DuckTales © Disney
Time seem to slow to a crawl as the mysterious spacecraft suddenly shot out from the sky,
and collided into Lord Zelus within the narrow opening of the wrecked cargo ship.
Webby dove after Danny in an attempt to shield him from the crash as best she could.
Zelus just seemed to disappear as the aircraft crashed into him,
Scrooge quickly grabbed Magica, while Mrs. Beakley and Donald all scrambled out of the way.
The downed "space plane" scrapped across the metallic floors of the spaceship,
making sparks fly everywhere, and destroying any machinery that was left standing,
before it finally came to a stop by impacting into the bulkhead doors.
Silence descended upon the room following the chaos.
Danny and Webby joined the adults, and they both crept closer to the downed spacecraft.
They kept their distance, unsure if it would explode, or not.
"What on earth..is THAT?!" said Mrs. Beakley.
"I do not believe it is of this world." said Magica.
Looking closer, the group examined the craft.
It was little more than a metallic orb, with wings that resembled sword blades.
Based on it's size, it was clearly a "Fighter" plane, like a JET.
But, it's design was unlike anything that Scrooge, or even Donald could recognize.
It was clearly from Outer Space..JUST like the very ship they were standing in.
"Is he..dead?" asked Danny, referring to Zelus (who was in the path of the crashed starfighter.)
"We can only hope." said Magica. "If THIS didn't kill him, I don't know what could."
*CHSSSS..*
Suddenly, air was released from the top of the starfighter. The adults shielded the children as a hatch opened up.
Someone emerged from the spacecraft..but, they were obscured by the open hatch.
the figure tumbled off the hull, and fell onto a wing.
The group ran over..seeing mass of brown and white struggle to rise up.
The figure removed a helmet..causing everyone to gasp in shock.
"D-Della?!" spoke Scrooge, stunned.
Della breathed heavily as she looked at her 'welcoming party'
but, the first face she focused on..was of a small, non-avian boy with tear filled eyes.
"danny.." Della then fell off the wing, and to the ground.
Danny broke from his shock, and ran over to his mother.
Scrooge and Donald couldn't move. They were still in disbelief at what they were seeing.
This HAD to be a dream.
Danny tended to his mother..who looked at him. "mom..is it really you this time?"
Della smiled softly, tears in her eyes. "yes, honey..I'm BACK."
Della then hugged her adoptive son tightly, letting her tears stream down her beak. "I'M HOME."
Danny allowed himself to cry, letting out all his pent up emotions.
He didn't care who was watching him..and, neither did Della, who cried as much as him.
"I'm so sorry, baby." sobbed Della. "I broke my promise to you..can you ever forgive me?"
"no..there is nothing to forgive, mom." answered Danny.
"you're back now. That is all that matters..you came BACK."
Della stroked Danny's hair. "I swear on my life, I will never abandon you again..EVER."
Danny said nothing. Despite her strong "body odor", He continued to hug his mother tightly,
as if letting her go for even one second would cause her to disappear again.
At long last the group approached Della and Danny.
Della then released Danny, and looked up at her uncle and brother.
They had a mixture of emotions. Joy, Sadness, and Anger overlapped each other.
"h-hi, Uncle Scrooge..I'm back." spoke Della, her voice shaky. "sorry it took me so long."
Scrooge was unable to say anything. He was too overcome with emotions.
Donald, however..had ALOT to say.
"YOUDUMBELLA!" shouted Donald, tears in his eyes.
"YOULEFTMEALONETORAISEYOURKIDSFORTWELVEYEARS!"
Della scowled. she really hated it when Donald called her that.
But, she then frowned, looking down sadly as she knew that she deserved his anger.
"I'm sorry." spoke Della, softly. "I never meant to abandon ANY of you."
Della's beak quivered as she held in a sob." you were right, Donald..I should've listened to you."
Donald finally dropped down, and embraced his sister tightly.
He was angry..but, he still loved his sister. "don'tyouEVERdosomethinglikethisAGAIN!"
Della hugged her brother back. "I won't..I SWEAR that I won't."
Donald smiled, feeling that THIS TIME he could trust his sister.
Something about her seemed different now.
..Like the reckless, devil-may-care Della of old was "dead",
and, a new, more Responsible and Serious Della Duck had taken her place.
Donald finally helped Della back onto her very shaky feet.
Danny gripped her hand tightly as Donald helped her over to Scrooge.
Della and Scrooge just looked at each other for a good full minute.
"What happened to ye, lass?" asked Scrooge, calmly "Where have ye' BEEN all this time?"
