The flight over the short stretch of ocean from Valley Island to Big Island felt so much longer to Avarice as a thestral instead of a dragon. Sure, he was faster, but his smaller wings required more effort to get a similar speed going. Yet ironically, he knew both from how his flight was doing and from Crescent's knowledge that he could go even faster due to his more compact form and flight muscles, but he wasn't willing to test that right now over potentially shark-infested waters. {Wuss.}

'Fuck off flycolt! If you want us to get there sooner why don't YOU take the wheel?'

{Finally! Thought you'd never ask!} Avarice felt the detachment of giving up control of his body, and Crescent grinned devilishly. “Prepare for a badass display of epic flight mastery! There's a reason I was one of Die Leucht's messengers!” The former bag-holder of the shadow organization suddenly dive-bombed right towards the water, making Avarice scream in terror in their mind, but Crescent just laughed wildly before suddenly pulling up at an impossible 90 degree angle just feet from the water, causing the rippling ocean to buckle under the air pressure he brought down on it, and begin rising in a trail as if he was actually physically touching the water instead of masterfully speeding along it, a cone of air resistance forming over the front of him.

{HOLY SHIT! Is that what I think it is?!}

'Y-yeah! But I've never been able to break it! I'll just have to be content with sub-sonic speed until I can finally break that barrier!' Crescent thought back, remaining focused with steely resolve to maintain a balance between his continuous speed forward, and avoiding giving in or trying to breach the cone, as it would've just sent him spinning into dangerous waters, and there's no getting out of water once your wings get wet, not even bat-like wings avoid getting too heavy from being soaked. 'If your pal Vagabond hadn't shot me before getting going, I would've been gone before you could even begin chasing us on the ground.'

{Damn, son...you could've been one of the most famous-.}

'I know....' Crescent thought back sadly, wishing he hadn't joined Die Leucht at all...lost his marefriend...died.... He couldn't avoid the tears, and decided to consider it the wind's fault for hurting his eyes, and pulled up away from the water to shoot up the cliff of Big Island they'd been flying towards, before landing at the top of it, and panting as he put his hands on his knees, his wings burning as they flapped slowly to avoid cramping while he cooled down. 'And that's why I didn't fly us here from Equestria. I'm a sprinter. We wouldn't have gotten here any faster if I'd done it. Mostly my speed was used to escape patrols or evade them entirely.'

{Great to know. At least-DODGE!} Avarice screamed into their head, and Crescent saw the image of a spear stabbing through his head, and he jolted to the side just as a stone-headed spear shot from the foliage, barely missing his head and shearing off a good portion of his long mane. {Jump!} Crescent complied with a flap of his wings, and a couple of stone and twine bolas flew past were his feet were, but he was then suddenly tackled out of the air by a swift shadow he could barely see come from the treeline, and grunted in pain upon landing as he was instantly pinned, and had a sharp obsidian-bladed wood dagger pressed lightly to his throat, still easily slicing his skin due to obsidian's molecular sharpness.

“------! –-----!!!” Neither of them could understand her. They watched her furless lips move, they watched as her black-muzzled gorgeous face twisted into a snarl, until she blinked her bright green eyes at realizing his confused expression. “------?” Again, they couldn't understand her, the words too fast, fluid, and oddly sensuously sexy in the way her femininely deep voice ran over the odd language.

{I...think she's speaking Hawaiian! But there's no way in hell I can understand her! Why didn't Homage give us a translator?!} Avarice lamented before Crescent's eyes naturally drew down to the rest of her, how her black striped white chest melons the size of large cantaloupes were barely contained within a sort of leafy bra, and how the black stripes running down her white body seemed to help emphasize her muscular curves, and ended on how her pelvis was planted on their abs, making them blush at how she wore a thong made of plant fibers, not really hiding anything of her black-fleshed nethers considering the straddled pose she took to pin him. {How do we keep ending up in these sort of situations?}

Although they couldn't verbally understand one another, the mare blushed at realizing he was examining her, and could feel a bit of a rise in his sheathe beneath his pants between her large, luscious buttocks, her long tail twitched at being so complimented. “------.” She said something again, but Crescent sighed before shaking his head with a shrug, hoping that communicated that he couldn't understand.

The zebra mare with the long, flowing black-and-white striped mane and tail frowned, before reaching into her satchel, which he had just noticed she had hanging off her side, and pulling out a small book that seemed made of bark, twine and leaves. She looked at him hesitantly before pulling the dagger away a bit, and Crescent nodded before keeping his arms at his sides, and she sheathed her sharp dagger in a resin-cured banana-leaf holster on her muscularly thick right thigh. She then quickly flipped through the pages, looking for something, before taking a couple of small glass bottles corked by resin stoppers that were filled with different colored fluids of varying opacity.

