Unicorn Lost

Presents

A	s they come onto the road that leads towards the gate there seems to be a slight change in the area around them and there is a soft popping sound.

The little skunk stops walking in place and opens her mouth to tell Ambrose and the unicorn that they are outside the magical barrier, but then sees the Unicorn happily stamping her hooves, eyes focused on the gate in front of her. The little skunk starts to giggle and hides her mouth behind her hands.

Ambrose hears the little muffled giggles and looks to the little skunk. The wolf girl frowns her head, she takes a few steps towards the gate and back again. "I think we are outside the magical barrier now, you can stop pretend walking and walk normally again," she tells the unicorn.

The unicorn stops stamping her legs and turns her head towards the young skunk, asking, "Why did you did not tell us we could walk normally again?"

The little skunk blushes, "Because you where so funny looking, I've never seen a horse standing still and stamp with all its four hooves on the ground before, well, I have seen you walk in front of the magical barrier, but not like that."

The wolf girl shakes her head. "Honestly child, did your daddy not tell you not to make fun of others? The poor unicorn might have been stamping for hours if we did not told her that we where outside the barrier."

The little skunk blushes and drops her head. "Sorry."

The wolf girl grins. "Next time tell us okay?" She bends over to the little skunk and whispers, "but your right, it was funny looking."

The little skunk looks up with big eyes, then she wraps her arms around Ambrose for a hug and whispers, "Doggy."

Ambrose shakes her head, "kids." Then she hugs the young skunk back. "It's okay, let's go on now."

When they finally reach the gate they notice that it is big, iron clad, massive looking and last but not least, closed.

The little skunk raises her hand and taps the door 3 times, no response.

The unicorn grins, "Let me handle this kid." She walks up to the door and yells, "Knock, Knock!"

A voice from the other side replied, "Who goes there?"

'Goan' the unicorn says.

There's a long silence, then the voice asks, "Goan who?"

The unicorn grins, "Goandanswerthedoor!"

A loud groan comes from the other side of the door and another voice sighs, "That has to be the jester, no-one else uses such stale jokes." The first voice hisses, "quiet you fool, he can probably hear you!" There is the sound of metal sliding over metal, then the gate parts into two halves and opens into town.

As the group walks through into the town they see two groups of snow white ferrets standing to attention to the left and right side of the gate. They wear blue uniforms decorated with golden patterns, a red feather dangles from their green, barrette like hats. Each ferret is armed with a rapier that he carries on a belt, and a short spear that he holds in his right hand. A heavily ornamented ferret, probably a highly decorated officer stands in the middle of the road that leads into town.

The officer looks at the group and takes a deep breath. Then he sighs and shakes his head, "Dismissed men, it was not the jester. For which you should be grateful corporal Daisy."

"Sir, Yes sir" the ferret in question squeaks. Then the dismissed guards go back to their posts.

The big ferret moves towards the small group and salutes. "Welcome to our town ma'am's, we usually do not get many visitors through this gate with the barrier in place, except for the Jester when he's on...," the officer erghms, "...never mind that, are you here for business or pleasure?"

Ambrose shakes her head, "Neither, I came to look for someone who has disappeared. I think he has been brought into these lands."

The officer smiles, "Oh then you have to see our king, if you wish to know things about our land, he's the one to seek advice. If he does not know it, I'm sure his advisors might know."

"But do not listen to that jackass who thinks he's a comedian," a voice squeaked. The ferret officer looked angry at the other ferrets, who look back at him innocently. Then he shakes his head, "I'm sure the king had good reason to take him into his court, his...humour leaves much room for...improvement. But, it's not for us to question the wisdom of our beloved king."

The Unicorn shakes her head, "Well, I'll admit that my knock, knock joke was not exactly the best joke ever, but I'm sure the jester is not that bad?"

"Oh no! he's worse. Compared to his jokes, that joke was sheer poetry," a voice squeaks. The ferret officer tries to find the culprit but gives up with a sigh as the soldiers once more do their 'Innocent' act. "Please follow me, I will take you to the castle."

The officer leads the group through the streets of the town where people curiously look at the unicorn, and keep a small distance from the skunk. A group of small ferret children follow the wolf girl, their melodious voices fill the air. "Doggy, doggy," they giggle.

Finally they reach the palace. The officer leads the party up the marble stairs into a reception chamber, where a herald awaits visitors. "I bring these people. They wish an audience with his majesty."

The Herald bows towards the three, "Greetings and welcome to the palace. Might I inquire your names so I can properly introduce you to his majesty and his charming bride?"

"Our names?" the unicorn asked. "Well, so far we really did not mention those now have we? My name could be Kathy. The wolf girl's name could be Ambrose, and your's little one?" the unicorn asked.

The skunk girl looks up, "Oh! My name is Kamida...I mean could be Kamida," the little skunk looks puzzled. "Why can't we use our names?"

"Right," the Herald say's. "You can come in after I introduced you to everyone in the King's court." The herald takes a horn from a small cabinet and disappears through a half open door. The party hears him play a short tune, then hears him declare, "Hear ye, hear ye. Three visitors from far away wish to indulge on the fountain of wisdom that is our beloved King."

The unicorn rolls her eyes, "He loves to exaggerate, doesn't he?" The unicorn, wolf girl and skunk look at each other, then leave the small room and step into the King's court.

The courtroom is richly decorated with paintings that depict a ferret fighting against all kinds of monsters. There is one big central painting where the ferret hero stands over a female ferret, who is dressed like a princess, while he fends off a giant hairy hand with his sword.

The room itself is mostly filled with ferrets. Though here and there a black furred bat can be seen. Two massive thrones stand below a heavily ornamented window. A female ferret sits in the left, while a male ferret, with a big crown, sits on the right. Next to the King's chair, a donkey wearing a jester's uniform sits on a ridiculously small chair.

The donkey smiles when the group moves before the King. Then he sees the small skunk and mumbles, "A kid, better keep my jokes pg then."

The king hushes the donkey, then raises up from his throne and speaks a word of welcome to his guests.

-page oo11-
written by Guest#1

Copyright and Credit:
  · Florence from "Freefall" © Mark Stanley.
  · Magic Gardener © Hortmage.
  · Jeanette © Jeanette Isabelle.
  · Kathy from "Carry On" © Kathy "Nightstar" Garrison.
  · Kamida © Guest #1.
  · White Pony from "Cross Time Cafe" © S.Kidwell.
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