> Zecora's Yule > by Rune Soldier Dan > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Zecora's Yule > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Every pony, young and old, Has heard Hearth’s Warming’s story told And each of them does celebrate The rise of Love, to topple Hate. With gifts and feasts, now once again The joy has come throughout the land But ponies often aren’t aware Other races, foul and fair Also give Hearth’s Warming cheer Bison, reindeer, fox and deer Zebras too – how can I tell? I, Zecora, know it well Although I am no longer feared Ponies rarely wander near To breach the woods in which I dwell Although the setting suits me well But though my home’s in Everfree I do confess: It gets lonely The first Hearth’s Warming here I had To be quite frank, it was quite sad Feared and shunned, I was alone Curled up in a darkened home This year, though, I climbed the hill And walked the road to Ponyville Friends have I, but one I sought A stallion whose sight I caught Plowing fields, brown and green A quiet type, and rarely seen I will not lie, though this may grate: I wanted to make it a date I took the long way, skirting round Though I was welcome in the town Again, I will not tell a lie: Trepidation made me shy Though it was cold, I took my time (And by the way, Dan hates to rhyme) Despite my doubts, my course was set. I didn’t really know him yet Romance could wait – it’d be just fine If he’d just visit me this time And brighten up a silent home So I’d not be, again, alone. Snowflakes fell, both clean and whole Winter’s beauty touched my soul Fear fell back, and wonder reigned As snow touched softly to my mane All was white, crisp, pure and kind Serenity, it touch my mind The plains were grand and clean, but – oh! Nothing to the town below. Roofs were high, and smoke rose higher Beneath them both, a tender fire Where families warmed their happy nests It was Heath’s Warming at its best And in the streets, good cheer exuded The foals all played, with none excluded Silver Spoon, a wealthy child Danced with Pip, both poor and mild Angels made, and snowballs thrown And not a soul was all alone The simple joy, it gave me hope For too long in my hut I moped Rejection’s fear had slowed my pace But wasn’t friendship worth the chase? I had made friends – I’d make one more! Was it really such a chore? My pace sped up, as did my heart Passing by the work of art That was the town of Ponyville To come someplace a bit more still Apple Acres: There to try To meet the apple of my eye ‘Macintosh’ was this colt’s name Red of coat and large of frame A stoic friend in any season *Ahem* Called ‘Big’ for many reasons But such is naught but speculation Thus far without confirmation He wasn’t a hard one to spot Within the snow, a bright red dot Laboring with axe and tree To turn dead wood to fire’s glee I felt my heart rate climbing up I called his name, and he said: ‘…Eeeeeyup?’ I stammered, well and truly checked Was point-blank asking too direct? Was it too late to change his plans? Was I beat just as I began? Had he a mare? That’d be okay To just be friends – but what would SHE say? It took a while to get it out But he was patient all throughout I said, ‘in common, we have little You speak naught and I, in riddles But Hearth’s Warming’s cold in Everfree Please won’t you come there with me?’ ‘The food I cook won’t make you lean: Us zebras make rice, peas, and beans Different than your pony fare, But tasty, and enough to share.’ His nervous swallow quenched my hope He said a word, the word was ’Nnnnnnope.’ I smiled, nodded, turned and ran Back home as fast as I can I fought them, but the tears did flow They fell and froze on warmthless snow In Everfree’s eternal gloam Sad and lonely, I came home The masks on walls all seemed to sneer, ‘Who would spend Hearth’s Warming here? With leering totems on the wall Of a shack, too dark and small It’s not a place for Warming’s Joy’ … …And the rhyming host, she just annoys. Why’d I think that he would come? With his own kind, he’d have fun! Party games, and laughs, and lights! Caroling all through the night Warm stone houses, roasted nuts Why trade for a drafty hut? I shook my head – it was now plain A one-mare Warming, once again Food tastes bland with none to share I felt that it just wasn’t fair! However wrong, however right It’d be another ‘Silent Night.’ My heart kept sinking like a rock When suddenly – there came a knock! There a moment I did dither Pulling myself back together I answered as fast as I could And there, outside, Macintosh stood I stared at him with door ajar The slow-paced farmer’d run quite far His breathing moved in rapid dregs His own, no match for zebra legs He’d come directly after me And quickly said, ‘Zecora, see,’ ‘Ah know Ah’m slow, Ah hope you get Ah wasn’t finished talking yet Ah can’t feast here in Everfree ‘Cause Ah cook for mah family The story’s long, to summarize: Warming’s cooking’s done by guys.’ ‘Apples cook, our mares cook great But on the Warming they get a break And stallions cook. We do just swell The family’s there, and all is well. So Ah won’t come, Ah’ve made my case... …But AH could set an extra place.’ (Zecora paraphrased Big Mac) I was taken quite aback! My head tilted to the side Thankfully, Mac clarified Saying, ‘Swing by my address And join the feast with all of us!’ My head came up, my mouth it grinned Fuzzy feelings rose within The Season’s warmth was back on track I hugged him and he hugged me back Thus so, we came from forest brown And once more walked on through the town Past town hall and past the baker’s To quiet Sweet Apple Acres Land was cold, but house looked warm Mac nodded, and we went on He raised his hoof and swung the door To a sight I hadn’t seen before Darling, sweet young Applebloom With her two friends was in the room An odd start to my new rapport For there was mess, from roof to floor Mac gave her a deadpan look The filly said ’Heheh…Crusader…holiday cooks?’ From wall to wall were dirty pots, Of failed foods, there were lots Once ingredients, now invalid How DO you burn an apple salad? The berries drowned in caramel And for the pie, best not to tell Applebloom apologized Said, ‘Ah just wanted to surprise A feast laid out when in you strut And maybe get mah you-know-what You needn’t say, Ah know it’s plain: Ah just screwed things up again.’ She sighed, embarrassed, lost and sad A face like that, who could be mad? Big Mac leaned and kissed her face Then said, ‘just help and clean the place. Zecora, pardon the mistake Ah’ll be in the kitchen – Ah’ve food to make!’ And so I ate a tad bit late But rest assured, ‘twas worth the wait The pots were used as they were cleaned All helped out, to me it seemed Nopony there thought ill of me For today, I was family Applejack with coat of orange Applejack, covered in snow Came in, shook off, and gave a go At finishing her own confection Apple cobbler, in perfection Granny Smith then set the plates And called us ‘round for food to take One thing I had not quite grasped So I turned to Applejack, and asked ‘Am I imposing on you so? This was sudden – should I go?’ She said, ‘Zecora, don’t make a fuss While you’re here, you’re one of us.’ The feast was grand, if late in coming I spoke no words, though mouth was running Taking in the farmers’ fare Royal courts could not compare To any humble Apple dish It fulfilled my Hearth’s Warming’s wish The day grew late, our bellies full The fillies played, then sleep did lull The three into a snoozing pile Beneath their watchful elders’ smiles The fire warm, the couch was soft And soon, I too, drifted off. The next morning I headed out At the gates I heard a shout I turned and saw the Apples wave I said, ‘Next year too, if I behave?’ Then Mac: ‘Next year? Don’t be a tease Come tomorrow if you please!’ No date with Mac beneath the trees No zebra dish of rice and peas But something bigger, something brighter Touched my heart, and made it lighter I didn’t find a friend, it’s true A family will have to do!”