Phil dusted off his shoulders as he got on his feet with Thrash and Mookie following.
"Okay, first we get ambushed by some bright light and then we get captured by some dimensional time traveler that can bend space, and now we're in a deserted Anaheim?", he asked sounding pretty confused, "What the heck is going on here?"
"No idea.", Thrash answered, "But we need to find the ducks and find out what's up."
Mookie nodded.
"And I think I know where to start."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a communicator the ducks use.
"How'd you get that?", Phil asked.
"Nosedive gave it to us so we could keep in touch.", Thrash answered, "With luck, we could get a signal."
Mookie pressed the communicator, but so far they only got static.
"Something must be jamming the coms.", Thrash said.
"Hello?"
The three jumped to hear Tanya's voice come through.
"Tanya? Is that you?", Phil asked.
"Phil? You need to get to the Pond immediately."
"What's wrong?", Mookie asked, "Where is everybody?"
Before Tanya could answer, the com went dead.
"Dang it.", Thrash said a little miffed, "Well, we better get to the Pond like Tanya said."
Phil then noticed his Mustang parked only a few feet away.
"Okay, who parked my car over there?", he asked walking over.
He got in and found the key in the ignition. He started it up as Thrash hand Mookie got in only to be almost hit by a plasma blast. They turned to see hunter drones nearby and Phil hit the gas. Thrash and Mookie then noticed the drones were shifting into flying ones and gave pursuit.
"The drones now fly?!", Phil asked in shock.
"Just keep your eyes on the road!", the other two yelled.
/
Tanya was getting more than a bit worried.
"This is weird. I've tried to find the source of this magic, but nothing came up."
Grin was in his meditative pose and didn't seem to be paying attention.
"One must rely on not just one of his senses, but all if he is to find what he seeks."
Tanya thought for a second and then, she remembered something.
"Hey Grin, did Wildwing have the Mask with him when the others left?"
Grin's eyes opened as he remembered it too. They made their way to Wildwing's room and there it was on the table by Wildwing's bed.
"Maybe this took him by surprise so much he forgot it.", Tanya theorized.
She went to pick it up, only to find it was more like the masks that human players wear.
"Hope this still works."
She placed it on her face for a second before taking it off.
"Yep, it still works."
As they made their way to the Duckcycles in the hanger, Tanya pocketed the Mask to keep it safe. The moment they were outside, Phil's car pulled around a bend followed by several flying drones that were shooting. As they got closer, Tanya and Grin shot the drones down which allowed Phil to pull up beside them.
"Please tell me you have good news on how to fix this.", Phil said looking pretty freaked out.
Tanya sighed.
"No luck, but we got other problems. Wildwing forgot the Mask and the guys will be in big trouble if we don't get it to them."
Phil didn't look too thrilled.
"You mean go back out there?", he asked, "With those drones and who knows what else?"
Phil then fainted. Grin came over and helped Tanya and Mookie get him into the back seat while Thrash took the wheel. After that, they were off.
/
Dragaunus observed all of this and wasn't looking too thrilled.
"I admit you were clever placing that crystal in Anaheim.", he said to Charyus who was nearby, "But how is this going to eliminate our pest problem?"
"Give Chroma time my lord.", Charyus said calmly, "I know the company I employ mean well, but it does buy us the precious moments we need."
Dragaunus looked concerned.
"Any luck with the wards?"
Charyus frowned.
"Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty."
"Forget the wards."
Dragaunus and Charyus turned to see Siege walk in looking angry and impatient.
"I say we tar and defeather those web footed wimps!"
Charyus' expression hardened.
"Don't be so overeager underling.", he said calmly, "When has that ever worked in your favor?"
Siege was clearly not in the mood to listen.
"My lord, I say we've given Charyus plenty of time to rid us of those ducks and he's not giving results."
Charyus' expression hardened further. A strong force filled the room and Siege felt himself being pushed into a wall. Though he tried to fight it, he was pushed back anyway.
"Do not underestimate my power.", Charyus warned as the force left the room and Siege regained his footing.
Dragaunus looked Charyus' way and his nostrils were smoking.
"I'll say that Siege has a point Charyus. Your little spell incapacitated the ducks and now we'll take it from here."
Charyus' expression didn't let up.
"If you disrupt the magical flow-"
"Forget magic!", Siege snapped, "I want to fight and I'm sick of waiting!"
