“Last time on Total Drama: Friendship is Tragic, the teams received a very early wake up call and then had to run a ten mile track around the Ponyville area. Rarity of the Elements of Harmony showed up last, and Applejack exchanged some not so nice words. It wasn’t until after her rant that the Elements were informed that they won due to a cheating Rainbow Dash, and each of them received a cup of coffee to help them in the next challenge, the Awakeathon, which is exactly what it sounds like. Despite having more members, the Draconequui fell to Pinkie Pie and the Elements. Back at the train Rainbow was called out by Shining Armor for her cheating, and then she almost broke a table in her frustration. But instead it was Spike’s dream of becoming the first dragon to win Total Drama that went up in flames. Will Rarity come back stronger than ever? Does Fluttershy still have the will to go on? And do I get paid now or at the end of the week? Most of these questions and more will be answered on Total Drama: Friendship is Tragic.
Observatory Car
The Ponyville Express has been sitting at the Manehattan Station since noon yesterday. The Elements of Harmony had spent the whole day yesterday exploring Manehattan and taking in the sights before going back to their five star reward hotel stay. There they were pampered with spa treatments, platters full of delicious food, and makeovers, much to Rarity’s delight.
“(Rarity) You can’t find this kind of treatment in little old Ponyville. It’s simply luxurious.”
The Draconequui of Discord are all sitting around in the leather seats in the observation car, relaxing and mentally preparing themselves for the day ahead. Some of them still seemed sore about losing the awakeathon challenge, but all of them had recovered and were now wide awake, even Big Macintosh.
“So that’s when I swooped in and grabbed Rarity and you guys from falling through the stadium!”
Rainbow Dash has finish telling her heroic feat from the Best Young Flier’s competition that took place in Canterlot about a year ago to Spitfire, who, although she was technically there, was also knocked out for the best part.
“I still can’t believe you managed to pull off the Sonic Rainboom while doing it. That must have been impressive to watch.”
Rainbow jumped up, hovering a little in excitement. “You bet it was! That’s why I won the competition! It was so awesome!”
Spitfire just rolled her eyes with a smirk.
“(Spitfire) Dash is a good kid. A little on the cocky side, but I’ve seen a lot worse.”
“(Rainbow Dash) I think Spitfire really likes me! Makes it about twenty percent easier to make it into the team one day.”
“It sure sounded awesome, Rainbow. I wish I were able to see it.”
That's when Fluttershy joined the conversation. So far she had just been sitting next to them listening to their stories and giggling every once and a while. “Oh, I saw it. It was very magical!”
Rainbow Dash smiled widely at the complement. Before she could respond, however, the loudspeaker on the train released a loud squeak that caused the Draconequui to cover their ears.
“Good soon to be painful morning, Draconequui!” The voice was easily recognized as their loving host, Chris. “Get your tails down to Filly Stadium in downtown Manehattan! It’s challenge time!”
“(Scootaloo) Yes! Sports!”
“(Fluttershy) Oh dear, sports.”
“Come on, Draconequui,” Shining Armor exclaimed with an excited smile, “it’s time to get our A game on.”
A cheer erupted as the team ran out of the train car, led by Shining Armor, and went out into the city, walking down the sidewalks past hundreds of ponies on the way to their destination.
The city was huge. It was like ten Ponyville’s fit into one. There were big gray buildings surrounding the streets, with many floors and windows, and ponies bustling in and out of them. Most of the ponies were in a hurry, which unnerved a few of the contestants, but a few were sitting in a bench waiting for a cab or sipping a latte.
“(Shining Armor) Canterlot is still bigger, but this city isn’t very far behind.”
“(Sweetie Belle) This place is amazing! I can see why my sister always wanted to visit here so much!”
Filly Stadium
Both the teams are gathered at the center of Filly Stadium, a large stadium that was originally built for the Equestria Games 30 years ago and now served as a multi-purpose sports complex. Hoofball, Archery, Buckball, and so many other sports were played in the massive stadium. It could seat around 25,000 ponies and could expand if needed, though the stands wouldn’t be needed this time.
There were no ponies in the stands, which made the stadium seem even bigger to the fourteen contestants that were gathered inside of it. The field is essentially a giant white rectangle with a line going down the middle. There are some stands on one side of it.
Chris walked over to them wearing his usual big smile carrying a net bag full of a bunch of red dodgeballs. Next to him was Chef Hatcher wearing a whistle and a referee uniform with his usual look that said “I hate everything.”
“Welcome to the magnificent Filly Stadium,” Chris exclaimed, “a modern marvel in stadium architecture!”
