Tributes

Grey clouds blotted out the sun on the next day. Although the sun flew high in the sky, the lighting made it look like dusk - very fitting for what was about to happen. Every little filly and colt did as they’d been told and wrote their name on a slip of paper. One at a time they were asked to drop their slip into a small, wooden crate. A gulp every now and then broke the silence of the once again full crowd. Even though it didn’t necessarily concern their lives, every citizen of Ponyville met together for this. They wanted to see who’d be giving their lives for what could be perfection, or near perfection at the very least.

A broad-shouldered stallion, likely the head of a squad, came up to the stage - box cradled in his left hoof. He set it down in the middle of the platform and cleared his throat. “Before I begin calling names, I would like to personally thank everypony for following the instructions last night and pitching in to help make this process all the more… FAIR for you. Also, if you would really wish to be a part of your kingdom’s sacrifice, feel free to volunteer.” He waited idly for ten seconds to see if anypony would accept his offer. “No? Then in that case, we’ll move on.” Without looking, he reached down into the box, shuffled the names, and called the one he first pulled out.

“Pipsqueak!” he read, “To the stage.” A very small earth pony in the crowd shuddered. Out of all the school ponies around him, the guard couldn’t actually be serious... right?

“No,” the spotted colt replied.

“Excuse me?” the guard’s voice rose.  He quickly retrieved his spear from the side of the stage and pointed it threateningly at the first sacrifice. Pipsqueak and the ponies around him stared wide-eyed at the blade. “I said; get on the stage.” The spear came closer. “That wasn’t a request.”

Pip reluctantly walked through two rows of his classmates - weight building on him with each step. Reaching the far-left of the stage warranted a clap of approval from the guard. “Very good. Thank you for your cooperation.” The way he said it made it sound like Luna prepared specific lines for him to say. The stallion reached down blindly and drew another slip.

“Snips! To the stage.”

“Twist! To the stage.”

“Diamond Tiara! To the stage.”

“Snails!”

“Button Mash!”

“Silver Spoon!"

“Featherweight!”

One by one, a school pony took their position next to the previous. The chances of somepony’s name being drawn increased with every new sacrifice’s title. Down the papers dwindled as he drew another.

“Applebloom! To the stage.”

The earth filly’s heart sank. He didn’t just- no. No, she was dreaming. This was a nightmare... one that she didn’t wake up from. The momentary silence that allowed Applebloom to evaluate what was happening ended as the guard cleared his throat and drew his weapon again. “Don’t make me ask again,” he said.

“Wait.”

Applebloom turned to her immediate right to see Scootaloo looking straight at the guard.

“Can I take her place?”

The guard frowned sympathetically. “I thought you’d never ask. What’s your name, filly?”

“Scootaloo,” she murmured.

“What was that?”

“Scootaloo,” the pegasus stated clearer than before.

“Scootaloo! To the stage.”

Before she could get two feet, Applebloom tapped Scootaloo’s shoulder. “What’re ya doing?! They’ll kill ya!”

Scootaloo looked back reassuringly - a confident smile on her face. “Don’t worry,” she said, “I’ve got nopony left to lose. You do.” She turned back and proceeded to the next position.

“Very good. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Only a few name tags remained in the crate. The guard was forced to rummage through for several moments to find one. He read the final name out. “Sweetie Belle! To the stage.”

The unicorn gawked at his words. There was still a chance. Maybe, just maybe, if somepony were to volunteer now….

“Ah volunteer! Ah’ll go for her!” Applebloom shouted.

“I’m sorry, but your position has already been filled, Applebloom,” the stallion apologized. He wasn’t following orders when he said he was sorry.

Another few seconds, and the guard shot Sweetie Belle a scripted glare. She walked up slowly with small shakes of her head every now and then as she passed her classmates. Nopony said a word. Even Rarity knew she couldn’t do anything to stop it, so she just sat there with mascara starting to run down her face. Applejack and the rest of her friends crowded around her and offered physical support.

Sweetie Belle stood in the final position - to the right of her friend Scootaloo. “Behold… Ponyville’s first sacrifice!” the guard yelled. He waited for an applause or congratulations from the audience. When all he got were angry looks and tears, the squad leader cleared his throat awkwardly. “The event will take place at the edge of the Everfree Forest come midnight tonight. This will give you all time to say goodbye and prepare. As per the orders of Princess Luna, you will NOT attempt to flee the New Lunar Republic before the executions. My squad will be circling around your small town - making sure none of you try anything.”

“You can’t do that!” Sweetie Belle shouted, “We’re supposed to always be able to go to the Solar Empire!”

The squad leader turned around to face her. He shook his head. “The border is always open, but that doesn’t mean the princess can’t order an area to be detained. Armed guards will come to escort you as the moon nears its peak. The princess knows where you live,” he informed calmly. He then dismissed all the fillies and colts, who ran to their closest family members the first chance they got.