Before Dragaunus or Charyus could get a word in, Siege activated a teleporter on his wrist and was out of there.
"What a fool.", Charyus sneered, "I finally have the ducks cornered and he has to go ruin it."
Dragaunus didn't look worried.
"We'll see."
/
Wildwing parked the Migrator as the ducks contemplated on what to do.
"Okay, why is my Create spell not forming?", Nosedive asked.
Mallory was appearing to be having trouble too.
"My Sword spell is not forming either."
Canard frowned.
"Of course Charyus would use that spell."
Wildwing raised an eyebrow.
"You know this spell?"
Canard nodded.
"Unfortunately yes. Charyus used Illusion to make the Anaheim which would explain why everyone is missing."
"And what about our human forms?", Duke asked, "Could that be Charyus also?"
Before Canard could answer, the Migrator almost flipped. They got outside to see a strange entity floating above their heads. It looked humanoid in appearance only it looked almost transparent all the way, tentacles flowing from it's shoulders besides it's humanoid arms and hands, a whirling cyclone from the waist down and blank eyes that were in a sneer.
"Actually, that was my doing." the ducks heard inside their heads, "I must say that I didn't expect Charyus to go this far."
"Oh great, Charyus summons another entity to fight his battles for him. Can this episode get any weirder besides being a two-parter?", Nosedive asked(breaking the fourth wall again).
"I am not an entity!", they heard the entity snap in their heads, "I am Chroma, bender of space and traveler through-"
Chroma paused as Wildwing tried firing a puck at him only to have Chroma stop it in midair.
"Seriously?", Chroma asked telepathically, "You're using common pucks against me?"
And then Chroma waved his hand and the puck split into several pieces that then formed into floating knives.
"Dodge this!"
Siege watched from afar on a nearby roof and had to admit he would be interfering with this fight, but then again, he never knew when he would get another opportunity like this. He pulled out his blaster rifle, but before he could fire, Nosedive deflected one of Chroma's daggers and it almost cut him as he dodged it.
"Too close.", he muttered.
He then took aim again only to have Tanya, Grin, Thrash and Mookie drive in with Tanya and Grin opening fire on him.
"Maybe I didn't think this through.", he muttered.
Before he could do anything, Chameleon came out and held his hand as they were both warped away. Chroma noticed the new reinforcements and was distracted long enough for Canard to hurl one of his own daggers at him. Chroma dodged but then started fading.
"Darn it."
Chroma faded until he disappeared entirely leaving the ducks confused.
"What happened?", Mallory asked.
"His calling overrode his free will and his time to go had arrived.", Grin said sagely.
The other ducks shrugged while thrash and Mookie looked a little surprised when they noticed Nosedive.
"Dive? Man you look hip.", Thrash said.
Morpha came out and then started hopping and barking excitedly.
"What is it Morpha?", Wildwing asked.
Morpha shifted into a building and a tendril pointed to an edge after it came out.
"That's where the crystal doing all of this is?", Tanya guessed.
Morpha then shifted into a "Winner" sign and started dinging like when someone answered a correct answer on a quiz show.
"I love this little guy.", Nosedive gushed.
Morpha shifted back into it's dog form with it's blue points turning light orange.
"What emotion is that?", Mallory asked.
"I'm guessing it's Shy or Embarrassed.", Wildwing answered as he put the Mask on his face.
The ducks were getting ready to start driving again when Phil came around.
"Guys, I had this weird dream that we were-"
He paused to notice that he wasn't dreaming and he fainted again.
/
Siege and Chameleon warped on the roof of an apartment building with gargoyles along each side.
"Why are we here?", Siege asked harshly.
"To protect the crystal.", Chameleon said, "If the ducks know where it is-"
"Then we fry them.", Siege interrupted, "This time the feathers are going to fly."
Charyus warped near them with Wraith and both looked displeased.
"This is no time for rash decision making Siege.", Charyus said coldly, "Chroma's time has expired and I need a few minutes before I can call him again."
Wraith looked over the edge and saw the Migrator approaching.
"Um Lord Charyus, we don't have that long."
The other saurians saw the Migrator too. Siege took his blaster rifle and took aim.
"Finally, target practice."
As much as Charyus wanted to object, he had to concede.
"Hold them off while I prepare Chroma's summoning."
