2 The Beginning

I awoke to bright light boring into the back of my eyelids. Groaning, I tried to reach for my blankets, hoping to pull them over my head, but there were a few problems. My arm felt oddly heavy, and for some reason, I couldn't wiggle my fingers. In fact, it felt like I didn't even have fingers to wiggle. There also was no blanket, and I wasn't in my bed. That's right, I died.
Opening my eyes, once they became adjusted to the brilliant light, I decided to glance around. Was this really the afterlife? I had always envisioned a bunch of fluffy white clouds and a big golden gate with angels flying around playing haps. That, or a world of fire and brimstone full of screaming people and demons all too eager to torment them. The possibility that heaven or hell would appear in the form of a clam, tranquil forest had never once crossed my mind.
"Oh Starlight, he's so handsome! Are we sure that it has to be him?" I could hear a female voice. Glancing around through oddly blurry eyes, I found the source. It was a Unicorn! A real life freaking unicorn!
"The seer left no doubt, his beauty only confirms it." Apparently Starlight is male. Then again, he was a unicorn too. "She specifically said my first born son, the most pure and beautiful of all my children, was the chosen one."
Chosen one? Were they talking about me? Glancing around at myself, I was coming to realize more and more that something was decidedly wrong with my body. Forget fingers and toes, I had freaking hooves! Not only that, my body was unnaturally white! I mean, we're talking so white, I was practically glowing! Without hands I couldn't pull it forward to look at it properly, but what little I could see of my hair was platinum blond! I distinctly remember have dark brown hair, and it should've been too short to see without a mirror. This couldn't possibly be my body.
"Do we really have to let him go?" the female unicorn sounded like she was pleading. "Can no one else bear this burden? Why us? Why our child?"
"Because no one else is good enough," Starlight replied. Conceited much?
"It's not fair!" the female insisted.
The scene was like something out of some sappy soap opera. I decided it was about time to explore and leave the crazy, self-important unicorns to themselves. I tried to get to my feet, only to discover that, for some reason, my legs—all four of them evidently—were weak and wobbly. Alright, so I wasn't heavy weight lifting champ of the world or anything, but I know I was at least strong enough to lift my own body weight. Was this just part of dying?
Well, weak legs or not, I wasn't about to sit and listen to those unicorns argue any longer. It took a few tries, but I was eventually able to stand up. Not long after that, I could walk, and let me tell you, walking on hooves isn't all it's cracked up to be. I already miss fingers and toes. Well, no matter. At least I can walk.
"Look Starlight! He really is perfect!" the female unicorn gasped. "Just like his father!"
"Of course," Starlight nodded. "He's my son after all! Why else would he be chosen?"
Their son? In their dreams! My parents are about a hundred times better than these snobs, dead or not! Now the big question is, can I relay these thoughts to them? I'm not completely sure how they're speaking. Are they using words, or are they talking like horses and I just understand them because, apparently, now I'm a horse too? Maybe it's telepathy. Whatever, I guess I'll figure it out eventually.
"Where are you going?" the female called. "Come back! You aren't even an hour old yet!"
So I was just born? Is that what she's saying? Rebirth huh? Well I guess that's better than hell… right? Then again, if those two are supposedly my new parents, maybe I am better off dead. Also, I don't know if I like all this 'chosen' nonsense they're going on about. Best to keep going.
"Oh no you don't," Starlight trotted in front of me, then pushed me back on my butt. Talk about a big bully. "The ceremony will begin soon! No fooling around for you, there's work to be done!"
Inexplicably, I found myself floating. Based on the glow coming from his horn, Starlight was responsible. The only question I was left with was weather I was dealing with psychic abilities, or good old fashioned magic. One way or another, it seemed I was at the big bully's mercy.
I was carried to a gathering a ways away. In a clearing with a ring of mushrooms at the center, dozens of unicorns were gathered. Maybe even hundreds. The most perplexing thing, the vast majority of them were ladies. I don't know how I know that, I haven't exactly been able to check, but I could just sense it. Some were shinier looking than others as well, which was interesting. Knowing unicorns, maybe it had something to do with power or purity or whatever.
"The chosen one is born!" Starlight proclaimed loudly. A cheer went up and the gathered unicorns all reared and kicked their legs. I almost felt like I was experiencing that one scene from the Lion king first hand, and I wasn't sure I liked it. Poor lion cub.
"This is truly a momentous occasion!" An older looking unicorn stepped forward. Judging by the way everyone bowed their head to her, she was someone important. Probably a sage or a shaman, if my video game experience is in anyway accurate. "Our savior is born, purest of us all, destined to save our world! Gather and witness his glory everyone!"
Another cheer went up, and I felt myself passed from starlight's magic to someone else. It was weird, like I could feel a difference but in an indescribable way. All at once, I could feel more and more magic added to the effect that was causing me to float, like a group of hands on a rock star who was crowd surfing. Not going to lie, it was pretty cool, even though I was still apprehensive about my situation. I mean, what adult in their right mind puts their lives in the hands of a newborn baby?
"It is a glorious day indeed!" the elder called. "Now, let the sacrifice commence!"
…say what now?