"Your majesty-don't do this! It's my responsibility to guard the stone! I cannot allow you to go through with this!"

"It is the only way, my old friend. Please understand I am doing this for your own good."

The words echoed through the darkness of her mind like an echo through a cave. She stirred from slumber, slowly opening her eyes. At first, she could only make out an opening in the ceiling. A bird perched on one of the wooden railings before taking off through the hole and into the sky.

She pushed herself up from the dusty old couch, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as confusion replaced the sleepiness covering her face.

"Where...Where am I?" she asked herself, "How did I end up here?"

The last thing she remembered was lying in her palace, watching closely as bits and pieces of the sky broke off. The golden threads that kept the universe intact struggled to keep from unraveling, holding their ground to keep the chaos at bay.

She was powerless to prevent the impending disaster that would strike the universe. Just like the breaking sky, she was also starting to crumble. Cracks began to appear on her underbelly, snaking their way toward her claws, and now a fissure slowly formed on her forehead.

The last thing she remembered was closing her eyes and accepting her fate. Awaiting to become stardust, the cycle ended, and a new cycle was close behind.

Was this a new cycle she found herself in? Was she alive once more? If this were a new cycle, everything would be a clean slate.

Something didn't feel right.

She'd expect to find herself back in the Celestial Realm amongst her friends, not in a run-down building on a couch that smelled like...jasmine.

Celestial Realm...Friends...

The Jade Emperor!

"The emperor! I have to see if he's all-!"

As she scrambled to her feet, she fell off the couch and onto the dusty floor. She coughed to get the dust out of her lungs and tried to rise, but she couldn't get her back legs up. Looking behind her, she found her legs wrapped around a silky garment.

"What in the emperor's name?" she said, confused by the silky trap binding her legs.

Her eyes followed the tip of her trapped feet up to the cloth that snaked its way up her body. She didn't realize the silk garment had encased her, but why did it feel so cozy yet frustrating?

Confused, she gazed down at her claw-hand!? Raising her right palm, she noticed that only the tips of her fingernails were sharp like tiny daggers, but the rest was smooth like a polished pearl. As she followed her hand, she realized her scales were slender, soft, and squishy.

Curious, she reached out with her other hand, pinched her arm, let out a soft yelp, and pulled away.

Yep, this wasn't a dream—she actually had firm, slender arms. Returning her attention to her legs, she looked from the covered toes up to her waist. She was cloaked in a long, flowing robe that sparkled like tiny diamonds in the sunlight, and a golden ribboned sash wrapped around her chest.

Why was she wearing such a garment? How is it possible she could wear such a robe? Dragons don't wear clothing. Dragons don't have slender arms.

Unless...No, it couldn't be..., but could it?

With her hands outstretched, she grasped a piece of fabric in each one and gently started to unwind the dress, freeing her legs from their fabric confinement. Her legs were smooth like her arms, and her feet nestled in blue embroidered shoes featuring silver dragons on each sole.

"This... This cannot be happening," she said in horror as she grasped one leg with her hand and watched it plop back down to the ground.

She needed to see for herself, but how could she clarify her growing horror? Her eyes landed on a mirror leaning against what appeared to be a board embedded with pins and yarns interconnecting to different pictures.

Hoisting herself up from the floor, she crawled toward the mirror. She was used to walking on four legs, but now she was on her stomach like a salamander crawling inch by inch toward the mirror.

The closer she got to the mirror, the more dread sat in her stomach like an iron pill. When she lifted her head to look at herself, she didn't see a dragon but a young lady.

Silverly blue flowed in front of her face, brushing the strands aside as her eyes kept locked on the reflection staring back at her. A captivating young woman with eyes that glistened like the sun and rose-colored lips that hid her sharp but charming fangs.

"Oh my emperor...," she sputtered, "I'm...I'm...a..human."

A human, she was no longer a dragon: big, powerful, and divine. She had become a human—or maybe not.

Tilting her head, she opened her mouth, revealing her fangs, and tapped a canine tooth with her finger. She pulled it away, realizing she had teeth like a dragon, and her eyes shined like gold.

"Okay, maybe I'm not fully human, but I'm not a demon either, but just to be sure..."

Taking in her newfound form, now the challenge was getting herself to get a better view of her new body. It was easier to stand on four legs, but having to stand on two? It's like a fawn trying to stand on its legs for the first time.

It wasn't going to be easy, but she was determined to face it head-on. Using the edges of the mirror to hoist herself up, she reached over to the counter where the board stood. Reaching out her hand, she grasped the edge of the counter and lifted her right foot forward, planting it a few inches in front of her as she threw herself over.

She used the edge of the counter for support, placing one foot carefully in front of the other. She was worried she might fall when her legs felt weak at first, but after four steps, she started to get used to the feeling. She walked along one side of the counter, then turned around and went to the other side before looking at herself in the mirror.

Letting go of the edge, she took small steps toward the mirror and got a good look at herself. Giving a careful twirl, she watched the dress blossom open like a flower before wilting back into place. She didn't have a tail, but at least she noticed the pointy ears now seeing through parts of her silvery blue hair.

"Well, at least I've retained some of my dragon-like qualities. It sucks that I don't have a tail, but then again, maybe it's for the best."

With her newfound form and walking ability established, the next step is finding a way back to the Celestial Realm to ensure the emperor was alright. How was she supposed to get back? Does she even remember the spell that'll take her back to the Celestial Realm let alone her own palace? Being reborn in this world may have hindered her abilities.

If she was brought back then maybe her companions have been reborn, and if they are in this world-they may know a way to get back to the Celestial Realm.

The emperor will have to wait just a little longer. The mission now is to find her beastly companions, a way back to the Celestial Realm, and check to see if the emperor is alive.

"If I'm going to find my companions, I first need to know exactly where I am, but where would I begin finding someone who knows much of this world than I-"

Clank!

Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a paint can falling off a crate from behind her. She spun around, and a paint can came rolling in her direction. Her eyes narrowed and her pupils changed, becoming reptile-like.

"Someone's here...," she exclaimed as she approached the stack of boxes.