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Chapter 5: Making Allies: Showdown at Los Pegasus: Part 1

Rain was falling torrents outside the shelter our group found in their way. Fire and chiche kebab sticks made of vegetables were around it. Applejack had eaten already and was laying on the ground, katana between her lap and meditating while Trixie was intensely staring at her Thane holding a piece of paper: It was a wanted poster she picked up back in Appleoosa. It read:

Wanted Dead or Alive
Vinyl Scratch codenamed DJ-PON the 3rd
For massive robberies, breakings and enterings and gambling
Reward: Five million bits
Facts: She loves gambling very much and was known as a disco pony in the past.

Fluttershy stared at the poster's profile and picture again and again: She only saw the mare once but never knew her but somehow she must be doing these henious crimes for a particular reason. She asked:

"Tell me everypony; where could be the best place for gambling in Equestria?" Of course she wasn't a pony that went out a lot in her previous life and adding her absence to that she didn't know anything about the world. Applejack facefaulted from her meditation and Trixie gasped:

"M-my Thaaaane! What are you thinking? Are you really into-" she was interrupted by a glare.

"Of course not! It's because of this!" Fluttershy shoved the poster into Trixie's face as she read it throughtly.

"DJ-PON the 3rd?" she thought aloud "What possibly sparked your interest about a criminal of that caliber, my Thane?"

"What? My Thane, with all my respect for you, I find this suicidal. Not only she's a wanted criminal but also you risk to blow your cover searching for her." she roared in outburst. Fluttershy just sighed and glared at her servant again, smirking evily.

"This is why I asked YOU what is the best place for gambling: YOU are going into a solo mission into that place and capture or convince this mare to join us. She's needed for the next phase of operations." she said pointing at her.

"Me? Why me? I am probably the weakest of the three of us and might not be able to engage close combat with a pony that is specialised in thivery and in consequence, in assassination and stealth." she asked reluctantly.

"No offense but Applejack is blind thus she can't play poker. As for me, well I never played anything my entire life except with my animals and my weapons so that leaves you, who was a travelling showmare, to confront Vinyl Scratch and convince her by any means to join our cause no matter what reasons she have to refuse!" she argumented flawlessly making Trixie sigh heavily before nodding.

"Oh alright! I'll do it!" she said, giving up "The most famous place for gambling is Los Pegasus or "The City that Never Sleeps". It is famous for its casinos and gambling tournaments since gambling there isn't considered as a crime and is regulated by Canterlot higher ups. The most famous casino there is "The Royal Trot": A place famous for its diamond briefcases which are considered as the prizes for its tournament but the participation fees are as outrageous as ever and the security is one of the tightest in the city but since you asked me my Thane, you must have thought about the money way ahead of me." Fluttershy nodded as she threw her a huge money bag containing a million bits (How did she collect all that money will be revealed).

"It's about time we had some money to spend. A shame that it will be spent on this mission. All right my Thane! I won't decieve you!" she said valliantly.

"Applejack and I will wait at the outskirts of Los Pegasus! Do not fail me, Trixie! The future of Equestria depends on it!"

"You have matured most than any of us have imagined. Just what is on your mind, Fluttershy?" thought Applejack as she went back into meditating.

Los Pegasus was indeed a city that never sleeps: Even at night time, every single building was illuminated as if it was a challenge to Twilight's moon and a sign of vivacity and neverending awakening.

Trixie, wearing her showmare outfit, was in the front of the huge building. The guard was interpelling her.

"You must be Miss Trixie Lulamoon! We were expecting your arrival" he said, putting a magnetic ring on her horn "I am sorry ma'am but these are the procedures here if you want to participate in the tournament. Nopony is allowed to use magic in the vicinity."

"I certainly understand that. Thanks for your concern." she answered as she entered the building. The latter's ceiling was covered in chandeliers all over the place and the green poker tables were all set with dealers shuffling and giving cards away to players. But her target wasn't these measly tables: There was a room with metallic doors; behind these doors were two golden tables, one of them was waiting for her.

"Welcome to the Royal Trot! Miss Trixie Lulamoon, isn't it?" the tournament's host said, she sounded female "Well we have been waiting for you. Please take a seat! The tournament shall start soon."

Trixie complied as everypony took his seat. The ponies were ten males and six females, including her.

