"You know nothing, you're memories are gone," said Wraith, standing over the two unconscious ducks. "You will obey only me," he commanded. And now to finish the spell...
Wraith raised his hands to cast the final part, instilling the 'key word' in their minds, but was interrupted by a puck flying past his face. "What?"
"Give it up," ordered Canard.
"You're surrounded," added Mallory, "nowhere to run."
"I don't think so," commented Wraith, drawing his sword. He lowered it and the light emitted from his fiery blade illuminated Nosedive, lying unconscious at his feet.
"Dive! Get away from him!" exclaimed Wildwing.
"Not until you all back away," ordered Wraith. The others obeyed with a glance from their team captain. Canard was reluctant to step back, he saw another form laying next to a ruined duckcycle and knew it had to be Kristy.
"Now let the kids go," growled Duke, his saber drawn and ready to attack.
"Of course," Wraith pulled his sword away from Dive's neck and with one motion pressed his teleporter. The ducks were rushing forward before he could completely disappear.
"Nosedive, can you hear me?" Wildwing fell to the ground next to his brother.
Canard ran straight to his sister's side. "Kristy, are you ok?" he asked holding her head in his lap and stoking a loose hair out of her face.
"Umm..." She let out a soft groan, but that was all.
"Hey Canard, is she okay?" called Tanya, looking up from Nosedive.
"She's unconscious," he replied, "you wanna check her?" Canard let some of his irritation show in his voice.
Tanya jogged over, "Dive's out too, but other than that he's fine." She did a quick scan of Kristy's body with her omni-tool. "Same for Kriss. I'll need to get them back to the Pond for more tests, but they should both be alright."
"What do you think Wraith was doing?" asked Mallory, checking the scene.
"There are bad vibes here," commented Grin.
"Well, whatever he did Wraith must've put a lot of force behind it," said Duke, pointing at the two wrecked duckcycles, "a simple accident couldn't cause this much damage."
"Magic?" suggested Tanya.
"Doesn't matter," said Wildwing, lifting Nosedive off the ground, "let's just get back to the Pond and regroup there." Canard had already gathered Kristy into his arms and was carrying her to the migrator.
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"How do you do it Wing?" asked Canard, cradling Kristy's head in his arms as they drove back to the Pond.
"Do what?" Wildwing looked up from Nosedive's sleeping face.
"Oh, just live like this. You know what I'm talking about, knowing everyday that Dive could get hurt. I mean, just look at how calm you are!"
"Ha! You haven't seen him when Dive's really hurt," said Mallory, taking the seat next to Canard.
"What do you mean? He's unconscious!"
"The kid bounces back," called Duke from the driver's seat, "he's like elastic."
Wildwing shook his head. "Canard, I'd be a lot more worried if this was the first time he's gotten knocked out. Remember the crazy stuff he tried to do back home?"
"Stars, I'm still surprised that he lived through middle school."
"Exactly," said Wildwing, "he's done worse and survived. So I just save my energy for when it's really needed."
"Hey Wing, if you're not worried than why are you crushing Dive's hand?" asked Mallory. Wildwing blushed and relaxed his grip a little, but didn't let go.
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Tanya unhooked Nosedive from the med-scan and wheeled his bed over next to Kristy's by the wall.
"Well?" asked Wildwing.
"Same as Kristy," answered Tanay, "they both just need to sleep it off. They should be fine in the morning."
"And..." prompted Canard.
"What?"
"What's wrong with them?" asked Wildwing impatiently.
"Oh, they got hit in the head," explained Tanya.
"But there aren't any bruises or anything," argued Canard, pointing at his sister. Kristy had a few small cuts and bruises on her arms, but nothing serious. Nosedive was the same, a few scrapes and bumps but not a mark on his head.
"I think that's where the magic comes in," replied Tanya, "but I'm a scientist, not a sorcerer," she added defensively.
"It's okay Tanya," said Wildwing, "thanks for checking them over."
"Sure, no problem. Are you two gonna spend the night?" she asked, knowing that Wildwing and Canard wouldn't leave the teen's sides. They'd been glued to their respective sibling the whole way back to the Pond.
"I think so." Wildwing pulled a chair next to Canard's so they were both sitting between Dive and Kristy's beds.
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"Hey Wing," whispered Canard, drawing his friend out of a light sleep.
"Huh, what?"
"I think they're waking up." He pointed at Kristy. Her eyes were fluttering and she kept shaking her head. Wing checked his watch, it was already eleven in the morning. We've got to get some better chairs in here, he thought, rubbing a sore muscle in his neck. Suddenly Kristy's eyes flew wide open.
"Kristy?" Canard leaned over her. Kristy's eyes got even wider and she let out an ear piercing scream.
Wildwing threw his hands over his ears. "What's wrong with her?"
"Kristy tried to sit up, but Canard held her down by the shoulders. "It's okay Kriss, you're fine. Stop screaming!"
