^^ Oceanus, Fully Grown ^^

--- Tama Arashi-Kumo ---

The wedding, needless to say, was long, tedious, and interrupted several times by various, woefully inadequate assassination attempts of various levels of incompetency, ranging from mildly creative to rushed, and even the occasional unfortunately stupid idea.

After nearly eight hours, the final Parade and Imperial Procession ended with Tiān and I in our new chambers, and Lee-Kahn standing guard, despite my assurances that he was no longer a servant, but the Companion of a Dragon.

Tiān thought ahead, and had her lover wait in the room, posing as a servant, and I'd also left the medical apparatus in the room.

I prepared a protein and nutrient solution, then extracted some of my sperm, (a very painful process,) mixing the two, then giving both the solution and the implement to the ladies in the next room, then laid down to get some sleep.

---

I was shaken awake, at dawn.

"Mm?" I grumbled.

"Wake up. You have to look like you just went a few dozen rounds with me. You're much too comfortable." Tiān smirked, and then threw me off my bed, roughly scratching my shoulders and hips, then my back, and my chest.

I raised an eyebrow at her when her nails did little damage. "My skin is too thick for your nails to do any damage on accident. Now, did you use the implement as instructed?" I asked.

She blushed. "Well... at first?" She grinned guiltlessly.

I frowned slowly.

"What? You said I had to orgasm, for maximum effectiveness-"

"The proteins and nutrients contain natural pheromones, along with an extremely potent Aphrodisiac developed by Japanese Geisha to put the recipient into a state of entranced delirium. You should've achieved orgasm simply by it coming into contact with your skin, much less your womb." I said dryly.

She blushed again. "Well-... no, screw it, I'm not ashamed. It did give me an orgasm, though not nearly that powerful, and I wanted much more of it. So Lon and I used that implement, and in several ways." She shrugged and sat on my bed gingerly.

"Please tell me you didn't let her get pregnant." I growled softly.

"No, no, no. All the serum was used on me... but the Implement, after we washed it... I found a way to attach it to my belt, and that was fun." she shrugged again.

I sighed. "Whatever. But if she gets pregnant, it needs to be kept quiet... I don't mind more children, but I can't have illegitimate children on my wedding night, Tiān. That is not a legacy I want."

She nodded seriously. "I understand."

"Good. Now let us go meet the masses." I messed up her hair, then fixed it into a braid with a clearly amateur hand, (which hurt my pride to do, but it was necessary,) then my own the same way, and dressed swiftly.

She grumbled at me mussing her hair, but allowed it, seeing my point.

We exited, arm in arm, and when we reached the main hall, which housed the nobles and my family, I made a show of gently setting a throw-pillow under her, and sitting down tiredly.

I ate ravenously, and ignored the many softly snickered lewd jokes, though Tiān had no such reservations, and returned the comments openly, shamelessly providing details, including, to my surprise, how big my phallus was, and how befitting it was of a Prince.

"How could you possibly know that?" I whispered in her ear, confused.

"You think I sent my brothers to swim with you in the lake for no reason? They're all my little spies." She smirked.

I laughed, unable to contain that, at least, and shook my head. Father raised an eyebrow, and I shrugged.

The Opal Emperor was beaming with pride and happiness, though he did not even acknowledge the improper conversations, not even to chide his daughter for her unladylike comments and behavior.

After breaking our fast, the dragons led their companions outside, and then down to the docks, where the captain of the Strider was laying on a sofa on the deck of his newly upgraded ship, with the egg next to him.

It began shaking, as if on cue, prompting Sora and Qiáng-Lòng to approach, and speak softly to both of them.

Suddenly, and by its own volition, the egg simply rolled into the ocean. Sora reached to fish it out, but instead raised up a baby dragon, toned in the blues and greens of the Sea.

He flew under his own Magic, instead of with wings, which he lacked. Instead, long and translucent fin's decorated his spine and legs, and wicked talons, like none I'd ever seen before, adorned his paws.

