The Return of the Unicorn
~Chapter I~
The sun beamed warmly down from the bright shimmering canvas of soft blue and thin wisps of white, miasmas of white foam. The brilliant rays of soothing light looking to comfort the gentle moving creatures of Equestria. Celestia had outdone herself with the sun upon that day. The soft bright light of the blazing and burning sun calming every restless creature with its seemingly healing light. The warm rays cascading softly over the green forest floor. The light breeze of mid day brushing against Fluttershy’s buttermilk coat.
It was rare to see a day such as the one Fluttershy now stood in. Rare indeed, for the Weather team to be in perfect sync with their princess of the sun. And it was times like this that Fluttershy went on a walk through White Tail Woods. Rare they were, so to was her visits to that forest. She tried not to travel too far from her home near the Everfree Forest. That dark forest a stark difference between it and White Tail Woods. Long were the storms over the Everfree and short were the summers for the dark forest. Untouched by the Sisters and by the ponies of modern society. But Fluttershy was somber with the quiet and was joyful that she could reside at the edge of the Everfree with little to no attention. It allowed her time to take care of her animals and for her to properly think.
Another breeze rose to lightly dance across Fluttershy’s face. A gentle kiss of spring, promising more days such as this one. Promising hours of peace while the day lasted, a promise Fluttershy knew would be kept. A smile crept upon Fluttershy’s lips as she stared at the edge of White Tail Woods. The forest dense with white birch trees, the silver bark shimmering and glistening in the soft moonlight. The grass fresh under her cleft hooves. She tread lightly and softly as she guided herself through the forest.
Each minute she spent identifying every creature she had past. Talking to each of the animals all on their own. Knowing each and every one of their languages, by heart and soul. While it was not her official job, she took pride knowing it was her who kept the animals peaceful. Not hunting each other down for food, but to looking for Fluttershy for food. They knew their caretaker and came to her for healing, for a home, for food, and for friendship. Every animal she came across were soothed in her presence. Her gentle and caring heart reaching out to each little squirrel to the mightiest of bears, kindness finding animals of all sizes.
Fluttershy had spoken to a bushel of bunnies and helped with feeding their many young. She helped a dispute with two racoons. And she helped a squirrel find food to eat. Each task not daunting or taxing towards Fluttershy in any way, nothing coming off of her shoulders to help. Always giving her kindness.
Her soft motherly like gaze was set upon an injured deer. Not from a predator but from a fallen tree of a storm that had come many nights ago. Fluttershy was amazed that the doe held out for so long. Her light brown hazelnut coat stained with accidence and with crimson. Fluttershy soothed the young doe and bandaged the wounds with only the sap of an oak and with fresh leaves. Fluttershy told the deer, “You poor deer. You must be worried that your herd abandoned you. You can come with me where you can be safe and heal your wounds.”
The doe accepted her caretaker’s words and in a young and silken voice the doe replied, “You are too kind Miss Fluttershy. Truly, you have my greatest thanks.”
Fluttershy warmly smiled at the appreciation of the injured doe, her light brown eyes set on her protector. Fluttershy stood up and they continued on their walk through the forest. Fluttershy not only had a knack for helping animals but as well held some sort of magic over the earth. She felt the heartbeat of the forest. It was aged and ancient, telling stories with each and every breath. The earth was happy, happy to have visitors in its forest.
The doe had much to say and many stories to tell. She told Fluttershy of times with her herd, and of times when they migrated to Aviana, the land of the Griffons. She had many tales when only being just a young doe. Her name was Lura, and she was a storyteller. Fluttershy enjoyed her company while they wandered through the White Tail Woods. Lura told her that those woods belonged to her herd, the White Tail Herd. Them being White Tailed Deer and all.
But Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks, she felt a tremor of the forest. She stopped Lura and they stood there. Fluttershy felt what the forest felt. The forest felt honored. These ancient woods had another visitor, one of higher respect and of a higher title. Fluttershy tried to sense where this visitor was but she could not. With every try she felt a wave of a splitting headache wash over her. Almost like the other visitor did not want to be found. Lura offered a tender hoof and gently asked, “What is wrong Miss Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy rubbed her head with her hoof and answered, “I don’t know, Lura. I felt another visitor enter the forest. But...something was...strange...they had some sort of effect on the forest and of the creatures here.”
Lura once more asked, her tender hooves trying to sooth the trembling pony, “What effect?”
“Almost like...a promise...a promise of protection.” Answered the caretaker of the forest. Fluttershy gave that effect because it was her task to guard and protect the forests. But this one was of a greater volume. Offering a huge magical barrier. Promising to all it’s protection. The leaves felt brighter, the trees stronger, the grass taller, and the animals more humble. Fluttershy remained there for a moment, letting Lura’s hooves caress her irritable muscles. Fluttershy hummed with breaths of ecstasy with how good it felt. It was apparent that she carried more stress than she had expected to carry. Her soft hooves working into her grooves and healing her trembling muscles.
Once Lura was finished Fluttershy said warmly to the young doe, “Thank you Lura. Will you accompany me to see this visitor?”
Lura bowed low and replied, “I would be privileged Miss Fluttershy.”
And with no other words spoke they continued on their path to find the strange visitor of the forest. She walked a little bit closer to Lura, feeling closer to the young doe. Lura accepted the closeness and nuzzled against the caretaker’s neck. A gesture of love towards another and Fluttershy repeated the gesture to Lura.
