Picture by Annie, for Katie's story
Picture by Annie, for Katie's story
There once was a princess who lived in a beautiful castle. It was almost her birthday. What she wanted most for her birthday was a unicorn. But every time she asked, she received the same reply, "There are no such things, as unicorns."
The princess (who's name was Esmerelda) knew that was not true. She was going to go out and find one. And that's how this story begins. The next day, Esmerelda put some clothes, some of her best belongings, and some food in a sack and tied it to a stick. Then, when her Mom and Dad had gone to bed, she snuck out and went into the forest.
Esmerelda walked and walked through the forest and then, stopped to rest. Soon after she sat down, she fell fast asleep. But a big rustling noise startled her.
"Mom, don't get me up yet . . . zzzzz," she said in her sleep. When she finally woke up, she wasn't in the forest. She wasn't in her castle. She didn't know where she was.
Just then, she heard a door open. A very pretty woman stood, looking at the princess. "Who are you and where did you come from?" she asked.
"I'm Princess Esmerelda, and I come from the castle by the clearing in the woods.""Oh my, said the woman. "I found you in the forest. I thought you lived here, in one of these cabins. Where were you going?"
"I was going to . . .," Esmerelda said. She just couldn't tell the lady what she was really doing. She'd have to tell a lie.
"I'm going to find different kinds of berries to make a berry pie. It is almost my Mom's birthday and she loves berry pie, so I thought I'd make her some."
"Oh," said the lady. "Then why were you going out so early?"
"I wanted to surprise my Mom," said Esmerelda. "I didn't want her to find out I was going to make berry pie."
"Then off you go," said the lady. "Oh, by the way, my name is Tina. You can come to me if you need help."
Oh dear, thought Esmerelda, I need help right now. Should I tell her? I guess I should.
"Tina," said Esmerelda. "I need help."
"Yes, let's hear it," said Tina.
"I'm looking for a unicorn. I want one for my birthday. But when I ask my Mom and Dad for one, they say there is no such thing. But . . ."
"I have seen a unicorn," interrupted Tina. "Oh, it was so beautiful."
"Where is it?" asked Esmerelda.
"Up in the big mountain. That is where I saw it," said Tina.
"But that's so far away,I said Esmerelda.
"I know," said Tina. "I'm getting too old to go there again. You would have to go alone. It would be very dangerous."
"I want to go!" cried Esmerelda.
"Okay," said Tina. "I will give you one of my horses to ride there. Remember Esmerelda, you are in this alone."
Then, Tina went through another door and Esmerelda followed. They had gone into a little barn. There were lots of horses in it.
"You can pick one," said Tina.Esmerelda walked over to a beautiful white horse.
"This one," said Esmerelda.
"That one's name is Sugar Cream," said Tina. Tina put the saddle on Sugar Cream. Then she said, "Get on." Esmerelda did as she was told.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?" asked Tina.
"Yes, I do," said Esmerelda.
"Here is your sack and little more food," said Tina.
"Thanks," said Esmerelda.
"Now off you go," said Tina. Tina opened the door of the little barn. She held Sugar Cream's reins, and walked her out the door.
"Goodbye!" said Esmerelda. She clutched the little sack she had brought from home. Then she cried "Goodbye!" again.
By then, she was pretty far away from Tina's barn. She wished she had someone to talk to. I guess I could talk to Sugar Cream, she thought.
"Hello, Sugar Cream," said Esmerelda."Hello!" said Sugar Cream in a beautiful voice.
Esmerelda was so very surprised. She didn't know what to say.
"You can talk?" said Esmerelda finally."Yes! I can talk!!" said Sugar Cream.
"Wow!" said Esmerelda. "I have never met a horse that can talk. Your voice is so, so beautiful," said Esmerelda.
"And so are you." "You are beautiful, too," said Sugar Cream.
They walked and walked until night time. Then, they stopped to rest. They didn't know a little bunny was watching them, a little bunny who had lost his family, just that afternoon. Her name was Buttermilk. She was very cute.
