It has been a couple of days since Della got to see how things have changed in the world, talked with Ian, got a new phone, met Dickie, and more. She'd spent an adventure with Dewey, Huey and Webby were out meeting a friend, and Louie was doing Louie things, so she chose to check on her only daughter, arguably a mini-her.

Della knocks on the door to Rebecca's room, a sign reading 'Knock First, or Else' mounted on it.

"Who is it?" Rebecca calls from inside.

"It's me sweetie." Della calls back, to which the door is soon opened.

"Hey mom! What's up? Need help with something?"

"Nope! Just wanted to check on and spend time with my little girl." Della assures with a smile, rubbing Rebecca's head.

"Okay, c'mon in! I was just having some tea."

"Oh, I get it, a tea party. Guess you got it from Uncle Scrooge huh?" Della grins as she enters... and pauses when she sees the oriental setup of the tea table. "What the-"

"The proper term is tea ceremony, though this is not an exact take on it and is for a more casual, daily routine." Rebecca responds as she kneels on the 'seat' at the low table, upon which was a vased orchid and a small bonsai tree on opposite sides, alongside a more modern kettle, cups, and tea jar, as well as some odd-looking snacks. "Come, there's plenty for two."

Della blinks and obliges, sitting opposite her daughter, kneeling on a 'seat'.

Rebecca then proceeds to prepare the tea, taking a measured scoop of green powder from the jar, adding the portion to a cup, pouring in hot water, then mixing it with a bamboo whisk.

"So uh, you like Japanese tea?"

"And Japanese culture to an extent. It is relaxing." Rebecca responds as she hands the prepared cup of the vibrant green tea to her mother, who looks at it confused. "It's matcha, traditional Japanese green tea. Really good." She says as she prepares her own.

Della tries some, and slightly recoils. "It's... a tad bitter."

"That's what the wagashi are for."

"Waga-what?"

"Wagashi, traditional confections often served with green tea. They help ease the bitterness as you don't add milk nor sugar to this type of tea. It is to be served as-is." Rebecca explains, sliding forward what looks like some sort of nuts after finishing making her cup. "I prefer amanattō: syrup-simmered azuki beans coated in sugar. Quite nice." She says as she takes one from a small bowl and eats it before sipping some tea.

"You sure know a lot about this stuff, don't you?"

"When you are the adoptive daughter of the richest duck in the world who is super protective of you, you need hobbies... especially when you have anxiety and require a lot of alone time." She explains as she takes a small white ball from the plate of snacks and bites it in half, the inside being a dark red.

"Huh..." Della says as she looks around, seeing all the decor in Rebecca's room. It was neatly organized and full of all sorts of nicknacks, posters, and so on that Della had no idea what they were. There was a shelf of DVDs with Japanese writing on the spines, a shelf of video games, a medium flatscreen tv with some sort of game console, and a couple pf bookshelves with all sorts of books and magazines. It did not look very feminine at all. "This is way more stuff than I got from Scrooge, and that was for well over a decade."

"He raised me like a daughter, loved me like one. He ensured I was comfortable. Most expensive and luxurious gift was a golden locket I got for my eighth birthday." Rebecca shows it off, Ian having recovered it from the harbor since the Shadow War on Scrooge's orders.

"Huh..." Della gets up and looks closer at some things. Then she notices a handful of very familiar books. "Wait, those are my old DnD books."

"Oh, these are yours?"

"Yeah! Donnie, Panchito, José, and I, sometimes Fethry and Gladstone too, would play it all the time! Don got Nat 1s almost nonstop." Della laughs as she looks through them all.

"That sounds about right." Rebecca says with a chuckle as she drinks some more tea. Her uncle's horrid luck was funny when it came to stuff like that.

"Hey, some of my old homebrews are still in here."

"Homebrews?"

"Yeah. Custom, self-made campaigns and elements, as opposed to official."

"I know what they are, I just didn't think they existed back then."

"I'm not that old sweetie. These were, what, late 90s, early 2000s?"

"I just thought it was much later." Rebecca shrugs. "I mean, the books are pretty old. Like, second edition? Third edition?"

