Chapter 11 - The Shadow War - Part 1
Two weeks have passed since Magica took control over Lena's body and turned me into a wooden figure. Unfortunately, she always carried me around with her. If I would get a distance of just one meter between her and me, I might be able to free myself. But Magica seemed to know that as well.
The lunar eclipse was close, which was the reason Magica was on her way to McDuck Manor and boasted about her genius plan. Right before she could reach the gate, she suddenly collapsed and black magic flowed out of her eyes. It was a sign, that Lena was able to regain at least a bit of control over her body. ,,Let me go", she spat at Magica, who was standing in front of her in form of a shadow. Unfortunately, she couldn't gain complete control, as there were still chains made out of shadows, holding her in place. ,,Oh, that's right. I forgot you were here", Magica said with a disdainful voice. ,,I won't let you do this!" ,,Yeah, uh-uh. Oh, expect at the moment of the eclipse, my powers will finally unleash, and I'll be an invincible juggernaut of dark magic So, you know..." Magica taunted her. The shadow made its way back into the Lena's body through her eyes. ,,Now that you've gained the trust of Scrooge's brats, I can use your body to get inside the house. Then I'll weaken Scrooge with this-", she held up a test tube with a purple liquid inside of it. She managed to get it in those two weeks, but I didn't know what it was. ,,snatch the Number One Dime at the height of the eclipse, unleash my full power, and use it to destroy everything Scooge has ever loved!" the witch continued and approached the mansion.
During her phase of laughing, Mr. McDuck's Limousine passed her with high speed, which caused her to fall over. It stopped in front of the gate and the window was opened by Launchpad. Magica quickly hid inside a bush next to the gate, while Launchpad was speaking into the intercom. ,,Howdy, Mr. McDee! Don't worry, I'm not here to check on you on account of everyone moving out because the boys blame you for launching their mom to space and orphaning them. I'm here to take you out for ice cream! Mmm, sounds good, right? Family crisis! I mean, ice cream!" ,,Go away." Mr. McDuck sounded miserable.
He launched the mother of the triplets to space? Well, doesn't matter right now. As long as Magica wouldn't be able to get into the mansion. She seemed to notice that as well. ,,Out?! Moved?! Ice cream?! Without those kids to let me in, how am I supposed to get my evil, evil vengeance?!" she started to get worked up. She pulled down Lena's eyelids and hyperventilated. ,,No. I will defeat Scrooge McDuck. I am the dark shadow lying in wait! I am the stuff of nightmares lurking in the hidden recesses of your mind! I am...Aaaaah!" her waterfall of words was interrupted by Launchpad, who backed up the Limo and almost crushed her. She jumped out of the way just in time.
,,All right. just have to convince Scrooge that I'm a typical little girl", Magica said to herself and hopped towards the intercom, like a six year old would and pressed the button. ,,Gee whiz, mister. It's me, that insufferable help, Lena. The little urchins invited me over to...Uh...what do children like? Play marbles?" Really? No one in their right mind would believe that. ,,The children are gone. Leave me alone. Forever", Mr. McDuck answered.
He believed her? His mental state was worrying. In the meantime, Magica threw a fit and tried to choke and hit the intercom. But then she must've gotten an idea. ,,Aw, shucks. Webby said this would happen", she said. It was silent for a few moments until Mr. McDuck spoke up. ,,What did she say?" ,,That you wouldn't be able to handle the kids leaving and have an old man meltdown. I thought better of you. Guess I was wrong", she answered. Please, Mr. McDuck, don't fall for her tricks!
But alas, my prayers weren't heard. Suddenly, a buzz was heard and the gate opened. Magica didn't hesitate one second to run inside and think out loud, about the many possibilities she could think of to beat Scrooge McDuck. ,,At last. a vanquishing for the ages, a final clash between the Sorceress of the Shadows and the world's greatest adventurer, Scrooge Mc-"The door opened before she could finish one of her many endless speeches. The sight bewildered her. Mr. McDuck looked miserable. He only wore a singlet that was stained with sweat and grease. His whole attire made him look grubby. As if that wasn't enough, he even scratched his butt in front of our eyes. ,,Wait, what?" Magica managed to stutter, still confused. The inside of the mansion didn't look any better. The Foyer was filled with hundreds of pizza boxes and empty bottles of soda. Most of the paintings hung askew and you could see cockroaches crawling around here and there. ,,Ugh! How long has your housekeeping staff been gone?" Magica asked, disgusted, as she stepped into a slice of pizza on the floor. ,,Three Days. So how are my so-called kin? Miserable, no doubt, livig on that disgusting boat. I'm obviously doing much better than they are. Ah! Pesky possum! Keeps eating my anchovies!" Mr. McDuck spoke up, as he chased the aforementioned Possum,that had crawled out of a pile of pizza boxes.
