It's is a nice day at McDuck Manor. Webby and Mrs. Beakley are heading off to a secret island so Webby can freshen up on her skills. Rebecca would normally go as well, but chose to skip this year after, for one, she stayed up a bit too late watching anime and needed to catch up on her sleep, and two, she wanted to spend more time with her brothers. But, for now, time to slee-
"Sis! Sis get up!" Huey says, running to her bedside and shaking her.
Rebecca groans. So much for sleep. "What is it Huey?"
"We have an emergency!"
"Emergency? Is the house on fire?"
"No, it's uncle Scrooge's birthday and we need to plan a party for him!"
Rebecca blinks. "You woke me up for that? Get out and let me sleep before I throw you out!" She swats at him and turns over, facing away from him to try and sleep as she pulls the covers on her better. Then, her covers are snapped off and she is dragged off the bed. "Ahhhhh!"
...
Rebecca pouts as she crosses her arms, in a bad mood as Huey drags her along. "Huey, if you wanna keep that arm, I suggest letting me go."
"C'mon sis, it's uncle Scrooge's birthday!" Huey says.
"Which is reason number two I'd rather be asleep. He'd prefer alone time."
"But he hasn't had a birthday party in years." Dewey argues.
"Yeah, and he's been content not celebrating. Can't you guys spend the day and Funso's? Go on a boat ride? Go poke a hornet nest?"
"Jeez you are really crabby today." Louie comments at the last one.
"I need my beauty sleep! You don't look like this staying up til two a.m. for two days in a row watching anime and not getting proper sleep." She refers to herself confidently.
"Well, when the party starts you'll wake right up!" Dewey says, as Rebecca's eye starts to twitch.
Cut to later that day, around 6:00 PM, in the foyer. Dewey was dressed in a suit and some weird golden helmet, carrying a soundboard guitar as his persona of 'DJ Daft Duck'. Rebecca found it stupid, same as the rest of this. Huey left Louie in charge of guests, and she could see the only ones invited were literally Ma Beagle, Glomgold, and Mark Beaks, three of Uncle Scrooge's enemies. She could tell this party would be a disaster. And she had been dragged into it.
Scrooge then tackles Dewey, thinking him an intruder. At that, Huey turns on the lights, and him, Louie, and the 'guests' shout 'Surprise'.
"Happy b-b-b-birthdaaaay!" Dewey says on his keytar, as Scrooge growls.
As everyone cheers, Rebecca blows a party horn, completely unhappy and looking exhausted. She hated this. She hated everything and everybody right now. Apparently, so did her uncle, who sits in a chair and is sulking as Huey goes over the itinerary and everything. Mid way through it, Rebecca sits beside Scrooge, also sulking.
"Lass, yew look a mess."
"I feel like a mess Uncle Scrooge. I've had only 10 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours.
"Wo- then go ta bed!" Scrooge says with shock, temporarily setting aside his frustration out of concern for her.
"The guys won't let me." She says, miserably.
Scrooge was now more upset than before. Not only were the boys throwing a birthday party for him, something he not only didn't want, but they were forcing a sleep-deprived Rebecca, his honorary daughter, to stay up. Even Scrooge knew sleep was important for children, everyone, given he sometimes didn't get enough when he was her age.
Huey then butts in and continues his explanation, which continues to irk Rebecca. She is mostly tuned out to it, too tired to care. Then, Huey calls a 'staff meeting', dragging his three siblings behind the curtain and closing it.
"I don't think Scrooge wants a party." Louie deduces.
"He doesn't." Rebecca confirms, deadpan.
"That's crazy. There had been a few bumps, but he'll come around. Louie, no schmoozing. Just serve punch. Dewey? Dewey?" Huey sighs. "DJ Daft Duck?"
Dewey plays a wake up sound.
"Here's a list of pre-approved songs with a ninety percent enjoyment rate. Play these. And Rebecca, you need to help liven up the party, so chop chop."
Rebecca gets another spasm of eye twitching at that, annoyance becoming more and more apparent.
"Listen, I know planning is your thing, but you're cramping our style. You gotta relax and just ride the party wave." Louie says as Dewey plays a wave crashing and seagull sounds.
