The Life Gambler (reworked)

by dramize the feral

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Anthro, Crossover
Length: 3644

False Deck was just a you average card playing assassin pegasus of the Black Ravens, killing contracts without fail until some changlings made him an offer

False Deck was just a you average card playing assassin pegasus of the Black Ravens, killing contracts without fail until some changlings made him an offer.

Came up with this one on a whim

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-06-17 23:31:14 UTC

Chapter 1

"So this is the place a little run down for canterlot but that's what makes it a gem in this boring city."  Said a ruby red pegasus with a spiked jet black mane and tail he wore a white jacket with red spade and club symbols on it's seam while black diamonds and heart lined it's collar. he walked into the aged little bar  the air inside was stale and heavy with the smell of alcohol and cider. He move quietly to a table each step shifting his jacket revealing his cutie mark aces of each suit with a small mark of blood. Siting down he pulled out a deck of playing cards and piece of paper which he studied then folded back into his jacket before ordering a small glass of cider and setting up a game of solitaire as he was watching the ponies around the bar until.

"OK ELDER BERRY IT'S TIME TO PAY UP!" Yelled a solar guard at the elderly cream colored pony with silver blue mane behind the counter as his squad walked in behind him.

"Gilded please I just need more time please." begged Elder Berry as he offered Gilded a drink only for him to knock it away.

"More time." Gilded laughed. "YOU HEAR THAT BOYS HE NEED MORE TIME!" Gilded yelled as he grabbed Elder by the neck and picked up the old stallion. his squad laughed and block any ponies that tried to help the old bartender. "Listen here you old fossil your out of bits and I'm out of patience so here  what I'm going to do. I'm going to let my boys let out some steam on your bar and then you are going treat us all to your finest wine. Then I will be back tomarrow for the bits got it." Elder looked down at Gilded with a glare as Gilded dropped him and stepped on his chest. "Good now. EVERYPONY GET OUT IT NOW IT NOW A PRIVATE PARTY UNLESS YOU WANT TO CROSS ME GILDED SOUL." Everypony ran out except for the ruby pegasus, The bartender and Champaign colored unicorn mare with a blue mane that just walked out of the back room with a keg in her magic.

"GRANDFATHER!" The mare screamed dropping the keg about to run up to Elder only for a guard to grab her and hold his sword to her throat .

"COLA! SHE NOT A PART OF THIS LET HER GO!" Elder screamed only for Gilded to press his hoof down harder on his chest silencing him.

"Who said you could speak fossil. But she may be able to pick up you tab. What do you think boys?"

"YEAH!" The squad screamed as causing Cola and Elder to go into a silent panic.

"Excuse me." Said the pegasus as he picked up the last card pile and started to shuffle his deck with unbelievable speed.

"What do you want."

"Did you say your name was Gilded Soul?" He asked re-shuffling his deck.

"Yeah what's it to you?"

"Not much but I'm here to kill you." He said not even looking a Gilded as he still shuffled his deck even faster to the sound of the guards move laughing as they surrounded the shuffling pegasus.

"Ah look boys we have a comedian well mister comedian you know my name will you tell us yours before we beat you into a bloody pulp."

"My name. Oh ok it's False Deck." All the guards stopped laughing and stared at the pegasus fear was plastered on their faces and they started to back up.

"You expect me to believe that your False Deck the pony who a week ago kill five of the seven biggest business owners in Equestra in one night."

"No no."

"See boys a comedian their noth-."

"Six you forgot one mister Luminous Coin my employer for that job who vanished later that night. I believe your still looking for him you should check his underground safe." interrupted False.

"Wait if he was your employer why did you kill him?" Ask a guard as he moved slowly toward the door.

"You know if you don't pay an assassin in bits you pay in experience and boy did mister coin experience a painful death for trying to cheat me." The squad was silent as False passed his deck back and forth letting each card pass between his hands. "So are you going to run or are going to fight because if you run I won't chase you but you'll die before you touch the door but if you fight you'll die before your first punch even misses. So it's your choice die trying run or die trying to fight."

"Hold on who's your employer and what ever their paying you I will double it just back off."

"Your contract is an interesting one because I'm doing it for free." False said downning the rest of his cider.

"What?"

