You guys are really friendly
thanks for all of the warm welcomes!Contest entry:
short Introduction...
"Unicorns are nothing but fairy tales."
Oh no my friend, they exist. Deep in the place you can't see, you can't hear, you can't smell, you can't find.
You listen to me, I will tell you of a story. This is the truth. Unicorns are not fairy tales, are not horses with wings or horns. They are unicorns. They are real. If you think unicorns are not, then don't listen to me.
Before you ask, unicorns are not little pink things with rainbows shooting out from their bums.
Neither are they demonic creatures who slaughter others with their horns.
Unicorns are reasonable and magnificent creatures.
But they will 'fight' if they have to...
Characters
As Ezmerelda
as Scar {in the story, imagine him as a tall, stallion instead of a shetland}
As Moonshine.
As Sundance.
Part one
Ezmerelda galloped through the dark forest. Her green and black body being pricked constantly by thorns and thistles. Her hair being tugged at by twigs and branches that loomed over her like a long shadow. Her blue eyes flashed with fear. All she could hear was the short stammering of her heart beat and the thumps from her hooves. Close behind her she could feel the darkness closing in. It's breath was damp and musky. She pushed onward, whipping up dark green blades of grass in her thundering run. But she couldn't shake them off. No matter how many times she twisted round trees and leapt over logs they were still on her tail. They cackled behind her. Ezmerelda shivered with fear, afraid they might catch her. She knew not to stop unless she would be as good as dead. That wasn't a nice thought.
Suddenly, her black hoovesseemed to slide in a black mud sending her falling with a thud on the soil. The ground was littered here and there with mushrooms and toadstools and other fungi. She coughed as a black smoke made her mind grow dizzy. Un-willingly, the unicorn inhaled the dust. She felt the hot gas fill her lungs and coughed to get it out. It grew into a burning feeling, pushing into her organs. Even though her vision was blurred, she could make sense of three shadows. They all looked the same and had the figure of the horse that was carved out in the faint shimmer of the moonlight.
All of a sudden, there was the loud pounding of hooves that hammered into Ezmerelda's ears and vibrated the ground.
A white horse pounded into view. It's black dapples shimmering on his white coat. He ran forward before rearing up at the three shadows, smacking one with his hoof.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" He jumped, no hostility in his voice... He seemed generally sorry for smacking a murderer in the face!
Ezemerelda's head fell back on the ground and her eyelids slowly slid over her crystal blue eyes.
The shadows ran off immediatley, one flung its head back in a sneer before galloping away.
"Hm, wonder what was up with them." The male horse trotted across to the fallen unicorn. His eyes stretched wide as he saw the huge, thin horn that grew from her forehead. He was mesmerized by her and her beauty. He then poked her with a hoof.
"Um... Miss... Um... Hello? What happened?" He asked, prodding her. Eventually, he noticed that the dark forest was no place for this beautiful horse and dragged her slowly out.
Ezmerelda's blue eyes flickered open at the peek of sunlight. She gave out a faint neigh before swinging her head up to see a stunning white horse with black speckles and battle scars. He turned and trotted towards her.
"About time you woke up!" He grunted, manouvering swiftly around her. His muscles rippling beneath his glossy skin.
"Where am I? You are not one of them are you!" Ezmerelda leapt to her hooves and ducked her head to threaten the horse with her horn.
"Them? Who's them?" The horse asked.
"They were the horse things chasing me through the dark forest!" The unicorn neighed.
"Oh... Really?" The horse asked, honestly not knowing. But then he thought for a second... "Oh yeah! Jeeze, I should have stuck my hoof up their but!" He grunted. "Well, anyway I'm Scar. And you are?"
"Ezmerelda." The unicorn whispered.
"And what exactly are you? A horse crossed with some sort of Narwhale?" Scar asked.
"No, I'm a unicorn." Scar heard her say, his eyes widened and his hooves fell silent for they stopped moving. An ominous breeze swept through him. He fell on the ground laughing, rolling in the grass and pointing up a hoof at her.
"A unicorn! They are just stupid myths!" He laughed. Ezmerelda sighed and swung her head.
