Strip Slipby IndeliblinkChaptersA Slight Change of SceneryDay One (and Done)What a Tease!A Slight Change of Scenery"You're fired." Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair, carefully scrutinizing the stern face before her. "When you say fired--" "You don't work here anymore, Dash." "Oh." "Your final paycheck will be mailed to you shortly." If Derpy doesn't lose it, shred it, or burn it before she reaches my house, that is, Rainbow added, silently observing the stallion arranging papers on his desk. She glanced out the window of the Ponyville weather office, making note of the cloudy skies hanging over the town, still waiting to be cleared. "So, can I ask just what I'm being fired for?" The shuffling of papers ceased, and her boss--or rather, ex-boss--raised his eyes to hers with an unspoken 'seriously?' Rainbow rolled her hoof to urge him on. "Are you joking? You're the laziest ball of feathers ever to pass through here!" "But I always get my job done before the end of the day!" "I don't care," he dismissed her, shaking his head. "Your laziness is contagious, and it's preventing other ponies from doing their jobs--ponies who aren't able to catch up like the amazing, lightning-fast Rainbow Dash." "And that's my problem?" "No, it's my problem. It's your fault." He shook his head at her incredulous expression. "Sorry, I gotta do what I gotta do to keep this place efficient." "Gimme another chance!" She yelled, growing frantic. If she didn't have a job, she'd lose her house, she wouldn't have any food, her friends would ostracize her, and she'd end up living in an alley with twelve stray cats and a shredded Wonderbolts' plushie, eating the few leftovers from Sugarcube Corner that weren't devoured by her pink former friend. That was not the life of the most awesome pony in Equestria! "I'll stop being lazy, I promise!" The stallion's deadpan glare didn't help to reassure her. "Yeah, right. You sure have me convinced." "I swear!" She jumped onto the desk, pressing her hooves to his shoulders. "C'mon, please! I'll... I'll only take two hours for lunch! And I'll cut my naps to one per day!" "Get out." "Just like that?" Pinkie Pie was bouncing in a seemingly random path around the kitchen at Sugarcube Corner, fetching various ingredients from the cabinets, but Rainbow knew she was still focused on the conversation. "No warning, no reprimand, no nothing?" "Nothing!" Rainbow threw her hooves up in exasperation. "Well, I mean, sure, they've told me plenty of times to get off my rump and back to work, but I didn't think I'd get fired for it!" "Gee, I'm sorry, Dashie," Pinkie said quietly, patting her on the back. "So, do you have anything I could do around here? I really need a job." The pegasus awkwardly rubbed the inside of her foreleg, looking up with pleading eyes. Every place she had already visited claimed they were 'not hiring at the moment,' though a few places were considerate enough to give her the truth: Nopony wanted a lazy employee, no matter how popular or cool or breathtakingly amazing she was. Apparently, Rainbow Dash was more popular than she first thought, namely for her bad work ethic. As far as she knew, Sugarcube Corner was the only viable option she had left. Surely Pinkie wouldn't turn her down? "Hmm..." Pinkie frowned into her hoof, her eyes darting around the kitchen. "Well," she began, causing Dash's ears to stand at attention, "hold on a sec." She turned and stuck her head into the main room of the bakery. "MISTER AND MISSUS CAKE, IS IT OKAY IF RAINBOW DASH WORKS HERE?" "Sure, dear!" The ringing in Rainbow's ears nearly drowned out Mrs. Cake's slightly quieter reply. "Just make sure you brief her on the safety procedures and let her know where everything is!" Rainbow dashed forward and clung to her friend's side, nearly tackling her to the floor. "Thanks so much, Pinkie!" "Yay, hugs!" "So, whaddya want me to do first?" Rainbow looked around the kitchen eagerly, spotting some weird-looking devices. She restrained her urge to press all the buttons in sight and paid attention to her new coworker, who put on a large grin. "Let's make cupcakes!" Pinkie trembled with excitement and gathered a mass of cooking utensils in a pink blur. "Okay, first of all, I'll tell you what everything is." She held up a wooden spoon, pointing to it with her other hoof. "Know what this is?" Rainbow stared at her dully. "A spoon." "Not just any spoon!" Pinkie thrust her hoof into the air. "It's a wooden spoon!" "Oh," Rainbow muttered. "Forgive me." "Don't worry about it!" She put down the spoon and pointed to the other objects in turn. "This is a bowl, a whisk, a blender, a rubber duck, a grater, a sifter, a measuring cup, and a skillet. Memorize them!" She yelled suddenly, startling Rainbow out of her bored daze. "R-right," she stuttered. "Okay," Pinkie chirped. "And now, cupcakes!" She bolted to the fridge and pulled out a small vanilla-frosted cupcake, bringing it back over to show to the pegasus. "Open wide!" "Pinkie, I'm not really hungry ri--mmf!" Rainbow nearly gagged as the pink hoof jammed the cupcake deep into her mouth, cringing as she resigned to swallowing it whole. At least it had actually tasted good. "Alright, now what?" "Now..." Pinkie booped her on the nose with a hoof. "You take a nap." Rainbow looked at her oddly. "But I'm not tired." "Oh, okay." Pinkie shrugged. "Just a suggestion. Now let's get started!" Besides, naps were what got me fired in the first place... Rainbow thought with a sigh. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she readied her hooves for action and waited for instructions. Approximately ten minutes later, she skulked out the back door of the bakery, a small trail of smoke wafting out into the open air. I didn't know flour was flammable... A few gentle wingbeats carried her into the air and towards the outskirts of town. So, after a long day of job searching (and a very short employ baking not-quite-cupcakes), she had still ended up with squat. Fortunately, Pinkie hadn't asked her to pay for the kitchen to be cleaned, as Rainbow's financial assets were stretched thin already. She was half-expecting to arrive home to find her cloud house foreclosed. Come to think of it, had she made the payments on her house last month? A quiet moan caught in her throat and her entire body sagged. I need a drink. She let out a harsh laugh at the thought. If I can even afford one. Rainbow considered the idea for a moment. After the events of the last ten or so hours, she definitely deserved one. Or two. She veered off-course and headed for the train station. A short trip found her meandering the streets of Manehattan, where she soon arrived in front of a building brightly lit in the wake of the setting sun. "Bite's Bar," Rainbow murmured. I'm guessing they aren't talking about biting pretzels. Pushing the door open, she strolled towards the bar and rapped her hoof on the counter. "Yo! Three hard ciders!" The bartender glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Got some friends?" "Nope." Rainbow plopped down on a stool and slouched onto the bar top. She slowly turned her head while her gaze drifted over the other patrons (at least half of which were obviously drunk) and eventually locked onto a vertical metal pole mounted on a stage in the far corner of the room. Yup, she could tell that this was definitely one of the more popular bars in the city. "Gentlecolts, give it up for: Violet Silk!" Rainbow's eyes widened as a tall, light purple mare with a sleek burgundy mane strutted out to the front of the stage, winking subtly at a few stallions nearest her. Rainbow had to admit, she was pretty hot. Not that she noticed, or anything. *ahem* A cough came from beside her and Rainbow's head snapped forward. "I wasn't staring!" She met the amused eyes of the bartender, who motioned with his head to the three glass mugs of cider on the counter. "Erm, right, thanks." "No problem," he laughed. "And staring's no crime." A wave of the hoof cut off the mare's wave of furious sputtering. "No worries, hun, there are almost as many fillyfoolers as there are stallions in this place. Don't get your panties in a bunch." He leaned against the bar on an elbow, watching her from the corner of his eye. "Save that for performances." "I'm--!" She cut off as the stallion's words echoed in her ears, let her eyes trail back to the main event, tried to appear nonchalant. "Would you happen to be implying that you're in need of employees?" Mirroring her attitude, the bartender inspected his hoof with half-lidded eyes. "I might be. Would you happen to be interested?" "I might be." Rainbow stood and placed both hooves on the bar. "How's the pay?" "With tips? One of the best in all Manehattan." A devious smirk appeared on his face, drawing Rainbow in further. "That is, if one is cut out for the job." "I'm cut out for anything." "Oh you are, are you?" Rainbow felt the stallion's critical eyes scanning her all over; after a moment he let out an approving hum with a slight nod. "Got any experience?" "I've worn my fair share of lingerie." The bartender cracked a small grin, which Rainbow soon matched with one of her own. "You're hired." Day One (and Done)"You what?