Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…

Italics indicate character thought.

-

The team milled around on the ice, wondering what on earth was taking so long.

"What on earth is taking so long," Averman whined as he moved idly in circles.

Fulton shoved him hard enough to knock him into Dave Lawrence and glared. "You've said that like 15 times Averman. Saying it again isn't making anything happen any faster, other than a black eye from me because you are driving me nuts." He moved backwards to lean against the boards lazily.

Dave righted himself and glared. "So you guys are going to start this bickering already? At the first practice? I think you've all been playing together too long."

"No shit." Riley Harding, a sophomore who was both quick and versatile on the ice, rolled his eyes. "You guys are like a bunch of old married couples."

Adam tapped his stick on the wall as he rolled his head around, stretching out his neck. "Nah. We bicker with all of you as much as we bicker with each other, so really your argument, Harding, is a moot point."

Charlie stifled a laugh, which turned into a snort. "A moot point? Adam, you really are such a nerd."

Riley grinned and raised his gloved hand. "See! Like a married couple!" The rest of the team cheered.

Charlie and Adam were just getting up their arguments when Coach Neumann let out a holler from the edge of the ice. "Hey, Neanderthals! Enough!" They all grew silent and turned to face their coach. Adam looked down proudly at the C on his practice jersey. It starts now, he thought.

-

Charlie was so ready to get going for the season. They were halfway through with their college skating career, and while it was going to be hard to top the previous season's number 3 in the country ranking and their great post-season run in I-AA hockey, he had a good feeling about how ready they all were to take their games to the next level. He looked anxiously to the two people following behind the coach as he made his way onto the ice.

He could see one of the two, his head held high, and his stick slung across the back of his shoulders. Has to be the hot shot from Michigan. He looks cocky. Well, cocky can be good. He couldn't quite get a good look at the other freshman.

"Gentlemen, welcome to another season of Wolfpack hockey. Before we get started on one of my patented 3 hours of hell workouts," he grinned to himself, "I'd like to introduce your new teammates. Procida and Mayland." He turned and indicated the boy Charlie had pegged as the 'hot shot.' "Why don't you two introduce yourselves?"

Cole Procida, at a tall and lanky 6'3, swung his stick off of his shoulders to prop on the ice. He ran a hand over his short cropped curly blonde hair and smiled. "I'm Cole Procida. I'm from Farmington, Michigan…the Devils. I played all four years of high school varsity, we won the state championships last two years running, and I'm pretty damn ready to play some hockey. It's been a long summer." He grinned again and slung his stick back up to his shoulders. No one but him noticed it for the nervous habit that it was.

The team remained stone faced and slowly split into two lines, facing each other. Coach Neumann took a place at the front of the line and looked to his new captain. Adam slowly began clapping his hands together. The rest of the team clapped in unison and Coach beckoned Cole to move through the line. As he started moving through the players nodding at each one as he passed, Charlie looked at Procida and then up to Adam. Both felt a shiver run down their spines remembering when they had taken part in this same ritual.

When Procida reached the end of the line, Adam stopped clapping and Coach Neumann pointed to the other new player. "Mayland?"

For the first time since entering the rink the player wearing the 18 red practice jersey raised their head. When Mayland did, a collective gasp went through the team.

When Jesse, Averman, and Fulton saw her they all reached out with sticks and whapped Charlie in the back. Charlie saw her face and couldn't keep his mouth shut. "Well, shit."

"Hi. I'm Beau Mayland," Beau started off quietly, but then spoke up. "I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. I uh," she rolled her eyes, "I played all though high school on one of, like, two teams in North Carolina, called the Triangle Terrors. Trust me, you've never heard of them. And I, hell, I just came here to play some real competitive hockey. I heard you guys were really good at that."

-

Beau felt like her tongue was swelling and she was getting dizzy. Get it together, Mayland, she screamed inside her head. This is a hockey team. They brought you here to play hockey. You're good at it. Quit being such a…such a…well, such a girl!

Okay, so I finished my little speech and they are all just staring at me. They are actually all just staring at me. Why aren't they doing that clapping thing? She smiled nervously, tightened her pony-tail, and looked at Coach Neumann for reassurance. He smiled and looked across at the blond guy who appeared to be the captain. Banks, she vaguely remembered Coach telling her. Banks was staring at her. Great.

Neumann cleared his throat and looked pointedly at Banks. Adam shook his head and seemed to clear his thoughts. Beau sighed. Well, this is fun.

Banks began to slowly clap his hands together, with the coach and Procida joining him almost immediately. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the rest of the team joined in. Beau sighed again and began to skate slowly forward. Please tell me this is not what the whole season is going to be like.

As she passed her captain, Beau looked him in the eye and lowered her head slightly in a sign of respect. Banks smiled broadly at her and nodded in response.

Beau smiled at 00 next to him, who returned her smile easily. Germaine, she remembered from the articles she had read from last season.

She swiveled her head to the left and felt the breath rush out her lungs. She was face to face with Charlie Conway, and he was staring at her, as much in shock as she obviously was. She slowed on her skates and as she passed him she turned her head to keep the eye contact. Holy crap, Beau. 96. Charlie Conway. Captain of the Mighty Ducks, Goodwill Games, all around freaking amazing hockey player. How did you miss this?

She had no more time to think about it as she slid slowly into another player. Oh no. How embarrassing. The first practice and I've managed to make it look like I can't even skate in a straight line. Beau looked around slowly to see who she was pressed against. She received a great big smile from a familiar face. Less Averman shoved her lightly and whispered, "You want to go that way."

Beau continued down the line, her face crimson, until she came to stand next to Cole. He leaned over and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, girl. I've got your back in case they try to look under your pads or anything."

She rolled her eyes and shoved him lightly. "Nice. Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."