Ace in the Hole

[b]

Introduction

Everypony in the Hammerhead household was awaiting the celebratory feast in honor of taking control of Equestria.  The Hammerheads had been one of the first pony families to jump on board with the rapid industrialization that had spread like wildfire over Equestria.  As a result, the Hammerhead’s had become insanely rich and left their friends behind to gain more power in the pony eat pony industry.  Those that were successful at consolidating their wealth also became enormously powerful.  Nopony was satisfied with having dominance of their cities.  They all wanted absolute control of all of Equestria.  In a moment of weakness, the monarchy was overthrown and all of the industrialized ponies vied for power and, in the end, the Hammerhead household had won out.

Smoothtongue eagerly awaited this night’s celebration for she was the guest of honor.  She had spied for Hammerhead during the power struggle and was crucial in his succession to power.  Smoothtongue walked into the grand chamber where the feast was being held. A beam of light fell upon her as she strode to take her place beside Hammerhead.  Before the feast had a chance to begin in earnest, Smoothtongue proposed a toast.

“Tonight we celebrate the victory of our magnanimous lord Hammerhead,” Smoothtongue began.  The crowd responded with a roaring cheer.

"The generous Hammerhead has seen fit to name us as his most trusted advisors for our continued support.  Now I toast to his health, and I swear to follow him for the rest of his life."  Everypony in attendance vowed their undying loyalty to Hammerhead and, as one, drank their cider.

The first to go was a sickly pony, Maggie; she fell from the table choking while the other ponies attempted to revive her. Smoothtongue used this diversion to slip away from the crowd and took Hammerhead's daughter, Blue Bell, to her room. Smoothtongue told her a reassuring lie. "Everything is going to be fine, Blue Bell. I'll come back to get you when the commotion dies down." Smoothtongue gave Blue Bell a kiss and backed out the door. The last thing Blue Bell heard that night was the soft click of her door locking.

In the meantime, other ponies began to fall, their throats constricting from the poisoned cider. Everypony was dead within minutes including Hammerhead. Smoothtongue strolled into the room to look at her handiwork. The dead pony’s blood and urine were spilled across the floor. Smoothtongue walked through it and took a sip from her unfinished cider.

"Well this has just been a great precedent to my coronation," Smoothtongue said, letting her cup of cider shatter on the floor to mix with the fluids of the dead.