Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle finally reached the west coast and the Los Alicornus naval base. When they landed they were greeted by the dark Alicorn general, Dark Mane. He could tell they were friendly but still wanted to know who they were. He asked, "Who are you two and what do you want?"
Apple Bloom replied, "Howdy! I am Apple Bloom and this is my adopted sister Sweetie Belle. We have been sent here by Colgate to give you guys some important information and direct orders from her."
Dark Mane asked, "Oh, and what is this information and what are these orders?"
Sweetie Belle replied, "Well Commander Scootaloo has captured Lemon Hearts. You know that eye that Colgate scans the world with?"
Dark Mane asked, "Yes, I know about it. Did she hear any important information?"
Sweetie Belle replied, "Yes, she has. During enhanced interrogation Lemon Hearts told Scootaloo that Lyra has plans on sending her whole fleet to Equestria to not just attack this base and the city of Los Alicornus. She wants to launch a full scale invasion of Equestria. Colgate wants you guys to do patrols up and down the entire coast."
Dark Mane said, "Thank you. I will relay that information to my other officers." He paused for a minute and asked, "What about you two? Will you be heading home now?"
Apple Bloom replied, "No. We have been ordered to stay here. Since our power is equal to Scootaloo's, Colgate figured that we would be able to help in defending against any attacks."
Dark Mane nodded his head and told the two that there are sleeping quarters that are going unused on the largest carrier, the E.S.S. Colgate. The two headed to their new bedrooms while the general headed over to the shipyard to discuss the orders from their Supreme Commander.
Everypony saw him, lined up, stood at attention and saluted him. Colonel Storm Hooves asked, "Sir, what do you wish for us to do sir?"
Dark Mane replied, "At ease. Ok, two of Colgate's higher ups have flown here and notified me that we are under risk of being attacked."
Storm Hooves asked, "The base?"
Dark Mane replied, "More than just the base and more than just the city of Los Alicornus. The whole coast is at risk so Colgate has ordered that we do patrols up and down the coast."
Captain Thundermane asked, "Are these threats from Neigh Zealand? I have heard they modernized their army and built a real fleet."
Dark Mane replied, "Yes, these are from Neigh Zealand. I will be staying here but I do want Colonel Storm Hooves, Captain Thundermane and Lieutenant Black Sun to sail up and down the coast. Major Stinging Blades will stay here. Each of you grab 200 dark Alicorns and 200 changelings and get going. You are dismissed."
While the officers grabbed their soldiers and headed off on their patrols, Lyra called a meeting with her officers in Prancington. In her throne room she addressed them. She started, "Ok officers, the time has come. Our enemy must pay for their crimes."
General Black Rocks, her dark Alicorn general, asked, "Enemy? I thought we had three enemies."
Lyra replied, "The Equine Empire is in shambles. Despite being liberated by Equestrian forces and then capturing Lemon Hearts, they are suffering economically so we don't have to worry about them."
General Green Eyes, her changeling general asked, "What about Alicorn Island? Aren't they an enemy too?"
Lyra replied, "Yes, they are but since all they export is silk I'm not so worried about them. It is that arrogant Supreme Commander Colgate that I want to destroy."
Green Eyes asked, "So I take it the attack on the Equine Empire is off?"
Lyra laughed, "I never planned on helping that wimp Lemon Hearts to start with. I only told her I would so she would take part in this war. All forces will attack Equestria."
Lieutenant Gray Mist, her dark Alicorn lieutenant asked, "So when will we begin this attack?"
Lyra glared at the lieutenant and replied, "We shall set sail immediately after this meeting. First I want twenty carriers to set sail for the west coast of Equestria. For now I shall stay put here in Prancington. Once things heat up more, then I will join in on the attack. The generals will stay here while the rest of you officers will gather soldiers and head out. Chop, chop, get going."
The officers, with the exception of the generals, headed to the base to address the regular soldiers. Colonel Stone Gray addressed them. He started, "Ok men, the time has come. We have been ordered by Queen Lyra to set sail for the west coast of Equestria."
One of the soldiers asked, "Are we sailing there to begin the war?"
Stone Gray, his voice dripping with sarcasm replied, "No, we're going there to have a friendly chit chat with their soldiers!" He paused and then continued, "Well duh we're going there to begin the war. Now I think we should leave around 1,000 of each type of soldier here. You will be staying here with the generals."
