DuckTales © Disney
"where is she?" said Danny, his tone dark. "WHERE..is my mother?"
"Uncle Scrooge.." began Dewey. "We're sorry, but Danny-"
"It's alright, Lad." said Scrooge. "This was gonna happen sooner or later."
"You didn't answer me, UNCLE SCROOGE." said Danny. "Where is mom?!"
"Still gone, Danny..Ah'm, sorry."
Danny widened his eyes, stunned at hearing this.
But, his shock quickly turned into anger. "you promised..You said you wouldn't wake me up until-"
"Ah' didnae.." said Scrooge. "WEBBY did."
Danny looked to Webby..who just looked down sadly.
"Danny.." began Mrs. Beakley, as she approached Danny.
The boy looked up as the woman who was the closest thing he had to a grandmother.
"I know you are hurting..but, what you had Mr. McDuck do wasn't right, and you know it.
You can't just distant yourself, and avoid facing reality."
Danny teared up. "I had nothing left to live for, Mrs. Beakley."
"You do NOW, Danny." said Mrs. Beakley. "You have brothers who want you to be part of your life."
"ye-Yeah, that's right!" said Dewey, as he and Huey and Louie approached.
"Danny..We didn't know you existed. But, if we did, we WOULD'VE looked for you."
"The lads DID press me' hard fer' yer' where-a-bouts once they did learn of you." said Scrooge.
Danny sighed, looking down sadly. Webby then approached..holding something in her hand. "danny.."
Danny looked at the girl duck. "There is something I think you should see.
You may not like it..but, your mother wanted you to hear this."
Webby then gripped a clunky flash drive in her hand, and inserted it into an HDTV.
Danny watched as a grainy video began to play..of his mother, Della Duck.
(("hello, son. it's me..Della Duck. your Mother."))
Danny's eyes welled up in tears. There she was..his mother. "Alive" again.
Just hearing the sound of her voice brought up strong emotions within him.
(("If you are watching this video..then, the worst has happened.
You may already know of the Spear of Selene..BUT, in case you don't. Let me tell you.."))
Danny kept his gaze on the TV as he watched the whole message.
Scrooge also watched, and was just as awestruck. as he never saw this video before.
He never knew Della did all this for Danny..To give him a better life.
It made the guilt he felt for so long start to fade, but not entirely.
..Sadly, this had the opposite effect on Danny.
(("..But, again. If you are watching this..then I failed. I failed my mission..and, I failed YOU.
I ask that you be strong for me. and, I hope you can forgive me..for letting you down.
Look after the triplets. You will be their big brother, and they will look up to you.
Listen to your Uncles, and your "Aunt Amelia."
And, remember, Danny. I love you..SO MUCH.
You are my greatest treasure..my little Star-Child."))
With that, Della's message concluded..and, the screen returned to black.
Della was gone once again..and, Danny fell to his knees.
..and cried.
"it's my fault..It's all my fault."
Webby frowned. She now regretted her decision to show Danny the video.
"It's not yer' fault, Danny." said Scrooge.
"yes it is..and, you know it." said Danny. "she went into space because of ME. I'M the reason she's gone."
"Danny, Della loved you, and only wanted you to be happy." said Mrs. Beakley.
"and, you know that she wouldn't want you to blame yourself for HER decision."
"Della was bein' selfless, Danny." said Scrooge. "She put YER' needs ahead of her own.
She knew it was unfair for you to spend yer' whole life in me' mansion..like a prisoner.
Della only wanted you to be free to have a life worth livin'"
"What's the POINT if she's not in it!?" exclaimed Danny, crying hard.
"She was my MOM!, the only one I ever knew..I'd give ANYTHING just to see her again."
Scrooge nodded. "Ah' know..Ah'd give 'way me Number One Dime if ah' thought it'd bring her back."
Dewey then walked up to Danny. "Look..I know we can never truly understand how you feel.
We never met mom..but, YOU knew her all your life. You will always miss her more than us."
Danny looked down, tears still streaming down his cheeks.
The three duck boys then knelt down to their adoptive brother.
"But, you don't have to be alone anymore..We can miss her TOGETHER."
Danny looked at Dewey..then Huey, and Louie. Tearing up again, he finally embraced Dewey.
Dewey, and his biological brothers then gave Danny a group hug.
Webby teared up. Feeling a little better now.
"I'msorry.." spoke a voice.
Danny shot his eyes open upon hearing the garbled sounding voice.
