A Dangerous Kiss?

By: KidHeart4

Disclaimer: I do not own the Mighty Ducks or any of their characters. I do own Lis though, for she is one of my own created characters. This is the third story to my Mighty Ducks series.

It was a few days after our run in with Lucreatia. My injuries had about healed after days of forced rest, enforced by Tanya and Wildwing. In fact I was quite surprised when I had woken up in the infirmary that first morning after to find the older of my two brothers patiently telling Duke to head back to his room.

After Duke had left I remembered looking at Wildwing and asking what had happened.

"I guess the big brother part of me woke up," he stated as I got out of bed to look out the door after Duke, but he was already gone.

"Get back into bed Lis, you're still hurt."

Over those next few days I had noticed our teammates being careful around me, but when I would seem to be gone they had been more stern with Duke than ever before. Nosedive had told me about this. Though he had gotten his own talk with Wildwing himself about not going in blindly when it came to romance.

While I was infirmary bound Nosedive and Grin checked on me often. Nosedive would sneak things in for me to do, comics to read, paper to draw and write with, and games to play. As he did this Grin would just listen, giving advice and debating with Dive over things, such as a cartoon they had started watching. One night Nosedive rolled in a t.v. for us to watch movies and play video games together, while Grin would try and give tips if he noticed something as we played.

During those days Tanya made sure I was eating properly and brought me better fitting clothes to rest in. Mallory would sometimes come with her to bring me news and tell me about any games I had missed watching them play. Every day Wildwing would come in every so often to ask how I was recovering, and finding what Nosedive had tried to hide under the bed in the process.
Yet the only time I would see Duke over those few days were at night, when he thought I was asleep. I noticed each time as he slipped past the doorway. And in the morning I would wake up to someone telling him to leave unless he were hurt himself. One morning I honestly felt like it was a threat when Wildwing said it, though I knew our leader never would do anything like that. Though each time Duke was told to leave, he would try and smile at me, waving a hand to greet me before the door closed in front of him.

"Guys, it's not going to get any better if you don't let us see each other," I pointed out on the third day of this happening.

Everyone was in the room this particular time, and Duke had not left yet.

"It's okay," I assured them, trying to smile. I knew why they had all been so protective. In a way I did appreciate it, and it cemented my bond with each of my teammates even further. Yet I couldn't stand him being pushed back away from me anymore. Things would never have a chance to heal. Of course I was still hurting a bit, but I had to face him now. I wanted to hear him again, even if I wasn't his partner anymore.

"I told ya big bro," Nosedive nudged, revealing a conversation they must have had recently.

"I want things to get better," I told them as I looked at Duke, "And maybe he's coming in here at night because one of you are always guarding the door during the day?"

"Hey I was never guarding the door," Nosedive defended until Grin nudged him now, "but I think Grin might have been."

"You guys are right, we're all a team," Wildwing agreed with a sigh, "Look, let's just forget about the other day from here on out and work to get better."

An awkward silence lingered in the room until Grin cleared it, "Don't we have practice Wildwing?"

Wildwing nodded as he and the others filed out of the room. That is except one of our teammates. Duke paused at the door, and then turned away from it as he walked up to me. He tilted his head, looking apologetic as he looked at me. I wasn't sure how to feel when he asked to sit with me on the side of the bed, but I pulled my legs up to my chin to allow this. He leaned back, half sitting on the bed, crossing his arms casually across his chest.

"Thank you sweet-" he stopped himself as he looked at me, "Thanks Lis."

I scratched the back of my neck nervously. I missed him calling me sweetheart, but I wasn't sure if he ever would again.

He breathed a deep breath before looking back at the door, as though he couldn't bring himself to look at me for long, "I'm sorry. I should have believed ya, an' I never should have let ya get hurt. How was I lookin' out for ya if I let this happen to ya?"

Duke risked a glance at me. I still had some bandages wrapped around my torso underneath the tank top Tanya had brought me to wear for the day so my injuries could air out as they finished healing. Though she had forgotten to help untie them in the midst of the argument this morning. I became more aware of this as I tried to move freely, but was held back by them.

"Do ya need some help?" He offered carefully when he noticed me trying to reach back and undo them myself.

Nervously, and reluctantly, I nodded as I turned to allow him to unwrap the bandages from the back, while I undid the front as the wrapping came around. Then he gently untied the bandages around my hands and then walked over to the sink to get a cloth. Soon he walked back over to me, taking one of my hands and cleaning the cuts still left from the glass of the tank we had been trapped in.

"This wouldn't have happened if I had jus' listened to ya," he said, frustrated with himself as he now cleaned the cuts on my other hand.

Then before letting my hand go, he seemed to pause as he looked at it. I wondered if he remembered kissing it when we first met. As I remembered I couldn't help but pull my hand away myself. And I think he knew as I tucked my hands into my own arms now, trying to act as though I were just cold.

"Lis, I-"

"It's okay Duke. I just, I need a little more time," I told him, looking away and at the floor, "I want things to get back to how they were. I want you to go on teaching me how to fence, and I want to talk with you as we did before. I just need time to heal."

I noticed from the corner of my eye as Duke nodded in understanding. Though I couldn't help but also notice a pained look wash over him for a moment. And I found myself looking at him as I said, "but thank you for coming to check on me at night. I know you got an earful each time you did it."

