A pony on hard times

The next evening Cadence flew towards the red lantern district, where the Prancing Mare stood just on the edge of…the good edge luckily. She landed a few feet from the door and trotted in gracefully. Despite her life seemingly having hit an all time low, she always had a spring in her step.

As she started to get ready she could hear one of the dancers crying and being comforted by many of the other mares. Of course Cadence's natural instincts meant she wanted to help and comfort the mare as well, but knew that her presence would not be welcomed. However she listened in with her super-effective hearing as the mare told her tale to the others.

One of the earth pony’s parents was very ill. The problem was that they lived on the other side of Equestria and the mare didn’t have enough money to afford the trip. Even if she gathered the bits, she couldn't afford not to work as she had two young foals to look after. Taking a week off would push her over the edge financially and out on the streets where the government would then take away her foals.

Cadence's heart was breaking inside as she listened to this tale. She knew a lot of ponies were in tough situations, and all they had to do was ask for help – Equestria’s mayors and councils were much more generous than most ponies gave them credit for. The problem was many of the disadvantaged did not have faith in the system, which caused them further problems rather than seeking the safety net that the government was there to provide.

Cadence had to prevent herself from crying and mucking up her already applied makeup. She didn't want to seem cold by ignoring the mare, but knew that she couldn't help right now. Quickly using her magic to finish getting ready, the pink pony left the dressing room early to do some table dancing before her main set…

It had been a successful night’s work for Crystal Heart – it was a busy weekend evening and the alicorn made the most of it. She worked harder than she ever had that evening, even casting some spells which she wouldn't usually do during the show, to entice as many bits as possible.

Cadence was adept at fancy magic – she wasn't the best at offensive magic, but was a master of defence magic which included distraction and allusion. Having smoke and fireworks timed to her moves and music really made for a extra good show. This seemed to please the regulars massively as anything new was by it’s nature much more interesting.

Having finished removing the gems and make-up, rather than heading over to the tip jar, Crystal Heart went over to the mare that was crying earlier that evening, who was still occasionally sobbing. She took her bag of bits she had earned that night and dropped it on the table in front of the sad mare, causing a very loud thud as the heavy pouch spilled its contents. Cadence just walked away in silence, knowing it was enough bits for the pony to visit her parents and cover the lost wages.

As she walked out of the dressing room, unacknowledged by any of the other mares there, she had a smile on the inside as she knew she had really helped a pony truly less fortunate than herself.

And that was worth more to the beautiful pony than anything she could ever buy with her bits.

Reaching home, she sat on her small and lumpy bed looking out of the window. The bright city lights blocked out all but the brightest of stars, but the moon was always visible. “Oh, Mare in the Moon” Cadence looked up at the horse shaped head that was the moons markings “I know the legends say you are the bringer of nightmares…well I hope mine finishes soon!" But she then felt guilty at that very thought - she had options to get this finished when many of the ponies she worked with had none.

The following evening Cadence was looking at her reflection as she started applying her makeup.

“Hello” a voice suddenly addressed her, making her jump in surprise.

“Hello…”Cadence turned to the pony next to her “Sorry, what is your name?"

“I’m Orange Shadow” the orange coloured earth mare, with a dark coloured Orange tree as a cutie mark, responded a little nervously.

“Well hello Orange Shadow, nice to meet you” she smiled back

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Princess Cadence”

“Please, I’m not a princess…” the pink alicorn started

“Balderdash! Despite whatever Celestia may have done, you’re still a Princess!” Orange threw her hooves in the air for emphasis. By now some of the other mares had started paying attention, but Cadence hadn't noticed

“That’s the past…all in the past. I am just a regular pony now!” Cadence meekly replied.

“If you insist Crystal Heart” Orange Shadow replied with a little sigh “Anyway, I just wanted to say what you did for Lyrical was, well, just magic…no pun intended”

“Who?”

“The mare yesterday. We all…” and she pointed now to the other mares who were starting to gather round “…were all going to chip in what we could for her trip and see what we could collect during her absence”

“It was going to be tough” another mare chipped in “Most of us don’t really have much to spare at the end of the week…even if you do sort of help us all out” she finished, rubbing one of her front hooves against the back of her other leg nervously.

