The void dragon rose early the next morning, feeling vibrant and at the same time nervous. He glanced around at the other dragons sharing a cave with him, still sleeping. Their soft snores echoed throughout the large cave that he had been sent to. It had been a bit difficult to get used to, after spending so many years by himself, but now he was reasonably comfortable with the other dragons. They talked often, and he had even befriended a few. A cave by himself wouldn't be that bad though.

He shook himself, getting rid of the stiffness in his bones and wings that came from lying down for long periods of time, and walked to the edge of the cave. It was about halfway up The Nest, and had a reasonable drop down to the floor below. Iraliene had moved him here after Raize's equilibrium, hoping he would find someone, probably under the assumption that he hadn't found anyone yet. But he had.

He smiled at the thought of what was supposed to be happening that day. The 'battle' between Silver and him. A battle that would decide whether or not they were right for one another. He doubted many other dragons realised the significance of the fights. There really was only one other who could have figured it out, or a mind dragon, but no mind dragon had come forward to face her.

It was really quite simple when he thought about it. Every fight Silver had had with the other dragons had started with a simple hop, or jump, or step, to the side, either left or right. Every single one. When she had done it with Gravon he had been a little confused as to why? It wasn't exactly the smartest way to start a fight. It had crossed his mind that she had done it to confuse the other dragon, but when in the next fight she did exactly the same thing he began to wonder. When he had seen her battle with Raize the day before, and she hadn't done it, he realised that it was something specific, and not just a strange thing she did before a fight. Of course, a dragon would have to know what the hop was before responding to it, in the proper way.

He landed on the ground below, scraping the stone with his claws as he skidded to a halt. There was something that bothered him however. Zepos. He liked the lightning drake, even if they did both love the same dragoness. After he had made his announcement Zepos had stormed away, angry and hurt. It made Retrix slightly guilty for doing this to him, and in some ways he regretted his decision. Nothing was worse the betraying a friend.

He sighed, coming to a stop before the tunnel that led from The Nest and into The Training Centre, leaning against a rock wall. He loved Silver; there was no denying that. And he had loved her for a long time, ever since their talk just before Eldawin's Syndicate. At least, that's when he began to feel something greater then simple friendship for her, but then she was with Zepos.

He second-guessed himself for a moment, glancing around the area. There weren't many other dragons out at the moment. A fire dragoness was walking over to one of the lower caves, the 'hatchlings cave', for any dragon between one and seven. There was an earth dragon, sitting on a tall rock in the centre of The Nest, just looking over everything. The two made eye contact and Retrix snorted slightly, before turning to look down the tunnel again.

No, he had made this decision. He wouldn't go back on it. He guessed he would try and make it up to his lightning friend later, after this had all settled down. But, he may fail this little challenge as well, and if that happened he was quite sure Zepos would succeed. He had known Silver for longer after all.

Taking a deep breath and regaining his resolve Retrix padded down the tunnel, going slowly. The fight wouldn't be until a little later in the day, but he wanted to be ready for it. Even if the test was what he thought it was, he doubted it would be the same as what they had done previously. Knowing Silver, she probably had thought up some more dangerous element to add to the challenge.

The Training Centre was far more empty then usual, though not many dragons did go there that early in the morning. So Retrix had it all to himself, besides a wind and water dragon sparring at one corner. He walked over to a punching bag and began to swing at it, loosing himself to mindless thudding of scales and straw, clearing his head of any doubts and worries that he may have.

* * *

"So you think Retrix figured it out, ha?" Celestia said, curling her tail around the three hatchlings still sleeping in her nest.

Silver nodded, her tail tapping on the ground behind her in anxiety. She didn't know whether to be exited, or to dread the upcoming battle. Zepos had not looked happy after the void dragons announcement, and she didn't want to loose him. It still confused her as to which drake would be the best. She loved them both, but in the end this test was supposed to help her decide.

"Yes," the metallic dragoness answered her friend's question.

"Are you... happy about that?"

"Yes, well sought of," Silver shuffled her wings, "It makes me slightly nervous knowing that I'll most likely have a mate by the end of the day, and I still don't know who he will be."

Celestia laughed, causing one of the light hatchlings to stir slightly and yowl it his mother in annoyance.

"Hush, sorry, go back to sleep," the dragoness nuzzled her offspring, and he yawned before curling up tighter next to his brother and sister.

Silver watched the exchange with a small smile. She wondered what it would be like to have hatchlings of her own, and couldn't help but be slightly excited by the prospect. She didn't know if she was ready for such a step however. Helping Celestia had made her realise just how hard the challenge was. While the hatchlings were asleep however she just adored them.

"Did you want him to figure it out?" asked the light dragoness, continuing with the conversation in a quieter tone.

