One day, as after the end of a decades long war, an eager social climber sets out to gain favor with the new rulers of the land. Even if it meant becoming a dragon, she would like the whole world to know her newfound status. Unfortunately for her, she did not realize that there was a catch.


Woman (and others) into baby dragons



It’s strange to think our new overlords would become such a common sight after the war. To think, nary a few decades ago, no one had even seen one.

Now, I looked outside my window and saw a handful of things pulling carts like oversized oxen. Scaled tyrants acted as beasts of burden, whilst workmen of all stripes quickly removed crates and precious goods. I wondered if I knew any of them.

“Lady Annette!” a voice snapped at me.

I turned behind myself. The old maid servant was haggard and greyed, clearly annoyed at my watching the creatures below. “Miss Caroline,” I replied. “I must observe our new masters if I am to make a place for myself in the new court.”

The old maid servant huffed. “And you may end up in my position or worse. I’ve been through holding exchanges before. You keep your head down and you don’t lose it.”

I lifted my head in defiance for I did not care of a mere maid servant’s ramblings or fears. I needed to flourish here, under the new regime.

“Lady Annette!” Miss Caroline replied back. “Think of your well being here!”

I flashed a grin. “I am. Perhaps I might even find my new lover amongst them.”

The maid servant groaned, for she knew my intent. “Madam, please understand that...such courtly games are not a wise idea this eve. The new lord of the keep has not even arrived yet.”

I raised a finger and waved in the air a few times. “All the more reason then that I should… observe and make my move. Our new lord and his entourage would be arriving here shortly.”

She sighed and kept trying to talk me out of it.

I merely refused to acknowledge her whilst I thought of my plans in the coming hours.

The situation here was fairly simple.

The old king wanted to annex a nearby forest that had been said to have been home to dragons in ancient times. No one had ever seen one since those days, so everyone had merely assumed that it was an old legend, a story. That was until one of them flew into the palace and demanded the expansion be halted.

The previous king refused to back down and thus began a decades-long war. While it was true the dragon was powerful and could easily defeat a score of knights, he was the only one. For the first half of the war, it had been completely one sided - the dragon never able to take an offense, whilst the knights and foot soldiers scorched the land.

Things changed when the dragon revealed he had one behind his wings - Elevation. He spoke to the disaffected, the downtrodden, the resentful, and the exiled. He offered them all power… his power in exchange for loyalty. Over a dozen years, an army grew - one that needed no armor or swords. While most of the new dragons were less than a fraction of the original’s power, those numbers eventually went to win the war, just a week ago.

The former king surrendered many of his territories but not the whole kingdom… and the original dragon decided to go back to the wilderness. This left all of these new dragons to take hold of what the former king had surrendered… and me with a very interesting opportunity.

Whilst it hasn’t been said yet, I and everyone else knew that the winning side had a very obvious look, one that could be...given with enough coercion.
Being a dragon therefore would be the equivalent of a proof of status. If you were one, you were among those decidedly in authority. I did not have an idea of how easy it would be, nor if Elevation was truly possible without the nameless dragon, yet I knew I would pay any price to have it.




I looked at my mirror and gave myself one last look - for there was every chance today I would never see that face again. I combed my brown hair into slendery silk. Powder and perfume suffused my being. Opals formed my jewelry and my dress was one that highlighted me as fashionable and in… dire need.

I did not have long to prepare myself, for out of the blue, I heard the dragons come.

They arrived with a massive thud, a collection of dragons appeared in the courtyard. Of them, the largest was a black drake with metallic bands on his wrists and a brass helmet covering his head. He was far larger than any horse and had the muscle to pick one up as he flew.

A herald, a man in tights, blew a trumpet. “I present to you, our new liege, Lord Garadius!” said the herald.

Various courtiers and servants made their way to the courtyard to greet our new master. I joined them without wasting any time.

The dragon raised his head high with a clear pride that marked one born to and used to nobility. He strode towards the wooden throne and with a deft paw swipe tossed it aside. The crowd gasped in awe, but the dragon had a clear, satisfied smirk over his face. He clearly knew what he was doing. “If I am to lead you, some things will need to change. I promise you safety and security, if you serve under me. Not only that, but I promise Elevation to those who merit it.”

Plenty of murmurs rang through the hall. It had been rumored that only the original dragon could Elevate a man. It was good to hear that it was not the case. Now all I needed to know was how.

The dragon spoke again, “Within a year’s time, our new country will formally cut ties with the previous king, and power will be transitioned at a slow pace. Due to this, in the morning, many of you will find yourselves in different offices and stations. And a select few among you will be Elevated."

The assembled crowd acted accordingly, several of the knights and nobles immediately swore fealty on the spot.

Everyone in that room, one by one affirmed loyalty as anyone else had already left. No one grew scales or wings, but Lord Garadius assured us that it would come in due time.

The meeting adjourned as everyone went to resume their duties. The arriving dragons meanwhile went to explore their new dwellings. I took a close eye at them, wondering.

I was not royalty myself, but I did serve as an… observer and negotiator for the previous lord. This likely meant that I was… far below Lord Garadius's attention. If I wanted to Elevate myself, I needed to get in the good graces of someone else.

Though attempting to woo the new lord was tempting, my expertise told me that he would be far too busy dealing with internal matters to stop for a pretty face like mine. Instead, I knew that I would need to target his advisors directly - people who were far more open to coercion just from not being the center of attention. After all, if I wanted to sway Lord Garadius, I had to effectively sway the entire court as well.

Instead, I sought the other drakes. While they were all dragons now, they all used to be men, and I had certain advantages there. Perhaps they still felt some lingering desires I could prey upon, with only the right words.

I found a target that immediately felt vulnerable.. This… smaller dragon, barely larger than a horse, was dressed entirely in a body concealing robe. I would not have known he was drake, were it not for the horns curving in that manner reserved for the males. Most of the other dragons were more open about themselves, most not even bothering with clothing beyond jewelry.

