“Ok everypony, gather round,” Pip called out. Both he and Succubus were standing on the edge of the stage as they watched their employees approach them, Pip’s expression looked slightly worried while Succubus remained carefree. The first to get to them was Rumble along with the waitresses. Next was Desire who was showing Zahara a picture of her husband, Poindexter. Behind them was Candy Bliss who was being followed by Snips and Snails.

“Ok, we got some good news and some bad news,” said Succubus. “The good news is that things here at the Treasure Chest are going great! You’re all doing a super good job. Especially our newest hire Zahara! Let’s give her a hand everypony!”

Pip joined in on the clapping while looking down at an embarrassed Zahara. She had been here for only a few days, but she was getting along great with both the staff as well as the customers. All of the dancers were helping her to become more comfortable with the idea of being naked in front of a crowd, each one having done a dance with her. Each time Zahara seemed to get a bit more confident, acting on her own accord while not interrupting the flow of the dance. And before the club opened each day, they all watched as she figured out how her own dance routine would go while giving her their advice.

Yet despite this she was still wasn’t ready to give private dances. Pip, along with the other stallions working at the Treasure Chest, had been used as test subjects to see how she did in a one on one situation. It was clear by the way she jumped every time one of them moved that she was scared, despite reassurances about the runes. But, so long as the stallion stayed perfectly still, Zahara gave a good performance. Pip and Succubus both agreed that if they kept working with her she would be good to go in a matter of weeks.

“And,” continued Succubus as the clapping died down, “Me and Pip have decided that we should do special events for the holidays!”

“What kind of events?” asked Snips quickly.

“Lots of things,” said Succubus as a dreamy expression crossed her face. “Like, for example, wearing those special chocolate bras and panties on Hearts and Hooves day or erotic costumes for Nightmare Night. But the big one will be the Summer Sun Celebration. We’re going to have to go all out so we can have all those ponies partying here all night long!”

“What if we have plans?” asked one of the waitresses.

“Just let us know ahead of time,” said Pip. “And that sort of ties into the bad news. This morning I read in the paper about a possible kidnapping. A mother who found out she had cancer went to go reconnect with her daughter who she hadn’t spoken to since she left for Baltimare against her mother’s wishes. When she got there, her daughter’s landlord claimed she had left a note two months ago saying she was going home while leaving all of her possessions at her apartment. A similar note had been given to the daughter’s employer. The authorities have stated that her bank accounts have not been touched. She has simply disappeared.”

“Now, I know this happened far away, but I’m not going to be taking any chances. Starting tonight I have arranged for all of the mares working here to be escorted home by the Night Guard. If you wish to quit then you must do so in pony! I will not accept notes unless you yourself give them to me. If I do receive a note I will head down to the police department or even the princesses if I have to. Your safety here is what’s most important.”

As Pip said this last part he glanced over at Succubus real quick. When he had spoken to Harvest about getting the Night Guard, the thestral had brought up his findings on Succubus. Or, rather, his lack of findings. According to Harvest’s contact, there was no criminal from the Hanging City who matched her description, and he was going to see if there were any missing pony reports before looking into the cities’ records to see if there was anypony named Succubus living there. However, he then sent another letter the very next day saying that he was dropping his search and that Harvest shouldn’t ask any more questions.

It didn’t take a detective to know that something was up. Harvest’s contact found something, Something that either spooked him, or for which somepony threatened him. This had Pip worried. If Succubus was running away from something, then whatever it was had enough power and influence to frighten a member of the guard. Pip resolved on keeping a closer eye on Succubus until Harvest got to the bottom of this.

“Do they think it was a changeling abduction?” asked Candy.

“I don’t think so,” said Succubus. “My tribe has had more dealings with the changelings going back hundreds of years. Normally, if a changeling wanted to kidnap somepony, they would leave a changeling in his or her place so that they could feast on the love of that pony’s loved ones. Pip showed me the article and it said that this mare kept to herself, meaning there was a low chance they would even consider taking her. Shame too, her picture showed that she was a looker.”

“We are also going to have our bouncer keep an eye out for suspicious activity,” continued Pip as he glanced down at Rumble who nodded. “If you see ponies out there watching the club, but never coming in I’ll need to know. They might be scoping the place out. We’ll contact the police if that happens.”

Later that night, the Treasure Chest was in full swing. Succubus had recently finished her first dance of the night and had a number of ponies wanting a private dance with her. ‘No doubt when she’s done she’ll be super horny,’ thought Pip with a light chuckle, surprised by how he had gotten used to her.

