Before long, Rainbow Dash and Applejack found themselves trotting through the doors of a dimly lit establishment on the very edge of Ponyville, one that clearly tried to keep itself out of the public eye. Applejack curled up her nose upon entering; the whole place had a pervasive liquor scent, and while it looked clean, something about it made her feel uneasy. In retrospect, it was probably the stage and pole set up in the middle of the room, surrounded by an audience of mostly stallions, although a few standout mares could be seen enjoying the evening as well.
"Damn it, Rainbow Dash, why couldn't ya have took me to a regular bar?" Applejack's face showed a mixture of frustration and embarrassment as she pulled her hat down to conceal her blush. She'd never been in one of these places before.
"C'mon, AJ, lighten up a little." Dash playfully jutted her with an elbow. "It's just some nice mares wanting to entertain us while we get shitfaced. You do like mares, don't you?"
AJ blushed harder. "Y'all know I like mares." she mumbled under her breath.
"I was gonna say, I've seen the magazines under your bed, AJ."
"You WHAT?"
"Once we get a little booze in your system, you'll be able to let loose and enjoy this like any other evening with the girls. Come on!"
RD and AJ sidled up to the bar, and Dash ordered a round of her usual opening volley, saying to her companion that it was best to start off slow and work up. The barkeep, a bluish stallion a little older than them, presented the mares each with a large mug of warm apple cider, to be mixed with a shot of cinnamon whiskey, something Rainbow called a "pie in a glass." Upon imbibing the concoction, Applejack had to admit that it did taste a bit like apple pie, although she would've preferred some whipped cream on top.
Rainbow sighed happily and wiped the froth from her mouth. "Ahh, isn't this nice? Just a couple o' girls throwing back drinks on a Wednesday night. I haven't done this in a while, actually."
Applejack slowly took another swig of her liquid pie and sighed less happily. "Rainbow, I appreciate the thought, really, but I'm not sure this is where I'd like to be right now."
"Oh come on, Applejack, the show's about to start! At least stick around for the show!" Pounding music began to emanate from speakers above the stage, and a hidden smoke machine cast white mist across it whilst spotlights shone down.
Applejack rolled her eyes and got back on her barstool. She figured it wouldn't hurt to at least humor Rainbow Dash, and besides, if it meant she got to see a nice mare or two dance, she could probably swallow her shame with a good chaser. It was bargain night, after all.
"And now, for your viewing pleasure, ladies and gents, our first mare of the evening..." a male announcer's voice blared over the loudspeaker. "Put your hooves together for... Cherry Sunrise!"
A cream-colored mare with a scarlet mane strutted out onto stage, wearing little more than a miniskirt, a half-open denim jacket, and knee-high leather boots. Her heavily shadowed eyes blinked coyly, flapping the wing-like lashes adorning them; she gave a broad, flirtatious smile as she slowly began to dance and gyrate around the metal pole. Several audience members cheered and whistled, and bits clattered up on the wooden stage as they tipped her. When your currency consisted of metal coins instead of paper bills, you couldn't exactly make it rain; the strippers had to settle for hail.
"Pfft, Cherry Sunrise..." Applejack scoffed, crossing her forelegs. "That cannot be her real name!"
"Whatever her name is, I'm just glad to see the body it's attached to!" remarked Berry Punch with a giggle. She'd been sitting a ways down the bar from them, enjoying some pinot noir. She left her seat to get closer to the action onstage; as she held up a bit in Cherry's direction, the dancing mare leaned down, taking it in her teeth and winking, causing Berry to blush brightly and shake a little.
Applejack leaned in closer to whisper to Rainbow Dash, who had already finished her cider and was enjoying iced bourbon. "I'm pretty damn certain that that's none other than Roseluck gyratin' 'round up there!"
"So what if it is?" Rainbow said between sips. "If she wants to get up there and show off what she's got, that's fine by me. Let her be proud of her body, I say. Let her feel sexy. If she wants to have a bunch of eyes glancing up her skirt all night, let her. Some ponies like being the center of attention like that... sounds kinda fun actually. I'd be willing to try it at least once. Wonder what my stripper name would be..."
