The Golden Heart - Chapter 10
Author's Note: Hello everyone! Just a quick heads up: I did update the tags and a couple minor warnings for this chapter. Just to be on the safe side. Mainly involving some minor PTSD moments and behavior and minor descriptions of death. Just as a heads up. I don't want to upset anyone. Now, go and enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!
Also, I made this chapter super long in hopes to avoid another horrible cliffhanger! Basically, this chapter couldn't be cut any shorter anyways, but even if I had figured out a way to, the cliffhanger would have been far too cruel. So, enjoy the extra long chapter! This was, by far, the HARDEST chapter I've ever written for this series. I re-wrote most of these scenes at least three times! So, enjoy!
-EricaX
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Faintly Fenton could hear Scrooge calling his name in alarm but the sound of rock and dirt sifting and sliding all around him echoed in his ears. Fenton slid downward as though he was going down a kid's playground slide; the dirt digging into his feathers as he fell.
What felt like a lifetime later, but only a few moments, and Fenton found himself landing hard on his rear. The landing stole the breath out of him as he winced in pain. Grunting, the accountant found himself unable to do anything but fall backwards, which only caused him to groan in pain since he was still wearing his gear on his back. He settled down on his side, not caring that he was getting dirt on his face. He just needed a moment to breath after that frightening experience.
He sluggishly removed the gear back from his shoulders and set it aside. "Oh, sparkling marbles! That is not an experience I want to live through again!" He laid down on the ground, his eyes looking up to see where he had fallen from. He covered his eyes quickly though as dirt and sand were still falling from above. "Ugh, now I know what a mini golf ball feels like after being hit into the last hole and sent back to the main lobby."
As he laid there, he vaguely wondered if Scrooge and Glomgold would be joining him. Surely Scrooge wouldn't just leave him down here...Would he?
Yet he was too busy reliving the event that caused this mess to really give it much thought. Bringing his hands up to his face, he covered his eyes and moaned, "Ugh...I messed up again..." he half sobbed. "I'm always messing up...Because I'm such a big screw up!" He quickly covered his mouth as his voice got louder. "Shhh! Quiet, Crackshell! Did you not learn your lesson from the LAST time you shouted!?" He knew he was talking to himself at this point, but seeing as how he was alone, he figured someone had to scold him. "Might as well scold myself..."
Wiping at the light bit of moisture at his eyes, Fenton pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Well " he began. "No use crying over spilled milk, I suppose." He looked around, taking in his surroundings properly for the first time. The space wasn't nearly as wide and spacious of the cavern from before, yet it was hard to say since there was hardly any light. His torch had been largely forgotten and during the fall it had lost most of its spark. Tiny embers from where it had once been lit was all that was left of it.
His eyes were already used to the dark, for the most part, since the greater part of the last few hours had been spent underground, but that didn't mean his eyesight was much help.
"Alright" whispered Fenton, trying to pretend his voice didn't hold a whimper to it. "Well, this is quite the pickle yeh've got yourself in, Fenton." He took in a shaky breath. "This is no time to panic..." His fingers nervously began twitching in his lap. His voice was cracking more and more with every word. "Scroogey and Mr. Glomgold should be falling down here with me aaaaannnyyyyy moment now...Yep."
He sat in the darkness with only the sound of his own shaky breaths and his rapidly beating heart in his ears for company.
"What t'do...What t'do..." he mumbled. "I could stay here and wait...and pray...that Scroogey finds me. Or...I could find my own way out..." He glanced up at the the ceiling. Or rather, where he hoped the ceiling was. It was so dark, he was uncertain at this point. He shivered and whimpered. "Aaaand I probably shouldn't remind myself that I'm not a big fan of the dark!" He curled up into a ball.
After a few moments of attempting to tame his anxiety and nerves, Fenton finally uncurled and stood up, making sure to feel for the gear pack at his side. He pulled it in front of him, holding it to his chest, and felt for the zipper. Once he found it, he reached inside and jumbled things around until he felt a nutrition bar that he had known was stashed inside it. Once he had it, he zipped up his pack and put it back on his shoulders. "Well, at least I've got food, right!?" he laughed nervously to himself as he unwrapped the bar and bit into it.
"Alright, Fenton!" he declared quietly to himself after he finished eating. "Enough sulking! Think about what Scroogey would do if he were in this mess! He wouldn't sit here and cower! No! He would get himself out of this mess!"
He gulped.
"I just hope I don't make a bigger mess in the process..."
Walking in mostly darkness was quite unnerving, especially since the way he had gotten here to begin with was by falling through a crevice he hasn't known was there. Timidly, Fenton reached a hand out and hoped he would feel something. Anything, at this point.
His hand met with stone and after a brief flinch from the sudden touch, Fenton smiled. "A wall! I can just start by following the wall! Heh, you watch...I'm in a closed in area...That would be my luck."
Fenton walked for what seemed like ages before he squinted; wondering if his eyes were simply playing tricks on him. Was that light he saw up ahead?
Very slowly, the cavern became lighter and lighter before finally Fenton was able to see the space around him. He had been following the edge of a tunnel that thankfully did lead somewhere. He made a turn and his eyes stung with pain as the light became brighter. "Wow! It's like looking into the sun!"
He knew it was no where near bright as the sun, but after being in the dark for so long, he might as well have looked at the Earth's bright star. Once his eyes adjusted, Fenton looked up and his jaw went slack.
"Holy bean factory!" he exclaimed in awe.
The tunnel had led into a larger cavern that contained an unnatural light. The light seemed to be emanating from the water that filled the majority of the cave. The water rippled slowly and soothingly despite the fact that there was no wind and barely any air movement save his own breath. The light seemed to come from an unknown source since Fenton couldn't see anything that it could be coming from under the water. The pond of water was a perfect circle, which only made Fenton all the more scared and alarmed.
Yet despite all this, it was not the water and light that was causing Fenton to stare. No, it was the pure golden heart that was floating several feet above the air that caused his shock.
Solid and untouched, polished, gold glittered beautifully in the cave's light. The heart just floated there as though it was most natural thing in the world.
"The Golden Heart" breathed the accountant. "I...I found the Golden Heart!"
Without missing another beat, Fenton jumped up with glee before running towards it. The pond was hardly a pond at all since the water only came up to his knees. He walked straight to it. He was able to see his curved and warped reflection in the heart and Fenton couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked in it.
"Jumping jelly beans! I did it! I found the Golden Heart!" he cheered happily. His laughter echoed around him and once it faded out, reality slowly set in. "Oh..." He instantly deflated as he remembered that he was currently lost and there was no way to know for sure that Scrooge and Glomgold were anywhere near finding him.
Suddenly depressed, he let his arms and shoulders sag with a depressed groan. "Ugh, why couldn't we have found this together?!" he moaned.
"You... weren't meant...to find the Golden Heart... together..."
At the sound of the unfamiliar, eerily soft effeminate voice that sounded far closer to his than he cared to admit, Fenton did the most rational thing a person in his situation could do: he screamed in fright.
Jumping with a cry, shivers began taking over the accountant's lanky form as he clutched at his head with both hands. "Ahhh! Whoever you are, please don't kill me! I'm too young and have yet to accomplish anything in my life! Let me live a little longer please!"
