I think I'm on a writing roll with this story! So I thought this time, why not share my Draft of the next chapter? The order is Scrooge's story and then the next is Donald & Gladstone's adventure. For now, enjoy!
Shared Originally: September 8, 2023
Fixed Up Chapter Dates: October 14, 2023
Date: February 8, 2024
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Chapter 5: Where Answers Are Revealed
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"Duckworth!" The loyal butler comes at the call, remaining silent to hear his master's words.
"Gearloose!" Scrooge's shrill voice startles a rather tall, lanky chicken, causing him to jump from his desk and knock over some tools onto the floor.
"Oh, uh, yes Mr. McDuck! What do you need, sir?" His voice is nervous and his movements rather clumsy as he tries to pick up everything he dropped.
"Get the phones ready and call the press, Duckworth! And you Ratchet, get all your best inventions and magical defenses! The moment has finally arrived!"
"Sir, does this mean—" The butler dog finally speaks up.
"Aye Duckworth, that troublesome thief sent a calling card! NOW's the time to show that no good stealing con artist a thing or two about how we're not just talk. Our reputation and hard work will speak for itself. Cause we're tougher than tougher and smarter than the smarties!"
Scrooge places the calling card on the desk for both Duckworth and Ratchet Gearloose to inspect. Duckworth regards the card with a calm stoic expression, but his ear betrays him, twitching in excitement to the news. The mixed chicken cockatoo inventor and scientist straightens up his back as he inspects the card, amazed by its authenticity. He then turns to his employer, eyes lit and burning with determination.
"This is truly not a drill! I must simply prepare for every eventuality and possibility by the elusive duo. Oh this will be the perfect opportunity to showcase my security system and its various countermeasures."
"Aye, spare no expense. For once and only once, I give you permission to use any of my resources to fortify the Money Bin, that no one, and I mean NO ONE will get in here." Scrooge's tone is sharp, commanding, and intense.
"Yes sir! I'll make the greatest security system that not even my father, world famous inventor, Copernicus Gearloose, could even surpass its greatness."
"See to it then!" Scrooge commands as Ratchet Gearloose salutes and immediately scrambles back to his desk, quickly writing down various ideas and drawing up designs.
Scrooge glances back at his butler, noticing how twitchy his ear had gotten.
"Go on and express yerself, Duckworth."
Upon hearing these words, the old dog spoke, "Oh, of course, sir."
"Yer excited for them, are ye not?"
"No, I mean, yes, I mean er…" It was rare for Scrooge to see the old servant be so conflicted and flustered in how to feel about such an event happening, especially since the old dog held them in high regard. It did get a chuckle out of him.
"Calm down Duckworth. I knew already you admired their work, and I won't hold that against you. After studying up on the thieves as much as I did, I can see where the appeal and charm in the public's eyes comes from."
The old dog smiled and nodded firmly at Scrooge, "Thank you, sir."
"Right, now what are you standing around here for? You've got phone calls to make, while I go over the layout plans with Gearloose here."
"Yes sir," The old dog bowed before sprinting excitedly off to the exit to get his duty done.
Scrooge watched the old dog go and then turned his attention to Ratchet Gearloose. The inventor was an eccentric, loved to experiment with new inventions that combined both magical artifacts and the powers of inventive sciences. Now, it had taken him awhile to be convinced of the inventor's skills, mainly because he's one to usually dislike magic due to the sheer laziness it takes away from one's worth ethic. Magic brings nothing but trouble, he always thought. But honestly, there were instances where it was useful, one such instance comes from the mystical stones used to fortify and rebuild the castle of Clan McDuck. It helped in preserving his family's castle and legacy. So, when Ratchet had provided him with various inventions that had helped him in his endeavors, combined with magical artifacts, Scrooge became a little more open to the benefits.
Scrooge again watched as the bird vigorously scribbled notes and schematics of inventions for the security system, then proceeding to swipe it to the side and create a new one. He smiled before thinking aloud, "Now, just to implement these conditions."
His mind thought back to the conversation with the duo:
"In order for this heist to work, there are a few conditions must be met."
"And those would be?"
