CH 2: The Nightclub

The whole week the girls spent their time in Vegas. It was overwhelming for Ash considering it was her first time ever out in the world, but her friends were there to reassure her and help her out. It was the most fun she'd ever had. Vegas was like a big playhouse for adults, at least that is what she kept calling it. As promised, every day she made sure to call Freddy to keep him up to date about everything that she'd seen so far.

Of course, when they were not partying on the strip, gambling, or watching shows, the girls helped Ash with figuring out what to do with her year long trip. Helping her map out each place to go. Making her way from the west coast over to the east coast, marking each spot she could go to. A must was having her stop to see Heart along the way in Tennessee.

With the time that Ash was with those two, she learned a lot about her friends she missed out on. Heart was engaged now to someone, but he was always traveling, but she didn't mind him being away as they stayed connected a lot. She wasn't sure when they would get married yet. Ash's time with Tori though, made her realize that her friendship with her might be something more than she thought. Considering how much she cared for the pink bunny. On that last day though, Tori finally dropped the bombshell that she was already dating someone. That car ride home was hard for Ash and she didn't know why.

After coming back from Vegas, they spend the night at Tori's place before taking Heart to the airport the next morning. Saying their goodbyes, Heart got on her plane and would see each other soon. Trying to figure out her next move, Ash spent another night over Tori's house, despite her chest hurting almost the whole time there. In the morning, the bunny took the bear to the bus station to head to Seattle to start her journey they planned out for her.

The bus ride was smooth and she got to see so much out the windows. She was fully on her own now, with no friends with her but maybe she could make new ones. She was prepared for anything.

The next three months she went from state to state. Starting in Seattle, Washington. Going down to Portland, Oregon then into California. She explored San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego before going to Phoenix, Arizona then Santa Fe, New Mexico. The bear saw so much of the desert before finally going up to Denver, Colorado and experiencing the snow for the first time. It was cold but she enjoyed the snow. It was fun and she even went to a ski resort to try out skiing….she wasn't good at it but she still had a lot of fun. Then she headed up to Wyoming and into both the Dakota's then back down into Nebraska.

Ash was seeing so much. Learning so much and meeting lots of new people along the way. It was such an experience. To think this was only part of it. She saw so much each week she stayed in one spot. It was hard to believe and take it all in.

By the fourth month she went through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and into Louisiana. She went to Baton Rouge and New Orleans Then up to Jackson, Mississippi and over into Little Rock, Arkansas. Since she was so close to Tennessee she decided to stop in Memphis to see Heart.

When the bus stopped at the bus garage in Memphis, she knew walking there wouldn't be bad. Especially if she wanted to surprise Heart. She didn't live far away. So, once she got off the bus and got her luggage, she headed on her way. Luckily, she still had Heart's address saved in her phone so she made the 30-minute walk to her place.

It was close to sunset but at least she had some daylight left to help her as a guide. As she walked she noticed a few posters on the walls of the street. She stopped and looked at one of the posters. It was for a nightclub with some sexy animatronic girls on the poster in a seductive pose. As Ash looked closer she looked at the one girl on the poster. She looked to be a bear but that wasn't the main thing that threw her off…it was the fact that she almost looked like her but her hair was up in a ponytail while Ash had her hair cut short.

Ash did want to see Heart, but now this has caught her interest. She put in the address and luckily it was only five minutes up the street. So, she walked. Soon enough a building came into view with a large neon sign for the club, Frenni's Nightclub

"This is the place." She stood there a few moments, looking at another poster of the nightclub. "Let's go check this out."

She walked into the club and soon was surprised by the atmosphere. Her whole trip she's never gone to a club like this. One that was so….lewd. She had a blush on her face as she looked around the main room where there was a stage and some tables around. She walked slowly and looked to her right to see a separate room with a pole. There was a fox animatronic currently doing a dance on the pole as the men around her looked at her in adoration. She looked for a few moments before just going to the bar and taking the seat at the end, putting her luggage at her feet.
As she looked around she noticed the crude things on the walls as well as the posters too. There were men in here mainly with a woman or two scattered throughout. She sat at the bar with some others but luckily they were on the other side. As she looked around the bartender came up to her.

