Alright, I need your help again! I know I haven't been... around for a while, so I've given you this little snippet below to remedy my neglect X(. But before that, I need some help from you guys! You'll notice in this new development, that we have some new characters on the horizon! But, since I know some people aren't very fond of OCs (Original Characters) I'm not sure where to take it... Read on, and so to avoid any spoilers, I'll meet you again at the end of the fic!

Arya had to agree. His fierce need to protect anything he cared about was a large portion of why she felt about him the way she did. She knew he would do absolutely anything to protect his loved ones, and seeing as he was one of the most powerful men in Alagasia, possibly the most powerful, but she didn't want to think about the one person who might have an advantage over him.

Almost a month passed. Shrrg was now almost the same size as Saphira and Eragon no longer deemed it necessary to artificially increase his growth. Arya continued with her training and was improving so fast, Eragon ans Saphira struggled to create new lesson plans for them, seeing as they themselves had never really completed their own training. Eragon would have asked Glae'dor, but he had been sent to Ellesmera so that the elves he had known in depth could help him with his grief.

On top of that, Eragon noticed, Saphira was not quite... herself. She had become highly temperamental, edgy, easily spooked, protective, and was constantly wanting to fly. It became so that one lesson, Saphira went out flying with Shrrg and was almost gone the whole day. Eventually, as they all gathered in the morning before that day's teachings, Eragon decided to ask her what was wrong.

He broadcast his thoughts to all. Saphira, what bothers you so?

Oh little one... She said with such sadness in her thoughts, and Eragon knew it was because she was reluctant to tell him something, and keeping something from a rider's dragon or a dragon's ride is something neither ever do.

Saphira, if it is so important to you, you must have a good reason to be keeping it from me.

But it is not right...

That you hold something from me?

Either that I have something I do not wish to share, or the thing itself I wish to keep. Both might be considered wrong.

Eragon also had sadness in his heart, but not because of Saphira's reluctance, but that she was faced with such deep emotional turmoil; such was the nature of their relationship. By all means, wait until you're ready, and if you never are than so be it. I can wait for as long as you need.

Eragon turned towards Arya and Shrrg, but only one pair of eyes was on him. The other, Shrrg's was locked with his own dragon's. Though he knew they were speaking, he could not feel, or even sense the words passing between them. He saw Shrrg's eyes soften, and Saphira sighed.

She turned back to Eragon and Arya, and thought very clearly I bear eggs in my belly.

If there was a word to describe completely what Eragon and Arya felt, if there was a gesture to show the entirety of the raging streams of feeling rushing through their veins at that moment, as the words registered in their minds, it has yet to be found. Great artists, great literary minds, have not yet found something that can accurately convey the complete and utter surrender these six simple words placed the two riders under. I would have used such a word here, if I could, so you might understand the depth, but alas there is not such a word to be found. However, as nothing else will place the colors and feelings of the human mind before you, I can give you only this once word: Hope.

Arya; strong, stoic, unshakeable through torture and death and war, dropped to her knees as sobs of joy choked from her lips. Eragon; he lost everything he held dear, he'd seen people beheaded, skewered, gutted before his own eyes, and yet these simple, clear words rang in his head with such tenor and force that he too was brought down. Tears flooded from him as he sat and bowed his head to the Earth.

There was hope. Hope! There were more dragons, and they would outnumber the King, and the dragons would live! It was what Eragon dreamed of at night, it was what awakened him in the morning and what kept him alive on the battlefields. The stuff of miracles and dreams and a life's work were set before him on a gilded platter of hope and love and he had no choice but to weep as well. He lost no pride as the droplets feel from him, he felt no humiliation as a man who cried would, for was there no more noble a cause than to witness such beauty and life brought back to the earth? Was there no greater sense of accomplishment than to know that the one's you loved so dearly, with every fiber of your being, would live on after you were gone? No, Eragon was not shameful or bashful as he rose and wrapped his arms as far as they would go around his dragon's neck.

"Saphira... Saphira, Saphira Saphira. You've done it! You've both done it." Another string of sobs racked through his body, and he felt Saphira crane her neck so she could nuzzle his back. "Saphira, the Dragon's will live on! You've done it!"

I am glad to feel such joy in you, little one, but how can I have done right? How can I call myself a mother, how can I build a nest, when I will bring these hatchlings into the world at such a time as this?

Eragon looked up her with clouded eyes. I feel your pain and your worry as my own, as you know. But you must feel my joy as if it were your own. You will be a fantastic mother, you will be made stronger, as everyone has, bu the trials you and you're young will face. It will do you nor them any harm, as long as you are the same mother to them as you have been to me. They will be the greatest, most wonderful dragons to ever grace the lands.

Do you really feel that way? Saphira said in a small, hopeful voice.

You know I do. Eragon patted her neck. He asked Do you know how many there are?

I carry seven with me, though it is normal for one or two to never hatch. She said.

Eragon once again bowed his head. He spoke out loud. "Then maybe as many as six new dragon hatchlings. Six to go throughout the world. How many will you give to the riders?" He asked, for it was always the mother's choice.

Three, regardless of the number that are living when they are laid.

Arya spoke. "Saphira, your generosity stuns me, and I am once again humbled in your presence. You, as well, Shrrg. I have never been more... proud to be acquainted with you, much less be a rider. It is an honor I am not sure if I deserve..."

Nonsense... Shrrg said affectionately, and Arya laughed and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Eragon turned to Saphira and spoke out loud. "When are the eggs due to be born?"

