*****

[Chapter 7: Ancient minds meets Galactic visitors]

The Courtyard

"Wing we need to talk. And for crying out loud would you chill already!" the two brothers were in the courtyard. Nosedive had gone out to see if he could find Lexington again and his brother pretty much followed him. "This place is practically a mid-evil version of the Pond; I doubt I'd need a chaperon here."

"Dive, you nearly got iced three times in the same week!" Wildwing stood face to face with his younger brother, "And twice got in a fight with guns involved. That's a little more than a bad luck streak bro and I don't plan on having it happen again."

Nosedive looked at him for a moment as if he grew an extra head "…Holy makeovers Mom! Since when where you taller than me?" that had his older brother's beak dropping open and sounding rather insulted. "Hear me out for second." The teen added before Wildwing could reply, "…Look I know I'm not exactly helping you by making you switch from a leader to a worry wart brother, but I had a good reason for what happened on the roof and at the park."

"As in why you fought with that group, other than making it looked like you were mugged?" he had known that wasn't the truth the moment he and the others found the Duckcycle. He was once a Puddle Duck Scout himself so it was easy for him to see that it was hidden and not lost in a fight. He's thoughts were further convinced when Nosedive gloated about 'pounding' the Quarrymen.

Nosedive knew he'd find out that he lied. That's how close they were; they always knew how the other was feeling. "Yeah, other than that." Wildwing sat down on the edge of the stairs leading toward the living room; giving his brother his full attention. While their hidden audience grew tensed at what was about to happen, "Look I… They were beating up on a friend of mine. He was the one they were after. They didn't even know about me being there until I jumped in." He avoided the G word well enough.

Wildwing didn't need him to tell him who. "The 'little guy' you met on the wall a few days ago?"

"Yeah. He lives here. Actually lives here in the castle, with the Xanatoses. Kinda works for them, I guess. But his family doesn't want anyone to know about it." The blonde teen knew whatever was said between them would stay just between them so he wasn't worried about the others finding out. He also knew his brother would understand is he didn't tell him every detail, "When he was in trouble I had to do something. Heck, I owned him one remember? And you know the deal…"

The two brothers finish the sentence in unison "A Flashblade always repays his debts." The older brother had to chuckle. "You always did held our family values highly Dive."

"Oh, and you don't?" the teen smirk as he measured his brother, "If mom and dad could only see you now."

"If they could only see you now," Wildwing returned the smirk, "Who'd thought we'd be soldiers." He fell silent for a moment, realizing what he just said, "Okay, okay. I admitted I've a bit overprotective since the wall incident."

"A bit?" laughed the teen, "You're the living definition for the term 'Mother Hen'!"

"A-hem" the two siblings turned to see their gray feather teammate standing half way up the stairs. "Hate ta break up your bounding time but that cop Maza and her partner are here. Said, they need ta talk ta ya bout the shootin', Fearless Leader."

Wildwing glance back at his brother for a moment, "Go ahead bro. I'll catch up later." The teen replied with a grin. "Unless you think I need a babysitter." He added with a pout.

"No, of course not," the white duck chuckled as he started to climb the stairs, "Besides your right. It's not like you're going to get attacked the second I turn…"

"GREAT MOTHER OF DUCKS!!" the ex-thief screamed when he saw something huge running from one of the towers straight for Nosedive, "LOOK OUT KID!!"

Nosedive turned in time to an enormous four-legged creature leaping at him with a bound. It was déjà vu all over again; only this time, thankfully, they were on solid ground. Like before the teen managed to doge the lung, but in a quick twist the huge dog turned, stood on its hind legs and pushes the teen down to the ground with its front paws. Nosedive fell with a yelp and was successfully pinned down.

"Nosedive!!" Wildwing screamed and raced back down the stairs with Duke at his side. They materialized into their battle gear ready to spring but stop short when they heard their youngest member breaking out in laughter.

Bronx was overjoyed to see his new friend again was giving Nosedive the exact same welcome he gave Lexington the three nights ago. "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Stop! Ha-ha-ha! Come on boy, ha-ha, down!" the teen managed as the great hound continued his slobbery assault. "Y-your messing up my do!"

Before the two older mallards could recover from this shock; a second creature ran up behind the first. "Bronx stop!" it yelled, it was smaller and looked almost like a bat. "Get off him! Get off Bronx!" it was so busy trying to control the bigger creature it didn't even noticed them.

After much pulling and shoving; Lexington went under Bronx's head and pushed upward. It gave Nosedive a chance to bend his leg and use it to help with the pushing. The movement made the large gar-beast back up in order to stay on his feet. Once the little gargoyle had his pet under control he looks back at Nosedive. The young alien duck had tears running down his cheeks from laughing and was trying to regain his lost breath. That was the most fun he had since the park incident.

