The Equestria Games

The Equestria Games, by Prismatics. Chapter 2

"No no no no no..." Azure mumbles, afraid to admit the inevitable.

She's going into the arena. To fight 23 other tributes. On national TV.

Pinkie Pie's annoying voice calls out from the stage. "Well come on, Azure. Don't be afraid!"

Azure slowly makes her way up to the stage, aware that everyponys' eyes are on her. I hate being the center of attention. She thinks. Azure struggles to appear emotionless, and barely keeps herself from breaking down in front of the cameras. Everypony knows what crying at the reaping means. It makes you look weak. Weak, and easy to kill.

But Azure will not go down without a fight. She has no real combat skills, but a cornered rat will always fight back. And they will fight back hard.

"Well that was surprising! A volunteer... from District 12! There's only ever been two volunteers in the history of the games." The end of Pinkie's sentence makes Azure flinch in memory of the only other volunteer. "Now let's have a round of applause for this years tributes.

A long, painful silence ensues. Nopony applauds out here. Everypony always gives a respectful silence, and the announcers never seem to grasp that.

"Right... Now you two, shake hooves." Pinkie says, a little miffed nobody applauded.

Azure turns to look at the stallion next to her. Despite his overwhelming appearance, he fails to conceal the fear in his eyes. He forces a smile as he shakes her hoof, but it's not a very reassuring one.

"Alright, guys. I wish you luck, and hope th eodds may be forever in your favour!" Pinkies squeals in that annoying Capitol accent. Why is it so high pitched? Azure asks herself. And why do they make any sentance sound like a question?

They leave the stage and enter the rusty, derelict Justice Building. Still, it's one of the best quality buildings in 12.

"Right, now let's get you two into your quarters, before we load you on to the train." Pinkie leads them into the elevator, which smells of sour milk and coal. Azure has never ridden the elevator before, and reflects on how, if she has the choice, never wants to again. It's slow, loud, and very rickety, almost as if a single poke will collapse the entire structure.

The elevator grinds to a halt, creating a high-pitched screeching noise that causes everypony but Pinkie to cover their ears. She ushers the two tributes into separate rooms, and tells them they have one hour to say their goodbyes.

The room is definatly more luxurious than expected. There's two couches, made of some soft material Azure has never seen, or felt before. The table is made of mahogany, and is quite obviously hoof-crafted by a pony with expert skills. There's a bowl on said table with several colourful fruits, some that Azure can't even name. Within minutes the bowl is empty, the only evidence that something was ever contained something is the small droplets of citrus splattered around the container.

Voices can faintly be heard on the other side of the door, and at several points, crying. A pang of loneliness hits Azure. She never really had nay friends in school, she was always the filly who sat in the back and read for most of the day. The only family she had is dead, and it was only because of a lack of interest she managed to live alone. Azure never had a 'knack' for survival. In fact, the only reason she didn't starve was because of Jilly.

Jilly had struck a deal with her when they first met. Jilly would supply her food, in exchange for her company. Living in the Everfree forest tends to drive most ponies mad, and Jilly figured that having somepony to talk with would keep her sanity in check. Apparently, it worked. But just barely.

Azure instead spends the hour moping about her assured death, and also what her token will be. The latter surprised her, as the token is normally the last thing on a tributes mind.

Azure never really had naything that could be used as a token, other than her brothers old cap, which burned in a fire last year, and the scarf she made for herself. Anything will do, I suppose.

An hour passes, but to both ponies it seems like a lifetime. Pinkie raps on the door, more sharply then intended. "Time to board the train!" She escorts the two to the foul-smelling elevator again, and they take yet another 5 minute trip to the ground floor. Pinkie rambles on about 'What an honour this is', and 'Wait until you see the train. It's AWESOME!'.

They reach the ground, and are escorted by two ponies in white jumpsuit to a fancy, retro looking car. The two surprised looking tributes are ushered in, both nervous about the ridiculous amount of reporters lined up beside the car.

Pinkie doesn't stop talking about the supposed magnificence of the Capitol, and how amazing the parties are, but Azure tunes her out as she thinks about what will happen.

I have no chance of winning, but I'm not going down without a fight. She thinks. Perhaps I can save somepony that deserves it. You know, if I don't die instantly. The thought of somepony else through probably the hardest point in their life comforts her, even if it means certain death.

The car stops at the local District train station, but instead of the usual coal transports there's a luxurious, sleek train that looks like a massive, gleaming, silver bullet.

Probably travels like one too. Azure thinks.

As if she can read her thoughts, Pinkie Pie begins explaining exactly how fast this thing actually travels.

"It's like a magical bullet! We'll be at the Capitol in less than two days! Isn't that exciting? Ooh! I'm gonna go get Twilight!" She bolts off down the station platform and into the train, leaving two tributes and two Peacekeepers throughly confused as to how a pony can travel that fast.

The two tributes are escorted into the train, shown their quarters, and left alone to bide their time however they please.

