The Equestrian Frontier [Vore]

by heponas

Rating: mature
Tags: Sex, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Original Character, Porn, Comedy, Adventure, Violence
Length: 10090

The small frontier town of Santorini must fend off countless (hungry) threats.

“Every year, dozens of daring, proud, and virile homesteaders brave the untapped Equestrian Frontier! You may have heard ponies fretting about ‘lawless bandits’ and the ‘savage wilds’; those ponies are NAYSAYERS and NINNYHAMMERS! If life’s got you down, just drop everything and venture into the limitless expanse of the unknown; we assure you that nothing could possibly go wrong!” - Celestial Authority Homesteading Department

Many centuries before the elements of harmony were vested in those six famous mares, much of Equestria was composed of wild and untamed wilderness. Countless brave and enterprising ponies ventured into the great unknown, enduring the ravages of nature to spread Celestia’s noble territory to the far reaches of the land. One part of the continent had gone particularly unplumbed; the plains and deserts down to the far south, just above the inhospitable Badlands. As most of the north was occupied, these southern areas became Equestria’s final frontier, and the Celestial Authority offered free land to any pony who can settle them. Brave homesteaders flocked in droves to these lands, to find either their fortunes… or their dooms.

While it may be long forgotten by today, the small town of Santorini was, in its time, one of the most successful of these homesteading projects. But with success comes peril; and so, the citizens of Santorini must fight day in and day out to protect their livelihoods against the hungry bandits and thieves who covet what they've worked so hard to obtain.

Warning: Contains vore of various kinds, digestion, weight gain, sex.
Art: Amorabadger

Published 2021-02-18 03:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-02-18 03:00:00 UTC

CH1 - Frontier Showdown

The great thundering of progress pierced deep into the untamed wilds of the frontier.

The Wild Rose, a train on the absolute cutting edge of Equestrian engineering, steadily belched steam as it travelled deep into the gorgeous countryside, along the only railway established in the frontier, connecting Ponyville to Appleloosa — the most established and civilized of the burgeoning southern cities. Upon said train, one quaint and well-groomed mare stuck out like a sore thumb, for her beautiful Canterlot gown, well-fashioned hair and ornate lipstick marked her out as being particularly high-class for a place like this. “It’s beautiful out here on the frontier, isn’t it?” She said, in a refined accent typical of Canterlot ponies, as she gazed excitedly out the window. “Can you believe the ponies back in Canterlot tried to warn me away from coming here? Freak out over outlaws and such… pah!”

Sitting next to her was a mysterious and rather quiet red-furred stallion, a satchel on his hip and a black round-rimmed hat drawn to cover his eyes, chewing on a wheat stalk. “Ya never know. These are lawless lands, miss,” he said, in a deep southern accent. “Could be a fiend ‘round any corner.”

She chortled, waving a hoof dismissively. “Oh, come now. No use staying inside, fretting your life away. You have to go out and take risks! We’re here for a good time, not a long time,” she said. “Besides, most of those stories seem like old mare’s tales. Ooh, Parsley always tried to tell me horror stories of some buffoon — Texas Red, I think his name was.”

The stallion paused… before nodding. “I think I’ve heard of him.”

“She always told me, ‘oh, he could shoot a horsefly from two miles away! They say he eats lead paint and rusty nails for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!’” The mare said with a giggle. “I say some ponies need to have their heads checked. If such a stallion as Texas Red even exists — which I doubt — I’m certain he’s truthfully another bog standard little coward just like every other outlaw on Celestia’s noble lands.”

After a brief silence, the stallion leaned forward in his seat. “I don’t know if I agree with ya, miss,” he said. “That Texas Red… he seems to me like a real swell fella.”

The mare did a double-take. “Swell? You speak as if you know the crook!”

The stallion let out a low, wry chuckle. “As a matter o’ fact, miss, I do. In fact… would you like me to introduce ya to ‘im?” Suddenly, the stallion jumped up from his seat… lifting his hat, revealing the black eyepatch pulled over his right eye, the dreaded signature of the outlaw Texas Red! Ponies peered over at the commotion, only to cry out in shock as the unicorn stallion telepathically retrieved, from his satchel, a six-shooter — a dreaded little metallic device capable of firing off magical spells! “Hahah! Everypony get on the floor! This is a stick-up!”

“Oh, Celestia, it’s him!” One mare cried out. A panic spread throughout the entire train cart in moments. Some ponies near the back tried to flee out of the cabin, only to open the door and find two other stallions waiting for them, wearing black cloth masks! There was nothing the hapless passengers could do but huddle on the ground in terror, as the three outlaws tore through the cart.

Drunk on his power, Texas Red jumped up on top of the back of a seat, proudly delivering a speech. “Now, you honky-tonk, persnickety city ponies think ya can just pay a few bits to go out and get the ‘frontier experience’, eh?” He cackled.“Well, yer gettin what yer askin’ for! This is what the real frontier experience is like! Now, let’s all just make this easy-like, and just put all yer valuables in the bags.”

He was so wrapped up in his power trip, however, that he didn’t notice that not every passenger had surrendered. That very same mare he had spoken with earlier was stewing in a boiling indignation, and he didn’t realize it… until he suddenly felt her kick him right in the back of the skull! “You fiend!”

Just as she had planned, her kick dazed him, causing him to fall to the ground and drop his six-shooter. “Ow! Hey!” Immediately, the mare lunged forwards, grabbing his firearm with her teeth and trying to turn it against him… but, being an earth pony, she struggled to use it! Righting himself, Texas Red leaped forward to grapple with her… and several ponies screamed as a sudden roar rocked the train cabin! A small stream of fire burst from the barrel of the six-shooter, but instead of hitting Red, it went tearing through the roof of the cart!

The mare’s struggle was admirable, but in the end, one city pony couldn’t hold out for long against the strength of an experienced frontier outlaw. Unable to see what was happening, the other passengers could only listen as the mare’s triumphant growls turned into squeaks and whimpers… and when she let out a muffled mmmppphhh, they could only expect the worst. Sure enough, when Red finally lifted his head… the mare’s haunches were dangling from his stretched-out maw, her hind hooves frantically kicked as they were dangling from his lips!