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. Rainbow hovered in front of her, on the opposite side of the counter at Sugarcube Corner. "I got a job!" Rainbow replied, her face splitting into a huge smile. "Already?" Pinkie nearly vaulted the counter, barely managing to restrain herself and instead settling for reaching across and yanking the pegasus in for a hug. "That's great!" "I know!" Rainbow shut her wings, plopping onto the floor and stepping from one hoof to the other. "I can hardly believe it myself! Wait, what am I saying? Of course I'd get another job right away. Who could resist this, after all?" She motioned to herself with a broad sweep of a wing, and Pinkie giggled. "Hah, right!" Pinkie patted her on the head, and Rainbow grumbled, craning her neck back to avoid the pink hoof waving in front of her. "So, where ya workin'?" The pegasus froze. "Huh?" "Where are you going to work?" Pinkie asked slowly. Rainbow fidgeted, shifting her gaze around the building to avoid meeting that of her friend. "Uhm... uh..." She scratched her head awkwardly. "Public... ehm... service?" Pinkie stared at her, waiting for her to continue. "Yeah, and?" "Well... I, um..." Rainbow really didn't want any of her friends knowing about this little... endeavor yet. Well, she supposed Pinkie already kinda knew, but she preferred to spare her any more details about exactly what her job was. "Look, I don't--" She was silenced when Pinkie began vibrating on the spot, her tail flattening and curling repeatedly as her ears fell over her eyes. After a few seconds, all movement from the pink mare ceased, and Rainbow poked her warily on the shoulder. "Pinkie sense?" She asked, already pretty much knowing for certain the answer to that question. "Nope," Pinkie said, surprising her. "I just had a little too much coffee this morning, I guess." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, looking at Rainbow with narrowed eyes. "So, 'public service,' huh?" "...Yeah." Rainbow took a small step backwards, which was followed by another as Pinkie leaned over the counter, analyzing her closely. "Lemme guess..." The mare's blue eyes scanned her up and down, making Rainbow shuffle her hooves uncomfortably. "You got a job in a bar!" "H-How'd you know that?!" "Just a guess." Pinkie smiled sweetly, ignoring Rainbow's disturbed glare. She gasped suddenly, placing both her front hooves on the counter. "Oh my gosh! Are you a waitress?" "...Yes. Yes, you're absolutely right. Yep." Rainbow nodded quickly, taking a few steps towards the door. "Listen, Pinks, I'd better go. I've gotta get to... my job. Like, right now. Waitressing. Yeah." She pushed the door open, sparing a final glance over her shoulder. "See ya!" Pinkie stood, watching the mare depart and fly away, before letting out a quiet chuckle. "She actually thinks I bought it. As if I didn't already know." She turned and headed back into the kitchen, giggling all the way. "I was all 'Nope, no completely obvious Pinkie Sense going on over here, just too much coffee,' and she was all 'Oh, yeah, sure, coffee, public service, blah blah blah.'" She snorted and pushed a tray filled with cupcake batter into the oven. "She's totally a stripper now." "What was that, dearie?" Mrs. Cake strolled through the kitchen door, giving the pink mare an odd look, but she waved her off with an innocent smile. "Oh, nothing!" "And for our final act of the night, we've got a special treat for ya: we have a new arrival to the scene today, ponies!" Rainbow stood just behind the edge of the pulled-back curtain, her hooves tapping anxiously as she peeked out at the crowd gathered around the stage. It was actually a bit bigger than she had first expected. Not that she was nervous, or anything like that. Oh no, Rainbow was ready to shine--literally. As a matter of fact, her new boss had supplied her with some sort of coat-enhancing oil that he claimed 'made every stallion perk up a bit, in more ways than one.' Whatever that meant. All she knew was that she had seen the effect the other mares had had on the audience so far today, and if her awesomeness had anything to do with it, she was going to knock their socks off. Speaking of which... She glanced down at her own hooves, which were covered in white silk socks. They had been recommended by her boss, who told her that they prevented friction burns and made it easier to slither all around the pole. Plus, they could only work in her favor in the turn-on department. What kind of pony didn't like socks? After her newfound employment last night, she had come before opening hours this morning to gauge her skills on the pole, and the bartender had been impressed, offering only a few small tips like these that would make her routine more... effective. Still, she wasn't 100% sure that saving her for the last act of the night was such a good idea. An awesome, hot-as-Tartarus newbie was still a newbie, and a newbie wasn't closing-act material. He must see something in me, I guess. Not that I'm surprised. She flipped her neatly-combed mane with a hoof, her wings fluttering in anticipation. "Please welcome the strong, the graceful: Rainbow Dash!" Graceful? Rainbow frowned. That didn't sound like the sort of word ponies used to describe other, cooler ponies. But she digressed. At least she hadn't been called 'frilly' or 'beautiful' or some other wimpy thing. Rainbow smirked as a polite round of applause broke out, and with her chin held high she emerged into view and strutted over to the pole. She could feel the stares of several dozens of ponies on her, and her smug grin widened as a few cheers rang out through the room. She raised her two forehooves and ran them up the pole, the white silk socks gliding smoothly over the surface. Her back arched and her chest pressed against the cool metal, causing her to shiver. Her tail flicked back and forth in long strokes, and she trailed her eyes over each captivated face that gazed expectantly for what was to come. It was time to give them what they wanted, she was going to do just that; she winked at one particularly lucky stallion in the front row, who grinned stupidly back at her. Oh yeah, I've got these ponies right where I want 'em. She walked around the pole in a circle, supporting herself on her hind legs and gripping the pole lightly as she swung around it, swaying her hips much more than she knew was necessary to draw her audience in. As if they hadn't been already. Rainbow lowered herself onto all fours and wound herself around the pole, brushing against it as she circled once, then hovered off the ground and twisted her body around it, much to the enjoyment of her viewers. Her face flushed when she really considered her situation; I mean, really, imagine it! Her, doing this? Sure, she was a smoking hot piece of flank if she ever saw one, but still... Yet if it was such a degrading experience, why was she enjoying it so much? She pondered this as she once again clung to the pole, this time wrapping her wings about it and leaning back to throw a seductive glance at the crowd. That very action brought on another wave of whistles, and she came to realize what so enticed her about this job: Power. She didn't get much admiration for her feats in the average day (other than from Scootaloo), and what little she did get was usually in reference to her previous Sonic Rainboom. This was different, however. Nopony ever called her pretty, beautiful, or whatever else to her face. It didn't dampen her spirits, of course, but this sudden new showing of appreciation for her physical self was... intoxicating, to say the least. And she wanted more. She drank in the attention as she forged on through her performance, no longer hesitating to pull out all the stops to really get the crowd going. Tricks and twists she'd never even considered attempting before were thrown into the mix, each one building on the mounting excitement filling the bar. It was around this time she began to notice ponies tossing scraps of paper onto the stage, and she squinted to identify what they were. Her eyes widened in a mix of surprise and glee when she realized it was paper money, some even in small crumpled-up wads of bills. Her boss had mentioned she might be good enough to bring in a decent round of tips, but the amount she estimated was already lying beneath her made her tremble in excitement. "Hey, babe," a gravelly voice called out, and Rainbow was snapped out of her thoughts. A stallion near the front of the audience grinned devilishly, pointing a hoof at her, and she recoiled from the extended limb slightly. "Why don't we get out of here and head back to, say, a hotel?" He cackled then, and Rainbow made a disgusted face, as did a couple ponies around them. "Take a hike, squirt," Rainbow replied, turning her nose up at him, which earned a chorus of oooooooooooohh's from the rest of the crowd. Much to her chagrin, the stallion only grinned wider. "Oh, a fiesty one. I like your sass." He ran his eyes over her figure once more, then met her annoyed eyes again. "And your flexibility, too." Rainbow sent him a vicious glare, and the stallion, along with a few ponies near him, took an involuntary step back. Rainbow noted, with some amusement, that his tail was pinned between his legs, and his eyes were darting around nervously. With a quiet cough, he backed through the crowd, bumping into a few more annoyed ponies, and finally skittered out of the bar, a wave of satisfied cheers erupting from the building in his absence. Finally settling back down on her back hooves, she was met by an even more vigorous series of catcalls that made her blood rush to her face and her ears twitch in exhilaration. It was time to go in for the kill. Rainbow hugged the pole, pressing her furred chest against it once more, and began to slide lower as her back arched and her backside gradually stuck out further and further. The background noise grew to a peak as her underside touched her knees, and she wiggled her rump for good measure before slowly straightening up to full height again. She raised one of her forehooves to her mouth and gently tugged on the tip of the sock covering it, keeping her gaze directed towards the crowd. Once it had come off, she snagged it with her wing and hurled it into the crowd, chuckling under her breath as several stallions (and a few mares) scrambled to retrieve it. She repeated the process with her other three socks, not quite tracking (or caring) exactly who caught each one. When they were all off and in the hooves of a select few audience members, she cocked an eyebrow and threw herself around the pole, pouting as cutely--ugh, what a totally uncool word--as she could at the enraptured ponies in front of her. Which was, needless to say, pretty dang cute. Through the roar of the cheers and stomping hooves, the pegasus gave a powerful flap of her wings, thrusting herself upwards and twirling around the pole until she reached the ceiling. Her hind legs wrapped tightly around the pole, she slid back down, continuing to rotate her hips around it slowly. She hissed in pain as her skin stuck and screeched against the metal, leaving shining red bands across her thighs. Okay, yep, that was a terrible idea. Never without socks. She let out a harsh whoosh of breath, trying to ignore the stinging burns. It wasn't easy. Holy hay, that bucking *hurts!