Rebirth

Chapter 3: Universe Redone

A field of fresh grass was beneath me. I ran my hand over a small patch, expecting it to just go through like it was a mirage. It was solid. The sky stretched overhead, a gentle spring blue, and the trees around me provided perfect shading. A stream was too my left, rushing water and jumping fish inside. I AM alive. The pain was there, but not as massive as before. The dark crater from before was replaced with a gentle spring of grass, trees, sunlight and spring. "What the hell happened.." Holding the thought in my head, I noticed how thirsty I actually was and moved towards the spring, sticking my head inside and taking a massive gulp of fresh, cool water. When I pulled my head from the rushing stream, I gazed at myself. The universe wasn't the only thing remade.

My hair had grown to my shoulders, and turned white in color. My skin darkened a bit, and eyes were a strange shade of violet. The injuries had healed, replaced with a strange, thin but muscular body. I was different. No glasses, nearly perfect teeth, minus the slightly sharper canines. Only thing I was missing was clothes. Aside from my nakedness, I actually thought I looked good for once. That insecurity was stomped out really quick as I trailed the new muscle on my body, making sure it was actually real. Definitely was. Solid through too, almost like steel.

"I'm in the forest, looking like a fictional character with no clothes, or food, and all alone. This has GOT to be a dream." Of course, I knew it wasn't. No matter how stubborn I could be, THIS was something that couldn't be denied. Something happened, and because of it, everything is different. Well, I'm different at least. "I need to find some people or something... I need clothes."

Not too far from where I woke up, I spotted a small farm. A wooden fence stretched past the trees, a massive field on the opposite side. There was a small house, one floor, and a couple windows on the porch. On the porch, next to the stair, a woman sat, knitting something. Next to her, a teenage boy, about my age, with dirty looking blonde hair. I assumed he usually worked on the farm. They were clearly talking, but I couldn't exactly make out what they were saying. Over my head, there was a clothesline, and a raggy pair of old white, knitted pants hanging from it. Reaching for it, I paused to make sure the two on the porch wasn't looking at me, and swiped it, running through the trees.

Finding a spot to sit and calm, I slipped on the pants, and paced around in a circle, thinking about how everything ended up as it is now. "This all can't really be real right?" My eyes moved to my hands again, trailing up my arm at my skin. I pinched myself, hoping it was a dream. Instead, I was met by a minor annoyance. "Ok, I am awake. And alive," I whispered, patting my chest. "Where am I though?" I was met by the chirping of the birds around me. Listening to them, it made my stomach growl. "Hungry too.. Ok, no denying this is all real now." Thinking it over, I realized I had no real choice but to find a town or somewhere to get something to eat. Maybe they will give a homeless 17 year old some food. That, or shoot him on sight if he looks suspicious.

There was a town a couple miles from where I was. Lively, people bustling around to go about their business. I was more amazed, because there was no actual cars on the streets. Just people walking or horse carriages. I'd say I was brought back in time, but that's not right. Nobody here seemed exactly, technologically disadvantaged, just was different. With the lack of cars, the atmosphere and air felt cleaner. There wasn't as much tension between the people who passed by me, and no one really looked my way either. When I asked for directions for the nearest clothing store, the person I asked pointed me towards the southern end of the town. Thanking them, I quickly made my way there.

The thoughts of this world didn't leave my mind. It was different, I was different. It felt a bit better to be here, than anywhere else. Of course, with my mind, I didn't think this peace would be too long lasting. In a place like this, there's always something bound to happen sooner or later.

Of course, I couldn't buy anything with no money. I managed to snag an old, dirty cloak by working a couple hours. It was a strange trade, but better that than attempting to bargain and pay later. It reached down to my shins, and the hood was torn slightly, but that aside it fit well.

I spent the past few hours in the store, and the sun began setting overhead. Wandering around, I spotted a few hotels nearby. Across the river from them, there was a couple of horse stables that were empty. Guess that's where I'm staying. Ready to dive in and swim across the river, something stopped me. A mere thought. The whole street had dimmed to street lights, and it was empty. From the corner of my eye, I spotted someone running into the nearby alleyway, and it made me think. Obviously they were up to no good, but who was I to interfere in something like that. Of course, curiosity has always won over my common sense to not investigate.

Slowly, silently, I made my way to the corner of the alleyway as another person made his way inside. I could've turned back, just ignored it. Something was telling me to eavesdrop, listen in to the conversation. What was going on. I wasn't opposed to it, because part of me felt like these guys were up to no good, but what good would it do if I messed with them? I'm no hero. I have no powers, I'm not strong or anything of the sort. Even then, I couldn't help but to look from the edge of the alleyway entrance, and what I saw made my jaw drop.

The men were kneeling, like they were bowing and praising the female who was sitting in a throne like chair. Her hair was completely different, white in color, almost like mine, and two wolf like ears on the top of her hair. Her eyes were a blood red color, but she still wore glasses, although the frames matched her eyes. She was sporting silky white gown, almost like a priestess, and two wolves sat at her sides. Behind her, hanging on the throne, a long white staff, with a golden wolf head at the bottom. Despite these changes, her face remained the same, and I knew for sure who I was staring at. "All hail the Queen!" The men shouted, and I caught myself and moved away.

I'm not the only one in this world, but the thing that caught me more. "ZHANIAH'S A QUEEN?!"