"Yeah. I could only get them periodically as expected. Wanted 3.5E, but Uncle Scrooge wouldn't buy nor give me the money. Said three editions is more than enough." Della rolls her eyes. "Part of the reason we created the homebrews. With all our adventures, we had plenty of ideas."

"Did Scrooge ever play with you back then?"

"Heck no! Have you seen how competitive he is? It'd have ruined the game!"

"Fair." Rebecca drinks some more tea, then has a thought. "Say, after we finish our tea, how about we go to the game store and get some new stuff? Spend a day out just the two of us?"

"Sounds great! Hey, I'll even buy you your first dice set and two of the newest editions."

"Eh, best skip 4E, as no one really plays it."

"Why not?"

"Read it and find out. Just, too complicated," Rebecca says.

"I'll take your word on it." Della says as she sits and finishes her tea with her daughter.


Later at the mall, the mother and daughter walk into the game shop, called the 'Dragon's Cave', the former in awe at all the new-to-her game stuff there is. "Wow, that's a lotta RPGs."

"Yep, every kind you can think of. Modern, past, future, fantasy, sci-fi, and everything in between." Rebecca says.

"Sweet." Della looks at the lineup of games. "Hey they still have 40K! What edition is it now?"

"Eighth."

At this, Della sputters. "Eighth?! I am gone ten years and the number of editions doubles?!"

"Series also has video games, board games, actucal RPGs, novels, music, and so on."

"I didn't think it'd kick off that well!"

"It is 40,000 years of lore, what do you expect?"

"True. Ooh! They have miniatures kits!" Della looks at the

"I bet Mr. Boone would love putting those together.

"He did say he was a modeler. He sorta looks the type."

"Then let's get him some and the paints. Please?

"Sure, he seems like he needs a break from... stuff. Still, amazed how awesome these places are!"

"You've never been in one?"

"Not really. It was sorta, no girls allowed back in the day."

"Well, that is just rude."

"Yeah. At least they've warmed up to it."

"Mom, like a quarter of new DnD players are female. Plenty of guys have made female characters just because, even though some do it for the creep factor. Regardless, inclusion is the word."

"Wow... sweet!" Della says as the two look around some more.

...

The duo eventually leave the store, having bought DnD 3.5E, Pathfinder, 5E, and some supplements, as well as some other game guides, a set of dice for Rebecca, and other stuff, as well as two models and necessary paints for Ian. That done, the two go and get some lunch at the food court, getting some tacos.

"This day is going great! So, where to next?" Della asks.

"We could check the video game and comic book stores. I wanna see if the latter has got any new manga in." Rebecca comments.

"Manga?"

"Japanese comic books. Variety of themes and topics."

"Huh. Well, guess it fits with you so, sure! Sounds like a plan!"

"Great!" Rebecca notices her mom isn't as happy as she was a few moments ago. "Is, something wrong?"

"...This all just reminds me that I missed ten years of this. Spending time with my kids just, gone. You're all growing up fast and I missed the most important years of your lives. I'm such an idiot!"

"Well, it is all in the past so, all is forgiven?" Rebecca says, nervous.

"I suppose..." Della sighs as the two continue to eat, the awkward moment having slightly dampened the mood.

...

After eating and visiting the other shops, the two were heading home, chatting about more positive things as they pass a clearing, when...

"Hey, Rebecca, Della!" Ian says, watching them pass.

"Huh- Ian!" Rebecca says, excited to see him.

"Well ain't that a coinkydink?" Della grins.

"What have you two been up to?" Ian asks.

"We've been spending the day out, just mother and daughter." Della says.

"Yup! Making up for over 11 years apart!" Rebecca says, hugging her mother. "Oh! I almost forgot, we got you something." She hands Ian the bag with the stuff the two got for him, smiling. "Thought you'd like these."

"Aw, thanks!" Ian smiles as he takes the gift,

"So, what are YOU up to?" Della asks in return.

"Well, I was just about to test this: the ER-17 energy rifle, version one. It is an energy weapon that combines electroshock and laser technologies."

