//-------------------------------------------------------// The Soul in Our Scales -by FirePrincess- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter One //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter One Naw, i love ya stories but you work so hard, just chill and you will be inspired. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Two //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Two https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dreamcatcher.jpg Chapter Two Like everyone in the world,I need to eat. Only I can't do that with my jaw deformity,so I have these special tubes that put fish guts into my mouth. That's right. All dragons eat fish,but I can't chew my food. Well I can eat soft foods and popcorn but other than that I mostly eat my daily mush. Quite glamorous. Ember came earlier in the morning so she had to see me "eat" breakfast. I am pretty sure she was completely weirded out. She tried to remain expressionless and pretend it was normal. Pretty good actor,but I wasn't convinced. "So is this normal?"She eventually blurted. "Yeah."I confessed as I took the tubes out."I know,not very attractive." "No,no,no!"She exclaimed."I didn't mean that...I was just...curious." I could tell she was trying to be nice to me,but it wasn't really working. I wish I could be a normal dragon like my mom wanted. Then my life would be so much easier! But thank Celestia that I at least have a life. "Yeah right."I replied. "So...now what do you want to do?"She asked me. "Maybe we could check the mail...if it isn't burning."I suggested. You see dragons have this nasty habit of burning mail boxes. It's like trending and I pray every night that it doesn't happen to our mail box. I mean that is the only way I can contact my mom,my best friend. But other dragons wouldn't understand that. Most dragon mothers ignore there children or are super strict with them. Puff told me all about it! Me and Ember checked the mail. It wasn't burning! The even better new was that inside it was a package! We went back inside and I opened it. Inside was what looked like a spider we'd with feathers dangling from it. A few beads were in the web and on the feathers. It seemed like some rubbish just mixed together to make something even more rubbish. "There is a letter."Ember pointed out. I read it: Dear Garry, I really miss you in Saddle Arabia. I was able to buy you a dream catcher. If you hang it over your bed at night it aches your bad dreams in the web but let's the good dreams fall down on the feathers. I thought that you would like it since you are always complaining about nightmares. I really miss you. Oh,I have good news too! Well actually bad news...I am gonna be here for three months. (We were supposed to stay for five) I love you.  -Mom "Awww that's sweet."Ember commented. "I guess. But does this even work?"I asked as I looked at the dream catcher. "There is only one way to find out."Ember told me. She was smart and witty. I liked it. "Eh."I moaned as we headed back inside. "So now what?"Ember asked me. I looked around the cave. Maybe we could play video games or something. "Video games?"I offered. "Nah."She replied."Let's go...to the lake." I shrugged. The lake was okay. There was this mysterious rumor about it though. You see there once was a horse that fell in it. Yeah but then it's body appeared in a lake that was ten miles away from our lake. We thought it was just a big joke. But then the lake caught on fire! That's right. And the horse was in it,but the body looked untouched. It just lay on the bank if the lake for days,not even the bugs would touch it. It took years for it to eventually rot away. I think it's all a lie. But the lake in conclusion is still creepy like hell! So anyways me and Emner were able to go to the lake. I had to be careful not to get beaten up by someone though. Thousands of a holes beat me up. It sucks being in the Black Eye of the Month club. Ember seemed to scare dragons away,being the dragon lord and all that junk. "Here we are."She gleefully exclaimed as we arrived at the lake. The lake was deep beyond a million years so mostly giant dragons like my mom drink from it is tear of swim in it. We mostly use the ocean for bathing and swimming. "Now what?"I asked her. "We have fun obviously."She explained. She was so full of light and I was so full of darkness,we were complete opposites. Like literally. Ember was able to find some shells and catch some cray fish,that she ate. The experience was okay. I mostly just Kaye's low under a weeping willow. I dint want to be seen. Even adult dragons would pick on me,including my dad. Besides,Ember came under the willow with me and we just talked about things. She mostly asked me about me. Like what I wanted to do,if my jaw was going to be fixed,and the usual. The usual was always about the jaw,like are you gonna get it fixed or are you sad about it. I am just like seriously people,it is a jaw! I've noticed most people focus on the different things of people. Like if you were deaf but broke the world record for most plates cleaned,most people would point out you being deaf. Or even worse stereotype you as "the ear guy" not the "plate cleaning dude" that you should be. Ember was different though,she asked how my parents felt instead of how I felt. She acted about the people around me and didn't stereotype me as the "jaw guy". She also  asked why my mom called me Garry. And I explained that was one of my many nick names and that my real name was Gareth Jr. (My dad is THE Gareth) Ember was certainly different. That's a good thing though. