Undoing the future by changing the past. That is what we've done. Leaving behind our dreams of home, our only chance to return to the world we know and love, we choose a new life, beginning and ending with my little wife...~Canard~
Con Canard
Melissa Mallory
Tasha Tanya
Will Wildwing
Noah Nosedive
Greg Grin
David Duke
Damien Draganus
Chris Chameleon
Sam Siege
Wyatt Wraith
An alarm tore through the air, seven mallards racing to answer it's call.
"There's a high energy reading in the north, just outside of Anaheim!" Tanya said.
"Let's move, team!" Wildwing commanded. Everyone quickly ran to the Aerowing and took off, faster than most would have dared. Canard sat next to Wildwing, hands on the controls. He'd generously decided to let Wildwing continue to lead them, seeing as to how well he'd done so far. Soon, the Raptor appeared before them, readying itself for battle.
"How is this possible?" Mallory demanded. "He has no Belerium Crystals for power!"
"I suppose he found another source," was Tanya's reply. Then, they saw the newly rebuilt dimensional gateway generator.
"Hang on, guys!" warned Nosedive as it began to power up. "We're in for a bumpy ride!"
Then, to everyone's surprise, the top of the Raptor began smoking, signs of malfunction covering the surface of the generator.
"Brace yourselves!" Mallory yelped.
(Demona's POV)
"Will you look at that?" I said in wonder. "It's one of the older models... an Aerowing..."
"Typical you," my best friend and sister replied. "Getting excited over a hunk of junk."
"Becky, this isn't just a hunk of junk," I said, annoyed at her lack of understanding and enthusiasm. "It's in perfect condition, too..."
I shook my head.
"Dad'll want to see this," I told her. She nodded.
"Let's go get him," she said.
"Wait!" came a male voice. We both looked back and stood there in surprise. Piling out of the old ship were eleven ducks, only two of them female. I quirked a brow and looked at Becky.
"Where are we?" asked the youngest one. I frowned.
"Puckworld," I answered.
"You mentioned that this Aerowing was old," said another. "What year is this?"
"Third year of the fourth age," Becky answered, exchanging a look with me. All eleven of them exchanged stunned looks, growing more shocked at the sight of one another.
"What's going on?" I asked. "None of you look even slightly familiar."
"Do you have a mirror I could borrow?" one of the females asked. Becky nodded and tossed over her hand-held. The woman opened it, only to gasp and touch her face. It was almost like she didn't recognize her own face!
"What are your names?" I asked.
"Con," said one. "These are my friends and a few unwanted extras, Melissa, Tasha, Will, Noah, Greg, David, Damien, Chris, Sam, and Wyatt."
"Name's Demona," I said. "This is Becky."
"Come on, D," Becky said, lightly tugging my arm. "We're gonna be late!"
I gave her a nod, then turned back to them.
"Just follow us," I said. "And try not to give away the fact that none of you are from here."
They nodded mutely and we left, heading for our house. I kept exchanging looks with Becky.
"Excuse me for asking, but, where did you get that bracelet?" asked Con. I glanced at it.
"Canard gave it to me," I answered. "He's a friend of my Dad's."
I saw Con, Will, and Noah exchange looks.
"Did he mention what it was for?" Con pressed. I shrugged.
"I don't remember when he gave it to me," I replied. "I've had it since before I can remember. Mom says I was wearing it when he and the rest of the Resistance returned to Puckworld."
"I see," he said, finally silencing. As we neared the house, I heard the roar of a duckcycle. With a quick grin at Becky, I took off, her keeping pace. No sooner was the bike parked, did I leap on the rider. Expecting this, he caught me and spun me around in a tight hug.
"Hi Dad," I greeted as he set me down. He then pulled off his helmet, making the newbies gasp in shock. I ignored them.
"Staying out of trouble?" he asked. I grinned.
"Never," I answered. Becky walked forward with a little more restraint than I did, giving Dad a soft hug.
"Welcome home, Dad," she said. He smiled. Our Dad was Nosedive Flashblade.
