A Hearth Warming Memory

by Comet Burst

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Zecora, Sad, Other, Romance, Apple Bloom
Length: 6532

Zecora tells Applebloom a tale about a special zebra from long ago.

Sit right on down and I'll tell you
Of a tale old and true,
About two zebras madly in love
Until one left for the stars above.
He wanted to marry and to live
With her, all his love to give.
On this day, many years past
He lived and breathed his last.

Published 2012-12-13 22:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-26 05:00:09 UTC

The First Memory

The sun sat veiled by a thick layer of grey clouds as Applebloom trotted to the fringe of the Everfree Forest. It was cold and snow was falling, but Applebloom didn't mind. She wore her favorite red ribbon, a thick brown jacket and a red scarf to match the ribbon. Her family was quite busy today with Big Mac clearing snow, Applejack doing something with Twilight Sparkle and Granny Smith visiting a friend. Sweetie wouldn't come out of the Carousel Boutique and Scootaloo was nowhere to be found. So, with nothing else to do, Applebloom decided to visit her other friend, Zecora.

A large tree similar to Twilight's library glowed faintly in the distance. Applebloom approached the front door and knocked. Oddly, there was no answer from the resident zebra and Applebloom knocked again. With no answer again, Applebloom pushed open the door to Zecora's home. It was warm and cozy inside with the cauldron bubbling away as it normally did. However, the herbalist was nowhere to be seen. Confused, Applebloom shouted "Hello?" and heard a crash from another room. Startled, Applebloom ran to the noise to find herself in Zecora's bedroom.

Zecora herself hunched over near the window, frantically trying to gather something and said "Applebloom, what a surprise! I'm sorry I didn't see you coming with my eyes." Applebloom grinned widely and said "Hey Zecora, what'cha up to over there?" The familiar striped mohawk of the zebra popped up from the floor and turned to face Applebloom. She gasped when she saw Zecora smiling weakly at her. Her eyes were red and puffy and her hair was wet. She held a piece of parchment in her mouth that looked extremely old.

"What's wrong, Zecora?" Applebloom asked with concern "You been crying?" Zecora's weak smile faltered into a frown and a sigh. She gingerly placed the parchment on the bed and her eyes got watery again. "Young sweet Applebloom, that is the most precious thing in this room. By chance or fate you would come here, to give this poor zebra a listening ear. Do you wish to know why my tears do fall? Then I shall tell you a tale older than them all."

Applebloom gave her a quizzical look, but Zecora motioned her to herself. Applebloom trotted over and Zecora flipped the parchment over. Applebloom stared intently at it, admiring the artwork. On it were two zebras, both young and smiling at each other. The one on the left was bigger and more muscular than the one on the right, who had a familiar mohawk and blue eyes. "Is that you?" She blurted out and Zecora nodded.

"A long time ago and far away, this picture was made on this day." Applebloom's eyes fell over the taller and muscular zebra who she guessed was a stallion. He had deep red eyes that showed warmth and comfort and a thin scar on his front leg. He had a smaller, but no less majestic mohawk as well as a necklace that looked awfully familiar. It was gold with a deep purple amethyst. She looked over to Zecora and said "Is that the same necklace he's wearin'?" Zecora nodded again and Applebloom asked "Who is he? Your special somepony?"

Zecora's eyes misted over again and she nodded a third time. "His name was Xavier, a nobody and a commoner. While I do not often tell this, I'm a princess. Not like Celestia and Luna you see, but only in my country. I left for a new life to forget, a pony I never should have met. He was gentle and kind, with strong muscles and a smart mind. He protected and cared for me, of that you can plainly see. He was my special somepony, but my family did not agree." She turned away and stared out the window, tears silently running down her cheeks as Applebloom watched her. She had never seen Zecora like this, nor had ever known she was a princess, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"Can you tell me more about him?" She asked sweet. Zecora turned to face the filly staring at her and smiled. "Of course I would but be warned, this is a tale of woe and scorn. You see, he is not here today. Under a special tree is where he lays."

Zecora helped Applebloom out of her jacket and had her sit on the bed with a cup of hot apple cider as she gathered other items for the story. "I speak in rhymes, this is true," She said as the zebra returned to the room "But this certain zebra spoke in haiku. I may not be able to say exactly what he said, but try not to worry your little head. This story begins long ago, in a place I used to know..."

