A Rewritten Family History
Even though I'm a good chunk ahead of this point on AO3 I have planned to update chapter for chapter whenever I updated there and lets just say this year was...I have ideas for this universe for this piece as well as a sequel however as I've stated before focusing on one character arch/POV each chapter is sometimes a curse more than a blessing... if there are any character archs or head canons you are curious about my inbox here and on AO3 (where the story is the same title but my pen name is 1lilspark) are always open. Anyway you waited half a year for this and so here is my long awaited fanfic dot net Poe DeSpell introduction...
When her Aunt Magica had first laid out her mission to finally obtain Scrooge's prized dime for good she never knew the endgame would be quite like this. Instead of being the one to destroy the man's family from the inside out as of a few hours ago she was officially his great niece.
While she had gone from being a lone wolf to a member of a massive extended family in the moment she was taking in a rare yet kind of blissful silence as she strolled the pier. Dewey was still at school and Donald was probably at the manor setting up for the "welcome to the family" dinner she wasn't supposed to know about.
Family, it was still so surreal that she had a real honest to goodness family. She'd been lost in her thoughts as a familiar caw filled the air as a raven perched itself on the back of a bench seemingly challenging her to take a seat as she smiled and obliged.
"Hey you!" Lena spoke curling her bill into a smile as she obliged and took a seat.
CAW
Six months ago…..
As the dust began to settle from the moonvasion Lena couldn't help but be grateful that Duckburg had just survived another epic event making the events of the Shadow War truly yesterday's news.
It was a new beginning she thought to herself as she ran her fingers through the pink streak of her hair looking toward the carnival in the distance where rows of makeshift boardwalk games had been set up giving Funzo's Funzone some friendly competition.
"You know it's being put on by Glomgold industries right?" Louie spoke as he placed a hand on her shoulder flashing his trademark smirk towards her. She had heard stories from her 'Aunt' about Flintheart Glomgold's schemes and how they mostly involved sharks or explosive ways to destroy her companions' father both physically and financially.
"I'm sure I have better odds of having one of your Uncle's inventions gaining sentience and turning evil than getting injured by some ramshackle carnival games. So, Pink? What are your opinions on Purple Unicorns?"
"Purple Unicorns are my love language!" Webby exclaimed, causing Lena's cheeks to flush ever so slightly before she noticed Louie crossing his arms over his chest.
"That's not an actual love...anyway, good luck trying to win the game as I'm pretty good at seeing all the angles and carnival games are the world's best con."
Lena simply rolled her eyes thinking that if Louie was planning on beating her he had another thing coming. Besides, she did have an ace up her sleeve.
As the trio made their way closer towards where the games were set up a noise suddenly filled the air as a bird began to fly toward them landing itself on Lena's shoulder.
'Caw' the raven seemed to speak causing a grin to cross Louie's bill as he observed the moment.
"Looks like Glinda the Good has found her witches familiar."
Lena rolled her eyes. She had known that he'd meant this as a complement but still there was something about it that was a bit embarrassing.
"Don't call me that Pennybags."
Though, she wondered if perhaps Louie was onto something as she took a closer look at the raven. There was something familiar about the bird and not just in a witches companion sense. Perhaps it was the magenta tinge to its feathers or just the warmth she seemed to feel in it's presence; whatever it was she wasn't going to complain.
"So, do you think my dad would let me domesticate you?" Lena asked as realization once more hit her that Donald was officially her dad. Sure, she had been calling him by that moniker for the last three months but now…
"Lena Duck," she decided to say out loud, noting how it seemed to roll off the tongue. "Hello, I'm Lena Duck."
Caw
It was as if the bird seemed to be responsive to her. In fact there were more times than not she swore the bird knew exactly what she was saying.
"Who knew that the most common surname on the planet would be so liberating!"
There was an air of excitement to her tone as a spark of blue magic flew unexpectedly from her fingers. As the spark hit the bird causing it to crumple to the ground a panicked wave overcame her.
"Phooey," she muttered under her breath thinking about how in control she had been of her wild magic as of late. With Donald teaching her to keep her emotions in check and her controversial studies under the tutelage of Black Arts Beagle she was really coming into her own as a sorceress. But now...now it seemed she'd gone one step forward two back as she began to head toward where the bird had fallen.
"What have I done!" she exclaimed once she arrived at the scene, her bill soon dropping at the sight. Instead of her faithfull familiar she had been met with a figure shrouded in a black cloak.