Looking at the clock, he realized that it was almost time for the next show. “Ok everypony,” said Pip into the mic. “Candy Bliss is on deck in three minutes. I repeat, Candy Bliss is on deck in three minutes.” Instantly everypony returned to their seats and drink orders began flying in. Pip quickened his pace to complete them all as he watched Candy head backstage out of the corner of his eye. Thankfully, nopony had wanted anything other than a refill so it made things easier.

Once all the drinks were out, Pip began to adjust the lights. As this happened, he could see the other dancers moving out into the crowd before sitting at random tables. At least, the tables that still had ponies in them. Those who had seen Candy dance before and liked her had already moved closer to the stage so that they could get the best seat in the house.

Exotic music from Saddle Arabia began to fill the room as Candy walked out. Tonight she was dressed in one of Rarity’s creations. Around Candy’s neck was a silver collar that had two bands of green cloth coming out of it, running down to partially cover the mare’s boobs before circling around her back. Around her wrists were silver bracelets that also had cloth running out from them but were see-through. Her pants were made of the same green see-through material, except for her panties.

As Candy walked down to the edge of the stage, she twirled around several times. Once she got to the pole she stopped to stand in front of it before beginning to sway her hips. Her motions were slow and fluid, match up with the music. She licked her lips as her swaying turned into something that resembled a roll.

Soon her hands stretched out into the air while her stomach began to move. Candy pushed it out a bit before bringing it back it, pushing her breasts high into the air each time. Her hands moved to the top of her head as her lower body continued to move for the audience before they began to descend downwards. The hands traced her face and then gently touched her neck and shoulders. As they then slid onto her breasts, Candy pulled away the cloth so that all could see her breasts which gleamed in the light, thanks to the body butter she was wearing. The crowd watched in transfixed silence as she moved her hands to her swaying stomach to caress it.

A few ponies managed to break away long enough to put bits on the stage. For them, Candy fluidly moved towards them and got onto her knees without her hips stopping. For each stallion who tipped her, she took their head gently and pressed in against her breast so that her nipple pressed against their skin. Then, just before she released her tipper, Candy would kiss the top of their forehead.

The music soon began to wind down and, by this point, Candy’s hands were at her groin. With her eyes closed, she began to rub her slit through the material with small noises escaping from her mouth. When her eyes opened and she saw the hungry looks of the stallions in the crowd, she smiled before lifting a leg up against the pole. An instant later she pulled on the pants and, thanks to a little feature Rarity had put in, the pant leg detached. Candy repeated this motion with her other leg, only this time she did it while her rear was facing the majority of the crowd. When the music had ended the only thing covering her were her panties.

But not for long.

The second song began to play, which was very similar to the first except it had a faster pace. Candy, still holding the pole, leaned back as far as she could so that her nipples pointed at the ceiling. Once she straightened out, she began to climb the pole until she reached the top. There she gave her flank a hard slap before locking her legs around the pole and leaning back again. From there she slid downwards until she landed safely on her hooves.

More bits were being placed on the stage as Candy took a few steps forwards. She didn’t attend to the audience, instead rolling her hips around much faster while her hands snaked down her torso to her panties. As soon as they touched the fabric, Candy pulled them down slightly to reveal her pussy lips to the crowd. For a moment her hip movements stopped so that she could rub her slit for them all before bringing that hand that had done it up to her mouth and licked it. This earned her a cheer from the stallions, and Candy, with a sly smile, pulled her panties all the way off.

From there, Candy continued her belly dance in the nude. She swayed and twirled for the crowd in ever quickening motions while her hands roamed her body. As she rolled her hips, Candy kneaded her breasts or squeezed her nipples. As her stomach swayed back and forth, Candy’s hands went to her pussy to give it a quick rub. She attended to the audience again, giving them the affection that their bits bought them. And when it was over and the music stopped playing, Candy blew them a kiss before picking up her garments from the floor and walking into the back room.

Fifteen minutes later, Pip announced the next dancer: Desire. She entered onto the stage to a dark sounding tune while carrying a riding crop. She was wearing her standard faux leather gloves and boots, both going up to her elbow and knee cap respectively. The rest of her was a little different. Today she was wearing a black, fishnet top with black tape covering her nipples in an X-shape and below was faux leather panties. With each step she took, Desire tapped the riding crop into her open palm until she reached the end of the stage.

