Chapter Six: Losing Ground
N: Finally, some answers! It's about time you told us what happened!
PW: I'm sorry, dive, but I had work to deal with! It's not like I wanted to leave you behind or anything!
D: Smacks the two's heads together and walks away.
W: oooookkkkkkaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy. Um, I guess that means one of us is going to have to do the disclaimer. looks over to see Tanya and Mallory hiding behind Grin Uhhh- I guess that means I have to do it...
W: Clears his throat and puts his hands behind his back The Paper Wolf owns only Shadow and all the other characters not apart of MDTAS. We all belong to Disney and to whomever else was apart in our makings.
TPW: runs over and waves to the others I was awake first! I won! Ha-ha! Maybe next time, divey-boy! Anyhow, please enjoy my story. I hope it is up to your standards!
I should've known something was wrong,
from the start!
The devil's on my back!
It's easier with my friends by my side!
It's so much better than being alone!
I won't give up!
It's never as hard as it seems!
Everything is never going to be the same again!
It had been a few hours since little Shadow had been rendered unconscious, and Tanya had been correct about when the girl would awaken. She didn't, however, know just how she was going to go about coming back to the realm of the dead.
The girl had shot up in the bed; screaming an uneartly animalistic sound ripping out of her throat. Shadow was suffering from a nightmare that was so unreal, it had to be true!
Shadow leaned forward into her stomach, and panted deeply for breath. She gasped and held her chest tightly.
""Uh- Hey, Shadow, turn it down, will ya?" A shrude voice called out from her side; taking firm hold upon her arm. "Some of us still have eardrumbs, ya know?"
Shadow looked up and saw that Duke had been the one that had the grip on her, and called out to her. She panted, and grabbed her throat in pain, coughing and gasping for breath.
"Wha-where-am- I?" She asked in a slightly disoriented tone, trying to control herself, as she looked around the room for any other surprises that may be in store for her. "What happened?" Her fears were confirmed when she spotted everyone surrounding her with worried and shocked expressions on their faces.
"You're back at the pond, Shadow. Don't you remember what happened?" Wildwing asked in a brotherly tone, narrowing his eyes at the girl through his mask.
Shadow looked over at the leader for a moment and sighed in defeat. "I remember it all. And I'm sorry I had to show you my...wild side... I bet it wasn't that pretty."
"We've been wondering about the origins of that ability, little friend." Grin spoke up in a gentle tone, his face betraying no emotions.
Shadow sighed and relaxed her features. "I suspect my behavior has also brought up questions for the lot of you, as well, then?" She asked in a formal tone, not looking up to the group of ducks before her.
"How'd you know that?" Mallory asked in a demanding tone; placing her hands on her hips.
Wildwing placed a firm hand on her shoulders. "Ease off, Mallory." He told her in a warning tone. He looked over at the injured with concerned eyes. "Let's take it all from the top: How are you able to turn into a wolf?"
Shadow's shoulders tensed up and her clenched her fists tightly around the blanket covered her tiny form. "It all started in New Orleans, and it has yet to stop..." She replied in a hurting tone, not looking up from her knees.
"What do ya mean, sweetheart? Is it your hometown?" Duke asked in a fatherly tone; taking a seat next to the injured.
Shadow shook her head in response and looked up at Duke. "I'm from New York. Just your everyday on the block... I came from a family of three: Me, my brother, and my mother. Ray and I were talented twins. I was a figure skater, and he was into karate, we competited in tournaments, having fun like we were in some kind of play, but with the Underground Tournament... for lack of a better word, incident, our play had come to an end."
Nosedive blinked in confusion and folded his arms over his chest plate and leaned forward towards the girl. "You mean that shooting when you two were in middle school?"
Shadow tensed up at his question, and looked up at him with rage in her eyes. "It goes back futher than that, Nosedive!" She protested angrily at the young player before her. "We're weren't the only talented athletes on the streets! There were a few kids that were just as good at it as we were!"
"So, tell us what happened." Wildwing ordered in a firm tone; folding his arms over his chest to try and intimidate the girl; telling her to calm down as he stood beside his little brother.
