‘Bzzzz, Bzzzz, Bzzzz, Bzzzz, Bzzzz’

Lightning Dust pried her eyes open at the sound of buzzing. She looked down at her wrist to see that it was the bracelet making the noise.

“Buck my life.” She groaned with displeasure. “Let’s do this dance Spitfire.” Lightning Dust got to her hooves with relative ease considering her sore muscles. She tried to inspect her wound on her shoulder but for some peculiar reason it had disappeared miraculously. “Wha? How is that possible?” Now that she was aware of her body, she realized that all of her bruises and scratches were gone. All within an hour, she was completely healed.

“Lightning Dust, you have awoken.” The voice was back.

“Great, you again, what do you want?” Lighting’s eyes wandered throughout the swampy area but her gaze met no one.

“It is time for your final judgment. Be ready.” The voice once again faded into silence.

“Great, could you be any more unhelpful? Why don’t you do something useful for once instead of being a disembodied voice?” Lightning muttered to herself as she made her way up the steep ledge that she had fallen from only an hour ago. “If I’m going to die today, then I’m going to die fighting. Get ready Spitfire because I am coming for you.”

“Should I pursue her captain?”

“Of course you can but you will need a weapon.” Spitfire ordered her heavy as she picked up the knife that still lay on the sand. “I don’t care if she is dead or alive but I want you to bring her body to me and maybe I will throw in a small incentive for all of your hard work.” Spitfire walked around Soarin, suggestively swaying her flank for the stallion. “Actually I have changed my mind. If you bring her to me alive, I shall treat you like a king.” Spitfire proposed with a wink. She rubbed her hoof underneath his chin and placed a warm kiss on his neck. “Now be a good boy and run along. You wouldn't want to keep me waiting now would you?”

“No ma’am.” Soarin grabbed his blade and disappeared into the trees.

“Great, now I’m lost.” Lightning complained as she stumbled onto a path that led to a clearing. There were no familiar landmarks in the area that could tell her how to get back to the beach. But she could already tell that she didn't have to go looking far to run into trouble. Trouble always seemed to rear it’s ugly head wherever she went.

On the other side of the clearing, Lightning could make out the shape of a pony yet it didn't look as though it was Spitfire or Soarin. Lightning cautiously approached the figure trying her best to avoid any unnecessary confrontations. All she could see was the lithe silhouette from this distance. She assumed that the figure was a mare because of her body structure. Any more advances would have alerted them considering Lightning was in plain view from any direction. A sudden movement in the bushes behind the figure scared her away. Lightning was about to press forward before a familiar silhouette emerged from the bushes.

“Mother Bucker.” Lightning cursed as the stocky frame of Soarin was now visible.

Soarin saw Lightning standing in the clearing and took off at a gallop after her. Lightning backed away slower than you would expect from someone who was about to be murdered. In Lightning’s defense however she couldn't abnegate the inevitable, she almost embraced it, but she didn't want to go out like a coward. Lightning ceased her attempt at retreat and stood her ground. The gears in her head were turning; thinking, thinking of some sort of strategy to take this stallion down.

Soarin was overcome with blood lust and if he brought back his prey alive, he would be overcome in Spitfire’s lust and that was motivation enough for him. Though when you flood your mind with too many emotions, you tend to make many careless mistakes and Lightning Dust was full well capable of taking immediate advantage.

A simple hop to the side and a well placed hoof was enough to bring the clumsy stallion down to the dirt. Feeling discombobulated, Soarin got back on his hooves and wiped the dust from his cheek. It was time to turn the tables in his favor, he pulled his blade from its sheath and haphazardly swung at Lightning but she easily dodged his onslaught. He was terrible when it came to wielding a knife, but his uncoordinated assault still concerned Lightning. He was the one with the knife, not her. She would need to be smarter than him and judging by how untactful he was, it wouldn't be all that difficult. Lightning retreated back towards the path that took her into the clearing hoping that the stallion would persist in his efforts, foolishly he did. Once she was fairly deep into the woods, she glanced back to see Soarin still chasing her… perfect.

