Well, I'm back! I haven't been able to write anything for a while, for both personal reasons and school reasons. I just did an essay for English worth 15% of my GCSE, so... it's quite a bit, especially when this is just the first year of my GCSEs. Hopefully, this will be the end of the disruptions for a while. And also, X007, Lucien, and the rest of the characters, are not evil as such, as they were trying to claim back something that was was rightfully theirs. In that instance, the Guardians were actually the bad guys. Hope that cleared it up for you. Anyways, onto the story, ye mortals!

Cyclone tilted her head at the dragon beside her. "Yes?" A sudden realisation hit her as soon as she said that. "Oh, yes..."

Lucien, sensing Cyclone's nervousness, went ahead with their announcements. " We have agreed to become mates. We do, however, wish for your blessing, father."

Zaros chuckled at the dragon, and the blushing dragoness beside him. "Well, you've certainly grown up. In all seriousness, of course I'll give you my blessing. Why didn't you ask earlier?"

Before Lucien could speak, Cyclone spoke. "Well, we only agreed just before you came in."

Zaros nodded, accepting what Cyclone had said. "Hrmph, fair enough. I have, however, been waiting for something like this for a while now. I did expect it to be someone less... foreign as Cyclone. Nonetheless, I'll soon have your bonding rings ready."

Lucien stepped forward slightly, looking up at his father. "Eh... We would prefer it to be a more private arrangement. I'd rather people not know until they see us."

His father smiled. "Completely understandable. In fact, myself and Myst actually were bonded in the same way. It was a private matter; we preferred to be alone when it happened." He looked at the two dragons in front of him closely. "When would you like to be bonded, might I ask?"

Lucien glanced over at Cyclone, who nodded, before looking back at Zaros. "Well, since we are going on this journey soon, as soon as possible. It would be good to know that we were mates if anything happened to either of us. At least we'd know it wasn't all in vain."

The large dragon before them bowed his head slowly. "Very well. I shall get what I need to complete the ceremony." With that, the great dragon left the room. Cyclone turned to her soon-to-be-mate, grinning. "Well, that went better than I expected. I half expected him to laugh and not take us seriously."

Lucien smiled back. "You'll understand how Father works in time. He has strange ways of dealing with things, even those on this sort of scale." At that, he simply set his paw on Cyclone's own. The dragoness smirked.

"Was that a little joke there?" Lucien was genuinely confused at the remark.

"What do you mean?"

Cyclone just kept the smirk on her face. "You were saying about thing being on 'this sort of scale', and then held my paw. I guessed you were also talking about my scales."

Lucien grinned. "It sucks when you not only unintentionally make a job, but have to get another person to explain it." Cyclone replied with a small laugh.

"Indeed it does..."

The two dragons stepped into a large room positioned in a grand hallway. The room itself was equally grand, quite a bit of the room was gilded, with large paintings hung on the walls. There was a huge stone slab at the end of the room, supported by carved stone blocks, engraved with almost runic symbols. Soon after them, Zaros walked in with strange markings on forelegs and neck. The two dragons decided not to pursue how they got there. The dragon had a number of items with him; a chalk-like pastel, two rings with Cyclone and Lucien engraved into them, including their names in the old language, Diaquēn and Afeuán; a small book and a ceremonial dagger, decorated with fine engravings. Zaros turned to the two, quickly nodding, before grabbing the pastel he set on the slab.

"Are you ready to do this?"

The two dragons nodded silently without hesitation. Zaros smiled "Very well." He walked over to them and lifted the pastel, drawing strange symbols onto one of Lucien's forelegs, and did the same with Lucien. He also made a series of shrinking circles on the two dragons' heads. He walked back to the slab, leaving the two dragons looking at each other. Zaros turned around, clutching the small book. "We'll keep this short. There's not much to do during this. Lucien, do you swear to do your duties in protecting Cyclone from any danger?"

Lucien nodded. "Of course." The dragon looked up from the book at him. Lucien smiled. "Oh, alright. I swear I will protect Cyclone from any danger."

Cyclone smirked at the dragon's immaturity in the situation, but didn't mind it at all. Zaros turned to Cyclone. "Cyclone, do you swear to do your duties in protecting Lucien from any danger?" The dragoness simply smiled.

"I do."

Zaros smiled. "Very well." He turned to the slab again to take the dagger. He walked over to the dragons. "If you are willing, you will let the other slice your paw. If you both do so, you must interlock that paw with the other's. Do you understand?" Both Lucien and Cyclone nodded.

Lucien, willing to take the pain first, let Cyclone take the dagger. In turn, he held out his paw in front of the dragoness. Cyclone brought the dagger towards his outstretched paw, dragging the blade across it quickly. Lucien winced slightly, blood seeping from the wounded paw. Cyclone handed him the dagger and gave him her paw. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to hit. When Lucien did cut her hand, the pain wasn't as bad as she had thought. However, she still winced as the sharp edge of the dagger cut into her flesh. The two dragons brought their bleeding paws together, grasping the other's with a lot of pressure.

Zaros brought a bowl of water over to the two. "That's alright. Please wash your paws off now, so we can begin the final stage."

Once the two dragons had finished cleaning their paws, Zaros brought over the two rings. "Now, hold out your paws, the ones that you sliced." Lucien and Cyclone did as instructed, smiling to each other. The large dragon simply slipped the two rings onto the outstretched paws. When the two looked at them, they found the other's name on them. Zaros just smiled. "Don't worry, I did not make a mistake. You wear the name of your mate. You are now officially mates. I hope you may be happy together."

The two dragons nodded and bowed to Zaros, leaving the room with the markings still on their body. Zaros shook his head, laughing to himself. "They sure grow up fast..."

That's another chapter complete. It was fun to get writing again, I hope to get another one up soon, although that might be a little unlikely.

Song of the Day: Another Holy War- Blind Guardian "Hit me, nail me, make me god!"