Reaching for
the Stars
Chapter
1: The Future Mighty Ducks of Los Angeles
By: Cimmy
Story Notes: Part of the series The Story of the Mighty Ducks.
Summary: The Junior Goodwill Games, seen from each and everyone’s individual point of view. The two ‘bird species’ (Ducks and Owls) are brought together for the first time.
Rating: PG. For the time being, anyway. (I think it’s the first story I’ve ever written that’s below PG-13...)
Warning: Actually, none this time, I think.
Timeline: January 1998, in an alternative universe from the movies. The first story in the Series. Yes, I messed up the two prequels...
(Un) Important babbling-notes from Cimmy: I began writing on the sequel before I started on this story. Every chapter are named after the player whose point of view it is. It’s D2, but in a slightly different formation. In my universe the D3 events took place before D2. And yay, Cecilia has almost no space at all in this fic. I need a break from that depressed looney...
Disclaimer:
Disney owns The Mighty Ducks, Roy MacGregor owns the characters from the
Screech Owls-books, and I own my beloved Swedes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes: From the Ducks’ point of view.
They were all standing in the locker-room, waiting for each other to get changed. Bombay had told them to hurry up; the new players were on their way there right now.
No one said a word. For once it was completely silent in the room. No wise-cracks from Averman, no complaining from Goldberg, no bickering between Jesse and Connie, no reasonable last words from Charlie.
The silence could only come from one thing; they were all nervous for their up-coming meeting with their new teammates.
It had always been just them, all the way from District 5 and the early years in pre-school. Not all of them had been attending school together, but some of them had. Now there was a bunch of new players joining the team. THEIR team, the team they had established and participated to since they were kids.
Like Jesse had settled back in fifth grade; ‘putting on a Ducks-jersey doesn’t mean you’re a real Duck’. Well, he’d been telling Adam that when he had joined the team, and Adam was as much of a Duck as they were now too. But who wanted to admit that the phrase had its weak sides?
The papers had been writing about them for this up-coming tournament. They were competing on a national level now, as Team USA. Bombay was back to coach them, after being absent for the last six months. The Ducks had been given scholarships to Eden Hall Academy in Minneapolis, while Coach Bombay was playing in the minors for the Minnehaha Waves.
Their other coach hadn’t been as indulgent towards their little Duck-tricks, so when they got the news that Bombay was back, they couldn’t have been happier. Leaving Eden Hall had been a relief.
All they knew about their new teammates was that five were from Canada, four were from Sweden, five were from different parts of the United States and one was from the varsity team Warriors of Eden Hall. Luckily enough it had been one of the ‘good guys’. The Warriors hadn’t been all that happy with the new JV team; there had been a lot of fighting between them.
They really were an international squad now, with players from all over the world.
Coach Bombay opened the door to the locker-room. “Let’s go, team.”
Charlie stood up and walked over to the door. He turned around and waved at the others to get up too. “You heard him, let’s go.”
They all moaned and got up. “What if we don’t get along?” Averman asked. “What if they are all self-centered puck-hogs that only came here to be famous?”
“Well, we have to show them how you’re supposed to behave like as a Duck,” Charlie answered. “We can’t judge them before we’ve met them. Let’s show them that we’re a great team, with or without them. That we stick together no matter what.”
“Look, can’t we just refuse?” Goldberg complained. “WE are the originals. Don’t we have a saying in this matter? We can play as our own team, right?”
“Since when? We’re only eight on the team now,” Connie pointed out. “Seven players and one goalie. We only have one defenseman. We wouldn’t last a day.”
“Hey, don’t say that. We managed to get by at Eden Hall, right?” Jesse reminded.
“We lost one game with an 8-8 tie, won over varsity with 1-0 and lost a game 4-1. That’s not so ground-breaking as it might sound,” Guy told them. “And Eden Hall was also the worst place on earth, if you’ve forgot.”
“We haven’t,” Connie said. “I’m just saying that even if we won a few games there, it wouldn’t be so wrong to get some back-up. We can’t pretend like we have it all together forever. Because we don’t.”
Charlie grabbed her arm. “Look, let’s argue later, okay? You don’t wanna go out there and have them all stare at us, do you?”
“No, the staring will be done by us,” Averman said firmly.
“Let’s see it from their perspective,” Fulton suggested. He hadn’t said a word up until now. “We’re still the Ducks. That other team was formerly the Owls, but they lost their name, number and position. Wouldn’t that be worse?”
Connie and Charlie nodded. “That would be horrible!” Charlie exclaimed. “Could you picture us as the ‘Owls’?”
“The Mighty Owls? What do they do? Howl together?” Averman smiled.
“Let’s go out there and greet them welcome. That’s the least we could do,” Connie said.
“That’s a little wimpy, but alright,” Goldberg teased. “Let’s do what the girl says.”
