"You've come along way Niobe," their clan leader beamed with pride as she knelt down with her head bowed.
He was a slim drake with dark hair slicked back into a topknot. His ebony feathers contrasted with his white clothing purposely, though some gray was beginning to show on the sides of his tightly pulled back hair. He was a good foot or so taller than the girl kneeling before him, and much old enough to almost be an older father or younger grandfather. The warmth in his golden brown eyes would have made you guess this connection. Despite his slender frame their was the utmost strength in his poised stance.
The young duck looked up at him as expected. Her shido styled sword clenched in her hand and pointed behind her as she still knelt down on her knees in a readied pose. Her lilac eyes carried a light as she tried to make sure she didn't look too eager. Most of her soft brown feathers were encased in her dark blue, long sleeved gi with a pair of black tabi boots she was on the alert for whatever came next. Her auburn hair was pulled into a tight braid to keep the long strands from falling over her face.
"You have mastered your training thus far. Soon your blade will aid you in your first given orders," he stated as he held back the emotion in his own tone.
Niobe's heart swelled with an eager desire to please and prove her skills.
"I believe you feel you're ready as well," her leader nodded, "And I would be lying if I were to say I didn't feel the same."
"So then..." she started calmly, "What is the first assignment?"
"We need to gather information before giving a specific job, more so because we don't have any idea who it is we're seeking," he replied with his brow furrowing over his light brown eyes.
She raised a brow at this comment, "What information am I to acquire?"
Making sure there was no one even passing by in the room, the leader's eyes scanned the area. Then he asked with his hands folded behind his back, "How much have you heard of the Brotherhood of the Blade?"
"I've heard a bit here and there. I know it's a crime ring focused on gems and other artifacts," she said with rising curiosity.
"They are a blot on our society. Nothing but thieves that pretend they have a code of honor to abide by. Yet no matter how you put it, they steal what isn't theirs," he continued with a chill in his voice, "They need to be taken care of."
"So you want me to find out more about them?" She inquired.
"Precisely," he nodded, "We are especially interested in unmasking their supposed leader and removing them from their position. We feel without their leader it will be easier to find the rest while they scramble to replace them. An organization without a head is a mere bird running around with only the body. Disorganized and quite likely to harm itself. Dying."
"I am to find out who the leader is then," Niobe confirmed.
"Yes, but do not simply act upon your discovery. Once we have the face of who we're after we can plan more accordingly to avoid an unnecessary risk," her master calculated while looking over her, "The leader surely will not fall easily, but regardless must still fall to put an end to their crimes."
"Understood," Niobe replied without dropping or raising her tone.
"The police have received a warning that one of their prized pieces will be next on the Brotherhood's list. It's their way of playing chase I suppose, but it's bold nature will be their downfall. You are to go that night and gather in-tel. Then report back here with your findings," he instructed.
"Of course," she replied with a confident smile curving her small beak, "I will make you proud master."
"I am certain of that," he assured her, "Now go and prepare. Eat well, rest, and train. When this is over it will be a good time to celebrate with a good game of hockey."
Niobe couldn't help but smile at her master's show of faith.
It had been a tough few years since finding out her family's truth, but one she was quite proud of all the same. Now she would finally get her chance to prove herself. Though she heeded her master's warnings, she couldn't deny there was a hope in her to make him even prouder by taking out the problem once she uncovered it. With this tucked away in her she got to her feet, gave their bow to one another, and then left to get her dinner with her other clan mates.
"There you are Niobe," a familiar voice greeted from the left hall she was passing.
Glancing towards the owner of this voice she gave a smile, "Check, I was just trying to find you as well. I have great news!"
"It's time to get our skates on and head to the ice?" The rather tall drake suggested with a hockey stick in hand.
"Not quite," she tried not to giggle, "I've been given my first assignment!"
The bulked up duck before her tilted his head curiously, "That is big news. Though I take it that means I'll be going solo to the rink."
"Sorry friend, but I have to make sure I'm at my top performance for this!" Niobe insisted, "But I promise I'll go with you sometime after!"
"So what is the assignment?" He asked her while masking a bit of concern.
Niobe looked around quickly to be sure they were alone. Then to be on the safer side she pulled him into a nearby room. The seven foot tall duck crouched down to listen to her carefully once the door was closed.
"I'm to find out about the Brotherhood of the Blade and who their leader is," she replied in a hushed voice, "Once I do we have a shot of ending their group for good!"
Check looked to his friend with an encouraging smile over his strong chinned beak, "That is quite the assignment."
"But?" She prompted.
"What?"
"I've known you too long Check," she stated directly while aiming her lilac gaze into his of ebony.
Giving a slight shrug he attempted, "I'm just wondering if this is really the path you want to take. This was something passed down onto you. Despite you taking it in stride, the nature of these jobs will no longer be avoidable. If you uncover this leader of theirs you know what will follow."
