Mystic Dragon Cadets

Tegan was dreading today as she fiddled with the gold jewelry in her hair. It hasn't been long since she left her Las Vegas home and moved into the Academy dorms. Despite missing her hometown she felt like the black sheep in her family, but thats probably due to her own personal feelings. When she exited her dorm she saw some cadets fumbling down the stairs as their dragons waddled behind them.

"I'm skipping," said the boy. "Got a letter late last night saying they have other plans."

"I wish my mothers were busy!" the girl complained. "I got put on probation and had to go help out on a farm for a week as punishment, talking about my misadventures will be fun."

She felt Patches brush against her leg. It was a rotten feeling, but she didn't want him around today. He seemed to understand and backed away. There was a mix of emotions exchanged between them before she closed the door. Slowly, Tegan learned that if Patches wasn't close to her she couldn't summon any flames and if he wasn't a tattoo she couldn't become a raging inferno. It felt very surreal.

As she passed a window she saw a few vintage cars, hot air balloons, Jet planes, and some horse carriages pull up to the Academy. Luckily, she already passed out for today and wouldn't have to worry about face-planting into a punch bowl or cake.

The Kombat Hall was filled with people and everyone was wearing normal clothes. Above their heads was a giant black and gold banner with the words Parents Day written in fancy script. Tegan felt someone tap her shoulder, it was her friend Sloan and behind him was a tall black man in a blue suite. He had a black Mohawk fade, hazel eyes, a cut across his eyebrow, and 2 diamond studs in his ears.

"Hey Tegan," Sloan waved and pointed. "This is my father."

She remembered what Sloan told her about his mother, her death was caused by hypothermia during childbirth. Being burned alive is painfully tragic while freezing to death is like becoming very numb and falling into a cursed sleep.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Hendrix," Tegan shook his hand.

"Likewise young lady," he smiled. "My son tells me your quiet remarkable, he also told me about your family. Your very fortunate."

What he said was true, she almost lost her mother and it makes her feel guilty everytime. The death rate for pregnant women are at an all time high, its very risky to have kids nowadays.

"Yes," Tegan finally said. "I am lucky."

"We should check out the food," Sloan suggested. "Father, I heard the buffet got your favorite dessert. Peach cobbler."

Sloan's father laughed. "Show the way."

5 minutes passed as they drunk some juice, Tegan had no idea Sloan's father had such a sweet tooth. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, it reminded her of an old-fashioned BBQ. She noticed the Academy's therapist mingling with the crowd. Mrs. Keeble was helpfully professional, but it's nice to see her fun side come out.

Tegan saw a man, a woman and a young man wandered into the Kombat Hall dressed in casual clothes. She sat up and nudged Sloan in the arm, the moment has come and it felt like her stomach was playing tug of war.

"My family's here," Tegan said.

She made a B-line towards her family and they waved at her. Tegan’s father was bald with dark skin, and amber eyes. He was dressed in a jersey outfit and wore leather boots with a chrome wristwatch. Now, her mother had a black-bob hairstyle, light brown skin, and dark eyes. She was dressed in a comfortable shawl jumpsuit and wore leather boots with a diamond necklace.

Lastly, her older brother August had cinnamon skin, long black dreads, and amber eyes. He was dressed in a black graphic-t with the word Limbo in white script, jeans, black retro sneakers, a hooded denim jacket, and on his left hand was a silver ring with a snake design.

Tegan greeted. "Hey dad, mom and big bro!"

"I got you something," her mom smiled lovingly as she handed Tegan a Blue Dandelion CD case. "Heard they got a new album."

She had to pretend it didn't bother her, but everytime she looked at her mom it hurt. When she saw the 3rd degree burns on her mother's stomach for the first time it felt like the sky fell on her. Her throat felt scratchy and it seemed like her head was filled with helium. "Thanks, I love this rock band."

"Whats up Firecracker?" August said.

"We fought a earth Omen yesterday," she explained.

"Hope your not hurt," her dad said with concern.

"I'm fine," Tegan reassured and noticed Sloan approaching. "Everyone is fine. By the way, this is my friend Sloan and his father. And Sloan, this is my mom, dad and older brother August."

"Hello," Mr. Hendrix shook everyone's hand. "I'm Ramos Hendrix and I'm a single father, but people call me Amos for short."

"Nice to meet you," her dad returned the greeting.

There was a noise as everyone turned towards the direction of the sound. Headmaster Salazar was standing infront of the Academy's tapestry. He was a medium tall Vietnamese man with olive skin, black slicked hair, big glasses, and wore a white suit with black church shoes. When Tegan first arrived at the Academy she had no idea that was Lisa's father. They had the same last name and she thought it was a funny coincidence.

"Good day all!" Headmaster Salazar yelled into the microphone. "Hope everyone is enjoying Parents Day and I just wanna make a short announcement. I know life is crazy right now, but I wanted to thank all the brave women out there. Without women the human race wouldn't exist, remember to always appreciate the women in your life and in general.”

There was a round of applause as the event continued without any problems. She noticed her parents talking with Sloan's father like they were old friends, its hard to believe this was their first meeting. Thats when she saw a blue dragon with a broken horn sitting next to Sloan's father. She was aware that father and son shared the same element, water.

"What do you do?" August asked Mr. Hendrix.

"I'm a pilot," Mr. Hendrix explained. "I fly cargo planes around the world. You?"

Her mom admitted. "Were retired."

"I'm an architect," August said. "I help create the Calamity Towers."

Sloan’s father smiled. “That's excellent, how old are you?”

“21,” August has his hands behind his back.

Mr. Hendrix paused. "You know the first CT was in Washington DC and Area 51."

After an hour Sloan grabbed her arm and spirited her away from the mind-numbing conversation, he hid his boredom well. Since they weren't in the Kombat Hall anymore the castle seemed like a ghost town as they stood in the corridor.

"Finally!" Sloan groaned. "I had to get out of there, my face was starting to twitch."

Tegan smirked. "Why are you upset? I'm the one who was dreading this day."

"Yea," Sloan began. "Its just sometimes my father can be cool and sometimes he can be a geek, still love him though."

"Now what?" Tegan crossed her arms.

Sloan leaned his head against the wall. "Wanna see something awesome?"

The sky was bright orange with purple clouds as they snuck outside, Calpurnia was running with them and became a little sad once she realized Patches wasn't here. She followed Sloan through the crowded meadow as the horses made noises. They stopped at a shiny red and black airplane, it looked like the type used on farms for crops.

"Thats my father's Biplane," Sloan explained as he approached it.

"I get he flys planes for a living but he owns one too?" Tegan was surprised.

Sloan sat on the wing. "Yea, he flew here."

"That is pretty cool," she looked at the controls and saw two photos on the dashboard. "Is that your mother?"

"It is," Sloan confessed. "I even know what her voice sounds like since my father video taped her, she use to sing to me too. But I still feel like I'm missing out since I never got a chance to know her."

"I feel like the opposite," Tegan said. "Even though my mom is alive I'm too scared to get close to her, its a miracle she survived. You know whenever I wanna hug my mom its always a picture frame."

"When my father became a single parent it was difficult and sad," Sloan looked at his baby photo. "He wanted me to be prepared for anything and taught me everything he knows, not many Diors get trained at the age of 4."