Early in the morning after the fall of Maredrid an exhausted Luna and her officers finally arrived in Marescow. She and her officers landed in the city square. At first the citizens were terrified when they saw an Alicorn with numerous changelings and dark Alicorns land in their city until a filly from Maredrid ran up to her.
"Queen Luna! Are you ok? What happened to Maredrid?" asked the filly
Luna had a sad look on her face and replied, "I am sorry little one, but those who were unable to evacuate were killed and the city was leveled to the ground."
The filly began to cry and asked, "Even Aunt Tulip and Uncle Anvil?"
While Luna did not personally know the two she could tell by the filly's question that they had not evacuated when the attack occurred. Luna leaned down, nuzzled the filly and replied, "I'm sorry, but they did not survive the attack."
She grabbed of Luna's hoof and held on to it tightly and cried harder and harder. Very soon her parents, Misty Mae and Cactus Joe came running to the sound of their daughter's cries.
Misty Mae said, "Primrose, you leave Queen Luna alone. I'm sure she has bigger issues to worry about than your crying."
Luna interrupted, "Ma'am, your daughter is crying because her aunt Tulip and uncle Anvil were unable to evacuate before the attack and were killed by enemy forces. Her sadness is important to me."
Primrose's parents ran to their daughter and Luna hugged all three of them. Luna said, "I know there are many here who are going through the same situation as you three are. I need to address those who relocated here."
Luna flew up to the balcony of the ancient citadel that rose from the city's center and began to address the crowd. She started, "Citizens of Marescow, refugees from Maredrid, I want you all to know that the city of Maredrid has been attacked, everypony who was unable to evacuate has been killed and the city has been leveled."
When she said this a lot of ponies in the crowd began to cry and comfort one another. Luna saw this and continued, "Alright everypony, I want you to know that I am here for you. If you need to talk, come to the ancient throne room in the citadel and discuss things with me. Right now I can't do much but comfort you."
While the refugees and Marescow natives who lost family in the attack were distraught, they knew that eventually Luna would find a way to help them anyway she could.
Two days had passed and in Ponyville Colgate's forces were ready to head to the coast and set sail. Colgate stood before her troops and said, "Alright troops, an ally and a very dear friend of ours needs our help. I am going to duplicate ALL of you. I am going to do this because we need forces both here and to drive Saddle Arabian forces back into Saddle Arabia."
General Dark Night asked, "Colgate, so where are we going to make landfall?"
Colgate replied, "Well I have been listening in on their conversations and the final city their forces plan on attacking by sea is Braylin. That is where you guys will be setting sail for. We should arrive there before they do. That way, we can ambush them before they can do much damage and prevent them from heading to Marescow."
Dark Night asked, "Colgate, will you be going with us?"
Colgate replied, "No. I am sending Commander Scootaloo with you guys. Don't worry, she has an immense amount of military knowledge and she possesses very powerful magic, almost as powerful as my own."
Scootaloo stood there stunned. She never imagined that Colgate would put her in charge of a full scale invasion. Scootaloo asked, "Colgate, can I say goodbye to my friends and family before we leave?"
Colgate replied, "Sure, just make it quick because I want you guys to set sail before nightfall."
Scootaloo nodded and headed over to Sweet Apple Acres. Everypony was in the barn enjoying lunch. She went running to them and said, "Goodbye everypony."
Applejack spit out her cider and asked, "What do you mean by goodbye sugar cube?"
Scootaloo replied, "Well Lemon Hearts launched a full scale invasion of the Equine Empire. Colgate has put me in charge of a mission in which we will sail to Braylin and lay in wait to attack Saddle Arabian forces when they get there."
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom ran up to her. Apple Bloom asked, "Scootaloo, why are y'all saying goodbye for. You're acting like you're not coming back."
Sweetie Belle added, "Yeah, you act like you're going to get killed."
Scootaloo replied, "What if I do?"
Applejack said, "Now don't you worry Scootaloo. Your power is great, your knowledge of how opposing forces work is immense. Just use your energy, keep your troops well disciplined and everything will be just fine."
Scootaloo hugged them and said, "Well I better get back over to the base. Colgate said to make it quick and you know how she gets when somepony is late. Instead of good bye, how about I say see you guys later."
Applejack replied, "Now that's better. See y'all later."
Scootaloo nodded and flew back over to the base and was met by a surprised Colgate. Colgate said, "Wow, that was quick. I know I said to make it quick but I didn't expect you to be back this quickly."
Scootaloo replied, "Well the sooner we get going the sooner we can liberate the Equine Empire."
Colgate said, "Now that's why I made you the commander so long ago. You have the initiative to go get things done."
Colgate looked out at her troops and continued, "Alright troops, I need you all to stand out in that field. I need to duplicate you."
Colgate motioned for her forces to go to the field and once they got there she began to glow as she recited, "From one to two, two to four and so much more, when one is simple mere, more and more shall appear."
Suddenly there were twice as many officers as there were before. Scootaloo asked, "Colgate, I am taking the duplicates with me, right?"
Colgate replied, "Yes, they are the ones who will be going with you."
Scootaloo looked at the soldiers and said, "Those of you who are duplicates, follow me. We need to get to the coast as soon as possible. Colgate wants us to set sail by nightfall."
Scootaloo and the duplicates flew off to the east. Colgate felt like a proud parent as her commander led the duplicate soldiers off to the east. General Dark Night asked, "Colgate, aren't you worried that something might happen to her?"
Colgate replied, "General, I know you are concerned about her but she is tough as nails and isn't the type of pony to make dumb decisions. Besides, I have taught her many spells, the armor spell being one of them, so I am thinking everything should be fine. Troops, you are dismissed. It is time for lunch anyway, officers, let's go grab a bite to eat."
Five hours later Scootaloo and her forces landed out at the shore where three ships sit there waiting. Colonel Black Mist asked, "Scootaloo, what are we going to do for food and water? I highly doubt those ships are already stocked."
Scootaloo replied, "We are going to have to pick these plum bushes empty. The voyage to Braylin is a four to six day journey depending on the weather. Luckily these plums have enough juices in them that they will keep us hydrated. Before we start stocking the ships, let's eat a few of them. I'm hungry after that long flight."
Scootaloo and her forces spend around thirty minutes eating and then spent two and a half hours picking the plum bushes clean so they would have adequate food for their journey. Finally right as the sun was setting they finished. Scootaloo said, "Alright troops, let's get going. Board one of the ships, let's raise our anchors and let's get going!"
Right as the sun dipped below the horizon Equestria disappeared from the skyline. Scootaloo looked back and said to herself, "Colgate, I won't let you down and Equestria, I promise to return."
It was right after supper in Ponyville as Colgate was watching them set sail to the east. Colgate said to herself, "Good job Scootaloo, you set sail exactly on time. I take this as a good sign."