-Training Room 17, Level 4-

Three small figures waited as the training room came to life. Two stood patiently while the third was bouncing on their heels and seemed eager to get on with it. The center of the room pulsed with light and the three walked over towards it, immediately covering their eyes a moment before the room was flooded with light and they were surrounded by eggheads. Hubert Duck was in the center of the room and two bodies leaned against him, protecting him before he gave out directions.

"Okay! Sounds like there are ten! Do a short hop, sweep, then elbow! After that, you should be able to see. 3 o'clock and 10!" May and June nodded, hoping in their respective directions, kicking out the egghead's feet and May elbowing hers as Huey said. June however, decided to jump onto the egghead's back before delivering a spinning kick to one of the others that tried rushing her. May and Huey opened their eyes and rolled them playfully, their sister tended to lose herself in training sometimes.

Huey let her have her fun as he ordered May to start with a kick to the gut before using a double-handed fist to send them into the ground. He smiled seeing this leadership come to fruition but quickly got serious as two eggheads rushed him. He ran at one, leaping at them and pulling down their helmet before jumping off and kicking the other in the back, causing them to slam into each other.

The last egghead standing was huge with June trying to land a kick on their face but her leg was grabbed and she was spun and thrown into Huey. May raced over and barely dodged a punch before kicking the egghead in the back of the leg and climbing on their back. She climbed to their head and began to beat on them and cover their eyes as they attempted to shake her off.

"Now guys!" Huey and June nodded to each other and punched the egghead's stomach making them double over. May jumped off and the three all delivered a kick to finish off the last egghead. June cheered excitedly as Huey nodded and gave her a thumbs up while May dusted herself off nonchalantly.

Black Heron smiled as she leaned back in her chair overseeing the three's session. Years of babysitting had paid off, the three were fine warriors in their own right and while nowhere near Beakley, Scrooge, or even herself. They were stronger than most children. She started up another training session on level 5 this time, the three having to now face a replica of Gyro Gearloose's Lil Bulb's giant robot form.

Heron felt a button on her coat vibrate, pulling it off and frowning seeing it was Bradford calling for a meeting. She put a tape to record the three's battle against the robot while she left for the meeting room. FOWL had been growing over the years slowly but surely, but it was only recently that Bradford had started to find new high council members for the group. They had already added a brute named Steelbeak, the pirate Don Karnage at times, Taurus Bulba, and a frozen businessman and his zombie butler. There are several others being considered but that's all they had for the moment. She arrived at the meeting room where Bradford was waiting with the others.

"Nice for you to join us, Heron."

"You've known me long enough to never expect me on time Bradford." The buzzard ignored that as he sat down and the screen behind them came to life.

"Many of you are new to FOWL. We have had no reason to need to grow or put ourselves in any exposing situations. Ever since Scrooge McDuck started to adventure again, however, there has been an explosive growth in monster attacks and strangeness around the world and in Duckburg. Just last week, the money bin itself was attacked by a magical force." Pictures of a golden dragon, a headless horse with a Scrooge head, a ghost butler, some multi-colored rocks with arms and eyes, and a shark made of money flashed by. One picture was of Scrooge and his family, something that caught Heron's attention.

"Why should we care about a rich guy losing his money?" Steelbeak asked as he chewed on a file, something he had come to see as snacks ever since he got his new metal beak.

"Because Scrooge McDuck's money is what helps pay for FOWL. If he loses money, then so do we." Taurus explained and Bradford nodded.

"Precisely. I believe someone has been attacking the McDucks and we can't afford them to lose yet. For FOWL to thrive I am saying we need to assist the McDucks from the shadows. I'll have you all given missions at a later time. Meeting dismissed." The room emptied out but Heron stayed and she changed the image back to Scrooge with his family.

"Seems the clone has grown just as we wanted. I suppose you still wish for her to remain in their family?"

"It's all as I said. The McDucks are not to be harmed. Now how are the three?" Heron mentally filed the order away for later and pulled out the footage of the kids, they were banged up and tired but they had managed to defeat the robot.

"They are around level six. Very good progress if I had to say so. It's as you wanted with May and June acting as Hubert's protectors."

"Good, we can't afford for him to die. Are they ready for a mission?" Heron relaxed in his seat and shrugged.

"They're children, children who have never left this compound. Their naive minds would surely distract them from any task you give." Bradford grumbled as he shook his head.

