It was a beautiful morning in Mag Skeima, but frankly, why would it be any different in paradise? The sunless sky shone a wonderful blue over fluffy pink clouds, bringing light to the idyllic plains of the fairy lands. The sounds of a new day came from the critters of the grasslands, before the population's blathering was gradually added to the ambiance. Mag Skeima was inhabited by magical folk, some of which would travel between planes to visit the mortal world during the day, while others were perfectly content to spend every moment in this utopia.
Sonos was neither of those. Despite his unusual appearance, with bright pastel green fur except on his tufty pink chest and belly, the anthro deer was simply an earthly visitor. He was one of the few people given permission to travel to the fairy lands, a very restricted opportunity. He intended to make full use of that privilege in the best way that he could think of: by sleeping off his mundane worries.
The stag's hoofed feet were already slightly wet from the dew on the grass, and his antlered head lazily turned to watch the creatures, wild and magical alike, getting ready for another day. Meanwhile, Sonos was looking for the perfect spot for a nap. Perhaps the usual one would do, the hillock by the small river. He sat down on the green blades, then laid back with his hands behind his head. As he watched the birds flying and singing, his eyelids became heavier and heavier, and he dozed off with a peaceful sigh.
***
Not far from there, an orange bellflower's petals started shifting, as the occupant of the plant's thimble awoke. A scaly snout poked out from the corolla, sensing that it wasn't just daytime that had arrived just now. Yes, Alqpra thought, the familiar scent of his favorite Outerworlder was unmistakable. Already his drowsiness was wearing off with the fun he was anticipating.
In a flash, the entire flower disappeared, leaving only the fairy dragon hovering in the air before he fluttered away. From afar, his iridescent scales reflecting the daylight would make him look like a tiny star floating above the water stream. Finally, Alqpra spotted the resting deer with pretty colors on the knowe, and his bee-like wings brought him to the ground foliage, landing next to Sonos's ribs.
Like a soap bubble, the fairy dragon's body glimmered with all colors of the rainbow, but cyan was the predominant hue. His whole squamous skin was, unlike most reptiles, soft. The feral fay brought one of his webbed, clawless front paws towards the much larger male, pressing it against the soft fur that smelled of cologne. However, the stag was peacefully out cold; even in his sleep, Sonos looked flawless. Nonetheless, the mischievous fairy wouldn't let the mortal simply be if there was entertainment to be had.
Focusing his mind's eye, Alqpra magically summoned grains of pollen in the air, with as much ease as the bellflower that he'd recreate whenever he needed a place to sleep. He directed the yellow powder into the stag's nostrils, hoping it would rouse him. Judging by the faces that Sonos was making, it was achieving that desired effect.
"Aah...aa-CHOO!!" The cervine's head jerked forward reflexively. He groggily opened his eyes and stared at the droplets of snot that got on his chest's tuft, before wiping them off with his hand. "Ew. What in the–?"
"Sonos Outerworld!" The fairy dragon announced in a high-pitched voice. "It is already morning!"
The deer cringed. Not only was he extremely tired, he had to hear a fairy's annoying shouting on top of that. "Ugh," he groaned, looking at the sparkling feral by his side before turning away, "please let me sleep, newt."
"I am not a newt... I am a dragon, and you know it!" Alqpra swished his long tail annoyedly, before his wings hummed to fly him to the front of Sonos's large face on the other side. "Besides, nights are for sleeping; mornings are for playing!"
"Well, I was awake all night yesterday." The green-furred anthro muttered without opening his eyes. "There was this party that kept going until 5 AM, and instead of driving home, I decided to come here to sleep."
All light in these fairy lands was magical, and there was no sun during the day, so when Sonos closed his eyes, it was as good as dark. Plus, this bucolic world was extremely soothing compared to his urban neighborhood, and even less noisy than the comfort of his home. Except when an annoying fairy tried to disrupt his slumber, of course.
The fairy dragon had been silently praying while the stag attempted to sleep again. "...There! You will probably feel better in a moment, Sonos Outerworld!"
The deer didn't really process what Alqpra had just said, but after a few seconds, he jolted awake. His fatigue was completely gone.
"What– What did you do to me?"
"Oh, it wasn't me. I asked Mag Skeima to make you well-rested. Now we can play!"
He was staring at the tiny dragon with snooty skepticism. "You asked...the fairy lands...?"
"Yes! Mag Skeima's magic is much more powerful than mine, and more permanent, too! If a fairy person needs a new house, for example, they can ask Mag Skeima, and it will make one if it accepts the request. There is no need for construction, or zoning regulations, or general elections... It is pretty convenient!"
"...Too convenient." Sonos sat up, rubbing his eyes. "And somewhat scary, when you put it like that. Anyway, I was really hoping to get a nice sleep..."
"And now you don't have to! Instead, we can settle our score!" The cyan reptile was extremely upbeat as usual.
The stag had to recall what he meant by 'score'. "Ah, yes, your dares... Listen– Alcaparra, was it? I–"
"Alqpra! Alqpra Skeima!"
