During some battle, Charles got hit with a spell from an unseen caster. It seemed to have no effect, which was confirmed by the doctors (and whoever else knows magic) on the base, so Charles trusted them and assumed it was nothing.
Then his jaws started aching, and he swore his teeth were sharper. The doctors said it was nothing, so he brushed it off. When his skin started getting dry patches, getting rough and flakey in places, this was dismissed as well, although this time at least they told him to stay on the base, not go out on any missions.
And so after this Charles brushed off his splitting headache, ignoring how it felt like something was coming out, just going to sleep- on his stomach, because his back hurt as well.
However, things became a lot harder to just dismiss as "nothing" when he looked in the mirror the next morning to see he had grown horns, wings, a tail, the patches on his skin were now patches of scales, and his teeth were definitely sharper than they had been before.
(Charles turns into a dragon/dragon hybrid, ends up joining the Toppats through some events)
(Maybe Reginald catches wind of news of a new dragon in his territory)
Charles standing at his bathroom mirror, freaking out because he was looking like a freaky human dragon and he was pretty sure Galeforce and the others would freak out.
Charles decided to find the thickest trenchcoat he could wear and keep his head down as he headed to the mess hall. Maybe all he needed was a good meal to turn him back.
Except Charles didn't account for it being quite a windy day, and his dragon tail showing, causing everyone to halt in their tracks and stare at Charles.
The helicopter pilot tried explaining that he was the same old Charles, that there was nothing to worry about. But then the screaming and pointing started, and Charles knew he had to run.
Gunshots rang out and sirens blared behind Charles as he ran out of the base, people who were once his friends, now finding him a monster. Charles just needed to hide for now and maybe eventually find that freaky sorcerer that did this to him.
Too bad Charles felt giant golden claws scoop him up, finding himself being carried by a large... golden... dragon. Charles faints from the sight, going limp in the dragon's hold.
---
Charles felt a cold rag on his forehead as he slowly came to. Maybe he hallucinated the entire thing and he wasn't a dragon. One look at his claws however destroyed any hope of this all being a bad dream.
"Easy there. You are going through your first transformation and everything is going to hurt."
Charles turned his head to see the leader of the Toppats, Reginald Copperbottom. Charles tried speaking, but his voice hurt very much, only managing to let out a growl before covering his mouth in embarrassment.
"It will be awhile before your voice returns. Trust me, I've been through this before and every moment sucked."
Charles was confused now, did the Toppat leader say he had been through this before? Charles had so many questions swirling in his head, with Reginald only wiping off Charles' head with the cold rag.
"I'll explain everything once you have transformed back. Just know that you are safe, that the other Toppats know you are here and what you are, and that I can teach you everything you need to know about your new life."
"But for now, close your eyes and rest. Henry or Right will probably be here with dinner for you when you wake up."
Charles closed his eyes and felt the embrace of sleep take him. He wasn't sure what would happen next, but atleast he had someone who could help explain something with this whole dragon business. And for Charles, that was better then nothing.
