Chapter 3: Spite War

The sky had darkened significantly. At the manor, Beakley called in the triplets and Webby for dinner, and while the boys obeyed without question, Webby stayed unresponsive in her room.

"Webbigail, dear," Beakley pushed the door open. "Come sup with the family."

Webby buried herself in her books moodily. "Not hungry."

Initially shocked, Beakley spoke more firmly. "Then you can sit with us. Come along."

Grumbling, Webby put down her books and dragged her feet to the dining room. She groaned when she saw the only chair left was directly opposite of Dewey and begrudgingly she took it.

"Hi, Webby," said Huey and looked at his brothers expectantly. Louie made a lazy wave, but Dewey stared at the wall.

Webby narrowed her eyes. "Hello, Huey. Hello, Louie." She sat up straight and prepared her tableset, and the adults watched with increasing interest as she failed to greet Dewey. However they didn't bring it up and passed around the food.

"So," started Della after a minute of silence. "How was school today, kids?"

"It was fine, I guess." Said Huey, absently prodding his lettuce with a fork.

Dewey bounced in his seat. "I hid an iguana in my shirt for three hours!"

Donald coughed up his drink and pushed himself out of his chair. "You what!?" He quacked, stomping over to check if the iguana was still there.

However his sister laughed hysterically. "You really are my son, aren't you?"

Webby took a long, slow sip of juice. Beakley, who was suspicious over her previous behavior, decided to push the issue. "What about you, Webby dear? I trust the public schooling is paying off as well as my studies for you did."

"Oh, they're paying off just fine." Debriefed Webby with another sip. "In fact, I signed up for a talent show today."

"Really?" Beakley's voice was approving, and the remaining ducks seemed to smile. All except Dewey, who immediately sat up.

"Hey, I signed up, too!" he proclaimed loudly.

Della's eyes brightened. "That's great! Are you two partners?"

Webby replied straightforwardly without looking up from her food. "No."

That tipped Beakley off. She and Della shared a look, and as they did this Huey tilted his head at Webby questioningly.

"Why aren't you two doing it together?" he asked, nudging Louie to make sure he was paying attention.

Webby's face was stone cold. "I don't know." She directed her eyes at Dewey for the first time that night. "Why aren't we?"

All eyes were on Dewey. Dewey swallowed hard and acted like he hadn't been listening.

There was a short, thick silence. Finally Scrooge broke it. "We'll all make sure to attend it, then." He turned to Donald for the sake of conversation. "Say, how's that houseboat of yours coming along?"

And Donald was happy to answer. Webby's brows lowered at Dewey, a silent mixture of a threat and a question, and he stared at her in a bundle of anxiety. Huey watched the two closely, ripping Louie's food away when the youngest triplet failed to focus. He grinned when an idea struck.

"Hey, Louie," he started, his tone eager. "You know that new smoothie machine Funso's was putting up? Didn't you want to be the first one to try it out?"

Louie blinked slowly. "I never- -"

Huey shoved food in his mouth to shut him up. "Great, let's do that tomorrow! Dewey, Webby, doesn't that sound like fun?"

Dewey knew his brother was planning something. "Actually I was gonna practice my act for the talent show tomorrow…"

"You can do that afterwards. Mom!" Huey gave Della his most pleading face. "Aren't you always saying we should spend more time with our family?"

Della slurped the last of her juice and stood up readily. "I think it's a great idea! I can be your chauffeur!"

"No- - Della, you haven't driven in 10 years." Beakley nodded assuredly. "I will be the chauffeur. We can all go in the morning."

Webby left the table and trudged to her room. "Cool; I haven't had the house to myself in a while. Have fun!"

Beakley's eyes were strict. "'All' includes you, Webbigail."

Webby and Dewey groaned.

As declared, the ducklings were tucked in the back of the limousine by morning, and though the trip was meant for the kids Della was the most excited of them all.

"Woo-hoo! Time to have fun at Funsy's!" She paused and turned to Beakley. "What is Funsy's again?"

"It's Funso's," Louie corrected, turning to glare at Huey. "Which I normally wouldn't mind going to if it didn't interfere with my afternoon plans."