“(Shining Armor) Yeah, because anything’s better than Troticana Field. That place is disgusting.”
“As you can see,” the host continued, “you’re challenge today will be a good old fashioned game of dodgeball.”
He looked around at the ponies and saw that their faces were completely blank. “Seriously? You don’t have dodgeball in Equestria?” Everypony just shook their heads, and Chris sighed. “Okay, the rules are simple. See how the field has a white rectangle with a line down the middle surrounded by boards?” The contestants looked to where he was pointing, where they saw that the grass had been painted to look almost like a buckball field without the buckets. “That’s the court. Each team will start with five ponies on each side. There will be four balls in play, each team getting two to start, and then you’ll have to knock out the entire team. Buck, throw, or levitate the balls to hit a pony from the other side. If they get hit...” he threw a ball at and hit Pinkie Pie to prove his point, who just stood up laughing again, “...you’re out. If you catch a ball thrown at you with your mouth or magic or… whatever, you’re still in and get to call a teammate back in.” Rainbow Dash raised a hoof in the air. “Yes pegasi and Twilight can fly.”
“Yes,” Rainbow cheered, now looking more confident than ever.
“The challenge will be a best of five, first team to three wins will receive a reward, while the losers will put somepony up for a dishonorable discharge. Chef Hatchet is the referee, and he will call you in or out. Now, you each have two minutes to decide which five ponies will be going in for your team for the first round. The other two can still be called in if you catch a ball however. Move! Move! Move!”
The teams did as Chris said and moved to their places on the field with their teammates, and huddled together.
Elements of Harmony
“So, who wants to go out first with me?” Twilight asked, standing on a bleacher.
“Ah’ll go!” Applejack exclaimed.
“Me too!” Apple Bloom cried.
“Trixie volunteers.” Trixie said smugly.
“Pick me! Pick me!” Pinkie shouted.
Twilight stared in with a mixture of both disbelief and satisfaction at how quickly that had been decided. “Well alrighty then! Cheese and Rarity, we’ll get you in next round. Let’s go, Elements!”
They all cheered and the five volunteers went out on the court.
“(Rarity) I have no problem staying out as much as possible for this particular competition. If I can make it past today, I’ll show my team that I can really shine in the next challenge.”
“(Applejack) Ah feel like we’re the more overall athletic team. They have my brother with strength and a few speedy ones, but the others Ah wouldn’t chalk up to being sporty.”
Draconequui of Discord
The Draconequui are having significantly more trouble deciding which five will be going out on the court.
Rainbow Dash looked over to see the other team taking their places on the court. “Come on, guys, they’ve already decided! Let’s just go!”
“She’s right,” Spitfire chimed in, “we need to pick the most athletic to go out first.”
“That probably doesn’t include me,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Can’t we just send out the ponies who want to go?” Shining Armor asked.
“I think everypony wants to go out.” Scootaloo deadpanned, “including me!”
“Draconequui, thirty seconds.” Chris announced.
“We gotta pick our team now,” Shining Armor said.
“I got this,” Spitfire said, flying over her team to get their attention. “Me, Rainbow, Big Mac, Scoots, and Sweetie.”
“Why can’t I go out?” Shining Armor asked, a little disappointed.
“We can’t have all of our good ponies going out first, so we’ll put you in next round,” Spitfire explained. “Now move out troops!”
“(Shining Armor) I guess that kind of makes sense.”
“(Spitfire) As long as that joker keeps gunning for the leadership position, I have to promote myself and make him seem of less importance until he understands that I’m the leader.”
Match 1
The match starts with Spitfire and Big Mac holding the balls for the Draconequui, while Applejack and Pinkie hold them for the Elements.
The whistle blows and both sides run forward at each other. Rainbow Dash has the first throw of the day, as she hits Twilight. The whistle blows and Twilight sulks off the court.
“(Rainbow Dash) This may be my first time playing this game, but when you’re a five star athlete like me, you learn quickly.”
Apple Bloom quickly runs over to the ball that hit Twilight and aims at Rainbow. Rainbow dodges the ball by flying through the air.
“Come on, Elements!” Applejack shouted, “Let’s step it up!” Immediately afterwards she got pegged by a ball thrown, or bucked, by her big brother. She angrily takes a seat next to Twilight.
Pinkie Pie quickly tosses the ball at Sweetie Belle, but it is caught out of the air by Spitfire before it can reach her.
“Fluttershy! You’re in!”
Fluttershy nods and flies down to the court to join the team. The six of them stare down Trixie and Apple Bloom, the two elements remaining.
