This story is dedicated to the late actor River Phoenix on the 30^th anniversary month of his passing. A previous Phoenix and Unicorn Ryan story

Unicorn Ryan proudly walks through Gemstone Glade, best friend white tiger cub Waterfall not far behind. They are here to unearth the magic stone tablet gifted to them last Christmas, read the story here

By placing a unicorn horn over the ancient text on the tablet, they can travel to any of the magical places listed.

Unicorn Ryan neighs softly. The words reassemble before him, then new writing appears. Phoenix Prairie. Surprise turns to excitement as he touches the new words with his horn.

A golden circle appears before them. Wisps of smoke drift through. Ryan looks at Waterfall, and nods his head. They jump through, one after another.

An expanse of long grass confronts them, with red and violet flowers shyly peeping between the green. There is a large mountain beyond the prairie, smoke covering its top like a cloak of invisibility.

A high sun hugs the prairie with warm rays. Violet and red clouds sail across the sky, mirrors to the wildflowers below.

Then they see it. A large bird with gold and red feathers is flying towards them.

A violet cloud covers the sun and the prairie is bathed in purple light. The bird lands before them, black eyes sparkling like dark diamonds.

“Welcome, travellers from afar,” says the bird inside their minds. “I am Perry, Phoenix Protector. I see that you both carry great healing in your hearts.”

“We are Ryan and Waterfall,” murmurs Ryan in his head. “We travel far and wide, trying to learn about and ultimately help the universe.”

“You have arrived in Phoenix Sun Star. We rest here and study, and on occasion leave by the portal that brought you here to wherever we are needed. Then we return to the mountain there of our birth.”

Smoke snakes down the side of the mountain.

“It is a living mountain, in your world I believe these mountains are called volcanos. It will spew forth fire any minute. Then, like us phoenixes, the mountain will rebirth itself, and a new age will begin here on our planet.”

“Does anyone live in the mountain?” asks Ryan.

“Yes, an ancient and wise dragon called Delicia. She has been asleep for a hundred years waiting for her next adventure. I believe the simmering volcano will awaken her. She is related to us phoenixes, her scales are gold and red like our feathers.”

A roar echoes across the land, which shudders under their feet.

“Is that the dragon?” asks Ryan.

“No, our mountain is about to go on fire, or erupt as you call it in your world. It is time for you two to return home. Before you go, however, let me gift each of you one of my magical feathers.”

Perry plucks two feathers from his massive body. “A golden one for you, Ryan, and a red one for you, Waterfall.”

The phoenix holds in his claw the two feathers, which Ryan and Waterfall carefully place in their mouths. Electric energy soars through their bodies.

The volcano rumbles like an angry monster. Above, a large white bird flies round them.

“Ah,” says Perry, “it is Pamela. The only white phoenix on this world.”

Pamela lands before them. “Take me home with you, intrepid travellers. It is time for me to leave this world.”

The volcano rumbles again as if in answer. And then a superb sight fills the sky: a giant gold and red dragon flies out of the mouth of the volcano. Flying higher and higher, it momentarily blocks the sun. Then it flies towards them … and is gone, through the portal to Gemstone Glade which is still open.

The volcano roars like a livid lion. Ryan and Waterfall look at each other, then jump back through the golden portal. Pamela follows them. The portal closes behind her.

Delicia the Dragon flies above Gemstone Glade, scales shining under the soft sunlight, eyes dancing with molten mystery.

Magic red and gold dust falls from her shining scales. The fountain waters turn a reddish gold, bubbling with renewed energy. The fairies reach out their hands to seize the magic dust, as their wings flutter and grow larger. The leaves on the trees turn gold and red, an instant autumn beauty that bewitches the glade.

Then Delicia is gone, flying far in to the night. She will soar the skies for two days, before finally landing in her perfect home: Loch Ness. She finds a secret underground cave beneath the waters, with a magic entrance that stops water from entering. However there is already a dragon there. Delicia is excited to finally meet one of her own kind after so many decades asleep. Duncan the Dragon falls in love immediately. He tells her a tale of the humans who inhabit the Earth, and how they call him the Loch Ness Monster.

He is an ancient protector of the land, breathing his magic smoke in to the night, watching it swirl across the sky and beyond, creating a protective layer over Scotland. Delicia chuckles. “Let’s add some gold and red dust to this layer, and let the sparkle rain down, healing this land and all its peoples.”

And so, unknown and unacknowledged, Duncan and Delicia work all night to heal the land. In the morning, they sleep. A new dawn paints the sky gold and primrose pink, the magic of colour mingling with dragon dust, a day for miracles to happen, and perhaps they will.

Far away, a white phoenix Pamela flies under the sunlit sky. Her feathers shine in the sunlight, a shimmering cloud of white drifting in a dream …

… and all the best dreams come true.

Pamela lands in a tiny garden in a very small village in England. There is a bird table but she is too big to enter. Instead, she perches on top.

A young boy runs out of the house. “A large white bird!” he sighs in disbelief. She realises that she has made his day.

And perhaps he will make hers.

Pamela flies towards the boy, and purposefully drops a white feather. It is of course a magic feather.

Daryl cautiously picks it up, a smile playing with his lips like a young bird frolicking in a fountain … a Gemstone Glade fountain. Then he frowns. The feather turns in his hands. An idea is itching inside him.

For the white feather carries the energy of peace. Daryl runs inside, finding a notepad and pen. He is compelled to write, and write. It is a children’s book, with one message … peace. Peace on the streets, peace in towns everywhere, peace between countries, peace in every man’s heart. Daryl writes in to the night. Unbeknown to him, Pamela is above on the roof. As day dawns, she quietly flies away.

A feather falls in a river as she flies past. It drifts like a beautiful dream, until one day it will join the sea. And as it does, by magic it multiplies. The coastline turns white, feathers in the sea, feathers on the beach, feathers flying on the wind … a feather to heal every crying heart.

Pamela returns to Gemstone Glade, a feather falling into its fountain. The waters bubble with hope, as the fairies seize the feather and dance around it. It is a day of feather fun … it is just another magical day in Gemstone Glade.

Far away, feathers float in a sea of hope. A prayer of peace plays with its waves. And all is still, serenity a song in the air.