RWBY Christmas Tales Anthology
The Grey Horse
Ren: Nora! The hot chocolates are almost ready!
Nora: Coming Ren... and I got a surprise for youuuu!!!
Ren: Oooh, can't wait. *light chuckle*
Ren stirred and stirred until the pieces of chocolate melted into the milk. The smell was absolutely delightful. He grabbed the saucepan and carefully poured it into the mug. Meanwhile, the sound of sleigh bells reached his ears and he turned to find Nora dressed in a reindeer onesie, with a big grin on her face.
Nora: So whaddya think? Huh? Huh?
Ren: You look absolutely adorable, honey.
Nora: Awww, you're too kind.
Ren: So what are we thinking for this year's Christmas movie?
Nora: Hmmmm. *circles Ren's chest* Home Alone?
Ren: *smiles* Good choice.
Nora and Ren snuggled on the sofa together as they started the movie. Ren felt nothing bliss. Hot chocolate in one hand, his girlfriend close to him, and a nice warm blanket with a fun Christmas movie. There was nothing that could spoil it.
That was until the sound cloven hooves came from outside. Ren glanced and saw something strange parading outside their house. It was very tall and covered in a long, black robe. Peering through was its head, resembling a horse's skull. Immidiately, Nora leaped from rhe chair.
Nora: Grimm!!!
Ren: No, no, no. Hold it. It's not a Grimm.
Nora: Huh? It has a skull face and it's covered in black! What else could it be?!
Ren: *opens the window*
Nora: What the hell are you doing?!
The horsehead turned to the couple, its eyes glowing bright green. It opened its jaws and sang in a soft voice.
Horsehead: 🎵Well here we come, innocent friends, well here we come innocent friends.
To ask for permission, to ask for permission, to ask for permission.🎵
The horsehead began to sway and trot on the spot.
Horsehead: 🎵If we don’t get permission, we’ll tell you by song. If we don't get permission, we'll yell you by song.
What our wishes are, what our wishes are, what our wishes are.🎵
At that moment, Ren began clapping his hands in sequence to the trots.
Ren: 🎵Oh go, see your road is open. Oh go, swe your road is open.
Your road is open, your road is open, your road is open.🎵
Nora just stared in shock. What was going on?
Horsehead: 🎵I won’t leave you see, without breaking my thirst. I won't leave you see, without breaking my thirst.
Without breaking our thirst, without breaking my thirst, without breaking my thirst!🎵
Ren: 🎵Let us hear, corrupt horse, from where you come. Let us hear, corrupt horse, from where you come.🎵
🎵And what you’re asking, and what you're asking, and what you're asking?🎵
This went on for a good forty minutes and by then, they has missed most of the movie. Nora slumped in her seat and pouted. So much for a romantic Christmas this year.
Horsehead: 🎵Oh open the bolts, open the doors. Oh open the bolts, open the doors.
To me on my course, to me on my course, to me on my course. Give welcome.🎵
Ren: 🎵We’ll open the bolts, we’ll open the doors. We'll open the bolts, we'll open the doors.
To you on your course, to you on your course, to you on your course. There is welcome.🎵
Finally, the horsehead stopped trotting and bowed its head, making its way to the front door. Nora placed her face in her hands and groaned loudly. Ren opened the door and underneath the shroud was none other than Qrow Branwen, carrying presents and mulled wine wrapped in red ribbon.
Qrow: I gotta say, you lasted longer than I expected.
Ren: You can thank Yang for that. She spent the last year quizzing me non stop on the Mari Lwyd.
Qrow: *laughs* Well it certainly paid off. Anyway, have a Merry Christmas you two. *gives gifts* Now then, I'd better skidaddle. Raven's on a mission and I promised to tag along.
Ren: You sure you can't come in.
Qrow: The Mari Lwyd is supposed to bring good luck and I'm definitely not the guy for that.
Ren: I suppose. Well take care, Qrow.
Qrow bowed his head and departed from Ren and Nora's front garden. Ren entered the living room and saw his girlfriend folding her arms and glaring.
Ren: Okay Nora, before you say anything-
Nora: *pinches his nose*
Ren: Ow! What was that for?
Nora: Wasting time. *kisses Ren's cheek*
Ren: And what was that for?
Nora: Because I can't stay mad at you. *smiles* Come on, let's carry on with Home Alone!
Ren shook his head and joined Nora back on the sofa. No matter how long he knew her, he never understood her.
Source for poem: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/mari-lwyd