Neb: I do not own Ducktales. This chapter takes place during the ending of season two. So far, Louie was grounded for creating the Timephoon, just like in the show. The added parts that I had, were the fact that Lena was out in the middle of the storm and Violet doing research on god related magic items, like the mask of Helios and the amulet of Quetzalcoatl. Violet was also studying the different sources of power Vincent could draw from in hopes that would help him be able to take on his magical foes. They were met with interesting results as Vincent was able to change the color of his aura based on his feelings. Of course his powers still revolved around explosions, as he was a destruction mage. Overall Vincent's not sure if he'll be able to fight his foes, but that's one of the main reasons he went to the McDuck Manor anyways. Vincent doesn't want to be a burden on those around him, from all the enemies he has and because of his traumatic past, but more and more he's been feeling like that's the case. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the fanfic.

"Slow down," Vincent spoke into his phone. "Run that back again Louie?" Vincent was hanging outside of a supermarket when Louie called him. He was picking up some spices and vegetables for Mrs. Beakley that Vincent noticed they were low on in the manor. Of course, he didn't have to do this, but Vincent enjoyed volunteering himself for chores, if it meant justifying his stay in the mansion.

"Right while you were off hanging out with Webby's besties," Louie restarted his story. "Magica De Spell, Glomgold, the Beagles, Mark Beaks, and um that captain guy... Don Carnage."

"Karnage," Dewey corrected in the backround.

"Right him," Louie continued. "They all attacked the manor. They got through the defense systems set up by Gyro and they defeated Duckworth. I was all alone in that manor."

"Why didn't you call me?", Vincent interrupted.

"I was going to," Louie assured. "But I heard them arguing with each other about their next step. So I got in their conversation and started manipulating from there. Long story short, I got Glomgold to sign a contract with me as his partner that the joint funds of all the villains belong to him. That gave him enough money to win the bet against Scrooge."

"What bet?", Vincent questioned.

"Stop interrupting," Louie yelled into his phone. "Anyways they won the bet, but the contract was null void for Glomgold, because that isn't even his real name."

"Right it's Duke I'm pretty sure," Vincent remembered Mann and Fisher explaining that to him.

"Duke Baloney, yes," Louie confirmed. "The contract couldn't go through, because he didn't sign his actual name. But I signed my real name as his partner, giving me access to Scrooge's funds, Glomgold's funds, and the other villains funds. I'm now the richest duck in the world."

Vincent wasn't sure how to respond to that. Louie was the richest duck? Sure he was crafty and great at self preservation, but how the heck did he pull that off? "So you're going to give the money to Scrooge then?"

"What no? It's my money," Louie pointed out. "After everything I've been through, I deserve to be pampered."

"So then why are you calling me?", Vincent wondered.

"I want to hire you," Louie explained. "You see, I've seen you put your best foot forward for little results time and again. I think it's time you accept a job that gives better pay. What do you say? Do you want to work for me?"

Vincent thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No."

"You didn't even ask what position I wanted to give you?", Louie pointed out.

"It doesn't matter Louie," Vincent shook his head. "I don't do hand outs and I've got other problems I am dealing with. I'm sorry."

"You know what fine," Louie grumbled into the phone. "See if I stick my neck out for you again."

"Louie," Vincent responded. He heard the click as Louie hung up on him and sighed. "Louie, what are you thinking? This fortune isn't didn't work for it." It was ok for Louie to turn a bad situation into profit sure, but Vincent wasn't convinced being richest duck in the world counted in that regard. Also, why didn't he hear Louie out, was his pride getting in the way again? Vincent shook his head as he put his phone away. "It doesn't matter. I wouldn't be earning funds that Louie worked hard for. I'd be earning money he stole from criminals, who stole that money from defenseless people. Yes my pride is getting in my own way again. Yet, I don't feel as though that is a bad thing right now." He did not empathize with Scrooge or the criminals who had lost their funds in that gamble either. After all, they all put themselves in that situation. Besides, as the eldest of the duck children, Vincent had to lead by example. Whether he was working at a coffee shop, writing stories, working on a fishing boat, or going on an adventure didn't matter. As long as he showed the other kids that they could put that same work in some day and yield a decent enough prophet from it. Louie always wanted things to be easy, but that's not how life works. Vincent knew this because of how his dad was, his dad did everything in his power to try and find a shortcut, by gambling away money he didn't have, by stealing.

Vincent shook his head once more as he tried to free himself from dwelling on those thoughts. He had a few more errands to run for Mrs. Beakley, some more research to do with Violet, and he was trying to find a new place to explore with Webby. His day was full as far as he was concerned.

It didn't take long for things to go back to normal. It didn't take longer then a day for Louie to give Scrooge back his mansion. There was a creature known as the Bombie that attacked Louie, because of some ancient curse on whoever was the richest duck in the world. Vincent had never even heard of this curse. Well, he remembered that Rosina had threatened Scrooge with it once. Yet, outside of that, Vincent knew nothing of an undead juggernaut of destruction. He knew he didn't know everything about magic, and it was literally impossible to retain all the information that he reads. Yet, he felt responsible for what happened to Louie. Had he been there when the mansion was attacked, or had he accepted the job he could have been there to help the poor boy.

Vincent sat next to Louie by the docks as the duck boy looked out into the water. "I'm sorry Louie," Vincent sighed.

"For what," Louie grumbled. "You were right, it wasn't my money."

"I wasn't trying to make you feel bad," Vincent shook his head. "I just didn't want to be a part whatever scheme was going on. I've done things in my past. Things that I'm not proud of, and I felt as though that was where my life was heading again. But I should have been there to protect you against the monster."

"You wouldn't have been able to stop the Bombie anyways," Louie shook his head. "I dropped a satellite from space on that monster, and it still didn't work. Still, in the end the monster was only attacking Scrooge and I because of our hubris, not our wealth."

"Wow," was all Vincent could say.

"You know the job I was going to give you wasn't going to be some cleaning job or being my body guard," Louie explained. "You would have had your own desk and you would have had the resources you needed to track down your magic shop."

"Why do that for me?", Vincent wondered.

"Because we're alike," Louie shook his head. "I mean, not in the hard work department. You definitely put your all into whatever job your doing. But your sick of constantly being in danger like I am."

"That for sure," Vincent nodded. "But that isn't going to change anytime soon. Was that the only reason you wanted to hire me?"

"Other than you being a hard worker, and being sick of danger?", Louie questioned. "Yeah, I also felt bad that every job you're on never provided any results. Didn't you want a lucky break for once?"

"You don't understand Louie," Vincent responded. "It had nothing to do with what was easy."

"I know," Louie grunted. "You're about to say what Owlson said. You want to make your own fortune. Your way, without the help of us greedy billionaires."

"It's nothing personal," Vincent explained. "I just want to prove to myself that I can make it on my own two feet. I've already compromised when it came to living in the mansion. It's a slippery slope from there."

"I should get back," Louie yawned as he got up and dusted himself off. "Vincent, I'm glad you didn't reject me because you hated me or anything."

"I don't hate you Louie," Vincent shook his head. "You're my friend."