The letter Croc handed them read;

Crocodile, Willow, and Marigold,
Please come to my cave today, it is quite urgent. Preferably come alone. I contacted you because you are the best in your grade, some classes anyway.
Signed Blue,
Headmaster of Lake Scorpion Academy

"Ok..." said Marigold skeptically.

"I wonder what he wants us for?" mused Willow.

The trio set off down the halls to the headmasters cave.

When they reached the cave, they found Blue already in there, as well as a NightWing dragonet that none of them recognized.

Blue welcomed them in. "Good afternoon guys. How are you doing?"

The trio look at each other.

"Good," Marigold finally said. "But why are we here? And who is she?" she asked, pointing to the NightWing.

"This is Stella, she will go on your journey." Blue said.

"What journey?" Marigold asked, growing more confused by the second.

"I have chosen you to fix the path." Blue stated. He was obviously tense about the subject. "This is a very important job, so please, please, please! Don't mess this up!"

Croc looked at him. "Seriously? We're not small dragonets anymore!"

"For the record, I have heard that you get hurt all the time, so these are Nurse Willow's words not mine." said Blue, shrugging. "I picked you guys because you were the best for the job."

"Us? We're not the best," Willow said.

"Yeah, are you sure you have the right dragons?" Croc asked, just as bewildered.

"I agree with them! I don't even pay attention half the time!" Marigold exclaimed.

Croc shot Marigold a look that's said 'bruh, seriously?' Marigold gave him a look back that said 'well, it's true!'

Willow noticed the exchange.

"Gods Goldie, you need some help," she remarked, then turned to Blue. "We'd be glad to help, but what about our studies?"

Blue snorted and waved the question away.

"It'll be fine. I managed just fine," he said reassuringly."Now, go to the weapons room and prepare. The sooner you leave, the better."

"But," Marigold protested, "My metamorphosis is supposed to be soon! What if it happens while we're on the mission?"

"It'll be ok," Blue said, "I had my metamorphosis on the run too."

"You did?" Marigold asked, surprised.

"Bro didn't you listen to Sundew-" Croc began, but he's cut off by Willow.

"I heard about it! Sundew told us-" Willow cut in.

"Will. You. Shut. Up. About. Sundew!?" Marigold growled.

"We will if you listen in class then!" Willow yelped.

"I do! But I get yelled at, so I zone out when I'm yelled at!"

"You wouldn't get yelled at if-"

"Guys. Stop it." Croc cut in. "But she is right Goldie."

"But-"

"Drop it. All of you." Blue said with a smirk.

They turned to each other. They had completely forgotten they were in the headmasters office.

"Well... bye!" said Croc hastily, making for the door. "See you if we don't die!" He added as he ran out the door, presumably to the weapons room.

"Yeah bye!" Willow said, following.

"Umm..." Marigold said uncertainly, "Blue? Can we talk? Alone?" She asked, nodding at Stella.

"Sure. Stella, you can go now," Blue said with a nod at the young NightWing.

When Stella left, Blue turned to Marigold.

"They've all left. What did you want to talk about?"

"I'm really nervous for my metamorphosis can you talk me through it?" Marigold blurted out hurriedly.

"Sure. What are you worried about?"

"Well... being in a cocoon for days... flamesilk...
Sundew... just to name a few," Marigold said, talking much slower now.

Blue snorted when she mentions Sundew, but put on a straight face again immediately.

"You won't have to worry about Sundew, you don't have to tell her if you don't want to," he said. "And as for cocoon, you don't really feel anything. You just wake up with silk and wings!"

"Oh good," replied Marigold, breathing a sigh of relief.
"And flamesilk is really cool!" he exclaimed with a burst of flamesilk from his wrists. "Are any of your family flamesilkers?"

"I have no idea," answered Marigold truthfully. "I don't know my parents, and as far as I know, I don't have a sibling. But is it true that they're really rare?"

"Ok, it's unlikely you'll be one then. And yes, they're still pretty rare. It's passed down genetically, so you have to be related to one," Blue explained.

"Ok. Thanks for talking to me Blue." Marigold said while walking towards the door.

"No problem! Now go find the rest of your winglet and start making preparations." Blue responded, waving her out.

Marigold found her friends scattered between the weapons cave and the food court, and decided to try the food court first.

"We need food... and water... and definitely some darts..." murmured Croc thoughtfully. "Oh hi Goldie!" He said as he turned around.

"Goldie! You're here! We need your help to figure out what to bring." Willow said, beckoning her over.

"Well, add fruit and veggies to the food list. I'm a vegetarian, Wild is, and I think Stella might be," Marigold responded, digging through a bin of food.

"M'kay. Wild, you know how to use darts right? Can you go grab some?" Croc asked, turning back to a chart on the wall.

"Sure!" Willow replied enthusiastically, slipping out of the room.

"Goldie, SilkWings have a sense of direction and time, right?" Croc asks, attention now on Marigold.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Well, if you memorize that map," Croc said, pointing, "Then you can use it to navigate. Direction to know if we're going the right way, time to estimate when we'll be there."

"Ok, sounds good," Marigold agreed, turning to the map to study it.

"And I'll get food and water." Croc said to himself.

•••

Later that day, all the preparations were done. The winglet, plus Stella, reconvened in the food court.

"I think we should sleep, then head out tomorrow," the SeaWing from Goldstone named Reef said.

Everyone agrees with that idea, with all of them but Croc being pretty tired.

Almost immediately after Willow, Croc, and Marigold get back to the cave, they all collapsed onto their beds and fell asleep, even Croc, despite saying he wasn't tired. Soon they were all snoring and breathing deeply, resting for the surely busy day ahead of them.