"A party is a celebration of a life, bringing the people together to let the guest of honor know how much they're loved. Uncle Scrooge has done so much for us, especially Rebecca. This is our chance to do something for him." Huey explains.
"By forcing him to have fun at a party that he doesn't want to be at and our sister to help even though she needs sleep?"
"I knew you'd understand."
The group leave the curtains, Huey going up to Scrooge who had put the Scrooge mask on a balloon and is trying to leave.
"Ah, there's the birthday boy. I've got just the thing to help get you in the party mood. Cue lights. Ladies and gentlemen, grand illusionist master of the arcane, Nik Nokturne." Huey introduces, to Scrooge and Rebecca's annoyance.
"Ugh, if there's one thing I hate more than birthday parties, it's birthday party magicians. Ugh." Scrooge comments.
"Well, good thing he's an illusionist then." Huey says, a tad nervous as he gets a death stare from Rebecca.
"Choose your destiny." Nik asks as he has who is clearly Mark Beaks draw a card, before Beaks places it back, Nik does some fancy moves with the stack, before making the cards 'disappear' with an explosion noise.
"The card's in his pocket next to a dove." Scrooge and Rebecca says at the same time, at which a dove flies out and the card falls out. The two were thoroughly unimpressed.
Dewey then plays a cricket sound, to the ire of Huey.
"You, non-believer. Come forth to experience real magic. Behold the abyss box." Nik points to Scrooge then reveals the box.
"Nope." Scrooge refuses.
"But Uncle Scrooge, you have to for the party." Huey pleads, which tells Rebecca this was all about Huey stroking his ego.
"Uh, fine." Scrooge pouts as he walks to the box.
"Who knows what mysteries wait inside." Nik says ominously as he closes Scrooge in.
"Typically you want me to hide inside this trap door in here?" Scrooge asks, being privy to illusionism.
"Sounds about right." Rebecca calls out with a smirk.
"Hahaha, ah embrace the pull of the darkness. I call upon the spirits." Nik says as the lights go out, there is the sound and flash of a phone camera, and the locking of a door.
"The party has just begun." A strange voice says ominously, as there is then the sound of wood breaking.
"Ah, my beautiful, beautiful box!" Nik panics at seeing the box destroyed.
"Say what?" Dewey plays the effect for.
"Wow, what a trick!" Huey compliments.
"Oh nononono, maybe I can fix it." Nik says as he tries to put the box back together.
"I don't think that was the trick." Louie deduces.
"Uncle Scrooge?" Rebecca asks with worry as she approaches the box with the others, looking through the bits and pieces.
"Hang on. Our dear old Uncle Scrooge would never go anywhere without his precious wallet." Huey holds up the wallet he finds.
At that, everyone gasps, except the overly worried and tired Rebecca.
"Scrooge isn't just gone, he's gone missing!"
"Huey what have you done?!" Rebecca freaks out, shaking her brother.
Dewey plays a horn, then an 'oops' then the 'dun dun DUN!'
"Will you knock it off!" Rebecca protests.
"Take that thing off! Our uncle has been captured!" Huey demands before he checks the doors. "Ah ha! Just as I suspected. Were locked in. That means the kidnapper is still in this very room. Clear the party schedule. Things just got interesting." Huey says.
"Ahem, Hubert, a word?" Louie pulls them all aside behind the curtains. "What are you doing? This isn't time for some dumb party game."
"You're right. It's time for the ultimate party game. A locked room mystery party, and the stakes couldn't be higher."
"Are you kidding me?!" Rebecca is ready to murder Huey right then and there. She always thought Louie would be subject to her wrath, but seems Huey will be first. All the while, Huey and Louie argue over what to do, Louie, somehow, being the responsible one.
Meanwhile, in Scrooge's hidden security room...
"Ah Duckworth, good ta have yew back." Scrooge says with a genuine smile.
"It is good to be back, sir. Apologies for you having to endure all that."
"Ack, it's fine now, since yew've returned. Honestly, after ye passed, ae thought ae wasnae gonna make it. But, ae did, and all thanks to one, little, motivation." He looks at the screens, focusing on the irritated, tired Rebecca.
"Ah yes, mistress Rebecca. She's growing up to be a fine young lady. Though, at the moment, she looks horrid."
