Red Wind of Change
by Mimic Kairatta
Chapter one
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Here is a tale I'm sure you all heard before: Long ago, two regal sisters ruled over a kingdom together. One was in charge of the day; the other in charge of the night. They worked together and fought off the spirit of Chaos, a dark tyrant of the Crystal Kingdom and more to protect their land and subjects. One sister received more attention than the other and was called out on it. They had an argument. This argument turned into a fight, then the fight became an all out battle. This ended when one sister sent the other to be banished for a thousand years on the cold and desolate moon.
Now, stop me if you heard this one: A man travels to a convention dressed as his favorite character. Once there, or before he even gets there, he bought or found an artifact which he then placed upon his costume.
The trinket in question was actually a magical item. One thing led to another and it activated, sending the poor sod hurtling through the fabrics of reality to end up in a world not his own. This world happened to be inhabited mainly by Ponies and various other mythical creatures. He met up with the rulers of said world, who happened to be the two sisters or even their parents. A time long before the other sister's banishment.
However, the story I'm going to tell will differ from how it usually goes.
He finds himself, not on the lands of Equestria, but farther East within the empire of the Griffin Kingdom.
This is the tale of a man who came to embody the wind.
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Far to the East away from Equestria borders on top the Grey Mountain stood the proud Griffon Kingdom. Many griffons can be seen flying in and above the great city's skies, going about their business. Within it's rocky cliffs held the arches and buildings of the griffon architecture.The homes and temples were held up by pillars and archways, made from hard marble for strength and purity. Cheap and easy to gather with an abundant of marble within the mountain they sit upon. The castle itself is built within the very top of the mountain itself. Water flowing from the aqueducts from it's side, flowing down the mountain to provide the city with it's water supply.
Going into the castle, we see a small group of children being led by a much larger griffon down the Hall of Great History. The walls are painted in a soft amber, broken up by sheer, springtime green curtains on the windows.
"Come along class," the male griffon beckons."We still have a lot of ground to cover and little time to cover it." The children follow, looking around in wonder at all the historical artifacts and statues scattered about the area.
"I want to start our trip within the Hall of Great History. This is where the Kingdom holds it's greatest treasures of the past for the public to see and learn." He gestures to a nearby statue. It shows a griffon in battle armor and a large axe in claw. "This statue here depicts Fredericka the Strong. One of the greatest warriors in history. it was said she took down a dragon head-to-head, in the air no less."
"No way," A rather pudgy male fledgling remarked. "It would take a hundred griffons to fight a dragon!"
The teacher, named Marshall, chuckles. "It's one of the reasons she's called Fredericka the Strong. Her skills in combat were second to none. Not only that, she was one of the Aeromancers who perfected wind combat."
A female fledgling spoke up, "An... aero-wha?"
"Aeromancer. It's someone who specializes in air magic." He gestures to a painting which depicted a griffon in robes and a staff casting a spell.
"It's a craft that not all griffons can accomplish. Those who are born with the affinity of the wind can, if they desire, to refine it into their craft to better themselves and learn control."
"You mean like how the baker who lives near me who uses it to make fluffy bread?"
The older griffon chuckles, "Something to that effect."
Another hatchling in the back made himself known, "Could griffons always control wind?"
"Ah, an excellent question. Which actually brings us to something rather interesting." He gestures to the next statue near them. This one looked very different from the previous ones. It didn't show a griffon, but something that stood on it's hind legs and wasn't like any animal or species anyone ever seen. It stood straight while holding both arms in the air. "Now can anyone tell me what this statue is?"
The kids were puzzling to find out what it is they were looking at. One spoke, "A monkey?"
"A Minotaur?"
"An alien!"
Everyone glances at the fledgling questioningly.
"... what? It could happen."
The teacher shakes his head. "As amusing as all those answers are, they're not entirely correct. There is no record of what he was. This creature is known as the Red Wind. Legend has it that Red Wind powers over air dwarf even the best Aeromancers of our time. He was able to shield an entire village with the power of wind alone, alter it to control weather in enclosed spaces, and use it to cut as well as any blade. He was once the advisor and bodyguard to the first ruler of the Griffon Kingdom, Damon the Wise. Red Wind was known to be the first Aeromancer."
The class "awe"s at the revelation.
"What happened to him?"
"He fell in battle." He gestures to another painting close by which depicts the Red Wind flying through the sky with a tornado around the lower half of it's body while throwing spells against a pair of Alicorns who were doing battle. One was dark blue and the other was a shining white. They had 6 gems hovering around them.
"Who did he fight against?" The same hatching asked, making some of the others around him frown and put their claws down.
" He fought against the pony leaders of Equestria. Two immortal Alicorns. One who controls the power of the sun, Celestia-" he gestures to the white alicorn. "and one who draws power from the moon, Luna" He gestures to the blue one.
"How do they raise the sun and moon?" A smallish hatching asked, pushing her glasses up.
"With great magic." He gestures to three old banners which held 3 different images of ponies. One was a simple pony, another had a horn, and another showed a pony with wings. "You see, ponies usually come in 3 different species: Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth pony. However, the princesses Celestia and Luna are a combination of all three called 'Alicorns.' Not only can they fly, but hold unspeakable power as well. "
The class “ooh'd” and moved closer to the teacher, "Why were they fighting?"
He chuckles. It does his heart proud to see youth so eager to learn. "Well.... the reasons for the battle were many. We Griffons always have trouble seeing eye-to-eye ponies. Ponies tend to fear that which doesn't fall under the normal.... such as seeing someone eating meat."
