Prologue
The Pegasus ponies had truly outdone themselves with the storm that was raging in Ponyville at present. Everypony in town was well informed of this storm thus they were all at home safe and sound, yet there was one pony who had been out in the storm as the pony was arriving in the town. This stranger had just thrown open the doors to “Goldie's B&B,” a small hotel on the edge of Ponyville, a thunderous lightening strike behind him as he entered. The unknown stallion came in from the rain closing the door behind him like the ferocious winds behind him were nothing.
The stallion's large black hand coming up to the large fedora on his head then tossing it to the coat rack causing the hat to land perfectly on a hook. This revealed a large black and white Mohawk the first and last stripe were black. The newcomer was also wearing pair of goggles over his eyes. The straps of which were black and the casings for the lenses were white. He proceeded to hang his damp brown duster coat on the same rack. His clothes were now on display and consisted of first a fancy black long sleeve shirt with a high collar and and white buttons. Around his neck a white ascot was on display with unique mark, three small light blue diamonds, clearly the mark of the designer. His lower half covered by a custom pair of black jeans. Another look about the stallion would reveal a shoulder bag which had a very distinctive set of dice printed on the fabric of the bag. The dice on the bag had rolled a four followed by a three. He was about to move towards the counter to ring for service, when an earth mare came from the inner recesses of the building. She looked over the big zebra stallion, and he in turn looked her over.
The earth pony mare had an amber coat, a brilliant orange curly mane with a few simple curls of moderate orange. She was wearing a contrasting white button up shirt with a blue grid over it. The top two buttons of her shirt were undone showing off her gentle curves a little. Around her neck was an basic orange neckerchief with a similar yellow grid over it. Going down to her hips she was wearing a simple black belt and a blue skirt with a white grid which went down to her knees. She came out to see the large stallion in front of her, to which she fluttered her eyes a bit revealing her ocean blue eyes to him and said, “Howdy, Stranger. I'm Ginger Gold, mah friends call me Goldie. Don't see many zebra's round these here parts. Can I get ya a room, and maybe a warm meal?”
Looking into her eyes the stallion said, “That would be lovely, Goldie. I'd like to stay in town for a whole month with meals. Will this cover it?” He reached to pull something out of his bag, then he set a gem down on the front desk. It was a diamond the size of an apple, uncut, milky white and sparkly even in the low light of the inn at the time.
Goldie was blown away by the size of the diamond that was now sitting on her front desk saying, “If it's real, it certainly will purchase you a month's stay with meals and a tip. It'll take me a few days to get it appraised though, I'm no gem connoisseur sir. Please forgive me if I don't just take you at your word for the gems authenticity. I'll be glad to put you up while you wait of course business has been good since the coronation of Princess Sparkle. Oh, Darn, that's right, what's your name if you don't mind me asking?”
“Oh, just call me 'Lucky,' Goldie, all of my friends do. I'd be very glad to have that warm meal and room the rain almost started coming down right when I left this morning. I'm not real big on reading the weather report, it's fun not to know. Thank you for housing me while you get my payment evaluated.”He sighed a bit and moved towards what looks like the dining area on the first floor of the bed and breakfast. He pulled the goggles down around his neck showing off his purple eyes for a moment before closing them to rest them until his food arrived.
~~~~End~~~~of~~~~Prologue~~~~
Spike roused himself slowly from his new bed in the Golden Oaks Library. Then now teenage dragon had grown significantly and stood as tall as any average pony now. He had gone through two natural growth molts of his scales and had improved his size with each one. The last one had seen the growth of his wings from his back. Blinking his eyes open as the sun came into the tree-library he found it hard to believe he was the primary care taker of it.
It had been two years since Twilight's coronation in the early months following it she would return a lot to the library as her friends were not able to go to Canterlot very much, and yet at the end of that first year she had settled into her position unable to return as often as she would have liked to. In a letter Twilight had told Spike that she was leaving care of Golden Oaks to him now. Saying in her own words that it was the best way for him to assist her now. With all of Twilight's new royal duties to plague her she only had time to visit Ponyville once a month. She always sent Spike a letter at the start of the month telling him when it would be.
'I have certainly accepted and adapted to her new role as a princess quite well,' thought Spike. He let out a yawn and stretched his arms and wings as he slowly climbed out of the bed. Starting to head down the stairs to make breakfast for himself. He was very proud of his new-found height, as it meant less ponies ignored him or were walking over him in a line.
While making breakfast Spike thought. 'I'll have to check with with the girls some time to day to see if they have anything to write to Twilight.' He had told them that he'd visit them at least once a week to check if they had something to tell her over a letter. Spike had told Rarity personally that if she ever needed anything that he was always ready to help her regardless of short notice. She had eagerly accepted his offer for help when ever she might need an extra hoof around her shop she was after all always glad to have her hero around.
What most of Twilight's friends didn't know is that most Friday nights there was a poker game going on in the basement of the Golden Oaks Library. Spike had begun hosting it last year about this same time after he received a gift from his older brother, Shining Armor, just before his birthday. Spike had received a box with a simple note attached to it in from the pony postal service. The note attached to the outside of the box read, “Open the box in private.” He took the box inside, then headed down to the basement feeling that would be private enough. After opening the box he found it contained two hundred bits, a set of what looked like a basic set of crystal empire crystal playing cards, and a new note. That note read as follows.
Hey there, little bro. I know Twilie won't like that I gave you this. Thinking I might be encouraging your greed. I give it to you directly as possible in the hopes that you'll prove her wrong. Since you saved the crystal empire I think you've really started to grow out of that. The cards a special set known as the 'Crystal Empire Luck Deck.' What that means is random chance governors the cards no matter how they're shuffled. The thin flexible cards are perfect for playing any card game. I gave you two hundred bits with these as I know Twilie isn't that flexible with your allowance. I'd like you start up a poker game to hopefully help you start earning some spare gold for that special somepony I keep hearing about. I know you can do it and keep your greed in check little bro.
Best Wishes,
Shining Armor.
Spike remembered the first time he flicked the claws on his hands over crystal cards, he had taken a look over each card noticing the heft and the weight. Each color had a special gem designed for it and every number and image were spectacularly designed. He had heard from Shining Armor later that only one set of these could be made over the course of a year in the crystal empire. With six of the initial bits Spike had made a unique coin that was required to play in the game, and enter the library after it had closed on Friday. He had decided upon five card draw for the game type after much deliberation, as it was easy to learn, play, and bet on.
