Golden Dawn unwrapped her mane from the towel so she could brush it out. It was the Friday night before she was off to Basic Training. They were going out with the guys. Red Star had something special planned. Saturday would be a family day. They would be meeting the guys at the restaurant in half an hour and the two of them were a bit behind getting ready.

The door barged open and Red Star strut in. Gilded Heart came in behind him, but he was obviously unsure of the intrusion.

“Hey!” Red Star greeted Shining Ire. “Wait, Golden Dawn?”

“This is why I lock my door,” Golden Dawn growled to Shining Ire.

“What are you doing here?” Shining Ire asked annoyed. She could only poke her head out of the door to the master bedroom.

Gilded Heart rolled his eyes. “Red Star’s family now has a chauffeur and a Sky Chariot. He wanted to try it out and pick you up. But we thought Golden Dawn was going to meet us there.”

“Wait a minute!” Red Star exclaimed. “You are living here! Aren’t you?”

“I moved in,” Golden Dawn shrugged. “I was going to have to stop my lease at some point. And Shining Ire offered.”

Shining Ire came out of the room as she was putting on her earrings.

“You suck. New chariot or not, its not nice to barge in on pegasi. Especially when they are changing.”

“Whatever,” Red Star said, poking his head into the master bedroom.

“Get out!” Shining Ire snipped.

Red Star grinned. “Only one bedroom has a bed.”

Gilded Heart raised his eyebrow at Golden Dawn. “Are you two living together living together?”

Shining Ire’s cheeks gave it away.

“You are!” Red Star exclaimed. “What happened to just fun? No romance?”

“Ugh,” Golden Dawn sighed. “Typical stallions. It was. And it was amazing. That night was perfect. It happened after. Further after. We never planned this.”

“How much further?” Gilded Heart prodded.

“Really?” Shining Ire asked.

“You like stallions,” Red Star stated.

“You are our friends and we should be open,” Golden Dawn stated. “Even though you are being typical hyper-focused stallions when anything comes close to sex. Now that it has been opened, we should be honest. It happened a few weeks after. You stallions haven’t exactly been exciting to Shining Ire. So, she had questions.”

“I feel like I have been insulted,” Red Star stated. “Should I be insulted?”

“With your ego,” Gilded Heart said. “Yes.”

Gilded Heart and Golden Dawn chuckled.

“You two suck,” Shining Ire growled.

“What is the problem with you being a filly fooler?” Red Star asked.

“Because!” Shining Ire said getting flustered. She couldn't get anymore out.

“Just, be cool,” Golden Dawn told them. “We still haven’t figured out if she is a filly fooler or not.”

“Huh?” Gilded Dawn asked, cocking his head.

Golden Dawn was working to keep control of things. Red Star was dangerously close to going off the deep end. “Shining Ire cares about who she is with, not if its a mare or a stallion. What matters is that she is the same Shining Ire you know. No matter who she ends up liking.”

“Alright,” Red Star shrugged. “Just wish she had tried a real stallion out first.”

Golden Dawn smacked him in the face with a pillow from the couch.

“Ow,” Red Star said rubbing his cheek. “Point made. Lets go have some fun.”

Golden Dawn clipped on some earrings with a matching a necklace, and they were off. The Sky Chariot was a lot longer than normal with high walls and it had a lot of seats.

“This is excessive,” Golden Dawn stated as she got in.

“This is money,” Red Star chuckled. “But I want to point out, I didn’t buy it. I am just borrowing it from my parent, without them knowing.”

They chuckled as they rode to the restaurant. It was a nice place, but not too upscale. Red Star had something else up his sleeves.

They started with appetizers and a few drinks. They were just enjoying each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere. Their talks revolved around future plans. Red Star was up for a promotion and Gilded Heart was beginning to take care of the employees like he wanted.

“What’s up?” Shining Ire asked Golden Dawn. “You’re distracted.”

“That table,” Golden Dawn said, indicating with her head. “That is Orchid Strawberry. I have no idea who she is with.”

“Wait, Which mare is she?” Gilded Heart asked. “The cream, long empire waist dress, or the amazing green peplum dress?

Golden Dawn snickered. “Exactly. I knew she was a filly fooler. We will be discussing your knowledge of dresses shortly.”

