Chapter 2
Hello all! I'm back again to post the second chapter! I hope everyones enjoying it! ^^. I've had a lot of inspiration from other writers on this fanfic. I am loving what creative people are out there. Also multiple songs inspired some of the scenes within this story. Anyway thank you all for liking and following this story as I continue to post it!
Lore out!
Webby ran, she ran and didn't look back. It couldn't be helped. She didn't want to lose this. She didn't want them to tell her it couldn't be possible. Finally she had a scrap of proof. It was flimsy at best and inside her mind was fighting her heart. But she couldn't take her heart shattering again with realizing that it might be possible Lena was still alive. Opening the door to the manor she quickly rushed up to her room not even meeting Donald's eyes as she rushed past him. Without so much as a word she locked herself in her bedroom and walked to her bathroom. She was out of breath and her feathers were ruffled everywhere. But her eyes were determined. She had to find something...
Sighing, she shook her head and began to fill the sink to wash her face. But what she saw in the water made her eyes widen and she stumbled back.
In the water Lena's image briefly flashed and it made Webby's poor heart race. Pressed up against the wall, she couldn't believe what she saw. Was this..what was that?!
She cautiously moved back over to the sink and all she saw was water. Clenching her hands at her side she made a firm decision. This was enough for her. She could feel it inside. Lena was still alive. Her new mission was to save her at all costs now that she knew this.
But could she do it all alone? Briefly she thought about telling the others. But...
This is a family affair, and YOU are not Family!
We have to help her forget about Lena!
I will protect them with my life...
Webby's eyes opened. No, there is no way she can tell them. Lena was her friend. As much as it pained her, Scrooge was right. She wasn't a part of their family. She was happy their ties were strengthening. But she was no longer a part of them. She didn't belong there anymore.
"I have to save her myself." Webby smiled sadly, glancing at her friendship bracelet. "I can do this."
"Wait wait wait...back up here." Louie looked as if his head would explode. "Lena...is alive?"
"I didn't say that. I said it is possible she might be alive according to the Psychic." Dewey stated once more.
"Okay and what makes you think this fortuneteller was even real?" Huey raised a eyebrow.
"I don't know! She was creepy! She knew my name before I could even tell her! She knew about the shadows...she...she seemed to know exactly what was hurting Webby." Dewey said the last part softly and slammed his eyes shut.
"But we saw her get vaporized before our eyes!" Louie stated raising his arms.
But this caused Huey to think. He frowned, slowly he began to pace. "But...technically Lena isn't like us. She's made of shadow energy. And energy no matter where it comes from cannot be destroyed. Only suppressed and changed." He held up his guidebook and pointed at Dewey. "So...it is possible."
Dewey sighed, finally seeing what Webby was seeing and realizing that as they continued to talk the hope in each of their hearts began to rekindle again. Still, he flopped onto his bed and turned facing the wall. "Even if she is trapped in some kind of Shadow Realm thing how can we even get to her? There must be millions of different dimensions out there. We wouldn't know where to look!"
Webby had been passing by the boys room quietly as they spoke and realizing they were talking about Lena and her. But that wasn't made her stop. It was Dewey's last words and something clicked within her mind. "Shadow...Realm...Shadows.." she whispered and hummed. Quickly she ran off, backpack in hand.
She had to get access to one of Scrooge's books. She could only hope he would help her.
Meanwhile, Beakley made her way to his office. She stopped in his doorway and sighed. "Mr. McDuck sir, may I have a moment?"
Scrooge turned to her. "Always 22, what can I do for yah?"
Rubbing the bridge between her eyes she sighed. "Sir. I don't mean to interfere with your life but don't you think you have forgot something? Something important?" She crossed her arms and raised a eyebrow at the other.
"Is this a trick question?" Scrooge pondered and Beakley rolled her eyes.
"No. Mr McDuck, do you remember what we last talked about?" Beakley was getting a little irritated.
"Er, Tomorrows breakfast?" Scrooge offered.
"How about an apology?" She hinted.
