"What has gotten into that jaguar?" Blue wondered aloud. "As a student, I decided to become a guardian later and learn all the complex spells. The spell I used gave it the conscience of a fish, trying to get to water. It'll probably drown," Minty Swirl explained. Both Snow Shine and Orange Blossom thanked Blueberry Twilight for protecting them.

     Then, all attention turned to the once-fleeing horse in their midst. She shifted nervously and said, "Uh, hi there! My name's Chocolate. I was just collectin' some palm leaves for my mate, but that jaguar started chasin' me." "Glad I saved you, eh? I'm Minty Swirl, my sister there is Blueberry Twilight, and there's Snow Shine and Orange Blossom." Minty Swirl told her. Chocolate's white and brown pelt was still slightly fluffed up as she added, "Sorry for gettin' you in unwanted danger. I didn't know anyone was here!"

     Snow Shine went up to her, saying, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on the horse borders?" "Mind if I ask what you are doing here?" Chocolate responded. Blue explained the whole story to her, and she said, "Y'all are very brave to come in territory unknown to you. The horses have found this place a month ago, and some o' us are movin' in. Most are too scared, though." "How about a breakfast together? What are you having?" Orange Blossom suggested.

     Everyone was shocked to learn that Chocolate ate grass and flowers. "No offense, but I'd pass," Blue finally said. "It was nice meeting you," she added. Chocolate said, "Bye for now. Good luck on the journey you're makin'. " Flicking her tail in farewell, the mare went to pick up her palm leaves and left. After that, Snow Shine noticed Orange Blossom staring at him. "What do you want?" he asked. "Nothing," she said quickly, "say, we should eat breakfast!"

     There was a good meal of honey-drizzled mint leaves with berries. Blueberry Twilight looked really excited, as if then and there she had seen her long-lost son. As they started walking around the area again, Minty Swirl had a great suggestion. "If we look for signs of Tulip—like tufts of his pelt—they might lead us right to him!" "But we've only heard descriptions of him. How will we know it's his pelt?" questioned Orange Blossom.

     "Well, we have Blue and Minty Swirl here, they'll help us," Snow Shine replied. Throughout the day, they walked and walked, looking for clues. However, they had found none. "Maybe Tulip is dead," Blueberry Twilight whispered sorrowfully. "Look!" Orange Blossom yelled all of a sudden. There, on a thorn bush, was a yellow tuft of a unicorn's pelt! "He must have just passed; the tuft is fresh," Minty Swirl said.

     Eventually, the group found hoofprints, which led to a cave similar to the one where they had experienced the jaguar attack before. "It's got to be the place!" Snow Shine exclaimed in excitement. Maybe Tulip and I could be friends, he thought. "Who's that?" a voice rang out in the cave. Out came a golden pelted unicorn! His brown eyes were wide in bewilderment, and his straight mane was the same color as Blue's. "Tulip!" Blueberry Twilight cried out, "My one and only son!" "Mother!" Tulip replied, running over and nuzzling Blue. "And Aunt Minty Swirl!"

     "Hi, Tulip! I'm Snow Shine, and this is Orange Blossom," Snow Shine said as he stood next to Orange Blossom. At first, the newcomer cocked his head in confusion. Then he said, "Oh! You guys were in the nursery! You're guardians already?! I've been gone for a while now. What if they've forgotten me?" "I'm sure they haven't," Orange Blossom assured him, "there was a whole meeting just to take action over your disappearance." 

     Tulip beamed at her for a little, then said, "I'm really sorry for leaving back then. I was foolish then." He paused. "You were lucky no jaguars got you," Tulip added. "Tell me about it," Minty Swirl groaned, rolling her eyes. "We've gone a long distance from home," Blue said, "it'll take a while to get back." "Then let's get going!" Tulip answered, his brown eyes shining. After walking for a whole day, the group found a place to rest, and all fell asleep.

＊

     "The palm trees shouldn't be far from here."

     It was the next day, and everyone was doing the daily work. Tulip and Orange Blossom had gone hunting, while Blue, Minty Swirl, and Snow Shine were gathering more bedding that they would need. Blueberry Twilight was right: only a short walk away, Snow Shine found some palm trees. He shook them with all his might, and leaves fell to the ground like rain. 

     As the white guardian started taking the leaves back to Blue and Minty Swirl, he heard Tulip's voice, and saw him with Orange Blossom just 10 unicorn-lengths away. Snow Shine hated to snoop, but he crouched under some bushes to see what was happening. "So Tulip," Orange Blossom began, "what did you want to tell me?" 