*** With a strained smile, she beat her wings gently to hover around the midpoint of the pole, keeping it loosely between her legs. She spun to face away from the crowd, then leaned back until she hung upside-down from the hip. She gazed out over the audience, relishing in the mixed expressions of awe and desire on the faces that stared back. She locked eyes for a number of seconds with one such pony, who was sitting at the bar. Her mind barely registered the white coat, the stylishly coiffed purple mane that framed the mare's face, and those oddly familiar blue eyes filled with shock-- Oh my god. A weird noise came from Rainbow's throat as the mutual recognition struck her in the gut. Her legs slipped from around the pole, her wings snapped shut, and she fell to the floor in a heap, her widened eyes staring up at the ceiling. She felt numb. She couldn't feel her... her... something. Ergh, she couldn't even remember a name for whatever it was she couldn't feel! Even her brain seemed as though it was screeching to a halt. Her breathing sped up as her vision went out of focus, a queasiness wringing her stomach. The next thing she knew, she was leaning flat against the wall backstage, a scattering of paper bills floating to the ground in her wake. She panted heavily, holding her forehead in an effort to stop the relentless pounding that rattled her consciousness. Black spots danced across her vision, and she felt uncomfortably hot all over. She had to get out of here, if only to get some air. Where was the door? And... and... Why was she so dizzy all of a sudden? "Rainbow Dash?" And more importantly, what in the hay was Rarity doing here?! The unicorn appeared next to her, appearing concerned, if not a bit frazzled. "Rainbow, darling! What in Equestria are you doing here?!" Rainbow slapped a forehoof over her face with a groan. Some first day this turned out to be. What a Tease!It was late afternoon in Manehattan, and countless ponies were milling about on the streets of the city. Several of them, all of whom happened to be in front of de Trottier's Dresses and Décor, were disturbed from their thoughts by a sudden ruckus in the form of one white unicorn who suddenly burst out the front doors of the building and nearly bowled them over as she stormed away. Rarity had just been on the receiving end of a particularly nasty chewing-out by an even nastier pony: Neighton de Trottier, founder of the chain of high-end dress and fabric stores spread throughout Equestria. This stallion, in his infinite wisdom and grace, had not-so-subtly suggested a merging of businesses... along with other things Rarity didn't care to think about. All she needed to know was that he now understood where he had gone so terribly wrong. In her opinion, a swift buck to his more... sensitive areas, as well as to his ego, had more than sufficed in that department. Oh, boy, did it ever suffice. Now stuck in Manehattan for the remainder of the evening with no new business advancements and seemingly nothing to do, she elected to do what anypony would: Get a drink. The fashionista wandered around, searching for a decent establishment and doing quite the bit of window shopping as she went. Time quickly passed by, and the sun was soon setting; she'd need to hurry up and choose a place soon, or she might as well start heading for the train station now. Spotting a large, attractive sign just a little ways down the street, she finally settled for this unfamiliar place, called Bite's Bar. She'd never visited it, nor even heard of it, but at least she could be sure she'd find some liquor there. She broke into a brisk trot towards the building. As soon as she pushed through the door, Rarity knew she'd come to the right place. Lively, relatively clean, and with an atmosphere that pressed in from all sides, making her feel giddy and lightheaded. Yes, I do believe this fine establishment will meet my needs... and then some. She made her way across the wide space and settled down at the bar, knocking her hoof politely on top to get the bartender's attention. "Excuse me," she called, "I'll have a cosmopolitan, if you please, sir." The stallion moved in front of her, shaking his head as he cleaned out a mug. "Sorry, miss, we're fresh out of cranberry juice." "Oh." Rarity's brow furrowed in thought for a brief moment. "Just the vodka then." Once a glass had been filled and given to her, Rarity held it aloft with her magic while doing a quick once-over of the bar. It was actually rather spacious, much more so than it appeared from the outside, and her muzzle scrunched up slightly at the mob of crazed ponies around the base of a pole-dancing stage. What boorish, uncouth-- "A round of applause for our next performer..." Rarity tuned out the suave voice of the announcer and stared down at her drink, recalling the meeting she had conducted with de Trottier. That dirty, rotten pervert... She fumed silently, squeezing her drink between her forehooves. Why, we hardly talked about the merger at all! As if I'd have gone through with it with somepony like him, anyway! The bartender watched this strange mare apprehensively. She'd been glaring right through him for nearly five minutes, and he swore he could see a tiny crack in the glass she was holding. Maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks-- *crunch* Nope, he was right. The glass shattered between Rarity's hooves, and she yelped as she was snapped out of her silent rage by a spike of pain. She and the bartender stared at the pieces of glass stuck into her skin, and soon enough, the blood started flowing. "Gah," Rarity hissed, "um, sir, where might I find the ladies' room?" "Mares' room is through the hall next to the stage, on your right." Rarity thanked him and followed the directions, wincing with each step. As she reached the door on the right side labeled 'Restroom,' she glanced to her left and caught a glimpse of a multicolored tail slipping around a corner. She did a sharp double-take, not quite believing her eyes. "That... No, couldn't be," she muttered, entering the bathroom. "Must be dye, or something." She limped over to the faucet and filled the sink, propped up onto her hindquarters, and soaked her forehooves in the water. Using her magic to pick out the bits of glass, she washed them gently until the water had been tinted a deep red, then drained the sink. Some sort of wrapping was needed to cover the wounds, but she supposed paper towels would have to do for now. With her makeshift bandages tightened, Rarity took a few long looks in the mirror before exiting the bathroom. Mangling her hooves had been just the right way to end a perfectly dreadful day, so she walked back to the bar and paid for her drink, preparing to leave. "You alright?" The bartender asked. Rarity smiled lightly; at least some ponies still had a sense of decency. "Why, yes, I'm fine, darling. Thank you for your concern." "Leaving already?" "I should. I need to get back to Ponyville, and these hooves aren't going to get me to the train station very quickly." Rarity grimaced. She was already dreading the painfully long trot to the station, her hooves throbbing faintly. The stallion clicked his tongue. "Well, you could always stay a bit longer. Maybe see if a few more drinks don't numb up your hooves a bit?" "I... I really shouldn't..." Rarity bit her lip, glancing back at the door. As much as she'd have liked to stay, Sweetie Belle needed to be put to bed, and she had orders to prepare for tomorrow, and the dishes needed to be done... She flinched as a grating voice once more boomed throughout the room, but her ears shot straight up as she processed the words. "...se welcome the strong, the graceful: Rainbow Dash!" Rarity's breath stopped short, her eyes widening ever so slightly. No... She turned, her mouth falling open as she laid her eyes on a blue pegasus slinking across the stage, grasping the tall pole gently. Rarity barely noticed the thud of her rump hitting the barstool, followed by a dazed murmur, "Scotch, double." Rainbow Dash... Rarity had no words. The mare's prismatic mane and tail had been thoroughly brushed and perfectly straightened; they actually appeared quite a bit longer than they usually did, perhaps because Rainbow's high-speed life left them usually windswept and knotted. White socks had been donned on her long legs, clearly accentuating the curves of her flanks. A pinch of eyeliner brought out the contrast between her blue fur and deep rose eyes, and Rarity could make out a faint blush on her cheeks that looked startlingly realistic. What Rarity couldn't tear her gaze from, however, was Rainbow's cyan coat. It was brushed uniformly over her whole body, with a less-than-subtle fluffing around her chest that made the long fur billow out as though it were a soft pillow. Rarity licked her lips, which had suddenly become mysteriously dry. A *very** soft pillow...