A followed my … subject with utmost discretion. A single error here could jeopardize my plans, so I kept myself a fair distance away. It helped that his own robe blocked his vision.

I knew I had something special when I noticed the dragon enter the library. While it is reasonable for any one to enter the library for any number of reasons, why this one went here at the earliest opportunity was the sign of potential.

I waited a few minutes outside the door before entering in.

The dragon, who had by then started looking through the bookshelves had suddenly collapsed several of them. “Sorry!” he yelped in that half growling tone.

It was here I would have tried to act surprised, but the dragon’s sudden accident made that genuine. I had just walked in and it caused an accident. I stepped towards the dragon and the overturned shelf. “I… I was curious as to why one of you would be here.”

The dragon noticeably shivered before ducking his head and began to right the shelf. It“Oh, uh… just… curiosity milady. Surely, one such as myself can enjoy some idle reading and whatnot?” He almost sounded embarrassed.

“I suppose it wouldn’t be… unexpected.” I approached the dragon, prompting him to acknowledge me.

The dragon gaze met my own, but for a split second, I could see his eyes look lower down to just below my neck. He then promptly went back to fixing the shelf, clearly embarrassed.

I knew that every dragon here used to be human, so it wasn’t unexpected that at least one would focus on my appearance - this was the point after all. I just didn’t expect to run into one that was so … bookish and skittish.

A smile crept onto my mouth. He was bigger than me and could crush every bone in my body, and yet he acted like I would destroy him with the faintest touch. This one, would be my ticket to the top.

The first step into manipulating someone was to make them trust you. The simplest way to do that is to merely give one a name. “I’m Miss Annette, by the way,” I said as I went down and picked up a book. “I… do things from time to time, usually talk to people, greet them. It is only sufficient that I did the same with you.”

“I… I…” The dragon stammered. “I’m Rizel.”

“Rizel?” I said, pondering the name. “Don’t think I heard that one before.”

The dragon’s body shivered less. He seemed less frightened now, more into speaking about what made him comfortable. He even turned to face me, revealing a green scaled snout with reddish eyes. “Well, uh Eludar made it a point to adopt names more befitting our new stature.”

“Eludar?” I said, thinking it over. So, that dragon had a name after all? What kind of name was that? “Sounds almost like ‘elder’ if you ask me.”

“You and everyone else brought it up, too. I suspect it might be because of shared linguistic origins and… uh I ramble sometimes. Sorry!”

“No, no, I could listen all day!” I said with a cheer. After all, bookish types like this really loved to talk. I blame not having people often listening to them. “So who exactly are you, Rizel?”

Rizel bowed his head, as if remembering some form of protocol. He was clearly not born into nobility, given he was supposed to do that when we first introduced ourselves. “Oh, uh...I am just Sir Garadius’s… little brother.” he said as if trying to silence himself. “I… do all of the medical things, you know, he was always getting into scraps and well, someone had to patch him up and…”

“Oh, you’re his physician? His doctor?” I said, grabbing control of the conversation as I did.

Rizel nodded.

“Fascinating.” And very exploitable in the future. I then knew my next step. “So, forgive me for asking this, but uh what are your thoughts on the… Elevation your brother spoke about?”

“Oh, uh…” Rizel stammered and had his eyes drift, clearly looking for an exit to the conversation I trapped him in. “Well… none of us are Eludar and I mean, technically I know the rituals and formulae but well, I don’t know if Elevation would be as… empowering.”

But it was possible, and that was what mattered when it came to social advancement. “Pity, I was curious if I might be able to undergo it.”

Rizel clearly looked hurt.I knew then and there I had bent him to my will. I was a pretty face to him, one he would do things for. “I… don’t know if that would be wise and… I’d need to ask my brother and...”

“I would definitely like it were he to accept.” I tore Rizel’s heart into shreds.

The dragon whimpered. “I… I will think about it.”

I smiled back. “Thank you.”

And to cement the favor, I helped the dragon return the few more books to the shelves before departing. I made an excuse that I had things to do, but I knew from his expression that I had him wrapped around my fingers.



Later that night, around dinner time, I along with several other of the more important courtiers were gathered to discuss the new arrangement. Our new overlords had decided not to take a seat, on count of the table being far too small. Instead, they opted to eat outside.

“I say, the chefs might be out of a job if what I saw out there was any indication,” the flutist Charles, a portly man who had long since balded.

Sir Louis, a knight notable for his thick mustache, muttered,“Aye, but I suppose it is fair. Though a dragon has some hands, it isn’t as though they could cook, nor can a normal cook feed a dragon. An entire hog for a single mouth!”


I frowned when I looked at my soup. I was neither a fan of pork, nor was I enthused about eating things raw. I supposed that that might have been another hidden cost of Elevation, in that one’s dietary standards would change. I had not considered it, but the value of Elevation was simply that high.

“How many of you are considering it?” said Charles “Lord Garadius has said many among us will be Elevated, but well… what if you were selected?”

I smiled as I entered the conversation. “Why, I would accept graciously of course. It is good after all, and proof that you were among the trusted and most loyal.”

From the back of the room one of the more silent figures stepped in. A man in a grey, plain looking apparel stepped in. “Well, I would promptly refuse.”

I smiled back at the newcomer. “Well, hello Theodore,” I said to him. He was a friend of sorts and at one point, I might have been engaged to him before our parents decided against it. Not that we were broken up about it.

Theodore grumbled. “Thinking about things. I see you’re cosying up to the big lizards. And are probably scheming to become one yourself, suits you to be frank.”

Several gasps went up. Mostly because everyone could see the backhanded compliment. Especially since it indicated a possibly hostile intent in regards to the new rulers.

“My, aren’t you spiteful today. Have you been in the wine cellar more than usual as of late?”

Theodore spat. “Only when I see your face.”

I let out a laugh as I consumed the last of my soup. “Pity, I suppose when I get my new face you’ll have to go sober.”