"Sweetheart," he slipped, and I watched him put a hand over his eyes as he did, "Lis, I wanted to talk to ya the last few days. I jus' didn't know what ta say, other than I'm sorry. But I'm glad the others were lookin' out for ya when I failed too."

"It's okay, I actually missed you saying that to me," I admitted quietly, almost trying to hold it back. My voice grew a bit stronger as I continued, "I have missed the real you. The Duke I met on Puck World, the one who pushed us towards becoming heroes when we arrived on Earth. I know we haven't known each other that long, but I always felt a bond between us. Everyone else I look to as a brother or sister, but with you...it's different somehow..."

Duke:

I looked at her in surprise. Did she still...? As I looked at her she looked away, her face a deep red as she blushed and blinked the tears I thought I had seen away. Her shoulders were tense as she now gripped the blanket I had put on her the previous night as she slept.

"Lis, I-"

I was interrupted by our coms going off as Wildwing told us Drake One's alarm had alerted us to teleportation energy nearby. Before I could stop her, Lis kicked the blankets off of her as she retrieved her battle gear in the infirmary closet. Tanya must have washed it for her. I couldn't help but feel my heart sink slightly when I realized it was her new gear. Not that there was anything wrong with it, it just had always felt kinda nice seeing us match. It was always of her choice, and it was flattering I guess. She gave me a look to leave the room so she could change, and I stepped into the hallway as she got dressed.

"Are ya sure you're ready ta fight again?" I asked when the door opened again, noticing the scratches still on her hands.

"I'm fine Duke," she assured me as she rushed past me to meet the others, leaving me to follow after her for once.

The others seemed surprise to see her up and about too.

"I'll be okay guys," she assured as she fastened her deactivated glaive to her back.

We boarded the Migrator and a part of me felt relieved when I saw Lis taking her usual seat next to mine. Perhaps things could get better with a little more time.

Soon we came to the space where the signal had come from. Though we didn't see any lizards running around, we did see the destruction they had brought. We all decided to check around on foot to see if they were nearby.

We were all in middle of the street when we realized how eerily quiet it was in this area. Almost like a strange void had enveloped the street. The air felt thick as fog lingered on around us, making it harder to search. I noticed we were in the middle of a crossroads. Something about all of this made me feel rather uneasy.

Just as we had all checked down the streets, splitting into small groups; Wildwing, Nosedive, and Mallory, Grin and Tanya, and Duke and myself, we started to head back to the center. As we came to the center we heard them behind us on each side of the crossroads. Each and of Dragonus's henchmen with hunter drones lining the streets behind them at three of the paths, and then finally Dragonus himself at the fourth. We all quickly drew our weapons as they stood laughing at us.

As we were backed into a tight circle, facing our enemies, I noticed Duke stepping in front of me.

"I can fight just fine Duke," I protested.

Duke smiled at me, "I know ya can sweetheart, I jus' want ta defend you this time."

Then he looked back at Wraith as he laughed at us.

"You fell right into our trap!" Dragonus snickered as he looked to each of his henchmen with a clawed hand signaling them.

Just then a set of portals were activated by each of them, tearing wholes into the reality we stood in. Gusts of wind pulled us quickly from our formation as bursts of energy shot out trying to grab at us. We each tried to fight back, puck launchers being shot, fists flying, and blades slashing at what seemed like tendrils reaching towards us. Yet the portals grew, and so did what ever was trying to pull us away from each other. I watched in horror as my friends one by one were pulled away. First Tanya, then Mallory and Nosedive, next our leader, and then even Grin. Duke and I were the last two standing, back to back as the tears in reality reached for us.

"This isn't happening," I said in horror as I watched my friends disappear before my eyes.

"We'll get them back Lis, it's gonna be okay," Duke tried to assure me as he reached for my hand.

Yet before he could grab a hold of me one of the tendrils shot out, wrapping it's self around his leg. He yelled out as it started dragging him towards the opening it had emerged from.

"No!" I screamed as I grabbed his hand, trying to pull him back to the center.

"Lis let go, it'll drag you in too!"

"I can't! We have to help our friends! I can't find them alone!"

Dragonus's cruel laughter filled my ears, "Pathetic human girl, you're going with them! You'll all be trapped there!"

"Lis, let go! Get out of here!" Duke yelled.

"I won't leave you!"

Just then another tendril wrapped around my waist, pulling me from Duke's grasp slowly. I tried to strengthen my grip, but felt our hands starting to slip.

"Lis, it will be okay somehow! We'll all find each other! Whatever happens we're a team!" Duke tried to call to me, "We'll find you!"

Before I could respond our hands finally were wrenched a part as a fireball from Wraith hit them. I heard him snicker, "I hate heartfelt goodbyes! They're too sentimental."

The last thing I saw before being pulled in myself was Duke vanishing through the portal on the opposite side. Then a blinding life engulfed me as I was dragged in myself.

When I came to I opened my eyes to what seemed like emptieness. Their seemed to be no ground, sky, or anything. Except fog and shadows, with sparks of light dashing in and out of existense. My head ached as I tried to get up on my feet. I finally stood up to find that I was standing on nothing it seemed.

"Where am I?" I asked as my voice echoed through the air.

I then quickly looked around to see if I could see anyone, "Guys! Are you there?! Duke! Wildwing! Nosedive! Grin! Tanya! Mallory! Anyone please answer!"

Yet the only answer was my own voice echoing back at me.

