Of Unicorns, Sheep, and Belgian Flags

After departing the dream-filled shores of Comoros, this one and family continued westward across the seas.

The destination was simple enough.

The Emerald Isle and the British Isles.

A land of castles, rolling green hills, ancient legends, tea, sheep, and enough history to fill several libraries.

The voyage itself, however, became far less simple.

Several days into the journey, our ship encountered a strange shimmering portal upon the open sea.

It hung above the waves like a doorway made of mist and starlight.

This one considered turning around. This one's children immediately voted to sail through it.

Democracy can be dangerous.

Before this one could properly object, the ship passed through the portal and emerged into unfamiliar waters.

The sky looked the same.

The sea looked the same.

The islands ahead looked mostly the same.

At least that was the expectation.

Instead, upon arriving, this one immediately noticed something unusual.

Belgian flags.

Belgian flags everywhere.

The ports had Belgian flags.

The town halls had Belgian flags.

The castles had Belgian flags.

At one point, this one spotted a sheep standing beside a Belgian flag.

The sheep seemed entirely unbothered.

Naturally, curiosity took hold.

This one's daughter immediately asked:

"Did Belgium collect the islands?"

A fair question.

Determined to investigate, our family began travelling across the countryside.

The islands themselves remained magnificent.

Ancient stone castles stood proudly atop windswept hills.

Green fields stretched beyond the horizon.

Old forests whispered with stories older than memory.

This one's wife became fascinated by local folklore, spending hours speaking with locals about fairy circles, ghost stories, and ancient legends.

One recommendation appeared repeatedly.

Leap Castle.

According to local stories it is among the most haunted places in Ireland.

Naturally, this one's wife became interested immediately.

This one became concerned immediately.

Meanwhile, this one's son had discovered something far more important.

Unicorns.

Upon learning that Scotland's national animal was the unicorn, he immediately reached the only conclusion a child could:

Scotland must therefore contain unicorns.

This one attempted to explain that national animals are not always commonly encountered.

The child ignored this completely.

For the remainder of our travels, every meadow, forest, castle, mountain, and suspicious cloud became a potential unicorn habitat.

Several horses were investigated.

One fluffy sheep was investigated.

A goat was followed for nearly an hour.

The goat appeared confused.

The child remained determined.

When asked how he intended to find a unicorn, he simply replied:

"They are magical. This one will know."

This answer proved difficult to argue with.

As we travelled through Ireland and Britain, local residents proved remarkably helpful.

This one asked how Belgium had managed to occupy the islands without anyone noticing.

The answer was immediate:

"They didn't."

Apparently the people had fought back.

They simply had not been strong enough.

This one respected the honesty.

This one also sought answers to several other pressing questions.

The most British thing that still survived under Belgian rule?

The answer came quickly:

"Crumpets will always be superior to waffles."

A statement that this one suspects may start another war.

Tea quality, however, remains unchanged.

Multiple locals confirmed that tea remains sacred.

This one was relieved to hear civilization had survived.

When asking which pub should be visited first, several fingers pointed toward a place known only as:

The Winchester.

This one never learned whether it was genuinely the best pub or simply the answer everyone enjoyed giving tourists.

Either way, it has been added to the itinerary.

The Irish proved equally helpful.

When asked whether fairy stories were true, one local responded:

"Some of them."

This answer explained absolutely nothing and somehow raised more questions.

This one also asked what every visitor should experience.

The answer involved music, drinks, friends, and not taking life too seriously.

This one found that advice difficult to argue with.

When asking what Ireland would reclaim immediately if given the chance, one local simply answered:

"Ireland."

This one admired the efficiency of the response.

As our travels came to an end, one truth became clear.

No matter whose flag flies overhead, these islands remain filled with stories.

Stories of castles.

Stories of fairies.

Stories of explorers.

Stories of sheep.

And perhaps even stories of unicorns.

As our ship departed the coast, this one's son looked back toward the distant hills.

"This one did not find the unicorn."

A pause followed.

"But it knows where to look next."

This one suspects the adventure is far from over.

May the roads remain open.

May the tea remain hot.

And may somebody eventually explain the sheep.

This one also finds itself wondering where the strange portal might lead next.

So this one asks all readers:

Where should this one and family sail next?

– https://app.warera.io/user/68e538c09c4aafa6f1a0bd5c