I take my first step into my brand new job. By first step, I mean working my first shift which happens to be an entire night. I don't mind it though, I've worked a bar before. It's quiet, cleaning out the mugs, washing the table, and listen to some calm music. My ideal evening indeed, so I'll gladly take the night shift. Looking down at a recently scrubbed glass cup, I can see past the residue of some alcohol, and ironically find my face. My brown, green eyed, murky looking face. Perhaps there's a hidden morale in this, like I just found myself at the bottom of the barrel, or cup in this case, coming to a realization that I took a job as a bar tender and could possibly aid someone in an irresponsible death...Naah, just need to scrub harder! Who's going to find a life lesson in a beer mug anyways?

My well thought out philosophy is put on hold once a couple mares drop in through the door, chattering amongst themselves. I would write them off, but they look way too young to be walking into a bar like this. One with her mane all frilly, hung down her neck in a rainbow spectrum. Another looks like a more grown up, Texan type, given away by her Stetson hat. Following behind them both is a rambunctious pink mare with crazy, fluffy hair and an obnoxious voice, shouting about just how much she loves to bounce. Odd little patch of fillies...Regardless, I ponce my way over with an upbeat attitude and nod at the trio, carrying my rag stuffed into a mug with me as I continue cleansing it.

"How can I help you?" Best to keep it nice, maybe they just a want a juice or something...

The rainbow maned one spins around in her stool and lays her hoof on the counter pointing up. "Two cider, one regular."

Shit. "Ahh...Would you remind an old folk what a 'regular' would be for you?" Really shouldn't be that obvious...

"Uhh...A beer?" The rainbow'd mare raises an eyebrow and shakes her head.

If she has a regular, then surely she's been here quite a bit and that means she's of age. The last bar tender wouldn't slack off....Right?

"I see..." I turn around and begin to make some cider. It's no sweet apple acres, but it's a lot better than that garbage those jokers with the machine made. Scooping up a couple cups, wiping them out once again, then sliding them under the barrel spout and letting the cider fly. I've done this plenty of times before, as well as tons of other low end jobs. Even been a plumber once, but that didn't last. If these are the type of customers I'm gonna be serving here, this'll be a real laid back job. Couple ladies drinking, not causing a ruckus. They have only been in the bar for a few minutes though...I get way to into these kinds of things. Just give them the damn drinks. Behind me though...

"So Applejack, do you ever go anywhere without your hat?" The rainbow mare asks from behind.

"...No. I like it where it is, thank you." The Texan replies in a heavy southern accent.

"Oh, oh! It's like me and my hair!" Yells the pink, loud mouthed pony

"...Pinkie, I don't know if any of us would have a laugh without you." Chimes in the other obnoxious voice followed by a friendly chuckle.

After hearing a slight silence, I turn around with the two apple ciders, and slide them into the rainbow mare's hooves, to which I then place the beer filled mug in front of her, assuming it's hers. "Enjoy girls." I say with a smile.

I lay back against the counter, constantly cleaning the mugs and counter top as they talk on about each of their quirks. With all the cleaning I've done, I'm beginning to think I have OCD, but that doesn't do any harm. Makes me paranoid that the bar doesn't look good enough, and if it doesn't look good enough ponies might not come in, and if they don't come in, I'll look less professional, and...Wow, I really am paranoid...

"Hey, why'd the music stop?" I hear the rainbow mare question, and I look around confused a bit. I didn't even realize there was music playing! Then, seeing the most obvious thing in the bar from the smell of heavy alcohol is a small stadium with two mares pointing hooves at each other. I realize now just how blind I was as there's a large cello, probably bigger than the ponies in the room, and a little DJ area set up adjacent to it. I, like the three stricken mares across from me, stay quiet and watch the scene before us.

"You think that awful excuse for art is appealing?" The much more sophisticated pony questions with a rich Canterlot accent.

"It sounds a lot better than your single note 'classical's'!" The other mare counters, dropping her hoof and instead stands much closer, flaring her eyes.

"My music is made on a real instrument. Yours is made on that...Thing." She says, shying her hoof at the mares equipment like it might give her an infection if she gets too close.

"All your music sounds the same!" The white mare counters, shoving a hoof inches from the classical ponies face.

"All your music sounds the same!" She counters, doing the same.

It's then that I realize it's not my customers I have to worry about...It's my fellow staff. This is going to be a long night...