"Yes, It has been over Twelve Years." added Mrs. Beakley.
Della breathed out sharply. "The cosmic storm supercharged my ship.." began Della.
"I found myself travelling faster than the speed of light.
When it finally stopped, I found myself in another galaxy..FAR from my own.
I couldn't even use the stars to navigate, as I couldn't recognize any of them.
I spent the gods only know how many years trying to replicate the event.
Taking odd jobs as a Bounty Hunter, and a Smuggler, JUST to purchase a compatible Hyperdrive Engine.
By the time finally I got back to my own star system..my ship finally gave out.
I crashed onto the very moon itself. and, there I stayed..for a whole YEAR."
Scrooge looked at the starship that Della came out of. "and, that?"
"a Mark VI Supremacy-Class Starfighter." explained Della. "or, "Interceptors", for short.
I stole this one from the hanger of Darth Zelus' "Star Destroyer" Dreadnought when he took me captive."
"You ESCAPED..all on your own?!" exclaimed Webby. "That is SOOOO COOL!"
Della finally took notice of the girl duck. "hey..I remember you." began Della.
"I saw you with the boys on the DuckBurg News. Funny..I don't remember laying a fourth egg."
Both Danny and Webby's faced turned red at this.
"That is Webbigail..my Granddaughter." said Mrs. Beakley.
"She's my best friend, mom." said Danny.
"She IS?!" said Della, overjoyed to hear this. "That's WONDERFUL, Danny! I am so glad you found a friend."
Webby then hugged Danny. "oh, we are MORE than just friends, Ms. Della Duck!"
Della froze. "excuse me?"
Webby responded by kissing Danny on his cheek..to which he blushed bright red.
"oh..my gosh." began Della, stunned. "My little boy..HAS A GIRLFRIEND!"
"MOM!, please.." Danny now felt really embarrassed.
"OHHH, I can't believe it!" cooed Della. "I traveled across the stars JUST to find others like you
so you could someday find someone special..and, you end up finding someone RIGHT HERE, anyway!"
Danny's face grew redder than a firetruck.
"I am so happy to meet you, Webbigail." said Della, bending down.
"It's WEBBY." corrected Webby.
"Webby. You know, I can't explain it..But, there is something about you that I like."
"She shares your love of adventure, and likes to take unnecessary risks." said Mrs. Beakley.
Della smiled. "I think you, and I are going to get along just fine."
It was then that Della took notice of the one other Duck in the group..and, this set her on edge.
"MAGICA DE SPELL!?" Della immediately grabbed Danny and Webby, clutching them protectively.
"MOM, WAIT!"
"Della, Calm d-"
"Are you CRAZY, Uncle Scrooge!?" exclaimed Della.
"that is MAGICA!, She is your oldest enemy, AND she is Darth Zelus' Apprentice! SHE-"
"MOM!, THAT'S AUNT AMELIA!" exclaimed Danny.
Della looked at Danny. "What?!"
"There were TWO Magica's, mom." explained Danny. "The Magica you are talking about was her evil half.
They split into two beings after Aunt Magica tried to reform, and start her life over as Amelia."
Della looked at Magica..who avoided eye contact with her.
"It'sTRUE, Della." said Donald, confirming what Danny just said.
"Th' evil one now calls herself "Mystica" said Scrooge. "Lord Zelus either destroyed her, or banished her someplace else."
Della finally put the children down. She approached Magica..and, noted her missing hand. "What happened to your-"
"Lord Zelus." spoke Magica. "I underestimated his power..I was lucky my hand was all he took."
Della frowned. "I'm sorry..I didn't-"
"Know?, that is understandable. I am to blame for that."
((*CREEEEEAK!*))
Everyone froze is horror as they felt a low rumbling.
They all looked, and saw Della's stolen starfighter begin to move slowly.
"no..it cannot BE!" gasped Magica.
"RUN!" shouted Della, As the spacecraft began to lift.
As the group all ran as fast as they could from the sight of the crash,
Della scooped up Danny, and carried him, while Mrs. Beakley did the same with Webby.
Danny looked back from Della's shoulder..and, watched with wide eyes
as the wreckage of the starfighter slowly rose up..revealing the knelt down form of Lord Zelus.
HOW could one man survive something like that?!
His apparently biological uncle wasn't human. He COULDN'T be!
As the group reached the opening of the wrecked starship..Della stopped dead in her tracks.
The others did the same, and looked up at what Della was staring at.
To their shock (and, Della's horror) ANOTHER spacecraft was descending down from the sky.
"oh no..BACK INSIDE, QUICK!" shouted Della.