"Where's your mother?" he asked us.
"She took Tommy and went to the store," I replied. "Said she'd be back in about an hour."
That's when he saw our followers.
"Friends?" he asked, knowing well I didn't have any friends... though I didn't know why.
"Acquaintances," I replied. "Tag-alongs for the moment. This is Con, Melissa, Tasha, Will, Noah, Greg, David, Damien, Chris, Sam, and Wyatt."
I frowned, making sure that I'd gotten them all, then turned again as another bike pulled up. Without a second thought, I leapt over and knocked him off his bike.
"For the love of Drake DuCaine, woman!" he complained. I laughed and got comfortable, leaning on his chest.
"I'm sorry," I said in a mocking tone. "Did I surprise you?"
He reached up and removed his helmet, and I was looking down into the slightly amused gaze of Canard.
"No," he answered. "I'm way too used to you by this point."
"Doubt it," I replied, getting up and helping him up in the process. "Where's Wing?"
"On his way," Canard answered. "He had a few more things to take care of at home."
I nodded, then turned back to Dad.
"Where's Duke?" I asked. "Wasn't he supposed to visit today too?"
"He's coming later," was Canard's reply. "He had a few things to attend to."
"Of course he did," I muttered, only to get rapped over the head by Dad. I growled and rubbed the spot, then headed inside, Canard close behind.
(Becky's POV)
"All right," Dad said, rubbing his hands together. "Becky, you're in charge of the new group. Keep them out of trouble."
I nodded dutifully. Then he walked into the house as well.
"Come on," I said and they followed me in. We were rich. It was a well known fact. We lived in the biggest house on Puckworld (minus the palace), a mansion with five floors and a full basement. It covered five city-blocks, not counting the yard. We had a courtyard inside the folds of the house and then a yard that seemed to stretch on forever at the backside of our house, going away from town.
"So, Nosedive's your Dad," Melissa commented. "He sure grew up."
"Yeah," I replied with a smile. "Good thing, too."
"Are you betrothed?" asked Tasha. I nodded. "Is Demona?"
I frowned.
"No," I answered hesitantly.
I shook my head.
"No one will take her, but I'm sure she's fine with that," I finished. "Canard takes good care of her."
"Who are her parents?" asked Con, confused. I hesitated. "It can't be that bad."
I gave him a look.
"If it wasn't that bad, do you really think I'd be hesitating to say?" I pointed out. I made sure Demona wasn't around, then sighed. "No one knows... or at least they won't say."
Every last one of them were stunned.
"Canard told her that before they came back, they'd been forced to take her from her mother, seeing as to how a dying corpse couldn't exactly raise a child," I explained. "Dad then agreed to take responsibility for her. All of us know well that she'll never marry or have a family of her own, but she doesn't seem too bothered by it."
I shrugged.
"We don't mention her parents," I continued. "She gets far too upset by it, knowing she's as good as an orphan."
"I would have never guessed," Melissa said, shocked. "She at least was blessed with good looks. That must do her some favors."
I snorted.
"No good ones," I replied, then paused as Demona appeared in the doorway.
"Mom's back," she said. "She needs help unloading."
I nodded and followed her out. A few of the others did too.
"Hi Mom," Demona and I chorused. She smiled.
"That's Angel?" came the hushed, disbelieving words from Noah. I nodded.
"She grew up a little too," I whispered, then grabbed a few bags.
"How were your classes?" Mom asked Demona as the two walked into the house with full arms.
"They went great," she answered. "The mathematics are giving me the most trouble, but the rest of my courses are a breeze."
"Might have Canard help you out with Math," Mom commented. "He's rather good at dumbing things down enough to understand them."
Demona laughed.
"Just as long as he doesn't make me go all the way back to sixth grade when I started failing, I think we'll be fine."
I chuckled.
"How old is Demona?" asked Con.
"She's nineteen," I answered. "She's not much younger than our parents... only about fourteen years. She's the oldest of us... and it shows. Mom and Dad leave her in charge of all of us when they're gone."
