Chapter 5

The Games Begin

The next morning was the day for the Equestria Games to begin, 100's of ponies came to a stadium that was located somewhere inside the Crystal Empire. The mane 6 except Twilight were sitting somewhere in the crowd around the stadium. Right next to them was Chucky, they had decided to bring him to the Equestria Games as well.

Neo and Spike were on their way to the stadium, they had been told to report to a pony by the name of Ms. Harshwhinny before the games started. Shining Armor was down in the field wearing armor, he said to the athletes and flag carrying teams, "Places for the procession, everypony! Two minutes!"

Over in the crowd, Pinkie Pie was very excited, she could hardly wait for the games to begin. Inside the stadium, Neo and Spike met Ms. Harshwhinny, she was a serious looking pony who appeared to have no sense of humor whatsoever, she had an orange coat, a yellow mane and her cutie mark was a trophy. She gave them brief instructions on what they were supposed to do during the games.

Meanwhile, Twilight was coming to the stadium, she came out to a row where the princesses were all sitting, each princess were sitting on a throne, each with own cutie mark on it. On the row under the princesses were other significant members of Equestrian high class society that had already been seated.

Right next to Princess Celestia's throne was a purple throne that had Twilight's cutie mark on it. Princess Celestia gestured Twilight to have a seat and she sat on the throne next to the other 3 princesses. Princess Cadence waved over to Twilight and she waved back at her.

Neo and Spike were walking towards the field with Ms. Harshwhinny. As they walked, Ms. Harshwhinny said to both of them, "And you two are quite certain you both also understand exactly what you're supposed to do?"

"I stand where you tell me until you give me the signal, and then I walk over and light the torch," said Spike.

Ms. Harshwhinny looked at Neo, waiting for him to respond.

"After Spike lights the torch, I begin the games by playing my music while the athletes begin playing."

Ms. Harshwhinny was satisfied with the answers and she said, "Mm. Couldn't be simpler."

Then Neo, Spike and Ms. Harshwhinny came out to the field. There was a gigantic crowd of ponies watching them and waiting for the games to start. Spike felt very nervous seeing the entire crowd of ponies, he couldn't believe how many ponies were watching them.

Spike was too nervous to keep moving, but Ms. Harshwhinny said, "Mr. The Dragon, are you coming?"

Neo had to pick up Spike to get him out there.

Then Shining Armor said to the crowd, "Now, please welcome the delegation from Ponyville!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders came out to the field carrying the Ponyville flag. As they carried the flag out to the field, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shouted, "Ponyville forever, Yay!"

Neo's friends were watching them from the crowd and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash thought they were doing a very good job. Out on the field was a gigantic torch with a ladder up beside it, it was the torch that Spike was to light to begin the games. Spike was still nervous but Ms. Harshwhinny stomped her hoof, which was the signal for Spike to light the torch. Spike didn't notice since he was too appalled by the crowd of ponies watching them.

Ms Harshwhinny said in a frustrated tone, "I'm giving you the signal now! Mr. The Dragon!"

Spike approached the ladder and started climbing up to the torch. As he climbed the ladder, Spike told himself to stay calm and he counted to 10. Then Spike got to the top, he took a deep breath and tried to light the torch, but he couldn't get his fire breath to work. Spike tried a couple more times, but it didn't work. Everypony was wondering why he was taking so long to light the torch.

The princesses just stared at what was going on, Princess Cadence was very concerned.

"What's wrong?"

Spike kept trying to light the torch, but his anxiety of all the ponies watching him was causing his fire breath not to work.

Twilight said to herself, "Equestria, we have a problem."

Spike kept trying to get his fire breath to work and Neo was getting very worried about him.

"Mr. The Dragon!" said Ms. Harshwhinny, "Would you light the torch already?"

"I don't know what it is," said Spike. "But I just don't have the stuff today! Did you bring a match?"

"You're a fire-breathing dragon."

"How about some cough drops?"

Ms. Harshwhinny got annoyed, then Spike said, "Never mind, I'll keep trying."

Spike kept trying to light the torch but his fire breath still wouldn't work. Ponies in the crowd were either confused or worried, Neo's friends were very worried and were wondering why Spike was taking so long to light the torch.

Princess Cadence got worried, "Somepony go down and help him."

Then Neo had an idea, he began to climb the ladder.

"What do you think you're doing Mr. Anderson?" asked Ms. Harshwhinny.

