The Unicorn's Treasure

The Unicorn’s Treasure
By: Catherine Stout

There was a time when unicorns ran free.... and here’s a story of their treasure.
Princess Ariana 1

The timing was perfect, and the wind was blowing. Now was the timing to run wild, thought Alegra.
Then, out of nowhere came voices, the voices of the humans.
“ They’re coming,” she shouted. Leo, Alegra’s father was terrified as the humans came near. They
were here for the treasure. The treasure of the unicorns.

300 years later...
In 1668
“ And that’s the legend of the unicorn’s treasure,” said Jonathan.
“ That’s not true,” shouted Elison. “The treasure was actually Princess Sarah’s ancient necklace,
everyone knows that! ”
“ Come children, it’s time for supper, you can tell legends later,” said Miss Long. “ And Elison, don’t
shout, it’s not polite, next time you shout you will be beaten with the beating belt.” Jonathan stuck his
tongue out at Elison.
“ Miss Long, he stuck his tongue out at me,” Elison shouted to the director of the British orphanage.
“ Elison, you shouted, again! You shall be beaten! ” Miss Long rang the beating bell. Whenever
someone was to be beaten, a certain bell was rung. All the children would come to be beaten. All
the children were punished for one child’s wrong doing. Then the children were to be beaten with
the beating belt. The children were beaten.
Then it was time to eat supper. Miss Long rang the supper bell. They all ate their supper without a
word.
The next morning when they got to their lessons, Miss Long asked them, “ Can anyone tell me what
very awful thing happened last night? ”
Ariel raised her hand. “ Ariel, do you know?” asked Miss Long.
“ Yes, the king died. The princess’s mother, the queen already died when Princess Ariana was
born. The princess can’t live alone. There are also some good news, Princess Ariana is coming to
live here with us in, oh, I’d say about a month and a half. ”
“ Very well done Ariel,” said Miss Long. “ And what should you all do when Miss Ariana comes to
live with us? ”
Sara raised her hand. “ Sara, do you know?” asked Miss Long.
“ Yes, we should be polite, kind and on our best behavior. ”
“ Very well done, Sara,” said Miss Long. “ These are my expectations of you. ”
Then they got to their studies. Jonathan, Ariel, Sara, Teresa, and Ella were all to be beaten with the
beating belt for talking aloud in class about Princess Ariana coming. The class was beaten many
times.
Elison was still mad about being beaten yesterday. She wrote in her journal about it. She then
decided that when Princess Ariana came she would try and persuade her to come and run away
from the orphanage with her to find the Unicorn’s Treasure.
Here 2
Everyone, mostly the girls, were crowded around the window as they watched Princess Ariana’s
horse-drawn carriage pull into the drive. Elison made sure she was right in front of the window to
see Princess Ariana come out of the carriage. Elison saw her come out of the carriage carrying
beautiful bags. Ariana herself was beautiful!
“ There aren’t any more rooms left. Is anyone willing to share their room with Miss Ariana?” asked
Miss Long. This is my chance, thought Elison. This is my way to talk to her about finding the
Unicorn’s treasure, She thought as her hand shot up into the air.
“ I think Ariana would like to be with Elison in her room. They would make a nice pair and besides
Elison has a big room and is quite rich, and we want Miss Ariana to feel at home as much as
possible,” said Miss Long. As soon as Miss Long had finished talking, Ariana stepped inside of the
room. All the children lined up beside one another and bowed.
“ No need to bow,” said Ariana. She felt odd in such a strange, small, cold place.
“ Your room is straight this way Miss Ariana, and if it’s fine with you, you are to share a room with
Miss Elison Stevenson,” said Miss Long. “ My name is Miss Long,” she added.
“ It’s quite fine with me to share a room,” said Ariana. “ Where is this Elison Stevenson?” she asked.
“ She is right here, Elison?” Miss Long said. Elison stepped forward.
“ Nice to meet you Miss?” Ariana asked. She had forgotten Elison’s name already. It was a hard
name to remember.
“ Elison,” said Elison.
Okay, I have to remember that name; after all, she’s sharing her room with me. I have to remember
the name Elison. Elison, Elison, Elison. Got it, thought Ariana.
“ Elison Please show Miss Ariana to her room, will you?” asked Miss Long.
“ Ariana. Call me Ariana,” Ariana said. Ariana hated it when people called her ‘Miss Ariana.’ As she
followed Elison, Ariana saw Miss Long pass her an embarrassed glance. It’s not my fault I hate
being called that, she thought.