The sun shined brightly over the dusty ground as the tall straw like grass waved gently in the breeze. Not a single cloud hung in the sky. In a clearing of the grass sat several huts made of mud and straw. A large amount of zebras weaved in and out of the huts, fillies jumping in the grass and adults carrying baskets and food. Some carried wooden spears with metal tips that were ornately decorated and wore big headdresses made of straw and feathers. It was just another day to them working and milling about.

A teenage zebra walked along the village pathway, looking at the baskets of bean and pepper sellers as well as the iron busts of the sculptors. Gold and shiny gems filled another basket and the zebra stopped. Her brilliant blue eyes scanned the gems and stopped on a necklace of gold with a purple gem centered in it. The owner saw her and said "Do you like that? A good buy it is. The crafter of that was truly a wiz." The young zebra mare eyed it carefully and said "I have no money as you can plainly see. It was just my curiosity that got the better of me." She gave the older zebra a genuine smile and said "Thank you for your curtesy, but I just wanted to see." She walked off as a young zebra stallion walked by and turned his head to watch her. His deep red eyes followed her magnificent form as she disappeared into the crowd and he approached the vendor.

"I am curious. What did that mare look at here? Was it that necklace?" He asked in a deep voice. The jewel seller gave him a sideways look and said "Why do you speak so, stranger? I have not heard talk like that even when I was in a manger." The stallion furrowed his eyebrows and said "My speech matters not. Why do you say this to me? A zebra I am." The stall owner blinked twice and said "Do not be sore friend. It was not my intention to offend. I would sell to you all the same, so what is your name?"

"I am Xavier. I would like to buy that there. The purple necklace." the zebra stallion replied. The merchant picked up the necklace and said "That mare liked this as well. I think that is a good reason for this to sell. It will make a fine gift, you see. So I will set the price at two hundred fifty three." The stallion's brow furrowed again and he said "I don't have that much, but I can pay you in time. Would you please hold it?" The merchant nodded and the stallion started to walk away but stopped. "Do you know her name? That beautiful mare I saw. Is she important?"

The merchant grinned slightly and said "Her name is Zecora, a mare who studies fauna and flora. She is a princess, daughter of the mare Umaru and the village chief, Tichandres. She is coming of age soon, but has yet to find a stallion to make her swoon. Do you hope to win her heart? This gift might be a good place to start." The stallion remained silent, but his eyes were staring intently at the necklace. He turned his head in the direction that Zecora, that stunning mare, had walked off in. After thanking the merchant, he trotted off with the determination to buy that necklace.

The Second Memory

Applebloom sat forward on the bed and said "So what happened next? Did ja finally meet him?" Zecora put down the necklace and said "I met him not long after that, a time when he and his father had a pact. To start a life anew, they became farmers and food they grew." She reached out and plucked one of her props from the desk she had. It was an unusual shaped fruit to Applebloom, a purple pear shaped hardened lump. "Fig trees was their primary stock, which put my village in a shock. They were an unusual pair, speaking a way we wouldn't dare."

Applebloom immediately perked up and grinned. "So he owned a farm jus' like mah family!" Zecora nodded and said "I knew of this fruit new potions could be derived, so I went to his farm and when I had arrived, I found him trying to get rid of a bee's hive..."

The well worn road crunched under Zecora's hooves as she trotted casually down it. A wooden fence only waist high ran along one side of the road, blocking off a field of straw and wheat. On the other side where Zecora was walking stood several rows of tree saplings, each no more than five feet tall. Already they had wonderful bushels of green leaves as well as what Zecora had come for, small purple fruit hanging from the branches. The elder of the house was in town, but he had told Zecora his son was tending to the trees. She had assumed he was out here when a loud cry confirmed her suspicion.

"Ouch you pesky bees! Why must you sting me like this? Go live somewhere else!" came a deep voice. A second later, a lithe and tall zebra stallion bounded out from the trees with a couple of bees buzzing after him. Zecora couldn't help but chuckle as the stallion ran around, trying to dodge their singers while at the same time swating them away with his tail. Finally, the bees flew away, leaving a very flustered stallion to grumble incoherently. It was then he noticed the mare standing near where he was and turned almost bright red.

