The TIMELINE
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It had been about three months since Nyre's untimely death.
It was a regular Sunday morning
. Dee sat by the window
sipping slowly on a mug of hot chocolate. Her eyes shut as she
was deep in thought. Duke came up to the petite figure and placed
a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey there Whiz, what's up
with you?"
"Same thing Duke
." She sniffled and her lavender
eyes began to well up. "I don't understand how you guys
can go on normally
I can't." she added the last two
words softly, wiping at the corners of her eyes. "She would
have been seventeen today Duke. She had it all planned out."
She sniffled again, staring into her cup. "That party, where,
what time, who to invite. What songs to sing." She glanced
up at the grey duck and smiled weakly, "actually
it
was more of a thanksgiving party than a birthday bash. But then
She was always like that."
"Hey, cheer up kid!" the duck nudged her chin gently
and motioned for her to follow him. "Hacker's on the internet
and wants you to play a new on-line game with him. I'm game for
it
you guys pick the right stuff to play on that thing."
The teen smiled and followed.
* * *
"I haven't been here for ages Drake." Mal smiled
up at her beloved Drake Freewind. The two were at the extension
of the Anaheim Mall, it had opened recently and had everything
Mal and the other girls could ever want. "Thank you."
She gave him a gentle peck on the cheek.
"Anythin' for you darlin'." The human smiled and brushed
away a few stray red bangs from her eyes. "Hey, look, it's
Buzz!"
"Buzz!" The two called to the young boy who smiled and
ran over. "Hey Mallory! Hi Drake!" he enthusiastically
hugged the redhead who smiled fondly down at him. "I haven't
seen you in a while
" her eyes clouded slightly.
"Sorry Buzz-boy
but you know what happened." She
whispered.
The blond-haired teen nodded sadly and hugged her again. A few
seconds later he glanced to Drake and beamed, "You've been
taking good care of Mallory, Drake, thanks!"
"Hey, you and I know that I love this girl. C'mon,"
He tilted his head towards a small café, "my treat,
anything you guys want."
Nosedive sat on one corner reading a comic book. "Dive?"
came a soft voice.
"In here Mookie." He replied somberly. The human approached
him, a sign of sympathy in her eyes. "You okay?"
"No." He sighed and placed down the comic. "It
ain't the same Mook. It's weird. Toffee never comes out of her
room anymore, and when she does she's so
"
"Sad?"
"Well how would you feel if your mom died?"
"Horrible." She sat beside him and pulled her friend
into her arms. "How is Wing, like, taking this?"
"He left. But if I know my brother
he's taking it
harder than anyone else."
"Keep the faith Dive. C'mon." She stood and helped
him on his feet. "Grin's outside looking for you. He and
Ace are going around. I think I'll come along. Let's go."
* * *
"Castella
?" Castel looked up from the picture
frame and smiled weakly at Tanya. "Hey Taunny
."
She closed her eyes and a tear rolled down.
"Ohhh
. Don't cry." Tanya hugged the fifteen-soon-to-be-sixteen
year old hybrid. "Shhh
." She whispered softly,
rocking Castel back and forth.
"Today was supposed to be Momma's birthday Tan
I was
gonna spend it with her
a first for me
and it's never
gonna happen." She sobbed. "Dad isn't even around."
"Enough angelica
." Tanya wiped the tears from
the younger girl's eyes and stroked her hair. "Don't cry
anymore. Y'know, Wildwing and I spoke before he left the other
night."
"What'd he say?"
"He said that his leaving is only temporary. Afterall
it is the summer time. All he wants is to get away from it all.
He loves you just as he still loves your Momma. Nyre was so
special to him, and you're all he has left."
"But there's Divey
he's one more Wing has left."
"Not in remembering the girl he loved. You're the only link
he has left. You're her legacy to him
in a sense."
"Really Taunny?'
"Really
" Tanya sighed, "I just hope he's
okay
wherever he is."
* * *
Somewhere in Palm Beach Florida
Wildwing dug his hands into his pockets. Getting away was supposed
to make me feel better. Not being around the places and things
that reminded me of Nyre
. He glanced out into the bay and
watched as the water came in and out with the tides. He pulled
out the leather cord necklace with the silver cross that hung
from it. Nyre
.
