The Pony Gamesby Pyra_mayChaptersPrologueChapter 1: the ReapingChapter 2: CanterlotChapter 3: RarityPrologueI leaned in closer to hear what the ponies were talking about, I saw them come into Ponyville with their carts full of fences and such, I was curious, I followed. The ponies didn't seem happy, I wanted to know what was going on, but I definantly couldn't go up to them, I'm only a filly, I can't just go and ask them what happened. I eavesdropped on their conversation, gathering bits and pieces of information. "The princess is furious, how could such a thing happen?" "So, what now" said another pony "Seaddle rebelled against her rule, the princess want us, construction ponies, to put up these fences to keep ponies in their towns." Another said agrivated. "Appearantly, all ponies are being ordered to go home, and moving out of town to a new one would now be costing a lot of bits." "I hear the princess had Seaddle destroyed, she has really gone cold." "I also heard that towns are going to be districts now and she ordered some kind of game to take place every year in Canterlot." "I heard about it too, but the game rules are appearantly going to be in the mail." I ran, I ran back home to the farm. The information I just got from them was so intriguing, I dared not to say a word to my family. I was getting close to the farm now, I slowed down to a trot, letting myself catch my breath. I walked across the farm, apple trees welcomed me home. The smell of apple pie filled the air. I walked into the house, mother was there, cooking apple pie. "Oh, little Smith, where have you been?" I couldn't tell her what I heard, I couldn't bring myself to. Until the mail courier arrived with our mail. Bills, letters, and junk mail, the one thing that did stand out was the biggest letter we've been sent. Mother called father over along with our cousins into the kitchen. She opened it up, it read: URGENT NOTICE All ponies are to go home to their hometown immediately, failure to do so consequences in being the first volunteered tributes for a game, this game will be an annual game in honour of Seaddle, of which is now long gone. All towns and cities are on a complete lock down. No one is to go in or out of their town or city district. Each listed town or city district will play in the games: Ponyville Cloudsdale Appleloosa Fillydelphia Vanhoover Tall tale Trottingham Dodge junction Baltimare Hoofington Foaledo Crystal empire The rules of the game are simple. There will be a gathering, called a reaping, in that gathering, two young ponies aged 12 to 18, male and female will be picked at random. Because of their magical advantage, unicorns will not play in the games. They will be taken to Canterlot to train for this game, they will train for two weeks before the game begins. They will then be taken to an arena, to play this game. The game is a fight to the death The winner wins goods for their town. It will be the annual Pony Games. Signed, Princess Celestia Chapter 1: the Reaping"APPLEJACK!" Applebloom's voice echoed around sweet apple acres. I stopped bucking the tree, And ran. I ran through the orchard, through the farm and into the house. I quickly climbed up the stairs, I heard Applebloom's heavy breathing. I ran into her room. She sat up in bed, her chest moving in and out rapidly. "Applejack...I, I was picked to play the games," the tears in her eyes brought a lump in the back of my throat. I walked over to her, i embraced her in a warm and sweaty hug. "I won't let em take you." I reassured her, she hugged me back. " it's today, isn't it?" She said, her cheeks were soaking wet with tears. "Yes, it's today." I replied. I let her go, she slumped back to her bed, I stood up. "I have to go, I'm going to continue bucking trees." I lied. It wasn't right for me to lie, and I wasn't very good at it, she took the hint. The last time I told the truth about what I wanted to do, I got whipped. Them peace ponies hear everything I, or any other pony has got to say. Applebloom looked at me disapprovingly. "Don't let em catch you." She whispered. I nodded and walked out of her room. Granny Smith used to tell us about the fences. She said she was there when they put them up. She knows plenty about them, she said that every now and again, the high voltage in one segment of the fence could stop working, and if we find out which one it is, we could break it and sneak out all the time. She was right, it did work. And I've gone out of the district many times. I walked over to the fence. The high voltage sign made me chuckle. I kicked a rock at the fence to make sure it wasn't working. The rock hit the fence and fell to the ground, no reaction or whatsoever. I crawled through a space at the bottom, part of the ground was dug and hollow there, that would be my doing. I quickly and quietly trotted through the space between the fence and the Everfree forest. The forest gave me closure. It helped me clear my mind, and train. I always trained in the forest, I had to, I needed to know how to fight. so I learnt to. I taught myself, sometimes having encounters with timberwolves. The timberwolves always went for me, not anymore. I made friends with them, they help me train now, instead of chasing me back to the other side of the fence. I remember that day, I was still a filly, older than Applebloom. I went into the forest, to train, I knew to steer clear of the timberwolves, the one way to know for sure, is their breath. They had the worst breath. I smelt the timberwolf breath, I knew I had to go the other way, but I was obliged to go and follow the smell. It was a timberwolf cub, stuck under a fallen tree log. The first thing I had to do was simple. Run. But I didn't. The cub whimpered as I drew closer to it, I couldn't