It was late afternoon, the sun hanging high above the mountain peaks. It was mid-day, but it might as well have been morning for the drunken yaks nursing their hangover. Elder Yasamin peeled himself off his kitchen floor as it creaked underneath his heavy body.
Another Yicksluberfest to remember, he still couldn't believe that pink mare from the foreigners' expedition had outdrank him and remained sober enough to party. A gentle smile crossed his lips as a dry chuckle escaped him.
He'd scan his surroundings; he'd barely made it home, seeing that he was sprawled on the kitchen floor with a blanket on top of his back.
The elder's once thundering voice was sore and tired from the night of endless song and shouting. But he managed an audible plea for his family.
"Yona! Äiti!" he'd grumble, letting out a hoarse cough as he trotted over to the den where the warmth of the fireplace was. Quickly pouring himself whatever leftover coffee that was inside the hissing kettle for himself.
The young heifer came out of her room, peeling back a wool curtain that served as a door. She smiled at her father, running up to nuzzle him under the chin.
"Yicksluberfest was great this year, best celebration yet!" She smiled, looking positively excited. "Yona, very happy that pony here, Yona make more potion. Yona can't believe pony save us..."
"Pony did great thing, remember for long time," Yona's mother crossed through the hall, her hair long and unbraided. Stepping into the kitchen, she prepared warm porridge for Yazamin's breakfast and their lunch. Yona stepped beside her mother, getting the bowls ready.
Äiti snorted, giving a rather unimpressed look to her husband, "Husband no deserve porridge for making mess of house last night!"
"Äiti! It was Yicksluberfest; it was Elder duty to keep Yicksluberfest drinking champion title!" huffed the 'wise' elder.
"Apologize, or Yona and I get your porridge," Äiti said sternly, pairing with a firm stamp against the floor.
Yasamin sighed, "Yes, dear….Yasamin, sorry...."
Äiti let out a huff before placing the reheated porridge from breakfast on the table; unlike the lavish meals of Yicksluberfest, traditional everyday yak food was…utilitarian, to say the least. Oats, water, and flour with a touch of sugar or honey to make the meal not wholly unbearable.
Elder Yasamin grumbled as he shoveled the grey sticky porridge into his maul with his tongue. Chewing slowly as he left out a huff, he was already missing the mushroom stew and pastries.
Yona giggled at her parent's minor scuffle; despite her father's large frame and even bigger personality, he always seemed to give in to her mother's proclamations.
Sitting down at the table, Yona too began to eat her fill of porridge, dreaming of the sweets she had indulged in during the festival. It would be a while before the next celebration, and she always counted the days til then.
"Pony save us, and we will remember their heroism even after they leave." nodded Yasamin.
"Yona wants to be useful to village, give yak better things, make yak life better!" Yona stamped her hoof against the table to accentuate her point.
Äiti looked over to her daughter curiously, "Do potion stain your coat or cloak? I already wash enough clothes!" scolded Äiti.
"Äiti, please, Yona is preparing to be wise and great. Just like her papa!" boasted the yak.
"Don't give yourself too much credit, Yasamin." hmpfed Äiti.
"Wait… ponies leave??" Yona's head perked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "But why ponies leave? Yona's teacher pony won't leave, right?"
Yasamin gave a somewhat inconclusive shrug, "Yasamin confused about whole ordeal, one group of ponies say other is bad, but then they work together and are friends later. I don't know if Starlight Glimmer will stay or go."
Äiti huffed, "Sounds suspicious, I don't like these strangers near Yona and the calves."
"Äiti, Prince Rutherford says pony are a friend, so it is so." firmly asserted Yasamin in a rare display of defiance toward the house matriarch.
Äiti relented as she grumbled, "Yona don't need pony to be helpful, Yona learn to do things yak way."
"Times changing Äiti, and as our late King Gustav said, 'Yaks strong, but yaks cannot be strong headed!" quoted Yasamin.
Äiti hmpfed as she ate her porridge.
"If Starlight Glimmer leaves, then perhaps Yona should have council approval for her Förkörsrätt." suggested Yasamin.
"The right of passage? Perhaps she can learn how to be a medicine yak or work with our shamans for a while." pressed Äiti.
Yasamin shook his head, "Yona only calf I have; Yona will be great elder yak one day; she will have to go through boa Förkörsrätt!"
"Yona cannot travel across mountains with strangers that aren't yaks! Äiti refuses!" stamped the protective mother.
Yasamin shook his head, "It only suggestion, and Yona would have to see if pony teacher even leaves, then initiate the Kurultai with Council."
Yona looked downtrodden at that news, gazing down at her hooves in disappointment.
