> Real Live Unicorns > by Matthew Penn > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Real Live Unicorns > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Guess what,” Noel said excitedly. “I saw a real-live unicorn!” Her two friends, Mimi and Andrea, only stared at her. Noel kept smiling, and waited for their reaction. “Unicorns aren’t real,” Mimi said. “Yes they are! I saw one yesterday!” said Noel. “If this is another one of your jokes, then I’m not falling for it,” said Mimi. “It’s just like last time when you said you found a leprechaun at the park.” “But I did see a unicorn! It was real! It was white and small, and it had pink hair, and it talked!” Mimi and Andrea laughed. The smile on Noel’s face disappeared into a frustrated look. “It talked? That’s a first,” said Andrea. “I’m telling the truth! It talked to me, and it used big words!” This made Andrea and Mimi laugh even harder that they almost stumbled into the ground. Some friends they are, Noel thought. “Noel, I think you should stop making up these crazy stories,” Mimi said. “You’re like, nine-years-old. You shouldn’t be believing in something like unicorns anymore.” Mimi was four years older than Noel, and Andrea was three years older. They are her neighborhood friends. “I’m telling you, I saw a unicorn! She came to my backyard! You’ve got to believe me! I even drew a picture of what it looked like!” Before Mimi and Andrea said anything, Noel searched her pants pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it, revealing a crudely drawn portrait of a little white unicorn. The unicorn had short, pink and purple hair, and on its hindquarters was a symbol of some sort, which looked like a shield with a heart. “Wow Noel, that’s some imagination you’ve got there,” said Mimi. “I’m not making this up! I saw this unicorn yesterday! She stood right there!” Noel pointed at the sundial that was in the corner of the backyard. “And she really liked that sundial! She told me!” Mimi placed her fingers on the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. A woman came out to the backyard with them, Noel’s mother. “What’s going on out here?” she asked. “Noel believes she saw a unicorn out here,” Andrea said. “Oh… that.” “You believe me, don’t you mom?” Noel said. There was a desperate look in her eyes. Her mother sighed. “I would be inclined to believe you if you had proof,” she said weakly. Noel showed her mother the drawing. A man came to the backyard with them, Noel’s father. “Is she talking about the unicorn again?” he asked. Noel dropped the drawing, shocked of what was happening. “I can’t believe none of you believe me. Mom… dad… how could you?” “Well, honey, unicorns are fantasy creatures, like the Loch Ness Monster,” her father said. “I thought you knew that already.” Noel glared at them. There was fire in her eyes. “I swear I will prove to all of you I saw a real unicorn! You will all believe me! Just you wait!” She marched back to the house and slammed the door. Her mother and father, and her neighborhood friends stood there, bewildered. “Guess what,” Sweetie Belle said excitedly. “I saw one! I saw a human! They’re actually real!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo only stared at her. Sweetie smiled, waiting for their reaction. “Yeah… humans aren’t real,” Scootaloo said. “They are real!” said Sweetie. “I was walking, and I saw one! It looked at me, and it talked, but ran away!” “Sweetie Belle, if this is another one of your stories, then I ain’t buying it,” said Apple Bloom. “Don’t you guys believe me? I told you they were real!” “You’re like, what, ten-years-old?” said Scootaloo. “Don’t you think it’s time you’ve stop believing in fairy tales? Humans aren’t real.” Sweetie glared at them. “They are real! And I can prove it, too!” Before they said anything, Sweetie rushed to her nightstand and took out a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it, and it revealed a crude drawing of a human. The human had a pink shirt with blue pants, and long brown hair. There was a speech bubble over its head, containing the caption “AHH, A UNICORN!” “That’s what it said to me,” said Sweetie. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo laughed, almost stumbling to the floor. Sweetie grew frustrated. “That’s some imagination y’all got there,” said Apple Bloom. “I can’t wait to tell Applejack this.” An adult unicorn entered the room. It was Rarity, Sweetie Belle’s sister. “What’s all the commotion about?” she said. “Sweetie thinks she saw a human,” said Scootaloo. “It is true! I even drew the one I saw!” Sweetie presented Rarity her drawing of the human. “Sweetie, darling, don’t you think you’re a wee-bit too old to believe in fairy tales?” asked Rarity. “I thought mother and father had this talk with you. Humans are imaginary.” Sweetie eyes widened with shock. “I can’t believe it… my own sister.” “What do you mean?” said Rarity. “You don’t believe me. You think I’m a liar.” “No, it’s not that at all. Oh dear.” Sweetie drew an angry look at her friends and sister, then marched out of her room. “I swear I’ll prove to all of you that humans exist! Then you’ll be sorry!” They listened to her as she grumbled across the hall, then they stood there, bewildered. That night, Noel and Sweetie Belle created traps to catch each other. Noel had a perfect plan to catch the unicorn: the next time she arrived in her backyard, she’ll see a pile of oats. Once she has eaten them, a net will hoist her up a tree branch. Sweetie, too, had a perfect trap for the human. The next she arrives at the humans home, she’ll knock her unconscious and drag her back to Ponyville. Now it was time to set their plans in motion. The next morning, Noel hid in a safe spot in the backyard, watching the door to the back fence. Meanwhile, Sweetie carried a wiffle ball bat and whistled a pleasant tone. Sweetie opened the door and entered slowly, trying to find the human. Noel saw her, and waited for her to eat the oats; that is, until she saw the wiffle ball bat the unicorn carried. Sweetie saw the oats in the ground, and somehow knew it was a trap. They waited for the other to make the first move. After minutes of waiting, Noel appeared from her hiding spot, disappointed that her plan didn’t work. “What do you think you’re doing?” she said. “You were supposed to eat the oats so I can catch you!” “Really? I was going to knock you out with this thing and take you back to my home,” said Sweetie. Noel was shocked, and Sweetie was surprised. Then, a moment later, a thought dawned on the two of them. They probably have friends and family who didn’t believe them when they saw something extraordinary, like a human or a unicorn. However, Noel couldn’t believe that a cute unicorn would hit her in the head with a wiffle ball bat. “So what do you want to do now?” asked Noel. Sweetie thought, then had a grand idea. To get revenge on those who didn’t believe them, they will take turns scaring their friends. Sweetie will chase Andrea and Mimi with the wiffle ball bat, while Noel will wear her devil costume to scare Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Many lives were lost that day. The End.