Applejack rolled her eyes before turning them back to the stage. If that really was Roseluck, she had plenty of reason to want to show off. The mare dancing before her was really quite beautiful, and Applejack couldn't help but feel a little bit of activity inside her, though not much. She noticed that the mare was careful in keeping her Cutie Mark consistently covered. Probably a trick of the trade, she figured, along with the fake name.
"You know what? Screw it." Applejack thought to herself. "You can tell Rarity how you feel tomorrow. You're already here, you've already started drinking, Rainbow Dash is having a really good time, and you could afford to as well."
"Barkeep," the orange mare said aloud "whiskey sour on the rocks, with an apple wedge." She didn't really care what happened tonight, even if it meant she wound up doing drunk karaoke with Rainbow Dash and slipping bits into another mare's undergarments.
"Rainboob Flash?" Dash muttered quietly into her bourbon. "Nah, too obvious."
The next two mares came on, danced, and left without much incident. Applejack, who always took a while to be affected by alcohol, had put away four whiskey sours and some green apple vodka and was still relatively together. Rainbow, on the other hand, had started doing shots of tequila and was fading fast, although she knew how to put on a good "no really, I'm sober" face.
"I'm pretty sure that one mare was Golden Harvest." Applejack said, her speech not even slurred. "The one who let me put bits under her garter belt?"
"Wh~AAT about the one who kissed me at the end of her act?" Rainbow said through a burp.
"I think that might've been Sprinkle Medley." AJ replied. "Not only because of the coat, but rumor is she actually has a thing for you, Dash."
"Really? Huh." The significantly more inebriated mare replied. "I may have to follow that up sometime. I'll let ya know how things... urp… go. Heh heh, wink wink?"
"She's drunk." Applejack mentally affirmed.
"And now, ladies and gentlecolts, the coup de grace, the final act of our first set this evening." The announcer came on again. "The most dazzling mare you've ever seen, here to unveil herself before your very eyes!"
Upbeat, exotic music like that of Saddle Arabia began to play from the speakers. Small incense burners along the side of the stage magically lit.
"Everypony, give a warm, sun-baked welcome to that wonder of the east! Behold, Alabaster Mirage!
From within a cloud of smoke emerged a stark white unicorn mare, her dark mane tumbling in delicate waves down her body; fierce blue eyes gazed from behind a thin silken veil, and she was decked in a purple saddle, the straps of which formed the top of her outfit as well as the belt of her leggings, which bore a printed Cutie Mark resembling a genie's lamp. As she reared, her tone midriff was exposed to the audience, and little else was left to the imagination. The audience cheered and whistled raucously as she approached, her luxurious hips swaying with each carefully balanced step on her hindlegs.
"Grreetings, my beauties~" she spoke with a thick accent as she batted her eyes. "Your humble servant is here to please your every whim." A sly smile could be detected through her veil as she began to undulate her abdomen, belly dancing to the beat of the music.
Rainbow Dash suddenly snapped into sobriety, her eyes growing large as saucers as she jolted forward, spraying her drink across the floor in shock. She quickly whipped back to the bar and grabbed Applejack by the shoulders.
"That's frickin' Rarity!
"What?" Applejack was apprehensive. "You think so?"
"Look at her!" Rainbow slung a foreleg around her friend's neck and gestured to the performer with the other hoof. "Not only do the colors match, but only Rarity would have such a sophisticated outfit--and for stripping of all things! See? Look at the embroidery on that saddle, the glittery textures on the skirt and veil... hell, even those skimpy straps hiding her tats are studded with rhinestones! She probably crafted the whole thing herself! This is no mere thing to be stripped off, it's a work of art to delicately deconstruct."
Applejack had the feeling that Rainbow came here more than she'd like to admit. Ignoring that, she had to admit that it did look an awful lot like Rarity, and an awful lot like her craftsmareship. Even the way she moved up on stage was similar to how she'd seen Rarity dance... although admittedly, Applejack had never seen Rarity dance so seductively.
"Well... how will we know for sure?" Applejack asked. Rainbow smiled. She knew a way.
As Mirage finished her performance, her horn lit up, magically sweeping up all the bits--and there were quite a few--that had been tossed her way and tucking them in various bits of clothing or mane.
"Thank you, my dears~" she said in a warbling, sensual voice. "I am glad to see you enjoyed my show."
The crowd cheered again, with several colts hooting and whistling. Mirage giggled.
