Notes:

Posted early-I decided against posting on Saturday because that's when season 2 airs. I wanted to wake up to reviews tomorrow, so I'm posting this during The Daily Show today.

Life has been kinda insane. Just in general.

Magica thought she'd been perfectly understanding and patient, given the circumstances. She'd allowed this farce of a friendship to go on for too long and Lena had assumed she could continue to get away with her precious "feelings" for Webby. Magica wasn't an idiot. She knew Lena had a crush on Webby if she wasn't outright in love with her. And it was annoying, too, because she considered the pink one a nuisance at best. She was all light and kind and compassionate. It sickened Magica. Yet Lena ate that shit up.

She could sense the lure of Scrooge's first treasure and the elixir like a clarion call. It rang through her senses, preventing her from thinking about anything else, even her troublesome niece. Gritting her teeth, she swished her tail back and forth in the cave. Obviously, Scrooge was laying a trap for her. However, she knew Scrooge well enough to know he wouldn't want to lose face. She might not have her magic, but she could still bring the heat, proverbially speaking.

Poe looked at her strangely; he must've been sensing the magic too, though nowhere near as strongly. While he had magic, as all dragons did, his was weak in comparison. Of course, Scrooge had magic too and he could wield it well if he cared to. She scoffed. What she could've used was a Scrooge turned to the dark side. It wouldn't have been too hard, considering how greedy he was.

And argh, every time she ignored the call, it grew louder. Damn it, she hadn't planned on confronting him so soon. But…

Kicking with her hind legs, she pushed herself out of the cave, roared, and flew off toward Dragonburg. The closer she got, the more irresistible the call became. It sang through her blood and hummed through her bones. She had to be careful to avoid the TV towers and cell phone towers that were rampant throughout Dragonburg-they might've been dragons, but that was no excuse to live in the Middle Ages. They were as technologically literate as any society could hope to be, including their neighbors in other countries.

It was just bothersome when those damned buildings were in her way. Growling, she navigated around them. It'd been a long time since she'd been in Dragonburg, fifteen years to be exact, and she didn't remember the city being so irksome. Then again, she'd been on foot then and not forced to travel as a dragon. They stayed in dragon form when they left the city, but otherwise, once within, they reverted to humanoid form. A strange species had once built this place and then died out, leaving the dragons to inherit it. Rather than rebuild or create a new city, they'd moved in.

Magica was sure it was all very convenient for them, though it wasn't for her right now. She wanted to throttle the idiot who decided this was a good layout.

She'd thought she wouldn't return here until Lena...damn it. She couldn't think of what she'd wanted to do before her triumphant return.
She landed in the fields surrounding McDragon Manor. This close to the precious objects, her nerves were on fire and she reared back, preparing to storm the manor. That proved problematic because no sooner had she landed than she found herself encumbered by a force field.

"You have got to be joking," she said.

"I knew you'd come if I baited the trap just right," Scrooge said and Magica inhaled deeply to set him on fire. All that came out was a puff of smoke. Her hatred for him knew no bounds.

He held up the nugget she wanted and then the elixir in his other hand. Magica snarled, thrashing against her restraints. Lena had never gotten this close. Lena...Magica roared in outrage, stomping the earth flat and throwing Scrooge a poisonous look. She could kill him. She could if she could get through the forcefield.

"Now, the committee has some questions for you," he said.

Magica bit off a curse and told Scrooge to go screw himself. This close to the vaunted objects, it was acutely painful. She wondered vaguely if this was what Lena endured when she tormented her.

"Give it to me," she hissed. "Give it to me now, Scroogie."

"I don't think so," he said. "Questions first and then we'll consider...but I'm thinking 'no'. At least, 'no' for getting your full powers back."

Even if she didn't get it now, she could force Lena to steal the objects in question during the masquerade ball. Yes, that would work. Oh, it was so hard to think with this nail being driven into her head. She continued to thrash and snarl; it felt like her head being split apart. What the hell had Scrooge done to those objects?

"I'll kill you!" she threatened. "I'll tear off your head and leave it around for your precious brats to find!"

"See, it's talk like that that makes me not want to free you," he said.

"You cheated!" she howled, indignant. "You lured me here under false pretenses."

"Of course he did," said another familiar voice and Magica turned her head. Mrs. Beakley, in dragon form, approached the force field. Magica's outrage grew by leaps and bounds. Not only was Beakley in dragon form, but she could also choose to inhabit it. Magica had no choice. She wanted to kill Scrooge, of course, but she'd take Beakley down next if she could.

