So Scrooge finally got Dewey to listen him...but Dewey demanded the story behind the Spear of Selene in return.

When Dewey and Scrooge both got back inside the Sunchaser, the air was thick with such tension that nobody had dared to say a word. Webby looked fine, but she was having a nervous breakdown on the inside. She was relieved that Dewey was safe and sound, but the parts of her that are still nervous were shaking with anticipation now that the truth was about to be revealed.

And so Scrooge told the triplets the story of how he, Donald and Della had gone on adventures together for most of their lives, as well as Della's desire to show her kid "the stars", and Scrooge's creation of the Spear of Selene as something special for the day of the triplets' birth. Della had taken the Spear for a test drive without anyone's knowledge or consent, and she ended up in a cosmic storm that killed her. That storm was the reason why Donald and Scrooge split up for a decade...until the triplets came into Scrooge's life that is.

All the triplets are clearly saddened by the story they heard, but Dewey is a different story entirely. Something inside of the blue-loving duck had just snapped. "I can't believe it...I...Cool, so you're the reason our mom is gone", he said with bitter sarcasm. Scrooge was caught off-guard, having not expected that at all. "What? No. I-I-"

"Don't defend yourself Scrooge! You were the one who built the Spear of Selene! Just before we were born, no less! If you hadn't done that, she would still be here, we'd all be living better lives, and we wouldn't be having this conversation!" Dewey exclaimed angrily. "She was the one who stole the damn thing, Dewey!" Scrooge retorted, his own temper flaring up too. "Then you encouraged her to keep flying through a cosmic storm?! You could've called her down! There were too many variables!" Huey exclaimed, his tone of voice making it sound as if he is trying to comprehend what Scrooge had just told them.

"Now boys. You don't know-" Beakley started, only to be interrupted by a fuming Louie. "And you're the richest duck in the world, for God's sake! Why didn't you send up more ships to look for her, huh?! TELL ME WHY?!"

"I spared no fucking expense!" Scrooge growled out. "Yeah, right! Cheap old Scrooge probably bailed as soon as it put a dent in his money bin! Like I said before, Scrooge! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BUILT THE SPEAR OF SELENE IN THE FIRST PLACE! AND YOUR RICH, GREEDY ASS COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO GO LOOKING FOR HER!" Dewey screamed out in a voice full of raw emotion, rage and fury. Webby subconsciously flinched; she had never seen Dewey this angry before. Hopefully she could get him and Scrooge to calm down. "Take it easy, Dewey. You take it easy too, Uncle Scrooge".

"This is a family matter, Webbigail! You are not part of the family! Not now! Not before! NOT EVER!" Scrooge yelled.

Webby let out a choked gasp as her eyes started to well up with tears. She stared at Scrooge in a combination of grief, horror and devastation. The poor girl started to whimper and tremble, doing everything in her power not to crumple to the floor and bawl her eyes her eyes out, something which was becoming increasingly difficult by the second. Scrooge's hurtful words just now had pissed off the triplets even more, but especially Dewey.

"You did not just say that", Louie said, barely containing his anger.

"He just did, Llewellyn", Huey sneered.

"You sick fucking bastard", Dewey snarled through gritted teeth as he shook with rage.

"See here, Scrooge! You will NOT speak to my granddaughter that way!" said Beakley in a firm and angry tone, coming to the defense of her granddaughter as she placed a hand on her shoulder. Having had enough, Scrooge snaps under the pressure, saying the cruellest, most hurtful things anyone has ever heard him say.

"YOU will not speak to ME that way! None of you! After everything I do for you, you're all nothing but trouble! You FUCKIN' INSOLENT INGRATES! I tried everything in my power to find Della and bring her back! I sent rocket after rocket to search for her! I almost went BANKRUPT for FUCK'S SAKE! Yes, I DID build the rocket, and the fact that I did has haunted me to this very day, but DELLA was the one who took it in the first place! Nobody forced her! DELLA went to space all on her own! DELLA was the one who didn't bother to leave a message for Donald! DELLA cared more about adventure and danger than her own family! DELLA'S death was her own fault! DELLA was the one who GOT! HERSELF! KILLED! Curse me kilts! I am sick and tired of everyone blaming me for DELLA'S STUPIDITY! Donald never understood even after all these years, and I don't expect a bunch of FUCKIN' BASTARDS like yourselves to understand either! YOU'RE ALL AS STUBBORN AND STUPID AND RECKLESS AS THAT FUCKIN' BITCH! SERVES HER RIGHT!"

