The Shamare's Creed

"You have nothing to fear! I'll be there for you, my Dear. Where you heart will be, so there you shall find me!"

~Zecora

Winter was always one of the best times of the year for young couples. It was a day when lovers would spend their time inside, nuzzling each other in their warm embraces as they kept each other warm. The fireplace would be alight with a soft, gentle glow that had become symbolic of the season, keeping a physical warmth that matched the love of the couples it was near. While the outside could rage and the wind could blow, nothing would stop the stalwart lovers from enjoying each other's company.

Many animals would simply sleep through the winter, tightly knit together like so much string in a cloth. Others would remain awake, enjoying the pleasant times that began at the beginning of first snowfall. It really didn't matter, the love was present regardless. Young couples would stick together, sharing each other's love and compassion while they prepared to create the next generation, children with whom they'd enjoy the rest of their lives raising and knowing. Older couples would simply wait for their young to drift off to a soft and pleasant slumber before repeating that old familiar embrace they had long known together.

The same could be said for most ponies as well. Just like any other being, they too had a soulmate to share their otherwise lonely nights with. Every mare and stallion had someone to care for and to be cared for by. They all had that 'special somepony' with which they knew that they could always love and be loved by. Everypony, that is, except for a certain whimsical rhyming zebra.

Zecora pulled her covers tightly around herself, hoping to gather some warmth from her uncaring blankets. The wind outside her hut blew its fury upon her walls, howling like a raging animal itself. The snow fell not in some gentle, lovely way, but instead as a beast of unrelenting fury. The young zebra lay alone, wrapping herself deeper in her sheets as she staved off the cold that surrounded her. Such was the life of every shawmare.

With a sudden gust, the shutters to her paneless window blew open, revealing her to the elements that blasted around her. Zecora stood up with a groan, what little that was left of her sleep being deprived of her. With a frustrated sigh, the young mare trotted over to her window. It took a few moments, but she managed to close them, making sure the latch held this time.

"Damn it," she muttered, not even bothering to maintain her normal rhyming patterns while alone. "Just...damn it."

The zebra slowly dragged herself over to a nearby table, pulling out some tea-leaves to make a nice little brew. It didn't take that long to prepare, and soon the lonely mare had a nice warm cup in her hooves. She sat down at her table, staring blankly at the walls as she idly sipped her tea. It was simply a repeat of every night she'd known that winter.

Once her nerves started to settle a little, Zecora soon found herself wrapped up in her worn sheets once more. With the shutters closed once more, the room was beginning to regain just a bit of its warmth. She rolled over, her stripes standing out against the brown blankets that surrounded her. Sleep remained just out of reach, tickling her conscious like that annoying kid in the desk behind you. She had reached that point of consciousness where dreams and reality began to coincide.

Zecora pulled her head back, looking lovingly into her mate's eyes. His strong features showed a gently side of him that most mare had never seen as he leaned in for another kiss. Her hooves wrapped around his neck, drawing the stallion in for a tight embrace. Zecora felt every part of his body as it pressed against her own, softly beckoning to her.

The young zebra felt a smile starting to play on her lips. Her hoof started to drift downwards as she thought about her 'mystery stallion'. It didn't take long for her appendage to reach her slowly moistening lips, gently beginning to rub against her outer folds...

"I-I love you," Zecora murmured into his ear. She playfully nibbled on it as she began to rub her shapely body against his stallionhood, feeling his every being as his meat started to stiffen. The stallion didn't bother responding with simple words, instead meeting the beautiful zebra's lips with his own. She felt his tongue playing at the edge of her lips, and she opened her mouth to let him in. After a few moments, he pulled back from the passionate kiss.

"Is that a good answer?" the stallion asked, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Definitely."

With that, Zecora helped him line himself up, feeling the young stallion's member touching between her legs. She let out a soft gasp as his shaft started to enter her, gently placing almost half its length before retracting. By now, Zecora's pussy was starting to dribble a little bit of her mare juices, simply inviting him in for the main course.

Zecora was beginning to pant as her hoof played with her marehood. She closed her eyes, focusing solely on her imaginations as she pretended that her 'partner' was actually there, truly providing the warmth and intimacy she craved. Her hoof was getting a little damp from the pre-cum that was beginning to find its way out.

The stallion started grunting as he continued to thrust his hips. Zecora felt every movement as the engorged meat started sliding against the walls of her marehood. He nuzzled the zebra's mane, a small smile on his lips as his hips continued to gyrate.

"Ah!" Zecora cried out when he thrust especially deep inside of her, the tip of his penis almost reaching her cervix. He continued to pump away, slowly picking up the pace. Zecora started feel her vagina clenching at his dick, a sure sign that she was approaching her climax.

"Babe, I'm, ugh! Cumming soon. Should I-"

"Don't pull out, baby!" she replied, thrusting her own hips in time with his. Zecora wrapped her legs around his waist, starting to squeeze him tighter as if doing so would somehow make him thrust harder. "I want you to- Ah! Cum inside of...me."

