Cluny and his rats had taken over St. Ninian's Church. Now Cluny was giving orders to his officers. "Frogblood and Scumnose, see if you can recruit any local rats to join the horde. Bring along weasels, stoats, and ferrets too. Ragear, Mangefur, go out and forage for supplies. Fangburn and Cheesethief, see if there are things about that we can use as weapons, like iron spike railings. There's usually enough of them about a churchyard. Redtooth, Darkclaw, come with me. We're going to scout out that Abbey."

Outside, Rainbow Dash had her face pressed against the window. She had overheard everything. She flapped back to Redwall to give Twilight the news.

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Twilight and Matthias were up on the west walltop. "Looks like you're finally gonna get a chance to prove yourself," she said to him.

"I wish we had Martin's sword," said Matthias. "But it's been missing for countless seasons."

"Doesn't anybeast have any idea where it is?"

Matthias shook his head. "My friend Brother Methuselah, the Abbey Recorder, spent his whole life trying to discover the whereabouts of the sword, searching through many of his very old books, but he was unable and could not find any answer. And he died last winter."

"Well, maybe the two of us could find out what happened to Martin's sword," said Twilight. "I'm good at solving mysteries."

Rainbow Dash came flying up to them. "Twilight! Cluny is headed this way with two of his henchmen!"

"Hmm," said Twilight. "If he's only got two rats with him, he's probably not planning on launching an attack. Let's see what he wants."

Soon, Cluny came striding up to the Abbey gates, flanked by Redtooth and Darkclaw. They all carried swords.

Matthias's voice rang out sharp and clear from the high parapet. "Halt! Who goes there?"

"We are but weary travelers, seeking rest," Cluny lied.

Twilight pointed her hoof down at him. "No, you're not. You're Cluny the Scourge, and you want to attack us!"

"We don't want you here at Redwall!" Matthias yelled.

Cluny got angry. "I didn't come here to talk with ponies! I will only speak with the leader of the mice!"

"If you think you're getting inside to see the Abbot, you're even dumber than you look," said Rainbow Dash.

"Wait," said Twilight. "Matthias, go fetch Abbot Mortimer."

Matthias went and got him. The Abbot joined the others on the walltop and started whispering with them. Cluny could see them conferring, but couldn't hear what they were saying. He was getting impatient.

At last the Abbot leaned out over the battlements. "Two of you may enter," he called down to the rats. "But you must leave your weapons outside."

Cluny sniggered. "That's fine with me," he muttered. "My tail is the only weapon I need."

Matthias came down and opened the door, and Cluny and Darkclaw walked inside. Twilight and Rainbow Dash dropped down on either side of them, escorting the rats into the main building.

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Cluny and Darkclaw were sitting down with the Abbot in Great Hall. Matthias, Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood by in case the rats decided to cause any trouble. "What do you want at Redwall Abbey, my son?" the Abbot asked.

Cluny was nonplussed. "Your son? How can I be your son? I'm a rat and you're a mouse."

"I think he calls everybeast that," Matthias said.

"Well, I'll tell you what I want. I want it all. The lot. Everything. Do you hear me? Darkclaw, read them the articles."

Darkclaw held up a tattered parchment. "These are the articles of surrender to be obeyed by all creatures who come under the claw of Cluny the Scourge or any of his commanders. One: Surrender will be total and unconditional. Two: Cluny will execute the leaders of all who choose to oppose him. Three: All items in the dwelling are the property of said Cluny…"

Before Darkclaw could get any further, Matthias took the document from him and tore it in half! "Listen, rat, you don't scare me! I'll give you our answer. You get nothing! Do you understand that?"

Darkclaw lunged at Matthias, but Rainbow Dash shot out her hoof and clocked Darkclaw in the back of the head. He fell flat on his face.

Cluny jumped up on a chair, his mighty tail flailing wildly. "I am Cluny the Scourge! Nobeast can stand against me…" Then he saw the tapestry of Martin on the wall. His voice faded into silence.

"What's the matter?" Rainbow Dash taunted. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Listen, horse, if I ever meet a cat, it'll be me that gets its tongue," Cluny snarled. "Who is that mouse?"

Matthias followed the direction of the rat's gaze. He walked to the tapestry with his paw outstretched. "Do you mean this mouse?"

Cluny nodded.

Matthias, still with his paw outstretched, declared proudly, "This is Martin the Warrior. He founded our Abbey, and I'll tell you something else, rat. Martin was the bravest mouse that ever lived. If he were here today, he'd just take up his big sword and chop you up into crow meat!"

Cluny got down from the chair. "You'll be sorry for how you treated us tonight," he raged. "Tomorrow, my army and I will rain fire and blood down upon you! Come on, Darkclaw."

He tossed his cloak over his shoulder and stormed out. Darkclaw picked himself up and followed.

"Nice going, Matthias," Rainbow Dash said. "We showed those rats we won't let 'em push us around!"

"You were wonderfully brave, both of you," Twilight said.

"Is this the end?" the Abbot asked.

Twilight shook her head. "I wish it was. I'm afraid it's just the beginning."

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Cluny burst through the doors of St. Ninian's. "Shadow!" he called.

A small black creature came scurrying over to him. "Cluny, I am here. Why do you want Shadow?"

Shadow was a Wearat, half weasel, half rat. He had been with Cluny for many years. Cluny often used Shadow to steal things for him.

"I want you to scale the walls of Redwall Abbey, Shadow. Once inside, find the big old kitchen place where everybody eats. There's a tapestry hanging on the wall in there. Bring it to me."