“(Apple Bloom) Two against six? That ain’t fair!”
Spitfire throws at Apple Bloom but misses. Trixie sees a ball near her and she uses her magic to pick it up. Before she can get it to herself, however, she is hit by a ball, courtesy of Big Mac.
“Curses!” she exclaimed, going to the bench.
Apple Bloom is standing in the middle of the court, absolute terror written on her face. It took about five seconds before Scootaloo threw the ball that finished it.
“Wow! That was fast!” Chris announced. “Game one to the Draconequui! Elements, you might want to step it up! You have two more minutes to rest and decide who’s going in!”
Elements of Harmony
“Well, that was a total bust,” Trixie said, sulking after the defeat.
“Yeah,” Apple Bloom agreed, “who knew Scootaloo could throw so hard?”
“It ain’t over yet, team,” Applejack said, “Ah’ll go out again, and Ah’m taking Cheese Sandwich and Rarity with me for sure. Who else wants a go?”
“Why do I have to go?” Rarity asked, “I’m not good at sports.”
“Uh, because you didn’t go last time. And also because you told me you’d start trying harder at these here challenges,” Applejack pointed out.
Rarity thought for a second before nodding in agreement.
“I want to go again! Pretty please?” Applejack nodded to the bouncing Pinkie Pie before she pointed to Twilight.
“Twilight, Ah think you ought to try again.”
“Alright, I’ll go,” Twilight said, “and that’s all five of us! Move out!”
Draconequui of Discord
“Good first round, team! Who’s going out next?” Spitfire asked in a confident voice.
“Well, I say I go,” Shining Armor said, “and I’ll take Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Big Mac, and…Fluttershy, you still have to go.” He turned to face the yellow pegasus who was the furthest away from him.
“Um, yes, but-”
“It’s settled then! Let’s go!” He led the four other ponies he picked out onto the court, while Spitfire was left behind grumbling to herself.
“(Spitfire) I know he sat me just so he could get a shot in the spotlight without me. Well it’s not going to work!”
Match 2
The balls are with Rarity and Twilight on one side, and Rainbow and Big Mac once again on the other.
“(Rainbow Dash) We decided not to mess with our strategy from last time. It should work again, right?”
Chef Hatchet blew the whistle and the round began. Rainbow once again became the first one to throw a ball, but this time missed Applejack who dodged. Then Twilight aimed and fired at the biggest target on their team, knocking Big Mac to the ground.
Fluttershy sees this and quickly grabs the ball Big Mac had, and threw it as hard as she could at Rarity, which only resulted in a lob that caught by the fashionista.
“(Fluttershy) I don’t really throw things so my arm power isn’t great.”
“Apple Bloom,” Rarity called, bringing the small filly back into the game, only to be thrown out right away by Shining Armor.
“(Apple Bloom) Come on! He didn’t even give me a chance!”
With all the balls on their side of the court, the Elements of Harmony went on the attack. First, Rarity threw the ball at Shining Armor, narrowly missing. Then Twilight threw at Scootaloo, missing by a mile. Finally, Applejack and Cheese both aimed at Rainbow Dash in the air, with Applejack’s being the one to get her.
“Darn it!” Rainbow said, flying off the court.
Shining Armor turned to Scootaloo and then to the five ponies on the other side of the court.
“(Shining Armor) It was then that I got an idea that would save our team if it worked.”
Shining ran, picked up a ball with his magic, and purposefully threw way low in front of Twilight.
“Hey, Shining! Try to aim at the other team!” Spitfire yelled from the stands before Shining turned to smirk at her, confusing her.
It was then that Twilight smirked, picked up the ball, and tried to aim at her older brother, only to be called out as he caught it.
“Nice try, Twily! Um, Big Mac! Welcome back!”
As Big Mac walked onto the court he was almost hit by Cheese Sandwich, but barely dodged in time. He went back, got the ball, and chucked it at Rarity, who attempted to catch it with her magic, but failed.
“(Shining Armor) And that’s how you even up the score!”
“(Spitfire) That was impressive, I’ll give him that.”
Big Mac gets another ball and bucks it at Applejack, getting her big sister out.
“What’s with Big Mac today? He’s dominating.” Chris pointed out.
Big Mac turns to him and shrugs. Unfortunately he gets distracted and becomes a casualty of Cheese Sandwich, who gave his second attempt at hitting him. He gets up with a grunt before leaving the court.
“Nevermind,” Chris said.
Now it’s Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich for the Elements and Shining Armor and Scootaloo for the Draconequui. Scootaloo picks up a ball and chucks it at Pinkie Pie, which misses and hits Cheese Sandwich instead.
