//------------------------------//
// The Challengers 
// Story: Spike's Ponyville Poker Game 
// by SparityLoveisForever 
//------------------------------//


Prologue


The Pegasus ponies had truly outdone themselves with the storm that was raging in Ponyville at present. Everypony in town was well informed of this storm thus they were all at home safe and sound, yet there was one pony who had been out in the storm as the pony was arriving in the town. This stranger had just thrown open the doors to “Goldie's B&B,” a small hotel on the edge of Ponyville, a thunderous lightening strike behind him as he entered. The unknown stallion came in from the rain closing the door behind him like the ferocious winds behind him were nothing.

The stallion's large black hand coming up to the large fedora on his head then tossing it to the coat rack causing the hat to land perfectly on a hook. This revealed a large black and white Mohawk the first and last stripe were black. The newcomer was also wearing pair of goggles over his eyes. The straps of which were black and the casings for the lenses were white. He proceeded to hang his damp brown duster coat on the same rack. His clothes were now on display and consisted of first a fancy black long sleeve shirt with a high collar and and white buttons. Around his neck a white ascot was on display with unique mark, three small light blue diamonds, clearly the mark of the designer. His lower half covered by a custom pair of black jeans. Another look about the stallion would reveal a shoulder bag which had a very distinctive set of dice printed on the fabric of the bag. The dice on the bag had rolled a four followed by a three. He was about to move towards the counter to ring for service, when an earth mare came from the inner recesses of the building. She looked over the big zebra stallion, and he in turn looked her over.

The earth pony mare had an amber coat, a brilliant orange curly mane with a few simple curls of moderate orange. She was wearing a contrasting white button up shirt with a blue grid over it. The top two buttons of her shirt were undone showing off her gentle curves a little. Around her neck was an basic orange neckerchief with a similar yellow grid over it. Going down to her hips she was wearing a simple black belt and a blue skirt with a white grid which went down to her knees. She came out to see the large stallion in front of her, to which she fluttered her eyes a bit revealing her ocean blue eyes to him and said, “Howdy, Stranger. I'm Ginger Gold, mah friends call me Goldie. Don't see many zebra's round these here parts. Can I get ya a room, and maybe a warm meal?”

Looking into her eyes the stallion said, “That would be lovely, Goldie. I'd like to stay in town for a whole month with meals. Will this cover it?” He reached to pull something out of his bag, then he set a gem down on the front desk. It was a diamond the size of an apple, uncut, milky white and sparkly even in the low light of the inn at the time.

Goldie was blown away by the size of the diamond that was now sitting on her front desk saying, “If it's real, it certainly will purchase you a month's stay with meals and a tip. It'll take me a few days to get it appraised though, I'm no gem connoisseur sir. Please forgive me if I don't just take you at your word for the gems authenticity. I'll be glad to put you up while you wait of course business has been good since the coronation of Princess Sparkle. Oh, Darn, that's right, what's your name if you don't mind me asking?”

“Oh, just call me 'Lucky,' Goldie, all of my friends do. I'd be very glad to have that warm meal and room the rain almost started coming down right when I left this morning. I'm not real big on reading the weather report, it's fun not to know. Thank you for housing me while you get my payment evaluated.”He sighed a bit and moved towards what looks like the dining area on the first floor of the bed and breakfast. He pulled the goggles down around his neck showing off his purple eyes for a moment before closing them to rest them until his food arrived.


~~~~End~~~~of~~~~Prologue~~~~


Spike roused himself slowly from his new bed in the Golden Oaks Library. Then now teenage dragon had grown significantly and stood as tall as any average pony now. He had gone through two natural growth molts of his scales and had improved his size with each one. The last one had seen the growth of his wings from his back. Blinking his eyes open as the sun came into the tree-library he found it hard to believe he was the primary care taker of it.

It had been two years since Twilight's coronation in the early months following it she would return a lot to the library as her friends were not able to go to Canterlot very much, and yet at the end of that first year she had settled into her position unable to return as often as she would have liked to. In a letter Twilight had told Spike that she was leaving care of Golden Oaks to him now. Saying in her own words that it was the best way for him to assist her now. With all of Twilight's new royal duties to plague her she only had time to visit Ponyville once a month. She always sent Spike a letter at the start of the month telling him when it would be.

'I have certainly accepted and adapted to her new role as a princess quite well,' thought Spike. He let out a yawn and stretched his arms and wings as he slowly climbed out of the bed. Starting to head down the stairs to make breakfast for himself. He was very proud of his new-found height, as it meant less ponies ignored him or were walking over him in a line. 