She then took a red, white, and yellow trio of vials before putting the rest away, held them in a loose fist, and closed her eyes before chanting in her native language, and a green glow emitted from her hand, making the stallion look at it in awe, seeing someone besides a unicorn or alicorn using magic so clearly was amazing, and when she opened her hand again, the vials were all glowing their respective colors. She smiled at her apparently successful spell, and then broke open the tops of them before putting them all in her mouth.

She grimaced at the taste, but kept each one in her mouth, swishing them about, and even gargling a bit, before she grabbed his muzzle, and quickly leaned down to kiss him. It wasn't really an intimate thing right away though. She quickly pushed her tongue through his lips, and forced the disgusting cocktail of fluids into his mouth. He grunted in protest, but she quickly put a hand to his throat and massaged it, making him swallow on reflex. After swallowing, the trio of mixed fluids created a tingling sensation running from his lips all the way to his stomach. Despite the horrible flavor, it was oddly enjoyable.

It wasn't for a few moments later that he realized he was hugging the mare and kissing her vigorously, and she was gladly returning the kiss until she sensed him coming to his senses, and she released him, both panting a bit. [Can you understand me now?]

Crescent gawked up at the smirking mare. [Y-yes I can!] 'We're speaking her language?! What sort of magic is this?'

{Very convenient magic. At least, aside from the fact she had to use those potions as a medium.}

[Then answer me this Sky Stallion; why has the moon thundered it's wrath upon that island?] The zebra mare demanded as she pointed over Crescent's head to Valley Island.

{Switch with me, sadly; I seem to be the one with better people skills.} Crescent eagerly swapped with Avarice, and he nodded to her. [Ironically; that's exactly why I was coming here. I don't appreciate almost having my head speared on approach though.] Avarice bit, and the mare grinned cheekily.

[If you hadn't dodged, you would not have been worth my time, regardless of your intent.] Avarice blushed when her tail whipped his groin, and she leaned back a bit, letting her thick, juicy rump press down on his groin as she looked down between her orbs at him with a hooded gaze. [Not many stallions in the tribe can manage such a feat as to evade a sneak attack of that skill, in spite of their training. You have impressed this mare. Not to mention that you are quite...exotic.]

Avarice grunted as his lower abdomen clenched, and his groin tried to become even more known, tenting his pants a bit between her butt cheeks. 'Gotta...hold in...arousal!' Avarice strained, and flared his magic into his thong, pants, and signet ring, each shimmering before he panted at calming down, his painfully powerful desire fading fast, and the mare blinked in surprise at feeling his stallionhood shrink away from her rear. [Do not...test me. I am cursed with extreme virility and fertility. Any female I lay with will doubtlessly become pregnant with many foals at once.]

[And that is a bad thing?] The exotic mare asked in confusion. [Such a male would be idolized as an avatar of our Fertility Goddess; Haumea, granting mares the joy of such bountiful life. Why is that bad?]

[You have to ask? I already have mates, one is currently pregnant with six foals, the other seven. They will grow to be massive, and have so much responsibility laid upon them for my negligence.] Avarice bemoaned, and the mare's confused face softened greatly into one of understanding and having been pleased by his answer.

[So rare...a stallion who considers others so much over himself and his duties. Quite a catch I have made.] She licked her lips, before leaning down and licking his snout, making him perk at the intimate gesture that was just short of outright kissing. [I am Zerona; huntress and scout of my tribe, also amateur alchemist. It is a great pleasure to meet you Sky Stallion.]

[My name is Avarice fair Zerona.] They smiled at each other, and Avarice looked down to where her groin was planted on his lower abdomen. [Not that I do not enjoy our proximity, but might you let me up?]

[Why? I quite enjoy my current seat.] Zerona teased, grinding her lower lips into his abs, and he sighed.

'Why do we always get into these situations?'

[ $ ]

After managing to finally get Zerona to politely let him up, refusing her advances for the stated reason of not wanting to burden her; Zerona begrudgingly led him through the forest rather than let him fly her, saying she would've gladly let him fly her home if he would've granted her the favor of a roll in the hay, but since he refused; his punishment was to hoof it there with her. [I'm not saying I would never mate with you, just...I...I don't want my heart broken.] Avarice tried to explain. [I've already lost my first mare Ichor, and possibly my second mare Sharp to my enemies. My third mare Tia is constantly being targeted by them, and my fourth, Sonata is...special. If I mated with you, I couldn't simply leave you be and expect you to be safe. I'd need you at least under as much heavy guard as them or I'd be all nerves over you and our foals.]