"Oh my great goodness." he said in shock "I did not see you right there. How much did you see?" Zecora offered her best smile and said "Only enough to make me giggle. Your antics made my ribs tickle." The stallion sighed and drew himself up. "Welcome to my farm. My name is Xavier, miss. May I ask for yours?" Zecora gave him a dignified look and said "My name is Zecora, so you know. I am here to buy some of what you grow."

"Ah yes, he did say, that royalty would be here, to buy some ripe figs." He said recalling his fathers words. The red instantly fading from his complexion, Xavier swept his hoof over to the rows of trees and said "I'm sorry to say this, but the hive is right through there. Where the ripe fruit is." Zecora merely chuckled again and said "I would like to see you try again, but I will not torment a friend. A hive is easy to move you know, you just have to make it feel cold enough to snow. When the sky greys and the wind starts to blow, away the bees will go." She put her muzzle into a leather bag she was carrying and pulled out several dandylions in her hoof. "Why don't you show me where they are? The bees hive cannot be far." she said.

"It is right this way. Past the series of young trees. Up high in a bough." Xavier replied and led Zecora into the fig forest. It was quite nice in the fragrant forest until the hum of angry bees began to echo around them. Xavier stopped suddenly and held Zecora back with a powerful forehoof. He nodded upwards and she saw a rather large hive of wax hanging from a fig tree. The tree was larger than the saplings around it, but the hive was clearly too big for the branch it hung on. In fact, the tree was bent over to one side due to the weight of the hive.

"We kept the bees here, to pollenate the fig trees. Now it is no good." he spoke in a hushed tone to her. Zecora gazed up at the tree, seemingly forgetting what she was about to do until Xavier cleared his throat. It got her attention as well as the bees. They buzzed angrily and Xavier's pupils shrunk. He turned and ran as a large column of bees left the hive and pursued him, causing him to curse in very creative ways. Zecora merely laughed at him until the bees turned their attention to her. As they began to swarm towards her, Zecora held out the dandylions and closed her eyes. She blew gently on them and a familiar sensation overtook her. She felt a surge of energy, a clenching in her stomach and a tingling in her hoofs. She was casting a spell through the dandylions.

Slowly, a cold breeze began to blow, causing the bees to lose be less coherent. The wind blew faster and the bees began to scatter. It took about twenty seconds for all the bees outside the hive to clear, all still chasing Xavier, and the bees inside the hive began to leave as well. In a minute, all the bees flew off to another part of the fig tree forest and Zecora released her spell. By then, Xavier had trotted back to her, sporting several new red welts on his flank and back. She smiled to him in a friendly way and said "All is well now. The bees have moved on to the pasture of the cow."

Xavier didn't hear what she had said. He was too enraptured by this stunning mare. Her lovely blue eyes sparkled in the light and he didn't know if it was the stings, the running around or the cool breeze, but he was suddenly uncomfortably warm. Catching himself, he nodded to her and said "Thank you Zecora. The figs can now be gathered. Would you like a drink?" Zecora smiled brightly at him and said "A drink would be nice. Do you have any tea rich in spice?" Xavier smiled brightly and led Zecora out of the forest, talking with her the whole way back to his house. They drank tea and chatted for the rest of the day, prompting her father to send a guard to check on her at sundown. Xavier gathered up some of the finest figs he could find and saw Zecora off. As she walked away, she turned to look at him and smiled once again. The stallion was too far away for her to see, but he was blushing beyond belief.

The Third Memory

Zecora sighed heavily as she placed the fig back down. Applebloom tilted her head to the side and said "Well why'd he get ridda the bees? Applejack always says their good for tha apple trees..." Zecora nodded and said "The bees were not an issue anymore, but a tragic event came to his door. You noticed that scar on his leg? He got that when a crook pretended to beg." The zebra mare then picked up a rather milky white stone and stared at it. "He almost couldn't walk but fought back. Instead of winning, though, the strength he did lack. He was robbed, beaten and left for dead, so my father put a bounty on the muggers head. Medicine and care he needed, so to aid him I proceeded."

"Wow." Applebloom said "He musta been a good friend." Zecora continued to stare at the stone and said "When he was healthy again, nothing else interesting happened until the month of ten. I was with him on that night when the mugger came back and gave us a fright..."