"How could I have expected for you to help me." She grunted, and began to trot away, her head held high. Scar stopped and jumped to his hooves and cantered to Ezmerelda's side.
"Hey, No. It's just, I didn't mean it. I just... Didn't think unicorns were real. Where are you going and how would you like me to help?" Scar asked, pleasingly. The unicorn sighed, her long green hair fluttered in a breeze like a delicate butterflies wings.
"I need help to find a unicorns paradise. It's said that it hold paradise for unicorns only." Ezmerelda sighed.
"Well why would I help you? I wouldn't be able to get in because I'm just a horse." Scar shook his head.
"What do you want?" Ezmerelda called, stopping Scar in his tracks.
"I'm quite content with the life I have now." He shouted back.
"Well come with me and figure it out!" Ezmerelda shouted. Scar nodded and began to trot back to her.
"So where is this place we are going? Do you know how to get there?" Scar asked. The unicorn nodded and continued to trot onward.
"It's far up, past these fields, through the mountain paths and in the middle of thr forest." Ezmerelda said, pointing her horn to where the mountains loomed over the grassy safety of the fields.
Eventually, the patience shuddering through their bodies died and they charged across the fields. The jagged mountains loomed before them, the grass merged into rock that made the sound of their hooves echo.
"You ready?" Ezmerelda asked, her blue gaze firmly on the mountain rode ahead of them. A place where Mountain lions, vultures and other rather 'difficult' animals to deal with lay ahead.
"Pfft, I've always been ready." Scar grunted, his voice chimed with adventure.
And the horse and the unicorn stepped into the gaping mountain path.
Part two
They walked in nervously. The mountains cast a long shadow, sheltering them from the light by being a never ending shade...
Vultures cawed their taunting threats at them, flapping their dark wings and pointing their sharp beaks at their next meal.
Neither Ezmerelda nor Scar had said a word. It felt like they had been walking for endless hours now, it probably was.
Suddenly, a harsh roar broke the precious silence. Shattering it like a simple pair of glasses in its screeching.
On a high mountain ledge, a mountain lion stood. It's golden fur ruffled in a faint breeze as it watched the unicorn and the horse saunter through his territory.
"What delicacy has trotted into my territory now?" He snarled, but with a faint smile. Another roar caused the vultures to caw and swirl around him. In a tornado of feathers he leapt down from the ledge, his claws making a pounding smack against the stone ground. Cracks slid across the floor. He swiftly prowled towards the unlucky Ezmerelda and Scar who both glanced at eachother before breaking into a pounding run.
Swiping a pink tongue over his lips, the mountain lion launched forward, snarling. His mouth open wide, ready to catch some flesh in his mouth. Snapping his teeth at his preys heels, he launched himself onto Ezmerelda, who wailed. She galloped around, trying to kick him off. She smacked the mountain lions side over and over again until there was a loud cracking noise. The mountain lions eyes widened and he fell back, whimpering like a kitty that had just been thrown into a swimming pool.
Ezmerelda didn't stop to look back and ran. Scar rushed by her side.
"Quick! Over there!" Scar thrust his head toward the cave. Ezmerlda didn't think twice before following Scars orders. She slid into the cave which was dark and damp, but no darker and damper than the mountain lions mouth. Scar stood strongly at the entrance to the cave.
The mountain lion limped toward Scar, a snarl sweeping over his face. Even though the mountain lion was bleeding from the side and limping, he pounced onto Scar. Scar gritted his teeth in pain but he could suddenly feel how skinny the mountain lion was. The white horse brought up a hoof and smacked it into the mountain lions face, causing it to stumble back wearily.
After a long stare, it eventually backed away into the safe arms of the mountains.
Scar slid into the cave to see Ezmerelda's blue eyes peering from the darkness.
"It's gone." Scar whispered.
"It better be! Now you two can get out of our cave!" A mischevious but childish voice echoed from the shadows, making Ezmerelda jump in suprise and back away to the entrance.
"Who are you?" Scar asked, his voice not quivering even though pain glazed his body and all he wanted to do was run back to his precious fields. A small, blue unicorn appeared from the shadows. Quietly creeping behind her, a small, yellow unicorn gazed at the two intruders.