Fantomallard looked at the rich duck as he raised his finger to count, "First, we'll need an eye catching item; something people will marvel at and feel its significance is important enough and it's worthy enough to be stolen by us as a duo."
"Ah, I see. I do recall seeing cases where you worked separately. I assume the difficulty level had something to do with this?"
"Sort of. Sometimes it's the level of difficulty, other times it's for, other reasons." Dolly replied while stressing the "other reasons," in a teasing manner.
"Alright. Then after the item, what else is needed?"
Both Dolly and Fantomallard smiled rather mischievously, before the gentleman thief replied, "A daring challenge of entry. And…"
"A challenging puzzle of an escape!" Dolly's voice rang with glee at those words.
Scrooge wasn't understanding, so the gentleman thief explained, "We're not simply thieves, but also masters of the complex. We do not do something the easy way, but make it a showcase in Duckburg, and even to the world, that we simply are the best at what we do."
"So all of this is for the attention?"
"Indeed! Why stay quiet and enjoy the spoils of a theft in secret? Garnering the public's attention gives people a story to tell, an experience beyond the humdrum of life and its routines. Oh and besides, this all needs to be as real as possible for the public to agree that you held no expense and trick back. One false move and people may doubt you, thinking you let us off easy."
Something struck Scrooge as strange in the man's words. As much as they seemed genuine enough, a sense of suspicion was raised in him. Something in those words wasn't exactly true, that even if they enjoy the showy nature of their thefts, perhaps… nah, maybe he was thinking far too deeply about this?
"Bah, I don't think I'll ever understand the need for such a type of fame." The ducks simply smiled, glancing at each other before looking back to Scrooge. "But anyway, what more do we need?"
"Other than the usual announcement to the press and our anonymous sending of our calling card to the media, the only other thing we ask of you is an item for keeps from your money bin."
"Wha—?"
"Darling Scrooge, we do need a little compensation, no? After all, we're the ones who brought the misgivings of the Millions and Billionaire's club towards your reputation. Though, we could always back out and perhaps truly leave you to handle the mess and enemies that will ultimately ruin your reputation around the world. That decision is completely up to you darling Sc—"
Surprisingly before Dolly Paprika had a chance to finish, Fantomallard lightly swung his arm around her shoulder, causing her to yelp in surprise, "Forgive my Dolly Paprika, she makes valid points, but loves her ring arounds."
"I'm not usually in the habit of making dealing with phantom thieves, but seeing as this is a first, why not make this more interesting."
"Oh?"
"You're thieves. I'm the victim. Let's make the item you want the very thing you have to steal from me money bin."
"Ohh!" Both the thieves were now paying close attention.
"I'll send a list of items and you get to pick one. ONLY ONE." Scrooge stressed before continuing, "I'll gather the attention and make its find grander than it actually was, and if you successfully beat my security system, the item shall be yours. After all, in your average of heists, roughly forty percent of the time, you keep your spoils."
"I'm impressed Sir Scrooge, looks like we weren't the only ones brushing up on our targets."
All three smirked at each other, a mischievous glint in each of their eyes. Scrooge, Dolly Paprika, and Fantomallard each held out their hands to one another shaking them. This was the start of their three way agreement, which was later sealed with a privately written contract that this will be the start of their temporary partnership, and it would only end after the item was successfully stolen. Anything after the item left the building, each was free to do whatever they wanted and nothing would connect them to one another any longer. Everyone signed off on it and the motion was set.
Hmm, he just hopes this will truly work. He actually wanted to relish in the looks on those smug faces at the club that would soon be flabbergasted by this sudden attack of the thieves. That would truly show them who it was they were messing with. But first, he had to figure out how to make the most seemly useless spyglass that can easily be beaten by computer technology today, somehow worthy of the public eye. Maybe he could build up its reputation in the historical society, saying it was one of the earliest counters and calculator for addition.
Well, it was time to get to work.
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-DUCKTALES 2017-
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Donald had thought he had gotten away from the strange room, but upon exiting, he finds that he's somehow back in the same room. How in the world did that happen? Well, when he tried exiting the door, something caused him to feel slightly light headed and next thing he knows, he's back in the room again. He tried multiple times, only for him to feel turned around and welcomed back to the same place.
