Say hola for chapter five. Sorry I took so long but another story of mine was persistent, along with the need to help my brother move (I got ice-cream)

There is so much I'm sure I can do to improve this story but I'm also pretty oblivious so I'm open to all and any suggestions.

Please read, review and enjoy.

Ch.5 Education

One of the up reasons to becoming a pirate was that Connor was able to get out of school and now he was forced back in it. He felt like he was a little kid again nervous about his first day of school, but now he no longer had Grace to help him through it. He looked at the schedule that Gabi had given him; it was supposed to be identical to hers. Biology, Algebra, Music, Lunch, Archaic Literature, P.E., and Intro. To Blacksmithing were the classes he was supposed to take. The book bag Lance had given him had all his textbooks and all that was left was for him to do was wait for Jasmine, Jacoby, and Bo-Yin (since all of them were under eighteen) to get ready so they all could leave for school. Connor walked onto the deck hoping the sea air could help clear his anxiousness. Standing on the deck he felt very little relief. A gust of wind rushed toward him carrying the scents of salt and baking bread. Okay, that eased a bit of his tension. Again Connor found himself staring at that uncivilized island in the distance. However something was different, there appeared to be footprints on the sands of the beach.

"I can't believe I have to attend school. I graduated from the Pirate Academy to become a pirate I don't need to go to school!" Jasmine ranted as she walked onto the deck followed by Jacoby.

"I know babe." Jacoby patted her shoulder sympathetically. He looked up and spotted Connor. "Hey Connor!" Connor waved back. "You ready for your first day of school?"

"Not really." Connor sighed. He looked back at the island but there was no trace of the footprints. Behind him Jasmine complained to Jacoby more until the presence of their captain silenced them.

"It's good to see that my crew is up and ready for the day ahead of them." Cheng-Li regarded the look on Jasmine's face with a hidden thoughtfulness. "I realize that this must feel like a step back, since you all are already pirates and you are forced to go back to a regular school. However right now we need the help of Nathan Gale and his family and in order to get that help we must abide by the laws of this island's government." The look in Cheng-Li's eyes was that of a silent order; to suck it up and do what they had to do. Each knew what they had just been ordered and each did as told. "However Bo-Yin will not be joining you at school."

"Captain, why will Bo-Yin not be joining us?" Jasmine asked. She could barely hide the outrage in her voice.

"Since Bo-Yin is our blacksmith it would be a waste for her to go to school with you all. So instead I attained a trial apprenticeship for Bo-Yin to study with Mrs. Gale. No off to school you go." Cheng-Li shooed them off.

/\/\\/\

The school was nothing compared to the Pirate Academy. In truth it was an average sized school but absolutely mundane. The building was two stories and long and rectangular with a large field behind the school that was used as a practice field for various sports clubs and teams. Two more building were built next to the school, a music building and a gymnasium.

"This school is kind of lackluster." Jasmine remarked looking disdainfully at the walls and tiled floor of the school. Though it was, to Connor it was a reminder of the life he left behind when he became a Pirate the mundane aspect of it was the familiar part to him. The dark blue of the lockers the white tiled floor the gray walls, it was trip down memory lane that he wasn't sure he was okay with. They entered the school's office and told the secretary who they were; she in turn sat them down in the principal's office. A tall man with dark skin and graying hair dressed in a suit walked into the office and looked at the three pirates.

"So you three are our new students?" His voice was gruff but he was using a warm welcoming tone. Not sure whether what he said was a rhetorical question or not the three just nodded. The principal smiled. "I am Principal Lancaster. Now I believe that one of you already has a schedule…"

"Y-yes, that would be me sir. I'm Connor Tempest." Connor held out his hand and Principal Lancaster shook it; an impressed light in his eye. Connor handed him his schedule.

"And you received this schedule under the advice of the Gale family?" Principal Lancaster looked at the schedule making sure each class was numbered correctly and with each teacher.

