Meant To Be Chapter 2
Early morning in Duckburg.
Scrooge McDuck sits in front of his (very) big screen TV watching the morning news. There is a report on Darkwing Duck stopping an-aerobics-instructor-turned-mad-scientist and was attempting to release a gas into the air that would turn everybody in St. Canard into Richard Simmons clones.
"Richard Simmons clones" Scrooge says to himself "I think somebody already released some sort of gas into the air in St. Canard. One that turns criminals into complete loons!"
He watches as reporters interview the Masked Mallard. Darkwing had disappeared for awhile after suffering injuries from the accident the summer before.
Scrooge leans heavily back in his recliner chair his thoughts drifting back to that fateful day last summer. It was to be the grand opening of his new Amusement Park in St. Canard. But no one could have foreseen the events that would unfold that day. The day he had appeared. Dark Warrior Duck, the psychopathic overlord from the not so distant future. Dark Warrior, who, in his own reality, was the Masked Mallard, Darkwing Duck.
Scrooge finds himself pondering that day, often.
Not because of Dark Warrior, however. Rather because of those who had come to stop him – Flyer, Tracker, Nomad – and Guardian. All of them were future versions of what Darkwing Duck might become. They had revealed their identities that day in the amusement park. All of them were heroes in their own plain of existence, but Scrooge knew something about them that nobody else did. Guardian, the duck in the Silver and White costume, he who was the most powerful of them all, was not just a possible choice in Darkwing Duck's life – he was Darkwing's rightful destiny! He was what Darkwing was meant to someday become.
Scrooge has made a point of following the exploits of the Masked Mallard since that day. Though Darkwing always prevails in the end; he seems at times, rather incompetent in his methods. In truth, it is hard to imagine that the cocky crime fighter could ever become somebody as noble and seemly modest as Guardian. Scrooge wonders often, what it is that makes Darkwing Duck someday become so different from the person he now is?
"I guess we'll just see won't we?" Scrooge states aloud.
See what, Unca' Scrooge?" an inquisitive voice asks.
Scrooge startles in surprise. Turning in his chair he sees his young nephews smiling up at him.
"Ah lads, you startled me." Scrooge replies cheerfully.
"Who were you talking to Unca Scrooge?" Huey asks curiously.
Scrooge glances back at the television to see that the news report on Darkwing had ended. "Oh nobody lad, just thinking out loud. We Multi-zillionaire's tend to do that from time to time."
He uses the remote to turn the TV off. "So boys, this is the last day of school before summer vacation. What will you be doing today?" he asks already suspicious of the apparent angelic faces that seemingly look so innocent.
"Uh nothing Unca' Scrooge. They'll just have us cleaning out our desks and stuff." Huey says all too sweetly.
"Uh-huh. You know in my day, we kids use to pull some pretty wild pranks on out last day of school." Scrooge replies with an I'm-on-to-you-little-scheme tone of voice.
"Oh really?" Dewey asks attempting to sound innocent. "Things sure were different in your time Unca' Scrooge. Kids don't do that kind'a stuff anymore."
"Yeah," Louie adds quickly "Besides we only have a half day today. Not much we can do in a half day."
Scrooge scrutinizes the boys young faces for a few seconds before leaning back in his chair "Alright then Lads, off to School with you, then and have a good day."
The triplets exchange looks of triumph, having successfully fooled there crafty uncle. "See you after school" Huey says to his uncle as the boys head out of the room. But just as they reach the door, Scrooge calls out to them "Just to be on the safe side lad, I'll have Duckworth confiscate those water balloons you have in your book bags before you leave."
A crestfallen look sweeps the faces of the triplets - busted! A bit more downhearted than when they came into the room, they quietly leave, heading off to school.
Scrooge glances over his shoulder as they go. He grins. There is no denying it, the lads do have a lot of there Uncle Scrooge's mischief in them.
"Well, I should be off my self, time and profit wait for no man." He says rising from his chair. Walking into the grand foyer he sees Duckworth depositing three unopened bags of water balloons in the hall closet.
"Time to get to work, Duckworth."
"Oh very good sir," the butler replies soberly, opening the front door for his employer.
Scrooge steps outside just as the boys are peddling their bikes out of the front gate.
He grins as he recalls his childhood in bonny Scotland. He remembers vividly the pranks he use to play on his teacher Mrs. Pilewort at the end of every school year. He remembers the snakes in her desk, the frogs in her purse- he also remember vividly the inside of the woodshed behind the school!