While making breakfast Spike thought. 'I'll have to check with with the girls some time to day to see if they have anything to write to Twilight.' He had told them that he'd visit them at least once a week to check if they had something to tell her over a letter. Spike had told Rarity personally that if she ever needed anything that he was always ready to help her regardless of short notice. She had eagerly accepted his offer for help when ever she might need an extra hoof around her shop she was after all always glad to have her hero around.

What most of Twilight's friends didn't know is that most Friday nights there was a poker game going on in the basement of the Golden Oaks Library. Spike had begun hosting it last year about this same time after he received a gift from his older brother, Shining Armor, just before his birthday. Spike had received a box with a simple note attached to it in from the pony postal service. The note attached to the outside of the box read, “Open the box in private.” He took the box inside, then headed down to the basement feeling that would be private enough. After opening the box he found it contained two hundred bits, a set of what looked like a basic set of crystal empire crystal playing cards, and a new note. That note read as follows.

Hey there, little bro. I know Twilie won't like that I gave you this. Thinking I might be encouraging your greed. I give it to you directly as possible in the hopes that you'll prove her wrong. Since you saved the crystal empire I think you've really started to grow out of that. The cards a special set known as the 'Crystal Empire Luck Deck.' What that means is random chance governors the cards no matter how they're shuffled. The thin flexible cards are perfect for playing any card game. I gave you two hundred bits with these as I know Twilie isn't that flexible with your allowance. I'd like you start up a poker game to hopefully help you start earning some spare gold for that special somepony I keep hearing about. I know you can do it and keep your greed in check little bro.

Best Wishes,
Shining Armor.

Spike remembered the first time he flicked the claws on his hands over crystal cards, he had taken a look over each card noticing the heft and the weight. Each color had a special gem designed for it and every number and image were spectacularly designed. He had heard from Shining Armor later that only one set of these could be made over the course of a year in the crystal empire. With six of the initial bits Spike had made a unique coin that was required to play in the game, and enter the library after it had closed on Friday. He had decided upon five card draw for the game type after much deliberation, as it was easy to learn, play, and bet on.

`	All that was left was to round up six ponies who could play consistently; which turned his gaze from his closest friends in Ponyville, leading him towards a set of stallions. Whom he had admired seeing them as good examples of a gentlecolt. This set of stallions consisted of three ponies; the first was the bright red stallion from Sweet Apple Acres Big Macintosh, the second was the other big strong stallion known throughout Ponyville Creme Brulee, the last was a slightly forgetful stallion but one that was always true to the mare he was with that week Caramel. Now this unlikely trio with Shining Armor had unknowingly brought the little dragon up right as far as what a gentlecolt was supposed to be. Each stallion save for his older brother was asked, and each willingly accepted the chance to play a game for fun and bits. 

While Spike was passing out his three original player choices their bits, a bubbly bouncy pink mare had came up to him asking him what he was doing. It took about ten minutes for Pinkie Pie to get what he was doing, and another ten to give her a bit with the understanding of what it meant. Lastly he had made her Pinkie Promise not to tell any of the other girls about the poker game. After his brief encounter with Pinkie Pie, Spike began to wander through the town looking for a few other ponies to add to the game. 

Soon, Spike had found him self at Ponyville park taking a seat on a bench to see just who was out today, he noticed a few parents playing with their children, a tan earth stallion with a brown slicked back mane wearing a pair of sweatpants with an image of a quill and a sofa on them jogging through the park. Then as if out of no where a pair of Pegasi flew into the middle of the park, the first was a dark gray almost black stallion with a sky-blue Mohawk mane with stripes of light blue whom also had a pair of golden eyes, the second was light gray colt with a slicked back dark gray mane with stripes of a slightly lighter gray in it who had a set of purple eyes. Almost everyone in town knew Thunderlane and Rumble both for very different reasons. Spike knew Thunderlane as no good two timing cheater, whom had made Rarity cry. Most of Ponyville knew Rumble as the pegusai in his class with the strongest wing power. Then Spike had an idea why not invite Thunderlane to join perhaps he could get him loose a significant amount of money. Luckily the over confident Thunderlane agreed to Spikes terms.

Spike was explaining how things would work to Thunderlane, when suddenly a unicorn stallion came up to the pair  interrupting them. The unicorn in question was known around town as Perry Pierce he was known for being in some sort of business that kept him on the move a lot, yet, no pony knew exactly what. He insisted that he would be a better addition than Thunderlane and Spike decided to give him the last chip explaining to the pair it would be Friday's in the Golden Oaks Library.