"Yes sir." Principal Lancaster smiled at the Connor's politeness. Walking down these halls one would think manners were an endangered species.

"Some of your teachers are going to be difficult; however as long as you pay attention and do the work that is assigned you will do fine." The principal looked at the other two pirated and almost frowned. "Connor, why don't you find your classes while I help assign classes to your crewmates? Classes numbered in the 200s are upstairs, 100s down stairs, Music classes in the music building and P.E. in the gymnasium. Also for certain electives you will go into the town and be taught there. "

"Yes sir." Connor nodded and left the office. Before he could wander around aimlessly he was greeted by Lance.

"Connor, hey what's up man?" Connor high fived the tall blonde boy and answered, while discreetly looking for Gabi.

"I'm looking for my classes."

"Who's your first class?" Connor looked at his schedule.

"Biology with Mr. Montgomery." Lance smiled happily at Connor reminding him of a little kid.

"That's Gabi and my first class too. It's over here." Lance led Connor down the hall to a corner room. Inside was obviously a science classroom. Different preserved animals in jars circled the room, posters of body parts and plants decorated the walls. The black top lab tables had two chairs situated at each. "Looks like Mr. Montgomery isn't here right now."

"Hey Lance, where are all the other students?" Connor had looked around and realized that the school was barren.

"Well I assume their probably still at home. It's still thirty minutes before school starts. And since were on an island it doesn't take too long or everyone to show up." Lance shrugged.

"Well why are you here so early than?"

"My mom's an algebra teacher here. I was helping her move some stuff in her classroom."

"Oh," Connor looked at his schedule. "Lance, which teacher is your mom?"

"Mrs. Quivers." Connor looked down at his schedule and realized Lance's mother was his Algebra teacher. RING! RING! RIIINNNGGG! "That's the bell!" Better get to class come on Connor." Lance pushed Connor back into the classroom and had him sit next to him in the back next to the emergency exit. The hallway suddenly sprang with life as footsteps and casual talking grew with more and more students turning into a tidal wave of sound. Students began to walk into the classroom some of them regarded Connor with mild interest while most just ignored him. A short bald man with a white curling mustache walked into the room and the noise level seemed to drop. Lance grabbed Connor and introduced him to Mr. Montgomery.

"Class!" Mr. Montgomery nearly shouted sounding way too excited. "We have a new student, this is Connor Tempest he is a pirate member of The Tiger crew." Mr. Montgomery clapped the back of Connor's back and pushed Connor forward toward the class.

"Uh…Hi." Connor waved suddenly nervous. Whispers broke out almost instantly. Luckily to distract everyone from him there was a loud crash and yell from the hallway.

"Come back here you crazy little ferret!" Connor along with everyone else turned toward the hallway and through the open door caught a glimpse of Gabi running after a small rush of cream colored fur. "Give me back my bracelet!" Gabi jumped after the ferret and caught it in her hand only to have it squirm away. Gabi lay on the floor defeated. She looked toward the open door and registered her audience. She stood up and wiped the dust off of her clothes. "Sorry I'm late practice took a little longer than usual and after I was done showering Klepto stole my bracelet."

"It's alright Gabi." Mr. Montgomery nodded then yelled. "Klepto!" The cream colored ferret came hopping up to him and he scooped him up in his arms. He pulled the gray colored bracelet from the ferret's mouth and handed it back to Gabi.

'Thanks." Gabi wiped the bracelet on her shorts and walked into the classroom and took a seat in the back of the class.

"Now that all that fun is over with class, let us study symbiotic relationships."

Later that Day

After the first period fiasco the rest of Connor's day was pretty normal, except for all of the whispering and the random times when someone would ask what it was like to be a pirate.

Second period he met Mrs. Quivers, Lance's mom, and was given plenty of catch up worksheets that were due at the end of the week along with regular assignments. Third period was choir class, luckily that day the class voted on music to perform instead of actually singing (this was the one class Connor was sure he would regret).