"Why can't I leave!?" His yell is harsh as he's screeching loudly, to the point that he thought he heard a crack in some glass somewhere. "Huh?"
He finally stops and calms himself down to take a better look at the room once more. At a glance, the room looked the same. But noticing the other details, he sees the wall of pictures behind him was gone once again, with only the doorway remaining. Carefully, he feels across the wall and is surprised to find it feels absolutely bare, not a single frame is hidden. Why was that? Now that he actually paid attention, the assortment of stray electronic parts and wires were missing. It looked more presentable honestly, the other walls still had some Neo-classical paintings, degrees, a couple of photos and portraits of people hanging on the walls. Shelves decorated with teacup and teapot sets in styles from various countries sat well positioned on the shelves, and the same lovely fancy chairs and table remained as the center piece. Though, one thing did feel odd, or two. The first, the skylight above him didn't feel the same, something made him feel like the angle of the light was wrong, or the light itself was almost artificial? The second, it was beginning to seem like all the other rooms they had explored earlier in the mansion, a bit too clean, almost too nice if you asked him.
"What if…," Donald goes deep in thought for a minute, then soon decides to try something. He walks back into the doorway he had unveiled, the light headed feeling happened once again and he sees the same room. Once more, he feels the back wall and successfully finds the frames that had vanished from sight once more.
"I was right! This isn't one room, but two identical rooms," Donald was enthusiastic to have figured out the problem. "But why? What's the need for the weird illusions? Why is it only making the connecting wall's stuff disappear? Also, why do I keep getting disoriented passing through the doorway?"
He was beginning to think that this was really an official escape room situation now. If he couldn't get out by normal means, he'd have to do what most anyone in a puzzle room would do, start poking around for random useful items and hope that they can be used or lead him directly to the true exit of these strange twin rooms.
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-DUCKTALES 2017-
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As Donald worked his way around both rooms, removing things off walls and floor, hoping for some hidden compartments or a key or something, Gladstone was still walking down the long and seemingly endless tunnel. He was getting rather exhausted from the journey that seemed to feel more than a mile's walk. In reality, he barely even reached walking quarter of a mile. As much as the gander liked to take leisurely strolls, he actually was a slow walker. It was made even slower by his constant stopping every yard to light up the oil lamps that were so conveniently still able to illuminate the dark tunnels. Just how far was he going?
After much walking, Gladstone could finally see something up ahead, "Huzzah! The light! It must be a way outside!" He eagerly ran that way, off to freedom from the poorly lit and dingy tunnel, off to sweet and beautiful skies of the outdoors. Or, that's what he hoped for at least.
"Gah! What in the-?!"
The tunnel had brought him out, but not outside; the space was still clearly underground. Unlike the tunnel, with its dreary grey, this place was more golden and whites, designed almost like a little ballroom. But instead of a clean dance floor, he saw several strange objects strewn about the place. Some looked like leftover machinery or inventions, others looked like otherworldly materials, and many were earthly riches of gold, jewelry, and gemstones. Somehow, this kind of reminded him of Uncle Scrooge's Money Bin, but also not. The room itself seemed like there were more entryways that converged here at one point, but all of them are now sealed off. At least, they looked that way. There were a few pieces of furniture off to the side that suggested that this was probably repurposed as a lounge or living room area of sorts.
"Woah! Gladstone, maybe your luck is turning around once again! Donald is definitely going to flip when he sees all of this!" He delightedly explored all the newfound treasures, in hopes to maybe bring as much as he could back with him to show his good ol' cuz. With his "luck," he believed that something would somehow come in and aid him in caring it all away. Oh something was on its way, but not what he was expecting. Those sweet smelling vapors from the lamps were pushing their way in, filling up the room, where there seemed to be no other way out.
Gladstone finally took notice of the scent, admiring how it reminded him of the aromas of lavender and mild smelling fruits. In his little daze, he began to notice how tired he was feeling, "Oh boy, all that walking sure has tuckered me out. I think I'll just sit down on this couch here and take a breather."
As he sat down on the lounge chair, his eyelids slowly became heavier. His gut instinct was trying to warn him something was terribly wrong, but dear Gladstone felt he didn't want to fight it. As much as his slowly fogging mind wanted to argue, the sweet aroma and the exhaustion was starting to get the better of him. As his eyes began to close and his body began to be lulled into that tempting rest, the last thing he faintly registered was a strange magical whizzing sound, then he knew no more.