     The golden stallion blushed, then answered, "Um, it's kinda complicated..." He took a deep breath. "Orange Blossom, you and the others have been so kind by not judging me for what I did. I liked how you encouraged me when I thought I wouldn't be accepted. And during hunting, you were really kind and funny. I enjoy having you by my side, and maybe it can stay that way: will you be my mate?"

     Snow Shine felt torn to pieces. Tulip just came, in contrast to the month-long (maybe even longer) friendship he had with Orange Blossom. She probably liked him back, right? Would that explain her staring at him? That's just wishful thinking, he thought to himself, perhaps she likes Tulip better? Despite his heartbroken state, he continued listening.

     "Well..." Orange Blossom began to say, trying to hide her nervous expression behind her long mane. "Please don't be offended, Tulip...but I say no." Looking down at his hoofs, Tulip replied, "Alright. That's fine, I guess." Though Snow Shine knew better, he felt like jumping up and down like a colt who had caught a butterfly. Before he was caught, he quickly picked up the leaves and left.

     During dinnertime, everyone chatted about what happened that day. "That fish literally jumped out like it wanted to be caught!" Tulip exclaimed. Laughing, Snow Shine said, "You're funny, Tulip." "Mother," Tulip started suddenly, "what happened to my father? I've never seen him before." Blue stopped giggling abruptly. "H-he died," she replied sadly. "A bear killed him," Tulip's aunt added. "Oh," he replied. That night, the group fell asleep under the miserable shadow of grief.

＊

     Two days later, the travelers were getting closer to their home. Snow Shine and Orange Blossom took hunting this time. Minty Swirl and Blue clearly think Orange Blossom is a good hunter, thought Snow Shine. Tulip helped with the palm leaves, and also went to scout the area to see how close to home they were. Orange Blossom was able to catch some fish. Snow Shine collected some honey. They started looking for berries and mint leaves together.

     All of a sudden, a loud boom sounded. Snow Shine didn't need to turn to see what it was. A jaguar! Orange Blossom was many unicorn-lengths away, and she didn't seem to notice. He'd have to protect her. The ferocious beast started toward him, and suddenly leaped on him. Snow Shine fell into a dizzying blackness.

     He woke to see...Orange Blossom?! She was jumping on the jaguar's head, and bucked it hard. Then she cast the Beat-Up Spell, and the jaguar left them alone. "Orange...thank you," Snow Shine said weakly as he lay on the forest ground. Orange Blossom beamed, and Snow Shine felt his cheeks growing warm. "It was nothing," she replied, "True guardians protect their fellow unicorns. Here, let me help you."

     "Do you think you can continue for one more day? We're really close now," Blue inquired as Snow Shine limped over, leaning on Orange Blossom. "Anything...to get...home..." the weakened stallion replied. Minty Swirl passed him some herbs to help with the pain in his hoofs.

     By the next day, Snow Shine felt much better. He, Blue, Orange Blossom, Minty Swirl, and Tulip reached their home borders by afternoon. Tulip was trembling with both anxiety and excitement. "I can't wait to get back! I sure have learned my lesson about leaving without anyone knowing—and not to go into unknown territory!" Everyone else laughed at the joke, and his mother started combing his mane with a smooth pinecone she found. "You need to look good," she explained, "you'll probably be made a guardian when we get home."

     The group ran into Violet Leaf, who seemed to be hunting. "You came back!" the guardian exclaimed. His lilac-colored gaze turned to Tulip. "And you found Blue's son! Was he in unknown territory?" Violet Leaf asked curiously. "Yes," his mate replied, "He was lucky enough to escape all those terrible jaguars." "We better get back to camp immediately," Orange Blossom urged.

＊

     "You shall now be known as Tulip Blossom."

     After they had got to camp, Tulip was made a guardian by Queen Penny. Lemon Leaf, who had just become a guardian, trotted up to him, saying, "Congratulations Tulip Blossom! I hope you enjoy living with us!" "Thanks," Tulip Blossom mumbled gratefully. Snow Shine saw a glimmer of hope in his brown eyes. He walked over to him, saying, "Patrol tomorrow, Tulip?" After Snow Shine saw Tulip Blossom's shocked look, he added, "Argh, I mean Tulip Blossom! Well, will you?"

     Tulip Blossom nodded. The white guardian walked away into the middle of the clearing. He looked around at his home, bustling with all the unicorns in Sunbeam Island. Snow Shine felt that many more good things were in store, and he felt excited for every single bit as he went to take a nap to rest after his long journey.