You Can't Always Speakeasy

The sun spread slowly over Manehattan, once one of the greatest cities in Equestria, now called the rotten apple. Many of the streets, once kept tidy and neat, were now covered in trash and muck. Buildings that once sparkled like silver were now so coated in dirt, grime and graffiti that the original paint could no longer be seen.

The streets were filled with angry workers as they slowly made their way through the city. Factories that had been shut off for the night came alive and began to spill their thick smog into the air, poisoning the sky with their toxins. Stained clouds hovered over the city, occasionally blocking out the sun, as weather ponies set about preparing the days weather.

In one of the many run down and over crowded apartment complexes, a loud phone rang over and over. A small pink hoof reached out from under the brown blankets of the nearby bed and grabbed the phone, before pulling it under the covers. “Hello?” a soft mare's voice asked.

“Note! Where the hell are you?!” an angry stallion's voice burst from the receiver.

“I-I... I'm at home. There was, I-I mean, Mr. Buckle, I just got back from the police and-”

“I don't give a damn! You're late, if you're not here in thirty minutes you're FIRED!” A click signaled the end of the call.

“B-but I can't come in, t-the police said, I... sir? Mr. Buckle?” the voice squeaked before sighing. Slowly the phone was put back on its stand as she let out a groan. The blankets were kicked off as the light pink unicorn crawled out of bed.

Note groaned as she crawled over to the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as it could go. After a few seconds of waiting she stuck a hoof under it and let out an annoyed sigh. “Wonderful, hot water is out again... bucking land lord needs to get the damn thing fixed.” She splashed some water on her face and made her way back to her room. She picked up an orange skirt and slid it on, letting out a sad sigh. The skirt was so short that it actually made her feel more naked than being actually naked, just barely covering the top of her plot. Next came the little white saddle that went on her back, complete with drink holders on the side and the word 'Plots' written across in big, pink letters. Ironically, an outline of a book was behind the word. She glanced outside before sighing and gripping her cloak, tossing it on and darting outside.

She glanced in her money pouch, groaning at the small jingle of coins. “Going to have to hoof it,” she grumbled as she galloped down the street, her horseshoes clattering against the cement with every step. She dove and weaved around the crowds, occasionally angering a pony as they waved a hoof at the darting pony.

“Watch where you're going, yah psycho!”

She ignored the angry ponies and soon she stopped outside a tiny building situated neatly between two business buildings. The windows were covered in grime and a large faded picture of a mare's purple plot hung over the door. She let out a sigh as she put on a smile and stepped inside.

Instantly the smell of smoke mixed with deep fried vegetables filled her nostrils. Wooden tables were set up across the floor, at least a dozen, each of them filled with ponies attempting to yell at each other across the din. Most were either naked or wearing yellow vests, ponies who worked hard for few bits. The food wasn't the best, but it was cheap. Not to mention the five mares who walked through the diner, smiling dopey little smiles and fake-giggling when they were forced to forcefully knock a stallions hoof from their plot.

“NOTE!” a loud voice yelled out, making her cringe. Across the room was a large red stallion, wearing a brown vest and glaring at her so fiercely she wanted to climb into a pit and disappear.

Note whimpered as she slowly trotted to the stallion, her head hanging. “S-sorry, Mr. Buckle. But I have a-”

“I don't want to hear it, get to work!” he roared, making her tremble. “You're an hour late, that's coming out of your breaks!”

“Y-yes sir,” she whispered as she grabbed a pen and pad. “W-which-”

“Tables twelve through sixteen. GIT!” he ordered.

She sighed and slowly trotted towards the booths, forcing a smile as she tried to keep calm. Her and the others had a special name for the booth tables, plot pinch alley. She wasn't surprised that within an hour her cutey mark was sore, her plot was redder and her hooves ached. Mares at Plots were best known for walking away so they received dozens of small, tiny orders at each table. Just so the ponies could get their food, pinch the mare as she left, then order another small thing when they got back. Fortunately the crowd began to thin out as stallions went back to work.

One of her coworkers, a blue pegasus mare with a shiny purple mane, walked up to her as she struggled to get the last of the dishes. It was common practice for guests to leave the dishes up against the wall in the booths, forcing the mare to lean over the table for one last pinch. “Dear, are you okay? You look like tartarus,” asked the mare with concerned eyes.

“It's... it's just been a long night, Aqua,” Note mumbled as she dumped the dishes into the cart.

