Writers comments:
Hello all! Lore here! It's a pleasure to meet you all! I hope you like this fanfic. It's my first within the Ducktales universe and hope that everyone here enjoys the ride. I will try to update this all week. I have had this idea in my head since watching Shadow War. Thanks again to all who take the time to comment on this fanfic. (Bows) Enjoy the show!
Chapter 1
"We did it!" Louie jumped up in the air and dove into the money bin swimming around with the others as they celebrated beating Magica. They laughed as she ran away with a smoldering gaze. At first Webby did too, but as the adrenaline died down, she glanced back at her shadow and her smile slowly faded thinking about Lena. It was true what the triplets said. She would always be with Webby. But somehow, it didn't feel enough. The roller coaster of emotions she hadn't been allowed to feel as they fought Magica suddenly hit full force.
Lena's betrayal, the thought that Lena was never really her friend, realizing that Lena was just another pawn of Magica's and seeing her fight her own master to protect Webby and the joy she felt seeing her, realizing that she did care about Webby. Then the horror and despair as Magica turned her staff on Lena and watching her vanish into nothing.
Swallowing a lump in her throat, she resisted the urge to cry. Dewey and Huey had noticed her now standing there with her fists clenched and eyes boring into the money at her feet. She noticed their looks and glanced away trying to hide her face. They couldn't know, everyone seemed so happy.
Somehow though, Huey seemed to know what she was thinking. "Webby.." he reached out and set a soft hand on her shoulder. Snapping her head up, she gave the two a smile.
"Really it's okay Huey. Thanks for worrying, you too Dewey." Webby grinned and then tackled the duck clad in blue and wrestled him into a headlock. "Ha! Still inexperienced! Your guard is way down Dewford!"
"HA! Dewey is being put in a headlock by a girl!" Louie laughed and pointed at his brother as he shot him an annoyed look.
Webby smirked, eyes narrowed. "Do you want a turn Louie? I can easily arrange that!" With that she launched herself at the wide eyed duck and tackled him into an exploding pile of coins as his brothers watched and laughed.
Scrooge eyed the kids playing with a small growing smile. Eyes softening, he glanced to the side at Mrs Beakley and nodded slightly.
"You do realize Magica won't give up on destroying you." She stated factually and sighed. "You really shouldn't have let her go."
"No need to worry yourself, I will stop her next time I see her. I won't let anyone else be hurt by her. Besides, the woman can only do magician magic now. She's not much of a threat." He waved her worry away.
The older woman sighed slightly and turned back to the children playing. "Well I suppose we should see what is left of the manor. She probably did a number on it. I have a headache just thinking about everything that needs to be cleaned." She muttered. Turning to leave, she took two steps before pausing and turning back to Scrooge. "Also, I believe you owe someone an apology."
Raising an eyebrow at this, Scrooge turned to her and sighed. "I know, I was a bit harsh to everyone and I am sorry I said those things."
Tilting her head a bit. "I meant my granddaughter. You told her she wasn't a part of the family." Tone icy, she smiled in smug satisfaction at the wince Scrooge gave at that statement.
Hand covering half of his face, he gave a deep sigh. "I know…I promise I will tell her when we have a moment alone."
Mrs Beakley nodded and turned away again. "Don't forget Mr. McDuck that we are all Webby has. Despite how you feel about her parents she is MY granddaughter. She will forgive you, have no doubts about that. She idolizes you, heaven knows why. But you are in a particularly dangerous spot. Remember that." With that, she walked away and Scrooge frowned. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Donald smiling at him.
He gave a half smile back and turned back to the kids. "Kids! Its time to go home!" he yelled and the four stopped fighting and ran over to him. Trailing behind the group, Webby glanced once more to the bin where the fight took place.
"Lena…" she said softly and let a tear fall from her face. Shaking the thoughts away she ran back to catch up with the group.
The fading shadow within a group of coins formed into the shape of Lena, her eyes once more opening and giving the fading Webby a sad smile. "Webby.." a whisper that could only be heard by herself, she watched as her friend kept running and quietly faded into nothing.
