Four Years Ago
A group of pegasi were standing in a straight line, waiting for their commanding officer to address them. Three of these pegasi were Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. For the past year, them and the rest of their squadron had been training their tails off every day for this moment. Not one of the pegasi dared to move a muscle or step out of line in any way. They had seen their fellow team members been kicked out of the academy for the smallest of slip ups. They were so close and they could not jeopardize their chances now. Finally, they were approached by an older pegasus stallion who wore a windbreaker with medals covering the front. The pegasi in line knew him as their commanding officer.
"So, you have managed to make it all the way to the end." the stallion began. "You must be very proud of yourselves." He stopped to stare at one of the pegasi. "Well don't be!" he yelled right in the face of the poor pegasus. "You may have made it here, but that doesn't mean your going to be top dog or anything." Finally, the stallion started to laugh. The pegasi in line were confused by his sudden change in attitude. "I'm just messing with you. I know it's been a hard year and I've been tough on you the entire time. You really should be proud to be here." The pegasus commander smiled. "Congratulations, team. You're now all Wonderbolts!" Now, the pegasi in line broke formation and began to cheer. They flew into the air and started doing flips and cartwheels. Others went to the older stallion and thanked and hugged him. However, Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot were not doing either. They were in the middle of deciding what they should do to celebrate.
"Want to go the Casino?" suggested Spitfire.
"Of course you would want to go there." remarked Fleetfoot. "You're at that place every weekend."
"What can I say? I'm the queen of the slots."
"Oh please, Spit. You've never played the slots a day in your life. You always head straight to the poker tables."
"Your point is?"
"My point is that you go to the casino way to often. Maybe you have a..." Fleetfoot was stopped when Spitfire jammed a hoof in her mouth.
"I do not have a problem." Spitfire said, taking her hoof out of Fleet's mouth.
"Whatever. I'm going to go celebrate with the others. Have a fun time gambling." Fleet said as she flew off.
"Fine!" Spitfire called after her. "Soarin and I will have a great time at the casino. Right, Soar?" Soarin, who had stayed quiet up to this point was finally forced to speak.
"Sure."
"Great!"
The pair made their way to the Cloudsdale Casino, one of the biggest casinos in all of Equestria. It had slot machines, a bar, poker and blackjack tables, and so much more. As soon as they entered, Spitfire led Soarin to the tables. They joined one of the poker tables and after placing their bits on the table, began to play. The two stayed at the table and played poker against the other ponies that came went. They did this for hours until Soarin wanted to leave.
"Come on, Spit. You've made enough bits tonight. We have our first real training in the morning, remember?" Spitfire just ignored her friend and continued to play. She and another pegasus were both about to show their cards. The other pony revealed a pair of queens, but Spitfire showed her cards had given her a flush. The pony stomped away angrily as Spitfire collected her money.
"What did you say, Soar?"
"I said we should leave. Seriously, Spitfire, it's time to go."
"I guess you're right." she said, beginning to follow him away from the table. The pair stopped, however, when the dealer called out to them.
"Wait, you two. I have an offer yo may be interested in." Spitfire immediately returned to the table, but Soarin hanged back. "I've noticed your pretty good, Spitfire. I don't think you would be afraid of one more game."
"I'm listening."
"How about this? One more game. You and Me. You win and I double all of the bits you won tonight. I win and I take them all back." Hearing the wager, Soarin flew back to the table.
"Don't do it, Spit. You already won so much. Don't loose it all just because of one dumb game."
"But, but...double the bits." Spitfire looked from her pile of bits to Soarin to the dealer and back to her bits. She knew Soarin had a point, but she could''t help herself from wanting to play. Finally, she made her choice. "You're on, dealer."
"Excellent! Let's play." The two agreed on a final game of texas hold'em and began the game. Spitfire was given her cards and saw she had double aces.
"Nice!" she thought, not daring to say it out loud to the dealer. The dealer flipped the first card over and it was an eight of spades. "Perfect."
"Since you're all in, why don't I just go ahead with the last four."
"Fine by me." So, the dealer flipped the other four cards, revealing a two of hearts, an ace of spades, a six of spades,and a jack of clubs. "Great! Another ace!" Spitfire, confident that she had won, showed her card and smiled. "Three aces. Beat that."
"Gladly." The dealer replied as he showed his hand. He had a seven and one of spades. Along with the ace, six, and eight, the dealer had gotten a flush! Spitfire let her jaw hang open as she realized that she had lost. She stood there, completely in shock, as the dealer took back all of her bits. "Sorry, but that's the way it goes." Spitfire fell out of her chair and onto the floor as the dealer walked away. She stared up at the ceiling until a voice made her look down.
