Grasping Matthias's paws within her own, Cornflower looked teary eyed at her dying friend. Through the tears, she choked out her words, "Matthias…Matthias! Please…don't die, you're too young… You have your whole life ahead of you…"
Through a half-smile, Matthias looked into Cornflower's eyes, a sparkle in his own. His right paw was placed over a rather large wound to his side, and his left held the hilt of Martin the Warrior's sword.
Gritting his teeth together, he tried to cheer Cornflower up. Reassure her, "Don't worry about me, Cornflower… I'm going to a far better place… I'm finally going to meet Martin." His eyes closed and his smile grew wider. Quietly he added, "My life long dream…finally coming true…"
As his paw unclenched, and the sword hit the red sandstone with a dead thud, Cornflower's face scrunched into a creased form, only tears visibly falling from her squinted eyes.
"CUT!" The voice came from somewhere in the distance, and a spot light was immediately glaring down upon the two mice.
Raising his head, Matthias turned to where the voice had come. "What now, Basil? What'd we do wrong?"
Rather huffily Cornflower stood up, taking no regard for Matthias; who promptly hit his head on the floor when she did so and remained there in a daze. She stormed off the now visible stage.
A small "Ow." Came from the mouse upon the floor, and immediately a crew of make-up artists ran to his side. "We are you servants, we only exist to tend to your every need Sir Matthias." The Dibbuns all bowed their heads, nodding up and down.
"A mouse could get used to this." Matthias said before the horde of little mice, hares, moles, and squirrels carried him away.
Basil shook his head and began spazzing out on no one in particular. After all he was the director and it was up to him to direct this pre-showing of Redwall Live.
"First of all, Matthias…" He paused noting that the mouse was no longer in hearing range, but continued on anyways, "I did not believe your act for a second. Not enough drama! Not enough excitement! You need to be more convincing with your acting! Secondly, Cornflower, your eyes are not blood shot. I will not settle for half-baked work. It's like trying to make a batch of cookies with sand. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK! Thirdly---"
Sneaking up behind the unsuspecting hare, Veil hit the director upon the head with Sunflash's great mace, and dropped it kicking it under some rug. Peering over the knocked out hare, Veil smirked while rocking back and forth on his hind heels, paws tucked secretly behind his back. "Oopps, Mr. Basil seems to have taken a small trip there. Hope he does come home soon."
Suddenly, Basil hopped to his feet, swaying around in an almost drunken way, his tongue hanging slightly out of his mouth. "Dun't worryaaaa…people…the shoooow…can't go oooon, with out da direeeeectooor….r…" Falling back to the floor, Basil landed in a heap, drooling on the floor.
Chugger ran across the crowded stage and in his best announcer voice said, "Cwean up on isle twree!" Then scampered away again tail flailing behind him.
"Moving on…" Veil smiled again and looked to the remaining cast. "I'll be directing from now on." Shadows highlighted his features for a moment, and he almost looked as evil as his father. Almost. "Bwahahahahaha!"
Quietly Skittles ran onto the stage, holding small note cards, tiny eyeglasses hanging on his snout, the hedgehog said solemnly. "We interrupt this pre showing of Redwall Live to inform you that we are having a technical difficulties with our director and Veil Sixclaw will be taking his place. Thank you."
As the small Dibbun walked off-stage, all present stared at him.
"Did he just use non-Dibbun speech?" Bryony stared after the small hedgehog.
"Seems that way…" Columbine pointed out.
Clearing his throat, Veil's eyes flashed ominously, "I said, moving on! …Right. Now, let's skip this mushy stuff and go straight to the action!"
Everyone cheered happily, even Dinny Foremole.
Cutting to the next scene, the crew of the Honeysuckle was fighting the raging waters. Braving through the wild waves to save their lives.
Among the group was Dinny, cringing in a corner. Tears rolling down his cheeks. "This is what you call action????"