Zecora's Big Book of Zebra Legends

by swicked

The Greedy Guests

In the dark of night she waited, in the winter cold she stayed
For her will could not be baited and her focus; not be swayed
As she sat up there, so lonely way up on her mountain, matron fair
May she hear our prayer

As the fire burned inside her, taken from the goddess flame
Like a living, loving pyre, neither wild nor so tame
She would warm her clutch, aglow with the power of which she took her share
For all of our care

It was then they came unbidden, pegasi in from the cold
Greedy eyes spot the warmth hidden, greedy hearts strove to be bold
They would come to her, smiling, and tell that she must grant some of her heat
Like it just some feat

Taking pity on the ponies, though they were nothing but rude
She gave all the heat they could please, told they leave her to her brood
They would leave at once, and she thought that maybe they would just go away
Least if she had say

But they came back in the morning, then they came back at the noon
Always demanding more warming 'till she thought she'd be out soon
She told them such, and again with those smiles, each would say "That is fine
I'll just take what's mine."

And they looked upon her offspring and she nearly gave to rage
They thought she was just some wellspring? That her nest would be her cage?
In the cold she still would refuse to leave her eggs to fight off their stand
But she had a plan

Granting her heat to one last guest she set down and bore a claw
She stated she had none more left and, as a threat, snapped her maw
The ponies shivered, then looked to the one of them that now had all the flame
And they thought the same

Leaving, they fought each for the heat 'till the flame had long since died
Still their battle was not complete, striving to steal the warmth inside
'till they'd wrestled out every last bit of warmth they ever could have had
Leaving naught but bad

The story is old, and darker than most, but has the simplest of moral you'll find
Never take advantage of a good host, especially a host of dragonkind.

Comments

[Reese]

Ah, nice to see that you decided to publish these. :)

[MoltenXKid]

I'll read these at some point but I want to let you know that I was brought here by your coverart. Pretty funny.

[swicked]

5841938
Well, that's as good a reason as any to be here