It was late in the evening, when the two of them made it to the outskirts of a rather quiet Aura. The small settlement’s only real activity was on the right side, where a number of ships were docked. Aside from that and the noise from a few of the taverns, the tiny, evening-shadow covered town was buttoned up for the day. Unlike many of the older settlements, Aura’s streets were still unpaved, gravel things, that only avoided ruts with exorbitant amounts of labor. Her many houses and shops rose up from the Savannah, built mostly from wood, which kept most of them under four stories tall. All around the south side of the town, to both the west and the east, were the orchards responsible for much of the livelihood of the locals. Much of the land to the north, from which they had come, were fields of grass and tended croplands.

As they approached Zephania slowly glanced back out into the Savannah as though measuring the terrain around them, before turning back to examine the town, “I have been here before. But it was far smaller and they did not have those trees...”

Rose looked toward the trees and then back to Zephania, before snickering softly. “That can’t be, those trees are far too old for you to remember being here. You’d have been a foal~”

“No, I was only-” Zephania cut himself off with a shake of his head, “...Nevermind, I must be mistaken. I must be thinking of another town.”

“I can understand your confusion, all earthbound towns do look pretty similar to those not from there…” Rose rubbed her neck against his, hoping to raise his spirits a little, since he looked so unnerved by Aura, “But those trees must be thirty years old, maybe a quarter-century if they were brought from Equestria.”

“Indeed.” Zephania nodded in acknowledgement, before falling into a thoughtful silence.

From there, the two trotted through the relatively empty streets in an amiable silence for a few moments, before Rose looked up to Zephania with a curious expression. “Um, Zephania…?”

Zephania shook himself from his deep thoughts and pecked her cheek. “Hhhmm? Yes, Rose?”

“I just remembered, in all the excitement of the past week, you never got a chance to tell me how you ended up on the Savannah...?” She looked up to him with curious eyes.

“Oh? I didn’t?” Zephania furrowed his brow thoughtfully, before shrugging, “I have lived on my own upon the grass since I was fifteen summers. My parents were going to one of the few real cities Zebrica bears. I wished to wander rather than seclude myself within the city.”

“That seems rather young to be on your own.” She remarked with a surprised blink.

“It is not so young for a zebra stallion. On the grass, one must grow quickly. Especially if you wish to live on your own.” Zephania shrugged once more and lay his neck over hers.

“So I guess you met Zuberi first?”

“Yes.” Zephania nodded, “It was only a week after he fled with the bodies of his sister and her foal. I found him guarding their graves, refusing to move even to find food.”

Rose’s mood became somber. “How did you finally get him to move?” She asked quietly.

“I didn’t.” Zephania shook his head with a bemused expression, “No matter how much I spoke with him, tried to console him, to lure him away, he would not move. I wound up foraging for food to bring him for a week. That was when Xolani found us.”

“So, it was Xolani that snapped him out of it?”

“He helped Zuberi speak with their spirits.” Rose regarded him with a sour skepticism that made it clear she did not like the sound of that. “It was not some dark art.” Zephania reassured her, “Any Shaman or Medicine Mare that wishes to may speak with the spirits of those that have gone before, or aid others in doing so. It only becomes dark when one seeks to control them.”

She frowned slightly. “I know.” Rose replied, reminded of her more recent interactions with the spirits of the Savannah; still, she could not shake Discord... “I still don’t like it.” She shook her head, and quickly changed the subject, “Why was it you didn’t want to follow your parents? Surely, that wasn’t the whole reason?”

“I did not want to follow them because I did not wish to trap myself behind stone walls.” Zephania insisted, “We came from a proud tribe of wanderers. Where many tribes may find places to settle down for long periods of time, we were always on the move. The city did not seem right to me at the time.”

“So, why did your family leave the tribe? Moreover, if you wanted to continue wandering, why did you not simply remain with the tribe?” She narrowed her eyes, keenly interested in his explanation.

“Our Chieftain and Medicine Mare made it very clear to us that we were no longer welcome within the tribe.” Zephania lifted his head and turned his gaze away from her with a somber frown.

Rose stopped them and gently turned his head back to meet her gaze with a tender hoof. “It’s alright, love, you have a new herd now.” She smiled at him sweetly, “And I think you’d have a hard time driving me off with a brandished club!”

Zephania’s frown disappeared, replaced by a soft, but hesitant smile, “You truly wish to know why we were escorted out of our tribe at the point of our friends’ spears?” While his smile never left, something in the way he looked into her eyes almost screamed at her that she didn’t.

The mare took a deep breath and nodded resolutely. “Zephania, I know you’re a good stallion, no matter what your old tribe thought.”

Zephania shook his head with a soft sigh, “Very well then, Rose...” Zephania took a deep breath and took her by the shoulder, before pulling her toward a nearby alleyway, causing her to squeak in surprise. Leading her half-way down its length, he stopped and checked to ensure that they were completely alone, before taking her by the shoulders and looking her dead in the eye, “Rose, my parents and I- We were driven away because my mother-” He stopped and took another deep breath, “My mother is a shape stealer. A changeling.”

Rose’s eyes shrunk and her blood ran cold as memories of the Invasion of Canterlot returned to her. “A changeling…?” She asked in a voice bordering on silent, before swallowing worriedly.

“She is a good mare, Compass Rose, she has never hurt anyone.” Zephania continued on quickly, “The city she and my father traveled to was built by changelings and a tribe of zebras that had joined with them. Few actually know of the changelings there and when people encounter that which they do not know or understand...” He sighed and lowered his head, “Most consider changelings to be a form of demon.”

