Makenzie's Unicorn

                                                  Makenzie’s Unicorn

                                                    By Daryl Campbell



         Trumpets echoed through the castle’s halls.

         “The unicorns!” Makenzie squealed and ran out the door past her mom.

         “Makenzie, tell your dad I'll be there in a little while.” Mom said.

         “I will.”

         Makenzie ran across the courtyard, through the castle gates, and all the way to the Rainbow Stop. A crowd has gathered and Makenzie bumped into some of the magic-born as she attempted to get in close to the Stop: the Great Gilander with his long, white beard and blue sorcerers cap and Brianna, the Butterfly Witch, surrounded by colorful butterflies. Then she squeezed through a group of fairies: the Tooth Fairy, Brooke, the water fairy, with a basket filled with gumdrops and honeysuckles from her garden, and Samantha, Queened Named of the forest Fairies. After Makenzie got through the crowd she saw her dad, Sheriff Nathan of Galenor, near two sycamore trees.

         “You look beautiful, Makenzie.” Dad saw how the gold and red dress she wore made her green eyes bright.

         “Thanks.” She giggled.

         “I was wondering when you’d get here.” He hugged her. “I need to get things started. It’s almost time for the unicorns to run.”

         The crowd quieted down when Sheriff Nathan, in a brown and green uniform, stood and raised his hands.

         “I want to welcome the citizens of Teihzbael to Galenor and the Rainbow Festival,” Nathan Said. “Every ten years, the end of a rainbow settles between these sycamores,” he touched each tree, “and unicorns pass from their world into ours. The older unicorns will come through first and run along this trail through the whole of Galenor.” He motioned down the trail. “The young unicorns will come through next and run to where their parents are waiting for them.”

         The crowd applauded and colors filled the sky as a bright rainbow found its way to the sycamores. The air twinkled with magic between the two, graying trees. When the rainbow settled, the Rainbow Stop lit in reds, blues, yellows, greens, and oranges.

         The first unicorn appeared in the colored doorway, a black one with a bronze horn stepped  through and was quickly joined by a white one with a silver horn. The unicorns raised on their back legs and called out in musical whinnies.

         From behind the rainbow, unicorns appeared in every color imaginable. With heads held high and chests stuck out, the unicorns walked down the trail. They bowed their heads as they passed the fairies and magic born and whinnied to Sheriff Nathan and the royal family of Teihzbael. Everyone clapped and turned to watch as the unicorns disappeared in the distance.

         Then, the first of the young unicorns stepped out of the the rainbow. A little shy, it came through slowly and swung its head to see all those gathered nearby. The purple unicorn had a short, golden horn and ran down the trail after it found its courage. Many other unicorns made their way through the rainbow: black ones, red ones, orange ones, white ones, brown ones, and green ones.

         The small unicorns let themselves be seen by the crowd, then ran down the trail. Their hooves thumped against the ground like thunder. When the last unicorn came through, the rainbow vanished and the crowd followed down the trail.

         Makenzie didn't follow everyone else. Something near the sycamores grabbed her attention. Bushes shook and Makenzie took a deep breath and moved closer to the Rainbow Stop. Suddenly, a baby-blue unicorn leapt from the bushes onto the trail.

         “Oh,” Makenzie said, “it's just a unicorn.”

         “Just a unicorn?” A girl's voice popped into Makenzie's thoughts.

         The unicorn backed away and lowered its head.

         “It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. Do you have a name?” she asked.

         The unicorn whinnied and stomped its hooves against ground. Makenzie moved closer. She stretched out her hand until it touched the unicorn's head.

         “Ryann,” the voice sounded again, “my name's, Ryann.”

         “Is that you?” Makenzie laughed.

         “It's the only way I can speak to you,” Ryann answered.

         “Why aren't you running with the other unicorns?”

         “I got lost when I came through the rainbow. I was watching all the colors and turned the wrong way,” Ryann said.

         “We can probably catch up with them.” Makenzie looked down the trail.

         “But I don't know the way.”

         “Follow me.” Makenzie turned and ran.

         Ryann caught up quick, as any unicorn would. They followed the trail trough a meadow and when they came out the other side they heard the music of the Rainbow Festival. The unicorns had already ran across Galenor.

