Sorry for the long delay. I was updating my fanfics and finishing my fanfic collection. Enjoy! :)
*.*.*
Syrena finished eating her second meal of pancakes. This time, the pancakes were covered in chocolate chips. Whipstaff made them especially for her. It was something new to try. Since Syrena was still hungry, even after Whipstaff washed his dishes, glasses, and wooden tray, he decided to treat her with a second helping of breakfast food, which included the chocolate chip pancakes.
It really made everything more enjoyable. Ahh! It was blissful being human. In some ways, she missed her Unicorn form, but decided to stick with her human form for now, until she could adjust to both forms.
"Are you done?" Whipstaff asked, coming towards her again.
Syrena nodded, passing to him her wooden tray filled with empty dishes and glasses. "Yeah. Here you go."
"Thank you," Whipstaff said, heading off into his open kitchen with her dishes and wooden tray.
Syrena looked around the room in angst and wonder. Would she ever learn how to walk in her human form? She took one last look around, deciding to get off the couch and test out her legs. At first, she heard Whipstaff gasp. Was he going to help her?
"Have you got it? Your legs should be strong enough to walk on. You don't need my help, do you?" Whipstaff asked, concerned for her.
"No," Syrena said, nearly dropping to the floor. Her legs almost failed her, until she started walking on them. Through her Unicorn magic, she allowed wooden rails to hold her. The trick worked! She was walking much better now, if not a little pained from the experience. She looked up at Whipstaff, telling him, politely, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
"Just trying to help," Whipstaff said with a smile. He said, kindly, "Take a look around! If you see anything you want to talk about, feel free to let me know."
"Thank you, again," Syrena said, observing one painting that hung on the wall, close to the kitchen. She stared at this painting, observing a Dark Unicorn fighting a Sea Unicorn on a white sandy beach, underneath a starry night sky. The Dark Unicorn was a male, while the Sea Unicorn was a female.
The Dark Unicorn and the Sea Unicorn moved about the painting, battling with their spiral horns until they danced. The image changed, showing a foal with a blue, spotted coat and a blue spotted spiral horn. The Sea Unicorn foal whinnied, nestling next to his Sea Unicorn mother. The Dark Unicorn neighed to the Sea Unicorn, standing up on his hind legs, before running off through a dark grey cloud.
Something caught Syrena's eye. This painting showed a conch shell, sitting on the white sandy beach. Its Sea song reached Syrena's ears. She wanted so badly to go to the Sea, to see if her ancestors were there. She nearly touched the painting's conch shell when Whipstaff joined her. Syrena gasped, retracting her index finger at once.
"Oh, I was just looking," Syrena said, observing the painting again. "It's very exquisite. The painting."
"Yes, I dare say it is," Whipstaff said with intrigue. He asked her, curiously, "So, are your legs working now?"
"Why yes, I believe they are," Syrena said, looking down at her legs, finding she could walk on them better now.
"Good. Excellent," Whipstaff said, heading towards the front door. He turned to her, asking her, "So, shall we meet up with Aslan now?"
Syrena nodded. "Of course." She made her way towards the front door, taking Whipstaff's arm, as Whipstaff pushed open the front door and stepped outside the tree house, taking her with him.
.
Syrena had no idea how lush and green the grass would be, nor the trees to her left and right, and the hills and hillocks as well. Even now, there were some Unicorns coming out of their hillock homes to breathe in the fresh air. She waved to them, noticing they were staring at her with great interest.
Syrena turned her gaze to the golden-brown Lion, pleased to see him again.
"Aslan, what's happening?" Syrena asked, curiously.
"Come. Climb on my back, the both of you," Aslan said, allowing Whipstaff and Syrena on his back. "There's a gathering I want you two to attend, while we're in the Hills. Once that is done, and the ceremony is over, we can head for the Valley, leaving the Hills for good."
"What do you mean?" Syrena asked, cautious. "Aren't I allowed to return to the Hills?"
"Oh yes, you are, but know if you do return here, you won't be the same," Aslan said, calmly and with reason.
Syrena sighed, nodding, "All right. We'll do things your way."
