Wildwing tensed as Nosedive and Duke skated his direction.
"Head him off Canard!", he called out.
Canard didn't have to be told twice. Grin covered him as he tried to steal the puck, but Nosedive swerved out of the way and barely managed to keep it before Tanya came in and stole it from him. Malory caught up with her and after a couple more rounds, Nosedive had the puck again. Before he could shoot, the buzzer rang signaling that practice was over. As the ducks got off the ice and entered the locker room, they were beat, but happy.
"Great job team.", Wildwing commented, "Tomorrow's game is going to be a hard one, but it looks like we're prepared. Nice save on the pass Nosedive."
Nosedive blushed.
"Hey, just doing my role."
Canard shook his head while smiling.
"We got skill, but our opponents are no push overs either. You don't make it to the semi finals in the Stanley Cup just on pure luck."
The other ducks couldn't help but agree.
"Yeah, we got our work cut out for us.", Duke commented.
"We need to be at top form to win from now on.", Mallory added.
Grin went silent obviously withdrawing from the talk. After everyone showered, they met up outside the rink.
"So what are we going to do now?",Wildwing asked.
"How about a little distraction?"
The ducks turned to see Phil walk their way with a flier in his hand.
"What now Phil?", Wildwing asked rolling his eyes.
Phil rolled out the flier.
"I just spoke with the community overlooking the local Renaissance fair downtown and you ducks are going to make a public appearance."
The ducks looked confused.
"What's a Renaissance fair?", Canard asked.
Later on in the day, the Migrator pulled into a parking lot near the entrance of a large field where people were dressed in medieval wear like that of old England. Phil came out with the ducks following. As soon as they got out, fans were lining up for selfies and autographs. Even the press wanted a scoop, but officials kept the crowd back as the ducks made their way inside.
"Wow, talk about boredom.", Nosedive sulked, "This place needs some life."
Phil was talking to some clerks who had provided some wear for the ducks to wear. As much as the ducks wanted to object, they gave in eventually. After a bit, they came out looking like medieval lords and ladies, but Nosedive wasn't out yet.
"Okay baby bro, what's the hold up?", Wildwing asked.
"I feel silly.", Nosedive complained.
"Come on.", Duke said, "Do it for the fair."
Nosedive slowly came out and he was wearing a green tunic that came to his waist, a brown leather belt , white pants and leather boots.
"Hey, you look pretty good.", Canard commented.
Nosedive saw his reflection and brightened up a bit.
"You know, I think I might make this work."
Mallory and Tanya weren't as thrilled.
"Why is it we have to wear these dresses?", Mallory asked harshly, "I'd rather wear guy's clothes."
Tanya adjusted her omnitool and the skirts she and Mallory wore shrank til they were up to the knees.
"There. That should do it."
Wildwing sighed.
"Well, as long as we're here, let's try and enjoy ourselves."
The ducks then paired up and went off to see what was available.
Nosedive and Grin had not gone very far when they noticed the sales stands and went in to look at what was available.
"Man, these people sure know old fashioned weaponry.", Nosedive commented.
Grin just looked around. They had gone a few down when they noticed a stand that had pins of many different things and patterns.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would come around."
Nosedive and Grin noticed an old man come out from the trailer behind the stand looking like a wizard of old.
"Anything that catches your eye?", he asked waving his hand over his merchandise.
After looking at a few, Nosedive noticed a pin that looked like a forest green bow with a gold arrow drawn back on a silver string. Then he remembered when Wildwing and Mallory had those pins from a few weeks ago.
"Hey, did you sell some pins to Wildwing and Mallory sometime ago?", he asked the merchant.
The merchant kept a straight face.
"Maybe."
Nosedive quickly pushed that thought away and set his eyes on the pin he noticed earlier and the merchant followed his gaze.
"Ah, a bow and arrow for the gallant archer. How convenient.", he paused when he looked Grin's way, "And what about you? Anything you have your eye for?"
Grin adjusted his tunic and looked at the assortment. His eyes fell on a pair of amber gauntlets crossing each other and the merchant noticed.
"So, you're a strong force, but prefer peaceful fighting than violence. Yes, this pin suites you perfectly."
He placed both pins into a bag.
"So how much do we owe you?", Nosedive asked.
The merchant smiled.
"For you? No charge. Consider it a good luck charm for the upcoming game tomorrow."
Nosedive looked surprised as Grin took the bag that contained the pins.
"Well, thanks mister.", he said.
They walked away, but the merchant watched them.
