No Matter What It Takes Part Two

by KidHeart4

The Mighty Ducks continue their adventures in their new home on Earth. Along with familiar foes, a few new ones begin to rear their heads. Some new allies will be met along the way as well. In this part 2, Heart's locked away past will be unveiled, bringing on more adventures for them to tackle as a team.

4. 29 Knowing What's Been Lost

Heart:

"Come on guys!" Phil pleaded to the group of us.

"I don't want to wear another stupid costume!" Mallory pushed back, already weary and annoyed.

"It's a fashion shoot, no costumes involved!" he insisted.

"Tell that to some of your designers!" Tanya laughed, "I swear some of them don't make any sense."

"I don't think fashion makes sense most of the time," I admitted from my seat on the backing of the sofa.

I'd been watching Nosedive play his game for a while. Mallory had come in from working out. Nosedive had paused to look at the tech Tanya was showing us after a long night fine tuning it.

"Look, this girl's worked herself to the bone over these designs! It'll give her the boost she needs to climb her way up in the industry!" Phil attempted.

Our manager looked to me, continuing to plead his case, "You know how that is Heart! You're an artist!"

"I'm not the one wearing the outfits Phil, you have to convince them," I replied, admittedly a bit tugged at by his comment.

"Actually," Phil said while pulling out a folded piece of paper and looking it over, "You're being invited in on this one too Heart. The designer's seen you at other events with Duke and the others and included you in their plans."

I looked to him a bit surprised to hear this. Nosedive paused his game again to look over his shoulder, "They want us all there?"

Phil nodded his head.

"Oh no, poor Heart will now be roped into your schemes as well!" Mallory scoffed in a teasing tone more to me than Phil.

"She's been to a few promotions before!" Phil protested.

He then looked to me, his eyes wide as he begged, "Please guys! Heart, help me convince your fellow teammates to do this for the artist in you!"

"You are desperate!" Nosedive laughed while saving his game.

By now Wildwing, Duke, and Girn had found us. They'd heard some of the commotion already. Our poor team captain couldn't escape fast enough as Phil pleaded his case to them as well.

"Wow girly-girls!" Nosedive exclaimed as the three of us stepped out wearing similar dresses that were part of a set.

On my neck was a black choker with a silver moon and heart crest in the center. The dress itself was a soft teal, with a short poofed up dancing skirt. It's bodice part left my shoulders bare and was held up by ribbons tied behind my neck. This left my upper back exposed as well. When I felt a bit of a chill run down my back I stood rather uneasily. Over my feet were a pair of velvet ebony dress boots that went just a bit up from my ankles. My hair had been pulled up into a high set ponytail to allow the waves of ruby and burgundy to curl and cascade over my left shoulder.

Tanya's lavender dress was similar at the bodice with a princess cut at the bust as mine was, though she did have low set shouder straps to hers. Her skirt hugged her hips more in a slim style. Her hair was tossed up into a playful brush forward with a sash replacing her headband. Her back was not left bare. On her feet were short silver flats that matched her sash both in her hair and around her waist.

Mallory's had the same type of top as well, but with a single strap at the right shoulder. The pink fabric clung to her thin, athletic frame. The skirt flowed out to her knees with a split up her left thigh. She was given laced up dress boots of white velvet similar to my own. At her wrists were silver clasp bracelets. Her hair was left to flow naturally to her shoulders, but her bangs were brushed to the side.

Duke looked over at me when Nosedive pointed us out, his remaining brown eye widened a bit. He walked over to me with a charming smile on his beak, "Ravishin'."

My face grew to be quite warm as he leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

"There will be a fourth posing with you ladies," she said, "I think you might know her."

We looked to each other puzzled as the designer waived her in. I looked over to immediately feel my blood beginning to boil in my veins. She smiled pleasantly, but my core told me it was fake as it had been before.

"It's been a long time hasn't it?" LuCretia asked as she stepped out and stood before us in her red dress.

It too was like our own at the top, but with out any straps or ribbon piece. Instead it clung to her bust and slender frame, flowing down into a teared skirt of lightening shades of crimson. At her feet were a pair of long crushed red velvet boots that reached up to her knees. Around her neck was a red velvet choker holding a gold sun with a heart in similar fashion to my own. I nearly took mine off when I noticed this.

Anger I never thought I harbored rushed through me, my hands balled into fists at m sides as I snapped, "We assure you she is no friend of ours!"

"Look," she started right away with an uneasy tone, "I am simply here to try and start a new life. I am not here to mess with yours."

I didn't believe her.

"If I were here to cause trouble would I have been so straight forward?" She asked.

"Possibly," I spat with my knuckles growing white from the tension in my hands.

I hadn't realized that I was standing between her and my teammates. Nor did I notice the energy starting to spark around me.

Duke:

I watched just as surprised as the others while Heart faced LuCretia. Even with finding out about Vulpina, I'd never seen her like this before.

Though we all knew exactly why she was reacting like this.

I reached out from behind Heart and rested my hand on her shoulder, "Sweetheart it's okay."

"No it isn't!" She insisted, "She almost got all of you killed last time! I'm not letting her come close to any of you again!"

"Yeah, this isn't going to work," Tanya told the designer with a bit of defense in her own stance I noticed.

"I worked on these designs for months! This is my big break!" the designer exclaimed with genuine panic in her green eyes.

"We're sorry, but she's nothing but trouble!" Mallory agreed with a hand placed on her hip.

"Please don't go! I need you ladies to do this show or I'll be laughed out of the industry before I've had a chance to start in it!" the brunnette human begged.

LuCretia looked to us with alarm in her eyes as she faced all of us.

We started to turn to change and leave. Though I noticed as Heart paused as she looked at the designer. She seemed to be thinking things over when she sighed, "From one artist to another I do understand,...but this doesn't change anything with you," she looked at LuCretia with a firm glare in her eyes, "one wrong move and you're done!"

"Don't think this makes us friends of any sort!" Tanya supported Heart by resting a hand on her shoulder.

Wildwing and I looked to each other in a bit of shock of our own. Not by Heart agreeing to help the artist out, but by her threat to our former adversary. Tanya too, was quite adament of keeping our distance as things started up.

Though just before the photo shoot began, I pulled Heart aside into the changing room. We had a few moments while the other guys fixed up their own outfits with the designer's aid.

My own outfit was ready, despite Heart trying to adjust the buttons of my vest for me. I smiled when I realized what she was doing. For the designer had left my collar buttons loose, exposing some of the feathers along my neck and hinting at my chest. Under the burgundy gillet vest I wore a black dress shirt. My sleeves were also gathered up at the elbows, with belts at my biceps. There was another matching belt at my lean waist. The trousers I wore were ebony to go with the shirt. Over my hands were a pair of leather ebony gloves. Burgundy buttoned boot covers went up to my knees, bunching up the pant legs slightly, as they were fitted to go with my slender frame.

"These aren't half bad," I admitted when I saw Heart glancing over m outfit with a bit of intrigue.

She tried to adjust my sleeves, but I shook my head, "It's not so bad. The ones on my forearms aren't as noticable."

Her hands went to adjust my collar a bit more as I noted, "I would like that one covered up however, thanks sweetheart."

I noticed she wasn't saying anything as she simply nodded her head.

"Heart, don't let her get to ya. We're not fallin' for her tricks this time," I assured her softly as I bent forward so I could lock eyes with those sapphires of hers.

"I know that," she said half heartedly.

I reached out and gripped her shoulders firmly as I tried to shake away the bad memories with her, "Heart, trust me?"

"It's not you that I don't trust," she said while glancing towards the door.

"Heart, I would never hurt ya like that again," I reminded her.

"I know you wouldn't hurt me again Duke," she told me.

"Then what is it sweetheart?"

"I know she's up to something. I feel it, but I can't prove it yet," she said with frustration.

"Heart, we can walk away from her an' this," I suggested.

Heart shook her head, "No, we said we would help that artist. I can put up with her long enough for that; but we need to figure out how she even got here in the first place once this is over."

I nodded, "Alright Heart, I'm sure we'll come up with a plan with Wing an' the others."

It was now that I realized I was standing before the rare find of Heart in a dress. Not just any dancing dress, but one that was almost tailored to her frame I realized. I looked over her standing before me with a bit of a smile curving my beak in appreciation. I took her by the hand and gestured for her to turn under my fingers almost like we were dancing, "Let me see sweetheart?"

She obliged with a nervous blush touching her cheeks with a shade of pink. When she turned her back to me I couldn't help but run my hand along it, caressing her as she turned. Then I slid my hand from her exposed shoulder, up her neck, and paused against her cheek.

