Unicorn Lost

Presents

Q	uicksilver ran up to the canyon edge just in time to see Stan charge the copper dragon.

Having seen Pence in the mirror, even though the activities were false, Quicksilver knew what was going on immediately. He tipped Blackfoot unceremoniously, but gently, off his back, nipped back his cloak and bent his concentration into the green charm wrapped around his foreleg.

Down in the canyon, Stan closed his eyes and charged with all his might--right through the space where the copper dragon had been. A tiny Pence dodged and weaved, disoriented, between the great beast's feet. Kamida, seeing the spell broken, but the red dragon's eyes were closed, immediately began re-casting her spell. A powerful beam of octarine light, visible only to those involved in the magic or those steeped in magic themselves, shot out from the once-purple bracelet to the green one on the donkey's fore-leg, piercing the gem on the red dragon's forehead as he passed through the point where Pence should have been.

Quicksilver collapsed in agony as burning pain shot through his body. His concentration broken, the spell was restored just as Stan's tail cleared the space where a giant, but slightly bewildered Pence once again stood ready to challenge Stan.

Pence's bewilderment did not match that of Stan, however, as he whirled around to meet his challenger. "HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!" the red dragon's voice caused the canyon walls to tremble, and a fine dust littered on Kamida's head, though she hardly noticed in her exhausted state.

The re-enlargement spell was strengthened by the protective magic of the bracelets. Not only was Pence's shape more solid and authoritative, but he sounded appropriately massive when he replied. "IN WAYS YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND, TRAITOR. DO YOU YIELD NOW, OR NOT?!!"

Stan's confusion was complete, though. Pence could see the octarine glow of magic emmanating from the gem on his opponent's forehead, and saw the fear growing in Stan's eyes. When he spoke again, it was in his normal voice.

"There is a power here I do not understand. You call me a traitor, yet I only vaguely remember entering this canyon, and struggling to protect a unicorn. Why do you accuse me, Copper One?"

Pence was taken aback. While dodging Stan's feet, he also had failed to notice the donkey which caused his momentary reduction. He did know that when the jewel's glow ceased, the dragon facing him would become deadly again, and the Unicorn he sought to free was behind him, while the red dragon was in front. "It would seem I erred. Will you forgive my misjudgement, so we may part ways in peace? I will look for your lost unicorn, while you seek your path again, Great Red."

Stan nodded, and backed out of the canyon.

~~~~~~~~~~~{ Meanwhile }~~~~~~~~~~~

Kathy cowered atop the rock pinnacle, her hooves covering her eyes. When the roaring dragons ceased their battle, a new sound came to her that made her heart break. "HaaAAAAWWWW-- AWW-- AWW-AWW-hernk-- pbbbbppbbbff!" The sound was so desparate that she forgot her location and looked around for the source. Almost level with her position, on the western wall of the canyon, a donkey writhed in pain. Kathy's alicorn glowed as she walked through the air from the pinnacle...

...to the canyon's edge, where she knealt down beside the donkey.

"Hush," she breathed into his ear. "Be still, be at peace." Immediately, Quicksilver stopped kicking and writhing, his bray silenced by her peaceful words. He looked up at the white horse kneeling before him, then he looked around for Blackfoot, but he was nowhere to be seen. He turned back to the Unicorn.

"Thank you, dear lady." Neither Kathy nor Quicksilver recognized the other. "I... I don't know what... Thank you." Shakily, he stood up to face his rescuer.

Upon seeing her patient healed, the impact of what Kathy had just done came to her in a dizzying rush. Steadying herself, she turned around to look at the pinnacle where she had stood moments before. "Wow," she said, then fainted.

-page oo48-
written by Tora Kiyoski

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