"Hamen! Step forward! Quickly now, boy," The Stable Master called out.

Hamen stepped forward, from the line of students graduating from the academy today. He snapped off a quick salute, his balled right fist sitting over the left side of his chest plate, "SIR! YESSIR!"

The Stable Master walked over to stand before him, "Hamen, you graduate today with honors. You're top of your class. As you know, this has earned you a right that few are able to make proper use of. You may, if you wish, try to ride the Violet Dragon."

Hamen gulped hard. He'd heard stories of many prior knights attempting to tame the beast. None - not one - had succeeded. They had all been thrown and relegated to riding the lesser wyverns. He drew a deep breath then walked forward, into the stable. He made his way through, back to the largest stall. He'd only ever seen her once - when he had been caught skipping school and had been punished to clean the stables.

He turned the corner and came face to face with her. She opened her eyes when she saw him, before lifting her head and nodding to him.

"Hey. Uh, hello, Miss Dragon."

She cocked her head at him, then opened her mouth, "You would deign to speak with a meager beast?"

Hamen gulped again, "Well... I uh... I don't see you as a beast. I didn't even know you could speak, honestly..."

She moved in closer, turning her head to peer closely at him, "Then why did you speak to me?"

"Uhm... Well, I graduated top of my class at the academy. I've earned the right to attempt to ride you, but it would've seemed rude to just mount. I wanted to form a bond, flimsy though it may have been."

She stayed silent before she pulled back and chuckled, "So you weren't speaking to me but at me, the same as many of you do to the unintelligent beasts."

Hamen shrugged, "I suppose... I didn't mean to offend you if I did."

"Relax, human. What's your name?"

"Hamen. Yours?"

She nodded, "It's good to meet a human capable of talking to me normally, Hamen. As for me, I don't have a name. It's a thing knights give their mounts. I've never had a knight."

Hamen thought for a long moment, "Could I try riding you? Perhaps, if you accept me, I could give you a name."

She stretched her wings and flicked her tail behind her before nodding and lowering her head. Hamen walked up and ran his hand down her scales, starting just behind her large head. He moved further back, down her long, sinuous neck. He walked alongside her as he trailed his hand further back still, to her wing joint.

He looked back to her head, "Your scales are beautiful. And so silky smooth."

She twisted her head back to watch him, "Thank you, Hamen. I'm glad someone finally noticed. But you're not just saying that to strike at my pride as a dragon, are you?"

Hamen smiled, "I'll admit, that's why I said it. But that doesn't make it any less true."

She lifted her head and chuckled, "You're honest. I appreciate that."

Hamen nodded, "Would you mind if I mount up now?"

The dragon sighed, "Go ahead. I generally dislike being mounted, but you've been kind. If you can mount and sit properly, I won't throw you."

He placed his hands on her neck, before lifting himself. He swung a leg over and felt her muscles tensing. He scooted back, further down her neck, "Sorry. We learned seating on a wyvern in relation to their head. You're obviously a good deal larger, so my positioning was off."

As he moved down her body, he felt her relaxing. When he was positioned further between her wings, where her neck connected to her body, he leaned forward, placing his hands on her scales, "How's that?"

She turned her head and looked back at him, "That works. It's a little uncomfortable, but nothing I can't get used to."

"We could make a saddle, if you accept me as your rider. It'd make it a bit more comfortable for both of us."

He felt her tensing as he mentioned the saddle before she relaxed, "I suppose that would be required... My scales don't offer the best purchase. And I won't get out of here unless we do the bond..."

Hamen nodded, "You've been stuck here a while, haven't you?"

She nodded and laid her head back down, "Five hundred years, give or take. I've had a lot of riders try and mount me. A few came in and said flat out that it was their right to claim me. Most just mounted without a word. You're the first to ask permission."

"Well, we're taught that dragons can't talk. We're under the impression that you're all mindless beasts."

She chuckled and Hamen felt the vibrations through his legs, "Some dragonkin, maybe. Your wyverns for example. But true dragons? We're as intelligent as you, but when you consider that we live a lot longer, we have time to learn far more. But I'll accept you as my rider, Hamen the Kind."

The stable doors opened and the Stable Master walked in. Hamen felt her tensing under him again, "Easy. He's the stable master."

"He's an asshole..."

