Chapter Nineteen – Ultimate Unicorn Undertaking
Ash repacked his bag, though he did leave the royal family with a gift for their hospitality: a copy of his map of the forest, which noted where all the other troll kingdoms were located. Sirius was grateful, and asked only one more thing of the young prince.
"Zuli would like to join you." Sirius explained as Ash spent one last dinner with the family. "We all want to reconnect with the other troll kingdoms, and Zuli has made it her mission to do so. While it would be nice for her to wait until she's older, I cannot ignore such an opportunity to accomplish our dream. May she join you on your quest? Return with you to your home to meet with your parents and the other troll leaders?"
"I think that'd be great!" Ash said. "Absolutely!" He was already thinking about how he would keep in touch with the silver trolls, especially Zuli. Since he had arrived in the kingdom, the two of them grew close. He had to say a hard goodbye to some of the silver trolls in the village, but he dreaded saying goodbye to Zuli. Now he didn't have to, and it made him very happy, even though he wasn't completely sure why.
The next morning, Ash dressed and checked his bag was properly packed. Then he joined the royal family at the entrance to the castle, where Zuli said farewell to her parents and sisters. She dressed in a casual version of a royal dress, the skirt knee-length, and Ash decided to give her his bandana so she could keep her curly hair out of her face. Zuli had her own bag, and she hugged each of her sisters, her mother, and her father.
"You take care of our little sister, little prince." Amethyst said.
"I will. I promise." Ash said.
"She'll have to protect him until they get outside the labyrinth." Peridotra laughed. Ash chuckled a little, though Peridotra had a point. The tunnels outside the silver troll home were an intricate labyrinth only the royal family knew how to navigate. Zuli would have to guide Ash to safely leave the caves.
"Thank you again, King Sirius." Ash said. "For everything."
"Best of luck to you, Prince Ash." Sirius said. "If I may offer a bit of advice, I would suggest going off the beaten path to find your colors. Do not overthink, and try something different."
"I'll try that. Thanks." Ash looked to Zuli. "Ready? You look like you haven't packed much."
Zuli adjusted her backpack on her shoulders. "I have what I need. Hopefully, our kingdoms can meet in the near future. Are you ready?"
Ash nodded, and Zuli led the way. They walked through the garden to an entrance into the maze. Ash took one last look at the Silver Troll Kingdom. But he followed Zuli with only a little hesitation. He was ready to rejoin his friends, and he wanted to get in touch with his family again.
As they walked through the maze, Ash began to fully understand why Sirius insisted on a guide. There wasn't much light in the tunnels except for clusters of glowing crystals on the ceiling and walls here and there. Sometimes, they'd pass a new tunnel entrance every twenty feet or so. Other times, they'd walk for twenty minutes before seeing a new pathway. Zuli led Ash down a few tunnels, crossed an underground river, climbed over/through stalagmites, and finally arrived at a dead end. Ash was confused until Zuli revealed a hidden door, which led to the outside. They had been in the darkness for about an hour, and the children needed to blink a few times to get used to the light. They were at the base of the mountains. After Zuli shut the concealed entrance to the labyrinth, the children went to the ledge to look out over the forest.
"Where do you suppose your friends are?" Zuli asked.
"Don't know." Ash shrugged. "But Nonna always said she'd hear me if I call." He cupped his hand next to his mouth. "Eclipse! Nonna! Are you there?" He and Zuli waited. When nothing happened, Ash tried again. "Nonna! I'm here! I'm back!"
A breeze passed through their hair, and a familiar white comet shot towards them. It circled the children and then Eclipse popped into existence. She hugged Ash tightly, and he returned the embrace. Hugging a ghost felt like hugging an armful of fluffy downy feathers.
"Oh, Ash. I didn't think we'd ever find you!" Eclipse sounded like she was crying. "I searched the caves for three days! I found your glowstick in some water, and I feared the worst."
"I'm really sorry, Nonna." Ash said. "I'll explain everything. Where is everyone?"
