Chapters Chapter One
Twilight Sparkle slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight was trying to travel through her thick hoof stitched Curtains. She began to get up, feeling like there was no point in having a lie-in, because it was not the day to feel relaxed. Today was the day of the Reaping. Twilight’s muscles tensed up. No. There was no need to worry. The Pony Games had been going on for 50 years. She was not going to be picked.
How Twilight is still alive and young to tell the tale about how The Pony Games began is unknown to everypony. Everypony except for her and the Elements of Harmony. After war had broken out in Equestria, with her last dying spark of magic, Princess Celestia had cast a spell over Twilight and her five friends. The spell made it so that if they kept on harnessing their element of harmony, they would essentially live forever. The only way they could die Was by murder. If only Princess Celestia knew what she was doing... If the princess knew what Twilight and her friends would have to live through Celestia would have just let them die. Twilight's heart dropped as she remembered the last tears of her beloved princess falling to the ground; With one final breath the princess had died. Then, The Pony Games were born, to mark the defeat of the princess, and the start of the Capitol.
The Pony Games are simple. One mare and one stallion from each district is picked by lottery to be entered into the Pony Games. The games are a competition where these twenty four ponies fight to the death. Magic and flying are allowed, but trying to fly, or teleport, out of the boundaries of the game results in a summary execution. Only two ponies had ever won The Pony Games from Twilight's District. No pony had ever heard or seen of them since. You would think that Ponies from a magic district would win easily, but it's the Pegasus ponies who win almost every year. When the gong goes off, the Pegasi shoot up into the sky, sleeping on clouds and only coming down to scavenge for food. When the last few ponies begin to clash, already bloodied and fatigued, the Pegasi swoop down from the clouds. Better rested, and unwounded, they triumph over the weakened ponies, and win the Pony Games for 'The District of Weather'.
Twilight tried to shut away visions of the many deaths that can only happen in the Pony Games. Impalement, toxins, explosives, mutation.... Just a few of the horrific fates that could await those unfortunate enough to be chosen.
Twilight made her way down the stairs to the library. A cold shudder went through her. She hated it here, in this library. It had too many good, but painful, memories that she wanted to forget. Twilight tried to remind herself that she was lucky to still have her library; after the war most of Ponyville’s original buildings were destroyed so they could make more ‘Capitol’ like buildings. Twilight rolled her eyes. The Capitol had destroyed the warm, rustic homes, and replaced them with hovels that lacked even the simplest of amenities, like basic plumbing.
Twilight walked over to her kitchen and opened her cupboards. They were all empty. It wasn’t surprising. Food had been hard to buy ever since Equestria was split up into Districts. She had been put into the District of Magic where the most talented Ponies enchanted objects for the Capitol, making the lives of those in the Capitol easier. Twilight wished she lived in the District of Food instead. It was hard to reap a harvest, when one couldn't even be sown. The earth around the District of Magic was barren.
Twilight sighed as she lifted up her purse with her abilities. She smiled briefly. This was something that put pure joy into her days, even now. Something that kept her alive. Magic. It was the only thing the Capitol could not brutally take away from her.
Flashbacks suddenly appeared in her mind. Flashbacks that made her drop her purse, spilling coins across the library floor. Memories of all her friends being taken away from her flooded through her head. She saw Applejack and Applebloom being torn from each other’s hooves. She remembered Rainbow Dash trying to fly away from all the Harmonykeepers, only to be brought down by nets. Pinkie Pie screaming for Mr and Mrs Cake to keep themselves, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake safe. Fluttershy had tried to protect all of the animals, and put on a brave face, but her body had kept shaking as more ponies had turned up. Rarity grabbed Sweetie Belle closer to her as Harmonykeepers surrounded her and Twilight. Twilight was screaming for everypony to be calm but then she saw that Spike was being dragged away from her, screaming in terror. Twilight pushed her way through the Harmonykeepers, trying to get to Spike. As she called his named, Spike turned his head. He started to scream Twilight's name but was silenced by Harmonykeepers pushing him to the ground. The screams of all her friends were ringing in her head.
It took a few minutes for Twilight to realize that the screams were coming from her. She came to her senses, her muscles weak and shaking. Sweat was running down from her mane to her face. Twilight shook herself. No more memories. This was her life now. She will never see them again. And nothing can change that…
Twilight began to collect all of the fallen coins, and placed them into the purse. When she was done she put her purse into her Saddle bag, put the saddle bag on, and made her way to the front door of the library. She took one last look behind her. No more thinking about her friends. It was time to put the past behind her and look to the future… If she actually had one.
Chapter Twojavascript:void( 0 );
Twilight stepped out of her library into the fresh air. She watched two birds fly away into the Everfree Forest, which was now forbidden to enter. Anypony caught entering the Everfree Forest will be executed in public. The Capitol says it is to keep us away from the beats that live in the forest but everypony knows it is to make them stay in their District.
After watching the two birds disappear into the sun Twilight began her walk to the market.
On a average day Everypony would be up now, adults would heading underground to collect jewels, and the younger ponies would be heading to school. But today is the reaping, everypony gets a day off and a lie in, that’s if you can stop worrying.
Twilight stopped looking at the closed curtains and dark windows to turn her attention to the market. Ponies don’t have any money any more so no pony can afford any food, so most Ponies starve before they make it to this day. Twilight felt guilty for carrying more money in her old saddle bag than a normal family of Ponies would earn in a year, but it’s the way of the Capitol. She thought as she was buying some apples from a stall. Twilight moved from stall to stall buying as much as she can to keep her going. Twilight walked over to a stall which sold bread, she picked up a loaf not even checking if it was still edible and paid two coins for it.
“Good Luck,” Mumbled the baker’s son, a grey stallion with a blonde mane and blue eyes, as twilight was about to move onto the next stall,
Twilight looked back at the baker shocked. No pony was nice anymore; ever since the Princess was defeated all kindness in the world was taken away from her.
“You too,” She said back as the next customer, a light brown mare with a brown mane took away his attention.
Deciding she had enough food to last her for a while, Twilight headed over to a small restaurant which used to sell the finest food in Ponyville now all they sell is scraps from the Capitol. Twilight ordered a tomato soup.
She sipped the cold soup while reading a book she must have left in her saddle a long time ago in mid-air without looking at the title. The first four lines nearly made Twilight spit out her soup.
‘As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days... it might as well be a few months, or a few years’
This was the book she had given to Rainbow Dash when she had broken her wing. Twilight shook away the memory.
No more reminders of them. She thought to herself while throwing the book away. She finished her soup off thinking about where her friends where now. What were they doing, and more importantly; if they were still alive. But most importantly where is Spike? Twilight sighed, there was no point thinking about these questions because she will never get the answers. After finishing, Twilight paid for her soup and looked up at the sky. It must be about, midday already. Twilight began to worry again as she made her way back to the library. Two hours. Two hours until one mare and one Stallion is picked to fight each other to the death. She ran inside and shut the world away from her.
Two hours. Two hours and then it’s over. No more worrying. She can continue on with life until next year when the 51st Pony Games start then its back to square one.
Twilight decided to get ready so she had a cold bath and brushed her mane.
There was no point in wearing any fancy clothes or any type of clothing for that matter. No pony could afford it anyway.
Twilight looked up at the grey clock that hung on her wall.
It read 1:55, the reaping was about to begin.
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!”