The Corpsemakers had departed from Salamandastron, never to return. Urthstripe had been buried beneath the mountain with the other former Badger Lords, and Urthwhite had already been installed in his brother's place, with his grandmother Loambudd to advise him. Ember flew back to the Dragonlands, and the shrews went back to their land.
A few days after the battle, Mara was standing out on the beach with Rainbow Dash, and Joshy Stag Hare.
"The season is dying," Mara said. "I feel that summer is gone and the autumn is upon us."
"I need to get back to Equestria soon," said Rainbow Dash. "But I'll be sorry to leave Salamandastron. It's a fine place."
"I guess," said Mara.
Rainbow Dash noticed that the badger maid looked unhappy. "Don't you like being here?"
Mara ran dry sand through her paws. "It is all I can remember- I grew up with this mountain. But I can't stay here anymore. My father died here, and my friend Pickle. There are too many unhappy memories hovering around."
Joshy nodded understandingly. "I feel that. I had to leave a place once because somethin' terrible happened, an' it was too painful to hang around there anymore."
"But where will you go?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Mara shrugged. "Most anywhere that isn't here."
Joshy's face went kind of queer. "The place we're in is always here. The other place is there." He smiled as Mara's eye caught his. "I think I'll go with you."
"Okay," Mara said. "Having a wizard around could come in handy."
"Count me in too," Rainbow Dash said excitedly. "I guess I don't need to go back to Equestria right away. I'll stick with you guys for a while."
The next morning, they bid farewell to Urthwhite, Loambudd, and the hares. Then the three of them set out in search of new adventures. A badger, a hare, and a Pegasus pony.
THE END