Shining Ire smirked. “It’s a booth. I will pin Orchid, you pin her friend.”

The two of them got up, their mischievous smiles saying it all. Shining Ire slid up beside Orchid Strawberry and Golden Dawn took the other side.

“Hi!” Golden Dawn greeted a shocked Orchid Strawberry. “Fancy seeing you here! And who is your friend?”

Both of them blushed.

“Oh, how rude of me,” Golden Dawn smiled. “This is Shining Ire. We met a few months back.”

“How are you,” Shining Ire asked. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Neither of them knew what to do other than blush.

“Alright,” Golden Dawn said rolling her eyes. “I’ll cut to the chase. We are here celebrating one of my last days in the city before I head off to Basic Training. But you two are not celebrating something. You two are here together.”

Orchid Strawberry’s friend recovered first to answer.

“You can’t tell anypegasus. Please.”

“It’s okay,” Golden Dawn smiled. “I just wanted to confirm what I always knew.”

Orchid Strawberry let out the air she was holding in. “Yes. I have replayed that night a thousand times in my head. I should have said yes to you at the dance. Misty Perfection still has no idea and she can’t know. Not yet. I haven’t figured that out. She is dense.”

Orchid Strawberry sighed. “I knew you were. You were like me. You always avoided the topic of who you liked and others of a similar nature. I wasn’t stunned you asked me. I almost said yes… ”

“But she jumped the gun,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “And raised a huge stink.”

“Yeah,” Orchid Strawberry blushed. “It would have gone a whole lot better if I had said yes. I regret that. I wish she wasn’t so loud or presumptuous.”

“Well, the past is in the past,” Golden Dawn smiled. “I know what you have to lose. And I wish you both the happiest. But you had better tell Misty Perfection soon. It will never get any easier. And I bet it will hurt her all the more the longer you wait. I just recently reconciled things with Blazing Midnight.”

“Let’s go,” Golden Dawn said, pointing with her head.

“Wait!” Orchid Strawberry asked. “Are you two just friends, or…?”

“Or,” Golden Dawn smiled. “We are together. Although, neither of our parent’s know yet. But we are not hiding anything.”

They left them alone and got back to their table. Their main course had arrived. They enjoyed the good food with little conversation.

As dinner slowed down, Red Start got a mischievous look on his face.

“So, I was thinking,” Red Star started. “I have an idea for the next part of the evening.”

Red Star put two long boxes on the table. Golden Dawn opened one, revealing poker chips. Stamped so that they were to be used only at that location.

“I know of a pretty good stakes game that happens on Friday nights. If you are game?”

“I never play,” Gilded Heart stated. “But I enjoy watching and a drink or two.”

“Its a three card game with five on the table. Aces high and low. No blind bets.”

Golden Dawn grinned. “I’m in.”

“I’m out,” Shining Ire stated. “Not into gambling. But I will gladly enjoy watching.”

Red Star smirked. “I hope you are ready for some good action.”

“Never played,” Golden Dawn shrugged. “But I am sure I can handle it with a quick rundown of the full rules.”

Red Star chuckled and began to give her the basic.

After they had desert, they headed to the location. It was a quiet lounge. Plenty of pegasi, mostly stallions, were talking quietly in their groups. There was a single circular table in the open with several older stallions around it. They were obviously playing poker with the same chips as Red Star had. One of them was Red Star’s father.

“Isn’t gambling outside of specific locations in Las Pegasus illegal?” Shining Ire asked.

“It is,” one of the players stated. “But this establishment doesn’t conduct these games. We do. So the law is not being broken.”

“And if the law enforcement raids here?” Shining Ire asked.

The stallion chuckled. “Then they get to see their boss, off hours.”

Golden Dawn took one of the empty seats. Red Star took another beside her. The other two stood behind watching. The bartender came over.

“I will take a bourbon,” Red Star ordered. “He will take a gin and tonic. She will take one as well, and at the table, a Speyside Scotch. Two Ashton Symmetries for the whiskys and a Fink’s small batch for the first gin. I don’t think Shining Ire wants to smoke.”

“I’ll pass on that as well,” Shining Ire kindly stated. “Although I look forward to trying a gin and tonic.”