         “We missed 'em.” Makenzie was disappointed.

         “I've to get to mom and dad before they cross the rainbow,” Ryann said.

         “I don't know where the other end will be.”

         “We have to find it. I don't have enough magic to cross without a doorway.”

         “We'll find it, Ryann. I promise.” Makenzie assures the unicorn.

         At the festival, Makenzie asked for directions to the other end of the rainbow. Nobody knew where it would be and when she explained that she needed to get a unicorn back to its mom and dad, she was answered with smiles and giggles. After a few minutes, Makenzie's mom, Allyson, showed up.

         “There you are, Darling. I've been looking all over.” Mom hugged her and brushed brown hair out of Makenzie's eyes.

         “I met Ryann. Isn't she a pretty unicorn?” Makenzie pointed.

         “Makenzie,” Mom said, “I know you're excited about the unicorns, but they're gone now.”

         “Mom, she's right there.”

         Ryann raised on her back legs but Allyson didn't see her.

         “Nothing's there. Maybe...”

         “But she's there. I see her.” Makenzie interrupted.

         “I believe you, but I can't see anything.” Allyson smiled.

         “Mom, there's a unicorn named Ryann,” she explained.

         “Well, you and Ryann go play. Stay close by though.” Mom gave Makenzie a kiss. “I want you two to be careful and stay out of trouble.”

         Makenzie smiled and watched Mom walk away.

         “Looks like we'll have to find the other end of the rainbow ourselves,” Makenzie said to Ryann.

         Ryann and Makenzie followed the trail to the edge of a forest of white pines and red cedars. The trail entered the woods and disappeared behind trees and bushes. Makenzie wasn't afraid of the woods, her dad had told her everything about berries and nuts, how to find her way, and things to watch out for since she was a little girl. Eight years old already, she was brave and knew what to do.

         The forest closed in behind the two as the went and they heard noises that neither of them were familiar with. Then, something ahead of them on the trail howled. Sticks snapped and leaves crunched.

         “What do you think it is?” The unicorn's voice touched Makenzie's thoughts.

         “I'm not sure,” Makenzie answered. “Probably nothing to worry about, but we'd better hurry.”

         Ryann agreed and they walked faster. They heard the heavy breaths of a monster. Bushes shook, but they couldn't see anything. Makenzie feared for her friend's safety and urged her to run. A deep growl let them know the monster found the trail. They ran as fast as they could, but Makenzie knew they couldn't out run it. She grabbed a stick off the trail and turned to meet the threat. The unicorn turned too and lowered its gold horn.

         Another growl sounded and a brown monster ran around a pine in front of the girls. Dirt jumped in the air as large paws slid on the trail and the monster stopped.

         “Ha, that was fun,” the brown dog said. “Let's play some more.”

         “That was fun?” Makenzie asked between breaths.

         “You didn't think so?” The dog turned in quick circles and floppy ears slapped against his head. “I growled to let you know I was there and you and the horse ran so I'd chase. The horse...”

         “I'm a unicorn!” Ryann's words sounded in his thoughts.

         “Never seen a unicorn. Dragons and fairies and a witch, but never a unicorn.”          “And who're you?” Makenzie spoke.

         “I'm Lucas, the Hound Prince. What are you called?”

         “I'm Makenzie and this is Ryann. We're trying to find the other end of the rainbow.” Makenzie looked into the puppy's brown eyes and wanted to hug him.

         “Don't know where it is, but I heard my man talking about a rainbow this morning.” Lucas licked the unicorn.

         “Stop that!” Ryann's voice echoed in Lucas's head.

          Lucas laughed.

         “Festival. If we could find somebody that knows,” Makenzie said quickly.

         “The forest fairies have a garden of magic flowers. I can show you where it is.”

         “What about your man?” Ryann asked.

         “Won't he be looking for you?” Makenzie added.

         “He gets lost all the time. I'll find him later. This looks more fun.” Lucas headed into the forest and Makenzie and Ryann followed.

         They made their way along half hidden trails and climbed over fallen trees. It didn't take long to get to the garden. Sun shone upon a garden outlined in honeysuckles and bushes of colored berries and filled with all sorts of flowers. Lucas played chase with yellow and pink bunnies while Makenzie and Ryann ate some berries.