"That opal is nice. It will work well for your spell. Of that I am sure." Xavier said as he walked with Zecora on the road leading to the village. The moon hung high in the sky, casting its eerie light over the grass around them. Zecora was nervous, but felt safe with Xavier. By herself, Zecora wasn't much of a fighter, but Xavier was a stallion trained at a young age to fight. While he had lost to that mugger several months ago, he was still a strong and tough stallion.

The grass rustled unassumingly as the pair walked by. Zecora's head scanned the savannah without much interest, but a strong sense of unease crept over her. She felt a set of eyes watching her, but she dismissed it since her people had instinctual paranoia from when the lions used to hunt them. It had been years since the last encounter with the lions, but her people never forgot the brutality they were shown. Little did she know that someone was watching them.

Crouched in the tall grass, a young lion stalked the two zebras. He was about to come of age and had to make his first kill to be accepted into the lion society. He had followed the zebra he had tried to kill earlier, the taller one of the two. He thought it would be an easy task to trick the zebra and to leave the town, but the zebra was stronger than he thought. Even wounded, he had still managed to break the lions nose and left foreleg. Much more cautious, he eyed the second zebra. It was obviously a she due to her smaller size, which would make it easier to subdue her. All he had to do was to get the male away from her.

As they walked along, the lion continued to stalk them, waiting for the right moment. Finally, the two stopped and the lion crouched lower. Zecora looked up at the moon along with Xavier, taking in the wonder of a sky filled with stars and a brilliant full moon to match. "I wonder if the stars look like this, in other places our people might have missed." Zecora said, pulling away Xavier's attention. In the moonlight, the sight of Zecora made his heart feel like ice was pumping through it. She was beautiful, wise and a great voodoo practicer, all the makings of a fine mare. Looking away, he kicked at the ground, sending a rock into the grass. Without warning, a loud roar came from the grass as a lion burst from it and bounded towards the pair.

Zecora screamed and skittishly backed away as the lion bored down on her, terror clearly seen in her eyes. The lion leaped at her, eyes full of hunger and claws extended when a dark blur ran in front of her. She had barely seen the familiar silhouette of Xavier when he reared up and kicked his hind legs, smacking the lion in the head and ribs. The lion fell backwards and rolled away as Xavier turned to face it. "Zecora, please go!" he shouted, not taking his eyes off the lion "It is too dangerous here! I will fight him off." The lion rose to its feet and roared again at Xavier, who didn't even flinch as Zecora shrunk.

Slowly, the lion circled the two zebras, constantly eyeing Zecora as Xavier never dropped his stare. Positioning himself between the lion and Zecora, Xavier could not only better defend her, but could also anticipate the lions moves. The beady black eyes of the lion locked with Xavie's iron gaze and the lion charged. Reacting quickly, Xavier moved forward and slid onto his left side, hooves out, and caught the lion on his underbelly and gave a powerful push, sending him sprawling into the grass. Zecora ran over to Xavier and huddled next to him as he rose to his hooves. "A lion here?! Why is he anywhere near?" Zecora asked in a frightened tone.

"They hunt us zebra, in villages to the north, around my hometown." Xavier responded hunching over and watching the grass. "They hunt us for sport, they do not care who they take. They do not go south." The grass rustled to their right and the lion burst from the wall of grass, claws and teeth bared. Xavier reacted by pushing Zecora away and the lion tackled him. The two rolled away before Xavier kicked him away again, then running over to Zecora. He only made it halfway before the lion was about to leap again. He stomped his front hooves and spun to face the lion, face unreadable, and a wall of stone shot up as the lion flew towards him, crushing the underside of the lions jaw. The lion recoiled back and Xavier ran to Zecora, still stunned, and pulled out the opal from her bag. He spun to face the lion but instead had a sharp pain cut across his right foreleg.

He felt the claws tear at his skin and muscles, feeling like a heated iron serrated razor dragging across him. He yelped and fell as his leg lost all its strength to support him and another claw swiped the air where his head had just been. Focusing through the pain, Xavier threw up his left foreleg and caught the lions throat as a set of razor sharp teeth snapped shut. The angry look of the lion snarling down at him caused his heart to beat faster and his mind to race as he dodged claws and teeth.