Shadow took a few breaths and calmed herself down, and started telling them her history once again. "I don't really know what exactly happened, but if I had to guess, I'd say they couldn't handle not being the best, so they decided to blow away the rest." She told them in a low tone; as if she were embarrassed by the thought.
"So they brought guns to school to kill you and Ray?" Mallory asked in shock, not belieiving what she was hearing.
Shadow looked over at the tiny girl and looked down at her hands. "Your guess is as good as mine, but what I do know is that they are either behind bars, or in the looney bin with my mom." She told them in a sad tone; letting her age finally catch up with her.
"What about your mom, why is she locked up?" Nosedive asked in a curious tone; forgetting all about his slowly rising anger at Shadow's riddles.
"Ray and I were badly hurt in the shooting. I managed to survive a shot to the hip and shoulder, but Ray, he- wasn't so lucky. He was D.O.A. … There was nothing the doctors could've done to save him... " Shadow answered obiedently, looking forward with an angry glare towards the wall beside Duke. "And that's how it started... The Start of Things..."
" "The Start of Things"?" Duke asked, feeling sympathetic for the girl sitting before him on the bed. "Whatdaya mean, sweet'eart?"
Shadow kept her eyes trained on the wall, this time her expression had changed to a creepy hollow one. "Mom went insane that her favorite twin was murdered. She had tried to kill me by stabbing me with a scaple." She answered in an bitter tone; pulling the bottom of her shirt up to reveal a horrible star-shaped scar on her well-toned stomach. She let go of her shirt, and watched it fall obeidently towards its natural place once again.
Mallory growled in frusteration and pushed past the youngest duck, and grabbed the girl's shoulders in anger. "Why didn't you just come out with it from the start?" She yelled slightly, narrowing her eyes at the girl's lack of response. "We're just trying to help you!"
Shadow's head had turned to Mallory with glowing red eyes. "It's too late for me, Mallory..." She told the female duck in a darkened hiss, as she bared her fangs at her; looking through her eyes as if she wasn't there. "I'm already dead..."
Mallory gasped and let go of Shadow's arms, and stumbled backwards from the girl. "Wha-wha-what are you?" She asked in a hushed whisper; not daring to raise her voice any higher.
Shadow's eyes returned to normal and looked back to the wall before her. "Some strange men dressed in black came to the hospital and offered to take me to another one; saying something about my safety or something. I don't know." She told the group in the familiar haunting tone, not caring for what the others may think of her.
"Some creeps took you away from a hospital? Why?" Wildwing asked; not believing what he was hearing. "There's got to be more to the story than that, right?"
Shadow nodded, and tears forming in the corners from her eyes, her face betraying no emotion. " "Allyce Sohma" was who I was when I was taken to the organization, but once Mr. Kemo set me free, I had to become "Shadow Honda"."
"What organization? Did they do something to you then?" Wildwing asked; pulling up a chair beside his brother as if telling her that he wasn't going to leave until she talked to him.
"They hurt me, Wildwing. They- they did something unnatural to me." Shadow's voice now trembled, as she turned her head to stare at Wildwing with fear in her eyes. "They did these painful experiments on me!"
"Doesn't that sound familiar..." Mallory said in a sarcastic tone; rolling her eyes while she thought about the nasty Dr. Protorious.
"Is that what they did to you?" Duke asked in a fatherly tone; placing a caring hand on the girl's.
Shadow's tears began spilling out of her eyes, and she hugged her knees. "They wanted to create a perfect fighter to fight in wars." She told them through her knees. "They had experimented on their own soldiers, but they were much too old, and their bodies already knew how to reject anything that enters their bodies that shouldn't belong in them... So they turned to the next best thing..."
"Children!" Wildwing shouted in outrage, rolling his hands into tight fists.
"Our bodies were still developing and adjusting to our growing habits and immune systems. Ray and I had near-perfect bodies due to our all our training... we were the best ones for the experiments..." Shadow said in a sad tone. "They never got to Ray on the account that he was killed, but they got me. So their experiment wasn't a total failure."
