As Glory continued to search, he suddenly had an idea. Magic had always been something that he had excelled at. Perhaps...just maybe...he could create his own shiny things! It would be different then his flames, but still, it would be something!

He stood still for a moment and focused on the glorious gem atop his head where much magic swirled furiously. If he took his fire magic and shifted it to attune to the earth, if he changed flame into solid gem, then perhaps...

At his talons, a tiny red gem, similar to his own, started to form out of the rocks around the ground. He forced them together rapidly, using the earth and his own heat to weld it into one, shining crystal. Once he was done, he looked down and his heart soared. A new magic to create his own glistening creations! He leaned down and observed the little stone. It wasn't perfect and wasn't round, but he suddenly realized...what if he took it further and made dread a crown of his own? What if he had a ton of shinies for the dragon's hoard? He would be his greatest friend! His most trusted! Yes, it would be glorious!

It was while Glory was searching some more through the gems and the metal and the other shiny and not so shiny things that he heard it. A singing, a ringing. Curious, he released the sheet of steel he had gripped in his claws and looked up and around. Where was that sound coming from?

He saw it a moment later - a huge gem, glistening against the darkness. How had he not noticed that before?! He immediately leaned over and set down the two gems he already had in his mouth and hopped over to the singing gem. It was almost as big as him, a half-grown eagle, and he wondered how he was even going to get it out of the ground. But Dread! Dread would love this thing! He needed to figure out a way to get it to him!

He hopped happily around the gem, chirping happily and proudly, ecstatic about this new discovery. Certainly, a wonderful gem for the dragon's hoard!

Excited by his previous success, Glory hopped around, his head swiveling as he searched with sharp eyes for another gem. He was sure Dread would like another one of those! Or maybe he would as well! He certainly appreciated the beauty of gems and shiny things and the potential of the metals around the tunnel, but he didn't covet them the way that the dragon did. But he wanted to make powerful friends, he wanted to look impressive! This was one of the ways to get there.

Excited and probably a little bit too into his success, Glory ran around some more, searching almost desperately for another beautiful, shining gem. In his haste to look for something else, his claw got caught between a couple of chestplates and, with a cry of surprise, he went flying forward spectacularly, smashing his head right into the rocky wall, right on his gem. It hurt like hell, but at least didn't damage it. With a now throbbing head and gem, his pride seriously injured, Glory got right back up, more intent then ever to find another singing gem.

After a little while, he eventually began to hear some more singing. Another singing crystal for the dragon's hoard! He sped up his pace until he came across another one, sticking out of the ground, much smaller and much more manageable. He reached forward with his talon and grasped it, pulling it as hard as he could. He brought in his wings, thrusting powerfully until, with a last wrench, the crystal came free.

He stumbled a bit from the exhange of energy, before righting himself and observing the crystal. He had a few good things, now! Perhaps if he got Dread, he could get them all and bring them to his cave! He would gather them all to one place and fetch the dragon. Hopefully he would trust him enough.

He spread his wings to get back to the big crystal faster and fluttered over to the huge gem, setting down his recent find. He then hopped back towards where he had set down the other two and gathered them into the same area as well. He had four gems, now, three pretty small, but lovely and one massive crystal. Hopefully, Dread would be pleased with these!

With an excited chirp, Glory took off towards Monoceros to fetch Dread and bring him back to the tunnel.

*exit

Glory came soaring back into the tunnel, headed straight for the place that he had left his gems at. The three little ones around the massive singing crystal. He breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that none of them had been disturbed. As he got closer, he pulled himself back and fluttered his wings faster before coming to a clean landing, hopping around, hoping that Dread had followed him into the cave.

"Here they are, Dread! I made this one," he pointed to the red gem, "and I found the rest! All for you! I'm not sure how to get that big one out of the ground though, it looked pretty stuck!"

He turned back to the gem that was almost the same size as him. No way he would be able to help Dread pull it out - all he had were some measly talons. Those wouldn't help at all!

Glory fluttered back as Dread began to try and tear the gem from the ground. He wondered exactly how much force the dragon was putting into his attacks and admired the tenacity of the crystal and its refusal to be pulled out of the ground. Eyes shining, he contined to watch the dragon battle for his prize.

He jumped at the sudden rumbling and then squawked loudly as the ground split. "Wow! Amazing! And excellent spell!" He couldn't help but cry out his excitement as the dragon pulled the crystal from the ground.

As Dread turned, limping down the cave and roaring back a thank you, Glory hopped and waved his wings. "You're welcome, Dread! I'm going to stay here for a while and see if I can find some more cool stuff! I'll come back to you if I find anything good!"

Glory listened to Dread's final roar of farewell and turned back to his work. There was a lot of stuff to look through, but searching through metal and gems didn't appeal to him much anymore. He wanted to make things with this new magic he realized he had. He wanted to create!

He poked at the dirt and forced magic into the earth until it twisted and formed a small blue gem. That was really cool! He observed the small thing and held it up to his face. It would make a good addition to Dread's hoard, sure, but there were other applications, weren't there? It looked like it could go to something else. Not as a singular piece but accompanied by another. He suddenly had an idea and it was an idea so amazing and grand that he had to try it right away!