Terror in Equestria 9: Return of Tambelon

After the battle ended, Colgate and her forces stood triumphant in the city of Tambelon looking around at all their fallen enemies. For Colgate, this was proof that her tactics worked and for the others, they were able to take care of this and could now save their friends but one pony would have different concerns, White Magick. White Magick looked around and noticed that one pony was missing, his wife Ruby Heart.

He went into a panic, "Where is Ruby, where is Ruby?"

Colgate pointed in the direction of where she laid and led her there. When he saw her bruised and mangled body, he leaned down and began to cry in agony. Bray saw this and came out from behind Grogar's body to console him but would be stopped by Colgate, "Just let him grieve Bray, this is no time for anypony to be approaching him, particularly for one who he will think is an enemy."

Colgate decided that while White Magick was grieving, that the time to save those who had been taken captive. She cast her gaze down at Bray and ordered, "Lead us to those who were taken captive and I guarantee you shall receive no harm."

Bray nodded and first led everypony to the cave where they found Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow cowering down in the back of the cave. Fluttershy is the one who ran to them, "Ladies, I'm so glad to see you!"

They replied, "We're glad to see you too!"

Colgate approached them and noticed that they had been bound together and had horn caps on. She suggested, "Before you continue with your reunion, let me take care of these bounds and horn caps."

Colgate removed the chains that bound them but discovered that she was not able to merely pull the horn caps off. She knew that just like she does when using them on her enemies, that Grogar had enchanted them. She sighed in frustration, "Ugh, why did he have to enchant them?"

The four captives sighed in despair when they heard that the caps were enchanted as they knew that when it comes to enchanted horn caps, that the only one that can remove them is the one who enchanted them. Colgate saw the looks on their faces and wanted to reassure them, "Don't worry ladies, I'm sure that if I use enough power, that I can remove them."

This brought a smile to three of them but a look of concern to the face on Applejack. She asked, "Colgate, aren't you worried your power will shatter our horns too?"

Colgate replied, "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." Colgate grabbed the cap on Applejack's horn and put enough energy into her hold until it first cracked and then shattered. She gave the four a smile and continued, "You see, I know what I'm doing."

She then did the same with the other three and finally they were free. Everypony began to leave the cave when Rainbow saw Bray alongside Colgate and yelled, "Colgate, it is one of Grogar's lackeys, we have to slay him."

Rainbow lit up her horn when Colgate stood in front of him. She gave her a stern look and countered, "Rainbow, he is the one who not only cut Grogar's collar off of him but aided me in killing Grogar when he slashed his throat."

Rainbow gave her a strange look and asked, "Seriously, he cut his collar off? She cast her gaze to Bray and asked, "Is what Colgate says true? Did you really aid in slaying him?"

Bray replied, "Yes I did." In a much happier tone he continued, "And I'm finally free! I'm free from his control!"

Everypony in the cave watched him as he said this and could tell that he truly was free from his control. Colgate turned to him and ordered, "Now lead us to Twilight, where is she?"

As he led them out of the cave, the snow had changed back to freezing rain and the lightning was worse. When they got to Twilight they discovered that she too had a horn cap on but was tied to a column, had numerous open wounds, claw marks on her flank and had ice building up around her nose. Celestia was the first to rush to her. In a state of panic she asked, "Twilight, are you ok?"

Twilight was not all that coherent when she replied, "Princess Celestia, is that you?"

Celestia began to cry, "Yes Twilight it is me." She then yelled, "Colgate, we have to free her and we need to remove this horn cap."

Colgate approached the two, freed Twilight and like she did with the others, she shattered the horn cap that was on her. She yelled, "Come on everypony, we have to get her inside before she falls ill."

They headed into the only decent building in the city, the one that Grogar resided in. It was chilly inside but it did have torches providing light and it was dry. Once they were inside everypony had gathered around Twilight, with the exception of one. Colgate headed back out into the storm to search for White Magick. Once she reached him she discovered that he was still kneeling over the body of his fallen wife. She approached him and asked, "White Magick, we need to get you inside."

Still in a state of agony he yelled, "Not without Ruby. We have to get her out of this cursed place and get her buried."

Colgate replied, "I agree, let's get inside before you start to get covered in ice the way Twilight did."

He levitated his wife's body and followed Colgate inside. He sat her down and again began to cry. Despite being disoriented and not feeling well, Twilight heard his cries, got up and stumbled to him. She had a sad look on her face as she knelt beside him and said, "White Magick, I'm......"

Before she could finish her sentence he pushed her away with his wing and snapped, "Leave me be Twilight Sparkle, my wife died in battle and I want one last moment alone with her."

Twilight stumbled back towards the group where she laid back down on the floor. Most everypony continued to give her a warm smile with the exception of three, Colgate, Scootaloo and LaurFa. Scootaloo was the first to say anything, "Twilight, he just lost his wife. Let him grieve, ok."

LaurFa added, "Twilight, I know for a fact that you have a crush on him but I would strongly advise that you leave him alone until he gets past his mourning phase."

Colgate finished, "And that may be quite some time. Those two were very close and if not out of respect for him, leave him be out of respect for Queen Ruby Heart."

Physically Twilight was already feeling bad enough but the way White Magick snapped at her along with the stern suggestions she received made her feel all the worse. At that moment she hoped that she and White Magick would be ready to leave Tambelon soon and return home.