Of Magic And Men

It was now morning; Peter had spent the night camped just off the trail in the Sylvan Woods. He awoke vaguely disoriented forgetting what had happened the night prior. It couldn’t possibly have been real but when he opened his eyes and looked around, he was surrounded by trees and dirt. It was real, he had really witnessed his mother die and he had really just buried her. He held his knees to his chest and wept silently for a moment. Crying was going to get him nowhere, he had to get moving before people who would recognize him started using the trail. He packed his bedroll and started yet another quest that would take him through the forest. Halfway through he stopped for some water. He brought his bag around to the front of him and looked inside, once he grabbed a water skin he looked back up. To his bewilderment there was a large boulder in front of him, he thought it seemed familiar but did not recognize it as if it came from a childhood dream long ago. He gazed carefully at the cracks, moss, and small details that made up this rock. As he inspected the boulder. He slowly walked around it to find on the other side was a small open field and one thing residing in the field.

“The Alicorn”

He let the words escape his lips as the memory came flooding back. He had seen this creature once before, back when he was nine. It seemed so long ago but the Alicorn looked just as majestic and magical as it had the first time. As if timeless in it’s beauty, the breeze blew through it’s mane. Peter took a step closer and the creature raised it’s head in response, throwing it’s wings up into the air the Alicorn spoke into Peter’s mind.

“I have been waiting for you, Peter."

Peter looked around looking for the source of the voice due to the fact the mouth of the creature had not moved. Taking another absent-minded step closer, Peter replied.

"How do you know my name and how is there a field here where there are usually trees.” Peter had so many more questions but thought it best to start with just two. The Alicorn lowered it’s wings to a relaxed position but still poised with such grace. It took only a few strides but quickly closed the gap between them. Peter tried to back away however ended up backing straight into the boulder. He and the Alicorn were now faced to face.

"Hear me, Peter, and what I have to say for I shall not say it twice. This realm and everyone in it needs your help, please come with me and I will take you to someone who can answer all your questions.”

Peter could not comprehend what the Alicorn spoke about. How could anyone need his help he was just a poor farm boy who had just lost his mother. All he could think about getting to the library and getting answers. He wanted to listen to the Alicorn but he had more important things to do such as finding Merlin and finding out what he had to do with his mother.

"I’m sorry, I don’t have time for this.”He tried to walk past the creature and find the trail once more. The Alicorn followed him trying to grab back Peter’s attention.

"You seek the Merlin, yes?”

Peter spun around to face this beast once again almost impaling himself on the Alicorn’s horn.

“How did you know? Who is he? Where can I find him?" His head raced trying to figure out how to get his answers and how to avoid this creature at the same time. The Alicorn looked saddened by Peter’s short-sightedness.

“Please Peter, if you want answers you must come with me. Someone is waiting for you.” The Alicorn laid down urging Peter to climb up, but Peter could not bring himself to mount this beast, Peter took a step back, you could see the wheels turn in his head as he tried to decide if he could trust the Alicorn or not.

“I’m sorry, I just...” Peter said sheepishly, the Alicorn stood up and turned away as if to leave.

"Wait, I’m sorry, please help me.” He dropped down his head into his hands, what was he doing, this creature just offered to help him to find Merlin and he was turning it down, when he rose his head to look at the Alicorn, he was staring directly into its bright, sky blue eyes.

"Peter, you must look past your fear, get on my back we have far to go and haven’t much time."

So, Peter summoned his strength, slowly walked over to the Alicorn, mounted the creature and they took flight. He had never experienced something so frightening and exhilarating, in three huge flaps of its wings they had left the ground behind. Peter clung tightly around the Alicorn’s neck, he dared not fall from this height. When he looked below he saw no trace of the village or even the forest he had just been sleeping in. What he saw was wide open rolling fields that off beside them to the west turned to mountains. As Peter continued to look around them he noticed something odd, a familiar smell in the air, it smelled vaguely of his mother’s medicine. He looked to see where that smell was coming from and as if reading his mind the Alicorn spoke.

“That is the corruption, Peter. Try not to breathe it in, though it is far behind us it can still cause harm." Peter, still clinging tightly turned his head and saw of what the Alicorn spoke. Dark mountains, surrounded by clouds of sickly, hunter-green miasma, like pure poison filling the land, corrupting and killing everything it touches. Peter felt ill, was this normal? What was he saying of course it wasn’t normal everything that had happened today was abnormal, he was flying on an Alicorn for goddess sake.

Trying to get his mind off of this impending doom he asked the Alicorn.

“Alicorn, do you have a name or something I can call you? Just calling you Alicorn seems rude.”

“Yes, actually I do have a name, I am called Silicont, I was given that name by my dear friend, Merlin. Typically, Alicorn cannot talk and therefore traditionally do not give each other names, however Merlin in his great wisdom, deemed to give me the gift of telepathy. Which is how I am able to communicate with you, Peter.” Silicont seemed to almost beam with pride telling his story, he seemed very proud of his ability to talk in one’s mind. Silicont had flown them over a large body of water, Peter could tell this would be a long trip, and he was still tired from a night of digging, he thought he would close his eyes for a minute but fell asleep yet again.