"Why's she still living at home?" asked Will.
"It was the agreement between the rents and her," I answered. "She goes to college, gets her education, and they provide her living space. As soon as she's done with college, they're giving her eighteen months to get a job and will help her into her first home."
"What's she studying?" asked Tasha.
"Psychology and Medicine," I answered. "She adores our Uncle and chose to be an EMT like him."
"I notice that, other than Nosedive and Angel, no one else has any titles to her," Con pointed out. "Is there a reason?"
"She's never really used the titles," was the reply. "She's been treated like an equal far too long for them to feel right, coming off her tongue."
"How old are you and your other siblings?" asked Noah.
"I'm the second oldest, sixteen," I answered. "Raven's ten, Tommy's six, and Ramona's two."
"Four kids?" he asked, surprised. I grinned.
"And they're expecting again," I answered.
"What about the rest of the Resistance?" asked Melissa. "What happened to them?"
"Well, Mallory's now the General, seeing as to how her father passed away," I said, scanning my memories. "She's married to Alan Razorwing. They have twin sons, fourteen. Duke's a cop now, widowed father of three. Demona helps there whenever she can. Cloe, Kaela, and Marcus can be a handful. All of them are under nine years of age."
I paused.
"Grin's not doing too bad, only has one daughter, Serenity, ten, but seeing as to how his family functions... well... everyone kinda saw that coming," I continued. "Tanya adopted all of her kids, seeing as to how she can't have any of her own. She's married to Davis Stormcrow. She only has two for now. They're working on getting another one. Chandra's eight and Trevor's eleven. Wildwing doesn't have any kids, but that's kinda Demona's fault..."
I paused, trying not to laugh. I knew it really wasn't funny, but everyone laughed about it now.
"See, no one told her when she was younger not to run with a knife," I continued, unable to hold back a giggle. "It's the family joke now."
Pushing my laughter aside, I settled down.
"He was married at one point, but I don't remember to who," I said. "He's been through so many girlfriends that one can't quite keep track. Most can't come to terms with his job, the fact that he'll almost never be home and that he can be called away at any moment kinda kills any true relationship he could have. Canard never married. His betrothed thought him dead and married someone else while they were gone. He's all right with it though."
I shrugged.
"He's more attached to Demona than he could ever be to anyone else," I explained. "There's some rumors about the two of them, but no one says too much aloud. After all, he is the current King of Puckworld."
"What?" the whole group gasped in shock. I nodded.
"He was given the position about fourteen years ago and no one has even asked for his removal," I replied. "See, he runs the world far too well for that. No one complains. They don't want him to step down. He's tried, twice, but he always got stuck right back in."
"And if he did have an interest in Demona..." Melissa prompted.
"They can't do or say much about it," I replied. "She's of age. Granted, the age gap is a little... wide... but still. The only thing anyone would have against it is her bloodline."
I shrugged again.
"But no one dares speak of it around her," I finished. "She tends to lose her temper on them."
"Becky!" came Mom's voice.
"Yeah, Mom?" I asked.
"Demona's running back to the store," she said, coming into the room. "Didn't realize we'd be having so many extras. Was there anything you needed?"
"Yeah," I said. "I'm almost out of Shampoo and Conditioner. And... if it's not too much to ask... could we get a few grapefruit?"
Mom smiled.
"She all ready has that on the list, seeing as to how both of you like them so much," she replied. "I'll make sure she adds your hair supplies."
I nodded and she turned to leave.
"Who's going with her?" I asked.
"Canard," was the reply as she vanished from sight. I shook my head.
"Figures," I muttered. Then I heard the roar of an engine. With a grin, I raced outside.
"Uncle Wing!" I said, running up and giving him a hug, nearly knocking him over. No sooner did I pull away, was he bowled over by Demona and the rest of the kids. I laughed as Uncle Wing hit the ground.
"Guys!" Mom said, laughing. She was standing in the doorway. "Let the poor man up!"
