Mighty Ducks-The Second Line
D.U.C.K.S.
The AeroWing landed on the cliff and was met by a cheering crowd of Duck
troopers. The Migrator pulled up, and Wildwing and his team came out, smiling.
They had been enlisted to the military as officers, and instructed at the Blue
Triangle. Ice went up to greet them. After they exchanged a few congratulatory
words, they all turned to the AeroWing.
The gangplank lowered and the occupants slowly walked down. Wildwing
and Ice made their way through the crowd of contented soldiers and shook hands
with all the Ducks coming out of the jet.
We all saw the building go down, and all the Authority are surrendering all
over the world." Ice reported with a smile. "Great job! PuckWorld is free again!"
The Ducks had no expressions on their faces. Wildwing spoke.
"So, where is your fearless leader who did all this?"
Sara began to cry again, and James brought Stivz's silver mask out from
behind him and handed it to Wildwing. Dusty handed Ice his puck rifle. Wildwing
and Ice's smiles disappeared as they looked at Stivz's two most prized possessions.
Wildwing couldn't make of all this.
"Stivz is..."
James nodded before Wildwing could finish.
The crowd of soldiers hushed as all the Mighty Ducks and the Second Line
circled around Stivz's mask in Wildwing's hands.
"I never thought it would be him." Mallory said. Street went over to her and
leaned against her. Mallory put her arm around her little sister.
"I don't believe it." Duke added.
The sun began to rise higher into the air, and the light shined upon the dark
mood of the entire crowd of Ducks. It wasn't a surprise that one would die, it was
just the one who did die. The Ducks spent the day grieving for their loss. And that
night as the sun set, Wildwing brought up another subject.
"Tonight, we need to return home to Earth." he said. "We also need the
Second Line to come back with us."
The members of the Second Line were sitting around the fire that they had
made, just staring at it, like if they were hypnotized.
"The flames remind me of his eyes in the mask." said Erin.
"You too?" said Chance. "I get the same feeling."
Erin went on. "He was the closest thing to a father I ever had."
Wildwing once again asked his question, this time a little louder.
James sat back and threw a rock into the fire. Burning embers jumped from
the fire and floated high into the air. "I'm not going." he said.
Blade looked over at him puzzled. James explained.
"I'm tired of seeing people getting hurt and dying. I was almost killed myself,
just like all of my old friends at the old street hockey hideaway. I don't want to fight
anymore."
"But James," said Nylessa. "You knew someone might be hurt in this war."
"Well, I didn't expect it to be him!" James barked abruptly, cutting Nylessa
off. "Count me out."
Dusty suddenly stood up. "I'm out, too." he said. The Second Line now
looked at him.
"The only reason I was on this team was because Stivz convinced me that
Earth was better than PuckWorld. I did have a great time with you guys, but now
that the Authority's gone, James and I can start the street hockey art back up
again."
James stood up with Dusty.
"I guess we'll see you around the next time you're in the area." said James.
"Take care."
The pair walked away from the fire and were swallowed up by the darkness.
The last thing the Ducks saw of them were their numbers on their jerseys.
Wildwing looked along the ranks of Ducks. He glanced at Blade and Nylessa.
"Are you two leaving us also?" he asked them.
"No way." Blade replied. "We still have a score to settle with Donovan."
Nylessa nodded in agreement.
"I'm staying here, though." said a voice on the other side of the fire. Betsy
lifted her head and looked over to Wildwing.
"I need to find my family, and if they're all right." she exclaimed. "Also, I
saw the Authority's plans to build a dimensional gateway between Earth and
PuckWorld at the supply bunker. Maybe I can finish it and create a constant
doorway between us and go through it as we please."
Mallory looked strangely at her. "You really think you can do it?"
Betsy smiled. "Hey, if Stivz made it possible, there's a chance that I might be
able to."
"We're all going to miss you." Chance said quietly.
"Don't worry." Betsy smiled. "If all goes right, I'll be seeing you soon."
Wildwing held up a small green device with a button on it. He flipped it
around between his fingers and clenched it.
"Justin gave this to me before he left." said Wildwing. "It's our one-way non
stop ticket home."
The Mighty Ducks all stood up, and stood around Wildwing.