As I did this, I recalled the other reason I knew Heart was so nervous...even in front of me now with that woman in the next room. To this I grasped her other shoulder to pull her close to me, admiring her as I leaned forward and breathed out, "You are beautiful Heart."

With that I kissed her, seeing her blush a bit deeper as I did.

Heart:

Not long after this the photo shoot started. To our surprise, things seemed to go smoothly. We stood in our positions and moved as directed. LuCretia kept her distance from us s much as possible. Though we were forced to do a couples shot where she was paired with a reluctant Nosedive for a moment. This seemed to pull at Mallory standing beside me. Tanya had been set up with Grin, Mallory with Wildwing, and Duke and I do to our wedding bands. Though this seem to raise a brow or two from some of the staff. Duke didn't seem to let this distract him as he posed with me in his arms as though we were dancing. I found myself rather enjoying the sight of him in this sort of attire, and he noticed this just as much, "Ya like it darlin'?"

I tried to shy away, but he'd already seen me blushing and gave a playful chuckle as we posed together again.

A few hours later and we were nearly done. It was down to a one on one shot. LuCretia and I were picked due to our contrasting styles and colors. We were asked to stand back to back as camera lights flashed around us. Then she turned to me stepped back a little, and offered a hand for me to shake. My instincts told me to turn away.

I should have listened.

As my hand grasped hers, and the photo taken in that second, I heard her whisper something. Suddenly the room went pitch dark for a moment as though all the power had gone out. Just as quickly as they'd gone out, did the lights flicker back on. The designer thanked us and we went to go change. For a moment nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I followed the girls to retrieve my jersey and cargoes.

"The usual?" Mallory asked.

I gave a smile, "Of course!"

We noted LuCretia waiting to change on her own. We were rather okay with this.

"Let's go home," Wildwing said as he waved to the three of us.

I hastened my steps to catch up to my teammates. Yet then Nosedive looked to our brother puzzled before he turned to me, "What are you doing girly-girl?"

"Going home with you? So we can figure out a plan?" I mentioned, tilting my head slightly.

"What plan?" Wildwing asked in bewilderment.

"Um...we don't know you?" Nosedive commented while scratching his head.

I paused with a raised brow, "Dive that isn't funny."

"It wasn't a joke?" He said just as puzzled.

I looked to the others, all of whom seemed to share in this confusion.

"Guys?" I asked nervously.

Grin rubbed the back of his neck, as though trying to solve a mystery. Tanya and Mallory looked to each other, trying to receive as well. Wildwing, through the mask, seemed to be unsure of what Nosedive had said. Finally I looked up at Duke. He was facing towards me, as though he'd been waiting. Yet he seemed to be distracted as I hurried over to him. This, somehow, surprised everyone, as I reached for his arm. Before I could even brush my fingers over the fabric of his sleeve, he pulled away to greet who he was waiting for. To my horror, I turned to see that he was looking to her. As LuCretia stepped out in a casual red dress, Duke walked over to her, and bowed politely to her before offering an arm to escort her.

"Duke?" I asked in disbelief, my eyes growing wide to see this.

Our leader rested a hand on my shoulder, "Miss are you okay? Do you need some help?"

"Miss?! Wing it's me! I'm your sister!" I tried to tell him, spinning around on my heel to face my brother.

"I don't have a sister? Especially a human one? It's been Dive and me most of our lives," he told me, still sounding quite confused by his own words.

I spun on my heel again, my eyes narrowing into a glare, "What did you do?!"

"I'm sorry?" She blinked in confusion.

"What did you do?!" I snapped.

"I didn't do anything! I've been with them this whole time! since we left Puck World. We agreed to do this photo shoot with a fan for charity today," she explained as though I should know, "You were the lucky winner."

My eyes widened in shock, "Have you lost your mind?! I'm not just some fan! They're my family!"

"This one's lost it," Mallory said to Wildwing, "Come on, let's just get out of here."

"Guys?" I asked with a growing panic in my chest, "Guys, you know me!"

They all looked to each other in growing frustation and confusion. LuCretia held onto Duke's arm with concern feigned in her eyes. I wanted to punch her for whatever she'd just done, but knew that would only make things worse.

Somehow she had erased the last two years of our life together. Our memories were all missing to them. No, not missing...changed! Somehow we were switched around. Yet how was my memory not changed like theirs? How did I still know them?

I looked to my teammates again, trying to stay calm as I spoke, "Guys, I don't know what's happened, but you have to remember! Wing, Dive, you both took me in on Puck World, you called me your sister! Grin, I meditate with you almost every morning! Tanya, I helped you build some of our gear, we were working on a project just the other day! Mallory, you and I adventure through the mall at least once a week! Duke...look at your own hand..."

Yet as we both looked, the drake humoring me, we both found our wedding bands to be gone! However I still tried to reach him, approaching the gray feathered drake, "Duke...you and I are in..."

"You have quite the fantasy in your head," Nosedive scratched his head, breaking my attempt.

"It's not a fantasy!" I told them, "We've all known each other for nearly two years! We fought her together!"

Wildwing then glared at me, suddenly I felt small and even more lost as he said, "I'm sorry you seem to be mixed up at the moment, but this has gone on far enough!"

"Wildwing-"

"Let's go team!" he turned away with the others following behind him. Yet for a moment each of them looked to me in continued bewilderment, as though something weren't right, before ultimately walking away. Though Duke paused longer as though some part of him knew this weren't right.

Duke:

"Duke...please..." the human girl begged, "You know this isn't right. You have to remember us!"

Before I could say anything to her, LuCretia lifted a hand to rest against my cheek. She gently turned my gaze towards her, "Duke, you and I found each other due to our twisted pasts meeting together, something that only the other understands," she assured me as she stood on her toes to kiss my cheek, "It's what connects us remember?"

I noticed the human girl's eyes widen in sheer shock as I allowed this. LuCretia noted this as well and said to her, "Aw, did your heart get broken? Poor girl, maybe you really should just stick with your own kind shouldn't you?"

The young lady's lips opened to say something, but she seemed to faulter. Yet her hands balled into fists, her entire frame trembling. While LuCretia wrapped her arms around one of my own, I barely caught a glimpse of Tanya raising a brow at this. I shrugged, as though it were normal for us. It had taken some convincing to get to this point with LuCretia, but we were passed all that now. In fact, I'd taken quite a risk with my own trust with her hadn't I? I'd stuck my neck out for her, having been familiar with needing a second chance that others weren't always willing to give.

However, we'd had enough of this girl trying to weave her crazy ideas, and we left her standing there. When she took even the slightest step to follow us, Mallory quickly cut her off by glancing over her shoulder and warning her, "You're pushing your luck."

The young girl backed off as she watched us leave. While we drove off Nosedive shook his head, "Man, we need to talk to Phil about being more careful with fan prizes! This one was off her rocker!"

"Perhaps she was just a bit star struck?" Tanya tried to say thoughtfully, "You know how it can feel meeting your heroes."

"She sounded like a stalker to me," Mallory warned, "Buzz was excited, but he's a kid."

"She seemed to have quite a crush on Dukester here," Nosedive commented while turning his seat around to tease, "Better watch it LuCretia, your drake's stealing hearts without knowing it."

I gave a bit of a laugh, "That's nothin' new."

"She seemed harmless though," Grin stated knowingly, "I didn't get any bad vibes from her."

"Look, let's just forget about that girl. She clearly wasn't feeling very well or something. We have more important things to worry about don't we?" LuCretia suggested, "Don't you all have a game to practice for?"

"You're not jealous are ya?" I raised a brow at her persistance.

"Of course not! What's to be jealous of when it comes to a wisp of a girl like that? I know I've got your heart in my hands," LuCretia assured me with a sweet smile over her beak.

Soon enough we were back at the pond and preparing for practice. LuCretia waited outside for us as we changed.

Tanya:

The guys had let Mallory and I get a head start in changing. They waited for our under armor to be on before asking to come in. I was pulling my jersey on over it when I told them to come on inside.

"I felt like I knew her," I heard Duke mention as he leaned back against his locker, waiting for all of us to change as usual.

"Probably in the crowd at a game or something," Nosedive pointed out.

"Do you think she'll be there tonight?" I questioned.

"Who knows; just try and focus on the game itself," Wildwing encouraged.

"We could tell the front not to let her in," Mallory pointed out.

"I really don't think we need to go to any of those lengths," Grin voiced while getting out his gear, "I couldn't feel any malice from her."

"You sure about that?" Mallory questioned as Grin nodded in response.

With this the two of us headed to the outer locker space to let the guys change. LuCretia was there waiting for us quite patiently. I was adjusting my helmet when she glanced over at us.

