//------------------------------//
// Stepping Out 
// Story: With Extra Frosting on Top 
// by Grey Faerie 
//------------------------------//

	I am so pumped to be going out tonight! I really need it after the week I've been having. Pinkie shook her head as she walked down the road to Whitherston.
It was Saturday night and she was going out partying with her friend, Grey Faerie. Grey Faerie was a strange mare. For a pony only a few years older than Pinkie, she seemed to be so old at times. She also had many scars on her body that she usually covers with bandages and a strange way of talking. It was almost like an upscale Canterlot accent but with words all switched around. Pinkie had been fortunate enough to met her back when she was still a filly living on the rock farm. Grey was known around for her special talent of giving good advice in the chocolate shop she owns.
It was about a 45-minute walk to the town. Pinkie had her saddle bag of clothes, wallet and makeup. Saturday night was a night of freedom. She wasn't Pinkie Pie. She didn't do things ‘cause she was just Pinkie being Pinkie. She could unleash and be whoever she wanted to be. Tonight, she was going live it up as a new mare. She had slimmed down a bit and had set to calming herself down.
Pinkie reached the outskirts of the town and headed down main street to the square. From there, she turned left toward the shop district which lead into the danker parts of town. Grey's shop was a few shops down from the square. That made it a little out of the way but also left it as a sort of hidden gem.
She reached the shop and knocked on the side door. The sound of hoofs on wood flooring soon came toward the door. Grey Faerie opened the door and greeted Pinkie.
"Hello, Pinkie," she said.
"Hi, Grey! You ready to party?" Pinkie said with a big grin.
"Sure, who you want to be tonight?"
"The improved Pinkie Pie," she said with seduction.
"Hmm, I can do that," Grey replied.
Pinkie was lead in and up the stairs to the living quarters. She took off her bags and set them down on the table.
"I can get you all dressed very nicely. Do you want glitter? Shine? Maybe something black?" Grey asked.
"I want fun!" Pinkie replied.
"Cool."

    



They made their way down the road to their destination, The Cantering Stallion. This was no ordinary dance hall or club. It was an all out male strip club. Wearing no clothes didn't matter much to ponies. It was an everyday thing. The club knew this but also knew it was the allure of wearing clothes that tantalized the populace. The slow removal of the cloth was a reminder of how exposed they were. To see everything was an ordinary occurrence, so to not be able to see and wanting the reminder of how it all looks thrilled the girls.
Pinkie loved going here. It was one of the few places her reputation didn't follow her. She wasn't the number one party pony, or the Element of Laughter, or the silly little girl everyone thought her to be when she was here.
As the dancer came out, the music pumped through the speakers with the bass reverberated thoughout their bodies. The drinks that came round put a fire in her throat that quelled the flame inside for a moment before adding to it.
The dancer span around the pole with a slow grace. He moved with the beat. His wings giving his movements a flair. The collar around his neck had a tag of his cutie mark. A heart with holes in it.
For a moment, memories of talks with Grey Faerie came back to haunt her.

“It's hard, everyone sees me as some naive, innocent little girl while there's this part of me that wants to be an adult. It's like two worlds trying to collide. But it can never be. I need my image to be... a certain way. One that will help to keep up my persona of the lovable party pony. The happy-go-lucky girl everyone knows and cherishes. Unfortunately, this leads me to having a sort of double life. The only time I can really 'break out of my shell' and 'be myself' is when I'm with you, Grey Faerie.I think it's also because I'm afraid of how my friends would think of me if they knew."

She swayed with the music. One drink turned to two then three.
The dancers started to shed their clothing. They were becoming nothing more than birds displaying their feathers. Their lean bodies curved over as they played around the pole.
The movements spun, the ponies blurred then they came back into focus. So did the conversations with Grey.

"You know how I feel about the crazy diet stuff. It's horrible and unhealthy. What's wrong with your fluff? I loved your fluff. It was soo squishie. I love squishie."
"I know, but I promise. I'm being good and healthy!
"Promise"
"Yes."
"Good, but I'm still going to miss your squishy. You make me sad."
"I know but I really want a boyfriend. I'm tired of being alone."
"Ahh but what about me? hmm?"
"Haha Yes I still have you. But it's not the same."
"I hope you find someone good. Someone that will like you even after you become squishy again."
"How would you know if I'm going to become fat again?"
"You weren't fat. You were only a little fat and it's in your nature. For you, food is happiness, it's emotional well being. Like how those cultures express love through cooking. You'll find a guy who will see that. And find out how much more fun you are when you're full of cake."
"One can only hope."

She was getting annoyed. Everypony seemed so fixated on keeping her just the way she was. Was change so bad? Or was it that they just want her to stay the silly little girl with the extra fluff? Was her fluff that much apart of her? It was a sour thought.
Pinkie was well indulging in the bar's supply of alcohol. She was set on losing all her worries as she watched the dancers. The only thought to come into her mind was when was she going to see Chester get it on with his boyfriend? She hoped soon. The sour thought were trying to invade and conquer. She was all about having fun tonight and a private show was just what she needed.
She felt a twitch. Then another. Pinkie sense. She looked over to the right and coming in the door were the others of the mane six. All looking surprised and uncomfortable. They had come for her. Her only regret was never getting the private show.