It was here that our conversation immediately turned completely on its head. Dragons, very, very small dragons, appeared from nowhere and landed onto the table. The little scamps were no larger than small dogs or cats, but had a combination of playful eagerness and flying ability that let them land onto the table and start eating and whatever meals went unfinished. The maids immediately went to secure them, but dinner had been adjourned.

“Bloody menaces. I hate those stupid children!” said Theodore, for once saying something I agreed with.”

“Such ingrates should be caged up.” I spat as I went to clean off some filth that landed on my dress. “Where did they come from anyways?”

One of the knights performed a shrug. “Well, I know some of them are apparently Lord Garadius’s… though he did say they were adopted. Others were apparently born into it.”

I spat out a curse as I walked out. I hoped that when I was a dragon, I would never have to see such rambunctious children crashing my meal again.

I was done with my meal anyways, I decided to go check on my investment. Honestly, if wooing Rizel to be my lover was required, I do not think I would mind too much. The simple truth was that he would… do anything for me, unlike a certain someone who shall not be named.

I moved towards the library when I caught sight of Miss Caroline yet again. She looked at me with a disapproving tone as she organized one of the bookshelves. “You know, us maids do quite a lot of work trying to organize the shelves so that the books are in the right places. We don’t just throw them on the shelves randomly, you know.”

I smirked. “Why it of course isn’t my job to care about such. It is yours.”

“Children are more responsible and empathetic, you know,” said Miss Caroline as she dusted a shelf.

“Well, as you can plainly see, I am a grown woman and thus I can afford to be neither of those things!” I said as I meant to make my way past the library and into Rizel’s chambers.

“You shouldn’t be manipulating him,” said Miss Caroline. “The poor man is not your plaything.”

I laughed. “I will do as I wish. Now begone.”

I walked away, for she was no longer my concern.




Rizel had apparently taken lodgings where the former librarian once lived. The bookwyrm had been very insistent in making his lodgings here. Granted, in order to do so, he had apparently completely broken through several walls in order to make room for his whole body. I could even see the starry sky right outside.

When he saw me, he nearly broke down yet another wall. “Oh, uh, Lady Annette. Uh, it is good to see you.”

I did a slight bow to gain a little more sympathy. “Likewise,” I said. Something acrid hung in the air, leaving an awful stench. “Though smelling you, is another thing entirely.”

“Oh, uh that?” Rizel blinked a few times. “Well, it is the Elevation. A draught I have made and readied.”

I smiled. “Oh, really? Is that all it is? A mere draught, a tonic?”

He nodded glumly. “Yes… it shall be given to any people selected for elevation. Including you… in the morning...”

I felt my heart throb. Yes, everything was coming together. All I need to do now was to drink it and I would be set. “Really, did I get approved?”

“You.. and quite a few others…” He then listed out some names, but the one that caught my attention was “Theodore”.

“Really? What did he do to merit such a privilege?” I muttered about, annoying my ex-fiance would be given such power and influence. “Do you know that he would refuse?”

“It isn’t exactly optional...” Rizel muttered.

I blinked, not quite understanding the meaning of that. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, uh, I'll explain afterwards.” Rizel turned himself back to look into his ruined chamber and promptly knocked over another bookshelf. He turned to face me again, this time with an orange colored liquid in a cup. “You want a drink?”

I took the cup. The liquid bubbled and simmered. It did not look safe, but I doubted he would poison me. He might have been slightly more confident now, but he was still the same bumbling lizard that I met earlier. He did not strike me as the sort of person who would attempt to kill me; especially not when I knew I had him under my spell. “Bon appetit,” I said as I drank it all in one gulp.

I felt… nauseous and a strange tingling in my finger tips. “It tastes fouler than it smells. What was that?”

“Uh dragon’s blood and uh toadstools and vinegar.. Among other things.”

I felt like I was going to throw up, but instead of fluid, fire came out. I fell to the ground, my body straining. I was panicked, frightened, and worried I might die. Until I saw the back of my hand turn a greenish then blue. Yes, I was becoming a dragon.

I turned to Rizel who was trying to say something, but I couldn’t hear him. A surge of pain shot up through my limbs, agonizing and breaking my focus. Then, I could feel pressure in my head build rapidly and it drove me mad. My eyes closed as I tried to shut the pain out, but… it was too much.



I awoke… feeling sore all over. I had found myself in my bedroom, looking up at my familiar drapes and curtains. It felt like I had been hung over. I recall having partook of some wine, but not like this.

I slowly rose out of my bed and noticed something red out where my legs were.

I blinked several times and let my eyes adjust. My… toenails were dark and very large. And I wasn’t sure, but my feet were covered in reddish scales?

I thought back to the previous day’s events. It had happened. I had changed. I had become something more.

I leapt out of my bed and found myself still in my dress yesterday. Likely a servant had brought me into my chambers when I had passed out. They must have assumed me to had collapsed or fainted!

The mirror revealed a number of straddling changes, but most glaring of all was the face. My mouth protruded in a lizard-like snout. Rows of pointed teeth lined my mouth. Disappointingly, my hair had seemingly fallen out of my skull, leaving me with this head full of scaly fins and prominent horns.

I was still human otherwise, my body and proportions still that of a woman of status even if I had turned very red and lizard-like. No wings yet either, but I suspected given how I look like a middle point between my usual self and a flying lizard, I was merely half done.

I stretched my dress and felt it against my scales. The delicate fabric tore against my new scales, cutting threads in odd places. It was no wonder many of the dragons abandon clothing entirely. No ordinary tailor made dragon clothing and at this point, adjustments would only get in the way as I continued to change. I suspected this would be a temporary inconvenience.

Stripping out of last night’s garments, I strode out of my quarters and found myself at the breakfast table. I was eager to show myself and transformation, and to prove myself above them most of all.

Yet, when I had arrived, I noticed that several faces had become twisted into long snouts. I only know who they were because of their attire.

Sir Louis bore a green coat and yellowed eyes. His teeth were sharp as ever and his muscles were far more prominent.

Meanwhile Charles the musician no longer seemed as bald now that his body had grown many spines and furls atop his now flattened skull.

