression changed when he saw S.H.U.S.H.'s ID. Anger turned to embarrassment, a reaction that Bentina thought could be very useful to her.

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I'll call someone to take care of your case".

Bentina was taken to the director's office. Contrary to what she expected, the man didn't look upset, he seemed relieved.

"I'm glad S.H.U.S.H decided to intervene. At first we thought it was just a case of public disturbance, but we've discovered some very disturbing things".

"Merlock is dedicated to human trafficking".

"How… ? It doesn't matter, you're a spy, I think it would be strange if you didn't know. We've decided to make the press believe that this is just another case of Fairy Tail creating chaos so as not to cause panic and prevent information from leaking".

"Do you think Merlock has any accomplices? Or is he worried about his potential clients? Do you suspect they are influential people?"

The guard looked a bit uncomfortable, which was enough to confirm Bentina's suspicions.

"Merlock's henchmen didn't seem to be very smart, they talked easily. Too bad we can't say the same for Merlock. We're more interested in rescuing all the victims".

"Maybe you should talk to him".

The director seemed to be having an internal debate. Agent 22 knew he didn't know anything about her, there were few who did, but she was confident that being part of S.H.U.S.H was enough to convince him.

"I guess we have nothing to lose by trying".

III

Della didn't like getting up early, it was a trait she shared with her brother. She tended to be a heavy sleeper, however she couldn't ignore what Donald and Fethry were doing.
Gladstone and Abner also woke up and they were upset too. While it was true that Abner tended to get up early, it was also true that he didn't like being woken up.

"What's going on here?"

"Quack!"

Della thought that was the fourth strangest thing that had ever happened to her until she noticed that Donald had laid an egg and not just any egg.

“Is that a golden egg?”

“Quack!”

“I never would have imagined that Donnie had such a gift.”

Della walked over to her brother. She placed one of her hands on the egg, confirming what she already suspected. Della tried to pick it up, surprised to notice that it wasn’t just the shell.

“Should we call Uncle Scrooge?”

Della had her doubts. She trusted that her uncle could find a solution even if he hated magic, but she didn’t think he would want to. Della didn't doubt Scrooge's love, but she knew he was ambitious and couldn't ignore a golden egg, especially one this big.

"Great idea. Knowing Uncle Scrooge, he'd find ways to get him to lay more eggs."

"I would." Gladstone picked up the golden egg. "I bet this must be worth a fortune."

"Quack!"

All eyes turned to Donald. Della wondered if Donald could understand what they were saying. His behavior had been too erratic so far, so she had her doubts.

"I think it's my fault, but it doesn't matter. I can fix it!"

Fethry held up a red book that read “Magic and Fun.” Della and Gladstone exchanged glances. Abner was the only one who seemed to consider Fethry’s proposal.

“Quack!”

“Are you sure? As Uncle Scrooge says, nothing good can come from magic.”

“Quack!”

Della brought her hand to her forehead, the sounds Donald was making were beginning to irritate her.

“If magic caused this, magic can fix it too.”

“I’m more worried about Fethry doing something, he could make things worse.”

Della agreed with her cousin. She loved Fethry, but she couldn’t deny his eccentric behavior and ability to cause trouble.

“Don’t talk about my brother like that. You'll hurt his feelings.

"Quack!"

"Donald, react".

"I guess we have nothing to lose by trying. Fethry, go ahead."

Several seconds passed before they realized that Donald had disappeared.

IV

The first store they visited was the bow boutique at the mall. Daisy was the one who came up with the idea. She didn't say anything, she just ran to the entrance of the store and didn't stop there. She entered the store and started looking at the bows on display.

Clarabella and Samantha didn't run, but they looked excited too. Minnie knew them well enough to know that they loved bows.
Minnie loved bows too.

"These bows are beautiful. I wish I had them all."

Minnie's gaze fell on Daisy, wondering what she should say to her friend. She trusted Daisy, she wouldn't have told her the truth about her kingdom if she didn't, but she had her doubts.

It wasn't just the bows, Minnie doubted the mall could be the place she was looking for.

"I'm not sure. Hecate is a goddess and…"

"So? Like you always say. 'There's nothing like a good bow.'"

Minnie thought Daisy had a point. Bows had helped her solve many of her problems in the past.

“I… I was thinking about going to… my house and… wearing one of my jewels. Maybe my crown…”

“It’s too risky. You can’t go until we find out what happened and where it all came from.”

Minnie sighed. She hadn’t visited the castle for several weeks, but she wasn’t doing it just because of what Samantha said. Minnie could still remember as if it had been yesterday the day she left the castle, promising herself to find a cure. Images of her relatives and the castle workers were still fresh in her memory, haunting her dreams.

“The purple bow is perfect,” Daisy placed it on her head. “It’s like it was made for me. I'll take it."

Those words caught Minnie's attention.

"A personalized bow, that might be what we need."

"What are you thinking, Minnie?"

Minnie didn't like using her privileges as a princess, but she knew she would have to, otherwise the person she had in mind might refuse to receive her.

"I know a designer who could make a personalized bow for Hecate, one that she would undoubtedly love."

Clarabella, Daisy, and Samantha looked curious.

"Do you know who Coco Versace is?"

V

Normally visits were held in the prison lounge, but Agent 22 was not there for social reasons and Merlock was not a conventional inmate so it was decided to make an exception.
Officer Black accompanied Agent 22 to Merlock's cell, which he shared with a man who was accused of fraud.

Merlock's cell was empty.

"Mr. Black, are you sure this is the cell?"

The officer searched for the card in his pocket, confirming what he already suspected.

"Yes. It clearly says here, “J” corridor, cell number six".

“What about your partner?”

“In the visiting room.”

“Did you verify that he was really who he said he was?”

“Obviously, we are not idiots.”

Agent 22 did not think they were idiots, but she did think that their work left a lot to be desired. The officer called his colleagues, notifying them of the disappearance and ordering an immediate search.

“This may not be a town dedicated to magic, but we still have several wizards among us and we take our job seriously.”

The spy began to study the cell. The window was closed, the bed was made. There was no indication that this cell had been used recently. “I heard that Merlock is a powerful wizard, the founder of Jinx.”

“Impossible. If he was, he would be several centuries old. The Merlock you speak of is only an urban myth.”

Agent 22 thought of Scrooge. He was a man who had lived to be over 100 years old and did not look that old. Bentina thought that if Scrooge had achieved that longevity, it would not be crazy to think that a wizard as powerful as Merlock could do so as well.

“Have you considered asking for the help of a coven?” The Fairy Tail people seem to know a lot about Merlock.

VI

"We've been thinking about it and I think we need a queen."

"A queen?"

Reginella didn't think the idea of having a queen was crazy. On the contrary, she thought that the flourishing kingdom of Pacificus needed someone to take over the leadership. Her reaction was due to something else, something that Reginella couldn't understand.

The queen of the forest didn't remember her kingdom or the title she held for a long time, but she hadn't forgotten everything and that shadow made her feel a kind of Deja vu.

"Have you thought of a name? Paulette seems like someone very capable. Monique is very kind, she could be an amazing leader."

Everyone got a little tense upon hearing those words. The youngest of the group, a boy who was probably eleven years old, was the first to speak.

“Actually, we were thinking of you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“No one knows Pacificus better than you do.”

“You’ve taken care of us since… since we got here.”

“Not to mention everything you’ve taught us.”

“Maybe in another life you were a queen.”

“You are in this one too. We just need to make it official.”

VII

Coco Versace was one of the most important designers of today. She had designed for the most important celebrities in the world of entertainment and also for royalty. Her designs had been present in the highest grossing films and at the most prestigious events.

Not just anyone could get a date with her, much less without an appointment, but Minnie Mouse was not just anyone. Being a princess had given her the opportunity to meet the famous designer, but it was something else that made her someone close.

Minnie Mouse loved bows. She had been that way for as long as she could remember and she was sure she would be that way until the last day of her life. Coco Versace also loved bows and could see in the princess a talent that was rarely seen.

"Designing for a god? I would have to be crazy to refuse a privilege like that. It would be amazing if I could get my own constellation."

Daisy sighed. It was obvious that she think the same

While it was true that Coco Versace was the one in charge, Minnie and Daisy also contributed ideas, which were well received.

“Maybe I should take them as my pupils. Both of them are undoubtedly exceptional, and that’s not something I tell just anyone.”

VIII

Donald felt angry. He was aware of what was going on around him, or at least he had been after Fethry had ordered him to react. However, he couldn't speak. Every time he tried, all he could do was squawk. But those weren't the only sounds he made. Those sounds included hisses, coos, yodels, and even grunts.
Donald tried to remember what Fethry had done, but he couldn't. He had several blackouts.

