Sweet looked around nervously. She had already been frightened by the images on the audiovisual, but now, she could barely resist screaming. Someone had tried cleaning the large stadium, but had failed. The whole floor was stained blood red, and the stadium itself was surrounded by an iron fence. There were symbols on the three sides of the triangular building- a unicorn's horn, a tree, and, above her, a Pegasus wing- all displayed on signs. The Mare was so horrified, and so obsessed with trying to hide it, she barely noticed the pony who sat next to her.
"Hey, Slice." the mare said grimly.
"For the last time- that isn't my name!" Sweet growled quietly.
"What? I think I'd know the name of the mare who killed everyone last year," the Pegasus protested.
"If they all died last year, how are they sitting all around?" Sweet challenged.
"Celestia."
"What?"
"I thought you were the champion! Celestia watches the battles every year and brings everyone who died back to life."
"I'm not the champion! I've never been here before!"
"Oh, so you're one of those," the mare said, leaning back into her seat.
"One of what?" Sweet said angrily.
"Every once in a while, a pony comes in who looks like one of the fighters- they usually die. Trust me, Celestia knows you aren't Slice. By the way- what's you're name?"
"Sweet- Sticky Sweet."
"Well, I'm new here too, to tell you the truth. I just did a lot of research on it."
"It's great to know someone else here is new... what's you're name?"
"Lightning Dust."
"Wait- if we're going to fight to the death, why are we getting to know each other?"
"No two ponies of the same race fight. It's in the rules."
"Oh- OK." Sweet replied. Lighting opened her mouth to say something else, but the lights dimmed and Celestia started speaking.
"Hello, fighters of Equestria, and welcome to Death Brawl," she said in a firm voice. "Today, we've had another... unfortunate happening. Our champion Pegasus, Ice Slice, was left in Ponyville. Mr. Bandit and Mr. Fighter brought another mare to the ring- Sticky Sweet. But, due to my late realization, she will have to compete with Fate in the final round."
The crowed booed.
"I told you she knew," Dust said. But it didn't make Sweet feel any better.
Celestia said a few more things, but finished with, "Our first round will commence- Water Rusher Versus Pinkamena Diane Pie."
The rules of Death Brawl are simple. No hurting anyone who isn't in you're fight- the cage helps re-enforce that. You can use any weapon, and multiple amounts of them. To switch you're weapon, if you aren't a unicorn (or one who doesn't know the spell that can teleport the weapon to you), then just think of that weapon, and make a clear image of it. Princess Luna will be scanning your thoughts and will be ready to make it appear in your hooves.
And then, the fight began. The mares walked into the cage and the small doors slammed shut behind them. "FIGHT!" Celestia shouted. She sounded happy for someone who was about to witness death. Sweet and Dust watched, one with horror and the other anticipation, as the fight began.
Pinkamena held a hacksaw, her favorite weapon, and Rusher was using a katana, the handle in her mouth. They charged at each other, ready to kill.
Pinkamena slashed at Rusher's open wing, but the Pegasus immediately folded it. She turned around and stabbed Pinkamena with the katana, straight through the ear. It hadn't done much damage, but the crowed was cheering wildly as Rusher pulled her Katana upwards, ripping the top half off of Pinkamena's left ear. The dull pink pony growled as her hacksaw glowed cerulean blue for a moment before transforming into a fire sword.
Rusher stared wide-eyed at it for a moment, then her katana transformed into a water sword. They began a sword fight. Whenever one of the mares stabbed the other, the whole crowed would cheer. Although the water swords had no effect on the fire sword itself, smoke was rising from them. Finally, Pinkamena parried a few times, tilting her sword in just the right way, then stabbed with all her might at the left side of Rusher's chest.
The blue Pegasus was suddenly still. She made some muted gaping noises and fell over, hitting the ground snout-first. The ground's impact made blood well out of her nose, adding to the effect as blood started gurgling out of Rusher's mouth. Pinkamena, however, didn't want to wait to be crowed victor. She saw enough wonderful suffering when making cupcakes. She lifted her hoof, then threw down the sword.
It landed on Rusher's head, next to her ear. Blood swelled from that wound, and after a sputtering cough of blood, Rusher was still.
"The WINNER," Celestia announced with glee, "Is Pinkamena Diane Pie!"
The crowd cheered, but Dust and Sweet were open-mouthed. "I...I didn't know it'd be that... violent," Dust whispered hoarsely. Sticky nodded. Even the audiovisuals had been less bloody then that.