The other passengers cried out in horror, some fainting from shock, as Red took his time savoring his meal, his tongue traveling over those sweet-tasted flanks before another swallow pulled them inside as well. Things like this were far from unheard of on the frontier, but for city ponies, witnessing something like this beggared belief! They could only watch, wide-eyed and slack-jawed with absolute horror, as an entire pony was slowly slurped down Red’s trained throat, the mares form bulging his neck and throat to incredible and impossible degrees until, at last, his belly bulged so massively with her curled-up form that it pressed against the ground.

“Oooooh, whooa mama. That really hit the spot!” A look of absolute bliss was painted across Red’s face as he sat there, his tongue hanging out as he panted, rubbing over his belly with his hooves as he bathed in the satisfaction of a meal. All the while, his belly bulged with the imprints of her hooves and face, causing him to let out a deafening brrrruuuaaarrpp of a belch which echoed noisily through the entire cabin. “Anypony else wanna be a hero? Please, go right on ahead! I have room for seconds!” He laughed, giving him tummy a playful smack, sloshing it about.

The other ponies were far too traumatized to put up any semblance of a resistance at this point, just trembling as they handed over their valuables to the masked ponies. Red let out a few more noxious, noisy burps and belches as he stood up, his belly lurching noisily with the struggles of his meal. “No? Well, I’m happy to see some o’ you folks got more brain cells ta rub together than little miss lunchmeat here,” he chuckled, swaying his gut from side to side, sloshing the mare about in that veritable jacuzzi of disgusting gastric juices. Eventually, he turned to his masked accomplices. “That all? Alright, boys, let’s scram!”

The last thing the train passengers saw was the three ponies leaping right off the side of the train, landing in a heap out in the desert. Just like always, the trio split the goods up amongst themselves (with Red getting the lion’s share, of course), before parting ways, each heading in different directions out into the frontier, satisfied with the profits of their latest heist. And Red… well, Red was mostly just happy with gaining yet another notch under his proverbial belt. Even if it meant more weight to have to work off...

——————————

But elsewhere, even now, there was peace.

While all this was going down, just a few dozen miles away, there laid the small town of Santorini — a sleepy sort of place where nothing that exciting had happened practically ever. It’s not hard to see why, considering their town basically consisted of a single long dirt road in the shape of a horseshoe with smaller roads branching off on either side, and scattered houses along the countryside surrounding if. It didn’t even have a train station! Even if some bored outlaws did go and rob the bank, they’d probably only make a few dozen bits for all their trouble — which definitely wasn’t worth tumbling with Sheriff Oxbows.

It was mighty unusual for such a tiny town to have one of the toughest sheriffs on the frontier, but Oxbows definitely fit that label. You might not figure that just by looking at him; he was a big purple-furred stallion with a figure that could charitably be called portly (but was honestly downright fat) with a big fluffy pot belly that swung to and fro beneath him, soaking in the rays of the hot sun as he strut coolly through town. Said fat belly was a constant reminder to everyone around of exactly what becomes of ne’er-do-wells in Oxbow’s town. He nodded to everypony he passed as he trotted about, making his regular patrols just like he did every morning; but this time, he had an extra errand. He trotted up to a ram-shackle little workshop on the border of the town and peeked inside.

“Axle? Axllle?” He called out.

He stepped inside, finding the room seemingly empty, though he heard a rustling in the basement. He ventured down the steps, only the find the stallion he was looking for, hunched over a table tinkering noisily with something. The wooden staircase’s loud creaking beneath Oxbow’s weight was enough to catch the stallion’s ear, and the stallion let out a startled cry, turning to the sheriff while carefully keeping something hidden away behind his back. Oxbows only chuckled. “What are you hidin’ back there, boy?”

Indeed, it may be hard to believe, but despite not looking, talking, or acting similar in any way, the stallion was Oxbow’s own flesh and blood. Axle Grease, his name was, with a cutie mark for, uh… wagon repairs. Not terribly exciting compared to being a sheriff, but hey, it let's Axle make decent money off the homesteaders passing by Santorini on their way further south. He was a much scrawnier stallion, with brown fur and hues of yellow in his hickory mane, and round-rimmed glasses resting on his snout. At the moment, said face was flushed, almost panicked. “N-nothing! Nothing at all!”

Oxbows laughed as he approached, eliciting a yelp from Axle as he started playfully wrestling his son for the mysterious object! “Come on, now ya got me curious! Ya can’t go hidin’ stuff from yer ol’ pops!” It didn’t take long for the much stronger stallion to finally get his hooves on it, to find it was… a tiny, makeshift pony, made out of wrought iron. “What the…?”

“Nooo! Don’t touch Lily!” Axle cried, quickly snatching the tiny metal equine from his father’s hooves in a panic, setting if back down on his workbench.

“Lily?” Oxbows did a double-take. “Who in the hay is Lily?”

Axle paused, an embarrassed redness dawning on his cheeks. “Oh, it’s just… aheh… what I call that statue…” He explained, his voice low and quiet, his head drooping. “It’s nothing perverted! I just… talk to her, and… cuddle with her, and… pretend I actually have a special somepony…”

There was a deep sadness in Oxbow’s eyes, like the disappointment only a father can feel in his eternal bachelor of a son. “Adam’s apples, boy, we… we really need to get you a marefriend. This is just…” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head, trying to refocus himself. “Ahem. I’m jus’ gonna pretend I didn’t see that. Look, me and yer brother are headin’ out for a day or two, and I need ya to look after the town while we’re gone.”

Axle groaned. Oxbows always picked him whenever he needed a deputy — perhaps hoping that some experience out in the field would whip his son into ‘shape’. “Oh, no, again?” Axle whined. “Come on, dad, you really got to stop deputizing me. I’m not cut out for it! What if some outlaw shows up?”

“Well, who the hay else am I gonna make the deputy? Old Mare Yonder? Crooked Cricket?” Oxbows laughed, patting Axle on the back. “Besides, I know you’ll be able to handle things. Sure, compared to yer brother, you aren’t all that brave… or strong… or fast...”

“Dad.”

“... or charismatic... or good with a six shooter…”

“Dad, really, I get the point.”

“... but all that doesn’t mean you don’t got what it takes to take care of the town for a while! You got Cobbler family blood in your veins, boy!” Oxbows reassured him. “Besides, we’re talkin’ about Big Red here, most nefarious devil to ever walk the frontier! He made dinner out o’ some Canterlot pony on a train headin’ to Appleloosa, and it’s in the papers ‘cross every corner of Equestria! We gotta help ‘em track ‘im down!”