The path had now dissipated into the dense undergrowth. Lightning hadn't realized just how fast Soarin was on his hooves and now he was almost within an arms-length away from Lightning. Needing to think quickly, Lightning dead stopped; catapulting Soarin over her and onto his back in front of her. Almost immediately he was back up and ready to fight. They simultaneously lunged towards each other and both of their front hooves contacted one another. Each others weight helped them stand upright on their hind legs. Knowing that he was stronger than his opponent, Soarin elevated his hind leg and planted his hoof into her solar plexus driving the air from her lungs and pushing her to the ground. Before she could react, Soarin had already mounted her and left her incapable of getting up. Even though she was on the bottom and squirming to free herself, she couldn't help but smile on the inside.

“Don’t you ever learn from your mistakes idiot?” Lightning snarled through gritted teeth.

“What the heck is that supposed to…?” He was cut short when a hoof impacted his testicles for the second time today. The stallion fell like a stone to his side, letting go of his grip on the knife in the process. Lightning was quick to take advantage and grabbed the adjacent knife. Both were now back on their hooves. The only difference being that Lightning wielded the weapon now. Stillness lingered the dusty air for several moments as both gladiators panted heavily. Soarin made the next move and lunged for Lightning… bad idea. Lightning slid underneath his body and stuck the blade upwards ripping his skin from his chest down to his lower stomach region. Once she was no longer underneath him, she whipped around and dug the blade into the back of his thigh. He let out a scream of anguish as he fell to his bloodied stomach.

“Time to end this!” Lightning pounced onto Soarin’s back and wrapped her front legs around his neck so that the blade made contact with his throat. She pressed the blade up against his esophagus and slowly cut his throat open. He never made a sound, he just… died.

Back at the beach, Spitfire watched as the sun sank down just above the horizon. If she had to take a guess, she would say that it was almost 7:00PM. Her attention was drawn to her right arm. She could feel the band vibrate indicating that somepony had been eliminated. She licked her lips in suspense as she waited for her heavy to return holding the limp body of their rival. Was she going to give Soarin what she had promised earlier, of course not. Once Spitfire saw the lifeless corpse of Lightning Dust, she planned on eradicating her partner with the knife that she possessed. She would have to do it carefully though; if he were to catch on to her scheme then he might be having second thoughts about their alliance. Then again he could be of use for a bit longer but she was most concerned about seeing the body of Lightning Dust.

“Clumsy fool probably killed her on accident, there is no way in Equestria he would kill her thinking that he would get to have his way with me but then again I probably would've killed him before he could redeem his reward anyway.” She thought to herself as she turned back around to see the sunset.

Lightning lifted her head from her work on the ground when she heard a large crack of thunder envelope the air around her. She could see on the eastern horizon, several large storm clouds had begun to form. There was a warm sea breeze that accompanied the incoming storm. Lightning looked back at the ground and continued working on her devilish project. She took only a few seconds more to ensure the maximum quality of her product. She stood back to examine her sadistic creation…well, more deconstruction than anything else.

“Hey Spitfire, I made a present just for you. Hope you like it.” Lightning suppressed a chortle of amusement as she held her prize in one hoof and cleaned the crimson paint from her other hoof with her tongue. It tasted oddly of iron but it wasn't in the least unpleasant. With her prize in tow, Lightning made her way up the grassy ridge and towards the beach.

Spitfire had eventually dosed off from boredom. The anticipation of seeing Lightning dead had grown unappealing. She was lost in her dreams of grandeur as a young athlete. She cherished those memories to this day. Despite her reckless attitude as of late, she still had things that she thought were worth fighting for. She was always spoiled no doubt but she remained humble through it all. What was she now, just a murderer with no life ahead of her? Yeah that sounds just about right. Spitfire tossed and turned with unseen turmoil invading her thoughts. She fought with her conscience about the differences between right and wrong but she simply didn't care about ethics anymore.

