Saving Grace
Silver Elf Child
Chapter 2
A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. It means a lot to me to know that people are still reading, therefore I'll continue to write (until I post Tales of Canterberry'). If you are wondering what that is about check out my bio, then you'll understand, and if not, then I'm sorry.
Nosedive (the one we all know and love) sat up covered in sweat. The image of Dragaunus looming over Wildwing's unconscious form haunted his mind.
"Nosedive?" a weak female voice asked from beside him.
Dive turned and found Mallory lying next to him in bed. Her eyes were barely open as she yawned wide. He wiped his brow quickly and laid down smoothly next to her, keeping his back to her.
"Nosedive?" Mallory asked again, this time in a stronger voice and free of sleep.
"I'm fine, go back to sleep." He was stern with his reply.
"Was it the dream again?"
"No."
"Nosedive Jamie Flashblade, don't take that tone with me," Mal warned.
"I'm sorry, Mal," Dive said rolling over to face her. "I'm just tired, that's all." Dive rubbed his eyes, trying to force the image that woke him away from his vision.
"I know baby, but I haven't done anything to make you mad."
"I'm frustrated, Mal." Dive's hand gestures were wide and arching before they came to rest palm up between the pair. "I thought Puckworld would have been rebuilt by now, but we have barely begun to restore the cities."
"It will take some time"
"Mal, every duck has not yet been accounted for yet!"
"We'll find them, don't worry." Mallory knew to whom Dive was referring. He refused to speak the names of the loved ones he knew were missing. She had tried many times to get him to admit his fears, but he refused to open up to her. She missed the old Dive, the one she had fallen in love with all those years ago on Earth.
"Easy for you to say," Dive ridiculed. "You found your family." Maybe he would talk now?
"Nosedive, they are your family too."
"Yippee," Dive's voice was heavy with sarcasm and dripped with something she could not put her finger on.
"Dive, stop it."
"Mal, they hate me. Your dad and brothers all want me dead."
"Not anymore."
"Oh yeah? Boy has your dad got you fooled. He thinks I hurt you." Dive placed his hand on Mallory's waist and drew her close to his side. "I love you Mal, I'd never hurt you."
"I know, Dive."
Nosedive let his hand move down to her curving hips and he rubbed it affectionately. Mallory moved his hand away and rest it on the bed. Dive would not give up that easily though. His affections never seemed to be easily assuaged. He repeated the motion of placing his hand on her waist, but her hand pushed his away. He gave her a sly smile and placed his hand on her abdomen. She rolled her eyes and her body away from him. His incessant affection made her mad. He moved his hand to her waist and pulled her back toward him. He gave her a passionate kiss.
"Nosedive"
"Yes?" Dive managed to ask between kisses.
"You're trying to sneak out of telling me what's wrong."
"I am?" Dive said playfully.
"Spill it." Mallory was determined to get the answers this time and pushed him away.
"I'm fine, really I am."
"You are laying in a puddle of sweat!"
"So I sweat. I get hot at night."
"Nosedive," Mallory's voice was menacing.
"I" Nosedive placed his hand again on Mallory's waist. "I miss Wing."
"Dive"
"I want him to know in a few months that he's going to be an Uncle."
"I know, and I wish that we were having a boy. I know how much you wanted to name him after Wing."
"Why can't we still name her after him?"
"Nosedive," Mallory laughed. "Wildwing is a boys name."
"I mean Kelly."
"We can name her Kelly."
Dive rolled his eyes. "Kelly is Wing's middle name, Mal."
"Oh I didn't know."
"Yeah, no one knows. Wing hates it." Nosedive laid on his back and put his hands behind his head. He spoke in a far off dreamy voice. "Kelly Marie Flashblade. It has a nice ring to it."
"Dive, no, not Marie."
"Why not?" Dive sat up looking at Mallory. "I like it."
"That's my middle name."
"I know," Dive winked at Mallory and gave her Betty Davis eyes.
"Stop that." She smacked him in the arm and rolled away.
"You know you like it."
"Fine have it your way."
"We'll have sex!""No. You can name her Kelly Marie."
Dive gave himself a giant pat on the back and a little celebrating dance. "I knew you'd see it my way. Want to"
"No, Nosedive."
