A Dangerous Gamble
"Keep moving North Star," The exasperated Firefly called out. "they're gaining on us!"
"Now don't you be tellin me to hurry up, you ninny!" The other Pegasus shot back. "You just worry about your own skin!"
The two ponies shot though the sky, dodging this way and that between the clouds to avoid lightning bolts. What had started out as a simple journey- departing from Dream Valley, and flying south across the Ponyland confederacy- had turned into quite a challenge when they passed over the badlands. The pair had run into a tribe of angry cloud gremlins in a nimbus they had passed through. Enraged at being disturbed, the disgruntled fay had given chase through the skies, leaping from cloud to cloud and hurling weather of all kinds at the two.
"Get the ponies! Get the ponies!" One of the shadowy monsters cried, his purple form barely visible as he hopped behind a fog bank. "Hit em' with a cold front!"
A blast of icy air blew from another cloud, sending the two mares spinning out of control.
"Aieeeeee!" Firefly screamed, as she steered upward and rightened herself. "North Star, look out!"
The other mare dodged downward, and avoided a barrage of ice that shot right past her mane. A lightning blot shot out from the cloud above the two, and Firefly dove straight at her companion, knocking her out of the way.
"Hey, now cut that out!" The explorer mare snorted, ungrateful for the save. "I can bloomin' well take care of me own self!"
Another gale force wind blasted them, nearly blowing the two mares clean out of the sky.
"That does it! Now I'm mad!" Firefly snapped. "C'mon North, let's give these two a double rainboom that'll really send em flying!"
"Oh, very well, very well!" The other mare replied with a sigh. "A pity and can't just control the weather like our ancestors, and blow em' away with a tornado or something!"
The two ponies flew high, high into the air, stopping just below the edge of the atmosphere. Beginning a rapid downward descent, the two ponies began to build up speed, fields of energy crackling and sparking around them as they picked up speed. The gremlins saw two streaks of pink thunder roar towards the ground, when two rainbow-colored shock waves with a pink tint spiraled outward, vaporizing all of the dark storm clouds, and sending the mischievous little imps flying in every direction.
"Agahhhh! Stupid ponies!" One of the gremlins screamed, as he was sent flying over the horizon. "We will have our reveeeeeeenge!"
"Wow, we were so amazing out there!" Firefly exclaimed excitedly, as the two ponies flew back up into the sky. "Did you see the looks on those little punk's faces?"
"I hate to disagree with you, my dear, but that was hardly amazing." North Star Scoffed, flying up beside the other mare. "Oh, sure, in old Equestria a sonic rainboom might've been something special. But nowadays every Pegasus filly's pulled that stunt by the time she hits twelve."
"Hey, we sent those gremlins flying, didn't we?" Firefly snorted, flying a loop around the other mare. "Besides, I doubt your precious Daring Do could've pulled that stunt off like that!"
"She could've very well pulled it off, too!" The mare snapped back. But before the argument could continue, North Star noticed where they were flying. "I say, I do believe we have arrived, Firefly!"
The two ponies flew downward, and saw a vast desertscape unfold below them. In the middle of this barren sand heap stood what looked like a small glittering city . As the two ponies drew closer, they could see a shining metropolis filled with casinos and hotels. As the two mares landed, they noticed every type of creature- from Minotaurs to griffons to blarks to ratfolk- walking, trotting, and flying around the streets, conversing with each other, and going about their merry ways.
"I say, this place looks rather like Las Pegasus was supposed to in ancient times, don't you think?" North Star looked around. "Seems the reports were right on the Screens being into gambling."
"It's hard ta believe ponies used ta do shady stuff like gambling in the old Equestrian days." Firefly snorted, noticing that there were no ponies amongst the gathered races. "Those must be the Screerans, over there."
North Star's gaze followed where the other mare was pointing her hoof. Several black and white ostritch-like birds walked the streets around them, and stood guards at several of the doors to the casinos.
"Well, that confirms we're in the right place, but how are we going to get information on that pony digger?" The adventuring mare asked her companion. "Queen Majesty didn't even give us a name!"
"We'll have to have a way of gathering intel, without it seeming conspicuous." Firefly rubbed a hoof against her chin in thought. "Now what would an adventurer do..."
Looking up at one casino, the gliding griffin, The mare's eyes suddenly went wide with an idea.
"North Star, I think I got it!" The mare galloped over to one of the screean guards. "Hey you, I want to to talk to you?"
"Firefly, wait!" A concerned North Star asked. "What in the world are you doing?"
"Yeah?" The screean guard asked, looking the mare over. "Whatddaya want?"
"Well, my friend and I over there are new in town, and we have no place to stay. "Firefly batted her eyelashes innocently. "We were hoping that you might know where we could, maybe... get a job?"
"WHAT!?" North Star shrieked, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head. "Fly, what the hay are you doing!?"
"Hmmm, yes.. we do have some customers from races who are fond of ponies." The bird looked the two of them up and down. "Hold on, I think the boss just might have something for the two of you..."
...
That night, the casino was alive with the sounds of ringing slot machines, cheering victors at the roulette table, and patrons of every kind throwing chips onto the roulette wheel. Smoke filled the air of the screean casino, and currencies from all over the pony world flowed as fast and freely as cheap cider.
All over the floor, female griffins, female zebras, and many other creatures worked the floor, dressed in bunny outfits and leg high fishnets, and carrying drinks all over and talking to the various customers. But of note to many, was the new addition of two pink Pegasus to the bunny servers, balancing the drinks they served on their outstretched wings. Of particular note was the murderous glare one of the Pegasus bunnies kept giving the other one.
"Firefly, I swear I'm gonna bloody rip yer 'ead off when this is all over!"