The loud whirls, beeps, and boops of the Casino Pegasopolis filled the nearby streets of Las Pegasus. The many tourists and ponies who call this place home walked up and down the lit streets, the sights of the various casinos, restaurants, and other delights would overwhelm the unprepared, but one couple walked with confidence and pride. both stallion and mare were white coated, with a distinguished look of elegance and status about them. His well mannered blue mane and mustache only added to the monocle and black suit that adorned him. While the mare's pink mane flowed over her shoulder and nearly over one eye, hiding her beautiful face, but her red dress stood more as a way to tightly hug her curvaceous body.

"Here we are Fleur my dear." The stallion said, his accent revealed he was from Canterlot, one of the nobles most would assume.

"Just be sure to handle yourself Fancy." Fleur cautioned her husband. "We wouldn't want another casino to lose all of their bits again." The two ponies shared an entertained laugh before entering, unaware of another suit wearing figure following them.

"Let us see." Fancy said to himself, eyeing the interior of the casino. "I believe we can make a new fortune there." Making their way to the blackjack table. Seeing as there were no other players, Fancy saw this as the perfect opportunity. "I'd like to play."

The dealer, a young looking black earth stallion with a short steel colored mane and bright yellow eyes looked at both Fancy and his wife. Looking down, anyone would assume he was looking at the cards he was shuffling, but a little lower was a photo of Fancy and Fleur. The dealer nodded and gestured the couple to sit. Though Fancy sat with no issue and held an air of confidence, Fleur remained standing, keeping herself quiet and at her husband's side. After a few seconds of more shuffling the cards were dealt.

It didn’t take long before things went very south for fancy after the first set of cards were dealt. The dealer had worked them over, a rigged game that none could have suspected short of the floor manager. He did his job, to think he was offered to do such a thing for a few bits by a strange Zebra not even a hour before. It was easy money and it wasn’t the first time he got something outta working over another pony running on a high of wins.

"How could this happen?" Fancy asked himself, leaning in on his elbows, his face losing its confidence and was now more stressed. After a few short hours, Fancy had lost nearly every hand dealt to him. Winning only just enough to feed his addiction to gambling. Fancy never suspected any foul play, the dealer changed the deck over five times during their hundred and ninety-three games. "It seems luck is not truly with me today."

"A little run of bad luck?" A black suit wearing Zebra male commented, sitting besides Fancy. "Hit me up dealer." The dealer nodded taking notice that the Zebra was the one before, setting the cards for both the Zebra and Fancy. "Goldtooth's the name, what about yours?"

"Fancy Pants." Fancy responded, then gesturing towards Fleur. "And this is my wife Fleur Dis Lee. And my luck has merely taken a small rut. But I can earn back what I've lost."

"Let's find out." Goldtooth smiled, not eve looking at the cards he had; the face down card was unknown, but his revealed card was a ten of clubs. "I'll stay."

"Sir, you are not going to look at your cards?" The dealer asked.

"I like to live...dangerously..." Goldtooth smirked, a couple of his gold coated tooth shined, dwarfing Fancy's ego.

"Then I shall do the same." Fancy replied, his pride feeling challenged by this rogue; his face down card unknown but his revealed card was a ten of spades. "I also like to live...dangerously..."

"Very well." The dealer commented, reaching out and revealing the players' hidden cards. Goldtooth's was an Ace of Clubs, while Fancy's was a two of hearts. "The winner is the gentlezebra here." The dealer let a coy grin cover his face, he made sure that the Zebra won. He could tell a con was in play and that it was best to play it in the Zebra’s favor.

"Well played." Fancy complimented, nodding at Goldtooth with a smirk. "Fancy another game?"

"If you think you can handle it." Goldtooth chuckled, gesturing to the dealer to start up a new game. After several more rounds, Fancy's luck changed very little. In fact, it was getting so bad, that when the last game ended, he lost his own monocle in the game. Goldtooth looked over his winnings, trying on the monocle for a second before handing it back to Fancy. "It seems you might be running low on funds."

"Nonsense, I have bits to spare, right Fleur?" Fancy asked his wife, who has been silently watching the endless games.

"Actually, we are completely out of money." Fleur replied, her face saddened, having known this would happen but chose not to do anything about it. "In fact, we might be in debt."