“Well, that’s all folks,” he said, saluting before going off the court.
Pinkie stared at the two ponies on the other side, a determined look in her eyes. “I ain’t afraid of you! Bring it!”
Scootaloo and Shining Armor both picked up a ball and looked evilly at her. Pinkie’s pupils shrunk and she smiled widely at them. “Uh, friends?”
About one millisecond later she was on the ground after having been hit by Shining Armor.
“Game two to the Draconequui! That means the Elements need to sweep the next three games to have any hope of winning!”
“(Applejack) We’re doomed.”
“(Apple Bloom) We’re dead.”
“(Trixie) We’re toast.”
Draconequui of Discord
Once again they’re all huddled up ready to pick a team.
“I want back in,” Spitfire announced, “and I think we need to give Fluttershy another go.”
Fluttershy looked away at the sudden attention. “Oh, um, I don’t think that’s such a...I mean-”
“Good to hear,” Spitfire flew over and patted her on the back, “Sweetie Belle, Big Mac, and one more.”
“I guess I’ll go again,” Shining Armor announced, stepping forward before Rainbow Dash could. Instead she sat back on the bench next to Scootaloo, frustrated.”
“Good, that’s five. If we win we can be done, so let’s go!”
The whole team clearly has a high morale as they step on the court, all excited and ready to win a final time.
Elements of Harmony
The opposite of excited is depressed, and that would be one way to describe the as of yet shut out Elements.
“Ah need a break, y’all,” Applejack said, and Twilight nodded in agreement, following her to the stands.
The others looked at each other with blank stares.
“...Ah guess that’s us then, everypony. Let’s go.”
Apple Bloom’s words did nothing to cheer up her team, but as they were starting to trot onto the court, Pinkie stopped them.
“Hey now, is that anyway to act? We may be down now, but we can jump back, guys! You guys just need to believe in the power of positivity, and love, and parties! In fact, if we use our minds, and take a step at a time, we can do anything that we want to do! So come on, team, let’s win this thang!”
The whole court was in complete silence by the end of her inspirational speech, and when she finishes her whole team claps and shouts, a new hope for them. They all go out more determined than ever.
Match 3
The balls are in the possession of Spitfire and Shining Armor for the Draconequui, and Pinkie Pie and Trixie for the Elements.
The whistle sounds and both teams are off. Both Pinkie Pie and Trixie aim for Shining Armor, quickly knocking him out of the game before he could even throw his ball.
Spitfire then throws at Pinkie Pie who catches the ball in her hair and uses it to rip it back at Sweetie Belle, gutting her in the head.
“Alright, everypony! That’s three down!” Pinkie cheered before realizing a second later, “Oh, ummm, Twilight!” Twilight happily nods and gets in the game. As soon as she does she sees Big Mac with three balls lined in front of him and him tearing back about to buck them all to the other side.
“EVERYPONY DUCK!”
They all do as she says and they get to the ground right before the powerful back hooves. The first two completely miss and the other one hits Trixie in the stomach, but she somehow holds on against the momentum of the ball and catches it as she flies through the air and lands on her back. Chef whistles Big Mac out and he trots off in disbelief.
“(Twilight) That was the first useful thing she’s done for us since showing up!”
“(Big Macintosh) Nnope!”
“Well, I guess Applejack since she’s the only one left,” Trixie said before her and the rest of the team turned toward Fluttershy, alone in the middle of her side.
“Oh dear,” she whispers in the face of seven ponies and four dodgeballs. She manages to dodge the first three, but gets hit with the last one.
“(Fluttershy) That was so scary! I hope I never have to face something that bad again!”
“(Rarity) Maybe Pinkie Pie’s onto something. We really can do anything that we want to do!”
“And by total domination, the Elements win their first match! Get ready for match number four, teams!”
Draconequui of Discord
“That was embarrassing,” Spitfire spat, sitting down on the bleacher, “no more messing around! We need our A-team out there, so me, Big Mac, Rainbow, Scoots, and Shining. Let’s move out!” Before she could get up, Fluttershy stopped her.
“I’m really sorry to interrupt, but I think Big Macintosh could use a rest. Or not, that’s okay too I guess.”
Spitfire looked over to see Big Mac panting and sweating like a dog.
“Well, I guess if he hasn’t had a break yet, then Sweetie Belle you come, too. Ready? Break!”
Elements of Harmony
“Well, since that worked last time,” Twilight said, “I say we send the same team out there, except with Applejack in for Apple Bloom.” It was then that Chris popped up right next to her.
“Not so fast! Everypony must sit out at least once, and Pinkie still has to.”
