Mastering the Ways of Dragons

Back in the heavenly golden palace, Ao Bing found Ne Zha and Xiaohei in the imperial garden. His husband was in his child form, showing their son-in-law some new firework techniques, both of them laughing as sparks danced around them.

Their joy made what he had to say even harder.

"Ao Lui will be staying with his grandfather for a while," Ao Bing announced, trying to keep his voice casual. "He wants to learn more about his dragon heritage."

Xiaohei's ears immediately perked up with concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course," Ao Bing assured him smoothly, hating the necessity of the partial truth. "It's just... overdue. He should know this part of himself."

A month crawled by. The golden palace felt emptier without Ao Lui's presence.

Xiaohei grew increasingly restless. One afternoon, he found Ao Bing in the palace library, poring over ancient scrolls.

"Father Bing," Xiaohei said softly, his tail swishing nervously. "I miss him. Couldn't I visit? Even just for a day?"

Ao Bing looked up, his heart aching at the longing in his son-in-law's eyes. He set down his scroll with a gentle sigh. "I'm sorry, Xiaohei, but it's not possible. The Dragon King's palace lies in the deepest part of the ocean. The pressure there would crush anyone without dragon blood. Even powerful spirits like yourself wouldn't survive the descent."

Xiaohei's ears drooped, his shoulders slumping. "Oh," he said quietly. "I... I understand."

Xiaohei's ears twitched as a thought occurred to him. "Wait... didn't His Majesty free the dragons from their underwater prison? Why are they still living there?"

Ao Bing's expression softened with understanding. "Ah, you raise a good point. Yes, Ne Zha did free us. But..." he paused, considering how to explain. "Imagine living somewhere for thousands of years. Even if it began as a prison, it still became home. The coral gardens where we played as children, the pearl-lined halls where we learned our first transformations, the deep trenches where we practiced our powers..."

His eyes grew distant with memory. "It's difficult to simply abandon a place that holds so much of your history, even if that history is complicated. The difference now is choice. Before Ne Zha freed us, we were bound there, trapped by ancient magic that prevented us from leaving. Now we come and go as we please."

"My father still rules from the underwater palace, but many dragons have established homes elsewhere. Some live in mountain lakes, others in celestial rivers. My brother Ao Jia spends half his time exploring the mortal realm's waterways." He chuckled softly. "Though Ao Yi rarely leaves the palace - he's always been rather traditional."

"So it's not a prison anymore," Xiaohei said slowly, "just... home?"

"Exactly," Ao Bing nodded. "A home we can leave whenever we wish, but one many of us choose to keep. Especially for important occasions or family matters." He quickly added the last part, hoping to divert attention from why this particular visit was so crucial.

Ao Bing watched as Xiaohei turned to leave, his usual bouncy step replaced by a dejected shuffle. He wanted so badly to tell him the truth - about the baby, about why Ao Lui needed to stay away - but he knew his son's safety had to come first.

"He misses you too," Ao Bing called after him. "More than you know."

Xiaohei paused in the doorway, his tail giving a small hopeful twitch. "Really?"

"Really," Ao Bing confirmed. "He'll come home as soon as he can. I promise."

Xiaohei nodded, forcing a smile before continuing on his way. After he left, Ao Bing returned to his scrolls, but found himself unable to focus on the words. Instead, his thoughts drifted to his son, hoping that Ao Lui was making progress with his transformation. The sooner he mastered his dragon form, the sooner this separation could end.

But for now, all any of them could do was wait.

A month went by, and Xiaohei waited patiently for his husband's return. The white cat dozed in the palace gardens, his tail curled around him as he basked in a patch of sunlight. A sudden roar from above caused his ears to twitch, and he blinked open his green eyes, expecting to see one of the palace's resident dragons.

Instead, his entire body went rigid at the sight before him.

Against the celestial sky soared a dragon unlike any he'd ever seen. Its scales were a mesmerizing shade of purple that seemed to catch and reflect light in impossible ways. Arcs of lightning danced across its serpentine form, creating a corona of violet electricity that lit up the heavens.

