LARKEUS -Unicorn Lord-

When the Last magician dies
And the Last
Tree is leavened
And you see the beam of light
Reaching up into the heavens
As Wild as the Night Wind
Is the Power he Adorns
And his beauty goes unrivaled
He’s the Lord of Unicorns. ~ Written by MW Roach


This is my The Last Unicorn OC, Larkeus: Lord of the Unicorns. Unlike the other Unicorns, he has the ability to control the elements (Fire, Earth, Air and Water) as symbolized on his knees and hocks.

Only a single Unicorn Lord is born every 3000 years. It is the Unicorn Lord's job to protect all of Unicornkind no matter what.

Now then, I bet some of you are wondering, "If he's the protector of the Unicorns, where was he when the Red Bull was gathhering all the Unicorns?".

Well, I'm glad you asked!

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King Haggard stopped his weary travels to rest in a peaceful meadow near a babbling brook. After sipping some of the cool, fresh water, he turned to observe his surroundings. Why was this place so quiet? No birds, no bees, no wind…had it not been for the steadily flowing creek, one would think this place was lifeless; a phantom of a moor where no living thing settled, despite the beautiful tranquility. “Is it my presence that caused the local wildlife to flee?” He wondered to himself as he took in the quiet. "No; no, this is something even greater then I." King Haggard closed his eyes and listened. He could hear what sounded like distant thunder; he could even feel the ground vibrate violently. A sudden surge of power swept over him; so powerful, it even caused his heart to stop temporarily. He fell to his knees, gripping a bottle around his neck tightly. The contents of the container lapped gently against the sides. It was a gift from his wizard; a potion that would bring life back into a body whose soul departed due to a fatal injury, and King Haggard was always prepared to save himself in case of an unexpected attack. His eyes bulged as the surge of power declined steadily. "What was THAT?" He thought to himself with surprise. "That power…where could it be coming from?" Slowly, the withered king rose to his feet and shakily took a few steps foreword. Yes, the power was coming from just beyond a hill no more then 100 yards in front of him. He eagerly pulled himself to the top and looked on in amazement and wonder at the epic scene that played out before him.

A Red Bull; massive, fiery, and ferocious charged his opponent, only to miss the moving target as it dodged, coming just inches from the Bull’s sharp horns. The colossal bovine roared in frustration, swishing his long tail like a whiplash. He stared with malice at his rival, saliva dripping from fangs. His opponent caught Haggard’s attention, for the cold and heartless King had never felt anything like the ecstasy and joy he’d felt at looking at the magnificent beast that battled the Bull.

There he stood; his silver mane flowing behind him in an everlasting dance that needed no wind to shimmer and wave like a flag. His tail of the same color whipped around just as aggitantly as the Bull’s. The graceful creature colored like the deepest part of the sea stood tall on four steady black feathered legs; each leg sporting a symbol for the elements. His piercing golden eyes and spiraled horn twinkled with both immortality and rage at his foe, who snorted and pawed irritably at the ground. Haggard lost his breath at the sight of the very first Unicorn he’d ever laid his eyes on. The ancient stallion reared up on his hind legs and wailed loudly, lashing out with his sharp hooves.

“Beast who preys on my brethren… prepare to DIE.” In a flash, the Unicorn attacked so swiftly, the Bull didn’t have a chance to dodge. It let out a cry of pain as the Azure Unicorn buried his horn in the Bull’s heart. Haggard shuddered and drew away, his hand over his eyes, though only for a moment. He quickly turned back, his other hand gripping the bottle around his neck. He watched as the Unicorn backed away and stared at the fallen demon. “I, Larkeus, Lord of the Unicorns, have defeated you, Sun Beast. No more shall you feed on the energy sources of my kind. Remember, Monster…it was a Unicorn who brought you down.” With a snort and a toss of his elegant neck, Larkeus turned and trotted away.

Haggard crept down the hill towards the fallen Bull, who lay in a pool of his own blood, his life dangling in the balance. Haggard touched the shoulder of the beast and whispered in its ear. “Hear me, oh brave Demon soul of the Sun, I am King Haggard. I wish to strike a deal with you, Bull. Your life is at its end, and I have yet to be truly happy. So I make this bargain with you, Lord of Fire. I will save your life and you will be immortal once again. In exchange, great beast, I want you to drive every Unicorn in the world to my kingdom, and then send them into the sea, so that I may admire their beauty for the rest of my years….starting with that one!” He pointed at Larkeus, who turned sharply upon hearing the deal.

The Bull groaned, knowing very well that Larkeus would turn and kill King Haggard that very moment. As predicted, Larkeus reared up and squealed angrily. “Wretched human waste! How dare you make such a proposition with that horrid creature? I shall take pleasure in hearing the crunching of your weak bones beneath my hooves!” With that, the Unicorn Lord charged.

The Bull, knowing their time was short, weakly turned to King Haggard. “I shall bring to you every Unicorn on earth in exchange for my life, King Haggard.” It answered in a gruff voice. “But that Unicorn can never be captured. He is their King. He’ll kill me again, and he’ll kill you, for he knows no human King.” Disappointed, King Haggard wasted no time in pouring the potion into the Bull’s wound. As the beast recuperated, the King hastily reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch filled with white powder. He poured some in his hand.

“The Horn of a Maiden Unicorn crushed into fine dust.” He laughed, waiting shakily as Larkeus bounded closer and closer. Haggard took a deep breath and blew the dust into the face of the Unicorn Lord. The powder penetrated deep into Larkeus’ eyes. He slid to a stop and roared in pain as the horn of his own kind forced its belayed magic into his system. He soon felt his muscles beginning to cramp; his powers were being stifled!