"What have I DONE!" she echoed again as she knelt down besides the figure who had soon began to stir.
"You've been my guardian angel, breaking my curse with your DeSpell blood magic."
He spoke in a rather distinguished voice however it was what he said that caused a chill to run down her spine. Blood Magic? That meant….no….no… it was impossible...it couldn't be...not now when she finally had a life ahead of her...a life finally worth living.
As he pulled himself up into a seated position on the ground, Lena was easily able to gain a better look at him. A look which definitely confirmed her suspicions. This HAD to be Magica's twin brother who, once upon a time had got turned into a raven. It had been a bedtime story, a cautionary tale, something she hadn't thought about in a while which is why it didn't occur to her that the raven she befriended could have possibly been him.
Moments passed, and Lena had been glad that the pier was relatively quiet for a weekday afternoon as she soon observed the man had pulled himself into a standing position causing Lena to do the same.
He was more foreboding as they stood face to face however the silence was soon broken as he held his hand out.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself...Poe DeSpell at your service."
"Lena…"
"...Duck, I know," Poe said, "Such an ordinary name for an extraordinary girl. Though, speaking of ordinary, as much as I enjoy making a splash perhaps I should change into something less noticeable."
Lena watched as Poe held out his hand as if he were about to wield some magic; however instead he was met with just a small spark of magenta magical energy dancing across his fingers before things faded.
"Out of practice?" Lena asked as she crossed her arms over her chest causing Poe to let out a slight chuckle.
"It seems as if my powers must have weakened in my previous state, would you mind dearest."
"I'm not your dearest but yea, I think I can do you another solid but you owe me."
As Poe nodded his head, Lena gave her fingers a stretch before aiming her magic in the man's direction. Flashes of blue energy began to spark from her fingers and soon his attire was transformed into a pair of black pants, a purple top and a leather jacket.
"You sure have style, kid," Poe said, examining his new more modern look. "I can sense what you're thinking my dearest after all I've been by your side these past few months."
"And what exactly am I thinking?" Lena challenged as she crossed her arms back over her chest as she went back to staring the man down.
"That I'm going to use my regained sentience to rip away your happily ever after before it even begins."
Lena simply nodded.
"Well aren't you?"
Poe shook his head.
"While I'd love to get to know you better now that I can properly hold a conversation, your happiness means the world to me. Even if that happiness is being raised by some simpleton like Donald Duck."
Simpleton, clearly Poe hadn't spent nearly enough time with Donald or else he'd realize that there was so much more to the charter boat captain than met the eye. But, as much as she had been looking forward to a clean slate just moments ago there was definitely a part of her that was intrigued in getting to know Poe a bit more too. The best of both worlds Lena suspected as she flashed a smile toward her companion.
"I'd like to get to know you better as well Uncle Poe."
"Uncle Poe?"
Lena shrugged her shoulders. Honestly it just felt right being that he was Magica's brother after all. It was then that an idea sprung into her head. If she was to give herself the best of both worlds why not rip off the proverbial band aid and start now.
"So, there is this party happening tonight at McDuck Manor to celebrate me being part of the family officially on paper. Do you want to come? Introduce yourself to everyone?"
There was a moment of silence as Poe seemed to be contemplating things however he soon shook his head.
"It's not that I don't want to get to know that side of you Lena, truly...it's just perhaps crashing a family gathering wouldn't be the best way to make a good first impression. Especially with the way my last interaction with Scrooge McDuck played out."
Lena simply nodded thinking that Poe was probably right and she should ease into this new relationship.
"In the meantime, you wouldn't happen to know of a place I could lay low for a while while I try to regroup and find my spark again would you?"
Lena thought of the Hotel or the abandoned amphitheater where she had resided while doing Magica's bidding upon first stepping foot in Duckburg. While she couldn't imagine someone as posh as Poe living in those conditions desperate times call for desperate measures as they say and so she scribbled down the locations of those two places just as her phone began to ring.
"Sup, little bro," Lena said into the receiver.
"So, that's how we are Dew-ing things now huh?"
"Pretty much."
"So, where are you? I skipped out of last period to get ready to Par-tay and you weren't home."
"Yea, I decided to take a walk to reflect on things."
"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts?"
"Psssha, no, I was just thinking about how family truly is the greatest adventure and I can't wait to see where my journey takes me."
As she said this she turned toward where Poe had been standing only moments ago only to notice he'd now vanished as quickly as he'd appeared.