The Golden Heart
Chapter 8
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"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
All four companions fell down into the darkness; shouting and screaming in absolute terror as they wondered just what was happening to them. The soil underneath them had given way from their sudden weight; weakened by the removal of the stone from the well. Large rocks, roots, grass blades, dirt, and most of their equipment all fell along with them as they fell.
"AHHH! This is it! This is how I'm gonna die! I'm too young to die! I haven't spent enough time with my paramour yet!" wailed Fenton despairingly, his hands flailing uselessly as he tried in vain to stop from falling.
It was over nearly as quickly as it had started.
Scrooge, Fenton, Glomgold, and Launchpad all gasped in complete shock as they collided with cold water, sinking under the water's surface until they were fully submerged. The splash from their dive echoed throughout the enormous cavern, leaving an echo in its wake.
One by one, all four of them broke through the surface and gasped in air greedily. The adrenaline in their veins kept them hyper aware and panting in alarm as they regained their senses.
"Curse me kilts! I was not anticipatin' that!" exclaimed Scrooge as he wiped at his eyes. He froze when he realized his spectacles were no longer on his beak. "Ack! Great Scott! I've lost me spectacles!" He began searching the water around him, only to see black murky liquid. There wasn't nearly enough light in the cave for him to see into the water.
Fenton coughed and groaned next to Scrooge. Once the water was out of his eyes and he could see, he titled his head and began tapping his left ear in hopes to get any water out. "Blathering Blatherskite! I didn't know we'd be SWIMMING down here! I mean, sure-it's called the King's 'Pool of Tears' but that didn't mean I expected us to nose dive into it!"
Glomgold sputtered and coughed from where he had landed in the water, rubbing at his own eyes. His spectacles were still safely on his beak yet his green plaid hat was floating a few inches away from him. He quickly snatched it and placed it back on his head; only to growl in annoyance when water poured from it and dripped down his face.
Launchpad was making the biggest splashes out of all of them as he panicked; kicking and shoving at the water. "I can't swim! I can't swim!" he hollered.
Scrooge stopped his search for his spectacles and gave the pilot a deadpan glare. "Launchpad, I know fer a fact yeh CAN swim! Yeh were just outside swimming with Huey, Duey, and Louie a couple weeks ago when yeh visited!"
Launchpad stopped his frantic movements. He rubbed at his eyes before chuckling nervously."Oh! Heh. Right! I knew that!" He paused, his eyes widening once he was in a more upright position. "Hey! I can-I can touch!" He spread out his arms to help him balance and with the tip of one of his webbed feet; able to feel squishy soil beneath him. He beamed with joy and looked to Scrooge. "Yeah! This lake isn't even that deep!" He lifted his goggles to adjust them, only to sputter and gasp when later fell out of them and onto his beak.
"Great, now maybe yeh can help me find my spectacles!" groused Scrooge.
Just as the richest duck in the world was about to dive under the water to try to find them, Fenton reached a hand to his paramour's shoulder and stopped him. "Hold it, Scroogey!"
"Eh? What is it, lad?" demanded Scrooge as he spread his arms out to steady himself.
Wordlessly, Fenton reached under Scrooge's chin and pulled at his blue collar. Half caught on the collar were Scrooge's spectacles. One of the lenses were holding onto the fabric. "Here they are, my love! They just got caught on your collar!" Fenton untangled them and showed them to the older duck.
"Ah, tickle me tail feathers! What a relief! An' here I thought we'd have to spend some time divin' in this here water for them! Thank yeh, Fenton!" Scrooge plucked them from Fenton's hand and placed them back in their rightful place on his beak.
Fenton blushed bashfully, shyly slapping at the water. "Aww, shucks. Anything for you, Scroogey, my heart!"
Scrooge gave him a half lidded smirk before turning his attention back to Launchpad. "Launchpad, are yeh sure yeh can touch the bottom of this..." he glanced around them, not sure what to call it. "This lake?
