I've had this setting in my head for a long time. It was inspired after I watched Gate, saw the infinite squandered potential in the anime, and wanted to make an Isekai of my own. So here we are, a fantasy world, where there is a gate to Earth, except I want to use my setting to explore cool ideas, and most of all myself.

I really have been feeling connected with Kobolds for years now. As I've changed, I've identified with my overweight mewtwo less and less. Really for many reasons, but most of all is how active I've become recently. So I wanted to explore my love of dragons and their relationship with kobolds. It has all the elements of a world I want to explore, except this one is all mine and I love.

David is a human who moved to an American Colony in a fantasy world. the circumstances for how this political climate isn't important to the story, just know he's an immigrant here. It doesn't come off well in the story, but David is supposed to be the same super red blooded American I've always fancied myself as. I thought if I ever met a dragon lord and told them we were both equal under the law, they'd probably toast me alive. The story is more or less, how this super outsider gets a home with his found friends. He wants to join the kobold pack that lives in a nearby dragon's mountain. She has other plans for his introduction to her family.



Also writing the mindset of a cat that jumped onto a D&D table was incredibly fun.

I'm going to post below, but the PDF is a thousand times better.

I got a first run proof from  Snozzy And an amazing round of feedback from  TheConflicted .  Catprog Was good enough to give it a once over as well. I hope you all enjoy!

Also a Psuedodragon Since most people have never heard of one. It's a small dragon with the intelligence and personality of a house cat.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/.....6-pseudodragon

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A Home in Scales, Whatever the Size
By Biffiea

David looked at the result of the die, “17 plus… 21 to hit!” He looked up from his private spot behind his folding DM screen. At first sight one might think, he was in the middle of a fantasy world, and not running a fantasy game.
All around the oak table that had been set aside for the cave’s rec room, were two kobolds, a goblin standing a few inches over him, and an eight foot tall hyena man who’s species was known as a gnoll. That last one made all the other’s look tiny, including the human sitting behind the dungeon master screen. Still at six feet tall, the caucasian man towered over the other players.
“That’s a hit,” Said the kobold,seated furthest to the left of the dungeon master. He leaned in, bracing for the total. More than David’s height or species, his clothes marked the young man as being from another world.
The human he was paying attention to was dressed fairly casually in a light blue button up shirt with D20 patterns on it and blue jeans. It was summer out, but the inside of the cave system was cold no matter the time of year. His hair, messy and unkempt due to the lack of mirrors, barbers, or mammals to care about hair style.
“Roorti, that’s,” three more dice fell, creating dull thuds as the metal cubes hit the heavy wooden table, “15 points of damage, plus a con save.” The human, male, was dressed wildly out of place for the environment. The cavern they were in was about 8 feet tall, and was half natural, half worked stone. It was one of the few spots in the cave system that accessed the outside world in the form of a fortification that stuck outside the mountain. In peacetime, it served as a nice recreational space for anyone keen for some fresh air.
The kobold looked defeated for a moment, “Okay, and that’s… 24!” Roorti looked up with a sly smile, as though to claim credit for his dice’s roll. The shortstack draconid was Roorti, one of the knights sworn into the services of mountain’s Dragoness.
The human leaned back, “Well that saves. Congratulations you didn’t instantly die to a disintegration ray. So that means…” He looked down at a notepad in front of him, “Sekal, you’re up next.”
The orange kobold next to Roorti smiled. “Then I’ll bring down my super big hammer and smash him.” She also threw dice. “That’s… 15 and 3..” Sekal paused for a moment, briefly looking at her hands. “18 to hit!” She was a maid, and naturally had learned counting to be a part of this game.
It still boggled David when, every once in a while, he noticed kobolds still had hips. And (not that he was paying too close attention) definition in her hips. The clothes she wore that were more distinctly human helped make these details stick out more, he thought, even if that 'OSU' sweatshirt threatened to swallow her whole.
“Well that will hit! Roll Damage!” David smiled. The creature had 4 hit points left. Regardless of her damage, this will be enough to finish it off.
“That’s 13!” She said with a smile, now not even pausing to add.
Everyone of these short creatures he had met had been extraordinary, and she could have been a mascot for all of them. When they met, she had been a household servant, with the life and education one would expect of a serf. After just a few months, she could do math, write, and had even stopped to listen to David when he explained the chemistry of how soap works once.
“And that’s the last of the ambushers defeated! With this, you’ll be able to make it safely back to town, and that’s it!” He said, folding up his screen. “We can start next time with you at the castle!” The table erupted in mild celebration. “Oh and you leveled.” That was followed by a chorus of
“YES!”
David just smiled as he packed his things away, looking at the other two players, “Do you two have plans tonight?”
Zenk and Azan. The goblin and gnoll respectively, started speaking with each other. “I have to get running, I have a business in town tonight.”
“I need to get back on shift myself.” Azan, It was always a shame when their fun was over and they all had to get back to the real world.
“Hey, Me and Roorti have someplace to be as well.” David slung his bag over his arm.
“Oh would this be, your audience with Draquess? You finally joining our pack?” She looked up at him with anticipation.
David smiled looked down on her. It felt like every meeting he had with Kaith was preceded with that question.
