Chapters First Hand: Place Your Bets
Aces And Spades
First Hand: Place Your Bets
By: Major Frostwing
Ace and Spade were walking down the street of Manehatten they were twins with the same talent for card games. "Hey Spade we have been kicked out of every card joint in this worthless town now what?" Ace complained walking the streets his white hair glistening in the sun. Spade rubbed his head thinking their red and white coats matched perfectly the only difference was the cutie mark. Ace had A black outlined white card with all four aces on it. Spare only had a white card with the spade on it.
"I don't know brother maybe it is time to move somewhere new." Spade said he looked at his watch and sighed. "I told you not to play that hand so hard they thought we were cheating it's just your stupid luck." Spade smacked Ace upside the head which insisted the fight between them truth was they were special forces for Celestia. Her "Ace in the hole" so to speak but they had one keen problem. Cards were stuck in all the buildings they missed bystanders but were aimed to kill each other. They don't get along at all normally they killed their enemy trying to kill each other. "Enough this is stupid see you back at home." Spade said annoyed as he walked away using his magic pulling all the cards together into a deck of 52. Ace collected his cards as well sighing.
"Stupid older brother." Ace said as he walked away to try and find a card joint that would still let him play.
Ace found a place that let him play he sat down but after a few hands they call him out for cheating. He wasn't but the deck on his hip made him suspicious he tried to fight it but they kicked him out for cheating and took all of his money as well. "Dammit I wasn't cheating." Ace said as he walked the dark streets. "I need a vacation maybe that Ponyville I heard so much about." He said walking back home he opened the door to see a note on Spade's bed he read over it sighing. "He already left for Canterlot for vacation." Ace sighed as he packed his things for the train ride to Ponyville he had enough to pay for the trip and stay for a few days. He changed into his military uniform he held a higher rank than the castle guard but not the captain of the royal guard. He went to the train station Ponies moved out of his way when they saw the outfit but others tried to intimidate him which didn't work only one person worked as his rival his brother. "One ticket for Ponyville." He said calmly.
"Yes sir hope you enjoy your stay there." The Mare behind the glass said with a smile he grabbed his ticket and there was a number written on another slip of paper he smiled and returned it.
"Cards are my love miss." He said with a cold smile walking away to board the train. He didn't like being mean like that but sometimes it is a necessity to keep his mind sane. He made his way to his seat sitting in the far corner at the back of the car he liked being away from everyone and needed to in case something happened. Ace slowly fell asleep in his seat but was quickly rustled by a loud bang he looked up to see other ponies robbing the train Ace sighed.
"Everyone look at the floor jewelry in the bag and no one gets hurt." The Colt yelled Ace rolled his eyes he looked up to see a bag next to him.
"You to Soldier boy everything in the bag." The robber said without a second thought a card flew out of it's box slamming into the robber's forehead. He was dead before he even hit the floor the card pulled itself out of his head it flew forward slamming into the head robbers horn cutting it off making him drop his gun Ace ran up tackling him to the ground he slammed his head into his knocking him out.
"I just wanted to sleep in the back on my trip." He kicked the man who was knocked out somepony was about to thank him but he ignored them he went back to sleeping in the back.
The bell rang saying that the train had stopped Ace woke up and got his stuff together to get off the train he saw a lot of ponies which only annoyed him. "Look at all the fools with their pathetic little lives." Ace said harshly leaving the train. "Might as well go and find my hotel." Ace said as he walked towards the center of town. Along the way people smiled to him and said their 'hellos' which only annoyed him he was used to Manehaten where no one said hello it was always. 'Watch where you're going.' Ace sighed getting to his hotel but something caught his eye a pure white mare with a bouncy purple mane he watched her walk by she looked at him then back to her friend who Ace didn't notice. "Ah well I didn't have a chance Spade's was always better with the mares." Ace turned around and was startled by a pink pony a little to close for comfort. "Can I help you?" Ace asked rudely. The pink pony ran off in a separate direction. "Whatever I just need to find a card joint." Ace said as he went in paid for his two week stay and walked off towards the center of town. "Thought I saw one on my way in." He said as he walked.