One of the students lowers her head and frowns, "I thought ponies were nice..." Then looks at the teacher, "I've met ponies, they played with me!"
He nods. "And ponies are nice. Very much so. Especially in this day and age. Though there are some who fear that which they don't understand or believe the stereotype.... then again, who doesn't?" He chuckles for a moment before following up. "However, long ago, ponies only started meeting with griffons. Historically, Ponies have always been herbivores and Griffons are Omnivores, we could eat meat and veggies. So you could imagine what someone who only eats plants would be thinking when meeting with someone who is willing to eat meat."
The class let out a collective "ah" and one of the students in the back puts a claw up, waving it about to get attention.
Marshall sees the waving hand and nods to the young fledgling. "Yes Jedd?"
"When is break time?" He asks with a small whine. A couple of the other students laugh and his face goes red with embarrassment. "I'm hungry..."
He smirks. "Yes, I suppose would be a good time to take a short break." He gestures to the class. "We'll head over to the mess hall for lunch. You'll get to eat the same food the Knights eat there."
The class cheered and follow the teacher to grab a bite to eat. Hopefully something tasty. As they leave, the statue of the Red Wind could be seen glowing a little, a small crack forming on the side of it’s face.
Author's Note
Special thanks to BluegrassBrooke, BookMarkofCanterlot, and Brandedahall for helping me edit and write the story. Expect another chapter later this week.
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.
Author's Note
Special thanks to BluegrassBrooke, BookMarkofCanterlot, and Brandedahall for helping me edit and write the story. Expect another chapter later this week.
Red Wind of Change
by Mimic Kairatta
Chapter Three
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"-and later today, representatives from Equestria will come seeking audience and discuss about renewing and revising the long-time Pony/Griffon treaty."
The king sat upon his chair at the dining table. His fur was hazel and his feathers were pewter. His eyes are almond-shaped, proud sienna. He wore a gold crown upon his head and a dark purple cape with white frills. He listened to the Secretary Jev Bluefeather tell him about today's agenda while the fellow nobles and family members ate breakfast. His personal guard stood near. Hand-picked from the best the Steel Wind Knights had to offer and trained at peak performance augmented by their inborn Aeromancy. Nicknamed the Blades of the Emperor by many, they swore to protect their king from any and all danger. Which isn't many as the lands have been quite peaceful the recent years.
Speaking of peace, King Fernand's life was..... dull. Sweet Anzû was it dull. There had been crimes and troubles, to be sure, however none required the attention of the king nor did it effect the kingdom at large. He rubbed his black beak with his paw as he continued to listen to his Royal assistent continue his report regarding how his day is scheduled. While he wasn't a military man like his father was, he often craved action. This came along when he, like all griffons, undergone a few years of military training in his younger years. Sure, it was hard and crushing, but it had it's own way of building a impressionable fledgeling. The idea of serving your country and making a difference was very appealing. Not like being a King, where your decisions are made with words and not action. Not to mention the local rich folk, or as ponies called them "Nobles," only cared about how much gold they had in their coffers or how many businesses they owned. It didn't help they came to him to gain royal approval to work solutions for problems they had like how a house was blocking the view or the excuse of how one was stealing the idea of the other simply because they have a similar look-
"Will there be anything else you'd like to add, sire?"
Fernand snaps out of his daze. He was daydreaming again and didn't hear what Jav told him outside of a meeting with Equestrian ponies and the day court. Having done this a lot, he learned to cover up his lack of attention by catching only small bits and work with that.
"Hm, yes. Is there more information regarding the ponies that are attending?" He was hoping it wasn't that Blueblood character. Last time that blowhard came here, he couldn't stop complaining and regarding himself in such a high regard. If it wasn't the fact that he was polite enough to know proper manners, the "prince" would have got kicked out. Plus, any good political relations they have with ponies would go out the window.
Jav nodded. "Yes, we do. According to the note, Celestia's former student and newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle, will be attending with the bearers of the Elements of Harmony as well as a personal bodyguard accompanying her. "
"The Elements of Harmony..." He tried to recall where he heard of them. "Hmm.... celestia mentioned something about them in the last meeting we had a few months back. How they stopped an invasion and help bring about the return of the Crystal Kingdom."
"That's correct Sire. Together they held a remarkable record of accomplishments. Though individually, they have impressive credentials as well."
"I see." He finishes up his meal and takes a sip of his drink. "I'll need more information about them before they arrive here. Best to know who I am meeting with than to stumble along by word of mouth."
"Of course Sire. I'll gather more information about these Elements of Harmony."
"And please don't use the spies... again."
Jav chuckles. "No promises, Sire."
The doors to the dining hall burst open as a guard rushes in. "My lord! My lord! There has been an incident in the Great Hall of History."
Fernand raised a brow. It's rare to see anyone, especially the guard, so flustered. He was both curious and worried. "What happened?"
"Sire, the statue of the Red Wind has been broken."
The noble family at the table gasped in shock. Who would do such a thing? The statue represented the one of history's renowned warriors. The king was the first to speak. "Broken?"
"Yes Sire. The remains of the statue had been found near the crime scene. The only thing that’s been damaged besides a set of curtains. We're currently investigating the incident. The only other piece of evidence found was traces of Aero magic."
"I see." The king was silent for a moment before he spoke once more. "Find out more and locate the cause. Report to the Captain if you find anything. If it's of grave importance such as an invasion or potential threat to the kingdom, let me know immediately. "
"Yes Sire, at once!" He saluted and vacates the dining hall. The noble family were murmuring to themselves about this new development.