Not being the kind of stallion to disappoint, he thrust especially hard, suddenly releasing his load into her snatch. That was more than enough to set Zecora off, and she felt as her own orgasm hit. The beautiful mare let out a loud cry as she felt the shockwaves of pleasure slam into her like a derailed freight train.

Zecora's hoof was rubbing vigorously against her clit when she had finally gotten off, and she arched her back as she came. Her hoof continued to rub up against her folds as she rode out the last of her orgasm, searching for those last few ounces of pleasure as she could. Once she was finally done, Zecora pulled her hoof away from her now soaking pussy.

With a sigh, the young zebra stood up. She gathered her sheets and placed them near the door to her hut, soon replacing them just like she'd been doing for years. With a forlorn sigh (a skill that she'd grown quite adept at), Zecora crawled back into her bed, lonely once more.

I can't keep living like this.

Oh, the rush, the excitement of newly opened packages of cloth! The amazing feeling that comes from designing the newest fashion was indescribable. Every new design, every new idea that could become a masterpiece was much akin to the joys of finishing first in a marathon. Rarity knew that every second counted, that perfect concentration was required to make that piece of amazing clothing that her dear clients had come to love and adore! She was willing to-

KNOCK!! KNOCK!! KNOCK!!

"Fuck!" Rarity cried out as her sewing needle jammed itself right into her hoof, causing a small trickle of blood to leak out all over her half finished dress. If it weren't for her immense patience and countless hours of anger management therapy, she'd probably kill the person who'd just dared to spoil her sport.

Keep it calm, just keep it calm...

After regaining her composure from counting to ten a few times, Rarity headed over to the door like a good mare. With a casual flick, she opened the door with her fake smile plastered on her face.

"How may I-Zecora? Are you okay?"

The mare in question looked almost downright pitiful, but did her best to put on a smile of her own. "If I could have a moment, please, I'd be very thankful...uh...geeze?"

Rarity was instantly be her side, putting a hoof up to her head to detect a fever. When the rhyming zebra stopped rhyming, it was a sure sign that something was up. When there didn't seem to be a temperature, Rarity relaxed a little.

"Come in, Darling! I was just finishing my latest project when...well, nevermind that! Come on in!" the white unicorn said, pulling her friend inside. She led Zecora over to the nearest table, already formulating a plan to cheer her up. "Would you like some tea, Darling?"

"Um...sure."

Something's definitely up, Rarity thought as she set the kettle above the stove. The white unicorn started to place the tea leaves in their respective cups before properly mixing the warm water and letting them mix properly. Soon enough, she had a proper brew prepared.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Rarity asked, a look of concern on her face as she sat down across from her striped friend. She passed Zecora her respective cup before taking a sip at her own. The forlorn zebra did the same, savoring the taste for a moment before a small smile started to creep onto her face.

"Mmm...Bai Mu Dan, if I'm not mistaken?" Zecora stated, seeming to recognize the taste. Rarity simply nodded, and they continued sipping their tea in silence, one waiting for the other to make the first move.

"So," Rarity started, "what brings you to the Carousel Boutique? Have you finally decided to take my advice and let me come up with something for those beautiful stripes?" The white unicorn seemed to get lost in a small reverie for a moment. "You do know that you'd look simply marvelous in black velvet, Darling?"

"Yes, about that...I'm...Rarity, I'm lonely."

That took her completely by surprise. Rarity knew that all mares had needs, but she never really expected to have one come to her about it. A large blush crept onto her face at the thought of one of her friends, a mare no less, giving her such a proposition. It'd come completely out of left field!

"Well, you see Darling, I...oh my."

What do I even say to that? Rarity wondered for a moment. She looks so sad, but I don't really swing that way. The alabaster mare spent a few moments weighing her options before coming to a conclusion. Best to nip this at the butt right in beginning, I suppose, she mused. Okay then.

"Zecora..."

"Yes?" the striped mare responded, seeming to perk up a bit at that. Rarity tried not to cringe at what she was going to have to say next.

"I-I don't really go for mares," she stated, her heart melting as she saw the surprised look on Zecora's face. "It's not that I personally have anything against you, Darling! I just don't swing that way, you see."

Zecora stared at her for a moment, before promptly bursting out into laughter. Rarity deadpanned for a moment, before it became suddenly obvious that she'd misread that. A deep crimson hue started to show through her very pale coat.

"Rarity, I wasn't talking about you!" Zecora laughed, suddenly in a much better mood. "I'm not the sort of pony that looks for, um, intimate relationships with my friends."

The fashionista let out a sigh of relief at that. With a smile, she looked back up at her friend. "So you're looking for advice then? Or maybe you want me to help set you up?"

"That would be great, yes."

Rarity started chuckling. "Okay then, but only if you let me play with your appearance. I simply cannot let such fabulousity pass up undeveloped!"

Zecora smiled pleasantly. Maybe things would end up just fine after all. The mare in front of her was certainly seeming to go out of her way for her, something that not many ponies were willing to do. It was nice and refreshing, and she was glad to have a friend in someone as generous as Rarity.

"So, Zecora, ever heard of a blind date?"

Oh my...