A Long Talk 3
Ariana walked into her room. She felt odd having to share a room with someone else. For a while
Elison and Ariana just sat on Elision's bed staring around the room. Finally Miss Long and Jonathan
and Teresa walked in carrying Ariana’s bags of things. They started to unpack her bags for her.
They sat the things on the floor in an orderly fashion and left without a word. How rude! They didn’t
even say anything, not a word! Ariana thought, just staring at the floor.
Finally, Elison said, “ I’ll help you out putting your things away, if you’d like me to?”
Ariana just shrugged her shoulders.
Then she said, “Can you keep secrets?”
“Yeah, why? Do you have a secret? Can you tell me what it is?” Ariana said this very quickly.
Elison just stared at Ariana for a while, and then said, “I’ll tell you while we pick up this stuff and put
away, okay?” Ariana nodded and kneeled down on the floor with Elison and they both started to pick
things up and put them away.
“ Well, it’s kind of a long story. How about I start with the legend, although you might not believe it.”
“ Well then, let’s hear it.”
Elison told the legend. They were done unpacking and putting the things away long before the
legend was even finished.
“ And that’s the Legend of The Unicorn’s Treasure.” Elison said to finish the legend, just like
Jonathan’s ending.
“ And you expect me to believe that kind of legend! What do you think I am, dumb-headed or
something?”
“ I told you that you might not believe me about the legend! Come on, please keep it a secret, don’t
tell Miss long, and please come to try to find the Unicorn’s Treasure with me, please, please!!” Now,
Elison said this all too fast.
Ariana just sat there for a while and then she said“ Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down and calm down!
What was it that was the first thing you said after you said that you knew I wouldn’t believe you about
that Treasure Of The Unicorn legend?” Ariana stumbled over her words a couple of times before she
finally got it right. What she was trying to say was very confusing.
“ Well, first of all what I was trying to say was that I wanted you to please keep it a secret. Then I
said...”
Ariana cut her short. “ Okay I‘ll keep it a secret. What was it you said next? Oh yeah, wasn’t it
something about Miss Long and about not telling her, right?”
Elison replied,“ Yes and....”
Ariana cut her short, again. “Oh Yeah, wasn’t it something about wanting me to still come with you
to find the Unicorn’s Treasure even though I didn’t believe the story?”
Elison was getting frustrated. She then said, “ Yeah, and could you please stop cutting me short!”
Ariana replied. “ Okay, okay, I’ll stop cutting you short. Now what was it you were going to say
before I cut you short?”
Elison was very annoyed now. “
Ugghhhh! Everything you already cut me short on!” she muttered quietly.

Planning 4
The next day at free time, Ariana and Elison got to work on the planning for their trip... Of course
they did it secretly.
“ Okay, so we’ll each pack only what we can fit in the smallest bag we have... and of course we’ll
bring the most important things we will need such as binoculars, paper and pencils, journals,
clothes that are black so that we don’t get caught, and so on, right?” said Ariana.
“ Right!” Elison answered to Ariana’s question.
They reread their list one more time. “Paper, pencil, journals, black clothes, binoculars, small
blanket and pillow, bag of food. Is that all we need?” Ariana asked.
Elison replied, “I’m pretty sure that’s all we will need, WAIT! I almost forgot, we need to get a bottle
of water for each of us!” “Oh Yeah! We DID almost forget,” Ariana said.
“ Well, actually, I almost forgot, you did forget,” Elison retorted.
“Oh, whatever! Who really cares,” Ariana retorted back to Elison.

