The Pony Games

Chapter 3

The reaping is held at town hall where the mayor of Ponyville used to announce ‘Winter Wrap Up’ and other announcements.

Everypony is checked of a big list that each of the Harmonykeepers hold at all times just in case there is a late arrival.

Twilight is herded into a group of mares. They all give each other reassuring looks and mumbles of ‘Good Luck’

Small Fillies are pushed into the audience of adults. This is the only type of year that Twilight wished that Celestia didn’t cast that spell upon her.

More mares and stallions arrived being crammed into groups. Twilight began to observe the stallions. If Twilight were to be picked she would need to know her competition. Most of the Stallions were taller and much stronger than her. She began to wonder what tactics they were holding deep inside. What weapons they were best with. What there weaknesses could be.

Twilight came out from her daydream when she heard a loud booming voice call out to the crowd.

“Welcome everypony!” Said Light pink mare how had the craziest mane Twilight had ever seen in her life. “Welcome to the annual 50th Pony Games! We are all so glad you could make it!” She said with the most fakest smile ever.

‘Glad we could make it’ Twilight rolled her eyes, like they even had a choice to come here.

“My name is Stardazzle! And I would like to thank you for you kind welcome to your District!” She says with that sickening smile again, “Now to the main event!”

Stardazzle walked over to a big ball full of small slips of paper. Every year you name is entered once into the Pony Games. So there were 50 slips of parchment with the name: Twilight Sparkle written in fancy writing.

“Mares first!” She says almost bouncing up and down with excitement,

Twilight had no more time to worry before her name was being called out into the crowd.

Shock and fear ran through Twilights emotions all at once. Everypony turned their head to look at their tribute. This was it. This is the day she had been dreading for 50 years she had been escaping it but now there was no choice.

“Miss Twilight Sparkle?” Asked Stardazzle looking for the mare that the name belonged to,

Slowly Twilight began move towards the stage.

“Ah there you are dear! Now come up and show yourself to your audience!”  Said Stardazzle with that sickening smile again

Twilight stepped onto the stage and faced her District. Grief filled their eyes as they knew her story. Their parents told them about the legends of the Elements of Harmony. And now their legend would have to be thrown into an arena and be killed on live Television.

Stardazzle cleared her throat, “Now time for the stallions!”  She said while walking over to another glass ball filled with tiny slips of paper.

Stardazzle lifted a slip of paper of the ball and opened it up.

Twilight held her breath.

“Midnight Moon!”  She shouted to the crowd,

Suddenly a stallion who’s colour was as black as night walked onto the stage. He had deep read eyes and red highlights in his pitch black mane.

As he stepped onto the stage Twilight noticed that tears were starting to form in his eyes.

“Now shake hooves you two” Stardazzle said to them under her breath,

Twilight raised her hoof to his and shook the hoof of the person who was most likely the cause of her death.

“I present your tributes! Twilight Sparkle and Midnight Moon!” Stardazzle shouted to the crowd as she began to stomp her hooves in applause

Nopony joined in with her. Instead they all lit up their horns in a sign of respect, sorrow and goodbye to their Element of Harmony.

After all the ponies had showed their respect, Harmonykeepers came along and guided Twilight and Midnight Moon inside Town Hall. Once they were inside Twilight and her fellow tribute was split up to see family and friends to say a final goodbye, but for Twilight there was nopony to say goodbye. Twilight tried to keep her mind off of this as she looked at the books on the shelf in the small room trying to keep her mind off the last ten minutes.

It was only when Twilight picked up a large book and opened it to find out she was crying. Ink smudged as Twilights tears fell upon the page.

Twilight snapped the book shut and went over the red velvet couch that was sat in front of a window.

She began to stare out of the window focusing on a small bird that was perched up in a tree. Oh how she wished she was that bird, who was able to fly away into the woods and away from the Pony Games.

Suddenly the door began to open and somepony stepped in the room. Twilight jerked her head towards the door to see who her visitor was and gasped at who it was.

“Zecora!”