A Bitter Brew for the Holidays [Visual]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Oh look, it's Zecora, whose hut has taken on a distinctly Nightmare Before Christmas aesthetic thanks to a few Hearth's Warming decorations being mixed in with her masks, cauldrons, and supplies. But Zecora herself looks sinister and ominous in the green light of a bubbling brew, and deeply serious indeed.]

I believe the time has come
To give you all a message from
A sinsiter place to us:
The depths of Tartarus.

For those of you who heard the story
That Celestia in all her glory
Told to us of the Pale Pony,
This may clear up uncertainty.

The Pale Pony -- the true one,
Not she who captured us for fun,
But the true figure of which legends speak
Is somepony we ought to seek.

For her existence may indeed be fact.
This new knowledge that we have lacked
May explain many mysteries
Littered throughout our histories.

She may be the one who hid the Tree
Which bore the Elements of Harmony.
So she may not be quite on our side
But against one foe, we may be allied.

Keep this in mind and seek more clues.
This fight is one we must not lose.

Comments

[discorderly]

Okay, no, you were definitely the one who asked if I could block her influence over a dead pony! You're the baiter!

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

'Calice' was the 'she' in that!
Try to catch up to where I'm at.
Calice blocks the Pale Pony's effect
Remove that and I expect
A pony could reach the Pale Pony
With a death, perhaps temporarily.

[discorderly]

...I think there's a fair chance you're actually going to kill somepony. I want veto privileges.

[Because he suspects at least one of his friends would volunteer to test this. Twilight.]

Also, I think we should give the Pale Pony a proper name, if she's too rude to introduce herself. Let me consult Pinkie Pie's list... [He poofs up a scroll and starts reading through it. Notably, none of Pinkie's nicknames for Cálice were in any way flattering.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Somepony might die temporarily.
If I have any doubt, I'll try it first on me.

[Zecora is of Discord's opinion on this. Twilight would be the first to take the risk, if a risk it was. But if the potion is Zecora's to make, it is hers to distribute, and she won't put anypony's life at risk that isn't hers.]

As for the name
Her title is her fame
Naming her will tempt
Familiarity, thus contempt.

[discorderly]

Mmmm-hm, mmmm-hm...

[Doing it anyway~]

That sounds fair. Do let me know when you're ready for that, my little guinea pig, and we'll see what we can do~

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[He still needs so much work. Sometimes it boggles even a zebra's mind.]

And in the meantime
Shall I teach you to rhyme
In a more pleasant way
Than what you hated today?

[discorderly]

Why, Zecora~ How forward!

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Why it is plain to see
You need help desperately!

[discorderly]

Oh my~

Should I change into something more comfortable?

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Zecora rolls her eyes, amused.]

You will wear what you want
Be it casual dress or clothes that flaunt.

[discorderly]

[Discord snaps his fingers and changes into a jumpsuit made of peacock feathers.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

If ever a suit was made for you--
That one was, it is true.

[How did she never realize that a peacock is practically Discord's totem animal before? It makes so much sense!]

[discorderly]

Well of COURSE! You could hardly expect anyone else to pull this off!

[Strut strut]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Easy to say, but can you prove
Only you can maintain that groove?

[That's right, Discord, Zecora is challenging your swag.]

[discorderly]

How positively daring, Zecora. Very well...

[Poof! Now they're both in the middle of town square, standing on DDR pads with a screen hovering in front of them.]

...DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE-OFF~!!!

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Wait, what.]

[Zecora doesn't even recognize the screen in front of her, let alone the pad beneath her.]

If I'm to be part of your sinning
Then explain from the beginning!

[discorderly]

It's a DANCE-OFF! Didn't I just say that?

[And it's already going. At least, Discord is. Watch those feet fly!]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Not one to be rushed, Zecora takes a moment to assess the situation -- which, between Discord's antics and her own observations, make the goal obvious enough. As soon as she determines the basic idea behind this setup...]

[Well, Zecora not only has four legs to his two, but her sense of balance is so good she routinely meditates upside-down on a narrow pole for relaxation. And a zebra who lives her life with a rhyming flow in her head knows a thing or two about a beat.]

[Discord may find himself with a sudden challenge on his mismatched upper appendages.]

[discorderly]

[Luckily, Discord can just GROW MORE APPENDAGES

IT'S NOT CHEATING IF EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO DO IT]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Yes it is. But he doesn't have to worry too much -- that pause Zecora needed to adjust and comprehend pretty much guarantees his victory, try her best thought she might.]

[discorderly]

[It might if the game ever ended.








jk the game ends when their combined scores get too high and the screen explodes. Discord's going to be flying away from the explosion on a skateboard. Zecora can do what she wants.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[With supreme zebra dignity, Zecora pulls up the hood of her cloak and begins the gratuitously unnecessary walk back to her hut in the forest.]

What a shock, that he is so conceited
He'll enjoy the challenge, but not be defeated.