//------------------------------// // Chapter 28; The Amulet // Story: The Wander Through Lands Unknown // by Tomas Lutwig //------------------------------// I laid in my cell staring at the ceiling, my recent disagreement with Blueblood bringing a lot of things into view, the one at the center of my mind being the fact that my body did not heal any wound without outside help. 'Yet my body seems to be perfectly fine after a few days after exercise' I thought recalling hoof camp which I had gotten through losing much of my previous fat and earning some, if only a small amount, muscle for my troubles and the accompanying strength. 'Eating doesn't seem to be much of a necessity either' I thought remembering when the two new friends I had gotten growing worried and asking me why I hadn't been eating only to respond that I was curious if I needed too. After having promised to tell Sundance the moment I got hungry, I continued with my daily ritual of doing nothing and exercising since the wounds caused by the pompous Prince had been cured by the bonfire. Weeks later and I felt perfectly fine, the feeling of being hungry having vanished after few days along with the need of relieving myself by use of the iron grate towards the back of the cell. I was curious how my body was continuing to make energy while I wasn't in-taking any food, the staple way for living beings to create the energy to function. The only thing I could think of is that magic was keeping me alive, though I didn't want to leave it at that. I humored the thought that perhaps souls had been keeping the characters in the games alive without the need of eating and possibly it was for me as well, but the fact that I wasn't killing anything besides perhaps the gnats that infested my pile of hay, which had stopped along with my dreams of exterminating them all to sleep on the much softer pile of hay than the hard stone floor. 'If I want to get rid of all of those bugs I'll have to either burn the hay or take it out one strand at a time and kill any of them I find' I thought shaking my head. The soul theory was out, at least for me. 'Perhaps this land is so full of magic that I absorb it similarly to osmosis' I wondered before a clacking echoed through the dungeon drawing my attention to it though I still lay on the ground. “Hey Prisoner” Sundance joked hitting the gate with an armor clad hoof. “Wake up it's my shift and I'm already bored” I looked up at the smiling mare with an arched eyebrow. “What do you expect me to do about it?” I asked in a mock annoying tone, “It's not as though I can put on a magical show for you” Sundance rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out which I returned in kind. “Well you could at least do something more interesting than lay there on your back” she said leaning on her spear, grin still plastered across her face. I put a hand up to my chin putting a contemplative look on my face. “Hmmmm” I started before shaking my head and letting it fall back to the stone “Nope! I got nothing!” I said making the mare laugh. “Oh come on, you must have something up your sleeves to impress one of the only mares around you!” she teased making me look back up at her with the same arched eyebrow. “Unless you can convince Celestia to come down here for a while for a three way game or something...” I started before trailing off something coming to mind. It was Sundance's turn to raise an eyebrow, “Oh finally got something?” she asked standing back up off her spear as I started for my backpack. I rummaged through it for a moment before stopping and smacking myself in the face and going for the pack on my belt. Pulling out the orange chalk Sundance gave me a curious look as I started drawing on the back wall of my cell, the picture coming together to be a picture of what looked to be an equine creature with a long neck, spots dotting it all over. “A giraffe?” Sundance asked looking back at me from the drawing. I nodded with a smile before rubbing the glowing chalk off the wall with a sleeve. “Ever played 'Pictionary'?” I asked with a devilish smile on my face. The guard realized where I was going with it as I held out the orange piece of chalk. Her horn, the aura also surrounding the chalk before it was lifted from my hand. I watched as she drew out a scene in front of me. Ponylike forms sat at what I could only guess to be desks as another pony form with either an extremely long forleg or something in it's hoof pointed to a box with writing on it. I let out contemplative “hmm” before turning back to her. “A school?” I asked to which she nodded her head back and forth with an unsure look on her face. “Kinda-sorta, I'm looking for something a little more specific” she said. I looked back at the drawing. “A classroom then?” I asked before looking back and seeing her nod before returning the chalk to me. Our game of Pictionary went on for what felt like a couple of minutes before the sound of the door opening to make both of us jump. I nearly dropped the chalk wiping off the wall hastily only to turn back and see Sundance saluting. “Good Evening Princess Celestia!” the unicorn mare said making me let out a sigh of relief before looking back at the once nearly complete drawing of the Everfree forest, now destroyed by my sleeve. “And to yourself Sundance, at ease” The alicorn in question said as she walked into view. “Good evening James” she said making me blink for a moment before I remembered I had told her to call me that. “Likewise Celestia” I said a smile appearing on my face. “What brings you down here to our humble company?” I asked brushing some of the glowing chalk powder off my sleeve. The princess looked at the chalk powder, curiosity growing on her face. “We were playing pictionary” I said holing up the glowing chalk making her nod. “I don't suppose I could go a few rounds?” She asked with a smile only for me to hold out the chalk. Celestia's