𝓕𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮

❆₊˚｡౨ৎ₊˚｡❆

The mall buzzed with life, its polished floors gleaming under bright lights as the District Five team gathered near the couches, lacing up their skates.

The boys, sprawled out on one couch, exchanged teasing remarks, while the girls sat on another, sharing quiet whispers.

Connie leaned toward Juliet, curiosity lighting up her eyes. "What do you think this practice is about?"

Juliet shrugged, a soft smirk playing on her lips. "No idea... but knowing Bombay, it's gonna be wild."

Connie's eyebrows rose as she caught the hint of mischief in Juliet's smile. "What's with that grin?"

Juliet couldn't help herself. "Oh, nothing... just noticed how close you and Guy have been lately."

A blush immediately crept up Connie's cheeks, her eyes darting to her skates. She smiled shyly, barely above a whisper. "Maybe..."

Before they could say more, Coach Bombay entered, his voice carrying over the scattered laughter of the team.

"Alright, District Five! Listen up!" he called, stepping in with Fulton Reed at his side.

Bombay placed a reassuring hand on Fulton's shoulder, his presence commanding the room.

"This is Fulton Reed. I'm sure most of you know him. But there's one small problem—he doesn't know how to skate. So, today, we're going to teach him. Now, fly!"

Like a gust of wind, the kids shot off, their skates slicing through the air as they zoomed around the mall.

Bombay lingered with Fulton, demonstrating every move with patient guidance.

"Push, Fulton, push. Keep your knees bent. Shift side to side, just like that! Follow me!"

Bombay confidently skated down the stairs, Fulton trailing behind, a bit more unsteady.

The moment Fulton hit the incline, his feet slipped out from under him, sending him barreling forward.

He barely managed to stay upright, but in the chaos, he clipped a woman walking by, sending her crashing into the mall's decorative fountain with a splash.

Charlie, Noah, and Juliet, who were a few feet away, watched the spectacle unfold, laughter erupting between them.

They tried to contain themselves, but the sight of Fulton flailing through the air was too much.

Skating a bit ahead, Noah spotted a man holding churros and, without missing a beat, swooped in and grabbed a few.

The man shouted, "Hey!" but Noah, grinning, just shrugged and skated over to Charlie.

"Sorry, not sorry!" Noah said with a laugh, handing Charlie a churro.

Charlie, still chuckling, glanced over at Juliet. "Hey, Jules."

She looked up, her eyes soft and inquisitive. "Yeah?"

He skated closer and held out a churro, offering it with a knowing smile. "Here, take one. I know you like them."

Juliet's face lit up with surprise and a little amusement. "Oh, thanks, Char." She took the churro from him, their fingers briefly touching before she glanced away, biting into it.

As they skated off, still laughing and eating, the chaos of the mall faded into the background.

The lightness in the air was infectious, a carefree moment shared between friends—one of those rare times when life felt simple and perfect, even for just a little while.

The locker room was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustling of jerseys in Gordon Bombay's hands. He stood at the center, holding up a bright green jersey emblazoned with a goofy, cartoon duck. The duck's wide, cheesy grin seemed to mock the seriousness of the moment.

With a dramatic flourish, Bombay laid the jersey out on the bench. "Here it is," he announced. "Your new team name and jersey: The Ducks."

The silence was broken by Jessie, who blurted out in disbelief, "The Ducks? We're the Ducks?"

Peter folded his arms, his voice thick with disdain. "Man, what brain-dead jerk came up with that name?"

Bombay raised an eyebrow, his smirk unwavering. "As a matter of fact, I did. But I didn't have much of a choice. We're being sponsored."

Averman perked up, his comedic instincts kicking in. "Sponsored? By who? Donald and Daisy?"

The laughter spread like wildfire, with Guy, Juliet, Noah, and Connie doubling over, clutching their sides. Even Bombay couldn't help but grin at Averman's sharp wit. But he wasn't about to let them derail the moment.

"Alright, alright, laugh it up," Bombay said, raising a hand for silence. "But let me ask you something. You don't want to be Ducks? What's the alternative? You'd rather stay District Five? Some random, boring number?"

Peter scoffed, crossing his arms. "Better than some stupid animal."

A collective "Ooooh" rippled through the room, the kids leaning in as if Bombay had been challenged to a duel. Bombay didn't flinch.

He stepped forward, his tone firm. "Let me tell you something, Peter. The duck is one of the most noble, agile, and intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom."

Connie leaned back against the lockers, arms folded, a skeptical smirk on her face. "But they're wimpy," she shot back.

"And they don't even have teeth," Guy chimed in with a shrug, earning a few snickers.

Bombay's grin widened as he zeroed in on them. "Neither do hockey players," he quipped, "and yet here we are."

The laughter subsided, and Bombay saw his chance to drive the point home. His voice dropped, serious and steady. "You ever see a flock of ducks flying in perfect formation? It's beautiful. The way they stick together, no matter what. Ducks never give up. They never say die."

The room grew quiet, the team hanging on his every word.

"And you ever see a duck fight?" he continued. "No, you haven't. Because the other animals are too scared. They know that if you mess with one duck, you mess with the whole flock."

With that, Bombay shrugged off his coat, revealing the bright green jersey he was already wearing. The sight of their coach proudly sporting the cheesy logo silenced the last murmurs of doubt.

"Oh, man," Averman muttered under his breath, unable to hide his surprise.

Bombay looked at each of them, his voice strong. "I'm proud to be a Duck. And I'd be proud to fly with any one of you. So, how about it? Who's a Duck?"

The room fell silent again. Peter glanced at Jessie, who shrugged. Guy and Connie exchanged uncertain looks. Charlie shifted uncomfortably, stealing a glance at his mom, who offered him an encouraging nod. Juliet nudged Noah, who stared at the jersey with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

For a moment, it seemed no one would speak. Then, from the back of the room, Fulton stepped forward. His towering figure commanded attention as he crossed his arms. "I'll be a Duck," he said simply.

All eyes turned to Charlie, who straightened his shoulders and stood. "Yeah. Me too."

Juliet smiled and gave Noah a nudge. "Count us in!" they said in unison, their voices strong and confident.

One by one, the team rose, murmurs of agreement turning into shouts of excitement. They surged toward the box of jerseys, each kid digging through to find their own.

"Anybody see Goldberg?" Peter called out, holding up a jersey that was clearly too small for him.

"Noah, that's mine!" Juliet exclaimed, snatching a jersey from her brother's hands.

"Oh—sorry," Noah replied sheepishly, holding up his own jersey with the number 71 printed boldly on the back.

"Yours is 71. Mine's 14. Got it?" Juliet teased, giving him a playful glare.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Noah said with a grin, quickly pulling his jersey over his head.

Bombay stood back, watching the chaos with a satisfied smile. The room was alive with energy, the once-disjointed group now moving as one.

"Alright!" Bombay called out, silencing the chatter. "Now we're the Ducks!"

The team erupted into cheers, their voices bouncing off the locker room walls.

"The Mighty Ducks!" Bombay shouted again, raising a fist in the air.

"What are we?" he roared.

"The Ducks!" the team yelled back in unison, their voices carrying a newfound unity and pride.

Bombay smiled, his chest swelling with pride. For the first time, he didn't see a ragtag group of misfits. He saw a team.