Twilight opened her eyes. She sighed; not wanting to get up because she knew what today was. There were bad days but today was a day of reaping. That's how today got its name. The Reaping Day.
It had been exactly twenty-four years since Celestia officially brought totalitarianism into Equestria. Twilight still always wondered what pushed Celestia into her current stage. She used to be so peaceful Twilight thought.
She reluctantly got up and woke Spike up. "Spike! Come on! Wake up! Today is Reaping Day and you got to get ready!"
Spike mumbled. "Ehhh, who cares? I mean what are the chances of us getting picked?"
"I care! If you can't remember, we have to be there or we're dead!" Twilight became impatient. "I'm disappointed in your remark. Even if the chances of us getting picked is slim, we still have to wish the other town our sympathy." Twilight's horn began to glow.
Magically Spike's basket rose up and flipped. Spike fell to the floor. He grumbled.
"Now get ready." Twilight ordered. Spike shook his head as he pulled himself to the bathroom.
Twilight looked out of her bedroom window. She could see Town Hall in the distance and the preparations being mad. A large television screen was being placed above the podium of the building. Ponies were already beginning to gather around in the square.
Twilight and Spike strolled down the main street of Ponyville. Many ponies were walking in their direction, looking like a march. Twilight turned to look at Sugarcube Corner and saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake walk out without Pinkie Pie. Twilight grew curious.
"Hold on Spike, I'm gonna check out Pinkie." She alerted him.
Spike shrugged. "Alright I'll see you there then." He continued walking.
Twilight entered the store and heard Pinkie in the kitchen. "Pinkie?"
Pinkie's head popped out. "Yeah? Oh hey Twilight!"
"What are you still doing here?" Twilight asked. "You're gonna be late."
"Oh! I know! I'm just trying to finish baking this cake!" Pinkie explained. "I just wanna host a party after the Reaping so I can make everypony feel better."
"But what if we get chosen?"
"Oh come on Twi! Do you really think that we're gonna be so unlucky to get chosen? There's hundreds, and I mean hundreds, maybe even thousands of villages in Equestria, so how can we be chosen out of all of them?!" Pinkie used her run-on voice as usual, making Twilight try to catch up.
"Well alright then." Twilight said, still not convinced. "I just have a bad feeling this morning."
"Well, my Pinkie senses haven't acted up yet!"
"But your sense are only for things that we wouldn't even think of happening."
"Oh silly Twitwi!" Pinkie shook her head.
"Twitwi?" Twilight looked unimpressed.
"Just better hope that Rainbow and Applejack have enough time convincing Fluttershy to come out."
She was right Twilight thought. Every year Rainbow Dash and Applejack have to convince Fluttershy to go to the Reaping because she was so afraid every year. "Well I'll see you at Town Hall then, Pinkie."
"Okey dokey lokey!" Pinkie cheerfully said as she headed back to the kitchen.
Twilight exited Sugarcube Corner and glanced around for Spike. "Spike! Spike?!" Twilight grumbled. "Not again!" She rushed to Town Hall.
There ponies gathered in front of the podium. Twilight pushed her way through the crowd. "Spike! Spike, where are you?!" Her eyes widen and she saw a purple tail with green scales. "Aha!" She moved up next to him. "Spike! I told you to wait for me back there! You had me worrying sick!"
Spike nodded. He looked down. "Sorry, today is just not my day."
"I understand that Spike, but you still shouldn't be rude." Twilight said sternly. She scanned the ground and saw Rainbow and Applejack pushing a crying Fluttershy to the crowd. She also saw Pinkie Pie jumping into the back of the crowd. At the other side of the crowd she saw Rarity still combing Sweetie Belle's mane.
Suddenly the television screen burst on. It displayed the new Equestrian Seal, which instead of having Celestia and Luna around the sun and moon, it was Celestia with her winds spread open around the sun and moon. The national anthem was playing with it, every verse beginning with "The Solar Empire. Towards a brighter future..."
