Twilight Sparkle rarely slept in. Even on the days when she stayed up for most of the night to pursue the advancement of ponykind’s knowledge, if there was work to be done the next day, she would always get up at the same time in the morning, not one second early or late. And even on her days off, she preferred to get up early, not wanting to mess up any of her schedules that ensured comfortable and productive use of her time.

That said, there were exceptions to the rule, and judging by the blaze seeping in through the curtains of her hotel room, it was already well past the mid-morning time she preferred. No doubt thanks to how long it took her to drag everyone back to the hotel from that strange night club, or whatever it was. She closed her eyes again, but at this point, they had been open for too long.

To top it off, despite her strict schedules, Twilight also liked sleeping. She liked it so much that she very much disliked waking up to what sounded like a jackhammer going off at full blast right next to her bed, which is what forced her eyes open in the first place. The noise came in waves, following a torturously slow beat, and it was simply impossible to just filter out. Even the silence was spent in tense anticipation before the dreadful sound made her cringe.

“Nnngh…” She frowned and gave a long yawn, pushing herself up and glancing at the clock on her nightstand. It was half past ten, making her give an irritated huff. Glad my roommate is getting their beauty sleep at least…

She blinked. “Wait…” Turning toward the source of the noise, her jaw dropped when she saw something pink and fluffy peeking just above the edge of her bed. Every now and then, it twitched a little, accompanied by a sharp snort, after which the dreadful snoring would resume. “Pinkie?”

The pony on the ground gave a low groan and rolled away from the bed and toward the wall, making the fluff disappear from view. A vase stand happened to be in the way, and as the mare rolled into its thin legs, she tripped it over herself, which sent the vase on top hurtling toward the floor. Twilight gasped and lit her horn, or at least tried to, but a dull ache in her skull broke her concentration, fizzling out her telekinetic grip. The vase hit the ground and shattered, making her cringe, while her friend was finally jolted awake.

“Wha? Huh?” Pinkie sluggishly lifted her head and looked around. Her mane was all matted and messy, her bloodshot eyes barely managed to crack open, and her voice was hoarse, which was halfway remedied by her clearing her throat loudly. Moments later, her head dropped back to the floor with a dull thud. “Leave me alone… I’m sleeping here…”

Twilight frowned “Pinkie!” She grimaced when her senses awakened enough to reveal that her friend reeked of booze. “Ugh… my gosh, what the…?” Slapping a hand over her snout, she quickly used her magic to open the window.

“Whoah!” Pinkie got up and wheeled around, lifting an arm to shield her eyes from the sunlight pouring into the room. Her eyes landed on her friend, and she gave an embarrassed grin. “Heh-heh… sorry. Could have sworn this was my room…”

“Well it’s not!” Twilight pulled her covers tighter over herself and sighed. “Do you mind?”

“Geez, sorr-ree…” Pinkie slowly pulled herself up, alternating between gripping the bed and leaning on the fallen vase stand. “I’m leaving.” Its thin legs snapped under her weight and sent her to the floor again, rattling the shards of the vase as her limbs flailed.

“Blurgh… heh-heh…” When she finally found purchase again, she swiftly got up and stumbled her way to the window, her eyes having slipped shut, and she nonchalantly braced herself on the windowsill and began to climb over it.

Twilight gasped, nearly leaping off the bed. “Pinkie!” She quickly used her magic to grab one of Pinkie’s legs. “What are you doing?”

“Huh?” The pink pony glanced out of the window, eyes widening as she saw the pavement over twenty floors below. “Oh, wow…” She quickly tumbled back inside, taking one of the curtains with her along the way.

Applejack emerged from her room with a deep sigh, clinging to the towel around her waist with one hand, while the other brushed back her wet mane. She had already put on a red blouse, but the only thing below that was the towel and a pair of slippers on her feet. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the closed door and rubbed her temples.

As smooth as the drinks were on her lips and tongue last night, they were a lot more sharp and nasty this morning, churning in her belly and making her head feel like a lead weight. She had spent over an hour in the bathroom, trying to negate the hangover with a long shower, brushing her teeth, and even a bit of grooming to pass the time until her headache and nausea died down.

Groaning, she slowly trudged down the luxurious hallway, walking past Fluttershy’s room, where she faintly heard the noise of a running shower. She then paused in front of the next room and gently rapped on the door. When no answer came, she frowned and knocked louder. “Rarity!”

“Yes, what is it?” The mare inside did not sound particularly peachy. “I’m in the middle of something.”

“Can ya come outside?” Applejack said. The sound of an irritated huff seeped through the walls, and the door slowly opened, allowing Rarity to poke her head out. She had her mane wrapped up in a towel, and her usual makeup was noticeably missing.

“Well?” she said, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

Applejack glanced to either side, noticing a disheveled Pinkie Pie emerge from Twilight’s room, grumbling to herself as she trudged back to her own. “I’d… rather not say,” Applejack replied. “Not in front of everypony.”

“Look, just...” Rarity paused and gave a long yawn. “Just tell me already.”

The farmpony crossed her arms. “Hmf. Fine.” Her legs shuffled as she gathered her courage, and eventually took a deep breath. “Can I borrow some of your panties?”

Rarity’s jaw dropped. “What?” She frowned and opened the door wider, casually revealing her entire body, with only her chest and privates concealed by the underwear she had on. “Applejack, is this a joke?”

Applejack gulped, her gaze slowly traveling down before she snapped it back up, and she felt warmth rush to her cheeks. “Nah, I’m serious.” They both blinked when a loud snort rang out from the end of the hallway, and they turned to see a fluffy pink tail disappear around the corner, followed by a faint chuckle.

“You clearly are not.” Rarity crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, turning back to her friend and giving her a bemused look.

“I dunno, mine just don’t feel right.” Applejack scratched at the back of her head awkwardly. “Too coarse. Must’ve gone in the wrong pile of laundry or something.”

Rarity sighed. “Look, darling. I know everypony takes me for a walking fashion show, but I only packed for one mare this time.”

“I’ll trade ya for some of my own if ya want...” Applejack grumbled under her breath. She looked away, crossing her arms as well.

“Hmm…” Rarity tapped her chin. “Are you sure?”

Applejack blinked and looked back at her. When Rarity’s expression did not change, the orange mare slapped her palm against her snout. “Ugh… I was kidding,” she said.

Rarity chuckled. “No, seriously,” she replied. “Why not?”

“Last time you saw my wardrobe, you said it was ‘fashion genocide’… whatever the hay that means.”

“Did I?” Rarity snickered again and stepped back into her room. “Okay, give me a moment.” She left the door open and rummaged around for a bit before returning to the doorway, now wearing a white blouse. She carried a bundle of silky fabric in one of her hands. “Actually, since we’re trading here… can you give me a pair of your jeans?”

Applejack’s gaze alternated between her friend and the clothes she had brought. She gave a nervous chuckle and held up her hands. “Rarity, come on. You’re scaring me.”

