A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. I didn't expect such a positive feedback on this story. I'm also surprised that so many people like THE LAST UNICORN. Where I'm from, hardly anyone had ever heard of it. Once again, thanks to everyone. Your responses are greatly appreciated. - IrethAnwarunya

Chapter 4: The Lady Amalthea Returns

"Are you absolutely sure?" Schmendrick asked the unicorn for what she guessed was the fifteenth time that day. For the fifteenth time, the unicorn's reply was "Yes."

As the golden sun was dropping below the horizon, Schmendrick and Molly veered off the road and began to make camp. They were only a few miles away from Lir's castle, but Schmendrick insisted they stay outdoors one more night.

"Lir will know we've arrived soon enough, so let's get this over with," Schmendrick grumbled, "We'll stay out here once more to let you become accustomed to your new self."

The unicorn rose from her spot near the fire and Molly moved beside Schmendrick, out of the way of his impending magic. Schmendrick took in a huge breath and raised his arms high into the air.

"Are you absolutely certain you want this? There's no guarantee that I'll be able to change you back," he questioned again, dropping his arms.

"I am sure magician. I can no longer bear this regret. I must become a mortal again and face Lir. I can no longer live without love," the unicorn replied.

"Very well," Schmendrick said with a resigned sigh.

He then raised his arms for the second time and began to chant words in a strange tongue that neither Molly nor the unicorn had ever heard. Suddenly, a searing, incandescent aura of myriad colors surrounded the unicorn and she began to wither under its intensity. The blazing lights flamed up against the blowing wind and they punctuated the darkness and the air seemed to smoke and sizzle as if it were alive. Molly watched as the dreadful fireworks proceeded and noticed how the image of a unicorn seemed superimposed with the figure of a beautiful young woman.

Then, the unicorn faded away in a cloud of silver mist, vanishing with the innumerable colored aura and simultaneously, the magician and young woman slumped to the ground exhausted.

"There," Schmendrick said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper, "it is finished." As the last syllable rolled off his tongue, the magician slipped into unconsciousness and Molly gently placed his head on the soft earth. Quickly, she ran toward the naked young woman lying before her and covered her with a blanket. The flawless elegance had not changed in the eight years she had returned to her natural form as a unicorn and the familiar pinkish starburst in the middle of her forehead was again more of an embellishment of her beauty than a deformity. Molly lowered her eyes and inclined her head by way of a bow.

"My lady," spoke Molly.

The Lady Amalthea slowly brought her hand to her forehead and felt the absence of her radiant horn. She then traced her hand slowly through her wintry hair and moved it along all of the hills and valleys of her figure as she acquainted herself with her new shape. The Lady Amalthea was no longer a unicorn, but her exquisite blue-violet eyes still harbored the same pain and regret and suddenly, they welled up with silver tears that quickly escaped and flowed freely down her cheeks that were made pale by the moonlight.

"Molly, what have I done?" she demanded through her tears. "What have I done?"

PS. Sorry that the chapters have been short. I've been writing them when I get bored during my British Literature classes. Really! How much does one really have to know about THE CANTERBURY TALES? Anyway, I promise that I'll try to make them longer in the future. Any ideas about what should happen? I'm all for input. Thanks again! - IrethAnwarunya