Yellow neon lights saying 'John Cheval's Base' above a line of ponies to the entrance that wrapped around the red brick building with ponies anxiously waiting to get in as dusk rolled over Manehattan.

Ponies could hear the rough bass booming the walls, the few ponies lucky enough to get past the bouncer stallion in the front door were given the best dance floor and bar ever! The bar end to end with ponies ordering anything from fresh light apple cider to Celestia's hoof scum. --a drink'll make paint peel off just sitting next to the wall!--

Dance floor in the middle wide open with seats on both ends of the floor full of partygoers, bar on one end and a stage on the other with the Dj bobbin' their mane up and down the to beat, on top of speakers as tall as a full grown manticore with Dj equipment atop the tower of speakers.

Security pony standing infront of the speaker is a tall skinny stallion with a tan coat and a dark brown spiked mane, tapping his hoof to the beat scouting the crowd for anything strange.

He gets a tap on the shoulder from another security pony yelling in his ear. "Talon its seven-thirty your hour break is on, head to the bar and tell John!" The pony yells back.

"Ok thanks, how can you stand this sound!?" The other pony pulls some cotton out of his ear and responds "what?!" with a smart aleck look on his face.

||~-~||                                                                               ||~-~||                                                                                        ||~-~||

The pony slowly makes his way to the other end of the dance floor towords the bar and finds a seat to wave a hoof  at the bar keep. "Hey Fruit Basket, is it really seven-thirty?" Bar keep was a unicorn with caramel coat, pale brown mane and a fruit basket for a cutie mark.

"Damnit Talon I hate it when you call me Fruit Baskets! call me John or your hide is out of a job!"

Talon could only look serious for a moment before laughing, John joined in the laughter. "Oh man John you had me for a second, so whats new on the outside been workin' here so long I missed a weeks worth of news, shed some light on my night pony haha."

"Well first off you look like you need a drink my friend the usual?" Talon gives a simple nod "Usual it is! Ah... one ZPN coming up! You and I are the only ponies in all of Manehattan that truely enjoy a 'Zap pomme noire'!" As he prepares the mixer with zap apple juice.                                                                                          ( Zap black apple)

Talon clears his throat "Look John this I know these drinks are the best, but do you think you could translate the names of these drinks? im starting to speak a little french myself I've been around you so long heh." Talon rubs the back of his neck.

John sets down the bottle of dry apple cider on the bar before speaking. "Yes I know but it attracts ponies with deep saddle bags if you know what I mean." as he raised an eyebrow at Talon, John continues mixing the zap apple juice and dry apple cider using his unicorn magic to shake the mixer.

Talon leans over the bar and instinctively finds two small old fashioned glasses under the bar counter and falls back into his stool. "got'em! here is yours and here is yours." he sets down the glasses John then begins to poor the mixer into both glasses. Swirling of its own accord, the liquid is a blackend rainbow much like Daring Do's mane and tail.

John and Talon both grab the shots, they quickly snatch the glasses and drink backend rainbow fluid as fast as possible. slam them both down at the same time.

"I win!" Talon shouted

"no T I win" John shouted back, John looked down the bar seeing a hoof waving at him. "you think you could gimme a refill before you head off."

"Sure thing! Well hate to slam'n run but ya know." He walked down the bar with business as usual.

Talon looked into the glass. 'I guess this night could be worse with a drink... me... here.. alone again a-' his thoughts cut off as a jet black mane passed by stunned and dumbstruck at the sight of the mare's presence and where else does she sit but right next to him.

He took a moment to snap out it and went right back to looking down his drink he then looked back at her and their eyes met for  only a moment and both immediately look away.

'I cant play the shy guy any longer I'm going to talk to her!' He finds the nerve to tap her shoulder with his right hoof and mumbled "Um... h.. hello whats your name?"

"My name is Octavia. Octavia Philharmonica, and your name is?"

Nervously saying "I'm... uhh.. Tu.. Tala... um." clears his throat for a moment "My name is Talon."

"Talon?" Octavia questioned. "That name sounds fit for only a Gryphon or a Buffalo tribe."

"Well you see thats the thing I..um lived with Gryphon for a time and uhh..." Octavia could only giggle while Talon embarrassed goes back to looking down his drink and takes a small sip. 'Liquid courage' my ass! Years of so much pain and suffering and I still get tongue tied talking to a cute filly ugh! what is wrong with me!' Talons face is a shade more red then an apple.

She noticed how embarrassing it was for him and try's to comfort him. "Talking to mares is not your forte I take it eh?"

He looks back "Ya only other mare I talk to is the DJ" points up the tower of speakers at the DJ still head banging to the loud music."she's more of uhh.."

Octavia looks and shrugs "Who's that, is she going to do that till her head falls off?"

He looks and luaghs."Ya Vi can be a crazy mare, half the time I talk to her she acts just like one of the stallions I forget that some times heh" He rubs the back if his neck. Still embarrassed from the first moment goes back to his drink.

"Vi?" Octavia questioned.