Were we in limbo, like Canard? Though we knew little about it, I didn't feel like this was the same place. Perhaps a space in between of sorts?

I soon decided that standing still wouldn't find anyone. So I started walking, calling out to the others hoping someone would answer. Though as I called out, I began hearing other things in what seemed like a vast void around me. Murmurrings and snickering chased me as I hastened my pace.

"Guys! Please answer me!" I begged as I ran now.

In the corners of my mind I remembered this exact feeling. Fears of shadows chasing me overwhelmed me as I tried to press on.

"Someone please answer me!" I screamed just as I was about to panic.

Yet before I collapsed to my knees, my head in my hands trying to stay together I noticed something just barely in view ahead. Something gleamed in the distance. I straightened myself out and then ran towards it hoping it was leading me the right way.

After feeling like I was running no where I finally reached what appeared to be a giant mirror. Ebony marble encased the borders with looming eyes leering from the top as a clawed creature adorned the design. What was this place?

Yet the mirror didn't offer any reflection of any sort. Without any ideas I touched the glass, trying to see what might happen despite being afraid. When my fingers rested on the cold reflection of the mirror a hand reached from the other side of it. A lavender, fingerless glove adorned the hand. Mallory!

As I thought this a much larger hand also reached from the other side. Grin!

"Lis?!" Mallory called, recognizing my own hands I guessed.

"Mallory?! Grin?! Is that you?" I asked.

"It's us friend!" Grin assured.

"Lis, you need to be careful getting us out of here! We can't break it from the inside, but it will try to pull you in once you break a hole in the glass!" Mallory warned me.

"Got it!" I answered, hoping this wasn't a trick from this warped place.

I drew my glaive, but used the blunt part as a staff, "Get back!" I then smashed it into the mirror as an ear piercing shriek filled the space around us.

Just as Mallory had warned, shadowed hands reached out to try and grab me. Quickly I activated the energy that brought my glaive to life as I slashed at the glass like claws that tore at my clothes. Once the hands were dealt with I reached one of my own out to my friends as Mallory reached out and grabbed a hold of me. Somehow I managed to pull her and Grin out of the mirror.

"What happened? Have you seen anyone else?" I asked them, though I was relieved to find at least two of my friends safe.

"Lis, how did you know that wasn't a trap?" Mallory asked, "This place is so strange, it could have used our image."

"I guess I didn't think about that," I said, realizing that it was kind of stupid on my part. I was just so happy to find my friends, that I couldn't think that it may have been a trick.

"Maybe we should test anything else like that that we see?" Grin suggested.

Mallory and I nodded in agreement.

"For the record," Mallory started looking at me, "the first time we went shopping with just the few of us you mentioned you don't dress up often."

I looked at Mallory a bit bewildered about this statement. Then she answered, "That's how you know it's really me. I was there when Duke asked you about dresses."

Then Grin said, "When you and Nosedive were playing games the other night you said you liked adventure games over fighting games like he did."

I realized what they were doing to make sure we knew that one another were the real deal. In a place filled with shadows and mirrors it didn't seem like a bad idea. Then we started walking again, but this time there was no signal to indicate where anyone seemed to be.

It was a long while before Mallory realized out loud, "Let's try our coms. They have homing signals, so maybe that will point us in the right direction!"

Sure enough, with some luck, we found three signals appearing on our coms.

"One is missing," I mentioned nervously.

"Maybe one of them got damaged in the fight somehow. Hopefully whoever's it is is with one of the others," Mallory tried to encourage.

I then remembered the fireball that had hit Duke's and my hands. A gasp of fear escaped my throat before I covered my mouth with my hand, "Duke!"

"We'll find our teammates Lis, it will be okay," Grin assured, resting a hand on my shoulder.

We then came to a labyrinth of dead thorns and tall dark hedges. At the entrance we could hear the roars of large creatures, yet we heard nothing else to indicate the creatures were there. Though in the distance we could hear the nervous voice of Tanya as she tried to calm herself down.

Without a thought I drew my glaive again, this time cutting away at the decaying branches that made up the maze.

"Tanya!" Mallory called out, "Are you in here!"

"Guys?!" Tanya yelled hopefully back.

"We're trying to find you!" Grin told her, "But please tell us how we know that it's you!"

Tanya seemed to get flustered as she tried to think of something.

"Tanya!" I called this time as I broke down another wall of thorns, "Do you remember what you said in the infirmary the other night when it was just us?"

She hesitated nervously still, "I...I remember trying to get you to rest. Oh! I said your injuries won't heal unless you rest, which you are very stubborn about!"

I laughed a little hearing this, knowing it was very much Tanya as my glaive slashed at another wall of branches to reveal Tanya standing frightfully behind it. As soon as we found her the roaring around us seemed to come to a stop.

"Thank goodness," she said relieved.

"Three more," I answered as I quickly headed back through with the three of them following.

Though I felt better having found three of our teammates I still felt something clawing at the back of my mind. This place was getting to me. Fortunately it didn't seem to bother with tricking us about who our friends were, but it warped things around it. It played with our fears it seemed, or trapped us deep within the fog the void produced.

"it looks like two of them are together according to our coms, hopefully all three are there though," Mallory said as she looked at the device on her wrist.

"I hope you're right," I answered uneasily.

It didn't seem to take as long to find Wildwing and Nosedive, as they too had broken out of their own traps and had begun searching for us.

"How do we know it's you guys?" Tanya asked.

