"Woah. What-what?!" Dewey said. He and all the others gaped at Goldie.
"She's diamond!" Cried Webby.
"Mom…." Whispered May.
"Dibs on a finger." Everyone turned to Louie angrily. "What?" The kid responded. "I was just saying! Anyway..."
"Blasted sentient severed thing." Scrooge blinked back tears. "Goldie, are you alright?"
"Take a good look at me, moneybags. Just take a good look at me right now. Why didn't you warn me how nuts that thing was?"
"Didn't warn you?" Scrooge was almost laughing from disbelief. "What part of, 'this tentacle is incredibly dangerous' and 'excruciatingly painful death' did you not understand?"
"You know warnings like that mean nothing to me! I figured it was more for the kids than us seasoned adventurers!"
"Of course it wasn't! I didn't want to see you get hurt either, you…you…"
"You should have warned me better." She took on a mocking Scrooge impression for her rant. "Maybe something like, 'Oh, Goldie, by the way, this thing is ten feet long, has razor sharp teeth and oozes acid-like slime! Oh, and with this slime, it can slide across any surface faster than the average running person and tackle them to the ground before they can blink!' You know, something like that would have been really, really nice!"
"Don't you mock me, lassie, this is entirely your fault!"
She breathed in and out rapidly. "And, for once, I can't fix it. But, you, you're Scrooge McDuck! If anyone will figure this out, it's you. And please hurry, before Sharpie here tries to sell me at a garage sale or something."
Louie quickly put away the notebook he'd been sketching in, looking away in what he thought was a non-suspicious manner.
"I-I don't now of any cure for diamond-ification, but I'll try."
Scrooge cautiously studied Goldie's boot, also frozen in diamond. "Strange. Your clothes shouldn't have transformed, and you're only half-transformed. One touch from that thing should have finished you. So how did…?"
Huey gasped. "Her necklace! Look at it! It's glowing!"
Scrooge caught on quickly. "It protected her from serious burns and slowed the process! I wouldn't be surprised if something that powerful even took the magic from the suckers and transformed it into something weaker, such as a new form of magical malady."
Goldie nodded, fingering the charm fondly. "Yeah, I think I about wore this thing out." A few sparks flew out from the Eye as if it were a faulty piece of tech.
"Um, what? How does that even work, transforming magic into… magic? And what is that thing?" Della asked.
"This charm, the Eye of Demagorgon, is truly an incredible talisman." Scrooge eagerly began. "When this Hayfelday, from our world, came across its magic, the magic the tentacle released could actually have be absorbed by the charm's protective spells. The Eye protects anyone who wears it from burns by absorbing the burns. It is said to do the same for magical attacks. You should really thank your lucky stars you were wearing it." Scrooge said, reaching out to touch Goldie's cheek.
Huey grabbed his arm. "Careful! Based on what you just said, I bet you anything this can spread. Like a sickness!"
"Wait, what?" Louie had already placed both hands on Goldie's right arm curiously. His hands immediately froze into diamond. "Oh, come on! Wait, that didn't hurt. Not even one little burn! H-how?"
"The Eye of Demagorgon probably took the pain away from her transformation as well as turned the tentacle's magic into a new supernatural entity altogether, spreading the magic back through her afterward!"
"Meaning?" Donald tapped his foot impatiently.
Scrooge sighed. "If anyone touches Goldie, this 'disease' will cause them to slowly, painlessly, become diamond along with her. Although, that doesn't mean it's not a stupid way to die."
"Oh." Donald replied. Louie grouched over in the corner, attempting to fold his diamond hands.
"Well, we've got to get her out of here somehow." June reminded the group.
"Stand back." Bentina stepped forward.
"Beakley, no!" warned Scrooge. She ignored him and carefully lifted Goldie up by her waist and threw her over one shoulder, making sure the treasure hunter's right arm and legs didn't touch her. "It's alright." She said. "It appears only touching infected areas of an infected person spreads this strange plague."
"Well done, Beakley." Scrooge said. "Now, everyone back to the cage."
"What?" The half-diamond victim stuttered. "But-but I-well, I suppose quarantine is the best way to prevent infection from spreading. Good thinking, Scroogie." She gave him a winning smile from atop the housekeeper's shoulder.
"Thank you, Goldie. Now, back into your cute little prison." Scrooge ordered, amused by the karma of the situation.
