Page 154 of Dark Fate

I grip his mane tightly, my thighs squeezing his rib cage as the magnificent beast gallops at full speed. The exhilarating ride overwhelms my senses—the scent of open fields, the warm air lashing my face, my hair blowing wildly in the breeze.

A smile spreads across my face as he continues to pick up speed. I squeeze my legs tighter against his sides to keep my balance firm and begin to release my tight hold on his silky mane. I feel comfortable and secure atop this mystical creature as we fall into a rhythmic gallop. With growing confidence, I stretch my arms out and close my eyes, giggling and whooping joyously as he runs ever faster.

There is no feeling more liberating. I surrender completely to the magic of the moment.

As we nuzzle up against the edge of the woods, he downshifts to a leisurely pace, his hooves drumming a soothing rhythm on the earth. My heart's still doing cartwheels, and I'm grinning like a kid with too much birthday cake. "That was..." I gasped, every breath a sip of pure, wild air. "Amazing!" I finally manage to crow.

Now, my magical steed dials it back to a gentle amble, easing us into the forest's embrace. A carnival of butterflies dances around us, their wings a cascade of moving art, while tiny luminescent critters turn the forest into a live fantasy nightlight. Hitting a patch of open sky between the trees, he pauses and takes a knee—like a four-legged Sir Galahad offering his palm—my hint of sliding down from his celestial back.

The moment my feet touch the ground, a spectacle arrests my gaze to the right—another entrancing unicorn, its coat rivaling the purity of new snow, with a horn shimmering like molten sunrise, with a mane of the same color—sparkling— strides forward with a grace that commands an awed hush from the forest itself. This ethereal being glides nearer, and something catches my eye—a collar, though to call it such seems near blasphemy. In its center, an object provokes an involuntary gasp from me: the legendary Faerite stone, unmistakable in its radiant verdant luster, dazzling as it drinks in the sun’s rays.

The ethereal creature pauses just a breath away, the stone within an arm's stretch. The unicorn lowers its head and presses it to me, a tender nuzzle as if nudging me toward my destiny. My hand extends, and with a touch that feels like a released breath, the stone parts from the collar and hovers before me, pulsing with an energy that seems to recognize me. Mirroring the behavior of the Atherite stone, it drifts upward and settles into my crown with an affinity that feels ancient and new all at once. A thrum of power begins at the crown of my head, cascading through my entire being, resonating down to the marrow of my bones, leaving me buzzing with life, a living beacon of the elements.

As the Faerite Stone settles into its cozy spot, the transformation is instantaneous, like stepping into a broader, wilder world woven alongside my own all this time. The change courses through me, awakening senses I didn't even realize were dormant.

My body and mind harmonize in remarkable concert with the living beings around me, and it's as if I've been extended a special invite to an exclusive party—where every attendee is sharing their truest feelings directly with my soul. The collective joy of the creatures around me bubbles into my being, happiness radiating from them to me in a contagiously profound exchange.

“Welcome, Danica, Daughter of Elysium—Savior of the realms—we have awaited your arrival.” says a deep male voice.

Danica

72

Ijolt, shaken by the sudden intrusion of a voice that wasn't mine inside my head. Frantically scanning our surroundings, seeking the source, the realization dawns on me—it's the beautiful unicorn. His majestic silence belies the telepathic bridge now connecting us, his thoughts mingling with mine in a symphony of unspoken words.

Rhyland's concern slips into my mind on another mental line—a whisper, both intrusive and curiously reassuring. "What's happening? I sense your unease," he inquires, his mind gently prodding at the source of my tension.

"Nothing. I'm fine," I shoot back almost reflexively, tucking away the ripples of unease. I offer him a mental facsimile of reassurance despite the churn of new magic and unearthly encounters still vibrating through my core.

"Uh, h-hi there," I stammer out loud, feeling as eloquent as a duck with a stutter. "You know who I am?"

With his silver horn, the beautiful beast gives me an affirmative nod, then goes full-on cuddly, nuzzling against me like an overgrown lap cat.

Guess we're bonding now.

"Yes. We all know who you are," his mellow mental voice returns. "I am Calimero, leader of the unicorns and guardian of the Faerite stone. But you can call me Cal. And this is my mate, Lunaria."

With an ease that betrays none of the shocks I'm feeling, he gestures nonchalantly toward his companion—the one adorned with the gold-kissed horn, the very unicorn who bore the Faerite stone.

"Hello, sweet Danica," a gentle female voice whispers inside my head. It’s like an auditory caress, and my tension melts away under its warmth.

Their tones are casual, even amused, like they get a kick out of catching me off guard. Which is fair enough—it’s not every day a unicorn strikes up a telepathic conversation. I’m quick to roll with it, though, giving my brain a shake and my wits a rally.

My heart thumps a victorious rhythm. I've made the journey, braved the trials, and here stands my reward, with a mane softer than silk and a disposition more serene than a monk in meditation. Now, it's time to see how this stone fits into the grand puzzle of saving the realms.

I extend my hand, a little hesitant but too charmed not to make contact. My fingers brush against Calimero's nose—warm and smooth, more real than anything I could've ever imagined.

"Thank you. It's been quite the journey, to say the least," I confess, giving a soft chuckle that cuts through the weight of my adventure.

It's a little puff of laughter, almost a disbelieving snort. If anyone had told me I'd be nose-bopping unicorn royalty when I woke up this morning, I’d have recommended a strong cup of reality with a side of sanity check. But here we are, and it's wonderfully, magically real.

"And just so you know, we had anticipated your arrival a tad sooner." Calimero's telepathic tongue-in-cheek confession brings a grin to my face as I continue petting him.

It seems even ageless beings can get impatient waiting for prophecies to unfold.

"Ah, yeah, sorry about the mix-up," I shrug. "Had a little scheduling mishap and popped up at the wrong place too early. You know how it is." I let out a playful huff, masking any frustration with humor. "And if that wasn't enough to fill my dance card, I've been playing referee back home—it turns out my personal dream team has a few opinions about my mate choice." I roll my eyes for effect.

Calimero practically does a sly little mental tap-dance next to me. "Time, my dear Danica, doesn't play by anyone's rules but its own. It loves a good zigzag," he says, the rich humor in his telepathic voice making the air around us seem to wink. "And your mate? In life's grand epic, he's your unexpected plot twist—that dash of irreverent charm amidst the solemn verses."

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