"I wanted one of them to, I couldn't choose which one," sighed Silver, lying down on her stomach.

"But you still love Zepos?"

"I love them both."

"You know you will have to choose one day, in your mind. Even if you do end up with one of them today, you will have to make the decision between them. You'll have to choose who you love."

"I know," the metallic dragoness sighed, before standing up on all fours and glancing toward the exit of the cave, "I should go. It'll be starting soon. Won't you come and watch?"

"No, I'm looking after these three," Celestia smiled, gesturing to the hatchlings, "Tell me how it goes afterward."

"I will," Silver said, before turning and trotting over to the edge of the cave, launching into the air with open wings.

* * *

Zepos slowly made his way toward where the fight would be taking place. He didn't know what to think, and he hadn't slept well the previous night. It had put him in a state of confusion, all of this. He loved Silver, and she knew he loved him, so why was it so hard for them to come together. She had resisted for so long, he could see that now, and he wanted to know why.

Taking a deep breath he shook himself, getting rid of the feelings of resentment. He had been very surprised when Retrix had made his announcement, and afterward he had felt betrayed, and frightened. It seemed as though the world had been turned on his head, but deep inside he knew something.

If Silver really did love him, she would win this clash, and afterward she would move forward with him. The thought made him a little eager but also frightened. What if she lost? What if she did end up becoming tied to someone else? He had liked Silver for a long time, far longer then anyone else, and although he had been a bit of a jerk when he was younger, now he was a changed dragon. However, if she lost, then it was all for naught.

What scared him the most was that Silver had not defeated Retrix in an all out fight before. She had always had help against the void dragon, either through himself or Merene; one of them had always been there. This time however it would be far different. He took deep breath and continued to move forward toward the battle to come.

* * *

There was a rather large crowd awaiting Silver as she walked into the Training Centre for what she knew would be the late battle for her mate. Merene nodded a greeting to her, in which she returned with a nod of her own. The mind dragoness seemed to have been a little tired lately, and besides the battles, Silver hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk with her friend.

On the other side of the arena was Retrix, looking a little uncomfortable with all the attention. The two made eye contact and he smiled hesitantly, a smile that Silver returned. He stood up from where he was sitting and moved over to the centre of the arena. Silver joined him, and for a moment the pair simply watched one another.

"I just want you to know... I love you Silver, not matter the outcome," the void dragon spoke softly, and carefully, as if every word was fragile.

The dragoness smiled at him, "I feel the same way... Retrix."

He grinned back, seeming to grow a little more confident from her words, standing straighter, his wings outstretched. He bowed to her, dipping his head in a fluid movement.

"Then let us begin," he said.

Silver glanced at Merene, who was standing in front of the crowd, and nodded her head. The mind dragoness returned the gesture, her eyes glancing over the two dragons.

"Ready!" she called over the crowd, causing them to fall silent in eager anticipation.

Silver lowered herself to the ground, spreading her wings and adopting a stance that allowed her to move freely and quickly without worry of one of her limbs getting in the way. Retrix copied the stance, though he stood a little taller, his tail curled up behind him as if he was ready to whip it forward.

"Go!" Merene's surprisingly strong voice echoed throughout the room, causing the dragons near her to growl slightly in surprised. It seemed as though the mind dragoness was eager for this fight as well.

Both Silver and Retrix moved, the metal dragon hopping to the left and the drake moving to the right. Her heart thudded slightly at his movement, and she smiled. He had figured it out after all. He grinned back, his legs gathering underneath him, prepared to pounce forward, but Silver was there first, leaping with an outstretched wing as if aiming to hit the other dragon. He expected the manoeuvre, but instead of dodging he leapt forward as well, just ducking under the strike and using his own wing to brush it upwards in a miss. The two dragons landed on opposite side, backs facing one another. Silver's heart was racing in excitement, and her tail twisted. He had done it. She spun around, only to have Retrix copy her and once again they were facing one another.

"Your ready?" she grinned.

"As I'll ever be," he replied.

Silver moved, suddenly leaping upwards with a sweep of her wings and launching herself skyward. Retrix followed with a batter of his own wings and together the two dragons flew upwards, slowly closing the gap that was between them until they were nearly touching. As they approached the top Silver flared her wings, pulling herself to a hovering stop, and swinging around, whipping her tail out and catching the drake's chest. He grunted slightly, flying backwards to catch his balance. He tilted his head at her, slightly confused.

"It's still a battle," she grinned.

He snorted back, "You and you're fighting."

It was in a joking manner, and was followed by a smile in her direction, "So be it."