Well those days are long gone, it's time for work.
As the limo pulls up in front of the money bin, Scrooge sees his high powered, high tech security guard, Gizmoduck guarding the front entrance.
"Good morning, Sir!" Gizmoduck greets him with his usual enthusiasm.
"Good day to ya' Gizma'duck," Scrooge replies stepping out of the backseat of the limo. "I trust things have been peaceful around here?"
"Perfectly."
"Good, good, I'll be in at my desk if something comes up, then." With that he heads up to his office.
He takes his place behind the large mahogany desk ready for a day of paperwork and profits. He pulls out some documents, insurance papers for the reopening of McDuck Amusement Park in St. Canard - finally! He's been pushing for this all winter. Getting the Park rebuilt and ready to re-open for the summer.
While studying the papers, he hears the faint shuffling of footsteps on the shag carpet. It must be his secretary "Can I help you, Mrs. Featherby?" he asks not bothering to look up from his work.
No answer.
Turning his attention from his work, he lifts his eyes to look at the elderly woman. "Is something wrong..." he trails off.
No one is there.
Strange, he knows he heard footsteps. He gets up and steps into the other room. Mrs. Featherby isn't at her desk. Of course not, this is her day off!
Strange, very strange. Scrooge knows he heard somebody moving around in here.
Well, it must be his imagination. Of course. Gizmoduck is right outside. He wouldn't just let somebody waltz right in unannounced.
He dismisses the whole thing and turns to go back to his desk when he hears Gizmoduck shout "You there, halt!"
Sprinting outside, scrooge sees Gizmoduck charging off in the direction of the large grove of trees that lined the roadside near the bin.
It's not long before he returns.
"Gizma'duck, what's wrong?" he asks as the super hero approaches.
Oh, nothing I guess, Mr. McDuck. I thought I saw somebody lurking about in the woods. Guess maybe it was just an animal or something."
Scrooge glances in the direction of the grove. It seems a strange coincidence that both he and Gizma'duck were imagining the presence of people who aren't there.
Still, maybe it is just that, a coincidence. He shrugs it off and returns to work.
A few hours later, the boys come rushing in cheering gleefully that school is now officially over.
"So lads, I take it that your last day of school was uneventful?" Scrooge asks,uneventful, referring of course, to the fact that they weren't able to douse their poor teacher with water balloons.
"Yeah," says Huey, sounding a tad downhearted "It was really dull."
"Yeah, but at least one of the kids brought his pet tarantula to put in Mrs. Quackenbush's desk." Louie says then adds "too bad she squished it with a book."
For the life of him, Scrooge can't help but laugh - oh to be a child again!
"Tell you what lads, why don't we head up to the mansion for a bite to eat. Your old Uncle Scrooge is famished!"
Scrooge and the boys make their way home walking alongside the dirt rode that went from the mansion to the bin.
Scrooge opts to walk home rather than call Duckworth to pick then up. It is a nice change, a chance to enjoy the scenery. The boys leave their bikes at the mansion and walk with him along the roadside.
Scrooge ambles close behind the frolicking boys watching them with amusement as Dewey loses his balance as he attempts to leap over Louie and both of them end us on their backsides on the dirt rode.
"Nice jump there," Louie comments to his brother, "but in case you didn't understand the rules of the game. You're suppose to jump over me not on me."
Dewey is prepared to come back with a retort but something in the background catches his eyes. "Hey, what was that?" he asks gazing towards a sparsely wooded area on the wayside.
"What is what?" Louie asks climbing to his feet. He turns to look in the direction his brother is staring. "I don't see anything but trees."
"I saw something moving in there..I think." Dewey says scratching his feathered head.
Huey joins his brothers in staring into the line of trees "Well, I don't see anything." he replies.
"Me neither" says Louie, "lets go check it out."
Recalling that Gizmoduck had thought he'd seen somebody in the woods earlier today Scrooge doesn't want to take any chances.
"Lads, come back here!" Scrooge orders. "It could be an animal of some kind. Best leave it alone."
The kids exchange looks, knowing there uncles no-nonsense tone means there was no arguing with him. They return to the side of the road and continue on there way home.
... Unaware...
They are not alone...
not at the moment...
Not for the rest of the walk back to the mansion...
Among the growth of trees, a figure moves stealthily. He follows them, unseen. He is watching. He is waiting.
To be continued...