"One less criminal, possibly even their gang, to no longer stain our streets with their robberies?" Niobe retorted.
"Bloodshed," Check stated simply, "If they are a group as close as I've heard them to be, they will not let their leader be taken easily. If you do succeed you will then have your head as their target in a cycle of vengeance."
"It's the risk we take isn't it? Though if we do our task correctly there won't be anything to worry about," Niobe replied casually.
"All I'm trying to warn you of is that you have to be ready and willing to take on such a life. Yes, they are bringing about their own bad karma by stealing; but taking a life may be heavier than what they take," Check told her, no longer hiding his concern.
"Then why are you here?" Niobe asked with a tilt of her head and looking up at him a good bit.
"I use my training to show others a better path. Only when needed do I apply the force I've worked hard to know how to use and not use," Check replied with a steady smile.
"Well that may be how you do it, but I am going to see this through," Niobe answered with a rising determination in her tone.
"There are other ways to make others proud Niobe," Check attempted once more, "And other ways to aid our society with what we learn here."
"This is my way Check," Niobe pushed back.
"It's his way forced onto you," Check retorted, "And while he is fond of you, he is also rigid in his beliefs at times. He wants you to follow exactly in his steps without trying another way."
"I don't have time for this Check. If you'll excuse me I need to get ready for school tomorrow and this given task. You do what you want," Niobe shook her head while going for the door, "Would it have hurt you to just be happy for me?"
With a sigh Check answered in a remaining calm tone, "I will be as long as it's your skates your using, and that the ice doesn't crack as you travel over it."
"It is, and I will be fine," she assured before stepping back into the hallway and leaving her friend behind shaking his head quietly.
"A cursed princess from a fallen kingdom?" Heart pondered as she was forced out of town once more.
She looked at her scaled hands and contemplated things from thus far. The very scales that told them to throw her out. This sapphire shell she was born with were what they feared. They were similar to one that was cast out, though his magic was stolen from another. Yet that didn't matter to them. Their scales are what made them the same, so they were to be cast out in the same manner. Despite the prince's wish for peace between them, it wasn't enough to ease the fears of his people when they saw the patches of scales beginning to emerge on her hands that would surely grow.
Looking up she suddenly saw the skies darkening with a midnight crimson hue as though the moon were bleeding into the Earth's atmosphere. The very sign she was trying to give warning of. Her nerves had been jumping and her spine stiffening as it had that day they scoffed at her over. Something, perhaps the very thing they feared, was coming. Yet they wouldn't let her help stop it. Tossed out despite her plight to warn the prince she now gazed up at the sky again. It was growing darker by the minute. She turned back around and pounded her fists against the gates in one last desperate plea to warn someone. Anyone that would listen to her.
Suddenly a deep cackling filled the air as she looked over her shoulder. Her blood ran cold as it did when she was a child that day. His glowing emerald eyes to match the amulet around his thick crimson neck, the dragon unleashed his stolen flame upon the Earth. Energy began to spark around the girl in an attempt to fight back. Yet she knew there wasn't much she could do alone. These abilities were far too new. Turning around to face him she backed up against the double door gate and looked up in fear.
Perhaps they were right? Were her scales an omen of ruin to come to kingdoms she dwelled in? Yet how when she was trying to warn them?
Still electricity ignited in a shield around her, erupting in bursts as he drew near. Turning to the door she began clawing at the doors in a desperate display. Digging into the thick mahogany closed before her she began to scale the gate. As she did the flames above rained down overhead. Inside the walls she could hear people crying out, children screaming, and women shrieking, all in terror as their city was suddenly under siege. She knew these cries.
"Stop!" She pleaded as she reached the top of the wall and stood her ground.
"Out of my way child or you will perish in the fire of the Red Dragon!" The creature assured as he dove down towards the city and her.
"You will not take this kingdom as you did mine!" She shouted with energy racing through her and igniting still.
As he drew near his eyes narrowed upon seeing her. With a scoff he declared with pride dripping from his maw, "You will not stop me child, just as you couldn't before!"
"I can try!" She assured as she prepared her new claws, letting them grow long and sharp from her fingertips at will.
Yet as she did this she heard further screaming from behind her. Glancing over her shoulder she could see the gnomes and other races of the city looking on in fear as the crimson dragon now stood just outside the gate. They looked at her just the same despite her stance against him. To them she was like him, a dragon come to bring their kingdom to ruin.
Shaking this off Heart looked up to try and remain steady. However as she did a sudden stabbing of pain tore into her side as a guard hurtled a spear towards the two scaled beings. Defending his prince that was still inside the palace and unable to stop him, he had let his weapon fly. She cried out as the sharp steel pierced below her right side, gripping it to try and get it out so she could move. Before her the dragon laughed, "It seems you will fall due to the very insects you are trying to protect!"
"They-They're afraid! They don't know...!" She growled through gritted teeth.
"No child!" He snickered, "They know what you are capable of. They understand the power of a dragon and want to put it out before you put them out!"
