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"Father?"

"You may come in, my child. He may have courted death but fear not. He's out of Death's domain and in the hands of us once again. Although he may not look it, he will soon wake. You may stay here with him if you would like. Before his match, I gave him permission for your hand. He may want the comfort of the one who loves him." Serene stood in shock at her father's words.

"I knew about your feelings for him. The look you gave him before the match confirmed it. The kiss only strengthened my confirmation. In his feverish state, I heard the words of love slip from his mouth about you." With that said, the elder dragon left the cave and only the two lovers remained. "Oh Shadow, if only you were awake to see me now. The tears I weep are not of sorrow, but happiness. Not only are you now an adult, but also the one I've chosen as a mate." She continued to cry for quite some time until a voice was heard that surprised her. "I'm glad your father allowed it." A new wave of tears followed as Serene wrapped both her arms and wings around Shadow's body.

"Easy, Serene, you'll crush the poor boy." Looking towards the mouth of the cave, she spied her mother and father standing guard at the door. "Mother? You knew as well?" Smiling the silver-scaled dragon replied, "Yes I knew. Although he was mistreated, you cared for him and he always cherished all that you did for him. He stood defiantly as he took the insults and beatings he received and from the start, I knew he was the one that was a worthy choice for our daughter. He has a kind and compassionate heart and will make a good father for our grandchildren." Slowly getting up on all fours took a lot out of him, but Shadow stood proudly as one could after beating death. Walking towards the elder and his mate, he bowed as best as he could.

"Rise Shadow Lightscale, and be reborn as a new dragon." Unsure of his second name, he looked into his reflection from a mirror of polished metal and saw that his scales were, not in the colours of his birth, but in the likeness of the purest of metals, platinum. "How did-" "As of yet, we don't know. But in your change, you now have the look of our favoured god, Bahamut himself. He may have had a hand in your transformation."

"As well as he should, don't you think?" a booming voice rang out.

The power of it shook Shadow enough that he collapsed to the ground. Serene quickly went to his side.

"My apologises, young one. You have been through so much and your stores of energy have yet to return." All of them turned as one to the one who spoke. There, dressed in the finest of metal armour, was the dragon god Bahamut himself. The elder and mate soon bowed in great reverence, as did Serene. Shadow tried to rise, but the strength needed was not there.

"There is no need for you to hurt yourself any further, young one. As you are still injured from your ordeal, you do not need to rise to make your reverence known. For as long as you have been breathing, I have been listening to your prayers, hopes and dreams. Your compassion for others, even as they belittled and hurt you, have reached my ears far into the heavens. During your ceremony, I took it upon myself to witness the outcome of the battle. Even as you were facing a hopeless battle, you kept a cool head and sought any means to turn the tide of combat to your advantage. I especially liked the way you were going to use the lightning as an effective blinding tool as it was going to reflect off this young females scales is most innovative."

Serene looked at Shadow. He nodded. "I was hoping I could move close enough to you so when the bolt struck it would act like a sun and temporarily blind him so I could pin him." Serene nodded in understanding. "As for your transformation, I had a direct hand in that. I wasn't about to let a perfectly fine dragon succumb to his wounds after a victorious battle that impressed even me. So, I cast a divine spell that would heal you over time. The side effect of that spell was a little unexpected. Your strength will return in a few days, and you will need it. As newly chosen mates, you're going to need all the strength you can get."

Both Serene and Shadow looked at one another and blushed. They were familiar with how a mating went, thanks to their teachers, but to actually do such an act was much unknown to them. Sure, they explored themselves, as every youngling would at some point in their childhood, but to actually mate with another was completely foreign to them. "Fear not, you two. Your instincts will guide you. Words of advice though; take it slow. Most rush it at first, so the joy is short lived. Take your time, and enjoy the moments you can." Blushing even harder, they nodded.

"There is a gift I would like to give you, Shadow Lightscale. It may seem unusual at first but you will find a use for it that may surprise even me." Waving his taloned forepaw in the air in strange ways, a bundle appeared out of thin air. It gently floated down until it was in front of Shadow and Serene. Puzzled, Serene opened the bundle as Shadow struggled to get up. Unexpectedly, Bahamut walked to the side of the injured dragon and pressed the top of his muzzle against Shadow's belly scales and nudged him upwards until he was standing on all fours again. "You may want to rest again before you try to walk again. Allow me, young one." Without warning, the great god opened his mouth, and ever so delicately, gripped the wounded dragon in his teeth and carried him to the bed made for him. Setting him down, he quickly licked a few drops of blood where his teeth actually pierced his hide and the bleeding soon stopped.

