Beyond our masks.
Summary: As far as the Mcduck clan know there are no more secret between them, or at least that's what the triplets and Scrooge thought. Now, shortly after Magica's defeat more troubles arrive, and in the middle of this is a parrot, a rooster, and an android.
Notes: English is not my first language... so excuse my errors, I will try my best. This fic it's actually a mash up of several concepts of Donald's adventures and alter egos, such as the duck avenger (Paperinik o Pk) or the legend of the three caballeros.
And also I can't write Scrooge's ascent, sorry.
Post shadows war.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ducktales
"Women are like the fire, they can keep you warn and safe, or they can burn the Shit out of you."
•Anonymous.
Note:
Since Panchito, Donald and José have magic I'm borrowing some spell and concepts from J.K Rowling.
But her universe belongs to her.
I got a cover image! All Thanks to Nobody's Silent.
Answering some questions.
Dewey x Lena: actually no, but you'll like this chapter. Trust me.
Mighty Agamemnon: I answered your questions in private, but I'll publish the answers to clean any doubt.
1- In my Canon, and given some experience with another series about magic, like Merlin. I decided to classify the magic folks like this, and in fact, I know the caballeros magic it's different, due it comes from their amulets, but like I said, in other media both Donald (Kh) and José (black Magic) have magic so that's why I mixed a little of Harry potter.
Now, A magic child can born to be a:
Warlock: a powerful being, born with magic and being able to use magic since the beginning, and this kind of Magi (people with magic) is very rare, and usually are connected to the spirit realm. José (pure blood) is a Warlock, making him the stronger in the team, only behind Xandra.
Sorcerer: Magi born with the spark, and can do accidental magic, which is weaker compared to the warlock one. They can formally use magic until they reach the adolescence, and will need training. The sorcerers doesn't need a wand or an artifact to use magic, and in some cases, they do non-verbal spells. Donald (half blood) and Panchito (Muggle born) are sorcerers.
Wizard/witch: similar to a sorcerer, but a bit weaker, they use a wand or artifact to channel their power, and without it are almost helpless. They use magic since a young age, and need training. Magica, (pure blood) she calls herself sorceress, but she's in fact a witch, and she's ashamed of that.
Magician: a person without magic, a Muggle with an artifact or even potion or curse that gives them power, but their magic it's too weak. Lena enters here, her little magic depends on Magica, and now that her magic is sealed, Lena isn't strong enough to break free from the shadow realm or even try to communicate.
Don Dugo, is in fact the main ancestor in Donald's father's side, Coot/Duck. But in his profile, he's married to a McDuck, but something happened, and ended being erased from the family tree, and I'm giving some history in the middle.
Chapter 8: The three caballeros rides again!
Panchito and José finally arrived to Duckburg, it was in the afternoon, the sky was painted with shades of pink, orange and purple. And the city was graced by a firm layer of snow, and the sky added more, falling from above. Panchito frowned, they were in the middle of the summer and Duckburg, just like Mexico was almost always warm. Warm and sunny and sometimes rainy, and humid. According to Donald, after the infamous shadows war Duckburg got unusually rainy, and now with the sudden blizzard, the townsfolk are bustling and noisy, adults and kids alike running back and forth through the town.
Wanted posters with Magica photo on them were being strung up from buildings rooftops, and business owners were outside, calling out customers, chalking new offers onto their boards to put out in the street, directing their fellow townspeople to their wares.
The sweet smell of cocoa and bakery was appealing to both of them, but right now they needed to find Donald. In the last video chat he told them about his new job, but the description of the place and the schedule were very vague.
"Let's go to the plaza, I got an idea." José said, parking the car.
"you're thinking what I'm thinking?" Panchito asked, pulling out his guitar.
"The only way to find him it's calling him out in our language." José nodded, also pulling his guitar.
"Music"
Both southern birds went to the crowded plaza, hopped into the fountain barrier and Panchito gave a typical mariachi scream, getting the townsfolk's attention.
"Buenas tardes, Duckburg!" Yelled Panchito "Are you ready for some musica!?"
Without waiting for a reply, both pulled their guitars off their shoulder and properly positioned it. José, being the playful guy he is waggled his eyebrows at Panchito, who just smirked, shaking his head and then let out a wild riff.
"Bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
Cada vez
Cada vez que lo veo pasar
Mi corazón se enloquece
Y me empieza a palpitar"
Party of the people on the audience seemed to recognize the the song, from a beloved star, Selena, mostly Latin looking people began to cheer.
Bidi bidi bom bom
Y se emociona (y se emociona)
Ya no razona
No lo puedo controlar
Bidi bidi bom bom
Y se emociona (y se emociona)
Ya no razona
Y me empieza a cantar (cantar)
Me canta así, así, así, así
Bidi bidi bom bom (bidi bidi bom bom)
Bidi bidi bom bom (bidi bidi bom bom)
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
Bidi bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom
The entire plaza was dancing to the song, whooping and clapping even though some didn't understand a word from it. Panchito and José kept their eyes trained on the crowd the entire time, searching for their friend. As the next verse began, they sang together, hoping and waiting for the third voice to join.
But it didn't happened, but they keep performing, they know Donald will come.
Meanwhile, a heartbroken duck walked through the plaza, wanting to clear his mind before returning to his temporary home. When suddenly he heard it, a happy energetic Latino music playing through the plaza.
Could it be?