` All that was left was to round up six ponies who could play consistently; which turned his gaze from his closest friends in Ponyville, leading him towards a set of stallions. Whom he had admired seeing them as good examples of a gentlecolt. This set of stallions consisted of three ponies; the first was the bright red stallion from Sweet Apple Acres Big Macintosh, the second was the other big strong stallion known throughout Ponyville Creme Brulee, the last was a slightly forgetful stallion but one that was always true to the mare he was with that week Caramel. Now this unlikely trio with Shining Armor had unknowingly brought the little dragon up right as far as what a gentlecolt was supposed to be. Each stallion save for his older brother was asked, and each willingly accepted the chance to play a game for fun and bits.
While Spike was passing out his three original player choices their bits, a bubbly bouncy pink mare had came up to him asking him what he was doing. It took about ten minutes for Pinkie Pie to get what he was doing, and another ten to give her a bit with the understanding of what it meant. Lastly he had made her Pinkie Promise not to tell any of the other girls about the poker game. After his brief encounter with Pinkie Pie, Spike began to wander through the town looking for a few other ponies to add to the game.
Soon, Spike had found him self at Ponyville park taking a seat on a bench to see just who was out today, he noticed a few parents playing with their children, a tan earth stallion with a brown slicked back mane wearing a pair of sweatpants with an image of a quill and a sofa on them jogging through the park. Then as if out of no where a pair of Pegasi flew into the middle of the park, the first was a dark gray almost black stallion with a sky-blue Mohawk mane with stripes of light blue whom also had a pair of golden eyes, the second was light gray colt with a slicked back dark gray mane with stripes of a slightly lighter gray in it who had a set of purple eyes. Almost everyone in town knew Thunderlane and Rumble both for very different reasons. Spike knew Thunderlane as no good two timing cheater, whom had made Rarity cry. Most of Ponyville knew Rumble as the pegusai in his class with the strongest wing power. Then Spike had an idea why not invite Thunderlane to join perhaps he could get him loose a significant amount of money. Luckily the over confident Thunderlane agreed to Spikes terms.
Spike was explaining how things would work to Thunderlane, when suddenly a unicorn stallion came up to the pair interrupting them. The unicorn in question was known around town as Perry Pierce he was known for being in some sort of business that kept him on the move a lot, yet, no pony knew exactly what. He insisted that he would be a better addition than Thunderlane and Spike decided to give him the last chip explaining to the pair it would be Friday's in the Golden Oaks Library.
Spikes trip down memory lane reminded him that he now had four games a month with his set of new found friends. Three of the games were twenty bit buy in's the fourth at the end of the month was a one hundred bit buy in. That set of friends would arrive after closing time on Friday at the Library, present their claw dented bits, and be invited to out their money down on the table in the basement. The first game was the most challenging as Spike recalled everypony was close to winning though it had come down to Spike and Perry Pierce. Spike just barely lost the first game but, it was good for him to have the social interaction and he held no grudge for loosing.
Spike yawned loudly from his bed as he looked over at the image he had of Rarity on his bed stand. “I almost have enough for that night out with you Rarity. Karat will only be able to hold that sapphire flower through Saturday. You'll never have a better evening, if you don't want to be mine after that I guess I'll just have to let you go. It's not fair for either of us if after having a chance I mess it up that you still spend your time on me. Wish me luck lady Rarity.” Spike finished his spoken thought rising from his bed, then putting some clothes on going down to the front door. Unlocking the front door, thus opening the Library for the day.
[1][6][2][5][3][4][4][3][5][2][6][1]
Lucky was gently raising from the bed he had been given at the bed and breakfast. He would have to make a stop at the Library today before the game time. He remembered hearing about the game from Perry Pierce who he had won the entrance bit from. “I'm certain it's the set of cards you're talking about, Lucky. The cards never have a pattern I won the first sets of games because I had a bit better skill. But everypony's hands were always astounding. The dragon who started up the game said they were enchanted in the Crystal Empire to always be at the whims of lady luck.”
Tonight Lucky would know if the Pierce had been selling horse apples, or if the zebra was lucky enough to find a diamond in the rough. Since the return of the Crystal Empire only two sets of the cards had been made mainly, because it took a year to complete the ritual for imbuing them with pure luck. He had been at both tournaments to win them and had always lost at the final table. The final table always had the other seven best poker players in Equestia at it. Last year he had even taken second in the tournament, he lost to the husband of the Crystal Empire's Princess. That stallion could play the game better than anyone he had witnessed beside himself. It was impossible to tell what was on his mind when it finally came down to a head to head competition. Lucky only faltered in a few pots, but before he knew it his stack was gone.
Lucky found the fact that he was part of a game that had the cards he had been wanting since his youth was very surprising. If things went his way he might be able to leave Ponyville with the thing he wanted. The night had left him well rested and was ready for the day ahead, getting out his bed he collected himself gathered all the things he would need and went down to have a wonderful breakfast. 'That Goldie sure knows how to cook.' he thought on his way out into Ponyville soon realizing he had never asked where the library was.
Lucky soon found himself walking along the streets of Ponyville somehow guided toward the market district. He was wearing a shirt that matched what he wore last night as well as a matching pair of pants. He was also wearing his goggles over his eyes and his coat. The locals barely noticed the stranger in their midst he walked steadily with an uncompromising air about him. He looked over various shops of all sorts lining the buildings and streets even seeing a sign for a place called “Quills and Sofa's.” Passing by that shop he slowly came to a flower-stand of exceptional quality in his own opinion. He slowly bent down to sniff the enjoyable fragrance of the flowers, moving his head back up he saw the sales pony looking over the zebra.
Looking over the sales mare one would first see her white outer apron with a few grass stains on it and a red rose pattern on the bottom part of it. Secondly they would see that she wore a long light green skirt in a simple straight design. Her shirt was a simple burgundy red shirt which matched her mane. Her light creme colored coat extended down to her hands as she said, “ Can I help you sir? Looking for something for your special somepony?
“Oh, me? Ummm no. But could such a lovely and charming lady as you point me in the direction of the Golden Oaks Library?” Lucky said this with a smile and wink. Some of his friends who knew him personally always found his wit and charm with most ladies unfair.
