### Stoney's first client chapter 1: meeting Cindy

It was another winter day in the city. Snow was gently falling as cars were driving people to their workplaces. 

Buses were getting packed with students  who were not willing, but had to go to school.

The sun had risen high enough to justify the light shining through the window of the bedroom of a certain Horse.

The girl grumbled as she rolled over, in an attempt to escape the light which demanded her to get up.

Of course, the light persists, and the horse, who was named Lia, opened her eyes begrudgingly, unable to sleep again.

She sat up, completely nude as her hooves clopped on the floor.

After rubbing her eyes, attempting to get any leftover sleep left in her eyes, there was a knock on the door.

With a huff, Lia got up her bed, and walked across her art studio, bumping into an easel. She quickly caught the easel and the art piece that she was working on.

She got the easel back up and the knocking continued. Almost childishly.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Lia yelled out. "Don't get your panties in a knot!"

After that, Lia finally got a house coat on, and got to the door, opening it.

There in front of the horse, was a very happy orange cat.

Lia deadpan stared at Cindy.

"What?" Lia simply asked.

"Good morning, Lia!" Cindy said in a cheery voice. "How are you this morning?"

Lia was not fond of Cindy. She saw her as very dumb and annoying.

"What do you want, Cindy?" Lia asked rudely.

Cindy was disappointed that her question wasn't answered, but still answered Lia's question.

"Oh! Well... Via wanted to talk to us about something."

Lia waved her paw dismissively. "I'll get the run down after the morning meeting." She said to the cat, about to close the door.

"Nonono, you don't understand!" Cindy protested. "She wanted to talk to just __us__! She cancelled today's morning meeting!"

Now that stopped Lia. That was very unlike Via. She would want to communicate with the other girls about current events and such... But... Today's meeting was cancelled?

Soon Lia started leading the way to the dining room downstairs.

"Did she say why?" Lia asked.

Cindy shook her head as she followed. "No, but considering how close we are to Via... This might be something only she could trust us with!"

Lia was concerned now...

Lia and Cindy had been working in the Brothel since the beginning. Via was a great boss that protected the girls who worked there. And out of all the girls she trusted the most, she trusted Lia and Cindy the most...

Even though Lia couldn't see the appeal of Cindy.

Still, whatever this was, Lia was ready to help.

The two girls entered the Dining room, startling Via, who was relieved it was just Lia and Cindy. 

"Hey girls." Via greeted.

Lia came up and got to the point. "What's wrong Via? Did something happen?"

Via rubbed the back of her head. "Um... Technically yes."

"Technically?" Cindy asked.

Via looked concerned. "Technically... Lia, do you remember that girl from last night?"

Lia recalls now. She was setting up for tomorrow morning and Via brought in a small pink girl into the brothel.

"The cub who was begging outside?" Lia asked. "Didn't you say you were going to find her parents...?"

Via rubs her head again.

"Yeaaahhh... About that..." Via started. "I've tried looking around for her parents. I called police, orphanages, anyone I could think of... This girl isn't missing or lost apparently."

Cindy piped up. "You don't know where she came from?"

Via shook her head. "She's refusing to say where she came from... I don't even know her name..."

"Sounds like a trouble maker." Lia said.

"That's not even the half of it." Via mumbled.

"Ooo! I like trouble!" Cindy said, almost butting in.

Via pets Cindy's head playfully. Who giggles in response. Lia rolled her eyes.

"Yes... And I have a feeling she will be a handful." Via said.

Lia's expression changed. "She will be? What do you mean, 'she will be'?"

Via rubs the back of her head again.

"...Via... What did you do?" Lia asked again.

Via lets out a nervous laugh. "Ahaha... Well... After last night... I might have... Sort of... In a way..."

The two girls look at Via, anticipating the answer.

"...Adopted her." Via finishes.

"YOU WHAT?!" Lia said.

Via hushed her. She did not want the rest of the brothel to know *now*.

"You what?!" Lia said in a more hushed tone.

"I know! I know!" Via admitted. "She just... I don't know... Charmed me? Fuck how do I explain this...?"

