Author's Notes 3/11/02:
Holy Cow!! When I posted the first chapter to "Never Say Forever" I figured I would get a few reviews that said" nice job." But this is great!
I'm loving all the encouraging (and occasionally threatening, hehe) reviews I've recieved. Especially the ones from Prince Tyler Briefs, Angelfire, and Gohanzgirl. I've read -all- of ya'll Mighty Ducks Fan Fiction and absolutely love you guys! That ya'll would write such praise for me really makes me want to write more!
So I did!
~Windresss
Oh, and I forgot to add a Disclaimer last time soo.....
Disclaimer: I am a poor poor sap whose only friends are drawn by artists. Anyone ever notice how much more attractive cartoons are than real people, anyway?
Never Say Forever.
Chapter 2: Things Unsaid
~~Three Days Ago, NoseDive Flashblade's Room~~
"You called!" The blonde teenager sent comic books flying from his bed as he bounced onto it, comm. watch gripped in his hand. His sparkling eyes reflected unsurpassed excitement and, looking deeper, what WildWing could only attribute as relief. His younger brother's beak was stretched in a wide grin.
"Of -Course- I called, Dive." Wing wasn't sure why he felt a pang of guilt at the expression he witnessed on his sibling's face, "I told you I would."
"Yeah…," Dive blinked, wondering why he doubted Wing. He knew his bro loved him, yet there was the constant, niggling reminder in the back of NoseDive's head that he was a burden on WildWing. He had always been, even when they were on Puckworld. Dive had tagged after him and Canard everytime they played hockey, and while Wing had tolerated him…Canard hadn't like it.
'Whoa, Dive, stay -away- from those memories!' The blonde duck mentally shook himself, returning his attention to the face on the screen, "So where are you? You sound Tired.."
WildWing just shrugged. He -was- tired. The Mighty Ducks' leader smirked, 'Leave it to Dive to notice exactly what I wanted to hide...'
"I'm just...in the country." If that wasn't a blatant lie then WildWing didn't know what was, and knowing that made him flinch. He'd never lied to Dive before. Not only was Wing -not- in the country, but he wasn't in -The Country-
He glanced over the empty stretch of Mexico valley before him, his eyes blinking at the gritty red dust that never seemed to settle in the poor, hot-climate country. Definitely, no Vacation he'd -willingly- participate in.
'I don't want him obsessing about my safety..' The older Flashblade reasoned, the argument sounding pathetic even to his own ears. 'He'd get the whole team chomping at the bit to come help me if he knew...'
Having heard rumors of strange crossbred animals attacking farmhouses in the southern country, WildWing deemed it a perfect place to go disappear for a time while NoseDive learned to function without him.
'I'll still be doing my job, as well as saving my brother the grief that comes along with it...' He'd chanted that the whole way here. Now that he was watching the hurt play across his little brother's features, he felt distinctly sick at heart.
"...o...k..." NoseDive muttered. He knew his brother was keeping something from him, and the knowledge hurt him more than he could remember. He stalwartly slammed his mind closed to those emotions, knowing Wing could read him like a Dr. Seuss book. Schooling his voice into an even tone, he lofted his blonde eyebrows, "so when you comin' home?"
'When you stop looking like I punched you in the gut every time I don't lay my heart out for you...' Instead, WildWing said, "I'm not sure. It's really...peaceful...here. Maybe a few days."
"I miss you..."
The older duck's heart wrenched, "Miss you, too, Dive...I'll call tomorrow."
"Promise?" The blonde Avian seemed to hang on WildWing's next breath..
"Promise."
~~Present Day; Underground Prison~~
Dive's not getting up. NOSEDIVE ISN'T GETTING UP!!
WildWing could hear someone screaming. Was that him? Was he screaming? Howling like some beast whose life was torn from him? Like he himself was dying?
The leader lurched forward, blind to everything beyond the still form of his brother, and was surprised when he felt the bonds that previously held him give somewhat. The monster's flailing had injured the stability of the underground prison, and had knocked chunks of the wall's loose. The chains, which had held WildWing tight, now lay among the rubble.
Wing fell forward at the unexpected slack, scrabbling in frantic haste to where his unconscious brother sprawled, his voice hoarse with strain and fear, "Dive!"
Upon reaching him, he released a soft groan, slumping to his knees beside NoseDive's body. His fingers stretched out, hovering above the gaping wound that seemed to explode from his little brother's slim midsection. Blood pumped steadily, as if Dive's heartbeat gave current to the river pooling outward around the young duck, turning red dust to an even redder mud.
"Oh, no..no...nonononono-" His voice broke, withering into silence. His memories flashed like an evil carousel through his mind, reminding him of every loss, every internal scar that never seemed to heal. He couldn't lose Dive. He -Couldn't!-
WildWing knew with chilling, heart wrenching certainty that if NoseDive died...he would die alongside him. If not in body, then in soul.
