Archive of Our Own

The first thing Cass Altamura notices is that it's dark. Pitch-black, actually, they can't see their hand in front of their face.

The second thing they notice is that their leg fucking hurts. Ow, ow, fuck, did they break it? They hope not, they're in a cave. They're not getting any help anytime soon in here. Ugh... How are they gonna get out of here with a bad leg, exactly? Especially when they can't see shit, did their lantern break in the fall too?

They feel blindly around for a wall they can use for support, and no dice. God, they should not have agreed to check out the creepy cave, they're not an expert in this kind of thing! Twenty bucks isn't worth this shit! They slowly try to get to their feet, and... Ow, ow, fuck, that hurts, but they can... kind of stand. As long as they put almost all their weight on their good leg, which probably isn't great.

It's not... quite as pitch dark as they assumed at first, they can see a faint light outlining some stalagmites, and they start limping towards it because it's the only thing they can see in this fucking place. Maybe it leads outside? Or to a lantern or something? Anything is better than just slowly dying of third under that same hole they fell through. 

Cass's leg is killing them, jolts of pain shooting up it with every limped step, but they can't bear to just lay there and die. They have to try. The light slowly brightens as they approach, winding carefully around stalagmites, illuminating the walls of an open cavern. It feels way too big to be under the woods they came from... How far down did they fall? 

The source of the light? A shimmering purple crystal, roots of purple striking through the dull, dark stone around it and all glowing with a faint, ethereal light. It looks... Well, it looks cursed as all hell. Still, Cass limps a little closer, because what else are they supposed to do with a creepy cursed purple crystal? It's not like worse could happen to them, they've already got a bum leg and no supplies in a weird creepy cave. 

Twenty bucks was absolutely not worth this, and if that cursed-ass crystal gets them out of here or if some kind of emergency team showed up, they're absolutely going to curse Blair out. They gingerly wrap their fingers around the crystal, ominous and shining and... warm? Yeah, this thing is cursed as shit. They honestly hadn't realized before today that cursed magic existed, and yet they can't think of a better explanation... some weird chemical reaction? ...They hope this crystal thing isn't radioactive or something.

They hang onto it for a bit. Nothing is really happening, but their foot kind of itches. They sigh and let go, because they really don't think it's doing anything. It's just... weird, creepy, glowing crystal. Nothing more to it. They sigh, and slowly lower themself to sit on the ground, trying to examine their leg. It feels kinda like their foot is swelling, pressing uncomfortably against their sneakers... is that what they broke?

They have to fight with their shoe to get it off, and then the other when it feels like that foot's swelling too. Cass kicks their shoe across the cavern floor with a bit more force than is really warranted, and all but rips their socks off to reveal—

"Whaaaaaaaat the fuck," they incredulously laugh, wondering if they're seeing things. They have to be, or they're sick or something, but no sickness should turn their foot gray and scaly like this. They would've— holy shit the rock is cursed. It's the only thing that comes to mind, that the rock is fucking cursed and they're going to die or turn to stone or something horrible like that! 

It's like the scaly texture is crawling up their foot, though at least their leg doesn't really hurt anymore? Maybe it's just hard to process the pain when they're watching their foot mutate right in front of them. And they do mean mutate— it's like the scales are dragging their foot up, and it doesn't hurt but it's tingly and they can feel it stretching and they hate it. It's not even just the hurt foot, the other one isn't as scaly but it's spreading so fast—

"Fuck," they hiss, quiet but passionate, because what else can they say? How are they gonna walk with their feet twisting and stretching into something unrecognizable? Something is cracking, deafening in the quiet of the cavern, and they're not sure whether it's bone or the cracking of stony scale. Their legs feel weird, too, and Cass awkwardly scrunches them to put their lengthening feet on the cave floor.

They curl their toes and they curl too far, scraping against the stone and oh god they can feel those changing too, sticking together uncomfortably. They're mutating just as badly, stretching and cracking to match the giant paws they're attached to. When Cass dares to uncurl them, they're instead met with razor-sharp purple talons that gleam in the light from the crystal. Were— oh, god, were they turning into a weird crystal monster?