Rose took a deep breath and swallowed her nerves. “Show me.” She commanded him.

Her stallion looked back up into her eyes and blinked, “Show you?”

“You.” She insisted, prodding his barrel with her hoof, “I want to see you. None of your magic, not your disguise, you.”

“Rose, I am not a changeling.” Zephania explained with a tired sigh, “My father was a zebra and my mother maintained zebra form while pregnant. I am a zebra. I do have one or two tricks, but I cannot change my form.”

The pegasus’ gaze became stern, forceful, “Have you ever used magic on me? And be honest, Zephania, even a cantrip?”

“I don’t have any magic to use.” Zephania shook his head quickly.

“You haven’t even used a spell to make yourself more attractive? Nothing?” She asked him critically.

“Well, not for the express purpose of making myself attractive.” He shook his head, before looking around once more to ensure they were alone. “That would be one of the few tricks I have.” In the next moment, the color and pattern of his coat shifted until it was an exact match for Uzoma’s, though he retained his shape. “I can change my coat so long as it involves black and white.” His normally blue eyes then slowly shifted into the same dark hue as Uzoma’s. “And I can do pretty much whatever I please with my eyes.”

Rose shivered, shaking her head. “Please don’t…” She asked him desperately, and then took a deep breath, but didn’t look back at him.

Zephania sighed and lowered his gaze. “Sorry...” In the next instant, his blue eyes and wavy stripes had returned.

“I was in Canterlot when the changelings invaded.” She revealed to him, a spike of dread coming from that memory.

“I...do not know of such an invasion, but I can promise you that not all changelings are like that, just as not all ponies are like your last stallion.” As he spoke, he gently pulled her into a hug, “Just as I am not like him. All I wish is to care for you.”

Rose was silent a moment as her stallion made to embrace her. Wary as she was, Zephania had given her no other reason to distrust him and the fact was, he had trusted her enough to reveal himself to her. In that moment she swore she could feel his love for her slowly burning way her anxiety. Taking a deep breath, she gingerly wrapped one of her arms around him to return his embrace.

“So...you’re a color-changing zebra?” She asked him in a small voice, wanting to believe.

“Yes, Rose.” Zephania chuckled and offered her a tentative nuzzle, “That is all I am.”

“Do you feed on love?” She inquired, her wariness slowly changing to curiosity.

He shook his head slowly and raised his head once more with a hopeful expression, “No. Though I can feel others’ emotions to an extent.”

“You can feel emotions?” The mare looked back up at him warily, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“That is correct. I can sense when you are happy,” He hummed and kissed her nose, “...when you’re afraid.”

Rose’s ears flicked back momentarily in worry at the concept that her feelings were an open book to him, before dismissing it in favor of a small, playful grin. “You know, if you had told me you fed on love, you could’ve gotten laid more~” She teased him.

“Is it too late to change my answer?” Zephania snickered and nibbled sensually at the base of her neck, causing her to purr pleasantly.

He chuckled with a low purr at her reaction and his hooves trailed down to her rump, earning a nip from her. “Horny stud~” Rose snorted at his forwardness, “Do they know?”

“Oh, the others have seen me with enough mares to know what a ‘horny stud’ I am~” He snorted softly and nipped her ear.

Biting back a squeal, Rose softly butted heads with him, to get him to focus. “You know what I’m asking you, Zephania.” She retorted pointedly.

Zephania then gave her a pleading look and a gentle squeeze. “No. I have never told the rest of our little herd and I would appreciate it if you did not either.”

Compass Rose shook her head softly and pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, while still in his embrace. “If you don’t want me to tell them, then I expect you to.” Rose declared, the words of Ekua making her just a little more bold than normal, “I’m not going to lie to my lovers, and it wouldn’t be right to give you a special pass. If you want me to help you tell them, I will stand beside you, but you need to tell them to make this herd work.”

“Do I really have to?” Zephania’s frown only grew, “Every time my secret has come out, my friends either drive me away, or insist on treating me like some kind of elder~”

“How old are you?” She asked gently now that he had brought it up, she doubted that he could be too much older than she was.

“Old enough to be each one of your-”

“Nuhun.” Compass Rose stopped him with a hoof to his lips, “You know how old I am, it’s only fair.”

Zephania sighed defeatedly, “Very well...I am sixty five summers.”

“So it was Aura you were at all those years ago!” She chuckle-snorted, “You’re almost as old as my grandsire!” Rose tried to get ahold of herself, before shaking her head and offering him a quick kiss on the lips as a token of peace, lest he get offended, “I like older stallions,” She shook her tilted her head with a cheeky expression, “Not usually that old, but I think I can make an exception for you~” She offered him another, tender kiss on the lips.

“Good to know I’m your type then...” Zephania accepted her kiss with a wry smile, “To be honest, I’ve always had a thing for younger mares.” He chuckled and pulled her in close for a warm hug. “I guess we’re just a perfect pair of lovers, aren’t we?”

“You’re not just going to trade me in when I get to be your age, right?” She asked him worriedly, though she did her utmost to hide her worry.

“Not a chance.” Zephania hummed and stroked her back with his hooves, laying his head on her shoulder.

“You promise~?” She teased him, after all, she was a third his age.

