A month later, and the games had begun.

Dozens of creatures from various nations around the world filled the streets of Canterlot, while even more filled its skies. Posters advertising both the games, as well as prominent hotels and restaurants, dotted every street corner. However, all of the creatures were going one place, and the rest of the city was slowly being abandoned for the arena.

At the arena, the line to enter stretched a good quarter-mile long, filled with creatures who were eager to witness the events. Near the head of that line, Pinkie Pie bounced up and down, grinning. "Oh, I can't wait! This is gonna be so much fun!"

Next to her, Fluttershy said, "I know. Oh, I hope we made the right decision leaving Meringue at the castle."

"Relax, sugarcube", Applejack said. "The staff know what they're doin'. Now, calm down get ready fer this!"

The group reached the front of the line, being greeted by a unicorn inside a booth. "How many in your group?"

Applejack, who was in the front, looked back and counted. After a bit of doing so, she said, "Eleven. Seven adults, one hooficaped adult, and three foals."

The ticket seller looked over the price table in front of her, before asking, "You want front-row seats? A little extra, but you get a better view."

"Well? Y'all want 'um?", Applejack asked.

"Personally", Twilight said. "I want somewhere closer to the exit. You know, to the ramp and all."

"Ok. No thank you to the front row", Applejack said.

"Ok, let's see...", the ticket seller said. "That'll be seventy-five bits or equivalent in foreign currency."

"Ok. Cough it up, everypony!"

A number of bits were floated up to the front, while Pinkie pulled out some of her own and gave them to Applejack. After the correct number of bits were counted, they were given to the teller who unrolled a strip of tickets and passed them to Applejack. "Those tickets are viable for the full week. Enjoy yourself!"

"You too, ma'am", Blueblood said as he passed the booth. "Come along now, Apple Fritter. We shouldn't tally."

The rest of the group followed them inside, squeezing past the crowds to get into the main part of the arena. Thunderlane broke off from the group, telling them that he'd be going to get some snacks. Shadow Lock, Twilight and their daughter did the same to go to the ramp, telling them they'd meet them at the seats.

After a bit of pushing and shoving, they finally managed to reach their seats near the middle of their side of the arena, about twenty rows down from the platform on which several of the leaders from participating nations, such as Germane Kaiser Eisener Kanzler, Pryhan Caesar Diocletian, Crystal Empress Cadence, Griffonian Chancellor Gilda, Dragon Lord Spike, and Princess Luna, sat. The stadium was packed, creatures of all species and nations in the Coalition inside by the thousands. Even more hovered overhead, keep in check via roughly two dozen Royal Guards with Pryhan-supplied Thunderlances.

"Well, this is certainly an impressive sight, isn't it?", Rarity asked the others.

"Well, it certainly is something ah never thought ah'd see", Applejack said. "Let's hope this'll be entertaining. Honey, ya know what's goin' on taday?"

"Well, it's going to start like the Equestria Games, really." Pointing to a stand in the middle of the arena, Blueblood said, "See that platform. Each nation will put its flag in a circle, symbolizing the unity of the Coalition and the start of the games. After that, it will proceed like normal from there. I believe there will be three events today, and the rest over the course of the week."

Before any of them could respond, several loud horns boomed across the arena, bringing turning the attention of the audience to the large entrance to the arena. A pair of Royal Guards raised their pikes, allowing a unicorn in a crisp purple suit to enter the arena. He lit up his horn, before declaring to the crowd, "Attention, Ladies and Gentlecolts, creatures from all nations of the world! Welcome to the first annual Friendship Games!" After a second to allow the cheering to die down, he continued. "It is my distinct honor to be able to announce the teams of these events. Now, without further ado, let us begin with the Equestrian team!"

Above the entrance, the mixed Griffonstone and Canterlot bands began to play, only barely heard above the chorus of cheers. A crisp, airy tune flowed throughout the arena as a pony bearing the Equestrian flag exited the entrance. Behind him came about four dozen other ponies of various colors and races, waving and smiling to the crowd. The group moved off to the side as the flag-bearer placed the Equestrian Stars-and-Alicorn flag in along the edge of the podium.

"Now, let give a warm welcome to our good allies", the announcer declared. "The team representing the Pryhan Empire!"

The tune shifted, becoming louder, more rigid; even more harsh in tone. A caragor bearing the Pryhan Aquila aloft exited the arena entrance, followed by the Pryhan athletes. Unlike the Equestrian team, which was in a loose bunch, the Pryhan team moved in a tight block and with precision, not unlike a military unit on the parade ground. Again, the block moved off to the side while the flag-beared headed up to the platform and placed the Pryhan Aquila.

Twilight arrived, her husband and daughter just behind her. "Sorry I'm late girls. There was a bit of an accident on the ramp."

"It's fine, darling", Rarity said. "It's only just getting started."

++++~++++

After the remaining teams had entered the arena, the announcer told the audience of the games that would be taking place on that day. The first event was a relay race, similar to the one at the Equestria Games. After that would be an archery competition; regular archery, not Ice Archery. The final event would be a Pryhan-style Gladiatorial tournament.

The race was up first, with several creatures from the competing nations lining up at various points of the track. Four of them were present for each team in total: two running straight, un-obstructed sections of track and two in a section covered with obstacles.

Down at the final line before the finish, the Equestrian contender, Foxfoot, performed some last-minute stretches, before hopping up and running in place for a few seconds. An official came up to the group, saying to them, "Three minutes to start. Get to the line."

