"What should we do with him?"

"The subject needs more of the 'treatment' in order to go through with the Lord's plans."

No…No more of that…!

"Inject him with three more doses of Substance 35."

"Understood."

No…No! Get that away from me! What's happening?! Stop…!

Canard woke up screaming and sitting up in the infirmary bed. He was sweating like mad and looking around. He didn't recognize where he was and that freaked him out a little. Canard tried to gain bearing of his surroundings, his chest heaving but his panting slowed down.

"Calm down, Canard…" He paused, looking around once more. He noted the monitor with his system diagnostics, he also noted the other technology about. "Where am I?" Fear still pelted his bloodline, the hellish dreams bleeding on reality for a moment. Canard pulled the blankets off him and was about to step out of the bed when the door to the infirmary opened wide, revealing Wildwing there. Wildwing walked over to Canard, not wanting to startle him too much.

"Woah, buddy! You're in no condition to be walking." He said calmly.

"W…Wildwing…?" Canard squinted before rubbing his eyes, thinking he was just seeing things. But he found he wasn't and still saw Wildwing standing before him. "Oh my god, it really is you…!" Canard stood up and nearly fell over if Wildwing hadn't caught him. Immediately, though, Canard hugged him. After a while, he looked at Wildwing and asked, "H-How are you here in dimensional limbo? I mean, is this dimensional limbo or a dream, or…" Canard kept rambling on before Wildwing stopped him.

"Canard, calm down. It's okay." Wildwing assured him. "We're not in dimensional limbo."

Canard blinked, "We're…I'm not in dimensional limbo…?" He fell back onto the infirmary bed, his head lulling as his gaze became downcast. "Wha-what does this mean?! Did they let me go?!" He quivered at the memories of the dream.

"Who let you go?" Wildwing asked.

"I…" Canard tried to speak but blurred images flashed in his mind and he quickly closed his eyes. "…I don't remember…"

"Hey, hey. Take it easy, Canard." Wildwing told his best friend as he sat down next to him. "I can't imagine how much you've been through, but I'm here for you." Canard took a breath of air and exhaled. "Thank you, Wildwing." Hecouldn't help but wince as he regained more awareness of his body, hot pain fluttering through him.

"You okay?" Wildwing asked suddenly, seeing Canard wince.

"I'm fine. Thank you." Canard replied, giving Wildwing a small smile.

-\-

Wildwing helped Canard to the kitchen area where everyone else was. Canard was happy to see that the team was alive and well. As Canard sat down at the table and Wildwing made him some breakfast, the other ducks caught Canard up to speed about Earth and what they've been up to. All the way to point about winning the Western Conference and going on to playing for the Stanley Cup.

"Congrats on winning." Canard said before he eyed the pancakes before him. They looked much like the kind they'd eat on Puckworld. He began to cut them up and slather syrup over them. If the other ducks were able to eat it then it wasn't dangerous…Then again why would they feed him something that could kill him? He took a bite of the pancake as he thought, Maybe I'm still warped from dimensional limbo…

Canard was blown away by the news, it was good to see Wildwing handling the team so well, but a little frustrating that Dragaunus had eluded capture.

"So Canard, when you arrived, you were in bad shape." Mallory stated, wanting to get information. "What happened?" She asked.

"Mallory!" Wildwing didn't want to question Canard so suddenly when he just woke up.

"It's okay, Wing." Canard assured his friends. "To be honest, I can't remember much…and when I tried to a while ago. But I…" More blurred images appeared and Canard inhaled sharply before rubbing his left arm. "…I just can't remember." Mallory felt a twinge of guilt for pushing the conversation.

"Maybe whatever you experienced in dimensional limbo was too traumatizing that your brain just boarded up." Tanya stated, "Maybe your memories will come back on their own."

"I don't know…" Canard said, setting down his fork. "Some part of me tells me…it's better that I DIDN'T remember."

"I wouldn't blame you." Wildwing said.

"But if you did remember something, you wouldn't mind talking about it?" Mallory asked.

"Provided if you wanted to talk about it." Wildwing said with reassurance in his tone.

"I think…I remember someone's name…" Canard said, holding his head. "It was…Ashebridge, I believe. But I could be wrong that that's someone's name."

"Ashebridge?" Wildwing quirked a brow.

"If you remember that name then Ashebridge must be important." Mallory stated.

"What if Ashebridge is some secret project in dimensional limbo?" Duke questioned.

"Who knows…" Canard mumbled.

-\-

Ryan lightly touched the control board panel of the Raptor. He looked curiously at it, knowing it had seen better days. Chameleon and Siege were eyeing him suspiciously.

"They definitely did a number on this ship." Ryan said, putting his hands back in his pockets. Siege grumbled. He had some pride and joy for the Raptor as it was the flagship of the Saurians, to see it in such a sorry state wounded him.

