Nightmare filled Hunter in on our previous discussion while we flew. Luckily with all of Hunter’s questions and Nightmare’s numerous attempts to dodge them kept both occupied until we pushed through the upper layer of clouds. The clouds lay out in a blanket underneath of us and right in front the mountain broke through.
This time we could see its summit, which was a high rounded peak. The black purple color of the mountain was stronger above the clouds, and gave them an eerie purplish glow. Tommy skirted above the cloud blanket and when we got closer I could see the little alcove that was on the mountainside. It was about six or seven feet above the clouds and another twenty below the summit. There was hardly any room for the three unicorns to stand.
Tommy landed first and Rougefire backed slightly into the alcove, allowing Daydream to follow him. She was half in and half out of the archway, when Nightmare landed. I thought for sure the Nightmare was going to fall off and have to take flight again, but amazingly he just fit on the solid ground.
“Everybody off,” Daydream commented happily.
I slid down and waited for Hunter to come to stand with me. I gave him a smile that he returned before asking, “So, what am I still missing?”
I shook my head. “Whatever it is I’m missing it too. This place shouldn’t be big enough for all three unicorns.”
“Magic or just more unexplainable,” Hunter commented and I nodded my agreement.
“Come on you two,” Tommy called from further inside.
Hunter and I walked in to find the room was much larger than we had thought. It was about half the size of my bedroom in the cave. There was room for us all to stand together, without being uncomfortably close. Ahead of us was an upward ramp, but where it led I couldn’t tell. Tommy caught my gaze.
“This is it,” he said with a gentle smile. “You have to go up the ramp now and your questions will be answered.”
Hunter looked at him suspiciously. “What’s the catch?”
“You go alone,” Nightmare answered his partner, sticking his head in the archway beside Daydream.
“Alone?” I questioned, looking at Tommy then Daydream. “What do you mean alone?”
“We will stay behind you, you have nothing to fear. But remember I once told you that you had to earn this in order to claim your destiny and that I could only support you, but not tell you everything?” She waited until I nodded. A talking horse telling you about your destiny wasn’t exactly something you forget. “Well, that time has come. You have been earning you way all along, learning as you go, but this is the final step and in this you must do it alone. I can no longer answer your questions.”
“You haven’t exactly answered a lot of our questions,” Hunter pointed out. “But what about me? What part do I play in all of this?”
“You are the same, Hunter. Your destiny lies up that ramp. You have to go get it now,” Nightmare responded.
I looked at Hunter then turned to look at the ramp. So this was it? This ramp and whatever lay at its end was what the song so wanted me to find? I could feel the song tingling through my body. It wanted to sing out loud for the world to hear. It was almost physically lifting me up, not onto the ramp, but into the sky. And I wanted to follow.
I reached over and took Hunter’s hand without really thinking about it. He gave it a squeeze and when I looked at him, he smiled encouragingly. We were in it together. Whatever happened up there, even though my new friends couldn’t give me answers, I wasn’t facing it alone. I would never be that way again. While the others couldn’t come with me as Hunter could, I knew they would still be watching everything that happened and waiting for me to return changed. I swallowed. Changed. I had no doubt of that anymore. Whatever was about to happen at the end of this ramp would change me forever. Was I ready for that?
I squeezed Hunter’s hand. Yeah, I was and it was time to prove it. I walked forward and as my foot hit the bottom of the ramp the song moved faster, showing its’ excitement. Hunter stepped beside me and together we climbed.
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