**************************************************************************************
October 1, 1010 A.B.
9:00 AM
The alarm clock buzzed its usual jarring noise. At least that's what Crimson Moon thought of it. She was just glad it woke her up every morning, unlike her old alarm clock, which only seemed to wake her up for just a moment, enough to turn it off and fall back asleep.
This time, however, the unicorn was up with a start, nearly smashing the button to turn it off. She paused to stretch before leaping out of bed. Today was the day she was going to meet Morning Shadow at Athasano Park, near the heart of Manehattan. She had been looking forward to it for weeks; she hadn't seen Morning Shadow since the day she left Baltimare to attend Manehattan University. She had everything planned out on what they were going to do today, even double checking every place she had in mind in case something were to be closed or cancelled. Nothing was going to ruin this day.
Crimson shot off to the kitchen to make her usual breakfast: oatmeal with a side of lemonade. You could tell her anything bad about it, but lemonade was the only thing she drank. It was just one of the quirks to Crimson. As the oatmeal cooked, she pranced to the balcony of her dorm room and opened the sliding door. Stepping outside into the relatively warm morning air, she looked out at the skyline of Manehattan, flanked by a cloudless blue sky. This was quickly becoming her favorite thing to see in the morning. Even though it was everywhere you could look, she didn't seem to mind the tall buildings, or the smell of asphalt and, well... other big city stuff. This was her home, and she was convinced that she didn't want to leave once her Cognitive Science studies were complete. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Today was going to be her day, she just knew it.
Closing the door behind her, she went to the kitchen and finished making her oatmeal. She grabbed a jug of lemonade from the fridge, and as she poured it into a glass, she grabbed her video camera and turned it towards herself. She loved to send videos to her parents back in Baltimare, just to update them on what was happening in her new hometown, miles away. It was her way of keeping in touch with family. Plus it made her friends jealous, as she was the only one of the group who could afford the new technology.
After finishing her breakfast, she turned the camera on, and gave her usual start to her video: "Hi Mom, hi Dad, it's Crimson! Today I'm going to meet Morning Shadow, and I'm really excited! We have so much to talk about, like my studies, and her new job. Plus, I've planned a whole list of activities for us to do together, like ice skating at Rockhoof Plaza, going to the top of the Crystaller Building--"
She turned the camera towards the skyline through the sliding door, and focused on the Crystaller Building. Dead in the center of Manehattan, the building was the first in the city to be almost entirely made of glass on the outside, save for the brass horse's head on the top. It was the signature building of the skyline, and Crimson's favorite in the whole world. She had planned to go to the indoor observation deck with Morning Shadow and see the view from the clouds.
As she turned the camera back towards herself she continued: "...and of course, a picnic in Altasano Park! I can't wait to get the day started, I'm so excited I can barely-- OH DEAR CELESTIA!"
Crimson screamed as she turned the camera back to the skyline. A bright fireball was erupting into the sky around the Crystaller Building! A thundering boom echoed across the sky, making the windows shake so badly, she thought they would shatter. She kept the camera rolling as the ball of flames turned into a streak of jet black, making its way across the skyline. At that moment, Crimson knew that her plans with Morning Shadow were going to be on hold. She'd found her new plan for today: capturing the events that were about to unfold, and change Equestria forever.
**********************************************************************
9:13 AM
Shining Star breathed in the smell of her morning coffee. Her hotel in Bronclyn had the loveliest cafe in the lobby, and she and her brother, Fallen Angel, were having breakfast and listening to the morning news on the radio inside. They were on vacation, their first without their new parents, as they called them, and so far enjoying every minute of it. Their first time alone in a new city, and this was their first day to see the sights. Both Star & Angel were looking at Manehattan as a possible location for college. However, no trip comes without its sightseeing. So they were getting the fun stuff out of the way first. Their big plan for today was to see a wrestling show at Madisoat Square Garden. Perfect for the two of them, especially Angel, who was a die-hard EWE fan.
"I'm gonna head back up to the room," Star said to Angel. "I think I left my wallet on the bed."
"No problem," Angel replied. "I'll be waiting down here."
"I hope so!" Star joked as she trotted to the elevator. She didn't know what she'd do without Angel. He'd been more than a brother to her; he'd been a guardian. Whenever Star was in trouble, or needed a shoulder to cry on, Angel was right there for her. She believed his name fit him perfectly. If she didn't know any better, she'd think he truly were an angel.
