The Sharp End

Elrondir

"And quiet a bit of Hell breaks loose. . . ."

THAT line could be applied to a LOT of the things I'd been involved in in my military career before being reincarnated as an elf. Now? It still applies to THIS fracas. Definitely belongs to it, let me assure you!

Yeah, yeah! I know that perhaps being who I who suggests some moderation on my side's part. Not jump to automatic conclusions just because this idiot happens to be an analog of a mad mage who's sown so much chaos on so many analog of Fred and Astra. I am well aware of how the bad actions of ONE analog can ruin it for another. Just ask me why I was so quick on changing my name to "Elrondir" after I learned of my analog, Seeker, having . . .

Nevermind, it is not important right now that ancient history!

It just happens too fast for me to have done something like that right at the start and AFTER Pronky bristled (and generally acting like a little brat caught with his hand in the cookie jar) I wasn't inclined in sticking up for him.

As for WHAT happens next . . .

It happens quickly, what happens, and maybe if my sister, Inquirer, had been paying more attention to the unicorns than the rather hostile mage before us she MIGHT have been able to do something. Shove Pronky out of the way or some such deal. Then again, I rather doubt it. To spend too little attention on such like this cat (Pronky) is a recipe for disaster!!

Besides, the mage probably would have interpreted her sudden move as hostile and REACTED in a hostile defensive measure . . . up until the red maned unicorn mare's alicorn pierced him from behind!!

It happens so quickly. Eyes go wide and then a screaming neigh of anger! The unicorn surged forward, seeming to throw off whatever was keeping it docile and really . . .

. . .

Really jacked up Pronky, not only from a purely physical angle. (Really nasty, try imagining getting speared by a warcharger sized unicorn sometime, it'll be like an industrial accident!!) Not only that, but from a magical angle as well! The unicorn mare's horn gave off some kind of magical sparks which caused major convolsions to run through Pronky . . . right before a sickening thud as he came to a sudden stop against a tree after being thrown over the unicorn's head with a fling!!

I nearly stop in my tracks as I (with sharp elfin sense, so of COURSE I notice it) see that our reflections in the unicorn's eyes . . . are fading out. Leaving only fathomless pools in their place, in a way. Eerie! Not like Artizza's and Fertal's eyes, but . . .

Uh, sort of like what that one novel (Beagle's The Last Unicorn) described when that unicorn who'd been accidently turned into a human woman did. See, whilst human she'd been in danger of turning permanently (mentally) into one. The struggle or process (whatever) between human and unicorn reflected in her eyes. When more human than unicorn, you could see your reflection in there. If the unicorn nature was there . . .

Uh, nevermind! You understand and I gotta get over there where that damn mage landed so . . .

. . .

It's too late, even as I and the others rush over (with the male unicorn now blinking as if coming out of a trance and now staring at Fertal). The blood is flowing out and his life is flowing out of his eyes even as we get up to him.

"We're the last people you shall ever see in this life," I finally say softly, as way of SOME kind of introduction as he gasps his last.

Chiana

"Frell!" I swear softly, looking at the mess now at our feet.

I leave it to the others as they (CAREFULLY) look over the fallen mages body in search for possible magic items which might be similar to that Crystallic thingy that changed so many other analogs of Fertal and Artizza (or the Freds and Astras if you like) into other species.

I just want to know one important thing right now. Just for my sake, thanks. Might be important, really.

"Hey," I call out to the now bewildered unicorns. "By any chance were you two named Fred and Astra? Have any memories of that?"

Do they even understand what I'm saying? Frell, that was lame. They don't understand what I just said!

1. Can you understand me now? I try again, this time mentally casting out to them.

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