>>42749161

>Zecora looked at him for a long moment, then gave a faint smile.
“Indeed, I did. But it is something not visible, yet felt deep within.”
>Anon blinked.
“...Another riddle?”
>Her eyes softened.
“Yes. What I wish to show you, Anon, cannot be grasped or held, only understood.”
>He tilted his head, confused but intrigued.
“All right. Let’s hear it, then.”
Zecora set down her cup. When she spoke, her voice fell into the cadence of something sacred.

“What blooms in silence, yet burns with fire,
No breath can hush, no heart will tire.
It chains the wild, yet breaks all bars,
Unseen by eyes, but felt in stars.”

>Anon blinked.
“...You’re definitely not talking about tea.”
>Zecora Chuckled.
“No. Not tea.”
>He leaned back, scratching his mane.
“Okay. So...something that grows in silence but burns... that’s a metaphor.”

“Most truths are.”

“Right, right.”
>He frowned, thinking aloud.
“Could be...hope? Or maybe...light? Fire?”
>Zecora tilted her head.
“And which of those burns without leaving ash?”

“Fire that doesn’t burn?”
>He groaned, rubbing his face.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
>Her smile widened, the faintest glimmer of amusement.
“You make it Fun.”

“All right, then. Something that breaks but is unseen...maybe...company?”
Her gaze softened.
“Colder.”
>Anon sighed, slumping a little.
“Well, I'm out of ideas.”
>Zecora said nothing. She only watched him, her eyes unreadable.
>Finally, she set down her cup, the sound barely audible over the crackle of the fire.
“Some riddles,”
> She said,
"They are not meant to be solved with words.”
He frowned.
“Then what?”

Zecora rose.