"Huh... Is this, a new invention by Gyro?" Della asks.

"Nope. My own. Felt it necessary to create a proper weapon after the whole Shadow War thing."

"Oh. Neat! How powerful is it?"

"At max power it can destroy most vehicles. In theory that is. Uses power packs that I am still working on. Gold tech sorta works, but is expensive. If I can find something better to power it, that'd be extremely useful."

"Cool! Can we watch?" Rebecca asks, giving pleading eyes.

"Uh, sure, why not?"

"Yay!"

The two watch as Ian sets up the target, the paper target backed by a 3-inch board. He then moves back to his setup 25 yards away, and ensures Della and Rebecca are behind him.

"Just stay back a fair distance as, if this thing malfunctions, I don't want you two getting hurt." Ian explains as the two nod. He then loads the energy pack into the weapon, and turns it on.

"This is going to be so cool." Rebecca says, about to burst with excitement.

Ian finally makes the final adjustments, ready. "Weapon ready! Standby!" He shoulders the weapon and aims at the target, making sure the way is clear. "Firing!" He pulls the trigger.

PEEEEEWWWW

The rifle fires a powerful bolt that destroys the target, blowing a massive hole dead center.

"Haha! It works! It actually works!"

"Awesome!" Della says.

"Um, Ian?" Rebecca taps his arm and diverts his attention to behind the target, where there is a path of carnage.

"Oh. Ohhhhh, no..." Ian says as he realizes the thousands of dollars in damage he just caused. He then turns to the women. "Run!" He books it, the two following before anyone can get them.

...

Eventually, Rebecca and Della make it home, joined by Ian, who drove them there to hide from the repercussions of the experiment.

"Well, we may have caused some damage, but at least it was a success!" Della says.

"Yeah, but still, I'd prefer to cause massive damage. Now to just lay low for a bit until I can return to the lab and report in." Ian says as he goes to find something to do.

"Sure thing bud, talk to ya later." Della says as she heads back with Rebecca to the latter's room to relax.

"Today was awesome! Thank you so much mom!" Rebecca says.

"Aw, thanks sweetie, but it was your idea afterall." Della ruffles her daughter's hair.

"Yeah, but still, today was great!"

"Yep, I've enjoyed it as well, but it isn't over yet. We have a while before dinner, so may as well do whatever. Any ideas?"

"Ooh! Wanna watch some anime?"

"Anime? Those Japanese cartoons?"

"Yeah! I've got a lot on dvd, as well as streaming for them."

"Well, if you want. I never got into them due to adventuring too much."

"Well, now seems a good time as any." Rebecca says as she tries to figure out what to watch first as Della just chuckles.


Later, at the Bin...

Ian descends the elevator to the lab, to report the success of his design to Gyro, in hopes they can mass produce the weapon. "Hey Doctor Gearloose, I finished testing my prototype and- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAB?!" He freaks out at seeing the mess as Gyro berates Fenton.

"Fenton's 'date' is what happened." Gyro bemoans.

"What?"

"I, met someone but turns out she was working for Beaks to get the Gizmosuit, Beaks broke in, went berserk, fought me, abducted Huey and Webby, and so on." Fenton explains nervously as Ian's eye twitch.

Then, Gyro notices the ER-17 slung on Ian's back. "Ah, I see you have returned from testing the first prototype. How did it go?"

"Well, it works. Shot a hole through the target." Ian says.

"That's great assistant! I knew-"

"And the boulder behind the target."

"Oh, well no mat-"

"And five cars, ten trees, and an apartment building, causing a high level of damage to the city easily costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. And that was on half power."

"Oh..." Gyro says. "Well, use it on reduced power from now on unless in a controlled setting. I'll tell Mr. McDuck about the damages, it'll be covered."

"The only reason it was at half power was because the power packs. They can't handle full power and the whole device just, fizzles, shorting out. Then again, it was built to short when the packs overload for safety. If only there was a way to increase the power capacity passively. Or even generate it internally."

At this, Fenton looks up and smiles. "I may have something in mind..."