They all agreed, well, Connie didn’t, but she looked pretty content with the fact that they had listened to her.
Charlie pushed the door open to the rink. They were lucky; no one had showed up yet. They all skated out on the ice and stopped at the blue line. Goldberg was the last to catch up, and he crashed into Jesse and Fulton, who fell over.
“Guys, get up,” Connie hissed at them. “They’re here.”
Everyone shut up and watched as the new players were brought onto the ice. Coach Bombay and that Don Tibbles-guy went over to them.
“Which ones are they?” Guy whispered, as five new people abruptly stopped and gathered around each other in front of the goal.
“I think it’s the American ones,” Connie answered quietly. “That guy seems to be, anyway. It says ‘Miami’ on his jersey.”
They had been expecting a lot more then just five players, since Coach Bombay had told them that all of the new players were supposed to be there at the same time.
“Tell me about my new kids,” Coach Bombay said to Tibbles.
Charlie turned around to pay attention to what Tibbles was about to say. He introduced the Miami-guy first. Charlie heard Averman crack some joke to Guy, on which Guy decided to knock him over.
The new players didn’t seem to be all that bad. Okay, that Luis couldn’t stop, but Charlie remembered when that had been a problem for them too, back in the District 5 days.
After the new players had been introduced, Coach Bombay ordered them to behave while he was out getting the rest of the players.
Two clusters were formed on each side of the rink.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes: From the Owls’ point of view.
After several hours on a plane and another hour on the bus, the Owls were a bit worn out. Especially since Nish kept complaining about ‘throwing up’ all the way from Canada, until they’d landed safely on the airport in Minneapolis.
Travis carried his bag in one hand and dragged Nish by the other. He was complaining now too. About the snow and the cold weather.
“Could you shut up for one second?” Sarah growled. “It’s not worse then the weather back in Tamarack, so why are you still whining?”
“I’m COLD!” Nish shouted. “I miss that warm plane.”
“Well, unless you want to tag along to Alaska with it, you better stay here,” Travis sighed.
Nish shrugged. “Are we there yet?”
Besides from Nish’s whining, no one had said a word on the plane there. Sarah had been in deep thoughts and Travis had been trying hard not to hit Nish in the head with his tray. Derek had been sleeping and Dmitri had been looking out the window.
They had decided to meet up with Fred, Marcus and Erik later, since Fred wanted to go with Cecilia, who wasn’t going with their flight. Fred had called Travis this morning, saying that he was in Minnesota, on his way to Minneapolis. Erik and Marcus had also tagged along with them.
Sarah pointed at the parking lot. “They are picking us up over there, right? Let’s go.”
Sarah put her hand in Nish’s back and pushed him forward. “We’ll never get there with your speed.”
Derek and Dmitri followed them over. Travis zipped his jacket and took a deep breath. When he exhaled, a huge cloud followed. Nish did the same.
“What’s the point of meeting up here, if we’re going straight to Los Angeles in a day or two anyway?” Nish asked.
“They want us to bond,” Sarah told him. “I don’t know, you guys. Maybe we should consider going back to Canada and play instead?”
“No way,” Derek exclaimed. “We’ve gotten a great scholarship. Why give that up?”
“Yeah, and it’s in L.A. Hollywood and all that,” Nish cheered. “I hope I meet the dog from Frasier.”
The others just gave him a tired look.
“Look, there’s a car. You think it’s them?” Dmitri asked.
Everybody turned to look at the direction he was pointing to.
“It says ‘Wisconsin’ on the license-plate,” Derek told them. He had the amazing ability to see things at a very far distance, things other people couldn’t see without binoculars. Sarah called it ‘x-ray eyes’.
“You think they’re alright?” Sarah asked nervously. She was jumping up and down, trying to keep warm.
“Muck said that they were from a private school. They’re probably rich. I hope they won’t shut us out, just because we’re new,” Dmitri sighed.
“Let’s just play our best and show them that we deserve our scholarships and our spot on the team.”
“They’ve played together since they were ten. You think it will be easy to be acknowledge by them?” Sarah asked. “Remember when the Swedes was to join our team? We’d also been playing together for along time.”
“But we became friends with them anyway and let them into our team,” Travis reminded them. “The Swedes are part of our team too now. Our former team, I mean.”
“I don’t wanna be a duck,” Nish complained. “I wanna be an owl again.”
“You have dreamt to be a ‘Mighty Duck’ since you were nine,” Travis laughed. “You even claimed to be Paul Kariya’s cousin.”
“I know,” Nish growled. “I still don’t wanna be a stupid duck.”
“It’ll be fine,” Derek told them. “Let’s try our best, like Travis said. Just because we won’t be acknowledged at once, doesn’t mean we have to destroy our reputation.”