Hamen grinned, "Can't fault you there." He raised his voice to address the Stable Master, "Is this right?"

The older man stopped and stared in awe, "Well, I'll be... You've tamed the bitch!"

Hamen bristled at the insult but let it go. He felt a rumbling deep within the dragon and patted her scales softly, "Indeed. Can we bond so I can remove these chains?"

The older man nodded, "Hop on down here. Stand in front of her head here. Hold your hand out to me."

The man pulled a dagger as the rest of the students filed in, watching in awe as they began the bonding ritual.

The Stable Master took Hamen's hand and drew the dagger across it, causing a thin line of blood to seep out. "Now, hold your hand on her snout. Repeat after me: 'I, Hamen, hereby take and claim this mount as mine. May our lives intertwine and be as one, living, feasting, starving, bleeding, and dying together'."

Hamen repeated the words and felt a powerful force joining him to the dragon. He pulled his hand away and looked at his palm. The cut had completely healed, and in its place was a symbol, etched into his flesh. He looked at the dragon and saw the same mark on her snout.

The Stable Master grunted and nodded, "Good. You're bonded. Take the bitch and go."

Hamen walked over and released the chains, before leading her from the Stable. The other students stood and gaped as the long, powerful body walked by them, her wings curled at her side.

"Go have a saddle made, then spend the day building on the bond," The old man said as Hamen turned the corner, heading for the smithy.

***

A year later, Hamen was out riding Rukka after their patrols for the day. They crested the clouds and the dragon spread her wings, gliding along on the breeze.

"Rukka! I've got a surprise for you!"

She twisted her head back, "What's that?"

Hamen smiled, "You know what today is?"

She turned her head back, "Just another day in our life, isn't it?"

Hamen scoffed, "You really don't know? It's our anniversary! It's been precisely one year since we bonded!"

She sighed and dove down, finding a nice little clearing next to a river. She sat down, "Yeah? We dragons tend to not celebrate every year. Every decade it's mentioned, but every hundred years is celebrated. Same thing for birthdays."

Hamen dismounted and walked around to her front, "We humans celebrate every year. Sure, we might live to see a hundred, but we could die at any time. It's not exactly a safe world for us. War, beasts, even vicious animals. We're fragile creatures."

Rukka nuzzled her snout against him, "Hamen, I'll celebrate whenever you want. My life is linked to yours. If you should die, so will I. So please, do as you wish. I trust you."

Hamen smiled and held out his hand, "About that..." He reached into his pouch and pulled out two small items - the first was a knife and the second was a necklace - both made from her discarded scales.

He smiled, "I'm not sure if this would be creepy or sweet for dragons, but... Humans use dragon scales for a lot of things. Jewelry is usually frowned upon since dragon scales are so strong, but... I wanted a way to show that you're always with me, even if you're not."

She looked at the items as he placed them on himself, "It's... unusual... presenting someone with something for yourself is more so, however."

Hamen smiled, "It's the thought and intent behind it. Besides, this dagger? If I ever need to draw it, my life is in danger. As such, I suppose you could say your scale is now my last line of defense. And not to worry, I've got something being set up back home for you as well. You'll like that one far more, I'm sure."

She grunted and dipped her head into the water to drink.

Hamen leaned back and pulled off his armor before he stripped and waded into the water, "This is a nice spot."

Rukka watched him as he cleaned himself. She looked away and thought for a long moment before she reached down and undid her saddle. She shook her body, the saddle falling free. She spread her wings and dove into the water.

Hamen was startled by her diving into the water and swam backward.

"Oh, sorry," She said as she came up next to him, her head just barely breaking the surface of the water.

He smiled at her, "You're a strange one, Rukka. Most dragons prefer one type of environment. But you seem as at home in water as you are on land or the sky."

She floated up on her back, anchoring herself to the shore with her tail, "And do you know why that is?"

Hamen cocked his head as he swam over to her and rested his arms against her, "Not really, no."

She sighed, "I was trying to keep this a secret because it could be bad for me if word gets out, but... I'm a celestial dragon. I come from a sea of stars at the northern tip of the world. What I heard was that explorers found my egg one day, and then sold it to the king of Cheecia. I don't know much beyond that."

Hamen nodded, "I see... Then how do you know your species?"

She pondered for a moment, "I don't know... A dragon's species may be inherent knowledge to them..."