He stood up, parting from his brothers..and, looked straight at his Uncle Donald.
"what?" said Danny, still staring at the older duck.
"I'm..sorry." repeated Donald.
Danny's golden crystal suddenly dimmed, and became cold. "for what?" asked Danny, his tone cold.
"For abandoning me twelve years ago, and taking my brothers way?"
Danny then glared at Donald, fresh tears in his angry eyes. "Or, for the day..that MOM found me."
"Danny, I-"
"SHUT UP!" snapped Danny, causing objects to vibrate. "Just..SHUT. UP."
"Danny.." said Scrooge, in a warning tone.
Danny ignored him.
"Danny, PLEASE. Trytounderstand-"
"All I understand, UNCLE Donald..is that you are a COWARD." said Danny, bitterly.
"For as long as I have known you, you've always ran away from trouble..
..and, when Mom disappeared. Uncle Scrooge at least TRIED to save her!
but, you..You LEFT. You took my brothers, and ran away! and, you left ME BEHIND!"
Objects in the room began to shake more violently as Danny continued to rage.
By now, everyone took notice. Scrooge knew exactly what was happening.
Amelia warned him of this.
"Danny, STOP." warned Scrooge again.
Danny glared at Donald, his eyes dark. "I know the truth..I've always known: You HATED me.
I'm nothing but a "Beakless Freak" to you, aren't I?!"
"Thatisn'tTRUE!" argued Donald.
"Then, explain WHY you never played with me as a kid!" retorted Danny.
"Why did you always IGNORE me..even YELL at me! Uncle SCROOGE always found time for me!"
"I-"
"GRRRRRR!" As Danny fumed, objects suddenly flew in the air, and orbited around him.
a glass window near Danny then cracked, and some object even exploded.
Everyone stepped back away from Danny, feeling frightened by him now.
"Is that why you got so angry when I touched my brother's eggs?" continued Danny.
"Is THAT why you left with THEM, but abandoned me?!
I guess since you had REAL nephews, you didn't need to pretend I was anymore, huh?!"
an object suddenly shot towards Donald, narrowly missing him.
"DANNY!" shouted Scrooge.
Tears streamed down Danny's cheek. "I WAITED FOR YOU!, I WAITED FOR YOU TO COME BACK FOR ME!"
Danny then looked at Donald with a softer face. "because deep down..I hoped that my mom was right.
That you DIDN'T hate me..that you really did love me, and would come back for me."
Donald frowned, feeling guilt eat away at him.
Danny shut his eyes tight, tears streaming down his cheeks. "but..YOU DIDN'T!"
*FROOM!*
a sudden concussive burst spread out from Danny, knocking everyone and everything back.
Danny then collapsed, and began to cry hard in his hands.
Everyone watched him, feeling a mixture of fear and concern for the boy.
Danny then gripped his crystal, which was ice cold, and flickering.
"danny..Ireallyamsorry." began Donald. "Youareright. Iwasacoward, but..I'vechanged."
Danny looked up at Donald. "Iwanttostartover. LetmebetheUnclethatyoudeserve."
Danny looked at Donald..but, then turned away from the duck.
"no. It's too late for that." said Danny, hurt in his voice.
"If you didn't want anything to do with me before..then, why start now?"
"danny.." said Donald, feeling hurt at Danny's rejection.
"Della Duck will ALWAYS be my mother..and, her sons ARE my brothers.
but, YOU, Donald, were NEVER my uncle." Danny then gave Donald a dark glare that gave him chills.
"and, you never will be."
Donald cringed as Danny spoke those words to him.
They stung into him like a knife, and made him feel like a colossal failure.
Danny then turned his back to him, unable to stop himself from crying.
Donald tried to approached his adoptive nephew. "Danny, I-"
"go away..leave me alone." muttered Danny, his voice breaking. "your good at that."
Donald reached over, and touched Danny's shoulder. "Danny, I'm-"
"GET AWAY FROM MEEEE!" screamed Danny, who quickly turned in rage.
Donald was suddenly jerked backwards by an invisible force, and slammed into a wall.
"DONALD!" exclaimed Scrooge, shocked.
Danny breathed heavily..but, then caught a glimpse of himself
in the reflection of a shard of a piece of broken glass.
His skin looked pale, and his eyes were full yellow and red with dark shadows around them.
He gasped as the "Monster" staring back at him, quickly reverting to normal.
Danny looked at everyone..and, saw the fear in all their eyes.
