Celestia's Insane Game

Chapters

Chapter One: The Raffle
Chapter Two Round One part 1
Ending One: Celestia's Cruel Joke
Chapter Three: Round One part 2
Extra Chapter
Chapter Four Round One part 3
Chapter Five Round One is Coming to a Close

Chapter One: The Raffle

Chapter One
The Raffle

It was a bright sunny day in Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle was lying in her house reading about the “interesting” properties of sand. Spike was outside playing with the CMC. All seemed quite fine until it happened. One of Princess Celestia’s royal guardsmen flew into town to give an announcement.

“Attention citizens of Ponyville,” He began, “Princess Celestia has organized a competition for those ‘lucky’ enough to be picked.” The way he said “lucky” made it sound like a bad thing. “Several ponies from each province has been picked to be in the slaught…I mean competition. The list is as follows: Vinyl Scratch, Berry Punch, Carrot Top…” He droned the names off his list of ponies to compete from Ponyville.”

“I wonder what the competition is about?” Rarity trotted next to Twilight, who had stepped outside to see what was going on.

“No clue, but I hope I’m not in it.” Twilight Sparkle replied.

“Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, and Twilight Sparkle.” The Pegasus finished, rolling up the parchment with his hooves. “Would those who were called come forward?”

The ponies walked forward, about 13 total. Such an unlucky number. Twilight had a bad feeling about this “competition”

“Stand in a single file line while I pin this tag in your mane.” The guard instructed, pulling out 13 pins from his saddlebag. One by one, the pony pinned each pony’s mane with the small accessory. Once he pinned one on Twilight, she got a good look at the thing. It had Celestia’s cutie mark engraved on it and painted on top of it were the letters C I G.

“Now,” He started, after pinning everypony, “Stay within the city limits and I will return with a chariot to pull you to Canterlot where Princess Celestia will explain everything.”

For the rest of the day, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, AJ, and Fluttershy hung out and tried to figure out what C I G stood for. Pinkie Pie thought of Competition for Irresistible Cupcakes, but Twilight pointed out that it would be C I C and not C I G. After about two hours of waiting, the guard returned with the chariot he was talking about. It looked like the one Twilight rode in when she first came to Ponyville, except it was about four times as large and pulled by a team of 5 Pegasus ponies.

“Alright everypony, file in.” The guard said. “Cooperate and I won’t have to use force.” he said this as he pulled a shock baton from his saddlebag.

Everypony did as instructed and piled into the cramped chariot. Trotting into the front of the team, the guard suited himself up and took flight. The team of Pegasi followed, giving the chariot a strong lurch, nearly knocking Carrot Top out of it in the process. The travel took around two hours and the bright Sun bore down on the ponies, making them fatigue. Once they approached the castle, the team of Pegasi were as tired as could be, pulling thirteen ponies in the blazing heat.

“Alright,” The guard who lead the team said, unstrapping himself from the harness, “follow me to the ballroom where the princess is waiting.” The thirteen ponies did as they where told and followed the guard.

As soon as they approached the ballroom, they noticed that they weren’t the first to arrive. In fact, they were the last to arrive. There were ponies from all over Equestria. Ponyville had the biggest number out of every town, though. Quickly examining the large room, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, AJ, and Fluttershy noticed Rainbow Dash from the Cloudsdale group. Noticing them as well, she flew over to them.

“Hey guys,” She said, approaching them, “how’s it hanging?”

“Rainbow, do you know what it going on?” Twilight inquired.

“No,” She started, “I just got here a…” She was cut off by the sound of trumpets.

“All ponies turn your attention to Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria.” a pony said somewhere. The perch at the front of the ballroom has curtains over it, and after he said that, they parted. Celestia walked out onto the perch and surveyed the ponies in the ballroom. She looked difference than her regal appearance. Her eyes were open wide and her pupils were the size of a peanut. Her mane and tail wasn’t flowing like it normally does and hairs stuck out like it hadn’t been combed in a long while.

“My little ponies,” She started, “I have gathered you here today for a competition of sorts. You may be wondering what the letters on your pin stand for.” Looking at the crowd, she saw no pony knew, so she continued. “The C I G stands for Celestia’s Insane Game. It is a gladiator style competition where two ponies will go against each other in matches and have to fight to the death. The victor of each match will be given one day to recover and then be pushed into the next match.”

