Storm walked over to Orian and Chrome and placed a hand on each dragon's shoulder.
Slowly he drew the residual lightning energy out of their bodies.
Once this energy left their bodies, their rebellious muscles obeyed their commands again.
And yet, the two dragons still did not rise to their feet.
Orian did his best to avert his eyes and looked so disappointed that he seemed close to crying.
Chrome on the other hand looked guilty and ashamed at his inability to help his good friend realize his dream.
Storm looked at the two in pity and felt a pang of regret for his actions.
"Why couldn't I just let him win for once!?" Thought Storm.
He knew why this was necessary, Orian and Chrome had become drunk on the new power flowing through their bodies.
It made them cocky and overconfident, made them believe they were invincible.
They needed to be humbled, or else that overconfidence could have caused their deaths if they ever encountered a real opponent.
Storm hadn't anticipated how hard a lesson this would have been for Orian to learn however.
Storm placed a claw underneath Orian's chin and forced him to look him in the eye.
"Walk with me!" Stated Storm.
Without another word, Storm turned around and walked out of the arena. The crowd still cheering for the combatants.
After a moment, Orian and Chrome rose to their feet and followed.
They took a slow walk through the city in the general direction of their home, but Storm choose and indirect path and he walked slowly while he considered how he was going to mend his son's broken pride.
"I'm sorry for being rough on you, son. But you needed to see what fighting a real opponent would be like. " started Storm.
"It's ok, I'm not angry, Just disappointed! I had all this power and we outnumbered you! And yet it wasn't enough! We should have won!" Exclaimed Orian.
"And can you tell me why you lost?" Asked Storm.
Orian hesitated before whispering what Storm was hoping he would say.
"Because you have more experience..." stated Orian.
"Exactly, son!! No one is born a great warrior!! They have to work on it and practice for years, even decades before reaching it!!" Said Storm.
"In his defense, he has been practicing, sir. We both have. But no matter how hard we work, it never seems like it's enough!" Stated Chrome as he tried to defend his friend.
"Because you're trying to grow too fast! You're trying to reach the endpoint, while trying to skip the time it takes to reach it!" Stated Storm.
"It's just.... humans grow so fast, father!! In 18 years, they're ready to join a battle... at 13, they can wield and practice with a blade!!
Us dragons takes so long to mature... 50 years to reach the equivalent of a 18 year old human...
The war could be over by then... you and mom could both be dead at that point!! I can't accept that..." stated Orian.
Orian sighed..
"But I suppose it doesn't matter anymore... you gave me a chance to impress you and I blew it!!" Stated Orian.
"I never said you didn't impress me." Replied Storm.
"... so... you'll let me fight?..." asked Orian.
" 'Us'!! You mean 'Us'!!" Stated Chrome .
Storm sighed.
"Yes... I'll let you fight..."
Both Orian and Chrome jumped like excited hatchlings at the news.
"Not so fast!! I have conditions!!" Storm quickly Retorted.
Orian and Chrome watched him suspiciously.
"You can join any mission 'I' personally approve or if you are attacked and have to defend yourself, but while doing so I expect you to follow my orders without question!
If I tell you to run, you will run or I swear I'll tan both your hides in front of the entire army, understand!!" Stated Storm .
"Yes father!! Yes, Sir!!" Exclaimed both Dragons simultaneously.
"My next condition is that since it would be awkward for 2 grown up dragons to attend the Regimen with Children dragons, I'll have to find some other way for you two to keep learning there.
The whole purpose of the Regimen is to make it easier for you to enter adult life in the city.
You 2 were already behind in these classes and now you're going to have an even harder time!!" Stated Storm.
Storm thought on it a bit more but couldn't find an immediate solution, forcing him to put it aside for now.
"My final condition is that you two at least try and patch things up with your friends.
Orian and Chrome immediately tried to object but Storm Stopped them.
It wasn't fair what you two did to them, I realize that you and them probably won't have much in common anymore but you still owe it to them to explain yourselves to them.
It's the least you could do." Stated Storm.
"B-but, wouldn't it be weird that 2 adults are hanging out with these children?" Asked Orian.
"People would think we're creeps!!!" Stated Chrome.
"Do you consider Razor or Kalipso creeps when they're at the schoolhouse?" Asked Storm with amusement.
"Of course not!! They're teachers though!!" Stated Orian.
Storm suddenly grinned as he just realized he'd accidentally found a way to solve all problems at once.
"Chrome!! Didn't you say you were granted an innate understanding of strategy after your growth?" Asked Storm.
"Yes, Why?" Asked Chrome.
"What about you, Orian?" Asked Storm.
"I'd say my knowledge on magic improved! I was already a savant according to Auntie Razor, but it seems much clearer now than before.
Not that it helped me to win." Stated Orian sadly.
"I think I've just found two new instructors for the Regimen. " stated Storm.
Chrome and Orian did not like the sound of that.
Storm, Orian and Chrome entered their dwelling at roughly the same time that Aurora woke up from her unplanned nap.
Storm entered first and as he walked in Aurora suddenly spoke up.
"Storm I had the strangest dreams!! I dreamt that after you woke up both my babies grew and beca..." started Aurora.
"Hey, mom!!" Stated Orian.
"Hi, Ma'am!!" Stated Chrome.
Aurora stared open mouthed at her now adult children. One of Storm's heads grinned sheepishly, while the other avoided eye contact.
"Wasn't a dream, honey!!"