He saw the card hall and saw that same mare from before walk into it Ace followed paying an entry fee he had to be searched before he could play but knew he wasn't a cheater they sealed his deck box so he couldn't open it. He was annoyed that he couldn't access his cards but he understood why they did it. "The room in the back just opened up go have fun and no cheating." The colt said as Ace walked past him straight to his destination.
When he got to the back room he was surprised to see that same mare from earlier at the table shuffling the cards he took his seat across from her. "Welcome sir are we ready to play?" She asked everyone. Ace looked around at everyone desperate players trying to win money he was just here to play he would give up a few hands to help. "Then let us begin." she dealt out the cards. The game had begun.
Second Hand: Oh It Is ON!
Aces and Spades
Second Hand: Oh It Is ON!
After a few hands He could see the white mare across from him getting annoyed he had most of everyponies money at the table he smiled. "Dealer you can just walk away like the others should have before they started losing." Ace said with a smirk. "You can't beat me give up." He said waiting for his cards to be dealt the white mare slammed the deck on the table with her magic walking out of the room he sighed they others stood up but he stopped them giving them back their money. "Don't gamble to increase what you got invest it in you family to make them happy." Ace said walking out with his winnings. he saw the White mare catching up to her. "Hey dealer wait up." He yelled catching up to her.
"How utterly rude of you." She said calmly as she walked away from him. He Ran up stopping in front of her she stopped in a huff. "What!?" She said angrily. Ace just handed her a bag of bits he stared at her. "What is this?" She asked confused as to why he was giving her money. "Do you think I am a hussy. How. DARE. You." She yelled at him.
"DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I WOULD SEE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MARE AS A HOOKER!" He yelled fed up with her being rude to him. "I'm giving back what I won from all of you." He said placing the bits in her saddlebag "I don't play for money I just play to play." He said as he began to walk away. "Good night miss Dealer." Ace said walking away from her calmly.
"Rarity." She said which made Ace stop and look at her. "My name is not dealer it is Rarity." She said with a gentle smile. Ace smiled to her
"Ace." He said as he walked away going back to his hotel when he heard thunder. "Great rain I hate rain." It slowly began to rain light at first then heavy he saw Rarity slowly walking in the rain she must have forgotten her umbrella Ace sighed walking back to her opening his deck box card flew out overlapping into a makeshift umbrella over Rarity. "Lets get you home you're soaked." He said with a smile.
"Thank you Mr. Ace." she said as they slowly began to walk to her home. "How do you control these card." she asked calmly looking at them.
"They are a part of me." Ace said as a card flew up stopping in front of them it turned around stopping on the ace. "My soul has been embedded into these cards giving me full control over them what I think they do." Ace explained the card flew forward turning around a door handle opening it it flew back into his deck box. "We have arrived Rarity." Ace said as they walked inside the cards tilted as they entered draining the water off of them. they all left the deck box laying out in order of suit and number on the floor Lance opened a new deck of cards he used his magic laying next to them. "Rarity catch me." he said as he cast the spell transferring his soul from card to card when it was done Ace wobbled in place collapsing to the floor Rarity caught him gently his eyes were still open but blank looking.
"Ace... Ace are you ok?" Rarity asked concerned suddenly he took a large gasp of air looking around at his surroundings. "What just happened?" She asked him full of concern.
"Soul transfer spell. I took my soul from the old cards and put them in new cards." He said as if it was common knowledge. "I have to do this every now and again the cards get wet from everything I put them through and they are ruined. I need fresh cards to do my work." He said calmly. "Thank you for catching me." He said with a smile which made Rarity blush.
"Making a lady catch you how rude." She scoffed raising her nose dropping him to the floor. Ace slowly stood up looking at her annoyed. But then he got a good look at his surroundings. "Did you make all of these?" he asked looking at all the suits and dresses. "They are beautiful." He whispered thinking back to his mother which brought a tear to his eye.
