All that flirting from two different stallions - even if one was a colt - had put Rose in a very good mood indeed. So much so, that even having failed to find Xolani in the zebra marketplace didn’t seem to faze her. She did, however, find him on his way back to their yurt; or rather, just outside. The mare called out sweetly to him as she flapped hard, coming in for a landing. Touching down, she bounced and said bounce turned into a skip toward him, a bright smile upon her face.

Xolani sprouted a smile that mirrored her own and he trotted forward to wrap her in a soft hug, “Ah, there is Xolani’s beautiful Rose~! Did you have a pleasant day with Ekua~?”

Rose blushed as she nuzzled him with a nod, “Two other stallions flirted with me~” She whispered to him in a cheerful tone, before offering his ear a quick nibble, “One of them even fought a Lion~” She batted her eyelashes at him playfully.

“Most impressive~” Xolani hummed approvingly, before tugging playfully on her mane in retaliation, “Xolani is not surprised you earned such attention.”

“How does it feel to know your mare is stalked by both lioness and stallion~?” Rose giggled at his tugging, leaning her neck in against his with a contented purring.

“Xolani feels lucky he and his fellows got to her first.” He nickered and wrapped his neck over hers, “But, Xolani is glad you enjoyed yourself today.”

Rose nodded happily and made to sidle up to him, “It felt good helping people.”

“Mmmm, perhaps you would like to learn more then?” He asked her curiously, before turning to lead her back away from the yurt, only to earn a soft, halting tug from her.

“I was actually wondering if you wanted to go into Aura?” She asked hopefully, “There are a few things I’d like to get~”

“That sounds like fun.” Xolani leaned in to kiss her cheek before nodding in Aura’s direction, “Now, Xolani has never been in a pony settlement before. You should lead the way.”

“Let me grab my saddlebags, and you can drop yours off if you’d like.” Rose offered, otherwise nodding at his suggestion, before heading for their yurt. Xolani nodded and followed her patiently, sticking close beside her as she retrieved her things. “I’m a cloudborn-pegasus, Xolani, so I’m not much better off down here than you are, but I’ll try my best to show you around.” She smiled at him, before giving his a tug on the mane to follow, “We can spend the rest of the day teaching me a little about your world, and maybe I can teach you some more about mine~?”

“Xolani would like that very much.” He nodded enthusiastically and nipped her ear.

“Is there anything in particular you want to see while we’re out and about?”

“Everything here is new to Xolani. Xolani has no preference as to what he sees and learns first.” The stallion shrugged with a broad smile.

“Have you ever seen a sailing ship?” She asked him excitedly.

“No.” Xolani shook his head, causing his frazzled mane to wave about, “Xolani has heard of them, but never seen one.”

“Let’s start there!” Rose chirped and took off ahead of him at a decent clip, with a giggle.

Xolani set off after her with a laugh of his own. He trailed behind her just enough to give her tail a nip, before pulling alongside her. Rose sidled up against him with a happy laugh as the two ran through the zebra village. It was rare that she would actually run, but there was something about her stallions that just made her want to run...and run they did, all the way into Aura.

Running with Xolani through the steadily growing crowds of ponies, it finally got so thick that she was forced to drag him onto one of the little side streets and from there, they quickly spilled out onto the docks. What lay before them was a mighty galleass, a warship of both sail and oar, armed with cannons and fighting-stallions. Three large masts sprouted from the deck, though her sails were stowed at the moment, but her banners of Celestia’s Navy still flapped in the gentle breeze, identifying her as a warship. She was easily thrice the size of anything standing in Aura, and the construct seemed to glare at them.

Xolani stood rooted in awe. “By the spirits,” He murmured, “Xolani has never seen anything so large.”

Rose nodded. “You should see them with their sails unfurled.” She pointed toward the towering masts with a hoof, “They raise huge swathes of cloth from each mast and like a cloak in the wind, or one of my wings, they pull the ship along, majestic as a cloud upon water~”

“It is like they are pulled by the Wind Father himself.” Xolani spoke absently, “As though the Mother’s mate blesses your craft.”

“The Wind Father?” Rose looked to the stallion a little confusedly, not recalling hearing of him before.

“The great spirit of the winds that grace the Savannah.” Xolani explained patiently, “Just as the Grass Mother acted as the caretaker of the first zebra to walk our ancestral home, he was as our father. Together, they guided and taught our predecessors.”

“Oh, you mean the Grassy Mare’s husband...the spirit I kissed.” Rose remembered.

Xolani couldn’t help but snicker softly at the thought, “Yes, that would be the stallion~”

“I still hope she isn’t too mad~” Rose murmured.

“You would know if she was~” He chuckled and nuzzled her mane reassuringly. Rose hummed happily at the attention, before wondering why it was that the zebra didn’t seem to have anything that ponies took for granted, like ships, or towns, or farms. Her thoughts were interrupted as Xolani wrapped his arm around her again and kissed her cheek. “Where should we go next, my love?”

She purred and leaned into him affectionately, looking up at him with a happy expression. “Would you like to see the market?”

“Hhhmmm...” Xolani tapped a hoof to his chin with a thoughtful expression, before nodding, “It would do well for Xolani to know what the market has available. He never knows when he’ll need more supplies.”

Rose giggled at Xolani and rubbed cheeks with him. “There’s more than just supplies in the market, silly~” She teased him gently, before urging him to follow.

Xolani hummed contentedly and followed her with a curious expression, “Xolani does not have much he wants outside of his work and his herd.”

The mare laughed musically. “Then at least you’ll be cheap to court. My last stallion,” - She said the words with a sour undertone, but did not hesitate to continue - “now he would only accept the finest things life could offer him...and that included his mares.”

“Clearly he was blind to the best thing in his life.” Xolani declared, nuzzling her mane for emphasis, “Stallions like he are often blinded by the sheen of their own finery. It is best to enjoy the simpler things in life. To revel in the company of those you love.”

“I am glad he was blind, because if he were not, I wouldn’t have met any of you.” She offered Xolani not only her compliments, but a peck on the lips.

“Xolani only wishes you had not been hurt as you were, before he found you.” Xolani smiled softly and pecked her back, caressing her cheek with a hoof, “You deserve better.”

“You are better than what I had by leaps and bounds.” She assured him with another nuzzle under his chin, “But if you feel that bad about it, then let us have a good time this afternoon.”

“Xolani can do that.” He nodded with an affectionate hum, before flicking her rump with his tail, “Now, show Xolani the way.”

Rose squeaked in surprise and blushed, “As you wish~” She smiled deviously up at him and led him side-by-side into the nearby market.

What graced Xolani was no less than two-dozen open air stalls and more permanent business with displays assembled under awnings, outside their shops to attract customers within. That and what seemed to be the entire population of Aura, plus a hundred more ponies that were fresh off the week long voyage from Equestria to the colony. The noise made it so that in order to speak to one another, they practically had to be sidled up against each other. There were ponies of all sorts wandering about, as well as a half-dozen Zebra. It was hard to tell, but there seemed to be just about everything under Celestia’s sun in the market; from weapons and armor, to jewelry, from textiles, to unprocessed grain, even fresh fish.

Xolani simply stopped where they stood, taking it all in with an even expression, “Xolani was not expecting so much...”

“So much?” Rose asked in confusion, looking between him and the market, “Aura is tiny, Xolani. I’ve been in rooms with more ponies.”

“Not the ponies, Xolani has seen at least one tribe at least twice Aura’s size.” He gestured instead to the stalls. “But all of the goods. So much metal, so much finery...”

