[This is not a story of choices like my fan fics titled A Maze of Trials or Danger Comes at Twilight. I know some have enjoyed those, and I will try to write more stories with choices in the future! But this is a story that I've had in mind for awhile. It's unconnected with the other stories I've written, but I hope you'll enjoy it! It will involve a fair amount of flashbacks to Duke and my OC's time on Puckworld. Give the first couple of chapters a chance to get a sense of what the story will be like.]

I do not own the Mighty Ducks or any other characters connected to the TV show.

Chapter 1

A New Beginning

"Boss, we got problems here!" Chameleon called out as he entered the command chamber with Wraith.

Dragaunus, last of the Saurian overlords, whirled on them with his eyes blazing.

"I ordered you to work on the generator hours ago. What is taking you incompetents so long?"

Wraith stood back behind his staff with some apprehension visible beneath his usual gloomy manner.

"It is impossible to make repairs without shutting down the cloaking mechanism for the Raptor."

"And the duckies will find us for sure if we do that!" Chameleon pointed out quickly.

Dragaunus growled.

"We need to distract those feathered fools. The Raptor cannot wait any longer for these repairs and improvements."

Siege lumbered into the room with a grin.

"I think I found the solution, boss. The scanner I set up for other dimensions is working. And look what I picked up."

He pulled up an image and data on one of the monitors. Dragaunus appeared intrigued as he studied the data, and he smiled. Siege gestured to the screen and continued his explanation.

"We have just enough power to open a gateway and pull that ship down to Earth. When it hits this planet, the ducks will be too busy to think about us."

Dragaunus surveyed the screen one more time.

"Do it."

In the dimly lit cargo hold of galactic transport G3562, a cloaked figure sat behind a stack of cases and bags. Concealed in a dark corner, the stowaway did not move, even when two newcomers stepped into the cargo hold.

"I told you, sir, there's no one down here," the first voice said. "We loaded a lot down here. But no passengers."

The second figure pushed past him and walked around the tightly packed space. The hidden figure shrunk into the darkness of the narrow alcove.

"I've got to get back up top before the captain finds me missing," the first voice said. "Don't get lost down here, sir."

The second figure impatiently turned in circles, scouring the space. His deep voice reverberated amidst the clutter when he spoke.

"I know you boarded this transport, my dear. And when you move to disembark, I will find you."

He stalked away, and the huddled stowaway remained motionless in the dark for several minutes. After some time, the sound of deep breaths could barely be heard in the silence. A feathered hand stirred from under the cloak and held a locket to the light.

16 Years Ago

The stars shone over Puckworld's night sky as twelve-year-old Gwendolyn Fairfeather stood before the large window overlooking the ice below her.

"Miss, have you finished packing?"

Gwendolyn closed her eyes and did not turn from the window. She could still see the vision of her parents skating with her upon the ice behind the manor.

"Your aunt expects you tomorrow. We must not be late."

Mrs. Waddlestok bustled up to her young mistress and waited at her side.

"I do not understand why my aunt cannot come here," Gwendolyn said, turned her blue eyes upon her family's faithful housekeeper. Mrs. Waddlestok's expression softened as she gazed at the sadness and pain apparent in the young face looking up at her.

"Your aunt has her own life in Bladeston. And she is your guardian now."

"Aren't I old enough to choose my own guardian?"

"Oh, and whom would you choose, my dear?"

Gwendolyn answered only with silence and a look. Mrs. Waddlestok dropped her gaze.

"Oh, my sweet child, I wish things could stay as they are, but you must be with your own family. It's been a month since we lost your dear father and mother. And now your aunt must have you. But I'm sure it's for the best."

Mrs. Waddlestok's tone did not sound quite as confident or encouraging as she meant it to be, but she knew the past visits Gwendolyn had shared with her aunt had already established the niece's dislike for the strict and proud widow.

"Anyway, your aunt believes Bladeston holds more opportunities for you. She says you are too isolated here."

Gwendolyn's gaze grew colder as she turned back to the window, and she looked at her reflection in the glass.

"She wants me to spend more time with ducks like her."