“Yeah,” Sarah agreed. “Let’s show those Ducks that we’re just as good as they are.”
Travis nodded. “That must be our ride.”
Everyone looked at the little van that came driving up towards them and stopped.
“Mommy,” Nish whined sarcastically.
The others laughed. “Are you gonna hurl again?” Sarah smiled.
“No,” Nish answered. “Where’s Muck anyway? And Mike?”
“They’re meeting us at the rink. C’mon, Nish. If you stay here any longer, you’ll freeze to the ground.”
Nish cleared his throat. “Guys?”
Travis watched him as he tried to kick himself away from his place at the pavement. “What?”
“I don’t wanna bother you or anything...”
“Oh, joy!” Sarah cheered and slid the door open to the van.
“Shut up,” Nish hissed. “My shoe-laces are stuck to the sidewalk.”
Travis laughed. “You’re a big, tough hockey player. Don’t let your shoe-laces get in the way of that.”
Nish pushed him self away again, but fell over. “I’m really stuck, help me!”
“I’m so glad that our new teammates aren’t here to see this,” Sarah rolled her eyes. “Great first impression by Nitwit-Nish. How did you get stuck anyway?”
“I poured out the last of my drink there.”
Travis and Sarah grabbed Nish’s hands and tried to pull him away.
“Fine, let’s just leave him,” Travis suggested after a few tries. “Bye Nish, have fun in Minneapolis.”
“Screw you, you can’t leave me here.”
The former Owls-players all moaned, as they tried to get their enforcer away from the ice-spot. A great way to start their new career in the States.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes: From the remaining additional New Ducks' point of view.
It had been a long flight for almost every one of them. Luis came directly from Miami. Julie had been on the same flight as Portman from Chicago, since her flight from Maine had to make an intermediate landing. Dwayne was on the flight from Austin, Texas. Ken had been on a plane for nearly fifteen hours, with lots of intermediate landings.
It was not an exaggeration to say that they were all very tired. Besides from Julie and Portman, no one knew whom the others were.
They all met at the customs for the first time.
“Team USA?” Julie asked when Luis came up to her and Portman.
“Yeah. I’m Luis Mendoza. Aren’t we supposed to be five?”
“They’re not here yet, I think,” Julie answered. “I’m Julie Gaffney, and this is...”
“Portman,” Portman interrupted. “Actually it’s Dean Portman, but if you call me that, I can’t take responsibility for my actions, okay?”
“Fine,” Luis answered.
Julie rolled her eyes. “Okay, stop with the testosterone show-off, guys. Save it for later.”
“Fine, sweetie,” Portman told her. Julie didn’t have time to make a snippy comeback, because two other guys joined them.
Soon they were all gathered. They were being picked up outside the main-entrance, so they went over to wait just inside of the doors.
“Have you guys ever competed in a national tournament before?” Dwayne asked.
“No,” Luis answered. “But I was drafted ‘fastest player’ in Florida.”
“Well, peachy for you,” Portman snorted.
“It’s actually very impressing,” Julie smiled. “What’s your flaw?”
“I thought you were supposed to be the encouraging one,” Portman mocked.
“Well, everybody have flaws, right? I do too.”
Luis cleared his throat. “I can’t really stop.”
“Stop what?” Dwayne asked confused.
“On the ice,” Luis explained.
“You can’t?” Portman laughed. “So, you’re the fastest player, but you can’t stop? That’s hilarious!”
“Cut it out, you guys,” Julie told them. “We have to stick together. We’re the new comers. If they don’t like us, and we get into a fight with each other, what are we supposed do then?”
“We’ll not be in a fight,” Ken said. “We’ll behave, and they’ll behave.”
“We can’t behave if they don’t,” Portman pointed out.
“Of course we can!” Julie and Ken said at the same time.
“That so doesn’t sound like something I can do,” Portman grinned.
“Let’s just stick together, until we know who the other players are, okay?” Luis suggested.
“If this was a war, it’ll be us against them,” Portman chuckled.
“We’re not here to start a war,” Ken sighed. “We’re here on scholarship, so behaving would be a good idea, I think.”
Julie leaned back on the bench. “Do you know who they are?” she asked after a while’s silence.
“They’re the Ducks,” Dwayne pointed out.
“That’s pretty obvious,” Portman growled. “Who names a team ‘Ducks’ anyway?”
“I guess ‘Cows’ were taken,” Luis mumbled. Julie giggled.
“Actually, it is. I played against the ‘Craving Cows’ in Texas,” Dwayne told them.
“The ‘Craving Cows’? Must’ve been a moo:t,” Portman rolled his eyes. Julie slapped his arm.
“It’s not the Ducks fault that they were named the Ducks. It’s better then...”
“Then what?” Dwayne asked when she never finished her sentence.
