Thrash and Mookie walked out of the local gym with large packs over their shoulders and looking pretty bummed.
"Why exactly did Phil get us this gig?", Mookie asked sounding bored.
Thrash placed a hand on his face and shook it.
"Something about public appearances for charity or something."
"Hey, the gym back at the Pond has more class than this dump.", Mookie griped, "And we had better instructors."
Thrash smiled as he ran a hand over the nunchaku on his belt. It had been a while since they last visited and they were due for cheerleading practice with Morpha so they headed over. They had just reached the door when Phil came out and almost hit them with it. Luckily they were far enough away to not be hit, but Phil looked surprised to see them.
"Done with the shoot already?"
Thrash and Mookie groaned.
"We were done over an hour ago.", Thrash told him handing him a folder, "And we got the shots you can mail out to the health magazines or whatever."
Phil took the folder while Thrash and Mookie went in and noticed the team was in the middle of their practice and Morpha was waiting with their cheerleader outfits on a nearby bench. The ducks had finished up their practice long enough to notice the other two.
"Hey dudes.", Nosedive said cheerfully as he skated over, "How was the martial arts shoot."
"Totally bogus.", Thrash answered, "Mal and Canard can teach us martial arts better than those instructors back there."
"Not to mention that we barely had any personal space.", Mookie added, "I had to go through about ten different selfie photos and autograph signing, but I always was a quick writer and even faster reactor. We have no idea how you guys do it, but somehow you do."
Morpha came over with the outfits and raised an eyebrow as the three ducks looked his way.
"Looks like Morpha wants to get practice over with.", Nosedive guessed.
Morpha's blue color points turned yellow and it completely covered Thrash and Mookie in less than a minute without anything being seen from the outside. After a few moments, Morpha let Thrash and Mookie out only for them to be seen in the cheerleader outfits and their other clothes were folded and placed on the bench behind them.
"Smart move.", Thrash said adjusting his shirt collar
Mookie noticed that the skirt on her outfit went past her knees and she looked Morpha's way.
"Aren't you going to get ready?", she asked.
Morpha instantly shifted into the form of a sixteen year old girl already in cheerleader clothes and smiled causing the hair to remain blonde.
"Point taken.", Mookie said as Morpha produced three sets of pom-poms for them to use.
"Well, I look forward to hearing you dudes cheer.", Nosedive said before skating off to hit the showers.
/
Dragaunus watched impatiently as Charyus drew a new enchantium from the piece of artwork he had Chameleon and Wraith obtain at a local auction. It was light pink with violet zigzags along the middle which Charyus found appealing.
"So what exactly does this one do?", Dragaunus asked eager to know.
Charyus picked it up and aimed it at Dragaunus. It lit up for a split second and then dimmed. Dragaunus opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He then looked angry and ready to let loose a blast from his wrist laser, but Charyus snapped his fingers and Dragaunus felt a ping in his throat.
"What was that?", he asked harshly but then looked surprised as he could talk again.
"Silence.", Charyus answered, "A spell that makes all sounds go quiet and only the wielder can undo it."
Siege had come in and overheard, but he didn't look so thrilled.
"So what's so great about being quiet?", he asked harshly.
Charyus looked his way and the room grew dark.
"No matter what spell it is, it could be useful if used properly."
Dragaunus pressed a button on the dashboard and Pretorius' face showed up.
"I trust the machine Charyus suggested is coming along fine?"
Pretorius wiped his hands on a cloth.
"I still need some components my lord, but I have it on track quite nicely."
Dragaunus hung up and turned to Charyus.
"At least you're getting more magic to use under my approval."
Charyus returned the look.
"And I need to find out that recipe for Prophecy or my foresight won't be modified properly."
Dragaunus waved his hand in the air and Wraith and Chameleon showed up.
"As much as I hate to say this, you both did well."
"Well I don't mean to brag, but it was a swell deal.", Chameleon said as he shifted into a car salesman and back again.
"Your attempts at impersonations still amuses me.", Charyus said calmly.
Chameleon didn't know whether Charyus was being sincere of sarcastic, but he chose to ignore it.
"Any more enchantium spike yet?", Wraith asked quickly changing the subject.
"Nothing yet.", Charyus answered, "Silence was the last one and not much came up since."
/
Nosedive came out of the locker room to find Thrash, Mookie and Morpha who were deep in their cheer.
"Check right, pass left and into the goal. Come on team, let's score!"
The others had come out also and couldn't help but overhear.
