Sacrifice

Written by Zelda

 

                Zelda ran lightly along the boards, keeping up with Nosedive, who had finally managed to steal the puck from the league's most prominent goon since old Strazinsky*: Jacques LaCrash. Indeed, he had been ejected from the game almost every time he played at Anaheim, and never had support from the fans, yet he was a sinister a character if there ever was one. LaCrash has such and animalistic way of battering his opponents into submission, it was scary. But Zelda knew the Ducks better than to succumb to such, and she ran along the boards, offering any support she could to the team in play. In secret, she detested the rules the NHL put on her during gametime, but she knew that they were fair and had a good purpose. She was not allowed on the ice during game time except for time-outs and after the game was over. But she was fortunate they had let her go as far as the boards. Suddenly, a loud smack sent the boards shaking. Nosedive had been boarded, and LaCrash regained his assault once more. Zelda halted for a moment to see if Nosedive was all right, then continued down the rink. Nothing good was to come out of that goon, nothing at all...

 

                Zelda smiled as Grin stepped up to the defense as LaCrash neared the goal. Grin slipped in between LaCrash, sensing his hastiness to get at the goal, and so stole the puck. He swooped around the goal, with Wildwing cheering him on, and swept down the opposite side of the boards, nearing the middle of the rink. Suddenly, he winced and tripped, falling flat on his stomach, and losing the puck. LaCrash had tripped him! Zelda snarled in anger as the whistle was blown, a penalty was called, and LaCrash skated arrogantly off to the penalty box. The team slowly regrouped around Wildwing to talk, and Zelda headed for them as well, when she noticed Grin was not amongst the group. Looking back, she was dismayed to see him sitting by the boards in the middle of the rink, wincing and clutching his ankle. Zelda immediately flew down, skidding to a stop on the cold ice beside him.

 

                "Whoa, it looks like LaCrash did a number on Grin, cause Zelda's down on the ice checkin' it out." noted the announcer, high up in the stands of the rink. "Hey, it does look like Grin is hurt." Zelda talked, concerned, with Grin for a few seconds, and then quickly turned to the others, roaring to get their attention. The rest of the Ducks skated quickly over, forming a ring around Grin, muttering in conversation. "Looks like Grin hurt his ankle, from the replay." said the announcer. "But I believe that the big question is whether he'll be able to continue to play..."

 

           Wildwing carefully hoisted Grin up on his shoulder, and they limped off into locker room, with Zelda trotting at their heels. From the locker room, they were transported down to the Pond, and into the infirmary. Wildwing helped Grin, still wincing, up onto the table, as Zelda hopped up beside him.

                "I'll take care of Grin from here, go back up, I'll be back shortly." assured Zelda.

                "Okay, but take it easy Grin." advised Wildwing, and he quickly left to get back to the game. Zelda turned to Grin and sighed.

                "Okay, let's see what damage LaCrash has done this time." she said, laying Grin's right leg flat on the bed.  She gently unlaced his skate, and took it off. "Okay, does it hurt when I do this?" Zelda looked attentively at Grin while she gently twisted his ankle to the right. Grin winced and yelped, turning away. "Okay, okay, sorry about that." she whined. "Now, how about this?" she slowly twisted the ankle to the left, with the same response. "Okay, now how about this?" she tilted the foot upwards, eliciting the same response. "Sorry about this Grin, just one more thing." said Zelda sympathetically. "Pick your leg up and bend it at the knee, then shake it." Grin proceeded to do so.

                "Doesn't hurt as much there." he said blankly.                              

                "Hmmm... Grin, I think you've got a pretty bad sprain there. Lucky it wasn't broken." She took out a bandage and began wrapping it firmly around the ankle. "Okay, you'll have to keep off this leg for a while. May be a good week or so before you can play again."                        

                "Great." snorted Grin.

                "In the meantime, you'll have to use this." Zelda handed him a large crutch. "Now, you just take it easy. I'm gonna go back up to the rink and let the others know, okay?"

                "Thanks Zelda." smiled Grin, as Zelda scampered back to the locker room. Grin turned away, and switched the TV on. At least he could still watch.