Since Mr. McDuck was occupied, black magic came out of Lena's eyes and mouth yet again and Magica appeared in form of a shadow. Lena immediately tried to call out for Mr. McDuck, but was stopped by chains made out of pitch black shadows. ,,That sad sack of feathers is not Scrooge", the old witch said. Lena didn't care to listen and instead grabbed a grape and threw it at Magica. The old hag was unimpressed. ,,The Scrooge McDuck I know is a shrewd, conquering hero of legend." she looked at him, as he rolled on the floor and pulled put a slice of pizza from under his singlet. He took a bite and even fed the Opossum he chased before. Not much of his heroic side left. ,,Unless...this is all a trick. Yes that's it! Of curse! He senses something. He's trying to convince me he's a pathetic loser, hoping I'll make a mistake! Ha ha! You can't fool me, Scroogie! I am the one who fools", she tried to explain the situation. Well, considering how he's crawling around on the floor, I don't think that this was an act.
Magica pulled out the test tube, that was still in Lena's pocket and added: ,,One sip. Lights out. Grab the dime. Then I enact my vengeance! Thanks for the pep talk, Lena." she looked at my best friend, who could only look at her with big eyes. Magica took over Lena's body once again.
Sometime later, Mr. McDuck went into the kitchen to look for something. Since Magica was still outside in the hall, she heard he phone ring. She took a quick glance at Mr. McDuck, who was still in the kitchen and answered the call. It was Launchpad. ,,Hello, Mr. McDee! Come to a party on Donald's houseboat for, um...Oh, uh...a game of charades?" ,,Free food!" Webby interrupted him. A mischievous grin laid itself on Magica's Lips. ,,I'll be there", she said, but with the voice of Mr. McDuck. She imitated it perfectly. ,,You will?" I guess Webby wasn't prepared for that. She must've thought that it wouldn't be easy to convince him. ,,But I'll only eat the finest lobster, caviar, canapés. And make sure no one starts eating until I get there, as I consider it the height of rudeness. Bless me bagpipes! Good Day!" Magica couldn't resist to be a bit extra, before she hung up. ,,Dinner officially ruined!" she grinned. ,,Now, back to destroying Scrooge." ,,Where's that blasted nutmeg tea?" Mr. McDuck asked, still rummaging through various cupboards in the kitchen. ,,Ooh. Convenient", Magica mumbled and called out: ,,Don't worry! I'll get it!" with Lena's voice, this time. Scrooge went upstairs and in the meantime, Magica brewed the tea. She poured the liquid from the test tube in, while devilishly laughing. As she went upstairs to bring Scrooge his tea, she stopped by in the triplets' room. Mr. McDuck was there, pulling in a pile of stacked pizza boxes on the wagon he usually used for his money. ,,One man's nephews' former bedroom is another man's pantry, I always say." Not a second later, he was buried underneath the boxes. There was no way that this was an act. But Magica was still on that trip. ,,He is very committed to this "looking pathetic" trap."
She lifted up the boxes and said: ,,Have some tea. It'll settle you." He took the cup and thanked her. One sip and it was over. Luckily, he immediately put the cup next to him on a stack of boxes and started to pick the remaining up. He came across a loose piece of floor. The boys must've used that as a place to hide stuff. A few coins, a pennant of their Boy Scout Group and a small bag. He grabbed the aforementioned bag and emptied it in his hands. Three tiny marbles in green, blue and red. ,,Sweet, playful marble. Three to a bag. Red, green and that rascal blue marble, always rolling whichever way it wants", he said. His voice was soft. In the meantime, Magica had already grabbed the cup, trying to get Mr. McDuck to drink the tea. Suddenly, his expression turned to one of anger. ,,And ungrateful, the lot of them, at every turn! After all I did for them, and they just throw it in my face!" He threw the marbles into the nearest corner of the room. ,,Yeah, there's nothing worse than marbles. Tea?" Magica tried again. ,,I'm talking about family", Mr. McDuck replied. For once, Magica shared his opinion about something. ,,Ugh, tell me abut it. They disobey you, run you ragged, don't follow through on elaborate revenge lots!" ,,They spend your money, take over your home, cause trouble, worm their way into your head with fod memories that you cannae get out, no matter how hard you try!" At first, he sounded angry, but towards the end, he sounded broken and self-pitying. He knelt in front of three stacks of pizza boxes. The faces of the triplets were drawn onto each one. Even Donald was there, as a box of donuts on top of them. The "Donuts" was crossed over and changed into "Donald" with a marker and "Duck" was written underneath it.
Magica still tried to make him drink the tea. ,,Cheers to ridding fond memories!" she handed him the cup. He simply stood up and walked past her, adding a: ,,And then they leave without so much as a thank you." He let himself slump down on a pile of pizza boxes, that resembled an armchair. ,,Forget family! Who needs 'em?" Magica tried again. ,,I'll dink to that!" he called out and took the cup. Oh no. Luckily, one of the boxes from higher up fell onto his head and he let the cup fall, which caused the purple liquid to spill on the floor. Magica was close to throwing a tantrum, but could calm herself down in time and said: ,,I'll go make you another."