Talon realized. "Oh ya 'Vi' is short for Vinyl Scratch she's my roommate."

"Roommate you say?" Octavia smerked.

"No. no, not 'that' kind of roommate we just bunk togther upstairs of the club." He turned over in his stool to point out with his left hoof at the windows above the stage.

"We've had the place for some time, and its the best place I've lived in so far for the la-."

As he ponited out the room above, Octavia noticed Talon's left hind leg was a strange color from the rest of pony sitting in front of her. To her shock she realized it was a wooden limb and not a ponies leg at all.

He saw the shock in Octavia and turned around back into his seat covering his limb. cringing and mentally kicking himself. 'crap! she saw it! is it too late to run upstairs?' "Uh.. not alot of ponies look at my 'lucky hoof' that way before, I'm sorry if it spooked you." He retreats back to his drink.'scared her off i guess...'

Octavia took a moment to find the words to apologize. "I'm not scared by it, its just something you don't see on

your everyday pony, thats all." offers a nervous chuckle.

Talon had finished his drink and looked at Octavia. "It's fine its ok... I've lived with it for so long." Octavia

pats a hoof on the shoulder. "hard to remember its still gone..."

"Don't take it like that Dear." He pats hoof her back and looks up a with a big toothy smile at Octavia. she has to suppress a laugh from the dumb grin. 'how shall i make it up to the gentlecolt.' "Ah I got it. Let me make it up to you." She waves John over.

"What can I get for you sweet filly!" John says as he mixed a drink behind him with his magic behind him.

She blushes responds "Yes can you get a light apple cider for me and my friend here." pokes Talon's shoulder and smiled.

John took the hint and yelled. "So this is your 'special-some-pony' ahah, I thought I had you pegged for a blond skirt myself T haha!"

Both ponies blush bright red Talon face-hoofs, Octavia lowers her head down in embarrassment John looks at them both. "I think I struck a nerve... any who two apple ciders coming up!" John quickly spills the cider into cups and walks away.

As soon as John was out of sight Talon quickly spoke up. "I am so sorry for him, my boss can some times be a bit

of a jerk he's like a third father I never asked for heh. By the way I never asked, what brings a high class lookin'

pony here in this down town club. doesn't seem your suit."

The mare couldn't suppress a groan. "What gave me away?"

"Heh fashionable bow tie and well cut mane did I miss anything else?" Talon gestured with a hoof.

She sets down her cup of cider "Can't you tell by my cutie mark of what I do for a living?"

He retorts "I never look a mares flank unless allowed by the mare." with a sly smile if his own.

Octavia gives a simple chuckle 'I guess chivalry is not dead after all' "Such a gentlecolt so rare in a time like this" she waves a hoof over her cutie mark and gives a firm slap of her flank. Causing a few heads to turn in her direction. She really didn't care if people saw her.

"I see a Treble clef you write music or something?" Blushing harder than the rest of the ponies around him.

"Oh, no I only play my favorite instrument it's my cello, you see I play a small ensemble we play for house parties and special events, we just finished a wedding for some pony today I got sick of being alone in my motel I wanted to see the sights of this lovely city and I was lucky enough to coax your stallion at the door to let me in." As she gave a wink.

"Oh you mean Lift ya, that guys a total stick in the mud, you get past him you get my you have my attention!"

Octavia looks over his flank for his cutie mark. "Is that a mixing bowl or something?"

He forced a chuckle "No it's a mortar and pestle I use to mix herbs and junk together to make spices. making special remedies is my talent."

She looks over his shirt. "Then why in Equestria are you working security in a club like this?"

Talon ponder's the question for a moment. "It was something I loved to do a long time ago... but...I got mixed

up with the wrong crowd, and so in short I'm workin' with my friends Vi and John and they've been the best part of

my world so far... wouldn't change it for all the bits in Canterlot."

"What happend, if you don't mind my asking."

"Well I-"

"HEY TELLON"

before he could start, he was cut off bofore he could say anything, Vinyl was the DJ pony a white unicorn with an electric blue mane, a two bridged eighth note for a cutie mark she was done with her shift and Talon just face-hoofed upon her arrival.

"Hey Vi how'd the shift go?" Talon deadpan as she takes the spot between the two ponies and grabs his glass of cider.

"Ugh Vi why do you have to call me tell on... it's not my name!" Vinyl could only luagh as she finishes his drink and slams it.

"Why do you call me 'Vi' its just... so.. just so..."

He waits for her to finish with a blank expression. "Just so.. what?" Talon finished.

"Um hello you must be Miss Scratch." Octavia said as she poked her shoulder.

Vinyl looks over. "Who's the bow tie?" She turns back to look at Talon to see him face-hoofing again,she pulls him closer by the neck so as not to be heard."She is kinda hot I'll give her that I mean did you see her slap that ass! I'm not one for an office flank but I would totally fu-"

"So, Vi this is Octavia," Octavia waves with a shy smile. "we've been having a nice chat until yo-" He tried to play it off, but before he could continue.