"You make me feel so adored." She playfully tossed her mane and shot the crowd a lusty glance. "I hope you all have a wonderful evening. We have some excellent dancers lined up for set two, in about 20 minutes. Do stick around, won't you? In the meantime, you all know where to find me." With a wink, Alabaster Mirage left the stage to yet more cheering.
Quickly, Rainbow Dash leaned across the bar, whispering something in the barkeep's ear. He nodded and walked to the rear door, poking his head in as Rainbow proceeded to count out a very large quantity of bits.
"Miss Mirage? You have a couple of patrons requesting your company in the champagne room."
"Rainbow, what are you doing?!" Applejack asked incredulously under her breath.
"Don't worry!" she replied in a hushed tone. "If it is Rarity, we'll get some answers, and if it isn't, hey, we get a stripper to ourselves!" Rainbow's smile was beaming. Applejack was visibly upset. Rainbow's mind was too fuzzy to tell.
The mare called Alabaster Mirage gracefully stepped out from the back room, looking even more stunningly beautiful up close. Her entire coat seemed to glitter in the dim light as though it were covered in diamonds.
"Salaam and good evening, my ladies." She said with a slight bow. "I am very grateful that you request to--" Looking up, Mirage locked eyes with her new customers, and almost seemed shocked. "--to experience me in private."
She cleared her throat and took on a more regal posture, still speaking with her sultry Arabic accent.
"May I ask the names of my two new mistresses?"
"Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in all of Equestria." The cyan mare said, trying to be suave despite reeking of alcohol. "Perhaps you've heard of me? If not, you will soon."
Applejack politely tipped her hat, slightly blushing at this whole prospect. "A-Applejack... ma'am."
"What a lovely evening to meet you both, RRainbow Dash and Applejack." Hearing the rolled R on her name made Rainbow glance back at Applejack with a huge smile, as if to say "This is the hottest mare in the world!"
"If you'd please, follow me into the back, and I may get to know you both better..." Mirage sauntered over to a door labeled "PRIVACY - DO NOT DISTURB", her luscious hips swaying sultrily, followed by Rainbow's eager eyes. She gently eased the door open with a hoof, revealing a room decorated in pink and purple: at the center was a large, semi-circular couch, laden with pillows and blankets, surrounding a small table with a hole in the middle, containing a bucket of ice with bottles of champagne.
After the three mares had entered, Mirage locked the door behind them. Rainbow quickly flew over to the couch, flopping down on it lazily, ready to drink even more. Applejack sat awkwardly on the opposite side from her, crossing her legs both for comfort and to conceal her body's reaction to the shift in privacy with this mysterious white mare.
Mirage and Rainbow made flirtatious small talk as the veiled dancer magically opened a champagne bottle and began filling glasses.
"What shall we drink to, my dears?" Mirage raised her glass and glanced between her two clients.
"Let's just drink to drink!" Rainbow said, the effects of her previous drinks once more taking hold. "And I--hic--want you to serve me!"
"Why of course, my mistress." Mirage magically brought Rainbow's glass close to her, looking her in the eyes as Dash, quite sultrily herself, drank most of it in one go. Mirage then turned to Applejack.
"Would you like me to serve you as well, Mistress Applejack?"
Red-cheeked and nervous, Applejack nodded her consent. Mirage levitated a glass to her lips, once more locking eyes with her. The mares' faces were mere inches apart. She softly cooed under her breath about Applejack's beautiful face, her eyes, her freckles, as Applejack struggled to put away champagne with a nervous lump in her throat. She quivered a small bit when Mirage's hoof touched her thigh for balance, spilling a few drops from her chin. Mirage apologized and gracefully swung her flank around to sit beside her with the intent of cleaning her up.
Before she could, however, Rainbow Dash drunkenly piped up.
"Oh, Miiiraaaaaage!" She waved a hoof, gesturing her to approach.
"Y-Yes, Mistress Dash?"
"I really liked your show up there tonight." She shot a wink at Applejack, who looked more nervous than ever.
"Well thank you, Mistress. It was my pleasure."
"It was sexy..." Dash looked like she could fall asleep at any moment. "it made me feel--urp--feel good. Like, I haven't felt like that in a long time... y'know?" She smiled goofily.