"Those feathered freaks sure did." He agreed, "Bad enough we barely have power, but some days I fear the end for the raptor." Siege said somberly.

"Hmm." Ryan simply replied "…I know someone who can repair this ship in a matter of days."

"You do?" Chameleon asked surprised.

"Yes, but it'll take some time to contact him." Ryan said. "Who knows what silly project he's working on."

"Who is it?" Siege questioned, eager at the thought of having the Raptor back in tip top shape.

"His name is Mercury Benson." Ryan replied, walking over to the Saurians. "He's a bit eccentric, but my Lord and I know he always gets the job done."

That's when Dragaunus had walked into the room. "What are you all speaking about?"

"I'm just telling your men about Mercury Benson, someone who can get your ship working again." Ryan answered.

Dragaunus's eyes lit up, "Someone who can fix the Raptor?" He sneered, "I'd like to meet with this Mercury Benson."

"I'll contact him at once." Ryan said, taking out a device that looked like a phone but more advanced. "But don't get your hopes up that he'll be here right away. He's not that type of man." Ryan started dialing a number.

Siege got all excited and chuckled. "Alright, in the meantime, I think I'll get a fresh serving of roasted duck." Siege walked off to get some drones and weaponry. Chameleon and Dragaunus walked out of the room and Ryan put the phone to his ear.

"…Hello, My Lord…Yes, everything is falling into place…No need to worry, Dragaunus hasn't noticed anything…Thank you, My Lord. We will succeed…Thank you again. Now, do you know where I can contact Mercury?…What do you mean you gave him the week off?"

-\-

"I'm not so sure about this, Wing." Canard said as he strapped on some ice skates as Wildwing was heading out on the ice rink.

"It's just like on Puckworld, Canard. I understand if you're a little rusty, but that's why we're on the ice." Wildwing said, heading farther out. Wildwing watched Canard stumble on the ice, a bit of worry came to him at the sight.

Canard was able to straighten himself out. "Al…Alright."

"Here." Wildwing handed Canard and a hockey stick and placed down a hockey puck in front of him before skating to get in front of the goal. "Let's practice just like we used to."

Canard smiled, getting familiar with the hockey stick. He swung it but missed the puck completely. Canard swung again but missed and fell over on his back this time.

Wildwing skated over to a stop and helped Canard, "Let's just do baby steps, like passing the puck."

Canard chuckled. "Yeah…That's probably for the best. It feels weird, though. I've played hockey my whole life, and now it feels…I don't even know."

Wildwing looked at Canard with worry. "Well, you'll pick it back up soon. I mean, you were in limbo for a while, went through things I can't begin to imagine." He said as he gently passed the puck over Canard caught it with the end of his stick and passed it back. The two began to skate further up the rink.

"Yeah, I shouldn't beat myself up then." Canard smiled as he passed the puck over.

Wildwing and Canard practiced passing the puck back and forth, getting faster and faster every couple of minutes. However, it soon came to a stop when Wildwing received an alert from his wrist com.

"What's up, guys?" He asked as he answered the call.

"We've got teleportation activity at the mall!" Tanya stated over the com. "The numbers are huge, it could be that guy from last night."

"That guy?" Canard said aloud.

"We better not waste time, get in gear and we'll take the Aerowing." Wildwing said.

"Do you think you'll have better luck this time, Wildwing?" Tanya asked.

Wildwing's face remained neutral, "I can't promise anything but all we can do is try."

Wildwing shifted into his battle gear and took Canard back down to the base. Everyone was ready to go.

"Who is this guy you're fighting?" Canard asked curiously.

"Some whacko with fire knights or something." Nosedive replied. "He's really tough."

"Fire knights?" Canard uttered, as if Saurians were bad enough, but fire knights? Something about this rubbed Canard the wrong way.

Wildwing out a reassuring hand on Canard's shoulder. "We'll be back soon. Don't worry." He said to his best friend.

"I wish I could help." Canard said as his gaze downcasted.

"You've done enough for us, you deserve to rest." Wildwing reaffirmed him. Canard nodded his head slightly before the ducks took off. Canard was left to his thoughts as he sat on a chair near Drake One.

"Hey guys! Are you ready for the photo shoot?" Canard looked to see a human coming in through the entrance of the secret elevator. Phil Palmfeather looked and didn't see his team but instead saw Canard.

"Who the heck are you?" Phil asked, very confused.

-\-

The Mighty Ducks arrived at the Anaheim mall as Dragaunus' drones were terrorizing the people there. Soon, the ducks arrived. Wildwing was relieved that it was just drones.

"Looks like that guy isn't with the Saurians this time." Duke commented as Mallory took to taking down a drone.

"Yeah, but that guy still gives me the creeps!" Nosedive said as he fired his blaster a couple drones.

"I don't blame you." Tanya said as she fired at a drone.