Rose giggled a little and mussed with her stallion’s mane affectionately. “Love, maybe someday I’ll convince the lot of you to follow me home,” She caught herself, “to Equestria...and we can visit Manehattan, where the buildings are made of metal.”

“That sounds wasteful and unnecessary to Xolani.” Xolani hummed with a thoughtful look, “What is wrong with a simple yurt? Or buildings like these?” He gestured to the town around him. “Why plunder the ground for more riches than you need?”

Rose lay her neck over his and smiled. “I’ll take you to the Clydesdale Building, and we’ll ride to the top, where you can stand inside a cloud, then I think you might understand.” She hummed amusedly.

“Perhaps Xolani will go for you,” Xolani shrugged, “but Xolani would like to keep his hooves firmly on the ground.”

“Just imagine how strong a building made of metal would be!” Rose chirped, not realizing just how fragile something that large was, even made from metal…

“And?” Xolani quirked an eyebrow at her. “Our yurt may not be strong as metal, but it is home. We could not wander as our hearts call us to do if we built like ponies.”

“I grew up living on a cloud.” Rose tittered as she reminded him, “My home moved too!”

“Yes, but Xolani cannot walk the clouds.” He reminded her, “It would seem to Xolani that pegasus ponies are the least wasteful of the lot.”

“Thanks, I guess…?” Rose looked unsure if that was a compliment or not, so she shook her head and pushed him forward into the undulating sea of moving ponies. “Let’s do some browsing!” She chirped, ready to experience the market with him.

Xolani moved with her, a bounce in his step and a curious gleam in his eye. As wasteful as he thought metal buildings were, the market’s broad selection intrigued him. As they trotted along, he seemed to focus more on the food stuffs and a few of the more modest trinkets and clothes. Eventually, the couple trotted up to the next permanent shop and they were greeted by the sight of all sorts of feminine interests; makeup, jewelry, formal and provocative clothing, and much more.

The first items to draw his eye were a few pieces of jewelry done in a style reminiscent of the zebra tribes. His gaze then traveled to some of the more provocative clothing. Xolani’s eyes seemed to dance back and forth between one of the dresses and a set of ‘zebra’ jewelry, before settling on Rose. He looked her up and down carefully, as though imagining her in that particular attire. His mare, however, was too distracted looking at a few more the more suggestive pieces of clothing, more intrigued than interested to be honest. Earth ponies and unicorns had always baffled her a little, wearing clothes that seemed to serve no purpose in her eyes, practical or otherwise. However, immediately next to her - was an entire display of various different brushes for coat and mane.

Xolani’s gaze immediately fixed on them and he gently prodded her side, before pointing to them, “You said you wished Xolani to brush your mane...he will return when he has earned some bits.”

Rose spun about suddenly in surprise, before nodding. “I did say I was going to buy a set, didn’t I?” She nudged him closer to them, “Come, help me choose a pair. We want something you feel comfortable in your hooves, as well as mine.” Xolani stepped forward to examine the selection more closely. He took a moment to glance over them, before pointing to one faintly similar to what he remembered zebra combs being like, with many long prongs coming off of the handle like a fork. “You’re going to have extra careful with my mane with a comb like that. Pegasi manes are notorious for getting knots in them after flight.”

“Which would you recommend, then?” He hummed curiously, returning his gaze to the selection.

Rose shook her head. “It’s fine, I’m just warning you that you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your hooves in my mane after I go flying.” She grinned deviously at him, bumping him gently with a shoulder, “You wouldn’t mind that, would you~?” She teased him playfully.

Xolani mirrored her grin and reached a hoof up to run through her mane, “Xolani thinks he could find worse ways to pass the time.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek, “And there are a lot of ways for your mane to become so messy.” He hummed suggestively.

“Oh?” She smiled coyly back at him, “I don’t suppose you might know any of those ways, would you?” She teased him once more, this time her voice dropping in volume as she batted her eyelashes at him.

“Xolani knows all of them~” He purred, his hoof trailing a little more sensually through her mane this time.

“Maybe those brushes will see use sooner than you thought~” She purred, walking around him, sensually dragging her tail up his neck and across his nose as she did. Xolani shivered and nipped at her tail, before sliding up to wrap an arm possessively around her. “Excuse me?” She called out to the older mare that ran the store, offering him a loving smile as he embraced her.

The mares quickly settled on the comb and brush that she wanted, and soon after a price that they could both agree on. A good price, Rose thought. With her purchases in hoof, she looked to Xolani to see if there was anything else he had his eyes on. She found his gaze briefly lingering on the dress and jewelry he’d liked, before he shook his head with a small sigh and turned back to her. She regarded him with a knowing expression, as if wondering just what he was thinking of, though she had a good idea.

Xolani smiled softly and nuzzled her nose, “Someday, Xolani will buy you a beautiful gift...”

“And on that day, I think you will have a beautiful bride.” Compass Rose nuzzled back against him with a happy smile of her own.

Xolani beamed proudly, giving her a deep, but tender kiss as he imagined her in the attire he had bought her on their little herd’s wedding day. Rose purred happily at her stallion’s affection, allowing him his fantasy. Besides, she didn’t really mind, it was a pretty dress and though jewelry wasn’t her thing, she might dress up on special occasion...especially for her stallion.

“Well then,” Xolani began as he reluctantly broke their kiss, his hoof trailing absently up and down her lower back, “now that we have our brushes, where would you like to go?”

The shopkeeper smiled knowingly at the two lovers, in fact remembering her own love story - but that is neither here, nor there…

“Should we stop in with the others while we’re here? Say hello?” Rose suggested.

“That sounds like a good plan to Xolani.” He nodded with a grin, “Xolani wonders how they are doing with Polar.”

“Working their tails off, I suspect.” She nodded, starting off toward Polar’s shop.

“Or working her...” He replied with a quiet chuckle as he followed her along.

Rose gasped softly then, “You don’t think they would...do you?”

Xolani promptly shook his head and nuzzled her neck reassuringly, “Not without asking you, as a good stallion should.” Rose nodded softly in understanding, though part of her still a little worried about letting her stallions spend time with her. Xolani seemed to sense her worry and stopped her where they stood, wrapping an arm around her and nuzzling into her mane. “None could come between us and our Rose. Whoever we maybe befriend, the one that we will always belong to is you. Say the word and your stallions would never leave your side.” He nibbled her ear then, “Let alone your bed.”

Rose gasped in surprise, before smiling sweetly. “No, I’m being silly. I love you and trust you all.” She reassured him, nuzzling his neck, before taking a deep breath of his scent to calm herself, “Besides, if you’re going to give me the freedom to lay with who I wish, it’s only fair to give you the same.”

“Xolani is glad then.” Xolani nodded happily, leaning into her side to support her, “Do not be afraid to tell Xolani if and when you worry of such things.”

“Thank you, Xolani. Now, let’s hurry, I’d like to spend the afternoon in the orchard!” Rose declared, pulling him along after her.

“The orchard?” He cocked his head curiously, following eagerly.

“Remember all the trees we passed on the way into town?” Rose asked and he nodded quickly, “Yeah, I’d like to spend the afternoon there. With you.”

“That’s sounds nice to Xolani.” Xolani nodded once more, “What would you like to do there? Nap? Run?”

“We could start with either,” Rose nodded, “I just want some time with you. A chance to talk, to cuddle~”

“Xolani would be proud to guide and teach his mare.” Xolani pecked her cheek, “All we want is for our Rose to fit in a way that makes her comfortable.”

“That’s the problem, I feel like a square peg in a round hole.” She frowned, looking up at him with an almost hopeful expression - it was going to be his job to make her fit.

