The House of a Lucky Gander

It was a starry night as the McDuck family flew through the night sky to their destination of Macaw. A city with neon lights and casinos left and right. Joey was bouncing a ball he pulled out of his hat. He, his brothers and Webby, and his uncles were strapped on their seats... for a good reason of course. Their pilot.

Scrooge spoke, "The Temple of the Golden Cricket. Every fifty years at sundown, the golden cricket emerges, singing its ethereal song." He babbled, while the yellow quadruplet nearly dozed off yet was nudged by Huey. "Some say to life's greatest mysteries. How did we get here?

"What's our purpose in the universe?" He was cut off by Louie, "Wait! Is that a neon hotdog?!" Everyone awed, "I'm hungry!" Webby added.

"I thought you didn't like hotdogs." Joey said in confusion, raising an eyebrow, "I don't like eating hotdogs." Louie corrected. "Major difference." With a sigh, Scrooge rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes the city of Macaw is exciting to look at, but you only find the distractions..." he pointed at a huge building with his cane. "there." That was a reason they were there, little did they know, there was a second to that.

"I can't believe uncle Gladstone is here!" Louie said, excitedly and amazed.

"He's so charming!" Huey joined.

"And funny!" Dewey pitched in.

"He owns such nice clothing." Joey added.

"He's like the luckiest guy on Earth!" Louie continued, that continuity made Joey slowly make a mischievous grin on his face, Lucky, huh...? He thought. Maybe I'll put his luck to the test and see if he'll survive my traps... He deviously rubbed his hands together.

"Uncle Donald must've had the best time growing up with him." The green quadruplet said as Donald's response was a grumble. He could just think of the many times of how Gladstone made his life worse and worse.

"He's the worst. Just the worst." Donald mumbled. They entered the casino as Louie began to get nervous. "Why do I always wear green?

"He always sees me in green..." he said, looking at his attire. "That's because it's your default color, dude. Duh." Joey told him, rolling his eyes as he looked at the screen.

"Yeah, but not to anyone extremely important!" Louie shot back. His brothers crossed their arms. "Take it easy." Donald said.

Scrooge huffed, "Besides, if he's sooo great, why did he call us for-" he was cut off by cries of pain, "Help!" Gladstone cried. They quickly followed the cries, "No! No! Stop! ..." They opened the doors revealing... "- Until you get that kink out, Bebe."

Gladstone told his massive masseuse, a panda. Who twisted him, making Joey wince.

"The worst." Donald said.

"Loose as a goose and ready to gander." Gladstone said. "Ha! Gander and he is Gladstone Gander, I get it very cleverly." Joey said, stating the obvious.

Gladstone gave the yellow duck finger guns. "Mellow Yellow, is right!" He held his hand up for a high-four. Joey clapped his right/left hand on his uncle's. Gladstone put on a green robe, "Kids, uncle Scrooge, D Money. Was so relaxed I didn't hear you come in." Gladstone said, yawning.

"Bebe, here, is a miracle worker. Anyway, welcome to Macaw." Gladstone said. "Help yourself to everything." the kids ran off.

"Guys, try this!" Webby said, leaning her head to a bent window. "It feels like you're falling but you're not." The quadruplets ran over to the huge window that was bent down.

"So, you said you needed help." Donald said, with an unamused look on his face. "Yeah, help with spending all my winnings!" Gladstone jumped in a pool with checkers.

"Oh lighten up. Hey hey, guys, who am I?" he swam around and spat on Scrooge with some checkers. "Ha! Ha! Good one!" Joey said. Scrooge rolled his eyes. "Uh, this place is for no-account freeloaders looking to get something for nothing." Gladstone scoffed. "Well, that's true, Scroogie McBillions,"he said. "and I am the best at getting something for nothing."

"Best uncle!" Louie said, as he did a cannonball into the pool of checkers.

"Thank you, Gladstone for that inspiring message." Scrooge said sarcastically. "If you'll excuse us, we have an improbable enchanted insect to inspect. To the Temple." he said, gently pushing the kids out the door as Gladstone zoomed in front of them.

"Oh, but I want to stay." Louie whines then turns to Gladstone. "Show me everything, especially the stuff you're not supposed to."

"Ha ha! I love this kid, he's like me but shorter with a cheaper haircut." Gladstone said ruffling Louie's hair/feathers.

"Now, you just have to help me convince your Uncle Donald." Louie looked at Donald. "Well, it's nice seeing you, Uncle Gladstone."