Zephania gave the base of her jaw a possessive bite, “You’ll always be young in my eyes~” Rose gave a soft squeal at the bite, before glancing back at him with a thoughtful expression, as if wondering something… “Coin for your thoughts?”

“Possessive~?” She tittered, not seeming to mind, just curious where it was coming from.

Zephania fell into thoughtful silence for a moment, before nodding slowly, “I suppose just a bit~”

This caused the mare to frown ever so slightly, “Because of the way Zuberi...presented me?” She asked a little worriedly, hoping that her concerns were unfounded.

He actually laughed and shook his head, “Zuberi is a part of this herd and thus no real ‘competition’.”

Rose’s cheeks actually tinted a little, that was the first time they had ever referred to their relationship as a proper herd.

Licking her dry lips she looked into his eyes, “Your words say that, but your teeth aren’t so sure…”

Zephania chuckled with a knowing smile and gnawed gently at her jaw, “My teeth are perfectly capable of sharing...when he’s around~”

The mare moaned softly, her wings ruffling slightly as she leaned into his muzzle. “You say that like you wish he weren’t~” She grinned at him.

“Can you blame a stallion for being a little greedy~?” He asked with a guilty little grin and let his hooves wander up her back.

“You sure this isn’t because of Zuberi~?” She asked him once more, less sure than she was before.

“I will let you know if it’s Zuberi~” He promised her with an amused roll of his eyes. This time it was her turn to give him a little nip, just the slightest bit irritated by his eye-roll. She was actually worried that she had caused a split between them by going along with Zuberi’s request. “Rose, it’s not Zuberi.”

“Then what is it?” She asked him a little sharply, before her ears folded back, “I-I’m worried…”

“Rose, I’m just a naturally greedy stallion.” Zephania nuzzled soothingly into her neck.

This caused the mare to snort loudly, before nickering humorously. “Zephania, I don’t think you’d know greedy if it bit your backside!” She nuzzled him affectionately, “If you were greedy, you’d never have given me the choice of when I raised tail for you...you would’ve just insisted.”

“Greedy doesn’t mean savage.” Zephania snorted dismissively and returned her nuzzle, “Just because I’m greedy enough to want something doesn’t mean I’m barbaric enough to take it.”

“Like I said, some pony stallions would expect a mare to put out if they wanted his attention~” She explained to him, her wry smile hinting to him that she had been that desperate at least once.

“Well, never with us.” Zephania shook his head firmly and gave her a tight squeeze, earning a surprised squeak from the pegasus.

“Would my stallion like to run through town like a couple of maniacs~?” She offered him with a playful giggle and an affectionate nuzzle.

“Mmmm, I think I could handle a run~” He nodded and gave her neck a nip, before slowly releasing her.

Rose leaned up against him, looking intently at him, “I asked you what you’d like to do~?” She reiterated at his teeth.

“What would I like to do~?”

The next she knew, he had his mouth on hers and was using his hooves to lift her by the rump, before leaning her back against the alley wall with his belly to hers, standing on his hind legs. Rose squealed in surprise into his kiss, not sure whether to be terrified of being caught, or turned on by his aggressive behavior. Ekua and her previous conversation was momentarily forgotten as she pressed back into his lips, his tenderness just as evident to her as his passion. As he held her there, he began rubbing his belly purposefully against hers, allowing her to feel his crown starting to poke forth, and Rose nickered in surprise into their kiss. Soon enough, he felt a little slickness upon his velvety sheath. Zephania quirked an eyebrow with a knowing smile, and pressed the slowly growing length of his shaft against her. Once again, her fear of being caught returned and she squealed softly; a part of her worried what would happen if they were caught, but another part of her was...well, excited enough to be slowly coating his growing member. Zephania nickered as he felt her excitement and broke the kiss as he adjusted his hips to line his crown up with her labia.

“Zephania, if we get caught…” Rose whispered in warning to him, terribly torn at the moment.

Zephania shrugged with a soft smirk, starting to part her labia with his crown, “Let them watch and be jealous~”

Any protest the mare might’ve had died as she moaned needily at the pressure parting her lips. “We could get into so much trouble~!” Rose squealed; wrapping her wings and arms around him for more support - the latter of which were around his neck, the former around his back - she pulled him tight against herself as if to tease him by preventing him from moving anymore. “Just because you can read my mind doesn’t mean you can just take me whenever you please~” Rose growled playfully at him.

“You really want me to stop?” He growled playfully in return and pressed his weight against her.

Rose growled at him, “You said you wouldn’t use magic on me~”

“No magic here~” Zephania purred as he began pushing steadily deeper into her flesh, filling her depths with his flaring cock.

“You’ve done this before.” Rose moaned accusingly, clearly enjoying the smooth penetration.

“Once or twice~” Zephania and his mare nickered as he finally sank up to his medial ring, “My first time was with the Medicine Mare of a tribe living at the base of a mountain. I was sixteen and she’d asked me to help her gather herbs and mosses in the mountains in return for the shelter I received... She liked it like this.”

“Did she ask you to sex her, or did you just press her into the nearest wall~?” Rose teased him pointedly.

“I was a horny young stallion that had never been with a mare and she kept flirting and flashing me...” Zephania blushed a little guiltily, “She didn’t protest and seemed encouraging.”

“If she had asked you to stop?” Rose whispered, just the smallest worry gnawing at the back of her mind.

“I like to think I would have stopped.” Zephania admitted, “And there are many times where I have stopped when a mare asked. But for three years, she never did.”

