Chapter four:

Arianna looked around at the frost covered grass. Silently she drew in a breath at the large lake. It was full of blue green lily pads upon the giant lake. She felt the grass slightly brush her legs as she climbed off of Sunchaser. Finn stayed on top of Rednal as well as Lori stayed on Tobiano. The elf climbed off of the white unicorn and held the reigns tightly in his hands.

"We must be quiet; we do not want to disturb the long silence of this place," he said not sure what in habited the once sanctuary place. This place was the meeting place of the lands, where unicorns, mortals, and creatures of all sorts came to be healed. They cautiously walked through the grassy area as Finn and Lori climbed off of their unicorns. They held the reigns and leaded one after the other.

"This place is creepy," Lori said softly. They all looked back at her and she gave a 'what?' look before saying, "well it is!"

"Shh!" the elf said quickly throwing a look back at her, "this place has been abandoned by visitors long ago. It is use to silence; only the creatures that lived here before rest here… they may not take kindly to strangers."

"Oh, sorry," she said biting her lip before continuing to walk further into a wide forest. The trees were far apart, but they still wanted to remain in single file. Looking around cautiously the elf heard something rustling. He looked away from it not wanting to spook it. They didn't notice, they didn't have the ears to hear such light rustling, and if they did they would figure it to be the wind for it was so light, to them at least. After an hour they finally all heard it, but it sounded heavier, not as light as it did before… it wanted them to hear it. They all looked around nervously. They heard a thump and crows flew out from everywhere. They saw something sharp poke up from a tall bush. Chase nudged Arianna and she saw it as it went down.

"It can't be," she said softly to him.

"It is," Sunchaser reassured her. The black shadow unicorn jumped out from the bush nearly stabbing the elf. Chase charged the unicorn stabbing at it with his horn. The two locked horns like swords as they tried to take the other one out. Arianna tried to dodge the horn as the shadow unicorn stabbed at her. She screamed out while the lf quickly pulled out his bow and arrows, with in seconds an arrow was placed in the shadow unicorns neck, then another one was planted right under the shadow unicorn's cheek bone. When the black unicorn finally fell to the ground Arianna let out a breath, she looked to the elf swallowing nervously.

"Thanks," she said resting easily before something jumped out of a tree knocking her to the ground. She let out a scream before she hit the ground. They all looked down at the black thing on top of her. The thing had a dagger out ready to stab her; Sunchaser kicked his back feet knocking the creature off of Arianna. The elf climbed off the horse and stabbed the pure black creature in the throat before walking toe Arianna and helping her up.

"You're welcome," he said before walking off towards the white unicorn and climbing on. He was so arrogant! She dusted herself off before hopping back up onto Sunchaser's back. She sighed before talking to Sunchaser.

"Chase how could a shadow unicorn be out here?" she asked feeling still a little shaken up.

"Because, princess Arianna, when you and your people killed Entia, or The Shifter as you people called him, his shadow unicorns and minions who were left back at the castle or survived the battle came out here. You see he was building something stronger then him, so he had a plan for if he was to die; he wanted all the evil creatures to come to these lands to stop you. Since this is a place of peace, we were not greeted by an army," the elf said obviously he had heard what she had asked the bronze unicorn.

"Oh," Arianna said already starting to get annoyed with this guy. He was rude, and arrogant, one more thing and she would punch him in the face. She sighed in irritation.

"And how do you know this elf?" Sunchaser said sensing the irritation in Arianna's sigh.

"Well… you don't think elves know these things, I've heard it…" he said not wanting to give away his secret. Sunchaser did not believe this. The bronze celestial just snorted before slowing down so that Finn and Rednal could go behind the elf. Nostarion sat upon the white horse staring at the deep blue sky feeling a little down. Only he knew why he was really there, why he really was the way he was. For hours they traveled, Arianna began to get a little dizzy and began to get blurred vision.

"Arianna…" she heard Lori say, she looked behind her as Lori's face began to swirl around, "Arianna? Can you hear me? Look your cut!"

"What?" Arianna asked swallowing before falling off her horse. Everyone looked back at the bronze haired girl on the floor. Nostarion stopped the white unicorn and climbed off. He slowly walked to see what is happening; they were making too much noise. They were amongst another tiny lake with lily pads on it. He saw Arianna on her the ground and ran to her.

