Come my friends do not tarry,
I know this forest might make you wary

I’ve lived for many moons under this canopy,
But I’m still here, not in a monsters belly

Ah, here is my house tucked inside this tree
Wipe your hooves when you come in, now where is that tea?

Feel free to help yourself to any of my treats
It might not be much, but they are my best eats!

Do you need anything before we begin?
It’s quite a long tale once we’re in

...

...

Now, my friend you have came
To here the story of ‘The One of No Name’

I laugh at what the history book said
For Ithemba is not nameless nor dead

The pony books mention her rarely, save for the books of sing
For to ponies the tale is quite embarrassing

But her tale lives on in zebra myth and song
And I knew her for quite a time long

Ithemba? Well she is royal and brave
As I mentioned all of Zebrican she saved!

Now stop asking questions, and let me start the story
And you will hear of Ithemba and all her glory

oOOo

A long time ago, Zebra’s roamed free
They lived in the wild, with hopes and dreams

While ponies fought about horns and wings
Zebras had never had any of those things

They were all stripped the same, black and white
They never fought for the things that ponies would fight

So while the zebras life could be tough
They knew that what they had was enough

Until the day that Ubel arrived...
And all the things that Zebras for strived

Were destroyed in fire and fear
And nothing could be done to save the from here

...

...

...

Ubel was a griffin from a far off land
A normal peasant with followers, a small band

The Zebras of Amanimane welcomed the stranger of eagles eyes
But that soon turned out to be their demise

Ubel saw the gold, the rivers and seed
And his black griffin heart was filled with greed

He enslaved the village of Amanimane
And forced them to work in mines in chains

Ubel gathered much riches and other such fairs
But his unshakable greed did not stop there

He attacked the villages and many a tribe fell
And some, to survive, other zebras would sell

Thus the zebras were hurt and Ubel seemed to win
But from these ashes, and new story would begin

Ithemba was born, but hidden away
Her parents hoped that free she could stay

They taught her music, and the Equss speech
And hoped that with her, Equestria was in reach

Ithemba learned pony ways, and before she was grown
Was sent off to find the worlds unknown

Many days and nights did she travel along
But her heart was steadfast and her spirit strong

With a drum on her back, and a water skin she went
Ready to face any trial foe or enchantment

Ithemba came to the River of Blood and Tears
Where a Rompo was terrorizing the Abada near

The Abada came to Ithemba and said
‘Help us, great zebra, or all of us shall be dead’

But Ithemba giggled and said to the tribe
‘Fear not, Abada, this Rompo is kind

Don’t be deceived by its odd looks
A Rompo mustn’t be judged by the cover of a book

Let me have an animal who died of age
And let me show you, how to a Rompo cage’

While some, the strangers words protested
They hurried and gave what Ithemba requested

Ithemba walked with courage to the beast
And called ‘Come here Romeo, and please have a feast

‘Show these Abada that Rompo don’t kill
But feast on things that died of ill’

The Rompo was hungry and begged for the meat
Ithemba pet and gave him a bit of the treat

‘Abada, next time look and see
Before you hate one who is quite kindly!’

Ithemba left the tribe with many gifts
Ready to start on her journey swift

oOOo

For many moons, Ithemba traveled across the plains
Her courage and wisdom, many lives did save

But soon a different delema she’d face
One of a different kind of place

‘Oh what a sight to greet me
Here at the Endless Salty Sea

The sun is setting, the waves roar
I must find a way to cross from the shore

But I have not a boat to sail
So what can I do? I mustn’t fail!

As she pondered this question, a white pony appeared
And came to Ithemba, to beg for help here

‘My zebra kin, please help me to learn
And help I will give to you in turn’

Ithemba asked what help she’d need
‘Oh, help me learn Equss please!

I have came from afar, my kingdom to claim
But I can’t rule if I don't speak language same’

Ithemba quickly agreed to teach
For passage to Equestrian beach

So the pony, zebra and the rest of the crew
Set off to sail the ocean blue

They sailed through calm and gentle breeze
And fought through the thunder of stormy seas

Ithemba taught Equss to the pony and soon
The pony could speak it better then Ancient Neighrune

But lo! Soon came p a shouting cry
Land Ho! Land Ho! We haven’t died!

The ship was docked at a place Manehatten
Pony and Zebra, no more the ship will sat in!

Ithemba’s capanion then told her a tale
Of a kingdom of goddesses who were of ail

Unable to live, they sent some away
In hopes that a new place they could stay

And it was then the pony released her disguise
And became an Alicorn, fear in Ithemba’s eyes

Her mane was blown, by aetherly winds
Her height was tall, her coat fair, but not thin

She looked and smiled at Ithemba’s fear
Said ‘Oh my little pony, please come near

I will not hurt you, I love to have fun
It’s not often I get to spend time with someone”

Ithemba looked up at the alicorn, her inside the same
‘Oh please, great ruler, please just tell me your true name

“I am Celestia, that’s all you must know
I am a young alicorn, and ruler of ponies those

This is my kingdom, This is my place
But they view me as ruler, from wings on my back to horn on my face

They think I’m eternal that I’ll always be
And that only two alicorns roam the world free

But you, Ithemba, I saw your plite
In my subject, I hope, help is in sight

Most have not known of Zebras from your far land
But we are a kind folk, and should give you hoof or hand

But now I must fly, to my palace once more
Or Starswhirl will find me not at his door

Farewell Zebra, good luck to you
Aenil cin’ll n- if you aim for the moon

Author's Note

The first part of an epic poem about a Zebra freeing her ponies.

Please tell me where I can improve, and as an added challenge, answer in rhyme!