The earthquake that came with Grogar's arrival to Canterlot caused all to feel a sense of fear and unease. Having been awakened by the rumbling, Tempest Shadow raced over to the southwest wall to check on her sister, Razzle Fizzle. Tempest realized that perhaps maybe she could get an answer for why her sister chose to fight instead of evacuating.

"Razzle!" Tempest cried, racing over to her sister's side. "You all right?"

"I'm fine, Fizzlepop," replied Razzle Fizzle. "What was that earthquake?"

"I don't know, but I think you also know why I am here as well. I want to know why you chose to fight instead of evacuating, Razzle."

"Why? I did it to be here and defend our home like the rest of us, Fizzlepop. Most importantly, I did it to be with you."

"Is that it?"

"Yes."

Tempest felt like she didn't get the full answer but wasn't going to interrogate her own sister any further. The fact of the matter that there was an earthquake to begin with placed everyone defending Canterlot on high alert. Tempest could see that everyone inside was immediately preparing for battle and not taking the earthquake lightly.

"I need to check on the princesses," she said, looking up towards the tower where the throne room was. "I'll be back."

Looking at her sister one last time, Tempest raced towards the throne room.

…

Meanwhile, at Twilight's castle, Twilight was fast asleep in her bed when Spike came racing into her bedroom, burping up a scroll from Celestia. It took a moment for the Princess of Friendship to realize what was going on.

"Spike," she groaned, slowly waking up. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Sorry Twilight, but Celestia wants you in Canterlot."

Taking the scroll with her magic, Twilight read what Celestia wrote and felt her heart sink when she finished reading it.

"Grogar was in the throne room?" Twilight gasped. "Offering Celestia and the others a chance to surrender?"

"Maybe he was just being neighborly," guessed Spike, shrugging his shoulders in an unsuringly nature.

"There is nothing neighborly about Grogar, Spike. If Grogar had the nerve to pay a visit, then he would have taken their magic right then and there. I'll be back soon."

Spike watched as Twilight took to the air racing towards Canterlot at a high speed. Once she arrived, Twilight saw the effects of Grogar's visit, with some of the building structures damaged from the earthquake.

"I came as soon as I got your message," Twilight said to Celestia as she arrived in the throne room and hugging her fellow princesses. "Was Grogar really trying to offer us a chance to surrender?"

"Yes, he was Twilight," answered Celestia. "We turned it down because we knew it was a trick. He wasn't going to hold up his end of the bargain, even if we did surrender to him."

"And it was also because you weren't here protecting the tree of harmony," added Cadence. "He must want all four of us in the same place at the same time."

"Either way, Grogar will more than likely split his forces in order to get what he wants," remarked Celestia. "A majority of them will come here to Canterlot and the other will head for the Tree of Harmony."

Just then, they all heard running footsteps and the doors flung wide open as Tempest dashed into the throne room.

"Tempest, what are you doing here?" asked Twilight as Tempest took a few moments to catch her breath.

"He was here wasn't he?" Tempest asked.

"Yes, Grogar was here, Tempest," answered Twilight. "I got a note saying that he was here demanding that we surrender everything to him, our magic, everything."

Hearing this made Tempest feel more and more determined to fight.

"Let me guess, this is another part of my training, isn't it? This earthquake?"

"You could say that it is," remarked Twilight.

"All that matters is we start preparing for Grogar's arrival," advised Luna, looking out the window to see a clearing in the distance. "Most likely, Grogar's forces will be positioning themselves in that clearing over there."

"You might be right, Luna," remarked Celestia, also looking out at the clearing. "If my hunch is correct, as soon as I raise the sun, Grogar and his enemies will be coming in force."

"Then why don't you raise the sun now?" suggested Twilight, looking over at Celestia. "Make him come before he is at full strength?"

This gave Celestia and Luna a good idea. The chance to bring Grogar out into the open before he was at full strength was more than enough to give the princesses an advantage.

…

Meanwhile, in Tambeleon, Grogar had summoned all of his evil allies into a conference room. The Storm King, however, wasn't too thrilled at the idea of being called back to Canterlot after being told to conquer the hippogriffs. But, he was there anyway

"The princesses have refused our offer to surrender peacefully," Grogar said. "The time to fight is now."

"Of course the time to fight is now," said evil Twilight, slamming her hooves on the table. "The sooner we bring Equestria to its knees, the better."

"I agree with egghead here," added evil Rainbow Dash.

"What did you say?" snarled evil Twilight.

"Enough!" cried Grogar, stamping his foot down. "The time for talk is over and the time for action is now, my friends! We split our forces into two groups. Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow will attack Canterlot. Twilight, you and the rest of your comrades will come with me to the Castle of Friendship where we will pay your doppelganger a little visit."

"Uh, what about me?" asked the Storm King, who felt like he was being left out. "I happened to have conquered Pony town before and know the ins and outs of it."

"Very well, Storm King," sighed Grogar, rolling his eyes in disgust. "You shall go with the others to Canterlot. Now, prepares your armies for battle! We leave at dawn!"

With the orders given, the villains each went their separate ways to prepare their respective forces. However, the Storm King wasn't too thrilled about being excluded.

"I asked you to leave, Storm King," said Grogar. "What are you still doing here?"

"Um, let me make it perfectly clear that I don't like being ignored," he stated. "Why are you treating me less than the others? Is it because you still think I am an amateur? Is that it?"

"You must understand that I do at times question your motives, Storm King," replied Grogar. "Even as I look at you, I don't take you seriously because I see you as an amateur. Prove to me that you aren't an amateur and maybe I can take you seriously."

The Storm King couldn't believe what he was hearing. Despite the fact he had managed to damage and conquer Canterlot, he was still being treated differently. Or there was perhaps another reason for his shabby treatment from Grogar?

"Now get out of my sight and prepare your armies," Grogar ordered and the Storm King left, unable to seek the respect of Equestria's most feared enemy.

…