Xolani shook his head, before giving her a tender kiss. “Your problem, Rose, is that you think the hole is round, when the reality is that the hole was made to fit you perfectly.”

“Then maybe I need someone who sees the forest for the trees…” Her hopeful expression only grew as she regarded him.

“Perhaps so.” Xolani nodded sagely, “Given time, Xolani believes you will come to feel at home with us on the Savannah.”

“Then perhaps as we lounge in the shade, you can tell me of of the Savannah, and then maybe I won’t feel quite so off balance.” Rose pressed her side against Xolani companionably.

“Nothing would please Xolani more.”

It only took the two a few minutes to traverse the busy marketplace, before arriving at Polar’s stall. During the day, with the sun out, the sign above her shop, below the second story windows read; Buy’n’large. From the look of things, they dealt in bulk groceries; grains, potatoes, fruits, fish, nuts...anything that was often bought in bulk in Aura. The only thing that surprised Rose a little, was the fact that she sold salt and sugar. Which reminded her, she should stop at the candy-shoppe that she noted was at the far side of the market that they were going to head through.

As for Polar and the herd-stallions, they looked swamped at the moment, as if everyone decided to converge on her shop at once. Though the stallions looked to be working furiously, Polar seemed to take everything in stride. It did make sense, she was used to working the shop alone, or so Rose assumed.

“Well, they seem to be having a good time.” Xolani chuckled amusedly, “Perhaps we should leave them be for now.” As he spoke, Zephania seemed to take notice of them and offered a quick wave and a smile, before going right back to work.

Rose waved back to Zephania, before frowning a little disappointedly. “I suppose we should…”

“Come, Xolani will do his best to satisfy you with his company.” The shaman teased her with a loving kiss to her cheek, “We can always return when it is close to closing time for them.”

Rose shook her head, then gave Xolani a peck to the lips in return, “Your company is very much appreciated.” She then gave him a little nudge, starting off once more, “Come on, I have a treat in mind~”

“Oh? Xolani likes treats.” Xolani hummed curiously as he trotted along with her, “Is it...a pastry?” He asked playfully, nuzzling her mane.

“Better, you’ll see~” She teased him back with a nicker of anticipation.

Xolani pestered her playfully the whole rest of the way, asking her if his treat was one thing or another. However, when they went into the shop for it, she didn’t even let him see what it was, before slipping it into her bags. This earned a curious expression from him as he sniffed inquisitively at her bags. Whatever she had bought, it was pungent and unfamiliar to him. At that point, he merely shrugged and continued his guessing game, now occasionally tugging her mane and flicking her with his tail in a childish attempt to get her to tell.

Rose only seemed to feed off of his behavior, perfectly willing to tease him vocally in return, as she led him into one more shop where she bought a whole mess of little, wrapped candies. This piqued the zebra’s interest even more. Having spent his whole life outside of major pony settlements, he had never even heard of candy. Cruel as it was, she promised him he could have some if he was a good stallion until they arrived at their spot in the orchard. From there, Xolani straightened right up, obediently following her in a well behaved fashion.

Rose led him deep into the rows of well tended to trees that made up Aura’s orchards, before finding a small hillock to sit upon, under one of the apple trees. Only the smallest of baby apples forming on the trees this soon after spring. Xolani took a seat first, leaning back against the tree, and motioned for her to take a seat in his lap. Rose, tittered and placed her saddlebags close at hoof, before sitting in his lap and reclining back into him with a contented purr.

“Xolani has never seen so many trees in one place.” He remarked curiously as he wrapped his forelegs around her waist and held her tight.

“We should try and return in the fall.” She hummed, comfortably, “You are a good stallion, Xolani. Better than I ever could’ve imagined.”

“Xolani is proud to do well by his mare.” Xolani beamed and nuzzled into her mane, giving her neck a series of soft nips.

The mare simply craned her neck about to allow him to work unhindered, a small smile on her muzzle as he did, while her hooves caressed his arms that wrapped around her waist. He let out a quiet nicker and worked diligently. Soft nips were followed by sensual licks and firmer little love bites that trailed up and down her throat.

“Xolani…?” She softly called his name amid her bliss at the attention he was giving her.

“Yes, Rose?” He hummed curiously and paused his work with a tender kiss to her collar.

“Would my handsome stallion like to share that treat now?” She whispered to him.

Xolani’s tongue drew up her neck teasingly, “Xolani already has a treat.”

Rose purred loudly at his tongue, before chuckling. “I’m not going to tell you, no.” She raised a hoof up to stroke his neck affectionately, “I did lure you out here to have some one-on-one time with you,” She admitted, before bumping her saddlebag with a rear hoof, “but that wasn’t the only thing I had in mind, Love.”

“Mmmm, Xolani supposes he could use a snack before dinner.” He punctuated the last word with a gentle, but possessive bite to her shoulder.

The mare took a deep breath in surprise, before laughing pleasurably. “Have you ever had sugar before?” She asked him with a devious, knowing smile, already suspecting she knew the answer.

“No.” Xolani shook his head softly with an inquisitive smile. “Is this what you bought?”

“Some of what I bought was made with sugar…” She nodded, dragging her saddlebags closer, before reaching a hoof into them. After a moment of digging, she pulled out two wrapped candies, both of them were orange in color and he could only faintly smell something vaguely fruit like from them. “Now do you want your treat, or do you want your treat~?” She asked him with that devious smile returning.

Xolani frowned and furrowed his brow, looking for all the world as though undergoing a furious internal debate; finally, he nodded firmly to himself. “Yes.”

Smiling, Rose returned one to sit atop the saddlebags, while unwrapping the other with her hooves. Instantly he smelled something sweetly pungent, tropical - not that he knew what that was - and did his mind already note, sweet? Then his mare brought it up to her mouth and ate it! Except, she didn’t. She leaned forward and locked lips with the stallion. However, when her tongue entered his mouth, it carried over a powerfully sweet little morsel that she forced onto his tongue with her own. Xolani hummed in surprise, smiling into the kiss. Clearly, he was enjoying the taste immensely. Pressing a little more firmly into her mouth, his tongue wrestled with hers, keeping the candy between them. Her original idea was to simply erotically deliver the candy to him, however, when her stallion started to play with her tongue as much as the candy...she eagerly obliged, making sure to move it all around their two tongues as it quickly melted. Xolani held the kiss until the candy was gone, at which point he slowly pulled back and licked her lips instead.

Rose giggled, and licked him back. “Want another?” She asked him sweetly.

“Yes, please.” He chirped happily and licked her nose.

This time, she returned the orange candy to her bag and after a moment of fishing, pulled out another; identical in all regards, but bright red. She once again unwrapped the candy and an equally sweet smell wafted to him, but otherwise as different to him as the color. This time, however, when she started to lift it to her mouth, he gently stopped her with one of his hooves. Taking the candy in his own hoof, he slowly lowered it until it started to brush along her nethers.

“Xolani~” She giggled airily, but stopped his hoof short, regarding him quizzically.

“Does something worry you, Rose?” He asked gently, keeping his hoof right where she’d stopped it.

“Are you planning on putting that where I think you are?” She asked him, one of her brows rising as she did.

“Not inside...” He shook his head, before purring teasingly, “But Xolani knows of nothing sweeter than his mare. What better way to improve his treat?”

Rose smiled in response to his flattery, and gave him a quick peck. “Xolani, sugar inside a mare’s vagina will give her an infection.” She explained gently to him.

“Oh.” Xolani’s eyes went wide and he started to move the candy back up, “Xolani would have cleaned up after, but better to be safe...”