 

                The game was finally over, with the Ducks winning by just a goal. Mallory had taken up Grin's place temporarily, and filled it decently. After the game, the team changed quickly and filed down into the Ready Room to see how Grin was doing. He greeted them warmly, watching TV on the big chair.

                "Boy, that LaCrash has gotta be taught a lesson!" snorted Nosedive angrily.

                "He didn't even apologize. Not at all one who truly appreciates the sport." marveled Grin.

                "Ahh, but these are humans you're talking about. Back on Puckworld, fair play and sportsmanship were of highest regard, at least to my understanding." smiled Zelda. "But many humans make light of their profession, don't know it and love it for what it fully is."

                "And LaCrash may be the worst one of them, cause he thinks a hockey rink is a wrestling ring!" laughed Duke. Suddenly, Drake One's alarm sounded at full blast, and the team looked up to see a large, red dot on the map of Anaheim.

                "Look's like Dragaunus is breaking into TechnoChem Labs!" yelled Tanya. Wildwing turned to the team.

                "Zelda, Grin, you two will have to stay behind, as for the rest of you, let's go!"

 

                The Aerowing shot through the air speedily, lowering as it dipped down near TechnoChem Labs. Landing, they saw the Labs as a huge, long, concrete building at the end of a tree-lined street. The Ducks ran quickly off the plane, and started looking around for any signs of trouble.

                "Hey man, I don't see anything here!" shouted Nosedive, peering around a corner. Suddenly, a dark green shadow loomed up from behind him.

                "Well, allow me to open you eyes!" laughed Wraith, and shot a huge fireball at him. Nosedive yelped, and flung himself out into the open ground as the fireball splintered the corner of the building.

 

                Zelda lay tentatively with Grin as he sat in silent meditation. Suddenly, she sat up and growled slowly.

                "What it is Zelda?" asked Grin nonchalantly.

                "I thought I heard something. Hang on a sec. I'm gonna go check it out." Zelda stood up and trotted for the door, exiting and walking down the tunnel to the left. Grin turned back to himself and started to meditate again. After a few silent minutes, Grin thought he heard a swishing sort of noise, followed by the opening of the Ready Room door. Grin opened his eyes slowly and looked up to see Zelda entering through the right tunnel.

                "Hey Zelda, did you find out what that noise was?" asked Grin. Zelda stopped in hesitation.

                "Huh? Oh, um, it was...just nothing. Musta been a false alarm." she stuttered.

                "Oh,...okay." said Grin. Zelda looked around, then came slowly over to Grin again.

                "Okay, let's have another look at that leg." she smiled. Zelda lifted Grin's injured leg, then snarled slyly and sank her teeth into the ankle with a loud snort! Grin cried in pain and withdrew, staring in surprise and fear.

                "Zelda? What?" he stuttered. Zelda snarled and advanced toward him, scales bristling. Suddenly, Zelda yelped and fell forward, landing flat on the floor. Another Zelda bounced off her back, and roared angrily at her!

                "Impostor!" she cried. Slowly, the first Zelda began to meld away, revealing the Chameleon's imitation below!

                "Grin!" yelped the real Zelda, concerned, running up to him. "Are you all right?" Grin held is ankle and nodded slowly.

                "Contact the others!" she yelped. "We're under attack!" Suddenly, a huge red laser blast exploded on the ground next to her, throwing Zelda away.

 

                Wildwing ran out into the open, trying to fire at Wraith. Suddenly, his com went off. Wildwing ran behind a tree as the rest of the team continued the assault. A shaky visual and distorted sound came blurting through he com.

                "Wildwing!.... Under attack! Hurry we......" the message ended in hissing static.

                "Grin? Grin!" called Wildwing, but there was no response. He turned back to the team in despair.

                "So who was on the phone?" asked the Wraith, laughing.

                "We gotta get back to the Pond!" yelled Wildwing.

                "What? Why?" asked Mallory.

                "Because we've been tricked! The others are under attack!"