"Should I put the meeting with the Equestrians on hold for now, Sire?" Jav asked.
Fernand shaked his head. "No, we'll continue with the meeting as scheduled. A little vandalism is hardly worth it."
"Of course Sire."
Fernand smiled and finished up his drink. "Well, then, lets start the day then. Perhaps something exciting will happen for a change."
I've landed near a local bookstore, carefully looking around to make sure no one saw me. No one did.
I've spent the entire night looking around the city, scoping the buildings and observing my surroundings. The teachings the chief taught me in the past. I had to know where the important buildings are located. Also where food and water are so I won't get lost. Good news is that getting fresh water was easy. Simply make a cloud and make it rain. aim it into a container for later storage. Food, on the other hand, was tougher. At least legally. Swiped a few apples though. That’ll tie my hunger. Not really the most moral thing to do, but I figured I'd pay back when I get a few coins to my name. That is, if I can get any.
Now you're probably asking: Why not go talk to the griffons? They could help. Honestly, if a being that's suppose to be older than the kingdom itself walked up to you, would you react calm and collected? Personally, I dislike large amounts of attention and having the attention of the entire kingdom is too much. Anzû forbid any kind of public speaking.
So with food and water no longer an issue at the moment, that leaves the issue of knowing more about the place as well as finding a place to live. While I knew my actions saved the griffons all those years ago, I have no idea what the result of those actions were nor did I figure out what the ponies did once I was out of the picture. Shelter can wait; I was dying to know what happened. Like knowing what happened after the hero saved the princess. Thus how I ended up next to the closest bookstore, trying not to be seen by anyone, in order to figure out what happened through history books.
I stood near one of the windows. Using my power, I pushed the latch off and opened it. Another thing I found was that my powers are a fraction of what they used to be. Tasks that used to been done with ease required more effort and concentration. It was like waking up after a surgery and you can't even stand up straight. Not a fun experience, I can tell you that much. Despite the handicap, I can still do what I need to do like move air and make myself lighter on my feet. So there's that I suppose.
I slid through the opening of the window and landed inside. Books surrounded me from all sides, mostly the newest ones. Which is good because what I need, had to be up-to-date. I pass the literature full of fiction and non-fiction, self-help books, and do-it-yourself manuals. There I saw a book. It’s on how to make a kazoo, so I flipped through it, then put it back. I returned to my search for the History section.
It didn't take long to find what I needed: A big freakin book about Griffon history. Complete with hard leather, decorated front, elegant title, and the picture of of the Griffon Kingdom's logo plastered on the front.
I go to pick up the book. After failing due to the sheer weight of it, I used my wind magic to lift it up onto the nearby table and set it down. I flipped to the table of contents and looked for anything that popped up. I didn't want to spend all day reading this monster of information to figure out what happened and what was happening. It didn't take long to find what I needed.
"The Griffon/Equestrian War: Battle of Harmony." I read outloud. "Hm, not sure if it's irony or Orwellian."
Author's Note
Special thanks to BookMarkofCanterlot, and Brandedahall for helping me edit and write the story. Expect another chapter later this week.
Author's Note
Hello and welcome! This is Mimic. I have created another chapter with the help of Ironturtle. Be sure to check out his story "I Don't Think I'm Supposed to be Here" if you are interested.
This is a crossover chapter with material that comes from a video game known as DOTA 2. Don't worry, you don't need to know the source material to enjoy the story. Nor will it effect it in any major way. Well, outside of a monster attack. We'll get to that later.
So if you are against Video games, DOTA 2 lore, or cross-story chapters in general, you have been warned.
Chapter 4
Red Wind of Change
by Mimic Kairatta
Co-written by Ironturtle
Chapter Four
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The Majesty of the Seas was a Sovereign class cruise liner owned by Red Feather International, a company whose specialty was luxury cruise ships that allow for large groups of passengers to travel with all the comforts and necessities one could ever ask for and then some. It was a ship designed for the wealthy and Nobles of all races. Her features included the trademark Griffon Crown Lounge overlooking the pool and sun decks, two onboard glass-walled casinos, many different bars of plentiful variety, two additional swimming pools, two hot tubs, a basketball court, and a rock climbing wall. The ship has 2,384 double occupancy and 346 triple-quad occupancy staterooms, which was an order of magnitude above the best ship their competitors had ever built. Were you to ask any who experienced riding this fine vessel, they would tell you the ship was definitely top class.
"Urg. How long do we need to wait on this stupid boat!?"
Sadly, this opinion isn't shared by one of the newest passengers as she blows her rainbow mane up in aggravation. Rainbow Dash, the athletic weather pony and "Fastest Flyer in all of Equestria," is bored. Very bored. “I-might-start-pranking-someone” bored, which was not a good thing to be when you’re surrounded by ocean for hundreds of miles in every direction.
“Ya know we won’t be there ‘til the afternoon!” The pony wearing a stetson hat and resting on the couch next to her pushes her hat up and glares at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow, ya' need to relax."
"But Applejack!" She turns to her, hovering over her face. "I'm boooored! There's nothing to do!"
Applejack frowns. "What in tarnation? What about all them fancy shmacy bars an' restaurants this hyar place has?"
She loops in the air and lands on the ground with alight clatter of hooves. "Eh, I'm not hungry."
"Well, what about the basketball court?"