Seeing Minnie made him feel relieved. She was a witch, and in Donald's opinion, the only person who could help him at the moment.

"Quack!"

"Donald, are you okay?"

Donald used a notebook and pencil to explain his situation in a very summarized way.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know much about hypnosis. I've never practiced it".

"Quack!"

Donald felt disappointed. He mentally began to think of the wizards he knew, but he wasn't sure he could reach them.

"But he could take a look at that book."

Those words were enough to cheer Donald up. The duck created a portal that would take them both to the place where Donald was camping with his family.

Donald's happiness disappeared as soon as he saw his family. His sister and cousins looked at him in amazement, and with reason, for they had seen him pass through a portal with a witch.

“Quack!”

“I created the portal.”

Donald’s gaze fell on Minnie, silently thanking her for her intervention and hoping his relatives would believe him.

“Why?”

Donald cursed his sister’s cunning and how perceptive she could be.

“She wanted to see Donald, that’s all.”

Donald watched his relatives exchange glances. He knew them well enough to know that they no longer suspected him, but he would have to answer a few questions, and he wasn't sure he wanted them to think Minnie was his girlfriend.

He also wasn't sure why the idea made him so happy.

"Quack!"

Donald is right. The important thing now is to undo the hypnosis.

Donald hadn't said that, but he agreed with Fethry. He wanted to talk normally again.

'Can I see the hypnosis book?"

Fethry handed the book to the witch.

"I've tried everything, but I don't know if there's any way to undo it. I must be more powerful than I imagined."

Donald felt worried when he saw the expression on Minnie's face. He could see some concern and something else that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Quack!"

"What's wrong?"

"This isn't a real hypnosis book".

Minnie pointed to the back cover, where what she had said earlier was confirmed.

All eyes were on Donald.

“But I managed to hypnotize my cousin. That must mean something.”

Minnie began playing with her fingers.

“Maybe it just means that Donald is very manipulable.”

“Quack!”

Donald was very offended. He did not consider himself manipulable, much less weak-minded. Seeing the expressions on his relatives' faces made Donald feel even more upset.

“We could tell him to stop squawking.”

All eyes were on Gladstone, but there was no reproach. Even Donald seemed to be considering that alternative.

"I guess we can't lose anything by trying."

IX

Scrooge's gaze fell on Goldie and he couldn't help but laugh. It was obvious to him that she was shivering from the cold and that she wasn't used to such inhospitable places. He was cold too, but he was too proud to show it.

"You should go back home. I bet you'd feel more comfortable between the covers and enjoying a hot chocolate or a good whiskey."

Goldie looked offended. Scrooge thought that if looks could kill, he would have stopped breathing before he had finished speaking.

"You wish, Scroogey. I bet it would be a lot easier for you to keep the treasure if I stepped aside".

"I'm not like you. Unlike some, I have made my fortune fairly".

Goldie laughed mockingly.

“We both know that is not so, Scroogey. Your hands are stained. You have done horrible, dishonest things. You are as bad as I am, or perhaps worse, because I, unlike some, do not deny what I am.”

Scrooge felt ashamed as he remembered the village he had ordered destroyed decades ago and that had been the reason his sisters had stopped talking to him for several years. There was no justification for what he had done and Scrooge knew it.

“That's none of your business.”

Goldie laughed mockingly.

“Typical Scrooge, always pushing away everyone around him. But you know what? You're right. That's none of my business. Instead of wasting time talking nonsense we should look for that treasure.”

Scrooge thought about the last time he had seen his younger sister.

Back then his sisters worked in the vault. Both of them continued to do so despite how disappointed they had been after seeing him destroy a village. All the workers had thrown a party for him to celebrate his return and that he had become the richest duck in the world, but Scrooge didn't care.

Scrooge wouldn't find out anything until after he read the newspaper on his desk. His opinion hadn't changed. He thought the holidays were a waste of time and he was angry with Donald. The duckling was only ten years old, but he hadn't hesitated to kick him after seeing the way he yelled at his mother. Scrooge's anger turned to admiration. The duck would never say it out loud, because his pride prevented him from doing so, but he found the way Donald protected his family worthy of admiration. A feeling that was accompanied by a much more bitter one, remorse.

"I'll call Bentina. I'll ask her to bring me some provisions."

X

Della never imagined that her trip to the Volcano at the End of the World would end so simply. She didn't even know if she should be happy about it or not.

Traveling with her cousins had been fun. She had genuinely enjoyed the time they spent together, even the setbacks. Capturing a group of guerrillas had been emotionally boring, sitting in a car for several hours, the latter being the reason she had asked Minnie to create a portal to the volcano at the end of the world.

"We should do it next year."

"No thanks, I don't want to deal with cursed objects again."

"I didn't mean that, cousin. I meant that we'll all travel together once more".

All eyes turned to Fethry, but this time they weren't reproachful, but rather approving.

Della agreed with her cousin's suggestion and blamed herself for not having thought of it. A quiet trip with the family seemed like a good plan.

"Are you taking us home?"Gladstone turned to Minnie.

The witch's gaze fell on Donald, something Della found suspicious.

"I suppose there's no problem. I hope you don't mind me stealing Donald for a while".

"Are you sure you want Donald? I could show you more fun places."

Donald didn't hide his anger at hearing those words, but he didn't say anything.

"Maybe later. For now, I want to get to know Donald better. I think we can be good friends."

Della narrowed her eyes. She didn't hate magic, but she couldn't help but feel a certain distrust. She had spent months apart from her brother and she didn't want something like that to happen again."

"Don't worry, I'll return him before they miss him.

"Is that a promise? Because a fairy took Donald a long time ago and I had no intention of returning him".

Donald looked down. Thinking about Reginella was painful. It wasn't just the fact that he missed her, he was also worried about her.

"I could swear it on the River Styx."

Della didn't know anything about oaths on the River Styx, but she could understand the gravity of the matter.

"It's not necessary. Donald, just make sure you stay out of trouble."

Donald and Minnie exchanged glances. Della felt a little worried when she saw a certain reproach on Minnie's face.

"We'll just go and chat and have tea."

"Bored."

Minnie stood beside Donald. If Della had been more observant she would have noticed that Minnie's arm was covering her brother's and that it was he who was actually opening the portal.
But that wasn't the case and it would be many years before she found out the truth.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: The Visit to Hecate

I

Reginella woke up early in the morning. She was the first one up, something she did every day. The first thing she usually did was go to the hospital, which had been recently remodeled, and check on the injured. Most had recovered, but there were still some wounds that needed treating.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"Not really, it's just that I can't stop thinking about my daughter".

"Keep hope. I know it's only a matter of time before I see her again."

"Are you sure of that?"

Reginella focused on the woman. She used her magic to analyze her, confirming that her words were not far from reality. That made her feel relieved.

"Yes. Your recovery has been miraculous."

"Thank you."

Reginella smiled, but her eyes reflected sadness. She was happy for the happiness of her people, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong there, and she knew she wasn't the only one who felt that way. No one said anything, and everyone preferred to pretend everything was fine, but that was an open secret.

After that, she would often visit the crop fields. A smile spread across her face when she saw the results were better than expected.

"I think the harvest will be ready in four days."

Reginella wondered if the duck in front of her had been a farmer before coming to Pacificus. The way he carried himself in the fields made her think so.

"We should have a party."

Reginella didn't think the goose who had made that proposal had ever been a farmer. He had delicate hands and tended to overreact when he found an insect or had to pull weeds with his bare hands.

"That sounds wonderful."

Reginella told herself that a party was in order. They'd all been through so much and worked so hard that they deserved a break.

II

"Your family doesn't seem so bad to me."

Donald's gaze fell on Minnie, unable to believe what he'd heard.

"That's because you don't know him well. Gladstone is the worst, always boasting about his ridiculous good luck and making me look bad."

Donald regretted it the moment he said those words. Not because his opinion of Gladstone had changed, but because of Minnie's expression. She looked hurt.

"They love you, and I don't think it will change anything if they find out about your magic."

Donald thought of Scrooge and immediately shook his head. It was no secret to anyone what he thought about magic, and he certainly didn't want to disappoint him.

Giving up magic would have been the sensible thing to do, or so Donald thought, but he couldn't. Magic was a part of him, and it really meant a lot.

"You say that because you don't know my Uncle Scrooge. He'd kill me, or worse, disown me."

"I don't think he's capable of doing something like that. They're family."

"He'd do that and more. Uncle Scrooge hates magic."

"Wizard or not, you're a nephew. I'm sure he could never hate you."

Donald wanted to believe Minnie's words, but he couldn't.