Neither of them seemed quite too enthusiastic as I approached. “Ah, so here I thought you had died! No, that would be far too obvious!” said Sir Louis with a chuckle.

I beamed at him. “When did this… happen?” Others had changed, but not many I particularly cared about. Why were some of the maids given Elevation? It was maybe a good tenth of the important people and I had no idea why so many had been given approval so suddenly.

Charles the flat headed dragon spoke out. Weirdest thing. Lord Garadius decided to give many of us Elevation last night. Apparently, his brother had… brewed something up and recommended it be given to many selected persons.”

“For what reason would he have to Elevate a flutist?”

“I don’t know!” Charles shrugged. “Honestly, surprised myself. You’d think he’d spend alot more time determining his selections before uplifting so many at once. We’ll run out of rooms if that new librarian is anything to show for it!”


“Perhaps it’s so we might be all used to it? Or maybe to grow the castle’s scope all at once?” said Sir Louis. “Why, I fathom he gave us soldiers priority is merely to get us all in fighting shape as soon as possible. Every knight immediately got approved for Elevation!”

I frowned, a little disappointed my change would become merely a footnote in a grand event. There were perhaps dozens of new dragons when I had only thought of a mere handful of trusted advisors would be given the opportunity. I supposed that this was as good a starting place as any.

Food wafted into the room as if almost by trance. The odors and scents filled my nostrils in a way that I don’t think they ever had. Something salty and pungent invited me to such longing.

And then I noticed the bucket full of raw fish being placed in front of me.

I… immediately felt revulsion sink in. “They… expect us to eat that?”

“Come now Miss Annette. You will be a dragon. Dragons eat many things, often raw!” said Sir Louis with a rumble of laughter. “You expected anything else?”

I gagged. I was a lady, not a merely soldier used to roughing it in the woods. And yet…I could not deny how appealing it looked. And I had felt so famished, so hungry after last night’s changes.

I looked at many of the dragons, especially Charles the flat flutist as he gobbled several fish up without a care.

I winced, but I deemed it appropriate. For a long time until the chefs would adjust, I would likely need to be used to eating raw food like this for a while.

I… at least pretended to still have dignity. I cut a fish and took a fork full and placed it into my mouth. The slimy texture and cold sensation should have been revolting… not appealing to my new tongue. I hesitated at continuing to eat, as I watched the others gobble down whole fish left and right. “Where are you manners, fools?”

“Hah, I guess we left them behind!” said Sir Louis. “Now, go ahead and try it.”

I… tried to distance myself, but I was no weakling. I was a lady. I ate my single fish and left the table thereafter.



I went to go see Rizel again, to see if there would be more surprises today. My clothes felt… off however. My blouse felt tighter however as something behind my shoulders was pushing out.

As I went to the library, I found not only Miss Caroline there, but so was Theodore. To my surprise, he had also changed into a partially draconic form. He had been given a deep red scaling with bristling spines coming out from his back. He was shouting at Miss Caroline, “-my way! I need to… cure this stupid plot.”

Miss Caroline the maid was not someone I usually cheered on, but anything to upset my dear former fiance for breaking my heart. “No, I will not. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“He’s a push-over!” said Theodore.

“The dragon is not to trifled, remember he is a war veteran even if he doesn’t sound it like it,” said the old woman.

Theodore turned away and walked out with a huff. He stopped as he noticed my approach. “Well, I hope you’re happy.”

I smirked. “Honestly, why are you so upset? You’re getting a promotion and yet here you are throwing a tantrum.”

“Because why force it on me all people?” he said. “I am not happy to serve under our new ‘lord’. So why ‘promote’ me against my own will?”

I narrowed my eyes, understanding that there is a logic to what Theodore was saying. But that was just him trying to get under skin. “Well, enjoy yourself.”

I went past him and moved towards Miss Caroline with a nod. She was still human and not selected.

The old maid gave a frown at me as I walked past. “I hope you realize that for a long while, you’ll be dependant on others to care for you.”

I laughed. “Well of course. Why, what proper lady doesn’t have assistance to help bathe her? Or prepare food for her? I am not a servant. Those are your responsibilities.”

Miss Caroline laughed back, to my surprise. “Well, it’ll be quite a lot longer than you’d expect.

I stepped away from her as fast as I could. I felt unsettled, like something about what she had said bothered me.


I found Rizel laying on a carpet. The dragon had taken a dozen books and had them all sat in a stack beside him. He was even less nervous now when compared to last night.

“Oh, uh … Lady Annette. You’re… uh… doing well.”

“That I am. All thanks to you…” I said, as I brought my hand across his massive chin and began to caress him gently. His rough skin might have been a nightmare if I still had human hands, but these draconics made the process feel unique.

Rizel winced and took his head away from me. Clearly he was shy and trying to hide himself for his own protection. “Lady Annette… we barely know each other.”

I smirked. He was trying to resist my charms. I leaned down and tried to make myself seem more appealing, more alluring. “Then we can know each other more later.”

But apparently, I had misjudged Rizel. “Annette, I do not like being used.”

I frowned and landed backwards. My gaze narrowed as I looked at his eyes. “What.. I would never!”

But Rizel continued. “The maid, Miss Caroline, informed me of your… priorities and previous instances.”

I groaned. Of course she ruined it for me. That stupid maid; couldn’t she become someone’s grandmother and not act like she was mind? “Well, regardless, I am Elevated now. I do not need you.” I rose to my feet, but I noticed my dress went past ankles as I rose. “Wait, what’s going on?”

“That’s… well, aside effect of your ahem… Elevation,” Rizel replied back. He went to the back and tossed a bundle of simple clothes… children’s clothes in fact. “Truth of the matter is, Elevation relies on the performer’s power to make a dragon, but I’m not Eludar and nobody is. No one but him can Elevate a mortal into a fully grown dragon.”

I just looked at him and the clothes, not even understanding what he tried to say. “What do you mean by that?”