“Like Draquess Kaithuma would tell us her plans.” Roorti replied back. After I lived here for a year, she had me go on a quest to steel my knightley reserve. She was sending me to a cave that was home to a succubus. The plan was to cure me of my notions of knightly chastity.” He blushed every time he talked about that day.
“You know, maybe I’m wrong about this democracy thing.” He adopted a wry smile on his. “I have discovered Draquess Kaithuma is the one queen.” David said, moving to stand next to the two kobolds. “Let her enjoy being all mysterious, she’s just having fun” Then he blushed, “But it would be nice if she’d finally… you know.”
“Hey, she’ll get to ya in time. The whole world is nuts right now. Personally I want you on full time too. The whole cave’s a lot nicer since ya moved in.” Azan said, throwing his rucksack over his shoulder, before walking out.
“I just… I can’t imagine life without this place. I want it to be my home.” He sighed, allowing his nerves to slip through and show on his face.. David had been hoping she’d make good on her promise to transform him. It had been six months since he moved to the mountain. Nine months since starting to date a creature half his size.
“We all love you here Dave, some more than others,” Zenk said, looking over at Sekal.
He knew how huge her crush on David was. The entire reason she wore his clothes was another human told her that’s something couples did back on Earth. “Whatever body the Lady gives you, this is your home. Sekal wants him to be kobold most of all! Then I can have a cool outlander as my mate!”
Kobolds weren’t anything close to monogamous after, all and the Draquess had assured her that his new kobold body would fix the problem where David didn’t like girls. David insisted he did, but preferred men.
All Sekal cared about was human David was off limits. Kobold David would give her dozens of eggs!
“Well,” The blushing human said while slapping his hand down on the table. “We should go get ready. I’d hate to be late for the meeting with the big angry dragon. We’ll see you all next week.” That was his out whenever Sekal started talking about how much they were going to mate once he became a kobold.
He bolted out of the room, stopping outside so Roorti could wave and run out to meet him. “Hey Roorti. Any idea what she wants to talk to us about?”
David’s mind raced with what it could have been. She used him for any matter involving the human world, but his mind always hoped this would be the time she would speak on his place in the mountain.
“She didn’t mention anything in particular, just that it would be fun. She says that about everything though.” Roorti half heartedly chuckled.
“I swear, some nights I can already feel my tail.” His body dismorphia had started soon after moving into the cave. It got worse after him and Roorti became intimate.
Dave was more than happy to let the diminutive kobold use his larger body as a playground, but they couldn’t go deeper with the human being frightened he’d hurt his friend.
The more time he spent with the knight, watching goblins and kobolds throw praise and thanks at him, hug him… seeing them get lost in those muscular arms and look up into those caring eyes that always looked out for everyone else first. He wanted to be small… he wanted to fit inside his lover’s arms so badly.
“Well, get your hopes up.” The kobold smiled up at him. “She wanted me to dress up. No instructions for you though. That can only mean she wants the clothes off for something.”
“Well she also said she thinks my outfits are cute.” Roorti could never get a read on their interactions. Kaith saw David as beneath her, as all creatures were. Unlike other dragons, this condescension had taken the form of a rather motherly outlook that all of her former peasants had enjoyed. Her close associates had enjoyed it even more.
Arriving at their ‘quarters’ didn’t take long. Kobolds didn’t sleep or do anything else alone, so naturally most didn’t have a want for private spaces. This space was set aside for David, so he could have his privacy and storage for all of his equipment. Roorti had a berth here for his boyfriend’s sake as well. Kobolds didn’t mind making love in front of everyone they knew, but he sure did.
Their room was spartan and clear on one half, and a mess of computer and electronic parts on the other. David’s cache of electronics was a side effect of his primary job in the caves, helping get the modern amenities setup. Parts from Earth were hard to come by, so he had taken to hoarding any scrap electronics that came his way.
“Well every time I ask, she just says, ‘everything in time young one.’ If it was going to take years, I’d be fine. I just want to know if I should bother replacing my clothes when they get burned out or wear rags until I switch to scales.”
“The answer to that one is simple, just stop with the clothes..” The brass scaled knight responded with a sly chuckle.
“Well what can I say, you’ve seen parts of me no one else has. “And some parts of me I’ve never seen.” David deposited his bag, before running over to help Roorti into his armor. It had some emblems that related to old dragon myths. The human’s size and strength helped get him dressed quickly.
“Okay, Mr. Giant. I hope she shrinks you down to mouse size so I can get some real nice play time with you.” He was the strongest kobold he’d ever met, and proud of it. His boyfriend being stronger than him didn’t help matters. Every other kobold he could pick up and sling around. “Now let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we know. “
Interactions between his mate and his mistress were some of the most nerve wracking of his life. They always got along on the surface, but anyone with sense knew their relationship was complicated. David was not amongst them.
“Man, I can’t wait to catch up. She was at that conference in an actual flying castle made of clouds? I need to hear all about that.” He was inclined to treat the Draquess Kathuma like a friend rather than a revered lord or mighty, powerful dragon. David, the oblivious human, just thought dragons were neat for their own sake.
Roorti often reflected on their first encounter. Their first conversation had been civil unless you could pick up on dragon hormone. If you could, Kaithuma had been inches from snapping and ripping the human’s throat out. Twenty minutes later, those hormones had changed to powerful fight or flight ones.