Axle soon relented, knowing trying to argue with the stubborn stallion was futile. “Alriiight…” He sighed. With a happy chortle, Oxbows happily plopped his black cowpoke hat upon his son’s head, coupled with a matching vest with a big golden deputy star pinned to it, and most notably, he slid the harness containing a deputy’s six-shooter onto his back. These sorts of harnesses were designed for non-unicorns, allowing them to aim and fire their six-shooter through thought alone.

“See? Sheriff Axle Grease! Handsomest feller to ever wear a badge, if I do say so! Well, second only to yer ol’ pops, hehe,” Oxbows said with a smile, wrapping a forehoof around his son’s shoulder and ruffling his mane. “Alrighty, then. Keep Santorini warm while we’re away, ya hear? And, uh… I’d throw Lily in the trash if I was you…”

With that, Oxbows was off, trotting away to get up to more exciting adventures while Axle was left to handle the boring deputy stuff. He sighed forlornly, plopping the little pony statuette back into place. “Don’t listen to him, Lily. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” he said, giving it a kiss on the forehead before he, too, trotted out of the workshop to start his unexpected shift...

He didn't yet realize, however, that trouble was brewing. A deep red stallion was sauntering down the street, dressed in an ominous hooded cloak that completely his his features from passersby. When he sees a bar, the Blue Barrel Saloon, a devious grin spread over his darkened face. He cooly pushed open the doors, expecting to make a dramatic entrance that would cause a hush to fall over the entire bar… but instead, nobody even noticed him enter! He groaned, disappointed. “Ahem!” He loudly cleared his throat as he pulled down his hood, calling everyponys’ attention to himself. “Jeez, the doors in this place don’t even have the squeaky hinges? How the hay’s an outlaw supposed to make a dramatic entrance around here?”

“An outlaw?” One mare gasped. “Oh, Celestia, no! It’s Arkansas Scarlet!”

Red furrowed his brow. “What? No, that’s… that’s a different guy,” he said. Still, everypony sat around, looking confused… which was a serious blow to his ego. “Y’all seriously don’t recognize me? I’m Texas Red!”

That one mare gasped again. “Oh, Celestia, no! It’s Texas Red!”

Shocked and frightened murmurs spread through the crowd, as Red grinned maliciously, using his magic to hold up his six-shooter in the air! “Ahaha, yes, it is I! Devourer o’ city-slickers, robber o’ banks, breaker o’ hearts!” He said, giving his six-shooter a showy twirl. “Now listen up, y’all. This don’t need to turn violent. I jus’ need a place to lie low fer a while, and yer crappy little town seemed a mighty fine spot to do so. Now, is yer mayor here?”

The crowd nervously pushes a pony forward; an older and rather unimpressive stallion, donning frail glasses, biting his lip and trembling with fear as the outlaw loomed over him, gazing deeply into his eyes with that malevolent glare! There was a tense pause… before the outlaw turned around, and the mayor’s entire field of vision was taken up by the sight of Red’s fat asscheeks, thick, puckered tailhole, and massive plump ballsack, all so thick with sweat from his trek under the hot sun that nearby bystanders could smell the overwhelming musk from a few yards away! The mayor was awed by the sight for a moment… until Red brought himself crashing down! The older pony’s head was loudly slammed against the wooden floor, with Red laughing as he hid the pony’s head and half his torso beneath his humongous ass cheeks, grinding down on the equine’s limp form.

By the time Red finally stood, the town’s mare was unconscious, his glasses broken and his face glazed with musky sweat. “Ooh, ooh no! Your mayor seems to have mysteriously fallen unconscious! He can’t possibly do his job in this state!” Red laughed. “What a tragedy that is. Welp, guess I’ll have to be mayor in the meantime. No need to thank me — wait, actually, on second thought, you can go ahead an’ thank me with a nice, cool beer, on the house…”

The crowd remained frozen with terror, those within sight of Red not daring to make even a single move, knowing what the stallion was capable of if he was angered. But one mare had been in the restroom, and had heard the entire event go down through the thin wooden door… so, her heart racing with fear, she slowly, quietly pulled herself up through the window, before darting away from the saloon as quickly as she could! She rushed towards the sheriff's office, seeing Axle Grease relaxing on the rocking chair on the porch, looking dejected. “Axle! Axle!” She cried. “Where’s Sheriff Oxbows?”

Axle raised the brim of his hat, giving the mare a confused look. “He left a little while ago,” he replied. “I’m, uh, in charge of things around here, in the meantime. What, do you need help with something?

Upon hearing this, a shiver of horror surged through the mare’s body. “Oh, Celestia…” She crumpled to the floor, covering her eyes with her hooves, so overcome by despair she couldn’t even stand. “We’re all doomed!”

For some reason, that response just… really bruised on Axle’s ego. Sure, he might not be as tough as his father or brother, but that doesn’t mean he had to be treated like he was useless! He stood up and stomped his hoof, determination dawning on his face! “H-hey! Whatever the problem is, I can handle it just fine!” He insisted. “Is somepony causing trouble? Show me to ‘em! I’ll show ‘em who’s in charge!”

Surprised by his confidence, the mare led him furtively back towards the saloon… and upon peering through the window, Axle could only gulp, nervously. “Is that Texas Red?” He whispered. “Okay, yeah, we… we may be doomed.”

Indeed, there the devilish stallion was, reclining on one of the comfiest bar chairs like it was his throne, surrounded by beautiful tavern wenches at his beck and call. One such mare massaged his shoulders, while another one massaged his belly, and the others waited by his side for his every order. They all looked quite miserable, but Red himself looked quite pleased. “Oooh, you really know how to treat a stallion right, don’t you, darlings?” He smiled, before glaring at a waitress mare and shaking his beer jug around. “Uuh, can’t help but notice my drink hasn’t been refilled yet! Hop to it if you know what’s good for ya!” The mare yelped, nervously taking his mug and skittering away to refill it.

The mare quickly returned with a full mug of beer, and after another big swig and an uncouth belch, the stallion leaned back with a contented sigh. “Oh, yeah, this is the life. I could get used to this…” He took particular interest in the beautiful green-furred mare that he’d made rub his belly. She seemed to be the defiant type, which was a trait he liked in mares. “Mm, hey, sweetums. I didn’t know they had such a fine southern belle in such a dingy little town like this. Why don’t you ditch these limpdick sallies and get with a real stallion?”

The mare had had her teeth grit this entire time, as if barely managing the tolerate this indignation… and when she felt his hoof slide down towards her flanks, she decided enough was enough! Nearly everypony in the saloon gasped as she slapped his hoof away! “Y-you keep your filthy hooves off of me!” She growled.

