Not sure if anyone actually reads these, but this was the other one I had a lot of enjoyment writing.
Unintended transformation into a new form to appreciating said form and wanting to stay that way is a bit of a mood.
If I had the time and effort, I'd love to expand more on these stories, but sadly I don't, so you'll just have to enjoy these brief windows for now.
Maybe I'll come back to them later, who knows

Anyways, enjoy!

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5) ‘Flight’

“And there we have it. That completes the last of it. Welcome aboard” The staff member would say with a grin as they took back the documents. “I hope you enjoy your time here in the Ashfort Riders Academy. Here's your brooch, and here's your amulet” They'd say with a grin as they pinned a small badge to your lapel, took a small gem tied to a piece of string, and hung it over your neck. “Don't worry. Everyone in your program gets one. Sometimes the mounts can freak out and we don't want anyone getting hurt.”

“Now, off you pop. Mister Richard's can give you a tour of the premises and answer any questions you have. I've still got many applications to process after all”

“Ah, right this way Sir/Miss” the guide would say, leading you around every inch of the academy's grounds. From the classrooms, to the training grounds, to even the sanctuary down below, until you were eventually led over to the stalls for the mounts to see yours, only to find it… vacant?

“Huh? What is this?” You questioned, staring at the empty stall.

“Well, this is the standard stall we have prepared for all our mounts. A bed, shelving for important items, even a basin for drinking and washing up. Meals take place in a dining hall separate from the riders. We aren't so cruel as to treat such intelligent creatures like witless beasts after all.” The guide would say with a nod

“I can see that. But where's the dragon I'm supposed to be partnered with?” You questioned, confused, and slightly annoyed

“Ah… well… how is one to put this… you aren't being partnered up with a dragon.” They said, sheepishly, seemingly already expecting what was to come as they stepped back.

“Huh?! Then what am I partnered with? I got accepted into the school, didn't I? I thought all riders got paired up with a dragon?”

“Well, yes, but… you didn't sign up to be a rider” the guide explained further.

“Then what did I- oh…” You quickly realised what the guide had been trying to hint at as the amulet you had been given started to heat up around your neck. Underneath which, pearl scales were starting to form and spread, flowing across your body like water as you began to grow in size, clothing tearing into tattered pieces, unable to contain your expanding form. From behind you, a long scaly tail suddenly extended, a diamond shaped spine decorating its tip, alongside a mane of silver fur that ran up its length, following your spine all the way to your own slowly lengthening neck.

Your body continued to grow, threatening to send you into the ceiling, until your hips suddenly popped, and you found yourself comfortably falling onto all fours, your nails sharpening into draconic claws as the scales washed over your hands and feet, compressing them down into taloned paws. Arms and legs shifting and adjusting, filling with new muscle, feeling stronger, more powerful, as the heels of your new feet raised up, balancing on your claws.

“Can you stop this?” You cried, as you felt your jaw start to push out, nose flattening into the growing snout, the interior of your mouth aching as all of your teeth lengthened into new razor sharp fangs, more sprouting to fill the gaps in your new maw. Scales moved to cover every inch of your changing head, as your hair lengthens and changes colour, flowing into a luxurious silver mane, two spiralling horns taking shape from within the new shimmering fur. Your ears flattened against the sides of your head, twisting into triangular points, while your eyes started to water, pupils narrowing into slits as a ethereal blue seeped through, repainting them into a draconic iris that viewed the world in hues you could have never envisioned. It was disorientating. You had to close your eyes to drown the new sensations out, as the guide stammered

“Well… no…”

“What?!” You growled, lips pulled back into a panicked snarl as you faced them

“We… we can't stop the changes-”

“If we stop your transformation now, you'll be stuck like that for the rest of the school year. And we both know you'd rather that not happen.” A calm, male voice suddenly interjected, catching you off guard, when had they arrived?

“As much as we would like to, the enchantment on that amulet is designed to keep you in that form until the end of the school term. 6 months to be precise. And dispelling it won't be an option. It's no mere polymorph spell after all. You are, and will be, a true blooded Dragon. Attempting to break the spell would only leave you trapped in that form.”

“Then… What am I supposed to do?! I can't…” Anger turned to denial, as you stamped the ground, unable to process your situation, as scales flooded your back, bones creaking and shifting below the surface, expanding out to make room for your growing organs, while pressure built behind your shoulders, a persistent ache that refused to go away. It built and built, until finally erupting into a pair of new limbs, muscle and sinew growing across their length, followed by the scales. Long spindly fingers grasped at the air as slowly a thin membrane formed across their surface, connecting them together as it grew taut, completing your new wings!

“You can. Trust us. If we did not believe you didn't have what it takes, you would not be here. Intentional or not, you fulfil the criteria to attend this school as a Dragon. In some ways, it is a higher honour than attending as a rider.”

“But I don't WANT to be a dragon!” You roared, warmth pooling in the back of your mouth, until a hand found its way onto your snout, gently rubbing it.

“I understand. But the only other option would be to send you off to live at one of our sanctuaries until the time runs out. Think of it this way. If you can just play along, and endure being a Dragon until the end of term, we will ensure you are returned to human form, placed into the rider class going forwards, and we will even give you extra credit. How does that sound?” The man questioned, slowly and gently rubbing your head and neck as you calmed down, the warmth in your throat slowly subsiding, as you finally opened your eyes, seeing the man gently grinning, emerald eyes staring into your own through his spectacles.

“I… alright. I can do that. It won't be hard, right?” You questioned, the man chucking

“Oh, very challenging. But no more than it would be for any other student. You'll be fine. You'll have all of us to help guide you through the process.”

“And speaking of which. Perhaps Mister Richards would like to finish giving you a tour of the premises?” He would say, turning his attention back to the still nervous guide

“O-kay…” They'd brush themselves off, trying to compose themselves after witnessing your outburst firsthand

“Great! But first” the man clapped his hands as your tattered clothes began to reform around your, fusing back together into a snug fitting black vest, silver and emerald embroidery lining its surface, your amulet tightening around your collar as it thickened, becoming more like a choker connecter to the new apparel “Your uniform. To distinguish you from the other dragons who inhabit this area. Now, go, I won't keep either of you waiting. I hope to see you in my class” he would say with one last friendly smile, before leaving.

And so, your tenure at the Ashfort Riders Academy began. Not as a human student, but as a Dragon. You found yourself soon paired up with a rather cheerful lad who immediately attempted to befriend you, and seemed completely ignorant to you having been a human mere hours ago. And frankly, you were happy to keep it that way. Despite your apprehension, both towards him and your new form, as the week progressed, you found yourself slowly warming up to the two. Being a Dragon wasn't all that bad after all, once you got the hang of quadrupedal motion at least. Plus as it turned out, Dragon claws could be just as precise at grasping and holding things, as long as they weren't too small. The other dragons were more than happy enough to teach you too, educating you on your new body, and Dragon culture as a whole.

And flying… Well, let's just say your first flight, as a rider and their dragon, was something you could never forget. The thrill of soaring through the sky, carried by your wings. The serenity of the world from up high. The part where you realised you didn't actually know how to land and crashed into a pile of hay, and the realisation you didn't need to be human to learn and enjoy this class.

In the end, you decided to dedicate your time to graduating, not as a rider, but as a Dragon, even after the year was up and you were given the chance to switch over to your intended class. After spending an entire year as one, you just couldn't conceive returning to living as a human, flightless, scaleless. A familiar yet completely foreign existence. You'd learnt so much, and could learn so much more. It might not have been your intended choice, but it had truly been the right one. Fate works in mysterious ways after all~