Charter recalled his sister, standing in the underground library with her green yellow fur and bright red hair. They were together at the Lakesville Vault two months ago, and there they meet the Lady Sliver Sweeper. They were awed and confused - she was the first Alicorn they ever seen in their lives, but expected more. 

"What's with her mane?", Vast told him afterwards. "I thought she'd look more… regal?" 

He nodded in agreement. "Don't know, but I'm sure we'll get a chance to ask later - she mentioned tea time. It's amazing those spells of hers!" They saw firsthoof the powerful restorative and protective magics Sliver welded. 

"Well, I doubt you and I can put them to much use. We might be able to use some of them, but the more powerful ones only master magicians could weld. And even then probably not as well as the Lady"

He chuckled. "After I'm done with my studies, I can probably be as good as our Master. Then we can be of some real use!" 

She smiled. "I doubt the Scholarship will ever need Master Painters, unless it's to whitewash the Vaults again."

"Ha ha. But seriously, once we're done with our grad studies, I'm sure they'll let us do more than just acting as aides. Art and surveying are important fields."

"You mean Surveying is important, I doubt any pony will pay much for my work." There was a roar behind both of them, and they looked back. A sudden wave hit Charter in the face.

He awoke coughing and spitting water out. He was laying down, facing the bright blue sky and Celestia's sun. Seagulls floated in the air, and the breeze brought a salty coldness. He felt the hard deck bellow, and the sand that stay on his wet body. There was a voice: "Well then mate, what bring's ya in th' company of such 'umble folk as ourselves?"

Charter lay there motionless for a few moments, confused. He soon remembered - the night run, the flooded city, the dead corpses, Vast- Vast was gone. Light green fur, her crimson mane, her smile, all taken by the heartless sea. Never again to paint the landscapes she crafted so well. 

The Scholar eyes began to fill with tears, closing them and curling up into a ball. He sobbed uncontrollably, heaving air and moaning. His body shook as he came to grips with the realization. He didn't know how long he lay there. But after a while he finally got control over himself. Wiping the tears with his cloak, he looked at his surroundings. He was on a ship, with a pegasus and an earth pony waiting nearby. From their looks, the duo were sailors. 

Charter didn't know who they were, or why they came to the port. But they were the only ponies that could do anything for him. He took a deep breath. "My name is Charter… I came to find my sister-". His voice broke at those words, but he got control of himself. "My sister, she was in the city. Searched, searched, nothing but water. The only life I saw is on this beach."