"What is wrong," Sunchaser said throwing his head in the air wanting answers as he looked down at his best friend. The elf looked down at the tiny cut on her arm, he touched it. He then looked to her other arm where there was a green hand print; it seemed to get greener by the minute. He watched a purple spot the size of an ant appeared.

"Poison, we have to get her to lake of healing, the actually Lily Pad Lake," he said lifting the girl into his arms and walking her to the white unicorn.

"No!" Chase yelled trotting up to him, "I will run faster then your unicorn will."

"You do not know the speed and power I have, especially when it is Arianna's life on the line," Chase said lying down on the ground. The elf pondered a moment; he decided to take the chance.

"The rest of you stay here, I will return," Nostarion said placing Arianna on Sunchaser's back before climbing on himself. Chase did not mind the extra wait and so quickly stood on all fours. Nostarion took the reigns and snapped them and Sunchaser rode off with quickness gaining speed with each long stride. Nostarion led the unicorn to where the Lake was. He was surprised to see a small hut by the lake. Two old ladies walked out to see who was causing such noise. They saw the limp girl in the arms of a… elf? Nostarion pulled the unicorn to a stop. Sunchaser slowly laid down so that he could climb off and pull Arianna with her, "she is hurt madams, she has been poisoned, is there anything you can do?"

"Bring her inside," a cheerfully plump woman said holding the door open so he could carry her in.

"Who are they?" Chase asked angrily, he wasn't sure it was safe to trust them.

"They are the healers of Lily Pad Lake. They will heal her," he promised Chase who was still lying down.

"I am Celandine Burrows," the cheerfully plump one said as she showed him to a bed for the fragile girl to lie upon.

"I am Nostarion and this is Belaraniel," he said quickly as the old lady looked over Arianna's wound. The cheerfully plum one known as Celandine Burrows sat mixing an ointment.

"That is Palin Musicsinger," Celandine said chuckling cheerfully making Nostarion feel a little better.

"Not time to chit chat now Burrows get over here," the old lady said finally done mixing the ointment.

"I'm coming you old bat," Celandine chuckled as she smoothed the ointment on the poisoned spot.

"Don't call me an old bat you smelly goat," Palin said looking more like a witch.

"Calm down Palin, you're acting like a Sissyfuzz," Celandine said signaling to the young blonde elf to walk over to the table.

"Sissfuzz! You old croon your not one to talk!" the witch looking one said bouncing up angrily pointing a warning finger.

"Take this girl to that lake out there and wade her into the water, it has healing power," Celandine said before turning to Palin, "you old snake, I am younger then you!"

"Yeah by only one hundred and fifty years!" yelled Palin obviously in an uproar.

"Yeah your what now a five hundred and seventy eight? I am only four hundred and twenty five years!" yelled Celandine point a round finger at the witch looking healer. Nostarion was rather amused but knew he had to hurry and heal Arianna. He picked Arianna up and walked outside leaving the bickering women. He walked into the lake with Arianna in his arms. He slowly lifted her so her whole body except her head was in the water. Chase walked into the water feeling his tired and achy muscles becoming relieved and feeling like he had never moved at all.

"What is this place?" Chase asked looking at Nosarion who held Arianna in his arms.

"Lily Pad Lake, they say that it heals all wounds, and can bring you to life if dropped into the middle of the lake," Nostarion said looking at the bronze girl in his arms; he wondered how the fait of the world could depend on someone so helpless. She coughed and woke up looking up at him taking deep breaths. She squirmed slightly but he didn't release her, he then talked out of the water carrying her in his arms. He waited for Sunchaser to come out of the water so he could climb up on her. He still had her in his arms, she felt a little achy she had been so close to death.

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Once the group saw him return they all stood to see the girl in his arms. He was using one arm to lead Sunchaser, and the other arm to hold her legs up as her arms were wrapped around his neck. They were both dripping wet. He grabbed his unicorn's reins and didn't answer anyone's questions; he didn't want to wake Arianna. He led them to the lake and the two old ladies. They walked out and waved to the prince. He waved at them and smiled. Now they just had to find a way to get to the next lands, maybe the old healers could help…

Authors note: I tried to not rush this chapter lol! I hope it worked I am just running out of ideas, I have run to a spot where I kind of don't know how to work it. So I'll figure it out I might get a chapter up tomorrow or the next, if you have any ideas you guys then maybe I'll get it up sooner lol!