* She turned momentarily and gulped down the entirety of the drink that awaited her, ignoring the knowing look she felt from a certain stallion who just may have noticed her reaction to the show. "Another--" She wheezed, pounding her chest as the liquor burned her throat. "Another of the same, and make it snappy." Not bothering to wait for a reply, she spun around again, taking in the sight of Rainbow snaking her lithe body around the pole. My word, she looks absolutely divine! Her eyebrows lowered slightly as a sudden realization came to her. How come she refuses to let me touch her mane, yet at a bar it's perfectly fine for her to... to... Her thoughts were once again smothered by the sight of that deep blue coat, swirling like an ocean as it swept up and engulfed the pole. The mare's fur shimmered in the overhead lights of the bar, a glossy sheen making her entire body glow radiantly. "My, Rainbow Dash," Rarity murmured absently. "You certainly do clean up well." "You know her?" The bartender asked, surprised. "Indeed, I do." He rubbed his chin, opening his mouth hesitantly. "Would you happen to, ah... be in the same business?" When Rarity's gaze snapped to his, he held up his hooves defensively. "I mean, you're certainly pretty enough that I wouldn't be surprised." Her sudden indignation dying off, she shook her head, feeling her face light up in a faint blush. "Thank you, darling, but no. We're actually close friends." Her gaze trailed back to the stage, and her expression grew unsure. "Though, I suppose we must not be as close as I thought..." "I see," he muttered, and Rarity levitated her glass to her lips, taking a sip, and she gasped as her horn was suddenly covered by a soft object. The glass in her magical hold slipped and fell to the ground, shattering on contact. "Ugh, lady, yer gonna have to stop breaking my glasses..." The bartender sighed and went to fetch a broom, but Rarity paid him no mind; her eyes were crossed, her attention focused on the object that now dangled down and lay across the bridge of her nose. A sock. Rainbow's sock. The unicorn's face burned as she lifted the fabric from her face with a hoof, and she slowly raised her eyes to watch as the pegasus spun gracefully around the pole, then arched over backwards to scan the crowd. She waited apprehensively as Rainbow's gaze shifted around, eventually settling on her. And she wasn't looking away. Oh, dear... Rarity felt her breath quicken as Rainbow's wide eyes flashed with recognition, her cheeks painted a deep red, and the pegasus tumbled to the floor. She lay motionless for a few seconds before she vanished; her rainbow trail faded, leaving her amassment of tips rustling loudly. The bar had now lapsed into silence, soon being filled with confused and disappointed murmurs, which Rarity left behind as she excused herself from the counter and rushed down the hallway leading to the bathrooms. She took a left through a simple dressing room and into another short hallway that connected the room to the stage. It was here she found Rainbow, pressed against the wall with her wings drooping from exhaustion and shame. She rushed over to her, eyes alight with concern. "Rainbow, darling! What in Equestria are you doing here?!" Rainbow planted a forehoof on her face. "I, eh... um... w-work here," she muttered at last. Rarity felt the need to hug her tightly, for some reason. Her tiny voice sounded more akin to Fluttershy's than her own usual cocky rasp, and she just looked so vulnerable and embarrassed and beautiful. Ech! Focus on the main issue, Rarity! "I know that, darling, I just..." She shook her head, failing to come up with a better way to ask the question. "What are you doing here?" Rainbow sighed, sliding down the wall until she slumped down on her haunches. "Well, I... kinda got canned from my weather job. No place else would hire me, other than Sugarcube Corner, but that turned out to be a bust, so..." She waved a hoof in the direction of the stage, staring at the floor. "Here I am." "Why, Rainbow," Rarity chided, "you could have simply come to one of your friends! I'd have been happy to help you in any way I can!" Rainbow raised her head, regarding her helplessly. "I-I don't wanna be a burden..." "Nonsense! What are friends for, dear?" Rarity sat beside her, wrapping a hoof around her shoulders comfortingly. "You forget that being the Element of Loyalty isn't exactly a one-way street. A friendship requires each pony to contribute a bit of each of the Elements if it is to remain strong. I'd be a terrible friend, not to mention Element of Generosity, if I didn't stick around to offer help when you needed some." The pegasus shook her head, much to Rarity's dismay. "I'd still feel like I'm taking advantage of you--" "Ah-ah-ah!" Rarity cut her off. "I'll hear nothing of the sort. Come now, I'm sure I could find you a..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered exactly who she was talking to: Rainbow Dash, the pony with the least motivation and the sketchiest work schedule in the whole town. She swallowed, putting on a small smile. "...a respectable position for you in my boutique." Rainbow hesitated, staring at her with disbelief. "Really? You'd do that for me?" Her eyes narrowed suddenly. "I'm not gonna be turned into some living ponnequin, am I?" Drat! Rarity bit her lip; that idea was out. "No, no you wouldn't," she sighed regretfully. What a waste of such an athletic figure... Rainbow's features visibly relaxed, and she smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Rarity... this is so great of you." The unicorn felt her face flush, and she rolled her eyes, secretly reveling in the mare's appreciation. "Heh, yes, I guess I am pretty great." Rainbow rose to her hooves and nudged Rarity's chest gently, chuckling in her usual scratchy tone. "I thought I was supposed to be the cocky one." Rarity leaned back, feigning hurt. "I can have a turn too, can't I?" "Sure, sure." Rainbow's ears pricked up then, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Hey, wait... what are you doing here, hmmmm?" She leaned closer, relishing the nervous sputtering coming from the fashionista's mouth. "I-I was just in the neighborhood delivering a dress order, and I decided to s-stop in for a drink." Rainbow raised an eyebrow, and Rarity quickly added, "and nothing else!" "Somepony seems awfully defensive." "I most certainly do not!" Rarity insisted, her cheeks growing redder. The implication that she, Rarity, Element of Generosity and star fashion designer, would go out and ogle beautiful rainbow-maned pegasi grinding against poles... Rainbow laughed at her ever-darkening blush, and she forced a sudden rush of extraordinarily unclean thoughts from her mind. "So, how was I out there?" "Oh, you..." She swore, if her face got any hotter, she'd be rushed to the hospital for contracting some new disease. "You were, um... ahem... quite good, darling," she admitted, grinning weakly. "I must ask, how long have you been, ehm... performing?" Now it was Rainbow's turn to blush, though she puffed her chest out to hide her sudden shyness. "Well, eh-heh, this was actually sorta-kinda my first day." Rarity gasped dramatically, though to be fair, she truly was quite surprised by this. "You're kidding!" "Nope, I guess I'm just a natural." Rainbow tossed her head, smiling smugly. "Like I am at everything else." "Uh-huh." "Boy, I didn't think I'd get found out so soon, though," she chuckled. "This was sure a weird koinkydink, huh?" Rarity wrinkled her nose, desperately trying to erase that... not-word from her mind. "Why, yes, it was certainly... a coincidence," she agreed, beginning to lead the trek back through the hallways and into the main room of the bar. While Rarity paid for her drinks from before the commotion, Rainbow felt her hoof brush against something soft; she looked down to see the sock that had happened to land on Rarity's head several minutes earlier, now dropped beneath her barstool. She picked it up with her wing as Rarity turned away from the bartender and started for the door. "Oh, hey, hold on!" She called after Rarity, hurriedly slipping the sock onto one of her hind legs. She then flew back onto the stage, ignoring the few whistles and jeers from the dwindling crowd. Flying in tight circles, she stirred up a small gust of wind that swept the tips up, where she deftly snatched them out of the air. Once they had been collected in a small bundle in her hooves, she shuffled the bills into a neat stack and tucked them into the sock, pinning them tightly against her flank. She glided back over to her unicorn friend and nodded to the door. "Okay, let's go." As the pair made their way for the exit, they were met by a round of catcalls and a few suggestive comments from some nearby observers. Rarity turned her nose up with a soft hmph! while Rainbow simply shook her head. "Why, I never! Such brutes!" "Hey, Rarity?" Rainbow called to her through the noise, tapping her on the shoulder to gain her attention. "I just wanted to say, thanks again." "Quite welcome, darling." Rarity smiled at her sweetly. Rainbow returned it, turning her head after a moment to acknowledge the other patrons whose teasing and hooting hadn't yet ceased. "Why don't we give them a little somethin' to really whistle at?" "Wha--" Rarity felt a shock of surprise as Rainbow stepped forward and roughly connected their mouths in a deep kiss, and her legs bent slightly as Rainbow stood up taller, bending the unicorn backwards over the hoof she'd slung around her shoulders. She squeaked, her eyes widening further as Rainbow pressed down on her even harder, offering no resistance as a strong tongue pushed into her mouth and wrestled down her own. A taste she could only describe as 'rainbows' crossed her taste buds and spread throughout her body, filling her fuzzy mind with images of flashing lights consisting of every color possible. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her horn sparked madly and her whole body trembled with excitement. What is happening?! Ohhh, my goodness, Rainbow, don't stop or I will *kill you.*** The impromptu make out session continued for a good minute, the heat of the moment drowning out the whoops and hollers from the rest of the ponies in the bar. The bartender shook his head and snorted, a smile tugging at his lips as he wiped out a glass with a rag. Rarity gasped and sighed in bliss when Rainbow finally broke away, panting heavily. A loose grin hung from her muzzle, and she waited to regain her breath before batting the unicorn's shoulder with a hoof and giggled tiredly. "Heh, c'mon Rares... Let's get outta here." She turned, purposefully tickling the white mare's nose with her tail, and waltzed out of the building with her head held high. Rarity merely stood there, her brain fried like an egg in a hot, steamy skillet. After a few long moments, she finally blinked out of her daze and slowly trailed after her, another wave of whistles announcing her departure. "W-wut?"
