Hi Guys~
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this to you. I pretty much wrote this while on a 10 hour train ride instead of sleeping (which was basically impossible)

So, without further ado, let the fluff begin and enjoy~

The shouts of my classmates were murder, absolute torture but reguardless I pressed on. To say it was vicious would be an understatement. The ball was flying backwards and forwards like a missile, smacking into students with such force I'm surprised no one is broken. I admit though, it is fun to see the grimace on Cali's face everytime the ball impacted someone. Wow, now I sound like a sicko. Ohwell.

First to go was Warnado who copped a ball to the face, then Prism Break also suffering a ball to the face. Next to suffer elimination was Lightning Rod who was hit in the chest while busy showing off, then Jet vac and Bash both being caught not paying attention. The rivalry between certain students was becoming increasingly obvious. Aims started to become sloppy as anger took over and eventually Cali was forced to blow her whistle.
"ENOUGH!" She boomed, glaring at the offending players. " That's it! Sonic Boom, Sunburn, Whirlwind, Shroomboom, Eruptor, Drobot and Camo you're all OUT."
They left the court grumbling, leaving those of us remaining to carry on in their place. Flame looked over at me and smirked, I could almost see the twinkle of mischief in his eyes behind his blindfold. He had a plan.

Cali P.O.V

The united groan that left the mouths of the eliminated players brought a smile to my face as I readied myself for the ball to be served once again. The teams were equal, but I can definately see a rift forming between Flashwing and Cynder and between Spyro and Chop Chop. Perfect. That's when I notice it. Looking back at her teammates, then at Flameslinger, Stealth smiled, giving me an idea about future assigned partners. Their team had their strongest players left while the other team was struggling with internal conflict. Cynder and Chop Chop seemed to have buddied up, causing Spyro to act in jealousy, which brought Flashwing into things as she tried to calm her friend down. This is turn was causing Cynder to act out of sorts with Flashwing leaving Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy to try and pull the weight to keep their team in with a shot. It was delicious to watch. I could definately work with this. My next unit for this class was conflict and conflict resolution. Soon they would be preparing for their first 'missions' to complete their training units for this year. Already I had an idea of who to pair with who for the best results. This game was just a cover for me to observe them and take notes on how well they worked with each other. I also had to determined the element captains for this class. Naturally there were a few standout choices but nothing was carved in stone yet.

Stealth P.O.V

Flame had started passing the ball to me at every chance he got and pretty soon the rest of the team started aswell. At first I was confused, but then I remembered the team meeting before the match. Hah, so they were serious when they decided that. Well, I definately won't let them down! Using my speed and stamina, I began assulting the remaining members of the other team, stunning them and making them run around like idiots.

"Poor, poor Gill," I heard someone suddenly snear from behind me, drawing my attention away from the game. Standing there, just off the court stood none other than Chill, a twisted smirk present upon her face.
"It must be so difficult trying to hold such a team together with only Trigger to assist you."

"Chill!" Cali scalded, glaring at my friend. "That's enough out of you. Go and sit and watch the match."

She grudgingly did as she was told and took a seat on the bleachers, where she remained until the end of class, not another word leaving her scowling lips.

From the point of Chill interupting the match, things went pretty smoothly for us. Gill and Trigger tried their hardest but it was most definately not enough to stop us. Trigg reverted to giggling madly every time he hit the ball, which was quite distracting but it wasn't enough to throw us off, although it seemed to throw Gill off. By the end of class they were both battered and bruised and looking extremely ticked off. Spyro was getting an earful from Cynder, and everyone else was too busy feeling sorry for themselves to notice anything around them.
Chill leapt off the bench and sprinted over to me, throwing a wicked grin to Flame, which I really didn't understand. He shot her a heated glare before retreating back to the male locker room.

"What was that about?" I question. Was there something I was missing?
"Nothing, don't worry," She chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You go and get changed alright? You smell like you've bathed in the Stinky Swamp."
Chill held her nose and waved her hand infront of her face to make out that I smelt horrible.

"I do not!" I spat back. She did nothing but grin at me, continuing to wave her hand before her nose. "Whatever Chill! YOU JERK!"

It goes without saying that after gym class, the girls and guys split up and go to their respective locker rooms to shower and change. As I enter the change room, I notice that the cold, clean smell has now been replaced with the musky smell of hard work and exhaustion. Perhaps Chill was right. We do kinda stink.

The levels of idle chatter were at an all time low, no one has the energy to was on words. Each student has simply gone to the locker containing their belongings. The small, metal containers stood proudly against the wall, waiting patiently as padlocks were unlocked and the items within them were removed.

I stood before my locker grinning to myself, deep in thought. I don't understand it, but suddenly the tingling in my chest and the tightening of my stomach would not go away. It felt as it I would float away if I wasn't careful to anchor myself to the ground. I've never felt this way before. I feel giddy and for the first time in an age, I feel happy.

Naturally, such things are never allowed to last, and within a matter of seconds Cynder was at my side, snide and cruel remarks flooding from her mouth like an uncontrollable tide.

"He's just messing with you, you know? He doesn't really like you. No one does. We all tolderate you. Your friends only tolerate you because they have to. It makes them look good. Your parents didn't even want you! They dumped you the first chance they got. Even your 'master' sent you away! If I were you, I'd disappear and never show my face again! I-"

"CYNDER!" Hex bellowed as she stomped across the room. "How dare you! How dare you even think such things, let alone speak them! Just because you're bitter about losing and confused, that does NOT give you the right to take it out on her!"

I could do nothing but stand there. What Cynder had said had wounded me greatly. I looked to Hex, who had protectively wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close. I was in such a state of shock and hurt that I barely noticed the aura of fury and danger emitting from Hex. I looked back to Cynder and was surprised to find her as taken back and and shocked by the outburst. Had Hex hit a nerve?
Normally one of soft voice and few words, Hex had taken the entire room by surprise.

Cynder just stared at her, mouth agape and wings hanging limpy at her scaly sides. She gasped repeatedly like a fish as she struggled to find anything to say in reply.

"Hey, hey! Cool it guys. Take it easy," Chill smirked as she walked in, clearly amused at Cynder's stupid expression. "Stealth, go shower. Sprocket's waiting for you outside."

Whatever happy feelings I had had were now well and truely gone, extinguished by Cynder's foul words and bitterness. I did nothing but grab my things and run. I ran past my classmates, the door to the shower room looming before me. I could feel the tears burning at my eyes, begging for release but I held them back. I would not let anyone see me cry. I looked back at Hex as my hand came to rest on the door, and I could tell it was taking all of her strength not to run after me.

Hot water bit at my skin but I didn't care, it was taking my mind off what had been said. Not only had Cynder brought up my birth parents (who I knew absolutely nothing about), but she had also brought my master and mentor into her tide of vileness. Woest still was the fact that I was beginning to somewhat believe her. The burning in my eyes was too much now, and I allowed the tears that had threatened to fall flow freely down my face. In the safety of my shower cubical, I allowed myelf to cry freely for the first time in years.

Hex P.O.V

As tough as her scales are, I could tell they did little to protect the dragoness from the bitter cold of Chill's fury.
When Chill had asked what had happened, I of course told her without hesitation. Cynder had not denied it, infact, she had seemed rather proud of herself once her shock had worn off. Chill had lost her cool at that, and had proceeded to pin Cynder to the wall with a blanket of ice. Only her head was exposed, the rest of her was frozen into place. It was rather amusing the way her teeth chattered. Her body must have been starting to ache because she allowed herself to emit a pathetic whimper.

"It burns," she begged. "Please, enough."

Chill's stare was just as as cold as her ice, perhaps even more so.