[It is fine, you need not explain further. You have many enemies, I understand, but you're the first stallion who has caught my eye, and I am not one to simply let things go.] Zerona huffed, looking back at him as she trekked down a hill ahead of him. She was barely Avarice's current thestral/pegasus height of about 6 feet, and looking at her in profile allowed him to see that if not for her large chest melons, she'd be too bottom-heavy to comfortably function with wide child-bearing hips, and her glorious booty and thighs that easily rivaled Sharp. [Besides, I see how you gaze on my form. You desire me just as much as I desire you. I'd gladly accept your gift of foals, so I just cannot understand why not if you can guarantee my safety.]

[I'm trying to say that I cannot guarantee it, at least not yet. Most of that's why I'm here in fact. I need to speak with your people of my organization's operations in the area, and the potential of hiring equines from your tribe to help us with our work, for pay of course.] Avarice was suddenly stopped by a hand on his chest, and blinked, wondering when she'd gotten so close as she looked him in the eyes searchingly.

[...Hm...I do not sense deception...but then again, you might simply be under the illusion that your group is altruistic in their intent. Know this; zebras have promised such things in the past, and it has never ended well.] Zerona warned before she turned back around, flicking him in the face with her tail before continuing on, and he snorted with a grunt at suppressing the arousal that sparked.

'Damn it mare....' Avarice continued to follow his escort, not wanting a repeat of earlier. He severely underestimated these zebra's combat prowess, and he'd rather not actually have a spear put through his head. Meanwhile, Zerona ensured he got a show, obviously emphasizing her wide, sexy hips with her gait, flicking her tail in time with her strides to emphasize her rear further, and tease him with glimpses of her uncovered behind, beings her thong only served to cover her nethers, and was really IN her large bum's crack, meaning she might as well have been naked from behind. 'Most, frustrating walk, ever.'

[Oh, a banana.] Zerona said, drawing his attention upwards to see a banana tree leaning over the edge of a sharp little hill to the side, and then he looked back down only to gag and blush as she purposely bent over at her hips, legs spread a little, tail moved aside, thereby presenting herself to him in the traditional fashion. If it were not for his enchantments and her wearing a barely-effective thong, he would've grabbed her ass and fucked her right then, repercussions be damned. [Hm? What is it that has you so flustered Avarice?] He looked past her displayed ass to see her sensuously sucking on a ripe and mushy peeled banana, pushing it into her mouth so deep it vanished, before she actually swallowed it whole with no trouble, licking her lips. [You look tense.]

{FUCK HER NOW! I DEMAND IT!}

Zerona yelped as she was suddenly pounced on, and they tumbled for a few moments until they reached a flat piece, and she hissed in pain from numerous scrapes, but gasped at feeling two hands grasp her breasts, and opened her eyes to see the glazed, hungry green eyes of the stallion she'd been using such shameless seduction into getting to bed her. [You'd better be ready for the consequences!]

Zerona beamed in victory, before grabbing his face. [Oh I am!] Zerona shouted in glee, before yanking his head down and getting lost in a searing kiss.

[ $ ]

Zerona strode forward on unsteady legs, dirty, her hair and coat mussed and ratty. Naked. Her clothes were ruined in the rough and passionate melee, exposing her swollen black lower lips and equally dark nipples. But her face sported a proud and victorious grin. Damn she had fun. [We're almost there my mate. Then we can get clean, and speak with the chieftain of your aims.]

Avarice was in a similar disheveled state. That mare is an animal! His clothes only survived their abuse and literally being ripped off by her due to their powerful self-repairing nature. He wasn't sure how many times they went at it, but that was the first time recently since his enslavement that he could actually remember and enjoy the intimate act of physically joining with another while so deep in a rut. It must've been the ring. He didn't lose it this time, so maybe it kept him aware, even if he couldn't control himself by that point. All he did know for sure of their passionate session was the time-frame afterwards. He was so focused on pleasing Zerona that he didn't even notice the sky getting darker, but she swore the island had no dangerous predators. She was a huntress in discipline only, as since her tribe arrived here a few years ago; they've never had to hunt to protect themselves or occasionally satisfy their odd craving for meat, which was easily met by fish.

[And you're sure me plowing you won't negatively impact first impressions?] Avarice asked again. He was still confused by her insistence that it was otherwise.

