Out on the rink, the Mighty Ducks started their daily practice with a four-on-four scrimmage. Kristy was playing goalie opposite Wildwing. He's like a wall, she thought, watching Wing stretch to deflect the puck with his right leg. No one should be able to stop Dive's slap shot...except me of course.
The puck bounced out to the defender, Tanya, and she passed it up Canard. He flew past Duke, who was playing forward on Kristy's team, and quickly passed the puck over to Mallory before getting checked by Grin. All up to me, thought Kristy, watching Mallory intently. One...Two...Three! Kristy lunged for the upper left corner of the net and grabbed the puck out of the air.
"Nice catch," called Mallory, skating past.
"Thanks, nice shot." Kristy tossed the puck back and forth between her gloved hands, waiting for her team mates to re-group.
"Nice defense," said Duke as they huddled up, "but we need to kick up the offense. We can't win if we can't score."
"Dude, I'm trying, but Wing's like a wall today," said Nosedive. The leagues top scorer wasn't used to being blocked this much, even by his brother.
"When repeatedly unsuccessful, one should try new tactics," commented Grin.
A smile grew on Dive's face. "Hey T, you ready to show these guys why you play without a stick?"
"Sure, we can start it off after their next shot," replied Kristy, "do you still remember the play?"
Dive turned to Grin and Duke, "Don't let them past too easily, but once Kristy gets it she'll pass it to Duke, then when they come at you you'll pass it straight back to her. Got it?" Duke nodded and Kristy took over.
"Okay, when I come out then Grin, you lag back and play a deep defense," she smiled, "Dive and I'll take it from there."
"Why do I get stuck on your team?" asked Duke sarcastically.
"Just watch and learn," said Nosedive, taking the puck Kristy handed him and skating out to meet Canard in the middle for the face off. Kristy grabbed her stick from the top of the net and got in position. She was different from other goalies because she didn't use an oversized goalie stick. Kristy always played with her regular hockey stick, and when she played goalie she usually didn't use a stick at all. She stopped the puck with her hands, arms, legs, or any other part of the body.
Wildwing noticed that something was up. Dive had a crazy grin on his face and Kristy was holding her sick. It was her style not to use a stick in goal, and it'd been working fine for her team so far. They're planning something. Probably more of their unpredictable street-hockey plays. He wondered if there was any way to warn the others, but the game had already resumed.
Nosedive won control of the puck and flew down the ice. He only made it about half way before Mallory checked him into the wall. Canard stole the loose puck and headed towards Kristy. He got around Grin and shot the puck wide of the net. Kristy skated around to the back side and passed the puck up to Duke. This is bad, thought Canard, noticing the stick in his sister's hands. A second later Kristy skated past him, leaving the goal open.
Canard could just watch as Duke passed the puck back to Kristy and she shot it up to where Nosedive was waiting. Dive faked his way past Tanya and pulled his stick back to take a shot. Wildwing didn't notice until it was too late , but when Dive pulled back he knocked the puck back to Kristy. While Wing's attention was still focused on Dive she shot a one-timer and the puck sailed into the goal.
"Yeah! Way to go T!" Congratulated Dive as the siren went off.
"The play still works," said Kristy, giving her friend a high-five.
"Nice job, for a couple of kids." Duke had skated up to join their victory celebration.
"You do know that earth hockey is played a little different from your street-hockey," commented Canard, "they have actual rules."
"Hey, I've only been on earth for like a week," said Kristy, punching her brother lightly on the shoulder, "give me a break."
"Duh, he's just sore 'cause we lost," said Tanya, "he's not used to playing against the different tactics."
"And neither is any other team," continued Wildwing.
"They'll never know what hit them!" Mallory put an arm around Kristy's shoulders. We've got an extra sub and some awesome new plays."
"Boobies! That was amazing!" The team's excitement fell flat at the sound of their manager's annoying voice.
"Isn't he supposed to be on vacation?" whined Nosedive.
"Who's he?" asked Kristy, eying the overweight human who'd just entered the arena.