"Right. Look, I'm not in the mood for your shenanigans today, alright? I just want to enjoy this..." He looked down at the ground. "...grass. Can't you play with someone else?"
"With whom?"
"I don't know... Another mortal? Just cross between realms and–"
Alqpra's head slumped down dejectedly. "I can't."
"Huh?"
"Mag Skeima won't let me visit mortals anymore. It said that I am too... 'mischievous'. That I keep causing too much trouble in the Outerworld."
"Aw, poor thing." Sonos sarcastically feigned compassion, then stood up to walk away.
"H-Hey!" The fairy dragon took off after him in the air. "Won't you play with me? Our score is tied 2-2, after all!"
"I'll pass."
The green-and-pink deer was marching down the hillock hastily, while wiping and straightening the fur on his back with one paw. He knew that the best way to avoid a fairy was to ignore them. However, when the newt-like dragon flew right in front of his face, ignoring him was an impossible feat. Instinctively thinking him a bug because of the buzzing wings, Sonos swatted him with both hands in a loud 'clap!', before he realized his mistake. Wincing out of concern, he slowly removed one of his furry paws, and saw the tiny sprite looking back at him, unscathed.
"Nice catch!" Alqpra cheered, bubbly as ever. He barely covered half of his palm.
Sonos sighed in relief. "Oh, good! I thought I'd hurt– Ahem. Listen, Alqpra. I like playing too, and I like dares, but haven't you considered that... Maybe, just maybe, you aren't allowed in my world anymore because you keep cheating?"
The dragon seemed confused. "Cheating? How so?"
"Well, first of all, when I won our first bet, you said it was a best of three instead... Then, after my next win, a best of five... And then, you cheated on your two victories! And you haven't even told me what happens when you beat me."
"First of all, that is a secret! And secondly–"
"You keep saying that..."
"And secondly," the fairy repeated, "you never specified that I couldn't use my magic for hide-and-seek before you lost the first one!"
The cervine turned his face and scoffed. "That's some crap and you know it... What about the second one, then? You disappeared for the whole day. I'm pretty sure you crossed to my realm so I couldn't find you."
"N-No, I told you I can't do that...! The thing is, I-I–" The magical critter started mumbling, mortified. "...eaten by a..."
"Mm? Speak up." Sonos brought his palm closer to his face.
"...I was eaten by a river frog, alright?! It grabbed me with its tongue, and I spent the whole day inside of its stomach. It was an accident, I swear..."
"You've got to be joking, right?"
"No!" He cried out. "It is true! It wasn't even the first time it happened. Maybe I DO look too much like a bug when I am flying around..."
"H-How did you get out? Were you hurt?" Sonos was slightly suspicious of the small trickster...but maybe Alqpra was being honest for once? The matter of this constituting cheating was currently the least of his concerns.
The dragon sprawled his iridescent belly on the deer's palm, propping his chin up with both hands. "No, I am immortal, so I can't really get hurt. I-It was fine...but scary! Last time, I used my magic to summon a lot of black pepper in its stomach, and then it spit me right out! But it wasn't terrible..." He had the deer's full attention, so Alqpra kept speaking. "Well, it was cramped and wet, but it was empty save for me... If there was food, then I–" His eyes opened wide. "Then I... Then I..."
"...Have I hit you too hard earlier?"
"I-I know...! I know, I know, I know!" The magical micro grinned and shook his tail and wings. "I know what we can do for the next dare! What if–"
The vulpine shook his head, and started speaking over him. "Nuh-uh. I'm not falling for it. There's no way you can convince me to–"
"–in your stomach for an hour!"
"Wha–?!" He dropped his hand in shock, and Alqpra droned in front of his face, instead of falling down.
"Yes! And if I can stay in there the whole hour without getting nauseated, regardless of how much food you scarf down, then I win! Of course, we need some ground rules. You are only allowed to eat actual food, so nothing that is dangerous for either of us! And I am not allowed to use any magic that–"
"Stop!" Sonos couldn't believe the preposterous notion reaching his ears. "I've definitely hit you too hard... Or perhaps, not hard enough! Just...leave me alone, alright?"
He waved his hand to shoo Alqpra, but the dragon landed on one of his antlers, out of his reach. "What? So you can 'enjoy the grass' or something? That can't be why you came to Mag Skeima, Sonos Outerworld! I am sure that you have been enjoying our games. And you don't even need to run around all of Mag Skeima for this one!"
The stag disliked when Alqpra hid between his ornate horns, but most of all, he hated that the squeaky voice was right. Well, today specifically, he'd come simply to sleep – and that chance had been stolen from him. But it wasn't just the pretty sights of the fairy lands that prompted him to return several times.
"What would I even get out of this when I win?" He growled, feigning disinterest.
"-If- you win, you will earn bragging rights about eating a dragon! In fact, you might be the first person to do it!"
"Probably not... At the very least, a river frog has already beaten me to that title." Sonos joked. The cervine was actually considering it, and the sprite's eager smile gleamed as much as his scales.