Launchpad nodded. "Sure can, Mr. McDee! I'm standin' on the ground now!" He raised his arms to prove he wasn't even attempting to stay afloat in the water. The water seemed to reach up just below the top of his shoulders.
"Fenton, yer the second tallest here. Can yeh touch at all?" was Scrooge's next question.
Glomgold scowled at the accountant as Fenton tried to touch the bottom.
"Well, lemme just test the waters" he joked, chuckling at his own humor. They watched as his head and shoulders sunk lower into the water, a look on consternation on his face. He sunk until he was completely submerged; all they could see was the very top of the fluffy feathers on top of his head. After a moment, Fenton came back up with a loud huff, gasping in breath and shaking his head to get excess water out of his face. Wiping at his eyes, he said, "Welp! That was a flop!"
Scrooge and Glomgold both seem to deflate at the news.
The four of them took a moment to take in their surroundings. The only light source in the cave was coming from the hole they had fallen from. Sadly, the light source didn't cover nearly enough of the cave to show how big it was or if there was anything else but water inside it.
"Well, I for one don't plan to linger here to shrivel up like a great prune!" groused Glomgold abruptly.
With a snarl, Scrooge raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh? And I suppose you have some magical idea to get us out of here?"
With a matching snarl, Glomgold sneered loudly, "Of course!" His voice seemed to carry further than any of theirs had previously, proving to them just how large and cavernous the cave they were in was. Everyone flinched as Glomgold's voice bounced off the walls and ceiling and echoed around them.
Fenton shivered violently, causing the water around him to splash. "Yeesh! Talk about creepy! Next thing you know there will bats and ghosts and everything else! So if you could pleeease keep your voice down, Mr. Glomgold!"
At the mention of ghosts, Launchpad began biting at his fingernails and shaking. "G-Ghosts!?"
"Ack, don't yeh start any of that, laddie!" reprimanded Scrooge. "We need t'be sensible! Now, since it's clear Glomgold doesn't actually have a plan, I'm about to make one!"
This earned him a squawk of indignity from Glomgold. "How d'ya figure I don't have a plan!?"
Scrooge leaned towards him in a goading manner, his eyes narrowed and his beak curved into a smirk. "Then let's hear it!"
Glomgold's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. "Oh, go soak yer head!"
Victoriously, Scrooge leaned back with a smile and turned to Launchpad and Fenton. "Alright. Now, scan the cave. We need t'get an idea of how big this place is. It's possible that there might even be some dry land for us to regroup at. Not t'mention, I need to figure out if the map to the Golden Heart can still be useful! It may have been ruined by the water!"
Fenton sighed softly. "I just love it when you're logical, Scroogey."
His eyes scanning the area, Scrooge replies without looking at him; his mood decidedly annoyed. "Aye. Imagine how amazin' it would be fer me if yeh were half that logical. And quit callin' me 'Scroogey'! If I've told yeh once, I've told yeh a thousands times, I don't want yeh callin' me that!" He winced, instantly regretting the sharp words.
Fenton's shoulders sagged at the insult.
Swallowing and mentally berating himself for his sudden harshness, Scrooge turned away and tried focusing on the matter at hand. He squinted his eyes, desperately trying to see into the darkness. His eyes must have been slowly getting used to the dark for he was finally able to see what he hoped was the far walls of the cave. "Alright, lads, look sharp! Do yeh suppose there is any kind of shoreline in this here cave? Hopefully if we can find some dry ground, we'll be able t'get out of his water and get our bearings."
"I resent to bein' called a 'lad' like some wee child!" growled Glomgold.
"Then stop actin' like one and maybe, just maybe, yeh won't be treated like one!" was the snarky remark back to him.
"Heyo, Dr. McDee! I think I see one of our gear packs over there floatin'!" called out Launchpad. He had a hand over his eyes as though the sun was shining in them, squinting to see.
"Oh, fiddle sticks! That stuff will be useless if it's as soppin' wet as we are!" Glomgold crossed his arms angrily as he complained, only to lose his balance in the water and fumble to stay above its surface. He tried to act as though he hadn't just splashed around like a fool, yet everyone watched and decided not to comment.
