Chapter One: Shooting Stars
Heart:
"Another wanted poster," my older brother commented as we made our way to port that day.
I looked to see what he was referring to only to find a poster of a drake with a confident smirk on his beak.
"You alright there sis?" my twin brother asked when he noticed me tilting my head curiously.
"I think so," I answered as I followed the both of them now.
Before long I noticed as an imposing shadow fell over us. Looking up I smiled at what had cast it. A grand ship, longing for a shared adventure was being readied to set sail. It's sails were opening to take in the force flowing from behind them. Their colors were hoisted high for all to see. Upon the deck I could see fellow ducks like my two brothers working at their stations.
At the wheel stood a tan feathered drake in an official uniform complete with ribbons and badges. Upon noticing us he waved to us with a smile before approaching us.
"Wildwing!" He called my brother over as we followed.
Wildwing had been gifted a similar uniform. Though his lacked the stars and decorations his friend's had. Meanwhile Nosedive and I had acquired our own attire for the voyage ahead.
Nosedive wore a clean white tunic with teal trousers. Over his shirt was a teal vest with our planet's symbol embroidered over the left breast pocket by our mother.
I myself had a white under bouse beneath a burgundy vest lined with gold. My trousers were black with ebony boots that reached up to my knees over my pant legs. Our mother had woven my burgundy hair into a braid for the launch with a white silk ribbon.
"Do you really insist on bringing them both along?" The captain enquired with concern.
"You knew they were a part of the deal going in Canard," our brother reminded his friend firmly.
Canard sighed while looking us over.
"Canard you've known us since we were kids," I said eagerly, "We know how important this is to you!"
He gave a weary smile, "I know you do. But you're both still so young, and this will be a long voyage."
"All the more reason for me to bring them along. They could use the experience," Wildwing assured with a good natured smile.
At last Canard gave a nod as he lead us aboard the ship.
"Alright!" Nosedive exclaimed eagerly as he threw his arm over my shoulder and dragged me along with him.
In moments Canard called the rest of his crew over and instructed us to stand with them. Then he strolled back and forth looking upon each of us carefully with a proud smile, "Alright crew, this is it! Today we chart our course and take to the stars! Anyone with second thoughts had better head home now. This will be a long journey, but one of discovery and adventure!"
"And treasure?" Nosedive chimed in.
My twin was now slinking close to me as Canard approached us and looked at him with a stern eye, "We're not pirates young Flashblade. Any treasure we find will be that of knowledge as we seek out the ends of the galaxies above."
"If that doesn't interest you let me know right now and I will be happy to send you on your way," Canard warned.
Nosedive cleared his throat before giving a nervous laugh, "It does captain, it does! I was just making a joke."
I shook my head at my twin's antics, but was relieved that Canard went back to his stride in front of everyone.
It was only now that I realized how I stuck out like a sore thumb among my peers. While it wasn't strange to see a vast variety of aliens and humans alike, on this ship we all seemed to be from Puck World. However, my featherless skin and beakless face revealed right away that it was not my place of origin.
On either sides of me stood my two brothers. Beside Wildwing at my right was a young red headed woman with a short beak and a seemingly short temper as I had noticed her rolling her eyes at Nosedive's comment. She was dressed in a pink tunic with deep violet trousers. Over her tunic was a combat vest. Strapped to her were several weapons with what I was sure were more tucked in hiding places such as in her boots and sleeves.
Beside her was another young woman with very long blonde hair swept up onto her head by a lavender headband. She wore a matching jumpsuit with a belt of medical supplies strapped to her waist. She wore pink glasses over her light blue eyes and had a quizzical expression over her face as she Hearttened to Canard's speech.
At my left beside Nosedive stood a towering duck that was at least two feet taller than myself. As he stood at attention he Hearttened to his surroundings carefully with a steady smile. He wore a simple, sleeveless white shirt with dark trousers. His size and strength made me only guess what he had been hired for. To my surprise though I noticed he had an apron tied over his shirt with a yin and yang patch sewn onto it.
"Now for your posistions," Canard stated while looking us each over still.
"Wildwing, you will be my navigator and first mate of course," he told his best friend with a proud smile, "I trust you will guide our ship straight and true my friend."
