Advent Of A Gunslinger

Eventually, the ship would make its way across the Bone Dry Desert and stop right above the valley where the Milk Ranch was located. The ‘Ranch’ was actually a small village built into the lowland of the valley. Various little huts were located along the trail that led to wooden buildings that were something right out of an Old Western town. Those buildings would then lead to one massive building made of bricks, and just behind that building lied rows and rows of greenhouses that were surrounded by shrubs on all sides. It was approximately half the overall size of Ponyville.

Just before Axel and Roseanne got ready to drop off, they were given one more brief rundown of their objective by Celaeno. The gunslinger’s allies would also be there to give him a proper send-off.

“Remember, you’re looking to take down some sort of deadly target that uses a special magic weapon. My sources tell me that this magic comes from a book of some kind, so that should narrow it down for you.”

Axel gave his revolvers a quick spin upon his fingers before holstering them once more. “Ain’t gon’ be a problem.”

A few seconds later, Roseanne would appear with a long, double-barrel shotgun tied to her back along with ammo. The stock was worn and had a single silver star on its left side. “Ah’m ready’ta go ya’ll.”

“You got this, compadre,” Vido said, “You’ll get what you’re looking for soon enough.”

“I concur,” Kora added with a confident purr, “No one can fell the mighty Remington name. This will be over in no time.”

“And if you need us at all, just shoot one of the emergency flares that Rose packed,” said the captain, “Now this may be a bit difficult, so don’t try and rush through it, okay?”

Axel was intrigued by the way Celaeno addressed everyone, but didn’t question it. “Understood.” Without another word, Axel turned his back to the edge of the ship, and allowed himself to fall off. Within seconds, he spread his wings, flipped himself upright, and made his descent…

“Wow,” Celaeno trilled, “Dramatic much?”

“Oh don’t mind him! He’s just super serious, ya’ll.” The minotaur gal turned around, and would use the attached rope ladder to climb her way down manually. “See ya’ll soon!”

Axel didn’t bother waiting up for the minotaur at all. Instead, he took a few steps towards the entrance of the little desert village. The entrance of Milk Ranch is where most of the huts were located. These were built near the start of the valley, as they were most susceptible to the hot conditions of the desert. Just above him was a large, wooden arch sign with the words ‘MILK RANCH’ painted in white.

“Hm…” he surveyed the area. There was little activity thus far, so he decided to wait for Roseanne to catch up.

And within the next two minutes, she did. “Heya, Remin’tin! Find anythin’ yet?”

“Not yet. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t get lost on your way here,” he replied coldly.

“Aw, that’s so sweet of ya’ta care about me like that,” she said with a giggle.

The gunslinger simply scoffed, and kept walking. “Would’ya kindly git a move on? Ain’t no tellin’ what could be around here…”

And thus, they entered the village. After a bit of walking, the two would find their first instance of activity:

Minotaurs. Just as Celaeno described. But there was one major, key detail to that fact. The minotaurs they saw were all female. Not a single male one in sight.

A small handful of them had on armor and carried large weapons such as hammers, axes, and lances. The minotaur ladies looked up to see Axel and Roseanne--well, more specifically, they were looking at Axel. A few casual glances here and there, but some went as far as staring and making eye contact with the hippogriff.

“...Hrm,” he muttered, “Wonder why they’re so fixated.”

“Prolly ‘cuz they ain’t seen no pony-like creatures ‘round these parts. It’s too dangerous for ‘em out here ‘cuzza Klugetown and whatnot.”

That’s when Axel recalled his discussion with Tony, and the proximity of the Ranch’s Valley to Klugetown itself. With that in mind, it wasn’t absurd to assume the tribe of bovine bessies hadn’t come across a pony--or a pony-like creature such as a hippogriff--in forever.

“Guess that makes sense...ladies are hella muscular…”

Another detail that caught his attention was the varying body shapes and styles. Colors as well. There were black, brown, light brown, gray, white, and of course, blue minotaurs. Some were tall--four times the size of the average pony--with thick thighs and biceps--especially the ones that lived in huts and carried such large weapons.

“Guess these rougher ladies must be the fighters and defenders.”

However, as they moved closer inland near the middle of the village where the wooden buildings were located, they’d find other body types. Some were petite with thinner proportions such as those found on Abyssinians. There was a few shops including a massive general store to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, a clothing store, a tavern, an inn, and a bank.

“...Shoot. This kinda reminds me’a home right here. All that’s missin’ from this place is a sheriff’s office--then again, ya kinda don’t need one when ya got a beefed up army of Taurettes.”

“Sooo…” Rose idly asked a question as she gawked at the little village, “Mister Ax, where should we head’ta find out some info?”

Axel gave it some thought, and looked up at the large brick building at the very end of the valley. The one that sat in front of the greenhouses he saw from above. “The biggest place has the biggest importance, I reckon.” He glanced at Rose, and then the building.“I’mma go on over yonder, and see what I can find there. You see whatcha can find out here.”