 

                Zelda lifted her head slowly from the cold floor of the Ready Room. She shook her head, stunned, and then looked over to see Grin desperately trying to stand, as Siege prepared to strike with his club-tail. Zelda shot out, and struck Siege flat in the side, shoving him away. Grin stood up, and then tried to dodge a hail of laser blasts coming from the Chameleon. Suddenly, one hit him in the shoulder, and he was thrown onto his back. Zelda tried to leap onto Siege's spined shoulder and tear at his head, but she was thrown to the floor. Siege lifted his heavy foot and stomped down on Zelda's side, pinning her to the floor. He then turned his back and raised his tail, ready to deliver a smashing blow. Suddenly, in mid-swipe, Grin's hand reached out and caught Siege's tail, shoving it away. Grin then reared back and rammed Siege away with his shoulder. Zelda stood slowly as Grin leaned on her heavily. Suddenly, Wraith appeared in a great green shadow.

                "The Ducks are on their way." he reported, smiling. "Too bad they won't get here in time." Wraith pointed his slim fingers at the floor before the two, and it exploded in a ball of fire but a second later. Zelda and Grin were thrown apart, and then pervaded upon with a bombardment of lasers. Under the searing hail of light, Zelda couldn't see Grin anymore, and was too weak to get up again. She stumbled blindly forward, until the huge, compacted fist of Siege slammed her into a near wall. Zelda fell to the floor, and knew nothing further.

 

                The Ducks arrived back at the Pond, and raced down into the Ready Room. Wildwing pried open the door to reveal the room basically undamaged, but Zelda and Grin nowhere to be seen.

                "We're too late!" snarled Wildwing, pounding angrily on the back of a chair.

                "Tanya, can you get a fix on Grin?" asked Mallory.

                "I'm trying, his com may be damaged or something..."

                "Man, I can't believe those Saurians pulled one on us!" growled Duke.

                "Yeah, I can't wait 'till I get the chance to teach those scaly slimeballs a lesson!" agreed Nosedive. Suddenly, a huge image appeared on Drake One's screen.                           

                "Hello Duckies." greeted a voice all too familiar.

                "Dragaunus!" yelled Wildwing. "What have you done with Zelda and Grin?"

                "Why, they're right here." said Dragaunus, turning away to one side, and revealing the others. Grin was shackled against a wall, and Zelda lay on the floor, chained up. "I have a bit of a proposition for you, Ducks." continued Dragaunus. "If you give me the Mask, I'll let your two go free."

                "And if we don't?" snarled Wildwing.

                "Then I'll kill them both with my own claws." Dragaunus hissed and walked nonchalantly towards the two.

                "Dragaunus, don't you dare lay a scale on those two!" threatened Duke.

                "Oh really?" he laughed. "Watch me!" Dragaunus raised his tail and slapped Grin hard on the side of the face. He slumped back down, groaning. Suddenly, Zelda started whining and snorting angrily, as if she was trying to get up. Dragaunus looked down at her, and then picked her up by the back of the neck, lifting her high in the air. "And I may just decide to do worse to my little friend here." he snarled. Zelda opened her eyes and snapped weakly at Dragaunus's face. "Shut up!" he yelled in disgust, and threw her back down to the floor. Zelda landed with a thud and the hard metal clink of her chains. Dragaunus laughed, and turned back to the Ducks. "You have a half an hour to decide. Take more, and you know what'll happen!" The transmission faded quickly, and the screen was left in silence. The team stood in hesitation for a moment. Wildwing raised his head.

                "Come on!" he yelled, and ran off for the Migrator.

 

                Tanya had found Grin, who was being held in an old building on the outskirts of a construction site. The team had sat silently in the Migrator as it sped towards their comrades. Though curious, they knew that this whole ransom thing was Wildwing's decision, and he was having a tough time at making up his mind.

 

                The team leapt out of the Migrator, with 5 minutes to spare, and charged into the building. Inside, it was surprisingly well lit, and Dragaunus and his henchmen stood near the far wall opposite that of their chained comrades. The team ran in, and stood still a safe distance away from Dragaunus. Zelda yelped softly in happiness to see them, and Mallory started forward to comfort her, but Dragaunus raised his claws to halt her.          