Kaithuma had been quiet the next day, and had refused to elaborate on the topics they discussed to anyone. However, a few days later, she had an official invitation for David to move to Keltark mountain, with a berth next to Roorti already made.
Everything had cascaded from there, and his every day had been a whirlwind. Luckily, his friends had made every minute of chaos worth it.
“Though then again, maybe she’s giving you a better title. Wandering bard is a little odd for someone who’s more or less asked questions like a sage.” Dave had picked it for himself.
Bringing Earth’s entertainment to this world was his favorite out of his many jobs, and he’d told everyone that it was also an in-joke where he was from. Then he joked if Roorti played tabletop games long enough, eventually he’d get the joke on his own.
“I’m good with mine for now. I don’t even think she’ll need to change it after she transforms me.” Dave chuckled, walking to keep step with his noisy armored friend.
“Personally, I still think you should have gone with court fool. It fits your life here better.”
David, lightly whacked his armored shoulder. “Smart ass.”


—

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Fifteen minutes later, David was missing the Kobolds' presence. Even if the Knight wasn’t physically large, there was something about his compassionate nature that filled an entire room. He’d called it strength of spirit when he was in a corny mood. The comforting boost of his lover’s presence could work wonders. Inside Kaithuma's cavernous bedroom, the kobold couldn’t help him.
“What’s the matter David? My little human explorer~ You’re always so talkative.” She put her claw to his naked neck. The pale skin tightened into goosebumps underneath it. “Oh, all it takes is a cold breeze to show what you truly are. A vulnerable little monkey, begging for a place in my world.”
The dragon was right. Her first word on entering the room had been, ‘strip,’ accompanied by a clawed finger pointing down. Even in her smaller anthro form, her voice still carried power.
. As she stretched her wings around him, he shrank under the warmth, before standing up within her embrace. She robbed the world from him whenever she did this. Her allure, the spell she cast, magic or natural, was so much more powerful than any lust he’d ever had. It made him helpless. The kind of helpless that didn’t even comprehend he’d lost control of his actions.
“Any last human words before I make you part of my hoard? One of my pets?” She made eye contact with him, forcing him to crane his neck up at the eight foot tall dragoness.
He could swear she must have given off some sort of pheromone that affected him, him and everything else in the cave. Normally he chalked it up to a strong personality matched with an imposing body. Here, now, this didn’t feel like raw charisma. Raw Charisma, or a curse. Whichever was more pleasant.
Here he was, his dream about to become reality, but every nerve in his body was screaming at him to run and hide. Still he stood there, doing nothing but looking. Somewhere he fell back on his oldest instinct. Tell a joke.
“Well, here's hoping my new hands can still work the game controllers. I’d hate to let Roorti get one on me right away.” He gave a light desperate chuckle.
A sly smile crept over the dragoness’s muzzle. The look in her eyes changed as her pupils focused. “I haven’t even put a scale on you and you’re already too adorable for words.”
She stepped around him, their height difference magnified by the sheer width her wings gave her. “You’re about to be robbed of your species and any identity you had before stepping a weakling human toe in my cave, and you’re worried about being bored.” She reached her hand up to meet his chin.
Dave’s nervous smile had turned to a frown slightly. “All..I mean… I-look I was just making noise. You know me,” He was half chuckling, half worried he’d accidentally said something to ruin the moment.
“Yes, and I know how you run your mouth when you're nervous. You mean every word.” She leaned down, causing her chest to heave forward a bit. The cold air felt like it had dipped another ten degrees. Her stunning sapphire eyes met his in a way that redoubled his belief he was being charmed.
All tension and will power left his body as it rebelled and relaxed under the gaze of the creature that would soon be his owner. “You wanted to make sure you’d be able to play your games with my kobolds.” A fire set off under his face as a blush burned itself onto his cheeks.
She was sultry, teasing, but also motherly as she admonished her prize. “My sweet little monkey wants to play his games with my kobolds.” She stood up, once again making David eye level with her neck, she strolled in a circle behind the man, letting him get a view of her massive wings and tail that was slinking down around his ankle.
“Well if you’re going to be part of my pack you’ll be doing what I want you to be doing…” She stood squarely behind David, taking in his scent as she looked down on the top of his brown, neatly parted hair. His scent was intoxicating, filling her lungs as she sharply inhaled while stretching her wings.
“Well I..” What in the world do you say to that? “Everyone is having fun with the game! I love running it. Everyone I talk to… well most, seem to like learning about stuff from Earth.” He squirmed slightly as her scaled hands set down on his hips. The scales against his lightly tanned skin always felt amazing to the young man.
“That’s a not a bad thing right? If I'm Bringing in to.. to much earth stuff…” He slurred and stuttered. The human felt like he was losing control of his tongue as it tingled.
“Calm David…calm...” she said leaning down to deeply mew out the word in his ear. While she smiled and caressed his sense of hearing, her wings fully wrapped around him. The dragon saw him as a much more complex figure. A deeply fun, and deeply troubling addition to her line up of pets, cronies, slaves, and well wishers. “The light you bring into my mountain is amazing, and I appreciate its wonders.” She gripped his body tightly, letting her fingers sink into his soft skin. “It's the idea that as a pet of mine, you’re going to have fun on your terms.”