The two just looked at us blankly. Suddenly I felt uneasy as the eyes of the mask gleamed an ebony shade somehow. The two then lunged at us with full force. The imposters blasted at us as they leapt through the void. We quickly jumped back, avoiding the shots. Yet as I stepped back Nosedive grabbed me, tightening his arm around my throat. Meanwhile Grin grabbed the Wildwing trying to fight us, trying to figure out what to do.

That's when I noticed something on Nosedive's wrist. His com was blinking it's signal indicating where we were. These were our friends! Something was trying to use them.

"It's them!" I yelled out to the others,"Grin don't hurt him!"

As I tried to shout this Nosedive's arm tightened around my neck. I choked out a breath, "Listen big bro! It's us! We have to get out of here as a team! You have to snap out of it!"

He didn't respond.

"Nosedive!" I pleaded, "When we met you said you always wanted a younger sibling! It's me Dive! We were inseperable when we met! Remember?"

"We were weren't we?" Nosedive's voice broke through as a breath of air returned to my lungs.

Nosedive quickly let go of me as we then carefully approached Wildwing.

"Wildwing! It's us!" I tried to break through.

"Bro fight it!" Nosedive yelled as we watched Wildwing struggle against Grin's grip to no avail.

"Nosedive, the other night you two talked about something, you mentioned it this morning?" Mallory suggested.

"I told him I wouldn't bring it up in front of Lis again," Nosedive told us.

"Nosedive!" Tanya snapped in disbelief.

Nosedive sighed, "Bro, do you remember the other night when you caught me sneaking out of the infirmary? You said you wanted to protect your siblings from getting hurt like we both did the other day! You were worried about how stupid I was being, and you were upset about how our little sis got hurt so bad that day! You wanted Duke to leave her alone, but I told you it wouldn't be a good idea to keep them apart! Because we both can tell it won't do anything good!"

I was stunned at first hearing this. Yet at the same time I felt a warmth reach my heart. While I knew they had been looking out for me the last few days, I never imagined how worried they had been.

"Wildwing!" I called to him now, "You told me that the big brother part of you came out to protect us the other day! You can't let yourself be the one to hurt us now!"

As though he had woken up from a bad dream Wildwing shook his head now, looking around in surprise, "Dive what happened?"

"We're back big bro," Dive gave a thumbs up as Grin set our leader down.

As relieved as I was to see them back to normal I knew we couldn't celebrate yet. Duke was still missing.

"Have either of you seen Duke?" I asked hopefully.

My heart sank as Wildwing shook his head. Yet then Nosedive seemed to scratch his head as he tried to remember something.

"Dive?" My voice shook.

"When we first got here I thought I saw him, but right after that voices started messing with my head. Next thing I knew I was here now with you guys."

"We can't leave until we find him," Wildwing said determined.

As we continued on I overheard Mallory telling Wildwing about me finding them. She mentioned that I had seemed more focused than she had ever seen me before. I wasn't sure how to react to this. I had just responded this time around, and hadn't given anything a second thought. I just wanted to find everyone and leave this place as soon as possible. Something about this place created a sense of dread, stirring up something in the very corners of my memory.

Just then, I noticed that it was silent around me. I turned around to find no one behind me. How had this happened? There were no signs of an attack, nor had we decided to split up again right now. Though as I looked around me I noticed something that made my hair stand on end. From the surrounding shadows something watched me, empty eyes staring into me. I felt myself drop to my knees in fear as I heard voices around me snicker, "You won't find him!" Over and over, "You'll never find him! He doesn't want you anyway! Give up! Be forgotten here before he forgets about you! He'll never look at you the way you look at him!"

Relentlessly these words haunted me, forcing me to drop to my knees as tears stung my eyes. "You're fooling yourself! He doesn't want you! Why would anyone want you?!"

"No!" I screamed, wiping my tears away as I tried to get back up, "Even if he doesn't see me that way we won't leave him here! I won't leave him here!"

Shadows had begun to wrap around me, similar to the tendrils from before. As I tried to stand up I felt them pulling me back down to the etheral ground. "You're wasting your time! He's already gone! You won't be able to save him once he goes through the gate! This realm lies between your reality and limbo! Once on the other side there will be no escape for him!"

"No, it's not true! He won't be lost to us!"

Cruel laughter filled my ears as I tried to cover them. I struggled to get to my feet. When suddenly I felt two strong sets of hands pull me back up, breaking me from what I thought I had seen. Now Wildwing and Nosedive each stood at my sides, each holding an arm firmly.

"What happened girly-girl?" Nosedive asked worriedly.

"I don't know, I turned around and everyone was gone again."

"We weren't gone?" Tanya said in confusion.

"We were moving forward when you dropped to your knees, you started screaming as if someone were talking to you," Mallory told me.

"There's something here guys, something trying to get to us," I said as I stood up now, "We need to find Duke and get out of here!"

Wildwing then began searching with the mask. At first he hadn't noticed anything until he looked off to the side behind us, "There's a gate of some sort this way, but I don't see Duke."

"A gate?" I asked fearfully as I started running without waiting for an answer.

This time I heard the others running behind me as we headed in the direction Wildwing had pointed out. Why was I acting so reckless? It didn't make any sense? With the others I had stayed decently calm. Though I was terrified of losing my friends, as well as whatever was taunting us, the fear of losing him gripped my heart.