"Then...you will do it?"
"I don't know. It does sound a bit exciting, but it might be dangerous...for you, that is. How would I know when you need out?"
"Open you hands for me."
The deer cupped his paws for the reptile to land on, as it was easier for Alqpra to cast spells when he was concentrated. One of the tiny webbed hands extended towards Sonos's shoulder, and a tiny wooden contraption materialized in a sparkle around the clavicle, fixed to his fur by Alqpra's magic. Atop, it bore an equally diminute orange bell. Between his clawless fingers, an even tinier bell of the same color appeared simultaneously, whose handle he shook once to remotely sound the larger instrument through magic.
"You really like bells, huh?" Sonos remarked.
"Yes! Anyway, I will have this with me at all times. If I ring it twice, it means that I concede and you can puke me out–"
"Puke...? Yuck! In the middle of this place?!" The cervine did have an appearance to maintain, regardless of the dare. "Isn't there a better way to get you out?"
"Hmm... I might have a little bit more magic to– Alright, show me your teeth!" Sonos was hesitant, and only separated his lips slightly. "Come on, do not be shy, Sonos Outerworld! If you are going to eat me, I have to get very familiar with your mouth!"
The stag opened his maw slightly more, and was surprised when the mischievous fairy darted onto the tip of his tongue! Ignoring the subtle deer breath, Alqpra worked his magic again, and materialized an almost invisible string, wrapped on both ends around his waist and one of the incisors respectively. His webbed hands grabbed a section and shuffled it under the light, catching the slight reflection on the thin cord, and then tensioned it a few times to test its sturdiness.
"Alright! You can just fish me back out by pulling this string. You will know that a full hour has passed when the bell disappears from your shoulder. Good luck–!"
A green finger squeezed him from the front, trapping Alqpra in the tightness of the deer's maw when the lips collapsed. The finger, however, soon slipped out, leaving him alone in that mouth. The scaly sprite could still see the pink flesh around him, thanks to the weak glow of his magical skin. But when the tongue, larger than him, began tossing him around, he decided to keep his body still and eyes closed.
It was certainly a unique experience, tasting the squamous fairy in his mouth. Alqpra's body was a lot softer and warmer than Sonos had expected for a reptile, and the taste was slightly reminiscent of freshwater fish, although not as muddy and with a very delicate hint of perfumed sweetness. However, the deer's goal wasn't to savor the fairy, but instead lather him with saliva to make him easy to swallow. After all, if Alqpra's words were to be believed, then Sonos was already behind on time! Once the dragon had been sufficiently massaged in his drool, his muscle tilted to quickly wolf him down.
Alqpra reopened his eyes to see the tongue under his belly and the palate ahead of his snout. He felt the folds in the back of the throat pulling on his tail and back paws; the dragon tried to stay still, but he couldn't help wagging his tail. Nothing excited him quite like a friendly competition with the Outerworlder, even if it required him to get wetter and warmer than he would have preferred. The saliva around him was draining into the tunnel greedily tugging at his small body, and he began to slip inside after a gulp.
Already his hips were pushing into the food tract. His transparent insect wings were consciously glued to his back, and they'd withstood much harsher conditions than this oppressive gullet, but they wouldn't serve him for anything, not since Sonos's mouth had sequestered from the outside. Alqpra squealed in surprise when his legs were squished together even further, revealing how tight the throat truly was. He was flexible enough that it only felt like a strong hug from the kneading walls, ungently dragging him into his friend's depths.
Another swallow collapsed the back of Sonos's tongue against Alqpra's long neck, driving the fay further down the pharynx. His breath was cut short for a brief moment when his chest was pressed on, before inhaling the succinctly fermented odor of his throat. The deer's uvula had entered his view above, and as best as possible, he instinctively avoided holding onto any surfaces with his clingy amphibian-like hands. More saliva was accumulating above the ring clenching at his chest, pooling right up to his cheeks. The next gulp was taking longer to manifest than Alqpra had anticipated.
When the swallow did arrive, a flap pushed his arms away from the tongue. The epiglottis also caused him to squeeze against the back wall, and Alqpra saw the slit of the stag's pharynx tightening to seal him away from the mouth. Of course, his journey towards the cervine's depths was far from over, and he could feel the mucous walls rubbing on all of his scales. Alqpra doubted that he was big enough to make a bulge under Sonos's fluffy neck, but the continued swallows, each one splattering more drops of spit on Alqpra's face from above, meant that the deer still must have felt that obstruction in his esophagus. His glow couldn't travel too far up whenever the muscly surface above him pulled him further in a downward wave, so it really felt that he was sliding down an endless tunnel. The only indication that he was closer to his destination was the increase in both the damp warmth and the acrid fragrance.
