Sweeper's ears perked as she faintly felt Thea's magic. Of course, being one of the less powerful alicorns, she could not tell what it was, never the less who it was. She knew of the general direction, to the north. She had though she seen, faintly, a haze of bright light in that distance shortly before, followed by the faint sound of thunder. 

"Whatever it was, it was powerful", thought Sweeper. She had no powers of telepathy or the ability to sense her kin from a distance. Yet whatever magic occurred, even that she felt. 

"My Lady, what's the matter?", asked Gildenstride. They were seated at the table on top of the flat rooftop of the Palace. The stars shone brightly, and the moon lit the world in a glow. In the presence of the alicorn, the sight was even more breathtaking. 

"Hmmm, oh something in the air," Sweeper said. Her thoughts rapidly went back to Scroll. "But back to the topic - you want to know about my kin?" 

"Well, yes, in regards to the events I mentioned before," said Scroll. He had explained the situation to her as they went up the stairs. 

"Hmmmm, I don't really know the plans of my brothers and sisters. They came to this mortal realm for their own causes, which they didn't tell me. Though I could guess at what they want."

Sweeper lay her head on the table and closed her eyes. Moonlight reflected off her denuded scalp, and had any pony noticed, so did her Cutie Mark of four-interconnected rings. Star Dancer smiled at the sight, noting how peaceful the alicorn looked. 

[i] What are my kin doing?, [/i] Sweeper thought to herself. [i]Scroll brought me plenty of tales, but little evidence. And I had not meet up with any of them. Was that light-?[/i] 

Sweeper suddenly opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her advisers looked at the alicorn, whose eyes were filled with inspiration. [i] At last, she's come up with something [/i], thought Scroll.

"So Scroll, did you pick up any girlfriends at the Baths today?", Sweeper asked.

Gildenstride laughed, and Dancer was so shocked she had dropped the tea she was holding. Scroll blushed so much his coat seemed to turn red. Before the tea could land on the table, the Alicorn repelled the spray and it disappeared into the air. 

"That… that… not what we're here to talk about, Sweeper!", sputtered the Scholar. 

"But you could at least ask them for a date after you're ogling them," said the Lady of Tidiness. 

"Oh, Wow. Not even 35 and you're already acting like an old lecher," said Dancer. 

"I was… um… just pondering why so many decide to follow the Lady's… style!", said Scroll. "Quite a few have taken to the bald look. In fact, a recent letter was sent by one cult having a dispute over it. One said everyone who follows the Lady must be shorn, others disagree."

Sweeper resumed resting her head on the table, but took interest in the change of topic. [i] Fortunately [/i], thought Scroll. 

"Well, I don't really mind if they have manes or not. Hair is beautiful and can be kept clean, but so can having no mane as well," said the Alicorn. "But mostly, it depends on if they look adorable or not." 

"If I may ask," Dancer spoke ", why do you have no mane? I mean, as a divine being, shouldn't your hair just as wonderful as the other Alicorns are rumored to be?"

Sweeper tilt her head to one side. "Well Danny, every time I wake up, my mane was always such a mess. Tangled and unkempt, plus it took time to maintain. Time better spent on my mission. I just got fed up with it and decided it was easier without the mane."

Scroll wondered how an Alicorn would have mane problems, but he decided he needed to press on with more important matters.

"My Lady, do you know if any of your kin would be interested in academic matters?", he asked. 

Her mind rapidly thought back to the question. [i] Well, Wavy wouldn't be interested in scholarship, unless it had to do something with the sea. And that probably be charts and navigation at most. Thea… does the Huntress even read anything? Need to ask sometime, oh must bring her some cake! Rain, is alone by himself a lot, so maybe he likes some companionship. If he didn't move so much, I'd send him letters. Ami did love to study, but it was mostly warfare and martial skills - if anything she would have taken someone from a dojo or a military academy. And Arc… of course! [/i] 

She smiled. "Now I've got it! It's Arc! I remember him mentioning books as gates sometimes. He would be the one gathering academics, if only to help him."

"Help him with what?"

"I have no idea… I just thought Arc came to make sure ponies had better doors or something."

Scroll wanted to fall to the ground at that. "Well, at least you have an idea were to start," said Gildenstride. "Now all the lady has to do is use her powers to sense him…"

"Um what?", asked Sweeper.

"Don't you have the power to sense the other alicorns?"

Sweeper shook her head. "Well, no. In fact, I don't think many of my kin do, just a few."

"Hmmm, I guess the old legends were a bit off," Dancer said. 

"Well, if we don't know where this Ark is, where do we begin?"

Sweeper then had another inspiration. "I have an idea, but it'll require another journey to follow up." 

"Speaking of which, my Lady, but I'd like to assign a bodyguard to you," said the Town Watchpony. "Scroll has told me of his adventures… and they sound very dangerous."

"No problem, I'm sure Scroll will love the company," said Sweeper. 

"Alas, I can not go myself," said Gildenstride with sadness. For the first time in decades he was serving an alicorn again, yet the Town had to be his first duty. 

"You have a job to do, and a very important one at that. I thank you for it." Sweeper's words brightened the Guard. 

Scroll sighed at the words "another journey". [i]Yet again being tossed into the fire. [/i]