COIN CATASTROPHE (Written by @DisneyNerd26) Part 1: Time Trekkers (Music: One Call Away - Charlie Puth) [TW! De@th mention] Diz’s hazy eyes slowly blinked open to see her glass ceiling closed up tightly. "How are you feeling Diz?" A soft voice came from beside the bed, and Diz glanced over to make out the blurry form of Louie. He smiled as her eyes met his, and he fingered the lid of a container of warm soup sitting in his lap. "Ughh. What day is it?" She asked softly, squinting at him in the darkness. "Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon. You've been in and out. You haven't spoken before though, so I think you're fully conscious this time. Do you feel awake?" Louie questioned, reaching out to take her hand. He froze right before they touched, blushing and redirecting his hand to her shoulder. "Yeah, I think so." She murmured, slowly sitting up. "Where is everyone?" "Oh, uh, Uncle Scrooge was notified by the kingdom of Goathoul that they needed us again. Huey didn't want to leave you, but he's like worshipped as a nerd king there- long story- so I told him I'd stay back and keep an eye on you. Beakley is here too, she's peeked in like every 5 minutes to check on you." Louie explained, and she grinned at him. "Oh, and Huey told me to put some food in you. Chicken noodle soup?" He asked, holding up the little container. "Yes, please. Im starving." She took it from his hands, along with a spoon. "Shall I put some light on this situation?" "Lou, I don't know if I can take..." She trailed off as Louie reached out and clicked on a small lamp, filling the room with a warm, dim glow. "You plugged in my nightlight?" She asked quietly, eyes focusing on his gentle smile. "Yeah, actually, I got almost everything plugged in, set up, organized... I mean, I've been sitting in here for several hours now… I can only watch so much Ottoman Empire! I figured I could make use of my time." Louie chuckled, running his hand through his bangs. “What was in it for you? You didn’t steal anything, did you?” She asked suspiciously, and he grinned. “Nothing was in it for me, and anyway, I don’t steal from girls. Well, other than Goldie, but that’s just our thing. Unless you steal something from me, I won’t steal anything from you. The only really valuable, ‘treasurey’ stuff I found among your possessions was jewelry.” He shrugged as she began to eat. “I won’t give you a reason to steal from me. I promise.” She said softly, slurping her soup. “Man. Mrs. Beakley can cook.” “Oh yeah…” They both got quiet. “Hey Diz, you lived out in the country? You never mentioned that.” She froze, lowering her spoon back into her bowl and looking over at him. “Yea, I’m a southern, small town, true blue, country girl. And proud of it.” “I noticed it going through and sorting your stuff.” They both got quiet again, Diz finishing off her soup in the comfortable silence. “Hey Louie, I need your help.” She finally murmured, and Louie sat up straighter. “I got gifts for everyone, to say thanks for all that all of you have done for me, and I’m going to give them to all of you on Sunday. But thing is, I couldn’t find a gift for Mr. McDuck. Who knew it was so hard to buy for him? Can you come up with anything?” “Hmm. Actually, I can. Come with- H’boy.” He stopped, inhaling sharply through his teeth. “Lemme guess. Huey told you to make sure I stayed in bed, didn’t he?” Diz rolled her eyes, to let her feet hang off the edge of the bed. Louie nodded, and she smirked. “If there’s any questions, tell him I forced you.” Louie grinned, offering her his arm as she got down. She shook her head, landing on her feet and pinwheeling her arms, but rapidly gaining her balance. “Alright, show me.” She said, gesturing towards the door. He lead her out into the light, and she squinted, reaching blindly for his hand. “I got ya.” He grabbed onto her hand, leading her down the hall. “I’m taking you to Uncle Scrooge’s other bin. You probably already know how to get in, I’m sure it was in the show.” Diz nodded. “Then it technically doesn’t matter if I show you in, right?” “Right.” She laughed as he pulled her along. “Where are you two going?” Beakley ran into them in the hall, and they exchanged a glance. “Going show Diz around. I promise, I’ll keep her out of trouble.” Louie recited, and Beakley frowned. “Uh huh. Just know I have eyes and ears everywhere.” She winked at Diz, who beamed. They slipped past her, tearing down the hall until they reached the basement stairs. Louie lead her down them, weaving through the basement until they reached a large portrait of Scrooge, standing beside a vault door. Louie reached down, grabbing a post with a key hidden underneath, unlocking the vault in the picture and opening the entrance to the other bin. He pulled Diz inside, closing the door behind them and flipping on the lights.
