“Jay!” “Green Field!”
A group of children and young ponies ran excitingly on the earthen path that leads to a small farmhouse right above a small hill. The cool summer air brushed on the tall rice stalks on both sides of the small path, creating a crispy rustling noise that competed with the excited laughs and giggles of the children, colts and fillies.
Up ahead, a young adolescent man grabbed a barrel full of rice from the wooden wagon. Inhaling, he pulled the heavy barrel up and took a few steps back before putting it down on the golden earth.
“Phew...” he smiled as he wiped his sweaty forehead with one arm and waving the other at the incoming little kids. “Hey y'all!”
A dark-green earth pony mare rolled her eyes as she removed the harness on her that was attached to the wooden wagon. Finally free from the heavy harness, she brought a hoof over her head and wiped her golden-orange mane out of her face with a sigh.
She opened her eyes, her black eyes reflecting the early morning sun's glow as she waved a hoof at the incoming little ones.
“They're going to tackle us again, aren't they?” Jay chuckled as he stood right next to his lifelong partner. He looked at her and smiled, and she did the same.
He could still remember that faithful day. It was a decade ago when the two worlds started to collide. The magical alicorn sisters flew into their planet hours before the great impact. Despite the panic of the many people in the human world, they were able to slap some sense back to the assembled world leaders that were conveniently assembled in a conference hall.
After they have explained the situation, Celestia and Luna used their magic and flared a powerful beam towards their own planet that was already visible in the heavens. A rainbow beam was shot from the other planet and collided with the alicorns' beams.
The power of the colliding beams were intense, that even humans felt a strange tingly sensation all around them as the sky lit up in different colors of the rainbow. Soon, the colliding beams became one, and both planets started to glow as the unification magic began.
After the unification was complete, the landscape had changed dramatically. There was more land now beyond every cities' borders. There were even new cities that appeared. The sea became bluer, and the sky became clean again.
After everything was complete, the two alicorns were greeted by six other smaller ponies, wearing strange yet magical accessories. The alicorn sisters then went back to the assembled world leaders, and explained that the event was caused by a certain draconequus' failed attempt of a prank along with certain pink and blue ponies.
After that, the world leaders and the alicorn princesses endured five years of chaos. There were lots of disagreements of the killing of cows and other animals for humans to consume meat, since the cows and other animals suddenly became intelligent enough to talk in English and to think with reason and conscience. Humans however, used the griffons and minotaurs to support their side of eating meat, since the two mentioned species also eat meat.
Then there was the territorial arguments. Countries started claiming new lands as their own. Presidents, kings, queens, prime ministers, and other leader-like titles caused uproars of claiming new lands. And to think the land was in chaos, even the clouds as well! Well, only the griffons and the pegasi were the only races that were having territorial arguments in the sky though, but still. The two princesses and the world leaders had a lot of headaches and migraines just to try and settle things down peacefully without the use of machines and weaponry.
And oh, there was also a talk about machines and weaponry. Humans argued that they needed them for protection, but Luna's mighty voice silenced everyone, and with the flick of her horn's magic, all deadly weaponry were sent to the moon. Which moon? No one really knew back then.
There was also a new form of racism. Restaurants and other establishments not accepting ponies, or humans, or griffons, or cows, kangaroos, manticores, etc. There were also other countries that created new laws of not accepting foreign...creatures.
And then the new types of diseases. Ponies were panicking about the deadly H1N1 virus that started spreading in cold areas, that they forgot that Celestia and Luna could easily get rid of the disease with their magic quick as a whip. Also, humans were panicking about their newly-discovered disease called the Cutie Pox, where humans started having random tattoos appearing all around their body, and somehow gaining superhuman strength to achieve different kinds of works at the same time. Zebras back then almost made the flowers go extinct just to make the cures!
Humans, especially those who have work related to weather, complained that they can no longer do their jobs because pegasi ponies can magically change the weather at their will. The spokespony of the weather team named Rainbow Dash suggested that the humans try their jobs at the Everfree Forest. Those who went there were never heard of again, and angry mobs began to hunt down the rainbow-maned pegasus. The chase was ended when Twilight and her other friends were forced to rescue a lot of humans that became stone because of the cockatrices living in the forest. It also took a lot of days for Fluttershy to track down each cockatrice that turned the humans into stone.