"Do not...be frightened...I will not hurt you..."
It took Fenton a long moment to gather his wits and courage before he slowly loosened up and let go of his head. He forced his eyes opened and looked around. At first he didn't see anything out of the ordinary; besides the floating heart and mysteriously lit water anyways. Certainly no one who could have spoken to him.
It was then that the feathers at the back of his neck slowly stood up and his instincts of knowing someone was watching him kicked in and Fenton jerked back and turned to his left; his eyes bulging out of their sockets at the sight before him. The accountant couldn't stop the cry of alarm.
The sight before him was of nothing he had ever seen outside of a fairy tale. The creature was ethereal and beautiful. The same light that shone from the water shone around the small floating fairy. For that was what Fenton was seeing: a fairy. It had to be. There was no other word for this pixie like deity before him.
The fairy wasn't very big at all; reminding Fenton of a pixie he'd seen in a fantasy book once. Probably only around a foot tall, the fairy floated there before him; its long, thin, translucent, and silvery wings gently swaying back and forth. The fairy's skin was somewhere between a sky blue and a mint green and its eyes were tiny and bird like. White wispy hair sat on its head in a short style that barely came past its pointed ears. Due to this, it was impossible for Fenton to gauge which gender it was; if it had a gender at all. The fairy was wearing a simple little tunic and shorts that looked to be made out of leaves, twigs, and some type of seaweed.
His eyes stung at the brightness of the light around the fairy but he forced himself to keep looking. Swallowing thickly and trying to ignore his nerves, Fenton asked, "W-Who are you?"
"It matters not...Just know...that I am the fairy...of the story you are...now familiar with..."
Fenton blinked at their words. Their voice sounded soft, yet it croaked and cracked, as though they weren't used to breathing and talking at the same time. "Y-You're the fairy from the K-King's story? The king from the story of the Golden Heart?"
"King Pierre was...a greedy king...who allowed his love...to die for his selfish desires..."
Fenton nodded slowly. "King Pierre, eh? Heh heh..." He tried chuckling, but it caught in his throat. "See, I just knew him as the 'the King guy'...'the King from the story'...heh..." He wrung his hands together nervously, no longer able to look at the fairy. "Yeah...the story was pretty vague in general..."
"You are...the Queen..."
The incredulous look Fenton gave the fairy would have been very comical had anyone been around to see it as he processed those words. "E-Excuse me!?"
"You are...the Queen..." the fairy repeated.
Clearing his throat again, Fenton guffawed. "Pshaw! Not to play gender roles here-but...Typically a queen is female..." He glanced down at himself before back up at the fairy. "And I know I can come off as pretty effeminate at times...but I swear...I'm male and therefore not a queen!"
"You play...the same role... in this tale...as Queen Amoret..."
"Ooooohhhh! Heh, noooow I get what you said! Heh! You weren't actually calling me a Queen, which is good, cause...that made me feel awkward..." rambled Fenton as he scratched the back of his head. He then thought about the story he had read about the King and his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "But wait..." He looked up at the fairy for answers. "The Queen was hardly mentioned in the story. So, how am I playing out her role? I mean at the end she..." He trailed off, his eyes widening as he stared up at them. He barely whispers out the last word, "...dies..."
The fairy nodded slowly. "Scrooge McDuck plays...the role...of the King..."
Understanding slowly dawned on Fenton's shocked face. "Because he's greedy and obsessed with treasure...Just like King Pierre in the story..." His eyes unfocused as his shoulders sagged. All the puzzle pieces were coming together in his mind. The missing parts of the story from the text. After a long moment, he quietly asked, "Fairy, please tell me...How did the Queen die?" Though he already suspected he knew the answer.
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"FENTON!" shouted Scrooge after watching Fenton fall down into the widening crevice in the ground. The shaking had caused a ripple effect, opening the crevice into a wider hole. Yet before Scrooge could look down it, he felt rough hands grab his upper arms and push him unceremoniously to the side.
"LOOK OUT, MCDUCK!" came Glomgold's deeper holler.
Glomgold had pushed Scrooge out of the way just in time before a large stalagmite of stone came down and landed right on the hole Fenton had fallen through; closing the way down completely.
Both ducks grunted from the impact of the shock wave and collapsing to their sides in such a manner. Once the dust from the stalagmite's fall settled a bit, they both opened their eyes and gawked at the sight.
Glomgold suddenly appeared nervous as he pushed himself away from where he was up close to Scrooge. "Eh..." He adjusted his spectacles. "That was reflex...That's all. I wouldn't care less had it fell on ya, I just-"
"Yeh can explain yerself later, Flinty! This cave isn't done fallin' apart!" interrupted Scrooge with urgency. He pointed above where more stalagmites and stones were threatening to fall. "It would appear that there was more t'this earth quake than we initially thought. I don't think Fenton caused this! It's too violent! Come along!"
Glomgold didn't need to be told twice as he and Scrooge both quickly stood up and began running, barely remembering to grab their torches along the way out. With Scrooge leading the way, they ran tyhe opposite way they had come from; gemstones and rocks falling down around them.
That was when the screeching began.
It was bad enough that their eyesight was already hindered by the lack of light save from their torches, but the fluttering of dozens of bats flying into their faces didn't help either.
"Ugh, where did all these bats suddenly come from!?" demanded Glomgold, swinging his torch back and forth in hopes to drive them off.
"Ack! Great Scott!" shouted Scrooge as a particularly large bat tried to take his spectacles from his beak. "I don't know! They must have been clear up on the ceiling among all the stalagmites and we just didn't see them! The shaking must have woken them up!"
The two of them continued running the best they could given the circumstances. Eventually the bats began to back off once they had gone further into the cave. Glomgold was just slapping a bat off of his shoulder when he took another step, only to find there was nothing there to step on.
With a scream that was higher pitched than he would ever care to admit, Glomgold quickly gained his balance back, landing on his rump and scurrying backwards in alarm. "There's a drop!" His shout echoed and it allowed them to see that the cavern had once again changed around them. "What kinda place is this!? One minute we're in a small tunnel, the next we're in a glimmering cave filled with gemstones, then random earth shattering quakes and now this!?"
Scrooge, who had stopped running before Glomgold had, stepped up behind his rival and studied the drop, using his torch as his light. "It's a mystery, t'be sure, Flintheart. I'm beginnin' t'think this is all a set up. Per'aps it was set up to protect the Golden Heart by the king? Yer scrolls weren't exactly detailed."
Glomgold glowered up at Scrooge before standing up. "Better than what you had! Which was nothing, I might add!"
There was suddenly another rumble as the ground shook around them. Alarmed, they both watched as the ceiling shook and dirt and rocks fell down once more. Just when they thought the shaking was stopped, there was a great thudding sound that rang in their ears and both ducks stared in wide shock as a large boulder dropped and began rolling its way toward them from the direction they came in.
Whirling around to the drop, Glomgold panicked, "What do we do!? We're trapped, McDuck!"
Thinking quickly, Scrooge examined the cave for any sort of escape. That was when his eyes landed on a thin path in the middle of the drop. "There's a stone bridge here!" He pulled Glomgold up to his feet by the arm and hauled him along.
"Careful, McDuck! This stone bridge of yers is not exactly a walk in the park!"