"I'm...I'm not..." she stammered in fake shock as she glanced at her scaled hands.
"I can sense your magic child...and you most certainly are. Otherwise how would you have those scales or those claws? Why force it back child?" He taunted.
"Because...they..."
"Because they're afraid of it?!" He bellowed with wicked laughter, "As they should be! This is what a dragon should be! Respected, feared, in power!"
"No...you...you destroyed...what dragons...stood for! You stole...her magic...! You killed her...!" she stammered while trying to pull out the spear so she could fight back.
"I merely harnessed what I sought girl, while your given power seems to be going to waste I will use mine as it was meant to be used!" He scoffed before taking a moment to ponder something.
"You could join me girl, you are like me scales and all. Use that power of yours to put them in their place?" He offered a claw out to her.
Her eyes narrowed into a glare. Yet before she could speak arrows behind her began to fly. Panic rose in her chest as she watched the dragon take a deep breath in reply. Throwing her hand out in a desperate attempt she unleashed a blast of energy that caught the burst of flames emerging from his maw. As they made contact she was knocked back by the igniting explosion, as was he. Falling back within the city gates with a harsh thud she managed to avoid the volley of arrows. However she was quickly met with swords and spears held in warning towards her as she lay upon the ground gasping for breath. She tried to shake her head in assurance to them, "I...I'm not with..."
"We told you to leave!" One of the guards shouted.
"You were one of his monsters to mark Anaheim as his next nest of victims!" Another snarled.
"No...!" she seethed as she snapped the base of the spear to try and move, "Please...I'm not...the dragons...they're weren't...!"
"We'll put an end to you at least fowl creature!" A captain assured as they all felt the thunderous steps of the approaching dragon.
Energy sparked with the rising pressure within her. Pain seized my side, making it difficult to try and get away. Yet if she didn't..., "Please!..."
"Enough monster!" He bellowed as he raised his sword over her throat.
Her eyes shot wide open as panic gripped her chest.
"No!" She shrieked desperately with another burst of electricity emitting from her core and knocking them back.
Only adrenaline could have carried her as it did. Scrambling to her feet all she could do was run while gripping her side to keep it from bleeding. Still energy sparked around her sprinting frame as they pursued her. Arrows flew from behind her. Fire lapped at the city outer walls from the beast behind us. Screams drowned her ears as she gasped for pained breath. Looking at her trembling clawed hand she watched as she tried to grab for something, anything to pull her away.
Then she looked and found the sole look of concern among the crowd. The widened blue eyes of the prince watched her struggling to stand and tried to reach out to her passed his guards. Then those eyes looked up over her as she turned around to see just why. In his wizened form, but bearing crimson wings and a tail still, he sneered down at them.
"You...child...will regret that pathetic attempt!" He snarled at her.
Looking over her shoulder quickly she pleaded, "Run Borg! Run so you can fight back!"
"My friend-"
"Go!" She pleaded with desperation surging through her voice.
Heart stood her trembling ground as she faced the draconic warlock taunting her with a horrid laugh. Behind her she could hear the prince's fading steps as he reluctantly hurried away with a guard or two shielding him. She then watched as the sorcerer raised his hands towards the two armored men and gave a wicked sneer. As his eyes glowed a demented shade of emerald Heart watched in horror as the two doubled over, screaming as their bodies began to shift. One became like a winged boar man snarling and squealing, the other more like a winged lizard screeching in rage.
When their transformation finished he then turned his sights on Heart, who tried to swallow the hardening lump in her throat.
"You child, need to learn to embrace your heritage. Join me and I will put you to better use than trying to protect these worms!" He beckoned.
"I do embrace what was gifted to me, you stole the power you wield, and I will use what I can to stop you!" She attempted to give the prince more time.
At this the warlock laughed, "So be it! However it shall not be a gift those scales bring you, but a curse! Others will fear them as they grow with your magic! When you have nowhere left to run, you will become the monster they dread and my personal soldier! Then when you've outlived your use, I will take what I need to keep your powers...as my own!" He sneered while looking right into her eyes with a dark chuckle emerging from his throat.
When Heart shattered herself from this frozen state she raised her claws only to be knocked back. All she could do from there was run! So she did. As she did electricity shot up her arm and out her hand again as though she were gripping a door to pull open. Pushing an unseen force aside she tore that opening into being before taking a fearful pause. Behind her the guards continued their chase, giving her little time to consider. Asteroth continued his laugh as he watched her, "You won't escape this no matter where you go child! I can wait!"
With a leap of faith she darted through as the portal began to close back up. The guards behind her came to a sudden halt and then backed away.
Suddenly the heat of flames diminished to an icy breeze. The paved street was now covered in snow that her boots sunk into. The electricity around her grew steady until it at last stopped and she breathed in the cold early morning air. Looking around her she found a sleeping city a bit more advanced than the one she had just left. Technology just being harnessed in her realm seemed to be the norm here as she walked beneath energy powered lamp posts.