And there was also the Poison Joke problem that the world suffers once in a year. Ironically, it's always on the first of April. There were rumors that the suspects were three beings, colors brown, cyan and pink. No further evidence was found though. Not even the security cameras caught anything. Up to this day, the suspects remained at large and unknown.
There were also new laws about creatures allowing to marry other creatures. That created so many sparks of criticism world wide. But love was love, and Cadence was willing to support the new law...and secretly, a hidden race of love-leeching creatures support this as well.
And other things that were not really that big. Although there still is an ongoing debate about Celestia and Luna raising the sun and moon. Human scientists insisted that the earth is rotating and the sun is fixed on one spot of the universe, but the alicorn sisters argued otherwise. The debate was no longer interesting to the many, but it was still ongoing, and many had doubted that it'll end soon.
...where was I in the story again? Ah, yes, there were also reports of a certain pink pony that has the ability to break the laws of physics and the fourth wall. Many scientists have died from too much headache before they have abandoned their research that they dubbed ‘Project Pinkie’.
At least the crime rate was now almost down to zero. With unicorn ponies applying as police officers, they could easily capture and trace criminals and put them behind bars, if they're not minotaurs, however. If they were, then they're sent to the moon, by Luna's request, since there's nothing strong enough to hold a minotaur down.
Back to the story, Jay met the green pony a decade ago, back when he was still a small kid, and she was still a small filly. They spent their time together, working together, and eventually, falling in love with each other. Parents of both parties didn't agree with their relationship however, but their love grew and grew as they overcome each challenge that life gave them. Eventually, their families grew tired and decided to accept their decision. The two families were farmers, and they decided to help each other rather than trying to ruin the other's farmlands.
The happy children jumped and tackled Jay down on the ground while the foals of different pony races did the same to the green mare. Giggling, the couples tried to squirm their way out as they received a barrage of excited questions about the incoming Arena Championship Match.
The couple were almost out of the kids' grips when a flying chariot appeared in the horizon.
“Lookie! Lookie lookie!” a young unicorn foal chirped as she pointed at the incoming chariot approaching their way.
The children pulled themselves on their feet and hooves and turned at the approaching chariot. They waved at it excitingly as the couple stood up and smiled at each other.
“They're early,” Green Field smiled, her voice melodic yet rough at the same time. She leaned on her beloved, her height only reaching the man's stomach.
“Yeah, they are,” Jay placed his hand on her mane. “Ready to lose?”
Green Field chuckled as the chariot began its descent. Four muscular pegasi stallions floated the chariot down, landing soundlessly on the golden earth.
“Jay Winchester and Green Field?” one of the pegasi stallions asked as he faced the couple. The couple nodded, and the pegasi motioned for them to ride the chariot. “The championship is about to start in an hour. You are to appear in the stadium upon the orders of Rainbow Dash.”
The two nodded and rode the chariot. They turned, waved and smiled at the excited children who were cheering for them.
“Before we go, however,” the stallion spoke as he and the rest flared their wings open. He was regarded by the confused blinks of the couple. “There's a pare and pen there.” He then smiled sheepishly while blushing a bit. “May I have your autographs? It's for my son, you see...”
The couple chuckled as they grabbed the pen while the other three stallions snickered and teased their fellow stallion. After the autograph was done, the stallions flapped their wings and lifted in the air, carrying the chariot along. Soon, they sped towards the grand arena stadium: a floating mechanical city hovering peacefully over the ocean.
The mechanical structure was dubbed ‘The Stadium’ by the insistence of Rainbow Dash, the founder of the game, with a few helps from Applejack for the rules and fairness, Fluttershy for the safety sides of the game, Twilight for the logics and magic scalings, Rarity for her idea of how the audience's seats, and Pinkie Pie for the idea of ponies walking around the audience, selling food and drinks.
With the combination of the humans' intellect on machines, the earth ponies' strength at building, the pegasi's ability of weather and flying, and the unicorns' ability of magic, The Stadium is the symbol of unity and friendship of the two dominant races of the world. The Stadium is jaw-dropping huge, able to accommodate half a million audience seated around the large arena where the chariot is about to land.