"Now remember, your parents always meant for you to grow up into a fine young lady. You are a Fairfeather, after all, my dear."

"My parents had a different idea about what being a lady meant."

Mrs. Waddlestok sighed.

"Well, I've no doubt you will give your aunt some trouble if she tries to change you, but go on to your room now and try to get some sleep. We must both be out of this house tomorrow."

Gwendolyn's shoulders sunk with the reminder that her aunt would be selling her parents' home once they left. Mrs. Waddlestok said nothing, but Gwendolyn knew that her friend was losing her job as well. Apparently, she was not wanted in Bladeston, except to deliver Gwendolyn to her aunt.

Returning with slow steps to her room, Gwendolyn ran her hand along the banister as she walked upstairs. The initial pain and anguish of losing her parents returned to her, and hot tears stung her eyes.

She opened the door to her room and entered quickly, closing it behind her before Mrs. Waddlestok walked by and saw her tears. Going to her bed, Gwendolyn lay down upon it, pressing her beak against the blankets. And after shedding tears, she fell into an uneasy sleep.

Deep into the night, Gwendolyn awoke and pushed herself up from the bed. She rubbed her eyes and realized that she had been sleeping in the blouse and skirt she had worn earlier that day. The locket containing her parents' pictures was still around her neck. Rising stiffly, she stepped off of her bed and walked towards a mirror.

I know what my aunt would say if she saw me now, Gwendolyn thought. Hair not brushed, unclean feathers, wrinkled clothes, and teary eyes. Unacceptable for a lady of important society.

Gwendolyn opened the locket around her neck, and she saw the smiling faces of her father with his light brown hair and blue eyes and her mother with her golden blonde hair, like Gwendolyn's, and brown eyes. She looked down at her white feathered hands, the same color feathers as her parents, and she thought of how much she had inherited from them… wealth, reputation, appearance. But all I wanted was to hold onto them.

The sight of movement in the mirror drew her attention back to it, and Gwendolyn turned around to see that it looked like a shadow had stirred beyond the doors that led out to the balcony.

Walking over and opening the doors, she slipped into the cool night air and quickly felt refreshed as millions of lights greeted her in the dark sapphire sky. She looked for any sign of what had caused the movement, but it seemed she was alone. Gwendolyn moved to the rail of her balcony and looked down upon the glittering ice below as a breeze swept through her hair.

Then her senses alerted her to the feeling of being watched, and she turned to see a dark figure huddled against one side of the balcony. Her breath caught in her throat as she stumbled back. Suddenly, a hand reached out and caught her arm to steady her.

"Whoa, careful don't fall," a warm voice said as a young drake was revealed in the starlight.

Gwendolyn found her balance, and he released his grip slowly.

"What are you doing outside my room?"

"I like the view," he said, and then quickly added, "…Of the stars. It's peaceful."

She returned his gaze with a skeptical look, but then she noticed that he was holding a blood-stained cloth to his shoulder.

"You're hurt."

"It's nothin'," he said, but his voice sounded tired.

"I'll get help," Gwendolyn offered as she started to walk back inside, but he grabbed her wrist.

"No, please, don't tell anyone I'm here. I'll get in trouble."

Gwendolyn looked down at his worn clothes, and she thought of what Mrs. Waddlestok might do when faced with an intruder from the streets.

"All right, but come in and let me see if I can help."

He let her lead him inside the room, and Gwendolyn lit a candle instead of turning on her light. She wet a towel and carried it over to him. In the candlelight, she could see the shape of his face and beak better. He seemed to be close to her age, perhaps a year or two older. His hair was handsomely fashioned above his head. His dark brown eyes watched her with a strange sense of warmth and admiration that made her heart beat faster.

When he drew off his shirt to uncover the wound, she tried not to let her gaze rest on his chest for too long, but she couldn't help but notice how strong he looked – though his frame was still slight and lithe.

He didn't offer to take the towel from her, so Gwendolyn took a deep breath and tried to clean the blood from his feathers herself. He seemed to grow tense, but he never cried out or made any sound.

"I'm Gwendolyn," she said.

