Author : Wild-Melody
Disclaimer : I don't own the Mighty Ducks, they are the sole property of Disney, I only borrow them from time to time…um scratch that, I borrow them a lot to use in my stories but I'm making no money on this so it wouldn't due you any good to sue me so don't try, thanks!
Warning : I would really put this at NC-17, this is going to be a lot different than either 'Surprise' or 'The Christmas Wish' were, even though this is a continuation of Surprise. Oh, and I'm having some trouble with 'The Christmas Wish' so it may be awhile till I get to finish it. My evil twin sister Wild-Fyre ran off with my story ideas for the story so I can't finish it till she decides to be nice and give them back.
Wild-Fyre : Which won't be anytime soon! You didn't even put me in the story! You're in it but I'm not! It's so unfair!
Wild-Melody : Well Wild-Fyre, it you'd read things once in a while you would've read where your introduced into the story later on…DUH!
Wild-Fyre : Oh, sorry. I didn't see that, where's it at? *flips through notebook*
Wild-Melody : Right there stupid, see there in Chapter 9, you try to hamper things between…oh, sorry the audience is still listening. *waves and grabs notebook from Wild-Fyre* Thanks there sis, now how about you all enjoy the latest chapter and I can now work on 'The Christmas Wish'? Sound good?
The Awakening
Chapter 4 : Portal Magick
Four of the six ducks were gathered around the kitchen table the next morning. Tanya had allowed Nosedive to finally come out of the infirmary and join the land of the living. He was still apprehensive about facing Mallory, then again so were the rest of the Ducks. It was still a huge shock to them once they had found out that she belonged to the magickal caste on Puckworld.
"I was kind of relieved she didn't stay in our room last night, I-I wouldn't have you know, known what to say to her," Tanya said as she looked each one of the other ducks in the face.
"What'd she do, stay in the infirmary then?" Duke asked as he looked over at Nosedive.
The youngest duck's eyes opened wide in shock or fear, Duke wasn't quite sure what it was. "She didn't come in there last night. I remember the door opened one point last night but no one came in. I think it might've been Wildwing checking up on me, making sure I was still alive." He tried laughing but it only came out as a cough like wheeze.
"Well, if she didn't stay in our room and um, she didn't stay in the, well the infirmary th-then where did she stay?" Tanya asked as her gaze fell on Duke and Grin.
"Whoa! Don't look at us Sweetheart, I didn't see her at all last night." Duke said as he held his hands up in front of him in a defensive gesture. "No one came into Grin's and my room last night."
The door to the kitchen suddenly whooshed open and in walked Wildwing and Mallory, they both looked relaxed and quite refreshed. Mal was glowing and a faint blush crept up into her cheeks. Everyone took notice that Wing's arm was wrapped around her waist and she was gazing adoringly up at their leader. The same thought slammed through each of the four ducks minds at the same time: I know where she spent the night at, with Wildwing!
"Good morning," Wildwing said as he looked at each of the ducks in turn, his gaze lingered on Nosedive, "I see Tanya finally conceded to let you out, huh?" he asked as his gaze moved over to look at Tanya.
"He's doing a lot better than he was thanks to Mallory," Tanya said as she looked closely at Mal. There's some blood leaking through the bandage, but at least it's not soaked. To bad I don't have any good news for them. I can't come up with anything on this planet that's even close to the cure from Puckworld.
Mallory pulled up the chair next to Tanya and sat down, Tanya tried to keep herself from flinching away from Mal, but it was hard. She had to keep repeating to herself, Mal's still the same duck that she was before, she's just gained some new powers. Powers that will benefit us in the future, if she lives that long. The last part popped into her head unbidden. "Mallory, how much do you k-know about th-these magickal powers you possess?" Tanya asked as she turned to face the other female.
Wildwing sat down in the chair next to Mallory, he looked curiously at Tanya, And just where is this line of questioning leading too. He wondered, but he didn't interrupt.
"Not a whole lot why?" Mal asked as she looked at Tanya, she reached her hand out and took hold of Wildwing's gaining strength from his mere touch.
"I was wondering if there was anyway y-you could create some of the ingredients I'll need um, for the cure. I can't find all of them here on Earth, some of them I can find, um close similarities here and others do grow here but there are some that don't even exist in this dimension." She paused as she caught Wildwing's gaze. "If there is away you can get the plants I don't have we may be um, well able to make the cure. If not, we're going to h-have to find another way to b-b ah, beat this thing!"
Mallory sadly shook her head, "I don't know how to do that kind of stuff yet. Skysong and Windracer are trying to teach me as fast as they can, but there is so little time and so much for me to learn."
"Skysong and Windracer?" It was Nosedive who spoke up. He wore an extremely curious look on his face.
"Yes, my mother and my great-grandmother." Mallory said as she looked over at Nosedive, he met her gaze for the first time, the fear was finally gone from his eyes.
"I thought your mother was dead," Tanya said.
"She is, the beautiful thing about being in the magickal caste is we can talk telepathically with one another, even those that have died." The gleam in her eye disappeared and she squeezed Wing's hand, he squeezed back. "The downside is that those that turn to the evil side, like Nightshade can talk to us also. He invades my dreams at nights and invades my mind during the day." She closed her eyes and just visibly shuddered. "If I was to listen right now, I could hear his thoughts, his laughter because he knows I'm dying and he has the cure that could save me." She opened her eyes and looked directly at Wildwing, their eyes met and held briefly.