Screams and cheers were deafening as a pegasus and a griffon flew near the approaching chariot with their cameras, giving the audience a close-up view of the challengers on the four large screens floating high above the arena.
The chariot flew low, and touched down on the grassy arena. Jay and Green Fields stepped out of the chariot, and faced the loud cheers as they looked around, waving their hands and hooves at the audience.
On the northern part of The Stadium, above the cheering audience was the area where the princesses sat, smiling and waiting impatiently for the audience to shut up so they can have their speech already.
A small group of ponies and humans from the sidelines ran towards the two challengers as the chariot flew off. The group were carrying the needed equipment for the arena.
Twilight Sparkle, who was seated with the princesses, sighed heavily as she rubbed her forehead with a hoof. She has thought of an idea of creating a room for the players where they'll suit up before the match, so they could start the match the instant they walked in the arena. But no, Rainbow Dash, who was seated beside her, didn't like the idea. The rainbow-maned pegasus insisted that the challengers will wear the suit in the arena, so the crowd could watch and cheer. Plus, it heightens the confidence of the challengers, even though they're gonna lose.
Pinkie Pie was happily munching on some popcorn as she seated beside Rainbow Dash, and Rarity was complaining about the loudness as she sat in between Twilight and Fluttershy. Fluttershy, who was usually the shy and nervous pony, grew to like the battles in the arena, just because the system didn't allow any of the participants to get hurt physically, mentally, or in any other way, even though it really looks like they're getting hurt in the process, which was the truth. Whoever told Fluttershy that they aren't getting hurt, nopony knew. Probably Rainbow Dash, but it was still a rumor though...
Soon, the group of humans and ponies ran back to the sidelines, leaving behind the two armored challengers. Jay and Green Fields now were wearing a very light and stylish suit of armor, enhanced with the very modern technology and enchanted with the magic of unicorns.
Noticing that they are ready, Princess Celestia stood, and walked forward. The crowd, noticing the princess, slowly began to quiet themselves. As soon as nothing was heard, except for the wind, Celestia cleared her throat before she addressed every creature in the audience, and those watching behind their television screens.
“Ladies and gentle...creatures!” she was still not used to that. “Today, we are gathered here to witness the two bravest challengers that has surpassed every battle that they faced from the beginning of the annual competition here in The Stadium!” the crowd cheered, and Celestia waited for them to quiet down before she continued. “Now, they are to face their greatest challenge yet! During their battles, they climbed higher and higher, proving their skills and trust with one another. Now, they're going to put all the have in this grand championship match, against the champion of the arena!”
The crowd cheered again as Celestia retreated to her seat.
There was a small flat metal platform that shot up in the air. On board was a minotaur with an earphone and mic, as he hovered high above the audience. “And now, ladies and gentlecreatures,” the minotaur announced as the challengers' statistics were displayed on the four large screens. “Our challengers for this year's annual championship match are hailing from the peaceful country of Ponyville!” He blinked and smiled as the crowd roared in excitement. “Huh, that's actually pretty close from here.” He muttered to himself, forgetting he had a microphone on. “No wonder they weren't in the challengers' quarters earlier...” he shrugged. “Oh well, I'll grab their autographs later, but anywho! Jay is the humand and Green Field is the earth pony. They were wed a year ago, and were now living happily on their very own farm in Ponyville!”
The crowd cheered while a circular part on the arena opened, revealing a black abyss. A mechanical hum echoed in the arena, revealing the undefeated champion on the cold-iron elevator. The crowd cheered as the orange mare tilted her stetson hat to her back, grinning ear to ear as she locked her eyes on the challengers that once gave a lot of trouble to her family.
Unlike the other contestants of the arena, Applejack didn't like having a human that orders her around. She didn't like Rainbow's idea, so she participated, and for five years, she reigned as the champion of The Stadium, sending her message clear to the world that ponies don't need humans to order them around!
Unicorns from the sidelines carried her armor, and suited her up as the announcer spoke about the champion.
“Let's hear it up for the five-year champion... APPLEJACK!!!” The crowed roared, even though his reveal was too late. “Applejack, one of the element bearers of harmony, is also hailing from the country of Ponyville! Just like our challengers, Applejack is a farmpony as well, tending to her family's apple orchard!”
