DuckTales © Disney

a pair of eyes shot open in the darkness.

a young boy with bare skin, and blonde hair slowly rose from the bed.
He looked around at the dark, empty room that somehow felt unfamiliar.

"mom.." spoke the boy, his voice barely a whisper. "Mom." he spoke again.

"MOOOOM!"

The boy then hundled up into a ball, holding his knees as he breathed heavily.
His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, and his body was trembling.

He just felt..scared.

At that moment, the door swung open..and, the shadow of a duck loomed over him.

*CLIK!*

The light switched on. "Danny..what is wrong, sweetheart?"

Danny looked up at the female duck in a nightgown who looked at him.
He wanted to speak, but couldn't. he just kept trembling.

Della Duck then approached him. "Did you have a bad dream?" inquired Della.

Danny just nodded. "oh, honey.." Della then sat on the bed near Danny.
As she reached out to him, he rushed over and embraced her tightly.

Della just smiled warmly, and caressed Danny's hair. "do you want to talk about it, sweetie?"

Danny teared up, to afraid to speak. "It's because of Magica's spell, isn't it?" said Della, guessing.
As Danny buried his face into Della's feathery chest, the duck got her answer.

"oh, sweetheart. I am so sorry."

"it felt..so real." said Danny, finally.

"What did you see?" asked Della.

"I saw you..GONE. You were there one moment..and, then you disappeared." explained Danny.
"I called for you, but you never came. You were just GONE. and, I was alone..forever."

As Danny began to cry, Della lifted him up and held him close.

"Magica's spell affected all of us differently.." began Della.
"She was trying to break us with our own fears, Even the fears we tried to bury."

Danny looked up at his mother. "what did..you see, mom?"

Della closed her eyes, a pained look on her face. "I saw you being taken away from me.
You were in my arms..as you are now. and, something from the shadows came, and snatched you away."

Danny stared off, musing on how similar his mother's nightmare was to his own.
he then curled up to her, feeling content in her embrace.

"I don't want to lose you, momma..I don't want you to go away forever."

"I won't. It was only a bad dream influenced by a perfectly natural fear."

"but, mom..what if it isn't just Magica's spell!" exclaimed Danny, his tears wet.
"I..I sometimes see things before they happen. Things that DO happen. What if this is a vision, and..I really do lose you."

"I know you have..special abilities, and can sometimes see into the future." said Della.
"But, you are still being trained by your Aunt Amelia..and, your visions aren't always precise."

"BUT-"

"Shhh..it's okay." cooed Della. "I promise..I won't ever abandon you."

Della then slowly rocked Danny back, and fourth gently.
She hadn't done this since he was a baby..but, he was only five, and needed love.

"Come stop your crying, It will be alright.." sung Della, softly.
"Just take my hand, and Hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you.

I will be here, Don't you cry."

Danny gripped his mother's arm tightly, refusing to let it go.

"For one so small, You seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us, Can't be broken. I will be here, Don't you cry..

'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. Now, and forever more
You'll be in my heart..No matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart..always."

Della got off the bed, and gently laid Danny down, and tucked him in.

"When destiny calls you, You must be strong. I may not be with you, But you've got to hold on
'Cause you'll be in my heart. Believe me, you'll be in my heart. I'll be there. Now, and forever more.

You'll be in my heart, No matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart..always."

Della then leaned down, and gave Danny a gentle kiss on his head. "I'll be there..ALWAYS."

Della then reached into her pocket. "I have something for you, Danny."

"what?" asked the boy.

"Close your eyes..it's a surprise."

Danny closed his eyes for a moment as Della took something out of her pocket.

"Okay, open them." Danny opened his eyes..and, saw a small box with a red bow on it.

"Happy Early Birthday, Sweetheart." said Della

"Wow!, really!? Thanks." Danny lifted the lid. Inside was something he found strange.

Della lifted up a black necklace, with a golden crystal encased in a frame.

"This is one of the energy crystals that Uncle Scrooge found in the same place that I found you." explained Della.
"your Aunt Amelia said they are really MAGIC, and can amplify your own powers."

Della then placed the necklace around Danny's neck.
Danny picked the crystal up, and looked at it. "it feels..WARM."

"It's my gift to you, honey. It may help you with your training with your Aunt Amelia." said Della.
"Uncle Scrooge may not like it..but, I don't care. My boy deserves the very best."

Danny smiled with happy tears in his eyes as he held the crystal in his hands.

"I do feel something..It almost feels like a little heartbeat."

Della leaned closer to Danny, and smiled. "It's MY heartbeat, Danny." said Della.

"So, remember. son. If you ever feel alone, or scared..and, I am not there for you.
Just hold that crystal in your hand..and, remember how much I love you."