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Three //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Three https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dreamcatcher.jpg Chapter Three Another night with Ember. Tonight I put the dream catcher up. Maybe it would help. But I was convinced that it was just some cheap thing my mother bought at the dollar store. Yeah we aren't the richest family in the world. My mom tries to buy stuff that is cheap but can be called cool since its from some where else. Typical souvenir business. While we were in my room,Ember asked,"What nightmares do you have." I didn't really want to feel her but deep down I had to. I had kept it a secret so long. "I...well....it is nothing."I argued. "Come on tell me!"She nagged. "Fine."I began."You see, in my dream my mom dies. And my dad leaves to go to a casino and then Puff runs off with some hot dude. Then I am all alone. Then the dragon reservation disappears. I'm all alone and abandoned...and..." I stopped,I didn't want to get into detail with her. "Wow. That sounds really scary."She told me."You must be afraid of being abandoned." I blushed;was she reading my mind? "I guess...that's not important."I stated as she flipped through my video games. I lied on my bed and read my comic book. The thing about comics is,I love them! They feel like family,but I don't read super hero comics or stuff like that I read Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich. And I laugh at the same cheesy jokes that they have. I keep them secret,not even Puff knows about them. If I did,he might bully me too,like everyone on this stupid reservation. Everyone on the reservation excepts you to be tuff. They call it grit. And apparently you need it to live here. I clearly lack it. "So...."Ember was about to say. "You say so a lot."I commented. Ember giggled. She had one of those girly giggles that make you feel like barfing. Females really piss me off when they laugh like that. "So is just my thing."Ember explained. "Well....keep it your thing."I ordered her. "I will."She replied."Maybe the dream catcher is your thing?" I was shocked."That pile of junk?" "Yeah."She replied. I didn't really get the dream catcher yet,I mean is it for something or what? "You know,your not so bad once you crack your shell,ya know?"Ember complimented me kindly. I almost had a heart attack when she said that. After I had tackled her and almost killed her over some stupid stone,she was calling me kind? I mean I never thought I could even be in her friend zone,but here we are. She was totally breaking all social ranking rules. "Even after...the incident?"I sort of apologized. "Yeah."She said."Besides it was like WWE only 20% cooler." I laughed. She was hilarious! On so many levels. "You're kind of nice."I admitted. She laughed her stupid girly girl laugh at me. "We all have a soul in our scales." I said. "Hey,what are you reading?"She then asked. Crap! I immediately covered the picture with my arms."Ahh...its just boy stuff." "Is it Playbrony or something?"She teased. "Yeah. You caught me."I lied to Ember as I hid it under my pillow. Dragons normally sucked at lies. Which is actually really funny since we have been lied to a lot in our past. I don't feel guilty lying to her,she really isn't that type of dragon I really care about. Oh wait,I don't care about anyone and no one cares about me. And even if someone does care at me,they are at war or at the casino with some super sexy women. Ember is just too nice to me. She acts as if I never punched her or insulted her. Like I never really killed her friend Spike or crushed a bird egg. It's as if we are in a blank slate. I assure you though,she can't fall in love with me! I mean she is the dragon lord and a highly pure breed dragon. I am simply what we call a "mix." That means that I am two separate dragon breeds in one. I am a sand and fire dragon. The fire comes from my Dad's side. Speaking of my dad,you are probualy wondering where he is. Most likely at the casino nearby the rez. He goes there a lot and gambles. He also flirts with other lady dragons. And he drinks a lot of whisky. My dad says he is only alcoholic when he is drunk. I seriously don't get that whatsoever. Also I don't get Ember. She has this positive outlook on life like everything will be okay. Easy for her to say,she has a high rank in our lazy government. She is probualy more educated. Also might I remind you that she is a princess. Princesses don't fall in love with meal peasant boys. Especially mixes. Also I am pretty sure that her dad arranged a marriage for her,even though she is only thirteen. Her dada seems to run her life like a manger. I don't wanna be her. Third of all,I can't think of a third thing! Grr! I don't even know how I feel about her. Is she a friend or best friend! A friend girl? I don't know. I texted Puff about that,but he just said he didn't know anything about women other than they were definitely not in to me especially. Isn't that tuff love? Besides why would she love me? A worthless,deformed,abbused,poor,and scared of being abandoned dragon like me? But like my mom says,"If you let damn people in your life,you'll be amazed at what they can do." