We were in the last few rounds of the game, and these next cards would decide my fate. I was the only one left, other than the dealer and not counting the recent corpses next to me, who had already paid in full. One card had been dealt, three remained, and I needed a spade to win.
“You know you can still fold…” the gentlecolt commented, a smug look on his face.
“Hit me,” I replied. The flip showed a blood-red five of hearts.
“Give up old bird, it isn’t worth it.” (Oi I’m not old!)
“Hit me,” I said with a little more power behind my words.
This time the king of clubs who seemed to be smiling at my misfortune.
“You ready to pay?”
“HIT ME!” I screamed in rage at this smug pony who seemed so full of himself. Karma has a way of working in the most opportune times, or when you scream really loud, and the final card showed a beautiful, sleek black ace; an ace of spades.
“Now then,” I said as the colt’s was consumed by surprise. “Tell me what I want to know.”
“B-but, I n-n-never lose. How?” He replied, his voice shaken “The old bird knows a few tricks; tell me, how’d you do that?”
I ignored his question and repeated my own, more firmly, and stretching the words. I was annoyed with this stuttering fool.
“Tainted R-rainbow, he dis-strubutes it. You can find him at the Dusty Egos,” he responded nervously.
“You sure?” I asked. “If I have to come back...” I said, shifting to look slightly more fierce.
“Of course not, sir!” He replied, a bit rushed.
“Good.” I said, as I strutted out through the doors, back to the Egos and this Tainted Rainbow.
When I got there I was met with the same cheery bartender as last time. I smiled as I hollered, my face beaming. “How are ye?”
“I thought I told you to get lost. It growled in a low voice that sounded like metal scraping bone.
“Now why would I do that?” I asked.
“Well for one, I don’t like ye, you annoy me,” he mumbled.
“What do you want!?” he demanded.
“Do you know the muffin mare? I replied
“AHHHHHHHH!” “I QUIT! IT AIN'T WORTH IT!” he yelled, screaming in frustration as he bolted out the saloon.
“Well now that that’s done…” I started towards a pony in the back corner, “Tainted Rainbow I presume.”
“Perhaps,” said a cold voice, “You are either a fool or a genius, saying that.”
“Well I would prefer the second of the two, if you’d please.” I responded
“How you know he was my mercenary?” he asked authoritatively.
“He was in here this morning,” I said. “By checking the employee sign-in sheet on the desk nearby, I saw he got here at five A.M. It is now almost 5 P.M. and bars usually change their man at noon.”
“Impressive,” the cold voice responded. “But how did you know they change around noon?” he said, trying to stump me.
“I drink sometimes.”
“Well you got my attention, what do you want?”
“I require your assistance,” I stated. “It is a matter of grave importance.”
“Very well…” said the voice as he stepped into to the light, revealing a small. , scrawny, pale unicorn, with a strange gleam in his eyes. “I have many potions that could be of use to you.” His voice no longer matched his geeky demeanor.
“I need you to tell me what potions would have this residue?” I showed him the bag.
“Well, you must want to stay awake then.”
“Why is that?” I replied, casually leaning on the wooden support next to me.
“I use this plant as a sort of mix between an energy drink and liquid adrenaline.”
“Hmm… do you know of anypony who recently bought some?”
“Yes, but that would be a breach of their security and without a good reason I can’t tell you.”
“Great! How much?” I said with a sarcastic tone.
“Two hundred bits (two hundred bits! That is a small fortune!), take it or leave it griffon.” His voice was now suddenly harsh.
“Fine.” The winnings from my game earlier disappeared in a poof.
“I had three customers who bought this in the past week, a mercenary called the Shadow, a calm unicorn who need some for a patient, and some zany pink mare babbling about the best party ever.”
“You mean Pinkie Pie?!” I asked in utter confusion and surprise.
“Yes I do think that was her name. Why’s it matter?” he asked, clearly having no idea what could happen.
“You’ve just screwed us all!” I screamed, running off to find the fast way to Ponyville.
“Ah, easy money griffon should asked bout the side effects ha ha hope her marbles are still all there when he get’s to her it would be a shame to see it go." Smiling he turns to the new tender ” Bartender a Cider please I feel I have something to celebrate.”