Ch.9: Not The Same
Meanwhile, back in the present, at Daisy's house, the boys were silent as they slowly trugged their way downstairs, to meet with their temporary caretaker, aware of the uncomfortable sleep they had suffered the night before.
There was hope in their minds that yesterday was just a dream. That Alley wasn't hurt and that they hadn't driven their uncle away by acting like they didn't care.
The evidence of reality was clear though. They had driven their uncle away. They had made Donald abandon them by saying he wasn't loved. Now, they would have to suffer the full price for their sins.
Daisy had managed to cook up a meager meal of bacon and eggs by the time the boys finally made it into the dining room. Not a word was said as the ducks ate, and later Daisy excused herself to go work, promising that she would go check on Alley soon after.
The boys nodded their goodbyes, and then headed off towards school. At their lockers, Slab was already there waiting for them, ready to get his bullying started.
"Hey there fellas" said Slab, a sinister grin growing on his face " bring any gifts for me today?"
"Back off Slab" said Huey, narrowing his eyes " we're not in the mood."
"Hey" said Slab, not liking the duck's tone " You have to be nice to me or else. Your little secret…,"
"Or else what?!" Huey exploded, eyes tearing up as he could no longer keep in his pain. " We heard the conversation you had the other day. You don't have proof against us! So why should we bow down and kiss your feet huh?"
"You're right though" he continued " we're jerks! Because of us our uncle is gone and he may never come back! We may never…,"
Here Huey sobbed, as his two brothers put comforting hands upon his shoulders. Slab sobered up, his bullying expression changed. For the first time in his life, he felt pity for the poor ducks.
Clearly they had all suffered through some serious pain, and they didn't need him around to make it worse.
With a tone of serious regret, Slab apologized to the three ducks, and then silently walked away. The bullying mood was gone, and he just wondered where the ducks uncle had vanished.
Would he ever come back? Or would his nephews always mourn?
Back at Ducklair Tower, Donald yawned as he finished moving the last piece of damaged equipment to the growing pile stacked in the corner of the room. He had been working with One all night to clean up the damage the creatures had done, and the fatigue could be felt on his bones.
Even with the information One managed to gather during the assault, there was still little clue on what these creatures could be. Claws sharp enough to cut through steel, orange eyes…if they were aliens, Donald had never encountered them before.
But why did they trash the place and go home? What was their purpose for coming here?
Donald couldn't figure out the answer, and wondered how the boys were doing back home. He hoped that they were okay, and sorrow seeped into his heart as he thought about the last thing Huey said before he left.
Those words had hurt, and Donald racked them round a while in brain, hoping they weren't true.
"Would they really choose a dog over me? Am I? Am I…?"
Donald couldn't finish his thought, and One floated over to his friend.
Instantly the A.I. could tell that something was wrong. He had suspected as much from observing Donald's behavior last night. Though the Duck Avenger immediately focused on the task, it was clear that the hero was distracted as they tried to piece together what had gone on.
"Donald are you alright?" asked One, his tone full of concern. " Your mind seems to be…somewhere else."
"Huh?" asked Donald " Oh no One, it's nothing really…just…thinking of home."
"I understand" said One, getting the point " I messed up your retirement and…,"
"It's not that" Donald interrupted "Something really terrible happened back home and I've been thinking about it ever since."
"What's that?" asked One.
"I was wondering…" said Donald reluctantly " whether my boys loved me anymore."
"Huh?" said One confused " Why would you think that?"
"The waterfall, what they think I did to their dog" said Donald " and what Huey said really hurt."
"You don't think they love you?" asked One.
"They would answer my question if they really did" said Donald " Anyway, have you learned anything more about the creatures who attacked the tower?"
"Not much" said One " But there was a peculiar sound-byte I captured that I did find strange. Maybe one of the creatures whispered it. I think it said 'Phantomallard'."
"Phantomallard," Donald pondered. The original owner of the Villa Rose? What kind of connection did these creatures have with him?
Donald didn't know to much about his predecessor, except for his wants of an heir and need of revenge. Besides the diary, all knowledge of the Phantomallard's past was a mystery.
Perhaps it was time to finally untangle it.