Beakley was sent into a stunned silence, her face morphing from anger into pure shock. Webby's tears went down her face like a waterfall, but she wasn't going to break into sobs just yet. In spite of the whimpers in her throat and all of the sniffles. She had to be strong. For Dewey.

Speaking of Dewey, the duckling was beyond pissed off. So much that it would put the likes of even Donald to shame. Huey and Louie both looked like they were seconds away from snapping. So not only was Dewey's great uncle responsible for the death of his mother (as far as Dewey's concerned anyways), but had also just insulted his brothers and his sister to their faces. Without warning, Dewey lunged for Scrooge, tackling him to the floor with surprising amounts of strength.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, GODDAMMIT!" Dewey screamed out with a cracking voice. Scrooge looked up at his grandnephew, who was glaring at him with nothing but utter hatred. "YOU KILLED MY MOTHER! YOU TOOK A PERFECTLY GOOD LIFE AWAY FROM ME! AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO CALL MY FAMILY BASTARDS! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" While saying all of this, Dewey was beating Scrooge's face to a pulp non-stop, his knuckles getting bloodier by the second.

"DEWEY!"

Webby held Dewey back with all of her strength, and soon after, Huey and Louie did the same too. "LET GO OF ME!" Dewey cried out with angry tears, throttling aggressively and screaming like a monster.

"GUYS! THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING! WE CRASHED BUT WE'RE OKAY!" Launchpad's voice said over the intercom, getting everyone's attention. "Wait we crashed?" Louie asked, wiping away a few stray tears. "That's not possible. We didn't even feel a crash, Launchpad!" Beakley said in confusion. "Turns out that we weren't as high-up as we thought. Also, you guys were too busy arguing to notice", Launchpad replied. "Makes sennnnnssssseee", Scrooge's voice slurred off-screen.

The Sunchaser was back in the air, but the ride was brutally silent.

Dewey and Webby looked almost catatonic, bloodshot eyes staring into nothingness.

Huey was sulking in his heat, holding his cap in his hand.

Louie curled into a ball, hiding in his green hoodie.

Beakley was in the front seat next to Launchpad. She too was staring into nothingness (just without the bloodshot eyes) and was subconsciously fiddling with her glasses in her hands. At least Launchpad kept quiet, lest he potentially aggravate anyone.

The Sunchaser arrived back at McDuck Manor just as Donald had finished cleaning, repairing and decoarting his houseboat. He was really happy about going back to the marina, and he was certain the boys would be happy too.

At least, that's what he thought until he saw their sulking faces.

"What happened to you?" Donald asked quizically. "The Spear of Selene, happened. Donald", Dewey snarled. Donald froze on the spot. His nephews now knew the truth about Della, and judging from Dewey not bothering to use the word "Uncle", Donald instantly realized just how bad things were right now.

Especially with the conversation inside the houseboat...

"Ten years, Donald. Ten years, and you didn't bother to share one single detail about her", said Huey in cold rage.

"And don't say, 'I was planning on telling you at some point'. I mean, I've watched enough movies to detect the BS in that", said Dewey.

"You were never gonna tell us about her, weren't you?" asked Louie.

"Boys, I know that you're upset, but believe me. It was just too painful to talk about", said Donald sadly.

"It would've been nice if you said a bedtime story about her, at least", scoffed Dewey. A sighing Donald kneeled down to the triplets' level, giving them his full undivided attention.

"Guys. I'm so sorry. Okay? Not just for keeping you in the dark, but...I should've gone with you rather than trying to fix this boat. I could''ve done something to fix this. I tried to give you the perfect life, but it wasn't enough. I kept on running away, and look where we are now. I should've faced the bullets instead". The triplets pondered over their uncle's words. They looked at each other briefly, almost as if they had the same thoughts. They were triplets after all.

"Donald. You are a shitty uncle", said Dewey. Donald bowed his head in shame, knowing in his heart that Dewey was right.

"But for us, that's perfectly okay", Dewey spoke again.

Donald lifted his head up at his boys. He smiled at them. And eventually, they smiled back at him. They were very small smiles. Barely noticeable from a distance.

