AN: 07/01/2013 More training camp! Dang, writing hockey scenes is challenging. I hope I don't bore you all with too many technical details! Like I said, I'm doing this to practice the best way to describe on-ice scenes as well as explore character interactions.

I have started a forum for Mighty Ducks discussions ( fanfiction dot net /forum/Mighty-Ducks-The-Animated-Series/135358/ ) and there is a thread with YouTube references that I use. (fanfiction dot net/topic/135358/90133458/1/YouTube-References ) Feel free to check it out if you'd like to see the actual drills and skills I mention in this bit of story.

Enjoy!

07/03- Fixed type-o's! I really gotta work on typing accuracy; I keep typing 'form' instead of 'from'

Duke and Mallory stuck out like sore thumbs amongst the professionals players and dozen AHL members who were trying to impress the LA Crowns and score a place on their roster for the upcoming season. Jordan Pierce, one of the goalies from the Barons, was in the crease. He would goal tend for both sides.

Duke lightly tapped Mallory's left skate with his stick.

"You're too tense. Loosen up in your turns," he suggested.

The red heads first reaction was to tell him off. She gave herself a second to consider the advice and nodded. After all, he was just trying to help improve her game.

"I know how to skate." This was extremely polite, considering what she really wanted to say.

"Suit yourself." He tensed up and turned the way she just had to show her what he meant. The move was effective, but not graceful. Pivoting to the other foot, he relaxed and turned the opposite direction, proving how a more relaxed stance would provide the same economy of movement with a touch more style and less energy expenditure.

Shaking her head, Mallory followed the rest of the players on the ice, willing herself to loosen up. She wouldn't admit it, but her muscles were in knots from stress.

What I wouldn't give for a good massage after this is over, she thought. I wonder if Dr. Boulder is back at the Pond yet.

"All right," Coach Wilson got everyone's attention. "We're going to do the double pivot followed by cut and shoot drills. You ducks hang back and watch the rest, then follow along."

The players lined up into two groups and Mallory joined at the end of one line while Duke joined the other. Each line started on the wall edge of the left and right wing circles. A pile of pucks sat at the starting point for the drill- the two dash lines that indicated the face off positions. The first two trainees snagged pucks on their way towards the net, pivoted so they were skating backwards diagonally through the face off circle, and shifted their weight in a crossover to pivot again and skate forwards towards the goal. When in front of the goal, they each took a shot, trying to get the puck past Pierce. After their turn at the double pivot, the two players glided to the end of the line and the next two took their turn.

Mallory kept a careful eye on each human as they ran through the exercise. This was a simple drill for her; it was similar to a game children played in primary school to show off how quickly they could change direction and keep control of the puck. She wasn't memorizing the pattern; she was studying how the players moved and noting what received a nod from the coach or a slight misstep that added a scribbled note to the ever-present clipboard. Duke's line had one more player in it than hers, so she'd be going before him. Great, just what she needed. A human coach evaluating her performance and Duke watching to criticize her later. The redhead took a deep breath and shoved the annoyance down. She had dealt with people scrutinizing her every move for her whole life. This was no different.

The female duck quickly and efficiently ran through the double pivot drill, doing it much more swiftly and neater than any of her human counterparts.

"Not bad, sweetheart," Duke complimented as she passed him and he started his turn.

Mallory's eyes narrowed. Did he mean it or was he being facetious? That stupid accent of his made everything he said sound slightly condescending. She returned to the back of the line and watched as they started the next exercise, the cut and shoot.

Duke had been impressed with how Mallory handled the double pivot. She was clearly more skilled than any of the other players currently on the ice, with the exception of himself of course. They'd only been able to play together in one game back on Puckworld before going on their mission to destroy the master tower. At the time, it had been three on three with Wildwing in the net. Unless they found Canard or returned to Puckworld, they'd never have another all-duck three on three game again. The few practices they'd had together since coming to Earth hadn't been enough to give him an idea of the right wings full capabilities. It was nice, having this chance to watch his teammate with other players and evaluate how she could handle herself on the ice.

"Listen up!" Coach Wilson began. "We've had our play time with warm ups and drills. Now, let's do some two on two scrimmages! Good job, Pierce; get back to the goalies at the other end of the ice and send the next guy for the crease." He turned and looked each of the centers and right wings in the eye. "Petroya, Simmons, you're on one team. Duke, Gene, you're the other. Each side scores a goal, then rotates out when I say."

Each player skated to the ice and took position as their name was called. Duke thought it odd that they had chosen to split the players up like this. Why had they divided the left wings out from the rest of the forwards? Maybe it was because they were mostly a crazy bunch of lefties?

Duke glared at Petroya, his opponent center, intimidating him. Some people thought the eye patch meant he was blind on one side, a mistake which he took full advantage of. Others feared the menacing appearance of his facial scars, which he also used to his benefit.

The blond human returned the glare, trying his best to hide his apprehension of being paired against the duck. He was one of the professional players, practically assured of a place on the roster for the Crowns in the next season, and used to being around daunting athletes. This guy, however, was a whole new level of intimidation.