"Ha-ha-ha! Phew!" the blonde teen chuckled as he wipes at his face and hair, "G-good to see you too, Rover."

"Jalapeñia, I'm so sorry Dive." The olive green gargoyle helped the duck back to his feet, "He saw you a-a-and got away from us on the wall and…" it finally dawned on him that they weren't alone.

The commotion had also brought everyone from inside the castle as well. The rest of the ducks were practically down the stairs in their battle gear. Elisa and her partner Matt Bluestone were right behind them and Xanatos was at the top of the stairs. The clan had also jumped out of hiding when they saw the flock rushing down towards Lexington and Bronx. Now the two groups were staring each other down both tense but ready for a fight if either side went near the youngsters in the middle.

Nosedive was the first to break the silence startling everyone into jumping slightly, "Whoa! All this party missing is music, snacks, and a disco ball." Upon seeing his older brother walking over to them, and fearing what might happen, Nosedive took three steps in front of the two gargoyles, "Whoa hold up there bro. It wasn't how it looked, themmm…"

With gesture that their own parents had used dozens of time on them; Wildwing took his right hand and quickly but lightly his caught his brother's bill with his fingers. After making his point that he didn't need an explanation; he crossed arms over his chest in a lay back manner and walk up towards the little green creature his brother had obviously befriended. The clan was watching his movements just as the rest of the ducks were watching them.

"So this is 'the little guy' that saved your neck that night, baby bro?" the white mallard asked ignoring Bronx's growling. Nosedive grinned and nodded when his brother glanced over and to everyone else's surprise Wildwing crouched down to Lexington's eye level and extended his hand. "A pleasure to finally meet you; name's Wildwing. I'm Nosedive's older brother."

"umm, …Oh, I'm Lexington" the smallest clan member shook the gloved hand in front of him. "And the pleasure is mine." Goliath and the others were slowly walking over to them; unsure of the situation.

"So the Kid wasn't seeing things after all." Remarked Duke. His saber was in his hand; he was going to use it when he thought the teen was in trouble but was still deactivated. "There really is a goblin…"

"Gargoyle!!" the two youngsters of each snapped in unison at the dark drake. "He's/I'm not a goblin. He's/I'm a gargoyle." The two stared at each when they realized what they did, and broke laughing.

"Well this is quite a surprise." Xanatos walked over to clan's side followed by the two detectives "I was almost expecting a bit of hysteria."

"Well, we've met stranger beings before. I mean you should see some of the friends my brother made." Remarked the white mallard, "Besides we owe this little guy a debt of gratitude for saving Nosedive."

"Umm, actually he already repaid me for that." Lexington was rubbing the back of his head and glancing over at his clan. "At the stadium and at the park."

"Yep, we're pretty much even." Concurred the blonde teen as he gave the unsuspecting creature a nuggie, "Though, we really need ta stop meeting like that; I'm starting ta like it!" It was becoming clear to the gargoyles that the young duck didn't take situations like this seriously at all, "Oh, intro. Lexie this is the gang. Duke L'orange, Mallory Mc'Mallard, Tanya Vanderflock and good ol' Grin Hardwing." Each duck made nodded or made some gesture to show which one was which. "Now you know us, how's about you give us an intro on your pals?"

It was the largest of the gargoyles that stood forward and answered, his wings folded around him as if they were a cape. "I am Goliath and this is my clan." He then extended a hand towards the other and introduced them one by one. "This is my second in command Brooklyn. Standing next to him is Broadway, his Rookery brother. This is Hudson my adviser and council. And this is my daughter Angela." Each bowed their heads as their names were mentioned. "You've already met Lexington and our watchdog, Bronx." Then he shifts his arm towards the humans "You already know David Xanatos and his family; these are our friends detectives Elisa Maza and Matt Bluestone."

With the introductions out of the way, Xanatos suggested that they all went inside to get better acquainted over a nice hot meal; to which Nosedive and Broadway cheered and call dibs on the kitchen at the same time. The enthusiastic teenage alien, after hearing that he had competition for the kitchen, charged like a bullet toward the castle, before the aqua colored gargoyle realized what had happened. Bronx followed the two in this playful game of chase while the others, though still a bit skeptical, went inside. At first they pretty much sat glancing at each other, no one had anything to say at such an awkward time.

"Umm," Lexington shifted in his spot to face Wildwing, "Sorry about Bronx… He really likes Nosedive and only wanted to say 'hello'…"

Wildwing could see he was rather nervous, "It's alright. No one got hurt. …Though I must admit I nearly jumped out of my feathers when Dive got pinned."

"You're lucky. I nearly had a heart attack." Duke added with a light chuckle, "That dog of yours' practically the size of a… oh what did Phil call it? …A horse?"

"Oh, he's really very playful." Stated Angela "Most gar-beast are and especially with children. However we do apologize if he frightened your duckling."