Once she had reached her destination, she began to strut around the edge of the stage. Occasionally she would pause to bend down and greet a member of the audience she had given a private dance to earlier, running the end of the riding crop down his cheek as she did so. Once or twice she would lean a bit closer to whisper something in their ear. Something that made the stallion blush and, after the dance was over, they would come running to Pip asking for another private dance.

After she had made a round, Desire moved towards the pole and pressed her back against it. Smiling for the crowd, Desire placed the riding crop in her mouth before reaching past her fishnet top to pull off the tape covering her nipples. Once the tape was off, she tossed the trash into the crowd who began to fight over like they were timberwolves fighting over prey. This did not distract Desire, however, who had brought one gloved hand to her breast to lightly caress it while her other began to move down her swaying body. As her hand reached her panties, she slid it underneath the material and made it look like she was rubbing herself for a moment while thrusting her hips forwards to the music.

The crowd continued to watch with growing excitement as Desire brought her hand back into view. With the riding crop still in her mouth she took ahold of the pole behind her and spun around it twice before returning back to her original position. There she took the crop out of her mouth and held it between her breasts. With one hand she held it while bobbing it up and down while her other hand squeezed her breast. For a little over a minute this continued with her occasionally bringing her nipple up to her mouth and licking it. And as the song began to wind down, Desire took that moment to turn around with her ass sticking out towards the crowd while at the same time taking the riding crop out of her mouth. With the pole pressing against her shoulder, Desire placed the riding crop against were her slit was and began to rub it there until the song ended.

As the second song began, Desire stood up and faced the crowd. With a wicked smirk she cracked the riding crop against her boot. It wasn’t done hard enough to cause any real pain, but hard enough for there to be a sound loud enough to be heard over the music. She then brought the crop up to her mouth, her hips swaying to the beat, and licked it like it were a cock.

Without warning, Desire then tossed the crop to the entrance leading to the dressing room. She then winked at the crowd, who were somewhat confused since they thought she was going to do something more with the crop, before turning around and shaking her flank at them. Desire proceeded to remove her panties, bending over to do so. Once free, she moved her tail to the side and revealed she was wearing an anal plug. It was large, with a gem in the middle to be used like a handle to pull it out.

Desire then went over to the pole, swaying her hips as she did so. Once there, she took ahold of the pole with one hand and lifted one of her legs up before a hand reached back towards her flank. She then began to pull on it for the crowd, moaning and looking like she was about to cum any moment before she stopped. She released her hold on the pole as she set her leg down and moved towards the edge of the stage, watching as stallions began placing bits on the stage. Before moving on to the next part of her act, Desire brought a hand down to her slit and rubbed it once.

After that was done, Desire got down on all fours and began to crawl along the edge of the stage. When she approached those who had given her a single bit, Desire would take their hand with her own and move it so it touched her breast. The stallion would then be allowed to knead it for a bit until Desire pulled the hand away and would then continue to the next. Those who had gave five or more bits were allowed something a bit extra. To those lucky stallions, Desire would take their hand and place it on her plot as she turned around. Once her rear was facing the stallion, she would flick her tail upwards so that he could get a clear view of her pussy as well as her tail hole. From there, Desire would reach around and pull on her anal plug, using it like a dildo in front of the lucky guy. If he let go or reach out with his other hand, Desire’s tail would snap down to cover herself and she would move on. But, if he was a good stallion, when she was finished she would give him a kiss on the forehead before whispering naughty words into his ear.

As the song began to end, Desire crawled over to her panties and picked them up with her teeth. She then crawled back to the end of the stage where she picked up her crop with her magic, lightly smacking her ass with it before disappearing into the dressing room.

“Alright everypony,” said Pip as the song ended and he saw a dozen or so ponies either heading towards him to ask about a private dance from one of the stripper, or making the same request to the waitresses. “That was Desire! The next show will begin in fifteen minutes, and you’re all in for a treat because this will be the first time Zahara will be performing solo!”

Upon hearing this, those stallions who were waiting for a private dance began to talk with each other. One of the things that really set this place apart from other strip clubs were the routines. Every mare who danced did something unique or just added something that made it more than just swinging around a pole without any clothes. It made things more…exciting. Many wondered what Zahara was going to do. Some suggested that it would be a perverted modification of a traditional zebra dance. Others thought she would chicken out and ask one of the other mares to help her out.

Finally Zahara’s name was called out and all eyes were on the stage. As the music started, which had a somber tone to it, Zahara walked out with her head down. Everypony could see she was wearing a leather collar as well as matching arm bands. Attached to the bands were chains connected to the collar that were so short that Zahara had to hold her hands up. The rest of her outfit looked like slave wear: a short, dirty brown shirt that ended just below her breasts and a matching loin cloth.

