>You’d just got off work, thank god!
>It had been an awful day. Nothing went right, and finally it was almost over.
>Stomach rumbling, you decided to check out the restaurant that Moonlight and Pull Tab worked at. 
>The place wasn’t hard to find and it sounded kind of fancy as you read it aloud,
“The Cave Bar and Grill.”
>The Cave was, you guessed it, in a cave in the ground. 
>Walking in you see a few ponies you know from around town. 
>The hostess saw you walk in and smiled. 
>“Hey welcome to The Cave, how many are in your party?”
“Just me, but my friends work here, so it might be three.”
>She wrote something down on her clipboard with a wing.
>“Okay, just follow me and I’ll get you seated.”
>You follow her through the restaurant until she sets you up in a nice booth near a door with a labeled ‘Bar.’
>“Here is your menu your waitress will be by shortly.
>She started to walk away, but paused.
>“I almost forgot to ask who your friends are?”
“Moonlight and Pull Tab.”
>“Oh, they work in the bar.”
>She trotted off and you peered over your menu for a couple minutes.
>A big and juicy looking portobello burger covered in melted mozzarella with crispy lettuce, tomato, and a side of Canterlot fries really looked delicious. 
>Moonlight and Pull Tab could wait. You needed something to eat.
>When your waitress eventually came by you ordered, and waited until they brought out your food. 
>Finishing your meal, you were full.
 >You looked toward the door and decided that you’d find Moonlight and Pull Tab and wash down the awesome food with some alcohol.
1/9
 
>Walking down a narrow, candle lit, rock, corridor, you finally reached the bar.
>You face palmed and rubbed the bridge of your nose. Why did you expect any different?
>The bar section of The Cave wasn’t really a bar at all. 
>It was a strip club with plenty of scantily clad bat p0ny mares walking around with hooting and hollering stallions surrounding the stage.
>You almost begin to walk out until spotting the bar stocked full of assorted spirits.  
>Quickly, you find a seat at the bar, and look toward the older bat p0ny unicorn washing glasses with his back turned to you.
>You pull out a few bits out of your pocket, and lay them on the bar. 
“s’cuse me, can I have a shot of Wild Pegasus?”
>The old timer looked in your general direction and squeaked.
>His ears shot up, he grabbed the bits, and answered with, 
>“One coming right up for the minotaur.”
>You let out a small sigh, guess that’s the only way you’ll be known around town.  
>“Something troubling ya sonny?”
“It’s nothing.”
>He levitated the drink down in front of you.
>“It’s always something sonny. Whether it’s a mare, work, or something else entirely, but it’s always something.”
>It’s like he could read your mind. Taking a sip, you decided to humor him.
“Yeah, It’s a girl. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I left.” 
>The old pony chuckled,
>“Usually it’s mare that does that, but I don’t think ya left because of that. No, you left because of something else.”
>Nail on the fucking head. You start to believe he’s psychic or something.
2/9
 
>Taking another swig, you answer with,
“Yeah, it strained my relationships in the town so bad that the townsfolk would treat me different. Her friends the most.”
>“Mares are funny like that. I think ya need a new one to take yer mind off the old one. Ya got one you fancy?”
>Well, you didn’t really like-like her, but she had her moments. 
“I guess, but we’re roommates so I don’t know if that’s a good ide-”
The old stallion shook his head and tapped his hoof on the counter. 
>“Take it from an old goat like me. Don’t ever let something as petty as that get in the way. It’s only an excuse and ah shitty one at that.” 
>You looked at the bartender for a moment, processing what he had just said. 
>Slowly, you nodded your head. What else could you do? 
“You’re right, but how do I even know if she likes me back?”
>“You’ll know, or else you’re blinder than me.”
>Chuckling, he sat another drink on the counter.
“This one’s on the house, on the condition that you tell me her name.”
>A free drink for just saying her name?
“Moonlight.”
>“Hey, anon! Some of the girls in the front said you’d dropped by and were looking for me.”
>Speak of the devil and he doth appear.
>You turned to see Moonlight, still in her waitress uniform. She must have just gotten off her shift.
“Yeah, I just wanted to drop by and see this place. You and Pull Tab talked about it highly after the movie.” 
>You looked back to the older stallion that now pretended to be washing glasses while keeping an ear rose, listening into your conversation.
>“Pull Tab gets off her shift in about twenty minutes. Do you want to go find a seat and wait for her?”
>You downed your drink, smiled, and then looked toward the older stallion. 
“Thank you, for everything.”
>He just grinned as he continued washing glasses, and you looked back to Moonlight.
“Let’s go.”
3/9