When the anthem finished playing, the famous and beautiful Fleur de Lis tapped the microphone on the podium. She cleared her voice. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Happy Canterlot Games! Today is the day we have the lottery on which village will become the next participant in the Canterlot Games! Now our great Princess Celestia has chosen Ponyville as our destination to host the lottery this year! So I'm sure you must all be so excited!"
She received the most dull and quiet response. On the television screen were three parallel shots of different villages and its residences gathered up together. The shots changed to different villages at times. Fleur de Lis kept her smile. "Anyway the time has come to select the village that will be competing in the Games, so all you ponies out there in Equestria, I give you this message! May the odds be ever in your favor!"
Twilight and Spike exchanged stares.
Fleur de Lis headed over to a large bowl with hundreds, maybe thousands, of paper slips. Her horn began to glow as the slips of paper inside moved around. She shuffles around for a few seconds until she levitates a single slip from the bowl. "Here, we have a town waiting to be transformed." Fleur explained, excited. She walked back up to the podium to face the crowd. "A'hem." Fleur opened the slip of paper and read. "Ponyville!"
Twilight's heart stopped. Spike's mouth was agape.
Twilight began breathing much faster, she turned to look at Rainbow, Applejack, and Fluttershy. She could see Fluttershy in shock, shivering. Rainbow and Applejack give each other plain expressions.
"Wow! This is the first time we hosted a lottery in a village, and had that same village compete!" Fleur exclaimed. She tried to keep her smile, but all she received was silence.
On the television screen it showed other ponies in other villages raising a single hoof up in an acute angle towards the screen. Ponies around Equestria were always using this gesture as a sign of sympathy and empathy.
Everypony in Ponyville raised their hooves back.
Fleur glanced at the other Canterlot ponies behind her, who shook their heads. Fleur became nervous. "Well now! I believe it is time for us to move on, shall we?" Her voice was more shaky. "We can have everypony proceed to the distribution center now, the peace guards will escort each group of ponies to their respected locations now.
Twilight began to drag Spike along. "Come on, I want to be in the same group as Rainbow and the others!"
"What's the point?! We're all going to die anyway!" Spike yelled, he began to tear up.
"Spike, don't talk like that. Even if its true, don't you wanna spend your days with your friends?" Twilight tried to convince.
Spike sighed. He wiped his tears off. "Fine..."
Twilight and Spike ran to join Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, the CMC, and a few other ponies. Each group gathered up in squared shapes. There were ten groups in total. Each group consisted of at least twenty-four ponies.
Two huge trains rested at Ponyville Station. One was shining white, the other was a beautiful shade of blue.
The head Peaceguard stop in front of the ten groups. "Alright!" He yelled in a demanding voice. "I want five groups distributed to Train One, that is the white train! The other five groups will be in Train Two, the blue train! Got that?! I wanna see haste!"
The groups of ponies orderly entered the trains in an organized fashion.
Twilight and her group entered the white train. Inside everypony gasped. Luxury was at its finest, from gourmet food to comfy seating, the interior of the train was much like a paradise.
Once everypony was inside, the trains began to move. The tracks led to seperate directions. Twilight could see the distance between them and the blue train grow.
"Well now!" Twilight turned to see Fleur approaching them as she spoke. "Your group will be recognized as Group Red. This train car is your threshold, but in under no circumstances are you allowed to enter the other groups' car, is that understood?"
Everypony nods. Fleur smiles kindly. "Now since the serious part is done, why don't we all have a moment to relax and enjoy this special treat that Canterlot has given you?" Everypony looks around the magnificent scenery. "I know, that you see these upcoming days as your last, but I always say, even if that is true, I believe that you all at least have a time to enjoy this beauty."
Everypony was still quiet. Not even Rarity spoke a single word, and luxury was her middle name. Fleur sighed. "Okay then, why don't we all proceed to our sleeping quarters then?"
Twilight entered an empty room, without talking to nopony. Spike followed. "Oh! I must add," Spike and Twilight turned to Fleur who spoke, "only one pony per room."
"Well he's not a pony as you can see." Twilight said in a rude tone. She let Spike in and shut the door.
