1) McDuck's Gift
One sunny afternoon in a faraway land over the mountains and around a huge bay, a city called Duckburg consists of many top-class businesses, bustling people, and a thriving society. In the middle of the bay is a vast money bin, tall as a skyscraper, sitting on a stone island as a long bridge connects to Duckburg. And overlooking Duckburg, which rests on a steep mountain, is a huge manor as big as a five-star hotel.
Just then, a red cargo plane comes diving over the manor. Every second, the plane keeps getting closer to the manor. At the last second, the cargo plane quickly shifted away from the manor…
BOOOM!
And crashed onto a fountain filled with artificial gold coins.
Smokes steamed from the plane's engine, and its nose is badly dented. Then the side door of the cargo opened. A puff of black smoke first came out of the plane, and then the passengers and the pilot started to pop out.
"(Cough!) (Cough!)… That's it!" said a duckling with a green sweater, "No more flying trips for the rest of this year."
Another duckling with a red cap exits the plane next. He says, "Ugh… He's good with the exits but seriously got to work on the entrances."
An older female duck in a pilot suit and another duckling with a blue shirt emerged from the plane.
"Dewey dear," the female duck says in concern, "you all right?"
"That was awesome…" Dewey said, feeling a bit dazed.
"That big airheaded clod. After so many crash landings, can't he ever learn anything from them?"
"I think those crashes knocked out his brain, Mom," the duckling with the red cap.
A little duckling girl, covered with a life vest and a helmet, pops out of the cargo plane next. "It's a good thing I was prepared for another Launchpad's crash landings," she said. "A good spy like Granny and I always be prepared for the worst-case scenario."
"It would be great if you provided life vests and helmets for all of us, Webby," said the duckling with a green sweater who is irked.
"Donald tried to offer you guys safety equipment."
Then two ducks, the pilot duck Launchpad and a duck in a black sailor suit, stepped out of the crash cargo plane.
"Aahh…, another perfect crash landing, thanks to yours truly," Launchpad said with a grin.
"Perfect landing!?" the duck in the sailor suit said with rage and in a quacky voice, "you almost got us killed… for the two hundredth and fourteenth time!"
"Ahh, quit complaining, Donald, me nephew," said an elderly duck with a Scottish accent.
Lastly, an elderly duck came out of the plane unharmed. He has a black top hat, small glasses, and a black cane. Hanging in his head feathery hand are ancient coins tied to red yarn. A gold ribbon is tied on top of the coins.
"We got what we're after," the elderly duck speaks as he observes and shows the ancient coins. "The Miracle Taoist Charm, from the Pe-King Dynasty."
"That worn-out thing, Uncle Scrooge?" Louie said. "Looks like a pile of junk. Too ancient and boring to sell for a good price."
"Ah! Louie, my boy… Remember, looks can be deceiving. This charm may have been very old and historic for over ten thousand years, but it wields incredible magic.
Legend says a wise and compassionate feminine sage wields this charm as she travels around ancient Asian countries. It said she and her charm would bring miracles to those worthy of salvation and hope. If many people are united and combine their inner and deep heartfelt desires for mercy, this charm can summon miraculous fortune to those who truly desire."
"You had me at 'fortune,' Uncle Scrooge," Louie said with a grin. "Does that thing grant tons of cold hard moolah?"
"Even more, prosperous land, healthy produce, and most of all, a miraculous wish."
"A wish, Dad?" Webby asks.
"Precisely!" Huey answers as he brings out his trusty guidebook. "According to the Junior Woodchuck Guidebook, this miracle wish from the Taoist charm is said to be the most magical and powerful thing it can happen. It can only be granted when everyone's hearts are united, wanting the same obligation.
For example, if everyone wants a land and home filled with majestic prosperity, then everyone must unite their hearts and think the same desire to fulfill the wish."
"So what are we waiting for?" Louie said with eagerness. "Let's combine our hearts and wish for lots of treasures, gold, and cash, and we'll all be rich!"