“Has she gone insane,” Rainbow Dash whispered to Twilight. “Pitting ponies against each other to the death?” Twilight didn’t answer. The purple pony just stood there, wide eyed and mouth agape.

“Now,” Celestia continued, “If you wish to be taken out of the tournament, that is just too bad. You have been picked for this and have to fight. You have no choice. Luna,” Celestia called her sister out and continued, “Luna will be the pony to talk to about your feeling and last wishes. Now, you will be given five minutes with Luna to talk. After that, you will be sent to your room.

After two hours of ponies to Princess Luna, Twilight got her turn. Entering Luna’s private room in the castle, she noticed that Luna was extremely tired from being awake so long in the day.

“Greeting, Sparkle.” Luna said, wearily, “Please sit.” she pointed to a chair for Twilight to sit in. “Now, what is it you want to talk about?”

“Well,” Twilight started, “I’m just wondering what in the good name of Celestia is Celestia thinking?”

“Ah,” Luna said, yawning, “That question. Twilight, you know I would love to give you an answer to that, but I honestly don’t know. I have never seen my sister this way before. I think something might be wrong with her.”

“Might?” Twilight interrupted

“Well, my sister has been known to troll ponies before with ridiculous things. I only pray that this is one of those things.” There came a knocking on the door.

“Miss Luna,” A uniformed guard said, poking her head in, “Twilight Sparkle’s five minutes are up.”

“Alright,” Luna said, “Until next time, hopefully, Twilight Sparkle.”

After leaving Luna’s room, Twilight couldn’t stop thinking about what Princess Luna had said. She found herself also praying that this just a sick joke that Celestia was pulling, and that no pony had to die. Either way, next day, the games start and the truth will be revealed.

Chapter Two Round One part 1

Chapter Two
Round One of C I G

Twilight twist and turned in the cot she was assigned. She couldn’t stop thinking about the upcoming tournament, Celestia’s Insane Game. Her princess couldn’t have picked a better name for it. In a couple of hours, Twilight expected a guard to come and retrieve her for the opening ceremony. Finally giving up on sleep, she opened the saddlebag she had brought along and read up on the history of Celestia’s behavior. After learning nothing about death matches her ruler assigned, somepony knocked on the door and entered. It was her friends; Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.

“Restless night as well?” Twilight asked.

“Oh Twilight,” Rarity started, “It was simply Awful! I couldn’t get one wink of beauty sleep thinking of how horrid the princess’s mane and tail looked.” That’s Rarity. One to worry about the smallest detail instead of the big picture.

“Oh can it, would ya?” Dash said, “Our lives could be at stake, and you worry about how her hair looks?”

“This sounds like fun,” Pinkie said, unenergetically from no sleep, “except for the whole death and pain and fighting. Games are supposed to be fun.”

“I just want to go home.” Fluttershy piped up, “I couldn’t possibly think of what would happen to Angel and all my other woodland friends if I wasn’t around to care for them.”

“Well,” Twilight started, “Princess Luna gave me a sliver of hope to hold on to, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“What is it?” Everypony inquired at once.

“The princess informed me that her sister, Celestia, had been known to troll, or entice anger and sometimes fear, ponies and that this might be just one cruel joke of hers.” Twilight filled them in. “We can only pray that Luna is right.”

A guard, as expected, came to Twilight’s room and lead the group into the ballroom once more before the beginning of the games. Once everypony filed into the ballroom, and they all got situated, the trumpets sounded, like yesterday. The curtains were pulled back again to reveal the princess, still as insane-looking as yesterday.

“My little ponies,” She started, “Today is the day of the first matches in Celestia’s Insane Game. The Roster is as follows.” She guided with her hoof to a giant board with everypony’s name written on it. “Three matches will go on at one time, and after each match is finished, the victor will be taken out of the field and the next pair will start. The first three pairs are; Ditzy Doo vs. Carrot Top, Rainbow Dash vs. Fancy Pants, and finally Braeburn vs. Fluttershy.” Finishing off the names of the first three, she gazed at the ponies. “Would those six please come forward?”

Walking to the front, Fluttershy saw the scared looks on all the other ponies. No pony wanted to die, but there was just no choice. Celestia was going to find one way or another to make sure her “games” continued as planned.

“Guards,” Celestia said, “please guide our first contestants to their arenas and activate the monitors and cameras.” The guards did as followed, except for one. She just stood there, refusing to move. “I meant Now.”