“I look forward to both,” Golden Dawn smiled as she set up her chips.

The others finished the round and set up for a new deal. The cards were passed out and Golden Dawn looked at hers. Three aces.

“Ten,” One said, tossing a chip into the center.

Golden Dawn called the bet when it was her turn. The first three cards were flipped over and bets were placed. Golden Dawn added another ten to the bet and another card was flipped over. The last ace.

Golden Dawn played it cool and reserved with the betting. Everypegasus was in at the end so the pot was decent. She won the round.

“Well,” one of them chuckled. “We underestimated out first timer. Beginner’s luck.”

Golden Dawn chucked with a tad of mania. “Did I say I was a beginner?”

Nopony had an answer.

“I have never played before,” Golden Dawn calmly stated. “But it is not a case of beginners luck. I will prove that to you. And I will prove it to you beyond a doubt.”

Their drinks came and they helped Golden Dawn start her cigar. It was the first time she had ever smoked. She had the advantage of never trying a cigarette and didn’t make the mistakes developed from that habit.

Golden Dawn took a sip of the scotch. She coughed from how rough it was for her first time.

“Now try it with a few drops of water,” one of them said to Golden Dawn. He put a few drops of water into her glass. “It brings out the flavor. It is amazing how a few drops of the right water expands the flavor.”

Golden Dawn took another sip, without coughing. “A bit peaty, with some light fruity flavors. A tad of nutty taste too.”

“Well deduced,” one of the others stated.

After tasting the Scotch, Golden Dawn understood why that specific cigar was chosen. The flavors paired up perfectly, heightening the experience of both.

Round two was solid, but Golden Dawn lost. They quietly continued with a few more rounds. They were feeling out the newcomers. Red Star had only played a few times.

“So, who is our mystery mare?” One finally asked.

It was Red Star’s father who answered. “The one not playing is the daughter of my FDA friend. Who understandably can’t play. I wish he could, but it potentially puts him in a bad position. It is probably a good thing Shining Ire isn’t playing as well. Just to be safe. But that isn’t why she isn’t playing.”

“And I am the other they met at the charity Gala,” Golden Dawn said contemplating her cards. She raised by twenty. “Golden Dawn. I am just the daughter of two mill workers. But I graduated Cum Laude. Cards are simple.”

“So, what are you doing here?” they asked Golden Dawn.

“I head out for Basic Training on Monday,” Golden Dawn explained. “Light trooper. So a fun night with friends before I leave.”

They all were impressed with her choice to join the military.

“I can’t shuffle,” Golden Dawn stated as she cut the deck five times and put it back in a random order. “So, if you could shuffle for me, that would be appreciated. I will cut it again after.”

Golden Dawn lost the next three round. She looked at her cards and saw three hearts. The first three cards flipped over and they lined up for a straight. She played a bit aggressively and won the round.

“You know how to handle your cards,” Red Star’s father stated.

Golden Dawn received her second scotch and they continued to play. Golden Dawn folded and let others win. She played a few more rounds before letting things roll. Golden Dawn ran a bluff.

“Fifty,” Golden Dawn said tossing a chip into the center.

“I’ll see.”

“I’m out.”

The round progressed until it was just Golden Dawn and the law enforcement chief.

“One Fifty,” Golden Dawn said, tossing a few chips in.

“Too rich. Fold.”

Golden Dawn set her cards down and began to pull in the chips. Her first real win of the night.

“What did you have?” Shining Ire asked. “Why didn’t you show them?”

Golden Dawn chuckled. “Because you only have to show your cards when you have to prove you have the best set. Nopegasus could challenge me because I was the only one left.”

“That is the game,” Red Star stated. “You win by having the best cards. If, at the end, you have no challenger, then you automatically win and don’t have to show your cards. It can expose your strategy if you reveal them.”

“But,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “I won’t be around. Or at least for a while. I can show you my cards.”

Golden Dawn flipped them over, revealing absolutely nothing of value.

“Damn good bluff,” One said.

Shining Ire was still a bit confused. “So, you won just because you had no others at the end? You forced them to fold?”

“Exactly,” Golden Dawn nodded. “Pretty simple.”