A Slight Change of Scenery"You're fired." Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair, carefully scrutinizing the stern face before her. "When you say fired--" "You don't work here anymore, Dash." "Oh." "Your final paycheck will be mailed to you shortly." If Derpy doesn't lose it, shred it, or burn it before she reaches my house, that is, Rainbow added, silently observing the stallion arranging papers on his desk. She glanced out the window of the Ponyville weather office, making note of the cloudy skies hanging over the town, still waiting to be cleared. "So, can I ask just what I'm being fired for?" The shuffling of papers ceased, and her boss--or rather, ex-boss--raised his eyes to hers with an unspoken 'seriously?' Rainbow rolled her hoof to urge him on. "Are you joking? You're the laziest ball of feathers ever to pass through here!" "But I always get my job done before the end of the day!" "I don't care," he dismissed her, shaking his head. "Your laziness is contagious, and it's preventing other ponies from doing their jobs--ponies who aren't able to catch up like the amazing, lightning-fast Rainbow Dash." "And that's my problem?" "No, it's my problem. It's your fault." He shook his head at her incredulous expression. "Sorry, I gotta do what I gotta do to keep this place efficient." "Gimme another chance!" She yelled, growing frantic. If she didn't have a job, she'd lose her house, she wouldn't have any food, her friends would ostracize her, and she'd end up living in an alley with twelve stray cats and a shredded Wonderbolts' plushie, eating the few leftovers from Sugarcube Corner that weren't devoured by her pink former friend. That was not the life of the most awesome pony in Equestria! "I'll stop being lazy, I promise!" The stallion's deadpan glare didn't help to reassure her. "Yeah, right. You sure have me convinced." "I swear!" She jumped onto the desk, pressing her hooves to his shoulders. "C'mon, please! I'll... I'll only take two hours for lunch! And I'll cut my naps to one per day!" "Get out." "Just like that?" Pinkie Pie was bouncing in a seemingly random path around the kitchen at Sugarcube Corner, fetching various ingredients from the cabinets, but Rainbow knew she was still focused on the conversation. "No warning, no reprimand, no nothing?" "Nothing!" Rainbow threw her hooves up in exasperation. "Well, I mean, sure, they've told me plenty of times to get off my rump and back to work, but I didn't think I'd get fired for it!" "Gee, I'm sorry, Dashie," Pinkie said quietly, patting her on the back. "So, do you have anything I could do around here? I really need a job." The pegasus awkwardly rubbed the inside of her foreleg, looking up with pleading eyes. Every place she had already visited claimed they were 'not hiring at the moment,' though a few places were considerate enough to give her the truth: Nopony wanted a lazy employee, no matter how popular or cool or breathtakingly amazing she was. Apparently, Rainbow Dash was more popular than she first thought, namely for her bad work ethic. As far as she knew, Sugarcube Corner was the only viable option she had left. Surely Pinkie wouldn't turn her down? "Hmm..." Pinkie frowned into her hoof, her eyes darting around the kitchen. "Well," she began, causing Dash's ears to stand at attention, "hold on a sec." She turned and stuck her head into the main room of the bakery. "MISTER AND MISSUS CAKE, IS IT OKAY IF RAINBOW DASH WORKS HERE?" "Sure, dear!" The ringing in Rainbow's ears nearly drowned out Mrs. Cake's slightly quieter reply. "Just make sure you brief her on the safety procedures and let her know where everything is!" Rainbow dashed forward and clung to her friend's side, nearly tackling her to the floor. "Thanks so much, Pinkie!" "Yay, hugs!" "So, whaddya want me to do first?" Rainbow looked around the kitchen eagerly, spotting some weird-looking devices. She restrained her urge to press all the buttons in sight and paid attention to her new coworker, who put on a large grin. "Let's make cupcakes!" Pinkie trembled with excitement and gathered a mass of cooking utensils in a pink blur. "Okay, first of all, I'll tell you what everything is." She held up a wooden spoon, pointing to it with her other hoof. "Know what this is?" Rainbow stared at her dully. "A spoon." "Not just any spoon!" Pinkie thrust her hoof into the air. "It's a wooden spoon!" "Oh," Rainbow muttered. "Forgive me." "Don't worry about it!" She put down the spoon and pointed to the other objects in turn. "This is a bowl, a whisk, a blender, a rubber duck, a grater, a sifter, a measuring cup, and a skillet. Memorize them!" She yelled suddenly, startling Rainbow out of her bored daze. "R-right," she stuttered. "Okay," Pinkie chirped. "And now, cupcakes!" She bolted to the fridge and pulled out a small vanilla-frosted cupcake, bringing it back over to show to the pegasus. "Open wide!" "Pinkie, I'm not really hungry ri--mmf!" Rainbow nearly gagged as the pink hoof jammed the cupcake deep into her mouth, cringing as she resigned to swallowing it whole. At least it had actually tasted good. "Alright, now what?" "Now..." Pinkie booped her on the nose with a hoof. "You take a nap." Rainbow looked at her oddly. "But I'm not tired." "Oh, okay." Pinkie shrugged. "Just a suggestion. Now let's get started!" Besides, naps were what got me fired in the first place... Rainbow thought with a sigh. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she readied her hooves for action and waited for instructions. Approximately ten minutes later, she skulked out the back door of the bakery, a small trail of smoke wafting out into the open air. I didn't know flour was flammable... A few gentle wingbeats carried her into the air and towards the outskirts of town. So, after a long day of job searching (and a very short employ baking not-quite-cupcakes), she had still ended up with squat. Fortunately, Pinkie hadn't asked her to pay for the kitchen to be cleaned, as Rainbow's financial assets were stretched thin already. She was half-expecting to arrive home to find her cloud house foreclosed. Come to think of it, had she made the payments on her house last month? A quiet moan caught in her throat and her entire body sagged. I need a drink. She let out a harsh laugh at the thought. If I can even afford one. Rainbow considered the idea for a moment. After the events of the last ten or so hours, she definitely deserved one. Or two. She veered off-course and headed for the train station. A short trip found her meandering the streets of Manehattan, where she soon arrived in front of a building brightly lit in the wake of the setting sun. "Bite's Bar," Rainbow murmured. I'm guessing they aren't talking about biting pretzels. Pushing the door open, she strolled towards the bar and rapped her hoof on the counter. "Yo! Three hard ciders!" The bartender glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Got some friends?" "Nope." Rainbow plopped down on a stool and slouched onto the bar top. She slowly turned her head while her gaze drifted over the other patrons (at least half of which were obviously drunk) and eventually locked onto a vertical metal pole mounted on a stage in the far corner of the room. Yup, she could tell that this was definitely one of the more popular bars in the city. "Gentlecolts, give it up for: Violet Silk!" Rainbow's eyes widened as a tall, light purple mare with a sleek burgundy mane strutted out to the front of the stage, winking subtly at a few stallions nearest her. Rainbow had to admit, she was pretty hot. Not that she noticed, or anything. *ahem* A cough came from beside her and Rainbow's head snapped forward. "I wasn't staring!" She met the amused eyes of the bartender, who motioned with his head to the three glass mugs of cider on the counter. "Erm, right, thanks." "No problem," he laughed. "And staring's no crime." A wave of the hoof cut off the mare's wave of furious sputtering. "No worries, hun, there are almost as many fillyfoolers as there are stallions in this place. Don't get your panties in a bunch." He leaned against the bar on an elbow, watching her from the corner of his eye. "Save that for performances." "I'm--!" She cut off as the stallion's words echoed in her ears, let her eyes trail back to the main event, tried to appear nonchalant. "Would you happen to be implying that you're in need of employees?" Mirroring her attitude, the bartender inspected his hoof with half-lidded eyes. "I might be. Would you happen to be interested?" "I might be." Rainbow stood and placed both hooves on the bar. "How's the pay?" "With tips? One of the best in all Manehattan." A devious smirk appeared on his face, drawing Rainbow in further. "That is, if one is cut out for the job." "I'm cut out for anything." "Oh you are, are you?" Rainbow felt the stallion's critical eyes scanning her all over; after a moment he let out an approving hum with a slight nod. "Got any experience?" "I've worn my fair share of lingerie." The bartender cracked a small grin, which Rainbow soon matched with one of her own. "You're hired."