"Why else would he want you here?" Beakley continued.

Magica flung herself against the magical barrier and rebounded, skidding backward and digging up the loamy earth.

"Right, I should go fetch the committee," Scrooge said. "I didn't expect it to work this well."

He walked away, leaving her with Beakley, who was pacing around her. Magica could sense the barrier's edges but couldn't penetrate them. In Beakley, she saw Webbigail, which incensed her further. Lena's affection for that infernal girl was going to be their downfall. She needed a way to gain better control over Lena. Or else discard her like the puppet she was.

"It's a shame I'm in my dragon form," Beakley informed her. She was a hulking monstrosity of a dragon, agate scales shining in the sun and her eyes currently draconic yellow. There was coiled strength in that long, bulky body. She was easily the height of the manor and perhaps half again as wide in dragon form. Beakley could probably grab her by the throat and shake her like a dog would a rat and break its neck.

"It's a shame you didn't bring Webbigail with you," Magica countered. "But, no, I suppose you want to protect her from everything, including me."

Beakley halted, sniffing. Warning smoke flew from her nostrils. Her long grey mane swept from side to side. Ah, she'd hit a nerve.

"You have nothing to do with my granddaughter and I intend to keep it that way," Beakley sniffed again. "Your foul, odious dark magic shall never touch our walls."

Magica laughed. She couldn't help herself. How foolish Beakley and Scrooge were, to think their fortress impregnable. How arrogant. Everything could be breached, given enough time and patience. It was one of the rare instances where she was almost proud of Lena.
However, since Magica gave herself credit for what Lena had accomplished, Magica was proud of herself for getting that far.

"I don't know why Scrooge permitted you to keep that form," Beakley continued. "If it were me, I'd have stuck you in a form with far less mobility and power. Of course, he trapped you in dragon form by accident. I would change you into benign...maybe a duck."

Scrooge returned with Flintheart Glomgold and Mark Talons. Magica sneered at Talons. He was a young upstart who thought he was so much better than everyone because he designed cell phones. She'd seen Lena typing away on her phone, presumably texting Webby.
Oh...to get her talons on Webby just once…

"Ha, look whose fortunes have fallen even further," Glomgold crooned.

"And...I'm officially the third richest dragon in Dragonburg," Talons announced, staring at his phone and poking at the screen. "Looks like you're the fourth. Oh well. You snooze, you lose."

"Gentlemen," Scrooge reprimanded. He eyed Magica. "As the fourth richest dragon in Dragonburg, or, should I say, in exile from Dragonburg, you are no longer needed on the committee. Looks like I brought you out here for nothing."

He tucked the nugget and elixir away. On the one hand, the burning magic stopped and she could breathe. On the other, a vein throbbed in her forehead. She flung herself at the barrier again and Talons frowned. He was a slim humanoid with grey and brown hair, despite only being thirty or so. He wore grey too, so drab, and was too fixated on his phone to acknowledge Scrooge's comment. He had, however, noticed her attempts to escape.

"Shouldn't you do something about that?" Talons asked in idle curiosity as if Magica were an exhibit he wasn't particularly interested in.

"You're not getting out of there that easily," Scrooge said. "It's the best magical protection Beakley can provide."

Magica paused. Throwing herself against the barrier and snarling was accomplishing nothing. Perhaps it was time to change tactics, find something that worked better.

"You sure you don't want a girl on the committee to round things out?" Magica commented. "I dare say I might bring a breath of life to these assorted windbags. Present company included."

"I think we'll manage just fine without you," Scrooge said. "Beakley, take down the barrier-once we're all clear. Let her go on her way."

Magica grinned. She could think clearly and if Beakley lowered the defenses now, she might have a chance…

Beakley scowled. Or, rather, she would've, if her draconic features currently allowed for humanoid facial expressions. She didn't look happy with Scrooge's command. The two other magnates walked away, but Scrooge lingered. And that was all the opportunity Magica needed. She waited impatiently for Beakley to lower her guard.

It seemed, however, that Scrooge was determined to keep an eye on her. This was...unfortunate.

She changed her mind. The elixir and the nugget, while important, were no longer her concern. Lena could fetch those later. As soon as the barrier lowered, once Scrooge was out of sight distance, Magica surged toward the manor and Webby.

She managed a short jump before Beakley slammed her into the ground.

"Mr. McDragon has made it very clear you are not welcome here," Beakley growled, her teeth at the other female's throat.

