Neb: Vincent Tailfeather is back to his old self. I am going to be working towards moving through these episodes, because I think I have a clear goal in mind on how I want this story to end. I do not own Duck Tales, and I hope you all enjoy the story.
Vincent was chucking blasts at an archery range with Lena as they were showing off their new powers. It was amazing, whatever was holding Lena back was gone. She no longer hated magic and was no longer being dragged down by her lineage. Vincent on the other hand not only got his magic back when Phantom Blot was defeated, but his memories as well. Perhaps the surge of energy that came from the friendship bracelet was what he needed to connect some wires up in his head. No, it was clearly the magic of friendship itself that fixed him. It was a power far stronger than any curse Rosina could make. Every time she had failed to control Vincent was because his friends were always there to protect. Even when he fought against Scrooge, that newfound power saved Vincent from Rosina's control.
"That's good for now," Lena decided as she wiped sweat off of her forehead. "Violet and Webby sure are thrilled I don't hate my magic anymore."
"We all are Lena," Vincent smiled. He then sighed. "I wish I had my memories when Phantom Blot attacked. You wouldn't have had to learn from Magica."
"So you could have taught me?"
"My fourteen year old self didn't know healing spells, shielding, illusions, or any of the other things I picked up when I was at Artifact. Because I was tied to the Path of Order, I couldn't use any of those spells, but I learned them anyways. I'm sorry we wound up in that situation. It feels like a bad dream, like my younger self was a completely different Vincent relearning who I was through all of your stories. I'm sad to say, even though he was trying to be more like me, he missed the points of your stories. He couldn't understand why I made the sacrifices I did and called me reckless.
"You are reckless," Lena pointed out. "But that's OK, your heart was in the right place."
"His wasn't," Vincent shook his head. "He only stayed with Webby because he felt he had no other options. When I felt like that, I at least went off on my own and learned how to live on my own two feet. I didn't force myself to stay where I didn't want to be for a long period of time. That was my old habit when I hung around the old man."
"You mean your dad," Lena figured.
"Yeah, every day I celebrate having gained independence from him," Vincent nodded. "Though, a part of me still wonders what has he been up to since I rejected returning with him."
"Interesting," Lena admitted. "I never thought that way about Magica once. All I could think about was escaping from her and no longer being controlled by her. Even now, after having proven to be an equal, a part of me is trying really hard to escape being her shadow."
"But you aren't her shadow anymore," Vincent reminded her. "You don't have to feel that way anymore."
"I can't help it," Lena sighed. "After having been with her for so long, that's what felt normal."
Vincent remembered a conversation he had with Webby about the old man. About how even though the old man was awful to him, he still did miss him. "Even if the place was awful, he still took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He was using me, but I didn't care."
"Earth to Vincent," Lena spoke up. "Hey, Violet texted me to meet her back at her house. She has some Senior Woodchuck stuff she wants help with."
"Oh sure," Vincent nodded coming out of his flashback. "Thanks for coming out here."
"Hey anytime Vincent, and don't worry. We aren't their shadows anymore."
Vincent smiled and nodded.
"Ok, so this is again?", Scrooge wondered.
"Scrooge McDuck meet Mr. Paddlefoot," Mrs. Beakley introduced. They were driving away from a police station that the old man was being held at. "Vincent's biological father."
"I told you none of that Mr. or Sir stuff," Paddlefoot groaned. "I only want to be called that when I finally become your betters."
"Oh, isn't he a joy to be around," Scrooge grumbled.
"My thoughts to," Mrs. Beakley nodded.
"You didn't have to bail me out," Paddlefoot pointed out. "I was trying to get a hold of Vincent, not your housekeeper."
"Well Vincent lives in Mr. McDuck's manor, the place you were calling," Mrs. Beakley informed him. "And he does not wish to see you."
"Why were you arrested anyways?", Scrooge wondered.
"I was chucking a few things at Flintheart Glomgold yesterday," Paddlefoot explained.
"Oh, maybe I judged you too quickly," Scrooge admitted. "Why the animosity towards old Flinty? Other than him being, you know, him."
"Well that's just it," Paddlefoot facepalmed. "I was working on the support beams for the new Ferris Wheel we were putting up, and suddenly he terminated my contract and several other people's contracts for budget reasons. I told him that was unsafe, but he didn't want to here it. He'd rather give praise to some martian or something."
"Moonlander," Scrooge corrected.
"Whatever," Paddlefoot groaned. "I found a nearby apple stand and decided to go old fashioned and chuck some fruit that's been sitting out all day at him. It was hilarious until the cops showed up."
"I'm sure," Scrooge chuckled.
"I could have sworn from what Vincent told me that your experience is usually in retail and dining," Mrs. Beakley pointed out. "I didn't know you worked in construction as well."
"Well that's the part I actually got arrested for," Paddlefoot explained. "I was told to be escorted off the perimeter, but when they found out I didn't have the proper credentials to even be in a construction zone, they took me to the station."
"There it is," Mrs. Beakley facepalmed. "How did you even get the job then?"