The sound of a trumpet echoed through the quiet halls of the McMallard home. Nosedive groaned at the traditional wake up call. He had endured the annoying horn for over half a year, yet he had not been able to get accustomed to it's rude awakening.
"At least this time you didn't jump," Mallory smiled.
"How is anyone suppose to sleep around here with that thing bellowing it our ears at four thirty every morning?"
"Daddy likes to get up early."
"You need your rest, not that!" Dive flapped his open palm at the door.
"Up and at em soldiers, breakfast in ten!" General McMallard hollered, barging into the room.
Nosedive cringed at his father in laws' entrance. He rolled over to yell at him some snappy insult, but he was gone, quickly as he appeared. "I wish he wouldn't do that!"
"Oh stop complaining," Mallory chided softly rolling out of bed.
"What if we were, you know," Dive remarked unhappily, too embarrassed to elaborate.
"Nosedive, don't be silly," Mal laughed.
"I'm seriously considering getting a lock on that door."
"He has never walked in on us."
"Just watch, one day he or your brother's will."
"What about Mom?"
"I don't care if she came in. She doesn't hate me."
"Your paranoid."
Mallory kissed Nosedive as he headed out the door with her brothers. Today was his first day helping the military collect civilian names and addresses in an attempt to create a directory of survivors.
Their return to Puckworld had not been as joyous as he had expected. The reception that met them at the foot the aerowing was warm, with guns ready and aimed at their vitals. Fortunately for them the commanding officers of the platoon that arrested them was Mallory's brothers' Chip and Mitch. They took them to see their commanding officer, which was Canard. This second reunion was a little sweeter, but hard. Canard noticed almost immediately the absence of his best friend. He looked to Dive and immediately consoled him, telling him that if there was anything he needed that he'd get it for him. Of course Dive said it was unnecessary. Canard's reaction surprised him. He stated, as a matter of fact, "Don't be stupid. You're my responsibility, always have been."
The team debriefed Canard of the happenings on Earth, all except what happened to Wing. Dive had made them promise not to tell a soul, and if it were to be told, he would do it. That of course was easier said then done. Though their departure was on good terms Dive missed his brother terribly and was determined to keep his feelings hid from everyone. Canard understood Dive hiding his feelings and what happened to Wing. He assumed that the second leader of the Mighty Ducks had fallen in battle defending his baby brother. That was the only thing that could explain Dive's mindset. But what confused the heck out of him was how the hell Dive convinced Mallory McMallard, special operative of the Puckworld Military, to marry him. Dive was immature, and Mal strict on order and following military protocol. The two were like oil and water, fire and dynamite gasoline and a match, helium and a spark. They don't mix and should be kept apart to prevent explosions. But here they were, married and seemed to be in love. Through the confusion and puzzlement he was happy. Dive had finally grown up a bit and found love. He was happy for the kid. But there was still cause for concern. With Mal at his side he had everything to live for, but he was being slowly eaten away from the inside.
His personal inner torment increased when his parents and close relatives were not found on the missing persons or confirmed dead lists. Mallory and Canard told Dive that it was good news and that they were still alive. They had to be. Dive agreed with them, but he secretly told himself that the bodies had yet to be found.
General McMallard, after being reunited with his daughter and new son in law, had insisted that the pair stay at the McMallard bunker till they were able to get onto their feet. The only problem with the set up was General McMallard's obvious disdain for Mallory's husband, Nosedive. He would not only treat him like a military recruit, but also overworked him as well. The General's theory was simple, if he was to wear Nosedive out; it prevented him from thinking and then acting out any desire for intimacy with his little girl. The plan was working wonderfully until Mallory noticed a lack in affection from her spouse. Dive would come back from training tired and dirty. He would immediately hit the showers then the couch for a nap. That wasn't what tipped her off. It was the disappearance of his comical nature replaced with a withdrawn and distant attitude that had caught her attention. After a very long and drawn out heart to heart with her father the harsh treatment ceased.