"Something the matter?" Mallory raised a brow.

"Not really, just waiting for the game to start. I look forward to cheering all of you on," she replied.

"I'm sure it'll encourage Duke," I commented pleasantly enough.

"I certainly hope so," she replied, "After such an odd afternoon, I'm sure he needs it."

Mallory gave a shrug and then headed out to the box while I was retying the lacing to my skates. It was then that LuCretia walked over, and crouched down in front of me. In a low voice she mentioned, "Tanya, I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

"What's that, and is this the best time?"

"It's important," she insisted, "I'll be quick though."

"Okay then," I shrugged while standing up with her.

"I really do appreciate you giving me a second chance, well...third really..." she started, "After my last mess up with your team, I thought it was hopeless. It would have been easy, and understandable, for you to be on guard with me around."

Thinking on when she'd shown back up, somehow escaping her trip to limbo and making her way to us again; I realized I wasn't exactly sure what to think of this. That was nearly a year ago now. She'd been with us since then, but had remained out of Dragonus's sights when handling missions.

"That's an odd thing to bring up before a game don't you think?" I mentioned.

"I just really wanted to talk to you about that. I guess that girl upset me more than I thought by bringing up past failures," she replied.

I couldn't help but think that was odd phrasing, but tried to excuse it for the moment. Surely she meant her own past being the failure she was referring to? Yet also, as it was stirred it up, I began to wonder, what did get me to lower my guard around her? Was it when Duke vouched for her, and I wanted to trust his judgement? If anything though, I realized I'd been avoiding talking to her directly since we'd left the studio. A year later, and as I talked with her, I found I wasn't entirely sure on any of this.

However, for the sake of the others being okay with her thus far, I let it be for the moment. If she ever proved their trust wrong, I would deal with it I guessed. Though I hoped I wouldn't have to.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked while placing a hand on her hip.

"Not really," I answered with a shrug, "I'm just glad things have worked out."

It was about now that the others starting following after us. I noted LuCretia dropping her hand from her hip, and away from the satchel she kept hanging over it. I tilted my head curiously at this, but didn't say anything. Wildwing and Grin were heading to the box with Mallory. Nosedive was about to follow, but paused to adjust his jersey and skates. Duke was still back in the locker room.

"I wonder why he doesn't change with the rest of the guys?" LuCretia pondered aloud.

I shrugged again, "Guess he just prefers it that way?"

Thinking over it, I realized Duke never did let anyone see him without being covered neck to toe. Even when injured, he insisted on tending to his injuries with minimal help. Though with LuCretia questioning this I couldn't help but think this was odd, had he not even let her that close after a near year together?

I noticed as she gave a shrug of her own before strolling over to Nosedive as I went to leave. Though when I was just outside the door, I thought I could hear her talking to our youngest drake. I looked over my shoulder to see this was the case, batting her long lashes as she spoke, "I hope you have a good game Dive."

"I'm sure I will!" he assured with a grin, "No matter the fan, I live for the ice!"

"I can see that," she giggled while admiring the blonde drake in his hockey uniform.

As Nosedive stood, LuCretia gave a smile of her own, "It's been a long while since anyone's played a game with me, or even skated. Duke's been sweet of course, but he seems to think I'm not that interested in our planet's past time."

"I can play with you sometime," Nosedive offered cheerfully, not picking up the odd hints I was seeing.

To this I raised a brow. Did she think no one saw her, or was she relying on Nosedive being kind of naive? Since she'd been back, Nosedive had steered clear of her in that way. If anything, he and Mallory had been hanging out more I now realized as I thought back on it.

LuCretia gave a delighted cheer, "I'd love that!"

"Alright, tell me when and we'll give it a try!" Nosedive promised.

"How about...tonight, after the game of course? Unless you think you'll be too tired?" LuCretia pushed rather quickly.

"Me too tired for a quick match or skate around the ice? Of course not!" Nosedive assured with pride.

She gave a light chuckle, "It's a date then."

Nosedive laughed, "I wouldn't call it that, but still sounds fun!"

"If you say so," she shrugged while Nosedive headed out to follow after us, "Either way, I can hardly wait!"

When Nosedive found me listening just outside the door still, he turned and asked, "-"

I put a finger to my beak, shaking my head. He shrugged as I tugged on his collar, pulling him sternly to the box with the others. I tried to make it look like it was the game I was worried about, but something told me to be weary of something much more than that. Something stirred up was trying to give a warning, one that I hoped they wouldn't have to heed.

Once Nosedive was with the others, I turned to find Duke hadn't come out yet.

Heart:

Fortunately the photo shoot had been in town; so it didn't take long for me to get back to the pond on my jetblades. I had tried to quick change into my gear, but found even my com had been turned into a fake somehow, a basic replica to wear like a wrist watch. So I had to just stay in my jersey while trying to figure out how she'd done all of this.

Once home I pondered over what to do next. Even with a game as an excuse, walking through the front door didn't seem like a smart idea. LuCretia would get them to throw me out, and they would possibly change the code afterwards. I couldn't even risk getting in contact with Phil in case his memories had been altered as well.

This made me wonder, why had I been spared this? Why had my memories remained in tact? Other things had been able to alter them before? Dragonus and Wraith had brainwashed me once, and I'd been through other mind altering effects? Before LuCretia had left, while hanging on Duke's arm, I'd noticed that she was wearing the necklace. In case that had had something to do with it, I'd kept mine on. If the designer asked, I would simply tell her it was a mistake on my part. Though a warning within told me that the artist hadn't made them.

Looking over it while I hid beside Wildwing's statue among the crowd, I noticed the older material now. The charms themselves were a bit warn, and the tiny jewels in the eye of the moon winked back at me in it's shimmer in the lamp light nearby.

"What did she do?" I wondered aloud as I turned it over in my palm.

On the back of the heart was an engraving long ago worn off into obscurity. For the moment I decided it was best to keep mine on so I couldn't lose it. If it was needed to fix things, I didn't want to risk anyone taking it. Especially if she asked him to. I'd gotten rather good at knowing when he was playing with my necklaces or ribbons over the last year or so. Though he did occasionally slip pens in and out of my pockets to get my attention when he was bored.

"Please be okay..." I breathed as I thought of him, and how I should be inside cheering them on as I stood there.

I waited for it to grow dark and the stands to fill up for the game. With the hustle and bustle masking my movements, I slipped to the back underground path and made my way to the emergency entrance. I'd forgotten that it was a bit of a trek to get to the door and input the code. Only once had I been down there with Wildwing when he'd shown us how to get in or out if it was needed.

However, it wasn't getting in I was worried about. It was getting through. Without my comm's signal, I would be treated as an intruder by our securitty system. If I was spotted. I hoped with the roaring fans above that maybe I wouldn't be picked up on by cameras or anything to signal their comms...or hers if she had one. My nails bit into my palms as I balled up my hands again. Even my ears felt hot with how angry I was with this situation. Why hadn't I gone with my instinct? Why didn't we stop her from doing all of this?

None the less, I had to deal with this now. With or without their help, I needed to get her away from my teammates.

I picked up my pace, darting along the dark underground corridors beneath our headquarters. When I heard the buzzing patrol of bots I ducked down and hid in a side hall to let them go by. Releasing a bit of held breath, I continued down the hall. While doing so I tried to think of a plan. First I had to figure out what she'd done in hopes of undoing it. Though that would mean getting by everyone possibly. It would be difficult to even fight back against those I was trying to save, not to mention I'd be outnumbered. From what I'd seen, they'd all been effected by this.

However, I began to wonder how deep this trick went? LuCretia had mentioned her own past as a traitor in comparison to Duke's years as an outlaw, connecting them somehow. Did this mean her and Tanya still had the history they did?

Tanya had told me a bit more about it when I'd asked, that LuCretia had tried to sabotage plans and tech the resistance were working on before we'd set out on our own quest. Tanya had fought with her, getting her and a few others out of harm's way while doing so. Did this spell make it easier to overlook that?

I was pondering this when I heard the beeping of another bot drawing near just ahead of me. Looking up, it turned the corner just as I ducked down and to the side. I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself blend with it.

Too late! It started shouting at me!

"No! No! No!" I pleaded with short breaths.

In that moment I was forced to begin jumping around, trying to evade shots being fired at me.

"INTRUDER!" rang in my ears over and over as I leapt into a side hallway.