“Well, I don’t mind what you were doing, Zephania,” She purred, giving him an encouraging squeeze, “I just- don’t assume I am your pleasure mare.” She explained with a brief misstep.

Zephania frowned and shook his head softly, “I don’t want to use you... So what would you like to do, Rose, if I was at your mercy instead?”

Rose made to pull his nose to her own, looking him in the eyes and kissed his nose, “You obviously haven’t felt it yet, but you have me wet~” She teased him mercilessly.

At that, he bit her neck possessively and gave her a firm hump against the wall, “Rough or gentle~?" He nickered, grinding his hips up against hers.

“I like strong stallions that know what they want and how to please a mare.” She nipped softly at his lip, “Do you know what you want~?”

Zephania smiled softly and groped her rump, “What I want,” He nibbled sensually on her ear, “...is an answer~”

“And if your mare neglected to answer~?” She teased him, very much enjoying both his length deep inside her and his ear-play. At that, Zephania snorted in a dominant manner and clamped his teeth down at the base of her neck. He then moved his forehooves to rest against the wall, ensuring that the only things holding her up were the way she held him and the way she rested against his cock. Rose blushed, somehow managing to be bashful, “It seems I am at your mercy~”

“I will ask one more time.” He warned her with a hungry growl, “How rough would you like it~?”

Rose caressed her stallion’s neck softly then, “Did Zuberi not tell you of our romp?” She wondered, nuzzling him sweetly.

Zephania shook his head and nipped her collar. “He said nothing.”

“What would you like to do, if I just surrendered to your mercy?” She asked him innocently enough.

“Your stallion would eagerly claim you~” Zephania gave her a short, experimental thrust, tugging on her mane in return at the same time

“Claim me?” She asked him breathlessly, wondering how far he wanted to take their game.

Zephania grit his teeth and sighed, before pressing his muzzle to her ear. “I want to dominate you, Rose...” He admitted with a shuddering breath, “Be very careful what you offer me, because I will be tempted to take it.” He shuddered a little harder then with a guilty expression, “I want to fuck you senseless and do things that probably would make you feel used.”

“I will tell you if you are taking things too far.” She assured him with a sincere smile.

He pulled back to lock eyes with her, wearing a stern gaze, “Please...don’t hesitate if I do. I enjoy pleasing you...”

Rose softly kissed his nose, and smiled warmly at him, “And I enjoy pleasing my stallions~” She offered him sweetly, “Will you have fun with me~?” She asked him a little submissively.

“More than I think I ever have.” Zephania took a soft breath and was quiet for a long moment, “I will offer you one last chance to withdraw the offer of submission. I don’t think it’s what you are meant for, but I am so tempted...”

“I trust you.” Was her reply. At that, Zephania took a deep, steadying breath and nodded softly. Without another word, he bit down on her collar, before suddenly taking up a quick and hard pace, thrusting up into her repeatedly. The small pegasus whinny-whined as her rump bounced up and down under his thrusting, her hot insides only seeming to get hotter as her depths squeezed his intruding rod. “W-would you like me...to fight back?” She asked breathlessly, “...have more fight than it looks. F-fought Zuberi to a draw...”

Zephania didn’t reply, but the very suggestion seemed to arouse him further. He snorted and renewed his thrusting while giving her shoulder and neck a series of possessive nips, followed by one firm bite to the base of her neck. The mare squealed quietly in pleasure as her stallion took her, pulling him tightly into her once more, with a knowing laugh. The next he knew, she bit his ear almost hard enough to draw blood, growling in challenge and aggressively grinding against his rampaging masculinity.

“I’m going to breed you~” He growled around her neck, before giving it a savage bite, while he continued to roughly thrust into her.

The mare grunted deeply, very nearly actually submitting at the bite, before an almost cruel grin crossed her features. “Not if Zuberi already has~” She whispered into his ear. He gave a primal snort at that and bit her almost hard enough to draw blood, before switching to a slower, but even rougher pace as he glanced to an abandoned crate a short way down the alley. She shuddered with a passionate whine, but his reaction only served to excite her, not make her submit. “Come on, doesn’t your changeling blood give you some kind of advantage during lovemaking?” She jeered.

“Lots of stamina.” Zephania growled and leaned up to roughly bite her ear instead, “I can go as long as I want before I let myself climax.”

The mare bit his neck sharply then, “Good thing, because if you didn’t, I’ve got other stallions~” She continued goading him, before pulling on his mane. Her goading earned her a rough snort and he suddenly had his teeth on her neck at the base of her jaw, pinning her back against the wall. The mare grunted quietly at his roughness. “Frustrated~?” Rose teased him innocently, squeezing his rump as she pulled her hips hard against his.

Zephania chuckled and gnawed on her neck, starting to follow up each thrust with a short bout of grinding. Rose found herself running out of options then. Pinned as she was, there wasn’t a lot she could do in terms of movement. With his teeth at her neck that pretty much ruled out any kind of nipping or pulling. She honestly doubted that she could do much with her wings, even if they weren’t stiff as a board. About the only recourse left to her was a sharp yank to his mane.

That actually drew a heady nicker from him and he released her neck to whisper breathlessly, “Whinny for me~”

Rose smirked victoriously at the sudden change in the stallion’s tactics. “I’m going to make you cum first~” Despite her competitive tone, Zephania could tell that she was nearing ever closer to her climax.