horn lit up and the aura surrounded the chalk before floating over to the wall. The three of us played into the night, Sundance and I were surprised at the princess' artistic ability sometimes leaving the two of us stunned for a few moments before taking guesses. I teased the other two for being lucky, as they sat down and drew using magic while I was forced to jump up every time it was my turn. The fun was ended though when Princess Celestia realized what time it was. Her original intention being to wish me a restful sleep and make sure nothing had happened. The three of us said our goodbyes, Sundance being relieved of her duty by one of the night guard, who despite my attempts, ignored me completely. I let out a sigh as I hung my arms out the iron cell door pressing my face in the gap between two bars. Slinking back deeper into my cell, I looked at the un-erased picture that Celestia had finished with, the soft glow only adding to the beauty of what could be a stain glass window of a small cottage in the middle of a forest. It had surprised me how quickly she had been able to put up the picture and I couldn't bring myself to erase it shaking my head as I looked to the remains of my chalk. 'Only half left' I said putting the remainder back into the pouch. 'Who knows, maybe we can get her in on betting the useless bills next time' I thought putting my hands behind by head as I laid down getting ready to hit the hay myself. I ran down the streets of Canterlot, a wide smile on my face. Laughter sounded from either side of me making me turn my head to see Celestia disguised as a white unicorn with a pink mane her, magenta eyes shining with glee and on the other side a bright orange unicorn mare with a two toned yellow mane with violet eyes that showed mischief. “Bet they never saw that one coming!” Sundance said with a smile just as wide as my own. “Oh never in a thousand years!” Celestia agreed. Looking back I watched as a small number of nobles stumbled from a restaurant, something brown dripped from a number of them, disgust plastering their faces. A few of them pointed towards us and within seconds, a small mob was chasing us. I turned to look in front of me as the three of us weaved through the busy streets, passing mares and their foals, rich stallions being toted around by their wives carrying many bags for their significant others, and many other ponies as well as a few griffons. I rounded a corner having been separated from my two partners in crime. Hiding behind a garbage can, I peeked out and watched as a chocolate covered stallion stopped at the beginning of the alley. I pulled out my ring smiling as I slipped it on my finger watching as my hand slowly seemed to fade from existence stopping after it was see through, only the movement of me flipping my hand over to look at the other side telling it apart from it's surroundings. Keeping still as the stallion approached, I waited holding my breath. After a few moments he let out a growl before dashing back out of the alleyway allowing me to let out the breath and smile. I slowly walked to the alley's open maw, and peeked out. 'I'll have to stay in cover since I can't change what I look like' I thought as a few mares giggled at the passing chocolate covered stallion. I saw a gray unicorn guard march through the crowds looking around before noticing me and winking one of her violet eyes at me before making her way back up to the Canterlot Castle. 'Last one back to the castle is a rotten egg!' the voice sounded in my head as the memory of the challenge made me look around, searching for something to help me. A downspout caught my eye at the far end of the alley, dashing to it I looked up to see it attached to the wall of the building by a number of metal fasteners and nails. Tugging on it a few times, the fasteners held firm though the thin metal downspout bent slightly. Grabbing on with both hands I pulled myself up holding onto the fasteners. After a few moments I reached the top and pulled myself up nearly dropping to the ground below when the rain gutter shifted. On top of the building, I smiled looking around to see Sundance in her guard uniform standing out from the crowd by way of her gleaming metal armor. I took a running start before leaping to the next building in the line, a few shingles coming loose and falling into the alley below. Landing on the other roof, the gentle slant threatening to take my balance and send me plummeting to the streets below. 'Maybe this isn't the best idea' I thought looking down which made the wings of butterflies known in my gut. Shaking my head I took another running jump to the next roof, continuing up the street, quickly catching up to my guard companion. Coming to where one of the roads split, making the buildings part far further than I could jump, I stopped and looked down into one of the other alleys before lowering myself as far as I could. 'Alright as soon as my feet hit the ground roll out of it' I thought letting out a breath, the butterflies now turning into a small swarm threatening to burst from my mouth. I let go of the ledge of the roof. Wind whistled past me for a second, the ground reaching my feet as I begun to wonder if I was going to hit the ground at all. I let my legs compress until I was to about a crouching position before throwing my weight sideways and rolling on my shoulders. Pain sounded from my shoulders, but my legs felt fine. I let out a sigh of relief before standing up and taking off the ring. Glancing around at the entryway to the new alley I didn't see any of the nobles that had been pursuing my comrades or me for 'sullying their ensembles' by way of an accident with the chocolate fountain. I walked quickly down the road avoiding the passing ponies making my way to the castle grounds. I glance behind me to see a shocked Sundance who increased her pace to a steady trot. I grinned knowing the game