Conclusion

Famfrit was angry.

It was not the Umbrage's intention to pick a fight with beasts bestowed with the power of the long-dead first Warrior of Redwall, but here they were, dejected and defeated. They were so very close to bringing the Suneater into the next world, but where did that lead it to? An immediate demotion and suboptimal new body. A badger may be physically strong to the point of invincibility, but this specimen lacked the natural subtlety and agility the last one had.

"Famfrit, Famfrit, Famfrit," said Kwellain, their ex-colleague and now-superior, now inhabiting the body of a spry squirrelwife. "You really messed up, haven't you?"

"Stop mentioning that," they replied. They looked around the long, unending hallways of what used to be some northerly fortress back in the world that they had taken. The Umbrage would have asked why they had their meetings in such an uncomfortable location, before reminding themself that video game villains usually do not have the best options. "Where is Estirne?"

"I have no idea. They're off somewhere else… Southsward, maybe? We're doing a much better job pulling their strings than you did. But then, we already have somebeast else there. In any case, our plans would have to be accelerated. Your failures are a testament to that."

"Then to where would I be sent?" asked Famfrit.

"Tarncrag. You are to accompany Samhalz."

"Samhalz…"

"That would be punishment enough for you," replied Kwellain.

Famfrit blinked. "Why are we having this conversation again? The Suneater could have told me myself, and you're just providing me with information I do not possess."

"That's because the base game needs a very specific hook for an ending cutscene to keep beasts from thinking the story's over," replied Kwellain, rolling his eyes and lifting up both arms. "Now, time for a comically exaggerated gesture to end the farce."

They took a deep breath and spoke in unison. "For the Suneater!"

000

Apparently the Nestenes had rebuilt Redwall offscreen. Its walls were as good as new, its trees stood tall between the verdant grass and rosy walls, and most importantly for Seb, there was one of those teleportation devices right next to the Gatehouse! No more walking.

"I'm back!" said the otter, prancing right up to the Abbey doors and opening them in a flash. The Great Hall had been redecorated to its original state, and the surviving Nestenes all seemed very much at ease.

"Great!" said both Mekais at once. They were stuck in a game of stones - being virtually identical meant that neither side could gain an advantage against the other.

"Eula's on the floor above," said the one on the left. Unlike her counterpart she was dressed in green - a bright lime compared to the darker tones of the rest of Nest.

"Thanks, Mekai and…"

"Call me Hope. That's why I'm here!"

Hope… Fret's going to have a field day with her. "See you two in a bit!"

Up the stairs Seb went. The windows were made of simple, colourless, glass - stained ones would take too much time - but they let light in just as well. "Thank goodness for Redwall," he muttered to himself as he opened the door to where the Abbot used to live and where Eula moved her headquarters to.

"Ah, Seb! It feels great to see you back, does it not?"

"Yeah, I suppose. I'm here for all the new quests!" The lutrine Paladin smiled at the badger. "Four months and three patches until VoS!"

"Vos?"

"Visions of Salamandastron! Haven't you been going to the Defenders of Mossflower official forums? They've been buzzing with story theories! Three new Jobs, one new species and a whole new story!"

"Oh yeah," Eula replied nonchalantly, "that. Here's the list of quests."

The badger handed over a somewhat oversized scroll, and Seb clutched it. The otter gave the list a brief stand, and his jaw hit the ground around the same time as it did.

"Why are there so many? I thought we finished the game!"

"There wouldn't be anything for you to do until the next expansion, so I've decided to give you some more tasks. Here, go to Craylock - do you know how hard it is to get fresh seafood in the middle of Mossflower? I'll pay you back when you return. See ya!"

"What?"

Eula dipped a quill in ink and proceeded to write something on a piece of paper. "Sorry, I'm too busy working on boring admin stuff to hear you properly. You might like to try again later."

Realising that he would get nothing out of the badger, Seb turned in a huff. Sprinting down the stairs and past Great Hall, the Paladin attuned to the Warp Crystal, wondering how long this errand would take, but eager for the next of many adventures to come.

That was why he had bought the game, after all.