She rolls her eyes. "Those rich guys stopped challenging me after I trounced the first one hard enough to break the board."
"Swimming?"
"Full of snobby nobles."
"Rock Climbing?"
She gestures to her wings. "Do I look like I need to climb?"
"The Casino?"
"I'm broke."
"Talk to somepony?"
"They're too lame to talk to."
AJ throws up her forelegs in agitation. "Then hang out with the others! Jeez, ya more wound up than one of Time Turner's ol' Grandfather clocks."
She gives Applejack a deadpan stare. "I would if they were doing anything that wasn't so boring."
The apple farmer raises a brow. "Borin'?"
"Well, yeah!" She gestures to nowhere in particular. "I mean Twilight is with Rarity, mingling with the nobles while that guard we got stuck with escorts her. Which is about as fun as it sounds. Then there's Fluttershy, who hasn't left her room in days because she's seasick. And then there's Pinkie..."
"Pinkie?" AJ gives rainbow a blank stare. The thought of the pink pony being boring just couldn't register in her mind. "I figure Pinkie would be the life of the party."
Rainbow rubs the back of her head. "Yeah, she would be if I could find her."
"She’s gone an' disappeared again?"
"Yeah. She rushed off somewhere. Said something about 'Getting things for a big party' or something."
Applejack gives in to confusion. “Party? What party?”
Rainbow Dash rolls her hoof. “She wanted to throw a “political party.””
Applejack doesn’t respond, letting the silence drag out between them.
“Rainbow… a political party isn’t an actual party.”
Dash’s face clouds with confusion. “It isn’t? Then why is it called a party?”
“It’s a party as in a group. Ya know, ponies who share th' same idea.”
“Oooh.”
Silence.
“Still bored.”
Applejack moves her hat over her face and groans.
"...... huh."
That's pretty much all I could say after I finished reading about the Battle of Harmony. I mean what else could I have said? Emotions were mixed pretty well with the results. There were facts and information which could only be taken with a grain of salt since it was bias to the Griffon Kingdom.
What I did get from all of it though is that, although the griffons lost the battle, the loss actually helped win the war. Who knew? I glance at the clock sitting upon the wall and realize how much time has past. It was nearly time for the sun to rise. The situation becomes dire when the sounds of a front door lock being worked rings in the air.
With utmost haste, I move the book back into place and make a break for the window. By Anzû, the door is opening. I bumped into a few things before slipping through the window and closing it. With any luck, the owner won’t know anyone was here. Personally, I’d rather not stick around to find out. I quickly make a break for it and hop to the roofs and back alleys with the help of my powers. Once I’m far enough away, I have to stop and catch my breath. Which was strange, I remember using my powers much more than this without getting so winded. No pun intended. The effects of my long imprisonment must have taken more out me than I thought.
No matter, my first goal is to make sure I survive. I’ll start making long term goals after I know I won’t starve to death. To survive, I need food and water. Which is easier said than done. Water is easy. Get a small cloud, make it rain. Food? That takes some more creative thinking.
I could steal for it, but it would serve as a dishonor to the griffons I swore to protect so long ago. I could also go scavenging from the trash cans, if I was desperate. Luckily, there was one skill that would prove to work in times when food was needed: Fishing. The rivers nearby were stocked for such a purpose. All I needed was a stick, some string, and a hook. Hell, just a stick would be fine.
With a plan in mind, I now quest for a long, pointy stick. Wonder if I should embed gems into it and call it the “Stick of Truth.”
However, while I was looking for lunch, the guard was looking for me. A small group being lead by an Aeromancer was tracking the areas where I used my Air Manipulation abilities. Like a trail of breadcrumbs, they were following the places where I have been. This included the bookstore I visited not too long ago.
The dark blue and grey griffon in leather and a cloak lands in front of the store with three of the guard landing behind him. Jarman opens the door and enters.
The shopkeeper, Corran Azuretail, places the fallen stack of books back into place. He looks behind him after the bell upon the door rings.
“Oh my! Areomancer Jarman?” he asks. “This is certainly a surprise. What brings you here to my store?”
“Just trying to keep the peace, shopkeeper Korman. We’re following a disturbance that seems to have visited your shop. Have you seen or heard anything suspicious today?”
Corran looked puzzled for a moment, then rubs the underside of his beak in thought. “Now that you mention it. There has been something strange.” He gestures to the window. “One of my windows was unlocked and various books had fallen upon the floor. I assumed a thief broken in.”
“Did he take anything?”
The old shopkeep shook his head. “No. That’s the strange thing. There were signs of someone sneaking in, but nothing was stolen.”
“Odd. Do you mind if we take a closer look?”
He shook head head once more. “No. Go right ahead. Perhaps you can find something I couldn’t. As far as I can see, nothing of value was stolen.”
“Thank you.” The guards spread out through the shop, thoroughly scanning every surface, but being careful not to damage the merchandise. No one wants to get on the bad side of internal affairs, after all After a few minutes of poking around, one of the guards says, “I think I’ve got something.” The others cluster around him. On the shelf, pushed in haphazardly and sticking out like a sore thumb was the history book that I had my hands on not too long ago. Now normally this wouldn’t be much to go on, but it was the fact that it was covered in Aero magic that made it noticeable.
