Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks belong to Disney. Same old story. Why doesn't anyone write a sequel to it, if you catch my drift?

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed my last chapter. I'm working on trying to make them longer. I believe that this one is my longest yet, but I guess we'll have to see. So go pop some popcorn and enjoy the show! (Oh I just LOVE the smell and of course taste of popcorn! But only the buttery kind. I think that that kettle corn stuff just tastes weird. I mean, popcorn just isn't popcorn unless it has got butter on it. You agree with me?) Be cool! GOD BLESS! :)

Chapter 4-"Let's get going!"

It hadn't been long before Canard had discovered that he, Nosedive, and Wildwing had not really landed on the cave floor at all. They had in fact fallen on to a small and flat cliff that jutted out of the ice wall.

Right now, Canard was looking over the edge at the frozen lake below him. 'It doesn't look to be that far down,' he thought, 'I'll bet we can reach it.' "Hey guys, come over here and take a look at this!"

After a short sprint, Dive and Wing were also looking at the solid water below them.

"I wonder how far out it goes," said Dive.

"Lets find out," said Canard. He let the light begin to spread out over the course of the lake. As it turned out, the lake was huge and stretched far off into the cave. After letting the light disappear into the dark, Canard began to observe the rest of the cave. And what a cave it was! A gigantic space in the ground chocked full of ice that sparkled and shined as the light ran over it. At first, Canard was amazed at the beauty of the ice cave. Everything was so crisp and clean. None of the ice down here was disturbed. It was so different from the ice on the surface. Up there, icicles melted fast, but down here, who knows how long some of these icicles had been around. It was just so gorgeous. However, it wasn't until he looked up, that his expression changed and a chill ran up his back. Canard even gave off a slight shiver.

Sensing his friend's uneasiness, Wing asked, "What's wrong Canard?"

With a gulp and still staring at the ceiling, he answered, "Look up."

Wing and Dive both followed Canard's gaze and the sight that beheld them made them gasp as well. Directly above them, were rows upon rows of thick, sharp, pointed, icy stalactites.

Wildwing felt a shiver run up his back. 'Man, I wouldn't want one of those to come falling down on us,' he thought.

Nosedive wasn't taking all this very well. He was still trying to get over his initial shock of tumbling down one hole, as well as his surprise ride down a second. But when he gazed up and saw all of those jagged perils just waiting to come crashing down on top of them, well it all became a bit too much for him. He began to let out a high-pitched scream.

"Aaaahhh-!" But his beak was quickly clamped shut by Canard, who had cut the younger duck's outburst short.

"Quiet you nitwit," Canard hissed, "If we make any more loud sounds, who knows how long it will be til' one of those stalactites comes smashing down. And if one does come down, who's to say it won't cause some kind of chain reaction to cause the rest of them to come falling down as well. And I'm sure you don't want to get caught under one of those babies. It'd kill you faster than you can say, 'Ice is cold.' So I'd suggest you keep you're little trap shut, unless you want to get all of us killed."

Dive quickly shoot his head no, as Canard released his grip on the seven- year-old.

"Good, now keep quiet," the older duck warned.

Wildwing hadn't been too thrilled with how his best friend had been treating Nosedive just then, but he had to admit, Canard did bring up a few good points. "Canard," he asked, "Do you really think one of those things could come down? Would they really set off such a chain reaction?"

"Well, I'm not sure Wing," answered Canard, "But I did see this special on tv once where these hikers got lost in an ice cave just like this one. Their cave had stalactites in it too. Anyway, one of the hikers sneezed and they all ended up running for their lives as they dodged stalactite after stalactite. I remember them saying that it was like it was raining giant icicles."

"Did they all make it out okay?" asked Wing.

"Well, they all lived, if that's what you mean. But, they did receive some pretty bad injuries from the experience."

"You don't think the same thing could happen here, do you?"

"I don't know. It's possible. Heck, I'd say it can happen, and it probably will. But it won't so long as we all keep really quiet and don't make any sudden, loud noises. That's what sets them all off. In fact, I'm quite surprised that none of them haven't already come down, what with all the racket we've been making."

"Ok, you hear that Dive?" whispered Wildwing, "We can't make any loud noises, so we have to keep quiet, all right?"

All Dive was able to squeak out was an "Uh-huh." The little duckling was petrified, and it showed. He was shivering from head to toe, more from fear than from the cold. He didn't like being down here. He had had enough of it a long time ago. Not only was Dive tired and scared, but he was rapidly becoming homesick. He missed his parents, his room, his toys, and his nice, warm bed. He wished more than anything that he could be there right now instead of here in this stupid ice cave. Wildwing saw how scared his brother looked and began to feel sorry for him. He quickly went over to Nosedive and began to comfort him.