Azure decides to examine her surroundings, unable to contain her shock at the splendor of it all. The room is a plain, creamy white, with many wooden tables and dressers, all perfectly crafted by hoof. Her bed is relatively small, but it's comfort value more than makes up for it. A tray with some colourful fruit-shaped candies rests on her nightstand, and a mug of some brown liquid that looks different than anything Azure has ever seen.

She flicks on a flat-screen TV in the corner and watches a recap of the reapings to get a feel for the tributes she'll be facing. Only a few stand out, such as a grim, wordless pony with a green coat and an odd pair of gold-coloured goggles from District 2. The stallion looks as if he could tear a small pony like Azure in half, and probably has done so in the past. A deep purple pony from District 3 who doesn't stop laughing for the entire reaping, and playing with a glowing yellow cube. A twitchy young pony from 6, who has an odd chip taken from his ear. A grey stallion from 10, who has the strange appearance of electricity sparking on his coat. But when they get to the District 7 reapings, the female tribute completly shocks Azure, yet at the same time, comforts her.

"Jilly Joke!" The announcer for 7 shrieks in a strangely familiar voice. Apparently all Capitol escorts sound the same. The dark blue, pegasus mare Azure knew so well hops up on to the stage, a massive grin on her face. A grin that almost says she would have volunteered if she was not picked already.

The reapings are scattered throughout the day, never in any actual order. Yet oddly enough, every year District 12 is always the last. The tape shows the colt called Ice Shard being picked, and Snowy volunteering to take his place. Then it shows Azure being picked, and standing there, oblivious to the world around her. Atleast she didn't break down and cry like the filly from 3. Atleast she doesn't look weak.

It cuts to a a couple of ponies discussing first opinions on this years tributes, pointing out their favourites, and those who they believe will not make it past the first day.

Azure flicks the TV off, and decides to go visit the others. She wanders through the many cars of the train, glaring at each Peacekeeper she meets. It doesn't affect them, but it makes her feel better.

She finally reaches the car where the rest are, the dining car. They don't seem to acknowledge her coming in, and continue doing what they were previously. Pinkie is drinking some fruity beverage with a ridiculous amount of bubbles, Twilight is reading a book, and Snowy has his head facedown on the table, making quiet sobbing noises.

"So... hey." Azure begins, attempting to start a conversation.

Pinkie immedietly snaps out of her... daze, and spills her drink all over Twilight as a result.

"Oh hi Azure! How's your day going- oooops sorry Twilight! Oh well, atleast it matches your mane!" She rambles off, and suddenly producing a cloth from her giant poofy mane, begins to clean the sticky drink off of Twilight's scowling face.

"It's fine." Twilight says curtly.

After cleaning and grooming herself, Twilight turns to Snowy and Azure. "So, I'm assuming you two want some life-saving advice for the arena, right?"

Azure never believed she had any chance to survive in a games, but that won't stop her from trying. Azure nods, causing Twilight to go on a rant about survival tactics and 100 different ways to construct improvised weapons.

Azure wanted advice, but not like this. She want solid advice, not a detailed explanation of every single survival tactic known to pony.

"Sweet Celestia, please shut up." Snowy groans, covering his ears.

Twilight gives him an angry glare, then snorts and returns to her book. An awkward silence ensues, leaving Azure wondering if coming out of her room was a good idea.

A sudden, loud voice scares the daylights out of everypony in the room.

"DINNER!!!" Pinkie Pie shouts, holding 6 trays of various delicacies on her back, defying several laws of physics at the same time.

Twilight uses magic to grab a single roll, then leaves the room, still reading her book.

Azure has never seen most of the dishes laid before her, and resolves to try each and every one before she gets to the Capitol. She starts off with a salad covered in some white sauce, and a couple of polished red apples shined to perfection. Taking a bite, her brain almost explodes with the sensations of awesome. These fruits must be modified in some way to be that sweet!

"This is amazing!" Azure exclaims.

Pinkie has already finished off two dishes of salad, and one pitcher of the brown liquid Azure noticed earlier. Snowy hasn't even touched any of the food. He just sits at the edge of table, face down, light sobs coming from his body.

"I know right? This stuff is simply divine! Hey, that sounds like something Rarity would say. Have you met Rarity? Oh who am I kidding of course you haven't! Hear, try this!" Pinkie says, stuffing a cupcake in Azures mouth before she can react. "See what I mean? Man, you should see the Capitol, the food is waaay better than this."

Snowy lets out another groan, and glares at Pinkie. "Is anypony here not insane?" He grabs a small bowl of fruit and gets up to leave, mumbling something under his breath.

"I'm not insane! My mother had me tested!" Pinkie responds cheerfully, all the while stuffing her face with cupcakes.

"Right." Snowy replies curtly.

He exits the dining room, leaving Azure and Pinkie left to dine in silence. Well, as silent as Pinkie Pie stuffing her face is.

"So!" Pinkie says suddenly, causing Azure to jump. "How is it going? You don't look like you're having fun! What's your idea of fun? Do you like parties? Maybe you should have a party! Ooh! I love parties! Will you invite me? Of course you will! I'm the one who gave you the very idea! Will it be a surprise party? I love surprises! I'm gonna go plan my surprise face now! Bye!" Pinkie zips off down corrider, and moments later a door slamming can be heard several cars down, leaving Azure and a very surprised looking Peacekeeper alone in the room.