Louie snickered.
"Along with anyone who's been infected. We must quell this as much as possible." Scrooge added.
"Wait, what? Oh, come on!"
"Ha ha. Chump." Goldie goaded back at Louie.
After twisting and turning around the mansion for a time, they reached the cage, door still open invitingly. Beakley dropped Goldie inside, being sure not to get infected herself. Louie sighed defeatedly and slid into the cage as well. "Stupid tentacle. Stupid necklace. Stupid Goldie."
"Heard that." She said.
Scrooge and the others stood awkwardly around the cage for a time. "So, uh, I think it was my shift?" Della said. "Don't worry, Lou, we'll get you through this. Oh, and O Gilt too." She grumbled.
Everyone else dispersed in different directions down the hall. Scrooge caught up to Huey and Webby. "Ah! You two! The most capable paranormal researchers I know." He laid a hand on each of their shoulders. "I need you to dive headfirst into books and scrolls on curses, diamond-ification, and the properties of Demagorgana talismans."
They each saluted. "Yes, Uncle Scrooge! I will devote these next two days before the…thing…fully to this research!" Huey declared.
His phone started ringing. Huey dug it out of his pocket. "It's Vi! One second…" He answered it. "Hello? Hi, Violet. You still on for Saturday? Oh. Oh. Wait, let me get this straight. Lena's summoning a creature that can only be summoned on a Saturday with a half moon and she needs your help all day Saturday to prep for it? Oh, okay. Uh huh. Tonight?! Well, if that really is the only day that works…no, no, don't worry, you're fine. Alright. Yeah. See you tonight. Love y-I mean, bye."
He hung up. "So…"
"So, no, then?" Scrooge assumed.
"I'm really sorry." Huey said. "It looks like the museum….meet-up is being changed to tonight..." His eye began twitching.
"Don't worry, Dad, we'll just hit the books really hard tomorrow!" Webby promised, gently pushing her cousin away from any extra stress.
Huey tried to stay calm once Scrooge paced away and only he and Webby were left in the hall. "Whew. Alright. So, the only day she's available all month is today. I wasn't prepared to have the…the date tonight, but, it'll be okay, right Webby?"
"Absolutely!" She assured him. "You'll have a great time appreciating both each other and various exhibits of insect anatomy!"
Huey exhaled sharply. "Alright. I still have approximately twelve hours and six minutes to prepare for this! It'll be fine."
"Yes, it will." Webby said. "Just relax, Huey. Everything is okay."
Approximately twelve hours and six minutes later…
...
"AAUUGGHHH! NOTHING IS OKAY!"
Huey's brothers and cousins and Lena stood by next to the cage in the hall to witness yet another Huey mental breakdown.
"Oof, and I thought The Duke was gone for good." Dewey muttered.
"The Duke?" Goldie wondered.
"Aw, Huey, what's wrong now?" June asked.
"I don't know, I'm just all-around terrified! I'm about to go out with Violet Sabrewing, two days earlier than I expected!"
A nerd and a nerd-ette. What could be simpler?" Louie replied.
No, nothing could be less simple! This is the woman of my dreams! Oh, why am I wearing the same shirt I wear every darn day? Why did she say yes to me in the first place? Why did I think I could woo her with museum tours?"
"Why do I have to witness this?" Goldie asked under her breath.
"Focus." Webby encouraged Huey. "Just breathe."
"I forgot how!"
"No, no you didn't, because now you're hyperventilating." Lena pointed out. She had also come to mentally prepare Huey for this encounter. "Look, I know Vi. She's my little sis. And I also happen to know that she respects you a lot."
Huey stopped and put down his paper bag he'd been breathing into. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah! Dude, you're overthinking it. You know my sister. You've talked to my sister. You're friends with my sister. Now, go out on a non-platonic outing with my sister!"
Huey crumpled to the floor in a curled-up stress heap.
"You'll be fine." Webby sounded somewhat sure of it.
"Yeah, come on Hue, you've got this!" Dewey agreed. "Maybe you two can finally have what me and Gosalyn Waddlemeyer have."
"Since when do you and Gosalyn 'have' anything?" May wondered.
Dewey grinned in a lonely sort of way. "We don't. Yet!"
Lena sighed. "Alright, man. On your feet. Come on." She grabbed Huey's arms and pulled him up. "Hey, look at me. You. Will. Survive. This. The hottest thing she'll be wearing is probably her dragonfly earrings, anyway."