Rose gave him another quick kiss. “You can always taste me after~” She purred enticingly.

“That will be Xolani’s real treat.” He growled softly and licked his lips, before offering her the candy.

Once again, she took the candy in her mouth, before offering her stallion her lips. This time, her tongue brought what might have been slightly sweeter than the last candy, with a smooth, upbeat flavor. Again, she pressed the candy between the two of them, making sure it landed everywhere on her stallion’s tongue. Finally, just as with the last one, this candy too melted quickly under their mutual tongue games. Unlike with the last candy, Xolani continued to hold their kiss, exploring her mouth hungrily. Both of his hooves drifted down once more, starting to gently stroke at her mound. Once his hooves ventured that far south, she pulled back from his lips with a smile.

“Starting to feel the sugar-buzz?” She giggled playfully.

Xolani licked his lips and cocked his head, “Is that what this is?” His hooves drifted a little further back up, each one starting to massage one of her udders. “This strange energy?”

“Mhmm.” Rose nodded, “You’re going to feel like a million-bits for about twenty minutes...” She informed him with a purr at his hooves upon her breast.

“Then after?” His ears flicked curiously and he tweaked her teats playfully.

“You’re going to feel like you made love to me all night, with no breaks.” She offered him a peck, “That’s what the other treat is for, food, so you don’t just fall asleep on me.”

“Well, if that is how Xolani will feel...” He nibbled sensually on her ear, “Why not make it a reality?”

“Because there’s one thing better than sex on a sugar-high…” She teased him with a twinkle in her eye.

“Oh? And what could be better?”

Before he could complete his meager sentence, Rose had leapt up. “Running!” She laughed, flicking her tail up at him teasingly.

“Oh-ho, try and outrun Xolani!” Xolani declared challengingly, before shedding his cloak and his jar covered belts; he took to his hooves and quickly started after her.

Rose intentionally let her stallion catch up, before picking up the pace, not actually trying to outrun him. As the two ran, she would nip at him, give him little love bites, tug on his mane, she even managed to loop over him with her wings and place a kiss upon his shocked face, as the two ran through the orchard. Xolani retaliated in kind, tugging on her mane or nipping at her tail every chance he got. All the while, he laughed delightedly and leapt about to come at her from either side. She too laughed riotously, simply ecstatic to see her stallion having so much fun as they ran aimlessly through the trees.

Finally, as did all good things, the two tired themselves out, coming down from their buzz back at their tree. Though, admittedly, Rose looked a little less worn than Xolani - it was his first time after all. As they made it back to their spot, however, Xolani let out a hungry growl and used what was left of his energy to mount his mare as he followed her. While he made no move to penetrate her, she could already feel his rod rubbing against her nethers. Rose growled playfully at him, truth be told, with her blood up, she was a little anxious to feel him too.

“Eat with me, Xolani, then you may devour your mare however you desire~” She offered him with just a hint of submissiveness at the edge of her command.

Xolani nickered and slowly licked at her neck, before hopping down beside her. “Xolani can hardly wait. His mare is far better than any ‘sugar rush’.”

She purred appreciatively as she bumped into him, desiring his closeness. “You looked like you were having fun.” She remarked, as she led him toward her saddlebags.

“Xolani has never enjoyed running so much before.” Xolani chuckled and nibbled on her neck, “Xolani thinks he will try it with his mare more often now.”

“Anytime.” Rose assured him with a smile, before procuring a double wrapped paper bag; opening it up, the powerful odor of cooked, lightly-salted, sunflower seeds washed over him. Within was at least a pound of black seeds that had already split from cooking. “Go ahead, you can have the first mouthful. My stallion is going to need all the energy he can get, I can tell…” She giggled, bringing the open bag close to his muzzle for him, even while glancing back at his partially erect cock.

Xolani sniffed at the seeds with a curious smile, before slowly leaning in and taking a large mouthful, starting to chew them thoughtfully. As soon as Xolani had pulled back from the bag, Rose dove in greedily herself. Xolani munched slowly away at the seeds in his mouth, swallowing a little at a time with a pleased expression. After taking her second mouthful, Rose offered the bag to him once more. Xolani took one more mouthful and started to munch a little more quickly. He began to eye her greedily, clearly eager to move on to the next course of his meal. Rose caught his glances and snickered giddily, before swallowing down the last of her food, sealing up the bag and returned it to its original place within.

“Xolani, there is just one more treat I had in mind for us...specifically for this moment.” She revealed to him, still rummaging through her bags for it. Her stallion gulped down his seeds and his ears perked up. His tail flicked about anxiously and he sidled up to her with an expectant look, silently urging her to hurry. Rose finally withdrew two white candies that smelled strongly through their wrappers. “Peppermint.” She revealed, “Some ponies say it’s a lesser aphrodisiac, clearing out the sinuses, to let you smell your mate better…”

Xolani nickered and nuzzled her encouragingly, “Xolani can make aphrodisiacs if you like.”

Rose snorted and shook her head with a smile. “That’s not the point.” Unwrapping the first, she hoofed the powerful smelling mint to her stallion, “It’s a candy...that just so happens to make sex more enjoyable.”

“Mmmm~” Xolani took a deep sniff, before sensually licking the candy up out of her hoof, causing her to shiver softly.

The stallion inhaled sharply as his sinuses suddenly opened and he growled lustfully as Rose’s scent flooded his nostrils. Rose by this point had opened hers and was chomping merrily on her candy, before noticing her stallion’s change in demeanor. She smiled lovingly and moved in to nuzzle the small of his neck behind his jaw, where he could do the same for her, and thus, get a deeper sniff of her sent. He shivered as he took in her smell and gave her a sensual nip. Bringing up a hoof, he slowly stroked up and down her neck, before running it through her mane.

“Xolani, Love?” She called his name softly, clearly enjoying this as much as he, only for her stallion to feel the lashing of her tail upon his rump.

“Yes, beautiful Rose?” He nickered curiously and leaned back to look her in the eye.

Rose smiled warmly at her stallion and her tail once again flicked against his side, though she said nothing. Xolani growled knowingly, before slowly stepping back behind her, where he tenderly nuzzled under her tail and took a deep sniff. Rose’s tail had already flicked up and out of the way, revealing her marehood, already glistening and seemingly ready for him. A fact that was hinted at by the scent of her arousal filling his nose, and confirmed when her clit winked at him. Her silver eyes peered over her shoulder, regarding him eagerly, a small smile upon her muzzle. Xolani smiled back hungrily and started to tease her labia with the very tip of his tongue, causing her to whine quietly. Bringing up his forehooves, he held her firmly in place and kneaded her rump.

“I’m ready whenever you are.” She informed him evenly, her smile encouraging and Xolani needed no further goading. With a gentle growl, he hopped up onto her back and kissed her neck as his length ground against her groin. “You ever mounted a pony mare before?” She asked him with a teasing growl.

“Never.” He nibbled on her neck and shifted to line himself up, “You will be the first pony Xolani has ever been with.”

Rose couldn’t help but giggle at the silliness of what she was about to say, yet, it felt strangely appropriate at the same time. “Then ease yourself into this port and let the cultural exchange begin, Love~”

Xolani suddenly broke into a fit of snorting laughter, regarding her incredulously, “Really?”

She frowned bashfully, aware that it was bad, but she had hoped that he would go along with it. “Shut up and ride me, Xolani.” She snorted disappointedly.

“As you wish.” He snickered once more and promptly slid himself forward inch by inch, until his hips rested against hers.