"That's why you're able to turn into that wolf!" Tanya said in a realizing tone; her eyes lighting up with hopes of guessing right. "They genetically altered your body, didn't they?"
Shadow nodded and looked down at her knees once again. "That's not all they did, Tanya, so you're not wrong in all of this." She told the blonde female with a bitter tone. "They twisted my body to fit their own design. A design that involved animals. And it's because of that, that I can hear everything, smell everything... and see everything. My reflexes are sharper than normal human standards, I'm more agile and a whole load of other nifty surprises. Like phasing into a wolf."
"So you're basically like something from one of Nosedive's comicbooks?" Mallory asked in a sceptiable tone, still not believing everything Shadow is telling her.
Shadow blinked and looked up at the ceiling in wonder. "Huh? I never thought of it like that." She said to herself before she looked over at the red haired mallard with a blunt stare. "That's pretty much sums it up, yeah."
"Then what about Mr. Kemo?" Nosedive asked; getting serious long after she told them what had happened to her. "How does he fit in to all of this?"
Shadow sighed and looked back up at the ceiling and began thinking about her answer before she turned back over to the group with a lazy smile. "He was the leading scientist who took my humanity away." She answered in an honest tone; making everyone slap their heads at her response.
"So you're hiding from this "Organization" with a man who conviently happens to be one of the men who turned you into- whatever it is that you are now?" Wildwing asked; not believing her story for a second.
Shadow nodded and jumped out of the bed and landed in the middle of the group; startling them out of their questions. "Mr. Kemo was a friend of the family from the start of everything." She told them in a fierce tone; baring her fangs in her master's defense. "He was our family doctor, and fought with my dad in the war. My father's last wish was for him to return and take care of us, and he did, up until the time... well, let's just call it, "that time". He had no idea that Ray and I were shot and taken to a hospital where The Organization had ordered him to use my body to create their "perfect fighter"... It was a nightmare that none of us could wake up from, and when I was awakened after so long, he spirited me away by faking the death of the talented, "Allyce"."
"Wait- you just said that you were awakened. How long were you alseep?" Wildwing asked in a firm tone; looking at Shadow for a straight answer.
"An' why were ya asleep in da first place?" Duke chimed in with a fatherly tone; giving Shadow a look that said that he was tired of her playing around with her answers.
"In order to recover from the final stages of the experiments, I had to remain inactive for an extended period of time. I was asleep for nearly fifteen years." She told them in a blunt tone; not understanding why everyone was getting frusterated.
"So you're fully recovered and all that? There were no side effects other than your abilites." Tanya asked in a wondering tone; wanting to know more about the girl and what other tricks she had.
"Well, yeah, I'm fully recovered, and yes, I do have at the very least two special abilies besides phasing." Shadow told them in a quiet tone. "Though the healing trick takes a lot out of my body. But there are drawbacks to everything I do."
"Such as?" Grin said in a firm tone; making Shadow flinch in the process.
"The healing trick takes a lot out of me. It takes up more energy to heal myself than it does to phase. When something gets damaged or broken, like a leg or arm, my body becomes paralyzed and the healing trick kicks in. If no one bothers me, then I should be alright in the next day. It'd be like nothing happened. The only problem is that I'd be so tired that I'd just go back to sleep." She replied in a slightly nervous tone; rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.
There was a moment of silence that fell upon the room that made everyone feel a bit awkward. What could they say to make the girl feel better? They never heard such a story such as the one the ducks had just heard in all their times! It was completely new to them!
Duke looked over at the girl with sad eyes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, sweet'eart."
Shadow gave the oldest duck her bravest smile in return. "It's not like you had anything to do with it, Duke..." She told him in a soft tone getting up from the bed. "I have no use for apologies... not anymore..."
"Okay, so you're a whacked out science project." Nosedive chimed in a hot tone, "But that doesn't explain why ol' lizard lips would want you."