As we approached we found another mirror, this one sparking with odd energy. Without a second thought I quickly smashed it open.

"Duke! Duke, answer me please! Take my hands! Don't let you pull you in! Duke!" I begged as I offered my hands through the opening I had made.

The glass was reforming quickly and I was terrified that Duke may be gone already.

"Duke!" I pleaded desperately, but no answer came to me.

Just then, whips of light struck out towards me. Grabbing at my legs, arms, waist, and neck as they tried to pull me inside of the glass cage.

"Lis!" Nosedive yelled as they shot at the forms of blue and yellow light.

Yet as each one was was wounded, more tendrils came out to take their place. However, I did not pull back my hands. I still reached in with a hope that Duke would take my hands.

"Duke!" I called again as the light tried to pull me in.

"He's gone!" I heard voices echo around me, "You won't get him back!"

"Duke! Please come back!"

Suddenly I felt Grin pulling me away. It was a useless attempt to struggle to get free from him as the bands of light released me and retreated. Escaping back into limbo. Then he continued to pull me away. While I shouted and struggled to get free.

"No! Duke!" I screamed now through tears as I watched the glass seal up, "Grin let me go! We have to get him out! Please!"

"You want to get trapped too?!" Wildwing yelled, trying to get me to listen.

Grin tried to keep a hold of me as I struggled to break free. There was no getting through to me right now. I somehow managed to slip from his grip as I watched the mirror seal up again. I quickly ran back to it, smashing it with my own hands this time. The shards of glass slashed my arms and cut up my hands. Yet I just didn't care. I refused to believe that he was gone. If I gave up now we would never be able to get him back.

"Lis no! You'll be taken in with him!" Mallory shouted now as she ran up and pulled me back again, "Duke wouldn't want that! He wants you to be safe!"

Yet I wouldn't budge. I was too scared to pull away. I didn't want to go home without him. I didn't want to imagine not being able to see him every day. I wanted to go on fighting beside him, talking with him. I didn't care if he would ever love me back. I just didn't want to lose him.

"Duke please!" I begged.

Finally Wildwing pulled me back again; and I watched in horror as the glass sealed up the entrance yet again. My hopes shattered as I watched this and I fell to my knees crying. My heart ached so much, and the tears wouldn't stop. I just couldn't believe that he was gone.

"DUKE!"

"Lis..." Wildwing attempted gently with a hand resting on my shoulder. I then crumbled, my hands holding my head as I tried to shake away the cruel reality I was facing. Not a moment later I felt Nosedive pulling me into a hug.

Duke:

I had been tangled up in the energy that had pulled me into the gate in the first place. As the tendrils wrapped around me as I tried to get free.

Time seemed to pass by and not pass by in this place. Shadows moved quickly, pacing around me. I began to wonder if the others were in similar situations. I wondered if they had been able to get out. Somehow I managed to get one arm free as I tried to activate my com. That's when I found it had been damaged, and I remembered the fireball Wraith had thrown at us. Wait. Lis! Where was she? I tried again to get free, but to no avail as another tendril grabbed my free arm.

After a while longer I thought maybe the others would find me. Yet this was interrupted when a tear in the shadows cut through the fog behind me. An energy sparked from this newly made portal as a familiar light peirced through. Panic rushed through me as I recognized the entrance to limbo as a blue worm-like being crawled slowly toward me. Again I struggled to get loose.

That's when I heard a crashing sound from the side as glass shards fell from a mirror like barrier. Then I heard her calling to me.

"Lis!" I tried to call back to her, struggling to get free still.

As I fought to get loose the tendrils tightened their grip on me. Yet something in me resonated as she still cried out to me. I had to return to her. I couldn't break my promise to protect her again. I wanted to be there for her.

When the dimensional creature reached me I felt the tendrils loosen their hold as though giving me up to it. In this instant I jumped back and rushed towards the broken gate. I had almost grabbed a hold of her hand when she was suddenly pulled back as the glass began to seal up again. I hit the glass as it closed in front of me, ignoring the creature pursuing me from behind.

"Lis! Lis I'm right here! Try again sweetheart!" I tried to call out to her.

Yet because she wasn't touching the glass she couldn't hear me. Just as I tried to break through myself I felt the worm behind me trying to grab hold of my ankle. I flipped back, drawing my saber as I slashed at it. It dodged my blade as it wrapped around my leg, pulling me back towards the other portal.

That's when I heard her again, somehow breaking the barrier with her own hands. As I heard her screaming my name I felt some new strength take over me as I kicked at the creature, knocking it loose from my leg. I then looked at my broken com and took it off, throwing it to the creature to consume. It snatched it up quickly, distracted as it did. Then I turned back to the mirror as it nearly closed around Lis's hands. As I nearly took her by the hand again she was once again pulled back just out of my grasp as the glass sealed again.

"Lis!" I yelled out, pounding on the glass with my fists.

I could hear her still screaming my name. It broke my heart to hear her breaking down crying. In my entire life no one had ever cared for me so much.

"Lis, I'm right here," I pleaded, "Jus' try one more time sweetheart."

Yet I could hear the others trying to hold her back now, fearing that she would pulled in herself. After I had failed to reach her twice they must have thought I was gone.

"Lis!" I begged as I hit the glass once more. My heart burned as I heard her crying still, "No I won't leave ya! I won't hurt ya again!"

I turned around waving at the creature behind me to get it's attention. I thought maybe it's energy could break the barrier somehow, perhaps over charging it.