Something deep within Xiaohei's heart recognized that form, even though he'd never seen it before. He bolted upright, his white fur standing on end, and took off running. His small cat form darted across the palace grounds, paws barely touching the ground as he raced toward where the dragon was descending.

As he drew closer, he could make out more details. The dragon shared Ao Bing's elegant, serpentine build, but there were distinct differences. Where Ao Bing's horns were smooth and curved, this dragon's horns were sharper, longer, almost crown-like in their arrangement. A wild mane of purple hair flowed down its neck, reminiscent of Ao Lui's unruly waves.

Most striking were the constant surges of purple lightning that emanated from its form. As Xiaohei approached, he felt his fur stand on end, static electricity making his whiskers tingle. The air itself seemed charged with power, crackling with an energy that was both familiar and new.

Only when he reached the landing site did Xiaohei transform back into his humanoid form, coming to an abrupt halt as his body shifted. 

The dragon turned its head, and Xiaohei's heart stopped. Those eyes - though now much larger and more serpentine - were the same striking magenta he'd fallen in love with. They held the same gentle warmth, the same hint of mischief, the same depth of emotion that he knew so well.

"Ao Lui?" he whispered, his voice trembling with awe and recognition.

The dragon lowered its massive head until it was level with Xiaohei, and those familiar eyes crinkled in a way that could only be a smile. Static electricity danced between them as Xiaohei reached out a shaking hand to touch his husband's scaled snout, feeling the warm, smooth texture beneath his fingers and the gentle buzz of electricity that accompanied the contact.

The massive purple dragon began to glow, its form shimmering like light on water. Arcs of lightning wrapped around its serpentine body, creating a cocoon of crackling violet energy. The dragon's form seemed to contract, the scales dissolving into points of light that swirled like a constellation coming together. The electrical energy condensed, becoming more intense as the form shrank, until it was roughly human-sized. With a final pulse of purple light that sent static dancing through the air, the transformation completed.

There stood Ao Lui, his purple hair slightly wild from the electrical energy still dissipating around him, his magenta eyes bright with joy as he smiled at his husband. He looked exactly as Xiaohei remembered, yet somehow different - more confident, more at peace with himself.

Xiaohei didn't hesitate. He threw his arms around Ao Lui, pulling him close and burying his face in his husband's neck. "Welcome home," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Ao Lui returned the embrace just as tightly, breathing in Xiaohei's familiar scent. They stood there for a long moment, simply holding each other, making up for two months of separation.

Finally, Ao Lui pulled back slightly, his expression turning nervous. "Xiaohei, there's something I need to tell you-"

The sound of hurrying footsteps interrupted them. They turned to see Ao Bing and Ne Zha approaching, several palace servants trailing behind them. Ao Bing's face was a mixture of joy and concern as he embraced his son.

"You've mastered the transformation," he said softly, pride evident in his voice. But then his brow furrowed. "Though I didn't expect you to leave the palace so soon. Is everything...?"

"We should celebrate!" Ne Zha declared before Ao Lui could respond, bouncing excitedly in his child form. "Our son has returned and mastered his dragon form! This calls for a feast!"

The servants immediately began discussing preparations, while Ne Zha continued listing all the things they would need for a proper celebration. Amidst the sudden bustle, Ao Lui caught his father's questioning look and gave a small nod, silently communicating that everything was fine.

Once inside the palace, Ao Bing gently pulled his son aside into a quiet alcove, away from the bustling preparations. His face was etched with concern as he studied Ao Lui carefully.

"What happened?" he asked softly. "At this stage of carrying the egg, you shouldn't be able to maintain a humanoid form at all. I certainly couldn't when I was carrying you."

Ao Lui shifted slightly, one hand unconsciously moving to rest on his stomach. "Grandfather says it's different for me," he explained. "Because of my mixed heritage - and the baby's even broader mix of bloodlines - the rules are... different."

"Different how?" Ao Bing pressed, his protective instincts flaring.

"Grandfather ran several tests," Ao Lui continued. "He says that unlike pure dragons, who need to maintain their dragon form throughout the gestation period, my body seems to be adapting to accommodate the egg in either form. He thinks it's because I'm part demon and part spirit as well - my body is more... flexible, I suppose?"

