As the Knights continued to walk alongside Spike through the town, Andrew took in a deep breath of air, letting it fill his lungs. Back in the land of Ashfeld, the air was always tinged with the smell of steel, blood, and decay. Here, it was...clean. There was no other word to describe it.

Andrew exhaled, turning and walking to catch up with the group, who were eyeing the Fountain with raised eyebrows.

"I've never seen so much clean water in my life." Leah said, dipping her waterskin into the fountain and filling it. Drinking deeply, she sighed in relief at the refreshing taste and sensation.

"So? What's the verdict?" Spike jested.

"This is probably the best drink I've had in some time." Leah smiled. "Shall we move on?"

As the five of them continued through town, Andrew listened to the birds chirping in the trees, the gentle wind against his face…now that they lived in a realm of peace, how could they return to Ashfeld?

"Andrew?" Turris asked. "You okay?"

"Yes, my friend." Andrew replied. "I was just thinking about...home. How our Legion brethren continue to wage war against the Vikings, Samurai, and themselves."

The Knights nodded gravely to each other, and Spike cleared his throat to gain their attention.

"Anyway, I think that's about everything." Spike said. "So…"

Then, shouts of anguish could be heard that the Knights recognized as the three fillies they had saved. Not only were they in distress, they were close.

The Knights hurried over to see the two haughty ones from the schoolhouse taunting them with a hair ribbon, held aloft by magic.

"Give it back!" Apple Bloom cried. "That's my mama's ribbon!"

"Why should I?" the pink-colored filly sneered. "I think it's my ribbon now! Ha-ha!"

Andrew then drew his longsword and placed it to the pink filly's neck, stopping her and her companion in their tracks. As the three fillies stared at them, Andrew spoke.

"Give it back, now." Andrew growled. "Or else I will use force."

"You're not the boss of me!" the Pink filly retorted. "especially not a big armored monkey like you!"

Then, all of the Knights' weapons were drawn in an instant.

"Listen and hear." Andrew spoke in a cold, grim tone that made both fillies freeze. "We are Knights of Ashfeld, of the race of humankind. We are not the animals you claim we are."

Andrew growled and took out a medallion with the crest of the Tidal Legion emblazoned upon it.

"Do you know what this means?" he asked.

The fillies shook their heads no.

"It means I am a Warden, one who is sworn by an oath to defend the weak." Andrew spoke. "For one whose kind has waged war for over one thousand years, I am a symbol of hope for the future amongst the Knight Legions."

"And yet, when I and my Legion come to this realm of peace, we are greeted by those who would remind us of home." he continued. "Those who take from others by force what they cannot gain by guile or words."

"So?" the pink one replied. "Why should we care?"

"Because I have had enough of this." Andrew spoke in such a tone that froze both fillies cold. "Return the ornament, or face the consequences of your actions. In Ashfeld, our home, if you were soldiers in my Tidal Legion, I would have you put in the stockade for three days without food or water. If you were one of my Lieutenants, however, I would kill you for disloyalty without a second thought."

The two ponies paled visibly, and the pink one hastily handed the ribbon back to Applebloom, who affixed the ornament in her mane with a breath of relief.

"Now, you two will leave them be from now on." Andrew spoke. "Go. This matter is settled."

The two fillies sprinted off, crying. Andrew and his Knights returned to Spike and lowered their weapons, Andrew giving a sigh.

"I am sorry you saw that, Spike." he said quietly. "You have my apologies for losing my temper."

"Oh, it's fine." said Applejack, as she, Rarity, and Rainbow came forward from the small crowd of onlookers. "Those two have been bullies for as long as I've known them. If anything, you did my sister and her friends a favor."

"That does not excuse how they acted." Samuel said. "How is it that they can steal from others of their kind and not be punished? In Ashfeld as Andrew said, they'd be a lot less fortunate.'

"Their parents are really important around here." Rarity sighed. "Mrs. Spoon is coming in for a dress fitting today, I can speak with her about what happened"

"And I'll speak with Mr. and Mrs. Rich." Applejack added. "They do business with our family, they'll listen to us."

"I hope so." Leah said. "Anyway, Spike? Shall we proceed forward?"

"Sure, let's go!" Spike said as the five of them, joined by Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow, Andrew sighed and slowly tightened his grip on his longsword.

===

By the time that the Knights returned to the Castle and Twilight had greeted them, it was past midday.

"You took your time." Twilight said to Andrew and Spike. "That's good, my business took longer than it normally does."

"It's fine." Andrew said. "Is there anything else we can do to pass the time here?"

"There is the library." Twilight said, bringing the Warden and his Knights to a large set of double doors. "Did you read any books back in Ashfeld?"

"Not really." Andrew said. "There weren't a lot of texts to go around after the Cataclysm, and one thousand years of battle got rid of more. Most were in the possession of the Samurai and the Dawn Empire, so we didn't really see much of them."

"But yes, we can read and write." Leah said. "Just not very well."

"Well, I can change that." Twilight said, opening the doors to her castle's colossal library, which stunned the Knights. Countless books lined the shelves, which were made of crystal like the castle. There were tables and chairs, small bag-like seats, sources of light on every stand…

The sight of it made the Knight's jaws drop.

"Spend as long as you want in here." Twilight said to the stunned Legion warriors. "As long as you keep it quiet and clean up when you're finished."

"We will, and our thanks." Andrew said as the Knights set down their weapons and began to browse. Andrew found several Equestrian historical records, Samuel retrieved a book full of ancient battle maneuvers, Leah began studying Equestrian technological development, and Turris found a Beginner's Guide to the Arcane Arts.

Soon, they were engrossed in their books, quiet as could be. As Twilight closed the doors, the Knights began to learn of the ways of peace.

Author's Note

Update!

Yeah, the Knights have a lot to learn about Equestria, seeing as most of their progress was made to warfare and developments regarding it.

Next time - A gang of armed troublemakers arrives in Ponyville, and the Knights defend their home. Meanwhile, Celestia receives Twilight's letter regarding the Knights and alerts Shining Armor...