DuckTales Reader X: New friends in Duckburg

Chapter 5: The final chapter: Going Home

Your POV

Eventually, after two more days of hammering, poker games, and fishing, you and Huey finally got the dimensional translator working again. As you set the tiny glowing stone into the socket, you both felt a sense of pride, but also some remorse. "Great work, you two!" Ford said happily. "You just may be scientists yet." As you returned his bright smile, a sudden thought came to your head: An old poem which your mother used to read you:

With every job when it's complete, there is a sense of bittersweet

that moment when you know the task is done.

Though in your heart, you'd like to stay

to help things on their way,

you've always known they must do it alone.

Out of the blue, you hugged Ford, tears in your eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much," You sniffed. He patted you on the back.

"I'm going to miss you all as well. It was nice seeing your uncle again, but we don't have enough brown meat for all of us," He replied. "So, you ready to go to the main deck?"

"Yeah," Huey said. "I'm going to miss you too, Mr. Pines."

"Please, call me Ford, Huey," He smiled. "Come along! We don't want to keep your uncle waiting!" All three of you ran up to the deck with the bracelet, which you handed to Scrooge. He put it on his wrist and typed in the numbers 46':v. Everyone linked arms like you'd done four days before, and waved goodbye.

"Goodbye, Grunkles!" You and the other kids called. Scrooge hit the button and waved goodbye. And just like that, in a flash of light, you were back in McDuck manor where you'd started.

At first, everyone was rubbing their heads because you all got headaches from dimension hopping. Then reality kicked in. You were never going to see them again. You and the other kids all wrapped each other in a group hug, even Louie. He was sobbing. "Who's going to be my mentor without Grunkle Stan now?!" He wailed. Everyone gave him a scowl and then burst out laughing. You all had tears in your eyes, but they were a mix of sadness and joy. You may not have gotten to know them for too long, but the memory will stick with you forever.

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One day, the doorbell rang and you answered it. A hooded, six-fingered figure handed you a postcard and ran off into the bushes. Strange, you thought. But you took a look at the postcard anyway.

On the front was the classic title for postcards from souvenir shops, Greetings from DuckBurg! Taped to the back was a photo of Stan and Ford goofing around with an exotic sea creature. Underneath it was a note: Greetings from another dimension! Hope you haven't forgotten about us! You know where we are if you want a poker rematch! See you soon, Stan and Ford, the best Grunkles ever! You sighed and remembered the good times you had on the boat. It was true: Those memories would never leave.

~The End~ (For now)

(Next chapter: Another one-shot and then Darkwing Duck crossover! Woo-oo!)