Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 16 ~ Return to Tomorrow Hill

Blair held tightly to Figment with one arm while keeping a hand on his hat to make sure it didn't fly off into the sky. "Figment, do slow down. Don't wear yourself out!"

Figment turned his majestic head to look over his shoulder at them. The dragon was smiling, his mouth motionless, as he communicated words in a voice only Blair and Mia could hear.

"I'm sorry, Dreamfinder! I'm just so excited! I like the Institute and all, but I can't wait to go home!"

"Figment! Watch where you're going! There's—"

Figment faced forward just in time to fly headfirst into a flock of geese. They all went scattering, except one.

WHACK!

There was an explosion of feathers and the dazed goose went into a downwards spiral.

"...birds," finished Blair. "Oh, Figment..."

"Poor goose didn't stand a chance," said Mia, watching its body disappear beneath the clouds.

When they arrived at the Imagination Institute, Figment returned to his normal form, coughing up goose feathers.

"Figment, that's only the fourth time you've taken that form. You really need to be more careful," Blair admonished.

Figment hacked up another clump of feathers. "I'm sorry," he said, "I was just really excited! But... whoo... all that really made me dizzy."

"I know what you mean, Figment," said Blair, bringing a hand to his head and wobbling on his way to the front entrance. "I feel it too, and I have my concerns about making that transformation for a fourth time tonight. Perhaps we need to find another way to the house."

Figment's fluttering seemed somewhat erratic, so Mia took him into her arms. "Poor Figgy," she cooed. "Want me to carry you?"

And so, cradling a very spoiled dragon in her arms, Mia followed her father into the Imagination Institute.

"How about you?" Mia asked Blair, who seemed rather dependent on the banister as they climbed the marble staircase. "Will you be all right?"

"Oh, I'm sure I'll be fine, dear."

"Is it always like this, or is it just an age thing?"

Blair arched an eyebrow.

"Er, that is, I don't mean to imply that you're, you know..."

"I assure you, Miandra, it isn't an age thing. I may be your father, but I'm hardly old. In fact..." He smiled playfully at her, "...any longer on Earth, and you might've surpassed me in age."

Mia flushed, grumbling incoherently. She didn't even want to entertain such a notion.

"Essentially, it takes quite a lot of Imaginergy to keep up that transformation with Figment," Blair explained. "And doing that four times in one day when we've only ever done it one other time, long ago... Well, it takes a lot out of the both of us. Perhaps I'll see if someone can give us a ride to the house tonight."

"Hey!" a voice called down the hall to them. "Might I borrow your ear for a second?"

Kevin Flynn was striding towards them with an irritated expression on his face. Mia narrowed her gaze. What right did Flynn have to be irritated?

"Oh! Hello, Kevin. You seem somewhat agitated," said Blair. "Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yeah, man," said Flynn with a hint of sarcasm. "Everything is just peachy... Except that I just had a visit from this stiff suit from the AMPA. Guy came in lookin' for me and was breathin' all down my neck. Though, he seemed real interested in..." Flynn's eyes flicked to Mia and the ghost of a smile graced his face. "... Mia, here."