72. Danica
Danica
72
I jolt, 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."
"What do you mean by that?" I ask, my curiosity piqued. I want to unravel the riddle wrapped up in his lighthearted commentary.
Calimero's sky-blue eyes shimmer with unspoken laughter, and he continues with a note of jest, "I meant precisely as I said—we unicorns had marked the calendar for a slightly earlier prophecy fulfillment. I suspect some unforeseen escapades delayed your grand entrance. As for your mate, you could say that, in the grand tapestry of fate, not everyone appreciates the... eccentric stitches," he muses cheekily, a quip veiled in wisdom.
Calimero doesn’t miss a beat, and his spirited wit is still going strong despite being the astute beastie he is. "Hence, you carry the Atherite Stone in your crown," he notes, with the air of solving a particularly juicy riddle.
"Sharp as ever," I respond with a smirk, appreciating his ability to piece together my tangled journey with just a few puzzle bits. Thinking about it, I’d expect nothing less from a creature who’s probably seen more plot twists than the stars themselves.
The combination of his intellectual jest and the half-mocking, half-teasing light in his gaze makes it impossible to feel offended. His tone echoes the unseen smiles, combining comedy and cosmic timing.
When I don't think things could get any more magical, more unicorns emerge from the forest, slowly peeking out. My eyes go wide, hardly believing the scenery unraveling before me. Unicorns, with coats so white it's almost blinding, but it's their horns and sparkly colored manes that make me gasp—painted every hue you could dream, and then some, are stepping out shyly. Their horns and manes are not just textbook white—they look like they've been dipped in pots of sky blues, sunset oranges, deep sea greens, and then some. Even the baby unicorns are toddling out—pure cuteness overload.
"Wow," escapes me, a breathy whisper of sheer wonder. "How many—"
"Thousands of us," Calimero cuts in, and his pride is as tangible as the forest air. With a flick of his beautiful mane, he continues, "Indeed, the time has come for us to emerge from the Hidden Valley, to mingle with the Fae as we've yearned for countless moons. Your being here signals the moment to resume our place in the realm—we place our faith that the Shadow Queen has been sufficiently thwarted to allow for this. It is then essential to restore the realm to find itself again in an era of wholeness and prosperity."
"Yes, they mentioned that you are needed, and nothing has been the same since the fracture," I admit to him, acknowledging the weight of the past and the hope pinned on the now. "Amara has been detained," I confirm, a matter-of-fact edge lining my voice as if I'm reporting on mundane courtly bureaucracy rather than the fate of a powerful adversary. "Until I find a more permanent solution for her…that is."
The words carry the weight of decisions yet to be made—decisions that will shape the future of the realms. But for now, Amara’s chapter is written in stone, leaving us to script the next with the fresh ink of newfound alliances and the hope that comes from the turn of fate's tide.
Lore and destiny thread through the conversation, and I can feel the gravity of my role—the nexus where shattered paths aim to meet and mend. There's work to be done, rifts to heal, and unfamiliar alliances to forge.
" Right…now that we've cleared up the Shadow Court Queen situation, I trust you are prepared to learn of the Faerite stone?" Calimero inquires as if we're swapping something as mundane as borrowed books.
I nod, resolute. "Yes."
"Very well. With this stone, you hold the authority to commune with creatures and beings touched by magic, along with an empathy deep enough to dive into their souls."
It's an empathy so profound that it’s nearly overwhelming, but in the same beat, it feels like coming home—a connection to the pulse of the magical world, an intricate, invisible thread now tied to my essence. This is the gift of understanding, the purest form of communion with the magical heartbeats of the Seven Realms.
"So I can talk to any creature, animal, or magical being with this?" I question the notion, almost too grand to grasp. A door to endless possibilities swings wide open before me.
"Exactly," Calimero affirms with his succinct conviction as if it’s the most natural next step in the world.
Words almost fail me as the reality sinks in: with the Faerite Stone, I've just been handed the universal passcode to converse with the heartbeats of the wild and whimsical. A new dimension of dialogue awaits—every whisper in the woods, every murmur of the meadows, now an open book. The world just got a whole lot more conversational.
C alimero chauffeurs me through the mystical woods and returns me to my motley crew. Upon entrance, I catchRhyland’s face lighting up like I've just returned from a one-woman mission to Mars. Everyone gets to their feet, playing it cool, but eyes are glued to us. Calimero hits the brakes, and with a slick dismount,Rhyland’s there to snag my waist with a ‘you’re-never-escaping-me-again’ kind of hold.
I sidle up in front of Calimero, petting his neck, slipping in alongsideAxilya, who looks ready to burst into tears. Then Calimero takes a knee, bowing toAxilyalike she’s fae royalty,and I can't help but raise an eyebrow.
What's the deal here?
"Thanks for the lift," I say, gratefully glancing at Calimero with the kind of nod you’d give a cabbie after a clean getaway.
My face scrunches as a twinge of 'oops' creeps up. "There's a teensy detail I might've glossed over..." I half-mumble, suddenly finding an interesting speck of dirt on my shoe.
Calimero perks up, all ears. "Speak—"
So I drop the bomb: "Azrael, my personal stalker from beyond—yeah, he hitched a ride through my DIY portal, and now he's here crashing the party. You might want to hold off on any plans to ditch this fairytale hideout until I've shooed him back to his nightmare."
Calimero releases a puff of air that's a billboard for frustration. I'm picking up on his vibes loud and clear with this shiny new stone. "Ship him back to Mortalis. Let's keep the theatrics in your backyard. Snag that little shard of his, and he'll vanish from our list of headaches."
