As the four Knights continued to read inside the Castle Library, Andrew found himself to be astonished at the sheer number of books he had read in the time they had spent. Andrew, like his fellow Knights, was not a scholar like some of Samurai, but he knew a little, precious amount of knowledge from Samurai texts in their former seaside home. They were burned with the Sea-fort when the Blackstones and Apollyon came, but now to the Warden, it was a small loss compared to now.

"Andrew?"

He turned to see Leah approach him and crossed her arms in expectation.

"What is it?" Andrew asked.

"It seems we are needed at the request of Twilight Sparkle." the Peacekeeper replied. "A gang of marauders has come to Ponyville and are causing mayhem. It seems We must send them away."

"Very well." Andrew replied, placing his helmet on and retrieving his longsword. "Where are Samuel and Turris?"

"Waiting for us." Leah replied as she pulled up her hood and placed her mask on her face. "Let's go."

As the four Knights soon came together and exited the castle and came into the afternoon sun, they could see several wagons in the plaza, occupied by ponies wearing leather and mail, and armed with iron-forged weapons. Princess Twilight Sparkle was currently speaking with their leader, who bore a great-axe.

"I will tell you again for the last time." she said, clearly exasperated. "We are not interested in sheltering your group here. Not only did you make a mess of Sugarcube Corner and several other establishments, you also washed yourselves in the fountain, and threatened several residents who told you to leave. I don't think your actions warrant any help from us. So leave, now."

"And why can't my crew and I have some fun and relax? Enjoy ourselves?" the lead marauder replied. "We can all afford to cut loose every once in a while, Princess."

"Does cutting loose involve vandalism and several other offenses that could get your arrested?" Twilight retorted. "Why can't you get it through your head that we are not interested or willing to shelter you?"

"Because it wasn't a request." the leader growled, pulling his greataxe out. "We're staying here. Not a thing you can do about it. So be quiet."

"If that is what you intend, bandit, then consider your lives forfeit if you do not listen." Andrew said, he and his Knights coming forward and making the marauders stop in their tracks, pale with fright. "You have been asked to leave, and you have been ordered to leave. Now…"

"You are being commanded to." Andrew continued, his longsword ready along with the poleaxe, flail, and dual blades of his fellow Knights. "Leave and never return."

"Or what?" the leader scoffed. "Whatcha gonna do if we don't?"

"Simple." Leah said, scowling under her mask. "We will kill you."

That sent a few ponies backwards in fright, but they soon rallied and readied their weapons in anticipation.

"You may either leave, or fight us." Samuel bellowed. "And the cost of fighting will be death if you persist."

The leader spat at the Knights in disgust, and his crew snarled at them with weapons ready.

"So be it." Andrew said, taking a battle stance. "Forward!"

As the marauders rushed Andrew and the Knights, the four of them easily parried their opening attacks and went on the offensive. These marauders were lean and worn out, and the Knights could tell they were operating on anger and desperation alone. Their skills with their weapons were severely lacking, and Andrew had to mentally remind himself not to kill any of them outright.

As Samuel's poleaxe swept a marauder's legs out, followed by the shaft smashing into his face, Leah expertly used the frustration of her foes to her advantage, weaving and dodging attacks with relative ease. Andrew took the point position as he battled the leader of the marauders, and Turris knocked several ponies out with one shield bash.

"Why did you come here?" Andrew questioned as he locked blades with his opponent. "And for what cause?"

"None of your business!" the leader replied, his axe held taunt against Andrew's longsword. "As if you'd care anyway!"

"This is our home now." Andrew said, smashing his armored foot into the leader's front leg, making him flinch and fall to the ground. "And we will fight to defend it and give our lives if needed. Now yield!"

As Andrew placed his blade to his opponent's throat, he growled and dropped his axe. The other Knights came forward, a score of defeated marauders left in their wake.

"I'm not sure we have a place to imprison this bastard." Turris growled. "What do we do with him?"

"I'll handle this." Twilight said as she came forward. "Andrew, Knights, return to my castle for now. I thank you for defending our home, however."

"You are welcome, Princess." Samuel nodded as the Knights departed. As Twilight and the other Elements began binding the marauders, while Spike sent a message to Celestia, they didn't notice a plume of smoke on the horizon, signalling an incoming train.

====

Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, Twilight's brother, looked over the Crystal Guards he had brought with him, who were assembling their armor and preparing their weapons in case of battle.

Celestia had received a concerning letter from Twilight that detailed the arrival of four Knights from a land called Ashfeld, and how they had saved three fillies from a timberwolf attack.

However, Celestia had told Shining once she had relayed the message to him to be careful. She had been rather vague, though, about what danger they could pose. Thus, Shining had prepared two Crystal Guard teams, fully prepared for battle, and boarded a train to Ponyville to assess the situation and report back.

As the train arrived at the station, Shining was greeted by the Elements and a joyful but confused Twilight.

"Shining, what's going on?" she asked. "Is this about the Knights I wrote to Celestia about?"

"It is." he asked. "Celestia asked me to learn if they were a potential threat. She was really vague, but she's concerned about it. Where are they?"

"They're resting at my Castle, seeing as they just dispatched a group of bandits on their own." Twilight replied. "But before you get any ideas, the Knights didn't kill any of them. They defended us from those renegades."

Shining didn't reply to her. He motioned his Guards forward, and they proceeded to Twilight's Castle, the Elements following close behind. As they walked, Twilight sent up a prayer that everything would be resolved without further violence.

Author's Note

Update!

Next time - The Knights meet Shining Armor and later Princess Celestia, and Andrew speaks with Twilight Sparkle about concerns of his own as the Knights prepare for a journey to Canterlot.

Coming soon -Chapter 6 - The City on the Mountainside.