"So! Did she see your stump of a leg, what'd she think of it?! huh?"

Talon still with his hoof over his face just dug it deeper. "No Vi that's not something you bring up on a first date." he blurts out thoughtlessly

Both Vinyl and Octavia look at each other for a moment and luaghed.

"A 'date'."

Talon just realizing what he just said. "No not that kinda of 'date' it's... n.. not ...a date of any kind! I was just meeting her and we just talked is all!"

Both ponies still luaghing he could only facehoof in embarrassment.'ugh I think I'm leaving a bruise I've done it some much in the last 5 minutes...' Rubbing his forehead at the thought.

"I'm sorry T it's just so funny." Vinyl was holding her stomach. "It's fine, it's quite alright Talon I know what you ment it's fine hehe." As Octavia chuckled into Vinyl's shoulder.

"Hey John I need eight cider and two more ZPN's on the rocks NOW! I need one now more then ever." Waving a hoof for the unicorn.

John quickly moves over to their end of the bar. "I heard the laughter, didnt know it was aimed at T but sure two ZPN's coming up!" John prepared the drinks.

"Whats the joke? I'm all ears!" John perks up eager to hear what was so funny.

Talon facehoofs for unteenth time and grumbles. "Why I bother calling you my 'friends' is beyond me." Slowly burying muzzle into his Foreleg.

"Oh come now Talon it's all in good fun." Octavia giving him a pat on the back.

"Ya, tellon no harm no foul." Vinyl giving a nod of approval.

"Heres two ZPN's on the rocks wish to stay and chat but I got business and I think leave the cider bottle and another glass." John set the glasses and walks away.

||~-~|| two ZPN's and ten apple ciders later                ||~-~||                                                                     ||~-~||                  

"Hey T tell me a joke I need a laugh!" Vinyl nudges Talons back

"Nah I suck at jokes but here goes... three ponies walkin' on a beach ones an earth pony the others a pegasus and the last ones a unicorn so they're walkin down the beach and they find a lamp so they rub it and sure enough poof a genie pops out and so he... uh tells'em all I'll grant you all with one wish for each of you, so he ask the.. uh pegasus whats your wish the..uh pegasus says I want all my pegasus friends to be free and happy in sky so poof all the pegasus are all free and happy in couds so he turns to the unicorn and asks him whats your wish? the unicorn says ya I want all my unicorn borthers and sisters to be free and happy in a wonderful land, and so poof all the unicorns are gone and happy and free in a wonderful land, so he finally turns the earth pony asks whats your wish? so the earth pony says your telling me all the unicorns pegasus are gone and so the genie says ya, so the earth pony say's I'll have a mug of cider then."

"Heh that was a good one rags you almost put me to sleep... again" Vinyl gave a loud yawn.

"Don't be that mean Vinyl, you gave it your best shot." She says with a genuine smile. "Although I will say it was just a tad bit racist..." The two earth ponies shift awkward glances at the only unicorn.

"It's fine,"Vinyl waves a dismissive hoof.

"I'm real bad at telling anything funny I suck and I warned you, most of the good ones I know are dirty joke's..."

"So tell us one Talon! TELLON, TELL ME ONE NOW!" Vinyl is almost muzzle to muzzle with the other pony.

"Well..." The earth pony shifted uncomfortably in his stool.

"If it's a good one I don't care how dirty it is!" With her eyes sparkle, just a little too excited.

"fine!... 'Peer pressure be damned to Tartarus!' Why do mares have legs?

"I don't know why?" Vinyl looks at her hooves

"So they don't leave a snail trail behind them...heh."  Embarrassment set in going from a racist to sexist jokes in ten seconds flat.

"WOW THATS HILARIOUS TALON HAHAHA." Vinyl laughing like a laughing like a cackling hyena, wipes a tear of joy from her eye.

"That's highly inappropriate and sexist thing to say Talon." Octavia disgusted crosses her arms and turns her back hiding her laughter.'I won't admit that was hilarious'

"I'm so sorry Octavia I promise I won't say anything worse then that can you ever forgive me."

"It's ok Talon, Miss Scratch and I forced you into the scene." She smiles 'wow he really is genuinely sorry'

"Speaking of scene Octy what brings you to our end of the scene, madame fussy britches? You get lost or something cuz' you don't look the part for this place" Vinyl leans in to her ear "you stick out like a sore hoof" Octavia blushes from the small embrace.

"My name is 'Octavia' not Octy." deadpan and very cross look.

"She gives everypony a nicknames just go with..." The stallion just rolls his eyes.

"Um... ok I'm a cello player and my ensemble and I just finished a very nice wedding for somepony hmm.... I forgot the mare

of honor but I do remember the stallion such a pervert looking at every mares flank, I even cought him looking my

way on more than one occasion."

Octavia put a hoof to her chin at the thought. "Ah the staillions name was 'Hoity Toity'."

Just as she said that name, Talon dropped his glass in shock he knew the name but still couldn't believe it.