“Very good, soldier. a fresh lead.” Jarman takes a big whiff of the book, sampling the aero magic. With his fingers upon the book, he utters a few incantations and focuses a tracking spell around the book. His eyes snap open, glowing a bright blue. He whips his head around to face the river. He “sees” the magic of the individual there, pulsing like a beacon of light. He deactivates the spell and sets the book down. “He’s at the river. Let’s move out.” He turns to address the merchant. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
Corran nods, bowing slightly. “I am glad to be of help. I hope you find the one responsible. I am curious as to why he broke in to read my books instead of waiting until the store actually opens.”
It was mid-afternoon. I had finished fishing with… some success. Sadly the fish here were small, but it was enough to pass for a decent meal. As I was walking across the alleyway, I heard something. There was some commotion near the docks. Sounds like something big is going down. Not one to feel left in the dark, I make use of my powers to quickly transverse the back alleys until I come across the docks.
It was there I saw one of the biggest ships I have ever had the fortune to view. Granted, it’s the only large ship I’ve ever seen that wasn’t in pictures or stories. Still, it isn’t like anything I have seen in recent memory. Even more so when I catch sight of the passengers walking down the ramp. My first reaction was surprise. It was the fanciest ramp I have ever seen: Red carpet, a roof with elegant rails, and possibly the gaudiest set of red and gold patterns I have seen in my entire life. My next reaction was outright shock as I saw who was walking down those ramps. Ponies. Very classy looking if their clothing are anything to go by.
I remember how ponies were long ago, before I was stoned. Literally. I read in the book that the two species held a peace treaty, but seeing it myself was surreal. Ponies and Griffons? Together in the same area and not ripping each other’s faces off? The thought makes me very uncomfortable for some reason. For me, it was just yesterday that I was punching a pony in the face for trying to stab a griffon with a spear. Now? I see the two species talking, ‘shaking hands’, exchanging pleasantries. I’m tempted to leave just to get over the weirdness I was seeing. However, I stand there long enough to see something else that stood out even more.
a group of 7 ponies that don’t appear to be nobles are walking down the ramp. They have the pleasure of being the 7 most out-of-place individuals I have ever seen. There was a princess looking alicorn, a guard, a cowpony, an athletic pegasus, a bouncy energetic earth pony full of pink, a noble looking unicorn with fancy hair, and a shy pegasus. My mind was processing what I was looking at. While I’m distracted by this spectacle, I hear something land behind me. I turn my head and peak around the extrusion from the building to see a group of guards… and one of them looked to be using Aero magic.
“Ah crap.” I say quietly to myself, keeping out of sight. “How the hell did they find me? Did they find me? Could have been a coincidence… they could have just landed there by chance and-”
“Halt troublemaker! You are under arrest for 2 accounts of breaking and entering, destruction of historical objects, and vandalism.”
“... ah crap.” Now the noble thing to do would be to give up and turn myself in. However, the immediate reaction for someone in my position would be obvious. I worked aero upon my legs, reducing air pressure around them and sprinted off at high speeds. I don’t mean run down the alley, I mean run up the wall and bounce up to the roof. Wise men once said, “You’re only in trouble if you get caught,” and, “The best way to escape someone is to not go where they expect.”
“Guards, fan out and capture him.” I glance back to see the aeromancer lift a small talisman with gems and runes in the surface that’s shaped like a cross with a circle on the top up to his ear hole. “This is head guard Jarman requesting backup. We’ve got an aeromancer of unknown species and origin who is a suspect in multiple crimes on the run down at the docks. Requesting immediate backup, over.” His voice carries across the skies, through the channels of air in the form of waves silent to most ears. However, any Aeromancer can pick up these signals and focus them into their own hearing range. The result? Instantaneous, reliable, controlled communication.
Meanwhile, I was flipping over a low-standing cart when I heard a buzzing in my ears. It sounded like a radio on the wrong channel. It nearly caused me to trip as I tried to get the ringing out of my ears. I dunno what caused it, but I don’t have time to question it as I see a few guards making their way towards me. I immediately jump over a gap, then use a burst of air to shoot down at a right angle before doing it again to pop myself into an alleyway. Hopefully that will throw them off enough as I keep parkouring my way through the city, staying away from crowded areas.
I’m just about to lose my pursuers in a narrow, winding set of alleyways when something smacks me in the face, causing me to trip on a stray flagstone and go sprawling. Luckily I use a burst of air pressure to cushion the impact of the fall. Something I learned to do in my earlier years of using my powers. More out of necessity as I tend to crash into things. A lot. Moving on, I see the guard in question. It’s likely they are trying to flank me in or box me into a corner. However, I am not so easily taken. The guard flies in to tackle me and pin me down. I use the air currents to move him out of the way. Straight into a pile of cabbages.
”My cabbages!” Shouts the cabbage merchant. Which is my cue to leave. As I leave the area, I pick up the object that was stuck to my face. It looked… out of place. Like it didn’t belong here.
“I am Dual, master of the Heroes of the Radiant and the Dire, and destroyer of the Ancients. If innocent blood has been spilled or enslaved, call on me, and I will aid you however I can.”
That’s… convenient. Creepy, but convenient. I’m been so focused on the token that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was running. I find myself in an alley full of boxes with bits of trash lying about. There’s a rather large fence in front and high rise buildings sides by side. I could hear the flapping of large wings heading this way. Wasting no time, I took cover under one of the boxes. However, I realized that this trick would never work. They’d be able to find me the same way they found me last time. Looking upon the token, a square stone with two gems set in it separated by a groove, I figure that it might be the only way I get get out of this mess. I hold it up close and spoke.