"That doesn't rhyme.", Mallory said plainly.
Nosedive thought for a second, but then the ducks heard another cheer the team of cheerleaders came up with.
"Skate towards the goal and test the luck. Make the score as the net gets the puck."
They paused as they noticed the others watching. Fortunately though, they weren't being judged.
"Well, they got spirit.", Canard said smiling, "Just need a little rhyme and with a few good moves, I'd say they got it."
After a couple minutes, Morpha helped Thrash and Mookie get back into their original clothes and their outfits were folded, and on the bench.
"Man, this sure beats a changing room.", Thrash said as he wiped his shoulder.
Morpha shifted back into it's dog form and used a couple tendrils to take the cheerleader outfits into the locker room while the ducks got back into the base.
"I'd say our skills are pretty up to speed.", Duke said.
"Don't let it get to you.", Canard informed, "We still have Dragaunus and Charyus lurking around somewhere."
"And who knows what those creeps are up to.", Nosedive added..
Wildwing was about to say something, when some blue goo seeped from a vent and landed in front of him and the ducks. Before they could do anything, the goo shifted and they relaxed as they saw it was only Morpha.
"Your pet sure has a 'one of a kind' sense of humor.", Mookie stated.
Morpha's blue coloring turned orange as it looked away shyly.
"So Mal, I was wondering if I could ask you something.", Thrash stated.
"What's that?", Mallory asked getting a little interested.
"Would you and Duke help me and Mook with our weapon skill?", Thrash asked, "We got back from a gym which had a martial arts demonstration, but it didn't really work out."
Duke smiled.
"Sure thing."
Mallory seemed a little hesitant, but what did she have to lose? As the foursome headed off, Grin went off to do some meditating, Tanya went to do a lookout on Drake 1, and Canard went off to do some weight lifting leaving Wildwing and Nosedive with each other. Morpha had regained it's blue coloring as Nosedive remembered something.
"Hey big bro, when was the last time you and I trained together?"
Wildwing raised an eyebrow. He couldn't recall the last time he trained with Nosedive, but he felt a little off. Canard had shown up again to get some towels and couldn't help but overhear.
"Dive, that's a great idea."
Wildwing was a little surprised.
"Canard, I'm not sure that's a way to go."
Canard raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, what happens if one of you get's mind controlled and has to go through the other?", he asked calmly.
Wildwing sighed. He knew Canard had a point and he recalled when Pestilence came and controlled three members of the team and he shuddered at the thought of Nosedive being one of the victims.
/
As the others showed up, they couldn't help but noticed Nosedive and Wildwing practicing their enchantium while Canard supervised. Wildwing deflected a couple of arrows Nosedive fired using Shield while Nosedive switched from Arrow to Create. Before he could scribble anything, Wildwing threw Shield that bounced off a wall and disarmed Nosedive surprising everyone but Canard who looked impressed.
"The best defense truly is the best offense.", Grin said sagely.
"Who knew Shield could be thrown?", Duke asked.
Thrash and Mookie were more than surprised.
"You got to admit Dive has got some serious reflexes.", Thrash complimented.
"Learned that from me.", Canard said proudly.
Nosedive then went to Siren and as he started to sing, Wildwing activated Shield again only this time, instead of covering just his front, it covered him entirely. The others got a little worried, but Canard didn't.
"Don't worry, I had Tanya analyze that Anti-magic crystal Morpha had and create a field to keep the magic in without us being effected.", he assured everyone.
Everyone relaxed as Wildwing and Nosedive kept at it. Then Nosedive coughed causing the spell to phase out and Wildwing went for Flight and went for Nosedive who avoided it only to get tripped by Wildwing.
"Nice try baby bro.", Wildwing said smiling, "I've seen how you trained with Canard and I have to say you got some moves."
Nosedive looked up at him smiling as well.
"You're not half bad yourself."
As they placed their spells away, the others applauded.
"Well played.", Canard commented, "You two really know how to work that magic."
At that moment Phil came in.
"Hey ducks, did you guys forget the Sports magazine shoot today?"
The ducks groaned.
"How could we forget?", Duke said rolling his eye.
Grin flinched.
"My inner peace shivers at the thought."
Phil didn't look to take aback.
"Hey, they need a front page shot of the winners of last season's Stanley cup to kick off the new one and who else is going to let a local team of hockey playing aliens pose for it?"
Wildwing raised an eyebrow.
"Funny you should ask Phil. Aren't you, Thrash and Mookie the same as us now?"
