My Little Portal: Blood and Oil

“The library’s burning! I repeat, the library is burning! Send help! I repeat, send - !”

    The message cut off. I breathed in and out, trying not to inhale the smoke surrounding me, trying not to panic. I turned to the nearest Assist Bot, the purple-and-green thing that had told me the message from two rooms over. “SP1K3, take a note.” The dragonoid’s pixelated eyes blinked once, and a small click turned on the microphone. “This is chief engineer Feather Pen, please send help. Golden Oak Research Center is burning. I repeat, Golden Oak Research Center, in South Canterlot, is burning. Send help. Message end.” I whinneyed, trying not to let fear into my voice. Turning away, I grabbed my bags and asked to robot, “Broadcast message to all sectors within eight miles. Repeat as necessary.” I turned and calmly picked up my bags, trying not to let my terror show. I also calmly sprinted out of my room, using magic to keep the smoke from my muzzle. A creak behind me warns me - too late - of the burning roof groaning, near collapse. This is it, this is how I die, I think.

And then comes the fire, the burning pain that rips my lungs and stretches my throat. My dying eyes, covered in ash, see the Wonderbolts swoop in to help me. They’re too late.