Quashed

As Steelhorn predicted, the Zebra alliance was within view of the gates by the following afternoon. Portcullises were dropped, drawbridges raised, and the minotaur leader made his way to the gate to gaze out over his new obstacle. Five pegasi were sent from the city with a message to the invasion force.

---***---

Shining Armor once again made his way into Jericho's tent. "They know we're here," he growled, tossing the scroll onto the collapsible cot. "We should have been stealthier! We could have been inside the city tonight, but you had to make this encampment in view of the city walls and not hide at all!"

Jericho gently opened the missive and read it. "He knew we were coming, shortly after we began. This was a direct approach, in a rather tight span. If he were still unaware of us, he'd be quite the fool. I do not think he is, so it's time we switched tools. No more do we rely on trickery and stealth, we must be known to ask the princesses' health."

"He wants us specifically to go into the castle to discuss the terms of our surrender. As if we'd be stupid enough to fall for a trap like that."

"We are going to be alone with him in a room. You need to keep your temper, or it may spell your doom." Jericho began writing on a scroll of his own. "I'll ask him to meet us on neutral ground. I'll have him bring a princess, to ensure that she's sound. We'll ask her directly how the others are faring, and that will tell us how we should be preparing."

"You're not seriously considering talking to this monster?"

"I am, and you should be in attendance, as well. Assuming, that is, you calm down for a spell." He handed the note to Shining Armor. "Send this back with the messenger post-haste. While we wait for reply, let us make sure we're braced."

---***---

Steelhorn received the missive and read it aloud to the court. "We will meet with you as asked, but we have some conditions. First, we request a change of positions. Instead of the castle, which your forces surround, we would ask a location over more neutral ground. Just outside of your gate, under your battery towers, we have the cover of trees, where we can plant ours. With both sides taking aim, but loosing no arrows, we'll meet you unarmed, harmless as sparrows. Second, we ask that a princess be present. The spreading of rumours, while very unpleasant, has lead us to think that she's under duress. We'd like to see for ourselves, we confess. An inspection would put all of our minds at ease, and we'd like some questions answered, if you please. We hope that this ends quickly, perhaps before it even starts. To that end we await your swift response, hope in our hearts."

Boneshatter shook his head. "Why do zebras always insist on rhyming? It's needlessly complicated. Just say the words that make up your sentence. Don't add in all the extra shit."

"I think it's a dominance thing," Steelhorn replied. "They want to prove that they're better than everyone else at talking, so they adopted that ridiculous mannerism." He rolled up the scroll. "More importantly, what do we think of his terms?"

"I'm remiss to send any of the princesses out with you," answered Hardtusk. "Celestia may be behaving herself now, but it took quite awhile to put her in a cooperative mood."

"Plus, we'd have to explain what happened to her mane," agreed Scrimshaw. "She's definitely out of the question."

"One of the pegasi returning with the note said he interacted with Shining Armor," said Boneshatter. "We could send out Twilight. He'd be so happy to see that she's okay, he'd turn around and go back home. No more crystal ponies to fight with."

"You're all wrong," interjected the priestess. "They wanted an inspection. There's only one alicorn princess that can be trusted without a horn ring. Luna has to go, if any of them."

"Yes, obviously, Luna would be the one to go," growled Steelhorn. "That's the easiest decision. I'm asking if you think we can trust this coalition enough to meet them on equal footing unarmed?"

Boneshatter leaned back in his chair. "That certainly is a good question. All I can confidently contribute is that they didn't shoot the messengers."

"I suppose that's all I can say, as well," admitted Steelhorn. "Alright, I'll send them back a missive. Perhaps we can solve this without weapons."

---***---

The missives went back and forth for an hour, culminating in a meeting being set up. In full view of the gate guards, four zebras set up a tent for privacy with a few chairs and a table inside. When it came time to begin the negotiations, Steelhorn, Luna, and Scrimshaw walked through the portcullis and waited for the drawbridge to drop. Steelhorn was wearing his shirt and coat, as he had left his weapons with Boneshatter. Luna wore a somewhat revealing dress, so as to make clear that she was amenable to inspection. Only Scrimshaw was armed with his throwing weapons and blade, as he was to pat down the other leaders for weapons.

The drawbridge came down, revealing that Shining Armor and Jericho were already waiting for them just in front of the tent. Steelhorn's trained eyes easily picked up the crystal archers hiding behind the trees. There was a slight delay in finding the zebra archers, but he found them. He had to admit, their natural camouflage made them harder to spot at a glance. A massive boon for stealth operations.

Scrimshaw went across the drawbridge first, patting down Shiny and Jerry for weapons. Likewise, Malakai was sent across the drawbridge to pat down Luna and Steelhorn. When both sides gave the okay, Malakai hurried back to the open end of the drawbridge, where he and Scrimshaw were designated to wait until the meeting was over. Steelhorn followed at a pace he deemed to be non-threatening.

As he and Luna stepped down from the drawbridge, Steelhorn's ear twitched. He heard the twang of a bowstring, followed by the whistle of an arrow sailing through the air. As he tried to place the sound, the wooden shaft embedded itself in Scrimshaw's thigh. As he cried out in pain, another arrow flew through the air, this one tearing a hole in the shoulder of Steelhorn's shirt, staining the fabric red with his blood.

There was no time to waste. Steelhorn turned around, grabbed Luna, and rushed back to the gate, ordering the bridge be raised. Scrimshaw managed to climb aboard just in time to keep from being trapped outside, sliding down the wooden planks and collapsing on his injured leg as he landed. The gate closed and the soldiers on the batteries opened fire on the trees as Jericho and Shining Armor beat a hasty retreat. There was no more room for negotiations. Blood had been spilled, and the siege of Canterlot had begun.