Rose gasped silently as his penis pressed into her sex, his flare stretching her in all the right ways, her long moan sounding a little as if he were slowly pressing the air out of her. Whence his hips pressed against hers, she ground her teeth, shivering beneath him as she did.

“That’s a good stallion. Mmm, so smooth~” She purred, her eyes closed as she slowly shook her hips side to side, enjoying the feel of him.

“Ah, Xolani almost forgot...” The stallion grunted and started to swirl his hips against her, before pointing to where his jar belts sat before them, “The red sealed jar. Do you wish for a preventative brew?”

Rose promptly turned her head around and gave him a quick, feathering kiss. “I’m not in heat.” She purred, opting to forgo the safer option, in no small part because of the pleasure she felt.

Xolani blinked in hopeful surprise, “Then, you are not worried about becoming with foal before your heat?”

“I could think of worse things…” She shook her shoulders casually, a small smile on her face, “Hey, Xolani?”

The stallion nickered happily with a toss of his head, before nuzzling under her chin, “Yes, Rose?”

She giggled equally happily at his affection, guessing already what his reaction to her question might be. “When my heat comes around, do you happen to know any fertility potions?” She asked him almost innocently.

Xolani grinned knowingly with a proud air, before pointing to his jars again, “Green seal.” He pointed out with a growl, before starting to chew on her neck.

“Ohh~” She whinny-whined in pleasure, “None of you are going to be able to walk that week…” She warned him with a punchy-laugh, “Now, Xolani, show me how you please a mare!” She chirped in encouragement, already appreciating his tenderness, but wanting more.

“Proudly.” Xolani declared, before starting to pull back.

On his backstroke, he wriggled his hips and when he pushed back forward, he did so with a series of quick, halting thrusts angled in a manner meant to catch her g-spot. The mare’s squeal of pleasure was abruptly cut short as her breath caught.

“What uh-are you doing b-ahh-ck there!?” Rose asked him incredulously, a few of his humps interrupting her words.

“Xolani-” He took a breath of his own, while pulling back, “-is pleasuring his mare.” This time, on the forward stroke he slid along in one go, ending in a thump.

“I’ve never even heard of a stallion doing that before!” She exclaimed proudly, smiling as she wiggled her hips against his.

“Xolani is glad you like it,” He beamed and repeated the jerky maneuver, ending it with another slap of their hips.

Rose panted heavily. “Xo-Xolani...i-if you do that again...I’m going to cum on the spot…” She warned him. Rose’s warning only served to encourage him and he repeated it for a third time. Her eyes went wide, before she forced her hips back into his, her sex going bat-shit around his length. “Xolani!” She screamed. Xolani whinnied at the increase of pressure, but never let up. With a determined nicker, he took firm, but gentle control of her hips and continued to expertly pleasure her. The mare grunted and groaned as her tunnel suckled his meat needily, her limited strength put into forcing herself back against his hips. “Xo-Xolani, p-please stop~” She whined as he continued to work her through her orgasm, threatening to give her a second before the first was even over. For once, her stallion seemed to ignore her request. In fact, his jerky thrusts seemed to become even faster and she found her most sensitive parts subject to near constant stimulation. Rose’s eyes crossed as he did. “Xo-Xo-Xo...potato~!” She whinnied as she came a second time.

Rose’s forelegs gave out underneath her and Xolani was forced to use a forehoof to catch her, lowering her front half to the ground. Even as he lowered her with a huffing breath, Xolani slid himself forward one last time to rest within her as he waited for her to come around. The mare finally took a deep breath after a minute or two and stirred groggily, her eyes rolling about as she tried to remember where she was.

“Are you ready for more, Rose?” Xolani asked with a soothing coo to his voice. While he did, he ground gently against her and nibbled her ear.

“Did-did we- What happened?” She asked him groggily, confusedly, before growling pleasurably at his stimulation.

“Xolani pleasured his mare.” Xolani chuckled with a proud grin, before leaning back behind her. “Time for another round.” He chuckled and before she could reply, he was already going full tilt with his earlier maneuver; their new position actually gave him a better angle to work.

“Whoa, whoa...Xolani, Xolani, Xolani!” She beckoned him to stop what he was doing.

Xolani slowed to a stop within her again to regard her innocently, “Yes, Rose?”

Rose panted and slowly started to rise. “Xolani, it’s too much.” She complained gently.

“Many apologies, Rose.” Xolani bowed his head to her in respect, “Xolani assumed that, like a zebra mare, you would like it if he continued like that...”

Rose shook on unsteady hooves, not quite standing again, “I’m sorry, Xolani, I just can’t feel you like that~” She tried to explain as she caught her breath.

Xolani stopped with his hips resting against hers and wrapped his arms tight around her, before nuzzling her mane lovingly, “I am right here with you.”

“I know you are, but that’s just too much.”

Xolani momentarily leaned in to nuzzle her ear, “But doesn’t it feel amazing?” He asked knowingly, “You could give in to the pleasure if you wanted...” There, he gave her neck a sensual lick.

Rose took a few deep breaths, before explaining. “It feels so good, all I can feel is the pleasure. I can’t feel you.”

“Xolani is the one bringing you this pleasure.” He reminded her with a gentle smile, “If that is what worries you, Xolani can find ways to reassure you of his presence.”

The pegasus mare shook her head. “I need to feel that I am pleasuring you.”

“You bring Xolani great pleasure.” He reassured her with a tender nuzzle to the side of her neck, “Truth be told, Xolani likes driving mares wild with pleasure.”

Rose whined in uncertainty, squirming unconsciously in her indecision, before finally deciding. “Bite me, Xolani, bite me and use me.” She demanded of him.

“As you wish, beautiful Rose.” Xolani purred and gently latched onto her neck, before adjusting his position to resume his assault on her g-spot.

Rose shrieked in ecstasy despite herself, shuddering beneath her stallion. The level of pleasure she felt scared her, but the fact that her lover was claiming her, using her as he desired, elated something primal in her. She wasn’t a mare that would allow a stallion to dominate her most times - serve, yes, submit, no - but this was a different kind of domination, the stallion was demanding to serve her and when it came to his desires, she was not about to tell him no.

Xolani whinnied around her neck and picked up his pace again, starting to go a little deeper after striking her spot each time. Feeling the mare beneath him losing her mind in ecstasy because of him drove him wild. He started doing everything he could to increase her pleasure. Sliding a forehoof around her waist, he started to massage her udder, while his other slid back to rub at her clit.

“No, harder. Plow me, Xolani! Throw your forehooves over my shoulders and plow me into the ground!” Rose cried out in near-delirium and Xolani did just that, throwing his arms over her and bearing his weight onto her back as his hips slammed into hers. His mare nickered shrilly, shaking her rump back into his hips. Her stallion chuffed and his teeth chewed sensually on her neck as he started pressing down on her with his weight, ready to plow her as she’d ordered. “Breed me, Xolani, breed me~!” She squealed.

Xolani whinnied and released her neck to grab her mane and give it a yank, pulling her back into a particularly powerful thrust. The pegasus’ wings flared with a loud pomf of air and her femininity flooded over, soaking him with her hot fluids as she came once more, with a breathless cry of orgasmic pleasure. Even that did not seem to be enough for the stallion plowing her rear. Using his forelegs, he slowly forced her own forelimbs to fold and press her barrel into the grass as he pounded her. His hot, ragged breath washed over her mane and neck as he yanked on her mane again, eliciting a whine, muffled by the ground pressing her jaw closed.

“Almost...there...Rose.” Xolani grunted and his thrusts became longer, but more erratic.