         “Lucas, who do we ask about the rainbow?” Blueberry juice dripped from Ryann's snout.

         “I don't see anyone here.” Makenzie's lips are darkened by red berries.

         “The flowers on the other side of the stream. They know everything.” He laughed. “I'll introduce you.”

         “Flowers, how can flowers tell us anything?” Makenzie asked.

         “Never seen a talking flower.” Ryann crossed a rock bridge.

         The other side of the stream was beautiful. Flowers of every color spread out across the ground. Lucas came to a stop near a large group of flowers: yellow,  red, and pink ones that looked like tiny dragons and some that were purple, yellow, and orange and flapped their wings like birds. There were tall ones with brown faces and yellow petals that stretched out wide to catch the sun. Makenzie bent to smell the flowers.

         “I beg your pardon!” one of the red dragons hissed.

         “We didn't invite you to smell us!” a white dragon bit at Makenzie's cheek.

         “Go away,” the yellow dragon spoke.

         “I didn't know.” Makenzie stepped back.

         “I didn't know flowers could talk. I thought...”

         “Of coarse we can talk. You're a unicorn. You should know these things,” the white dragon interrupted.

         “I'm Lucas, the Hound Prince. I brought Makenzie and Ryann, to talk to you.” Lucas bowed before the garden flowers.

         “We remember you, Lucas,” one of the yellow and brown flowers spoke. “You didn't let us know you were coming today.”

         “I only found out a little while ago,” he answered.

         “Well, she seems to have upset the snapdragons and woke us from our sleep.”

         All the sunflowers nodded in agreement. A few of the snapdragons growled, and others coughed up tiny flames.

         “Will you speak to them?” Lucas asked.

         “She can ask us one question and we'll answer the best we can.” The sunflower said.

         “My friend, Ryann, and I need to get to the end of the rainbow.” Makenzie spoke politely.

         “We'll tell you how to get there if you agree to do something for us.” The sunflowers said.

         “If you'll bring flowers from the end of the rainbow and plant them in our garden, we'll tell you how to get there,” one of the purple, yellow, and orange flowers chirped.

         “Done,” Lucas agreed.

         “We'll do our best,” Makenzie paused, “but what should we bring?”

         “Something pretty,” red dragons said.

         “With bright colors!” yellow dragons demanded.

         “Bring us something different,” white dragons spoke.

         “Nothing as pretty as us,” the birds of paradise added.

         “You'll know when you see it. We have an agreement and we'll tell you how to find the rainbow's end.” The largest sunflower leaned over to whisper to Makenzie.

         Ryann and Lucas listened too. The sunflower gave directions and the girl, unicorn, and Hound Prince left the fairy garden.

         The three friends followed a trail through the forest to the side of a river. The river was filled with rushing water and, after they searched for a few minutes, Makenzie realized it wouldn't be easily crossed.

         “I don't know what to do,” Makenzie said.

         “We can swim,” Lucas answered. “Dog paddle maybe.”

         “I don't dog paddle.” the unicorn told him.

         “But you can swim, right?” the Hound Prince asked.

         “Yes, but I...”

         “It's too dangerous. My dad says fast moving water's hard to swim against.” Makenzie interrupted. “He knows everything.”

         “Maybe, I've heard my man talk about rivers.”

         “We need to cross. The sunflower said we have to to get to the end of the rainbow.” Ryann reminded them.

         “There's the mountains we need to get to.” Makenzie pointed over pines on the other side of the river. “Looks far away.”

         “Not that far,” Lucas disagreed.

         A family of big turtles surfaced in the the river and swam easily against the current. They were big twice Makenzie's size and had shells covered in blue, green, and pink spots and outlined in pink. Lucas barked and hopped around to get the turtle's attention. They ignored the commotion.

         “Maybe they'll help us across,” Ryann said.

         “We can ask,” Makenzie replied.

         “I'll talk to them.” The unicorn got closer.

         After a quick talk, three large turtles swam to the river's edge and Ryan, Makenzie, and Lucas climbed on for a ride across. It took a few minutes before Makenzie got used to the rocking shell and she watched Ryann try to keep balance too. Lucas stood on his turtle's shell, wagged his tail, and howled.

