//------------------------------//
// Chapter Four Round One part 3 
// Story: Celestia's Insane Game 
// by Sanquil 
//------------------------------//

“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.