Sunflash had been tracking Swartt for days. He'd been just a step behind the ferret the entire time. He was heartbroken at Rainbow's death and almost wished he were dead himself, but he knew he had to stay alive so he could continue to protect the creatures of Mossflower Wood. Now his search had brought him to the High North Coast.

He heard Twilight Sparkle's voice. "Hello? Is anybeast there? We're trapped in here!"

Sunflash knew he was running short on time, but he couldn't ignore a friend in need. He rushed to the cave where the sound was coming from and saw the boulder blocking the entrance. With a cry of "Eulalia!" he swung his mace, smashing the rock to dust.

"Thank you," said Twilight. "I was afraid we were going to suffocate in there."

Sunflash saw Twilight and his jaw dropped. "What… you have wings…?"

"Yep, I'm an alicorn princess now, just like Celestia and Luna," said Twilight.

Joshy made an elegant leg. "I say, you must be Lord Sunflash the Mace, wot! My name is William David Truman Joshua Stag Hare an' I'm a wizard."

"We don't have a moment to lose," said Sunflash. "Swartt Sixclaw is somewhere nearby with Starlight Glimmer and they want to go back in time and kill me in the past."

"Oh no!" Fluttershy gasped. "They were just here a minute ago. We heard them say they were going up on the cliff to make a time portal. Veil is with them too."

"You mean Sixclaw's son? What's he doing- you know what, we don't have time, you can tell me later. Come on!"

Sunflash, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Joshy ran up the ledge, taking the same path Swartt, Veil, and Starlight Glimmer had taken.

Up on top, Veil was arguing with his father. "Why can't I go back in time with you? I could help with whatever you want to do."

"I told ya ta scram, ya little punk!" Swartt raged. "If ya don't watch out, I'll send ya over dat cliff!"

Just then Sunflash and his friends ran in. But they were too late. Starlight Glimmer had already created the portal, and all of them were transported back in time together!

So there they all were in the past, over twenty seasons ago. Everything was sepia-toned to show that it was the past.

"You dope!" Swartt shouted at his son. "You've ruined everyt'ing!"

Veil was hurt by his father's words. Then he wondered if Fluttershy had felt the same way when he had shouted at her.

Sunflash rushed at Swartt, but Starlight Glimmer did a spell and suddenly Sunflash was lying on the ground, bound by magical ropes. Then she tried to do the same to Twilight, but Twilight was ready for her. She blocked the spell with a spell of her own and then the two unicorns started dueling and shooting blasts of magic at each other.

Fluttershy bent down by Sunflash and tried to untie him, but she could not. The knots were too tight.

"Ya scummy little sneak!" Swartt roared, flicking his switchblade open. "I'm not lettin' any more ponies stand in da way o' my destiny!"

Veil struck Swartt hard in the face, making him drop the knife. "Fluttershy, get out of here. Run!"

Swartt flung himself on Veil, and while the ferrets fought, Fluttershy grabbed Swartt's switchblade. Hacking at the ropes binding the Badger Lord's paws, she screamed, "Get up! Sunflash! Get up!"

Swartt threw his son down and raised his heater for a shot he could not miss. "Da badger's mine!" he yelled.

Fluttershy looked up and saw Swartt pointing his gun at her.

"Leave Fluttershy alone!" Veil shouted and then… he jumped sexily in front of the bullet!

There was a bang and Veil fell to the ground. The sound made Starlight Glimmer stop attacking Twilight and turn her head in surprise. Fluttershy opened her mouth, but no scream would issue forth.

Swartt kicked his fallen son. "I told ya ta stay outta my way," he said. "And now, stripedog, I'm going t-"

He stopped short. There was a sword protruding through his chest! The ferret Warlord's eyes rolled back in his head as he slumped lifeless to the ground.

The young mouse who had just stabbed Swartt bent over and pulled his sword out of the ferret's back.

"I say, what might your name be?" Joshy Stag Hare asked.

The mouse turned to him with a heroic glint in his eye. "They call me Martin, son of Luke the Warrior. When my father left to fight the searats, he charged me with the responsibility of protecting this coast."

Martin cut Sunflash's remaining bonds. The badger stood up. "Thank you for saving us, Martin," he said. "My mother has told me a lot about you."

The mouse was puzzled. "How can that be? I don't know any badgers."

Fluttershy was sitting with Veil's head resting in her lap. The young ferret's eyes were clouding over. His breath was hoarse and shallow. Almost from the gates of Dark Forest he heard Fluttershy's voice echoing, "Oh, Veil, my Veil! You saved me… Why?"

"Go back to Ponyville… Shouldn't have followed me… Let me sleep!"

"I love you, Veil," Fluttershy whispered.

"Love… you… t…" The young ferret closed his eyes.

Fluttershy rocked him gently as she had done when he was a babe. Everybeast watched in silence, even Starlight Glimmer, though she had a scowl on her face.

After a long time, Joshy went over to Fluttershy and put his paw on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, miss."

"I couldn't save him after all," Fluttershy wept.

Twilight came and hugged Fluttershy. She wanted to say something comforting, but she couldn't think of the words. They just stood there, holding each other for what seemed like an eternity. The other creatures on the cliff stood there quietly.

Finally, Sunflash broke the silence. "So how are we going to get home?"

"Well, that's not a problem," said Joshy. "If I can just…" He bent over Veil's body and pulled his wand from the ferret's pocket. "There it is, wot. I can do a spell that'll take us back to the real time."

"Real time? What do you mean?" Martin the Warrior questioned.

"Afraid we can't answer that, old boy," Joshy said. "You're simply going to have to forget everything that happened here today."

"Come on, everybeast," Twilight said. "You too, Starlight Glimmer."

They all gathered around the hare, except for Martin. Joshy held up his wand and said a spell, and then they all disappeared.