Lilly watered her vegetables, taking a moment to feel the early morning breeze against her skin. "Morning, Tom," she greeted.

Tom's vine waved gently, acknowledging her presence but remaining silent.

As Lilly made her way across the yard, she couldn't help but feel a pang of unease when her gaze lingered on the newest addition to her family. She approached Charcoal’s pen with patience and care, hoping she could win him over with time.

"Easy, Charcoal," Lilly murmured, her voice low and soothing as she kept the fence between them but reached out a tentative hand toward the magnificent creature. His dark eyes watched her warily, ears flicking back and forth as he weighed his options.

At that moment, Snow let out a whinny from her pasture, catching Charcoal's attention. The two unicorns locked eyes; and Snow pranced around her enclosure, flaunting her newly regained strength, despite the barrier separating them.

"See, Charcoal?" Lilly's gentle teasing was evident in her tone. "Snow's doing just fine. There's nothing to be afraid of here."

The black unicorn hesitated, shifting his weight from one hoof to another. In his eyes, there was a battle between the desire for connection and the remnants of fear left by previous experiences.

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere," Lilly assured him, her hand still outstretched but not pushing any closer. She knew the importance of trust and patience when it came to magical creatures—especially unicorns.

Charcoal walked away and began munching on his breakfast, ignoring Lilly. She smiled from the success before moving on to work with Snow. At least, Charcoal didn’t try and maul her with his horn this morning. They were making progress.

Lilly entered the pasture to see Snow, the enchanting unicorn with her pearly white coat, looking every bit the ethereal creature of legends. Her mane and tail sparkled with a soft iridescence, and her eyes held a depth of wisdom and curiosity. The faint, almost ethereal glow of her horn seemed to absorb and reflect the sunlight in tiny, shimmering rainbows.

For weeks, Lilly had been patiently introducing Snow to the idea of wearing a saddle. She began by laying soft blankets over Snow's back, letting her get accustomed to the sensation. Over time, these were replaced with heavier pads, progressing gradually, always ensuring Snow's comfort.

Today was a significant step forward. Beside Lilly lay a beautifully crafted saddle, designed especially for a unicorn. Its craftsmanship was evident in the intricate patterns and delicate embroidery that adorned the supple leather. A shimmering silver stirrup hung from each side, polished to perfection.

Approaching Snow, Lilly softly murmured words of comfort and encouragement. "It's just like the blankets, Snow. Nothing to be afraid of." With gentle hands, she placed the saddle over Snow's back, securing it but ensuring it wasn't too tight. The unicorn shifted a little, her ears twitching as she tried to gauge this new addition to her back.

Once the saddle was secure, Lilly carefully placed a foot in the stirrup, hoisting herself up and swinging her leg over Snow, settling gently into the saddle. The world seemed different from atop a unicorn, a blend of magic and reality. She could feel Snow's strong muscles flexing beneath her, the rhythm of her breathing, and the warmth of her body.

Snow moved hesitantly at first, taking slow, deliberate steps; but Lilly's reassuring voice and gentle touches calmed her. "That's it, Snow. We're doing this together," she whispered, patting the unicorn's neck.

Gradually, as confidence grew in both rider and mount, Snow began to move more fluidly, transitioning from a walk to a graceful trot. The sensation was unlike any Lilly had ever experienced. It was as if they were gliding, with Snow's every step exuding grace and majesty. Riding a horse was one thing, but riding a unicorn was transcendent.

As they circled the pasture, the world blurred in a mix of color, light, and magic. The weight of everyday worries melted away, replaced by the simple joy of the moment. When they finally stopped, Lilly dismounted, her heart full, and hugged Snow's neck, whispering words of gratitude and love.

That afternoon, Lilly was busy building Feather a sturdy platform to watch over the pastures. She looked up as she heard the familiar crunch of boots on the gravel path. Yorik, with his usual jovial grin, was walking toward her, his hands behind his back.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Afternoon, Lilly!" he called out. His voice was warm and filled her with genuine pleasure.

She smiled, standing up from her project. "Afternoon, Yorik. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

As he drew closer, he brought his hands forward, revealing a small bouquet of wildflowers. "Thought these might brighten your day," he said, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

Lilly accepted the flowers, the mixture of daisies, lavender, and buttercups filling her senses with their gentle fragrance. "They're lovely. Thank you."

Before they could delve deeper into conversation, a sharp snort from the pen drew their attention. Charcoal, with his sleek ebony coat shimmering under the sunlight, was pacing restlessly. He eyed Yorik with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

"There’s that feisty boy," Yorik commented, taking a few tentative steps toward the pen.

