Author's Notes:

Hey Everyone! Ready for our next installment? Glad to hear it! Before we get started, I feel compelled ot bring something to everyone's attention. There is a FanFic out right now called "Wake Up and Remember Me" which, I am sad to say, has copied the beginning of my story down almost to the letter. Now I know That fighting between WildWing and Dive are common, even him running out after Wind says something horrible. But this story also contains Dive driving the cycle in the rain and having to veer when the saurians appear in the road, skidding off into a ditch, and losing his memory. Now I'd say that's a BIT too similar for my tastes.

I don't really have a problem with this Story. the rest of it is fairly original. I just feel as if.. I don't know... I'm not giving out free content here, guys. We all use each others ideas and expound upon them, but this is different. and I suppose I felt the need to verbalize this, because this is my fan fiction and I can if I want to :P

Thanks to JustSomeone for noticing that strange similarity as well.

ok, I'm done now.

Little update: I got an e-mail from the author of that other fanfic and she was very cooperative and offered to take down her story and change its beginning so that its not a blatant copy of my own. I'm really uncertain as to what I should ask her to do, or how much it matters that I assert my originality. I think I'd really appreciate feedback on this topic.

ok, really this time. Done.

A/N (6/31/03): Okayyy.... So I'm putting this chapter up for the second time in a matter of 24 hours (and its making me late for my dentist appointment). Something "JustSomeone" Mentioned in their review chaught my attention and started niggling at me until I couldn't stop myself from Fixxing the last scene in this Chapt. So thanks, JustSomeone, it does indeed seem like WildWing gave up too easily, and that isn't what I wish to convey to my audience.

Also, on the subject of this issue with "Wake up and Remember" ...eh, I don't know anymore. When i discovered it, it truly bothered me, but now I don't think I care so much. The author to that piece was very kind in her offer to take down of change the beginning of the story, but I never requested such from her, and I don't think I will. It's probably unrealistic to think you could ever write something that hasn't been written before in one format or another. I'm just not -that- good.

Wow, look how long the Author's Notes have become. I swear I won't do this again!

When Nobody Wins.

Chapter 7: Dead End (ver. 2)

"Tanya, you have GOT to be Joking me! There's nothing we can Do??"

The distraught leader of the Mighty Ducks paced haphazardly before the console of Drake 1, his motions so distracted that Tanya had to leap from his path or be plowed down. She tried for a soothing tone, intent on touching his arm, but he was too fast. "well, uh, we have no knowledge of where the raptor is located right now, and-"

He whirled on her, tone rising from its low fervor,"But we Can't just SIT here!"

Duke stepped smoothly between the engineer and their leader, taking no chances with WildWing's suddenly violent temper, "Easy, Wing... They'll contact us for some ransom soon..just like they always do.."

Wing didn't challenge Duke's blockading presence, instead whirling around and pacing back across the length of the room, "But it's my Brother, this time, Duke... Stars knows what that Lizard slime is -doing- to him! And what ransom could he ask for that we could pay?? Our surrender? Our immediate death?!"

Duke sighed, his forehead knotting with an oncoming headache. Their team leader was quickly becoming unmanagable, and this behavior was so unlike him that all of the Mighty Ducks were thrown off balance. "...Look..Wing, you're tired. Why don't you go get some sleep while you can?"

"No. I have to be here. What if Dragaunus shows Dive on the screen?? I want him to know I'm -here-" Only the dark light of self condemnation kept Duke from bellowing at WildWing.

"We will wake you the instant we recieve an incoming call, nom atter who it is. You brother is going to -need- you awake and alert, Wing. Especially if we're going to save him from Draggie's clutches.

The reference to Dragaunus as "Draggie," a term created by NoseDive himself, seemed to calm to the distraught older brother, and he furrowed his fingers through his disheveled hair,"I know you guys are right... it's just.. Stars, this is all my fault!"

Duke layed a consoling hand on WildWing's shoulder and felt him tremble under the strain of his own blame. A part of him wanted to punch his leader. To tell him, yes, it -was- his fault, but that tearing himself up wasn't going to make it any part of this situation better. Yet, another part of the duck disagreed, touched by the brotherly concern. Emotion could be such a foreign thing to the old mallard.

