Chapter 20 – Back in Time
Fifteen years, back in the present, inside Scrooge McDuck's Money Bin. A fight is taking place between his greatest nemesis, Magica DeSpell.
Scrooge is held up by magical cuffs and lets out a gasp in utter shock as Magica upholds Cronus's Scythe. Then, with one swift motion, she swipes the Scythe in a downward motion. Magically, the sharp end slices an opening through the air, and a purple-blue light emerges.
"And now, Scroogie, time for you to leave." Again, the witch emphasizes the pun.
She raises her hand to Scrooge, and the chainless cuffs disappear from the glow of her magic. The old duck lands down on his hands and knees. Quickly regaining his composure, Scrooge grabs his cane before pushing himself back up in a standing position.
"Not a chance," he growls. "You will have to force me through that portal."
"Or perhaps you will be pushed in, McDuck!" A voice from behind shouts. "I, Flintheart Glomgold, will be the one to help you through that portal."
Scrooge quickly glances to see the fat stubby duck leaping out from behind a mound of money. Not even able to get a chance to react as Flintheart pushes him into the spinning light. Scrooge lets out one last desperate cry before disappearing in a flash.
Both Magica and Glomgold stand victorious, cackling, as they watch the portal shrink and disappear.
"See you in the future, Scroogie." Magica chuckles, holding up the Dime, and watches it glisten with the last remaining light of the portal.
"Finally," the witch continues. "The power of this Dime is all mine. With it, I can expand my magic to rule over the entire world!"
"I think you meant we," Glomgold corrects her. "We will rule the world."
Magica rolls her eyes at the annoying duck. Her thoughts were asking why he was still here, but she decided to entertain his delusion instead.
"Sure, fine." The witch waves him off.
Looking down at the Dime one more time, Magica imagines what she will do first with its power. Then a blue and purple aura start shimmering off from the silver surface of the coin.
"What?" Magica looks up to see the same portal reemerging in almost the exact spot where it disappeared.
To her shock, Scrooge leaps through it. He lands softly on a small mound of his gold coins. Then, as the portal slowly shrinks and disappears, Scrooge scans his surroundings with a pleasant grin.
"Ah-ha!" The old duck cheers, turning to his foes. "Your plan failed, Magica! I'm back!"
"How? Our plan was flawless! You should have been trapped in the future as our slave." Magica attempts to grasp the situation and what might have happened to her scheme.
"All I can say is that my family found a way to survive your future. They were able to help me return," Scrooge says proudly and adjusts himself into a triumphal stance. Then, he playfully tips his hat and adds, "And now, I'll be taking my Dime back."
Magica glares at the billionaire with extreme hatred. "Not likely."
The witch raises her hand and forms a purple fireball, and throws it at Scrooge, who manages to leap out of the way in time.
"Why do you prosiest in ruining my plans?" Magica demands.
"Well, if you would learn to stop trying to harm my family and me, I would be glad to stay away from you and your plans," Scrooge promises.
The witch and the billionaire continue to clash their cane and staff together in a battle. Meanwhile, Glomgold watches as he sneaks a handful of gold coins from a nearby pile and shoves them into his pocket.
"Idiot!" Magica spat at Glomgold. "Don't just stand there! Help me defeat McDuck!"
"Wha," Flintheart tries to look innocent. "Oh right."
The stubby duck starts to come towards the fight. Glomgold is unsure what he can do to help, but if he is determined to become the richest duck in the world, Scrooge has to be defeated once and for all. With that, he begins to stagger his way towards the two mortal enemies.
"McDuck! You're finished. With you gone, I will be the richest duck in the world!" Flintheart screeches, repeating his own thoughts out loud.
"Flinty, listen to me!" Scrooge cries out in desperation while defending each strike of Magica's staff. "You are betrayed in the future. Magica has a spell called the Medusa's Curse! You are the first person she tests it on."
"Quiet you!" DeSpell screeches, trying not to look stunned that he figured out her plans. She attempts to silence Scrooge by throwing more brutal attacks with her staff. "Stop interfering with what should be my destiny! The Medusa's Curse is supposed to be a surprise for your family and anyone else that annoyed me or got in my way!"
"Wait, what?" Is what Glomgold hearing correct? Does his future mean to end sooner than he expects?
"You heard her, Flintheart, I've seen the future – I was just there, remember. You have to believe me. Unless you want to be turned to stone, help me beat her!" The older duck pleads. He slips on a few of his gems and falls back.