"Come an' get me!" I yelled as it started to charge towards me.

At the very last moment, before it could grab me I flipped out of the way. Just as I had hoped it made contact with the mirror gate, it's energy crashing through it. This also destroyed the creature as the two collided, creating a weakened entrance through. I then took my saber and smashed the glass open, finally making my escape and climbing around the broken shards.

When I found her crying in the arms of her two brothers I could barely speak.

Lis:

As we heard the glass break in front of us, looked up to find Duke standing before us. Outside of the broken mirror, his clothes torn from the glass.

"Hey guys," he greeted softly with a smile.

I looked up at Duke, aware that I was still crying as I did. I tried to smile; but I had been so afraid. It took so much not to jump up and throw my arms around him. He walked up to us, falling to his knees tiredly.

"Go ahead little sis," Nosedive pushed gently as I pulled away from his hug and reached out to Duke.

I couldn't hold myself back right now as I threw my arms around him. As I felt his own strong arms wrap around me I couldn't help but cry still.

"It's okay sweetheart," he said, tightening his embrace around me.

I wanted to tell him why I was so afraid to lose him. I wanted to tell him how much I cared about him. Yet somehow I still held back.

Duke:

I nodded to our friends, letting them know I was thankful for them coming to find me, but also for taking care of her while I couldn't.

"So how do we get out of here now?" Mallory asked our leader.

We all looked around, trying to see if we could find anyway out. Wildwing activated the mask as he searched the area.

I then got to my feet, helping Lis up as I did. Though she finally pulled away from me, I felt her take hold of my hand. Was she afraid I would slip away somehow? My hand gripped hers reassuringly.

It seemed hopeless as we looked around the foggy ether.

Lis:

As we looked around I could hear the murmurs and whispers again as shadows raced past us. I now pulled my hand away from Duke as I turned towards where the voices were emerging from.

"Lis?" I heard him ask as I stepped away.

Yet as I stepped towards the voice everyone seemed to fade away through the fog. Fear gripped my heart as I faced the faceless shadow taking form in front of me. I stood shakily as it laughed at me.

"You won't escape this time child," it hissed without a mouth.

"This time?" I asked.

"You don't remember me?" It mocked as it slipped around me like a snake.

My head ached again as shadows crept out from my memory.

"Normally you would be running by now wouldn't you?" It laughed as a whispy hand grasped my chin.

I tried to pull away, but it's claws dug into my cheeks now.

"Runaway like you always do," it taunted.

I felt the urge racing through me. Every instinct in me told me to take off. Yet something kept me from listening to this calling.

"Where are my friends?" I demanded, finally hitting the hand away from me.

I drew my glaive out, warning the creature as I braced for a fight.

"They're leaving you here child, just as you trapped me in here when you first went to their world!" It snapped cruely.

"They won't leave me here," I assured, "I know they wouldn't!"

"If they knew what you were, if they knew what you could do, they would keep you away from them."

"What are you talking about?"

"You've forgotten?" It choked out a laugh, "Are those gifts sealed away with your memory?"

I stood with my weapon drawn, unsure of what it was talking about. As I did I watched as one of it's arms melted into a long blade. The fog cleared behind it to reveal Duke looking around, calling out as he searched for me, "Lis! Lis where are ya!"

"Let's wake up those abilities of yours shall we?" It taunted as it started to slither up behind him.

"No!" I yelled as I charged toward it, swinging my glaive as I did.

As I nearly hit it it turned and blocked the glaive with it's forearm. Then it grabbed me by the throat with it's clawed hand. Now it laughed as it held me up, "Wake up child! You think you can stand up to me all of a sudden?"

It's blade like arm was now pointed towards Duke, acting like a spear ready to be thrown. It almost as though we were disconnected from the others. They couldn't hear or see us, but I knew this wasn't an empty threat.

"Leave him alone!" I choked out.

"I'll let them go if you stay here with me!"

"No, I won't stay here! Neither will my friends!" I snapped, something waking up in me.

In the past maybe I would have agreed to this altimatum. Yet the last few months with the team had shown me there was no point in doing this. We wouldn't leave one another behind. As they searched for me through the ether I had no doubt in my mind. I would not be seperated from them; and as I looked at Duke, my heart seemed to resonate. He turned around facing the unknown danger, the spear now set to shoot out through his heart.

"Last chance child!" the shadow warned as it began to disconnect it's own arm to fire.

"No!" I screamed as something raced through my body. Fiery energy tore it's self through me.

As the sparking flames shot out it scorched the shadow's hand, causing it to shriek with pain. I fell to my knees gasping for breath. Then I scrambled to my feet, picking up my glaive again and slashing at the creature. This time the blade slashed through the creature as it disappated. Though as it did it laughed, "You won't escape forever, I'll hunt you down eventually!"

Then the fog began to close in around me, my heart leaping to my throat as Duke called for me again. I quickly got up with some of the same energy still sparking around me as I slashed at the fog and ran through. Before he turned away I reached for Duke's hand, and managed to hold onto him.

Duke:

Instinctively when she grabbed my hand I pulled Lis into my arms, as though pulling her through an invisable door. I hadn't noticed the energy surrounding her as she collapsed into my arms. I was just so relieved she was back in my embrace.

"I found her!" I yelled to the others as they all rushed over to us.