It was here that Heart would swiftly forget everything that had just happened. The attack on Anaheim, her single allie in need of aid, and her own curse. As fate would have it, she would lose those memories when simply roaming down the wrong, or right, street? For she would be jumped by two...what appeared to be humanoid ducks, and hitting her head in the process of fighting back.
Though through a chance rescue, and a show of compassion, she would keep her name as a lone drake knelt down to help her, "Hang in there sweetheart."
"heart..." his voice echoed unknowingly to her, giving her back her nearly stolen away name.
While she lay there bleeding he would tend to her wounds, wrapping her in what bandages he had. Then he gently picked her up and carried her to where he thought she might be safe. Unknown to her he could not keep her with him safely, nor did she know he was there at all in the first place. None the less he took that risk and with that started her on a much different path than one she'd ever walked before. One where others might walk with her.
For when she would awaken she would find everything else she had ever known simply gone. Yet replaced with two brothers and a friend to take her into their home, and their family. This was to be the beginning of the life Heart had never known she was seeking until she was free of the one before it. Or at least would be if not for the curse she had forgotten with everything else.
With a deep breath taken and then released the young duck swept up her auburn hair. Once it was secure she took the next few steps up to the track line outside their school. The girl beside her did the same, though her burgundy hair remained a bit loose in the back to cover up the bandages wrapped around her head.
"So where's your feathers?" Another classmate nudged the second girl a tad harshly, "Or your beak?"
"It's a different world without your "brothers" here to look out for you," a fourth young mallard taunted.
"It's a different world in the first place," Heart retorted dryly while trying to focus on the track ahead of her, "But I don't need Dive and Wing to protect me all the time."
"Sure you don't," one scoffed, "Can you believe this freak Niobe?"
"Let's just focus on the run and get it over with," the young duck replied calmly with a playful smirk curving her beak a bit to hide the irritation she was trying to ignore.
"She'd gone to the spot her master had told her of, only for no one to show up. The heist warned of hadn't occurred at all that night. It had been two weeks since then. So she would have to try again in case they had gotten the date wrong somehow. Though she had thought it was strange that they'd gotten information like that in the first place. She'd already waited hours on the night given, and had had to try periodically ever since.
To Niobe it was worse than being stood up on a date. At least there she could eat and have a good time still.
The two on either side only laughed still. While Niobe simply looked to the girl with a raised brow. Then her lilac eyes turned back to the track as their teacher began counting down.
"Go!"
With that their legs sprinted forward. Six girls in total, five feathered, darted down to the other end towards the hurdles. Niobe jumped them with ease, and grew curious with the featherless girl doing the same. The other girls seemed to have varied skill in this, some having to take another try. Then their run continued as they turned the rounded corner so to speak and went down the other end. Towards the end Niobe could see the typical patch of ice missed while cleaning the track of the recent snow fall and shifted to do a slight jump to continue towards the ropes. The girl beside her had not noticed having not being used to looking for it. So when Heart initially fell the others were just as surprised to see her go into a slide, bracing herself with her hand quickly to push back up with momentum, before stabilizing herself back up into a run. As though it were critical she not stop running. With a bit more force pushing her legs she managed to jump into a sprint alongside Niobe as they both crossed the finish line.
The lilac eyed girl looked to her gasping classmate in a bit of surprise. The girl's hair had become quite loose during the run, allowing her bandages to show more as she leaned forward grasping her knees for air.
"You're very impressive," the featherless girl then offered while standing up and offering a hand, "Wildwing tells me this is what you do to honor those you've competed with. Win or lose."
"We sorta tied though," Niobe mentioned while shaking the girl's hand.
"Even still," Heart shrugged.
"So...what exactly are you anyway?" Niobe then asked while placing her hand against her hip.
Heart gave another shrug, "I'm not really sure. I just know I woke up two weeks ago and I was here. All I had left to me was my name."
"Which is?"
"Oh, it's Heart. And yours?"
"Niobe," the light brown feathered girl offered.
Niobe then looked over the the pale skinned girl, taking in her rather thin frame. Her blue eyes stood out as though like gems set in a doll's head. A broken doll she thought when she noticed the bandages still wrapped around her head, as well as the scar beneath her right eye.
"So you don't remember anything else?" Niobe raised a brow.
Heart shook her head, "Last thing that comes to mind is being attacked the night I got here, but it's all shadows beyond that. Wildwing says someone must have intervened, but I don't know who, nor do they. Whoever it was bandaged me up and brought me to their doorstep."
"When was this?" Niobe inquired.
"About two weeks ago," Heart replied.
Niobe shook her head while thinking, "That's gotta be a coincidence! There's no way someone from a group of thieves would risk their neck like that."
Then she caught the rest of what Heart had said, or more so the name she'd mentioned. Looking to her with a bit of surprise she asked, "Wait...Wildwing? The star player's best friend?"