"They were searching. But when I told them what I had found, they wondered if they ought to give up as well. They're resting in the forest. Follow me!" Eclipse led Ash and Zuli into the woods, leaving the mountains behind them, and they spotted a small camp ahead of them. Ash recognized his friends, and it made him run faster.
"Guys! Guys, I'm back! I'm here!" Ash shouted.
Everyone's ears perked up, and they whipped around to the voice. Prowlus got to Ash first, tackling the boy in a hug. Harper and Iris hugged him next, and Steve and Ebony nuzzled him lovingly. Gris scooped up all the trolls to hug them. Ash was embarrassed to discover he was crying, and he hurriedly wiped the tears away.
"What happened to you?" Iris asked. "We scoured those caves and didn't find a thing!"
"Eclipse even said you might be…" Gris swallowed.
"I'm really sorry, guys." Ash said. "But I can explain."
"Can you explain her?" Finny pointed to Zuli.
"Well, what happened is that I fell into some water and got sucked into a weird underwater tunnel." Ash explained. "I was saved by Zuli here and her family. They kept me safe until I could find my way back to you guys."
"It took a week to do that?" Harper asked. "You were gone for so long."
"Well, we had to go through quite a labyrinth to get back here." Ash explained. "Zuli helped guide the way. Her family was a great help. So, in return, Zuli is coming home with us so she can meet my parents."
'Why is she grey?' Prowlus asked.
"That is a secret for the royal family." Zuli said cryptically. "I hope you do not mind me traveling with you."
"Not at all." Harper said. "It's a pleasure to have more company."
'Mom and Dad will be happy to meet you, too.' Prowlus signed, which Ash had been translating for Zuli.
"If it is not too much trouble, I would love to learn that language you are speaking." Zuli said excitedly.
"Wait, where's Sir Tandeth?" Iris asked. "You can't go anywhere without him."
Ash looked down sadly. "He didn't make it out. When we were attacked by those bat things, Sir Tandeth told me to run while he held them off. That's how I got lost. I didn't want to leave him, but…"
Prowlus hugged Ash gently. "It's okay, Ash." Harper assured. "He was just doing what he was trained to do. He was very loyal to you, and we will honor Sir Tandeth when we can."
"Hey!" Gris said suddenly. "Now that we got Ash back, plus another friend, maybe we'll have better luck with my mission!"
"Luck with what?" Ash asked.
"Gris found a unicorn for Sparkler, and he wants our help to get it." Harper explained. She sounded mildly exasperated, as though Gris's mission amused her.
"You found a unicorn for your sister?" Ash asked his bergen friend.
"Yeah! Come on, we'll show you!" Gris guided everyone further into the forest. At one point, Ebony and Steve stayed behind so the others could sneak towards some bushes to hide. Peering out into a meadow, Ash saw a herd of swag stags.
"Where's the unicorn?" Ash whispered.
"Right there! The pretty white one!" Gris pointed.
Ash looked, and he saw what one might consider a unicorn. That is, if you squinted your eyes and tilted your head. In reality, what Gris had found was a one-horned, albino, female King Stag, who stood just a little shorter than the King Stag himself.
"We don't have the heart to tell him the truth." Harper whispered when Ash looked to her quizzically.
Ash chuckled softly. He wasn't too sure what Gris had in mind to capture the "unicorn," but he wondered if this is what Sirius meant by "go off the beaten path for your colors." If he helped his friend accomplish this, would Ash get his colors somehow?
"I say we give it a try." Ash said. "Gris, do you have a plan?"
"Not quite." Gris said. "But we can always try luring it towards us. Sparkler says unicorns like sweet stuff."
"I'm pretty sure we're out of candy." Ash said. "What else do they like?"
"What about music?" Zuli suggested.
"Yeah, that might work." Finny agreed. "I don't know a lot about unicorns, but music is bound to draw attention."
"Actually, that also could work against us." Harper said.
'We should not forget that the King Stag is rather mean.' Prowlus added.