I reached back instinctively for my glaive. My hand grasped air instead. How much more had she taken from me? Still I ran and jumped again, narrowly dodging a blast that nearly singed the back of my jersey. What could I do? I didn't have my glaive, I didn't even have a blaster, or the sword Duke had given me when we'd first gotten to Earth. I didn't have my teammates! What could I...I looked at my hands? In my racing mind, I'd failed to notice the energy sparking softly around my palms and fingers. I thought back to the devices I'd shorted out with this not long ago. With a quick breath taken, I lunged back towards the bot, slid down, and grabbed the lower floating limb of the droid. In that instant a wave of electricity surged through it, causing it to shake in a confused fury. I didn't stop until the top of it burst with smoke and it dropped to the ground at my feet.

I didn't have time to catch my breath. Someone had to have seen something appear on our scanners. Knowing this, I continued to work my way through. I was much more cautious in hopes they'd consider it an error of some kind.

Tanya:

After gathering with the others when Nosedive had made another goal, and noting LuCretia watching him with a more than flattering gaze, I heard something go off on my comm. Glancing at it before the others noticed, I saw what looked like an odd energy reading surge and then vanish. It had emerged from the underground entrance. Raising a brow, I commented, "That's weird?"

"You saw that too?" Wildwing skated over while we were still on our brief break.

"Yeah," I replied while trying to examine the energy source, "It's not the lizards or anything they'd use."

"Should we go check it out?" our team captain asked.

"I'll go take a quick look. Hopefully it's just an overheated bot," I said.

"Take someone with you just in case," Wildwing requested.

I gave in, and looking around I noted Duke getting a drink of water while LuCretia hovered between him and Nosedive. With a bit of irritation rising in me, I forced it down and called over to our rogue teammate, "Mind checking on something with me?"

Duke gave a nod and quick changed into his gear along with me. When LuCretia offered to assist I replied, "It's nothing. Just doing a quick check up. We'll be back in just a minute."

She gave a shrug and began talking with Nosedive and Grin in regards to that practice match she'd set up for later on. Duke raised a brow at this, along with her mannerisms, but let it go.

"Are you okay Duke?" I asked as we headed down to our headquarters.

"I guess so," he shrugged as he stood in the elevator with me, "Jus' hope nothin's wrong."

"What was the reading you got?" he asked.

"That's just it, I don't recognize it. It almost seemed like a source of electricity, but wasn't exactly that," I tried to explain.

"Do ya think someone got in?" he inquired with a bit of concern.

"Not that I can see, it would have had to go through the underground door, and there's no sign of a break in there," I informed him.

Duke placed a hand to the chin of his beak, pondering over the information.

Before much longer we made our way to the level below our headquarters and I took a step out. I looked to Duke and suggested, "It might be a good idea for you to wait here until something tries to get by me, so you can warn the others?"

"Ya sure? Maybe I should go ahead an' you wait here Tanya?" Duke offered with genuine concern.

"I'll be alright, besides if it's just an over heated bot I can shut it down," I mentioned, to which he seemed to accept.

Though as I stepped further down the hall, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. After turning a few corners with everything clear so far, I at last found one of the bots sputtering desperately upon the floor. Drawing to a pause I looked ahead through the dark before switching on the flashlight from my omnitool, "Who's there?"

Huddled in the corner of the pocket of space to the left of the hall, I found her huddled up with her knees pulled up to her chest. My eyes widened in alarm at first when I recognized the girl from the photo shoot. She was looking up at me through the dark, seeming to be just as alert and worried.

"Tanya?" she asked in a very quiet voice.

I focused the light on her, forcing her to shield her eyes with her arm. The jersey she wore was so big on her that the sleeve hung well passed her hand. At this I raised a brow. If she were going to attack me, wouldn't she have done so to stay hidden? She knew I could alert the others at any moment didn't she?

"What are you doing here?" I questioned in a carefully low tone of my own, "You're really pushing things don't you think?"

"Tanya, I'm not just some over zealous fan," she attempted while getting to her feet.

She held her hands open for me to see that she carried no weapons.

I then asked, "How did you get in here? There was no alert at the door?"

"I know the code to my own home," she retorted.

"Look I'm sure you're a mostly nice lady, breaking in aside," I started, before I watched her lower her head, "still, you can't...just..."

"Tanya...does it really add up that she's here? Can you tell me that you trust LuCretia?" she asked.

To this I looked to her a bit surprised. However I then pointed out, "You realize that it really looks bad what you're doing? You look like you're-"

"Jealous?" she finished for me, shrugging her shoulders, "Maybe a little bit...but more than that I just want him to be okay. Same with the rest of you, regardless of how this looks."

She then looked directly at me and said, "Tanya, you know something isn't right. If you believed for a second I was here to hurt any of you than you would have sent me on my way already."

I let out a sigh as I placed a hand on my hip. Looking her over a moment I realized I was running out of time. Duke would come searching for me if I took too much longer.

"He's down here isn't he?" she then asked.

"How did you know that?" I inquired in surprise.

With a sigh of her own she said, "I just had a feeling..."

"What did you do to that bot?" I questioned.

"I wasn't trying to short circuit it...I can help you fix it if you want?" she offered, "After we fix whatever's going on here?"

"Tanya?" Duke called from around the corner, drawing closer, "We gotta get back to the game. Everythin' alright?"

The human girl had looked as I did, and I caught the odd expression in her eyes. It were as though she wanted him to find her and didn't at the same time. In fact she nearly stepped forward, but caught herself by covering her mouth with her own hand. She winced from a discomfort I quickly recognized.

"Everything's okay Duke! It seems to be an error," I answered with a slight smile given to the girl.

"Alright, should we head back up then?" he asked while drawing closer still.

I watched the human step back without a sound, pressing herself against the shrouded corner. As she did this I quickly raised a calm hand, signaling for her to wait where she was. She in turn looked to me with puzzlement in her eyes as I looked around the corner, "Go ahead to the elevator, I'm just adjusting my comm to over ride the error."

"Ya sure?"

"I'll be right there," I assured.

Duke gave a bit of a shrug before turning back to head down the hall. When I was sure he was far enough from earshot, I turned back to the human girl. She was watching me with cautious, widened eyes. I shook my head and said to her, "I don't know exactly why, but I think I trust you."

"Tanya?" she said with her eyes gaining some hope in them.

"I have to head back up or they'll know something's up. So give me your plan and quick, maybe I can help?"

"I need to get to LuCretia's room, she probably has some notes for these necklaces stored away in there. That or just seeing what was changed and what wasn't might help."

"Now that you mention it...there would be no reason for their to even be an extra room for her. We would have only built enough for each teammate when we arrived on Earth. She joined us afterwards, according to her," I realized while placing a hand to my chin.

The human ran a hand through her hair, combing her fingers from the front to the back. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she then asked as though something had caught her attention, "They aren't sharing their room?"

I shook my head, "I don't think they've grown that comfortable yet."

I watched as the girl bit her lip in an attempt not to smile.

"Alright, that does add to the idea she's covering something up in my old room. If she were sharing with a former master thief, it would be harder to hide away," she said.

"That or she can't make up her own mind," I pointed out, "She doesn't seem as tied to Duke as she claimed before."

She raised a brow. Before I could explain a beep went off on my comm, pulling my attention back to it. Phil was blowing up my line as the game was about to start back up.

"I have to hurry!" I said while getting ready to quick change, "Do you think you can get into her room if I keep them and her busy with the game?"

"I believe so," she nodded.

"Alright, go see what you can find. After the game we'll meet back in here and form a better plan?" I suggested.

"Meet here, got it," she confirmed.

With that I quick changed and hurried up to the rink. Against my better judgement, I lead her up to the floor of our headquarters. Then I continued my way up to the rink. I would find the others all waiting, with Nosedive nearly on the ice already, "There you are!"

"Sorry, I was making sure that Drake One recognized the bots and didn't count them as something to signal us for again," I explained with a casual shrug.

"Everything's okay then?" Wildwing inquired.

"Yep!" I confirmed without batting an eye.

I scanned the area to see that LuCretia was indeed upstairs with us. She was wearing a little black dress with a jersey swung over the board as she watched us. I noted as Duke glanced over at her and shrugged half heartedly. I thought back to the girl slipping through our headquarters, and found I was hoping we could fix whatever was happening here. Whether I believed her or not.

Heart:

On the surface everything looked the same at the pond. Yet the real test was getting to old room. I hadn't noticed replacement rings on either him or LuCretia, so not everything about us had been entirely switched. Somehow she must have edited things to how she wanted them. The question was how?

I carefully made my way to what would have been my old bunk. With one shot I input Tanya's over ride code she'd shown my once before. To my relief the doors slid open without any alarm given out. I double checked the floor though to make sure there wasn't a sensor or anything to trip to alert the traitor herself.