“Ow!” He pouted, massaging his aching, now bruised hoof. Angered, the mare yelped as he suddenly pounced on top of her, pinning her roughly against the ground! She whimpered a fought against him, but she was no match for the outlaw’s sheer strength, ax she looked down at her with the most chilling grin on his face. “What a rude way to treat your new mayor! Assaultin’ a gubmint agent… that’d earn ya some prison time in any town!” The mare cried as the stallion unfurled his massive, stretchy maw, looming that slobbery gullet just inches over her face. “Luckily, I got the perfect prison in mind fer ya!”

Axle bit his lip. He was a wagon repairpony, for Celestia’s sake! The thought of tussling with the baddest outlaw in the frontier scared him out of his mind! But on the other hand… he couldn’t just stand by and let that mare get eaten, could he? A deep sense of duty compelled him… so, despite not having even a semblance of a plan, his body moved almost of its own accord, storming in through the doors of the tavern! “HEY!” The scene froze, all eyes locking on him. He hesitated. “Let go of her, you… you… assdick!” Ugh, was that really the best he could come up with?

Red laughed, and Axle flinched as the outlaw casually twirled his six-shooter in the air. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t ol’ Sheriff Oxbows. Yer the stallion who took down some of my boys up by Orchard Creek,” Red chuckled. “Gotta admit, yer a lot more… scrawny than I expected.”

Axle realized he’d mistaken him for Oxbows, and decided to press this advantage, hoping his father’s reputation might scare the outlaw off. He puffed out his chest and cheeks, trying to look bigger and tougher than he really was. It didn’t work. “T-that’s right! Oxbows, that’s me! I kicked the flanks of those bandit buddies of your’s!” He threatened, deliberately in a low voice. “And I’ll do the same to you if you don’t get out of my town!”

Red seemed almost disappointed by how wimpy this ‘sheriff’ was, which was pretty demoralizing to Axle. “Your town? Last I checked, this is my town, now,” he replied with a sarcastic shrug. “Now, I don’t know how y’all do things here in Santorini, but where I come from, when two stallions had ta settle an argument, they dueled over it.”

Axle shuddered, breaking out in a cold sweat, his facade of bravery quickly crumbling. “Now, now, now, wait! I don’t think that would be necessary!” He practically whimpered. “C-can’t we just… pay you to go somewhere else, or somethin?”

Red was taken aback! “What the hay kind of sheriff are ye?” At the end of his patience, he pulled the mare close, and she whimpered as she pressed the barrel of his six-shooter right against the side of her head! “Let’s make this real simple-like. You duel me, or miss blabbermouth here gets her eggs scrambled!”

Axle bit his lip, trying to fight back tears. He’d never been in a duel before, but Red’s been in many, and killed a score of lawmen during his reign of terror. Striking down Axle would be trivial — he was doomed! But… he would rather die than let that mare get killed in his place. It took every bit of willpower he had, but he eventually cleared his dry throat, and managed to speak. “I… I…” He whispered, staring at the ground, his posture defeated. “I accept.”

There were gasps and murmuring in the crowd, as Red cockily strutted out into the street, Axle following behind with his head lowered, feeling like a death row inmate on his way to an execution. It was right at noon, beneath the burning sun, and ponies were watching from every ranger, certain Axle was doomed. “Lookie here. The big, bad Oxbows, shivering like a little schoolcolt. I’m disappointed! I almost thought this was gonna be interestin’,” Red laughed, seeing just how terrified Axle was. He slid his six-shooter into his holster. Axle readied his own, but he knew it would do him no good. “You ready to die, boy?”

Everypony could only watch, slack-jawed, at what they were certain would be Axle’s last moments of life, as time ticked down…

3…

2…

Axle lost his cool. Before the count was even finished, he was already jumping out of the way!

Seeing this, Red flung out his gun with preternatural speed, firing with a deafening boom — and Axle could feel the warmth of the rope of fire as it missed him by just a few inches. In his panic, his gun went off on its own, the pea-shooter firing a meager shot up into the air… and right into the side of a water tank on somepony’s roof!

Red took no heed of that, though, rolling his eyes at the stallion’s cowardice. “Hey! That’s cheating! If you’re gonna go out, at least don’t go out like a coward,” the outlaw barked at the shivering stallion, but Axle’s eyes were trained on something else. Red was readying his six-shooter for another shot when he realized what that thing was: that water tank looming over him was about to burst! He turned upon hearing the rumbling just in time to see dozens of gallons of water come exploding free, filling his entire field of vision!

He didn’t have the slightest hope of reacting in time to evade the coming deluge. It came slamming into the stallion full-force, the weight of the water knocking the breath from the stallion’s lungs, knocking him off his hooves and sending him sprawling over onto the ground in front of the saloon. His soaked fur now slicked down against his plump body, he writhed there, hacking up water as the wave finally finished washing over him… until his eyes slid open with a start as he realized he’d lost his six-shooter!

Simultaneously, Axle and Red looked at the two discarded six-shooters lying on the ground across the road from them… then at eachother… then at the six-shooters… then back at eachother… until they both went sprinting for the weapons, side-by-side! “Oh, no you don’t!” With an uncharacteristic determination, Axle pounced on the stallion beside him mid-sprint!

Red was stronger and more experienced than the stallion he was wrestling, but he was caught by surprise by Axle’s sheer relentlessness! After such a profound experience of helplessness, Axle finally had a glimpse of hope, and he wasn’t about to let it go for anything in the world. His fear was suppressed as his every instinct screamed at him to fight, knowing that every effort had to be expended to make sure that the outlaw simply couldn’t make it to those damnable revolvers.

Red was filled with no such determination, since he didn’t take the ‘sheriff’ seriously as a threat; he was more just an annoyance. “Get off of me, you little-” He demanded, before a hoof to the ribs winded him once more. The rest of the townsfolk could only watch as they grappled, wrestling about on the dusty, wet ground, never leaving it quite clear who had the upper hand until, at last, Red found himself laying on his back, realizing he was looking up helplessly at Axle’s… rump! He raised his hooves, trying to avoid that which he already knew was inevitable. “No, no, no — mph!”

