It was a few days later that found Robin being able to walk again, though only with help of crutches and any available surfaces to lean on. The dance was coming up, 4 days away, and Robin realized he wouldn't be able to dance, let alone walk around that day.

It did sadden him that he wouldn't be able to give Kori the proper treatment of a girl and she would be stuck by his side all night without having any fun, but when he had seen the girl the day before and expressed that he wanted her to have fun with someone else. She either didn't understand the problem or just didn't care. Claiming that they would have fun anyways and she would help him.

So Robin had tried to put it behind him and concentrate on spending the next few days trying to regain some normalcy with walking and maybe running. Which so far, hadn't happened, it was apparent that he wouldn't be running for at least a month.

Nightwing was, of course, not being a big help. He mainly acted like a baby, he slept a lot, ate a lot and drove Alfred and Bruce crazy when he was awake because he had such high energy and loved to get into things. Robin had to wonder if he had ever been like that when he was a kid. And according to Bruce… He was just as much trouble, which made Robin smile every time he thought about it.

Thinking of Nightwing made Robin look to his dragon which followed him around everywhere. He was a smart little thing and knew to keep out of injured boy's way when he was trying to walk or move about. He even made encouraging cooing sounds to the teen when he was struggling. It was cute and sweet of the little beast.

Currently Robin was under his favorite tree, unable to get into the branches with his bandaged feet but was still able to see most of the valley. The village was thankfully close enough to reach but far enough back that he wouldn't have to worry about the baby dragon getting run over by the carriages and carts.

Nightwing was once again, chasing whatever caught his attention. Probably a fly this time since Robin couldn't see it. He watched as the dragon ran after the insect, jumping and stalking like he was a cat.

The teen was watching the dragon so closely, he didn't see something important. Something that truthfully, he should have seen, he was much too big to miss.

He finally noticed when Nightwing bumped into a very large, black and orange scaled clawed foot. He followed the leg up and found himself looking at Deathstroke. Staring at both the tiny dragon, who could have been worn around Deathstroke's neck as a pendent, and Robin.

The huge dragon's whirling eyes caught Robin's and he purred, lowering his head and looking at Nightwing close up. The little dragon squeaked and ran behind Deathstroke's legs to hide, apparently not realizing that they were attached to the head that was looking at him.

"Deathstroke seems interested in your dragon." Joseph's soft voice startled Robin and he jumped, looking up at the standing teen. "Where's your dad?" He asked.

"He's in a meeting with the army, he asked me to take Deathstroke out with Kole. He's been getting restless and tearing up his stable." Joseph sat down beside Robin; Kole appeared to be nowhere in sight. Until Robin heard a soft sound that sounded like singing. He looked up, Kore was in his tree! The white dragon had perched herself on a low branch and was lazily letting her paws hang over the branch while her tail was wrapped tightly around the wood to keep her balance.

"She does that a lot, sing I mean. Dad says she's the only dragon he's ever heard do that. He says Deathstroke is the only one who purrs too." Joseph supplied, seeing how Robin was looking up at her.

"Nightwing purrs too." Robin smiled a bit at that. His dragon seemed so special. Joseph grinned back at him and watched the two dark scaled dragons. The little dragon was cooing at Deathstroke and had started to play with his tail as it moved back and forth lazily. The larger dragon didn't seem to mind and just watched, purring loudly. He had lowered himself down on his belly and now sat playing with the young reptile.

Robin couldn't help laughing seeing Nightwing pounce and try and grab the tail that was waving in front of him. "Does Gener- er your dad know why Deathstroke was roaring when Nightwing was born?" The dark-haired teen asked Joseph.

The other teen looked at him and shrugged. "He had no idea. It took him completely by surprise… You seem to do that a lot…" Joseph looked down at his lap. "He talks about you sometimes… ", Robin tilted his head and shifted to look closer at the blond. He seemed upset, his hands clenching into fists in his lap. It took the boy a moment before he looked back up at Robin. "I guess he's proud of you."

Robin's face was a look of shock. "Proud of me?"

Joseph stared at the two dragons. His face was blank. "Never mind, forget it." He sighed and stood up, reaching up for Kole and catching her as she jumped into his arms. "I'll see you at the graduation." He whistled for Deathstroke to follow him, but the large dragon paid him no heed and kept playing with Nightwing.

The teen wasn't sure what to say. Joseph seemed angry that Slade was paying attention to him. Robin waved goodbye but Joseph didn't return it as he left. What was going on?

Robin sighed and leaned against the tree, watching the dragons play with each other, it was a cute scene, but the teen didn't really pay attention enough to notice. He kept thinking about Joseph's words. "Slade's proud of me?" He murmured to himself. He knew he was a prideful creature, loving the praise he received from Alfred and Bruce. And thinking about the General made him smile slowly. If the leader of the village was proud of him, that was amazing! He slowly forgot the way that Joseph had acted and focused on the fact that Slade was proud of him. Not even stopping to wonder exactly why…

Instead, he focused on the large dragon, smiling as Nightwing had crawled up the dragon's tail, mindful of the spikes and settled between his wings, purring and settling to sleep. Deathstroke seemed fine with it and moved closer to Robin, laying in front of him in a semi-circle and closing his large eyes. Robin chuckled, it seemed both dragons had become tired out. The teen decided to join them, his eyes falling closed for a small nap.

(*)

It was a few hours later that saw Robin back at Bruce's home, curled up in a chair in front of the fireplace. Bored out of his mind, it was true that Nightwing was a great new companion but he wasn't human and he wasn't much fun when Robin couldn't run after him and play with him.