And Rizel had the most frightening smirk of anyone I had ever met. “Well, Elevating a mortal into a fully grown dragon is near impossible. But rendering a person… into a much smaller dragon, well, that’s actually something I can do.”

I ran into some nearby bookshelves as I tried to understand what had just happened to me and what Rizel was saying. I felt my body and noticed how… my curves seemingly disappeared and my chest flattened. Suddenly, Theodore’s accusation felt all too relevant. The dragons never intended to use Elevation as a reward, but as a tool. “I…Ew!” I said as I noticed how young I sounded.

“That’s you losing puberty,” said Rizel as he kept a fair distance away. “You’re probably around ten or so for the meantime.”

I hoped I didn’t have those awkward freckles when I had a child. I pulled off my attrie from earlier in the day and placed myself in the clothes Rizel gave me. Surprisingly, there were holes in the back and the breaches that… came in handy as I poked my new wings and tail out.

“So… what are you going to do with me?” I hissed as I stepped out to meet him. “Are you going to adopt me or something?”

Rizel frowned. “Well… I never thought that far, but I guess maybe? Unless of course, you have your parents available to do so...”

“No!” I spat back. I had hoped Rizel would recoil like the coward he was earlier, but he stayed put.

“Fine, we’ll… do this the hard way,” the dragon said.

It was here a manservant moved towards us. He was human. “Uh, forgive me, but uh I’m looking for Miss Annette, have you seen her by any chance?”

I grumbled. “You’re looking at her!” I hissed.

The man servant looked at me oddly. I recognized his face, though I didn't know his name. He stumbled over his words as he tried to understand what he saw. “Uh, Lord Garadius has an an- announcement to make!” said the crier. “Please report to the central chamber.”




The throne room was full of very irritated people, not that I could blame them. Most of the faces I saw earlier that morning had suffered similar fates as I had; being reduced to mere children and forced to wear clothes that barely fit.

Since last night, Lord Garadius had the previous wooden throne removed, instead placing a large marble slab big enough for him to lay upon in its place. The dragon seemed amused by the whole thing.

I did not speak, instead it was Sir Louis, now barely older than one of his pages. “What is the meaning of this betrayal? We were your vassals!”


Lord Garadius shrugged. “And that you are, but I do know many of you were trouble makers or conspirators in a number of plots. Others while they are not were… far too insistent on receiving Elevation that they never stopped to consider what it might entail.”

“Ridiculous!” I spat. I felt my blood boil. I was supposed to be beautiful and above the servants and the common folk. Now, I was maybe half my height? “You… you deceived us.”

“That we did,” aid Lord Garadius, “Just as many of you intended to deceive us for your own personal gain.”

I knelt down and remembered that I didn’t have any shoes to throw. I howled. But Rizel restrained me with a single paw.

“Relax, you shouldn’t be too upset. It is not as though we would discard you. Merely, this should be seen as a boon as it is a punishment.” Lord Garadius proclaimed. “None of us could have given you the Elevation that I and many others received, but to tell you the truth, you might not be so jealous when you realize that if you did, you would be destroying walls and furniture with your every motion. This is an opportunity to learn with better precautions than I did.”

Murmurs went out around the room. Some of those stupid traitors were honestly considering the dragon’s words.

Others made demands to be changed back. Or worried about being abandoned in their reduced state.

“We are not heartless. Many of you will be taken in and taught appropriately when your transformations complete,” said Lord Garadius. The dragon brought himself closer. Several of the young dragons from last night gathered right onto the elder’s feet. “After all, I did make several adoptions myself.”

I ground my teeth and turned away.

Rizel caught me and kept me from leaving. “Annette,” he said, not even bothering with the lady this time.

I stared at him hard. “Was this your plan all along!?” I spat. “Were you going to adopt me?”

Rizel froze.

“I hate and I never want to see you again!” I said as I dashed out the room. No one else stopped me, but I don’t know why.


I found myself a fountain. My head throbbed and I felt tears well up in my eyes. If I just tore away the scales and gave myself some curly hair, I might have looked like how I used to when I was this age last time.

I sighed. I should have known better than to trust Rizel, no more than I should have trusted Theodore. I was justified in trying to take advantage of them first. And next time, I should be the one making the first move. Stupid old woman for messing up my chance!

“So, that’s where you went.”

I raised my head. I saw Theodore above me, dressed up in a boy’s tunic. He was about my age, but slightly shorter as boys often were. I turned my head away. “I’m not speaking to you.”

Theodore didn’t hesitate to reply. “I saw that outburst you did.”

I hissed. “Just because we’re… young now doesn’t mean we’re back to being friends.”

“No, but we’re both stuck like this,” Theodore said back.

“I don’t suppose you know a way out of this,” I asked.

“The old king was trying to find one since Elevation became an issue. He knew he couldn’t fight the dragons, so he tried to unmake them. Course, that didn’t work and neither of us are going to have the resources. So, I guess for the foreseeable future, they’re going to ‘adopt’ us. I say, be a nuisance if they’re going to insist.”

I slowly nodded my head. For once, Theodore said something insightful. “Yes, make them regret it.”

I rose from my seat. “Perhaps I should ask for the most juvenile of requests then. Perhaps more toys and dolls.”

“You should have plenty of experience then,” Theodore spat back, a backhanded compliment if there ever was one.

“Not as much as you,” I said.

“Quite.”




After settling my thoughts and determining my course of action, I decided to find myself some allies. I reasoned that many of the other courtiers would be interested in at least increasing our personal power. We might have been reduced to children, but we could still make demands from our so-called ‘parents’ if they were so insistent on taking upon that role.

I found my peers in the back gardens, under the supervision of both the new rulers and whatever servants that stayed on.

Sir Louis stared annoyedly at Charles, who was busy fluting about, much to the former knight’s consternation. The two of them were nothing but boys now, scaly children that clearly..

“Gentlemen.” I said, trying to avoid the obvious.

“What is it now?” said Sir Louis. “Were you sent here to ‘play’ with us?” he said.