Rose proceeded to blush a little bit at his comment, the stallion chatting with her was very handsome in her own opinion. Being one of the few newcomers to the town in a while she kept her hopes up that he hadn't found anyone else yet responding with “Thank you kindly stranger, just follow the road to the left of me and it's a straight shot to the Library. You're looking for the big tree building. I'm Rose by the way.”
Lucky smiled back at her and said, “What a lovely name for such a beautiful mare. I'm Lucky. Please Rose, have a rose from your stand on me in thanks.” He finished his statement with wink, proceeding to place four bits on her counter for her rose's which were marked at two bits.
Rose blushed much deeper again as she picked up one of her better red roses attaching it to the apron she was wearing. The new stallion had left her with a warm gentle feeling and a smile on her face. She'd certainly hope he'd be staying in Ponyville longer than he planned on.
Lucky continued along the path to the Library, which he could soon see the large tree-library coming into view just as Rose had said. He was soon at the front door coming in with out knocking it was a public building during the day after all. The sound of his hoofed feet echoed on the hard wood floors of the Library. He noticed a few other ponies looking along the walls for their selections or just browsing. When he was approached by purple dragon who was wearing a simple tee shirt and a pair of baggy pants. Soon the pony sized dragon said in a pleasant tone,“ Welcome to the Golden Oaks Library. I'm Spike, is there something I can help you with today, stranger?” Spike found it a little odd that someone had made it in under Pinkie's keen senses.
“Well hello, Spike. You can call me Lucky. I think I have something you might recognize.” Lucky reached into his coat pocket after withdrawing the special bit he had won from Pierce. He slowly placed it between his fore and middle fingers and proceeded to tumble the coin in-between the gaps of his fingers showing the young drake both sides of the bit in full detail upon finishing he deposited it back into his pocket. Spike gasped at the stallion holding bit if anypony was going to lose their bit to someone outside of Ponyville it was going to be Perry Pierce.
Spike moved up to the unknown zebra and whispered in his ear, “Come back after close at seven thirty. I'll explain the rules to you then.” Spike moved away from him and made his way back to helping those who were looking at the shelves of books offering that their book may be in a different room.
Lucky nodded in time for the drake to see proceeding to go right back out to the town. it was almost lunch time he figured he could get back to Goldie's in time.
BM@BM@BM@BM@BM@
The stoic red stallion of Sweet Apple Acres worked hard almost every day of his life,yet , his farming family always seemed to just make ends meet. His sister couldn't be bothered with things like fancy mathematics when it came to running a farm. She was always off with her friends when she wasn't doing some of the chores around the farm. His own friends had been dwindling since he had to spend more and more time out on the farm. The recent interest of his in a certain butter yellow pegasus hadn't help add to his free time or financial issues either. Nor did his sisters recent increased hijinks with a certain spectrum maned mare with a light blue coat. He was lucky that his youngest sisters antics had come to a stop with her and her friends finding their special talents.
Big Macintosh Apple had managed with his own allowance to find ways to pay for game with Spike. It was rarely more than a few bits from his finances especially when the big red stallion seemed to have a knack for winning the hundred bit games. He did seem to struggle with the lower pots for some reason or another. He had been twenty bits short this week, however agreeing to help Cheerilee and Mayor Mare with a few chores had netted him what he was missing this week.
Big Mac was a strong and silent type of stallion. Everypony in town knew him as the simple red coated farmer with an orange mane from the local apple orchard. He was stronger than almost any other stallion in town, His muscular frame was the envy of almost every other stallion, as when he did come to town to work almost every mare in Ponyville swooned at his arrival. Thick strong arms covered by a white tee shirt normally and a pair of denim overalls covering his lower-half much to the disappointment of mares everywhere. Once he had started going out with the shy butter colored pegasus it was the talk of the town for a full week as one of the best stallion's in town had been snatched up right under everyponies nose.
The red stallion couldn't help but wonder if the dragon who was running the game had a knack for reading ponies since he seamed to be at least equally good at winning as Perry Pierce. Caramel and Thunderlane were never much of a challenge when ever Big Mac seemed to be victorious. Pinkie Pie and Creme Brulee were the next tier of challengers for the red stallion, as they were the ones that tended to last through the middle sized pot round if he was going to win.
If he won this week's pot he'd be able to take care of anything they didn't make from cider sales this fall for the winter. He'd have to play his best today if he wanted to take home the bits. The red earth stallion soon noticed the sun was starting to go down, he soon rushed away from fields he had been tending all day. Heading into his room he swapped out his work clothes taking a quick shower, and putting on his his Nightmare Night costume: a fresh white shirt with ruffles on the front, a pair of black pants to match the black outer jacket, a black cape with a skull on it, and a top hat. He was out the front door before any of his family could question him as the sun slowly started to set.
CLU CLU CLU CLU CLU
Across town from the apple orchard an earth stallion was raising from his bed in his apartment. The stallion rubbed the back of his head opening his blue eyes for the first time today. He had not worn anything to bed last night looking over his creme caramel coat he shook his dark brown mane out and went over to the shower. The water rushed down over his body covering it in water even down to his cutie mark of three blue horseshoes. He stepping out of the shower he shook out his mane and proceeded to comb it perfectly before tossing on a simple white tee shirt and a pair of blue jeans. His name was Caramel, and he slowly made his way out into the streets of Ponyville.
Odd jobs were the name of Caramel's income source. He was very good at working hard and fixing almost any problem any pony seemed to have. He normally had a very difficult time coming up with the one hundred bit buy-in. This month had been different though he only had to finish one job on the day of the game, which usually lead to him doing better. Caramel was locked in constant combat for the third place slot of the poker game, with another pony whom he held an almost animosity towards. That pony was Creme Brulee, how that stallion always managed to come away with winning the next two games after Caramel did was mind-blowing to him.
There were other problems between the two stallions which primarily lead to neither having much of a love life. Both had very similar coats, both had very similar manes. and the only thing that differed were their eye colors and mane cuts. “Most of Ponyville knew that Creme was actually a self-made stallion, he owned his own business, he could afford to live in a house not an apartment, he had a physical strength and prowess to rival that of Big Macintosh...”thought Caramel as he kicked a can laying in the road. “At least Macintosh was a decent stallion, who didn't wreck love lives.”
Caramel soon arrived at the place he was going to be working at today. He took a deep breath saying to himself, “One Job to do today. Full white wash of a fence. Only an afternoon to do it in. Let's do this.” He then Proceeded to retrieve the materials from the home owner and got to work coating the fence.