"Didn't know he could get up," Demona teased, making us older people laugh as Wing grabbed her and started tickling the holy-living-hell outta her. She squealed and tried her hardest to get away. Finally, he let her go and she took a moment to catch her breath as he got up from the ground.
Demona was giggling at him, so he reached over and put her in a headlock, messing up her hair. She growled and struggled, then nailed him with a punch to the back of the knee, causing him to hit the ground and let go.
"Really shouldn't have taught you that," he commented. She laughed and then Canard pulled her away so they could leave. Wing followed us inside.
(Will/Younger Wildwing's POV)
That night, we had been separated to go to our own rooms, all of us crowded in Canard's room, though. We needed to talk.
"That's a lot to absorb in one day," Tanya stated.
"Yeah," Dive agreed. "I'm raising five kids!"
"Seem to be doing fine," I said. All eyes went to me. "Facts are; we're in the future roughly nineteen-twenty years, we have no idea how to get back, we're not in our true forms, and we're living with ourselves."
I sighed.
"My generator wasn't made in any fashion to time-travel," Draganus stated. "This was done by something else entirely."
"Perhaps one of the Gods believed we needed to learn something in this time, something we need to prevent or force to happen," Wraith agreed. I sighed, then noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Canard?"
(Con/younger Canard's POV)
I watched her sleep, letting my eyes roam.
I gave her my Mother's bracelet... That means that I intend to marry her... But why?
I heard someone coming and hid in the closet. In stepped the older version of me. He walked right up and leaned over the bed, placing a soft kiss on her temple. He brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. Slowly, with a deep breath, she woke, her eyes blinking open. She rolled onto her back and looked up at him with a small, confused frown.
"What?" she asked tiredly. He smiled.
"You'll need to pack some things within the next two days," he told her. Her eyes showed no comprehension.
Definitely tired... She can't even think.
"You do want to come live with me for a while, do you not?" he asked. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh really?" she asked, excited. He nodded with a smile. She sat up quickly and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him while laughing in her joy.
"Of course, you'll be doing your schooling online," he told her, pulling back to gently hold her shoulders. "It's all ready been set up. Once you're home, it's not going to be near as easy to leave or return."
"I know," I said. "I am the one that designed that particular security system, am I not?"
He smiled.
"That you are," he said, then placed another kiss on her forehead. She smiled softly and let him tuck her back in. "Get some sleep. Angel wants Wing to take you out with him tomorrow, let you see and help him work, first-hand."
She smiled.
"I'd like that," she said, her voice growing more and more quiet as she tired. He smiled and got up and left. Soon enough, her breathing evened out and sleep stole her from this world. I watched her face for a little longer, then walked back to my room. Unsurprisingly, everyone was still there. All eyes went to me as I entered.
"Where've you been?" asked Chameleon. At a glare from me, he silenced.
"Out," I answered, sitting down on my bed next to Wing.
"So, who would you guess her parents are?" asked Dive. I shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as mine," I answered. "But I can be sure that it isn't one of us."
"How so?" Draganus asked. I shot him a dirty look.
"I was talking about my team, not you lot," I snapped. "I can be assured of that, due to what we've learned so far... and a few other context clues. The bracelet she wears, the one I gave her, belonged to my mother."
A gasp went through the room as the meaning behind it slammed into the other ducks. Unsurprisingly, the Saurians were completely clueless.
"It means, my older self intends to marry her," I explained. Understanding and varying degrees of shock flashed in their eyes. "It was revealed to us that Wing can't have kids, nor can Tanya. Grin only has one. He's not the kind of person to hide a child's heritage. If anything, he'd be proud of it."
Grin nodded, showing his agreement.
"Dive agreed to take her in, saying quite loudly that she isn't his," I continued. "Mallory... well... she looks nothing like Mallory and all of her traits show up in all of her kids, at least according to the photos I've seen. Duke's the only one left and, quite frankly, she looks nothing like him... and she was born this year, the year we came from. She's all ready a few months old back in our time."
Several of my team members shook their heads.