Charles blew on his flute several times, his song almost jubilant. “Well, it would be less awful if you just did it.”

“I mean, just because we look like children does mean, we are children!” said Sir Charles.

I coughed a few times, to get the two of them to stop bickering. Honestly, if I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn they were children. “Theodore has suggested that we start… making demands,” I said.

“Well, can we demand they stop ‘adopting’ us?” Sir Louis said. “It isn’t very funny!”

“Maybe not, but first we must make a number of demands.”

Charles nodded his head. “Yeah, you’re right, we should be getting sweets! It’s already snack time!”

“That’s not what I meant!” I said.

“No, no, he’s right!” said Sir Louis. “We should be getting stuff like that!”

I grumbled, but saw no point in arguing as the two of them dashed away to one of the servants.

The two of them promptly demanded sweet rolls, honey, and other confectioneries. The scene promptly caused others of our kind to demand more things. Some wanted more sweets, but then perhaps as a joke, some demanded toys for whatever reason.

The servants hesitated at first, but eventually freshly baked sweet bread came out of the ovens and sent to everyone who made a demand.

Hesitantly, I took one and let it sit in my hands. I looked at the former knight and the musician as they greedily ate their sweets as they laughed. “That was… more childish than it needed to be.”

“Maybe, but it got us sweet rolls,” said Sir Louis.

“Hey, is it just me, or does it taste sweeter than it should?” said Charles.

I looked me sweet bread and decided to take a bite. One bite quickly became a second and a third. I felt… elated. Sweetness and energy just came into me in a way that I don’t ever recall happening in recent memory.

I went to take another bite, but then it was stolen from me.

A fourth dragon, one that was much smaller than I am and walked on all fours, dashed into view and snatched what I was holding. “Gotcha!” the dragon said as it took several steps away.

“Hey!” I shouted. “Give it back!”

“Gotta catch me!” it shouted.

I ran after the dragon as it took a dash through the gardens and over statues. I found it run up the side of a great tree, using its claws to climb up. I went to try and climb up after it, but I couldn’t do the same. My claws were either too small or I was too heavy. I tried to jump up, but I couldn’t reach.

“Give it!” I said, in one desperate attempt to get my sweet back.”

The dragon let chuckle as it dropped the roll.

I caught it in my jaws and promptly started to eat it. Even marred, the smell and taste were still so sublime.

“So, what’s it like being all grown up?” said the dragon.

I licked the sugar off my hands as I looked up at the thief. “What? So, you don’t know? You weren’t… you know, a person before?”

“Nope!” the dragon said. “Came all the way from an egg!”

I mulled over that. I guess that could happen, especially since there were plenty of male and female dragons. And it’s been several years since the war started using Elevation. The dragon must have been at least five of six. “Well, why are you asking me?”

“Because you were bigger the other night!” said the dragon. “I’m Iesz, by the way! It’s short for something, but I can’t quite say it.”

Iesz…what a weird name. I groaned at the thought of Rizel giving me a name like that. It would be so demeaning even more than being adopted by that overgrown weasel.

“So what’s it like being big?” Iesz kept asking.

I looked over at myself, not quite sure how to respond to Iesz. I was smaller, more vulnerable, but that’s something that any child would know. “I… had responsibilities,” I said back, not knowing what else to say. “I used to talk with strangers and to learn about them.”

“Is that it?” she asked as the dragon slid down the tree. I don’t know when I , but I was sure Iesz was a girl, but maybe it was when she landed right next to me.

“Yes, it’s an important job!” I said. “I had to manage finances, engage in dealings, and…”

“Okay, but...it doesn’t sound exciting. Where’s the kidnappings? And what about the slaying knights?”

“I’m a lady!” I hissed back. ”Or… was. I can’t exactly do that anymore!”

Iesz smirked. “Well, good. Why would anyone want to be a lady?”

I was prepared to just tear into the little runt. She just had to insult my profession like a disrespectful child. I leapt at the dragon and promptly landed into the fountain.

Iesz giggled as she trashed about, tossing me aside as she nibbled on my feet.

I responded and coiled around her, pounding on her horns and laying on my backside.

Water obscured everything as we splashed about and I couldn’t tell if I was winning or not. I could feel the fabric of my dress fray as we continued to fight, not that it was helping win.

I don’t know how long we were thrashing about, but eventually, I think we both decided to leave the fountain at the same time.

I stumbled onto my feet, exhausted and panting.

Iesz let her tongue out, also drained. “That was fun!” she said.

“You’ll pay for dat!” I said, but I noticed my voice sounded so different. I said a few random words, just to hear myself. I sounded even more shrill than before, my voice having lost its womanly charms.

Iesz as if to confirm it said back, “Wow, you got littler!”

I noted that she did look about my size, but I felt like I had to dispute that. I rose to my feet, but found that standing up on them was difficult as I kept landing on my hands. “I… I can’t stand!”

Iesz decided to circle around me, like she was a fish circling prey. “Sure, you can. Just walk like me!”

I placed my hands forward and slowly made tentative steps. It came almost naturally, when and what order to move my limbs. I should have expected this, given that all of the dragons I’ve seen rarely moved on two limbs; they always used their arms and legs as feet. Now I knew why; doing otherwise wasn’t possible.

But shrinking further was what I expected. “Why am I smaller?”

Iesz let out a giggle. “Oh, that’s because you’re supposed to!” said the dragon with a toothy grin. “You’ll be much littler than me when you’re all done!”

I winced and felt tears well up in my eyes. I… I didn’t not want this.

I dashed away somewhere, but it was somewhere in doors. It smelled clean and was quiet. No one was here and I couldn’t see out side of the white curtain I hid under.

I was still covered in the tattered remains of my dress. I bit at some of the remaining cloth and pulled it off, but I could barely see it.

I sniffled. I wanted to be a grown up again, not some little dragonlet. I didn’t need anyone or anything. I didn’t want to be adopted, I didn’t want to be a child.