By the time Axle even realized what he was doing, it was done. His cheeks flared the slightest shade of red as he realized he’d plopped himself right on the outlaw’s face! His flanks weren’t nearly as fat as those that had knocked out their mayor, but they were sufficient to envelop Red’s face between then, the stunned bandit coughing and sputtering! Axle let out a yelp as he felt Red press his hooves into his cheeks, trying to push him off of him — only for Axle to wriggle out of his grip and come slamming back down again. He was biting his lips, at this point, increasingly flustered by the feeling of the stallion’s snout getting pressed up against his tailhole and balls. “Uuh… uuum…” He stuttered, not sure what to do.

Needless to say, Red was not terribly enthused about this turn of events. No matter where he tried to bend his snout, it was pressed somewhere unsavory. It certainly didn’t help that the frontier’s hot sun had left Axle coated with sweat, filling his nostrils with masculine musk as his face was pressed into that plump ballsack, or worse, into that dark chasm between his chubby cheeks, completely soaking his face in the stick sweat. Axle was quite heavy, given his sedentary lifestyle, but it wasn’t enough to keep the fit outlaw from lifting him enough for gasps of air. “Get off of me, you fucking-“ He managed to growl, moments before once again being smothered in sweat and pudge. Meanwhile, Axle was grinding his teeth, overwhelmed by some bizarre mixture of arousal and fear. What was his end goal here, even? To smother Red to unconsciousness, maybe, but the stallion was just too strong, he couldn’t keep him where he wanted him. It seemed almost inevitable that Red would push him off…

… at least, until once, while Red was lifting him up off of him, Axle smashed himself back down against a little too hard. He instantly tensed up, his eyes widening as he let out a stunned, overwhelmed gasp, shivers fluttering up his spine as he was suddenly treated to the feeling of something… entering him. His heart was beating out of his chest as he realized what that was; he had smashed himself down with such force, and Red’s head was lodged between his cheeks to such a depth, that his snout actually plunged… well, up his ass! “He’s… he’s…!” He panted, gasping and shuddering, hardly able to handle this feeling. He’d never been penetrated like this before, but the sweat and water lubricating the stallion beneath him made it surprisingly smooth. He tried to shift up off him, only to cry out when his movements pressed the stallion’s face a few inches deeper into his backside. “Aaaah!”

His cheeks burned red, feeling more humiliated than he’s ever been. It shouldn’t be hard for all the towns ponies watching him to realize what was happening, given how he was reacting — especially when his body betrayed him, and his girthy cock slowly started emerging from its fluffy sheath despite his attempts to keep it contained. “Uuurgh… come on…” He whimpered, feeling devastated, as if he’d never be able to show his face in this town again. But then, from one of the windows, somepony… cheered?

“Hah! You got him!” One mare shouted. “C’mon, you can do this!” The crowd seemed to murmur in agreement, and before Axle knew it, words of encouragement were being launched at him from all sides! Axle’s heart sunk in his chest as he realized what they wanted him to do. It made sense; after all, they were well-used to Sheriff Oxbows swallowing troublemakers whole, and sometimes he did it with his… hindquarters. But… Axle isn’t like his father! He’s never eaten anypony! He certainly could never fit a stallion like this all the way up his… his ass! … oh, Celestia, why does the thought of doing that turn him on so much?

Of course, Red wasn’t exactly pleased with where this was going. He’d long enjoyed devouring other ponies, but to feel what it’s like on the receiving end — to be subject to that sweltering heat, that musty air and squeezing tight, smooth walls in that darkened ass — well, it pissed him off something fierce. He redoubled his efforts with an infuriated mmmppphhh, causing Axle to cry out as the stallion started thrashing with renewed strength, shoving upwards with full force to try and shove the deputy off of him. With no other choice, all Axle could do was keep pressing down again… until, with another cry, the stallion’s head popped into his tightened ass up to his neck!

Much to his embarrassment, his cock was fully unsheathed and rigid at this point, dribbling pre-cum as he tensed at the feeling of the stallion’s head inside him, stretching him farther than he’d ever been stretched before, the fur tickling his innards and creating a feeling he didn’t have words for. He was so caught up in the sensations that he lost his concentration… allowing Red to give one more powerful shove, finally shoving Axle right off of him, causing the stallion to let out a startled yelp!

Of course, in this moment of victory, Red would soon realize the problem: that sphincter was still clenched tightly around his neck, and it was not letting go! So when Axle fell forward, Red fell with him, leaving Axle laying face-down on the ground with the other stallion’s head still lodged deep in his ass, in what must’ve been quite the unbelievable sight! He whimpered and groaned as Red pressed his hooves into his ass cheeks, desperately trying to pull himself free from those tightened confines! “Mmmff… ngggh… auuugh…” Axle cried out, knowing he couldn’t keep Red in forever. “Fuuuck… help!”

Throughout this endeavor, the townsponies have been staying back, as if superstitious in their adherence to the rules of a duel… but Axle’s cry for help seemed to rouse some of them into action! Namely, the bar mares the outlaw had been harassing earlier seemed particularly eager to give him his just deserts! Just instants before he was about to finally pry his head back out through that tightened sphincter, he suddenly felt a hoof press against its back, keeping him locked in place! “Don’t worry, hun! We’ve got this filthy son of a bugbear!” The green mare he’d been groping earlier said, seeming particularly excited to get her revenge.

They didn’t seem to be unnerved by the fact they were shoving one pony up another’s rear, but after all the ‘private attention’ they’d given Oxbows in the past, something tells Axle this wasn’t the first time they’d done something like this. “C’mon, girls! Let’s give him the good ol’ Santorini welcome!” All Axle could do was grit his teeth and try not to moan too much as the mares started pressing the outlaw forward, ignoring his frantic thrashing as he tried desperately from getting consumed by that sweaty, chubby ass. Despite all his efforts, he could only sink deeper and deeper with every passing second.

Celestia, at least when most stallions take it up the ass for the first time, they have a pillow or something to bite down on! Axle was left light-headed with the sensations afflicting his body, letting out a moan that echoed through the dusty town as the stallion’s wide shoulders finally popped through that tight sphincter, stretching his ass out in a way that beggared belief. The deeper into his body the stallion slid, the more intense the feelings inside of him were becoming. It felt like his heart was beating at thrice any healthy rate, his eyes rolling back into his skull, his cock gently humping against his own belly as it slowly began to bulge with the outlaw’s writhing figure.

