Kristy couldn't believe the number of people waiting for them at the park. The crowd seemed to go on forever.
"Are they all here to see us?" asked Kristy.
"They're here to see you, babe," answered Phil, "I told them we'd be introducing a new player today and voila!"
"Crazy earthlings," whispered Dive, coming up besides her and twirling his finger next to his head.
"Kristy, just stay close to me," ordered Canard, "ok?"
Kristy gave a half-salute, "got it!" She had no idea what to expect, so was willing to obey. She could feel the excitement rising as they neared the crowd, and heads began to turn as word spread that they were approaching from the rear. The cheering started when the reached the edge of the crowd and the people parted instantly, forming a path for them up to the stage.
Once they were all standing in a line on the stage the cameras started going off. Kristy just stood where she was between Canard and Nosedive, she was blinded and couldn't move. Finally the flashes stopped and Phil stepped up to the Microphone.
"Hello, and welcome to today's event," he voice boomed across the park, with the help of a high-powered sound system, "as the team's manager it is my pleasure to introduce you to the Mighty Duck's newest player," he motioned for Kristy to join him at the front of the stage. She took a few cautious steps forward, "Kristina Thunderbeak!"
The applause started again and Kristy sensed Canard come up to stand next to her. With her brother at her side Kristy felt a little more confident. She waved nervously at the audience.
"Kristy, who just arrived here on Earth is the younger sister of none other than our own Canard Thunderbeak," continued Phil, excited by the large number of cheering fans. A huge smile spread across his face when Phil noticed the caravan of news vans that had just pulled up. They could even make the evening news if he played this correctly.
The other duck's had joined Kristy and Canard at the edge of the stage, waving at the crowd and shaking hands with their fans. Phil let the team entertain the fans while he waited for the news crews to get set up. Once they'd reached the edges of the crowd Phil returned to the mike.
"I see we're honored by the presence of some of Anaheim's top reporters today," he announced, "and I'd like to open the floor for questions." Thousands of hands shot up, and Wildwing shot their manager a dirty look. The duck' hated press conferences, but they wouldn't do anything about it in public, so Phil was safe for now.
One lady managed to push through to the front along with her camera crew.
"Mr. Pomfeather, Theresa Gibbings, channel seven news. How did this new duck arrive on earth? And is she even old enough to be eligible to play?"
"As for her age, Kristy is completely eligible, she's seventeen, the same as her team mate Nosedive Flashblade," answered Phil, pointing at Dive, "and I believe she'll meet all of the NHL's requirements. As for how she got here..." Phil trailed off, he didn't have any idea how Kristy arrived. All he knew was that she was a new duck who could play hockey.
"She was accidently pulled through an experimental dimensional gateway back home on Puckworld," supplied Tanya, "and luckily ended up here on Earth."
"So she's a minor," prompted Theresa Gibblings, looking for a scandalous story.
"Yes, but we believe that the state will grant guardianship to her older brother, Canard, as they did for myself and Nosedive," answered Wildwing, "now, are there any hockey related questions?"
"Yes, Bill Hawman, channel 19 sports," a younger man pushed Theresa aside, "what are her player stats?"
"Kriss can play everywhere," blurted out Nosedive before Wildwing could open his mouth to reply.
"Is this true?" asked Bill skeptically.
"Yes," answered Wildwing, giving his brother a look, "she may not be the best in the league, but Kristy is can play competitively at any positions. We think she'll make a good all around sub."
"Kristina, what do you think of Earth?" asked a new reporter.
"Um, I think it's great so far. I've only been here for like a week, but it's been good. And you can call me Kristy, no one calls my Kristina unless I'm in trouble," she added with a playful glance at Canard who just rolled his eyes. He still had to get used to the idea of being her legal guardian. I'd hoped to avoid it until we got back to Puckworld, but I guess we're gonna have to make it official.
"Tanya, Mallory, how do you feel about having another girl on the team?" asked a new female reporter.
"Duh, it's nice to even up the sides a bit," answered Tanya, caught a little off guard by the question.
"Yeah, it's nice to have another girl to shop with," added Mallory.
"So, Kristy, Nosedive, is there any budding romance happening between you two?" asked Theresa Gibbing, elbowing her way back to the front.
