A shiny gold coin, a simple thing, but by reflex you snatch it out of the air.
As soon as the metal touches your skin, you feel it flash-burn through your flesh, almost as if the coin had been molten. It enters your blood, and fire beyond any pain you have ever felt rockets through your veins. You find yourself completely losing control of every muscle in your body, and then you are wracked by a siezure that shudders every inch of your frame. Then it subsides, but it is a small reprieve...
When you regain your body orientation, you find you are sprawled on the cavern floor. Before you can regain your feet, you feel a stretching and tearing sensation out in your fingertips. When you move your head, you see your fingers elongate, and then rupture as the fingernails extend into claws. As the change continues, scales appear to erupt, working their way up your arms.
A quick glance down at your feet tells you that the same transformation has hit your legs, only your feet are now extending, becoming more digitigrade. Then, there is a tightening along your spine, as if you are being pulled in two. Your clothes stretch and split as your body expands, which is all well and good as your pants would not have accomodated your tail.
Pain erupts across your back and sensations like two new arms have erupted there flood your brain. You find yourself disoriented as your neck elongates, and then the sensations come to a head as your face pushes out and your skull seems to want to pull backwards in several ways at once.
Vision blurred from the pain, you rely on feel to regain your feet...or all fours. When you blink your eyes, you see the creature...now much smaller.
"You desired the treasure," it says. "If this is what happened, then it was always yours. Yours and that of all dragons who protect and guide the world."
As if the statement wasn't enough of a shock, stacked on top of what you have experienced, the anthro-dragon waves a hand and the air shimmers, becoming reflective. Looking back, recoiling, in fact, is a golden-scaled dragon that can only be...
"Me?"
"You. This world needs its guardians. Centuries ago, the dragons sealed themselves away, but they knew this island, the Pleasure island, would be the first point that would emerge when magic began to resurface. Until then, I, Tacrin, have been the hoard master."
You find it strange that the shock wore off rather quickly. That instincts...how to fly, how to flame...seem to pop in your mind.
"I...I don't know how."
"It is the nature of humans, even ex-humans. You may be a bit awkward. In fact the human race, with its wars, its horrendously polluting artifacts, is quite awkward, it is in that awkward stage of species adolescence. But you will find your way."
You ponder what Tacrin said. "It seems odd that such an important task would originate on a place like 'Pleasure Island.'"
"A necessity for timing. And you will not be the first emerging dragon. But I have surmised that because of this island's influence, you must be careful. If you mate with a human, you risk giving to them the same dragon gift. They will change as well."
"But how would I..." You realize that your instincts, acting like an instruction manual, provide the answer. "I assume human form?"
"Most of us were mankind's protectors once, although some of us took the path of greed and savagery, leading them to turn their weapons upon us all. But fear not...love, even lust, may be a powerful tool. If you have a desire for a mate, would there be other would-be dragons coming to this isle?"
You ponder this...well, there were those humans that arrived on the island with you...