"Wait wait wait, be square." Gladstone said. "You came all the way out here. Let me show you guys around. It'll be a good time." Donald looked at Gladstone and back to Louie he sighed. " Fine, you can stay."

"Really? Can I?" Louie asked.

Donald then had an idea who could be devious enough to help him show up Gladstone. "I know just the nephew." He thought. "Me and Joey are coming!"

"Wait I am?" Joey said, confused.

Donald pulled him aside. "Joey, please I need you to help me with Gladstone."

Joey sat in a chair as music from The Godfather played as he did the reference. "So you come to me for a favor are ya. Well I'll give you an offer you can't resist."

"Huh?"

Joey cut the act. "Okay first things first, I will NOT be getting in trouble for this and you boost my allowance."

"What?!"

"Deal?" Joey asked.

"Okay, little extortionist." He muttered.

Scrooge and the rest left to go off on their adventure.

They went to the suit shop. Louie tried on a green suit. "This is the best anyone has ever looked." Louie said.

"Well, green bean, if you want to be a winner, you got to look like a winner." He turns to the taylor. "And you can bill to my suit to the room, please." While, he wasn't paying attention. Joey sneakily put the detector on what he thought was Gladstone's coat.

"He he he!"

But it magnifies Donald's instead. "This looks just as good." He said.

"No! Uncle Donald, wait!" Joey said.

"Relax, Joey." Donald said as he stepped outside. " it's Dressed like a real suit, only cheaper."

"No, that's not what I meant!" Joey said. But it was too late a panda guard tackled his uncle making Joey flinch.

"Oh man, Uncle Donald has to be the unluckiest Duck in the world, even with Joey's help." Louie said.

"That's what I'm counting on." Gladstone said suspiciously as he ushered Louie along.

A game with a small metal ball.

Gladstone did it flawlessly.

The crowd cheered. Joey pulled Donald aside. "Alright, Uncle Donald you just give it your best shot and I will use this magnet and control the ball." Joey explained pulling a magnet out of his hat and showing him.

"But that's cheating." Donald said.

"Oh don't worry your pretty little head." Joey said. "Gladstone is the luckiest duck in the world, he cheats at life. I've got this."

"Why don't you give it a shot, Donaldo." Gladstone said.

Joey winked at his sailor uncle and got behind the game to use the magnet. "Easy peasy!" Donald said as he pressed a button to play.

Joey tried to use the magnet to try and move the ball so his uncle could win but he ended up getting stuck to a slot machine. "Uh oh, Uncle Donald Wait?!"

But it was too late, the ball got stuck and threw a tantrum. The game falls on top of him. Gladstone, Louie and the crowd looked at Joey who whistled and walked away.

A large obese bright green toad manager glared at the boy.'that brat is interfering.' He thought.

Louie,Joey,Donald and Gladstone were now at the spinning wheel of fortune. Louie took a spin as Gladstone made a wink as it turned backwards into free pizza for life.

Joey pulled out a remote control for the wheel. "This should turn the tables, Gladdy boy." Joey said secretly. "Uncle Donald, your luck is about to change."

"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy." Donald said. Suddenly, Joey began controlling the car, which was headed for Donald. Joey gasped and tried to stop it but it wasn't working.

Donald screamed as Gladstone smiled. "Ooh! An automobile!" The car chased after Donald.

At the wheel of fortune Joey grabbed a crank lever to spin it the exact time Donald did. "Now this is foolproof. Just focus on winning."

Donald gave a thumbs up.

"Give er a spin." The casino worker told Louie. He spun. Gladstone winked and it landed on free pizza for life. "Woo! Yeah!" Louie said.

"Can't waste all the luck on me." Gladstone said.

"Oooh, that doesn't sound too ba-" Joey stopped as he looked over at Donald. "I mean, boo!"

While behind the spinning award wheel, Joey turned to see The Toad guy behind him. "Why hello there young one. My name is Toad Liu Hi."

"Uh..hi." Joey said. "I'm one of the McDucks."

"Are you now?" He said. "Tell me, why would a fine young man like you be here when he could be at...Fun Land of Comedy!"

"Uh..that sounds fun..but..." Joey tried to say but was cut off when Toad Liu Hi waved a bat boy Joey's age. Brown was wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans. "Vincent."

