Ch.10: Park of Peril
Anaheim had a lot of things to be proud about, symbolizing their success; their alien-duck hockey players, low prices at the local mall, and thrilling playground in Anaheim Park. Kids around the city took joy in all the rides, but for the Mighty Ducks, those rides right now, seemed to broadcast nothing but terror.
"Alright guys" said Duke, taking lead " split up."
With a nod of agreement, the four ducks divided into two separate units and began to search the park.
Grin and Tanya went over to the boardwalk section of the park, where numerous food stands stood as a tempting invitation for tourists. Instantly, Grin sensed that there was something strange.
There was a smell in the air, of frying meat, it was clear to both ducks someone else was here.
Following the smell, Grin and Tanya soon found its source, over at a dull, little place called Cam's Meat Shop. Behind the grill, a fat man stood cutting his meat with a cleaver, when he spied the Mighty Ducks outside.
"Ah customers" said the fat man beaming " care for a slice?"
With that said, the fat man suddenly started throwing his sharp utensils at the two ducks. Grin and Tanya yelled in shock, running for covers, trying not to get diced by the whirling blades.
"Oh this is fun" said Chameleon, shifting from his fat man form to his strong-man persona " duck meat is good for the build."
More knives came Grin and Tanya's way, making it extremely dangerous to maneuver and deliver a counterstrike. Tanya yelped in fear as Grin barely dodged a knife flung at his back.
"That was close," breathed the large duck.
"We need to think of something fast Grin" said Tanya " or we're both going to be shiskabobbed!"
Grin observed his nearby surroundings for guidance on a plan, and grabbed onto the roof of a nearby food stand, ripping it from its frame. The square-shaped, metal roof made a fine shield as Chameleon resumed his knife attack, but Grin didn't plan on using this new weapon purely for defense.
Grunting with Iron Man strength, the burly duck charged the roof towards Chameleon, striking the lizard down. The small Saurian was out in an instant.
"Good job Grin!" yelled Tanya " We got him!"
"Wrong Featherbrains!" suddenly shouted out an unfriendly voice " We've got you!"
Grin and Tanya barely had any time to turn around as Siege, from the top of another food stand, threw out a strange, electric device, zapping the ducks, and knocking them out cold.
A sinister smile lit up on the orange Saurian's face as he jumped down from his perch and looked at his catch, the Chameleon groaning back to life behind him.
"Four down, two to go."
Meanwhile, down at the other end of the park, Duke was getting suspicious of how quiet things seemed to be. At this moment, he and Nosedive were down near the pool area, and there was not a Saurian in sight.
"See anything Duke?" asked Nosedive, looking at the mallard with the mask.
"Nothing yet" said Duke " though I have a bad feeling crawling up my spine."
"Maybe it's because of him!" said Nosedive, pointing as Wraith suddenly appeared with two hunter drones by his side.
"Dive" said Duke, drawing out his sword " I'll take Wraith, you handle the drones."
"Roger," said Dive, and started teasing the drones " Hey you tin cans, over here!"
As if insulted by Nosedive's taunts, the two dragon-like robots pointed their guns at the yellow mallard, and started chasing him around the pool. As Nosedive fled, Duke faced Wraith, who called up his flame sword in hand.
"Time for a rematch Duck," said Wraith.
"Bring it on!" said Duke, and the two swords clashed.
Meanwhile, trying not to get blasted by a couple of bots who couldn't take a joke, Nosedive sprinted away from the hunter drones shots, racking his brain to come up with a clever plan. A tanning tower soon came into view, sparking an idea in the mischievous bird's brain.
"Hey Hunties, how 'bout some light!"
With that said, Dive pluck-blasted out one of the tanning towers support beams. Weakened, the large tower toppled towards the hunter drones, making them run and be blasted back by the shockwave, right into the pool.
"Tan and spa" said Nosedive grinning as he watched the hunter drones sink, sparking with electricity " my kind of day."
Suddenly, the pride Nosedive felt at that moment got slashed as a pair of strong, dark claws suddenly grabbed onto his beak and chest, dragging him away to the shadows.
Back with Duke, his sword fight with Wraith was reaching crescendo as both mallard and Saurian refused to give each other the edge in this fight.
"Got to admit" thought Duke, sweat pouring off his feathers " Wraith is a worthy opponent to fight."
The mallard's chest still burned with the blows Wraith managed to sneak through his defenses. Duke had also managed to strike a few blows himself, but they were still pretty evenly matched.
"Just give up Duck" said Wraith, as the swords clashed again " Surrender the mask, and this fight will end."
"Never," said Duke, sweeping out his leg, making Wraith fall. Surprised, Wraith landed hard on the cement and dropped his sword, glaring at Duke.
"Sorry Wraith" said Duke, exhausted from the fight " looks like I win."
"Guess again Duck!" shouted out a voice coming from the high dive board above the pool.
Duke gasped in surprise when he spotted Dragaunus out on the plank, dangling a struggling Nosedive helplessly above the pool, that was live, sparking with the electricity of the drowning tower and drones.
"Surrender Duke" said Dragaunus, grinning sneeredly " your teammates have already been captured. If you don't, then this fool meets his demise."
"Let him go Dragaunus!" Duke shouted angrilly.
"I shall" said Dragaunus, leaning his arm closer to the pool " unless you surrender to me."
"Don't do it Duke!" cried Nosedive.
Duke stood still, weighing the unwinable options, hoping and praying that there was a way out, but there was no clear path to choose. Only one choice could save them now, and it was the most painful decision Duke could make.
Closing his eyes tight, Duke let go and dropped his sword, cringing at the sound of metal as it clanged against the ground. When his eyes reopened, Duke turned his head towards Dragaunus, locking the lizard with his cold stare.
"Alright" said Duke, the words tasting like venom to his tongue " you win."