All right... I feel very, very disappointed in myself for this chapter. ¬¬; I rambled too much and it was just too lighthearted! @@ I prooomise Chapter 4 will be MUCH better! ^^;; I'll be more inspired AND I won't have a wierd injury in my hand. oO
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A small red-gold eye opened slightly, peering up at the light reflected off the waves of the guard's golden hair. Her back was turned as she busied herself with sweeping the floor, a buoyant jubilance floating about her and showing in her every motion. She seemed so cheerful, more than any other human he had ever seen, so content with how menial the task she performed was, so patient. Somehow, he liked her more than the guards who were constantly dragging him off to fight those big hairy things with bloodshot eyes and bad breath.
The way they would command him to come, and how the way the bravest would touch his arm, to lead him away from the quiet time spent curled up on comfortably his bed, to kill those bloody monsters, reeked of their glaring human stupidity and obnoxious nature. He was filled with a deep, intense dislike.
She turned sideways, allowing him a glimpse at her face. She seemed relaxed, with such a peaceful expression, not as tense as those ever-irritated others. The fair-haired guard seemed to glance in his direction, and he closed that eye, hoping she would not notice that he was awake. He heard a pause, then a gentle swish of movement, and when he looked again he was alone.
Pulling himself up into a sitting position took all of his strength. He was incredibly sore from a skirmish with a nasty Python the last night, drained from all the spells he had been casting... He was starving, too, kept terribly underfed. He was growing rapidly and was in desperate need of more nutrition. Thirsty for water and light, he slid off the bed slowly and moved to the window, pushing aside the draperies.
One could see no rivers, no luscious green courtyards from the window, nor could the window be seen from the boats and gardens. But Three had a clear view to the sky, the beautiful, expansive blue sky, occasionally with a few wisps of tissue-paper clouds, but still, vast, clear and infinitely deep. A blinding orb sat a few inches above the horizon; he blinked and rubbed the back of his hand against his eyes. When he stared at it, it was like the hurtful fire he had experienced in the deepest reaches of the dungeon, but if you looked at it sideways it was comforting and radiated a sweet, tender sort of light.
How mysterious.
Returning to the stuffy reality of the small room, Three suddenly realized that the guard had not closed the door completely. A spark of excitement was kindled. He hopped over to it, grasping at the doorknob and tugging with all his strength. It was surprisingly willing to let him through, and he tumbled over backwards, but picked himself up and wandered outside to explore.
He had seen the great, high-roofed hallways on his way to fight, but there were no cold, stiff soldiers pressing in around him, and he was free to take in all of its magnificence. Pillars of wood glazed with golden paint pressed against the walls, distant ceiling, and beautiful marble-like floors, a great crimson carpet leading the way to rows and rows of doorways and tempting passages drawing the little Black Waltz onward. Something stopped him, however, and he turned to investigate it.
A very peculiar, quiet soul sat on a low table by a window. It did not move as Three walked up to it, nor did it respond when he grabbed the edge of the slab and leaned forward to look at it more closely. It was not like anything he had seen before, frilly and prone to tremble like some of the humans he had observed, but far more still and tolerant. Nor did it project as much fear as the average human, or the sick, blind rage of the monsters he would kill every evening, but remained silent and serene, carrying on whatever it was doing, sitting there. He touched a frond of green lace, and it still did nothing, easing back into its previous position when he let go.
He was very puzzled by it, but it was nothing for him to fear. It was so calm as to calm him while he was near it, and made him feel better about his nibbled shoulder and hunger. The air around it was easier to breathe, rich, like... like what? Like something that had slipped his memory. It seemed to be a far more happy creature than the humans or monsters.
Three was about to leave when he noticed something wrong with the little bristles on its limbs. Concerned, he looked again, and noticed though most were a beautiful, deep green, some had crackled, turning the color of fire, and stopped breathing.
Is it dying?