CMB CMB CMB CMB CMB
Across town from the apartment complex an earth stallion was raising from his bed in his home. The stallion rubbed the back of his head, yawned loudly, and opened his green eyes for the first time today. He was wearing a white muscle shirt looking over his creme caramel coat he shook his dark brown mane out and went over to the shower. The water rushed down over his impressively muscular body covering it in water even down to his cutie mark of three blue horseshoes. Stepping out of the shower he shook out his mane and proceeded to let it rest flat before tossing on a custom made black shirt and a pair of custom made black pants. His name was Creme Brulee, and he steadily made his way out into the streets of Ponyville.
Creme Brulee owned his own business in Ponyville so it was no surprise that he always had the money to play in this poker game which had become vice for the need to beat that good for nothing Caramel. Every single time Creme found a mare he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with one of the floozies that Caramel hangs out with would come by and slap his face saying something about I thought you were a one mare stallion. Ruining his chances with almost every mare in town. With his robust figure, his flat mane style, shorter tail, green eyes, and the fact he dressed fancier for dates than that fool could ever hope to afford. Creme would think at least one mare would be able to tell the difference.
Creme Brulee ran a little company called “Creme's Carrying Convenience.” It started out relatively small with him doing all the work. He still had to do a fair amount of it since he was one of the few stallion's who could put up with the loads that didn't already have a steady job. He had offered to Big Mac a few times but the big red stallion had refused, to keep up his families farm since his sisters weren't exactly ponies with math cutie marks. Creme could understand and respect that. He would usually wear something fancy down to the office and swap to something like overalls and a muscle shirt upon arriving. Creme's Carrying Convenience had contracts with almost every pony in town if you wanted something heavy moved from one side of Ponyville to the other or anywhere in between this was way to do it for a decent price.
Creme Brulee upon arriving at his office he found a large list attached to the front door a large list of moving requests from Pinkie Pie, two moving requests from flower-stands in the center of town and an ice block delivery to the local ice cream parlor. It was going to be a long day for the stallion at least he had a few workers to turn Pinkie's requests and the flowers over to and set about taking care of the ice delivery himself. Creme always saved the hardest work for himself it didn't feel right to him to ask others to bear a burden he wouldn't take on himself. He was very loved by his employee's and was soon ready to get things started for the day.
8Z8 8Z8 8Z8 8Z8 8Z8
In the skies above Ponyville the pegusai weather team headed by Rainbow Dash had been charaged with clearing out the rough storm from the night before. She had just the pony to round those storm clouds up and have them out of there before midday. That pony was a black pegasus stallion, with a bright blue Mohawk mane with a straight short cut tail, a pair of golden eyes, and thunder cloud with a lightening bolt for a cutie mark his name was Thunderlane. His talent was easily handling rough or dangerous weather more specifically thunder clouds like the ones used in the previous nights storm.
Being part of the weather team for Ponyville certainly had it's advantages, like never needing to worry about having enough for the small or large buy-ins for the games. Thunderlane always had enough for lodging, food, and the games every week. Intially the stallion had seen the game as a joke. In time he found that was a good way for some of the stallion's around Ponyville to relax and wind down at the end of a week even with Thunderlane's inability to win the game.
Thunderlane's housing costs didn't amount to too much though since he was still living with his parents and his younger brother. Made it hard to bring a pretty mare back to his place though. Going out every Friday night was on his schedule and eventually Rumble figured out what he was doing when Thunderlane shockingly won his his first game. Soon to keep the colt quiet Thunderlane promised to give his brother some of his winnings, which usually ended up coming out of his own pockets since it was rare that the pegasus stallion to not be the first one out each week.
Thunderlane's work on clearing the thunderstorms from the previous night had went by quickly. He had even finished before a certain prismatic-maned mare had the chance to call him lazy. As he left the job that was finished and the only one he had to do today he took a spare cloud and went to relax over the library until it was time for the game. It was certainly the last place anyone would look for him until tomorrow and even then he had the day off.
*(#)*(#)*(#)*(#)*(#)*
A bright pink mare with a darker pink cotton candy mane was gently snoozing before her bright blue eyes blinked open at the sunlight creeping into her room. Tossing the covers from her bed revealed she was wearing a light blue tee shirt that just barely covered her flank. The tee shirt had the words, “Sleepy Party Girl,” in a bright blue glitter over her moderate bust. The text reflected off every gentle beam of light. She then bounded off the bed in a display that would make one think it was a trampoline. Moving over to the basket where she kept her pet alligator who was still asleep she dangled her tail in-front of his nose to rouse him which caused him to bite down onto it. She'd have to figure out another way of waking him soon as he was steadily getting bigger. The pair soon moved into the bathroom and started up a bath.
Pinkie Pie got out of the bath carefully, proceeding to toss a towel around herself after setting foot out of the tub. She let Gummy grab onto her tail again as she made her way back to her room. Once back in the room she shook gummy right into his basket, causing her towel to fly off and land perfectly in the hamper.
Pinkie Pie went right over to her dresser picking out her favorite pair of underwear which matched her coat to the point where some weren't sure she was wearing any at all. She then picked out a yellow tank top with the words “Party Girl” on it in a simple red glitter, and a pair of denim shorts. Once dressed she hopped out of her room and moved into the twins room, putting one in each arm she brought them over to the rail and slid down the banister with them. Once at the bottom she put one into the arms of each parent and said, “Got a few things to do out today, Mrs. Cake. Don't worry I'll take good care of them all day tomorrow as planned.”
With that she bounded out of Sugarcube Corner and shouted out to Ponyville, “Good Morning, Ponyville. Can I get a Smile!?”
[1][6][2][5][3][4][4][3][5][2][6][1]
Lucky had been heading towards Goldie's for lunch, when he bumped into somepony sending both of them to the ground. He shook his head standing back up and moving towards the mare he knocked over. He moved a hand down to her and said, “ Oh, I'm terribly sorry miss, I was just on my way to lunch. I guess I was a little lost in thought, when I bumped into you.”
Her white hand reached up for Lucky's ebony one, he proceeded to pull her back up to standing. She was wearing a simple purple blouse, a knee length purple skirt, and matching heels. “Oh no, My Hat!” She exclaimed as the wind had caught hold of the light purple sun hat.