Silver returned the smile, before pulling herself into a dive and rushing toward the floor below. The void dragon followed, aiming to keep up with her not matter what she did. They fell, back to back, until they were but a couple of metres away from the ground. Silver pulled open her wings, and pushed herself forward, narrowly skimming across the ground. Retrix repeated the action, though flying in the opposite direction instead.

The dragons in the crowd gasped at the dangerous stunt. If one of them had crashed, then they would most definitely have broken something, and in that position in most likely would have been their neck.

"What are they doing?" muttered Raize, watching from the sideline with confusion.

"They're... dancing," Zepos growled in surprise, finally realising what Retrix had realised the day before, "That's what she was doing."

"What are you talking about?" the fire dragon glanced at him, but Zepos didn't answer, only watching the 'fight' with more worry then before.

As they two dragons pulled away from one another Silver glanced back at Retrix, gathering metal in her throat and firing a stream of elronium toward the fleeing void dragon. He saw it however and retaliated with his own blast of purple energy. The dragoness twisted out of the way, flying left in a loop. The void dragon once again easily followed her lead, twisting away to the right and flying back towards her. The two dragons passed each other in the middle, not even touching as they flew by before banking upwards toward the roof of the cavern once more.

Silver launched a volley of tail spikes in the other dragon's direction, causing him to dodge out of the way and allowing her to surge forward. Retrix snorted and opened the void, plunging into it and teleporting upwards to equal her once again. They reached the roof of the cave and turned inward, flying upside down to meet each other once again.

As Retrix watched her, he was surprised to see her shell shrinking from her wings, tail and neck, and growled slightly when her speed suddenly increased by a massive amount, leaving the void drake far behind. With a small snarl he rose to the challenge, opening the void and teleporting once again, trying to keep up with her.

They met in the middle of the roof and pulled into another dive. This time however, they clashed into each other, Silver gripping the other dragon with her claws and pulled them into a spin, plummeting toward the ground below. He didn't try to break the hold, and simply went with it. Together they fell.

The dragons below watched the dive, wondering if they were going to attempt a similar manoeuvre to the previous one. But it quickly became apparent that they weren't, and a murmuring began amongst the dragons. A few of them were a little confused as to what was happening, but others watched in both amazement and fear. The rumour that they were dancing had gone through the crowd. Many of them hadn't known about this part of dragon custom, and the ones that did were surprised to see it in action.

As they came to the ground Silver spread her wings, slowing their descent but not stopping it completely. Retrix blinked as he suddenly found himself on the bottom of the fall. He tried to open his wings as well, but it was already to late. Instead he found himself slammed into the stone below, grunting slightly in pain. He tried to throw her off, but Silver held him down with surprising strength, letting her shell grow over her back once more.

"I win," she said with a small grin.

Retrix struggled a little more, before relaxing with a grin, "I don't think so."

Suddenly the floor below them opened, and Silver let out a grunt of surprise as they fell into the void. It was black coldness for just a moment, before the warmth and light of the world was back. It took a moment for Silver to catch up with what had happened, but once she did she found herself on her back with Retrix on top, his tail curled around hers and his paw on her throat, pinning her down.

"Got ya," he grinned.

Silver struggled for a moment, but the void dragons hold was far to strong for her to break. She considered doing what she had done when Firefly had held her in the same position, and grow spikes from her tail. She immediately discounted the idea however. It was over.

"I yield," the metal dragoness spoke softly, her heart thudding in her chest once again.

Retrix smiled and stepped back, letting her up once again. Silver lay on her back for a moment, thinking through what had just happened, before rolling to her feet and glancing at the void dragon with a small smile. He smiled back, and bowed to her again.

"Silver," he said, his voice echoing throughout the arena, "Will you be my mate?"

She looked at him for a moment, surprised at the question. She thought their dance had answered the question already, but then she took the true meaning behind what he was asking. She looked into the crowd, making eye contact with Zepos. He looked back with an unreadable expression, but there was a hope in his eyes. A hope that she would say no.

She glanced back at the void dragon. He still had his head bowed, and his sides moved slightly with his breathing, recovering from the dance. She then looked back at Zepos. Then Retrix. Zepos. Retrix. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, thinking, just for a moment, before opening them again. She had made her decision.

"Retrix, I..." her voice was cut off by a sudden siren blasting through the arena, causing her to jump in surprise with a growl. Many of the dragons watching the fight let out cries of alarm, looking up as a red flashing light illuminated the cave. It was followed by a statement, one that drove fear into every dragon in the arena.

"We are under attack. I repeat, Sky Mountain is under attack!" came the voice of a dragon Silver didn't recognise, "The illusion around us has been broken! A.O.D.H is attacking!"

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Hey guys! New chapter! I hope you enjoyed, vote if you did and comment what you thought. Next chapter will be out as soon as I can get it. See Ya!

Pennator^^