“Oh please. There are no clothes that I cannot look good in.” Rarity glanced over her shoulder, and by leaning to the side, Applejack caught a glimpse of what looked like an entire wardrobe scattered all over the room. Even compared to ‘organized chaos’, it was rather unlike the clean freak unicorn she knew. “Besides, dresses don’t seem to do well in the places we visit.”

“If ya say so.” Applejack shrugged and turned around, waving with one hand for her friend to follow. Her gait was a little more tense as she felt Rarity’s footsteps behind her, and as she glanced over her back, she saw the mare stretch and yawn without a hint of grace, showing off her tall, slender figure. Applejack hastily opened the door and tiptoed inside, heading straight for her bags to start digging through them.

Rarity set the panties down and leaned against the wall, staring at Applejack as she worked. Her eyes widened when she noticed some of the clothes on the bed, which her friend tossed there to get them out of the way.

“Oh my stars, Applejack.” Rarity chuckled. “I didn’t even know you owned any skirts~”

Applejack shrugged and upended her bag to see if anything else was left inside. “Never get ta break them out back home,” she said. “Figured they shouldn’t just be gatherin’ dust.”

“Mmm…” Rarity picked one of them up to inspect it, and she smirked as she glanced at her crouching friend, particularly at her flank. “And you’d look positively fabulous in them, darling.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Applejack turned around, cheeks slightly flushed, and she held out a pair of pants. “Here ya go. Best one I’ve got.”

“Thank you very much~” Rarity took the pants and held them against her hips, checking if they would fit. Without another word, she lit her horn and used her magic to put them on, then slowly twisted back and forth to see how she looked in them. Meanwhile, Applejack muttered to herself while she picked out one of the panties, a beige pair that was smaller and fit between her legs much more snugly than any of her own underwear. Feeling Rarity’s gaze on her, she huffed and quickly picked up one of her skirts – a light blue, knee-length variety – quickly slipping it on to put an end to the view.

Rarity smirked and, before Applejack could turn around, she reached out and casually placed her hand on the mare’s rear, giving it a little rub. “Just like I told you, darling,” Rarity said and stepped closer. “Fits you like a glove.”

“Hey!” Applejack nearly jumped, and she wheeled around, glaring at her friend. “Whatcha think you’re doing?”

The fashionista chuckled in response, gave her firm flank a brief squeeze, then let go and turned back to inspect herself in a nearby mirror. Applejack blushed deeply, and her hand reached back to rub at the spot Rarity caressed. She was no stranger to being touched by her friend, what with all the group hugs and the hours she spent modeling, which often involved Rarity squeezing her into tight outfits through any means necessary.

But she should not have been this sensitive, nor should her flesh be anything less than rock solid. Either Rarity had gotten that much stronger as of late, or Applejack had gone soft, turning her butt into putty for others’ hands. All the more reason to head back to the farm and do some hard work again as soon as possible.

“Y’all quite finished?” she asked, hands on her hips. Her lips curled into a smile. “You know, those pants don’t look too bad ya either. Hoping you’ll run into that Trender-whoever fellow again?”

That finally put an end to Rarity’s smug attitude, and she shot Applejack a piercing glare before looking away, holding her snout high. “As if,” she said. “I have better things to do than to—Whah!” She tensed up when she suddenly felt Applejack’s hands grip her jeans from behind, her fingers giving a subtle tickle on her firm rear.

“Heh-heh, I think ya forgot something,” Applejack said. Before Rarity could reply, she reached in through a subtly placed slit in the rear of the pants, pinched the mare’s tail between her fingers, and pulled it out in one swift tug. Rarity arched her back, just barely managing to restrain a loud yelp, and her own cheeks flushed brightly. “There ya go~”

Rarity nudged her chuckling friend away with a swift hip check, and she shook her head. “I was perfectly aware of it, thank you very much.” Her tail kept swishing back and forth slightly, and she reached back to adjust it, combing the loose strands with her fingers. The trademark curls of her tail were much more subtle this time, letting it hang almost all the way to her feet.

“I’m sure you were,” Applejack replied. “Shall we?” She held out her arm in a mock invitation, and after a brief staredown, Rarity finally cracked a smile again and accepted, playfully leading her friend out of the room.

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth in the corridor, grumbling to herself. Occasionally, she would pause to check her watch, and her frown would deepen. How much longer are they gonna sleep in? she thought. I got a whole town to rob here, for pony’s sake...

She paused, ears twitching as she heard one of the locks click, and the nearest door slowly opened. A yellow pegasus stepped out of it slowly, her movements slow and deliberate, as though she were taking extreme care to move nothing but her legs. Rainbow nearly burst out laughing as she saw the rather agitated look on the mare’s face - an unusual sight, which made it all the more amusing.

“Heh-heh… hey there, Fluttershy.” She trailed after her friend, hands in her pockets, and a smug grin on her face. “Get a good sleep~?”

Fluttershy tensed up, giving a brief hiss through her teeth, as though even a mere voice acted as a hot poker pressing into her skin. “Not… today… Rainbow Dash,” she muttered.

“Whoa. Touchy, are we?” Rainbow chuckled and shook her head when Fluttershy shot her a rather nasty look. “Tch, fiiine…”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Sorry… didn’t sleep too well.”

“I can imagine. Twilight told me you, uh… ‘had a few drinks’.”

“What are you wearing?” Fluttershy asked all of a sudden. The question caught Rainbow off guard, and she looked down to inspect herself. A simple combo of a shirt, brown faux-leather jacket, pants, and boots. A chain hung from her belt into her right pocket, and there was a small holster on her hip, hiding under her jacket. Maybe a little more than what she usually put on, but it did not seem that prominent to her.

“What?” Rainbow shrugged with a smile. “I always keep it simple. And real.” The odd look on Fluttershy’s face did not change. Maybe it’s the chain? Or the jacket? Rainbow glanced at the rest of her friend’s figure and raised an eyebrow. “Huh… and what are you wearing?”

Fluttershy, despite her apparent internal agony, had not slacked off when it came to her looks. Her mane was carefully groomed and styled, she had put on very light makeup, and Rainbow even noticed a hint of sweet perfume emitting from the mare. Her outfit was a silver one piece dress that hugged her figure and offered a rather generous view of her chest, though not without maintaining decency. “I got it from Rarity on my last birthday,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Uhh…” Rainbow scratched at her head. “And you actually put it on? I mean…” She walked up beside Fluttershy and glanced at her chest. “I could probably look down there and see all the way to your—”

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy snapped.

“Okay, cool it already.” They paused at the elevators, and Rainbow glanced back down the hallway. “Are the others done yet? I gotta get back to my crew.”

Fluttershy pressed the call button and crossed her arms. “Your ‘crew’?” she said. “Oh Rainbow, what kind of trouble are you getting into this time?”

Rainbow chuckled and waved it off. “Relax, they’re just some friends of mine. We hang out. And yeah, sometimes I help ‘em out a little. Big deal.”

“Why do you associate with such shady figures?” Fluttershy hugged herself a bit tighter. “Aren’t we friends enough for you?”