Neither one took their eyes off the other as they waited for Coach Wilson to drop the puck. Although he was staring his adversary in the eye, Duke kept his attention focused on the refs hand, waiting for the twitch that would precede the drop of the puck. When it came, he reacted instantly, pushing Petroya's stick out of the way and using his body to shove the human back while kicking the puck towards Gene.

Gene, a rookie player, should have expected Duke to pass the puck back to him, but didn't. Despite the puck being neatly aimed right for his stick, he failed to take control of it and Simmons snatched it away. The two right wings fought over the puck valiantly, but were interrupted by the two centers joining in. Duke reached his stick into the mess and pushed the puck away, sending it skidding across the ice and towards the boards. He smoothly followed it, not overexerting himself and letting the humans pass him up and brawl over the disc. Rather than join in on the madness, he chose to sit back and observe, occasionally jumping in to snatch the puck and send it elsewhere for the silly humans to chase.

"Come on, Duke," Gene pleaded. "Let's actually try scoring!"

"Eh, I think this is more fun," the duck chuckled as he again pulled the puck away from Petroya. This time, he feigned drop passing it back to Gene and bounced it off his back skate to return it to the end of his stick. Standing fully upright, he smoothly sailed past the two opposing humans and headed for the net. He sensed Simmons coming up fast on his right, trying to sneak in on the perceived blind spot. Just before the human could check him, Duke stopped and pivoted behind him in a neat circle, leaving the human right wing to fall in an undignified pile on the ice. Trying to give the rookie a chance, he shot the puck back to Gene, only to see him miss it again.

"Ya gotta pay attention, kid!" Duke scolded. "I'm signaling where the pucks going every time and ya keep missing it."

"Sorry." Gene turned red. "I guess I just can't read you."

"I'm the only one out here you've got to read. How the feathers do you handle five other players?" He tried to remain calm, but his annoyance with the young human crept into his voice. Sighing, he returned his attention to Petroya and Simmons. They were passing the puck back and forth, trying to avoid being an easy target for the expert duck and make it to the net. Petroya took his shot but was blocked by Deke, the new goalie, who sent it left of the net.

Duke picked up the loose puck and skated towards center ice, trying to avoid Simmons and Petroya. They followed his lead and left the net, each player trying to flank him and steal the puck. He carefully avoided their sticks and maneuvered the puck around them, skating straight for the goal.

He wasn't surprised to see Deke intently watching his every move. Deciding to throw a little flare into his performance, Duke kept the puck moving from side to side, from skate blade to stick, never giving the goalie a chance to anticipate where the shot would go. He pulled back and faked a high shot, barely skimming the top of the puck. Deke slid to the right, glove out and ready to catch the puck at shoulder height. Swiftly pulling his stick back again, Duke made his actual shot, aiming the puck at the wide open left side of the net.

"Nice move," Deke praised as he stood and looked over his shoulder. Yes, the disc was inside the net. Shaking his head, he smiled as he fished the puck out and sent it back out onto the open ice.

Duke nodded, but said nothing, gliding around the net and back towards the faceoff circle. He could see Mallory watching him from the bench. She shrugged a little, brushing off his skillful play. Her body language may have said she wasn't impressed, but her eyes spoke differently.

"Duke, Simmons, you're off," Coach Wilson barked. "Mallory, Sisson, you're up next."

Mallory hopped over the barrier from the bench and joined the three humans on the ice. Since Simmons was the right wing who had been called off, she took his place behind Petroya. The avian hockey player had learned much by scrutinizing Duke's scrimmage. She'd noticed that humans tended to signal where they were sending the puck or where they were going with their heads and eyes. Kind of silly, considering how obvious the signals were to a trained observer. Ducks would signal their teammates by subtly gesturing with their shoulders. Rather than run into the same problem as Duke, she made an effort to accommodate her body language to Petroya.

Sisson, the new center on the ice, won the face off and tried the same move as Duke, passing the puck back to Gene. This time, Gene took possession and moved to the left. Mallory was hot on his tail, waiting for her chance to try her hand at Duke's former profession and steal the puck.

"Back off, Witch," Gene growled. He'd had enough of ducks showing him up on the ice.

"What'd you call me?" His comment instantly ignited her temper and Mallory checked him hard before hitting the puck back toward Petroya.

"I said you're a witch," he sneered. "Stupid ducks. Your team's so pathetic they have to let girls play."

"I'll show you how girls play!" She cut in front of him, tripping him up and sending him sprawling. Having successfully put him at her feet, where he belonged and should stay if he had any sense, she turned her attention back to the game.

Petroya was in front of the net and took his shot, only to have Deke catch it in his glove. The goalie tossed the puck back out and towards the right. Petroya picked it up again and nodded to Mallory, who was behind the net.

Sighing at the overly obvious gesture, she gave a sharp nod and reversed her direction to position herself to the right of the net. Petroya sent the puck her way and she quickly bounced it towards the goal. Again, Deke stopped the puck. Suddenly, Mallory was plowed into Deke as Gene shoved her from behind.

