CH.10: Webby and Lena
Webby raced as she did, her padded feet treading in a fast manner that went with her heart. Fighting past the tears that threatened to stream down her cheeks she refused to let up for one second. She would go and save Lena…no matter what. She was the only one who could. True Scrooge might not forgive her for such a betrayal but she was certain before he became money hungry that he would do anything for the one he cared for.
Lena and her friendship, their bond…it was special and she wasn't about to let Magica take that away from her. The Manor was a bit away from the place Scrooged lived in and honestly while it was abandoned there were several properties that had been abandoned due to money crippling debt and all that stuff.
"I have to get there…I can't afford to lose her now!" Webby fought for air using all her stamina, all her training to make that push when it mattered the most.
"Hey there need a lift?" Webby looks over and spots Launchpad in the limousine. Part of her feared that when she got in that Mr. McDuck would there.
"Uh…is Mr. McDuck in there?" She knew time was wasting but she honestly didn't know where she was going and it could be clear across town for all she knew.
"Huh, well, come to think of it I seem to recall him doing something science related with Gyro. So, I hear you are going to rescue Lena, I can dig that…she seems pretty down to earth to me. Oh right, time is wasting, well don't just stand there let's get crashing…I mean driving."
Webby could not believe her luck as she goes to get in only to find Huey, Dewey, and Louie all set in.
"I know, before you get on to us though it was Dewey's plan," Huey says. She shakes her head but honestly she is glad they are there. Walking over she hugs the three of them.
"I'm just glad you three knuckleheads are here. Look, about what happened at-." Webby can't finish as Dewey beats her to it.
"We were the ones in the wrong Webby…and seems only fitting we get you to your destination on a timely manner. Launchpad…all the works." Dewey calls out.
"You got it, hang on, we're in rescue mod now." Launchpad then shifts gears and they are thrown about as the wheels churn and grind.
"Whoa…hey Launchpad try and not get us stopped on our way there!" Webby began to wonder if Launchpad even knew where he was going. In the past he had missed a few stops though often than not he has crashed them close enough to their destination.
"Relax, I got this in the books, not sure what that means but rest assured it will be done with smooth…curb!" He yells and they are sent up a bit as they hit a curb. "Sorry."
"Lena is special to you huh?" Huey ventures as he is flipping through his Junior Woodchucks guide book.
"Yes, she is, in truth she is my first real friend…ever. I've lived a sheltered life, well, I mean not from danger per say but just from living life normal. Truth was I never knew normal too much and even with you boys I was still learning to adjust. Lena had this way about her…not sure how to describe it but she made me feel easy. And now Magica is her Aunt and willing to chuck her aside over a dime…she doesn't deserve that."
"Even after deceiving you?" Louie ventured aloud even amid stares he got. Webby settles into her seat as she looks down at her hands.
"Lena has done wrong, true, but what if she was forced to? There were times I felt that she was hesitant about things, especially her feelings…even when we spoke of the future she never seemed set, like each day was counted. I want to give Lena a chance to be normal…whatever that is, I don't know…still figuring it out for myself. Point is…I'm not giving up on her."
"Alright, you have our support. Hey Launchpad…we there yet?" Dewey calls out. They had been screeching through Duckburg and sometimes only on two wheels. Webby felt worried time was running out and yet they suddenly arrive, the limo not crashing…for once.
"We are here, oh, and we're clear that Mr. McDuck doesn't know right? Yeah I don't think he'd like me taking the limo out and not being around to drive him." Launchpad ventures from the front.
"Well…that is why you have the perfect alibi. The boys here will just say they had a hankering for icecream and you were the only one that could take them." Webby slips out of the vehicle and hops down as she looks up at the decrepit looking manor.
"Right…but wait…doesn't that mean we need proof?" Launchpad calls after her but she had already stopped listening as she takes a breath steeling her nerves before ascending the steps. The dime was already with her and she knew sporting a fake would cost her and Lean their lives. Alright, here it goes. She steps inside.
Webby went to enter and no sooner had she done so that the door went to lock behind her. "Well well…it would appear you have shown yourself, a foolish move on your part."
"I have what you want. Show me Lena." Webby wouldn't reveal the dime, not yet. She looks around and can see quick glances of a shadow moving about. So…this was Magica huh? She had heard stories but this was truly a first-hand account.
"Hmm, very well, I am nothing if not a woman of my word." She makes a motion and Lena appears on her knees.
"Lena!" Webby rushes over into her friend's arms as she holds onto her feeling quite content right now.
"Webby, what are you doing here? You shouldn't have come…it is not safe. Please tell me you just got lost and are leaving now?"
"No silly…why would I do that? Lena you are my friend and I am not about to let you suffer because of some dime. Besides…what power can one dime have?" Webby pulls back as she reaches out wiping a tear from Lena's cheeks.