As the unicorns lit up Applejack's armor, they left as the champion grinned at the two challengers, who were grinning back as well.
“Applejack!” Jay shouted, “ready to lose!?”
“HA! Ah should ask yah the same question!”
“We won't be going down without a fight!” Green Field licked her lips.
Applejack grinned.
“Looks like things are heating up already, folks!” the minotaur announcer spoke as he hovered above the crowd. “But they're not doing anything! What do you want!?”
“FIGHT!”
“What do you want!?”
“FIGHT!”
“They can't hear you!”
“FIGHT!!! FIGHT!!!”
“Then let the championship match...BEGIN!”
As the announcer yelled, magical cubes appeared at random in the arena, floating a foot above the ground. Jay quickly brought his left hand over his chest and started pushing buttons on the wrist panel. As he did so, the transparent glass of his helmet covering his face, and as well as on Green Field, started displaying lines and characters.
As soon as Applejack pulled her lasso, Green Field ran forward, seemingly about to ram at the champion, and eliciting a roar from the audience. Her helmet locked onto her target, and she licked her lips as she kicked the earth behind her to give her more boost.
Meanwhile, Applejack threw her lasso at the incoming pony. Upon reach, the green mare turned, evading the rope that was to entangle her. Grinning, Applejack gave chase. The challenger was slower, making the champion catch up fast.
“Jump!” Jay shouted, “NOW!”
Applejack pushed her hooves further, but she never expected the mare to jump over her. Gasping, she skidded to a stop and turned.
Grinning, Green Field landed on a floating cube, which disappeared upon contact.
Jay's wrist panel displayed the new item collected. “Sweet!” he cheered as he hit the activation button.
Applejack was about to run after the mare when white bright wings appeared on the green mare's back. “Wings, eh?” she grinned as he touched the cube that was floating beside her. She returned her attention at her foe, who was already in the air, and was already flying towards her. “Ah always wondered what these do.”
Green Field gasped as Applejack became bright white for a mere second, and soon, there were now three Applejacks standing side by side, grinning at the startled flying earth pony.
“Shit! Duplicate!?” Jay cursed as he started running towards the champions. “I'm joining the battle!”
“Roger!” The green mare replied through her microphone as she flew away.
“Oh no ye don't!” The real Applejack grinned as she turned to her duplicates. “Chase her down!” She then stared at the approaching man, who touched a cube while running. “Ah got this one!”
“No problem!” the other Applejack grinned and gave chase.
Jay activated the item and a long lance appeared in front of him. He grabbed it and struck the orange mare, who easily jumped low on the side.
Landing quickly, Applejack pushed her hooves, tackling the human on his side, and making the audience cheer.
“Oof!” Jay cried.
Green Field dived and grabbed a cube, and quickly sending the activation to her beloved, but before she could fly back up, a rope lassoed on her hind hoof, pulling her back to the ground.
Applejack launched herself towards the human to tackle him again, however, she slammed against a might shield that appeared out of nowhere.
Chuckling, Jay kicked her away and ran towards a cube. Quickly, he sent the activation to the green mare before an orange beam exploded behind him.
Grinning, Applejack blew at the mouth of her mana cannon that was now attached to her shoulders. “Ah'll never grow tired of these here babies! Hee-hah!” She fired again.
Up above, the four large screens displayed the ongoing battle in close view, while displaying the health bars of the fighters' armor. Applejack's was still near a hundred percent, while Jay was down to seventy percent, and Green Field was still on eighty-four percent.
The crowds cheered as Green Field soared in the air with wings and a rocket launcher aiding her, bringing along the two Applejacks who were stubborn enough not to let go of the rope.
Applejack fired another round of her mana cannon, but Jay easily evaded it with his shield. He looked at his shied, and saw the remaining health of the shield was already down to ten percent. That little distraction of his was enough for Applejack to make a quick grab on one of the floating cubes.
A bright white light flashed on the three Applejack's backs, and soon, the three grew wings.
“Now that's cheating!” Jay teased as he threw the shield at the orange mare like a boomerang.
