Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Shannara Series, "The Shannara Chronicles", The Unicorn Chronicles, the 1995 film, "Casper", and "Galavant". They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, MTV, Spike, Bruce Coville, Universal, ABC, and Disney. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Inspiration for Fanfic: ABC's television show, "Galavant".

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Welcome to the second part in my fanfiction mini-trilogy, The Lone Unicorn, part of my Origin Series and my Long Series. :)

For those who are curious about the timeline, my Lone Unicorn trilogy occurs sometime before my OFC Melissa Fickle enters the Land of Hobbits and Dwarves. So, it's about three or four days, in my Land of Unicorns fanfic, before the events following up to my Green Ring fanfic trilogy, also part of my Origin Series. This fanfic, however, begins around two days before the events in my Green Ring fanfic trilogy.

That said, let's continue with the story. Enjoy! :)

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Syrena rushed towards a village in the Land of Talking Animals, determined to meet up with Lockslear and see if he could join her on her return trip to the Land of Unicorns. It was crucial that Lockslear come with her, for once he came, then maybe the barrier surrounding the Land of Unicorns would be lifted, the unicorns free to wander about the other six realms of the second Seven Realms as they pleased.

But this was wishful thinking. Syrena had no idea what Lockslear looked like, let alone how she would meet up with him! Was he as spunky and mischievous as everyone said he was? Was he none of those things? It didn't matter to her. Just that Syrena needed to find him, before something else happened.

Syrena, in her Hill Unicorn form, had a standard white coat, a white mane, a white tail, and a pearly spiral horn, or so her horn looked the last time she checked. In her human form, Syrena was a young woman with straight brunette hair, brown eyes, pale skin, and fair features. In her human form, which she currently was transformed into, she wore a red blouse, blue jeans, black boots, a brown belt, and a grey cloak, which kept her warm at night, should she choose to wander outside at nightfall.

Yes, she was a shapeshifter, a gift her parents received, since their true forms were a Dark Unicorn, which her father was, and a Sea Unicorn, which her mother was. On the day her parents met, Syrena heard her mother tell her that she and her Dark Unicorn father fought until they fell in love. They moved to the Hills, shapeshifting into Hill Unicorns for two years, before, during, and after Syrena's birth, and then throughout her childhood, before Syrena turned one year old.

Or so the story goes. Syrena couldn't recall the last time her parents were ever this truthful to her! They always kept their past a secret, even from her. Well, at least the truth was out now!

.

When she journeyed throughout some parts of the Land of Unicorns, she had been ambushed and kidnapped by pirate unicorns, had her blood drawn by a human Pirate King named Peter the Pillager, and met her parents, in their true Unicorn forms, all in a matter of two days.

It was a horrendous sight to see, one where Syrena wouldn't forget.

As for her companion, Whipstaff, although they showed no romantic feelings towards her, he was on his way to Earth to build his manor. Whipstaff Manor. By all accounts, he would perform his job well and get his manor built. But what then? Where would he go from here?

All these questions Syrena couldn't answer, let alone explain. But one thing was certain: she didn't have to go to the Land of Talking Animals alone. Aslan and her parents watched over her, even after she left the Land of Unicorns, for her Dark Unicorn father lived in the clouds, while her Sea Unicorn mother lived in the Sea, rivers, and other bodies of water, and Aslan was just everywhere in the worlds, realms, and the Universes. Such was the nature of things in this world.

One journey remained on Syrena's mind: find Lockslear and get him to come to the Land of Unicorns with her. Syrena hoped she could do her job well and get back home safely, but then who knew where her journey was would take her next and what sort of creatures she would meet along the way.

.

Syrena kept her pace to a moderate speed. She had time before she entered the village. So, she might as well make the best of it. It hadn't been that long since she said her goodbyes to Whipstaff. Oh, she would miss him. At the same time, she knew her parents were around here somewhere. Maybe they could help her out.

