Luna lowered her wings, though the thunder still rumbled overhead. Every so often a flash of lightning would flicker amongst the clouds.<br/><br/>"I'm glad you're all here." She looked at her friends, and then at the Mayor. "I don't know what's going on myself. All I know is that the Mayor seems bent on keeping it from us and from the people of Maneflow. I think it's time we learn why."<br/><br/>The Mayor looked around, then sighed in defeat. "All right all right! Look, I don't know<em>how</em>it happened but there was some kind of...something early this morning. Silver Shield here guards the silo where we store extra food for the winter. When he came on duty this morning, the night watch here..." A hoof went to the various sickened ponies "..were like this. He sent somepony to get me and I was<em>trying</em>to avoid a general panic in town! Now there's talk of black magic and you all know things, and I don't know how we're going to keep Maneflow from going crazy! Or worse, having word get out to Canterlot. I thought if I hushed it up long enough I could set up some kind of a deal to get food from somewhere and nopony would have to know." He hung his head. "Guess that's not happening."<br/><br/>Luna looked at the mayor, then at her friends, clearly waiting for their advice and input before she spoke.