Kirkyard Rest Halloween Event

“Please present your pass.” The pony standing at the door to the stable scanned his eyes over the pass presented to him, barely registering what he was seeing. “Thank you. Next.”

Slowly the long line of brightly coloured ponies shuffled forward, each one presenting the precious pass that allowed them passage into the depths of the stable. Stable-Tec had sent out the notice that all those who held a pass were to report to Stable Nine for processing. Just a precaution, they said, nothing more than a drill to ensure ponies could get in quickly and safely should the worse happen.

“Thank you. Next.”

The pony presented her pass, nervously looking over her shoulder at the long line of bored looking ponies behind her. Her saddlebags were heavy on her back. “You sure this is just a precaution?” She asked the guard as he scanned her pass. He flicked his eyes over her, hoofing back her pass.

“Yep. Nothing more than just a check to make sure we can do this right.” His voice was melodic and deep, he must have a beautiful singing voice. So many ponies who should have been fulfilling their cutie marks destinies were now soldiers. It was the same old story everywhere you went. “Thank you. Next.”

Sirens wailed, cutting across the clearing. As one, the throng of ponies looked up at the sky, scanning for the bombs that the sirens always heralded. Streaks of brightly coloured smoke trailed through the clouds, seeming to head straight for the mighty city of Cloudsdale. A hush fell over the crowd as the first missile struck home, the resounding boom taking a few minutes to reach their ears. Even from this distance they could see a piece of Cloudsdale break apart, the carefully sculpted cloud dissipating into the explosion.

She didnt know who the first to scream was, but suddenly everyone around her was howling in fear and anguish. The next explosion ripped apart the Cloudeseum, where many of them had spent time cheering on their favourite wonderbolt. The mare found herself shoved rom behind as the mob began to panic, all trying to cram into the stable at once. The guards were shouting something, she couldn't hear them over the shrieks and cries. Hooves kicked and bucked her as the crush began to push through the door, and the mare felt one of her ribs crack. She pulled her saddlebags tighter, protecting their precious cargo from the mob, keeping low and trying to find her way to safety.

She was swept along with the crowd, unable to see or feel where she was going. All she could see was a mass of brightly coloured ponies all pressing in together tighter and tighter as they streamed into the stable from the world gone mad outside. Faint booms thudded in her ears, more bombs finding their marks she supposed. Holding her hooves over her head, she waited for the panic to subside and the crush to stop.

A foal near her leg began to cry. She could only stare helplessly at it, her own body too tightly wedged to move closer. She tried making faces at the foal to calm it down, but it only sobbed even harder. Its mother reached a hoof down, rubbing the foal’s head gently. The room was hot with all the ponies inside, and soon the air conditioning of the stable whirred on, sending a cooling breeze down on them all. Sobs and shouts gave way to murmurs and whispers as the stable door swing closed with a clang, sealing them inside.

A stallion stepped up to the podium, his horn glowing as he magically amplified his voice.

“Fear not, citizens!” The mare could see the guard from before standing at the back of the room, their eyes meeting briefly as she scanned the crowd. There must be over a thousand ponies in here. Not as many as she’d hoped, but it would be enough. The stallion raised his hoof, still speaking. “We are safe from the explosions on here. Stable-Tec guarantees their stables can each take a megaspell straight to the door and remain unscathed! All we must do now is remain calm and wait.”

“What about my family? They were in Canterlot!” A mare called, sending another wave of fearful whispers and mutters across the crowd.

The stallion looked sad. “If they manage to get to the Canterlot Stables, then they will survive. If not, we have to hope. The Zebra will not win this war, it is only if we lose hope do they win! Look around you! We are all ponies here! They cannot reach us!” He cried in triumph.

The mare shook her head, pushing the switch in her saddlebag. Stupid ponies, so confident in their stables. Didn't they know that the Legate was a living god? Stables meant nothing to him. Her bag began to beep gently, and she climbed on the back of the nearest stallion. He glared up at her, opening his mouth to chastise her, only to snap it closed as he realised something was wrong with her stomach. The fur wasn't blue, it was faded.

Her stomach was striped.

“FOR ROAM!” The zebra mare screamed, right before the balefire egg in her bag exploded.

Based on Wolf in sheeps clothing