Chapter 9: Nail in the Coffin

David’s sleep was anything but peaceful. As he lay in bed, his mind raced, consumed by the absence of the medallion that had recently vanished from his life. The empty coffee table loomed ominously in the dim light of the room, serving as a silent reminder of his inner turmoil. Unable to ignore it, he felt an unsettling emptiness, as if a vital piece of his identity was missing, leaving him incomplete and adrift.

Eventually, the weight of exhaustion drove him into a fitful sleep, where anxiety and unease tangled with the threads of his consciousness.

In the depths of his dream, the air enveloped him with a warm, comforting sensation. Before him stood the familiar figure of the green dragon, her majestic form towering above him. This time, however, he wasn't in his human guise; he had transformed into his dragon form once more. His iridescent purple scales glimmered brilliantly in the soft glow that surrounded them, reflecting a spectrum of colors that danced like sunlight on water. The dragon’s penetrating emerald eyes regarded him with a depth that held both wisdom and sorrow, captivating him entirely.

“Ah, my daughter, Yuqi,” she said gently, her voice resonating with both pride and a sense of profound sadness. “You have finally come to realize what you were destined to be.”

The name “Yuqi” echoed within him, stirring a flood of emotions that left him momentarily stunned. Tilted in confusion yet overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of belonging, he gazed back at the dragon, trying to make sense of his reality.

The dragon’s voice softened further as she continued, her tone laced with regret. “I must apologize. When I sent my aid to bring you to the mortal realm for your protection, I had no choice but to alter your body. You were always intended to become this—to embrace who you truly are.”

Each of her words washed over David like a tide of realization, carrying an emotional weight he had never encountered before. He felt a connection to his true self—one he had long been unaware of. “My darling Yuqi,” she continued, her voice gentle and soothing, her eyes glistening with unspoken feelings. “I hope to see you again soon.”

With those final words lingering in the air, a sense of anticipation blossomed within him, melding with the insecurities and questions that had plagued him for so long.

The dream began to fade, and as Yuqi reached out to speak, everything dissolved into darkness.

David woke with a start, gasping loudly as the vivid images of the dream clung to his mind. His heart raced, his breath shaky as the words of the green dragon echoed in his ears, the emotional weight of the dream still heavy on his chest: “My darling, Yuqi, I hope I can see you soon.”

He lay there, his mind a chaotic storm of confusion and emotions. But before he could make sense of it all, the weight of exhaustion pulled him back into a deep, troubled sleep.

David woke up with the morning light filtering through his window, his body still heavy with exhaustion despite a full night’s sleep. Groaning, he shuffled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, hoping that fresh water on his face might help him wake up.

As he stood there, his hand moved instinctively, and then—nothing. His eyes widened as he realized his equipment was gone. Completely.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his thoughts swirling. The truth they had all been dreading was now undeniable. “Just as we thought,” he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with frustration.

David felt his jaw clench, but the frustration quickly gave way to resignation. This change wasn’t a shock anymore. Deep down, he had known this moment was coming. He struggled with a mix of emotions, from frustration to acceptance. “Great,” he muttered under his breath. “Just great.”

Still, the lingering curiosity about what came next gnawed at the edge of his frustration. It was the unknown that scared him more than anything else.

David let out a long, shaky sigh as the realization fully hit him. Sitting there, the truth was undeniable—he wasn’t just in the process of changing anymore. The change had happened. His body, once male, had transformed into that of a woman. He was, anatomically, a woman now.

His thoughts raced as he got dressed in the clothes his mom had bought. How was he supposed to tell his family? They’d been preparing for this, but saying it out loud felt like crossing a line he wasn’t ready for. Yet, he knew he couldn’t avoid it.

Standing in front of the mirror, he adjusted his shirt and shorts, looking at himself with a mixture of disbelief and acceptance. This is me now, he thought, a sense of resolution settling within him.

Bracing himself, he stepped out of his room, ready to face his family and explain what had happened.

David sat at the breakfast table, his stomach twisting with nerves. His mom and Kelly were already seated, chatting quietly, while his dad poured himself a cup of coffee. The normalcy of the scene only made what he was about to say feel more surreal.

He cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “I… need to tell you guys something,” he began, his voice low but steady.

His mom set her fork down, her expression immediately shifting to concern. “What is it, honey?”

David took a deep breath and started. “I had another dream last night. The green dragon returned, and I was in my dragon form again. She… she called me her daughter.” He hesitated, his cheeks flushing as he continued. “She said that when I was sent to the mortal realm, she had to change my body into a boy to keep me safe.”

Kelly’s eyes widened, and their dad raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting David continue.

“This morning…” David trailed off, struggling to find the words. Finally, he just said it. “When I went to the bathroom, I realized… it’s done. I’m… fully a girl now.”

The room went silent, the weight of his words sinking in. His mom’s face softened, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Oh, David… or Yuqi, is it?” she asked gently.