The opal was still in his mouth as he rolled around and avoided further bodily harm. He knew of a spell he could weave through the stone, but a swarm of bees descended upon the lion, causing him to roar in even more anger. Batting his claws at the bees instead of his prey, Xavier took advantage of the distraction and spit the opal at the lions forehead. He felt the abnormal rush of air behind it as the rock flew at a breakneck pace and struck him dead in the center of his forehead. A loud smack and a second of recoil later, the lion began to fall over in a dazed state. By the time he hit the ground, the lion was already unconscious.

Xavier tried to stand, but the warm gush of blood from his leg and another hoof held him down. Zecora appeared over Xavier, clearly stunned and very much impressed. She said something, but the loss of blood made her sound muffled. The last thing Xavier managed to see was his beautiful mare silhouetted against a clear moon before he felt sleep overtake him.

The Fourth Memory

Applebloom's eyes widened as Zecora put down the white rock. "So what didja do?" She asked worriedly. Her bright green eyes never wavered as she followed the zebras mohawk back and forth as Zecora paced. "Badly wounded, Xavier was. Not like any injury that can be cured with sweets and hugs. He couldn't walk for four months, and his farm didn't go without any bumps. His father couldn't sell and harvest the figs together, and he had no sister or brother. However, he and his farm did recover, like a child with a caring mother. It was then I saw him, not as just a friend, but a strong d handsome stallion with a will unwilling to bend."

Applebloom's eyes widened yet again and she said "So did he finally ask you to be his special somepony?" A thin film of tears came over Zecora's eyes and she picked up another prop, this time the picture she had shown Applebloom earlier. "It was after this picture was made. Then he asked on this very day, a question for which a terrible price he paid..."

Zecora laughed melodiously as her and Xavier walked along the stalls in the village. She had never felt this comfortable taking a stroll here since most of the merchants tried to introduce her to their sons or offered her free items. Being the chief's daughter gave her some special privileges, such as instantly being trained to become a shaman and respect from everypony, but it also made her feel like an outcast from normal zebras. They were kind; but she could feel the scathing looks from behind and hear the mock courtesy in their voices. However, being with Xavier changed all of that. The story of him defeating a lion was still the talk of the village months later, causing him to be the center of attention.

Xavier, for his part, was immensely happy just to be around Zecora. After protecting her from a lion, she now hardly ever left his side. She never stopped thanking him and had more recently gotten closer to Xavier, doing things like coming by every day if he didn't, blushing at his complements and even making excuses to be around him. His leg had healed nicely due to the shaman Umaru, who was also Zecora's mother, and his figs now sold like crazy due to the newfound healing properties they had. Xavier had always liked Zecora, but today he determined he was going to tell her. He had, not to her knowledge, bought the amethyst necklace and was going to give it to her when he asked her to date him.

Today was a special day for the zebras since it was their summer festival. There would be dancing, music and food as well as fireworks made by the shaman. Xavier had planned everything out to ask Zecora by spending the day with her, finding a secluded spot and even arranging a meal. The only thing he didn't plan on was her answer which he prayed would be a yes. Once the day had started, there was no turning back or tweaking events. He was either going to end the day holding Zecora while watching the fireworks or never speak to her again. Determined to win her over, he paid for anything she could ever want from the stall owners.

The day seemed to be one fast paced blur to both Xavier and Zecora. All either of them could remember was the laughter, the odd sights and a couple of well cooked banana leaves. The sun had begun to set when the music started to play and a large bonfire came to life in the village square. The sounds of cheering and laughing zebras filled the air and Xavier along with Zecora lost themselves in the music and fun. In three hours, the mood slowed down enough to allow a calmer mood to set in, giving Xavier his chance to talk to Zecora.

On a small hill overlooking the village, the two zebras walked up and sat down. "My, that was a blast. I didn't expect it to go by that fast." Xavier smiled and said "I'm glad you're happy. It was really fun today. I have one more thing." he said, suddenly more nervous than anything. He smiled awkwardly and spun around, feeling his stomach clench in ways he could never imagine. It was the moment of truth, the minute he had waited a year and a half for.

