FSE

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The cave was dark as midnight, its walls sleek and dripping wet, shimmering like the inside of some great beast's monstrous stomach. Far below water trickled in a stream, the light gushing sounds, along with the odd pitter-patter from looming stalactites, the only sounds to break up the eerie silence. That was, save for the deep, guttural breath of the sleeping dragon as they lingered suspended from the roof by their tail and several strands of sticky, green resin.

It was common for Xeno-Drakes to sleep suspended from cave roofs like giant bats, or use such drooping vantage points to secure prey, with shots from their long, prehensile tongues. Anything edible, or intruding upon the hive, would be swiftly pulled up into an awaiting maw and devoured, to be digested over several days. Xeno was no stranger to the act, as their past years in the hive had been spent guarding the many entry tunnels, or doing minor worker tasks, such as fetching brood hosts and dealing with newly birthed whelps.

Either way, it had often been nice and relaxing to spend the last few hours of a day digesting a meal, if only to deal with the slightly bloated stomach for the next few workdays. In their early years, Xeno hadn't minded that at all, raiding pony villages, griffin nests, and fishing for hippocampus out at sea. All prey to be devoured, the feeling of them struggling within had been a power trip for sure. Xeno-Drakes were the true apex predators of the world, there was no question.

"Mmm, tasted so good," Xeno muttered in their lucid state, halfway between sleep and the waking world as they felt a warmness in their gurgling belly. "He put up such a fight."

The stillness of the cave was interrupted by a loud groan, then deep growls as the dragon's bloated belly, a glowing green mass within their wings, shifted and writhed. Deep within the translucent bump, the vague, equine silhouette of a winged pony was visible, kicking and wriggling like an unborn foal in the digestive green juices. Yet all the while Xeno muttered and murmured, lost in their drowsy state as muffled voices echoed from within them.

"Mmm, let me out!" called the helpless prey, in a futile effort to battle against the tight sphincters sealing their corrosive tomb. "I want to be with Minuette!"

There was a deep gurgle, and Xeno lurched, wings ruffling around them as their four eyes opened and they jumped to a more alert state. Belly still full and sloshing as it growled, the dragon uncoiled slightly, glancing around the dark cave in search of an intruder. There was naught but the dark dripping and the sleek, rib like groves of the wall shimmering in the green light of their swollen stomach.

It was then that Xeno noticed the bulge and a shrill breath left them. They could not recall eating, they could not recall even falling asleep in this cave! Not once in the past two years had they even eaten live prey like this, always scavenging and barely getting by. It had been a cruel joke, the tyranny of the old hive queen, and Xeno had ultimately wanted no part in it by the end.

No, no, I ran away from this, I didn't want to be like them! The dragon thought in a panic, almost slipping from their hanging perch as they floundered. I'm not a cruel monster like them!

As if to seek a form of cunning revenge, the prey in Xeno's tummy kicked hard, battling against the digestion as they were dissolved within, destined to be naught but fat on the dragon's toned rump. Xeno cupped their belly as it growled, gurgled, and distended into all kinds of bulging shapes, doing their best not to fall to the pleasurable and powerful bliss that came over them. The feeling of power, the knowledge they were an apex predator. It was all so good, it felt so good, but it wasn't what Xeno wanted, not again.

Umph, no I can't feel like them... But... Gah! The prey gave a hard shove, feeling like more a thick jelly inside rather than a pony as they were broken down. But it feels so good, no!

"Help, no let me out!" Muttered the muffled voice and Xeno winced, holding back their powerful arousal as they did their best to subdue the pleasure. "Xeno, let me out, please!"

The dragon's eyes shot wide at the mention of their name, and the recognition of the voice within. They knew that voice, and there was no way they could have eaten that pony!

"Sam!?" The dragon gasped, but the pony's words were gone, lost in a bubbling chorus as the equine dissolved into nothing but nutritious mush. "Sam, no!"

Xeno grasped their belly hard, claws pressing against tough scales as they felt the utter relief of the warm soup within nourishing them at an impossibly fast rate. Like digestion at a vastly accelerated rate, the dragon felt gas bubble in their throat and resisted the urge to burp as they flailed and flopped on their perch. There was no way Xeno would eat that pony, not ever. Sam was their friend and they were nothing like the hive they'd run away from.