help but smile at the fact that it was only a cub, small and harmless, cute. I walked over to the cub, it tried to sniff me, I let it sniff my hoof. It licked me and barked softly. I pushed the log over, letting the cub go free. I played with the young cub, I even gave it a name, Woodstock. After a while, Woodstock had ran into the bushes, he came back with a pack of timberwolves. I wanted to run, but, they didn't attack, they weren't even growling. Woodstock jumped up and licked me then ran away with his pack. I always meet him here where I found him. I stopped at the log, it filled me with the memory of Woodstock. I smelt the timberwolves breath. He was here. I sat on the log, Woodstock appeared with his pack, we had the same routine all the time, to them, it was a game, to me it was crucial training. I jumped to the side to begin the training. The pack circled me. They always threw their hunting tactics at me. One lunged forth and I dodged, softly kicking it on the side. The wood that it was made of toppled apart. Another came and bit. A piece of a branch shot at me. I loved that move. I instantly ducked and went for the wolf that threw it. I picked up a finely carved training spear with my mouth from under the log. Thats where I hid all of my stuff, i softly hit the wolves one by one, until I threw it at Woodstock. It went in his ribs. I watched as he played dead, like all the other wolves I hit. I walked over to him and pulled the spear out. He and all the others instantly came back to life. The wolves don't really have much inside them. Hit them with a rock, they would shatter into a mound of sticks, but with magic, they rebuild themselves. I patted Woodstock on the back, stroking his hard back. I heard the most defeating noise overhead, the wolves perked their heads up, they ran, I hid. A huge ship flew over the trees and into Ponyville. "They're here." I said, Woodstock appeared next to me. "I know. It's time again. I'll be gone until it's over, you know what to do." I said muzzling with him. I returned to the other side of the fence. I went home. Applebloom was getting ready, she turned and faced me, her bow was sagging, she wore a faded red dress, I smiled. "Let me help ya." I said. I walked over and tugged on the bow a few times until it sat nicely. "Yooou go git ready too" Granny Smith said from across the room. I washed myself down, getting most of the timberwolf smell off. You could get it off, but you can never get it all off. I thought to my self. I finished off, drying myself with a towel. I walked into my room to be invited by the green dress on my bed. I put it on, admiring the comfortable fabric it was made with. I looked at myself in the mirror. I tied my hair into a plait, struggling with my hooves, it was neatly done. I went down into the kitchen, Big Mac was waiting for us with Granny Smith and applebloom. I muzzled with applebloom and we left the house. We arrived in at town hall. I pushed applebloom to her age group line. She turned her ears back. I pushed her more into the line. "It's time ta sign in." I stopped pushing. "Won't hurt much." I said. "I'll find you later." She gulped as she walked in the line. I walked over to my age group line, keeping an eye on applebloom. She just signed in. No winging no crying. Good. "Hoof please." The blue unicorn said. I gave her my hoof. She pricked it with the sign in device. I winced at the pain. My name appeared on the device's screen. She place my hoof on an ink pad and pressed it on the sign in sheet. I trotted into the hall and searched to applebloom. Instead I found fluttershy. I stood next to her, she looked at me and smiled. "Um... Hi, applejack." Her soft voice soothed me, telling everything was going to be okay. "Hiya fluttershy" I said with a smile. I was shushed by a peace pony. A blue unicorn with a silver-blue mane walked out on the stage. She tapped the mic twice and spoke. "Welcome! To the seventy-fourth annual Pony Games!" She smiled from ear to ear. I guess I'd be happy too if I were a unicorn. "First, something brought to you, all the way from Canterlot!" Her horn glowed, a projector screen was pulled down, the lights went out and a projector turned on. Images of war flashed across the screen. war... Terrible war... the Princess' voice filled town hall. widows, orphans, a motherless child One town rebelled against the Princess that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A pony rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed, that each year, the various districts of Equestia would offer up in tribute, one young colt and mare, to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future The video was over, the blue mare smiled and spoke again. "Boy, I just love that, don't you?" She said. She clasped her hooves together. "Let's begin, now as always, ladies first." She trotted over to a large bowl filled with our names. Her horn glowed, a paper in there glowed. The suspense killed me. She slowly opened the paper reading it. "Applebloom" she called out. Fluttershy gasped. "Oh my..." She breathed. "Applebloom..." I said under my breath. "No..." I pushed past other ponies. Applebloom was already making her way to the stage. "No! Applebloom!" I began running towards her. She looked back, tears welled up in her eyes. I was being held back by four peace ponies. "Applebloom! No!" I cried. She will never make it in the games. I know it. She doesn't even have a cutie mark yet, this wasn't good. I remembered Big Mac's stories of his experience with the games. He said he was picked once, but he never played because his best friend volunteered for him, but never came back. I knew exactly what I needed to do, Ive been training for it in the forest for days. This was it. "I VOLUNTEER!" I