“Heh, that’s the whole point of coming to Vegas. Meeting interesting strangers…” Rainbow licked her lips and lowered her voice to an insidious whisper. “And ripping them off~”

Fluttershy shuddered and looked away without another word. The other girls soon joined them, excluding Pinkie Pie, who had reportedly opted to take the stairs and go off to do whatever she had in mind. Rainbow chuckled, wondering how long it would take her friend to get on the bad side of the hotel staff.

After a brief debate on what they should do that day, Twilight proposed they head down to have breakfast before doing anything else. It was, as she explained, best not to make important decisions on an empty stomach. She gave a small giggle and stepped into the elevator, blissfully unaware of the piercing glare she had earned herself from Fluttershy.

By the time they made it down to the dining hall, it was half past eleven, yet Rarity insisted on calling it “breakfast”, and she was even willing to start an argument with the maître d' over the issue. “Enough of your excuses,” she barked, forgoing her usual subtle, insidious approach. “We paid for rooms with breakfast, so we demand that we get it.”

“Madam, we do not serve breakfast past 10 AM. If you wish, we could prepare dishes that—” The stallion yelped as she delivered a swift jab to his chest. Twilight stared curiously, wondering how Rarity had managed to make him nearly stumble back with just one finger.

“Is there a problem with your hearing?” Rarity asked. She stepped closer, emphasizing the slight advantage she had in height, and stared down at him, almost snout to snout. “Or perhaps your understanding? If you would prefer, we can discuss this with the manager.”

The color drained from the waiter’s face. Applejack, who stood by her friend’s side throughout the incident, gave a deep sigh and opened her mouth to interject, but the stallion was already waving his hands and shaking his head frantically. “There is no need for that, madam.” He stumbled backward, almost knocking over a flower pot behind him. “I, um… I shall see to it immediately. After I show you to your table, of course!”

With a nervous chuckle, he quickly led them across the luxurious hall to a large, unoccupied table with six seats. He whistled and gestured to some nearby waiters, who quickly removed the tableware laid out for lunch and replaced it with dishes and cutlery for breakfast. Rarity gave a smug grin and winked at her friends over her shoulder. “You see, darlings? All it takes is a little persuasion~”

They chuckled in response as they took their seats, after which they swiftly placed their orders. Only Rainbow Dash and Rarity seemed particularly hungry, while the others asked for snacks and drinks at most. Pinkie muttered something about “posh poop” and discarded her menu, asking for a beer instead. Her friends stared at her in shock, and the maître d' hesitantly suggested something else, only to earn himself a glare that quickly changed his mind.

Twilight let her gaze wander as she munched away on a piece of toast. The dining hall decor was relatively simple, at least compared to the rest of the hotel, with reds and greens being the predominant colors. Not a surprise, she thought. Red appetizes, green relaxes. She glanced at her friends, few of whom seemed appetized or relaxed, and her eyes narrowed. I wonder if there’s a color against hangovers. Maybe orange? She looked down at the glass of juice in front of her and chuckled, lifting it to take a sip.

Humming from the sweet taste, she looked down and stared at the liquid in the glass, recalling a familiar colored drink in a certain place not far from here. Through the orange, she could see all the other colors, a blinding blue-purple-pink neon and laser glare, floating on a sea of roaring bass and high-pitched melodies.

Or maybe not orange, she thought. Maybe it’s pink…

Rainbow Dash was getting impatient. That much was blatantly obvious to any onlooker, even Pinkie Pie, who had trouble being compassionate. Sure, she would still look out for her friends and try to keep them happy, but not when they insisted on sticking to boring places such as the hotel’s casino on the ground floor. The decorations were all wrong, the lights were boring, the games were even more boring, the food and drinks were average at best – even if they were complimentary – and wherever she looked, she saw rich ponies with their noses high, giving her and her friends condescending looks, if they bothered to look at all. It was nauseating, and she could not even hope to wash down her distaste with anything stronger than sparkling water.

Rarity and Applejack got off well enough, those two were perhaps the most fitting when it came to the dress code. The former did her usual “high society girl dresses more liberally” thing, while the latter went through another identity crisis, not sure if she should imitate her partner or fit in with all the rodeo clowns and their big hats and fake Badlands accents.

“I swear, doesn’t this town have anythin’ more stimulating than cards and watching some ball roll around?” Applejack frowned and reached up to adjust her hat.

“Stimulating?” Rarity chuckled. “You rarely use such long words, darling. Is the place getting to you~?”

Applejack jabbed Rarity in the side and give her a furious glare, followed by squirming as giggling when her friend’s hand snuck around her back, treacherous fingers seeking out weak spots high and low before retreating swiftly.

“H-Hey! Heh-heh, stooop it!” The farmpony pulled away, slapping at Rarity’s hand the moment she saw them move again.

“As you wish,” Rarity said. With her eyes still fixed on her friend, giving a superior smirk, she very nearly walked right into a nearby craps table. “Oh! Well, how about this?”

“Dice?” Applejack sighed. “Well, I s’pose we won’t find much better.”

“Yes, not likely,” Rarity muttered. She casually reached in and picked up the pair of dice as they rolled to a halt nearby, moving them close to her face to inspect them. “These places are known to be crooked.”

The dealer frowned at her and tapped with his stick on the edge of the table. “Madam? Madam!” He rapped harder, moving the end of the stick closer, the noise making Applejack flinch, while Rarity just lazily glanced his way. “Please return the dice to the table and refrain from touching until instructed.”

“Tch.” Rarity clung to the die, balling her hand into a fist around them. “The game’s all about tossing dice, right? So why all the fuss?”

Before either of them could say any more, Applejack gently grabbed Rarity’s hand and moved it back toward the table. “I believe he means you’re supposed to wait yer turn.” It was her turn to smirk, and her tone shifted to that of an adult addressing a child. “And, y’know, being polite and all that. So how about you let me handle the rolls, hmm~?”

The other players chuckled, while Rarity’s cheeks flushed, and she handed the dice back with an angry huff. The dealer, apparently impressed, pushed them back toward Applejack. She picked them up and leaned over the table, licking her lips. “Snake eyes,” she said. After a deep breath, she flicked the edge of her hat and made the toss, which was soon followed by a cheer and brief applause from the bystanders. Rarity crossed her arms, her frown deepening, though she also gave her friend a subtle hip-check, concealed by the high edge of the table.

Spying on the exchange from her seat at the bar, Pinkie snorted and shook her head as she watched the duo tease each other for another minute or so, after which she turned her gaze toward the others. Twilight was next in line when it came to dressing properly. Then again, she did not really outdo herself. Blue skirt, purple blouse, purple shoes. Tucked under her arm was her infamous notebook, and her eyes scanned the chamber like a hawk. She gave a wide grin, running up to the poker table. The other players greeted her with baffled looks as she casually set up her fat bag of casino chips on one side, her notebook on the other, and confidently waved at the dealer.

