Hey! I'm back, thanks to KaliAnn, Steampunk Wilson and MelodySouth65 for reviewing the last chapter.

So the plans for a party are underway, but before that the ducks have lives to lead and things to take care off…

See chapter 1 for the disclaimer and let's crack on!

05/10/2019

Gee a lot has happened today. I hardly know where to start – although now that I say that [write that?] I suppose it started this morning at breakfast when Auntie Beakley asked what we were up to today.

We all looked at each other and shook our heads and she said, briskly. "Well as it's such a nice day I think you should all go out for the day. It would enable me to get some cleaning done. Maybe Funsey's or the park?"

Well, never let it be said that the McDuck/Duck clan can't take a hint. Donald finished his mouthful and said. "Well, I suppose we can take the kids somewhere for a couple of hours-"

"Fantastic." Beakley said, scooping up all our plates. "It's rather a deep clean so I won't need you to be back till 4 at the latest-"

"-Ah sounds good, Beakley." Scrooge said, finishing his coffee. "Noow if you doon't mind, I'm going to ma stud-"

"-NO." Beakley said, waving a fork at him threateningly.

"But Beakley-!"

"No but's, Mr McDuck, I have been wanting to clean your study for the last eight months and today IS. THE. DAY. Do I make myself clear?"

Scrooge looked at her. She looked at Scrooge and then had a silent debate. Ten seconds later our dear Uncle throws his hands in the air and snaps. "Well, what am ah meant ta do then!?"

"Spend time with your family, perhaps?" Beakley said, dryly.

So the next step was to decide exactly where we were going. The kids clamoured for Funso's, but after the horror on last time wild horses wouldn't drag me in there, so I said no in my best mum voice. Eventually after a bit of arguing we decided on the library. [Again]

"Ah brilliant!" Scrooge said, when I knocked on his study door to tell him. "I've been meaning to go there for a few weeks now…"

I must admit I was a little dumbstruck, because - although Scrooge prides himself on being 'smarter than the smarties' - I have NEVER seen him willingly go into a library. I mean, I'm sure some of that is because he's actually GOT a library somewhere in the money bin, but still.

I said this to him and he chuckled. "Aye, that's true, but I have a specific reason to go in shall we say. One that, unfortunately, my records can't help me with."

I looked at the glint in his eyes and the familiar smile and felt a bubble of excitement. "Are we going on another adventure!?"

His grin went even wider, if possible, and he tapped the side of his nose. "Ah, noow. Tha' would be telling!"

Which is a yes, basically.

So on the way to the library I caught up with Donald and explained this to him, in my quietest voice.

"Wha-!?" Donald squawked in response when I'd finished.

While the kids [and Scrooge] looked at us in alarm, I smiled brightly at them before grabbing his arm and hissing. "Would you keep it down!?" Into his ear.

He shook me off, angrily, but did lower his voice. "We've only just come back from an adventure!"

"Yeah? And what? Is there a limit as to how many adventures we can have in a year now!?"

His eyes sparked and now it was his turn to his into MY ear. "Look, Della, I don't know about you but I am BEYOND the point in my life when I could comfortably risk my own life for a gleaming coin from the depths of the ocean or something! I mean - for goodness sake - I have the boys to think about!"

Well. That stung. I mean, I'm thinking about the boys to! They love our adventures, it'll be a real family bonding experience!

Anyway, back to Donald. I must have shown how hurt I was, because his eyes went soft and he said. [At normal volume] "Della-"

"-Forget it." I said, shoving him away and hurrying to catch up with Scrooge. "This better be a good adventure of yours." I snapped at him.

He looked surprised for a brief second before his eyes narrowed and he said. "Of course it will, lass! It'll be great!"

"What'll be great?" Dewey asked, pushing in0between us. "Are we going on another adventure!?"

Scrooge smiled down at him and ruffled his hair – a gesture that caught me totally by surprise as I can't remember him ever doing that to any of us when we were younger. "You'll see lad."

So we were all buzzing by the time we got to the library and the kids took some convincing to go away and leave me, Donald and Scrooge to it, but eventually the got the message – via Donald shooing at them – and went away.

Once they'd gone Donald put his hands on his hips and whipped round to face Scrooge. "Well then?" He said, rather abruptly. "What's this idea of yours then?"