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Four //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Four https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dreamcatcher.jpg Chapter Four So Ember decided to come extra early today and woke me up. Boy that girl can shake the crap out of you! "Did it work!?"She exclaimed as she shook me. I groaned. "Come on! Did it work or not?"She repeated a she stopped shaking me. She groaned and then slapped me on the cheek. "Wow!"I howled as I sat up,flinging Ember to the floor. "Did it work?"She asked again as she got up from the floor. "Yeah."I said."I didn't have any dreams though. It was just black I guess." So today I was being dragged into a cave to look for gems. Other than fish,gems are a dragon's favorite food. I can't really eat much of them. I can only eat tale and gypsum. The soft stuff. I was for once actually excited. You see I was sort of starting to like Ember. I mean she was nice and curvy. She was also something else,I mean she wasn't like other dragons. She always saw the other side of things. She was always thinking and making theories. She was capable of a lot and really talented. Not many dragons are like her,or ponies. I guess she is a talented pure breed too. "So what type of gems are we looking for?"I asked as we looked in a gem mine for shiny rocks. "Anything you can find."She replied as she dug through some dirt. I had a perfect view of her butt. I couldn't help but look at it,but then I slapped myself and reminded that she could never love me. I bet she already had a boyfriend. I mean if boys are looking at your butt that is a sign you should have a boy friend by now. "Yo,you have a boyfriend?"I asked her as I watched her try to pull a stubborn gem out of the ground. "No. Why you ask?"She said as she finally got the gem out,sadly it broke in the process. "Just curious."I lied. "So...anyways less talk more gems."She ordered like an army general. She kept on looking for gems in the dirt. It was sort of funny to see the dragon lord getting all dirty. "Are you gonna help?"She snapped at me. "Meh. Why not?"I replied as I got on the ground and looked for them too. "Do you have a girlfriend?"She asked me. I blushed and answered truthfully,"No. I am a loser remember? That's why I am in that feiend program." "I just figured...." I looked up at her. This sounded important. "...well side you know....you are so tuff and all....and..."She stumbled. "Wait you think I'm tuff?"I exclaimed. "Yeah....and funny....and sweet...and cute.....I mean acute!"She corrected herself. "Go on."I joked. "Oh shut  your crooked gem hole!"She snapped at me. I laughed at her,she was always sassy and speaking her mind. And calling people "acute". Whatever that means. Bet you a dollar it isn't even a word. "Garry?"Ember said as she kept searching for food. "Yes?"I said."Alos don't call me Garry." "Fine,'Garble'."She commented sassily,but then she got to the point."Do you like me?" I major blushed. Like I literally was literally a thousand times redder then I usually am. "I gotta go pee." I quickly rushed to a cave tunnel to where she couldn't see me. I whipped my phone out and texted Puff,"Dude! Ember just asked if I liked her." But dang the walls of the cave had no cellphone reception. I almost threw a temper tantrum when I realized I couldn't text him. I then crawled out of my tunnel and went back to looking for gems. "Yeah. You are a pretty good friend."I friend zoned her. "Garble. I meant like... like like."She told me. "Do you like me?"I asked her in response." "Maybe."She answered."Now answer my question." "Maybe too."I stated. "Maybe."She repeated. "So maybe."I told her. "That can be our thing!"She exclaimed as she abandoned looking for gems. "Excuse me?"I asked her. "So maybe."She repeated."Our two favorite words." "And the dream catcher."I added. "Yeah."She agreed as she continued her quest for gems. It was odd having a thing with her. I had a sad books where peop,e had "things" but now me and her had one. We're we boyfriend and girlfriend was the real question? I mean she said maybe. And she was clearly eager to see me in the morning. "Okay then."I started."Why not you get a dream catcher?" "Maybe we can make one!"She suggested. "Yeah,sure."I agreed. I was never to happy about crafts. "Maybe we can use the gems to be the beads."She had and idea. "Okay...okay. Now all we need to do is find some."I tried to calm her down. So we kept in searching and searching for gems in silence. But I have to say that sometimes even the craziest of people,are the ones who can teach you the most. So maybe. Those were the most beautiful words. Not even the most poetic Shakesphere pony could top off just those three it's little words. Never. