Charlotte jolted awake when the jeep she and the family were in jumped from a cliff and landed with a thud. She looked around to find Launchpad looking at a map, not paying attention to the road. Scrooge angrily snatched the map away, making Launchpad focused on the road. Why am I not surprised?

"Remember, kids, no sudden movements, no eye contact. If you're cornered, the heartless heathens will give you no quarter." Scrooge said. Charlotte instinctively clutched onto her lucky quarter, which was still in her pocket. "This does not sound like a fun trip." Louie commented. "Misty moors, vague warnings, sneaking out behind Uncle Donald's back? Can you please just tell us where we're going?" Huey asked. "The less you know, the better." Scrooge simply answered. Huey and Louie gave each other nervous looks before sighing and slumping down on their seats.

Charlotte simply closed her eyes again and tried to go back to sleep. They had been driving for a while, and the drive naturally made her tired. Wherever we're going must be very important to Mr. McDuck. Otherwise, I've been sleeping in a car for nothing. No, I'm sure Mr. McDuck has a good reason. Charlotte's eyes shot open when the jeep crashed into a statue. "Found it!" Launchpad said.

"Launchpad, hide the jeep in the moors." Scrooge instructed as he exited the jeep. The kids followed suit as they stared up at a looming castle. "Every five years, the mists of Dismal Downs part enough to reveal the home of the Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar. Brace yourselves, kids. Primordial menace lurks here. The most treacherous terror I've ever faced." Scrooge said. What can be worst then what we've faced before? The doors to the castle opened to reveal an elderly couple. "Oi! Jettison that jalopy from my driveway this instant, you deadbeat!" The elderly man yelled at Scrooge. Wait a second...

"Daddy. Mummy."

Everyone stared in shock. Mr. McDuck's parents!? Scrooge groaned as he approached his parents. "Scroogey!" Downy McDuck, Scrooge's mother, called out in joy. She quickly ran up to Scrooge and gave him a huge hug, spinning him around while showering him with kisses. "Son." Fergus McDuck, Scrooge's father, simply greeted. Downy let go of Scrooge, sending him tumbling to the ground once she spotted the kids. "Oh, look at ya wee bairns! Finally, I get to meet ya!" Downy said as she began to chase the triplets for a hug. The triplets began to run away as they didn't want to be hugged. Charlotte made sure to stay close to Scrooge.

Downy soon stopped chasing after them and turned to everyone. "Welcome, all of you, to Castle McDuck!" Downy welcomed. "Your parents are alive!?" Huey asked as he helped Scrooge up. "I can't believe your still alive." Louie said. "He put a curse on us." Fergus said. A curse? "That is not fair! I very kindly rebuilt our ancestral castle for them. And I may have used some discount mystical Druid stones that accidentally granted them immortality. I didn't know it would buy me an eternity's worth of criticism." Scrooge explained. I guess that explains everything. "So, he admits he wants to be rid of us." Fergus said. Scrooge groaned. "Would you rather I'd let you pass or made you immortal?" Scrooge asked. "Neither is satisfactory. A thoughtful son would know that." Fergus answered. Scrooge growled at the answer. The tension between them is almost the same as when Mr. Duck dropped us off at the mansion months ago.

"So, this is the actual home of Clan McDuck?" Dewey asked. "Indeed, child. Within these walls, lies the secrets and mysteries of all your ancestors." Downy answered. Dewey turned to Webby and began to whisper to her, but Charlotte couldn't quite make out what he was whispering. I wonder what he's whispering about. Charlotte then noticed the way Webby was smiling. Oh boy. "Everything McDuck. Mysteries, secrets untold! Oooh-wheee!" Dewey poked Webby, only causing her to giggle. "Uh-oh! She's having a joy overload!" Dewey said.

Downy walked to her son and husband to find them still staring angrily at each other. Everyone moved to the dining room, where Scrooge and Fergus were still staring at each other. Downy walked up to Scrooge with a huge stack of checks in her hand. "Oh, we didn't know where to send your birthday gifts all these years with you gallivanting about." Downy said as she handed Scrooge the checks. Scrooge looked through the checks to find that each check was written out to him for £0.05. "Eh, thanks, Mummy. But I'm not just traveling. I'm a seasoned adventurer, seeking fortune, and-." Before Scrooge would finish, Louie interrupted.

"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.

Well, this is awkward. "Aye, you're a real family man, aren't ya?" Fergus asked. "I'll have you know... hmm." Scrooge then imitated his phone ringing, giving him an excuse to pick up his phone. "Oh! Um, oh, uh! Hello? What? Oh, you're here in Dismal Downs!? Oh, what a surprise! Of course, I'll be right out." Scrooge said to his phone. He then walked out the door to the outside.

Charlotte sat there quietly while twiddling her thumbs. "Lassie, you're looking extremely thin. Is Scroogey feeding ya well?" Downy asked Charlotte. Charlotte nodded her head. "Ya aren't just saying that for his sake, are ya?" Fergus asked. Charlotte shook her head before pointing to where Scrooge was sitting and giving a thumbs up. "Well, as long as he's treating ya alright, lassie." Fergus said. Charlotte smiled a little, feeling a bit more comfortable with the two.

"Here you go, ya wee bairn." Downy said as she set down a plate of food in front of Charlotte. Before Charlotte could smile at her in appreciation, she spotted Downy's hand about to pet her head. She flinched back instinctively, causing Fergus and Downy to stare at her in confusion and shock. "What's wrong, lassie?" Fergus asked, concerned. She took out a spare piece of paper and a pencil from her pockets and began to write something down. When she was done, she handed it to Downy. "I'm sorry. I don't like to be touched." Downy read out loud. "Oh, no need to be sorry. I should be the one apologizing." Downy said. Charlotte gave her a small smile, indicating that she forgives her. "Does Scrooge know ya don't like being touched?" Fergus asked. Charlotte nodded her head. "Does Scrooge know why ya don't like being touched?" Charlotte shook her head. No... I don't know if I will ever tell him... Before Fergus or Downy could say anything else, the door busted open.