Yet the hungry dragon was an apex predator, it was their place to devour prey whole and enjoy it. There was no fighting the dreadful feeling any longer, and with a loud gurgle, something caught in the dragon's throat, before with an almighty burp, up came the bare skull of the pony. Xeno saw it hit the floor and clatter to a halt amidst the cave's many stalagmites. They could bear it no longer, and as they struggled, their tail slipped free of the perch. With a loud crash, they came slamming down atop the broken remains of their latest equine prey.

********

"No!" Xeno screamed as they staggered bolt upright, the sail of their spinosaurus form scraping stone as they almost smacked their head on the cave roof. "I couldn't have eaten him, not again!"

In a frantic panic, the disguised theropod's claws shot to their stomach, finding it mercifully flat and smooth once again.

"No, no, I didn't, I didn't..." The dragon muttered in slowing pants and their fear left them, yet it was then that they realized they'd attracted some attention. "Oh no."

"Hey, are you okay?" Sam asked, cocking his head to one side as he peered down from the cave ledge above Xeno. "You make so much noise in your sleep."

What do I tell him, that I dream about eating ponies, him most of all? Xeno didn't need to be a genius to know that was not the best thing to say to the pony who he'd really only known for a few days at most. No, I'll just tell him what I always tell him.

"I'm fine, really... Just another nightmare," the dragon admitted with a sigh, rubbing their foreclaws together. "They're pretty bad, mostly just revolve around home."

"Awww, well, don't worry about that now, you're safe, and this island is great for predators like you," Sam assured, flaring one of his wings as he grinned. "I'm shocked you've not been out hunting yet."

Xeno felt a twang of guilt at that, knowing they'd been asked once or twice, and a hungry growl from their belly told them that they were going to need to eat something big soon. Yet they shook off the idea, shying away from the pony as they ruffled their wings sheepishly and added.

"Yeah, but not so great for prey like you."

Regardless of the obvious, Sam shrugged, his wings ruffling as he did his best to hide the one he'd strained at his side.

"I'm okay, I have you and Minuette to keep me safe," he responded giddily, then added with a wink. "She's really starting to warm up to you, you know?"

"S-she, she is?" Xeno balked, stammering a little before they collected themselves and added. "Well, that's good, I guess... But really, she's better at keeping you safe than me, trust me."

Sam looked like he was about to counter that argument as he lifted a forehoof and opened his mouth to respond, yet the loud rumble of feet and the appearance of a looming shadow cut him off.

"That is one thing I can trust you on, a hundred percent," Minuette declared as she appeared around one of the cave's outcrops. "But it's not the only thing, I'm pretty sure if you were a threat, you'd have made a move by now."

Xeno blushed, red creeping into their cheeks as the true spinosaurus smiled, her many sharp teeth on full display as she moved her tail for Sam to give it a loving nuzzle.

"Hey, if you're going hunting why don't you take Xeno with you? Two spinos on the island will surely make a great team!?" the pony suggested yet again, and Minuette seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding.

"Well, fancy a hunt?" she pressed, peering at the fake Spinosaurus still laying before her. "I could teach you how our kind treats all others here."

"O-our kind?" Xeno blinked then blushed hard. "I... No, not today, sorry. Maybe soon but there are things I have to think about first."

"Suit yourself," Minuette said with a shrug, looking a little disheartened no matter how she tried to hide it.

Even so, she soon glanced at Sam and instructed.

"You can watch Sam then. And you..." She jabbed her tail at the pegasus. "You know where to go if there's danger."

"On the safety ledge, I know, I know," he muttered as if the response was rehearsed a thousand times over, earning a satisfied nod from his larger mate. "I'll try and play hide and seek with Xeno or something."

"Sure!" Xeno added, perking up at the idea of distraction as Minuette reluctantly nodded and stomped off.

"Okay, but just stay safe you two. I'll be back before nightfall," she called, and in return, Sam shouted how much he loved her.

"So, hide and seek, huh?" Xeno asked, rubbing their foreclaws together as Sam scampered down to the cave floor beside them. "Not played that in a long time."

"Nah, I wanna know why you won't go with her, she'd love time with you," Sam suddenly changed the topic, peering curiously at the larger predator. "Is this about all that nightmare stuff?"

