> The Mare and the Fracture (and Other Assorted Neighsop Fables)
>  by TrojanHorse711
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Mare and the Fracture
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Mare and the Fracture
by Neighsop Grimm



Here is nothing but a picture portal
Where most would fear to go near and chortle
Of the edge of Life. This is a moral
Fable of a simple mare and immortal.

My little ponies, let me just share
My story of how Death went unaware
Who'd gave him a reason to have a care
For those he met. He will forever bear
The story of that Gentle Salvage mare.

It was but a lone, cold Winter morning
That a spirit found situation thorning
Of which he could get out, and yet no warning
Would come for his time of sudden mourning.

'Twas Keeper, stuck in cave without exit
In his sight; he had checked ev'ry last segment
Of the chamber. He was not ever desperate
For his rescue; yet salvation he found pregnant.

Lovely and youthful was she who found Him there,
Lurking 'round a cave with no exit fair,
Yet his discovery was his greatest err,
His being saved by that Gentle Salvage mare.

“Why would you save me?” he asked. “I am yet curious
“As to why you'd save a spirit still furious
“That caused death to most, I'm injurious!”
And the mare chortled: “That is a thought spurious.

“I am but mare of name Gentle Salvage,
“And you are still troubled. Come, and scavenge
“The fruits of life as is, if you can manage.
“You go on your own way, I'll to the village.”

And with that, Salvage went to her own lair,
Leaving Keeper as curious as was fair.
And he resolved to, then, taking great care,
Follow her still, that Gentle Salvage mare.

As he had lurked, he knew not of pony but self
Who would see in him like had Gentle herself
The wonder in his heart, hidden to itself
But not to her. He would then disguise himself

Fractured Soul, al'corn without insight
As to how wrongs had with her he would right
For crime of paying no grateful light;
That would visit Salvage on cold midnight.

And when she had opened her homely air
To al'corn in which she saw him fair,
She smiled and granted him entry there
To visit her, that Gentle Salvage mare.

“Greetings,” he said. “I owe thee gift formal
“Of which thou wouldst enjoy to be normal.
“I shalt create, thou shalt be immortal!”
To this, the mare would to him just chortle.

“It is humble of you to grant me life
“Of which my desires would be most rife.
“I decline, for I wouldn't want that strife,
“For today and forever I'm alive.

“I can grant you home, for all of my work
“I have much to show!” The mare! Did she smirk?
Or did her Gentle mouth just then jerk?
“Of course, there may be but some paperwork.”

He trembled not, he knew of language care
Which he would use to forge to her unaware,
And offer to her soon; he would soon share
Immortal life to Gentle Salvage mare.

As life in her household trotted forward
And helped her on chance she might had ordered,
He saw her visage, naught but a slaughtered
Nag; a pity to see, yet kind offered.

And she bore young foals; a colt and filly,
Who worked their minds of royalty leery.
It was not his right to question cheery,
For he was Keeper, a being so dreary.

Yet as ages grew on, he saw in there
A dying light in her heart still so fair.
He would offer her again, hope to share
Immortal life to Gentle Salvage mare.

“Gentle Salvage, I will be informal.
“I see not your life. I offer thee laurel.
“I shalt create; thou shalt be immortal!”
To Fractured, the mare would only chortle.

“It is humble of you to offer life
“Of which I have no need, I favor, I thrive.
“I still decline, I'd rather not have strife.
“For today and forever I'm alive.”

Her kindness led Fractured to claim unfair
As stubbornness she showed without a care
For her being. Would she remain to fare
As a pony, that Gentle Salvage mare?

A stormy night grew close, and this he feared
Would be closure to life that persevered.
The Salvage would cease. Though the storm cleared,
He feared that her life had not reappeared.

He brought her to safety, took her to health
That would not be in budget but to wealth.
In hospital she breathed. He loathed himself
For heeding plea to immortalize herself.

As her family came and went from her chair
Where she would soon leave life of great care,
He knew what He would do. He entered there,
As Keeper to that Gentle Salvage mare.

“I offer honesty. I was Fractured Soul,
“And your death to me will leave a great hole
“Which I cannot fill. It is a heart's mole
“Where, if you depart, will never be whole.

“Once more I offer eternal laurel,
“Of which you can still be beauty forceful.
“I will create! I'll make thee immortal!”
To this, Gentle Salvage would just chortle.

“O Keeper, you will fear without compare
“For my life that you value without care
“Of simple facts that you are unaware.
“I am a worn pony, a dying mare.

“I have lived ages a dying pony,
“And though my body becomes still bony,
“I will still live. I give testimony
“To the soul that is my patrimony.

“Even in Death the soul is immortal,
“For the sadness in life is more normal,
“But at our end is the golden portal
“Where our hardships are at end so casual.

“Be hopeful, for your life is still so fair
“That you can live as Death.” Those words shared,
She ended her being to him, prepared
For her new life, as Gentle Salvage mare.

And, little ponies, we end it right there,
Where Keeper moved on from the deceased mare,
And his time as Fractured Soul, some would swear.
Ended there too, but ponies found it fair
That his debt and life to her was repaired.