"Dive does have a good point." Wildwing stated, as he rubbed his lower beak in thought. "Do you have any ideas why Dragonus would want you?"
Shadow blinked up at Wildwing with surprise. "I have no idea, Wildwing." She told them in a blunt tone. "I mean, unless he wants to try to start a freak show, your guess is as good as mine."
"Well, he won't be getting anywhere near you with us by your side." Mallory stated in a final tone; folding her arms over her chest in a defiance.
"Mr. Kemo told me to take care of you until he comes back." Wildwing added with a hardened tone. "Which brings me to the next question: Why would he abandon you like that? If you two are as close as you say, he'd be here right now."
Shadow blinked up at the white feathered duck, before she broke out into a fit of laughter. "He always does that. He's probably just trying to cover our tracks to hide from The Organazation. Or maybe he's going after Dragonus. Not even I know what's going through his mind sometimes."
"So he does this often?" Tanya asked in a curious tone; scratching her head.
Shadow shurgged her shoulders in resonse. "He only does this when we move somewhere."
Just as Wildwing was about to voice his opinion, Shadow began stretching her arms, and cracking her knuckles. Her knuckles made a sickening "cracking", and made him flinch.
"That sounds wrong..." Nosedive stated in a disguested tone as he stared at the girl in shock; knowing that she shouldn't be standing much less stretching right at that moment.
Shadow's tiny form tensened, and she sat down quickly in embarrassment. "I'm sorry." She said quietly; looking as sorry as she could. "It's a habit."
Wildwing's features softened, and relexed his shoulders. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" He asked in a brotherly tone; trying to lighten the mood.
Shadow smiled at the goalie, and held up her hands in mock surrender. "I guess I don't know when to quit." She said in a joking tone, as she gave them her best smile.
Duke chuckled at the girl's reply and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Well, since you're feelin' betta, why don't we go down to da Mess Hall and find you something to eat."
Shadow shook her head in response, but her stomach roared in protest. "I guess I really am hungry..." She said in a nervous tone; scratching the side of her head.
Tanya made a funny sound and stood in front of the girl in protest. "You shouldn't be moving around at all! You should be, ya know, takin' uh dirtnap or, uh- sumthin'."
Shadow looked to Wildwing with pleading eyes. "But I feel fine!" She argued with the audience. "Other than being hungry and being sore, but that's the best way to work out my muscles when they feel sore or achy!"
Duke placed a friendly hand on the girl's shoulder, and made her look up. " 'ey, don' worry 'bout that, guys," he reasoned in a logical tone; giving them a careless smile, "I'll keep an eye on her!"
Wildwing looked from Duke, then to Shadow, and sighed in defeat; knowing he wasn't going to win this argument. "Alright, but if you start to feel sick or anything, then it's straight back here. Got it?" He ordered in a final tone; sounding more like an older brother than a leader.
Shadow sighed in relief and nodded her head to the white feathered duck in front of her. "Like Mr. Kemo always says when I make a promise to him: "A true word needs no promise."." She said in a lightened tone; walking over to Duke, whom was now waiting for her at the exit.
Meanwhile, back at the poorly disguised Raptor, Dragonus was staring down the two henchmen known as Siege and Wraith. Smoke was pouring from his nostrals, and his eyes begun glowing a bright red with anger written all over his hideous face.
"How could you not capture a mere girl?" He demanded in ourtage, as he slamed a hunter drone into a nearby wall; shattering it on impact.
"That "mere girl" drew a rather large crowd, my lord." Siege said in defense, shaking with fear running through his ice-cold veins, as he watched sparks fly from the pitiful remains of the hunter drome lying on the floor not too far from him.
"And those accursed ducks were there watching her." Wriath added in a reasoning tone, as he lifted a finger to prove his point. "I see nothing but our own destruction in the future if we meddle with this child."
Dragonus snorted in response, and turned his back to the two failures, and looked up at the screen. "That child is the key to those wreched ducks. That's something that I can't possibly pass up." He told them in a wicked tone; giving the screen an evil smirk, as he stared up at the image of the girl.