Scrooge ignored him, being mindful to use the torch as a guide. The bridge was quite narrow and a single false move could mean serious trouble and possible death, but it was either that or get flattened by the boulder that was a quickly gaining speed due to the downward decline of the path.
"I see the end of the drop!" declared Scrooge happily.
Glomgold looked over Scrooge's shoulder and saw it as well, beaming happily before nearly slipping off the bridge.
"Come along!" barked Scrooge.
The boulder was just starting to roll onto the thin bridge and the moment all of the boulder's weight was on the bridge; the whole thing collapsed and fell into the black void. The rest of the bridge began to crumble along with it but thankfully both Scrooge and Glomgold were now safely on the other side.
Still holding on tightly to his torch, Scrooge stopped and leaned on his knees as he fought to catch his breath. "It would appear we are out of danger for the most part..."
"Quick thinkin', McDuck" panted Glomgold tiredly.
"Someone has t'have a head on their shoulders" grumbled Scrooge. "Come on. We've got t'find the Golden Heart and Fenton."
Glomgold was worse off than Scrooge though as he was now leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down it as he panted to catch his own breath. "I was not aware that earthquakes were a natural phenomenon here in France..."
Scrooge shook their head. "They're not. But that's what that was t'be certain. At first I thought it had been Fenton's doing, but there is no way he could 'ave caused all that. The whole place was shakin'! I just hope he's alright."
"Forget about him, Scrooge, ol' boy. I still don't understand why yer wastin' your time with him. Let's just find the Golden Heart and get outta here!" coughed Glomgold between clearing his throat and catching his breath.
"Not without Fenton! We cannot leave him here, Glomgold!" hissed Scrooge. He watched with mild interest as Glomgold managed to stand up and look at their current location. It was a much small area than the previous cave.
"These tunnels must be endless. We cannot hope to find Crackshell AND the Golden Heart" he complained.
Scrooge raised an eyebrow at him. "That's exactly what we're gonnae do, Flinty. We'll find both of them, I'm sure of it." He pulled out the text and scrolls on the aforementioned treasure and hoped to find some kind of clue to lead the way for them. After several long minutes of squinting in the bad lighting, Scrooge gave up. "Bah! These texts and scrolls are worthless! There's no actual map t'follow! We got t'the King's castle and we're in t'well. The rest is up t'us."
Glomgold rolled his eyes. "That's just what I was afraid of."
The two richest ducks wordlessly began following the tunnel further in, neither of them saying anything for a while. The tunnel was slowly descending downward if the way they had to stagger their walking was any indication.
"I feel like I'm walking closer and closer down into the bowels of the Earth" groused Glomgold at last; breaking the silence. "Like I'm headin' into Hell itself."
Scrooge raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Sounds like yer own set of insecurities yeh've got there, Flinty. I for one, feel like we're gettin' closer t'the treasure!"
"Oh? Such positivity there, Scroogey" huffed Glomgold.
"Unlike you, Flintheart, I tend t'look at the more positive and prosperous outlooks. Per'aps that's one of the many reasons yeh've been stuck as second richest duck fer so long. While you look at property and see 'dead wood and vacant land'...I see opportunity!"
Glomgold, who was walking behind Scrooge, looked up at his rival. "Is that what yeh see in Crackshell? An opportunity? Is he like a charity case in yer eyes? A publicity stunt to get people to like you more?"
Scrooge rolled his eyes. "Of course that would be the first thing that came t'your mind, Flinty."
"It's the only logical thing I can think of!" argued the second richest duck.
"Stop bellying achin' about my interest in Fenton and focus on yer real problems, Flinheart" suggested Scrooge.
"Oh, and what's that?"
Scrooge side-eyed him with a smirk. "The fact that all these diamonds and gemstones were right under yer nose all these years and now they're mine!" The richest duck then back to cackle with glee. HIs laughter echoed softly around them.
Glomgold simply snarled in both anger and jealousy.
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The tranquility of the cave and the slowly rippling water and the calming light did nothing to ease Fenton's nerves as sat on a boulder on the outer rim of the water. He fingers were trembling in his lap as he stared off into space; the fairy's words playing repeatedly in his head.
His breathing came in shorts stilted breaths while the fairy and the Golden Heart continued to float in the air as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Sucking in a breath, Fenton spoke up without looking at the fairy. "So..." he trailed off. There was another pause before he spoke again. "In order for Scrooge to take the Golden Heart...I have to..." He whimpered, unable to continue.
"I had spoken...to the Queen...the same way...I am speaking...to you. With a warning...King Pierre's greed...knew no bounds...I warned him...He would lose the one who loves him most..."
Fenton frowned, his eyebrows scrunching up. "Wait a minute...'The one who loves him most?'" He finally looked up at the fairy. "That's not me! It can't be-I...I can't..."
The fairy simply stared at him with their large bug like eyes.
The accountant chuckled, his cheeks turning red. " I mean...I guess it could be me..." A dopey smile came over his face titled his head to one side and curled his hands to his chest. "He really is amazing. I love watching him dive and swim through his coins in his money bin and how excited he gets when he makes a good investment. Oh! And I love the sparkle in his eyes he gets whenever we're on a treasure hunt! He's also so sweet and caring towards his newphews! It's obvious he loves them so very much! Yes, he comes off as cruel and selfish but...oh, there's just so much more to him, ya know?" Fenton sighed.
He looked up at the fairy.
"...I'm in a lot of trouble right now..." he groaned.
"The choice...is up...to you. You could convince him...not...to take it..."
Fenton gawked at them. "Psh! Are you kidding!? Convince Scrooge McDuck not to take the Golden Heart!? Hah! I'd have better luck convincing the sun not to shine!"
"He would...choose treasure...over you? Has his greed...gotten that...out of control?"
Swinging his feet slightly and splashing a bit of water, Fenton leaned back and thought about it. He tapped the bottom of his beak with his index finger. "Well, I would certainly hope not, but..." He looked away. "Why would he give up tripling his money bin just for me? It's not like I've worth the trouble." His thoughts went back to the earlier events where he had made mistake after mistake. "I mean, I'm a goof up. What can I say? I want him to choose me, of course, I really would like to go back home!"
"You are willing...to let him choose...the Golden Heart?"
Fenton didn't answer but he didn't have to. The fairy already already had their answer. But Fenton spoke anyways. "I really don't want to see him unhappy. If...If the treasure makes him happy..." He trailed off, unable to continue.
"Then we must have...and see what Scrooge McDuck...chooses...It is time...He found the treasure..."
Fenton looked up at that, not sure what the fairy meant. The fairy raised a hand and snapped their fingers. At first, it appeared that nothing had happened, but within several minutes, Fenton was suddenly able to hear voices that were not his or the fairy's.
"I'm tellin' ya, McDuck! We've been walkin' for what feels like hours! We're lost and we're not gonnae be findin' the treasure!" came Glomgold's deep irritated voice.
"Oh, quit yer belly achin', Glomgold! Yer worse than me nephews doing house chores!" followed Scrooge's exasperated voice.
Fenton perked up at the sound of his paramour's voice; happy to know that he wasn't lost or hurt somewhere. The fairy slowly disappeared by fading away into the light of the cave, but Fenton hardly noticed; his eyes focused on the source of the voices.