"Uh, it's not as simple and greedy as you think. For the Taoist charm's wish to be granted, it is said that everyone must join together with pure and sincere hearts, and not a single one with greed or selfishness."
"What? Lame!"
Webby gazes at the Taoist charm. "Wow," she says with awe, "a wish that can grant everyone's heartfelt desire."
"Indeed, Webby me, girl," Scrooge responds.
The mother of triplet ducklings ponders the charm. "How compassionate that the old shrine keeper woman said we are worthy of keeping it," the mother said. "I wonder why?"
"Don't know, Mom," Dewey says. "But she says we'll need it because she foresees it with us."
"That's… odd…" Donald commented with curiosity.
Suddenly, the pilot duck Launchpad's stomach begins to growl. His loud grumble made everyone around wary and turned to him. "Gee," he said with embarrassment, "All that flying and crash-landing has made me hungry."
"How can crash-landing make you hungry, L.P.?" Louie says with grief.
"Let's go grab some grub cooked by Mrs. Beakley and Duckworth," the mother duck stated.
"I'm with you, Della," Donald agrees.
"Hmm, I wonder what time it is…?" Scrooge asks as he brings out a pocket watch.
When he opens the watch, Scrooge sees the time displaying five in the afternoon with the date in the center of the watch's face. But when he looked at the date, Scrooge widened his eyes.
"Bless me bagpipes!" Scrooge said in shock.
"What is it, Scrooge?" Huey asked.
"August 12th! That day already!? Time sure flies."
"What's so important about that day, Dad?" Webby asks.
Scrooge closes and puts his pocket watch away. He then replies, "No time to explain. Everyone, I want ye do me a favor. Please wait in the sitting room as Beakley, Duckworth, and I prepare a special treat for all of us on this special day."
"A special treat?" Dewey asks.
"It is Child Contribution Care day, Uncle Scrooge?" Louie teased.
"Don't be daft and a smart-aleck, Louie," Scrooge revolted back at the green triplet. "Just wait until I call ye."
"Whatever you say, Mr. McDee…" Launchpad said.
The ducks approached the front doors of the manor and stepped inside the manor.
The whole McDuck family waited an hour in the sitting room while everybody started to feel bored and hungry. Growing impatient, most slouch on the couches, Huey paces around in loops, and the rest tap their feet or fingers.
"Oh, come on!" Dewey complains. "How much longer is Uncle Scrooge going to make us wait?"
"Yeah, I'm starving!" Louie said in irk.
"Make that two," Della stated.
"Me three!" Webby followed.
"Me too… uh… four, I think," Launchpad says.
Donald grows impatient and starts complaining. "That's it," he said upsettingly, "I can't wait any longer. If I don't get something to eat soon, why I'm going give that four-eyed, old coot–"
"What did ye say about a four-eyed, old coot Nephew?" Scrooge said in irk.
Scrooge McDuck suddenly appeared with an irritated look on his face towards Donald. The sailor-suit duck flinched in surprise at Scrooge's sudden appearance. Everyone else turned wary of Donald.
"Aahh… This four-eyed, old coot I know back in my… old neighborhood…" Donald shyly replies.
Scrooge keeps staring at Donald in irk. But he calms himself and then turns to his family. "Sorry to keep you waiting, lads and lasses," Scrooge tells the gang. "But preparations are complete. Please, come into the dining hall, me family." Everyone did what Scrooge McDuck ordered and followed him into the dining hall.
As the family arrives in the dining hall, everything's pitch black and dark. Scrooge closes the doors behind him and his family. Once the doors are fully closed… Click! Scrooge turned on the lights and…
"SURPRISE! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!"
The Mcduck family jolted in shock by the loud cheer. And the triplets, Webby, Donald, Della, and Launchpad, could not believe it before their very eyes.