Ready! 5

“ Phew! We’re finally finished,” Ariana replied. Just as she said this, the break time bell rang, and
that meant that the half hour they had for a break was over. “We’ll plan when to look tomorrow at
break time.”
“Okay!” Elison replied to Ariana excitedly.
“Children, take your seats now. It’s time to get back to our lessons. Break time is over,” Miss Long
called all the children over to the classroom. “Ariana will you please solve the math problem I have
written on the blackboard?” Ariana was trying to figure out what 450/3 was. She thought to herself, 3
goes into 4 once. She figured out the rest of it and got her answer.
“ 150,” she said.
“ Very well,” Miss Long stated. “Children go to your rooms, brush your teeth in your bathrooms, get
your nightshirts on, braid your hair and tie it up, then stand in line for inspection.” Elison and Ariana
went to their room and did as they were told to do. They then lined up for inspection. They were
inspected and then they went to bed. Elison thought, Oh! We almost forgot to pack a flashlight.
Elison was going to tell Ariana but she was already asleep, so Elison just pulled out their list and
added it. She figured she could tell Ariana in the morning at break time. The next morning, Elison
woke Ariana up.
“Ariana! Ariana! Wake up! The bell rang 5 minutes ago! You’ll be late! Quick! Hurry up! You’ll get
beaten if you aren’t on at the lessons on time!” She didn’t even hear that loud ringing wake-up bell!
She must have been really, really tired.
Ariana didn’t know what Elison was talking about at first, but then her mind snapped into action.“
Hah, what? Oh, I didn’t hear the bell Elison! Thanks for waking me up! I’m sure I’ll get there on time,
but thanks anyway!”
I was so stupid not to hear that loud bell! Ariana thought to herself. Ariana put her petticoat and she
got dressed in a pale yellow dress that had light pink lace all around it. Then she put on her cotton,
white gloves on and braided her hair with in a French braid with lavender, light pink, baby blue, lime
green, and a pale yellow ribbons. Then she tied her hair in a big bow at the bottom with the blue
ribbon that was given to her. She then made her bed and puffed up her pretty, pink pillow. She then
puffed up her purple pillow. Then, she dressed all her dolls and put them in their special order. After
that she folded all 44 dolls’ nightgowns in a special way and put them each in their special cases,
(she did this every morning).
“Oh! I almost forgot!” She thought out loud to herself. Then she rolled the French braid into a bun.
Then she took the little strand of hair beside each eye and braided them into French braids also.
Ariana looked beautiful! She then checked her watch. She got to the breakfast room just in time!
“Miss Ariana, we were just about to take our seats.” Miss Long said.
“If you please, Ariana not Miss Ariana,” she said. They ate their breakfast and got to their studies. At
11:50, it was break. Ariana met up with Elison in their fort that they made. Miss Long said they could
keep it there.

Flogged 6

“Okay we’ll leave tomorrow night, I saved my water from this morning at breakfast, did you?” asked
Elison.
“Yup, I sure did” Ariana replied.
“Good! You needed to!” Elison replied. She was getting kind of nervous about this. She didn’t want
to get caught. If they did get caught they would be lashed, flogged, spanked, thrashed, battered,
frayed, beaten or whipped with the horsewhip.
The bell had rung. Neither Elison nor Ariana heard the bell. Miss Long came up to them and said,
“ Elison, Ariana, would either of you like to explain why you aren’t in class?” Elison and Ariana
stared at each other. Gulp! “You shall be flogged. Ariana, Elison you two shall be first to be flogged.
Go lay on the two mats on the table in the punishment room.” Miss Long rang the beating bell. The
children groaned as they lined up to be flogged. Ariana and Elison went inside the punishment
room. They lie down on the mats and stared at the horsewhip. Then Miss Long came in. She pulled
Ariana and Elison’s dresses up and their underwear down. She took the whip and beat each of their
butts with fifteen hard, stinging blows. Elison and Ariana were crying and screaming. The rest of the
children’s butts were beaten with five blows. The children went to bed without any supper.

The Escape 7

The next morning Ariana and Elison opened their windows so they could get out that night. The day
seemed to pass by quickly. At their bedtime, after Miss Long checked on everyone’s room at 9:00,
Elison and Ariana grabbed their packs. Elison took two flashlights out of it and gave one to Ariana. “I
thought you might need this, and, plus, maybe this map that my mother gave me before she died
when I was 5 is the map to The Unicorn’s Treasure.”
“Thanks Elison!” Ariana replied to Elison as she took the flashlight. She took the bag of food and the
water bottles and put them in the pack. (They had earlier agreed that she would carry these things).
“Okay, let’s go!” Ariana urged Elison. They were now on their way to find the Unicorn’s Treasure. “I
hope your map does lead us.” Ariana started to become excited. Really excited.
Elison started writing in her journal about how they were ready and about to leave.
Elison’s Journal

Dear Journal,
Me and ariana are ready too leve. We are Really excited about finding the unicorns tresure……. I
really dont want to get cot…and you know, why. We Have too leve so I nede to go Bye!

“ Elison! Come on! We have to go! Quick!” Ariana was getting bored of sitting there while Elison was
writing in her journal.
“Okay, okay, fine! I’m done writing in my journal. I’m coming, I’m coming!” Elison answered to Ariana.
She wasn’t bored at all while she was writing, (Of course, nobody is unless it’s writing a report).
“Wait, that reminds me, I need to write in my journal, too, remember we agreed that we would write
in our journals each step of the way.” Ariana started to write in her journal.