Siege and Chameleon opened fire while Wraith threw fireballs at the incoming threat while the Migrator retaliated with flying pucks and the Mustang behind it fired also. One of those pucks managed to hit the side of the edge where a gargoyle was sitting which just happened to have the crystal Charyus had Chameleon place.
"Chameleon, get the crystal!", Charyus yelled as he noticed the crystal was about to fall.
Chameleon reacted immediately. He managed to reach the crystal before it fell and clutched it firmly.
"That was close."
Charyus had magical rings materialize as he continued chanting. He didn't get far though cause that was when the building shook and Charyus stumbled causing the rings he conjured to disperse and Charyus was certainly not happy.
"That's it. Now I'm mad."
The gems in Charyus' staff glowed fiercely as held it aloft. A massive portal opened and a large reptilian body came on to the roof. As it rose, the other saurians noticed that multiple serpent heads were seen rising and all connected to the large lizard body with a pronged split tail and large sharp claws.
"Gentlemen, meet the Hydra.", Charyus said proudly, "Spoken in Greek myth and far from folklore. Let's see how our foes handle this."
/
As the saurians warped away, Chameleon accidentally dropped the crystal and he didn't have time to get it as he vanished. It then wedged itself into a gargoyle's hand and there it set as the hydra tensed waiting for the opposition to arrive.
The ducks had just arrived on the roof as multiple heads met them.
"Oh great, now we have to fight a monster of myth.", Nosedive groaned.
Duke and Canard didn't look phased.
"Move out Ducks!", Wildwing called out.
The ducks assaulted while the hydra retaliated. Grin held the tail or at least tried with Tanya helping out while the other ducks were dodging fire streams, acid spray and balls of shadow. Thrash and Mookie had made their way to the roof as well and were observing this all from afar.
"This is so rad!", Thrash said in amazement.
"Yeah, it's much different than just hearing about it.", Mookie added.
Wildwing noticed them right away.
"You two, find the gem!"
They didn't need to be told twice. Avoiding the action unfolding, they scanned out the area and saw a glint near the southwest gargoyle.
"Found it!", Thrash called out.
They got over to it and found it difficult to get it out. They strained and pulled, but it was stuck good. The Hydra had flung Grin aside which fortunately bumped the gargoyle and loosened the gem enough to pull it out. Unfortunately, Thrash and Mookie lost their balance and went over the edge, but Grin caught them. Meanwhile Duke had managed to get past the heads and reach the body.
"Good thing we still have our skills.", he said as he plunged his saber into the beast's back.
The heads reeled in agony as the ducks fell back. Duke's saber came out, but beams of light tore from the scales of the Hydra as if it was about to blow.
"Jump for it!", Wildwing called out.
They had all jumped off the roof as the beast exploded and light filled the area.
Wildwing's eyes fluttered again and it took a moment to realized he was on the ground. Anaheim had vanished revealing that they were in open countryside with the Migrator nearby. He turned to see his team were ducks again and when he noticed his reflection in a nearby pond, he was also.
"Everyone okay?", he asked.
"Yeah.", Canard answered.
"We're cool.", Grin answered.
Nosedive looked around.
"Hey, where's Thrash and Mook?"
"Over here."
The ducks turned to see Thrash and Mookie were on the ground only when they turned around the ducks were a little surprised. They were dressed the same and their hairstyles as well, but now Thrash had stormy gray feathers while Mookie had light brown and both had bills like the ducks did.
"What?", Thrash asked.
Nosedive decided to break the ice.
"Um dudes, you're ducks."
Thrash and Mookie looked confused. And then they caught their reflections in the same Pond where Wildwing saw his. They were a little surprised at first, but then smiled.
"This is so cool.", they both answered in unification.
Phil got out from behind the Migrator to see what was up.
"Okay, why are we in the middle of-"
He paused as he noticed Thrash and Mookie.
"What the heck happened to you two?"
"Same that happened to you I guess.", Mookie answered.
"What do you mean what-"
Phil paused as he noticed his reflection in the Migrator. He was dressed the same as well as his hair being the same as it always was except now he had a bill and blue gray feathers. He screamed out loud.
"What just happened?!"
Wildwing rolled his eyes as he noticed the gem Thrash and Mookie tried to get had vanished with the illusion.
"Okay, this officially got weirder."