"Yes it is my work Do you like i-" She noticed something off about Ace. "Are you crying Ace?" She asked he waived a dismissive hoof.
"It's nothing just a really old memory." He said as he turned around he heard the thunder again. "I should be heading to my hotel." He said walking towards the door. when Rarity stopped him.
"Why don't you stay here for the night the rain is to heavy out there." She said looking away blushing. "Plus your uniform is soaked you will catch a cold if you don't dry off." she said walking up to him looking into his dark red eyes with her Saphire eyes. Ace sighed closing the door.
"Only one night." He said calmly as he took off his uniform jacket setting it on a coat hanger.
Third Hand: Straight Flush
Aces And Spades
Hand Three: Straight Flush
By: Major Frostwing
Ace awoke on a couch he looked around calmly when he saw the dresses he felt that same painful memory. He looked towards his hooves a flash of blood showed up on them then quickly disappeared. "I'm so sorry mother." He said calmly tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Ace are you alright?" A voice said which made Ace jump he just shook his head no. "Want to talk about it?" The voice asked he shook his head no again.
"Just a memory." He said as he let the tears stream down his cheeks. "I just can't get over this memory." He said calmly. "I just want to forget that night." He said as the tears increased
"You lost your mother didn't you?" The voice asked as the pony walked in front of him he looked up to see Rarity. "I can tell it's painful." She said calmly. Ace nodded looking at the floor. Rarity wrapped her arms around him in a hug he slowly returned the gesture crying softly into her coat.
"I'm a monster I killed my mother it's all my fault." Ace said through his tears. "If I didn't go on that mission my mother would still be alive I wouldn't have come home to him." Ace said still crying.
"What happened?" Rarity asked petting his head.
"I killed that murderer I killed him with my cards without hesitation I was covered in his blood and my mothers I was the cause of her death A card went through her head killing her." Ace chocked out he couldn't talk anymore he had no more words to speak.
"It's gonna be ok Ace it's all going to be ok." She whispered to him she was crying as well.
"I'm sorry Rarity I didn't mean to force my problems on you." He said calmly standing up. "Her death haunts me every night." He said as he looked at her the fatigue of crying still on his face. she sighed standing up as well. "But thank you for listening." He said with a gentle smile which made her blush.
"Darling anytime you need a chat come see me I will listen." She said smiling back which made him blush back.
Ace opened the door to leave but stopped. "Will I see you tonight at the table?" He asked with a playful smile. She smiled back devilishly.
"Ready to give me your money." She said still smiling. Ace only laughed at the comment as he left the boutique.
Ace walked around the town looking at everything around him when he heard a whistling he looked up to see a rainbow streak heading straight for him his cards flew into action catching her slowing her down so she could land Ace sighed in relief.
"Hey thanks Almost took you out." She said looking at the cards fly back into Ace's deck box. "What else can you do with those?" She asked Ace raised an eye brow.
"They are a weapon but I can do this." Ace said with a smile as the cards came out they attached to his sides and created wings. "I can use them to fly." He said with a smile as they dispersed into his deck box Rainbow was in awe. "It's not that impressive." He said calmly.
"Are you kidding me it's the coolest thing next to me of course." Rainbow said cockily. "What's your name?" She asked Ace sighed.
"Ace of The Cards." He said calmly using his military title. "I'm just a soldier that likes to play cards up for a game." He said in a challenging tone Rainbow smiled.
"I never lose Ace by the way I am Rainbow Dash lets play a game tonight at the Card place I'll take all of your money I'll event invite my friends." She said as she rocketed off into the sky probably to talk to her friends. Ace sighed.
"Guess I'm gonna have a lot of fun." Ace said with a devilish smile.
As the sun went down Ace began his walk towards the Card Joint he looked at the name and smiled. "The Ace In The Hole." The name made him chuckle. "My kind of place." He said calmly he entered to the back area to see Rarity Rainbow Dash and four other mares he smiled taking his seat. "Hey Rarity. Hey Rainbow." He said calmly waiting for the cards to be dealt. "Let's see if your luck is better than mine." He said smiling devilishly.
