Dawn revealed a sadly disorganized horde. Redtooth and many others had died in the failed siege tower attempt, and Cluny still hadn't come back.

Cheesethief had decided the time was ripe for him to seize command. He dressed himself in Cluny's battle armor and started strutting about giving orders to the other vermin.

"Killconey, you and your ferrets go out and search for more dock leaves to put on our wounds. Oh, and see that no one else strays too far. I'll be in the tent if you need for anything, but try not to disturb me."

Killconey scowled. "You've got a lot to say for yourself. Who do you think you are, the Chief?"

"I am, as far as you're concerned. Now get hopping!"

Killconey obeyed, but muttered, "You're gonna be in trouble when Cluny gets back."

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Constance the badger was talking to Applejack in the orchard. "You earth ponies are good at building things, right?"

"Tolerable good. What is it ya need built?"

"A giant crossbow, one that we can fire at Cluny from the top of the wall. If we can manage to kill him, the horde will disintegrate."

"Okay. Ah'm with ya."

They cut down a yew sapling from the orchard and tied the ends together with a rope, stringing it to the right tension. They nailed it to a table and dragged the table up to the walltop.

"We kin use this spear as an arrow," said Applejack.

"Good idea. Look, there's the Scourge himself, all dressed up to kill." Constance pointed over the wall, where they could see a silhouette on the side of the largest tent.

Applejack rubbed her front hooves together. "Boy howdy, we'll never git another chance like this."

"Ready… aim… fire!"

The giant bow worked perfectly. The spear ripped right through the tent wall and the rat inside fell dead. "We got 'im!" Applejack cheered. "We killed Cluny the Scourge!"

But of-course it wasn't Cluny. It was Cheesethief.

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Matthias and them entered the quarry. They walked down the tunnel until they came to a big cavern.

There were bones and skulls everywhere, and old castoff snake skins all over the floor. Matthias was scared but Twilight said, "Do not be scared. They are only skins."

"So, I guess Asmodeus is one of those snakes that sheds his skin," said Pinkie Pie.

Joshy looked at her strangely. "What do you mean? They all do that."

"I don't see him anywhere," said Matthias.

"He must be out huntin'," said Joshy.

"Maybe we can find the sword before he gets back, and we won't have to fight him at all!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"Look!" Twilight pointed to the corner of the cave. A sword hilt was sticking out of a pile of fur pelts.

Matthias went over and pulled the sword out. He held the bright blade level in front of him. The tremor of the steel ran through his entire body.

"By jingo! That's somethin' worth waitin' to see, wot?" Joshy exclaimed admiringly.

Matthias swung the sword in the air. "They say the blade was forged by a badger lord from a fallen meteorite."

All of a sudden they heard a voice hiss, "Comes… comes to me. Lets me rips… tears… kills!" It was Asmodeus! He was coming down the tunnel!

Next moment the snake's huge head filled the entrance to the cavern. Matthias could see that one of his eyes was missing.

Asmodeus lunged at Pinkie and bit her on the leg. She cried out and fell to the ground.

"Leave her alone!" Joshy cried. He took out his magic wand and tried to do a spell. "Flipendo!" This was supposed to make Asmodeus go flying through the air, but he was so big that the spell had no effect. "Oh no, the spell don't work!" said Joshy as Asmodeus dragged the rest of his body into the room and wrapped his coils around the hare.

The snake turned his evil gaze on Matthias. "Gives me my swords, mouse's, ands I's wills makes your dying's easy."

Matthias laughed in the adder's face. "The sword is not yours. It belongs to Redwall Abbey."

Asmodeus brought his remaining eye inches away from Matthias's eyes. "Looks ats me, my littles friends. I's cans see that's you are as greats warriors. You ain'ts afraid to gazes into my eyes. Looks ats me."

Matthias held the sword of Martin high above his head. "I am Matthias the Warrior!" he tried to say, but all that came out was "I am Matthias the Matthias." Then all he could say was, "Matthias, Matthias, Matthias," over and over. It seemed to him that it was someone's name, but he couldn't remember whose. He couldn't remember anything at all…

But while Matthias was hypnotized, Twilight leaped into action. She charged at Asmodeus and drove her horn into his eye.

BANG!

Matthias came to his senses with a start. He saw Twilight pulling her horn out of the monster's eye socket. Now Asmodeus was completely blind!

Matthias shook himself. "Thanks, Twilight. I thought I'd had it for a second there."

"I's cans still's smell's yous," Asmodeus said. "Ands I's goings to kills yous!"

But without his eyes, he couldn't work his hypnotic spell. Matthias swung the ancient sword high and struck at the giant adder.

He struck for Redwall!

He struck against evil!

He struck for Martin!

He struck for Twilight and her ponies!

He struck against Cluny the Scourge and tyranny!

He struck out against Captain Snow's ridicule!

He struck for the world of light and freedom!

He struck until his paws ached and the sword fell from them!

The head of Asmodeus Poisonteeth fell to the ground. Blood spattered everywhere.

Joshy untangled himself from the snake's corpse. "Oh, I say, you did it, wot wot! Jolly good show! Mentioned in dispatches, Matthias m'laddo!"

Twilight went over to where Pinkie Pie was lying. "Are you okay, Pinkie?"

Pinkie stood up experimentally. She tried walking around. She only had a slight limp. "Yeah, I think so. He only bit me on the leg."

Twilight turned to Matthias. "Come on. Let's get out of here."