Eagerly, Kate followed the butterflies' very helpful visual directions, as she was led away from the dangerous parts of the forest. Though she didn't know it, the land she was in was in turmoil beneath the whimsical first glance.
As Kate galloped along, she started contemplating some things. For one if or when she get back home, how she could find the genie and get revenge. The longer she thought, the more revenge ideas she had. Maybe she'd delay asking to go back home immediately, just so she could prepare some sort of magical weapon from this world.
Her thoughts were cut off when the butterflies suddenly stopped at the bottom of a hill. They formed into an arrow pointing up then into a hand waving bye to her.
She blinked. "Wait, you're just gonna leave?"
They formed up into the shape of a thumbs up. Cheeky.
Kate sighed. Her only friend(s) here leaving. Still, they helped her out this far.
"Alright, well, thank you for your help," she smiled back at them before they fluttered off.
Kate watched them go until they were out of sight, then slowly turned back to look at the hill. It wasn't crazy steep, but it was steep enough that she couldn't see over it. What could be on the other side?
"Well, here goes. Let's hope they're friendly..." Kate muttered. She walked up the hill at a cautious canter, keeping her head low. Upon reaching the crest, she saw something astounding on the other side.
There was a whole city here! All manner of Roman architecture adorned the hidden city, white marble pillars and structures, many lined with gold. Most of them had what looked like snow or clouds for roofs. The citizens weren't human, much to her dismay, but rather winged horses.
One flying by noticed her and nearly crashed into a pillar as his eyes widened in shock. "A unicorn!"
Suddenly countless eyes were on Kate. What did she do? Did she break some sort of taboo? Did they hate unicorns? Was there something behind her? Nope, nothing there. Other than that tail of hers that idly flicked.
"Um...hi there?" Kate said sheepishly to the stallion close to her.
Before she could react, he dove down to her and quickly lowered himself to her, his wings splayed out.
"Wh-" she started.
"Get on! Quickly!" he shouted to her.
"Wha...hold on a minute here, what's going o-" She tried again, but then noticed other winged horses coming this way, their expressions not happy. Hesitantly, she got on his back. "Okay, seriously, what's going on-WOAH!"
The held on tight as she was suddenly thrust upwards, the winged stallion soaring with her far from the others. But they did not relent in the chase, splitting up on their sides to try to cut them off.
"Hang on, this is going to get bumpy," he cautioned. Well, she was already hanging on tight, though her hooves weren't the best thing to grip with. She just hoped he knew that.
The stallion waited for the two trying to cut them off in front, keeping in pace with them til they were just about to grab them, then flew straight upwards, the pursuers colliding with each other and plummeting down. He took that moment to get farther away, disappearing with Kate into a cave to lay low.
He let her off and gave her an admittingly charming smile. "Name's Tiberius. Sorry about all that. My kind have forgotten our codes."
"I have....so many questions," Kate said, shaking her head. "First off, what was that? And what do you mean by 'codes'?"
"Oh! I guess that makes sense. If you've been able to hide for so long, you must not have heard much. See, long before Esmerelda the Sorceress took over the kingdom, we pegasi treated unicorns like our brothers and sisters. After all, we are both equine. However, with her in charge now, many are too afraid to disobey," he started.
"Disobey what? I didn't break any laws! I don't think at least. Did I?" Kate asked.
"Well, in a way..." Tiberius explained. "Esmerelda considers unicorns a threat to her rule, seeing as they're the most powerful natural magic casters in the land. We had thought all of them dead by now. But, hey, you're here. So I guess not!"
"Wait... so I'm...the last unicorn? Oh great, how cheesy," Kate groaned.
"Sorry? I don't see any cheese here."
"No, I...nevermind. Look, I'm..." she started, but then stopped for a moment.
"Yes?" Tiberius asked.
Alright, she can either play along, or tell him the truth. Kate decides to...