//------------------------------//
// Poker, I Hardly Know Her. 
// Story: Spike's Ponyville Poker Game 
// by SparityLoveisForever 
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	There were five sets of knocks that the zebra heard from the basement; the first knocks where loud yet steady,  the second was a three set of three rapid knocks, the third were almost out of his audible range, the last two sets were so similar he almost thought it was same pony knocking twice. Lucky could hear muffled bits of greetings and welcomes from the basement and several hoof beats traversing the upper library floor to head towards the table for their first match with the unknown wild card. 

The first pony to come down the stairs from above was a tall red earth stallion with a flat spiky orange mane gently hanging off his face, who was a head above the zebra. He was wearing a black cape with a skull, a top hat which only added to his height, a white button down shirt which strained to encompass the muscular form it contained, and a pair of black pants accentuated by the orange spiked short cut tail  which went down right above his sandy yellow hooves. This stallion looked over the zebra his sap green eyes trying to evaluate the new-comer for all he was worth.

Lucky had taken to setting his bit's up in stacks of ten from the time Spike had gone upstairs to respond to the first knocks. So by the time the large red stallion had arrived in the basement he was done. Lucky stood up to greet the stallion who's physical prowess outclassed his own by at least a weight class, “Howdy, I'm Lucky, pleased to meet you.” Extending one of his ebony hands to the large red earth pony.

“Big Macintosh, likewise.” Big Mac took Lucky's hand and the two shook very firmly 

It was about this time that the second additional stallion came down the stairs.  This stallion was a solid black pegasus, with a sky-blue mane with light-blue streaks, wearing a white tee-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. His eyes were wide as saucers upon reaching the last step, “Macintosh, I told you to stop wearing that costume. Makes me feel under-dressed, we're just playing some poker.”

“And Ah distinctly remember telling you, Thunderlane, 'Nope.' Sides, Lucky, likes it.” Big Mac moved his hand to Lucky's shoulder bringing him around to show Thunderlane the new arrival.

“You look fine to me, Macintosh. Thunderlane, was it? You look fine also, though your clothes do lack some originality.” The statement caused Lucky to smile a bit, Big Mac to laugh, and Thunderlane to scowl at the pair.

While the boys were enjoying the small joke at Thunderlane's expese, somepony new was making their way down the stairs of the library. It was a bright pink earth mare, with a bubbly dark pink mane and tail, wearing a yellow tank top with the words “Party Girl” on it in a simple red glitter, and a pair of denim shorts. She bounded right up to the new zebra and said, “Oooh, you must be new in town. How come I haven't met you yet? What's so funny guys? Is it Thunderlane's longer than average face?”

“Woah, there, Sugarcube. Lucky here is replacing Pierce, Pinkie pie. An' he's a sight more enjoyable company if I=Ah do say so myself.” Big Mac made this statement very confidently.

“I hope that's still true once I take all the bits tonight.” Lucky said with a wink.

“Oooh he sounds confident. Though Spike is really the pony. I mean dragon to beat. He's won twenty-seven of the fifty-five games we've played so far. I think the cards just like him.” Pinkie Pie responded happily continuing the conversation's

Pinkie's arrival had distracted the group from the sounds of the next set of ponies heading down the stairs. A pair of slightly similar ponies who were arguing once more about the inability of mares to determine which was which. The light amber earth stallion to the left had a straight short dark brown mane, a long dark brown tail, a set of cerulean eyes, a modest build, wearing a white tee shirt, and a pair of jean pants was named Caramel. The caramel earth stallion to the right had a dark brown flat spiked mane, with a matching short cut tail, a set of green eyes, a muscular build, a black almost silken button down shirt with pair of matching pants he was named Creme Brulee. 

Caramel spoke out first that the group already there heard, “ It is not my fault your only fall in love with extremely jealous mares.”

Creme Brulee was quick to respond, “I look nothing like ya kiddo. Your mare's can't tell an orange from an apple or a colt from a stallion. You can't even handle a friendly competition like the Running of the Leaves with out getting winded past the first tree.”

“Woah, Fellows. This doesn't sound like something that can't be worked out with a few hands of Poker.” Lucky looked between the two and hopefully he had said the right thing to diffuse the situation.

“Lucky's right boys so put up your fees and shut it or you can both go home without playing.” Spike stepped down from the stairs behind them and walked over the box containing the cars and slowly pulled them out putting them on the table before saying, “Seats every pony the round will begin in five minutes to establish everyone has their fees.” 

The group of ponies quickly took to the seats around the table Lucky had ended up being on either side of Big Mac and Creme Brulee which made him feel a little out of his weight class directly across from him was Spike with Pinkie Pie and Caramel on either side with Thunderlane in between Caramel and Creme Brulee. Once the bits were counted Spike shuffled the cards expertly and dispersed them five to each pony for the first round of betting. Thunderlane knew it wasn't going to be his night, since he had the big blind and was holding a two of diamonds, a three of spades, an eight of hearts,a nine of clubs, and a five of diamonds.