>Finding a good seat, you both struck up a conversation about how each other’s day had gone. 
>It was hard to believe, but Moonlight had an even shittier day than you had. 
>She was late, got shorted several times on tips, and had a few annoying customers that made her take their orders back twice.
“I’m sorry to hear about that Moonlight, but it’s the weekend! You don’t have to worry about it anymore!”
>Moonlight smiled and giggled. 
>“How much have you had to drink, Anon?”
“Not much, why do you ask?”
>Resting her head on a hoof, she looked at you for a few seconds, 
>“You seem different, more cheerful than you usually are.”
>For the first time in over a year you felt… free, free from the clingy yellow mare that had plagued you for so long.
>You began to laugh. 
>“Hey, what’s so funny?”
>In that moment on that awful day, you realized it had been forever since you truly had a moment without fear of being accosted, and it was such a wonderful feeling.
>After Moonlight got mad, you wiped the tears from your eyes. 
“I’ll tell you later, and what’s taking Pull Tab so long? It’s been like thirty minutes.”
>Moonlight looked up to the stage and cocked her head. 
>“She should be out any minute now.”
>Furrowing your brows, you look toward the stage as soon as the lights dim. The voice of the MC broke through the monotonous music, 
>“Mares and gentlecolts, please give it up for…”
4/9

>No fucking way, you chuckled at the absurdity of the whole thing.
>“Pull Tab!”
>The curtains drew back and Pull Tab strutted across the stage, swinging her hips like a whip.
>She wore a black frilly saddle complete with bridle, and stockings.  
>Most of the stallions surrounding the stage had gone dead silent while Pull Tab walked up to the end of the stage.
>Moonlight smiled and nudged your shoulder with a hoof.  
>“She’s really good.”
>In just a second she did a little turn, and grabbed the pole and wiggled her butt to the rambunctious hooting and hollering of the stallions.
>She crawled her way to the end of the stage to a smaller stallion holding a bit in his levitation.
>Sitting up, she took off the saddle and bridle. Smiling at the stallion glued to her, she grabbed the bit from his levitation, and gave him a wink. 
>Wow, she was good. You actually felt your pants getting tighter all of the sudden.
>Moonlight laughed at your fixation of Pull Tab. You felt a little embarrassed. 
>“Have you ever been in a bar like this?”
>You had the chance to go to one back in the human world, but you instead played games all night.
“I-uh, no not really.”
 >She smiled, and the announcer came back on, 
“That’s all for Pull Tab everyp0ny!”
>Pull Tab blew a kiss to the crowd and hurried off stage. 
>“I’ll be back in a second." 
>You figured she had to go to the restroom or something. 
>Pull Tab and another mare walked up a few minutes later without their stage clothes on, each carrying a duffle bag.
5/9
 
>“Hey Anon, is Moony in the mare’s room?”
 “Yeah, I think so.”  
>“She’s always had the smallest bladder…  Alright, we’ll wait for her. You don’t mind do you Cascade?”
>Cascade was much darker than Moonlight, she had the prettiest emerald green eyes, and her mane was a light pink. 
>Cascade shot you a smile, and fluttered her brows.
>“No, I don’t mind.”
>They sat down at the table with Cascade sitting next to you, and Pull Tab on the other side.
>“Cascade, this is Moonlight’s roommate, Anon. Anon, this is Cascade Falls.”
>You shook Cascade’s hoof and greeted her, and then looked back to Pull Tab.
“I didn’t know you uh…”
>“Were a stripper? I strip and use the money to pay off my student loans, while I run my practice during the day. I’ve gotten tons of clients just from doing that.”
>She seemed to know what she was doing.
>You felt a hoof on your side. 
>Cascade smiled at you, 
>“What do you do for a living Anon?”
>She rubbed her hoof on your side under the table. It made you uncomfortable.  
“I work in the mushroom caves hauling out the full carts.”
“I bet you’re very strong.”
>She rubbed your arm getting a weird look from Pull Tab. 
>You pulled away slowly, and looked at Cascade straight in the face. 
“Please don’t do-”
>Cascade put a hoof to your mouth, silencing you.
“Shh, let’s get out of here and go back to my place.”
>Okay, this was why you left P0nyville. You began to smack her hoof away, but life always loves throwing you a curveball.
>“Get. Off. Him.”
>You turned to see Moonlight with a righteous fury burning like wildfire in her eyes as she stared down Cascade.
>Cascade smiled, 
>“And if I don’t?” 
6/9
  