As though summoned a friendly voice called out to the track from the exterior school door, "Good run sis!"
Heart and Niobe both looked to see a trio of drakes approaching them. The white feathered duck in the middle was wearing a general school jersey and gray blue slacks. The shorter blonde haired drake to his right wore a teal t-shirt with a gray over vest and pants with a tear in the knee showing some of his peach feathers. While the the third drake to the left was of the same height but with tan feathers and wore a white muscle shirt and dark blue pants. They all had their skates in hand in some fashion, as well as a hockey stick tucked in an arm.
"Ready to head to the rink?" The tan feathered duck asked.
Heart gave a nod before noticing Niobe's widened lavender eyes.
"They took me in," Heart attempted an explanation of some sort.
Though she knew she was receiving daggers from the the glares of the other classmates. If looks could kill then both Heart and Niobe might be on the ground as she stood between the featherless girl and two of their classmates. Heart stepped towards the trio to take on the full of it without much concern. At least she tried while rubbing the back of her head and neck a bit.
Niobe blinked in a bit of surprise to see the blonde teen throw an arm around Heart's shoulders to willingly pull her into a hug. Giving a shrug at this Niobe knew she had other things to worry about, like completing the task given to her weeks ago now. Knowing this she decided to head out now that class was over and get ready for another possibly tedious night. At least that's what she had planned to do. While Heart in turn paid little attention to the classmates still trying to incinerate her with their glares.
Heart found herself being pulled away from the school and lead to the usual patch of ice to practice hockey. However before they left she turned to Niobe getting a drink of water.
"Would you like to hang out with us?" Heart asked her to Niobe's genuine surprise.
Looking to the featherless girl with a raised brow she reaffirmed, "You're talking to me?"
Heart nodded her head with Nosedive still holding her in a headlock of sorts. The blonde looked to Niobe as well with a friendly smile, "You're making friends sis?"
Nosedive found himself nearly staring as he looked at the young duck standing before them. She was an agile framed duck with auburn hair swept up into a loose ponytail from her run. Her jacket she was pulling on over her tank top and shorts was much bigger than her thin, athletic figure. She had light brown feathers that he couldn't help but think were quite cute. Though what really caught his attention were her lilac eyes lit up with intrigue watching the four of them.
"The name's Niobe," the brown feathered duck offered, a bit off guard by his response to her.
Nosedive shook his head slightly and gave a wide smile and hand to shake, "Nosedive Flashblade. This is my older bro Wildwing, and our friend Canard."
"I know you three," Niobe replied, "At least of you anyway."
"Oh? Are we famous?" Wildwing raised a brow as though he didn't know of his friend's fan-club.
Niobe knew he was being playful however and shrugged while adding, "And you're rather infamous Nosedive. You've about pranked every teacher in the school."
The blonde drake's smile couldn't have been bigger over his beak, "So you've heard of my work?"
Heart beside him shook her head with a hand smacking her forehead in response to this.
"You wanna come with us? We were going to play a few games?" Nosedive heard himself offer with growing curiosity.
Niobe wasn't sure how to respond to this at first. She knew she had something to plan for. Yet it had been a long while since going out on the ice The idea itself almost seemed to beckon her. Before she could step back Niobe found herself following alongside Nosedive and Heart while Canard and Wildwing lead the way.
Not long after they were at a rather small rink near their neighborhood. Nearby there was a little electronics shop with a few televisions in the window. Other than that it was just them and the pond they were skating over.
Wildwing and Canard dawned their gear, as did Nosedive. However Heart found herself pulling out a sketchbook and began working on something while watching the others periodically.
"Not in the mood to skate sis?" Nosedive inquired with slight concern in his voice.
"Maybe in a little bit," she attempted with a bit of a shrug.
Niobe looked over a bit curiously while lacing up her own skates. The girl beside her had already drawn a decent bit of a sketch depicting a strange creature right out of a fairy tale. A winged beast with storm clouds circling around it as lightning struck the seas beneath it. With slightly widening eyes she looked to Heart. The odd girl gave a shrug, "I'm not really sure where it comes from."
"You can't let our school mates get to you," Wildwing offered, knowing Heart was avoiding the conversation.
Heart paused in her drawing, "I know that. I guess I just worry that I may be causing you three trouble by staying with you."
"We're not really worried about that Heart," Canard gave an encouraging smile, "And it's not any trouble to us. You know that."
"Besides, what were we supposed to do when you showed up hurt like that?" Wildwing asked, "Just send you back on the streets without anything but your name?"
Heart shrugged while rubbing the back of her neck a bit. Hearing this Niobe looked around them a bit surprised, "So it's true then? You three just adopted her off the street?"
Wildwing nodded while putting his helmet on, "We did."
"You didn't believe me?" Heart asked tilting her head slightly.
"Well...I guess you could say I wasn't quite sure," Niobe replied.
