//------------------------------//
// For Mysteries 
// Story: A Bridge Between Brothers 
// by Rammy 
//------------------------------//


ബഐബഐബഐ H.K. ബഐബഐബഐ


"Twixt'd is it?" I nonchalantly called out, keeping my face towards the bookshelf. I didn't want to spook the whelp too much especially as I needed to get some answers from him about who he was and what he was doing not only here but with Spike and Garble. Twixt'd was an unknown variable and a potential loose cannon and that was something that could spell disaster. "Tell me, what is an orphaned street urchin from Traxti City doing this far from home?" 

"How the fuck could you possibly know that? Are you reading my mind?" Twixt'd exclaimed as he walked into the light still coming from my horn before growling softly, "Damn high and mighty magick users thinking they can do whatever they want because they were born with special abilities from the gods..."

Yep, the word 'magick' among several other things I had observed from the whelp only confirmed it for me. He was diffidently a street urchin from Traxti City. That is very concerning. I pass through Traxti City a lot in my work with my most recent visit a mere three years ago. And even with my infrequent visits I do get mail whenever they needed consultation on anything major especially if it was dragon related. Though to be fair it's not something they would likely consult me over as while street urchins are a concern they are considered more of a nuisance then a major problem.

That doesn't excuse my failure in finding out about a dragon urchin. I make a point to be on good terms with those on the streets. It's surprising the amount of useful information that I can get from them especially with dark magic issues. Conversely it's a sad how many will ignore them like just some litter on the street then the people they are. For most they didn't choose the life and would get out if possible...

I sighed. "While I am more then capable of casting such a spell to read minds... I did not and will not." 

Twixt'd snorted in amusement but said nothing. 

I watched him for a moment before I continued. "To begin with, you have a slight accent. One that I have only heard among current or former street urchins from Traxti City. Now, it's quite possible that you picked it up beings friends with them but  as there are no dragons that live in or near Traxti city... too big and busy... that leaves only one reasonable possibility: you are one."

Twixt'd snorted. "Really? You expect me to believe that you can tell all that from how I talk?"

I blinked and shook my head. I'm not surprised that he still disbelieved me. I suppose I could have added that he didn't recognize my name 'H.K.' but there are some that don't know that name all that well most notable were the Wasteland dragons as well as ice dragons and sea serpents. I'm not as well known among the sea serpents for obvious reasons: I can't swim. As for the ice dragons, they were not easy to visit given the remote and inhospitable lands they call home and my condition had only made it worse.

"Does being the Cloaked Shadow help?"

Twixt'd raised an eyebrow. "You're the Cloaked Shadow?"

"Jā."(Yes)

Twixt'd eyes went wide for a moment before they narrowed even more then when I first saw Twixt'd watching me. That only confirms my suspicion that he was really young when he was orphaned but made my failure in noticing him even worse.

I sighed, looking at him straight in the eyes. "I just spoke draconic... It's the language of the dragons and something that a dragon with parents would definitively know... But the fact that you thought it was mind magic only confirms you were orphaned at a young age... and only highlights my failure..."

That stunned him and for a second I saw the real Twixt'd underneath the slowly fading suspicion before it game back full force. "Why would you care?"

"I know what it is like to be orphaned and despised for being something that was beyond their control." I whispered sadly as I silently recalled my foalhood. "I can't recall a single street urchin who didn't at least dream of a better life... with family... food... shelter... love... or at least getting a single look that wasn't pitied filled or judgmental... I also know how guarded they can be when opportunity comes to get out of the tough streets... if anything good comes along... its always too good to be true..."

"Do you take me for a pigeon?" Twixt'd finally spoke up after a long pause.

I chuckled a bit at the street lingo for a sucker. He really is only making it more apparent that he was an orphaned street urchin. It was not easy for any street urchin to accept another out right. One just did not last long on the streets if one wasn't careful about who they trusted. Twixt'd, though, was being especially cautious... except in one area: the young dragons now sleeping in the research rotunda. Which was one the questions I needed answering but first: "Tell me, how old are you."

"Why don't you just cast a spell and read my mind." Twixt'd growled out, crossing his arms hotly

I rolled my eyes. "Please just answer my question."

"Two hundred give or take a year or ten... " Twixt'd finally responded, shrugging, "it isn't something I really cared to pay attention to..."

I nearly sputtered in shock. Two hundred!? He is TWO HUNDRED!!!? I almost didn't believe it, but I could find no deceit in his answer even though he was a bit guarded about giving it. That meant he had to have been on the streets/on his own for nearly his entire life to not know of the Draconic language's abilities. How the buck did I not find out about him? A dragon hatchling/whelp would stick out like beacon of light on a moonless night in Traxti City even after considering that as a major neutral multinational city-state with a port there is a massive amount of transients passing through the city every day. 

But then again, he was very skilled at using his scales to hide. He had even made sure to use his wings to cover up his easier to see belly scales. A product of being on the streets, no doubt, and maybe the reason he was never found out. As it was, if I hadn't been hyper diligent about watching the shadows in the library for any shadow demons that may have slipped past the wards I may have missed him. Alas there was nothing I could do about it now.

This lead me back to the question I had before, what was he doing so far from Traxti city? I get escaping the hell that was living on the streets but going this far? If all he knew was the streets for that long, it would be very difficult for him to adjust to any life not on the streets... Could it have something to do with the injured whelp? Contrary to Spike's remarks Twixt'd really did care as he would not have sincerely asked if the whelp was going to be okay otherwise. His nonchalant response to my affirmation merely seemed cold. But that brought up something else even more confusing: his reaction towards me. 

“You're H.K.!?” Twixt’d huffed. "I don't see why Spike would need someone like you." 

He held his glare at me even after witnessing my display of power and under my own glare. For someone like him to put himself in the line of fire like that was way out of the ordinary especially considering how well he remained hidden from me.  Out of sight out of mind was a survival tactic that one learned real fast. I may not know how long Twixt'd knew the injured whelp but I do know that with Spike it had to be in the order a a few days at the very most. Spike and Garble would have had to have left Equestria shortly after I did to get here as fast as they did and I don't see Twixt'd meeting them in Equestria. Especially given how tense the Equestrians are right now with dragons.

However even with all this mystery over Twixt'd I had to suppress a smile of joy. If Twixt'd motives were as pure as I was beginning to suspect then Spike finally had dragon friends that were really friends. After his disastrous first impression at the Migration and his fears over becoming a 'beast' I knew that he would struggle with his dragon heritage even with my words of engorgement. But now, with both the injured whelp and Twixt'd, I think that might change.