Time skip chapter because I had an idea!
From here on chapters will not be in chronological order, as I may jump from time period to time period while I brainstorm. I thought a kind of stereotypical situation would work well so deal with it. If this seems a little all over the place, I apologize. I had a bunch of ideas and this is really a snapshot of the future with foreshadowing of future chapters.
As the sun beat down over the jungle, all was quiet.
Until, that is, a jeep swept over the forest floor. The destination was clear as day—a temple that sat in the distance. In the passenger seat was a teenage duck reading an ancient-looking map. He looked up, revealing his red baseball cap.
"Turn right up ahead," he told the driver. She was a teenager as well, a pretty girl with long hair in a ponytail.
"You got it."
"How far is it?" sighed the boy in the hoodie in the backseat.
"Not far now, Louie," replied the girl in the pink bow beside him. "The Temple of the Wind God is one of the few Scrooge was never able to find. But we will, thanks to that map."
"All right, first teen-team adventure!" cheered the last occupant of the car, a boy in blue. "Shame April and May couldn't make it."
"My sisters have decided that adventuring isn't for them," June sighed. "Me, on the other hand—any chance to drive I'll take."
Yes, the family of Scrooge McDuck was growing up. They'd found their places as adventurers while Scrooge was able to relax back in Duckburg. True to form, too. Huey served as their navigator and strategist. Webby and Dewey were an unstoppable team in the field with their combined confidence and knowledge. Louie was their negotiator as well as the escape artist. And June was the driver and mechanic who made sure they got out safely. Together the five were a force to be reckoned with.
June brought the jeep to a stop where there was no more room to drive. They got out and she shoved the keys in her backpack as they began to navigate through the jungle on foot. Huey still had the map in his hands, guiding the team as they made their way through the thick brush and trees. Webby climbed up to get a better view to make sure they were still going the right way.
"AH!" June tripped over an exposed root and Louie immediately stopped to help her up. "Thanks, Lionheart."
"Don't mention it." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek while his brothers and Webby weren't looking.
Oh, yes, June and Louie were together after years of crushing on each other. It was an open secret at the moment, given that it was relatively new for them. After events had gone down with F.O.W.L, he'd given her the space she needed to figure herself out and grieve for her lost relationship with her mother. But she'd gotten through it with his support and now, well… he was her boyfriend. Nothing had really changed between them save for showing more physical affection when nobody was looking.
Finally the temple came into view and they approached with the same level of caution they'd been taught by their mentor. Entering it proved to be relatively safe for the intrepid young adventurers and Huey tossed pieces of crumbling rock ahead of them to check for traps.
"I can't believe Uncle Scrooge never found this place," Dewey commented. "I mean, we're new to doing this on our own and we found it."
"That's because the map was lost for centuries," Webby replied. "We have it and Scrooge didn't."
"And it's thanks to Louie's silver tongue," June added with a wink that only her boyfriend could see. His cheeks burned so fiercely they almost glowed in the relative darkness.
"STOP!"
Huey held out his arms and stopped everyone just as a pit opened up in front of him. Wordlessly he nodded to Webby, who hopped up to grab a protruding rafter and swung across the gap. A quick press of a switch brought the floor back up and unlike it had shortly before the whole family game night disaster, it did not spit up hundreds of arrows to pierce their bodies. The remaining group made it across effortlessly.
"I do sometimes wonder what kind of engineering they had in these civilizations," June mused.
"Oh, I'd love to study the mechanics of these temples as much as you would, June, but we don't have much time. We have to be back in Duckburg by tomorrow morning."
June rolled her eyes and Louie whistled from up ahead, where he'd rushed forward.
"Treasure's here!" he called.
They ran up to join him and he pointed to an idol that looked like a feathered serpent. It was made of something that shone like silver but wasn't silver. He looked at it in confusion.
"It's platinum," Webby told him. "The Spaniards considered it 'poor man's silver', even though it's rarer and more useful than gold."
"So what, do we still take it?"
"Of course. That's on you."
"Got the sandbag," June spoke up, handing it to Louie. He grabbed the idol and set down the bag, successfully not setting off the booby trap.
"Let's go before—" Dewey started, but he was cut off as someone nearby growled.
"Well, well, if it isn't the teen terrors," sneered Glomgold, coming out of the hallway with hired goons on either side. "Thank ya fer findin' my idol!"
"Oh, but you see, this isn't made of gold," Louie stated. "So why would you want it?"
"Not made of gold!?" Glomgold stomped forwards and looked at it. "It's not silver, either! It's made of somethin' else!"
"We're just taking it back for historical purposes."
"It won't make ya rich, laddie, so go right on ahead. Bah! Wastin' my time…"
He stomped out with his goons, and Louie tossed the idol to June. She put it in her backpack. However, that was when one of Glomgold's goons chose to pounce and tackled her to the ground.
"It's platinum!" the woman yelled. "Give it to me!"