Huey scoffed. "What plans? You never do anything."

"Doing nothing was my plan!"

"Listen," Huey's voice dropped to a whisper. "The only reason I got us into this was to see what's going on between Dewey and Webby. Haven't you noticed how weird they've been acting?"

Louie huffed. "Sure, but that's got nothing to do with us. Why can't you just stay out of people's personal lives?"

Huey shot a short glance at the two in question, who although sitting side by side avoided each other like the plague. "Because if I don't, they could be like this forever. If I don't help straighten things up, no one will!"

Louie sighed in resignation. "I guess I can't stop you, so I might as well keep you from doing something stupid."

Huey squeezed Louie in a hug. "I knew you'd come around!"

Louie blanched, already regretting his decision.

Beakley pulled into Funso's parking lot and they went inside. Any bystander would assume the kids were forced there by their hyperactive mother, Della practically dancing as they followed.

"Come on, kids! Today's all about having fun." Della took in the attraction with shimmering eyes, ready to suggest the most action-packed activity yet when Webby interrupted.

"Thanks, Mrs. D, but I think I'm gonna sit down for a while." The young girl trailed to the tables, set down her backpack, and stuck her beak in a book.

Quickly Huey pulled Dewey and Louie along. "We will, too! We have to try out that new smoothie machine, remember?"

Della frowned, deciding not to acknowledge Dewey and Louie struggling to get out of their brother's iron grasp. "Oh. Well, if that's what you kids want to do- -"

"We do- - thanks so much, see ya later!" Huey made a break for the smoothie bar, his brothers protesting the whole way over. They stopped by Webby's table on the way.

"Save our spots, Dewey," demanded Huey. He turned away and shot Louie a conniving wink, who in return rolled his eyes before being pulled away once again.

Dewey drummed his fingers on the table. Webby turned a page.

They sat in suffering silence for what felt like an eternity.

Unable to handle the tension any longer, Webby set her book down and awkwardly cleared her throat. "Hey…"

Dewey barely moved. "Hey."

Webby kicked her feet back and forth. She smiled at a memory. "Remember the first time you guys took me to Funso's?"

Dewey's stare loosened. "And we got abducted by the Beagle Boys?"

Webby's smile grew. "And we escaped and captured them instead?"

The two laughed and shortly went quiet, though this time it was comfortable. At the smoothie bar, Huey had witnessed the whole interaction and jumped giddily.

"Yes! It's working!" He didn't even realize Louie swindled to get their smoothies for free. "See, Louie? No harm done!" He pushed his younger brother forward with a skip in his step. "Now things can finally go back to normal."

At the table Webby relaxed, almost forgetting she and Dewey had ever been fighting. She opened her mouth to say something, but was shocked still by a flash of light.

"Aww, how cute!" Della cooed, holding her phone like a camera. Beside her, Beakley was smiling in approval. "Oops- - had the flash on."

Webby hid her face with both arms. "Mrs. D! Granny! I wasn't ready!"

"Okay, okay, we'll do it again," Della stepped closer and resituated her phone. "Smile! Dewey, honey, I need you to smile! Smile with Webby!" Another flash and Della couldn't stop herself. "Oooh! You kids are so cute!"

The girls laughed in each other's company. However Dewey didn't find it funny. His mother's comment, although harmless, was a reflection of the entire student body booing and laughing him off the stage just like what happened in his dream. His face red, he turned to Webby. And she was the reason they did.

At that time Huey and Louie reached the table with armfuls of smoothies. Huey immediately started sliding them around before he and Louie sat on either side of Dewey, the red triplet finishing with the announcement, "Bon appetit!"

The two adults and three kids indulged, but Dewey held back. Noticing this, Webby smiled and lifted her drink.

"To the talent show!" She announced, pushing her drink forward to clink with his. Dewey glared hard at the drink and slapped it out of her hand.

Everyone went quiet and stared at the resulting mess, but before they could react Dewey slipped off his seat and stormed outside. Beakley and Della froze, horrified, and Huey and Louie stood in disappointment and confusion. Webby looked at the sad remains of the smoothie dribble down the floor and she glowered. Dewey was going to eat her dust at the talent show.