Tbo: Haha, thank you!

caetlyn27: AHHHHHH, THE FIRST EPISODE WAS SO GOOD. MY HUEY x VIOLET HEART WAS SO HAPPY

Not Ponytails or Cottontails: you're welcome and thank you :)

nightmareking: Thank you for all those reviews! And your name sounds very familiar. Did you work in the SVTFOE fandom?

Techno Duck: Me too! And don't worry, there'll be a lot of HueyXViolet in the next chapter, just not this one :)

Not Ponytails or Cottontails: All thanks to you guys :))))

Ninjatana Warrior: Hey, dude I love your stories. Numbers feel nice, but no writer should write for the sake of numbers. I love all your work, but I think my favorite is Best Friends :)

dalek117: You're amazing :)

riverajocabed1: Sounds cozy! I love Louie and Webby's relationship. I mean, I don't ship them or anything, I'm not the biggest "Loubby" fan if anyone was wondering. Their relationship is so much more sibling-like. They compliment each other: Webby keeps him in check, Louie keeps her grounded and optimistic, and a lot of that can be seen in The Living Mummies is Toth-Ra. Though sometimes they can get on each other's nerves, like the whole Harp-B-Gone episode, they're always there for one another :)

kademiller2004: Sorry about that! I was in a super bad mood yesterday and I kind of took that out on my work and didn't give you guys the most satisfying chapter, which was wrong of me. Considering I reached 100+ views and considering the new seasons out, you guys deserve so much better. So I delete the original chapter 18 and tweaked it.

Hope you guys like it!

ooo

"Louie?" Webby asked, gently shaking him awake.

Louie groaned. His entire body hurt from sleeping on the plane seat and he longed for an actual mattress. His mouth was dry, and his back was sore.

"Hey," Louie greeted groggily, rubbing his stiff neck.

Webby smiled knowingly, and handed him a glass of water, which he gratefully accepted. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead, silently wondering why it had gotten so humid all of the sudden. She seemed to sense his thoughts and updated him.

"We landed in Mexico about an hour ago, and I let you sleep while I did some research on Steelbeak."

"What'd you find?" Louie asked, setting the empty glass aside.

"Not much," Webby admitted, a hint of frustration in her voice. "But it says here that he was a major drug smuggler back in the day, so we're definitely on the right track."

"Will it help us look for him?" Louie asked.

"Question," Launchpad interrupted. "How exactly are you going to 'look' for Steelbeak? He hasn't been seen in years. He's not really a threat, is he?"

Louie frowned. "Launchpad's right."

Webby sighed. "I don't know yet, you guys, but I'll figure it out. Louie, we're running low on food. Can you come with me to get some groceries?"

"Yeah, I will." Louie smiled. The Jeep that was in the Sunchaser remained untouched, and Louie grabbed the keys.

"Launchpad," Webby instructed. "Stay here and guard those files on my mom."

Launchpad frowned. "I thought we all agreed that there's no threat."

Webby knit her eyebrows together. "We still have to be careful. If Steelbeak controls all the illegal drugs in Calisota, then there's a good chance he knows who comes in and out of his turf. Look alive."

Launchpad nodded. "You two be careful."

Louie set his hands on Launchpad's broad shoulders. "We'll be back, LP. Promise."

He just sighed. "Just come back in one piece."

Webby gave him a quick hug. "Don't worry, we will."

Launchpad watched as Louie and Webby drove off in the Jeep, leaving him alone with the files and a dim sense of trepidation.

ooo

Back in the Manor, Dewey frowned at Donald who had been picking at his food with his fork for the past hour.

"Everything alright?" Dewey asked.

It took a while for Donald to register the question. "Huh? Yeah… I'm okay, Dewey. Why… why wouldn't I be?!" he asked defensively.

Dewey narrowed his eyes at the sudden outburst. "You love salmon, and you always finish before any of us. Come to think of it, you're always picking at your food, and never finishing it."

His nephew stood up and Donald tried not to bite his lip when Dewey started to piece everything together.

"You left the house a few days ago to meet up with someone… something happened, something bad." Dewey said intensely.

Donald slammed his fist on the table in anger, but Dewey didn't even flinch.

"That's none of your concern." he said coldly.

Dewey raised an eyebrow. "No, it is my concern. You're my uncle and if anyone hurts you, it's my business."

"I…" Donald's voice cracked. "She has a boyfriend, Dewey."

Dewey knit his eyebrows together in confusion, but then it hit him—his uncle was talking about Daisy. He didn't know a lot about her except for the fact that she was his Uncle's first real girlfriend.

"Uncle Donald, I didn't even know. I'm so sorry." Dewey frowned.

"Her new boyfriend… h-he punched me." Donald murmured.

Dewey's eyes widened. Did everyone look younger when they were sad? Because right now, Dewey could mistake Donald for the young man who lost his sister all those years ago. Just then, Huey, dressed up as Louie, came in to grab a can of Pep! He left, looking totally uninterested in their conversation. Dewey fought back a smile. Huey's whole 'Louie impression' was spot on. A few minutes later, Huey showed up again, but this time as himself. Dewey wasn't sure how he had managed to change his clothes so fast.

"What is this I hear about Uncle Donald getting punched?!" Huey asked.

Dewey was impressed with his acting, and filled Huey in. "He went to see Daisy and he couldn't even talk to her properly without getting knocked in the teeth."

"Nose!" Donald cried indignantly.

Huey's entire face turned red with pure rage. His fists clenched and he viciously punched the wall.

"Huey!" Donald shouted, but mostly in concern rather than anger.

"How dare he lay a finger on you?!" he snarled.