He had expected to reach the bottom of the esophagus and bump against a trapdoor, but it seemed that the sphincter had already dilated prior to his arrival, as his tail and legs were given more room to wriggle. When the dragon's hips slipped in next, his weight became too much for the crushing walls, and he fell onto a pool of liquids in the sweltering chamber. It was mostly saliva, but he could see that it also foamed yellow from the acids chewing at whatever Sonos had eaten hours earlier. Some of the goop ended on his lips, and he sputtered, unable to tell any taste aside from vomit. Regardless, he was unconcerned about the digestion, being immortal and all, and focused on winning the dare.
There wasn't much that Alqpra had to do for his part, other than to endure these harsh conditions for the better portion of an hour. It had sounded easy in his head at first, but even in the empty pit, the sensations were a bit overwhelming already. He saw a tiny bell floating in the digestive pool of the ridged pink chamber – the small device he'd conjured to communicate with the deer, which must've gotten lost and swallowed earlier. The dragon carefully grabbed it, and gave it a single ring, hearing the sound coming not from his hand, but somewhere beyond the walls of flesh.
***
There was no conceivable way for Sonos to miss the ringing metal piece under his wide fluffy ear. That wriggly mass was no longer obstructing his throat, so the dragon must have arrived safely in his stomach. Sonos could only assume, as Alqpra was too small to make any noticeable bulges, and he wasn't sure if the faint touches below his lungs were phantom sensations or the real thing. Bringing his finger back into his empty mouth, he explored around for that tiny imperceptible floss that would let him bring the dragon back without retching. The deer could feel that it was still attached to his tooth and stretched towards his throat, so at least he could bring him out safely later. All things considered, the mischievous sprite wasn't wrong; this challenge seemed pretty exciting so far.
Sonos wouldn't be satisfied to simply sit it out for sixty minutes, either. He wasn't one to take any dare as trivial – and frankly, that abrupt tendency to hype himself was precisely what had gotten him in this current situation. The stag had been given permission to make his gut even more inhospitable by eating as much food as he could, and he wouldn't squander any advantage. No matter what, Sonos would win.
He started to think of everything that he could devour to make Alqpra learn his place – as food. Maybe something acidic would do the trick, turning his stomach into a boiling pot. He didn't want to hurt the fairy, but given that he was both immortal and liable to cheat, the stag wouldn't let any compassion stifle his chances. Finally, his degree in dietetics would pay off in a silly game!
Sonos was trying to recall if there were any burger joints open this early in the city; the highly-processed meat, along with bread, salt, and cheese surely would do the trick, not to mention a large cup of soda to–
The cervine stopped himself to reconsider. Actually, Alqpra had said something to the effect that Mag Skeima had prohibited him from leaving the fairy lands... Smuggling the micro out in his stomach would certainly invite trouble for Sonos, and the last thing he wanted was to be banished from this place. This left him with pretty limited options. Time trudged on regardless, and he had to make up his mind quickly. Weqta was the first name that came to mind, and he sprinted towards their pâtisserie.
***
Alqpra imagined that spending more time in that stomach would get him used to it, but in truth, it wasn't any more bearable after several minutes. The repulsive and muggy air simply wasn't made to be breathed, and everything from lightly gurgling walls to the sticky mucus of different sorts seemed to possess an oppressive intent. He was glad not only for being immune to the digestion's ruthlessness, but also for the roominess of the organ, easily some eight times his volume. However, as soon as the Outerworlder was on the move, the iridescent fairy realized that it wasn't a silver lining at all.
Every hurried step jostled the chamber, and given his tiny size, each motion from his host was amplified. The floor under his webbed feet bounced him up until he hit the squishy ceiling, before gravity normalized and plopped him back down. His bee-like wings, matted and glued to his scales, would have no use regardless. He was essentially ricochetting between the top and bottom ridges, rebounding into walls and saliva, with nothing to grab for stability.
Well, almost nothing. One of his fingers felt the string around his waist, and he chose to climb it in that chaotic convulsion. It was all that he could do to cling to his thread, swinging like a pendulum in the middle of the chamber. Accidental though the turmoil was, Sonos was too advantaged already, and Alqpra decided then and there that avoiding the quakes was in the spirit of their dare. He'd managed to hold onto the tiny bell this time, and since it was a magical object, it wouldn't accidentally ring from all the stirring unless he willed it.
The steps continued but had calmed substantially, but the micro knew better than to simply let go of the string just yet. It seemed that the anthro had arrived at his destination, and there was no way for him to tell where that was. He focused quietly on the sounds from outside.
"Good morning to you, Master Sonos Outerworld!" Someone else's speech reached the dampened chamber, but Alqpra couldn't place that ethereal tone of voice. "May I have the pleasure of serving you the finest breakfast that Mag Skeima can offer?"
The stag replied to him, his voice reverberating in the organ. "Good morning, Weqta. Yes, you may! I was just thinking of how hungry I was on the way here..."
Of course, Weqta Skeima. In hindsight, the dragon shouldn't have been surprised, since Sonos seemed to love the suck-up's baked goods. Alqpra disliked every moment near that buffoon as much as inhaling that acrid air around him, but it was clear that he lacked for choice on both matters...
