Epilogue
Grace was able to obtain pardons for the other outsiders who had helped her, for they had all been unregistered and living in hiding like her. The outsiders from OtherEarth, Inc. though were all stripped of their powers and incarcerated for fraud among other charges. The Off-World Agency was dissolved, and the Mighty Ducks and Xanatos along with the gargoyles were tasked with organizing a better system to help outsiders adjust to life in their world.
The other outsiders were so grateful to Grace that she became their leader, and her powers soon returned to their former strength with the possibility that now they were even stronger. For now she had the ability to connect with any outsider who had any level of power, and so she helped to find others who felt lost and alone.
Grace's first goal was to heal anyone who had been drained by those from OtherEarth, Inc. Elisa and the other ducks were soon back on their feet. The gargoyles were also fully restored. And though she enjoyed her time in New York, Grace chose to keep her base in Anaheim with the ducks.
"You know you could live anywhere now," Mallory said with a laugh when Grace returned to them.
"But this feels like home," Grace said. "That is if you have no objections."
"How many times do we have to say we want you to stay?" Nosedive joked as he hit her on the back.
"We don't have to take in any other outsiders though, do we?" Wildwing asked.
Grace smiled and shook her head.
"They are happy in their new homes. You only have to put up with me."
"I have enough inner peace to do so," Grin said warmly.
"Very funny, big guy. But I was counting on your help with my training. I want to keep learning to use my powers effectively with your help."
Duke laughed.
"I think you might have surpassed your teachers, sweetheart."
Grace dropped her gaze, suddenly appearing a little uncertain.
"Well, you see, I was talking with the others, and we're all getting tired of the term 'outsiders.' Instead of living in your world and always feeling like we're on the outside of your society … some of us, uh, well, we want to find a way to be part of it."
"You are part of it. You're a very important part of it," Tanya said.
"Well, with OtherEarth, Inc. defeated, you don't need us the same way you did before. And let's face it, I'm never going to be a part of the Anaheim community looking like this."
Grace gestured to herself, and the ducks looked at her in confusion.
"Are you talking about changing your appearance?" Wildwing asked.
Grace sighed and raised one arm above her like a ballerina striking a pose. Turning around, she moved and a light began to envelop her, and the ducks had to look away. When the light cleared, a duck of the same height stood in her place, wearing her clothes, with blonde hair and brown eyes flecked with gold.
The ducks stood with their beaks hanging open in surprise.
"It's only temporary right now," Grace said, her voice coming from the figure of the duck as she looked at them shyly. "I haven't decided to make it permanent yet. But some of others believe they want to become like certain inhabitants of your world. I'm taking this step to learn how to help them, and maybe ….well, maybe this is something I want."
"You'd give up being human?" Duke asked.
"I can't always be caught between two worlds," Grace said. "I've been thinking that I might want to embrace living in this one. And it's not so much losing something, as gaining something, don't you think?"
"Yeah, like gaining babehood," Nosedive said with a grin, and Mallory smacked the back of his head.
"I don't know Grace. You might not want to deal with some of the drakes on this team," she said with a teasing smile. "Maybe you're better off staying human."
The light appeared again, forcing them look away, and when they turned back, Grace was a human from that other Earth again.
"Well, I guess that's just one of the things I'll have to consider," she said with a smile. "Anyway, I'm going to give the change a try. But I don't know much about being a duck, so I'll need your help."
"Your truce with Dragaunus will certainly end if you decide to be a duck," Wildwing warned. "He won't let that slide, especially with the threat of OtherEarth, Inc. gone."
"It's not my goal to maintain friendships with Saurians. I'd rather know how you all feel about it."
Wildwing clamped his hand on his brother's beak before Nosedive gave his enthusiastic approval.
"I think Dive's made his feelings clear, and I won't speak for the others, but for me, it's an honor to have you want to be one of us. I'd be glad to have you on our team, duck or human."
The others nodded, and Duke added,
"You do what you want, sweetheart. This is your home now no matter what. But you'll make a swell duck if you choose that life."
Grace thanked them, and they shared a group hug.
"Hey, enough with the reunion!" Phil called out as he walked of the elevator. "You guys have a hockey game to get to!"
So this is where this story ends! If you're wondering if I might write a sequel, well, I might. I wasn't planning to, but the end of the story took a turn I wasn't expecting until I wrote it. So anyway, if you liked this story, please leave reviews. Your feedback is what encourages me to write.
