Chapter XI
Once the screams reached my ears everything stopped, time slowed, and I could hear the blood rushing to my head as my adrenaline spiked. I flicked my ears towards the screaming and heard them coming from Ponyville. Time resumed and I bolted towards Ponyville, while Fluttershy fled to her cottage. I didn't have time to get her and I figured she wouldn't be good in a fight anyways.
From Fluttershy's cottage to Ponyville was about ten minutes at a slow pace. It took me under three to run there. Though upon arrival I slowed from a run, to a trot, to a walk, then I stopped altogether. I was very confused at what was playing out before me.
Running into Ponyville, I had expected to see ponies running from town to the fields. But instead I found ponies running from the fields to town, and those who were already in town towards the center of town. The ponies were screaming, but instead of fear, it was in glee. I was very, very confused.
“Epona!” I heard Twilight's voice ring out from the crowd of ponies running past me. I looked and quickly found her with Link, standing off to the side of a building. I made my way to them, having to dodge and weave my way through the stampeed of ponies.
“Are you ok? Link and I saw you running in like your tail was on fire,” Twilight said when I was close enough.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I paused again to look around, to confirm that the town was in no danger. “I thought that the town was getting attacked because I heard frantic screaming.”
“Oh! No, there are no monsters around. Actually, it’s a special day today!” Twilight exclaimed happily. I raised my eyebrows at her attitude. “Today, Princess Celestia is making a surprise visit!”
“Princess Celestia?” I slowly asked. I had heard the name before but I was drawing up a blank at the moment.
“Yes, she was going to meet with you after the weekend, but she had sent me a letter not ten minutes ago telling me that she would like to meet with you today,” Twilight said as she started to walk away, with Link following her. I followed close behind.
We made our way through the crowd and up to a stand in front of the town hall. The stand was covered by a bit purple curtain. An old looking mare with wavy grey hair was behind a podium and it looked like she was waiting from everyone to quiet down.
“That's Mayor Mare, Ponyville's mayor,” Twilight explained to me and Link. A few more minutes and everyone was there and quiet, the mayor began to speak.
“Welcome ponies! I am sure all of you have heard that a very special pony has decided to pay our humble town a visit on this fine day,” the mayor's voice boomed over the crowd. “So, without further adieu, Princess Celestia!”
The purple curtain spread down the middle and what was behind was... it was... IT WAS... boring. It was a very tall, about the size of a normal horse, white coated with diluted rainbow mane. It also had a long white horn and big white wings. She was also dressed up in golden shoes, a crown, and other fancy items. It had to be Princess Celestia. I didn't like her. She seemed very stuck up and pampered. I had to meet a few pampered princes and princesses in my lifetime and they all looked the same, walked the same, and acted the same. This Celestia looked like them, walked like them, now to see if they will act the same.
“My little ponies!” Celestia said in a motherly voice. It made me cringe slightly. “I am glad to have this chance to talk to all of you,” I rolled my eyes and sat on my haunches. “I am here today, not on a royal visit, but a more friendlier one,” I once again rolled my eyes. She did act like all the others. She was no different, other than being a horse.
I closed my eyes and shut out her annoying voice. I didn't want to hear anything she said. Instead I thought of something good. One of the things that I absolutely love; butterflies, specifically the Silvery Meadow Blue. I first saw one while Link was visiting and we were running around in Hyrule Field. Talon and Ingo were there of course.
It was Malon who found and caught the butterfly, and when she showed it to her father, it was he who identified it. He also told us all the story of how he and Malon's mother met. They were both determined butterfly watchers and they were both trying to find two completely different butterflies. They had met each other while stalking in the same field of wheat. After a very heated argument about making their butterfly flee, lunch, another argument over cheese, they ended up shared notes on the butterflies they had examined from afar. The next time each of them went looking, they went together. After about twenty of these trips they had found the Silvery Meadow Blue, and later that night, they shared their first kiss.
Malon's reaction to the story was to find it fascinating, while Link found it gross. Specifically the ending. I found the story very interesting, not so much the ending but finding out that there were so many butterflies. Sure there are tons of other animals that have so many other kinds of them, but most of them were evil animals, borderline monsters. Butterflies weren't evil and they didn't hurt anybody. At least until they get overloaded with evil magic. I saw a very evil butterfly once. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. But it was also the scariest. I couldn't look at a butterfly for two months.
Whenever me and Link were crossing the land in our adventures, I would always look for butterflies and keep all the information I made on them in my head. I made up my own names for them as well since I didn't have a book for their names. The last time I checked had seen about 200 different butterflies. I remembered each of the names I had given them and where I had seen them.
Goddesses I love butterflies.
“Epona?”
They are just so free.
“Epona?”
And of course they were pretty.
“Epona!”
I snapped my head up in shock of hearing my name. “What?”