"What no... That's not the same but..." Xeno's tummy gave a starved growl and the false Spinosaurus' face fell flat as they sighed. "It's like I told you, I'm not like her, I'm not one of them."

"Then what are you, you said you'd show me, right?" Sam countered and at that, the pony had Xeno stumped.

I guess I could show him, but what if he finds out, what if he recognizes me as a pony-eating monster? The dragon thought, no idea if Sam had seen the likes of their race before, or if it really meant anything on this island full of monsters wanting to eat the stallion anyway. I guess I should be honest, he's my friend, right?

"Okay, I'll show you that, but..." Xeno glanced around, seeing the cave may be too small for a transformation if Sam was stuck so close.

The change fire could burn him, no we'll have to move. The dragon thought reasonably as Sam looked at them curiously, head tilted like a lost puppy. One of the forest clearings will do nicely, I think.

"But, what?" Sam inquired, and Xeno heaved up, scooping up the pony and placing him on their back just like Minuette did. "Oh, yay! Dino ride!"

"Glad you like it, but what I was going to say is..." Xeno swallowed their trepidation as they started to march through the forest. "We'll have to go somewhere bigger for me to show you what I really am."

********

"Wait, this part of you does what!?" Sam asked eagerly as he trotted under Xeno's wing, past the dragon's butt to his rear. "Wait, you don't even have anything back here!"

"Hardly, I have a butt!" Xeno giggled, wiggling their rear. "I mean seriously, what were you expecting, me to be some kind of slimy polymorph?"

"W-well, I wasn't... expecting you to look so..." Sam twirled a forehoof in the air. "So good, I guess, you're rump is great!"

"Glad to know you think my ass is the best part," Xeno muttered with a roll of their eyes as Sam leaned closer. "Anyway." Xeno plopped their rump firmly on the ground. "You got to see my true form, what else do you want to do today?"

After about an hour of awkward trepidation, regardless of the confession at the cave, Sam had finally managed to convince Xeno to show off what they really looked like, and it was safe to say; the stallion adored what he saw. Almost as much as he adored Minuette.

"Well, I did say hide and seek, that's still on the table," Sam suggested, pressing a forehoof down as if he were dealing a stack of cards. "And now we both have wings, we could do sky tag!"

"Sam, your wing is still messed up," Xeno deadpanned, head tilting to one side as Sam huffed and ruffled the wounded limb.

"I... I can still try to use it!" The pony declared bluntly, folding his forelegs as he huffed and pouted. "Just look!"

It didn't take much observation work on Xeno's part to see they were right. Sam flared his good wing open, then his other, giving them both a flap, only to wince and grit his teeth.

"Okay, okay, I see your point, it still hurts," he confessed with a sigh. "Damn, Minuette would be so mad me being out here without being able to fly."

"Well, maybe we should go back then?" Xeno suggested reasonably, then stated. "Besides, you'd be far too nimble in the air for a big dragon like me."

"Yeah, but can't you just shrink, or look like a pony?" Sam countered and Xeno blinked, fully aware that was within their power to do.

Yet not desiring to keep Sam where Minuette would disapprove of anymore, they declared.

"I... Maybe, but let's talk about it back at the cave, okay?" the dragon reasoned, and Sam rolled his eyes.

"Sure, but let's do a game on the way back, how about tag, but on the ground, mixed in with a little hide and seek?" the stallion suggested as the two of them got up and started along the narrow jungle road back.

"Mix the two together, how does that work?" Xeno asked, and Sam grinned.

"It's pretty self-explanatory, Xeno," he declared matter-of-factly, and the dragon blinked once with each pair of emerald eyes. "Hehe, those eyes are so cool, Minuette is going to love them!"

"S-she is?" Xeno stammered, blushing a little before they shook off the awkward idea and added bluntly. "No, no, the game, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, it goes something like this!" Sam declared, tapping Xeno's foreleg with a forehoof, before bolting off into the thick jungle. "You're it, come catch me!"

"Sam, wait, it's dangerous out there!" Xeno called, reaching out with a foreclaw as the pony disappeared. "Minuette told me to look... after..."