The young bat came over. "Hi!" He greeted with a smile. "Hi!" Joey said as he shook his hand."This is my assistant, Vincent." Toad Liu Hi informed him. "I keep track of schedules for comedies." Vincent said.

"Vincent, Why don't you..uh, Joey? Was it?" Toad Liu Hi said. Joey nodded. "Bring him over there." "Right away, sir." Vincent said, as he saluted.

"Oh and please be discreet about certain matters." Toad Liu Hi told him. "You know what I mean?" "Not especially-" He stopped when the toad gave him a look.

"But what about my brothers and uncles?" Joey asked. "They're... busy." T.L.H told him. Vincent ushered him along. "So which way is it?" Joey asked."Just a few floors down." He answered. "I'll take you there." Joey nodded.

"So how long have you been working for creepsville?" Joey asked. "My whole life. I never had anything else to do anyway." The bat replied. "Oh must be a bummer." Joey told him. "Me and my family came here because our uncle Gladstone called for help." "You're related to Gladstone?" He asked. "kind of but not really that close." Joey told him. "Oh."

"But we're still family and that's all that matters really. My other uncle, Donald," Joey said. "he kind of raised me and my brothers, Gladstone's cool and all but I wouldn't trade my time with him for the world." "Oh. I guess you don't really like him." Vincent assumed, "I'd trade everything I've got to have just a minute with my family. I've never met them."

"Really? Why is that?" Joey asked. "Well, Lui Hi told me they... passed."

"Oh...I'm sorry." Joey said. "I never met my mom either." "Oh, that's... sad. I'm sorry for your loss." Vincent said.

"Not clear if she's dead or not. She's just... gone." Joey said. "My friend, Webby, my brother Dewey and I have been looking for answers."

"The rest of my family is here too, we're the McDucks." Joey told him. "McDucks? As in the McDucks?"

"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Joey asked as if it was no big deal. "You must be so glad to live a life of luxury!"

"Yeah, my Uncle Scrooge can be pretty cheap though."Joey said.

"So Liu Hi said something about 'certain matters'. What was he talking about?" Joey asked. "I don't know."

They reached the Comedy area, A large turtle in a mumu approached Vincent. "HEY BAT! When is my baby Shelby going to perform!" She yelled Joey rubbed the inside of his ear she was so loud.

"He's up next, Mrs.Turtle." He told her.

"Speak a little louder next time." Joey sassed. She simply growled at him and stomped away.

"Who's Shelby?" Joey asked.

"A mischievous Turtle brat who gets his kick by giving people a hard time."

"Now I remember him. My uncle Donald used to babysit him a while back and he was a terrible brat who got away with everything." Joey recalled.

Shelby Turtle came on stage; he was now older but still younger than the quadruplets.

"Wow, and look at this tub of lard; he looks like he could eat five hippos." The turtle poked fun at a toddler making her cry. "That seems very uncalled for." Joey said. Shelby began making fun of everyone until Joey had had enough and decided to step in. "Hey, hey, funny guy! I've got a joke for you! What smells rotten and puts people to sleep?" Joey asked.

"Hey! That's my baby Shelby's act!" Mrs. Turtle yelled.

"No no. That's fine." Shelby said. "What is it?"

"Your act." Joey said.

Everyone laughed; angering Shelby.

"Alright pally!" Shelby said. "I'm gonna have to pull out the big guns for you; I'm gonna talk about you mama! Let's talk about his mama." He called out. "Your mama is so fat when she sat down, no one was laughing so the ground started cracking up."

"Okay, I'll play your game." Joey said. The crowd got excited. "Yo mama's so fat when she got on the scale it said, I need your weight not your phone number." The crowd went wild with laughter. He was not going to get away with insulting his mom he never met.

Shelby tried to come back; but Joey cut him off with his own joke. "Seriously though you rely on cheap mom jokes to be funny because you can't seem to make your own jokes." Joey said. "I've seen better jokes from a turkey sandwich." Shelby huffed at him as everyone laughed.

"Even when my uncle used to babysit you were just a brat with a bad attitude who runs around like he doesn't know how to stay still." Joey said. "What happened; were you dropped as a kid explains your lame jokes." Joey said. There was more laughter. "I mean you still have the nickname 'Baby Shelby' what is up with that?!"

Joey was winning this joke battle by a mile. Shelby took a swing at Joey he dodged. "Swing and a miss!" Joey mocked. The turtle swung again. Joey moves out of the way. "Can't touch this! Bow! Now now now now!"