"Well" sighed Scrooge. "It's a start, I suppose. Regrettably, I have the treasure map here in m'pocket and it certainly won't do us any good without findin' a place to dry it out. We need t'find the rest of our gear as well. Come on then!" Without waiting to see if the others were following his lead, the richest duck began swimming towards the gear back Launchpad had pointed out. The closer he got to the large tan denim pack, the more of the cave he could see. Their eyes were obviously growing used to the lack of light and were able to see better.
Grinning, Scrooge used the breast stroke the rest of the way until he was right next to the pack. It was then that he yelped in surprise, his eyes widening. "Bless me bagpipes!" He exclaimed as his hands wrapped around the gear pack.
Fenton, who was swimming right before him, stopped and titled his head to the side in confusion. He almost looked nervous to say anything, but his natural curiosity got the better of him. "What? What is it?" He took a moment to pause and straighten himself in the water, flinching when one of his webbed feet was able to touch the muddy bottom of the small lake. "Oh! Hey!"
Scrooge turned to him, chuckling. "Aye! You can touch here too! Ha ha! This is great! There is dry land along the edges of this cave!" He grabbed the gear pack which was floating above the water and, with his feet now able to touch the ground below him, began walking out of the water.
"Hey! Look! More of our stuff!" Fenton was pointing to where more of their gear and sleeping bags and equipment were laying on the ground.
The next few moments were filled with lots of splashing as they all made it out of the water, tugging on their clothes in a vain hope to dry it out faster and get out the excess water. Scrooge immediately began pulling out the treasure map from his pockets the moment he was fully out of the water. "Oh, bless me Number One Dime! The map is still in decent condition! Just needs dried out!" He very slowly and very gently unfolded the wet map and scrolls; searching for a dry spot to lay they out on.
"Alright, splendid" spat Glomgold sarcastically. "We're out of the water. Yippee." His voice was deadpan and lacking any kind of cheer. "But we're still as wet as drowned rats and so is half of our equipment."
"Uh..." began Launchpad uncertainly. He walked over to Glomgold. He was carrying the gear pack that had been floating in the water. "Actually, Mr. Glomgold...Eh, it would appear it was only your pack that ended up landin' in the water..." He gestured to the other rich duck. "And the scrolls, of course."
Glomgold silently fumed, his face and beak going red with anger and annoyance as Launchpad tentatively held the pack out to him. With a snarl, the second richest duck snatched the soaking pack from the pilot.
Scrooge cackled at his rival's expense as he laid out the scrolls and maps out to dry.
Fenton, who had gone uncharacteristically quiet since Scrooge's last insult to him, nervously cleared his throat. "Uh..N-Need any help, Scrooge-hmm." He looked away and pulled at his collar.
It was painfully obvious how close Fenton had gotten to calling him the usual endearment of 'Scroogey' and the receiver of said endearment sighed quietly as he laid another map down to dry out.
"Sorry. I know you don't like it when I call you that" continued Fenton in a low mumble.
"Fenton, I'm..." he struggled with the words, once again reminding himself how ill suited he was for these sort of confrontations. He was better at sharing his feelings and showing his affections to those he holds dear a great deal better than he had ever since Huey, Dewey, and Louie came into his life. Yet Scrooge still felt far out of his comfort zone. "I'm...sorry for what I said earlier. You are..." He glanced back to where he knew the accountant was standing and listening.
Fenton anxiously fiddled with the hem of his jacket and swayed back and forth on his feet. His eyes were looking downward. His eyes did glance up quickly in anticipation to what his paramour had to say about him, before quickly looking away again
"You're not illogical..." continued Scrooge warily. He laid out another part of the map on the ground. "I just mean, yeh have a tendency to...speak before you think."
Fenton nodded. "Yeah. Ma'ma says, and I quote, 'I have no filter'." He kicked at the dirt at his feet. "Which strikes me as odd, cause I thought that was always referenced to those who swear a lot, which...I don't. Ever."