Ariana’s Journal

Dear Journal,
Elison and I are going to leave in a couple minutes. I’m really excited, except I don’t want to get
caught. I have to go already. Bye!

Elison wasn’t bored at all, of course. “Okay, I’m done writing, we can go now.”
Elison and Ariana quietly crawled out the window, Elison going first. When they were safely out of
the window Elison looked at her map. Then she looked at the compass.
“ We should be heading this way.” Elison pointed northeast as she said this. “I have a good mind
with compasses, she pointed her compass the way she had pointed to make sure she had pointed
the right way. “Yep!”
The Hideout 8

Ariana followed Elison for 6 hours. Ariana checked her watch. It was 3:00 A.M.
“I’m hungry!” she complained to Elison.
“As soon as I find a good place to hide we’ll eat some breakfast.” Elison was really hungry too.
Then she stopped in front of a hollow tree. “I hope you’re good at climbing trees. This is the perfect
spot to hide.” Elison said quickly. She started to climb the tree. Ariana followed behind her. Elison
carefully got into the hollow part of the tree. It was big enough to fit 5 people for 3 days and 3 nights!
“I guess we’ll be able to fit here for a day to sleep in. It’s huge! Come on down!” Ariana climbed
down. They settled their things. Then they both ate breakfast. After that they wrote in their journals.

Elison’s Journal
Dear Journal,
We chraveled for 6 hours. then I found a huje hollo willo chree that we are hideing in we ate
breakfast. I am a bad speller for a sicks year old grl. I am going to have to leve you now bye!

Ariana’s Journal
Dear Journal,
We were walking for nearly6 hours. I got hungry so we found a hiding place quick. Then we ate and
we are doing our now daily routine of writing in our journals.
Oh and, in my first entry I did not tell you how I got you or how old I am. I got you from my new friend
Elison for our Journey to find “The Unicorn’s Treasure.” My name is Ariana . I am a princess. My
mother died after I was born and my father died about 4 and a half months ago. I am now running
away with Elison from an orphanage I was put in. I am 6 years old. I was taught to read and write at
age 3. Elison was taught at age 5. That’s why she has bad grammar, spelling, reading, and
handwriting skills. Well, farewell! I must go now!

“ What’s taking you SO long! I finished writing 5 minutes ago!” Elison was really worked up.
“ I just finished. Why can’t you be patient for once!” Ariana was getting annoyed.
Then Elison retorted to her, “ Oh Ariana, would you grow up for once!”
“ Well sorry, Wait, we need to get to sleep, good night!” Ariana remembered.
“Well good night to you too!” Elison was really frustrated by now. So was Ariana.
They both set up their blankets and pillows and laid down. They were so tired that they fell asleep in
2 minutes!
That night Ariana and Elison woke up to their alarm. They went outside to travel again and couldn’t
believe their eyes. They suddenly froze.

Riley 9

Who are you?” Elison asked in a shaky voice.
“I’ll only tell you who I am if you can keep a secret,” the stranger told them.
“Okay,” Ariana replied in a calm voice. Riley, the stranger, had also calmed down.
“ I’m Riley. I’m a runaway from an orphanage. What are you doing out here in the woods so late at
night?” Riley asked.
Elison replied to Riley by saying, “I’m Elison and this is Ariana.” She pointed to Ariana. “We’re
runaways too.”
“ Do you think we could maybe runaway together?” Riley seemed to be a very curious 6 year old.
“ Well, I guess we could, if it’s all right with Elison.” Ariana looked over at Elison.
“Of course, as long as you’re quiet and don’t tell anyone and do what we say.” Elison smiled.
Then they told her all about their journey and their daily journal writing.
“Here, you can use one of my extra journals as yours.” Elison handed her a journal. She wrote her
name on it just like Elison and Ariana wrote their names on theirs.

Riley’s Journal
Dear Journal,
I just mayd sum noo frends. thar names are Ariana and Elison. They are reely nise. i am going with
them to find tha unickorns chresure. i have too go now. bi!

Ariana’s Journal
Dear Journal,
We have made a new friend. Her name is Riley. She’s coming with us. Well, I have to go now. Good
Bye!

Elison’s Journal
Dear Journal,
Me and Ariana made a new frend. Her nam is Riley. She is a runaway to. Shes coming with us.
Good bye!