Major Green Death asked, "You ready for this soldiers?"
The soldiers shouted, "Yes sir!"
The major nodded and the officers rounded up the soldiers they would be taking with them. In the end 20 of the 30 carriers did head off to the northeast. Lyra was standing there with her generals with a sadistic grin on her face. She said, "Oh pretty soon that arrogant rat Colgate will be begging us for mercy and I will NOT give it to her! She will pay dearly for her crimes against us!"
Black Rocks asked, "Don't get mad my queen but what kind of crimes did she commit against us?"
Lyra replied, "It is economic crimes that she has committed against us for a very long time. Equestria has increased it's own sheep population and now produces it's own wool, which means they no longer have to import from us. That lost revenue is harming our economy so it is a matter of Equestria harming every single citizen here. She will pay dearly. You know how much I love the ponies here. I am doing this for them."
The two generals nodded and agreed with their queen. Ten days pass and the carriers from Neigh Zealand see the Equestrian coast off in the distance. Stone Gray addresses the troops on his carrier. He said, "Alright troops. You see that city off in the distance? That is Los Alicornus. That is our target. I want us to destroy the city and kill as many civilians as possible."
One of the soldiers asked, "What about the other carriers? Where will they attack?"
Stone Gray replied, "A couple will attack their base, some will attack other cities and one will invade an uninhabited area and fly off towards Ponyville." He paused for a minute and then shouted, "TO WAR, TO VICTORY! KILL THEM ALL!"
It was an ordinary day in Los Alicornus. The sun was shining, a westerly breeze was keeping things cool and everypony was out doing their business. Suddenly a dark cloud drifted over the city and energy along with ooze began to be fired down from the city. One of the residents shouted, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
This caused mass panic in the streets. Eventually the unicorns began to fire energy back at the energy forces until they were covered with ooze. The dark Alicorns began to strike the citizens multiple times until they were killed. Finally a few troops who were stationed near the city flew in and began to take out the enemy forces. After an hour long fight, Equestrian forces had killed every enemy combatant except for Colonel Stone Gray, who was found laying in the street with a broken wing and two broken legs.
Before acquiring the injured colonel, the dark Alicorns freed the city's residents from the ooze. After that they captured the colonel and dragged him to the city's military office. While none of them were officers, they still had the authority to question those that they capture. The largest of the soldiers looked down at the colonel and asked, "Who are you and what are your forces' plans?"
Stone Gray replied, "I'm not telling a lowly hoof soldier anything!"
A changeling soldier said, "Well it is your choice. We do have the authority to punish enemy forces we capture."
Again Stone Gray refused to say anything so the dark Alicorn officers began to beat him with chains. Still he refused, so they tied him to a gurney and proceeded to waterboard him. After an hour of waterboarding he finally squealed. He said, "Ok, I will tell you everything."
The soldiers stopped the torture, motioned for him to talk and he did. Stone Gray said, "Ok, there are still 19 other carriers out there. There are some which will invade other cities, some will invade other bases and one which will land in an uninhabited area. Those soldiers will fly towards Ponyville."
After he spoke the soldiers continued beating him with chains until he breathed his last. In Ponyville Colgate saw this and became so enraged the whole town could hear her screaming and yelling. General Dark Night ran up to her room and asked, "Colgate, what is wrong?"
Still screaming in a rage, Colgate replied, "THAT DIRTY RAT! She's finished! I am going to turn Neigh Zealand into an uninhabitable wasteland for what she has done!"
Dark Night asked, "But what about your nuke spell tearing a hole in the void? Aren't you worried about doing further damage?"
Colgate screamed, "THE DAMN VOID IS EMPTY SO WHAT DOES IT MATTER. I WILL KILL HER MYSELF FOR THIS!"
Dark Night asked, "Did her forces attack Equestria?"
Colgate calmed down some and replied, "Yes, she did. I am calling an emergency meeting at the base. You notify every officer and soldier. I am going to notify my recruits. Anypony who refuses to attend this meeting will be executed."
For the first time in his entire life, Dark Night was truly terrified. While Sombra could be brutal and Twilight would use brute force, he knew that Colgate would stop at nothing short of destroying Neigh Zealand entirely and most likely killing or at least severely injuring Lyra. While Colgate headed to Sugarcube Corner Dark Night headed to the base to notify the army of what had happened.