Lunch was the most interesting time since the school served stuffed lobster tail and mashed potatoes, but also since while he was sitting with Jacoby, Jasmine, Lance and Gabi the cafeteria was much quieter than what Connor remembered it used to be like. Of course the obvious hushed topic of the day was about the three pirates sitting in the same room. Fourth period was Archaic Literature which the teacher explained to Connor wasn't too hard, this month they were reading To Kill a Mockingbird, which actually wasn't what about Connor thought it was going to be about. And fifth period was P.E. which Connor ruled and decimated at.

As Gabi had revealed to him, he was now the most popular boy in school next to Jacoby. Gabi explained that everyone already knew everyone on the island so since he was new; he was the talk of the school. Connor actually kind of liked the attention and popularity before he was always an outcast. Even during P.E. when they played a soccer game and he whooped everyone no one cared that he was better than them, they just thought it was cool. However something did bother him.

"Hey Gabi," Connor was walking with Gabi and Lance to the Smithy for their last class. "I was wondering why do some of the people at school treat you they way they do?" He was referring to how some people talked about her behind her back or just completely stayed away from her. Gabi looked taken aback she hadn't realized that Connor had actually paid that much attention. She shared a look with Lance.

"Well do you know about that rumor that has spread about my family?" Gabi asked Connor quietly. He nodded.

"Yeah, Lance mentioned it once before."

"Well, you can categorize the people on this island into three groups: those who believe it, those who don't believe it, and those who know the truth." She looked up thoughtfully. "I guess you can add a fourth group; those who don't care."

"Oh." That explained a lot of things to Connor but he couldn't help but wonder how big each group was. They arrived at the smithy quickly.

"Mom, were here!"

"Gabi, Lance, Connor can you three please each grab a weapon from the wall." The disembodied voice of Mrs. Gale bounced from the other room.

"Sure Mrs. Gale." Lance answered.

"Uh, what are we doing with the…" Connor looked at the wall of weapons many of them styled like antiques despite the fact that they were recently made. Gabi shrugged.

"I have no idea it's just one of mom's whims, which reminds me." Gabi took a jewel studded claymore off of the wall. "Mom, remember that we have to get out of class early so I can train Connor."

"Yes, yes please hurry and bring me the weapons the flames are just the right temperature." Connor was confused again. But Gabi noticed quickly.

"Why do you think your schedule is identical to mine? That way when we get out of class I can train you and if your crewmates question why you're out so late you can tell them that you are studying with me." That made a lot more sense. Gabi smirked at him and pointed to the wall. "Come on my mom is not going to wait much longer." Connor reached for a katana it was perfectly balanced and the blade had a shadow grafted into the blade that shifted with the angles of light. Lance grabbed a metal staff with monkey figures engraved into it. They walked into the next room and were immediately met by a wall of heat. A large oven was placed on the right side of the room flame overfilled it and leaked into the air around it. A large anvil was situated next to rectangular pool filled with water. On the walls blackened tools were mounted.

"Oooo, good choices!" Mrs. Gale gushed. Her red hair was tied into a tigfht pony tell and she wore a dirtied apron. She beckoned them over with a flick of her wrist. "Claymore, monkey staff and my happy katana! This is going to turn out better than I thought." She grabbed the weapons from the three students and dropped them into the flames. Curiosity got the best of Connor.

"Mrs. Gale what are you making?" She smiled a grin full of teeth.

"Well it's good to see one of my new students interested. Which reminds me when you go back to the ship would you please check if Bo-Yin has my sledgehammer. I told her she could borrow it but I'm not sure if I might have just left it somewhere. Anyway I was drinking tea when suddenly I felt sleepy so I took a nap. But while I was sleeping I had a dream that my name was Ezio Auditore da Firenze and that I am an assassin bent on correcting the evil and corruption created by the Borgia influence in Rome!" Mrs. Gale took a heroic pose and stared off into the air like a soldier with a mission. Connor looked at Gabi for assurance and apparently Mrs. Gale was serious. "Class is over for the day. Please leave." After being pushed out of the Smithy like they had just stolen something.

