• In the land of Matkanimbus, it's difficult to think that one would have trouble finding the object of his/her own desire—especially when that object is a unicorn. The unicorns here frolic freely through the clouds; they run around with the children right out in the open. Their fur glistens like snow, hoary as a fresh blanket in the winter. It represents purity. Their horns are a range of colors from robin egg's blue to pearly pink (depending on gender, of course), and have a sharp point at the end (not for violence, but for digging in the cotton candy-like ground.) The tails that hang from their behinds flow with the wind—it is said by some experts that these mystical creatures communicate by their tail movements. The white unicorn is widely considered the most peaceful, beautiful creature of them all.

    But that's not what documenter Chase Elwood was searching for. No, he was fixing to find the elusive, rumored black unicorn. Only few have claimed to see it, none have searched for it. Elwood was ready to find it. He'd spent months preparing and studying for the search. He'd estimated that, in fact, since the white unicorn was so open to the world, perhaps the reason the black unicorn hid itself as such was that it was a complete opposite. Realizing this, he'd noted several times that he might be putting himself in danger. White represented purity, so black (obviously) most definitely meant some sort of impurity, an abomination.

    Standing at the gate of the forest, Elwood slipped on his night goggles, nodding in slight fear at the eerie sight of the overwhelming bustle of green (because EVERYTHING was, indeed, green.) He muttered to himself that he could do this, slung his equipment over his back, and stepped inside. He looked, left and right, before moving any further. A white unicorn couple snuggled to the side of the path, presumably dreaming curiously as they rested. Surely, since the whites slept during the night, the blacks kept awake, roaming for their own personal amusement.

    With a deep breath, he trudged a few steps forward, doing his best to not make any sort of slight sound. If he was going to find this thing, it wasn't going to find him. There was a bustling sound in the bushes. Elwood held his breath. This was it. He couldn't believe that the thing he'd prepared for for such a long time was over already! He averted his eyes to the bush, which was still shaking, and a squirrel hopped out, wrestling with an acorn. Oh. Damn.

    He kept on making his way through the forest, leaving the path and heading…he checked his compass…south. That made sense. White unicorns favored the north (they always slept facing this way.) He made sure to look around him constantly, smiling at the adorable creatures—the unicorns (these things were everywhere), the Pegafangoats (the Matkanimbian mascot), and the Nimblunias (the little cloud 'monsters')—but also feeling a slight disappointment at the lack of his desire.

    After wandering for some time, Elwood was feeling oddly sleepy, and the more steps he took, the more exhausted he felt. He thought that maybe he should lie down and take a short nap. Just a short one. So he searched for a spot that wasn't covered by an animal (he was so tired that at this point he didn't even realize that there were fewer and fewer as he went on), set his equipment on the cold, wet ground, and cuddled himself up against a silver tree. He shut his goggles off to preserve the battery, and his eyes shut almost immediately.

    Elwood sits up, awake. He can see clearly, even though it isn't day, and he isn't wearing night-vision goggles. He hears a slow clopping of hooves, presumably moving towards him. In the distance, he sees a horse-shaped thing, getting bigger as it gets closer. It is black, and it has a horn. Oh! This is it! For real, this time. Sir Chase Elwood, the failure among documenters, has found the mysterious black unicorn! Wait, what's he supposed to do now? He reaches for his camera, but it is not there. In fact, the only things around him are a long, white path, the tree he leans against, and the black-faced beauty in the distance.

    Once it's in clear view, it nods at him, then turns, so as for him to follow. He stands up, brushing the dirt off his pants, and, mesmerized, trails behind this wonder. It's there, it's really there. In the flesh. He wants so much to touch it, to feel the long-haired fur that rests upon its back. Without a thought, he reaches out to place his hand on top of it as they move. Not even glancing to look at Elwood, the unicorn knowingly whips its shadow-like tail to smack his hand away. The man has learned his lesson.

    They come upon a small grove of willows, the center of which is a small, white area. This must be the ultimate form of trust, he believes, the black unicorn is probably showing him its home! For the first time since it started leading him, the unicorn turns to face Elwood. Its eyes speak to him, telling him to never forget this moment. It trusts him to keep this place a secret. He nods. He has no place for words in a land like this. The unicorn turns—Elwood assumes that it is going to take him to another wonderful area—when it scuffs its hoof, and bucks him in the face.

    Elwood awoke, gasping, his head banging against the tree. He called aloud for his dark companion, but it was nowhere to be found. This was when he realizes he was still wearing his night goggles, turned off, and it was still incredibly dark outside. His equipment was just as he laid it prior to his slumber. Everything was the same—Oh no! This meant that all that just happened wasn't real. It was just a dream, just a dream…

    Elwood hung his head in despair. It was so realistic, so lifelike! That smack to the face really hurt…in fact…Elwood reached up to touch his left cheek. To his surprise, it stung, like it had recently been bruised. But, that could have been a branch that hit him in his sleep. That's when he noticed the strand of long, black, thick hair wound in his fingers. It really happened! But…why was he back where he had slept? Why wasn't he in the grove? What happened?

    -

    Elwood smiles as he sees a child checking out his recently published book, The Black Unicorn: the Elusive Escapade, from the library. Is it real? The librarian shrugs her shoulders. The child quickly sits at a table and begins to read very meticulously. Elwood pats his own copy in front of him, and opens to his favorite page. On it, he has his own major breakthrough highlighted: "The black unicorn is known to create euphoric effects on those it finds, that is, it can turn reality into a dream-like state. If you ever decide to search for one, make sure you wear head protection because they send their 'victims' back to reality by bucking; this is believed to be their version of a 'rude awakening." If only he'd known that previously. His cheek still has a hoof print, all these months later.

    He looks out the window at all the white unicorns dashing through the clouds. They all looked so innocent, so pleased. After that eventful night so long ago, he felt pity for the poor black unicorn. It had to hide away in that secret grove—which, don't get him wrong, it was gorgeous on its own accord— but never coming out to witness this light, beautiful field.

    He wrote the book because all of the literature he read that surrounded the creature insinuated that it was evil, and the complete overturn of a white unicorn (which yes, he used to believe as well). He didn't want people to look for it with a bad thought in mind. He'd remembered to keep the grove a secret. The unicorn will only show people it trusts. So far he's the only one.

    He sips his tea, a small grin on his face. Black unicorn, discovered. Happiness, achieved. The truth, out. He listed these things to himself and set his tea down on the wooden table. Mission accomplished.