shouted. The gasp heard from the many ponies pulled me to realisation of what I have just done. I pushed the peace ponies off me. "I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I shouted again. The blue unicorn was dumbfounded. She searched for her words. "Well, it seems we have a volunteer. Up you get" she said. I walked over to the stage. Applebloom's tears showered down her face. Her ears pinned back and she was taken away by the peace ponies. "Applejack! No!" She cried. I ignored her cries, and walk up to the stage, the lump at the back of my throat hurt so much. The tears in my eyes fell to my cheeks. I was next to the unicorn on the stage. "So tell us, what is your name?" She said into the mic and at me. "A-Applejack." I replied. "And I presume that filly was your sister?" "Yes" There was a pause. It was either she didn't know what to say or because she forgot what she was going to say. "Now... For the boys." She said. I watched her trot over to the other side of the stage. Another bowl of names at there. I watched as her horn glowed and a paper was lifted out of the bowl. I hated that I was born in such a place. I hated having to shed all the tears. "Caramel." She said out loud. Heads turned and one pony was in the center of their attention. A caramel coloured pony with brown hair and three horse shoes as a cutie mark. He looked so... Familiar. Tiny flashes of my memory passed by, but I couldn't reach out to them. He walked up to the stage. Struck by reality. "Well, let's give a hoof to district Ponyville's tributes for this year!" She said, stomping her hooves. There was no applause, it was very silent. One pony raised her right hoof. Then another, and another. Soon many right hoofs were up. It was a sign of respect. I wanted to crawl up in a ball and cry. I didn't want this to happen. Chapter 2: CanterlotI sat alone in an empty room. My fears chipped off my strength and courage bit by bit. I did what I could only do, wait. I waited but I didn't know what I was waiting for. I looked through a window, the still light barely cracking through the darkness. The many ponies walked through town, so casually. I looked at them, watched them. They were sad. Their eyes were glued to the ground. The door creaked open, my head snapped back into that direction. "Three minutes." A peace pony said. "Applejack!" Applebloom ran in, she wrapped her front legs around me. I let my own tears flow freely down my cheeks. I stroked Applebloom's beautiful red mane. She looked up at me. Big Mac and Granny Smith came in behind her, shutting the door. "Applebloom," I started. I had no idea what I wanted to actually say, I let everything I needed to say flow through my lips. "Please, don't do anything stupid. I want you ta' stay outta trouble, don't take more than you need from the peace ponies, sell apples from the farm, stay with big Mac, he'll keep you safe." I blurted out. Applebloom was hiccuping from crying so much, I softly pushed her away. I walked over to Granny Smith. Her eyes were glassy, I pulled her into a hug. "I want you ta' have this," she said. I watched as she reached into her bandeau, she pulled out a golden piece of something. I couldn't see what it was. "It'll keep you safe." She said. I took it in my hoof, I was able to closely observe it. It was a golden pin, a pony with wings and a horn was in mid flight catching an arrow, no, it was too long to be an arrow. I smiled with gratitude as I pinned it to my dress. Granny Smith was on the verge of crying. "Please, granny, don't cry. I hate it when you cry." I said, my own tears daring to fall. I walked over to Big Mac. He, too, was crying. I sniffed back a tear. A lump formed in my throat, I tried to swallow it away, but it grew sore and brought tears to my eyes. "Don't cry Big Mac, you're all they have now. Be strong for them. For me." I said. I bit my tongue, the tears filled my eyes, making it hard to see. I blinked them away. I hugged Big Mac. "Keep them safe." I whispered. He nodded and whispered, "eeyup." I smiled, but It didn't dare change my emotions. The door opened again. "Times up." Two peace ponies walked in and escorted them out. I saw Applebloom look back before they turned a corner and were gone. The door closed and I was back to waiting, for what was to come. - I was escorted into a train, Caramel was still as quiet as he was at the reaping. We sat in the train, the blue unicorn walked into our carriage. I struggled to see the bright side of things. We had all the food we could eat, we had the softest beds to sleep on and the best clothes to wear. I guess it's quality treatment before we die. Sat on a couch, letting gravity pull me down, I felt myself sink right in, it felt like being sucked into a soft and weird embrace on the backside. The train started moving, I jolted at the startling toot of the horn. I walked around the train carriage, examining everything. Caramel stared outside the window, the passing trees and hills wove by endlessly. I stared at the window, at my reflection. I wasn't as strong as i should be. i needed to win the games, for Applebloom. The blue unicorn walked across the room towards a door. "I'll go and get your mentor. " she said. I watched her walked into the next carriage. a second later a black pegasi with a blue mane waltzed in. he sat in a chair next to Caramel. I watched as he tried to gain consciousness of the situation. "Thunderlane," Caramel started. "H-hi. You're our mentor, Right?" "Uh," Thunderlane stared at us, he nodded. "Yeah, Yeah, I'm your mentor." I looked at him more closely. he was dizzy, uncoordinated. Drunk. I sighed. "Caramel... He's drunk." "No I'm not." Thunderlane objected. "You're right, he is." Caramel agreed. I walked off to the room the blue unicorn