"Nosedive you will help Grin in the galley, as well as make sure the deck is swabbed and other such tasks."
"Aw man, you're sticking me to cleaning duty?" Nosedive exclaimed in annoyance.
Canard gave him what he knew was his final warning. Nosedive sighed and nudged the tall duck beside him, "Guess we're working together huh buddy?"
"It appears so," the grey feathered duck stated in a tone that was rather friendly.
"Mallory you are of course our combat speciaHeartt. If things get bad out there I trust you to help handle it!"
"Aye, aye captain!" the red headed duck saluted firmly.
I noticed as Nosedive rolled his eyes at this and bit my lower lip to keep from laughing at his antics.
"Tanya, you are communications and engineer. I trust you will keep our ship up to code and beyond."
"Y-You can count on me sir!" Tanya assured in a nervouse voice before regaining her composure.
Then he strolled over to me, "And Heart, I need you to be our eye in the skies. Can I count on you to keep watch from the crow's nest?"
"Of course you can!" I promised with a bow of my head.
"Perfect! It looks like we've got everything and everyone we need!" Canard declared as he faced us, "Prepare for the launch and let's find what's waiting to be discovered!"
With that we went to our stations. Though I noticed as Grin and Nosedive were able to stay on deck to watch the launch from port. I gave a smile and a wave from my perch above them. Nosedive waved excitedly.
"Alright everyone!" Canard called out from the helm of the ship, "Let's take to the stars!"
With that our engines were ignited, our gravity shield activated, and our sails filled as we parted from the port. In the crowd below I thought I could see our parents waving and smiling with pride. I attempted to wave back with my brothers, but I wasn't sure if they could see us.
In these moments our adventure had begun as our ship took to the stars. Alongside it I could see dolphin like creatures leaping out of the waves of stardust in a pack. From the ropes I was able to reach out and brush my hand through the passing waves of starlight that gHearttened. Nosedive seemed to have the same idea before Grin tugged on the rope carefully. With a sigh my twin hopped down to follow him into the galley. Then I too settled into my task and kept my eyes open wide for anything of importance.
For a while it was smooth sailing. The crescent shaped space port was far behind us now. From my perch I watched as everyone took to their tasks with vigor. Occassionally I saw my twin emerge from below deck to take on his cleaning tasks. When she could Tanya would assist him. Mallory would check on me from time to time to give me a break when needed.
Towards the evening I accepted her offer as it was time to partake in our dinner. Our first dinner as a crew. I eagerly decended with Mallory to the deck below as things seemed steady for the time being. Though it seemed that she kept alert at all times regardless with a steady eye on the skies ahead.
Everyone gathered onto the deck. Several seats had been set for us all to join in a circle together. Grin and Nosedive proudly presented the meal they had prepared for everyone. Though as ate I noticed everyone was oddly quiet. Aside from Wildwing and Canard, and Grin and Nosedive, having conversations here and there, it seemed we weren't sure of what to make of one another yet.
"So...why did everyone decide to go on this voyage anyway?" I heard myself ask curiously.
Each of them looked over at me as though unsure of how to answer.
"Different reasons really," Mallory finally offered, "I myself wanted to prove myself out here. Make use of everything I learned in the academy and train myself even further!"
"I want to improve what I know about the worlds and learn about ones that I don't," Tanya told everyone shyly, "And I want to go on building and improving my skills in engineering."
"I'm not really sure why I'm here," Wildwing chuckled, "All I know is that Canard here asked me to join his crew and I was the right one for the job. How could I decline?"
"I just want to see the journey I have embarked on, the destination doesn't matter as much to me," Grin said with a steady smile.
"Pure adventure girly-girl!" My twin reminded me, "I want to make my mark in the stars!"
I couldn't help but laugh softly from his eagerness.
"I just want to explore, expand our knowledge of the galaxies and make a name for our crew here," Canard answered.
"What about you miss?" Tanya enquired curiously.
"Well, I'm mainly here to be with my brothers. The Flashblade family adopted me when I was very young," I explained with a natural shrug at first, "But I guess...while I'm out here anyway, it would be nice to find answers. I've never known where I'm from. I'm not expecting to find anything, but I may as well try."