Scrooge had returned, but with Launchpad next to him, who was wearing Donald's outfit. "Mummy, Daddy, say hello to your great-nephew and my beloved ward Donald!" Scrooge said. What? "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Quack!" Launchpad said. Scrooge slapped his forehead. Just when I thought things couldn't get weirder.

Launchpad began to devour the food Downy presentes to him. "Looking a little beefier, Donald." Fergus said. "Eating a lot these days, are ya?" Downy asked. "Oh, yeah. Thanks to Mr- Uncle McD." Launchpad said. Scrooge smiled nervously. "He's a saint. Took me and the kids in. Even let Donald- me park his... my houseboat in the pool. He's a real family man, or my name isn't Launchpad Mc- Donald Duck. Quack?" Launchpad said before giving Scrooge a wink. Scrooge groaned as Fergus began to stare at Scrooge suspiciously. Launchpad then spilled his cup of water on the table to break the tension. "Oh, no!" Launchpad then began to yell as he did Donald's signature movements whenever he gets angry. "Oh! There he is!" Downy said as she and Fergus smiled. Scrooge sighed in relief. "Poor lad. Of course you're confused. Living like an animal in Scrooge's yard. For shame." Fergus said. Oh boy. An argument is about to start.

"I take great care of my family!"

"You avoid us like the plague!"

"Oh, come now, that's unfair to the plague!"

"That's it! Go to your room!"

"I never lived here!"

"Then pick the one furthest away from my line of sight!"

"Fine by me!"

Scrooge and Fergus glared at each other before walking off at different directions, leaving Charlotte, Downy, and Launchpad at the table. "More sheep's bladder?" Downy asked Launchpad and Charlotte. "Hmm... yes." Launchpad answered. Charlotte kindly declined with a simple shake. Charlotte grabbed her empty plate and was about to go to the kitchen when Downy stopped her. "No need, lass. I'll take care of it." Downy said. Charlotte nodded and handed Downy her plate before walking out of the dining room.

She walked down the halls for a while in an attempt to find Scrooge. Why did these halls have to be so big? As she continued to walk around, she spotted a piece of the wall missing. She slowly approached and spotted a passageway. Could this be one of the tunnels Mrs. McDuck was talking about? She slowly walked down the passageway and spotted a hole on the floor. She then heard Scrooge shouting down below. She slowly and carefully climbed down, being able to hear Scrooge talking. She quickly hid and listened in.

Scrooge pulled out his Number One Dime. "Everything I earned, I earned through my own hard work. You never gave me anything!" Scrooge said. "I gave you that." Fergus said, pointing to the dime. Scrooge groaned. "My Number One Dime? Burt the ditch digger gave it to me. Back in my shoeshine days, I worked for hours on Burt's boots. He paid me with an American dime." Scrooge explained. "Who do you think gave him the dime?" Fergus asked.

"What?"
What?

"Aye. I muddied his boots, and sent him your way." Scrooge stared in shock while Charlotte let the revelation sink in. "Wait, what? But why?" Scrooge asked. "We were poor. I couldn't provide for you myself, so I had to give you a different gift, self-reliance. Teaching you to work hard and fend for yourself, so that you'd become the man you are now." Fergus answered. Scrooge and Charlotte smiled. "But you learned that lesson so well, we hardly saw ya again." Fergus chuckled. "If I'm hard on ya, lad, it's 'cause I miss ya, is all." Fergus said. "Oh, Daddy, I miss you, too." Scrooge said. Scrooge and Ferguson stepped forward to give each other a hug when each of them stepped on a pressure plate. The giant door before them suddenly opened up. They both looked at each other before entering.

Charlotte smiled as she watched the two of them enter through the door. I'll let them have their moment. She climbed back up and entered back to the hallway she was in before. She walked around the castle, looking at all the paintings on the walls when she stopped and pulled out her quarter. She smiled sadly at it. If only... She put her quarter back in her pocket and continued walking. Then a thought came to mind. Where are Huey, Dewey, and Louie? I haven't seen them in a while now. She turned the corner and spotted the boys down the hallway, talking amongst themselves. Charlotte smiled and shook her head. They were probably off having an adventure of their own.

Time passed by and they were packing up to leave. Dewey and Louie hugged Downy before waving goodbye and walking to the jeep. Charlotte walked up to them and waved goodbye at them. They waved back with a loving smile. Charlotte smiled as she made her way to the jeep. Scrooge then hugged both his parents, smiling as they hugged him back. Before Scrooge could let go, Fergus whispered to him, "Watch over the little lassie, will ya?" Fergus eyed Charlotte with a bit of concern. "Don't worry, Daddy. I will." Scrooge said, knowing who he was talking about.

They soon let go and Downy faced Webby and Huey. "Now, are you sure there's nothing I can give you? Maybe some original family photographs, or a leather-bound volume of McDuck history? I'm probably just gonna throw most of it away." Downy asked them. "I... words can't... ahh!" Webby said while in a daze as Huey pushed her to the jeep and closed the doors. "Well, goodbye then. See you all in five years." Downy said. As the jeep drove away, Webby snapped out of her daze. "Who built this castle!? What was Scrooge like as a kid!? What was his favorite color, game, song, food!? Who designed the McDuck tartan!? Who was- noooooo!" Webby shouted as she watched the castle be covered up by the mists.