@Kaden Bayne Vanciel  
Then Tempest wanted to ensure they DIDN’T have a home to come back to.

@Joshua Yet, I believe the entire Ponyville population was in Canterlot.

@Kaden Bayne Vanciel  
There’s a chance she sent some scouts outside Canterlot JUST in case there was more cities besides their target.

@Joshua I doubt that Tempest and Storm King knew about the existence of that and other cities that weren’t Canterlot, and believed that Canterlot WAS Equestria.

@Joshua  
Cinemare sins, and I was wondering when someone was gonna say that.

Fun fact: That village in smoke is supposed to be Ponyville. At least we know it’s in the movie. …Albeit not serving any purpose to the story, but it’s there, nonetheless.