"Is she okay?" Wildwing asked as we noticed she seemed to have passed out somehow.

"Lis?" I asked trying to wake her, "Lis what happened? Come on sweetheart, wake up!"

Though she didn't open her eyes we now saw as the energy sparked around her rapidly. Each of us weren't sure how to respond to this, but I still didn't let her go. As the sparks raced around us, surrounding us, an entrance through the ether opened around our feet. It was as though we were being encased in a sphere of warm energy and light until it engulfed us.

"Guys stay together!" I heard our leader order as we grabbed hold of one another.

Amidst all of this I looked to Lis. For a moment I thought I had heard her say, "Please, take us home,"

"Hang on everyone!" I yelled out as the light flashed blindingly around us.

Suddenly the light vanished and we were dumped into the streets of Anaheim.

"What happened?" Mallory asked while rubbing her head.

"We're back home, well kinda," Tanya answered as she got up.

We knew what she had meant.

I had landed on my side, holding Lis as I braced for the impact and protected her as we had fell. The energy sparking around her finally ceased. I then got to my feet, still carrying her.

"Wake up sweetheart, please," I whispered, trying to wake her up gently.

"Duke?" I finally heard her answer as she began opening her eyes.

"Lis? What happened ta ya?"

"I...I don't remember," she said softly, "I just remember you coming through the mirror..."

"Maybe that place tried to push her as it tried to mess with the rest of us?" Nosedive suggested.

I shook my head and I held Lis tight, "I'm just glad you're okay."

Yet before we could head home we heard Dragonus laughing as he appeared behind us, "I didn't think you would all escape, but now all of you will be sent to Dimensional Limbo together!"

"No chance Lizard Lips!" Nosedive yelled a fight broke out between us and his henchmen.

I quickly and carefully set Lis down as I drew my saber and went to join the fight.

Lis:

Once again, I found myself fighting the Chameleon, and in my exhaused state I couldn't find the strength to fight back this time was winning again. Grin took on Wraith, and was soon aided by Duke. Mallory took on Siege. Tanya and Nosedive fought some hunter drones. And Wildwing challenged Dragonus again.

As I swung my glaive towards the green, morphin lizard he shifted into his muscle form and knocked me back. I was just too tired to fight back, yet I wasn't quite sure why. Yet I was taking quite a beating as Chameleon now raised his gripped hands over my head.

When I looked over to see how Lis was doing my heart jumped to my throat once I saw her on the ground with Chameleon looming over her. I quickly shot out grappling hook to swing over to them, Knocking him to the floor this forced him to change back to his usual form. Then I held my saber over him, rage boiling from me as I warned, "If ya ever come near her again, you'll regret it!"

He then fled behind his lord while I turned to Lis. She was looking up at me fatigued and frightened. Her body was trembling just slightly from exhaustion.

I bent down slightly as I offered her a hand to help her up while I spoke, "Ya alright, Sweetheart?"

"I'm fine," was all she said as she took my hand.

Then I carefully helped her to her feet. Taking care to handle her gently with her cut up hands and other injuries. I was careful to make sure that she could stand on her own without shaking too much. Once I was sure of this, I gently released her.

Lis:

Yet instead of walking away, I stayed in front of Duke. I stood there frozen, looking up at him. Though all I could think to say to him was his name.

We then turned to the others when we heard Dragonus yelling. His hunter drones were all destroyed and his henchmen beaten back. In their usual manner they teleported away to try and make another plan for another day.

With some relief wrapping around each of us I allowed myself to turn back to Duke. I was trying desperately to calm my heart beat as I looked at him. I wondered if he could hear how loudly it was pounding against my chest. I hoped that he couldn't. I tried in vain to break from the trance we were locked in. Yet he and I just stood there, unaware that we were drawing closer and closer to one another.

Duke:

Standing there with her seemed unreal to me. I could feel my heart pounding hard against my chest, as though urging me to go ahead and hold her as I had been. Emotions that I had tried to keep locked away from her were breaking through. When she had disappeared through the fog in that etheral realm I had never been so afraid. Afraid of losing her. Afraid of being getting back home without her with us. The thought of her no longer running up to me with a smile on her face as she called my name. Not being able to hold her. When she had returned, grabbing hold of my hand, I felt as though if I had not been there to be her anchor, she may have been lost to the shadows looming in the fog.

This girl looked at me as I had always hoped someone would, with affection in her eyes. She trusted me, knowing that I had been a thief before meeting her. This never turned her away from me. Now I knew that I could not lock these feelings away anymore.

Lis:

Looking up at him I felt as Duke gently slipped a warm hand beneath my chin, tilting my head towards him. As he did I found myself trusting him as I closed my eyes. Then, before either of us could stop it; before we realized what was happening to us; he and I were sharing a gentle kiss. His arms carefully wrapped around me as I held onto him.

When the kiss finally ended I looked up at Duke as he smiled at me. I smiled back at first, before something crept into the back of my mind. Doubts from what had happened a few days prior, my own self worth, and memories shrowded in darkness all forced me to step back.

With that I pulled away from him and began to follow the team, who had begun to start for home. Had they seen what had happened between Duke and me? I hoped they hadn't. I just wanted to get away from Duke and the kiss that lingered on my lips as I still walked further away. I didn't dare to look back at him.

