By now most of the rats and hyenas had either died or surrendered. General Woundwort was still alive, but he was out of commission, as Applejack had lassoed him with a rope.
But Scar was still fighting with Savannah and Saba. Suddenly he broke free of them and soared up into the air, floating above his enemies' heads.
"Evil laugh!" he said. "I don't need rats or hyenas or rabbits or foxwolves to rule the Pride Lands! I am invincible! Nothing can kill a ghost!"
Rainbow Dash and Celaeno both flew at Scar, but he knocked them away with his ghost paws and flew off back to Pride Rock.
Everybeast chased after him, but Scar went into the cave on top of the rock and holed up in there.
"What are we gonna do now?" Saba demanded. He was limping on his left hind leg, which Scar had wounded.
"I don't know," said Savannah. "It looks pretty bad. We can't hurt him, but he can still hurt us."
But Joseph the Bellmaker had an idea. "Maybe we can't kill him, but we can trap him. I noticed a barrel of dynamite on the searat ship. We could blow that cave up so Scar can never get out."
"But then our home would be destroyed!" Saba cried.
Savannah bit her lip. She was silent for a moment. Then she said, "Let's do it. Anything to get rid of Scar. We can always find somewhere else to live."
"I'm the fastest one here," said Rainbow Dash. "I'll fly back to the ship and get the dynamite."
An hour later she was back. Scar still hadn't left the cave. Joseph rolled the barrel to the base of Pride Rock. He took a match from his pocket and lit it.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The force of the explosion shook the earth. When the dust cleared, Pride Rock was nothing but a pile of rubble. And the ghost of Scar was buried beneath it for all time.
Everybeast was completely silent for a moment. The silence was broken by the clicking of a scorpion.
They all turned to see Gabool the Wild, holding the box with Skrabblag in it.
"You!" Mariel cried.
"Hello… Skiv," Gabool said, using the insulting name he had given Mariel when she was his slave on Terramort. "I want you to meet a little friend of mine! Hmm, mm, mm!"
He opened up the box and tossed the scorpion at her. But Mariel had quick reflexes. She swung her Gullwhacker like a baseball bat and hit Skrabblag, sending him flying back toward Gabool. The former searat king felt the sting of the scorpion's tail on his face. He fell to the ground, twitching in agony. Soon he was dead.
Fishgill went over to Gabool's corpse and kicked it. "That's for Graypatch, you S.O.B."
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It was the next day. Savannah and Saba were speaking to General Woundwort and the other surviving vermin, who were surrounded by the Lion Guard and the Mane 6.
"We've decided that we're gonna let you all go free," Savannah said.
"But we won't be so merciful if you ever come back here to cause trouble again," said Saba.
Together, the twins raised their heads to the sky and roared in perfect two-part harmony. The frightened rats and hyenas took to their heels and fled to the south. Woundwort ran with them, but inside his head he was saying, "I'll be back."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mariel, Joseph, and all the ponies including Gazan sat by a watering hole.
Pinkie Pie nudged Fluttershy. "Come on, Flutters, how about a smile?"
Fluttershy stared at the ground. "I can't get Kita out of my mind."
"I know how you feel," said Mariel. "I'll never forget Spike either. He was the bravest dragon I ever knew. Also, the only dragon I ever knew."
"He was always so kind and helpful to me," Rarity agreed.
"He was like my son," Twilight said.
Joseph said, "I'll bet wherever Spike and Kita are now, they're in a fine old temper."
Twilight rubbed a hoof across her eyes and sniffed. "Why would they be in a temper?"
Joseph handed her a leaf. "Here, wipe your face, I'll tell you why. Spike and Kita gave their lives so their friends could enjoy theirs. If I were one of 'em I'd be real angry now, knowing that you were not enjoying the life I'd given you, sitting weeping amid the joys of freedom on a summer day."
"You're right," Twilight said to the wise old mouse. "Are you ready to leave tomorrow?"
"I'm not going," he replied. "I'm staying here."
"Staying here?" Rarity repeated. "Why?"
"Queen Savannah and King Saba have asked me to stay and construct a new home for them. I plan to build them a magnificent castle, just like Redwall Abbey, big enough for them and all their friends."
"And I'm staying too," Mariel added. "Saba said I could become part of the Lion Guard."
Joseph took his daughter's paw. "I don't ever want to be separated from you again."
Gazan piped up. "Could I go back with you? I've never been around other ponies before. That trick you did, Twilight, purifying the water with your horn- I had no idea unicorns could do that! I really don't know much about magic, but if I went back to Equestria with you I could learn- that is, if you'll let me come."
"Sure, you can come," said Twilight. "We're always happy to welcome a new friend."
As she said these words, her cutie mark began to glow. So did those of all the other ponies, and Joseph's entire body. Their mission was complete!
The next day, the ponies returned to Fishgill's ship. The rats would take them back to Equestria, then sail to Terramacitia with the birds. Twilight brought Spike's body with her, to bury back in Ponyville.
Their quest had been successful. They had helped free the Pride Lands from its invaders. They had seen Joseph and Mariel happily settled in a new home, and they were bringing a new friend home as well.
But their victory had come at a price. They would never forget their friend, Spike the dragon.
THE END