Scrooge nodded, his eyebrows raised at the wording. "Aye. It does. But she's referring to your insentient need to blurt out everything that comes to your mind."
Looking uncomfortably bashful and rightly chastised, Fenton kicked a bit harder at the dirt, his hands finding themselves clasped and hiding behind his back. He looked away. "I can't help it! I just do it! But-" He paused, jerking his arms in an odd way as though he was stopping himself from some dramatic pose. Knowing Fenton and his antics, he probably was. "I'll-Try to stop. I-I want to be better for you, Scrooge..."
It really was strange to hear Fenton use his proper name. The older duck wasn't entirely sure he liked it now that he heard it. From day one he'd insisted Fenton not call him that and now he wasn't so sure how he felt about it.
Not knowing how to respond, the old miser found it was easier not to reply. While Fenton wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and he was prone to being clumsy, Scrooge truly didn't believe Fenton needed to change anything about himself. Especially for the likes of him. But how was he supposed to say that without messing it up?
Scrooge's attention was drawn by Glomgold, who was grumbling angrily nearby. He was opening his gear pack and every item he pulled out was soaked through and he was forced to lie it out on the ground to dry. "Curse you, McDuck!" He growled, clearly not caring if Scrooge overheard him.
Launchpad nervously walked around the angry Scottish duck, being sure to give him a wide berth, and walked over to Fenton and Scrooge. "Heh, well, there may not have been a plane involved, but that was still quite the fall and crash! Shame we don't have any torches."
Fenton, never one to stay depressed and sullen for too long, perked up from where he'd been leaning against the cavern wall with his arms crossed. "Ooh! That gives me an idea!" He began scanning the area for something. "Why didn't I think of it before!?"
Scrooge, having finished laying everything out, pulled off his wet top hat and set it down on the ground to dry. "Think of what, laddie?"
Fenton turned and opened his mouth to reply before stopping himself. He glanced over to Launchpad and Glomgold before whispering quietly to Scrooge. "My special briefcase." He winked.
This earned him a frown. "What good would that do us? Yeh can't suddenly become Gizmo Duck in front of Launchpad and Glomgold. They'd wonder where yeh went and that would raise far too many uncomfortable questions." He trailed off, watching as Launchpad nearly tripped and fell into the water while looking up at the ceiling of the cave. "Well, Glomgold would certainly notice."
Fenton grimaced at the slight on Launchpad's behalf. "True true. But with the suit I could at least figure out a way to help us get outta here when its time to leave."
Understanding flashed across Scrooge's face as he slowly nodded. "Aye. I suppose it could have its few uses, as long as we're careful about it. Well, then. Where is it?"
"Looking for it."
Fenton continued his search, trying to remember the last place he'd seen the briefcase that held his Gizmo Suit inside it. After another moment of looking, he stopped, his eyes widening as his memory provided the answer. "It's...It's...not here."
"Eh?" Scrooge leaned in closer, confused.
"It's not here..." he said softly. He looked up at the hole they had fallen from, the sunlight shining down eerily. "I had set it aside, as he started digging around the well. It's still up there. It has not be!" He frantically ran a hand through the feathers on top of his head, biting at the tips of his fingers. "Yeah, I set it next to one of the trees." He turned and his eyes found Scrooge's. "I'm sorry! I messed up again! The one thing I'm good for around here and I go and leave it behind!"
Scrooge quickly and sternly hushed him, placing a finger before his beak. "Shh! Keep your voice down!" His eyes looked beyond Fenton's shoulder and watched the silhouettes of Glomgold and Launchpad in the dim lighting of the cave.
Fenton was not hearing it though. Tears were threatening to spill down his cheeks as he shook his head in shame. His shoulders shook with emotion. "I can't even become Gizmoduck here! Or just use the suit for resources! How else am I going to be of any use!"