Rose’s vaginal muscles contracted around the stallion, as the mare used the last part of her body that she still had control over, as even her eyes rolled back in their sockets. It was either he came, or she was going to pass out with him still inside her, unable to give him release. Xolani grunted with a few more punishing thrusts, before pulling on her mane one last time as he drove himself in deep against her cervix and poured out his seed. With the feeling of his release, Rose released a deep sigh and she fell to the ground, her stallion falling down atop her. Xolani fell limp around her, breathing heavily as he lazily nuzzled into her neck.

It would be several minutes before the mare started coming back around, murmuring in her sleep. As she did, Xolani slowly wrapped his hooves around her and rolled so that she was resting on top of him with her back against his belly. When her lover flipped them over, Rose finally came about, murmuring at first, before seeking him out for a lazy nuzzle. He gave her one, along with a tender kiss to her cheek, while stroking her belly in a soothing fashion.

“Did-did you cum, Love?” Rose asked him groggily.

“Yes.” Xolani prummed and brushed a hoof over where they were still joined, causing her to sigh softly.

“I’m glad.” She murmured and lay her head back with a delighted smile.

“Rest, love. When you are ready, Xolani will answer any questions you have for him.” He cooed and kissed her mane, while wrapping his arms around her belly to hold her tight.

“Will you kiss me?” She murmured hopefully and the next she knew, Xolani’s lips were pressed to hers in a loving kiss, the two equines shared the tender embrace for a long time, before she finally broke away with a contented purr. “Never again, Xolani, never again.” She teased him, shaking her hips ever so slightly so that he would know what she was talking about.

“From now on, Xolani will always do as you wish.” He assured her, “Xolani will be far more tender.”

“I don’t know if I could cum that many times again.” She giggled a little drunkenly, “I think my brains would leak out my ears if I did!” She proclaimed as she snuggled into his chest, holding his arms tight against her chest.

“Xolani thinks that sounds like a challenge.” He purred, “Perhaps when your heat comes, your stallions will see if they can break the record together.”

The mare laughed loudly. “You just want to break me, don’t you?” She snorted, “Fuck me until I don’t know up from down and black from white~?”

“Mmmm, maybe~” Xolani teased her with a soft nuzzle “To make you feel such pleasure that bliss will be all you know for days~”

“I don’t know if I could handle that.” She admitted worriedly.

“If you wanted to try, your stallions would pay close attention and stop before it went too far.” He reassured her.

“Xolani, I need to feel my stallion’s pleasure.” She explained to him seriously, “I need to feel what I am doing pleases you.”

“Xolani understands.” He nodded softly with his cheek against hers, “Xolani will keep that in mind from now on.”

“I fucking love you.” Compass Rose growled appreciatively.

“Xolani loves you as well,” He purred in return, before offering her another kiss. Compass Rose accepted the stallion’s lips with her own, as she leaned into their kiss with a utterly contented purr. Her shaman held their kiss for a few moments, before pulling back to nuzzle her nose, “Now get some rest, love. We’ll speak more when you awake.”

“Are you going to sleep with me?” She asked him quietly.

“It is Xolani’s duty to watch over his mare as she sleeps.” He replied softly, “Xolani is not as tired.”

“Xolani, we’re safe here. Besides, I have good ears, nothing will sneak up on us.” She reassured him.

“Xolani knows.” Xolani nodded with an affectionate smile, “Xolani just likes to watch you sleep.” He pecked at her nose, “You are cute when you sleep.”

“You know just the right things to say, don’t you?” She pecked his nose in return and closed her eyes.

“Of course~” Xolani chuckled quietly and lay his neck over her shoulder as he waited for her to drift off to sleep.

Rose slept for a little more than an hour, before waking to the feeling of Xolani’s arms around her and an empty feeling between her legs, where his masculinity had been when she fell asleep. With a little effort, she rolled herself about in his embrace and gave his lips a thankful peck.

“Thank you, Love, I needed that.” She purred and then hugged his neck with both arms, and her own neck.

“Xolani is glad he could help.” He replied with a proud smile, “Are you ready to learn?”

“That depends,” She replied coyly, “...are you comfortable as my cushion?”

“There is no greater feeling than to have a mare in your arms,” Xolani hummed, “Regardless of how she lays.” The mare pressed herself into his lips once again with an approving hum as she cuddled into his chest and once again melted in his embrace. Xolani nickered and held her tight as he waited for her to finish. When she finally broke the kiss, he regarded her intently, “Now, give Xolani your questions.”

The pegasus made herself comfortable, her ears perked attentively. “Zephania and I spoke last night about some of my concerns about the standing of mares and stallions between our two cultures…” Rose mused quietly, before looking up at Xolani, “Do you want to get married~?” She asked, softly biting her lip.

Xolani smiled broadly and gave her a brief, but firm kiss, “Yes~ Though, Xolani thinks pony and zebra marriage rites may be very different...”

“Oh?” Rose regarded him most curiously then, “How do zebras marry?”

Xolani smiled knowingly, “It involves a wordless ritual performed by the Spirit Mare, shortly before the stallion, or stallions mount the mare, or mares as the tribe watches. In some tribes there is also an exchange of vows.”

Rose blinked several times, regarding Xolani with a flat expression. “No.”

Xolani nodded slowly, his smile never fading, “It’s true. It has been zebra tradition since the first young Chieftain lead his tribe onto the Savannah.”

“Xolani, I love you, each of you, but I am not mounting you in public.” She shook her head firmly.

“What is wrong with public?” He asked with a small frown, “It is something all married zebra go through. Some even do it outside of rituals and marriage.”

“So, you’re telling me that it’s perfectly acceptable to have sex in the middle of town?” Rose asked Xolani only slightly surprised given what she had seen of the Moon Worshipers thusfar.

“It can sometimes be hard to find privacy in a tribe.” Xolani replied with a shrug, “We have learned not to mind being seen and some even like it. Sex is a perfectly natural thing, so why hide it?”

“Ponies view it as a very personal act, one not to be shared.” She explained.

“But...if you will not partake in the ritual-” Xolani frowned a little more, suddenly seeming more than a little hurt.

“What of my people’s rituals?” She returned, trying to placate him, if only through understanding.

Xolani pouted a little, “Xolani supposes he could look into them...”

“I could tell you of them~” She suggested hopefully.

“Later. Xolani would like to continue with your instruction.” He replied, pushing away his disappointment to offer her a tentative smile.

Rose snuggled into his chest, looking up at him with a kind expression, “Please believe me when I tell you I am not going to forget who you are.” She explained to him in a gentle, reassuring tone.

“Xolani believes you and understands,” He gave her a soft kiss, “Xolani was just looking forward to this was one tradition.”

“Is there a reason besides wanting to mount me in public?” She asked him pointedly.

“The tradition is supposed to be a final, binding claim made between those being married.” Xolani explained, “Whatever other partners those being married may occasionally go to for a little fun, none can override the claim made in that moment. The stallion can say this mare is mine and he is hers, sealing the claim publicly.”

“Would you hear how pegasi marry?” She asked him hopefully; Xolani hummed thoughtfully, seeming unsure, before he simply nodded. “When we marry, we also do it publicly, but we give vows of loyalty and commitment. Then, before everyone, the pegasi to be wed tear out a feather and give it to their mates, braiding it into our manes. The magic in them making them feasibly eternal as our souls.” She smiled bashfully, “It is the same reason that I have kept every feather I have shed, because they are a part of my soul.”

“That is beautiful.” Xolani murmured softly, “...But we have no feathers to give.”