"You see all life has value and yours has very little value and when an old friend comes to me and asks to take care of a guard that was harassing her grandfather. I asked for his name and rank she tells me caption Gilded Soul and asks how much. So I tell her killing guards are beneath me but as a favor to her I would do it so here I am." Gilded stared at Cola who just smiled back knowing his time was up.

"KILL HER." Gilded yell at Cola's captor only to see a card fly across the room and imbed most of it's self in the guard helmet then his skull until he dropped dead allowing Cola to run to Elder helping him up so they could both watch their problem disappear. The guards were split as some followed Gilded to the door while others tried to avenge their fallen friend.

"So that's how you want to die fine. Coward." False kicked back out of his chair and jump up then using his wings to get a little higher then he tossed out five cards at the one who were fleeing and four at the one who tried to fight then it was over as all the guards drop. The fleeing ones had cards in the back of their necks deep enough to say that their neck vertebrae was severed and the fighting ones had the blood poring out the back of their heads through the card shaped holes in them. "May the king of hell have mercy on your souls." False landed an bowed to the corpses and walked to the door before turning to the only other alive ponies in the bar. "Cola you should call the guards before you get pinned with their deaths and they can help you clean up."

"Thanks false." Cola said blowing him a kiss.

"Happy to help." False walked out the door and flew away to his game shop at edge of town as he walked inside a red and a black blur tackled him the black blur was a colt pegasus colt with a red mane and a katana on his back in a white sheath with symbols like the one on his brothers jacket and the red blur was a earth filly with a white mane and a black belt with a white sack with the symbols on it as well both were wearing the same jacket was False.

"Big brother you have customers." They said at the same time as the filly pointed at the three changelings that were staring them.

"Hello False Deck our queen has a job for you." Said the middle changeling before they shot out a webbing taking them by surprise then knock them out.

Chapter 2

"Uhhhhh what hit me and where are we?" Asked the colt as look around after waking up to find that they were in a large dark tunnel like room with crystals and webbing that glowed a soft green which helped the long smooth black table stand out which his brother and sister were already sitting at.

"Ahh Wild your awake."

"False where are we and why are we here?"

"Well we're in the Changeling kingdom and it appears we are waiting for our host who appears to have a job for me. So take a seat wild."

"Ok bro." Wild pull out a chair and took a seat across from his sister who was staring off into space. "Hey Royal bit for your thoughts."

"I don't like being kidnapped so I want those three changeling that brought us here." Said Royal as she kicked up her feet and laying back in her chair.

"Good evening." Said a new tired voice in the room which caused Royal to jump making her fall backwards which caused both boys to stifle a laugh as his sister got up and sat back down pouting. False turned to Chrysalis breathing heavily and being held up by a drone with cracks on his shell on her left her cobweb like mane was tangled and messy, her chitin shell was riddled with cracks and her right eye was hazy and white. Hiding behind her was a young changeling with a small black tiara and red where the other changelings had their sea greens her body was thin and her shell was segmented more with small tuffs of black or red fur coming from between each segment but the thing that stood out the most was her wing which was an odd mix of dragon and butterfly wings.

"Good evening queen Chrysalis and princess Pupa." Said False as he got up and bowed to chrysalis' surprise.

"I understand you knowing me but how do you know my heir."

"I like to learn more about potential targets. So now I have to ask who is my target?"

"Targets." Said the drone

"Targets?" The three ponies said with a smile.

"Does this mean we get to do a mission with you this time brother?" Asked Wild as he and Royal started to beam.

"That depends who are the targets."

"They are." The drone pulled out a file and levitated to False who flipped through it and slipped it under his arm.

"So you want me to go after these six mares should be easy don't look to tough so yea you two can come along."

"Three."

"Three?" The three said confused.

"I want my heir to learn what it's like to kill but I can't take her to do so and my drones can't keep up with her." Said Chrysalis before she started to wheeze.

"That makes since you altered her to make the next generation of changeling more powerful, but who am I to be trusted with the future of your hive. I'm just an assassin"

"The perfect mentor." She said as coughed up some green blood.

"How do you know I won't kill her?"

"I studied you. you don't kill or allow children of any kind to die."

"True. Now any more details."

