The Family I Needed

The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck

"Sorry. Hi. Louie Duck, future owner of this castle. This Templar Treasure, like, can I have it now, or do I have to wait to inherit it, or...?" Louie asked as Scrooge gave a nervous smile. "Ah, so Scrooge mentioned Simon's treasure, but didn't mention his dear old parents, huh?" Fergus asked. "Simon?" Dewey asked Scrooge. "Simon McDuck was the accountant to the legendary Knights Templar. He hid their treasure somewhere in this castle." Scrooge explained. "Typical Scrooge! Only coming around looking for a handout." Fergus said as he crossed his arms. Scrooge chuckled nervously as he huddled the kids together. "Only the Laird of the castle knows where the Templar Treasure is, and the Laird won't tell me where it is, unless I'm worthy. So, we have to be on our best behavior. Quit mentioning the treasure and act like we want to be here." Scrooge whispered. Webby was trying her best to conceal her excitement as she squealed a bit.

Soon, everyone was walking down the halls as Downy was giving them a tour. "So, uh, this place has info on all of our relatives?" Dewey asked Downy. "Oh, aye." Downy turned to a painting. "There's Fergus' father, Dirty Dingus McDuck." Huey and Louie stifled a laugh at the name. "The ghosts of Clan McDuck loom large here." Downy said before they continued on to a bow displayed on the wall next to some arrows. "This belonged Murdock McDuck, first to patent the longbow. Murdoch made a fortune selling his bows to the English army. Of course, he charged extra for the arrows." Downy said as she giggled.

She continued on to another painting. "Sir Swamphole McDuck was obsessed with hoarding treasure." Downy said. "Sound familiar?" Fergus asked Scrooge, who just glared at him. "So he built a mysterious series of tunnels under the castle to keep the family fortune. Some say he summoned a demon dog to stalk the catacombs." Downy said. Webby quietly squealed at the story. Even Charlotte couldn't help but be interested herself. "Oh, they're just stories... maybe... probably." Downy said.

Downy the turned her attention to a series of paintings with young Scrooge in it with ball of hair. "Oh, and look here! Little Scroogey and Whiskers!" Downy said. "Whiskers?" Huey asked. "Little Scroogey always wanted a dog, but we were too poor, so we all pitched in to buy a clump of hair from the local barber. Oh! How Scroogey loved his Whiskers!" Downy answered. Charlotte stared up at the paintings, looking at young Scrooge's happy face. He was poor like me. At least he was happy... She couldn't help but smile sadly.

"Aye. And who ended up having to walk him and feed him?" Fergus asked. "It was a ball of hair!" Scrooge said. "How dare you talk about Whiskers like that! He was family!" Fergus said. "Curse me kilts!" Scrooge cursed. "Don't you curse in front of your mother!" Fergus said. "I'm not a child anymore!" Scrooge said. "Then stop acting like one!" Scrooge walked away for a second before coming back with small table. "Arm wrestling match! You and me, right now!" Fergus said nothing as he cracked his knuckles. Oh no...

Scrooge, Downy, Webby, and Charlotte later entered a bedroom, with Scrooge's coat collar stuck on top of his head. "Fergus didn't mean anything by that headlock, Scroogey. You know family means everything to him." Downy said as Charlotte helped Scrooge free himself. Webby looked around at the different paintings of Scrooge. "Oh, young Scrooge! Brooding teenage Scrooge!" Webby then gasped. "Baby Scrooge!" Webby said. "See you at dinner!" Downy said as she left the room. Scrooge stood still in thought. "If it's family Daddy wants, it's family he'll get. That'll prove I'm worthy. Steel yourselves, lassies! We are gonna have a pleasant family dinner." Scrooge said.

Later, Scrooge and Charlotte sat at the dinner table with Downy and Fergus. Charlotte was a bit nervous, but she did her best to calm her nerves. She looked at the other empty seats around her. I know Webby is off looking up countless facts about Clan McDuck, but where are Huey, Dewey, and Louie? "This is great, Mummy. Family sitting, sharing a hot kidney pie. These are the kind of values I try to instill in my own family. Warm memories, togetherness." Scrooge said. "And where are the boys?" Fergus asked. "Oh, probably off being supportive of each other." Scrooge answered. Even I know that's a bit of a stretch. "Charlotte here has really grown out of her shell over the past couple of months and has a ton of potential. No doubt she'll become a successful young lady in the future." Scrooge said. Charlotte smiled a bit as she lightly blushed at the comment. She wasn't used to complements. "Now, Webby here is one of the most articulate young lasses-." Scrooge looked over to see the seat empty. "And she is not here." Scrooge finished as Webby's wailing was barely heard.