But the damage had been done. The belittling comments, harsh regiment of drills on and off the field and dirty looks kept Nosedive far from Mallory. He refused to talk to her or even touch her. Dive had noticed the change in his father in laws' temperament. It was like someone was holding a gun to his head whenever he spoke to him. His smiles were forced, his congratulations were feigned, and his entire demeanor was an act. Dive felt the betrayal and knew that it was caused by only one person, Mallory. He could not believe that she would do this to him, so he refused her. She had had no right to step into the middle of things. It was because of her talk with her father that the General had eased up' on him. He didn't want things to ease up'. He wanted to die trying. He wanted to gain his father in laws' approval by proving to him that he was worthy of Mallory. He had faced Dragaunus many times and survived. He had helped set Puckworld free. But the General only saw an unruly teenager with long blond hair that needed to learn discipline. Nosedive was bent on proving him wrong. Then Mallory had to go and screw things up!
Canard tried to dispel the idea, but Dive wouldn't listen. Canard finally got through to him when he held up the divorce papers Mallory had filed. Of course it was just a ploy that he and Mal had devised to wake Dive up, but the General thought it was sincere and gloated over them. Dive immediately reconciled with Mallory, and she forgave him, to her father's displeasure. Though the General still rebuked the marriage, Dive's and Mallory's personal lives became better and as a result Mallory was pregnant with their first child. The news of the pregnancy was all it took to bring Dive back to the life of the living. He hit the roof, literally he did and there is a hole to prove it, and celebrated by kissing everyone in the house, all except the General. That display of devotion was what changed the minds of Mallory's three brothers. They were convinced that Dive was the right mallard for their sister.
But like all good things must come to an end, so did Dives new outlook on life. The more he dreamed of becoming a father the more he missed Wildwing and his family. Mallory foresaw this and found him a job with her brothers on collecting civilian data graphics. She thought that it would be good for him to get out of the house and to bond with her brothers.
Mallory's oldest brother, Marvin Chip McMallard, commonly known as Chip, took Dive as his partner to show him the ropes' of data collection. "Think you can do one on your own?" Chip asked after he had demonstrated the basics on five houses.
"This all?" Dive mocked. "You guys make it sound as if this stuff was some horrible task that is going to kill you if you have to do it one more day."
Chip smiled and slapped Dive on the back for good luck. The gesture of camaraderie knocked Dive slightly off balance, but his smile did not fade. "Go get them soldier." Dive headed up the path to the next house as Chip continued on to the next house. Mitch and Magnum, Mallory's other two brothers, were collecting data on the other side of the suburban street.
Dive rang the doorbell and waited for the occupants to answer. He pulled the military cap farther down on his forehead as he listened to the door being unlocked. He took a step back and looked at his clipboard. The door opened and he swallowed the saliva that had suddenly rushed into his mouth. For having spit in his mouth, it was an awkward feeling to have a dry mouth.
"Yes?"
"Hello sir, I'm with the Puckworld military. We are doing a civilian survey to help coordinate the lost loved ones program. I will need to know"
"I'm sorry, but our family is all accounted for. As a matter of fact we are all here today celebrating my father's hatching day."
"I send my blessings, but I'm required to get the names of the residents of each house and other personal demographics."
"I don't live here. I'm visiting my brother."
The mallard to which Nosedive spoke was getting annoyed. He didn't like the military, ever since they dishonorably discharged his eldest son. "May I speak with the owner of the home?" Dive questioned without looking up, continuing to flip through his paper work. Somehow the action seemed to calm his nerves.
The mallard in the doorway frowned. "I'll see if he is available."
In the mallard's absence Nosedive took the time to admire the homes front landscape. It was a lovely home. Large front yard with a white picket fence. The only thing missing was a hockey net set up in the front and then it would be home. The home that he had grown up in and loved. Well the home he remembered. This wasn't that home but it sure did feel like home. The pain of loosing Wing again descended onto his heart and he wished that he hadn't been spared in the invasion. He was startled out of his morbid thoughts when a woman spoke from behind him. "Can I help you? My husband is a little busy at the moment. My brother in law said that you had a few questions, maybe I can answer them for you."
"That will be fine." Dive turned around as he spoke. He glanced up to meet her gaze. It only took Dive a millisecond to recognize the duck before him. He had not expected to meet anyone he had known from his childhood to be alive and well, yet here she was standing before him in all her, what he called, beautiful glory. Her entire being seemed to radiate with compassion and love. Dive's beak dropped, as did his clipboard from his now numb fingers, spilling the forms he was collecting all over the ground.
"Oh my, here let me help you."