“Annette,” I heard a voice call out, a small boy’s if I could make it out. “Anne. Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying!” I said as I could barely see anything.

I saw a red whelping step into my shelter. “Theo?” I said. “Why are you here?”

“... You always usedta go to the laundry room when you were mad,” said the little red dragon.

I nodded as my vision distorted. I didn’t even remember I used to come here, but Theo did.

“I saw you cry and I was… worried.”

“We’re gonna get littler!” I shouted back. “I dun know how much but… I don’t wanna be helpless.”

Theo stumbled over to me, my little hiding spot having just enough room. “I know, but what can we do. Don cry about it, kay?”

I slowly nodded my head. I let out a sniffle. “Why were we mad at each other?”

“I dun remember,” Theo said back. “I dun remember alot of things.”

I frowned, thinking it over. I didn’t remember either. And now that I thought about it, I wasn’t quite sure what being a diplomat or an observator was. I was not sure if that was the right way of saying it.“So we getting littler and … wittier, Theo?”

“Other thing. Opposite of wittier!” said he said back. “Also, my new momma wants to call me. Telo.”

I giggled. “That’s a silly name.”

“It is!” he agreed.

I let myself slowly drop to the ground, right next to Theo. I remembered fondly, before we didn’t like each other, we used to play alot with each other. I guessed that we would be doing more of that in the near future. Maybe it won't be too bad.

The door to the laundry room immediately broke open, as I was greeted by a familiar. “Sorry!” It was Rizel.

I rose to my feet as the now much bigger dragon towered over me. He looked quite battered dirt splattered as he knelt down to look at me. “There you are, Annette,” Rizel breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, little mister for making sure he was safe.”

Theo stepped up and looked proudly up at him. “Yours welcome!” he said.

“Don’t go,” I whispered to him. I felt like I had rediscovered an old friend and now I just… didn’t want him to leave me. Especially since I was unsure of what Rizel would do to me. I didn’t want another father again...

“It not too bad,” Theo promised.

I frowned, but then I recalled that Theo had just hours earlier been quite negative about the dragons and our new parents. Maybe something changed? Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad. Maybe I should trust him.

I looked up at Rizel and took a deep breath. I was ready to meet my new father.



I found myself back in my old room, though this time, things had changed considerably. All of the furniture had been stripped out and redecorated with a more pastel feel. Even the bed that I slept in had been replaced by a large collection of cloth rags onto the floor. A number of dolls were neatly stacked around a tiny table that seemed so much more inviting than it should have. I should have been horrified, instead I almost felt… please.

“You know, the servants did suggest that we make your room ready for you,” Rizel said as he nudged me closer. “I’m likely to move up somewhere nearby, so I can visit you more frequently.”

I padded over to the scene of stuffed dolls. I was too old for them, I had outgrown such silly things. Yes, even my monkey Mister Fred. And yet, I cried.

The big dragon loomed over me. “Something wrong?”

I sniffled and wailed. “I’m not liddle!”

I found myself taken in by him. He laid on his side and I could hear the thump of his heart beating like the smoothest drum in the world. “I’m… sorry for having done that to you.”

I couldn’t bring myself to look up to him, only listening to the pulsing rhythm of his heart made me listen. “No one says sowwy to me...”

His wings furled over me, like the deepest blanket. “I… maybe I should have given you a chance instead of well, this… but I can’t undo it now. All I can do is take care of you.”

I felt my heart break. “Riz… “ I struggled to say, but I was crying so hard.

“If you want me, just call me Daddy.”

Daddy. I… faintly remember bad things about my daddy, my real one. He would fight so much with Momma and it would always bother me because I didn’t understand why, often with others involved. And now Riz wants to be my Daddy…

“Ssh, it’s okay, take your time,” he said.

I lifted my head up to him. The bigger and older dragon was firm looking, stabler from this angle. He would be a fine parent. A strange idea formed in my head; did I take after my old Daddy more than I wanted to admit? I couldn’t understand why, but maybe I did once upon a time… And that meant, I wronged Riz. Maybe I needed this after all. “Sowwy, Daddy.”

“It’s okay,” he said as gently as he could. “I forgive you, if you forgive me.”

I smiled as I slowly pushed myself away. The world looked different now, much brighter, more lively, even though very little on the outside changed.

I looked at my favorite toy, my old stuffed monkey that had been stuck behind my dresser. Mr. Fred looked very clean and enticing. My mouth water and I licked my teeth. I found myself biting into him. I didn’t want to break him, but it felt so soothing to have the feel of something soft in my mouth.

I could hear Daddy laugh. “Well, I guess that’s expected.”

I grinned.

Daddy rose for a second and took something from a nearby shelf. He laid on his side as he began to examine what he took.

I was suddenly very interested and I leapt right in front of him. I set Mr. Fred down as I put myself between whatever it was and my Daddy. “What’s it?”

“A storybook Anne,” Daddy said. “I like to read alot and I figured I might as well read you something.”

Reading, I remembered that. I looked at the book and noticed that it was almost as big as I was.

Daddy’s big claws were so large that he should have had a hard time turning the pages, but seemingly, nothing tore as he moved through it. “This one is about uh… Pigs, Houses, and Wolves.”

“Can I read it!?” I even remembered this story, but it’s been so long since I last heard it told. And because Daddy liked reading and I used to, I wanted to prove myself.

“Okay, okay,” he said. “Just tell me if it gets too hard.”

Giddily I moved pages as I could, I could even hear paper ripping, but I didn’t care. “Once upon a time…” I began aloud as I recited the story of pigs making houses; one of straw, another of sticks, and then of bricks. They were brothers and were farmers. I didn’t know of any pigs who were farmers, but maybe there were such things out there.

But when it came time for me to read about the wolf, I found myself having trouble. “The big bag... The big… big...“ I struggled to say. I looked at the letters and found them hard to read. Even the things I read just a minute ago were things I could only scratch my head at. “Daddy, why can’t I read no more.”

“Anne, it’s because you’re getting littler still. And part of that is, well, you’ll forget alot of things. Reading among them,” Daddy said.