The other woman outweighed her, had more muscles than her, and had more magic to bear. Magica was outgunned. She whirled around, straining to get her teeth around Beakley's throat. Beakley hadn't bitten down, which was her mistake. However, she also was ducking her head and keeping her long neck out of Magica's reach.

"Oh, has he?" Magica said conversationally. "I hadn't noticed."

"I know who you're after," Beakley snarled. "And you're not going to get there."

"Not while-" Magica squirmed-"you are making this-" she lashed out and finally, finally, hooked her fangs onto Beakley's throat-"difficult."

She bit down hard, knowing she wouldn't get a second chance, and Beakley kicked her hard in the stomach, causing a bit of flesh to fly off as Magica crashed away from her. Beakley's throat was bleeding profusely and Magica knew she'd seen the alarm in her eyes. She was stuck on her back, however, which would make it difficult to flip herself over. A dragon of her girth on its back was as helpless as a turtle. She'd eventually be able to roll herself up, but it'd take a while.

And Beakley wasn't going to grant her that time.

Beakley darted toward the manor and shifted as she did, conjuring up her normal attire before disappearing within. Despite the situation, Magica grinned. She'd injured her enemy. That was worth its weight in gold...almost.

Webby and Lena arrived home to discover the manor in an uproar. The two pushed their way through the servants and found the boys sitting outside her grandmother's room. Perplexed, Webby glanced at the closed door. That was peculiar. Her grandmother almost never shut her door, not during the day.

"What's going on?" Webby asked, her heart hammering. She'd already gotten the gist from the servants' gossip that something bad had happened. "Where's Granny?"

"Scrooge brought Magica here," Dewey said. "The committee needed to talk to her and she got into a fight with Mrs. Beakley. We don't know much more than that, but Mrs. Beakley's been in there with a whole bunch of doctors ever since."

"Granny!" Webby gasped, horrified, and rushed to the door.

Lena, however, seemed to be preoccupied with another matter. "Magica was here?"

"How do you know who Magica is?" Huey asked, suspicious.

Lena gritted her teeth and managed to spit out one word. "Aunt."

"She's your aunt?!" the boys and Webby exclaimed.

Lena sagged, all the strength running out of her. She collapsed against Webby. "I've been trying to tell you that for four years. Magica put a geas on me so I couldn't."

"Wait…" Webby said, thinking over all the manner of strange discussions and moments she'd had with Lena over the years. They were starting to make an odd sort of sense.

"Then how do we know you're not evil?" Louie asked, looking up from his phone. "And using us as puppets to get what Magica wants?"

"I'm not," Lena protested. Webby had to support her before she sagged onto the floor. She could feel her best friend's heart racing through her wrist.

"Sounds like something an evil person might say in their defense," Louie said.

"She's not evil," Webby said. "I'm a good judge of character."

The boys exchanged glances.

"No offense, Webby, but you're really not," Huey said. "You've been cooped up in this manor for so long that when we first met you, you thought we were trying to kill you."

Lena snorted weakly. "I'd love to have seen that."

"You tied us up and questioned us for ten minutes before you let us go," Dewey added.

"You'd never hurt me, right, Lena?" Webby said, turning to her. "You love me. You said so."

Lena hugged her; her tail was lashing back and forth in agitation again. What was going on with her? First the collapsing and now this? Wait...the collapsing…

"You said Magica has a geas on you," Webby said. "That's a magical compulsion. Are there any other ways Magica has power over you?"

Lena wouldn't meet her gaze this time. "Yes."

"Told you!" Louie said. "I can always tell a grifter."

"She's telling me the truth," Webby protested. "Those attacks...you said they were magical. Or did you mean Magica?"

Lena collapsed, all the strength seeming to flow out of her. She crashed to the floor and hugged her knees. Her gaze slid over the group of them, to the exit behind them, and then back to Webby. An air of profound sadness and regret hung over her, which Webby couldn't fathom. What would Lena have cause to regret? She hadn't done anything wrong.

"I meant the latter," Lena said and clenched a fist against her thigh.

"Magica's been hurting you for years?" Dewey asked, seeming to side with Lena and Webby. Webby smiled at him.

Lena nodded again, looking thoroughly dejected. Webby sat beside her on the floor.

"I'm telling you, Webby…" Louie began and Webby shot him a dirty look.

"You can trust her," Webby said. "I swear it on my life."

"Webby…" Louie warned.

"I know Lena," Webby said. "And I know I can trust her. That means you can too."

Lena didn't respond. She pressed her forehead against her knees and hugged her legs harder.

"The fact that she's not defending herself is making me kinda wary," Huey said.