“I can’t do it.” the guard said, looking Celestia right in the eyes, crying, “I just can’t lead ponies to their death and live with myself.”

“Well,” Celestia weighed her options, “If you insist.” She used magic to choke the guard. “You WON’T have to live with yourself anymore.” Slowly, but surely, Celestia choked the life out of her guard. “Now, anypony else want to object to their orders?” She looked each guard in the eye. “No? Alright then, let the games begin!”

Three monitors lowered from the ceiling, showing nothing but a black screen. After a few minutes, they came on and you could clearly see the battlefields. Each one was about twenty feet in diameter and the walls were made of smooth metal. The ground was dirt with a few sticks and twigs. Scattered around the field were boxes. Each one varied in size, holding items to help ponies fight. The ponies that were to fight were ushered into the rooms and the doors closed. Celestia’s voice boomed out invisible speakers.

“Contestants,” Her voice echoed, “The battle begins in 5,” She started counting off, “4, 3, 2, 1” A bell rung out that signaled that the fighting was to begin, but no pony started fighting. “Listen,” Celestia spoke again, “If you Don’t fight, I will kill you all myself. Your choice.” That got them going.

Ditzy Doo and Carrot Top spent no time talking after that. It was better one die than both. Ditzy had the advantage of flight, but was very clumsy, canceling her flight advantage. Fancy Pants and Dash couldn’t bear to fight each other. Dash couldn’t cope with the fact of trying to kill somepony, and Fancy Pants could bring himself to attack a mare. Fluttershy cowered waiting for the inevitable death to come, but Braeburn was to noble to kill his defenseless opponent.

After a few moments, Braeburn trotted over to Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy,” Braeburn said, “I can’t do it. I can’t kill you and I don’t want you to die by the hands of Celestia because neither of us will fight. I’m just going to kill myself to give atleast one more day of life to you.” Braeburn then trotted to one of the boxes and seached its contents. Inside was a shock trap and two knives. The shock trap wasn’t powerful enough to kill, but enough to incapacitate one. The knives were long enough to hit vital organs if lodged in the right spots.

Braeburn stuck the hilt of each knife into the ground on each of his sides. Placing and arming the trap, he activated it, knocking him out and falling on his side, sticking one of the knives deep in his chest. He bled to death shortly after, sparing Fluttershy’s life in the process.

Rainbow Dash and Fancy Pants just had to face the facts and fight each other. Dash had the upper hand with flight and speed, but Fancy Pants could use magic, giving him more of an upper hand. After flying around Fancy for several minutes, avoiding flying knives from several boxes, Dash dove for a box. Grabbing it in her mouth, she took light just before getting hit with a knife. Dash then used the box as a shield until she got it open. Inside was a grenade, capable of doing severe damage. Swallowing her fear, she pulled the pin, and with one last breath, she tossed it at Fancy Pants.

Picking the grenade up with his magic to observe it, it exploded, killing him in the process. His blood flew out splatteing on the ground around his lifeless corpse. Dash flew down, tired and scared. Looking around she saw no pony coming to retrieve her. A door opened a few moments later and Dash went through.

After a long and tiring battle, Carrot Top was able to toss a net over Ditzy Doo, pinning her to the ground. Using a shock trap, she incapacitated Ditzy so that she didn’t feel the pain of death. Using a sickle she found in a nearby box, she quickly did Ditzy in. After Carrot Top’s victory had been assured, the door opened and she left through it, shaking.

Sidenote: The next battles are Amethyst Star vs. Vinyl Scratch, Berry Punch vs. Snowflake, and Twilight Sparkle vs. Trixie Lulamoon. The chapter will focus more on Twilight and Trixie’s fight than the other two, to conserve time.

Ending One: Celestia's Cruel Joke

Chapter Two
Celestia’s Cruel Joke (ending one)

“Restless night as well?” Twilight asked.

“Oh can it, would ya?” Dash said, “Our lives could be at stake, and you worry about how her hair looks?”

“This sounds like fun,” Pinkie said, unenergetically from no sleep, “except for the whole death and pain and fighting. Games are supposed to be fun.”

“I just want to go home.” Fluttershy piped up, “I couldn’t possibly think of what would happen to Angel and all my other woodland friends if I wasn’t around to care for them.”

“Well,” Twilight started, “Princess Luna gave me a sliver of hope to hold on to, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“What is it?” Everypony inquired at once.