"Oh yeah
oops I did it again, I played with your heart,
got lost in the game
. Oh, you think I'm inlove
been
sent from above
I'm not that innocent."
A string of applause rang out from behind. The avian turned and
caught sight of a small platform stage with a group of teenagers
taking a bow. "Thank you
thanks for coming!"
The girl in the middle smiled and waved. Wildwing observed that
she was small in height, big framed and had long flowing light
brown hair, lined with temporary blue highlights. A taller boy,
blond with a tall frame helped her down the stage.
A flash came to Wildwing's eyes.
Wing! Don't you dare let me fall!
I won't, now get down from there!
He stepped back several steps and blinked a few times. Nyre
.
He glanced up back at the gorup of kids. Why did I think of Nyre?
He sighed and tried to look away
she looks so much like
Hey bay
what's up? Her smiling face came to mind.
No. Couldn't be. She's gone remember? Gone
dead
there's no difference to it.
"Yo Analyn!" the tiny girl turned her ebony eyes
up at her tall friend. She finished tying the laces to her blades
and asked, "What Kevan?" She cocked him an eyebrow.
He bent down and whispered into her ear. "Isn't that one
of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim?"
"Yeah
so?"
"He's looking at you funny."
"What?" She turned her gaze to a tall duck wearing a
dark blue jacket and black pants. On his arm he wore a black
armband with the number 66 on it. "Dare ya to talk to him
an' demand what he was givin' you the look for."
"Nah Kev, she won't do it. Missy here's too
"
the second boy tried to think of the appropriate word. Analyn
wouldn't have anything of it though. She skated towards the duck.
"Hey there, mister." The girl smiled up at Wing.
"Yes
?" Wing asked cautiously. What did she want?
"My friends and I noticed you giving me a weird look, what
seems to be the problem?"
Even her voice is the same
underneath all that street talk.
"Nothing really. I'm sorry I was a bother
you just
.
Never mind." He began to walk quickly away.
"Just what?" She tilted her head to the side. A definite
trait of Nyre.
"Nothing
." He whispered softly. The girl shook
her head, "C'mon, how bad could it be?" Wildwing tried
to leave, but she blocked his every turn. "Tell me!"
She frowned.
"You
." A sigh, "you look so much like someone
I know. I thought you were her."
"Oh." She let him pass. The figure walked down the
boardwalk and she skated to his side again. "Why'd you say
I looked like her? Where is she?"
"Why do you want to know?" He asked. His chestnut colored
eyes reflected a sadness, and her heart went out to him. "She
she disappeared
about three months ago
in an accident."
"Uhm, geez
I'm sorry." She whispered and dropped
her gaze. "If there's anything I can do
." She
smiled weakly extending her open palm towards him. "If it's
worth anything I'm a terrific listener, need someone to talk to?"
Wildwing smiled and nodded in the direction her was walking.
"I could use a friend."
Analyn felt a shyness towards the person seated before her,
after all she wasn't used to such nice treatment. He was such
a gentleman, so sweet and thoughtful. Whoa, watch it girl. She
thought. The dish was served before them. It was pasta
baked ziti with white sauce.
Lyn gave the duck a curious look, "How'd you know I like
ziti?" He smiled weakly and shrugged. "Uhm, lucky
guess?"
"She liked it too didn't she?" He nodded in reply.
Analyn began to eat and glanced up to see his expression. He
was looking at something in his wallet, his eyes had clouded over.
When he realized he was being watched, he shoved it into his
pocket. "Sorry." He murmured and started on his own
dish.
"You're Wildwing of the ducks right?"
"You watch hockey?"
"My brother does."
"Brother?" He raised one eyebrow. She nodded. "Kevan.
He was the tall blond one who helped me down." She explained.
A flash of disappointment passed his eyes. He was wishing that
the girl was me. "So... do I really look like.
"
"Nyre." Wildwing cut in, supplying the name. "Nyre
Leviste."
"Oh. Pretty name." Analyn smiled and ate her food again.
"Do you have a picture?" She asked. The duck pulled
out the wallet and handed her the pictures. "She's the smallest
the one beside me."
