What Happens In Las Pegasus Stays In Las Pegasus

Rubber and I raced down the strip, ignoring all traffic lights and the other ponies furiously honking at our 100 000 bit stolen sports car. While running what must of been at least our 7th red light, Rubber decided to speak.

"I'm sorry about what happened back there." He apologized. "I should have told you the truth from the start. I know now that pullin' ya into this whole poker mess instead of lettin' you study was the wrong choice, and I apologize."

This sort of thing is what I expected from Rubber. He was always going behind my back, trying to get me to do stuff. To be honest, it felt good to do something other than studying, but this was a bit extreme. Our car continued down the side street we had turned onto, buildings and ponies a blur as we sped by. I just had to accept that my world was changing, developing as fast as equestrian world around us. In five years, my life had completely changed, and so had the rest of the world's. Wealth was what everypony desired, and banks, casinos, and big businesses had popped up to feed that dream, the unattainable standards set by billionaire CEO's. Taxes grew higher and higher as I grew up, and my mom gave away the last of father's life insurance money so that she could give me a brighter future, . But right now, economic problems were the least of my worries. In fact, I was much more concerned about the two black cars that were following us.

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"Boss, don't you think that you should listen to Mr. Wheel? He said to stay back." said the grey security pony. His family had recently died, so the social services ponies took him in. At his 18th birthday, they told him to chose a casino to work for, and that the honor of working for a major company would be his present that year. He chose the Party Bros Ballagio, and today was his first day on the job.  Keeping this career would allow him to get funds to care for his marefriend's new colt, as his current part time job while attending high school would not be enough.

"You do what I tell you, or you get my hoof." his commander said. "Roulette Wheel said to stay back in order to lay a trap so that we can capture those counting rebels. And 'capture' them is just what I am going to do!"

Following orders, the rookie guard radioed the other 5 cars, telling them to fall back and asking one for backup, but he was still unsure of his superior's judgement.

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We were approaching the destination indicated by Rubber's map when he noticed the ominous cars following them.

"Buck! Pip, can you do something for me?" Rubber asked.

"Sure thing Rubber."

"Reach into the glove compartment and grab the hat in there."

I followed Rubber's directions, grabbing a ballcap with the Las Pegasus Kings logo on it. Rubber reached in the hat and pulled out a small, black pistol.

"Holy Celestia Rubber!! What the buck are you doing with a bucking pistol in your car!" I yelled, shocked at the prospect of my childhood friend having a killing machine in his car. Next thing I know, I'll be putting a hoof in his freezer for some ice cream and pulling out a  body."What are you going to do with this? Shoot at them? I never thought you were the kind of pony to do that?"

"I won't shoot a single shot at 'em." he said."You are."

"What?! You are expecting me to shoot?" I exclaimed, as the cars drew closer and closer. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed that the windows of the two cars behind us were rolling down.

"It's easy, just put the pistol in your mouth," he  explained as I reluctantly followed his instructions."Then, cock it back with your hooves. There, that's it. Now lean out the window."

I did, and noticed two shiny barrels resting on the doors of the black cars, which were only ten yards away.

"Rubber, they have guns. And the don't look like pistols." I tried to say, but it must have sounded something like 'mhhm' as I had a gun in my mouth.

"What!? Guns!? No fair!" he replied, miraculously understanding my statement. "Now, aim for the wheels and bite down."

The wind lashed at my face as I tried to keep the firearm steady. My mane felt frozen from the breeze even though the desert was scorching. Before I could bite down on the trigger, a flurry of projectiles hit the car. The car spun out of control, Rubber struggling to keep the car from slamming into the steel warehouses surrounding this part of the road.My head smashed against the window, shattering the glass that had not been protected by rolling the window down, cutting a massive gash into my forehead. Rubber's head drove into the wheel, rendering him unconscious. I took control of the car, blood staining my coat red as the occupants of the cars behind us let loose another series of shots, ripping through the aluminum frame of the car, and breaking what was left of the back windshield. Two bits of glass embedded themselves in Rubber's stooped over flank. Our choices were very clear: die from the guards, or have the car explode as we plow into a warehouse. We were nearing the end of the road when my stupidity to do something cost me something I would never be able to regain. Another round of ammunition came hurtling into the car, biting into my left hoof and my ear, as well as the back of my seat. The cars behind us heartlessly emptied all of their cartridges into the back of Rubber's car and his body. The road ended roughly 200 feet in front of our hood, where an oil tanker was docked on a pier. The river was one of the only sources of water in Las Pegasus, and carried enough cargo to make trading Las Pegasus' second biggest source of income. But these facts did not worry me right now, as I was in a car hurtling towards a ship full of oil, with my severely injured old friend and a set of guards who were being paid to see us dead.

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Mr. Wheel was having a cup of tea with the owner of Celestia's Palace Casino and Resort when the guards called.

"Sir, they are a heading towards a oil tanker near the docks. Do we shoot?"

Roulette Wheel contemplated his choices. should he murder them now, but risk blowing up the ship? Or should he let the guards corner them and bring them here?

"Who owns the tanker?"

"Rich Corp, sir"

"No shooting, but remember the next time I see their names, I want it to be on a tombstone."

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When Pip came within 100 yards of the tanker, the guards stopped shooting. Rubber groaned.

"Don't slow down Pip." He said

"Rubber, can't you see the ship? We will ram into that thing, and then we will all die."

"I know I will die." Said Rubber, "but let me drive and I won't today."

Rubber grabbed the wheel as the car we were in jumped the dock, sinking into the murky depths of the Las Pegasus river.