DIZ’S ORIGIN STORY (written by @DisneyNerd26) Part 3: Is This A Dream? (Music: No Roots - Alice Merton) “Welcome back! Did y'all find Dr Waddlemeyer?” Goldie O’Gilt, Scrooge’s wife asked, running out to greet them as the back hatch of the plane opened. “I’ll explain in a moment Goldie dear. We have to get this lass comfortable.” He said, grabbing onto the stretcher’s handle and gently rolling the unconscious girl down the ramp. “Oh!” Goldie yelped, grabbing on too and pulling the stretcher towards the house. “Beakley!” Scrooge shouted, and the back door was opened by the silver haired, tall, buff female housekeeper, who’s eyes filled with concern at the sight of the unconscious girl rolling up, her clothes charred and torn. “What happened?! Who is this?” Bentina Beakley cried, grabbing onto the stretcher and pulling her inside. “We’ll explain in a moment, I promise.” Scrooge pleaded, pushing the stretcher into the cozy living room. “The doctors said we need to keep her warm because her feathers are charred and currently inefficient for insulation. Webby love, do ye have any warm clothes ye think would fit her?” “She’s a bit shorter than me- but maybe.” Webby frowned thoughtfully, running off. “What can I do?” Huey whispered, chest tight. “Find ways to get her warm. She’s too cold.” Scrooge said, feeling the girl’s forehead. Huey walked up beside him, gently pressing his palms against her forehead and cheeks. “You’re right. Dewey, get the weighted blanket from my bed. Louie, see if I have any hand warmers stowed away with my Woodchuck scout gear, just in case the blanket isn’t enough.” He asked, and both his brothers ran off for their bedroom. “Oof. Why’d he send me for his blanket?” Dewey groaned as he climbed up the ladder to the top bunk and grabbed down his brother’s bright red weighted blanket. “Cause he thinks you’re stronger than me. I’d take it as a compliment.” Louie chuckled as he opened the closet. “Thinks, or knows?” Dewey teased and Louie just rolled his eyes. “Har har har.” “C’mon. Let’s go bring these to her.” Dewey said, rolling up the blanket and hefting it over his shoulder to dash it back downstairs. “Here’s that blanket.” Huey took the blanket from Dewey’s shoulder, gently setting it at the foot of the stretcher and rolling it back out over the girl’s body. “I’ve got a warm outfit that should fit her.” Webby suddenly came running back in, leggings and a sweatshirt draped over her arm. “Perfect. Goldie, would you mind giving me a hand getting her dressed?” Mrs Beakley asked, looking over at the older woman beside the stretcher. “We’ve got it from here, kids.” She waved the teens off, and Huey looked between the women. “We’ve got her.” Goldie murmured, patting his shoulder. “Come on Huey. It’s okay.” Dewey grabbed his brother’s hand, pulling him away. “Dewey, she’s not going to understand, or know where she is, or anything. I feel awful.” Huey moaned as they walked up the stairs towards their bedroom. “Yes she is. I know she thought it was a lucid dream, but she obviously is familiar with us, even if she thinks we’re not real. The trick won’t be trying to explain where she is, or who we are, or how this happened. It’ll be trying to make her understand that all of it is real, not a dream.” Louie chirped as they walked into their room. Dewey fell back on Louie’s bed, grabbing his phone out his pocket. He paused at his reflection in the screen, pushing his glasses up on his bill. He’d had glasses for a couple years now, and had gotten so used to wearing them that he felt he looked weird without them now. They all had been sitting in the quiet for a while when Dewey sat up, and felt his feet begin to take him towards the living room. He walked down the stairs and peered around the doorframe to see Scrooge and Goldie had fallen asleep beside each other on the couch, Goldie’s head resting on Scrooge’s chest. He rolled his eyes, sitting down on the armchair, which had been pushed up beside the girl’s stretcher. Her unruly charred hair had been combed into submission and styled up into a ponytail, and her face looked peaceful. She was tucked in neatly, and seemed warm. Dewey reached out and set his palm gently against her forehead. Yup. Plenty warm. But not too warm either. He sighed and leaned back into the chair, glancing across at Scrooge and Goldie. “Ugh…” A soft voice suddenly groaned, and Dewey’s head jerked down to see that the girl’s eyes had opened. “Oh, you’re awake!” He cried, jumping to his feet. Goldie and Scrooge both sat bolt upright on the couch, Goldie’s fists clenched and ready, Scrooge’s fingertips on his cane propped up beside the couch. “Dewey?” The girl whispered, squinting up at him. “I’m still dreaming? Gosh, you’re older.” His mouth opened to answer, but nothing came. He met her ice blue eyes, letting out a shaky breath. Scrooge got to his feet, walking over to stand beside Dewey.
