This story is rated G for general viewing.
I pace alongside the Great Chasm, flicking my tail and thinking of the Lady. The Lady Terra, Elementmaster of planet Earth. She has chosen me. The thought still holds my mind, for it is an honor beyond anything I ever dreamed. I am entrusted to find the Earth crystal. How must I perform this task? I have been told that the Chosen will be guided by Earth itself to the crystal. I long to have the same power over Earth as over mortals; if only Earth could speak, and guide me along the right path! There, in the distance. I thrust my head forward, straining for sight or scent of the flickering motion which has drawn my attention. There, far above me, a flash of light blue in the sunlight.
I start forward cautiously, wondering: what could such a sign mean? I know that sometimes there are such flashes in the sky, for other unicorns tell of them. What did they say the flashes meant....if only I could remember! And of a sudden, I know the answer as if someone had whispered it in my ear. The flash is the sign of a blue portal, a gateway to another realm. A realm of Man. I remember now that unicorns have spoken of this, and yet of how high the portals were. What use were they, if no unicorn could reach them? I move faster, dropping my stately pace for a brisk trot. I gaze up again and see the portal clearly, glimmering in the sun at least a half a thousand horn-lengths above me. I know somehow that I must reach it, but how, when it is so far above?
As if in answer, the earth beneath my hooves begins to rumble, soft and gentle. I must shift my hooves to keep from stumbling as the rumbling grows stronger. With a grinding roar the ground begins to shift. The edge of the Great Chasm pushed upward, the pieces of rock it is comprised of wrenching free and forming, before my wondering gaze, into a sort of ramp. The sounds of rocks grinding near deafens me as I watch the final rocks shift into place. The last few pieces of stone still themselves. The earth grows cold and silent once again. And before me, a sight I have never before seen, an enormous earthen ramp leading to the very edge of the portal. I do not hesitate to climb the ramp, after a brief murmur of thanks to Earth for finding a way for me to reach the portal.
The ramp is rough and rocky, and my delicate hooves have difficulty finding a path upon it, for I am not a unicorn of the mountains, but the plains. Steadily, I ascend towards my goal, wishing that I had been permitted to return first to my family and share my joyous tidings with them. But no, the Law is that the Chosen must obey the Elementmaster, and Terra has to told me to keep my status as the Chosen a secret. So, I go. On to find the crystal without a second thought to my family. Almost.
As I reach the summit, the brilliance of the portal blinds me. I can see only the swirling blue and white of the thing, pulsating before me like a beating heart. With my forelegs trembling, I proudly lift my head and stalk forward into whatever new world the portal might bring me to.
I enter into a world of bright pink sun and soft blue grass that a younger unicorn might stop to roll in. But I am no foal, I have a duty. I must find the crystal. There seems to be no creature about, sentient or otherwise, and I stride along towards what I gather to be west, following some inner instinct which prompts my travel. The sun hardly seems to move as I travel; perhaps it is stationary. But I feel I have traveled far when I come to a large encampment of Men. I can see them, from the top of my hill, scurrying between their tents with tools and strange objects in their hands. I can smell them from here, a large number of Men, all unwashed, and smelling largely of fear.
I have heard some tales of Men, and of their actions. Could this be that thing called "war"? My elders have seen it, but I have not traveled as much as they, and have never seen such things. I am told that war involves large amounts of noise and violence, and I am not eager to encounter it. I wish to turn back the way I came. But my urge is leading me onward, toward the camp. Still, can it be worth my death at the hands of these Men? Many Men would kill me, or try to capture me, I'm told. I turn away, start back towards the portal. Perhaps there is a way around- I rear and prance backward, unable to hide my fear as a large section of ground opens into a chasm before me! Now there is no choice but to move onward. Clever, Earth.
Gathering my courage at the camps edge, I pass into the gaze of the none-too-alert Men standing by the entrance to the gathering of tents. They notice me as I pass by, one starting from his sleep and giving a cry of surprise, waking his comrade. The first Man says something incomprehensible. I am surprised, for I know over three thousand sentient languages. But I then realize that he is speaking in a language all his own as he stares in wonder at the horn protruding from my forehead. "Here, boy," the other says, starting towards me with hand outstretched. "Good horsie....." I resent both the terms on which I am addressed, and I do believe this Man is not an ally, so I move on. "Hey!" he calls after me, and the other Man throws his filthy body at me to attempt to restrain me.
That is enough. I lash out with my hooves, catching my attacker in the side of the head and leaving him bleeding on the ground. I turn on the Man, and speak to him in his own tongue. "Go now. Leave me to my own devices, or you will be the worse for it." The Man staggers backwards, eyes wide with shock. I step lightly down the center of the camp, ignoring the stares and shouts of the Men around me. Many saw the spectacle at the entrance, and are not willing to brave my hooves. Others simply feel they are dreaming or hallucinating-a common misconception of Men when encountered with the dwellers of other dimensions. My inner notions lead me off through a small grouping of tents, and to the entry of one of the stinking enclosures. Neatly, I use my razor-sharp horn to slice a passable hole in the tent, and step through.
Three Men are there. One lounges on a bed of pillows. He is fat and he wears a lot of shiny discs on his clothing. The others carry long blades in their hands, and look very startled and angry to see me. They stare at the horn on my head, and then attack. They, unfortunately, have not seen the result of my work outside, and must be taught. I dodge the blade of the first, and step firmly on his puny foot. Howling with pain, he barely notices when my hoof catches his chest, throwing him into the corner. The other leaps at me and meets my hind hoofs, as I have turned to intercept his charge. He joins his companion on the floor. Now the fat Man is alone, and I advance on him. With a solid confidence, I question him. "Where is the crystal?" He stares at me with small eyes in a round face. I advance on him, trying to look threatening. I have never killed before, unless one of the Men I have kicked is now dead. It does not matter in any case. I learned to fight and defend myself when I was young, and fight I shall. But I do not wish to attack this man, for he knows where the crystal is in this tent. It may lie in a box where I cannot reach it. The man moans as I come closer. With a sharp movement, I thrust my horn forward. Two quick cuts to his shirt and I lay the tip of my horn against his chest. Now he is bound to answer me, and answer me truly. "Where is the crystal?" I ask again.
"In one of the pillows," he answers obediently. His mouth moves without his mind's bidding, and the Man is badly frightened. He claps his hand over his mouth as if he can stop the words from emerging.
"Which one?"
"This one," he says, and trembling, extends one. I slowly move my horn away. Knocking the pillow to the ground and pinning it there with one forehoof, I quickly tear open the pillow and move my horn among the down inside, searching. When I lift my horn free, the crystal hangs upon it, a blue pentagon shining in the light streaming in from the hole I have made in the tent. With a jerk, the man moves his hand into his jacket, reaching for some weapon. Before he can reach it, he is dead, his thoughts of treachery ended by a quick blow to the temple. I leave the tent the way I came, bearing my prize. With it, I trot through the encampment. Not one Man moves to touch me as I move between the last tents and head for the open lands again.