The Hunger Manes

It was a pleasant morning, the sun was shining, the birds were singing. But there was one terrible thing today.

The Reaping

Rainbow Dash awoke with sun coming in through her window, her eyes were red. She got up and remembered.

"Today is the reaping!" She said worryingly, she rushed outside and saw that the town square had a stage prepared.

"Oh no..." "I hope my friends or worse me get picked." She said quietly. She flew down to the ground and walked to Applejack's.

"Howdy partner!" Said Applejack. "Hey Applejack, we gotta go." Rainbow Dash said. "Why?" Applejack asked.

"The reaping is today...." Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack had a grim look in her eyes. She walked over to RD and put her hoof on her shoulder.

"Good luck." She said.

They walked to Sugarcube corner to see Pinkie pie.

Sugarcube corner didn't look the same, it no longer had its festive look but instead it had a dark grim look.

Black streamers flowed from the doors and windows, and Pinkie Pie sat on a small mahogany stool on her porch.

Pinkie Pie had her hair combed down and was silently sobbing into a tissue.

"Whats wrong Pinkie?" Said Rainbow Dash.

"Today is the reaping, I might lose one of you." Pinkie said quietly.

"Don't be worried. We each only have our name in 4 times." Said Rainbow Dash

They walked over to the town square where a lot of mares ponies and colts had arrived.

Looking through the crowd Rainbow Dash spotted the rest of the gang.

"Come on, I see them." Said Rainbow Dash.

"Hi...." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Howdy sugarcube!" Said Applejack.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment.

If Fluttershy or Rarity gets picked I have to volunteer! They can't win!

"Hope that we don't get picked!" Said Rarity.

The Peacekeepers started rounding off ponies into pens according to age, their outfits were similar to that of the old royal

guard uniforms, but now it was sleek shiny white.

Fleur De Lis walked onto the stage.

"Figures she would be from the capitol..." Muttered Rarity.

"Welcome ladies and colts! This is the 74th annual Hunger Manes!" Fleur De Lis said excitedly.

"We will begin reaping as usual, ladies first!" She said reaching into a glass ball filled with tiny papers.

Everyone anticipated this moment as she pulled out a paper.

"Rainbow Dash"

Her heart dropped, Rainbow Dash felt terrible.

"Well, don't be shy!" Fleur said. "Get up here!"

Rainbow Dash nervously walked through the crowd onto the stage.

"Ladies and colts, your female tribute!" Fleur said raising Rainbow Dash's hoof into the air.

"Now for the colts." Fleur said with a smile.

Rainbow Dash was worried, whoever's name came out, she would have to kill to live!

"Big Macintosh"

Big Macintosh slowly walked up onto the stage, while Applejack was sobbing.

"Your male tribute!" Fleur said while raising up Big Mac's hoof.

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh were hurried into the mayor's house to say final goodbyes.

There has been only 1 victor from Ponyville, Silver Midnight.

He would have to teach them how to survive in the arena, but for now back to the goodbyes.

The pony gang, (Excluding Spike and Applejack) had gathered around Rainbow Dash to say farewell.

Fluttershy walked up to Rainbow Dash and handed her a pin.

"Take this....it will remind you of us." Fluttershy said.

Rainbow Dash looked at it, it was a small golden rabbit hopping through a bush.

A single tear ran down Rainbow Dash's face and fell onto the pin.

"Thank you...." Rainbow Dash said sobbing.

"I hope you won't be the one to have to kill Big Macintosh, Applejack would be furious!" Said Twilight.

"I won't even try." Said Rainbow Dash.

"I'll make sure to watch everyday!" Said Pinkie Pie.

"Don't become a monster like the rest, stay elegant." Said Rarity.

"Times up." Said a peacekeeper with a brown mane and a orange body, as he ushered the ponies out.

"See ya later...." Said Rainbow Dash quietly.

Two more peacekeepers came and took Rainbow Dash to the train station.

Cameras were everywhere and Rainbow Dash was right beside Big Macintosh.

"Sorry It had to be this way." Said Rainbow Dash.

"Eeyup." Said Big Macintosh.

The train they were boarding was beautiful! It had silver cars with gold inlaid on the roof and windows.

Fleur De Lis walked with them and got on the train.

"Better enjoy the sweet life while you can, you're heading to your immediate death!" Said Fleur with a smirk.

They started to explore the train.

"Here we have the dining room." Fleur said. It was beautiful!

The table stretched across the whole cart, it was oak and had a gorgeous velvet table cloth.

"Soft." Said Rainbow Dash while feeling the clothe.

"Yes, this is how life is in the capitol, elegance and beauty." Said Fleur.

"Ya'll done live in trains?" Asked Big Macintosh.

"No." Said Fleur with a tone that most likely meant she was annoyed by his question.

"Well you better meet your mentor! He's in the next cart."

Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh opened the door into the next cart and saw him.

Silver Midnight. He was, like his name silver. But his eyes were black and had a burning passion.

He was on the floor, in a pool of his own throw up with an empty bottle of vodka in his hoof.

"Seriously? This guy is more likely to get us killed!" Said Rainbow Dash.

"Huh, what?" Said Silver Midnight waking up.

"GET UP!" Yelled Rainbow Dash.

"So your the tributes that i'm teaching so that you can be sent to death this year?" Said Silver Midnight.

"Eeyup." Said Big Macintosh.

"Why should I? You're just going to die anyway." Said Silver Midnight lazily.

"Because it's your job!" Said Rainbow Dash impatiently.

"Fine." Said Silver Midnight.

"But If I'm teaching you, you have to listen to EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING that I say."

"Got it." Said Rainbow Dash.

"Eeyup." Said Big Macintosh.