"We've got something to tell you", said Huey.

An enraged Donald had burst through the doors leading to Scrooge's office. "Tell me you didn't really say that to them!" he cried.

Scrooge was staring out the window of his office, the back of his chair facing Donald. "Say what?"

"Don't bullshit me, old man! You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Donald became angrier as he pointed a shaking finger at Scrooge. Scrooge spoke again after about a dozen or so seconds of silence. "Ah yes. Almost slipped my mind".

The sheer mockery in Scrooge's tone set off Donald even more. "They couldn't handle the truth, just like you", said Scrooge. "Turn the fuck around and look at me, you fucking sack of shit", Donald growled in cold rage.

Scrooge span around in his seat to face Donald, whose angry grimace softened slightly when he saw Scrooge's battered face: cracked glasses, bruises and cuts all over, a black left eye, and a bloodied beak. "Jesus Christ", Donald said quietly. The injuries were bad enough, but Scrooge's cold, vacant and emotionless stare was what really caught Donald off-guard. It almost sent chills down his spine. Donald's anger returned soon after; Scrooge had to pay. "How could you call them that, Scrooge?! They're just kids, for crying out loud! Not to mention, you have the guts to insult my DEAD SISTER?!" Donald ranted.

"Children were a pain in the ass since day one. They're too young to understand how fucked-up they are. More like too stupid. Even other kids their age would know better", said Scrooge replied in a monotone voice. "YOU were the one who dragged them into your fucking little world! All so you could have people who serve as little than a reminder or a substitute for Della. How long will it be till one of them dies? Or even all of them, huh? Then you'd always end up finding other hapless kids who could fill in Della's role. And the cycle continues for God only knows how long", Donald continued.

"You're absolutely right", said Scrooge. Donald scoffed at Scrooge's response, "Of course I am. You should've told them, but not in the way that you did".

"That's real funny coming from the guy who took the triplets, ran off and never told them why", said Scrooge sarcastically. "I didn't tell them for so long because I knew how much the truth would destroy them! Like any real father would've done!" Donald yelled, his temper rising by the second. "You were only hiding it just so you could protect your stupid pride, because shit hits the fan if someone so much as implies that the 'Great Scrooge McDuck is just as flawed and imperfect as we are!"

Scrooge chuckles bitterly and humorlessly, irking Donald more than ever. "So you're their father now, Donald? Including the girl? Who isn't family by the way?" he asked cruelly. Donald stomped towards Scrooge's desk and slammed his hands loudly on the desk. Scrooge's posture didn't change one bit.

"Let me tell you something, you asshole! That little girl is the sister the triplets never had! Which makes her the daughter I never had! Because the boys are the SONS I never had! They told me all about how much they mean to her; particularly Dewey! Webbigail Vanderquack is more family than you EVER were!"

"Stop saying the word 'family', Donald! It sickens me! Anyone who is a part of it sickens me! And that includes you! You're all a bunch of overly emotional morons who don't give a fuck about the people about around you! You all just want to satisfy your own needs and desires rather than think rationally! That's exactly the reason why Della is dead! If anything happens to the kids, then it's their own fault for being so much like their PATHETIC FUCKING EXCUSE FOR A MOTHER!"

In an instant, Donald slammed Scrooge's head on the table, and held him tightly there as Scrooge futilely squirmed about. "ANY SCUMBAG WHO TALKS LIKE THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY ISN'T A PART OF IT! JUST BECAUSE DELLA WAS RECKLESS DOESN'T MAKE HER ANY LESS OF A PERSON! I'M ANGRY AT HER, BUT I STILL LOVE HER IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT! HER DEATH DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE FUCKING RIGHT TO LOOK DOWN ON ANYONE ELSE WHO IS LIKE HER! YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF FUCKING GARBAGE!"

Immediately after yelling, Donald slammed Scrooge's head against the desk a few more times, even throwing a punch for good measure. Scrooge eventually stopped squirming, dazed by the damaged Donald had done. Donald went on one knee and leaned in towards Scrooge's ear. "I do not want you near them ever again. I'm taking them back to the marina, and I am never coming back. You can forget about seeing their faces", Donald whispered venomously before letting go of his uncle and storming out the room.