"Nooooo! Who are you? Let me go!" demanded the girl, struggling against her brother.
"Kristina it's me, Canard! What's wrong?"
A sudden thought dawned on Wildwing. Kristy doen't recognize him. Wraith must've messed with her memory...and Dives!" Wildwing whirled around to confront his brother, but Dive was already awake and moving.
"Nosedive!" called Wildwing, startling him. Dive dashed through the infirmary door with Wing right behind him. Wing stepped into the hall in time to see him crashing to Grin.
Dive fell to the ground. "Please don't hurt me," he pleaded.
"My little friend..." Grin bent down to help the teen, but only frightened him more.
"No! Get away from me!" exclaimed Dive, scooting back against the wall.
Duke took a step forward. "Kid, what's wrong?"
Dive replied by pulling his knees tightly to his chest. "W-Who are you? What do you want?" he shouted. His voice was breaking from near panic.
"Nosedive, it's okay." Wildwing moved quickly and before Dive knew what was happening Wing had wrapped his arms around the trembling boy and was holding him close.
"Who are you?" asked Dive again, but with less force this time.
Wildwing was hurt, but tried not to show it. This isn't Dive's fault, Wing reminded himself.
"I'm Wildwing, and um," he stumbled through the words, "I, ahm I'm your brother."
Nosedive looked up. "We don't look like brothers." Wildwing reached up and removed the mask so Dive could see the emotion in his eyes.
"Your name is Nosedive Flashblade, and you are my kid brother." They stared eye-to eye for a moment while the others watched in silence.
Then Dive broke it off. "Um,Wildwing?"
"Yeah? And you usually call me Wing."
"Wing..." Dive tested in on his tongue. "Hey Wing, could you ease up a bit?" he asked with a grin.
Wildwing realized he was still squeezing his little brother. "Sorry Dive." He helped the teen up, but Dive cringed at something behind his brother.
"W-Who's that?" he asked, staring at Grin.
"That's just Grin," said Wildwing nonchalantly, not wanting to make a big deal out of it, "he's part of our team."
"Oh, okay. What team?"
Wildwing shook his head. "Let's see how Canard and Kristy are doing."
"Who are they?" asked Dive, allowing his brother to lead him back into the infirmary.
"You'll see. Oh, and could you guys give us a sec?" he called back to the others crowded behind Grin.
"Who are you?" demanded Kristy the instant they walked through the door.
At least she's not screaming any more, thought Wildwing.
"Who are you?" responded Dive, taunting her.
"Okay you two," Canard stepped between them, "Kristy, this is my best friend, Wildwing Flashblade, he's our team captain. And the kid is his brother Nosedive. Nosedive, this is my sister, Kristina Thunderbeak. Kristy, Dive. Dive, Kristy. Everyone happy?"
Kristy looked skeptical. "What kind of name is Nosedive?"
"How should I know?"
"Dive lost his memory too," explained Wildwing.
"Okay, well do you know who he is?" asked Kristy, nodding at Canard.
"He's your brother, Canard Thunderbeak," answered Wildwing, verifying what Canard had already told her.
"Uh Wing, what're the Mighty Ducks?" asked Dive, looking at the logo on both his and Kristy's shirts.
"That's the name of our hockey team," said Wildwing, hoping to jarr their memories.
"What's hockey?" asked Kristy, she sat with her feet hanging off the side of her bed. Dive stood at the end of the bed, closer to her than to the adult ducks. He didn't know any of them, but he felt he had more in common with her than the other two.
Canard and Wildwing were both speechless, they didn't know how to answer. They'd never had to explain Puckworld's national sport to anyone before. Luckily they were interrupted by a knock on th door.
"Wing, Canard, can I come in?" called Tanya.
"Sure," answered Canard.
"Who are they?" Kristy jumped up to stand on guard next to Dive. She was startled by the sight of the four new ducks.
"They really did loose their memories," exclaimed Duke.
"Well duh!" Mallory rolled her eyes at him.
"Do we know you?" asked Dive, looking them over critically.
"These guys are the rest of our team," explained Canard.
"But some of us are girls," added the red head, "Mallory McMallard, Puckworld special forces."
"Is your hair really that red?" asked Kristy.
"Wha?" The question left Mallory stuttering.
"Going on..." prompted Wildwing.
"Duke LaOrage, at your service," said the older gray duck with a flourished bow.
"And I am Grin Hardwing," said the oversized duck.
"Grin...is that your real name?" asked Dive.
"Look who's talking," commented Kristy. Dive stuck his tongue out at her.
"Some things never change," whispered Canard to Wildwing.
"Anyways, I'm Tanya," said the last remaining duck, shining a small light into Dive's eye, "and I've just gotta check you two out quick before I let your brothers at you."
"Why?"
"What did we do?" asked Dive, finishing Kristy's sentence.