Twilight Sparkle and her friends walked down the path that led through Mossflower Country. They were heading for Redwall Abbey.

"It's nice that everypony was able to make this trip," said Twilight. "I can't remember the last time all six of us got to visit Redwall together."

"I can't wait to see all those cute animals again," said Fluttershy.

"I can't wait to try the food again!" said Pinkie Pie.

"Ah cain't wait to see the orchard," said Applejack.

Rarity said, "I've heard rumors that there are diamonds buried somewhere under Mossflower. Maybe I'll get a chance to see if it's true."

Rainbow Dash was flying above them all. "I hope there's a battle, and a siege, and we have to defend the Abbey from a horde of vermin!"

Fluttershy shuddered. "Why would you want that? That's horrible!"

"Yes, darling, must we borrow trouble?" said Rarity.

"I'm just sayin' it'd be nice to be able to lend a hoof if Redwall does get attacked," said Rainbow Dash.

"Well, hopefully there won't be any trouble," said Twilight. "But if there is, we'll be ready for it."

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Approaching Redwall from the other direction was a cart full of rats, pulled by another pony. The rat sitting in the driver's seat was big and tough, with ragged fur and curved, jagged teeth. He wore a black eyepatch because his left eye had been torn out in a fight. He had a big long tail that he used as a whip for whipping people. He was Cluny the Scourge!

The cart came to a stop. Cluny snarled viciously and cracked his tail against the back of the pony pulling the cart. She cried out in pain.

"Get moving!" Cluny snarled.

"I can't go on. I'm too tired," gasped the pony, whose name was Derpy Hooves. She was a delivery pony who had been bringing eggs and milk from Equestria to Redwall when Cluny and his rats hijacked her cart. "I just don't know what went wrong."

"Lots of things are gonna go wrong for you if you don't get a move on," said Cluny. He turned to the rat sitting next to him. "Skullface."

"Aye, Chief, what d'you want?" said Skullface.

Cluny nodded at Derpy. "Jump on that thing's back sharpish. Give her a good bite. That'll get the lazy brute moving again."

"Oh, please don't let him bite me!" Derpy sobbed.

Skullface swallowed nervously and licked his dry lips. "But Chief, she might bite me back."

Swish! Crack! Cluny lashed out at Skullface with his whiplike tail. "Mutiny, insubordination! By the teeth of Hellgates, I'll flay you into mangy dollrags."

Skullface yelled with pain. "No more! Don't whip me, Chief. Look, I'm going to do it."

"Hold tight to the rigging back there," Cluny shouted to the other rats.

Skullface performed a frantic leap. He landed on Derpy's back. Derpy didn't wait for him to bite her. She gave a loud panicked whinny and bucked. Spurred on by the energy of fright, she careered off like a runaway juggernaut. Skullface went flying off her back and was crushed beneath the wheels of the cart.

The last thing Skullface heard before he died was Cluny's voice roaring, "When you get down to Hellgates, tell Lord Vulpuz it was Cluny the Scourge that sent you!"

The high warm sun shone down on Cluny the Scourge.

Cluny was coming!