“You never said that, McLean!” Applejack shouted.
“I know, have fun!”
“(Applejack) Ah feel like Chris must get a kick outta seeing us miserable.”
“Fine,” Twilight groaned, “I’ll go in for Pinkie. Any questions? No? Perfect!”
“Actually I kinda need a break. Can I take one?”
The alicorn turned to see Cheese Sandwich sitting down next to Pinkie Pie.
“Uh, sure. Apple Bloom?”
The filly stood up and jumped down. “Right away, Twilight!”
Twilight then looked around at every member of her team with an . “Anypony else need anything? Anypony?” After no one responds she smiles. “Alright, now let’s go!”
With that both teams are situated on their respective sides of the court, ready to go.
Match 4
The balls are residing with Rainbow Dash and Spitfire of the Draconequui, and Applejack and Twilight on the Elements, and with the blow of the whistle from the bald referee the match begins.
Rainbow Dash fires a ball at Trixie and misses, and Spitfire throws a ball at Applejack, but also misses.
“(Rainbow Dash) Well we’re off to an amazing start! Five seconds in, no one out, and they have all four balls!”
Applejack quickly bucked one of the balls over the line, getting Sweetie Belle out. Scootaloo dodge a ball thrown by Twilight and snagged the one that had hit her friend and hit Trixie.
“(Trixie) Say what you will about the Great and Powerful Trixie, but that filly can throw!”
Apple Bloom bucked the ball up, attempting to hit Shining Armor, but he catches it.
“Sweetie Belle, you’re back in.”
As soon as he said it he wound up his horn and threw the ball at his sister, Twilight. She ducked and it hit the pony behind her, Applejack, hitting her right in the nose. It knocks the orange pony back, but she doesn’t get up right away.
Seeing this, Chef whistles time out and goes down to examine the pony, with the rest of the team and most of the other team as well. She is bleeding out of her nose and is dazed and confused.
“She’s definitely got a broken nose,” Chef explained after a quick examination.
“How do you know about equestrian medicine?” Chris asked.
“That ding dang Princess Delestia or whatever made me take a course before we began. Told the producers that we couldn’t do the show without a professional on site.”
“Please help mah big sis!” Apple Bloom’s cried to Chef with her big puppy eyes.
“It’s not that bad,” Chef said, trying to calm everypony down, “I’ve had five broken noses before I turned thirty!”
“How many have you had since?” Trixie asked with genuine interest.
“Seven. Eight if you could the time that dude in jail broke it two places.”
“Nice,” Trixie said with a smirk.
“You guys are forgetting about the broken nose now!” Twilight’s voice snaps Chef’s attention snaps back to Applejack, still lying in pain.
“Did we wid da gabe?” Applejack asked in a nasally voice due to the injury.
“Nope, not yet,” Chef said, “and because of the injury you can’t participate anymore, so please wait outside in the medical tent for the end of the challenge, and then I’ll fix the nose.”
“Why cad’t y’all do it right dow?”
“Duh, challenge.”
“Whatever,” Applejack said, getting up with the help of Apple Bloom and Twilight and trotting out of the stadium.
“(Applejack) It doesd’t hurt that bad. Ah thought I could still bake it id the gabe bore.”
“(Shining Armor) Who knew I was so strong? Either that or who knew how weak Applejack is?”
“Alright, teams,” Chris said with the stoppage out of the way, “get back to your sides. It’s Rarity and Twilight verses Shining, Spitfire, Rainbow, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.”
“(Twilight) Great, just great.”
The whistle sounds and the round resumes with Twilight throwing the ball at her brother, hitting him on the flank.
“That’s for Applejack!” she cried as her brother walked off sulking. At that moment Rainbow Dash flew up and wound up to throw at Twilight, who caught it on the fly. “Get back in here, Apple Bloom, the score is all tied up!”
The filly ran into the court and bucked the closest ball to her at Scootaloo, which would have missed if Scootaloo hadn’t stuck her wing out.
“(Scootaloo) Stupid wings! At least stay at my side when I need you too!”
Spitfire mimicked Rainbow and flew up before throwing her ball, only to have it be caught by the magic of Twilight again.
“I guess Trixie?” Trixie stood up and went back into the court, which was now 4v1 against Sweetie Belle, who made one last ditch effort by levitating and throwing the ball weakly at Trixie, who easily caught it with her magic.
“Alright everypony! One last round to decide who wins the whole shebang, and also nopony can come back in even if somepony catches a ball.”
“You just make the rules up as you go along, don’t you,” Rainbow Dash said with suspicion.