Day One (and Done)"You what?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. Rainbow hovered in front of her, on the opposite side of the counter at Sugarcube Corner. "I got a job!" Rainbow replied, her face splitting into a huge smile. "Already?" Pinkie nearly vaulted the counter, barely managing to restrain herself and instead settling for reaching across and yanking the pegasus in for a hug. "That's great!" "I know!" Rainbow shut her wings, plopping onto the floor and stepping from one hoof to the other. "I can hardly believe it myself! Wait, what am I saying? Of course I'd get another job right away. Who could resist this, after all?" She motioned to herself with a broad sweep of a wing, and Pinkie giggled. "Hah, right!" Pinkie patted her on the head, and Rainbow grumbled, craning her neck back to avoid the pink hoof waving in front of her. "So, where ya workin'?" The pegasus froze. "Huh?" "Where are you going to work?" Pinkie asked slowly. Rainbow fidgeted, shifting her gaze around the building to avoid meeting that of her friend. "Uhm... uh..." She scratched her head awkwardly. "Public... ehm... service?" Pinkie stared at her, waiting for her to continue. "Yeah, and?" "Well... I, um..." Rainbow really didn't want any of her friends knowing about this little... endeavor yet. Well, she supposed Pinkie already kinda knew, but she preferred to spare her any more details about exactly what her job was. "Look, I don't--" She was silenced when Pinkie began vibrating on the spot, her tail flattening and curling repeatedly as her ears fell over her eyes. After a few seconds, all movement from the pink mare ceased, and Rainbow poked her warily on the shoulder. "Pinkie sense?" She asked, already pretty much knowing for certain the answer to that question. "Nope," Pinkie said, surprising her. "I just had a little too much coffee this morning, I guess." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, looking at Rainbow with narrowed eyes. "So, 'public service,' huh?" "...Yeah." Rainbow took a small step backwards, which was followed by another as Pinkie leaned over the counter, analyzing her closely. "Lemme guess..." The mare's blue eyes scanned her up and down, making Rainbow shuffle her hooves uncomfortably. "You got a job in a bar!" "H-How'd you know that?!" "Just a guess." Pinkie smiled sweetly, ignoring Rainbow's disturbed glare. She gasped suddenly, placing both her front hooves on the counter. "Oh my gosh! Are you a waitress?" "...Yes. Yes, you're absolutely right. Yep." Rainbow nodded quickly, taking a few steps towards the door. "Listen, Pinks, I'd better go. I've gotta get to... my job. Like, right now. Waitressing. Yeah." She pushed the door open, sparing a final glance over her shoulder. "See ya!" Pinkie stood, watching the mare depart and fly away, before letting out a quiet chuckle. "She actually thinks I bought it. As if I didn't already know." She turned and headed back into the kitchen, giggling all the way. "I was all 'Nope, no completely obvious Pinkie Sense going on over here, just too much coffee,' and she was all 'Oh, yeah, sure, coffee, public service, blah blah blah.'" She snorted and pushed a tray filled with cupcake batter into the oven. "She's totally a stripper now." "What was that, dearie?" Mrs. Cake strolled through the kitchen door, giving the pink mare an odd look, but she waved her off with an innocent smile. "Oh, nothing!" "And for our final act of the night, we've got a special treat for ya: we have a new arrival to the scene today, ponies!" Rainbow stood just behind the edge of the pulled-back curtain, her hooves tapping anxiously as she peeked out at the crowd gathered around the stage. It was actually a bit bigger than she had first expected. Not that she was nervous, or anything like that. Oh no, Rainbow was ready to shine--literally. As a matter of fact, her new boss had supplied her with some sort of coat-enhancing oil that he claimed 'made every stallion perk up a bit, in more ways than one.' Whatever that meant. All she knew was that she had seen the effect the other mares had had on the audience so far today, and if her awesomeness had anything to do with it, she was going to knock their socks off. Speaking of which... She glanced down at her own hooves, which were covered in white silk socks. They had been recommended by her boss, who told her that they prevented friction burns and made it easier to slither all around the pole. Plus, they could only work in her favor in the turn-on department. What kind of pony didn't like socks? After her newfound employment last night, she had come before opening hours this morning to gauge her skills on the pole, and the bartender had been impressed, offering only a few small tips like these that would make her routine more... effective. Still, she wasn't 100% sure that saving her for the last act of the night was such a good idea. An awesome, hot-as-Tartarus newbie was still a newbie, and a newbie wasn't closing-act material. He must see something in me, I guess. Not that I'm surprised. She flipped her neatly-combed mane with a hoof, her wings fluttering in anticipation. "Please welcome the strong, the graceful: Rainbow Dash!" Graceful? Rainbow frowned. That didn't sound like the sort of word ponies used to describe other, cooler ponies. But she digressed. At least she hadn't been called 'frilly' or 'beautiful' or some other wimpy thing. Rainbow smirked as a polite round of applause broke out, and with her chin held high she emerged into view and strutted over to the pole. She could feel the stares of several dozens of ponies on her, and her smug grin widened as a few cheers rang out through the room. She raised her two forehooves and ran them up the pole, the white silk socks gliding smoothly over the surface. Her back arched and her chest pressed against the cool metal, causing her to shiver. Her tail flicked back and forth in long strokes, and she trailed her eyes over each captivated face that gazed expectantly for what was to come. It was time to give them what they wanted, she was going to do just that; she winked at one particularly lucky stallion in the front row, who grinned stupidly back at her. Oh yeah, I've got these ponies right where I want 'em. She walked around the pole in a circle, supporting herself on her hind legs and gripping the pole lightly as she swung around it, swaying her hips much more than she knew was necessary to draw her audience in. As if they hadn't been already. Rainbow lowered herself onto all fours and wound herself around the pole, brushing against it as she circled once, then hovered off the ground and twisted her body around it, much to the enjoyment of her viewers. Her face flushed when she really considered her situation; I mean, really, imagine it! Her, doing this? Sure, she was a smoking hot piece of flank if she ever saw one, but still... Yet if it was such a degrading experience, why was she enjoying it so much? She pondered this as she once again clung to the pole, this time wrapping her wings about it and leaning back to throw a seductive glance at the crowd. That very action brought on another wave of whistles, and she came to realize what so enticed her about this job: Power. She didn't get much admiration for her feats in the average day (other than from Scootaloo), and what little she did get was usually in reference to her previous Sonic Rainboom. This was different, however. Nopony ever called her pretty, beautiful, or whatever else to her face. It didn't dampen her spirits, of course, but this sudden new showing of appreciation for her physical self was... intoxicating, to say the least. And she wanted more. She drank in the attention as she forged on through her performance, no longer hesitating to pull out all the stops to really get the crowd going. Tricks and twists she'd never even considered attempting before were thrown into the mix, each one building on the mounting excitement filling the bar. It was around this time she began to notice ponies tossing scraps of paper onto the stage, and she squinted to identify what they were. Her eyes widened in a mix of surprise and glee when she realized it was paper money, some even in small crumpled-up wads of bills. Her boss had mentioned she might be good enough to bring in a decent round of tips, but the amount she estimated was already lying beneath her made her tremble in excitement. "Hey, babe," a gravelly voice called out, and Rainbow was snapped out of her thoughts. A stallion near the front of the audience grinned devilishly, pointing a hoof at her, and she recoiled from the extended limb slightly. "Why don't we get out of here and head back to, say, a hotel?" He cackled then, and Rainbow made a disgusted face, as did a couple ponies around them. "Take a hike, squirt," Rainbow replied, turning her nose up at him, which earned a chorus of oooooooooooohh's from the rest of the crowd. Much to her chagrin, the stallion only grinned wider. "Oh, a fiesty one. I like your sass." He ran his eyes over her figure once more, then met her annoyed eyes again. "And your flexibility, too." Rainbow sent him a vicious glare, and the stallion, along with a few ponies near him, took an involuntary step back. Rainbow noted, with some amusement, that his tail was pinned between his legs, and his eyes were darting around nervously. With a quiet cough, he backed through the crowd, bumping into a few more annoyed ponies, and finally skittered out of the bar, a wave of satisfied cheers erupting from the building in his absence. Finally settling back down on her back hooves, she was met by an even more vigorous series of catcalls that made her blood rush to her face and her ears twitch in exhilaration. It was time to go in for the kill. Rainbow hugged the pole, pressing her furred chest against it once more, and began to slide lower as her back arched and her backside gradually stuck out further and further. The background noise grew to a peak as her underside touched her knees, and she wiggled her rump for good measure before slowly straightening up to full height again. She raised one of her forehooves to her mouth and gently tugged on the tip of the sock covering it, keeping her gaze directed towards the crowd. Once it had come off, she snagged it with her wing and hurled it into the crowd, chuckling under her breath as several stallions (and a few mares) scrambled to retrieve it. She repeated the process with her other three socks, not quite tracking (or caring) exactly who caught each one. When they were all off and in the hooves of a select few audience members, she cocked an eyebrow and threw herself around the pole, pouting as cutely--ugh, what a totally uncool word--as she could at the enraptured ponies in front of her. Which was, needless to say, pretty dang cute. Through the roar of the cheers and stomping hooves, the pegasus gave a powerful flap of her wings, thrusting herself upwards and twirling around the pole until she reached the ceiling. Her hind legs wrapped tightly around the pole, she slid back down, continuing to rotate her hips around it slowly. She hissed in pain as her skin stuck and screeched against the metal, leaving shining red bands across her thighs. Okay, yep, that was a terrible idea. Never without socks. She let out a harsh whoosh of breath, trying to ignore the stinging burns. It wasn't easy. Holy hay, that bucking *hurts!