Ao Bing's brow furrowed. "Are you sure it's safe? When I was carrying you, the egg grew so large that maintaining a human form became impossible by this stage."

"Grandfather monitored everything carefully," Ao Lui assured him. "He says the egg is developing normally, just... differently. He thinks my mixed bloodline is actually helping rather than hindering. And since the baby will be even more mixed - adding Xiaohei's spirit blood to the mixture - it seems to be developing in a way that accommodates both forms."

Ao Bing still looked worried, but he nodded slowly. "Father always did know best about these things," he admitted. "If he says it's safe..." He reached out to brush a strand of purple hair from his son's face. "Just promise me you'll be careful? And if anything feels wrong-"

"I'll transform back immediately," Ao Lui promised. "I've gotten quite good at it now, actually." A small smile played at his lips. "Though I think I gave poor Xiaohei quite a shock, showing up like that."

Ao Bing couldn't help but smile as well. "You still haven't told him about the baby?"

Ao Lui shook his head. "I was about to, but then Father Ne Zha appeared with all his party plans..."

"You should tell him soon," Ao Bing advised gently. "He's missed you terribly these past two months."

Ao Lui nodded, his expression softening with love as he thought of his husband. "I will. Tonight, after things quiet down a bit."

Later that night, the celebration was in full swing, lanterns casting a warm glow across the grand hall. Xiaohei approached Ao Lui, holding two cups of celestial wine.

"Here," he offered with a smile, "your favorite."

Ao Lui shook his head gently. "Not tonight," he said, his magenta eyes twinkling with some hidden amusement. "I'm just not in the mood for alcohol right now."

Xiaohei's ears twitched in confusion. Ao Lui had always enjoyed sharing drinks with him at celebrations. As he studied his husband's face, he noticed again that peculiar change in his scent - stronger now than before, with an oddly electric undertone that made his nose tingle.

Across the room, Ao Bing watched the interaction with knowing eyes, a small smile playing at his lips.

Ne Zha, sprawled across his throne in his adult form, caught the look on his husband's face. He was lounging casually, one leg draped over an armrest while he leaned against the other, the picture of relaxed authority. "Hey," he called to Ao Bing, raising an eyebrow. "What's with that face? You and Ao Lui have been acting weird all evening."

Ao Bing turned to his husband, reaching out to straighten Ne Zha's robes with practiced familiarity. "Nothing to worry about," he assured him. "Let's just enjoy the party."

Ne Zha studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "If you say so." He waved to a nearby servant. "More wine over here!"

Throughout the evening, Xiaohei found himself increasingly distracted by Ao Lui's changed scent. His keen feline senses picked up subtle variations he'd never noticed before, and the smell seemed to be growing stronger rather than fainter. It reminded him of something, but he couldn't quite place what - like ozone after a lightning strike, mixed with something warm and nurturing.

He watched as Ao Lui navigated the celebration, noting how his husband seemed to unconsciously rest his hand on his stomach when he thought no one was looking. There was something different about him, beyond just mastering his dragon form. Something that made Xiaohei's protective instincts stir, even though he couldn't explain why.

Eventually, the smell became so strong that Xiaohei stepped into the quiet hallway, trying to clear his head from the overwhelming scent. He needed a moment to collect himself before returning to the celebration.

The sound of hushed voices made his ears prick forward. Two figures stood in an alcove further down the hall - a cat spirit with grey fur and a light deity whose form seemed to shimmer like morning sunlight.

Something made Xiaohei duck behind a pillar, his feline instincts telling him to listen.

"I'm telling you," the cat spirit whispered excitedly, her tail swishing with conviction, "the prince is definitely pregnant. That scent is unmistakable - I smelled it clearly when he passed by our table. I've been around long enough to know what it means when someone's scent changes like that."

"Can cats really tell something like that?" the light deity asked skeptically.

The cat spirit drew herself up proudly. "Of course we can! It's just hormones, after all. Any decent cat spirit worth their whiskers can smell the changes. That warm, nurturing undertone mixed with their natural scent? The slight electrical charge in this case? Classic signs."

Xiaohei felt his world tilt sideways as everything suddenly clicked into place. The mysterious trip to the underwater palace. Ao Lui's refusal to drink. The way Ao Bing kept watching them with that knowing look. The strange new scent that had been driving him crazy...