"Ae, she does. Just at her, she's more miserable than ae was."
"Indeed sir, any particular reason?"
"Lack of sleep. Only ten hours of it over the past 48."
"Well, that is quite insufficient sir. A growing young lady such as herself should be getting twice as much, especially as an heir to you."
"Agreed, but the boys saw fit to keep her up." Scrooge then thinks. "Duckworth? Please save the lass. She needs it."
"Of course sir, I shall return momentarily." Duckworth says before vanishing, as Scrooge watches the monitors.
As Huey is confronting the 'guests', Rebecca is close to snapping, when suddenly, the lights go off.
"What the-hey!" Rebecca exclaims, before the lights turn back on, revealing her gone.
"Sis!" Huey calls out.
"Oh no!" Dewey plays on the keytar.
"This is all your fault Huey!" Louie says.
"No, it is whoever took Scrooge's fault!"
"This isn't some game anymore! Our great uncle AND sister are in possible mortal danger!" Louie argues, absolutely done.
...
Rebecca opens her eyes and finds herself in the secret room, looking at the ghost butler.
"Duckworth?!" Rebecca gasps.
"Hello, mistress Rebecca. I haven't seen you since you were but an infant. I must say, you look rather worse for wear."
"But- what- how-"
"There we go, away from those lunatics. Oh, and the villains too." Scrooge chuckles.
"Uncle Scrooge! You're alrigh..." Rebecca trails off, not having any energy left to even add the 't'.
"Curse me kilts lass, ae thought ye looked and sounded awful at the start of the night and on the screens. Now? Yew look like death incarnate."
"Death would be preferable to the current feeling I have."
"Duckworth? Get the lass a blanket and pillow, please. She needs it."
"Of course, mister McDuck." Duckworth says, vanishing, reappearing a short bit later with a blanket and pillow for Rebecca, who eagerly wraps herself up to rest. Then, Scrooge gently sits her into a chair beside him, at which she nestles in.
"Sorry for," Rebecca then yawns, "the guys causing all this trouble Uncle Scrooge, I tried to," she yawns again, "tell them not to."
"No need ta be sorry lass. Ae know yew didn't want ta do any of this," Scrooge assures, rubbing her head. "Just try ta rest while we enjoy the show."
"Okay. And Duckworth?"
"Yes mistress Rebecca?" Duckworth asks.
"Make sure my brothers suffer." She says half-sinisterly.
"Of course." Duckworth vanishes, leaving the two to watch as Huey goes about interrogating each of the four 'suspects', who had nothing to do with the disappearances.
"Wow, never let Louie," She is interrupted by a yawn, "invite guests."
"Hush, ae can narrate fer yew lass." Scrooge says as he puts an arm around her. She just nods, and watches.
...
Over the night, they watch as the Three Stooges she somehow calls brothers try to solve the mystery, making a mess of the place as they do. Mr. Boone is not gonna be happy about fixing the walls and wiring. They watch as the three expose the villains who were dead obvious, watch as Duckworth makes the villains vanish, a.k.a. throwing them out, and chasing the boys and terrifying them, the last much to Rebecca's pleasure.
Then, after a chase down the hall, the boys enter the surveillance room. "Boys, I give you the man who kidnapped our uncle Scrooge, and our Sister Rebecca." Huey announces, revealing Scrooge watching the feed.
"Uncle Scrooge?" Dewey and Louie ask. Then, they see Rebecca. "Sis!" They cheer.
"There yew lads are. Yer just in time for the best part." Scrooge says, laughing as the villains are thrown out. All the while, Rebecca is letting out a series of honking, wheeze-like laugh in her chair at it all.
"The person with the best reason for getting Scrooge out of the party was Scrooge himself."
"S-S-Say what? Sorry, I'm not used to talking. Sound epic, be-beep boop beep..." Dewey says, still in DJ mode.
"Wait, what about Black Art's ghost?" Louie inquires.
"Not his ghost, my ghost." Scrooge says as Duckworth in demon form appears. "Boys, meet Duckworth." He says as Duckworth transforms into butler form.
"Good evening young sirs." Duckworth greets.
"A ghost butler?" Dewey asks.
"So do I ring a bell when I need you, or you just just show up..." Louie inquires.