"Mama, Yona *wants* to learn from the pony. You see pony tricks! Pony can make light, move rock, strong as yak! I want to be strong with pony too!" The heifer gave her mother big doe eyes, sticking out her lower lip.
Turning, Yona stared at her father with surprise and delight, her eyes lighting up. "Really? Yona could go on pilgrimage?!" Looking between her father and mother, the heifer jumped up and zipped to her father's side, hugging him tightly with all of her strength.
"Yes!! Yona want to go on Förkörsrätt! Yona wants to learn from pony and travel with pony!" Yona cried with glee, "Yona is strong, Yona is ready!"
"Please, Mama, Yona want to be strong and smart for village, want to make things better!"
Yasamin squeezed Yona tightly as he bellowed a mighty laugh," Yona is strongest! Yona will make me and the tribes proud!"
Äiti shook her head, "I do not approve of such a journey; you are still a calf!"
Yasamin waved her off, "Yona strong, Yona entitled to her call for Kurultai!"
Äiti erupted, "No! Not my sweet Yona!"
Yasamin quickly thundered his voice loud enough to shake the house, "SILENCE! THIS MATTER BELONG TO YONA AND THE COUNCIL NOW!"
Äiti hmpfed, as she turned her back on Yasamin and Yona, "Fine. But I don't like it…."
Yasamin quickly looked down at his daughter before quietly whispering, "Go find pony and ask if she's leaving, then come back to me as quickly as you can. I'll handle your mama…." he'd lift the wool from his face as he gave her a wink.
The young heifer jumped up with glee and nodded, not even bothering to finish her meal. She ran out of the hut, dashing through the snow to find the unicorn pony she called her teacher.
"Pony... pony?!" Yona called out, finding her way to Trixie's wagon. The heifer approached the door, knocking on it loud enough to wake any occupant inside.
Trixie poked her head out of the doorway, looking as if she had just rolled out of bed. "WHAT?!"
"Yona is looking for other unicorn," Yona replied.
Starlight huffed as she shoved Trixie out of the way, "Go back to napping, Trixie; I got this."
Trixie grumbled and rolled her eyes, crawling her way back into her snug sleeping bag, pulling an eyemask over her closed lids. "Just be quiet out there..."
Starlight hopped out from the back of the wagon before slamming the door shut, "Yona? I thought it was the Hviledag, isn't everyone just getting up?"
"Yes, but Yona's father, Elder Yasamin, believe Yona is ready for Förkörsrätt!! That means a pilgrimage to prove Yona is worthy for village! And Yona choose to travel with you!" The heifer beamed excitedly, hopping up and down, the earth thundering beneath her, "Pony can teach Yona more!"
"Yona means... if pony is leaving." Yona chuckled awkwardly.
"Oh… well… I am leaving..." Starlight slowly approached Yona, "Yona, this trip will be across the world, far, far away from home. I want you to know before you make any decision. This trip will take a while."
"I'll let Twilight and my friends know you're coming and see if I can let you in. You do whatever you must do, and we'll see how this goes, okay? But don't get your hopes up!" scolded Starlight.
"Yona could go all around the world?" the thought was amazing and terrifying simultaneously, all the things she could see and experience... and all the things she would miss from home.
"Yona understand! Yona will tell parents." The heifer nodded in agreement, looking down thoughtfully.
"But Yona want to know... why pony hate other pony, and then go with pony on travels?" Yona looked back up at Starlight, curious.
Starlight sighed as she rubbed her temple, "Sometimes… adults will act like foals and hate others for petty and foolish reasons. Being trapped in that avalanche gave me a chance to really see the error in my ways."
Yona rubbed a hoof to her chin and nodded in agreement. "That true, even for yak. Although yak usually fight to see who is right."
Starlight would rub the heifer's head affectionately, "But I know you're smart enough to know better; after all, you're a fairly fast learner… now get a move on; we're leaving fairly soon…."
The heifer smiled and nodded, "Okay, Yona will be back!" Turning around, the yak made her way back to her family's hut, nearly busting down the door in her excitement.
"Yona could see the world!!" She jumped up in glee, nearly pouncing on her father. "Pony said Yona could go, that ponies are going around the world! Can Yona go?! Please, father?!" She would turn to her mother, "Please, mama?! I want to see everything! Yona is strong enough."
Yasamin smiled, "Of course! But we must assemble the council for Kurultai!"
Äiti teared up as she wiped her face and gave Yona a suffocating squeeze, "Yona, please reconsider; there is no shame in staying home!"
Yasamin sighed as he attempted to comfort his wife, receiving a sharp glare as he reached over to touch her.
Yona grunted from the force, trying to be gentle as she peeled her mother's hooves off of her ribs, "Mama, Yona promise she will be safe. Yona will not let you or village down," she'd nuzzle her mother softly, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Yona is ready for council Father," the heifer turned around, giving him a short and confident nod.