The dealer only changed every five hands where as the blinds changed every hand. The first hand went to Pinkie Pie, as did the next four subsequent hands. Which made her the big stack for the moment yet on the sixth had Spike won a very feverish battle between him and Thunderlane. Which left Thunderlane at about sixty bits of his original one hundred. The seventh hand was won by Lucky and the next three were won by Big Macintosh.  

When Thunderlane picked up the cards Big Mac was also the Big stack. The next two hands went to Creme Brulee. The Thirteenth hand went to Thunderlane and the remaining two hands of his shuffle went to Caramel. The Next five hands all went to Spike. 'He is going to be the player to beat' thought Lucky. With the end of the twentieth hand Thunderlane was cleaned out. 

“Better luck next time, Thunderlane. I'm on fire tonight.” Spike smiled and waved goodbye to the weather pegasus.

“Really, Spike? Should I go get you some water?” replied Pinkie Pie.

“I'm sure he'll be fine with out, Pinks.”Big Mac said with a smile and a pat on her shoulder.

“And then there were six. I believe it was my turn to deal, Creme.” Lucky said this as he took up the cards into his hands.

Dealing out the crystal cards Lucky managed to dole himself out a possible straight flush with open ends. He called the minimum bet of eight bits as did Creme, Big Mac, Spike, and lastly Caramel just checked. Creme got three cards and only scored two pair on which he added eight bits to the pot. Big Mac had asked for no cards as he already had four of a kind and raised the bid by eight. Spike received two cards and got what he was looking for to make a full house. When it came time for Lucky to call he did having received the higher of the two cards he needed. Creme was only one left to call and he decided it was better to fold. When the cards were revealed Lucky stood on top in this hand.

Lucky won the second hand he dealt, followed by Big Mac winning the next hand, and the hand after that was won by Pinkie pie. The last hand delt by Lucky was a very close hand between Pinkie Pie, Caramel, and Spike. Big Mac was big blind for this hand though he didn't feel compelled to stay in when Caramel immediately raised it to sixteen bits to stay in the hand with his own four Kings of a kind. Spike had a low straight flush of spades so he felt fine with calling Caramel. Pinkie Pie had a queen to nine straight flush of hearts though so she was also fine with calling. Caramel was also first to raise on the second round of betting. Spike felt fine to raise the stakes again bringing the call to sixteen again. Pinkie Pie gladly called, followed by Caramel who was all in with the call. When the cards hit the table it was time to say goodbye again.

“Well can't beat that. Looks like another week of dry oats.” said Caramel with a sigh.

“You could always come back and work for me. Rather than just round up odd jobs all the time, Carmel.” Creme Brulee looked over at Caramel with a bit of a grin.

“Not on my life you slave driver.”With that Caramel stormed out of the library.

“I don't ask my employee's to do anything I wouldn't myself. He's just a slacker. But let's get back to game.” Creme Brulee gathered up the cards and passed them over to Big Mac who was getting to deal for the first time this evening.

The cards in his large hands Big Mac caused Lucky to win the first two matches, and Pinkie Pie the next two. On his last hand dealing Big Mac was looking to find a straight flush as the small blind. Pinkie Pie was the big blind and was one card from four of a kind. Spike came in on this round looking to complete a full house. Though he was almost out of bits so did Creme Brulee as he came into the hand with a flush. Big Mac called as no one else raised and Pinkie checked to move onto the discard. Everypony involved in the hand but Creme took two cards. Big Mac failed to achieve his straight flush and folded as soon as possible. Pinkie got her four of a kind and wagered the max she could. Spike also got what he was looking for and decided to raise the pot himself bringing the bit total to continue to eighteen. Creme Brulee deiced it would best if he called and made it all or nothing with the last of his bits. When the cards were revealed it was show Creme was in fact the odd one out this time.

“Well you all have a good night. A pleasure to play with you as always. Lucky, it was nice meeting you. If you ever have need of any kind of moving or heavy lifting around Ponyville. Make sure you choose Creme's  Carrying Convenience.” Creme handed Lucky a business card and then bowed before leaving up the stairs.

“Nice to meet you too, Creme. Have a good evening.” Lucky responded.

“Oooh, One went all in and then there were four little ponies left.” Pinkie said with a grin like the Cheshire cat. 

“You scare me sometimes, Pinks. Let's get back to the game.” Spike said this remembering a time he had been interrogated by the pink mare about her friends.

Big Mac handed the cards to Pinkie Pie. With the cards in her possession anything could happen. With only four players left, and the big blind at ten bits it was still any ponies game. The first hand went to big Mac as did the second. Everypony was betting at each round in an attempt to gain some leverage over the others.  The next had went to Lucky, followed by Spike, and when she finished dealing Lucky had won the final ten bit hand.

Now the crystal cards were passed back to Spike. His hands shuffling them with gentle care even as he did a standard deck spit shuffle. When his turn for dealing would be over those still there would have played over forty hands. Spike won the first hand quite handily, followed by Pinkie Pie, and Big Mac.