Applejack quickly turned around and gave a powerful kick at the shield, making it fly back at the human in a much faster speed.
Quickly activating a newly acquired item, Jay replaced his main weapon with another, and immediately slashed the shield in half before it disappeared. “Now a sword is more comfortable!” he smiled as orange beams flew in the air.
Green Fields turned left, evading an orange beam from hitting her. The beam flew towards the audience, but a magical barrier blocked the attack, creating cheers from the excited audience. Why they cheered when a beam was about to hit them, she didn't know. Suddenly, she made a sharp u-turn, barely dodging the beams from the Applejacks that were flying at her. She flew low to avoid another beam, and quickly flew up and tackled a duplicate's underbelly. She locked her forehooves around as she blasted her rocket launcher, sending them down after she tilted to the ground.
A smoke of dust exploded from the impact, and as soon as it disappeared, Green Field panted as she watched the Applejack duplicate to shine white and vanish.
Suddenly, the whole arena was filled with thunder as a large black vehicle flew high above The Stadium. Every soul looked up and gasped as their eyes stared at the black hovering machine.
Jay sighed and facepalmed, making his beloved pony chuckle. They have had their fair share of annoying battles with troublemakers like the Black Moon. Since The Stadium was built as the creature's symbol of unity, peace and understanding, those who oppose to live peacefully with the new world grouped together to bring back what used to be.
“Creatures of the new world,” a dark voice echoed from the hovering ship. “We deeply apologize for the inconvenience that the Black Moon has caused upon your pathetic little match, but we would like to let you all know that things will end here and now!”
Celestia and Luna stood up, their horns lighting up.
“We wouldn't do that if we were you, oh so powerful alicorn princesses? Have you noticed why there are only three alicorns with you today?”
Just then, Cadence's voice echoed for help, as well as Shining Armor's voice. Then, a painful thud echoed, and their voices were gone.
“Let's make things a little interesting, shall we?” the voice said and chuckled as four little pods flew off from the black ship.
Celestia groaned as she rubbed her forehead. “What is that stupid Discord up to now?”
The four pods landed on the arena, creating a smoke of dust around each one. Then, as the dust settled down, a black-armored human and a black-armored pony stepped out from the pods, and black cubes started appearing at random in the arena.
“If you win, I'll let Cadence and Armor go. But if we win, we'll take over The Stadium!”
‘Discord,’ Celestia said after she connected her mind with the lord of chaos. ‘Stop this at once!’
‘Oh hush, Celestia. I haven't had this much fun in years! Besides! The rules did say that they won't be harmed physically, right? So where's the problem!?’
‘You're the problem!’
‘Oh, come now! Think about it this way, sun princess. Viewers are getting bored at watching that little orange pony winning each and every time. I'm just adding some spice to make things exciting! Just keep your mouth shut and enjoy the show!’
Celestia sighed as she watched the element bearers run back towards the doors behind her. “Each and every year...” the sun princess groaned.
“Applejack!” Rainbow shouted as she tossed the necklace of honesty towards the orange mare. She caught it, but merely blinked at it. Rainbow facehoof'ed.
The real Applejack chuckled as she deactivated the duplicate item. The duplicate vanished, and Applejack caught the necklace and wrapped it around her neck. Jay and Green Field walked behind the champion, while the other element bearers landed beside her, wearing a full armor.
“Omigosh! Omigosh! This is so so exciting!” Pinkie Pie jumped beside the nervously-shaking Fluttershy.
“Ugh, this armor needs an update on style...” Rarity winced as she stared at herself, making Rainbow Dash roll her eyes.
“Focus, girls!” Twilight said as she flared her wings.
Discord laughed. “Remember the consequences if you lose, ponies!”
Rainbow scoffed. “Ha! Like that'll happen!”
The black-armored humans and ponies then activated their bonus items, transforming them into tall and black metallic spiders with a pair of a mantis' scythes.
Rainbow's pupils shrunk. “Okay... Uh...on second though...”
“BEGIN!”
And the eight metallic spiders charged at them.
Jay and Green Field stared at each other and smiled.
“Get ready, ponies!” Applejack called as she licked her lips. “Things are gonna get messy!”
And an epic fight ensued. And the audience cheered.