"
." There was nothing she could say. She glanced
quickly at her reflection in the windowglass and saw why he was
acting the way he was. The resemblance was unmistakable. Except
for the hair, she looked so much like Nyre. Nyre had beautiful
ebony hair. "She's so pretty
did she mean a lot to
you?" She asked, but she covered her mouth when she saw the
look of pain that passed his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"It's
alright." He sighed again. "She meant
more to me than the world." He told her. "My brother
"
he pointed to a shorter duck with blond hair up to his shoulders,
"they were good friends. That's how I knew her. They went
to the same high school and shared some classes." He smiled
fondly at the memory. "A month later
I fell inlove
with her. She and I
. We worked on the relationship. No
matter what the media said."
"That's so sweet." Analyn felt a terrible for him.
To loose someone so dear
. She glanced back to the photograph.
There were seven ducks in the team
and seven humans in
turn. "Who's this?"
"What?"
"The other female duck
she resembles Nyre
in
a way."
Wildwing took the picture in his hands and sighed again at the
sight of Castel. "She's
. my daughter."
"Your what?"
"Daughter."
"How? Who's the mother?"
"Nyre is."
Wildwing shook his head smiling at the shocked look on the girl's
face. "She was genetically engineered by one of our opponents."
He explained. "She was created from Nyre's DNA as well as
myself." Analyn nodded, finally getting it.
"How come she isn't with you?" The girl asked.
"I
I left on my own. I needed to get away
."
"To forget?" He nodded slowly and shut his eyes, leaning
his head on the glass. "It isn't working though. It's just
so hard."
"I understand." She smiled and reached over squeezing
his hand. He held it in comfort and squeezed it back. "Thank
you." He let go. Analyn drew her hand back and swallowed,
staring at it. That feeling
it's so strange. That warmth
.
It's so familiar.
"Are you okay?" He looked at her with concern.
"I'm alright
" She smiled. "Wildwing?"
"Yes?"
"I have something to admit."
"What?"
"Y'see
I've never told anyone this actually
but
well, I have amnesia." He raised an eyebrow. "I can
only remember what's happened the past
oh, about three months
give or take. And the only things I've taken in as my past
what my brother Kevan has told me." She paused, measuring
her words. "You probably don't want to hear--"
"Tell me." Wildwing held her hand in his once more.
"Please."
She inhaled and began to tell her story.
Darkness shrouded her, but a candle shone brightly on a table
nearby. "She's awake Kevan." A hand went to her cheek
and later she was wrapped in someone's arms. "Analyn. That
heaven you're alive."
"Who are you
? Where am I?" She asked, her voice
hoarse and barely above a whisper.
"Home sister. Home."
The next day she gazed at her reflection. Who am I? Why can't
I remember this place? She placed her hand on the mirror. Who
am I?
"Ana." She looked up and saw Kevan standing at the doorway,
clothes in hand. "Kevan
." She smiled as she received
a hug. It was so comforting. "Brother
."
"Yes princess?" He smiled.
"Where are we? What's my full name? How come I can't remember?"
"We're home
here in Florida
the United States?"
She nodded. "Second, you're Analyn Jessabelle Garcia, my
sister
my younger sister. And third, the
" He
sighed, "You must have hit the pavement hard."
"Why? What would I be doing on the pavement?"
"A car almost ran you over." His expression was serious,
voice was calm. He pulled her into his arms. "I almost
lost you."
"That's everything. Kevan explained that I was his sister.
He even showed a picture of us when we were young."
"Your memory?"
"It hasn't returned. I try to remember sometimes
."
She smiled wistfully. "I
" she reached under the
collar of her shirt and pulled out a silver chain. "I only
have this." She pulled forward a silver ring. It was beautifully
made. The twisted part of the metal made it look like a symbol
of water
the two small sapphires on each side shone just
as bright as the sea.
She turned her eyes on the male duck who leaned back on his chair,
a look of disbelief in his eyes. Something's wrong. "Are
you okay?"
"Y-yes." He stammered. "I
I need some air."
He stood and left the café to stand outside. Analyn nodded
to the waiter and told him to wrap the remaining food up for take
out. After receiving the plastic bag she walked out to stand
beside the taller figure. "Hey."
He glanced down and looked away, "Can I ask you a favor?"