The duck clumsily headed to the stage, pushing through the considerable crowd until he was at the very front. Donald's eyes watered, his beak forming a fond smile, the performers he saw were the one he most expected, he most wanted and needed right now. Of course, the two began their own dancing in front of the stage, the crowd dancing along.
at the end of the performance the plaza exploded with applause, Donald finds himself clapping and cheering as well. Then Panchito and José stood in the middle of the makeshift scenario, holding their hands.
"Panchito!"
"José!"
They sang, and suddenly, it happened, what they wanted most.
"And Donald!"
The two Latinos looked up, seeing their best friend there, and soon, Donald was right outside the crowd. As soon as he was near his friends, Panchito and José rushed towards their sworn brother and pulled him into a hug.
"The three Caballeros!"
The three brothers grinned, tightening the hug, and already feeling their tears against each other. it was Donald who had said it, José noticed, but he smiled, and muttered despite his voice still slightly muffled by their hug.
"Abraço meu amigo, abraço meu grande amigo, Que coisa formidável."
The three of them laughed, and the three friends wanted so badly sat down to talk, but first things first, they need to make sure Donald was right. Donald, despite still being heartbroken by his ex-fiancee's betrayal, he was quiet and well collected, unlike them.
Normally, Panchito is the one "on the fence" when it comes to dislike someone, or being throw into a difficult situation. But now, the older of the caballeros was the most hostile, and offended by Daisy's betrayal. José, well José was a different story, on his youth he was one to jump into action when somebody dared to hurt his friends, physically or emotionally. But now, he was suddenly out of words, his usually silver tongue, useless. His thoughts drifting towards Donald's family, especially Scrooge and Gladstone, while he had not forgiven them, and doubted he ever would... heck, neither he nor Panchito liked them, just pretended to do so for Donald's sake, but the Brazilian had come to pity them in a way.
Finally, they broke apart, and with that Panchito and José took notice of Donald, his face was streaked with tears, eyes red, but he was smiling at them, and his smile was like a rainbow breaking through storm clouds.
Then suddenly, Panchito stepped forward. "Mi hermano, estoy tan feliz de verte!"
"Yo tambien, tú tonto."
The larger bird laughed, and grabbed his brother around the waist, Donald yelping in surprise, his arms were effectively pinned to his sides and Panchito spun him around in the air for all that was worth.
"Francisco!" Donald squeaked as the rooster started to spin him in mid air faster and faster "Stop! Francisco voy a vomitar!"
But Panchito didn't listen and continued to spin him around, laughing. Suddenly, at that moment there was a collective awkward and not totally fake cough, and Panchito let go of the duck in shock. The two, birds were very dizzy by all the spinning that stumbled around, with José trying to help but they ended smashing into one another and landing in a heap on the floor, José lay dazed a few steps away. Apparently Angus, with his wrist in a cast chose that moment to walk through the crowd with a camera man behind him.
"Let me through you Dumb heads!" he said as he walked through "wherever the news are, Angus Fangus will - WHOA!"
Angus stared with his beak open at the very sight before him, not only him, but also the entire plaza, the camera recording the event. Donald laying on the ground with Panchito straddling his waste and they both looked quite blushed.
"Uh … sir?" the brown haired reporter asked, totally stunned.
"It's not what it looks like" yelled Donald, his face totally red as he tried to sit up, holding his head as the dizziness passed "Panchito was being … Panchito ...… and fell on top of me"
"Help me..." chimed José from the ground.
Angus sweat dropped, but remained serious, after his encounter with Paperinik, he needs time to heal and, will use that time to rub salt in the avenger's friend's wounds.
"What were you doing?" The poison was so evident, that even the people around them could notice it.
"We're visiting him" Angus turned towards the Brazilian accented voice, José who was staring hard at him. "What's wrong about it? We're visiting him in this hard time."
"Besides..." Panchito added. "We're a band, and we're about to sing our trademark song."
With a playful grin, Donald quickly shoved Panchito off of him. Both friends laughed a bit at the situation and José just rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered how they ended up being the magical guardians of this dimension.
"But I don't have an instrument!" Donald argued.
Panchito of course gave no time for that. "Here, amigos! Donald!" he tossed a mariachi hat to Donald, which was slightly oversized and a violin.
"Where did that come from!?" Somebody asked aloud, receiving no answer.
"José!" Said bird casually caught the hat, and winked.
Laughing and feeling very happy Panchito exclaimed "Now, we're the three Caballeros!"
The band got on stage with Panchito yelling. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- OH!"
Now, the three friends started playing their tone.
"We're Three caballeros, three brave caballeros.
They say we are birds of a feaaaaaather!"
They sang in unison, their voices in harmony. As they sang, they made arm motions of birds flying, followed by chirping noises. But, as expected they were out of shape, and a bit clumsy, Donald even tripped. They almost stomped on his hand, giving the whole band a sense of deja vu, but with the help of his friends, he recovered quickly.
"We're happy amigos, no matter where he goes...
The one, two, and three goes We're always togetheeeeer!"
They bunched up against each other, with Panchito in the middle and together began hopping, then taking off their sombreros with big smiles. The most sincere smile they ever gave in years.
"WOOOOH!"
The three suddenly broke their formation, and ran around doing silly things, playing their instruments, even dancing with girls, exempt José, who didn't took a girl, and then, they went back into perfect formation.
"We're three happy chappies with snappy sarapes..."
They danced in total sync, turning around to show the public that on the other arm, they had indeed colorful sarapes draped over them.
"Where did that come from?"
"You'll find us beneath our sombrerooooooooos!"
They bowed, but surprisingly the three friends started shrinking until the hats fall to the floor, the audience gasping in amazement. Suddenly appearing behind the fountain and began dancing around them in their own ways.