..even his own brothers, who tended to their Uncle Donald.
Danny gripped his cold crystal as he stepped back, feeling scared.
"i'm sorry..I didn't mean to." muttered Danny, feeling shame consuming him.
Danny rubbed the fresh tears from his eyes, and then ran off.
"DANNY, WAIT!" called Dewey.
"DANNY!" called Mrs. Beakley.
Danny ignored the calls for him. Feeling too ashamed to face anyone.
Donald then sighed as he got up..he then looked at his Uncle Scrooge.
"ForTwelveYearsIhatedyoubecauseIthoughtyoutoreourfamilyapart.." began Donald.
"But, now..I'Mtheonewhosedonethat. I'msorry, UncleScrooge."
Scrooge sighed sadly. He never wanted to wish his misery down on anyone.
..Least of all his nephew.
"Mr. McDuck?.." began Mrs. Beakley, approaching him.
Scrooge narrowed his eyes. "Get Amelia on th' phone."
[Meanwhile, Elsewhere in Duckburg.]
It was dead quiet at the ruins of Scrooge McDuck's destroyed Money Bin.
The silence was broken, however, by the sounds of an approaching vehicle.
..a vehicle that sputtered, and backfired constantly.
as the old timey car came to a stop, it's occupants came out.
The Beagle Boys. (Namely Bigtime, Burger, and Bouncer.)
"here we are, Boys." said Bigtime. "Old Man McDuck's Money Bin."
"Minus all the money." added Bouncer, noting the one major flaw in this heist.
"Quiet, Bouncer!" Bugtime drew out a pair of pliers. "The money AIN'T what we're after, remember?!"
"Yeah, but dat' don't make no sense, neither."
"Just let ME do the thinkin'. When I need something clobbered, I'll let you know."
Burger just crossed his arms, and grumbled something.
Bigtime then approached the chain link fence, and cut a large hole into the wiring.
(Or, as "large" as the short beagle was able to make it.)
The three crooks ran into the restricted zone,
and made a B-Line for the gaping maw that led inside the Bin.
Bouncer wasn't exaggerating. The bin was totally EMPTY
with the only money left behind being some pennies.
Scrooge had long since moved his wealth to a secondary, off-site Bin.
Knowing full well how vulnerable his primary Bin would be while under construction.
And, while the Beagles pilfered the old, worn out pennies..that wasn't what they were after.
No. they were hired to find something 'specific'
"Found one!" said Bouncer. Bigtime ran over "LEMME SEE!"
As Bouncer opened his hand, Bigtime was less that pleased. "that's IT?!"
"Well, whadda ya' expect?" said Bouncer. "McDuck must've cleaned this place out with a comb."
Bigtime groaned as he rubbed the bridge of his snout. "Burger!, didn't you find anything else?!"
Burger just crossed his arms, and grumbled.
"Well, that's just great!" exclaimed Bigtime, as he snatched the "treasure" from Bouncer's hand.
"The boss ain't gonna like this. We're getting paid by QUANTITY, not Quality."
"Yeah, well. That's just been our luck, lately." said Bouncer.
"SHADUP!" exclaimed Bigtime. "Let's just get outta here before we get caught!"
As the Beagle Boys left..a feral Crow was perched atop the edge of the bin.
Watching them with cold, black eyes.
Sitting atop the roof of McDuck Manor, Danny stared up at the full moon.
He was hugging his knees together, just lost in his thoughts.
he still couldn't believe what he just did earlier..it frightened him.
Sure, he was angry. he felt he had a right to be..but, he never wanted to hurt anyone.
The looks on all their faces, Even his own brothers..it haunted him.
Danny held his golden crystal in his hands..It still felt cold, and refused to glow.
He remembered a time when it felt warm, and glow bright like the stars in the sky.
But, that was before his mother disappeared..Now, he felt nothing.
Tried as he might, his every attempt to recall a warm feeling just made him feel Colder.
His mother was gone..and, he had to face the reality that she was never coming back.
Even the fondest memory of her was torture to him.
He just wanted to sleep..Forever.
"Danny?.." spoke a voice.
Danny looked back, and saw Webby approaching him.
Webby.
Danny only knew her for a short while. and, apparently had HER to thank
for him waking up after twelve years of peace.
But, he couldn't bring himself to resent her for that.
He couldn't explain it, but Danny sensed his mother's spirit in Webbgail.
Like she was his mother..Reborn as someone else.
Danny turned away, unable to look at the duck girl.