Ten minutes later, Twilight climbed off her seat and trudged away, legs shaking, and a shellshocked look on her face. Her gaze alternated between her notes and her bag, the former littered with crossed out lines and corrections, the latter having lost a considerable amount of its load.

Feeling a pang of regret, Pinkie pushed her glass away – the drink sucked anyway – and hopped off her barstool to walk up to her friend and give her a pat on the back. “Hey, Twilight,” she said with a wide smile. “Why the long face?”

“I… I lost…” Twilight buried her snout in her notebook again, eyes darting back and forth. “It’s impossible. I couldn’t… no… statistically impossible…”

Pinkie giggled and pulled her friend into a hug. “Aww, come on. You tried to play the house and lost. Big deal~”

“Big deal?!” Twilight turned to glare at her. “Do you know how much planning I put into this? This is just… no… can’t be happening…”

“You’re in Las Pegasus. If you never lose, where’s the excitement?” Pinkie dragged her mumbling friend back to the bar, where she ordered something strong to help Twilight calm down. “Besides, your notes are fine.”

“Huh?” Twilight lifted her head and stared at Pinkie, blinking in confusion. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, you barely looked at them.” Pinkie hopped onto the stool next to Twilight and gestured to the bartender for a refill. “I saw you ogling the waitresses a lot more.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “I absolutely did not!”

“Hee-hee, deny it all ya want~” Pinkie winked and took a swig of her cider. Glancing to her side, she nodded her head at one of the waitresses passing by. “Well, can’t blame you. They do look cute in those short skirts and—”

“Uuugh!” Twilight snatched up the glass the bartender had poured for her, not even bothering to check what was in it before she downed it in one go. She then grimaced, almost doubling over, but managed to keep the drink down. Shaking her head, she stormed off, grumbling to herself.

Pinkie snickered, noticing a hint of red forming on her friend’s cheeks. It really is weird though, she thought. Twilight getting distracted like that? Good thing those waitresses aren’t carrying books... With a shrug, she went back to inspecting her surroundings, her eyes soon landing on a yellow-pink figure gliding back and forth among the posh crowd.

Fluttershy was an even bigger enigma than Twilight. For starters, she actually did do a bit of gambling, making use of the chips Rainbow Dash refused to spend. In fact, her fellow pegasus very nearly refused to stay, and she simply leaned against the wall near the exit, arms crossed as she rolled her eyes every time she caught a glimpse of her friends. Considering how well things were going so far, one could hardly blame her.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy meekly waltzed among the slot machines and roulette tables, holding her little purse against her chest. Her dress was a tad more revealing than last night, hugging her form more tightly and having wider openings, along with less leg coverage. From afar, one might assume her intent was to find herself a quiet corner to spend her chips in peace. But more than once she passed an unoccupied machine or a fairly deserted table, and never once did she pause.

She did, however, stop next to a lone stallion who grumbled as he dropped a fresh coin into his one-arm bandit. His money supply drained rapidly, and his good mood even faster, as evidenced by his dark expression. Fluttershy watched him play for a while, wincing each time the stallion growled in frustration, and eventually she tiptoed up behind him and tapped his shoulder. “Um… excuse me.”

The stallion tensed up and wheeled around, only to stare, jaw hanging, at the pegasus standing next to him. His eyes trailed down slowly, only to snap back up, and a tiny amount of red formed on his cheeks. Were it not for the purse Fluttershy hugged against her chest, he could easily have peeked all the way down to her legs. “Uhh…” He coughed and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Can I help you, miss?”

“Actually, yes…” Fluttershy leaned closer to whisper, as though she were embarrassed to speak aloud. “I, um… I would like to play this game, but… I don’t really know how it works.”

“Oh.” The stallion blinked, and his expression gradually softened, a smile tugging on his lips as he glanced at his near-empty cup of coins. “Oh? Well…” He grabbed the cup and shook it, rattling the dozen or so coins left inside, though that did not seem to trouble him at all anymore. “I haven’t got that much left, but I’d be glad to help.”

Fluttershy held up her bag, rattling it as well to emphasize its more abundant contents. “Oh, I have some chips here. So… may I try, please?” She gave a meek smile.

He chuckled and reached out, gently pushing her hand back down. “No, dear, you need coins for the slot machines.” He nodded his head to the side. “Here, let me take you to the cashier. We can exchange some of those chips, and I’ll show you the ropes~”

“Oh… um… okay.”

His hand remained on hers, and he grinned as he led the mare away, his frustration having vanished entirely. Fluttershy blushed and shrank slightly, her gait a little tense as she stumbled after him. When Pinkie looked close enough, however, she could see the pegasus flash a tiny smile.

“About time you guys showed up,” Rainbow grumbled, arms crossed. “Are we gonna strike gold in this town or what?” She did crack a smile, however, as she got a good look at the posse approaching her from the bustling crowd of gamblers. Twilight was practically shellshocked, checking her notes constantly, and every time a server passed by, she yelped and looked away. Pinkie’s cheeks were bright red from who knows how many drinks, and she slurred all sorts of nonsense while leaning on Fluttershy, who meekly giggled in response while her hands constantly toyed with her outfit. Rarity and Applejack were still bickering, with the latter demanding to know why the former offered the farmpony as a bet. Even more infuriating was the fact that the dealer actually considered it, at least until he saw how upset Applejack got. Of course, Rarity insisted it was just a harmless joke, and she tried to calm her friend down with a pat on the back, which went a little too low and earned her an elbow to the ribs.

Clearly, while there was a hit comedy show to be made based on their experiences, the night was otherwise not very productive. Rainbow Dash would not stand for that. She wanted action, adventure, excitement. Deals with the demons, stabs in the back. Shady ponies in shady alleys, not posh princesses walking the red carpet under bright lights. She even tried to explain all this to her friends, and to her great surprise, they did not argue. Then again, not one of them could bring themselves to say what everypony was thinking about. Even Rainbow herself, who figured the others would call her insane if she were to propose it. Without another word, the six mares slowly departed the casino and walked down the busy streets of Las Pegasus, feigning interest in the bright lights and loud voices calling to the addicts of gambling.

Pinkie Pie was busy balancing beer cans on a street corner – she had somehow managed to bring an entire six pack with her and drink it within an hour of walking – while everypony else wandered about, if only to keep their legs busy. Aside from the ambience of the city around them, an awkward silence settled on the group, and one could almost feel the tension in the air.

“I don’t know…” Fluttershy muttered, as though she were talking to herself. “Maybe we should…?”

Applejack glanced over. “Say what?”

“Speak up, darling,” Rarity added.

Fluttershy shook her head and looked away. “Oh, nevermind… it’s a bad idea…”

“What’s a bad idea?” Twilight asked. Her voice showed anxiety, though it was not like her usual cautious attitude. Rather, she sounded like Fluttershy was about to say something Twilight really did not want to even think about.