"Don't thank me yet.", he muttered silently so the ducks wouldn't hear him, "Those pins will come in handy for what you could be facing later today."
His eyes flickered and he placed a "Closed" sign on his table and slid a black cover over the pins before carrying them back into his trailer.
/
Overlooking the entire scene, three void wraiths observed.
"Ready to install some real entertainment boys?"
The wraiths turned to see Malevolence manifest behind them. She waved her hand and the features of the shadows shifted. The middle formed the head of a bull with curved horns and flaming eyes, the left formed a lion's head and glowing circles around the eyes, and the right formed a dog's head with clear watery lines beneath it's eyes. Malevolence smiled wickedly.
"Nice to see your real faces Wrath, Terror, and Despair."
Wrath brushed his horns side to side. Terror stroked his mane and Despair hung his head.
"Let's have a little chaos.", Malevolence said.
They all faced the fair and Malevolence raised her hand.
"Forces of void as old as time, come forth as I recite my rhyme. Cause this light to leave and fill the air with grief."
The once clear sunny sky grew dark as the sun got eclipsed and large storm clouds formed.
"Let the heavens flash as all below will feel the crash. May my hate tear through and destroy all it will do.", Wrath declared.
The clouds flashed as dark lightning crackled through.
"May the rain flood and drown so all will soon fall down. Sadness triumphs and laughter dies as my incantation fills the skies.", Despair said solemnly.
Huge rain drops fell upon the fair and sounds of moaning, crying and sighs rang out among the lightning crashing.
"And last the nerve shall fail as fear shall grip the gale. Screams now fill the ears and consume all in the spell.", Terror screeched.
Now screaming followed with the lightning crashing and crying. Malevolence and her wraiths watched all this and cackled like a witch and her loyal goblins.
"Oh I love the sound of helpless creatures suffering in the morning.", Malevolence said brushing her dark hair aside with a black nailed finger.
Nosedive and Grin were watching as everything around them went on.
"I can't believe how fast the storm came in.", Nosedive complained.
They had taken shelter under a tarp and Grin watched with narrowed eyes.
"I sense a strong force that disturbs my inner peace greatly."
Nosedive looked thoughtful.
"Let's see, who do we know that brings darkness?"
Grin and Nosedive looked at each other as they both remembered something. They rushed into the pouring rain and it was soaking their wear. All around them, people were arguing, cowering or on the ground wailing as if all hope had been lost.
"What is going on?", Nosedive wondered.
At that moment, they found the other ducks, but they paused as they noticed what was going on. Wildwing and Canard were in a tussle, Mallory and Tanya were sitting around moping and Duke was gripping a post with pure fear in his eyes.
"Grinster, can you break up Wildwing and Canard?", Nosedive asked.
Grin sighed.
"I feel this will take more than just holding them apart."
As if to answer him, the pins in the bag started to shimmer and bronze gauntlets appeared on Grin's hands while a bow with silver tips and leather grip appeared in Nosedive's. Grin held his hands out at Wildwing and Canard.
"You need to part so that you can both heal."
And then, a glowing line appeared between Wildwing and Canard which pushed them in opposite directions. Nosedive had taken enough rain and pointed his bow upward and pulled the string back imagining some kind of light arrow that would break up this storm. A glowing arrow materialized and shot into the air as Nosedive let go of the string. A burst of light filled the area and the rain paused for a minute. Everyone looked towards Nosedive as the rain resumed. Not much had happened, and Nosedive could see everyone start to fall back to what state they were. Nosedive wanted all this to stop and before he even knew it, he was singing in a beautiful harmonic tone.
"I know today has gone astray, but we can still have play. The rain will soon fade and a rainbow then will form. And afterward we'll have escaped the grief as we sing shore to shore. Just let go and then breath. You'll see that when we do, together we can be all we can be."
The other ducks slowly got to their feet and the looks on their faces dissolved as the clouds above began to part letting in sunlight as Nosedive continued singing. Malevolence and her wraiths hissed angrily at the sight of it.
"That wretched mallard's singing broke our spell.", Wrath said harshly.
Malevolence's expression darkened to pure rage.
"I don't like the way this is going. We better get closer and intervene."
The wraiths nodded and soon they were gliding into the fray as everyone there was now smiling and celebrating.
"Did you forget your hate?", Wrath asked someone as they passed only to get nothing.
"Aren't you scared?", Terror asked someone else.
"Where's your hopelessness?", Despair asked desperately.
