Ponies filled the space behind them as Cotton Fluff, Even Later, and the white-coated stallion walking alongside them shuffled forward. Cotton, if she were to speak on it, would have said something about how she felt uncomfortable in such close quarters; because of the way the crowd moved, she had to be pressed up right against the neighbouring ponies, her coat almost sticking to them. No wonder everypony there seemed to be wearing a thick layer of clothing despite the warmth and humidity; nopony else wanted to touch anypony either.

"It used to be a lot easier to get in, mind you," the stallion went on, hardly even pausing to catch his breath. "But then they closed most of the other passages into the city, so there's really only this one and one to the north."

"How come they did that?" Later asked, though she sounded uninterested.

"Afraid of an attack from the rebels, likely," the stallion replied. "They don't think it'll actually happen, but... meh. Better safe than sorry, I guess. I'd rather have to wait an extra half-hour to get in than be bombed to shit, y'know?"

"...Yeah," Later said, biting her lip. "That... would definitely be better."