Eventually Violet managed to learn the basics of how to use her new form, she grew to quite like having hands and particularly enjoyed the fact that she could now cook her own food! Her claws still somewhat remained but instead of being powerful and solid they became more dexterous. Now more like elongated and sharp nails instead of vicious natural weapons.
The two had a late breakfast together before Violet finally managed to pursuade Luna to go exploring the underwater cave together. "Fine! Fine we can go now, you have decent enough control over yourself. But you need to prove to me that you can swim before I will let you go! Understand." She brought out her best mum voice to corral the energetic dragon. Violet pouted at that causing Luna to blush and look away, 'that dragon is too beautiful in this form, I need to be strong!' Luna thought to herself and she fought to keep her breathing under control.
And so after ensuring that Violet wouldn't just drown and seeing how long they could both hold their breath, they each could last for multiple minutes thanks to their increased constitution. Once happy the two dove down into the pond, Violet coated them both in a layer of void to enhance their vision in the low light and they made their way through the tunnel.
It became a tight fit in a couple of spots but thankfully it opened back up shortly after the narrow sections. Small algae and other aquatic plant life seemed to thrive in this dark environment and after they rounded a bend the plant life began to glow faintly in bioluminescence. It was a wonderous sight and the duo enjoyed their swim through it.
Thankfully though they didn't have to begin worrying about if it would be best to turn around as they saw an exit of sorts for the tunnel up ahead. They breached the surface to find themselves in a grand cavern with the water making up a miniature lake in the centre with a raised edge circling around it. Slowly the companions made their way towards the edge and climbed up out of the water. Luna then called forth her ice to freeze the water from her body before quickly gearing back up, not eager to remain undressed in case they got in a fight.
Violet however as a dragon didn't have any sense of immodesty and simply shook herself off sending water droplets flying in all direction, although she winced when her hair smacked herself in the face and some landed in her eyes. "Ouch! Urgh why is hair so anoying!" She grumbled to herself as she pealed it off her face much to Luna's amusement.
Looking around the cavern they were in the bioluminescenct plant life continued its growth within casting a faint blue green light over everything. It was maybe 150-200m in width and 30-40m in height, along the nearby wall a new cave opening was present that looked to slope upwards. Looking between each other they nodded and proceeded to head in its direction, they kept quiet and focused on staying in stealth. It likely wouldn't be necessary given the low mana levels but it never hurt to be prepared. Violet did transform back into her propper dragon form given she still preferred it, and she also had no clothing for her humanoid form.
They encountered no signs of life as they travelled upwards and the only change they noted was that the tunnel they were following was slowly arcing around as if it was circling the exterior of the mountain whilst steadily making its way upwards. For all they knew that was exactly what it was doing?
Time passed like this with the only break for the monotony being the occasional larger cavern they would come across, but still only a singular path upwards was present so they continued on. They gradually grew less weary of the surroundings and resumed some idle chatting discussing what they may find when they eventually reached the end of the tunnel.
"Do you think this will take us all the way up to the top of the mountain? Or will it eventually just end in a dead end?" Luna asked.
"It better not just lead to a dead end." Violet grumbled back, they had been traveling for almost 2 hours now and she was getting quite sick of walking through the same rocky tunnels. "I wonder what we will find at the top, ohh I wonder if we will find something to hunt?"
"Of maybe some treasure of some kind! It is said in ledgend that dragons liked to hoard treasure and since you were born here maybe this was the ancient lair of a dragon?" Luna suggested.
"Ohhh I do like the sound of treasure! But where would I keep it if I had any treasure? Sounds like a pain to carry around with me everywhere!" Luna could only chuckle at that not reminding her that storage items like her necklace exist.
All journeys must come to an end and their long climb was no exception. They noticed daylight streaming in ahead of them and they both eagerly sped up as they hurried along to reach the exit of this long tunnel. What greeted them when they reached the top however caused them both to freeze in place. Violet began to tremble as she gazed upon the sight before her, emotions she didn't know she had filling her heart.
For before them in the centre of a large cavern with a singular large exit to the world beyond, laid the corpse of a dragon of gargantuan size. Its body along was easily 200 meters long with its neck being around a quarter that length and its tail matching its body for length. Its scales were of a majestic gold tinged with red, although they had lost some of their luster as many years had obviously passed since it once lived.
But the surprised were not yet over as when Violet took a shaky step forward a pressure descended, it was immeasurably powerful yet at the same time held so much care and affection towards her. A voice, as ancient as the mountain they stood within as powerful as the Storm Titan and yet as gentle as any mother is to their child spoke. "Ahh you have finally hatched my child. I am sorry that this is how you have to meet me but know that it was my greatest regret that I never got a chance to meet you properly."
Violet stumbled struggling to stay on her feet as innumerable emotions swelled with her. She had never felt like this before but recognised some of the raging emotions from her time with Luna. But they still felt different, almost as if they had long been locked away within her and only now did they break free. Softly, carefully she projected her thoughts out around her in a shaky voice that cracked with potentent emotion. "A-are you my m-mum?"