went to, I just couldn't figure out her name. "You lookin' for Trixie?" Thunderlane said with the drunk tipsiness in is voice. I nodded. "Yeah, She's in there, In her 'Private' room. That means don't disturb. something she didn't understand." "Where is my room?" I asked. "On the other side of the carriage." He pointed his hoof the other way. I trotted in that direction. I walked through the carriage and into a hallway of bedrooms. I slid into one, I was invited by a rather plush looking bed, I sat in it, sinking into the soft mattress. I lowered my head onto the pillow. I presumed it was made of feathers. I dozed of into a deep sleep, I felt at peace but not entirely. i needed a survival plan for the game and my mentor was the only pony to tell me how to win. I knew for certain that, Trixie, was not entirely capable of helping me. At all. How was a unicorn ever going to help me. Their the lucky breed. Unicorns. With their frilly horns and magic. I hate them, not for what they are, for what they have. I woke up to the sound of silver spoons on plates. They were eating. The smell of daisy salads and cherry cupcakes wafted into my room. My mouth watered, my stomach grumbled. I was starving. I got up on my feet. I made my way out, I heard chatter. Caramel was speaking. "What is the best tequnique to winning?" He asked. "First of all, " thunderlane started. This time he didn't sound like yesterday. He was clearer and much thoughtful. "Don't get killed." He said with a mocking chuckle. I entered the room. "Ahh. There you are." Trixie said. "We have been waiting for you," she sniffed the air. "Ugh, you smell horrid." The other two sniffed my odour and continued eating and talking. "Oh well, nothing I can do. Go ahead. Eat." She said. I sat down next to Caramel. He was very into the conversation. "Second," Thunderlane continued. "Get sponsors." "Thir-" I cut him off. "What are sponsors?" I said quickly and loudly. "They're, uh. Ponies who help you out in the games." "How?" I asked. "Well, first, be nice, show off a little, get them to like you." Thunderlane said. "Then in the games, they could send you a little something that could save your life." The train went through a series of tunnels. The lanterns didn't do much about lighting the place. I dug into a bowl of salad and ate a few apples by the cupcakes, they seemed to taste a little less like apples but more like something that a unicorn made. I already missed the taste of our own apples. I stopped eating the apple and stayed with the salads. The train exited the tunnel into an explosion of light. "Look!" Caramel pointed his hoof out the window. My eyes were still adjusting to the light. "Canterlot castle." I said under my breath. The view was breathtaking. The castle was on edge of a mountain and looked perfectly safe. I stayed seated. Caramel didn't, he trotted over to the window. The castle drew closer. The train got slower. I restrained myself from going to the window. I sat it my seat, staring with awe as the train slowly moved past many ponies. They were dressed up in a manner of fun. They were ready for some kind of party. Many ponies, mostly unicorn, we're cheering for the pony games. A game of death. Caramel's hoof went up. He was waving. He turned to look at me. I gave him a look, he shrugged. "Sponsors." He said before turning again and waving. I Looked to thunderlane. He shrugged. "Well he knows what he's doing." He said. I continued eating my daisies and tried not to look at the smiling crowds. I wanted to but something was utterly wrong about all these ponies. The ponies outside the train station cheered for us. most of them were unicorns, a pegasi here, an earth pony there. Trixie levitated the bowl out om my reach and smirked. "Come on Applejack. meet your Audience. there is more food where we're going." she said I got off my chair and followed Trixie out of the train with Caramel and Thunderlane not far behind. Chapter 3: RarityMy mane and tail was tugged at constantly, they washed me with water that could feed so many ponies. I felt naked, although we walk around naked, this was different, the ponies rubbed every dirt off me, after every wash they would complain about one particular scent that they didn't like, the timberwolf scent. They gave up and cast a scent spell on me so that I'd smell nice for the tributes parade. I waited in a room, they said they would send for a stylist to get me ready. I waited. I could sense the agony in the place, many ponies from around Equestria are being forced into this, and now, I am one of them. I trotted around the room, pacing, knowing that every second is a second closer to death in the arena. The door opened, a unicorn, she was white with a purple mane, her cutiemark was of three blue diamonds. She was awfully familiar. "Oh my," she reared back, "the ponies were right about your stink." Her horn glowed blue, I felt a little funny. The glowing went away. "That should rid the smell for a long time." She smiled. "I am Rarity, I'm going to help you get some sponsors, AppleJack." "Rarity..." I repeated, I knew I've met this pony before. "Yes, that's quite right." Rarity replied. "So, uh, how exactly do you plan to get me sponsors?" I asked her "Well, the parade is a show to the ponies of Canterlot, you and Caramel are going to show off a little dazzle." "What do ya mean dazzle?" I didn't like the idea of wearing sparkles at all. "In the parade, you're going to show off what your district is most known for." "What? Apples?" "Normally yes, but that never got us any sponsors." She shook her head. "Oh? Then what do you suppose our district is known for?" She ignored the question. "You, are going to ignite the light and wear some fire." "What? I'll die before the games even begin!" "No, silly, fake fire." "Magic?" "Oh, of course."