"Thank you, your reverence. I do not deserve such an honour."

"Bah. One such as you deserves such things. Besides, in a few days, you're going to have your talons full with her." Shadow looked at Serene as she sauntered to a nearby alcove and grabbed a blanket large enough to cover him. As she did so, she made all of her movements as graceful and sensuous as she could. Shadow blushed until he was about as red as his tongue. "Well then. I think its time I was off. Remember my gift, young dragon, as it may save you where others have not." With a quick nod and a quick kiss to the elders mate, he took a few steps and vanished. Looking where the bundle was, he was astonished to find a complete set of armour, seemingly, made just for him. Looking back at his father and mother in law, he was surprised to find them kissing each other while whispering lust filled nothings in each others ear. Shaking his head, he laid his head across his forepaws and was soon asleep. He never even felt Serene cover him with the blanket or even feel her slide in beside him.

A few days later, Shadow walked out of the cave for the first time since his ceremony. Amassed near the towns centre, Serene had gathered the majority of the village members to celebrate Shadow's ceremony. A great feast was to happen in his honour. Not only because he became a full member of the village, but also for the great privilege of being blessed by the very god they prayed to. Also it was to be a wedding feast, for the two would soon become mates, not only in name, but body as well. A place would be chosen by the elders of the village where the newlyweds were to mate until the very sky became filled with their fires of passion. But for now, a day of feasting and revelry would ensue.

"Shadow, welcome back." An older dragon, a brownish-red, waved him over to the place of honour. Smiling, he headed towards the head of the massive table set with more food than he thought was possible. Waiting for him at the head of the table sat Serene herself. She took his breath away. Her scales were polished to a mirror finish as well as ribbons and fine cloth tied amongst her horns. Blushing, he took his place beside her.

"Shadow Lightscale, for your prowess in combat as well as your extraordinary recovery, you have been deemed worthy of my daughter's hand." Shadow looked at the elder, smiled, and cleared his throat. The entire table quieted down to hear what he was going to say.

"Esteemed elders and fellow peers, I thank you for this wonderful meal we are about to voraciously consume," a few fits of laughter erupted at this. "Even though I have been deemed worthy, I still feel humble amongst you. It was a twist of fate that allowed me to win that bout. Without the aid of that bolt, I would have surely lost." He bowed his head in respect for Thorek. Serene told him about his death late in the night when he awoke shivering. "Although I may have been bullied in my youth, I never let that get me down. I stood steadfast and resolute and held my temper in check. And for that, I became who I am now." The crowd erupted with cheers and more than one dragon pounded him on the back, being careful not to hit him too hard. Looking at Serene, he noticed a tear was falling from her eye.

"What's wrong, my love?" Shadow whispered. "It's nothing. I'm just so happy for us. You managed to prove to the village that you deserve to be here." Smiling, he leaned in close.

"I also proved to them something else too. That even a half-breed deserves love." And with that, he kissed her, not lightly, like before his match, but deeply, with conviction. The table roared out and the festivities began. Many barrels of drink had passed around, as did mountains of food. All the while, Shadow and Serene enjoyed the festivities as friends and family congratulated them. Many gifts of homemade care were given to them, like cookware and warm blankets, as winter was fast approaching. What surprised even them, though, was the village blacksmith, an aging green dragon, had given both dragons a bundle. He said, as he gave them these gifts, "I hope they do well for both of you."

Thanking him, they opened the blacksmiths gifts. Inside was a sword made for Shadow and a bow made for Serene. The sword was made from the finest steel he could procure and the sheathe and strapping's were made from the hide of a great grizzly bear. The bow was made with the strength of an oak tree but with the flexibility of a yew. Arrows were also provided; each shaft had the mark of the village. The blacksmiths parting words were, "Just in case you need some extra help." They all shared a laugh and thanked him again. As dusk approached, Serene's father approached them as the feast almost wound to a close and the evening festivities were about to start.

"Shadow, although I raised you as a son, you need to know something." Shadow looked at him as he spoke. He was unsure of what he meant, so he waited. "There is someone you should meet, alone. To the east side of the village, there is a point that juts out over the river. If you go there, you may find some answers to questions you have yet to ask." All the while, Serene listened and after her father was done, she asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?" Shadow looked at her, leaned in close and began to nibble under her chin.