As they continued the beaming rays of the sun almost guided them to where they were set out to find. They followed the rays of the sun, to find the visitor of the forest. Their warm path set out towards an unknown destination. Lura radiated a warm aura that soothed any other forms of woe or fear. Fluttershy had no idea what it was but she accepted this young doe into her heart. Fluttershy looked over at Lura and took in her beautiful sight. Her light hazelnut coat of fur, her small ovalled ears, her thin muscular physique, and her soft curves. She was a sight to behold. But what caught her attention the most was her eyes, which were dark brown and filled with jubilation.
They made their way to a clearing with a large pool of clear water, almost like a mirror against the sky. Fluttershy looked out over the reflective surface, taking in the breathtaking view. Drawing her eyes to the edges of the pool she looked out to see where this other visitor was. Her gaze stopped on a second breathtaking sight.
There, sleeping at the bank of the pool, was a glowing and glistening mare. She was thin and tall, the same height if not taller than Princess Celestia. But it was no Alicorn, which would make sense considering the forest reacted to her royal blood and her godlike powers. But this mare, she held time lost beauty of an age long ago much like Princess Luna. Her silver coat shimmering in the sunlight and her mane and tail the color of the first frost of winter. Her soft and benevolent features all well sculpted and beautiful beyond comprehension. Both Lura and Fluttershy felt shivers run through their spine looking upon the sleeping mare.
Fluttershy then noticed the length of her horn and saw that it was the same length as Luna’s. This was no normal unicorn. This was a special one. Fluttershy said quietly to her companion, “I will go and see to her. Make sure she is alright, follow me only when I tell you to.”
Lura offered a nod of her head. Gently and slowly Fluttershy flapped her wings, lifting off of the ground. She began to propel herself over the icy cold mirror surface. The nimble flaps of her wings carried no wind as she found herself drawing ever closer to the sleeping unicorn. As she came into closer view of the mare, she was even more beautiful up close. Her docile mane faintly blowing in the wind. As Fluttershy hovered she whispered to the unicorn, “Hello...I am so sorry to interrupt your nap but…”
Fluttershy’s voice trailed off as the unicorn roused. She glowed as Fluttershy noticed any other details. Her eyes opened revealing brilliant sapphires of pure blue, glistening under the light of the sun. Sparkling and tantalizing. The mare looked to the yellow pegasus and almost jumped. The mare squirmed away, Fluttershy landed and softly spoke to the scared mare, “Do not fear me. I am merely here to know your name.”
The unicorn darted her eyes around to try and know where she was. Fluttershy felt sympathy for the poor thing. She must have tarried from her home. Fluttershy then thought to herself, this was another pony, not some lost animal for her to sooth. It was hard to tell the difference sometimes. The unicorn said in a voice of the purest silk and with the softness of dandelion fuzz, “You...you speak to me as if you are trying to sooth an animal. You look at me and you see someone who is beautiful. But do you know the truth? Do you look at me and know me for what I am?”
Fluttershy stepped lightly towards the mare and Fluttershy said to her, “I see a gleaming and beautiful unicorn mare. Far beyond any that I have seen-”
“You have seen others like me?” The unicorn asked. Her voice never faltering from her soft voice.
Fluttershy nodded her head mildly, “Yes but none bearing beauty such as yours.”
The unicorn stood up and revealed her true height. Fluttershy was right, she was as tall as if not taller than Princess Celestia. Her thin physique showing signs of no age, no signs of war. This was a goddess to look upon. Fluttershy felt younger just by being near this mare. Fluttershy waved a hoof to Lura, who stepped and moved to come towards the gathering of pegasus and unicorn. Fluttershy was unsure of her motives or her intentions but she has hold of the forest she stood on.
Fluttershy stepped forward and looked up at the unicorn and asked, “What is your name?”
The unicorn looked at Fluttershy and responded, “My name is what you see when you look upon me. My name is Unicorn.”
Fluttershy looked curiously to Unicorn. She had never known of somepony who was not given a name. Then she looked to her flank and saw that it was bare. Lura found her companion and laid her eyes briefly on her then looked to Unicorn and bowed low in respect and honor. Holing her kneeling pose she said respectfully, “The Unicorn has returned.”
Fluttershy looked to Lura knitting an eyebrow of curiosity, “What do you mean?”
“You are in the presence of the first Unicorn.” Lura said with a look of astonishment.
Fluttershy looked to Unicorn and said with a bow of her head, “I am sorry. I did not know who you were. Please forgive me.”
Unicorn made no movements and simply said, “You need not apologize. Miss…”
“Fluttershy,” Fluttershy said stepping ever closer to Unicorn, “My name is Fluttershy. I am the caretaker of these woods. But, what do you know of the land that you stand upon?”
Unicorn pawed at the ground and she replied with longing in her eyes, “This was my homeland once. This was where I called home. These woods and so many others like it, my people running free and with no sense of obligation. But we did not last long. I lived in a time when this land had many enemies. I survived where so many of me brethren perished.”
She paused in her next words and knelt at the bank and lowered her head as she mournfully continued, “I was rescued by two sisters. The one that holds mastery over the sun and the other of the moon. They sent me to a new dimension out of pity for me. I became that land’s protector. For it was not strange for that land to see Unicorns, they were just fewer and far between. I was distraught and set out on a quest to find others like me. I had found what I was looking for but I was not like them. I was different. They knew it and I knew it. I belonged here, but I knew not how to return here. But as fate would have it I was transported here for an unknown reason.”
Fluttershy tapped her chin with her hoof and she said, “Perhaps you might find answers with Princess Celestia. The Goddess of the Sun.”
Unicorn seemed museful and said with a slight nod, “Then take me to her Young Fluttershy.”
The trio set out to Canterlot where they would seek an audience with Princess Celestia.
~…~