***
"Excellent!" Weqta continued in their menial delivery. "Please, come and sit by the counter. I have prepared many fresh confectioneries this morning that you may choose from!"
Sonos had water in his mouth from the smells in the quaint bakery, his scaly appetizer not a fulfilling breakfast on his own. The deer obliged, and directed himself to one of the tall stools, while admiring the fairy of a matching height to his.
The magical folk of Mag Skeima had different shapes and sizes, and Weqta also was completely unlike any normal person that the stag had met. Unlike the fairy dragon, they were a shape-shifter, or a puck, to be precise. Their appearance was of a tall and thin anthro with smooth indefinite features, but what was most striking was their complete lack of color. Weqta was of the purest white, unaffected by lights or shadows, and looked like a negative silhouette, although they didn't glow in the dark any more than Alqpra did. From the lack of depth perception, it took Sonos's brain some time to understand that they were not simply a white person-shaped burn in his retina. And despite their shape-shifting abilities, Weqta preferred to look like a hare most of the time, with two long ears on the top of their otherwise featureless head. The cervine still recalled their embarrassing first meeting, when he'd accidentally called the puck a 'ghost'.
He never could be sure if the fairy was staring away from him or not – although they could see despite the lack of physical eyes –, but their next question cleared his current doubt.
"Master Sonos Outerworld, might I inquire about this curious contraption on your shoulder?"
"Oh, this?" The deer glanced at the bell. "Don't worry about it. It's just for a dare with Alqpra."
"Alqpra Skeima..." The puck repeated. "I am surprised that you still bother with that...insect, given all of the fuss which he puts you through."
The bell rang once just then, and Sonos realized two things. Firstly, that the mischievous reptile was snooping into their conversation. And secondly, that he still had a bet to win.
"Say, Weqta," his finger pointed through the glass display, "could I try that croissant?"
"Of course, Master Sonos Outerworld." Their hazy pale hand reached for the moon-shaped dough, setting it on a plate. "As a pâtissier, it brings me no small amount of pleasure to delight you!"
As it turned out, Weqta was being quite literal, and the stag knew it. The pastries were prepared as anyone on Earth would; however, during baking, the puck would add their magic into the different doughs. Not only did it make their sweets heavenly, but it allowed the blank shape-shifter to 'feed' off of their customers' satisfaction. There were no negative side-effects for Sonos, and he got to try some delicious desserts unlike any back home for free; hence, he didn't mind the symbiosis. For this bakery, the mortal was always willing to make an exception in his otherwise well-regulated diet. But he wondered if Weqta's enjoyment of feeding others had any relation in nature to Alqpra's quirk for gambling.
However, he didn't ruminate about it. His bet against the consumed feral was still on his mind, of course, but he wished to ingest the pastry for hunger's sake. A fork in his hand cut through the croissant, pleasantly crackling the doughy sheets to break off the tip. The stag was careful to not drop any crumbs outside of his plate, especially on his groomed pink chest. Sonos brought the cutlery closer to his mouth, and closed his teeth over the bite. The flakes immediately began to dissolve in his tongue, leaving a buttery and plain – yet sweet – taste.
"Mm!" Weqta, unable or unwilling to eat their own confections, uttered a short moan when Sonos would have, if the Outerworlder wasn't focused on chewing the bread. "I have outdone myself, if I may say so!"
When the deer had sufficiently tasted the slightly buttered dough, he swallowed it down to clear his mouth. Already he reached for another bite, knowing that it would please the puck far more than any spoken sugary praise.
***
Alqpra had reached the ground of the stomach again, now that things had calmed down. Judging by the conversation taking place outside, the real challenge would begin soon. He was warily excited, having experienced first-hand how brutal a stomach could be even to a magical immortal drake. Still, it was his idea for a dare, and he would endure it.
The swallows coming from above brought his attention to the sphincter, temporarily shut while Sonos's food was ingurgitated. Whatever was traveling down the squishing throat could only end up in one place, after all. In fact, Alqpra realized that it would fall directly down, and the sparkling reptile decided to take a few steps back.
Too little, too late, as the first bolus splashed down into the chamber, slathering his head and neck with goop. The cyan fairy jumped back to avoid getting hit by the next sludges, and tried to wipe whatever had gotten onto his scales. Some of the butter from the baked dough wasn't rubbing off that easily, and Alqpra gave up to watch the invasion sedimenting next to him. It was mud-like in appearance, and yet had a sweet smell, from the saliva's enzymes attacking the starch. Alqpra had no knowledge or interest in mortal food, plus he never would have asked that airhead Weqta Skeima about it, but he was fairly certain that this 'cry sun' didn't look anything like this on the way in. Their magic had clearly worn off from the snack, and it was now plain food, losing its consistency as the acids and drool slowly processed it into a gnarly soup. He was glad that the fluids drenching his body only gave him a sweltering, gross, perpetual hug, and couldn't digest him as it did food.