It was time for the revival of the ancient tradition of Förkörsrätt; the call for a Kurultai had now begun. The ancient tradition of Förkörsrätt was nearly lost when Yakyakistan was cut off from the rest of the world by King Sombra and the frozen north.
It had been over a thousand years since the last pilgrimage, and that honor was given to King Gustav before the frozen north had consumed any possible trail outside of Yakyakistan. Hundreds tried and failed to cross the mountain peaks to reestablish a connection to the outside world.
Until now, with recent events showing that yaks could travel to the outside world and foreigners could enter their nation. It was truly monumental. In fact, the Kurultai was held publicly for the first time in over one hundred years.
Prince Rutherford had already honored Yasamin and Yona by publicizing the affair and by showing the community the council's debate. It was fairly obvious what their decision was, or so it seemed at first.
Having heard of the tradition, Twilight immediately made her way over to write down everything, encouraging her friends to respectfully participate in the history, much to her friend's varying degrees of enthusiasm. Everything she heard and saw, she recorded into extreme detail. She still wasn't sure if it was a good idea for the young Yak to come along, considering it might be dangerous... but on the other hoof, she was a robust young yak and quite bright for her age. They could make the room.
As the massive fire roared and a thick cloud of smoke rose, all the yaks and ponies were silent as the shamans banged their traditional drums and bellowed a melody from their stomachs through their throats. Drumming loudly as the Prince dressed in ceremonial silk garb over a thousand years old. Hung off of his body like shiny tatters.
The Prince raised his hoof, silencing the shamans as they prayed to their Gods for guidance.
"Yona!" thundered Rutherford, "You have evoked the right of your Förkörsrätt and Kurultai! Present your case to the council or forfeit your right of council!"
Yona stepped up, clearing her throat before she began.
"Yona is daughter of Elder Yasamin, but she is not only that. Yona is Yak, strong, brave, and wants to prove that she can better the village through her pilgrimage. Yona will travel across the lands, finding new things to improve Yak life! Better medicine, better material for home, better everything! Yona want to prove that Yak does not need to be all alone to be strong, Yak can be strong with others!"
"Yona knows that there are scary and bad creatures out there, but Yona is strong, and Yak are strong. Yak must take chances if Yak is ever to become even stronger than Yak are now!" She stomped her hoof, "Yak will be strongest! And Yak will have many friends to help Yak be stronger too!"
"Yona already learn potions from pony; Yona can learn more and bring it back to village, help Yaks, make life better for little Yaks!" She waved a hoof around, gesturing to those who sat in attendance. "And maybe Yak can make other creatures lives better too."
"Let Yona prove she can do it, please let Yona go on Förkörsrätt!"
The council would grumble as Yasamin rose his hoof to speak, Rutherford giving him a firm nod, "Yona speaks nothing but truth and brings honor to my family and Yakyakistan! I accept the call for Förkörsrätt!"
Another elder would stamp as he erupted, "Yona but a dri! This honor should be given to a boa! Elder Yasamin is blinded by his love for his daughter! This is a mockery!"
Prince Rutherford raised his brow as he turned toward the elder, "Elder Bataar, it is not your turn to speak!" thundered Rutherford.
Bataar huffed, "If Yasamin disgraces tradition by calling this Kurultai for a dri! Then I have no reason to uphold tradition either!"
The council erupted into bickering before Rutherford smashed his hooves against the ground. Silencing the elders.
Bataar turned his back on Yona, “I say NO.”
Yona tried not to seem upset at the sight, looking away from Bataar.
Yasamin stamped his hooves as his face burned a bright red, "BATAAR DISHONOR ME, BATAAR DISHONOR YONA! YASAMIN CHALLENGE BATAAR TO BÖKH MATCH!”
Rutherford thundered loudly, "SILENCE! THERE WILL BE NO BÖKH DURING THE KURULTAI!”
"Yona just want to help village, Yona can prove herself worthy!" She looked around, trying to think of something she could do.
"Yona is strong, Yona can fight! Yona is strong as any boa!" she tilted her head down, displaying her horns. They were still growing but large enough for her age to knock down any creature, "Yona is smart! Yona will not let Yaks down!"
Another elder would look at Yona, the oldest among the elders, with a long, white face and beard, "... Björn say yes. King Gustav says, 'Yaks strong, but yaks cannot be strong-headed.' Yakyakistan needs young yaks to bring us into this changing world..."
Another elder would shake his head, "Yona brave but, Yona is still young! I say Yona needs more time to become stronger and wiser. Okan says no."
Elder Jargal would lift his wool and give Yona a stern expression as he stared at the heifer with an intense expression, "... Jargal… say yes..."
