//------------------------------// // That Discovers // Story: A Bridge Between Brothers // by Rammy //------------------------------// ബഐബഐബഐ ??? ബഐബഐബഐ "Interesting..." My eyes snapped over to Garble. He had pulled out a nugget of steel from the forge and was eyeing it. "It's not melting." It was the first time he had spoken since finally getting the forge to start some hours ago. I assume, it was quite hard to tell time passage without being able to see the sky. It reminded me in a bad way of my time in the forest with H.K. I was about to roll over and get back to sleep as metal not melting wasn't all that fascinating. Even I knew that different metals did have different melting points so clearly this was just a case that he just need to increase the temperate in the forge. Suddenly, there was a noise of metal hitting metal and something ricocheting off of one of my ear horns. I roared, spinning to face Garble. "GARBLE! I Will..." My head tilted as I looked as Garble who was just standing there, mouth agape, a broke hammer in his paw. While I ticked I I wasn't that mad, was I? I lifted my neck to get a better look and saw that not only was the hammer in pieces but so was the steel nugget. That was interesting... but since when does steel break like that? I reached out and grabbed a piece only to find that it was still just hot as if it just came from the forge. Hot and brittle?! "Garble." I softly spoke as I put the piece I had grabbed back onto the anvil. Garble, however, seemed to still be too stunned to acknowledged. "Garble." "GARBLE!" i shouted which finally got Garble's attention. "Figure it out later... Remember why we are here." "Right... right." Garble snapped to attention. "To forge something that can save Spike." I shook my head as Garble went back to the forge. We weren't doing this to save Spike as I was sure he was in no danger. What Spike called his that was a different matter. That was who and what we're here for. I stared at one of the pieces of the armor, a greave, according to Garble, carefully examining every facet of it trying to figure out its secrets. Garble's frustrations had been mounting the past few days and I hoped to help, if only to get his grating ranting and irritating pacing to stop. Unfortunately, I could only remember mere flashes, moments of time of the armor. H.K. had long since stopped using the armor in battle when I born? Created? Spawn? I still had no idea what to call the moment I came into being. I was a soul within another soul and had no body for my own until H.K. soul burned away. "I GOT IT!" My concentration was so great that I nearly jump in a start from the shout. I looked over to see that Garble was holding out a chuck of steel in a crystal tong, sniffing it deeply. "Yep, it smells the same!" Then just like Garble had done several times before slammed a hammer down on it and like nearly every time before the hammer shattered. I rolled my eyes as I stepped to the side to avoid the pieces. This time, much to both of our fascinations, only the hammer shattered. The chuck of steel seemed to have no visible damage. This was good as it meant he was making progress. (And maybe will stop ranting and pacing...) With him making progress I felt I no longer need to examine the greave so I bent down to reattach it to the armor stand. But when I did I notice something odd. The talons on my paw holding the greave appeared to be filed down. How?! When did that happen? I blinked as my mine raced. The only thing that I did was... I idly ran a talon across the greave and as ran my talon across I saw a fine dust . The only and a quick look back at where I had scratched the armor showed nothing. I knew the armor was dragon resistant (otherwise why would they be made for H.K.?) but to be nigh on dragon proof!? "WHAT!?" I sat down as Garble suddenly snatched my paw and began rolling it around, examining my talon closely. "Dragon claws can cut through diamond, the hardest natural gem known like it was warm butter and this armor withstood a scratch from your claw like it was nothing!? This must be how H.K became a Dragon Warrior. I mean, seriously, wearing this H.K. would not only almost look like a dragon but was nigh invincible against them. And to think I am..." "Stop withholding important information!" Garble suddenly roared, slamming my paw away. "I'm not intentionally withholding..." "Bullshit." Garble snapped, poking me in the chest. "That's you whole shtick. You say a half truth in a cryptic manner and then when you are called out you claim innocence or some other fucked up, wacky reason you can come up with!" "Well you got the talking cryptic part down pat." Spike snorted in fake amusement. "Now all that is left is to leave in the same way... which I really hope you do." "I'm hoping that Garble can use H.K.'s extensive notes on blacksmithing to create something that will give the Wasteland Dragon's pause..." H.K. didn't have extensive notes on blacksmithing he kept most of his knowledge in his head. But I didn't want to do like H.K. did when he flew off to deal with the layonic pole, merely say he had a more pressing matter. Spike deserved to know the reason I needed to leave for a while... even if that reason was not the full truth... "Hey where are you going?" Garble called out as I turned to leave. "Out." I growled out. I needed time, alone, to think. The sky was awash with deep red and oranges as I stepped out of H.K.'s cave. A slight haze and ever faint smell of smoke was in the air. Clearly the gathering of the Wasteland Dragons for the Gauntlet of Fire was in full swing. Time for Garble and Equestria was running out. I sighed heavily as I laid down to watch. I made a promise that night when I Chose... to do better than H.K. but... am I living up to that promise, to my hoard, my name? I know I have so much to prove to Spike and the ones he calls friends and family but am I doing enough? Am I going about it in the right way? It's so difficult to figure it out even with my name guiding me. "However, if anything, you did fail your brother Spike..." "I know..." H.K. sighed. "I wish I could have done things diff..." I wish you were a better dragon Es Izvēlies Tvēsele Uzuthszrēüs. "Hurry Garble..." I muttered as I looked off in the direction of Equestria. "I need to get back to Spike..."