“Yes, yes I do.”
Elements of Harmony
“Alright,” Twilight started, “because Applejack got knocked out, we have one less pony to sit down, so who’s the worst at dodgeball out of all of us?”
All of the ponies think to themselves and survey each other.
“(Trixie) The Great and Powerful Trixie needs to eliminate the weak ones from the team so she can shine over them. For now she needs a pony who is already on the border of being eliminated and just needs a little push.”
“Rarity’s the weakest,” Trixie blurted out, and the rest of the team turned to her with questioning looks, but none of them more so than Rarity herself.
“How am I the weakest?”
“What have you done so far besides lurking around the back of the court and letting everypony else take the fall?”
“I most certainly have not done that! And I have also contributed to this team positively as well.”
“By doing what?”
“Uh, well it’s not important! I am not the weakest pony on this team and I’ll prove it in this next match!”
Rarity’s determined look made Twilight smile and say, “Alright, I like the attitude! Apple Bloom, do you mind sitting out this last time?”
“No problem, Twilight.”
“Alright Elements! We didn’t come all the way back from the brink and suffer a broken nose just to turn back now, did we?”
“NO!”
“Then let’s roll!”
“YEAH!”
Draconequui of Discord
“We gotta try something else,” Rainbow Dash said, “I think they figured out now!”
“Well we should probably come up with a plan,” Spitfire suggested, “maybe we could try...wait! Yes! Crush the newbie!”
“(Rainbow Dash) Yes!”
“(Fluttershy) No…”
“Oooo, what’s that?” Scootaloo asked.
“An old trick from flight school,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, “when we played infection, the taggers would always tag the first person they saw. It was effective and fun!”
“Not if your the one being chased,” Fluttershy said nervously.
“Exactly! So Rainbow, Fluttershy and I will go out since we know it, and we’ll take Big Mac and Shining as well,” Sptifire announced. Everypony except Fluttershy nodded.
“Um, maybe somepony else could go out. I’m not exactly good at this game.”
“Nonsense,” Spitfire shrugged off the concern, “you know how crush the newbie works. We’ll just wait for the Elements to throw the balls, pick them up, and knock somepony out!”
“Fifteen seconds!” they heard Chris yell.
“Come on, Flutters,” Rainbow pleaded, “please?”
Fluttershy thought before smiling and standing up. “Alright, I’ll do it.”
“(Fluttershy) I don’t know what it is, but something about Rainbow Dash makes her really convincing.
“Great! Go team!” Rainbow said, flying out amid the cheers of her team.
Match 5
The final match starts with Rainbow Dash and Spitfire holding the balls for the Draconequui and Rarity and Chees hold them for the Elements. The wistle blows and the final round commences.
As was planned, the Draconequui wait for the balls to be thrown by Rarity and Cheese, both missing, and collected them all, giving all of them except Fluttershy a ball.
Spitfire surveyed the team before yelling the target out. “Twilight!”
The other three respond and they quickly levitate, buck, or throw their balls directly at the alicorn. Because of the amount she isn’t able to focus to catch or dodge.
“(Twilight Sparkle) I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes!”
Twilight was hit by literally all four balls, and even worse, one of them ricishayed off her and hit Cheese.
“Does this mean I’m out?” she asked Chef. He turned to him and nodded, blowing the whistle twice for each pony.
Trixie then picks up the ball with her horn and throws it at Shining, hitting him before he can react with magic.
“(Trixie) Just making my plan a little easier for myself.”
Big Mac goes to the ball and bucks it at Pinkie, knocking her down, and dodging the immediate counterattack by Trixie.
“Help me out, Rarity! I can’t do it all by myself!”
“I’m trying!”
“Try ha-” she pauses to catch a ball thrown by Spitfire, and throw it back to hit Big Mac.
With only two remaining on either side, Rainbow Dash swoops down and picks up two balls, giving one to Fluttershy who is also in the air, and pointing a hoof at Trixie. They both fire, Fluttershy missing by a mile and Rainbow’s being caught by Trixie.
Trixie then takes aim and fires up at Fluttershy, and she cowers and puts her hooves over her eyes and turns her head away. As she does this, she inadvertently catches the ball with her long pink tail, and whips it around before it is fired at Rarity, who fails to catch it before it hits her.
“(Rarity) Well I’m sorry if I can’t catch a ball that was thrown by a tail.”
Chef blows the whistle three times to signal the end and Chris comes out to make the announcement. “Game over! Draconequui of Discord somehow win!”
The winning team quickly swarms onto their side of the court and congratulate Fluttershy, confused as to what just happened.