"It's okay," Dewey said as he set a hand on Huey's shoulder to calm him down. "It will be okay."

Huey opened his mouth to argue with Dewey, but then he saw the anger in his younger brother's eyes and Dewey's message was clear—we'll handle it later.

Huey relaxed his shoulders. "Are you mad at Daisy?"

Donald let out an anguished sigh. "I don't know."

ooo

Louie and Webby were just getting back from the grocery store when they saw traces of blood on the ramp of the Sunchaser. They dropped their groceries and rushed out of the Jeep to find Launchpad badly hurt and unconscious.

"LAUNCHPAD!" they screamed.

As Webby checked if he was responsive, Louie checked the plane for Rachel's S.H.U.S.H files.

"W-Webby?" Launchpad asked wearily when she splashed some cold water onto his face. His left eye was swollen shut, and there were various traces of blood all over the plane.

"Oh thank god," Webby said in relief. "I thought you were…"

"Dead?" Launchpad asked with a small laugh. "No, but," he winced as Webby helped him up. "The files… they were after the files."

"Webby… look." Louie said in horror.

Where the files had been laid a note:

So you're old Agent 23's daughter, huh? You've got a lot of nerve coming here, Vanderquack. I thought I'd never have to see that last dreaded last name ever again: V-A-N-D-E-R-Q-U-A-C-K. But like a bad reoccurring dream, HERE YOU ARE AGAIN! You wanna see your precious files again? Come see me.

And tell your friend Louie to watch his back.

—Steelbeak

There was an address printed on the back of the note and Webby shuddered.

"LP, do you have any idea who attacked you?" Louie asked.

Launchpad stared at Louie through his good eye. "No idea about who attacked me. But I have a good idea of what attacked me."

Louie caught his breath, anticipating his answer.

"Robots," Launchpad said grimly. "I was attacked by robots"

ooo

Adrian was out shopping while Daisy stayed behind in their hotel room. Today was their last night in Duckburg before heading back to Mouseton.

Daisy was still shaken about what had happened to Donald at the café. Adrian was usually levelheaded, but this was totally out of character for him.

Her phone rang, and she answered it.

"Is this Daisy Duck?" a no nonsense voice, yet urgent voice asked.

"Yes, speaking." she frowned.

"Your boyfriend Adrian Quackmaster was admitted to the Duckburg Hospital a few hours ago."

Daisy felt cold and hot at the same time and said, "Oh my gosh! Is he okay?!"

"He's fine, Ms. Duck, no need to worry."

"What happened to him?" Daisy asked in concern.

"He says he was assaulted by two masked men in an alleyway." she replied.

As the nurse rambled on about Adrian's injuries, Daisy frowned. So this wasn't their last night in Duckburg. Letting out an anguished sigh, Daisy grabbed her car keys and drove towards the hospital.

Meanwhile, in an alleyway, Huey and Dewey slipped off their masks and washed their bloodied fists.

Nobody messed with their family.

ooo

Steelbeak glowered at the files before him.

"I've gotten more information on Webby Vanderquack, boss!" a lanky henchman told him.

Steelbeak glared at him. "Out with it already!"

"She lives in Duckburg and attends Duckburg High."

Steelbeak waved him off. "Anything useful?"

He continued. "She has a boyfriend, Dewford Duck, the nephew of Scrooge McDuck. And…" he trailed off, fearful of what his boss might say.

"And?" Steelbeak pressed.

"And her grandmother is Agent 22, Bentina Beakley. She's the one who took down Black Heron."

Steelbeak's eyes widened, and he pulled out an old picture that he always kept in his wallet—it was a grainy photo of him and Black Heron that was taken many years ago at a F.O.W.L New Years party. He remembered it fondly:

"—ing. Steelbeak? Steelbeak!" Henry snapped.

Steelbeak shook out of his stupid and glanced at his best friend. "Sorry, Henry."

"What's gotten into you?" Henry asked. He followed his gaze and smiled when it landed on Black Heron.

"You're crushing on Black Heron?! She's totally out of your league, bro." Henry grinned, smacking his friend in the back of the head.

Steelbeak glowered at him. "I know… but she's very pretty."

Henry just chuckled. "Alright, alright. Just talk to her."

Before Steelbeak could protest, Henry ushered him forward until he bumped into Black Heron, making her spill her drink on her expensive dress. Henry recoiled and retreated back to his seat, leaving Steelbeak to fend for himself.

"S-sorry!" Steelbeak cried.

She merely smiled. "Not exactly how I imagined our first confrontation, but definitely a surprise. Don't worry about the dress."

"Well, you still do look nice." Steelbeak complimented politely. Sure he was a villain, but even villains had manners.

The night continued with her and Steelbeak and chatting and laughing, sharing their interests and schemes. Eventually the midnight countdown arrived and Steelbeak smiled at her.

"10, 9, 8, 7…" the crowd chanted.

He pulled her in and she blushed.

"6, 5, 4, 3…"

"I would love to spend this year alongside you." he said charmingly.

"Me too." she smiled.

"2, 1, 0! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the crowd screamed while dozens of fireworks went off. The night sky was suddenly illuminated with brilliant, vibrant flashes of red, yellow, and orange. Streaks of blue and green were thrown around here and there.

Steelbeak pressed his lips against hers

Steelbeak scowled at the memory and chuckled darkly. "So she has a boyfriend? At any cost, use him as leverage. Dismissed."

ooo

Thank you thank you THANK YOU guys so much for 100 reviews. I am so grateful for all of you and having you by my side. Special thanks to dalek117. Thank you for everything :)

Until next time,

—Jordan