"You'd be surprised what people who don't pay attention will let slip by," Paddlefoot laughed. "You know, before Vincent was dropped off at my place I pretended to be a scientist for a while. Nobody questioned it, they just let me do whatever I want, and I got paid a nice salary."
"But you didn't work your way to earning that title," Scooge shook his head. "Are you telling me your just another con artists?"
"Most jobs I do are real," Paddlefoot defended himself. "And it's not like I don't read up on the other jobs before I do them. You know Vincent may have got his love of fantasy from his mom, but he got his studying habits from me."
"So then why didn't you dedicate your time to studying?", Scrooge wondered. "Then you could have earned yourself a degree in construction, or being a scientist of..."
"Biotechnology was the book I read," Paddlefoot shrugged. "But nothing on the book was anything like the job I did. They found out quick and threw me out also."
"Why didn't you get arrested back then?", Beakley rolled her eyes.
"Why did you bail me out of this one?", Paddlefoot shot back.
"Because believe it or not, I want what's best for Vincent," Mrs. Beakley explained. "You were trying to get a hold of him to bail you out, so I intercepted and did so instead. So he wouldn't even have to think about doing it."
"Petty," Paddlefoot chuckled. "I like it."
"You did so? it was my money," Scrooge grumbled. "As fun as this has been, if we aren't taking Mr.. If I don't call you Mr. Paddlefoot, what do I call you?"
"Just Paddlefoot, Ted, or Teddy. Just don't call me Theodore."
"I understand, if we aren't taking you to Vincent," Scrooge nodded. "Drop him off right here, and let's never bail him out again." The car stopped and Paddlefoot got out. "Have a great day, Theodore!"
The car drove off and Paddlefoot kicked the road before heading off.
"There you are Vincent," Webby spoke up as she headed outside the manor. Vincent was seated on the outside steps watching the sun set. "You won't believe the day I had, Dewey and I showed Penumbra how to have fun like Earthlings."
"Penumbra? Oh right, Della's friend," Vincent remembered. "She showed up for the parts of the moon invasion that I wasn't there for." Vincent looked down and then sighed. "Webby, should I even still be here?"
"W-what are you talking about?", Webby wondered. "Did Rosina take another part of your memories away? Of course you belong here."
"It's not that I want to leave forever or even go on some long trip, I'm just wondering if I should try to stand on my own two feet again. The Shadow Syndicate was beaten by Phantom Blot and Rosina was captured by her own cult. I don't have to hide here anymore."
"I want you to stay," Webby shook her head. "Not because you have to, but because you want to."
"Of course I want to, but remember what Cassandra said," Vincent pointed out. "I shouldn't even be in this timeline, a genie wish made our paths cross. I... I might mess stuff up, cost you a victory that should of belonged to your family. Even worse I could wind up helping you win in a situation you were supposed to figure out yourself. I don't know what I'm supposed interfere in vs what I'm supposed to leave alone. I don't want to stay behind on every adventure just because I might wind up messing with Order."
"If the Enforcers of Order come after you, we'll fight them together," Webby assured. "I spent all morning trying to find someone to hang out with, the boys only want to watch t.v, the adults all enjoy their own groups. Even Lena and Violet aren't around all the time. But even when your memories were gone you at least tried to be there for me... There's something I wanted to ask you a while back, but you had disappeared before I got the chance and Cassandra had shown up."
"What is it?"
"Granny had all but admitted that she hasn't been honest with me," Webby explained. "Back when we were at Mervana, it took a magic harp to make her confess she's been keeping secrets from me and actively lying. I wanted to believe the best in people, but it seems I learn new... bad things about them the more I get to know them. Even people I've known my whole life and idolized. Vincent, you aren't keeping secrets from me are you? You've never lied to me before, have you?"
"I've never needed to lie to you," Vincent shook his head. "And honestly I don't think I'll ever need to. I'm sure Mrs. Beakley just wanted to protect you, because she cares about you. Madame Aurora would often do the same thing, lie, withhold information, usually until it's too late. But I think we both can learn from their mistakes and try to be honest with each other, no matter how hard."
"Really?", Webby lit up.
"I wouldn't have confessed to feeling out of place here if I wanted to keep secrets from you Webby," Vincent smiled. "And if anything or anyone bothers you, you can always tell me."
"I will," Webby smiled as she hugged Vincent.
"I may not like where I'm at," Vincent admitted to himself. "At least, how I got here anyways, but I think I'll stay. I'll go on adventures with the Duck family, the timeline be dammed, because... I'll do it for my sister!"
"Pathetic," the man in robes spoke up as he sat at the Karmic Court. "Madame Aurora found guilty of having messed with the timeline, Cassandra ran off, so she's guilty to. The only one who's truly guilty for ruining things is Vincent Tailfeather. The two of you are worried about telling each other lies, and yet the biggest lie you've been telling is that the two of you are big brother and little sister. Vincent Tailfeather will stand trial for his crimes, the timeline will end as it should have, and I will bring order and justice to this abomination of a world!"