It is all their friends, Mrs. Beakley, Duckworth, Gyro Gearloose, Bulby, B.O.Y.D., Fenton Crackshell, Gandra Dee, Drake Mallard, Gosalyn, Lena, Violet, May, June, and Manny all gathered around an extraordinary feast. And on the dining table contained many sorts of food, from chicken to beef, from fruit to vegetable, and from pudding to cake.
The McDuck family, except Scrooge, became awed.
"Wait, what…?" Dewey said in confusion.
"What is all this?" Huey asks.
"Anniversary…?" Webby questions, "What anniversary is this?"
Scrooge McDuck then walks in front of his loyal and adventurous family. He proudly says, "Family, today marks the most important day of this very moment. So, I created and wanted to share it with everyone here. Today is…
The Annual McDuck Family Day!"
"Our annual family day?" Louie ponders. "What do you mean?"
Scrooge happily replies, "Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby… Remember the day that you triplets appeared at my front gate, and I took you in? How you three and Webby helped me stop that devious dragon from eating my gold. And our first adventure in Atlantis?
Well, today marks the day that all of you are loyal, loving and adventurous family. And ever since that fateful day, another family member or friend has joined the McDuck clan. From Mrs. Beakley to Duckworth, from Lena to Violet, from Fenton to Gandra, and so many more.
Tonight, we celebrate this fantastic dinner on our glorious annual tradition!"
Scrooge's family felt blessed by the elderly, wise, and wealthy businessman.
"Seriously, Dad!?" Webby said with excitement, "We have our own annual family day!?"
"But of course, Webby, me dear daughter," Scrooge replies calmly. "After all, family truly is the greatest adventure for all of us."
"I can't believe you did this for all of us, Uncle Scrooge," Della said with amazement. "It must be a fortune to prepare this spectacular event."
"Indeed, the arrangement for this festive feast is rather pricey. But remember, I have other resources besides my money." Scrooge winks at Della. He then says, "Now then, who's hungry and ready to have fun?"
The whole family and friends cheered and began to dine on this wonderful annual night.
A few hours passed, and everyone had a wonderful time and blast on their annual McDuck family day. They played games, told their previous adventures and stories, and of course, ate a lot of delicious food. The whole family had a lot of fun.
"Oh, man!" Dewey said joyfully, lying on a couch, "This is awesome! I wish we could do this every day."
"But then it wouldn't be annual," Huey corrected, sitting beside his brother.
"Who cares!" Louie said as he cleaned his teeth with a toothpick. "This is the kind of treatment I really love to relax after that disastrous crash-landing we had."
As everyone is still hanging around and enjoying the night, Scrooge observes his wonderful family as a small tear runs down his eye and bill. Then Mrs. Beakley appears next to McDuck and whispers.
"Shall we show them the special surprise?" Mrs. Beakley says to Scrooge.
"I thought ye never say it," Scrooge replies calmly.
It was then Scrooge McDuck clapped his hands to grab everyone's attention. Everybody heard and turned to Scrooge.
"Attention, everybody!" Scrooge announces, "I have a special announcement to present. This goes to me beloved family on this special day. I would like to show an exceptional gift that's meant for my one and only family. Gyro!"
Gyro Gearloose and android B.O.Y.D. appeared and pushed a heavy and tightly-secured safe. The McDuck family became surprised and curious. Gyro and B.O.Y.D. stopped moving the safe and unlocked it using their security technology passcodes. After that, the lid on top of the safe slowly opened, and a bright white luminous glow shone, almost blinding the family. Scrooge McDuck inserts his hand into the container and pulls out the glowing object. Once it's out, Scrooge shows the object to his family. They all became awed.
"What is it…?" Donald asks.
"This fine beauty?" Scrooge says rhetorically. "The rarest, ultimate, and most powerful magical item you'll ever see…
The Millennium Star."
The magical star is the size of Scrooge's hand and is a pure blue crystallized seven-point star-shaped object with a glowing yellow circular core in the center of it. The star is also transparent, and a sparkling sequence shined within the star.
The McDuck family, including everyone else, except Gyro, Mrs. Beakley, and B.O.Y.D., are amazed.
