Drilbur casually walked down the street, oblivious to all of the awkward stares that he was receiving from the many mares and stallions of Ponyville as he made his way towards the market square. Apparently everyone in town was still a little nervous of having a foot tall mole with huge claws walk around without a care in the world. He didn't even noticed the small children who were pointing and gawking him the whole time he strolled right down the street.
"Ah, the sun feels so nice today" he said to himself as he briefly stopped to smell a nearby rosebush. He sniffed a bit more with a soft smile on his face, enjoying the gentle fragrances before he noticed something important off the corner of his eye. Off in the distance was a collections of pavilions, huts, and stands that was all hustling and bustling with life. It was the market, and that was exactly where he was heading.
He pulled away from the flowers and began to make way for the market, eagerly awaiting to see all of the interesting knick knacks that are there, other than a wide assortment of food of course. After a couple minutes of sprinting, he came to the conclusion that running on foot just wasn't gonna cut it, not with his stubby little feet. So he clasped both his claws together and dove right into the ground, drilling underneath the earth at blazing speeds of up to thirty miles and a hour.
It had only taken five minutes for him until he popped his head out from the edge of the square, but not where he wanted to be. He peek over and all around, he was inside a large purple velvet tent of sorts. It gave off an exotic air thanks to the dim lighting courtesy of the low hanging oil lamp just overhead. Not only that, there were a variety of flowers and rare plants that don't appear to be native to the land.
Drilbur got up from the ground and started to wander a bit, seeing if her can find the exit. He walked pass some flaps and unknowingly entered a private room where a breathtaking female griffon, who was lounging upon a luxurious sofa while enjoying the sweet taste of some grapes, took notice of him. She eyed him curiously before speaking.
"Que? Who are you?" she asked.
"Dril, dril, drilbur!" Drilbur replied, causing the griffon to become flustered at his poetic words. She quickly hid a blush, batting a seductive eyelash at him.
"Oh, senior! What ways with words that you have. You should know that I have a soft spot for foreigners" she said as she walked over and picked him up before placing him beside her on the sofa. She stared deeply into his eyes, almost losing herself in his dark irises "You are quite the handsome one, aren't you?" she said as she caressed Drilbur's big nose. She petted him on the head, causing him to purr like a kitten. It felt nice to be petted like that, so much that he leaned in a bit closer until it felt like he was being massaged by an angel.
"Dril, dril! Dril, dr-" said Drilbur but he was hushed when the griffon placed one of her talons upon his mouth.
"Shh, shh... relax my darling" said the Griffon as she plucked one of the grapes from the vine "You must be famished. Here, allow me to feed you" she stated as she began to feed Drilbur.
"Mmm, this must be what it feels like to be a trainer's pokemon" Drilbur said to himself as he partook in another grape. Although he felt small in the claws of this cute bird, he wasn't complaining with the service he was receiving.
"It may have only been minutes, but it feels like I've known you forever" said the griffon in a flirtatious manner "Please mi amor, tell me your name. Whisper it in my ear..." she lulled.
"Dri-" but before Drilbur could finish, another griffon with a curly mustache stormed into the room, and he was positively fuming at the sight before him.
" *Gasp!* Carmelita! What are you doing with that... that extranjero!" he shouted in a hammy way like the actors do in one of those cheesy soap operas "How could you do this to me! After all that I've done for you!"
"I did it because I know this fine cabarellos here at least respects and loves me for the woman that I am, Salvador!" Carmelita shouted back with tears streaming down her face "When was the last time you said you loved me! When was the last time that we were alone together! When was the last time you held me and gently whispered sweet nothings to me!" she cried "You never care anymore! All that matters to you is money and your precious poker game!"
"But what does this fool have that I don't!" Salvador shouted back "Look at him!" he pointed an accusing talon towards Drilbur "He doesn't even look like he can stand his own! He's a scrawny weakling!"
"Dril, dril, drilbur!" Drilbur exclaimed angrily as he waved his claws around "Dril, dril, drilbur!"
"Oh? Acting all tough now eh? I know who you are, and I also know why you're here!" Salvador maintained his heated gaze on Drilbur "You're that exotic foreigner known for his extraordinary abilities in poker and seduction and you've come here to dominate this secret underground poker ring, no?"
"Drilbur?" Drilbur replied with a tilt of his head.
"Don't try to hide it! Your secret is out! Come! We'll settle this with a game!" Salvador shouted as he dragged Drilbur into a dark room where there was a poker table with three other seedy looking individuals hanging around it.
A single lamp hung up and it revealed all of the players that were participating in this high stakes game of underground poker. On one side was Hotshot, a stallion with a yellow coat, stetson hat and a cocky grin on his face. Beside him was Iron Will, minotaur and motivational speaker extraordinaire. And next to Iron Will was Davenport, proud owner of Sofa and Quills in Ponyville.
Drilbur was seated on the little stool adjacent to Salvador where he received an uncomfortable glare from the rest of his opponents. Although, Carmelita was right there beside him petting him and enjoying the annoyed look that came from her former lover.
"Enough!" Salvador shouted "The game is Texas hold' em! I'll see to it that you're out on the street once I'm though with you mister foreigner! Dealer! The cards!" he yelled.
Without missing a beat, the dealer expertly shuffled the cards and gave everyone playing two cards. Drilbur didn't know what he was doing, or why he had cards at all, so he just copied what everyone else was doing. He peeked at his cards for a bit, then he proceeded to make some shifty eye movements before regaining that dopey look he was known for.
Iron Will and Hot Shot couldn't hide the look of uncertainty that they had on their faces when they looked at Drilbur. Something about that smile of his made them fearful of his skills in poker. He looked so confident, like Lady Luck and Madame Misfortune were conspiring together for him to be victorious. To them, he was a wild card, that unknown variable that would come out swinging and screw up your whole game.
"Oh, he looks good" Iron Will whispered to Hotshot "I'm keeping my eye out on him"
"Don't worry mi amor. I'm sure you will be able to come out on top. I have complete and total confidence in you!" said Carmelita as she gave Drilbur a little peck on the cheek, causing his heart to flutter ever so slight. Salvador couldn't help but continue to glare at the foreigner who had stolen his woman.
It was here that Drilbur's time in the underground poker circuit began. Will he come out on top and win the girl? Stay tune folks.