Spitfire was startled awake by an impact to her exposed stomach. She jolted to her hooves and flung the object that landed on her stomach to the side, not bothering to examine what it was. She looked towards the trees and saw something she wished she hadn't. Lightning Dust was standing triumphantly before Spitfire with a maniacal grin smeared across her bloodstained face.

“You, you are supposed to be dead!” Spitfire scrambled for words in shock.

“Well I guess you thought wrong. Your stud was easy picking. Now don’t go and get a’head’ of yourself Spitfire, you wouldn't want to end up like your partner over there.” Lightning chuckled as she pointed towards the object that had presumably been thrown at her. Spitfire almost regurgitated at what she saw laying on the sandy beach not but a few yards from her. She couldn't formulate a proper thought about the scene other than sickening.

“Sorry Spits but I had to ‘cut off’ one of your resources. Just to make things a little more in my favor. Do you feel light‘head’ed Spitty?”

“You sick monster!”

“Yeah now you know how it feels to soak in your agony as I did. We all must be punished for what we do. You can kill me now but what will that do? Nothing, I have nothing left to lose Spitfire and do you know the pony responsible for my collapse. Well next time you look in the mirror you will know. If you ever get to see another mirror again that is. Now being the completely fair mare that I am, let’s play this game without any assistance shall we. Lightning tossed Soarin’s knife to the side, out of easy reach. Spitfire did the same.

The two raging mares charged at one another with blind fury flooding their bodies. Spitfire gained the upper hoof as she took down Lightning swiftly. Spitfire had the other mare pressed on her back and squirming to get back up. Lightning stuck her hooves up to block the oncoming assault from rapid hooves pounding her throbbing skull. Lightning grabbed one of Spitfire's oncoming hooves and flipped her over onto her back which immediately prompted Lightning to roll onto the other mare’s belly. Now Lightning was the one throwing powerful blows. Spitfire took notice of a particular pattern in Lightning’s punches. Her right hoof seemed to be her strongest appendage. Time to change that. Spitfire grasped Lightning’s right hoof as Lightning had done to her before and proceeded to turn Lightning onto her belly. She still maintained her iron grip on Lightning’s arm and twisted it backwards to where her wrist was touching the base of her wing. Spitfire moved into a sitting position and wrapped her back legs around Lightning’s contorted arm and applied more pressure to the right shoulder. Now that Lightning’s arm was secure between her legs, Spitfire brought her forearms around Lightning’s face and locked her wrists together to where they were just below the writhing mares snout and pulled up. She continued to stretch her neck and shoulder even further. Lightning flailed her left hoof through the air trying to pry Spitfire’s grasp but she simply wasn't strong enough. When strength wasn't enough, Lightning learned to improvise. She bit down on one of Spitfires wrists. Spitfire hollered in pain but refused to release the hold. Something came off of Spitfire arm and into Lightning’s mouth. She hoped to Discord that it wasn't a chunk of flesh so she spit it out immediately.

Beep

Lightning could now feel her arm stretch to its limit and then some, eliciting a squeal of pain from the mare being dominated.

Beep

Spitfire tugged even harder on Lightning’s arm which gave her satisfaction.

Beep

Lightning knew her shoulder was about to be pulled directly out of its socket in just a few more forceful tugs from Spitfire.

Beep

Lightning’s arm finally gave way from the tension and was ripped out of place with an audible ‘pop’. Lightning screamed through her gritted teeth. Her vision went blurry and she was on the verge of passing out. Spitfire had no intentions of alleviating the taxing hold either.

Beep

Spitfire had just now become aware of the beeping noise and wondered what it could be.

Beep

She held strong in the crossface but was determined to find the source of the noise.

Beep

She looked down at her wrist band and realized that it was glowing and pulsating. She then noticed that the red tag was missing.

Beep

“This is the end of you Spitfire!” Lightning growled through the painful haze.

Beep

Spitfire knew that this was inevitably true but she was not going out empty hoofed.

“Then you’re coming with me!”