Fourth Hand: Ace Of Hearts
Aces And Spades
Hand Four: Ace of Hearts
"Straight flush." Rarity said slamming her cards down Ace smiled as he slammed his hand down revealing a Royal Flush. Everypony was shocked at this.
"I guess my luck is still better." Ace said with a smile. He collected his winnings but was stopped by Twilight.
"That is physically and numerically impossible to you to pull that three times in one night." She said glaring at him Ace glared back.
"Are you accusing me of cheating miss." He said coldly.
"I am. You're cheating." She said angrily. Ace stood up and left he wasn't going to take this anymore being called a cheater is where he drew the line. He heard hoofsteps behind him he looked back to see Rarity.
"What?" He asked angrily he was livid he never liked being called a cheater. She held up a of bits.
"You forgot your winnings darling you won them fair and square." She went to hand them to him he smacked them out of her grip out of anger.
"I don't care about the money. I DON'T GIVE A BUCK ABOUT THE DAMN MONEY!" He bellowed he turned around and walked away he wasn't dealing with it. Rarity stood there shaking he was so mad just about a simple accusation that's what it seemed to Rarity. It meant so much more to Ace.
Ace had walked all the way to the park he stopped to look at a tree it angered him further the card flew out of his box wrapping around is hoof he slammed it into the tree repeatedly until it broke and fell he looked at his hoof to see it bleeding. "Damn it all Ace you get so worked up over the simplest things." He said leaning against the stump. He winced as the pain began to pulse through his arm his cards flew into his deck box he sighed drifting off to sleep.
Ace awoke when the birds began to chirp. He looked around to see a Yellow mare watching him from a distance he looked at her then down at his hoof to see it wrapped up. "When did-" He looked back up to see her gone he shrugged it off standing up calmly. "I guess I should go apologize to Rarity for how I acted last night." The unicorn stated walking towards the boutique.
Ace arrived at the boutique in the early morning he knocked on the door calmly and waited for her to answer when she didn't he sat down next to the door he slowly fell asleep again he felt sick.
Ace woke up looking at a light purple ceiling he sat up slowly he heard a light humming from the other room he stood up walking towards the noise he saw Rarity working. "Such a beautiful dress." He said looking at her creation She glanced back to see Ace Up she smiled gently to him. "Rarity..."
"Ace... It is nice to see that you are awake." She said with a smile. "You were absolutely feverish when I found you outside this morning." She said setting down her utensils.
Ace smiled walking up to her. "Listen Rarity I'm sorry for how I acted last night I was being rude and overreacted." He said calmly he still felt bad but when he looked up he saw a hoof smacking him across the face he sighed knowing he deserved that. "I'm sorry..." Is all he could say.
"Just don't be rude to a lady again." Rarity said as she hugged him gently. "I shouldn't have done that." She said letting him go with a light blush gracing her cheeks Ace smiled to her.
"Don't worry about Rarity I deserved that smack no matter how you feel." He said smiling. "I wouldn't stop you if you continued to beat me." He said calmly. "I'm used to it anyway." He began to cry while smiling. Rarity was shocked by this. "My Father would beat me just like this all I did was smile through it hoping he would stop. But he never did." His tears never ceased. Rarity sighed Slamming her hoof across his face to break him out of his episode.
"Snap out of it Ace this isn't the same colt I began to li-" She stopped her self blushing heavily she looked away. "I just want you to smile happily." She said smiling. Ace rubbed his cheek where she hit him.
"Thank you Rarity I needed that." Ace said standing up he looked at her he leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek which made her face turn pure red He smiled as he walked out of the boutique. But Rarity stepped outside and stopped him.
"The Flower Petal tonight at 7 be there." She said quickly she then left smiling like a little girl.
"It's a date then." Ace smiled happily at this new development.