Lilly warned, "Be careful. He’s even more wild and unpredictable. With the way he’s been acting, I don’t even know how I got him home after the farmer’s market."

But Yorik's approach was slow and deliberate. As he neared the fence, Charcoal reared up, attempting to thrust his sharp, gleaming horn at the intruder. Yorik, however, remained unfazed, his gaze locked with the unicorn’s.

"Reminds me of the time I rode one of my flying pigs," Yorik began, chuckling a bit. "I must've been about ten. Always wanted a pegasus, you see, but had to make do with what was available."

Lilly leaned against the fence, intrigued. "I think you started to tell me something of this story before."

"Oh, maybe I did.” He laughed, his eyes distant as if reminiscing a treasured memory. "Named her Bubbles. Tried riding her like she was a flying horse. But Bubbles had other plans. Threw me off mid-flight, and I came crashing down. Broke my arm in two places."

Lilly gasped. "That sounds painful!"

"It was," Yorik admitted, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But you know what the worst part was? The moment my arm healed, I was back trying to ride Bubbles again. Mother was livid, of course. Said I had more courage than sense."

Lilly chuckled. "Sounds just like you."

As Yorik's tale unfolded, something remarkable happened. Charcoal, so wary and aggressive earlier, had gradually inched closer to the farmer, his large eyes watching intently. By the end of the story, the unicorn was close enough for Yorik to reach out and gently run his fingers through Charcoal's mane.

Lilly looked on in astonishment. "I guess you do have a way with magical creatures."

Yorik grinned, his fingers still buried in the soft strands of Charcoal's mane. "Guess so. But then again, all creatures, magical or not, just want a bit of understanding, don't you think?"

Lilly nodded, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. Apparently, a good story could work like magic sometimes. Yorik's fingers brushed against the soft, velvety skin of Charcoal's nose. He seemed lost in the therapeutic nature of the moment, while Charcoal's dark eyes seemed to soften with every gentle touch.

Lilly watched, her heart stirring at the sight. She was coming to respect this man more every day. He was so much more than an ordinary pig farmer. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to be with him. He was even getting Charcoal to finally let his guard down.

But just as quickly as the calm had come, it was shattered. With a sudden jerk of his head, Charcoal's teeth clamped down hard on Yorik's hand. A sharp cry escaped Yorik's lips as he instinctively pulled back, narrowly avoiding a more severe injury. Blood welled from a set of clear bite marks on his hand.

"Charcoal!" Lilly cried out, her voice firm and laced with shock. The black unicorn, sensing the change in atmosphere, retreated a few steps, a mix of defiance and fear in his gaze.

Yorik, still nursing his hand, let out a pained chuckle. "Well, that'll teach me to be too trusting." He grimaced, pressing his other hand over the wound to stem the bleeding.

Lilly rushed over, her eyes wide with concern. "Yorik, I'm so sorry! Come with me, and we’ll get that cleaned and wrapped up."

He looked up, managing a weak smile despite the pain. "Thanks, Lilly. But remember, he's still a wild creature. Can't really blame him."

She sighed. "I was hoping he'd start warming up to people."

"He might," Yorik said, "with time and patience. And maybe without me recounting tales of flying pigs."

Lilly chuckled. "Come on, let's get that cleaned up." She guided him toward the farmhouse but not before casting one last, conflicted look at Charcoal. The journey to gaining the black unicorn's trust was clearly going to be a long and challenging one.

Lilly led Yorik to a chair by the sink. "Sit," she instructed gently, her voice carrying a soft note of concern. Yorik obeyed, placing his injured hand on the table. With a deep breath, Lilly turned on the water. She took Yorik's hand in hers, cradling it tenderly. Her fingers felt cool against his warm skin, the touch making her fingertips tingle.

The water streamed over the injured hand, cleaning the wound. Every now and then, Yorik would wince slightly, but he never pulled away. Lilly worked busily using a bit of healing salve she bought at the farmers market and then wrapping his hand with a clean white bandage. The room was filled with an intimate silence, punctuated only by their synchronized breathing.

As she worked, their eyes met. Yorik's were filled with warmth, and she felt his gratitude that words couldn't convey.

"There," she whispered, finishing the last loop of the bandage. She held his hand for a moment longer than necessary, ensuring he was all right.

"Thank you," Yorik murmured, his voice husky.

Lilly smiled, the moment lingering between them, full of unsaid words and emotions. "Always," she replied, her thumb brushing against his hand before finally letting go.