Earlier today, I was afraid of that, of becoming even smaller. Now, I was just curious about what that might be like. “How little?”

“Very,” he said. “You’ll be my baby, that okay? I’ll raise and nurture you.”

I found my tail thumping against the ground as I thought about it. It… didn’t sound too bad, especially if Daddy would be there to take care of me. “Okay…” I murmured.

“So, how do you feel about the name Atela?” Daddy asked me. “Would you like that to be your new name?”

I giggled. Why would I need a new name? Then again, it sounded good. “Why I need a new name?”

“Well, it’s a new life after all. Can’t be the same old Annette when you’re so new,” Daddy asked with a grin.

I thought long and hard about it, but then realized Daddy had a point. I… Annette was a bad girl, even though she had been big. “Okay. What Atela mean?”

“It’s related to stars. Stella for humans, but Atela is what dragons used to say. So you’re a star?”

I wagged my tail in excitement. I would be a star. “Okay, Daddy!”

Daddy laughed as he took the story book and continued reading. He talked about the big bad wolf and how mean and vicious he was. With a single breath, he blew down each house before he was about to go to the brick house. I don’t remember what was supposed to happen, but I don’t remember Daddy saying anything after the stick house.

I remember yawning and closing my eyes because I was so tired…


I woke up in the softest place I had ever been. I twisted and turned and rolled myself into something big and warm.

I saw Daddy’s face meet me. He said something that I didn’t understand much about, but he called my name. “Atela…” he said in that gentle tone.

“Da… Da!” I squealed back and thumped my tail against the ground. I didn’t care what I said or if I said anything at all.

He licked me several times in response.

“Ba!” I tried to stand up to reach him, but I couldn’t even roll of my back for some reason. I could only squirm there. Maybe I was just tired.

With a gentle lift of his paws, Daddy picked me up and put me in this thing that was so soft that I thought it was another bed. It wasn't as warm as Daddy’s body, but that was okay, because I could see Daddy still. With his other paw, he pushed whatever it was that I was on and the room started changing as I exited.

I forgot what to call most of the decorations, the scenes. Even these see through things that let in light were something I couldn’t quite remember the name of. It was like rediscovering myself in an unfamiliar place.

Daddy eventually took me to someplace and stopped. There was this big platform with food on it that smelled appealing.

Someone else other than daddy, a female monkey person took me and sat me on her lap. She looked familiar and she had this bowl of sweet smelling mush nearby. She said things to me as she put some of the mush into my mouth.

I greedily ate my spoonful.

It was then I realized that I was being spoon fed… like a baby. Oh, that’s right… I was a baby dragon now. I recalled the other day I would have loathed this, but now I couldn’t be happier. “Guh...Bah…”

My caretaker spoke several words at my Daddy before feeding me again. She seemed happy, which made me happy. And I was half-sure that she was talking about how cute I was.

More spoonfuls later, I was full. The female carried me with my Daddy behind us both.

I found myself in this place with brightly colored toys and painted surfaces on half the room. I was sure I this place was only partially done, but with how small I was, that was plenty enough room.

I was set on a nearby a collection of dolls and started biting on it. I don’t know for how long.

I then noticed there was someone else in the room with me, this teal hatchling who also had a doll just like mine.

I was curious now. I let go of my doll and made a yapping call for her to beckon over. The hatchling did the same thing as me, but didn’t approach.

I was still curious so I made my way forward. Walking like a grownup was too hard still, so I just pulled myself over as I crawled. Surprisingly the other hatchling did the same as I did.

I found myself soon up in front of the hatchling and made several more caws. She did everything I did.

I placed my paws to touch her, but I then realized she was behind something that was see-through. Was she calling for help? I moved myself over to see if I could find a way to remove the see-through wall or to meet her some other way, but when I turned to go behind she was gone, along with her section of the room.

Where did my playmate go?

I moved back to where I last saw her and she re-emerged. It then dawned on me… was this me?

I remembered something like this before where you could see yourself. Was I the hatchling in the mirror?

I grinned. I looked cute. I no longer had horns and my skin was so smooth. I did look a bit pudgy, but that meant I was eating well.

I then heard some noise coming from behind me. More monkey ladies brought more hatchlings, more than one, but I couldn’t count past that.

A bigger dragon, a fledgeling, came out as well. All of the younger dragons were brought near me, each of them giggling as they saw me. “Atela!” said one.

“Telo!” I squealed.

Neither of us actually said anything an grown up would call understandable, but in that moment me and the other hatchlings did understand each other.

I crawled over to my oldest friend with tears of joy in my eyes. We rolled over close to each other and tried to climb the other, but that was fine. We were in a pile together.

“Like old times?” he said.

“Yuh!” I said back. I remember how when we were littler the first time, we would do this too.

We would have continued to play like that, but the older dragon in the area decided to step between us to get out attention. Iesz was her name, I remembered. “Wows, you all look so cute now that you’re all little,” she said, much easier to understand than a grown up who seemed to speak in complete gibberish.

I grinned. She used to be much smaller than I was, but I was glad to have her around. I crawled over to her and began to attach myself to her feet. Telo did the same and attempted to nibble on the older dragon’s tail.

Iesz laughed, but did fall. I knew it was a ruse, but it was fun to play with her for a while. She eventually said she was defeated and took several steps away from us.

The other dragons, who I only knew their names because of the grown ups calling them out by name, approached me with grins.

Lojar, who I remember was big and strong once upon a time, chirped up. “You’s right! I cried out to my Momma and she gave me treats all night!”

I smirked. “Uhuh. Won’t always work, but if you want something, you gotta make demands!”

Lojar nodded and then said. “Now I just want some quiet in my nap room.”

Culan, still a musical as ever, shouted out. “I like my own voice!”

Telo and I laughed.

As much as things have changed, so many have stayed the same… or went back to the way they should have been. In a very real way, I did make a place for myself in the new court, I just didn’t expect it to be so small.