Spencer Provenzano was a normal boy, at least that's what he always told himself. He always lived by the motto 'If you're told something enough times, it has to be true,' yet no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, it never worked. 

He could never figure out why he felt this why though. It couldn't be his body; he was a normal sixteen year old boy, not too fat, not too tall. It couldn't have been his eyes; they were a normal shade of brown. Maybe it was his long brown hair; it did seem a little girly. Maybe it was the ring laced in his necklace, it did seem a little weird to do that but could he help it if it didn't fit around any of fingers anymore? His best guess was his family life. He was an only child with a father that simply seemed to have vanished and a mother that was always away at work, Spencer was alone a lot and in a town that was heavily focused on family togetherness, he just seemed out of place. But that was all about to change. 
       
 The bell to the final class of the day sounded; in its wake lied the long awaited weekend of the first whole week of school. While many kids leapt and dashed out of the room, Spencer took his time; he gingerly placed his supplies into his backpack and placed it on his back. He shoved his pens and pencils into the front pocket of his blue jeans and pulled down his white t-shirt; it always seemed to ride up on him. He looked down at his blue and black sneakers to see if they needed to be tied, they always came undone.

"Last to leave again, eh Spence?" Spencer's teacher, Mr. Adams, asked in a mellow tone. Considering today was a Friday and teachers were permitted to be casual, the teacher didn't wear a stuffy suit. Instead, he wore a red polo button down with not a single button fastened, revealing a plain white t-shirt. His black pants were held firmly in place by a brown belt. His brown hair was short, revealing a pen he had placed in the back of his ear.  

"Yeah you know how I am," Spencer answered as he proceeded out the door "See ya Monday!" He waved goodbye. 

"See ya Spence," Mr. Adams said as he plucked the pen from his ear to write something down but he noticed that the pen would not write, it was out of ink "Aw rats, I've had this pen for ages," he groaned. 

"Spencer walked outside and saw the other kids chatting and laughing about something but he couldn't be bothered to really listen. He hiked his backpack up and proceeded to walk home. He popped his earbuds in as he watched some kids talking. He felt a twinge of loneliness from that but opted that his music would get his mind off of it. After that, the rest of the world was drowned out by the soothing music. 

He had been walking for a long time, it was a pain to live far away but he never exactly cared to start. He found himself lost in a song, humming, even stepping to the beat of the song. He was walking across a set of railroad tracks to his house when the song ended. In the pause for the next song, Spencer heard a loud and very distinct noise sound that startled him enough to rip the ear buds out of his ears and try to identify the source, but alas, being surrounded by woods, he couldn't find it. He looked left, right then up but still found nothing. He reluctantly shrugged and continued. Little did he realize that behind him was a pair of piercing yellow eyes with red irises. 

"I guess it was just my imagination playing with me," Spencer mused, trying to calm himself "I've always had an overactive imagination. Like I remember one time I thought for the longest time I thought I was being stalked by a flying cupcake," he sighed "That was a weird last year..." He jumped as he heard the same sound again, only louder than before. He happened to be walking by an older man walking his dog "Excuse me," he got his attention "But would you believe me if I told you I was being followed by a flying cupcake?" The man stared at the boy for a long time before answering. 

"Uh, I'd have to say no," he answered walking away from Spencer hastily. 
Spencer sighed. 

"Yeah...didn't think so..." Spencer groaned as he kept walking home. 

Spencer was walking as quickly as his legs could manage by now, it didn't help to say he had the house at the end of street, not to mention the smallest and weirdest colored; while the rest of the houses were either white or blue, Spencer's house was a dirty yellow. He quickly jammed his keys into the door and ran in, only then did he feel safe from the strange noises that followed him on his walk home. 

"Phew, glad's that's over with, I'm hungry," he said as he stepped into the house, not much to his surprise, he was alone. He made it to the kitchen and opened the fridge, searching for anything simple to make. Then suddenly he felt the earth shook beneath his feet for only a brief moment, as if something crashed, specifically in his backyard. He slowly closed the door and stared at it, afraid to turn around and see what happened but finally, his curiosity got the best of him. He pivoted on his heels and walked towards the sliding glass door that lead outside. Looking through, he couldn't believe what he saw, a dragon. It had scales of a deep red shade. Its other features were four yellow horns on the upper half of its face and two smaller ones below. Its underbelly and wings were a faded tan color.  The beast looked straight at Spencer and gestured for him to come outside. Spencer opened the door, curious of what was to come.

His first suspicions of trouble were put to rest as the dragon began speaking; it at least seemed intelligent. The dragon said its name was Axilmeus. Spencer remained standing as he proceeded to tell his story, starting from meeting his mom to their meeting right now. It didn't take long for Spencer to figure out what his story meant.

"You're my…my dad?" Spencer asked, to which his father nodded, Spencer whistled as he sat down on a nearby patio chair.

"Oooh…oh man," Spencer rubbed his temples, trying to comprehend what the dragon said.

"Are you alright?" he asked, in a deep, baritone voice, taking a step closer.