The banging sounds of a fork hitting a plate continued outside while Sonos devoured the rest of the croissant with gusto. Alqpra heard not only as the annoying puck squealed in joy at the last bites, but the deer moaned while he finished his snack. He couldn't believe it... Was the Outerworlder actually delighted by the food? The soggy bread kept lining more of the floor of the sultry stomach, with the last sluices from the throat joining the mix. The slobbery paste made it hard to lift his paws off the ground, even as he stood opposite the entrance. With some curiosity, he licks it off of a finger, finding that it simply tastes and reeks of nasty stomach stuff. Why had the stag enjoyed the flavor of this disgusting dish, and not the fairy dragon's? And why was he jealous of a pastry, for eliciting Sonos to moan from taste alone?
"Would you be interested in another confectionery, Master Sonos Out–?" Weqta resumed speaking.
"Yes, but you don't need to call me 'Outerworld' every time... I was wondering, do you have anything with fillings? Like jam, or–"
"Ah, but I do! This is the perfect item for you, Master Sonos. If you are an appreciator of donuts, then you'd be foolish not to try one of these Berliners that I've prepared!"
It was past the half hour mark, judging by the waning magic of his bells. The cervine was truly diving into the challenge – or had already forgotten about him in favor of a meal. His shiny scales were already a dull cyan, matted under the nasty juices unsuccessfully trying to break it down, but the walls were producing more of the bubbly yellow chemical after actual food had arrived. The stomach would likely get even more acidic soon, oppressing Alqpra's senses further. He could still breathe in this stifling air, but the increasing gurgling noises, the rumbling tightness of the fleshy wrinkles, and of course, the attack on his senses of touch, smell, and taste were close to triggering an escape instinct. Focusing on maintaining a steady breathing, it was the best that Alqpra could do to manage his composure, but his expectation of lasting for the whole dare was slipping away. Ringing the bell on his hand twice started to feel tempting... But he would resist for as long as he could.
The sounds above – the deer's deliberate mastication, and the puck's insidiously deviant moans of gratification – were familiar indicators that more food was down its way. Once again, Alqpra's lack of knowledge on Outerworlder culture gave him few expectations, but he was sure of two things. First, that the snack must have looked and tasted excellent. And second, that it would definitely churn itself into the chamber completely devoid of that magical beauty associated with Mag Skeima.
Still, the fairy dragon expected a half-solid sludge just like with the last pastry, but what was squeezed through the esophagus was a more complex mixture. It had a variety of colors and textures to it. There was that same light brown paste slathered in saliva, but also a juicier dark jam, bringing a fruity aroma to sweeten the pungent smells. The wet and dismissive splash that followed sent shivers down Alqpra's spine. The body treated the food carelessly, just like it had treated him.
He took steps closer to the new bolus, his feet sinking into the digestive mud. The dragon tried to get a better whiff at the smell of the pastry, but he ended up inhaling some of the powdered sugar suspended in the air, making him hack and cough. More of that new sludge was pushed into the astringent chamber, and its walls, which had remained calm and quiet so far, began to growl as it'd started to feel full, eager to digest the complemented breakfast. The pink folds pulsed and collapsed, raising the acids around the hoard of dough as they compacted as well. As the organ shrunk, the deer released the stale air in a long belch, which felt like a thundering earthquake inside. Such an uncharacteristic bad Mannered gesture coming from the impeccable Outerworlder must have looked amusing, but inside, it was anything but. Alqpra's three paws on the ground were lightly buried as the mass shifted, the webbed fingers caught underneath and making it hard to get unstuck, while the matted scales on his back were coddled against the wall. The freshly-produced acid was hot on his skin, not enough to hurt the iridescent sprite, but to make it known that the stomach simply wouldn't let him peacefully be.
The astringent chamber must have reached half its size as the flesh bunched up on its claims of pastries and squirmy reptile. It rumbled and massaged the clay, letting the foamy yellow water coat it inside and out. The sweetness of the jam did nothing to alleviate the tangy smell, instead its fruity aroma made the air feel bitterly citric. And whenever the fairy dragon tried to squirm out from the spongy grasp of the pastry, more dough was shoved onto him, reverting any progress. Three of his legs were mostly stuck in this repeating struggle, with his remaining paw holding the bell above the quicksand. Less than fifteen minutes, and victory would be his. Alqpra wasn't sure if he'd be able to last until the end if Sonos kept eating, but the space at the top of the reduced stomach was running out, so perhaps he'd grow tired of eating food...
"I'm glad that I could satisfy you, Master Sonos." Weqta Skeima spoke, clearly pleased with themself, and their remark made it over the groaning folds into Alqpra's acid-drenched ears. "Would you care for a cup of tea, to–"
"No need." His hand patted the nearly-filled tummy, shoving the contents around a bit, and a short burp stole a bit more of precious air. "Excuse me... Anyway, I think I'll try another one of those donuts. Berliner, you said...?"
"U-Umm..." Alqpra had never heard fluster in the puck's tone before. "Are you sure that's wise, M-Master Sonos?"
"I'm still so hungry."
