The Pegasus guard led Cherrycloud silently back down the hallway. Cherry let her wings droop with boredom. He led her past the door where they had entered, and followed the path Blaze and the unicorn guard took. Her ice blue eyes trailed around the hallway, never resting on one thing for long. It wasn't until she saw three pictures in a row on the wall, did she actually pay attention. Each had a picture of a filly. One was orange, with a deep purple mane. The second, was a white unicorn, with pink and purple curly hair. The last was a yellow earth pony, with red hair. Cherry recognized these fillies, they were the three ponies that had died of mysterious causes in the games. The ponies said that they escaped and formed some sort of rebellion, and are secretly planning to get revenge on Nightmare Moon, and many think it was little than a coincidence that they volunteered for the games, each on the same year.

Cherry didn't have long to look at them, as the guard led her on. They soon arrived in a car, where tables lined the edges. In one of the booths, she saw blaze sitting, with a light blue mare across from him. She went and sat next to him, while both guard sat at the door. Cherry quietly observed the mare sitting on the opposite side of the table. She was light blue, as Cherry had observed earlier, but the way the light reflected off it gave it a silver tint. Her mane itself was a shining silver, blown back like it was frozen when she was running as fast as a train. Her navy blue eyes flicked back and forth as she observed the menu in front of her.

She soon noticed Cherry sitting there, and she put down the menu. "Hi there!" She said cheerily. Cherry replied with an awkward nod. "My name's Crystal, and I'm assuming you're the mare tribute, Cherrycloud right?" Another nod. "So, now that we're all here, lets order some things, and talk about some strategies." Cherry gave a third nod, and picked up the menu in front of her. I didnt take long for her to decide on an apple with hay fries. Crystal got a fancy salad, with a strange bubbly purple drink. Blaze just got a sandwich, with hay fries too. Cherrycloud lifted the apple and took a bite, that's when her eyes widened.

"Shif if reawwy goob!" She stuttered, with tiny bits of apple dripping out of her mouth. She soon realized this and shut her mouth, giving the time to swallow.

Crystal gave a small chuckle. "Well, they are freshly imported from the best apple farms all around the country." Cherry smiled and took another bite. They all continued like this, with even Blaze gawking at the sheer amazingness of his sandwiches flavor. But alas, the flavor awesomeness was soon over, and it was time to talk about the games. "So," Crystal began, once their plates were taken away, "Lets start with your talents. What are both of you good at." She glanced at Blaze first, who shuffled his hooves.

"Well, um, my special talent it creating illusions and shows with my magic. Uh, I guess I'm sorta strong." He looked into his lap, and Crystal took this to look at Cherry.

"Okay then, Cherry, your turn"

Cherry nodded, "I guess I'm pretty fast, and a good flyer. Hmm... I could be good at making alliances if that would help." Crystal nodded and silently observed the both of them. Then she locked her gaze on blaze.

"When we start training, I suggest that you go over to the survival section. That'll tell you about how to gather, make fires, tie knots and traps, that sorta thing." She told him a multiple reasons of why you need these skills, and how to use them, then she looked back at Cherry. "You should head over to the weapons section, specifically throwing weapons. If you are fast then you could get ahead of your enemy, hide, and attack them from the shadows with a bow if you can manage to get one." Cherry nodded and squirmed in her chair, Crystal could be really intimidating when she needed to, Cherry noticed. Crystal gave a nod of approval and slid out of her seat.

"You guys should get some rest, we'll be arriving in Canterlot tomorrow and I want to two to make a good first impression." Cherry watched as Crystal strode out of the room, and as Blaze went to enter his own room then she noticed something. Where Blaze had disappeared, next to where the hallway started, near the floor, was another one of those imprints. She quickly made a mental image of the patterns, and got up out of her seat. She began walking down the hallway, when she heard hoofsteps echoing behind her. She turned her head to see the unicorn guard following her.

"Uh, why do I need a guard following me while Blaze doesn't." She asked with annoyance, "I'm not a little filly." His stone gaze rested firmly on her.

"Based on your earlier actions, a guard must be posted with you at all times, except for when you are in your room, where cameras will be recording all of your doings, with another guard watching them." He said in his deep voice. Cherry snorted and continued on with her head lowered. She arrived at her door again and trotted in, leaving the guard to shut the door. She went into the bedroom, and looked into the corners, seeing the cameras the guard was talking about. She sat in a seat and pulled herself up to the desk, where she had written the paper before. She took it out, with a quill. She struggled to remember the imprint she had seen before, and she wrote down what she was able to recall. Then she thought of the strategies Crystal had told her earlier. With a shrug, she took the quill again and began to write more.

Once satisfied, she put down the quill and read what she had on the paper.

Prope--y of the C--stal Em-r-e

Throwing weapons-good for when being chased, or chasing. Can be used for advantage if user can hide, and attack secretly.
Survival Skills- (broken down)
SS1-Camoflauge- Helps if stronger enemy is near. Can also be used with throing weapons, to attack secretly.
SS2-Food/Water-For fruit, cut a piece open, if is a strange color, it is poisonous, if not, it is good. For water, be sure it is clear and does not have a strange smell or feeling. You can go three days without water, and about a week without food.
SS3-Traps- Always surround your base with them, and memorize where they are--- (more to come)

With a smile, Cherrycloud folded the paper up and placed it carefully under the stone lantern on the desk. She glanced out the window to see the stars rising, and sighed. It would be nice to tell If it was 'day' or 'night' based of the sun and moon, instead of stars. She hopped off the chair and left the bedroom. As she exited, she suddenly felt a pang of homesickness, and sat on the couch, knowing that she would probably never see her family again. She looked out the window again, and shut her eyes. Please, with all the power in my heart, will I come back safely and see my family and friends again. And to one day help to stop Nightmare Moon and her wicked tyranny. A tear slipped down her cheek. Please.

Author's Note

Mmm'kay, what do you think of this? The next chapter will probably come sooner because I'm on spring break now, and have nothing planned >.< If you have any suggestions to make this story better, please suggest them, it would help a lot! Thanksies!