"I am Red Wind the Aeromancer. I have reawoken from my deep slumber and am on the run. My powers have greatly diminished and I have run myself into a corner. I do not know how long until I am found. I require assistance."
I feel a tug through the stone, a thud under my feet, then nothing. By Anzû, that was a waste of time. I could hear the guards closing in. They reach the alley which I was hiding in.
“Come out! We know you are here. Give yourself up and you’ll be given some leniency. If not, you’ll be charged for resisting arrest.” Their steps becoming louder. Slowly getting closer and closer until they were practically at arm’s length.
CRACK. The guards stop and look at the paving stones. One of them had just, moved. CRACK, CRACK, CRACK, BOOM. The ground explodes, sending the foremost guards flying and revealing a massive creature made of living rock. “TIIINNYYY, COMIN’ IN!” That name must be ironic.
The creature nods at me, then turns to the guards, who are staring in open shock. The earth elemental grins, and looms over them. “Boo.” The guards form up , pointing all their spears at this new. Tiny looks miffed. Then he starts to shrink, and lose his stone skin, until he condenses into a human about my height with glowing green and orange veins, and absolutely no hair. This is first human I have seen in a long time, and completely ruins the dramatic moment by starting to break dance. I wonder why until I look at the griffin guards, who are frozen in confusion. He’s distracting them. While in the middle of spinning on his head like a top he shouts, “Moonlight Shadow!” and we both turn transparent. He stands up and leaps over the guards, gesturing for me to follow.
As you may guess, I took this opportunity with gusto. I’ll question the absurdity of the distraction later. Right now, escape is preferable to arrest. The guards in question were frantic, trying to search disappearing creature as well as where I was once hiding. We get far enough away to catch our breath. Well, catch my breath. I was more exhausted due to the continuous use of Aero magic. This guy? He looks a little winded, but no more than anyone else after a short exercise. I am so out of shape.
“You ok, dude? You don’t look so good.”
I nod, readjusting the cloth around my shoulders. “Yeah… yeah. Just give me a minute. It’s been a while since I ran like that.”
He takes a closer look at you. “I don’t that will cut it. Your mana levels are way below normal, and your regen seems to be shot. Here.” He sticks his hand into the bag slung over his shoulder, and mutters, “Bloodstone.” He pulls out a blood red rock and offers it too me. “This should help.”
I take the stone, staring at it. “Um thanks. What is this?”
“It’s the most powerful mana regen item I have access too. It triples your base regen amount plus one mana per second times how many charges it’s got. It also gives a large boost to your health regen, and health and mana pools.”
I pretend I understand all that and nod my head. Though from what I can tell, it’s refreshing my magic just from touch alone. Neat. “That sounds good and all. Though, is this thing… made of blood or something?”
“It’s extremely good, especially for rapid spellcasters. And to answer your question, I don’t think so. I know blood’s not a part of the recipe, but you can never be sure. You can probably guess where it gets the name.”
…. eeeewww. “Moving swiftly away from that mental image, I must thank you for your help.” I pocket the, urg, bloodstone within my costume. I definitely felt the regenerative effects if his words have anything to go by. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have been caught. My name is Red Wind.”
“I’m Dual, nice to meet you.” We shake hands. “Speaking of which, did you call me here just to get yourself out of a bind, or is there some big problem I can help with?” He clasps his hands behind him and levels an impassive stare at my face.
I think over what to say as well as what I can recall. “Well, it’s not as cut and dry as I’d like it to be. The immediate problem I had was the guard. However, my main problem so far is that I have awoken after getting stuck in stone for over 1000 years at the least and I got little bits of information to go by. The only thing I know of that’s happening is that some big event is suppose to happen today.”
“The princesses got you too, huh? I was lucky enough to be blacked out for the duration. Anyway, is there some way we can get clued in on what’s supposed to go down?
“Not that I-” I wince when I start hearing the radio static once more. “Gah! There it goes again.”
“There goes what? I don’t hear anything.”
I look at him in confusion. “You don’t hear that? It sounds like radio static.””
He looks at me in confusion. “No? Let’s think logically about this. What possible reason could there be for you having static in your ears whereas I don’t?”
He doesn’t hear it? Then it’s only me. “The only time that happened was after the Griffon started talking with the thing in his claws.”
“Really? That sounds kind of pointless. Why would he do something like that?”
“You’d think it’s pointless, but the way he was doing it was like he was giving orders to someone. ”
“That sounds like a radio to me. Griffins don’t have those, right?”
“Not… that I know of.” I had to pause and think. I remember before I was stoned, I never seen griffons use such devices. “At least, not a thousand years ago. Could they have that kind of technology now?”
“It’s possible. The industrial revolution only took two centuries, after all.”
“Yeah… but,” I took a glance over to the city in general. “I haven’t seen any smoke stacks billowing anywhere. So they can’t be using coal and fossil fuel.”
“Well, you were here a thousand years ago, right? What was new back then?”
“Um… hm. Let me think.” I recall back in the days when the Griffons were tribes instead of a unified nation. Of course, there was the unification of the tribes before the ponies came. Yet during that time, the biggest breakthroughs were around more natural means. “Well, the biggest things I can recall are medicines and such.”
“Wait, what are your powers again?”
I shrug indifferently. “Aeromancy. Air manipulation. Air Bender. Whatever you want to call it, it’s all air control.”
“Well, I know I don’t have any of that stuff. I’ve got a few storm manipulators, but nothing for pure air. Could that be responsible?”