         When they reached the opposite shore, the turtles were thanked. Lucas used his nose to smell the way and led his friends toward the mountains. Makenzie picked nuts and berries as they went so they could eat and Ryann kept everyone focused.

         “Looks like rain,” Lucas announced.

         The sky overhead was dark and the air felt cold.

         “I think you're right. We better find someplace to stay dry,” Makenzie agreed.

         Ryann spoke. “Maybe we can find a cave before it starts.”

         “I don't know about caves. My dad says...”

         “I bet it's fun in a cave,” Lucas interrupted Makenzie.

         “We better hurry,” Ryann said as thunder rumbled above them.

         They ran through the trees. It started to rain, just a drizzle at first, but was pouring down by the time they found a cave. Makenzie stopped near the entrance.

         “We need to go in more. We're getting wet,” Lucas told her.

         “It's too wet, Makenzie,” Ryann urged her friend.

         “It's dark.” Makenzie didn't like the dark. “What if something's in here?”

         The Hound Prince raised his nose and sniffed the air. “I don't smell anything.”

         “You sure? No bears or skunks?” Makenzie asked.

         “Nothing like that.”

         The horn on Ryann's head glowed. “This'll give us enough light.”

         Makenzie, Ryann, and Lucas moved deeper into the cave. The wind that howled through the cave and thunder claps made them uneasy. Lucas said there wasn't anything there, but they were still scared.

         “We need to sing some songs or maybe play a game,” Makenzie suggested.

         “We could tell scary stories,” Lucas laughed.

         “No, I don't want to hear a scary story,” the unicorn answered.

         “Me either.” Makenzie nodded.

         “I'll play a game. I don't know any songs.” The puppy smiled.

         They played a few games: guessing games, counting games, and hand shadows against the cave wall. Eventually thunder rolled into the distance and the rain stopped.

         “Thanks for taking my thoughts off the storm,” Makenzie said.

         “Sometimes you'll get scared, but friends help you get through it,” Lucas told her.

         “I think he was just as scared as either of us,” Ryann giggled.

         “Probably.” Makenzie moved to the cave entrance.

         Outside, the sun was out again and a rainbow filled the sky in bright colors.

         “There's the rainbow, Ryann. If we hurry, we can find where it ends.” Makenzie jumped in excitement and moved away from the cave.

         “Come on, Lucas.” Ryann followed Makenzie.

         “I'm coming,” Lucas barked.

         The three followed the rainbow around trees and bushes and up the mountain slope to a flat spot covered in dark green grass and plants with purple flowers that looked like giant bells. The bells rang as a doorway of golden light opened where the rainbow touched the mountainside.

         “There's my home and my mom and dad,” Ryann told her friends.

         A dark blue unicorn and a silver unicorn stepped through the doorway. Ryan ran to them and they talked. Then, after she had told her story, her mom and dad approached Makenzie and Lucas.

         “Thank you for bringing Ryann back.” Dad's voice sounded in their thoughts.

         “Yes, we owe you so much,” Mom added.

         “Thank you, Makenzie, and you too, Lucas,” Ryann said. “I have to go home, but I'll see you soon.”

         “How?” Makenzie asked. “I thought Unicorns could only be seen during the run.”

         “No, unicorns always visit. Our friends can see us,” Ryann explained.

         “We need to get home,” Mom spoke.

         “Well, I gotta go.”

         “I'll see you when you come back then.” Makenzie hugged Ryann tight.

         “Me too,” Lucas licked Ryann's nose.

         “Next time then.” Ryann followed Mom through the rainbow door.

         “I'll open a door for you to get back home too,” Ryann's father stopped his hooves against the ground and a golden doorway appeared. “That'll take you where you need to go.” He went through the rainbow and it flickered away.

         “I think I have just the flower for the garden,” Lucas announced as he dug two purple bells out of the ground.

         “I think they'll like these.” Makenzie picked up both plants.

         “I bet they will. We need to get back. I have to find my man and I'm sure your mom and dad will want to hear this story.” Lucas headed for the the doorway.

         “Maybe.” Makenzie caught up with the Hound Prince and gave him a quick hug. “Can't wait to tell them about my new friends.”

         The two of them went through the door and it disappeared.