Play your cards right

~Once upon a time~

There was an old and wise king, a great king. He ruled over a vast kingdom. He had everything a great king should, power, wealth, love and luck. All his subjects loved and looked up to him, the land prosperous  and thrived, it was truly a golden age. Unfortunately the great king grew sick, and began to wilt, so started to begin preparations for the kingdom.

The king had four daughters, four princesses, each possesing a trait from the king. The eldest was the princess of power, she made herself into a great authority, somebody to both fear and admire, always working her hardest, she knew that ruling a kingdom took great responsiblitiy but also knew how privileged she was to have the position, and so used it to her advantage.

The second youngest was the princess of wealth, she basked in her father's riches and helped him manage the economy, she knew how to handle money and that it should be both saved and given away, she loved to lavish herself in luxuries and also loved to share these luxuries with her subjects.

The youngest was the princess of love, she cared greatly for her subjects and devoted all her heart to them, and everyone else, she knew how to handle political subject very well since everybody loved her so much, and she understood people's feelings better than anybody else, she felt what her subjects did and wanted peace between everybody.

The second eldest was the princess of luck, she was a very adventourus girl who, at first glance, would be deemed not suitable to rule, that is until you took into account the fact that luck was always on her side, whatever her gamble, whatever daring scheme or plan she had for the kingdom, she always seemed to have odds in her favour that helped her pull through.

The king could not give the kingdom away to just one ruler, since surely the kingdom would collapse with just one element of him, so he split the land into four different kigdoms; The Kingdom of Spades he gave to the princess possesing power, The Kingdom of Diamonds he gave to the princess possesing wealth, The Kingdom of Hearts he gave to the princess possesing love, and The Kingdom of Clubs he gave to the princess possesing luck. With each kingdom he also gave a king, tho help rule over the land, and a jack, to support them both, also two jokers to, as he said, "liven things up from time to time"

As time went by each kingdom thrived, the places of king, queen, jack and joker getting passed down throughout the ages, and they will continue to live in harmony as long as the kingdoms survive.

~~~

The crowd cheered after the end of the re-telling, even though they had heard about a thousand times before from the day they were born. However this time the story was special, this time it meant something, it was the story of their past, and now all four kingdoms were gathered together for a new chapter in their future.

Amethyst Star closed the book she had read out of with the utmost respect and caution, the book was of course centuries old. She bowed respectfully as the crowd cheered, following how she had practiced the day over and over with her famile, not ever doing one thing out of place. She went back to her original, perfect, posture and walked back to her place on the stage. It was then that she dared peek a look at the audience, at all those people watching her. Her heart fluttered with both excitment and fear.

She scanned the crowd and saw her mother, Derpy Hooves, holding up Dinky, her little sister. Derpy was crying with a giant smile plastered on her face, Dinky was grinning from ear to ear. Amethyst knew her mother was proud and Amethyst was quite proud of herself too. She had manged to complete her part of the ceremony without any mistakes, and if she hadnt been controlling every part of her body right then she would have grinned too. Yes, this was good. Amethyst was proud to be the new Jack of Clubs.

Sweetie Belle was shaking, shaking out of complete and utter terror. She couldnt, handle this, there was a queezieness in the pit of her stomach and she had a splitting headache, she was going to throw up. Her new jack, Amethyst Star had done her part perfectly, which she was both grateful for since it meant she would be in good hands, but it also made Sweetie even more nervous for what was to come next. She wasnt ready for this, her whole life she had been a princess, with no real responsibility except to smile for cameras, be pretty at important meetings, and be waited on hand and foot. Sure, Rarity had prepared her for this, but she was in no fit state for this.

Sweetie gave a nervous glance towards Rarity, a last pleading look for help. Rarity looked back and gave a small nod. Oh no, it was slmost time for it to happen. A voice broke through her thoughts as she realised that it was now time.

"The new Queen of Clubs, Queen Sweetie Belle, shall stand and take her vows." Fluer De Lis stated.

Spike gave Sweeties hand a small squeeze for reassurance. Sweetie stepped up to the pedestal and opened the book, turning to the right page.

"I, Princess Sweetie Belle of The Kingdom of Diamonds" she looked up at the crowd which was deathly silent, all eyes fixed on her. Everybody was watching her. She looked back down at the writing which her brain was having a hard time processing.

"Do solem.." She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Do sole... D-do solem..." Oh no, this could not be happening. She was freezing up, panicking, her mind was racing, she couldnt speak. She couldnt do this. She looked desperatly behind her for help and saw Spike. He smiled warmly at her, and suddenly his expression calmed her, she looked towards Amethyst Star who also smiled kindly at her. No, she could do this, with the help of Spike and her new jack she could do this. Sweetie took a deep breath.

"Do solemnly swear to fulfil all the duties and responsibilities of my new role. I do solemnly swear to live for my kingdom and die for my kingdom. I do take on my new role as The Queen of Clubs" Sweetie said, she was actually surprised at how easily she was able to say it.

The crowd cheered wildly as Sweetie Belle knealt down and allowed the criwn to be placed upon her head. She stood up again and walked back to her place beside Spike. She could see Rarity smiling proudly at her and Applejack wipe a tear away. She also very subtly grabbed Spike's hand and gave it a squeeze back. She swore she heard Spike chuckle.

It was now Spike's turn to take to the stage. Spike was a little nervous, but was actually more excited than nervous. He had been preparing for this day his entire life and honestly could not wait until that crown was placed upon his head. He waited expectantly for those words as he watched Trixie make her way up to the pedestal.

"The new King of Clubs, Prince Spike of The Kingdom of Spades, shall now stand and take his vows" Trixie stated, as she turned walked back to her place she threw Spike a little knowing smirk, to which Spike resisted the urge to role his eyes.

Spike walked up to the pedastal and opened the book to the right page. The crowd went silent, staring up at him, hanging on his every breath. It felt awesome.

"I, Prince Spike of The Kingdom of Clubs, do solemnly swear to fulfil all the duties and responsibilities of my new role. I do solemnly swear to live for my kingdom and die for my kingdom. I do take on my new role as The King of Clubs" Spike recited without missing a beat. The crowd cheered so loud Spike thought he might go deaf. He grinned as he knelt down and felt the crown placed upon his head. He made his way back to beside Sweetie Belle and Amethyst Star, smiling as he did.

Now came the final part. The new Queen, King, and Jack of Clubs all held hands and bowed together, thus marking the start to a new era.