"Spitfire?"
"Ya?"
"I think you have a gambling problem."
"Ya."
Present Day
Four years had passed since the night Soarin and Spitfire had become Wonderbolts. And every day, Spitfire regretted not listening to Soarin and declining playing the dealer. After that night, Spitfire was ready to admit she had a gambling addiction and asked for help. Over the next two years, Soarin and Fleetfoot helped her slowly shy away from her problem. Eventually, she had been completely cured of her addiction and promised never to gamble again. Spitfire managed to keep this promise for the next two years. At the moment, Spitfire was sitting in her office, looking at a photo that had been taken a while ago. It was of her on the night she had become a Wonderbolt. In it, she was in front of the casino holding a sign that said, "I will never gamble again." Soarin made her do it because he thought it would help her addiction. In the end he was probably right because she hand't gambled in over four years. Suddenly, Spitfire heard the door to her office open. She sighed as she turned her attention away from the picture and towards the doorway. Spitfire was surprised when she saw Lighting Dust, the cadet she had kicked out of the academy a while ago, standing there.
"Hello, Spitfire."
"What do you want, Lightning?"
"What? Do I have to want something to visit an old friend."
"We're not friends and the last time I saw you you said you never wanted to see me again. What do you want?"
"I want to play a game?" Spitfire, recognizing that phrase and the movie it was from, quickly stood up.
"Woah, Lighting. don't do anything you're going to regret." Lightning, confused at her words, looked at Spitfire awkwardly before realizing what she had said.
"Not that type of game. I just want to play a quick game of blackjack."
"Uh, oh." Spitfire thought. In her head, that was even worse.
"And how about we make a little wager."
"I think I'm ok."
"Oh, what's wrong, Spit. Are you not still the gambler you used to be."
"How do you know about that?"
"I have my ways."
"Fleetfoot told you. Didn't she?"
"Yep."
"I hate that mare."
"Anyway, what do you say, Spitfire. One quick game with a wager?"
"What wager did you have in mind?"
"Even though you kicked me out of the academy, I can still join the Wonderbolts Reserves. I know you don't want that. If you win, I won't apply to join."
"And if you win?"
"I replace you as captain of the Wonderbolts."
"What!?"
"You heard me."
"You're insane."
"That may be, but I know at least a part of you wants to take me up on my offer." Spitfire knew Lightning was right. A part of her did want to play. Spitfire contemplated both sides of the wager. If she won, she would be free of Lightning Dust forever. If she lost, she would be replaced as captain of the Wonderbolts. She gritted her teeth as she tried to decide what to do. "What will it be, Spit?" Finally, Spitfire knew what she hat to do.
"You're on."
"Excellent." So, the two began their game. Lighting Dust shuffled a deck and gave her and Spitfire cards. Spitfire saw that she had a ten and ace. Lighting Dust looked at her cards before asking Spitfire what she wanted to do. "Hit or Stay?"
"Hit me." Lightning Dust gave Spitfire another card. Spitfire almost squealed in glee when she saw it was a nine.
"Hit or stay?"
"Stay." With that, Spitfire's turn was over and the spotlight was now on Lightning. Lighting handed her the deck and prepared for what came next. "Hit or stay?"
"Hit me." Spitfire handed Lightning another card and asked again. "Hit or stay?"
"Hit me." So, Lighting was handed another card. "Ok, I'm done. Let's show our cards." Lightning Dust said as she laid down her cards. Spitfire gasped when she saw Lighting had gotten a seven, a four, and two fives. That was twenty one. "So, let's see your cards, Spit." Knowing that she had lost the game and her job, Spitfire sighed and began to set down her cards when all of a sudden a pony burst through the door.
"Stop!" yelled the pony. Spitfire and Lighting Dust looked as Soarin entered the room along with two Wonderbolt guards. "There she is, guards. Lighting Dust. The one who snuck her way back here." The guards rushed at Lighting Dust and pinned her to the ground.
"Wait!" Lighting screamed as the guards began to drag her away. We had a deal!" Once the guards had left with Lighting, Spiftire and Soarin were left in the room alone. Soarin walked towards Spitfire and looked at her cards.
"Looks like you would have lost."
"How did you know what was going on."
"I talked to Fleet and she said she had told Lighting Dust about your old problem. I assumed she would try something like this and grabbed a few guards. Looks like I was right, huh?"
"What made you so sure I would have accepted Lightning's challenge." Spitfire then asked angrily.
"But you did."
"Oh, right." The two stood in silence awkward until Spitfire decided to speak up.
"Soarin?"
"Yes?"
"I hate Fleetfoot."
"Me too."
