Smoke in the air.
It’s never a good sign. There’s been a group of Ravagers that have been going around setting places on fire. Fiddle doesn’t know why.
The building looks like it used to be a relief center set up by the Equestrian Department of Emergency Management. They were supposed to help during the crisis. They didn’t do anything.
Ponies tried to settle here. Fiddle wants to go inside and search for survivors. Lightning agrees, but they need to be careful. Who knows if those Ravagers are still around.
They head into the lobby. The smell of ash and smoke clings heavy in the air. Everything is charred and blackened. There’s a few doors down the hallway. Most of them are barricaded, but a few are still in one piece.
Fiddle is going to investigate. Lightning will keep guard at the entrance. She hesitates before giving Fiddle a nod. They can’t afford to stay long.
The first door leads to an empty room. There’s stacks of boxes and some folding chairs, but nothing else. Fiddle moves on. The second door has an axe stuck inside of it. Fiddle shudders at that but tries to open it. It’s locked.
As she’s about to open the third door, she hesitates. She hears shuffling inside. Fiddle gently pushes the door open and looks inside. The room is smoky and dark. As her eyes adjust to the darkness, Fiddle sees still forms on the floor, covered with sheets and blankets.
Something moves on her right.
A pony stares back at her, pressed against the wall. The pony is squeezing a towel tight against her chest. Her eyes are full of fear, and they dart around for a way out.
Fiddle raises her hooves. She’s here to help. Gently, she approaches. She introduces herself.
Coco Pommel, the pony answers. Fiddle pulls a medical kit out of her bag and takes out some bandages. She asks to see the wound.
Coco nods and moves the towels. It’s a cut, not that bad. Fiddle starts to bandage the wound. She looks around the room. Is she… alone? Coco glances at some of the sheets and nods. She is now.
Fiddle lowers her head in sympathy. The Circle Park settlement is nearby, it’s safer there. Coco nods. She wipes her eyes with the back of her hoof. Stupid Ravagers. She doesn’t understand why they’re doing this.
There’s hoofsteps in the hall. Lightning appears in the doorway, another pony behind her. It’s Sassaflash, the electrician they met earlier. Lightning says that she was on patrol nearby and saw the smoke.
Fiddle helps Coco to her hooves. Is there anypony else? Coco’s eyes drift from one form to another. She shakes her head.
Sassaflash drapes a wing over Coco’s back. It’s okay. They’ll take care of her. She gently guides Coco out of the burned out room. Fiddle stands up and brushes herself off. She and Lightning look around at the sheet-covered forms in silence. Celestia be with them.