Spikes trip down memory lane reminded him that he now had four games a month with his set of new found friends. Three of the games were twenty bit buy in's  the fourth at the end of the month was a one hundred bit buy in. That set of friends would arrive after closing time on Friday at the Library, present their claw dented bits, and be invited to out their money down on the table in the basement. The first game was the most challenging as Spike recalled everypony was close to winning though it had come down to Spike and Perry Pierce. Spike just barely lost the first game but, it was good for him to have the social interaction and he held no grudge for loosing.

Spike yawned loudly from his bed as he looked over at the image he had of Rarity on his bed stand. “I almost have enough for that night out with you Rarity. Karat will only be able to hold that sapphire flower through Saturday. You'll never have a better evening, if you don't want to be mine after that I guess I'll just have to let you go. It's not fair for either of us if after having a chance I mess it up that you still spend your time on me. Wish me luck lady Rarity.” Spike finished his spoken thought rising from his bed, then putting some clothes on going down to the front door. Unlocking the front door, thus opening the Library for the day.


 [1][6][2][5][3][4][4][3][5][2][6][1] 


Lucky was gently raising from the bed he had been given at the bed and breakfast. He would have to make a stop at the Library today before the game time. He remembered hearing about the game from Perry Pierce who he had won the entrance bit from. “I'm certain it's the set of cards you're talking about, Lucky. The cards never have a pattern I won the first sets of games because I had a bit better skill. But everypony's hands were always astounding. The dragon who started up the game said they were enchanted in the Crystal Empire to always be at the whims of lady luck.”

Tonight Lucky would know if the Pierce had been selling horse apples, or if the zebra was lucky enough to find a diamond in the rough. Since the return of the Crystal Empire only two sets of the cards had been made mainly, because it took a year to complete the ritual for imbuing them with pure luck. He had been at both tournaments to win them and had always lost at the final table. The final table always had the other seven best poker players in Equestia at it. Last year he had even taken second in the tournament, he lost to the husband of the Crystal Empire's Princess. That stallion could play the game better than anyone he had witnessed beside himself. It was impossible to tell what was on his mind when it finally came down to a head to head competition. Lucky only faltered in a few pots, but before he knew it his stack was gone. 

Lucky found the fact that he was part of a game that had the cards he had been wanting since his youth was very surprising. If things went his way he might be able to leave Ponyville with the thing he wanted. The night had left him well rested and was ready for the day ahead, getting out his bed he collected himself gathered all the things he would need and went down to have a wonderful breakfast. 'That Goldie sure knows how to cook.' he thought on his way out into Ponyville soon realizing he had never asked where the library was.

Lucky soon found himself walking along the  streets of Ponyville somehow guided toward the market district. He was wearing a shirt that matched what he wore last night as well as a matching pair of pants. He was also wearing his goggles over his eyes and his coat. The locals barely noticed the stranger in their midst he walked steadily with an uncompromising air about him. He looked over various shops of all sorts lining the buildings and streets even seeing a sign for a place called “Quills and Sofa's.” Passing by that shop he slowly came to a flower-stand of exceptional quality in his own opinion. He slowly bent down to sniff the enjoyable fragrance of the flowers, moving his head back up he saw the sales pony looking over the zebra.

Looking over the sales mare one would first see her white outer apron with a few grass stains on it and a red rose pattern on the bottom part of it. Secondly they would see that she wore a long light green skirt in a simple straight design. Her shirt was a simple burgundy red shirt which matched her mane. Her light creme colored coat extended down to her hands as she said, “ Can I help you sir? Looking for something for your special somepony?

“Oh, me? Ummm no. But could such a lovely and charming lady as you point me in the direction of the Golden Oaks Library?” Lucky said this with a smile and wink. Some of his friends who knew him personally always found his wit and charm with most ladies unfair. 

Rose proceeded to blush a little bit at his comment, the stallion chatting with her was very handsome in her own opinion. Being one of the few newcomers to the town in a while she kept her hopes up that he hadn't found anyone else yet responding with “Thank you kindly stranger, just follow the road to the left of me and it's a straight shot to the Library. You're looking for the big tree building. I'm Rose by the way.”

Lucky smiled back at her and said, “What a lovely name for such a beautiful mare. I'm Lucky. Please Rose, have a rose from your stand on me in thanks.” He finished his statement with wink, proceeding to place four bits on her counter for her rose's which were marked at two bits.

