Playing Cards

"Ah jus don' get it! How in Equestria did she loose?" Applejack shouted from the fields bleachers.

"Something minor in a duel can turn into something huge." Bruce said.

"What do you mean Bruce?" Spike asked as he turned to face the human.

Bruce stayed motionless, gazing into the abyss that was the dueling grounds. After a few moments bruce took a deep sigh. "When it comes to dueling, any mistake big or small is still a mistake. A simple thought perceived in overconfidence, can lead to a whole mess of problems. Dueling isn't just about luck you see, and it isn't just about skill either. It's all about the cards." He grinned like an aging man, relieving childhood memories. "A skilled duelist spots the right cards, and puts them in their deck, making sure no matter what card they draw, they'll always stand a chance. A lucky duelist just overloads their deck with level 8 cards and hopes for the best. A true duelist doesn't make a deck, he lets it come to him. Wait, and all the right cards will come; whether you're in a duel or not."

"That's some fine rhetoric son, but my daughter has already won."

The misfit group of Bruce and his new friends turned were stunned to see Filthy Rich standing right hehind them, in a "simple" gbright into his eyes. suit and tie.

"And the rest of the Rich family will be winning too. You might as well cut your losses this early in the games, I think I would too if I had a failure of a sister. Sorry, I meant family." He chuckled.

"You'd best be watchin' yourself Mr. Filthy. The Apple family can whoop yer little Filthy family intah tomorrow." Applejack said staring right into his eyes.

"Oh Celestia whatever shall I do? A bunch of farmers are going to duel me. You should be thankful I haven't bought your pathetic farm yet. I would love to stay and chat, but I need to congratulate my daughter on her astounding victory." With that, Filthy Rich trotted off to find Diamond Tiara.

"What a meanie. Applebloom may not have won, but sure is a lot nicer then that talentless Diamond Tiara." Pinkie Pie said.

"Thanks Pinkie." Applejack said. "Ah really appreciate yer standin up for me."

Standing up for you? I'm sitting down for myself." The pink mare planted herself on the glass like seats. "I don't know ifvhe knows it or not, but I'm a farmer too! And a rock farmer at that! Considering he gave birth to some pony who wears a worn out tiara, trying to be some sort of important pony in her silly little classroom-"

"Would you guys chill out? You'll have plenty of time to get back at anypony later on. You're starting to cause a scene." Spike reasoned. The two farmers nodded and shook hooves. Pinkie Pie's hair was just starting to to lose poofyness. "Plus," He added. "I have to calm my nerves. You two arguing won't help them, or anyone else's nerves."

"Spike's right. Hey, why don't we check out the other dueling rings? Their matches are just about finishing up." Bruce suggested.

"Eh, why not. No harm in watchin a few matches." Applejack said.

With that, they trotted off to the pegasi ring, and saw Fluttershy, still in mid duel. They decided to instead see the unicorn circuit, and the current battle between Trixie and Lyra. They did this out of respect for Equestria's shyest mare, she was already under enough pressure as it was after all.

Trixie looked at her cards, and back at her still unnamed pet frog. The critter was eyeing Lyra and her respectable outfit. However it wasn't Lyra's turn just yet, it was Trixie's. She had all the time in world of course, there are no time limits when it comes to a duel. She was also winning. It was partly due to her general practice of Equestria's newest sport, but mostly due to her little green friend; as unbeknownst to her, (or even the princesses for that matter) her "frog" was quite special.

As the four took their seats Bruce eyed Lyra and her equipment. Despite her two metal hoofbands, and her spiked up hair, (a very pitiful attempt to imitate a certain someone's hairstyle) Lyra was still losing. Nopony knew it better then her. Except for that frog perhaps, he knows a lot of things.

"Looks like tha shows almost over sugarcube." Applejack said to no one in particular.

"Indeed. I think Trixie has this one." Bruce said.

Lyra's ears perked up at the sound of that voice. Was it really him? She whipped her head around and searched the glass bleachers; and within seconds, spotted him. He was the only human there after all. With a loud squee, she galloped away from the field, and her cards flew high into the air. Trixie's green little friend turned it's head to the side, and hopped off to Lyra's side of the field.

"Human!" Lyra shouted as she plowed through the highly confused pony crowd, and right into Bruce.

The brown gamekeeper paused, then shook his head and turned to the audience. "Well then. Lyra Heartstrings, you are now disqualified from the match. Trixie Lulamoon, congratulations, you win by default."

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is pleased by this. You were wise to surrender little hayseed." Trixie mused.

As she said that, her still unnamed frog hopped over to the mare and landed in it's favorite place, her mane. Luckily for him, Trixie had gotten used to that habit by now.

"What's that in your mouth?" The light blue mare used her magic, and removed a very soggy card shaped object.

"Hey! What did we say about eating cards? Get that frog out of here!" The gamekeeper said.

"Calm yourself. The Great and Powerful Trixie will dispose of the card." With that, the card vanished in a flash of blue light. "Watch yourself peasant." She murmured to the frog.

"Ribbit."

"I catch that frog with a card again and it's going to be dissected understand?" The gamekeeper asked.

"Yes, Trixie and her pe-slave understand."

"Celestia Lyra! Leave the poor guy alone!" Applejack said.

"Sorry." Lyra said. "But that was definitely worth it." Lyra tentatively got off of Bruce and smiled.

"What's the matter A.J? Jealous?" Spike said with a smirk.

"No. Ah sure as buck ain't no filly fooler. Ya'll know that." She said with a slightly irritated tone.

"I don't mind." Bruce said patting Lyra on the head. "So soft....." Bruce rubbed his face in Lyra's coat. "Your mane is a different story though." He said, muffled by her fur.

"Awwww! You two look so adorable!" Pinkie Pie said. "You should go on a date!"

"Very funny Pinkie." Bruce said as he rolled his eyes.

"No I'm super duper serious!" The pink mare shouted as she bounced around Bruce and Lyra. "I'll start making dinner reservations right away!"

Pinkie Pie sped off in a streak of bright pink, leaving the two "lovers" together with Spike and Applejack.

As Pinkie Pie ran out of the dueling room, something caught her eye. It was a card.

"Ooooohhhhh!" She said. She picked up the rectangular object, but instantly dropped it. "Ew ew ew! Frog saliva." With her back hoof, she kicked the card far off somewhere into the royal garden, near the statues.