Scrooge, seeing the impending meltdown, grabbed hold of Fenton's shoulders and shook his roughly once to gain the accountant's attention. Once he had it, he looked Fenton straight in the eye. "Fenton! Yeh've got to stay calm! Not having the Gizmo Suit may actually be a blessin' in disguise! Had Glomgold discovered it, there would have been no way to explain it! He even could 'ave stolen it under our eyes had it still been with us! Now just keep yer wits about yeh! Wipe away yer tears. We have a treasure t'find, remember!? The Golden Heart, laddie! It's down here somewhere and you're gonnae help me find it!"
Boldly, Scrooge gently grabbed hold of Fenton's hands and squeezed them.
This gesture seemed to do the trick as Fenton nodded absentmindedly. "Right. Thank you, Scrooge. I will. I will help you find the Golden Heart." He swallowed before adding, "Even if its the last thing I do!"
Caught off guard by the sudden declaration, Scrooge simply smiled before giving him an awkward hug.
Pulling back, Scrooge knew he had to change the subject back to the treasure. "Now" he began, quickly changing the subject. He was sure to speak louder so that their other companions could hear him as well. "I think the best plan would be t'start a fire. With the maps soakin' wet, it would be no good tryin' t'read them. So there is no point in looking fer the treasure until we've dried and warmed ourselves up. We'll make camp here, get our bearin's and figure somethin' out after some rest."
"Speak for yourself, McDuck! All of YOUR stuff is dry! Because all of YOUR stuff didn't land in the water!" complained Glomgold.
"Aye, that may be true, Flinty, but the maps are still wet." He gestured to their clothes. "And while our gear may not have all landed in t'water, WE did. A camp will do us all good."
"Alright! Time to put some of the good ol' Junior Woodchuck Guidebook knowledge to good use!" exclaimed Launchpad excitedly. "I can start huntin' around for some firewood!"
"Splendid idea, Launchpad!" smiled Scrooge.
"I think I might have a lighter in my pack" suggested Fenton, trying desperately to be useful. He walked over to his gear pack several yards away and before searching through it. The accountant quickly found the lighter before taking after Launchpad to help with the firewood.
Scrooge nodded in approval. He was smiling until he glanced across to Glomgold, who had his hands on his hips. The smirk on his rival's beak didn't help matters. "What are yeh after now, Flinty?"
Glomgold feigned innocence as he raised his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Nothing, Scroogey, ol' boy, I swear. Just can't help but notice that poor little lad of yours will break his back tryin' to make you happy. " He walked past Scrooge at a leisurely pace, his hands behind his back. As he passed Scrooge, he leaned in to whisper in his ear. "It's just so sad that ya can't even say a single nice thing about him. It's like watching the sheep get lured in for the slaughter."
Scrooge growled, turning to face Glomgold while the second richest duck also turned and held his ground.
"Tell me, Scroogey, is he really worth it? He just seems like such a hassle. So high maintenance! So needy!" Glomgold continued to jeer. "All he wants to do is romantic junk and distract ya from what really matters! TREASURE!"
"Shut yer gob, Glomgold! What's between Fenton and me is OUR business! Not yours! Now stay out of it!" hissed Scrooge. He hated the fact that a part of him agreed with his rival. They were on a treasure hunt and the treasure was truly all he wanted out of this. If Fenton wanted to see this as some romantic trip, fine, so long as the treasure was found!
Glomgold nodded, mockingly passive. "You'll ruin him, ya know. Its already startin'. Doubting himself, avoiding callin' yeh pet names...Don't think I didn't overhear some of what was said."
Scrooge paled, hoping Glomgold didn't hear everything. The last thing he needed was Glomgold knowing Gizmoduck's secret identity.
"Mind you, it was only bits and pieces, but I know for a fact I heard him call ya 'Scrooge' instead of the beloved nickname he's blessed ya with. Makes ya wonder why..." Glomgold turned and walked after Launchpad and Fenton. "Best find that firewood soon, Scroogey!"
Scrooge watched Glomgold walk away. He hated the idea of Glomgold being right. He knew things were becoming strained between him and Fenton. But why couldn't anyone understand that they were currently on a quest for treasure!?
Scrooge just hoped that the Golden Heart was somewhere down in this cave; for the sooner they found it, the sooner they could go home and enjoy the prize.
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