"I'm sorry about tomorrows breakfast?" Scrooge asked confused.
"No! Your apology to my granddaughter who you so selfishly told she wasn't a part of the family!" Beakley slammed her hand onto his desk.
"Oh...right right." Scrooge suddenly remembered and slumped into his seat. "That."
"I can't believe you have forgotten that. Why are you stalling?" Beakley demanded.
Scrooge let out a grumbling noise.
"Sir." She stressed the word.
He sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry 22, It's not easy to admit some things. Like when you are wrong. Its harder to fix damage that has already been done."
Webby reached his office and stood in the doorway still out of vision of both her Grandmother and Scrooge though. She opened her mouth but then Scrooge spoke.
"About Webby." Scrooge opened his eyes. "Not a part of the family. Nothing but trouble. Doesn't deserve to stay in this mansion..."
Webby felt her eyes water and she grasped a hold of her chest which was breaking apart. She took a step back and another. Her eyes narrowed as a tear slid down. Before the two even noticed she was out of the room and running out of the mansion.
Scrooge sighed. "Those were some of the things my dah said to me before I left. Its scary when ye realize how much like yer parents ye've become. When even simple sentences like that pass yer lips and how tinged with poison they can be. I don't know 22. How can I make it up to the lass? Would a simple apology solve everything?" he stood up and glanced outside the window out at Duckburg. "Would she really forgive me? It's terrifying...what if it is too late." He lowered his eyes sadly.
"Mr. McDuck, you seem to not even know my granddaughter at all. She is strong physically, mentally...and emotionally. I made sure of that myself." She set a hand down on Scrooges' shoulder. "If you just talk to her she will understand. She's a very smart girl."
Scrooge smiled. "Aye, that she is.."
As Webby exited the front door she spun around, facing the mansion and with teary eyes she let the wind brush her hair across her face. "Goodbye.." Now realizing she didn't have much of a family left she turned back. Lena, Lena was the only one who could possibly understand her right now. More than ever she wanted to find her friend. She needed the comfort, she wanted to hug her, cry on her shoulder and be told everything was all right. She was so tired of feeling like this.
But she still had to find her. Unsure of where to really go, Webby made her way to Lena's home. It would be a temporary home until she could figure out where to go from there. She couldn't rely on the brothers or Scrooge.
"Webby's gone!" Huey stormed back into the brothers room looking panicked. Dewey jumped and dropped what he was holding.
"What?!"
Louie fell off the bed with a thud and "Ow."
"Wait are you sure she's gone?" Dewey grasped his brothers arm and pulled him close.
Huey nodded and lowered his voice to a whisper. "I checked every room in the mansion. She's not here."
"What about the vents?" Louie commented and poked a broom up at the vent in their room.
Huey nodded. "I called for her I even called her cell phone...but." Hesitantly he pulled the phone from behind his back and showed the others.
"Where did she go?" Dewey frowned and started to pace. "Oh man if Uncle Scrooge finds out she's missing this could get very bad."
"Scrooge?! If Beakley finds out she will kill us!" Louie panicked, shaking Huey rapidly and breathing heavily.
"Ahhhhh all in favor of keeping this from the adults until we find her say Aye." Huey commented.
"Aye!" Three voices echoed and all three nodded to each other.
"Aye Aye!" A fourth voice chirped and the brothers turned to see Launchpad suddenly next to them.
"Wahhhh! Launchpad how long have you been standing there?" Dewey wondered.
"Enough to know the little miss is in trouble!" He looked heroic as he stood up. "We have to find her!"
"Right..." Louie's eyes roamed around the room trying to find a reason to convince Launchpad not to tell the others. "Hey Launchpad. Please don't tell the others about this. They have enough to worry about."
"But but won't Mrs B be worried?" Launchpad tilted his head slightly.
"Yessssssss..." Louie was desperately thinking of something and glanced to Huey who frowned and sighed.
"Launchpad." Huey smirked. "Have you ever heard of the curse of the runaway..."
Louie rolled his eyes and slapped his forehead as Launchpad looked terrified.
