2 Bits Short of a Full House

by Chaotic Ink

S2, Ch.20.5

"I think we can all agree that Cheerilee was on top of things," Midnight said with a grunt as she examined her cards. "Exchange three."

"But the fact that she let Diamond Tiara be in charge of the school news paper at all..." Berry said, "exchange one."

"Well at least she caught her before she could publish those pictures that colt took," Vinyl said, shivering. "The one day Octy convinces me to try one of her fancy strings... exchange two."

"Letting everypony see my theory map!" Lyra cried. "He could have blown everything! One!"

“The big mess I made in Axe’s store front,” Derpy added.

"Making me and Spine look like we eat ponies," Midnight huffed in annoyance. If that colt had actually gotten into her shed... well, maybe the shock would have made him break the camera.

"Well, you were supposed to clean it out last week," Sapphire chided. "Two."

"I just got back, then had to go with the others on that dessert competition!" Midnight said.

Sapphire nuzzled her. "I know, and I'm glad."

Next to them, Long Spine and Forest shared a happy glance.

"Uh, two, I think," Spine said, putting two cards in the discard pile. His face furrowed as he examined his two new cards. "Is any of this good?" he asked Midnight, leaning over.

She took a quick look. "Fold," she told him. "A pair of twos isn't going to do squat. Save your bits for a better hoof, er, claw."

"Hey, no helping!" Lyra said, pointing a hoof at the two of them.

"He's never played before," Midnight reminded her calmly. "If anything, you should be thanking me; for all you know he had a royal flush and I just told him to give up."

"Uh," Spine said, looking back at his cards.

"You don't," Midnight said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not a teenager, nor am I a dragon; I wouldn't screw you over like that."

"I think that's both ageist and speciesist," Vinyl said with a smirk.

Midnight grunted. "Just fold already."

"I'm not Lyra."

"Hey!"

"So, how's our newest resident?" Berry asked. "Must be a lot to take in, living with ponies and with a daughter to boot."

"It's a lot," Spine agreed, "but it's a lot better here than it ever was with the dragons and Ember is the sweetest thing in the world; I'm glad I'm here."

“We all are,” Forest said, exchanging three cards. “I’m so happy we can finally be a family; I haven’t seen Ember this happy since she first met Midnight.”

“I should have gotten a fried dog for the two of them to share,” Midnight said absently.

“What?” Forest asked.

“Three of a kind,” Midnight said quickly, laying her cards on the table.

“Speaking of food,” Vinyl asked, not even phased by the mention of meat, “how was that baking competition? I heard it got really crazy on the ride there.”

Midnight let out a long-suffering sigh. Her excuse was that the cake was so big that they’d need muscle to move it to the contest area when they arrived and she had “volunteered” to help. Her argument held a good bit of weight since they needed Big Mac to get the cake onto the train in the first place. The others made various excuses to go when all of the bearers went along with Pinkie. All of the guard stayed out of the “Who took the cake?” mystery except Scarlet, who got into the spirit of Pinkie’s little clue game. It really wasn’t much of a secret, since Night and Cleaver had seen the whole thing (thestrals could see really well at night. Who knew?) but they’d let Pinkie run her game to the end. Otherwise it was an uneventful ride, which Midnight was grateful for.

“Pinkie got up to her usual antics but otherwise it was a relaxing ride. I’m more eager to get back to normal life right now.”

“What about that letter you said you sent to Princess Celestia about requesting Cadance to ask the foreign leaders about Storm Clan?” Spine asked.

Midnight snorted as she shuffled and hoofed out new cards. “Cadance and Captain Shining are already on their way back. Everything went fine, at least, but Celestia says it’s a good idea and is going to put another diplomatic mission together. Apparently there are a few other places she wants to contact next that she couldn’t put on Cadance’s list for one reason or another. Like I said, I’m more glad to be home and can wait.”

Vinyl got an evil glint in her eye as she looked at the kirin over her cards. “I don’t know about you, but I know Sapphire is sure glad you’re back,” she said with a suggestive air.

Said pegasus’ face bloomed in a deep blush at how Vinyl said that. “Vinyl!” she snapped at the DJ. “That’s not all our relationship is!”

