The Den

Now the Diamond Dog tunnels are not well lit, as the dogs see just fine in the dark and they mostly navigate by sense of smell anyways. So for Tiger, running through the pitch black tunnels was the easiest thing he’d done all morning. Unfortunately, it was terrifying for a pony. Most ponies that worked at The Den didn’t go down into the lower Diamond Dog tunnels, instead staying in a well lit and properly ventilated upper chambers, even after hours.

It was becoming increasingly clear that Ginger Root was not most ponies.

She found herself galloping at breakneck speed just to keep him from yanking painfully on her hair, and still being pulled sharply around tight corners. By the time the arrived at the well lit upper levels, she was afraid her hair was falling out, but she was too scared to check.

Breathless, she dropped and cradled her head as soon as he let her go. The floor was worked stone again, and the lights were bright here. Glancing up through teary eyes, she recognized the club room from the night before, except now it was well lit by several magic crystals. Ponies, dogs,and even a griffin were running around cleaning and organizing as they prepared for the upcoming night. It looked like there was a band setting up as well, a two pony group that had a timid looking small green pegasus on some kind of guitar and an imposing large orange unicorn playing a saxophone. They even had a little banner over them that said “MOM” with a runic heart thing and a picture of some kind of drink.

“Up late with your new Employee, Tiger? Never mind. Don’t wanna know. At least you’re here now. Everything’s on schedule today. Only thing is I took the liberty of making moms the nightly special, since they’re playing tonight and all.” Granite poked his head out from behind the bar as he was lining up the glasses for his first volley of drinks.

“Good work. Granite Pony always solid.” Tiger laughed and slapped the bar. “Also, have second special today. Made new sign. Put up next to menu.”

Granite frowned. “I don’t know anything about any new specials. You’re gonna have to tell me what is in it if you want me to mix it. Moms are easy, I’ve done plenty of moms before. Wouldn’t mind doing moms all night, actually.”

Tiger waved his paw dismissively. “No. You no make. See sign. This special.” Tiger tapped the sign pointedly “Read, put up. Tiger go help set up floor.” He gave the sign to Granite to inspect, and then suddenly ran away to help move one of the heavier tables.

Granite slowly shook his head at the excitable dog, and then looked down to read the sign he was holding. Curiously, Ginger watched as Granite’s eyes grew slowly wider. She’d hoped seeing another pony would make her feel comforted, but it wasn’t helping. He glanced up at her, flared his nostrils and laid his ears back, then looked back down to the sign.

This especially did not make her feel comfortable. Ponies were herd animals. They were comforted by green grass, lazy winds, and clean, running water. Instinctively, when a pony watches another pony panic, they have to panic as well. It is, in fact, the opposite of comforting. Ginger was trying very hard to find some comfort in this moment. She was not doing well.

Granite blinked at the sign once or twice, and then looked back at Ginger again as he swallowed his dismay into a neutral expression.

“So… Honestly, if it was me, I’d a rather have had my leg chopped off. Shower’s are in the back, right there. You’re gonna need them. I don’t know what Tiger is thinking, but it’s his bar, and his neck if he fucks it up. Go get washed up, I’ll put the sign up.”

Ginger really wanted to know what was on the sign now, but wasn’t sure how to ask.

“Mr. Granite, can I umm…”

Granite didn’t let her finish, waiving her towards the back. “Yeah. I’ll make you a drink for when you get out. I’m putting it on your tab, but, uhh… one drink ain’t gonna break you any more at this point. Now go get washed up. We’re putting out the lights in a few minutes and you gotta be ready to go. I… It’s your own damn fault.”

Ginger stepped carefully forward, about to correct him about her question.

“I said to shove off. I gotta put this up before Tiger gets back.” Granite glared at her.

Swallowing fearfully, Ginger walked to the back of the club, surprised to find a little employee room, complete with lockers, a shower, and what seemed to be a break room.

Unsure of what to do, she took a quick shower, and dried herself off under a surprisingly comfortable vent that was spewing hot dry air. It was almost like a hair dryer, but sized for an entire pony. This place was strange. In many ways it felt more advanced than the rest of Equestria. Was this Dog technology of some kind? Maybe it was geothermal vent, or a spell that made hot air, or maybe a sleeping dragon. No matter how it worked, it was convenient.

But the dogs lived in the dark, used giant rocks instead of doors, and spoke in broken Equish. Everything felt so backward. The draconian laws, the remote location, and even the strange path she’d taken to get here all didn’t seem to make sense. Everything about this place seemed bizarrely nonsensical. Why did she even come here? Because she gave a blow job to some stallion she didn’t know in a bar and lost her bits somehow?

Ginger briefly realized that something, somewhere, somehow was wrong. She was supposed to spend the week with her sister Carrot Top. Wasn’t Carrot top her cousin? Or was that Golden Harvest? She shook her head in confusion.

Why she was here didn’t matter. What was important was that she get out there before the lights turned off for the evening. Regardless of what happened, she did not want to lose her leg.

Satisfied that she was dry, Ginger Root put her musings on hold and made it back into the club room just as the lights went off. Temporarily blinded by the sudden darkness, as the club lights slowly turned on. Most of the room was dimly lit, providing a little privacy here and there. The only place that was well lit was the bar, and it drew her attention. When she looked at the illuminated menu, she finally saw it.

Next to the regular drink menu was a board that had the nightly special. It was the MOM, or the Mint Orange Mojito. They were two for the price of one, in honer of Mint Orange Melody, the band that was playing. That wasn’t the problem. Most bars had a drink special now and then. The problem was the menu next to that one, a large stone tablet that had crystal designs drawn into it.

The top said “Limited time special!”

Beneath that said “Tonight only, we have one Bar Bitch on tap.” Under that was a caricature of her, a golden red earth pony with a slightly over-sized, but easily identifiable cutie mark of a ginger root. Her Cutie mark. Ginger noticed that there was a small gathering around the sign as the club employees struggled to get a better view of it. There were more pictures and words, but she had to get closer to read it.

Carefully, she eased forward, hoping the other ponies wouldn’t see her in the dark.

The agonizingly slowly, the rest of the menu came into focus,complete with the strange symbols the bar used for pricing. Each line had a little cartoon caricature of her associated with the item.

*****

1. Give Oral ╣╤ / male and╠╦/ Female: 10M

2. Anal ╠╤ / one :10M

3. Vaginal ╠╣╦╤ / one:10M

4. Dance ╤+╪! / table :10M

5. Touch Her Nice ╞╝/ one:10M

6. Use her hooves ╔╗/any:10M

7. Anything Goes Table special! ╠╦╤╤+╪!/table: 30M

*Our Bar Bitch today is Miss Ginger Root. She couldn’t pay her very extensive bills from yesterday! Uh oh! But we made a deal because she’s a such a shiny little gem herself! She’s no expert, but if she can pay off her tab, she gets to go home! Help her get home with all her limbs intact! Tips are greatly appreciated, but please pay and schedule through our bartender! Our bar bitch can’t be trusted with gems just yet, no matter the carat! Be careful not to hurt her! We want her to go home safe!

*****

She was admittedly impressed with the pictures. Especially the one of her giving a cartoon blow job to something that looked suspiciously like a canine dick. The one that bothered her the most was the picture of her surrounded by other cartoon ponies. The anything goes special. It looked a little intimidating, even as a cutesy cartoon. At the very bottom, beneath the menu and the instructions, was a little picture of her again, this time smiling and giving a salute.

Ginger Root really didn’t feel like smiling.