Storm and Aurora looked at each other embarrassed, before they both got to their feet and got serious again.
"You're really not responsible for this?" Asked Aurora.
Storm shook his head.
"I have no idea what happened? Something just 'activated' and went to them?" Explained Storm.
Orian looked at his body in awe.
"I'm big now!! I'm big now!!" Exclaimed Orian excitedly.
"Orian?! Is that you in there?" Asked Storm.
His son frowned at his enquiry.
"Of course it's me, father?! Who else would it be?!" Asked his son.
Storm realized that although his son now resembled an adult ,and his mind was more mature.
Mimereus's full memory hadn't been unlocked for some reason.
"Forgive me, Orian. I suppose I'm still in shock." Evaded Storm.
As shocked as Storm might have been, it hit Aurora even harder.
The exhaustion from the day's events, Storm's sudden awakening and transformation, and now her children's spontaneously maturing.
All of it was too much for her brain to process all at once, so it did the only thing it could and shut down completely.
"I... don't feel..." Stammered Aurora as she began to stagger.
Realizing what was going to happen next, Storm quickly caught her before she could hit the ground.
"Mom!!" Called Orian and quickly rushed over to her.
"What happened!!?" Asked Orian concerned.
"Relax, son! Today's events were just too much for her! Let her rest and process it." Stated Storm.
He stroked the hair of her mane gently as she rested in his lap.
"How do you feel, son." Asked Storm.
"Strange... If I'm honest... but I'm eager to see what this new body is capable of." Stated Orian.
"As am I." Stated Chrome.
"I guess this solves our dilemma now!!" Stated Orian.
Storm cocked his head in confusion, not understanding what his son was hinting at.
"You said we needed to grow more before we can join you in battle!
If I'm recalling correctly, we're more mature now than you were when you had your proper first fight.
I see no reason for us to sit on the sidelines anymore!" Stated Orian.
"Not so fast, son! You may have the body of an adult, but you lack the knowledge of how to use it properly!" Retorted his father.
"Actually we do! It's strange, but I have an innate understanding of this form's capabilities." Stated Orian.
"As do I! And there's something else too. I have an innate, almost instinctual understanding of weapons and strategies of war. I'm not sure where it's coming from, but it's like I've studied them all my life!" Stated Chrome.
"I... don't have that? Maybe it's one of your new abilities?" Stated Orian.
"Which weapons?" Asked Storm.
"All of them! If it's used in battle, then I can fight with it!" Stated Chrome confidently.
"Easy there! Skill in fights are more than just knowing facts! You need practice and experience or that knowledge will mean nothing. " stated Storm.
"So if the Order were to attack right now? You would sit out from the fighting because you don't know your new body's capabilities?" Asked Chrome.
"..."
"Thought as much!!" Said Chrome with a grin.
Orian rolled his eyes.
"I'm starting to think you'll never run out of excuses for us not fighting with you!!
You want us to prove ourselves, Fine!? Let's have a friendly spar!? Father VS Sons!? Will be a good bonding experience for us!" Suggested Orian.
"I'm somewhat concerned that you think trying to beat up your father is a 'good bonding experience '!" Stated Storm.
"Who said anything about 'trying'?" Asked Chrome with a grin.
Storm thought about it for a moment.
"Fine! But let's get your mother home first!"
After dropping Aurora off at their nest, the entire family made their way to the arena where disputes were resolved.
The family spoke to the official, who immediately canceled all the events in order to make room.
No one seemed to mind though and news quickly spread through the city until the spectator stands were completely filled.
No one seemed to recognize Orian and Chrome and there was a great deal of speculation as to who Storm's mysterious opponents were.
The most accepted theory was that they were rival dragon clan princes, coming to test their leader's capabilities.
Storm stood on the opposite side of the arena while he waited for his children's opening move.
Orian opened his mouth and a golden glow formed at the back of his throat, Storm crouched and prepared to dodge the incoming breath attack.
"Too predictable, son!!" Thought Storm.
Despite his preparation, Storm never actually saw the attack landing.
He just saw the glow brighten, then he was struck by something heavy and hot in the chest and sent flying into the wall behind him before he even had a chance to move.
"Are you ok!!?" Asked Orian with concern.
Storm gave no reply and instead used a shadow jumping ability similar to the ones he'd seen Leyocan use to close the distance between him and his son.
As Storm landed next to his son, he tried to swat him with a claw, but Orian ducked underneath the blow.
Once it passed overhead Orian twisted through the air and tried to counterattack.
Only to find nothing standing in the location.
"Shi..." Thought Orian before a hard blow from behind sent him face first into the ground.
Storm heard something fast whistling though the air and instinctively dodged through the air as a sharp silver dart flew though the space he stood a moment ago.
Looking in the direction where it flew from, he saw Chrome standing a short distance away with all the tips of his scales standing on end.
Giving him an appearance of a spiky lizard.
He jumped into the air and curled up into a fetal position, tucking in his wings, neck and legs as well as wrapping his tail around himself.
The spikes along his spine suddenly lengthened and his whole body began to spin.
Giving him an appearance of a saw blade.
Storm stepped backwards and as Chrome flew at him, he dived aside as the saw dug into the arena wall.
Forming a thick dust cloud and hiding him from view. Storm stood ready in case Chrome flew at him again at high speed. But the still curled up Chrome instead shot straight into the air.
Spinning in the air, he fired several steel scales in Storm's direction, which Storm dodged or destroyed before they hit him.
Once his maneuver was done, he landed on all fours next to Orian.
"Impressive! But you'll need to be better if you want to earn a place here!" Said Storm.
He twisted through the air as shadows wrapped around him and concealed him from view.
He dropped down on the ground in his humanoid dragon form and made a beckoning gesture to his opponents.
Chrome and Orian exchanged glances, before their bodies lighted up and hid them from view.