Dive and Kristy just stared blankly at the woman, both trying to hid their embarrassment. The last thing we need is a reporter starting that rumor, thought Nosedive, trying to come up with an appropriate response.
"What are you implying?" asked Canard.
"Come one, they're two teenagers on an alien planet," said Theresa, "it's a lack of options."
"Lack of options?" exclaimed Nosedive in a whisper.
"Chill Dive," whispered Kristy, preoccupied.. Please Canard, don't do something stupid, she pleaded silently.
"So you assume just because they're from the same planet-" Too late, thought Kristy.
"Alright, well, that's all the time we have left for questions," interrupted Phil before Canard could launch into an all-out tirade, "now I think is a good time for a little meet and greet with the duck's fans." Phil motioned them over to a long table with eight chairs set up and plenty of pens.
The Duck's didn't actually take the offered seats. Instead they headed out into the crowd. Kristy followed Dive and soon lost track of the others, except Grin, it was impossible to loose sight of the large duck.
"Nosedive! I love you!" exclaimed a female fan, flinging herself at the blond duck. Kristy glared as the human girl wrapped her arms around Dive's neck while another girl took their picture. Dive finally escaped and noticed Kristy glaring at him.
"What? She's just a fan," said Dive, trying to explain.
Kristy just shook her head, "Whatever, V. So how do we get out'a here?"
"Kristy, boobie, I've been looking for you!" The two teens cringed at Phil's voice. "Nosedive! Great, we can get some photos of you two." He led them over towards the woods, followed by a couple dozen photographers.
"Ok, now we need some solo shots of Kristy, for publicity and a couple magazines and things. Then let's do a few of our teen heartthrobs...that's it! That's a new angle..." Phil continued, not paying attention to anything around him.
"We should've tried our luck with the crazy fans," whispered Dive. Kristy laughed as she walked over to stand in front of a giant oak tree.
"Hey Phil, here I am, what should I do?" she asked, bringing their manager out of his trance.
"Wha- oh, yeah, Kristy just stand there. Let the pros do their job," instructed Phil and Kristy was once again barraged by camera flashes. She couldn't see anything, but Kristy heard the sound of Nosedive's comm going off.
"Dive, what's up?" she asked.
He answered the call while running over to let Kristy hear. "Yo, it's Dive here!"
"Nosedive, where's Kristy?" asked Canard instantly.
"Right here, dude," answered Dive, angling the comm so Canard could see his sister standing besides him.
"Ok, that's good," Canard sounded relieved, "Dive, I want you to get Kristy out of here. Make a run for the Pond."
"Canard, what's up?" Kristy was worried, "Is something wrong?"
"A bunch of hunter drones just showed up, we'll meet you guys back at the pond. Canard out."
The screen went blank and Dive could hear explosions coming from where the stage and the rest of the team was. He pressed a button on his belt and transformed into his battle gear.
"Come on Kriss, let's go," he said, tugging at the non-moving girl's arm.
"Isn't there something we can do?" If Dragonus was attacking then Lucricia Decoy was probably with him, and Kristy didn't want to leave her brother alone to fight the traitor. "We should help them-"
"Kristy, you don't have any battle gear. You don't even have a weapon," pointed out Dive, "besides, Canard Ordered us to go." That got her moving.
They ran into the woods. Kristy was completely disoriented, so she followed Dive without complaint. A flash of green behind Nosedive caught her attention.
"Watch out-" Her warning was cuff off as Dragonus whipped his tail out and knocked Dive flying a few feet in the air.
"Nosedive!" Kristy tried to help her friend, but someone had snuck up behind her. Lucricia wrapped her arm around the struggling teen's neck. Kristy brought both hands up to pull at the woman's arm, but stopped fighting when Lucricia pushed a laser under her chin.
"Kristy!" Nosedive struggled to his feet. "Let her go you traitor!"
Lucricia smiled maliciously at him and pressed a button on her transporter.
"Dive...Help," pleaded Kristy, struggling unsuccessfully against the stronger duck's arm before she disappeared along with Lucricia in a flash of green. Nosedive whirled around to fight Dragonus, but the evil saurian had already teleported away.
"Oh stars," he exclaimed, "Canard's gonna kill me!"