AN: Feel the need to explain something. Jimmy Crystal hasn't necessarily gone good yet. He's trying but it's more he's trying to save his image. The night before he was trying not to go to jail. Oh, and yes, I do plan to use Suki. I have big plans for her. And Jimmy. There's only one reason anyone would tolerate his bullshit for as long as she has.

Spoiler warning for those who haven't seen Ducktales 2017.

Chapter 3

"Hot News!" The talk show's musical sting announced the beginning of the day's episode.

Linda Le Bon sat in her green chair. "And the hottest news today is last night's surprise performance by the New Moon Theater troupe." The red-haired mare held a pack of cards in her hands. "And we have director and producer, Buster Moon and his leading lady, Rosita Suarez with us today. Great to have you both this afternoon. I'll tell you, last night was amazing."

Buster and Rosita waved at the cheering crowd. "Thank you, Linda," Buster smiled. "I'm very proud of my team."

"I have to know. How did you come up with the idea? Out of this World?" She asked.

"It wasn't really my idea at all. Gunter, Rosita's dance partner, came up with it on the way from Calatonia," Buster explained. "And when he described the role of the heroine, Rosita immediately came to mind. Especially since she helped me convince everyone to make the journey."

The pig blushed brightly. "Well it was always my dream to perform in Redshore City. And I had just convinced my husband to babysit all 25 of our kids for the day, so you know…" She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. The studio laughed.

Off to the side, Porsha and Suki watched the filming. Suki was reading the letter Jerry had delivered. "Miss Lane, I am going on sabbatical. I leave you in charge. If you need me…" She sighed. "Oh, Jimmy…"

"Now, I have to ask because everyone is wondering. Suki told me what happened. I thought it was part of the show at first. Mr. Moon, what was going through your mind? When Mr. Crystal attacked you?" Linda asked. On queue, the monitors began replaying the moment.

Buster looked away. How could she ask him that? He thought he was going to die. Rosita's kindly hand touched his shoulder. He looked her in the eye. He couldn't talk about it. She took his hand supportively.

Linda saw he wasn't going to answer and redirected her question. "Captain Rosita, you saved his life. What was on your mind when you saw what was happening?"

Rosita shot her a harsh look. "I saw my friend falling. What else could be going through my mind but I have to save him. And I would do it again. But please, this is a little personal." She wasn't sure she liked the talk show hostess. She thrived on controversy. "Please, turn that off…" She said, watching what the rest of the theater must have seen the night before. "Don't watch it, Buster, it's okay…" She whispered to the koala who was trying desperately not to watch that moment repeat itself.

Buster trembled as his mind went over it again with the video footage there to remind him of every dreadful second. "I'm fine…." He forced himself to lie as he hugged himself in front of the live studio audience. He felt his breath getting faster as he relived the moment. "I'm fine…"

"It's okay sweetie… I'm getting you out of here," Rosita's voice assured him. She had no idea they'd been filming the incident but playing it back was a terrible thing to do. She gently guided him out of the recording studio.

In the hallway, Rosita helped Buster to sit down. "It's okay sweetheart. Don't think about it. It's over now." She hugged him, trembling a little herself, tearing up as she imagined what life would be like if she hadn't caught him. It was a terrifying possibility. "You're safe. Thank heaven, you're safe."

Hearing her, Buster realized Rosita wasn't just trying to comfort him. "Rosita, are you okay?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, no I'm not. Buster, you're our boss. You're one of my closest friends. You gave us all a chance to live our dreams. Without you…" She wept. "Without you, it would all be gone."

Buster bit his lip. "But hey, I'm alright. You saved me. You made the jump and saved me. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." He reassured her. "And hey, where would I be without any of you? Moon Theater would just be a memory and I would be washing cars for a living." He hugged her. "We're both okay. We just need to work through this. And we will." He needed to get over this thing. He was in one piece. He needed to get past it so everyone else could too. "Hey, why don't we go find the others?"

"Mr. Moon, are you alright?" Porsha asked as she finally caught up with them. "I'm sorry, I'll talk to Linda…"

Buster forced a smile. "Yes, Porsha. I'm fine. Perfectly fine. There's only one way left to go after all."

Porsha nodded. "And that's up. Hey, my dad asked me to give you this." She held out the letter.

Buster took the envelope and opened it curiously.

"Moon, I am leaving town for a while and I'm leaving Porsha in your care. She is to stay with you until I get back. I don't want her alone in the mansion. Take good care of my baby girl. If there's so much as a scratch on her, I'll throw you off the catwalk again." He shivered but appreciated where the threat was coming from. "Of course you can stay with us." He told Porsha. "Say what you want about your dad, but at least he loves you. That's what's going to save him in the end. Just continue to support him and love him as much as you can."

Porsha smiled at the koala. He had a bad habit of lying but she could always tell when he was being honest. And she could tell he really believed it. "Thank you, Mr. Moon." On the way back to the suite, she began talking. "You know, Daddy didn't used to be like this. When I was little, he never would have hurt anyone. He really isn't a bad person."