His hand tightened briefly, attempting to add strength to the Mighty Ducks team captain. "We'll get a ransom call, Wing... and we'll get through this."

~~~

Nosedive sat in his quarters, peering around at the mostly impersonal surroundings. Dragonaus had led him here, encouraging him to get some sleep. "Take a few days to recuperate, then we'll return to finding an alternative energy source that will power our ship. Nothing we've tried so far has worked, but I won't give up until we get back to Puckworld." With that reassuring speech, Dragonaus had bared his teeth in what Dive assumed was a friendly smile, then left him to his own means.

"How could I have lived here?...there isn't any stuff!.." The blonde duck was bored, and lonely, he discovered. He struggled to suppress a shiver as the unyeilding metal walls seem to close in on him. "Geez... not even any posters..." Somehow, he -knew- this planet had posters of stuff... Comic Books, hopefully.

Straightening, the youngest Flashblade paced over to the wash stand and stared at his appearance in the mirror contemplatively. The duck who gazed back at him, at least, he remembered. He waved at himself, then finally sighed, "Better get used to this place, Dive. You're a member of this team, and-" He faltered, eyes narrowing. 'That sounds wrong... no, it.. it sounds right. I am a part of a team.. but not this one..'

Dive's feathered fingers grip the wash basin's edge, shaking his head to clear it of these rebellious thoughts. He lifted a finger and pointed at himself in the mirror, "you have to get it together, you're a part of this team!"

Abruptly, a flash of another duck.. an older duck... filled his vision. It spoke his words, expression hidden beneath a golden hockey mask. He seemed angry. Nosedive reared back from the mirror hastily, eyes wide. But when his gaze returned to the polished glass, only himself stood in its reflective depths. His breath shuddered form his lungs, voice a low rasp, "..who -was- that?"

"Who was who?"

Nosedive yelped, nearly jumping out of his feathers at the voice behind him. When he whirled around, he spotted a grinning Chameleon leaning nonchalantly in the doorway of his room, "Somebody's jumpy."

Dive expelled a weak laugh, ducking his head in embarrassment as he moved towards the smaller green lizard. "heh... sorry, I just thought I saw something in my mirror..." He shrugged, flopping back onto the bed.

Chameleon lofted his eyeridges, moving forward with a level of interest. He glanced at the mirror, "Oh yeah? what did you see?"

The blonde duck thought for a moment, "It was another duck," He held up his hand, grinning, when he saw Chameleon about to retort about the nature of mirrors, "NOT -me-, Lizard Lips. Someone taller... bigger shoulders, and a golden mask on his face..." His words paused when he saw recognition in Chameleon's expression, "You know who he is?"

The Saurian nodded hesitantly, mentally debating whether he should aid Dive in this. Finally he shrugged. "he look like this?..." Chameleon suddenly began to grow, his leathery skin sprouting green tinted feathers. His snout hardened and elongated into a beak, covered by a mask. Within moments, the reptile looked completely like the leader of the Mighty Ducks, save the tinge to his feathers and the crosshairs that showed in his eyes, covered by the "mask" as they were.

NoseDive stared, his mouth hanging open. He knew Chameleon was a shapeshifter, but he didn't realize just how -cool- it would be, "Wow, dude! you look totally like him!"

The duck-like Saurian smirked. It was his voice that surfaced from the illusion, "Yeah, I know this guy...He's your brother, WildWing."

Dive's brows shot upward instantly, and he took an involuntary step forward to scrutinize Chameleon more closely. His voice was strangely quiet, "..so...So this is who I'll have to fight, huh..."

"..yeah, I guess..." The lizard felt an uncomfortable lump settle in his stomach. He -liked- NoseDive... He didn't treat him like so much dirt. It was obvious to Chameleon that the duck was torn by the suggestion that he attack his own flesh and blood. The Saurian shifted away from the young mallard, irritated with himself, "Hey, we'll be there too, kicking Resistance TailFeathers."

As soon as he said it, Chameleon wanted to bash his head against a wall. Dive's expression tightened in disconcertion, "Resistance?..."

"..uh...yeah.." The image of WildWing deflated hastily, melding back into Chameleon's true form. "That's what they fashion themselves. Resisting US." He forced a grin, searching for a safer topic, "c'mon, let's go eat. I'm famished."

NoseDive was preparing to ask another question when his own stomach rumbled loudly. He laughed, casting his companion a grin, "Looks like I am, too.." He suppressed the urge to ask more about WildWing, feeling a sudden pang of sadness in his chest. The duck sighed, glancing at the mirror one more time under the guise of checking his hair. In truth, he hoped to see the brother he wished he knew, just one more time... "c'mon, Let's go before Seige eats everything in the cafeteria.."

Together, they excited Dive's quarters.