Several yards away from him, hardly noticeable thanks to a large boulder, was the same cave entrance Fenton had walked through. Light from a torch crept along the wall until Scrooge and Glomgold could be seen entering the small pool area.
"Scrooge!" yelled Fenton excitedly from where he was sitting. He immediately stood up and made his way over, just barely stopping in time before running into his paramour.
Scrooge abruptly stopped, unfortunately causing Glomgold to bump into him. The richer duck blinked owlishly at the sight of his accountant before his eyes. Looking up at the taller lanky mallard, Scrooge's eyes brightened with relief. "Fenton! Yer alright!" he exclaimed with relief. The old miser quickly gathered Fenton into his arms. Slightly flabbergasted by the shower of affection, Fenton gasped in happy surprise.
"Aww! It's okay, Scroogey, my dearest! As you can see, I'm just fine! A bit spooked from my fall but otherwise fine!" he laughed reassuringly.
The two of them continued to share smiles as Glomgold grumbled and shoved his way past Scrooge; hitting his rival in the shoulder in the process.
Scrooge squawked indignantly as he glared daggers at Glomgold's back. "I'm glad to have yeh back, laddie. When yeh fell, the whole cave began to shake again and we had to book it. It's quite the luck of the ducks that we found yeh. Now, what's all this light coming from? Did yeh find more torches to burn?"
Just as Scrooge went to walk past Fenton, the accountant placed a hand on the older duck's chest, preventing him from moving forward.
With a frown, Scrooge turned his eyes back on Fenton. "What is it, Fenton!?" he demanded. "Are yeh hurt or somethin'?"
Fenton shook his head.
Scrooge's frown deepened, his eyes staying on Fenton. "Then let's get goin'! We have a treasure t'find!"
Fenton's heart jumped into his throat as he realized what was about to happen. He knew Scrooge was about to see the Heart that was still magically floating in the middle of the cave. He could hear the fairy's words in his head and what it would mean if Scrooge chose the Golden Heart over him. Fenton tried his hardest to keep his breathing even, but he knew he was failing if the way his chest was aching was any indication.
"First though-I need to know!"
"What? What is it, Fenton?" Scrooge's tone went from annoyed to slightly concerned.
He could feel his hands trembling at his sides as he gulped loudly. "Do you love me, Scrooge?"
Scrooge took a step backwards, his face incredulous. He opened and closed his mouth several times with no sound coming out. "I-Fenton...This is hardly the place to ask such a ridiculous question!"
Glomgold scoffed loudly from where he was standing further into the cave. "Tch! What a time to ask such a question, Crackshell!"
Scrooge nodded, his attention staying on Fenton.
"I'll take that as a no, then?"
Scrooge took in a deep breath before slowly letting it out. It was clear by the way he was tapping his foot that the old miser's temper was rapidly returning. "This is not the place t'be havin' this conversation, Fenton. I have a treasure t'find and you're currently in my way!"
Fenton winced at his choie of words. "Please. I just need to know. It's just one question and then you can go get your treasure."
At a loss, Scrooge slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Fenton...I've been very patient with yeh all these months...I gave us a chance. Just like yeh asked me to back in the Klondike. I can't say it's been a total loss either. I do truly enjoy yer company and yer an amazing accountant. I couldn't have asked fer a better one. But yeh need t'understand that-" He trailed off, his eyes finally catching the light behind Fenton and realizing that wasn't coming from mere torches.
Fenton watched as Scrooge's eyes turned from him and moved over to the Golden Heart which was still floating in the middle of the pool.
"As I live and breath!" gasped Scrooge. He now had eyes only for the Golden Heart as he tepidly stepped closer to the treasure. Scrooge hardly registered the water rising to his knees as he stepped further in. "There it is! The Golden Heart!"
Fenton wiped at his eyes as he bit back a sob. His shoulders sagged as he forced himself to turn around.
Glomgold was strangely quiet as he watched Scrooge step closer to the Heart and slowly reach up to touch it. He had watched the two mallards converse silently, his arms crossed over his chest. There was no point in him fussing over the Golden Heart when he knew he wouldn't be getting it. No, he was more interested in their interaction. Neither Fenton nor Scrooge noticed the devious smirk on his beak as he continued to watch.
An uneasy silence fell throughout the cavern as the three of them stood there in the water.
Fenton stood there nervously, biting his tongue to keep himself from blurting out what the fairy had told him. There was a part of him that desperately wanted to tell Scrooge the truth, but at the same time; he didn't want to take the treasure away from him. Instead he just sniffled and tried to hide his tears. Scrooge was the one who had to make the decision and deep down Fenton knew that Scrooge would never pick him over the Heart.
Just as Scrooge was about to touch the Golden Heart, Glomgold spoke up, "Are you sure yeh want to just take that, Scroogey?"
Growling, Scrooge lowered his hands and glared over at his rival. "I don't suppose this is yer subtle way of sayin' YOU should take it!? I thought you had said yeh didn't want it!"
Glomgold shrugged casually as he stuck his hands into his pockets. "I do! I'd love t'have it, but I told yeh when this all started, Scroogey, the Heart only triples the fortune of those who are in love and have their love returned. I don't have that."
It was oddly unsettling and quite uncharacteristic to hear Flintheart Glomgold admit that he didn't have something. It only caused Scrooge to become more suspicious. "I still am not exactly sure why yeh came here then, Glomgold. I'm still waitin' for yeh to cross us over by one of yer tricks!"
Finally, Glomgold said, "Well, I guess I have been doin' a little white lying..."
Fenton and Scrooge stared at him with unimpressed eyes.
Seeing this, Glomgold blinked at them. "What? Not even a lick of surprise!? That was meant to be a shockin' reveal!"
The younger of the two ducks shook his head. "It's really not. Lying is pretty much all you do...I know that now..." muttered Fenton.
"Shut up, you stupid bean counter! No one asked you!" snarled Glomgold. He turned to Scrooge. "The story says the King must trade somethin' fer the Golden Heart! Aren't yeh the least bit curious what that was!?"
"The three oak saplings! That's what he traded! And I must give up three oak saplings; that's hardly a loss for me!" countered Scrooge.
"What about the missing part of the story, Scrooge?" whispered Fenton as he stared at the water at his feet.
This caused the old miser to pause briefly in thought. He glanced between his two companions before looking back up at the Golden Heart. He shivered, hating the idea of being kept from his treasure a moment longer. He could feel the gold fever creeping up on him as he began to itch at his neck. Couldn't they see how badly he needed the Golden Heart. "Enough!" snapped Scrooge. "No more bickering! No more talk of relationships! Fer years I've been searchin' for this Heart and I finally found it and it's MINE! I'm willin' t'pay the price for the Golden Heart!"
Fenton gasped quietly, a hand going up to his chest. "But Scrooge! You don't even know what you're giving up! Doesn't that bother you?!" he couldn't help but blurt out.
His eyes never leaving the Golden Heart, Scrooge answered, "Not as much as it bothers me that I still have yet t'touch the Golden Heart!" Without hesitation, Scrooge reached up for the golden treasure.
As Scrooge's hands clasped around Heart and pulled it down from where it was floating, Fenton squeezed his eyes shut with anticipation.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Seconds passed and nothing happened.