"Webby…you are fool if you misunderstand the value of that one dime to my Aunt. It carries a lot of weight to it…magical weight. Such power from one dime can bring Aunt Magica back…so that is why you have to forget about me."
Webby shook her head adamantly at that. "Lena, no more shall I be apart from you…we are together in this till the end." She places her hand on her face and the two lock eyes.
"Heh, is that what you think? Lena is my pawn; she will do as I tell her. Isn't that right niece?" Magica appears and suddenly she jumps into Lena and her body is grasped with such darkness that Webby has to scramble away.
"Fight her Lena…don't listen to a word she says!" Webby felt panic set in as she watches as Lena struggles to keep Magica out.
"She is too…powerful…ugh…she is in my head!" Lena is in pain, her entire body overtaken by such darkness that it is eating her from the inside out.
"Magica you let her go…this is too much on her body!" She hurls herself forward but Lena's hand slaps her away and she holds her cheek.
"I-I am not in control Webby…please…you have to leave now. I will stall her…but such cold hate and revenge…it steels her very desire." Lena falls to her knees as she is having a hard time with this.
"Fight me…if you win you get the dime, if you lose…you release Lena and forget all about the dime." Webby figured it was worth a shot.
"Heh, such a foolish trade, however seeing as how I am in a betting mood…deal." Webby wanted to let out a relieved sigh but Lena comes at her again and Webby stumbles back.
"Hold up…that is not part of the deal!" Webby aims a kick at the wall and somersaults over Lena as she sends magical waves at her.
"Dear insignificant child…you never mentioned fighting the actual me did you? I was already inside of Lena's body when you made that deal." Her cackle fills the room and Webby continues to roll along the ground as waves of heat and anger surge up behind her.
"You tricked me! Lena, please, fight it…you have to!" Webby turns around and can see her bestie with glowing red eyes and her skin was cracked. Her beautiful features darkened and she was now hovering in the air.
"I don't have to fight anything…this is the real me!" Lena's voice was a cackle and she was racing at her. Webby anticipated the move and using the momentum of her bestie she slams her to the ground and places a hand at her throat.
"No, this is not you…no matter who you are related to you can do better. Magica is just using your body but she can never tap into the one place that makes you special you beautiful fool…it is your heart."
Lena appears to be debating…and Webby hopes that she will see the light. However in a burst of magic her entire form glows and Webby is thrown forth and she hits the wall with a thud as her breath is taken from her. She is seeing spots after that and soon she finds gravity take hold of her as she lands with a thud on the wooden floor.
"Aunt Magica…let her be…she is not the one you want!" Lena calls out as she struggles to keep it together. Webby can see her fighting it but the fight is being taken out of her.
"I should finish you where you are, but, I know where your heart lies Webby. So, what will you do, will you continue to let her suffer?" Magica's voice was harsh and Lena lets out a howl as the darkness consumes her…tearing away at her beauty and her liveliness.
"Let me go…Webby…" Lena pleads to her as she struggles to breathe. Webby reaches for the dime and knows that her choice will determine Lena's fate.
The dime…or Lena…which could she live without? Holding out the dime she spoke loud enough to be heard over her heart in her ears. "Magica…you want the dime…have it!" She throws it up and that forces Magica to make a decision.
"The dime!" Magica releases her hold on Lena as she surges forth grabbing at the dime. Lena falls and Webby rushes to her holding onto her and cradling her in her arms.
"Lena, I am so sorry…I couldn't bear the thought of losing you." Webby kisses her head and looks over as Magica takes shape…away from the shadows and into corporal form.
"Webby…you shouldn't have come back for me…" Lena goes to stand up as she channels her magic.
"Lena you can't face her like this! We should go…this is not the time to prove-." Webby notices Magica holding a staff of sorts and soon the shadows rush at her. Her voice is caught in her throat as she is slammed forth up into the air by several shadow appendages.
"Well niece…it is just the two of us now. Do try and impress me with what you have learned under my tutelage." Magica goes to attack Lena and Webby watches on helpless. Lena scrambles about summoning defensive magic but that alone was crushed under Magica's full might.
"Aunt Magica…stop this…" Lena sends out a few blasts of magic that seem to catch Magica off guard though she recovers quickly.
"I admit…this might take a bit to handle, given my grasp of magic has faltered as a time as a shadow. However…I have time, time that I plan on using to my full potential." Lena continues to put up an effort as family exchanges fire of magic…each not willing to give in. However Webby can note the strain on Lena's body and that is when Magica's next attack comes…and her voice seems to reach out as heart begins to crumble. This time…Magica was using magic that was intended for only one purpose…death!
Authors note: This chapter leads into chapter one of the story so if you are looking for the order to read it is; 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,1,11-and so forth. Once you read chapter one again or decide not to in the next chapter Webby faces the aftermath of Lena's revelation. I believe after this though everyone should be caught up to move on to 11.