Seeing him run like that, feeling like he was fleeing prey he was sent a chill up Xeno's spine and the dragon paused, eyes narrowing as they crouched low.

Look at him go, so frail, so weak so... Yummy... No... I can't I... Xeno did their best to hold off the thought, the hunger, and the desire, but their belly growled, they were starved and like a twig in their brain, it snapped. Yes, I can!

********

Sam bounded along the tangled forest floor like a master, galloping hooves navigating roots, pits, and streams as he avoided carnivorous plants and clouds of poisonous flies masterfully. He'd lived here most of his life, and aside from dealing with the largest monsters, he was an expert at keeping himself off the menu.

Besides, I have Xeno with me, I get into danger and they'll find me. The stallion thought confidently as his eyes narrowed, his good wing flapped and the air blew through his mane like a refreshing breeze. Xeno could just grow to something bigger and scarier than Minuette if they have to. If such a thing's even possible.

The pegasus laughed to himself at that idea, jumping over a fallen log and into a small clearing. The open area was surrounded on all sides by vast walls of trees, stretching far up toward the slither of sky visible above. Insects buzzed and birds flittered between the branches, yet other than that, the place was still and quiet. Furthermore, a mossy mound of boulders provided the perfect place to hide as Sam fixed his attention upon them.

That's it, the perfect hiding spot, Xeno's never going to catch me there! The stallion thought deviously as he bolted for the cover and squeezed himself between two rocks. Okay, and now I wait! Ooo, I hope they come this way!

Several minutes passed, and aside from the passing of a small flock of tiny dinosaurs, scampering across the fleeting patch of sun in the clearing, there was little disturbance. Several of the creatures even stopped, picking at the thick clouds of flies that buzzed over muddy puddles.

Urg, where are they? They can't have gotten lost, right? Sam thought in alarm as he imagined Xeno getting split up from him and the two of them lost in the thick jungle. Oh, pony feathers, maybe this wasn't the best idea.

He considered that for a moment, wondering if he should creep out to try to find Xeno as he watched the small dinosaurs before him jump and leap like flightless birds trying to get off the ground. Yet that was when the flock paused, their heads swiveling to the darkness of the trees moments before they scattered. For a moment, their sudden departure filled Sam with a hint of dread, especially when he heard the sound of a deep, monstrous breath. He shifted in his tight hiding spot, and peeked out, spying a set of four emerald spheres glowing in the gloom like alien diamonds.

Oh, there's Xeno! The pony thought giddily, wings ruffling in the confined space as he grinned. Now they just have to tag me.

Unlike with other larger predators on the island, the trees did not break crack or so much as shudder as Xeno prowled from the darkness like a pool of liquid shadow, the weak beam of sunlight causing the dragon's sleek, rubbery scales to shimmer like oily water. Heavy paws hit the thick mud with a wet squelch, tail sliding behind them like a huge serpent as the dragon uttered low, rasping reverberations from deep within their throat. Xeno's neck curled, arching as their plated, dorsal scales bristled, rolling against one another like heavy slabs of stone.

Sam couldn't help but admire the power and ferocity of the beast. Xeno was as much a true apex as Minuette, if not more evolved. They had thick scales, armored blades, and wings that could block out the sun. Teeth like razors and fangs longer than his whole foreleg, not to mention four eyes that all peered around like independent searchlights. It wasn't hard to imagine what other biological tricks the dragon may have, but all were trumped by their magic, the ability to shapeshift into any form. No prey, or even bold predator could escape from Xeno and it made Sam giddy just at the thought.

"There, you are!" The stallion called, still pinned in his hiding spot as Xeno's attention snapped to him with a hiss. "Looks like you found me, but can you tag me!?"

The pony was caught giggling to himself as Xeno stalked over, pressing both monstrous forepaws to the pile of stones as they cocked their head without a word. Sam felt each of the rocks shudder at the extra weight, the hot buzz of Xeno's breath coating him as he caught strands of vicious drool slather from the dragon's saber-like fangs. All four of Xeno's sharp eyes fixed on him with a focus more intense than the glare of the sun as Sam peered up and grinned.

"Well, what are you going to do? Turn into something small to come get me?" he asked, but what he did not see coming, was the small parting of Xeno's maw, and the sudden flash of green.

