Dancer stood still at the Torrential's words, eyes widen and mouth partly opened. She nodded, now realizing that Arcon was a terrifying force to deal with. Closing her mouth, and gulping, Dancer resumed her walk. But in her mind the danger was far from over - the Scholars had to deal with an alicorn who couldn't care less for them.
"Yes, yes, that was apt description of Lord Arcon," she said. "And fits with what we know - the missing curator that apparently joined the Gatekeeper also took several important artworks with her. But from the sounds of it, Arcon may have taken those regardless if the curator wanted or not. And since our companions we're investigating his doings… I fear they may be captured, or worse.
"The Knowledge Vaults. I hope the investigators didn't tell Arcon about those. Though since the we've hadn't have any break ins, they may be safe. For now, I guess."
She shuddered. "It's strange, Lord Waters. The Lady never talked of Arcon that way, it was as if she was talking about a brother more than… well, a unstoppable force. Though she didn't seem to know why he came to this Mortal Plane in the first place. She just thought it was door repair. Or for that matter, the Lady didn't know why any of her other kin came as well. What would you advise?"
Several Days Earlier…
After the battle, the pair had cremated the bodies of Great Ton and a two unfortunates that didn't make it. They didn't have time to prepare a proper burial. But in any case, the alicorn was not in the mood to do so. Scroll gathered up the weapons and placed it into a bag forgotten by the raiders. The pair trotted towards the merchant camp that had just saved, the orange light of the fire still continuing behind them. Already sentries, both diamond dog and pony, were already waiting. Scroll raised his fore hoofs in a general symbol of peace. Once it was clear they meant no harm, they were free to enter the camp.
They were in the good graces of Wullf and Company: Proprietors of Steel Wares, Fine Goods, and Curiosities. Wullf himself was unusual for a diamond dog - for one thing, he washed and thus did not reek of musk. "Better to trade with ponies," he said. The other was that he seemed to be rather intelligent - he was reading some books by the pony Philosopher Sun Hoof. The Art of War? thought Scroll. A master work not only for the military, but also for bussinessponies. I thought the illiterate dogs never heard of it?
While the traders did thank Sweeper for her aid, they were not as helpless as they seemed. For the raiders failed to anticipate the dog's sense of smell. Being downwind, the camp was long prepared to defend themselves when they noted the bandit's stink. "Figures, with our luck we end up causing more trouble than we try to prevent," said Scroll. In any case, the Scholar traded the weapons for a compass.
Hours later, the moon had set and the sun was rising. The orange dawn peaked over the horizon, light rising over the Stormwing territory. The sun was already over Charter and the Leviathan fleet. It was now bringing light to the aftermath of the Trottingham riots, as Armifera was finishing off the remaining cultists. Torrential was about to meet with the leader of House Earthborn. Of Arcon, few know of what he did. Xerihan and Ricket were still on their journey to Muddy Hooves. And in the sky, Sweeper and Scroll were finally getting close to Old Hoof.
The pair were now getting close to the destination. The wind felt nice and the clouds of the previous night were few and far between. Below the land was looked desolate - roads covered in grass, farms overtaken by weeds and wildlife. It was as if everypony just up and left.
"Did you really have to do that?" asked Scroll.
"Do what?", replied the alicorn.
"Shave that bandit's head… I thought that was a bit much."
"After what she threatened? It's utter sacrilege, and she wasn't going to get away with that."
Scroll frowned. "You should have shown a bit of mercy."
"I did show mercy - I didn't shave her entire coat off like I wanted to."
"That's only because it would have been a bigger mess to clean."
Sweeper eyes opened wide. How did he know that?
Scroll looked over and gasped. In the distance, he could see the flattened remains of Old Hoof. Nothing living could be seen in permitter. Even the destruction of the old University could not prepare Scroll for the awe invoking sight. He seemed to recall an ancient text he once read: "I am the destroyer of worlds, my light will cleanse the wicked" Sweeper looked down as well, trying to find any of her kin.
"In any case," she continued ", I think we've arrived at the destinati-."
She was unprepared for the large duck that impacted her head.
And if it wasn't for Scroll yelling she probably would have not noticed she was spiraling out of control. Sweeper realized she was dazed for at most a few seconds, just enough time to fall in a corkscrew. The Scholar on her back clutched with all his strength to keep from flying off. She reopened her wings and began to control the decent. Alas, she was still going too fast - it was going to be a rough landing.
In a few seconds, Sweeper landed head first into the dirt. Scroll was still on her back, head down, eyes closed, and trembling. He opened up his eyes, and was greeted by the sight of an green alicorn looking down at them in confusion. Scroll was in a lost for words, when Sweeper stood up and repelled the dust from her body. She then looked at the other alicorn and grinned. "Hi Thea!"