Once his shoulders and forehooves were in, all they had to do was have two mares press against the outlaw’s haunches, while digging their hooves into the dirt while they shove forth with all their might. Combined with Axle’s clenching, it worked the outlaw in at an incredible rate, while another mare laid down in front of the stallion to comfort him. “C’mon, hun, you can do this! Just a little more!” She said. Her words were surprisingly soothing to Axle, helping him relax his bowels and accept the outlaw deeper into those sensitive, undulating, labyrinthian intestines.

If only Red had been a mare or something — then Axle would at least have some sort of a size advantage over them. But Red was literally as large as he was, and Axle’s belly was therefore stretching to be as large as the rest of his entire body! He’d always been slightly awed by how unbelievably malleable ponies were, but he’d never experienced it himself. Just as he was starting to calm down and get used to the feeling… he suddenly felt the outlaw kick at what he assumed to be his prostate! “Aaahhhggghhfffuuck!” He practically screamed, jolted by the sudden, unbelievable flash of pleasure that arced through his body like a lightning strike! Instantly, he let loose his load, gasping as his hardened cock spewed hot jizz all over his own belly, as he was enraptured by the most mind-blowing orgasm of his life.

Fortunately, that climax caused his bowels to tense with extreme force while his body writhed, forcing the outlaw’s haunches into his ass in but moments with a resounding shlooorrrppp — the mares had to stand back out of fear that his rear might slurp them up as rare! All they could do now was watch as Axle gently bucked his hips, still riding out his climax, spurting more globs of musky cum onto the ground as he clenched around the outlaw, needing to feel his ass prisoner deeper, deeper, deeper. Red’s hind hooves were slurped between those cheeks like noodles, at least disappearing into that darkened canyon, as the stallion’s asshole closed down around them and sealed them within the deputy’s body.

For a time, Axle just laid there in a semi-conscious state, panting for air with a look of absolute satisfaction on his face as he bathed in his post-orgasm bliss, letting his now huge, bulging gut soak in the warm sun. As his faculties returned to him, however, he went pale as he was filled with a sense of clarity. How could he have done all… that in front of every curious eye in the entire town? He was humiliated! “I’m… I’m sorry…” He whimpered, suddenly feeling quite naked and vulnerable. “I didn’t mean to…”

In response, one of the mares just leaned down and interrupted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Ooh, don’t worry about it, hun. You just took down the baddest outlaw in the frontier!” She said. “If anybody from out-of-town asks, well, we’ll all just say you shot the guy.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, either,” another giggled. “You should’ve seen Oxbow’s first time taking a ‘prisoner’ up the ass. He was moaning like… I don’t know, a narwhal or something!”

Axle blushed at hearing about his father’s… lewdness. “I… didn’t need to hear that…” He groaned… before gasping, his body going tense again as his belly suddenly bulged with the imprint of a hoof! Red was being relentlessly squeezed by the intestinal muscles around him, but the outlaw still had enough strength in him to kick at his fleshy surroundings, causing Axle to double over with pain as his belly started to slosh, writhe and bulge tumultuously! “Uuurgh!”

Fortunately, in another instant, pairs of hooves started to press into his belly, helping soothe its bulging surface, though it also forced a loud brruuuaaarrpp to erupt from his lips! He laid there, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, flinching slightly at all the movement occurring inside him. How did Oxbows do this all the time…? “Easy there, big guy. We’ll get you on your hooves,” a mare said, as they all braced him by his sides. His belly let out an incredibly loud slooosh as all the fluids within were shook about, as he was slowly rolled over into a standing position. “There you go!”

His belly was so massive that it almost lifted him off the ground somewhat, and pressed against the ground so tightly that it forced more burps and belches from his lips with every passing moment. His eyes were starting to become cloudy and unfocused, as if he was feeling faint… and his face was turning green, as if on the verge of vomiting. “Get him somewhere cozy before he keels over!”

His legs wobbled as the mares slowly escorted him back into the bar, eliciting more burps from him every time his belly plopped up one of the wooden stairs. He was looking light-headed as they led him into the back, like there was some immense pressure in his skull. His vision was going blurry, and his movements grew more slower and belabored with every step. Apparently, all that shock his psyche had endured was starting to set in. “I think I’m… gonna… hurl…”

He paused when he reached a door behind the bar, the sides of his massive belly getting stuck in the doorframe. Two of the mares had to push against his flanks just to get him through. There awaits the backroom where the mares treat their more well-paying guests… in one way or another. Usually, Axle’s heart would be beating out of his chest walking into a place like this, but he was so out-of-it, he hardly noticed as he was led up to a big porcelain bathtub, soon filled with warm water. “C’mon, big guy. A warm bath will make you feel right as rain.”

Getting him up into the bathtub was a trial-and-a-half, of course. All four of the mares had to slide beneath his massive, bulging body, and brace all their hooves against the ground to agonizingly slowly lift his heavy form up along the side of the tub. When they could at last dump him inside with a sigh of relief, he immediately displaced most of the water in the tub with a massive splash that left the mares soaked! Instantly upon sinking into those warm waters, though, sheer bliss dawned on Axle’s face. “Aaaah…” A dopey smile spread across his features as his muscles relaxed, and that warm water soaked so delightfully over the sensitive, taut skin of his belly, like settling down under a heated blanket after a freezing cold day. “Oh, Celestia, you were right. This is heaven…”

The mares knew just what to do. They got to work in perfect coordination, pampering the relaxed stallion as he soaked in the tub, one massaging his shoulders as the others crowded around the knead and massage his belly with their hooves, their touch feeling like the holy caresses of a band of angels upon his strained stomach. By now, that ‘full’ feeling had transferred from his behind to his belly area, indicating Red had been pressed into his stomach proper; the gastric juices, combined with the sweltering warmth of the hot bath, combined further with the deep tissue massages the mares were so helpfully providing, was causing the stallion within to quickly exhaust, his struggles becoming feeble and slow.

The mares all seemed to be absolutely enamored with him, which was not the kind of attention he was used to getting. Sure, he was accustomed to them giving mooney eyes to his dad or brother… but him? All their pampering couldn’t help but make him blush! Their doting seemed to be focused primarily on his big belly, as if they were in love. “Mmm, not too often we get to pamper a first-time predator around here,” one complimented. “That thing you did with the water tower was genius!”

“Aheh… thanks,” he chuckled awkwardly, opting to keep to himself the fact that that whole thing had been a complete accident. Looking down at his belly, though, the full breadth of what he’d done was starting to set in. He had an entire pony in there… being slowly churned away into his pudge! He certainly didn’t feel any sympathy for Texas Red (as far as he was concerned, this whole thing was karmic justice), but he couldn’t help but feel like he was crossing over some kind of threshold. “Jeez, it’s… kind of weird to think about. I mean… I’m a predator now!”