"Dang Gabi your mom is crazy." Lance smiled at Gabi. She looked at him sardonically.

"She is, just not clinically." She smiled back then punched him in the arm…hard.

"No fair. I thought we agreed on no Hunter strength." Lance pouted rubbing his arm and Gabi stuck her tongue out.

"I lied." She turned to Connor. "Time to go to my house for some training." She looped her arm in Connors and pulled him down the sidewalk toward the interior of the island. Even if Connor wanted to protest he had no chance to.

"Hey, what about me!" Lance yelled annoyed. Gabi rolled her eyes.

"Sure why not." Gabi looped her other arm around Lances and they walked to her house. As the approached Connor could see the top of a house, slowly more of the house was revealed. Connor looked at the house and immediately thought it had to be incredibly old but as it came into better view it was obvious the house was fairly new maybe twenty years at its oldest. It had a porch that wrapped around the house, with a swing on the right side of the front door. The railing had vines growing on them with unopened flower buds. The second story windows overlooked the front but the very top of the house's walls were glass windows. Connor couldn't see in it from the ground but the sun's glare in the windows was a dead give-a-way that the walls were glass. Gabi un-looped her arms from the two guys and unlocked the front door. The inside of the house was homey. The entree way lead directly to the stairs and on either side, to the left the dining room and kitchen and on the right a large living room with ancient looking furniture (Unlike the house these actually seemed very old). Gabi dropped her books on a chair and it creaked loudly.

"Sit back and relax." Gabi looked at Connor then pushed him onto a loveseat. "I'll give you a little while to relax before we get started with the training. Plus I need a few minutes to gather some things." The coach was uncomfortable it was lumpy and things would poke Connor every time he tried to find a more comfortable position. When Connor had finally found a comfortable position Gabi returned with a backpack and ushered him and Lance out of the house. They followed her in silence until they reached a pond farther in the island. "Alright this should be far enough for privacy." Gabi looked at the surrounding area approvingly.

"Okay so how are we going to train?" Connor asked curiously. Though he was curious a part of him wanted to leave and reject the vampiric part of himself.

"Well first of all I need to explain a bit about the types of abilities that dhampirs have. Once you understand what you are trying to do it should be easier to actually have it come to fruition." Connor nodded as did Lance. Gabi noted that this was the first time he would actually get a lesson too. "Vampire abilities are able to be categorized into three groups: The Physical, Trance, and The supernatural. Physical abilities include our natural higher strength, speed, stamina, flexibility, balance, etc."

"So you mean like how I'm better at sports then most people?" Connor thought back to his time in Crescent Moon Bay, how he was always better at sports.

"Exactly." Gabi smiled. "Maybe this won't be as hard as I thought." "Back in the day and I mean like waaaaay back. Vampires were known as beings of seduction." Gabi looked at Connor for understanding. He nodded for her to continue even though he himself was starting to get lost, vampires were always known as monsters never anything capable of seducing. "This applies to the Trance abilities. These mental techniques allow a vampire or a dhampir to place their prey into a trance that makes them obey or increase some type of emotion or other mental…thing." Gabi ended with her brows knitted in frustration as she searched for a word.

"I have never heard of that before." Connor mirrored Gabi's look of frustration but for different reasons. All the vampires he had ever known never did anything like that they simply just attacked and killed.

"Well you probably wouldn't have. Among recent vampires this would be a lost technique. This ability is one that is only practiced by some the oldest of vampires and even then they seldom use it." Gabi thought back to Liza Needlemelon and realized that she needed Connor to master these abilities quickly. "Even then trance is hard for some vampires to master. But for the sake of your training I will only train you in ways to delete and replace people's memories to keep your secret." Then a thought struck Connor.

"Wait does Lance know that you're a dhampir?" Gabi looked at Connor confused.