Phil thought for a moment, but he regained his posture.
"I'm a team manager and lawyer. Besides, I'm better with a pen than combat and hockey."
/
As the team came out in their uniforms with Thrash and Mookie in their cheerleader outfits again, they could see the shoot being set up right in front of the Pond with a news crew and a whole paparazzi all being managed by Klegghorn and his squad.
"Don't we ever get a break?", Thrash asked as he adjusted his shorts, "And did Phil have to make this a big deal?"
Wildwing sighed as a couple members of the camera crew brushed his jersey clean.
"The things we do to play."
Canard had gotten his jersey brushed up, but had a couple fans get through and were pelting him with questions.
"Canard, is it true you lived in an alternate dimension where anything could happen?"
"You actually breathed underwater without scuba gear?"
"Didn't you ever worry about what was going to happen next?"
Canard felt a little pressured, but luckily Klegghorn came by and a couple officers escorted the fans away.
"You birds sure have some fan club.", Klegghorn said plainly.
Canard shrugged.
"I'm just happy that you came when you did."
Klegghorn went back to his post and Canard went back just as Nosedive was getting his jersey brushed up. The news crew got into position and began a countdown while the ducks got into position.
"And we're live in five..four..three..two.."
The anchorman took his mic and looked at the camera.
"Good morning Anaheim, I'm Doug Dodger and we're live at the local and famous Anaheim Pond and with the most famous hockey team in America: The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. With me here is manager Phil Palmfeather who has been the manager since they arrived over a year ago."
Phil was beside Doug and the paparazzi were getting into position with the Ducks lining up while Phil was interviewed.
"So Phil why is it that you incorporate cheerleaders into the team when they didn't have them before?"
"To help with team spirit of course."
"He's enjoying this isn't he?", Canard asked Wildwing.
"You have no idea how much.", Wildwing answered.
"And now let's get a full shot of the team with the trophy.", Doug stated.
The ducks got a little surprised. Phil didn't mention the Stanley cup trophy being in the shoot. Luckily though, a couple tendrils came out followed by Morpha carrying the trophy. Nobody noticed it and Morph quickly shifted into it's cheerleader form before any camera caught it.
"Nice save.", Nosedive whispered.
Morpha's form's hair went orange for a second and then to blonde.
/
Dragaunus was watching this and in anger he blasted the monitor with his wrist laser causing it to blow.
"Hey, we were watching that.", Chameleon whined as his face shifted to that of a young boy and back.
"Pardon me?", Dragaunus asked looking his way and his nostrils smoking.
Chameleon knew better than to provoke Dragaunus further. Siege was also there and stomped his foot.
"Those birds really burn me up."
"I know.", Dragaunus said firmly, "I have thrown just about everything at them and still they come out on top!"
He blew apart a passing drone as Wraith and Charyus warped in.
"Well this is certainly a bad time.", Wraith said turning to leave, but unfortunately Dragaunus noticed.
"You two have had all day to find some kind of enchantium. So why then aren't any more showing up?"
Charyus kept his cool while Wraith quivered.
"Enchantium must not be rushed my lord and I can provide you a means of victory if you would just be patient."
Dragaunus fired at Charyus with his wrist laser, but it was dodged and it hit another drone.
"If you're thinking of going after that book you lost, I won't lend you aid."
Charyus' eyes narrowed.
"How predictable. The lord of the Annectia Seas has an opportunity of take over, but he won't go for it."
Wraith, Siege and Chameleon had a feeling this wouldn't go well so they got close to the door in case things got ugly which by the look of things was about to happen. Dragaunus got off his chair and stalked near Charyus, but then smiled.
"As much as I detest you prolonging time, it would be amusing to watch you fail."
Charyus' expression darkened further and the room grew dark.
"Do not underestimate my power Dragaunus."
Dragaunus' smile didn't fade.
"Fine. Pursue the book if you choose, but this device you're so intent on building better be worth it or I might reconsider accepting your help from when you first showed up."
Charyus' staff glowed with eerie light in the darkness as Charyus' expression lightened.
"Fear not my lord.", he answered before leaving, "Once I have that book, I will have what I need to not only make my Prophecy spell, but another Wish as well."
That got Dragaunus' attention, but he said nothing til Charyus left along with Siege, Wraith and Chameleon.
"Yes.", he muttered to himself, "If I can get another Wish spell, I'd have this whole planet on it's knees in only a moment's notice."
His laughter rang out of the room like a siren as he settled back into his chair to contemplate his next move.
