Lieutenant Hobbs laid in his hospital bed, idly reading a book left by his bedstand. War and Peace. He cringed as he sat up in his bed, sending renewed pain through his ribs. Through the small window in his room, he could see deep black storm clouds were rolling overhead. White flashes of lightning lit up the ominous sky, casting shadows throughout the land. Within seconds, he heard the explosive report of thunder. It would be hell to be on the field at the time, doused in rain, visibility at near zero. Yet, it seemed to be better than to be imprisoned within the hospital. Only a day had passed since he had been admitted to his cell, and it would be multiple more until he could find himself liberated.
Once again he heard the deep explosions of thunder, as the storm cut it's path of destruction through the lands. However, this blast seemed different. Perhaps it had been louder? Quieter? He couldn't tell. As he contemplated the source of the unusual noise, the sound was heard once again, accompanied by the shattering of glass and loud screams. Christopher Hobbs , with great effort, climbed out of his hospital bed and set down his book. He ran to his door and pulled it open, revealing an image of smoke and fire. A gaping hole in the wall was visible, as flames licked away at the walls. Black smoke rose from the burning wounds in the building as dust shrouded vision. Hobbs stumbled blindly through the hallway, hoping to find the exit of the doomed hospital. Once more he heard the screams for help as men burned alive. Hobbs managed to stumble into the stairwell. As he ran down the stairs, a brilliant flash of white light illuminated the stairwell as another explosion rocketed the floor above him.
'The weather ponies... it's the weather ponies..." he thought weakly.
Hobbs scrambled out the front door of the hospital and ran a few yards forwards. Turning his head, he saw the hospital was on the verge of collapsing. Gaping holes had been blasted into the sides, spewing flames in all directions. Acrid blankets of black smoke rose slowly into the blacker sky. Sheets of rain drenched Hobbs, as lightning flashed all around him. Screams could still be heard from the inside of the building. A few survivors were outside the hospital, having fled before Hobbs. The building let out a mighty groan, as the hospital began collapsing in on itself. Debris flew in all directions, and screams could be hard from within, as the top floor of the building fell, leveling the rest of the building into rubble. Suddenly, all was an eerie silence, bordering upon serenity. The only noise audible was the splashing of rain and rumbling of thunder. Hobbs felt sickened as he gazed upon the wreckage of the once proud structure. How many innocent men died today? Interrupting his thoughts, one of the survivors began to walk towards him.
"Are you alright?" said the young survivor.
"I've been better,"
"Yeah, so could the rest of us," he said, gesturing towards a group of people.
"How far away is any civilization?"
"40 miles, there's nothing around here anymore. What with the war,"
"This isn't looking too good, is it..."