So that caused her problems. It was 3 hours before homecoming and she was pulled into the principal's office for brushing Hatsuki off 4 days ago. Maybe also for stealing her Hoco date.
"DO YOU KNOW? HOW SEVERE WHAT YOU DID IS?" The principal yelled at her.
"Just because she's the daughter of an investor doesn't mean I can't teach her a thing or two about manners." Crescent clicked her tongue.
"Miss. You are in no power to do that."
"Not a written rule. Therefore I have every right to say that I didn't know about it"
"Miss you are aware of my power right?"
"Don't care. Kicking out a girl one of your staff so desperately wanted in the school is a bit odd isn't it?" Crescent smirked. "I also read in the rules that you aren't allowed to lie about your animal guide. Therefore the person being expelled should be the girl"
"The phoenix is hers."
"You actually believe that her dove turned into a phoenix? You're ridiculous"
"Then prove it. Prove the bird is yours"
"Just go ask the caretaker????"
"Scared the bird isn't going to land for you? Just give up and admit that the bird is mine already" A malicious grin rested on Hatsuki's face. Oh how bad Crescent wanted to slap that grin off her face.
"Say what you want. I'll give you 3 hours to get the bird down."
"What about homecoming! It's in a few hours! I don't have time for catching a bird when I gotta doll up with Crécelle and Astaria." Hatsuki hissed. "I'm stealing Ice from you whether or not you'd like it"
"Do what you want. But if you don't get the bird down then you're going to have worse problems."
"YOU!"
"One hour. Give me one hour to get the bird down."
"I'll be waiting for you"
2 hours passed. Hatsuki lived up to her promise, showing up in her outfit. It would take awhile before she would be able to get the bird down though.
An hour passed.
"I'm afraid you didn't manage to prove you're the owner." The principal sighed.
"It's not like she's going to be able to get it down."
"That's the last thing I'm doing if that even happens" Crescent snorted. Whistling the familiar tune, she found the bird diving down again.
Burn
Hatsuki screamed. Everyone scrambled to safety as a wave of fire rained down.
A harsh glow erupted from Crescent as the bird landed. Her uniform had transformed into a gorgeous dress. Reaching the floor, a gown hugged her body. With a phoenix embroidered into her skirt area, and feathers covering her top, she looked like an empress. Her combat boots were now a pair of sunset heels. It was gorgeous, she looked like a phoenix.
"I didn't know you could transform me with that." Crescent tapped Ignes's beak twice. "You ought to let me know next time."
The bird cooed in apology.
"There's no way you're the companion. You're not even a firebender!" Hatsuki yelled, hands flying to her head in shock. It wasn't a written fact, but people had just started to assume that fire nation animals chose firebenders.
"At least he reacts to me" Crescent glared at the girl and principal. "Shouldn't we be at Homecoming? Don't want to keep the students waiting do you?"
The other two rushed to the ballroom as Crescent stayed to chat with the bird.
"Mind giving me a lift to the tower? I don't think I'll be as agile in such a dress."
The bird landed on the floor as the girl got on.
"Thank you"
The two flew up to the tower. Gazing at the sunset, Crescent had forgotten for a second which rank she was. It was gorgeous. Shades of red, orange, and purple painted the sky.
"You know Ignes..."
The bird turned to face her.
"Some days I wonder why the school ranks their students. I mean, people in the higher ranks have been trained professionally or born into a family of prodigies. It's almost like fate forces all the unlucky people to fight for their position in society. I wonder how many nonbenders there are. I wonder how things could have been different if my parents hadn't been expelled. Maybe I would be just as snobby as the rest of the elites." She hummed.
"Can I tell you a secret?" The bird spoke.
"I mean if speaking was the one then I already discovered it" Crescent laughed. The bird snickers.
"I trust you"
"Same here"
"I have a human form..."
"Do you Ignes? I'm sure you look ethereal" Crescent hummed.
The bird transformed, turning into a young boy no older than 18. With glowing golden eyes and vivid orange hair, he looked like royalty. A matching outfit rested on his body as he sat down on the fencing. His lips a soft shade of tangerine, he looked ethereal, exactly how the ancient writing on the walls depicted him.
Crescent was at a loss for words. He was literally the depiction of perfection.
"Do I look weird? It's been a couple thousand years since I last transformed" His voice was deep and velvety, soothing to the ears.
"Not at all. You look very hot in fact" Crescent smiled. "I'm sure if you attended school in this form then you'd steal all of Mint and Ice's fangirls"
"Would I? Sounds like a nice thought" his eyes gazed at the setting sun. "Would I catch your attention?"