PrologueI leaned in closer to hear what the ponies were talking about, I saw them come into Ponyville with their carts full of fences and such, I was curious, I followed. The ponies didn't seem happy, I wanted to know what was going on, but I definantly couldn't go up to them, I'm only a filly, I can't just go and ask them what happened. I eavesdropped on their conversation, gathering bits and pieces of information. "The princess is furious, how could such a thing happen?" "So, what now" said another pony "Seaddle rebelled against her rule, the princess want us, construction ponies, to put up these fences to keep ponies in their towns." Another said agrivated. "Appearantly, all ponies are being ordered to go home, and moving out of town to a new one would now be costing a lot of bits." "I hear the princess had Seaddle destroyed, she has really gone cold." "I also heard that towns are going to be districts now and she ordered some kind of game to take place every year in Canterlot." "I heard about it too, but the game rules are appearantly going to be in the mail." I ran, I ran back home to the farm. The information I just got from them was so intriguing, I dared not to say a word to my family. I was getting close to the farm now, I slowed down to a trot, letting myself catch my breath. I walked across the farm, apple trees welcomed me home. The smell of apple pie filled the air. I walked into the house, mother was there, cooking apple pie. "Oh, little Smith, where have you been?" I couldn't tell her what I heard, I couldn't bring myself to. Until the mail courier arrived with our mail. Bills, letters, and junk mail, the one thing that did stand out was the biggest letter we've been sent. Mother called father over along with our cousins into the kitchen. She opened it up, it read: URGENT NOTICE All ponies are to go home to their hometown immediately, failure to do so consequences in being the first volunteered tributes for a game, this game will be an annual game in honour of Seaddle, of which is now long gone. All towns and cities are on a complete lock down. No one is to go in or out of their town or city district. Each listed town or city district will play in the games: Ponyville Cloudsdale Appleloosa Fillydelphia Vanhoover Tall tale Trottingham Dodge junction Baltimare Hoofington Foaledo Crystal empire The rules of the game are simple. There will be a gathering, called a reaping, in that gathering, two young ponies aged 12 to 18, male and female will be picked at random. Because of their magical advantage, unicorns will not play in the games. They will be taken to Canterlot to train for this game, they will train for two weeks before the game begins. They will then be taken to an arena, to play this game. The game is a fight to the death The winner wins goods for their town. It will be the annual Pony Games. Signed, Princess Celestia
Chapter 1: the Reaping"APPLEJACK!" Applebloom's voice echoed around sweet apple acres. I stopped bucking the tree, And ran. I ran through the orchard, through the farm and into the house. I quickly climbed up the stairs, I heard Applebloom's heavy breathing. I ran into her room. She sat up in bed, her chest moving in and out rapidly. "Applejack...I, I was picked to play the games," the tears in her eyes brought a lump in the back of my throat. I walked over to her, i embraced her in a warm and sweaty hug. "I won't let em take you." I reassured her, she hugged me back. " it's today, isn't it?" She said, her cheeks were soaking wet with tears. "Yes, it's today." I replied. I let her go, she slumped back to her bed, I stood up. "I have to go, I'm going to continue bucking trees." I lied. It wasn't right for me to lie, and I wasn't very good at it, she took the hint. The last time I told the truth about what I wanted to do, I got whipped. Them peace ponies hear everything I, or any other pony has got to say. Applebloom looked at me disapprovingly. "Don't let em catch you." She whispered. I nodded and walked out of her room. Granny Smith used to tell us about the fences. She said she was there when they put them up. She knows plenty about them, she said that every now and again, the high voltage in one segment of the fence could stop working, and if we find out which one it is, we could break it and sneak out all the time. She was right, it did work. And I've gone out of the district many times. I walked over to the fence. The high voltage sign made me chuckle. I kicked a rock at the fence to make sure it wasn't working. The rock hit the fence and fell to the ground, no reaction or whatsoever. I crawled through a space at the bottom, part of the ground was dug and hollow there, that would be my doing. I quickly and quietly trotted through the space between the fence and the Everfree forest. The forest gave me closure. It helped me clear my mind, and train. I always trained in the forest, I had to, I needed to know how to fight. so I learnt to. I taught myself, sometimes having encounters with timberwolves. The timberwolves always went for me, not anymore. I made friends with them, they help me train now, instead of chasing me back to the other side of the fence. I remember that day, I was still a filly, older than Applebloom. I went into the forest, to train, I knew to steer clear of the timberwolves, the one way to know for sure, is their breath. They had the worst breath. I smelt the timberwolf breath, I knew I had to go the other way, but I was obliged to go and follow the smell. It was a timberwolf cub, stuck under a fallen tree log. The first thing I had to do was simple. Run. But I didn't. The cub whimpered as I drew closer to it, I couldn't help but smile at the fact that it was only a cub, small