"Then we'll keep them locked up until we have no choice. Keep their training advancing." Heron nodded and walked away.

. . .

Huey checked June's injuries and made sure none were too serious. May was too proud to get checked and June usually needed the attention anyway. The door to the training room opened with their "Uncle" Steelbeak standing there.

The rooster was a powerhouse but stupid, something that came in handy ever since he arrived. Thanks to him, the siblings had managed to gain a hold of one of his spare filers. Over the months, they had managed to undo a vent in their room. It was the eve of their birthday and with it, they were now the age where they believed it would be time to see the world FOWL wished to save. Their mother and Uncle Bradford were always trying to protect them but how could they be expected to help FOWL if they were never given that chance?

"Hey if it isn't the brats. Looks like you managed to beat a level 5 enemy. Good job, for runts of course. Soon maybe you'll be up to my level 8." June pouted at the names and crossed her arms while Huey only accepted the praise and May threw a punch.

"Oh please, that robot was nothing! I say give us a real challenge!" May shouted with June agreeing. They glanced at Huey pointedly and he gave them a subtle nod.

"I don't know… That old bird usually doesn't like me touching the controls…"

"Not chicken are ya?" June teased.

"No, I'm a rooster."

"It couldn't be that our awesome uncle Steelbeak is… scared could it?" May resisted rolling her eyes but smirked when she saw Steelbeak's expression change and he stomped to the controls.

"You all do that, I'll just… be watching… from over here," Huey said as he edged his way to the door and left his sisters to distract Steelbeak. May was excited to really push her limits and June was just glad to fight something new. He ran through the FOWL hallways, expertly avoiding the eggheads that passed by him. They had prepared for this night all year and after a ton of secret research, he just had to grab the supplies they had asked for.

Sneaking his way to the records room, he knocked a few times and heard a sneeze along with some crashing. He winced as the door opened and a female egghead was fixing her helmet.

"Heya Huey! What's up? OH! Happy birthday, dear!" The egghead happily hugged the boy that looked around nervously. "Where's Mayzie and Junebug? Waaait isn't it close to your bedtim-"

"SHHHH! Pepper! We have to be quiet or I'll get caught! Understand?" Pepper nodded and Huey sighed letting her go. Pepper was one of the earliest recruiters to FOWL and was the kids' first true friend. A clumsy chatterbox but one who was kind and eager to help. She used to watch them and gave Huey his nickname. She allowed them to actually have fun, even one time sneaking in chocolate to them but she was caught when Huey had a sugar high and demoted for that stunt. Even with the demotion, she was a hard worker and always the first to volunteer for any job that needed to be done.

The kids always liked her with June becoming the only one who could keep up with her. May and Huey found her fun side a nice change of pace from their mother's training and teachings.

"So what brings you to me, Huey?"

"Were you able to get the stuff?" Pepper frowned in confusion but then smiled brightly.

"Ooooh! Right, the stuff! I got everything you three wanted and added a bit here and there like a grappling hook, a woodchuck guidebook, and multitool. Count them as gifts. " She went into the record room and came back with three colored FOWL-branded backpacks. FOWL wanted independent ways to earn money, so they created several companies to do so. One of which made some simple accessories like bags, hats, and shades. Huey having been given the first hat they ever made. Huey slipped on the red pack and grabbed the other two before looking back at Pepper and giving her a hug.

"Thanks, Pepper… from all of us."

"Anytime… just remember who your family is okay? You'll always have a home here!"

"Always." He promised and ran off, a strange feeling building in his gut. Entering the training room again, he found May and June scratched up and even bleeding a bit with Steelbeak going mad on a replica of him. "Sooo… did you win?" They both gave him a deadpan look and he smiled sheepishly as he showed them the bags. June grabbed the blue one and May the yellow. They all left as Steelbeak finished beating the copy and crossed his arms proudly.

They all retreated to their room and hid the bags while they waited for Black Heron to visit them as she usually did. May grabbed the file that they hid under her pillow and went right for the vent. They had managed to open it but found FOWL prepared for vent travel and had bars in place but they had managed to break nearly every bar with only two remaining.

May went to work on that as Huey made a mental checklist of their supplies and made sure he wasn't forgetting anything. June sat next to him and gently kicked her legs as she seemed to be deep in thought. He glanced over at her, expecting a question or at least a comment but she was looking down. He scooted closer and nudged her with his shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Helloooo." He joked a bit and she smiled back. "What's wrong? You look like May when you think like that. If you aren't careful, your face will get stuck like that." June touched her cheeks in mock fear.

