**This is a one-shot that Wimbug wrote me for Christmas once.  It takes place during Chapter Eleven.  It is what she believed the training between Josh and Ioana would be like. Was also written before the edit, and I can't remember if that matters with anything that was written here.  Paladins used to be called Mighty Dragons? XD**

Josh had been looking forward to combat training ever since he found out he would be doing it, but as he faced off with a cranky looking Ioana, he wasn't so sure anymore.

As usual, Mara had taken her seat in the back of the class, which in this case was a huge training hall that somewhat reminded Josh of a very large gym, and waited to see him having a go. The thought turned Josh's stomach to knots. She would see if he made a fool of himself.

"Are you ready to begin, kid?" Ioana asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Josh bristled at being addressed as such, but decided it might be wiser not to mouth off, so he just nodded.

"Whatever you think you know about magic and combat, forget it. It's most likely wrong." Ioana started pacing the width of the room, her hands clasped behind her back. "Here, you will learn everything, from how to hold a stance to how to singe someone with an energy attack."

Everything sounded so cool, so Josh honestly hoped they wouldn't be spending the lessen running laps or learning how to hold a stance. How important could that be when the other side had magic?

"Are we doing energy attacks today?" he asked, trying to keep the eagerness out of his voice and failing.

Ioana stopped. Then laughed, the sound filling the cavernous room. "Sure, we can start with that if you'd like."

Josh couldn't believe his ears. After the way all adults had treated him since they came to the Sanctuary, like he was a fragile flower who couldn't understand anything, here was one adult ready to give him credit.

"Let me see you, hotshot," Ioana said.

"Um, what?"

"Attack me using your energy."

Josh blinked, trying to make out if she actually thought he could do that or was stealthily making fun of him.

"I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do that."

"Oh?" Ioana raised her eyebrows and it became very apparent that she was making fun of him. "When you asked, I was sure you had an idea what you were talking about. Or would you like me to attack you using my energy and you block it?"

"No, no!" Josh raised his hands in surrender once Ioana raised her own hand, palm aimed at him.

"Are you sure? Because I'm positive you have some hidden knowledge about defending yourself from energy blasts. Because if you have no idea how to use or block energy, I just can't figure out why you would ask we do that first."

Josh's face caught fire as Mara snickered from the back of the room. He was being made fun of in front of her and it made him dislike Ioana immensely.

"Here's the deal, hotshot. To succeed as a Mighty Dragon, or in life in general, you need to know your place." Ioana gave him a smug grin. "And so far, your place is to shut up and listen. You don't even know your element yet. Though I have a very solid guess what that might be."

"My element?" Despite his annoyance, curiosity got the better of Josh and he actually leaned in.

"Yes. All Mighty Dragon magic is based off the four basic elements. Air, water, air and fire." At the last word, she held out her hand, palm up, and produced a small orange ball.

Josh gazed in wonder at it, at how flames snaked inside the tiny marble. It looked so alive.

"This is so cool. Can you throw a fireball?"

Ioana squinted at him. "Do I look like a bloody mage to you?" She closed her fist and the ball of awesome disappeared. "We don't throw. We try to avoid hurting people. We stand for peace and fairness and unity."

Blah, blah, blah. Throwing a fireball would've been much more interesting. Ioana didn't seem to think so, but she at least produced the shiny ball again.

"Depending on the element of your Dragon, some of us have control over more than one element." The ball in her hand changed from orange to dark grey. Lightning bolts cut through the color and storm clouds seemed to be swirling inside. "But it usually makes your second element a lot harder to control."

"Which is the best element?" Josh asked. He had no idea what he preferred, but fire and air sounded a lot more interesting than earth or water. Earth actually sounded boring.

"There is no best element. Each one is only as good as the person wielding it." She shut her fist again, her eyes narrowed at him.

He ignored it and asked the most important question. "You said you knew my element. Which is it?"

Her green eyes narrowed even more. Josh pulled a step back. They were oddly green, without the faintest speck of hazel or blue in them.

"A shadow dragon came after you, revealing their abilities to possess rather than corrupt. It was a huge risk they took, so there must be something special about you. So I'm guessing it's the special snowflake element."

Huh? Josh didn't want to sound like an idiot but he had no idea what she was talking about. "Ice?" he asked. Ice wouldn't actually be so bad. He could do a lot with it, which included instantly cooling his drink.

"Kid, you must be really powerful because it has to compensate for your lack of intelligence." Ioana held up her hands and produced four perfect balls, one red, one brown, one blue and one white. "Elements can be combined in dangerous ways." The brown and red one came together to create what looked like raging lava. "And if my guess is right..." Blue and white combined into the storm he'd seen before. "... you will have a very dangerous ability." She mashed all balls together and all Josh could see was death.

He stepped back until he actually fell on his butt, his eyes on this crazy woman in front of him. He didn't want a dangerous element. He wanted something he could use to save others, not destroy them.

"Listen to the people here. Learn from them and don't mouth off. No one wants you harmed. They all want what's best for you. Don't be a hero. No one likes a hero."

And just like that, she whipped around and stalked out of the room, leaving Josh on the floor. Mara hurries over to him and helped him up. Josh took her hand for the contact but otherwise hated having her help him up. It was embarrassing to be scared of a woman who was maybe as tall as he was if not shorter and didn't look impressive. Except she was terrifying.

"Don't worry about it," Mara said, as if reading his mind. "She makes most people cry on the first day. You actually handled yourself well."

"Why is she like that?"

Josh meant scary and abrasive, but a shadow crosses Mara's beautiful face and it got him wondering.

"She has her reasons. Just like she has her reasons for controlling all elements. That takes a toll on people, too. You need to take your training very seriously."

Josh nodded. Mara was right. Ioana had mentioned that most people only had one, maximum two elements, yet she'd produced all four. Maybe that was why she was a trainer.

"I will take my training seriously. I'm just tired of people treating me like a kid."

Mara's smile was sad. "You are a kid, Josh. You're only sixteen. Give yourself time to grow and give others the chance to teach you."

He wasn't sure if he should, but her words made Josh feel much better. That until Ioana stormed in again, carrying a stack of wooden sticks.

"Turn off the charm, kid. She's already spoken for."

Mara blushed violently and pulled away from Josh, retaking her seat in the back of the room. He stared from her to Ioana, unable to compute the words. That wasn't true. Mara didn't have a boyfriend. Did she? Did Josh know him? Cale?

"Loverboy, pay attention. You can teenage drama later. Now it's time to train. Give me fifty laps."

Gritting his teeth, Josh moved to the edge of the room and started laughing. No matter what Mara said about her reasons, he really hated Ioana.