Hamen smiled, "I see. Well, We belong to each other now, so that's what's important, right?"

Rukka lifted her head and looked at him, "That's right, Hamen." She nuzzled against him, "I love you."

Hamen patted her snout, "I love you too, Rukka."

***

Six months later, Rukka and Hamen were out on patrol when they spotted an orc warparty marching on a small town.

"Hamen!"

"I see them, Rukka! Let's go for a Swoop and Cry!"

Rukka folded her wings, barrel rolled, and dropped, diving straight at the orc party. Just before impact, she flipped back over, spread her wings, and beat, sending a sharp blast of air to knock them down. As she lifted back into the air, she opened her maw and let out an ear-piercing screech.

Hamen drew and nocked an arrow. He turned in the saddle and took aim, loosing the arrow and hitting an orc in the chest. Rukka turned and inhaled, preparing to let loose dragon flame. Hamen drew another arrow back as the orcs unleashed their volley. Rukka barrel rolled to protect Hamen, before exhaling a gout of bright, violet fire.

She beat her wings and turned back towards the sky, "Hamen, you good?"

When no answer was heard, she twisted her head back to see Hamen leaning back in the saddle, a twisted arrow protruding from his chest.

"HAMEN! NO!"

She angled for the ground, then remembered her training. She turned and spiraled towards the orcs, breathing a second pyre of violet flames over the remaining forces. She landed hard, removed her saddle, and turned to face her rider, "Hamen! Don't you die on me!"

She placed her claw across her rider's chest, before gripping the arrow with her teeth and pulling. Hamen grunted as the arrow came free. His eyes cracked open, "Rukka... Break the bond. Don't let yourself die with me..."

Rukka felt tears welling in her eyes, "NO! DON'T BE STUPID!"

She leaned in and snaked her tongue across the wound. She tasted leather, cloth, then metal. Blood. Hamen's blood. He groaned as pain shot through his body from the wound.

She pulled back and watched as the wound started to heal. She gasped, "What... the...?"

Hamen groaned as the wound sealed and his breathing reached an even tempo.

Rukka looked around to see that the orcs had all been wiped out. She lifted Hamen into her claws, bit the saddle in her teeth, and lifted into the air. She flew off towards the academy.

***

The following morning, Hamen opened his eyes to find Rukka lying, her neck across his legs. He reached down and softly stroked her scales, "Rukka, You did well, my love."

Rukka jolted then turned her head, "Hamen! You're awake!"

He smiled, "Yes, I'm awake."

"You had a wound that was killing you. I tasted blood, but your wound healed. How is this?"

He chuckled and shrugged, "Well, some dragons have magical properties in their saliva. It's possible that, as a celestial dragon, yours heals."

She nodded, "That could make sense, I suppose..."

He rubbed her snout, "So, thank you Rukka. For helping me and carrying me back."

She angled her head and touched her nose to his face. They closed their eyes and reveled in the feelings shared between them.

Hamen felt a weight pressing down on him as a warmth touched his lips. He opened his eyes to see a girl's face pressed to his. He pulled back and looked her over, "R-Rukka...?"

She smiled and looked over herself, "Well... I'd say this is a change... Do you know what happened?"

Hamen smiled and caressed her face, "I've heard that some dragons take on a human form when certain conditions are met, but I'm not entirely certain of what those conditions would be..."

She smiled as tears formed in her eyes, "Either way, I don't care, Hamen! I love you and like this, I can be with you!"

He pulled her into another kiss, "Rukka, my love. I will love you no matter your form."

She pushed him back to the bed and straddled his hips, "We've been saying that we love each other for over a year now, Hamen. But I know now that I'm genuinely in love with you. I want to be with you. I want to start a family, to grow old together, and to one day die in each other's arms."

Hamen smiled at her, "You're a dragon. We'll die in each other's arms as long as we're bonded, Rukka, but you won't be growing old with me."

She pressed against his chest, drawing five small red dots of blood, "Oh, you know what I meant!"

Hamen winced as her claws bit into his chest, "Ow! Rukka, watch the claws."

She withdrew her hands, "Sorry. But I'm serious. I want to be with you, Hamen. Now and forever."

Hamen pulled her into a tight embrace, "Rukka, if we break the bond, then you'll outlive me-"

"NO! I don't want to break the bond, Hamen! I want to be with you until we breathe our last breaths together!"