“My little ponies,” She started, “Today is the day of the first matches in Celestia’s Insane Game. The Roster is as follows.” She guided with her hoof to a giant board with everypony’s name written on it. “Three matches will go on at one time, and after each match is finished, the victor will…” She stumbled on her words, giggling slightly, “Will be taken out of the field and the next pair will start. The first three pairs are; Ditzy Doo vs. Carrot Top, Rainbow Dash vs. Fancy…” Stumbling again, but laughing at a moderate level. “Sorry. As I was saying; Rainbow Dash vs. Fancy Pants, and finally Braebu…” Bursting out laughing, Celestia couldn’t hold it any longer.

“Sister,” Luna asked, rushing to her sister, “What is wrong?”

“Does she think this is funny?” A pony in the crowd exclaimed, “A bunch of unnecessary deaths is her idea of a good laugh?”

“What is going on?” Rarity inquired to the now smiling Twilight Sparkle. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because,” Twilight started, but was soon interrupted by a calmed form of Celestia.

“I’m sorry,” Celestia started, giggling a little, “It’s just that I was joking!” She said, smiling a crazily happy smile, gazing at all the puzzled ponies. “There is no C I G. There going to be no slaughter. It was all a joke, and you fell for it from the start!” She finished, laughing some at her sick joke. Everypony laughed some too, but for a different reason. They were laughing because they didn’t have to die in some crazy competition.

“Well,” Twilight said, “It’s over. We can rest easy knowing death isn’t hanging right above our heads.”

“Yeah,” Dash said, “That was some sick joke she pulled. I could learn something from that.”

“You didn’t really think I would pit my subjects against each other to the death now, did you?” Celestia said to the crowd, and more specifically, Twilight and her friends. “I may be mad, but not insane!”

Chapter Three: Round One part 2

Chapter Three
Round One of C I G

“Well,” Celestia said, watching the monitor in the backroom, “that certainly was something to watch. Seeing all that bloodshed is just what I need. Attention,” Celestia turned the speakers on, “Those competing in the next three will be; Amethyst Star vs. Vinyl Scratch, Berry Punch vs. Snowflake, and Twilight Sparkle vs. Trixie Lulamoon.”

Breathing a sigh of relief for her friend’s wellbeing this round, she trotted forward to face her opponent. Her friend’s safety didn’t make her any less nervous to fight this “Trixie Lulamoon” though. When she got to the front, she was greeted by a quite familiar cutie mark and cape. Seeing the pony, Twilight froze, not out of fear, but astonishment. Princess Celestia was able to locate the lost “Great and Powerful” Trixie.

“Sparkle,” Trixie greeted Twilight as she approached her, “I hope you’re ready for this. I will not be holding back my Great power.”

“Whatever.” Twilight responded. The guards started ushering them through the large doors.

“Good luck Twi!” A voice said in the crowd. Turning, Twilight saw all her friends waving, wishing her luck in the battle. She was going to need it, after all. Going through the doors, Twilight’s eyes started to water, thinking of all the good times she and her friends had. After this, nothing will be the same.

Being pushed into the arenas, Twilight noticed that they had the decency to remove the bodies, but not the blood. Feeling her lunch come back to her, Twilight had to hold her mouth closed with her hoof. Celestia’s voice boomed out of the invisible intercom.

“Contestants,” She began, “Get ready to fight in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” The bell sounded, signaling the start of the bloodshed for the second time.

Watching from the ballroom, her friends could see all three matches at once. Amethyst Star dashed towards the closest box, while Vinyl Scratch bobbed her head to invisible music, using he music to bring and open boxes around her. Berry Punch had to struggle to get away from the bulky Pegasus, barely avoiding a large hoof to her head. Meanwhile, Twilight had to teleport around the field to avoid Trixie’s flying knives.

“What’s wrong Twilight?” Trixie taunted, “Afraid to fight? Hold still and it…will…be…over…soon.” Tossing knife after knife at the teleporting purple pony, continued to talk.

Berry Punch kept getting lucky at avoiding Snowflake’s large hooves smashing the ground. At the rate it was going, Berry Punch didn’t stand a chance without the help of boxes.

After Vinyl’s fifth box, she found something useful. Amethyst had found a shock trap in her box with two knives. The pale yellow Dj used the sword and wooden pole to start a fire and lit the wooden morning star from her fifth box. Flailing it around, Vinyl charged the blue pony. Amethyst threw one of her knives, only to have it impale itself into the flaming ball of Vinyl’s morning star.