and instead of slowly increasing my pace I sprint down the street dodging ponies and leaping over ones that I couldn't make it around. I hear the galloping hooves behind me as well making the smile grow wider. As I dodged around a griffon who squawked in surprise, I noticed a pink maned white unicorn entering the castle gates nodding at both of the guards. I gave a two finger salute as a passed them myself quickly followed by Sundance let out a groan as she skidded to a halt to keep from running into me. “How in the sun's name did you manage to get in front of me?” She complained taking off her helmet breaking the enchantment allowing her body to return to it's natural color. I smiled back at her, “The houses here are spaced quite close together” I said, holding my hands close together. The helmetless guard gave me an annoyed look before letting out a sigh as we all started back up to the castle proper. “I can't say I'm surprised you beat us back your majesty, you know this city like the back of your hoof.” she said making the pink haired unicorn smile. “That's true” Celestia said, losing her disguise. “Though I did take a wrong turn a couple of times remembering the old layout of the city, which I also knew like the back of my hoof” I chuckled at the two, “Well thanks ladies, it's been a great birthday, for all the chaos we stirred up in Canterlot, I'm just surprised Discord wasn't watching with popcorn” I said reaching an arm over both of the mare's shoulders and pulling them into a loose hug. “And thanks for letting me spend it outside my cell Celestia” I said giving the alicorn a smile. The two mares returned the hug with fervor, making for quite a strange scene in the middle of the castle's courtyard. “It doesn't have to end quite yet” Celestia said after the two had released me, “We've still got a couple of hours of daylight before I have to lower the sun” The smile returned to my face, but I shook my head. “That's alright Celestia, I think I've had enough fun for one day” I said holding a hand up, “If it's alright, I'd rather just take a walk through the castle's garden. I've heard they're quite beautiful” Celestia nodded her head,”I understand, please try to be back to your cell by nightfall” she said looking over at Sundance, “Sundance, if you would, I have a few things I need to discuss with you” The unicorn in question nodded replacing her helmet on her head before the two of them started into the castle, leaving me to walk around the side of the castle the smell of flora leading the way. 'Still got a whole year left in here' I thought looking up at the castle. A sigh escaped me as I remembered the real reason for heading to the garden and leaving my friends. 'Wonder what Mom's up too' Squatting down in front of a small bundle of tulips I removed my glove before feeling the delicate petals. Looking around a small smile came to my face at the beauty of the garden, silently wondering how many years it took to grow so many different types of flowers and trees. The flowers ranged in colors from a deep purple to a bright red, a few even in shades I'd never seen. Long stalks covered in bright flowers caught my eyes. Getting up I found that a number of snap dragon plants were sprinkled throughout what little of the garden I could see. Reaching up I gently squeezed he sides of the flower making the 'mouth' of the dragon open. I let it close on the tip of my pinkie finger bringing another small smile to my face. 'I wish she could see this' I thought looking out over the entirety of the garden. I opened my eyes slowly, the light of the torch outside my cell making me let out a groan and shut my eyes again, clenching them closed against the light. It had been a year since my imprisonment, Celestia in all her strange wisdom had let me celebrate my birthday along with Sundance. I smacked my dry lips together sitting up and grabbing my water bottle unscrewing the lid before taking a long drink. A quick glance outside the cell signaled that it was still night, as the guard dressed in purple stood statue-like by the door. I let a sigh, Sundance having told me the day prior that she wouldn't be on duty today, meaning it would be a complete bore. The thought to go back to sleep came to me, but a habit nagged at the back of my head making me let out a breath before getting up and starting my daily ritual of exercising. After doing any exercise I could think of and stretching, a familiar cool feeling washed over me making me look in at the amulet around my neck with a raised eyebrow. It emitted a dim yellow light from the jewel in the middle. 'What in the?' I wondered before the feeling gained strength making me shiver as the cold ran through my body. As I lifted my arms to wrap around my midsection in an attempt to fight the cold, my eyes noticed a glow that seemed to be surrounding my hands. My mouth gaped as I lifted the appendages that were surrounded in a yellow aura. I stumbled back slipping on my bag falling on my butt, the impact barely phasing me as I lifted my hands back into view. “What in the world...?” I whispered, turning my hand around to look at the back. 'Is... is this magic?' I questioned as I looked to the pile of hay before pointing a hand at it and trying to focus on lifting some of strands. An aura flashed around a small clump of the hay, lifting it a few centimeters from the rest before the yellow flickered and died letting the clump fall back to the rest of the pile. I let out a breath, having strained my head throughout the whole attempt. Looking back to my hands I watched as the yellow aura started to fade. Before it could completely go out, I focused on the cool feeling, now having centered in my hands. Heavy breaths left my nose as the yellow light returned. Pain started building up under my forehead making me let the feeling fade along with the light. “I...interesting...” I panted, a smile forming on my face.