*** With a strained smile, she beat her wings gently to hover around the midpoint of the pole, keeping it loosely between her legs. She spun to face away from the crowd, then leaned back until she hung upside-down from the hip. She gazed out over the audience, relishing in the mixed expressions of awe and desire on the faces that stared back. She locked eyes for a number of seconds with one such pony, who was sitting at the bar. Her mind barely registered the white coat, the stylishly coiffed purple mane that framed the mare's face, and those oddly familiar blue eyes filled with shock-- Oh my god. A weird noise came from Rainbow's throat as the mutual recognition struck her in the gut. Her legs slipped from around the pole, her wings snapped shut, and she fell to the floor in a heap, her widened eyes staring up at the ceiling. She felt numb. She couldn't feel her... her... something. Ergh, she couldn't even remember a name for whatever it was she couldn't feel! Even her brain seemed as though it was screeching to a halt. Her breathing sped up as her vision went out of focus, a queasiness wringing her stomach. The next thing she knew, she was leaning flat against the wall backstage, a scattering of paper bills floating to the ground in her wake. She panted heavily, holding her forehead in an effort to stop the relentless pounding that rattled her consciousness. Black spots danced across her vision, and she felt uncomfortably hot all over. She had to get out of here, if only to get some air. Where was the door? And... and... Why was she so dizzy all of a sudden? "Rainbow Dash?" And more importantly, what in the hay was Rarity doing here?! The unicorn appeared next to her, appearing concerned, if not a bit frazzled. "Rainbow, darling! What in Equestria are you doing here?!" Rainbow slapped a forehoof over her face with a groan. Some first day this turned out to be.
What a Tease!It was late afternoon in Manehattan, and countless ponies were milling about on the streets of the city. Several of them, all of whom happened to be in front of de Trottier's Dresses and Décor, were disturbed from their thoughts by a sudden ruckus in the form of one white unicorn who suddenly burst out the front doors of the building and nearly bowled them over as she stormed away. Rarity had just been on the receiving end of a particularly nasty chewing-out by an even nastier pony: Neighton de Trottier, founder of the chain of high-end dress and fabric stores spread throughout Equestria. This stallion, in his infinite wisdom and grace, had not-so-subtly suggested a merging of businesses... along with other things Rarity didn't care to think about. All she needed to know was that he now understood where he had gone so terribly wrong. In her opinion, a swift buck to his more... sensitive areas, as well as to his ego, had more than sufficed in that department. Oh, boy, did it ever suffice. Now stuck in Manehattan for the remainder of the evening with no new business advancements and seemingly nothing to do, she elected to do what anypony would: Get a drink. The fashionista wandered around, searching for a decent establishment and doing quite the bit of window shopping as she went. Time quickly passed by, and the sun was soon setting; she'd need to hurry up and choose a place soon, or she might as well start heading for the train station now. Spotting a large, attractive sign just a little ways down the street, she finally settled for this unfamiliar place, called Bite's Bar. She'd never visited it, nor even heard of it, but at least she could be sure she'd find some liquor there. She broke into a brisk trot towards the building. As soon as she pushed through the door, Rarity knew she'd come to the right place. Lively, relatively clean, and with an atmosphere that pressed in from all sides, making her feel giddy and lightheaded. Yes, I do believe this fine establishment will meet my needs... and then some. She made her way across the wide space and settled down at the bar, knocking her hoof politely on top to get the bartender's attention. "Excuse me," she called, "I'll have a cosmopolitan, if you please, sir." The stallion moved in front of her, shaking his head as he cleaned out a mug. "Sorry, miss, we're fresh out of cranberry juice." "Oh." Rarity's brow furrowed in thought for a brief moment. "Just the vodka then." Once a glass had been filled and given to her, Rarity held it aloft with her magic while doing a quick once-over of the bar. It was actually rather spacious, much more so than it appeared from the outside, and her muzzle scrunched up slightly at the mob of crazed ponies around the base of a pole-dancing stage. What boorish, uncouth-- "A round of applause for our next performer..." Rarity tuned out the suave voice of the announcer and stared down at her drink, recalling the meeting she had conducted with de Trottier. That dirty, rotten pervert... She fumed silently, squeezing her drink between her forehooves. Why, we hardly talked about the merger at all! As if I'd have gone through with it with somepony like him, anyway! The bartender watched this strange mare apprehensively. She'd been glaring right through him for nearly five minutes, and he swore he could see a tiny crack in the glass she was holding. Maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks-- *crunch* Nope, he was right. The glass shattered between Rarity's hooves, and she yelped as she was snapped out of her silent rage by a spike of pain. She and the bartender stared at the pieces of glass stuck into her skin, and soon enough, the blood started flowing. "Gah," Rarity hissed, "um, sir, where might I find the ladies' room?" "Mares' room is through the hall next to the stage, on your right." Rarity thanked him and followed the directions, wincing with each step. As she reached the door on the right side labeled 'Restroom,' she glanced to her left and caught a glimpse of a multicolored tail slipping around a corner. She did a sharp double-take, not quite believing her eyes. "That... No, couldn't be," she muttered, entering the bathroom. "Must be dye, or something." She limped over to the faucet and filled the sink, propped up onto her hindquarters, and soaked her forehooves in the water. Using her magic to pick out the bits of glass, she washed them gently until the water had been tinted a deep red, then drained the sink. Some sort of wrapping was needed to cover the wounds, but she supposed paper towels would have to do for now. With her makeshift bandages tightened, Rarity took a few long looks in the mirror before exiting the bathroom. Mangling her hooves had been just the right way to end a perfectly dreadful day, so she walked back to the bar and paid for her drink, preparing to leave. "You alright?" The bartender asked. Rarity smiled lightly; at least some ponies still had a sense of decency. "Why, yes, I'm fine, darling. Thank you for your concern." "Leaving already?" "I should. I need to get back to Ponyville, and these hooves aren't going to get me to the train station very quickly." Rarity grimaced. She was already dreading the painfully long trot to the station, her hooves throbbing faintly. The stallion clicked his tongue. "Well, you could always stay a bit longer. Maybe see if a few more drinks don't numb up your hooves a bit?" "I... I really shouldn't..." Rarity bit her lip, glancing back at the door. As much as she'd have liked to stay, Sweetie Belle needed to be put to bed, and she had orders to prepare for tomorrow, and the dishes needed to be done... She flinched as a grating voice once more boomed throughout the room, but her ears shot straight up as she processed the words. "...se welcome the strong, the graceful: Rainbow Dash!" Rarity's breath stopped short, her eyes widening ever so slightly. No... She turned, her mouth falling open as she laid her eyes on a blue pegasus slinking across the stage, grasping the tall pole gently. Rarity barely noticed the thud of her rump hitting the barstool, followed by a dazed murmur, "Scotch, double." Rainbow Dash... Rarity had no words. The mare's prismatic mane and tail had been thoroughly brushed and perfectly straightened; they actually appeared quite a bit longer than they usually did, perhaps because Rainbow's high-speed life left them usually windswept and knotted. White socks had been donned on her long legs, clearly accentuating the curves of her flanks. A pinch of eyeliner brought out the contrast between her blue fur and deep rose eyes, and Rarity could make out a faint blush on her cheeks that looked startlingly realistic. What Rarity couldn't tear her gaze from, however, was Rainbow's cyan coat. It was brushed uniformly over her whole body, with a less-than-subtle fluffing around her chest that made the long fur billow out as though it were a soft pillow. Rarity licked her lips, which had suddenly become mysteriously dry. A *very** soft pillow...