Scrooge was excitedly chattering about how rich he was now going to be. "Tickle me tale feathers! I did it! I found the Golden Heart! He he ha ha!" He clutched the Golden Heart close to his chest. "Oh! And its heavy! Ha ha! Solid gold! I should have known!"
Hearing the shouts of jubilation, Fenton lowered his shoulders, which he hadn't even realized he had hunched up before slowly opening his eyes. Nothing had happened. Scrooge had taken the Heart; claimed it as his own, and nothing had happened.
Pulling on his collar and wondering why he felt so nervous, Fenton walked up to Scrooge in the center of the pool. "Heh, yeah, Scrooge, it's yours now. I knew you would find it! I just...didn't think I'd have found it first! Heh!"
Scrooge tore his eyes away from his prize and gazed over at his accountant owlishly. "Oh, yes! That's true! How DID you end up findin' it!?"
Fenton shrugged. "It sort of found me?"
Scrooge kept looking between the Heart and Fenton as he was clearly only half listening.
"Umm...When I fell...I walked a little ways in the dark... You know, cause my torch went out and I stumbled upon this lake?" Why was Fenton feeling so jittery? Why was he rambling? Why wouldn't Scrooge give him his full attention. He gestured to the pool they were standing in. "Well, not really a lake...its a pool. You know, the King's Pool of Tears and all that! Heh heh!"
Several moments passed as Scrooge was busy admiring the shiny reflection of the Heart before clearing his throat and saying innocently, "Eh? What was that, laddie? Sorry, this here Heart is just so shiny! Look at it! What a sight to behold!"
It felt as though a block of ice had slid down into Fenton's stomach as he stared at Scrooge. "Yes, it's shiny, but...At the end of the day, it's just gold..." He quickly closed his mouth, knowing that was the wrong thing to say in front of someone like Scrooge McDuck.
Scrooge scoffed. "Just gold!? JUST GOLD!? This 'ere Heart will triple me fortune! TRIPLE IT!"
Fenton nodded, unable to meet Scrooge's scowl. "Yes, and I'm happy for you, Scrooge. I am. I want you to have the Heart. It's why I came along with you on this trip. I...I just want you to be happy..."
Scrooge's gaze softened at that, a small smile appearing on his beak as he gazed at Fenton.
Glomgold had been all but forgotten once again as he stepped away to the outer rim of the pool and for someone who jad just witnessed his long time rival triple his fortune, he looked awfully satisfied with himself. The second richest old miser watched with a sinister smirk on his face. He silently stepped up to Fenton and patted the accountant on the shoulder. "Eh, be easy on him, McDuck. He doesn't understand what it's like t'have money in his pocket or even money to his name, are ya Crackshell? We've all seen that dumpster trailer you and yer mother live in. He's just a bean counter!"
Fenton shoved Glomgold's offending hand off his shoulder and stepped away from him. "What I have for ma'ma and me is enough! We have each other!"
Glomgold scoffed and looked away.
Scrooge rolled his eyes.
Fenton blinked at him. He wasn't going to defend Fenton after being insulted like that?
Just as Scrooge began walking out of the pool, a bright light appeared before him. Fenton recognized the light to belong to the fairy but Scrooge and Glomgold both yelped in alarm at the sight of them.
"Curse me kilts!" swore Scrooge.
Glomgold also swore heavily under his breath as he took a step back.
"That's the fairy" Fenton explained. "The fairy from the story. They...They told me what happens when you take the Golden Heart, Scrooge."
Scrooge looked between Fenton and the fairy before raising an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And exactly what happens?"
The fairy nodded. "You have taken...the Golden Heart...from it's resting place...You have now officially...agreed... to the sacrifice."
Scrooge frowned. "Sacrifice!? What sacrifice!? There was no mention of a sacrifice in the story!"
"There was...You should know...If you know about the Heart...You should know about...the sacrifice you have...just made..."
Greatly alarmed, Scrooge clutched the Golden Heart tighter, taking a step back and frantically turning his eyes from person to person. His eyes then landed on Glomgold, who was unable to prevent the evil smirk on his beak from appearing.
Scrooge went to open his mouth when Fenton suddenly stumbled and lost his footing for a moment in the water. "Fenton, are you alright!?"
"I don't know...I...I can't stop shaking...And I'm suddenly...so tired." groaned the accountant. "When the cave start spinning? It's like the ground has started to tilt." He looked at his hands in front of him. "Why can't I stop shaking?" It was true. Fenton's hands were shaking and light tremors began wracking his lanky body. "Is it getting colder in here? I'm suddenly very cold." The younger mallard began rubbing at his arms for warmth.
"You...Scrooge McDuck..." began the fairy, which gained them Scrooge's full attention as he glared up at them. "Play the role...of the King...while Fenton Crackshell...plays the role...of the Queen...Like King Pierre...you have chosen the Golden Heart...over the one who loves you most..."
"WHAT!?" squawked Scrooge in denial. He dropped the Golden Heart, which fell with a loud and echoing clang as it splashed in the water. He stared up at the fairy in horror. "What d'yeh mean I chose the Heart over Fenton!? W-what does that mean!?"
"You get...your treasure...while your loved one...dies..."
Scrooge's eyes couldn't widen any further as his mouth gaped open in appalled shock. "NO! I didn't-I didn't know! The scrolls didn't say any of this!"
The fairy nodded. "Yes...It did...Here, the story states..."
That was when the fairy began to recite the words of the missing lines. The same lines Scrooge had deemed unimportant when Fenton had mentioned they were faded out.
The fairy continues, cutting open the Queen's silent chest and takes out her heart. 'I shall take this as further payment for our deal. To be greedy is a sin. You had everything and yet you wanted more...'
"I shall take this as further payment for our deal. To be greedy is a sin. You had everything and yet you wanted more. So much more that you agreed to have the life taken from the one who loved you most. You are so blinded by riches that you cannot see the greatest treasure you already possess. The treasure that cannot be measured; the treasure that is too precious; the treasure that can never be bought or won; the one who loves you endlessly and without judgement."
Scrooge just stared at the fairy in horror.
"That's what happened to the Queen, Scroogey... The King lost his Queen before he didn't heed the fairy's warning..." whimpered Fenton.
Sputtering in shock, Scrooge tried his best to gather his wits about him. "B-But I DIDN'T KNOW, I tell yeh! The scroll had been faded and-" His eyes landed on Glomgold, who was sneering at him. He pointed an accusing finger at his rival. "YOU! You gave me the scrolls! You gave me the story knowing I wouldn't know the whole story!"
Glomgold simply shrugged.
"Scroogey..." moaned Fenton.
Scrooge pushed Glomgold out of the way and went straight to Fenton, the Heart still laying forgotten in the water. "Aye, Fenton, I'm here..."
Fenton's whole body was shaking uncontrollably and his eyes were half lidded from drowsiness. "Scroogey...I don't feel good..."
Scrooge wrapped his arms around Fenton and held him close. "It's going t'be okay. I'm not gonnae take the Heart. Not it if means I lose you!"
"I am afraid...you are too late..."
Fenton flinched when Scrooge turned so quickly to glare at the fairy. "What do you mean!? I'm not takin' it! You can keep it fer all I care!"
"Too late...You already chose the Golden Heart...You chose your greed for money...over his love...Over his life...You touched and desired...the Heart...Now you must suffer for it..."