Della then touched Danny's hand..which caused his crystal to shimmer, and pulse.

Danny smiled..then, gave his mother a hug. "I love you, mom."

"and, I love you too, Son." said Della, hugging him back. "And, never forget.
Though I may go on many adventures in my life..YOU, will always be my greatest treasure."

Danny smiled a joyful smile. "good-night, sweetheart."

"Night, mom." Danny then lay down on his pillow.

Della watched as he closed his eyes, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
The gold crystal around his neck glowed faintly, pulsing as it reacted to his subconscious.

He appeared to be having pleasant dreams now.

Della smiled, then gently stroked his head. she then stood up, and slowly made her way towards the bedroom door.

She looked at Danny one final time..then, left the room.

Danny was sleeping soundly in his bed, his chest rising and falling.
He stirred for a moment..then, he slowly opened his eyes.

..Only to see a duck's face staring straight at him.

"GYAAH!" shrieked Danny, who fell out of the bed.

"OH!, Sorry-SORRY!" exclaimed a female voice. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Danny clung to the mattress with his arm, and pulled himself up.
He looked, and saw a duck who vaguely resembled his mother, Della Duck.

..But, she looked too small to be her. "Who are you?!, and, what are you doing in-"

"Oh, wait.." The duck turned on the lights..causing Danny to shield his eyes from the blinding light.

Once his vision focused, he looked again, and saw a female duck who was about his age.
she was wearing casual clothing, and had a pink bow in her feathery hair.

"Hi. I'm Webby. Webbigail Vanderquack." spoke the girl duck.
"but you can call me Webby..or, WEBBS. I kinda like that, too."

"Webby?" spoke Danny, as he lifted himself up.

"I'm Bentina Beakley's granddaughter." explained Webby.

"Beakley?..as in MRS. Beakley?, Uncle Scrooge's housekeeper?"

"Yep!" chirped Webby.

Danny took a moment to ponder this. "I didn't know Mrs. Beakley HAD any kids."

"Uhh..ye-yeah, funny story that." stuttered Webby, feeling awkward.

Danny looked around, examining his surroundings. "Am I..back in McDuck Manor?" asked Danny.

"uhh..ye-yeah, we brought you home from-" Webby trailed off. "Stay here for a minute."

Webby then leaped off the bed, and ran to the bedroom door.
as she rushed out the door, Danny breathed out. Trying to recollect his thoughts.

He then reached into his 'Mighty Ducks' jersey, and pulled out his necklace.
Sighed softly, he cradled the golden crystal in his hand..which didn't feel as "warm" as it use to.

Danny then closed his eyes, and thought back..and, he remembered.

the Spear of Selene..His Mom disappearing.
his Uncle Donald leaving, and his Uncle Scrooge's frustrations.

His request to 'sleep'..and, then icy cold blackness.

"mom.."

"I'm BAAAAACK!" exclaimed Webby, who startled Danny. "and, look who I brought!"

Danny looked, and saw three boy ducks enter the room.

One wore a red cap, and shirt. the second wore a green hoodie,
and the third wore plain, blue clothing.

..and, they all stared at him as if they were old friends who hadn't spoken in awhile.

"uhh..Hi." said Danny, feeling awkward.

The boys were speechless. unable to think of what to even say to him.

"hi, Danny." said Dewey, finally.

Danny raised an eyebrow. "How do you know my name?, have we met before?"

"Sort of.." said Huey. "See, we're..kinda your brothers."

"Brothers?!" exclaimed Danny, in disbelief. "wait a minute.."

Danny pointed his finger at each duck, counting them silently.

..His eyes then widened as he recalled a distant, yet "recent" memory.

***Flashback***

Danny gently touched the shell of one of the three eggs nestled in the crib.

"Woooow..they feel so warm." said Danny.

"I should hope so." said Della, as she approached Danny.
"They need to stay warm so the babies can develop properly."

Danny smiled. "I can't believe these came out of you. Didn't it hurt?"

Della blushed, feeling awkward. "It..wasn't a pleasant experience, no."

Danny resumed rubbed the egg. "Do you want to hold one?" asked Della.

"ME?, are you sure I can-"

"go ahead, son. It's okay." said Della, warmly.

Danny bit his bottom lip. He then gently picked one of the eggs up.
He made sure to hold it tight, and not drop it as he held it close.

"I can feel something inside." said Danny. "It feels..AlIVE."

"That is your baby brother OR sister, Danny." said Della.
"And, once they hatch, it will be your job to help take care of them."

"Oh, I will, Mom. I PROMISE." said Danny.

"HEY!" exclaimed a 'voice', followed by Donald rushing in.
"BECAREFULWITHTHAT, IT'SNOTATOY!" exclaimed Donald.

