🔶 POV: Scrooge McDuck (First-Person)
I march straight toward the lobby, pamphlet tucked under my wing, determination burning hot in my heart.
There's treasure to be found.
There's immortality to be hunted.
And I intend to get started today.
Alex, currently in his human-shaped avatar, is polishing the front desk (even though it's spotless). I clear my throat.
"ALEX! Lad—I got questions about that Fountain o' Youth ye mentioned."
Alex doesn't even look up.
"I assumed you would."
"Where do I start? How do I find it? How—"
Alex finally looks at me, voice deadly serious:
"First rule: Do not accidentally find the Fountain of Old."
I pause.
"…I'm sorry. The what now?"
Alex raises a single finger.
"You remember how I said your world contains two Fountain-type anomalies?"
"Aye…"
"There is the Fountain of Youth—the one you want."
"And…?"
He leans forward.
"There is also the Fountain of Old, which will convert you into a fragile, ancient, wrinkled, creaky, cane-dependent version of yourself in seconds."
I blink.
"…WHY DOES THAT EXIST!?"
Alex shrugs.
"Balance. Comedy. A wizard messing around. I don't know. Your world is weird."
I rub my temples.
"How do I tell them apart?"
Alex produces a small notebook titled:
"Fountain Safety for Ducks: Quick Guide."
He flips it open.
"Pour a tiny bit of the water onto a nearby tree."
I lean in.
"If it de-ages, it's the Fountain of Youth," Alex says.
"And if it—?"
"If it ages rapidly, crumbles, wilts, or dies instantly… then congratulations. You've found the Fountain of Old. Do not drink it unless your goal is to become the world's dustiest mummy."
I gulp.
"…Noted."
Alex nods.
"I'm serious, Scrooge. They look identical. The type of identical that makes you question whether the universe is trolling you."
I glare at him suspiciously.
"Is the universe YOU, lad?"
"No."
"…Mostly."
🔶 POV: Vegeta (Third-Person)
A door opens, and Vegeta strides in—sweaty, tired, glowing faintly with ki, looking extremely satisfied.
He grunts.
"Breakfast. Large portions. To go."
Alex nods at once.
"Of course."
A golden tray manifests, holding enough food to feed a small country or one Saiyan.
Vegeta sets some universal currency on the counter.
Alex immediately hands him a printed receipt, complete with a signature line, Saiyan-language translation, and an itemized list.
The Prince of All Saiyans begrudgingly signs it.
Scrooge watches, utterly baffled.
Vegeta nods once.
"Tell Kakarot I won this round."
Alex: "Noted."
He manifests a glowing exit door. Vegeta steps through it and disappears.
🔶 POV: Scrooge McDuck (First-Person)
I stare, mouth open.
"…What was that?"
Alex answers casually.
"Different universe. Different evolutionary line. He's a Saiyan—basically a warrior species. They evolved differently. You evolved into a duck-person. He evolved into… that."
I blink again.
"…And they walk around like that is normal?"
Alex turns to me.
"In his universe? Absolutely."
Scrooge McDuck shakes his head in awe.
"…I need tae sit down."
🔶 POV: Scrooge McDuck (Later)
After lunch (naturally the best food I've ever tasted in my entire adventurous life), I pack my things.
Alex hands me a small slip of paper shaped like a ticket.
"What's this?"
"A reminder," Alex answers. "This is the door back to your world. Tap it in front of you to make your personal door appear."
He leans in.
"And again—avoid the Fountain of Old. Unless you want to retire permanently."
I fold the ticket and shove it in my coat.
"No worries, lad. I'll find the real fountain. I'm Scrooge McDuck—discovering ancient treasures is what I do!"
Alex smiles despite having no face.
"I'll be very disappointed if you don't return with three bags of cursed artifacts and a story that defies probability."
I grin back.
"Oh, trust me—I aim to exceed expectations."
🔶 POV: Alex (Third-Person)
Scrooge walks toward the exit door.
Alex watches him go, raising one final warning:
"If everything goes well, Scrooge—remember this:The Fountain of Youth is not guarded.The Fountain of Old is guarded extremely well.This is intentional."
Scrooge looks disturbed.
"…Why?"
Alex shrugs.
"Because the Fountain of Old kills people. The youth one just annoys the wrong people."
Scrooge swallows hard.
"…Right. Off to find the one that doesn't kill me, then."
He taps his ticket.
A glowing door manifests.
He steps inside and disappears back into his own world, adventure igniting behind his eyes.
Alex sighs and demanifests his avatar, returning to the infinite hum of the hotel's consciousness.
Today was… busy.
Tomorrow will be worse.
The next guest will probably be worse than that.
He looks forward to it anyway.