Haggard backed away as the fully healed Bull struck Larkeus in the chest with a heavy blow. Haggard blew some more dust, but this time, into an old willow tree. The dust caused the tree to become soft for a split second, but a second was all that was needed. The forceful blow caused Larkeus to fall into the tree. Within moments, it was all over: The tree hardened once again to its true form, the Unicorn Lord’s body, too, became hard like stone. The once proud and powerful Larkeus was trapped; his soul locked away in the ancient tree until the magic of the evil King wore off…
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Chapter 1.

Deep in a dark, forgotten wood, an old, disfigured willow tree sat in the silence, its branches twisted sickly like the mummified claw of a dead dragon. The tree had stood for a decade without any disturbance, for many thought it to be cursed. A certain inner power glowed from the homely tree, scaring off all who ventured near it. Lately, the tree glowed even brighter, illuminating even more of an obscure, yet frightful power beneath its tough bark. Today, the tree burned. Not only did it burn…it seemed…to be breathing.



Leir sat back and watched his father’s old Wizard slip away. He’d been traveling with the old man for some months now, finding him after the destruction of King Haggard’s castle and teaming up with him. But now, after a hard winter, the old magician, Mabrook, had nothing left, for not even the best wizard could cast a spell on Father Time. He’d lived a long life, but now, it was over with. He shakily glanced over at Prince Leir, who watched over the old man intently. “Don’t mind an old windbag like me, Leir. My life was a good one, and I have no regrets. Go, find yourself a wife and live happy. I will die peacefully right here.”

“Don’t talk that way old man. You’ll be fine.”

“Oh, face the facts, kid. I’m old. Old people die. It’s just how the world works. I’ve accepted the inevitable. I’ve accepted my fate. But what about you, Prince Leir? Have you accepted the fact that you and the Lady Amalthea are not meant to be? Have you accepted that she is a Unicorn?”

Prince Leir got to his feet and unsheathed his sword. He held it against Mabrooks withered neck. The magician simply laughed. “I take that as a ‘no’?”

“I believe in controlling my own fate; nothing is inevitable.”

The wizard shook his head and looked away. “Such a stupid boy. Fine then. Go find your Unicorn!” He cackled. “Go now! And good luck finding a ministry that will unite the two of you!” The old man laughed heartily until he finally stopped breathing. Leir merely stood over his empty body, glaring intently. After a moment, he put his sword away and mounted his horse. “Amalthea will be mine.” He whispered. “And so help the poor soul that tries to stand between us…” That said, he whirled his horse to the North and cantered away.



The tree suddenly burst into flames as the old magic finally wore off. There was a blinding flash of pale white light that exploded from the tree, shattering it as though a bomb had detonated within its trunk. The light pierced through the sky, opening up the clouds and summoning the sun. A dark shape rose up from the depths of the shadowy forest through the illuminating beam that reached into the heavens. The shape made itself clear as it broke into the sky with a loud battle cry. The scream could be heard by every mythalogical creature within hundreds of miles.

Several hundred miles Northeast, a pale white Unicorn lifted her head at the strange call. She flicked an ear with curiosity. “That cry…why does it make me tremble so?”


Back where the beam of heavenly light touched down where the cursed tree once stood, 4 shimmering golden hooves gently touched down on the ground. The glittering eyes of the other-worldly beast could melt a boulder when enraged, yet could sooth a frightened child with just one glance. The creature elegantly, but carefully stepped out of the sunlit-filtered forest and onto the bright grassy meadow. He flared his nostrils as he took in the scents around him. The scent of Bull and the evil King were long gone…it was apparent that the sparkling stallion had been sealed away for at least 10 years. It was nothing to him, for his life was eternal, and now, it had been renewed. Realizing his freedom, he stretched up on his hind legs and shook his head gleefully.

“I am back! I, Larkeus, the Lord of the Unicorns, have awaken from my cursed slumber!” He closed his eyes and allowed his horn to glow brightly as it telepathically gathered information from all other mythical beings around him, intent of finding out what he had missed. Flashes of other Unicorns ran through his mind; flashes of the Red Bull, of King Haggard…flashes of one White Unicorn Maiden in particular…he watched her journey from her own secret forest to the very castle of King Haggard. He watched her turn into a human and forget her true self. He watched as she returned to her true form and battled the Bull, releasing all the Unicorns he’d gathered for the evil Haggard. He watched the King die, and the Unicorn known as Amalthea return to her forest. She was there right now…listening, waiting, watching…wait, did she feel him watching her?

Amalthea reared and tossed her head. “Somebody is in my mind! Looking through my memories! Who are you? Who are you!? GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” She squealed, throwing her mane about roughly.

Larkeus opened his eyes quickly, breaking contact with Amalthea. His horn faded its glow. “She knew I was reading her memories…but how? This Unicorn Maiden…she is unique, as am I. I must find her. I must go to her…This Amalthea…she will be my mate.”

Larkeus trumpeted his return loudly as he flew on invisible wings towards the North to locate this unique Unicorn Maiden that vexed him so…

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UPDATE: Due to several people actually wanting to read the rest of it, here's chapter 1. ENJOY!

Done with Sharpies.


Larkeus(C) MW Roach

"Lord of Unicorns" Lyrics written by MW Roach

The Last Unicorn/Characters (C) Peter S. Beagle