"DONALD, Chill. Danny is being careful." said Della, sternly.

"Iknow, but-"

Danny frowned as he put the egg back in the crib.

"Donald Fauntleroy Duck, You apologize to your nephew RIGHT NOW."

Donald sighed. "aww..I'msorry, Danny. Ididn'tmeantoyell. I'mjustworriedisall."

Danny smiled weakly. "It's..okay, Uncle Donald."

Donald patted Danny's head. He then looked at Della, whose expression softened.

"Donald..could you go to the supermarket, and get me some a few things?" asked Della.

"Sure!, whaddaya'need?"

"Just get me the essentials." said Della.

"Okay. Bye" as Donald left, Della knelt down to Danny. "Now, Danny..don't take Donald's behavior the wrong way."

"he hates me, I know it." said Danny.

"Donald doesn't hate you, son." said Della. "He's just..well. Let's just say he's more of a "Chicken", than a Duck."

Danny chuckled a little. Then, he looked back at the eggs.

"So..what are you going to name them?" asked Danny.

"I'm not sure..I won't know their genders until they hatch." said Della.
"But, I do have a few name choices.."

"Like?.."

"Well..This one I'll call Hubert." began Della. "that one, Dewbert. and, the last one..maybe "Llewelyn."

Danny just stared at his mother like he just witnessed something gruesome. "that..sounds Horrible."

"Okay, Wise guy. What would YOU name them?" said Della, with affectionate wit.

Danny thought for a moment. "Huey..Dewey..and, Louie." said Danny, as he pointed at each egg.

"Hmm..I guess that is less than a beakful." said Della.

"but, what if they are GIRLS, Mom?"

"Well..I don't know yet. Do you have any suggestions?"

Danny paused to ponder once again. "How about..Ruby, Sapphire, and Jade?"

"Oh, I am sure Uncle Scrooge would LOVE those names." chuckled Della.

Danny giggled. He then rubbed his hand across one of the egg's again.

"I can't want to meet them." said Danny.

***End of Flashback***

Danny stared blankly at the three duck boys. "Huey?..Dewey?..l-Louie?"

Dewey was the first to approach Danny..and, gave him a hug.
Huey and Louie did so as well, all three boys embracing their FOURTH brother.

Danny was stunned, having a hard time processing all this.

*FLASH!*

"And, THAT is my phone's new screensaver for this week!" said Webby.

As the boys stepped back, Danny stared at them. "The last time I saw you three..you were all still eggs."

"We're just glad to finally meet you." said Dewey.

"And, even 'GLADDER' that due to weird science, we're all the same age." said Louie.

Danny eyed Louie. "How long HAS it been exactly?"

"At least Twelve years." said Huey. "We only just recently found out you existed."

"Just now?!" said Danny, almost offended.

"Well, see. We found mom's secret video." began Dewey. "We thought it was for-"

"MOM!" exclaimed Danny, suddenly alert.

Dewey winced, realizing he just made an error.

"Where's mom?" Danny gripped Dewey. "Tell me where our mom is!"

Dewey grimaced, he really didn't want to have to tell Danny this. "Danny, I-"

Danny didn't want for an answer, and rushed out the bedroom door. "MOM!?"

"well..this ain't good." said Louie.

Danny ran through the long halls of McDuck Manor.
Even after all this time, he knew his way around like the back of his hand.

He kept calling for his mother..But, got no answer.
He DID hear his 'brothers' calling to him, but he didn't want to talk to them right now.

He just wanted to find his mother.

Danny soon reached the Study Room..where Scrooge McDuck and Mrs. Beakley were having a discussion.
Scrooge looked up, and stared at his adoptive great-nephew. "l-Laddie!..yer' awake."

By this point, the Triplets and Webby caught up with Danny.
Danny stared at the now OLDER duck in momentary shock.

But, he then glared at him. "where is she?" said Danny, his tone dark. "WHERE..is my mother?"

As Danny spoke those words, his golden crystal went dim as it became COLD as ice.

[End of Part 4]

[Author Notes]

a Short chapter I know, but this makes for a great cliffhanger.

I spent some more time on Della Duck Flashbacks, this time from Danny's perspective,
as I felt there needed to be more focus on that before we get to the 'good stuff' later.

Readers may note a focus on Danny's crystal necklace, which I intend to be a parallel
to the amulet that Lena had/used in Season One up until Magica's return in "The Shadow War."

(a smart reader may already know where I am going with this..BUT, I'm not saying anything until it's time.)

I also want to make clear, I am NOT out to make Donald to be a jerk.
But, to imply that he had some character flaws, and made some bad decisions in the past.

And, sometimes bad life choices can come back to bite you in the butt later.