The Mane 6 arrived at the gates of Redwall Abbey, where they were greeted by an old mouse in a brown robe.
"Welcome to Redwall Abbey, my children," said the old mouse. "I am Father Abbot Mortimer."
They all went through the gate. When they were inside the grounds, a lanky hare came running up to them. "Basil Stag Hare at y'service, gels," he said gallantly. "Allow me to show you to your room, wot wot."
"Basil Stag Hare?" Fluttershy repeated. "Are you related to Joshy Stag Hare?"
Basil beamed with pride. "I should say so! He's my pater, wot! But I'm not a wizard like him."
They followed him into the main building and upstairs to the dormitories. As she climbed the stairs, Twilight struggled under the weight of her heavy saddle bags.
"I say, let me take those off your hooves, wot?" Basil said. "A handsome young filly like y'self totin' all that luggage, doesn't bear thinkin' about, eh?"
"Oh, thank you, you're so kind," Twilight said. Basil took the bags and carried them the rest of the way up the stairs.
He was puffing and panting by the time he reached the top. "I say, what do you have in here, bricks?" He led them into a bedroom with two triple bunk beds. "There you are. A berth for each of you, wot." He set Twilight's bags down on one of the beds and peeked inside. "Hey! In all them cases you got nothin' but books! No clothes, just books!"
A young mouse in a green robe appeared in the doorway. "Excuse me. My name's Matthias. Father Abbot asked me to show you around."
Rainbow Dash took to Matthias instantly. She could tell he had a warrior's spirit just like her. "Sounds good to me," she said. "Lead the way, Matthias." Matthias brought the ponies downstairs and Basil followed them.
First, Matthias took them to the Great Hall. "This is where we have our meals," he said.
Basil sniffed the air. "Hmm, my, my, is that cookin' I smell? Old Friar Hugo burnin' somethin' tasty, I'll be bound. Toodle pip!" He trotted off through the door that led to the kitchens.
"My nose smells happy!" Pinkie said. She started to follow Basil, but Matthias called her back.
"I want to show you something over here," Matthias said. He went over to a tapestry of a heroic looking mouse on the far wall. All the ponies gathered around.
"This is Martin the Warrior, founder of our Abbey," Matthias told them.
"He looks like a warrior," said Rainbow Dash admiringly.
"Yes, he's got a steely glint in his eye," said Rarity.
"This tapestry means a great deal to any creature calling itself a Redwaller," said Matthias. "When Martin first came to Mossflower, it was ruled by an evil cat named Tsarmina. Martin fought her with his mighty sword and defeated her. He and the other woodlanders knocked down her castle, Kotir, and built Redwall where it stood."
Rarity lifted a corner of the tapestry with her hoof and examined it. "Such marvelous craftsmanship. And all done without the aid of sewing machines! Why, I'll wager this tapestry averages two hundred stitches per inch!" Applejack rolled her eyes.
"Martin looks a lot like you, Matthias," said Twilight.
Matthias's cheeks turned red. "Like me? You really think so? I've always wanted to be a warrior just like Martin. But there aren't any wars nowadays."
"Thank goodness," said Fluttershy.
"Well, ya never know," said Applejack. "Ya might git yer chance one day."