Sam instantly felt an unbearably tight coiling around his foreleg, as Xeno's tongue shot out like emerald lightning and seized him like a constricting snake. The pressure was immense, almost bone breaking as the slimy, wet, cord tugged once, then yanked the pony free in a shower of rocky dust. Sam screamed, his free legs and good wing floundering as he was tugged up to Xeno's maw and the dragon tilted their head back, deep gullet exposed and pulsating hungrily.

"Gah! Okay, okay, you got me... No more hiding, I learned my..." There was no response from the dragon as Sam pleaded, only a rapid descent to that starved maw as Xeno's eyes narrowed hungrily. "Wait, Xeno, no! What are you doing, I don't want to be eaten, no!"

The pony kicked, thrashed, and begged to no avail, there was no escape, Xeno could easily devour him whole. Yet just as Sam reached the edge of the dragon's vast maw and struck out, one wayward hoof connected with the roof of Xeno's mouth, and the dragon lurched, jumping like a timid fawn. The tongue uncoiled like a taught spring, throwing Sam into the air, as Xeno's mouth slammed shut with the force of an avalanche, drool spitting free as the dragon bowed their head and groaned. Wings still inoperable, Sam spun and flitted in the air for a second, before he came crashing down upon Xeno's muzzle and sprawled over the dragon's flared nostrils. In the same instant, Xeno seemed to sway lazily, then almost faint as they flopped to the floor with a muddy splat.

"Urg, my head," Sam groaned, one forehoof pressed to his scruffy mane as he looked at Xeno, all four of their eyes still lidded as the pony suddenly snapped. "What in the name of Equestria was that, you almost ate me!?"

Xeno, for their part, blinked groggily, before their head shifted and lifted from the mud, leaving a trail of moist slime.

"I... I what...? Urg, my head... It feels so funny," the dragon murmured, scratching the side of their skull with a forepaw. "Wait, Sam, what are you doing on there?"

Xeno moved to pluck the pony from their snout, yet before their claws came anywhere near Sam, the pegasus lept away. Backing off slowly as the dragon rose to full height and peered down with concern.

"What is it, what's wrong?" Xeno asked, clearly having no recollection of what they'd just done, or simply choosing to pretend it didn't happen. "Why are you so cautious all of a sudden?"

"You... You!" Sam couldn't find words, having no idea if Xeno was dumb or ignorant.

Either way, he knew how to deal with predators, he just never imagined Xeno would be one!

"You tried to eat me!"

"I... I what?" This time the word had clearly stuck in the dragon's brain, and they blinked, before bristling as they declared with a paw stomp. "No, I couldn't have I... I... I don't eat ponies, not anymore!"

"Anymore?" Sam questioned, head tilting to one side as he took another step back. "So you do eat ponies, or at least you have eaten them!"

Xeno shied away, looking like just as much a timid foal as Sam felt as the dragon muttered weakly.

"No, I... I ran away from that I..." Deflating like a punctured buckball, Xeno seemed lost for words as their eyes met Sam's. "I... Didn't..."

"I can't believe this... I almost got eaten..." Sam staggered right back to the trees. "Minuette was right, she's the only predator I'm safe with, we were both fools to trust you!"

"Sam, wait no... I..." The pegasus heard Xeno call out as they ran, yet the gallop of their hooves, the rush of wind, and the braking of vegetation drowned out the dragon's voice.

I can't believe it, I was such a fool. How could I have let that dragon sneak so close to me!? Sam thought, unable to think back upon the past few days where he'd shared a cave with Xeno. I bet if Minuette had not been there, I'd be fat on Xeno's hips by now!

It wasn't long before the feeling of betrayal and the immense emotions overwhelmed the panicked equine, and he staggered to a halt in a small clearing, stumbling over roots and ferns before pressing face-first into a rough, knobbly tree trunk. The thing felt odd, but Sam didn't care, he hugged it tight and sniffed, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Why was I so stupid? I should have just listened to Minuette, she knows how to keep me safe?" he asked no one in particular, feeling hot and flustered as he pressed his face into the dull-grey tree. "She was right, it's not safe out here, I have to get back to the cave before Xeno or any other monster finds..."