"When I showed up on Puck World, apparently I was really injured and would have bled to death had someone not intervened that night. Then when I woke up and found I only remembered my name and had nowhere to go, they said I didn't have to worry about that. Wildwing and Nosedive made room for me in their home, and Dive here started calling me their sister and it sort of stuck."
"Well you're our sis now," Nosedive insisted while carefully rustling her hair a bit, "So it only made sense to me!"
Heart gave a smile at his enthusiasm. While Niobe took in this interaction with a bit of disbelief. This girl wasn't anything like them, they had no idea where she was from, what she was, and what could have caused her to be hurt that way. Yet they simply took her in?
"So how should we divide into teams? We seem to have picked up a fifth?" Canard asked to break the ice a bit so to speak.
"Well Wing and Heart are goalies," Nosedive said with a shrug, "So it's between the three of us."
"How about you and Wildwing on one side, and we'll be on the other," Canard suggested.
"I guess that's fair," Wildwing nodded while skating into position.
"You guys can play, it's fine," Heart attempted before Nosedive pulled her to her feet to play with them.
"Come on, we want to play with you too," Nosedive then nudged her with a cheerful grin over his beak.
"Why can't I say no to you?" Heart raised a brow before lacing up her skates and heading to the other makeshift goal.
"Because I'm your twin!" Nosedive grinned before sliding to the center to face off with Niobe.
Niobe still wasn't sure why she was going along with this. Yet there she was in position and face to face with the younger Flashblade. Glancing around she couldn't believe the company she was in. Any girl would have killed to play a game of hockey with Canard Thunderbeak. Wildwing was surprisingly popular at school as well, though he never seemed to know it. Perhaps Canard's fan-girls were simply louder or more direct. Nosedive too had his fair share of secret admirers. They were never unapproachable either, just close knit.
Heart showing up and seeming to be woven into their group had painted a target on the alien girl's back at school. Niobe had witnessed the sheer harassment the girl received from classmates that thought she had a thing for one of the three. Now Niobe could not only see how wrong they were, but in more ways than that.
There was a reason the trio were so popular, they were simply nice. They were the type to take in someone who needed help. Watching Heart even as she skated awkwardly, trying to adapt with them, she could see it wasn't a one sided thing. She was simply dealing with the situation handed to her without any way to look back and pull from skills she did or didn't have. Being around the three boys was pulling Heart gradually out of the shell Niobe had first noticed when she started attending school with them. She was trying to learn, and wasn't attempting to steal anyone's desired boyfriend. The care between the four was purely platonic, but others were too short sighted to notice this.
"Ready girly-girl?" Nosedive pulled Niobe from these thoughts with a playful smile.
"I was hatched ready!" She assured as Canard dropped the puck and got into position.
At the call Nosedive swept up the puck and began heading towards Heart. He laughed apologetically, "Sorry sis!"
Heart braced to try and catch the shot. Yet as Nosedive fired Niobe skated up and caught the puck with her stick. The blonde's jaw dropped as she then dashed passed him to take her own shot. The puck soared towards Wildwing, but was caught in his glove.
"Whoa! I can still feel the heat on that one! I have to watch it!" Wildwing encouraged before tossing the puck back out to them.
Nosedive was still in awe at this with wide blue eyes fixed on the athletic feminine duck before him.
As they went on playing Heart let her concerns wash away. From there the five played their game late into the evening before something would eventually catch Niobe's attention.
On the screens of the seven or so televisions in the window display there was a newscaster announcing the disappearance of a few gems at the museum and the possible name that may have been behind the thefts. The name Duke L'Orange caught their attention, but in much different ways. Heart seemed curious, Wildwing shook his head in irritation, Nosedive shrugged it off, Canard listened with some vague intrigue, and Niobe had to mask her furry. Was he the one she was looking for? Had he been getting by her all these nights some how?
"Another heist huh?" Wildwing said, "This guy's really making a name for himself isn't he?"
"You'd think they'd catch him already," Nosedive hit the puck into an empty goal just to do so.
Heart looked to them with a perplexed expression in her gem like eyes.
Niobe asked, "Do you know what a thief is?"
Heart nodded her head, but didn't say anything. She watched as the screen showed the footage of gems resting in their displays before a skip in the video cut to them simply missing. Niobe felt her hands balling into fists as she saw this. Yet Heart couldn't place what was wrong.
"If they ever do catch him, they'll lock him up and throw away the key," Wildwing mentioned still shaking his head, "It really makes you wonder what makes someone turn out this way?"
"Maybe he likes the adventure of it?" Heart wondered aloud without catching herself.
"There's other ways of getting adventure Heart," Wildwing chuckled lightly.
Heart only shrugged in reply before turning to Niobe as she was removing her skates now.
"I have a test to study for tomorrow," she said with half truth, "I'll catch you guys around."
"We'd better get home too," Wildwing agreed as they parted ways for the evening.
