Terror in Equestria 11: Death and Destruction

Final Meeting in Marescow

The following morning arrived and after breakfast, the leaders were getting ready to depart. They were gathered outside of the citadel in Marescow and were having a discussion. Luna, Celestia and LaurFa could see a nervous look in Scootaloo's face and knew that something was up, they were wondering why she would be so nervous to travel to a nation ran by her primary ally.

LaurFa asked, "Scootaloo, what is wrong? You seem nervous to be flying over a nation that is governed by your ally."

Scootaloo's look only became more nervous, "Well she has that eye and what if she saw us talking, what if she heard everything we were talking about."

Out of the three, Luna was the most understanding, "You know, she does make a point. I would hate to think what would happen to Scootaloo if she not only saw you but heard you. If she heard her spilling the beans and was to catch her, I'm certain that there would be hell to....."

LaurFa interrupted, "But this has to be done. There is no getting around it!"

Celestia added, "Maybe she wasn't tapping into the eye or maybe she wasn't paying to the Crystal Empire." She put her hoof around Scootaloo and added, "Don't worry Scoots, everything will be fine."

Scoots, something that Scootaloo had not been referred to since harmony still existed on Eqqus 1, back when she was a filly. She gave her a nervous smile and replied, "You're right, everything should be ok." She then pointed towards the airship and asked, "What is that thing?"

Luna stood tall and proudly stated, "It is something that will make the trip to Ridead for the rest of us much easier. It is an airship that I just commissioned after my return from the summit."

Both Celestia and LaurFa's eyes lit up. Celestia asked, "You mean that we won't have to wear our wings out flying anymore?"

Luna shook her head yes and LaurFa added, "What a shame I didn't have something like this to get from Faustica to Canterlot. I wouldn't have had to fly through a storm and I also wouldn't have nearly got eaten by a Tatzlwurm."

All three of them gasped in shock given that it had been many millennia since one of those were even seen. Celestia asked, "Seriously? I thought those things went extinct ages ago!"

LaurFa replied, "Apparently not."

Luna finally realized that if they didn't get going that it would wind up being dark before they reached their destinations. She pointed her wing towards the west and ordered, "Scootaloo, you had best get going. You have a long flight ahead of you." She then turned towards the airship and added, "And we had best get going as well. I'm sure we will want to arrive in Ridead before it gets too late."

Scootaloo nodded and took off towards the west. While she was trying to calm herself down, she knew that if Colgate knew she was on her way and had heard everything that she said, things would not turn out well for her, nor would it turn out well for the Unicornia royalty if she was to catch her with them.

Planning the Ambush

Several hours had passed and in her black tower, Colgate was waking up. She had trouble sleeping the previous night because of everything she had seen and heard, including the betrayal by Scootaloo. The first thing she did when she got up was tap into the eye and scan the world. Things off to the west looked completely normal, she saw nothing out of the ordinary to the south but when she began to scan things off to the east, she would not be so thrilled.

The first thing she saw was three of the leaders sailing south in an airship. Given that the Equine Empire was the first nation to actually develop one, she grunted, "What, they have an airship?" She then stomped her hoof and added, "Why the hay didn't I think about one of those?" She then got a smile on her face as she continued, "If I have my way, that thing's going down and they won't even know what hit them."

She then focused a bit further to the north and noticed Scootaloo was flying towards the west, towards Coastal Equestria. She continued, "So Scootaloo, coming to notify the royalty of Unicornia about everything that was discovered huh?" She developed a frown and finished, "Well we shall see about that."

After noticing Scootaloo flying in her direction, she didn't even bother to look towards the north and headed down to the dining hall for breakfast. She would be pleased when she saw that her two generals were waiting down there for her. When they saw her, they saw an intense look on her face and knew that something serious was going on. Dark Night asked, "Colgate, what is up with the intense look?"

Colgate replied, "Generals, we are going to be having a visitor later today." She summoned the chef and ordered, "Fix all of us eggs, bacon, toast and cider, we have something important to do today."

Lightning Storm asked, "A visitor, who?"

Colgate replied, "After breakfast, the three of us along with a few soldiers are heading towards the portal to Unicornia. That tyrant Scootaloo is coming to warn them about how they think I took those gems."

While Dark Night had his concerns over Colgate's recent behavior, he knew that she would not be thrilled if he was to not want to join her on what was sounding like a capture mission. He suggested, "Four of each type of soldier perhaps?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, in the event she along with Ruby and White Magick are captured as well." Her voice became more intense as she continued, "Which in an ideal situation will happen."

Her generals could tell that it was going to be one of those days where she was going to be focused on one thing and one thing only, business. Once their breakfast arrived, Colgate immediately began to chow down while her generals were eating a bit more slowly. She noticed this and asked, "Generals, why are you eating so slowly? We need to hurry up and acquire her, alright?"

The two nodded and began to eat their breakfast at a more rapid pace. Once they were finished she ordered, "Go and grab four soldiers of each type, the ones that you think would do the best job."

The two nodded and headed to the base to get the soldiers and Colgate waited impatiently. After five minutes they arrived and Colgate sighed, "Well it took you long enough." She pointed her wing towards the west and ordered, "Alright, to the hills surrounding the portal, now."

They all took off to the west, towards the portal to Unicornia. While they were not sure when Scootaloo would arrive, they wanted to be ready to ambush her, and hopefully the royals as well. Once they landed, they listened carefully for Unicornia guards that normally find ponies in the hills rather quickly.

After a couple hours of nothing, they heard a sound and prepared to strike. What they saw through the trees though was not guards, it was Scootaloo. Colgate saw this and thought to herself, "Alright Scoots, when you come back out, you're tyrannical flank is mine!"