"Forget the future; your end comes now!" Magica hollers. She raises her hand and forms magical spears, and prepares to strike down on her enemy.
Before the witch could throw her spear, a heavy bag of money smacks into her.
"Ahhh!" The witch screeched, falling to her side. "How dare you hit me, you sorry sack of fat!" She growls up at her new attacker.
"As much as I want to believe that Scrooge is lying, but something tells me this time he's telling me the truth," Glomgold says as he prepares to swing the moneybag again. "Nobody betrays Flintheart Glomgold and gets away with it!"
"Looks like the shoe is on the other foot now, Magica!" Scrooge gloats. "You're outnumbered."
"But I still have the Dime," DeSpell cackles, showing her prize to the old duck.
Scrooge realizes he has to work fast. He needs to get his Dime back, especially from Magica and her evil plans. The elder duck pushes himself back on his feet and struggles to get his footing. All of this fighting is leaving Scrooge a little short-winded. If only he were a few years younger. However, he has no time to worry about that. So instead, the elder focuses on his determination.
Magica creates a large wave of gold and jewels with a swing of her arm, she directs it to the old billionaire. Scrooge, not wanting to drown by a tsunami of his treasure, begins to run in the opposite direction.
"What's the matter Scroogie, don't you like swimming in your money?" Magica breaks out into another maniacal cackle.
Scrooge ducks out of the way before the title-coin wave crashes up against the wall and breaks apart.
"Hey, I am the only one that gets to beat McDuck!" Glomgold yells. He leaps up and swings the money bag, knocking the witch down.
"Out of my way, you fool." The evil witch growls. She lifts her staff and swings it at Glomgold.
The stubby duck falls down, and the money bag rolls away. Magica raises her staff again to beat down Glomgold when Scrooge throws his can like a spear, knocking the power source out of her grip. Flintheart takes this opportunity to reach up to her other hand and snags the Dime from her grasp.
Glomgold quickly takes a step back and loses balance. Then, with a yelp, the wide, kilt-wearing duck starts rolling down a mound of cash. Luckily he stops near McDuck.
"It's over, Magica!" Scrooge informs her. "Give up."
Stubbornly, Magica rushes to pick up her staff, but when she turns to see the two ducks preparing to continue defending against her. With a grumble, the witch decides to back out of this fight.
"Another time," Magica growls. Then, with a swift swing of her arm, she disappears in a puff of purple smoke.
Glomgold glances down at the Dime in his hand, and with a grunt, he hands it over to Scrooge.
"Here," he spat.
"Thank you," Scrooge happily accepts his Dime's return.
"Don't get used to this, McDuck. I still intend to beat you one day." Glomgold promises. The stubby duck is about to climb out of the Bin when Scrooge calls out to him.
"Oh Flinty," the elder sings, not removing his eyes from the Dime. "Put them back."
Glomgold blinks a few times before concluding what his adversary means by that comment. Then, with a regretful sigh, Glomgold pulls out the coins he collected earlier and drops them with the rest of Scrooge's fortune before doing his climb.
Now alone and knowing everything he holds dear is safe, Scrooge lets a big sigh of relief.
The nightmare is over.
Scrooge opens his hand to reveal the Dime once more. He marvels how it still shimmers with the gold in his Bin. The last time he was excited to get his most prized possession back was when his nephew from the future passed it to him. Scrooge carefully puts the Dime safely inside one of his inner jacket pockets.
Taking a moment to rest, Scrooge falls back to lie on his fortune. Vision continues to drift to other members of his kin from the future. Their survival from extreme conditions impressed him.
Eagerly knowing, Scrooge is looking forward to their brand new destiny. Their path is completely rewritten here on out – at least Scrooge wants to make sure of that. Other memories pop up, and he remembers two young ducklings he adored.
Scrooge realizes that there was one part of the future that wasn't a nightmare. Dewey and his future children became a new focus. The thought of his impulsive nephew becoming a father doesn't seem so far-fetched. But will that be in his destiny now? That is when Scrooge remembers the note he wrote down back when he researched the papers Dewey saved on the Cronus's Scythe.
Scrooge sits up and reaches in his inside coat pocket, and pulls out his little booklet. Then, flipping the pages, he comes to the section where he jotted down his message:
Isabelle Loon.
A single name is all he needs.