                "Not so fast." he snorted. He raised a remote control device in his other hand, and pressed the button. Suddenly, a wall of huge red bars shot out from the ceiling, forming a cage around the captured two. "That electrical cage has enough voltage running through those bars to kill you with so much as a brush." he laughed. "So what was your decision? Will you give me the Mask, or do I have to kill these two?" Zelda and Grin looked up in alarm, not having heard the terms of the ransom.

                "No Wildwing! You cannot give Dragaunus the Mask!" yelled Grin.

                "But I can't let him kill you guys." protested Wildwing, removing the Mask from his face.

                "Wildwing." whined Zelda. "That Mask is the only thing that can penetrate the Saurian cloaks. Despite all our machinery, that is the thing that will win us the battle. Give the Mask away, and you are condemning the entire team to failure." Wildwing hesitated. Suddenly, Duke leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He looked over to a link of chain that held Zelda fast, and saw that it was bitten loose! "Please Wildwing." pleaded Zelda desperately. Wildwing looked down.

                "Okay Zelda. Dragaunus, the Mask stays with us."     

                "I thought you'd never decide." Dragaunus snarled. "Though I would have settled for the Mask, I'm more than happy to have the privilege of killing not one, but two of you preciously small team." Dragaunus walked over to the cage, and lowered the energy bars. He stepped up to the two, who withdrew and whined.

                "I'm really sorry Grin." sighed Zelda. Grin smiled broadly, and looked defiantly at Dragaunus.

                "Dear friend, you have already been forgiven." Dragaunus smiled, savoring the moment of pondering who to kill first.

                "You know, I think I'll kill Grin first. I wouldn't want you to miss that." he snarled, glaring at Zelda. Zelda slowly staggered to her feet, and looked at the team. Dragaunus snorted at Grin, and drew his powerful claws up, preparing to strike.

 

                "Now Wildwing!" yelped Zelda. Dragaunus turned, distracted, just in time to see Zelda lunging fiercely at him, snapping the weak link in her chain in the process. She shoved him into a far wall, and started a tussle with him there. Wildwing saw Dragaunus grab instinctively for the remote control, and ran forward, raising his shield. As the energy bars came down upon him, he pivoted his arm upwards, deflecting the forceful blows of three of the beams.

                "Duke! Tanya! Go!" he grunted, struggling to stand underneath the force of the bars, as Duke and Tanya ran through the space created by the shield. He whipped out a puck launcher with his free hand, and tried to help Zelda tackle Dragaunus. Tanya and Duke went immediately to hacking Grin out of his shackles, while Dive and Mallory took on Siege, Wraith, and the Chameleon. Suddenly, Wildwing fell to his knees as a blast of lasers snapped across the floor near him. He looked up in alarm to see Siege looming over him.                              

                "Ducks! cover your eyes!" cried Tanya, and she threw a smoke puck strait Siege. The puck exploded and a strangling smoke filled the room. Wildwing bolted forward, and out of the way of the bars, rolling across the floor. When the thick smoke faded away, there was no sign of Dragaunus or his henchmen. Mallory picked up the remote control and deactivated the bars, as Nosedive scooped Zelda up gently. Duke came limping back, with Grin leaning heavily on his shoulder.

                "Everybody okay?" asked Wildwing, eliciting nods from everyone. Wildwing smiled. "Let's go home."

 

                LaCrash was back at it, smashing through the Ducks offense, and heading strait for the goal.

                "Haha, got you now!" he laughed, as Mallory fell behind him. Suddenly, he glanced off to the side, to see Grin rushing at him! Grin slammed LaCrash mercilessly into the boards, and sped away with the puck as he fell to the ice. Grin sped through the defensemen, as the rest of the Ducks backed him up. Finally, Grin skidded to a stop, aimed, and fired the puck strait into the goal, winning the game 2-0. The Ducks had won! Zelda leapt down, sliding happily around the triumphant team. They came together in their regular game-winning stance, with a crash of sticks, and the customary cry of

                "Ducks rock!"

 

The End

 

Mighty Ducks-The Animated Series, including all logos and characters (except mine) are copyright and property of Disney. You may copy, print, or whatever with this document, so long as it is not altered and I (Zelda) am credited. Thanks!