Rose blushed much deeper again as she picked up one of her better red roses attaching it to the apron she was wearing. The new stallion had left her with a warm gentle feeling and a smile on her face. She'd certainly hope he'd be staying in Ponyville longer than he planned on.

Lucky continued along the path  to the Library, which he could soon see the large tree-library coming into view just as Rose had said. He was soon at the front door coming in with out knocking it was a public building during the day after all. The sound of his hoofed feet echoed on the hard wood floors of the Library. He noticed a few other ponies looking along the walls  for their selections or just browsing. When he was approached by purple dragon who was wearing a simple tee shirt and a pair of baggy pants. Soon the pony sized dragon said in a pleasant tone,“ Welcome to the Golden Oaks Library. I'm Spike, is there something I can help you with today, stranger?”  Spike found it a little odd that someone had made it in under Pinkie's keen senses.

“Well hello, Spike. You can call me Lucky. I think I have something you might recognize.” Lucky reached into his coat pocket after withdrawing the special bit he had won from Pierce. He slowly placed it between his fore and middle fingers and proceeded to tumble the coin in-between the gaps of his fingers showing the young drake both sides of the bit in full detail upon finishing he deposited it back into his pocket. Spike gasped at the stallion holding bit if anypony was going to lose their bit to someone outside of Ponyville it was going to be Perry Pierce. 

Spike moved up to the unknown zebra and whispered in his ear, “Come back after close at seven thirty. I'll explain the rules to you then.” Spike moved away from him and made his way back to helping those who were looking at the shelves of books offering that their book may be in a different room. 

Lucky nodded in time for the drake to see proceeding to go right back out to the town. it was almost lunch time he figured he could get back to Goldie's in time.


BM@BM@BM@BM@BM@


The stoic red stallion of Sweet Apple Acres worked hard almost every day of his life,yet , his farming family always seemed to just make ends meet. His sister couldn't be bothered with things like fancy mathematics when it came to running a farm. She was always off with her friends when she wasn't doing some of the chores around the farm. His own friends had been dwindling since he had to spend more and more time out on the farm. The recent interest of his in a certain butter yellow pegasus hadn't help add to his free time or financial issues either. Nor did his sisters recent increased hijinks with a certain spectrum maned mare with a light blue coat. He was lucky that his youngest sisters antics had come to a stop with her and her friends finding their special talents.

Big Macintosh Apple had managed with his own allowance to find ways to pay for game with Spike. It was rarely more than a few bits from his finances especially when the big red stallion seemed to have a knack for winning the hundred bit games. He did seem to struggle with the lower pots for some reason or another. He had been twenty bits short this week, however agreeing to help Cheerilee and Mayor Mare with a few chores had netted him what he was missing this week. 

Big Mac was a strong and silent type of stallion. Everypony in town knew him as the simple red coated farmer with an orange mane from the local apple orchard. He was stronger than almost any other stallion in town, His muscular frame was the envy of almost every other stallion, as when he did come to town to work almost every mare in Ponyville swooned at his arrival. Thick strong arms covered by a white tee shirt normally and a pair of denim overalls covering his lower-half much to the disappointment of mares everywhere. Once he had started going out with the shy butter colored pegasus it was the talk of the town for a full week as one of the best stallion's in town had been snatched up right under everyponies nose. 

The red stallion couldn't help but wonder if the dragon who was running the game had a knack for reading ponies since he seamed to be at least equally good at winning as Perry Pierce. Caramel and Thunderlane were never much of a challenge when ever Big Mac seemed to be victorious. Pinkie Pie and Creme Brulee were the next tier of challengers for the red stallion, as they were the ones that tended to last through the middle sized pot round if he was going to win.

If he won this week's pot he'd be able to take care of anything they didn't make from cider sales this fall for the winter. He'd have to play his best today if he wanted to take home the bits. The red earth stallion soon noticed the sun was starting to go down, he soon rushed away from fields he had been tending all day. Heading into his room he swapped out his work clothes taking a quick shower, and putting on his his Nightmare Night costume: a fresh white shirt with ruffles on the front, a pair of black pants to match the black outer jacket, a black cape with a skull on it, and a top hat. He was out the front door before any of his family could question him as the sun slowly started to set.


CLU CLU CLU CLU CLU


Across town from the apple orchard an earth stallion was raising from his bed in his apartment. The stallion rubbed the back of his head opening his blue eyes for the first time today. He had not worn anything to bed last night looking over his creme caramel coat he shook his dark brown mane out and went over to the shower. The water rushed down over his body covering it in water even down to his cutie mark of three blue horseshoes. He stepping out of the shower he shook out his mane and proceeded to comb it perfectly before tossing on a simple white tee shirt and a pair of blue jeans. His name was Caramel, and he slowly made his way out into the streets of Ponyville.