"What is it?!" exclaimed Mrs. Beakley.
"It's an Imperial Shuttle..with who knows HOW MANY Centurions aboard!"
Scrooge scowled. he may not understand everything Della was saying.
but, he understood that "Imperial", and "Centurions" weren't a good thing.
"Ev'ryone, QUICK! Find somethin' to hide behind!"
The group ducked inside, and frantically looked around.
They managed to find at least ONE demolished piece of machinery that was still intact.
They all made a mad dash for the heap of metal, and managed to take cover..
((*KER-KLUNK!*)) ..JUST as Zelus managed to lift the starfighter wreckage off of him.
((*haaah..Kyeeyah..haaah..*))
From their hiding place, they could hear Zelus 'trying' to breathe through his respirator.
It sounded damaged, like every breath he took was a struggle.
Peering from where they hid, they could see Zelus from afar..and, he looked LESS intimidating now.
Strips of his clothing had been torn, and even ripped off.
His hood was now gone, while the cape of his cloak was shredded, but still intact.
The entire top half of his helmet was gone, revealing much of his face.
Which was little more than a bald head with pale, grey skin.
He had no visible ears. Just 'ear holes' where they should be,
and his eyes..looked EXACTLY like Mystica De Spell's unnatural eyes.
Golden Yellow, with Reddish-Orange irises. And they BURNED with a hatred,
and rage that filled even Della's heart with fright.
..but, Danny felt the most uneasy as he looked at Zelus' true face.
As he could now see that not only was Zelus indeed the same species as him,
BUT upon examining his facial structure, he vaguely resembled his long deceased father
from the holographic photograph of his parents that he found earlier.
THAT was when Danny knew. that this "Man" was indeed his TRUE Uncle.
((*TROT!, STOMP!, STAMP!*))
The group quickly ducked lower as a squad of armored soldiers marched inside the ship.
They all wore red colored armor over what appeared to be a black bodysuit.
with helmets that bore hooked shapes on the tops, and black tinted "Y" shaped visors.
Della wasn't exaggerating. They all looked like futuristic Roman Centurions.
(("LORD ZELUS!")) called a Centurion with a larger shoulder pad over one arm.
He was clearly the Commander of the squad.
The Squad rushed over to the downed dark lord, not even noticing the hidden McDuck Clan.
Lord Zelus slowly rose up (though, he staggered for a moment.)
The Centurion Commander bowed to him. (("Are you injured, Milord?!"))
Now devoid of the top half of his mask, Everyone could see Zelus GLARE at the soldier.
(("umm..Apologies, My Lord.")) began the Commander.
(("but, the prisoner escaped custody, and stole one of our Interceptors."))
(("Oh, REALLY?..I failed to notice.")) said Zelus, sarcastically.
(("Did you happen to see where the prisoner escaped to, My Liege?"))
Zelus responded by swiping his hand, and sending the Centurion flying across the room.
(("Anyone else care to ask me a stupid question?")) said Zelus, aggravated.
The Centurions all shook their heads 'No.'
(("GOOD. Now, where is Admiral Briggs? I wish to have a WORD with him."))
(("Still aboard 'The Executor', My Lord.")) reported a Centurion.
(("Order him to the Bridge. and, make SURE he stays there until I arrive."))
(("It will be done, my lord.")) said a Centurion. (("Shall we escort you to the Shuttle?"))
(("No, not yet, I wish to inspect the excavation site here.")) spoke Zelus.
(("I want to see where MY Master Kaiburr Crystal was destroyed..and, if ANY of it can be salvaged."))
(("SIR, YESSIR!")) exclaimed the soldiers.
As the squad march off, Lord Zelus just limped along at a steady pace.
The man was injured..BUT, was still strong enough to hold his own quite well.
'a Tiger was at it's deadliest when wounded.', Scrooge recounted.
It took everything to remain still, and HOPE that Zelus didn't sense their presence.
Zelus paused only once..but, eventually departed from the ship.
After waiting for the longest Five Minutes ever, the group finally emerged from their hiding place.
"Beakley. Radio fae Launchpad to pick us up, an' QUICKLY!" ordered Scrooge.
"They may be gone fae awhile..but, Ah' dinnae want ANY of us to still be here when they return."
"At once, Mr. McDuck." As Mrs. Beakley drew out a Satellite Radio,
..Della drew out a pistol that looked like it was lifted straight out of "Duck Rogers."
"Danny.." spoke Della.
Danny looked up to his mother. "yes, mom?"
"You, and Webby stay close to me." said Della. "If things don't go our way, I'll do my best to protect you both."
