Last Lullaby

Food? Check.

Water? Check.

Toiletries? Check.

Travel backpack? Check.

Della paused her hurried yet careful packing, to stare at the Spear of Selene standing upright at the corner of her room. Her uncle was so blinded by his greed – Magica would come after that spear. She'd harm their family with her black magic to get what she desired.

But not if Della could help it.

She had snuck into Scrooge's treasure room and looted the spear. They should never have taken it.

She heard a fragile wail emanating from the cradle beside her bed.

She picked up her youngest baby, stroking his fluffy baby feathers tenderly.

"Don't worry, Louis. Mama's here, and she loves you so much. She just has to go do something quick. It's important – for everyone's safety, even yours – but I'll come back for you, my little sweetie pie. Be good now."

Little Louis, crying now ceased, was placed back on the left side of his big brother, Dewford.

"I cannot take them," Della thought sadly to herself as she pulled her backpack on, "I will have to leave them with someone I trust. Not my uncle though, because that selfish slob is the cause for all of this. He'd never understand. But Donald – he would."

Placing her favorite pilot's cap on her head, Della made sure her iconic goggles were also on top. Then she grabbed a pen and paper and began writing hastily.

"To my dear twin, Donald. I have an urgent errand to run, an errand unsuitable for young infants tagging along. Henceforth, I am sending you your angel nephews – Huey, Dewey and Louie – to stay with you until I come back. Hopefully, if all goes well, I won't be away too long. Take care of my darling babies, little brother. I know you'll love them well in my absence. Love, your twin sister Della."

With that done, Della got a big enough basket, and gently placed her infant triplets – her greatest treasure of all – inside.

Then, with the basket in one hand, she grabbed the Spear of Selene with the other, and sprinted out of her room, out of the mansion, and out of her uncle's life.


The run down to Donald's boat, which was moored at the harbour, took only a few minutes. Della was still in top shape, thanks to her early years of serving in the Air Force.

This might be the last time she'd ever see her family again.

Perhaps she didn't want to see her uncle again – not after what he had done. But she had a little twin brother who had grown up alongside her, who had relied on her for emotional and judgmental support. She had Auntie Matilda, a second mother to her after hers died many years ago.

Most of all, though, she had three little baby boys, who depended and relied on her for the love and care that only a mother could provide.

She quietly walked up the planks to the deck of Donald's boat. She had just set down the basket and was about to knock and discreetly make a break for it, when a plaintive outburst of crying stopped her in her tracks.

It was her middle son this time. Dewford.

Despite being wedged in between Louis, and his older brother Hubert, he had gotten his tiny arms free, and was waving them instinctively in her direction, even though his small eyes hadn't developed enough to see clearly yet.

Desperate wails were emanating from his precious little beak, and even though babies couldn't speak English, Della knew – just like all mothers – what her infant son was crying about.

The translation of that cry? Don't go, Mom.

Della got to her knees and silently set the spear off to the side. With both hands free, she could cuddle her little treasure.

She might never see her sons again. They wouldn't feed from her milk. They wouldn't feel her touch. They wouldn't see her proud gaze, or know about how much she deeply, truly loved them.

But, if this was indeed to be her last time with her children, perhaps she could leave them a piece of maternal love that they could cling to, for the entirety of their lifetimes.

"Hush now, my babies.
I love you, don't cry.
Sleep as you're rocked by the sea.
Sleep and remember my last lullaby.
I'll be with you in memory."

Della watched as her little Dewey's eyes slowly drooped shut, and his wailing cease to peaceful silence. He was still small, but she could feel the beating of a strong heart within him.

Planting a kiss on his forehead, she placed him back between his brothers, then planted kisses on them too.

Then, taking the spear back in one hand, she tapped her free fist against the metal door, eliciting loud clangs. Her babies remained placid in their sleeping, though.

A light turned on from the bedroom on the top floor, and Della knew she had to make haste before she was spotted.

The last thing she'd give to her brother would be a note and her children – living memories of her, with a bit of him added as well.

And as for her sons? They would have her brother watching over them in her absence. They'd have a cool boat to live on and sail around the world. They'd have mementos from their uncle about her, and they'd grow up listening to his fond recollections of her. Her brother would give them the world.

And she had given them her memory, in one last lullaby.

She would never truly leave them.


Just watched The Prince of Egypt for the first time in ages, and I gotta tell ya all, Yocheved's lullaby hit me hard. Like wow, I've never appreciated that song as deeply as I do now.

So I couldn't help but write about Della singing this song to her babies before leaving them at her brother's place. Some lyrics are just modified to suit the story better.

Also, new DuckTales episodes today! AT LAST!