The next few days went by fast. Rebuilding the manor was pretty easy. Only about a third of it was blown up by Magica's magic. Scrooge was also focusing on getting his money back and rebuilding the bin that he had forgotten about what he and Mrs Beakley had spoken about.
Meanwhile Webby was being unnaturally quiet. She had stayed in her room a lot the past few days, feeling strangely lethargic and while the boys were worried about her, they also were trying to sort through their emotions. Learning about their mothers death was hard. It was finally real to them, they had solved the mystery, their mother was a part of the stars now. And as Dewey glanced up at the moon and stars one night he gave a small smile. At last he finally knew where his mother was and could now look up and talk to her whenever he wanted. She would forever watch over them, that much he knew now.
Louie glanced up from his phone, seeing the dopey look on Dewey's face and rolled his eyes. He was dealing with his pain in his own way. No longer did he really blame Scrooge for what happened. While the entire situation was hard to accept, he realized that what was done was done and he was ready to look forward. Now that they were back at the mansion it was time to start their next adventure. Their next con. Smirking at this he hummed. "Say bros. What should we do tomorrow? I think we should go out and do something."
Huey glanced up from his book and raised an eyebrow at Louie. "Like what? Scrooge won't go on anymore adventures until the house and bin are fixed which means were pretty much limited to Duckburg. Unless you want to, you know hijack Launchpads plane-why are you grinning like that?" Huey looked worried at Louie's sudden happy face.
"That's a perfect idea!" Louie jumped onto his face. "Let's take the Sunchaser for a joy ride to some place cool!"
"That is literally the stupidest idea you have ever had." Dewey was now glaring at Louie. "You have a death wish or something?"
Louie sighed. "I dunno I'm just bored. I'm tired of being cooped up! I need to do something!"
"Con funds running low?" Huey commented.
A pause.
"NooOOooooOOoOo….." Louie's long no and pained expression was all the answers they needed.
Dewey sighed and thought about it. "Maybe a walk around town wouldn't hurt. I heard a new circus is in town. Maybe that might be fun, you know normal fun?"
"Hmmm" Louie thought, thinking up protentional cons he could do.
"I'm in!" Huey grinned and jumped up. "I can earn my cotton candy making badge and if they let me I can even get my acrobat badge! You have no idea how hard it is to find a place that lets you be an acrobat with a live audience!"
"Riiigggghht..moving on." Louie pulled out his stash of hidden coins he collected from their adventures. "How much do you think it would cost to buy my own lion from the Circus?"
"I think we should invite Webby too." Dewey suddenly said. The other two snapped their heads up and both looked away.
"Would she want to come?" Louie asked. "I think she's still…um.."
Huey frowned as well. "Do we really want to pull her into something else if she's not ready? After all, she lost her friend."
"But she has us." Dewey turned to the two. "I think leaving without her would be worse don't you think? She would think we wouldn't care about her. We have to help her forget about Lena."
"Forget about Lena?" A new voice said from their open door. Instantly three horrified faces turned to Webby who was standing at the doorway with a confused look on her face.
"Wait! Webby! It's not what you think!" Dewey started, getting up and tripping over his own feet to run to her.
"What? That you want me to forget about Lena, forget about my friend who was killed before my eyes?" new tears began to form. "Forget about Lena who betrayed us then saved us? You were there Dewey! You saw her fade away like I did!" She pointed her finger at the other. Tears threatened to spill over and she spun away to run off but Huey, the one closest to the door grasped her arm and stopped her.
"Wait! Webby! That's not what he meant!" Huey was panicking too and knew if he let her go she would be out of reach.
With clenched teeth, Webby desperately tried to pull herself from his hold but Louie also grasped her shoulder and together the two brought her inside.
"Yeah he was being Dewey, saying stupid Dewey things. Don't take everything he says at face value." Smiling, Louie looked her in the eyes. "We just wanted to find a way to cheer you up. This isn't like you. We miss the old Webbigail who would be bouncing off the walls and idolizing our uncle. Ready for adventure! And beating up bad guys!"
"I'm sorry Webby." Dewey looked guilty. "I didn't mean to word it like that. But you can't keep yourself locked away either. Were worried about you."