The tips and edges of the talons were covered in jagged barbs, like a harpoon, and his teeth were similarly adorned. Instead of fur, the theme of barbs was continued, and packs of long, flexible bristles, not unlike sea-urchins, were strategically placed along his body, which I immediately theorized were packed with poison.

Altogether, he had a rather impressively savage look about himself, even as small as he was. (Only 8ft, which was normal for a Young Imperial.)

Takara flew up to him curiously, and hummed. "So you are my little brother... I find myself pleased. Greetings."

Oceanus blinked slowly, and then bowed his head. "Father. Mother. Sister. Greetings."

"Greetings, Oceanus. Your Chosen Companion, Captain Lee-Sosua, is near you." Sora nudged him towards the Captain.

He sniffed the Captain, who smiled and gently placed a hand on his snout. "Hello, my beautiful Friend." He said calmly.

Oceanus chuckled, and wrapped himself around his companion gently, making sure his bristles avoided the man.

We smiled at the genuine sight, and the Imperial Procession boarded the Ship that had brought them here, headed for home after a few final goodbyes.

I nodded and headed to the Boatyard, with the Captain being carried behind us in a chair, as he was still unable to walk, and would need a few more weeks before his spine realigned properly.

There, in the Boatyard, was the Strider's successor, the 'Dauntless'.

A massive ship, built to house and transport dragons and Soldiers, and even, if need be, contain them, which would be shaped a little like the Dutch ships we'd seen, in framework, though the scale was much, much larger.

As of now, it was only the beginnings of a massive Wooden Frame, at the end of a week of building, but by the time I went home on it, it would be a Masterpiece of Japanese and Chinese ingenuity.

Four Redwood Masts would have iron supports traversing the four sides in a slightly diagonal, spiraling angle, which would allow for the mast to shift as it was supposed to, but not shatter, even in the worst of storms.

Below the waterline, there would be two massive hydraulic screws, powered much like the Oars, which would propel the ship, along with the oars and sails. It was inspired by Sora's tail, which he noticed immediately, and smirked his way through the building site.

Each mast would hold six sails, reaching 150ft in the air, able to be reefed and folded like a Fan, to increase or decrease the contact with the wind.

The sails, made of a thick, powerful silk, embedded with thousands of metal strands for further strength, would be able to turn with the wind, allowing the ship to sail straight into a headwind, without losing any speed at all.

Strong cables made of metallic fibers would be webbed between the sails, thin enough to not catch the wind, but thick enough for the men to clamber on to reach the different sails.

The hull, made entirely of Ironwood, then plated both inside and out with thick steel rings, like chain mail, would be lighter than the proposed ironclads, but just as strong, as Japanese steel was being used to build the rings.

Iron capsules were used to capture hot helium, and this was placed in the bottom of the hull for buoyancy, and with the heavy load, it would be greatly appreciated. The weight of the ship, fully loaded, with maximum metal cargo and human capacity, was calculated, and then the corresponding amount of capsules were commissioned.

Each capsule was then to be enchanted with a little bit of heat, to keep the helium hot, and to warm the entire ship, eliminating the need for a furnace.

The deck was hollow, and other than thin walkways for the sailors to traverse, most of the 500ft long deck would be for the dragon's, excluding the captain's bridge, which would hold the captain's quarters, then, below that, the crew's quarters.

Almost 400 crew were needed, and as they'd be sleeping in shifts of 200, 300 hammocks were to be installed.

The mess hall was located below that, and the cargo bays would underlay the entire ship, which cargo being shifted constantly to balance the ship.

Overall, the ship would be a Behemoth, and the first of many, in the Iron Fleet.

The Captain whistled softly. "And she's to be mine?" He asked.

"If you accept the position, Lord Sosua." I nodded.

He scoffed. "As if I'd turn it down? What do you think, Oceanus? That'll be ours, in a few months!"