"What can I get for you doll?" The human male asked her.

Ash got snapped back to reality at his question. "Oh, um, got any hard cider?"

He nodded, "Bottle or tap?"

"Bottle please." She answered.

The bartender reached under the bar and pulled out a bottle, he popped the cap and placed it in front of her. "Want to open a tab?"
"No I'll just be having the one, thank you." She says and hands him a ten-dollar bill. "Keep the change."

The bartender takes the money, "Thanks." Then put it in the register.

He walked away and that left the bear looking around again, sipping her drink as she did. Soon enough she saw a yellow chicken animatronic walk out, she was holding a pizza and placed it down on the table in front of a guy. He reached out and grabbed her ass as she did this, she flinched a moment but stayed there and started to flirt with him.

Another animatronic caught her eye in the corner. It was a purple bunny as she was currently giving someone a lap dance. A few dollar bills in her underwear and bra straps.

"So, this is the kind of place this is? Interesting." Ash thought to herself as she took another sip.

Soon a voice announced, "Gentlemen, please let me welcome you to the stage! Frenni Fazclaire!"

Soon there were lights up on the stage, which caught her attention as she looked over and saw the curtains open for a bear animatronic standing on stage dancing. A bunch of people started to whistle and holler at the girl as she slowly made her way off the stage and danced around everyone. Ash looked at Frenni in awe as she…seemed familiar…yet had never seen her till now.

Frenni made her way around the room and gave everyone a small little show as she did. Eventually she looked over to the bar to give them all a wink. She then spotted the girl at the end of the bar. It sent the animatronic into shock. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? She lost her concentration and accidently tripped over someone's seat, fell onto another man, and caused them both to topple over, the man spilling his drink on himself and Frenni.

That caused the music to stop playing as the animatronic tried to regain her composure. The man pushed her off him and started to yell at her and calling her very vulgar names. Soon though a large lion came out from the back and went up to the commotion.

"What's going on here?" He asks and helps Frenni up.

"This dumb bitch fell on me and made me spill my drink." The angered man said.

"No worries sir. You can have one drink, on the house." The lion said to him and then turned to the bear who was looking down at the floor. Her outfit sticking to her from the beer. "Go get yourself cleaned up. Meet me in my office tonight after we close. I have some words for you." He said angrily to Frenni before walking away.

The whole bar had stopped when all the yelling happened. All the other animatronics stopped as well and went up to Frenni to check on her. They wanted to make sure she was ok but she was too overwhelmed by everything at the moment. She pushed them off her and quickly walked off to her stage and the curtains closed.

Ash watched all this happen and was upset that the girl, Frenni, was being treated that way by a customer. Of course, he was just drunk and the lion, who she assumed was the owner, seemed to take it under control. Soon everyone went back to how they were, but she could still see the worry on the girls' faces as they separated. The bear finished her drink, grabbed her suitcase, and decided she had seen enough. Then she walked out of the nightclub.

As she stood there in front of the building, she sighed and looked at it sadly before walking away and continuing to Heart's house. As she walked she saw a poster again with Frenni on it. She wanted to remember the place so she managed to get the poster off the wall and fold it up before she continued on. Once she moved down the street again, it was another five minutes till she arrived at Heart's townhouse building. She knocked on the door.

Eventually it opened and Heart was there with wide eyes and looked surprised. "Ash!?" She said happily and went out to hug the girl tightly.

The bear chuckled. "Hey Heart, surprise!"

"I'm happy to see you girl, come in." She gestured into her home. "Sorry if it's a little crazy right now. My fiancé was over today and he just left to go on a trip."
"Aw so I won't get to meet him?" Ash asked sadly as she walked through the doorway.
"No, I'm sorry." Heart answered and closed the door behind them. "If I had known I would have asked him to stay. Don't worry, you'll meet him eventually."

"If you say so. I apologize for the sudden visit. This was my next stop on my trip." Ash said smiling.

