As Torrential Waters read the long letter, Star Dancer wondered what the alicorn was going to do next. Was he going to leave her? Send a message? Or was he going unleash his wrath? She remembered the shorn pegasus and shuddered. [i] Sweeper was odd, but at least she was gentle and kind… most of the time. But Torrential is more like the forces of nature he controls. If he get's angry, I can do nothing but await whatever punishment he meddles out. [/i] She gulped at the thought. Fortunately, Torrential seemed to have been pleased with the message. His smile invoked images in Danny's mind - of fluffy clouds on a sunny day. Or a gentle spring rain that sprinkled playfully on the earth below. Pleasant and quite welcoming. But there was times, she thought, of a distant thunderstorm. She couldn't quite figure out why however. The alicorn's invitation to join him made Dancer glad, feeling she had passed some sort of test. Though she could not send the news to Dean Iron Spoke right away, he did not expect Dancer to back any time soon. In any case, the Lady did tell her to accompany and serve her brother in any reasonable capacity. When she realized that the alicorn was now waiting a few feet ahead, Dancer blushed and trotted quickly to Torrential's side. After some apologies, the pegasus answered the alicorn's question - explaining the foundation's purpose (preserving knowledge, as to save future generations), their numbers (which consist of about some 200 members, scattered around Equestria), and their new mission. "… that all changed when the Lady Sweeper landed. In a few weeks, she did what would have taken our order a lifetime to do. What seemed like a distant dream was a new reality - that the fall of Equestria was not enviable. We could not just save the future, but the present as well. "The Lady doesn't quite lead the Scholars, but we do her bidding. Since then, we've helped in many a restoration project - repair water lines and museums and old monuments, opened libraries, rebuild homes, and so forth. The Scholars are experts in a wide range of fields - from Literature to Engineering to Agriculture, all useful in the endeavor. It's a large task cleaning Equestria, but it's amazing what we got done in three months. "But the Schoalrship still suffers setbacks - one of our major facilities was destroyed by the Sun and Moon. Originally that's why we sought out Arcon, in hopes he could better protect the Knowledge Vaults. We began by investigating a curator who disappeared, apparently taken by said alicorn. But alas, two of our order went missing as a result, so the search became one for our colleges." ---- [i] Several Nights Earlier… [/i] Hidden by a grove of trees, the bandits waited in the early morning to raid the merchant camp some distance away. Peachwater smiled as she spied the target - the travelers were a group of diamond dogs. Not only were they be easy pickings, not only would no pony care about such filth should they find the bodies, but they no doubt had plenty of precious jewels. A quick raid and the band would leave rich. The bandits were ten in number, mostly thugs too violent for even the worse mercenary bands. Others were just poor ponies desperate for a meal. Whatever their desire, the group stole and scavenged what they could find. And tonight would seemed to be no different. Peachwater's golden mane was well kept despite her profession, and it seemed to swish every time she moved her head. "Alright ladies, time to earn our pay", she said after explaining the plan. "About time," said Great Ton, a giant of a stallion that wore a mask of iron. He welded a large, spiked club. His eyes were full of menace. "It's been a while since I gone a spree. Time to make the blood flow again!", he said. But as soon as Great Ton got up, the would be reaver was smashed under the weight of a falling alicorn. His body crumpled and his limbs twisted odd directions. The remaining bandits recoiled at the sight, shock at the sudden appearance of a bald alicorn, sliver coat shining in the moonlight, and a bundle of rags on her back. Peachwater growled at the sight. "I heard every word, and I can't let you harm those travelers," said Sliver Sweeper. Indeed, the bandits had not bothered to look up at all. Then again, who would expect an alicorn in the sky? Peachwater frowned, her tresses seemed to shimmer in the twilight. "Take her! We're not going to let this bitch get in our way!" The two unicorns of the group began to cast spells of binding to lock up Sweeper's wings. Much to Sweeper's surprise, the spells were very strong. Meanwhile, chains from the other ponies suddenly wrapped around her fore and hind legs. [i] Well, I didn't expect that [/i] thought Sweeper. [i] I know Thea would scold me for jumping in like this - these bandits are faster and stronger than I thought. [/i] Taking out a dagger, the bandit leader trotted up to Sweeper and grinned. "I'm going to taste your golden heart," Peachwater said, and jumped in the air. What she didn't expect was for the bed sheets to jump off the Alicorn's back and collide with her. Nor that the sheets would begin to wail on her. "Sweeper, now!" Scroll said after making sure the leader was stunned. Still clad in the bedsheets, he was not noticed in the dark morning. Sweeper's horn glowed, and a cutting blade formed in the air. In a second the spell cut through the chains which snapped into pieces. The unicorns were shocked by the sight and lost concentration. Scroll took advantage of this, and letting out a yell he began to attack the nearest spell caster. Sweeper jabbed her horn into the eye of the other unicorn, who let out a shout of pain. The remaining bandits took out their weapons - swords, spears, crossbows, and even a few guns. But Sweeper lifted the speared unicorn and threw him into the group. She then lifted another bandit in the air with her telekinesis. She used the poor pony as a flail, smashing him into his comrades. Scroll was busy with one or two of the ponies, smashing their faces with with his hooves. He had little or no martial skills, but he was an Earth pony. His strength alone made up for the lack of combat training. Scroll was about to work on another pony when he noticed a looming shadow. Turning around, he saw that Great Ton had risen. He lifted his club and slammed it into the side of the alicorn. Sweeper was confused for a bit, shocked by the strong blow. She collapsed. But soon her eyes narrowed into a glare, and she spat out golden ichor. Ton laughed and licked the ichor from the ground. "Sweet, so sweet!" he said. "And deadly," said Sweeper. Ton wondered by what she meant by that, before his club was cut into three pieces diagonally. After the spell, Sweeper took the sharpest piece of the club with her magic, and rammed it right through the giant's thick metal mask. Gore flowed from the wound and Great Ton fell dead. Horrified by the sight, the bandits began to run away, dropping their weapons in the process. Peachwater was trying to crawl away, but the alicorn lifted her from the ground. The alicorn stared straight into her eyes, and formed a cutting spell right in front of her eyes… A few moments later, Peachwater came out of the trees, sobbing and shaking. Her scalp was bare skin, totally smooth. Her long mane was taken by the Lady Sweeper, as payment for her crimes. Behind her, a funeral pyre burned.