"Spike get some rest." Twilight ordered.
"But it's still day.."
"Just do as I say!" Twilight screamed.
Spike was taken aback. Twilight sighed. "Sorry, Spike... I don't know what got into me..."
Spike ran up to hug her. "I'm scared too." He admitted.
A tear ran down Twilight's cheek as she looked out the window, seeing the outline of Ponyville become smaller and smaller as they head on to Canterlot.
"After two years as Head Gamemaker, making this year your third, what do you consider as your signature in the Games, Mr. Clockwork?" Asked a fancy dressed pony on television. It was Fancypants hosting his television talk show. Mr. Clockwork, a sly but handsome looking stallion sat across from him.
"Well, I guess I try to learn from the past Head Gamemakers. I mean there are still some Canterlot Games that we still can't forget. Like I mean the fifteenth Canterlot Games? Having the last two ponies Trottingham unicorns, it was amazing how they used magic to fight each other."
"Ah yes, one of the more remembered moments in the Games. Actually can we have that on the screen now?"
A screen of two unicorns popped up. The unicorns were using magic to each other around, one unicorn is caught by the other unicorn's spell and levitated him up to be repeatedly smashed onto a thick wall. The wall is smeared with blood, as the unicorn drops dead, leaving one as victor.
He is caught on camera, giving a sigh of relief.
"Oh that facial expression when a pony becomes a true victor." Fancypants exclaims. "But Trottingham only had a population of two hundred ponies like most villages do. This year Ponyville is in the Games, and it has an exact population of three hundred and sixty seven ponies. That is almost two hundred more ponies."
"Then the entertainment has been doubled!" Mr. Clockwork proudly announces.
Twilight turns the television off. She looks out at the night. Haunted by insomnia, she heads out, leaving Spike sleeping peacefully.
She heads into the living quarters where she sees Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie snooping through the food. They turn to see Twilight enter.
"Can't sleep too, huh?" Rainbow asked. Twilight shook her head.
"Well c'mon then, have some food. It'll make ya feel better sugarcube!" Applejack handed Twilight a slice of apple pie.
"How's the apple pie here Applejack?" Twilight asked.
"Psht! Ain't nothin' like what it is back at Sweet Apple Acres!" Applejack exclaimed.
Twilight smiled. "How's Applebloom?"
"Ehh, she's fine ay guess. Ay mean she's asleep now, not cryin' anymore."
Twilight nodded. "I don't know what to say, or how to feel..."
"Well, as long as we're all friends right?" Pinkie jumped up to ask.
Twilight nodded. "Don't worry about that. I know that no matter what happens we're gonna stay as friends." She forced herself to give a smile."
"I wonder what they're gonna do to Ponyville when we have to go back there to fight." Rainbow questioned.
"I don't wanna think about that right now. The Gamemakers are the sickest ponies ever, and they'll do anything just for fun and entertainment." Twilight said, disgusted.
"But I mean, they only have a week to make Ponyville an arena." Rainbow wondered.
"They did that with twenty-three other villages before, I'm sure they can do it again." Twilight said quietly. "I know that the next week is gonna fly by though. We're reaching Canterlot by tomorrow morning already and when we get there we're going to have to train and try to get sponsors."
"Wait, lemme get this straight. You're actually going to try to win this?" Rainbow asked.
Twilight looked at her shocked. "You're not?! Come on Rainbow! I know you're better than that! You never give up!"
"But this is different! This is killing ponies! Killing your friends! There's gonna be hundreds of us slaughtering each other in our home town!" Rainbow yelled. "That's not giving up! That's just plain wrong!"
Twilight became silent.
"Now if you excuse me, I wanna enjoy the last few days of my life." Rainbow quickly flew back into her room.
Twilight turned to Applejack and Pinkie. Twilight began to cry. "I'm sorry..."
"Sorry for wha?!" Applejack asked.
Twilight began to run to her room.
"Twi come back!" Pinkie yelled.
But Twilight ignored them. She ran into her room and shut the door behind her. She laid down on her bed and began to cry. I don't want to die She thought. I don't want anyone to die...