"You may think I'm being indiscreet, but I think what you're doing could hurt you. You're lying to your family, and worse, you're lying to yourself."

Donald didn't think Minnie was being reckless, but he didn't think she could understand. He didn't think he was hurting anyone, and although he sometimes wanted to share his secret, he felt things were better the way they were.

III

The first thing Clinton did when he saw a pay phone was call his wife. He missed her, a lot.

"Clinton? What a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect you to call so soon."

Clinton felt a little guilty. He had promised his wife he would call her often, but he often traveled to inhospitable places.

"I missed hearing your voice".

"Me too. What have you been doing? You must have many stories to tell."

"I do. I recently visited the lost library of Alexandria. Isabella and I have finished recovering the information stored in its books and updating the Junior Woodchucks's manual.

Clinton met Isabella Finch when he was fifteen years old, at a book signing for his first book, “The Complete Adventures of Isabella Finch.” Their love of adventure immediately bonded. Clinton had felt very lucky when she invited him on one of her excursions and even believed he was in love with her.

Meeting Elvira changed everything.

Elvira wasn't an adventurer, but Clinton knew it was love the first time he saw her. She genuinely enjoyed hearing his stories, and he loved telling them. As time passed, the two began to go on dates more frequently, and he knew she was the woman he wanted to share his life with.

"Tell Isabella I say Hello."

Clinton turned around and told his wife's message to his companion.

"Say 'Hello' for me."

Clinton did as he was asked. He didn't know if Elvira knew that Isabella had been his first love, but she never seemed bothered by the closeness between them. They were good friends, and there was never a possibility of them becoming anything more.

"We'll be back in Duckburg soon. I plan to leave the updated version of the manual at Headquarters."

"I'm glad to hear that. The Junior Woodchucks will be grateful for it."

Clinton agreed with Elvira, but at that moment there was another matter he also wanted to talk to her about. He wasn't sure how she would take it.

"I saw our grandchildren recently. I guess they were on that adventure with Scrooge you told me about. I wanted to go over to them, but the yacht exploded, and by the time I got there it was too late. Don't worry, I spoke to the police, and they told me no one was hurt."

Clinton could imagine the look on Elvira's face and was sure she wasn't happy. It was no secret that she never agreed with Scrooge McDuck taking custody of the twins. She hadn't supported Daphne's decision either, even though her relationship with Matilda was much better.

"Typical Scrooge McDuck, he always causes chaos wherever he goes."

Clinton sighed, remembering the days when they had a good relationship. Scrooge and Elvira weren't best friends, but you could say they were close.

"I don't think it's Scrooge's fault. I heard it was just Fairy Tail creating a riot once again."

"What is Fairy Tail?"

'I think a magic coven."

IV

Minnie felt a little confused when she saw Coco. She seemed anxious, but the princess didn't believe she had taken so long.

"You know, if you weren't my friend, I'd be really mad at you for making me wait".

Minnie felt guilty.

"I was so excited at the idea of designing for a goddess that I put off my other projects. Your friends offered to be my assistants, and I have to admit I'm grateful for it. They have great talent, and we were able to finish sooner".

Donald could see the happiness on Minnie's face and was happy for her, although he wished he could meet Minnie's friends.

The designer headed to her studio and, a few minutes later, returned with an elegantly decorated box. Minnie could recognize several valuable jewels.

Payment wasn't something she was worried about. While it was true that she didn't have any money at the time, Coco Versace used to design for the crown, and they had an agreement.

"Your friends apologize for not being able to come, but they asked you to call them as soon as you have any news. I'm asking you something similar. I need to know what Hecate thinks of my work."

"I will."

Coco left immediately, claiming she had a lot of work to do. Minnie believed her. Coco Versace was one of the most important fashion designers in the world.

Minnie turned to Donald and could see a certain sadness in his expression.

"Don't worry, Donald, you can meet them at Easton."

The magician's face showed confusion.

"Easton?"

"Yes. Don't you know what Easton is?"

Minnie could tell Donald was embarrassed. Seeing his reaction made her feel ashamed and guilty. The witch remembered that, although Donald was a powerful wizard, he was a novice in the world of magic.

"Should I?"

"It's the best school of magic. It's located in Dolmen, my kingdom."

"I live in Duckburg. Luckily, I can create portals."

Minnie laughed; it was a genuine smile.

"You should show me how to make portals"

Donald felt his cheeks turn red. The thought of Minnie wanting to spend more time with him made him very happy.

"I will. It's a promise."

Donald took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. Reginella had taught him that magic was strongly connected to emotions, and he was afraid of doing anything dangerous in his state.

Minnie didn't notice the nervousness on her friend's face, but she did notice how flushed he was.

"Are you okay? You look like you have a fever."

"Yeah, it's just... heat exhaustion".

Minnie believed Donald's words, but it was seeing him open a portal that finally convinced her. Neither of them would ever bring up that subject again.

V

Agent 22 was somewhat surprised when she received a call from Scrooge McDuck. She thought he might want information about the case she'd asked him to investigate, but she had her doubts. She knew Scrooge was on an adventure, so she hoped to file a report when she was back in Duckburg.

"Have you found out anything about Merlock?"

"I confirmed what you told me before, that he was involved in human trafficking. Also that he's a powerful wizard; he escaped from prison without leaving a trace. I don't think you should worry; from what I've heard, he was interested in magical power and beautiful women."

Scrooge was silent for a few moments.

"I suppose my nephews weren't lying when they said Donald was interested in someone else."

Bentina's face showed annoyance. She didn't understand why Scrooge had asked her to investigate a case when it was clear the man had no interest in his family.

"Typical of teenagers."

"Typical of Donald, he's a professional at running away from responsibilities."

Agent 22 thought about her daughter. She was a teenager, but her behavior was very different from Donald and Della's. Their daughter was usually very responsible and rarely shied away from her responsibilities. One glance at her watch was enough to tell her she wouldn't be able to make it to the theater.

A part of her felt guilty; another part told herself she had done the right thing. Agent 22 told herself she was a spy before she was a mother and that her daughter would understand. Deep down, she knew better.

"Should I close the case?"

"While I admit he must be very good if he tricked you, I don't think it's wise for you to continue investigating."

Agent 22 felt a little annoyed at those words. She knew Scrooge didn't blame her, but she hated the direction things had taken.

"He'd already escaped when I arrived."

"That explains a lot. But that doesn't matter now. Bentina needed me to return to the mansion and bring me some supplies."

"Where is she?"

"In Antarctica."

VI

Donald smiled sadly as he entered Hecate's domain. The wizard remembered his previous visit. Hecate had summoned him to learn the Megaflare, and the two had trained for over an hour. Donald had asked him about the queen of the forest that time, and he did so again this time.

"I'm afraid I don't have good news. Titania has tasked her fairies with searching for Reginella, but there have been no results. It's as if she's simply disappeared."

Donald lowered his head. Once again, he felt guilty about the choices he'd made. At times like these, he couldn't help but think he could have done things better.

"Should I make a pact with Magica de Spell? Maybe I can still do it, and..."

"Don't do it. I know Reginella, and that would kill her. Maybe not literally, I know it would hurt her, and she'd feel guilty. Negotiating with a kidnapper isn't a good idea."

Donald had thought about it many times, but hearing it from someone else made him feel a little better. The magician looked at Minnie, remembering one of the reasons he was there.

"She's the friend I told you about. Her name is Minnie."

Hecate studied Minnie with her eyes, seeming intrigued.

"Fire magic, that's quite unusual, even for wizards."

Minnie smiled proudly.

"Thank you. I was trained by Red Diamond."

"Red Diamond? Is he a dragon?"

"Yes."

Minnie was proud to talk about Red Diamond. The dragon had taught her everything she knew and was one of the beings she admired most.

"Dragons are very secretive."

Hecate didn't add anything else. Neither Minnie nor Donald resumed the conversation.

"Tell me more. I want to know why you decided to visit me. You should know that I'm a fan of a good story."

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: The Kingdom of Dolmen

I remember that day had started like any other. It was seven in the morning, so I was in my etiquette lessons. My sister, Maggie, was also supposed to take those lessons, but my parents had summoned her to a special meeting. I don't remember if they gave me the details, but it's likely they didn't.

It's not unusual for Maggie to meet with our parents. She's the eldest daughter and the heir to the throne, so she usually participates in these kinds of meetings.

Don't get me wrong, it's not something that bothers me. I'm only mentioning it because I think it might be relevant to understanding what happened in my kingdom.

I remember hearing voices in the hallway. I know every staff member who works in the castle, but don't ask me who they were. I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying.
I remember them talking about something they had found in the garden, something huge.

