Sylvari 2
Story by TikTikKobold on SoFurry
When a young man sets off to camp, he didn't expect to be visited by a literal falling star, but when he cuts himself on the mysterious metal, he finds himself changing into something greater.
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His coughing fit ending, he reaches down, picking up one of the little white things, only to drop it immediately. A tooth—his tooth!
Upon the realization, a searing pain hits his gums, as sharp things erupt from his jaws to fill in the space where his teeth once were. He falls forward onto his elbows, panting as he looks at those sharp things, the face staring back at him something that match these new chompers than his old face. He can’t help but smile wide with them, showing off that monstrous grin. While it hurt at first, the old pained tooth at the back of his jaw is now gone, replaced by a stronger, sharper one.
He doubles over once more, feeling as if his shoulders want to escape through his body. He throws his head back and lets out not a scream, but a roar. His shirt rips apart at the back as fleshy, bat-like wings erupt from there. These new appendages are something he instantly feels, and the pressure building up from his body instantly goes away. It’s then that he realizes what he must do. Those claws of his—those are the instrument of his freedom. He has to use them, to pluck out the hair, to tear off the clothes, to remove everything, exposing the dark silver scales underneath. When they hit the cool night air, it is like receiving a bath, removing all the dirt and detritus from his body—so magnificent.
His hair falls out leaving room for his beautiful horns to swoop upwards and escape their prison, curling upwards from the back and side of his head. He tilts his neck back, panting as his fingers glide over the chevron shapes going down his collar to his underbelly. With the dust kicking up around him from his thrashing, Ben’s source of light, the fire, goes out, leaving only an eerie blue glow. Where does it come from? Why, from his back. He cranes his elongated neck around, seeing his magnificent shell and the soothing blue light underneath. He shudders, shivering and flaking off the last bits of his previous self, his tail swishing back and forth, digging into the dirt around, and collapsing the camp he had set up for himself back when he was a lowly human. But he isn’t that anymore. He is something else, something greater, and he rears up on his hind legs, toes tearing the remaining leather of his boots with no problem, spreads his wings, and roars to the night air, proclaiming his wonderful transformation.
But then he collapses once again, panting, his energy spent. Ben curls up, closes his eyes and finally, finally finds some rest.
“Now, isn’t this an interesting specimen. Wake up.”
Ben’s eyes flutter open, the brightness of the day causes him to flinch and place a large clawed hand over his eyes. Seeing the scales there, he gasps, clambering to his feet, sitting up awkwardly in his quadrupedal form. That’s when he notices the scaled chest in front of him. He looks up, his jaw dropping when he sees the strong long neck and the regal crown of the larger, much more imposing dragon.
Ben falls back, his jagged, obsidian mouth chattering at the sight of the beast. It is easily larger than his new size, and certainly large enough to gobble his human form in a single bite. It’s green scales match the coloration of the mountain,which feels almost nostalgic to gaze upon.
The dragon picks up the jewel with its thumb and index finger. “Ah, well, isn’t this an interesting bauble? Let me guess, you were once a man?” He asks this, leaning in to the slimy pile next to his body. “Mmm, yes, a transformation on the most fundamental level. It released the true power within you, the real you… from your human prison.
“T… the real me?” he asks. The first time he speaks in the draconic tongue, it feels natural, yet his voice seems a bit higher than he would expect from a mighty dragon.
“But of course,” the green dragon says, stepping up closer to Ben. “I predicted a dragon stone would land in this area, and when I heard your voice, I just knew that it had found itself someone worthy to join our ranks.”
“O-oh, I’m… but wait, what about my life in the town?”
“My dear…” the dragon says, walking up besides Ben. “That life is over. And while I would have preferred I choose the human who accepts this gift, well…” he chuckles, a dusky sort of growl. “I have to say you have come out as quite the unique being, indeed. I am known as Teragargax. I suppose you’ll need the full draconic orientation. Come… my lair is not very far from here.” He spreads his wings and bounds forward, flapping them and taking flight, rushing high into the sky with such speed and grace.
Ben shakes his long head and takes a deep breath, running after him. With a few feeble flaps to get himself started, he soon finds himself awkwardly following the dragon. “H… hey…! I-I’m doing it! I’m flying! I’m… I’m a dragon!”
“That you are, my dear!” Teragargax says, flying circles around him. “You are truly one of us, now and forever. Your life is extended far beyond your human bounds. The petty struggles of their short-lived ambitious lives are no longer yours. You are free from the shackles of death and worry, for no creature is above you… save for other dragons,” he chuckles at that, nods, and zips off towards the far end of the mountain range-farther than Ben had ever traveled before.
As Ben flies, he finds it becoming easier and easier to follow Teragargax. In only a few minutes, he’s actually following the larger dragon in the air, performing a sort of acrobatic dance in the sky.
“Wonderful!” the larger dragon says, swirling around him in the air and then landing on the peak of a mountain. “You’re doing simply marvelous. You’re getting quite the hang of this… er… yes, what is your name, again?”