"Hey Dive. It's ok; it'll be all right. Don't worry."

"I'm scared Wildwing," said Nosedive, as he clutched his older sibling's shirt. Tears were forming in his eyes and he was beginning to cry. His body was also shaking.

"I know, I'm scared too."

"You are?" Dive looked up at Wing.

"Well sure, but I don't let my fear stand in the way of us going home." He crouched down in front of Nosedive. "Look, we're all scared. We don't know what's going to happen or how we're going to get home, but I do know one thing for certain."

"What's that?"

"That we're going to get out of here, all three of us. Somehow, someway, we're going to escape from this cave and then we'll be free again. Soon, this will all be but a memory. I promise. Just keep that in mind, okay?"

"Okay," sniffed Dive. He wiped his eyes, "I trust you."

"Hey you two, I think I found a way outta' here," called Canard.

"Really?" asked Wing. He took his younger brother's hand and walked him over to the cliff edge. "What do you mean Canard? Where?" Wildwing asked his friend.

"Look over there." Canard pointed at the far wall on the other side of the frozen lake. It was barely visible; it was so far away. "You see that little bit of light coming through. I think there might be another hole leading to the surface over there. And if it does, then that's our ticket to freedom."

"How are we supposed to get all the way over there?" Wing motioned to the distant wall with his hand.

"Simple. We walk."

"What?!"

"Shhhh!!! Keep your voice down," Canard hissed.

"Sorry," Wing apologized and lowered his volume, "But what do you mean, 'We walk'?"

"I mean just that. We can get to that hole by crossing the frozen lake and then by climbing up to it."

Wildwing looked over the cliff's edge at the frozen water below. "Do you really think it's safe enough to cross? What if the ice isn't strong enough to support all of us?"

"Look, if you're so worried, how bout' I go first to test the ice out," offered Canard.

"Well, if you really believe it'll hold us all..." Wing returned, "I don't want to see anyone falling through the ice. That's the last thing we need right now. Another disaster."

"Don't worry Wing. I'll be careful."

Though he sounded confident, Wildwing could note a slight bit of nervousness and tension in his best friend's voice. Wing silently said a prayer that the ice would be thick enough to hold them and that they would not have to worry about any unexpected water rescues.

Canard made his way to the edge of the small cliff. Picking up a small rock, he let it fall to see how far down the frozen water really was. Thankfully, the rock only fell for a couple of seconds before hitting the ice.

'Good, it's not that far down,' he thought. "Ok, here I go," he whispered to himself. Holding the flashlight in his beak, he carefully began to climb down the cliff side. Soon, his feet touched the lake. "Aw, here we go. Come on you two, it's not that far down," he called.

The two brothers looked over the ledge at him.

Nosedive was nervous. "I don't know bout' this Wing. That looks like a long way down," said Dive.

"Don't worry, lil' bro'. How about I go first. That way, if you fall, I'll be there to catch you. Does that sound all right to you?" asked Wildwing.

"Ok. I like that."

So leaving Dive on the cliff, Wildwing picked his way down the rock until he was standing next to Canard.

"Ok Dive, you can come on down now," called Wing.

"But what if I slip and lose my grip?" whimpered the yellow duck.

"Don't be afraid. I'll catch you if anything goes wrong," returned the older brother.

"You promise?"

"I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"Well, all right." Though hesitating at first, Dive finally began to make his way towards the solid water.

Soon, all three ducks had made it on to the frozen lake.

"Oh thank goodness, we all made it safely," Wing said, while taking a breath.

"We're not out of the woods yet," said Canard, "We still have to make it across this lake."

"What's so bad about that?" asked Nosedive.

"'What's so bad about that?' Well, for starters, lots of things could happen," responded Canard, "One of us could fall through some soft spot in the ice, or one of those stalactites could come smashing down. Realistically, there are hundreds of possibilities for what could happen to us down here."

"Oh. I never thought of any of those," said Dive.

"Of course you wouldn't have," taunted Canard.

"Canard, that's enough," Wildwing said, "Look, why don't we get going and quit arguing. Besides, the sooner we get moving, the sooner we can get back home." He quietly said under his breath, "I hope."

"Fine. But Wing, you got to make sure that the kid keeps up, because I won't be stopping for him every five seconds. You hear me?"

"You just worry about finding our escape route and I'll keep an eye on Dive, ok?"

"Great, then let's get a move on. I don't know bout' you two, but I'd rather not spend any more time down here than I have to. I've already had enough of this place to last me a lifetime."

"Me too," said Wing.

"Me three," added Dive.

"All right, all right, enough talk. Let's get going!" replied Canard.

And with that, the trio began to cross the frozen lake.