Twilight was nervous when Celestia and Luna appeared in her living room that night. Not because they had appeared in her living room, or even because of the mission assigned to her. No, it was because the mission included all the Elements of Harmony...including Pinkie...who wasn't talking to them at the moment.
"But...Pinkie and me, and I...I mean the rest of us. We're...having a problem and...not really talking at the moment," Twilight confessed, lowering her head.
"Then wouldn't this be an opportunity to learn a lesson in friendship?" Celestia asked.
"Not, really. It's more of a 'we might not be friends anymore' problem."
"Not friends!? How could The Elements of Harmony not be friends? Your power only works through the Magic of Friendship. This is a travesty," Luna declared with a stomp of the hoof.
"Do not worry so, Luna. I'm sure this can be worked out. Twilight, I don't know what the circumstances are around this but I believe this rift between you two can be mended. Sometimes when we fight with friends it can seem like the end of a friendship," Celestia said. "But for now, we must get the rest of your friends and inform them of the mission."
"Yes, Princess." Twilight had a glum look about her.
Rounding up the others of the mane six was easy, even with them being interrupted or woken up. Equestria needed them. The two princesses did note how reluctant they were about going to get Pinkie. When they did get to her home, they were met with a surprise.
"She's not home. She almost always goes out on Saturday nights. Usually to Whiterston to see Grey Faerie." Mrs. Cake explained.
"Grey Faerie? Who's Grey Faerie?" Rainbow Dash asked rudely.
"No need for that tone with me,” She said with a hard look but soon softened. “She's an old friend of Pinkie's. She used to live in the town closest to Pinkie's farm. She gave Pinkie her first job off the farm and brought her with her to Ponyville. Grey even introduced Pinkie to us. She currently lives in Whiterston but Pinkie always finds time to call or hang out." Mrs.Cake explained.
"Oh, okay. Do you know what they are up to tonight? We need to find Pinkie." Twilight asked.
"She's either at The Cantering Stallion or The Salty Spittoon."
"The...Salty Spittoon?" Rarity asked.
"It's a bar that's connected to a dance hall. Don't be frightened by the name. Pinkie says it's leftover from when it was a biker bar. Well, goodnight. I hope everything works out fine. I do worry about you girls, running off and fighting evil. It's just not safe," she shook her head, motherly.
"Don't you worry 'bout us. We're made of tougher stuff," Applejack told her.
"Yeah! It's our job to do the dangerous stuff," Rainbow Dash added in.
"Thanks, Mrs. Cake. We'll try to be careful," Twilight reassured.
"Okay, goodnight." She said as she closed the door. The others called out a goodnight as well. They hoped this would be a good night. With everything involved, they had their doubts.
The group walked in the direction of Whiterston. When they got to the edge of Ponyville, they were unexpectedly met by Discord.
"What are you lovely bunch of ladies doing out this evening? Not taking a stroll I assume," he smiled.
"This has nothing to do with you Discord. We're going to Whiterston to find Pinkie," Twilight tried to walk past him.
"Pinkie? I'll come. I have been needing to talk to her too."
"This doesn..."
"Now now," he said as he waved his hand, "I know, but I would like to see her. Even for a moment. I haven't been able to even catch a glimpse of her in a while."
Twilight sighed,  "Fine. Just don't get in the way."
"So don't walk in front of you and purposely slow down to a near stand still. Gotcha."





It took them a little while to figure out where Pinkie was. They had located The Salty Spittoon and were told she hadn't come that evening. Fluttershy had been intimated when the bouncer had insisted in asking 'How tough are you?' before letting them in.  Rarity had been thoroughly put off. She didn't find it at all humorous like Rainbow Dash had.
The group really didn't know what to expect when they got to The Cantering Stallion. They had some idea of what the establishment might have been but they weren't ready to confirm exactly what type of place it was.
"This is...The, ah, Cantering Stallion?" Applejack asked. She had heard of these kinds of places but never thought she would end up going to one. Or that one of her friends frequented it.
"It appears so," Rarity replied.
"Spike!" Luna suddenly called out.
"Ahh...yes, Princess Luna?"
"Would you accompany me to find a doughnut shop? It would be a pleasant venture to find coffee for the Elements."
"Oh, ok. But what about Pinkie? I want to go in with everyon..."
"No! I mean, don't you want to come with me? Leave Pinkie to her friends. This will be a long night and they will be needing substance. You will be rewarded greatly for escorting me," she said with a wink and grin.
"Like, extra sprinkles rewarded greatly?"
"Extra chocolate as well if you prove most gentlemanly."
"I'm in!"
"I will go with you," Celestia added.
"But princess..." Twilight started.
"I think it would be most unfavorable if I would to be...seen entering this place of business," she whispered to Twilight.
"Oh, yeah. That makes sense," Twilight replied.
"How so?" Spike asked.
"I can't be seen entering because...it would make it look like I favor this place over others. The press are always looking for what shops and restaurants I go to and I don't want to bring unnecessary attention to a business that might not want it."
"But why would a shop not want the princess..."
"Are we not going to a doughnut shop? I can just hear the glazed rings of goodness calling to me," Luna announced.
"Yeah! Let's go. I'll see you later, Twilight!" Spike called out. The three of them walked away, back toward the center of town.
"Aren't you going with them?" Fluttershy asked Discord.
"Me? No, I'm more interested in seeing what Pinkie's wearing out at this type of establishment," he rubbed his hands together, "I wonder if they have a special for 'Girls Night Out'."
"Oh, ok."
"Are you totally sure? I highly doubt a male strip club is to your tastes," Rainbow said with a raised brow.
"I think I'll be too busy looking at the beautiful women to even notice where I am. And besides, just look at me. I could easily pass as one of the dancers." Discord struck a ridiculous pose. Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Let's just go in and get this done. I don't want to be be here any longer than necessary. I loath just being seen anywhere near a place like this. It would smear my good reputation," Rarity said.
"Don't you read all those girly romance novel?" RD asked.
"That's different," Rarity defended.
"Ah don't think any of us really want to be here," Applejack replied. "So, let's go in."
And so, they entered The Cantering Stallion. A place where any girl can feel good about herself. Where for a few bits, a beautiful colt will give you all the time and attention you crave. And of course, a steamy lap dance.