Chapter 1: The Nightmare
"No! Pyrus!" I cried, and cantered over to the bright orange unicorn. The black and white pegasi's spear stuck out of his side as he lay there, gasping for breath. My sword had cut through the pegasi's throat, sending blood spraying across my turquoise pelt. I gave my mane a shake, and sat next to Pyrus. Tenderly, I levitated the spear out, muttering soothing words to my only remaining ally as his face cringed in pain. I levitated my saddlebag over and pulled some cloths out to press on The wound.
"Its useless Feather...." He chocked out.
"Shhhh....." I replied, and watched him cough up more blood as the thick scarlet fluid seeped through the cloths onto my hooves.
"Let....let me die. You must win." He said weakly.
"I wont let you die." I prevented myself from screaming, and placed fresh cloth over the old ones. He gasped in pain as i subconsciously pressed harder on the wound. Wetness on my cheeks told me I was crying, and tears stained his orange fur. I looked up to the sky as i levitated more cloth over.
Please Luna. I need something to help him live. I begged my mentor, hoping and assuming she and Pyrus's mentor Thundelane were listening to my pleas for help. I looked down to see Pyrus's eyes closed, and panic seized my heart. I lifted a forehoof and began to nudge him weakly.
"Pyrus. Pyrus wake up. Please you gotta wake up!" I said, desperation to save him reflecting ruggedly in my voice. His green eyes fluttered open.
"You cant fall asleep." I begged again.
"But Feather....I'm so tired..." He said, and closed his eyes again. I sat with him for a few moments, desperately trying to save my beloved coltfriend. but in those few moments, I felt his breathing stop, the steady flow of blood that i had been trying to stop ceased. Panic and sadness seized me once again, and i began nudging the stallion once more.
"Pyrus? Pyrus wake up! Please wake up." I begged, but i knew it was to late.
"Please...i cant live without you....please wake up..." I begged again, my voice now in a soft whisper.
"No....no.....nononono please no!" I cried, and buried my face into his shoulder, tears now freely flowing down my face into the unicorns fur.
"No..." I sobbed, and i swear i not only felt my heart shatter, but i could hear it echo in my ears as my wings found there place on his side as i lay next to his body, virtually exhausted. I didnt care that my feathers were soaking up blood, i just knew my worst nightmare had come true.
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I bolted upright out of bed, cold sweat streaming down my fur. My heart was racing at the thought of such a thing happening outside a nightmare. The fact that tomorrow was Selection Day for the 21st Equestria Games might've had something to do with it....and maybe that my coltfriend from District 4's name was in the drawing. I groggily stood, and slowly remembered the story of out government that had started when my mother was just a filly.
It is said that, fifty years ago, our Queen Celestia united a nation called Equestria and split it into twelve districts, each supporting the capitol city of Canterlot. Everything was at peace until the districts rebelled, thus causing the creation of our being of chaos, Discord. After a fight to the death with Celestia, Discord was killed and she started the Equestria Games to prevent him from being resurrected.
So every year, one stallion and one mare between the ages of eight and seventeen are sent to Canterlot to fight to the death on national television. Only one victor ever comes out, and thats why my nightmare worried me so bad.
Suddenly i heard the Canterlot theme play from the television downstairs, and i slowly flittered down to watch the announcement.
"We have a special announcement for all of Equestria from Celestia herself!" I heard Flickermane, the emcee and announcer for all Canterlot news and The Equestria Games say. A tall, elegant white alicorn mare with a pastel flowing mane stepped out from behind the emerald curtain, a pale purple and green baby dragon at her side.
"I have a special exception for this years games." She said, and my ears flickered up alertly. Being a princess of district 2, I'm never in the Selection bowl since i have a district to lead and stuff, but Celestia can always change that.
"This year old victors, the Elements of Harmony, and royalty are to be included in the Drawings. That is all." She said, and her and the dragon stepped behind the curtain, but i stood there in a gawking silence.
"She said she would do that when she started the Games." A voice behind me said, and i turned around to see my mentor and Celestia's sister, Princess Luna, standing behind me.
"Luna..." I whispered, and hugged the alicorn. She softly rubbed my back. I pulled away, and stared into her midnight blue eyes.
"Tomorrow." I said, and Luna nodded silently in response. I trotted back upstairs to begin preparing for the Selection Day tomorrow (which mostly involved me packing my various survival supplies i had sitting around my room) until i felt four sets of razor-sharp claws pierce my back. I yelped in surprise, and turned my head to see a tortoiseshell cat perched on my back, amber eyes wide with shock, as my beloved pet wasn't used to almost being bucked off my back.
"Poppy you idiot." I muttered and nuzzled the cat, and resumed my preparations for Selection day.