The Last Unicorn: The Bull's Vengeance

Chapter 3

     As night fell, and the moon began to rise, the trio began to devise a plan to help the unicorn escape. Though time was slipping through their fingers, Schmendrick swiftly recalled a kingdom nearby that they could take up camp in. It was a land with vast forests, and fields with soft green grass. Not only that, it was ruled by the now King Lir, Amalthea's long lost lover. "Surely Lir can protect her, and provide us shelter for a while. After all, he owes it to her after she saved his life." Molly stated, hoping her thoughts were correct. "Then we shall head that way," said Schmendrick. "Though I'm afraid the Bull will continue to pursue her. It's almost destiny that they meet once more."

Despite this revelation, the crew still exited the lilac woods, and began yet another journey. "I shall leave the others here, and come back for them when it is safe," the unicorn thought to herself. "The Bull must be slain, that is the only way to protect myself, and the others." She hurried across the path ahead of her, with the thought of once again meeting the giant red beast still fresh in her mind. She was fearful, but could not escape her fate now. She shuffled along with Schmendrick and Molly, paranoid that the Bull would appear at any given second.

As they trekked along, the trio eventually came across a small group of homes nestled in the countryside. There were farmers plowing the nearby fields, preparing for another planting season. As the unicorn passed, they stopped in awe. Though they did not recognize her true form, they were still mesmerized by the mysterious white mare, as they had never seen such a beautiful mare. Swiftly, one elderly man scuttled over to Molly and Schmendrick. He attempted to bargain with them, saying "Name your price on your mount, I'll give my entire profit from last year's harvest." But the two did not budge, for no price could be placed on a unicorn. Hearing the old man's sorry attempts to purchase her, she reared in fury, her horn flashing wildly. Her hooves stamped the ground like sharp daggers, and the old man fell to his knees in fear. Immediately, he gave up his pursuit of her, for he did not want the "wild white mare" that stood before him. Frustrated, the trio continued on past the farm land, still cautious as the smell of the Bull crept through the atmosphere.

As the unicorn and her friends laid down to rest, the sky began to glow eerily light. "Unusual for this time of hour," Molly thought, skeptical of the light coming from the East. "It's half past two, the sun should not be coming up for several hours." Then realization struck her. She rose to her feet swiftly, screaming at Schmendrick to awaken. The unicorn, knowing what was coming, stood paralyzed, looking up to the sky in blind terror. "Run!" hollered Schmendrick, pointing at a nearby brush the unicorn could hide in. He was hopeful she could stay there long enough to perform swift magic. For the Bull was there, his figure dancing in the moonlit sky.

As she hid, and time ticked away, the magician began his work. He muttered a phrase that sounded like utter gibberish to most of the world, waving his hands towards the unicorn. Suddenly, she began to shapeshift, not permanently, but in the way that Mommy Fortuna once disguised creatures. In the blink of an eye, the unicorn had the appearance of a lanky heifer, grazing in a field. As the Bull descended, Molly and Schmendrick took cover, hoping he would be fooled by Schmendrick's quick witted magic on the unicorn.

He was still the color of blood, though it was a deeper shade now. Instead of fresh blood, his color had the appearance of the blood that boils under a festering wound, and his horns shook wildly as he stormed across the field. He could sense the unicorn's presence, but where? In utter rage, the Bull destroyed everything in his path, even the beautiful flowers in bloom. As Molly and Schmendrick looked upon the beast in fear, he appeared bewildered by the absence of the unicorn. By a stroke of luck, he was fooled again by quick magic, and dumb luck on the magician's part. Frustrated, he disappeared in a plume of flames, marching on in hopes of finding the strange white beast he could feel so near to him. The unicorn whinnied a sigh of relief knowing that she was spared more time to flee from the Bull, though she still felt some sense of doom, knowing they would still meet one day. This day would come most likely when she least expected it, so there is no time for magic or her to run and hide.

Stunned at the Bull being fooled, and anxiously awaiting their next meeting with him, the trio pressed on. Now, the kingdom they were venturing to was only a two day trip. Schmendrick kept the unicorn's disguise in case of a chance meeting, and they headed towards Lir's domain, hoping for safety along the rest of their doomed path.