Joey winded up for another attempted punch but then, a familiar fortune wheel came rolling towards them Joey moved while Shelby got knocked into the open piano. He rose up out of it with piano keys in his teeth.

"Thank you everybody and good night!" Joey said as he took a bow to thunderous applause.

Joey got off stage. Vincent came over to him. "That was awesome! That jerk turtle has been causing trouble for a while now and nobody has stood up to him like that before." He said.

"Ah it's no big deal;" Joey said. Waving it off. "Somebody had to do it."

"Joey. I've got something to tell you.." the bat said.Joey raised an eyebrow.

"Your family is in danger. You need to get them out of here, now." Vincent told him.

They both ran quickly. "Where are they?" Vincent asked.

"Come on, D money I was just trying to show you the good life." Gladstone said to Donald. Louie followed alongside him. Joey and Vincent caught up with them.the rest was already at the door. "Not a Chance!" Scrooge said.

"Guys, we've gotta get out of here!" Joey said.

"Exactly! Before..." Vincent was cut off.

"I find out." Toad said.

"Did I mention I am being held prisoner here and that's why I called you?" Gladstone said.

"Why didn't you just tell us?" Louie asked.

"I couldn't, he's too predictable." Gladstone said.

"And because I would find out, I am Liu Hi, ancient spirit of luck and fortune. Now let's test your luck." The Toad said.

Scrooge twirled his cane. "Finally a proper adventure."

Everyone looked on in shock and surprise. Joey turned to Vincent. "Did you know about this?!"

"I...I.I didn't mean to." He stammered.

Liu Hi began to change into his true form. He grew bigger. His clothes changed into a teal green robe much like his skin and a Japanese style hat. He then moved his hands and everything started changing. Everyone, every room, everything turned into cards.

A big card swooped in and picked up The McDuck family along with Vincent. They gasped.

Liu Hi laughed.

"I sat through the waters of Aquaridon three times when I could've been fighting a demon?" Scrooge said.

"It's Aquarioon." Huey corrected.

"Uh, yeah you don't want to mess with Toad. He's a luck vampire." Gladstone explained. "He's held me captive here to feast on my natural good luck. I'm that delicious."

"Is he bragging about that?" Dewey asked.

"No please, Uncle Gladstone, indulge yourself." Joey said sarcastically. " Can't be too humble." He earned a sigh from Gladstone.

"I hoped Donald would break my lucky streak. y'know, because he's..."

"Bad luck?" Scrooge suggested.

"A total jinx?" Huey said.

"Life's punching bag?" Joey added.

"The worst." Dewey chimed in.

"Gladstone's good fortune has been satisfying." Toad said. " But surely, as the richest duck in the world, Scrooge McDuck's luck must be the most delicious of them all."

"Luck has nothing to do with my fortune!" Scrooge argued.

Toad scoffed."oh really?"

"I'll prove it." Scrooge said. " if we win you let us all go free, but if we lose we stay permanently. Unless you think the spirit of luck and fortune will lose?"

"I think you've lost your mind." Joey told Scrooge. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I can't resist a good challenge." Toad said. They gasped.

Liu Hi glared over at Vincent. "I'll take care of you later." Vincent remained silent and nodded in shame. Joey couldn't help but feel bad for him.

Toad turned his attention back to the McDucks.

"Yes, thank you screwdriver mcdollarsigns." Gladstone said gratefully. "I knew I could count on you."

Toad created a course out of cards as everyone watched.

"Behold." Toad announced. "First to the end wins."

"Alright, Toad let's do this!" Scrooge said.

Toad grinned as he had no interest in Scrooge. "Ah,Ah,Ah, my house, my rules. Gladstone still belongs to me so he is my champion. You get..." Toad points to Donald. "HIM." He continued. "The winner goes free, loser is doomed. Ha ha ha ha."

"Welp, we're dead." Joey said.

"Totally." Dewey agreed.

Two cards swept up both Donald and Gladstone and took them to the starting line.

"I don't even get to be in the blasted challenge!" Scrooge said furious.

Huey looked at him.

Down below, Donald scolded Gladstone. " We came down here to help you and you put my family in danger!"

"Sorry, D Money but, but I literally can't lose." Gladstone responded as he strutted.

Water started shooting up. "Aquarioon!" Huey said.

Donald gasped as the water turned into lava. Gladstone on the other hand...the lava cleared the cards out of his way. "You've got to be kidding me!" Joey said.