With that blobby cake taking up almost all of the chamber, still the stag hadn't exhausted his tricks?! The exhausted dragon couldn't believe his ears... Alqpra might have been infamous in Mag Skeima for his mischievousness; but when challenged in a dare, Sonos was a match to no-one. His heart sank with dread when he realized just how much more the cervine would put him through in this scalding hell. To Alqpra, losing felt a very likely possibility.
Still, it depended on how much more he could endure. Two rings of his bell would be his ticket out; his omission would signal his victory. The Outerworlder was masticating his next pastry much faster, perhaps unsure of how much time he had left. Instead of the puck's usual squeals of happiness, their ethereal voice grunted, perhaps with a hint of nausea. Maybe the magic in his doughs also happened to transmit negative emotions? In that case, the micro fairy silently gloated about how, even indirectly, they were responsible for bothering that buffoon.
There was little that Alqpra could do but wait, sinking into the shifting mass as it was churned around. His legs, tail, and belly were all submerged by this point, and he'd given up on climbing out. His lungs were heavy, pushed down by the paste while the pungent damp air was recycled over and over. It was chaotic, almost unbearably so, being treated as nothing but a digesting snack and kneaded into the nutritious goop.
He stared again at the unclean bell in his hand, legitimately contemplating... It was always a shame to admit defeat, but perhaps it was best to cut his losses while Alqpra still had a shred of self-respect. Cleaning himself would be the worst, doubtlessly carrying those acidic smells on his skin for who knows how long, and unable to fly even after being rinsed before the hot sunless sky had dried his bee wings. He shook his paw, and a single 'ding!' was heard loud and clear above in response. This was it, then. He raised his hand again–
It was just a split second too late. The chewed pastry that had been swallowed was unceremoniously dumped on what was still exposed of the fairy dragon's matted scales. The entombing made him panic, and the handle of his instrument slipped from his grasp.
"No...!"
Adding insult to injury, the stomach whimpered loudly, its clenching walls tossing him around in that goop. He couldn't see the pink flesh anymore, only a sweetened brownish mud burying him from every side. Still, the chamber's grip on its claimed spoils was unrelenting. Alqpra opened his tiny jaws to push around some pockets of air, making them larger and easier to breath, but also causing that mixture of sugars, broken-down carbohydrates, and vomit into his own mouth and tongue. It was strong enough to temporarily cloud all of his other overstimulated senses. Much so that it blurred the barrier between himself and the rest of breakfast, though thankfully not in a physical sense.
Sonos was normally very concerned about his appearance and personality, hoping to achieve nothing short of perfection, but his autonomous stomach was a different story. Ruthless, messy, hostile. It was disgusting – an internal and literal dark side contrasted to his outward, pastel appearance. Alqpra had been completely isolated from the beauty of Mag Skeima. This felt ugly and perverse, unlike anything that he had experienced before in the fairy lands. A taboo and a secret, only the fairy dragon-turned-snack was lucky to share in it. It felt degrading, yet...exciting. Had the stay in the digestive chamber irreparably damaged a part of his purity? He questioned himself, right before wondering what other Manners of hideousness were hiding from him in plain sight, awaiting to be uncovered.
For now, however, he closed his eyes, accepting his bad destiny as a filling in that mush, a fate accentuated with some drops of purple jam and powdered sugar sticking at the gaps between his glazed scales. His dulled senses and incoherent thoughts brought him into a stupor, an orchestral synesthesia from the stomach trying and failing to work him down regardless if he fought back or not...
***
Sonos could tell that the baker wasn't used to feeding off of negative emotions, as the minor discomfort that he felt from stuffing himself was causing Weqta quite some grief. Or maybe the deer just wasn't aware of his actual sensations, stifled by the need to win, and his tummy was actually fuller than it felt. There was barely any more saliva being produced in his tired mouth, which ached from all the chewing to compensate the lack of lubrication. The only liquid inside was the juicy filling of his Berliner. A strained swallow brought another mass down his esophagus, headed toward his now hefty stomach. Its interior now consisted almost entirely of pastries, and if Sonos could've sensed some diminutive sensations from Alqpra probing around earlier, it was now indistinguishable from the natural processes taking place. His concern for the mischievous fairy's well-being was overshadowed by the thrill of the challenge, although he'd been assured that the dragon would be safe.
He stared at the remaining bit of the cute treat in his plate, but Sonos shuddered at the thought of taking another bite. How much longer did he even have before his automatic defeat was announced? The bell had ringed once a few moments ago, and he was disappointed that it didn't sound again for his victory. Alqpra must've been condescendingly laughing at the sliver of hope that he'd waved in front of Sonos's nose, he imagined. Perhaps it wasn't so bad to be in a filled stomach, after all...
The full hour ended, and his shoulder was relieved from the weight of the small wooden bell tower, as it vanished into thin air.
"W-What happened?" Weqta's shaky voice asked, lifting their monochrome arm to point.
"I lost the dare." The bright green-furred deer sighed. He was disappointed that Alqpra had finally shifted the score, but glad that he didn't have to stuff himself anymore.
