We walked proudly through the menagerie, a happy man and prancing centaur. Past the gnomes, who bowed respectfully to me because of my status, and me to them because of their wisdom, past the dragon, past the birds. Well, almost past them.
"Ho, Prince Charmont!"
I looked in the direction of the voice. Hidden among the wings of bright, exotic birds was Simon, the parrot man. I made my way over to him, smiling broadly. "Simon!" I clasped his hand in greeting. He stared past my shoulder. "You Highness..." he said in awe, and I knew he was looking at Apple.
Apple knew it too. He tossed his head, clicked his hooves, and showed off in every ridiculous way he could think of. I rolled my eyes at him, and I could have sworn he winked at me out of the corner of his eye.
"This is Apple, Simon," I smiled in response to his gaze. "A centaur that I am bringing to Ella of Frell."
Simon blinked, and smiled. "How odd," he said thoughtfully, "for I too have a gift for Ella." He disappeared, but was back in an instance with a large bird perched on his arm. "This is a bird that I received for the menagerie just recently. Unfortunately, he's not quite up to the standards I was promised. Speaks Gnomic and Elfin, and a little bit of another language I don't recognize. Here, pat his head."
I reached up tentatively, and stroked his head with one finger. The bird snapped at my hand, and I snatched it away. "chocH!" he screeched.
I laughed. "I see what you mean Simon. But tell me, what kind of bird is this?" I pointed to a shining turquoise and purple bird with fluffy wings and a long beak.
"Ahh!" exclaimed Simon. "This is a rare bird. Came only a week ago, all the way across the sea from the tropics. It's called an Indian Ga'halat bird. Looks pretty and fairly harmless, but in it's own native habitat, it's a ruthless hunter. It can bring down animals thrice the size and weight of itself."
"Fascinating! But what about this one?"
Simon continued showing me birds as I exclaimed over each one. Suddenly, there was a dreadful screeching behind us, coupled with a half snort, half whinny. I spun around to look, and groaned out loud. Apple was up on his hind legs, batting at the bird flapping in his face. To my horror, I saw the bird was-
I can not go on. The terrible battle and sad results that followed have left me weeping so hard that I can not type any longer. Please, do not read on. Find another fanfiction that contains happier news, perhaps one written by Little Elflet or little elfling Do not read on in this tragic tail of woe, and-
Whoa. Wait. Wrong story.
To my horror, I saw the bird was the shiny turquoise and purple bird that Simon had shown me first. It's long lethal talons were almost in Apple's face, but so far he was managing to evade them. I ran forward, but stopped short, knowing nothing
that I could do. Images flashed through my head, each more gruesome than the next. Apple! Help!
"chocH!" The bird that was to be given to Ella swooped low over my head and towards the Indian Ga'halat, talons forward. The turquoise bird took one look at him, and flew away, screeching. 'chocH' instead landed on the back of the trembling centaur. Amazingly, Apple was soothed by this motion.
I turned and stared at Simon, who was almost doubled over with laughter. "Not in all my born days have I seen a show such as that!" he chuckled. "I suppose the man who sold me the Indian Ga'halat forgot to tell me that despite the fact that it can bring down animals much larger than itself, it is terrified of the ones smaller!"
I didn't find the situation nearly as humorous, but allowed myself a weak smile of thankfulness.
It was hard to separate Apple and the bird who loved to say 'chocH', who apparently had become fast friends. The bird screeched as Apple was led away by me, not even his favorite seeds fed to him by Simon comforting his, and the centaur made small noises of distress. No matter. Simon promised he would bring the bird to Ella the next day, and the two would be reunited again.
What a sight Apple and must have made on the streets of Frell! A prince leading a centaur where it had no business to be, we must have turned some heads and raised a few questions. But I didn't notice. I was too busy thinking about Ella to even acknowledge people who greeted me. 'How stuck-up our prince has become!' they must have thought.
But how would Ella like Apple? I could imagine her face, her voice, her laughter as she saw the centaur and realized it was hers. Would she like the name I picked out? Would the centaur like her? I felt sure he would, for who could dislike Ella? Still, I worried all the way through town, until Apple and I spotted the manor where Ella lived in the distance.
I hoped you liked that. I thought it was sort of weird with the whole "attack bird" thing. just sorta random. i've been reading a lot of Lemony Snicket books though, and i saw the movie, so i just had to add that little part in. since it's winter break, i'll try to update more often. especially if i get reviews!!!