Building Suspense

Mayor Mare took her place on the stage in front of Ponyville town hall. "Fillies and gentlcolts, it is my honor to accept the title of mayor, and it is my pleasure to announce the construction of SWEET CELESTIA WHAT IS THAT!" the recently elected mayor was pointing her hoof up over the podium, at several large, dark shapes approaching over the top of the Everfree Forest.

Each shape appeared to be the size of town hall, yet they approached faster than many pagasi could hope to fly. As they came closer, they could be identified as gargantuan war zeppelins, an entire armada of armed balloons had descended upon Ponyville. Each zeppelin was decorated in its own way, many of them covered in the bones of the conquered, others were the bare minimum of an airship, and then there was the flagship. The flagship was an absolute monstrosity, decorated with bones, heads, and plated with heavy steel, it caused many ponies to wet themselves at the mere sight.

Many ponies were screaming, scattering, and creating overall confusion. Ponies were running every which way, hoping to find their home sooner than the pony next to them. Many foals were lost in the crowds, some of them even trampled in the stampede to get to safety. Ponies were forcing their way into shops and restaurants just to get away from the wrath of the war balloons. Ponies who couldn't figure out how to use a door decided to jump into trash bins, hide under the stage, or in a nearby potted plant. Anything they thought would save them, they clung to for dear life. The ponies of the usually quiet town were fighting hoof and hoof for the best of spots.

At this point, the weaponized balloons were over top of Ponyville, raining death upon those who dared remain outside, and destroying the homes that many took refuge in. Hot tar poured from vats over the thatched roofs of the homes, fireballs were launched from massive trebuchetes. The thick oil encasing the residents in their homes and setting them alight simultaneously. Fireballs setting stragglers on fire and setting homes ablaze as well as the oil. When it came to homes that could not be tarred or burned down, dark figures descended gracefully from the balloons, wielding large metal contraptions.

When ponies first saw griffons smashing through the windows of their homes, they thought that they were there to rescue them, but then they looked down the barrel of death himself, the last thing they saw being the griffons latest creation.

The Firearm.