Webby just silently walked over, and sat down next to him.
"i'm sorry." said Webby. "I should never had shown you that video."
"don't be." said Danny. "Mom intended it for me..I'm glad to had seen my mom one last time."
Webby frowned. "you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened."
"I know.." said Danny, still staring off at the City of Duckburg.
"I know mom did it to give me a better life..But, I still feel responsible."
Danny then glanced at Webby. "I'm sorry for..scaring all of you. I didn't mean for it to go that far."
"The boys are worried about you." said Webby.
"I'm sorry, I just can't face them right now." said Danny.
"I mean..I wanted SO BAD to know them. But, not like this."
Webby breathed out. "If it is any consolation..I understand how you feel."
"How can you?" said Danny. "I'm the only one of my kind in this world..
I've spent my WHOLE LIFE in this prison, staring out at a world that I've visited..but, can never be part of."
"So have I." said Webby.
Danny then looked at Webby, as if stunned. "what?"
"I've lived my whole life within these wall, too." explained Webby.
"Until your brothers came here six months ago, I never had any friends.
My granny trained me to defend myself..But, while I am comfortable navigating jungle temples,
I feel like..well, like an ALIEN when I am out there with other people.
Webby hung her head low. "I tried once..it didn't go so well.
I may be able to walk among them..but, I'm not part of their world. Never will be."
Webby then teared up. "and..the one REAL friend that I ever had. I lost her."
Danny looked down, feeling ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry..I didn't know."
Webby looked at Danny. "It's okay..But, Dewey was right before: You don't HAVE to be alone, anymore.
and, while they can never understand how you really feel..I do."
Webby then moved her hand, and offered it to Danny. He looked at her, hesitating for a moment.
but, finally reached out, and touched Webby's hand. gripping it tightly as she did as well.
..And, In that moment. Danny's crystal lost it's coldness.
It became warm again, and glowed as bright as it did twelve years ago.
Webby's shadow then momentarily changed to resemble a phantom.
Lena smiled warmly, happy that Webby found a new friend.
Webby then rose up, pulling Danny up with her. "You know what you need, Danny?"
"What?" replied Danny, puzzled.
"You need some cheering up. Whadda ya' say we go have our OWN adventure!"
"You mean..Out in th-"
"TOOOO DUCKBURG!" exclaimed Webby, who put her arm around Danny.
Webby then pulled out her grappel gun, and fired it as a tree.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" screamed Danny, as Webby swung them from the roof, to the fence.
Webby then quickly retracted her line, zipping them both up into the tree.
The two then tumbled down, and fell from the tree to the ground on the other side of the fence.
Danny groaned, leaves sticking out of his hair.
"ADVENTURE, HO!" exclaimed Webby, excited.
In a shady part of Duckburg, the Beagle Boys drove over to the old "Mallard Theater"
The building had long since been abandoned, and was in a state of disrepair.
Bigtime, Bouncer, and Burger exited their car, entered the old theater.
"Hey, BOSS!" called Bigtime, as he and his brothers entered the lobby. "You her-"
*FROOM!*
There was a thick puff of purple smoke that spread out, blinding the dog men.
*HACK!, COUGH!*
a shadowly figure slowly approached from within the smoke.
and, once it dissipated..a tall, shapely, female duck was facing them.
She work a black crop top dress, and a hooded cloak.
Had raven black hair, and eyes like a serpent.
She clanked her staff hard on the floor, and glared at her lackies.
"eh..h-hey there, Magica. How're you doing?" began Bigtime, nervously.
[End of Part 5]
[Author Notes]
This chapter went through a few rewrites, as it was Danny's "Last Crash of the Sunchaser" moment,
in which Donald Duck replaces Scrooge as the Uncle whose Nephew is angry with him.
This was hard to write, as I didn't want Donald, nor Danny himself to come off as jerks.
Hopefully, the final product depicts Danny as an angry kid in pain, and Donald as someone who made an error in judgement.
(Which isn't all that different from how Scrooge and the Nephews were in the last few episodes of Season One.)
I hint that Danny will go through a character arc where he will have to choose between Forgiveness, or Hatred.
But, I am also making clear here how similar Danny and Webby are as characters,
given they share a similar backstory, and only Webby can understand Danny's plight.
(and, yes. I am driving the fact that Webby is likw a kid version of Della Duck,
and Danny's friendship with her may mend his broken heart.)
AND, I end this with a cliffhanger that I hope leaves even more questions.