"Twilight. Twilight! Twilight wake up!" Spike yelled as he shoved Twilight around.
"Mmmmph!" Twilight growled.
"Twilight wake up and see! We're at Canterlot!" Spike exclaimed.
Twilight opened her eyes and got up. She followed Spike to the window and saw Celestia's castle in the distance. It stood where it always stood, looking beautiful as always. The train swooped over a waterfall and entered a tunnel.
"I wonder how much Canterlot has changed, since we haven't been there for years." Spike asked.
"I'm not sure. They never really showed how the city looked like on TV." Twilight replied.
She continued to stare outside watching her reflection on the window while it was pitch black outside. Suddenly, as the train exited the tunnel, what was pitch black became a beautiful scenery. Twilight took a step back to glance at the glorious sky scraping minarets and towers. The buildings were all painted in shining white, blue, and golden colors.
The train ran on a elevated track, allowing them to have a perfect view of the city.
The train soon entered a terminal where hundreds of ponies dressed in wacky fashion cheered. Twilight and Spike looked out the window, becoming visible to the crowd made the ponies cheer. They took pictures and blew kisses.
Spike smiled and waved, which received an even bigger reaction. Several ponies even fainted.
The train ran pass the terminal and slowed to a stop where a secured platform rested.
All the ponies began to exit.
When Twilight and Spike exited onto the platform they looked around to spot their friends but they were separated too quickly.
Peaceguards escort every single pony to a unknown area. Two Peaceguards stood in front of Twilight and Spike. "We need you two to separate."
"Why?" Twilight asked.
"Protocol missy. Come with me." One of the guards said.
"Hey! I'm no missy!" She holds onto Spike. "And I'm not leaving him until you tell us where we're going!"
The guard frown and magically pulled Twilight from Spike. Twilight struggled to pull free. "Hey! Let go of me! Spike!"
Spike tried to run after Twilight, but him too was pulled by the other guard.
The guard shoved Twilight into a empty room with a flat table. The guard slams the door shut before Twilight could yell at him.
Twilight fumed to the door, right then two other ponies enter. They stare at Twilight with disgust. "Ugh, girl don't you know what a shower is?!" One of the ponies asked.
"What?! Of course I know what a shower is!" Twilight fumed with even more anger. She couldn't believe that she was being insulted by these wacky ponies. If it weren't for her they wouldn't be here now, she thought.
"Well we better give you one before we let Dingle see you." The pony remarks.
"Dingle? Who's that?" Twilight asked, curious.
"Your designer." The pony replied, before they start cleaning Twilight up.
It took at least an hour, combing her mane, washing her down, and making her look perfect and flawless. Once they were done the ponies left Twilight to wait.
Twilight was laid down on the flat table. After a minute a slim and handsome unicorn entered. He walked in with confidence and look at Twilight. "You can sit up."
Twilight does so. They shake hooves. "My name is Dingle."
"Twilight."
Dingle used his magic to pull a chair over and sat in front of Twilight. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, but I'm here to try to make you feel better in anyway that I can."
Twilight looked at him stunned.
"What's the matter?" He asked her.
"Most ponies just congratulate me..." Twilight answered.
"I don't see a point in that." Dingle told her.
Twilight looks down.
Dingle pats her shoulder. "It's going to be alright." Twilight looks up at him. He nods to her. "So tonight is the Tribute March. Where we have a parade of the entire population of the village selected to fight."
"So you're going to try to make me look pretty..." Twilight said quietly.
"I don't have to try. You're beautiful already." Dingle exclaimed. "We just need to put some clothes on you."
Twilight gives a small smile with a blush. "I know that we where clothes on what our occupation is..."
"I know, but I don't wanna do that." Dingle interrupts.
Twilight looks up at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"I wanna do something that they're gonna remember... Something big," Dingle explains, "and you're the perfect pony for it."
Fancypants and Hoity Toity were waiting for the Tribute March to start. They sat in front of the cameras, on live television. The background is a live view of Tribute Lane, a long strip with a large crowd of ponies on comfy bleachers adjacent on both sides.
