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Prize Poem for the Draw Marchhare contest.
Cherry Mystic's hooves raised little clouds of dust,
The mission she'd taken, a sacred trust.
The road she was on was hot and dry
The dangerous plains of T'ang were past any eye.
She'd fought off gryphons and deadlier foes
To fulfill the mission she chose.
Passing through the Everfree's hidden ways
Had brought her here after many days.
Everywhere she looked the ponies were strange.
And she saw no safe open range.
There were ponies with wings, flying the air,
On the ground, normal ponies and unicorns everywhere!
The herds and bands of the ponies from T'ang
Needed a place that was safe from weather and fang.
This land she'd found had no place to graze,
Many strange ponies met her gaze.
Behind her she heard harness creak and jingling bell,
Gaily decked ponies, the wagons they dwell.
Several bright caravans passed her by
When a black unicorn caught her eye.
Her tail and mane were white as snow
And with tooled harness she made a show.
She looked at Cherry with eyes that were kind,
Called to the others, “Harness adjust! I'll drop behind!”
The pretty painted caravan pulled to the side
And the unicorn invited Cherry with pride,
“Black Lotus, my name. If you pull with me
Feed and water I'll give you free.
Another harness I have for when Father is here
It will fit you, never fear.”
Cherry Mystic was hungry and thirsty indeed
So for the promise, she agreed.
Side by side they began to haul,
Black Lotus set the pace with a cheerful call.
Regarding her guest, she said, “You are not from here.
What you tell, I shall give ear.”
Cherry Mystic gave careful thought
Of what to say and what she should not.
“I am from the dangerous plains of T'ang
Where ponies suffer from claw and fang
And the weather there is another foe
Destroying our crops before they grow.
I was seeking a safe place for my herd to be
But this land has no room for me.”
Black Lotus smiled and said, “You pull more
Than your share of this drayage chore.
Spend time with us, with me you can stay.
More than work, Rom love to play.
“When we camp tonight, about the fire,
The Rom will want your tale until you tire!”
That evening, for dinner, the Rom made bread
With treats and ate every shred.
They took turns with story, or music and some danced.
Cherry Mystic, watching, was entranced.
Cherry's eyes and ears were filled with fun
But her hooves of activity had none.
Almost without thought, for something to do,
Cherry began “slight of hoofing” a coin or two.
Silence fell, all eyes on her, their attention warm,
As the Rom watched Cherry Mystic's hooves perform.
Cherry looked about in clear surprise
At the admiration in those watching eyes.
“I am sorry, I have much to learn.
I did not mean to take some pony's turn.”
Laughter galed about the fire
“You hold the stage at our desire!”
“To us, indeed this is something new!
We have never seen these things you do!
Magic, for us comes from the horn
Of a well skilled Unicorn!
We see those coins come and go
And never have seen such a show!
“You can do wonders with a coin or two,
We really wish to see what else you do!
Coming up soon is another Fair!
Would you be willing to work with us there?”
Cherry Mystic heard them and smiled.
“This? It is but the play of a child!
“In Mystic Effects I have a degree!
I believe that you will like what you will see!”
She held out an empty hoof, showing both sides
And pulled out a scarf and more besides.
Then from her hooves a deck appeared.
Cards fanned and flowed and disappeared.
Cherry shrugged and offered, “I can do far more,
Many a thing that ponies adore
But I need to make both part and prop.
For that sort of work, I need a shop.”
Rom, leader of Rom, said quietly, “We have many a tool
If you can teach such work in a small school.”
Cherry thought carefully, her host not to offend,
“This wanderer your ponies were the first to befriend.
I would teach gladly if I were going to stay
But I need to find a place where my band won't be prey.
To find them safety is the thing that I must
It is both my duty and a sacred trust.
“I have been seeking a place for them to be
I may need to try again the hidden ways of the Everfree.”
Black Lotus bowed to Cherry and bent her head,
“You have looked in the wrong places,” she said.
“The lands are full with not a doubt
But there is another route.
Eight hundred years since we came to this land.
It was full then, as it is now, no place for a refugee band.
And yet we are here and and found us a place
And we managed to settle our whole race.
Your ponies have room, if they will share our loads,
With us here, On Equestria's Roads.”
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