Danny and Webby nodded, having their full trust in her.
"That'sasnazzylightgun." said Donald.
"This "Light Gun" can burn straight through Centurion armor." said Della.
"and I've had ALOT of practice using it. So, stay behind me..and, you just might survive."
Donald grimaced. He had never seen his sister quite like this before.
Normally she would laugh in the face of danger. Now, she wasn't even cracking a smile.
Not that he was complaining, he always wanted Della to take things more seriously.
..But, Donald was starting to wonder where the sister he knew had gone.
he hated to admit it. But, he was starting to miss that "daredevil" side of his sister.
"I just got a response from Mr. McQuack." spoke Mrs. Beakley.
"He is on his way here. ETA will be at least TEN minutes."
"Tell 'em to get here in FIVE." said Scrooge.
It had been roughly SIX minutes since Launchpad received the pickup call,
and he was PUMPED to make a quick snatch, and grab.
"Alright, Boys! we're nearing the old "Mc.D Airfield", have that rope ladder ready!" called Launchpad.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie were at the rear if the plane, and did a salute. "Got It, Launchpad!"
As the trio unraveled the the rope ladder, Louie began to complain.
"Man, this stinks. We totally missed out on rescuing Webby!"
"Well, what do you want from me?!" said Huey. "There was no practical plan for us to tag along.
We couldn't just sneak into a Shadow Portal without Magica noticing us!"
"I still can't believe SHE is one of the good guys now.." continued Louie.
"I don't buy it. This has to be a trick, or something."
"We don't have any proof of that, Lou." said Dewey.
"So, for now..We just have to play nice, and see how it all pans out."
*BEEP!-BEEP!-BEEP!*
Dewey paused as his phone began beeping wildly.
He stopped to check it, and saw he was receiving a Voicemail..from Lena's Phone.
"DANNY!" exclaimed Dewey.
"Huh?!" exclaimed Louie.
"Is Danny calling you?" inquired Huey.
"no. It's a voicemail..I just received it."
Huey and Louie stopped working for a moment to gather around Dewey.
They stared at the file, which was captioned as: [THINGS GOT WORSE]
They all grew pale at this. "oh, no." said Dewey, who pressed play.
(("Hey, guys..It's me.")) spoke Danny's recorded voice.
(("I recorded this message in the event that "Operation: RESCUE WEBBY" didn't go as planned.
and, if you have just received this, and I am not there by now..then, something HAS gone wrong."))
Dewey grimaced, knowing full well how right Danny was.
He didn't know what all HAD happened..only that Scrooge called for an emergency pickup.
(("I planned to tell you this when I returned..")) continued Danny's voice.
(("BUT, in the event I don't. You need to know now. I..spoke to mom. She's still alive."))
The triplets all gasped at this.
(("Back at Uncle Scrooge's Bin, in Gyro's Laboratory. Mystica De Spell used her magic
to briefly project our mom from wherever she is in an attempt to tempt me into submitting to her..
And, I will not lie. For a moment..I considered her offer.
Mom was right there, she held me..and, then she was gone again."))
The trio teared up, feeling a rush of emotions. Their mother was STILL ALIVE!
And, had they gone with Danny like Webby had..they would've seen her, too!
(Did they somehow inherit their uncle's rotten luck, or something?!)
(("I'm sorry I never told you when I came back. I wanted to..maybe I should've.
But, Webby's kidnapping already put us all on edge.
..and, I was afraid that telling you THEN, would just make us all too emotional to think clearly."))
Louie just scowled at this.
(("Hopefully, I've come back by now..and, you already know.")) continued Danny.
(("But, if I haven't. And, you found out this way..then, I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me."))
Dewey frowned. This all felt VERY similar to what he did initially
when he kept his investigation into their mom's disappearance from his brothers.
Part of him wanted to be upset with Danny..but, he knew that would just be hypocritical.
Was it any different from what he did?
(("I am leaving to put my plan into motion soon.")) continued Danny.
(("Whatever else happened..I can't say that I didn't try. Goodbye, guys. and..I love you all."))
*CLIK!*
The three were silent for a good full minute.
"mom is alive.." spoke Dewey, finally.
"But, HOW?!" exclaimed Huey. "It's been over Twelve Years!,
Even if the time difference in space, how could mom had possibly survived?!"
"Who cares HOW, Hue. SHE'S ALIVE!" exclaimed Dewey.
"Uhh..aren't we ignoring one major issue here." began Louie.
"DANNY KEPT A SECRET ABOUT MOM FROM US!" exclaimed Louie. "That is NOT cool!"