Beep…

The orange farm pony stirred awake at the sound of a loud blast. She thought nothing of it, only assuming that it was caused by the oncoming storm. Her wrist band vibrated twice indicting that two more ponies had met their fates and would accompany the first pony in Tartaurus.

“Less than twelve hours in and three of them suckers are dead already.” She murmured to herself. Applejack had taken immediate refuge inside of a hollowed out tree stump and had stayed there ever since. Hopefully she could wait it out till nightfall to collect more rations. The donations that she’d been given were less than what she needed. A tall glass of hard apple cider would have been great right about now; strong enough to distract her from this dumb game but not quite enough to impair her crucial senses.

Applejack's eyelids began to close once more. She grew tired in only seconds. A talent that at times was helpful. The dreams she had when she did grow weary however weren’t so pleasant.

“Momma, momma, come look momma, it’s snowing outside!” A small filly with a brilliant ocher coat barged into Applejack's room unannounced and bounced up and down at the foot of the bed.

Applejack stirred in her bed not wanting to get up today. The filly however was inclined to wake up her mother in any way possible. She flapped her tiny wings and elevated herself onto her mother’s bed. She stealthily crawled across the crumpled up sheets and was prepared to start bouncing all over her mom’s body. Applejack surprised her sweet daughter when she shot up into a sitting position and hugged the filly tightly. She wrapped her arms around the small pony and playfully tickled her until she pleaded for mercy. Applejack released her grip on the squirming filly.

“You’re so silly momma, I love you!” The filly hugged her mother again.

“That’s because ah gotta silly lil’ filly like you to keep me full of energy.” Applejack kissed the top of her daughters head.

It was about a week before Hearths Warming Day and the little filly named Applejoy couldn’t be happier. This was the first day of her life that she had ever seen snow and it was everything the young mare ever imagined. It was also Applejoy’s fourth birthday today and her mother promised to take her out to the park and play in the snow if there was any and thankfully today had no shortage of the cold white flakes. Applejoy bounced off of the bed and bounded towards the door.

“Now hold on sugar cube, ya gotta eat yer breakfast first goofball. A young filly like you ain’t never gonna grow up to be a strong mare unless she gets her nutrients.”

“Big and strong just like you momma?” Applejack felt her heartstrings being pulled by the filly’s sweet words.

“Yup, just like me.”

A loud crack of thunder ripped through the sky and startled Applejack. She stretched her tired limbs to the best of her abilities inside the hollow trunk. She poked her head out of the trunk to see if anypony was near. She sighed in relief as the brief scan yielded no other ponies. She crawled back into a comfortable spot in her trunk and fell asleep once more.

“Can ah at least see her before ah go?”

“Sorry ma’am but she is going to be taken in to foal protection services until your trial and even then if the jury finds you guilty, she might have to be put up for foster care or adoption.”

“No, Ah’m not letting you place a hoof on mah daughter! Who do ya think ya’ll are, bargin into mah house, putting me in cuffs and takin my daughter on a whim?!”

“Ma’am we are only doing our job. I wish there was another way but unfortunately there isn’t anything I can do about this whole situation.”

“No you don’t, there ain’t no use in trying to act sincere about this.”

“Momma, who are these ponies?” Applejoy asked, somewhat frightened by the appearance on the large stallions crowding her small living room.

“Applejoy, Ah thought Ah told ya to stay in yer room!”

“Sorry momma but I wanted to make sure that nopony hurt you.” Applejoy cautiously approached her mother. Applejack broke through the wall of police officers and hugged her daughter.

“They ain’t gonna hurt me darlin.”

“Are you sure momma, they all look big and scary.” Applejoy was very vocal about her concerns.

“Ah promise sugar cube. Momma’s just gonna have to go away for a little bit but ah will see you again soon.”

“I don’t want you to go momma, I want you to stay here with me. We can still go to the park and play in the snow together, and we can play hide and seek in the house. Why can’t you stay momma?” Applejoy started to cry.

“Ah know sweetheart, ah wish ah could stay for your birthday but momma has to go.”