“Alrighty, pard. I’ll hit up the tavern first,” Rose replied, and turned to make a left towards the pub that also served food.

The gunslinger caught a whiff of fresh corn and apple pie which started to remind him of his younger years. “...Takes me back. But I gotta focus.” And so, he went on. Straight towards the large, brick buidling.

The closer he got to the building, the curved sign at the very top would become clearer:

MADAM MARTHA’S MILK MANSION

“...Milk Mansion? Hold up now…” Axel started to think back to what Tony had told him. Something about a madam that ran the entire valley known as Milk Ranch. This was likely the place where she stayed. “...An entire buildin’ fer the ladies of the night, huh? But if Martha runs this entire locale, then she’d prolly know about suspicious stuff most.”

Ultimately, Axel decided that he had to bite the bullet, and enter this ‘milk mansion’ if he wanted any answers. So, he pushed that door open.

He stepped hoof and claw inside upon purple velvet carpeting, and found loads of Klugetown beastmen off to his left seated at various tables. They were all enjoying a show in which minotaur women danced and showed off their assets in feathery, tightly form-fitting outfits. Somewhat similar to the show he saw in the saloon in Klugetown. Of course, the main difference was that nudity was fair game here--every so often, one of the minotaur ladies would flash the crowd. In addition, there was also a live jazz band playing music for them to dance to. Consisting of more minotaurs and a few goat-like women known as fauns.

“Hey there, darling,” someone called out to Axel.

The gunslinger turned his head forward, and saw the source of the voice. A white, albino minotaur with a pair of glasses. She had on a blue dress shirt whose buttons threatened to burst at the seams from her breasts--as if the shirt was one size too small.

“Howdy, ma’am,” he said as he approached the front desk. “Is Martha here?”

“Mm...try back in about two hours, sweetums,” said the minotaur secretary, “She’s on her lunch break right now. And--” she paused, and leaned forward to get a better look at him. “Wait a second here...them eyes, that mask, that hat. I know you. Your bounty is all over the charts. Which means you probably got lots of money…” she bit on the head of her pen, and gazed at him with half-lidded eyes, “Am I right?”

That was technically true, and he wasn’t in a position to deny that fact. “Yeah. Ya’ll could say that.”

“Listen, sweetie. You’re better off waitin’ here ‘til she gets back,” the secretary minotaur leaned forward even more, pushing her breasts on the counter and causing her shirt to slowly rip apart to catch his attention. “And I think you know that too, don’t you?”

Axel couldn’t help but stare for a moment. Her bust bait had worked, and he was already hooked like a fish. “I uh...well--” he managed to snap out of it, and made eye contact with the bovine lady again. “I guess I don’t mind chattin’ with the locals. Get to know this place a bit better.”

SNAP!

The buttons flew off of the secretary’s shirt, causing her breasts to drop out, contained by a solid pink bra. “Mm-hm! Good choice. I just know the girls will love you. We don’t get too many equine men around these parts.” She leaned in and whispered. “...between you and me, all the Klugetowner-dick is getting boring. They’re so tiny, it’s criminal. A big, meaty bronco like you on the other hand...you’ll be heaven for them. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

Axel’s mind started to race. “...Damn. Guess servin’ customers who all tend’ta be the same size don’t bode very well. Whatever the case, I’ll get what I need and get out.”

The secretary leaned back in her seat, and spoke normally. “Ahem. Now allow me to give you yer options. And since you’re a first-timer, you’ll get half-off. Only need 100 bits from ya.”

Money was no object, and the gunslinger was already prepared. He placed down a small gold bar that was about six inches long. “Will this cover it?”

The secretary bit into the gold bar, and found that her teeth marks were present--which indicated that it was real gold. She put it away, and flashed a coy smile. “More than enough, honey.” She picked up a little cowbell and shook it around a few times.

DINGLE-DINGLE-DINGLE!

The floor beneath Axel’s hooves and claws started to vibrate through the carpet. Whoever his options were, they were big.

“....Oh my stars,” he muttered.

From a nearby hallway, four minotaurs would exit, and they would all stand in a line in front of Axel.

The first, and largest of the four was dark brown, muscular taurette. She stood there with her arms folded, pushing up her naked breasts, looking down at Axel with a smug expression.

The second one was a bit shorter but still huge compared to Axel. This minotaur was also topless, and had a gray color scheme. In her left hand, she held a riding crop, and in her right, she held a small paddle with a few heart-shaped holes in it. On her face was a neutral, bored expression.

The third was about the same height as the second. This one had a light brown body, brunette hair, and a warm, inviting sort of smile. She was the only one with her breasts covered--with a gray sweater to be exact.

The last was another albino minotaur and topless like the first two. She had a collar around her neck with a leash attached to it. Her breasts were leaking bits of milk as she barely stood still with a lustful expression, pantomiming the act of a blowjob with her free hand.

Axel froze, and felt the blood rush to his nethers. “...heifer overload.”