Odd jobs were the name of Caramel's income source. He was very good at working hard and fixing almost any problem any pony seemed to have. He normally had a very difficult time coming up with the one hundred bit buy-in. This month had been different though he only had to finish one job on the day of the game, which usually lead to him doing better. Caramel was locked in constant combat for the third place slot of the poker game, with another pony whom he held an almost animosity towards. That pony was Creme Brulee, how that stallion always managed to come away with winning the next two games after Caramel did was mind-blowing to him. 

There were other problems between the two stallions which primarily lead to neither having much of a love life. Both had very similar coats, both had very similar manes. and the only thing that differed were their eye colors and mane cuts. “Most of Ponyville knew that Creme was actually a self-made stallion, he owned his own business, he could afford to live in a house not an apartment, he had a physical strength and prowess to rival that of Big Macintosh...”thought Caramel as he kicked a can laying in the road.  “At least Macintosh was a decent stallion, who didn't wreck love lives.” 

Caramel soon arrived at the place he was going to be working at today. He took a deep breath saying to himself, “One Job to do today. Full white wash of a fence. Only an afternoon to do it in. Let's do this.” He then Proceeded to retrieve the materials from the home owner and got to work coating the fence.


CMB CMB CMB CMB CMB


Across town from the apartment complex an earth stallion was raising from his bed in his home. The stallion rubbed the back of his head, yawned loudly, and opened his green eyes for the first time today. He was wearing a white muscle shirt looking over his creme caramel coat he shook his dark brown mane out and went over to the shower. The water rushed down over his impressively muscular body covering it in water even down to his cutie mark of three blue horseshoes. Stepping out of the shower he shook out his mane and proceeded to let it rest flat before tossing on a custom made black shirt and a pair of custom made black pants. His name was Creme Brulee, and he steadily made his way out into the streets of Ponyville.

Creme Brulee owned his own business in Ponyville so it was no surprise that he always had the money to play in this poker game which had become vice for the need to beat that good for nothing Caramel. Every single time Creme found a mare he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with one of the floozies that Caramel hangs out with would come by and slap his face saying something about I thought you were a one mare stallion. Ruining his chances with almost every mare in town. With his robust figure, his flat mane style, shorter tail, green eyes, and the fact he dressed fancier for dates than that fool could ever hope to afford. Creme would think at least one mare would be able to tell the difference. 

Creme Brulee ran a little company called “Creme's Carrying Convenience.” It started out relatively small with him doing all the work. He still had to do a fair amount of it since he was one of the few stallion's who could put up with the loads that didn't already have a steady job. He had offered to Big Mac a few times but the big red stallion had refused, to keep up his families farm since his sisters weren't exactly ponies with math cutie marks. Creme could understand and respect that. He would usually wear something fancy down to the office and swap to something like overalls and a muscle shirt upon arriving. Creme's Carrying Convenience had contracts with almost every pony in town if you wanted something heavy moved from one side of Ponyville to the other or anywhere in between this was way to do it for a decent price.

Creme Brulee upon arriving at his office he found a large list attached to the front door a large list of moving requests from Pinkie Pie, two moving requests from flower-stands in the center of town and an ice block delivery to the local ice cream parlor. It was going to be a long day for the stallion at least he had a few workers to turn Pinkie's requests and the flowers over to and set about taking care of the ice delivery himself. Creme always saved the hardest work for himself it didn't feel right to him to ask others to bear a burden he wouldn't take on himself. He was very loved by his employee's and was soon ready to get things started for the day.


8Z8 8Z8 8Z8 8Z8 8Z8


In the skies above Ponyville the pegusai weather team headed by Rainbow Dash had been charaged with clearing out the rough storm from the night before. She had just the pony to round those storm clouds up and have them out of there before midday. That pony was a black pegasus stallion, with a bright blue Mohawk mane with a straight short cut tail, a pair of golden eyes, and thunder cloud with a lightening bolt for a cutie mark his name was Thunderlane. His talent was easily handling rough or dangerous weather more specifically thunder clouds like the ones used in the previous nights storm. 

Being part of the weather team for Ponyville certainly had it's advantages, like never needing to worry about having enough for the small or large buy-ins for the games. Thunderlane always had enough for lodging, food, and the games every week. Intially the stallion had seen the game as a joke. In time he found that was a good way for some of the stallion's around Ponyville to relax and wind down at the end of a week even with Thunderlane's inability to win the game.