The mares shared a look, as if they’d seen this sort of trepidation before, and knew just what to do. Before Axle’s eyes, the green-furred mare slid easily out of her cute dress… and slipped right into the bathtub in front of him, almost pressed up against the porcelain by his big, rounded gut! “I’ll stop you right there, hun. There’s no reason to be ashamed at all,” she said, with a smile that made his heart flutter and his cheeks burn red, as she gently plomfed her hooves into the surface of his belly, giving it a shake and listening to it slorsh. “This big, cute tummy of your’s just saved the whole town!”

Axle’s heart leapt in his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time any mare called him ‘cute’ (besides his own mother), particularly over something like his belly. He’d always been quite embarrassed by his faint chubbiness down there, but imagining she actually enjoyed it… well, it got him quite flustered. And the look on her face made it quite clear she was being genuine. He blushed and looked away, unsure of how to take the compliment. “You think it’s… cute?”

She fluttered her eyelashes as she leaned forward, a pert smile on her face as she dug her hooves deep into the squishiness of that firm gut, practically snuggling up to its surface, resting her chin against it like it was a big, fluffy pillow. “Darling, I think it’s absolutely adorable!” She cooed. “In fact, it makes me just want to…” She gently leaned forward, and with a playful mwah!, planted a big, loving kiss upon the surface of his gut! He could only lay there, shivering at the feelings as she kisses, rubs, and hugs his belly oh-so-lovingly, all of the sensations so delightful upon that taut, sensitive flesh, planting kisses and licks over his belly button and blowing raspberries upon his gut.

Axle couldn’t take it. He’d just never received this kind of love and affection from a mare before! He tried to distract himself — to think unpleasant thoughts so as to still the rapid beating of his heart, but it just wasn’t working. In a few moments, the mare suddenly paused… as she felt something just below, poking her in the belly. Humiliated, the blushy stallion hid his face with his hooves. “Sorry! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I-“

In response, though, the mare simply giggled, her cheeks flaring slightly red as she gazed down at his hardened shaft, poking out of the water just beneath his belly. This was no surprise to her — in fact, it was exactly what she expected. Before he could get too flustered, she gently lifted a hoof, and pressed it against his lips with a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry yourself, big guy. We’ll take good care of you…” She promised, before slinking down, disappearing behind his mountain of a gut. His heart leapt as he realized he could feel her getting lower and lower… oh, Celesta, what is she doing…?

“Oooh, Celestia…” Spasms of pleasure wracked his overwrought form, goosebumps forming along every limb, his fur standing on edge as he felt her lips come into contact with his most sensitive areas, gentle little kisses being placed along his rounded ballsack, and up to the base of his cock, gently trailing up along the surface before one last smooch is placed upon the tip, which was drooling with pre. Axle was unable to form a single other word. Having been a virgin all his life, he’d never been touched this way; and the touch of another pony was exponentially more thrilling and powerful than his own had ever been.

The other mares cooed, continuing to massage his shoulders as his belly as the green-furred mare got to work, teasing him agonizingly slowly, planting little lips and kisses all over his shaft as she coaxed its impressive length fully from its sheath. He was fervently biting his lip, quivering in anticipation for the moment that her lips would travel up to the tip of his cock, gently lapping and licking along the broad head… only for her to slide her jaws gently open, parting them on either side of his thick, girthy shaft.

“Mmmfff… oooooh!” His eyes rolled back, a look of sheer, enrapturing pleasure dominating his features as the mare pressed her head downwards, easily wrapping her stretchy mouth around the width of his cock. Her mouth was so warm, so unbelievably soft and perfect; her tongue ran back and forth beneath its surface, while its top was pressed against the equally smooth, flat roof of her maw. All his inhibitions faded away; in fact, there was some comfort, some thrill, in feeling this vulnerable, in doing this in front of all these giggling mares. He was shameless in his pleasure, gently bucking his hips, his big fat gut resting atop the mare’s head as she ducked her face beneath the water.

He had no idea how she could hold her breath for so long, but he suspected she was well-practiced, giving the nature of her career. She deep-throated his cock with sheer ease, here head completely beneath the warm waters of the tub, her neck bulging with the thickness of his veiny, broad dick. He writhed and moaned, feeling the incredibly softness of that throat wrap around his cock so perfectly tightly, the muscles of her neck undulating and squeezing down around his shaft as if trying to milk him dry. Combined with the pampering of the mares around him, and the tenderness of his bulging gut… he’d never experienced a sensory overload as powerful as what he was experiencing now.

She bobbed her head up and down on his cock for a couple of minutes, letting it slide free from the tightened confines of her throat for only a moment before slamming her head back down, once more gracing it with that warmth and smoothness — intoxicating moments that he wished could last forever. Needless to say, the inexperienced stallion was bound not to last very long. “Nnnrgh…” He huffed, barely able to breathe, much less speak; but he still managed the strength to warn the mare, as he felt his climax creeping up on him. “I’m gonna… I’m gonna…”

Hearing that, and feeling how tense the stallion was becoming, the mare only redoubled her efforts, slamming her head down more vigorously than ever, eager to push him over the edge! He grit his teeth, only able to hold out for a few more seconds before her blowjob overwhelmed him. “Aaaahh~!” His cry of bliss filled the room as he spent himself into her maw, the mare eagerly swallowing every last drop as that thick cock pumped hot jizz down her throat, filling her belly with its prodigious load. Axle felt like very little drop of cum sloshing around in his heavy balls was being pumped into the mare, as she continued gently bobbing her head, licking and slobbering over his cock as she consumed his load, as if thirsting for every last drop of his virility.

His thoughts became a jumbled and abstract mess, powerful shudders enrapturing his gasping form as he finally came, humping forwards a few more times until the last of his energy finally left him. He collapsed against the back of the tub as his orgasm ended, the tension in his body finally fading, replaced with a sheer, relaxed limpness. The green-furred mare giggled as she drew her head back, letting his cock slide free from her throat and mouth with a lewd shlorp, licking her lips as she enjoyed the lingering taste of salty cum on her palette. Cooing, she once more snuggled up to that fattened tummy, where the outlaw was on the verge of perishing, softening as he was rendered into nothing but fat for the deputy. “Hehe! You’ve earned that little reward, hero,” she said, planting little kisses onto the stallion’s gut as he laid there in a half-conscious daze, “now just lie back, and enjoy your dinner!"

