The Mighty Ducks: F.C Anaheim
Chapter 1- Finding Your Wings
With the threat of the Saurians neutralized and the hockey season on temporary lockout for the season, there wasn't much for the Ducks to do around HQ other than practice or find ways to occupy themselves. The latest addition to the team was right wing Mika Runas whom happened to be going for a little jog around the city. The blue-feathered duck had made a great impact on the Mighty Ducks ever since the team captain Wildwing convinced her to join the team last year.
Mika caught sight of a few high school kids playing soccer at the local field, "It's amazing that some players in the league can be so greedy with their demands, now with the league operations suspended, there isn't much to do around here," Mika thought, expressing her feelings on the situation with the NHL. Suddenly, one of the high school kids kicked the ball out of bounds, the soccer ball rolled toward where Mika happened to be standing. An idea soon flew into her head as she stopped the ball with her foot.
The spandex-wearing duck kindly threw the ball back and continued to watch the game with a small grin. As the kids went home, she pulled out her cellphone from the side of her hip and contacted the captain, "Hey Wildwing, it's Mika, could you meet me at the park there's something I want to run by you, you can? Great! I'll see you there," Mika hung up the phone and put it back in it's holster at her side. The only thing she needed now was Wildwing's permission.
It was beautiful evening and the full moon was high. Mika looked up at the night sky that matched the color of her feathers. Mika now had a circle of friends in her team mates that she trusted with her life, especially her boyfriend Nosedive Flashblade and her best friend Mallory McMallard. Mika sitting down at a park bench, tired and dripping with sweat. She looked to see Wildwing coming up the bend, "So...Mika, what's on your mind?" He asked, taking a seat next to her.
"Well, I've noticed there isn't much to do around HQ these past few months," Mika explained, Wildwing rolled his eyes. He knew that to be true since he and the team had to deal with Nosedive's constant bellyaching, "I'm not sure now Phil is going to react to this, but I feel this will be fun for everyone," Wildwing raised an eyebrow out of interest, "let's form a football club, think of it this way, it will be just like hockey, only you play on grass, and there's no checking,"
"Football? You mean soccer?" Wildwing said in correction. the team captain scratched his chin at the thought, "you're right, soccer is similar to hockey, and it's a very popular sport among humans around the world so...I don't see why not, but you're right about Phil though, let's run it by him and see what he thinks, otherwise...I'm in," Wildwing shook hands with Mika. now the next step was to run it by the other team players and get Phil's permission to form the team.
"Soccer? You serious?" Phil Palmfeather exclaimed, Wildwing's team nodded yes since he convinced them that their skills would be useful in a different sport, "where are you gonna find a coach? or a sponsor for that matter?" Phil rubbed his chin at the thought, "since the league is on hiatus, I suppose you guys need something to do, tell you what, I'll still manage the team and find you guys a sponsor, but you need to get permission from the MLS and find a coach,"
"That means you guys are heading to New York City," Phil explained to the team, "that's where the MLS headquarters are located, 5th Street in Manhattan," The Ducks boarded the Migator and made the cross country flight to New York City. When they arrived, like most tourists, they had the urge to look up at the majestic skyscrapers that towered over them. Mika was so excited and couldn't wait to start playing against stars like David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
At first, the team was laughed out of the office quite a few times, but the Ducks tenacity urged them to keep trying and trying again. After one week in New York City, the team got their permission to start operations in the MLS. The only things missing now were a coach and a team name. The new team stopped at a local sports bar to celebrate. There Mika looked up at the TV and saw New York Red Bulls star Thierry Henry scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Union.
"Radicool, just think that'll be us up there," Mallory said watching the television with Mika. An old man caught sight of the expansion team sitting on the other side of the restaurant and talking about what they should name their newly formed football club. The old man looked to be in his early sixties and looked at the team with a stern glare. Mallory caught sight of the old man sitting in the corner. The old man just looked at the team and looked away like he was hiding something.
"You duckies best quit while you're ahead," said the old man overhearing their conversation, "football's a whole 'nother animal from hockey, you're not on the ice anymore, as a matter of fact, you might as well be in my shoes since I'm out of a job," The old man spoke with an English accent, a London accent to be more precise. Mika scratched the side of her head in thought, "I know you're type, prancing about 'cause you just got signed by the league, that's only step one,"
"Do you think you can help us get on the right path then," Grin asked him. The old man stood up from his bar stool and adjusted his glasses, "I sense that you are very knowledgeable in soccer, do you think you can help us out?" the old man chuckled at Grin's request. To him, this had to be a joke, six alien ducks from Puckworld wanting to play football because they had nothing else to do. The man sighed. He had been out of a job for many years and this was his chance to get back in the game.
"Alright, I suppose I can help you lot with that, Justin Thornsby's the name, but you best start calling me Coach Thornsby," Their coach concluded, "you lot must also be looking for a club name, eh? Don't pick a European sounding name, it won't sit well with some of those blokes back home...since you lot come from Anaheim, so how about we settle on F.C Anaheim Wings," the Mighty Ducks all seemed to be in agreement, "well now let's get back and training, you train my way, and my way is hard,"