“Oh? You have a hot date?” Aqua asked with a raised eye brow. “He keep you up all night?”

“Ugh,” she grumbled. “I'm not interested in any of that. I had a run in with...” the pink mare looked around for a moment before sighing. “Can... can you keep a secret?”

The pegasus' eyes went wide as a grin formed across her lips. “Ohhh, yes, tell, tell.”

“Well I... I had a letter for an audition,” she mumbled as she started scrubbing the table with a rag. “It was... it wasn't really an audition. I mean, I thought it was legit. Looking for entertainers. It was one of those rings they've been mentioning on the news. One of those sla-”

“No no no!” Aqua squeaked as she backed up and looked around. Nopony was within hearing range. “I don't want to know anything about that!” she hissed.

“But I thought-”

“I want to know gossip, not things about... those! Are you trying to get me killed?! Why are you even here? If you escaped something like that you should be with the police!”

“I, but they, I was-”

“No, I don't wanna know any more! Lah lah lah lah!” the mare sang as she quickly moved to another table. Within a few moments Note saw the pegasus whispering to one of the other girls.

She glanced at the table and slowly scooped up the tips. “Wonderful, eights bits for five tables. Bunch of lousy cheap skates,” she grumbled as she shook her head and marched to the back. She tossed the tips into a large jar before sitting down for a moment to rub her feet. The moment her flank hit the chair she nearly dropped. The previous night, talking with the police, lack of sleep, running around and then dealing with the customers struck her at once, making her wobble and roll back, laying against the wall.

“Oh Luna, give me strength,” she groaned as her eyes closed. “Just close them for a second...”

“Note, are you trying to get fired?” a voice said as she felt her side shake.

The unicorn quickly sat up and opened her eyes, “What? I'm awake! I'm here, what's going on? What?” she asked as she frantically looked around. A yellow earth pony, with a light blew mane, giggled softly. “I was just, sorry Sundrop,” Note mumbled as she shuffled her hooves.

“Get up, Buckle will be back here soon to divide the tips for the lunch rush. If he catches you sleeping he'll tear your ears off. Did you finish your tables?”

“Yeah, they're fine,” Note grumbled as she looked at the tip jar, barely managing to cover the bottom of the jar with their pooled tips, and shook her head. “Did it always used to be that low after a rush?”

“No, back before the prohibition the tips were a lot better,” the earth pony mumbled as she moved her cart to the sink and dumped them in. “Nothing made a pony part with their bits faster than cheap beer. We didn't have to give half the tips to the manager then, either. With all the problems going on, only way to make a decent amount of bits is working at one of those bits and saddle joints.”

“Ugh,” Note grumbled as she got to her hooves and started towards the dining area again, but soon found the door blocked by the large red stallion.

“Note, go watch the front and tell the others to come back while I divide the tips,” Mr. Buckle snapped as he glared at her.

“Yes sir,” she grumbled as she nervously slid by him, the pony blocking the doorway so effectively she had to rub against the wall to get out. She told the other girls to head out back and then stood at the front counter. It always got very dead after lunch, namely since most their customers tended to be at work. So the mare just grabbed a wet rag and started wiping down tables that were already clean.

A light jingling brought her attention to the door. “Welcome to Plots how crggal!” her tongue froze in her mouth as she caught sight of the unicorn walking in. He was tall with a glistening gray coat. His hair was black and slicked back with so much oil she probably could have deep fried the bananas in it if she lit him on fire. His hoof moved up to gently rub one of the buttons on his black suit, a suit that likely cost more than she could hope to make in a year. She clenched her jaw as she glared at him. “Ironback? What in tartarus are you doing here?!” she hissed.

“Now now, is that any way to talk to an old co-worker?” he asked as he took a seat. “I've just come to check on our little... investment. Making sure you're working hard to pay off that little debt you owe.”

“I don't owe you shit!” she growled as she trembled with rage. She wiped the table so hard she threatened to remove the coating.

“The law disagrees,” the stallion said as he tapped the table. “Now, where's that wonderful Plots service I hear so much about? Come now, bring me a menu and some coffee. You wouldn't want me to complain to your new boss, would you?”

She grit her teeth as she stomped over to him and dropped a menu and cup of coffee in front of him. As she turned to storm off she felt a light smack on her cutey mark, cringing. “Don't touch me,” she hissed.

“Or what?” Ironback asked as he opened the menu. “If you're so stressed, maybe you should try coming back to work under me. It's not like you're getting any auditions, now are you?”