Just then Wildwing caught sight of the massive orange saurian decimating the fountain. "Siege!" Wildwing growled and charged over to his opponent.

"Bro! Wait up!" Nosedive called out but got held up by more drones.

"If it isn't the leader!" Siege dashed at Wildwing with a raised fist, "I've been waiting for this after last night!" Wildwing side stepped Siege's attack and fired a puck at his back sending him forward. Siege crashed into the shopping window of a boutique and the customers and staff were screaming and getting out of there, away from the fight

Wildwing punched Siege as soon as the Saurian got back up. However, Siege was quick to fight back as he whacked Wildwing with his tail. Wildwing flew into a mannequin set up, the arms,legs and heads splitting off and piled on the floor. Siege leaped over to Wildwing, but Wildwing was able to dodge the pounce. Siege tried to whack Wildwing again with his tail but Wildwing dodged it this time. He fired another puck at Siege but missed. Siege became impatient. Having just about enough, he grabbed a display case and threw it at Wildwing. Unfortunately, Wildwing was bombarded by the display case as there was no room to run, he yelped as the display case pinned him down.

"Say good night, you feathered freak." Siege stated as he was about to break Wildwing's head with his tail. Wildwing's eyes widened as Siege raised his tail. However, fate was on his side.

"Get away from my bro, you sleaze bag!" Nosedive came charging in and fired some pucks at Siege, forcing him away from Wildwing. Grin followed right behind Mallory. Grin grabbed the display case and hauled it off his comrade.

"Thanks guys!" Wildwing said. Nosedive went over to his big bro and helped him to his feet. The four had Siege cornered. "Give it up, Siege, you're out matched here!" Wildwing said sternly.

"I don't think so." Siege said as he quickly activated his teleporter and got out of there as fast as he could.

"Darn! He got away!" Nosedive frowned.

Wildwing put a hand to his chin, "Why attack the mall?" He said aloud.

"Eh, who knows?" Duke said as he came to the scene with Tanya.

"Hm…" Wildwing thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Let's get back to the Pond. Canard's probably worried."

-\-

On arrival back at their HQ, the ducks saw Canard waiting by Drake One with Phil next to him.

"Hey babes! You didn't tell me you found a new player!" Phil said to his team.

"Well Phil would've found out sooner or later." Duke said to Wildwing with a shrug.

"Did you find that guy and his fire knights?" Canard asked.

"Well, we found Siege at the mall, but no sign of the other guy." Wildwing could still remember the sickening gleam in that man's eyes.

"Whoa whoa! Hold the phone! Fire knights?!" Phil repeated surprised. "When did this happen?"

"Last night, Phil." Grin answered.

Phil groaned. "And I missed it? Could've been a great story for the news and for our image!"

Canard looked at Wildwing with a look on his face. "Just ignore him, Canard." Wildwing told his friend.

"Come on, Phil! We just saved the mall from some creep-o-Saurian." Nosedive said and Phil immediately interrupted him.

"Well did you look good doing it? We need good publicity here since you guys won the Western Conference." Canard could feel a headache coming on from Phil talking about this.

"We saved what's left of the mall so does that count?" Nosedive said. Nosedive looked over at Wildwing, the older sibling seeming to be in deep thought.

Phil wasn't listening anymore as he took out his phone and started calling the press to see if he could make any profit off the story of the ducks saving the mall. The ducks left Phil to do his thing while Canard and Wildwing went back up to the ice rink.

"Where you two going?" Nosedive asked, noticing Wildwing and Canard going a different way than the rest of them.

"I'm going to help Canard get some more skating practice in." Wildwing answered.

Nosedive became curious about something and then asked, "Does this mean he's going to join the hockey team?"

"Well…I don't know yet, Nosedive." Canard answered honestly. "I'll definitely need time to practice. We'll see then."

"You need some practice? You were like the best team captain in school." Nosedive said, walking alongside them.

"That is true, Dive, but Canard hasn't been on the ice in a bit." Wildwing explained.

Nosedive had a sheepish expression, "Oh, well, anyone can get rusty." He agreed. "Mind if I help out?"

"Of course, I need all the help I can get." Canard smiled.

-\-

Siege returned to the Raptor but didn't like the sound of the conversation coming from the bridge.

"Again, I don't know why my lord gave Mercury the week off, but as soon as he comes back, I'll be able to speak with him." Ryan told Dragaunus.

"Well, when Mercury does come back from his little holiday, he better jump right into fixing the Raptor." Dragaunus flexed his claws. "In the meantime, let's discuss another way to end those miserable mallards."

Ryan sighed. "Of course. With the plan already in motion, we must proceed with the next step."

"And what would that be?" Dragaunus asked, crossing his arms and giving Ryan a curious look.

Ryan slightly smirked. "Getting the Mask from Wildwing."


Co-Written with PurpleReign9000

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