"What?!" Fancy replied, shocked at how this happened. His gambling addiction was the only fault he would admit he had, but always thought he had some control. "What are we going to-"

"Maybe I could help?" Goldtooth asked, pushing his winnings back to Fancy. "How about I cover your debts and you just owe me one."

"Where are you getting at with this?" Fancy asked, suspicious of Goldtooth's generosity.

"How about I tell you over dinner, my treat." Goldtooth answered, taking the earnings and showing Fancy and Fleur to the Casino's restaurant. After ordering their meal, Goldtooth began his offer. "So here is what I am suggesting. I can cover all of your debt and all you have to do it just invest some of your finances to our Zebra Cultural Program."

"Zebra Cultural Program?" Fancy asked, taking a bit of the hay steak he ordered. "What are the goals of this program?"

"Well..." Goldtooth explained, reaching into his suit pocket, pulling out a small vial of a clear liquid. "We Zebras have been manufacturing various remedies and incenses that can serve as alternative relaxation and medical properties. Try it." Fancy picked up the small vial, unscrewed the lid and smelled the contents. Fancy's eyes shot open from the sudden impact of the aroma.

"This aroma is extraordinary!" Fancy exclaimed, almost dropping his fork. "I have never smelled something so well made, it could sell in Canterlot for nearly a fortune if marketed right. Might have to be subtle with the Zebra origin. Ponies in Canterlot tend to be a bit biased towards Zebra products. Even the princess herself seems to be barely tolerant to Zebra’s in her kingdom.."

"Is that so? I never knew the princess held such a stance, I shall trust your judgement though. So you would be interested in investing in our Program?" Goldtooth asked, his lips curled in a smile.

"I would, this could be the best investment I've ever made." Fancy commented, looking at his wife. "Fleur, how could this day get any better?"

"Well there is one more thing." Goldtooth explained. "I would like you and your wife to come with me to the head of our Program, Aikaz. He will have much more ideas and information before signing anything."

"That's perfect, we'll grab the next train to where?" Fancy asked.

"Ponyville." Goldtooth smiled, shaking Fancy's hand.

The train station from Las Pegasus to Ponyville was as busy as the city around it. Ponies, Griffons, and all manner of creatures moved and shifted through crowds to reach their trains. No more so than Fancy Pants, Fleur, and their new friend Goldtooth. The group moved as best they could through the crowd, soon enough reaching their track, and a privately owned train. Unlike the pony modern train, the zebra train appeared more curved, more like an egg than a box and was filled with accommodations only the wealthy were thought to enjoy.

"Such a marvelous train." Fancy complimented, looking over the zebra train. "I must say, you zebras certainly know how to travel."

"Thank you my friend." Goldtooth smiled, handing the luggage to other zebra workers. "This should get us to Ponyville in less than a day. But my friend, it seems there is something wrong."

"Whatever could it be?" Fancy asked, looking himself over, but finding nothing wrong.

"Your wife had a diamond necklace did she not?" Goldtooth pointed to Fleur's bare neck. "It must've fallen in the crowd."

"Then we must find it at once!" Fancy declared, storming off into the crowd again.

"But what about the train?" Fleur asked, worried they would miss their schedule.

"There is nothing to worry about." Goldtooth commented, patting Fleur's shoulder. "Just wait on the train, we'll be back before the train leaves."

Fleur only nodded as she boarded the train. Inside the train, two more zebra stallions gestured her to a soft seat by the window. As Fleur relaxed and waited, Fancy and Goldtooth continued their search. Minutes soon passed, the crowd was starting to lighten up, the loud blares of horns signalling trains leaving acted as a signal. Reaching into his coat pocket, Goldtooth pulled out Fleur's diamond necklace. Smirking at his clever ploy, he eagerly ran to where Fancy searched.

"My friend, I found it!" Goldtooth called, showing the necklace.

"Very good, thank you my friend." Fancy said, then looked at the leaving trains. "But I believe we missed the train!"

"It appears so." Goldtooth responded, his tone showing concern despite planning everything. "The train will return and we can catch it on our way back. I made sure to inform my associates that your wife will be well taken care of should something like this have happened."

"Well that's good to hear." Fancy sighed in reassurance. "But what will we do until the next train?"

"I believe there's a nearby casino we can break the bank at." Goldtooth joked, patting Fancy on the shoulder.

"You're on my friend." Fancy laughed, as he and Goldtooth went to do some time spending gambling. He would bring the stallion to ruin once more and then his role would be complete.