The Legend of Delta

NOTICE Those who have followed this story, or have read chapter 2 before 10/2/12 I wish to inform you that I added a few important details that i had left out. They consist of his name which I have dubbed "Key Wound" and his cutie mark consisting of a golden pocket watch and chain.

The sun crept onto The face of our protagonist. For during the night previous he had neglected to close the thin curtains. He rolled out of bed feet landing softly on the musty floor. After his eyes where no longer being stabbed by the morning light, he set his gaze out the window.

The day was simply gorgeous. The blue seeped into the eyes of our gazer. Tweets of joy filtered in through the window as the feathered creatures they came from went from one perch to another. A subtle amount of time passed with him gazing blissfully outside, before realizing that this weather would be perfect for acquiring the necessary items for his abode. His eyes scanned over his figure, checking the disguise for any blemishes, of either dirt of failures of the spell. The scrutiny lasted several minutes before passing the inspection.

Hooves left imprints two at a time on the stairs. The door grew nearer to our protagonist as he trotted through his empty home. He prepared himself to go outside mentally going over the things he needed the most. Soon the doorknob shone with brilliant emerald light as it creaked in the door. The door emanated a click as it was let loose to come open. Upon the door opening a brown cube entered the vision of Delta.

It sat on the doorstep. With a label on it with this address, he knew what it was. A smile escaped his features as the box was encased in an ethereal green flame. The green glowing mass floated weightlessly through the door and into the structure. The carpet rustled under the box as it settled in the middle of the floor. A small precise glow appeared on the material sealing the item.

The plastic adhesive strip slowly peeled off, this as well covered in that familiar light. The waste was placed beside the box, as magic peeled back the flaps sealing the contents. The head of our protagonist cast a shadow of the objects within the package.

He peered at the contents, something that should have arrived earlier. He levitated out one of the numerous objects and placed it on his head. The first package of his hat collection has finally arrived. Even an immortal being has to have a hobby. His was to collect hats. He had a few normal ones, but most of them where weird and peculiar. His favorite though, was the fedora. Though it all depends on what he feels like and the weather.

The box ceased resting on the floor as it began its short trip to the closet which had remained empty, and will hold little else besides hats. Even though he would eventually receive about forty hats from his previous collection, he only took his favorite hats leaving most behind. This was so he did not get too many and could purchase more.

The parts of his collection which he had chosen to keep where a sparse selection of hats. There was a top hat, the fedora which was resting on his head currently. An umbrella hat, a hat that was shaped like a tree, a balaclava, which would come to little use since dust storms are likely do not happen very often around here.

Now that his hats where in the closet our protagonist had put on his new saddlebags taken a large sum of bits, and finally the list of things he needed to purchase. The first item he would need to purchase would be the clock. He walked across the town, even though he knew of little locations, he did see a shop that sold all manners of clocks in his previous excursions.

His trip across the quaint little village was rather uneventful. Not much more than the occasional 'hello' or 'how are you' from a pony who was passing by.

In addition to the sounds of trotting hooves came another more monotonous, more symbolical sound. Or rather a repetition of two sounds. Although two sounds may not describe the tones traversing the air to find the ears of a passerby, more like a chorus of the alternating sounds.

Upon the raising of the hat brim to see above the ground level of things to the signs lining the shops. One of them was very simple, but was clear as to what it was. The circular sign swung ever so calmly in the breeze. A thought came to the mind of our protagonist upon the breeze flowing around his body. He had lived for half a millennium, and after living that long patterns become quite obvious even without looking for them.

Even the slightest weather patterns where made obvious as to what was happening. In another week red and orange hues will be filling the eyes of anypony who looked at their surroundings.

Delta looked into the store seeing walls covered with all manners of time pieces. It is quite a wonder as to how the shopkeeper managed to keep his sanity.

He always regretted purchasing clocks. Though certain things could not be avoided. He would need to be able to tell the time. The ticking of the clocks finally caught up to him as the present faded away into the past.

~~~

The two monotonous notes rang in constant beet. Many of sets of those two beats overlapping filling the room with a raucous ticking. His paws landed softly on the hard wooden floor. While his claws did not, leaving a slight tapping sound on each step.

Our protagonist came here to see his friend the local griffin clock maker. He walked to the front desk which was normally occupied by Gear, the clock maker in question, but was instead filled by his assistant. Who just sat there moping. Our protagonist thought it odd, the assistant was usually cheery. He must have made a mistake and was scolded heavily for it.

"Where is Gear?"

"He, he, is sick. He is at his home. . ." he mumbled some other words that where inaudible beyond grunts.

"Is he alright."

"The doctor," he paused and sniffed, "Said he isn't going to make it."

Delta stopped, he stopped moving his breathing slowed. He stood there shock overtaking his body. Our protagonist thought it over in his head again and again. No conclusion could be made, so he took it upon himself to visit the sickly griffin.

The flight was short, he flew more quickly than he would given any other circumstance. Upon arriving at the house Delta neglected all customs and barged in. And called out the name of his friend.

A cough came in from within Gear's bedchambers, where Delta quickly rushed into.

Delta stood in the doorway to his friends room, staring upon his friend. The sight was ghastly, his feathers where falling out. his eyes where bloodshot to the point of almost being solely red. The griffin beckoned Delta to the bedside. As delta approached, the griffin watched. Upon delta reaching the bedside, Gear held out a claw with an item in. He rasped something that was unintelligible, but the meaning was conveyed and delta held out his claw. A golden pocket watch and chain was placed in the claw.

"But this was your fathers!"

"Yours now," he rasped.

"Thank you."

A door was opened to the house, and Delta looked to the door to the bedroom. Two claws could be heard going down the hall and approaching the room delta was in. listening delta heard how troubled Gear was at trying to breath, the breaths where all pained and shallow.

A doctor entered the room. "I need to work, you should leave." said the doctor formally but insincere.

With a nod delta left, looking over his shoulder at his friend.

Afterwards he went home and stared at the watch, remembering his friend. Little did he know, but he did speculate, that was the last time he would see his friend. As he had done multiple times, He became delta again, summoned a storm, and walked through the streets at night with a lantern. To leave a farewell note to the dearly departed.

~~~

"Hello I would like to purchase a grandfather clock," spoke the somber creature.

"Of course, but may I inquire about your name?"

"Key wound."

He purchased a large grandfather, it was mahogany. It was expertly carved, and would be shipped to his house by the end of the week if all went according to schedule.