and harmless, cute. I walked over to the cub, it tried to sniff me, I let it sniff my hoof. It licked me and barked softly. I pushed the log over, letting the cub go free. I played with the young cub, I even gave it a name, Woodstock. After a while, Woodstock had ran into the bushes, he came back with a pack of timberwolves. I wanted to run, but, they didn't attack, they weren't even growling. Woodstock jumped up and licked me then ran away with his pack. I always meet him here where I found him. I stopped at the log, it filled me with the memory of Woodstock. I smelt the timberwolves breath. He was here. I sat on the log, Woodstock appeared with his pack, we had the same routine all the time, to them, it was a game, to me it was crucial training. I jumped to the side to begin the training. The pack circled me. They always threw their hunting tactics at me. One lunged forth and I dodged, softly kicking it on the side. The wood that it was made of toppled apart. Another came and bit. A piece of a branch shot at me. I loved that move. I instantly ducked and went for the wolf that threw it. I picked up a finely carved training spear with my mouth from under the log. Thats where I hid all of my stuff, i softly hit the wolves one by one, until I threw it at Woodstock. It went in his ribs. I watched as he played dead, like all the other wolves I hit. I walked over to him and pulled the spear out. He and all the others instantly came back to life. The wolves don't really have much inside them. Hit them with a rock, they would shatter into a mound of sticks, but with magic, they rebuild themselves. I patted Woodstock on the back, stroking his hard back. I heard the most defeating noise overhead, the wolves perked their heads up, they ran, I hid. A huge ship flew over the trees and into Ponyville. "They're here." I said, Woodstock appeared next to me. "I know. It's time again. I'll be gone until it's over, you know what to do." I said muzzling with him. I returned to the other side of the fence. I went home. Applebloom was getting ready, she turned and faced me, her bow was sagging, she wore a faded red dress, I smiled. "Let me help ya." I said. I walked over and tugged on the bow a few times until it sat nicely. "Yooou go git ready too" Granny Smith said from across the room. I washed myself down, getting most of the timberwolf smell off. You could get it off, but you can never get it all off. I thought to my self. I finished off, drying myself with a towel. I walked into my room to be invited by the green dress on my bed. I put it on, admiring the comfortable fabric it was made with. I looked at myself in the mirror. I tied my hair into a plait, struggling with my hooves, it was neatly done. I went down into the kitchen, Big Mac was waiting for us with Granny Smith and applebloom. I muzzled with applebloom and we left the house. We arrived in at town hall. I pushed applebloom to her age group line. She turned her ears back. I pushed her more into the line. "It's time ta sign in." I stopped pushing. "Won't hurt much." I said. "I'll find you later." She gulped as she walked in the line. I walked over to my age group line, keeping an eye on applebloom. She just signed in. No winging no crying. Good. "Hoof please." The blue unicorn said. I gave her my hoof. She pricked it with the sign in device. I winced at the pain. My name appeared on the device's screen. She place my hoof on an ink pad and pressed it on the sign in sheet. I trotted into the hall and searched to applebloom. Instead I found fluttershy. I stood next to her, she looked at me and smiled. "Um... Hi, applejack." Her soft voice soothed me, telling everything was going to be okay. "Hiya fluttershy" I said with a smile. I was shushed by a peace pony. A blue unicorn with a silver-blue mane walked out on the stage. She tapped the mic twice and spoke. "Welcome! To the seventy-fourth annual Pony Games!" She smiled from ear to ear. I guess I'd be happy too if I were a unicorn. "First, something brought to you, all the way from Canterlot!" Her horn glowed, a projector screen was pulled down, the lights went out and a projector turned on. Images of war flashed across the screen. war... Terrible war... the Princess' voice filled town hall. widows, orphans, a motherless child One town rebelled against the Princess that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A pony rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed, that each year, the various districts of Equestia would offer up in tribute, one young colt and mare, to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future The video was over, the blue mare smiled and spoke again. "Boy, I just love that, don't you?" She said. She clasped her hooves together. "Let's begin, now as always, ladies first." She trotted over to a large bowl filled with our names. Her horn glowed, a paper in there glowed. The suspense killed me. She slowly opened the paper reading it. "Applebloom" she called out. Fluttershy gasped. "Oh my..." She breathed. "Applebloom..." I said under my breath. "No..." I pushed past other ponies. Applebloom was already making her way to the stage. "No! Applebloom!" I began running towards her. She looked back, tears welled up in her eyes. I was being held back by four peace ponies. "Applebloom! No!" I cried. She will never make it in the games. I know it. She doesn't even have a cutie mark yet, this wasn't good. I remembered Big Mac's stories of his experience with the games. He said he was picked once, but he never played because his best friend volunteered for him, but never came back. I knew exactly what I needed to do, Ive been training for it in the forest for days. This was it. "I VOLUNTEER!" I shouted. The gasp heard from the many ponies pulled