Her stallion growled and gave her a punishing thrust, “Whinny.” He commanded. Rose loosed a strangled noise that was somewhere between a whinny and grunt, before defiantly biting his ear. At the same time, her wings wrapped possessively around his back, pulling her lover tight against her belly. Zephania nickered headily, biting her jaw, before he started to speed up his thrusting again. “Let go~”

“Zephania~” She whined quietly around his ear as she ground in time him, even as she gnawed at his ear, trying to delay her own orgasm, “Please...”

Zephania gripped her neck tightly with his teeth and thrust roughly into her one last time. “Here I cum...”

Rose whinnied excitedly at his declaration. Grinding his flared crown against her deepest barrier, he unleashed a torrent of seed into her womb. The mare’s voice rose several octaves, becoming shrill as her folds boiled over around him.

“Don’t stop~!” She implored him as she shuddered in his grasp.

Zephania’s seed was already filling her to near bursting, but he was not one to deny his mare a request. Without waiting for his climax to die down, he resumed his thrusting, going at a rough and ragged pace. The feeling of her stallion working her through her orgasm, triggered her second, before the first had even ended and she squealed breathlessly, her eyes rolling back.

After just a few more thrusts, his mare simply went limp in his arms, her neck flopping over his back. Her wings around him were about the only signs of life from her, aside from the pounding of her heart and the rippling of her vaginal muscles around his length. Zephania brought himself slowly to a halt, holding her up carefully with his hooves as he regained his ragged breath. The continued thrusting had prolonged his own orgasm and the evidence was a small trickle of leaking seed, despite the plug that was his flare deep in Rose’s depths.

After a few long moments, Rose nuzzled weakly against her stallion’s withers, attempting to speak. However, nothing comprehensible graced his ears, only a string of drunken mumbling from the blissed out mare.

Zephania chuckled affectionately and kissed her cheek, before nuzzling into her neck, “We can’t stay here all night, Rose. We do have supplies to grab...”

Rather than speak, the mare then gave her stallion’s withers a firm bite, as if commanding him to be patient and to let her enjoy this. The stallion chuckled softly, before suddenly biting down on the meaty base of her neck, as though to remind her who was in charge, earning a loving moan from her. He did not, however, try to pull out or otherwise move her.

“Zephania, where did you learn this~?” Rose finally murmured, between desperate pants for air.

“The same Medicine Mare that took my virginity.” He informed her with a soft smile.

“She took it~?” Rose wondered weakly, if he meant what she thought he did.

“I gave.” He corrected himself.

“How old was she~?” Rose asked him, only to start kissing the base of his neck and nuzzling into his mane there upon.

“She was thirty three.” Zephania shrugged and returned her attention with some affectionate nibbles up her neck, as she mirrored his affections.

“Next time, you should just ask me to fight back for you~” Rose whispered into his ear, before softly nibbling on it.

“I’d rather not risk hurting you.” He shook his head and slowly started to pull out, the mare groaned, something between disappointment and acknowledgement as he did.

“I’m not fragile.” She protested softly, “If that wasn’t enough proof, ask Zuberi. I’m not some vase you have to worry about shattering, Zephania.”

“I’m not worried about you being fragile, Rose...” He shook his head softly, before his crown popped out and he started to set her down, “I’m worried I’d get carried away.”

Rose gasped softly at the sensation of emptiness that only seemed to grow as her insides expelled his copious seed. Still, that didn’t stop her from pulling him into a tender embrace, still upon their hindlegs.

“I’m telling you, you don’t need to worry,” Rose nuzzled into the side of his neck then, “but I am not about to push you into something you’re not comfortable with, Zephania.” She then pulled back just enough to kiss his nose fondly, “If you change your mind, I am your mare~”

Zephania nuzzled lovingly into the same spot that he had repeatedly bitten, “And I am your stallion, Rose.” He murmured in return, before slowly releasing her from his embrace.

Compass Rose gave his neck an affectionate nuzzle, before promptly diving underneath her stallion, taking his mostly hard, still flared phallus into her mouth and started gently sucking his length. Bathing his length with her tongue, she hummed a happy little tune, before taking him too deeply to do so. The mare didn’t seem to mind tasting their mixed fluids and eagerly worked him, happy to express how good a ride he had just given her.

Zephania inhaled sharply in surprise, before chuckling and stroking her back, “After all that, you’re still eager to get me in your mouth?”

Compass Rose pulled back, blinking her eyes tiredly at him. “Getting you clean~” She explained, not even waiting for his permission to continue cleaning him up.

He hummed and rubbed a hoof over her flank, examining her cream stained marehood as it dripped with his seed. “Are you prepared to be claimed~?”

“Zephania, ponies don’t claim each other like this…” Rose explained hesitantly, but did not say no to him.

Leaning down, he began chewing sensually on her dock, while using a hoof to play with the mess that had been splashed about. “I will not force you to, Rose.” He assured her, even as he began to paint the outside of her marehood - as well as some of her rump - white with his contributions.

Rose pulled back, her work complete, and she placed her head upon his rump. “You’re really going to do this~? Claim me in this...vulgar manner?” He could feel her trepidation and hesitance, yet she was not refusing him.

“I want to say yes...” Zephania smiled softly back at her, giving her flank a kiss. “Is there anything I could do to make you more comfortable?”

“I told you to take me…”

Zephania slowly turned about to bring his face to hers, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, “I will make this up to you...” He reassured her with a smile, before giving her a deep kiss to show just how much he appreciated what she was doing.