"So tell me, Hoity, what are you excited to see in this year's Tribute March?" Fancypants asked.
"Honestly, I'm exciting to see everypony and everything that's on them! The Tribute March is such a great way to experience Canterlot's fashion!" Hoity replied.
"Ahh, yes it is, and there's always something new each year!" Fancypants explained, as the first of the tributes began to exit out onto Tribute Lane. "Ohh look! They're arriving now!"
(click here to listen to what's playing over!)
A large strip of ponies began marching down the strip. Fancypants and Hoity Toity spotted Rarity among the tributes. "My my, I must say! She knows her fashion!" Hoity Toity exclaims.
The camera zoomed in on her. She was dressed in a beautiful blue dress, outlined with fringes and ruffles. "I must say, if she does win, I hope she will want to join my fashion line!" Hoity continued.
Other ponies began to walk out. Fancypants and Hoity spoke about ponies, including Fluttershy, who was dressed in a Snow White-like dress, Rainbow Dash in a gladiator armor, Applejack in a cowgirl dress, Sweetie Belle with musical notes on her dress, Pinkie Pie and her hat made out of candy.
Fancypants and Hoity just finished joking about Pipsqueak's pirate costume, when Hoity turned to the March and stared, bewildered. "Oh my Celestia! Who is that?!"
Fancypants turned to stare as well. "My stars!"
The camera zoomed in on Twilight. She was dressed in a black warrior armor, with flames coming from her back. The fire rose a few feet above her head. She was easily visible in the middle of the crowd, illuminating a bright circle around her. The crowd suddenly roared for Twilight.
"Wow! I have never seen anything like this before!" Fancypants stated. "I am literally mind blown!"
At the end of Tribute Lane stood Celestia's Castle. On the balcony sat Princess Celestia, with several others. She noticed the pony on fire and stared curiously.
All three hundred ponies gathered around in front of the Castle entrance, as the Canterlot Ponies cheered on.
Celestia then stood up and walked up to the edge of the balcony where a podium stood. She waited until everypony stopped in front of the castle. She saw the pony on fire and realized that it was Twilight Sparkle. Twilight, she thought, haven't seen you in a long time.
Everypony finally stopped their parade and the volume of the cheering descended rapidly, as the ponies noticed Celestia. "Welcome!" Celestia greeted. "Citizens! Tributes! Everypony of Equestria! And happy Canterlot Games!"
Twilight stared up at Celestia. She didn't know why, but seeing Celestia in person mad her fire up inside.
Celestia continued her speech. "This is the moment we have each year. The moment where we test the true abilities of a pony. The moment a pony becomes a warrior, a knight, a victor. So I salute to this years' tributes and I say to you, may the odds be ever in your favor!"
The crowd of ponies cheered as Celestia returned to sit.
Twilight was escorted by Fleur in the elevator up to the Penthouse floor. "Your group gets the penthouse floor because of whatever setting they work it out in. I don't pay attention to those things." Fleur giggled. "And may I add, brilliant performance by you and your designer this evening, you seriously caught me off guard with that fire show! A job well done to you and Dingle!"
Twilight smiles. "Thank you."
The elevator doors opened revealing her six best friends and Dingle cheering for her. Twilight was stunned. Her friends all yelled. "Pony on fire!"
Dingle walked up to give Twilight a hug. "That was magnificent Twilight." He stated.
Twilight smiles. "Yeah it really really really was!" Pinkie yelled. "When I saw you was like," Pinkie's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Yeah! And I thought I was the coolest one there." Rainbow exclaimed.
"It really was a great innovation in fashion, darling." Rarity included.
"Yeah! You looked great!" Spike added.
Fluttershy simply nodded.
"You know what?!" Pinkie suddenly jumped up. "I think we need a party!"
Fleur chuckled. "Alright, have one party, but after that you all should get to bed, you have a big day tomorrow, it's your first day of training."
(Click here to get the excitement of The Hunger Games and My Little Pony!)