Webby thought about what they said and sighed. "I'm sorry guys." She smiled at them all. "I get it. I haven't been very Webby like. It's all good. Now what's this I hear about a Circus?"
"Uncle Scrooge?" Donald hesitantly entered the room where said duck was seated upon his chair, deep in concentration while staring at something. He only looked up briefly before turning back to what he was looking at.
"Yes? What is it Donald?" Scrooge asked politely and frowned even deeper at what he was gazing at.
Donald sighed. "I was wondering, I am glad you decided to let us stay. My boat is completely totaled and it will take forever to get fixed. But, I still think we need to have a talk. About Della."
Scrooge stopped what he was doing and hesitantly glanced up at his nephew. Closing his eyes painfully, he sighed. "Aye. I suppose we do."
"I know I blamed you, and I'm sorry. I suppose I just needed someone to blame. I couldn't blame her, she is my sister. You both made mistakes and I was upset at her for leaving the boys. I know you did everything to save her. I just…I wanted her back. She should be the one raising the boys, not me. I am doing the best I can. I just, want you to know all of this. We may not be perfect. But family will stick together. No matter what, right?" Donald gave a small smile.
Scrooge felt a smile form on his normally grumpy features as well and he couldn't help a small tear from falling. "Aye, our family may not be perfect. But we are a united unit. I want you to know I will never let the boys be in that same danger. I promise I will protect them with my life." Nodding firmly, Scrooge got up and walked towards Donald.
"I know, I will as well."
Webby pulled her hand away from the door to Scrooges room. She gave a sad smile and looked away. She couldn't interrupt them right now. So she quickly ran off before the two could see her. The others words made her happy. The three brothers were so well loved and it seemed as if Scrooge and Donald would protect them no matter what.
This is great! The Family is stronger than ever….Now no one can defeat them! Ever!
But it was so strange, despite how happy she felt…a pain was piercing her heart. Even as she got to her room and closed the door behind her, it didn't go away. Confused, she reached up and found tears falling from her eyes. "Wha-what is this? I shouldn't be crying..Why-" Her lower beak trembled and she threw herself on her bed, finding it impossible to keep the emotions bottled inside. She grasped a pillow and screamed into it, she cried. For the first time since the Sunchaser crash, since Lena's death; she cried.
That's how Mrs. Beakley found her, and as much as she could she comforted her granddaughter. But even she knew that her words wouldn't reach the girls heart. She could see it, she was closing herself off. It seemed as if Scrooge would need a reminder.
The next day, Webby was all smiles. She was finally feeling better and back to herself. True, the emotions behind everything she felt were still there. But at least the three brothers would still be with her.
"Guys!" She popped up next to their bed.
"Guys!" She popped up again next to Louie who was getting dressed and let out a very unmanly shriek.
"Guys!" She pulled Dewey out of bed who only looked up at her with a dazed expression.
"It's finally here! My first Circus!" She was bouncing off the walls, almost literally which caused Huey to worry.
"Riiggghhtt, Webby have you been drinking that potion that you kept from that super secret mission you went on with Uncle Scrooge?" he asked, trying to grab her to stop her from getting hurt.
"Yeah-wait what?" Dewey snapped his head towards Huey.
"Super secret mission?! Aw c'mon!" Louie frowned and pouted.
"What? What super secret mission? Pssshhhh" Webby tried to brush the others words off with a slight wave.
Huey raised an eyebrow. "I literally have video evidence." Showing it off on his phone, Webby briefly wondered how he was able to film them.
"Dude you went with a solo mission with Scrooge?! Not faiiirrr" Dewey frowned.
Smiling, Webby just shrugged and hummed innocently. "Anyways! C'mon you three we need to get to the circus before the best seats are taken!" She grasped Dewey and Louie's arms and dragged them off. Huey shrugged and followed behind.
When they got there, Webby was instantly entranced by the stalls near the front of the circus.
"Look at that! What is that?!" She pointed at the cotton candy machine.
"Only the best invention known to Duckdom besides money. Cotton Candy!" Louie introduced and bought her some, "Here try it!"