Berry Punch found a box full of ten knives and gathered seven before Snowflake smashed the rest. Rolling out of the way, Berry Punch took one of her knives and flung it at Snowflake. To her dismay, the hilt bounced off his side, landing in the dirt. She then flung knife after knife at her bulky opponent, until two were left. Dodging his massive slam, she shoved a knife into his flank, breaking the blade off it. Howling in pain, the Pegasus quickly whipped around and sent Berry Punch flying across the arena, hitting her head against the wall.

Twilight kept teleporting, avoid each of Trixie’s knives, getting small cuts and scrapes in the process. Quickly grabbing a small box, Twilight continued to teleport. Opening the box, using a larger one as cover, she didn’t notice the knife that nearly decapitated her. Poking her head above the box, she saw that Trixie was approaching her, knives at the ready like a firing squad of deadly blades. When Trixie approached the box, she drove all her knives over the box and into the spot where Twilight was, only no blood come out from behind the box. Walking around it, she noticed that Twilight had teleported away, and in her place, she left a live grenade. Turning quickly to avoid the blast, Trixie acted too late.

Snowflake approached the unconscious pony that lay before him. Rearing up, he brought his front hooves down, smashing her skull in, spraying blood all over the white Pegasus. Repeatedly doing this, he didn’t stop until a squad of armed guards rushed in and restrained the pony.

Jumping to avoid Vinyl’s flaming ball, Amethyst Star brought her second knife down on the unicorn. Seeing this attack coming, Scratch rolled out of the way, hitting Amethyst in the head with the morning star. The blow was strong enough that it killed Amethyst in a way that wasn’t gory. Dropping her weapon, Vinyl trot out of the arena.

Trixie landed hard on the dirt, bleeding in several places from shrapnel. Struggling to get up, she fell down and stayed there. Twilight approached the severly wounded pony with pity.

“Well,” Trixie said, “The Great and Powerful Trixie has been defeated.” Pausing to cough, blood coming out in the process. “Just finish me off now, Sparkle, while I still have my pride.”

“Tixie Lulamoon.” Twilight said, holding a sword with her magic, “May you rest in peace.” Quickly ending Trixie’s pain, Twilight drove her sword through the dying pony. After a few moments, the door opened, and Twilight staggered through.

Entering the ballroom to rejoin her friends, she collapsed from what she had seen and done. She had killed a pony.

“Well done.” Celestia said, emerging onto her perch. “What a show. Survivors, you can rest for now while we finish up round one of C I G.”

Sidenote: The next chapter doesn’t have the Mane 6 in it, and will start in the middle of the fight. The contestants are as follow; Cloud Kicker vs. Golden Harvest, Moondancer vs. Lyra Heartstrings, and Caramel vs. Apple Fritter.

Extra Chapter

Trotting out of the hallway, Twilight replayed he match with Trixie. The horror of having to fight another pony was intense, but aiming to kill? That was a whole other story. Glancing around at all the other ponies in the ballroom, Twilight rejoined her friends.

“That was crazy.” she said, looking at all her friends.

“We know.” everypony said in unison. Turning to face the roster, they noticed it must be electronically controlled, because it had updated, showing the ponies thus far that would move to the next round and a line through the deceased. Up next was going to be…

“Attention my little ponies,” Celestia’s voice rang out like the bell that signaled the beginning of the bloodshed, “The next competitors will be as follows: Cloud Kicker vs. Golden Harvest, Moondancer vs. Lyra Heartsrings, and Caramel vs. Apple Fritter. Would those called please report to the front?”

The six walked forward, warily. Glancing at each other, they knew that by the end of the matches, half would emerge. Guards trot forward and guided the ponies into the arenas.

The rooms came back on the screens, showing the same three circular arenas. Two were covered in from previous matches, but one was clean. The one that was clean was the one where Snowflake beat Berry Punch’s head to pulp, so the ponies in charge thought to clean the entire cage to save time. The pairs found their way through the doors and the bell sounded.

The matches began in heat. Cloud Kicker took flight immediately after taking the first box she found while Golden Harvest gathered two small boxes containing one grenade each. Moondancer had to avoid the knives being flung at her while she got close enough to use her shock trap and two knives. Caramel charged the fleeing Apple Fritter, hitting her in the side with his head.

