Zephirion's Castle - Chaos Ensues

Zephirion was already regretting his life choices.

The moment Valerion arrived at the castle, he practically tackled him in a suffocating hug.

"My dear old friend!" Valerion grinned, squeezing him tightly. "You're finally getting married! Oh, this is the best news I've heard in centuries!"

Zephirion exhaled sharply, struggling to push him off. "Valerion, release me before I burn you alive."

Valerion only laughed, kicking his feet in excitement like an overgrown child.

Before Zephirion could escape, the doors to the throne room swung open again, and this time-

Caelum entered.

Unlike Valerion, he wasn't smiling. In fact, he looked like he was experiencing a full mental breakdown.

He strode forward, grabbed Zephirion by the collar, and started shaking him.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Caelum demanded. "YOU?! MARRIED?! TO A HUMAN?!"

Valerion cackled as Zephirion simply sighed in exhaustion.

"Stop shaking me, Caelum," Zephirion muttered. "You look ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?!" Caelum snapped. "What's ridiculous is YOU MARRYING SOMEONE! What happened to 'I will never need a queen'? What happened to-"

"-'Humans are weak and insignificant'?" Valerion finished teasingly.

Caelum paused, staring at Zephirion in horror.

"Don't tell me... you've actually fallen in love?"

Zephirion smirked, but before he could reply-

The throne room doors BURST OPEN again.

A furious Aeris stormed in, her blue eyes blazing.

"YOU STUPID, OVERGROWN LIZARD! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" she shouted, marching straight toward Zephirion.

Valerion and Caelum froze at the sheer intensity of her rage.

Zephirion simply raised a brow.

"HOW DARE YOU MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WITHOUT TELLING ME?!" Aeris ranted. "WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT-"

She stopped mid-rant.

Her furious glare froze, her mouth slightly open as her eyes landed on-

The two unfamiliar figures.

A tall, white-haired man with a sharp, noble face and golden eyes was staring at her in shock. Next to him, a red-haired man with bright crimson eyes was trying (and failing) to hold back his laughter.

There was a moment of complete silence.

Aeris blinked.

Caelum, still shocked, blinked.

Valerion grinned.

Zephirion watched, completely amused.

Aeris slowly looked between the two dragons, then at Zephirion, then back at the dragons.

Her face flushed red.

"...Uh."

She cleared her throat and suddenly took a step back.

For the first time, she didn't know what to say.

Valerion grinned mischievously. "Ohhh? Who's this little firecracker?"

Caelum, still looking at her in confusion, adjusted his royal cloak. "Is this... the human?"

Zephirion finally stood up, stepping forward with his usual calm arrogance.

"Aeris," he purred, enjoying her embarrassment. "You're interrupting an important conversation."

Aeris snapped out of her daze and immediately glared.

"I wouldn't have interrupted if YOU DIDN'T DROP THAT BOMBSHELL ABOUT MARRIAGE!" she hissed, pointing at him.

Valerion burst into laughter. "Oh, I like her."

Caelum, however, still looked deeply confused. He glanced at Zephirion, then at Aeris, then back at Zephirion.

"This... is your bride?" he asked, as if trying to process the information.

Zephirion smirked.

"Yes."

Aeris choked on air again.

"NO, I AM NOT-"

"Not yet," Zephirion interrupted smoothly.

Valerion clapped enthusiastically. "Oh, this is going to be fun!"

Caelum rubbed his temples. "This is going to give me a headache."

Aeris, flustered and furious, took a deep breath and turned to Zephirion.

"WE ARE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THIS!"

Zephirion chuckled, his red eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Oh, Little Blossom," he murmured.

SILENCE.

Caelum and Valerion both choked violently.

Caelum almost fell to the floor, coughing. Valerion clutched his stomach, gasping.

"Did... did he just-" Valerion wheezed, eyes wide in disbelief.

Caelum looked pale. "I think I need a drink."

Aeris froze in shock before her face turned red with pure irritation.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT, YOU STUPID LIZARD!" she snapped, fuming.

Valerion gasped dramatically. "She called him a lizard. I LOVE HER."

Zephirion smirked.

Caelum looked like he was on the verge of fainting.

This was not what he expected today.

To be continued