"I will!" She opened her mouth and tried to chomp down, only for it to instantly dissolve on her tongue. Her eyes widened and pupils dilated. She appeared as if she had been enlightened.
"Uhhh Louie I think you broke her." Dewey commented, poking her head as she bounced up and quickly got back into line.
"I LOVE COTTON CANDY I WANT MORE!"
Huey and Dewey gave their brother a sidelong look. "Great now she will be bouncing around all day. Thanks Louie." Huey commented dryly.
Louie adjusted his hoodie. "No thanks necessary gentleman! If you need me.. I'll be asking a man about a tiger." And with that, he was gone.
"I thought he wanted a lion." Huey commented.
"Typical Louie, ditching us." Dewey sighed.
Huey shrugged. "Five bucks says he will be back in ten minutes screaming and running from a tiger."
"Oh you are so on!" Dewey slapped and shook his brothers hand with a grin.
"Wh-esre Luoiey?" Webby returned with her mouth crammed with cotton candy and the plastic cones they came on.
"Yup were doomed." Huey commented without any emotion.
"Oooh whats this?!" Webby ran to another stall, the fried cheese vendor. After going through every vendor in the entire Circus, Huey spotted a few of the acrobats heading towards the big top and he stopped with a slight hum. He glanced back at Dewey and Webby who were in conversation and decided now was the perfect time to sneak away. Blending into the objects he stealthily made his way towards the big top.
"I still think the concept of two talking mice trying to take over the world is a bit far fetched-hey where's Huey?" Dewey stopped and glanced around frowning. Webby also glanced around, frowning and shrugging her shoulders. Slapping his face, Dewey groaned. "Oh come on! Ditched again?"
Webby laughed a bit. "Hey don't worry Dewey, still got me after all. Um..oh lets try here!" She pointed to a small tent. "There's no line!"
"Probably because it's a-hey! No pulling I'm coming!" Dewey let her drag him off towards the tent that read "Psychic" on the top. Crossing his arms, Dewey hesitantly went inside. "Webby let's go, these Psychics are never real." He whispered.
"Come children." A woman's voice echoed from a bit further into the tent. It was a lot darker in the tent and Dewey followed after Webby nervously.
Once Webby pulled back the curtain before them they saw a young woman duck seated in front a bunch of cards. She shuffled them and spread them out on the table.
She had long pink hair, Her feathers were a stark white and she wore a long purple dress with flared sleeves and long dangling earrings and a necklace with a strangely entrancing stone.
"Hi I'm Webby!" Webby grinned and waved before making herself seated.
The other girl smiled. "Hello Webby, Dewey." The woman nodded to the blue clad duck.
Dewey paused and his mouth hung open a bit before shaking his head and seating himself down as well. He frowned at her and tilted his head. "How did you know my name?"
The lavender clad duck smiled a bit. "How do you think?"
"Well obviously because she's Psychic!" Webby looked excited and squealed. Dewey was a bit more skeptic. Sure magic was real, but he had problems believing people who did carnivals and Circus fortune telling. More than often it was fake.
Shrugging and smirking the Psychic gazed at them both, "I'll let you be the judge of that." She chuckled and started to display the cards before her face down.
"Read my fortune!" Webby jumped up.
"You will have to be more specific than that." She giggled. But when Webby paused a bit, looking down; the woman's own features softened. "Tell you what. Think really hard what you want. I'll let the cards do the rest." She reached up and pat Webby's head.
"You don't want her to say anything? Then how will you…" Dewey started but the fortuneteller shook her head.
"Don't worry, the cards will hear her." She shuffled a deck again and handed them to Webby. "Go on, take the cards and make your wish."
Grasping the deck tightly, Webby at first wanted to know if she would find a family, if Scrooge would finally accept her as part of his family, but as that wish started an image of Lena appeared before her. Opening her eyes, she handed the deck to the fortuneteller who began to once more pull cards from the deck and spread them out before her. Webby sat back a bit confused and seriously wondering where Lena's image sprung from.