In the morning, the little bunny went over to Esmerelda."Why, a little bunny. What's your name?"
"My name is Buttermilk. I have lost my family."
"Oh, you poor little bunny," said Esmerelda. "I have a carrot. Would you like it?"
"Yes, I would like it," said Buttermilk.
"Here you go," said Esmerelda, giving a carrot to Buttermilk.
"Why do you have such a small voice?"
"Because I'm so small," said Buttermilk.
"Why isn't your Mom and Dad here with you?" asked Esmerelda.
"Because a fox killed them," said Buttermilk. "I ran and ran for miles. Finally, the fox gave up. Then, I saw you. In the morning, I came to you to see if you would give me some food."
"Come along with us," said Esmerelda.
Buttermilk was still for a minute. She was thinking. Finally, she said, "Okay, I will come with you."
"I'm hungry!" said Sugar Cream. "I want some berries!'"Okay, let's go to the forest and find some," said Esmerelda.
When they walked in the forest, they didn't just see berries, they saw apples, bananas, kiwi, oranges, pears, carrots, and peaches.
"What a feast!" cried Esmerelda."Yeah!" said Buttermilk. "What a feast!"
Sugar Cream said nothing, but ran to the berries. Buttermilk ran to the carrots. Esmerelda ran to the apples. They ate and ate until they were full.
"That was delicious," said Sugar Cream, with her mouth still full.
Then they started their journey again. They traveled for nights and days, nights and days. They saw beautiful sights.
But they didn't know a gnome was following them. He wanted to marry Princess Esmerelda, keep Sugar Cream and kill Buttermilk for stew. he licked his lips just thinking about rabbit stew. he ran to catch up with the three. When he finally caught up with them, he hid in a bush. Esmerelda had very sharp ears and she heard the brush rustle.
"Sugar Cream, Buttermilk, run!" she whispered. "Go, now!"
Sugar Cream and Buttermilk started to run. Esmerelda ran too, but something grabbed her.
"Ahhhh!" she screamed.Sugar Cream and Buttermilk looked back.
"Keep running!" cried Esmerelda. "Save yourselves!"
But Sugar Cream and Buttermilk ran back to save their best friend. Sugar Cream kicked the gnome with all her might.
Finally, with bruises and cuts all over him, the gnome gave up. With a shout of pain, the gnome ran away, for he had never been this hurt in his life.
Esmerelda looked at her two friends, her two best friends. She was ever so happy.
"You risked your life for me," said Esmerelda. "You are my best and only friends.""It was nothing," they said. "It was nothing." And they started off again.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Esmerelda's parents were very worried. Esmerelda had been gone for a long time. The prince that wanted to marry her was very, very sad. He didn't want to marry anyone, else, and they loved each other.
The prince decided to go search for Princess Esmerelda. He must find her, for it was almost his sixteenth birthday and he must marry, for every prince must marry at sixteen. He went out one night and no one knew where he was in the morning. He had no idea where he was going.
Back with Esmerelda, things weren't going too well. All they had left to eat was a really small carrot.
"I want the carrot!" cried Buttermilk."No! I want the carrot!" cried Sugar Cream.
"No! I want the carrot!" screamed Esmerelda.
"Food is over here!" said a faint voice.
"Who said that?" said Esmerelda.
"Follow my voice!" said the voice. So the three friends followed the voice. "You're almost here."
The three took a few more steps. They heard something slam.
"Caught ya!" cried a voice. It was the gnome!
"Ahhh!" they screamed.
"I finally caught you!" cried the gnome in an evil voice. "Now I can marry you, my princess."
"Eww!" cried Esmerelda. "You're never going to marry me!"
"And how will you stop me?" asked the gnome.
"Um, I'll figure something out," said Esmerelda.
"I don't think you'll be able to," said the gnome.
"And why not?" asked Princess Esmerelda.
"Because I'm marrying you today."
Oh no, thought Esmerelda. What am I going to do?
The gnome threw her a dress. "I expect you to get that on," said the gnome, and he walked away.