A bolt of electricity shot between her palms and his hips. Deep blue Sapphire scales started to radiate out. David blushed deeply, heavily. He clenched his fists. His eyes went a bit glassy as his heart raced from anticipation. After so long. A life of being alone. Failed relationships. Bad jobs, Bad luck at every corner, and now finally, it was all in the past. He was going to be a kobold!
“No, a pet of mine is cute, adorable, helpless, and craves only my attention, love and approval.” She said those words with such deep earnesty, one might almost think it was true. Far from it, but why let the truth spoil this moment?
More blue scales traveled up his sides, feeling like pin pricks. It was anesthetic spreading through his skin and awakening the cool new feeling of sliding armor plates. That’s how his test scales had felt. Like skin. Like mass. Not some weak flesh but a mass of fat and armor that entranced him as a kid as much as now. He grasped it. Squeezing the new scales as they formed, as if to continuously try to awaken from his dream.
It took the voice of the dragoness forming a wing cocoon all around him that shook him to focus on any sensation that wasn’t his body. “I think a month as a pet will sort you out.” David turned his head to the side.
As the scales creeped over his chest, David forced a question out. “Wasn't...I going to be… your pet anyway?” His tongue and mouth spasmed, jumbling his speech with random grunts and groans.. Something was happening inside. He couldn’t feel it, but he could feel the effects of hormones and organs changing rapidly. He felt warm all over as his heart raced and beat strangely. Were he not aware he was going on, he’d assume the worst for his health, had he not put total trust in the dragoness long before this.
“No, I was going to turn you into a kobold. Let you run around as part of my pack. You’ll continue your role as my advisor, or, bard as you so adorably love to call yourself.” She embraced him fully, allowing the transforming human to feel her tight scales and musculature rub against his.
He’d start to feel them slide vertically as he shrank. His whole body was pulsing, beating, shaking. He was vibrating like a maniac. Still he could tell, he was shrinking.
“Yeah… “ David looked down at his hands. He saw his fingernails fading into his skin as sharp, pointed claws pointed out through his finger tips. He was turning into something scaly. But what? “But, I just… want to… join…” His breathing was becoming more labored, heavy. Speech became a chore. Focusing on anything other than physical sensation was an exercise of futility.
“Unlike my other pets, you think you have one up on me.” She said, putting her muzzle next to David’s ear, letting her words ooze directly into him. “I see the way you smile every time I’m looking over your shoulder at your game.” Her arms moved down, one finding purchase underneath his rear end, lifting him into the air. Looking at his legs receding into his body. The former man must have been a foot shorter already.
“Wha… what are you… you?” He stretched his mind trying to understand everything that was happening. Unfortunately for him, he was as dork. oblivious to those around him. What stood before him was a Dragon Lord. A creature that was out of David’s league whether he liked it or not.
“You have the gaul, as some foreign peasant to come into my cave.” She reached up, resting her hands on the naked scales that had freshly grown on David’s shoulders. The feeling of the toned, trained muscles underneath tense, relaxing, and shrinking just made Kaith’s heart race in anticipation.
“Address me, a dragon, as an equal. Try to steal my kobolds away from me, and who knows what else.” She reached down to run a finger along his growing snout.
“And to top it all off I bet you’re a spy.” The giggle hiding poorly behind each word gave reassurance she wasn’t serious, but her voice made it hit hard. The numbness of his shrinking body, suddenly was replaced by harsh embarrassment.
From the weight of her hands, David felt like she was pressing down, but as he sailed down past five feet, he knew better. “Well I think before you join my kobolds, you need to learn your proper place here.”
She moved her hands down, placing her thumb right beneath his shoulder blades. She pressed in, his back pushed out in response. The skin on his back stretched as bones painlessly pushed up.
“Wait! Arrm Krik! Need Say to Root!! Laas!“Gibberish fell out of David’s mouth and throat as it transformed. Small pops and cracks rang from his nose, which was pushing forward into his muzzle. As it stretched, it pulled back his lips, making it feel like his head was a rigged wire trap.
“Say sppurg sjf last.” No matter how much he fought to move his transforming muzzle, his head wouldn’t respond. His throat started to tights and spasm. “Cougghh!!” A hybrid cough/roar would be all he was physically capable of for some time.
Despite all this sensation, David could feel the dragoness’s smile burning itself into the back of his head.
“There’s an example, my misbehaving little imp.” Kaithuma pushed forward, sending the scale covered human to the ground, as cracks, loud as fireworks rocked his shoulders. “You want to say some meaningful last words to your best friend.”
She watched as the former human descended. A clicking sound of claws hitting rock rang out as he caught himself on hands that were merging and reforming.
“I want my kobold to come in here and look surprised when they see that I’ve got them a Brand New Pet.” David’s confused and fragile mind still felt those last three words ringin his head over and over again.
David’s back and legs were jerking as his whole body reshaped to a quadrupedal stance. A haze settled in over his mind, as the transformation reached his head and brain. All thoughts and focus became haze as his limbs felt weak.
David collapsed, only to be followed by the dragoness as she bent over.
The size contrast only looked harsher. He was quickly shrinking past three feet long., dwindling next to the dragoness above. Kaithuma placed both her hands on the small of his back, before parting them, petting the writhing mound of draconic flesh beneath her in both directions. His tail and neck seemed to grow in response to the gesture.