[For the last time; yes! Me presenting myself to you will actually give you more leeway with my people. We are an amorous people, believing strongly in love, passion, and the beauty of life and fertility. While us warriors are more disciplined than the average tribal, we too have that same drive. You interested me the moment I saw you, and the way my heart and my loins burned at the sight of you, I was going to have my way with you; one way or the other~.] Zerona declared, getting Avarice to sigh, kinda wishing she “took” what she wanted, his time with Sharp reminding him how much he enjoyed Sadomasochism.

[Okay, but I'm just a bit worried about-.]

[Ah~! Zerona! You finally picked a mate?!] The sound of a smooth male voice called from up ahead, drawing their attention away from each other to an impressively tall and bulky 8-foot zebra stallion wearing nothing but a leafy groin wrap, some shells as a necklace and holding a spear even taller than him. The massive size difference was a huge call away from the lack of height difference in sexes Avarice had seen before, so he was wondering if this stallion was a special case.

[Yes, indeed I have Zekkino. And a truly impressive and fertile lover he is.] Zerona boasted, cheekily smiling back at the sheepishly smiling Avarice who pinned his ears back at being teased at such a sensitive topic, but the large stallion simply laughed in response, as if it was a normal thing.

[That is good to hear! Does this odd stallion have news of the moon's wrath?] Zekkino asked as he eyed Avarice searchingly, and seemed to be satisfied as he grinned at him. [You treat Zerona right, hear? She's been avoiding courtship for years.]

[I don't see why; she is as beautiful as the most radiant beings of this world. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had a whole herd of stallions at her beck and call.] Avarice joked, getting Zerona to blush and cover her nipples and groin from Zekkino, who laughed just as boisterously as before.

[Oh, she did! Most of us single stallions were constantly seeking her affections for years, but she never chose one of us. I am glad that she at least found someone. Knowing that said stallion turned out not to be a zebra leads me to believe had we not had to leave Zebrica, she might have found her love in a gazelle, or even a giraffe.] Zekkino's voice became wistful mentioning this place called Zebrica, and Zerona looked similarly saddened.

[We do not speak of that place Zekkino. It is in the past. The Big Island is our home now.] Zerona sternly stated, and the morose stallion nodded, before gesturing them past him with his head, and she nodded before gesturing for Avarice to continue following her, and when out of sight, she ceased covering herself. [Zekkino was perhaps, the male closest to earning my affection. But it was always tenuous, and I never felt...IT, with him, like I did upon just seeing you.]

[Your tribe...I will have to learn it's history if I am to understand your oddly open customs involving your bodies, sex, and relationships. I mean; you bore yourself before that guy back there like it was nothing before he mentioned you being such a tease.] Avarice commented, and Zerona blushed before again covering herself fruitlessly, but stopped when she remembered the only one around was her new mate.

[It is...a cultural thing I suppose. Nudity is accepted, but it is considered embarrassing to be called out on it by someone who clearly holds affection for said nude zebra. Especially in public or by one's own mate. Please do not tease me about it beyond how fun our time together was. Comments regarding congratulations however are common, so I am not ashamed to be bare as the day I was born, being accompanied by my stallion.] Zerona said before surprising Avarice by whirling around, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him into a kiss, curling a leg as she leaned into him, and he grunted as he closed his eyes and returned the kiss with a hug, and trailed a hand down to her tail to tug it, making her moan a little.

[Couldn't you make it to your hut before having another go?] An old stallion's voice injected, getting their eyes to snap open and pull apart a bit to see a smirking and diminutive old zebra stallion draped in all sorts of hemp cloth, dyed with what pigments could be harvested from nature. That being said; a lot. It was like he was more a pile of tie-dyed cloth than a stallion.

[A-ah, chieftain Zen, I did not expect you to be out so late....] Zerona said nervously as she reluctantly let go of Avarice to stand exposed before her tribe leader, who merely cackled lightly with mirth.

[Oh, don't mind this old nag my young scout. Just gazing upon the early stars for guidance. It is merely to my pleasure to see one of my tribe returning home from the jungle safely, and with a new male in tow, one with wings. Did he come from the sky dear?] Zen asked, his dull and fading glassy eyes looking up at her with a wrinkled and gentle smile. Avarice felt...depressed at the sight of him. Reminded him of his grandpa....

[In a way Chief. He brings an offer from the group that had wrought such a fury on Valley Island-wait....] Zerona's eyes widened upon realizing the building facts. [Zekkino is standing guard...we've never had our warriors posted so far from the border of the village before. What do you mean by returning safely Chief?]

