Throws actual anatomy book at their faces "I'm not falling for that one again, not even in the name of better art for all."

Then the random two percent:" No, that is not anatomically correct. No, that doesn't work that way. Ugh....humans. Get an anatomy book for Christ's sake."

Haha. "Stop fetishizing meeeeee." Imagine if dragons and stuff existed and saw some of the stuff people draw. Now that would be a funny story.

Yeah, not the greatest of mothers, for sure.

I take a good long glance into my beloved's eyes. I caress her cheek as her long brown hair fights with the wind. "Just as beautiful as the day we met." I smile. She settles her hand on mine as she looks back with a a content smile.

"You always were a charmer, my prince." She pulls my hand to her soft lips and gives it a peck. Her eyes pool with love and... concern. I know where this is going.

"No." I respond. " I can't."

"Our people, they will welcome you. They are already enamored with the idea of the Lake of Longing. I welcomed you back into my arms the moment you returned. Must you be so stubborn?" Her brown eyes contrast themselves, being filled with both annoyance and soft tenderness.

"I could never show them what has become of me. Only through your kindness and grace would you accept me." She smiles at me tenderly, as she reaches for the mask that covers my face. I freeze on instinct and clasp her hand to stop her. She shakes my hand away and unmasks me. I look down ashamedly and catch a glimpse of my face in the lake's reflection. Hideous. So many scars mark my face that I look more monster, more inhuman than man. I turn away from my reflection, turn away from her. My heart aches that she even has to look at me.

She takes both her hands and clasps my face with them to turn me towards her. "You are the same man. Just as handsome to me as the day we met." I feel tears pool to the corner of my eyes, but deny them. She pulls me in for a tender kiss. When we pull away, she gives me another smile. "Perhaps more. The scars prove what you went through, what you fought for. I wish you'd stop hiding them from me and from your kingdom." I give her a mischevous smile and pull her close.

"And what if I'm just pretending so that I may call you my lady and fufill your one and every desire? What of that then?."

"Every desire?" Her eyes light with fire as she looks at me. Ah. That look almost makes me never want to put that mask back on. Almost. She pulls me even closer and crashes her lips into mine. Perhaps I shall have to rename this lake the Lake of Desire if I ever decide to reclaim my throne.

Haha true

I admire my face in the mirror. I've seen it millions of times before, so why does it feel so off today? Is there a stress pimple trying to hide somewhere? Is my mind playing games on me? I've felt that I looked weird before, but not like this. Just what is it? I move my face around to study it more, to try and make that nagging feeling that something isn't right go away. I tilt my head upward ever so slightly. There, there it is! Something glimmering in the light, just below my chin. But, what is it? I run my finger over the red glimmer and feel a coarseness I've never felt before. It can't be a freckle, freckles don't feel this way. Is it... cancer?

I pull out my phone and frantically google whatever it could be, but no pictures match it. And I just scared myself and saw tumors and decay for nothing. Great. I decide to call my mom. Whatever it is, it probably has something to do with her god awful genetics. It rings twice before she answers.

"What is it sweetie? You never call me. How are you? You know I worry."

"Well, yeah. It's not great. Between work and everything..." I trail off. "Anyway, that's not why I called. There's a spot right under my chin and it's freaking me out. Do you have any idea what it could be?"

"Acne again? Or something else? You'll need to be more specific. I can't read minds." I scratch my head.

"Right. I'll just send a picture." I snap one and send and sit through about 5 minutes of silence before it delivers.

"Just got it. Let me see." She pauses. "Oh, sweetie... they told me it wouldn't happen this early. I thought I had time. I thought you'd be normal for longer." I freeze, panicking about it before cooling down and trying to play it off.

"Well, you know, I've never really been normal." I force a laugh. "What is it though? Does cancer run in our family?"

"No, no sweetie. It isn't cancer." I sigh in relief before she continues. "It's just a little, really itty bitty...um...curse." she laughs awkwardly.

"A what? How? When? Why?"

"Well, your great grandfather on my side...." Of course it was from her side of the family. I stand, lost in thought, ignoring her long winded story. "And so you're turing into a dragon."

"Oh, a dragon, that's not bad. It's not cancer. Wait WHAT!? REALLY?"

"Yes, but if you get true love's kiss, then you'll revert. What about that nice boy, William?"

"Mom, Will is my friend. My GAY friend. He likes men. Plus, not interested. Don't wanna touch people."

"But, honey-" I ignore her.

"Being a dragon sounds just fine. Don't gotta pay for gas. I can just fly wherever. Now food and a job will be tricky, but I could do circus shows? I guess? I'll figure it out later."

"Sweetie, you DON'T want to be a dragon. I can intruduce you to my friend's son. You can get true love's kiss, get married, give me grandkids-" I narrow my eyes.

"No thanks, bye Mom. Love you." I hang up and give myself another once over in the mirror. "A dragon, hmm? Wait till the DND boys hear about this!"