me to realisation of what I have just done. I pushed the peace ponies off me. "I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I shouted again. The blue unicorn was dumbfounded. She searched for her words. "Well, it seems we have a volunteer. Up you get" she said. I walked over to the stage. Applebloom's tears showered down her face. Her ears pinned back and she was taken away by the peace ponies. "Applejack! No!" She cried. I ignored her cries, and walk up to the stage, the lump at the back of my throat hurt so much. The tears in my eyes fell to my cheeks. I was next to the unicorn on the stage. "So tell us, what is your name?" She said into the mic and at me. "A-Applejack." I replied. "And I presume that filly was your sister?" "Yes" There was a pause. It was either she didn't know what to say or because she forgot what she was going to say. "Now... For the boys." She said. I watched her trot over to the other side of the stage. Another bowl of names at there. I watched as her horn glowed and a paper was lifted out of the bowl. I hated that I was born in such a place. I hated having to shed all the tears. "Caramel." She said out loud. Heads turned and one pony was in the center of their attention. A caramel coloured pony with brown hair and three horse shoes as a cutie mark. He looked so... Familiar. Tiny flashes of my memory passed by, but I couldn't reach out to them. He walked up to the stage. Struck by reality. "Well, let's give a hoof to district Ponyville's tributes for this year!" She said, stomping her hooves. There was no applause, it was very silent. One pony raised her right hoof. Then another, and another. Soon many right hoofs were up. It was a sign of respect. I wanted to crawl up in a ball and cry. I didn't want this to happen.
Chapter 2: CanterlotI sat alone in an empty room. My fears chipped off my strength and courage bit by bit. I did what I could only do, wait. I waited but I didn't know what I was waiting for. I looked through a window, the still light barely cracking through the darkness. The many ponies walked through town, so casually. I looked at them, watched them. They were sad. Their eyes were glued to the ground. The door creaked open, my head snapped back into that direction. "Three minutes." A peace pony said. "Applejack!" Applebloom ran in, she wrapped her front legs around me. I let my own tears flow freely down my cheeks. I stroked Applebloom's beautiful red mane. She looked up at me. Big Mac and Granny Smith came in behind her, shutting the door. "Applebloom," I started. I had no idea what I wanted to actually say, I let everything I needed to say flow through my lips. "Please, don't do anything stupid. I want you ta' stay outta trouble, don't take more than you need from the peace ponies, sell apples from the farm, stay with big Mac, he'll keep you safe." I blurted out. Applebloom was hiccuping from crying so much, I softly pushed her away. I walked over to Granny Smith. Her eyes were glassy, I pulled her into a hug. "I want you ta' have this," she said. I watched as she reached into her bandeau, she pulled out a golden piece of something. I couldn't see what it was. "It'll keep you safe." She said. I took it in my hoof, I was able to closely observe it. It was a golden pin, a pony with wings and a horn was in mid flight catching an arrow, no, it was too long to be an arrow. I smiled with gratitude as I pinned it to my dress. Granny Smith was on the verge of crying. "Please, granny, don't cry. I hate it when you cry." I said, my own tears daring to fall. I walked over to Big Mac. He, too, was crying. I sniffed back a tear. A lump formed in my throat, I tried to swallow it away, but it grew sore and brought tears to my eyes. "Don't cry Big Mac, you're all they have now. Be strong for them. For me." I said. I bit my tongue, the tears filled my eyes, making it hard to see. I blinked them away. I hugged Big Mac. "Keep them safe." I whispered. He nodded and whispered, "eeyup." I smiled, but It didn't dare change my emotions. The door opened again. "Times up." Two peace ponies walked in and escorted them out. I saw Applebloom look back before they turned a corner and were gone. The door closed and I was back to waiting, for what was to come. - I was escorted into a train, Caramel was still as quiet as he was at the reaping. We sat in the train, the blue unicorn walked into our carriage. I struggled to see the bright side of things. We had all the food we could eat, we had the softest beds to sleep on and the best clothes to wear. I guess it's quality treatment before we die. Sat on a couch, letting gravity pull me down, I felt myself sink right in, it felt like being sucked into a soft and weird embrace on the backside. The train started moving, I jolted at the startling toot of the horn. I walked around the train carriage, examining everything. Caramel stared outside the window, the passing trees and hills wove by endlessly. I stared at the window, at my reflection. I wasn't as strong as i should be. i needed to win the games, for Applebloom. The blue unicorn walked across the room towards a door. "I'll go and get your mentor. " she said. I watched her walked into the next carriage. a second later a black pegasi with a blue mane waltzed in. he sat in a chair next to Caramel. I watched as he tried to gain consciousness of the situation. "Thunderlane," Caramel started. "H-hi. You're our mentor, Right?" "Uh," Thunderlane stared at us, he nodded. "Yeah, Yeah, I'm your mentor." I looked at him more closely. he was dizzy, uncoordinated. Drunk. I sighed. "Caramel... He's drunk." "No I'm not." Thunderlane objected. "You're right, he is." Caramel agreed. I walked off to the room the blue unicorn went to, I just couldn't figure out her name. "You