They all did so, sliding on headbands or taking a last sip of water. When they got to the line, several other staff went over the contenders that had wings or were unicorns, sliding on magic nullifiers and wing clamps. Foxfoot, being an earth pony, didn't need one, which she thanked Celestia for. They looked rather uncomfortable.

As she got up to the line, she heard a voice whisper next to her. She looked to her left, spotting another earth pony. He was a pale green with a more vivid green for a mane, his cutie mark of a part of iron-studded boots just visible under a dark blue tracksuit emblazoned with a red and gold Pryhan Aquila. He said, "What is your name?"

"F-foxfoot", she answered.

He smiled, "Pulvere Nubes. Nice to meet you."

She studied him with a curious look. She had read about Pryhans, having not met one herself. What articles she had gotten her hooves on were mostly from Equestria, and were somewhat... biased. They claimed that they were rather violent and vulgar, but he very much wasn't. She asked him, "Why do you ask?"

He snickered, before saying, "It's respectful to learn about an opponent before you face them. Besides, the whole shtick of this event is to be friendly with one another, is it not?"

"Yeah. I guess so", Foxfoot said.

Off to their left, a loud crack sounded and a bright flare shot into the air. The two of them slid into their running blocks, pressing their hooves into the metal plates. Nubes reached a hoof over to her, asking, "May the best win, no?"

Foxfoot looked at it, before nodding and shaking it. "May the best win."

The two relaxed comfortably into their blocks, muscles tensing in expectation. Behind them, they could hear the other members of both their teams and the other teams getting closer. The thumping got closer and closer, and both of them opened their mouths, expecting their teammates to give them the running stick...

... only for a yak to run up next to Nubes and pass off the stick, the one at their line taking off at full speed. The two regarded the yak for only a few seconds before their own runners passed off the rods to them.

Both took off after him, pushing ahead and rounding the smooth corner at full gallop. Off to their left, they both saw the buffalo pulling ahead of them, while they remained almost neck and neck. They finished the outer loop, coming to the final stretch of straight-way.

Both stole a look at the other from out of the corner of their eyes. Despite neither saying a word to the other, both knew the message they were each saying to the other: 'Nothing personal'. Both put on a burst of speed, muzzles shifting the third-place lead by inches. Finally, Foxfoot eased ahead just at the last second, slamming over the finish line just before Nubes did.

They both stumbled to a halt, panting and gasping for air. After a second, Nubes said, "G-good job."

"You too", she replied.

A loud crack drew both of their attentions. They watched in mild fascination as the four yaks once again headbutted each other, yelling in jubilation at their victory. The two ponies couldn't help but chuckle at the spectacle of the victors, but supposed they earned it.

++++~++++

Later, the archers of each nation stepped up onto the firing line. Three targets were set up in a column, each a further fifty yards away. The aim was simple: three arrows per target, trying to get the most points.

Tungsten Shaft stepped up as the Germane archer finished his first shots, drawing an arrow from the quiver next to him. The minotaur nocked the arrow on the large bowstring, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at the target. He lifted up the bow and pulled the string back, lining his eye up with the target. As he believed the shot would hit, he let his fingers go, and the arrow flew downrange.

The arrow slammed into the target, quivering as it impacted the target in the red ring. Tungsten reached into the quiver and nocked the next one. He did the same as before, knocking back the arrow and using the shaft as a sight. He let it go, and the shot slammed into the target, again in the red. He sighed, a thin layer of sweat forming on his head. He knew that, while his shots were good, he wouldn't be able to win the short-range round if he hit another red or lower.

Behind him, he heard a voice call out, "You got this!" Turning back, he saw a unicorn mare with a thick prench accent. She had just gone before the Germane shooter, and was now waving to him. Tungsten nodded, taking a deep breath before nocking his last arrow. He licked his finger and then the fletching before he nocked the arrow. He hoisted the bow up, took aim, and let the arrow fly.

The shot soared down, slamming dead-center into the target. He heard the crowd roar, but he barely noticed. He leaned his head back, sighing in relief. He stepped away as the next shooter stepped up, sitting down next to the Prench unicorn. She said, "Good job. Unless the Zebrican does better, you'll be in first."

"Thanks, pony", he said. "You did well yourself."

"Let's hope our luck holds", she said, watching the Zebra beginning to take his shots.

++++~++++

As the gladiatorial fighters dueled below them, several leaders talked.

"So, this is going rather well", Spike said. "From the looks of things, they've been rather polite with one another."

"They aren't fighting or bickering, at the very least", Gilda agreed.

"This has honestly gone better than I thought it might've", Princess Luna said.

"A bit early to state it's full effect", Diocletian said. "But I have to agree. This is, all things considered, rather successful."

Spike scratched his chin, before smiling and snapping his claws. "Perhaps we should make this a regular thing. Every couple of years, a city hosts this. If we run out of cities, then we can just recycle some."

The others seemed to consider his proposal. "Know what? It's not that bad an idea", Gilda said.

"Agreed", Luna said. "Perhaps we do a Pryhan city next time?"

Diocletian nodded. "Well, enough of that for now. 'Those that live exclusively for the future become blinded to the issues of the present that may affect it'. Let us enjoy what our unity has wrought." The others nodded, turning back to the games below them.

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long. I had a BIG project in History, and that took my attention off writing for the weekend. After that, I unwinded by reading stories on this site and watching this gloriousness several times in a row. So, it took a while, but here it is.