“Soooo... are we gonna party or what?” Pinkie chimed in, then followed up with a long belch. She carefully placed the final can on top of the stack she had built, and she turned around with a triumphant smile. “I don’t know about you girls, but I’m getting thirsty.” Before any of her friends could reply, she promptly kicked the beer tower onto the asphalt, straight into the path of a passing car. The chorus of blaring horns she got in response made the rest of the group cringe.

Rainbow Dash cackled at Pinkie’s antics. “Yeah, that’s the style, Pinks. Kick this city in the flank and don’t take no horseapples.”

“Charming, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said in a bemused tone. Applejack snickered as she watched the two glare at each other. Moments later, they all blinked in surprise and turned to watch Twilight start to walk away, moving off the main street.

“Hey, wait up!” Pinkie was the first to follow, bouncing and leaping after the mare. “Figured out where the blowout’s gonna be?”

“Whoa, hold on, Twi!” Applejack caught up second, holding onto her hat with one hand, while the other kept her skirt in check. “Where we goin’?”

Twilight paused briefly and turned around. There was a look of slight concern on her face, yet she still managed to crack a smile. “You know where we’re going,” she replied.

The viewer on the door slipped open, and a pair of menacing eyes peeked out at the group. Before any of the mares could even say a word, the bouncer let out a huff and opened the door, stepping out of the way. His eyes trailed across the mares, his expression mostly disinterested, though he did show a hint of suspicion when observing two particular guests. Pinkie Pie stumbled in through the doorway, slurring some kind of greeting while she waved at the minotaur mere inches from his face. He did not move a muscle, but his eyes narrowed, and he let out another huff, prompting Applejack and Rarity to quickly drag their friend away.

“Sorry about her,” Rainbow said with a superior smirk as she passed by. “This town does bad things to everypony, huh? Can’t trust anyone~” In response, the bouncer gave her an equally piercing glare, but he said nothing, merely slammed the door shut and locked it, the noise making Fluttershy jump slightly. The mare held her breath as she tiptoed down the corridor, giving a sigh of relief when they finally arrived at the far end, moving into the warm lights in the entrance hall.

Meadows had just finished greeting a young couple and guiding them toward the wardrobe with a friendly smile. Rainbow smirked, remembering what an odd impression the stallion had left on her friends. Moments later, her eyes narrowed as she watched the couple heading for the doors leading into the club proper. They looked rather familiar, as though she had met them in this very place the night before. Her memory was not nearly as good as Twilight’s, but Rainbow liked to think she had decent skills of her own. On these streets, one wanted to never forget a face, just in case they ran into them again and had some unfinished business.

While this couple certainly did not do any business with her, she was still convinced she had seen them before. She recognized all the tiny details - their smile, the way they gesticulated, the way they blinked. But her last memories showed a typical young couple in street clothes, flirting under the influence of countless drinks. Now she watched the same stallion in a rather sharp suit, at least for his age, and even a fedora on his head, which he handed over along with his trenchcoat at the wardrobe. Rainbow looked closer, surprised to see that the stallion even looked slightly older, still quite young, but well past the end of adolescence.

His partner was equally a far cry from a casual party girl. She wore a black beret and a thick coat, under which she had a simple white blouse and a long skirt. All of it looked quite plain, almost old-fashioned. If Rainbow did not recall the two from the night before, she would have been convinced the two had dropped straight out of a detective movie.

Or maybe they’re just roleplaying it?

She laughed at the thought and went to drop off her vest at the wardrobe, leaving her toned arms and the few faint scars on them on display as she made her way through the doors. Weird guests or no, it was time to let everypony know there were some real ponies in this joint, and they were looking to do business.

Applejack and Rarity managed to halt their bickering as soon as they were rid of the burden of their coats, and they quickly made their way to the bar, Rarity hopping onto one of the stools, while Applejack gracefully planted her rear on another, fidgeting for a few moments until she got comfortable.

“So, what’ll it be?” she said with an eager smile, turning to her friend. “Gonna try something hard again?”

“I don’t see why not, darling. Hmm…” Rarity’s eyes wandered over the drinks on display, and she blinked when she spotted Meadows a few feet away, wiping some glasses clean. She waved at him and cleared her throat. “I’ll have whiskey, on the rocks, please.”

Applejack let out a low whistle. “Oh my, Rares. You’re not kiddin’.”

“What? I like rocks.” Rarity chuckled and tossed her mane back. “Besides, it’s not my first time. Many of my business partners want to have a toast after a deal, and good manners dictate you don’t complain about their drink of choice.”

“Tell me about it.” Applejack fiddled with her hat, which she refused to give up at the wardrobe, but now seemed unable to get comfortable with. “Get a lot of hoity folk buying things from our farm, and they bring all kinds of weird drinks as thanks. Didn’t want to let ‘em go to waste, so I’d break ‘em out every weekend or two.”

“Mmhmm~” Rarity puffed a bit of air out the corner of her mouth to nudge a strand of her mane off her cheek. Her elegant curls were surprisingly insubordinate tonight, refusing to maintain a proper coiffure. “Speaking of drinks, what about you, Applejack? Yearning for the crudeness of country beverages, or do you wish to sample something exotic again?”

It was Applejack’s turn to chuckle, running a hand over her outfit. “Well, I’d feel weird with a beer in this getup. And today I just don’t got the taste for anything with a kick.” She inspected the list of beverages carefully. “How about some wine? That’s still country… kinda. Right?”

“What kind of wine, Madam?” Meadows asked with his trademark smile. “Riesling? Chardonnay? We also have an excellent vintage Pinot Noir.”

“Uhm…” Applejack scratched her head and glanced at Rarity, who could barely restrain a giggle. “Let’s go with that last one.”

Meadows nodded in approval. “Splendid. Right away, Madam~” With both the grace and haste of an eager host, he made his way down the long row of bottles, seeking the right ones for his guests.

Pinkie grinned triumphantly as she retreated from the bar, proud of being the fastest among her friends to solve her drinking problem. Although she did wonder if any of them actually had such a problem. One by one, they all did end up with a drink in their hand, but some of them sure took their time. What’s a party without some punch? She rolled her eyes and took a big swig straight from her bottle.

Amateurs…

“Speaking of punch…” she muttered. Her brow furrowed as she idly tapped her foot to the beat. The song was just not to her liking. Too soft. Too slow. She needed something to get her pumped if she was going to meet her rocking out quota, but so far she might as well have gone to a kindergarten choir practice. Her eyes sought the pony responsible for the music in the club, one of her fists clenching in anticipation. She then froze, jaw dropping, as she instead spotted Fluttershy near the stage.

The poor soul looked hopelessly lost. She held a cocktail tightly to her chest – another Whip-Sip, no doubt supplied by Meadows himself – clinging to it like it was a piece of flotsam on the raging sea. Hiding behind her mane, she meandered between the swaying patrons, occasionally pausing to take a quick sip of her drink. A few ponies glanced her way, some of them even looking concerned, but nopony ended up approaching her. Quite an amazing result, given how frail and desperate she looked.

