The Pony Games

"Pinkie!" Twilight cried as the chariot pulled away. "No!"

Pinkie Pie. She had been moved to Fillydelphia, one of the towns not shown to her on the train. Fillydelphia. Fillydelphia, Appleoosa, Trottingham, Cloudsadale, Manehatten. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity.

"Oh my Faust," Twilight cried, realizing what had happened. "My Faust, they're all here. They're all in the games!"

"Twilight," Lucky hissed, "we're going. I don't know what you're so upset about, but we're about to face thousands of Canterlotians and potential sponsors, and I don't think you want to let them see you cry."

Twilight hasn't realized she had been crying, but she forced the thoughts from her mind as the crowd appeared, cheering and shouting. The roar of the public grew loud as Lucky and Twilight appeared, sparks flying, and roses started to cascade upon them.

"They love us!" Lucky shouted, grinning like a maniac. He grabbed Twilight's hoof, but she threw him off, giving him a strange look.

"Come on," he said, pleading. "I know you're upset, but let's at least show some companionship. Who knows what it'll do?"

Twilight reluctantly returned her hoof to Lucky's grasp, and they lifted their forelegs in the air.

The deafening roar that greeted them was magnificent. The screens that lined the runway showed only their faces, and Twilight looked at her face in wonder. The sparks going off from her outfit and the effect of the scintillating sparkles made her look like a magnificent creature, a goddess, a princess. Only as she looked up did she realize that Photo Finish had placed a small crown on her head as a sign of rebellion. While Lucky's mane stayed his normal spiky, slicked back style, Twilight's was slightly curled around her chin on one side and at the tips on the other, like the way she had looked at her coronation.

"You really do look like a ruler," Lucky said, watching the screen as well. "I'm lucky you're my partner."

Twilight smiled wanly.

The chariots came to a rest in a semicircle around the end of the road, where Celestia and the gamekeepers would be watching and addressing the tributes.

A spark lit in the sky, and the ponies oohed as the ruler descended from the sky. Her mane was no longer rainbow, but an orange blanket of flames, and her eyes sparked like embers. Several ponies gasped as a large bronze arrow went careening towards her, but she caught the weapon in her teeth and completed the opening of the Pony Games.

"Welcome, tributes," she said, landing in front of the microphone and shifting her mane back to normal. "Happy Pony Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favor! We commend your courage and your..."

The queen paused, her eyes locked with those of Twilight Sparkle, but her eyes sparked red, and she continued.

"...sacrifice."

***

The chariots pulled into the stables, and Twilight immediately hopped off and ran to the pink mare in front of her.

"Pinkie Pie!" she cried, throwing her forelegs around the mare. Pinkie's mane immediately proofed back up.

"Oh my gosh! Twilight! We have so much to talk about and I threw so many amazing parties in Fillydelphia and I tried to get you to come but they said you couldn't and none of the other girls got my invitations and I really missed you guys there and-" she took a huge breath, "-I can't believe it! It's you!"

"What in Tarn-Fluttershy!" exclaimed a voice from across the circle. The two turned to see Applejack embracing the timid pegasi.

"Applejack! Fluttershy!" Pinkie exclaimed, dragging Twilight over to the two. "Oh my gosh I haven't seen you in ages and I threw so many parties and..."

"Hey! Outta my way!"

Rainbow Dash dragged Rarity through the other tributes, bringing the mare to a stop next to Pinkie.

"See? I told you I saw Pinkie," she said triumphantly. "Heya, guys!"

Twilight could not help the tears, both happy and sad, from pouring down her face. Here were her friends, after all these years, and...

"Girls! I... I can't..." she cried, leaning into Pinkie. The shocking realization that there could only be one victor hit her again. Now, not only would Lucky have to die for her to win, but Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy...

***

"Leave me alone!" Twilight screeched, shoving past Rosella and Lucky as they entered their suite, slamming the door to a random bedroom and locking it as she smashes her head against the door. Her horn throbbed, but she seemed to ignore the pain as she screamed.

"Why, Celestia?" she shrieked. "Why all of us?"

She cried and cried before a knock sounded against the light wood.

"Go away, Rose!" she screeched.

"It's me, Twi," Lucky said pleadingly. "Let me in. Please."

Twilight had barely fumbled the lock open before she was caught in the stallion's warm and comforting embrace.

"Shhh," he whispered, shutting out the curious gaze of Rosella. "It's okay. I'm so sorry, Twilight. I didn't realize they were your friends."

Twilight said nothing, instead burying her head in Lucky's shoulder and weeping.

"If you want to leave me at the Cornucopia, that's okay, too," he said quietly.

"No," she choked out. "We're friends. Friends don't abandon each other. We're partners to the end. We'll find a way to make it work. I promise."

"Alright," he said quietly. "I'll go now-"

"No!" she interrupted. "D-don't leave me, Lucky."

"I won't," he said grimly. "Promise."

He guided the weeping mare to the window seat, and she stayed close to him, too upset to let go.

"We are friends," he said, his voice falling almost imperceptibly at the last word. "I'll stay. I am your Lucky Clover, aren't I?"

A small, watery laugh found it's way out of Twilight's lips. She looked up into his sapphire blue eyes and nodded.

"That's why I've got three four-leaf clovers on my flank," he said, smiling at her. "My luck will get you far."

They sat there on the windowsill, chatting gently, watching the stars, and listening to the huge party going on in the streets of Canterlot, and Twilight didn't leave her position next to Lucky. When she finally did leave his side and slip into her silken sheets, Lucky lay on the floor and kept her bad dreams away all night. He didn't relinquish his post until she woke in the morning.