"Ooh! Like on Wondrous Dragonbug!" Webby exclaimed.
"I love that show!" Squealed May. "Still waiting for Dragonbug and Grey Fly to realize that Butterfly Man is actually-"
"Ack! Shh! Spoilers!" June and, surprisingly, Lena, reminded.
The doorbell then rang. Huey got up off the floor and took a deep breath. "You're right. You're all right. I've been preparing and hiding enough. I'm ready for this." He hugged Lena and then the female triplets. "Thank goodness for my sisters."
He made his way down the hall as Duckworth answered the door.
Violet stood on the doorstep, in her usual green sweater and black jeans. The only real differences in her between now and two and a half years ago were her height, longer hair, and the glittering dragonfly earrings that were, indeed, peeking out from beneath her wild curls. Her parents honked from behind in their van as they pulled out.
"Good evening, Hubert." She greeted.
He breathed in. "Hi, Violet. You ready to go? L. P.'s driving us, if that's okay with you."
"Very well." She agreed. "Shall we?"
She held out her elbow as Huey held out his, and, after a few failed attempts to link arms or hold hands or hold the other's arm, they just ended up walking stiffly to the limo and opening doors on opposite sides of it.
Do I sit in the middle seat, like, next to her? I mean, I wouldn't mind it, but would she want me to? Maybe I'll sit on the other side just to be safe…
He took the leftmost seat.
"Again, I must apologize for moving the date forward. I hope it didn't cause any alarm." Violet suddenly spoke.
"Alarm? No, no, you're…fine…you're great."
The rest of the ride mostly passed in silence.
Once the limo rolled up to the museum, following his instincts (tips from a video on the internet) Huey got out of the car and ran around the other side to open the door for Violet. He pulled and pulled on the handle. It was locked. "Launchpad?" He called.
"Oh, right!" Launchpad put a seatbelt on the Darkwing Duck plush in the passenger seat. "Safety first!"
Huey rolled his eyes. Violet unlocked the door from the inside and stepped out herself. "I appreciate the efforts at chivalry." She said. "After all, it is an ancient series of customs passed down for over eight centuries that, despite what some say, is nowhere close to dead."
"Huh huh. Yep. Chivalry. It's…good." Huey agreed.
Ah, yes, very articulate, VERY. ARTICULATE. . He thought to himself. 'Chivalry is good'? Really?
"So, um…shall we go…into…the museum?" He smiled awkwardly, sweat sliding down his forehead.
"Of course." They headed up the concrete steps and entered the vast, cool-aired lobby. Huey stiffly approached the counter and handed the lady behind it their tickets. "Ma'am, which way to the new entomology section?"
She told them 'down the hall on the right', and they followed her directions and found a spacious room full of bug drawings, huge models suspended from the ceiling, and hundreds of insects in display cases.
"Woah." Huey said.
"Indescribable." Violet agreed. "There must be information on over a thousand specimens in here. Wherever shall we begin?"
Huey darted his eyes around. "There! With the common consumentur velut a tinea!"
The moth." Violet translated easily. "Sounds fascinating."
They wandered over and started reading the plaque.
Huey tried to focus on learning more about the common moth, but he felt, for once, he couldn't focus on anything. Violet was still very close, right beside him. So was her hand.
Oh, gosh, what do I do? I…kinda feel like the romantic thing to do would be….grabbing it?
No, no, that's stupid. Who knows how she'll react? What if she pulls away or glares at me or something?
Her hand is right there…the easiest way to show her how I feel, without having to say anything…would… be….
Agh, I can't do it!
Violet finished reading the plaque. "Interesting." She murmured. "I had never taken a moth's wingspan into consideration. This was a great idea, Hubert. A quiet place for gathering knowledge without interruptions. This is, to coin the phrase, 'right up our alleys."
She turned from the plaque and smiled.
Huey reddened yet again. "Well, yeah, you know, I thought it would be fun."
"It is. The most fun I've had with anyone in months. Well, alone at least." She went pink. "Alone in the sense of a platonic engagement, of course." She hid her face partially behind the folder she brought for note-taking.
"Yeah. Of course. Totally platonic."
They glanced away from each other again. "Well, onto the next plaque!" Violet said, even more formally than usual.
They inched over to start reading about the blue morpho butterfly.
……