"Excellent! Off we go," Aslan said, darting off across the Hills and towards the circle of stones that stood out in an area not far from Whipstaff's tree house.
Whipstaff whispered in Syrena's ear, "Does he know where he's going?"
Syrena shushed him.
"Of course, he does!" Syrena said, sharply. "He's Aslan!"
"I figured that," Whipstaff said, shrugging.
"Here we are!" Aslan said, stopping by the circle of grey stones, where a gathering of Unicorns, from all breeds, came to witness this splendid day. Syrena and Whipstaff got off Aslan's back, right as a group of robed men and women floated down to them. These men and women, donned in black robes and wearing masks that showed their single emotions, looked down at Syrena and Whipstaff with great candor.
Syrena turned her gaze to the High Unicorns, with their silver coats, as they approached the circle. The looks on their faces were quizzical and just, as they stared at Syrena and Whipstaff.
"You two are destined to leave the Land of Unicorns then," the leader of the High Unicorns said, her gazed fixated on Whipstaff and Syrena.
"That's right," Syrena said, stepping forward. The Unicorns gasped, but the leader of the High Unicorns held her ground. Syrena told the leader of the High Unicorns, "I know this is part of the prophecy the Unicorns bestowed upon us Ages ago, but I'm willing to try it! I do intend to return to the Land of Unicorns though, even if Whipstaff does."
"She will break the barrier! We all know this to be true!" one female silver-coated High Unicorn announced.
"It's true! She's the one we've been looking for!" a male, pink-coated Valley Unicorn declared.
"Then we will ensure that she and Whipstaff are given access to use our portals throughout the Land of Unicorns. They will come and go as they please. All the Unicorns will know this and remember who they are, even in their human forms," a second male, pink-coated Valley Unicorn declared.
Syrena felt a pulse course through her veins. So, all the Unicorns knew of her quest. It was decided. She would be allowed to use the portals to her leisure, but what about her children, her grandchildren, future generations, and her descendants? Would they be allowed access to the portals, too?
"I'm sorry, but does this mean my descendants will be allowed to use the portals, too?" Syrena asked, getting the leader of the High Unicorns' attention.
"Do you want this to be true? Once it's done, there can be no turning back," the leader of the High Unicorns said with great candor.
Syrena nodded. She was sure of this. There seemed to be right. She nodded again, confirming her decision.
"I do. This is what I want. Free access to the portals, but not just for me, but also for anyone who's a Unicorn and for anyone who has Unicorn blood in their bloodlines," Syrena said, making some Unicorns gasp, while others whispered to each other.
The leader of the High Unicorns smiled, nodding. "Then it is done. No more tolls on the portals. The Unicorns can use the portals whenever they wish."
The leader of the Valley Unicorns said, gruffly, "Well then, let it be so. But what will the Valley Unicorns do, if we cannot use the portals to pay our tolls?"
"Well, then you'll just have another way to protect the Hill Unicorns, as was agreed," the leader of the High Unicorns said. She smiled at Syrena, telling her, "No, I think you're doing the right thing. Come to the Grove, inside the Southern Forest. We have much to discuss, as well as your journey."
"Thank you, Silvestra," Syrena said, watching Silvestra move away from the circle of stones, as did the other Unicorns. Syrena turned to Aslan, who bowed to her. She shrugged, joining him.
"You did well. Very well indeed. We need those portals open to everyone. Free access for all and to your bloodline," Aslan said, nodding.
"Aslan, what's going to happen? What am I supposed to do?" Syrena asked, curiously.
"In time, you'll understand. For now, we need to reach the Grove," Aslan said, blowing at the air, as a portal formed from the closest tree. He nodded with a smile, telling Whipstaff and Syrena, "Now go. I will follow you."
Syrena nodded, watching as Whipstaff ran towards the tree portal. She sighed, following him straight into a wooded area with lush green trees and bushes. Before them stood a grove, where several tree houses lay at the tops of the trees. The only way to access them was by makeshift elevators which the High Unicorns created.
Syrena looked around at the green-coated Forest Unicorns and silver-coated High Unicorns moving to and fro about the area. She sighed in relief, finding that she and Whipstaff were now in the Grove, where the High Unicorns lived.