I was curious. I remember wanting to see what that gift was. In fact, I'm still curious even though I know there's something evil about it, but I think I'm getting too far ahead of myself.

My teacher, Miss Honey, caught my attention. She's a kind woman, but she can be a bit firm at times and doesn't like distractions in her class. I didn't notice anything was wrong until lunchtime. Miss Honey and I headed to the dining hall. The halls were empty, and food wasn't served. This last point struck me as odd. In the castle, everyone has a fairly strict schedule, and lateness isn't tolerated, even if it's just a few minutes.

One glance at Miss Honey was enough to tell she felt the same way. My teacher apologized, saying she would go investigate in the kitchen. Needless to say, she didn't return.

My first thought was to find someone who could help me. Fortunately, I decided to use magic, otherwise I fear I would have suffered the same fate as my people. It's painful just to remember what I saw before leaving the castle.

I closed my eyes and could feel everyone's life energy, but it was weak, and that worried him. I thought the worst. Dolmen has no enemies, not even an army, so the idea of an invasion seemed ridiculous, but I couldn't deny that something was happening.

I don't know what drove me to walk through the halls with my eyes closed. I kept my hands in front of me the whole time, guiding myself by touch and the energy I felt.

I was acting on a feeling at the time, and I'm glad I listened. I found everyone in the castle in the throne room. That would have seemed strange if I hadn't found the epicenter, a source of energy so dark it still sends shivers down my spine.
I admit it was cowardly of me, but I ran back to my room. Seeing Figaro made me feel relieved. Figaro is my pet, a black cat I've had since I was a child. We both left the castle in search of help. Calling Red Diamond seemed like the sensible thing to do.

I don't know where Red Diamond is. He disappeared years ago. I have no reason to think the worst. Red Diamond is a dragon, and dragons love their freedom, but sometimes I worry. Red Diamond has never taken so long to contact me.

I remember going to my coven. I hoped there would be some news, and yes, there was. Daisy, Clarabella, and Samantha told me they'd heard some rumors about my teacher.
I wanted to leave immediately, but my friends noticed I was upset and wouldn't let me out.

Samantha made some tea. I don't remember what it was, but it certainly helped me feel better.

At first, I didn't want to talk about what had happened, but I could see my friends were worried, and a part of me wanted to talk about what had happened. I told them everything that happened after I separated from Miss Honey until I reunited with them. None of them could explain what had happened, but talking to them had been a huge help. It felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders.

The rumors were false. I remember not caring much when I heard someone was usurping my teacher's name, but I didn't really think about it until someone bumped into me. It was at that moment that Donald and I met. He was completely under Merlock's power. I wanted to call him, but Donald was so affected that all I could think about was the supposed love I felt.

Figaro and I followed Merlock to a yacht. I felt sickened. Merlock was not only impersonating my teacher, but using it for such a vile purpose. Learning he was involved in human trafficking further inflamed my anger.

Fortunately, Donald regained his senses. Experiencing his Megaflare firsthand made me realize two things. One, I was lucky he used fire magic. Two, I didn't stand a chance against someone with that much power.

Merlock is in jail, and that makes me feel calmer, but I can't help but think he might be connected to what happened at the castle.
Donald, Figaro, and I escaped as soon as we saw the police arriving. I don't think I'd done anything that warranted imprisonment, but Fairy Tail has a... certain reputation, and I preferred not to take any chances.
Donald and I went to a nearby restaurant. He invited me and Figaro to lunch. I remember Figaro being very happy, and he's usually a suspicious cat and a little... how do I put it?... special. Figaro isn't someone who trusts easily, but it's clear he appreciates Donald. I guess he could also see how special and wonderful he is. We chatted for a while, and he told me he knew someone who could help me.

Knowing I would be meeting a goddess is a great privilege, so I knew I couldn't arrive empty-handed. I visited Coco Versace, one of the best fashion designers, and she gave him a very special gift, in her words, the best bow in her collection.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: Run away

I

"A bow?"

Minnie felt a little nervous seeing the goddess's reaction. She knew the gods could be proud and that angering them could be tragic. There were many stories to confirm this, anecdotes of mortals who suffered terrible fates due to carelessness or bad luck. While it was true that those anecdotes weren't entirely true, Minnie knew it, she also didn't want to push her luck.

"I've always said there's nothing better than a good colored bow."

The goddess smiled, and Minnie felt calmer.

"Wise words."

Minnie handed Hecate the package Coco Versace had given her a short while earlier. Seeing the goddess try on the accessory made her know she had made the right decision.
Hecate moved her hand, and an ancient-looking book appeared in front of her. The goddess tore out a page, which immediately reappeared.

"I, Hecate, goddess of sorcery and the mystic arts, accept your offering. In return, I give you the instructions for making the potion that will save your people. I recommend that you do not return to your castle until I have taken care of removing the cursed statue."

Minnie smiled. While it was true that potions weren't her strong suit, it was also true that, for the first time, she was certain that everything would be okay.

"Thank you".

II

"Bernadette's mother gave her white roses, probably a dozen. Anyone would think she was the main character, but no, she was just playing a stupid tree."

"I can buy you roses, dozens if you want."

Bianca's gaze fell on her mother. The teenager looked furious; it was clear that her mother's proposal had only offended her.

"I don't need your pity. I have fans who appreciate what's truly important."

Agent 22 didn't think a play was important, but she chose not to tell her daughter. She was so proud of her starring role, and Bentina didn't want to talk about her work. As a spy, she knew that confidentiality was her best weapon.

"Hurry up and change your clothes. We're going to the McDuck mansion."

"Bernadette's mom invited us for pizza, and I can't miss it. I'm the most important. They'd be lost without me".

Agent 22 gave her daughter a stern look. Nothing else was needed.

III

Reginella loved flowers, and she knew many in her kingdom shared that sentiment, so she thought it only natural to decorate the event hall with plenty of them.
The little queen had used her magic to make many flowers grow so she could collect them for the picnic. She made many bushes grow and form arches.
The girls were the ones who enjoyed this gesture the most. Many of them picked the flowers and used them to create small crowns.

"They're beautiful," Reginella commented, and she wasn't lying. She placed a crown in her hair and wore it proudly.

However, not everyone supported the idea. Many children were uncomfortable and even refused to wear the crowns.

"It's not fair. We worked so hard so everyone could have a pretty flower crown."

"Why do we have to wear something so silly? We'd look ridiculous."

Reginella was surprised to see a girl sticking out her tongue. It wasn't the first time she'd witnessed an argument, but she had a feeling resolving such a conflict wouldn't be easy.

The queen wondered if she should use a stern look, but she wasn't sure who should receive that look. She could understand the girls; they had worked so hard to make those crowns.
But Reginella could also understand the boys, and why many of them looked embarrassed.

"I propose a deal. Since there are still many crowns left, each of you will make an ornament for a friend, and you will have to wear the ornament that person makes for you."

Reginella smiled at the children's reaction. They all seemed to support the queen's idea. The reality couldn't be more different, and many had found an opportunity to get what they wanted most: revenge.

IV

Duckworth was reading a book when he heard the sound of the door being knocked. His instinct told him to ignore the call, but his sense of duty told him to answer it. Watching the windows of his room shatter into thousands of pieces made him think that not listening to his instincts had been a bad idea.

It was obvious to Duckworth who was responsible, so he decided to act. The butler went to the room the twins shared, but he couldn't get in. It was clear that Donald and Della were waiting for him and had made preparations.

Duckworth hit the clamp and immediately knew he'd made a terrible mistake. The butler could see how the clamp began to shake, destroying everything made of glass.
Duckworth took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. He had acted impulsively, which had made him the victim of one of the twins' pranks. This wasn't the first time they'd pulled something like this, and Duckworth knew he had to be smarter to deal with them.

The butler began to go over his options. Snitching on them to Scrooge McDuck wasn't an option. It wasn't just the fact that his boss wasn't even in Calisota, but the fact that he wouldn't do anything. Scrooge always sided with Della when she and Donald played their pranks.

Agent 22's arrival was enough to snap him out of his thoughts. Duckworth could see her begin to gather various items, but what caught his attention most was Bianca's presence.

"Mr. McDuck has asked me to take some supplies to Antarctica. Could you look after Bianca while I accomplish that task?"

Duckworth didn't mind looking after Bianca. She was a well-mannered young woman and generally remained quiet.

"I'll get some clothes. Bianca, you can go to the library and read whatever you like. Just remember to stay away from Mr. McDuck's private section."

V

Clinton settled into his sleeping bag. He loved adventure, but his body wasn't that of a young man, and that was starting to take its toll. Isabella's situation wasn't much different.

"You know, there's something I've always wanted to ask you. When we met, you were signing your first book, but you'd already published others. Why did you choose that book"

Isabella started to laugh. There was no mockery in that gesture.