"Naw, Dive's pretty tough. So mush so I'd forget exactly how much when things like this happens." Stated the masked mallard, "Oh, and just so you know don't ever refer to him as a duckling when he's around."

As if on cue Nosedive appeared at the door. Both he and Broadway where carrying plates in either of their hands "And that my friend is the secret of a gourmet jumbo" Then stopping suddenly as if an after thought he took a hard glance at the group on the couch "Now why do I get the feeling someone used my name and 'duckling' in the same sentence?"

"Drake Ducain! He's turning into Grin!" exclaimed the grey mallard with an elbow nudge to Wildwing.

The white duck just rolled his eyes, "Just laying down the rule about that Dive."

"Oh, okay, cool." With a cheerier smile he set the plates down on the coffee table. It was full of huge Sloppy Joes, potato chips, sodas and what had to be the strangest looking submarine sandwich anyone has every seen. It looked like it consisted of everything from anchovies to zucchinis! And for some reason a bag of frozen peas, "Now then, since my teammates obviously won't chill-lax guess its up to me ta get the party going," He took a quick head count and handed the cold bag to Lexington for his shoulder, before locking his eyes with Brooklyn's. The sudden flash that had them looking like they froze over warn the gargoyle of a nasty temperament simmering just below the smile, "Okay now Mr. Happy, besides your 'oh so well mannered attitude' and 'brotherly nature'…" the tone pretty much told the beaked gargoyle that he hasn't forgot about their first encounter on the roof, "You look like the kinda guy that loves a good rock concert."

"Wha… That's right." Brooklyn could see that the duck was measuring him and was allowing a chance for redeeming some ground with him. The subject was one he knew and enjoyed very well, "I always go when one's playing. Especially if the group has a mean guitarist." There, that won him a couple of points.

"No kidding?" the blonde duck passed him a soda, "I love a good air guitar solo! Fact is I play one whenever I need a little me time."

As the night went on both sides spoke of hobbies until they where relax enough to talk about themselves, like Nosedive had been doing from the start. Both groups found they had a lot in common with each other. Separated form their homes by unfortunate events, lost of loved ones, a ruthless enemy bent on their destruction, betrayals and several deadly encounters, even allies both human and magical. It seemed strange, yet utterly comforting to know that there were others living lives similar their own.

"Alright I'm board," declared the blonde teen duck, "Hey, ya got any video games or movies around here?"

"We have the new 'Dog Fight' combat game with multi-player." Suggested Broadway.

Nosedive was on his feet in an instant, "Stars! Ya waited this long ta tell me?! Lets roll dudes! Move, move, move!"

Soon enough, the youths went off together to the game room and the adults where left to discuss a few things, both business and off topic. There was a clear understanding in secrecy on both accounts incase the Quarrymen tried anything again. Further more the ducks would see to it that their money-loving manager doesn't hear a word of this.

Also there came an understanding for the new friendship between Nosedive and Lexington and what was best for the two when it came to visiting days. Knowing his little brother as well as he did, Wildwing warned both the gargoyles and the Xanatoses that his brother has been know to twist words around so well he'd make it seem as if it was your idea to begin with and that he can be highly persistent if not persuasive. However, he was completely harmless unless push came to shove, other than that he was a typical carefree teenager. As for Lexington, he was pretty much the quiet on looker that enjoyed learning new things. However, he did had a habit of taking things apart just to see what made it work. That, and the fact that just because he was small didn't mean he was a pushover if he was ever provoked.

*****

Three Days Later

Soon enough the time had arrive for the Ducks to return home to Anaheim and their Pond. "Ooooh, I gonna miss ya little buddy!"

"I… can tell…" grunted Lex from under the alien's crushing hug, "May I… breath now… please?"

"Hey kid," Duke called from the door after saying his good-byes to Hudson. The two had enjoyed discussing sword techniques, "Stop suffocating the poor thing and move your tail-feathers already."

"It's been a pleasure meeting you and your clan, Goliath," Wildwing stated as the two of them held each other's forearm in the traditional gargoyle manner.

"Like-wise," stated the huge winged leader.

"Hey boobies!" at the sound of the Mighty Ducks' manager coming, the defenders of the night took off into hiding, "Times a wasting. Lets move before the traffic gets too thick."

With that the duck followed their lovable manager towards the elevator. Nosedive stop short of going inside to look back at the wall where he knew his new friend would be and waved his last goodbye. The night before Lex and Dive exchange e-mail addresses and street address so they could keep in touch. That and the blonde duck figure that after a few weeks they could talk about some ritual he called a 'sleepover' at one or the other's homes. To which he said about training the small gargoyle in the art of pulling pranks. Though Lex wasn't sure what kind of pranks, Dive did tell him that the only way for this form to work, is to not talk about it. As he returned the wave something told the little web-wing that being friends with this duck was going to be one very exciting adventure.

The End

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