His husband was pregnant.

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. His legs went weak, and he had to lean against the pillar for support. How had he not realized it sooner? He was a cat spirit too - he should have recognized the signs immediately. But he'd been so distracted by missing Ao Lui, so caught up in his joy at having him home, that he hadn't put the pieces together.

Memories flashed through his mind: Ao Lui's hand constantly resting on his stomach, the way he seemed more protective of his personal space, how he'd mastered his dragon form so quickly when it was apparently crucial for his condition...

Xiaohei's heart raced as another thought struck him - he was going to be a father. They were going to have a baby. A tiny being that would be part cat spirit, part dragon, part demon, part human, part divine...

He barely noticed when the two gossipping spirits moved on, too overwhelmed by this earth-shattering revelation. He needed to find Ao Lui. They needed to talk. But first... first he needed a moment to process this miraculous news.

A smile slowly spread across his face as joy began to replace shock. No wonder Ao Lui had been trying to tell him something earlier before they were interrupted. His tail swished with happiness as he imagined his husband trying to figure out how to break the news.

Well, he would make it easier for him. He'd go back to the party and wait for Ao Lui to tell him in his own time.

Throughout the party, Xiaohei found himself drifting off, lost in thoughts of tiny dragon-cat hybrids with purple fur and magenta eyes. He was so distracted that he almost knocked over a tray of celestial fruits.

"Are you alright?" Ao Lui asked, touching his arm gently. "You seem somewhere else tonight."

Xiaohei laughed, his tail swishing nervously. "It's nothing," he said, wondering how his husband planned to tell him about their impending parenthood.

Suddenly, Ne Zha's voice rose through the room as he called Ao Lui forward.

"Ao Lui," Ne Zha's voice boomed across the hall, his adult form commanding immediate attention despite the relaxed way he'd been lounging moments before. "Come here."

The casual authority in his father's voice made Ao Lui blink in surprise. He exchanged a confused glance with Xiaohei before making his way through the parting crowd, wondering what this was about.

Ne Zha rose from his throne as a grin spread across his face - the kind of grin that usually meant he was up to something. Ao Bing stood beside him, trying and failing to hide a fond smile at his husband's dramatic flair.

"My son," Ne Zha declared, clearly enjoying himself. "Stand before your emperor, your father, and your people."

The hall fell silent, waiting. Ao Lui stood nervously in the center, acutely aware of everyone's attention.

"I've been talking to the God of Divine Grace," Ne Zha continued, his grin widening. "The keeper of the Mandate of Heaven, who decides which souls are worthy of ascension to godhood. Well, I finally convinced them - and trust me, it wasn't easy - but I can now finally announce that they have found you worthy."

Ao Lui's mouth fell open in shock. Behind him, Xiaohei's tail went completely still, his green eyes wide with surprise.

"That's right!" Ne Zha's voice filled with pride. "In three days' time, the heavens themselves will recognize you. You shall no longer be simply Ao Lui, prince of heaven. You shall be known as Ao Luisheng, God of Lightning. I still think God of Being Awesome Like Your Father would've been better, but apparently that's not a real domain."

Ao Bing elbowed him gently, and Ne Zha cleared his throat, remembering the formality of the moment. He straightened up, though his eyes still danced with joy.

"Now everybody bow!" he commanded. "Show some respect to your new god!"

To Ao Lui's absolute mortification, both his fathers descended the steps and kowtowed before him. Ne Zha managed to make even this formal gesture seem somehow casual, while Ao Bing moved with his usual grace. The rest of the assembly followed suit, pressing their foreheads to the ground.

Only Xiaohei remained standing for a moment, his green eyes meeting Ao Lui's magenta ones in shared amazement, before he too joined the kowtow. Ao Lui stood alone, one hand unconsciously moving to his stomach as he processed this new development. 

Ao Lui quickly bowed back to his fathers, his purple hair falling forward to obscure his flushed face. "Please rise," he said, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "I don't deserve such honor from you both."

Ne Zha jumped up first, shifting back to his child form as he bounded over to hug his son's legs. "Of course you do! You're going to be an amazing god." 