Hamen sighed and hugged her tightly, "Rukka, I'll happily stay with you. I've said I love you countless times, and that still holds, even with your new form."

She squealed and hugged him, "You mean it!?"

He chuckled and stroked her hair, "Of course, Rukka. I'll do everything I can to make sure you're happy."

She looked at him, her face mere inches from his, "Well... there is something that would make me very, very happy."

He cocked his head and watched her, "And that would be?"

She leaned in, right next to his ear, "Kiss me, hold me, fuck me, and never leave me..."

Hamen smiled at her, "Have you always been like this?"

She pulled back, a grin plastered on her face, "Yup! But I was so much bigger than you, I had to temper it. I just... Didn't know I felt like this until I saw you with an arrow in your chest."

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Like what?"

She blushed, "Well... Horny... I've loved you for a while now, but I didn't realize I wanted to be physical with you until I saw you dying, Hamen..."

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "If you're that horny, maybe we should do something about it?"

Rukka grinned, and bounced off the bed, flapping her wings to ease her to the floor. Hamen groaned as he stood, "Well, you're easily excited."

She turned and smiled at him, "Of course I am! BUT! Before we do that, tell me what you think of my new form. It's going to take me a little getting used to, but I like it. At least now I can be intimate with you!"

Hamen watched as she spun around slowly, taking in every inch of her body. She had a slim and lithe-looking body, reminiscent of her slender dragon form. She had a violet shoulder-length hairstyle, with dark, shimmer horns that swooped back to a sharp point. She had violet wings that seemed to shimmer and dance in the candlelight. Her entire front of bare skin, with dark purple scales at her hips, leading back to scales connecting her arms, wings, tail, and legs. Her tail, arms, and legs were likewise violet, with claws tipping her fingers and toes.

Hamen stood and walked over to her. He placed his hands on her scales and slid them down to her hips before pulling her against him. She smiled up at him and leaned her head back. He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, before leaning further down and locking lips with her.

She purred softly, wrapping her arms around his neck and her wings around his body. She moaned and pressed her tongue to his lips. Hamen opened his mouth and her tongue darted inside, beginning a dance with his.

He played along, fencing and jousting her tongue in a playfully erotic way. he felt her smile against his lips as his hands slid down her scales to her ass.

She pulled back and gazed into his eyes with her sparkling violet orbs, "So, you never answered me. Do you like this form?"

Hamen gripped her ass and lifted her to him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he replied, "I fucking love it. You're perfect, Rukka. Completely and entirely."

She kissed his nose, "Good. But just so you're aware, I think I can still change back my human form..."

He laughed and kissed her again. She flapped her wings back, pushing them towards the bed. They fell onto it and she quickly set to work removing his pants, "I want you inside me. Now. I've never had a real vagina before and I'm anxious to take it for a test drive!"

Hamen glanced down at her smooth mons with her labia spreading over the bulge in his pants, "What did you have as a dragon?"

She looked up into his eyes, "Dragons have a cloaca. We do all of our waste elimination and egg-laying there. We females also take the male dragon's cock there."

Hamen chuckled, "That sounds... incredibly unhygienic but also insanely efficient."

Rukka giggled, "I suppose it is. But this one looks so much more fun. My cloaca was just a hole between my scales. but this one... it looks so fun! it's got curtains and a little nub and... well, a hole between the curtains..."

Hamen placed his hand over her mons, "If you lay on your back, I'll teach you a few things about human anatomy."

Before he was able to finish speaking, she flapped her wings, pushing her to the side and laying her on her back. She smiled and spread her legs, "Well?"

He shook his head and chuckled again, "Ah, you're so impatient."

She furrowed her brow, "I just want you to touch me already! Show that you want me as bad as I want you!"

He leaned down and kissed her lips, "I will show you how badly I want you, Rukka. But first, just enjoy my touch."

He trailed kisses down her neck and her chest, stopping to lick and suck her nipple into his mouth.

She whimpered and arched her back, "Oh goddess! That feels incredible! So much better than anything I felt as a dragon!"

Hamen switched nipples, his hand sliding over her skin and cupping the breast he just released from his mouth. He squeezed gently and kneaded the soft, warm flesh. Rukka mewled and her wings pinned to the bed as she arched up, into his touch.

