Applejack was awakened by a sword point at her throat. Cluny was standing over her.

"What're you doin' here?" she cried. "Yore dead! Ah killed ya mahself!"

"You did not kill me hard enough," Cluny evilled as he tied her up with a rope.

Applejack looked around and saw Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy all tied up on the floor. Rats were everywhere.

"Bring the ponies outside with the others," Cluny commanded.

The rats dragged the ponies out the door, down the hall, down the stairs and outside onto the lawn. The Abbot, Constance, Basil, and everyone else were out there, surrounded by even more rats.

"Is that everybeast?" Cluny asked.

"They're all here, Chief," said Fangburn. "The Abbey is yours now."

Cluny allowed his single eye to rove around. It came to rest on Abbot Mortimer. "You, Abbot Mouse, come here!"

With two rats flanking him, the Father Abbot stepped forward in a slow dignified manner.

"Well, what now, mouse?" Cluny sneered. "Are you going to go down on your knees and beg for your life, old one?"

Abbot Mortimer stared calmly into Cluny's savage eye. "I will never bend my knee on my own behalf. However, if I thought I could save the life of one of my friends I would gladly fall down on both knees. But I know you, Cluny, better than you know yourself. There is not a scrap of pity or mercy in your heart, only a burning desire for vengeance. Therefore, I will not kneel to one who is consumed by evil."

Cluny trembled with rage. "Kneel to me, mouse! Kneel or I will kill you," he stormed.

"If I were you, I'd do as he says," said Killconey. "Don't make it harder on yourself than it's going to be, that's what me ould mother always used to say."

"Good grief, shouldn't think a blaggardly fellow like you ever had a mother," Basil said.

Killconey hit Basil over the head with a spear butt. "Don't call me fellow! Fellow is cisgender-normative!"

Fluttershy was slumping dejectedly upon the grass when Warbeak flew down from the roof and landed next to her. "Why Fluttershy all tied up?" she asked.

Fluttershy brightened. "Warbeak! Thank goodness! You and your Sparras have got to get help! Run and find Matthias and Twilight Sparkle!"

"Hey, who are you talking to?" a rat yelled. He saw Warbeak and tried to stab her with a spear, but she flew away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Julian had invited Matthias and his friends to stay with him for the night. They were all sleeping in the barn when Warbeak came flying through the window, waking them all up with her screeches.

"Matthias mouse! Redwall have big trouble! Ratworm King make bad plan, catch Abbey!"

Julian yawned. "What's that little heathen saying?"

"She's saying Cluny and his rats have taken over Redwall!" Matthias shouted.

"Looks like we got that sword just in time, huh?" Pinkie said.

Matthias picked Martin's sword up. "We've got to get back."

"You're right," said Twilight. "There's no time to lose."

Joshy waved his wand. "Forward the bluffs, wot wot?"

"I'll come along with you," said Julian.

Captain Snow fluttered down from the rafters. "Me too. If you'll free me from my vow for just a moment, I'd relish the chance to get my claws into some rats!"

"Hop on my back, Matthias!" said Twilight.

They all rushed out of the barn and headed for Redwall. On the way they met the shrews and the shrews decided to come too.