"And I'm choosing again! I'm choosing not to take it!" persisted Scrooge. He could feel how much worse the tremors in Fenton's body were getting.
"You are a man...of greed, Scrooge McDuck...This is far...from the first time...your obsession for gold...has overtaken you...It is time...You pay the price..."
"It's okay, Scroogey..." whimpered Fenton as he swayed on his feet. The light of the cavern allowed them to see that the accountant was struggling to stay standing.
"No!" argued Scrooge. His voice cracked with what sounded like heartbreak. "It's not okay! Fenton, I'm gonnae fix this!"
Fenton shook his head. "You can't. But that's okay! No hard feelings. You've always inspired me to be something great, Scroogey..."
Scrooge sucked in a breath, his eyes beginning to shine with tears.
"I love you Scroogey" came Fenton's small and trembling voice. "I've always just wanted to make you happy. I love seeing you happy. Keep the Golden Heart, Scroogey and...forget about me...After all, I'm just...a bean counter..." Fenton groaned softly as his eyes rolled back in their sockets.
Too overcome by everything that was happening, Scrooge was unable to catch Fenton in time before the accountant collapsed to the ground and into the water. Scrooge gasped as he took in the sight of Fenton's pale and now lifeless body laying in the water before him.
"NO! NOOOO!" wailed Scrooge. He fell hard on his knees, not caring that he was getting wet. Fenton's face stayed out of the water and Scrooge was thankful it wasn't any deeper. He gently pressed his hands on either side of Fenton's head, calling out to him. "Fenton! Fenton! Wake up! Wake up! Open yer eyes! Please, Fenton!" He then grabbed Fenton's wrist and began searching for a pulse. When he didn't find out, he gave a short cry of despair before placing his ear on Fenton's chest.
There was no heartbeat.
Fenton remained cold and still in the water.
Trembling from shock, Scrooge didn't even acknowledge the fading light of the fairy's departure. All he could do was stare at Fenton with disbelieving eyes. "This...this cannot be happenin'! It can't! I..."
Scrooge jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. He looked up and saw that it was Glomgold. He wretched his shoulder away.
"Well, it is sad to see Crackshell go, but...Ya only have yerself to blame, McDuck" he gloated.
"MYSELF!? YOU are the one who gave me the scrolls-You-" He stopped himself; the puzzle pieces finally coming together. He pointed Glomgold an accusing finger. "YOU KNEW! YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN, DIDN'T YOU!?"
With a devilish smile, Glomgold answered, "Yes."
Seething with rage, Scrooge stood up. "HOW COULD YOU!? WHY EVEN-!? WHY DO SUCH A THING!? WHAT COULD YEH POSSIBLY GAIN OUT OF ALL THIS!?"
Glomgold looked like a pot of tea ready to boil over as he sneered at Scrooge. "SATISFACTION!"
Scrooge stared with angry confusion.
Reaching out, Glomgold roughly grabbed Scrooge's arm and pulled him close. "Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to see you constantly win!? I've lived in your shadow for decades, McDuck! I'm tired of bein' in second place to you! I wanted to watch you burn, McDuck! Over the years, I've dropped hints that we should join forces-But I figured ya only had sights on that tramp from the Klondike! Not once did ya ever show any other interest! Certainly not in me!"
Scrooge recoiled and looked on in disgust. "What are yeh sayin'!? Yer sayin' yeh wanted to-to..." Scrooge couldn't even finish saying it. His shook his head in disgust at the very thought.
"I wanted what you had with Crackshell! It was bad enough yeh were richer than me-Yeh had to go and be happy with someone as well! I never dreamed ya be interested in a male so it was hard for me to say antyhin'! Then ya went and started dating that floof of a dunderhead! It just infuriated me more! Ya shoulda been interested in ME! So NO! I wouldn't have it! I WON'T have it! If I can't have yeh, no one will!" shouted Glomgold, his face turning red with anger and embarrassment. "I've never had someone look at me the way Crackshell looks at you and I've always wanted it! Then I'd see yeh toss the poor sod aside and belittle him time and time again and it made my blood boil! So when I heard about this treasure, this story-this curse-I decided to hide a few details from you and teach you a lesson!"
"So, what!? All of this was a set up?! All just a trap to get me t'choose the treasure over Fenton!?"
"YES!" screamed Glomgold, his voice starting to break in anger and hurt. "You never should have wasted your time on Crackshell! He was an idiot! That was what made me so much more angry! He was a young stupid wallop and he trailed after you like a lost puppy! You could have been happy with me but-"
Scrooge laughed bitterly. "HA! You and me!? Never, Glomgold! NEVER! Especially not after all you've done over the years-After what yeh've done t'Fenton!"
The sound that came from the back of Glomgold's throat sounded akin to a wounded animal. "That's just it, Scrooge, ol' boy...All along I knew I could never have ya...So I took away the one you did want. Because, let's face it, I'm a greedy ol' bastard like that! I'm sick of whatchin' you be happy. I've worked and cheated and fought my way to the top only for you to always take my victory away from me!"
"You just killed a man!" accused Scrooge. "Don't yeh have any guilt!? Any regret!?"
"Guilt!? Pah! I feel no guilt! I killed nobody, McDuck! All I did was stay mum to a few details...You did the rest yourself! You killed Crackshell, not I...!" cried Glomgold. With the way he was beginning to pace and fiddle with his hat in his hands, it wss clear that he was more bothered by the situation than he wanted to admit.
Neither of them knew the punch was coming onto the resounding smack of Scrooge's fist slamming into Glomgold's jaw echoed throughout the cave.
Glomgold shouted with pain before stumbling to the ground and splashing in the water.
Scrooge shook his hand that he had punched with and opened his mouth to retaliate when his eyes widened and Glomgold's words sunk in. He was right. Glomgold was right. Scrooge had been the one who had wanted the Golden Heart so badly. Scrooge was the one who had refused to listen to Fenton. The richest duck felt his heart rate speed up and his breath came in shorter and more shallow breaths.
Seeing Scrooge struggle, Glomgold could only watch and rub at his jaw as Scrooge McDuck began to panic.
"I...Curse me kilts...I...I killed him. I killed Fenton! He's...!" He looked Glomgold in the eye. "I killed Fenton Crackshell! Fenton is dead because of ME!"
Glomgold took a step back, his features morphing into one of dread and uncertainty. He simply continued to cradle his jaw with his hand.
Scrooge ignored his rival and turned back to Fenton, who was laying lifelessly in the water. Slowly, the old miser sat down on his knees next to Fenton and gently brushed his fingers through the feathers on top of Fenton's head. Fenton looked so peaceful; his eyes closed as though he was merely taking a nap. "Oh...laddie..." gasped Scrooge with a half sob. Fresh tears came to Scrooge's eyes and slowly began to spill as he covered his beak with his hand. "What have I done? Oohh..." he moaned and clutched his head, curling himself into a ball next to Fenton.
No longer able to keep the rush of emotion from breaking through, Scrooge began sobbing uncontrollably. "Oh, Fenton, I'm so sorry! I never meant fer-I just wanted the Heart-I didn't know that this would-" he couldn't even finish off any of his sentences. "You knew. I know you did. You had tried to warn me but I didin't want t'listen. All this time I thought you had been the one tricked by Glomgold...for lettin' him trick his way into comin', but it turns out I was the one who was tricked."