“Epona, are you ok?” Twilight asked. I looked around. Most of the ponies had stayed, while a few of them had left. Just enough to be noticed by someone who had just got lost in their own little world for about half an hour. I also noticed that three new ponies were with us. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and... Celestia. Oh boy.
“Where did you go?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering in the air by our heads.
“I was thinking about butterflies,” I said, casting a glance her way.
“Oh, how pretty,” Rarity said with a soft smile while Rainbow Dash pretended to gag.
“I often enjoy letting my mind wander as well,” I heard Celestia's voice and I looked towards her. She was bigger up close then she looked up at the stand. And she still had that smile on her face. I forced myself to smile with her.
“Good day, Princess,” I said, bowing my head towards her. I was still going to play nice.
“Please rise, Miss Epona,” Celestia said. “There is no reason to bow to me. I do believe a thank you is in order however.”
“Huh? What for?” I asked. I heard Rarity softly wincing. I'm not sure why she did.
“For both yours and Link's brave efforts last night. You had driven away Timber Wolves from the Apple family's orchard,” she said with a small bow of her own. “So I thank thee, for not only protecting one of the Element Bearer and her family, but also risking your lives even though you were under no obligations to.”
“Oh, uhm. No problem I guess. It's kinda what we do,” I said waving my hoof between me and Link.
“So I’ve heard, from what my student, Twilight, has said; Link here is the Great Hero of Time and bears a rare relic himself?” Celestia asked, looking at Link, who blushed and scratched the back of his head. “Tell me, what is it like traveling through seven years of time?” she asked. Link looked alarmed but he kept his cool.
“He sometimes doesn't talk much,” I quickly said, saving Link's butt. “Yesterday he would talk your ear off, but today I'm not sure he said more that ten words.”
“Oh, the strong silent type,” Celestia said in an understanding tone. “Good qualities in a knight.” Link again blushed.
“Link's no knight,” I said with a smile on my face. “He's an adventurer.” Celestia's smile grew even more softer.
“Admirable traits for all vocations,” Celestia said.
“Princess?” Twilight piped up.
“Yes, Twilight?”
“Perhaps you would like to move this to a somewhat more private place?” Twilight suggested.
“I think that would be lovely, I would like to learn more of this world these two come from,” Celestia said, looking at me and Link.
“I guess I could tell you all about our world,” I said with little enthusiasm.
“Wonderful, shall we go now?” Celestia asked.
“Actually,” Rarity interjected. “I was hoping I could steal Epona away for an hour or two, if she wouldn't mind that is,” she asked with a sheepish smile.
“I don't mind at all,” I quickly said. “You wrote everything down, right?” I asked Twilight.
“Er, well yes,” Twilight said. Her face lit up suddenly. “I can show you how much my note taking has improved!” she said excitedly to Celestia.
“That sounds wonderful,” Celestia said. She turned to me and gave me a small bow of her head. “I do hope to talk to you, perhaps later?”
“Sure, how about over some carrot cake?” I asked, bowing as well. Celestia's eyes lit up.
“That would be wonderful.”
“Cool,” I said. I again saw Rarity ever so slightly wince.
“Come along now dear, we have much to do,” Rarity said. “It was a pleasure as always, Princess,” she said, bowing to Celestia.
“And to you, Miss Rarity,” Celestia said, returning the bow with a nod. And with that me and Rarity left.
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After navigating through the still rather big crowd we were walking along the roads of Ponyville. I decided to thank Rarity.
“Hey, thanks for that back there,” I said.
“Well of course,” Rarity said. “We can't have you talking like that to the princess of Equestria!”
“Huh?” I was confused. Didn't she save me from talking to Celestia because I didn't like her?
“Your words were too brash to talk to someone of royalty!” Rarity said. “I will not allow there to be another Rainbow Dash.” She seemed very set at that.
“Uh, thanks? I guess?” I said as I walked up next to her.
“Oh there is no need to thank me, darling,” Rarity said with a happy smile on her face. “That and I could tell of your discomfort towards the princess.”
“Oh?” I asked, turning a little red in the cheeks. I thought I hadn't projected it that badly.
“Yes, dear. May I ask why?”
“Well, from what I can tell so far, she's just like all the other royalty I have met,” I said, a certain bitterness in my words.
“What were they like?” Rarity asked, looking at me as we walked.
“Stuck up jerks who used the lower class to do their dirty deeds. They use everybody below them, and take all the credit when something goes right, and push the blame on everybody but themselves. The type of person who's stallion thinks they can mate with any horse they choose,” I said, the last sentence with venom dripping off my words. Rarity winced at my words. She looked like she wanted to press the issue but didn't. I silently thanked her for it.
“Er, well I can guarantee that Princess Celestia is no such pony,” Rarity said with a smile.
“Well, until I get to know her personally, I’m going to keep thinking what I’m thinking, no offense,” I said. I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
“None taken,” Rarity said with a smile on her face. “Now, let's get ready for a very educational two hours!”
“Oh boy,” I groaned. This was going to be fun.