“No more worrying about anything for a month.” With a graceful gesture, she picked up the shrinking pseudodragon, now the size of a dog. His limb hung in the air, as his mind reformed.
Once more able to move his body, he seized his limb and roared “Rooaawwrp!” For as dramatic as it felt, his loud yip didn’t even echo in the large caver.
“Aw, is that all the noise you can make now?” She shifted David’s weight into her right arm, allowing her to stroke down the length of his spine. “Hmm, no more long conversations with my pets and servants. No more long game nights. Just the happy mewlings of a friendly little pseudo dragon.”
His form settled into its final shape. A little over a foot long. Barely the size of a house cat, without the wings of course. Oddly, his tail grew as he shrank. From the outside, it seemed it stayed the same size.
Kaithuma regarded the spasms of the creature in front of her. As David’s personality regained it ability to project into the she tried to make eye contact. It was foolish to wonder what went on in a mind that was in the middle of shifting, but the toothy smile on his tiny mouth gave the dragoness a sign that he was okay.
As David settled into his new body, some order slowly crept back into his mind. He began to twitch and stretch his arms experimentally. He’d cough, stretch, flex, almost at random and watch his body move as though he were a puppet.
Soon, a haze would settle down on his mind, and his body would once again calm.
The thought patterns and instincts of a magical housepet settled into straining his bring a welcome bit of clarity. One by ones, his limbs began to make sense. Now he could finally move deliberately. Now he could slowly, deliberately nuzzle into Kaith’s chest.
The experimental movements stopped as the little dragon started to relax. He stretched his long neck up to get a better smell. Internally he smiled. That was his owner. Or was it mistress. She was Kaith though. Why were there so many words for one thing! Big him must have been confusing. He needed a mind word for her! Misstus. Misress?? It started with a Hmm sound.
His owner paid no mind to the hurricane of quick simple thoughts in the pseudo dragon’s mind. She simply pet him, watching his eyelids sink a little bit further down. “How would momma’s newest pet like to see his best friend?!”
Something clicked in David’s mind. Momma! That was his mind word! Momma! Misstusses was a different word for big scary people! Not super friendly wonderful safe people like Momma!
“Roorti!” Kaithuma, said shouting to the door. He followed seconds later, looking around the cavernous room and stepping forward. He’d naturally worn full plate for the audience today, and his proud armor was echoing through the cave.
“Where is David mistress?” He said, eyes drawn to the pseudodragon his owner was currently cradling like an infant. He had a firm guess.
The former human’s eyes opened once more when the kobold was halfway there. The scene of him stood out strong, even with Kaith’s scent flooding his small snout. Energy shot through his body, and he pulled his limbs and wings in, getting better footing while being held. “Why little Roorti, your human friend is right here.” She leaned him up as David was turning his long neck, and they made eye contact.
‘Roorti looked super big! And kinda small, but that was because momma was tall! Who cares though? Roorti was fun and super super strong!’ David struggled a bit in her arms, before digging his paws into Kaith’s breasts and shoulder, jumping off. His wings stretched out, catching the wind for a second, before crashing directly into Roorti.
The kobold tried to catch him, but nothing could be done as the ten pound animal struck him square in the chest and they fell to the ground. “Ooof! David needs to fly safer!” The mass of scales twisted and turned as David nuzzled his best friend in the cave.
‘His scent was even more nice than momma’s! Plus his scales felt really really soft! Different too! Smoother! Were all kobolds smoother? Who cared?!’ The psuedo dragon hugged his wings around the kobold that was slowly wrangling the eager creature on top of him.
“This David?” Confusion oozed from his voice, but as he looked into the pseudo dragon’s eyes, he smiled again, “Ooh! Wow! You’re looking cute David!” The brass scaled knight looked up. “Mistress, Why is David a small cute dragon?”
The Smile on his friends face enveloped his whole world as Kobold hugged him in. Then he heard his name! ‘That smile plus my name! What other stuff did he say?’
The world around him could be a haze if it didn’t have his attention. ‘Dragon! I’m a dragon! But I’m so small next to momma. I must be good dragon if Roorti can tell when im a tiny dragon!’ His tail wagged back and forth, lightly slapping the kobold’s armored knees. A rush of happiness took over his mind at the thought. He wanted to be a good dragon!
“You’ve been learning so much.” Roorti hadn’t noticed that Kaithuma had been walking over to him. “Exposure to the other realm has done your intellect many favors. You’ve been studying with Erol.” It was an Owl variant of an avian humanoid race that worked in her cave. His background as a professor would come shining back anytime a creature asked to learn something from him.
Roorti blushed, now cradling the pseudo dragon in his arms, and standing back upright. “David’s really smart. I.. want to make sure I can talk to him okay. He knows so many cool things I want to keep up.”
Kaithuma kept her sly condescending smile as she reached down to stroke the brass kobold’s head. “You’re such a fine knight. I know you’ll be able to easily take care of David.”
“Take care of?” Roorti mewed out quietly, absentmindedly running his thumb down the pseudo dragon’s back.
David simply heard his name, snapping up at attention. ‘Momma wants me!’
“I want to make sure David starts his life here right, so he’ll be staying this way for a month to make sure he understands what it truly means to be a pet.”
