Next morning everybeast gathered on the front lawn.

"Do you want me to climb up to the roof and get the sword for you, Matthias?" a squirrel named Jess asked.

"No, you don't need to do that," Rainbow Dash said. "I'll just fly up and grab it."

She flew into the air. Soon she was on the roof. She walked towards the weather vane.

"Can you see the sword?" Matthias called.

Rainbow Dash inspected the weather vane. "It's not here!" she shouted down. "All I can see is some loose rusty wires that might have held it at one time or another."

"Maybe we interpreted the riddle wrong," Twilight said.

"Killee! Killee! Killee!"

All of a sudden, a flock of sparrows came flying out of nowhere. They swarmed Rainbow Dash and started pecking at her. "Ahh! Who the heck are these guys?" she yelled.

"Those are the Sparra," said Constance. "Savage, warlike beasts that live inside the eaves of our roof."

"Oh, poor Dashie," said Fluttershy.

"Hang on, Rainbow Dash. I'll save you," Twilight called. She flew up to join Rainbow.

"Don't hurt the birds!" the Abbot called. "They are part of Redwall."

"I'm not gonna hurt 'em, just scare 'em off," Twilight said as she landed on the roof.

"Well, do it fast!" said Rainbow Dash.

Twilight started firing magic spells at the sparrows. They scattered and flew back inside the roof, cheeping bad temperedly.

Twilight and Rainbow flew down to the ground. "Phew! I thought I was a goner there," said Rainbow Dash. "Sorry I didn't get the sword."

"It's all right," said Matthias. "You did your best."

"Oh!" said Fluttershy. "Look!" She pointed at a bird lying on the ground some distance away. "One of your spells must have hit her, Twilight." She flew over to the sparrow. "What's the matter? Is your wing hurt, little friend?"

The sparrow jumped up and started attacking Fluttershy. "Horseworm no friend of Warbeak! K-killee, k-k-killeet!"

Cornflower came up behind Warbeak and threw a basket over her, trapping her. Warbeak glared at Fluttershy through the holes in the basket.

"You need medical attention," said Fluttershy.

"Piss off! No need attention. King Bull Sparra have a big sword! Chop all ponies up! Killee pretty quick, you betcha."

Matthias danced with delight. "Did you hear that? The sparrow king has a big sword! So, Martin's sword was up on the roof at one time. The sparrows must have stolen it."

"Yeah!" cheered Pinkie Pie. "Now all you have to do is go up there and steal the sword back from them."

Matthias's good mood disappeared. "That's easier said than done."