The badger did not stop running unti lit was broad daylight, cold and chrystal clear. He halted in a small clearing at the forest edge. Rainvow Dash fluttered ti one side as the hefty young badge threw himself in the snow and lay panting, tongue Lolling, as stean rose from his thick coat. After a while he sat up, cramming pawfuls of the cooling snow into his mouth and gulp them down.

Rainbow dash hopped about, testing her wings with short swoops, noting gratefully that her pinions were undamaged. Glade to be alive, she shook her Maine and spread her wings. "Few! I fought I was a boner there!" she said.

"Me too," said the badger. "For mnay seasons that ferret hled me slavery, dragging me around, hobbled and muzzled, straving, beating, making fun of me."

"good thing I came along to get you out of there, huh?" said Rainbow dash.

The badger smiled. "That's not the way I remember it. I seem to recall that if I hadn't stepped in, Swartt would have killed you."

"Oh, I don't know," Rainbow laughed. "I think I could have taken care of myself. But fangs (GET IT CAUSE IF GOTHIC) for saving me anymay. My name's Rainbow Dash. What's yours?"

The badger got a sad look in his face. Rainbow could see the depressing sorrow in his gothic red eyes. "I'm not sure," he said. "Swart Sixclaw always clled me Scumtripe, but I might have had another name before he captured me,, when I was very young…"

"Well, you've got a yellow mark on your face that's the color of the sun," Rainbow began.

"Yeah.."

"And you're pretty good with that mace.," Rainbow said, pointing ti the club in the Badger's hand. "why don't we call u… Sunflash the Mace!"

The badger laughed bappily and, standing an his full height, he spun the formidable hornbeam in his paws and roared, "I have a Lame! It is a good name! I no who I am… Sunflah the Mece! Eulalia!"

Then three more ponies came into the clearing, a purple Unicorn, a yellwo Pegasus, and a orange Earth Pony.

"Ther you are, Rainbow!" said the unicorn.

"We've bin lookin' for ya fer two days!" said the orange pony.

"Oh my goodness," said the Pegasus. I was so worried about you, Rainbowdash."

Then they sawed Sunflash. "Hey, who's this?" Asked the orange pony.

"This is my new pal Sunflash the Mace." Answered Rainbow Dash.

"I'm please to make your aquanince," said Sunflash. "What are your names."

"My lame is Twilight Sparkle," said the Unicorn holding out her hoove.

"Ah'm Applejack," said the orgne Pony, raising her hat.

"And my name's Fluttershy," the Pgasus said quetly. "I'm never met a talking badger before."

"Me neither," said Twilight. "Where are you from?"

Scratching her golden stripe, the badger chewed thoughtfully. "I'm knot sure. I think I had a mother, Bella or Bellen or something, 'tis hard 2 remember. I must have been very young. Boar the fighter, that's a name I recall, maybe he ws my farther, or my grandfather, I'm not certain. Soemtimes I dream about home, or maybe it's my imagine nation, but It feels nice. Them there's the mountain, was that my home? It is all very mexed up." The young badger looked quizzacly at his fiends (GET IT) the ponies. "But Swartt Sixclaw, I won't forget him!"

"Who is Swartt Sixclaw?" asked Twilight.

"Swartt sixcalw is an evil ferret that enslaved me for years,' said Sunflash. "He commands and evil army of vermin."

"What are te vermin?"

"They are rats, weasels, ferret and foxes."

"Luckily for Sunflax, I came along and saved him cause I'M AWESOME!" sad Rainbow Dash. Thr badger gave her a look. "Okay, fine, he sabed me."

'Were are ya gonna go now that yore free?" Applekack assed Sunflash.

The badger picked up his club. "When I;ve rested and had something to eat, I'm going back ther to slay that vermin Swart Sixclaw!"

"That doesn't sound like a very nice thing to do," said Fluttershy. "Do you really have too?"

Sun flash halted. "butt what else can I do?" he said, with a bewildered look on his young face. "Sixcalw is my enemy!"

"I have an idea," said Twilight.

"Okay what id is it?" Sunflash asked.

Twilight outlined her plane, which was simple and should be effective. "Why run after swart? He will be coming after you. Let this Sixclaw wear himself out trying to find catch you, while you stay here in Ponyville, where it is green and there is plenty of food,. There you can rest and grow strong."

"I can be your eyes and ears," put Rainbow dash. "I'll keep an eye for Swart and listen for information. Then, when you're strong enough, you can find Swartt Sixcalw again and take yore revenge!"

"Or not," Fluttershry whispered.

"Ok that is good plan," said Sunglash. "I will learn to think like a pony. Lead on!"

"Yew kin stay at one of our house's if ya want,' said Applejack.

"Can I stay at your house, Rainow Dash,?" Sunflach asked.

"Sorry, don't think you can," Rainbow dash laughed. "My home is in the clouds. But that's all right, we'll find someplace else for yo to live."

The five friends left the Everfree Forest and headed back toward Pontyville, laughing and talkin.g