Darkest Path: Chapter 1

Long ago, magic separated two worlds that were once connected. Places called Caledonia and Earth were connected by a passage. But to protect earth, the connection was broken. Earth unfortunately was drained of its magic during the time of the disconnection, while Caledonia took it all. Earth was left with normal animals, such as dogs, cats and horses; while Caledonia got mermaids, dragons and best of all, unicorns. When Earth and Caledonia were connected, the four of the most powerful beings in the universe were four winged unicorns, the lords that protected the land. They were the Lord of Water, Niagara; and The Lord of Earth, Dasni; the Lord of Air, Legend; and the Lord of Fire, Dragons Feather. Each Lord was blessed with powers unimaginable. They had their followers, the Crystal Unicorns. The Crystal Unicorns were colorful unicorns with horns made of clear crystal resting on there head. They followed their leader, Almare.

Niagara, Lord of water was a green unicorn with a red horn. Dasni was yellow with a red horn. Legend was light blue with a White horn. Then there was, Dragons Feather who was an ebony horse with an ebony horn.

Niagara was never trusted by the people in Caledonia. His powers, although remarkable were not always used for a noble purpose. He used his powers only to help himself. He was kept under close watch by the other lords. Niagara was faced with a lot of distrust from his fellow unicorns. He was feared when he walked down the streets of cities or villages. Niagara no longer wanted to be feared by his own people, so he traveled to visit the dragon in the Caledonia abyss. Niagara’s goal was to rid himself of evil, but instead the dragon filled him with more evil urges. . Niagara came with good intensions, to be forever good, but was over whelmed with power and evil. His glossy green coat turned blood red and he had a sudden desire to take control of every one and everything. He convinced Dasni to help him. Dasni’s yellow coat was soon turned to Blood red as well. Both their horns were turned into red iron daggers. Dragons Feather and Legend stood together to challenge the evil couple, but they were overpowered by the dragon’s additional powers. Dragons Feather and Legend lost. Dragons Feather was able to escape while Legend was killed when Niagara pulled the horn from her head. .

The crystal unicorns did not accept the ways of the evil couple. They all came together with their leader, Almare. . Almare is pure white with piercing blue eyes. Her mane and tail are abnormally long and her fetlock feathers completely cover her hooves. She ruled the Crystal unicorns. And the people in Caledonia began to not trust any unicorns, so all the unicorns in the world came to live with her. Almare decided that earth was no longer safe so she called for the joining of all the Crystal unicorns. Together, they created a power so great, that the connection between the worlds was broken. The worlds could still be connected by magic, but only the Passage could bring anyone from Earth to Caledonia. But The Passage had a mind of its own. It would never open if someone told it to, only when it wanted to.

Unfortunately the powers the unicorns used to split the worlds would not be regained completely for another 10,000 years. They could also not do any thing about the evil couple, Dasni and Niagara. But the evil couple could not touch them either. Only in 10,000 years could they meet again to continue their struggle of good against evil. With the Dragons Feather weak, Almare hid him in the Crystal herd until his strength returned. The Crystal unicorns lived above the clouds in the land behind the waterfall, happily protecting a castle were the human leader lived, the king and his family.

The unicorns reached the castle by a staircase that led from unicorn valley to the castle, called the Royal Road. 9,997 years later, Almare lied down at the entrance to the staircase. It was dawn in the Land behind the Waterfall. She watched as the sun rise over the clouds. Then, Dragons Feather walked up beside her, looking stronger and like a regular horse. Almare stood and said “Its almost time my lord.” The lines under Dragons Feather’s eyes grew deeper. He stood motionless staring out over the clouds. “My strength is almost returned milady, I must fight Niagara before his strength can surpass the crystal unicorns and allow him to rule Caledonia.” Almare stepped forward, “I will not let you fight my lord, you are too weak, what you need is a warrior.” Dragons Feather looked at Almare with great concern, “Milady?” Almare just stared at Dragons Feather; he was so beautiful, even if at the moment he was just a horse. His legs were muscular and his mane and tail were long and silky. His coat was as black as night. He was a Frisian unicorn, his mane came down over his neck and to the start of his legs, and his tail touched the ground.

“I have found a strong earth girl; she will help you in the fight three years form now. She is young now, but will grow and you will train her.”

“Earth Milady, have you gone mad? We need to protect Earth, we cannot allow Earth involved! This human girl will not be strong enough!” Almare stayed calm, “Please do not yell, my lord, she is very strong, I’ve been watching her since she was a new born, she has a strong spirit. She can do it. But only if you help.”