“I have thought of that.” Rose admitted, nodding slowly, “Would you and the others consent to giving me some of your mane? I could braid your hair into a knotted-chain and keep it in my mane, as a part of me.”

“Xolani thinks he could do that.” He nodded with a smile and gently nuzzled her neck.

“Something tells me you’re going to like the honeymoon~” She giggled, figuring that zebras likely didn’t have a honeymoon, if they mated in public as part of their marriage.

“Honeymoon?” Xolani furrowed his brow curiously, “Xolani has not heard of this ritual.”

“We take a month to do nothing but enjoy ourselves~” She purred suggestively.

“Xolani could get used to this ritual~”

“Do you still think the pony tradition is unreasonable?” Compass Rose asked him plainly, nuzzling softly into his neck with her cheek.

“Well...” He took a deep breath and nuzzled under her chin, “Xolani would still prefer to end the ceremony with a public mounting, but he will live.”

The pegasus took a deep breath. “How about during our honeymoon, after you take me, you show me off? Would that be an acceptable compromise?” She offered him with a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

“Does Xolani have to wait for the honeymoon for that?” He purred before suddenly nibbling her neck and stroking her belly, “Zephania told Xolani about your fun last night...”

Rose smiled sweetly. “No, Xolani, you don’t have to wait. As far as I am concerned, you are already my stallions.” She hummed, kissing him once more under the jaw, “Am I soiled enough for you?”

“You are filled and stained with one full zebra load as well as four of your own orgasms.” He chuckled and nodded pointedly to her cum soaked rear and the wet grass beneath it, “Unless you want Xolani to stain your other holes as well, he will be satisfied.”

Where Zephania had cleaned at least a little of his mess, Xolani actually ran a hoof over her soiled sex in a sensual manner, ensuring that the majority of her backside got a generous coating from the leaky remnants of the massive zebra load. This of course caused the mare to moan quietly in pleasure.

“Just remember, if you expect me to walk through town like this, I expect you to clean me when we return home.” Rose insisted.

“Xolani would be more than happy to.” He purred and nibbled on her neck again, “But the day is still young. We should explore some more.” He teased her, “Where should Xolani and his mare go first?”

“Well, we did come to visit the tribe.” She reminded him, snuggling into his neck as he nibbled on her.

“The tribe as well as Aura~” He reminded her, “Perhaps another stroll through the market is in order before we leave~”

“Come on, Xolani! The market wasn’t anywhere as packed last night as it is right now!” Compass Rose complained with a blush that seemed to make her rust splattered colored coat uniform.

“Yes, and?” Xolani smirked as he moved to retrieve his jar belts and refasten them.

“You’re going to make it so that everyone in town sees me?” She ground her thighs together nervously.

Xolani threw his cloak over his shoulders, before turning around and giving her a kiss, “Many were going to see you anyway, the rest would likely hear. It’s just a little stroll through the market.” He kissed her nose and brought a hoof up to caress her cheek, before helping her stand once more.

Compass Rose looked away bashfully. “You better not ever say that I don’t love you…”

“The thought would never cross Xolani’s mind.” He prummed and kissed her burning cheek, “Now, shall we?” He sidled up to her and nodded forward, ready to lead her by the shoulder.

The mare chewed her lip, but said nothing as she made to follow her stallion back into town, Xolani leading her along with a purposeful stride. That said, the fact was she couldn’t lower her tail without making a mess of it and this fact was already making her uneasy, despite him nibbling her neck and kissing her mane reassuringly to calm her.

Finally trotting into the market, Xolani took his time, pausing at every store and stall that caught his eye to browse. He kept a close eye out for any foals that might be in the area, however, planning on avoiding them at least. Most ponies were polite enough not to stare, though there were more than a few that did, and a few even that gasped and left their vicinity in shock. All things considered, she had gone from uncomfortable to positively mortified, blushing profusely and just earnestly wishing he’d get it over with. Noticing her reaction, he picked up his pace a bit, spending no more time than he had to looking around. Any stallions he caught staring were quickly shot a confident, challenging look that caused all of them to back down. Then, as he stopped to look around in one particular stall, an all black stallion mosied up to Compass Rose, giving her an eye...

“Well, aren’t you a morsel~” Remarked the unwelcome stallion, with a lewd chuckle.

Rose pressed against Xolani’s side wary of the stallion that looked like he was fresh off one of the ships in the harbor and hadn’t had a mare in...well, a long time. Having been keeping a close eye on her, Xolani nuzzled her and slowly turned the both of them about until he was between her and the stallion.

“Greetings, friend. How may Xolani help you?” He asked the stallion evenly, with a soft smile and a dangerous gleam in his eye.

The pony regarded the zebra with a scoff, “How about you buzz off and leave the young mare in the hooves of a real stallion?”

“Xolani is afraid she has no interest.” Xolani replied calmly, before reaching for a jar on his belt, “However, Xolani can direct you to some very lovely mares who would love a stallion such as yourself. Would you like a drink while we talk?” He held the jar up invitingly; it was a simple clay affair with an odd zebra glyph carved on the side and some blue paint marking the seal. “The best brew you will find on the Savannah.”

“I think I want this one.” The black stallion sneered, rudely shoving the clay jar away from him.

“Oh, but Xolani,” - The zebra grinned devilishly and uncorked the bottle under the stallion’s nose - “thinks you do not...”

As Xolani spoke, an odd black smoke drifted out of the jar and toward the stallion’s face; however, the rude pony happened to be breathing out when Xolani shoved it under his face and promptly kicked the jar from his hooves, sending it sailing across the room. Of course, the pony didn’t much care for the zebra’s tricks and promptly cuffed Xolani across the muzzle with the back of his hoof. This was not Xolani’s first fight, however, and he rolled his head with the strike, and the hoof he had been holding the jar in darted out to jab the stallion’s throat. The sailor-pony’s eyes bugged out, finding it hard for himself to breathe, he rearing back and lashed out desperately at the other stallion. Xolani simply caught the flailing hoof with a foreleg and rolled away, pushing Compass Rose in the opposite direction. However, the pony stallion was in no condition to continue fighting as he stumbled back, choking and desperately trying to breathe. Making it to his hooves once more, Xolani dashed forward and wrapped his arms around the stallion’s neck, putting him in a chokehold. The black coated stallion struggled to free himself without much success, given the fact that he was just barely getting the oxygen he needed.

“Be still, or Xolani will make sure your breath does not return like it should.” He growled into the pony’s ear.

“Xolani, no!” Compass Rose shouted at her stallion.

Xolani looked up to Compass Rose and his gaze softened, before he glared back down at the stallion, “Leave. Now.” With that, he shoved the stallion back out of his arms and toward the exit.

The black stallion stumbled over himself and nearly took down a display stand as he bumbled out of the shop, but cantered away with a barking cough. Clearly he had learned his lesson and wanted nothing more to do with the zebra stallion and his mare. Before Xolani could do much of anything, his mare had wrapped her arms around him lovingly; hugging and kissing his neck, all while fussing over him, grateful that he had not been hurt. Xolani beamed at the attention and assured her that he was alright, before gently pulling out of her grasp and looking to the shopkeeper.

“Xolani apologizes for the disturbance. We will not bother you again.” With that, he took a deep breath and held it, trotting over to where his bottle had fallen. Much to his relief, only a little had spilled and he quickly corked and stowed it away, before backing up. “Sleeping potion. Xolani had hoped a whiff would drop him, before he became violent. The spill will dissipate in a few moments, so do not fear for your customers.”

The stallion shopkeeper waved his hoof at the two. “Just get out.” He snorted frustratedly, but was glad that nothing had been broken.

