Gracie hit the main floor just in time to hear a loud shout. She recognized the voice as another co worker and mutual friend of hers, Dandelion Fluff. Gracie instantly knew that noise was one of shocked annoyance and went to investigate, momentarily dismissing her original pursuit of the mystery stallion. When she got there, she saw Dandelion trying to wrestle her bit pouch away from a white/red unicorn and losing bad.

“Hey! Leave the girl and her bits alone before I kick ya sorry tail outta here!!”, she yelled in an attempt to throw off the thief.

The thief took one look at her and laughed.

“Oooh! And what, pray tell, is you gonna do about it if I don’t?”, the smart alec thief replied as he shoved her away. Unfortunately for him, he made two mistakes in that moment. The first: refusal to follow club rules and regulations (robbery of another patron). The second, and most important: He inappropriately touched a staff member (shoving her). So it came to no surprise when Gracie picked him up by his horn and mane and dragged him to the back entrance.

“Any final remarks before your ugly muzzle kisses pavement?”, Gracie asked and threatened.

“Just two. Firstly, you’re a dangerous bitch. Secondly--” he paused for a second before making an animal call. While she was initially confused she held her ground until she was rushed at from behind and thrown to a wall by a huge earth pony colt. Her guess was he couldn’t be no more than 14-15 years old, but she couldn’t dwell on that thought for long due to the now throbbing pain in her skull and tightness of her throat. Due to the pain, she hardly registered another pony come up near her, throwing the colt off of her and helping her to her hooves before rushing back into beating the colt senseless.

Wolf Runner saw a scene that only meant “busted” in his eyes as he saw Cane being dragged off towards where they came in at by a mare. While he raced off in the direction they were heading into, he also saw his other friend, Orange Julius trailing them. Before he could call out to them he was not only surprised to hear Cain’s distress call, but to also see Julius rush at and pin the mare by the throat to a wall. Anger soon flooded his veins as he barreled into Julius’ side, effectively freeing the mare. He then proceeded to pick her up off the floor before looking at her. It was the same mare from the stage! The one wearing red! Pure rage filled him then as he turned back to a stumbling Julius and proceeded to pummel him into the floor.

“GET OUTTA HERE!!”, Wolf roared to Cain and Julius after finishing up.

His friends, knowing that when he’s this pissed off it’s best to do as he says, quickly and sloppily dart for the exit. Cane dropping quite a few bit pouches as he scrambled out of Wolf’s line of sight.

When Wolf finally calmed down enough to actually think, he went over to the mare and helped her settle onto her hooves.

“Eh...sorry about that miss...Those idiots really don’t know when to quit.”, he apologised.
The mare simply shrugged it off as nothing as she finally got her sight back in working order. She turned around as she was about to walk away but stopped once she saw who it was that saved her. She couldn’t believe it! The stallion she saw while on stage! Suddenly forgetting about how bad her head hurt, she replied.

“I-It’s okay. Though I must say, those ‘friends’ of yours really know how to put up a good fight.”, she replied with a slight chuckle.

“O-ohh! Pardon my idiot friends. They seem to always have a way with bouncers or security. I apologize again if they caused you any serious injury.”, Wolf replied shakily.

The mare simply chuckled at his shyness.

“Anyways, I-I happened to see the show tonight and let me just say miss that you were fantastic! I’ve never seen a mare move with such gracefulness. It were almost as if you were gliding on air across that stage.”, he complimented.

She smiled and replied, “Why thank you mister…” she fell off after realizing she never got his name.

“The name’s Wolf Runner ma'am.” Wolf replied then continued “And what might your’s be?”, he finished.

Suddenly aware that she’s staring, she clears her throat before answering.

“My name is Graceful Sonata, but everypony who knows me just calls me Gracie and please don’t "ma’am"me. That makes me sound like some old mare!”, Gracie responded. She then dashed off into the throng of partygoers at the sound of a familiar call.

Gabe, in a mad, frenzied mode, started searching the entire club for his M.I.A friend. Eventually realizing that simply looking for her was pointless considering the place was packed and went straight for the “emergency cry” that they made up if one went M.I.A. while on duty.

“Hold on! Imma comin’!”, Gracie shouted over the music once she saw exactly where he was.

When she finally made it over to the bar where Gabe was, she was instantly scooped up in a spine-breaking hug by said griffon.

“Oh thank Faust! I thought something bad happened after you just disappeared like that!” He started before slapping her upside the head “What the hell is wrong with you!?! You know better than to take off without lettin’ me or Cold Breeze know!”, he finished angrily.

“Okay first: OW! Damn Gabe I’m already sore there! Second: It wasn’t my fault…” She stopped briefly to think of an excuse as to why she left originally “Dandelion Fluff was having trouble with a patron trying to steal her bit pouch. So I stepped in and tried to ‘escort’ him out when the dude had a buddy of his pin me against a wall by my throat! Thankfully another patron showed up at the right time to throw the two colts offa me and they was so scared, they took off!”, she finished. Purposefully omitting her rescuer's name.

“Well then, that makes the situation different now don’t it. Nonetheless don’t do it again! This is an incredibly important night and Mrs. Shot is already rippin’ into all of us as we speak! I had to cover ya ass with an excuse because she wanted you to…’service’ a special customer as she put it which you and I both know would NOT have been good.” He stopped briefly to utter a cruel chuckle “We ain’t that kinda nightclub. Yet she still insists that...certain mares “take care” of the rich patrons in the private booths.” He finished with a slight growl in his voice.

“I know...c’mon, I’m tired. Think Imma clock out early tonight. Mind takin’ me home?”, Gracie asked sounding tired.

“Yeah. Just gotta let Serene and Cold know we out and clock out.”, Gabe replied as they proceeded to clock out. Him texting their friends that they left. Then they hopped onto Gracie’s motorbike and took off into the night.

Author's Note

Ooooohhhhh!!! Okay they've at least met. That's only the beginning! I have SO much more planned for this fic!

Til next chapter,
-Grey.