"Why should it be any of YOU'R buisness!" The blue unicorn grunted. Scar swung his head in annoyance and trotted out of the cave. The two young unicorns pointed their horns at him, nudging him. But the their eyes widened as they saw Ezmerelda's long horn, shining in the sun light. They gulped, and looked at eachother.
"She is one of us... Did you notice her horn before?" The little blue unicorn asked but the yellow one shook her head, her hair swished like liquid gold. Scar found an advantage to Ezmerelda being a unicorn. Finally, she would be of some use! They could earn shelter...
"You two are unicorns... Unicorns... That means that you can come with us." Ezmerelda whispered, but the two unicorns lifted a brow in question.
"Go where?" The yellow unicorn asked.
"To a place. It's the fields and forests of paradise. A land for unicorns only, where they can thrive. Live without the threats of this world." Ezmerelda announced, her fear ebbing away. She now spoke proudly.
The young unicorns exchanged the same glance before beggining a private conversation with eachother.
"Should we go?" The blue unicorn asked.
"Well, it does sound pleasing." The yellow one chimed.
"But how do we know its real?"
"Moonshine, you know we cannot stay in the mountains forever." The yellow unicorn talked with a soft voice. "Besides, if it isn't real then we can just come back."
The blue unicorn sighed, giving in. She raised her head.
"Okay, we will take up your offer." She said, suddenly talking formally and stiffly. "You can shelter here tonight."
"Thank you." Ezmerelda nodded and lay down in a dry spot of the cave. Scar just grunted.
"Pfft, take up our offer!? You should be thankful we are letting you come." He neighed and lay beside Ezmerelda.
The two young unicorns giggled.
"What?" Scar asked, clearly irritated.
"Oh nothing." The blue unicorn whistled and trotted outside and pulled a curtain of shrubbery over the cave entrance before coming back in. The yellow unicorn crouched beside the two strangers who were now their allies.
"By the way, I'm Sundance to let you know. My sister is Moonshine." She said in a hushed whisper. Ezmerelda lifted her head and smiled.
"I'm Ezmerelda, my friend here is Scar." Ezmerelda explained. Sundance's eyes blinked in awe.
"Ezmerelda. That's a really nice name." Sundance smiled then trotted deeper into the cave to her chosen spot that she used as a bed.
A faint moonlight flickered through the cloak of shrubs. Ezmerelda lifted her head to see that Scar lay awake, watching the curtain sway.
"You okay?" Scar asked, looking at the unicorn as her hair was brushed by the breeze that whispered through the cave.
"Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay? Why aren't you sleeping?" She asked.
"I don't know... I'm just scared I guess." Scar sighed, letting his gaze slip from Ezmerelda's eyes. For some reason, he could not meet them. He didn't want her to see the fear that glazed them. There was a long silence.
"Have you thought of a payment yet?" Ezmerelda finally broke the silence with the question that had been on Scar's mind all along. What would be his payment? Why was he even doing this? Risking his life for a female that he had not even known existed.
"I don't know yet." Scar shrugged.
"You seem to not know alot of things at this moment." Ezmerelda sighed, her head lifted towards the flicked of the moonlight that lit her face gently. Kissing her with its gaze. Her green hair fell back and brushed her back. Scar blinked at her. Why didn't he just stop, stop and turn back. Away from the danger and live a peaceful life in the fields. He knew he wouldn't get into the sacred fields and forests that Ezmerelda spoke of. Was there a point? He decided that once Ezmerelda was asleep he would sneak away back to his fields.
Slowly, Ezmerelda's eyes fluttered shut. Slowly and quietly, Scar stood up and crept away from the darkness of the cave. He made sure to only tweak the curtain of dark green a little so the moonlight wouldn't flood in.
As he stepped outside he inhaled the cold air. He slowly tried to move his hooves, but something stopped him. Almost as if the cave was a magnet and he was a paperclip, he refused to move anywhere further from the cave. Why?
