One gloomy afternoon.

  The crowd would gasp in shock, some would look around, wondering what to think about the situation, while others pranced with  heated anxiety. Could the drudge return? Did anyone actually pay attention to the mayor? Under what horrendous circumstances could something so grotesque return?  A gentle and optimistic voice would chime in amongst the chaos. "Now now! It's okay everyone!" Through the kind calming words, the crowd would continue to panic, scream, and shout, whilst flipping out in general. "Could everyone just take a moment to simmer down?" he calmly stated once more, being as reassuring as he could for such an out of place personality.

But instead of the crowd continuing their rambling entropic outburst, the cluster of gloomy ponies seemed to do as the mayor asked, calming down and returning to their better judgement. "Now who knows what the Drudge is? Go on, raise your hoof, no need to be shy everypony." After a pause, and some awkward glances, a good ten percent of the crowd would raise their hooves, mostly older ponies. A disheartened expression would creep across the face of the mayor, and he would shake it off quickly, trying to keep the crowd morale up as best as he could, for a stressed elected official. "Err, okay, good... very good...So, I guess as mayor of Arkham, the duty falls on me to explain the situation at hand." the well dressed optimist tapped his hooves on the cover of a book, that lay atop his pile in a nervous fashion, followed by the panicked grinding of teeth. "Well, it's a long story, delving deep into the past of Arkham, it's terribly long and complicated, but simply put, we're allowed to live here...as long as we keep dumping all of our waste products into the ocean, as long as we keep up our quota. But, with population at an all time low, and the rate of chemical disposal is at an all time low, and it wants to take a tour, to make sure we're not holding anything back." he said this in the most calming voice he could muster, in his attempt to keep the crowd from continuing their spree of shouting nonsensical phrases, and being way too silly to handle.

Yet, despite the mayor's very best attempts to explain in a calm demeanour, the dreary residents of Arkham began to spiral out of control, into a hectic scene of comedic flailing and confusion, before their voices grew louder with the realisation something they don't understand would have to walk in their midst. "First the fog, then this?!" yelled one of the old timers through the ensuing chaos. "What if he don eats our phillies?!" another elderly pony yelled at the mayor over a couple of panicking mares.  A deep sigh would be heard from the makeshift podium, before hooves would make a gesture for the anxious crowd to calm down. "Now now, settle down everyone, it's all going to be okay! Look, all we have to is stay out of the streets, and as far as I can tell, it wont demand anything more than some of the town's important papers! Yes, a town sleepover! It'll be magnificent!" The gloomy crowd eyed one another, exchanging nervous glances.

One nervous, shaking hoof would be raised from the crowd. "Um...Maybe we can just stay indoors?" there was a resounding agreement from the crowd, a unanimous approval of the proposition made by the mysterious voice. Everypony seemed to express interest in the notion of a quiet afternoon, where everyone will lock themselves inside of their brick houses.

The mayor would clear his throat audibly one last time. "Ah! Okay! Starting in..." he looked up to the town clocktower, before diverting his attention back to the crowd. "Two hours, lock yourselves in your homes, and get ready for a calm work-free afternoon!" There was some murmuring amongst the townsfolk, and more approval. "Okay! Town meeting dismissed!" one of the goons would climb up the makeshift podium, and whisper in the mayor's ear. "Hurry everyone!" he chimed in as he turned his attention to his entourage, looking partially worried as he strolled off with his grunts.