"We have to escape, or I'm doomed," said Esmerelda.
Buttermilk had an idea. She started chewing on the bars of the cage.
"What are you doing?" asked Esmerelda.
"You'll find out," said Buttermilk. Finally, all the bars were gone.
"Come on, Esmerelda! Come on, Sugar Cream!" whispered Buttermilk.
The three ran out of the cage. They still had a long, long, long, long way to go to get to the top of the mountain.
They walked and walked but their feet hurt so much they had to stop. After two days, they started out again. While they were walking, they heard a noise. They looked up. It was a dragon!
"Ahhh!" they screamed. They started running."Don't be frightened," said the dragon, in a gentle voice. "I will not hurt you."
They stopped running. The dragon landed. "Why, hello and why are you going this way?" asked the dragon.
"We are looking for a unicorn."
"Well, I can take you as far as Baker's Village, and that's pretty far away."
"Where's Baker's Village?" asked Buttermilk.
"It's where Annie the baker lives. She makes very, very tasty food."
"We'll come," said Esmerelda. They hopped on the dragon's back.
"It will take two days to get there," said the dragon.
"We don't mind," said Esmerelda.
The dragon flapped her wings. "My name is Glyndel. I hope you enjoy your ride."
They lifted off the ground.
For the next two days, they tried to amuse themselves. It was hard, but they did. Finally, they landed.
"Let me show you around," said Glyndel.
When everyone saw them, they greeted them with a nice hello.
Finally, they got to Annies's Place. They went inside. Annie wasn't there, but her sister Katie was. Katie was making really good looking donuts. Annie and her family were known for their famous baked goods. Esmerelda bought some bread and donuts. She also bought some fresh squeezed orange juice.
Back at home, Esmerelda's parents decided to look for her, too. They found the prince and had a suspicious feeling that she was searching for a unicorn. So, they started up the mountain, and came to Baker's Village, just as Esmerelda was leaving.
Esmerelda had stayed for a week with Annie's family, and now she was off again. They were almost to the top of the mountain. They walked for a few more days, and finally, they were at the top! They could see clear across the country, and it was so beautiful.
Now where could a unicorn be, thought Esmerelda. The others thought the same. They started looking right away. They found very interesting things, but not a unicorn. This was going to be harder than Esmerelda thought.
Suddenly, they heard rustling in the bushes, and out popped a unicorn!
"There's one!" said Esmerelda. "Come on! Let's get it!" And off they ran. The unicorn started running away."Don't be afraid," said Esmerelda. "I won't hurt you." The unicorn started toward them.
"Hello," said the unicorn. "My name is Mystic. What is yours?"
"I'm Esmerelda, that's Sugar Cream and that's Buttermilk. Will you let me take you home?"
"Well . . .," said Mystic. "Okay, I'd like that, and I want to be your friend, too. Okay?"
"Okay," said Esmerelda. "I will."
"But first, I have to ask the owner. She will decide," said Mystic.
Mystic led them through a cave. Then they came to a room made of diamonds and gold. Emerald chains were hanging from the ceiling. It was the most magnificent room Esmerelda had ever seen. They went up to the most beautiful unicorn that Esmerelda had ever seen. She felt like she was in a dream.
Mystic whispered something to the unicorn. "Okay," said the unicorn. "You may."Mystic hopped for joy. "Yippee," she cried. "I can stay with you!"
They ran out of the cave and all the way back to Baker's Village.
Esmerelda's Mom and Dad were still waiting to see if she would come. When they saw her, they couldn't believe their eyes. It was her! It was their daughter!
"ESMERELDA!" they shouted."Mom! Dad!" she shouted. They ran for each other.
"Esmerelda!" shouted the prince. When they were done hugging each other, the prince asked, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes," said Esmerelda, dreamily. "I will."
Then Esmerelda asked, "Can I keep them all Mom and Dad? PLEASE?"
"Okay," said her parents.
They built a home in Baker's Village and Esmerelda and the prince got married and they lived happily ever after with Sugar Cream, Buttermilk and Mystic.
