Notes: I have Webby refer to Scrooge as Uncle Scrooge and as Uncle Donald in later chapters. Since this doesn't follow a specific time period in Ducktales, I feel like Webby will consider them family at some point in the future.
Summary: Scrooge tells the others what happened.
"Donald?" Scrooge's eyes widened. The only sign that Donald had been there was his sailor's hat, lying in the quicksand where Donald must've gone under.
"No…no no no! This can't be happening!" Scrooge grabbed his hiking stick and started poking it into the quicksand under Donald's hat. He couldn't feel him anywhere. As he pulled the stick back, the hat caught on the end.
"Donald… I can't lose you… Please…" Scrooge slumped to the ground. He silently wept over the loss of his beloved nephew. It felt like the Spear of Selene all over again.
He didn't know how much time had passed as he sat and stared at nothing. He snapped out of his trance when he faintly heard his name.
"Hey! Uncle Scrooge!" He turned his head. Launchpad and the kids were at the base of the mountain. His stomach dropped.
How am I going to explain this to them?
Scrooge made to get up when his hand brushed against the hat. He grasped it as he stood up. He knew the boys would want it but he couldn't bear the thought of parting with it. It was all he had left of his nephew.
"Hey! Uncle Scrooge!" Dewey yelled. Their group had finally made it down the mountain. He could see Uncle Scrooge resting up ahead but he couldn't see Uncle Donald anywhere. Maybe he was more hurt from the slide down the mountain than they thought. He could see Scrooge walking back.
"I wonder where Uncle Donald is?" Huey questioned. Launchpad frowned and looked around.
"I don't know little man. Mr. McDee will probably tell us when he gets here."
"Do you think Uncle Donald is okay?" Dewey quietly asked. The others turned to look at him.
"Do you mean from the fall?" Louie replied.
Webby was quick to reassure, "I'm sure he's fine! Uncle Scrooge probably has him doing something to help us get to the temple."
The kids relaxed at that but Launchpad wasn't so sure. His instincts were telling him that something was wrong. When Scrooge finally got within a couple yards of the group, Launchpad knew he was right. Scrooge was covered in mud, his eyes were red, and he looked numb.
"What's wrong Uncle Scrooge?" Huey asked. Scrooge opened his mouth to reply but no sound came out. Louie hopes that his bad feeling is wrong.
"…Is it Uncle Donald?" The others, minus Scrooge, stared at Louie in shock. Tears started to fall down Scrooge's face again.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't save him." Everyone looked at Scrooge again.
"What do you mean? Where's Uncle Donald? Was it the fall?" Dewey asked frantically. Scrooge shook his head.
"We went ahead so that you could see us better. S-Something startled us and we accidentally backed into quicksand. He helped me get out but when I went to help him he was g-gone." Scrooge gathered the kids in his wings. Launchpad stepped forward and placed his wing on Scrooge's shoulder.
"I'm so s-sorry," Scrooge whispered.
The boys started to sob. They wriggled out of Scrooge's grasp.
"Uncle Scrooge we have to go back! What if he's still alive?" Dewey shouted. The boys started running in the direction Scrooge had come from. Launchpad gasped and chased after. He managed to catch up and lifted them up into his wings, effectively preventing them from getting out.
"You can't just run off like that!" Launchpad scolded.
His heart had almost lept out of his throat at the thought of the boys getting caught in quicksand as well.
"I tried boys. I tried to find him in the quicksand but I couldn't. There's no point in going back either. I don't know how long it's been but he most certainly would've d-drowned by now."
Scrooge shut his eyes, he looked pained.
"I've failed him twice now. We need to go home. He'd never forgive me if you kids got hurt."
Huey glared at Scrooge.
"That's the only reason?! He died for you and you're putting it on us? How about you quit this stupid adventure because you realized you're a greedy miser who willingly put his nephews in danger for fame and fortune. It's all your fault! If you didn't want to find that stupid gem, Uncle Donald would still be here!"
Everyone stared at Huey in surprise.
"Huey..." Scrooge extended his wing out to him.
Dewey and Louie turned to Scrooge and started glaring at him as well.
"He's right though! It was fun at first but we have had a lot of close calls on these adventures. Even though everything worked out, you still traded Uncle Donald for Uncle Gladstone!" Louie snapped.
"Not to mention you almost got us all killed in Atlantis! We get targeted by your enemies like the Beagle Boys and Glomgold! It's not that family is nothing but trouble, it's you that's nothing but trouble!" Dewey yelled.
Scrooge flinched.
Webby watched with apprehension. This couldn't be happening. After being alone for so long, she didn't want to lose more family.
"Please, guys! Let's stop arguing! Maybe we aren't too late! M-maybe is was the Ahuizotl?! Maybe it pulled him under and he's waiting for us to rescue him?! We can go to the temple and rescue him!" Webby sobbed. Scrooge shook his head.
"Lass, I wish that were the case but he's gone. Even if the Ahuizotl is real, it took people in lakes, not quicksand." Scrooge turned to face the mountains.
"Boys, I don't know if you'll ever forgive me for what I've done. I'm sorry."
The boys didn't reply. They quietly sobbed in Launchpad's arms as Scrooge started walking back towards the mountains, leaning heavily on his cane. Launchpad took that as his cue to guide them back up the mountain. He set the boys down and relaxed a bit when none of them darted towards the marsh. As he gently pushed everyone else forward, he glanced back at the marsh.
I'm gonna miss you, Donny. I'll make sure to keep them safe.
He could grieve once he got everyone home.