"Yeah, duh." Then she realized that it wasn't her secret Connor was worried about, but his own.

"Don't worry Connor." Lance smiled at the two dhampirs. "You're and Gabi's secrets are safe with me. Connor wasn't sure how to react. Even his own friends didn't know he was a dhampir and Lance seemed to not care one way or the other.

"How did you find out?" Connor asked wearily. What if Gabi had told him?

"I put two and two together to figure it out." Lance smirked. When Gabi saw the crestfallen look on Connor's face she felt a strange feeling well up in her; compassion?

"It's okay Connor, Lance is unusually intuitive. And once you learn Trance techniques you won't have to worry as much about your secret. Now where was I in my explanation?"

"Were you finished talking about Trance?" Lance asked back.

"Yes."

"Then you were on the Supernatural."

"Oh," Gabi shook her head. She tucked the red fringed of dyed hair behind her right ear and began again. "Well Supernatural powers are like telekinesis, healing, astral projection, transformation, and weather manipulation….and a whole bunch of other things that end in 'tion'. However a few supernatural abilities have also become 'lost techniques'. Also all these powers including trance and physical strengths are tied to the 'instinct'. The Instinct is for lack of a better explanation is basically the survival instinct of a vampire; the stronger it is the stronger the vampire or dhampir and their abilities." Connor looked confused again. "It'll make more sense as you get farther into the training regimen I created."

"So what do we start with?" Gabi's lips stretched into a grin that immediately made Connor regret what we asked.

"Physical training, and before you ask what just let me ask. Are you afraid of heights?"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Connor's clothes were soaking wet from sweat and from falling into the pond below him. He was standing on the tightrope Gabi had stretched over the pond (she made lance swim the rope across). After his first three attempts Connor was able to get over the height issue however the balancing issue was still prevalent. He was supposed to walk across the rope and then his training for the day would be complete however just standing on the rope was taking all of his concentration and so far he wasn't even able to make three steps. He placed on foot in front of the other and allowed it to conform to the shape of the rope to keep his balance. He placed his weight on his left foot and it began to cramp up, then the wind picked up and started to throw his balance off (again). Connor began to tilt to the left, so he shifted to the right; too much to the right. He plunged into the water below. The cold water enveloped his senses until his head breached the surface and he took a large breath of air (just in time to hear Lance laughing at him).

"Seriously what is the point of this!" Connor yelled exasperated. He swam over to the side of the pond to get out.

"Connor I already explained this," Gabi rolled her eyes and helped pull him out. "Dhampir don't have the same kind of limits as normal humans so by pushing our limits with enough determination we are able to awaken our "instinct" the primal powers and urges that we can use for power." Gabi was careful to draw a parallel to dhampirs and humans she had realized that Connor was begging to identify himself as a monster. "I mean there is a quicker way but…" Connor looked at her strangely he caught the way her voice shook slightly at the end of the sentence.

"What about this quicker way?" Connor was undeterred the tightrope was starting to annoy him.

"Well I would have to put you in mortal danger." Gabi looked dejected at the prospect.

"Oh."

"Anyway, back up on the rope!" Gabi smiled and pointed at the rope. Connor groaned.

"You can do it Connor." Lance held back more laughter. Then Connor and Lance began to argue about how Lance wouldn't be able to do it or something Gabi stopped listening. But the arguing gave her an idea. Dad always said that training with a rival gave better results.

"Alright you two, strip!" Gabi commanded the two boys who went red-faced immediately. She groaned. "Connor I need you to take off your shirt and pants so I can dry them. And Lance is going to join in the training so I he needs to get undressed as well so his mom won't yell at him for being wet."

"Oh." Both boys said at once and began what they were ordered to do. Gabi didn't want to see the boys completely naked…but she did enjoy watching their half-naked forms trying to balance on a rope and fall.

I know it may seem like a bit much with all the powers and stuff, but I wanted to return some of the abilities from vampire legends.