As the morning sun rose into the sky, the Knights of the Tidal Legion still slept. Knights in Ashfeld, regardless of their legion, trained to sleep with one eye open in case of ambush or battle, no matter their location.

Here, the Knights were fully asleep, both eyes shut and their breathing deep. Slowly, Andrew awoke and picked up his longsword from the floor next to him. Standing up and stretching his limbs, he gave off a sigh of relief.

Then, his stomach growled. Giving a quiet laugh, he began to explore the castle in search of food. As he entered the dining room, he saw a small lizard-like being in another room, tending to a metallic object that gave off a small flame.

"Greetings." Andrew said. The lizard jumped, turned, and sighed in relief.

"Did I disturb you?" Andrew asked again.

"Nah, you're fine." the lizard replied. "You're one of those Knights that Twilight told me about?"

"Yes." Andrew replied. "Who are you?"

"I'm Spike the Dragon!" Spike replied. "You hungry?"

"Considerably." he replied, as Spike led him to a smaller room where breakfast was sitting in platters. "Though you seem a bit too small to be a dragon that I would know of."

"I'm still young." Spike said, shrugging. "I can breathe fire, though. Wanna see?"

"That is not needed." Andrew said, sitting down. "You know of Princess Twilight?"

"I'm her number-one assistant!" was the reply. "She's still in bed, though."

"I see." Andrew replied, eyeing the breakfast items with a raised eyebrow. "Spike? I do not mean to be rude, but I cannot see anything that I can eat. Humans such as myself are omnivorous."

"Oh." Spike replied. "It's okay. I'll see what we have. Do you prefer eggs or fish?'

"Either option works."

Spike went out, and Andrew relaxed significantly, knowing that the hard part of mentioning his diet was over. Soon, Spike returned with some cooked fish, and Andrew ate.

"Is it okay?" the dragon asked.

"Yes, thank you." Andrew replied. "Turris, how long were you standing there?"

Turris laughed from the doorway and sat down.

"Eh, not too long." he said, taking some of the fish for himself. "How's breakfast?"

"Far better than the rations back in the Sea-Fort, that's a certainty." Andrew replied. "Where is Samuel and Leah?"

"Leah found a washroom, so she's cleaning herself up. Samuel's still coming." Turris said. "She was fascinated by a spout that gives endless water."

"You mean a faucet?" Spike raised an eyebrow. "Do you guys not have indoor plumbing?"

"Certainly not." Andrew said. "We had to use wells for our water, and it wasn't exactly as clean as the water here. What other marvels has this land made?'

"Well, that's a long story." Twilight said, coming in. "I see you found the fish, Spike. Good, I was going to tell you that humans have a different diet."

"We already let him know." Turris said. "Anyway, good morning Samuel, Leah."

The Lawbringer and the Peacekeeper entered the room, and breakfast truly began as the Knights ate as one.

"I have some business that needs done, so Spike can show you four around town." Twilight said. "Plus I need to write to Celestia to tell her of your presence. In retrospect, I should've done that last night, but I was exhausted."

"It is fine." Leah said. "When should we leave?"

"When breakfast is done." Twilight replied, pulling a sheet of paper over and reading it quietly. "Spike, can you handle this?"

"Yep." Spike replied. "You can count on me."

"Then we'll follow your lead, Spike." Andrew said, standing up. "Allow us time to put on our armor."

"Sure thing." Twilight said. "The chests should still be there."

====

As the Knights reassembled their armor and put it on, piece by piece, Andrew attached his Loran helmet to his leather belt and sheathed his longsword.

"Are you not expecting trouble?" Leah asked.

"No." Andrew said. "The ponies here are not warriors. I haven't seen a single instrument of war here, not even a single sword. I doubt we'll need our helmets."

The other Knights nodded and removed their helmets, following Andrew back to the dining room, where Spike was waiting. As they proceeded outside, the other citizens began their morning routines. A few ponies whispered at them or flinched, but a brave few waved or smiled at the Knights, who returned the gesture.

"I can't believe that this realm is at peace." Turris said quietly. "It's...unsettling."

"How so?" Spike asked. "Is it that hard to believe?"

"Well, the Knights, Samurai, and Vikings have been fighting for over 1000 years, Spike." Andrew said. "To die and be brought to a realm where I presume there is no war...it has disturbed me and I dare believe my lieutenants as well."

"Oh, I think I get it." Spike said. "Culture shock, or whatever it is. You're still getting used to something new and strange."

"I guess so." Samuel replied. "Where to first, Spike? We will follow your lead."

===

The Knights and Spike wandered through town while being joined on occasion by some of Twilight's friends and the "Elements of Harmony", as they put it. Soon, they arrived at a schoolhouse that seemed a bit quaint in Andrew's opinion, at least compared to the colossal citadels the Knights built before the Age of Apollyon and the Cataclysm.

"They learn skills here?" Andrew asked Spike.

"Mostly basic stuff." Spike replied. "Math, reading, writing, it goes on from there. Did you guys not go to school?"

"No." Samuel said. "Such skills in Ashfeld were long lost by the time Apollyon came. Legion Scribes were the only ones that kept records on paper, but that was for weapons, supplies, and maps. Not for things like this."

As a bell rang, the young students filed out of the classroom for recess, two in particular laughing haughtily.

"Those two seem overconfident." Samuel said to Spike.

"Yeah, they're bullies." Spike said. "Not worth getting involved, though."

As the Knights turned to leave, Andrew shot one last look at the schoolhouse before leaving.

Author's Note

Update!