She stopped before a small rockface, practically brimming with fresh water. She cupped her pale hands under the streaming waterfall, taking a few gulps of the cool, crystal-clear water until she was satisfied. Oh, she loved how water made her feel like walking another hundred yards! It was certainly worth it, a refreshing drink no doubt!

She wasn't expecting her Sea Unicorn mother to drop in, startling her. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

"Pearl, we have to go!" her Dark Unicorn father said, getting Syrena's mother's attention.

"All right," Pearl called back, facing her daughter once again. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I'll be fine," Syrena said, hesitant and nearly shedding a tear. She wiped her eye, doing her best to keep the tears from coming. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

Pearl got her attention, causing Syrena to look up at her. "You're doing well. It's just a village. Aslan assures us you will have safe passage through the village. Now, there isn't a new king in the Land of Talking Animals." She huffed. "That doesn't mean that Aslan isn't working on getting new people to this world, in all forms. Some newcomers already entered our realm, while the barrier is still up."

Syrena stared at her mother, quizzical. "You mean to tell me there have been people entering the Land of Unicorns, our realm, from other worlds and other realms? How is that even possible?"

"I don't know. Aslan's been working on that," Pearl said, huffing. She looked at her daughter, reassuring her, "The new king will come to the Land of Talking Animals. He will fix this, but right now, we need you to help fix the damage done in our realm. Get that barrier down, so that everyone can see our realm and all its glory. I have faith in you. You will accomplish this task."

"Thank you, mother, for everything," Syrena said, simply.

"Don't thank me yet. I'll see you soon," Pearl said, disappearing from sight.

Syrena took one last look around. She pressed on without delay. Whoever this new king was, she was surprised that Lockslear didn't take the throne. Wasn't he a prince of this realm anyway? What was his issue with this realm?

She huffed, knowing she would find out soon enough what was wrong with the Prince of the Land of Talking Animals.

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At last, Syrena entered the village, past its gate and past two soldiers who stared at her through their silver helmets, displaying a lion's head etched into their silver armor's chest plates. So far, everyone didn't mind seeing her in the village, let alone knowing what her business was there. All she knew was that she had to find Lockslear, convince him that he needed to assist her with her task.

But how was she supposed to find him, if he was anywhere in this village to begin with?

"Look! Over there!" Pearl said, appearing from a fountain, only to point out a thatched brown house, close to the village's marketplace.

Syrena spotted the house her Sea Unicorn mother pointed to, as well as the large pink and grey pig eating apples to his delight. Seriously? Why would Lockslear need a pig? She shrugged, making her way over to the front door and knocking on it three times.

There was no response. She knocked on the door again, hearing a groan, which told her someone was inside this house.

"Hello? Is someone there?" Syrena asked, waiting to hear a sound from the other side of the door. "My name is Syrena. I'm looking for Lockslear."

"Lockslear is asleep," a young man said on the other side of the door, groaning. "Lockslear doesn't need your help." He groaned again, snoring as sleep came to him once again. He groaned a third time, speaking to her again from somewhere inside the house, "The door is open. Come in!" he said, sleepily.

Syrena huffed. It must be Lockslear! "I'm coming in!" she stated, barging into the young man's house to find him asleep in his twin bed. The bed had a soft mattress, white covers that were stained in places, and a big brown cover covering him up. This man had short brown hair that was messy, due to sleeping for long periods of time. He wore a brown waistcoat and jacket over his white dress shirt, brown trousers, and grey socks, while his brown boots stood next to his bed, as he slept.

The second Syrena entered the house, the man awoke, groaning a fourth time, and shielding his blue eyes from the light. His skin was pale, but in desperate need of a bath. How long had this man been in here for? Two days? Three days? Syrena didn't know, but she would get to bottom of this as soon as possible.

"Are you Lockslear?" Syrena asked him, curiously.

