Note: All of the characters in this story belong to Disney…save for the two I came with, they're mine…so there :p
Well, here it is! The chapter you've all been waiting for; introducing the ducks themselves, and what part they play in this crazy little fic of mine.
Sorry it took so long to add them, and to update this story. I've been busy. But have no fear! More will be on the way soon, as the next three chapters are already in the works. Hell, it might even be four. I might have to split one…we'll see.
Anyway, I'll shut up and let you get to reading. Enjoy!
Beagle Without a Mask
Chapter 6
The Ducks of Duckburg…
"This is a disaster. A disaster!"
Scrooge McDuck continues to grieve over the page in his newspaper, hoping to pass the time while on his way to his main office for the day. But instead of a relaxing read through of the business section, another article had managed to catch his eye first. This happened a lot, as this particle story was hard to miss, since it was always the same story over and over again, placed right on the first page.
"How can they possibly call off the search for Beagle Boys? They're the biggest threat to Duckburg. Not to mention my money bin!" He glances over the top of the paper speaking to his driver, Duckworth. "How do they expect me to sleep at night with those ruffians running around free?"
"I haven't the foggiest, Sir," he replies in his usual well-mannered tone. "Perhaps we could stop by the pharmacist on the way home and purchase some sleeping pills for you tonight."
Scrooge frowns at the back of his head. "Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Merely trying to make light of the situation, Mr. McDuck." He looks at him through the mirror while stopped at a red light. "Although I don't fully agree with the authority's decision to give up the hunt, I do however take into consideration their reason for it."
"What's that?" he asks half-heartedly, turning to the business section in an attempt to calm his nerves.
"Well, Sir…I've been following the news reports of the Beagle Boys most recent acts of criminal nature, and the lack of law enforcement was very much expected. Not to mention rather obvious."
The old duck looks up from the stocks and bonds, raising an eyebrow. "Why on Earth would ya think that? If anything it should encourage the police to do everything in their power to put them back behind bars where they belong! Especially after whatever they've done while being on the loose."
Duckworth clears his throat. "I'm afraid, that's just it, Sir. That's what I was trying to tell you…there haven't actually been any acts of burglary since they were reported as fugitives. I believe they've called off any full-scaled attempts at locating them because of their absence.
"It's almost as if they've decided to call it quits…if only for a short time. But, you never know."
Scrooge thinks about this for a moment. "Bless me bagpipes. You're right." He watches the small stores lining the sidewalk pass by them at thirty miles an hour. "It isn't really like them to go this long without at least making some kind of attempt at getting rich quick, even if it isn't at my bin."
He rubs under his beak. "Something's not right here…whether they're up to no good or not…I can feel it."
"Forgive me for asking, Sir, but do I perhaps detect a of hint of concern for your enemies?"
"Stick to driving, Duckworth." Scrooge unfolds his newspaper again grumpily. "Sarcasm isn't really your best subject?"
Duckworth grins to himself before saying, "I'm guessing your sudden anxiety has to do with your charity event next week?"
"Aye." He flips to another page. "Why the mayor and I agreed to hold the accursed thing at my bin, I'll never know… I suppose my private museum makes for a good backdrop for just such an occasion."
"It's also good for your relationship with those in need, Sir." He turns into the long driveway leading up to Scrooge McDuck's monogrammed building, the large golden S that doubles as a dollar sign glinting in the sunlight. "It's not often that the public has a chance to witness your charitable side. Not to mention the opportunity to gaze upon the exquisite historical relics you've managed to obtain over the years."
Before the car comes to a stop, Scrooge folds up his newspaper in his briefcase to read later, answering, "I just hope the Beagle Boys don't think to take part in that opportunity." He gazes up at the skyscraper towering over them, worried. "Having them wandering around this place on a night like that is the last thing I need."
"If we don't think of something to do fast, I'm gonna lose my mind!" Louie pulls at the feathers atop his head, leaning over the edge of his bunk. "Being bored all day is gonna drive me bananas!"
"Well, we could find Launchpad," suggested Huey from the top bunk as he tosses a baseball up at the ceiling repeatedly. "Maybe he's working on a plane. Watching him try to fix stuff is never boring…especially when he gets electrocuted."
The third brother, Dewey, shakes his head as he looks lazily out their bedroom window. "Nah. He's out making a delivery for Uncle Scrooge. Florida, or something like that. He won't be back until tonight. He said he'd come if he got back soon enough." He glances over at his twins. "What about Gyro? He might have some weird new invention we can test."
Louie thinks about this. "Hmm. I guess we could do that." He sits up right, jumping down onto the floor, looking around for is hat. "Besides, we haven't been over there in ages. And you know Gyro Gearloose; the longer he's alone, the more crazier his inventions are."
Huey stops throwing his baseball, looking down at the other two. "Aw, but its cold outside. There's gotta be something we can do inside."
"We could always clean our room like Mrs. Beakley suggested." Dewey gestures at the space around them, indicating the piles of laundry not yet folded and put away, mixed in with some dirty clothes as well. Toys and assorted sporting equipment are scattered about the floor, though some of them are down near the bottom bed on the boys' triple bunk in an attempt to shove them underneath and out of sight.
Huey, seeing his brother's point, sighs in defeat. "Where's my jacket?
Once they're dressed for the cold outside, they head for the stairs, sliding down the banister as usual. They rush to the kitchen, in search of their nanny.
