Author's Notes: It took me weeks to write the last chapter. This one took only hours. Muses are such fickle little beasts.
Wildwing pulled up to the closed front gate of the park and stared at it.
"The sign says they don't open until eight," Ruby said, looking over at the sign on the fence. "It's not even seven yet."
"Well, our choices are to sit here until they open, blast our way in or find another way," Wildwing stated.
"Blast our way in?" she asked with raised eyebrows. "I know I'm new to this planet, but I can't imagine the humans being too happy about you destroying their gate."
"I said it was an option," Wildwing pointed out with a shrug. "I didn't say it was a good one."
"The way I've always gone in doesn't have a gate that's locked," she stated.
"By the time we got there and hiked all the way in, it'll be closer to ten," he grumbled. "We might as well just sit here."
"Do you have a better idea?" she asked.
"How do you feel about scaling a chain link fence?" he questioned.
"In this dress?" she countered.
"Ok, let me think," he sighed.
After a minute, he got up and headed to one of the stations in the back of the battle van. She watched as he brought up a screen and started typing something. Curiosity got the better of her and she went and stood behind him.
"What are you doing?" she inquired.
"I'm seeing if there's another entrance that's closer so we don't have to hike as far," he replied.
"Afraid of a little exercise?" she teased.
"Afraid that if I'm gone too long my team will come looking for me," he retorted. "Mallory is more than itching for a fight."
"With Duke right behind her," she grumbled.
"Hey, he protected you from the harpy," he reminded her.
"He also dropped a house on me," she snapped back.
"You're not letting that go, are you?" he asked.
"Would you?" she shot back.
Before Wildwing could reply, Ruby stomped back to her seat and plopped down. Deciding that continuing to argue with her wouldn't be good for his wellbeing, he turned back to the work station. A few minutes later, he had his answer and headed back to the front of the Migrator.
"There's another entrance not too far from here," he stated as he started up the battle van. "We can park on the street and walk from there. We should hopefully get to the meadow before eight."
She didn't reply, so he hoped that meant she agreed with his plan. He carefully turned the massive vehicle around and drove down the road a ways. He spotted the gate a short time later, but the street was too narrow for him to park. It took him nearly half a mile to find a spot.
After making sure the Migrator was secured, they headed back up the street to the open gate. They walked in silence and at first Wildwing thought she was still upset about Duke. However, one look at her face and he could see the nervousness. He wasn't sure what the Forest Lord had planned for her, but he had a feeling it was something she wasn't going to walk away from unchanged.
By the time the Mighty Ducks reached the front gate of the park, it was still half an hour before they opened. With Tanya on the lead Duckcycle, they followed the tracker on the Migrator to where it was parked. They cautiously surrounded the vehicle, just to be on the safe side.
"Where is he?" Nosedive asked after they determined no one was in the battle van.
"The front gate was locked," Duke reminded him. "He probably found another entrance and walked in."
"Maybe he went to get something to eat," Nosedive suggested.
"I doubt he went in search of coffee," Tanya replied. "The Migrator is, like, in the middle of nowhere."
They looked around and other than a few far off homes, there wasn't much out there other than plants and rocks.
"There was a gate we passed on the way over," Mallory pointed out. "Maybe he went in there."
"I'll check Wildwing's communicator inside the Migrator, you know, to be sure," Tanya stated as she went up to the station.
While the others put the Duckcycles in the back of the Migrator, Tanya brought up a map of the area. After the others were done putting the bikes away, they joined the tech inside the battle van. As the others gathered around Tanya, Mallory saw something that caught her eye in the corner.
"Wildwing is almost to the meadow," Tanya confirmed. "I don't know if he's alone or not. I tried calling him, but he didn't answer. He might be someplace, you know, that doesn't get a signal."
"Well, unless he was really hungry this morning, I'd say someone's with him," Mallory stated as she held up the bag containing a couple used breakfast containers, including the two empty coffee cups.
"Man, he got pancakes and didn't invite the rest of us along," Nosedive grumbled, able to smell the syrup from several feet away.
"Why don't we go ask him about who he did take with him?" Mallory suggested as she held up the empty oatmeal container.
"If we want to get there soon, like before the park opens, we're going to have to hike in," Tanya pointed out. "We'll use the gate just up the road."
"Sounds good," Mallory agreed. "My blaster is charged, loaded and ready to go."
After locking up the Migrator, the Mighty Ducks activated their jet skates and headed after their illustrious leader.
"WRAITH!" Dragaunus bellowed in his oh so quiet way.
A second later, mist started to rise from the floor of the control room.
"Yes, my lord," Wraith softly answered as he stepped out of the mystical fog.
"How much longer must I wait for you to bring me the carcass of the mage?" Dragaunus demanded. "It's been several days now."
"The poison will take time, as I explained before, Lord Dragaunus," Wraith replied, trying to hold onto his own patience while his lord and master obviously had none.
"But how much longer!?" Dragaunus repeated angrily.
"It depends on how often the mage returns to the store," Wraith explained for what felt like the hundredth time. "If she goes in and doesn't leave until the store closes, she will only get one dose of the poison. The more often she comes and goes, the quicker the poison will work."
"And if she detects what is happening?" Dragaunus growled.
"That is why I chose this particular poison," Wraith responded patiently. "It will start as an itch under her feathers. Over time, she will start to feel sick, like she's coming down with a cold. By the time she realizes that something else is wrong, nothing can save her."
"What if she releases the phoenix to burn out the poison?" Dragaunus snarled.