"You are going to stay in Ponyville close to the targets we will supply you with a house to do what you want with and to keep after you job is done. You will protect princess Pupa while you blend in. Take your time we don't want a mistakes but hurry our queen doesn't have much time left in this world and if our queen does die before the hit is complete then we want you to train the princess in your ways." Said the drone Chrysalis as Pupa started to hug her mother why Chrysalis trying to hug her back. "So what is your answer." False looked the scene before him with no emotion.

"Ok then."

"Great you will find your pay in the house we provided." The changeling said as Chrysalis lightly tapped Pupa and slightly pushed her toward False. Mother and daughter locked eyes for a few minutes before Pupa hugged Chrysalis one last time before walking to False who pointed at wild and royal who look very confused.

"Lets go. Pupa we are relying on you to show us the way out." Pupa nodded and started to run down a tunnel leaving a trail of tear behind her False, Wild, and Royal followed keeping pace with the speedy changeling and reaching outside with in a hour. "Royal come here we're taking to the skies."

"Right." Royal said as she moved closer to False. She jumped up and was caught by False as the rest of the group took wing  following False to Canterlot.

Two weeks later.

"False are we their yet." said a white unicorn filly with a extremely long curly black mane and tail wearing the same jacket as False.

"Soon Pupa... I mean Ante Kicker sorry still not used to that name." Said False as he was holding a string which was tied to a cloud that held all the parties stuff on it.

"Well it's been two weeks get used to it" said Pupa with an annoyed tone."

"Is that the town brother?" Wild asked

"Uh yea sooner than I thought I guess were here."

"Good I was getting tired of walking I should have taken a pegasus form."

"to tell you the truth, me to." Said Royal making an exhausted face

"Same with us." Said Wild and False

"Anyway let's see where our new house is." False pull out the folder and flipped through it until he hit a map."Its supposed to be next to the library so not much farther. let's get going you three were almost there." Then a collective growl was heard. "After we get something to eat."

"Yea!" shouted the others. But as soon as they crossed thresh hold into Ponyville. they were showered with confetti. "What the-."

"HELLO AND WELLCOM TO PONYVIL- YOU!!!" Yell Pinkie Pie popping out of nowhere with all the worlds enthusiasm which turned to anger when she saw False who she through a punch at only for False to sidestep and trip her.

"Umm do I know you?"

"YOUR THE ONE WHO RUINED LIFE GUARD'S BIRTHDAY!" Pinkie screamed getting back up to attack again only to be knocked back down.

"You were that party pony at the Honor Guard job. Now I remember, poor kid having his father die on his birthday."

"Because you killed him. So Who are you going to kill while your here?" Pinkie got back up and took another swing.

"And I should tell you, why." False said knocking Pinkie down again with ease. "As much fun as it is knocking you down I have to get these three some lunch so see yea. Come along you three." False walked away toward the ruins of the library

"Right False." Said Royal as she walked ahead following False

"About time it was boring watching you knock her down over and over again." Wild said following Royal as Pupa followed him silent and looking at the ground. After a few minutes the made it to the remains of the Golden Oaks library.

"So this is where the library once stood it's a shame really all that knowledge, gone." False walked up and touched the tree then walked away. "Ah theirs the house it's a nice size to enough room for me to reopen my games shop." False said after an hour of searching with an hay burger in hand before putting the burger in his mouth and pulling down the moving cloud until it hit the ground and tying it off. "You three unpack I'm going to go shopping.

"We got this you do your thing False." They said together as False flew away they got started moving items in side while a Pinkie was watching from the shadows until False came back to help having them finish up as the as the moon came up.

Chapter 3

"PUPA ROYAL WILD IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!" False yelled from their new kitchen as he was making pancakes hearing a few minutes later the sounds hoofsteps rushing down the stairs as he put a stack of pancakes on the table.

"FIRST!" Yelled Wild as he skidded into the room jacket over his shoulder before grabbing of hot peppermint tea on the counter and sitting down.

"SECOND!" Yelled an undisguised Pupa entering in the same manner as Wild before grabbing a cup green tea and leaning on the counter.

"Laaaaaast." Yawn Royal as she walked in dragging her jacket grabbing a cup of lemon tea and taking a few sips.

"Morning foals."

"Morning False." The three said before Pupa and Royal took their seat and they started eating.

