Black lay motionless on the rain slicked tarmac, the city looming over her in streaks of red and blue. Her breath ragged, her mask torn to shreds as her face was revealed for all to see. The rain attacked her skin, sending her blood streaming away from where she needed it the most. Her costume could only protect so much.

An unknown figure stood above her, encased in a costume which mirrored her own. The white light from the street lamps above him illuminated him like an avenging angel. From the bloodied lance in his hand to the tip of their scaly tail, he embodied every sense of the word. His green orbs flashed in the moonlight. They were unreadable against his mask still hiding him from the world.

"Silver." she croaked, coughing out his name amidst all the blood. Her blood.

He did not respond, dramatically turning away from the scene as soon as the cars came into view. The police would arrive and she would finally be brought to justice. Silver slumped onto the pavement exhausted from the battle. He watched as the officers flooded into the abandoned parking lot, obscuring his view. He no longer cared. Or at least, he made sure to look like he didn't.

Black was almost invisible against the night sky. Her scales only held a glimmer of silver when viewed up close. Now, it was marred by blood, her back exposed by a dreaded wound which she knew in her heart that it was fatal. Even if she did survive, she would never be the Black Dragon of Calico City ever again. She didn't even hear the wailing of the sirens, for her mind was still caught on her once faithful comrades last words. After he severed her wings from her body.

"See ya, around. Boss."

...................

Cassidy West soon awoke in a cold sweat, the ringing in her ears not caused by sirens, but by the noise of her alarm clock. She groaned in annoyance, swatting the blasted thing with her hand to silence it. Her hand slipped and it fell off the counter and managed to quieten down. Ignoring the alarm clocks dying wails, Cassidy stretched and swung herself out of the bed.

Heading to the bathroom she stared at herself in the mirror. Her face was plain, from her spotless porcelain skin, to her bright green orbs. Framed by high cheekbones and effortlessly straight black hair. Even her self prescribed, extra strength, wide lens black glasses did nothing but highlight how ugly she looked.

"Hurry up, loser! I'm gonna be late for school!" a voice called out, slamming their fists against the door.

Cassidy sighed, fixing her grey uniform for the fourth time. Pulling a brush through her endless mess of hair, she exited the bathroom. Her sister, Tiffany was much prettier than her and she knew it.

They looked nothing alike, despite being twins. Her platinum blonde hair shone like gold as it hung short of her shoulders. Her slim figure made their bleak uniform and horrid maroon skirt look like the latest spring fashion. Paired with her wide lens sunglasses to hide her green eyes, the only trait they shared as twins. At school she was the one everyone looked up to. The one everyone aspired to be. The one who was a prime target to be the next prodigy in any career she chose.

"Oi, clever clogs!" she said, sneering down at her sisters black laced shoes.

To her they looked like wooden clogs. They looked nothing like Cassidy's own ebony Bourdois, triple laced brogues as much as she wanted them to. Her parents had fished them out of the bargain basket in the local charity shop. Cassidy ignored her, rolling her eyes as she headed down to breakfast. Her father soon rushed out the door, briefcase in hand.

"Bye, Dad." she replied flatly, receiving nothing more than a door in her face.

"Tiffany Anne West! I am leaving in exactly five minutes, otherwise I won't be taking you to school!" her mother hollered from inside the kitchen, the smell of burnt toast accosting her nose.

"Oh. It's you, dear." Cassidy's mother peered at her.

She kept glancing towards the door as if expecting another, more successful daughter to arrive in her place.

"Morning, mom." Cassidy said, pulling a rogue chair over to sit down on.

"I'm afraid your father used the last of the bread attempting to make toast this morning. The milk is gone out of date too." she said, trying to sound sympathetic towards her less favourable daughter.

Cassidy tried not to sigh, choosing instead to give a small smile. "That's OK. I'll pick something up on the way to school."

Her mother smiled, grabbing a few files as Tiffany waited in the hallway, giggling as she texted on her phone.

"See ya later, quesadilla!" her mother called, the door wide open.

The entire street probably heard her mother's embarrassing nickname for her. Either way, Tiffany would never let her forget it.

...................

