Episode 14: Cold Ducks
Anaheim was in the midst of a heat-wave, causing people to seek shelter in air-conditioned places and pools.
At the Pond, the Ducks were practicing hard, unaware of the smoldering heat outside.
"I'm afraid we might have to put our date on hold for a while," Pearl informed Wildwing, "It's almost 95 degrees and Avalon never had summers like this."
"How about tomorrow morning? That way we can beat the heat-wave before it hits," he replied and she nodded.
Awhile later, Subria came into the arena, sweat was trickling down her forehead. "I don't see what the problem is, this weather reminds me of home," the African princess replied.
"But how do you survive under that hot sun?" Nosedive asked as Subria offered a wet towel.
"We grow used to it, besides sweating is good for you," Subria said, but the mallard gave a disgusted look.
"Yuck," he replied, sticking out his tongue.
"You know, I'm beginning to see those two as a couple," Wildwing said to the others.
"And I'm becoming the Phantom of the Opera," Duke gave a heavy sigh, "I like her, too."
"You'll get your chance, some things don't last forever," Tanya informed, but that didn't cheer the depressed Duck.
()()()()()()()
At the 'Raptor's' hiding place in the mountains, Louran was sensing a spell page.
"My lord, I feel the presence of a spell page, a strong one," the wizard said to his master.
"Good, I was starting to doubt you and this time, I want to see this spell and I'll be the judge and see if this is weak or strong," Dragaunus replied and adds, "When will it activate?"
"Not sure, it's still in the process of saving up its strength, perhaps tomorrow," Louran informed and Wraith took him aside.
"My patience is wearing out, when will we find the one spell you mentioned?" the Saurian asked, bitterly.
"Be calm and very soon, we'll get our wish," the dark wizard informed and the two chuckled under their breath.
()()()()()()
By the next day, the temperature had gotten lower than the day before and dark clouds were looming on the horizon, making people believe that the heat-wave will end soon.
At an outdoor restaurant, Wildwing and Pearl were enjoying breakfast and admiring the morning weather.
"This weather reminds me of home, dewy mornings and cloudy skies," Pearl had said.
"Smells like rain to me," the mallard replied, but then noticed that Pearl dropped her fork suddenly and her hand began to shake.
"Pearl, are you okay?" he asked and the princess shook her head.
"I felt another one and it's getting close," she answered, pressing her hand against her head.
The two decided to head back to the Pond when Pearl's senses didn't get back to normal.
"How do you sense these spells?" Wildwing asked.
"I don't know, I just do," Pearl answered and then, Phil arrived, covered in a white substance.
"Phil, what happened to you?" the mallard asked, examining the white stuff.
"You're not going to believe this, but it's snowing outside!" the manager exclaimed.
"Snowing? In the middle of summer?" Pearl asked and they walked outside.
Sure enough, big flakes of snow were falling from dark gray skies and the snow was up to their knees.
Pearl immediately realized what spell she was sensing, "The 'Snow' page," she said and the others came out to see this rare epidemic.
Wildwing checked the sky with his mask for assurance and he nodded, "This isn't the work of those snow monkeys, it's definitely the work of a spell page," he replied.
"Snow monkeys?" Pearl asked and Wildwing explained the time when they fought monkey-like aliens and their weather-changing device.
"We better catch this spell, or else we'll freeze," Subria said, rubbing her arms to keep warm and Nosedive offered her his jacket.
The Ducks and the two princesses immediately went to the Aero-Wing and it flew away from the stadium and into the building snowstorm.
"Now this reminds us of home," Mallory said, overlooking the snowy landscape.
"Where is this spell? I can barely see anything," Tanya replied.
Wildwing used his mask, again, looking through the blinding snow and cries out, "Bang left!"
Suddenly, a snow twister slammed hard at the Aero-Wing and the aircraft swirled around in the crazy whirlwind.
"The controls are going hay-wire! We're going down!" Duke cried out, struggling with the joy-stick.
"Mayday! Mayday!" Nosedive shrieked as the Aero-Wing began to fall to the ground.
The group braced themselves as the aircraft landed hard on the ground, but nothing was badly damaged.
"I think that's enough fun for today," Subria replied and the Ducks opened the door to the outside.
The snow twister vanished, but the big flakes of white powder continued to fall.
"We don't have to look far," Grin said to his comrades and pointed to the top of the Aero-Wing.
There stood a white-skinned woman with snow-colored hair and she wore a pure white dress and a necklace that appeared to have icicles.
"'Snow', I command-" but before Pearl could finish, a burst of black magic exploded under her feet.
"Pearl, are you okay?!" Wildwing cried out, but noticed that their enemy had arrived.
"Not this time, princess!" Louran shouted and looked at the 'Snow' page, who looked terrified of the dark wizard.
The spell lifted itself above the ground, avoiding Louran's attempts of capturing it.
"Hold still, you wrench!" Wraith shouted and he summoned a ball of his magic.
"No, don't!" Pearl cried out as the Saurian wizard's dark magic hit the spell and it fell to the ground.
"Quick! Capture it before they do!"Dragaunus ordered, but the Ducks pulled out their puck blasters and began to shoot at their enemies.
"You poor thing," Subria said to the 'Snow' page, who sustained bruises from the attack.
Just then, the spell lifted itself off the ground and then summoned a snow twister, "Look out!" Pearl cried out to the Ducks.
The 'Snow' used the twister to strike back at the enemies who dared to harm it and the Saurians and the dark wizard were blown away.
"You'll pay for this, Ducks!" Dragaunus shouted through the ice and snow and they were gone.
Once everything grew calm, the spell featured itself to its princess. Pearl opened the spell book and commands, "'Snow', I command you to return to the spell book from where you came!"
The spell obeyed and it took residence in an empty page.
Then, the snow stopped falling and everything got back to normal and everyone shed their coats.
"Oh man, I liked the change in weather," Tanya groaned.
"I think Anaheim appreciated the cool down, get it? Cool down?" Nosedive joked, but everyone stared at him.
"You know, I am in the mood for snow-balls," Pearl replied, however, everyone shook their heads.
"After all that, I rather not discuss anything about snow," Duke informed, but Pearl rolled up a snowball, "No, I mean this!"
She threw it at the others and they joined in the battle before the snow could melt completely.
They stopped when the clouds in the distance were lighting up with thunder and lightning.
"Snow and now rain, do we really need more wild weather?" Wildwing asked, placing a hand around Pearl's shoulder.
"You can never change the weather," the princess replied and they watched as lightning flashed upon the ocean.