Zecora tilted her head and gave him a funny look. He was clearly nervous, in a cute way of course, but it worried her. He had told her a long time ago he was from another tribe and she hoped he wasn't going to say he was leaving. Xavier fumbled around for with his gift, almost not even getting it out. The twisting in his stomach continued to cause him to wait, but after two seconds, Xavier steeled his will and squelched the twisting. This was happening.

He turned to face Zecora with the amethyst necklace in his mouth, grinning at her. She gasped loudly and raised a hoof to her mouth. He had gotten the reaction he was hoping for and pressed on. Xavier leaned in towards Zecora and laid the necklace on the ground, watching her magnificent blue eyes sparkle as the firelight caught them. Mustering up all his courage, Xavier took a deep breath and said "This gift is for you. It comes with a question too. Will you please be my..." Xavier took a deep breath, drawing up every reserve of willpower he had and continued.

"Would you please please be, my special somepony?"

His question caught Zecora off guard on two fronts. Clearly her mind was stunned by the question, but he had done something else. He had spoken in her dialect. It wasn't his usual form of speaking and, hearing it for the first time, made him sound like he would give up his heritage for her. She simply felt her cheeks burn as she blushed uncontrollably, but Xavier was making a face that calmed her. He had both eyes closed and was grimacing, as if he was preparing for her to hit him. She gingerly picked up the necklace and suddenly knew her answer. She slipped it on silently and reached towards him.

Xavier stood as still as a statue, his mind racing about how bad the question sounded. He hadn't said it like he practiced, he had said it too early and the list went on and on. He was bracing himself for the worst when a hoof touched his chin. Zecora's hoof slowly guided his face into an upright position and he wondered what she was going to do. A swift slap on the face was what he was expecting, but a soft pair of lips suddenly met his. His eyes flew open in shock to see Zecora wearing the necklace, her eyes closed and her muzzle against his.

Feeling his face catch on fire, Xavier straightened into a stiff board and didn't move, except for his lips as they reacted to Zecora's, until she broke away. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing those magnificent blue eyes and she smiled and blushed at the same time. "Was my answer clear? I couldn't think of another way without making you fear." she cooed to him. Xavier, still dumbstruck by the mare finally found his voice and said "I take that as yes? I'm not mistaken, am I? If I am, tell me." he replied with a shaky voice. Zecora laughed her wonderful laugh and moved in close again. "You are not wrong, or do I have to say it in a song?"

Zecora leaned in and kissed him again, this time Xavier wad expecting it. The both closed their eyes and Xavier wrapped his forelegs around his special mare, mind roaring with excitement. Everything had happened the way it was supposed to have happened. Neither one of them noticed the fireworks going off in the distance, or even the picture they had somepony draw earlier that day flutter out of Zecora's bag and rest on the grass.

The Fifth Memory

Applebloom sighed as she imagined the scenario Zecora had described. In her mind, it was easy to picture herself sitting on a hill at Sweet Apple Acres with a handsome stallion who had just asked her to be his marefriend. She couldn't picture who the stallion was, but she ran through the entire scene. It was more than enough to put a dreamy stare on her face. Zecora noticed her expression and, to Applebloom's surprise, chuckled. "Hey, what's so funny?" Applebloom asked.

Zecora grinned to her and set down the picture. "I looked just like that after that day, my mind foggy and words were hard to say. I thought of him everyday, and to see him I went out of my way. Xavier always made me happy, to say I loved him would fit aptly. I became the talk of the town, but soon that was reason to frown. You see, my little pony, my culture would not accept him and me. He was from another tribe and I was a princess, and that was made clear by my father Tichandres ." Applebloom tilted her head and replied "What was wrong with that?"

Zecora lowered her head and replied "In my culture, Applebloom, a princess must choose from her tribe a groom. To not do so is against our most ancient laws, so as to not make one tribe too tall. They all must be equal like our gods, and the probability of a princess falling for one not of her tribe are very long odds. Xavier was different though, and after four months to my father he did go." Her hoof traveled to yet another object an picked it up. It was not beautiful now that it had dried out, but it was a large maroon flower. "When a stallion presents a mare this flower, it means that to marry her is within his power. Before she gets it, however, the stallion must first get the approval of her father. I remember the night he asked, and my fathers unhappiness could not be masked..."