"Via, we live in a brothel!" Lia told Via. "This is no place for a cub to be!"

"Wow." Cindy said. "She musta *really* done something to charm *you*, Via!"

Via looked away, trying to hide a blush.

"Well she can't stay here!" Lia demanded.

"Lia, there's nowhere else for her to go!" Via explained. "Especially with how she is, the streets are not safe for her!"

Cindy now asks a question. "How she is? What's up with the cub?"

Via was now at a loss of words... She... Didn't really have an answer... She wasn't sure how to explain the cub...

"Maybe... It's best that you meet her..." Via tells the two, heading for the kitchen door.

Lia and Cindy look at each other, and follow Via into the kitchen.

In the kitchen was a cute red panda who was pink... Currently elbow deep in a jar of cookies.

She quickly pulled out of the jar seeing Via.

"Via!" The cub yelped. She hopped down the counter and told her side of the story. "I wasn't eating the cookies! I was..."

The cub quickly quieted down upon seeing Lia and Cindy come in with Via.

Via gestures to the cub. "Girls... This is Stoney... Stoney, these two are Lia and Cindy, my closest friends and best employees."

"Hewwo!" Stoney greeted.

Lia gets a good look at the cub. She had a big fluffy tail and was wearing a tank top and shorts.

The cub looked up at Lia with interest. She never met a horse before!

Cindy on the other paw, came over to Stoney with the excitement of meeting a new friend.

"Hey there, little girl!" Cindy greeted, waving alittle as she got to Stoney's level. "Aren't you as cute as a button!"

"Thank you!" Stoney said. "Your boobies look wonderful!"

Cindy was taken aback abit. "O-Oh! Um... Thank you?"

"You're welcum!" Stoney responded cheerfully.

Lia raised an eyebrow. She turned to Via. "She's very perverted."

"That's not even the half of it..." Via said.

"Can I touch your boobies?" Stoney straight up asked Cindy.

Cindy blushed.

"Um... Sure?" Cindy answered, uncertain. Lia pulled Cindy back.

"Why did you agree?!" Lia asked.

"I dunno! She made a good argument!" Cindy admitted.

"What argument?! The girl is obviously not acting her age!" Lia told Cindy. She realized something and turned to Via. "How old is she?"

"She's--"

"I'm six years old!" Stoney proudly declared, interrupting Via. "My birthday was 3 days ago!"

Cindy and Lia were wide eyed now. How the hell was a six year old behaving like this?

The two turned to Via.

"Don't look at me!" Via told them "I didn't teach her that!"

"You did teach me how to masturbate...!" Stoney told Via.

The color from Via's face drained.

"You did what?!" Lia asked Via. "Via!!!"

"I know I know!" Via said. "She was not sleeping! She kept trying to touch herself and wouldn't stay quiet!"

"Via. Do you know how much damage you did?!" Lia scolded her friend. "You could go to jail for this!"

"Did..." Stoney interrupted. "Did I... Do something wrong?"

The three looked at Stoney.

Via turned to Stoney. "I mean... Technically yes." She told Stoney. "What we did last night... Was not a good thing."

"But... But it felt so good though!" Stoney protested. "What was wrong with feeling good?!

"The difference is Via is an adult. And you're a cub." Lia explained. "Cubs are not supposed to have sex!"

"Why not?" Stoney asked.

"Because that's an adult thing to do!" Lia explained.

"But I can do it!" Stoney protested. "I can make you feel really good!"

"It doesn't matter if you can make me feel good! You shouldn't do--"

Via stops Lia. Lia looks at Via, then back to Stoney... Who was now tearing up.

"Am..." Stoney quivered. "Am I a bad girl...?"

"No dear... Nooo..." Via comforted, going over to Stoney and kneeling down. She petted Stoney's head.

Lia would protest... But Via spoke up first.

"This girl was hurt by something... Or someone..." Via told her friends. "If I let her out in the world the way she is right now, the city will eat her alive."

"What?!" Stoney yelped.