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Five //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter Five https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dreamcatcher.jpg Chapter Five I never thought that me out of all people would make a ditzy little dream catcher with a girl. But that happened today. Ember pinned me to my room and made me help her make one. It turned out pretty nice in the fifth attempt. It turned out well though,so that's all that really matters right now. "Looks good."I said as we finished making her dream catcher. "Yeah."She agreed as she held it up and got a good look at it. I then flopped onto my bed. Those crafts are short tiring! When I was little I was the athletic kid. That was when I was the top dog and very thing was going my way. I was always the king over the other dragons. I actually used to be the school bully. "Garble do you really truly like me?"Ember asked from the floor where she was admiring her dream catcher. "Well when you first came from that friend agency I didn't."I changed the subject. "Do you like like me now?"She rephrased. I blushed once more,this time she saw me turn pink. "Cause I like you."She added. I almost choked on barf! "You...you...like me?! She nodded and blushed at the same time. "I....I...I..."I stuttered like crazy. "I know. It's sort of wrong for me to like you. I thought you would think I was crazy."She sadly said. "No! No....I'm just really shocked that you,out of all people,like me.I mean I have a jaw deformity.....and..."I explained. "I know."She told me. "It's just...and...and I like you..."I was able to stammer. "You do?"She sounded surprised. Ofcourse I like her! She was a princess,almost every male had a tiny crush on her! "Yeah."I admited as my cheeks turned pink. "Wow."Was all she said."I thought you still despised me and Spike." "No. Never!"I pretended like I was never mad. When in reality I almost killed Puff. She didn't say anything in response whatsoever. It was very awkward and silent. "So.....now what?"I asked. I was now on the floor next to her "Well...I think my dream catcher....needs...."but I cut her off with a kiss. It wasn't a long one,but it was pretty much in between. It was around five seconds. "This feels wrong."She said as I let go. "It should."I made that witty comment. I had watched romance movies and there was always the spicy one (me) and the unsure one (Ember). It made the relationship more interesting. Or that's at least what they say. "I just don't know what to say....."She was about to explain. "I love you,for starters."I suggested. I seriously was recalling all this from romance movies. "I.....I can't!"She reasoned with me. "Come on,say it and I'll let you loose."I romantically threatened her. I am not sure,but I felt like we were in a sappy movie. It was odd and wonderful at the same time. I was considering seducing her,but then again I am only fourteen. "I love....love...."She was babbling. "Come on."I eagerly nagged. "You!"She exclaimed. "Very good."I complimented."Now go on." "Leave?"She asked me. "Yeah that's what you wanted...right?"I asked as I looked at her. "Well....."She started to say. "It's 8:00 anyways,your shift is over."I told her. She walked away and left the cave. Wow. Did I really just do that? I turned the TV on. Maybe if I watched s'more romance movies maybe I would get even better at that stuff. I mean Ember did deserve the best. She was a princess. That whole night she was on my mind. My deformed jaw had just kissed a lip gloss coated mouth of a dragon princess and dragon lord! It was the most best and worst thing ever at the same time. //-------------------------------------------------------// Acknowledgements //-------------------------------------------------------// Acknowledgements https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dreamcatcher.jpg Acknowledgements I wanna firstly wanna say that this story was more of symbolic then a fan fiction. You see Garble's situation is based on my aunt who had cancer. She too found her best friend in a cheesy friendship program. But they actually started out hating each other. I mean my aunt was a cancer survivor and her "friend" smoked cigarettes and worked at a fast food shop. They were unlikely friends. But they became friends and it turns out that the friend stopped smoking. Now I am not saying that I wrote this story based on evfey conversation the had,actually much inspiration came from The Fault in Our Stars. The story was a romance between two people,one sick and one extremely healthy (sort of) Also the universe that Garble lives in is based on Inidan Reservations. My grandma always said they were such mistreated people and that their deserved more reservations and stuff. Many Indians are acholic and gamble at casinos. T A lot of things in this story are a huge mix. But now to thank some people for helping this story come together: Thank you Aunt Lizzie Thank you Dianna for being my aunt's friend Thank you John Green for much inspiration Thank you FanficFanPony for starting this ship and giving it a cute name Thank you Stone Breeze and Passions Star,my biggest fans Thank you all members of my fan group as well!