“Okay, I know it’s behind one of these doors towards the front. Aha. I remember, it’s hidden behind door 1793. That’s the year of the first American penny ever made.” “Pennies?” Diz questioned flatly as Louie dragged her along. “Yup. Just trust me Diz.” He opened the door and pulled Diz inside, the room filled with a soft copper glow. There was one long glass case lining the walls, and Louie lead her to the first corner, butting up against the door. “Wait, he’s got an American penny from EVERY year?!” She blurted, reading the labels. “And wait, they aren’t normal coins either, most of these have really rare features!” “Yup! He’s gotten the rarest coin on record from every year. Some years don’t have any defects or rarities, but most do.” Louie explained. “So how am I supposed to give him a penny, when he has every rarity from every year?” “Every year, but one.” Louie corrected with a sly smile, pulling her over to the 1950s section. “He’s missing an ultra rare penny from 1958. He just has a normal one here to fill it’s place. In 1958, in Philadelphia, 3 pennies were made that were double stamped, forming a defect called a shadow. Each one is worth millions and millions of dollars, but Uncle Scrooge only gets these coins if he can get a decent deal. The owners of those 3 coins won’t even discuss selling them for the sort of price he offers. He finally gave up last year.” “So how exactly am I supposed to get said multimillion dollar coin for him?! I’m not exactly a billionaire!” Diz snapped, and Louie grinned bigger, poking her chest. “Some historians and numismatists think a 4th coin was stamped the same way, and lost to time!” He said excitedly, and Diz’s eyes widened, her face turning up in a grin. “Gyro’s time tub!” They cried in synchrony, both laughing. “You’re a genius Louie!” Diz cackled giddily. “Gyro has to say yes!” “No. Absolutely not.” Dr. Gyro Gearloose scowled at the teens. “I told you we should have just stolen it.” Louie hissed to Diz. “Don’t worry. This is why we brought along a secret weapon.” Diz whispered back, winking. “Okay Dr. Gearloose, I guess you’re right.” She slumped over and walked back to the lab door, opening it. “He said no, LP. I guess just drive us home…” She whimpered, making big eyes up at the man. “Hold on little buddy.” Launchpad said firmly, eyes welling up. He scrubbed at them, marching over to Gyro. “All that little girl wants is to get a gift for someone who’s given her a home, and a family!” He wailed, tears running down his face. “Don’t you understand that?! It’s a lost treasure anyway! And only one!” He sobbed, grabbing Gyro’s sleeve and crying into it. “Oh, ugh. Gross, get off, off!” Gyro snapped, pushing Launchpad backwards. “Fine! But this time, I’m coming along to make sure you guys don’t screw up the time stream!” He shouted, throwing his hands up. Louie gaped at Diz, who gave him a thumbs up, grinning mischievously. Gyro lead them to his time tub, the 3 of them squeezing in. Louie put in the date and location, nodding to himself. “Wait for me!” Launchpad cried and he jumped into the back of the tub, smushing Diz against Gyro as the tub started up. Blue light swirled around them, and with a loud pop sound, the whole lab disappeared, replaced by swirling colors, which soon faded to the scene of a vintage city street-side. “Wow, it certainly looks like we’re in 1958.” Diz said, looking around at the antique cars driving past them. “Sure does. Let’s go to the factory to be sure!” Louie said, jumping out of the tub and trying to wave down a taxi. “Hold that thought! Check this out.” Gyro waved them over to where he was holding a newspaper. “Some kid worker fell in a vat of molten copper yesterday, and it shut the factory down. Look, it’s front page! They even mention the pennies we’re looking for right below it, see? They were made the same day of the incident.” “Oh my gosh! He was a cute little fella too.” Launchpad frowned, eyes welling up with tears again as he looked at the accompanying picture. Diz sighed wearily, shaking her head. “Ugh. This was before child labor laws were enforced.” Diz put an arm around LP, giving him a tight squeeze. “Sometimes, it’s just someone’s time.” “We have to go back to yesterday and get that coin before the factory shuts down. C’mon.” Louie jumped back into the tub, waving everyone in with him. He set the new date, and with another flash of blue, they landed right outside the factory. A bell chimed 12 times, and Gyro jumped out the tub, running towards the entrance. “Hurry, hurry! That kid fell in at some point around noon, and according to that clock, we’re pretty much there!” Gyro shouted and they all tore after him, bursting into the factory. When they did, the entire conveyer belt line had been shut down.