There was a long pause. Dragons Feather suddenly got a sapphire blue light magically near his forehead, and a ebony horn with sapphire blue crystals appeared, and then over his back his ebony wings appeared. He started pawing the ground and his nostrils flared, “Show me to her.”

Almare and Dragon’s Feather walked through the hills of The Land behind The Water Fall to the mirror. The mirror of the Windsinger was large and rested against the cave wall. On occasions, the mirror would act as a portal for a unicorn living in The Land behind the Waterfall. When they arrived, Almare bowed her horn on the mirror and said in a low whisper, “Show me the girl”.

The mirror formed an image of a young girl resting in a bed. Her long midnight black hair spread out on the pillow and her fragile body was sprawled out over the covers.

“Almare!” Dragons Feather boomed in the land. Almare looked at the Dragons Feather. Other crystal unicorns turned and ran off in fear of him. “She’s so small! She can’t be a help with the war!” Almare smiled “My Lord, you need to trust me, in a few years, she will be ready, I know it. She can use saspheric magic. But she doesn’t know it yet.” In Caledonia, levels of magic are based on color. There is white magic, which is very simple; red magic, slightly more complicated; blue magic, a sorceress magic; black magic, only used by Niagara’s followers and saspheric, a magic only used by the winged lords. And the most powerful magic of them all.

The Fire lord sighed, “I hope what you know what you doing, Milady.” Dragon’s Feather turned and galloped off toward the waterfall.

Almare knew there was no limit to the Dragons Feather power, but he was weak and needed help. Dragons Feather and the girl could beat the evil couple. Almare trusted the girl, because in a past life, the girl was a unicorn herself. And not just any unicorn…

Aurora Johnson jerked from a deep sleep. She stared up at the white ceiling of her room. She had dreamt of a magical unicorn, a big unicorn. It was ebony with a black and sapphire blue horn and matching wings. It was amazing. It kept whispering to her, “Come to me, Aurora, Come to me.”

That’s when Aurora woke up. She looked around her room. It had horses everywhere. Model horses stood on a shelf in front of and a poster of a chestnut horse galloping in a field. She looked at her clock, five in the morning. “Oh well, might as well get an early start.” Aurora got out of her bed. She pulled on shorts. Then she wiggled into a tee shirt. It didn’t take her long, Aurora never wore make up. She didn’t have to; she was naturally a pretty girl. She was very thin and slightly muscular. She had very long legs, like a dancer. She had black- as- night- hair that stretched to her waist and her eyes were pure sapphire blue.

Sometimes her eyes would change color depending on her mood. When she was normal, they would been pale blue, but when she was happy or excited, they would get lighter. But when she was sad or in love, her eyes would turn to a softer color almost green. And when she was angry, her eyes seemed to glow the sapphire blue.

Aurora reached for her high horse back riding boots. She is a horse back rider. It’s very important to her. She had been riding since she was five, she was fourteen now. Her foster parents hadn’t got her a horse yet, they promised that they would someday, but Aurora knew they couldn’t afford it. Aurora was lucky enough to live a mile away from a horse farm. Well since the barn was so big, the last pasture stretched to her house. So she walked through the field every morning to the barn.

Aurora Johnson was the kind of girl who didn’t take anything from anybody. She hated getting pushed around. Aurora always stood up for herself. Some people didn’t think it was a good thing, but is was the way Aurora was. She was a tuff kid and she knew it.

It was six thirty when Aurora was done getting ready. She walked down stairs and found her foster father eating breakfast. “Oh, hi Tom.” Aurora said. Tom was a younger man with blond hair and brown eyes. He was about twenty seven years old. “Good morning Ara.” He said. Ara was Aurora’s nick name.

He was reading when Ara came over and said, “I can’t believe you had to work over the summer.” Tom looked up “Ya, it stinks.” He gulped down a last bight of oatmeal. Tom was a writer. “Well I’m off; you need to get to work too, Ara.” Ara nodded, and Tom left. Ara was a stable hand at the barn. She ate some cereal, and then grabbed the lunch her foster mom made for her. She flung it over her shoulder and headed toward the barn. It was her last day working there. Tomorrow would start her fist day of high school.

Ara dragged her back pack and her lunch through the field. The grass was knee high, and a few horses grazed peacefully in the distance. There was a blue run-in-shed, where a mare and foal slept. The fence was a four foot, three bar gate. It was oak, but was painted white all around.

She arrived at the barn at seven and walked into the tack room at the back of the barn and met Tori, the barn owner.