The second to last hand saw Spike offer the big blind of eleven bits and Pinkie with the small blind. Lucky earned a straight flush draw on this had and raised the bid to twenty-two bits. Big Mack also felt he had a winning hand with four queens so he raised again to thirty three bits to get cards. Pinkie pie just called with her Aces full of Kings full house. Spike was not interested in this hand as he had a large quantity of miss-matches. Lucky called Big Mac's raise after a look of trying to appraise the stallion before him. Big Mac found himself being the only one to ask for the card and was a little worried at this. Lucky put down eleven bits again feeling uncertain but slightly positive.  Big mack raised again thinking Pinkie and Lucky had full houses. Pinkie also raised Thinking it was a bluff made by the other two. The cards turned over Lucky found himself raking in the largest pot of the night so far.

The fortieth hand saw Lucky in the big blind spot with Spike in the small blind. Big Mac who was next to add his bits to the pot folded as he wasn't very pleased with his hand. Pinkie Pie who had four sixes raised the bet to twenty-two. Then it was Spikes turn to call or raise and he had four tens and an ace. He looked over Pinkie who had her usual happy go lucky smile and bright eyes, much as she did in every hand. Spike tried to gauge her but it was almost impossible and raised the bet to thirty- three. With this the bet returned to Lucky to call. He looked over his two opponents for the hand and called with a possible straight flush. Pinkie also called asking for one card much as Lucky did with the betting finished. Spike wanted to keep his hand the same so he didn't ask for any cards. Lucky didn't get what he was looking for to complete his hand. Pinkie Pie received an ace to go with her hand as well. Pinkie Pie was the first to raise the second round to eleven bits. Spike saw this and decided to raise the bet again to twenty-two as this would raise Pinkie all in and if he had the better hand it would eliminate her from the game. Lucky folded at this time. Pinkie Pie then called as she felt there might be chance for her victory. When the cards were unveiled Spike had brought Pinkie out of the running again. 

“Well win some, lose some. Huh, Spike.  Oh, Lucky, you should come by Sugarcube Corner tomorrow. After all I have had time to properly welcome you to Ponyville.” With that statement hanging in the air she bounced up to the top of the stairs and said, “Don't forget tomorrow at noon any of you.” With her final slightly veiled invite she was gone from the basement of the library.

“Soo should I go then gentlemen?” Lucky asked questioningly.

“Safer to, after all last person who didn't accept her invite had her following them until they did. Besides everypony will be there, even Goldie.” Spike said with mischievous grin.

Lucky was silenced by the dragons words a slight crimson on his cheeks at the mention of the mare. Big Mac on the other hand picked up the conversation, “Oh, hardly in town twenty-four hours and he already has a special somepony. Where did you pick that bit of information up, Spike.”

“Straight from the zebra's mouth, where else? Not surprising he'd find somepony. After all most of the population of Ponyville is female.”responded Spike.

“Well if we're talking about females, you seem to get along quite well with Miss Rarity, Spike.” Lucky said trying to contribute to the conversation.

“Hmph, I'll overlook your ignorance. Lucky since you're new in town but I am in a relationship with Rarity. Once I win tonight I'll have enough to give her the night of her life.” Spike stated defensively.

“Easy Casanova, Got two more players to knock out first. Right, Big Mac?” Lucky nodded to the red earth pony.

“Eeyup,” came the classic Big Mac response. 

Followed by Spike handing the cards to Lucky for his second turn to deal. The very first hand Lucky dealt this time went to Big Mac. The next hand was a rousing victory for Lucky. The third hand went to Spike. The fourth hand was another win for Big Mac. Lucky also won the very last hand of his deal.

With Lucky's turn to deal over he handed the cards to Big Mac gently. Big Mac had been getting lower and lower in the chip count and was starting to worry about his ability to stay in the game much longer. The first hand went to Spike followed by Lucky winning the second. This pattern repeated for the third and fourth hands that Big Mac dealt. The last hand saw spike looking for a straight flush, Lucky with three of four kings, and Big Mac having earned a set of three aces and two jacks.  The first round of betting only went to one raise bringing the total to look for cards twenty-six bits. All stayed in and then in the second round of betting Spike had earned the card for his straight flush, Lucky had earned his four of a kind as such he was the first to raise. Followed by Spike raising Big Mac all in and Big Mac Calling figuring if he had to go it was just about time for him to. With the cards revealed Spike was the clear winner of the hand and Big Mac Slowly started to stand.

“Woah, wait Big Mac. Can't you stay just a little bit to be an impartial dealer for us.” Spike said looking up at the earth stallion hopefully.

“Hmmmm,  Eeyup. But I can't stay more than ten hands.” Big Mac said as he returned to his seat.

“Well if you can only stay for ten hands, Why not regardless of the cards on the last hand we both go all in, Spike. That way Big Mac doesn't have to stay longer than he wants and we get a resolution.”

“Alright, I'm game for that. I wont go down easy though, Lucky.” Spike said with a grin that really showed off his dragon fangs.


EOC