"It's a rather curious story; I'm glad you asked. I remember that back then, my editor didn't have faith in me; he even suggested I publish under a pen name. I know why; I'm an adventurer, and it was a field dominated by men. I had faith in my adventures and in who I am, so I decided to publish under my real name. At first, my book wasn't well received. I remember it used to be in the clearance section, but I never lost faith. That book was the beginning of everything; presenting it is a way of honoring my past".

Clinton didn't know that. The Isabella he knew was a woman who had traveled to the most inhospitable places in the world, faced all kinds of enemies, and emerged victorious from situations she thought impossible. To think that there was a time when no one believed in her or that she wasn't always the most famous adventurer and chronicler was absurd.

"Although I admit I now have another book that takes first place in my life, the Junior Woodchucks manual.

Clinton smiled nostalgically as he recalled the day he'd proposed to Isabella that they create the Young Beavers. It had been years ago, before his children were born. He'd begun researching the Three Caballeros, and his friend was worried she couldn't get her grandson interested in adventure. They'd failed. Bradford had not only given up on the Young Beavers, but he'd also moved far away as soon as he came of age and cut off all communication with Isabella.

"It's a shame I could never teach Bradford my love of adventure. He's so much like his useless father."

Isabella sighed regretfully. Clinton didn't know what to think; it was the first time he'd seen her behave so vulnerable.

"Clinton, do you promise not to judge me?"

"Impossible. I could never judge you."

"Sometimes I wish Donald and Della were my grandchildren. They are so fearless and bold. My grandson is too much like his useless father. No matter how hard I try, he always prefers to spend his afternoon surrounded by numbers, not defying death and laughing in the face of danger."

Clinton didn't know what to think. He promised not to judge Isabella, and he wouldn't, but he couldn't understand her. He loved his grandchildren and couldn't even consider changing anything about them.

"You know the worst part? Bradford hates me." That ingrate put a restraining order on me. He said I traumatized him and that I'm not a functioning adult.

A sound caught the attention of both adventurers. Clinton looked around for the source of the peculiar noise, finding a blur of colors moving at high speed.
Isabella and Clinton stood up. Their tiredness had been replaced by something else, the promise of adventure.

VI

Donald and Della scrambled to escape through the window. They were both sure Duckworth would find a way in at any moment, and certainly neither of them wanted to be around when that moment occurred.

Hiding on the plane was Della's idea. Neither of them noticed Bianca until it was too late. The teenager had also boarded the plane.

"What are you doing here?"

"Are you planning to rat us out?"

"Why are you asking? Are you planning to buy my silence?"

Donald and Della exchanged glances. It wasn't what they expected, but it was something they could handle.

"What do you have to offer me?"

The two brothers exchanged glances. Scrooge was the richest duck in the world, but the allowance they both received was very low, and they were rarely allowed to keep any souvenirs. Neither expected Bianca to burst out laughing.

"I was just joking. I won't say anything if you let me stay with you."

Donald and Della stepped away, something that annoyed Bianca. She hadn't had a good day, and she found the twins' distrust insulting. Thinking about the party Bernadette's mother had thrown made her even more annoyed.

"What are you saying?"

"I don't know. Do you think she can keep up with us?"

"You know something? I can hear you."

The argument ended with the sound of the airplane taking off.

VII

Reginella had been very busy with the party preparations. The queen had had to make many decisions, mostly related to decorations, activities, and food. It wasn't something that really bothered her; she liked to help, and those decisions weren't burdensome.

But she also had to make more complicated decisions. The distribution of houses was one of those decisions. She was aware of the work of the builders and thought they deserved to be the first to enjoy their labor, but she was also aware that there were people who needed a home. Reginella didn't know whether she should take meritocracy or empathy into account.

Cerucico's arrival was as unexpected as it was timely.

"Miss, you seem worried. Is something wrong?"

Reginella sighed. Mentally, she wondered if it would be a good idea to trust the man in front of her. One glance was all she needed to know she could do it.

VIII

Agent 22 sighed ruefully. She thought it was predictable that Donald and Della had infiltrated the plane, but she didn't know what to make of Bianca. She'd been instructed to stay at the McDuck mansion, and she'd disobeyed them.

"I'm waiting for an answer."

Bianca looked nervous.

"I got lost. I thought if I followed them, they might be able to help me."

Bentina believed her.

"Will I have to go back to the McDuck mansion?"

Agent 22 shook her head.

"Impossible, Mr. McDuck is waiting for us."

Bianca smiled wickedly, but that was something her mother couldn't see.

IX

Clinton stopped for a moment to regulate his breathing. He'd been running for several minutes, and although he hated to admit it, he had to admit that he wasn't young anymore. Isabella stopped too, though she didn't look as tired.

The eccentric bird disappeared from their sight, reappearing a few seconds later and staring at them.

"Did you see that?"

"Yes. Do you think he wants us to follow him?"

The aracuan sang its song and began to move while running back and forth. Neither Isabella nor Clinton could stop watching it. It was the first time they had witnessed something like this.

X

Bentina had seen many strange things; ironically, most of them hadn't happened during her work as a spy, but near the McDuck family. Seeing a penguin being chased by a walrus carrying McDuck's equipment wasn't one of them.

Donald and Della took care of the walrus in a few minutes. They both decided to intervene shortly after seeing the walrus, and they didn't need words to know they shared the same idea.

"Do you see that? Those must be Mr. McDuck's belongings. I bet if we follow them we can find him."

The group began their hike. The trail led them to a cave, which had a frozen river in it.

"I have an idea," Della commented.

Agent 22 didn't understand those words until she saw the teenager grab a flare. Bentina didn't know where she had gotten it from, and she certainly didn't want to know. The river had been destroyed, and the tide was carrying Donald and Della away.

The penguin, Bianca, and Agent 22 were left alone.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Too Much Gold

I

Donald and Della were completely soaked. They were both shivering from cold and anger.

"Well done, Dumbella."

Della's face showed indignation. It wasn't just the fact that she couldn't accept that she had been wrong, but the fact that she believed it was her brother who had been wrong.

"We needed some light."

"And now we're soaked".

"I did what I had to do, and that's more than you did".

"You caused trouble, so it doesn't count".

"It does count!"

They both turned when they heard the sound of a cough. They quickly realized that the sound was coming from Bentina Beakley.

"This isn't the time to argue. Mr. McDuck is expecting us, and it won't be long before nightfall."

Donald and Della lost any desire to argue as soon as they saw the spy's face. Her stern expression was terrifying.

Agent 22 took some clothes from the suitcase. Scrooge had told her about Goldie, so she had obtained some feminine items. Donald and Della obeyed immediately.

"I can take you to the city," the penguin commented, those words enough to cheer everyone present.

"Do you think Uncle Scrooge is there?"

"That's most likely, but even if he isn't, we could find someone to help us look for him."

Bianca said nothing, but she too agreed with the penguin's proposal. She, unlike her companions, had other motives.

II

"You are a very noble and kind person."

Reginella didn't know why those words didn't sound like a compliment; she even felt a little offended.

"Thank you."

"Unfortunately, not everyone is like you, and children can be malicious".

"I don't understand".

Cerusic sighed. He didn't seem disappointed, but he did seem a little sad.

"What I mean is, you've given those little ones a chance to do something evil. I know you didn't mean to, but there are times when you should be wary of others".

Reginella sighed. She was beginning to understand her friend's words, but she didn't know what to do.

"I don't think children are cruel and heartless."

"Nor do I. I don't think they're bad, but they are mischievous. They're angry and probably see an opportunity. If we don't do something, we'll have a lot of trouble."

Reginella didn't want trouble. She really wanted to keep peace in her kingdom and also wanted everyone to have fun. The queen thought it was what they deserved after working so hard.

"What do you suggest?"

"I'm glad you asked because I have a couple of ideas."

"I'm listening."

III

"I'm sleepy."

Agent 22's gaze fell on the sky. She could understand her daughter's words; it was already nighttime, but there was nothing she could do.

"We'll almost reach the city".

"That's what she told us five minutes ago, and I don't see any sign that we're close".

"So why are you asking again?"

Bianca sighed. She was cold, hungry, and hated that place. Thinking about the party they'd thrown for her colleagues made her bitterness grow. Bianca didn't hate her mother; she didn't want to, but sometimes she felt she was too strict and was taking away everything she wanted.

"I'm worried about your resistance. Donald hasn't complained, and neither has Della."

It was at that moment that everyone realized Donald was missing. The only duck in the group had escaped shortly before and was sleeping not far away.

"Should we leave him there?"

"It's not a bad idea, but I don't think Mr. McDuck would approve."