Lucky sighed and bolted after the hat moving through the crowds keeping his eyes on the prize. Just as he was about to grab it though, it was taken away in a flash of purple scales. The dragon he had seen earlier had leapt from his place in line, caught the hat with deft skill, and started to head back in the direction the zebra had came from.
Lucky came back to the white mare and Spike saying, “ Thanks for the assist, Spike. I'm sorry again for bumping into you ma'am. Let me buy the both of you lunch in exchange for my rudeness. I'm Lucky by the way.”
“Well... Spike could you take my purchases back to the boutique? We'll wait right here for you...” The white mare had asked and Spike just nodded and obeyed heading back towards Carousel Boutique. Picking up all of the mare's purchases, and jogging off like he was carrying one bag. Then the mare continued to speak this time addressing the zebra, “Lucky, was it? I'm Rarity. You must be new in town. You're the first male zebra I've seen, and you certainly have a unique stripe pattern and tail.”
“Well somepony has a very discerning eye, Miss Rarity. I'd have to explain my parents to you to give you the explanation on both those traits,”said a very impressed Lucky. He felt not many ponies were so well aware of zebra characteristics.
Shortly after this statement Spike was back, and the trio were walking towards Goldie's. Soon the group were gathered around a table talking It was in the middle of lunch that the topic of gems came up, and Lucky recounted how he had paid for his room and board. When Goldie came to check on them Rarity said, “Goldie, would you be a dear by showing Spike and I what Lucky paid with. We could give you a preliminary appraisal.”
“Well that'd be mighty fine iffin ya could. I don't have time to go to Karat till tomorrow.” Goldie left their company soon returning with a silk pillow. The shimmering milky white diamond in the center of the pillow, as she placed it upon the table both the fashionista and the dragon gasped. The dragon grabbed the pillow and brought the gem right up to his eyes.
“This is an uncut Dragon Diamond! Karat will have to hire me just to cut this thing. These make tools made from normal diamonds look like their made of stone. Where in Equestria did you ever acquire such a thing?”Spike said this with utter confusion, as Dragon Diamonds are called such as only Dragon's can stand the intense heat to obtain them.
“Just lucky I guess... No takers? Alright if you must know. A dragon was terrorizing the outskirts of Trottingham. Nothing seemed to make him stop, I however approached him with little more than a sack of goods, a deck of cards, and a sharp wit. I proposed a deal. If he could beat me in a simple game of chance. I would relinquish my life and two of my greatest treasures, If I won he would not bother the citizenry again and gift me the prize possession of his hoard. The deal was struck in dragon's blood so that neither party could back out if things did not go their way. Since I'm here and he's not I'll let you imagine what happened. Is it worth a month's rent?” Lucky said the last two statements like they were the most important things in the world.
Goldie, Rarity, and Spike had hung on his every-word. Rarity did have a question about the tale though and said, “What would you have given him besides your life if you had lost, Lucky?”
“These.” Lucky said pulling from a pocket in his trench-coat. The first item set on the table was a large ruby as big as the zebra stallion's skull. The second Item retrieved was a dagger in a scaly scabbard, he moved the blade out of the sheathe and revealed the bone like hue of the blade and said, “The blade is forged from the tooth of an elder dragon.”
The trio sitting opposite lucky gasped again as he brought out his treasures and slowly returned them to the clearly enchanted pockets of his coat. Then Spike said in a simple tone, “ That's likely too impossible not to believe. It would be enough for you to own the hotel if you really wanted.”
“Oh pshaw, why would I dare want to run Goldie out. She makes the best food I've had in all my wold travels.” Lucky said this with a smile and wink to the amber mare. Goldie just blushed and started to pick up the empty plates and left the group alone for a moment.
“Spike!” Rarity beckoned him close and started to whisper behind his ear frill, “If Goldie sells that to Karat I'll never get to own a Dragon Diamond. Do you have any spare bits to help be get it? I'm afraid I wouldn't have enough by myself. It's simply perfect for an ensemble that I've been working on.”
Spike turned his muzzle to her ear and said, “But your birthday is coming up, and I've been scrimping and saving for months. To give you an evening you'll never forget my lady.”
Rarity looked over at the young drake with a big pouty face, with her sapphire eyes big like saucers glistening gently. Spike looking back into her face couldn't resist her when she made that face and said, “Alright my lady, but let me make the cuts as I have something already planned for you that I can incorporate it into.”
Rarity thew her arms around his neck holding her “Spikey-Wikie” then turning her head to Lucky saying, “Do excuse us Lucky, but we must away to complete some business before the day is over. I do hope you'll understand.”
Lucky just nodded and waved a hand dismissively towards the pair. When Goldie came back he asked for a second helping if she could spare it. After his second plate of lunch the Zebra thanked his host again by saying, “Thanks again, Goldie. Is dinner going to be around six?”
“That's when it's normally served Lucky,” said the amber mare.
“Oh, well I shall look forward to see what you have then. Maybe it will just be us again.” Lucky said this with a wink. Secretly Goldie was hoping the same since with only one customer she could turn her focus to them a little more than usual, and she certainly liked the apparently kindhearted nature of the zebra.
Lucky proceed to head back into town after wiping his mouth clean. He wanted to know every way he could get back and forth between the library and his hotel and after wasting much of the afternoon in Ponyville he was aware of most of it's in's and outs. He was about to leave from the library again as he noticed it was closing in on six deciding to take the most direct route back to Goldie's. Not wanting to miss dinner hopefully the lovely mare would spend it with him.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Spike had spent half of what he had saved for the sapphire rose on acquiring the uncut Dragon Diamond for his lovely lady. He knew that even with winning two back to back hundred bit games he wouldn't have enough to make it back in time, since time was the true constriction. Asking Twilight for an advance was out, as he could clearly imagine how that set of letters would go, “ Dear Princess Twilight, Is it possible for me to get an advance on my allowance and pay? Love your faithful assistant, Spike.”
“Dear Spike, I thought you were managing your bits a lot better now. If it's an emergency I'll see what I can do, but, you really need to watch your finances better Spike. Please read the book list I've included to make sure you don't find yourself in this situation again. Love, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Dear Princess Sparkle, Thanks a lot... Love your formerly faithful assistant, Spike”
No, that was not the kind of conversation he wanted to have with Twilight especially not now. If he was going to get extra money maybe he could be lucky in a private game of chance though this thought also brought dread to the dragon as Lucky had bested a dragon or two before.