lookin' for Trixie?" Thunderlane said with the drunk tipsiness in is voice. I nodded. "Yeah, She's in there, In her 'Private' room. That means don't disturb. something she didn't understand." "Where is my room?" I asked. "On the other side of the carriage." He pointed his hoof the other way. I trotted in that direction. I walked through the carriage and into a hallway of bedrooms. I slid into one, I was invited by a rather plush looking bed, I sat in it, sinking into the soft mattress. I lowered my head onto the pillow. I presumed it was made of feathers. I dozed of into a deep sleep, I felt at peace but not entirely. i needed a survival plan for the game and my mentor was the only pony to tell me how to win. I knew for certain that, Trixie, was not entirely capable of helping me. At all. How was a unicorn ever going to help me. Their the lucky breed. Unicorns. With their frilly horns and magic. I hate them, not for what they are, for what they have. I woke up to the sound of silver spoons on plates. They were eating. The smell of daisy salads and cherry cupcakes wafted into my room. My mouth watered, my stomach grumbled. I was starving. I got up on my feet. I made my way out, I heard chatter. Caramel was speaking. "What is the best tequnique to winning?" He asked. "First of all, " thunderlane started. This time he didn't sound like yesterday. He was clearer and much thoughtful. "Don't get killed." He said with a mocking chuckle. I entered the room. "Ahh. There you are." Trixie said. "We have been waiting for you," she sniffed the air. "Ugh, you smell horrid." The other two sniffed my odour and continued eating and talking. "Oh well, nothing I can do. Go ahead. Eat." She said. I sat down next to Caramel. He was very into the conversation. "Second," Thunderlane continued. "Get sponsors." "Thir-" I cut him off. "What are sponsors?" I said quickly and loudly. "They're, uh. Ponies who help you out in the games." "How?" I asked. "Well, first, be nice, show off a little, get them to like you." Thunderlane said. "Then in the games, they could send you a little something that could save your life." The train went through a series of tunnels. The lanterns didn't do much about lighting the place. I dug into a bowl of salad and ate a few apples by the cupcakes, they seemed to taste a little less like apples but more like something that a unicorn made. I already missed the taste of our own apples. I stopped eating the apple and stayed with the salads. The train exited the tunnel into an explosion of light. "Look!" Caramel pointed his hoof out the window. My eyes were still adjusting to the light. "Canterlot castle." I said under my breath. The view was breathtaking. The castle was on edge of a mountain and looked perfectly safe. I stayed seated. Caramel didn't, he trotted over to the window. The castle drew closer. The train got slower. I restrained myself from going to the window. I sat it my seat, staring with awe as the train slowly moved past many ponies. They were dressed up in a manner of fun. They were ready for some kind of party. Many ponies, mostly unicorn, we're cheering for the pony games. A game of death. Caramel's hoof went up. He was waving. He turned to look at me. I gave him a look, he shrugged. "Sponsors." He said before turning again and waving. I Looked to thunderlane. He shrugged. "Well he knows what he's doing." He said. I continued eating my daisies and tried not to look at the smiling crowds. I wanted to but something was utterly wrong about all these ponies. The ponies outside the train station cheered for us. most of them were unicorns, a pegasi here, an earth pony there. Trixie levitated the bowl out om my reach and smirked. "Come on Applejack. meet your Audience. there is more food where we're going." she said I got off my chair and followed Trixie out of the train with Caramel and Thunderlane not far behind.
Chapter 3: RarityMy mane and tail was tugged at constantly, they washed me with water that could feed so many ponies. I felt naked, although we walk around naked, this was different, the ponies rubbed every dirt off me, after every wash they would complain about one particular scent that they didn't like, the timberwolf scent. They gave up and cast a scent spell on me so that I'd smell nice for the tributes parade. I waited in a room, they said they would send for a stylist to get me ready. I waited. I could sense the agony in the place, many ponies from around Equestria are being forced into this, and now, I am one of them. I trotted around the room, pacing, knowing that every second is a second closer to death in the arena. The door opened, a unicorn, she was white with a purple mane, her cutiemark was of three blue diamonds. She was awfully familiar. "Oh my," she reared back, "the ponies were right about your stink." Her horn glowed blue, I felt a little funny. The glowing went away. "That should rid the smell for a long time." She smiled. "I am Rarity, I'm going to help you get some sponsors, AppleJack." "Rarity..." I repeated, I knew I've met this pony before. "Yes, that's quite right." Rarity replied. "So, uh, how exactly do you plan to get me sponsors?" I asked her "Well, the parade is a show to the ponies of Canterlot, you and Caramel are going to show off a little dazzle." "What do ya mean dazzle?" I didn't like the idea of wearing sparkles at all. "In the parade, you're going to show off what your district is most known for." "What? Apples?" "Normally yes, but that never got us any sponsors." She shook her head. "Oh? Then what do you suppose our district is known for?" She ignored the question. "You, are going to ignite the light and wear some fire." "What? I'll die before the games even begin!" "No, silly, fake fire." "Magic?" "Oh, of course."