Oceanus hummed, and sniffed the Redwood frame. "I like this wood... what is it?" He murmured.

"Redwood, from my Kumo Clan." I smiled.

He hummed softly, then looked over the shoulder of the master carpenters, who were debating the smaller details. They didn't react, raising my opinion of them massively, and instead simply bowed to him, and went back to work.

"May I ask what that is?" He slowly pointed a claw at the rudder, which was oddly shaped.

The carpenter in charge bowed. "That is the rudder, Lord Oceanus. It's differently shaped, to fit the Screws. Shaped like a fork, it shall allow for propulsion forward, by pushing the streams from the screws to the back and side of the ship. When turned, it will redirect one of the streams more extremely, allowing for swifter, more precise turns." He said easily.

The captain hummed, and nodded slowly, having been brought over at his behest. "Logical... are you the On-Board Carpenter?"

"I am, Lord Sosua. Master Ino Totsuka." He bowed.

"None of that, I am Captain Sosua to my crew... Are these men your apprentices, or separate masters brought in to maximize debate?" He asked.

"A bit of both... Captain. Han, Sho, and Fa are my apprentices, while Master Huojia and Master Miramoto are separate masters." He gestured to each as he introduced them.

They bowed, and then one hummed, speaking with a heavy Japanese accent. "And wouldn't the rudder be too heavy to turn? Made of metal..."

"Not at all. The weight will be centered upon the screws, which, with this bend, will force the rudder up. As speed increases, weight Decreases. Though yes, at low speeds, the rudder will require a few extra hands." Master Totsuka nodded.

The other master carpenters nodded slowly. "Mm... would it be possible to implement a Spring on the bottom of the shaft, which would further decrease the weight settled on the wood, and decrease friction?" I asked, pointing at where the pieces of wood ground together.

The carpenters hummed, and then took it a step further, placing water into the shaft, to decrease the friction to almost zero.

I smiled and left them to speak with their colleagues, headed back with Sora and the others to relax in the heat of the morning.

---

The Blacksmith looked at the plans I'd given him. "May I ask what this is?" He asked slowly.

"No." I responded simply.

He nodded. "It will be finished within a week, Prince Kumo."

"Good." I stepped out, and smiled at the bright sun.

Sora hummed. "Your business went well?"

"Indeed. That makes two dozen blacksmiths, each with different designs. I'll get the testing phases done much swifter this way." I nodded.

He hummed. "Indeed... and these new-"

I shushed him swiftly. "Secrecy is important, for this to go as planned, Sora."

He hummed again. "Fine..."

I returned to the palace, and relaxed in the gardens, finally resting.

"Ahh, and now you steal away to my place of relaxation..." Tiān chuckled, sitting next to me.

"Mm... it is very relaxing, here."

"As it was designed to be. Now we will speak of important things." She said simply.

"We will?"

"Indeed. Our children cannot be born in China or Japan. The nobles will claim favoritism, if one or the other is chosen." She gazed at me.

"Easily solved. The children will be born in Sora's Kingdom." I smirked.

Sora, flying above is lazily, chuckled. "A diplomatic solution, indeed. The dragon's will also like the children more if they are born amongst dragon-country."

"Wait, Sora is a King, now?" Tiān blinked.

"Indeed. You may call me Your Grace, if you like, or Your Eminence." He smirked.

"We'll do no such thing. Don't get a bigger Ego, Sora. Only dragon's need give you allegiance, and only those who make your land their home." I sighed.

He grumbled about spoiling his fun, but silenced himself.

"Anyway, yes. Being born in his country will provide a healthy compromise. And hopefully the child will have a Dragon Companion from birth." I explained.

She nodded slowly. "Okay... but when did he get a Kingdom? And how?"

"He demanded an Island Kingdom. The Emperor's caved. Simple story." I smiled, and leaned back to get some rest.