Note from the author:
This is a type of interactive story, and there are choices to made if you want to find the ending you seek.
Although this kind of story can be fun to read and even to write, it takes a lot of work to create. Instead of just writing one plot with one ending, more have to be created and that requires a lot of time and effort. But I've always wanted to write a story with choices after having been exposed to these kinds of books as a kid. And it was fun, so I hope you enjoy it as well.
Before you begin, I want to warn you that no choice, no matter how trivial it may seem, is without consequences. Some choices you will make very early in the story are crucial to what kind of ending you will reach, so it's important that you help the protagonist make the right choices, so she can help the ducks.
The Beginning
"Uh, hello? Is anyone there?"
Mira Smith pushed herself up from the cold ground and looked around. A gray mist hovered thickly in the air, preventing her from seeing where she was, and Mira clutched her arms as the icy grip of the cool air wrapped around her.
Where am I? A second ago it was sunny and warm in Anaheim, California. But then she remembered the strange flash of light and the strange, yet powerful sensation of being pulled away.
"Hello? Can someone tell me where I am?" she called out.
Guess there's nothing to do but stumble on through this fog, she thought with a sigh. Stretching her hands out in front of her, Mira stumbled through the cold air. As she pressed on, a dark shadow seemed to take shape ahead of her. It rose above the mist until she began to realize that it had to be massive structure … bigger than any house she had ever seen.
After a few more minutes, the red sun, hanging just above the horizon, finally shone out beyond the mist, and in the fading light of dusk, the dark shape was revealed to be a stone castle. It had at least four towers and was surrounded by a crumbling wall.
Mira stared up at it in stunned silence. So I guess I'm not in Anaheim anymore…unless I somehow landed in a secret, abandoned theme park. She wondered how she would get home, and how on Earth she ended up in a such a strange place.
The temperature seemed to drop another few degrees, and Mira shivered as she walked across an old bridge that led to the castle's entrance. Everything seemed to be in ruins around the outside of the castle, but Mira couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone. Still, she pulled open of the large wooden doors and peered inside.
Torches lit the walls inside, and Mira took a deep breath as she walked through the door. Without her pulling on it, the heavy wooden door swung shut behind her, and Mira started and backed away.
But the rush of footsteps from behind her caused Mira to swing round and see two figures appear out of a corridor with weapons drawn. Still, she felt some relief when she recognized them. The one with darker feathers and a golden sabre was Duke L'Orange, and the other, holding a gun of some kind, with light feathers and red hair was Mallory.
"You're the Mighty Ducks," Mira said with a smile. "So then, I am still in Anaheim. Maybe you can tell me what's going on."
They watched her with surprised, yet wary expressions, and Mira noticed that they weren't lowering their weapons.
"Who are you?" Mallory demanded.
Mira put her hands up to show that she was unarmed.
"My name's Mira Smith, and I live in Anaheim. I've been to a few of your games."
Duke lowered his sabre and motioned for Mallory to follow suit.
"How'd you get here, kid?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. I don't even know where here is."
"You didn't see or talk to anyone before or after coming here?" Mallory asked suspiciously.
"No. The last thing I remember is leaving class. I'm a student at Anaheim University."
Duke leaned over and whispered something to Mallory. She nodded and then said to Mira,
"We don't have a lot of time to talk, but you can follow us into the dining hall and we'll try to figure this out."
They turned and began walking away without hesitation.
"Okay, but is this Anaheim or not?" Mira pressed as she slowly followed them.
"Fraid it's not," Duke answered.
They led her past two staircases that stretched away towards opposite wings of the castle, and beyond this was a large room with a fire burning brightly in a massive hearth. The other four ducks were either standing or sitting around the long dining table.
"We have a guest," Mallory announced and gestured to Mira. "But she can't seem to remember how she got here."
Mira opened her mouth to defend herself, but Duke spoke first.
"This is Mira Smith. And it looks like we need to offer her a place to stay for the night."
"When did we open up a hotel?" Nosedive asked with a half-hearted laugh from where he sat at the table.
Wildwing walked closer, and Mira noticed that he and all of the other ducks seemed less than pleased to have a visitor.
"We're not trying to be inhospitable, but it would be far better if you did not stay here overnight, Miss Smith."
"Mira," she insisted. "And look, I'm sorry if you weren't expecting company, but I don't know how to get home. It's not like I caught a ride on a bus to get here."
"Yeah, we know," Tanya said with an understanding tone.
"Well, if you know, then maybe you could explain it to me," Mira pressed. "How did you get here, and what are you all doing here?"
"It's not something we can talk about," Mallory answered.
The light behind the windows in the opposite wall started to grow dim, and all of the ducks appeared to grow more uneasy.
"The sun is setting," Wildwing said as a strange weariness crept into his tone.
He gestured for Mallory, Tanya, and his brother to follow him. Each of them trailed after him with an expression of sad reluctance.
"Where are they going?" Mira asked, turning to Duke.
"We all have our own concerns around this time of day. But if you want to look after yourself, then take my advice. Go find a room high in the east wing and lock yourself in for the night."
"Why not the west wing?" Mira asked with a smile. "Or is there a beast there?"
Her joke was not received well, and Duke's expression grew colder and more distant. Behind them, Grin rose from the table and walked towards some doors at the other end of the dining hall. Mira's smile faded as she noticed how lowered his head and slack shoulders.
When she turned back to Duke, he was standing before fire blazing in the hearth with his back towards her. The time for asking questions seemed to be at an end.
"Well, good night, then," Mira ventured as she rose and walked out of the room.
With one last glance, she saw Duke standing alone as if he was waiting for something. Then she focused her attention on the stairs and the east wing.
Okay, time for your first choice.
If you want Mira to take Duke's advice and look for a bedroom, click on D1 East Wing in the chapter selection.
If you want her to ignore Duke's suggestion and check out the castle, click on D1 Explore.