The Best of Short Stories

Prologue: In these snowy Crystal Mountains, there's a myth about the "Silver Robes of Yuki-ponna". It was often told to young fillies and colts to stymie them from wondering into the dangerous summit. A long time ago, a stunning mare clothed in a shining silver robe lived on this mountain. Every time she saw a handsome stallion go into the mountains, she would use a blizzard-like song to confuse him. This day, an unfortunate stallion stumbles into the calamity.

"I'll exchange this robe for your most precious belonging." Yuki-ponna said.

The foolish stallion was seduced by the snow-white fur under the silver robe, so he agreed.

After the stallion placed her silver robe into his saddle, he removed his item from his back and said,

"This gun is my most precious possession. Will you take it?"

She answered from behind him,

"No."

"Then, is it money? I have a bag of bits-"

"No."

"This hat?"

She answered with yet another indifferent response.

"No."

Nonplussed, the man asked,

"Then, what do you want?"

She hugged him from behind and said,

"I don't want those cold things."

Sounding more omnious, she continued..

"The thing I really want is... your warm..."

"bloody... heart!"

After the stallion's lifeless body was discovered, what was inside the bag wasn't a robe... but snow.

There was another version of "The Legend of Yuki-ponna" on this mountain. Indeed, it is a very tragic and riveting story.

During a stormy night, a stallion called Mokichi was hurrying home.

He saw a beautiful mare in a silver robe beside the road. The mare shyly looked at the man and said,

"I sprained my hoof in the snow and cannot go any further. Would it trouble you to take me home?"

Mokichi asked her where her home was. The mare silently pointed to the depths of the dark forest where there was no path to follow. Mokichi painstakingly carried her anyways with his saddle basket.

However, the snow got deeper the further they traveled, and there was no sign of a house anywhere. After a while, Mokichi asked the mare,

"Did I go the wrong way?"

The mare just nodded silently.

In reality, she was waiting... Waiting for the stallion to abandon her.

Yes, the mare was the Yuki-ponna, who eats the soul of stallions when they lose their strength.

Finally, Mokichi became slower and slower. His lips showed a slight motion.

"Miss..."

The mare had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and the corner of her mouth lifted a little.

"Yes, is something wrong?"

While panting, Mokichi tried hard to produce sound from his throat.

"Are you cold?"

Shocked, the Yuki-ponna was mesmerized and didn't know what to say. The stallion's surprising question was not what she expected. Mokichi continued moving foward with all his strength, enduring the extreme fatigue and cold.

"Are you comfortable in the basket?"

"..."

"Are you hungry?"

"..."

"Just bear it a little more."

"yes.." The mare finally responded softly.

"Hold on, please try to hold on."

The mare could only answer "yes" to him. The voice of the mare gradually became softer until it completely disappeared.

The worried Mokichi turned back, but found only snow and a silver robe in the basket and no sign of the mare.

-

-End of "The Legend of Yuki-ponna"-