So I guess it was only natural that I too became the Protector of all the creatures in the land. Now at the age of 25 I could weave spells of enchantment. It really wasn't that hard. All you had to do was have the dust off a fairy's wing and the moisture off one kiss from a fair maiden. I could now do spells that made me appear invisible to all that meant me harm. So with this new magic I decided the time was near for the world to be returned to it's former beauty. I cared not of the price, for I too wanted to have children and for them to see the beauty I once knew. Even though the sun had risen the day was still cold. There never seemed to be any other type of weather. Just the cold. The sun, although it shined brightly, had no warmth to offer. Now was the time to take on the evil ones. No one really knew who they were, they only knew to defy them meant a fate worst than death I didn't understand that. To me living in this world void of all the creatures of the woods and the fairies was a fate worst than death. I think that most people just didn't care enough to see what was missing.
I knew the time had come. It was now or never, for whenever the unicorns did brave the world always The Evil Ones would come and take them away. I couldn't bear to see another one die or run in fear. As my Grandma always said "Anything worth living for is worth dying for" I decided that early tomorrow night I would begin my travels. Today was the day I must fast and make peace with my inner demons for all knew The Evil Ones turned your worst enemy against you, yourself. As I began my chant of old to invoke the fairies and their wisdom a thought passed in my mind. 'What if I only make things worst? I'm not the best at magic. In fact I truly had to work hard to make my spells work' As the doubts began to overcome me a vision came to me. All I saw in the vision was a man, a very old man. He must have been 200 years old. All he did was smile and nod. With that vision came a power so strong it took my breath away. It was like I had an inner strength growing from within me and with that power came a calming voice. "You are the one. If you do not dare the challenge, forever will we be trapped in a land of logic and solitude." Then suddenly my vision changed. In it was a world I had never seen. There were metal flying birds that seemed to feed upon humans, as one could see into their stomachs. The skies were no longer a bright blue but a cloudy blue as though someone blew smoke over all the skies. The unicorns had no horns of gold, in fact they had no horns at all and they were used as tools. Families seemed to obey a square box that other people ran on. These were just a few of the horrible things I saw. With the passing of these visions of horror the old man once again appeared to me in the vision. I did not see his mouth move yet I heard him all the same. "This is the world's future if you do not fight The Evil Ones. No longer will fathers teach their sons how to farm. Daughters will no longer be passed the secrets of magic. The world will be only a place to exist with no living going on. There will be no beauty, for none will stop to see it. Go to your fate and know you ar the one that can save us all"
The rest of the day I rested and looked upon my land. Never were the
visions of that horrifying land far. I could not imagine a world where families didn't sit together at the dinner table. Nor could I understand why any would want such a world. If that was to be the fate of this world so lush and green I
would rather die trying to protect it than to live in that lonely world. I began to gather berries and nuts for my journey, humming a tune that my grandmother taught me. I could not remember the words yet the tune soothed me and made me see the beauty that was still around. As I finished with the gathering I slowly walked towards the shed knowing that I would have to arm myself well. I could not bring a sword, for all weapons I did bring I must be able to hide beneath my gown. I looked at the many weapons my father once had by his side and tears were brought to my eyes as I remembered the day The Evil Ones took his life.
He never harmed any and would only slay what his family needed to live. With each slaying my father would kneel upon the ground and place his offering of incense to the creatures that died for his family could eat. My father never
discouraged me to learn all the ways of a Protector just because I was a girl-child. He always carried me high upon his shoulders when the heavy rains flooded the fields. He was my hero. Then the day came that brought The Evil Ones. All changed in minutes. "So you call yourself The Protector? Come and protect us. We need your food and your skins. Forget about the creatures, they belong to us. No longer will you kneel before the creatures of the woods. They are nothing. You are to kneel only before The Evil One. You will now give us all your magic. We demand that you call the unicorns for we may have their horns of gold." was what the Evil Ones said. "Never will I bow before you for you are the death of all goodness. I will never call the unicorns nor will I call any of the creatures. You are nothing. You are just a scared little man that has no life, no family to call your own. BeforeII bow to you or your likes I will die." I heard my father reply. "Then you will see your family die before your eyes. When we are done with them we will kill you and take what we want." the Evil Ones said. "Do not kill my family I will call the unicorns" my father said. I felt my heart sinking at those words for I could not believe that my father would do such a thing. Didn't grandma always say 'anything worth living for is worth dying for'? Little did I know that these were foolish men and had no idea that my father did not call the unicorns.
He spoke to them in their own language, a language he took pride in teaching me. Then I heard my father speak in the language of the unicorns "Take my daughter and hide her well. Do not let the Evil Ones have her. I know you cannot save my wife or mother but save her, she is the one. Know that never would I betray you. I will never call you to your deaths" As I went to scream in denial the unicorn closest to me laid her hoof upon my shoulder and speaking to me in quietness
"You must do as your father wishes. You are a good daughter and you never disobey. Now is not the time to start." she begged "But my father and mother what is to become of them? My grandmother is old and cannot fight. I cannot stand by and let them die!" The unicorn then did call for more of her herd and within minutes I was surrounded by many. As the circle of unicorns closed around me I felt a soothing sleep overcome me. I was then abruptly awakened by the cries of my mother saying "Thank you my love. I would never want to live with people such as these" the last of her words were spoken as her head fell to the ground. "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" my father screamed. "You will all die for this." With that my father began to call the creatures of the night. My father had always respected them so in turn they came to his aid. I saw the fatal arrow strike my father. I saw his blood pour to the ground. As I saw this happening I cried out, yet no sound did I make. As the Pegasus came to fly me to safety the unicorns stopped him, "No not yet. Let her see what the creatures will do. Let her know that her father's death will not go unpaid"