“No momma please don’t go!” Applejoy balled into her mother chest hoping that squeezing her mother tightly would make this all go away… it didn’t.

“Now AJ, ah want ya ta listen to me now.” Applejaoy reluctantly nodded and Applejack continued.

“Ah want ya to go with this here stallion, he is gonna take good care of you, ah promise. Don’t make them have to force ya. Just do what he says and you and ah will be alright. Got that?”

“Yes momma.” Applejack kissed her daughter one last time on her forehead as she was taken away from her for the last time.

“Applejack!” Applejoy shouted.

“Yes sugar cube?” Applejack felt it rather unusual that her daughter called to her by her actual name instead of momma.

“Applejack!” The filly shouted again.

“What is it darling?” Applejack began to feel weird. Something was not right. This time her daughter sounded as if she were a full grown mare but it didn’t sound like her in any was, but it did seem familiar.

“Applejack, wake up!” Applejack’s eyes shot open and she slammed her head into the trunk. Her head began to throb and her foggy eyes were bloodshot. She was completely still. There was somepony standing outside her hideout and they knew that she was there.

“Come on out Applejack, I have no ill intentions for you. If I did then I would have laid waste to you during your sleep.” The voice was very familiar. It sounded regal and feminine, very feminine. Applejack popped her head out of the hollowed tree and stared directly into a set of azure orbs that almost seemed to sparkle.

“Well Applejack, don’t you just look positively wonderful?” The pearly white mare commented sarcastically.

“Rarity, why did ya have to wake me up?” The farm pony groggily responded.

“Because I don’t want you winding up dead.” Rarity rebuked bluntly.

“How kind of ya, but ah assure you ah’m capable of defending mahself.”

“Never said that you weren’t, But even a mare as self centered as yourself could use a generous partner wouldn’t you agree, or are you too conceded to accept valuable help?”

“So you want to form some sort of alliance with me ah’m assuming.”

“Precisely, now on to other, more important matters; I would like some assistance in eliminating a certain somepony, or dragon I should say. That ignorant little snob has been a real thorn in my rump ever since he became infatuated with me.” Rarity explained.

“So what did ya have in mind?” Applejack inquired.

“Well I haven’t had proper time to investigate my donations as of yet so I suppose that can be done now.”

“We can do it in the tree trunk if ya like.” Applejack suggested. Rarity looked rather bewildered by that notion.

“Now Applejack, I know that we have been great friends with each other for quite a few years now and I understand that times can get desperate under these sorts of circumstances but I don’t think that this would be entirely appropriate, and I am not necessarily into other mares in that way.” Applejack stared blankly at Rarity.

“First off, git yer mind outta the gutters Rare, I wasn’t implying that we would do the deed in the freakin' tree. What ah meant was, we can look at you donations in the tree trunk and form a strategy. There is plenty of room.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Rarity’s face went from white to crimson as the blood rushed to her cheeks in embarrassment.

Scouring through Rarity’s items didn’t offer up anything useful except for maybe the pair of night vision goggles which would serve as beneficial in the darkening forest. Night was approaching fast.

“Are you serious right now?! I got a spoon, a dress, and some cheap night vision goggles that don’t even let me see two inches in front of my face.“ Rarity whined.

“Well at least you didn’t get wool socks and a bucket of paint. Ah mean seriously, what is wrong with these ponies, givin us random garbage. They think that this is funny to them.”

“Quite…” Rarity was lost in thought as she stared at her gifts.

“You got something in mind for those?” Applejack asked.

“Hmm… ah hah, idea!” Rarity exclaimed.

“And that idea would be?”

“Quick give me your socks and help me into this dress. As awfully designed and stitched it may be, he won’t be able to keep his disgusting claws off of me.”

“Okay, that explains how we get to him but how are we gonna kill him?” Rarity just stared at the spoon with malice in her eyes.

“I’ve got that all taken care of.”

Spike knew that he would need a place to seek refuge from the oncoming storm and possibly a place to sleep for the night. Spike took a break from a full days worth of walking and sat on a broken tree trunk, which hadn’t been an uncommon thing to see anymore. Spike lifted his gift in front of himself and sighed with disappointment.