Stumbling out of McArdle's shop, Cassidy's day only got worse. Pulling on her raincoat as quickly as she could, she chomped on the rest of her sandwich before attempting to race after the reversing bus.

"Damnit! It's only quarter past!" she yelled after the departing bus.

Slowing to a stop, she knew there was no way to catch it now. Glaring at her watch she realised her mistake, it had stopped without her realising it. Now, she would have to walk. In the pouring rain. Cassidy pulled herself together, grasping at the straps on her school bag and put one foot in front of the other. The half an hour walk would make her late, but at least she would make it before registration ended.

..............

Cassidy trudged into her registration class just as the bell began to sound, ignoring the yells of her classmates as they rammed out the doors. Trying to focus on anything but her completely soaked uniform, she waited until the room was empty before knocking twice on the door.

"Come in, Miss West."

Cassidy shuddered, not from the cold but the fact her teacher could somehow see through walls. She gingerly opened the door to find a dark haired woman sitting effortlessly still, her hands folded on the desk in front of her. Waiting. Her prowling gaze made her seem more like a lion waiting for her next meal, like she knew exactly what was about to happen.

"Sorry I'm late, Mrs Snider. I-" she began but was stopped by a well placed hand.

"There's no need for any of your excuses, Miss West. Not only are you late, three days in a row but you have arrived in a manner more fitting to a street rat, than a student in my class." she said, her gaze cutting through Cassidy's attempt at concealing her her emotions.

Cassidy said nothing, clamping her jaw shut as she looked down at her bargain bin shoes.

"Not only have you arrived in non regulation uniform, you have ruined your own uniform in the process."

"I apologise, but-"

"Do you not possess an official school raincoat?"

'Of course I do. It costs several arms and a leg to get but who cares about healthcare when you have a ratty maroon coat with the school emblem half stitched on it by monkeys.'

"Yes." Cass said in a small voice, daring to avoid eye contact.

Mrs Snider raised a haughty eyebrow which reminded Cassidy of a mating slug. "Do you understand the predicament I'm in, Miss West? I cannot begin to fathom the reasons why you replace a perfectly good regulation raincoat for a...garish blue monstrosity like this one!"

'Your 'regulation raincoat' could barely protect anyone from a dog pissing sprinkler, let alone rain storms like the one I just trekked through.'

"I just couldn't find my normal raincoat this morning. That's all." Cass said, keeping her voice even, her posture submissive to even the most lowly of dogs.

Mrs Snider sighed dramatically, as if her fashion disaster was the end of all things good in this world.

"For three days in a row?" she answered, propping her chin up with her hands.

Cass said nothing, forcing herself to look her homeroom teacher in the eye.

"It seems you need to take a leaf out of your sisters book." Mrs Snider said, chuckling at her poor joke.

Cass pitied the man who had to put up with the woman who laughed like a drowning cat.

"Tiffany has perfect grades, is always punctual and is the captain of every sports and recreational team that matters. You, however constantly arrive late, show no interest in any sport or activity and continue to produce sub par efforts in your schoolwork and at befriending any of your classmates."

Cass' eye twitched in annoyance but continued to stay silent. She couldn't flinch, she couldn't back down and she couldn't allow herself to rise to her bait. Giving a wan smile, she said nothing more and stared dumbly at Mrs Snider.

"Very well. If that's the excuse you wish to use, you may go. But if you put one toe out of line, I will make sure you regret it."

.................

Cassidy navigated the dangerous halls with as much precision and grace as a hallucinating snake, doing her best to avoid any other human contact, random objects or continuous school announcements about the League of Heroes Appreciation Day.

Today was the day her school received a large donation dedicated to raising the Heroes of Tomorrow and anyone who was anyone had signed up to join the new classes being held by none other than...

"Oh My Goodington! The Wyvern Five!" a loud screech echoed around the surprisingly soundproofed hall.

In a matter of moments, the steadily moving crowd all turned their heads towards the source of the noise and proceeded to give themselves whiplash. The cluster of screaming females was enough of a clue for other students to realise that something was going on as they continued to gawk and pointed their stubby fingers at the small phone screen.

Suddenly, the noise from the miniscule object was ramped up to eleven as the sound of a news bulletin the gaggle of girls, including Tiffany were listening to was blasted around the school.