"Oh… come back at a later time," the young man said, opening his blue eyes now, gazing at her with disdain and interest. "Nope, you're still here."

"Are you Lockslear? I was told to meet up with you," Syrena said with great joy in her words.

The young man got up long enough to grab an empty beer bottle, flinging it into the air, smashing it at the first large black beetle he saw crawling in the house, directly across the room from where he slept. Syrena stared at this young fellow with disgruntlement. She expected better.

"You know, I was told that Lockslear was this amazing prince, someone I might admire, look up to. Instead, all I see here is a drunken fool," Syrena huffed, angrily.

The young man laughed in amusement. "What did you expect from me, princess? That I'd be more than what the legends say I am?"

"So, you are Lockslear?" Syrena asked, hoping to get a better answer from him.

The young man sat up, rubbing his eyes. "I could be, but then, the name Lockslear has stuck with me ever since I was born. Lockslear, the great golden house cat meant to save everyone!" He grinned, chuckling. "Or am I supposed to just save this realm from its terrible fate? Alindor gave me specific instructions, in his spirit form, too, I might add, to wait for Parker Dooley to show up. Lo and behold! Alindor doesn't choose me to be his successor, and all that's left now is King Forstead serving as a temporary king until the new king comes in and saves this realm from its fate!

"So yeah, I'm angry! My bloodline can't continue reigning over this realm. I blame Jine for that! And now, look at me! What you see before you is a broken prince with no chance of getting the throne he deserves." He made his way over to his sink, grabbing another bottle of beer and drinking half of it down. He belched, smashing the beer bottle against another wall in anger.

He looked at Syrena, telling her, gruffly, "Go home, princess! If you are a princess… or not. There's nothing more for you to see here from Lockslear the fearful." He skidded across the floor in his attempt to sit down in one of his wooden chairs. He sat on the floor in rage. "I'm Lockslear the Dreadful, Lockslear the Fearful, or rather Lockslear, the Down-on-His-Luck Prince." He threw a stool across the way, startling and annoying Syrena even further.

This was the prince she was expecting to greet? He looked terrible! Well, maybe she could give him words of encouragement, allow him to see that he was still the man, the prince, he dreamed of.

She looked at him now, deciding on a new tactic. She rushed towards him, as he sat down at his table, drunk and belching. And Syrena thought she was heavy drinker… well, her youthful years consisted of water, never beer!

Just what was going on in Lockslear's mind right now? More beer? This kind of madness needed to stop, and she felt sure she could do that for him! Or so she hoped anyway.

"Lockslear, let me help you out. We can get the crown back for you. You can become the Land of Talking Animals' new king! Just think about it for a second! It's a great plan!" Syrena said in triumph, just as Lockslear stood up with ease.

"No, I don't think so," Lockslear said, showing her to the front door. "See you! There's the door! Don't stop for drinks on your way out, like I did, princess."

"But I can help you," Syrena said, facing the front door. She turned to Lockslear, just as he inched her closer to the front door. "Wait. Why won't you let me help you?" she asked, as soon as they were by the front door, which he opened for her.

Lockslear stared at her with big blue eyes. He informed her, promptly, "Princess, I would love to assist you. Unfortunately, I'm not up for the job. Yes, it was my choice to leave the throne to another king, but it was Alindor who passed that law, in an effort to see his best friend and dragonoid, Parker Dooley, again. I'm sorry, but I cannot help you. Goodbye!" He closed the door on her, right as Syrena protested.

"No wait! Eh…" Syrena hesitated, knocking on the door again, hoping for an answer. She received none, but had a gut feeling that Lockslear was listening to her. "Okay! Well, I'll just wait here until you come out! I can't do this by myself. I have my mission to attend to. But if I can't help you in your task, then you have to help me. It's the right thing to do." She paused, waiting for an answer. There was none. "Okay. See you later!" She walked away from the thatched brown house, hopeful that Lockslear would find her again.

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Thanks for reading. :)