“(Fluttershy) I just remember the terrifying feeling when I was about to be hit, and apparently I won somehow?”
“(Scootaloo) That was so awesome!”
“(Apple Bloom) ...HOW!?”
“Go ahead and go to the train, and we’ll get ready to go back to Ponyville where you will enjoy your prize, which is to be treated like real athletes at the Ponyville Day Spa tomorrow! Well done!”
The team cheered and went to the exit of the stadium.
“(Sweetie Belle) Rarity always talks about how divine it is at the spa, and I’ve never gotten to go before, so this will be awesome!”
“However there is still one last matter to discuss,” he said turning to the Elements, “you guys lost, so you must vote one of your own out for elimination, and choose wisely. Be gone!”
The six ponies sulk their way back to the train following behind the victorious Draconequui.
“I told you she was the weakest,” Trixie pointed out while trotting along side her teamattes.
“Excuse me,” Rarity said, stopping dead in her tracks, “I may not have contributed much to this particular competition, but I must point out that I have done my best in all other challenges, and shall continue to do so in the future, unlike you!”
The rest of the team stood around the two and listened in.
“If your best is coming in last place in the race, laying on the crates while we pull, and standing in the back of the court today, then your best stinks!”
“Well, I have not been given a challenge yet that is suited for my particular skillset, and at least I’m a team player! You don’t know the first thing about teamwork and the proper etiquette of being a team member.”
“Girls!”
They are snapped out by Twilight, who has put her hooves out to separate the nose to nose girls. “Stop fighting! We can’t have our team falling apart now!”
“It already has, Twilight,” Rarity said, pointing a hoof at Trixie, “and this one is the reason why.”
“Look at you,” Trixie said, “having a meltdown.”
“Trixie, stop!” Twilight yelled, “If you want to be on this team, then you better get your act together and help your teammates, not break them.”
“Whatever,” Trixie said, continuing beyond the looks of her team. Twilight flared before turning to a fuming Rarity.
“She’s not worth it Rarity. She’s just not worth it.”
With that the team once again started to walk toward the train, with Applejack running to catch up with them. She has a white bandage on her nose and tissues in the nostrils for blood.
“What did I biss?”
Bonfire Pit
The sun has set and most of Ponyville is sleeping, which means it’s time for another campfire ceremony.
The seven Elements of Harmony trot slowly down the trail to the lit fire, where Chris is waiting for them with a silver platter with six marshmallows.
Apple Bloom sits in the front with her big sister next to her, still in a little pain. Rarity sits with Twilight on one side of her and Trixie sits on the other, a smug look of confidence across the blue unicorn’s face. Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich sit together off to one side.
“Elements, welcome back! Seven of you will soon become six, so I hope you all made the right decision. When I call your name, come up and take a marshmallow. The camper who does not recieve a marshmallow must get the heck out of here and go back home, and you can’t come back...ever.”
He let’s a dramatic pause sink in before he called out the first name.
“Apple Bloom.”
She smiled and ran up to get the first marshmallow of the evening.
“Cheese Sandwich.”
The super duper party pony jumped up and ran to the platter.
“Pinkie Pie.”
Pinkie bounces her way up and claims her prize, high hoofing Cheese.
“Applejack.”
Applejack slowly stands up and waltzes up, wincing once her twice from the pain in her muzzle.
“Twilight Sparkle.”
The alicorn wipes a bead of sweat of her forehand before sharing a worried glance with Rarity.
As soon as she stood by the other Elements, Chris held up the platter.
“Rarity and Trixie, this is the final marshmallow of the evening.”
The two unicorns glare at each other in disgust, each sharing a genuine hatred for each other after their argument at the stadium.
The pause is extremely suspenseful, and Chris eyes Rarity, who has broken the glare and is awaiting the announcement.
“Rarity’s the weakest,” Trixie blurted out, and the rest of the team turned to her with questioning looks, but none of them more so than Rarity herself.
“How am I the weakest?”
“What have you done so far besides lurking around the back of the court and letting everypony else take the fall?”
Then he eyes Trixie, a confident grin sat upon her muzzle.
“Trixie, stop!” Twilight yelled, “If you want to be on this team, then you better get your act together and help your teammates, not break them.”
“Whatever,” Trixie said, continuing beyond the looks of her team.
Finally, Chris picked up the final marshmallow, and walked over to where the two were sitting.
“Trixie.”
Trixie held out a blue hoof and accepted the marshmallow from the human, almost strutting away to her team.
Rarity looks absolutely mortified, and she opens her mouth to say something, but no words come out.