“You’re fighting off the stallions who think I’m a call-filly.” She remarked, leaning into her stallion.

“That seems like a worthwhile battle to me.” Zephania remarked with a proud grin. “I will gladly set them straight.” He savored her presence for a long moment, before leaning in and licking Rose’s lips, “So, shall we press on?”

Rose nodded softly and nuzzled noses with him happily. The mare’s legs were wobbly and in short order she was using him for support, her body language claiming him as hers. Zephania stood tall, proudly supporting his mare as he led her out onto the street, and as he did, he continued to shower her neck in nips and kisses. Though Compass Rose nickered sweetly and leaned into his attentions, she eventually nudged him back.

“If you keep doing that, you’re going to have to take me again.” She warned him very seriously.

“I don’t think I’d mind~” He smirked softly at her, before nipping her ear, “Pushing you up against another wall and claiming you again~”

“It’s your decision, I am your mare after all.” She reminded him, smiling lovingly at him and leaning against him, “But you’ll have to do the shopping, carry me and the food, because you’ll be lucky if I can remember what we’re supposed to be getting after another round!”

“In that case...” Zephania tapped his chin thoughtfully, “Perhaps after we have our ingredients.” He nodded more firmly then and kissed her cheek, “Let’s go show you off first ~” He purred and took her by the ear, gently pulling her toward the end of the alley and the street beyond

Rose nickered softly at his ear pull, “Move.” She commanded him impatiently, with a broad smile.

Zephania laughed merrily and picked up his pace, before pulling his ear out of her grip. “I’m going, I’m going. I wonder how I should take you once we’re done...” He purred as they rushed along, leaning in to whisper in her ear, “In another alley? Or perhaps in a pony tavern close to the sea?”

“Are you willing to help preen my wings for the next two days?” She purred back.

“I would have done that anyways.” Zephania snorted happily in return.

“Take me down to the beach.” She suggested.

About that time, they passed a stallion coming out of a nearby building. It took him a second as his brain processed the surprising smell that assailed his nose, before nickering as he scrutinized Compass Rose’s fit backside hungrily, apparently quite unperturbed by her cream-pie - if anything it seemed to entice him. Noticing the stallion, Zephania caught his eye with a nod, giving him a challenging smirk, just daring him to try anything. The earthbound stallion thought about it for half a second, before thinking better of it. Instead, he lowered his head ever so slightly and smirked knowingly. Swelling inwardly with the pride of having backed down his first potential challenger, Zephania merely nodded respectfully to the stallion and turned forward once more to lead Compass Rose on. Needless to say, Rose had taken notice and was blushing furiously.

“I’m so embarrassed~” She murmured quietly.

“It’s not too late to find somewhere to clean up if you want.” Zephania remarked in a whisper, “Only one pony has seen you.”

Rose shook her head, “No, you want this, so I’m willing to oblige you.” She once again chewed on her lip.

Zephania stopped and started nibbling her ear with a soft smile, “Think of it this way, Rose. You are a beautiful, desirable mare receiving all the attention she deserves while her stallion clings to her~ He has to hold you tight, or he might just lose you~ It’s all about you.”

The pegasus mare whined softly, her ears folding back. “I never wanted this kind of attention…” Rose swallowed, nudging him to get him to keep moving.

Zephania sighed and leaned in to give her a comforting nuzzle as he moved on. “You are too good of a mare, you know that? Learn to tell us no...”

Rose smiled innocently at him then, “But if I say no to you, then you can say no to me~” She tittered and Zephania rolled his eyes amusedly and nipped her ear, before turning forward. “Besides, if you’re willing to face the discomfort of telling our herd, then the least I can do is face a little embarrassment for you.”

A sudden, sharp gasp of surprise, from a mare on the opposite side of the street distracted Rose then. The pegasus flicked her tail at the mare in an irritated, dismissive gesture, and leaned her neck against his, declaring; this stallion’s mine! Once more, Zephania beamed proudly and shot the mare a brief, but flirty look as he chewed possessively on his mare’s ear, only for her to reach up and take his mane. Unlike with the stallion from before, Rose did seem to take some pleasure from this encounter - or at least from her stallion’s reaction. Taken by surprise at her sudden boldness, Zephania blinked, before winking at the other mare with a grin and obediently following Rose. As they went, he discretely flicked his tail to let the mare behind them get a look at his assets.

Several more times ponies seemed surprised and a few more times they seemed envious. Once, a large pegasus stallion legitimately looked like he was about to have it out with her stallion, before she wrapped her neck around Zephania’s possessively and glared at him to back off. With great reluctance, the challenger realized his chances were effectively zero and did so. As the pegasus walked away, Zephania snorted dismissively after him, insisting to her that he could have handled the stallion. The mare rolled her eyes at him and pushed him back toward the marketplace; thankfully, they didn’t encounter any more ponies until they reached their destination.

Aura’s market was more of a commercial district than anything, a slew of stores and warehouses built near the town’s docks. Though it was nearly empty now, most of the townsponies either at home, or in one of the taverns, it was clear that there was a great deal of business that took place in what otherwise appeared to be a quiet town. Apparently between all the ships coming and going, and the local zebra tribe, there were more than enough people about to necessitate quite a bit of infrastructure. All of the streets around the market and docks were infact paved in stone and sported sewers and street lamps. Few of the stores were still open at this hour, but one of them was what appeared to be that of a grocer that had not fully shut down. A sky-blue unicorn-mare was putting away the last of an outdoor stall in front of her business. The mare with a mane and tail that matched her coat, turned to regard them with deep sapphire eyes, gesturing them inside as she closed up her white and yellow awning.