"Uncle Scrooge would do it."

"I'm not leaving anyone behind, and that's my final word."

Bianca thought Bentina would have done it if it had been her, but she quickly dismissed that idea.

"Agent 22 wouldn't even have looked for me," Bianca thought bitterly.

They arrived at the city at dusk. Several of the penguins approached to greet the newcomers. That curiosity soon turned to hostility.
Della clutched the supplies, but all her attempts were in vain.

"He asks me where Uncle Scrooge is."

All eyes turned to the twins. The kindness they'd shown initially turned to hostility.

"What? Was it something I said? Or is there something up my beak?"

IV

"I propose a change of plans. Each of you will use the ornament you created."

Reginella was somewhat disappointed to see the children's reactions. Some seemed scared, others seemed guilty, but none seemed indifferent.

It was clear that they had all seen in that ornament an opportunity to hurt each other. Cerucico was right.

"Why are you sad? Isn't this supposed to be a party?"

V

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for Donald or Della".

"There wasn't much you could do." You helped us, and that's more than enough.

Bianca looked away. Seeing her mother behave this way was strange and made her uncomfortable. Bianca hated it.

"I wish I could do more."

'This isn't the time to worry about it; it's the time to act."

The penguin leads Agent 22 and Rosita to her home. Along the way, they see a woolly walrus, so they made sure not to make any noise.

Of the three of them, Bianca was the most nervous. Agent 22 looked at her disappointed.

"We'll have to reinforce your training, and we'll do it when we return to Duckburg."

"But, Mom..."

"I don't want excuses, and I'm not asking you either. We'll go train, and that's my final word."

Bianca lowered her head. She knew that was her mother's reaction. Bentina tended to worry more about her job as an agent than her role as a mother, but that didn't make her feel any less upset.

"Yes, Mother."

The three of them made it to the house without incident. Bianca looked for a place to sit, finding one almost immediately.

"I have some makeup, I think this might help."

VI

"It's beautiful," Clinton brought one of her hands to her eyes and began to wipe away the tears.

The adventurer held the book to his chest and squeezed it tightly. His instinct had told him that following the aracuan would lead him to something great, but he hadn't imagined that bird would guide him to his greatest ambition.

"The book is golden, but I don't think that's why you're so excited."

"And you're right. Do you see the constellations on the cover? I suspect this may be Xandra's Atlas."

"Xandra? The goddess of adventure?"

"And guide to the Three Caballeros."

Isabella's face showed a look of surprise, but also a hint of pride.

"We must open it as soon as possible. Only then can we verify that it's authentic."

VII

Agent 22 took several minutes to observe her daughter. She was satisfied with the makeup, but not with the results.

"I think she's missing something."

The penguin ran away and quickly returned with a black coat.

"I think this might help."

Bianca hurried to put on her coat. A smile spread across the spy's face as soon as she saw the results.

The sound of the door being knocked on was enough to shatter the calm in the room.

"Lucy, are you okay?"

"Yes, why are you asking?"

"It's not normal for you to lock yourself in your room."

"I wanted to show my friend something."

Agent 22 knew she had to act quickly, otherwise they'd be in serious trouble. She found a closet and was able to hide quickly.

"I'll let you in right away."

The penguin's mother was happy as soon as she saw Bianca. Whether she still suspected or not, he didn't say anything.

"Who's your friend?"

"Her name is Bianca."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hilda. I hope you and my daughter will become good friends".

Hilda left immediately, and Agent 22 was able to leave her hiding place. She was covered in ice and even shivering, which was unusual for her.

"I'll go get some clothes and supplies. I need you both to behave sensibly and stay away from any trouble. Is that understood?"

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am".

VIII

Isabella's gaze fell on the sky. She could see the sky beginning to cloud over and the winds increasing in intensity. The adventurer headed to her room and looked for her instruments.

"What's bothering you?"

"It's the sky. I suspect there's a very high chance of a storm."

Clinton imitated Isabella, arriving at the same conclusion.

"We'd better find shelter as soon as possible."

IX

Reginella felt calmer seeing the children having fun. She could see how uncomfortable and somewhat annoyed they were at first, but also how those reasons began to disappear as they became more integrated into the party.

"I knew they weren't bad."

"They aren't, but they need guidance, and sometimes they also need to be treated harshly."

"Thank you".

Cerusic looked confused.

"For helping me. I don't know what I would have done without your help".

The man smiled.

"You're a good queen. I know you would have found a way eventually."

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: The Map

I

The sky had darkened faster than Clinton had expected. Gray clouds had completely covered the sky, the only source of light being occasional lightning. The winds were intense and the rain was heavy.

Clinton and Isabella tried to find shelter, but there was nothing nearby and they were far from shore. They were alone, and the radio was broken, so calling for help wasn't an option.

"Do you have a plan in mind?"

"Using buckets to bail out the water and using ropes to tie ourselves to the boat. All we have to do is hold out until the storm passes."

They both knew that wouldn't work. The rain was faster than either of them, and the wind was destroying the structure.

Isabella and Clinton had great difficulty staying on the boat.

Neither of them was able to do so. Both fell into the sea a few minutes later and would have sunk if not for their life jackets.

"Do you want to race us to the coast?" Isabella asked mockingly.

Clinton smiled sadly. He genuinely admired his partner's determination, even when he couldn't bring himself to believe everything would be okay.

"Let's do it. But I'm warning you, I won't spare you."

"Don't. I'd be offended if you did."

II

Bentina had returned to the prison shortly after midnight. Bianca was sleeping with Lucy, and she hoped the prison guards were asleep too.

It wasn't because she was scared; Agent 22 was certain that none of them could compete against her. She simply wanted to avoid trouble.

Agent 22 had decided to study the area. She had noticed the penguins' hostile attitude, but she didn't believe they were terrifying monsters, so she didn't consider time to be her biggest concern. However, she was worried about making a mistake. The way they had reacted when they learned of her closeness to Scrooge made her think the consequences would be worse if they discovered an escape attempt.

Bentina used a message in a bottle to let him know she wouldn't leave them alone.

Scrooge responded shortly after. Agent 22 recognized two different handwriting styles: Scrooge's and Della's.

Scrooge had given her the location of the map, and Della was asking for a list of things. The spy recognized several of them, and that made her suspect what the twins needed.

Clinton was surprised. He had once thought all was lost. Both he and Isabella had fought with all their might and hadn't stopped until their bodies gave out.

The adventurer had lost consciousness, and when he awoke, he thought he was dead. Finding himself in the middle of a party didn't help change his mind. However, he would soon discover he was wrong.

"Welcome to Pacificus."

Clinton searched for the source of the voice and found a beautiful young woman. She was a fairy, a young woman with dark hair and a gentle smile. He didn't know her, but a voice inside him told him he could trust her, that the danger was over.

"My name is Reginella, and I am the queen. Please make yourselves at home."

"Where is Isabella?"

Reginella smiled. There was no hint of malice in that gesture.

"Is Isabella the woman who was with you?"

Clinton nodded.

"She's in the next room. Don't worry, she's fine, injured and tired, but in stable condition."

"I'd like to see her."

Reginella approached the adventurer and placed her hand on his forehead. Clinton could feel a warm sensation spread throughout his body and the pain disappear.

"We're celebrating right now. We'd be honored to have your presence." I'll check that Isabella has fully recovered, and you both can be reunited.

"Thank you".

"It will be an honor to accompany you".

IV

"It's a shame you can't see the museum under other circumstances. I'm sure you'd love it".

Bianca smiled.

"Maybe next time. If I'm lucky, I could convince Mom to come back soon."

Bianca didn't think she could return anytime soon. She genuinely liked Lucia, but she knew her mother and knew she didn't have much free time. Agent 22 always had a new case to work on and rarely saw her as a priority.

"Maybe if I can convince the twins," the girl thought, but quickly dismissed the idea.

The twins weren't her friends, and she doubted they would want to return to that place, especially after they were taken prisoner for knowing Scrooge McDuck.

"I could visit you, and we could have a sleepover."

Bianca smiled. She wished it too.

A short while later, both girls were at the museum. Bianca knew she had a mission, but she didn't mind postponing it.

"This place is amazing."

"And you haven't even seen anything. The doll room is my favorite place."

Bianca also loved the doll room. The doll room was made up of dolls of various celebrities, most of them local celebrities.

"Interesting".

"The map should be nearby."

"We can look for it later. I want to see all the dolls and read the stories behind them".

"What about your friends?"

"They're just acquaintances and they'll be fine. Mom's in charge of everything".

V

Isabella and Clinton joined the party with Reginella, and neither of them could ignore the colorful hats they were wearing. Those accessories were too showy to be ignored.