"Louie, come on..Cut Danny some slack" said Dewey
"Webby was in danger, and you KNOW how much he cares for her."
"He could've STILL told us before he left!" snapped Louie.
"Oh, right. SURE he could.." began Dewey, sarcastically.
"Hey, guys. I'm off to set a trap to save the girl I have a crush on, and may not make it back alive.
OH, by the way. I saw Mom earlier. I'll tell you all about it IF I get back. Laters."
Louie crossed his arms, and scowled.
"uhh..Louie. Dewey kinda has a point." said Huey. "I realize how important this was, but.."Right Place, Wrong Time."
"I still don't like it.." said Louie. "He could've said..SOMETHING."
"Okay, I get it..Danny made a mistake. but, SO DID I ONCE!" exclaimed Dewey.
"I also kept a secret about mom from you guys for a reason that I THOUGHT was right at the time!"
Louie looked at Dewey. "Come on, Lou..he's our brother."
Louie exhaled sharply. As mad as he was, he knew that Dewey was right.
This was no different than what Dewey did (and, Danny at the very least TOLD them without being forced to.)
And, if he was able to forgive Dewey..then, he SHOULD forgive Danny, easily.
"okay..fine. I guess I can cut Danny a break." said Louie.
"But, once we rescue him, he'd better use his freaky powers to show us what mom at least looked like!"
"Agreed." said Huey. "We can at least see her again THAT way."
"OKAY, DUDES!" called Launchpad. "We're coming in HOT!"
"Hot?!" exclaimed Dewey, confused.
As the rear hatch of the plane opened..the trio saw the unearthed wreckage
of the old spaceship that brought Danny to Earth laying near what was left of Scrooge's old airfield.
And, NEAR the wreck was another, smaller spaceship. with red figured firing laser guns
at not only a small group inside the cargo ship..but, AT THEM AS WELL!
"oh..DUCK ME!" cursed Louie.
[End of Part 17]
[GUEST REVIEW REPLIES]
"I honestly picture "Future Webby" as a cross between Lena and Della; don't ask me why, but it just makes sense to me for some reason...
I also imagine that in the potential future, Danny's kind were generally accepted at that point in the Ducktales world
due to some kind of peace treaty, a creation of some kind of intergalactic version of the United Nations, or something along those lines...
I hope we get more glimpses into the potential future because they are very interesting to me..."
That would be a unique take on the origins of the Quack Pack Series,
and WHY in that cartoon, Humans live in Duckburg with no explanation where they came from.
(That was mainly a joke. I have no intention on turning Huey, Dewey, and Louie into 90s Teen Stereotypes.)
I myself tend to picture Webby looking like Quack Pack's version of Daisy Duck,
when I try to envision how she looks like as an adult.
"If Zelus is Danny's uncle, why did he turn evil and turned against his own familyi n the first place?
Was it jealously because Serene fell in love with his brother instead of Zelus himself (hence the reason Zelus kept her lightsaber
instead of destroying it in this chapter; thus hinting at some form of an emotional attachment)?
Was it because Zelus sought to learn some forbidden knowledge that came with a terrible price? We need to know ASAP!"
All will be revealed in time. For the moment, the ever present mystery has served this story well,
and the less readers know of what is going on, the better the story flows.
..But, you aren't wrong.
[Author Notes]
"DUCKFEELS!, BOO-HOO!" (..and, there is MORE to come..)
This chapter can be considered a Pilot for a possible spinoff story detailing whatever solo adventure
Della Duck was partaking while she was LOST IN SPACE (or, to be precise. "Lost in the Star Wars Galaxy")
So much could be told..
Here, I give my own version of how long Della was on the moon: Just One Year.
(No way she was on the moon for any longer than that!)
Yes, even a Starfighter cashing on him couldn't kill Zelus
(and, his damaged helmet now makes him look like Darth Malgus from Star Wars: The Old Republic.)
I was also a bit more creative with the Imperial Empire's soldiers,
as instead of traditional White Armored Stormtroopers, Zelus commands Red Armored Centurions
(Which are the Republic Senate Guards from The Clone Wars, but with RED armor, like the Emperor's Elite Guard.)
Danny's Voicemail, and the Nephews brief argument is my response to a reader comment,
and my way of adapting the canon elements to this fanon so it is more seamless.
a few questioned why Danny didn't tell his adoptive brothers about him seeing Della.
Which ironically parallels Dewey's own choice to withhold a similar secret.
With this scene, I give a taste of the triplets conflicting personalities in my fanon.
Dewey is the positive one, Louie is more negative, and Huey is the neutral brother stuck in the middle.