"I have something that will help Spike light the torch," Neo replied.

When Neo reached Spike, he took out a white bottle and he said to Spike, "Here Spike, drink this. This will get your fire breath going."

Spike took the bottle and said, "What is it?"

"Just drink it, it will help. But just drink a little bit."

Spike trusted Neo, so Spike drank a mouthful of the liquid.

After he drank it, Spike felt his tummy rumble for a second.

"What's happening?" Spike said to himself.

"Wait for it," said Neo.

Suddenly, Spike belched a huge flame at the torch strong enough to light it. The torch was finally lit and Spike felt better. Everypony cheered when the torch was lit and Spike and Neo climbed down the ladder.

Ms. Harshwhinny was surprised how Neo got Spike to light the torch, but at least it was finally lit.

"Better late than never," said Ms. Harshwhinny.

"Let the games begin!" shouted Shining Armor.

Neo made a wrestling sound bell with his mind and he said to the crowd, "Mares and gentlecolts, welcome to the mane event." imitating Michael Buffer. He made another wrestling bell sound and he shouted, "Let's get ready to rumble!"

Then Neo began playing a Jock Jams song with his mind ("Get Ready 4 This" by 2 Unlimited). As Neo played his music, pegasus ponies began flying out onto the field and athletes began playing their games.

During the game, a portal opened onto the field and some of Neo's Mortal Kombat warriors came out onto the field and they danced for the crowd to Neo's music.

After Neo played his song, he played other Jock Jams songs for the crowd and the athletes ("Gonna Make You Sweat" (Everypony dance now) by C&C Music Factory, "Strike It Up" by Black Box, "I Like to Move It Move It" by Reel 2 Real, "Pump Up the Jam" by Technotronic, "YMCA" by The Village People, "Rock and Roll Part 2" by Gary Glitter).

The Mortal Kombat warriors danced to the songs and athletes were playing their games as Neo performed his songs. Everypony watched with delight as the athletes played and Neo performed. Neo's friends loved the performance and so did the princesses.

In between each song, Mortal Kombat warriors Mileens, Kitana and Jade acted like cheerleaders and chanted cheers for Ponyville, some pony cheerleaders also cheered for Ponyville as well. All of Neo's Jock Jams songs kept the athlete's spirits high and inspired them to keep playing the games.

Rainbow Dash really loved the YMCA song and Princess Luna was enjoying every second of Neo's performance. She just loved seeing the young boy she loved so much singing for everypony. And seeing him perform in the Equestria Games made her enjoy the games even more.

When the games were almost over, there was to be one more challenge. A huge wrestling ring appeared in the field, and there was going to be a Mortal Kombat match with Neo against his brother Malachi. Neo and his brother Malachi entered the ring, a voice shouted, "Round 1... FIGHT!"

Neo and Malachi began fighting, Neo easily won the first round since he was too fast for Malachi.

"Neo wins," said the voice. "Round 2... FIGHT!"

They kept fighting, but this time, Malachi won the 2nd round.,

"Malachi wins," said the voice. "Round 3... FIGHT!"

The 2 brothers continued fighting and Neo's friends were cheering for him, supporting him, but Malachi appeared to be winning again. Neo was down with only one more hit and Malachi was about to win.

Twilight didn't want Neo to embarrass himself in front of 100's of ponies in the Equestria Games, so she secretly cast a spell that would temporarily make Neo stronger and it increased his health.

Then Neo got up and he beat his brother.

"FINISH HIM!" shouted the voice. And Neo finished off Malachi with a friendship.

The princesses were so proud of Neo for finishing off his brother with a friendship instead of a fatality. Twilight was really proud him for doing that.

To finish off the games for today, Neo performed one more song for the crowd and athletes ("Let's Get Ready To Rumble Remix"). As Neo performed the song, the Mortal Kombat warriors danced around the field and the ponies watched the performance with delight.

When Neo finished the song, everypony cheered for him and the athletes. Neo's friends were so happy and so proud, they couldn't wait to talk to Neo and tell him how wonderful they thought he was. Neo felt good about himself that he had won but he was confused about how he won. He was pretty sure that Malachi was going to beat him.

As ponies were exiting the stadium, Neo went to go find his friends. Twilight knew she was going to have to tell him that she was the reason he won the Mortal Kombat challenge, and she wasn't sure how he was going to take it.

End of chapter 5.