"We're brave and we'll stay so" José sang individually.
"We're bright as a peso!" Panchito sang as he pulled out a shiny coin.
"Who says so!?" Donald demanded in fake cockiness.
"We say so!" Panchito and José responded, pointing a finger gun and umbrella at his face. Donald faking nervousness.
The audience, and Angus gasped, some people applauding, some cheering. But the three caballeros quickly feigned innocence by hugging him, even kissing him on his cheeks. To which the audience laughed, José wasted no spence in trying to impress the audience, he pulled his umbrella, playing a trumpet solo on it.
"Ohhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhhhh!
We have the stars to guide us! "
The musicians did their old trick, with them pretending to stargazing, bending backwards, but the duck accidentally fell flat on his back. Making it all more hilarious, but he got right back up, with José's help, and was ready when the next part of the song came.
"Guitars here beside us...
To play as we go!"
José conjured instruments with his magic, hiding them at theirs backs, but like always certain duck ended up with a cello instead of a guitar.
"We sing and we Samba!" Sang Donald.
"We shout..." continued José.
"Ay Caramba!" the rooster exclaimed proudly, throwing his arms up.
"What means, Ay caramba?" the parrot asked, with both hands on his hips.
"Oh yes, I don't know" the red head shrugged with a shy smile.
"Ohhhhhh through fair or stormy weatheeeeeeeeer!
We stand close together!
Like books on a shelf!"
Panchito and José yanked Donald into the middle, and with their hips began pressing up against him with bright smiles, while Donald was feeling very crushed, but smiling.
"And pals though we may be..." Donald sang.
"When some Latin baby" José continued.
"Says yes no or maybe" finished Panchito.
Panchito and Donald whistled at a gorgeous hispanic girl among the public, and she blushed. However, a certain parrot looked away, his face red, because he already had a girlfriend, Ro.
"Each man is for himself!" The three sang.
José, looking pretty ashamed of his friends' behavior, was the one to grab them by the back of the shirts to stop them.
"Ayyyyyyyy Jalisco no te rajes" Panchito stopped struggling, and pretended to do a feminine pose, blinking cutely his reddish brown eyes.
"Me sale del alma - "
Donald snatched José's umbrella off of his hands, now playing it as a flute, adding even more awed looks.
" - Gritar con calor!" Panchito sang as he danced with sombrero in hand.
Now the parrot appeared with a flute, playing with the American duck as the other shouted and jumped excitedly.
"Abrir todo el pecho...
pa' echar este grito!
Que lindo es Jalisco"
A handful of confetti got thrown on stage from somewhere.
"Palabra de...
Honoooooooooooooor!"
Panchito like always could hold the note for long, no matter how many years went by, that guy had some strong set of lungs. Once he finished, they gave a very loud shriek.
With that the whole plaza giving them a unanimous applause, even Angus clapped.
[•••••]
Meanwhile... at The Agency.
Anne was stressed, anxious and totally nervous. Today was graduation day, a group of friends and herself are going to be finally be named official agents.
She doesn't think she's ready. She needed to think, because the thought of facing her father was terrifying.
Her shift at work ended a few hours before Donald's, and she decided to train before heading home. Her bandaged covered hands hitting the punching bag repeatedly, denting the leather slightly. The training tool swiveled backward with every punch, with sweat dripping down the sides of her forehead, and she smelled, but she didn't seem to mind.
At some point, the amount of abuse the punching bag and her knuckles suffered enough. The girl stopped her outburst abruptly and rested one of her fists on the bag. She used the other hand to wipe at her face and turned around.
Her instructor smiled at her.
"You did great, Anne."
She only nodded, wiped the sweat from her forehead on her T-shirt and turned around to grab his bag. She walked through the door and made her way to the common room, wanting to grab her father's computer.
The Agency's training campus could be easily compared to a bee hive, everyone was busy getting themselves ready for the upcoming graduation, preparing their oaths, thinking about what their aliases' name would be and some were trying on their new suit. Anne walked through campus, waving to the ones that waved her.
She reached the common room, it was empty, which was perfect. She briefly dedicated herself to watch the wanted poster on the wall, with big, bold red letters "Traitor" on it. The photo of Kay k on it, with a reward.
She let herself fall on the couch, she reached through her bag and pulled a bunch of letters. In her hands rested eighty letters, all unanswered, all from him.
All from Max.
He kept writing her even though she never sent a reply, she never even read any of them, because if she read only one, she would pack her bags and hurry back home to him, and that would've been suicide, thanks to The Organization. She decided now was the right time to finally read those letters, she sighed as she opened the first envelope.
When she was done with all, someone entered the room, it was her father.
"Roxanne"
She half laughed."It's been a while since someone called me that."
Her father didn't say anything, he couldn't. Thanks to him, her life got destroyed.
He was chosen by The Agency since he was eighteen, and served for years, even after married he continued serving, he even knew the new recruits, Double Duck and SuperHound. But then, Roxanne was born, and his wife dead, he even wonders what could have happened if his wife didn't have passed during the birth. He couldn't continue to serve, he was all what Roxanne had, and look what it brought to her.
She was smart, awfully smart, she knew about his past, and could look through his mask. As the years went by, Roxanne deployed a rare gift, she was could tell when someone was lying, she was a living lies detector. Funny, the only person who could ever lie to her was that boy, Max, SuperHound's son. She was about to graduate from high school when he was attacked in his own house, fortunately Roxanne was out with Max. He had managed to kill the intruder, an new recruit from F.O.W.L, he felt like an idiot, for falling for such stupid trick. He was gravely injured by a kamikaze trick.