"Then who could it be?" wondered Chameleon aloud. "The only other duck that we know of currently that's had contact with us back on Earth would be-"
"Lucretia DeCoy!" nearly everyone chorused, our own shock entering our voices. Now that I thought about it, Demona did look a lot like her.
"That would make some sense, considering that she's been in Dimensional Limbo for almost a year now," Tanya stated. "But I don't want to make any assumptions until I know the truth for sure."
I nodded.
"That would be best," I agreed. Everyone nodded and we parted ways for the night. I laid down, my heart heavy. Now there was a new possible meaning for the bracelet. Facts were, while in Dimensional Limbo, I'd been anything but celibate... and DeCoy had been my main partner.
(Demona's POV)
I woke the next morning, feeling extremely refreshed and excited. I would be living with Canard soon! With rapid movements, I showered, dressed, and readied myself for a day out with Wing. Today, I would be an EMT-trainee, my Uncle, my teacher. I practically ran down to the dining room, unsurprised to see that everyone else was awake. I sat down between Canard and Wing, gratefully accepting a plate of pancakes, eggs, and sausage. As I ate, conversations surrounded me. I paid attention to none of them. All I wanted to do was get my nutrition and leave. Only when I was alone with Wing, learning from him, did I truly relax. He's the only one I never felt like being on complete guard around. Not even Canard saw my whole self. I made a point not to show him. He couldn't handle it. He was so dear to me. I didn't want to drive him away with all of my problems... personal or otherwise... though he always seemed like he really wanted to know. Still, I couldn't put all of my worries on him.
"Ready to go?" asked Wing. I nodded and the two of us left with a wave at everyone else. We got in his car and turned on his company radio, waiting for a call. He kept glancing at me, then back out the front. I barely noticed.
"Ok, I give," he said. "What's wrong?"
I shrugged.
"Where do I begin?" I asked no one in particular. I ran a hand through my hair. "The newcomers is a good way to start... They arrived on our planet in one of the really older models of our planes, an original military Aerowing. When I asked who they were, they looked at one another like they'd never seen each other before... And Con said that only a few of them were his friends and the others were unwanted extras."
I shook my head.
"They even knew who all of you were, though they were stunned that some of them grew up, like mom," I continued. "Becky may have been oblivious to my eavesdropping, but I was there, listening to everything they said."
I shook my head again.
"Last night, when Canard told me to pack for a few months, since I'm going to live with him, one of them was in the closet," I revealed. "Con had seen the whole thing and left shortly after Canard did. Con seemed almost... sneaky... underhanded in the way he moved."
I sighed.
"Then again, I may be looking for answers where there aren't any," I finished. He gave my shoulder a light squeeze.
"What else?" he asked.
"Canard," I said. "Why is he just now relenting on letting me stay with him? Why not before this?"
"You weren't of age," Wing answered. "See, a lot of people would have probably taken it completely wrong and blown it way out of proportion. As King, there are certain protocols he must adhere to."
I sighed again.
"As for the newcomers, while they're coming is strange, give them a chance," he said. "Who knows, you may even come to like them, and they, in turn, you."
"It's not them I want to like me," I muttered.
(Demona's POV)
It was well past dark when I got home. Duke and Canard were sitting in the living room, completely wasted. Duke, apparently, passed out sitting up. Everyone else must be asleep. I shook my head, then went to walk past. Canard reached out and grabbed my waist, pulling me onto his lap.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his words slurred. The alcohol on his breath was so strong that I was forced to turn my face away with a look of disgust.
"To bed, where you should be going," I replied. His hand slid down my side, down to caress my inner thigh. I mentally groaned. Every time he got drunk he did this, felt me up. Every time he touched me like that, I'd get turned on. Every time, it got harder and harder to walk away.
"Bed sounds nice," he whispered silkily into my ear. I shivered, closing my eyes. "But I insist that you have a drink with me first."
"Then you'll go straight to bed?" I asked. He nodded. "Promise me."
He sighed.