Zen looked sad, before he turned and gestured for them to follow. [It is unorthodox to meet with you in such a state of undress, but I feel I must show you what has come of poor Zoole.] Zen trudged along the barely-beaten path, and Avarice had the feeling that Zen knew they were coming somehow. He had a similar presence to him as the Royal Sisters, at least in raw essence. Just how powerful was the shrunken old nag?

{He feels like Star Swirl....} Crescent commented in awe as they continued into the village, remembering seeing the archmage once in public when he was a colt.

'It makes me wonder just how many forms of magic are available to this world. Unicorns and alicorns can harness it directly, horse mystics can bend the physical realm to their will through mediums and mysticism, and we witnessed Zerona using potions as a medium, which she called alchemy...we've got to multi-class, this world's too magical.' Avarice groused, finally understanding that relying entirely on brute force and technology would likely get him killed in a world steeped in magic.

Zen stopped outside of a hut next to what seemed to be a crematorium of sorts, and looked to us. [Beware young ones. What you will see is truly gruesome. Zerona. I know Zoole was a friend, but I refuse to let you leave this village for vengeance, do you understand?] Zen demanded, making Zerona grimace, before she wilted, and bowed her head in submission to her chief's will. [Good. You will see why I forbid such an action when you see the corpse.]

Zen then moved the large palm leaf “door” aside, and entered, them following. 'Good...Gog....' Zerona practically burst into tears and fell to her knees when she saw what remained of who was apparently a friend. Zoole had been a stallion, what remained of him suggested he was of average build like Avarice was right now. But that didn't matter anymore. What did matter, was the gruesome state his attacker/attackers had left his body in.

There was almost nothing notable left save half his head, and his upper torso along with half his left bicep. His fur and hair were gone, instead his bare black flesh, cracked and burned with bubbling and pestilent lesions was left exposed to the air, where the acrid stench of death, and volatile acidic chemicals assaulted them in the enclosed space. The claw marks, shredding teeth marks, and the way his remains seemed almost...not-solid, along with the stench and violently bubbled and melted flesh told Avarice how he died. [He was killed by a powerful alpha predator with the ability to projectile vomit extremely potent corrosive acids. What kind of creature could possibly do this?]

[No creature of this realm, region, or rightful existence. Not that we know of anyhow.] Zen stated, gesturing for Avarice to follow him back out as Zerona wept before the cot in despair. [This creature, my instinct tells me it has to do with the Moon's Wrath, as Zoole's body is still fresh, and happened shortly after the falling stars struck Valley Island. We heard an unworldly hollow screech of a howl, and then Zoole's scream of agony. By the time my scouts had arrived, Zoole was little more than leftovers of a foul beast.]

Avarice was about to say something when a hauntingly familiar, TOO familiar hollow screeching howl echoed into the village from a nearby cliff overhead, and everyone instantly went on alert, and when Avarice saw the source, he practically pissed himself. 'No....'

“You little tools already let Hyperion in? Weaklings.” The source of the deep and gritty synthesized voice stood atop the cliff at full height of 9 feet on his hind legs. His lithe and spindly form was deceptive, as Avarice knew those thin limbs had all the strength to rend a person in half from power alone. His leathery flesh was pitch black, almost blending into the darkening sky despite the moonlight of the full moon, including his lighter smoky gray natural bone armor on his upper torso and skag head, which had two eerily familiar glowing purple eyes. He only wore a tattered pair of olive cargo shorts, and a leather bandoleer crossed over his torso holding various extremely high-tech equipment he could easily identify as being technology from the Pandora, such as a shield module that glowed green, and various other tools. “Now I have to kill you all on principle. NOTHING Jack touches is worth saving!”

'No, no, NO! He can't be here! He's not even canon!' What stood on top of the cliff, summoning a Maliwan Sublime Deuced Snider sniper rifle from his ECHO storage, was the Vault Hunter OC his friend Anthon once boasted about, a story that never really took off even if the outline was there. What was training the sights of an excessively deadly and dangerous-at-any-range sniper rifle at him, was a slightly-sociopathic successful product of one Doctor Ned at finishing his Wereskag project.

“RIP~?!” Avarice screamed, before raw and pure agony blossomed from his shoulder.

Author's Notes:

~I like big butts and I cannot lie!~ If that wasn't obvious. Wanted another mare in the herd, and wanted a blatant exposure to a vastly different culture than the more European ones. So I decided to try blending a bit of Polynesian/Hawaiian in with references to African tribal culture.

More about that later though, since Architect's OC kidnapping abilities has taken RIP from Avarice's friend's unpublished fanfic universe, and has enlisted him as a Corruption Shade. Joy.