"That's not necessary," Dive managed to say as he scrambled to collect the parchment.
"It's all right dear, here."
Dive looked up at the blond woman as she helped him gather the paper. He stopped picking up the pieces and watched her with undying admiration. She looked just like he had always remembered her, though she was older. Dive smiled, watching her move around on her hands and knees. He missed noticing the mallard that had originally opened the door towering over them, glaring down at him. He was pushed aside as the woman's husband came to the doorway. He looked down at his wife and military personal and he too stooped down to help with the recovery process. "Is everything all right?"
Nosedive looked up, scrambling to correct his paperwork and address the newcomer; "everything's fine if this is a bad time I can come back later."
"Later? I bet," scoffed the mallard in the doorway, his arms were now crossed across his chest in a menacing manner. "Why don't you get your business over and done with now so you can leave us alone?"
"I"
"Bro!"
Nosedive turned and found the McMallard brothers racing toward him. Dive stood up, anticipating their arrival, but his foot slipped off the edge of the stone porch and he fell.
"Are you all right?" The blond female duck asked.
"Yeah," Dive squeaked, trying not to scream in pain.
"Whoa, bro, you okay?" Magnum, Mallory's youngest brother asked.
"I'm okay."
"Here, let me help you." Magnum and the husband of the blond woman grabbed his arms and hauled Dive to his feet. The pain was too great and Dive screamed out, falling back to the ground.
The only thing preventing his rapid descent was Magnum and the blond woman's husband. "Put him down, John help me, we are going to take him inside."
"Are you sure it's smart?" John, the large mallard in the doorway, asked. The husband nodded. "All right." John's voice was full of disdain.
The two drakes lifted Dive up; the husband took Dive's arms and John his legs, and carried him into the house. The McMallard boys and blond woman followed after them. Inside the house the family members were crowded around celebrating the hatching day. Dive was carried into the midst of the celebration and placed in a chair. It was obvious what had been injured in the fall, so Dive's leg was immediately propped up and ice was sent for.
"Let's get that shoe off," the blond woman said, getting down to business.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Mitch asked.
"I do have some medical training!" The woman snapped back. "Off with the shoe."
"I was just asking," Mitch shrugged.
As the family milled about and helped when requested Dive looked around at the familiar faces. Tears welled in his eyes; some due to the pain in his ankle and the rest were from emotional haywire. The family assumed the tears were from his ankle. Of course you'd be tearing up if your ankle was increasing in size and people were yanking at your footgear. They finally gave up tugging at his injury and just cut his shoe off his enlarged foot. Who cares about an over priced pair of sneakers when you just found your family!
"You wanted to ask some questions?" George Flashblade asked as soon as the scene started to settle down.
"Oh, yes, um. Where's my clip board?" As the clipboard was being sought after, Dive sat perplexed. What's going on? Why didn't Dad recognize me?
"Here you go son, what do you want to know?" George looked up and quickly moved away from Dive. "Dad, do you need something?"
The ninety two-year-old duck, which was sitting at the far end of the table, had stood up and was walking with his walker toward Nosedive. He brushed George away with the flick of his hand and he came to a stop in front of Nosedive. Dive swallowed hard as Grandpa Flashblade bent down and gave him a hug and a kiss on his forehead. "Welcome home, Divey," he whispered in his ear.
Dive whispered back, "Thanks, Grandpa."
"How sweet, Grandpa gave the army kid a hug."
"I'm not giving just anyone a hug, Wind Shear," Grandpa Flashblade scolded. "I'm hugging my favorite grandson."
"Dad, you're a little confused," George said, taking his father by the arm and trying to steer him back to his seat.
Grandpa Flashblade smacked George's hand away. "Don't start, George! I'm not senile! You're blind! Can't your recognize your own son!?"
"Dad please don't. You know better then to bring that up," George Flashblade hung his head, sorrow evident in his face for the loss of his two sons.
"Open your eyes!" Grandpa Flashblade continued, snatching the military cap off of Nosedive's head. "He's Nosedive!"
"Divey?"
Nosedive nodded to his cousin with a smile.
"DIVEY!" Wind Shear exclaimed, jumping into his lap.
"Back off, Shrill Girl."
"It's, Divey!" Wind Shear said rubbing his head.