I should think two weeks.

Three weeks? Why so soon?! Arya asked, stunned.

Well it only takes them about two months. The first three weeks I was uncertain and these two weeks past, I've been unsure about what to do. The babies will mature the rest of the way inside of their egg, unless they choose a rider, then when the magic bond is created, they are completely formed and healthy.

I see. Well I eagerly await for this fortnight to pass. Eragon said, his nerves jittery from the emotional rush, and the excitement.

I as well. Saphira said.

Training for that first week seemed to fly by in a blur. They had decided on keep the eggs a secret from everyone, even Nasuada. Once the eggs had been laid, then they would tell Nasuada, and tell her of their plan. It had been decided between the four of them that the three eggs destined to be rider's dragons would be taken straight to Ellesmera. Eragon and Arya simply did not have the time to train a human, so it was an elven rider until the King was defeated, or none at all.

For the last week, Saphira decided it was to tiresome and strenuous both on her and the eggs for her to continue sparing and flying with Shrrg, so she consented to ground work such as stealth and intellect. She taught him more of the dragon's history, the rider's history, and quizzed him over what to do if Arya was in danger, or she was freezing, or they needed food, or if she was cornered by a thousand men.

Roar as loudly as I can, and make them all soil their tin-plated trousers?

Not quite...

It was not as tedious for Saphira as she was sure she had been with Glaedr, and she found she was enjoying this teaching just as must as battle work. Then, the final night came. Eragon and Arya were asleep in their tent outside of the the city walls when Saphira broke into their thoughts.

It is done. The eggs have been laid. Please come with all due haste, and stealth. I want you to see them.

Of course! We'll be there as soon as we can! Arya and Eragon used all of the elven stealth to be silent. The crept through the shadows until they were out of the cloth labyrinth, and slipped into the woods. Once they were in the cover of the trees, they ran to the sheltered cove in the meadow Eragon and Saphira had found the day Arya was attacked, where Saphira had made her nest.

Saphira curled her large body around her clutch, and Shrrg sat proudly at her shoulder, looking down the the six little stones with pride in his eyes. Saphira's eyes flickered to them as soon as they emerged from the woods, and she tensed. Eragon and Arya stopped walking, as Eragon had told Arya on the way there that mother Dragons are highly maternal, and they will lose sight of rationality if they think their eggs might be threatened. It only took Saphira moment to realize it was, in fact, her beloved riders, and not egg thieves. She let down her guard and the two riders hastily walked towards the nest.

Eragon gasped as he saw the six oval stones, all shimmering different colors, though in that moment, they all looked Saphira blue to him as his mind brought forth memories of a cold day of hunting in the woods. His eyes cleared from his misty past and he truly looked at them. One of the eggs was a lighter shade of sapphire, and one was a darker shade of green. One was a pearly white, and one was a red, with gold swirls. Of the last two, one was turquoise, and the final was a deep, smokey gray with black and white swirls.

Eragon fell to his knees so he could get a closer look at them, and Saphira chuffed at him in happiness. I am glad you take such pleasure in my children, Little One.

How could I not? They're all little pieces of you.

That is very sweet of you to say.

What will you do with which? Arya asked.

Saphira looked back at Shrrg, and he spoke. We will give four, instead of three. We can have more clutches of eggs, and right now it is most important that the Riders flourish in time to battle the king. We will give the White egg, a female, which is strong in heart. We will give the Red, a male, which is strong in body. We will give the Turquoise, a female, which is strong in mind, and we will give the Gray, a male, which is strong in courage and bravery.

I am honored and humbled by your benevolent choice.

Eragon, you need not be so formal. Just don't think yourself so lucky next time around.

Of course not. Luck is not my strongest point.

Shrrg looked to Arya and spoke. I am very glad you approached my egg. Without it, all of this happiness and these kind feelings would not be possible.

If that is the case, than I am too overjoyed. Saphira, when would you like us to take the eggs to the Varden?

As soon as possible. The only way they can become Rider's dragons is if they do not feel my first breath of fire on them, so they do not bond to my warmth. Hurry though, for I fear for the health of my others.

Of course. Eragon said, and he picked up the red and white egg, as Arya reached for the gray and blue. They stepped back a few feet from the nest as Saphira inhaled. Then with a well formed jet of flames, she begun to incubate and bond with the two remaining eggs. Their shells began to glow red hot, and when the flame ended, the edges were scorched. The wave of heat incinerated the grass around her, and the wave of heat parched Eragon and Arya's throats and eyes.

Eragon looked skyward and saw the first rosy finger tips of dawn on the eastern horizon, though he knew only he and Saphira, with their enhanced bodies and minds, would be able to discern it. He spoke aloud. "We should being going. Dawn isn't far off, and I would like to be at Nasuada's pavilion before the sun is visible."

"Of course."

The two dragons nodded, and each rider gave the partner one last hug before departing back through the long grass.

Well? Well?! How was that, eh? So here's the crux of the matter: Do Arya and Eragon travel to Ellesmera and I delve deep into the depths of mind to pull out my own self-constructed characters, do the eggs hatch for a familiar face, or do Eragon and Arya say 'Screw it, we don't have time for this, let's kill the King and focus on this later!' Which could just as easily birth a meaningful, yet somewhat pointless sequel? Please let me know via REVIEW! I'll tally the REVIEWS and through the REVIEWS I'll make the choice. I'll have more next update to make up for the lack of substance here. XD XD XD!