...Great, they can't really unfold their legs now either. Things are cracking and shifting and they're pretty sure they can't stand up anymore. They're... they feel like they're going to be sick, watching the scales crawl up their legs. They lift one horrible mutated paw, watching the light catch on the facets of it. They can see a thin line of white scales between the dark and the shimmery purple, and it'd almost be pretty if it wasn't on their foot. 

They can't straighten their legs out anymore, they think. Not all the way, when they try to stretch their leg it doesn't reach all the way. There's more horrible cracking, their legs are... thickening? Cass thought they might've been getting shorter, but that's not the case given the way their pants are stretching. They're just... thicker. And of course still horribly scaly, and they're almost tempted to touch it, but— what if that just makes it spread to their hands?

Though that might be inevitable, haha... God, why did they think touching the creepy glowing crystal was a good idea?! They have to try to wriggle their jeans and underwear off because whatever they turn into, they don't want it to have the shredded remnants of clothing dangling off it like some kind of werewolf. They end up laying on their side on the rocky ground, awkwardly shoving their pants over morphing, scaly thighs.

They don't know how they managed to get them off, but their shirt follows suit because they doubt whatever curse was on that rock is going to be satisfied with their legs. The cracks of bone continue, deafening in the small space, as their legs are forced farther apart than they'd like. Their hands are itching, too, even though they know they didn't touch the scales on their legs, and their thumbs crack backwards way farther back than human thumbs should be able to go.

They can see in the light of the crystal what happens this time, purple crystal solidifying over a spot on their palm and slowly spreading over their flesh. It doesn't hurt, it's just so horribly itchy. The facets almost follow the loose contours of their hand, even as that hand stretches and morphs and gets so much bigger, to the point it looks a little absurd on their growing arm. How big exactly are they going to be? Is this cave even gonna hold them when all this is over?

The crystal reaches to the edge of their palm, lined with more white scales, and crawls up their fingers to solidify into more claws. They still flex properly, at least, despite being living rock... God, what are they gonna do? At least they still have a thumb, even if it's positioned weirdly at the back of their palm. They're not totally a monster, they can still hold things! Probably! 

...Maybe it's just wishful thinking on Cass's part. Scales continue crawling their way up their hands, coating the backs in gray. The white trails up the inside of their wrist, a faint cracked pattern that gets swallowed by gray scales. They can't feel very well through their hands anymore, even despite running them along rocky scales. It's... kind of horrible, and they have to softly laugh because if they don't they're going to cry at this point. 

Why did they go along with this whole harebrained scheme?! Why, why, why did they think any part of this was a good idea? Now they're stuck turning into some kind of horrible monster and they don't know what to do! They flop over on their side, shutting their eyes against the feeling of scales clawing their way up their arms and muscle solidifying from nothing. They hate this, they hate this so much, they feel like they're going to die.

Something cracks in their shoulders, forcing them forward. Cass isn't totally sure they can really muster the energy to care too much. Their shoulders spread apart, the scales cracking as they spread along their back. It's like they're being molded like putty in the hands of some careless child, scales crusting over mutations as if to lock them in place. They can still move, and they move their arm around to reassure themself of that fact. 

Yeah. They're fine. Even though their back is cracking and can't that just... completely paralyze you or some shit? They can still feel their horrible, weirdly-bent legs, though, and they can feel the scales crawling weirdly over their back. Their neck is forced forward, something probably made easier for the curse by their shitty posture, and it's a good thing they're already laying down given the way their spine stretches and drags their unwarped skin too tight over muscle in the process.

They're not totally sure what they're turning into... some kind of weird monster, they guess. Maybe one that walks on all fours, maybe that's why their shoulders and hips cracked so weird. They awkwardly push themself up with one bigass paw, and... yeah, it feels right to be standing on all fours. Weirdly right. They don't like it, and they certainly don't like the fact their spine is still stretching way too much. 

