Unicorn Disciple

The sky opened up, and a whirlwind of dark clouds spun above the meadow. Vinnie fell through the opening, clawing the air, in hopes of slowing down before hitting the ground. He touched his back with feeble hands, and felt the sting of countless spikes. The blackberry bushes saved his life but tore his clothes and skin to shreds.

Vinnie felt sick. He was about to slip into darkness, but a thunderous roar grew ever closer. The kid could see the tree tops shift back and forth. Something powerful was barreling through the pine forest. His knees wobbled. He tried running away, but fell. With his head buried in the grass, the kid felt the trembling stop inches from his body. A rhythmic gush of steam burned his scalp every time the creature breathed. Vinnie was scared shi err speechless. He lay there, wide-eyed, head buried in grass, awaiting death’s bite. Instead he heard:

“Vinnie, is that you? How the hell did you get here? Oh, wait, didn't I close the portal? Damn, my bad… Why are you digging in the dirt?”

It took Vinnie a moment to register the voice. It was Jimmy, his lost friend. He was the reason Vinnie searched the creepy cave in the first place. That's where he found the portal, that's where he fell through the earth.

“I thought you were kidnapped–”

He rolled on his back and came nose to nose with a white muzzle. The beast opened its maw to reveal rows of teeth, like crisscrossing chainsaws. Vinnie snapped on his feet, eyeing the fearsome unicorn.

“What the hell is that thing? What is this place?”

“Pretty cool, huh?”

“No, not cool, Jimmy. What’s going on? Keep that thing away from me. It looks like it eats souls.”

Jimmy laughed, and leaped off the saddle. He gently patted the beast, so as not to cut himself in its teeth. The unicorn closed its eyes and shrieked. Jimmy hugged Vinnie, and said:

“Relax, that’s how he sounds when he's happy. I’ll answer all your questions, but not here. Enemies are out and about in this part of the land. Come, there’s an outpost, not far from here.”

“What happened to you? You’ve been missing for two weeks. Why didn’t you come back?”

“Two weeks you say? It’s been a year in Klappa Chix, the land where shadows linger. I remember stepping through the portal, and gazing upon the burning forest. I landed in the middle of a battlefield. For centuries–”

“Jimmy, we need to get out of here right now. Everyone thinks you're dead, chopped to pieces, and scattered across the country. I don’t know what the hell this place is, but I know we gotta go. How do we leave?”

Jimmy sighed and shrugged. The unicorn reeled on its column-size legs, and kicked. The air cracked like whiplash.

“I can’t leave until we drive the darkness back into the ground. I swore an oath and owe my life to Gorespire, the gentle leader of the unicorns of Klappa Chix. Until the dark castle under the mountain of ice–”

“Do you hear yourself? Gorespire?! What help does it need from you? Look at that thing…”

The unicorn let out a bloodcurling roar. A stream of golden sparks shot out its snout, and its chainsaw-teeth zipped like conveyors of death. Jimmy grabbed Vinnie and hopped on Gorespire’s back. The beast took off, shattering the rock beneath their feet. It darted towards the dark clouds, crushing the two boys into its saddle. Vinnie desperately pulled on his friend's neck, fighting to stay conscious and not fall to his death.

“What’s happening?”

“Death has found us. I need you to believe, Vinnie."

"What does that mean?”

“You must believe with all your heart. Otherwise, we will all die.” Jimmy’s face was paper-white. “I’m sorry.”

The sky split and a tear zig-zagged across the horizon. One after another, battleships warped through it: black, lackered, and teardrop-shaped fighters were conjured into existence. Green flames and plasma whizzed past the trio. The beast’s maw foamed red. It flew fast, shattering the sound barrier with a boom. Jimmy grabbed its mane, and focused on the animal beneath him. Gorespire’s gnarly horn turned cherry-red, glowing so hot Jimmy was forced to tuck his head. It pierced the black fuselage. The unicorn’s glassy eyes mirrored sparks and flames, as its horn tore and melted a gash in the enemy ship. The aircraft smoked and plunged towards the earth, in a ball of fire. One after another, the ships fell, unable to hit the beast. It flew with unprecedented skill and speed.

On the ground, a laser battery opened fire on Gorespire, nicking it just below the ribs. The beast roared like a lion. It plunged, headfirst, with limbs tucked against its blood-soaked frame. It dodged laser bolts, spinning like a top. It landed teeth first of the battery crew, grinding them into bits and pieces with its chainsaw maw. A red mist draped the boys, blood stinging Jimmy's eyes. He turned to Vinnie and shouted

“You must believe in Gorespire! Believe he is our only salvation!”

“I believe, I believe in him!" Vinnie cried out, his face twisted in terror.

A deafening silence fell on the meadow. A glow, slowly rising from within the unicorn, manifested itself. The light was so intense it snuffed out any, and all sounds. Like the shockwave of a blooming, nuclear mushroom, the energy rose, and rose within the beast. Gorespire hovered over the treetops. The full armada of the enemy force gathered through the torn veil. The ships opened fire all at once, giving it all they had. The beast raised its head and shot a rainbow beam from its horn. It spanned three hundred and sixty degrees, across all directions, pulverizing every last ship in the bling of an eye. The sky filled with smoke and turned black.

Gorespire gently landed in a clearing, its head turned toward the two kids. Its eyes fixed on Vinnie.