~~~

Much to the Mighty Ducks disconcertion and fear, no ransom call arrived that night. Or the next night. Or the next. The game for that week was cancelled, and out of sheer desperation, the team had gone to the police and reported Dive missing. It was a foolish effort, but none of them could sit around, doing nothing. Now reporters were hovering around the entrance of the ice rink, hoping for an interview with any one of the team members. Especially WildWing.

But -no one- had seen Wing since he'd retreated to his room at Duke's request. He hermited himself behind the electronic door and spoke to none of the other ducks, no matter the times they came by to talk, coaxe, or threaten. The only proof of his continued existance in the pond was evidence of his passing through the kitchen. At least he was eating.

'The Pond is so quiet now,' Mallory thought, sighing as she set the gun she'd been upgrading back down on the work table. The female duck stared morosely at the entry to the meeting room, still expecting NoseDive to wander in and flop down on the couches. She cringed when she realized that she was beginning to miss the little menace to society. Mall muttered quietly, "Who'd have thought I'd miss hair dye in my shampoo..."

"I know what you mean..." Her beak jerked up in surprise, blinking widely at the haggard mallard lowering himself into the command chair next to hers. With his hair touseled and falling into his eyes, WildWing almost looked like his younger counterpart. Mallory's heart went out to him.

"What was it you said?" She inquired softly, unable to stand the stretch of depressed silence.

Wing glanced up, and Mallory realized that he wasnt wearing the mask she become so accustomed to seeing on his face. "I said 'I know what you mean'... about being surprised how you miss the most annoying things about...him..."

'He can't even say Dive's name..' The female duck sighed, looking back to the unfinished weapon and speaking quietly, "I guess I just took a few things for granted..."

From the corner of her eye, Mallory saw a pained expression cross the leader's face. His tone was gruff when he spoke, "We all did... and now we're paying for it."He sound so... resigned.

"They'll contact us eventually. You know Dragaunus, he's probably preparing some elaborate-"

"It's been a week, Mallory... Dragaunus has no reason to keep NoseDive alive for a week. We don't even know for sure if the Saurians -have- him, but his bike was destroyed, no body was found, and the entire state knows of his disappearance." Wing's voice grew quieter, the circles under his eyes seeming to deepen, "And Dragaunus hasn't pulled a stunt since that night. Face it, Mallory. If NoseDive isn't dead by now, he probably wishes he was..."

The red headed duck stared at her team leader, beak slack in mute shock. She attempted to fathom not just his words, but the fact that WildWing was giving up. On his -brother.- A sudden fierce anger rose in Mall, pushing away the ache clenching her throat and balling her hands into fists.

The punch came so quickly that Wing didn't know what happened until he opened his eyes to a fuming Mallory standing over his prone frame. It was his turn to stare at her mutely, but she quickly filled in the silence.

"How -DARE- you! How DARE you give up on NoseDive... on your own -Brother!-" She leaned down over him, weilding her index finger like a weapon that she pointed at Wing's heart.

"

..The brother that you fought to bring to this world, to save him from the Saurian reign on Puckworld. The brother who has loved and trusted you since you were both orphaned and passed through foster homes," She didn't pause, despite Wing's stricken expression, Mallory's words beginning to sound thick in her throat.

"..I used to watch you two, and swore I would give anything... -anything- to have what you two have together. You have more family in Dive than any of us will ever see again... and you're giving up on him. With no proof, no effort... -nothing.- I thought you cared more about him than that, you big jerk! I thought you -cared!-" Mallory practically spat the words, hating herself all the while but unable to contain the sense of betrayel she felt at WildWing's behavior.

WildWing's reply was swift, and with such force that it nearly drove Mallory back from her position over him, "DAmn the Stars, I DO CARE!! I Care too -MUCH!-" His voice shook with strain, but the vehemence in his eyes was rock solid. "I'm -Dying,- Mallory! Don't you see it? It's killing me and I... I can't...-DO ANYTHING!-"

Mall looked away, choking on a wrenched breath. She felt humiliated for saying such horrible things to Wing, the sheer misery in his voice peircing her anger and deflating it. 'Oh Stars, I don't want to cry.. please... Don't make me cry..'

"WildWing... I.."

The Room flared crimson as Drake One's Alarm went off.

~~~~

A/N: I think I like this ending to this chapter much better than the original. Tell me what you think!