"Get off me, lady!" June kicked her in the stomach and sent her reeling. The woman stumbled back and knocked off the sandbag. Around them the temple started crumbling. A piece landed on June's leg and she screamed in pain.
"Get June! We have to get out of here!" Huey called. Louie got the piece of rubble off June and pulled her onto his back.
"Ow. Ankle's busted," she told him.
"You sure?"
"Do you know how many time's I've sprained it doing tricks on my skates? I know it's busted."
They ran out the entrance and watched as the exit crumbled to dust. Thankfully they were all safe, and Webby took the opportunity to make a splint for June out of some vines and sticks to set her ankle until they could get to a hospital. It was good enough for the purple-clad girl to be able to drive them back to civilization and the airport, where they caught their ride back to Duckburg.
After all, they still had school in the morning.
"So how was your trip?"
"Interesting," Huey replied, sitting down next to Violet in the cafeteria.
"I have noticed that June is on crutches. How did she get injured?"
"Collapsing temple—you know, normal stuff," Dewey informed her.
"It's a good thing Louie's helping her out," Webby added. "He's still got such a big crush on her. It's adorable."
"Yeah, Webs, it stopped being adorable and started being weird when we hit high school. I kinda wish he would just ask her out already."
"What did you find in Central America?" Violet inquired.
"A platinum idol to the feathered serpent," Webby explained. "Scrooge said he was glad it wasn't more gold because he'd probably lose it."
"Hey guys!" June greeted them, coming over on her crutches. Louie was carrying her lunch.
"June. Did you not inquire with April about healing runes?"
"I did, but she said she'd do it this afternoon. For now it's crutches all the way." She sat down and Louie took the spot next to her. "I don't mind, though. I was fine before we found out about her abilities and I'm fine now."
"So how bad did Aunt Daisy chew you out?" snickered Dewey.
"Eh, not so bad. She was more focused on getting me to the hospital to get my leg checked out. And Uncle Donald said that this wasn't so bad. He's apparently gotten hurt worse on missions. Della told me that at least I can keep my leg."
"No driving till it's fixed."
"Yep. Standard stuff." She grinned. "But at least I can still work in shop class."
"Aren't Mom and Launchpad teaching you enough? Not to mention Gyro and Fenton," Huey pointed out.
"Yeah, but there's a difference between what I learn here and what they teach me. I learn advanced with them but I learn basics here. Plus I need the class credit." She took a bite of her sandwich.
"Well, any ideas where we should go next?" Webby piped up. "You know, after June's leg heals."
"If possible, I'd like to go along," Violet stated. "I could use a break from everyday life."
"We've been on a few lately, so we're taking a break," Louie sighed. "I need one."
"He means Uncle Scrooge is teaching him how to run McDuck Enterprises," Huey deadpanned.
"Hey, he's leaving it in my hands. What am I supposed to do—not learn how to run the biggest company on earth?"
Under the table, June gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"When you do decide, please let me know. Lena will be home from college in a few weeks for break and I'd like for us all to spend time together."
"YAY!" Webby cheered. "All of us back together again!"
"It has been a while," agreed Huey.
"More like forever!"
"She only left for college a month and a half ago, Webby."
"But she was here all the time before!"
"Aw, missing your girlfriend?"
All six at the table looked up to see none other than Sara Chandler and her two minions. June rolled her eyes.
"I am missing her, Sara," Webby snapped.
"Ugh. You're no fun."
"Okay, I know you're not here to talk about Webby's relationship," June sighed, setting down her food. "What is it?"
"Nothing. I just wanted you all to know that there's a party going on this weekend down at the beach and most of you aren't invited."
"Who is?" Huey asked.
"Louie." June choked on her seltzer water and started coughing, Louie patting her on the back.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Dewey growled, clearly offended.
"Out of all of you he's the one who's the least dorky. Plus…" She looked directly at him. "You're cute. And I'm the most popular girl in school. We're a perfect couple."
"Except for the fact that we're not a couple. Not to mention that I don't like you in the slightest." June recovered from her coughing. "Besides, I have plans this weekend."
"What plans?" Sara stood upright and crossed her arms. "Playing games with the loser brigade?"
"I'm helping June out with her project for automotive."
"You're helping Greasy Girl?"
"I like having help," June spoke up. "It makes it less lonely."
"Figures. You are lonely. That's why you have the crutches—for sympathy, right?"
"Nope. Hurt my leg in Central America over the weekend."
"Well, whatever. Louie, I'll see you on Friday."
Louie had a look of 'is she serious?' plastered on his face along with a hint of disgust as the president of the drama club left them alone.
"I have an idea!" June told him. "We give Doofus Drake the party info and make him Sara's date."
"Hm… do we hate Sara enough…?"
"She's the worst!" Dewey insisted. "I agree with June. Let's do it!"
June's phone alarm went off.