"Yes, Mistress Dash, and thank you." Mirage returned a friendly, somewhat flirty, smile. "I am glad that my dancing inspired some fire in your loins."
"Could you--hic--could you... do it again here?" Dash's ears twitched with excitement.
"Most certainly." Mirage's horn lit an incense burner nearby and turned on a phonograph, playing a softer, more sensual version of the Saddle Arabian music from earlier. Slowly, she began to gyrate and dance once more, switching gracefully from two to four hooves in between moves. Rainbow smiled, biting her lip and adjusting herself into a sitting position. After a bit of this, she gestured for Mirage to come closer.
"I want you to dance for me, slave." Rainbow rasped out, sounding very turned on. "To dance on me."
Mirage, looking slightly nervous beneath her veil, but wanting to appear professional, brought her body up on top of Rainbow's, gyrating her hips and grinding her pelvis against Rainbow's. Rainbow closed her eyes tightly and bit her lips at the pleasant sensation of silk on her fur. Applejack pressed herself further into her seat, trying to conceal the puddle she was making.
"Do you like this, Mistress Dash?" Mirage asked lustfully as she put a hoof to Dash's chin.
"Oh yes..." she moaned out from among her pleasure. "Now do me a favor..." A devilish glint appeared in her eyes. "Take off that top."
Mirage seemed caught off guard. "I, eh... Of course, my mistress... I... hope you enjoy what I hide beneath..."
Slowly, she undid the straps on her saddle and removed them over her head. The saddle fell off backwards, revealing a snow white, furry chest beneath the straps. Though nothing was immediately visible, Dash had been with enough mares to know where to find her treasures.
As Rainbow sat across from her indulging in Mirage's body, Applejack's senses were on fire. She had never been in a remotely sexual situation with anypony, and yet there was a topless mare grinding on another not five feet away. She could feel herself shivering with anticipation and sweating nervously. She was almost certain this was Rarity, and yet this was so unlike anything Rarity would ever do. She had to know what was going on here. Little did she know, she would soon find out.
"Ohoho, Mistress Dash!" Mirage chuckled coyly, her own pleasure very visible beneath her veil, despite there still being traces of discomfort on her countenance. "You make me feel so good! You must be an incredible lover!"
Dash gave an ego-stroking chuckle. "You're right I am, baby." She ran her hooves sensually up and down Mirage's smooth thighs, feeling the silk of her skirt and leggings, as well as the tone muscle beneath. "I bet you are, too..."
Rainbow hooked her hooves around the top of Mirage's skirt, previously held up by saddle straps, and yanked it down, revealing her Cutie Mark: three blue diamonds.
"...Rarity!"
With her cover blown, Rarity gasped and sprung to her hooves, letting her bottoms fall the rest of the way off. She removed her veil and looked ashamedly at her friends. Dash was drunkenly laughing; Applejack was shocked and silent.
"Okay, fine! You've got me! I'm Alabaster Mirage!" She very quickly downed what champagne was left in all three of their glasses... at once.
"And Dash!" She scolded the blue mare, who was still snickering, drunk, and coming down off of a climax. "How dare you mess with my mind like that! I was actually trying to give you the best experience I could, and you have to go and reveal me!"
"You wanna talk about messin' with somepony's mind?" Applejack spoke sternly from across the table. Rarity turned, looking nervous and ashamed.
"Rarity, the last pony I expected to see performing on that stage was you. Why'd you do it?" She gently approached her friend to put a caring hoof on her shoulder, not paying mind to her state of undress. "If you needed money, the family and I could'a helped ya out, and we'd be glad to!"
"I dearly appreciate the gesture, Applejack," Rarity said, sounding more like herself again. "but I didn't get into this for the money, although the money is nice." The two mares sat on the couch next to Rainbow as Rarity explained herself.
"I wanted a bit more excitement in my life, you know... sexually. And I heard from, well, a friend who does this, that she does it because it allows her to take on a persona and feel more comfortable in her own body. As you know, I'm all for ponies feeling good about themselves, anypony can be beautiful... so, I convinced the bartender to let me give it a try, for just one night. I got the character of Alabaster Mirage from an old novel I read, and took lessons from some of the other girls here. And wouldn't you know it, but I loved it! And everypony else did too! It felt oddly... satisfying in a way. I've always turned ponies' heads as you know, and I've enjoyed the attention of both sexes, but there was something about me being up there, scantily clad, showing off my body in front of everypony's thirsty eyes from behind a veil, both literal and metaphorical... it made me feel alive, Applejack. And sexy. And a little turned on myself."