Inside was a small, simple space, with a strong wooden counter and a slew of cabinets behind said counter. Nothing could be seen of what was on sale, all of it either put away already or otherwise not on display. The small mare running the shop had a small, knowing grin for the couple, seemingly impressed by the two. Perhaps it was the gall of the zebra stallion, strutting a mare around like he was? Regardless of the reasons behind it, she brought her hooves up to the countertop and gave them a smile.

“Welcome to Buy’n’Large, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you two in Aura before.” The unicorn remarked evenly, “What can I do you for?”

Zephania offered her a friendly smile while sticking close to Rose’s side, “That is because we have only just arrived. My name is Zephania and this is my mare, Compass Rose.” He began smoothly, “I came to town today because I am looking for work for myself and three fellow stallions.”

“It’s nice to meet you, the name’s Polar.” The mare offered, before exchanging a wordless nod with Compass Rose, before looking back to Zephania. “Work?” The unicorn repeated thoughtfully, “I don’t know if I can hire all four of you, but if you’re hard workers, I might be able to swing three.”

“We do not require much.” Zephania shook his head, “We are a single herd, so anything you could afford to pay would be shared.” He offered her a charming smile, “I am certain we could work something out.”

“When can you start?” Polar asked with a pleased smile in return.

“Whenever you need us.” Zephania assured her with a grin, “We could even start tomorrow.”

Rose looked to her stallion, wondering why she had not heard of this before, but didn’t say anything.

Polar nodded. “I think we’ll find something for you to do. Come on over first thing in the morning and we’ll see how things work out.” She nodded again.

“As you wish.” Zephania nodded respectfully, “Until then, I wish you a pleasant evening, Miss Polar.”

“The supplies, Zephania~?” Rose reminded him in a whisper, which caused Polar’s ears to perk.

“I can’t get supplies until I get paid for doing something.” He reminded her with a soft chuckle.

Rose sighed softly and rolled her eyes playfully, before taking a step toward Polar. “My stallion neglected to inform me of his poverty.” She shot him a teasing expression, before looking back to the other mare, “Do you think I might be so forward to ask for a single bag of grain and some carrots, please~?”

Polar took a deep thoughtful breath, looking back and forth between the mare and stallion before her. “I am too damn nice for my own good…” She sighed before nodding softly, “You better be back in here first thing tomorrow. Gimme a second…” The unicorn declared, turning to head for the back room behind the counter.

“Thank you~” Rose offered Polar sweetly.

Zephania rolled his eyes amusedly and kissed Rose’s cheek, “We could have afforded to wait for the supplies you know.”

Rose nuzzled him with a happy little grin. “You’re the one who complains about grass soup every night.” She reminded him, “This way I can make you happy~”

“Uzoma is the one that complains~” Zephania chuckled and gave her mane a playful tug.

Rose mewled softly and gave him a bump. “Not in public, Love~”

Zephania smirked and wrapped an arm around her neck, “Oh, no one is around, Love~” He purred and gave her mane another tug.

“Polar’s going to be back~” Rose whined, trying to keep her tail from flicking.

“Let her see~” Her stallion purred and flicked her rump with his tail, “She can already tell~”

Rose then nipped him firmly. “It’s rude.”

However, before Zephania could respond, the unicorn mare appeared, carrying a five-pound bag of milled oats and a similarly sized bag of carrots in her aura.

Without releasing Rose, Zephania offered Polar a half-flirty smile, “Thank you, Polar, you are a very generous mare.”

Polar placed the two bags upon the counter before them, before crossing her hooves upon the counter and laying her head atop them with a smile. “Very trusting perhaps~” She shrugged, almost seeming to return the sentiment.

“Is there anything I might do to repay your kindness?” He asked her sweetly, while nuzzling Rose’s mane. “Perhaps Rose and I might offer you a drink sometime?”

Polar regarded the stallion thoughtfully for a moment, before her smile grew warm and friendly. “I think I’d like that~” She replied, shooting Rose a subtle glance, an unspoken conversation occurring between the two mares in a single blink.

Zephania smiled curiously at the two, before cocking his head to Polar, “I have to ask, if I may be so bold, what does your name mean?”

Polar merely smiled knowingly and began walking around the counter, revealing her cutie mark in the process, which happened to be a large iceberg. “Ice.” She declared, her smile becoming a flirty grin, “My special talent is making ice.”

“And how does one with a name and mark such as yours come to live on the Savannah?” He hummed, giving her flank a look of subtle admiration.

Polar laughed softly then. “I was born here.” She offered him a smile, “Have you ever had ice?”

Zephania shook his head with an interested smile, “I cannot say that I have. I know of it, but have never tried it. Can I assume that it tastes refreshing?”

Polar produced a bowl and a waterskin from behind the counter, pouring a little into the bottom, just enough for a rather hearty sip and then her horn began to glow. The bright, neon-blue of her aura encompassed the water and for nearly a second, nothing happened. “You tell me…” She then, hoofed him the bowl, except rather than slosh out, the water remained perfectly still within. “Have a taste.”

“That’s impressive, not a single imperfection in the crystals?” Compass Rose exclaimed in awe.