"Is that what happened to May dear brother?"

"Yes, it was a tragedy."

"Feeling the love guys!" May's shout caused them to laugh and Huey offered her a smile.

"So what's wrong June? Feeling nervous?"

"Aren't you? It will be our first time outside the headquarters… You know everything that mother has taught about the world out there. There's plenty of danger." Huey bit his lip. He had thought about it, had nightmares of all that could go wrong but at the same time, he had had some dreams too of all they could see.

"I'm not afraid." They jumped and looked at May who was fixing her hair as she held the last two bars in her hands and he tossed them under their bed. "I mean, we've trained for years and so long as we stay together, what could go wrong?"

"Disease, Famine, an Alien Invasion." Huey joked while he counted those off with his fingers but he helped May out of the vent and looked at June. "She's right you know? We're the best of the best and we're smarter than most. So long as we stay a team, nothing will go wrong."

"Do you promise?" June's eyes stared into Huey's and he hesitated. His youngest sister had that effect on him sometimes. She was the most hyper and eager to do anything to feel useful but also was the quickest to shatter when things didn't work out or when she was afraid. Her stare pleaded for his word and reached to his core. He felt a hand grip his and gently squeeze before letting go and he took a deep breath before smiling gently.

"I promise sis…" June smiled and hugged them tightly, knocking them to the ground with May complaining that she was now all dusty again. Their door opened to Heron standing there with a raised brow. The three quickly rose to their feet, standing side by side with May slyly kicking the vent into place.

"Hello, Mother." The three choired and Heron entered the room, checking June and May's injuries.

"The robot?"

"No, we umm helped Uncle Steelbeak fight his replica." Heron rolled her eyes. "The stupid fool, that thing wasn't made for children to fight. I told him to not touch my controls after last time." She got up and stopped before she reached the door, suddenly remembering something.

"It's your birthdays isn't it?" The three nodded and Heron frowned, leaning against the doorway. "I suppose I should get you three a gift." The kids smiled, every year Heron would buy them something even if she didn't seem to care and the gift would come late. Pepper, Steelbeak, and Taurus had also given them something here and there. "Anything you want?"

"Umm… we were wondering if we could-"

"Not yet. Your Uncle Buzzard and I are unsure you're ready for missions."

"But-"

"No." Huey grabbed June's hand and squeezed it as May stepped forward.

"Then we'll give it some thought and tell you what we want tomorrow mother. Thank you." Heron sighed and gave them one of the very rare hugs she ever gave.

"You three are more important than you think." She stood and walked away, locking the door as the three were silent for a bit. June was the first to speak and looked at her older siblings.

"Come on you two… we have a world to see." They stared at their sister and could see the determination in her eyes.

"She's right, it's time." They all grabbed their bags and June took the lead as she had night-vision goggles from a previous birthday. After navigating through the vents for a while, they kicked out a vent and dropped in front of the elevator leading to Funso's above. They jumped down and entered the elevator. Huey could feel his heart racing as they would finally be above ground for the first time ever. They exited the elevator and exited the backroom as they looked around the darkened arcade.

"Any threats June?" May asked and June looked around.

"Negative. We're all clear." The three came out and touched some of the games and other things that were around. "So many cool things, I wish we could play."

"We'd get caught, come on we have to get away from Funso's before morning." They walked to the door when a shadow dropped in front of it and the three prepared for a fight.

"You three are really determined to leave aren't you?" The figure pulled down their hood to show their mother and the three hesitated. They gathered their courage and stepped forward together.

"We are. We want to see the world. How could you expect us to protect something we don't know?" Heron crossed her arms and smiled to herself as she tossed them a phone.

"Very well, I'll be giving you your missions from now on. Until then you can't return and you can do whatever you want. However, you have several rules. Stay together, Do not compromise yourselves, and Protect the McDucks. The Director wants them unharmed. There is something you three can do for me though, go to McDuck Manor and get a clear picture of their housekeeper. I wish to test something.

The three saluted her and hugged her again which she seemed put off by but she ruffled the feathers on their heads and pushed them to the doors.

"Bye mother!"

"Good luck you three." The kids took a deep breath and held hands as they took their first step together into a whole new world.