He paused and thought awhile. "You can say no, I'm not forcing
you. But if you would say yes
it would really mean a lot."
He glanced back to her.
"Depends," She replied, "on what you're asking."
"No!" Kevan threw his hands up in the air and turned
his back on Analyn. She can't want this. This is insanity.
He thought and covered his mouth with his left hand. She *is*
Analyn. She *is*. He glanced over his shoulder and looked back
at her. He recalled the photograph she'd shown him. She and
that girl shared a remarkable resemblance.
I can't let her go. Not after I finally found her. He frowned.
But what if she is the girl? You'd be keeping her from the life
she belongs to. A voice in him suddenly spoke.
True. He sighed. I can't be selfish. "Alright. But I'm
giving you one week." He turned back to the giant duck and
to his 'sister'. "Take car of her for me, please. She's
all I have left."
Wildwing nodded and shook Kevan's hand. "I will. I promise."
* * *
She gazed out the window of the plane, and watched as the world
passed by. "Hey
" she turned her gaze to Wildwing
who'd just woken from his short nap beside her. "It's beautiful
outside." She smiled. "Did
did Nyre get to fly
around in planes all the time?"
"Sometimes." He replied. "We usually used the
Aerowing." He explained. "It's the team's official
plane."
She nodded and smiled. Maybe
maybe I'll start to remember.
"Uhm, Wildwing?"
"Yes Lyn?"
"Will the
team be there to greet us?" She looked
expectantly for a yes. He shook his head. "I didn't have
time to tell them."
"You didn't want to."
He smiled sheepishly. "I wanted to see their reaction
if they'd react
."
"As if I was her?" He nodded. "Guilty as charged.
I hope you don't mind." She waited a moment then shook
her head. "I don't." She paused again. "Do you
think they'll like me?" He didn't reply. "I'm just
afraid that everyone will be so hostile."
Wildwing reached over and touched her cheek. "They won't.
They know better than that." And suddenly, he kissed her
lightly on the cheek. Analyn turned away to hide her now flushing
face. God in heaven
I wish I was Nyre.
* * *
Castel stood her ground as Nosedive came in for the shot.
"Get him Cassy!!!" Mallory shouted from the other side
of the ice. He shot. She caught it, stumbling forwards.
"Oooh!" Dive stopped. "Almost had you!" He
helped her up. "You've been practicing Cass."
"Well, I have to. Wing isn't back yet."
"Say no more." All eyes, from the ducks to Strobe turned
to the tall figure standing by the door to the stadium. "I'm
back." He smiled.
"Wildwing!"
"Yo bro!"
"Wing!"
Castel dropped her gear and quickly made her way to him. "Daddy!"
She flung her arms around him and he spun her in a circle. "How's
my little girl?" He asked. She smiled, "Fine Wing.
I missed you." She hugged him again. Eyes filled with tears.
He's home. He's home.
Analyn stood behind the shadows and watched the touching reunion.
So that's Castel. She's so beautiful. Is she
could I
be her mom? A pain shot through her head and she fell to her knees
with a strangled cry. No. Not this.
"Lyn?"
A gasp. "Mom
momma?"
Then blackness wrapped its cold arms around her.
Where am I?
A soft humming sounded in her ears. A light suddenly surrounded
her. What's going on?
"
for you I will
"
"You love that song don't you?"
"Yes."
That voice
Wildwing?
"I love you angel."
"Love you too bay
."
She's coming around. That voice
.
Okay
here she is
Wing, you'd better take over.
Lyn?
"Lyn
?" She opened her eyes to see him leaning
over and touching her forehead with his hand. "Where
am
I?" He smiled. "She's okay now."
"You gave us a big scare there kiddo." She glanced in
the direction of the second voice. A tall, grey duck with a patch
over his eye peered at her. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't
frowning either.
Analyn looked around. Everyone she'd seen in the picture was
there
. Castel caught her eye. She was talking to another
human girl who's eyes were a bright shade of purple. She also
resembled Nyre in some ways. The hair, the smile
the way
she stood. Her sister perhaps?
"Wing, I think you've got some explaining to do," Analyn
glanced to a female duck with red hair and green eyes, "do
you have explaining to do."
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To be continued