Thunderlane's housing costs didn't amount to too much though since he was still living with his parents and his younger brother. Made it hard to bring a pretty mare back to his place though. Going out every Friday night was on his schedule and eventually Rumble figured out what he was doing when Thunderlane shockingly won his his first game. Soon to keep the colt quiet Thunderlane promised to give his brother some of his winnings, which usually ended up coming out of his own pockets since it was rare that the pegasus stallion to not be the first one out each week.

Thunderlane's work on clearing the thunderstorms from the previous night had went by quickly. He had even finished before a certain prismatic-maned mare had the chance to call him lazy. As he left the job that was finished and the only one he had to do today he took a spare cloud and went to relax over the library until it was time for the game. It was certainly the last place anyone would look for him until tomorrow and even then he had the day off.


*(#)*(#)*(#)*(#)*(#)*


A bright pink mare with a darker pink cotton candy mane was gently snoozing before her bright blue eyes blinked open at the sunlight creeping into her room. Tossing the covers from her bed revealed she was wearing a light blue tee shirt that just barely covered her flank. The tee shirt had the words, “Sleepy Party Girl,” in a bright blue glitter over her moderate bust. The text reflected off every gentle beam of light. She then bounded off the bed in a display that would make one think it was a trampoline. Moving over to the basket where she kept her pet alligator who was still asleep she dangled her tail in-front of his nose to rouse him which caused him to bite down onto it. She'd have to figure out another way of waking him soon as he was steadily getting bigger. The pair soon moved into the bathroom and started up a bath.

Pinkie Pie got out of the bath carefully, proceeding to toss a towel around herself after setting foot out of the tub. She let Gummy grab onto her tail again as she made her way back to her room. Once back in the room she shook gummy right into his basket, causing her towel to fly off and land perfectly in the hamper. 

Pinkie Pie went right over to her dresser picking out her favorite pair of underwear which matched her coat to the point where some weren't sure she was wearing any at all. She then picked out a yellow tank top with the words “Party Girl” on it in a simple red glitter, and a pair of denim shorts. Once dressed she hopped out of her room and moved into the twins room, putting one in each arm she brought them over to the rail and slid down the banister with them. Once at the bottom she put one into the arms of each parent and said, “Got a few things to do out today, Mrs. Cake. Don't worry I'll take good care of them all day tomorrow as planned.”

With that she bounded out of Sugarcube Corner and shouted out to Ponyville, “Good Morning, Ponyville. Can I get a Smile!?”


[1][6][2][5][3][4][4][3][5][2][6][1]


Lucky had been heading towards Goldie's for lunch, when he bumped into somepony sending both of them to the ground. He shook his head standing back up and moving towards the mare he knocked over.  He moved a hand down to her and said, “ Oh, I'm terribly sorry miss, I was just on my way to lunch. I guess I was a little lost in thought, when I bumped into you.”

Her white hand reached up for Lucky's ebony one, he proceeded to pull her back up to standing. She was wearing a simple purple blouse, a knee length purple skirt, and matching heels. “Oh no, My Hat!” She exclaimed as the wind had caught hold of the light purple sun hat.

Lucky sighed and bolted after the hat moving through the crowds keeping his eyes on the prize. Just as he was about to grab it though, it was taken away in a flash of purple scales. The dragon he had seen earlier had leapt from his place in line, caught the hat with deft skill, and started to head back in the direction the zebra had came from.

Lucky came back to the white mare and Spike saying, “ Thanks for the assist, Spike.  I'm sorry again for bumping into you ma'am. Let me buy the both of you lunch in exchange for my rudeness. I'm Lucky by the way.”

“Well... Spike could you take my purchases back to the boutique? We'll wait right here for you...” The white mare had asked and Spike just nodded and obeyed heading back towards Carousel Boutique. Picking up all of the mare's purchases, and jogging off like he was carrying one bag. Then the mare continued to speak this time addressing the zebra, “Lucky, was it? I'm Rarity. You must be new in town. You're the first male zebra I've seen, and you certainly have a unique stripe pattern and tail.”

“Well somepony has a very discerning eye, Miss Rarity.  I'd have to explain my parents to you to give you the explanation on both those traits,”said a very impressed Lucky. He felt not many ponies were so well aware of zebra characteristics.