I give him a questioning look, then one directed to myself. “How? Griffons didn’t have Aeromancy back then. I was the only one.” I pauses for a moment. “Back then… I was the only one. Yet now...” I’m not.
“Well, if I had air powers, I’d use them to make a radio too. give it a try.”
“Can’t promise I can. Radio waves weren’t invented yet.” I cup my hands to my ears and listen. I heard the static once more. Radio waves and sound waves have two things in common: They both use vibrations. By altering the vibrations, one could theoretically turn one thing into the other. Radios operate this way by using electricity, relays and receivers as the medium. For me, I use my own powers to try and alter the waves into something that could be heard and tuned. At first, it sounded like a garbled mess. Slowly, something starting becoming clear.
“ --- *bzzt* we have confirmation of a beast in the forest. Requesting permission to investigate?”
I blink in surprise. “Whoa! I… I think I can hear it. Bit rough, but it’s coming in loud and clear.”
“Well, what’s it say?” Dual was now standing on his head. I give him a questioning look and he just raises his eyebrows. “What would you do if you had no one to tell you ‘no’ to things?”
“Certainly not that.” He snorts, and I shake my head. “Anyways, I’m hearing something that sounds like a law enforcement radio. Saying something about a beast in the forest.” I listen in more to hear what the guard what saying. “Now he’s giving a description of it. It sounds like a dragon. A big nasty dragon that’s pounding on the Eastern wall!”
Dual cracks his knuckles. “Now that’s more like it!” He reaches into his pouch and pulls out two corked bottles, each with a glowing, red orange crystal inside, handing one to me. “These are haste runes, they’ll help get across the city faster.” He pulls the cork off and takes a swig the crystal inside disappearing. Then he pulls out another a purple bomb. “Smoke of Deceit!” WE vanish in a puff of greyish purple smoke. “This’ll last as long as the rune. Which way is east?”
Still holding the bottle, I get a feel of the air currents before pointing towards east. “East would be that way.”
“Then follow me!” He takes off up the side of the wall and onto the roofs, quickly leaving my line of sight.
I reactivate the magic around my legs and run after him. I’m rather surprised that he’s matching my speed with the hastening effect he placed upon himself. Though not quite as good with moving across certain objects, he’s pretty fast. It took quite a bit of effort to catch up to him.
“Do you run like this all the time?” I ask, sliding under a pipe before sprinting back up.
“No, not usually. It’s the haste rune, it gives me the maximum standard speed for most of my heroes, but only last for 45 seconds. A select few can go faster, though.” With that, he conjures a bat out of thin and with a quick, “Firefly!” starts gliding over all the debris.
I run up next to him. Quite literally. I was running along the air beside him, using increased air pressure under my feet to keep my afloat. “When all this craziness and misunderstands are over. Interested in seeing which one would be the fastest?”
“It wouldn’t be much of a contest. Spirit Breaker, one of my heroes, has a charge ability that allows me to go a lot faster than this.”
“I’ll be sure to keep it mind.” We were making some very good time, already we could see the eastern wall coming to view. We were also able to hear the roars and booming sounds of the creature behind the wall.
“Wait,” said Dual, “That’s no dragon, that’s” We hop the wall and get our first good look at the dragon. He was standing on his hind legs, using his massive claws to gouge holes the wall. Any griffin who tries to get close enough to attack him is smacked away by one of his talons. The wings growing out of his hunchback are tiny and tattered, nowhere near strong enough to lift him off the ground. “Roshan!” Dual sounds absolutely delighted. “Finally, I have something I can use all this power on. Ursa! Sven! Phantom Assassin!” and with those words, he’s gone. And I only had one thing on my mind.
“The heck is a Roshan?”
WHAM. I follow the sound to it’s source and see Dual right in the creatures face, slamming it with devastating blow after devastating blow.The fact that he was doing it with his bare hands was pretty damn impressive. He turns and calls to me, “Come on, do you want me to have all the fun?”
“Fun…. right.” I sigh. Well, it has been a while since I fought and this beast was attacking a major city. I lift my hands and start forming weapons upon them. One of the things I’ve learn is the ability to have air take on the form of physical objects via air pressure and currents. Pressure for structure, currents for sharpness and force. I used to make ones of massive size.
However, instead of a pair of swords, I was holding two small dagger-like blades.
I look down in confusion. “Wait, these arn’t swords. I couldn’t have gotten that weak!” In agitation, I throw one of the daggers straight into the massive monster’s eye, the speed rivaling a bullet being shot from a rifle. It screams in pain, and flails at random for a few seconds, seconds that Dual uses to land even more critical strikes. With an agonizing moan, the creature staggers and collapses, crushing Dual underneath it.
A displacement of air next to me signals Dual’s appearance at my side. “Of all the times I’ve ever fought Roshan, that was the first I’ve gotten flattened by him. Who knew?” His face is flushed and smile manic. I unconsciously edge away from him.
I dispel the blade in my hand. “First I’ve seen. Then again, this is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this.” I gesture to the massive creature. “What is this thing?”
“This is Roshan. He was originally a simple thief until he swiped the Aegis of Immortality from the Secret Merchant. This form,” He gestures towards the hulking figure, “Is his punishment for his crimes. He’s the closest thing DOTA has to a final boss. A team of heroes will endeavor to slay him and take the Aegis for themselves, as such a victory can make or break a battle. What makes him so dangerous is that he resurrected as a part of the curse, making him effectively immortal.”
“So a thief stole something he shouldn’t have and became this creature. That I can understand.” I glance at the fallen creature once more. “What I can’t understand is why he’s here in the first place.”