“I’m thinking, okay?”
Portman nodded at her. “Good luck, honey. While you’re trying to warm up your brain, what do you guys say we start a team of our own?”
“With five players?”
“Yeah, it’s better then to be a bird, anyway,” Portman growled. “We have a goalie, enforcers and wingers. Who’s center? Cowboy?”
“His name’s Dwayne,” Julie pointed out.
“Welcome back,” Portman teased.
Ken nudged Portman. “Isn’t that our ride?”
Portman nudged back rather violently. Ken lost his balance and fell over Dwayne, who dragged Luis with him down. “Yeah, it is. Let’s go. What are you guys doin’ on the floor?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes: From the Swedes' point of view.
Fred climbed out of the mini-van and went over to the trunk to pick up his bag. Marcus came tumbling out from the other side of the van.
“You guys ready to be Ducks?” Marcus asked.
“As much as one can be,” Erik answered from the backseat inside the car. He was leaning over the seat to fetch his bag that way.
“Get out from there,” Marcus told him. “We can’t be late.”
“We’re already late,” Fred pointed out. “Man, I wish Cecilia could be here.”
“Let her be depressed for a while. I’d be too, if someone told me I couldn’t play in a big tournament.”
“But still...” Fred mumbled. “She could’ve tagged along, right? I don’t understand why she have to stay in her room.”
“I’ve known her since I was two years old, Fred. If that girl were as good at skating, as she is at exaggerate, she’d be in the NHL by now,” Marcus sighed. “Let’s not think of her now, okay? Let’s make a good impression on these Ducks.”
“Should I be worried?” Fred asked.
“About the Ducks? As I remember from bio-class, Ducks don’t have teeth, so I don’t think they’ll bite us.”
“About Cecilia!” Fred exclaimed.
“NO!” both Erik and Marcus shouted. “She’ll be fine. Let’s worry about us instead.”
“I’m not especially nervous,” Fred growled. “And I really miss her.”
“We don’t really give a damn about that right now. Okay, it’s sad that she’s not here, but I think we’ll manage to go on without her. She’ll change her mind about L.A. and then you’ll have her next to you all the live long day.”
“Oh, goody,” Fred said sarcastically.
They opened up the door to the building. Mike met them by the door. “I see you’re finally here,” he muttered. “You’re late.”
“Hey, WE didn’t drive,” Fred growled back. “It was a slippery road, and the driver was mentally disturbed, so don’t take it out on us.” He went past Mike towards the locker-room sign.
“What’s with him?” Mike asked.
“Too many hours in that van. And he suffers from a serious separation-angst. Cecilia refused to tag along.”
“Go change, I’ll talk to him. I’ll send Muck away to pick up Cecilia later. We can’t leave her by herself in a strange town.”
Erik and Marcus nodded. This would not change the fact that Fred was a lunatic. He’d only be a bigger lunatic if Cecilia was around.
They changed quickly and went out to the ice. They were the last to arrive. Not so good.
“Remember when we first met the Owls?” Fred whispered. “How did that go again?”
“Uhm, they treated us like strangers,” Marcus reminded them. “We’ll probably not get to play at all. Have anyone ever heard of a team with FOUR goalies?”
Fred took a deep breath. “Let’s just skate out there. We can’t stay here and look intimidated.”
“Yes, we can,” Erik pointed out.
“But it won’t be a great first impression,” Marcus continued. “Let’s not show them how intimidated we really are, okay?”
“This really bites,” Fred growled and skated out towards the more familiar faces. Erik and Marcus followed him. They were two steps behind him all the time.
“What are you doing?” Fred asked them.
“We’re hiding behind you. You’re our new leader,” Marcus grinned.
“Oh, peachy,” Fred answered.
He stopped abruptly and Erik and Marcus crashed into him. They all fell.
“Is that a patented word, coz I’d like to use it,” Erik muttered.
“Use Swedish curse-words,” Fred suggested. “You don’t wanna come out with a bad reputation, do you?”
They all crawled up from the ice and limped over to Travis and the others.
“Great introduction,” Nish shouted loudly. “A spectacular entrance, I must say.”
Fred slapped his hockey stick at Nish’s legs and Nish fell backwards onto the ice. They all leaned over him. “You okay?” Travis asked.
“No, I think I broke the hollow of the knee. This is not a good day for my legs.”
Fred extended his hand and pulled him up, with a little help from Derek and Travis.
So, they had established themselves as violent foreigners. What now, should they pick a fight with the other players too?
Fred looked up and saw Muck at the other end of the ice. He did not look happy. The Ducks look rather amused, though. Crazy Canadians and Scuffling Swedes were always entertaining to watch.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author’s Note: The chapters are probably going to be rather long ones, since I’m re-writing almost every event of D2 in each chapter.
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