Then I looked into the room to see just how much had changed. The carpet and furniture had been altered to fit her style. My art desk transformed to a vanity. In the corner was a large armoire with several dresses and outfits. Atop her dresser was a jewelry box holding countless necklaces. As I ran my hand along the row of chains, I immediately realized a certain one was absent. Double checking I saw that the sapphire was no where to be found among them. This brought me to the closet and wardrobe as I curiously searched for something else just as significant. Again, I didn't find what I was looking for. This brought a smile to my lips before an odd pain pierced my chest as I realized, "That night...he was alone?"

It was quickly coming together that time itself hadn't been altered it seemed. Rather everyone's perception of our time together. Otherwise I wouldn't be standing in this room in the first place. She also couldn't erase their last dealings with her entirely.

So I wondered to myself...how did he view her then? If they were so close, wouldn't he have given her the sapphire in my place?

As time passed while I pondered this, I quickly realized the more important questions involved trying to fix this. So I continued my search for anything she may have tucked away. Something told me it had to do with the necklaces, but I couldn't figure out just what they'd done. I poured over the details in my head from the photo shoot. She had said something, but what? Even if I knew, would it fix this?

I had about searched every inch of the room when I checked the nearby clock. Unless they went into overtime, I didn't have much more time. Taking a quick breath, I unhooked the necklace around my neck. At least I went to, and something told me to pause. A certain dread pulled my hand back. Instead I faced the mirror to examine the moon hanging from the velvet strap. Getting a better look at it, the silver on it was quite worn. Still it gleamed when it was caught in the light.

"What did you do?" I asked it.

When it didn't answer I was about to give up and regroup with Tanya back in the emergency entrance. She hadn't given me a comm, so I couldn't alert her if anything changed.

Though as I turned towards the door, I scanned the room once more. Yet she'd been thorough in covering her tracks it seemed.

This lead me back towards the door. I listened carefully for footsteps, and looked out carefully before venturing into the hallway. The coast was clear as I started to head back. Yet I then paused at Duke's door. Something pulled at a part of me, tempting me to see what else had changed. Ignoring my better judgement, I input Duke's code to see the door slide open. I didn't step too far in, but then again I didn't need to. Gone were the traces of us sharing a bedroom. Our wedding photos were replaced with books resting on the nightstand instead. In fact, his bunk was much like how it had been before we'd gotten together.

"I thought they were close?" I slipped softly while looking around for even a single photo.

However this detour would nearly cost me being caught. For as I went to step back out into the hall I could hear the approaching steps. Thinking quickly I removed my shoes so my hurrying steps would be silent with my slick socks muffling them. I managed to dart down the hall and turn the corner just as Duke, Nosedive, and LuCretia came into view. Being careful not to be seen, I risked a look as I heard my twin grumble, "I can't believe we lost tonight. We were on a streak!"

"We have the game with them in two days, we'll get back on track then," Duke assured.

"We've had an off day," Wildwing added while stepping into view behind them.

I hated not being there to cheer them on. When I looked towards them I could see her hanging on his arm, but looking towards my twin. Duke seemed disinterested in keeping her focus on him this time around.

"We'll just get more practice in tomorrow," Tanya sighed before she excused herself for the night, "For now I am exhausted! I'll see you guys in the morning!

"Tanya, are you alright?" Wildwing asked with concern, catching her off guard it seemed, "You seem to be in a bit of a rush?"

Tanya offered a shrug, "It's been a busy day between the photo shoot and then the game."

"I guess that's true, but it seems a bit early still?" Nosedive mentioned.

"Well, after I decompress I might tinker around in my lab for a bit," she mused before trying to walk away, "Either way I'm at least going to go relax for at least a little while."

"Let me know if you need an extra hand?" Wildwing offered cheerfully.

I couldn't help but smile to see that some developments hadn't been tampered with. For Tanya looked back at our team captain with a soft blush showing from under her light peach feathers. She gave a bit of a nod before coming my way. I decided it would be a better idea to just step back a bit and let her find me when she turned the corner. Sure enough she did just that and jumped fortunately out of their line of sight. I bit my lip to keep from saying anything. Luckily she didn't catch their attention and quietly motioned for me to follow her. I did just that and wound up in her lab where she set up some security to alert us if anyone came anywhere close to us.

"Everyone's either in their bunks or in the rec room," Tanya noted while looking at her comm.

"Even Duke?" I asked.

"It seems so," she replied while double checking, "why?"

I tilted my head as I reluctantly admitted, "He sometimes shuts off his comm when he doesn't want to be noticed?"

I winced a bit when she raised a brow, "Oh really now?"

"That's what we did when we went looking for Falcone," I pointed out, "If you'd been able to reach us it would have thrown off our ruse."

Tanya looked to me as though she were still trying to place my claims in belief or not. Either way she didn't call the others, so I took that as a good sign. Instead she leaned back against her work bench and asked, "So what's the plan? Were you able to uncover anything?"

"There's nothing to be found in her room. It figures she wouldn't leave a trace of anything to be uncovered. If there's anything, it would be on her," I replied while folding my arms over my chest.

I then added, "Though something tells me it has to do with these necklaces."

"So it's some sort of magic spell then?" she inquired in bewilderment.

"When we were at the photo shoot, we were both wearing these and no one else. When we shook hands she said something, but I didn't catch it."

"Suns and moons?" Tanya pondered, "Is it a time thing?"

"I don't know," I replied.

"Can I see it?" Tanya asked.

"I don't think I should remove it. It may be what's kept my memories intact," I said as she walked over to get a better look.

"You know that does make sense. She may have been counting on you returning it to the designer..." she trailed off and raised a brow.

I shrugged, "I don't think it was theirs to begin with if this is true. Might be better off kept in the display case when this is over."

"You have a point there I guess. So are you going after hers then?" she asked.

"That's the hard part. If Duke's with her that will be impossible," I noted.

"Well, she is meeting Nosedive later for hockey lessons. That might be your chance if Duke is distracted," Tanya mentioned.

"Hockey lessons?" I questioned as Tanya rolled her eyes.

"I see..." I caught on with a bit of a rise in my blood temperature, "I don't know which is worse, her hanging on him...or hurting him."

A grimace crossed my face as I realized it was a bit of both, but leaning towards the latter.

"So that might be my best shot. Although I do wonder what her end goal is in all this," I mentioned.

"It's nothing good if it's from her," Tanya retorted.

"You two seem to know one another well enough," I recalled.

"I survived her initial attack back on Puck World. She was leading a few dozen droids to our laboratory. I managed to get a few of us out," she replied.

"She'd been trying to get info, posing as a fellow engineer for a few weeks. I never really trusted her back then either," Tanya added.

"For someone who doesn't remember me...you're trusting me with a lot there?" I pointed out.

She gave a shrug as she chuckled a bit, "You know, it doesn't seem that strange. I might not remember anything about you, but I feel as though talking with you is very familiar."

A bit of a smile curved my lips, "That's comforting to hear at least. Not sure I want to risk trying with the others though. If she gets wind of me being here it'll be all the harder to get that necklace from her."

"Especially without proof. My intuition would only get us so far if she has herself edited into our memories," Tanya agreed.

"What do you see when you look back?" I asked.

"At first it just sorta felt like what she said was true. It were as though she'd been there with us for a while. Searching through my memory I could see there from some time after we thought we'd first gotten rid of Dragonus. Before the Stanley Cup. However, once I go further back, it starts to pull apart."

"How so?"

"Well, for starters what we mentioned about her room. It shouldn't be here if she wasn't there. We only built the number of bunks we needed. Then there's the seating for our vehicles and things like that. It's as though someone was considered to be there, but now those spaces are empty," Tanya explained.

"It might be harder to shift everything for you considering your history with her," I pondered aloud.

"Possibly, but I can't say how convinced the others are or not. I'm not in their heads," she said.

While we thought this over, I couldn't help but lean back against the wall. I folded my arms over my chest and sighed, "I wonder what he sees when looking back on things?"

Every fiber of my being wanted to track her down and get her away from him. Yet I knew if I was rash over this, it wouldn't do any of them any good. I had to wait for her to reveal her hand before I could make a move. While I was forced to wait Tanya handed me a comm, "This will help. I fixed it to where they can't see it. It has a direct link to mine and that's it. However, you can see where they are."

"Does LuCretia have one?" I asked.

Tanya nodded, "And she wouldn't risk shutting it off or it would look suspicious. Although I might have to give that drake of yours a talking too when this is all over for shutting his off apparently?"

I winced and thought an unsaid apology to Duke.