"Wow!" Webby said with excitement. "It's gleaming!"
"And it looks like it can be sold for at least five million dollars," Louie noted as he analyzed the star.
Della asks, "Just what does this magical star do?"
"Eve…ry…thing!" Scrooge said with firm confidence. "Ye know the saying wishing upon a star? Whoever wields this extraordinary item will have everything they want and desire."
"EVERYTHING!?" Dewey says with shock. "You mean like…?"
"Tons of cash!?" Louie says out loud.
"A full year VIP of Funso's Fun zone!?" Huey asks with excitement.
"All kinds of ultimate gadgets and equipment for spies!?" Webby shouts with eagerness.
"Get the royal treatment FOREVER!?" Donald said with awe.
"Anything, and I mean everything," Scrooge stated with a calm grin.
The whole McDuck made an 'Ooooo…' sound as they all stared at the magical medallion.
"Gee, Mr. McDee," Launchpads speaks, "how in the world did you get a rare magical thing like that?"
Scrooge hears and calmly replies, "I figure you were going to say that…" Scrooge then remembers and revisualizes in his head.
It was back in 1987 when I was leading and exploring the vast open acres to invest and build a village for some foreigners who wanted to plant, grow, and trade exotic food. One late afternoon, we had just filled a river and were about to build a small village.
Then all of a sudden, out of the blue and twilight sky, we witnessed a meteor falling down and crashing deep into the mountains. Eager and adventurous I was, plus the tingling in my toes, I left the foreigners and their land for a moment and set off towards the meteor crash site.
There were… plenty of dangerous areas and zones along the way, but that dinnae stopped me. I am Scrooge McDuck, tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties.
After that treacherous trekking trail I went through, I finally arrived at ye location of the crash site, a sizeable mass one as well. But when I got a closer look, I found ye meteorite the size of a basketball. Assuming it may be an alien life form within it, I nudged it using me trusting cane. Suddenly, the rock started to crack after a few touches. It then shattered…
FLASH!
A bright and luminous glow emerged and shined from the disintegrated rock, revealing to me the star we have right now. I knew the moment at first look it'll be worth a fortune for more than five million dollars, as Louie just predicted. So I grabbed it and headed back to the foreigners' land.
But when I returned to the site to build the village, my sworn enemy Flintheart Glomgold and his cantankerous cronies invaded and destroyed all the materials needed to build the village. Ta make matters worse, Glomgold also swiped all the seeds to grow the exotic food for our trade business.
All that was left at our site was rubble, the river we made, and one seed Glomgold dropped and missed. I apologized to the foreigners and wished there was something I could do in return. The foreigners forgave me, knowing that I did the best ye could for them. Regretful and guilty of this disaster, I planted the only seed at the supposed village's center. With just one seed buried, I deeply regret there was something more I could do, even though the foreigners accepted my regret and a good deed to them.
But then I said these words…
"I wish this seed would grow big and strong, so it can produce all the exotic fruit it offers."
At that moment, a glow illuminated my pocket. I pulled it out, and it was the star I found in the mountains. Then an aura glowed around the star and shoots ye beam at the seed. In a matter of seconds, the seed immediately grew into the biggest fruit tree before our eyes. Huge, exotic fruit from the seed to a tree was hanging, each tasting so sweet.
It then struck me something as I observed the star. I then said…
"I want this site to become the best village for these foreigners."
The star glowed again and shined. This time right before our eyes, a quaint village all built and thrived. Bless me bagpipes I was, this star can grant anything to whoever wields it.
But the elder of the foreigners warned me about its potential danger if it fell into the wrong hands. Takin heed from the wise old man, I knew the horrific outcome if Glomgold got a hold of this fine ornament. Even worse… De Spell.
Which is why, after finishing the foreigners' project, I kept this star locked deep within the depths of me other bin using the latest and high-top security equipment, even if it costs me a fortune. Once it was sealed away, I swore never to tell anyone, not even Bradford nor me parents, about the star ever since. The only ones who knew about the star were Gyro and Beakley, and they swore secrecy to anyone.
