//------------------------------//
// Equestrian Gold 
// Story: AAE Seasonal Holidays 
// by Animatorsnake 
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	After two hours of riding the train to the Crystal Empire, everypony comes to the Empire to see the Equestria Games that happens every year. This event is where not just the nations of ponies but, other species compete in different activities; ironically it was the same day Pinkie’s birthday would be. To celebrate her birthday even further, everypony bought tickets to see the event and encourage their hometown team, Ponyville. But… it seems not everypony will enjoy this year’s festivities. “WHY THE HECK CAN'T I GET INSIDE!?” screamed Anim, frustrated.

It may seem that Anim may have been left behind when they arrived. How that happened? Well let’s go back, a few minutes ago. Crystal Empire Train Station, 1500 hours

“So we’re finally here, the Crystal Empire,” said Anim. “This is the first time I’ve been here.”

“Oh right I forgot, you never heard of the Crystal Empire but only on history books,” said Twilight. “Well my brother, Shining Armor and Cadence are the leaders of the Crystal Empire.”

“Well they got the crystal part right, so… about these Equestria Games. What exactly are they?” asked Anim.

“The Equestria Games is like, the greatest thing ever! Ponies across Equestria as well as other creatures come to compete, and it’s going to be… AWESOME!” shouted Rainbow.

“Calm down Rainbow, remember it's still somepony’s birthday here,” said Applejack.

“It’s okay Applejack, as long I have my friends, I know we’ll have a great time,” said Pinkie, hopping away. “Come on; let’s go before all the good seats are gone.”

The group continued their way to the Equestria Games stadium in the Empire. As groups of ponies approach and enter inside to see the events. Heading through the security check, the ponies show their tickets and pass a device to disable unicorn magic. “This year’s Equestria Games are going to be awesome,” said Rainbow.

“We heard… for the fifteenth time, Rainbow,” said Applejack.

“Well I do hope our team wins, I saw a lot of interesting ponies this year,” said Rarity.

Once inside the entrance, Twilight and her friends give their tickets to the pony at the entrance. Everypony is able to enter across, but Anim remains to enter… but a small incident happens. “Ticket please,” said the guard pony.

Anim looks through the saddlebags he brought with him, looking through to find his ticket… the worse news come to him. “Uh… I don’t have my ticket,” said Anim.

The guard stared at Anim, and simply nudged him to leave. “Sir, if you have no ticket, I can’t let you pass,” said the guard pony.

“Wait, ask my friends. Maybe they might have my ticket,” said Anim.

“I’m sorry sir,” said the guard pony.

Anim was then led out to leave, without a single word spoken Anim’s eye twitched, realizing his been left behind. “Did that serious just happen,” said Anim, sighing. “Well no matter, I suppose it’s time for plan B.”

Preparing a spell, Anim attempts to teleport inside the stadium… but ends horribly instead. Anim’s spell fails but, gets shocked from attempting to teleport inside. Dazed, Anim sways left and right keeping from falling flat to the ground. “Okay… did not see that coming. I guess using magic is out of the question, and I can’t sprout out wings now, especially at this situation. I need a more quicker way inside… time to go for the classic breaking and entering strategy… except without the breaking part,” said Anim, planning.

Using whatever items in his disposal, Anim finds a ladder, trampoline, stacks of boxes, and more. Anim uses each of these items from, climbing, jumping, stacking… but each attempt ends with him falling… or stopped by another obstacle. “This is frustrating! How the heck did I lose my ticket in the first place!?” said Anim. "WHY THE HECK CAN'T I GET INSIDE!?"

Meanwhile, inside the stadium, the Mane 6 and company find their seats… but notice somepony isn’t with them. “Hey… where’s Anim?” asked Trixie.

“I saw him at the entrance when we entered inside, but I don’t know where he went… you don’t think,” said Twilight.

Twilight checks her saddlebags, and realizes she has Anim’s ticket and forgot to give to him when they arrived. “Oh poop…” said Twilight. “We have to go and get him before—”

“I’m sorry, but nopony can leave until the games are over,” said the guard pony.

“Then how are we supposed to help Anim, to get inside the stadium,” said Twilight.

“Let’s just hope he can find another way inside,” said Applejack.

“And how’s he going to do that, it’s not like his going to launch himself or something,” said Rainbow.

Meanwhile with Anim, his next plan of entering the stadium involves, flying. “Welp, this isn’t my worse of ideas, but sure is my craziest,” said Anim. “Bon voyage!” Anim releases the lever and flings himself to the sky above the stadium, trying to land inside; Anim encounters a small dilemma in his mid-flight.

As Anim is nearing the stadium, he bumps into a force-field around the stadium. Unable to enter through the sky, Anim’s now empty of any possible ideas. Digging a tunnel is also impossible, since Anim doesn’t have the right tools, and trying to find a uniform to enter without being noticed is time consuming to even attempt finding one. Frustrated that this has happen in the first place, Anim bumps into somepony he met before. “Well look who it is.”

Anim turned around, and he saw that it was Twilight’s sister-in-law, Cadence the princess of the Crystal Empire. Luckily Anim and Cadence are in friendly connections, other than Shining and Anim since the last time they met. “Oh Cadence, it’s nice to meet you again,” said Anim. “I thought you’d be inside the stadium by now.”

“Well I would be, but there were a few things I had to do before I could come here. But I would like to know is… what are you still doing here, and is Twilight doing fine?” asked Cadence.

“Well Twilight is dandy, but as for me… well I may have lost my ticket, the rest is history,” said Anim.

“Don’t worry, maybe I can ask the guards to help with your situation,” said Cadence.

Anim followed Cadence to one of the stadium’s many entrances. Once there, the guard let Anim and Cadence enter without any trouble. “Is he with you princess?” asked the guard.

“Indeed he is,” said Cadence, telling the guard.

Now finally inside the stadium, the Equestria Games finally began. “Thank you Cadence, I swear if you didn’t come any sooner, I swore I had to do… other methods of entering,” said Anim.

“You sure know how to keep the atmosphere interesting,” said Cadence, giggling. “Well I hope the rest of your day goes well.”

Cadence waved Anim goodbye as she left, leaving Anim to find his friends. When Anim found them, he sat with them watching the events of the Equestria Games. “Hey you guys, did I miss anything?” said Anim.

“Not really, by the way where were you?” asked Twilight.

“Well… let’s say I had my own adventure coming here,” said Anim.