Nosedive and the ducks had gotten together and were forming a blockade which met Malevolence and her wraiths.
"You dare intervene?", she hissed.
Nosedive smiled.
"You can't dampen our mood Malevolence.", he grinned.
He sang out his song and now everyone else beside Malevolence and her wraiths joining in as Malevolence tried getting control.
"Stop! You hear me?! This isn't the way you're supposed to be! Stop singing!"
The crowd only sang louder causing Malevolence and her wraiths to hover further away.
"I hate laughter.", Malevolence snarled, "I hate love and peace and especially that infernal duck!"
Nosedive's song kept going and a strong wind kicked up blowing the clouds away and bathing the area in pure sunlight. Malevolence's expression darkened further as her wraiths quivered in the light.
"Heroes win?", Terror asked.
Malevolence swung her hand and Terror's head was almost severed before it reattached itself.
"For now.", she growled.
With that, Malevolence and her wraiths slipped into the shadows and disappeared just as the last remains of their spell had vanished and the vibe had returned to the fair.
/
Back at the cabin, Wildwing and Canard were on the deck together.
"Hey, I'm sorry about what happened at the fair.", Wildwing said.
Canard shrugged.
"It wasn't us. It was Malevolence and even though she had us, Nosedive came through."
Nosedive and Grin came out along with the other ducks.
"So Grin and Nosedive have a new spell each.", Duke said calmly, "Wonder what they do?"
Nosedive and Grin brought out their new spells and Canard eyed each one.
"Well it seems Nosedive has an Arrow spell while Grin has Power."
"What can they do?", Wildwing asked.
Canard pulled out a paper plate.
"Mallory, when I toss this, I want you to use Water to send this plate upward."
Mallory nodded and when Canard tossed the plate over the lake, she beckoned her spell and a spout of water hit the plate further upward. Nosedive aimed and shot an arrow from his bow which curved and sliced the plate in half perfectly before it vanished and the plate halves fell to the lake surface.
"The Arrow materializes any arrow the user imagines.", Canard explained, "Now Grin, I want you to focus on where the plate halves were and will them to us."
Grin did so and as if my invisible hands, the plate halves levitated and then crumpled into tiny spheres which flew back and landed at the large duck's feet.
"Power allows the user to gain incredible strength and create small forces.", Canard stated.
Mallory eyed Canard skeptically.
"You seem to know a lot about enchantium Canard.", she told him.
Canard smiled.
"I had a few run ins with several kinds so I got a good idea what each does.", he answered.
Grin and Nosedive's spells returned to their medallions and the ducks went back inside.
"Any idea how much enchantium each of us can hold?", Duke asked.
Canard thought for a minute.
"I'm not sure. I never thought about it before. I guess we'll find out soon enough."
Later as they were turning in for the night, Canard looked out at the clear night sky.
"Another day closer to the semi finals.", he sighed as he leaned on the rail.
As he looked up at the moon, he remembered Puckworld for a moment. All the ice and snow and hockey in everything that was there. Yeah, he felt homesick, but he brightened up. They had just beat Darkness Incarnate and had a Renaissance fair saved from a dreadful fate. Anyone couldn't feel bad after that.
"Still having thoughts?"
Canard turned to see Wildwing standing in the sliding door.
"Yeah.", Canard answered, "Your brother sure comes through when we're in a bind."
Wildwing smiled remembering when Nosedive saved them from a crazy scientist who wanted to dissect them for study and when Nosedive and Grin went undercover when they were framed for jewel robberies and getting to the bottom of it.
"Yeah, my baby bro may be hard to get used to, but he means well."
"You can say that again.", Canard said.
Wildwing felt really good right now.
"You know, while you were in Limbo, I still felt like you were out there."
Canard sighed.
"I know that feeling. I really do."
Both ducks yawned and both decided it was time to hit the hay. They both went back inside and after getting set, went off to bed. Canard laid down on his bed and as he pulled the covers up, he recalled a time when he made a hammock and watching the sky like he did earlier.
"I felt so lost in Limbo.", he thought to himself, "But something in my heart told me not to give up. So I tried everyday just to find out what this feeling was. Every place I visited, every test I faced, and every way I went I searched and searched, but the answer always seemed out of reach. Just when I thought about giving up, Wildwing calls out my name and I'm finally free again. Fate works in strange ways."
He felt his eyelids getting heavy and he didn't bother fighting it. In three seconds, he was out cold and sleeping peacefully like he did when he first got out of Limbo.