"Do you think it's a local tradition?"

"The children don't seem bothered, so I guess it's part of the festivities."

"Should we wear them?"

Isabella and Clinton exchanged glances. Neither of them wanted to wear those decorations, but they were afraid of offending the local residents.

"I don't see any adults wearing them."

"And we don't have hats. What a shame."

They both fell silent as soon as they saw the queen, afraid that she might misinterpret their words.

"Are you having fun?"

They both nodded. While it was true that they hadn't integrated completely, it was also true that they were genuinely having fun. Clinton and Isabella weren't just adventurers; they both loved exploring unknown places and learning about new cultures.

"You can integrate if you can".

"We like to see, you know? We're chroniclers".

Reginella smiled at those words.

"In that case, I have good news. Pacificus is a young kingdom, no more than a year old, and I'm willing to share its story".

VII

"That must be the map".

Bianca approached the map, taking special care not to be seen by anyone. The girl couldn't. It wasn't because I'd caught the penguins' attention, but because the map was wet.

"I think I can fix it, but I'll need a few minutes."

"I can take care of that."

Lucy headed into the hallway, so Bianca decided it was time to act. She managed to dry the map, but couldn't make it completely legible. Fortunately, Bianca had her crayons; she'd needed them during the play, and she knew about cartography; her mother had insisted on it.

VIII

Clinton never watched the news. There was no particular reason; it just didn't interest him. However, at that moment, it was different. Reginella had told him about a shipwreck, one in which many people disappeared. Clinton was sure that at least one newscast should have covered what had happened.

"We've had some problems, but I want to believe everything is okay."

"It's a beautiful place, and the people seem happy."

"We're sorry we couldn't be of help. None of us have any idea who those people might be."

Reginella didn't seem angry, but she was a little disappointed.

"You have nothing to apologize for; you haven't done anything wrong."

Reginella was sincere, and Clinton knew it, but that didn't make it any less painful to have let that fairy down. Everyone had been kind, and he wanted to make it up to them for the help he'd received.

"If only there was something we could help with".

"Maybe there is, maybe. We don't know, and I don't think it's anything you need to worry about. Everything's fine".

IX

Mrs. Beakley arrived at the prison. She handed the children a bag containing the clothes and the clothespin that would help them escape.

"What do they have in mind?"

"You'll find out soon enough".

"You'll find out soon enough."

It took Donald and Della a few minutes to recreate the prank they had played on Duckworth a short time ago.

The vibration caused the prison to collapse, but that wasn't all it did. The ice on which the woolly walrus was trapped broke, and the walrus was freed.

The noise didn't go unnoticed.

The penguins arrived at the prison quickly.

"Della, start the plane. Bentina, Donald, we'll go get the map... and Bianca."

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: The Frozen Duck

I

Donald didn't like the cell he'd been locked in, but he liked the idea that Scrooge might be hiding something even less. It wouldn't be the first time something like this had happened, and he feared it wouldn't be the last. Della felt the same way.

"Bentina told me that Bianca and Lucy would be at the museum. I hope the girls can find the map."

Donald and Della exchanged glances. They didn't know Bianca very well, but they'd seen her sneak onto the plane, so they thought she had certain skills that could help her in this situation.

"Are you all hiding something from me?"

"Not really, we're just worried."

"It would be difficult if they discover her disguise."

Scrooge seemed calmer.

"Bentina is the greatest spy in history. I have no doubt she trained Bianca to follow in her footsteps".

Donald wasn't entirely convinced. He didn't know about Agent 22's abilities, hadn't even seen her in action. He didn't know about Bianca's abilities either, but from what he'd seen, he doubted they were exceptional. One glance at Della was enough to tell she thought the same.

"Uncle Scrooge, what happened? How did you end up here?"

The expression on Scrooge's face changed. He wasn't smiling anymore, but he didn't look angry either. If Della and Donald had been paying more attention, they would have noticed that her heart had broken at the memory of his most recent betrayal.

"Goldie."

Donald and Della exchanged glances. They didn't need any more words; they knew Goldie and knew that such actions were common for her, that she was the only one capable of provoking such reactions from him.

"Where is she?"

Scrooge sighed. He wanted to appear strong, but there was something in her eyes and voice that gave him away.

"She disappeared after doing that, like a pro."

"Typical Goldie."

Della pounded her brother's sides. Donald couldn't understand why his sister was so upset, and he certainly didn't care. He was angry and wanted revenge. Seeing Bentina's daughter was enough to distract him.

"I found Bianca."

She was in disguise, but Donald was a keen observer and noticed that her beak was different from the others'. That wasn't the only reason he was able to identify her. Bianca and the penguin they had helped were being chased by a group of penguins.

"We'd better act quickly." Go to the map.

The penguins started running, seemingly for no reason. Donald soon understood their motives until he saw the walrus. He could sense danger, which is why he started running. Scrooge and Della ran too, and even Agent 22.

Mrs. Beakley wasn't running away out of fear, but because it was necessary. She had a plan. The spy used her scarf like a rope, immobilizing the walrus very quickly. That was a temporary solution.

II

Reginella sat down. Her feet hurt a lot, but she didn't complain. The party had been a success, and that made her very happy. The tiredness was just a minor annoyance she could easily ignore.

Clinton sat down next to her; he also looked tired.

"Isabella and I are grateful that you allowed us to stay in your kingdom."

"We did what anyone would have done in our place."

"Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen." Isabella and I have met all kinds of people during our travels, and unfortunately, there are some people who might have leftover food and would rather throw it away than share.

Reginella was surprised. She had never seen that kind of behavior in her people, nor did she remember seeing it before. The fairy felt disappointed. Cerusicus and Clinton's words made her think her kingdom was in danger.

"But make no mistake, not all people are cruel. I have also met people with big hearts. I have seen people who give away what little they have, heroes who risk their lives to help others. My ancestor, Don Dugo, along with his friends, Sir Gonzalez, Sir Carioca, and Xandra, traveled the world, fighting the forces of evil."

"Interesting."

The expression on Reginella's face showed genuine interest.

"Tell me more."

Clinton smiled. From his expression, it was clear he was waiting for that question.

"They were called the Three Caballeros…"

III

Donald was the first to board the airplane. Della soon followed, accompanied by Scrooge, Bianca, Lucy, and Mrs. Beakley.

The walrus, which had managed to get rid of the spy's scarf, was right behind them, and no one noticed her until it was too late.

"Della, do something!"

Della activated an emergency switch, and the walrus fell into the sea, freezing once more. It would be a long time before the walrus could be free once more.

"That was fun!"

The children began to laugh. Bentina and Scrooge weren't entirely happy. They didn't seem angry, but they did seem worried. It wouldn't be long before the children understood the reason for such concern.

"The girl must return home."

Lucy and Bianca were the saddest. The time they had shared was brief, but it had been enough to form a friendship.

"Don't worry, I'll be back, and you can come with me."

Bianca and Lucy seemed happy, but Donald and Della, on the other hand, were suspicious. They didn't know why the townspeople were angry with Scrooge, or even if it was justified, and they certainly didn't care. Hortense and Daphne had accompanied him on one of his adventures a while back, and they told them about the cruelty he had shown on that trip. Neither Donald nor Della wanted a repeat of it, even if they were a little angry too.

"Why do you want to go back?"

"Are you planning revenge?"

Scrooge didn't seem offended; on the contrary, he laughed heartily, as if it were nothing more than a joke.

"Why would he? I have what I came for".

"So why do you want to come back?"

Scrooge stopped laughing, but he didn't seem offended.

"Isn't it obvious? Because he has business on his mind."

Everyone turned at the sound of that voice. Scrooge wasn't surprised, and neither was Bentina. It took Donald and Della several seconds to recognize her, but they were confused. No one had seen her or knew the reason for her return.

"Who is she?" Lucy whispered. She didn't know what was going on, but she could sense the tension in the air.

"I don't know," Bianca replied.

"She's Uncle Scrooge's girlfriend."

"Glittering Goldie."

"Why did you come back?"

"Is asking obvious questions a family trait? I don't plan on giving up my treasure."

IV

Minnie hadn't expected to see Hecate, especially so soon. The goddess had headed to her refrigerator and grabbed her strawberry ice cream. She didn't seem to be in a hurry, so Minnie suspected it was just a casual visit. The idea that they could be friends made her happy.

"I'm planning on visiting Ithaquack soon, and the bow you gave me is perfect for the occasion, but I want something more. Aphrodite will be at that party, and I need something to make me stand out."

"How will you know there's going to be a party?"

"It's Ithaquack, there's always a party".

Minnie wasn't disappointed. Knowing that Hecate had loved her offering made her very happy, almost as much as knowing she could help her.