Sam's word trailed off as a gloop of fluid far larger, and thicker than his tears rolled slowly down the side of his face. He blinked as he leaned back, seeing the odd, rough patch of grey before him. Looking at it with a clean mind, he could see it looked nothing like a tree, especially when it shifted and a shadow loomed over him, along with more strands of sticky drool and the fleshy-reek of hot breath.

Oh no. They were the only fleeting pair of words to dance through the pony's mind as he took a slow step back, seeing that the trunk before him lacked one distinct feature, and looked up to see the lingering jaws of the fully-grown and hungry T-rex.

"Oh... Urm, hi there... I... I didn't expect to see you here," Sam muttered sheepishly as trees cracked and splintered under the weight of the monster's movement, the whole beast curling round to face the lonely pony. "But... I think... I think I'll be going now."

Without a word, the rex grinned a toothy smile, and lightly pressed the equine under one of his talons. Sam struggled and kicked, yet it was clear the monster could squash him effortlessly at any moment, as he leaned over and ran his huge tongue over the pony, as if tasting the meal.

"Gah! No, get off me, Minuette will find you again and you'll be toast!" he warned, but the rex leaned back, giving a snort that could be mistaken for a cocky laugh as they opened their maw wide and loomed forward. "No, please no, I don't want to be rex pudge!"

There was a rustle in the trees, signaled only by the light falling of leaves upon the rex, before a dark shadow loomed overhead. Sam saw little more than a flash as the dark blur tore by, ripping the rex off his feet and away from the pony. Free, Sam staggered up, battling not to trip on roots and vines as he limped away, only for the rex to right himself behind him and lunge, snapping tree trunks like frail twigs as he did so.

The hungry theropod got no more than an inch before shadows uncoiled from the trees above, and like a pouncing lion, Xeno leaped upon the monster's back, sinking their talons in deep. The rex roared, shoving back as Sam was shoved forward, floundering onto his back, and pressed his rear to a tree trunk as he slid down. Xeno kept their balance upon the monster's back like a master, rolling with the rex's frantic thrashing as they attempted to bite down on the beast's neck.

Yet the dragon was not a blunt powerhouse like Minuette, and the rex swiftly managed to sink his teeth into one of Xeno's wings, ripping the leathery membrane and tearing the dragon around. Sam had to duck as one titan threw another like a sword, crashing through trees and vegetation with a symphony of splintering cracks and groans. Xeno hissed, giving an animalistic howl that sounded like nothing of this world as they were tossed to the floor and the rex pounced, pinning them.

The theropod almost looked to be grinning once more, teeth on full display as he peered down at the dragon's bitten wing and snorted. Meanwhile, Sam had no idea what to do. Run was most prevalent in his mind, but no matter what had just transpired as he saw Xeno pinned and in trouble, he stood up, seized the nearest thing he could, and tossed it at the Rex's head. Lucky for him, it turned out to be a rock, and even more fortunate was where it found its mark.

The rex recoiled, wincing as the stone struck him in the eye, and seizing the moment, starved or not, Xeno shoved up with all their strength, body coiling around the monster like a serpent. Fire flickered from the dragon's scales as they morphed like rubber, searing the rex as it roared in anger, while seeming to sap the last of Xeno's strength. Yet the dragon was not done, however; and with a flick of their head, a wide opening of their maw, and a lurch forward, they sank their long fangs deep into the Rex's neck, giving an odd shudder as Sam could only guess the theropod was filled with some kind of toxic venom.

True to that observation, the rex swayed, lazily rolling from side to side as Xeno uncoiled and took a step back, only to look like they were starting to grow. In the last fleeting moment of consciousness, crimson trailing from his wounds, the rex looked up at the dragon with pure dread. Xeno glared down with narrowed eyes, as fire lapped across their scales, muscles swelling and wounds sealing as they grew to twice the rex's size.

Sam guessed such an act of shapeshifting was exhausting for the dragon, and it showed on Xeno's face, yet they did not waver. They grew until they were able to catch the drowsy rex in their maw, heave him up, and tip their head back, solving the issue of their starvation with one gulp. The tyranny of the three-toed rex rolled down the dragon's throat as a huge bulge, utterly ended and now nothing more than a kicking, squirming bump in Xeno's monstrously-distended belly.