She looks at her claws and scowls. "Nope. Not real. This is some kinda dream or something." Her tail flicks side to side, belying the strained state she's in.
"I assure you, it's all very real." The larger dragon's smile is bemused. This one's a feisty one, to somehow make it through her entire transformation and still be in denial. It's an almost admirable amount of stubbornness - a will so strong that not even the experience of finding your true form can break it.
"No, this is some kinda weird... fucked up lucid dream. Dragons aren't real. You aren't real and these..." she grimaces a little at the unfamiliar sensations as she raises her wings to display them. "These aren't real."
"Alright. So, regardless of how real this is, how does it make you feel?"
"What, so you're my therapist now? Big talking lizard therapist?"
"Need I remind you that you're also a 'big talking lizard' right now? Please, humor me."
She sighs, exasperated. "Fine. It feels... nice. Freeing, almost."
He smirks, cocks his head to the side. "And do you think a human would enjoy suddenly changing in shape and form so much?"
She folds her forepaws over one another, lounging with an annoyed expression on her face. She glances away as she talks. "I mean, who wouldn't? Doesn't everyone wish they could be big and strong and to have wings? It's normal to dream about being freed from the human condition, no?"
The older dragon chuckles. "Listen to yourself. Do you really believe that, or are you just repeating back old justifications for feelings you've harbored your whole life?"
She glares back at him, piercing red eyes aflame with annoyance. "I don't like how well you seem to know me. More evidence you're just a figment of my imagination, frankly."
He laughs again. "I assure you, I'm quite real. I've just had... a lot of the same experiences. I used to think I was human, too. I know so much because I was just like you, once."
She goes silent for a moment, flicking her tail, folding her wings in close.
Then she sighs. The scowl finally leaves her face. She holds her claw out again, stares at it. Glimmers of realization dance in her eyes.
"Fuuuuuuuuucck."
He saunters up to her, places his paw upon her resting forepaw. "It's very real. I know, it's scary. Change always is. But doesn't it feel nice to be finally free?"
She glances back up at him - and he sees those eyes start to fill with tears of relief.