I quirk an eyebrow and let a wry chuckle slip. "That simple, huh?" The words roll off my tongue, drenched in a heavy coat of irony.
A hint of a smirk plays on Calimero's tone; his voice touched with both amusement and gravity. "Indeed it is. Think of yourself as the wielder of an unseen scepter, with powers that multiply his by leagues and lengths. Employ it, and never play down the might at your fingertips. And your mate? Ah, he's a veritable trove of untapped potential—has this not been a topic of fireside whispers between you two?"
I swivel my gaze toward Rhyland, locking eyes with his sea of confusion for a brief moment. Pivoting back to Calimero, I plant my feet and declare with resolve, "I'm clued in on his mojo."
But beneath that certainty, I can't help but wonder, What's he driving at?
Calimero's words are laced with a playful note, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "The storm brewing within him is more than just for show—Lightning Wielder. Do you know of his heritage? I think it's high time for you two to curl up and unravel some of those hidden volts and rumbles." His voice dances with a note of mirth, suggesting revelations await in the space of quiet conversation.
My mind kicks into overdrive, zipping back to Meadow's cryptic sneak peeks of Rhyland—those snippets she painted with words about lightning and thunder.
Lucian's voice cuts through the air like a verbal chainsaw, his words laced with enough incredulity to choke a horse. "Hold the freaking phone, are my eyes deceiving me, or are you seriously shooting the breeze with a flippin' unicorn right now?" He pipes up from the back, his tone suggesting he's about two seconds away from checking himself into the nearest mental institution. "Because if so, I'm gonna need a moment to process this level of weird."
"He's not the brightest of your companions, is he?" Calimero's telepathic voice chimes in my skull again with a private aside that's more shade than an eclipse.
The comment catches me off guard, sparking an irrepressible giggle that bubbles out. The audacity! I mean, Cal's not wrong, but his sass is so unexpected it's hilarious.
Luciannarrows his eyes, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "Oh, it's funny? — HA HA . Excuuuuse me for being a little fucking confused when Princess here starts chatting up a creature that, up until about five minutes ago, I thought only existed in Lisa Frank sticker books and the wet dreams of prepubescent girls."
The moment hangs in the air, each face swiveling toward Lucian, wearing an expression equal parts disbelief and 'Oh, come on, dude.' In all his glittering grace. Cal's elegant headshake is all the answer anyone needs, and then that celestial whinny lifts into the air—unmistakably the sound of equine laughter.
"Well, no shit, she's talking to him, dumbass," Rhyland finally speaks up.
Lucianthrows his hands up, "Obviously, I'm the only one here who hasn't completely lost their grip on reality. My bad for attempting to apply logic to a situation that's about as logical as a fucking Escher painting."
"The stone, Lucian. Try to keep up," Erik remarks.
"Ah—yes. Makes total sense now!"Luciansays, rolling his eyes with enough force to generate a small gravitational field. "Because clearly, the only thing standing between us and total annihilation is a shiny rock that allows a one-sided conversation with My Little Pony over here. Clearly, I'm the one who's not operating on the same plane of existence as the rest of you enlightened fuckers."
He scoffs, "You know what? At this point, I half expect a talking mushroom to pop up and start reciting Shakespeare."
"Why are you so frazzled,Lucian?"Faderyninquires, his ethereal features etched with genuine curiosity.
"Duh—I'm jealous she," he motions to me, "gets to chat it up with a unicorn when I'm the one with the big brain here." He taps his head with the side of his finger, "Cerebral Hustler, remember?"
I can't help but snort at that, shaking my head in amused disbelief. "Cerebral Hustler? More like Cerebral Bullshitter, if you ask me."
Luciangasps, clutching at his chest in mock offense. "You wound me, sweet cheeks! I'll have you know that this brain of mine is a finely tuned machine, capable of processing complex thoughts and ideas that would make your pretty little head spin."
"Complex thoughts? Like what, exactly? The best way to style your hair for maximum douchebag effect?" I shoot back, unable to resist the urge to poke at his overinflated ego.
"Oh, haha . Very funny," he deadpans, narrowing his eyes at me. "I'll have you know that I've got a mind like a steel trap,baby. Nothing gets past me."
"Except for the fact that she's literally talking to a unicorn right now,"Erikchimes in, his voice dry as the Sahara.
Lucianwhirls on him, jabbing a finger in his direction. "Hey, I'm processing, okay? Forgive me for needing a minute to adjust to the fact that we've apparently stumbled into a fucking Disney movie."
Rhylandpinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a long-suffering sigh. "Can we please focus on the task at hand? In case you've forgotten, we've got a world to save."
"Right, right. The world. Saving. Got it,"Lucianmutters, waving a dismissive hand. "Lead the way, oh wise and glorious unicorn. Take us to the promised land or whatever."
Axilya, Faderyn, and Adrian are all doing their best to stifle their laughter at the brotherly banter these three are infamous for.
Calimero snorts, tossing his mane in a gesture that somehow conveys both amusement and exasperation. "Your friend is quite the character—"
"You have no idea," I reply, unable to keep the fondness from my voice.
"There is one last thing I must mention before you depart," Calimero says. The gravity in his tone sets my nerves on edge.
The anticipatory uh-oh chorus kicks up in my mind. Good news or bad, when a unicorn plays the 'there's one more thing' card, you listen. "Okay—I'm all ears," I said, steeling myself for anything.
What Calimero reveals next sends my mind reeling, yet it clicks with an almost audible sound, making a bizarre sense that leaves my eyes wide in astonishment. A pause suspends the moment.
Then I can't help but blurt out in disbelief, "You've got to be kidding?"