“Well, she clearly needed it more than I did” Cadence smiled back, not used to the mares actually talking to her

“If you don’t mind me asking…why do you need any at all?” Orange Shadow asked.

“Are any of the rumours true?” another one of mares at the back asked

“That’s a terrible thing to ask, of course they're not!” Orange snapped back

Whilst the media had not reported on Cadences situation, Manehattan was filled with all sorts of stories about what may have brought the former Princess to become it's newest resident. The nicest ones just related to some form of epic argument between the two alicorns, but these were quickly dismissed as surely Celestia wouldn’t be as cruel to ruin the life of somepony, let alone a Princess, over an argument.

The most evil rumours were the hardest to believe, but seemed to fit the punishment. It hadn’t been long since Celestia had taken a new personal student, one that Cadence used to foalsit. It was hard to believe that Cadence had done anything to the foals she used to sit but that didn’t stop the rumours that Cadence had been exposed as some form of foal-fooler.

“I’d…I’d rather not say” Cadence spoke softly.

“Just…it’s nothing to do with…the royal protégé is it? I mean, it’s a silly rumour and all…” Orange Shadow sort of mumbled and prodded the ground with her hoof

Cadence's face was one of pure disgust and shock “Of course not!”

“Okay Princ…Crystal, that’s good enough for me!” Orange quickly replied “So how about we get your wings ready?” and before the Alicorn had a chance to respond she and the pegasus who's wing she recently repaired started gathering the various decorations.

“Sure” Cadence sort of stumbled “And I can help sort out your wings and manes” she said as she levitated over two brush sand started working on Orange's tail and the pegasuses mane.

“Wow, we can be done twice as quickly if you can multitask like that!” Orange giggled, noticing how much smoother a magically wielded brush felt compared to one moved by a hoof.

All the mares were ready extra quick with all the help from each other and Cadence's multitasking skills. And it wasn't a moment too soon as the place was packed. Worst still, the performers soon found out that due to an outbreak of pony-pox, most of the waitresses and two of the three bartenders on duty were off sick.

Cadence went over to the boss who was with the MC discussing what to do.

“Look boss” Cadence interrupted “I know you’ll want me dancing to keep the crowds entertained. But given how backed up the kitchens and bar are, I think perhaps this…” and she tapped her horn “…is better off trying to clear off some of the backlog?”

“Sure, I guess I’d be stupid not to use your magic to help out. Just try to get some dancing in if things slow down”

“Of course” Cadence rolled her eyes. The MC began to protest that the star of the show was needed, but the boss explained that getting the drinks to the punters would loosen the bits for everypony.

Cadence closed her eyes and her horn glowed. The layered outfit meant for dancing was replaced in a flash with a revealing maid outfit of her own design instead. It covered all the areas that were not normally covered in such a way that it was more alluring than anything else. Even the tiara was replaced by a saucy maids hat.

“Wow…you look…just wow” the owner of the club stammered in shock at the beauty in front of him

“Boss, you don’t normally act this way” the MC sniggered, trying to cover up his own stares.

“Sorry Crystal, that was most unprofessional of me..." the owner started to babble.

Cadence just giggled and waved a hoof to interrupt him “It’s okay” and she pointed at her exposed Cutie Mark “I always have that effect on Stallions…it’s my destiny” and with that Cadence bounced off, in a not deliberately suggestive way whatsoever, leaving two Stallions speechless behind her. The MC came to his senses first and quickly reorganised the dance list.

Cadence quickly got to work, and noted that the bartender had a stack of orders piled up. The waitress’s kept bringing orders over and everything was getting confused as the single bartender was doing his best at keeping on top of things. The alicorn went over to the bar, and going through the orders she starting levitating glasses, bottles of juices and sprits, ice and everything else all around her.

As nopony was dancing, Cadence made a big as show as possible mixing some of the drinks, tossing bottles through the air, juggling fruit, setting some spirits on fire and generally making a show out of it. When she had cleared the large backlog of drinks, she organised them all onto various trays. The overworked unicorn bartender mouthed a massive thank you as Cadence trotted off levitating many trays of drinks in her aura.