After about an hour had passed I stood up and started trying to map out our plan thus far in my head. Tanya had gone to get us something to eat so we weren't thinking on empty stomachs. This left me alone in the lab still when I heard approaching footsteps from down the other end of the hallway. I got to my feet as silently as possible and looked for a place to hide. Darting over to the side still in my stockings, I opened the cabinet and quickly moved things aside to crawl into it. My small frame made this a little easier as I crouched down and pulled the double doors closed as best as I could.

While tucked away in this storage space, I held my breath and listened. Instantly my heart twisted in my chest as I heard the two of them talking.

"It's so comforting having you around to understand," she said to him with a sigh.

"After what I went through back when Falcone was here, I think they had little choice but to give ya a chance," Duke replied.

Through the sliver of a crack I could see the two out in the hallway. She was hanging on his arm with a smile over her beak. He too seemed to be rather content as he glanced over her. Until the light of the lab caught his attention, "Is Tanya still up?"

"She probably went to get something," LuCretia shrugged casually as she slid her hands down to his hand, "Let's go relax after a long day?"

"Aren't ya goin' to skate with Dive in a bit?" Duke asked.

"Well yes, but maybe afterwards you and I could do something?" she teased with a finger tracing the middle of his chest.

"Oh really?" he mused while taking that hand and bent his head forward as though he were going to kiss it.

LuCretia's back was facing the doorway, so luckily she couldn't see the soft electricity threatening to uncover me. I tried to force down the trembling anger taking hold of me as I was forced to watch them, begging without a voice, "Duke!"

As I started to manage this however, I noticed Duke looking up and over the woman before him. Somehow I pulled myself into a tighter ball as though he could see through the doors.

"What's wrong?" LuCretia asked while starting to turn around.

Duke still faced where I was hiding for a moment. Then he shook his head and said, "It's nothin'. I'm probably just a bit more tired from today than I thought."

"It's what that girl said isn't it? She got into your head a bit," LuCretia's tone soured, "Please just forget about her. I'm here at your side. Unless you'd rather some nobody human girl over me?"

I didn't want to hear his answer as he looked over her, "Of course not darlin'."

Yet he remained standing there. After a moment or two he said, "Why don't ya go find Mal to hang with before your practice match? I'm goin' to head on to my room for a bit."

"Don't you want me to come with you?" she asked while leaning up against him.

"I'm sure I'll come lookin' for ya in a little while. I jus' need to clear my head first," he assured her as she kissed his feathered cheek.

"If you insist," she said with a shrug while pulling away from him.

He then watched as she left him there. I listened carefully for her heeled steps to vanish. Yet Tanya's didn't return in their place. That, and Duke remained outside the laboratory watching the cabinet I was in. Then he stepped inside. My heart started pounding in my ears as his steps grew closer. I didn't dare move as he looked over the room. With every step closer to the cabinet I felt my skin jumping.

This drew out further panic, and I tried to control the magic betraying my hiding spot.

"You're there aren't ya?" I heard him ask.

I didn't speak. I wasn't sure if I was ready for him to see me. Not with her right down the hall to blow the whistle and alert the others.

I held my breath still as I hugged my knees to my chest. A prayer for Tanya to come back ran through my head, but wasn't answered it seemed. Then an idea came to me as I hid there. With the electricity sparking around me, drawing him closer to the cabinet, I attempted to focus it. Catching my breath, I allowed that magic to run through me like a rushing current. As I did this, the lights in the lab began to flicker here and there. Still I kept going, the bulbs rapidly going in and out now.

"What the heck?" I heard Duke exclaim as I jumped a little to see him putting a palm over his eyepatch.

That I hadn't accounted for! Looking up instantly, I stopped and saw him shake his head in alarm. To my relief he wasn't hurt, just startled as the light to his cybernetic eye stopped going in and out. With a breath of an apology I tried again, this time trying to focus better. However, this was all still far too new for me. For as the lights powered down again, the red light showing behind the patch he wore faded out. Duke was looking around the room, scanning it rather quickly as everything around us powered down. Even my comm shut off. Peeking passed where Duke stood, I could see the darkened hallway. I wondered how far this had spread, and grew worried that it would alert the others by mistake.

However, for the moment, I'd made my chance. While Duke glanced around the room, I pushed open the doors as soundlessly as possible. Without so much as a creak, I managed to slip out of the cabinet and slink along the side of it from his view. I winced slightly as I realized it was due to me being at his right that I was able to do this. I pressed myself against the wall and waited for my next opening. Yet he was adament about finding whatever was causing this.

I hoped Tanya would come back soon, but found I had little time to wait and see.

For Duke was walking over to the cabinet now and opening it. Standing beside the storage unit, it was more nerve wracking than ever before being so close to him. Watching him place a hand over where his right eye should have been made it all the harder. While he was finding the cabinet empty, I made a break for it. I slipped behind him and darted out the door.

At least I tried to. However a piece of paper on the desk I ran by betrayed me. Even my small frame provided enough bit of air to push it up briefly. I didn't turn to see him spinning around on his heel. Nor did I risk looking back as he came running after me.

I just kept going forward, heading away from the bunks so not to alert those inside them. Though I wasn't sure who else might be out and about either. There wasn't much time to think as I ran down the pitch black hall. There wasn't even time to notice how far my power outage had extended.

However I did wonder why he wasn't calling for the others. He had no doubt seen me.

Regardless I headed towards the galley, where I hoped Tanya was. Yet I could hear Duke nearly at my heels by this point as we ran. Panic rose in me again, and that brought the energy running through my frame once more. As Duke tried to reach for me I heard him give a sharp growl in pain. This did bring me to a sudden hault as I turned to see him cradling his left hand. As much as it twisted my core to see him hurt by this, it also gave me an idea.

Taking a shot, I started running again. So did he. I didn't stop. When the door to the infirmary came into view I sprinted forward with a bit of a push in me now. I grasped for the door frame, and was thankful to find the metal sheets opened up. With this I slipped inside and hopped over the first bed before he caught up with me.

Once more I found myself hiding, ducking down, as he followed me into the room. My heart pounded against my chest as I tried to think on what to do next. I couldn't keep running from him like this. Any further and it could draw attention I couldn't afford. Nor could I afford hurting him by mistake again. Still I wasn't sure if I wanted him to find me yet or not.

Every fiber of my being hated this. Running and hiding from him. Not being around the others. Sneaking around my own home. I just...I just wanted things back to normal.

As I watched him step closer, I held onto the frame of the bed to try and catch my breath. This too was betraying me I realized. As did my calling him without a voice it seemed, "...Duke...?"

Once my mind echoed his name, Duke stepped around the end of the same bed. My entire frame grew rigid as I looked up to meet his very frustrated gaze. Still I tried to catch my breath as I waited for him to call the others. Yet he didn't.

"You're goin' awfully far for a crush," he said while being sure to stand to where I couldn't by him if I tried.

"You're worth it," I attempted.

I then glanced at his hand and winced in empathy to see the feathers on it a bit burnt.

"I'm sorry. The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you," I said softly.

Duke:

Her eyes met with my remaining one as I watched her carefully. Still I didn't call for the others like I should have.

"Do...do you know me Duke?" she ventured.

"Why on Earth would I know...ya?" I trailed off in initial agitation.

"We...we faced him together that night," she then pushed in a quiet voice.

"What?"

"The night you went to catch Falcone, you weren't alone Duke. I was there beside you, trusting you every step of the way. No matter what anyone thought or said, I..."

"What are ya talkin' about? How could ya know about Falcone? You're just-"

"A human? Some girl or fan?" she pushed while trying to stand now.

I actually wasn't sure what I was about to say there. For I'd seen what this supposed human could do. I still was as the room remained black around us. Yet even with that, I could see her easily, and those sparking blue eyes of hers looking up at me.

"I don't know what she's done, or even how she did it," she said, "but I do know you, Duke."

"What do you see when you look over memories from before her?" she asked while taking the risk to stand.

Humoring her, I thought back to when we'd first got to Earth. I remembered building our headquarters with the others, a year's worth of battles, and plenty of games. However, in my mind's eye, I realized that I would look over to find noone in the stands. Who was I looking for? There were nights I was clearly trying to find someone, whether up in the stadium, or down the hallway.

"She can edit me out, but she can't undo everything can she?" she ventured before adding as her voice tried not to tremble, "You were not alone that night. I was with you."

"Why are you so adoment about that part?" I asked her.

"Because it's killing me that you believe you were alone during all of that. I know you would have gone through it either way, because that's who you are; but I was with you all the way through it. I love you...even if you don't remember loving me?"

This statement was achingly familiar. I could almost remember hearing someone say something like that to me, or about me...