When he finally woke up he discovered that he was out for two weeks, and that his home wasn't safe anymore, they had to move out. They cut off any contact with everyone, the numbers, the emails, everything except the last name.
Sirius.
He changed his name, from Fidel to Charles, and Roxanne to Annette, Anne for short. She cut her hair, she lost everything, and she never complained.
"You can have your name back, Roxanne." He said.
"Can I ?" She asked, hiding the hope from her voice. "Can we have our lives back?"
"Yes."
"Oh?" She simply muttered. Not fully believing.
Her father felt her disbelief, so he added. "The agents, the ones who had our information were killed."
Roxanne's breath hitched, she felt a pang of relief and joy as she heard those words from her father.
"Who?" She needed to know who was the person she needed to thank.
"Paperinik."
"Double Duck?"
"Yes."
"I need..." She let out a shaky breath. "To thank him, for... giving us our lives back."
Fidel nodded, and took a seat next to her. "What are you gonna do?"
"I don't know." She replied sincerely. "I can't just go to all my old friends and say 'hey, long time no see' and pretend that I didn't left for so long without even calling."
Fidel sighed. "Yea, I guess you can't."
"I think I'll try to contact Stacey, she along with Max were very persistent trying to reach me."
"You do that."
"And maybe, I could do the same about Max."
Fidel rested his head on her shoulder, speaking out loud his concern." But darling, what if he is with someone?"
Roxanne answered without hesitation. "Then, I'll be a good friend."
[••••••••]
Kay K, the famous and most wanted traitor of The Agency have ever known. She have been running for over a year now, her head being the most wanted trophy that not only The Agency wants, but also the idiots of F.O.W.L And S.H.U.S.H, such cocky baboons.
She remembers how much Donald and her belittled those agencies, since both always are such obvious. They believe themselves so might and wise, with the best agents such as agent 22 and allies, being McDuck the most famous. But seriously, those two are nothing compared to her and Donald, and not only them, there's so much more in The Agency, not only boring agents, they have super heroes and the time police at their side. That's why only the most exceptional people can join, she half growled when remembered McDuck, only telling about his "secret live" to Della only, and even Agent 22 training her and revealing her secrets.
What a waste.
To her, Donald was the only one who deserved that information, loyal to the end. Maybe that's why she's alive, he couldn't shoot her, not even when he got the chance. But he also is just a person, a person with emotions, he only wanted to be loved for who he is, and not for being the brother and nephew of some dull headed adventurer.
A memory came to her, one about the time she let him go, and regretted for doing so.
"Donald, come with me." She said, she stepped over the dead girl's body without a second glance, and surprisingly, Donald did too. "Think of what we could do together!"
"Unlimited" Paperinik muttered. "Together we're unlimited"
She nodded, stepping closer to him. "Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been, Donald!"
But in the end he didn't go with her, and for now she's okay with that, but if in the future they, his family make the wrong move, she's ready to take him. The room was so very quiet, so chilling, and the tense atmosphere was obvious, she got a new job, with a criminal. Elias Fog, he was working in something big, and it would mean the end of several superheroes, and the vicious man have the information of several of them, agent, villains, heroes, even just people with power, and he's going to sell it.
She was helping him, and the payment was good, but now she needed to protect him. The lone female duck seated in front of the computer tried desperately to force herself to remain calm as she sat there, typing furiously at her keyboard.
She typed:
'Paperinik'
She was nervous, even after betraying him, she doesn't want him to get hurt. She must erase everything about him.
The information about him was vague, very vague, and she sighed in relief.
Paperinik.
Name: ?
Other aliases: Double Duck.
Place of residence: Duckburg.
First seen: Villa Rosa.
Alliance: The Agency.
Position : Neutral
Abilities: Super strength.
Super resistance.
Magic(?).
Martial artist.
Weaknesses: Old injury in left knee.
Old unattended injury in left shoulder. (?)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).(?)
Possibly Asthma.
Eyes color: Brown(?)
Allies: None.
Enemies: Aliens(?)
S.H.U.S.H.
The Organization.
Notes: None.
The fierce warrior nervously tapped her fingers tip on the table, part of her was relieved that there was so vague information about him, and the other was angry, because she couldn't erase this information, it was so little that if it suddenly disappears it will compromise her position.
She decided to let it be, if she could protect him she would. She kept reading until she found another file.
'Gizmoduck'
And this time, his file was complete.
[•••••••]
"Soooooooooooo" Panchito says, as he leans against Donald's shoulder. "What do you think? The three caballeros grand return!"
"The most exiting thing ever!" Donald squeaked, rubbing Panchito's forearm affectionately.
José just hesitate a little bit before resting his head on Donald's other shoulder. "So, meu amigo. How have you been?"
"uhh... "
Panchito could sense his brother's feelings, and they were a mess, so he decided to let it be. They were currently in a very popular pizza parlor, having a lovely meal.
José however, was not going to let it be, but before he could talk, the pizza arrived. A very cheesy and sausages filled one, they devoured quickly, between talking about children, work and plans about the future.
"So, where are you staying at?" Asked Panchito.
"With Goofy's family."
"oh... George" said José "Es buen amigo."
"One of the best." Smiled Donald, and then the duck playfully punched Panchito's arm. "I've heard you're finally free from her, Hermano."
"Yeah, finally." He says. "Clara Clunk is a good chica, pero not my type."
"And... what about Ro?" Inquired Donald, since in his best friend's letters never stopped talking about her.
José almost choked on his food. "Well... you see..."
"yes?"
"I almost proposed to her."
