//------------------------------// // The Most Dangerous Game part one // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "Hoof me a few more marshmallows, darling." Rarity grinned mischievously as Pinkie Pie tossed her a few puffy morsels. "Yes. That's right. Mmmmm-heeheeheehee... Ahem." She stuck all ten onto a single stick, like a candy-flavored shish kabob. "Now..." She looked across the flickering campfire. "Does everypony have a canteen of cider?" "Darn tootin'!" Applejack smirked back. "Same here." Rainbow lifted her container. Fluttershy gestured. "Filled and bubbling." "Bubblelicious!" Pinkie giggled. "Heeeeeee!" "Alright..." Rarity cleared her throat, gazing at everypony with their matching sticks with five marshmallows. "Let's begin." "Mrmmmff..." Trixie grumbled, her ears drooping. "Trixie thinks this game is stupid already." "Shhhhhh..." Twilight patted her shoulder, smiling. "I've read that this game builds friendship and character." "Mwap." "For goodness' sake..." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Part of becoming a better magician is trying new things. That works in the social realm as well." She looked at Rarity. "Please, get us started, Rarity." "Yes... very well." Rarity cleared her throat and raised her stick of ten marshmallows up high. "Never have I ever been to the moon and back!" She winked at the other girls. "Eugh..." Applejack rolled her eyes to the starlight. "Seriously? First question out of the gate and already I can tell this here camp is spineless!" "Heeheehee..." Rarity batted her lashes. "It was simply a test, for starters. To teach Miss Lulamoon how it's done." She took a dainty sip of her canteen. "Mmmm... besides..." She licked the cider froth from her muzzle. "I was feeling thirsty." "Yup." Applejack folded her forelimbs. "Suuuuuuure." "Who's next?" Pinkie rocked back and forth. "Who's next?!?" "You are." Rarity patted the mare's shoulder to her left. "We're going clockwise, darling." "Ew." Rainbow made a face. "Since when? Clockwise is for losers." "Oh go smoke a mule, Dashie!" Pinkie stuck her tongue out. "Or else get on my level! Ahem!" She stood up on her log and grinned into the firelight. "Never I have ever ticked off a hydra so badly that it ended up stomping after me and all of my friends!" She squinted down at Twilight to her left. "Pffft! Pinkieeeee..." Twilight rolled her eyes, her cheeks rosy. "Everypony knows that embarrassing story!" "So?" Pinkie giggle-snorted. "Rules are rulllles!" "Very well..." Twilight bit off the furthest marshmallow on her stick, then took a sip of her canteen. "Watch..." Rainbow whispered at Fluttershy. "Friggin' egghead can't hold her cider." Twilight gulped and frowned across the fire. "I so can—HIC!—too..." She blushed furiously. "Hahahaha!" Rainbow Dash teetered back, legs kicking. Fluttershy covered her snickers with a dainty hoof. "Mmmmmm..." Twilight took a deep breath. "Okay, Trixie." "Okay, what, Sparkle?" "Get ready." Twilight held her stick up high as she smirked at the unicorn beside her. "Never have I ever lost sleep all night in quiet anticipation for the next day's camping trip." "Wha... but... that..." Trixie squirmed where she sat. Her cheeks puffed up. "No fair! Sparkle knew about Trixie's restlessness!" She folded her forelimbs. "And now the rest of the camp knows!" "Heeheehee!" Pinkie pointed. "If you don't want to be part of the game, the cave's over there—" "And it's cold in that cave!" Trixie huffed. "Fluffy horse can save her jeers! Trixie knows how to rise to the challenge." "Pssst." Twilight leaned in. "You gotta eat a marshmallow and take a sip of—" "Trixie understands the rules!" Trixie nibbled and drank as commanded. Stifling a belch, she frowned. "This isn't over, Sparkle! Trixie will have her revenge!" "But the way the circle is arranged—" Applejack pointed. "Hmmm... oh!" Rarity smiled. "I know!" She grinned slyly. "If nopony has done what the pony asking suggests, then the circle spins in the opposite direction. Sound like a good rule?" "Sure. Why not?" Fluttershy shrugged. "If it makes Trixie happy." Rainbow leaned in. "You're just hoping for a chance that the game will skip you completely." "Mmmmm-maybe." "Heheheh." "That works for Trixie. But, for now..." Trixie turned to face the mare to her left. "Apple horse." "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeyup?" Applejack peeked from beneath her hat, smirking. Trixie squinted. "Never has Trixie ever—" Her eyes crossed, and she slapped her chest, clearing her throat. "Sorry. F-force of habit." Taking a breath, she started over. "Never have I ever wished I was a city pony instead of a country pony." "Well, dang." Applejack was already nibbling on her first marshmallow. She followed it up with a drink. "Got me there." "Hey! No fair!" Pinkie pouted. "We all know that AJ took a trip to live in Manehattan as a adorable little freckled foal!" "Yes, quite." Twilight pointed. "But Trixie didn't." Pinkie frowned. "I'm not sure I like this 'Lulamoon Edition.'" "Yes, well..." Trixie smiled at her with a haughty squint. "Them's the rules, candy mane." Twilight doubled over, giggling. "Ooooooh sister..." Pinkie rolled up sleeves that didn't exist. She smirked. "Wait until I switch seats with Twilight." "Is that even possible?" "I'd have to activate my... uh..." Pinkie blinked. "...trap marshmallow?" "Heeheehee..." Fluttershy giggled. Rarity nodded across the fire. "Your turn, Applejack." "Well alright!" Applejack looked at the petite figure to her left. "You ready, sugarcube?" Rainbow looked at her. Within an instant, her devilish smirk vanished. "Uhhhhh..." Fuzzy blue ears drooped. "Maybe?" she squeaked.