"Oh. I have to get to shop class. Louie, can you put my stuff in my locker?"
"Not a problem."
"See ya!" She hobbled off on her crutches.
"Are you really helping her with her project?" Violet inquired.
"Yeah, I am."
"Really. Because I think you two are going on a date." Dewey's eyes widened.
"Dang it. I thought we were being subtle."
"You were. I'm just observant. You have had a crush on June since you were eleven. She has had one on you since she was ten. Out of all of us the only person you're closer to than your brothers is her and I happened to see you kiss her this morning before you two split up for first period."
"WHAT?!" Dewey yelled excitedly. "You actually—wow! This is awesome!"
"Sh, keep it down," Louie hissed. "June and I—it's pretty new. We're still trying to figure everything out and it's not easy. We aren't ready for people to know."
"Aw, makes sense," Webby gushed. "Lena and I were the same way when we started dating. But in our case it was because we weren't sure how some people in our lives would take two girls in a relationship."
"Yeah, well… part of me is still thinking I'll wake up in the morning and it will turn out not to be real. Like it was never real in the first place."
"I think you'll be fine," Huey assured him. "You and June have made a great team since the first time you met."
Louie gave him a cautious smile.
As it turned out, Sara's party was the talk of the school. June worked on her project in the automotive classroom and it was all any of her classmates could talk about. Wyatt, one of the popular guys who considered the class one for blowing off, walked over to June.
"So, listen. What do you say you be my date to the party on Friday?"
"Can't." She tightened a bolt. "I'm busy."
"It'll be fantastic. We'll have fun and you'll get away from engines for a night. And you'll have a date with a popular guy."
"I already have a date that night, and I'm not going to Sara's party because Sara is the worst." She stood up, wrench still in hand. "Please leave me alone."
Wyatt blinked. He pulled out his phone as she went back to work and he started to text his friends, trying to figure out who June Duck was dating. Word spread fast and by the end of the day everyone was asking her who she was going out with on Friday instead of going with Wyatt to Sara's party. It was so dumb and she managed to get out to the car with the help of her sisters and the boys. Webby covered them from the back, yelling "BACK! BACK, YOU BEASTS!"
"Ugh, this is stupid!" June groaned as she got into the passenger seat and passed her crutches back to April. Dewey had taken over driving duties until April fixed her youngest sister's leg.
"What the heck happened?" Huey asked.
"Wyatt Quacks tried to ask me to be his date to Sara's party and I told him I had a date on Friday night. Why can't people mind their own business? Great googly moogly…"
"Maybe we should just stay in that night," Louie sighed from directly behind her. "They know, by the way."
"Oh. Yeah, we could stay in."
"But that means you have to tell the family," pointed out May. "I mean, how would Uncle Scrooge take the two of you snogging on the couch?"
"Snogging? Since when are we British?"
"I like the word. Plus it's probably the one he would use to describe it."
Webby nodded in agreement.
"Fine. We'll come clean to the family but nobody else, okay, Lionheart?"
"Sounds good to me."
When they arrived home, the first thing they did was have April use a healing rune on June's leg. Scrooge let April use her abilities only if it meant making sure the family was safe. Her runes were actually carved all along the stone wall that separated Killmotor Hill from the rest of Duckburg, all in the name of protection. Healing magic was pushing it but June was the primary driver since Launchpad had gone to live in St. Canard with Drake and Gosalyn permanently and having her out of commission wasn't an option.
As it turned out, however, Della and Daisy had both figured out the truth behind Louie and June's relationship and Daisy had told Donald. Scrooge was a little apprehensive (as he was about all romantic relationships, thank you Goldie) and Mrs. Beakley just warned them to take it slowly.
All in all, it went pretty well.
June awoke to the sound of her door creaking open. She sat up a little, blearily blinking sleep from her eyes as she realized it was Louie. Without a word she scooched over in bed and he crawled in next to her. His arms wrapped around her as he nestled his chin in the crook of her neck. Neither of them said a word as they fell asleep like that, holding each other for the sake of making the night a little easier to get through.
It wasn't unusual for this to happen. When you'd been through as much as they had, sometimes you had nightmares that meant you needed a little comfort or that wouldn't let you sleep alone. It also helped that June loved cuddling and never hesitated when he needed that extra bit of love in the middle of the night. He was a touchy-feely kind of person. He also made her feel safe.
The incidents with her mother, despite happening four years earlier, had left her with paranoia that she was never safe. Even after the therapy the feeling never quite left her that everyone was either going to leave her or plotting against her. Honestly Louie was the only person who had never made her feel that way. He'd been by her side since she was ten years old and he was her best friend in the world.
"…I love you."
Her voice was whispered, almost silent. For a moment she was sure he hadn't heard, then…
"…I love you, too."
And with that, she went to sleep for the night with a smile on her face.
Slightly shorter biz this time around but I thought it was cute.
So long and thanks for all the fish!