Hey guys! Just as a previous warning, this chapter is really depressing. Or at least I hope it is, cuz I wanted to right it that way. Anywho,

Enjoy!

The sky was dark upon the arena. Scoodaloo looked at the other mountain range from a distance and saw the dark smoke rising from the smallest of the mountains. The sun was still shining, because some of its bright, warm rays fell through the smoke when there was a gap in its dark body, but the sky was black with the smoke. Scoodaloo started flying up to a higher mountain to get a better look at things. Nothing. No matter how high she seemed to go, there was no end to the smoke.

"Glad I'm not over there," Scoodaloo said to herself. What horrible disaster could be going on? The only thing she could think of was a volcano, but she didn't know very much about those. The education in District 5 wasn't as good as it could've been, or at least she thought so. "I wonder what's happening to the fillies and colts over there." Images of ponies burning alive burst into her mind. "No, don't think about that!"

"Fire isn't a bad thing," a voice said from behind, "It burns, but it gives new life. If you can learn how to tame it, it will be your only friend."

Scoodaloo turned around without seeing anypony. This person was hidden. "Who are you? Let's see… that's a male voice. And all the other males are down in the woods, so you must be that dragon kid!"

"I like your inquisitiveness," Spike replied as he came out from a corner in the mountainside, "I won't kill you."

"How merciful," Scoodaloo was ready to fly away. She didn't trust this dragon; she never would.

"I understand why you don't trust me," Spike said calmly. He didn't move a muscle. Something wasn't right with him. "I don't find most ponies worthy of letting them live. I haven't even had this long of a conversation with one for days. The games do things to you. They hurt you. They leave you with the company of yourself. They take you to your limits, and give you a new enlightenment."

"No," Scoodaloo responded, "No. The games are evil. I've learned that! They're evil! The games are horrible! They should call them something else! Deathmatch! That's what this is!"

"Don't insult the games," Spike answered, "Don't stab them with your words. They fight back." Spike gestured to the black sky seeping out of the mountains afar. "They give punishment to those who disrespect them. There is no mercy for troublemakers." This was getting creepy. Whatever possessed this dragon was seriously doing its job, because Scoodaloo started crying. "I understand. On my first day, I cried just like you. I now realize not to have emotions; crying is a waste of water. Emotions are a waste of survival."

Scoodaloo sniffed, "Okay. Thanks for the advice."

"You realize," Spike said slowly. He pulled out a makeshift knife, and looked at it contemplatively. "I'm going to kill you." There was no anger in his words, but there was raw energy. As if Spike had harnessed the power of sound itself to destroy his enemies. Scoodaloo continued to cry. "There's no time for sympathy, Spike. You have to kill this filly." Spike hesitated. He was obviously having trust issues from being all alone for so long, but he still slowed down. "I can't kill you." He through the makeshift knife down the mountainside and they listened to it bounce along the rocks until it was out of earshot. "I see too much of myself in you. We're both young creatures brought into these horrible games. I used to have a sense of humor, or at least, I could laugh. I don't want to lose that. And you've brought it back to life."

"So could we be a team?" Scoodaloo asked quietly.

"Yes," Spike looked across at the mountain, "I feel bad for the ponies on that mountain. There still won't be any mercy for them. Not in the slightest."

Applejack coughed. She was almost getting used to the feeling building up inside her lungs. She couldn't stop coughing. Wind blew through the entrance of the cave and brought more smoke inside. Ash was building up at the entrance, and it piled up so that even it was clear out, Applejack wouldn't be able to see much. Water would be amazing right now, Applejack thought, anything to keep the smoke away. The wind blew harder, and a small parachute was noticeable through the smoke. It had a note attached to it, and nothing else. This is what it said,

Dear Applejack,

I know you've worked so hard at the games. I'm so proud of you for making it this far, and I feel so sorry for your losses. I've asked for the gamemakers to let you live, and I have paid them dearly. I know you can win this.

With all my heart, I love you dearly,

Princess Cadence.

Cadence. She was so amazing. Maybe I will get through this, Applejack thought. Suddenly, about five more parachutes came into the cave. They flew peacefully down to Applejack as she weakly looked inside. Cleaning fluid! In District 6, there were volcanoes near the District, and whenever there was ash in somepony's lungs, they used this. The slow syrup-like juice ran down your throat and carried all the ash with it. It was the only liquid that could go into your lungs and evaporate when it was finished without damaging the lungs at all! There were five bottles. Applejack never had to use the juice herself, but she had heard how to use it. Besides, there were instructions.

Applejack took a chug of one of the bottles, which were extremely small, and she felt amazing! Her throat stopped feeling sore, and she stopped coughing! Applejack started climbing down the mountain; she knew that the lava probably hardened by now, with how slow it was going it was probably fine. The smoke was just remains from the explosion. There was nothing to worry about. Applejack would make it.

Then, as she was walking down she slipped and fell about ten feet. The smoke and the pain mixed together caused her to cry. She must have broken her back right leg because she couldn't move it, but she kept going anyway. "I have to get down," she said to herself, "I can make it." She took another swig of the juice. Then she continued, and it was about an hour or so when she used up all of her bottles. She was still surrounded by smoke. There was a feeling of uncertainty rising up inside of her. She thought about Cadence. How nice of her to do this. Then she thought of Dainty Almond. Was this all a joke to him? Who was he anyway? Tears of utter depression came back to her, and she laid herself down and cried. No small silver parachutes came down to meet her. There was no help from anyone. Maybe that meant there was a way out nearby, or maybe nopony had money left to spend on her piteous little self. Fluttershy was dead. She even witnessed Pinkie Pie burn alive. She had gone through so much; she couldn't give up yet. But her leg wouldn't give way. Her body wouldn't move. She was alone, and she was dying. There was nothing she could do but wait.

After a few minutes, Applejack saw the sky. The smoke cleared up, and the sun shone brightly on her face. She enjoyed the warm rays of its light on her face for a while, but she still couldn't move. She coughed. The smoke was gone! This was an amazing moment! She survived the volcano! She coughed again. Applejack couldn't express her joy, or anything. Applejack couldn't move. The thirst on her tongue grew every second, and every second it was harder to breath. Where were those bottles? Applejack looked at one to find it empty, and she recalled that she had drunken them all. As she started to close her eyes, a small silver parachute started floating down. But it was too late. She could feel the cold bottle land on her stomach as she breathed her last breath.

Oh I started crying while writing this! It's sad, but she's dead you know, it's the hunger games.

Remember to review and such cuz I REALLY NEED YOUR INPUT! Gosh, it seems like QueenofGeeks14 is one of the only ones who actually reviews. You otta check out her stories, they're pretty darned good. I'd suggest El Viento, but anyways I can't wait to right the next chapter!