"Oh awesome! You're going to have to tell me everything! I want to know how things have been going." The hybrid said excitedly as she went to the kitchen. "Wunna drink?"
"Yea sure, have soda?" Ash asked.
Heart nodded, "Of course. Make yourself at home. Then we can get to talk!"

Ash nodded and smiled before taking a seat on her couch and once she got back with the drinks, they both got comfortable as they discussed things that Ash has done the last few months. Heart missed her friend a lot and was glad she was doing so well for herself. Plus, she got to see so many things. It was amazing.

"So, Heart, I have a question for you." Ash started nervously as she played with her empty can.

Heart nodded, "Shoot."

"So, I stopped at this club on the way here. Do you know anything about it?" She was curious.
"What's the club?" Heart wondered.

"Frenni's Nightclub." The bear answered.

"Oh, that place. Never been there before to be honest with you. I've always been curious…despite me living here for a few years now. Looks like a rundown place anyway." She says then takes a sip of her drink.

"Fair." She took a breath. "I went in there because…something was pulling me there."

"Really? That's weird. See anything neat in there? What's in that club anyway?" Heart wondered.

"It's like a strip club of sorts. They have animatronic girls that dance and do certain things. You know, those things." She tried to explain.

"Oh, shit really? Fuck…you should take me next time we go." Heart winked.

The bear's eyebrows slanted in annoyance, "That's beside the point knucklehead. I was in there and saw something, well someone, in there that seemed…familiar." Ash admitted.

"But this is your first time out anywhere and being over here. Thousands of miles from Utah girl. I think your just imagining things."

The bear sighed. "I don't know what to think or believe anymore."

"Hey, you had a long trip here. Why don't we put on a movie and relax?" Heart suggested.

"Ok…maybe you're right." She sighed and nodded with a smile.

Heart hugged her tightly and then got set up for the movie.

Back at the club, it was closing time and Frenni had cleaned up before going to the owner's office. She got off the elevator and made her way to the office at the end of the corridor. Her mind still lost in thought from earlier…that girl she saw. Why did it bring such a shock to her? She's never seen her before so why did she feel so familiar? It couldn't have been her but at the same time…when do you ever see a blue bear around? The only blue bear she knew…was her daughter. But there was no way she would be here of all places. Right? Even still…it made her think.

Soon Frenni came to the door and knocked.

"Come in!" A voice called from the other side.

She opened the door and the lion was sitting in his chair, his shirt halfway undone with his tie off. He was smoking a cigarette.

"You…wanted to see me…sir?" Frenni asked nervously as she walked up to his desk.

"I did." The owner said as he put out his cigarette.

Standing from his desk he went around it before standing in front of her. Before she knew it, he slapped her across the face. The animatronic wasn't expecting it, she managed to keep her balance as she reacted to the slap. Her body turning away from the action, her cheek was stinging now. She tried to keep her composure as she slowly turned back up and looked at the anthropomorphic male.

As she turned back, the lion started to yell at her, "I don't know what's gotten into you today, but you caused a hell of a scene in the club today with that stunt you pulled!" He then back handed her the other way.

Frenni didn't answer as she looked down at the ground, now her other cheek stinging from the back hand.

"What the hell got you so caught up in your own head that you had to ruin a show!?" He kept yelling. "Hmm, was there someone in the crowd distracting you. Did that beaver come back!? You know he's band from here after what the fucker did to your thigh."

"No sir…it wasn't him." Frenni finally answered.

"Then what?" He demanded, grabbing her face roughly.

She winced at the grab; he was holding her tightly. "It was no one sir." She lied. "I just…lost my train of thought and it was my fault. It won't happen again."
He pushed her away from him. "It's better now. You're still getting punished and you're going to pleasure me tonight." The lion then started to undo the rest of his shirt.

She stepped away from the male, scared.

The owner reached out and grabbed the girl by the hair. "Don't run from me or you'll make it worse for you!" He growled. "You'll do as I say! Yes sir?"
Frenni hissed from him pulling her hair. She started to cry a bit. "Y-Yes..sir." She whispered out.

"Good." He let go of her and then threw her down to the ground. "Get to work."