"LuCretia couldn't even place herself in that memory instead could she? Otherwise she would have something very important from you wouldn't she?" she pushed, "Something you gave a part of yourself to get?"

I looked to her rather stunned by this barrage of statements made. My heart seemed to grow tight in my chest as she added, "Even more important than that sapphire though, it shows that she hasn't embraced that side of you. She talks of how you two are connected without knowing what that means. She knows you were a thief, but that's as far as it goes isn't it?"

Stepping back from her at first, I came to a pause in words and movement. Instead she looked up at me and waited for me to make my decision. With a bit of caution I asked her, "If you were there, how long did it take...?" I trailed off on purpose so not to lead her.

"To open the safe? Barely three seconds for you after waiting about an hour for him to crack it," she ventured a reply with a slight smirk trying to curve her lips, "It's a good thing you keep your skills so sharp, right?"

The heart in my chest skipped a beat at this remark, and I found myself lowering my guard. She in turn did the same as she smiled softly. As I looked over her I realized how easy it was to talk to her. Even comforting in a way. With a step closer to her, I reached out my injured hand and watched as she allowed me to rest my palm against her scarred cheek. While brushing my thumb over that scar I said quietly, "Somehow this feels right."

"I'm sorry I hurt you Duke," she repeated while looking up at where my right eye should be, "and for that too. I don't know how to control this yet."

I ran my hand down her cheek to her shoulder, and continued down her arm. No matter how I searched my memory, I couldn't see myself doing this. Even with LuCretia's affections. None the less, my hand knew the one I was holding now, lifting it up gently.

"Whether you're with me or not...I just don't want you to get hurt. Any of you," she said.

"What do ya mean by that?" I asked.

"I just...I mean..." she stammered as I leaned closer to her, seeing the fatigue showing in her eyes.

"Don't ya think this shows you're not that easy to replace?" I pushed as I drew her closer to me.

Against my better judgement, I let go of my reserves and kissed her. As the distance between us closed, I felt her relax her tensed up frame and lean into me. Without remembering, I knew to tilt my head just so to do this with her at all it seemed. She in turn met me in this endeavor without practice needed. When I pulled away I found the lights had returned, allowing me to see her blushing face as I breathed out, "I want to remember what we have sweetheart. Somethin' tells me it's quite genuine."

Before I knew it she'd thrown her arms around my lean waist, hugging me as tightly as she could. A soft chuckle escaped my throat as I embraced her, "Easy there darlin'."

I'd realized by now that my full sight had returned as well. This helped me see that the burn on my hand wasn't too bad. Still it stung a bit. She noticed the burnt feathers and lead me to the sink to cool it. While it was soaking we heard steps hurrying down the hall. I turned quickly while pushing the girl behind me in some attempt to hide her.

"Sorry about the power outage Duke, I must have tripped something!" Tanya came in gasping from having run down the hall.

"Is that so?" I couldn't help but tease, "Ya sure it wasn't somethin' else?"

Tanya looked to me with sweat beading through her feathers, "What else would it be?"

Hearing our teammate's voice, the girl peaked out from behind me and exclaimed in relief, "Tanya!"

"Heart! I was looking all over for you!" Tanya replied with clear worry on her face.

She then looked to me, "Duke, I know how bad this looks, but trust me, I-"

"I know Tanya. Ya don't need to convince me. Jus' tell me how to help fix things alright?"

With a sigh of relief escaping her beak, Tanya gave a nod. She then stepped in and closed the doors behind her. From there Heart and I explained what had happened with the power. Tanya informed us that everyone seemed to believe her about it being do to an experiment of hers.

"That magic messed with your eye?" Tanya asked in a bit of alarm.

Heart winced while sitting beside me and running a cloth over my hand. She then started wrapping it in bandages to be certain. Tanya had looked it over and assured it was just a surface burn. Though this had not sat well with Heart, who turned to me with apologetic eyes.

"So LuCretia's headin' up to meet with Dive soon?" I mentioned as Heart tied the knot over my now dressed hand.

"We need to find out what she's planning with all of this. She can't think we wouldn't piece things together soon enough," Tanya pointed out.

"We also need that necklace of hers," Heart added.

"I can help with that part," I assured with a smirk.

"Once she realizes it's missing she'll know something's up. So we'll need to be ready. We can't risk confronting her with it though in case she cast other magic with it," Tanya said.

As we formed our plan I couldn't help but notice how worn Heart seemed to be. She was trying to focus when I reached over and rested a hand over hers. She jumped at my touch, alarming both Tanya and I.

"Are you okay?" Tanya asked.

Heart nodded her head, but I could see her faltering.

"What's wrong?" I was a bit more firm.

"I think I just over did it earlier with that power outtage," she admitted, "I didn't even know I could do all of that."

"Well try to rest up a little bit an' leave the next part to us okay?" I told her.

She seemed to give in as she leaned against me. As I wrapped an arm around her, I promised, "We'll fix this."

Heart believed me as she closed her eyes for a bit.

Not much longer after this we heard Tanya signal us, "She's on her own and on the move."

"Alright, time to get to work," I said as Heart opened her eyes and sat up.

"She's met up with Dive in the hallway," Tanya noted as we began making our way down the hall.

"Remember, ya need to lie low Heart," I told Heart as she tried not to start running.

She gave a nod, but I could see urgency blending with frustration in her eyes. Tanya was heading to the rec room to find Wildwing and Grin. We'd passed by Mallory in the galley, keeping Heart at the side of me away from the door as we did.

Before long we found LuCretia and Nosedive heading up to the rink. With Heart ducking behind Drake One's monitor to watch from the side of, I went over to get their attention, "Hey ya two, goin' up to the ice?"

"Yeah Dukester, we're just getting in a practice match to help your girl here get back in touch with her roots!" Nosedive replied.

As LuCretia had turned to face me, I'd noted the slightly soured look in her eyes, while her hand moved away from the satchel draped at her hip. She then gazed up at me with a pleasant enough smile, "I thought you were getting some rest?"

"Kinda got woken up durin' the commotion earlier," I casually shrugged.

"That was weird. What was Tanya working on to cause the whole place to shut down like that?" Nosedive remarked in puzzlement.

"Don't know; but I wanted to make sure my angel was alright?" I replied while looking to the tan feathered duck.

"I'm perfectly fine," she assured as I stepped up to her.

As I looked over her a moment and took in the feigned affection in her eyes it became all the clearer to me.

"What happened to your hand man?" Nosedive asked before she'd even looked at it.

"Jus' helpin' Tanya fix somethin'," I answered with another shrug, "Nothin' to worry about."

"Are ya sure you're alright?" I asked while resting a hand along her bare shoulder.

"Of course I am," she insisted while batting her long lashes at me, "Were you missing me or something?"

I gave a bit of a smirk and said, "Somethin' like that."

In one flowing motion I leaned forward as I slid my hand behind her neck. With this I unhooked the necklace and slipped my other hand into that satchel. As I did this I smiled and whispered, "Nothin' to worry about at all."

I'd managed to slip the strap from the pendant off of her. However at her hip my hand was caught in hers. She looked up at me with a forced smile, "Playful or not, I can't let you do that dear."

However I was already holding the folded parchment between my fingers, "Don't ya like this side of me?"

Rather than the sheer flustered appreciation I was used to seeing in my companion, I saw a flash of irritation. She attempted a recovery of some sort, "I'd rather thought we were moving on from our pasts?"

"Better to make peace an' learn from them if ya ask me," I replied while slipping my hand from hers.

"Oh, I've learned plenty from mine," she assured while stepping back.

She then went to turn back to Nosedive as I pocketed both the notes and the necklace. The blonde drake was scratching his head, no doubt wondering what had just transpired between my supposed lady love and I. While she went to lead him towards the elevator, I began looking over that unfolded paper. As I'd hoped I found the notes regarding the pendants and their wearers. Though in the corner, I found an odd bit of scribbling of numbers and letters seemingly scrambled. The writing there didn't match the rest, nor was it nearly as old. The ink itself wasn't seeped into the form either.

Heart:

For the moment we let them go, but something told me we had little time to waste now that we had the necklace. Duke waved me over to look over the yellowed paper with me. As he held it out to read with me we began trying to piece it together. On the well creased document were depictions of a sun and moon. Beside each were well preserved letterings of what they symbolized, and how these pendants were formed. Then under both Duke read, "There are times where the sun an' moon eclipse the other, blockin' out the opposite body for a brief while. Just as this occurs naturally, the wearers of these pendants can do just that. If two bodies wear these, all one needs to do is say "Eclipse", an' the caster will move into the position of the one they wish to hide."