Moondancer nearly got close enough to Lyra before she was hit in the leg with a knife, making her fall and break her shock trap. Another knife impaled itself in her flank. Lyra wanted to end her friend’s life quick so Moondancer wouldn’t feel much pain. Approaching Moondancer, Lyra readied her last two knives.

Cloud Kicker got her box open before Golden Harvest could do any serious damage with the trident she found in a long slender box. Inside were ten knives that she tossed, one at a time, at Golden Harvest. Doing nothing more that giving Golden Harvest scratches and cuts, Golden Harvest nailed Cloud Kicker in the chest with her trident.

Dazed and wounded form a broken rib, Apple Fritter tried to scoot away from Caramel before he could find something to end her with. Caramel looked inside four boxes before finding what he wanted, a grenade. Turning, he armed it and dropped the pin right before getting hit in the chest with two knives that Apple Fritter was able to fling at him. The wounds weren’t deep, but they made him stumble, dropping the grenade. Quickly, Caramel picked it up in his teeth and with one mighty swing of his head, he threw the grenade. It landed next to Apple Fritter just in time for it to explode, doing her in at the same time.

Cloud Kicker fell behind a large box containing who knows what while Golden Harvest approached her. Readying her last knife, she knew she had to make it count if she wanted to live. Rounding the corner, holding a grenade in her mouth, Golden Harvest saw a flash of silver metal hit her in between the eyes. Stumbling backwards, she dropped the grenade. One second later, it blew it and her up. Medic ponies rushed in to gather the severely wounded Cloud Kicker and rushed her out of the arena.

Tearing up, Lyra hovered the knives above her friends head. “I’m sorry,” was the last words Moondancer heard before the knives quickly ended her life. Lyra wobbly exited the arena, crying deeply.

Author's Note

This one is considered extra because it doesn't have one of the Mane 6 in it. Have fun!

Chapter Four Round One part 3

“Well, well, well.” Celestia said after the matches ended. “Another interesting match. Let’s get started on the next three, shall we?”

“This is completely insane.” Rainbow stated for the third time. “Somepony should do something about this ‘contest’ and Celestia once and for all.”

“The next contestants will be as follows: Apple Jack vs. Diamond Mint, Rarity vs. Dizzy Twister, and Lightning Bolt vs. Medley. Good luck to all of you.”

The six ponies, like those before them, trotted up to doors to the arenas. The monitors showed the circular rings bloodied form previous matches. Guards escorted the six through the hallways, forking so that one pony could go to one end of the arena whilst the other entered from the opposite end. The bell rung out.

Diamond Mint wasted no time charging for Apple Jack. Apple Jack was ready for her. She rolled to the side, bucking Diamond Mint in the side, sending the pony toppling towards a small box full of knives.

Rarity regally manipulated several small boxes with her magic, opening them. Four of the boxes held knives. Two had shock traps, and the rest were grenades. Dizzy Twister held the slender box containing the trident in her mouth while she flew around Rarity, opening her box. Positioning the trident in her mouth, she quickly dove down to avoid three knives flung at her only to fall into a live grenade.

Medley flew into the air along with Lightning Bolt, striking her opponent in the face with her fore hoof. The two Pegasi kept at it until Lightning Bolt struck Medley on the wing, effectively breaking it. Medley fell into a box with a grenade inside.

Apple Jack quickly ran towards a box containing a shock trap and two knives to combat her dazed opponent. Diamond Mint got to her feet only to see an armed shock trap flung at her tied to a lasso. Rolling out of the way, she threw a few of her knives at the lassoed shock trap, effectively doing nothing. Apple Jack charged at Diamond Mint, lasso in mouth, shock trap still armed and set inside the box, tied to her side like a saddlebag. Throwing another knife, Diamond Mint tried incapacitate Apple Jack, but only to have the hilt of her knife glance harmlessly off her opponent’s flank.

Pulling up, the grenade exploded, flinging shrapnel onto Dizzy Twister. She escaped the fatal part of the grenade, but still suffered the sharp pieces of metal digging deep into her skin. Falling to the ground, Dizzy Twister struggled to her hooves while Rarity used this time to approach her fallen opponent, second grenade ready.

Arming the grenade inside the box, she flew the best she could manage with her broken wing. Lightning Bolt dove down to drive her hind hooves into Medley’s head. Medley pulled off dodging her opponent’s attack and attaching the grenade to Lightning Bolt. Falling down, Medley made sure that she would land far from Lightning Bolt, and the live grenade now tied in her tail.

