The drumming of hooves and hands striking large instruments created a sensation of being surrounded by a rising crescendo of thunder. Screams rent the air at random intervals as various beings chased one another over the smooth sand of the beach. It was in this tremendous din that Gaston found himself. He had been lured to the beach by the promise of a party and the possibility of meeting some lovely ladies. The party itself was a happening place to be sure but his luck wasn't holding on the other front. Heads of the fairer sex merely turned away from him as he tried to introduce himself. A few more polite mares would pay attention until he started laying on the compliments. It would be at time that any interest he held diminished greatly. Now the petulant stallion stood off to the side watching other couples stroll along the moonlit beach. He gave a pitiful sound of frustration before hearing someone shout that a round of stallion-only limbo was beginning. Gaston spied the caller and was pleased to see that there was a fair sized lineup forming behind the limbo pole. A competition was it? Well Gaston was never one to turn down such an invite. He trotted over to join the lineup and a vision of beauty caught his eye. The mare stood beside the limbo pole with a bemused look on her face. Gaston listened eagerly as she explained the rules to those that were interested in playing. What really caught his ear was the prize. Apparently the winner of the limbo event would receive a kiss from the mare. Gaston's blood boiled. He was ready to win this. He was concentrating so hard on the outcome that he didn't see the conspiratorial wink that passed between the mare and the one who had called the game. The music started out and Gaston took his first pass under the bar without much trouble. A few stallions had trouble clearing the bar but everyone made it through. The mare winked salaciously at the line before moving to lower the bar a few inches. It was her job to rile the contestants into a fevered pitch. Gaston noticed the wink and inwardly couldn't help but think that it was directed solely at him. He would win this event. He just had to now.
Stallions began to falter after each pass and Gaston made no move to join the riling jeers of those left to limbo. His mind was solely on winning. He wanted that kiss like no other individual here. It would make his night and perhaps there was the chance that he could possibly finagle more than a kiss from the mare. Such was his high hopes. Soon the competition was just between him and two other stallions. Gaston cleared the latest setting of the limbo bar and strolled by the mare. A quiet whisper of "nicely done" by the mare almost had Gaston floating on air. The bar was lowered once more and the stallion that was first failed to clear the low setting. Gaston inwardly crowed with delight. Now there was only one other individual to worry about. Green eyes took in the bar's setting and his mind whirled about how to limbo a clear round. The soft thud of the pole hitting the sand brought him out of his thoughts. The second stallion had also failed to clear the bar. It was down to him. If he could clear the setting he would win his kiss. Gaston closed his eyes as the music tempo increased with the beating of his heart. He stepped forward and quickly assessed the bar before backing up. He closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer up towards the sky before his feet moved of their own accord. He felt the strain as he contorted his body to glide under the bar. In his mind he knew that he had won and the music pounding in his ears along with the chanting of the crowd praising him. He had done it. He had won the right to a kiss. Almost ecstatic to the brim Gaston opened his eyes and stared in shock.
The mare was nowhere in sight. The crowds had thinned once the game ended and the music slowly dwindled to the odd dissonant note. Soon it stopped altogether. Gaston was dumbfounded until he heard the mare's giggles. She was standing a little off to the side nuzzling the announcer of the limbo game. Gaston felt his dreams shatter. This had been an elaborate deception and he had fallen for it. The betrayal cut deep. Gaston's eyes narrowed at the couple before he turned around. His shoulders drooped and his hooves seemingly got sucked into the sand with every step he took away from the beach. He would never live this down. How could he ever return without being laughed at and ridiculed? No ... he would have to find another place to call his home now. There was no other option open.