"This card symbolizes friendship, the three of clubs. It also can mean celebrations. The fact it's next to the hermit states that you are searching for something, some soul searching if you will." She glanced at Webby who bit her lip and looked away.
"It seems to me your both searching for family and friendship. Something that you have lost." She continued to flip card after card. "You think it is lost to you forever, but it seems…this is not the case."
She flipped the final card.
The Devil.
Webby's eyes widened and Dewey clenched his beak.
"W-what does that mean?" Dewey asked, pointing to the card.
Glancing at the card, even she seemed to be a little surprised. "Well this is the card that came up when asking about where what she's searching for is. This card means a lot of things. Some say it means a rebirth, a start of a new life. But in your case it means a place."
"Hell?" Dewey choked.
She shook her head. "The shadow realm. This card can also mean 'ones own shadow' or shadow self."
Both kids froze. "Wait so what are you saying? What she's looking for. What Webby wants is in another dimension? That's…crazy!"
Webby was speechless and Lena's face once more appeared within her mind. Watching as she formed her shadow self to fight Magica, how Magica's magic burned Lena's image away. Could it be?
Was…Lena not dead?
"She's….she's not dead?" Webby whispered and the fortuneteller smiled at her, giving a slight nod.
Placing a hand on her beak, eyes watering a bit she stood up.
"Webby?" Dewey grasped her shoulders. "Webby are you okay?"
"Is it true? Is Lena not dead?!" She slammed her palms on the table, startling them all.
"Webby..lets go." Dewey tried to tug the other away, feeling really uneasy.
"The one you truly seek is in the Shadow Realm, waiting." The fortuneteller stated and closed her eyes as Dewey pulled Webby from the tent. Once they were both in the sunlight, Webby repeated the words in her head.
"Webby? Webby are you okay?" Dewey looked at her nervously.
Webby blinked and glanced at the other who seemed uneasy. "Oh, yeah I'm good." She grinned.
"You don't…think that was real do you?" Dewey asked hesitantly. "I mean.."
Webby glanced to the side and clenched her hands. She was smiling sadly. "I really…do want it to be true. Maybe we overlooked what really happened that day. Maybe Lena was really just sent to another world…I mean its possible right?"
Dewey opened his mouth but closed it. What could he say? While it was true they couldn't say Lena was dead, they couldn't also say she was alive either. "Webby I…"
Seeing how lost Dewey looked, Webby pulled away a bit. "It's okay Dewey. I get it." She suddenly didn't feel like seeing the rest of the circus anymore. "Here.. you guys enjoy the rest of the Circus.. I..forgot I needed to do something.." Grinning, Webby saluted to the other and began to run off.
"Wait.. WEBBY WAIT!" Dewey ran after her, this didn't feel right leaving things like that.
But as they ran through the stalls, Dewey found himself lagging behind and soon running out of breath. Still he managed to stumble past Louie who was trying to bargain with a lion tamer for the tiger in a cage to his right but stopped mid-sentence as he saw his brother running raggedly past him. He grinned weakly. "I'll call you!" He frowned and began to run after his brother.
"Dewey! Dewey what's wrong?!" Dewey stopped to breathe but pointed ahead of him.
"Webby…..trouble…" he gasped completely out of breath from trying to catch up with her.
"What?" Louie turned to where Dewey was pointing and quickly took off after her too with Dewey trailing behind. Webby noticed Louie now rushing after her and quickly gasped, running into the big top with the two brothers gaining behind her.
"Webby…stop!" Louie said and she shook her head and continued to run. The three ran literally through the main ring where Huey started to do some acrobat moves on the trapeze. But he noticed the others running and with wide eyes grasped onto the trapeze then jumped to a nearby rope, hooking his foot onto the loop at the end. The sandbag at the other end of the rope began to raise under the weight which slowly lowered him to the floor. Right in front of Louie and Dewey. "Guys what's going on?"
Dewey looked a little guilty. "Something happened. But we have to stop Webby." But as they looked up all three noticed she had vanished.
"Where'd she go?" Louie asked.
"It's Webby, she could be anywhere." Huey shrugged but he looked worried.
"Oh no." Dewey stared after where he last saw her with slight fear in his eyes.