"Hey! Get this duck outta my crease," Deke joked as he smiled and tried to help her up.

Mallory glared at him and jerked her arm away before leaving the blue semi-circle. She spun around to see Gene smirking. Deke pushed the puck towards Mallory, who instantly snatched it up with her stick. She skated towards Gene, keeping the puck moving left and right, tightly controlling it in front of her then moving it wider and keeping it to the right.

Gene advanced on the duck, ready to take her out again and try stealing the puck. What a stupid girl, she was bringing it right to him! He powered forward, aiming his shoulder towards her chest for an open ice check. Unfortunately, she'd been anticipating the move and spun around him, sending one foot in front of his to trip him up.

The redhead laughed as she once again sent the bumbling rookie to the cold, hard surface of the rink. This fool thought he could mock her? She'd been dealing with his type her whole life. He was just another of many pathetic fools who saw her pretty face and small size as symbols of weakness. Poor saps. She was quick to disabuse them of their chauvinistic ideas. Forget scoring; this fool needed a lesson!

"Hey, chickie," Petroya tried to bring her back to the game. "Pay attention!" He was completely open and in a good position to score.

"Chickie?!" Mallory practically screamed. She gave the puck a hard slap shot, sending it straight towards the goal post. Deke wasn't fast enough to block it and the puck ricocheted off the red bar and into the net. The four humans on the ice stared at the fuming duck. She skated right up to Petroya and sharply poked him in the chest. "If you have any other cute nicknames for me, I suggest you keep them to yourself." She skated away, waiting for further instructions from Coach Wilson.

"Petroya, Gene, back to the bench. Duke, Murray, you're up." Coach Wilson didn't waste any time in removing the players who had ignited Mallory's rage. He wanted to bring her off the ice too, but knew she was too worked up to sit quietly on the bench. If anyone said the wrong thing to her, a fight was sure to break out. Besides, he was interested to see how she and Duke would work together.

Duke watched Mallory skate in tight circles as she calmed herself. That temper was really going to get her in trouble if she didn't do something about it. Chuckling to himself, he skated up to her before taking his spot at the face off circle.

"I know a couple guys who'd be dead if looks could kill," he joked as he approached.

"Stupid humans," she muttered. She stopped circling and turned to face Duke, holding her stick parallel to the ice with both hands.

"You ready to show these guys how ducks play?"

Her eager smile was all the response he needed.

Duke was again at the face off circle, this time against Sisson. At the drop of the puck, he flipped it between his legs and back towards Mallory. She instantly took charge, skating towards the left face off circle.

Sisson quickly got in front of her and skated backwards, trying to block her forward progress. Mallory changed to a diagonal path and dropped the puck back to Duke, who was crossing in the opposite direction. Sisson had been more intent on watching Mallory than the puck and missed the pass.

The two ducks worked in tandem, passing straight to each other and perfectly avoiding their opponents at every turn. To the non-alien players, it looked like they weren't even telling each other where to go for the pass; they just knew where the other duck was going to be and sent the puck there.

It was a very short scrimmage as Mallory passed the puck back to Duke and he sent it between Dekes legs and into the net.

"Very nice!" Coach Wilson praised. These two were good. It was a shame they were only participating in the training camp for the NHL officials to observe them and not as recruits. He'd keep them for his team if it was at all possible. "Duke, Mallory, take a break. Bixler, Ciencin, you're on!"

Mallory snagged her water bottle on her way off the rink and took a big drink as she headed towards a table of snacks.

"Not bad, sweetheart."

"Don't call me sweetheart, L'Orange." For once, she didn't sound annoyed or angry; it was just a reminder that she didn't like the nickname. "You were pretty good too."

"I have my moments." He surveyed the fruit bowl, basket of bagels, pile of potato chip bags, and rows of water and Gatorade cups. "So, what'd that guy say that got you so worked up?" He took a cup of the bright blue liquid and studied it before taking a drink.

"He thought he could push me around," Mallory snorted in derision.

Duke inhaled a little of the liquid as he started laughing at that. The laugh quickly turned into a cough as he tried to expel the fluid from his airway. Mallory slapped him on the back a couple times, trying to help.

"Better?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Just the thought of someone thinkin' they can push you around," his eye twinkled at the idea and he chuckled a little more. "Guess he's never seen you fight."

"You haven't either." She smiled as she took a bite of an apple.

"No, but I've heard about you taking out those drones without a weapon. Anyone who can do that isn't someone to mess with."

"Hm." Her head tilted a little to the side as she studied him thoughtfully. She apparently came to some conclusion as she nodded to herself. "I wonder how long a break he was giving us."

"Dunno. We probably shouldn't wander off too far, just in case."

Mallory looked down at the other end of the rink and saw the goalies practicing.

"Want to go see what Wildwing's up to?" she suggested.

"Not a bad idea," he smiled deviously, "Sweetheart." The glare he received at the nickname was both expected and welcomed.