The last customer had left at closing little over a half an hour ago. Soon there was a knock on the knock on the door that broke Spike from his thoughts. He knew it was likely Lucky, getting down from his bed Spike made his way to the door opening it to see the zebra stallion standing in front of the door when Spike said, “Did you bring the coin?”
“Of course,” Lucky responded. Proceeding to pull the coin from the same pocket in his trench-coat, and showing Spike by letting it rest in contrast to his ebony hands.
The dragon nodded and let the zebra into the library. Once the pair were alone in the main area of the library Spike said, “ Now, you're the first pony I haven't personally invited to play, Lucky. So I'd like to explain how things work and get to know you better.”
“Sounds fair, but I dare to say even with an hour of questioning me you'd know very little about me.” Lucky said with a gentle show of his pearly whites.
“Fair enough, Lucky. Now five card draw is the name of the game. Entrance fee's vary and are the bits played with and for. This evening the fee is one hundred bits. The two players to the left of the dealer must offer a starting bid. The one closest to the dealer offers four bits, and the one furthest offers two bits. These bids increase by one bit every five hands until the game is won. Everypony may only raise once in a hand, the maximum raise is the high starting bid, and there are two rounds of betting in each hand. Any questions, Lucky?”As Spike finished the basic explanation of the game he looked over the zebra taking in the information trying to gauge his reactions.
“When are the betting rounds? Also would it be possible to show me where we will play, and the cards we will be playing with?” Lucky said the last bit with a gleam in his eyes.
“To your first question, the first is before you discard and the second is after you receive your cards. To your second question, yes and no. The cards are sealed for another half hour at least. Follow me if you'd like to see the table.” Spike moved into the tree-library and turned tot he left towards the door leading to the basement. Slowly opening it he moved inside first to light the candles on his way down the stairs to the basement of the library. The basement was the only part the library that had seemed to change since his sister was rarely around anymore. Gone were the wires, glass tubes, and machinery, they were replaced by books on the shelves, a central table with seven chairs, and some well placed candles to provide ample lighting throughout the evening.
Upon reaching the bottom of the basement stairs Lucky had a new question for Spike saying, “Why are the cards sealed till play?”
Spike who had just finished lighting the last of the candles in the basement turned to the questioning zebra and said in a very serious tone, “These aren't your average set of cards. Part of the care instructions for them. 'One weekly use allows for minimal luck resonance degradation.' But, now I'm starting to sound like my sister.”
The zebra nodded in response to the answer he got for his question. Lucky then proceeded to put his coat down on one of the chairs. He then rolled his shoulders before taking a seat and then cracked his knuckles and said, “So young dragon what would you inquire of me?”
Spike grinned and took a seat at the table directly opposite the zebra. Spike put his elbows down on the table, flicked his tail back and forth behind him like a metronome, and scratched his chin then said, “ Since you're new in town it might be nice to have something juicy on you. So lets start with a hard hitting question. Given the opportunity would you like to be in a permanent relationship with Goldie?”
The zebra found himself on the verge of blushing at the dragons question and said in a calm collected tone, “Well I can tell this will be long evening.”
The two discussed many things from the weather to their favorite kinds of gems. Spike felt like the two had become fast friends in the short time they had spent together in basement of the library. Lucky had even given Spike a detailed story about where he had earned the elder dragon's tooth blade. In the middle of a joke, there was a loud knock at the door upstairs. The two had completely lost track of time is was eight now, and Spike excused himself to go get the door. Lucky leaned back in the chair he had chosen, pulling out a small bag of bits he had brought just for the game with the proper amount inside it. 'And so it begins,' he thought.
EOC
(End of Chapter.)
Author's Note
(A/N)
I'm aware this chapter jumps around a lot I wanted to give you a snippet into each ponies daily life along with a little of their feelings about their poker game. A strange new zebra has arrived in Ponyville. This is only story I have written so far to contain an OC as Lucky is based on a friends character at his personal request. So this is just a simple anthro Equestria with more a after season three mentality. Like nothing of season four has taken place just yet. It does feel like it should be later than season four but it was not written to include the mindset of most season four occurrences. To give everyone a simple explanation of the kind of Equestria we're dealing with here. As the writer i'm likely to miss a few things going back over it to check for all my own grammatical errors. I don't mind if there are things in the A/N that are off. I do know my own limitations so if you see something I didn't mention it to me. I'm always doing my best to check for notes and comments.
Poker, I Hardly Know Her.
There were five sets of knocks that the zebra heard from the basement; the first knocks where loud yet steady, the second was a three set of three rapid knocks, the third were almost out of his audible range, the last two sets were so similar he almost thought it was same pony knocking twice. Lucky could hear muffled bits of greetings and welcomes from the basement and several hoof beats traversing the upper library floor to head towards the table for their first match with the unknown wild card.
The first pony to come down the stairs from above was a tall red earth stallion with a flat spiky orange mane gently hanging off his face, who was a head above the zebra. He was wearing a black cape with a skull, a top hat which only added to his height, a white button down shirt which strained to encompass the muscular form it contained, and a pair of black pants accentuated by the orange spiked short cut tail which went down right above his sandy yellow hooves. This stallion looked over the zebra his sap green eyes trying to evaluate the new-comer for all he was worth.
Lucky had taken to setting his bit's up in stacks of ten from the time Spike had gone upstairs to respond to the first knocks. So by the time the large red stallion had arrived in the basement he was done. Lucky stood up to greet the stallion who's physical prowess outclassed his own by at least a weight class, “Howdy, I'm Lucky, pleased to meet you.” Extending one of his ebony hands to the large red earth pony.
“Big Macintosh, likewise.” Big Mac took Lucky's hand and the two shook very firmly
It was about this time that the second additional stallion came down the stairs. This stallion was a solid black pegasus, with a sky-blue mane with light-blue streaks, wearing a white tee-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. His eyes were wide as saucers upon reaching the last step, “Macintosh, I told you to stop wearing that costume. Makes me feel under-dressed, we're just playing some poker.”
“And Ah distinctly remember telling you, Thunderlane, 'Nope.' Sides, Lucky, likes it.” Big Mac moved his hand to Lucky's shoulder bringing him around to show Thunderlane the new arrival.
“You look fine to me, Macintosh. Thunderlane, was it? You look fine also, though your clothes do lack some originality.” The statement caused Lucky to smile a bit, Big Mac to laugh, and Thunderlane to scowl at the pair.