Gladstone turned to Joey and winked. "The worst." Joey admitted.

Dewey snickered "Little Donald." He muttered.

Joey responded with a flick to his beak.

Gladstone finished walking along the path.

Joey saw something familiar. "The Funland of Comedy!" Joey said.

Suddenly, laughs were hurd the comedy crowd turned into a pack of hyenas. Donald groaned, "Really?!"

Donald ran but as for Gladstone half of the hyenas were cheering him on as some carried him along and dropped him off.

One of the cards spun while Gladstone was walking. He was so close!

"Oh look! It's Dewey Jr!" Dewey said excitedly. The blue green tiger growled.

And soon he and the hyenas had Donald backed into the food of many lands. Donald sighed as he backed up against the wall. "What's the point...?"

"There's gotta be a way to help him." Joey said to himself. But how?

Louie started speaking to his Uncle Donald. As the tiger and hyenas started closing in on him.

"Come on, Uncle Donald!" He heard Louie shout.

Louie continued.

"So you have the worst luck. who cares? No matter how bad things get, like really, really bad. You keep going. It's kind of ridiculous. You haven't had the common sense to give up before so why start now!?"

This seemed to boost Donald's confidence as he stood back up. And screamed at Dewey Jr enough for him to burst into stripes, then the hyenas took a run at him only for one to get socked in the jaw by Donald making them scamper away whimpering.

He turned to the wall and ran right up it. Gladstone gasped and finger guns at the ground. "Hey, twenty dollars!"

"Where did that come from?" Joey heard Liu Hi say.

"Some spirit of luck and fortune you are." Joey remarked.

Donald crossed the finish line and everything turned back to the way it was before. Joey sighed in relief

"Hey, Vincent, you can come with us and out of this dump."

"R-really?" He said.

"Uh huh."

"Well, I guess you win. While these two stay with me." Toad said as he snapped his fingers and made some mystical type foot chains on Gladstone and Vincent.

They gasped.

"You can't just..." Joey said but Scrooge stopped him."No no, it's fine." Scrooge said.

Scrooge gave him a look as if to say he had an idea.

Joey looked at him confused.

"Actually, Donald won so it's really him you want." Scrooge told Toad.

Then pointed at Joey. "And you can take Joey as well."

"Yeah! Wait what?!" Donald said.

"Wait. Huh? What now?" Joey said.

"I suppose you're right." Liu Hi said. "Donald Duck and Joey Duck are my prize."

"No! That's not a part of the deal!" Louie argued.

Toad snaps his fingers and the chains disappear from Gladstone and Vincent and appear around Donald's neck and the other wrapped around Joey binding him.

The rest were kicked out and the doors were closed.

"Joey.Uncle Donald." Louie said. "You just...gave them up."

"The kid's right, Uncle McDunkle." Gladstone said.

"We have to do something." Vincent added.

"Three. Two. One." Scrooge counted down. Soon after both Donald and Joey were kicked out of the casino. "There luck...it's so awful...so awful..." he and his casino deteriorated and shot up into the air.

"Woah! What a rush!" Joey said.

Louie came over and hugged Donald and Joey. Then said, "That was pretty cool even for you."

"Well I don't like to brag." Joey said in a cocky tone.

Everyone joined in on the hug.

They all left and Gladstone left on his new yacht, some things never change.

"To the Temple!" Scrooge declared. The rest cheered along with him.

Although, something was different about Launchpad. Different and strange.

"Yo, Launchpad." Joey said.

"What happened to you?" Dewey asked.

"Oh, just same old." Launchpad answered. He turned around dramatically. "I will find you, Ziyi."

Meanwhile, after the McDucks flew away, Shelby Turtle and Mrs.Turtle came crawling out of the crater where the casino once was.

Mrs. Turtle grinned.

"Joey Duck is going to pay for what he did to me!" Shelby vowed.

"He sure will, HONEY!" Mrs. Turtle said. "He sure will."

Changes to the family and Vincent sitting there bored looking at the cricket. " Welp, this was a trip well spent." Joey said sarcastically.

Vincent sighed.

Scrooge did as well. "I think it's time to go home."

(Yes! I have finally finished this chapter with a little help from WebbyBonilla. So a little shout out to her.)

Shelby Turtle voiced by Richard Horvitz

Vincent voiced by David Kauffman

Mrs. Turtle voiced by Estel Harris