The next crack is way too loud for the tiny cave containing it, and Cass whips their head around in time with the wholeass tail sprouting behind them. The thing starts stubby, but as they slowly turn on legs that feel way too steady for how recently they mutated it just grows longer and steadier. It's thick at the base, fits their torso fine, but as it lengthens part of it thins to match. 

The tip is still thick and heavy though, they can feel its heft when they try to move the... god, that's a whole new limb. They just have a tail now, of all things. They can feel it moving around, swishing it back and forth in a movement that's so horribly natural. The tail takes a bit of effort to move on account of the weight at its end, but that little question is soon answered when they see spikes of crystal sprouting out of it.

...Okay. Cool. The crystal's... a bit heavy, and annoying to lift, but it's not so heavy to be impossible. Cass waggles their tail around, testing the weight of it. If they squint, it kind of looks like the crystals at the tip are glowing. They're... not totally sure they're supposed to do that, but there isn't really a supposed to with weird magic crystal curses is there?

Something in their chest cracks next. One hand flies to it, claws almost embedding into their flesh, but it's started hardening before their alarm causes any actual damage. Their claws instead clink against something tough, that feels suspiciously like the surface of their paws. Something that cracks outward under their touch, and they jerk their hand away from it in time for something to force their neck upwards. 

And upwards, lengthening and stretching and craning them up so high it's dizzying and bringing an almost choking feeling with it. Scales crawl up their neck as the flesh extends and expands, forcing their head to a dizzying height. They're definitely not sure how big they are now, but their head feels way too small on their body now. The crystal on their chest claws its way up their neck as well, cracking and locking in a way that makes them cough. Something's shifting in there, they can feel it, and it almost feels like they're going to throw up.

Yet when they do finally feel they can move their neck around, they feel something sharp clinking against another piece of it... And then another piece slides out above that, and Cass angles their neck backwards so none of the emerging crystal spikes impale the ones below. They can feel more pieces running their way down their chest towards their stomach, and even a few spikes jut out of the base of their tail. 

They carefully run a claw along one of the longer spikes, sharp and rigid. The crystals make a sort of tink noise against each other, one Cass almost misses under the crackling sound of more crystal covering the rest of their stomach. They shift their weight from foot to foot, grimacing against the feeling of nausea rising in their extended throat. Ugh... how much longer is this going to take...

Their back itches. More spikes? They turn their painfully long neck to see the open space of scales on either side of their spine, something beneath their skin stretching it upwards— they're going to be sick watching this. They have to turn away, resting their weight on their elbows and bowing their head so they can cover their face with crystal-covered paws. It doesn't block out the awful feeling of skin stretching, but it helps not to see.

The itchy feeling crawls its way down the full length of their back, right to the base of their legs, as whatever's pulling at their skin tugs itself... not quite free. It's still connected to their back, quite easily, but it's a thinner connection. Cass pulls at whatever it is, with mind alone at that, and they feel whatever it is pull itself apart to spread and stretch towards the ceiling. 

It's... It feels a little like fingers? But with something thin and a little loose between them, something that stretches taut as they stretch upwards to their full length. They hear the sound of crackling, coupled with the itch of scales crawling up their... Hm. Are those... They turn to actually look back at whatever it is they've sprouted, and sure enough, it's the clear shape of wide, batlike wings. 

Holy shit, they're a dragon. The realization hits like a sack of bricks. They're not just some nebulous crystal monster, they're a crystal dragon. Holy shit.

They flex their wings up and down, scales still itching crawling over them. Holy shit. This... still isn't really great but it's a bit difficult to be scared when they're already tired, and have just realized they're turning into a dragon. They're not really sure these wings will be any good for flying, given they're pretty sure their scales are made of rock, but... even so. Wings. 