"I promise to go to bed without complaint once you have a drink with me," he promised. I nodded and let him open me a beer. Without pause, I opened it and drank it all. Unlike other ducks, it would take far more than one beer to get me drunk. Canard had also guzzled his. He turned my body around to face him, moving my legs to straddle him. His hand was lightly stroking my heat, causing it to grow moist. I looked at him and he looked at me.
"You promised me," I reminded him, barely holding my true desire out of my voice. He merely leaned forward and tried to kiss me. I turned my head so that he landed on my cheek instead. I knew well that if he kissed me right now, I'd be lost to him... and all of this time that I'd been holding off, keeping myself away... it would mean nothing.
He pressed hot, urgent kisses down my neck, stealing my breath and more and more of my resolve. I closed my eyes as I struggled to gather all of my wits and self control again. Getting enough, I jumped back, right off his lap. His eyes went to me, surprised. Then, he slowly got to his feet. Keeping him at a safe distance, I kept walking backward, walking him all the way to his room. Soon, I stepped in, next to the bed. I knew well that he'd fall onto it if he just hit the edge.
"Demona..." he said softly. Then he lunged, catching me by complete surprise. My body was on his bed, pinned beneath his, my legs on either side of his hips.
"Canard!" I said, struggling, trying to stop him. He merely pinned my hands above my head with one of his. "Canard, stop! Please!"
He didn't listen. I continued to struggle, praying like hell that someone would find me... someone would hear me. This can't happen to me!
"Canard, no!" I all but screamed as he tore open the front of my shirt. Then, it all happened so quickly. One minute, I was trapped under him. The next, I was being held in someone's arms, Canard having been thrown so hard that he'd been knocked out on the wall. Unable to quell my shaking, I took comfort in the arms around me. A black cloth entered my vision and I was relieved to wrap the blanket around my nakedness. The person holding me picked me up and carried me to my own room. I could only shake in his hold. He set me down on my bed, but didn't leave me.
"Thank you," I said softly. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
"I'm sorry I didn't react sooner," was Con's reply. "Has he done this before?"
I shook my head.
"Only when he's drunk," I replied. I hung my head in shame. "No one saved me last time."
I felt his arms tighten and felt him shake in fury.
"But that part I can live with," I admitted, glad to finally be able to tell someone something. "You must promise me not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, most of all, him."
"I can't promise that," he said. I turned and looked up at him, my eyes pleading with him to do as I ask.
"You must," I said. "Or else I can't tell you."
He searched my gaze, then sighed with a nod. I relaxed a little, then looked away from him. My body shook as I forced the truth to the front of my mind, the secret I didn't have much longer to hide.
"I'm pregnant," I whispered, my voice heavy with emotions I couldn't name, despair being the most noted one. I felt the shock ripple through him as his body froze.
"What?" he asked, not sure he heard me correctly. I took a deep, calming breath.
"I'm pregnant," I repeated, my voice a little louder. "He doesn't know... he doesn't even remember his actions that night... nor any other night that he drinks."
His hand gently turned my gaze to his.
"How long?" he asked.
"I'm in my second month," I replied. I shook my head. "I can only keep this secret for another two months... then it'll come out on it's own."
"Why don't you tell him?" he asked. I shook my head.
"You wouldn't understand," I said.
"Try me," he replied. I sighed.
"I don't want someone who's with me just because they feel they have to be," I replied. "I want them there because they want to be."
Con nodded, understanding.
"I see," he said. "But how do you know that he doesn't want that? Drunkenness merely amplifies our desires. For all you and I know, he may desire you while sober but won't go near you because he's the King and has-"
"-certain protocols to follow," I finished. "I know. Wing said something to that effect earlier today as well. Granted, it wasn't about this, but it's close enough."
"Does anyone know about this?" he asked. I shook my head miserably.
"I don't have the heart to tell them," I replied. "I don't want to be the reason any animosity occurs between life-long friends... and Wing would definitely be down-right pissed about it... So would Dad."
Con sighed.
"So... what will you do now?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I don't know," I replied. "I just don't know."