Red Wind of Change
by Mimic Kairatta
Chapter two
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It's quiet. It seems closing time has come once more.
I am aware of my surroundings. The inability to feel or sense beyond sight and sound makes it hard to focus. My perception of time blurred; a day passes by like a blink of an eye. I sense I was dreaming, yet I could tell the world was real. I recalled a few images that play before my mind: Wind, a tribe, the smell of wheat, war, the taste of blood and sweat, the face of two ponies with horns and wings, six colored gems, the sound of water dripping onto a puddle and then echoes of voices that seem to last for hours.
My mind has the clearest memory of the past and now, but the between is a mystery. Like a line with the middle smeared with a sponge. However, there were solid memories and times which I remember. I remember Damon, old friend of mine, with Pena, another friend. They visit me, tell me how they have been doing. They visit often for the first month. Then the gap of the visits grew until it was only once a year. Each year, they visit. Often bringing family to show them to me; to tell of the story of how the three of us lived together and how my final battle with the pony sisters went.
The thought has a lot of mixed emotions. Rage was one. Anger to be more exact. Anger for their decision to attack based on the actions of one who has no association with Griffons. Well, that was more anger and shock of discovering that. Maybe not shock, disbelief? A swirl of emotions that were a dark red and yellow. Sadness was also a part of it. To never see my friends again or know what I have come to recognize as home. There was also.... relief. Yes, relief. The relief was... is from the thought. Thanks to my actions, the Griffons can thrive into a kingdom on par to the ponies of Equestria.
Hm, rambling again; I tend to do that after having no one to talk to other than myself. Need to focus on the here and now. Something interesting happened today. My rocky skin cracked.... not my actual skin but the rocky surface that covers it. Why is this important? A question that poked at me when it happened. I realized right after the question that my petrified self hasn't worn or cracked in the years that have passed. Only now did it appear. What could it mean? It might mean the curse, for the lack of a better term, was lifting at a slow pace.
However, the cracking was taking it's sweet time. It only seemed to build every 30 minutes or so. Hm, odd.... I can start telling the passage of time again.
It's getting dark; the sun dropped from the sky and let the night show itself. The seal is getting weaker. My thoughts are getting clearer. I notice someone walk near me. A griffon in a guard outfit. Hm, must be the night patrol. He walks away.
A loud crack echoes across the room. I feel it across my chest..... I could actually feel it! The cracks continue to spread, tempting me to try to get out. I felt the hard stone give and with one final heave, the stone prison breaks away.
I was free....
Free.
Free!
I couldn't help but smile. Smile for the first time in centuries. I could finally move once more! Hmm... I'm forgetting something...
".... oh-" I end up having a coughing fit right after that. Seems not talking for extended periods of time causes your throat to suffer. I try clearing my throat first. "Ah... Ahhhh.. mmph.. test test." A bit better. Could use a drink though. I look upon myself, seeing the outfit I wore so long ago still on my body. My costume of red and yellow with black outlines. The orange shawl overlaying my shoulders are still in one piece. I remember the original didn’t last somehow.... this was a second one. Or was it? Seems sitting for a long period does things to the mind.
I decide to look around me. Gathering the surrounding area, the place reminds me of a museum of some kind. Well, more of an art gallery.... both really. The place is too big and has too many things for an art gallery. Not enough space to look around. Then again, what do I know? The Griffons had plenty of time to change their architecture beyond the forts and small huts they used to build. The place smelt old too. Like... history museum old. Not much light either.... there was a window nearby, showing it was nighttime. I step forward and hover over to it.
Hover? Ah right, powers. I forgot I had those for a moment. Which reminded me of something important enough to stop halfway to the window. I listen to the air, trying to hear anyone close by.
I hear footsteps. The familiar pattern of walking indicating it to be a Griffon. Likely a guard. I'm tempted to meet up with this Griffon to greet and ask for information. However, my logical side was telling me that would be stupid and rash. I don't know anyone here and I've slept long enough in stone to be placed in a museum of some kind. To my experience, asking authority for help when something suspicious was happening usually causes delays and problems. Both of which I don't want, now that my mind was becoming more and more active.
I gaze out of the window and upon the new world. Needless to say, it left me in quite a state of awe. There's hundreds of buildings, almost Greek or Roman in style. Everything's placed upon the mountain that the castle sits upon. Though it seems the castle was part of the mountain than being simply placed upon it. Clever actually; using the very land itself as support. It seems by how much has littered the lands, this kingdom has had a lot of time to build it to this point.... at the very least, over 500 years plus years.
I wanted to go out there and find out more about this new world. Beats hanging around here. However, I need a few things before I go looking into this new era. Like any sentient person, the basic things they need for their physiological health: food, water, sleep, health and breathing. Then after, safety. Then some other stuff I can't remember at the moment.
I know I have had enough sleep. I can breath, which is always good. My health is alright for now. That means the only thing left is food and water. Both of which I am in short supply of. I'm gonna need to find sources of food and water. Seeing as today's age might have decent currency now, I doubt I can just trade items for it. So searching for free food and drinkable water is a priority for now.
Right now, I need to sneak out of here. The window is a no go, it can't open and breaking it would bring too much attention too soon. I turn around and slowly walk down the hall. As I do, I notice how.... attractive my appearance is. In a flashy sense, not a handsome sense.
I'm gonna need to be more inconspicuous if I'm gonna sneak around.
I pass by a set of long, dark blue curtains. I look at them for a moment. Eh, close enough. I lift my hand and searched deep within me for the power I know is there. it builds up upon my palm until it releases in a short wave. A slice of wind cuts the fabric neatly and it drops to the ground. I took a breath. It felt more tiring than it should have. Must be out of practice or something. Right now, I put on my cloak and dart around the corner before the guard sees me. I pass by a number of objects and items that were both familiar and unfamiliar. A weapon here, a statue there, some trinkets which seemed odd that they'd be displayed in a case. I mean who would want to see a tea set?
I arrive at the main lobby, for the lack of better term. There were stairs leading down to the exit, but it’s guarded well. Of course, front door would be guarded heavily as such. I felt like an idiot for not realizing it. Then again, I haven't had time to think about such things..... I really need to find out how long I slept in that rock. Though first, need to escape.
I think for a moment, hanging back upon the second floor to weigh my options: I can't use the windows, I can't use the front door, where can I go? If there was a balcony, I'd be able to simply jump off and hover down. Seems like a good plan. Best one so far. Seeing as I can't turn invisible with air.... not yet anyways. I mean I could create illusions using alterations in air temperature but that would grab their attention and alert them to my presence. Urg, rambling again, need to get moving before the next patrol arrives.
I hastily exit the area, looking around for a balcony or some place to go into the open. I narrowly escaped the guard's attention. They saw the flashes of red and yellow under the cloak. Too close. I should consider darker colors in the future. Griffons are known to have good vision, so you can imagine how close "too close" can be.
It takes me a while to find a door which leads outside to a walkway on top of a wall. Not quite a balcony but it's the next best thing.
I smile as I take a quick look around, listening to find if there are any Griffon guards patrolling the air. There were some that rounded a corner, just out of sight. I could hear them complaining why they were here. Then something about cosmic coincidence and god. Sounds too weird for me to listen any further.
I look down, seeing a landing area near a waterfall looking opening on the mountain. I jump up, floating down on to the ground. I did that to make sure I didn't drop like a rock simply cause I forgot to test the extent of my powers. Would be an embarrassing death, that's for sure.
Satisfied, I step upon the edge of the wall and leap off.