"And, if you ask me, I'm about ready to head back to the Pond."
"Wait!" someone shouted. Street stepped forward and turned to her older
sister.
"Mallory," she said. "We've been apart for so many years. Please let me and
my friends come with you We want to be part of the team."
Mallory nodded with a smile, and Street ran over to her and hugged her.
Wildwing relaxed a little.
"Anyone else coming along for the ride?" he asked.
Sunrise and Phoenix both stepped forward.
"Count me in." Sunrise said. Phoenix bowed.
"All right." Wildwing said. "Let's get ready."
For the next hour, the Mighty Ducks, and what was left of the Second Line,
loaded equipment and vehicles into their own AeroWing. Ice watched as the troops
helped them, and then he noticed Sara sitting alone looking out over the cliff. Ice
walked all the way over to where she was and sat down beside her.
"The night before we took the supply depot," ice softly said to Sara. "Stivz
told me how he felt it was his duty to protect his team, and especially you."
Sara sighed. "He died protecting us, too." she cried. "If that shot wouldn't
have hit him, we all would have died."
"He was a great Duck." Ice finished. "The others are taking his body back to
Earth, aren't you going with them?"
Sara shook her head. "I loved Stivz, but there's nothing for me on Earth, and
I don't want to fight anymore. I'm going to start over and live a new life. Without
the Authority." She then looked over at Ice. "Why aren't you going?"
Ice chuckled a little. "I have to start helping the rebuilding process." he
replied. "A new government has to be established, and the cities need rebuilding. I
need to stay."
Ice heard footsteps behind him, and he turned around. Sunrise had come to
tell them good-bye.
"All the equipment is loaded and the Mighty Ducks are ready." she reported.
"They want to say good-bye."
Ice and Sara followed Sunrise back to where the AeroWing was. The large
doors on the back of the jet were closing, and the front gangplank was lowered.
Wildwing walked right up to Ice and shook his hand.
"Take care of PuckWorld for us," he said. "and for everyone." Ice smiled.
Wildwing then turned to Sara and Betsy. "We'll miss you both, and we hope
to see you again soon."
"I'll give you a call." Betsy said smiling. Sara hugged Sunrise and then
waved to the others.
Wildwing and Sunrise followed all the other Ducks into the AeroWing.
Chance climbed the into the SilverWing and slipped into the cockpit.
"Ahhh." she sighed. "I've waiting for this for a long time."
The AeroWing's engines once again roared to life, and Wildwing revealed
the green device to open the temporary door between Earth and PuckWorld. He
pointed the device towards the edge of the cliff. He held his breath as he pushed the
button.
Lightning appeared from a clear night and struck the edge of the cliff.
Suddenly, a green and purple colored circle appeared. The AeroWing's thrusters
the heavy battle cruiser from the ground. As it hovered, Ice, Sara, and Betsy and all
the other troopers shielded their eyes from the flying dust.
Chance in the SilverWing was watching on the ground far behind the
AeroWing. Finally, the AeroWing began to move slowly into the portal. In less than
a few minutes, the large jet disappeared into the dimensional gateway. When it was
gone, the SilverWing's engines powered up, and the smaller jet sped towards the
gateway. The troopers watched as the jet flew by them and shot into the gateway.
All the Ducks were gone, and all that was left on PuckWorld, were the troopers, a
Duck that had led them, another who decided to stay, and one who was lost in her
own world.
An hour after the Mighty Ducks had left, three more AeroWings could be
heard in the distance. Ice looked up, and saw the jets landing about 50 yards away.
The generals of the Blue Triangle came out of the lead AeroWing to meet up with
Ice. The younger Justin was one of them.
"Well Ice," Justin said. "It looks like you did it. Some troops came in today
and searched Bauertown. The leader of the Authority was found under a few
hundred tons of building."
"Well, that's good." Ice said sarcastically.
"You did a great job, Sergeant." Justin said. "You lead your troops well."
"Actually sir." Ice confessed. "It wasn't just me. Another Duck destroyed the
building."
Justin looked at his officer strangely. "What do you mean, Ice? What kind of
Duck?"
Ice looked up at the stars out over the cliff, where the gateway was just an
hour earlier. He licked his lips and spoke.
"A Mighty Duck."
The End