Via pets Stoney again. "Just a figure of speech dear."

"It can't be here though!" Lia told Via.

"Where else can she go, Lia?!" Via spoke sharply. "Where else can I possibly let her go, that will keep her safe?!"

"Via we live in a literal brothel." Lia told Via as she held the snout of her face, annoyed she had to explain this. "This place is constantly sex sex and more sex! If anything this is the most dangerous place for a cub to be in!"

Stoney's eyes lit up upon the word sex.

"Annnnd we get paid to do it too!" Cindy added.

Lia glared at Cindy, who was not helping.

"You guys get paid for sex?!" Stoney asked, absolutely enthralled.

"Yeah!" Cindy confirmed. "You can have as much sex as you want here and people pay you to have sex with them!"

Stoney was amazed! A place where you can have all the sex you want, *AND* get paid money to do it?! This sounded like a dream come true!

"Cindy!!!" Via and Lia yelled, startling the cat.

"Via Via!" Stoney cried out. "I wanna live here forever! I wanna have sex sex and more sex!"

"Absolutely not!" Via told Stoney.

Stoney looked upset. "Why not?!"

Via had to think of something that wouldn't upset Stoney...

"Uh... You can't... Because of... Um..." Via desperately tried to figure out what to say. "The... Uh... Fact you... Oh! Because you don't know how to be a sex worker!"

The two others were nudged by Via.

"UHHH! Y-Yeaaaahhh! That's right!" Cindy added. "You don't even know the first thing about taking care of a client!"

"How to assure a nervous client!" Lia added.

"Then there's after the sex!" Cindy added as well.

"Butt I can learn all that!" Stoney insisted.

"Maybe another time, kiddo." Via assured Stoney. "But right now... You should be living your best life ever."

"But... What else could I do?" Stoney asked.

There was a pause for a moment as the girls tried to think of something for Stoney.

Cindy broke the silence.

"I might have something you might enjoy!"

Lia would protest... But she looked at Via... That... Might not be a bad idea... Cindy had a bunch of toys and gizmos to fidget with... Maybe she could find something for Stoney to do while she lives here.

Lia pushed Stoney towards Cindy. "Good idea! Get Stoney a hobby while me and Via talk things out!"

Soon Cindy found herself outside of the room with Stoney right beside her.

The two looked back at the door, hearing Lia and Via debating letting a cub live here...

Cindy looked at Stoney.

"...So... Stoney, right?"

The pink cub nodded.

Cindy then started leading the way. "Let's head to my room... I got this neat thing to show you...!"

"...okay!" Stoney agreed, following the cat...

Back in the kitchen, Lia glared at Via.

Via rubbed the back of her head, ashamed.

"Via..." Lia started. "This could snowball out of paw, REALLY quickly if she stays here."

Via nodded hesitantly. "I just... I don't know..." 

She took a seat on the stool near the kitchen island.

"She just... Seems to have a way with people..." Via continued. "I don't know what came over me..."

Lia had her paws on her hips... And sighs.

"Nobody else can know." Lia conditioned. "Worst thing to happen is the whole brothel knowing you're a cub toucher."

Via looked down ashamed.

"Look... I'll help you find another home for her..." Lia assured, placing her paw on Via's shoulder. "A safe home. And we can just let this all go like water under a bridge... Okay?"

Via took a bit to answer... She didn't want to break the cub's heart.

"...alright..."

  --page break--

In her bedroom, Cindy went through her collection of unique toys she likes to fiddle with, humming every once in a while as she thought...

What could she possibly lend to Stoney that could keep her mind off sex?

As Cindy searched, Stoney sat on Cindy's bed, looking around... Alittle bored.

"Hrrmm... None of these could occupy you for longer than it would occupy me..." Cindy stated, having a difficult time. "What did you usually do in your free time?"

Stoney thought for a moment. "...I... Guess I drew pictures..."

"Ah! Shoot. Why didn't Lia volunteer to help with this...?" Cindy asked herself. Now looking for her own drawing supplies.

As she did this, Stoney looked over to where Cindy's TV is...