Xolani bowed his head respectfully and returned to Compass Rose’s side, before starting to lead her out, watching carefully to make sure the black stallion was gone, “Would you like to go home now? Xolani will understand.” Compass Rose was clinging to his side and nodded promptly, still looking quite shocked from the experience. “Very well.” Xolani cooed into her ear and kissed her mane comfortingly as he started to lead her out of the market.

While Xolani did not purposefully slow himself down to show off, neither did he go any faster than he had to. He took the simplest path he could find through town toward the outskirts, while continuing to offer her comforting nuzzles and kisses. All in all, he did his best to make sure she would have time to calm down as they neared the edge of town. Unlike their encounter in the store, the ponies on the way home certainly were surprised to see Compass Rose’s display and a few did indeed stare, but none of them so much as flirted with her. The fact that she looked a little shell-shocked and was being fawned over by a stallion certainly had something to do with that.

By the time the two had reached the outskirts of the town, Compass Rose seemed to have shaken off most of the shock and nuzzled shakily into Xolani. “Thank you for keeping me safe.” She offered him a firm kiss to the neck.

“Xolani and his fellows will always keep you safe, Rose...” He nuzzled apologetically into her mane and murmured, “Xolani will understand if you never wish to do this for him again.”

“I-” Rose silenced herself, shaking her head while taking a deep breath, “I feel like I need a bath.”

“Yes, let’s get you clean.” Xolani nodded firmly, leading her away from the town, “From now on, do not let Xolani make you do anything you don’t wish to. If Xolani tries, cuff him.”

The mare pressing her nose against his, looking him straight in the eyes. “I promised you, and Compass Rose is not a mare to go back on her promises.” She stated resolutely.

“You promised to show off.” He replied softly, “You did not promise to go into busy markets where bad stallions like that would come for you...”

“I promised to make you happy.” Rose reminded him pointedly, “Besides, never in a thousand years would I have imagined we would run into a stallion like that!”

“Xolani is surprised to find such stallions among ponies.” He frowned disappointedly. “And putting his mare at risk does not make Xolani happy.”

“You didn’t do it on purpose.” She gave his nose a reassuring peck, “I am not mad...with you.” She shrugged and pecked him again, “A little shaken, but not mad. That is not your fault, Xolani.”

“Thank you, Rose.” Xolani smiled softly and nuzzled her neck, urging her along at a slightly quicker pace. “If Xolani ever asks again, he’ll go someplace far less crowded...”

“Thank you, Love.” She gave him one more kiss and leaned into his side, before looking up at him worriedly, “The zebra aren’t going to stare, are they? I don’t know if I can take anymore staring…”

Xolani actually managed an amused chuckle at that, “Rose, for Zebra, this is as normal as seeing two lovers kiss.”

“Thank Celestia~” Rose sighed in relief.

Indeed, Xolani’s words proved all too true. When he lead his mare into the little zebra town, they received no more than a few passing glances. The most attention they received all the way to the yurt was one curious colt stopping to briefly stare at Rose and sniff the air, before his friends dragged him back into whatever game they were playing. Though Rose blushed at his hesitation, she was relieved when he did not pursue her. She did, however, find it a little disconcerting how little attention they seemed to draw. After what had happened in Aura, she welcomed the little bit of discomfort she felt and the indifference they received.

After a brief stop at the yurt, Xolani wasted no time in leading his mare down to the river for a bath. There they found a great number of mares, foals, and young stallions there as well. The mares seemed to be busy doing small batches of laundry or bathing their foals, while the stallions divided their time between watching over them and enjoying a relaxing day at the water’s edge. A good ways down shore from them, beneath a tree, an older mare seemed to be greatly enjoying the...attention of one such stallion. Rose found it hard not to stare, but much to her surprise, not quite so hard as she would’ve found it just a few weeks prior.

Taking ahold of her stallion’s mane, the pegasus gently urged her stallion to join her, knowing that he needed a washing almost as badly as she did. As they waded into one of the water, she looked for a point deep enough to come up to their barrels, but not deep enough to force them to tread water. When she found a good spot, she pressed her muzzle to his ear.

“I need you to drop for me, so that I can clean you~” Rose whispered into her stallion’s ear, earning a nicker and a nuzzle to her cheek, before relaxing and allowing his penis to slowly droop from his sheath into the water. Rose leaned into him with a smile, nuzzling his cheek as both her hooves made to fondle his length and she began to clean him. “In Aura we might be arrested for doing this in front of foals~”

“Ponies are strange.” Xolani snorted amusedly at the thought, “Xolani does not understand trying to hide such perfectly natural things.”

Rose simply shrugged, not really understanding the motivations herself. Instead, she gently pulled on his length so that she could clean him all the way to his sheath.

“Is it strange that I feel happy cleaning my stallion? My hooves fondling his masculinity…” Rose asked innocently.

“No stranger than a stallion taking pleasure in bathing his mare.” Xolani shrugged nonchalantly, “There is nothing strange about enjoying taking care of your partner.”

Rose purred happily and kissed his cheek as she released him, confident that she had done a thorough job. “Just try not to get my wings too wet, Love.” She requested as she unfurled them to stand straight up.

With a pleased hum, Xolani waded around behind her and, rather than use his hooves to wash her, leaned in and began to lick at the mess he’d spread around her rump. Rose shuddered at his tongue-work. Though it was not his intent, she was finding it very hard not to get excited and was forced to bite her lip to keep from squealing. Instead, she lifted her tail high above his head, hoping that he would take notice of the effect he was having on her apparently quite sensitive body. Indeed, he noticed and took great pleasure in the bliss he was bringing to her. All too soon, however, his task was finished and he gave her marehood a soft parting kiss, before standing once more. Turning around with a smile, she was glad she had already extended her wings, for they were now stiff in excitement. She offered him another kiss with a deep growl as she tried to keep herself under control, but the hunger was there in her eyes.

Xolani grinned knowingly and nuzzled under her chin, “Would you like Xolani to pleasure you again~?”

Rose took a deep breath to calm herself and rubbed cheeks with him. “You just got my blood up is all, Xolani.” She assured him in a quiet voice, softly shaking her head, “Let’s just finish up.” She then gave him a chaste kiss upon the cheek.

Xolani nodded in understanding, giving her a more chaste kiss, “Would you like Xolani to wash your mane?”

“Please~” Rose nodded eagerly with a smile, easing herself into the water and turning her head so that her mane would be in easy reach for him. Taking a seat in the water, the shaman reached up and began to gently scrub her mane with skilled hooves, taking great pleasure in feeling up her neck as he did. “I will wash you next.” She declared with a happy purr.

“Xolani would greatly enjoy that~” He nickered as he scrubbed, “And after, Xolani will brush your mane with the comb you bought.”

“Maybe I could convince you to try having a brush through your mane~” Rose purred yet louder, grinning happily at the simple banter.

“Xolani may be convinced~” Her stallion purred in return and softly pecked her cheek, “If only for his Rose~”

In short order, Xolani finished his task and Rose pulled her head back up, her wet mane sticking to her neck. Happy as she was, she didn’t waste a moment to plant a kiss upon her lover’s lips, that he savored with a happy nicker. Quite simply, Rose was on cloud-nine. She had never had a stallion so attentive and so into her, that as she started washing Xolani’s mane, she found herself humming a happy little tune. Her last stallion had never been so much fun to spend time with, to bathe. As much as she was in fact washing Xolani, she was caressing and massaging him, just trying to make sure he enjoyed the treatment as much as she did.