"Mrs. Beakley?" Huey asks, being the first to spy her standing at the sink, washing some dishes. She hands them down to her young granddaughter, Webigail, who dries them before she places them gently up onto the counter. "Can we go visit Gyro? We need something to do."
"Aside from house work," adds Dewey quickly.
The nanny chuckles, continuing to scrub a frying pan. "I'm sorry, boys, but your uncle wanted you to stay close to home today. He said he might need you to help out at the money bin later."
"For what?" Louie shrugs. "We already helped him count all of his coins last month."
Dewey groans. "Yeah, twice…he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in our math skills, but he has trust issues with anyone other than family…especially accountants."
Beakley shakes her head. "No, it's not that. He just needs you to fix up his museum for the charity benefit next week. I hear it's going to be rather upper class, so I imagine he just needs you to do some cleaning and-"
The triplets begin to protest, whining at the thought of chores, as was the very thing they were trying to avoid. Dewey throws his hands up. "But that could take forever! He has tons of old stuff in that place."
"I thought he already had someone to take care of that?" Louie asks, unzipping his coat as he's beginning to sweat. "What's the point of having us there? If anything, we'll probably just mess things up."
"Well," she says, letting the water out of the sink and then drying her hands with a towel. "I wasn't supposed to tell you, but…" She grins down at them, glad to see them perk up slightly at hearing this. "It's nothing currently in the museum he needs you to clean, but rather something new that's coming in. I'm not sure what it is," she adds quickly, knowing they'd ask. "All I know is that Launchpad McQuack is bringing it up from, Florida, I believe."
She retrieves the teapot from atop the stove to fill with water, deciding to make herself some tea, as well as hot chocolate for the children. "The only thing I can tell you is that it might have something to do with some cargo recovered from a few sunken ships in the Gulf of Mexico."
"Ya mean, like, pirate ships?" Huey asks, his eyes just as wide as his brothers'. "Neat-o!"
Mrs. Beakley laughs as she pulls five coffee mugs from a cupboard. "Oh, I doubt that." She then gets out the mix for the hot cocoa and a tea bag for herself. "But, then again, you never know. Stranger things have happened around here."
"Boy is that the understatement of the year," says Louie, following the other two over to the breakfast nook to sit down.
"I hope it's something pretty, Grammy," states Webby, deciding to speak up. "Like sparkly necklaces, or maybe some pretty pictures, even!"
"Yeah right, Webby. Pirate treasure? In case you haven't noticed, but our luck hasn't been that great lately." Dewey speaks for the other boys as well, all of them nodding in agreement.
"It's just like Grammy said, you never know," Webigail holds her head up in confidence. "Besides, your luck hasn't been that bad."
"Oh, dear." Mrs. Beakley, who'd been rummaging through most all of the cupboards, shakes her head in disappointment. "Sorry, children. But you'll have to go without marshmallows in you hot chocolate for today."
The boys all groan at this, Dewey looking down at the young girl again with his arms crossed. "See? Told ya."
Far on the other side of Duckburg, an old duck sits in front of a roaring fire in his luxurious mansion, comfortable and warm while reading his newspaper. But despite his comfort and wealth, he's far from happy at the moment. As he continues to read through the business section, his anger rises each time he sees the name 'McDuck' printed boldly on the page, giving him the urge to throw the paper into the fire.
"Blast that penny-pincher!" Flintheart Glomgold crumples it up, tossing it over the cushioned chair he sits in, knowing he'll want to read it later. "Charity event, my foot! That old coot will do anything for publicity. Even fly in some cheap junk to pass it off as 'valuable artifacts'," he adds with mock impression, his Scottish accent carrying throughout his home, almost echoing.
He sinks deeper into his chair, reaching for his cup of tea, grimacing as he drinks it as it's gone cold. "Bah," he states, replacing it on the small table. He then stares into the fire in front of him, as if thinking. After a moment, his scowl is replaced by a sly grin.
He rubs under his beak. "Of course, if something were to unexpectedly happen to those precious new toys McDuck has coming, that little charity event 'a his wouldn't turn out to be such a great party after all." Glomgold shrugs. "It's not exactly something that could ruin Scrooge," He says aloud to himself, rubbing his hands together with delight, laughing somewhat maniacally. "But it could still be fun to read about!"
He jumps up from his chair, leaving the warmth of the fireplace and going over to his desk. He rummages through his rolodex, pulling out one of the cards, still grinning.
"All I have to do is tip off a certain bunch of goons that old Scroogy has something valuable coming in, and they'll be all over it like flies to honey!"
He reads over one of the cards, finding one of the phone numbers to try first. He goes for the phone. "Those morons haven't been in the news for a while, so I know they'll be falling over each other for this one!"
He takes a seat in his chair after punching in the seven digits, putting his feet up casually on the desk, waiting, the grin never leaving his beak, listening to the dial tone with anticipation.
"If it wasn't for the Beagle Boys, I don't know what I'd do for entertainment."
Well, there ya have it! I finally worked them into the story somehow, so they'll HAVE to pop up again. I figured I should include ol' Scroogy and the boys a little, since they basically are the Ducktales! It's not my best work, but at least it introduces their parts in the story.
The next chapter should be up soon! Thanks for reading, keep up the R&R, and stay tuned…