"Yeah, I'm okay. That's just a lot to take in all at once y'know?" Spencer stood up and began pacing "My dad shows up in my life after all this time, tells me that I have to choose to stay with my old life or come with him right now," he stopped to look up at his father "Oh, and he's a DRAGON! Also, DRAGONS EXSIST!" The dragon laughed at his proclamation. Spencer blocked the sun out his eyes as he looked at his father face to face.

"Man, you're huge, aren't you afraid people will see you?" Spencer asked.

"Hah!" the dragon laughed loudly, startling Spencer "All it takes is the slightest illusion spell. You'd be surprised what humans are willing to ignore," he said. Spencer nodded.

"So uh…sixteen years…Why did you take so long to show up?" He watched the dragon turn around and look off into the sky. Spencer tried to position himself so he could see what his father was looking at; he faintly could make out a mountain range.

"The possibility of being a dragon is no light matter Spencer. There are some who it would be best not to awaken; those who would use such a power for great evil. So we watch and judge and our young. And you, Spencer, I have deemed worthy of my gift," Spencer smiled, feeling rather honored, the dragon returned the smile "So, what will you decide, to come with me or a human life?"

Spencer stopped to think before answering "If I said no, I'd go crazy thinking about it for the rest of my life," he thought a lot before nodding "I'm in."

"Are you certain?" his father asked.

"Definitely, count me in!" Spencer smiled. The dragon smiled as he brought a single claw to his son's forehead.

"Very well, brace yourself!" he said when he finally made contact. Spencer's forehead erupted in pain as he dropped to the ground.

"WhoaaaAAAGH! HAOOOUGH!" Spencer dropped to the ground grasping himself in a vain attempt to alleviate the pain "You…You didn't say it would hurt!" Spencer cried as he saw his hair beginning to fall out. His eyes were also beginning to glow yellow.

"I didn't say it wouldn't hurt either," his father said. It was a valid point that effectively shut Spencer up as the changes continue.

"NNNNngggh! OAAAHHW! A strong pressure was beginning to build up in Spencer's feet before finally his shoes exploded, revealing three large black talons. His back cried in agony as he felt his spine extend beginning to form a tail. The worst pain he could manage was when his hands melded together; changing from a five fingered hand to a three clawed paw. Spencer was beginning to cry and scream; the pain was too much for him.

"You'll make it through. Be strong. You are my son! You are far more powerful than you can imagine. Let your true self come forth!" his father encouraged his son. Spencer looked to him for a split moment before the changes distracted.

"A-Alright, come on!" Spencer tried to encourage himself as the changes proceeded. His feet grew significantly larger than before, resembling his father's paws more so with each passing second. "Whoa!" His tail expanded far enough that it ripped his pants, the fell to the ground, leaving Spencer embarrassed but then he remembered only and his dad were here. He cringed as his front paws began to alter even more so than before; black claws jutted from the tips as yellow pads appeared on top. He screamed as he felt his back change more. Whether it was the small yellow spines that launched themselves from his spine downward or the single smaller spike that appeared on his nose, to the wings still trying to release themselves from his back, Spencer collapsed to the ground in agony.

"Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!" Spencer pleaded as he rolled on the ground. His body crying in suffering and wishing it would be over. It didn't help that his spine had just snapped to accommodate a four legged creature.

"Spencer, I know this hurts but you are powerful. You are a dragon! You will pull through! Now show me you're worthy of this gift!" His father demanded. While it did sound harsh, Spencer knew it was for a good intention. The changes seemed to cease temporarily as his father's words settled into his soul. With an elongated groan and a confident expression, he brought himself up, read to take on the rest of what the changes had to deal. His father smiled at his son.

"Grrk, th- this feels weird," Spencer said as he body began to grow. It was also beginning to be covered in a mass of dull red scales, which honestly tickled. He was beginning to pant as grew larger "I-I'm hot!" his new draconic tongue lolled to the side of his expanding maw as he grew larger, the clothes on his body beginning to burn up "Hot! HOT!" as his body grew to complete size his clothes tore away from him, revealing his yellow underbelly "I'M BURNING!" he yelled with a hiss, taking the time to notice his voice was beginning to deepen. His necklace oddly enough remained on his expanding neck, not snapping at all.

"GGRRRRRG-GHH!" He groaned as he began to feel his wings pressure his back further, begging for release. Spencer surprised his father by arching his back, encouraging his wings to be released. "ROOAAARGHH!" It didn't take long before finally, his large, red and yellow wings burst from his back in an explosion of blood and skin. He stretched his wings freely, letting them finally feel fresh air. The spots where the wings came from were still red and sore.

"Heh…heh…heh…whew…" he sighed, any pain beginning to ebb. He shook his pain away and walked towards his father, a proud smile was on his face.

"Oh man, check me out! I look awesome!" He said looking at his paws and wings, thanks to longer neck; he could look at the rest of his body "And listen to my voice. Sounds weird," he laughed as he looked to his father, noting there was still a massive difference in size "I guess I'm not as big as you yet huh?" Spencer asked.

"My son, sixteen years old to a dragon is nothing. You are still merely a whelp and one who has a lot to learn might I add," Axilmeus smiled. Spencer rolled his eyes.

"A whelp huh. Gimme a break here," they laughed as the two took flight to the mountains, beginning their new life together.