"Well, they say music can soothe the savage beast." Zuli shrugged.
"Okay, we'll give it a go." Ash decided. "But some of us should keep an eye on the King. Harper, why don't you and Finny ride on Ebony and perch yourselves on a tree near the King Stag? That way, if he starts charging us, you can swoop in!"
"Sounds good." Harper nodded. She and Finny mounted Ebony, and the dark phoenix flew off.
"Let's go. Gris, you should stay back here with Steve. I think the sight of you will freak the swag stags out." Ash snuck around the edge of the meadow with Prowlus, Zuli, and Iris right behind him. They reached the albino swag stag, and Prowlus pulled out his flute.
"What now?" Zuli asked.
"We do what trolls do best." Ash said simply. He began tapping out a beat on some rocks. He started soft, and then steadily grew louder. He caught the swag stags' attention, but they did not run. The King Stag glanced his way but was not alarmed by the sight of the child troll. Ash kept up the beat, his eyes on the albino stag.
Come on and catch me if you can
Just know that I got a plan
I can move faster than your feet
I think this chase is gonna be sweet!
Prowlus and Ash tiptoed closer to the unicorn stag, and they made lassos from their hair. But when they tried to catch the unicorn stag, she pranced away and the brothers lassoed each other instead.
"I think we should try something else." Ash said as he and Prowlus untangled each other.
"I've got an idea." Iris suggested. "All the old legends about unicorns feature a pretty young maiden. What if…what was your name?"
"Zuli."
"Yes, what if Zuli tries to coax the stag over to us?" Iris suggested. "May not be a real unicorn, but she's quiet and calm enough to not alarm the animal."
"Worth a try." Ash and Prowlus joined Iris to hide again in the tall grass, and Zuli went out to approach the unicorn stag.
We'll try the calm and quiet approach
An easier way to go
Sneak right up, don't make a sound
Tiptoe across the ground
Zuli got close enough to the unicorn stag to reach out and touch her. Zuli glided into the unicorn stag's line of sight, and the animal sniffed her curiously. Zuli giggled as the unicorn stag stuck her nose in the child's hair to smell it. But the unicorn stag still bounded away and dodged Ash's hair lasso. The hair lasso wrapped around Zuli and he pulled her right to him. The two children ended up with their noses squished together, and they laughed at the failed plan.
Come on and catch me if you can
Let's work together, try another plan
When we're done, we'll have a new friend
At least, we hope it'll work in the end
Next, they tried luring the unicorn stag into a net trap. They used the same grass and flowers the unicorn stag seemed to favor, and they thought for sure it would work.
"We got her this time." Ash assured.
'How do we train a swag stag anyway?' Prowlus asked.
"We'll figure that out later." Ash shrugged. He heard munching, and he pulled on the net trap to activate it. But when he, Prowlus, Iris, and Zuli hopped out from their hiding place, they saw the King Stag in the net instead.
"You've got to be kidding me." Iris groaned.
Ash chuckled nervously as he cut the net to free the King Stag. "Sorry about that."
The quartet ran as fast as they could when the King Stag started chasing them. Luckily, Harper and Finny swooped in on Ebony to pick them up and take them to Gris and Steve. They had to wait several minutes for the King Stag to calm.
"So what now?" Gris asked.
"Maybe you should try, Gris." Ash suggested. "After all, you're the one taking the sta—uh, unicorn to your sister."
Gris peered over the bushes at the King Stag. "I don't want to go alone."
"Then I'll go with you!" Ash offered. That made Gris relax, and he set the troll child on his shoulder. Gris crawled through the bushes, around the edge of the meadow, until he was close enough to the unicorn stag.
"What now?" Gris asked.
"Inch your way out of the bushes. Slowly." Ash instructed.
Gris obeyed, going to his stomach and army-crawling his way towards the unicorn stag. When the other swag stags took notice, they bounded away. But when the unicorn stag saw Gris, she didn't run. Gris lay on his stomach still, waiting patiently and staring at the unicorn stag with a friendly smile. The unicorn stag tentatively came closer.