"…Until this very moment, ye all get to see this firsthand," Scrooge says, finishing his story.
Everyone, the McDuck family and their friends, heard and gazed at the magical medallion in awe.
"Question," Huey speaks up, "why is it called millennium? There's no record entry of this star in the Junior Woodchuck guidebook. So being the first ones to know this, where did millennium come from?"
"I can answer that," Gyro Gearloose said as he repositioned his glasses. "After Scrooge presented me with the star, I used my latest technology to analyze its material, matter, and form.
According to the data and compared with the meteorite Scrooge said from his story, we theorized this phenomenal star used to be a small particle, collecting substance of every little material as it traveled the vast outer space.
While on its space voyage, it flies over every unknown planet and other cosmo substance in outer space, gathering energy to build its magic and power. Over time, the particle develops and turns into a fully formed comet. This developing process takes about one thousand years, we estimate. That's where the word millennium came from.
Then the comet turns into an asteroid and lands on the closest planet it can find. Our planet happens to be our chosen planet for this comet slash asteroid to make an impact. And from the rest is where Scrooge found it, and it crumbles to this star you see before us now."
Mrs. Beakley then speaks, "Ensuring it would not fall into diabolical hands, Mr. McDuck immediately informed me about the star and made head of security of its secrecy. If anyone tries to get too close about the star, I use all my resources from S.H.U.S.H. to prevent them from reaching it."
Webby ponders and says, "But then, if this is really super secret, why are you presenting this now?"
Scrooge replies, "What better way to share this magical and priceless relic with my very own trustworthy family. We've gone through so much trouble and fun these past years that I think it's time everyone in this family deserves to celebrate with this extraordinary beauty."
Scrooge's family and their friends are bedazzled to hear from Scrooge.
"Here, let me try!" Louie said as he immediately grabbed the star. "I want… two sets of five hundred… No! Five thousand dollars!" The star then glows, hearing Louie's wish, and then… Poof! Two sets, with money straps tied together, of five-thousand-dollar bills. "H'oooh, Boy! Talk about easy money!"
"Let me have a shot!" Dewey speaks, and he swipes the star from Louie. Then, feeling eager with a wish, he says, "I wish for… shoes that I can run all around the walls!" The star glows again, and… Poof! Sparkling shoes appeared on Dewey's feet. Dewey becomes extremely happy, and he passes the star to Huey. The blue shirt triplet immediately runs on the interior walls of McDuck Manor. "This is awesome!"
"Let me see…" Huey says and thinks about what to wish from the star. He thought hard, then a notion popped into his head. "Millennium Star, I want a guidebook comprising every merit badge worldwide. If I going to be the top Junior Woodchuck scout for the whole world, then I need to know all the different merit badges there are to earn it." The star glowed again, and… Poof! Appeared in Huey's other hand is a thick guidebook of all the different Junior Woodchuck merit badges. "WOO-OO!"
Webby takes the star and observes it. "Unbelievable!" Webby said with excitement. "This star can really grant any wish you want."
"Incredible!" Fenton says as he and his girlfriend Gandra observes the star. "Think of the possibilities we can do for our Gizmocloud if we use this star's power."
"I know what you mean," Gandra agrees.
"Intern!" Gyro interrupts and makes Fenton jolt, "This is not something you should use for trivial and redundant experiments. Remember the last experiment you did with the Gizmocloud?"
Fenton remembers and turns grief. "Uh… Right."
"Hey!" Gosalyn says, "Maybe this star can bring back my grandfather. If I…"
"Gosalyn," Drake Mallard speaks and stops Gosalyn, "I understand, but something like that may disrupt reality. Remember the Solego Circuit?"
Gosalyn heard and turned to mourn. "Yeah, you're right…" She turns to the star. "But it is a magnificent thing to witness its power."
