The White Tower
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 24 - The Transformation
The cave walls buckled as the Dragon grew in size, and the ceiling began to fall. Chichiri teleported Kamui out taking them both to the crater that Vash had created, but he was too far away to help anyone else and now he could not teleport back into the crumbling mountain. Those left behind tried in vain to find shelter, but there was none. A Dragon's scream echoed in their ears and brought down more of the mountain. They would all die here, buried under a ton of rock!
Suddenly Rye began to transform and Kyo followed suit. More of the mountain came down, unable to contain three Great Dragons. Both Kyo and Rye spread their wings, protecting the other demons. They could not see Jae because of the dust and dirt, but they heard her. Her wings were beating the air, trying to take flight. Rye and Kyo moved to her side, with Kurama, Tekken and Tennu moving with them, still sheltering under their huge wings. Jae would bring the entire mountain down on them! She was in complete state of panic. And now it was too late to transform back to human form even if they could reach her.
Rye threw his head back, his snout facing the ceiling, and flamed. Kyo immediately followed suit and did the same. Their fire began to melt through the rock in a life-or-death attempt to reach the surface. Suddenly another fire joined theirs. Jae stood at their side, copying them. They just might have a chance!
Outside, Chichiri and Kamui watched in awe as the mountain blew apart and a stream of fire erupted from its top. The mountain continued to cave in, great chunks falling down the great hole in the middle.
"No one could have survived that!" Kamui exclaimed.
"Look!" Chichiri cried and pointed to the mountain. From the center, a huge Golden Dragon emerged. She was magnificent, her scales shining brightly in the sun. She flew only a short way and then landed awkwardly near the middle to the crater, almost knocking down the Obelisk of Memory.
A Red Dragon flew out of the hole, with Tekken and Tennu safely held in his claws. He landed near Chichiri and quickly transformed into Kyo. Then a Black Dragon came out holding Kurama. He carefully set down the Fox and then changed into his human form, and walked to the Golden Dragon.
"My Lady! You became a Dragon!" He called up to her. "Imagine yourself in human form and you will change."
Jae closed her huge golden eyes and imagined herself as a young girl. Bright light filled the area and when it dissipated, the girl stood in place of the Dragon. She ran to Rye and the pair hugged each other tightly.
"I think we have misjudged everything." Kurama said, trying to brush the dirt from his clothes. Not the best day to wear white! "I think Jae was a willing captive."
Tekken nodded. "I agree. We almost got ourselves killed for nothing!"
Jae stood in Rye's arms, staring up into his eyes. "Now that I can change, can you love me?"
"I fell in love with you soon after I got to know you, Jae. But I couldn't make a life with you if you were not a Dragon. Our lives are very, very long. It would not have been fair."
"And now?"
Rye smiled at her and kissed her for the first time. "My beautiful golden lady! You are as beautiful in your Dragon form as you are in your human one."
The pair made their way to the group. "I almost killed you all! Please forgive me!" Jae exclaimed.
"Well, I think we can take some of the blame. If we had just talked to you, instead of attacking, none of this would have happened." Kurama admitted.
"I don't blame you at all." Rye said. "After all, I have not been exactly reasonable. I burned your Castle and attacked Kyo."
"You were not yourself. First, the mating heat was driving you and then grief. We never got to know the true person. We just assumed -- wrongly." Kurama offered his hand to Rye and with a smile, Rye shook the Fox's hand.
"Now, Jae, please go home. Your mother is worried sick. Show her what a beautiful Dragon you are. Take Rye with you so that she can meet her future son-in-law."
"I will. Now, stand back so I can transform."
"Wait!" Rye stopped her, "Think Dragon but not the power that goes with it. That way you can transform without knocking everything down around you."
Jae closed her eyes and did as Rye told her. Soon the Golden Dragon reappeared and, as Rye promised, everyone was still standing. Rye followed suit and they both took to the sky, heading toward the White Tower and home.
Chichiri took the rest of them back to Suzaku, where after many baths, they told their story.
"We misjudged Rye badly." Kurama said.
"Well, he did attack Otherworld and he was going to kill the Unicorns."
"Reflecting on the events, I don't think he would have harmed them. He had a chance to burn the Castle to the ground, but he only set the towers on fire. He could have easily killed Kyo and Bya -- they were no match for him -- yet he only gave Bya a minor wound. He attacked the Thunder Demons, but only after they had attacked him. And he could have killed Kiri and Taiki at any time. Even after he knew who they were, he did not harm them. He let them talk freely and then gave up his vengeance in trade for the girl. I think we completely misjudged him."
"And now we have four Great Dragons living among us." Aara said quietly.