Pinkie was not so easily fooled, however. She had seen her fair share of awkward partygoers, but there was something phenomenally dishonest about how Fluttershy acted. Pinkie could not help but admire it. She watched the pegasus make several passes through the crowd, shakily whispering apologies each time she “accidentally” bumped into someone or could not move past them. Eventually, she retreated to the edge of the dance floor and huffed, cheeks puffing in frustration. The normally timid mare’s eyes jealously glared at all the dancing couples that were too busy focusing on each other. She finished off her drink in one mighty gulp and stomped her way back to the bar, holding her snout high. Fortunately, Meadows was close by as always, and could avert a crisis by giving her a refill.

“Oooh, I like where this is going~” Pinkie said, gulping from her own drink. The beer sucked, but it was the cheapest the place had, and it actually had a kick to it. Already, she could feel a pleasant buzz building up in her head, and she started bumping her fist against the wall to the beat of the music. She grinned in anticipation of when she would get some real jams to liven this place up. For right now, however, she entertained herself by watching some more of Fluttershy’s antics.

The mare fumed on her stool and sipped at her cocktail, eyes scanning the crowd like those of a hawk. Eventually, she hopped off her seat, adjusted her mane, and made her way across the chamber again, this time doing away with the timid appearance. She held her snout high, a hoity expression on her face, and instead of awkwardly stumbling around, every step of hers was slow and precisely calculated. She put a subtle sway into her body, showing off her hips in the form-fitting outfit, while her tall stance left little to imagination regarding her upper half. Pinkie now fully realized just how low-cut the chest portion of Fluttershy’s dress was, and she giggled as she watched several nearby patrons slam headfirst into each other, unable to take their eyes off the pegasus. Fluttershy, on the other hand, barely paid attention. She gave them a condescending glance, took the tiniest of sips from her drink, and glided onward. Within seconds, several ponies began to trail her, making pathetic attempts to act as though they were “coincidentally” moving in the same direction. Once again, Pinkie spotted a subtle, insidious grin on her friend’s lips.

The pink pony upended her bottle above her open mouth, and after the last drops trickled out, she set it down on a nearby table with a satisfied burp. “Ahh, that hit the spot!” She licked her lips and rubbed her hands together. “Now… time to find that DJ.”

Loud music? Check. Friends dispersed among the crowd? Check. Approached by Meadows? Check. Refusing a second round of drinks? Check. Getting hit by the first round?..

Twilight’s brow furrowed, and she glanced down at her feet as she walked a few paces. Her gait seemed stable enough, and the floor felt as flat and easy to navigate as her eyes told her. She had no uncontrollable urge to giggle or fall into the arms of the nearest stallion. Or mare. Outside of a faint buzz and her tension lessening, she felt quite normal. In fact, she paused and glanced back at the bar, entertaining the idea of grabbing another round after all.

Smiling, she rolled her eyes at herself and made her way across the chamber, looking for her friends. If she was not going to drown herself in alcohol tonight – a decision firmly supported by the dull ache in her head – the least she could do is make sure the others did not get in trouble either. Navigating the club proved to be no simple task, however, as the DJ for the night had just decided to put on a very fast, upbeat track, creating an obstacle course of flailing, semi-sober patrons that littered the dance floor.

Twilight had barely dodged and pushed her way through half of the throng when the music came to a halt, and everypony erupted into cheers. Bright lights came on from the direction of the stage nearby, blinding her briefly after her eyes had gotten used to the faint, sporadic flashes during the dance phase. Groaning, she paused and blinked repeatedly, fighting past the spots in her vision to make out what was happening. Onstage, the red curtains parted slightly, and a familiar figure in a white tuxedo stepped out, his suit practically glowing under the stage lights.

“Good evening, fillies and gentlecolts,” Meadows said with a smile. He waited patiently for another round of applause to die down before he went on. “Las Pegasus is home to many wonders, but none can compare to the magic of Caravan Club. Our establishment may be modest, but all of us who work here make sure to bring you the best this city has to offer.”

The crowd cheered again, while Twilight crossed her arms, a mixed look of suspicion and admiration on her face. The content of Meadows’ speech did not move her in the slightest; she had heard a hundred versions of the exact same thing in dozens of casinos and other venues since the moment she got here. What made him stand out, however, was his style. Calm, smooth, old-fashioned, to the point that even the microphone he spoke into was a vintage model, or a very accurate modern replica. If not for the distinct lack of grainy black and white imagery in her vision, she could have sworn she had dropped into a TV broadcast from decades ago.

“Tonight’s performer is just that,” the stallion went on. “The very best of the best, a true gem that we are proud to have hosted for years. Such a fine talent that she should need no introduction, but it would be an insult to leave it out. Those of you who have visited the club before are sure to recognize her…” He paused again, giving time for the crowd to murmur in anticipation, some of them already whistling and shouting. “...and I know you can’t wait to be under her spell again. And for all of our new guests, please welcome Miss Savanna!”

The crowd erupted into applause and shouting, some of them even stomping their feet, to which Meadows bowed with a smile and departed the stage. The lights dimmed, with the exception of one that focused on the center of the curtain, and the roar of the crowd intensified when the red velvet parted to reveal a familiar mare. Twilight’s jaw dropped as she saw the zebra from yesterday saunter forth, her swaying gait showing off her generous curves along her tall form. Her outfit barely covered anything, the fabric itself made of silk so thin that it may as well have been smoke sewn into vague shapes, and the overall theme appeared to be an imitation of a Saddle Arabian belly dancer’s outfit.

The mare paused just before the edge of the stage and smiled, bowing her head briefly, to which another encore of sharp whistling came from the applauding audience. She then raised her hands and put them together before her chest, and she closed her eyes, making it look almost like she were praying. The lights dimmed completely, and the crowd went silent as the speakers gave a low hum, the air itself vibrating from the bass-heavy instruments that signaled the start of her song. Moments later, a higher melody settled over this foundation, following stereotypical “eastern” theme, while the zebra began to make her lower half sway slowly. Bit by bit, she picked up the pace, vividly shaking her hips back and forth once the percussion joined in to give a solid beat.

Twilight could only stare slack-jawed at the dance, which was almost hypnotic, even though the mare on stage had only just begun. The music got more and more intense, every downbeat harder than the last, and her motions got wilder in response. Soon enough, she raised her arms over her head, her upper half joining the snake-like dance. Her clothes fluttered and swished back and forth, the jewelry adorning her body jingling and glinting in the light. Much to the delight of the onlookers, particularly the stallions, her curves had motions of their own, further accenting their size and perfect shape.

The alicorn flinched a little as the downbeats were almost thunderous now, while the zebra suddenly took a step to her right, now making use of her legs as well. It was dizzying to just watch her at work – let alone imagine taking her place – as she made her whole body sway and wiggle all over, while at the same time she drifted back and forth across the stage as if guided by the waves of an invisible ocean. And she was far from done, it seemed. Without warning, she did a sudden twirl on her toes halfway through a step, making her mane, tail, and her outfit fly up, leaving little of her privates to one’s imagination.