Buster nodded. "Porsha, I choose to believe you. I just wish I could have met him the way you know him. And maybe someday the person he was will come back." He didn't know how likely it was but Porsha wanted to believe it and Buster really wanted it for her. She deserved a dad who loved her and supported her like his dad did.

——————

Kickenklober was waiting for Johnny and Nooshy when they arrived. He had dismissed the rest of the class for the day. What he had to say needed to be said in private.

"Johnny and Riffraff Street Dancer, I am glad you have come," he began. "Johnny, I can only say how sorry I am. For the way I've acted towards you and your friends. You did very well last night despite my attempts to ruin your performance. That was very wrong of me. I hope you can forgive me and give me another chance."

Johnny smiled. "Of course I can, Mr. Kickenklober. Thank you for your apology. And don't worry, Mr. Moon is not going to fire you over it. I asked him to let me talk to you personally."

Klaus nodded, taking the hint. He was on thin ice but he had a chance to regain his pupil's trust.

Johnny found his dance partner, Ryan. He was supposed to be his "opponent" for the dance battle scene. "Thanks for your support last night." He told the tiger.

Ryan grinned. "Hey, you did great last night. You really showed Kickenklober a thing or six." He picked up his poles. "Wanna work on it together this time?" He threw a pair to Johnny.

Johnny snatched them from the air. Together, he and Ryan practiced the climax over the next hour. By the time they were ready to rest, Johnny was dripping with sweat. They went to the locker room to get changed and cleaned up. In the communal showers, the gorilla thought that Ryan might be discreetly watching him wash via the mirror. He blushed, trying to decide how he felt about it.

Before coming to Redshore City, Johnny was sure he was attracted to females and he just hadn't found the right girl yet. Now he was wondering if he wasn't barking up entirely the wrong tree.

"Like what you see?" Ryan asked, making Johnny realize that he was also watching his dance partner. The younger dancer blushed and turned back to his shower. "It's okay, you know. I watch you all the time."

Johnny wasn't sure his face could get much pinker but it sure was trying. "Y…. You do? Why?"

Ryan sighed and crossed the shower room. "Why do you think?" He was so close, Johnny could smell him. His shampoo and his natural scent, a deep musky scent that made Johnny's toes curl. His paw touched Johnny's hand, feeling the calloused fingers between his own.

The gorilla felt his breathing get quicker as Ryan's face drew closer to his own until their lips touched. Alarmed, he pulled away. "Wait… what's happening?"

The tiger chuckled. "I'm letting you know… that I'm attracted to you…" He kissed Johnny again, the hot water rushing over them. Johnny didn't quite know what to say or do except to kiss him back.

——————————

In a large mansion on the top of a grassy hill, a well-dressed old duck sat at his dining table drinking a cup of tea made from the same tea bag that he'd been using for a month now. He opened up his paper from earlier that morning with a contented sigh. He hated having to make that trip today but when he heard what happened, he had to step in. Not many people appreciated just how much stress he and others like him were under.

"Look out!" A voice shouted in time for him to dodge the swinging pink-clad duck.

"What are you kids doing?" He asked curiously as three other young ducks ran after her with rubber dart guns.

He looked out his window when he heard the tell-tale sound of spinning chopper blades. One of the little ducks, clad in blue, stopped and looked outside. "Oh my gosh! That helicopter belongs to Mr. Jimmy Crystal!"

He nodded. "Yes, Dewey. I'm one of his investors. He'll be a guest here for a couple of weeks." He drank his tea.

Dewey began jumping with joy. "Whooo! I bet he can help me with Dewey Dew-Nite! He is the King of Entertainment."

"Now, Dewey, Mr. Crystal is here to get a break from all of that frivolity. There will be no mention of such things while he is here," the old billionaire duck decreed.

"But Uncle Scrooge! It's THE Jimmy Crystal!" Dewey protested.

"Yes and he's here on VACATION!" Scrooge emphasized. He went to the front door where his muscular housekeeper was already letting the white wolf into the mansion. "Ahh, Jimmy, welcome to Duckburg. This is my housekeeper, Mrs. Beakley. And these are my great-nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. And this little girl is Webby, my daughter." He hugged the pink-clad duckling close.

The wolf nodded politely. "I wasn't aware that you had children." He said while Bentina Beakley took his suitcases.

"Oh yes, I do have quite a houseful," Scrooge laughed as two more ducks came into the hall to meet their guest. "And this is Della, the triplets' mom and her brother, Donald. Guys, this is my business associate and friend, James Crystal. He'll be a guest for a couple of weeks."

"Great timing!" Della exclaimed. "Uncle Scrooge, look what I found in the back of one of the books in the library! It's a treasure map to the Temple of Clarion. And the book says the temple is home to one of the greatest treasures of all time!"

Scrooge snatched the map and laughed like a mad-man. "Yes! I have been looking for this temple! Let's go lads! Jimmy, you too!"

Crystal had no time to protest as he was herded into a large red cargo plane. What did he just get himself into?

AN: Yes, Webby is Scrooge's daughter. That IS canon. If you haven't seen Ducktales 2017, see it. Will a vacation with Scrooge and his family prove helpful?