Mountiantop Stars (Mario x Ydris)

4. A Gem Hidden In The Mountains

"Tell me more, little prince," said Ydris, at last revealing himself to the two who were speaking. The other speaker did, in fact, turn out to be Zelda, turning their mantle bay dun Jorvik Wild Horse to look at him.

"Ydris, what are you doing here?" Zelda asked.

"I could ask the same of you, little dove," said Ydris. But he had eyes only for Mario. The man's blue eyes were stunning, his hair spun gold. Had such a gem truly been hiding from him up in the mountains for all this time?

"Ah, but who is this?" Mario asked, taking in the sight of Ydris. Ydris fought the urge to ensure that he looked good, instead sweeping low into a bow.

"I am the great Ydris, entertainer extraordinaire, here in Jorvik with my Circus of Dreams," said Ydris. "Little did I know that there was yet a magnificent night owl waiting for me in the mountains." Mario's cheeks flushed pink at the praise.

"Thank you for your flattery," said Mario. "Though, I must agree with Zelda- what brings you up here?"

"I came seeking answers," said Ydris. "Yet I feel magic in the air." He ignored Zelda rolling their eyes at the cheesy line. Seriously, there was magic in the air, as of a wish about to be made. "Could it be that you were about to make a wish? Wish on a falling star, perhaps?" He had heard that Jorvegians did such things, though falling stars where he came from were caused by poor unfortunate souls falling into Pandoria.

"Indeed, I was," said Mario. "I simply wish for company on these lonely nights, that is all."

"Then it shall be my great honor to fulfil that very wish," said Ydris.

"Oh, come on, Ydris, that line was cheesy and you know it," said Zelda. Just as a grey and white striped Jorvik Pony materialized in front of them, coat shimmering with stardust, a mark on the pony's forehead blazing with the same blue as its eyes. "Oh."

"I call this creation Vega," said Ydris. "And she shall be yours, dear Mario, if you but accept my gift." He looked at Mario, holding the man's gaze. Mario gaped at the pony, looking from it to Ydris and then to the starry sky around them.

"I-I thank you for your gift, Ydris, though I am afraid that I must decline," said Mario. Ydris' face fell, his heart sinking.

"Whatever for?" Ydris asked. "Does it not suit?"

"She is perfect, Ydris, I only regret that I do not have a place in which to keep her," said Mario. "The stables at Valedale are much too far for me to travel when I must work here every night, and the observatory or a cliffside is no place for a pony to live."

"Ah," said Ydris, still crestfallen. "I see."

"But perhaps you could be my company on these long nights?" Mario asked. Ydris and Zelda both looked at him, Ydris' heart soaring in his chest.

"Truly?" Ydris asked.

"Yes," said Mario, nodding. Ydris grinned fit to split his face in two.

"Zelda, do take Vega back to my circus tent," said Ydris.

"Okay," said Zelda, shrugging as they unhooked a lasso from their saddlebag and looped it carefully around Vega's muzzle as a kind of bridle. "C'mon, Vega, let's go." The pony was only too happy to trot off with them, and Ydris was only too happy to step closer to Mario. His night had not yet begun.