"Do you remember anything?" Mallory asked, "How you got to Puck World in the first place?"
"It's kind of hazy," I admitted while scratching the back of my head where some old scarring was.
"She had no memories when we found her," Wildwing explained.
"That's awful," Tanya said with sympathy in her eyes.
"Well all in all I'd say I ended up okay. I have two amazing brothers now," I said with pride as I looked to Wildwing and Nosedive, "and who knows what I'll find out here with all of you!"
When I was finished eating Nosedive took my plate from me to add to the pile to be washed. Then I stood up and walked over to the side of the ship to look out at the stars surrounding us. Behind me I heard the others continuing to talk together now. I smiled knowing that the ice had been broken between them and myself. Though I hadn't heard as Grin got to his feet and approached me. Then he rested his hand on my shoulder as he spoke, "Young friend, understand that your past does not always tell who you are nor who you wish to be. Perhaps while on this quest you can find those answers and chart a course that lets you live as you are and want to live in the future."
I gave a smile in response to his kind words.
Suddenly something caught my eye out in the distance. Turning back to the starry galaxy reaching far from the ship I thought I saw the silloutte of another ship. Yet it seemed to vanish, almost as though eluding something, before I could get a good look at it.
However this did bring my attention to another shimmer of lights in the distance. As I focused my vision I realized they were coming nearer.
"Canard!" I called him over to show him what I could see.
Our captain looked up with widened eyes as he came up to me. Then he quickly turned to everyone, "Get your stations, make sure your life lines are secure!"
"What is it Canard?" Wildwing asked while checking everyone's lines.
"Shooting stars! I've never seen a cluster of them like this!" Canard answered.
"You mean the things we wish on?" Nosedive teased, "Come on Canard they can't be that bad!"
"One of them, even two, isn't a problem!" Canard retorted with annoyance in his tone again, "I've never seen a cluster of them like this before! If they hit the ship it could make things a bit bumpy! So do as I say!"
"Aye aye Captain!" Mallory saluted him as she prepared the cannons with Grin and Tanya.
Canard hurried to the helm to try and steer the ship from the path of the cluster of racing stars. Meanwhile I began to climb up to the crow's nest to see if I could get a better look. Yet as I did I failed to notice one of the stars fastly approaching ahead of the others. Before we could move the ship or shoot at it with a canon it slammed into the side of our ship. The structure held, but it made it shake violently. In that instant Tanya accidentally hit one of the controls she was nearby. Upon contact our gravity was cut off and we all began to float up from the ship.
With some luck everyone's lifelines kept them secured to the ship and most of them pulled themselves back to the mast to steady their stance. Meanwhile I clung to the ropes leading up to the crow's nest. Until I noticed Nosedive struggling with his lifeline. Fear gripped my chest as I noticed him at first tangled in the ropes, unable to steady himself. Another star was quickly approaching, threatening to knock him away from the ship's field. I tightened my own grip for a moment before making a decent to him.
"Sis!" Nosedive yelled out, "Don't!"
Shaking my head I pushed myself from my secure spot and used my own force to push him into the ropes that he latched onto tightly. Before he could pull me back with him the shooting star hit the ship as I floated beside the mass. Between my already floating upwards and the violent trembling of the ship I was unable to stop my rope from slipping loose.
"Sis!" Nosedive cried as he reached to grab my hand just as another star hit us.
Due to the impact Nosedive missed my hand. Wildwing and the others tried to grab for my rope to pull me back down, but met with the same problem as the deck shook rapidly.
"Heart!" Wildwing cried.
"Heart, use your air device!" Canard called up to me as I began to break through the field of the ship's barrier.
I immediately pulled out a mask we had each been given secured to device that allowed us to breath in such an emergency.
"What do we do?" Wildwing questioned in panic, "Hang on sis!"
Another star hit, shaking me completely from the ship. I couldn't even risk screaming for fear of losing the device allowing me to breath.
"Sis!" Nosedive and Wildwing screamed in my place as they watched me grow further from them.
There was nothing I could do. Nothing I could grab onto. No one could reach me. All I could do was pray, pray someone could help me. Wish to be found. As more stars bombarded our strong standing ship it felt strange daring to wish and hope. Yet at the same time that's all I could do right now.