Inspired by Ducktales art from stasysolitude on Tumblr.
1. The Ace vs the Captain
"This is top ace pilot Della Duck! Enemy boat sighted at twelve'o clock!" Della turned the broken handlebars of an old bicycle that served as her wheel. "Bang, bang, bang!"
She slingshotted several marbles towards the painted cardboard box where her brother sat. "Ow! Watch the beak, Dumbella!" Donald complained as the marbles rolled off his bill. "What goes up…" He held up a pillow, aiming squarely for the slot in Della's box, which was turned upright. "…must come down!"
Yelping, Della quickly closed the flaps of her box, bracing for impact as Donald fired his pillow. There was a dull thud on the other side, and she sighed in relief. Before she could open the box, it suddenly tipped over, making her knock her head against the side of the box. When she dazedly crawled out, Donald stood triumphantly over her, his chest puffed out in pride.
"And Captain Donald wins the Battle of the Last Chocolate Chip Cookie!" Donald proclaimed, marching off to the kitchen to celebrate his victory.
Della scowled at him. "No fair! You cheated! Get back here, Donnie! The last cookie belongs to me!"
2. Earth, Water, and Air
"Like my adventure outfit?" Della asked, holding up her new aviator suit for Donald. "As a team, we need something that ties us all together. Uncle Scrooge's firm foundation makes him the perfect candidate for land. Donald, you can be as complacent and encouraging as a gentle creek or stormy and harsh as the North Sea, so you'd be the water. As for me, I'm the one who breathes life into you two grumpy ducks. I'll be your support and the one you can trust to always have your back no matter where you are!"
"You're the air," Donald said, nodding in approval. "And I promise I'll have your back too! Both me and Uncle Scrooge!"
Della grinned. "Well, I'd better change into this before we leave. I'm gonna be piloting in style!"
3. Together
It was just another adventure. They would go back to Duckburg together. They would watch Scrooge put the treasure in the money bin together. They would celebrate their victory with milk and cookies together.
Together.
Now it was just another empty word.
Donald stared down at the cracked goggles in his hand. Della was the air. She would always support them. Carry them through, ride the air currents with a grin on her beak.
Never again.
A teardrop appeared on the broken lens. Then it was joined by another. And another.
He couldn't see anymore. Everything was blurry. Too blurry.
And the foundation he'd once put all his trust into crumbled into dust.