"Why would someone do this?" I inquired.

Duke placed a hand to the chin of his beak as he pondered aloud, "Well there are those that could try an' use this to gain power. Say they were tryin' to take over the position of someone in leadership or somethin' like that. They could then wield this to put themselves in the lovin' eyes of the public or be feared by them dependin' on the person."

"So then why can I remember?"

We read on and learned, "However, the sun could not entirely block out the moon no matter their attempts. People would begin to look for what they couldn't remember. As for the body being hidden away, they sometimes remembered their own significance. One in particular used this with their magic to forge the pendant countering the sun's. This came with a risk though. By bonding with the sun pendant in the spell, both wearers would know what was happening to them, and the eclipse will fade over time. However, if the moon is removed, they risk being hidden away by the sun for good. Eternally eclipsed, and possibly losing the memories they once had tied to the self they traded."

"What if the sun is removed?" Duke asked.

"It doesn't really say; but seeing how the sun is the opposing body, I imagine they retain what they're doing?" I guessed.

"That makes sense," Duke nodded.

I looked over my shoulder as I asked, "Has anything changed for you since getting it?"

"It's hard to say, 'cause I knew she was up to somethin', an' I know ya without rememberin'," I told her thoughtfully.

"Well...what about that night?" I asked with a bit of hope forming.

Yet before Duke could answer we heard several pairs of boots rushing towards us.

"Duke, where is she?!" Wildwing questioned as he ran up to meet us.

Again Duke quickly stepped betweeh the others and myself, "Wing, she's not here to-"

"Not her! Where's LuCretia?!" Wildwing exclaimed.

"Wing, do you remember?" Duke asked.

"Remember what?" Wildwing asked in confusion, "Nevermind, we need to find LuCretia before she pulls anything!"

"So they remember that at least," I mentioned before answering him, "She just went up the elevator with Nosedive."

"Let's go!" Wildwing ordered as we all followed him into the decending elevator.

The ride up felt like a race we weren't sure we could win. We didn't even know what she was trying to do at this point.

Duke, still holding the necklace in his hand, tucked it into the front slip in his battle gear for the time being. He then glanced at me and said, "Better keep yours on just in case until this is over."

I nodded in reply.

Once the doors slid open we darted out two by two. With Wildwing and Tanya taking the lead, we found the two just about to go out onto the ice. LuCretia had remained in her dress with her skates laced up. Nosedive in his street hockey gear turned to face us in bewilderment as our older brother called out, "Dive, get away from her!"

Though as LuCretia turned to face us, my twin dropped his stick and grabbed a hold of her arms, "Nice try DeCoy!"

"What are you doing?! I'm one of you, remember?!" LuCretia exclaimed as we surrounded her.

"Since when?!" Mallory retorted.

"Why would we trust a traitor like you?" Tanya questioned.

"What?! I've turned a new leaf! I swear I'm on your side!" she attempted.

She looked to Duke with desperate widened eyes, "You know how it feels to need another chance! It's what we've bonded over!"

"Then ya wouldn't need a cheap trinket to convince me," Duke replied.

"Wait! What?!" she gasped before realizing, "What did you do?! Where is it you thief?!"

Before Duke could recoil from the bite in her voice I grasped for his hand. He glanced at me and gave a slight smile as I said, "He believed me."

LuCretia's eyes narrowed into a glare when she noticed me standing with them, "You believe this pathetic little human over your own kind? You don't even know her!"

"That's not exactly true," Duke chuckled, "Whether we remember or not, we know Heart. At least I do."

"She's tricking all of you with that charm she stole! Duke, steal hers instead and you'll see!' LuCretia insisted.

I didn't have to shield my necklace. There was no need to as Duke placed a playful hand on my shoulder. The fury in her eyes ignited when she saw this, "You little witch!"

"How do we get our memories back DeCoy?" Wildwing questioned in a sharp, stern tone.

"Why should I tell you? You wouldn't believe me anyway!" she spat with a bit of a laugh emerging from her throat.

Duke held up the notes, "Then we'll jus' send ya off to prison an' we'll figure it out ourselves?"
"Or you could make it far worse," LuCretia taunted, "Without me you risk swapping places with another and losing the rest of your memories."

"Then we're at an impass it seems," Wildwing sighed, "What do you want LuCretia?"

"To not go to prison for one," she replied rather quickly, "If I give you the information then you release me. We can tango another day."

"Why should we trust anything you say?" Nosedive questioned.

"I guess you can't can you? Though I suppose the rest of you are capable to grab me if I take the memories of one of you on purpose," she mused while glancing up at Duke.

"What do we do Wing?" Duke asked while ignoring her.

"I'm not sure. I don't want to get this wrong, but I don't believe she'll-"

As we started to discuss this, LuCretia suddenly went to kick back at Nosedive's leg with her skate. When he shifted to avoid the cutting blade, she wrenched her arms free. My teammates went for their blasters just as she grabbed for something in her satchel. In her hand, held out towards Nosedive, was a red device we'd known Dragonus to use from time to time.

"One wrong move and he gets a one way ticket to limbo!" she warned with a wicked giggle in her throat.

We froze. Yet as we did, the pieces began to form.

"That's why you were trying to get us alone!" Mallory growled.

"It sure was," she confirmed with every word getting louder as she said, "I figured if I could get rid of each and every one of you, then Dragonus would have to let me back into his good graces! You messed things up for me in a big way last time, and I wasn't going to let it happen again!"

"How did you escape?" Grin inquired.

"Let's just say I found a way to slip out," she assured while holding the teleporter steady towards my twin.

"Now, I'm afraid it's your turn to see what limbo's like!" she laughed with twisted delight as she went to hit the button, "The coordinates are already set, so don't bother trying to find time to-"

Before she could finish, I was already charging forward. In a leap I tackled her to the floor, knocking her onto the ice behind the previously opened gate. The teleporter flew from her grasp and went sliding onto the sleek surface.

"Heart!" I heard Duke exclaim in the commotion.

"Get off of me you pathetic nobody!" she barked while trying to kick me off of her.

"You're not going to send us away!" I assured as I tried to keep her pinned down.

"No?" she suddenly laughed as she went to grab for the charm hanging from my neck still.

By now the others were hurrying over as I was harshly kicked in the stomach. As I doubled over gasping for the air that had been knocked out of me, LuCretia took her chance to shove me off of her. She quickly grabbed up the device before any of the others could reach it. Then she turned it on me, but didn't give a warning as she clicked the button. She just laughed, "Enjoy limbo you little freak!"

"I am not going back to that horrible realm! I crawled through that tear and I will send you one by one if I have to in my place!" She declared, "Starting with you!"

I looked to my hands as I felt myself beginning to be pulled from this dimension. Yet as she promised to do the same to the others, I felt a flow of energy running through my veins. Sparks began to fly around me as I scrambled to get up on the ice. As I tried to focus that electricity, I didn't see Wildwing charging up beside me with his ice shield covering us both.

"I'm not losing anyone else to that place!" our leader shouted as he braced for whatever happened next.

"Wing!" Dive and I both cried.

"You can go right with her then!" LuCretia taunted in cruel delight.

With Wildwing and I both beginning to fade from the world we knew, I looked to the others. They were trying to reach us, but knew she would catch them in her trap as well. Understanding full well this would happen, I glared at the lavender haired duck as electricity erupted from my trembling frame. Wildwing's armor shielded him from these rapid strikes, but LuCretia's hand was caught in them. As she yelped in pain I watched as the device in her hand began to overcharge. She looked to the two of us in sudden horror as she too began to be pulled from Anaheim.

"Wildwing!" Tanya called out in fear.

"Heart!" Duke cried out.

"Stay back!" Wildwing ordered quickly.

Our team captain then looked to them all in the moments we had. He pulled off the mask from his face and tossed it over to Duke, "Take care of everyone until we can get back!"

Duke caught it with ease and held it with the utmost care; as he did he looked to me. Before we could say anything to the other, Wildwing and I were pulled through. In a flash of light, LuCretia and the two of us were suddenly locked into the cell we found ourselves inside of. Beside me, Wildwing got to his feet and took in what had just happened.

As we both observed our new surroundings we would find a deathly silent hallway lined with cells and the hopeless prisoners held within them. Outside through the barred window we could see no sign of a sort of sun or moon to shine it's light over us. Instead it was a space consisting of nothing, just dead space as far as the eye could see. Every so often a streak of energy ran in and out of sight.

Wildwing turned to me and said, "We need to find a way back to the others."

Behind us we heard LuCretia give a twisted, anger checked, chuckle, "Welcome to Limbo, where there is no way back!"