She stood up. “But first we must get rid of that name and get him something proper. Roorti, did he ever tell you what his name meant?” She turned around, walking to a wardrobe, and slowly opening it.
The pseudo dragon looked around. Even with his unfocused mind, he understood what was happening. ‘Oh boy! A new name! I need to look up when they say that! Oh I should pay attention!’ He swung his head back to Roorti, eyelids dipping slightly as the kobold’s scent flooded him again.
Roorti matched his friend’s eyes. His mistress would never hurt any innocent creature. Still even with as much faith as the kobold had in her, he still searched those eyes. They were matching him, but not making true eye contact. He was searching, trying to take in as much as possible. The kobold just smiled and relaxed. The creature he wanted as his life partner was still in there. It was the same look he got whenever a player rolled a fist full of dice.
“It’s from some holy book.” Roorti said with a smile, walking forward after the anthro dragoness. “A story about a small child that defeated a giant with a toy.”
Kaith closed the furniture, turning around to reveal a deep crimson collar on it. “Well that won’t do. We can’t go around invoking a story about a tiny creature that defeats a big mean monster.” With a smooth motion, she fastened the collar to the pseudo dragon’s neck.
“Mrrawwh!” The creature mewed out. A wave of security washed over him. ‘So good! I like the collar! It feels so nice! I can think of momma even when playing with Roorti!’ the small dragon practically shook with joy.
“Roorti, you’ll be taking care of our newest family member while he occupies this body. Why not make your first job picking out a proper draconic name for him?” She smiled, petting David’s back as she circled behind the kobold.
He thought for a second. The kobold new lots and lots of dragon names. But which one for him? David was a scholar, or failed scholar the way he put it. “Biffiearix. He was that dragonborn scholar right?”
“Your studies have been paying off. Yes, he was a historian. What a wonderful name. While Biffearix occupies this body, you’ll be in charge of taking care of him.” She said this sweetly, and matter of factly. Roorti barely reacted at all, more or less assuming he’d be taking care of his boyfriend.
The newly named dragon couldn’t hear that at all, ending with his name. ‘Biff! My name is Biff! I need to look out for that! If they shout that I should run! Oh I bet they’ll be super happy!’
Kaith continued, “I’ll give you everything you need to take care of him. Remember, he’s not a big human, he’s not your kobold friend yet. That is your pet.” She gently cupped the side of the pseudo dragon's head.
She took a moment to look into his eyes. He was a deep shade of blue, but his eyes where a mix of Sapphire with orange streaks in it. “Hm, we match. Your eyes and my scales. You little lady killer” She scratched under his chin, making the little dragon purr lightly while nuzzling her. “You dressed to match me.” She held her arm to his eyes to make sure the shades of orange matched perfectly.
His mommy’s scent shocked his mind back to focus. It flooded him, almost short circuiting his mind.
No, he needed to pay attention! This was super important stuff for super good friend Roorti! Oh wait! Only smell was distracting! He knew how to stop the smell!’ He buried his nose into Kaith’s hand and stopped breathing. With that his mind cleared.
“Look at the little thing.” He was showing her so much affection out of instinct, or so she thought.
“First, I’ll get a pet bed and all the supplies you’ll need. He is to use the pet bed and I want you to litter train him. I’ll have Selak go and launder his effects so we can scrub his human scent off” Roorti gave her a surprised look.
“Oh please. I just don’t want the poor thing confused. There’s nothing wrong with his scent. Something that bathes as often as he does, should smell fine.”
‘Oh boy! That’s right! Train! Pets train! Do tricks! Yeah learns lots he can learn lots!’ The pseudo dragon started wagging his tail. ‘I good at learning! Humans give me paper that say so!’
“Let him follow you around, but don’t let him help. Even in this state, it’s still him in there. He’ll still want to run around and help out in the cave. I want him to come out the other side comfortable with his place in the world here as my pet. No more thoughts or ambitions other than making his owner happy to get attention.” She pulled her hand back.
“That way He’ll still be him, but finally bening to my whim, and not his silly little human morals.”
Biffiearix started inhaling a bit. “That made my head fuzzy. Momma said something and I missed it! Something about helping Roorti?! He’d help Roorti! He’d help Friend Roorti be best guard ever! Also he need make mistress happy? Where one those? I hope not important. Mommy not know I not hear though.?’
The domesticated dragon nuzzled back into Roorti, enjoying the change of smell. He also needed time to think. Good pet. What do all good pets do? He needed to think! He needed to be a good pet for momma and Roorti!
The poor creature's mind was barely suited to the task of deep thought. He had the memories of a human, but the infrastructure of a house cat. All thoughts were simple thoughts. Those simple thoughts could be memories of a long time ago, or of an extremely complicated task. But for each task it was set to, his tiny mind still found a world of experience to put to work.
Roorti spoke back, clearly guarding his tongue around the woman he had sworn fealty to. “Really Draquess?” Calling her by her title calmed his nerves when disagreeing with her. “You think time as an actual house pet will make him call you Misstress without chuckling?”
‘Good pet be best pet. What else good pet do? Of course!’ The pseudo dragon was very proud of himself. He remembered many good pets who got called good boy! His tongue darted out of his muzzle onto Roorti’s naked cheek. He lapped at him as quickly as a brand new muzzle would allow.