While the boys were enjoying the small joke at Thunderlane's expese, somepony new was making their way down the stairs of the library. It was a bright pink earth mare, with a bubbly dark pink mane and tail, wearing a yellow tank top with the words “Party Girl” on it in a simple red glitter, and a pair of denim shorts. She bounded right up to the new zebra and said, “Oooh, you must be new in town. How come I haven't met you yet? What's so funny guys? Is it Thunderlane's longer than average face?”
“Woah, there, Sugarcube. Lucky here is replacing Pierce, Pinkie pie. An' he's a sight more enjoyable company if I=Ah do say so myself.” Big Mac made this statement very confidently.
“I hope that's still true once I take all the bits tonight.” Lucky said with a wink.
“Oooh he sounds confident. Though Spike is really the pony. I mean dragon to beat. He's won twenty-seven of the fifty-five games we've played so far. I think the cards just like him.” Pinkie Pie responded happily continuing the conversation's
Pinkie's arrival had distracted the group from the sounds of the next set of ponies heading down the stairs. A pair of slightly similar ponies who were arguing once more about the inability of mares to determine which was which. The light amber earth stallion to the left had a straight short dark brown mane, a long dark brown tail, a set of cerulean eyes, a modest build, wearing a white tee shirt, and a pair of jean pants was named Caramel. The caramel earth stallion to the right had a dark brown flat spiked mane, with a matching short cut tail, a set of green eyes, a muscular build, a black almost silken button down shirt with pair of matching pants he was named Creme Brulee.
Caramel spoke out first that the group already there heard, “ It is not my fault your only fall in love with extremely jealous mares.”
Creme Brulee was quick to respond, “I look nothing like ya kiddo. Your mare's can't tell an orange from an apple or a colt from a stallion. You can't even handle a friendly competition like the Running of the Leaves with out getting winded past the first tree.”
“Woah, Fellows. This doesn't sound like something that can't be worked out with a few hands of Poker.” Lucky looked between the two and hopefully he had said the right thing to diffuse the situation.
“Lucky's right boys so put up your fees and shut it or you can both go home without playing.” Spike stepped down from the stairs behind them and walked over the box containing the cars and slowly pulled them out putting them on the table before saying, “Seats every pony the round will begin in five minutes to establish everyone has their fees.”
The group of ponies quickly took to the seats around the table Lucky had ended up being on either side of Big Mac and Creme Brulee which made him feel a little out of his weight class directly across from him was Spike with Pinkie Pie and Caramel on either side with Thunderlane in between Caramel and Creme Brulee. Once the bits were counted Spike shuffled the cards expertly and dispersed them five to each pony for the first round of betting. Thunderlane knew it wasn't going to be his night, since he had the big blind and was holding a two of diamonds, a three of spades, an eight of hearts,a nine of clubs, and a five of diamonds.
The dealer only changed every five hands where as the blinds changed every hand. The first hand went to Pinkie Pie, as did the next four subsequent hands. Which made her the big stack for the moment yet on the sixth had Spike won a very feverish battle between him and Thunderlane. Which left Thunderlane at about sixty bits of his original one hundred. The seventh hand was won by Lucky and the next three were won by Big Macintosh.
When Thunderlane picked up the cards Big Mac was also the Big stack. The next two hands went to Creme Brulee. The Thirteenth hand went to Thunderlane and the remaining two hands of his shuffle went to Caramel. The Next five hands all went to Spike. 'He is going to be the player to beat' thought Lucky. With the end of the twentieth hand Thunderlane was cleaned out.
“Better luck next time, Thunderlane. I'm on fire tonight.” Spike smiled and waved goodbye to the weather pegasus.
“Really, Spike? Should I go get you some water?” replied Pinkie Pie.
“I'm sure he'll be fine with out, Pinks.”Big Mac said with a smile and a pat on her shoulder.
“And then there were six. I believe it was my turn to deal, Creme.” Lucky said this as he took up the cards into his hands.
Dealing out the crystal cards Lucky managed to dole himself out a possible straight flush with open ends. He called the minimum bet of eight bits as did Creme, Big Mac, Spike, and lastly Caramel just checked. Creme got three cards and only scored two pair on which he added eight bits to the pot. Big Mac had asked for no cards as he already had four of a kind and raised the bid by eight. Spike received two cards and got what he was looking for to make a full house. When it came time for Lucky to call he did having received the higher of the two cards he needed. Creme was only one left to call and he decided it was better to fold. When the cards were revealed Lucky stood on top in this hand.
Lucky won the second hand he dealt, followed by Big Mac winning the next hand, and the hand after that was won by Pinkie pie. The last hand delt by Lucky was a very close hand between Pinkie Pie, Caramel, and Spike. Big Mac was big blind for this hand though he didn't feel compelled to stay in when Caramel immediately raised it to sixteen bits to stay in the hand with his own four Kings of a kind. Spike had a low straight flush of spades so he felt fine with calling Caramel. Pinkie Pie had a queen to nine straight flush of hearts though so she was also fine with calling. Caramel was also first to raise on the second round of betting. Spike felt fine to raise the stakes again bringing the call to sixteen again. Pinkie Pie gladly called, followed by Caramel who was all in with the call. When the cards hit the table it was time to say goodbye again.
“Well can't beat that. Looks like another week of dry oats.” said Caramel with a sigh.
“You could always come back and work for me. Rather than just round up odd jobs all the time, Carmel.” Creme Brulee looked over at Caramel with a bit of a grin.
“Not on my life you slave driver.”With that Caramel stormed out of the library.
“I don't ask my employee's to do anything I wouldn't myself. He's just a slacker. But let's get back to game.” Creme Brulee gathered up the cards and passed them over to Big Mac who was getting to deal for the first time this evening.
The cards in his large hands Big Mac caused Lucky to win the first two matches, and Pinkie Pie the next two. On his last hand dealing Big Mac was looking to find a straight flush as the small blind. Pinkie Pie was the big blind and was one card from four of a kind. Spike came in on this round looking to complete a full house. Though he was almost out of bits so did Creme Brulee as he came into the hand with a flush. Big Mac called as no one else raised and Pinkie checked to move onto the discard. Everypony involved in the hand but Creme took two cards. Big Mac failed to achieve his straight flush and folded as soon as possible. Pinkie got her four of a kind and wagered the max she could. Spike also got what he was looking for and decided to raise the pot himself bringing the bit total to continue to eighteen. Creme Brulee deiced it would best if he called and made it all or nothing with the last of his bits. When the cards were revealed it was show Creme was in fact the odd one out this time.
