This is the last chapter of my story. :')

*.*.*

The second everyone was in the Grove, back in the Southern Forest, in the Land of Unicorns, Silvestra greeted Syrena's parents. To Syrena's surprise, Silvestra welcomed Syrena's Dark Unicorn father and her Sea Unicorn mother with open arms. One thing remained to be seen: how Syrena's parents met for the first time and why Syrena was born a Hill Unicorn?

Syrena got her Sea Unicorn mother alone, eventually, enough to hear her side of the story. "Okay, so I need to know how you and my dad met, and also why you chose me to become a Hill Unicorn? I mean, you're not exactly Hill Unicorns yourselves."

"But you are," her Sea Unicorn mother said, determination in her eyes. Syrena looked at her, serious, leaving her Sea Unicorn mother with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry."

"Tell me what happened. Why are things this way?" Syrena asked, curiously.

Her Sea Unicorn mother looked at her, telling her story finally, "Well, you're born a Hill Unicorn because that's the form your father and I took, when we shapeshifted for a full two years. It wasn't easy staying in that form for two years though. Shapeshifters want to shapeshift. It's a part of who we are and why we're proud of it.

"But anyway, how your father and I met: well, it was during a battle between your father and I. Your father's reckless and I'm stoic. I just couldn't let him get away. You could say I fangirled over a Dark Unicorn.

"Anyway, your father and I met on the shores of the Land of Unicorns and the Land of Merfolk and Sirens. He met me and we clashed for a time. We fought all the time, until we conceded, falling in love and marrying on the white sandy beach, where we were reunited with you recently. We chose to come to the Hills and live there. That was how you were born, the minute we transformed into Hill Unicorns, as Silvestra told us to do," Syrena's mother stared at Silvestra with great caution, knowing it was fated that her daughter should become a Hill Unicorn.

Something didn't add up. Why would this happen to Syrena and to her family?

Syrena shrugged, asking her mother, "Why did you and my father leave me? I wasn't ready to let you go."

"You're a year old. Usually around this time, Unicorn parents leave their children to face the world," her Sea Unicorn mother stated. She pressed her hoof against Syrena's hoof, getting her attention. "Syrena, you're old enough now to leave the Land of Unicorns. You can do it. Whipstaff's leaving, too, you know." She looked at Whipstaff, as he prepared for his journey to Earth. She sighed, facing her daughter. "You can do this. I have faith in you. You will complete the deed Aslan set out for you to fulfill, as well as the prophecy the Unicorns bestowed Ages ago, beset by Arabella Skydancer back in the Time Before the First Age."

"Yes, go with Aslan to the Land of Talking Animals," Syrena's Dark Unicorn father said, as Syrena and her mother stood up. Her Dark Unicorn father said, plainly, "We'll keep watch over you until you return."

"How do you know I'll return to the Land of Unicorns?" Syrena asked, curiously. She received no response from her Dark Unicorn father. She shrugged. Oh well. Back to the drawing board, then.

.

Syrena wandered off towards Whipstaff and Aslan. Whipstaff was still in his human form and looking quite dashing. Even though there were hardly sparks between them, Syrena was convinced that Whipstaff had a good heart, even though he was gruff at times.

At last, Whipstaff faced her, leaving Syrena feeling pretty perplexed.

"Well, this is it," Syrena said, looking around as Whipstaff hugged her.

"Good luck," Whipstaff said, releasing her. "I know you can do it. You'll free the Land of Unicorns and open the barrier. We're all counting on you to complete this deed."

"Why is the barrier closed? I thought it would be opened by now," Syrena asked, cautiously.

"The barrier is open for you two, and your parents," Aslan said to her and Whipstaff. "So, you have no worries about it being opened or closed."

"Right. I have to go. I've got to create my manor. Whipstaff Manor, as it were," Whipstaff said, extending his hand in the air in triumph. He smiled, perplexed by the name of his manor. "Huh. It has a nice ring."

"Alright, just go," Syrena said, watching Whipstaff open a portal. Whipstaff smiled. She smiled back, pleased he was going on his own quest.

"I'll see you soon. You're welcome at my manor at any time," Whipstaff said, pleased.

"I know. Just go," Syrena said, bumping him forward with her head.

"Okay! I'll see you later," Whipstaff said, embracing Syrena one last time, before darting through the portal. The portal vanished behind him, just as Syrena spotted a port town, through the portal's looking glass.

Syrena breathed deeply. Now, what was she supposed to do? She looked at Aslan, right as he blew on her. He turned to a tree, allowing the tree to open its trunk, revealing a plain countryside with a village in the near distance.

Aslan turned and faced her, telling her with great wonder and love, "Go through there. You'll turn into a human, your human form though. It's necessary that you're a human, while in the Land of Talking Animals. At least, until you reveal your Unicorn form to Lockslear." He added, in haste, "Now go. Lockslear awaits you."

Syrena looked at the portal for a moment, before asking the Great Lion, "What's Lockslear like? I'm curious about him."

"Well," Aslan sighed, "Lockslear is a prince in the Land of Talking Animals. That is your next destination: The Land of Talking Animals. Find Lockslear and convince him to go with you back to this realm or to help him become king in his own realm. We're counting on you, Syrena. It is crucial that Lockslear come to the Land of Unicorns, if we are to open the barrier, revealing this realm at last to the other six realms in this world. The second Seven Realms, that is.

"Don't worry, Syrena. Lockslear is a gentle soul, once you get to know him," he said in determination, facing the portal again. "Now go. I will follow."

"Thanks," Syrena said, facing the portal and her parents one last time. She would see her parents again. That much was clear. But first, she approached them again, hugging them and not letting them go.

"Good luck," Syrena's Sea Unicorn mother said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Don't be a stranger. We'll keep watch over you, while you're in the Land of Talking Animals," her Dark Unicorn father said with candor and a warm-hearted smile.

"Thanks. I'll see you soon," Syrena said, facing the portal again and rushing through it. By the time she was on the other side, the portal vanished behind her. She was human again, with straight brunette hair, brown eyes, pale skin, and donned in a red blouse, blue jeans, black boots, a brown belt, and a grey cloak, which kept her warm for the time being.

She sighed, taking in her surroundings. There was nothing now, except to press on and hope for the best. For all she knew, Lockslear could be friendly or mean, but one thing was clear: she was not alone.

*.*.*

References:

Whipstaff Manor comes from the 1995 film, "Casper".

-x-

That's it for the first part of my fanfiction mini-trilogy, The Lone Unicorn, part of my Origin Series and my Long Series. :) Thanks goes to the following people who read, reviewed, favorited, and followed my fanfic: maskedvigilanteprincess864. And thanks everyone for reading this fanfic until the end. It is much appreciated. :)

This fanfic took me a while to write and rewrite chapters. The reason is because I worked on my Green Ring fanfiction mini-trilogy, as well as my Fanfiction Stories by Theme Collection, and ended up in a series of writer's blocks here and there, as I worked on my fanfic. Thankfully, I managed to get out of my writer's blocks. So, we're good! :)

Next up in my Lone Unicorn mini fanfiction trilogy: Syrena meets Lockslear, only to discover he's not all that he seems. :)

I'll see everyone in the next story. Bye! :)

~Aria Breuer