Scrooge can now track Izzy and somehow form a sneaky plan to introduce her and Dewey when the time is right. He reminds himself that there is a chance that the two of them might not form a romance, but then again, they could. Perhaps, Scrooge might even get to save Izzy from whatever illness she may have in the future. He is prepared to find the best doctors money can buy, no matter the cost.
Either or, Scrooge is looking forward to meeting this young duck. Based on his nephew's descriptions of her, she was able to help and shape Dewey into the responsible father he became. Not only that, but a chance to meet Tessa and Turbo as hatchlings will be worth it.
With a small smile, Scrooge closes the notebook and tucks it back into his jacket inner pocket. Then, he stands up and begins the climb out of his Bin. During his ascent, Scrooge makes mental notes of the other events to look out for like the alien meteor is one he would put on top of the list.
The moment the elder leaves the busted entrance of his Bin, a group of voices call out to him.
"Uncle Scrooge!"
Scrooge McDuck looks up to see his family entering his office. All of them were fifteen years young again.
"You are not going to believe what just happened to us." Della begins with excitement in her voice.
Scrooge briefly forgot about the attack at the docks; he quickly remembers the story he was told in the future. He decides to bite his tongue and not say anything. For now, the billionaire chooses to keep his time trip a secret.
"The Beagle Boys attacked us, but don't worry; we defeated them! Nobody messes with the Duck Family!" Della explains proudly.
"Whoa, what happened here?" Dewey exclaims, noticing the safe door stuck into the far wall.
"Magica and Glomgold. They were here, but I was able to defeat them," Scrooge explains briefly.
That brief explanation led to a bunch of questions.
"What? Where are they, I'll..." Donald Duck's rant turns into his iconic squabble as he angrily hops up and down with his fits, ready for a fight.
"We should have been here to help." Della mentally beats herself for not coming to her Uncle's side sooner.
"Did you have to fight them all by yourself?" Webby cries out.
"Are you hurt?" Huey asks.
"Is the money alright?" Louie wonders bluntly.
The green-clad triplet is met with glares from the rest of the family, and instantly, he sheepishly shrugs in response.
The billionaire smiles at his family's concern. "Listen, I'm fine, the money's fine," Scrooge groans, raising an eyebrow down at Louie. Then, he returns his focus to the rest of his family and adds, "Magica and Glomgold are defeated. They are gone now. But my real concern is how about all of you? Are you alright?"
"Um, well," Donald quickly calms down with a sad frown. He sucks back a lump in his throat. "During the Beagles attack, my boat got wrecked in the process. So guess I won't be going on that adventure after all. At least not until I can repair it – again." He says in a disappointing tone how he is so tired of all his dreams being dashed, primarily when he works so hard to achieve them.
Unable to help himself, Scrooge throws his arms around his nephew. He remembers his pain when he saw the future and how Donald was lost to Medusa's Curse. Nothing is making Scrooge happier that Donald is still alive at this very moment.
Wanting to help his nephew, Scrooge says, "Awe, lad. Dinnae, you worry about that. I'll just buy you a new boat."
"What?" Everyone exclaims in shock.
"Alright, who are you, and what did you do with our Uncle Scrooge, Old Man!" Dewey points accusingly.
Scrooge's first reaction is annoyed, but looking down at his young nephew and knowing the duck he will likely become, the billionaire quickly forgives the rude comment. He reaches over the begins to pat Dewey on the head.
"Don't get used to this act of generosity, my boy," Scrooge says. "It's just that we've all been through an obvious strategic attack between Magica and the Beagles. I'm just glad you are all safe." The elder explains.
"Speaking of safe, what are you going to do about yours?" Huey asks, pointing at the wrecked entrance of the Bin.
"I'll simply call in extra security while the door is being replaced," Scrooge says. "In the meantime, let's go home. I'm sure we can all use the rest. I, for one, am really exhausted." He adds, referencing the big battle he had in the future and the one he just had to regain his #No. 1 Dime.
Deciding not to argue with their tired-looking Uncle, they all nod in agreement.
The elder herds his family back into the elevator and presses the button down with his cane. Scrooge inhales deeply, feeling more at peace than he did in a long time. He is looking forward to the unknown future with his family at his side.
The End.
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I want to thank you all for reading my story. Hope you enjoyed it. Please take the time to share your thoughts in a review.
If you wish to request a sequel, I will just say now: I cannot promise a second story due to upcoming projects I'll be involved with. However, if you are inspired to create one yourself, you have my permission to do so.
Again, everyone, thank you so much and Stay Creative!