"If I go, I may find out something. Your father wouldn't have brought this to my attention unless it was important. Besides, I have a mate to get back to." Serene blushed at his final few words as what was going to happen tonight would change their lives. Excusing himself, Shadow walked to the point his father in law indicated. Reaching the point took longer than he was expecting. Looking around he could just barely see the fires being lit to illuminate the area in the village.

"It's good to finally see you, Shadow." Spinning around, he was startled to find a male black dragon, slightly higher than him, but definitely more aged, watching his reaction. "Who are you? And how do you know my name?" The male laughed. "It's been many moons since your egg was laid. My condolences to your mother. It must have been hard to hear the truth of her death." Shadow took a couple of steps back. His wings flaring slightly, he stopped and repeated himself, "Who are you?" The black dragon walked around him and sized him up. "My name is, well, hard to pronounce. Its literal meaning is 'Hunter under the Moon' so Hunter would suit just fine." As the black dragon finished his circle, he sat in front of Shadow, face to face. "Your eyes are just like hers, as well as your form. You grew up to be a fine dragon, if I say so myself. If your mother were here, she would swell with pride at what her son has accomplished." Shadow looked confused. "How do you know what she would be like?" A sudden flash of recognition hit Shadow like an arrow. The way he chose his words, the mannerisms, were all identical to himself.

"You know now, don't you? You know who I am."

"Father?"

"Yes son, I am the feral your mother fell in love with all those moons ago." Shadow felt anger at this point and reached out and grabbed the black dragon's neck.

"Why didn't you stay? Even a feral would have been welcomed in the village. I could have been taught by you, to know my father, learn under him." Hunter looked at Shadows eyes, but instead of seeing anger, he saw sadness. "I would have enjoyed nothing less than to have been a part of your life. I could have shown you how to hunt, taught you skills you would need to survive outside of the village."

"Then why didn't you stay?" A single tear wound its way down the side of Shadows face. Reaching out, Hunter wiped it away. "Because, son, if I did, you and the village wouldn't be here today." Shadow let go of his neck. "What do you mean?" Before Hunter could respond, a twig snapped behind then and Serene walked out into the open. "Serene, what's wrong?" Then the smell of blood hit him. Racing to her side, he spied several long slashes along her side and neck, and they were bleeding.

"Shadow, the village... it's gone."

Looking towards the village, he shook in shock. It was burning. "Son, stand aside. I can heal her." Hunter muttered under his breath as the spells he wove soon took effect. The bleeding slowed then stopped altogether as the wounds closed. Shadow nuzzled Serene once Hunter backed away. "What happened? Why is the village ablaze?" Serene took a few deep breaths before she began. "They came out of nowhere. Before we could even to begin to defend ourselves, half of the villagers were cut down. Didn't matter if they were younglings or not. The only reason I managed to make it out was because of my father. As soon as the village came under attack, he pushed me into one of the storage sheds. Luckily, no one noticed me. After the noise died down, I walked out of the building. As I did so it collapsed on me. That's how I got all cut up." Shadow wrapped his forelegs around her as she cried into his shoulder. "Stay here, you two. I'll be back in a moment." Shadow nodded and watched as his father quickly ran to what was left of the village.

"My father, he's dead. Everyone we've ever known is dead."

"What attacked?" Shadow asked as Serene burst into another wave of tears. "I don't know. We never saw them. All I heard before they started to fall was a wailing shriek. It seemed the very shadows came alive."

Shadow continued to hold her as she started shaking. A noise alerted him to his fathers return. "Whatever attacked is long gone. Even the bodies are gone. Whatever they were, they were strong enough to carry dead weight."

"The evil today was wrought of black sorcery."

Spinning around, Shadow saw Bahamut standing behind him with sadness in his azure eyes. "Bahamut? What are you doing here?" "I came to see if you were alright. I could feel a great evil had been set loose in this world." Hunter walked over to them and bowed his head in respect.

"I was wondering when you would show up again. Son, these seemed to be untouched so I grabbed them for you." Looking down, Shadow was relieved to find the sword and bow, plus the armour, was still in one piece. "Thank you. You said the armour would serve more purpose than you thought. What did you mean by that?" Bahamut walked over to the bundles and hefted the sword up in his one forepaw.

"The armour was enchanted to be worn only by you. It has power but only under the direst of circumstances could it be used." He spun the sword in a few arcs. "This sword is well balanced. But enough idle talk. If you wish to remain safe, I suggest we leave this place and find something a little more secure." Setting the sword down, he made a few gestures in the air and a portal appeared beside him.

"Shall we?"