Webby found the secret door to Lena's place and slipped down. The darkness of the room seem to envelop her and she sighed. Reaching behind her, she realized that she had left her phone behind. "Right, phone has a tracking device. I can't let them find me." So she pulled out a flashlight instead and set it down letting the light dimly envelop the room.
The silence around her was deafening but she sat on her bed, arms wrapped around her legs as she tucked them in tight. "Lena...can you hear me?" She asked, glancing around the room. "I wish you could help me. I want to save you, but I wish I knew where to go from here. To be honest.. I'm completely lost. I know you are in the Shadow Realm. But how do I get there?" glancing at the bracelet once more she closed her eyes as a tear slid from them. Suddenly a blue glow appeared from behind her and gasping, Webby turned to see the shadow behind her stretching and morphing. It seemed to be straining to get somewhere.
"Lena?" Webby stood up and began to walk, realizing that the shadow was vanishing without the light. Grabbing the flashlight she continued to point it so Lena wouldn't vanish. Leading the way, the shadow reached a cabinet to the right of her bed and raised her arm as if to open it.
Reaching up herself, Webby opened the dusty door and inside lay a old book. She grabbed it and dusted off the cover.
"Mysteries of the Shadow Realm..." She read the title out loud and a light returned to her eyes. "Lena! This is it! Thank-" she turned to her shadow but her smile faded once she saw her shadow had returned to its normal self. "Lena.." grasping the book tightly against her chest she closed her eyes and narrowed them.
Quickly she sat down and began to read.
Scrooge made his way towards Webby's room and knocked softly. "Lass? Ye in there?" he paused and waited for her reply and frowned a bit when he didn't hear anything. Maybe she was with the boys? He opened the door and verified that indeed she wasn't in her room. Although it seemed a bit in disarray and that did worry him a bit. Glancing around he noticed her book she always carried with her.
Picking it up off the floor he breezed through it and chuckled. "Clever girl, she got most of it right but some of these.." he shook his head with a slight smile, then set the book down on her nightstand before leaving to walk to the boys room. He felt increasingly awkward realizing that he would be doing this in front of them. But he had to summon up the courage to say it while he could.
As he approached the door he heard voices behind it.
"What are we gonna do? If the others find out-"
"They won't, don't worry about that." Louie's voice rung with confidence.
Scrooge raised an eyebrow and raised his cane to tap on their door. "Boys?" his voice held an edge. "Is the wee Lass in there with you?"
"Its Uncle Scrooge!" Huey sounded a bit hysterical.
He swore he heard Louie start to hyperventilate on the other side of the door.
But the door quickly opened and Louie was pushed out, his eyes wide and sweat dripping down his feathers. He gave Scrooge a tense laugh and strained smile.
"Uncle Scrooge! What brings you to these parts?" Louie asked, trying to regain control over his demeanor.
Might as well play along with this for now. "This is my house I can go very well where I please. Have ye seen Webbagail? I need ta talk to the lass about something important."
"Webby? Yeah I've seen her! She's..." He hesitated, trying to come up with a logical place she would be. "In the room with Mrs Beakley!"
Raising an eyebrow, Scrooge didn't look fooled one bit. "Try again lad.."
"Er...she's in the kitchen?" Louie was quickly running out of ideas and by the looks of it, Scrooge was running out patience fast.
"Really?" Scrooge eyed the other intensely and Louie felt himself start to crumble under the pressure.
"OK Fine! She's in with us but...um she doesn't want to talk to anyone really.."
At this Scrooges' face softened. "Why? Is she alright?"
"Yeah.. its just you know.. her dealing with Lena's...death." that last word left a horrible taste in his mouth, because Louie himself was starting to believe that Lena wasn't really dead. But he couldn't let Scrooge know.
"Oh... right.. The lass is still upset about losing her friend?" He sighed and a memory cropped back in his mind. The last memory he saw of Lena.
"I wish I could have your family! They are amazing!"
He smiled sadly and turned to Louie. "And how are you fairing lad?"