She growled and shook her head. “I... I'll have you know I just got an audition the other day. I'm expecting a call any day now.”

“Oh hoh?” he asked with a chuckle. “Did you go see them last night? Surprised you managed to make it back here.” The stallion lifted the coffee to his mouth and took a sip. “I don't see why they didn't just... snatch you up.”

Note froze in mid step, her face paling. “S-snatch me up?” she squeaked.

“Oh yeah, pretty thing like you. Could make a lot of money,” he said as a grin spread across his face. “Especially with that little mouth of yours. Such a lovely... voice.”

She gulped and nervously looked towards the back room. She let out a sigh as her horn glowed. “Buck it.”

“Huh?” Ironback looked up just as the pot of boiling hot coffee shattered on the table in front of him, covering his lap in the liquid as he let out a howl of pain and rage. Note ran out of the building, slamming the door behind her before the others could come and see the commotion.

Note slammed the door of her apartment open, her breathing ragged as she dropped to the ground. Her vision spun as little white spots flowed across her vision. “B-breath. D-deep breaths. Okay. Gotta leave, gotta... gotta...” her words trailed off as her horn flickered. She stared at the entrance to her room, the door shut like she had left it. “No no no no...” she whimpered as she backed up.

She turned around and darted back. She barely made it out of the apartment when a gun went off behind her. She didn't hesitate to keep running, flying down the rickety old stairs of the complex so fast she thought they might pull out of the wall. She heard hooves galloping after her as she soon burst into the lobby and ran out the door. She looked left and right, trying to think before closing her eyes. Her horn glowed red for a moment before she squeaked. Her eyes popped open as her mane practically stood on end. “Left it is!” she gasped as she galloped down the road.

Her heart pounded in her chest as sweat made her uniform stick to her body. Every muscle in her legs screamed for her to stop, but she couldn't. She galloped through streets and alleys, occasionally stopping as her horn would glow, before continuing again.

After a few blocks she stopped and hid behind a dumpster, panting. “O-okay. Lost them. I thi-” her horn sparkled again as she shook her head. “No no no no!” she looked around for anything to defend herself, eventually picking up a small, jagged piece of wood as she looked towards the alleyway entrance she came through. She gulped as she hid with her back against the wall.

It wasn't long before she heard the sounds as the hoofs clopped across the cement. They came closer and closer as the board quivered in her magic. She saw the pony's shadow as it stretched out across the ground. Then it stopped. The shadow disappeared as the pony turned around and walked off.

“Whew...” she whispered.

A moment later the wheels of the dumpster shrieked as the wall of metal flew into her. She was sent to the ground, sprawled out in... what she hoped was only mud. She tried to get to her hooves, but soon felt something long and narrow placed to the back of her head.

“Easy girl,” said a new stallion's voice as a hoof gripped her by her saddle. “My boss would like a few words with you. Why don't you-”

Heat enveloped her as the alley way over her head erupted in an inferno. A moment later she felt a hoof on her back, tugging her to her hooves and along the ground.

“Move! Bucking move it, mare!” a stallions voice said as flames erupted behind her again. At the opposite end of the alley a carriage was waiting. She dove into it, head first, as whoever was with her jumped in behind her. “Move, move!”

“On it!” another voice said as she felt the carriage moving. She gulped and glance back at the stallion as he got off her. He chuckled and held out his hoof. “You can call me Knight,” the unicorn said as he helped her up, but didn't let her hoof go. His coat was a dark red, with a bright orange short mane. He was wearing a dark brown suit with a fedora, a small lighter attached to the side. He brought her hoof up and gently brushed the muck away before giving it a soft kiss. “A pleasure to meet such a mare as you.”

“Who are, what is, why was, where am... I-I...” Note squeaked as her hoof was released. She took a seat and tried not to cry as she looked around frantically.

“You're a very lucky mare,” he said as he sat down across from her. “You've caught the eyes of the King.”

“King?” she asked nervously. After a moment she paled. “Not... oh please oh please don't kill me I'm sorry I didn't mean to I was just scared I panicked!”

Sirens began to fill the air as a number of police vehicles passed them. The stallion merely smiled as he reached out to pat her head. “Easy, darling. Nopony's going to hurt you. Just sit back and relax.”

She nodded nervously as she closed her eyes and leaned back, trying to relax, but soon found it impossible. All she could imagine was the carriage slowly dragging her off to tartarus, or possibly worse.