"After the events of the Ten Dragons two years ago, the legendary heroes The Wyvern Five emerged on the scene and have successfully lessened the crime rate here in Calico City. Now, they intend to invite students of local Hero Approved schools to join the next group of trainee heroes, the Silver Squad. The first of those schools will be Goodington High the highly acclaimed school who -"

The broadcast was cut short by even more squealing as the students began to cheer, attempting to surround the girls in celebration. Two other boys who had joined the group began hi fiving with their chests as the three girls, Tiffany and her friends Kimberly and Brittany began doing an excited dance which made them look a little like drunken flamingos. But Cassidy was not interested, deciding instead to try and maneuver her way around the increasing crowds, being slammed into lockers and bags was not enjoyable but she eventually made it to the right corridor near the edge of the group of the rising riots only to be stopped by her very own sister.

"Hey, clever clogs! Why not join in the fun?" Tiffany said, smiling wickedly as her two friends flanked her from behind like a moving truck.

Cassidy had nicknamed them the Three Stooges, three very similar girls who all had different hair colour but all looked exactly the same, kinda like a box of crayons. Tiffany of course, had long, blonde, almost white hair. Kimberly was a redhead, despite the occasional ketchup leprechaun comments from the boys, about her being three inches shorter than the other two. Brittany was a brunette who had an abnormally small head but even less common sense when it came to anything metaphoric or sarcastic or...well, anything except shoes.

But Cassidy was more concerned about the leering crowd around her, jostling and shoving her away from the edge of the corridor bit by bit. The two boys who had chest bumped earlier were now using their large chests to block the only way to her next class.

The crowd had turned into a large bull pit, shutting off all exits as Cassidy was met face to face with her sister yet again. Much like the bathroom earlier, this was her domain. She bit her lip nervously, her eyes darting back and forth between the exit and her awaiting sister as the two worst scenarios she had formulated in her head became one giant nightmare.

"Just trying to get to class, that's all." Cassidy murmured, slowly trying to take a few steps backward.

Her face grew red as she stumbled into the two boys who had decided to move away from the door and join in on the fun instead.

"Hey, babe. Why don't you introduce me to your sister?"

Cassidy jumped, recognising the silky smooth voice cutting his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on her only for a moment, making her blush a little before he brushed past her and slung his arm around Tiffany instead. Cassidy averted her gaze, trying to avoid eye contact with the most popular couple in school. Her crush, Gareth and her worst enemy, Tiffany.

Tiffany laughed good naturedly, kissing him on the cheek before answering him.

"Of course, everyone this is my sister, Cassidy. Or as my mom likes to call her, quesadilla."

Sniggers of laughter echoed around the room before turning into full blown fits of laughter. Cassidy's blush turned deep red with embarrassment, Gareth laughing along a little as if not to be left out. He kept one arm behind his back and the other firmly around his girlfriend, a sign to any wandering eyes that might have been watching.

"Well then, I guess Cassidy would make better use of this than I would in Home Ec." Gareth said, smirking as he brought his arm forwards from behind his back.

Before Cassidy could even comprehend what was happening, Gareth had dumped a water balloon full of flour onto her head, covering her in a thick gloopy mess of doughy water. The laughter that had been slowly subsiding soon exploded with energy once again, multiplying by hundreds as Cassidy fought to stop the tears streaming down her face with a mix of dry flour.

No matter what she did, she couldn't see a way out of this situation, let alone any way of resolving it. Her uniform was ruined, she couldn't cover it entirely with her non regulation raincoat without getting into trouble with Mrs Snider and even if she could make it past the crowds, she'd still be ridiculed day after day as the Flour Girl, regardless of the history homework she had to collect.

Her only option was to leave. Ridicule be damned, at least if she had to walk all the way home again the house would be empty but just as she was about to turn tail and run, the announcer blasted over the campus once again.

"Can a Miss Cassidy West, please report to Mr Arch's office immediately."

She sighed as the crowds soon began to disperse for their next class, jeering and making crude gestures at her, throwing every bit of random food, gum, pencils, books, even shoes as she trudged along towards the history room, the very class she was trying to get to in the first place.

She clutched the sticky door handle, now covered in flour, taking a deep breath and hoped things didn't get any worse.