Elder Karl shook his head, "No," he was a yak of few words.
Finally, the last elder Svein stamped his feet, "No! A dri cannot depend on foreigners for her protection! Elder Bataar right! Yona no go with ponies!"
Prince Rutherford looked at his elders and then Yona. He was the last vote, his expression like a stonewall. But it was not directed at Yona; he crossed his front legs and let out a sigh, "I am disappointed in many of my Elder yaks tonight….ELDER YAKS DISGRACE ME."
The crowds would gasp at the Prince's proclamation. Twilight read that if a Prince publicly declared a grievance with his elders like this, it was a grave insult and a challenge. Some recordings stated that some elders challenged a Bökh as a way to salvage their honor, or else they were forced to submit and stay in silence.
Every yak knew that Rutherford had done more than give his blessing to Yona…he stuck his neck out for her, "YONA CAN GO ON HER PILGRIMAGE UNLESS THERE IS YAK STRONG ENOUGH TO FORCE MY HOOF."
There was a deafening silence before the shamans quickly began banging their drums and echoing their hypnotic chants once more.
The Kurultai was concluded.
The alicorn would feverishly record everything she heard, her quill going a mile a minute to keep up with all of the detail.
Yona bowed to the Prince, showing her gratitude. "Thank you, Prince Rutherford. Yona will make you and all Yak proud." Carefully, she would walk backward, trying not to show any disrespect by turning her back to him.
As soon as she was out of the tent, she began jumping up and down, causing the snow around her to fly into the air. "Yona is going on Förkörsrätt!! Yona is going with ponies!!"
Twilight stepped out of the tent, greeting the young yak with a soft smile.
"That was rough out there, but you held together. I would have been a little nervous myself..." She chuckled, "You're welcome to come along, Yona. I think Starlight will enjoy having someone to teach."
Starlight trotted out of the tent as she gave Yona her best smile, "That was a tough crowd, but you did fantastically. I would have never been able to hold my tongue like that if I was being practically berated by the Bataar guy."
"Baatar is just hard-headed." Yona snorted, she never particularly got along with that elder, doing her best to avoid him.
Yasamin slowly stamped out of the tent as he gently pressed his head against Yona's, seeming to struggle to speak; his lip quivered as tears began streaming down his face; the proud elder would swallow back his tears and pride before revealing his eyes to Yona.
"Yona is no longer calf… Yona is a now adult dri…” It seemed the reality was finally hitting the prideful father now that the dust had settled, "Your first Förkörsrätt, and the first Förkörsrätt in over a thousand years… Yasamin proud to call Yona his daughter."
Yona's lower lip began to quiver before she too teared up, tears sliding down her cheeks as she embraced her father. "Yona is proud to be Yasamin's daughter! Yona will make Yak proud too! Yona promise..."
Twilight smiled softly, knowing the bittersweet feeling they were experiencing right now. So happy and filled with pride, but the sorrow of knowing now that Yona was going to leave.
Starlight sneakily flicked a few tears from her eyes as she passively observed the display.
Äiti slowly trotted over as she sighed, "When Äiti had Yona, Yasamin say, "I will not raise her as a dri or a boa, but as future elder," I thought Yasamin was being pretentious and arrogant…but I see that he was preparing you for this all along."
Äiti embraced Yona with a squeeze, "Äiti, sorry for keeping Yona away from her Förkörsrätt!"
"Mama!" Yona pressed her face into her mother's neck, returning her embrace, trying not to burst into tears any further. She hadn't even left yet, and she was already homesick.
"I forgive you, Mama; Äiti just want Yona to be safe," the heifer sniffed, wiping away tears.
Twilight couldn't help but wipe away tears as well, blinking rapidly to keep more at bay. The flood gates had broken for Starlight at this rate, as her eyes spilled tears, as she was stifling her whimpers through a firm hoof. Twilight leaned over and hesitantly, but gently, patted Starlight on the shoulder, attempting to comfort her.
Prince Rutherford trotted from the tent as his voice thundered, "MAKE WAY!" he'd slowly stand before Yona, "Yona make yaks proud! Yona go down in history as one of greatest yaks! Almost as great as me!" he'd snort.
"Yasamin! Let's prepare the supplies for ponies and Yona!" he'd order Yasamin, the elder quickly trotting over beside the Prince.
"Yasamin sees Yona tomorrow; now get some rest! Yona and ponies have a big day tomorrow!" chimed Yasamin.
"NOW CLEAR OUT!" roared Rutherford, causing every creature to practically flee the scene.
Yona nodded eagerly, "Yes, Prince Rutherford! I will be prepared to leave in the morning. Thank you for giving me such a great honor." She bowed her head before trotting home, bounding through the snow.