He'd much rather it be now, here, beside his whole family...his whole world.... than any number of years from now. Better to chance no future at all, than to chance no future with the small boy that meant so much more than he could ever know. 'Why, Dive? Why now?…'
Feathered fingers clutched his brother's wrist, and felt... no... No...THERE! A pulse, so faint that it could have been his own, but... there! Again! He wasn't gone! WildWing almost gave in to his sobs, 'No, not Now...not now, not today...'
He was seized with purpose. NoseDive was alive, and he had every intention of keeping him that way. Thinking quickly, he yanked off the tatter remnants of the shirt the older duck had been wearing at the time of his abduction, and ripped it further, tearing the fabric into strips to bind Dive's massive wound.
'The scorpion tail had to have driven all the way through his body...' Wing feared what he would discover if he were to roll Dive over. He opted, instead, to merely add a compress to the opening at his stomach. The dirt of the underground floor congealed when blood mixed with it, and its thickened state seemed to have staunched any blood flow at the young avian's back. WildWing swallowed with difficulty, not wishing to linger on that knowledge.
While applying gentle pressure to the compress, Wing's free hand searched frantically for Dive's comm. Every uniform had one... 'So where -is- it?!' He was getting hysterical. 'Take a breath, WildWing...your brother is counting on you. You can do this.' His hand closed around the comm. "thank god.."
With his thumb, WildWing jabbed at the Emergency button on the unit, praying that some one at the pond was paying attention.
Abruptly, Duke's worried expression appeared on the screen, fairly bellowing "DIVE! Where the hell a-…WildWing?" The older duck's features instantly relaxed, assuming that since NoseDive was with their leader, he was as safe as he could be in any possible scenario, "So NoseDive found you-"
WildWing cut him off. "He's seriously hurt, Duke. Its...Its -bad.-" He had to take a shaking breath, "Dive came to my rescue...but I need help here. Can you and the team find us?"
Duke had gone pale. Judging by WildWing's expression, Dive was balancing that crevice between life and death. He nodded curtly, "Tanya is gathering medical supplies, so we'll be there soon..." He gave his team captain a serious look, "..You tell him to hang on..."
The feebly whispered reply caught both duck's off guard..
"...I...I'll...try..."
**Ack! Don't Hurt me! I'm only giving you what you want! Besides, if you kill me, you'll never find out what happens, heeheehee. Thanks again to everyone who sent me some great Reviews. Now if only PapillonStar would review me, I'd be in Heaven! (Hint, much?) I Adore all her work, especially the very moving "Only Second Best" from which I am basing Canard and Dive's relationship in this story. Later, Ya'll!**
Holy Cow!! When I posted the first chapter to "Never Say Forever" I figured I would get a few reviews that said" nice job." But this is great!
I'm loving all the encouraging (and occasionally threatening, hehe) reviews I've recieved. Especially the ones from Prince Tyler Briefs, Angelfire, and Gohanzgirl. I've read -all- of ya'll Mighty Ducks Fan Fiction and absolutely love you guys! That ya'll would write such praise for me really makes me want to write more!
So I did!
~Windresss
Oh, and I forgot to add a Disclaimer last time soo.....
Disclaimer: I am a poor poor sap whose only friends are drawn by artists. Anyone ever notice how much more attractive cartoons are than real people, anyway?
Never Say Forever.
Chapter 2: Things Unsaid
~~Three Days Ago, NoseDive Flashblade's Room~~
"You called!" The blonde teenager sent comic books flying from his bed as he bounced onto it, comm. watch gripped in his hand. His sparkling eyes reflected unsurpassed excitement and, looking deeper, what WildWing could only attribute as relief. His younger brother's beak was stretched in a wide grin.
"Of -Course- I called, Dive." Wing wasn't sure why he felt a pang of guilt at the expression he witnessed on his sibling's face, "I told you I would."
"Yeah…," Dive blinked, wondering why he doubted Wing. He knew his bro loved him, yet there was the constant, niggling reminder in the back of NoseDive's head that he was a burden on WildWing. He had always been, even when they were on Puckworld. Dive had tagged after him and Canard everytime they played hockey, and while Wing had tolerated him…Canard hadn't like it.
'Whoa, Dive, stay -away- from those memories!' The blonde duck mentally shook himself, returning his attention to the face on the screen, "So where are you? You sound Tired.."
WildWing just shrugged. He -was- tired. The Mighty Ducks' leader smirked, 'Leave it to Dive to notice exactly what I wanted to hide...'
"I'm just...in the country." If that wasn't a blatant lie then WildWing didn't know what was, and knowing that made him flinch. He'd never lied to Dive before. Not only was Wing -not- in the country, but he wasn't in -The Country-
He glanced over the empty stretch of Mexico valley before him, his eyes blinking at the gritty red dust that never seemed to settle in the poor, hot-climate country. Definitely, no Vacation he'd -willingly- participate in.
'I don't want him obsessing about my safety..' The older Flashblade reasoned, the argument sounding pathetic even to his own ears. 'He'd get the whole team chomping at the bit to come help me if he knew...'