“Who the heck gives you a teddy bear in a killing competition? Morons.” Spike mumbled to himself. The dragon sat in silence for several more minutes. The sun had now been completely hidden by the horizon and the moon was peeking up from the tree line. A wet droplet landed on his head, followed by another, and another. Within seconds; it was now pouring rain. Spike just grumbled with discontent. He got back on his feet and ran to the nearest form of cover, which happened to be one of the only remaining trees still standing.

“Spike! Spike! Where are you?!” Spike could hear a mare in distress not too far away. He easily identified the distress signal as coming from his most precious Rarity.

“Don’t worry Rarity, I’m coming for you!” Spike rushed towards the sound of Rarity’s voice. The sound of the beautiful mare’s voice was being emitted by a small cave nearby. Spike cautiously entered, not knowing if it were a trap set specifically for him.

“Oh, Spike, there you are my dear. I was hoping that you would heed my call.”

“Well of course I would, but you need to be more careful not to attract attention to yourself.”

“Well I was in desperate need of my Spikey Wikey. I am very lonely and I knew that you would give me some company.” Rarity was amazed at how gullible the drake was. Even a numb skull would have been able to tell that she was acting. Applejack stood outside of the cave trying to hold back a laugh at the scene that unfolded inside.

“Wow Rarity, you look absolutely stunning in that dress.”

“Why thank you Spike. Not sure why somepony would give me a dress for this kind of game but it does keep me a bit warm in this atrocious weather. I’m sure a certain dragon wouldn’t mind keeping me warm for the night.” Rarity ambiguously suggested with yearning eyes.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind either.” Spike giggled and walked up next to his beloved. Spike took a seat intimately close to the dressed up unicorn. She cuddled up next to his small body and planted a half-hearted kiss atop his head. Rarity gagged at the thought of being any more romantic to the little piece of…

“So Rarity, I’ve been thinking about us for a while and thought that it would only be appropriate to say this now instead of facing the regret of not saying it before. Rarity… will you marry me?” Even Rarity was taken back by his sudden proposal.

“Oh Spike, you are such a sweet little guy but I have to decline sadly.”

“Wha… I thought you loved me?” Applejack took this time to stalk up behind the dragon and was now merely inches away from him.

“Well you see Spike; love is quite a complicated puzzle to solve and if you don’t have each move planned out before the next, then you will end up losing track of your main focus.”

“What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

“Goodness gracious Spike, is you skull really that thick that this isn’t getting through to you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We are playing a game where you must kill to survive and you just broke rule number one. Don’t trust anyone.” Applejack wrapped her forearm around the unsuspecting dragon’s throat slowly crushing his wind pipes.

“Thank you Applejack, keep him restrained for me please.”

“Gotcha Rare’s. Take yer time, he ain’t goin nowhere.” Spike struggled to get free but he simply wasn’t strong enough to pry Applejack’s grip apart.

“Well Spike, I hope you like ‘spoon’ing.” Rarity approached the restrained dragon with the spoon in her grasp.

“Wha… Rarity, what are you doing with that? No, No, NOOOO!!!”

End of Night 1

Eliminated:

Soarin- Killed by Lightning Dust

Spitfire- Killed by Lightning Dust

Lightning Dust- Unintentional Suicide

Spike- Killed by Rarity

Remaining:

Twilight Sparkle

Pinkamena Diane Pie

Rainbow Dash

Rarity

Applejack

Fluttershy/Butchershy

Applebloom

Sweetie Belle

Scootaloo

Shining Armor

Trixie Lulamoon

Big Macintosh

Babs Seed

Gilda the Griffon

Vinyl Scratch

Octavia Scratch

Author's Note

So I really liked the turnout from asking you guys for donations so allow me to propose yet another interactive game. I want you all to vote on who you want to see eliminated in the next chapter. You may only vote for one contestant and one contestant only. Choose wisely.