"See? It's just like I said, AJ." Rainbow butted in drunkenly. "If ponies wanna flaunt what they've got and feel sexy, they can!"
"Indeed, Rainbow Dash." Rarity replied. "Although... if I may... for my sake, and the other girls', please don't pay for the champagne room unless you're sober beforehoof. I'm sure you're much more, er… awesome when you're not drunk."
Rainbow belched. "You've got that right, Rares!" She staggered to her hooves, shaking her hind leg and swishing her tail as though to wick away moisture. "I'll definitely be more... uh... respectful than I was with you. But hey! Thanks for the lap dance and for letting me see your..." Rainbow threw up in her mouth, but forced it back down. "...your uh... p-pretty little--"
"YES, Dash, I know what they're called." Rarity stopped her with a smile. "Now go home and get some sleep."
"Yes, my mistress..." Dash said, almost completely out of it. "Have fun, you two!" She managed to unlock the door and stumble out of it, and Rarity magically locked it behind her.
"My goodness, what a mess." Rarity remarked.
"Yeah, but I drank my fair share too." Applejack said, starting to feel the effects of said drinks. "Rainbow convinced me to come here because..." Applejack paused. She thought for a moment, then began to laugh.
"What's so funny, Applejack?" Rarity asked. "I must be missing something."
Applejack poked a hoof into Rarity's collarbone. "She convinced me to come get drunk because I couldn't find you! HA!"
Rarity smiled and laughed a bit. "Well, I'm sorry I wasn't at home. But why were you trying to find me?"
Applejack sighed, and looked in her friend's eyes. "To tell the truth, Rarity... I wanted to come and tell you how I felt."
Rarity gave a small "Oh?" in confusion.
"I've been thinkin' 'bout this a while now, and, truth is... I love you Rarity." The white mare's eyes grew large, her ears perking up as she heard this.
"I love ya more than just a friend ever could, I... I think you're beautiful, you're smart, you're so, so kind... and you love me for who I am, flaws and all. I ain't never found nopony quite like you, Rarity, and... you're something special to me."
"Applejack, I..." Rarity was almost speechless.
"Now I know this might sound crazy coming from a drunk mare," AJ continued. "but I think you're the nicest, the prettiest, the all-around greatest mare in the world. And in all honesty, I could see mahself marryin' you someday, if you'd have me, o'course."
Rarity smiled and tried to hold back her tears. She gave Applejack a massive hug.
"Oh Applejack, you're drunk." Rarity teased. "I only wish you'd told me about you're feelings sooner! I know it sounds cliché, but you value honesty, so... I should let you know that I've had the same sorts of feelings for you for years now. I just didn't know whether you'd felt the same."
Applejack's heart raced. "Th-the same f-feelin's?"
"Mhm." Rarity nodded and smiled. "The very same."
Applejack's face grew bright red as she looked down at her seat, then back at Rarity. "Even the sexy ones?"
Rarity couldn't help but giggle at hearing that. "Especially the sexy ones." She looked at her through half-lidded eyes. "I like my mares muscular."
Applejack awkwardly scratched her head, removing her hat and setting it on the table. "W-Well..." she began unsurely.
"Well..." Rarity continued. "Rainbow Dash paid for an hour in this room. We still have about 45 minutes left. Usually, nopony's allowed to have sex in here, but... I'd say my shift's almost over anyway. Plus, I'm sure the boss would understand... so, Applejack..." she leaned back, propping her forehooves on AJ's knee so she could view her entire body. "What do you say?"
Applejack gulped nervously and smiled. "Um... r-ride 'em, cowgirl?"
"Yes, my mistress~"
And so, even as the show went on in the club outside, Applejack and Rarity finally confessed their love for each other, and spent some time exploring it in the back room, as well as later that night at the Boutique. When they later told the rest of their friends, everypony was very happy for them. Fluttershy was especially happy: not only for her friends finding true love, but also that nopony had noticed her sitting in the corner of the club in a disguise, gingerly placing bits on the stage in front of the dancers.
Author's Note
Disclaimer: Please drink responsibly. 