He shook his head, shaking away the tingle in his hoof and the gaze of his eyes that flickered back, hoping to see Ezmerelda emerge from the curtain that covered the cave.
Eventually, he fought against the magnetism and was finally able to push himself away from the cave and head for his home.
Part Three
Ezmerelda sighed, her head was hung lowly and her green hair swept over her face and hid her eyes. The sun peeked over the mountain, afraid.
MoonShine and sundance trotted out of the cave finally.
"You okay?" Sundance asked, stopping at the sorrowful unicorn.
"Don't feel bad that he left. It's not like we needed him." Moonshine said. "Are we going to get to this place or not?" She called, Moonshine had already galloped ahead.
"Alright, we're coming!" Sundance shouted. She nudged Ezmerelda's shoulder. "Maybe he went to scout ahead?" The young unicorn did everything to cheer Ezmerelda up, even though her words were clearly untrue and hollow. Ezmerelda nodded and shook her hair away from her face before trotting along the mountain path with her head held high. Why had she been so sad? It wasn't like Scar and her had known eachother since birth.
Ezmerelda's thoughts wandered. 'he was a horse, I was a unicorn. It could have never worked out' She thought. Both Sundance and Moonshine noticed that Ezmerelda's eyes were cold, not a cold, blazing fire of determination, more like the endless, coldness of sorrow yealding a broken heart.
The unicorns made it out of the mountains to see a forest which lay ahead... It had taken all day to get through the mountains and all three of them were exhuasted, but all of them were eager to get to the place of the unicorns. They entered the forest. This forest was nothing like the dark forest. The moonlight washed the trees, lighting the forest. Animals still made lively and busy noises while others slept. Plants climbed the trees eagerly, wanting to see the moon.
The unicorns managed to get to a clearing, where a huge rock knived out of the ground. Ivy dangled off of the stone, strange carvings were engraved in the stone along with words of an ancient language.
All would have went well if it was not for the threat that hung above them all...
Three shadowing figures stood at the top of the rock. The moon outlined their figure. They were huge and looked way bigger than they did in the dark forest. Moonshine and sundance shrunk back while Ezmerelda pointed her horn which gleamed in the fresh moons gaze. A cackle grew from the rock, but it belonged to none of the three dark horses that stood up there. Suddenly, a huge, bulky creature stepped forward. It's hooves scratched the ground as it laughed. Ezmerelda gritted her teeth. What were these horses doing here? Had they learned about the place that the unicorns were heading to?
"You will never get to the fields of serenity now!" The creature chuckled, then he bowed his head forward. A sharp light gleamed through one red eye.
"Attack." He ordered. Instantly, the three horses leapt down in a thud that vibrated the forest floor.
The first one galloped at Ezmerelda, but the unicorn was fast and slid to the side and thrusting out her horn to scratch the attackers flank from the neck to the base of its lashing tail. It cried in pain, throwing it's head to the sky. But Ezmerelda swung her horn at it. In a loud cracking noise, the attacker shattered into a million peices of glass, soaked in ink. Ezmerelda neighed in triumph but didn't stop to see the suprised look on the huge creature's face before charging into the two soldiers that had ganged up on SunDance and MoonShine. The two young ones were swinging their horns threatiningly, for a moment the attackers backed away but then pushed in faster. Their hooves digging up soil as they kneaded the ground impatiently.
Instantly, Ezmerelda speared one of the horses neck as she swept by, feeling it shatter under the strenght of her horn.
The last attacker slunk back to it's leader who was now sliding down the rock faster than a snake.
Ezmerelda neighed in defiance, objection to the leaders statement to how they would not reach their final destination.
The leader galloped towards her, the thrill of blood rushing through its eye. Ezmerelda galloped forward too, the sound of a fight pounding in her hooves. They met in a clash of hooves. The leader reared up and hit Ezmerelda on the side of the head with the sheer force of a hoof. But the unicorn was not weak, she pounded two of her hooves at his stomach which was unprotected. He stumbled back and shook his head, but Ezmerelda didn't give him time to recover and smacked him at the side of the head. He shook his head again, this time a few drops of inky black liquid splattered to the ground.
