Matthias, Mattimeo, and all their friends, along with many other slaves, were being forced to carry and stack chunks of rock under the watchful eyes of the Blackrobe rats.

"I'm sorry, son," Matthias said. "If I had listened to you about Cozy Glow, neither of us would be here now."

"Our family has come full circle," Mattimeo said. "In Abbey School they taught us how Martin the Warrior started out as a slave. Now his last two descendants are working as slaves again."

"Well, at least we're finally together again," Matthias said.

Nearby, Sweetie Belle and Rarity were covered in soot. "Aww, there's dust in my mane!" Sweetie Belle cried.

"Not one of these rats has a lick of fashion sense, with their dreary robes the color of manure," Rarity said.

"This is worse'n findin' a worm in yer apple," said Apple Bloom. Applejack nodded in agreement.

Basil noticed a young otter next to him struggling to lift a heavy stone. He hurried to help him.

"Thanks, mister. What's your name?" the otter said.

"I'm Basil Stag Hare, veteran scout and retired foot fighter, don't ya know."

"My name's Tyler, but everybeast calls me Cheek."

"Well, we made a right old mess of this job," Joshy said to Fluttershy. "Instead of rescuin' our friends, we got captured ourselves."

Fluttershy looked around to make sure no rats were listening. "Discord's still free," she whispered. "Maybe he'll find a way to save us."

Joshy sighed. "I never thought I'd be in a situation where all my hopes depended on Discord."

Little did he know that Discord was standing right there listening to him.

That night (or what passed for night down in those tunnels), the slaves were taken to cells. That's when Discord put his plan into action. Still invisible, he sneaked down to the holding corridors. As luck would have it, the first cell he came to was the one where Joshy and Basil were being kept along with a few other hares.

Discord held up his finger and shifted it into the shape of a key. He stuck it in the lock and turned it. The door opened.

Discord materialized in the doorway.

"I say, who are you?" Basil said.

"I'm your grandfather," said Discord. "I've come to save you."

"Wacco!" Joshy exclaimed. "You actually came through for us, Discord!"

Discord used his finger to free them from their chains too. Then they all stepped out into the hallway.

One by one, Discord opened all the cells and released the prisoners inside. The last cell he came to was empty except for Cozy Glow. "Do you want me to save this one too?" he asked.

"Sure," said Twilight. "No matter what she's done, she's still a pony, just like us."

Discord opened the door. Cozy was shocked to see him. "Discord? What are you doing here?"

"Rescuing you," said Discord.

"Though it's far more than you deserve, wot," Basil sniffed.

"Now let's settle old Malkariss's hash," said Rainbow Dash.

"But we have no weapons!" said Tess Churchmouse.

"Oh, yes we do," said Mattimeo. He held the chain that had bound him above his head. "We will buy our freedom with the very chains that restrained us!"

Just then Slagar came around the bend. "Escape! Escape! The slaves 'ave escaped!" he cried. Twilight tried to do a spell but she missed and Slagar dodged back around the corner. He ran through the tunnels as the former slaves chased him.

Right when it looked like they were about to catch him, the rat horde came pouring out of another tunnel and got between Slagar and the slaves. At the head of the army, Nadaz raised the sword of Martin the Warrior. "Die, die, you will all die here. Your bones will rot in the kingdom of Malkariss!"

Matthias felled him with a whirling length of chain. Then he pried his sword from the fallen rat commander's paws. He had lost sight of Slagar now, but he threw himself into the ranks of the rats, sweeping and hacking. The battle was on!