"It all started with that monstrosity of a magic show." Scrooge explains, Duckworth chiming in at points.
"When the lights went out, you took Scrooge to protect him from them, and me." Huey says, realizing.
"But, why take Rebecca?" Louie asks.
"Why do yew think?! Look at the poor lass!" Scrooge half-snaps, still upset at their treatment of her.
The boys, FINALLY, realize just how badly the stress and sleep deprivation has gotten to her. "Ooh, boy."
"She said she needed sleep, and yew kept her from it! Of course ae'm getting her out of there and to quiet safety." Scrooge explains as he hugs his honorary daughter close.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Scrooge. This was supposed to be a party for you but I made it about me. Please accept my resignation as world's greatest party planner slash detective." Huey apologizes.
"Ach, rubbish. This has been my best birthday ever. Those fellows will think twice before trying to set foot in McDuck Manor again, and yew brought back my favorite butler from beyond the grave, no less. The two of yew really threw a corker of a party."
"Hang on if you liked the party why did Duckworth scare us all half to death?" Louie asks.
"Ah, you weren't ever in any real danger. He just did that fer Rebecca, ta scare ye." Scrooge dismisses. "Let this be a lesson. Ae never want another party."
"But what about parties for holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, or the often overlooked Arbor Day?" Huey inquires.
"Mr McDuck just said," Duckworth starts before changing into demon form to drive the point home, "No parties."
"I'll just buy a card." Huey says, frightened.
"And never, EVER, disturb my sleep, AGAIN! Got it!?" Rebecca demands, staring down her brothers with crazed murderous intent, eye twitching. The trio nod terrified, assuring they will never bother their sister when she doesn't want it, ever again. "Good! Now, I will be asleep in my room. No one bother me until morning, at least twelve hours from now." She says as she gets up and storms off.
"Ae still cannae believe yew boys actually kept Rebecca from her sleep. Ye are either incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid. I woke her up one time when she needed sleep and, well, ae nearly lost me head." Scrooge says to the boys once Rebecca leaves, to which the three gulp, realizing how close to dying they were.
"I don't know who scares me more, the ghost, or her?" Louie asks in a whisper.
The next morning, Webby and Beakley return, Webby excited to see her honorary sister again, Beakley unhappy to see Duckworth. Webby simply runs to Rebecca's room. "Rebecca! We're ba-"
SHWOO-THWACK
In the door next to Webby, a knife is now stuck in the wood, quite close to her head, sticking in a note Webby missed, reading 'Do not Disturb until 9:00 AM'.
"Oops! Sorry." Webby says, slowly closing the door.
Beakley walks by, seeing the knife and note. "I take it Rebecca needs sleep?"
"Oh yeah! She is really bad mood mode. No idea why."
Then, the boys walk by and see the knife, and realize Scrooge's story was true. "Ahhhh!"
"Shut the duck up!" Rebecca yells, done.
"Language dear." Beakley reminds.
"I'll watch my language when I'm not tired anymore! Buzz off!" Rebecca yells, a pillow hitting the door on the other side, dislodging the knife which sticks in the floor.
Then, Duckworth appears. "If you two are curious, these three chose to throw an inadequate birthday party for their great uncle, and chose to keep her up despite a lack of sleep the nights prior." He explains.
"That explains it." Beakley says quietly.
"C'mon guys, let's let her sleep." Webby whispers, everyone leaving Rebecca for the next couple of hours.
...
A few hours later, at noon, Ian arrives for his day of work. He'd been given the day off of Manor maintenance the day prior, for reasons Mr. McDuck chose not to disclose. He sees a slight mess, and already knows his work is cut out for him. He takes a deep breath and goes up to the front door, setting his stuff down to knock on the door, as per usual. It then opens. "Hey Mrs. Beakley, I'm here for-" He then looks up, and sees Duckworth. "What?"
"Good afternoon, you must be Mr. Boone, the new handyman for the manor. Mr. McDuck spoke quite highly of you." Duckworth greets and comments.
Ian blinks. "Normally I'd be freaking out at seeing a ghost, but after everything the past few months, this is just another day here." He picks his stuff up and heads off to work.
"And I would suggest staying away from mistress Rebecca for the time being. She is recovering from a lack of sleep."
"Aren't we all?"