"Well…" Lena murmured.

Just then, the door opened, preventing any further extrapolation. A man wearing white robes with brown hair and a few brown scales on his cheeks left, closing his magical satchel as he went. He frowned at the group assembled outside.

"Is Granny okay?" Webby burst out, forgetting about Lena for the time being. She jumped to her feet. "What happened?"

"Magica went for her throat," Cal said, frowning. "We're not sure how extensive the damage will be...but...we gave her a sedative for the time being."

"Her throat?" Webby repeated, feeling ill. "Can I see her?"

"She's sleeping," Cal said. Scrooge had been using him for years now-he was discreet and he was usually available at a moment's notice. He was slim and gave the impression of wings, even in humanoid form. Unlike Lena and a few others Webby knew, he did not possess a tail. She'd never seen him in dragon form, so she wasn't sure if he didn't have one or he did.

They filed into the room to spy her grandmother with heavy bandages around her neck. She was pale and her chest rose and fell slowly, not the easy regular rhythm of uninhibited breathing.

"I'm so sorry, Webby," Lena said.

"Why? You didn't do this," Webby replied, grateful her friend had managed to rise up and join them. It must've been the lighting because Lena looked sick to her stomach too. The boys stared at Mrs. Beakley and then at the floor.

Webby was well familiar with her grandmother's room. It had a large four poster bed, a locked chest at the base of it, a dresser opposite it, a bookcase full of books, and a desk with chair for any professional matters.

"She'll be okay, lass," said a voice from behind them and Scrooge walked into the room. Behind him was Goldie, whom Webby ignored for the time being. She had mixed feelings about the blonde woman, owing to the fact that their first meeting had ended with Webby and her grandmother being stuffed in an armoire.

"How can you tell for sure?" Huey argued. "We don't know how bad her injuries are."

"I'm trying to comfort her," Scrooge snapped at him.

"Sorry…" Huey said. He reached for Webby's hand, as did Dewey, and they both squeezed.

"Lena said her aunt is Magica," Louie said, apparently still hung-up on what had happened earlier. It had slipped Webby's mind.

"Then I suppose she'd be wanting this," Scrooge said, reaching into his pocket to pull out the little vial with black liquid sloshing around. Lena's breath caught.

"Come with me, lass," he said, gesturing to Lena. "We have a few things to discuss."

Lena, staring around her with wide eyes, leaned forward and pecked Webby on the cheek before following Scrooge down the hall. Webby flushed, holding her cheek as the two disappeared. She couldn't believe Lena had kissed her.

"She looked like she was going to her execution," Dewey said quietly.

Louie looked uneasy. Though he'd been the one to say they shouldn't trust Lena, he didn't seem happy about the way things had turned out.

"We can trust Lena," Webby said and wasn't sure she was trying to convince them or herself. "I trust her."

She stared at her grandmother's prone form. Her stomach roiled and she swallowed back the bile that burned her throat. She didn't like doubting Lena. It threatened her world as she knew it.

"Oh, Webby," Dewey said and she glanced at him. "Mom wanted to talk to you about the ball. But it can wait."

Webby nodded mechanically. Yes, it could wait. She stepped forward, mentally running her hands over her grandmother's neck. In dragon form, the neck was the only vulnerable part of the body. The only way to make a killing strike.

Magica. Aunt Magica, Lena had said. Webby clenched her eyes shut and felt Louie's hand on her back.

"Maybe you're right," Louie offered. "It'd be nice if I was wrong, wouldn't it?"

He said this in a tone that indicated he doubted he was. She doubted it too and her heart felt heavy, unbearably heavy.

She could still taste the foul woman's blood in her mouth and she spat it out. She'd come no closer to obtaining her treasures and she might have sabotaged Lena in the process. For someone who normally thought things through, this had gone terribly. Scrooge would be on guard, which would mean that the masquerade ball would have much more security, including around his dungeons. Lena's best chance to snoop would've been that...Magica cursed.

She'd let her bloodlust get the best of her. It'd just been so long since she'd been able to do something that she'd not thought about it first. That didn't eradicate the desire to thrash Webby to one inch of her life, though it was now compounded with a desire to do the same to Lena.

She reached for Lena so she could inflict more pain and found herself mentally grasping at thin air. Someone had a magical shield about her. Magica snarled.

Why the hell was she running and hiding, anyway? Even if she couldn't get into the manor, perhaps she could convince someone else to help her. Obviously, Lena was out, at least for the time being. She just needed to find the right susceptible and possibly suicidal soul…