He touched the soul again, gentler this time, trying to tell what was wrong with it, but the ever quiet and optimistic creature told no tales. He drew away slowly, little worries churning around in his mind, but doing his best to push them away and concentrate on the environment. Though he fretted over the misfortune of the helpless thing, he supposed it was not in too much danger. If it too was thirsty, someone would surely give it something to drink soon.
Satisfied, he continued to wander.
It served well to make him feel small, that great room did. Everything about it was enormous, the huge, plush seats covered in detailed designs, the tapestries hanging from the walls, and the monstrous black thing with too many teeth that stirred certain bad memories. He wandered about the jungle of furniture, completely lost, amazed that there indeed were chairs that were built to be comfortable, unlike the plain wooden one in his room that was built like a rack. It was awesome.
What drew him forward through the maze was the giant window on the other side of the room, flung wide open. The curtains were white and translucent, letting the morning sun filter through, and a breeze was blowing gently, reaching out to run its fingers loosely around the Black Waltz. He ran to it, standing before it, gaping, eyes wide, recognizing nothing he saw but the sky. A thick, furry carpet of green lay across the floor of this big room on the other side of the window, breathing like the peaceful thing he had met just before. Massive creatures of the same type stood tall and steady, reaching proudly towards the clouds. There were walls of white and silver, and there was no ceiling, letting the air move throughout, away from the burning bright orb.
How beautiful!
He smiled, placing his hands lightly on the windowsill, feeling the wind push by him gently to fly into the great halls. The unbroken streams of sunlight healed the stiffness confinement had pressed into him, and he rejoiced quietly, cheered by this great room's wonder. The breeze whistled its own soft nothings to the walls, and there was something else, too, a very beautiful something that floated along with that whisper... A voice, drifting from a window on the other side of the courtyard.
Three jerked himself out of his trance and strained to catch the words of the song. It was so lovely, more soothing than anything he had experienced before. He leaned out, struggling to make out what the notes were saying, and caught a glimpse of a human with long, dark hair pass the window briefly, simultaneously losing his balance and falling out the window.
He immediately knew that he was not supposed to be quickly descending, upside-down, from a great height. Panic swept over him, and he lashed out with his hands at the air, every inch struggling against the undeniable force of greedy gravity that pulled him straight towards the ground... every inch, including the long, feathered appendages sprouting from his back.
They acted of their own will, spreading and pushing back against the earth's hand of energy, grabbing for a wind to help. With a yelp, Three was righted, and given complete control of his wings. He was too crazed to think, and flailed in precisely the wrong direction, running hard into a tree, a branch knocking the wind out of him. Madness motivated him to grab tightly onto it, and he dangled there, gasping, for a moment, gradually regaining his sanity.
I must get back down...
He beat his wings a few times, tentatively, then slowly let go and carefully descended. Those limbs felt peculiar, as if they hadn't been placed on right, but he trusted them to keep him from splattering bloodily on the ground. Feeling the wind float over them was oddly pleasant, as well, and he somewhat enjoyed the cautious landing. Once he was safe, however, his strength vanished, and he crumpled, a bit lightheaded and totally exhausted.
A human's shadow fell over him. He looked up, vision a bit blurry, but was able recognize the slightly bluish tones of a familiar warrior's garb. His lips were curled into a wicked smile, a few locks of silver falling into his face. Three suddenly felt a twinge of resentment.
"How delightful," came Kuja's voice, as slick and silvery as everything else about him. "I am most pleased... it is indeed good news that your wings are able to function. I am only curious about how you got to that window in the first place..."
I do not like this man.
"What is important though," Kuja continued, "is that you have discovered the... power of... flight."
The Waltz's large eyes blinked.
"Flight," he echoed, pronouncing the single syllable perfectly and naturally. Kuja's smile widened in time with a renewed gust of wind and the closing of the far window.
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Please don't kill me. oo; I'll probably do Chapter 4 soon, and make up for it... AA;