Donald smiled, but it was stained, just as Panchito's, and it was the rooster who asked.
"But something happened, isn't it?"
José sighed, remaining silent "Jackie."
José flinched, his beak twisting like he had tasted something sour. "OH deus no! Not the navy nicknames!"
"Jackie!" Playfully mocked Panchito. José smirked, and saying "Frankie!"
Donald finally let out a loud laugh, both friends turned to him with evil smirks. " Fannie!"
They shared a laugh, and even started a mini food war, before the mood died, and José started talking.
"I made love to her, guys." He says "And, after that wanted her to become my wife, but his father found out."
Donald softly growled, and Panchito's fist tightens.
" . ." Donald asked through raged breaths.
"He sent her to Portugal, to her grandmother's family, so she can marry a good man."
"bullshit!" Panchito hissed.
"But..." continued "In the bright side of my life, Minerva is more a mother than ever."
And with that, they spent the rest of the meal talking quietly about the boy's lives.
[•••••••]
After their "nightmare" Huey and Louie practically went to the boat house to hide. Louie the most glad that now that his brother knows, and can understand better. Dewey and Webby were knowher to be seen, maybe adventuring on their own, and if Louie is honest he doesn't care, right now he needs someone who understands.
Huey is now reading the book about Don Dugo, and since he got a better reading comprehension he even remarked something points Louie didn't noticed.
"This information is incomplete." Huey said convinced.
"How do you know?" Asked Louie.
"There's a lot of messy time jumps, and vague references and information about Merida, it's like someone just wanted to erase any track of her" Huey says, placing down.
"Then... how could the author know about her?" Louie asks, slightly shaking.
"One of the consulted courses is the diary of Guillermo Gonzalez" Huey informed his brother.
"And what about it...?"
"After Don Dugo's death, the only written source of Merida's life is this diary." He says. "I tried looking for her on internet or in another book, and there's nothing, even in the official McDuck's family tree published by Scrooge himself."
"Wicked..." Louie commented. "Do you think we can find something on uncle Donald's closet?"
"Why the closet?" Asks Huey, raising an eyebrow.
Louie shrugs. "I don't know, just a feeling."
"I guess is worth a shot." Huey says, both brothers going to his uncle's closet.
Their search was almost fruitless, until they found a box, in the box were several letters, which couldn't read since all were written in Portuguese. A few golden coins and jewelry, photos and an old book.
Huey took the book, and opened it." It's a diary... uncle Donald's diary."
"uhh, what?"
"Yeah, it's an old diary." Huey says, as he reads the last entry. " It was written ages ago."
"What do you think? Should we read it?" Louie asks Huey.
The older brother ponders about it for a few minutes, before reading in a quiet tone the first entry.
"Today I'm turning eighteen, and I'm starting a diary, surprisingly gifted by Walt, Mickey's father. Weird, I thought he hated me for being the "Gothic" boy and a bad influence.
I'm writing this because I need something to get this out, and thankfully he gave me that way. "
"wow, uncle Donald was gothic?" Blurted Huey.
"Weird" commented Louie. "I've never see him without his sailor stylish kind of clothing."
Huey gulped nervously, feeling his own feelings and his brother's. "Should we tell Dewey and Webby about this?"
Louie pondered about it, but shook his head." Let's call it a revenge."
"Revenge?" Huey exclaimed "why?"
Huey felt a blush of emotions, almost suffocating, Louie's still bitter about Dewey's hiding the truth and trusting Webby more than them.
"As you wish." The red capped sibling.
Without any further word Huey re started the reading.
"Walter is a complicate man, conservative and strict. He reminds me about my own father, and in a little bit extend to uncle Scrooge.
Speaking about him, he's the reason why I'm having self doubt right now, he always wanted me to be more like Della, more like a McDuck... but I'm not a McDuck. Well, not only a McDuck, I love my mother, but sometimes uncle Scrooge oversees my father."
Huey and Louie shared a look, but then, continued.
" it's frustrating, I'm not only the son of Hortense McDuck, I'm also the son of Quakmore Duck, but... apparently Della forgot everything he ever taught us. I'm not an adventurer, I'm not a treasure hunter and not a McDuck. But uncle Scrooge never listen to me, or at least pretend to, and he still have the audacity to ask why I'm such a rebellious child. And worst of all, Della is obvious to this. "
Louie could feel the self doubt, he could totally say he's the same. Unknown to Louie, Huey felt his emotions, and wonder since when his brother felt like that.
" I feel so tired, so angry to be caught up in their expectations, they're trying to make me live their dream but I'm always causing them so much frustration, and yeah, I know they only want the best for me but they actually forcefully wanted me to show more interests.
Always wondering why I'm still whit the Grunge phase, or why I don't show my emotions frequently. They ignore my true wishes, and then expect me to always keep a big bright smile, but I can't. I want to get out of here and write my own fate."
Huey paused, and looked at his younger brother, already feeling his angst. "Have you ever feel like that?"
Louie didn't respond. "I'm serous Louie. Have you?"
Louie braced himself. "Sometimes..."
Huey gasped, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "Why haven't you said anything!?"
"How could I? Each of you are natural adventurers... I didn't wanted to disappoint you or uncle Scrooge."
Huey quickly embraced Louie." Louie, gosh... just don't think like that."
"But what about the whole adventure in our blood and everything like that." Louie says in a tiny voice. "What about Dewey?"
"Dewey it's reckless... but he can learn. If you don't feel comfortable with what we're doing just talk to us." Huey explained, rubbing circles in the youngest's back. " And I'm sure everyone will understand, even if Dewey or uncle Scrooge get mad, uncle Donald will protect you and eventually Dewey and Scrooge would understand as well."
