My mother often told me about how she thought the world would end. The different interpretations written in books, all sorts of theories being posited by whatever thinker believed they had all the answers. She thought it'd be fiery and chaotic; we lived in Moltara, after all, so that'd make sense. But I don't think she expected this...

The Magma Yurble had taken a few steps away from the Hall of Heroes before turning towards the Yooyuball coliseum, each step leaving behind a mark of scorched grass under his feet. He had flipped open a notebook to re-read what he had written down as he eavesdropped on the council of Neopian leaders, his brows furrowed and a frown on his face.

Neopia Central, they said. Neopia Central was next. He had to get back there, quickly.

The Yurble had made his way towards the path to Shenkuu, the lone person walking that path as everyone else continued to crowd towards the coliseum. After all, the Altador Cup wasn't over just yet. But reporting on the Cup would have to wait; he had to think about the safety of his employees. As he left Altador, he had flashed his press pass to a guard to avoid being stopped, the shiny pass reading MONTAGNIUS G., NEOPIA CENTRAL INQUIRER.

He had spent the trip aboard the flying ship from Shenkuu watching out the window, his red eyes going wide as he realized that Meridell, Brightvale, and Kiko Lake truly were all completely Grey now. He sat back in his seat as he sighed, the coiled ringlets of his mane dully glowing red.

The Grey curse had only been recorded for a few weeks when one of his best reporters went to him...
MollyCollins, a plucky Desert Mynci who had been detailing every single instance of Grey curse she possibly could. She had brought the Money Tree being changed to his attention, pointing to a mysterious figure in one of her photos.
"This is a lead!" Molly had exclaimed excitedly. "And I'm gonna find 'em and get to the bottom of this, boss!"
"Collins, you're flying dangerously close to the sun." Montagnius had replied, giving the Mynci a bland look. When she had tilted her head in confusion, he groaned. "I mean you're getting in over your head."
"Nope! I got this~" Molly replied, giving him a bright grin.

The next time he saw her, her fur was grey and her eyes were bloodshot and red. Her entire demeanor was one of utter despair.
"I... messed it all up..." The Mynci had mumbled as she pushed her camera towards the Yurble. "I'm the worst..."

He had tried to reassure her that everything was fine, before going out and purchasing a Morphing Potion to attempt to change her back himself. But it hadn't worked, and after that, it seemed that more of his reporters were turning Grey as well...

Montag merely looked down at his paws in silence as he thought over everything that had transpired; not just in the recent months, but even farther back. His mother did say he liked to get into trouble... But sometimes, the truth was worth all of the trouble he'd stumble into.

By the time Montagnius was setting foot in Neopia Central, dark storm clouds were brewing overhead as he rushed towards the Plaza.
There wasn't much time.

The Neopia Central Inquirer was a smaller newspaper distributed to select subscribers; it wasn't nearly as big as the Neopian Times, but it didn't really need to be. Montag had managed to buy a small office to host his printing presses, and that was about the only way he'd be able to spread truth among lies in Neopia Central.

Upon entering his offices, Montag was greeted by a young Desert Eyrie. "Hey, boss! You're back from Altador pretty early-"
"We need to evacuate. Everyone." The Magma Yurble immediately ordered the Eyrie. "Stop the presses and start gathering everything."

As the Eyrie rushed to inform the printers about what was going on, Montag went into his own office to begin rounding up a few of his own belongings. He pulled out an old burlap satchel before grabbing a few files and folders, only to look up as he heard some sort of commotion coming from outside.

Shit… those creatures must be rolling in now!

Montag had enough time to grab his phone, throw the strap of his satchel over his shoulder, and snatch his keys from his desk before heading to the back door.
"Out, out! Everyone out!" The Yurble commanded his employees, letting everyone else go out of the back first before heading outside and slamming the door himself.

While locking the door with one paw, Montag had called Molly with his other, trying desperately to reach his best reporter… only for the phone to keep ringing endlessly, with no one coming to answer. Letting out a soft "damn it", Montag stashed his phone in his pocket before looking ahead, seeing those mysterious monsters flying through the sky.

One chance. Take a deep breath…
Montag breathed in through his nose as his entire mane erupted into flames, scorching the grass he was standing in but leaving his clothes and satchel unscathed. The Yurble then dove forward, curling into a fiery ball, before rolling out of Neopia Central as fast as he possibly could.

He had to get to Moltara.