It had the usual stuff like a VHS player, some movies, some remotes-- wait.

Stoney noticed a big bulky remote thing in the remote cubby. Curious, she pulled it out and looked at it...

It had a weird stick and some buttons on it...

There was also a screen on the thing...

"Cindy?" Stoney asked, showing the device. "What's this remote?"

Cindy looked at the device.

"Oh! That's my old Dreamcast controller." Cindy answered. "It's used with my video game console."

Stoney raised an eyebrow. "...What's a video game?"

Cindy was surprised. "You've never played a video game?"

Stoney shook her head.

Now this was perfect! Cindy rarely played video games these days... So it would be a good idea to introduce the concept of them to Stoney.

Who knows! She might like them!

Cindy went over to the tv and pulled out the console, blowing the dust off it.

She connected the console to the Tv as Stoney watched.

Soon Cindy got everything connected, and turned on the tv.

She then turned on the console.

The console made a whirling sound as it powered on, the disc spinning in the console. Cindy then connected the controller to the console and gave it to Stoney.

"There!" Cindy said, sitting down and pulling Stoney onto her lap.

"Woah! Haha!" Stoney giggled. She got a better look at the controller now. "So... What do I do with this?"

"You use that to control the game!" Cindy said, pointing at the screen.

Stoney turned her head back and focused on the TV. An orange dot bounced across the screen, rising letters that spelled the name "Dreamcast", then the dot went up and made a swirl, showing it's logo.

The game finally loaded and the title screen slammed down a logo with intensity, startling Stoney a bit. The screen flashed and the title for the game displayed on screen.

"Sonic Adventure 2?" Stoney asked.

"Yeah! It's a fun game." Cindy said. "You're gunna want to press that big triangle button. That's the start button."

Stoney followed the instructions and pressed start.

Files were presented using a strange shape. Stoney didn't know it at the time, but it was for the UMD of the controller.

"Let's start a New game. This game has a fun story!" Cindy told Stoney.

After learning how the buttons work, A is accept, B is back... Stoney started a new file, then selected "1P play".

"Start with the Hero story!" Cindy instructed. "That's where I started!"

Stoney nodded and picked it.

The screen then flashed the following:

13:27
Above the capital city.

Stoney then saw a helicopter come upto the screen.

"Sigma-Alpha 2 heading due south over the city. We're en route, everything's a go." Someone in the helicopter said.

A voice came up on what Stoney assumed was a radio.

"This is control tower. We have you on radar. Report cargo status of captured hedgehog aboard, over!"

Some music was playing at this time. The person in the helicopter responded.

"That's a 10-4. Cargo secured on board and..." The person said, suddenly surprised. "What?!"

The radio guy talked over the person.

"Didn't copy that, over!"

As the radio guy responded, at the same time, the other guy spoke. "The hedgehog's gone, he's taken out everyone aboard and..."

Immediately the radio guy asked for clarification. "What's wrong! Come in, over!"

"What in the world!?" The helicopter man gasped, as suddenly a blue bipedal creature bursts out of the helicopter, and catches on the wing on the helicopter. He had white gloves and red shoes.

"Woah!" Stoney said, surprised.

"That blue hedgehog right there," Cindy pointed out. "That guy there is Sonic the Hedgehog! He's the fastest thing alive!"

Stoney didn't respond. She was completely focused on what was happening on screen.

"Freeze! What do you think you're doing!? Get that hedgehog!" The helicopter guy yelled.

Sonic then got ontop of the wing and ripped off a large piece of metal on it.

"Talk about low budget flights, no food or movies... I'm outta here!" Sonic declared, getting on the metal. "I like running better!"

Sonic then leapt off the helicopter, striking a pose with a smile, spinning down into the city below.

"Yeah!" Sonic cried out.

Then the screen displayed:

Stage: 01
City
Escape.

"Get ready!" Cindy hyped. "The game's about to start!"

"Oh, what do I do?!" Stoney asked, alittle pressured.

"Just use the control stick to move, and the A button to jump!" Cindy told Stoney. "Experiment a bit... It'll come naturally!"