“It has been long since I witnessed the magic of a unicorn.” Zephania commented with an almost childish glee as he took the offering of ice, “Just as impressive as our shamans and Medicine Mares.” Bringing the bowl to his lips, he took a tentative lick to taste the frozen liquid. His grin only grew and he took another lick, “It is good. Refreshingly cool in a heated land.”

“If you give the bowl a solid wrap, the ice will come free and you can chew on it.” Polar suggested, proud of her abilities.

Zephania did just that, setting the bowl aside as he took the ice in his teeth. Taking a few nibbles, he offered Compass Rose one end of it, keeping the other end in his mouth. His mare smiled, glad to see her stallion being so considerate. Leaning in, she took a small portion in her teeth and exchanged a quick, but energetic kiss with the stallion, before biting off her piece of ice. She nuzzled him briefly and pulled back to chomp on her ice. Deciding to be a little bold, the stallion turned back to Polar and used his tongue to maneuver what was left of his ice so that he was offering Polar half of it with a hopeful smile. The unicorn hesitated, looking rather put on the spot at the moment.

“You go ahead and enjoy it, it was a gift after all.” Polar insisted sheepishly, trying to suppress a swish of her tail.

There was the briefest flash of disappointment in his eye as Zephania shrugged and sucked the ice back into his mouth, finishing it off with a few chomps, “It was worth a try.”

Polar giggled at that, smiling proudly. “I’m glad you liked it.” She offered sincerely.

Rose then nudged his shoulder softly, “We should get back to the others, I’ll see if Xolani and I can make something nice for you~”

Zephania nickered at the thought and gave her mane a soft tug without thinking about it, “And I’ll clean you up when we get back~”

Both mares in the room blushed at that, though Rose silently leaned against him, wishing that they could just not be there any longer. Polar on the other hoof, was trying to figure out how to get behind the counter without her tail flicking about like a school filly, trying to pick up her first colt. Zephania gave the unicorn a knowing smile, before slowly turning Rose about to go, giving her ear a sensual nibble when their rumps were to Polar, causing the pegasus tail to instinctually flash the other mare. As Zephania slowly led his mare to the door, he shot one last flirty smile back at Polar and briefly flashed her himself as he nuzzled Rose’s mane. Polar could only blush darker at that and wish that she had half as many stones as that stallion. If she had, she might’ve propositioned the mare for some time with her stallion right then and there. As it was, she was left feeling rather frustrated and eager to close up shop.

Once outside, Rose finally composed herself and gave him a sharp nip. “You did that on purpose~!” She hissed, “Making me flash another mare like that…one that you were flirting with no less!”

Immediately her stallion was nuzzling under her chin like a solded foal trying to appease their mother, “I meant no harm by it, my beautiful Rose. Can I make it up to you~?”

The mare sighed then. “Zephania, have you ever lived with ponies before~?” Rose asked him, ignoring his question for the time being.

“Never lived among them, no...” He shook his head slowly and kissed her neck.

“What do you mean by that?” She wondered, cocking her head at the way he said it, more than what he said.

“I have spent time with ponies before. Even bedded one or two pony mares.” He explained, “I’ve just never...lived with them.”

Rose sighed again, realizing she had to be the one to tell him then, “Zephania, you put Polar on the spot back there.” She informed him, “In pony culture it is the Alpha Mare’s job to approve, or turn aside mares that want to court my stallion~”

“That is...strange.” Zephania scrunched up his face thoughtfully, “Among zebra, the stallion will court whoever he pleases, so long as he does not bed them without his herd’s permission. So long as they acknowledge his ‘Alpha’ mare, they are accepted.”

“I earnestly don’t know what to do about my stallion courting other mares…” Rose revealed honestly, a small, thoughtful frown upon her face.

“Perhaps trust him?” Zephania kissed her neck again, “I would not take another without consulting you. Just as I trust you not to abuse your rights as a mare, please trust me not to overstep mine as a stallion.”

Rose’s ears folded back then and her frown deepened. “That’s not fair. No matter what I do here, I feel like a bad mare.” She protested weakly.

“My beautiful Rose...” Zephania murmured, bringing his head up to give her a soft kiss, “You are anything but a bad mare. How may I make you feel better?”

“As Alpha Mare, it’s my job not only to keep my herd happy, but to keep them safe...even if that means from themselves…” Rose admitted with that deep frown entrenched upon her muzzle.

“We are not pony stallions, Rose.” He reminded her gently, “We do not need to be protected as they do.”

“No,” Rose acknowledged pointedly, before looking him in the eyes, the issue being brought to the fore, “...but I am.”

“Then how may we reconcile our two cultures?” Zephania asked her with a soft smile. At his question, Rose’s thoughtful frown returned in full force as she tried to think how to do just that. “I want you to be able to enjoy all of the rights and freedoms of a zebra mare without being forced to feel like one.” He nuzzled lovingly into her mane then.

His mare smiled thankfully then and returned the sentiment without hesitation, “And I want you to have your loving pony mare, without being smothered by her~” She offered him in a sweet, caring tone.

“Then perhaps neither of us need change...” Zephania mused with a loving smile, taking a deep sniff of her mane, “We simply...talk things out when we feel uncomfortable. Find a compromise as things come up.”

“I think that means we’re both going to have to change, Love~” Rose reminded him, giving him a soft, yet frisky nip to his neck beneath his mane.

Her stallion nickered softly at the nip and gave her mane another tug, “I suppose we will~ It will be an interesting experience to say the least~”