Louie sniffed, looking at his brother's eyes. "You think so?"
Huey smiled, nodding. "Absolutely, and besides, you already have all my support."
They hugged again, and stayed like that for five minutes, until Huey said. "Come on, let's read a bit more before going back for dinner."
And with that, both brothers read more, and actually not stopping until necessary.
[•••••••]
Bentina Beakley walked through the S.H.U.S.H's corridors in a hurry, barely noticing the fellow agents who tried to wave her. She was a little bit pissed, she was in the middle of cooking when a call stopped her, it was Ludwig Von Drake, her boss.
'You need to come to see me'
She almost refused, because she's still angry at him, because he couldn't get Paperinik to pay for his crime. But in the end, she knew she had to go, probably to hear another warning, probably to go on another mission, and if she's honest, she hopes it isn't the case, because tonight wanted to hunt Paperinik.
With a growl she remembers the night when her pupil died, where the little agent 33, as she decided to be called was killed while trying to stop the criminal Kay K. Paperinik did nothing to apprehend the murderous girl, and when agent 33 tried to stop both of them, Kay K killed her.
And Paperinik did nothing.
"Glad to see you here, agent 22."
The voice of her commander brought her back into reality.
"Headmaster." She said. "What can I do for you."
Ludwig gave a little chuckle, shaking his head at her. "What's the rush, young one? You need to relax."
Bentina had to count in her head to not snap at him, she forced smile as she says. "With all due respect, headmaster, I have so much work to do. If you could be kind enough to inform me why I'm here, I'll be grateful."
Ludwig sighed, fully knowing the reason behind her behavior. "You know I couldn't do more in that case, agent."
Bentina clicked her tongue. "He helped the murder of an agent, sir. I believe I've the right to be angry."
"Do you? Why the sudden attachment?" Ludwig countered. The usually calm duck almost losing his temper. "You should amend yourself, Bentina. This accident is interfering your work, and you don't know the fully details about the incident."
"Kay J killed a fellow agent" she snaps. " Do you realize that? She should be facing punishment, but thanks to Paperinik she got away."
"That man is not part of our order!" Ludwig's voice raises.
"And that's what makes the crime worse." Bentina yelled. "We should've arrested him! He doesn't even show any regrets or shame for what he has done!"
Ludwig gave a dry laugh. "He's not just going to show you!"
"He deserved death. " She said coldly. "And you didn't helped to give him the punishment he deserved."
Ludwig just stares at her in shock. "Why do you hate him so much. "
Bentina turned her head to her side. "You wouldn't understand. "
Ludwig wants to try to get her to talk, but know it isn't wise right now, with a small shake of his head he processed to inform her about the new information he got.
"I need you to prevent Scrooge ruining a lunch."
"What!?" She exclaimed. "Sir, you got me here just to do that?"
"I heard the reunion is very important, " Ludwig cleared his throat. "The lunch, in the Duck plaza hotel is between Spettro Ducklair, Flintheart Glomgold and Paperinik."
Bentina clicked her tongue, hiding a groan under her breath. It was not a secret Scrooge McDuck hates those three, and will attempt something.
"Why are they even meeting, I've heard Spettro Ducklair, unlike his sisters is very secretive... just like his father." Bentina explained. "And Paperinik is as wanted as a criminal as he's admired as a hero, why would they waste their time with Glomgold?"
Ludwig passed his hand over his tired face. "So... what The Agency says it's truth..."
Bentina's eyes widened. "What did they said...?"
"We over estimate our enemies, and that is a dangerous mistake paid with blood."
Bentina said nothing, but Ludwig could see the rage forming in her eyes.
"I will try, sir."
Was all what she said before leaving, Ludwig letting her, since is particularly his fault she's like that.
"Please... don't do something stupid."
[••••••]
Later that night.
"You can't be serious!" Exclaims Donald, as he finished putting his suit on.
"You know I can't lie to you, old cape." Answered the green A.I
"But Glomgold!" Donald argues, as he puts his mask over his face. "Why him?"
Uno just glared at him, almost as dismissing him. "Are orders from above."
With that Donald only nodded. Today was a a long day, with great emotional meeting, some good others not. He's exhausted from today and after leaving Panchito and José in their hotel he wanted to go to sleep, and even was about to ask Fenton to do tonight's patrol alone, but his luck attacked again, as Fenton called him, asking exactly the same and Donald didn't have the heart to say no.
"okay. Tomorrow then?" He said calmly. " at Duck plaza hotel?"
The A.I nodded. " I'm sorry they didn't respected your free day."
Donald smiled sadly, yeah, before this he already had plans for tomorrow to spend time with the kids, but with this he better think about something else. "Don't worry, Uno."
He teleported outside the lair, and made his way across the city. Tonight was very calm, the snow still covering the place helped to hold back some criminals, and Ma Beagle was out of the picture since it was one of her child's birthday. That gave him peace, maybe with enough luck, he can just call the night and go home, with a slow pace he went towards the building's border. The night was chilly for the snow, but regardless of that, it was beautiful bringing back a lot of childhood memories. From where Paperinik stood, he could look over the city, his gaze finding the mansion. And with that the kids, his uncle and cousin.
He was so deep in thought that he barely noticed the wind brushing against him, making his cape dance with the wind. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, grabbing his gun and quickly pointing it to his new opponent, his eyes briefly betrayed surprise before turning dull.