After Duke had guided Shadow towards the Mess Hall, he noticed that she still had a slight limp in her step, but brushed it off. He was still shocked about the nasty little secret, but he was still attached to the little girl. He had found a daughter in her that he wished he had the chance to have back home.
The Flashblade brothers had found a little sister in her as well. Nosedive had really enjoyed the little girl's company and thought it quite amusing to see the girl show off her skills in front of everyone a few nights back. Wildwing was a bit startled when Duke and Nosedive had told them that the large wolf was like his whole logical thinking had all gone South. He knew the girl wasn't like any normal girls, and he was prepared for whatever she was going through, but he was never ready for the tragedy that she had revealed to them! It was like Shadow had become a whole new person to him!
After Shadow had something in her stomach, she found herself wandering around the stadium with Duke. They had been talking for a bit. Duke kept asking her questions about her life with Mr. Kemo. The two just sat together in the stands.
"I really don't know what else to say, Duke," Shadow told the oldest duck in an irritated tone; giving him a slight glare, "I've already told you all what I know. And I don't really enjoy talking about it!"
Duke held up his hands in defeat and gave the girl a look of shock. "Whoa! Take it easy, sweet'eart! I was jus' curious!" He said in defense, not sure why the girl was suddenly acting like a normal teenaged girl. She was so calm and graceful back in the medical wing, but now she was behaving just like a daughter whose father was getting onto her like she got in trouble.
"I never asked for any of this! It's not my fault I'm a freak!" She cried in a sharp tone; glaring angrily at the ice in front of her.
Duke ran a feathered hand through his hair and glared at the girl beside him. "Now, I neva said you were a freak! Personally, I think dare's nuttin' wrong wit ya!"
Shadow blinked at the gray mallard for a moment; before she looked back at the ice with a blank stare. "No one's ever said that to me before." She whispered in a quiet tone; blinking away tears of relief from her eyes. "Thanks, Duke. And I'm sorry for snapping at you like that. I was put of line." She apologized in a shameful tone, not looking at the duck next to her.
Duke looked down at the girl for a moment, and then turned his attention back to the ice in front of them. An idea struck him like a ton of bricks. He looked at the girl with a happy smile.
" 'ey, you said you were a figua skata, eh?" He asked in a friendly tone, giving her a devious smile.
Shadow looked over at Duke with a curious gaze. "Yeah, but that was a long time ago. I haven't touched the ice since Ray... well, you know." She answered in a disappointing tone.
Duke jumped up on his feet and grabbed Shadow's hands; pulling her to her feet. "Well, let's see if ya still got it!"
Shadow blinked up at the duck in surprise. "But-!"
Duke ignored her protests and pulled her out of the stadium, and into their lockeroom. "Aw, com'on! It won' kill ya ta try, would it?" He asked in a playful tone. "You're already dressed in warm clothes, and it's not like we don' have any gear for ya ta use! What have ya got ta lose?"
Shadow, being the highly advanced fighter that she was, had caught onto what Duke was getting at, and gave up. "Alright, fine. But don't laugh if I fall down."
Duke smiled in satisfaction. "Neva crossed my mind." He told her as he pushed her into the lockeroom. "Now, let's go find ya some of Mallory's hockey gear and see what ya can do."
TPW: Well, I guess that's all my creativity has for this chapter...
N: That's some messed up life you put Slim through.
TPW: What? Every heart has its own pain.
W: That's true, but I still wonder what Dragonus wants with her.
S: You all do realise I'm right here, right?
TPW: I'm sorry, Shadow, but it had to be done. Otherwise, how would the ducks take care of you? Wildwing would make Klegghorn take you into protective custody. Then you'd really be a sitting duck!
Duke: 'ey! I resemble dat remark!
TPW: Sorry! I just couldn't think of anything better to say!
Anyway, I hope this clears things up with who "Shadow" really is... Kind of... ^^; I promise Ch. 7 would be better! Any ideas would be much needed! Please let me know if this chapter makes any sense!
TPW: And a very special thanks to White Hunter! You're the best! Peace out!