“I’ve got no clue. If any thing like this was going to show up, you’d think it would be in my own universe. Hold on.” He narrows his eyes at the beast. “I think there’s something stuck in it’s back. Just a moment.” Poof, and he’s gone, and poof, and he’s back, holding a jagged stone etched with angry red lines.
“Dire ore, I thought so. This must be what’s responsible. Well” He raised his fist, “I might as well get rid of it.”
And with that he punches the stone into the air shouting “Walrus PUNCH!” When the rock comes back to Equus, it’s completely unfazed. Dual stares down at it in confusion. He hits it again, and again, then uses some kind of ice spell on it (Frost Blast), then a bolt of lighting (Laguna Blade). and still nothing happens. Dual is looking more and more miffed as he tries and fails to break a stone that I’m beginning to think is anything but simple. “Well that’s just great. If physical, magic, and pure damage don’t work, then how am I supposed to destroy you?” I don’t think he was expecting it anymore than I was when the stone spoke.
“Give us an opponent.”
Dual starts in surprise, then crouches down in front of the Direstone. “What do you mean?” he asks.
The rock replies, “We can only be destroyed by our opposite. Remake the battlefield, summon the heroes, and let us destroy the radiant We will give you power, long life, everything you could ask for if you aid us.”
“Sure,” I stare at him in shock. “What? the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Then he leans in close and whispers, “I’ll just destroy them both.” I nod.
“Why do you want to break them again?”
“The Radiant and the Dire care only for themselves and their eternal conflict. They will enslave the body, mind, and soul of any creature unlucky enough to find them if they get the chance, which is a blatant violation of my second rule. I won’t live in the same world as them under any circumstances” I nod again, this time in understanding.
By now, we could hear the sound of groans nearby. Not from Roshan, but from the guards slowly getting up.
“I think we should leave before anyone sees us.”
“Why would you do that? We just saved the city. You should go get some brownie points from them. It would help with your long term goals.”
“Normally, I’d be inclined to agree. However, they’d want to know where you came from and start questioning things… like the Dire ore you have on hand. ”
“This? I’m taking this with me. Roshan too. I have a feeling I’m going to need him. As for their questions, why not the truth? We’re not the only ones of our kind out there, and one of the messages I got from them was addressed to the alicorn princesses.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I do not want to deal with those two at the moment. Besides, what am I going to say when you take away the monster? ”
“Call it payment for services rendered.”
“.... I’ll just say you ate it.”
“That works. Anyway, I should warn you, you’ll be getting a bunch when you go to sleep if you haven’t already.”
“A bunch of what?” I raise a brow.
“Tokens, you know, like my crest.” he pointed to his satchel’s buckle, which was shaped like the object I had used to call him. “Every Displaced, as we are called, makes their own personal calling card after being exposed to the multiverse for the first time. For me, that was after I fell asleep for the first time after my release from stone.” He rubs his butt when as he speaks, and I choose not to comment. “I don’t know how many are out there, but it’s a lot. So you’ll have plenty of evidence if asked to provide it.”
I glance at him, then at my pockets, then back to him. “I don’t have the pockets for all those tokens.”
“Me neither, they’re back in my lair in the Everfree Forest. You’ll need a similar place to store them.”
“I don’t even have a house!”
“Then now is your chance to go get one.”
I wave my arms in exasperation. “I’m poor!”
“One moment.”
He reaches into his satchel and says, “Storm Spirit.” When he removes his hand, he’s holding another satchel like the one he’s wearing, only much smaller. “This satchel contains the full power of Storm Spirit, one of the heroes I can use. It’ll give you a place to keep that bloodstone, and it’ll generate 1 gold piece every 0.6 seconds. Don’t worry, it uses hammer space, you won’t feel the weight. Just let me choose a few items.” He fiddles with the bag for a moment, then gives it to me. “Here, take it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to start at level one. You’ll get more experience and level up when you fight.”
I take the bag, looking it over. To the average observer, it appears to be a normal satchel. I then take a peek inside. It was like looking into the depths of the void itself. With bits of gold flying around and appearing every second. “That can’t be good for the economy.”
“It’s not. I could crash both our universes if I felt like it, so use it sparingly.”
Spending could destroy the universe economically. Good to know. “I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”
“Good. Oh, wait one last thing. Everyone time a creature dies next to a bloodstone, it gets another charge, if you get enough charges, it can resurrect you if you die. That’s the real reason behind it’s name.”
“There are so many ways that can go wrong.” I take the bloodstone as well as the crest and place them in the satchel.
“Well, I think that’s everything. Now how do I get back?”
I blink. “... you don’t know how?”
“Not really, no. Maybe you’re supposed to say something?”
I stand there for a moment, thinking. What could I say that would get someone to leave after accomplishing something? “Um… you may leave?”
A hole in the world opens up behind Dual. He turns to look at it, then grins at me. “I guess I better get going. See you around!” and with that, he says, “Meat Hook!” snags Roshan with the spell, picks up the red and black rock, and jumps into the hole, dragging the monster after him. Before it closes, I hear “And make friends with the locals!” Then it’s gone, along with Dual and any trace he ever existed, excepted for the bag in my hand.
“Alright. So… a guy shows up, tells me stuff, and helps me beat a monster. Then gives me stuff. If I can deal with Lovecraft stories, I think I can deal with that.” I glance back to the guards, who have now gotten up. “So much for keeping a low profile.”