"So one of these five is my target, huh? There must be a way to contact her without anypony noticing but how?"

"Fillies and Gentlecolts! The official Texas Hold'em up Poker tournament shall now commence. Everypony, stare in awe at your grand price: A sixteen million dollar diamond briefcase including the briefcase itself!" the curtains behind the host were revealed as the barrier-protected diamond briefcase appeared in all its glittering glory. Every spectator stared in awe and envy as the curtain suddenly fell down, thwarting their fantasies into oblivion.

"Now without further adeu, let the tournament begins: Eight players will play on each table. Each pony starts with 500.000 chips. The blinds are 5.000/10.000. Apart from that, it's a Texas Hold'em up Poker so let's rumble." Trixie blinked a few times : The host was definitly the most eccentric mare she ever laid her eyes on that's for sure.

The hands were dealt, chips were being played wisely. Trixie had lost a few of hers from folding at her small and big blinds but at her third hand she had a Two and a Five of Hearts.

Somepony at the table was hiding his smirk as he had a pair of Aces: An Ace of Spades and Diamonds. He called her bet leaving himself with only 30.000 chips. Everypony else on the table was folding as the showdown of the century was about to start. They revealed their cards.

"She's roast!" the overconfined pony said with a smirk as he saw her megre hand. Trixie just remained motionless.

The flop was dealt as the two remaining Aces of Clubs and Hearts and a three of Hearts: A roar of awe from the spectators as they were cheering on the luckiest stallion in the world.

Then came the turn which was the King of Clubs: Still being overconfident, the stallion cracked his hooves and cheered everypony and without even looking at the river card he reached for the chips.

"970.000 chips go to Miss Trixie Lulamoon!" this sentence coming from the dealer blew the stallion's mind.

"B-b-b-b-b-b-but HOW? I HAVE 4 OF A KIND ACES! SHE COULDN'T HAVE-" then he noticed the five cards on the table: There were the two Aces lying there along with the King of Clubs, the three of Hearts from before and the river card which happened to be a FOUR OF HEARTS.

"Straight Flush from Ace to Five of Hearts! Winner is Trixie Lulamoon!" the dealer confirmed again. In outrage, the stallion was going to attack Trixie but the host surprisingly jumped in his way and sucker hoofed him rendering him unconcious.

"My fair fillies and gentlecolts! I am sorry for this outburst but I'm afraid that Mister Horseshoe here is disqualified for breaking the rules therefore the rest of his chips go to Miss Trixie! Guards, carry him outside!" and with that settled, the tournament was still on.

Being the chip leader, Trixie kept folding lots of her hands making her only lose her big blind and small blind chips until someponies were knocked out until Trixie and two other gentlecolts were here. She noticed the tension going on with these two dukeing it out so she decided to interfeere by making an ALL IN with her 900.000 chips while glaring at them. Being afraid to challenge her, they folded thus losing their 500.000 pot to her, raising her chips to 1.400.000 while the two other have 1.600.000 and 1.000.000 respectively. Another hand was dealt. Trixie looked at her cards: She had a pair of sevens, Hearts and Clubs.

"Raise, one million chips!" she announced, pushing her chips to the center. One of the ponies, the richer one, had a Queen and King of Diamonds, was going for it.

"Re-raise, 400.000 chips!" he announced putting the amount of chips while the other pony folded. One thing was left to do for Trixie.

The flop was a ten and Jack of Diamonds in addition for the Seven of Diamonds: A three of a kind Sevens for Trixie and a Flush for the gentlecolt.

The turn came in as the missing seven of Spades: By now Trixie was sighing and the gentlecolt had his eyes into his sockets and his balls were tripping of fear and excitement.

"Please be an Ace of Diamonds!" he kept repeating the same thoughts all over but in avail as the river turned to be a two of clubs.

"I give up at this stage! I cannot make a comeback now!" the pony who just lost said.

"Me too, I cannot hope to best her as she is right now! I am sorry ma'am for not giving you a fair challenge." the other pony, who was afraid at this point, admitted. While recieving boos from the crowd, Trixie bowed her head.

The two ponies left the table, heads hunched as the host announced Trixie as the first winner. She was eager to know what the future will reserve to her.

A Sleeping Legend

by LE_MALEM

Making Allies: Showdown at Los Pegasus: Part 1