Tichandres paced back and forth angrily in his family room. A fire roared in the pit at the center of the room and opposite of him stood Xavier, standing proud despite the chieftain's anger. In four months since he had first kissed Zecora, he had finally gotten the courage to ask her to marry him. It was not an easy question to ask, but his affection for Zecora and hers for him gave him the confidence to ask her father for her. Xavier thought he was nervous asking Zecora to be his marefriend, but asking her father dwarfed that question by a long way.

"Why do you wish to dishonor me?" Tichandres asked with his barely concealed anger edging his voice "I took you into this tribe and you were free. Free to do anything not amiss, but you had to go and do this. My only daughter, my heir and is in love with a zebra from another tribe." He continued to pace and Xavier spoke "My great dear chieftan, I'm a zebra all the same, I only serve you." Tichandres snorted and bit back to him "You say you serve me, but I can see, your loyalties lie only to Kialandi. My enemy and my rival, your question here is trivial."

At those words, Zecora burst into the room with Umaru in tow, tears streaming from her eyes. "How dare you say that father!" she yelled as she ran to Xavier "He has done nothing to upset your honor!" Tichandres glared angrily at Zecora and said "You dishonor me now too, by this interruption most impromptu. Get out of here, Zecora, I must speak privately to this stallion you adore." Umaru trotted over to Tichandres and cooed "My love, this anger is not needed. Why is this distrust so deeply seeded?" Tichandres turned to Umaru and said "Do not try to soothe me with soft words and outside logic. You both know that is not the topic. Our laws say he cannot marry Zecora and that is final. I will not be swayed by two young zebras in denial." He cast his most pointed look at Xavier and said "My answer is no. Now please go." Xavier at once bowed his head and left without another word. Zecora burst into sobs and ran into her room, leaving both Umaru and Tichandres alone.

The great stallion gave a large sigh and looked at the floor, feeling his anger dissolving away into regret. Umaru put her hoof on his back and said "My sweet, I know the laws and rule, but did you have to be so cruel? He may not be from our tribe, but you have yourself about him felt a good vibe. He is perfect for our daughter and a proper heir to your title, so why must you be as cold and hard as metal?"

"It's not like that, my dear." Tichandres replied "It is not where he's from I fear. Its the other chiefs and the gods I fear, so my daughter cannot marry the stallion so dear. I want her to be happy as any father would, but I cannot condone this as I should." Tichandres then hung his head, defeated. His precious daughter, a mare he cared for more than anything else, was crying. The situation was impossible to outmanuver and Zecora would hate him for that. Wishing to the chief deity, Tichandres wanted his daughter to be happy.

Umaru saw her husbands defeated look and felt herself agreeing with him. As the previous chief's daughter, she knew how hard it was for him to deal with this. Umaru herself fell in love with a zebra not of her tribe and thought of every possible way to marry him, but he sadly died in a lion attack on his village. She wept bitterly after that and even went to meet family he had in the village and found Tichandres. He was cousin to the stallion and therefore knew him all too well, using the saw charm the stallion had used on her. When Umaru finally was proposed to, her father brought her in and apologized about not letting her marry the first stallion. Tichandres also had vowed that his child would never suffer the same fate as Umaru and his cousin, but sadly he was being forced to eat his words.

Umaru reached a hoof over and lifted Tichandres's head, staring deep into those bright green eyes of his. "My dear husband, you do not know it but there is still one plan. Our daughter can still marry that boy, but of such plan you must be coy. If she left the village and all the Marengeti, her life with him would then be steady. I had a plan like this once before, but fate graced my door. I met you and it was then I knew, this plan was not meant for me to do." Tichandres gave her a sideways look and said "You suggest she runs away? Are you mad? What would the other chieftans say?" Umaru shook her head gently and smiled. "If she runs away, it dishonors herself and not you, so what could they say from their point of view?" she replied and Tichandres gave a large grunt. "They would call me weak and a fool, someone who is merely just a tool."

Still staring at him, Umaru replied "But your daughter would be happy and you she would adore. Could you ask for anything more?" Tichandres dropped his gaze and knew she was right. What else could he want than his daughters love and happiness? Umaru noticed this and leaned in closer. "I... I guess you're right." he said weakly "I will go talk to her tonight."