"I'll speak to Coco Versace right away. I bet she'll be thrilled to work with you".

"Good. But that's not the only reason I came. I have information related to what happened in your kingdom".

That was something Minnie hadn't expected. She didn't even know the goddess was investigating what had happened. The princess was grateful for what she considered a noble and selfless gesture.

"Who was it? An enemy of the kingdom, perhaps?"

"Error. It was nothing personal, just another joke from Eris."

Minnie knew who Eris was, though she'd never interacted with her personally. As both a princess and a witch, she'd studied the subject, and Eris certainly wasn't her favorite goddess. Learning that all her suffering had been due to a prank didn't make her opinion of her any better.

"Does Zeus know?"

"Probably not, and I think it would be pointless to tell him. Zeus is an idiot and won't do anything unless he finds it funny or it helps him get what he wants, and we all know that's what Zeus wants more than anything."

Minnie didn't know what it was that Zeus wanted so badly. Hecate noticed and started laughing out loud.

"You're so sweet and naive. Stay away from Zeus, and I'll tell you when you're older".

"I'm not a child."

"Yes, of course, whatever you say."

V

Agent 22's gaze fell on Goldie. She didn't like the idea of that woman accompanying them, but she knew there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Goldie was cunning and stubborn, especially when treasure was involved.

"I guess it's better to keep her around, so I can at least keep an eye on her," the spy thought, not even trying to hide her anger. She was one of S.H.U.S.H.'s best assets, and she certainly hated losing, especially when it came to Goldie.

Goldie looked at her mockingly, something that angered Bentina. It took all her willpower to do nothing.

Agent 22 had worked with all kinds of criminals, con artists, murderers, thieves, and mobsters, but none of them could compare to Goldie; no one else could make her react the way she did. And Bentina hated it, because the most important thing to her was her job as a spy, and she considered herself the best at what she did.

"I can't land."

"Are you sure, Dumbella?"

"Do you even see any landing strips? Because all I see is water, and I doubt Lucy wants to swim in such cold waters".

"I might catch a cold".

"Then let Mrs. Beakley drive".

"Why? Will that magically make a landing strip appear?"

Bentina began massaging her temples; she felt she had let this discussion go on too long.

"There's a parachute. The girl can use it."

"But what if she gets hurt?"

"She'll be okay, right?"

Lucy nodded vigorously, shaking her head. No further discussion was discussed.
Bianca took a box from her bag.

"I want you to have this."

The teenager handed him her box of crayons, which she had used for her play. Lucy accepted them, grateful for the gesture and eager to see her again.
The landing was safe. Soon after, Lucy would find herself in the company of her mother.

VI

Bertie nervously opened the envelope. Just a few days earlier, he had applied for the Junior Woodchucks promotion and had finally received a response.

"You shouldn't worry," his mother told him. "You're a talented Junior Woodchuck, a wonderful son, and a hero. I can't think of anyone more worthy of that promotion."

Bertie smiled. Part of him believed his mother wasn't lying just to calm his nerves. He opened the envelope and what he found wasn't what he expected.

Bertie was considered worthy of a promotion, but he wasn't the only one. There was someone else, a girl named Clarissa, who was also considered suitable.

His mother took the envelope, her face also showing anger.

"It says here that you'll have to pass several tests. It doesn't matter, you'll just have to prove to everyone that you're the best, and I trust you'll succeed. Go and make me proud."

VII

Contrary to what many thought, the Captain had not died. Hatred and ambition had become the driving forces of his life, and he wasn't willing to stop until he obtained what he considered his by birthright.

The Captain had been the first to reach the Waka Waka River, but he couldn't find the treasure, even if it was what he most desired. The man knew the treasure was nearby, but he didn't know its location and knew finding it would be impossible without a map.

The Captain had his resources, so he knew Scrooge McDuck had the map and was on his way, so he had to wait. The traps were set, so there was nothing else he could do.

VIII

Della's gaze fell on Scrooge and Goldie. She was angry and blamed them for forcing her to make an emergency landing. Agent 22 had saved them. They were able to navigate thanks to a raft she brought and her skills.

"Look on the bright side, Della, we didn't fall into the waterfall and you didn't have to take a bath."

"Yes, thanks to my incredible reflexes. If it had only been Goldie, I would have thought it was a sabotage attempt."

"Nonsense. Our priority now is to search the valley."

"I think running away from the crocodiles is more important."

Della planned to tease her brother and tell him there were no crocodiles nearby, but she realized how wrong she was. It wasn't one crocodile, nor two, but many. They were surrounded by crocodiles.

"I'll take care of that."

Scrooge used a knife to deflate the raft, leading them to a path.

"Follow the path."

The group walked uninterruptedly for several minutes and only stopped when they reached the end of the path.

"How strange, there are stairs!" Della commented thoughtfully.

"They seem to lead to the top of a mountain," Donald added, his tone of voice similar to his sister's.

The two siblings exchanged glances, sharing a similar thought.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go up those stairs!"

IX

Samantha was surprised to see Mickey. It wasn't that she minded his visit, it was just that she hadn't expected him so soon.

"How did your mission go?"

Mickey shrugged in disinterest and entered his apartment.

"Fine, I guess, it's just... everything was so boring."

Samantha took a seat next to her boyfriend. She rested her head on his shoulder, thinking about how much she'd missed him.

"Are you staying?"

"Probably. Shedlock Jones told me he'd let me know if we had a new case."

Samantha couldn't help but frown. She loved Mickey and knew how much he loved being a detective, but she couldn't help feeling annoyed every time he left, especially if his assignments went on for too long.

"You'll have to make it up to me."

Mickey smiled.

"I guess you're right. Would you like to go with me to the park? I heard there was an outdoor concert."

Samantha closed her eyes. It might have seemed like a simple plan, but it was what she wanted most.

"I love you, did you know that?"

"I know."

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: The Legend of the Three Caballeros

When I think of the Three Caballeros, I often think of many things, adventure, treasures, legends, but mainly of friendship. The Three Caballeros were not just friends and adventure companions, they were family, maybe not by blood, but definitely by heart.I have always admired that bond and I admit, it is that great friendship that has made me admire them so much. I thank Isabella for her great support; thanks to her, I have been able to progress with my research and I have even written several books.The Junior Woodchucks is one of my greatest prides, but I admit that I still feel hurt for having lost the New Quackmore Institute at the hands of someone I thought was my friend and companion. But enough of digressions, I’m probably just boring you and you want to know more about the Three Caballeros.

They were chosen by Xandra, the goddess of adventure, and together they had all kinds of adventures. I have researched them for years, but I would be lying if I said I knew what the last one was. I want to believe that they had a long and prosperous life. I am a descendant of Don Dugo and I am tracking the descendants of the Caballeros Carioca and Gonzalez, so I can assure you that they could indeed form a family and experience the delights of love.I remember that The Three Caballeros met Xandra during an adventure. The goddess had been kidnapped by Lord Felldrake, a horrible sorcerer with terrible powers. It is curious how there is so little information about a man who caused so much havoc. Lord Felldrake was not limited to just one kingdom; thanks to Xandra's powers, the sky was his limit, and because of his powers, there was no one who could rival him.

They were dark times, truly terrible. I believe that he was not alone. I know that he and Merlock founded a coven, Jinx, but I have not found reliable evidence that they worked together. I have also not found proof that both of them died, but they lived centuries ago so if they were not caught by the consequences of their actions, they must have died of old age.The Three Caballeros crossed deserts, sailed rivers, and climbed mountains to find Lord Felldrake's lair. They faced numerous obstacles and even confronted the many henchmen of the dictator, but nothing could prepare them for what they were about to find.As I said before, Lord Felldrake's powers were terrible. That horrible sorcerer could grow at will and gained the size of a mountain. He used his staff to shoot lasers, but the Three Caballeros were quick and managed to dodge it.

That battle seemed lost. Lord Felldrake was not only large, strong, and powerful, he seemed invulnerable, but the Three Caballeros were stronger. They used their magical amulets and sealed him away. Don’t ask me about the magical amulets, as I only know they existed. I would be so happy if I could find them; those amulets and the Atlas of Xandra are among the most important relics of humanity. Xandra was freed, but unfortunately, the curse that kept her imprisoned could not be broken. Don Dugo gave her the Atlas, promising that no one would use it against her and that she wouldn't be trapped again, even if she remained bound to that book. I want to believe he kept his promise, but if my suspicions are correct, he couldn't do it, with the last battle taking everything from him. Xandra was fascinated by the Three Caballeros and did not blame them, so she did the most sensible thing; she named them her knights and the three began their epic confrontation against the forces of evil.