Midnight growled. "None of your business anyway," she said, squirming awkwardly.

“Really Vinyl,” Berry said, “is the first impression you want to give Spine is that you’re some wild, lecherous, party animal?”

Vinyl chugged her soda and belched. “Hey just being myself, and fine, I’ll lay off ‘em; Midnight was only been gone a week.” The evil eye turned on Spine and Forest. “Spine, however, has been gone for years! How long until Ember has a baby brother or sister?”

Midnight and Berry threw snacks and admonishments at the white unicorn as both Forest and Spine blushed deeply and refused to meet each other’s eyes.

Derpy just shrugged and took a bite of one of the muffins she always brought. “It feels like it’s been ages since we’ve played together!” she mused happily.

Author's Note:

Right, last one for Season 2, Covering Ponyville Confidential and MMMMystery on the Friendship Express.

I know some of you were kinda looking forward to seeing how Midnight would take/handle the gossip situation and/or how the Pillow Knights would get wrapped up in it. Short answers:
1. Midnight would get mad and throw a fit (nothing new here)
2. The girls wouldn't. The moment it's revealed that DT is heading the newspaper, they'd all leave. Probably pull the Crusaders away. I'd also like to think there'd be more oversight by Cheerilee in terms of what goes into the final draft of the paper. Even if there wasn't, I'd like to think she'd put a stop to a gossip column like that in the school newspaper.

And MMMMystery is also a story that really wouldn't gain anything with Midnight and the guard in it. All that I would really add is that Midnight would also take a bite out of the cake after Night would tell her what happened.

That being said, Season 2 was a good run and I look forward to wrapping it up. See you here in Season 3!

Comments

[Neece]

Shouldn't it be 20.5, since it's after the 20th chapter?

I has indeed been ages though

[Chaotic Ink]

9196841

....
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Asolem2]

Derpy just shrugged and took a bite of one of the muffins she always brought. “It feels like it’s been ages since we’ve played together!” she mused happily.

I know, weird right

[xbox432]

Hah, nice Vinyl! It was sweet getting to see how Forest and Spine were acting. Ah, young love.

[The dragon hunter]

Are you seriously saying that Midnight didn't try to take a bite from that obscenely delicious-looking cake? Strange

“Really Vinyl,” Berry said, “is the first impression you want to give Spine is that you’re some wild, lecherous, party animal?”

Vinyl chugged her soda and belched.

Majestic as fuck.

[Chaotic Ink]

9197233
And this is why we triple check before publishing
I was going to say that Midnight also snuck a bite after Pinkie started her investigation in a sudden fit of mischif to screw with Pinkie. Somehow that did not to from brain to page.
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gyropedia/images/f/f9/Ponyshrug.gif/revision/latest?cb=20110721000602
Writing, how work?

[The dragon hunter]

9197429

Writing, how work?

i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/504/579/0c2.jpg

[Chaotic Ink]

9197432

Nice!

[Bryan Luna]

9197429

I was going to say that Midnight also snuck a bite after Pinkie started her investigation in a sudden fit of mischif to screw with Pinkie. Somehow that did not to from brain to page.

Damn it! I have nothing chambered up and ready to use to mess with you.

Crap. it's a day.

Writing, how work?

I've often wondered this one myself.

[Bloody_Tofu]

Glad to see both of these updated.

[Tek]

Some editing points

I'm glad I here

I'm glad I am here or I'm glad to be here

[Chaotic Ink]

9204202
Thank you; fixed

[Doctor_Den]

Интересно а в этой вселенной есть Doctor Whooves? Мне кажется он и lira hartstring получилась бы хорошая команда.
Interesting, is there Doctor Whooves in this universe? I think he and lira hartstring would make a good team.

[Chaotic Ink]

9491026
There is, but I don't watch Doctor Who so I won't even be able to make background references

[Thor447]

Vinyl chugged her soda and belched. “Hey just being myself, and fine, I’ll lay off ‘em; Midnight was only been gone a week.” The evil eye turned on Spine and Forest. “ Spine , however, has been gone for years! How long until Ember has a baby brother or sister?”

Bow chicka bow wow

[N3xmaz1ng]

When is the next chapter going to be released?