MLP STORY BOOK: Collection Of One Shots and Short Stories

Challenge For The Chip

(THIS IS ROYAL FLUSH)

It was an usual night in the flashy town of Las Pegasus. A Lavender mare was sitting at a table across from her challenger. She fixes her white cowgirl hat to show her shiny braided pink and purple mane. She waits for Fire-heart to make her move. She watches as the grey pegasus pushes two red chips to the center of the table. Then all eyes are on her. She examines her cards while keeping her face straight. "All in" she says and pushes her pile of chips to the center of the table as the ponies around her gasp. The dealer nods to Fire-heart. "I have a full house me lass" she says with a cocky smile. "Darn" the lavender pony says, "all I got is this here ROYAL FLUSH!" she shows her cards. The crowd cheers as the pony collects her chips. "Shoot, Royal Flush, ye beat me again" Fire-heart says.

"Well, my name is Royal Flush" the lavender pony claims, "and this mark didn't appear for no reason" she points to a pink poker chip on her flank.

"I guess not" Fire-heart chuckles.

"Let me treat ya to a nice cold nectar" Royal Flush offers as they head to the bar. "One apple nectar and one lime nectar please" Royal orders as they sat on the bar stools. Just then a blue pegasus with a typewriter cutie mark flies up to her. "Wow Royal Flush once again, you've won the annual Equestrian poker tour" he says, "how do you feel?".

"Amazing like I always do, but my friend here did awesome as well" Royal Flush answers looking over to Fire-heart.

"It must be an awesome feeling to be the second best poker player around" the pegasus says. That comment took Royal Flush by surprise. "second best?" she asks confused.

"Yes the only other pony who has won more card games then you lives in Appleloosa. He only plays locally though" the pegasus says. The mention of her home town makes her a little sad. "What's the pony's name?"

"A stallion by the name of Braeburn" the pegasus says. The mention of his name brings memories back from her foalhood in Dodge Junction. When she was a foal she won every card game or any game you could bet on there was. She won a bag of candy playing jacks once. Then she was challenged by Braeburn. They were playing crazy eights for her golden poker chip. Her father gave it to when she won her first poker game and earned her cutie mark. To her shock Braeburn had beat her and she had to give up her priceless chip. "Mind if I put your winning streak in Ponyville's newspaper?" the pegasus asks bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Sure thing Mr." Royal Flush says. When the pegasus flies off Fire-heart notices Royal Flush is deep in thought.

"Ye ok there Royal?" she asks.

"I think I'll make a special trip home" Royal Flush announces.

"To dodge junction?" Fire-Heart asks sipping her apple nectar.

"No, to Appleloosa" Royal Flush says, "Braeburn is an old challenger of mine from my foalhood".

"Ah, he be the one who took ye chip" Fire-heart says. Royal Flush nods as she stood up and started her wings, "promise me you won't fly home if you drink more than two cups of nectar".

"Ye got me word lass" Fire heart says as Royal hugs her and flies off. The next morning in a saloon in Appleloosa everypony was congratulating Braeburn on his big card game win the night before. "Wow cousin, glad I picked the right time to visit" Applejack says, "I've never seen ya play before and to see ya win is even better".

"Ah shucks AJ, it's just luck" Braeburn says, "thanks to my golden chip" he pats his vest pocket.

"You're luck is about to run out Brae" he hears a familiar voice say. Everypony looks toward the door to a pony with her cowgirl hat tipped down standing there. "It can't be" Braeburn says.

"Can't be who?" Applejack asks looking at the mare confused.

"Royal Flush?" Braeburn says scrunching his eyes to get a better look.

"Yep, that's me" Royal says walking up to Braeburn and Applejack.

"Who is she?" Applejack asks.

"We're old friends" Braeburn says.

"More like challengers" Royal Flush says, "that chip ya holdin is mine" Braeburn scoffs at Royal Flush, "It was until I won it fair in square". Royal Flush scrunches up her face. "Fine then I challenge you to any game and the winner keeps the chip" All the ponies look at Braeburn.

"Deal" he said and everypony gasps.

"Name the game" Royal Flush demands.

"Crazy eights" Braeburn says with a wide smile. Royal's confident smirk falters for a minute, but she quickly regains it. "Let's play then" she says getting in braeburn's face. Applejack sets up the table and deals the cards. Royal Flush goes first. The face up card was a two of clubs. She places a five of clubs on top of it. Braeburn smiles and lays down a five of hearts. That sat Royal Flush back, she had no hearts in her deck. She had to draw and ended up with two aces before laying down a seven of hearts. The game went on. She had to play her hoof right. The suit of play was now spades. She only had one in her hoof. She lays an ace of spades down. Braeburn smirks and lays down his last card. A wild card. "I win" he says. Royal Flush was shocked. She thought for sure she had him this time. "Looks like the chip is still mine" Braeburn gloats. Royal's anger boils. "FINE!" she yells, "it's not likes it's the only thing you've taken from me"

"What are ya talking about?" Braeburn asks clearly puzzled by her statement. She sighs and looks at him. "I love ya Braeburn. I have since I was a filly. That's why I always challenged you to games" she told, "and one day when we found the land for Appleloosa I told you how I felt, but you said you didn't have time for unimportant things like mares when there was a town to be built. That hurt like nothing else had, so I left for Las Pegasus" Braeburn was stunned silent, "I see I should have stayed there" Royal starts to walk out of the saloon. "Royal" Braeburn calls walking over to her. She turns to face him and he kisses her. That took Royal Flush by surprise and she blushes a little. "I've always loved you too Royal" Braeburn admits, "that's why I tried my hardest to win against you in games to impress you"

"Really?" Royal Flush asks.

"Yes, and I'm sorry I said something so mean, I was so caught up in having a town for us settler ponies to live in I wasn't really paying attention to who said what to me" he admits, "when I found out you left I felt so sad, I missed you Royal"

"I missed you to Brae" Royal says and hugs Braeburn.

"And this is yours" he says reaching into his vest pocket and taking out a golden chain. Hanging from the chain was her golden chip encased in a heart shaped frame. Braeburn puts the chain around her neck and they nuzzle each other.