Chapters Sterling woke in the waiting room.
Tan walls, a grey carpet floor, and a smooth cement ceiling. This is the room that contestants chosen for the games, well, waited. It wasn't anything special, it was just there. Waiting to be waited in.
The grey stallion looked around at the bland features of the room and sighed, "Well, at least I don't have to sit in a cubicle and stare at a screen all day", up until that moment, Sterling Stonesong had worked in Manehatten as a... Now that he thought about it, he couldn't really remember what he was doing. All he remembered doing was sitting in a little grey compartment doing what his employer told him to do... Strange.
Suddenly Sterling was in a forest.
"Welcome To The Games Contestant! I Am The Game Master!"
Looking around, Sterling saw nopony, then he realized that the words were coming from everywhere, as if the trees that surrounded him had decided to inform him of this fact.
"You Are Currently Standing In The Arena! Where You Will Live Until The Game Has Ended! Any Attempt To Exit The Games Will Result In Your Immediate Death!"
Th e booming voice paused and Sterling was left to look around at the trees, only to be scared nearly out of his coat as the voice returned, louder and more commanding than ever, "One More Thing, The Rules!", a ten second silence graced the woods, "THERE ARE NO RULES!!! Good Luck Contestant!"
Sterling waited cautiously for the voice to return, and then finding that this time it was gone for good he picked a random direction and set off, wondering what could possibly happen in his now slightly more interesting life next.
The light grey unicorn slowly walked through the forest, watching the canopy closely. Something was following him.
The whatever-it-was in the trees moved around with amazing agility, only providing Sterling with a flash of blue on the leafy green background.
Then Sterling wasn't on the ground anymore, he was flying. He screamed as his body was thrown from the forest and into a clearing. He landed with a thump and a grunt, thankful that the long grass in the field seemed to have broken his fall. The flash of blue was circling around him, revealing an icy blue pegasus with a frosty mane. It leaped for him and missed as Sterling took a little longer that expected to get up, leaving the pegasus to fly over his head and crouch as if ready to spring again. Sterling noticed a hunting knife, hanging in a sheath on it's upper foreleg. The grey unicorn's horn glowed with a soft blue light that enveloped the knife and before the pegasus knew what was happening, the tables had turned and Sterling had the knife.
And was trying extremely hard to get the leather casing off.
He heard the pegasus grunt as he tried not to laugh and then fail miserably, "Bwa Ha Ha! Ya almos' got me 'ere mate! Although ya might want'a draw the blade an' not the sheath", Sterling's face turned a bright shade of red as the rival survivor continued to laugh.
"Well- I-If you didn't scare me then maybe I wouldn't have made that mistake!", and then suddenly the frosty pegasus was deadly serious, "You boy, must be new round here, 'cause ery'one who's anyone knows that if ya don't make an attack right, and in mah case by surprise, it'll kill ya", finishing with a scowl, the pegasus turned away, "This time, I'll lecha offa t' chain for free", he turned and spread his sky-blue wings to their full extent, "But nex' time. I'll just hafta' kill ya"
Then he took off into the sky, leaving Sterling with the knife as he dashed over the trees.
Things were going to be a little different from then on.
Sterling trotted quickly through the forest, looking over his shoulder frequently. After his first experience with that blue pegasus, he didn't want anypony sneaking up on him again. He walked for what seemed like hours and soon he was dragging his hooves in exhaustion. "Argh... Why did they pick me out of everypony else to participate in this horrible excuse for entertainment" ,Sterling grumbled to himself as he noticed that the sunlight was now fading from the trees in the canopy.
Then sleep crossed his mind, where was he going to rest? The grey unicorn stopped in his tracks as a scream penetrated the twilight.
"contestant number twenty three has been eliminated" ,a strangely calm voice reverberated throughout the forest. As Sterling stared wildly in the direction of the scream, yeah, maybe sleep could wait a little longer .
Then, more shouting, closer. Sterling started slowly walking backwards, eyes darting between the trees in the ever fading light.