“Well you all have a good night. A pleasure to play with you as always. Lucky, it was nice meeting you. If you ever have need of any kind of moving or heavy lifting around Ponyville. Make sure you choose Creme's Carrying Convenience.” Creme handed Lucky a business card and then bowed before leaving up the stairs.
“Nice to meet you too, Creme. Have a good evening.” Lucky responded.
“Oooh, One went all in and then there were four little ponies left.” Pinkie said with a grin like the Cheshire cat.
“You scare me sometimes, Pinks. Let's get back to the game.” Spike said this remembering a time he had been interrogated by the pink mare about her friends.
Big Mac handed the cards to Pinkie Pie. With the cards in her possession anything could happen. With only four players left, and the big blind at ten bits it was still any ponies game. The first hand went to big Mac as did the second. Everypony was betting at each round in an attempt to gain some leverage over the others. The next had went to Lucky, followed by Spike, and when she finished dealing Lucky had won the final ten bit hand.
Now the crystal cards were passed back to Spike. His hands shuffling them with gentle care even as he did a standard deck spit shuffle. When his turn for dealing would be over those still there would have played over forty hands. Spike won the first hand quite handily, followed by Pinkie Pie, and Big Mac.
The second to last hand saw Spike offer the big blind of eleven bits and Pinkie with the small blind. Lucky earned a straight flush draw on this had and raised the bid to twenty-two bits. Big Mack also felt he had a winning hand with four queens so he raised again to thirty three bits to get cards. Pinkie pie just called with her Aces full of Kings full house. Spike was not interested in this hand as he had a large quantity of miss-matches. Lucky called Big Mac's raise after a look of trying to appraise the stallion before him. Big Mac found himself being the only one to ask for the card and was a little worried at this. Lucky put down eleven bits again feeling uncertain but slightly positive. Big mack raised again thinking Pinkie and Lucky had full houses. Pinkie also raised Thinking it was a bluff made by the other two. The cards turned over Lucky found himself raking in the largest pot of the night so far.
The fortieth hand saw Lucky in the big blind spot with Spike in the small blind. Big Mac who was next to add his bits to the pot folded as he wasn't very pleased with his hand. Pinkie Pie who had four sixes raised the bet to twenty-two. Then it was Spikes turn to call or raise and he had four tens and an ace. He looked over Pinkie who had her usual happy go lucky smile and bright eyes, much as she did in every hand. Spike tried to gauge her but it was almost impossible and raised the bet to thirty- three. With this the bet returned to Lucky to call. He looked over his two opponents for the hand and called with a possible straight flush. Pinkie also called asking for one card much as Lucky did with the betting finished. Spike wanted to keep his hand the same so he didn't ask for any cards. Lucky didn't get what he was looking for to complete his hand. Pinkie Pie received an ace to go with her hand as well. Pinkie Pie was the first to raise the second round to eleven bits. Spike saw this and decided to raise the bet again to twenty-two as this would raise Pinkie all in and if he had the better hand it would eliminate her from the game. Lucky folded at this time. Pinkie Pie then called as she felt there might be chance for her victory. When the cards were unveiled Spike had brought Pinkie out of the running again.
“Well win some, lose some. Huh, Spike. Oh, Lucky, you should come by Sugarcube Corner tomorrow. After all I have had time to properly welcome you to Ponyville.” With that statement hanging in the air she bounced up to the top of the stairs and said, “Don't forget tomorrow at noon any of you.” With her final slightly veiled invite she was gone from the basement of the library.
“Soo should I go then gentlemen?” Lucky asked questioningly.
“Safer to, after all last person who didn't accept her invite had her following them until they did. Besides everypony will be there, even Goldie.” Spike said with mischievous grin.
Lucky was silenced by the dragons words a slight crimson on his cheeks at the mention of the mare. Big Mac on the other hand picked up the conversation, “Oh, hardly in town twenty-four hours and he already has a special somepony. Where did you pick that bit of information up, Spike.”
“Straight from the zebra's mouth, where else? Not surprising he'd find somepony. After all most of the population of Ponyville is female.”responded Spike.
“Well if we're talking about females, you seem to get along quite well with Miss Rarity, Spike.” Lucky said trying to contribute to the conversation.
“Hmph, I'll overlook your ignorance. Lucky since you're new in town but I am in a relationship with Rarity. Once I win tonight I'll have enough to give her the night of her life.” Spike stated defensively.
“Easy Casanova, Got two more players to knock out first. Right, Big Mac?” Lucky nodded to the red earth pony.
“Eeyup,” came the classic Big Mac response.
Followed by Spike handing the cards to Lucky for his second turn to deal. The very first hand Lucky dealt this time went to Big Mac. The next hand was a rousing victory for Lucky. The third hand went to Spike. The fourth hand was another win for Big Mac. Lucky also won the very last hand of his deal.
With Lucky's turn to deal over he handed the cards to Big Mac gently. Big Mac had been getting lower and lower in the chip count and was starting to worry about his ability to stay in the game much longer. The first hand went to Spike followed by Lucky winning the second. This pattern repeated for the third and fourth hands that Big Mac dealt. The last hand saw spike looking for a straight flush, Lucky with three of four kings, and Big Mac having earned a set of three aces and two jacks. The first round of betting only went to one raise bringing the total to look for cards twenty-six bits. All stayed in and then in the second round of betting Spike had earned the card for his straight flush, Lucky had earned his four of a kind as such he was the first to raise. Followed by Spike raising Big Mac all in and Big Mac Calling figuring if he had to go it was just about time for him to. With the cards revealed Spike was the clear winner of the hand and Big Mac Slowly started to stand.
“Woah, wait Big Mac. Can't you stay just a little bit to be an impartial dealer for us.” Spike said looking up at the earth stallion hopefully.
“Hmmmm, Eeyup. But I can't stay more than ten hands.” Big Mac said as he returned to his seat.
“Well if you can only stay for ten hands, Why not regardless of the cards on the last hand we both go all in, Spike. That way Big Mac doesn't have to stay longer than he wants and we get a resolution.”
“Alright, I'm game for that. I wont go down easy though, Lucky.” Spike said with a grin that really showed off his dragon fangs.
EOC