"That's kind of a mouthful," he said with a short laugh.

Gwendolyn stepped back with an expression of disapproval.

"It's still pretty though," he added. "Have you ever thought about just going by Gwen?"

"No one's ever called me that before," she said as she resumed cleaning his wound. "What's your name?"

"Duke."

"Hmm, now that's odd," she said with a smile. "I mean what if I was named Princess?"

Duke's expression hardened as he didn't seem to enjoy her teasing.

"You might as well be one. You live in a castle, don't you?"

Gwendolyn was surprised by the bitterness in his tone, but his reaction prompted more curiosity than offense.

"I suppose it is big," she agreed. "But it's not really mine. Or at least, not after tomorrow."

"Your parents movin'?"

Gwendolyn turned away to rinse the towel, and the young drake noted her silence. When he spoke again, his voice was gentler.

"How'd you lose them?"

She soaked the towel in a basin and then squeezed it, watching the blood appear in the water.

"They were on their way to a party, and there was an accident..."

Walking back to him, she finished cleaning his wound, and then she cut a strip of cloth from her bedding and used it as a bandage. He said nothing in response, but his gaze turned to the locket that hung open, displaying pictures of her parents.

"If there's anything else you need," she said, wrapping and tying the bandage. "You might as well take it. My aunt is selling this house."

"Where are you goin' live?"

"With her," Gwendolyn said with a sigh as she stepped back.

"At least you have a place to go," he said softly. Then he inspected the bandage and added. "It's not bad. I would'a expected blood to bother someone like you."

"My mother had some medical training. She always wanted to be able to help others, even though she was born into high society. She taught me that a real lady doesn't faint or shy away from blood when someone needs help."

He listened quietly before standing up and putting his shirt back on.

"How did you get that wound?" Gwendolyn asked, watching him.

"A saber."

"You were attacked with a saber?"

"Yeah, but I can't talk about it."

Gwendolyn shot him a questioning look.

"Who am I going to tell? Do you think my aunt wants to know I let strangers into my room at night?"

Duke smiled.

"I'm not even supposed to be out here," he said growing serious again. "I ran off for some time alone."

"And I'm leaving this place forever starting tomorrow. What harm could I do?" Gwen said. "I promise that I won't tell anyone."

Duke studied her for a moment.

"All right, I guess you didn't tell anyone I was here. I'm in training with the Brotherhood of the Blade."

"Oh," Gwen said with a look of surprise. She had heard stories of course. The Brotherhood took particular pride in stealing from Puckworld's wealthiest ducks. "And they did that to you?"

Duke put his hand to the bandaged wound under his shirt.

"They're tough on the new recruits. And I can handle that, but I don't like being told what I can and can't do. Today I stood up for one of the other new guys who wasn't handling things so well, and they didn't like that."

"And you're still going back?"

Duke shrugged.

"It's where I belong. I'll show 'em. But what about you? You don't really want to go to this aunt of yours, right?"

Gwendolyn shook her head.

"No, but it's like you said; it's where I belong. I think my parents would have wanted me to try to make things work with her."

"Sure, but you don't gotta let her tell you what to do. For a rich girl, you seem pretty smart, so be your own duck even if you gotta live in her world."

He started to walk back the balcony, and Gwendolyn followed after him.

"Wait, will you get into trouble for being gone?"

Duke smiled as he climbed over the balcony.

"It's nothin' I can't handle. Goodnight, Princess."

She leaned over the rail and watched him jump to another ledge and then leap down the ground. He turned and looked back up at her, raising one hand to wave. Gwendolyn found herself stretching out her hand too as she grew conscious of the feeling that she was sorry to see him leave. But in another moment, he had disappeared into the night.

Back in the Present

The locket glinted in the dim light of the cargo hold as the huddled figure held it out, but as the hand started to withdraw it back under the cloak, a sudden force shook the transport. Baggage was tossed violently around the hold.

Alarms began to sound with deafening volume around the ship. Shouts and cries echoed from the passengers. The captain's voice could barely be heard over all of the noise.

"Brace for impact! Brace for impact!"