It was late in the afternoon. Webby was sitting on the stairs of the foyer, her beautiful eyes wet with tears. Everything that had happened on the Sunchaser had no doubt broken the girl for a long time, if not forever. Maybe Scrooge wasn't the person she thought he was. "How could I have been stupid", Webby whispered to herself. "Miss Beakley told me I'd find you here", a familiar voice said. Webby turned to her right as Dewey sat down next to her. The two gazed at each other. "Are you okay?" Webby asked quietly. "I should be asking you that question", Dewey said with a tiny smile. "I guess we BOTH should be asking each other", Webby chuckled mirthlessly.

"So that's Scrooge really thinks of us, huh...? After everything we've been through together?" she asked.

"I'm afraid we'll have to accept that, as hard as it is", Dewey replied.

"Why did you bother to come look for me? I'm not family, remember?" asked Webby with a quivering beak. Dewey's rage instantly resurfaced, but he had to keep it down for Webby's sake. "That's what Scrooge thinks, Webby. To me and everyone else, you'll always be a part of the family, no what Scrooge or anyone else says", said Dewey determinedly. "You really think so?" Webby asked hopefully. "I know so", Dewey said as he placed his left hand on his best friend's right shoulder, rubbing it comfortingly.

"And none of us are bastards. Scrooge is the bastard. You mean everything to me Webbigail, and don't let anyone say otherwise", Webby's eyes widened, for she was genuinely touched by Dewey's words. "I...I...I don't know what to say. I don't know how I can thank you for how much that means to me". Dewey smiled comfortingly, his left hand still rubbing Webby's shoulder, before placing his right hand on her left cheek. Webby closed her eyes, smiling contently and relishing the warmth of the affectionate gesture. The two felt genuinely happy. It wasn't enough to alleviate the heartbreak that Scrooge had put them through, but it was a start.

Whatever happiness Dewey and Webby had right now was replaced with remorse. "I'm so sorry, Webbigail".

"I'm sorry too Dewford".

Hearing Webby's apology had made Dewey feel much worse inside. Aside from all the anger and sadness, he also felt a strong, unbearable guilt.

"You're the one who doesn't have to be sorry. I'm the one who did all of this", Dewey said. Webby gasped in shock. She honestly couldn't believe her best friend was blaming himself for this. "Dewey..."

"Everything I had worked for these past several months had only led to disaster. Maybe some secrets just weren't meant to be uncovered. I was so obsessed that I couldn't see that this was gonna end badly. If I had told anyone about this from the start, everything would be okay. But instead, I kept a secret about a secret. And I ended up hurting you", said Dewey sadly.

"You didn't hurt me at all", said Webby reassuringly, placing her own hands on Dewey's. The blue duck shook his head in denial, which worried Webby even further. "But I did. I was the one triggered Scrooge in the first place. Which in turn, led him to hurt your feelings. And you witnessed me beat him senseless. If only I could control my emotions..." As Dewey's sentence, his voice started to crack more and more.

Webby just couldn't take it anymore. Seeing her best friend blame himself like this caused her to feel sad too. Webby didn't want Dewey to feel guilty for something that was mostly out of his control. "It was a lot for you to take in. Your reaction is completely understandable", she rationalized while trying (and failing) to hide the increasing distress in her voice. "It wasn't supposed to go that far. I didn't mean for it to", Dewey whimpered, internally grimacing at how (in his own point of view) pathetic he sounded right now. Webby quickly placed her hands on both of Dewey's cheeks, unable to stop a few of her own tears. "I know you didn't".

Dewey continued nonetheless, Webby's words barely registering to him as his guilt consumed him more and more.

"Now I know why Donald always hated adventure. It cost both him and Scrooge everything. It infects you like a virus. It causes you to f-f-focus more on satiisfying your own personal thrills at the cost of everyone and everything around you. Scrooge and...my mom...were consumed by that. To think that I came this close to repeating their mistakes before gettin' my head on straight. I am so like them in all the wrong ways". Webby gasped, refusing to believe a word Dewey is saying about himself. But nothing certainly prepared for what he said next.

"You have no idea how much I hate myself right now".

Just from that one sentence, the dam had finally burst, and Dewey started to weep in utter self-loathing. Unable to take it anymore, Webby pulled Dewey into her tight embrace. The two of them wept into each other's shoulders non-stop. Unbeknownst to them, Donald was watching them with sympathy.

"This is bad".