"LOOK OUT!!" ,a feminine voice yelled through the dim light just as an enormous manticore burst through the woods, knocking over a few trees in its's wake. It let out a loud angry roar as it spotted Sterling, and leaped onto its easily boulder-sized paws. Sterling fell over in his attempt to get away and cowered on the forest floor waiting for the end to come. "don't move" ,a soft voice sounded next to Sterling's ear. He slowly opened his eyes, only to shut them again as the manticore bounded towards him.
A yell was heard and a hand yanked Sterling's knife right out of the sheathe before following the hands owner, a teenage human with pale-blond hair, ran straight at the giant monster. "Wait! NO!" ,was all Sterling managed to get out before he was shocked to silence. The girl, only carrying the dull knife simply slid between the manticore's front legs, grabbing it's lion tail on the other side. Shs swung up onto its back and stabbed the knife repeatedly into the back of the manticore's neck. Resulting in a whimper from the beast and sending it crashing to the ground.
She hopped down from the dead creature's back and walked over to Sterling, seeing her hands coated in the red that was manticore blood she whimpered before tossing back Sterling's knife, "Eew, it's all over me!" ,it was only on her hands.
Sterling wiped the knife in the grass before putting it back in its sheathe and staring up at the girl, "Umm, thanks?" ,he said as he watched as the human stooped to wipe her hands on the grass. She was wearing a green tank top with a white blouse tied around her waist, a green skirt flowed down to her ankles, where it was slightly frayed and torn from life in the games.
"Oh, don't mention it. Anything for a little company. All the other people in these woods have been real meanies!" ,she finished her statement by crossing her arms and letting out a small hmph . Sterling glanced around in the darkness of night, "Well, I guess having someone else around wouldn't hurt. I mean we could watch each other's back's. Right?". As soon as he said it Sterling received a pat on the head, like he was some sort of dog, "I think that's a good idea..." ,she paused, as if waiting for something and the grey pony sighed, "My name it Sterling" ,getting a smile as the human stuck out her hand, "Nice to meet you Sterling, I'm Amy. Finally someone to talk to, I've been dying for some company".
Sterling followed Amy for a few minutes, letting her lead him to... Wherever they were going. Althought he should've been suspicious, Amy was the nicest one he had met so far.
Presently they reached a rocky slope at the edge of the forest, a small cave that Amy had found sat on a little ridge on the slope, making it almost impossible to see from below. A single tree grew to the side of the opening, its roots making a column that rose on the wall, as if it was keeping the ceiling from falling in on itself, a pleasant thought for Sterling. Amy told Sterling that she had found it awhile ago and liked it since it wasn't muddy like outside. "Well its better than being monster food" ,the thought of being eaten while asleep just plain freaked Sterling out. He watched as Amy settled down on a sandy patch of the cave floor, he soon heard her soft snores fill the room. He turned and looked out at the entrance of the cave, the moonlight shining from the night sky.
Maybe he could get the hang of this survival-games kind of life.
"RISE AND SHINE STERLING! "
Amy was shaking the grey unicorn awake, receiving a groan as he simply rolled over. "Aaaauugh... Why do I have to get up?"
A frown crossed Amy's face, "Well for starters, if I don't teach you to fight things you might die. Also so that we could get outta this cave, you know it's midday right?". To Sterling's surprise, it was broad daylight streaming in through the entrance.
"Already?", his comment led Amy to sigh and facepalm.
They stumbled down the rocky slope to the woods, glancing around themselves at the surrounding trees. Soon Sterling was sweating through his grey coat, he panted as they neared a clearing, "Is there any water here? I'm gonna die from thirst before I die of... Y'know other things".
Amy just nodded and pointed to a pond at the center of the clearing. Sterling envied her for not having to wear a fur coat all the time as he followed gaze and trotted to the waters edge. He drank his fill from the pond and turned to find Amy rummaging through the woods. She turned to Sterling with two sticks, each about as long as Sterling's forelegs.
"What are those for?", Amy just tossed the stick in Sterling's direction, causing him to catch it in his blue magical aura.