“With any luck,” she stood back up, walking to the entrance to her bedroom. The kobold turned to follow her.
Roorti smiled, looking down at his charge for the next month. “Well if anyone around here can work a miracle it’s you.” He looked down at his friend, who, apart from frequently licking him, looked completely relaxed.
“Have you ever seen a pseudo dragon lick someone like this before? Kessel doesn’t do this.” He say, referring to Kaith’s actual pet pseudodragon.
Kaithuma’s voice took on a whimsical tone. “Oh, no, never at all. But shape changing magic is strange. Maybe his tongue just itches.”


Biffiearix dozed quietly. Roorti’s scent was so calming. His heartbeat was too.
It’s a shame both had to be covered up. A cold snap had descended on the town, leaving the caves extra cold. Roorti had taken advantage of one of David’s last initiatives as a human.
Matching company sweatshirts. They were silly, and everyone thought so, but Kaithuma liked the idea of her cave having a color scheme. Naturally she went with Sapphire to match her eyes. The logo on the front was her house crest.
Biffiearix's house pet mind couldn’t grasp anything so complicated.. He could only think of how confused he was. On one paw, this stupid fabric was muting the smell and sounds of his best friend and mate! On the other paw, nuzzling it made him feel very proud. He didn’t care why. It just felt nice!
It was proof of the benign nature of the magic. Even as a pet, he still felt proud of his work, even if he could no longer comprehend why.
It was Zenk’s third time running the group. He’d started on something simple. A goblin town was being terrorized by a weredog the team had to hunt down. It was simple, but everyone was having a good time.
The campaign wasn’t the star of the show though, or any of the players. It was the snoozing ten pound dragon sleeping on the kobold’s chest. Their friend, and to some, lover was enjoying a bit of quiet before the action started.
“Initiative.” With that one word, Biff’s eye shot open, revealing the deep orange of his draconic eyes. Filled with excitement, and purpose.
He dug his paws into Roorti’s chest, and bounded off. His wings air broke him to a halt in front of his old laptop, where he knew what to do.
Gently use his paw to press down on the big long button that was bigger than all the other buttons. He did what he was trained, before bolting back to Roorti. He stood there on his haunches, wings outstretched, proudly posing.
“Good boy Biff!” the brass kobold said, taking a piece of jerky that had been candied and holding it out for the pseudo dragon. “
“Mrawrr!” The little dragon bit down on his treat, proud at how happy he’d made his friend!
More intense music had begun playing as everyone rolled their dice. They all started to shout out numbers. He remembered really liking this part when he played, but he had no idea what was happening now that he was small.
Everyone was smiling though, so that was enough for Biffiearix.
After the weird numbers got said, he felt another scaled hand reach his head. It was Selak, giving him a warm smile from her spot next to Roorti. The two were practically crammed next to each other to give her constant access to the mountain’s most recent pet.
The Azan had returned, along with one Yosh, one of the rat men who worked as a cook. They were all going through the motions of combat, while the little dragon let himself be overwhelmed by raw sensation.
There was a smattering of creatures in the rec room, some watching the game, but the atmosphere was entirely relaxed. The fact that the smallest among them was still swimming in a world where everything was somehow new every few minutes was lost on them.
After a minute, he got bored of the same scents and touches, and clambered up onto the table. The music was still playing.
So was it the same combat?
He looked around at one of the pieces. This one was… small. Was that Selak? No, this one was blue like him. Her’s was orange like she was!
Proud of himself, he turned around oblivious to the fact his tail knocked over two minis.
“Hey watch it there little guy,” Roorti said, scooping the small dragon back into his arms. The gnoll next to him just reset the pieces with a chuckle and smile. The sentiment was shared by Biffiearix the curious.
Everyone chuckled and laughed at something he did! That was good! “It doesn’t matter what body you’re in, you still want to play don’t ya?” The kobold helped his friend settle back into the warmth of his sweatshirt. “There we go. Such a good boy.”
Biffiearix loved being a good boy! He hoped he could still be a good boy when he was big! But Roorti would be proud of him anyway. The little dragon had pulled quite the daring maneuver to help his friend be the bestest knight ever.
Their game stretched on for a few hours. It was a slow evening before a long weekend began, so there was little pressure to wrap up, until the Draquess entered the room.
She strolled in, naked as always, and strolled right over to the table. It took a moment for Zenk to even notice. “My lady!” He shouted, before bowing down at the table.
Roorti quickly set Biff on the ground, allowing the dragon to stretch out before the kobold adopted his kneeling stance.
The air in the room relaxed twice. Once when the proud dragoness gently spoke, “to stand. The second occurred when everyone saw Kessel perched on their mistresses shoulder. She was the one animal that, according to the new government, the dragoness still owned. Kaith never brought her anywhere when serious business was about to happen.
“Zend dear?” She addressed the goblin from the opposite side of the table. “Will you be finishing up soon? I require Roorti and the adorable Mr. Biffiearix.” She motioned at the kobold and pet currently seated next to her.
Biff’s mind however was in its own world. Momma is here! Yay! Lots of warm thoughts streamed through his mind each time he saw her. Especially now! She’d be so proud of the gift he got for his best friend!
“Oh, we just finished up.” Then Zenk responded. They had fifteen minutes left but the lord of the mountain asking for one of your players took precedent.