Hamen moved lower, kissing down her stomach. When he reached her pubus, he looked up to see her watching him intently. He smiled, "Ready?"

She nodded and propped herself on her elbows, "...W-what are you going to do?"

He smirked and stuck his tongue out, licking her full slit, but not spreading them.

"OH FUCK! AGAIN!" She cried out.

Hamen licked her again and again, parting her labia slightly. As his tongue touched her clit, he flicked his tongue over the nub repeatedly. Her claws shot down to his hair, but he moved his hands up, catching hers.

He lifted from her juicy slit, "Claws, remember?"

She blushed, "Sorry... It just felt so damned good..."

He smirked and held her hands while we went back to licking her juices as they poured from her, focusing attention on her clit.

"Ooh! Oh goddess yes!" She cried, her claws digging into his hands, "More, more!"

Hamen took the cue and pushed his face into her pussy, licking and lapping, occasionally switching it up and swirling his tongue inside her hole. "OH FUCK! DON'T STOP! PLEASE! MORE!"

Hamen flicked his tongue rapidly over her clit, causing her to cry out loudly.

"I feel... Something strange... OH GODDESS, SOMETHING'S COMING!!"

Hamen felt her orgasm building. He continued licking her until the damn burst and she exploded, spraying her juices across her face. He swallowed and lapped up every bit, before pulling back and wiping his face.

"Holy shit... That was amazing..." She said breathlessly.

Hamen stood and removed his shirt and pants. He crawled over her, "I think you're ready for the main event now. Are you sure you want this? Once I enter you, there's no going back."

She brought her claws up and caressed his face, "I'm sure. Fuck me, Hamen."

He smiled and lined his cock up with her opening. He pushed in slowly, letting her get used to the feeling of his thick shaft spreading her pussy open.

When his tip pressed against her hymen, she looked him in the eye, "Do it. Break my seal."

Hamen nodded and kissed her deeply as he plunged through her barrier. She cried out in pain, breaking the kiss, "Fuck, that hurts!"

He pulled back and stroked her face, "Just relax, it'll feel better in a minute."

She looked up into his eyes as she fought back tears, "It already feels amazing. I've given you my first time and that... that is the best feeling ever..."

Hamen smiled and kissed her lips gently, "And it's a gift I'll treasure for the rest of my life, Rukka."

She smiled, "Thank you, Hamen."

They looked deep into each other's eyes, sharing an intense moment. She wrapped her arms and wings around his body, before kissing him deeply.

When they broke the kiss, he looked into her eyes, "You ready for more?"

She nodded, "Yes. I'm ready."

Her tail wrapped around his leg as he began to rock his hips, sliding in and out slowly. She groaned and lifted her hips to meet each thrust. Hamen groaned as his speed increased. He kissed her lips and neck.

"Oh, Fuck Hamen! Harder! I'm almost there again!"

He increased his speed and pounded into her harder - rougher, "I'm about to cum Rukka!"

She dug her claws into the flesh of his shoulder, "Me too! Cum with me baby! I want to feel it! I want to feel you!"

Hamen grunted and slammed into her once again, holding there as his cock throbbed and jerked. He pulled out and slammed back in again and again until her pussy clenched his cock.

Rukka cried out, moaning her pleasure to the world as her orgasm crashed over her. Her walls tightened and clenched onto him, milking him until he erupted, spilling and filling her with a thick and creamy creampie.

Hamen collapsed to the bed. Rukka winced, "You're on my wing..."

He chuckled and lifted enough for her to pull it out. She rolled onto her side and curled up with him, "Thank you, Hamen, my love."

"There's no need to thank me, my love. I enjoyed it just as much as you did."

She locked her ankles behind his back and pulled him closer to her, "I came twice. You came once."

Hamen trailed a single nail down the soft, tender flesh of her ribs, causing her to jerk away. He stood and smiled, "I enjoyed making you cum, my dear."

***

The following evening, Rukka took her dragon form once again, and then she and Hamen reported to the captain of their unit. After a few minutes of back and forth, and a quick inspection by the captain, they were permitted to resume their patrols.

Hamen saddled and mounted Rukka. Just as they were about to head out, a guard on the wall called that a rider approached. Hamen looked to see a large red dragon flying towards the fort at a breakneck pace.