Tori was tall. Six feet tall. She had short blond hair and wore baggy shirts and big jeans. Tori looked over at Ara, in surprise. “Oh Ara, good thing you’re here, we’re getting a new horse today and he gave the trainers a hard time getting into the trailor. We have to get him used to the place and make sure he his healthy. Ara nodded with a blank look on her face. “So”, Tori went on, “the horse will be here in fifteen minutes. He was just found in the middle of town, wandering around, so I offered to take him.” Tori said proudly of her self. “Get a stall ready and a halter and meet us here in case I need something else. Tori walked out of the tack room. As Ara worked she thought about her dream. “Dragon’s Feather.” She said aloud to herself. Libby, Ara’s friend walked in the room. Libby was a tall girl, two years older then Ara. Libby sat down with her head resting on her hand. Libby was mad.

“You OK?” Ara asked. Libby made a fist and pounded her hand against the table, “I can’t stand that kid!” She yelled. She was talking about Hillary, the barn brat. Hillary was the most important rider at Golden Stone farms. Not because of her riding, she was awful rider. It was because of her father’s wallet. “She called me on my cell and she told me to groom her horse for her to ride!”

Hillary had three horses, Justin, Beauty and Saba. And Her Dad was already in the market for getting a new horse.

“Typical.” came a voice from the doorway of the tack room. Ara turned and looked, it was Max Mathews, the boy Ara and Hillary had a crush on. Max had brown hair and was only a few inches taller then Ara. He also had the best personally ever. He was about the same age as Ara. Max was Tori’s niece, so he was at the barn often, but he didn’t ride. He was good at the guitar and would sometimes entertain the stable hands by playing silly songs.

“Good morning guys” He looked at Ara “Hi Ara.” Ara blushed and smiled. Her eyes became a soft blue color. She tried to hide it by putting her hands to her face, but she was a little late. Max smiled at her, which made Ara blush even more. “Hey, my aunt says the trailer is here.” Max said. Ara jumped up and ran out the door, followed by Libby and Max. She came to the drive way. She saw Tori talking to an owner. Ara walked over to them.

Ara was excited about a new horse, hopefully it was for sale, and she could buy it. Ara stood next to Tori, who was talking to the owner of the trailer.

“…….and he was just walking down the street, like he owned the place! So we caught him, gave us some trouble. But we got him, thanks to us, he’s safe!” The trailer was behind her. Tori looked at me, “Help me unload the horse, Ara.” The owner stopped her, “we will do it.” She walked toward the trailer and opened it up. As soon as she did the horse backed up off the trailer. Ara gasped; it was the horse in her dream! Dragons Feather! (Without the horn or wings of course!)

The stallion was furious and frightened, he reared back, as if to say, You lay a hand on me, how dare you! his ears were flat back and he pawed the ground. The woman held on to him pulling as hard as she could. Then the horse gave one big jerk and he was free. He ran looking back, as if to mock the trainers. He didn’t realize that he was galloping full speed, strait toward Ara. When the stallion looked forward, he stopped short. Dust flew into the air beneath his hoofs. His eyes were wide looking at Ara, as if he saw a ghost. The stallion nickered low in his throat. Ara reached out with one hand and put it on his nose. He shied at first, but then let Ara feel his soft nose. He was a Frisian stallion. The light from the sun gleamed off his ebony coat. He was broad and well muscled. His fetlocks came half way over his jet black hooves and his eyes gleamed in an amber light. Ara noticed that the stallion was making eye contact with her, which normal horses never did, innless they know someone very well.

He steeped forward delicately, as if treating Ara like fragile glass.

“Grab him Ara!” Tori yelled. Ari looked up. The horse put his ears back and nickered. Ara didn’t bother grabbing him, instead she walked into the pasture, and he followed. Then when he was in Ara closed the gate. The stallion’s ears pricked up. Ara reached over and slipped off the halter. He stood looking, scanning Ara up and down. Then Ara walked out of the ring. She sat on the fence and watched the stallion take off. He was gone in to the wooded area at the far end of the pasture.

“Did you know we’ve been waiting for him to come out of the woods for almost two hours now?” Max said looking at his watch. “Oh Yaeh!” Ara said. She looked out in the field. The stallion stood watching her. “What are we going to name him?” Libby asked. “How about midnight?” Max suggested. “No!” Ara said quickly, “His name is Dragons Feather!” Max and Libby looked at each other with a small smile on each of there faces. “But, Dragon’s don’t have feathers.”

“I know, but it suits him.”