Soon Sonic fell from the sky and landed down on the slanted ground, sliding down the road as City Escape played on the speaker.

Stoney had a big smile on her face as she listened and played.

She was... Doing very poorly at the game to put it lightly... But this was the most fun she ever had in her life so far... Besides the sex of course.

She laughed as she smashed into cars, watching them fly everywhere! Managing to time a jump on a ramp correctly once to do a trick, and then she got to the bottom of the hill.

While she was very bad at this game, she kept playing and doing her best, running around, gathering rings, going down rails and using the homing attack on enemies.

Cindy smiled at Stoney as she kept playing, completely focused. Cindy was really happy she managed to find something that would interest the cub... That wasn't sex of course.

This was the most fun she had in a while...

Sometimes Stoney would ask things like what to do at certain parts, and Cindy gave little hints to continue.

And Stoney would always give a thank you for the hint...

It was the nicest anyone has ever been, besides Via.

Cindy was not treated kindly by most of the girls in the brothel. Many of them found her to be a nuisance or an idiot. She never shown it, but it hurt her greatly with how badly ahe was treated.

The only kind person to her was Via. In fact Via was the reason Cindy stayed in this job for so long... That and it was easy money.

But Stoney here was being very kind and polite to her, gushing over how fun this game was and laughing at all the things she was doing in game.

Cindy's thoughts were interrupted by Stoney.

"This game thing is alotta fun, Cindy!" Stoney happily declared.

Cindy smiled. "I'm happy you're enjoying this game so much." She said softly.

"This is so much fun! I love video games!" Stoney cheered. "Thank you for letting me play this, Cindy!"

Cindy's smile trembled a bit when Stoney thanked her again.

Stoney realized this and paused the game.

"Cindy?" Stoney asked with concern. "Are you ok? Did I say something wrong?"

Cindy shook her head and rubbed her eye.

"Nono! I'm okay!" Cindy assured Stoney.

Stoney's expression didn't change. "Cindy... You can tell me... I'm your friend."

Cindy tears up more, her smile not leaving. "I'm... Your friend?"

Stoney put down the controller.

"Of course you're my friend!" Stoney assured, now turning around to hug the orange cat. "You're so nice and sweet, and I love the way you think!"

Cindy hugs back, petting Stoney's head. "Alot of the girls would disagree with you..." Cindy said. "They don't like me as much as you or Via do."

"Well they're missing out!" Stoney told her. "If there's anything I learned about people, I learned that you should treat people the way you want to be treated."

"But... But what about... What they think of--" Cindy couldn't finish her sentence before Stoney interrupted.

"Who cares about what they think? If they don't want to be your friend, then I'll be your best friend!" Stoney assured.

Cindy was at a loss for words. She pulled Stoney in tightly.

"Thank you... I'll happily be your best friend." Cindy said, still hugging the cub.

"You're welcome Cindy." Stoney said with a smile.

They held the hug for quite a bit. If Stoney had to guess, Cindy hadn't gotten a hug like this in a long time...

Cindy then pulls away for just a moment.

"You know... This game has a two player mode~" Cindy hinted.

Stoney's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Two people can play a video game?!" Stoney asked with excitement.

Cindy smiled proudly.

"Yep! It has a racing mode!" Cindy explained. Then smirked. "Think you can beat me?"

Stoney grabbed her controller again.

"You're on, bestie!"

--page break--

Via yawned as she climbed up the stairs with Lia.

"I can't believe there's no room in the orphanages!" Lia complained, climbing up with Via.

Via nodded, not really responding.

"What else can we possibly do now?" Lia asked, as they got to the top of the stairs. "I doubt a homeless shelter would take her..."

"Yeah..." Via responded, half paying attention.

Lia finally noticed this, as they stopped in front of Cindy's door.

"Via, what is up with you?" Lia asked firmly. "You've been moody since we've started trying to fix this."

Via sighs and leans against the banister, looking down at the lobby downstairs.

Finally she speaks up.

"...is this... Really a good idea?" Via asked. "I did promise she could stay here until she was grown up."