‘That’s great. Roorti, would you grab Biff and follow me to your quarters? I think we’ll find something very interesting there.” She turned tail, leaving Roorti to quickly grab his pseudo dragon and trail after her.
“Selak! Put my stuff away please!” The brass scaled knight said as he hurriedly followed his liege.
“Okay Roort! Have fun with Mistress!” He heard back from the higher pitched voice.
He caught his breath after managing to catch up with Kaithuma, walking dutifully behind her, while the animal he was carrying bounced back and forth in his arms without much of a care in the world.
Biff was looking up at Kessel. The female Pseudodragon had become an amazing friend. She was super smart! She’d taught him a ton about being a good pseudo! And she’d helped him get his gift for Roorti!
“Uh, Draquess. What is this about?” The knight knew he wasn’t in any trouble. Kaith was completely and totally relaxed. The smile on her muzzle was one of thorough entertainment. Still he was baffled as to what was happening
“A little something went missing from my vault.”
“Ugh!” Roorti stumbled over feet, barely catching himself, and giving Biff a quick jolt in his arms. “Your vault?!” It was as quiet as he could shout.
How was she this calm and cool? Sometimes dragons leveled villages just for misfiling things in their vault.
“Yes, a very nice sword. One that explodes into a brilliant radiant light that eats away at souls corrupted by greed.” Roorti knew that sword. It used to have a name, until it had been struck by Kaithuma after killing the elf lord that had wielded it.
“What uh… does that have to do with us?” Roorti barely took his gaze away from his liege entering their room.
The kobold had stacked up David’s belongings (post washing) in the corner, leaving lots of room for Biff’s hoard. It was a small pile of gold and jewels, only some of which was from Kaith. Many of them were from the rest of the mountain as welcoming gifts since, in a few days, he’d rejoin them as a kobold.
“How easy has it been to train Biffiearix?” she asked very matter of factly, squatting down inches from the small pile of gold.
“Really easy. I mean Kessel is clearly helping him somewhat, if I’m teaching a trick she knows.” Biff had gotten wriggly in his arms, signaling he wanted to be set down. Roorti obliged, and the sounds of clawed foot falls followed a second later. Biff wanted to be by his hoard while his momma looked at it.
“Though this week, sometimes he’ll do something and then point to some treats… like he wants me to train him? That makes no sense… but yeah that’s what it feels like.”
“He is,” Kaith replied matter-of-actly. “Dear Biffiearix here wants to be the perfect pet, so naturally he wants to do lots of tricks for his kobold friends.” Her arms stopped, and she pulled it back, a three foot long rapier in her hands.
Roorti almost passed out, the site of the magic weapon, stolen from her vault, in his pets… bed. His relationship with Kaithuma had become more casual in Biffiea’s time as a pet, but he couldn’t imagine what awaited him next.
“What a powerful sword.” She stopped to admire it. “It was made to kill dragons, you see. Our elemental greed is the heart of all our weakness, physical or spiritual.”
A creeping terror had appeared in the kobolds mind. What if this was a trap? What if she meant to kill him with the dragon killing sword his pet had stolen? Did she suspect him of anything of…
His thoughts were cut off.
“How odd that it should find its way into the claws of the most loyal kobold this dragon has ever seen.”
Roorti wasn’t sure his eyes could open any more. “You..tha,”
“You seem to be struggling with words today my little pet.” She turned around, sword pointed toward the ground, and began to pet Biff where he was standing on the floor. “Biff would be so disappointed. He was always so articulate. I can’t wait to hear how he sounds as a kobold.”
“Mrrahh!” Biff said, leaning into his momma’s hand. They’re lookin at me and smilin cuz I’m a good dragon! He proudly shook his rear end to swish his tail harder.
“You aren’t mad?” Roorti said, rediscovering the courage he’d found on more than a dozen battlefields.
“What, that one of my most devoted pets, thwarted my security, stole from me, and gave it to another pet? Oh no…” She looked back up at Roorti. “I’m more worried about how silly you’re going to look wielding a sword that’s as long as you are.”
“KAITH! Ack!” His legs turned to jelly, making him fall on his tail for only the third time in his life. “You’re letting me keep a holy weapon? An actual holy.. I don’t deserve”
He was cut off with a single finger on his snout. “You’ve fought very bravely for years. It’s just good that the other dragon in this cave saw fit to acknowledge that. Wield it wisely. Do yourself a favor, don’t rename it until after two battles. Get a real feel for it first.”
The pseudo dragon ran over to the kobold, a look of glee on his face at how happy his mamma was, and how silly Roorti was. How silly of him that one time to lick his friend.
‘That’s a furry thing! I have scales! Kessel taught me to do this!’ He arched his wings out, touching them to the ground on either side of the kobold, and then hugged him. The end result was a massive hug that swept all six of his limbs around his friend.
I’m the best dragon! Cant wait be big! The little thing thought as it waved its tail from side to side.
“If you’re only my pet, because you say so, are you still my pet? I guess we’ll find out when Roorti and Selak get their mate back in a week.”
The tiny dragon didn’t know what that meant, but it felt happy. His mamma and friends were all so cool! It’s why he liked his bed. It smelled like the whole mountain! And most of all, like his momma and his mate! It was his perfect home and he loved it all.

The end.