"Dive?" His mother questioned. "But you cut your hair," She practically cried.
"Yeah, well" Dive said smacking Wind Shear's hand away and running his fingers through his strands. "The military has rules about how long it can be." Wind Shear resumed her efforts to comb her fingers through his neatly trimmed locks. "Besides there were other reasons."
Anna Flashblade did not wait any longer; she joined Wind Shear in a long warm hug with Dive.
"George, stop standing there gawking and hug your son!" Grandpa Flashblade slapped his arm. Wind Shear stood up and let her Uncle have her position near her cousin. "Yes, Dad."
The tears of joy fell freely. After years of separation and searching the Flashblade family was somewhat whole.
Anna wrapped her hands around Dive's face and gazed deep into his eyes. "Oh baby can you forgive your father and me?"
"What for, Mom?" Dive laughed.
"For giving up hope and thinking you were dead."
"Mom, don't"
"I'm sorry too, Ace," George whispered.
"It's not your fault, Dad. Wing and I thought you two were dead."
"Wing" Anna gasped looking up to George.
"It's all right dear we'll find him too. I will not give up so easily this time."
"What happened to you, Divey? We've looked for you and your brother everywhere."
"Wing and I were in a work camp together. Canard found us and recruited Wing for a special task force."
Nosedive looked around his mother to his grandfather, now sitting back at the head of the table. "Canard found Drake Ducaine's mask, Grandpa."
"I told you it was real."
Nosedive nodded. "He Canard put together a special task force to take out Dragaunus, and he wanted Wing. Wing wouldn't leave me, so Canard had to bring me along. Anyway, we destroyed."
"You?!"
"Well, actually Canard, his team and Wing did. They wouldn't let me come along for the dangerous part. They made me stay in the ship. Wing was afraid I'd get hurt."
"Good." George said nodding his head in approval of Wildwing's actions.
"The team destroyed the Master Tower, but Dragaunus got away so we followed him through this dimensional gateway to a planet called Earth. We almost didn't make it."
"Why?" Wind Shear asked.
"Old Lizard lips released this electromagnetic worm which tried to eat the ship. Canard sacrificed himself to save us, but he gave Wing the mask before he went. Wing got the mask, Grandpa! He's our team captain, Dad!"
"I'm proud of you both, Ace."
"When we were on Earth we were constantly looking for Dragaunus. When we weren't we were playing professional hockey. Our team was called The Mighty Ducks'."
"Original," Wind Shear remarked.
"Shut up!"
"You could have come up with a better name, I mean The Mighty Ducks'? Isn't that kinda obvious?"
"Wind Shear, let Nosedive tell us his story," Anna said calmly. "Besides I think it's a wonderful team name."
"Fine," Wind Shear pouted.
"We were the BEST team in the league!"
"You should have been. You did come from a planet that plays it like drinking water," Wind Shear remarked from the back of the room.
"True," Dive agreed. "But they do have a few good players."
"Okay, I'll give you that."
"We finally did destroy Dragaunus and came back. We've been here for almost half a year."
"It's taken you this long to find us?" Wind Shear exclaimed, appalled by the length of time.
"Well, it's not like they have a phone book up and running. And I was looking, but I have been busy with other military responsibilities."
The McMallard boys all giggled at the connotation. They knew what Dive was up to.
"All that matters is that you're finally home," George smiled. "Where's Wildwing?"
Nosedive looked down to his feet. "He didn't come back." He turned to his mother and buried his face into her awaiting shoulder. "Mom, I"
"Hush, it's all right," She soothed, looking to her husband for comfort herself. George reached over and placed comforting hands onto both of their shoulders.
"But, Mom"
"Nosedive, you can't blame yourself."The tense moment was broken when Chip cleared his throat. "Hey, Dive, we still have rounds to make."
"Oh yeah, hold on let me get" Dive attempted to stand up, but Chip stopped him with a wave of his hand.
"Don't worry, we'll finish up. Just rest and get reacquainted." Mitch interrupted his brother Chip.
"Yeah, Bro, relax. We'll send for you later." Magnum smiled broadly.
"See you later, buddy. Take care of him for us. We'll be back later tonight." Chip waved goodbye and the three McMallard boys left the house to finish their duty.
More to come just hang on till finals are over (school and the Stanley cup). Please.