Shortly after this statement Spike was back, and the trio were walking towards Goldie's. Soon the group were gathered around a table talking  It was in the middle of lunch that the topic of gems came up, and Lucky recounted how he had paid for his room and board. When Goldie came to check on them Rarity said, “Goldie, would you be a dear by showing Spike and I what Lucky paid with. We could give you a preliminary appraisal.”

“Well that'd be mighty fine iffin ya could. I don't have time to go to Karat till tomorrow.” Goldie left their company soon returning with a silk pillow. The shimmering milky white diamond in the center of the pillow, as she placed it upon the table both the fashionista and the dragon gasped. The dragon grabbed the pillow and brought the gem right up to his eyes.

“This is an uncut Dragon Diamond! Karat will have to hire me just to cut this thing. These make tools made from normal diamonds look like their made of stone. Where in Equestria did you ever acquire such a thing?”Spike said this with utter confusion, as Dragon Diamonds are called such as only Dragon's can stand the intense heat to obtain them.

“Just lucky I guess... No takers? Alright if you must know. A dragon was terrorizing the outskirts of Trottingham. Nothing seemed to make him stop, I however approached him with little more than a sack of goods, a deck of cards, and a sharp wit. I proposed a deal. If he could beat me in a simple game of chance. I would relinquish my life and two of my greatest treasures, If I won he would not bother the citizenry again and gift me the prize possession of his hoard. The deal was struck in dragon's blood so that neither party could back out if things did not go their way. Since I'm here and he's not I'll let you imagine what happened. Is it worth a month's rent?” Lucky said the last two statements like they were the most important things in the world.

Goldie, Rarity, and  Spike had hung on his every-word. Rarity did have a question about the tale though and said, “What would you have given him besides your life if you had lost, Lucky?”  

“These.” Lucky said pulling from a pocket in his trench-coat. The first item set on the table was a large ruby as big as the zebra stallion's skull. The second Item retrieved was a dagger in a scaly scabbard, he moved the blade out of the sheathe and revealed the bone like hue of the blade and said, “The blade is forged from the tooth of an elder dragon.”

The trio sitting opposite lucky gasped again as he brought out his treasures and slowly returned them to the clearly enchanted pockets of his coat. Then Spike said in a simple tone, “ That's likely too impossible not to believe. It would be enough for you to own the hotel if you really wanted.”

“Oh pshaw, why would I dare want to run Goldie out. She makes the best food I've had in all my wold travels.” Lucky said this with a smile and wink to the amber mare. Goldie just blushed and started to pick up the empty plates and left the group alone for a moment.

“Spike!” Rarity beckoned him close and started to whisper behind his ear frill, “If Goldie sells that to Karat I'll never get to own a Dragon Diamond. Do you have any spare bits to help be get it? I'm afraid I wouldn't have enough by myself. It's simply perfect for an ensemble that I've been working on.” 

Spike turned his muzzle to her ear and said, “But your birthday is coming up, and I've been scrimping and saving for months. To give you an evening you'll never forget my lady.”

Rarity looked over at the young drake with a big pouty face, with her sapphire eyes big like saucers glistening gently. Spike looking back into her face couldn't resist her when she made that face and said, “Alright my lady, but let me make the cuts as I have something already planned for you that I can incorporate it into.”

Rarity thew her arms around his neck holding her “Spikey-Wikie” then turning her head to Lucky saying, “Do excuse us Lucky, but we must away to complete some business before the day is over. I do hope you'll understand.”

Lucky just nodded and waved a hand dismissively towards the pair. When Goldie came back he asked for a second helping if she could spare it. After his second plate of lunch the Zebra thanked his host again by saying, “Thanks again, Goldie. Is dinner going to be around six?”

“That's when it's normally served Lucky,” said the amber mare.

“Oh, well I shall look forward to see what you have then. Maybe it will just be us again.” Lucky said this with a wink. Secretly Goldie was hoping the same since with only one customer she could turn her focus to them a little more than usual, and she certainly liked the apparently kindhearted nature of the zebra.

Lucky proceed to head back into town after wiping his mouth clean. He wanted to know every way he could get back and forth between the library and his hotel and after wasting much of the afternoon in Ponyville he was aware of most of it's in's and outs. He was about to leave from the library again as he noticed it was closing in on six deciding to take the most direct route back to Goldie's. Not wanting to miss dinner hopefully the lovely mare would spend it with him.


