Tales by Balefirelight (a Fallout: Equestria Group Collab)

Dread

by Songfire

The colt galloped fast. His legs pumped and he pushed himself past the point of pain. He needed to get away.

Where to? How to escape? Who could help? All these questions flooded his head, clouding his thinking.

Just keep running. Stay ahead of the pink cloud.

The colt chanced a look behind him, and what he saw filled him with dread. The pink cloud was growing, getting bigger as it dispersed. It didn't even spare a thought for the bodies that littered the street, the crows that picked at the rotting carcasses long since fled, for the black feathered birds knew - the pink cloud consumes all.

Turn a corner, leap over the body of a Steel Ranger, dead for many a year.

Breathe: in, out, in, out.

Another look behind. The pink cloud was still there, motionless, yet ever moving and spreading.

The colt pushed on, but he was running out of options. This street had not much longer before it reached a dead end; the houses all barricaded, providing no entry.

It hadn't even been a full turn of the moon since he was in this street last. The colt had been here with his friends, exploring the streets of Canterlot. Of course, there was no massive pink cloud threatening their lives at that time, although at some places in the city you could see the pink seeping up through the pavement. They were still scared, but with friends, it's always easier.

All of his friends were gone now, consumed by the pink cloud. It had been silly Jorgen that had insisted they open the locked door of the bakery, even though the painted slogans read "Do Not Enter". As a filly, you think you are invincible. Jorgen learnt that lesson the hard way. He opened the door and out came the pink cloud. It devoured Jorgen, and the group could still hear his screams as they fled.

Now it just the lone colt who was left. He began to panic now, knowing his time was near.

The colt ran up to boarded windows and rapped his hoof against them, hoping that someone, anyone, would answer his plea.

The fear was fully set in now, and the colt began to cry. He ran in a small circle, shouting, screaming for want of his mother, but she never came.

~~~

The colt galloped fast. His legs pumped and he pushed himself past the point of pain. He needed to get away...