Twilight’s legs quivered in response, and she even felt a moment of vertigo, making her stumble forward a half-step. Her horn bumped into the back of a nearby pony, and she giggled and blurted out an apology in response before bringing her attention back to the stage. It all felt so silly, losing control like this over some lewd dance in a strange club. Her smile quickly gave way to shock, however, when she looked up again.

At the center of the stage were a pair of bright yellow orbs, revealed to the world for the first time since the zebra had closed her eyes at the start of her dance. They were not actually glowing, but the way they glinted in the bright stage lights made one think they had lights of their own. And right at this moment, they were staring straight back into Twilight Sparkle’s own eyes.

The princess stumbled backward this time, getting a frustrated grunt from a stallion behind her who nudged her away. “Sorry!” she blurted out. Reaching up, she rubbed her eyes and blinked repeatedly, even giving herself a light slap on her cheek before risking another peek at the stage, only to yelp and avert her gaze again. There was no mistaking it – between her various twirls and wide steps, Miss Savannah was looking at her specifically, right through the bright lights and the dark shroud over the dance floor. And each time Twilight tried to meet her eyes, the zebra would give a subtle smirk, to which the mare blushed deeply in response.

Okay… this is probably just a misunderstanding. Twilight could not stop fidgeting awkwardly, and while she did not notice it, her limbs vaguely followed the beat of the song as she wandered back and forth, wanting to make absolutely sure the zebra was staring at her. Each time she got a peek above the other patrons, she saw that, sure enough, those golden orbs followed her every move. The song picked up the pace all of a sudden, and Twilight yelped as the crowd became more animated around her, shoving her left and right. She squeezed past half-drunk stallions and flailing mares, unable to even see where she was going. The other patrons all but crushed her, after which blinding brightness filled her vision when she emerged from their grip, letting the lights from above reach her eyes once more. Tripping over a stray leg, she tumbled forward and bumped against something solid and unyielding.

Blinking away at the spots in her eyes, she looked up to get her bearings, only to gasp when she found herself almost nose to nose with the zebra dancer. She smirked at the alicorn, her whole body bent over at a near-impossible angle, and the crowd cheered at the lewd angle this provided for them. Twilight herself risked a peek downward, only to quickly tear her gaze away, her whole face turning bright red from the sight of the “abyss” between the zebra’s mounds. In response, she just smiled wider and slowly moved her hand over her mouth, planting a kiss on it which she then blew at Twilight. The mare let out a small whimper, trembling all over as the zebra’s hot breath washed over her face.

A heartbeat later, the dancer threw herself back, holding her arms over her head, just in time to hit the final downbeat of the song. The spotlights focused on her, the speakers went silent, and the crowd erupted into cheers once more, the noise loud enough to make Twilight clamp her hands over her ears. She glanced over her shoulder, still blushing deeply, but aside from a few stallions who gave her amused looks, the vast majority of the audience was focused on Miss Savannah, who gave a low bow before sauntering off the stage. After a while, the applause died down, and the crowd gradually dispersed as a more mainstream dance song came on. This left the alicorn on her own, leaning against the edge of the stage, still staring dumbstruck at the spot where the zebra leaned down to meet her eye to eye. She soon came back to her wits, however, and stumbled away from the stage, mumbling to herself about the incident. Her hands kept tugging on her clothes, and she wondered why they felt so tight on her chest and hip, unaware of those yellow eyes hidden in the shadows behind the curtains, trailing after her curiously.

“Well look who it is,” Digger bared his sharp teeth in a wide grin, while his friends lifted their heads to look at the mare approaching them. “Thought you were gonna leave us hanging, Dash.”

Rainbow snorted and plopped down on the chair opposite them. “Not on your life, mutt,” she replied. Looking over the contents of the table, she reached between the various empty bottles and glasses, retrieved a pack of smokesticks, and casually took one out, placing it between her lips, but not lighting it yet. “How are ya holding up?”

“Better watch your tongue, featherbrain,” Rusty said. The doberman’s mangled right ear flicked while he raised his lighter to the tip of his cigar. He puffed it a few times, releasing a thick cloud of smoke from his nostrils. “I’ve seen Digger carve up cuter girls for less backtalk.”

All four chuckled and exchanged friendly shoves, after which Rusty held out the lighter and let Rainbow ignite her smokestick. She leaned back, took a long drag, and sighed, letting out puffs of smoke to compete with Rusty’s own. A smile tugged on her lips as she glanced at the slowly burning stick between her fingers. Her friends and fellow athletes gave her such weird looks when they found out about her little habit. She did not overdo it of course, and flying fast was still her favorite kick, but like many other vices, she picked up smoking as well to pass the time while on the ground. For how long it took her friends to notice she had been doing it, they sure were concerned way out of proportion.

The dog trio finished their drinks, and Bonehead waved at Meadows to bring them another drink. While Digger was busy pouring a shot for each, the bulldog gave a small grunt as he stared at something nearby. “Who’s that little punk?” he asked, jabbing a paw toward one of the tables across the chamber.

The others turned to look, eyes narrowing as they tried to find what Bonehead was talking about. Eventually, their gaze landed on a young pair of ponies sitting opposite each other. At a first glance, they may appeared to have been just another pair of lovebirds, but there was something off about the vibe they gave off. “Dunno.” Digger scratched at his ear. “Who’s the broad? Someone he picked up from the corner?”

Rainbow chuckled and shook her head. “Nah. Saw ‘em on the way in. Probably just some hipsters from out of town. Don’t worry about it.” She raised her glass to down her shot in one go, giving a satisfied hum as the strong drink burned her throat. She then took another drag of her smokestick and glanced back at the pair. Truth be told, she had every reason to worry. Beneath the surface, there was no lighthearted romance in the way those two faced each other. Their gaze was serious, their clothes too conservative, and they never spoke, merely sipped their drinks and looked around the club.

“That why they’re always peeking at us?” Bonehead said with a huff. “I dunno, this smells fishy.”

For a moment, the mare’s eyes did indeed drift toward them, and Rainbow could almost feel the antagonism radiated by her gaze. She frowned and took another drag, resisting the urge to flip the bird in response. “Well, if they’re looking for trouble, they found it,” she muttered. This was not her first time she was on the wrong side of the law, and these two were not about to make it her last.

Rusty chuckled. “That’s the spirit, kid. Now, ready to do business?”

“Heh-heh…” Rainbow crushed her smokestick in the ashtray on the table, leaned back, and threw her boots onto the edge of the table. “Hit me, boss.” The dim lighting in this section of the club could just barely make a tattoo on her neck visible, trailing down along her spine before it disappeared under her tank top.

Digger finished his drink as well. “Looks like whoever sent that clown yesterday was not happy you took the trash out. We talked it over, and we got him to agree not to mess this place up with crappy products.”

Bonehead retrieved the pack from Rainbow and lit himself a smokestick. “But, the guy still wants reparations. And we’d rather not have to reach into our retirement fund to pay him off, if you get me.”