<3 <3 <3 <3 <3


Spike had spent half of what he had saved for the sapphire rose on acquiring the uncut Dragon Diamond for his lovely lady. He knew that even with winning two back to back hundred bit games he wouldn't have enough to make it back in time, since time was the true constriction. Asking Twilight for an advance was out, as he could clearly imagine how that set of letters would go, “ Dear Princess Twilight, Is it possible for me to get an advance on my allowance and pay? Love your faithful assistant, Spike.” 

“Dear Spike, I thought you were managing your bits a lot better now. If it's an emergency I'll see what I can do, but, you really need to watch your finances better Spike. Please read the book list I've included to make sure you don't find yourself in this situation again. Love, Twilight Sparkle.” 

“Dear Princess Sparkle, Thanks a lot... Love your formerly faithful assistant, Spike”

No, that was not the kind of conversation he wanted to have with Twilight especially not now. If he was going to get extra money maybe he could be lucky in a private game of chance though this thought also brought dread to the dragon as Lucky had bested a dragon or two before.

The last customer had left at closing little over a half an hour ago. Soon there was a knock on the knock on the door that broke Spike from his thoughts. He knew it was likely Lucky, getting down from his bed Spike made his way to the door opening it to see the zebra stallion standing in front of the door when Spike said, “Did you bring the coin?”

“Of course,” Lucky responded. Proceeding to pull the coin from the same pocket in his trench-coat, and showing Spike by letting it rest in contrast to his ebony hands.

The dragon nodded and let the zebra into the library. Once the pair were alone in the main area of the library Spike said, “ Now, you're the first pony I haven't personally invited to play, Lucky. So I'd like to explain how things work and get to know you better.”

“Sounds fair, but I dare to say even with an hour of questioning me you'd know very little about me.” Lucky said with a gentle show of his pearly whites.

“Fair enough, Lucky. Now five card draw is the name of the game. Entrance fee's vary and are the bits played with and for. This evening the fee is one hundred bits. The two players to the left of the dealer must offer a starting bid. The one closest to the dealer offers four bits, and the one furthest offers two bits. These bids increase by one bit every five hands until the game is won. Everypony may only raise once in a hand, the maximum raise is the high starting bid, and there are two rounds of betting in each hand. Any questions, Lucky?”As Spike finished the basic explanation of the game he looked over the zebra taking in the information trying to gauge his reactions.

“When are the betting rounds? Also would it be possible to show me where we will play, and the cards we will be playing with?” Lucky said the last bit with a gleam in his eyes.

“To your first question, the first is before you discard and the second is after you receive your cards. To your second question, yes and no. The cards are sealed for another half hour at least. Follow me if you'd like to see the table.” Spike moved into the tree-library and turned tot he left towards the door leading to the basement. Slowly opening it he moved inside first to light the candles on his way down the stairs to the basement of the library. The basement was the only part the library that had seemed to change since his sister was rarely around anymore. Gone were the wires, glass tubes, and machinery, they were replaced by books on the shelves, a central table with seven chairs, and some well placed candles to provide ample lighting throughout the evening. 

Upon reaching the bottom of the basement stairs Lucky had a new question for Spike saying, “Why are the cards sealed till play?”

Spike who had just finished lighting the last of the candles in the basement turned to the questioning zebra and said in a very serious tone, “These aren't your average set of cards. Part of the care instructions for them. 'One weekly use allows for minimal luck resonance degradation.' But, now I'm starting to sound like my sister.”

The zebra nodded in response to the answer he got for his question. Lucky then proceeded to put his coat down on one of the chairs. He then rolled his shoulders before taking a seat and then cracked his knuckles and said, “So young dragon what would you inquire of me?”

Spike grinned and took a seat at the table directly opposite the zebra. Spike put his elbows down on the table, flicked his tail back and forth behind him like a metronome, and scratched his chin then said, “ Since you're new in town it might be nice to have something juicy on you. So lets start with a hard hitting question. Given the opportunity would you like to be in a permanent relationship with Goldie?”

The zebra found himself on the verge of blushing at the dragons question and said in a calm collected tone, “Well I can tell this will be long evening.” 

The two discussed many things from the weather to their favorite kinds of gems. Spike felt like the two had become fast friends in the short time they had spent together in basement of the library. Lucky had even given Spike a detailed story about where he had earned the elder dragon's tooth blade. In the middle of a joke, there was a loud knock at the door upstairs. The two had completely lost track of time is was eight now, and Spike excused himself to go get the door. Lucky leaned back in the chair he had chosen, pulling out a small bag of bits  he had brought just for the game with the proper amount inside it. 'And so it begins,' he thought.



  EOC
(End of Chapter.)