“Hello there lass. I’m Scrooge McDuck, and this is me wife-“ “Goldie O’Gilt? You two are married now?” She croaked, eyes welling with tears. “Remember? She knows us as fictional characters. Obviously the work she knows took place several years ago.” Huey reminded them, rushing into the room to get beside the stretcher. “How old are you boys now?” She asked quietly, and Huey smiled. “Almost 16.” “Oh yeah, then it’s been like 4 years since the show took place. This is so cool.” Her eyes twinkled with excitement. “Oh! She’s awake!” Louie ran into the room, followed by Mrs. Beakley and Webby. “You 3 grew up so much.” She murmured, and the triplets all blushed scarlet. “I wonder…” She pulled her arm out from underneath the blanket and reached up towards them. Dewey suddenly realized what she was doing, and stooped closer to her. Her hand cupped his cheek, and she frowned thoughtfully. “Huh. This really doesn’t feel like normal dream contact. Although, to be frank, I’ve never touched anything feathered in a dream before.” She murmured, retracting her hand. She looked around at the group, then down at her hand, slowly making a fist, then uncurling it to wiggle her fingers. Her wrist cracked and she cringed, eyes widening. "That, has never happened before." She whispered. "May I?" Scrooge murmured, reaching out for her hand, fingers positioned to pinch her skin. She nodded, and he firmly pinched her palm, making her wince. She looked up to meet his eyes, and they filled with surprise. "It's not a dream, is it?" She asked quietly. "I mean, I've had some interesting dreams involving your characters- but nothing like this." She looked to each of them, and they all shook their heads, smiling softly. "It's my fault, Miss...?" Huey trailed off and the girl smiled softly. "Diz. Disney McCallister. I know all of you." "I sped up the process of pulling a duck from your dimension, and I must have pulled you along with him because of it. Do you remember anything?" Huey asked and she frowned. "I was in the woods with one of my ducks. I saw a portal, then next thing I knew I was being pulled in. Yeah, that's exactly what happened. You must have pulled Scrooge here, and me with him." Scrooge opened his mouth to protest and Diz blushed. "I don't think it was you, was it? I just named my duck Scrooge after you..." "Oh no dear, it wasn't me." Scrooge laughed and patted her hand. "Wait. Wait. I remember in the show- There was a scientist missing because he was pushed into a Solego's Circuit portal... I had him as a pet this whole time?!?!" She shouted, sitting bolt upright. She clutched at her head with a groan and leaned back into the pillow. "It's okay. It's okay. You couldn't have known!" Webby exclaimed and Diz turned to look at her. She looked back at Huey and met his eyes, realization and grief coming over her face. "The circuit exploded, didn't it? There's no way back to my dimension?" She breathed. Huey shook his head, and she looked down at the bed, eyes wide and blank. “I- uh…” He began, reaching for her hand. The teens’ phones suddenly chimed, an alarm going off on Webby’s phone. “What’s that?” "We have to go. We have a party to set up, it’s my friend Lena’s birthday. Sorry Diz." Webby murmured, reaching out to grab the girl's hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "Go then! Have a nice time, all of you." Diz cried, forcing a broad smile. “Boyd will be here any minute to pick us up.” Louie said softly, looking down at his watch. “Diz, are you going to be okay?” Huey asked worriedly, and Mrs. Beakley waved him off. “She’ll be fine. If Diz gets her wits about her before Lena’s party starts, I’ll bring her by.” She offered and Diz grinned up at the housekeeper. “Okay. Hope we see you there.” Dewey patted her shoulder and she nodded. “Bye y’all, tell Boyd to drive safe.” Goldie waved as the kids walked out to catch a ride with a friend. They sat in the quiet awhile, before Diz perked up, “Hey, do you think I could try to walk? I might need a hand if you don’t…” “I don’t mind a bit lass!” Scrooge jumped back to his feet, walking over to the bedside and holding his hands out to the girl. “Ye’ve got this.” Goldie pulled back the weighted blanket, and Diz looked down at her large yellow feet, and long, thin legs for the first time. She took a deep breath, slowly swinging her feet to dangle off the bed. She slowly, cautiously sat upright, Scrooge holding out his arms to her. She hopped down off the bed, wobbling on her oversized feet and long spindly legs. She fell against Scrooge, who easily caught her against his shoulder. “I’m sorry Mr. McDuck!” She yelped and met his soft cartoon eyes. “It’s okay! I’m not an ordinary old man!” He exclaimed with a wink and she giggled. He looped his arm around her, under her arms, taking most of her weight. She clung to him, slowly taking a shaky step forward. He laughed and nodded encouragingly. She took another step, grinning over at him…
