Ch.4: Sleepless In Anaheim
Lights were flashing red as the metal of the Areowing crumbled under the pressure of a giant worm. The Mighty Ducks were all stuck in dimensional tunnel that cut through time and space, and if this worm Dragaunus had released was successful in destroying their ship, they would all be doomed.
Wildwing was up near the cockpit, racking his brain, trying to figure out a way for all of them to escape this alive, when the sudden sound of an airlock opening drew his attention to the ship's side. The white duck's face instantly lit up in horror.
"Canard, what are you doing?" asked Wildwing, running over to his friend.
"You heard Tanya" said Canard " I'm going to stop that worm,"
Then, as the tan-feathered duck started to take off the golden mask and present it to Wildwing, the worm grabbed him by the legs and hauled him out of the ship.
"Canard!" yelled Wildwing, grabbing after his friend, and holding on by the mask.
"Take it!" said Canard, looking directly into Wildwing's eyes " You're team captain now,"
"Nooo!" cried Wildwing, as his friend let go and swallowed up by the worm.
"Canard!" the white duck yelled back in reality, as he woke up in bed, sweat pouring off his feathers from the stress of his dream.
"A nightmare," said Wildwing to himself, as if to convince him it were true. But he knew it wasn't. What had happened had been a memory. A tragic piece of memory that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Seeking to clear his head of the late night horror, Wildwing quickly got himself dressed, and decided to do a little walk around the base. It was three o'clock in the morning, he wouldn't be bothering anyone else at this hour.
Minutes later, Wildwing was all dressed up and exited the room, enjoying the silence of the base as he walked.
Memories peered at him through every corner, reflecting just how much the team had achieved since Canard's sacrifice.
"You would have been proud Canard" said Wildwing " but we still haven't accomplished our mission. One day, we will catch Dragaunus."
He walked forward for a few more seconds, until a shout from the training hall suddenly caught his ear. Curious who could be in the training hall this late, Wildwing decided to check it out.
When the duck finally arrived, he found himself a little amazed to see Duke L' Orange practicing his swordsmanship skills against some holographic foes. Yet, something seemed off about the sword he was wielding. Every time the gray drake would take a swing, a golden arc sliced through the air, eliminating the hologram the room had projected, making it disappear into digital dust.
"Duke" said Wildwing, walking in, making the gray drake pause "what are you doing up so late?"
"Just a little sword practice is all" said Duke, facing towards his leader " figured I'd get in a few hours before dawn."
"That's not your usual saber," said Wildwing, noticing that the regular one was still sheathed.
"You're right" said Duke " it's the mystic one from Borg's dimension, the Star Sword. I've been practicing on how to handle its power. Couldn't just let it go to waste on the souvenir shelf."
"Good idea" said Wildwing " who knows when we'll need it,"
"Anyway, what are you doing up?" said Duke, pressing the Star Sword to his side " Is something wrong?"
"Not really" said Wildwing reluctantly " just a nightmare,"
"A nightmare huh?" said Duke suspiciously " This wouldn't have anything to do with Canard by any chance?"
Wildwing's silence gave Duke all the answer he needed.
"Okay, let's walk" said Duke, strolling over to the leader's side " tell me everything,"
And with that Wildwing began to explain every part of his dream, while Duke just nodded at the words. Weight seemed to dissolve from the middle of Wildwing's chest the longer he talked, pressure lifting off in waves.
Of all the ducks in the Pond, Wildwing knew that Duke knew what it was like to be leader, since he was the former boss of the Brotherhood of the Blade. He had given up everything to help in the resistance, and was the first to suggest that they help out the people here on Earth, and save them from crime.
"It's your fault you know?" said Wildwing, after he finished explaining the dream " If you hadn't convinced me to take up the mask after Canard…,"
"Hey, I didn't make you do anything" said Duke " you chose for yourself in the end. Canard chose a fine duck to be his second-in-command. It would have been shame to see that talent go to waste."
"Do you have second-in-command too?" asked Wildwing.
"Nah, the Brotherhood of the Blade had different rules for leadership" said Duke " In order to lead, you would have to kill the current leader, and then face off all the challengers who think it would be fun to dust you off. Since no one has managed to kill me yet though, they're probably fighting over the position at home. Why all the interest?"
"I've been thinking" said Wildwing slowly, as if not wanting to voice it " what if something happened to me?"
"That's not going to happen" said Duke, instantly knowing what Wildwing was driving at " the last time you were gone it was a complete disaster,"
"And what if I'm gone again?" asked Wildwing " Despite rank, we can never bare to lose any members to this team. That's why the others need someone other than me to rely on. I'm hoping it will be you."
"Thanks Wing" said Duke " but it won't come to that. You have to much to lose."
"Even if you don't know it yet," Duke silently mumbled in his mind.
"Just think about it old friend," said Wildwing, placing a hand on Duke's shoulder before turning to leave " I'll see you in the morning for practice."
"Yeah," whispered Duke, as his leader left the room, and turned to go place the Star Sword back on its shelf.
All the while, the gray drake was thinking upon the last words that Wildwing had said. To wear the mask again and be a leader, could he really do all that again?
"I'm hoping that I don't have to find out," thought Duke, as he put away the sword, and then traveled back to bed.