Purple crystal creeps over the side of their wing they can better see from this angle, crackling and shifting across its outstretched surface. Little spikes crackle out from the tips of each wing "finger," and along the outer edges of the surfaces. They uncomfortably shift from foot to foot, impatiently waiting for the magic to finish what it's doing already. The fear's long since burned out by now, just... mild dread of what their life's gonna look like. 

They don't dare move their wing while the crystal crawls up it, even if it's starting to get a little exhausting holding them up... They're a little nervous their wings might get stuck this way, actually? At least until they remember their claws still move fine with crystal all over them. 

The crystal finally ceases clawing its way up their wings, and Cass waits just a moment more before they finally drop them. It's... really weird, having this many limbs, actually. They flap their wings around, folding them up as something pries itself free of the joint where their wing fingers join together. Sure enough, when they peek, it's an extra finger with none of the webbing attached. Wing claws...

Something tickles the back of their neck, up near the top of it, and they only barely feel it through the thick scales. They reach a paw up to grasp at it, and pull it into view to reveal it's a sizable chunk of thick, dark hair. As if to further confirm the mounting dread pooling in their altered gut, they feel their head stretch backwards, and they drop the chunk of hair to feel along the back of their skull.

They feel a headache coming on in time with the stretching of skin, as their head expands and scales crawl up to cover it. The scales trace their way along Cass's skull, and they shut their eyes against the building pressure in their face. A face that feels like it's being stretched like putty, just like what happened to all of their limbs, tugging their nose and chin forward. 

They... guess it'd be a little stupid to have an undersized human head on a big dragon body. They don't know why this is the part that makes the dread kick up again, pooling thick and heavy in their chest. So much is already different, they don't know why they're acting like their head would remain normal. They don't know why they thought they'd be able to keep that much.

Whatever magic was in that stupid cursed rock doesn't pull their face that far, just far enough to count as a snout. Their tongue feels wrong, too thick in their mouth, but that's soon rectified by it thinning to match. They snap their mouth open and closed, letting the cartoonishly displaced teeth left in there clack against each other. Those teeth don't remain displaced much longer, and Cass has to shut their eyes again as their teeth stretch and sharpen. 

Ughhh. They hope that dragons don't need dental care, because they doubt any dentist wants to deal with fangs like these. Actually, now that they think about it, what is gonna happen if they get sick or hurt or something? What doctor's gonna be able to help with a fucking dragon? Are they gonna have to go to a vet? Would a vet know what to do with a dragon?

...Maybe a zoo vet. They deal with weird dangerous animals all the time, don't they? And dragons are lizards, some zoos have lizards, right?

Something tugs at the skin around their eyes, a sharp reminder they're not done cooking yet. They don't know when they opened their eyes, but they cram them back shut to the best of their ability against the awful sensation. The magic seems to concede, letting their eyelids expand in time with their eyes so they stay shut. How big do one lizard's eyes have to be?

They shake out their head as soon as they feel they can, a move they kind of come to regret at the sensation of the back of their head stretching. They sigh and pause, letting the magic finish working. Horns, right? They can't really feel it that much, and they consider that a blessing. They can feel their ears stretching back, though, and they can't help but lean forward against it. 

They slump to the cavern floor on their side, resting their scaly chin on the crystals and sprawling their wings out. They hope there's nothing else after this. The backs of their thighs are itching near where their tail connects, until something crackles out of them, and Cass lazily turns their head and cracks one horribly big eye open to see more crystals sprouting out of there. Because of course they need to be covered in reminders of that goddamned crystal.

...Did it get brighter in here, or do they... If they're some kind of crystal cave dragon, they guess seeing in the dark would be handy. They gingerly run one claw along the back of their head, tracing the shape of curled, faceted horns. There are smaller crystal spikes on their cheeks, too, from what they can feel. They just lay there, and wait for whatever comes next.

Which... ends up not coming after a good few seconds of waiting. They lift their head, looking around and scanning over their altered body again. Nothing tugging at their skin, nothing shifting in their throat or legs or anything, it's just... Is it finally over?

Blair owes them more than twenty bucks after this shit.