"What do you think she's thinking?" Gris whispered.
"Well…" Ash thought for a minute.
When I saw you from the sand
I thought, 'Catch me if you can.'
Ready for this game to end
Think I found a new best friend
Gris ever so slowly pulled his hand around and held it out, palm up, for the unicorn stag. In Gris's palm rested some of his trail mix. The white creature sniffed Gris's hand, climbed onto his fingers, and trotted over to the trail mix. Once she finished eating, she settled down onto Gris's palm. Gris nearly squealed with glee as he scooted back into the bushes, and he petted the unicorn stag with a gentle finger as he and Ash went back to the others. Everyone congratulated Gris on his work, and they quietly approached the unicorn stag to look at her up close. Though not a real unicorn, her white fur was groomed to the point that it nearly sparkled, giving her quite the magical appearance.
Ash let Gris bask in the victory, and he rejoined Prowlus. 'Well done, Little Brother.' Prowlus signed. 'You did the right thing by letting Gris handle it himself.'
"Well, this was his mission, his big thing he wanted to do." Ash said. "I should've realized he ought to be the only one doing it." He glanced to his hands, but sighed dismally when he saw grey skin still.
Prowlus hugged Ash. 'Keep faith. We're with you.'
When the travelers made camp for the night, Ash did something he wished he had done a long time ago: he pulled out the compact mirror in his hair and contacted his family.
"Ash!" Poppy squealed excitedly. "Oh, sweetheart, we're so glad to hear from you! I want you to know that it wasn't me calling you like fifty times. That was all your father. He was a bit of a nervous wreck!"
"Was not!" Branch's face appeared in the mirror. "I have all the confidence in the world, and I knew you were fine. I just like to check in, you know?"
"I'm really sorry for not calling sooner or answering your calls. Really, I'm super sorry and I love you a lot and I'm so sorry." Ash said. "I've been on quite the adventure. I want you to meet my new friend, Princess Zuli!" He angled the mirror to Zuli, who waved.
"Well hello!" Poppy waved back.
"Where did you and Ash find each other?" Branch asked.
"I'd like to explain that privately, if I may." Zuli said. Branch and Poppy exchanged confused looks, but agreed. Ash handed Zuli the mirror, and the silver troll princess moved outside of hearing distance from the others. Ash watched Zuli talk with his parents, explaining where she came from and her mission to visit the other troll kingdoms. After a few minutes, she returned.
"Ash, we are delighted to meet Zuli and she is staying with us when you get back!" Poppy announced.
Ash chuckled. "Thanks, Mom."
"But don't feel rushed to get home." Branch said. "We can last a little longer with you out on an adventure. Just promise to stay in touch."
"I will. Double promise." Ash said.
"And Ash?" Branch smiled gently. "You can come home without your colors. We love you so much, regardless what color you are. I'm sorry if we…or, rather, if I ever did anything to make you think your colors mattered that much to us."
"No, no!" Ash said quickly. "I did this for me, because I want to find my colors. I'll try and come back soon. I love you guys."
"We love you, too." Branch and Poppy said simultaneously.
"We'll tell everyone else you said, 'hi.'" Poppy said.
"Thanks." Ash bid his parents goodnight, and he and Zuli rejoined the others.
"What should we do next?" Harper asked.
"Yes, where shall we go tomorrow?" Iris asked.
'Where would you like to go, Ash?' Prowlus asked.
"Don't worry about distance." Gris said, feeding the unicorn stag. "I can carry Sparkler's unicorn."
"Whoa, whoa!" Ash laughed. "Easy, guys."
"Don't you want to find your colors?" Finny asked.
"Of course. But I need some time to figure out the plan." Ash explained. "Tomorrow, let's just sleep in and relax." Everyone nodded in understanding. Ash was relieved to see it. Now, none of them would suspect that he actually had no idea where to go from here.
Original song: "Catch Me If You Can"