Scrooges eyes sparkled as he announced this next sentence triumphantly. "We…are going…to find…theeeeeeeee – Shield of Achilles!"

I felt another flutter of excitement and – being unable to leap around and cheer like I wanted to – settled for wringing my hands and grinning so widely I probably resembled the Joker.

Donald, of course, was MUCH LESS excited. "How?" He said, like Scrooge had just announced the weather.

Scrooge - no doubt picking up on his oh-so-enthusiastic tone – threw him a look and said. "Well, Donald, lad, my plan was to go to Caves Of Ice –"

That got Donald's attention. "In Spoonerville?" He checked, excitement FINALLY coming through.

Scrooge gave him a puzzled look, the significance clearly lost on him. "Yes-" He said, slowly. "Why?"

Both myself and Donald gave him a double 'are you stupid?' look. "That's where Goofy lives." My twin reminded him.

After a couple of seconds confusement, Scrooge said. "Oh I seeee!" In a tone that indicated he didn't see at all in the slightest. "Well, of course if we get the shield - which I'll show you where it's supposed to be in a moment – then yes. I see no reason why we can't visit…er…"

"…Goofy." Donald said, giving our uncle a hard look, as he tapped his foot in annoyance.

"-Of course. Yes. After we've found this of course. Let me just track down a map…"

Well. 'Tracking down a map' actually turned out to be extremely complicated. Turns out Spoonerville is far away enough that it's not included in the local maps of Duckberg and the surrounding areas, [Like Mouseville] but not close enough to be included in the map of places that are about 20 kilometres away.

Eventually – after a lot of bluster from the Donald and myself and Scrooge threatening too complain to the mayor they managed to find one that covered the distances in-between and sure enough Spoonerville was on there.

"That's ridiculous!" Donald exploded as soon as we were left alone with the map. "It would have been quicker to just DRIVE to Goofy's and ASK HIM!"

"Donald." I said, pointedly. "People are staring."

My twin waved a hand and said, huffily. "Ah phooey." W hich I translated as 'let 'em'

So, I'll cut out the next bit because it's VERY boring, but basically, we spent literally half an hour looking at this map, right. And basically, Scrooge explained that the shield SHOULD BE in a secret room that's accessible by finding, and I quote, the 'loose icicle'. "That is if it's there." He finished, rolling the map up.

It took a couple of seconds for the words to sink in, but when they did Donald exploded. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'IF IT'S THERE!?' He yelled – earning several alarmed looks from passers by in the process. Catching the eye of the librarians he quietened his voice and hissed at Scrooge. "What is the POINT of doing this if it might not be there!?"

"It should be there." Scrooge said, defensively. "According to all sources Archilles threw it down in a fit of rage and it hit the block of ice – Spoonerville not being there at the time of course – and embodied itself in it for ever-" Scrooge took a breath and it was clear he was enjoying himself. "HOWEVER-"

"There's always a however-" Donald muttered to me.

"-There is one source that says Hephaestus – who created the shield in the first place – was so furious when he heard what had happened that he went down and retrieved it himself and THEN refused to give it back to Archilles when he asked for it back. That legend says it now resides in Hesphaestus chambers as a reminded to people what will happen if they don't respect the objects, he crafts for them." After that long-winded explanation, Scrooge finally took a breath, which gave Donald the opportunity to say.

"So…why can't we just go and ASK Hes – hes – hesph – the shield guy if he has it and save ourselves the trouble?"

Scrooge stroked his chin and – with a sly grin at my twin – said. "Well we could, but THEN of course you would have to see Storkcules again…"

"Okay, I'm in." Donald said quickly. "When are we going?"

"Well, steady on lad! We need to PLAN first. Get things organised. Buy warm clothes. I would say…" He trailed off and looked at his watch – why that would help him I don't know – then said. "Some time within the first week of November?"

And that is the story of our newest adventure! November here we come!

Hi! I'm back again, I know I don't usually do end of chapter notes – mainly because I dislike them, but I didn't want to stick this at the top in fear of spoiling the story.

Although the Shield of Archilles IS a real artififact – you can look it up if you wish - and it WAS made by Hephaestus that is as far as I'm taking the similarities. I don't THINK it's kept in an ice cave and all that stuff Scrooge said about the legend is a figment of my imagination.

Thanks again and bye!