Dizzy Twister swung her trident uselessly at Rarity. Pulling the pin on her second grenade, she placed under Dizzy Twister. Falling, Dizzy Twister accepted her fate. The grenade blew her and the ground around her up. Rarity bowed to her as of late opponent and left.

Reaching Diamond Mint, Apple Jack turned swiftly, the shock trap flying out, she bucked the trap towards Diamond Mint. It was impaled by Diamond Mint’s last knife, conducting the electric power of it by ten, sending a shock through her, stopping her heart. Holding her hat to her heart, Apple Jack gave Diamond Mint the silence of respect she deserved and exited through the doors.

Lightning Bolt spun around wildly trying to get the grenade out of her tail. I the last second, it came off, detonating shortly after, spreading shrapnel all over her body. Several pieces of it punctured her heart and brain, killing her shortly. Struggling to her hooves, Medley limped over to the door and collapsed at the exit, unconscious. Two medical ponies with a stretcher came and took her away to the emergency medical tent.

With twelve ponies dead, Only four remained to be doomed to death of this bloodbath. Round One of Celestia’s Insane Game is coming to a close.

Chapter Five Round One is Coming to a Close

Chapter 5
Round One of C I G

Four matches. Eight ponies. Three Rings. How does Celestia plan on pulling off these last matches together?

“Ladies and Gentleponies!” Celestia’s voice rang true and clear. “Due to the number of matches left, my architects and I have designed a temporary fourth arena so that the four matches can be done quickly and effectively. The last monitor should scroll down in a minute.” True to her word, the monitor slid down from an empty slit in the ceiling. “Well, enough dilly-dallying. Let the final matches of round one commence!”

Everypony watched as the remaining ponies trotted up to the guards stationed around the three doors. Pinkie Pie, Time Turner, Shoe Shine, Raindrops, Sea Swirl, Wind Whistler, Parasol, and Noteworthy waited to see if Celestia would announce who fought who. Finally, Princess Luna, in a soft voice, used the intercom.

“Excuse me.” She said. “My sister seemed to have gotten ahead of herself. As much as I would love to just leave this unsaid, ponies will be punished if I don’t say this. Pinkie Pie will face Shoeshine, Parasol with face Noteworthy, Sea Swirl and Raindrops will fight, and finally Wind Whistler verses Time Turner.” Then, adding after the guards had left, she said, “Please, hold on. I have an idea that might save the rest of you. I’m sorry that so many of you had to die, and that I can’t save four more, but it isn’t ready.”

The guards ordered the ponies to pair up with their partner and go through the doors. In the hallway to the far left, it split, opening up to the fourth arena, an exact duplicate of the others. Pinkie and Shoeshine will fight in this temporary arena whilst the others fight in the other three.

Pinkie surveyed the arena, so did her opponent. Shoeshine thought carefully about each of the boxes, wondering which would be worth a grab, and which were to be left. Pinkie’s plan wasn’t like Shoeshine’s. She planned to grab a box, open it, and use it’s contents to quickly end this. She really didn’t want to kill another pony, but there wasn’t any other way out of it. Suddenly, the bell rang, signaling the start of the matches.

Sea Swirl dove behind the cover of a large box, prying open the small one in her hooves. As she got it open, the box that was her cover suddenly exploded without warning. Raindrops stood there, holding what looked like a rocket launcher.

“Oh yes.” Celestia’s voice came from the intercom, “I forgot to mention, I added new weaponry. Now things will really ‘light up’”

Inside Sea Swirl’s box was a stack of grenades, but not like those that she’s seen in the earlier matches. These were sticks instead of balls. Without thinking, she pulled the pin, throwing it towards Raindrops, hoping for the best. As she did this, Raindrops fired another rocket at her.

Time Turner ran frantically around the arena knocking open random small boxes with his hooves, smashing the wooden frames to bits. He didn’t have time to catch his breath, because his enemy, Wind Whistler, was throwing javelins at him constantly, trotting to retrieve them. After all the seemingly random running, Time Turner stopped, turned, and faced his attacker. Wind Whistler threw another javelin his way, Time Turner sidestepped with relative easy. The javelin struck a grenade, causing it to explode. The explosion it set off caused a chain reaction with all the “randomly” smashed boxes, arranged oh so carefully so it would launch the javelin into the air to be blown up again. This explosion made the flying stick a flipping projectile of death, aimed directly for Wind Whistler.