Rainbow nodded and brushed her mane to the sides of her head, the long locks helping conceal a few scars on her left temple. “How much are we talking?” she asked.

“Ten grand,” Rusty said. “By tomorrow night.”

“Hmm…” Rainbow stroked her chin and glanced over her shoulder, now seeing the stallion look her way. She gave him a mock-friendly wave, to which his eyes narrowed in response. “You know, this town might be famous for dripping ponies’ wallets dry…” She poured herself another shot and downed it, licking her lips. “But every now and then, someone gets lucky and takes the grand prize home.”

The dogs grinned in unison. “Yeah,” Rusty replied. “But each time that happens, everyone gets suspicious. They think the winner was cheating, or maybe tipped off.”

Rainbow nodded with a smirk. “Makes no sense, right? A mare can’t win a game honestly? And with so many bad ponies around, doesn’t she have enough to worry about? You can’t go walking around with such a huge win.”

The doberman stroked his chin with a thoughtful hum, his teeth glinting in the lights of the club. “Now that you mention it, I’ve heard of a lucky winner who came to town recently…”

The chamber had turned into a loud, blurry mess, and it took all of the pink mare’s resolve to wade through it. She kept taking swigs from her bottle, hoping to fire up the party, blissfully unaware of how it just made her legs all the more wobbly and the ground more appealing. Still, the booming music in her ears gave her one last thing to cling to... namely wanting to smack the DJ for playing such awful garbage.

“Hey…” Pinkie leaned against the large console opposite the stage, and she burped loudly, though it was lost in the roar of the subwoofers. Her arm seemed to have a mind of its own, flailing about before her alcohol-soaked head finally caught up, and she reached over to nudge the stallion sitting behind the console. “Hey!”

The stallion removed his headphones and looked up at her. “Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow, as even with the dimness of the room – combined with the bright flashes from above – he could tell that she was dealing with a rough customer.

“That wasn’t the request!” Pinkie slurred.

He blinked and leaned a bit closer, lifting a hand to his ear. “What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? That. Wasn’t. The. Request!”

The DJ blinked again, then shrugged and went back to fiddling with the console, muttering under his breath. Without warning, Pinkie smashed the beer bottle against the turntable, making it sputter to a halt, after which she yanked the disk off the spindle and tossed it away.

The DJ stared in horror for a few moments, unable to react. “Hey!” He stood up, glaring at Pinkie. “What the—Ahh!” His eyes widened as the mare grabbed his shirt collar, roughly pulling him out of his seat while he thrashed in panic.

“You play this trash, and now you’re ignoring me?” she screamed. “I’ve met a lot of bad ponies in my life, but you… you… gfffrh!”

Her verbal abuse rained spittle on his face, and he grimaced from her foul breath washing over his snout. Her voice had turned rather hoarse after a night spent drinking and hollering, making her tirade sound all the more disturbing, to say nothing of having to stare her down nose to nose. Her eyes were bloodshot and faintly sunken in, while her thinning, messy mane could no longer conceal a slightly mangled left ear, which she instead tried to cover up with a few studs and rings. Any sane pony would have expected security to keep such ponies out.

As if on cue, Pinkie’s next words were cut off when a large arm wrapped around her neck from behind. “Ack!” She immediately released the DJ, her hands flying to her neck, trying to pry the muscular limb off before it choked her. The bouncer huffed and started dragging her away, the mare’s body seeming weightless in his grip, despite her thrashing and garbled cursing. “Let me go! This is—urp!—between me and him! Leave me alone!”

The minotaur did not reply, merely kept walking out the back door, the other patrons nervously watching them go. Once outside, he grabbed Pinkie by the collar of her sweat and drink-stained shirt and tossed her out into the alley. With all the alcohol still dulling her senses, it was a miracle that she managed to grab hold a nearby trash can and bring herself to a halt. “Oof! Nnghh…” She slowly turned around, glaring at the brute standing in the doorway. “Y-Youuu good for nothing...”

“Cool off a little,” the minotaur said bluntly. He then turned around and slammed the door shut, leaving Pinkie alone in the dank alley.

“Just you wait!” she called after him. “This party sucked anyway! I’ll… ugh!” Her hand clutched her stomach as it gave a rather sickening growl. “I’ll make my own… it’ll be way better… and you’re not invited!”

The only response was her words echoing between the walls. Moments later, her ear twitched as she heard a faint noise from the opposite end of the alley. Wheeling around, she saw a trio of figures peeking around the corner, staring at her curiously. With a low groan, she pushed herself away from the trash can and stumbled toward them, while the ponies formed up in her path. Up close, she recognized a set of familiar features: leather jackets, short-cropped manes, not to mention one of the trio was a giant, standing front and center. She halted a few paces away, taking a few deep breaths before she managed to straighten up, the cool air helping her head clear up somewhat.

“Hey...” the big one said. “You alright?” His coat was covered with metal studs and various patches. The words on them made no sense, and the images were too dark and faded to make out. He also had several thick chains hanging from his neck and around his waist, making her vaguely recall a name she heard last night.

“Yeah, I’ll live.” Pinkie frowned, her hands clenching into fists when she saw they kept smirking at her. “What’s it to you?” she said through gritted teeth.

“Got on the bouncer’s bad side, huh?” the one on her right said. They all chuckled, and the other stallion to her left patted her shoulder.

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” he said. “You’re not the first one.” Him and the guy on the big stallion’s other side had less excessive outfits, though they made up for it with other features. The one on the right had his mane in a mohawk, in part due to a nasty burn along his scalp, which did not allow for most manestyle options. As for the other guy, practically every inch of him not covered by his clothes was buried under tattoos, though the dim lighting only let her make out a few shapes, none of which were what she could call ‘friendly’.

“And probably not the last,” the big one added. “Lucky he didn’t kick your flank. Must be having a good day.”

The mare grunted and pulled away from the tattoo-sporting stallion’s friendly gesture, to which they held up their hands defensively. “Whoa, come on,” the mohawked pony said. “Ain’t looking for a fight.”

“Then keep your hands to yourself,” Pinkie growled. A wave of nausea came over her, and she turned away to cough and retch several times. The trio chuckled again.

“Well... you don’t mince your words, do ya?” the bulky stallion said.

“Ngh… why should I?” Pinkie spat out the bitter gunk pooling in her mouth, and she turned back to the trio. “Think I’m scared by how you’re all dressed up?”

“Didn’t run from us, unlike most ponies. I can respect that.” He held out his hand. “I’m Chains.” His other hand gestured to either side, pointing at his friends. “That there is Clay, and he’s Fender.”

The mare glanced down, watching her hand reflexively reach out to grasp Chains’ own, and she spotted a skull-shaped ring around his middle finger. It was both unnerving and enticing at the same time. She looked back up, staring into the grin Chains gave her, and her own lips curled into a smile.

“Pinkie,” she replied.

Author's Note

Apologies to all my readers for taking so long. It's been really hectic as of late, but I haven't given up on this story. Far from it. More to come soon... hopefully...