Scrooge pulled his knees up close to his chest and cried next to Fenton.
The cave filled with silence save for Scrooge's sobs; Glomgold sitting several feet away nursing his hurt jaw.
The two of them sat there without speaking nor looking at one another for what felt like an eternity. Neither of them knew what to do next.
The sound of Scrooge groaning in despair caused Glomgold to jump in surprise since silence had taken over the cave. He grunted in question and eyed his rival warily.
"Oh, curse me kilts! How on EARTH am I gonnae explain this!?" exclaimed Scrooge, his voice thick with emotion. "Poor Mrs. Crackshell! I'll have to-to go and-" He wasn't able to finish his sentence since his bottom lip was trembling so badly. "And tell her-Say that her son is-" He couldn't bring himself to say the word.
"Dead?" supplied Glomgold in his deep emotionless voice.
Scrooge started at the word and whipped around to snarl at Glomgold, "Do yeh WANT another punch in the jaw!? I'll happily give it t'yeh!" He balled his fist and showed it to his rival before slowly opening his hand open again and slumping back down where he was sitting next to Fenton.
He could be as angry as he wanted to be with Glomgold, but deep down Scrooge McDuck knew this was all his fault and no one else's. He let his gold lust get the better of him. Again.
Silence filled the cave was again.
It was in that moment Fenton's eyes flew open and his chest expanded before the deceased accountant sucked in a loud, deep, and strained breath once more. The sound filled the cave and seemed to echo around them.
Numerous things happened at once. Scrooge jumped and gave a shout of fright as Fenton laid there gulping in breath after breath while Glomgold also shouted in alarm and ran to the edge of the cave.
Fenton's body shook with shock and startled muscles twitched as he gasped.
Scrooge recovered first and crawled his way closer to the account; splashing water everywhere in the process. "FENTON!?"
Fenton's eyes frantically glanced around him, though the younger duck showed no other signs of having heard Scrooge.
"Cursed kilts!" swore Glomgold. "He's possessed! It's the Devil, Scroogey! Somethin' is not right, that boy was dead not seconds ago!"
Scrooge wasn't listening; his attention solely on Fenton. He nervously placed a hand on Fenton's shoulder, who was still laying in the water. The younger duck jumped at the contact, but otherwise didn't react. Fenton simply continued to take deep breaths and take in his surroundings.
"Fenton? Can yeh here me?" he asked softly.
Fenton's breathing slowly evened out as he lay there in the water and stared up at the ceiling.
"He's some kind of zombie, McDuck! I'd watch your back!" warned Glomgold with fear in his voice. "He's cursed!"
The same bright light from before appeared in the place the Golden Heart once hung and Glomgold and Scrooge both shielded their eyes before seeing the fairy themselves.
"Go away! And take your cursed corpse with ya!" hissed the second richest duck.
Scrooge had other ideas however. He quickly stood and made his way towards the fairy. He clasped his hands together before him as though he were praying and tearfully smiled up at the fairy. "Oh, thank yeh! Thank yeh! Yeh brought him back t'life, didn't yeh! Yeh listened t'me when I said I changed me mind about the Golden Heart! Thank yeh! Thank yeh!"
Yet the fairy shook their head and Scrooge frowned, his limbs stiffening.
"It was not I...who brought him back...I do not know...How he still holds breath...I merely came...to show you...the way out...You may leave now..."
Dumbfounded, Scrooge turned to Glomgold, who simply shrugged back at him; completely at a loss. Turning back to the fairy, Scrooge inquired, "Then how is he alive if yeh didn't do it!?"
"As I said...I do not know...However, the path to leave...is now open...I suggest...You do not ask questions...My debt is filled...You lost your loved one...I care not how he came back...See this as a second chance...Now go...Before I change my mind...and seal you all in here..."
As the fairy's light disappeared once more, the cave's walls shook before a passage way was created through the rock. The two rivaling ducks stared at it and was able to see a clear passage that led upwards.
Once the dust settled, Glomgold harrumphed and began walking towards it. "Let's get out of here, McDuck! Before anything more strange happens! I, for one, am most unsettled by that fairy!"
Scrooge wordlessly watched him go before turning his eyes back down to Fenton. The accountant was still laying there in the water; his breathing finally back to normal. What worried Scrooge was Fenton's lack of reaction. Now that he was awake, he seemed to be in a daze; as though he was not fully there. The only movement was Fenton's breathing and occasional blink.
"Leave him, McDuck! He's as good as dead!" came Glomgold's voice from the newly revealed passage way. It barely registered to Scrooge that Glomgold was carrying the offending Golden Heart in his arms. Just looking at the cursed gold treasure made his stomach twist.
Scrooge closed his eyes and shook his head. "No! I cannot leave him! You heard the fairy! They don't know how this happened and neither do I! But if there's a chance to make this up to Fenton, I will take it!" Without waiting another moment, Scrooge bent down and began pulling the limp accountant up into a sitting position. It was no small task, that was for sure. Scrooge grunted as he finally got Fenton to sit up; both of them now soaking wet from the water. "Fenton" he called to his friend. His voice shook with emotion as Fenton slowly moved on his own accord but only enough that Scrooge no longer had to hold him up. There was still no verbal response.
It took time, but eventually Scrooge was able to coach Fenton along; making sure to take slow deliberate movements. Whatever had happened to Fenton, it had left him in a near comatose state. His eyes were open and he was breathing, but he may as well still be laying there unconscious for all the good it did. Only occasionally did Scrooge notice Fenton react to his name being said soothingly in his ear, but he still remained silent.
Glomgold impatiently waited on the two of them; his arms crossed and his foot tapping on the dirt floor. Scrooge largely ignored him; refusing to show him any sort of attention. His main focus was getting Fenton out of this cave. He hoped that getting Fenton back to the cottage would waken him a bit further.
Once Fenton was standing, Scrooge learned quickly that he would have to keep his arm wrapped around the younger duck's shoulders since Fenton seemed to lack any sort of balance. Getting him to walk was easier than he assumed it would be and for that he was grateful.
The tunnel that the fairy had provided for them led them upwards and through a passage that was far less interesting and far more safer. That was fine by Scrooge. He had no idea what he would do if there was any sort of danger to fight through. Not with Fenton being so despondent.
Glomgold walked in front of them; occasionally glancing back. Several times Scrooge was certain his rival was going to say something but Glomgold seemed to think better of it every time. After watching Glomgold glance back at them once more, Scrooge finally decided to say something of his own.
Holding Fenton tightly to him as he encouraged more steps from the accountant, Scrooge glared and said, "What is it, Glomgold? Out with it! I know yeh've been dyin' to say somethin' for the last while. Go ahead and say it and then shut up!"
Grimacing at the blunt request, Glomgold grumbled. "You're not actually plannin' on takin' him back home with us, are you?"
Scowling, Scrooge shot back, "As much as yer plannin' on takin' the Golden Heart home with yeh!" Glomgold jumped and attempted to hide the Heart in front of him; he actually looked guilty for a change. "Don't think I haven't noticed yeh carryin' it. It's not exactly small, so how yeh thought yeh'd get it past me is beyond me."
