For one thousand years, Equestria has suffered under the hooves of nightmare moon. She had tortured them, enslaved them, and surrounded them all in eternal night. A few years after she had risen to power, a group of rebellion formed, and planned to attack, and kill, their evil leader. But, Nightmare Moon found out, she brought them to the middle of canterlot, and trapped them in a glass box, leaving them to suffocate. After that, nopony dared to rebel. But Nightmare Moon was not finished. In her rage, she swore that every year, 24 fillies and colts would be thrown into an arena, left to fight to death. She separated the once beautiful country into 12 districts, with each providing supplies to canterlot.

Cherrycloud had known this story ever since she was a filly. Every year she had prayed and prayed that Celestia would return, or on one special day in particular, she would not get picked to enter the equestrian games.

It seems the odds are not in her favor.

Thanks to everyone who submitted OCs to make this story possible! Here's the link to their profiles, PinkButcher, darcyyanew, Kabuto901, Polaris, Changeling Drone, Moon Breeze, Eternal Flame, Serpent, ponies r awesome,
Nightfury78, and Sketch Pad. Be sure to give them some love!