"So False what's the game plan for today."

"Well we'll finish setting up shop and then your free for the rest of the day."

"Great I wanted to explore this place see if there's anything cool.

"I want to find out if theirs a actually standing library in this town.

"Funny anyway I'm gonna go with Wild check out the town.

"So everypony has a plan.

"Yep.

"Perfect." False sat down with a plate and started eating and few minutes later they stopped eating got up and got to work.

Meanwhile in the Everfree forest Fluttershy was halfway from Zecora's hut with some medicine for a sick bear that wondered to her cottage when she saw a red blur chased by a chimera with a long slash on the left side of its goat head. Fluttershy dashed to them to see what was happening she hid in the bushes ready to jump in just as the chimera cornered the blur which was a red fox with a round silver container in its mouth. The fox was just staring at the the angered chimera as it inched closer All three heads Leered at the fox who showed no reaction. The chimera pounded on the fox grabbing it with its lion head trying to crush it with its jaw's. Fluttershy jumped out of the bushes in a rage.

"HEY PUT HIM DOWN RIGHT NOW! Fluttershy yelled the chimera turned clenching its jaw tighter as it gave Fluttershy a hate filled glare. "I SAID PUT HIM DOWN!" Fluttershy closed her eyes to activay her stare but she heard a cracking followed by a sickening squishing sound her stare fell apart as she saw the limp body of the fox on the ground its ribs sticking out of his back pouring out blood and a happy chimera which was turning to leave. Fluttershy was heartbroken she walked over to the dead fox, eye watering more as she got closer to the pool of blood the silver container moved for the beast jaw then snapping and tearing was heard. Fluttershy couldn't move for what she saw terrified her more than anything she could ever think of the chimera turned to the sound flames dancing around its mouths but before it could react a sharp tendril pierced its heart before it dragged it to in to a mass of blood red tendrils and ivory blades. Fluttershy flew way as fast as she could to her cottage but she could still heard the crunching of the chimera's bone inside the mass she flew faster than she ever thought she could leaving a pink streak behind her. She landed in front of her cottage ripped open the door and slammed it shut behind her before barricading herself inside. "I'm safe, I'm safe, I'm safe." She kept repeating to herself over and over until she saw a lumbering shadow that got smaller as it pasted her home. "I'm not safe I'm not safe I'm not safe." Fluttershy had stayed in a dark corner of cottage for three hours as her animals gather around her trying to comfort her and guard her until a knock was heard the door.

"Fluttershy, Fluttershy darling are you in there."

"Rarity?"

"Fluttershy you missed our spa day is something the matter, are you ok?" Rarity could hear shifting before Fluttershy opened the door.

"Rarity get inside quickly theirs a monster out there.

"Well of course their monsters out there it's the Everfree forest.

"No no this one new a beast I've never seen before.

"A beast you say, you never say beast come on let's head to Twilight she might be able ease your troubles or at least tell us what ever you saw." Rarity grabbed Fluttershy and walked out of the cottage moving quickly until they made it to Ponyville where they met with Rainbow Dash and Applejack while they were talking.

"Hey Rares and Shy what's up?"

"Fluttershy seems to have had a fright with some new creature in the Everfree so we're heading over to Twilight's to see if she has a book on what she saw. Anyway what were you two talking about?"

"The weirdest thing I heard theirs a new family in town."

"Really? I don't remember a party. Did we have a party and I don't remember?"

"No we didn't and that's one of the weird parts in fact I over heard two mares gossiping about how pinkie knew one of them and actually tried to fight the stallion of the group only to be thrown down over and over again until they left."

"Ok that is odd you think we should talk to pinkie about it."

"Yes if we can find her no pony has seen her all day."

"Well then after we head to Twilight's we'll fine Pinkie."

"Ummm excuse me."

"Oh hello."

"Hello I-I-I'm n-n-n-new in town a-a-and I was w-w-wondering."

"Yes."

"Doyouknowwherethelibraryis." Pupa said extremely quickly as she lowered her head.

"Well the library was destroyed but I think there is a place we can take you instead. Just follow us "

"Hey don't you think Twilight would mind?"

"I don't she will after I explain."

"Ok then if ya say so, lets go."

Chapter 4

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.