"Our manager," answered Canard with despair in his voice.
"You have a manager?" Kristy was impressed. Back on Puck world only the top national teams had their own managers.
Wildwing saw the recognition in her face. "It's not quite the same as on Puck world," he explained, "back home it was an honor but here it's an annoyance."
"But a necessity," added Tanya.
Duke looked like he was going to comment, but he couldn't on account of the human stepping up to the rink.
"Was that a new play? What an idea, pulling the goalie, and Nosedive, baby, I didn't know you could play." Phil was talking a mile a minute.
Dive elbowed Kristy in the side. "He think's you're me," whispered the teen.
"What?"
"Check the jersey," reminded Mallory, patting Kristy on the back. Oh yeah, I'm wearing Wing's jersey. It probably says 'Flashblade' or something.
"Hey, who's the new duck?" Phil had finally stopped chattering and noticed an extra player, "and why's he wearing Wildwing's number?"
"V, did he just call me a he?" Kristy threw off her helmet, reveling her long, braided hair and very feminine face.
"Whoa, cool it Kristy. If you hurt him we'll have to find a new one." Nosedive stepped in front to keep her from going after Phil.
Things suddenly clicked in Phil's head, unfortunately he was still wrong. "You guys have a sister! Why didn't you tell me? I could make millions off the 'family' theme-"
"What!" exclaimed the Thunderbeaks and Flashblades in unison. Mallory, Duke, Tanya, and Grin just stood back and laughed.
"Well, her jersey says Flashblade...are you married?" Kristy and Dive broke down in hysterics as their manager grasped at straws, and at the stunned look on Canard's face.
"Dive, Kristy. Get up," ordered Wildwing, trying to regain control, but the two teens had collapsed on the ice.
"Sorry Wing, it's just..." Nosedive couldn't even finish his sentence, they were giggling too hard.
Phil just looked confused.
Canard finally regained his composer and intervened. "Look, Phil, this is my kid sister, Kristina Thunderbeak. In no way related to Wing or Dive."
Kristy somehow managed to stand and shake the human's hand. "You can just call me Kristy."
Phil stared for a second before his mouth caught up with his brain. "Canard, you have a sister? Kristy, Bobbie, ever considered modeling? Can you play?"
"See's from Puckworld Phil," pointed out Wildwing, helping Nosedive to his feet, "of course she can play."
"Uh bro, one prob," said Nosedive, "she's never played hockey officially." Wildwing stared at his brother, then turned to Canard.
"It's true Wing, dad never let her go for the team."
"Hello, I'm still here," said Kristy, "and I've been playing street-hockey since, well, forever. All I have to do is learn a few extra rules, how hard can it be?"
"Exactly," exclaimed Phil, eager to start on the new publicity "so what do you play?"
"Whatever I can."
"She's not the best, but she can play any position," confirmed the team's captain.
"This is so great! So, Kristina, how do you feel about doing a little modeling?" asked Phil.
"Not a chance," answered Canard immediately. Kristy was going to protest, but she saw Mallory shaking her head and assumed it was for the best.
"Fine, but we're gonna need some major PR before the season starts...and I have just the thing," phil turned to Wildwing, "how'd you guys like to do an appearance at the park this afternoon? You could do autographs, pictures, introduce the public to our newest member..."
"But we're going to the mall today," protested Kristy.
"Hey, bobbie, the park is almost next door to the mall," pointed out Phil, "you do the PR thing for an hour or two, then you can go." He patted Kristy on the shoulder as he walked past. "Be back here in an hour team, I'll go finalize the details," he called, heading for his office.
"Oh man, how do we get talked into these things?" asked Duke as the team skated off to the locker room to change.
"We didn't even do the talking," said Tanya, "Phil's mouth did enough for all of us."
"At least we didn't have to cancel our mall crawl," said Mallory.
"Do people really ask for your autograph?" asked Kristy, "Just because you play hockey?"
"This is Earth, these people are weird like that," explained Canard, "but you'll get used to it. Eventually."