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// Distrust Revealed 
// Story: Terror in Equestria 10:  The Return of Tirek 
// by StormLuna 
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After slaying the dark goddess, Colgate and her troops had been flying for a great deal of the day until a familiar sight appeared on the horizon, home.  This was a welcome sight for her as not only was she looking forward to a tasty meal and sleeping in her own bed, but she was also looking forward to getting those relics locked up. 

When they finally landed, without saying anything, Colgate immediately rushed into her tower to lock her new acquisitions up.  This brought out some concern from her generals.  Dark Night was the first to say anything, "Lightning Storm, why do you think she was so adamant about being the one to store those things?"

Lightning Storm asked, "I take it you have your concerns about all of this?"

Dark Night replied, "Yes, I do.  While she has never done anything evil in the past and has never been a threat to this world, I can't help but wonder.  I can't help but wonder if her eating Twilight's heart could have done something bad." 

Lightning Storm added, "I know what you mean.  While it seemed like a good idea right after she was killed, the fact that she ate it while Twilight was a dark goddess could be a bad thing, it could very well lead to her doing things that could devastate this world." 

While Dark Night and Lightning Storm were having their discussion, they saw an orange Alicorn land next to them.  She turned to the two and said, "Dark Night, I really need to speak to Colgate, this is really important." 

Dark Night replied, "Well she went down into the archives to lock up those relics.  I don't know if she may have left the door open since we are here alone but you can always go see." 

Scootaloo nodded and headed into the tower.  She noticed that the door to the archives was locked but to her, this was too important.  She banged on the door and shouted, "Colgate, it's me Scootaloo!  I have to talk to you!" 

Down in the archives Colgate was opening the door to the very back room when she heard the pounding and the yell.  She knew that out of all the leaders, Scootaloo would be the only one to be so frantic to talk to her.  She headed back up to the exit, still carrying the relics in her aura.  When she opened the door and saw that it was Scootaloo, she motioned for her to follow her down into the archives. 

When they got to the back room, Colgate asked, "Scootaloo, what are you so frantic about?  Why were you pounding on the door so loud?"

Scootaloo replied, "It regards something the other leaders asked of me after you left." 

Colgate flared up her horn in anger and snapped, "What is it?  What is it that they asked of you?"

Scootaloo replied, "Well they seem to think you are up to something, even Ruby, and they know how close we are.  They asked if I would keep an eye on you and report anything suspicious to them." 

Colgate slammed her hoof into the floor and yelled, "What, they want you to keep an eye on me?"

Scootaloo replied, "Yes.  I told them I would think about it but you know that I would never do that.  I am thinking though that if I am friendly with them, simply tell them you are up to nothing bad, I could get them to share information with me and I could tell you about what they're doing." 

Colgate said, "Good."  Her voice then began more intense as she continued, "So they think I'm up to something do they, even Ruby?"  She again flared her horn up in anger and continued, "Well from this point on, they are on their own.  If they have to face of against a villain, we will simply secure our borders, form our own alliance and when they fall, then we'll go in, slay the villain and then take their lands for ourselves!" 

Scootaloo liked the idea, "That sounds like a great plan.  It was because of you that Twilight is dead and it is because of you that those centaurs are dead and this is how they repay you?  That is very disrespectful if you ask me." 

Colgate suggested, "Ok, you said you are going to try and get closer to them.  What I want you to do is get close with them, earn their complete trust and then report everything to me.  While I can see and hear everything with the eye, I can't monitor them all the time nor can I read their minds."  She spread her wings wide and continued, "Do that and I will make it worth not only your while, but it will be much to the benefit of the Crystal Empire." 

Scootaloo knew that Colgate was a pony that would stick to her words and make sure things went well for the Empire.  She extended her hoof out and gave Colgate a hoofbump.  She said, "To an even stronger alliance?"

Colgate replied, "To an even stronger alliance."  She pointed towards the exit and continued, "Well how about we go upstairs and have the victory feast I promised my army." 

Scootaloo said, "That sounds good to me." 

As they headed upstairs, Colgate couldn't help but feel that she was being betrayed by the other leaders, especially Ruby given that it was her who resurrected her and got her put back in power.  So many things were running through her mind at that moment but one thing was sure, she would never aid them in facing off against another villain again.