Then, when Zahara got to the front of the stage, some in the crowd managed to see a small smile appear on her face right before the music exploded into a quick paced rhythm. And, just as it changed, Zahara lifted her head and brought her arms down, the chains breaking away easily as she did so. The zebra mare than began to dance, her movements were almost a blur. She didn’t sway her hips, she rocked them as her legs bounced off the stage floor. She didn’t caress her body slowly with her hands, they instead zipped side to side as she rolled her shoulders. Then, when it looked like the music was going to die down, Zahara pulled at the bottom of her shirt and tore it off easily, and the music instantly regained its prior force! Soon she swung around the pole with so much force that the metal budged slightly, but still remained in place.

The crowd watched with very vocal amazement. They didn’t care how large her breasts were or that she wasn’t doing a lesbian bit or anything else. They were amazed by her energy and flexibility. Her dance was a completely different type of erotica that made many in the crowd wondering just how flexible she would be in bed.

As the song continued, Zahara’s coat glistened with a light sheen of sweat. Yet, she showed no signs of stopping until she was done. As Pip watched, he knew Succubus would be proud of her and would be in the audience watching if she wasn’t already in a VIP at the moment. The two had worked hard for the zebra mare to get in this state, and that only happened when the music was as free as she wanted to be.

When the song ended, Zahara ended her first dance with a split. The crowd cheered even though they knew another song was starting. Like the first, this one was very fast paced. However, Zahara didn’t get straight up. Instead she spun around onto her ass with her legs facing the audience. Quickly she pulled them apart to show the world her pussy. The whole room watched as she reached out with her hands and spread those inviting lower lips for a brief moment before she spun her body around again, landing on her belly. She then made a wave motion with her body, starting from her hooves and going all the way to her head.

After the wave was finished, Zahara’s legs lifted into the air and bent until they were next to her head. She held that O-shape for a moment before she snapped her legs back and used the momentum to get to her hooves, tearing off her loincloth in the process. As the crowd cheered her on, Zahara began to dance like she had before. Her wild moves kept everypony entertained and excited, watching her quickly stroke her lower lips as she danced. She even returned to the pole, holding it from behind as she jumped up and spread her legs wide so that her pussy was more visible.

Bits were now being placed on the stage and Zahara slowed down to ‘thank’ them. To those stallions who gave her a single bit, she allowed them to press their faces into her chest. But those who gave five and up, much like during Desire’s routine, got something a bit more special. Like Succubus, she pulled them onto the stage and straddled their faces so that they got a clear view of her slit. She then made a sliding motion, hovering a few centimeters above their bodies until her face was near that bulge in their pants. She then breathed on it heavily before nuzzling it with her cheek and then got off. One time she could have sworn that, after she did this, the stallion’s pants seemed to darken along with a chlorine scent.

As the song neared its end, Pip noticed Succubus returning to the main floor and went over to the mic. “Zahara, please remain on the stage after this song,” he said before signaling to his wife. When she was near enough, Pip told her what he had planned and to get the other mares.

Back on the stage, Zahara knew her song was almost done and that this was the point where she should be returning to the dressing room. However, Pip had told her to stay so she instead turned around, bent down so her flank was sticking out, and began to roll it for the crowd.

As soon as her song ended, Zahara stood up straight as a new song began to play. This one had a bit of cheer to it.

“Alright, let’s meet the jewels of the Treasure Chest once again,” said Pip as he saw all the mares getting into the dressing room. “Let’s give it up for Succubus! Candy Bliss! Desire! And, of course, Zahara!” As the first three mares heard their names called out, they walked onto the stage toward Zahara and gave her either a hug (a big one from Succubus) or a kiss on the cheek. Once they were all there, they began to wave at the hooting crowd with smiles on their faces. “Remember everypony, you can ask for a private dance from most of these lovely mares. Just come up to the bar or ask your waitress. Or, if you want something a bit more special, we have our VIP rooms. We have specials going on all week so please don’t hesitate to ask, and thank you all for choosing the Treasure-”

Pip’s words were cut out as Rumble was thrown into the room, his back crashing into a table. Instantly everypony rushed over to make sure he was ok. Except for one. Succubus stood there, staring at the figure in the doorway with a look of pure fear on her face.

Author's Note

Next chapter: the truth about Succubus is revealed