Azure is still trying to comprehend what in the holy name of Celestia just happened as she returns to her luxurious quarters. Even though it is only mid-evening she feels fatigued and dazed, like her life energy has been sapped out like a maple tree.

Azure tiredly makes her way over to the oversized, overly comfy bed in the corner of the room, and promptly collapse on to it.

Some seconds after, she is asleep.

* * *

"WAKE UP SLEEPYHEAD!"

Azure snaps up in bed, disoriented about where she is for a moment, before her eyes focus and relay her surroundings to her brain. The resulting information makes Azure sigh in sadness, as it reminds her that she's on her way to a brutal bloodbath. But at the moment, she'll deal with the hyperactive pink pony who has her face only a couple inches from her own.

"Pinkie." Azure begins. "Can you get your face out of mine? Please?"

"Okay!" She responds enthusiastically, bouncing off the bed as she does so.

"Ugh, what time is it?" Azure asks sluggishly.

"Noon!" Pinkie replies.

"Noon? What time did I go to bed?"

"How should I know? I don't watch you sleep. Or doooo I?"

Azure decided that any continued conversation with Pinkie would cause her to go insane, so she instead shuffled past her, quickly groomed her mane and went into the living room car of the train, where everypony else was sitting around. Twilight was reading a different book, a book titled '138.2 Different Ways to boil Eggs.' Snowy was sitting in a corner, listening to some music on a small device. Pinkie Pie had somehow made it to the room before her, despite there only being one hallway and Azure knew she had passed by her on the way out of her quarters.

Azure shakes the questions of logic out of her mind. There's no place for logic when Pinkie involved.

The pink Capitol escort was currently fiddling with some kind of cube with a bunch of colours on it. Azure watched her for a few moments, then lost interest.

"We will be reaching the Capitol in 2 hours and 23 minutes. Don't ask me how I know that, I just do." Twilight says, not even looking up from her book. "You will then be taken to your prep teams. You will be tempted to resist. I know I was. But don't do it. Your stylist will then come and design an outfit for you to wear during the Tribute Parade. Do everything they say. No buts." Pinkie snickers, getting a glare from Twilight.

"Ok... Anything else?" Azure asks.

"Nope! That's it." Twilight replies, returning her attention to the book.

Azure shrugs, then sits down on the couch and turns on the TV. The only channels are the Capitol broadcasts, the Hunger Games channel, and the previous games highlights. The Capitol channel is streaming propoganda, the Games channel is interviewing a Gamemaker. Azure flicks to the highlights channel and begins watching a replaying of the cornucopia bloodbath of the games a few years ago. She recognizes the female from her District, a grey mare with a blond mane, with an odd cutie mark of bubbles. The oddest feature about her is her crossed eyes. Nopony ever survives  in Twelve with a disablity like that.

The arena was fairly simple, a plains that spread out almost for what seemed infinitly, with trees dotting the countryside here and there. Many tributes later died of thirst, as the only water at all was in the cornucopia, controlled by 5 careers.

The initial bloodbath was gruesome, with a total of 12 deaths in the opening minutes. The mare from 12, Azure thinks her name was Derpy, was one of the lucky survivors, making it out of the cornucopia with only an ice pick and a small saddlepack.

The rest of the games passed on, most of the tributes dropping like flies on the 3rd day, due to a lack of water. Derpy was lucky enough to have a water bottle filled to the brim, and she carefully rationed it to last. On the fifth day, the careers caught up with her, and would have killed her had it not been for a small colt from District 5, named Shock Sphere, who came in at the last moment and killed two of the four careers. A short skirmish ensued, ending in the deaths of all the careers, and leaving Derpy and Shock to nurse their wounds. Only 5 tributes remained at this point, scattered around the arena. Their deaths followed soon after, two dying from thirst, the other dying in combat.

Derpy and Sphere were left to fight it out for the crown, during a large thunderstorm engineered by the Gamemakers to ensure a dramatic showdown between two friends. The combat was quick, Derpy quickly disarming Sphere and holding him to the ground, a sword against his neck. Derpy stood over him, as he patiently awaited his death. then she removed her sword and fell back.

"I can't do it." Derpy had said. "I can't kill you." She started to cry, and collapsed completly to the ground. A brief silence followed, punctuated only by the sound of thunder and the flashes of lightning. Then a voice spoke up.

"That's a real shame." Sphere said, his axe preparing to fall upon Derpy. "Because I can." And the axe fell.

A cannon fired.

Shock Sphere, the young colt from District 5, had won.

Azure shut off the TV, only now aware that Pinkie and Twilight had sat down to watch the highlights with her. She looked at their faces. Pinkie's, overcome with glee, and Twilight's, radiating sadness. They all exchanged glances, an unspken conversation going on between them.

"Look!" Another voice called out. "It's the Capitol!" Snowy said, pointing out the window.