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-DUCKTALES 2017-
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The sound of the whizzing grew louder as Donald stepped back in surprise. Whatever he had done, after finding all the clues and keys, cause apparently whoever designed these rooms was most likely an escape room enthusiast, it had worked. The wall that separated the two rooms magically disappeared, the reason why he was probably getting headaches in the first place since it was all magically induced, and became one large mirrored room. But that wasn't all, cause the wall in-between was apparently so thick that it hid a whole slim doorway. Whatever the case may be, Donald finally had found three exits out, one or maybe all being the true exit.
At least he hoped.
The eager duck decided that the middle door was the most likely way to get out of this place. So there he stood, hand on the notch, not a knob since the other two doors were actually swinging doors, slowly sliding it open. He peeked into the crack, seeing nothing but the pitch blackness. He slid it open as much as it allowed for the light to come in. As he did this, Donald couldn't help but pick up the faint sound of gears and cogs turning, as well as that same low humming sound from earlier that reminded him of old computers.
Curiosity gets the better of him and he steps over the threshold into the newly discovered room. As soon as he does so, the door slams shut behind him and promptly disappears. Donald jumps, absolutely startled by the action. Suddenly, all around him the noises get louder. The room comes alive with glowing sunset yellow light revealing the whole room's interior. From floor to ceiling, all sorts of wires, gears, cogs, and what he thought were magical artifacts filled the space. The design felt similar to what was housed inside of a computer's shell almost, but the difference were the mechanisms all around him. This room felt rather odd, like a variation of that steampunk vibe theme? Retro Modern? He couldn't think up the right words for it.
As his eyes scans the room, he finally notices what looks like a rather bulky mechanical duck with a mixture of modern and old school technology holding to together. Actually, scratch modern, some of its parts looked like a mix of futuristic and eccentric, like something out of Gyro's lab.
He must have been staring at it for too long because he thought the head was moving on its own, which was the case. The mechanical duck's head begins to turn with it eyes still shut closed. It's scarily fluid motion hones in on his direction as a tinny chipper voice kindly greets him, "Greetings!"
"Uhmm, hello." Donald awkwardly greets back. But before he could get a chance to speak words beyond his simple awkward greeting, a series of weapons points all around him.
"You, who are you? Your voice pattern is not recognized! How have you gained unauthorized access to this room and to Villa Rosa?
Donald is panicking, "Wak! I didn't mean to do anything, I didn't even know you were here!"
The duck's voice, still oddly chipper sounding threatens, "If you do not answer my questions in thirty seconds, I will have no choice but to fire."
"Wait wait! Umm, umm," Donald is frantic before remembering a certain piece of paper Gladstone had given him to hold onto on the helicopter ride over, "Here, this is what you're looking for, right? This is the deed to Villa Rosa!"
The mechanical duck's head seems to swerve in the direction of the paper, this time the eyes open to see. They're are almost lifelike, but the only difference are the irises have a sunny yellow coloring instead of the usual black that was common among many ducks. It blinks, eyes scanning the paper from such a far distance before raising its head to meet Donald's.
The strange mechanical duck stares as they meet face to face, eyes slightly going wide at the sight. "No, is it really?" The machine duck sputters out,
"M-Master Qua-Quackett?"
"What?!"
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Original Notes:
Scrooge is rather excited to get this challenge and is pulling out all the stops for these two Phantom Thieves. I do wonder how his defenses will be like? Maybe something like, Escape From The Impossibin? One thing is for sure, Poor Ratchet has a lot to fortify and has a challenge to create a unique security system implementing both magical artifacts and modern technology.
As for Gladstone, he immediately finds something he shouldn't have in the underground and now has been put to sleep by those lamps and their lovely oils. Meanwhile, Donald had a side adventure of a puzzle room and now has stumbled upon something really unexpected. Who is this mysterious mechanical duck? Why is he here in this strange room?
For now, that's the end of this! If you've got questions or just want to know something, feel free to drop a comment below. Oh and thank you so much for reading! :D