"Agent 22"
Said agent had the same black look as his on her face, totally unfazed to be pointed at with a gun. Slowly, Paperinik lowered his weapon, fighting the instincts telling him otherwise.
"What brings you here, agent?" He asks, his voice raspy. And Donald is glad about having the voice modulator, because Beakley would totally recognize him without it.
"You perfectly known what!" She the punched him straight in the face, so fast that he doesn't even had time to react.
Paperinik groaned in pain, his nose was bloody and she noticed small tears forming in his brow eyes.
"What's the meaning of this!" He roared.
Bentina gritted her teeth in a cold smirk that made Donald sick and replied, "I came here to punish you for the murder of Agent 33!"
Donald felt his stomach drop. "I didn't kill her, it was my ex partner and besides I was already judged and punished."
Beakley's smirk grew. "I know. But I want a piece of the cake as well."
Donald was panicking, he almost considered fleeing the scene, but knowing Beakley she'll surely follow. "If a duel is what you want you know the rules, we need each a witness, otherwise it's a murder attempt."
Donald really hoped that could stop her, but of course not. "You didn't care much about the rules when you let her die."
Donald tried to think something to say, something to do right now, he doesn't want to hurt Beakley, but also his pride doesn't let him be the training dummy of his housekeeper.
With a frustrated sigh he gave her his back, and his next words could be heard ringing over and over in Bentina's ears.
"Go away, agent. I have no interest in you at the moment."
He turned again to leave, but Beakley stopped him. The vigilante could definitely tell that his opponent was starting to look more and more aggressive and furious, a face he never saw before, not even in the shadow war. Her eyes glowed with an intense fierceness she had never seen from him before, and he was starting to get nervous.
"What happened to the calm and controlled Paperinik we know and fear?" She laughs, giving him a small poke in his chest. "Am I making you nervous?"
It took everything in his very being to not flinch at her touch, he needed then another plan, maybe some manipulation or blackmail.
"Are you sure you want a fight? I have nobody left in my life, so I can fight without a fear." He said, his voice cold and his eyes locked into hers. "What about you, agent?"
The female agent gasped, she even gave a few steps backwards, her face revealing her thoughts: fear. Beakley must admit she didn't expect that, she's have never been known as a coward, but she can't give herself the luxury to fight to death with Paperinik. In fact killing him was never an option, she only wanted to beat him into next dimension, but it looks like Paperinik wasn't playing.
"Seems to me you picked a fight with me and now you're too scared to go through with it." he smirked. "Run along, agent. I'll keep this only between us."
As soon as his words left his beak he knew he fucked up, Beakley was totally pissed and took a fighting stance.
"Let's just do this," she replied, finally smiling at the thought of fighting him.
Donald was now helpless on stopping her, without another option but to fight he slowly gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he glared angrily at her. "Be reasonable! Even if you win you will get yourself in trouble!"
There were no words, just anger and hatred towards him. She bared his teeth furiously at him, Paperinik had his dread over boiling, he slowly inhaled. Without any warning she jumped at him, with the female duck throwing a right punch at the masked one as he raised his shield. Successfully blocking her punches and both struggled for an advantage, Beakley to beat him and Paperinik to knock her out and go away. Swiftly, Beakley let go and flung her left foot towards her opponent's ribs, fully intending to at least break one. Donald barely caught her foot, and again tried to reason with her.
"Stop this madness! You're too angry to reason!" He gasped, as he could hardly keep his hold on her foot. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you don't know how it feels!" She snapped, and attacked him with an electric weapons, as the electricity went through his body he almost let go.
" Uno, attiva la difesa!" She heard Paperinik cry, and she frowned. Of all the languages she had learned, Italian wasn't one of them.
And suddenly, the electricity didn't affected him anymore, and before she could react, Paperinik slowly flew her off her feet by swinging her in a small circle. Quickly she put her hands on the floor and twisted her legs, stopping Paperinik from whatever his plan was. Paperinik grunted in pain as the agent took his free foot and flung it into his chin. Paperinik almost lost consciousness by the hit, sending him flying towards the next rooftop, and Beakley jumped after him.
She almost managed to jump onto him, but in a moment of luck he made a trick he learned from watching "The lion king" and he almost laughed as it worked.
Beakley got knocked into several sheets and different kind of clothing that were there being hung to dry on racks. The larger agent became entangled with the clothes, and Paperinik took opportunity. Paperinik ran over the border and was about to jump and call for Uno, but Beakley wasn't done yet, she tackled him, sending them off the border. Donald gasped in horror as they continued to fall, and not even that stopped Beakley to keep pounding on him. He needed to think fast, the fall would most likely kill them both, he moved faster that he have ever before, raised his right arm, pointing his shield to somewhere. He then used his super strength to keep a firm hold on Beakley, who suddenly went limp, maybe from shock, and pulled the trigger of his shield's grappling hook, launching it upwards, holding onto something solid.
The line went flat, making an audience sound as it stopped their fall, Donald didn't bothered to hold down the scream due the pain in his arm. He let go of Beakley, dropping her rather roughly to the ground, Paperinik stayed like that hanging there for a moment, as Beakley tried to gather herself, she dragged herself a few inches, shaking as she stood.
It took a moment before both of them were good enough to talk, being Paperinik the first.
"Are you insane!?"
"Possibly..." was her honest answer.
"Old cape! I think I know why she's so defensive of that agent" he heard Uno say through his earpiece, as he watched Beakley gathering herself for round two.
"I'm all ears..." he said between gasps.
"Bentina Beakley had a daughter..." he started.
'Webby's mom' he thought.