* She turned momentarily and gulped down the entirety of the drink that awaited her, ignoring the knowing look she felt from a certain stallion who just may have noticed her reaction to the show. "Another--" She wheezed, pounding her chest as the liquor burned her throat. "Another of the same, and make it snappy." Not bothering to wait for a reply, she spun around again, taking in the sight of Rainbow snaking her lithe body around the pole. My word, she looks absolutely divine! Her eyebrows lowered slightly as a sudden realization came to her. How come she refuses to let me touch her mane, yet at a bar it's perfectly fine for her to... to... Her thoughts were once again smothered by the sight of that deep blue coat, swirling like an ocean as it swept up and engulfed the pole. The mare's fur shimmered in the overhead lights of the bar, a glossy sheen making her entire body glow radiantly. "My, Rainbow Dash," Rarity murmured absently. "You certainly do clean up well." "You know her?" The bartender asked, surprised. "Indeed, I do." He rubbed his chin, opening his mouth hesitantly. "Would you happen to, ah... be in the same business?" When Rarity's gaze snapped to his, he held up his hooves defensively. "I mean, you're certainly pretty enough that I wouldn't be surprised." Her sudden indignation dying off, she shook her head, feeling her face light up in a faint blush. "Thank you, darling, but no. We're actually close friends." Her gaze trailed back to the stage, and her expression grew unsure. "Though, I suppose we must not be as close as I thought..." "I see," he muttered, and Rarity levitated her glass to her lips, taking a sip, and she gasped as her horn was suddenly covered by a soft object. The glass in her magical hold slipped and fell to the ground, shattering on contact. "Ugh, lady, yer gonna have to stop breaking my glasses..." The bartender sighed and went to fetch a broom, but Rarity paid him no mind; her eyes were crossed, her attention focused on the object that now dangled down and lay across the bridge of her nose. A sock. Rainbow's sock. The unicorn's face burned as she lifted the fabric from her face with a hoof, and she slowly raised her eyes to watch as the pegasus spun gracefully around the pole, then arched over backwards to scan the crowd. She waited apprehensively as Rainbow's gaze shifted around, eventually settling on her. And she wasn't looking away. Oh, dear... Rarity felt her breath quicken as Rainbow's wide eyes flashed with recognition, her cheeks painted a deep red, and the pegasus tumbled to the floor. She lay motionless for a few seconds before she vanished; her rainbow trail faded, leaving her amassment of tips rustling loudly. The bar had now lapsed into silence, soon being filled with confused and disappointed murmurs, which Rarity left behind as she excused herself from the counter and rushed down the hallway leading to the bathrooms. She took a left through a simple dressing room and into another short hallway that connected the room to the stage. It was here she found Rainbow, pressed against the wall with her wings drooping from exhaustion and shame. She rushed over to her, eyes alight with concern. "Rainbow, darling! What in Equestria are you doing here?!" Rainbow planted a forehoof on her face. "I, eh... um... w-work here," she muttered at last. Rarity felt the need to hug her tightly, for some reason. Her tiny voice sounded more akin to Fluttershy's than her own usual cocky rasp, and she just looked so vulnerable and embarrassed and beautiful. Ech! Focus on the main issue, Rarity! "I know that, darling, I just..." She shook her head, failing to come up with a better way to ask the question. "What are you doing here?" Rainbow sighed, sliding down the wall until she slumped down on her haunches. "Well, I... kinda got canned from my weather job. No place else would hire me, other than Sugarcube Corner, but that turned out to be a bust, so..." She waved a hoof in the direction of the stage, staring at the floor. "Here I am." "Why, Rainbow," Rarity chided, "you could have simply come to one of your friends! I'd have been happy to help you in any way I can!" Rainbow raised her head, regarding her helplessly. "I-I don't wanna be a burden..." "Nonsense! What are friends for, dear?" Rarity sat beside her, wrapping a hoof around her shoulders comfortingly. "You forget that being the Element of Loyalty isn't exactly a one-way street. A friendship requires each pony to contribute a bit of each of the Elements if it is to remain strong. I'd be a terrible friend, not to mention Element of Generosity, if I didn't stick around to offer help when you needed some." The pegasus shook her head, much to Rarity's dismay. "I'd still feel like I'm taking advantage of you--" "Ah-ah-ah!" Rarity cut her off. "I'll hear nothing of the sort. Come now, I'm sure I could find you a..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered exactly who she was talking to: Rainbow Dash, the pony with the least motivation and the sketchiest work schedule in the whole town. She swallowed, putting on a small smile. "...a respectable position for you in my boutique." Rainbow hesitated, staring at her with disbelief. "Really? You'd do that for me?" Her eyes narrowed suddenly. "I'm not gonna be turned into some living ponnequin, am I?" Drat! Rarity bit her lip; that idea was out. "No, no you wouldn't," she sighed regretfully. What a waste of such an athletic figure... Rainbow's features visibly relaxed, and she smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Rarity... this is so great of you." The unicorn felt her face flush, and she rolled her eyes, secretly reveling in the mare's appreciation. "Heh, yes, I guess I am pretty great." Rainbow rose to her hooves and nudged Rarity's chest gently, chuckling in her usual scratchy tone. "I thought I was supposed to be the cocky one." Rarity leaned back, feigning hurt. "I can have a turn too, can't I?" "Sure, sure." Rainbow's ears pricked up then, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Hey, wait... what are you doing here, hmmmm?" She leaned closer, relishing the nervous sputtering coming from the fashionista's mouth. "I-I was just in the neighborhood delivering a dress order, and I decided to s-stop in for a drink." Rainbow raised an eyebrow, and Rarity quickly added, "and nothing else!" "Somepony seems awfully defensive." "I most certainly do not!" Rarity insisted, her cheeks growing redder. The implication that she, Rarity, Element of Generosity and star fashion designer, would go out and ogle beautiful rainbow-maned pegasi grinding against poles... Rainbow laughed at her ever-darkening blush, and she forced a sudden rush of extraordinarily unclean thoughts from her mind. "So, how was I out there?" "Oh, you..." She swore, if her face got any hotter, she'd be rushed to the hospital for contracting some new disease. "You were, um... ahem... quite good, darling," she admitted, grinning weakly. "I must ask, how long have you been, ehm... performing?" Now it was Rainbow's turn to blush, though she puffed her chest out to hide her sudden shyness. "Well, eh-heh, this was actually sorta-kinda my first day." Rarity gasped dramatically, though to be fair, she truly was quite surprised by this. "You're kidding!" "Nope, I guess I'm just a natural." Rainbow tossed her head, smiling smugly. "Like I am at everything else." "Uh-huh." "Boy, I didn't think I'd get found out so soon, though," she chuckled. "This was sure a weird koinkydink, huh?" Rarity wrinkled her nose, desperately trying to erase that... not-word from her mind. "Why, yes, it was certainly... a coincidence," she agreed, beginning to lead the trek back through the hallways and into the main room of the bar. While Rarity paid for her drinks from before the commotion, Rainbow felt her hoof brush against something soft; she looked down to see the sock that had happened to land on Rarity's head several minutes earlier, now dropped beneath her barstool. She picked it up with her wing as Rarity turned away from the bartender and started for the door. "Oh, hey, hold on!" She called after Rarity, hurriedly slipping the sock onto one of her hind legs. She then flew back onto the stage, ignoring the few whistles and jeers from the dwindling crowd. Flying in tight circles, she stirred up a small gust of wind that swept the tips up, where she deftly snatched them out of the air. Once they had been collected in a small bundle in her hooves, she shuffled the bills into a neat stack and tucked them into the sock, pinning them tightly against her flank. She glided back over to her unicorn friend and nodded to the door. "Okay, let's go." As the pair made their way for the exit, they were met by a round of catcalls and a few suggestive comments from some nearby observers. Rarity turned her nose up with a soft hmph! while Rainbow simply shook her head. "Why, I never! Such brutes!" "Hey, Rarity?" Rainbow called to her through the noise, tapping her on the shoulder to gain her attention. "I just wanted to say, thanks again." "Quite welcome, darling." Rarity smiled at her sweetly. Rainbow returned it, turning her head after a moment to acknowledge the other patrons whose teasing and hooting hadn't yet ceased. "Why don't we give them a little somethin' to really whistle at?" "Wha--" Rarity felt a shock of surprise as Rainbow stepped forward and roughly connected their mouths in a deep kiss, and her legs bent slightly as Rainbow stood up taller, bending the unicorn backwards over the hoof she'd slung around her shoulders. She squeaked, her eyes widening further as Rainbow pressed down on her even harder, offering no resistance as a strong tongue pushed into her mouth and wrestled down her own. A taste she could only describe as 'rainbows' crossed her taste buds and spread throughout her body, filling her fuzzy mind with images of flashing lights consisting of every color possible. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her horn sparked madly and her whole body trembled with excitement. What is happening?! Ohhh, my goodness, Rainbow, don't stop or I will *kill you.*** The impromptu make out session continued for a good minute, the heat of the moment drowning out the whoops and hollers from the rest of the ponies in the bar. The bartender shook his head and snorted, a smile tugging at his lips as he wiped out a glass with a rag. Rarity gasped and sighed in bliss when Rainbow finally broke away, panting heavily. A loose grin hung from her muzzle, and she waited to regain her breath before batting the unicorn's shoulder with a hoof and giggled tiredly. "Heh, c'mon Rares... Let's get outta here." She turned, purposefully tickling the white mare's nose with her tail, and waltzed out of the building with her head held high. Rarity merely stood there, her brain fried like an egg in a hot, steamy skillet. After a few long moments, she finally blinked out of her daze and slowly trailed after her, another wave of whistles announcing her departure. "W-wut?"