"We will get the cure, one way or another you are not going to die Mallory." Wildwing said so ferverently that Mallory was inclined to believe him.
"I hope so," she said quietly.
Daughter? The thought popped into her mind suddenly. Mallory's eyes became unfocused and her forehead scrunched up with concentration. Wildwing gazed at her nervously. The request your friend made is possible, you can get the herbs and plants she needs, but I don't know if your powers are great enough yet.
I don't understand, Mallory thought-spoke.
We magick users are able to open small portals to other dimensions for short periods of time, but it takes great power and strength to do so, and the knowledge of the spell components necessary for the particular spell. Mallory left out a just audible sigh and the others looked at her with worry. Not all Magiusi possess the skills to open the portals, but such power runs through our family…the question arises as to whether or not you possess the skills for such a spell.
I will do anything that I need to! Mallory swore. Just tell me mother what I have to do and I will do it.
I don't know yet if you are ready to try this type of spell Mallory, you are still a novice in the art of Magiusi. Windracer said, the edge of worry apparent in her ghostly voice. If you are not ready the energy from the spell will rip you apart. Skysong and I will not be able to protect you from this.
If we don't try this I'll die anyway… it really don't matter one way or the other. Teach me. Mallory said.
Alright, Windracer said. If it is what you wish.
My wish is not to die.
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Mallory spent many hours in meditation, the other ducks weren't quite certain what was going on during the meditation sessions, but no one wanted to ask. Even Wildwing didn't delve to deeply into the new world that Mallory was stepping into. She would tell them if and when she wanted them to know.
Grin usually sat with her while she meditated, keeping a close eye on the young female duck. She had come to him and asked him for his help in putting her into a deep meditation trance, it would make it easier for her to connect to the spirit plane where her mother and grandmother waited for her. It was on this spirit plane that she was taught, time moved differently there than it did on Earth. What passed for an hour in the spirit plane was actually only a few minutes in Earth time.
Much information was crammed into each of her training sessions, as much as Skysong and Windracer could manage until she woke from her trance. Each and every time that she would wake, Wildwing was always there waiting for her to return to him. One thought always crossed her mind, ok-two thoughts actually: 1) How was it that Dragaunus seemed to never brew up any trouble when she was in the meditation trances? And 2) Did Nightshade know what Skysong and Windracer were attempting to teach her, would he try to put a stop to it?
The thoughts plagued her each time she awoke, but she always put her fears to rest when her brilliant emerald eyes would clash with Wildwing's warm chocolate brown ones. Just a simple look from him could put most of her fears to rest, save one: Am I gonna live or am I gonna die?
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The day to truth was finally at hand and Mallory had so many butterflies fluttering around in her stomach she was sure she was going to float away anytime soon. Skysong and Windracer had told her that they'd taught her everything she would need to know to open the portal. As long as she spoke the words true everything should go fine and the needed herbs should appear through the opened gateway.
If not, then the gathered magickal energy would tear apart the source it was gathered through: her.
Mallory bit the lower part of her bill and turned to face Wildwing. "I don't know if I can do this," she said quietly so that the rest of the Ducks couldn't hear her. They were still within the Pond, she was going to try and attempt the spell there in the control room, just below Drake 1.
"You'll do fine," Wildwing said as he gently took her hand in his own. "I believe in you." He kissed her gently on the cheek.
Nosedive walked up to them just then, he looked shyly first at his brother than over at Mallory. "You know," he said, lifting his face up to look Mal directly in her eyes…a few inches below his own. "I never did thank you for saving my life." He finally said. He smiled goofily down at her then swept her up in a big bear hug, "Thanks, I owe you one!"
"It was my fault you were lying in that bed Dive, I just couldn't let you lay there when I could help you." she paused as he placed her away from himself. "I'm just sorry I scared you." Her voice was hushed and soft.
Nosedive made a gesture to tell her to forget about it and Mallory smiled at him in appreciation.
Tanya walked up to Mallory, the look in the blond duck's eyes told Mallory that she had something very important on her mind. "What is it Tanya?" Mallory asked her gaze caught and held Tanya's.
Tanya nervously wringed her hands together. "You're about to open a portal…" Tanya looked over at Duke, Mal just noticed the slightest nod from the gray drake. Mal turned her eyes back toward Tanya and nodded her head just slightly. "Well, what I was wondering…it's going to be a dimensional gateway…would we be able to pass through it to home?"
Mal shut her eyes like she was in pain, "That was one of the first things I asked. The portal I'm going to open is going to be small and only opened for a short period of time, a very short period. Non of us would have the time to get through it." She paused, trying to figure out the best way to explain exactly what was going to happen. She paced slowly back and forth and eventually stopped in front of Wildwing and looked up at him.
He nodded his head and smiled down at her. She turned around to face the other ducks. "Magickal energy is going to be sent through the portal to retrieve each of the items we need. Once those items are collected the portal will close in on itself. There would not be enough time for any of us to get through the portal, and if there were, it's to small. Only one the size of a duckling would be able to make it through…maybe a little larger. An adolescent perhaps…" she shook her head, "I don't know the full details though. What I got from Windracer and Skysong were sketchy at best."
The rest of the ducks stood there watching as Mallory took a deep breath and prepared to start the spell. Silence filled the underground base in anticipation of what was to occur next…
Continued in the next chapter : Shockwave