"Crackshell clearly didn't die! Though something obviously has happened to him! Seeing him die had been my plan all along! Since I didn't get that, I might as well take something from this blasted trip!"
The richest duck narrowed his eyes in annoyance. He went to open his mouth when Fenton let out a long sigh and raised a hand to the side of his head before closing his eyes. "Hmmm..." It was the most movement and sound Fenton had done by himself without guidance since he had woken up.
Stopping and turning Fenton towards him, Scrooge gently whispered, "Fenton? Can ya hear me?" Scrooge's heart ached as he watched Fenton simply stand there with his eyes closed as though frozen. He tried again. "Fenton?"
What felt like an eternity to Scrooge later, Fenton slowly opened his eyes again and lowered his hand. His face had remained blank throughout the whole occurrence.
The sound of Glomgold clicking his tongue and teeth together snapped Scrooge out of the moment. The richest duck glared over at his rival with a scowl. "I'll bet he's pretendin'! Nobody can come back from the dead! He knew the story said he could die and when he didn't he's now playin' one big prank on us!" Setting the Golden Heart down on the ground, Glomgold walked over and pushed Scrooge aside, only to be shoved back in retaliation. Glomgold nearly fell over from Scrooge's strong push but remained on his feet.
Meanwhile, no longer having Scrooge's support to help him stay standing, Fenton stumbled. His hand met the wall of the cave and the dazed accountant managed to stay upright by leaning heavily against the wall; his head slanted downward and his eyes seeing nothing.
"Stay away from him, Glomgold! I'm warnin' yeh!"
"Maybe he just needs a good slap in the face to get him goin'" suggested Glomgold coldly. His hand twitched as though he was ready to do just that.
"I think its YOU who needs a good slap in the head!" barked Scrooge angrily, finding his own hand rising.
"HEY, YO!" came a boisterous and familiar voice from the end of the tunnel.
Scrooge blinked at the source of the voice. "Launchpad?"
"Hey! Mr. Dee! That you!?" came the pilot's voice again. His voice echoed off the walls.
"Launchpad!" Scrooge cried out happily. "Oh, tickle me tail feathers!" He jumped in excitement before gently reaching over and grabbing Fenton by the arm. He guided the accountant back into his arms before leading him out; making sure to step slowly since Fenton's own footing was so uncertain. "Blessed be! If we're hearin' Launchpad, then we must be nearly out of here!"
Glomgold grumbled as he picked the Golden Heart back up and followed them out.
The tunnel didn't last much longer and soon more light filtered through the darkness and Scrooge began to recognize the first cave they had initially fallen into. He glanced around and took in the sight of the small lake they had fallen into and the small campfire they had created. Scrooge could not recall ever being so happy to be leaving a treasure behind. Of course, Glomgold was taking the Golden Heart back with him and in the past this would have been marked as a failure in Scrooge's book; but with Fenton's condition being a constant reminder, the old miser found himself just thankful he wasn't leaving Fenton behind anymore.
Once the three of them were outside the tunnel that lead them back out, the cave walled shuddered and collapsed until it was caved in and nothing was left. Scrooge and Glomgold both shared a look and gulped with worry. Neither of them were entirely sure what all had taken place or how they managed to get out of there.
Launchpad quickly jogged up to them; a flashlight in his hand. "Hey! Ya guys made it!" He paused, glancing behind them. "Uhh...Where exactly did you guys comes from? I'm pretty sure I had checked the whole cave and ya weren't here."
Scrooge and Glomgold didn't look at him, not sure how to respond. After a moment, Scrooge spoke up, "Eh, it's a long story lad, and frankly, we're all quite tired."
Launchpad nodded in understanding. "Oh, hey! So!? Did ya find the treasure!? Ya guys have been down there for hours! I just got back myself actually!" He gestured back to where he could see long ropes being suspended from outside the hole from above. "Caleb and Toby were in a right scare when I told them what happened! They brought several of the townsfolk here to help out too!"
Fenton gave a very soft grunt and closed his eyes tight when Launchpad's flashlight shown right in their eyes.
"Gah! Point that elsewhere, ya great buffoon!" snarled Glomgold, shielding his eyes.
The light of the flashlight caught the reflection of the Golden Heart that was beind held tightly in Glomgold's arms and Launchpad gasped. "Is that the Golden Heart!?"
Scrooge jumped at the reminder of the cursed treasure and the whole purpose of them being there. He closed his eyes wearily, unconsciously rubbing his hands up and down Fenton's arms. Scooge wasn't entirely sure if the gesture was meant to comfort Fenton or himself. The accountant was standing in front of him and seemed to have recovered from the brightness of the flashlight. Clearing his throat, he said, "Aye, we found it alright."
Launchpad frowned at his boss' lack of excitement and interest of the fabled treasure.
Seeing this, Scrooge pressed on, "Turns out the Heart isn't what it was cracked up t'be." He chanced a glance over at Glomgold who was glaring at him. "Pretty sure it's made of Fool's Gold. Hence the reason Glomgold has become so attached to it." He glared back. "It actually holds very little value in the grand sceheme of things..."
Launchpad blinked down at the old miser. "Are ya feelin' okay, Mr. McDee? That doesn't sound like ya at all! You've always said every bit of treasure is an asset."
Moving so that he was standing next to Fenton and holding him by the shoulder, Scrooge nodded. "Aye. Not this time though. Instead, I learned there are far more important things than treasure..."
Launchpad simply watched him for a moment before a large smile broke across his face. "Yeah, true that, Mr. McDee! Heh heh..." His eyes moved over to Fenton. "Hey, Fenton! Were ya able to keep Mr. McDee and Mr. Glomgold from stranglin' each other too much?" His laughter died on his lips though when he saw Fenton's vacant expression.
Scrooge leaned over and spoke quietly in Fenton's ear. "Fenton? Can yeh hear me? We made our way out. We're back with Launchpad. Isn't that great?"
Nothing.
The richest duck sighed while Launchpad titled his head to one side in confusion. "Ehh, is he okay? He doesn't look too good..."
Scrooge shook his head, taking a hand and running his fingers through the long feathers on top of Fenton's head. "Nae. He hit is head pretty hard on a rock. He's still pretty out of it." The lie slipped easily from his mouth for he knew the truth would be impossible to explain without causing a fuss. He could feel Glomgold's eyes digging into the back of his head in scrutiny but he refused to look back at his rival.
"Aww, shucks, buddy!" hummed Launchpad with sympathy. He reached out and slapped the accountant on the back a little harder than he should have. Scrooge grunted in alarm was quick to keep Fenton from falling over. Scrooge bit his tongue to keep from snapping at the pilot; knowing it would just raise further suspicion. Fenton made a sound in his throat and stumbled a bit, but otherwise didn't react.
"Boy! You weren't kiddin', Mr. McDee! He really is out of it! Normally he's chatting our ears off!" laughed Launchpad. "But, if you say he'll be okay, I'll take your word for it."
Scrooge winced. Scrooge had hoped that Fenton would snap out of it but it seemed coming back from the dead was taking a harder toll on him than he'd hoped. And that was the problem: he didn't know if Fenton was going to be okay.
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Author's Note: Long chapter. But I did it to avoid a nasty cliffhanger. You're welcome. :) -EricaX
