Chapter 12

Buffy the vampire slayer/ unicorn hunter was on a mission. Find a unicorn or die. Neither option was very nice. All she could picture in her mind was the unicorn charging her and impaling her with its horn. Since her childhood she had a fear of horses. It came from being bucked off during a riding lesson. She had never quite recovered. But saving the world was more important than her uncomfortableness around horses and the like. Besides, she had every weapon she could think of that would help her capture the creature but not kill it. She tromped through the nearby woods. They were a wreck from all the creatures. But still she did not see many. Her Slayer powers frightened them? Perhaps. But maybe she didn't look close enough.

Deeper and deeper into the undiscovered woods of Ireland she went. The day was getting on but still she walked. No unicorn to speak of. She wondered if it was hopeless. If there was a unicorn to find. But then, there in the thicket. A flash of white. Buffy stood very still. A head peeked out and took stock of her. Pure white with black eyes and a shiny gold horn that was reminiscent of a rhino's horn. Buffy reached for her rope but somehow it didn't seem right to capture the creature like that.

"Please come here." Buffy beckoned the unicorn. "I won't hurt you. I promise." The head stretched further out and the creature took a step. "That's it." Buffy breathed. It took another step towards her. Buffy felt inclined to sit down so she did. The unicorn moved closer. She began to get nervous. The horn looked long and powerful. But the creature looked gently for the most part. It came close enough for her to touch it. She reached her hand up to touch it , she could feel the unicorn breathing as she rubbed its muzzle. It had the silkiest coat. The unicorn nuzzled her and she held her breath. "Will you come with me?" It nodded its head. Buffy slowly stood up. She began walking away. It followed. "Thank you. This means so much to me, and the world." She tentatively laid her hand on its back. They walked quickly. As fast as they could but they had a long walk ahead of them. It had taken her a few hours to find the unicorn. She only hoped it wasn't to late.

And to late she might have been. Because while she was gone an army of fairy kind had attacked the druids just like back in 1647. The Slayerettes were battling the best way they knew but without Anya, Xander and Oz they had no chance, and Angel could not go outside until dusk. Save for Willow's talismans they were all but doomed.

"Please. We have to hurry." Buffy gazed up at the sun setting through the trees. The unicorn bent down next to her. "I may ride you?" It nodded. Buffy trembled for a moment, her memories filling her mind. But they she swallowed and climbed aboard. They rode like the wind, the unicorn knowing where to go without Buffy saying a word.

The castle was almost in reach. The night singing of the battle raging on around her. Buffy and the unicorn flew across the fields and over the paths. Sparks of magic flew up into the air like fireworks. She dreaded the results of all of it.