"Well, grey one, these are for practicing how to use that knife of yours. That way, I won't have to steal it every time you get into trouble.", she paused as the 'grey one' slid the knife off of his foreleg. Placing it on a flat rock that rose above the grass. He trotted back over to Amy, who quickly knocked him in the head.
"Oow! WHat was that! Jeez Amy, That really hurt!"
"Then block it next time silly", and she swung again, causing Sterling to duck and watch as the wooden blur flew over his head. "Good, your learning", she said before she swung again in Sterling's direction.
This time Sterling was ready, hr swung his magic-wrapped stick to meet Amy's in the middle, a loud crack sounding through the otherwise silent clearing. The gray unicorn looked up at the woods as a flock of birds were scared out of the trees by the noise.
"Amy, you think that somepony could hear us?", he cast a worried glance at the human.
"Hmm", she thought, bringing a hand up to cup her chin, caressing it thoughtfully, "I don't think so. I hope not"
The day left them tired and they slowly walked back home as the sun started to set, their training sticks , as Amy had called them, were foating in Sterling's light blue aura. Amy had taken off her blouse and tied it around her waist again, Sterling had several bruises forming around his head, shoulders, and a particularly dark one on his rear.
A crash and rumble up ahead made them freeze, a tremor passed through the ground below them and made the two of them stumble. They both glanced at each other, "Earthquake?", the word had barely escaped Amy's mouth before another wave shook the forest. They both broke into a run, heading towards the source of the sound. The ground shook again and Sterling was thrown off of his hooves, landing with a grunt and dropping the sticks. Amy skidded to a stop and pulled him up, grabbing the sticks and continuing their wordless dash through the forest.
Soon the greenery started to thin out, letting more and more light pierce through the canopy. Another rumble shook the ground and Sterling stopped, panting and out of breath, "I'm starting to pant* pant* think that's not an earthquake".
Then a giant boulder crashed through the trees, flattening the undergrowth and barreling towards the pair.
"LOOK OUT!", Sterling's voice rang through the woods and he leaped at Amy, pushing them both out of the boulders path. He watched as it charged deeper through the forest behind him before a large knot of giant trees abruptly ended it's momentum.
Amy stood up and rubbed her head, brushing herself off and pulling a few twigs out of her hair, "Well at least the ground stopped shaking".
Then Sterling noticed the eerie stillness that hung in the air. After what had happened only moments before the silence was unsettling, as if the entire forest was holding it's breath. No birds chirped and not even the breeze was blowing, the rustling of leaves had stopped.
The two slowly made their way back towards their cave home, having lost their sticks in the earlier commotion, Sterling made a note to himself to find more of them the tomorrow.
That's what it was.
Their mountain had collapsed, crumbling like it was made of clay and practically melting into the ground. The work of the Gamemaster. Not only did he make the rules, he also shaped the land.
And he had destroyed their home.
Amy was just staring at the rubble, tears welling up and spilling over in her green eyes. Each time a drop hit the ground the silence around them made it seem like thunder. For the longest time they both stared, not really knowing how to react. The cave had seemed so safe, so strong that it would shelter them in even the worst storm.
And now it was gone, just like that.
Sterling put a hoof around Amy, who had sunk to her knees and was crying softly into her light grey mane. "I- It's okay. We'll find another home", he spoke softly as tried his best to comfort her.
That night they slept under the stars, in the middle of the pile of rocks that had once been their home. In the center there was a single overhanging slab of rock where they both curled up and let sleep take them.
Sterling woke up and was confused, this isn't the cave. where are- , then he remembered everything. The collapse of the mountain, the loss of their home, and all the pain that came with it. He trotted quietly over to Amy and nudged her with a hoof. She rolled onto her back and looked up at him with puffy eyes, tear-streaks cutting through the dust that stained her pale cheeks. "Amy, i- it's time to get moving, we probably shouldn't stay here for long". The human looked up at him and nodded sadly before sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
"I... Just can't believe it's just... Gone", her voice was small, not at all like the voice that Sterling knew, "And besides, where do we go? It's not like there's gonna be another cave or something just waiting to be lived in", The grey pony stood and helped lead Amy out of the mountain ruins, her energy drained after not being able sleep the night before.