"Even better," Wraith purred. "The Phoenix will kill her shortly after being released. Once that's happened, I'd be able to claim the medallion for you."
"What good will that do us?" Dragaunus demanded. "You told me everyone who's ever used the medallion ended up as nothing more than a smoldering briquette. If we can't use the miserable thing, what's the point of getting it?"
"Because, Lord Dragaunus, I have been working on a way to use The Phoenix's power without having to merge with it," Wraith told the Saurian overlord.
"To do what?" Dragaunus softly snarled.
"I am in the process of developing a way to use The Phoenix to power the Raptor," Wraith replied. "With The Phoenix powering the ship, nothing can stand in our way. Not even Wildwing and that accursed mask."
"Oh I like it," Dragaunus crooned. "I like it a lot!"
Dragaunus's laughter echoed through the metal corridors and Wraith smiled evilly.
By the time Wildwing and Ruby made it to the meadow, the mage looked like she was ready to have a nervous breakdown. Wildwing wanted to comfort her and had to keep reminding himself that despite him helping her, she was still the enemy. What was wrong with him?
Neither of the ducks were surprised to see the Forest Lord waiting for them in the middle of the meadow. The clearing looked the same as it had after Wildwing and his team had finished removing the drone bits. However, there was something about the place that was different, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"I'm here," Ruby said to the large earth Elemental, her voice shaking only a little.
Good, the Forest Lord replied. Come to me.
She started to cross with Wildwing right behind her.
No, just her, the Elemental instructed and Wildwing found himself unable to take another step.
"It's all right," Ruby assured the captain as she continued on.
Wildwing kept his beak shut as she walked away to stand next to the large, white creature, though he couldn't stop the frown on his face if he had wanted to.
"What do you want?" she asked.
This world has gone much too long without magic workers in it, the Forest Lord stated. While you are here, the magical beings are starting to reawaken. You mortals live such short lives and you don't belong to this world. When you are gone, we will be forced back into our slumber. This is not acceptable. You will use your power to reawaken the magic in the mortals who live here.
"But how?" she inquired incredulously. "I can't go up to every human and zap them. There are billions of them all over the planet. Even if I could, not all of them have the latent power to be activated. How do I tell which have the abilities and which don't?"
You will sing, the Elemental told her.
"What!?" she choked on a laugh. "I can't sing! I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket!"
But The Phoenix can, he returned. The song of The Phoenix is a beautiful and powerful thing.
"I can't," she whispered, the fear evident in her voice. "If she takes over…I can't control her. I don't want to die."
Wildwing tried to go to her, but found he still couldn't move his feet. He tried to say something, but his beak wouldn't open. He was tempted to activate his battle gear and let his puck blaster do the talking for him. However, common sense reminded him that for now, the Forest Lord needed Ruby alive.
You need a focus, the Forest Lord told her. That is why he is here.
"Wildwing?" she questioned in a small, frightened voice as she turned and faced the goalie.
Concentrate on him, focus only on him, the Elemental instructed. He will be your anchor in the storm you are about to unleash.
The ducks stared at each other, neither one able to move. Neither one of them knew who was more surprised or scared.
Now feel The Phoenix, the Forest Lord continued softly as he stood behind her. Find her song. Let it come to you.
Ruby didn't move for a few minutes, just continued to stare at Wildwing. Then her eyes started to glow and Wildwing felt his heart start to speed up. He knew he should be scared out of his wits. He was standing in front of a mage who was about to unleash her powers. So why wasn't he frightened? Why was he more worried for her then he was for himself?
The Forest Lord moved away from Ruby and stood on the opposite side of the meadow from Wildwing. The white duck could feel the energy building up in the middle of the clearing. He wanted to say or do something, but he was unable to move a feather or make a peep. He stood there nervously watching, and he didn't have to wait long before she opened her beak.
"IIIIIIIII heeeeaaaar yoooooouuuur voice on the wiiiind
And IIIIIIIIII hear you call oooooout my name"
Her body started to glow a golden red as her beautiful voice held him motionless
"'Listen my child', you say to me
'I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call and I'll seeeeet yooooooou freeeeeeeeeeeee'"
The glow turned into magical flames that didn't burn anything and Wildwing felt his heart nearly jump into his throat. He still couldn't move and he wasn't sure he ever wanted to. He was mesmerized.
"I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remaaaaaaiiiiiin
"I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long
I am the voice that in springtime will groooooooooow"
Not once did her glowing blue eyes leave his and he couldn't have looked away even if he wanted to. Her hair had broken free of its band and whipped around her head as if it were alive as the power grew around her. In his peripheral vision, he could see things coming out of the ground, the trees, the water and even out of the air. The ground at her feet started to sprout plants that quickly grew into flowers and wild grasses, spreading across the meadow. However, it barely registered in his brain as the sight of her standing there, bathed in the power of the phoenix, held him transfixed.
"I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the fuuuuuutuuure
Bring me your peeeeeaaaaaaace
Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heeeeeeeaaaaaal
"I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the vooooooice
"I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the fuuuuutuuure
I am the vooooooice
"I am the voooiiice
I am the voooooooice
I AM THE VOOOOOOOIIIICE"
As she sang the last note, the power that had been building up around her was released in a powerful wave that nearly knocked him off of his feet. As he caught his breath, he realized he could move and talk again. He started to move towards the mage that was now kneeling on the ground when he heard the last thing he expected or wanted to hear.
"GET HER!"
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to The Voice by Celtic Woman