Having heard rumors of strange crossbred animals attacking farmhouses in the southern country, WildWing deemed it a perfect place to go disappear for a time while NoseDive learned to function without him.
'I'll still be doing my job, as well as saving my brother the grief that comes along with it...' He'd chanted that the whole way here. Now that he was watching the hurt play across his little brother's features, he felt distinctly sick at heart.
"...o...k..." NoseDive muttered. He knew his brother was keeping something from him, and the knowledge hurt him more than he could remember. He stalwartly slammed his mind closed to those emotions, knowing Wing could read him like a Dr. Seuss book. Schooling his voice into an even tone, he lofted his blonde eyebrows, "so when you comin' home?"
'When you stop looking like I punched you in the gut every time I don't lay my heart out for you...' Instead, WildWing said, "I'm not sure. It's really...peaceful...here. Maybe a few days."
"I miss you..."
The older duck's heart wrenched, "Miss you, too, Dive...I'll call tomorrow."
"Promise?" The blonde Avian seemed to hang on WildWing's next breath..
"Promise."
~~Present Day; Underground Prison~~
Dive's not getting up. NOSEDIVE ISN'T GETTING UP!!
WildWing could hear someone screaming. Was that him? Was he screaming? Howling like some beast whose life was torn from him? Like he himself was dying?
The leader lurched forward, blind to everything beyond the still form of his brother, and was surprised when he felt the bonds that previously held him give somewhat. The monster's flailing had injured the stability of the underground prison, and had knocked chunks of the wall's loose. The chains, which had held WildWing tight, now lay among the rubble.
Wing fell forward at the unexpected slack, scrabbling in frantic haste to where his unconscious brother sprawled, his voice hoarse with strain and fear, "Dive!"
Upon reaching him, he released a soft groan, slumping to his knees beside NoseDive's body. His fingers stretched out, hovering above the gaping wound that seemed to explode from his little brother's slim midsection. Blood pumped steadily, as if Dive's heartbeat gave current to the river pooling outward around the young duck, turning red dust to an even redder mud.
"Oh, no..no...nonononono-" His voice broke, withering into silence. His memories flashed like an evil carousel through his mind, reminding him of every loss, every internal scar that never seemed to heal. He couldn't lose Dive. He -Couldn't!-
WildWing knew with chilling, heart wrenching certainty that if NoseDive died...he would die alongside him. If not in body, then in soul.
He'd much rather it be now, here, beside his whole family...his whole world.... than any number of years from now. Better to chance no future at all, than to chance no future with the small boy that meant so much more than he could ever know. 'Why, Dive? Why now?…'
Feathered fingers clutched his brother's wrist, and felt... no... No...THERE! A pulse, so faint that it could have been his own, but... there! Again! He wasn't gone! WildWing almost gave in to his sobs, 'No, not Now...not now, not today...'
He was seized with purpose. NoseDive was alive, and he had every intention of keeping him that way. Thinking quickly, he yanked off the tatter remnants of the shirt the older duck had been wearing at the time of his abduction, and ripped it further, tearing the fabric into strips to bind Dive's massive wound.
'The scorpion tail had to have driven all the way through his body...' Wing feared what he would discover if he were to roll Dive over. He opted, instead, to merely add a compress to the opening at his stomach. The dirt of the underground floor congealed when blood mixed with it, and its thickened state seemed to have staunched any blood flow at the young avian's back. WildWing swallowed with difficulty, not wishing to linger on that knowledge.
While applying gentle pressure to the compress, Wing's free hand searched frantically for Dive's comm. Every uniform had one... 'So where -is- it?!' He was getting hysterical. 'Take a breath, WildWing...your brother is counting on you. You can do this.' His hand closed around the comm. "thank god.."
With his thumb, WildWing jabbed at the Emergency button on the unit, praying that some one at the pond was paying attention.
Abruptly, Duke's worried expression appeared on the screen, fairly bellowing "DIVE! Where the hell a-…WildWing?" The older duck's features instantly relaxed, assuming that since NoseDive was with their leader, he was as safe as he could be in any possible scenario, "So NoseDive found you-"
WildWing cut him off. "He's seriously hurt, Duke. Its...Its -bad.-" He had to take a shaking breath, "Dive came to my rescue...but I need help here. Can you and the team find us?"
Duke had gone pale. Judging by WildWing's expression, Dive was balancing that crevice between life and death. He nodded curtly, "Tanya is gathering medical supplies, so we'll be there soon..." He gave his team captain a serious look, "..You tell him to hang on..."
The feebly whispered reply caught both duck's off guard..
"...I...I'll...try..."
**Ack! Don't Hurt me! I'm only giving you what you want! Besides, if you kill me, you'll never find out what happens, heeheehee. Thanks again to everyone who sent me some great Reviews. Now if only PapillonStar would review me, I'd be in Heaven! (Hint, much?) I Adore all her work, especially the very moving "Only Second Best" from which I am basing Canard and Dive's relationship in this story. Later, Ya'll!**