Golden Dawn started on her third drink, and puffed on her cigar. She was certainly feeling the tobacco. It was wonderful.

“Well,” A new stallion chuckled as he came over. “We have some new comers.”

“Don’t discount her,” Red Star’s father warned him. “She just took us for a ride.”

They new pegasus sat down at the table and they took a quick break while he set up. It was Golden Dawn’s turn to deal.

“I can’t shuffle,” She said to the him as she cut the deck. “So if you please will, and then I will run a final few cuts, we can proceed.

The deck was shuffled and cut. They continued.

“I think I have this down,” Golden Dawn smirked as she looked around. “I bet I can accurately predict what you have. Golden Dawn set down a hundred chips in front of Red Star. “You have a low pair.”

“And you, you have three in the same suit. You have a face card and a high number. You are waiting for the next card to see if you have any chance. And I haven’t figured you out yet.

Golden Dawn laid down the bets of the other’s cards. If she was wrong, they kept those chips. She folded when the fifth card was shown. However, Golden Dawn was correct in each assessment she made.

It was time for her next trick. Golden Dawn didn’t look at her cards and tossed in 50 for a blind bet. Three matched her bet, the other three backed out.

“She must be holding a pretty good set,” one said as Golden Dawn bet 100 when the first three cards were flipped over. “I’m out.”

The others folded, leaving just Red Star and Golden Dawn.

“You realize she hasn’t even looked at her cards,” Red Star chuckled.

Golden Dawn finally picked up her cards for a quick peak. Her cards almost had her lined up for a straight. The next card didn’t help, but Golden Dawn played a tad aggressive in hopes of getting that last card.

The round landed in Golden Dawn’s favor. Red Star has a straight, but Golden Dawn’s straight was higher.

“Damn,” Red Star spat. “You got this down.”

“Its all about reading the players,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “This is easy. I graduated Cum Laude for a reason. No matter what school I attended. I’m no fool.”

“And that school was?”

Golden Dawn chuckled. “I went to Mills.”

They all were shocked, unsure of what to say.

Gilded Heart chuckled at their blank expressions. “We all learn the same stuff and take the same tests. Reputation is reputation, but test scores are test score.”

“Red, you are one lucky stallion,” The Law Enforcement Chief said. “Nailing her is a huge prize.”

All four of them chuckled.

“I am not that lucky,” Red Star said, examining his cards. “We are just friends. The lucky one is Shining Ire.”

The others looked at Shining Ire, who just blushed.

“Yeah yeah,” Golden Dawn said waving it off. “Just play and give me your chips!”

They didn’t last much longer as Golden Dawn cleaned them out.

“I would love to say beginner’s luck, but this isn’t,” Red Star’s father chuckled. “I guess the game is done early. We shall just enjoy each other’s company, drinks and these lovely cigars. You, Golden Dawn, are being spoiled with a great, top notch cigar for your first. Ruined for the rest of cigars.”

Golden Dawn chuckled as she took a few puffs. “Well, it is a special night. Red Star fronted the chips for this evening. I have no idea how this will work now, but I enjoyed beating you all. It was fun. And a new experience. Somehow, I think that poker games like this will help me better protect all your asses while in the military.”

They all laughed.

“You know,” The chief of law enforcement chuckled. “When you get bored of playing soldier, you can go to Law Enforcement training. You can settle down and do more as a Law Enforcement agent. More than patrol the same clouds in circles. Keep a decent record and I will gladly hire you.”

“Thanks,” Golden Dawn replied. “But I don’t plan on moving into Law Enforcement. At least not right now. But I appreciate the offer.”

He laughed. “You beat me at poker. I bet you can beat the shit out of the certain problematic pegasi we have in this city. We need some better puzzle solvers.”

“Well, I expected this to last longer,” Red Star chuckled. “I knew she would have fun, but not wipe the table with us.”

“I guess,” Gilded Heart said, drawing it out. “We should probably retire. As early as it is. I think it would be appreciated.”

They headed out and took the chariot back to Shining Ire’s apartment to finish the evening. That way the girls could just head to bed after their drinks, rather than having to work to get them home.

Next Chapter: Story 1 - Golden Family Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 59 Minutes