Ezmerelda was about to go for the kill until the other attacker bowled into her, knocking her down to the ground with a thud. It laughed.
"You see Ezmerelda, I was always jealous of you, being able to get away from this world. I always knew there was something special about you. And when your horn grew in, your secret was revealed. But now, the pretty, young, intelligent Ezmerelda has been defeated. By me." The demonic horse trotted forward, ready for the final kill, the thing that would satisfy him. Maybe she should let him. Maybe it was his jealousy that turned him into what he was now. Maybe if he just killed her then it would all be over and he would let MoonShine and SunDance go. The two younger unicorns lay further from the battlefield, ingured and severly wounded.
No.
His hunger would never be satisfied. No matter how many lives it took, he would never be full. Ezmerelda narrowed her blue eyes as he looked down at her. She lay on the ground, hurt and bleeding. But obviously, he would show no mercy. She was too weak to get up and fight, her legs didn't seem to hold her weight and her vision was blurred.
All of a sudden, there was the loud pounding of hooves that hammered into Ezmerelda's ears and vibrated the ground. A white horse charged into view, he had black dapples and was battle scarred.
The leader looked up, only to see a flash of white and then to see the ground. Scar had bowled him over, but the soldier that remained smacked Scar's head. Scar gritted his teeth before turning round quickly as the soldier reared and bucking him with his two back legs. The soldier fell back, its flank hitting the floor with a pounding smack before a shattering sound echoed the clearing. The trees seemed to lean in, with wonder of the final battle.
The leader got up, his one eye wide with fright but fierce and poisoned with the hunger for power. He charged towards Scar and the two horses clashed. In flashes of black and white, there was the loud clanking sound of hooves before Scar slapped the leaders red eye with his hoof. A small red bead fell to the ground and the leader wailed and screeched. He thrust Scar aside with pure power, Scar fell to the ground, blood trickled from his mouth as he lay still.
Ezmerelda managed to stand up, staring at the blind, wailing demon. She walked forward steadily and checked her mind for any doubts that this was the right choice. She speared the demons chest, listening to its screaming. She didn't flinch and only pulled away when she saw the demons swirling, black soul. That's when the demon shattered, into tiny fragments of glass which littered the forest floor. Merged in a pool of ink. The mingled scent of fear, horror and death sentenced the forest to silence. Ezmerelda didn't move for a moment... Taking time to think. Thoughts flashed to her mind.
Suddenly, she ran to Scar, dropping by his side. MoonShine and SunDance limped just behind her. She bowed her head a nuzzled his neck.
"Scar..." She whispered, her green hair sweeping the horses face. Tears cascading from her face.
"I came." Scar managed to murmur faintly, his eyes barely managing to stay open.
"Stupid." Ezmerelda clenched her eyes shut, gritting her teeth down. Scar sighed, not suprised atall by her statement. "Why, why risk your life? I had nothing to give you. Your life could have- Should have continued peacefully in the fields."
"I wouldn't-" Scar coughed. "Be able to life with myself if I knew that I had abandoned you." He said.
"But you could have gone home." Ezmerelda exclaimed.
"Home is where the heart lies." Scar neighed, looking at the black and green unicorn.
"What does that mean?" The unicorn asked, her voice still quivering.
"I love you." Scar whispered. "And even if I didn't make it to the land of peace that you talk about, I'm glad I helped you get there." Scar said, his last breath leaving his lips.
"Scar?" Ezmerelda said, her blue eyes opening. "Scar? No... Scar!" She cried. The unicorn stayed by his side until the light of dawn streaked across the sky. Finally she spoke again. "I love you too." Ezmerelda whispered, touching her nose with his.
They spent dawn burying him. Their last respects. They climbed the rock to enter the gates of peace. A glittering light began to break dawns gentle pinkness. MoonShine and Sundance were the first to enter the light. Ezmerelda took one last gaze at her beloved Scar, who had died fighting... Fighting for their peace and freedom.
She felt her heart shatter into a thousand peices, just as the demon had died. She hung her head lowly.
Ezmerelda entered the light.
The end...
.jpg)
.jpg)
