"Unleash the dragon within, and let your spirit take flight." - Thomas Turner
Sisu and Raya were at the Fang River’s edge, her blue hair fluttering in the afternoon breeze. She wore her usual human attire: a flowing purple tunic that hung loosely over her frame, paired with simple leather shoes she’d taken to wearing in Kumandra. The tunic was tight while shoes hugged her feet, but it was a practical choice for her human wanderings. She knew, however, when her inner dragon called, they wouldn’t survive what was coming.
Sisu and Raya were practicing sword swings before they stopped. The water of Fang River was being to act up. “Hey, Raya,” Sisu called, “you ever feel the water talking to you?” Raya smirked. “Only when you’re around, Sisu.” Sisu was concerned, giving her sword to Raya and beginning to move towards the river. “Yeah, it’s being real loud today.” She goes closer to the river as she begins to sense it’s a message. Sisu grinned, stepping into the shallows. Something’s up… I’ve gotta go dragon.” Raya’s smirk softened. “You sure?” Sisu nodded. “Yeah. Feels big.” Raya gave a thumbs-up. “I’ll hold things down here” Sisu waded in deeper, the cool water lapping at her ankles, its magic stirring within her. She knew the transformation would shred her clothes, but that was fine… they’d be restored when she was human again.
Sisu stepped deeper, the river rising to her knees. “Alright, water, let’s do this! You’re my element, after all,” she said, raising her arms with a steady breath. The surface glowed blue, then surged upward in tendrils, lifting her into the air within a shimmering column of liquid light. “Dragon time!” she murmured, her voice calm yet eager, as the water held her aloft.
The water started with her feet. A warm pulse rippled through her toes, still encased in the leather shoes. She felt the familiar shift starting, her feet pressing against the confines. The water was weaking the shoes as the leather tightened. Stitches straining as her toes merged from five to three, thickening and lengthening. With a sharp RIP, the shoes split apart. Claws erupted, gleaming and curved, tearing through the soles. The shredded leather fell into the swirling water below as her heels broadened, arches flattening into wide, padded dragon paws. Scales bloomed, iridescent blue with silver flecks, starting at her toes and climbing her ankles, each one catching the light like a wet jewel. “It’s been a while, but it’s good to finally have these back.” She told herself as she flexed her new claws, feeling their strength.
The transformation surged upward. Her legs elongated, muscles coiling beneath the tunic’s hem. Scales cascaded over her calves, shimmering like river stones. A tingling bloomed in her spine, and with a wet splash, a serpentine tail unfurled, slicing through the tunic’s lower edge, leaving jagged tears. Her tail grew bigger, gaining small tuft on the end of her tail. “You can’t be a dragon without our signature tails.” She said as the water spun faster, lifting her higher as her human form continued to fade.
Her torso expanded next. The purple tunic stretched taut across her chest, fabric pulling against her widening frame. Seams popped along her shoulders, threads snapping one by one. With a loud rrrrrip, the tunic tore down the center, splitting apart as her ribcage broadened into a dragon’s sturdy chest. The tattered remnants fluttered away, dissolving into the water’s glow, as scales flowed over her belly. Smooth, tough, and radiant. “Oops, there goes the outfit!” “Well… it would have been ruined in battle. At least it will be restored when my human-self returns.”
Her arms prickled next. "Okay, hands, let's see some magic!" she said, grinning as her fingers began to stretch and shift. The skin tightened, then softened as her five fingers thickened and merged slightly, forming broad, padded digits. "These are always so nice to have back… they are wicked!" she exclaimed, watching her hands reshape into sturdy dragon paws, each tipped with blunt, gleaming claws. Scales raced up her forearms, shimmering blue and silver, rippling over her elbows and climbing to her shoulders. Her arms lengthened slightly, muscles bulging beneath the fresh scales. "Feeling stronger already," she noted, giving them a playful shake.
The transformation flowed to her neck. "Here comes the stretch!" she said with a giggle as it began to lengthen, vertebrae popping softly. Her skin shimmered as scales crept upward, covering her throat in a protective, radiant layer. Her blue hair lifted, thickening and shifting. "Oh, my mane's getting fancy!" she cheered as it wove into a flowing cascade streaked with blue, purple, and silver. It was rippling like the river itself. The strands grew longer, wilder, framing her changing form.
Her face was next. "Time for the big finish!" she said, her voice deepening slightly as her jaw widened with a soft crack. "Ooh, that tickles!" she added, feeling her teeth sharpen into fangs. Twin horns spiraled from her brow, curling elegantly. "Horns, fangs, the works! I’m a masterpiece!” she laughed, tilting her head. Her eyes flared, pupils narrowing into glowing slits. Her scales began to glow, signaling her dragon taking charge. "Check me out, I’m glowing with dragon power!” she called out, her voice now a mix of human cheer and dragon resonance.
With a final surge, the water column exploded outward in a dazzling spray, and Sisu emerged. The Dragon of Water, a majestic blue dragon. She hovered midair as her noodle-like appearance gained her flight. Her iridescent scales gleamed and mane flowed. She roared playfully at Raya, a sound of power and purpose, shaking the riverbank. Her clothes were gone, but she knew the magic of her dragon nature would weave them anew when she returned to human form. Sisu waved to Raya and left for the source of the signal.
Sisu hovered above a larger river, Luminara River, the source of the message. Her massive paws flexing as she adjusted to her dragon form. “Alright, big river, I’m here and glowing like crazy! Spill the beans… what’s this message all about?" The river shot skyward. She lifted her gaze as four dragons approached, Pengu, Jagan, Amba, and Pranee, their scales catching the twilight.
“Sisu!” Pengu called, landing with a gust. “Pengu!,” They hugged, “It’s good to see you and the rest of the dragons again. What brought you here?” “We felt the river’s call too.” Amba’s tone was heavy. “There’s talk of Druun in the north. It might be starting again.” Sisu’s mane drooped slightly, her eyes softening. “Druun? I hoped we’d seen the last of them.” Pranee nudged her gently. “We did our best before. But it’s not over yet.” Jagan nodded. “We need to go… all of us.”
Sisu met their gazes, her voice steady and warm. “Okay. If they’re back, we’ll handle it together. You’re all so strong. I’m just glad I can stand with you. Especially after being left alone to deal with them last time.” Pengu tilted his head. “You’re part of this, Sisu. You helped bring us back.” She smiled faintly. “Yeah, but it wasn’t easy nor was it painless. I worry about losing you all again. The rest dragons give Sisu a hug. “You’ll won’t be alone this time, now we’ll keep Kumandra safe, side by side.” Sisu smiled and returned the hug. “You all are the best.”
The dragons took flight, Sisu among them, beating in rhythm with her siblings. Being together helped lighten the mood despite the situation, supportive and resolute, ready to face the threat with her family. Trusting each other’s skills, and ready to face anything as the Dragons of Kumandra.

Don't you love how we are fixing Disney's mistakes? They need to stop being lazy with these offscreen or flash transformations.

Anyway, the 4th commission I did with BlackSheepTFs is another surprising uncommon TF. For some reason, Sisu is rarely used in TF circles (outside an annoying bunch of ball TFs from the same person (and no, that was not meant to be a pun)) and its a shame as having a dragon that can transform to human and back gives some great opportunities. Guessing Disney did Sisu no favors.
Here we see herself transform before going into the river. She is a water dragon after all, and she's used to this by now. Guess we know what it is like when the light is covering it. Hope more people do TFs with Sisu in the future.
The art was done by the wonderful BlackSheepTFs.