"Via, I told you, it's a bad idea." Lia assured before asking. "What if someone mistakes her as one of the girls they can go to town on?"

Via didn't respond aside from a shrug. She was hoping that wouldn't be a situation that would happen.

Lia sighs. "You've really got attached to this girl, huh?"

Via nodded softly, her expression obviously sad.

Lia leaned on the banister with Via now.

Via finally spoke up. "Remember... Remember when I lost my fiancé?"

Lia huffed. "Yeah... I remember. He was such a dick to you in the end."

"Have I told you why he was mad at me?" Via asked. Her expression hasn't changed.

Lia raised a brow and shook her head.

"He got upset when he found out I couldn't get pregnant." Via explained. "The doctors said I was incapable of having any cubs of my own."

Lia continued to listen.

"At first... I didn't care... Cubs didn't really suit my style... But he... Ho-boy he was furious."

Via continued. "But... When I met Stoney... There was something... Something special about her when I fed her that night... And gave her that bath... I felt something I didn't think I would feel again..."

Lia spoke up. "...Love...?"

It took a moment but Via nodded. "I've never taken care of a cub... And I wasn't planning on doing so... But... Something inside me... Wanted to... Hold her... Keep her safe... Raise her right, you know?"

Lia understood now. Via never had the chance to raise a cub before... However something about Stoney entering Via's life gave her a motherly instinct Via never knew she had.

Lia placed a paw on Via's shoulder. "I understand how you feel..." Lia said. "But are you sure a brothel is a safe place to raise a cub?"

Via sighs. "I guess not... But it's not like I could get a house for her..."

Lia's eyes sparked. "Via that's it!"

"Huh?"

"Via, just buy her a house and raise her there!" Lia explained. "She'll be away from the brothel and you can raise her safely there!"

Via thought about it for a moment.

"That way," Lia continued. "You can still have her as your cub!"

Via raised her brows more, nodding.

"Yeah... Yeah I could!" Via said with a smile... Only for it to fade.

"But... How am I gunna afford a home...?" Via asked. "We haven't been getting as many clients as usual..."

Lia held her boss' shoulder. "I'll help. With our funds together, you can get her that home away from here."

"Stoney isn't staying?" Cindy asked, who had opened her door quietly without the ither two hearing.

The two girls looked at Cindy in surprise.

Cindy looked... Very worried. She had just gotten a new friend and she might go away forever.

Lia sighs. "No, Cindy. She can't stay here! We just said--!"

Cindy shushes Lia.

Lia would look offended, if it wasn't for Cindy opening her door more, to reveal Stoney, sleeping on the edge of the bed, clutching her controller.

Lia's expression softened. She looked at Cindy. "Have you... Been playing games all this time?"

Cindy changed the subject. "Are you sure she can't stay for a bit... Longer?" She asked. "I... Haven't had a friend like her in a long time..."

Via came over and petted Cindy's head. "For a bit more... Then I'll take her to a home she can be safe in."

"Are... Are you leaving too?" Cindy asked.

"Nono." Via assured. "I just won't live here anymore. That's all."

Cindy looked very disappointed. But she nodded.

"I... Would've kept her safe too..." Cindy mentioned softly, letting Via in her room.

Via came over to the bed and picked up Stoney, cradling her.

Stoney mumbled something in her sleep.

"It's okay dear, it's me." Via assured.

Stoney mumbled again, but it was a bit more clear now.

"...mom...mee..." She whispered, falling asleep again.

Via blushed upon hearing that, and admittedly gotten a bit wet as well. She held Stoney close as she carried Stoney out of the room.

"I'm gunna go to bed after tucking Stoney in..." Via whispered, only to be stopped by Cindy.

"...I want her to have my Dreamcast." Cindy told Via.

Via and Lia were surprised to hear that.

Before they can ask why, Cindy explained.

"Consider it a... Thank you gift for when she leaves"

Via whispered "A thank you gift? For what?"

Cindy smiled.

"For being my friend."

***END OF CHAPTER 1***