Louie's frame seemed to relax more to his usual form. He glanced away and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm fine, its not like I lost anyone new." He said and stuffed his hands into his pockets of the hoodie. Still, watching Lena made him feel very sad about Webby. Realizing that the sadness she felt probably was close to what they were feeling about their mom.
"Is this true?" He lifted Louie's bill with the curved part of his cane, meeting his eyes with his own concerned ones.
Blinking, Louie sighed. "Look, its fine. We don't blame you anymore if that's what you want to hear." He paused. "We loved mom, I think were just glad to know what really happened and...who she was. Will you, tell us stories about her now?" He glanced back at his Great Uncle hoping beyond hope that somehow he would get to learn a bit more about his mom.
"Aye, if that's what ye want. I can do that." Scrooge affirmed, Louie smiled a fraction. On the other side of door, Dewey had his back pressed up against the door with a blank look on his face. Huey glanced worriedly at his brother.
"Now...about Webbigail." He got up and went to open the door when Louie once more pressed his back against it.
"NO! Don't go in there!" Louie panicked.
Once he felt the door shudder, Dewey snapped to life and looked at Huey worried.
Huey returned his look and began to think up a way to get Scrooge away.
Scrooge once more was shocked that Louie was getting in his way. "Lad...move, I have to speak to the lass and sort this mess out."
"No! No...ah she...she said she hated you and didn't want to see you for a while!" He blurted and suddenly there was dead silence.
Scrooge looked hurt and took a step back. "She...she really said that?"
Louie swallowed a lump in his throat and hated himself for a second for what he was going to say. "She said she needed time to sort out her feelings.. she still doesn't forgive you after what you said in the Sunchaser. And why wouldn't she?" Louie pursed his bill together. "After what you said...She is a part of the family just as much as we are! I would be mad too!"
On the other side of the door, Dewey's hand formed into a fist and Huey was glaring at the door.
Scrooge sighed. "Aye... she is, I came to mend my mistake."
Louie started a bit, his face forming a guilty look. "You did?" He almost faltered. "Uncle Scrooge..."
Dewey came out at that moment. "Uncle Scrooge." His voice was more solid and stern. "Just give Webby some time. She will come to you when the time is right." He closed his eyes and leaned against the doorframe.
Scrooge studied both boys with an unsure expression. "I had hoped to settle this sooner rather than later. But maybe I should let her mourn..." He turned around and pulled his hat off, gripping the rim tightly. "Grief can cause terrible destruction among the closest family after all." Forming a determined face, he walked away.
All three boys sagged in relief. Huey joined his brothers outside and gave both of them a look. "Was that really the best you could come up with?"
"Don't blame me I panicked!" Louie retorted. "Besides he seemed...really determined to apologize to her.." He bit his lip. "Oh I hope this doesn't come and bite me later.."
"Oh it will." Both boys chorused.
Groaning, all three quickly got ready.
"Where is Launchpad and the plane?" Dewey asked nervously.
Huey and Louie both put a hand on Dewey's shoulders.
"Don't worry...we will find her." Huey had a fire in his eyes.
"Yeah how far can one girl get anyways?" Louie joked.
Webby slapped a few hundred dollars on the counter. "One ticket to the Amazon Jungle please." Gripping the book in one hand and her other grasping onto her backpack she watched as the ticket lady took the money to give her a ticket.
Once Webby got onto the plane she glanced out the window once more at Duckburg. Did the others even know she was gone yet? No, it couldn't be. Her Granny would use everything at her disposal to bring her back. That she knew. As for the others, would they even care she was gone? Shaking away those thoughts she pressed her head against the wall of the plane and sighed. "Even if they cared, I still have to do this on my own." She didn't know why she had to continue to tell herself this.
Maybe it was to help ease the pain in her heart. So with a heavy heart she curled up in her seat and grasped the book, tracing the words and opening it once more to read. On the page she was on displayed a old map of a long forgotten Jungle path. "It's there...a path to the Shadow Realm.." she brushed her feathers across the words written there.
"I'm coming Lena."