Holding the Millennium Star, Webby meets her four best friends, Lena, Violet, May, and June.
Violet observes the star and says, "To think for a thousand years, an exclusive magical star is created and landed right here in our world."
"Yeah," Webby agrees, "this star must have unlimited magic than anything else."
Lena observes the star and then touches it. But after she did, she flinched in surprise. "Whoa!" Lena said in shock, "Just one quick touch, and I can feel how immensely this star's magic really has. It's like… really beyond my own magic."
"It's a good thing Magica doesn't have a hold of this," June commented.
"Nor Bradford," May speaks.
"For sure," both Webby and Violet agreed at the same time.
"Hey!" Donald speaks and interrupts the girls, "Let me have that!" Donald swipes the star and makes his wish. "I wish for my boathouse to be like a luxurious five-star yacht." The star glowed, and Poof! Donald's boathouse became a big two-level vessel now floating in McDuck's swimming pool. "Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!"
Scrooge turns upset with his nephew. He says, "Ya'know you're getting more rent payment out of this?"
It wasn't long until everyone in the family took a turn, wishing for the Millennium Star. Lena wishes for a staff like Magica's, Manny wishes for gear for his horse body, Bulby descriptively wishes for a human-like body, and Launchpad wishes for a pilot's scarf and helmet to make him look like a real pilot. Everyone in the McDuck had a fun time with the star.
Ding!-Dong!
The doorbell rang and alerted Scrooge and everyone else.
"Hmm? I wonder who that could be?" Scrooge asks.
"I'll get it, Dad," Webby said to her father.
Webby walks and arrives at the front doors of the manor. When she opens the door, a female duck in a delivery outfit appears before Webby. She has a pink box in her hands.
"Hi there," the female duck greeted. "I have a delivery to Mr. McDuck for a special order of a powder cake."
Webby smiles and says, "Oh, cool! It must be our dessert. Please, come in."
Webby lets the female delivery duck inside the manor, leading her toward Scrooge McDuck and his family and friends. Scrooge noticed the female delivery woman's presence.
"May I help you, Miss?" Scrooge asks
"Yeah," Webby answers to her dad, "Desserts here! She brought a powder cake for all of us to enjoy our anniversary."
When Scrooge hears Webby, he makes a conflicting thought and says, "Odd… I asked Mrs. Beakley and Duckworth to prepare the finest sweets, but I didn't order any powder cake."
Webby heard and blinked. "Huh? But then why…?"
Suddenly, the delivery duck woman makes an evil grin…
BOOM!
Out of the blue, the powder cake box exploded and created an enormous dust cloud. It blinded everybody, and the gang was coughing from the dust.
Scrooge tried to clear his vision from the dust, but something bonked him from behind. He fell, but he quickly got up on his webbed feet. Then, the dust cloud disappears for everyone, clearing the area. And when Scrooge looked again, he gasped. His family and friends also looked.
A buzzard with collar and tie lands on the delivery duck woman's shoulder, giving her a dime with a lanyard attached. Once the delivery duck woman receives the dime, she then makes a diabolical expression.
"Thanks for the fee, Scrooge," the delivery duck woman said with an evil tone.
"Me number one dime!" Scrooge said and panicked.
"Wait!" Webby shouts, "That buzzard… Isn't that… Bradford?"
"Wait a minute…." Huey speaks as he gets suspicious of the delivery duck woman. "You're not a powder cake delivery woman, are you?"
"Of course not, you little runt," the delivery duck woman scolded. "For I am…"
The delivery duck woman then summons a magical staff. Using its magic, the delivery duck woman changed her appearance, revealing to the McDuck family that it is really…
"Magica De Spell!"
The evil sorceress laughed evilly in front of the McDuck family and their friends. Scrooge and everyone became shocked, as once again, one of Scrooge's sworn enemies was back.
"Aw, phooey!" Donald complained.
Author's Note
There's a reason why I chose the dates Aug. 12 and 1987. Do you know why? If not, look it up.