>It was on now.
>In a flash, Moonlight jumped over the table and punched Cascade.
>You jumped up and got out of their way as they fought. 
>Cascade delivered a powerful kick to Moonlight sending her into the air. 
>She regained her bearing and dove at Cascade pulling her mane and punching her.
>Pull Tab remained in her seat and watched her friends fight with almost boredom.
>You walked up beside her, watching the two mares fight like cats.
“Uh, should we break them apart?”
>“Nah they’re fine, this is how bat mares work out their differences.”
>Moonlight and Cascade were locked in each other’s hooves as they rolled around on the floor.
>A crowd began to grow around them chanting,
>“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
>Cascade wrenched out of Moonlight’s headlock, picked up Moonlight, and threw her into a chair breaking it. 
>Suddenly, two large bouncers grabbed both mares.
> They held the two while they spouted off profanities at each other that sounded more like high pitch screeching.
A familiar voice came from within the crowd.   
>“Quiet!”
>Pull Tab’s ear shot up and she facehoofed.
>“Dammit Moonlight…”  
>The old bartender walked his way through the crowd, and let out a small squeak toward the two mares. 
>He squeaked right at you and Pull Tab.
>He smiled, 
“Hmm, I think I know what all this was about.”
He then squeaked toward the broken chair.
“Seems you two broke one of my chairs.”
>Wait, one of his chairs? 
“I could fire the both of you, but that wouldn’t replace my chair…”
>The blind bartender rubbed his chin for a second until he had made up his mind.
“I’ll give you both an opportunity to pay for the chair and decide your dispute. You both are going to get up on stage and strip, and whoever makes the most money at the end gets to go on a date with that one.
>Pausing, he pointed a hoof at you, and then continued,
>“And I keep the money to buy a new chair.”
>Pull Tab smirked, and nudged you while you stood stupefied,
>“Fifty bits against Moonlight.”
7/9

>You are Moonlight.
>You’re in the dressing room getting ready to go on stage, and you’re freaking out. 
>Cascade Falls, one of the best dancers in The Cave, is your in competition for a date with Anon. 
>How did it come to this?
>Oh yeah, you broke a chair with your ass, speaking of which it hurts like hell.
“I really didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” 
>“You should have thought of that BEFORE punching Cascade.”
>You shifted while Pull Tab finished doing your mane into pig tails.
>“I know. I know… can I tell you a secret?”
>Pull Tab smiled, 
>“Of course Moony.”
>You leaned over and whispered, 
“I have a crush on Anon.”
>Pull Tab held back a giggle, but then smirked.
>“Oh, you mean the not so obvious squirming you do around him, or the fight you just got into over him?”
 “I-I don’t squirm!”
>Was it really that noticeable?
>You felt your cheeks burn as bright as the sun.
 >Whatever you say, Moony. Just know that whatever happens won’t matter. If she wins then Anon will probably -”
>“Be all mine?” 
>Cascade shot you a devious smirk as she walked by to the stage, but you only focused on the black eye she’d have for a couple days.
>The thought of Anon being hers terrified you.
>Sinking onto your chair, you knew there was no way you could beat her.
>Pull Tab rolled her eyes, and brushed some makeup onto your cheeks,
“As I was saying, Anon will choose who he wants. No silly competition will change that.”  
> Pouting your lip, you looked at her and asked,
“D-do you think he’ll choose me?”
>She smiled unsurely,
>“Um… maybe?”
>Maybe! That wasn’t good enough… 
>Your ears faltered and you felt as if you didn’t have a chance with Anon after all he had rejected you once before.
>Hearing the crowd cheering for Cascade, you felt butterflies in your tummy. 
“Tabby, what should I do? I’ve never done anything like this before.”
8/9

>Reaching into her duffle bag, she gave you a lollipop.  
>Taking it and looking it over, you didn’t feel like this was the best time for candy.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
>“Suck on it, swirl it around your mouth and body, and make popping noises with it. Stallions go crazy for that sort of thing.”
>This was all so foreign to you. 
>You stood up looking over your outfit in the mirror, candy grasped tightly in your wing.
>Pigtails, a crimson mini skirt, and long white stockings that came to your flanks and shoulders… you looked like a Canterlot school filly. 
>Walking over to the curtain, behind the stage, you looked out at Cascade, and your ears faltered. 
>How could you compete with that? Those stallions loved everything she did.  
>“They’ll love you. Just act as sexy as you can, and go out there like you own the place!”
>Whimpering, you still didn’t want to do this, but you weren’t going to let that bitch go out on a date with Anon!
>That was your date!
>“Okay, folks that’s all for Cascade Falls!”
>Cascade walked by shooting you and Pull Tab a smile. 
>“We might have to reschedule our appointment Pull Tab. I have a date coming up with Anon that I haven’t scheduled yet.”
>That. Bitch.
>Furrowing your brows and gritting your teeth, you couldn’t take one more word from her mouth, but you didn’t hit her. You just laughed.
“Anon isn’t like other stallions. You’re only wasting your time.”
>She narrowed her eyes, and just scoffed as she walked away. 
>Pull Tab leaned in, 
>“She has problems with rejection.”
>Snickering, you looked back into crowd and saw Anon. 
>Even if you didn’t win this was going to be for him.
>“Our next challenger for the date with the er… Minotaur is none other than one of our own sexy waitresses. Give it up for, Moonlight!”
>The crowd began to cheer, and Pull Tab smacked you on the flank, 
“Break a leg.” 
>Looking back into the crowd, it looked like had grown almost twice its size since Cascade had danced, or was it in your mind? 
>You took a deep breath,unwrapped the lollipop, and pranced out onto the stage. 
9/9