Hrmph... I haven't been able to write for a little while. Hopefully this will be a decent chapter. This will probably be just a huge description of the palace, but I don't know... Hopefully it'll be more than just that.
Lucien walked through the majestic corridors, Cyclone at his side, tails entwined. The palace around them was a maze of corridors, causing Cyclone to believe she may get lost just getting back to her room on her own.
Lucien had shown her a number of rooms already, such as the rather large library and pool areas, both of which impressed the dragoness. Cyclone looked around her in awe, amazed at the sheer enormity and glamour of the place she had feared only the day before. Lucien watched her, happy that she was enjoying the tour. Cyclone turned to look at him.
"So, what's there to know about you, besides being a shadow dragon? You've told me a good bit about this place..."
Lucien smiled at her. "Well, being a Mahjarrat I have certain powers that normal dragons cannot use."
Cyclone cocked her head. "A Mahjarrat? What's that?"
Lucien chuckled slightly. "A Mahjarrat is a special type of dragon. We were formed by my father when he first took power here. He took a liking for one of them, and then I was "created", if you wish to describe it like that. Being the child of a Mahjarrat and Zaros, I have the powers of both joined."
Cyclone listened closely to what he was saying. "What kinds of things can you do, then?"
A small grin appeared on Lucien's face. "Well, as with all Mahjarrat, I can shape-shift into most things. And I can also change into a different dragon, not just other species. When you first saw me, I wasn't like I am now. Remember the red dragon in the temple?"
Cyclone's eyes widened slightly. "That was you? Hmm... I kind of liked you like that. Can you change now?"
Lucien frowned. "You don't like me like this?"
"N-no, t-that's not what I-I mean..." Cyclone stuttered, trying to find the right words.
He chuckled, nuzzling her softly. "I'm joking, I know what you meant. I remember when I first saw you..." He looked up at her face.
Cyclone moved away from him slightly, looking at the floor.
Lucien walked back over to her, but she moved away as he moved towards her. "What's wrong?"
She glanced up, bringing her eyes from the floor. "I'm sorry, I'm just not ready for any meaningful relationships yet."
Lucien wrapped a wing around her. "It's okay, I understand." He looked down the hallway. "Hey, I still have more to show you."
Cyclone smiled up at him and brought her tail around to point ahead of them. "Well then, lead on..." She brought her tail back behind her, wrapping it around Lucien's as he walked along with her.
Lucien brought her around more of the rooms useful to her. She had no idea there would- or could- be so many places in one building.
Then again, she reasoned, it was a rather big place. After all, quite a few people live here.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the two dragons stopped in front of a large wooden door that ended the corridor, taking up most of the wall. Lucien pushed it open, stepping aside to let Cyclone through. The room ahead of her was lit with torches along the walls, sending out small orbs of light from each one. She walked into the room, wondering what exactly it was. A wall was blocking the main part of the room from her view, raising her curiosity. The dragoness turned around the corner to enter the main part of the room, followed closely by Lucien.
Despite the main part of the room having windows in it, it was still rather dull, apart from the rectangles of light being emitted from those windows. Still, she was able to clearly make out what the room was; a combat room. In the centre of the room was a fenced area, presumably a ring for fighting. Around it was a small army of dummies, all dangling from their gallows-like supports. In the nearest corner of the room was a strange pillar, the only thing Cyclone did not recognise.
Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard the sound of claws on stone and cloth tearing from the furthest end of the training room. She focused her vision on where the sound was coming from, spotting two glowing eyes, much the same as those she had seen some three months ago. She stepped closer to try to make out who it was, but was unaware that her claws were making echoing clicks as she walked, distracting the mystery dragon. It turned to look at her, its cold, pure white eyes burrowing into her, and began walking towards her.
Cyclone gasped when she saw this but saw that Lucien was beside her, making her feel somewhat safer. The dragon stepped out of the shadows, showing itself to her. She noticed the markings on its forehead and the unsymmetrical horns, recognising the dragon as Zaros.
Zaros smiled down at her. "Ah, Cyclone. It's good to see you outside. I was starting to get worried about you." Cyclone was nervous of talking to the large dragon, instead staying close to Lucien. Lucien glanced at her for a moment before looking at his father.
" I was showing Cyclone around the palace, father, we've finished everywhere but here."
Zaros chuckled lightly. "Well, I suppose I better get going then." He made his way towards the exit before turning to face them again. "Enjoy yourself here, Cyclone, not many dragons have the opportunity to live here." With that, he left the training room, leaving the two dragons on their own.
Lucien turned to Cyclone. "So..." She looked back at him.
"So...?"
Lucien chuckled. "Well, this is the training room. I think you can imagine what goes on in here." He walked over to the strange pillar. "I suppose you're wondering what this is." Cyclone nodded. "Well, in simple terms, it is a magical totem. It protects any user from harm while in this room and dulls any pain. The younger dragons use it for training, since we don't want them injured or worse. Anyone can use it though, if they want a 'fun' fight."
Cyclone glanced at the totem. "Can I use it, so we can just have a bit of a fight?
Lucien grinned at her. "You've certainly changed mood. Sure, I'll show you how to use it." He walked over to a shelf on the wall, reaching out to take a chunk of chalk. He used it to draw two circles around in front of the totem. He looked back at Cyclone. "Okay, stand in one of the circles."
Cyclone did so, standing in the ring closest to her. Lucien stood in front of the totem, running a claw down a large crack in the middle of the stone. When he reached the end of the crack, the pillar began to give off a slight purple aura. He quickly stepped into the other ring before they too began to glow a light purple. After a few moments, the glowing died and the two dragons moved away from the pillar towards the fighting ring in the centre of the room. Lucien smiled at Cyclone.
"Okay, that's it. You are now completely invincible." He walked over to the gate into the ring, pulling it open for Cyclone to enter.
Cyclone moved into the ring, turning to face the jet black dragon. She smirked at him before lunging at him, ready to pin him down. Lucien, however, was able to use his shadow powers to vanish into the floor before appearing behind her.
"Heh heh, too slow."
Cyclone glared at the gloating dragon. "Hrmph, we'll see about that." She lunged at Lucien again, and again he was able to evade the attack. Cyclone quickly turned around, releasing a large gust of wind, blowing him off his feet. He fell to the ground on his back, groaning. Cyclone took this opportunity to pounce on him, pinning him to the ground.
"I win."
Lucien groaned under her, slightly annoyed at being beaten so easily. Cyclone leant down to lick his muzzle lightly. "Eh... do you remember what I was saying about not wanting any sort of relationship yet?" Lucien nodded. "Forget about it. I was stupid, I shouldn't keep thinking about the past. I can't change it. If I may say so, I kind of like you. You actually understand how I feel."
Lucien blushed slightly. "Eh, thanks. I like you too..."
Cyclone got off him. "Aww, you're such a gent." She held a paw out to help him up. Lucien took it and pulled himself off the ground. Lucien licked her cheek, before walking out of the ring and the room into the hallway, Cyclone at his side.
Well, that's chapter four completed. I spent a bit of time away from it, but I finally got around to completing it. I must say, listening to music helps a lot when writing. In fact, I spent most of this chapter listening to the Blind Guardian songs The Bard's Song and Harvest of Sorrow. Anyways, I should have chapter 5 out soon, but I'm not making any promises.
Servant of the Dark Lord Sauron,
The Silent Stranger,
Souls of Fury