The clients were astonished by how much she was carrying, and the skills she had shown mixing drinks, and it made them more aroused. She may not be dancing but it acted as a reminder that such a formidable creature was reduced to serving and dancing for them, which was a powerful feeling indeed.

And the wonderful outfit closely hugging the stunning pony's figure didn’t hurt the eyes either.

Having helped get the backlog of drinks orders out of the way, and with one of the dancers beginning their routine, Cadence took a more subtle role and began serving the tables one at a time. The other waitresses were dealing with the food orders, and helping out in the kitchen, but as Cadence was the only one who could mix drinks she focused on this.

Of course, whilst she didn't have time to dance, she was being as sexy and sensual as she could as she took orders. She swayed her hips and tail around, giggled at the stupid jokes they told and got quite close and personal to the various customers. But of course she never touched them.

Whilst it was all an act, Cadence felt she had to make a show of things. Afterall, the punter ponies had presumably worked hard to earn their bits, so they deserved something in return. In fact, it quickly became apparent to the owner of the club watching, and mentally tallying up tips, that the ponies seemed to prefer Crystal Heart this way than dancing on stage. And the barkeep was most grateful that the Alicorn helped with mixing the drinks, rather than just serving them.

Cadence found the whole thing rather sad that she had to fake liking these strangers – normally when she danced it was a bit more of a distant relationship, but tonight she was forced to talk and listen to them. Of course she could have cast a spell over them all to do whatever she wanted, such was the power of fake love, but nopony with such power would ever abuse it by messing with love that way…nopony!

It was a busy and long night for the Alicorn, as during the only quiet spell in drink orders she took her turn on the stage rather than take a break. All the other workers were thankful for this, as it kept the bits flowing in which they all benefited from.

As the club closed for the night, it turned out to be one of the most profitable ones ever, despite the lack of staff. All the mares returned to the changing room exhausted, but with bit pouches fuller than normal which at least perked up their enthusiasm despite their tired bodies

Cadence practically dragged herself into the dressing room, and when she sat down she suddenly felt light headed and collapsed to the floor. All the ponies came running over and Orange cradled Crystal’s head in her hooves.

“Oh Prin…Crystal…you’ve been on your hooves all night whilst using your magic most of the time! You’ve exhausted yourself!”

“Nonsence” Cadence timidly replied “I’ve done much more before”

“Did you even have anything to eat or drink” another mare asked, and the lack of response sort of confirmed that she hadn’t. One of the mares had rushed to get the club owner, who came galloping in when he heard his star was in trouble.

“What’s wrong?” he asked nopony in particular, looking at the pony lying on the floor

“She’s overworked herself and hasn’t eaten or drunk anything all night!” Orange replied almost in despair

“Silly thing…she’s too stubborn for her own good!” the owner gasped “Quick, go get her some juice and bread!”

“Yes boss” two of the mares quickly dashed towards the kitchen

“I’ll be okay, no need to fuss” Cadence tried to get to her feet but collapsed again. The mares returned with food and the alicorn took a long drink from a straw in a glass.

After a few minutes of eating and drinking, Cadence managed to get back on her hooves, despite the others trying to stop her, but she calmed their fears and explained she was fine now.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay to get home?” the owner and Orange Shadow asked almost simultaneously.

“I’m fine” Cadence blushed “It was just dehydration”

“Well, I suppose you know your physiology better then us, but do take care” Orange replied.

“I will, but I do want to get home as quick as I can. Sorry for my showing off”

“What showing off?” a pony called out as Cadence flared her horn, teleporting herself out of the club leaving the gems, glitter, and jewellery neatly put away on her dresser, and her share of bits in the jar.

All the mares that had ignored her for weeks now felt really guilty, as Cadence had clearly put everything into that night. And they knew that it wasn’t for her benefit, she clearly had enough bits. It was for the collective good – their collective good. She may not be an official princess anymore, but she cared for them like they were still her little ponies. And they were all impressed by that.

Unbeknowingly to Cadence, one of the regulars was even more impressed by her actions that evening.