Ao Bing rose more gracefully, placing a gentle hand on Ao Lui's shoulder. "Father Zha is right, for once," he said, ignoring Ne Zha's indignant "Hey!" from below. "You've grown into someone worthy of godhood."

As the rest of the assembly rose, Ao Lui felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. Not only was he carrying a child - a fact he still hadn't managed to tell Xiaohei - but now he was about to become a god as well. The responsibilities seemed to pile higher with each passing moment.

Sensing his son's anxiety, Ao Bing squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "One step at a time," he murmured, so only Ao Lui could hear. "You don't have to handle everything at once."

Xiaohei made his way through the crowd to stand beside his husband, his tail curling protectively around Ao Lui's waist.

Ne Zha, still clinging to Ao Lui's legs, looked up at his son with uncharacteristic seriousness. "Being a god isn't about being perfect," he said. "It's about protecting what matters and doing what's right. And you've already proven you can do that."

The simple wisdom in Ne Zha's words touched something deep within Ao Lui, especially coming from Ne Zha, who usually preferred jokes to serious moments.

"Thank you, Father Zha," he managed, his voice thick with emotion. The hormones from his pregnancy weren't helping his composure either, though only he and Ao Bing knew that particular detail. "I will not fail you."

Xiaohei pressed closer to his side, and Ao Lui could feel his husband's tail twitching with barely contained excitement. Something in Xiaohei's green eyes made Ao Lui wonder if he somehow knew about the baby, but before he could dwell on it, Ne Zha was speaking again.

"Now!" Ne Zha declared, bouncing back from Ao Lui's legs in one fluid motion. "Let's really celebrate! More wine! More food!"

The rest of the night passed in a blur of drunken revelry, especially for the emperor. 

After the party wound down, Xiaohei and Ao Lui found themselves walking through the sea of clouds, the celestial lights casting a soft glow around them. The silence between them was comfortable but charged with anticipation, both carrying words they longed to share.

"So..." Xiaohei started, his tail swishing nervously. "God of Lightning?"

Ao Lui let out a breathless laugh, running a hand through his purple hair. "I had no idea Father was planning this. Did you see him? He looked so proud of himself for keeping it a secret."

"Leave it to His Majesty to make such a dramatic announcement," Xiaohei chuckled, his ears twitching with amusement. "Though I suppose I should start addressing you more formally now, shouldn't I? 'Your Divine Grace' perhaps?"

Ao Lui elbowed him playfully. "Don't you dare."

"You'll be amazing," Xiaohei said with complete conviction. 

They walked in comfortable silence for a moment before the two of them spoke again.

"Xiaohei, I need to tell you something-" "Ao Lui, can I ask you-"

They spoke simultaneously, then laughed.

"What were you going to ask?" Ao Lui inquired gently.

Xiaohei's tail swished nervously. "I... forgot," he lied, his ears twitching. "You go ahead."

Ao Lui took a deep breath, reaching out to take Xiaohei's hands in his. The static electricity that seemed to constantly surround him now created a gentle tingling where their skin met.

"Xiaohei," he began softly, his magenta eyes shining with emotion, "I love you. I'm so grateful for that day you appeared in my life, showing me what the world could be. You didn't dismiss me or fear me. You became my real family."

He squeezed Xiaohei's hands gently. "And I was wondering... how would you feel about our family growing by one more person?"

Xiaohei immediately let out a cry of pure joy, his composure suddenly shattering. He lifted Ao Lui and spun him around, tears streaming down his face as he laughed, overwhelmed with happiness. 

"I'm so happy," he sobbed into Ao Lui's shoulder, his ears flat against his head with emotion. "I love you so much. Both of you." His hand moved to rest gently on Ao Lui's stomach. 

Ao Lui's eyes widened in surprise. "You knew?"

"Cat spirit," Xiaohei reminded him with a watery laugh, tapping his nose. "I could smell the changes. I just figured it out tonight during the party."

Ao Lui joined in his laughter, tears of joy streaming down his own face as he held his husband close. They stood there in the sea of clouds, wrapped in each other's arms, their hearts full of love for each other and the tiny life they had created together.