——————————

It was the next day at noon that word started to spread through the town of Oxbow’s long-awaited return. It was especially intriguing that he came flanked by a half dozen ponies from the Celestian Authorities — mysterious and serious-looking ponies in black suits, sunglasses and flashy six-shooters on their hips. It wasn’t long before their sheriff burst into the bar, looking to be in a tizzy.“Everypony! I’m back, and I have an announcement to make. Reports indicated that Red is somewhere in this very region! So I’m putting this town on high alert, until-“ He paused, baffled by what he saw inside. “Wait… what in the hay is going on here?”

He was used to Axle being rather reclusive, never venturing into the bar for fear of all the ponies who tended to crowd the place… but not only was he here, but he seemed to be the center of attention! He’d always been a little chubby, too, but now, he was downright fat, the bar mares kneading, massaging and doting on his big, chubby, squishy belly as they fed him little treats and got him all sloshed up on spirits. Oxbows never thought he’d see anything like it!

The green furred mare laughed, giving a gentle wave. “No need to put anything under lockdown! I’m happy to report that ol’ Red isn’t gonna be botherin’ anypony anymore,” she said. “He made the mistake of getting into a duel against our brave deputy here… and look where he ended up!” She gestured to Axle’s fat gut, lifting it up only to let it noisily slosh back down, eliciting another belch from the stallion. Texas Red was long gone by now, reduced to mere chyme in that boiling cauldron of a belly.

Oxbows couldn’t believe his ears, nor his eyes… but the evidence was right in front of him. He stepped forward, staring at his son’s stomach in awe. “You beat Texas Red? In a duel?”

Humble as ever after his (accidental) victory, Axle nervously rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “Haha, I-I… suppose so! Kinda…”

A grey-furred federal pony stepped forward incredulously, his tone all business. “Do you have any evidence to prove this claim?”

In response, the green-furred mare drew out Texas Red’s distinctive revolver, with 20 notches along its barrel and ornate paint themed after fire. “Well, I still got Red’s ol’ Six-Shooter. But let’s see if I can’t russle up a little more for ya.” Without warning, she suddenly lifted her forehooves… and brought them crashing down upon Axle’s stomach! Surprised, a massive burst of air was forced up his throat in the form of a deafening belch… resulting in Red’s distinctive black hat being sent flying up his throat, the once pristine garment now mostly ruined and melted by the harsh stomach acids. The mare proudly presented these to the authorities. “There you go! That enough evidence for you?”

The authorities started to take notes, while Oxbows stormed forward to give him son a hearty slap on the back, practically jumping for joy! “Well, I’ll be damned!” He cheered. “What I tell you, son? Long as you got that Cobbler family blood in yer veins, well, ain’t nothin’ gonna ever get ya down! Ye just gotta be brave, and ain’t nopony gonna be able to tussle with you!”

Axle shrugged, sheepishly. “Aheh. Thanks, dad…”

The leader of the band of celestial authorities nodded in agreement as he stepped forward. “Hmm. You’ve done Equestria a great service for dealing with that… undesirable,” he said, his tone quite poisonous as he spat out that last word, as his assistants collected what little remained of Red in plastic bags. “I can’t give you the full bounty, since you didn’t bring him in an alive. But I can wire you something more on the level of… two thousand, three hundred and eighty bits.”

Axle had to do a double-take! “Two thousand!? Why… I could renovate my entire workshop with all those bits!” He said, his eyes sparkling as he imagined what he could do with a real workshop! His business would finally get off the ground!

Oxbows wrapped a hoof around his shoulder, giving his son a playful noogie as he celebrates his son’s triumph over evil. “Well, ya’ve earned it! Oh, I’m so proud of ya!” He laughed. “We gonna celebrate tonight, yesiree! Get you so liquored up you start sloshin’ even harder than you are now! Oh, wait until your mother hears about this…”

The other townsfolk joined in cheering for the hero who managed to vanquish the baddest outlaw in the frontier, and prevented a single citizen of Santorini from being hurt. Even Axle, shy as he was, got a bit lost in all the celebration. After a while, though, he was suddenly approached by that green-furred mare, who suddenly looked a bit more demure. “Uh… excuse me? Could I speak with you for a moment?” She whispered. Recognizing her, he nodded, following her curiously into a private corner (although his big, fat belly bumped into just about everything and everypony along the way — it was going to take him a while to get used to that). “So, uh… you said you wanted to renovate your workshop. I don’t suppose you’d… need any help with that?”

Axle tilted his head. “What kind of help?”

“I mean, like… if you’re expanding, maybe you might be interested in bringing on extra staff?” She turned around, and Axle, for a moment, assumed she was showing off her butt (and it was a very nice butt, indeed); but really, she was pulling up her skirt to show him her cutie mark, which was an old grandfather clock with the gears and clockwork parts visible. “I-I suppose I should properly introduce myself! My name’s Ornery, and I always had a love fer tinkerin’... but I settled down into this business ‘cause there’s nothin’ to tinker with, all the way out here! But when I heard you were expanding your workshop, I wondered…”

Axle blinked. “You’d want me to… hire you?”

“Well, only if you really need the extra hooves, of course! I ain’t asking for charity — I can pull my own weight!” Ornery replied. She seemed quite shy, as if she was afraid to look like some freeloader trying to ride off of Axle’s sudden good fortune. “But… if, maybe, you needed help with anything…”

Axle tapped his chin. He’d never imagined having his own employee… but if he was planning on expanding his business, it would make sense, right? And plus… after his experience with Ornery, well, he certainly wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. “You know, I’d never considered it, but… now that you mention it, having my own assistant does sound pretty cool,” he nodded, giving her a pat on the back. “I’ll be sure to keep you in mind, Ornery.”

Ornery chuckled, her mood visibly lightening now that she saw Axle wasn’t offended by her offer. “I’d be much obliged, hero,” she said, making the stallion blush with yet another little kiss on the cheek before she returned to the din of the crowded bar. As Axle strutted around, he basked in the feeling of everypony looking at him as if he were some sort of hero, and not just that weird loner who lurked on the outskirts of town. Maybe his father had been right — maybe all this time, all he’d needed to do was get out of his comfort zone and live a little.

One thing was for sure; thing were really turning around for him, here in Santorini.