Duke:

As I watched her walk away, I couldn't help but wonder what I had done wrong. Had I said something to her before; or could I have possibly hurt her somehow? Was it my past after all? When we boarded the migrator she was sitting in her normal seat as though nothing had happened it seemed. Though the drive home was filled with a tired silence that lingered from everyone.

Lis:

When we had returned home I quickly tried to escape to my room when Tanya stopped me dead in my tracks, "Where do you think you're going?"

Once again I found myself in the infirmary with my hands bandaged up, and bruises tended to.

"I don't have to live in here again do I?" I asked, trying to laugh.

Tanya shook her head, "I don't think so. Just try to rest for a day or two."

I nodded understandingly. Then I thanked her for helping me as I headed towards my room.

Yet as I left the room I found Duke waiting outside. I froze nervously as I looked up at him, "Duke?"

"Hey Lis," he greeted very softly before asking me, "Did I do somethin' wrong?"

I hesitated for a moment, surprised by the question, before I enquired in return, "Why did you kiss me, Duke?"

An injured expression spread over Duke's face when I said that, "Was I not supposed ta kiss ya?"

I didn't know how to answer.

Duke looked at me still, as though waiting for some sort of response, "Lis, I don't know why ya pulled away; but if ya don't want me ta kiss ya or anythin' like that, I won't."

"Duke, why would you want to kiss me?!" I questioned, "I can't be what you're looking for."

"Lis," Duke spoke gently as he stepped closer to me, carefully taking me by my hands.

He caressed my bandaged hands, "Ya know, I heard ya callin' for me when I was trapped. I was tryin' ta get back ta ya. Then I heard ya cryin', an' I jus' couldn't take it. I couldn't leave ya like that."

I looked up at him, still bewildered. I remembered how afraid I had been of losing him. I didn't want to go through a day without him. Things just wouldn't have been right without him around.

"Lis?" He then asked, "If they hadn't pulled ya back, what would you have done? Would ya have let it bring ya to me?"

"I don't know what I would have done," I told him, "I just didn't want to lose you."

Duke smiled warmly. Then as he still held one of my hands he asked me to go with him. I found myself unable to resist. Before I knew it we were on the roof of the pond, looking out at the sunset. When I was feeling down Duke brought me here often so we could talk.

Now he stood looking out over the city quietly before turning back to me. I tried to look away from him, hiding tears as best as I could. Yet it was useless for some reason. When we had kissed I had felt so warm and happy. I thought I could finally tell him what I felt for him. However doubts clouded my thoughts from before.

"Lis, please don't cry sweetheart," he said quietly now as he approached me.

When he held me then, I could feel how strong he was with his arms wrapping around me. I could hear the beating of his heart as it pounded against his chest. Did he really feel how I felt? I was too afraid to ask. If something ever happened between us, there would be no going back. Things between us would never be the same.

Duke:

"Lis," I whispered as I looked into her eyes, "We can't keep fightin' this. I know how I felt when I thought I had lost ya. An' I heard you when I was trapped. I know you're scared, an' I know I messed up the other day. I never should have turned away from ya. But I will never let ya go now, if ya don't want me to."

As I said this I noticed her beginning to cry I couldn't take it anymore. I had to let her know that I cared for her. For my heart just couldn't hold its self back any longer. It ached unbearably when she wept. She was my dearest friend, the only one I could I confide in.

So I held her close to me, trying to somehow tell her how I felt for her. Yet it seemed that we were both afraid now. This was the moment that would change everything; how we looked at one another. I knew I would always look out for her, no matter what happened now, but I wanted to be so much more than that to her.

"If ya really feel differently that's okay sweetheart. But if ya do feel what I felt from ya when I was trapped, then please tell me. All I can tell ya is how I feel for you in return," I told her gently, my heart aching, "I love you."

Lis:

"Duke," I whispered, surprised when I heard these words. Then finally I gave in as I looked up at him, "I was so scared that I would lose you! I couldn't imagine coming home without you! Not seeing you everyday, not being able to talk to you, I just couldn't...I love you."

"But why would you want me?" I asked him.

Duke smiled sweetly as he embraced me. "Lis, you came along, knowin' full well what I used ta be, an' ya still showed me compassion. Ya trusted me, an' that is somethin' I thought no one could do; nor somethin' that I thought anyone would want ta do. Since we met I have wanted to be there for ya, an' I loved havin' ya near me. So how could I not love you?"

I looked at him completely stunned. While he looked at me with his usual, charming smile. As tears escaped my eyes I felt him drying them with a gentle hand.

"So please Lis, don't doubt yourself anymore. Believe how much I care about ya sweetheart. I love you," he said again, as though the words made his heart resonate with mine.

I was still crying as he chuckled lightly while attempting to gently wipe my tears away again, "Please don't cry anymore Lis. It breaks my heart."

After he said this, he carefully kissed me upon each cheek. Catching my tears and drying them with this compassionate touch. Then, before either of us could stop it, his mouth slowly closed over mine again. While he pulled me closer to him as we shared this passionate kiss. Both of us helpless to hold back any longer.

When I finally pulled away from him slowly, I asked him with a smile, "Why did we kiss?"

He returned the smile, while caressing my cheek, speaking softly, "'Cause we're in love, my angel."

Then we kissed once more. At last allowing ourselves to love each other as we had been yearning to for so long it seemed. No longer hiding how we felt; and finally free to love one another. From here on we grew more and more inseperable, facing dangers with our teammtes that made our bond only stronger. And it all had just begun with that dangerous first kiss.