Two amalgamated masses of Uru, Vibranium, and other metals descended from the furnace… one orange, one rare, both gleaming with nascent power.
Eitri produced a wooden stick wrapped with cloth strips and inserted it into the socket of the smaller mass, the Little Hammer.
The moment contact was made, lightning erupted around the hammer.
Eitri shouted to Garfield, "Quickly! Grab one with each paw!"
"What!?"
"Hurry! Once it cools completely, it won't recognize its master!"
Four limbs hit the ground. Cat's Speed activated.
Garfield scrambled forward, one paw seizing the Little Cat Hammer, the other pressing against the metal block destined to become his armor.
Zzzzzt
The hammer's lightning intensified, the entire weapon glowing pale blue.
Current surged from the Little Hammer, circling Garfield's body before transmitting through his paw into the armor-metal.
Energized, the metal block began to liquefy, flowing over Garfield's form, seeping through his fur, permeating his very being.
Garfield could feel every molecule integrating and every spark of power bonding.
Moments later, within his soul, a vision manifested, a suit of battle armor, one paw wielding the Little Cat Hammer, standing eternal.
Raising the hammer, Garfield perceived the connection, the weapon and himself, intertwined.
Magnificent. Even divine attire could be soul-bound.
Garfield swung the hammer.
Thunder crackled in the void.
In response, his battle armor emerged… a crimson cloak flowing behind him, a metal ring upon his head gleaming with golden light.
Majestic, at first glance.
The only peculiarity, this magnificent ensemble adorned an orange cat.
Meow meow meow~
Three cat-calls, and a thunderbolt as thick as a barrel erupted from the Little Cat Hammer, reducing a passing meteorite to molten slag.
"Perfect! Sufficiently powerful! If anyone dares oppose this prince, I shall shock them into submission!"
Mwah.
Garfield kissed the Little Hammer, addressing it fondly. "Your formal name shall be Meow Meow Hammer."
"Your nickname... Fresh Start."
Eitri tilted his head, perplexed. "Your Highness, 'Meow Meow Hammer' we understand, it is, after all, your hammer. But what significance does 'Fresh Start hold?"
Fuwano shared his confusion. "Yes, Prince. What does it mean?"
"Have you never heard of 'convincing through virtue'?"
Convincing, indeed. More like coercing.
Bang bang bang bang
Eitri, Fuwano, and the surrounding dwarf craftsmen erupted in applause.
"Excellent name!"
"Most appropriate!"
"Convincing through virtue!"
"Say no more, it's perfect!"
The flattery washed over Garfield like a warm current. He felt incredibly pleased, swinging his hammer in acknowledgment.
BZZZZT
Thunder burst forth unexpectedly, electrifying the surrounding dwarves.
"Ah! Apologies, I did not intend~"
Eitri picked himself up from the ground, smoke curling from his beard. "The first use of divine attire... compatibility requires adjustment."
"You need time to adapt."
The divine costume possessed nascent self-awareness, AI-like intelligence capable of identifying master from enemy.
The divine patterns and symbols adorning its surface, the magical inscriptions within all served as theft-prevention mechanisms.
Unless a being on the level of Death herself intervened, none could separate Garfield from the Hammer.
Not even Odin.
Why not Odin? Because this hammer's original owner was Garfield.
Unless the All-Father expended tremendous divine power to seal or even destroy the hammer's nascent consciousness, reducing it to merely a very durable nail-driver, the bond could not be broken.
Garfield soared through the void surrounding the star forge, destroying several floating meteorites for sport.
From their exposed cores, he extracted various metals and one particular fragment yielded fist-sized diamonds embedded in veins of gold.
He scratched his ear in mild disappointment.
So this was the truth, gold and diamonds were merely common minerals in the cosmos.
Only rare metals and pure energy held true value.
Why not harness solar power, you ask? Insufficient output, my friend.
What use is a trickle of electricity when you're stranded in a galaxy bereft of sunlight?
You'd weep yourself dry in the nearest lavatory.
Returning to the star forge, Garfield addressed Eitri. "Where might one find gold nearby?"
Eitri examined the samples Garfield had collected. "Ah, these. There are several gold-rich asteroids near the star ring."
"Useful for battleship detection equipment, I suppose, but otherwise worthless cosmic detritus."
A golden gleam appeared in Garfield's eyes. "Where exactly?"
Eitri pointed into the northwest void. "That direction. If you wish to go, have Hammer pilot a ship."
"We're running low on such materials here anyway."
Soon, Hammer guided a vessel toward the coordinates, Garfield seated eagerly within.
Before long, they arrived at their destination, a bright yellow planet larger than Earth's moon, surrounded by countless smaller satellites.
So much wealth~
"Take us closer."
Hammer tilted his head, puzzled. "Your Highness, these materials are practically worthless. Why such excitement?"
"Hammer, gold may be common in the universe, diamonds merely industrial materials."
"But you must understand, on Earth, these are precious metals beyond measure."
Hammer scratched his beard. "Well, universal currency deals in rare metals, energy, or sustenance. Each galaxy's economy differs."
"What of the Nova Corps?"
"One of the universe's mightiest legions. Their reputation stands strong, they've long battled the Kree."
"Their homeworld, Xandar, thrives as a hub where countless races gather, rest, and resupply. They're considered part of the benevolent faction."
"And the Kree?"
Hammer's expression hardened. "Arrogant and deceitful. They are the universe's locusts, spreading conflict and slaughter wherever they roam."
"What's worse, they turned upon the Skrulls who once aided them."
Garfield grasped the implication, the Kree were faithless wolves, devoid of gratitude or honor.
"Your Highness," Hammer continued, "I believe Asgard should educate them properly."
Garfield patted Hammer's arm reassuringly. "Have no fear. In a few days, my brothers and I shall visit the Kree homeworld."
"We'll leave them some... commemorative terrain modifications via the Rainbow."
"Excellent, Your Highness! You are the third royal of Asgard I admire most, after the All-Father and His Highness Thor, of course."
"Hammer... do you know of Hela?"
Hammer's body seized. Uncontrollable trembling overtook him for a full two minutes, his face pale beneath his soot-streaked features.
When he finally regained composure, his voice emerged strained.
"Hela's divine attire was forged upon this very star ring. Mjolnir itself was once her weapon, surely you've learned this by now."
"Her name is taboo here. How do you know of her?"
Garfield's whiskers twitched with suppressed amusement. "Oh, Hammer... I have wonderful news for you."
Hammer swallowed hard.
"Hela has been released."