David blinked, surprised she remembered the name from his earlier dream. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Kelly leaned back in her chair, looking at him—or rather, her—with a mixture of awe and disbelief. “So, it’s real,” she said. “The dragon stuff, the medallion, all of it… it’s actually real.”

Their dad finally spoke, his tone calm but thoughtful. “How are you feeling about all this? I mean… this is a lot for anyone to handle.”

David shrugged, her shoulders tense. “I don’t know. It’s frustrating and confusing, but… I guess I’m not surprised anymore. I’ve been feeling it coming for days.”

Her mom reached across the table, placing a comforting hand over hers. “We’ll figure this out, Yuqi. Whatever happens, we’re here for you.”

David—now Yuqi—nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. Whatever the future held, at least she wasn’t facing it alone.

Yuqi sat quietly in the doctor’s office, her parents on either side of her. The sterile smell of the room did little to calm her nerves. The doctor adjusted his glasses, flipping through the stack of notes he had been compiling over the past few visits.

“Well,” he began, setting the clipboard down. “I can confirm that biologically, you are now fully female. The changes are consistent with what we’ve been observing, but I’ll be honest—there’s no medical explanation for how this happened.”

Yuqi stared at her hands in her lap, nodding slightly. She had expected this, but hearing it out loud still felt surreal.

The doctor continued, his tone measured. “Your physical appearance is still androgynous. Based on what we’ve seen, it’s as though your body is resetting itself. You appear prepubescent at the moment, with no development in secondary sexual characteristics like chest growth yet. It’s as if your body is preparing for a new phase.”

Yuqi’s mom leaned forward. “So… is she going to keep changing?”

The doctor hesitated. “That’s the part we can’t determine. Whatever is driving these changes doesn’t follow any known patterns or biological processes. I’ll continue to monitor closely, but I can’t say what the end result will be.”

Yuqi looked up, her voice soft but firm. “Thank you, Doctor.”

He gave her a kind smile. “We’ll do our best to keep you healthy and safe. If you notice any new changes, let me know right away.”

As they left the office, Yuqi couldn’t help but feel like she was standing on the edge of something unknown. The mystery of her transformation wasn’t just medical—it felt like a question of identity and purpose. All she could do now was wait and see where it would lead.

As they stepped into the house, Yuqi sat down on the couch, her thoughts still swirling from the doctor’s visit. Her mom approached, holding out a plain shopping bag.

“What’s this?” Yuqi asked, taking the bag hesitantly.

Her mom offered a small, encouraging smile. “Like you said earlier, this seemed like the obvious direction of the changes. I got these for you yesterday, just in case.”

Yuqi opened the bag and peeked inside. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she pulled out a small bundle of neatly folded panties. She let out a long sigh but managed to muster quietly, “Thanks, Mom.”

Her mom placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s just another step, sweetie. You’ll get used to it.”

Yuqi nodded, though the thought felt daunting. She knew her mom was trying to help, but every little change brought her closer to something she was still struggling to fully grasp. She reminded herself one step at a time as she headed to her room to put them away.

Yuqi sat on her bed, staring at her phone, her mind racing. Her friends had been calling for days, checking in on her after hearing she was in the hospital. Each time, her mom had reassured them that she was just recovering, keeping them at bay.

But now, Yuqi knew she couldn’t avoid them forever. What was she going to say? How could she explain the changes without sounding completely insane? The thought of trying to tell them about dragons, medallions, and her transformation felt impossible.

She thought, biting her lip, I can’t keep dodging them forever. But what am I supposed to say?

Yuqi paced her room, her thoughts spiraling. How do I even begin to tell them? she wondered. The idea of calling her friends and saying, “Hey, remember David? Yeah, that’s me. By the way, I’m a girl now. Also, I might be a dragon” felt utterly ridiculous.

And then there was school. What am I supposed to tell the teachers, my classmates? She sighed, sitting down heavily on her bed. The changes were already hard enough to deal with at home, but how could she face a world that would demand answers she didn’t even have?

No one’s going to believe me, she thought, burying her face in her hands. Not about Yuqi. Not about being David. And definitely not about dragons.

Yuqi resolved firmly that the truth about dragons and magic would remain a secret. If I tell anyone about that, they’ll think I’ve lost my mind—and they’ll probably drag my family into it too, she thought grimly. Whatever she decided to say to her friends or the school, dragons, and magic were entirely off the table.

Yuqi tossed and turned that night, her mind consumed by a nightmare. She wasn’t in a magical cavern or ancient temple this time. Instead, she was back at school, surrounded by familiar faces. But instead of their usual greetings, her classmates shouted insults, calling her a freak.

Her friends were among them, their voices sharp and cruel. They chased her through the halls, their intentions clear: they wanted to hurt her. No matter how fast she ran, their jeers followed, echoing in her ears. The weight of their betrayal pressed down on her, and just as they closed in, she jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest.

The darkness of her room offered no comfort as the fear from the dream lingered, making her question what the real world would say about her transformation.