"Probably not" Crescent coughed. The male hopped off the railing.
"Then I could only pray that maybe I could stay by you forever as a guide" he rested his forehead on hers. A couple moments passed in peace as neither of the two moved.
Hearing a lone pair of footsteps rushing up the stairs, the male pulled away. The male eyed the girl curiously, finding no signal to de-transform, he leaned against the railing, relaxing.
"There you are! You had me worried for a couple seconds" Ice pulled Crescent into a hug. He takes notice of the boy on the railing, and he raises an eyebrow in suspicion.
"I'm fine. I was chatting with someone" Crescent laughed softly. Cyrus raises a hand lazily.
"I haven't met you before. What's your name?" Ice pulled Crescent behind him.
"Cyrus" His voice rang out. "It's quite a large school Vice President"
"Ice. Nice to meet you." He turned to Crescent. "Our friends are waiting for us downstairs. You look gorgeous by the way, if you dont mind. We'll be going now"
"See you around Cyrus"
"See you Crescent"
Ice escorted the girl down the stairs as Cyrus disappeared from their view. Transforming back into a phoenix, he opted to go out for a fly.
"Crescent! You look so pretty!" Estelle gushed.
"Look at you! Putting on the fire nation robes? I haven't see you in these in forever" Felix laughed.
"I thought I'd go for something different" Crescent beamed.
"Cressie!" Mint called. "Oh my goodness you look like a 5 star Michelin full course meal"
"Skdbajshvgj and you look very handsome" She smiled.
"MIIIIIINT!" A voice rang out.
"And I thought I could go a day without seeing her. Smh" Crescent huffed.
"Crécelle, you look very pretty today" Mint smiled.
"Thank you baby." She giggled.
The two carried off in a conversation which (thankfully) didn't involve any of the other people. The rest of them wandered around, Crescent and Ice settling down for a nice cup of tea.
"How'd you get up to the tower?" Ice hummed.
"I flew up there. Ignes helped me out" She blew on her tea.
"Makes sense. Next time just let me know. I'm sure you didn't need to ask for such a favor from him"
"I know. I didn't want to catch any attention when I entered. Hatsuki would murder me"
"Why is that?"
"I proved her ass wrong about Ignes being her bird. She called him Fifi. Made me bust a lung. And then had to rush her makeup because I gave her 1 hour to get the bird down."
"I was going to send you a dress." Ice huffed. "I couldn't find you anywhere before homecoming though"
"I was too busy arguing with the principal."
"You're insane"
"So I've been told"
A calm silence passed over the two. The breeze is soft, and the wind is chilly.
"So..." Ice started. "The kiss?"
"I don't know lover boy? Did it happen? Were you dreaming? Was it even me to begin with? Maybe I sent a clone or something" Crescent laughed.
"Alright I get it. You don't want to talk about it" He huffed.
"You were too rash with the decision." Crescent sighed. "What could've happened if I slapped you? Maybe hurt you? Pushed you away? You took a big risk there"
"I'm sorry"
The rest of the night passes in an uncomfortable silence. Saying their goodbyes, everyone headed home for the night. The second Crescent stepped foot outside of her school, her outfit switched back to her uniform. Wandering home, she found a package in front of her door.
"I'm back!"
"Dear!" Her mom shouted. "How was homecoming? Did you get a dress?"
"I did. My animal guide helped me out. I didn't know he had such a nice wardrobe." Crescent laughed.
"Did he? That's nice"
"Mom."
"Hm?"
"Have you and dad ever heard of an animal guide being able to transform?"
"Did you get one with that power? Only dragons, phoenixes, badger moles, and moon seals can. I heard they don't do that often anymore. Did you get one?"
"No. It's just someone said something about how their animal could change into a human" Crescent tapped her fingers on the wall, squirming in her dress.
"Your grandmother had one." Her dad walked in. "I believe it was a dragon called Drago. He transformed once and your grandma almost died of a heart attack. They don't do it much anymore"
"Nice to know." She sighed. "I wonder how much that animal trusts the girl. Oh right! A package in front of the house"
"A package?" Her mom asked. "Honey did you order something again?"
"Nope. Not this time"
"Open it then! I'm curious what it's about." Her mom's eyes twinkled.
Crescent cut the box open as she gaped at what was inside.
"What is it?" Her dad asked. Crescent held the box up for him to see.
"Goodness! There's so much! Where did this come from? Is this for our neighbors?" Crescent's mom exclaimed.
"I don't know"
"Well you better lock it up somewhere. Don't want anything being stolen"
"Yeah. I'll be off to bed then. Homecoming has made me exhausted"
"Goodnight dear"
"Goodnight"