Stoneheart

Maple has never felt right in her body. Even as a hatchling she towered over other dragons, and she hated seeing how intimidated they were. Her clan was full of warriors who thought of little more than how to win their next battle. Maple trained with them, but never learned to take joy in the fight. The sight of blood made her queasy, and even as she was locked in battle with another dragon, she found herself thinking of ways to defuse the conflict.
When she started to grow soft fuzz from her chest and wings, it was almost a relief to have her clan members start to avoid her. It hurt to lose what few friends she thought she had, but she knew this was an opportunity to find her proper place in the world.
During her travels, she came across a dragon who seemed much like herself. He was an Imperial, of course that similarity was obvious. But as Maple talked with Max, they found more and more in common with each other. Maple had always been the shy sort who kept herself to herself, but within an hour of meeting Max, she found herself sharing all of her doubts and insecurities with him. He listened carefully and provided comfort when appropriate, then shared his own fears. Ever since then, they’ve been inseparable.

When Maple shared how uncomfortable her large body made her, Max asked if she would be comfortable with him seeking a way to change it.
“I’ve heard of it happening before, you see. Dragons can take a potion and change their breed. It’s incredible! With the right ingredients, I could make something that would turn you as tiny as a fae,” said Max, grinning with confidence. He was just entering his potioneering career, but he loved to experiment.
“A fae?” Maple asked, stunned. Could her greatest, most secret desire really be so easy to attain?