"Unlike her mother, Meredith Beakley never joined S.H.U.S.H, neither did her husband, they were deep into The Agency's elite... "
Donald's eyes widened, and his hands started to sweat. "Shit..."
"They got killed during a mission, and The Agency had to set up a cover story..."
Donald cursed as he keeps listening, and he swears as he sees Beakley finally recovered. "I take she didn't knew the truth."
"Correct."
"And the other girl?"
"Hacking into the files I could gather more information, Agent 33 and Meredith Beakley were very similar, hair, techniques, they even were born the same day and month."
"I see... " he whispers.
"What are you gonna do?"
"Something stupid... " he said as he cut the communication.
Beakley was about to say something, but before she could Paperinik spoke, and what he said stole the air of her lungs.
"Enough, Bentina."
The floor beneath her shattered, her eyes almost falling out, her beak hanged open.
He knows...
Paperinik knows.
"H- how...?" She asks defeated.
"Bentina Beakley... for the safety of your grandchild stop."
She didn't said a word, she walked towards him, and hoped she could get his silence. But before could get close enough, he said.
"Stop." And she did.
"I'm sorry, what I'm about to do is selfish... " he started saying. "But I need to do it."
Before she could speak, Paperinik did something that made her blood freeze. In one fluid motion, Paperinik took off his mask and let it get carried away by the wind. He didn't look directly at Beakley, he just couldn't and instead frowned down in shame, but he could still see the look of astonishment on her face as she witnessed his face.
"Donald..."
He faced her, a blank look on his face, but the whole ordeal took a lot from him. He sank to his knees, exhausted, Donald places his two hands on the ground and bent over grasping his right wrist. He starts panting, his wrist is now surely broken, and and now he must face Beakley as Donald, he needs to ignore the pain, just for a little more moments. But a sharp pain in his wrist forced him to be careful, warning him to take it easy, Beakley, however, wasn't fazed by the Donald's sudden collapse.
In fact, she simply laughs. "I can't believe this... you"
"I see you don't take kindly being lied to." He said coldly.
"No I don't..." She walks towards him, but stop as Donald raised his head, and to her astonishment his eyes glowed purple.
She froze, not believing what she was seeing. Maybe this person before him wasn't Donald, maybe it was a demon, and now she was alone with it. Now it was her who tried to think of a way out of this dangerous situation. Donald straighten himself up, his face turning serious, despite the smile he was giving her.
"Are you afraid?" He asked in a shyly voice, and yeah she was, but she wasn't going to admit it. "Don't be ashamed. Sometimes, fear is the most reasonable reaction to some situations."
Bentina pointed her gun to him, the audible "click, clack" echoed in the alley they were in, her finger firm on the trigger. That unnerving attitude, this beast she was facing was clearly not Donald.
Donald raised his left arm, his hand glowing purple. "Please forgive me."
Before she could pull the trigger, he yelled. "Immobulus"
Bentina panicked when she froze, she couldn't move, she couldn't scream and she could barely think, she was helpless, her heart raced as he walked over to her. If she could, she would've screamed when he rested his unharmed hand on her cheek, his eyes unnaturally purple, all she could do was look at him, moving her gaze.
"I NEED to let this out, Bentina." He cooed "Dark times are coming, I can feel it and my uncle will be like an ant against it. Now that my friends, my brothers in arms are back I realized the truth."
He leaned closer, almost intimate in her ear, so he was sure only her could hear him. "I'm going to die."
Unknown to him, Beakley was screaming, wanting to offer her help, all the fear gone. He stepped back, taking her face in his hands, giving her a small smile.
"And there's nothing you can do... I can't be helped, I can't be saved... " he said. "But what I CAN do is promise you that everything will be okay, I'll make sure I'm the only sacrifice."
A lone tear falls from her eye, and he wiped it, his voice calm as he continued. "Don't worry, you won't remember any of this... that's why I must apologize to you, I caused you all of this stress just for me to get a break."
And he's glad that the spell he used effects the technology as well, Uno never heard this conversation, and he intends to keep it that way. With a last sigh, his eyes turned completely purple, preparing himself for the pain of the spell. Beakley wanted to convince Donald to let her help, but, she knows it's useless, and deep inside her, she prays for his promise to come true, because of someone as powerful as him is afraid, then surely Scrooge is doomed.
"Clauditis"
For a several agonizing seconds, Donald caught the glimpse of terror on Beakley's face, as he as well started to feel the pain. He saw her emotions of pain, hurt and betrayal, playing freely over her eyes as he extracts the memories, blood dripping from his nose, before her face went blank, her eyes lost in an unseeing haze, and he wonders, she was paralyzed by his former curse, did she suffer more because of that? But he wasn't done, not yet, the last part, and the most painful it's about to begin, and the sudden blessing of a electric storm muffled his scandal, thunder roaring in the sky deafened over his loud screams of pain.
Dark times are coming.
End of chapter 8
Donald knows something big it's about to happen.
Spettro means spectrum in Italian, I decided to give Uno fake identity a name other than Uno, and since well he's not a real person, he's like a ghost, a spectrum.
Now, I need your opinion, I'm having problems about the romance with Donald, he's currently in a love triangle, with Daisy an Kay K. I don't know who to choose, since yeah Daisy is Canon and with Kay it's just mere speculations, I see her as Goldy, and a romance with her would be intense, like with Catwoman and Batman. So what do you think, with Daisy I could pull a Hamilton, and have Donald eventually forgive Daisy or Donald could Date Kay, and bring her back to the good side.
What do you all think?
Daisy or Kay?
please vote, the one who receives more love will be the official pairing.
Vote!