They reached the edge of the mountain ruins and looked back at the crushed rocks and cracked boulders before turning to the forest and slowly making their way through the greenery.
The two trudged their way through the undergrowth, only stopping to rest once or twice before looking up at the green canopy of the forest and returning to their aimless wander through the woods. Every now and again Sterling's ears would swivel in a certain direction checking for sounds from behind them.
"Psst!"
Sterling whirled around, looking at the bushes and shrubbery surrounding them, scanning for the owner of the voice. He narrowed his eyes, his head moving back and forth, leaving no spot unchecked. His knife slowly slid out of the leather casing on his foreleg, a silvery glow holding it aloft.
"Who's there? Come out!", the moment Sterling said it he knew that announcing his and Amy's presence in the woods probably wasn't the best Idea ever.
"Psst", the voice called again, somewhere to Sterling's right.
"Please put the knife away", the voice calmly stated, although a slight tremble in it's tone said that it's owner wasn't entirely unafraid.
Sterling squinted over at the row of large ferns. He slowly stalked over, the soft earth beneath his hooves muffling the sound as he crept forward, knife poised at his side. He crept closer and closer to the bushes until he was at least a hoof's reach from the broad leaves. He reached forward and slowly pulled the leaves aside.
"Um, hi there", a tan unicorn crouched in the shadow under the ferns, a deep brown eye peered up at the grey unicorn. A straight brown mane with lighter brown streaks hung over one side of her face, covering her other eye. Sterling sighed and put his knife away, backing out of the bushes to allow the mare to follow.
"Who are you and what do you want?", Sterling spoke in the toughest voice he could muster, you're not a superhero Sterling , he thought to himself.
The tan mare in front of then looked up at Amy, then back to Sterling, who noticed that her chocolate brown eyes actually had golden flecks in the irises. She then glanced around and then looked over her shoulder, turning in a full circle before returning her focus to the two survivors, "I-It's not safe here, I'll take you back to the tunnels", she spun around and started to cautiously creep through the undergrowth, "A-are you coming?"
Sterling looked up at Amy to find her shrugging her shoulders. He turned back to the newcomer to find her already making her way through the bushes.
"Hey wait", he called out to her, making her once again poke her head back out of the bushes, "Yes?", she cocked her head to the side as she waited for a response.
Sterling slid his knife back into the leather casing, watching the dull-silver blade disappear before looking back at the mare, "I don't think that you introduced yourself, I'm Sterling, this is Amy", the human waved her hand to the pony in front of them, tucking a few stray hairs behind her ear as they got into her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Ebony Quill", she gave another glance to either side before motioning for them to follow before drawing back into the bushes and quietly trotting through the forest, looking over her shoulder every once in a while to check the two newcomers.
It had been at least... Well, a long time. Sterling wasn't even sure how long the three of them had been walking through the forest, following Ebony as she confidently made her way through the forest, as if she was walking down a dirt road in broad daylight.
That was another problem. Sterling cast a glance at the canopy to find the bright blue of the sky to be dimming, growing darker by the minute. He looked up at Amy, who was leaning on him a little. She had begun to lag behind, the exhaustion of the restless night of sleep finally taking it's toll on her. She nodded to him and lifted her weight off of him, allowing him to trot quickly up to their guide, casting another nervous glance at the ever darkening sky in the process, "Um, Ebony... How long before we get... Wherever we're going again?"
The tan unicorn looked over at him, eyes once again dark brown in the fading light, "We should be there shortly", came a short answer. The unicorn glanced around warily, as if the shadows that were starting to form might jump out at them.
Suddenly, Ebony sprang forward, hurriedly trotting towards a large clump of trees, their giant trunks surrounded by thick ferns. "It's right through here", a snap in the forest made the three of them turn around, "Quickly, I don't think that we really want to know what that is and, frankly, I'd much rather be inside", then before Amy or Sterling could react, a light blue glow surrounded them and they were thrown through the bushes.