Heart gave a wave to Niobe, as did Nosedive. While Niobe in return found herself waving back before slipping away.
While they headed in, Niobe was heading out after changing quick. Dressed in her gi to blend in with the night around her she slipped towards the museum at the heart of the city. Check had once again attempted to stop her, yet to no avail. In her eyes, Niobe had already spent so much time on this mission that she couldn't walk away from it now. Curiosity of who this leader was and how she could help put an end to their crimes spurred her forward.
This time when approaching the darkly lit building of treasured artifacts she noticed something odd from her position outside. Up on the second floor, was a window with the slimmest opening left. With further investigation she found herself able to slide it further open and go into the main hall of that level. Continuing on she would find defected cameras with the smallest of devices that only her years of training would detect in the first place, causing the technology to malfunction and black out. One by one they were like this, leading to a room full of emptied displays. Several headless busts once bearing jeweled necklaces remained. Tiaras and gem encrusted bracelets were missing from their grooves in their satin fabric displays.
Stepping into the room to investigate further Niobe would hear someone slipping by to the right and towards the door she'd entered through. Turning quickly she found no one there, but knew she wasn't alone.
"You're there aren't you?" She asked while glancing at the camera to be sure it was off as the others had been.
It was.
"That depends on what ya mean by who?" A smooth Brooklyn accented voice replied from the shadows.
"Duke L'Orange?" She said directly now with a fire in her eyes.
Niobe turned to where the voice was coming from, but still found no owner to claim it. Keeping her hand near the hilt of her sword she watched the door closely now.
"I figured the clan was lookin' for me, but why send a kid? Don't ya have a test to study for?" He chuckled with an air of playfulness in his voice.
"If you'd come out of hiding then I could get my job done and get right on that," she said with her hand closing over the hilt now, "Unless you're a coward and a thief?"
She turned as she heard someone take a step towards the door and caught him standing quite boldly as she had said this. He'd been slipping out the entrance with ease. His features were shadowed, but she did catch a good view of his general frame. Whoever it was seemed to be quite lean with that frame of his encased in a dark stealth suit.
"A tad harsh don't ya think?" He retorted while turning to face her, but keeping back to not show his full face.
Though she could see a red light the size of an eye's pupil looking over her. Periodically it blinked as an eye would.
"I don't think so," she replied, "All you do is sneak around and take what doesn't belong to you. How many priceless gems have you stolen?"
"I'd rather steal some rocks than lives," he answered coldly before easing his tone, "But I don't think you really want to do this either."
"Of course I do! You've been a blot on our society, you and your gang!"
"You sound just like him, but just in words," he chuckled, "My old leader told me as such anyway."
"Old leader?" She asked while gripping the hilt of the shido sword in her hand.
"Let me guess," the drake said, "Your master thought if I was out of the picture then the rest of my gang would crumble away or come out of hidin' recklessly? Is that it?"
Niobe fought to keep her jaw from dropping.
"They've been lookin' for us for years kid. The plan has always been the same, but they never succeed. Leader after leader has come an' gone, some killed to be replaced, an' some retired an' livin' quite well. I'd prefer to be one of the latter. Though right now I'm in my prime," there was a good bit o pride in his chuckle, "We've been at this as long your clan has been doin' it's job. Though I'd still rather be a thief than a murderer."
"None the less I've been given a job to-"
"To stop me? To end my life an' put an end to our crimes? Get in line kid, there's plenty out for for my head," he couldn't help but laugh a bit, "Besides, the Brotherhood will survive even if ya spill my blood here tonight."
"The Brotherhood of the Blade will not fall jus' 'cause I do. We've been at this for decades, an' your clan leader knows that," he informed her casually, "That said, I have no intention of dyin' tonight. I have too much to take care of, like my gang."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"'Cause I'm tired of slippin' by ya the last few nights to get jobs done," he replied with a shrug, "An' it's really not fair for that ol' master of yours to not tell ya this stuff."
Niobe's eyes widened hearing this. She shook her head, "You're bluffing!"
"Ya think so?" He teased.
Then he added calmly, "The only way you're talkin' to me now is 'cause I've been lettin' ya. I've been at this for years, an' if I don't want to be seen or heard...I won't be."
Niobe focused on where he was, her blade drawn still. Yet his remained sheathed at the back of his belt.
"You don't really want to do this. Surely you'd have more fun livin' your life, maybe find a nice drake to spend time with?" he suggested while starting to step back.
Niobe faltered at this, lowering her blade as she realized he wouldn't draw his.
"You're nothing but a coward! A glorified pick pocket pretending to have a code with a gang of greedy bandits!" She managed boldly.
"By the way, my name is no secret to the public. Ya think we don't have any honor or a code as a gang of thieves? That I'm nothin' but a coward? Then why would I use my name to cover the others?" He questioned with pride in his voice, "The world can look for Duke L'Orange all they want. It doesn't scare me in the least. Then again, I'm also good enough to not have to worry about it; but even if I wasn't...I'd still do it as the others before me did. That's our code, to look out for one another. What's yours?"