Star opened the door to their hotel room and, just as she'd thought, found her wallet lying on the bed on the far side. As she bent down to grab it, a bright flash from outside startled her. She looked out the window, pushing the shade aside, to see the Crystaller Building engulfed in a fireball. She gasped and all but sprinted out of the room and back to the elevator. She didn't want to be on the 14th floor of the hotel anymore.
As she made her way into the lobby, the news was just breaking on the radio in the cafe. Angel got up from his chair and ran to Star.
"Did you hear that?" he asked her. "The Crystaller Building--"
"I know!" Star interrupted him. "I could see it from the window! It just exploded, and black smoke started pouring out!"
Angel looked like he had seen a ghost. Star could tell what was running through his mind, and she was having the same thoughts: This isn't happening. It's just a dream. You'll wake up soon... Please wake up soon!
Angel sat back into his chair at the cafe and began to think. Star could tell he was trying to figure out a way to react. She hadn't exactly figured it out either. One thing was for sure: their plans for today were definitely cancelled.
Finally Angel looked at her, a determined look in his eyes. "We need to get down there," he stated to her.
Star couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What? Are you insane?!?" she yelled.
"There's going to be hundreds of ponies that need all the help they can get out there," he told her. "We've been in that situation before."
Angel wasn't exaggerating. When the twins were 15, a gunmare had attacked their church in Canterlot. Both of their parents had been killed, and Angel had been hit, before the Equestrian Royal Guard ended the standoff. In fact, the captain himself had carried Angel out. When a nice couple, Cloud Sweeper & Comet Trail, had taken them in, it was the first step to a long trail of rebuilding.
"Yeah," Star replied, "and we're not going to do that again!"
"Trust me, Shining Star!" Angel pleaded. "We know exactly what's going through their heads right now. I want to be the one helping this time! Think of it as repaying a favor."
"Favor?" Star yelled. "You think the Royal Guard saving your ass from a gunmare was a favor?"
Angel wasn't listening, grabbing his bag as he ran out of the lobby of the hotel, and up the street, where ponies were just learning of the occurrence unfolding.
"ANGEL!" Star screamed out. "At least wait on me!" She took off in the direction he had gone, but Angel had disappeared into the crowd. At this point, Star didn't know where she was going to end up by the end of the day, but she knew for sure that her life, as well as many others, weren't going to be the way they were just moments ago.
**************************************************************************
9:21 AM
Firestorm stepped out of the Midtown Police Station on 11th Avenue. The young pegasus was happier than ever. She had finally tied the knot with her fiancee, Blaze, a member of the Wonderbolts, and had just moved into a new apartment on 138th Street. Sure, it was a long trip to work, but she didn't mind. Especially during the happiest days of her life!
From what Firestorm had heard, her partner, Shiny Cloud, hadn't bothered to wait on her. He was already on a co-op call with the fire department, inspecting a gas leak on 5th Avenue, near the stock exchange. She figured she'd join him there, but as she started trotting down to Everfree Avenue, she noticed a small crowd starting to gather at the corner, looking up towards the sky. Knowing how many calls came out in Manehattan per day, Firestorm had quickly learned that a crowd was the first sign of trouble. She knew she had to meet Cloud, but she figured she would at least stop to see what the fuss was about. She turned the corner and looked up. What she saw nearly made her spit out the coffee she was drinking.
She was met with the sight of a large plume of smoke billowing out of the Crystaller Building, flowing over the buildings around her. Several floors seemed to be engulfed in flames, but she could hardly tell for sure; from the view she had, she could only see the northern side of the building. She'd never seen anything like it.
A lump formed in her throat as she half-expected the "All Hands" call she'd dreaded since she joined the force to go out. "All Hands" meant every officer, whether they were on-duty or not, was called in. It had thankfully never been used since Firestorm started last year, but with a call like this, there was a good chance she'd hear it for the first time.
As if on cue, the walkie-talkie on her side started blasting with several voices at once: "75-FOXTROT TO DISPATCH! We just had an explosion in the Crystaller Building! Advising 3rd alarm at this time, roll every medical team available!"
Firestorm started to sprint towards the building. She knew it was a long run away, but as big as the building was, it looked like it was the next block over. Behind her, she heard a siren, as a fire engine rolled by her, being pulled by four fireponies. Several others followed behind, all wearing fire suits and helmets. She figured she'd follow them; they were obviously going to the same place.
It wasn't long before they were within blocks of the building, and Firestorm was able to get a better glimpse. It seemed that the entire top of the building was engulfed in flames, and debris was still raining down from it. She could see pieces of paper, metal bars, and what she hoped was a chair falling to the ground, and the occasional flame blowing out of a window. A million thoughts raced through Firestorm's mind; the primary one was whether she'd make it home tonight...