Moreover, the Equestrians just lacked a certain something. They lacked that push that the rebellion had possessed in their fight against the Grand Army of the Duke back in Mareitania, even if they'd been fighting an army of just earth ponies. Sure the rebels had Twilight fighting with them, which made a significant difference, but not to the level that they were useless without her, as the absence of Faust proved in this battle. There was something missing though, that had made all the difference when the rebels were fighting armies twice their size, and prevailing.