Author's Note: I knew this was going to be a quick one, but I didn't realize that I would finish it in a day. Granted I didn't have to weave a story just do some quick character sketches, but I'm glad that people read it and enjoyed it, or at least I hope you did.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything. Ca c'est tres triste!

A new world calls across the ocean
A new world calls across the sky
A new world whispers in the shadows
Time to fly, time to fly…

Chapter 7: Portman

And in that one moment
The things that you're sure of slip through your hand
And you've got one second
To try to be clear, to try to stand tall
But nothing's the same…

I'm not going to lie; I was trying really hard to come up with a reason to not go to that school. Let's face it, I didn't really think I would fit in very well. I was scared. I had never been very far away from Chicago, with the exception of the Goodwill Games of course. I hated the idea of leaving Fulton in the lurch, though, Bash Brother-less and all. I couldn't do it though, I couldn't go.

And then the perfect excuse came up. Bombay wasn't going to be coaching us. I called Fulton, told him I wasn't coming. I'm not gonna lie, he was pissed. I told him that I was sorry, but I wanted to play for a coach I knew, so I was sticking with my old team in Chicago, not moving to adjust to a new guy. I felt bad, but I couldn't tell him the real reason. I couldn't cop to the fact that I was afraid to leave my home and my family. I mean, I'm Dean Portman for God's sake. I have a reputation to hold up, I'm the tough guy, the unstoppable enforcer. Granted, I didn't expect what was coming.

So I'm sitting in my room, doing some homework. OK, procrastinating on my homework. And all of a sudden my mom comes in and tells me that I have a visitor. So obviously, my mind jumps to Fulton right? He said he was gonna try and get down to visit me, so I hurried down stairs and there was Bombay, sitting in my living room. He told me that he needed to talk to me. I figured it was something about the Goodwill Games, since that was his new job and all, but no, he told me that I needed to go to Minnesota, that the Ducks needed me. I told him that was stupid, the Ducks didn't need anything, they were good enough. He explained that the Eden Hall Varsity team wasn't necessarily better than they were, but they physically dominated them, the same way Iceland had, they needed me to come in and be the bulk. I said it was ridiculous because they still had Fulton. But I was just making excuses again. I knew the deal, I knew what was happening, Fulton had told me about the first game they played against them. But I was scared, but I still wouldn't let on. Then the next thing I know, I get a Bombay speech. He told be all about how he knew how I felt, how hard it was to leave behind the Ducks and move on, but he had to do it. He talked about how scary change was, but how it all had to happen for life to go on.

So I went. I signed the contract and I headed up to Minnesota, and I got there just in time. It felt good to be on the ice with the Ducks again. It felt really good. Playing with Fulton was great, and then Goldberg, there was a surprise, and the whole thing was really great. It was good to be with them again. Turns out the change wasn't so scary, it was actually awesome.

Who knew? All the Bash Brother had to do was face the fear, and deal with the change.

A new world shattering the silence
There's a new world I'm afraid to see
A new world louder every moment
Come to me, come to me…