Niobe stood there a bit stunned as she took this in. If she could just move she could try and do what her master wanted. There could be one less thief in the world to worry about. Yet there she stood with a drying throat as the named drake watched her carefully. When she couldn't give an answer that she knew very well he stepped away.
"Go home kid," he said while slipping into the shadows of the museum.
Then she heard him add quickly, "I'd get out of here before the cameras come back on, the timer's almost up. It'll make ya look like the wretched thief I am," he taunted a bit, "An' it would jus' hurt my pride to see someone take the fall an' credit for my hard work."
Suddenly Niobe snapped to attention and made a break for the window she'd entered through. To her relief it remained open for her, allowing her to slip out. Then once on the roof she took a good look around to find that Duke had indeed slipped away as he'd promised.
"I had him! Why did I freeze up?" She tried to convince herself.
However deep down she knew she had some questions for her clan leader. Though she wasn't sure if she could question anything no matter how close they were. It would be admitting she'd planned on going ahead without the plan he'd wanted to form.
Upon returning to the clan she found Check waiting with a troubled look on his face.
"Another frustrating night?" He attempted when she tried to walk by him.
"You could say that," she sighed.
"What happened?" Another familiar voice caught her attention quickly.
Looking up she found a dark feathered drake watching her with concern of his own held in his vibrant green eyes. His long black hair was woven into a braid down his back. The gi he wore was dark like hers, but with forest shaded accents to it. He was about as tall as the drake she'd met earlier that night, with a slim but strong build that was used to wielding a blade.
"Nothing Kay," Niobe replied.
He raised an ebony brow, "I know you better than that Niobe. Did he slip by you again?"
When she looked up at him a bit perplexed Kay mentioned, "I got my father to finally tell me about your mission. I'm not thrilled he put such a task on you knowing how you are."
Check's brow furrowed together upon hearing this. Niobe shook her head, "It's my own fault for being over eager. Either way I got the information he wanted. We have a name and a bit of a description to follow now."
"So he did get away?" Kay pushed a little.
"You could say that," Niobe shrugged, "I'll get him next time."
Though even as she said that Niobe felt a slight twist in her core. It was easier to imagine finishing this task before she'd spoken with Duke. While he had been brimming with over confidence, there was still a ring of truth to what he'd said.
For the moment she shrugged off these concerns and dumped the rogue's words to the side. While she did this Kay walked up to her and offered, "Why don't we get something to eat and I'll help you study for your test tomorrow?"
"That would be great," she admitted with an ease in her voice.
Duke had met one of his fellow thieves at the drop off point. After handing over the prizes won for that evening he decided he wasn't quite ready to head back to the hideout. With such a tense conversation lingering behind him he decided he wanted to get some fresh air.
These wanderings brought him to a vaguely familiar neighborhood well into the night. So he was surprised to hear laughter a bit ahead of him along the sidewalk. Looking up he noticed three young drakes and a young girl among them. Realizing where he was he stepped to the side to avoid being seen directly by them. With a bit of a relieved breath escaping his throat, Duke looked around the corner carefully to see them still laughing among one another.
Wildwing and Canard had been teasing Nosedive about something. While Heart rested a hand on his shoulder to try and ease his frustration, "It's okay Dive."
Duke couldn't help but watch with further ease of another sort washing over him. He could still see her bandages wrapped around her head, as well as her rather thinned frame. Yet at the very least she was had regained her color and seemed happy enough. This was a far cry from how he'd found her those two weeks ago, bleeding to death with a ghost of a chance to survive. A part of him had honestly been wondering if she had.
He then watched as the brothers began to head inside with her pausing right at the door. The blonde teen waved her in to follow. She gave a nod as she began to do just that. However she stopped and said, "I'll be right in guys."
Nosedive tilted his head a bit with worry and curiosity, but let her be to follow when she was ready.
Once the door was closed Heart remained with a thankful smile over her face and a sigh escaping her lips. Then she turned her head to gaze up at the night sky hovering over like a blanket with countless holes in it. Duke watched as she raised her hands up as though trying to catch something. He looked up to see what it was she was seeing to find a shooting star streaking across the heavens above. A slight smile curved his beak as he turned to watch her a moment longer.
"Whatever ya went through sweetheart, may ya be safe an' free of it. I know we can't meet...but I'm content knowin' I could save someone for once...even if you don't know it..." he said softly before turning to leave.
However he waited to make sure she went inside safely. When she did he slipped away with a wish he didn't dare even murmur, knowing there wasn't a ghost of a chance for him to ever break that silence between her and him, even to simply say hello. He knew what he was, and he was quite proud of it. Though he knew that also came with certain taboos, and he'd already risked enough by stepping out to save her in the first place. That's where it had to stay. No matter how much he wished that just one person saw him as a hero, even if for a moment.