As Wind Whistler turned to run, she found herself trapped, unable to move. Looking down, she had activated a shock trap, paralyzing her. She turned her head, pleading with her eyes to Celestia’s camera for mercy.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t die here.” Time Turner said to her, just before the javelin came down on her, splattering the wall ahead with blood. Time Turner left the arena without a scratch.

Pinkie bounced around the arena, dodging all of her opponent, Shoeshine’s attacks with relative ease. Her pinkie sense allowed the ability to avoid all incoming projectiles directed her way. She stomped a box in front of her, and to her luck, it contained a bag of poison joke.

Taking the bag of herbs, she quickly dashed forward to Shoeshine, throwing the bag on his head. It opened and instantly, he became something he was not. The poison joke worked perfectly. As long as he is like he is, he will be unable to attack Pinkie while she works to find something to finish this.

The rocket missed, but it’s shrapnel soon found a home inside Sea Swirl’s flank. Searing pain spread across her in an instant. She only hoped her grenade helped. She looked over, stunned by what she saw. A large flash of light had taken the place of Raindrops. The flash of light quickly faded, leaving a dizzied Raindrops behind. This gave Sea Swirl an idea.

Noteworthy ran headfirst, charging with the only weapon she could find, a trident. Parasol stood there, unable to think. She was still too stunned by the actuality of this entire tournament happening to pay attention to the pony looking to impale her. Parasol snapped out of it just in time to jump, landing right on top of the end of the trident, keeping Noteworthy from using it. Parasol threw her hoof at Noteworthy, hitting her square in the side of the face, knocking out a few teeth. Noteworthy responded with a buck in the lower jaw, shattering the jaw bone from the shear force delivered, making Parasol stumble backwards into the wall, and get electrocuted by it.

Parasol’s charred body lay still on the ground. The door out opened, allowing exit for Noteworthy, but she didn’t budge. Collapsing, reality crashed down upon her. She had just murdered another one of her kind in cold blood. What was wrong with her. The guards came in to carry her out shortly after that.

Pinkie had found exactly what she was looking for. Of course Celestia would include this in her tournament of death. It was perfect for it. The party cannon lay inside the largest box, which now was open. She rolled the party cannon out of the box, and checked it. No ammo for it, of course. That was okay, because she had planned for that.

Pinkie Pie rolled the party cannon at crazy speeds towards Shoeshine, the end facing him. She scooped Shoeshine up once he was close enough. Lighting the fuse of the cannon, she felt herself falling. Not falling through the ground, but falling apart. She was about to kill a pony for her own gain. How could she do this?

In a quick change of plans, Pinkie turned the party cannon 90 degrees upward, facing the ceiling. The party cannon doesn’t have enough power to launch him that high. The cannon shot Shoeshine straight up. He flailed around, trying to get his bearing straight. Falling, Pinkie realized something. Shoeshine would land on his head, breaking his neck, killing him. She scrambled around to find something soft for him to land on, but she was too late.

Shoeshine hit the ground hard. His skull shattered, and as Pinkie predicted, his neck broke, killing him instantly. The door to the exit opened, and Pinkie Pie turned to it. She zoned out for a minute. When she returned to reality, her mane and tail flattened out. She exited to the concerned look of her friends.

Limping heavily, Sea Swirl headed towards a box. This box was rather large, but not too absurdly so. Inside was an exact version of Raindrops’ rocket launcher. As she got everything together, another rocket whizzed past her ear, hitting the far wall. Sea Swirl took out her second flash bang, and pulled the pin. She then proceeded to load it into the launcher. She only had a short time.

Shooting off her flash bang, it hit a rocket fired by Raindrops in mid-flight. It still stunned Raindrops like planned, so it worked out in her favor. Loading up the actual rocket, she took aim, and fired.

The rocket stayed on course, hitting Raindrops in the chest, blowing her to pieces. The scene was gory, and Celestia loved it.

“Bravo!” Celestia rang out once again over the intercom, “Bravo! This was something I never expected to happen. I love it!” away from the microphone, everypony heard, “Looks like I owe you 20 bits.” As she said this, Sea Swirl left the blood covered arena, shaken, and heavily injured.

“Well,” Celestia said, returning to the mike, “It looks as if this first round of our little tournament has come to a close. Sleep well everypony, we will have a big celebration for you survivors. I congratulate you all.”