“Well, we can call him Draco!” Libby pointed out. Ara stood up with a smile. It wasn’t the right name, but it fit. “Draco! Here Draco!” she yelled. The horse trotted to her. He rested his muzzle in Ara’s Hands. “Draco huh?” came a familiar voice, Hillary.

“Hi Max!” Hillary said.

“Hey.” Max answered, emotionless, with a slight wave.

“Maybe my Dad and I are going to buy him, and I was leaning closer to the name Champion.” Hillary smirked.

Ara felt connected to Draco already; she wasn’t going to lose him to Hillary. So Ara said in a laid back voice, “Why don’t you pay attention to one of the horses you own that hasn’t been groomed in the past three months?” Hillary scowled, “At least I own horses and maybe soon to be one more!”

Draco cantered into the center of the pasture and started to graze. Ara turned to Libby and Max, “I’m going home. See you tomorrow.” Max and Libby stood up “Ya, me too.” The three friends walked away, and Hillary followed.

Hillary was a thin girl, and small. She wore jodhpurs with shinny black paddock boots. Her brown hair was pulled back into a bun resting on her neck. Hilary was and inch or two shorter then Ara and her dad was the richest man in town. Hillary in her first full year or riding already owned three horses.

“You guys want to go to lunch?” Hillary asked as she followed them.

“No.” everyone answered simply. Hillary looked disappointed, and walked away.

“Bye guys.” Ara said as she jumped over the pasture to walk to her house. “Bye.” Max repeated as he headed toward his aunts car. “Bye.” Libby repeated as she too got into her car.

Ara walked through the large pasture. She continued thinking about her dream. She didn’t understand how she saw a unicorn in her dream, which was the same horse she met today.

Ara watched as horses started to follow her through the field. Then she came to the end. Ara climbed the fence and walked up to her house. She walked inside, no one was home. Then Ara heard and scramble on the staircase. Her dog came down and barked. “Hey Rosie.” Ara said. Rosie was a big mutt. He had a white face and a tri colored body. Rosie was muscular and very protective of Ara. She walked to her and sat at Ara’s feet. Ara was exhausted. She lied down on the couch and turned on the TV.

A little latter, she heard her foster mom walk in the door. “Ara? You home?” called her foster mom. “Ya, I’m home Jenny.” Ara said.

Jenny was a young looking woman. She was twenty six and a dancer. Her blond hair was long and covered her shoulders.

“What’s up?” She said. Ara thought to her self about Draco for a long time then said, “There’s a new horse at the barn, Draco, I like him a lot, Can…” Ara wanted to buy Draco before Hillary could, but Ara had her doubts about the money. “Can you get him for me?” she said softly, and immediately regretted the question.

Jenny sat down. She sighed “Ara….we’ll see.” She said. Jenny looked at her clock, “it’s almost five.” She said, “Tom had to go to a meeting, so he’s spending the night in the city.” Jenny looked sad, she hated nights without Tom. Jenny looked at Ara. “Listen, I’ve got a meeting too, at the dance center. I won’t be gone for the whole night, but I will be back at around midnight. Just watch TV here, and don’t stay up too late, you have school tomorrow. Bye now and don’t forget to feed Rosie.”

“Bye.” Ara repeated.

“we come from a place, A place that's in your futureYet a place you left behind, we are the creatures time forgot, The ones you left behind. We visit your dreams at night and at day we scorch your mind. We come from this place, A place you cannot find.” Ara dreamed of another unicorn. She was standing in a field, above the clouds. She looked around; an amazing unicorn stood a few feet in front of her. “The pastures, go to the pasture, now!” the unicorn demanded. Ara stared at it. It was different from Dragons Feather, It was pure white, with a golden crystal horn. Ara closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was awake.

Ara lied in her bed. The voice echoed in her mind, go now, go now

Ara looked over at her clock. Ten at night. She got up, as Rosie trotted into her room. Ara put on her sweat shirt and some sneakers. She walked down stairs. Rosie followed. “I know its crazy girl, but I need to go.” She grabbed a flash light out of the cabinet. “Stay here.” The dog sat and wagged her tail as Ara walked outside.

As Ara walked through the dark pasture she kept telling herself she was crazy. Ara was a little scared. But was soon comforted by the horses following her. She arrived at the barn. She was alone. She turned the flash light into the pasture she left Draco in. She squeezed between the fence railings and into the pasture. Then she heard hoof steps, and Draco walked out of the woods. He walked up to her and stood. He looked more beautiful then ever. He stood watching her. His ebony coat shown in the moonlight. “Hey Draco.” Ara reached out and patted his nose. She sighed. “Well I guess I really am going crazy.” Ara said sarcastically