Well, he thought, nothing else to do but congratulate the winner. He brought his index finger in his pink mouth, and felt the string around his tooth. Still stretched towards his throat, thankfully. His eyes turned to the pale silhouette standing behind the glass display.
"You might want to look away, Weqta. This is going to be gross." He warned.
The puck was simply confused, but didn't avert their gaze, apparently. The stag wouldn't bother with him. His finger was wrapped around the invisible floss, feeling its sturdiness against his fur, and began pulling it out. The first inch or so of cordage tolerance came out easily, meaning that the fairy dragon hadn't traveled too deep. But now it tugged back, likely from the micro finding himself stuck on the food in the stomach. He kept applying a bit more force, worried that the string might snap... but when a gurgle shifted around the contents in his belly, he managed to pull out a bit more.
He felt a solid mass push against the entrance of his sack, refluxing into the bottom of the throat with another yank. Sonos held his breath to make the ascent easier, steadily raising the tiny fairy against the peristalsis. Alqpra felt a bit heavier than usual, likely from some gross gunk clinging to his scales – all the more reason to free him quickly. Sonos calmly pulled him up until he left his esophagus, and the deer could smell and taste the gnarly vomit when the scales brushed his taste buds again. Wanting to avoid barfing much more than just the sprite, he simply leaned forward and spat him on his plate. Finally, his little friend was free, lying in a puddle of acid and spit in that bright white plate, across the uneaten half of a holeless donut.
Sonos was inspecting the dragon, who was lying still but breathing steadily. Alqpra absolutely reeked of digestion, and the cervine didn't dare approach his nose. Those normally bright, iridescent cyan scales were unrecognizable, a thin yellow and beige matte film covering most of the armored skin. There were a few chunks of chewed dough clinging to some parts of him, especially his completely unrecognizable bee wings. Alqpra sputtered some of the vomit from his throat, and shakily stood up. His eyes were slowly adjusting to the light.
"A-Alqpra?!" The puck yelled in utter shock. "W-What in Mag Skeima's name did you do to him?! Hurk...! I'm gonna be s-sick..."
"You...can't puke...you airhead...!" The tiny dragon tried to retort, still catching his breath as his lungs finally enjoyed the rich and clean atmosphere of the bakery.
Weqta was leaning against the other wall, clearly feeling sick at the sight. Their ambiguous form was even blurrier as the shape-shifter struggled to maintain it, the hare-like ears disappearing as they couldn't focus on their magic. Meanwhile, Sonos was calm, and simply wiped his lips and tongue on a napkin, getting rid of that foul flavor. His belly was full, and his friend was safe, but the aftertaste of defeat was too sour.
"I guess you've won, then. I didn't think you would last that long." The Outerworlder admitted, disappointed. Being careful not to touch that slimy skin or pushing him too hard, he rubbed the tip of his napkin against the bigger pieces of food still sticking to Alqpra. "How bad was it inside?"
The fairy dragon's mind was still cloudy, processing all that he'd been through. "Absolutely...awful. Stomachs are not made for things like me..." As a dietitian, Sonos could only nod in agreement. "When that...'bear gleaner' thing knocked the bell out of my hand, I thought I was done for..."
The deer's eyes widened, and he jumped off of his chair. "You lost your bell in there?!"
"Don't worry, Sonos Outerworld... It should have disappeared at the same time as the one on your shoulder–"
"That's not what I mean. You just said you cheated!"
The confused dragon, raising himself on that yellow puddle, turned around to face Sonos. Realizing that he was still attached to him, he magically withdrew the string linking them. "How did I cheat this time...?"
"You had to keep the bell on you all the time! Otherwise, what if you wanted to give up early? That's, uh...forfeit! You forfeited!"
Alqpra shook his head, spattering some acid around. "No...! First of all, I was not going to give up," he lied, "and second, it'd be a default, not a forfeit!"
"It's the same thing."
"It is not the same thing, Sonos Outerworld! I know more about dares than you do!"
Weqta, still trying to calm themself down, silently watched the back-and-forth of them shouting at each other. It was customary for discussions between the two to end as such.
"So...what, then?" The deer asked. "Do I win by default?"
"Of course not! I still lasted the whole hour–"
"I don't care, you still cheated. We had an agreement!"
The murky sprite sighed. "Fine. I will agree to a draw."
"A draw...?!"
"But we still need to settle on a counter-dare."
"A counter-dare? Are you insane?! Alright, I'm leaving Mag Skeima for today. Oh, and don't bother me next time I'm here..."
"Wait!" Alqpra shouted after he got out of his stool.
Sonos paused and turned. "What?"
"Can you at least take me to the water stream? I need to wash this gunk off."
The stag looked at the sorry state that the fairy dragon was in. He couldn't leave his adversary like this, after all. Sonos approached him, and carefully grabbed the rim of the plate to lift it, along with Alqpra and half of a sweet pastry inside.
"What? I wasn't going to touch you like this."