“Sorry, Rarity,” Chris says, “but it looks like you’re all out of thread. So long.”
“(Applejack) That was a terrible joke.”
Rarity takes a deep breath in and says in a calm voice, “Well, I’ll just be...going. Sorry I couldn’t be more useful to you guys.”
“It’s alright, sugarcube,” Applejack said, “take care dow, you hear.”
“Bye Rarity,” Apple Bloom said.
“Tell Sweetie Belle I said goodbye,” she said, tears coming to her eyes as she trotted back to Ponyville amid sad waves from everypony except Trixie.
“(Rarity) This game really wasn’t made for a pony like me, I see that now. The competitions were less mental and arts driven than I had hoped for, but Trixie will be following me soon, and that’s all I’m hoping for. Good luck Sweetie Belle *sob* your big sister loves you.”
“I’m honestly surprised she made it this far,” Chris said, interuppting the silence, “she seemed out of it from day one. Oh well, that’s all folks, now get out!”
The team of now six did as Chris said, very much in the dumps.
Cabin 3
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are sitting on Scootaloo’s bunk, laughing and joking with each other.
“And then,” Sweetie Belle said giggling, “Spitfire said, ‘Rainbow, if you don’t get back here with my shades, I will personally make sure you never make the Wonderbolts ever.’ Rainbow must’ve apologized a hundred times and cried a little.”
“Wow,” Scootaloo exclaimed, “I knew Rainbow wanted to be a Wonderbolt, but not that badly!”
They then heard the door open and a tired looking Apple Bloom trot over to her bed and lay down.
“Hey AB,” Sweetie Belle greeted, “who got the boot?”
Apple Bloom hesitated before saying the news, “Uh, it was your sister.”
Sweetie Belle’s mouth dropped open and she started to cheer. “Yes! My big sister’s gone! My big sister’s gone!”
The other two crusaders shared a confused glance before Apple Bloom asked, “What’s so great about losing your sister? Ah thought you’d be devestated.”
“I am a little sad she’s gone,” Sweetie Belle said after calming down, “but I was kind of getting sick of her trying to meddle with me. You guys didn’t see it, but she was always checking up on me and trying to help me win.”
“Wait, what?” Scootaloo asked.
“She lost the race on purpose so I wouldn’t, and made sure not to hit me in the dodgeball game. She even let a ball hit her when I threw it. I tried to get her to stop, but she wouldn’t, so I just had to deal with it.”
“So she was throwing the game?” Apple Bloom’s asked, raising an eyebrow, only to have Sweetie Belle nod her head. “Well now Ah’m kinda glad we kicked her off. Oh well, Ah’m going to bed because Ah’m plum tuckered out. Goodnight, Crusaders,” she said, going to her bed and pulling the covers over her head.
“I guess we’ll tell her about the party tomorrow, huh?” Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle, who nodded in response.
Cabin 1
Big Mac and Shining Armor were both getting ready for bed when Cheese Sandwich walked into the car and shut the door behind him.
“Hey Cheese,” Shining Armor said, sitting up in his pull out bed a little, “who went home?”
“Rarity, which is really sad, but I live to see another day!”
“That’s great. Ever since Spike left it’s kinda felt a little more empty in here, and I’m glad I have someone to talk to.” He then turned toward Big Mac, “No offense dude.” The red stallion just shrugged and nodded.
“(Shining Armor) Big Mac’s one of those guys who’s quiet and reliable. He always gets the job done, but can’t hold a conversation to save his life.”
“Hey, can I ask you guys’ opinion on something really quick?” he asked raising a hoof to scratch the back of his neck.
“Sure, Cheese. What do you need?”
Cheese took a moment in which he spent studying the floor before looking at each of them at once.
“What do you think about Pinkie Pie and me? Together.”
Votes for Rarity
“(Apple Bloom) Ah just don’t think Rarity’s has her head in the game. Sorry Sweetie Belle, nothing personal.”
“(Applejack) As buch as Ah’d like to sedd that addoying blue unicord packidg, Ah said I would vote Rarity off if she couldd’t ibprove.”
“(Pinkie Pie) Rarity wasn’t acting very nice today. Then agan, Trixie doesn’t act very nice ever, but still.
“(Cheese Sandwich) That argument was wild! I have to pick one and Pinkie said to vote Rarity out.
“(Trixie) The Great and Powerful Trixie has already stated her reasons for why Rarity should go home. All part of the plan.”
Votes for Trixie
“(Rarity) Trixie has less class than a purple dinosaur with green polka dots.”
“(Twilight Sparkle) Trixie, you’re evil. Enough said.”