After Ariana finished writing she asked, “Okay, is everyone else done writing, too?”
Her reply was, “Yep!” Riley and Elison replied at the same time.

Almost There 10

Then, Riley, Elison, and Ariana set off on their journey again. They traveled for a while and then
checked the time. It was 4:00 A.M.
“We should get some sleep, it’s 4:00.” Riley was really tired.
“Ya know, she’s right. We do need some sleep. Come on, let’s go find a place to sleep.” Elison was
really tired.
Elison walked up to a huge bush. It was kind of itchy, but it would do. “Okay, I guess we can sleep
here for the day. It will work, although it isn’t as good as the Willow tree. The Willow tree was packed
with the soft leaves of summer. It was comfortable, but I guess we’ll just have to break off some of the
twigs.”
Riley looked at Elison like she was crazy. “ Are you out of your mind? We can’t sleep here, it’s filled
with twigs!”
Ariana whispered into Riley’s ear as she jabbed her in the ribs with her elbow, “You’ll just have to
live with it!”
Riley was in pain. “Ouch! That hurt, don’t be so harsh on me next time!”
Ariana would always stick up for Elison. “I won’t if you apologize. You shouldn’t have said that to
Elison.”
Riley turned to Elison. “I’m sorry I said that. Will you forgive me?”
Elison replied with a smile, “Of course I’ll forgive you.” Elison was a kind, loving person. She would
always accept apologies.
They al set up their blankets and pillows. They almost instantly fell asleep. They were quite tired.
Then, Ariana woke up. She tried and tried to get back to sleep but she couldn’t, so she wrote in her
journal.

Ariana’s Journal
Dear Journal,
We have traveled until 4:00 this morning. Riley dislikes the brush we are hiding in to sleep. I can’t
get to sleep so I’m writing until I get tired. As a matter of fact I am getting kind of tired. Good Night!

Ariana fell asleep again. That night Elison woke up first and then woke Riley and Ariana up. “We
should leave soon. We’re 3 quarters of the way there, but first let’s write in our journals and eat.”
Ariana was relieved that she had already written in her journal. She could eat right away.

Elison’s Journal
Dear Journal,
Riley dus not lik mi noo hideing plase. She sez its to ichy. Its in a boosh. We ate breckfist all reddy.
Good bi!

Riley’s Journal
Dear Journal,
This boosh we are hideing in is vare ichey. I will get ovr it. we are leveing soon.
Good bi.

Ariana and Riley ate an apple. Elison ate a banana. Ariana and Riley were becoming good friends.

The Surprise

Ariana and Riley talked most of the way. They traveled for hours and hours.
“ Hey Riley, what’s your favorite color?”
Riley thought for a while and then she said, “My favorite color would have to be lavender.”
Then Ariana said, “My favorite color is baby blue.”
Then all of them were quiet for a while. Finally, Elison whispered, “Guys, stay still. There’s a unicorn
standing just a few feet away from us.”
The unicorn stared at them. Then, It whinnied and started trotting in a circle.
“I think it wants us to follow it.” Riley was full of ideas. Elison and Ariana followed Riley. Riley never
blinked or took her eye off the unicorn.
They followed the unicorn into a mysterious woods. Nobody said a word. They walked and walked.
Elison kept checking the map to see if the Unicorn was going the way on the map. Ariana wrote in
her Journal as she followed Riley.

Ariana’s Journal
Dear Journal,
You won’t believe what I just saw. I saw a unicorn. Right now it’s leading us the way that’s right on
the map. Isn’t this amazing? I must leave you now. Farewell.

They followed the unicorn for quite some time. Then, it stopped. This made Riley stop abruptly at an
old looking chest.
All of a sudden the unicorn lit up and was lifted into the air about 6 feet above the ground. Elison,
Riley, and Ariana all had to squint their eyes because the light was so bright. Then, after about 10
seconds, the Unicorn slowly drifted to the ground.
The chest was now opened and a necklace was shining. It was the treasure of the Unicorns. It was
Princess Sarah’s ancient necklace.
Riley walked up to the unicorn. It had a key lying on the ground beside it. She picked it up and
thought to herself, “Thank You.” Then, she turned to the chest and closed it. As she then locked it, a
bright light shone all around her.
She was the one. She was the person who was the ancestor of Princess Sarah’s royal family. Then,
three women appeared behind the Chest. They were the mothers of the three children. Elison,
Ariana, and Riley each instantly knew which mothers were theirs. They ran into their arms.
The treasure was freed.