So instead, the teen was sighing and staring at the fire, making irritated noises every time Bruce or Alfred walked by. Yes, he was being a child about the fact he couldn't get up and do anything, but as Bruce had said… it was his own fault.

At least Alfred tried to help. Giving the teen riddles to solve, which only worked for a short amount of time. And afterwards, he felt bored again. Nightwing was no help, he just slept curled up in front of the fireplace, enjoying the warmth.

Robin gave another annoyed sigh, closing his eyes and resting his chin in his hand. "Stupid burned feet…" He mumbled.

"It was your own fault, just as it is your fault that I now have to rebuild a stable."

Robin's eyes shot open and turned in his chair, General Slade stood there with a board in one hand and a box in another. "Wait, why do you have to rebuild a stable?"

"Because your little beast excited Deathstroke so much when he hatched that he broke open the doors." Slade said as he dragged a chair over and sat down opposite Robin. "I expect you to help fix it when you're healed."

Robin was staring in shock as the general set up the board between them. Slowly pulling out pieces from the box. They were intricately carved little pieces of wood, it finally dawning on Robin what they were. "Where did you get a chess set?" He asked as he leaned forward and reached forward to pluck one of the pieces off the board. Slade watched him as he picked up the queen piece and examined it. "Joseph carved it." Robin tilted it over in his hands, feeling the smooth sides and seeing the detail. Joseph made these? Usually you could only get quality pieces if you spent hard earned money at the trading fairs. It wasn't that the board was hard to make, but the pieces, the proper kind were so hard to really make as it took a good eye and slow hands and Vikings usually didn't have both.

Robin set the piece down. "Why are you here?" He asked as he sat back, Slade rolled his eye. "You really are curious aren't you?" He asked as he set up the last of the pieces. "I assume you know how to play?" He asked as he moved a pawn two paces forward.

Robin smiled a little, Bruce had taught him about a year or so ago as the teen would not stop asking about it and it was a thousand times easier just to tell him what he wanted than to avoid it. He nodded quickly and moved one of his pawns up one space.

Slade took a moment to think, staring at the board before speaking and moving his piece. "I came to talk to you about training, You'll be out of commission for the beginning of it. You'll have to either sit out or learn another way."

Robin pouted and sighed. "I know... " He moved his piece and sat back in the chair with a huff. Alfred passed by and rolled his eyes. "But what can I do? Nightwing's not big enough for me to ride him around yet." Robin sighed again and watched as Slade's eye looked at the board, touching his chin for a moment before moving his next piece.

"You're dragon won't be big enough to ride for a while Robin, maybe even the whole year. It's much too early to think about that. What I am talking about is the beginning, feeding, caring for your dragon, checking for injuries... That is things you CAN do. But the running exercises and the flying exercises, you won't be able to do just yet. And if you push your feet too much you'll be lame." Slade's voice was cold as he spoke and Robin frowned and looked down at his bandaged feet. He knew that Slade was right, but he wanted to hurry and be normal again! He was never good at having to wait. He was impatient and impulsive, he knew because he had been told it so much from Bruce.

"So what do I do?" He asked as he moved his piece and realized too late his mistake as Slade claimed his castle.

Slade touched his chin again, Robin's eye flickering down to his hand before looking back at his eye waiting for his answer.

"You'll have to either wait and let someone else train Nightwing, or find a way to move around."

Robin thought about that, he wouldn't let someone else teach Nightwing, the dragon was his! Suddenly an idea came to him.

"What if I'm on a mount? A small pony maybe?" He moved another piece and looked at the general.

The older man raised an eyebrow, "That could be possible. It will have to be one of my horses though, Deathstroke doesn't get along with any other horses unless their mine."

Robin's eyes were wide. "Deathstroke will be at the training?" He asked in a bit of awe, after all the dragon was HUGE! How were they going to fit the trainees, their dragons and him in one spot?

"How else will I teach you if there is no example?" Slade responded as he moved another piece. "Check."

Robin's face fell and his eyes snapped down to the board, he was indeed in check! How did that happen? He stared hard as he tried to figure out his next move, but Slade's words made him look up again. "Besides, I couldn't keep that brute away. He seems to be fond of the new hatchlings."

Robin tilted his head, much like a dragon would, and looked down again before speaking. Moving his king out of danger, he moved forward to sit on the edge of the seat. "He's fond of them?" Did he just sound jealous?

Slade chuckled, "He spends all of the time out of his ruined stable, following around any of the new recruits. Scared the life out of that little green boy today. Quite the sight."

Robin couldn't help laughing at that, imagining Gar and his little Tofu freaking out at the sight of Deathstroke before them. Slade raised an eyebrow at his laugh and Robin covered his mouth, "Sorry, just I can see it in my head. How Gar reacted I mean." The general just kept that eyebrow up and moved his piece. "Check."

Robin's mouth dropped open and he tried to figure out his way around the check, being silent for the rest of that time as he tried his best to now beat the general.

An hour later had Robin growling in defeat and General Slade smirking as he set up the chess board once again. "How come you're staying?" The teen asked annoyed as he sat in his chair, his arms crossed like a child denied his favorite toy.

"Your guardian keeps telling me, and the council that you're annoying when you're bored, so I thought I would come and entertain you, if only to shut the man up." He chuckled as Robin looked murderous. "And, " He added, "So that my stupid dragon will leave me alone. I swear the beast was pushing me towards this house today." Robin perked up a bit at that but was still pouting. "Fine, then let's play. I'm going to beat you this time."

Slade smirked and let Robin go first. "We shall see little bird."

(*)

Only alittle longer and only one new chapter sadly, sorry guys! I'm trying!

Please review and tell me what you think!