The following afternoon, Samkim was sitting in a tree in Mossflower Woods, practicing his flute, when Rainbow Dash, Mara, and Joshy came along.
Rainbow Dash flew up and perched beside the young squirrel. "That's some pretty cool sounds you're makin' there, dude! My name's Rainbow Dash. I'm a Pegasus."
"Wow! A Pegasus. I've read about them, but I've never actually seen one before." Samkim was awestruck by her multicolored mane. "Are you the mare with six colors in her hair?"
"Well, no one's ever called me that before, but I guess so," Rainbow Dash said, running a hoof through her hair. "What's your name?"
"I'm Samkim."
Mara waved a paw at him from below. "I'm Mara, formerly of Salamandastron."
Joshy said, "My name's William David Truman Joshua Stag Hare, an' I'm a wizard! Most folks call me Joshy, but you can call me… Joshy."
"We're looking for Redwall Abbey," Mara said.
Samkim leaped down from the tree. "Well, you're in luck, because I'm from there!"
He brought them to the Abbey and introduced them to Abbess Vale. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you want," the Abbess said. "Redwall has lacked a badger and a hare for many seasons."
"Y'know, I used to live here a long time ago," said Joshy. "I was actually the Friar. No doubt you've heard m'name bandied about hither and yon, wot?"
"I haven't heard of you before, but I'm willing to take your word for it," said Vale.
Joshy's ears fluttered in surprise. "What? Astoundin'! Redwallers don't remember the name of Joshy Stag Hare? Well, I'm sure you'll all become familiar with me in good time."
"Joshy's a fantastic cook," said Rainbow Dash.
"Well, maybe he'd like to help out Friar Bellows today," said Abbess Vale.
Samkim took Joshy's paw. "Come on. I'll show you to the kitchens."
Friar Bellows was a mouse as wide as he was high. Today he was in the process of making a Great Hall cake. Arula the mole was helping him. A baby dormouse named Dumble was standing by as well. Dumble was just learning to talk, by repeating the last words he heard.
Samkim led his new friends into the kitchen. "Good afternoon, Friar Bellows. I'd like you to meet Joshy Stag Hare, Mara, and Rainbow Dash."
"Bless my soul!" Bellows breathed. "A Pegasus pony!"
"Can you'm fly in ee sky?" Arula asked.
Rainbow Dash did a midair somersault right there in the kitchen. "I sure can! This Abbey's about to get 20 percent cooler."
"My name's Joshy an' I'm a wizard," said Joshy. "I'm also somethin' of a chef. Do you need any help today?"
"We're trying to make a Great Hall cake." Friar Bellows read off the list of ingredients. "We need arrowroot and pollen flour, brown sugar, regular sugar, confectioner's sugar…"
"Sugar!" Dumble yelled.
Bellows glared at the interruption, then continued. "Cherries…"
"Cherries!" Dumble yelled.
"Walnuts…"
"Walnuts!"
Bellows covered his ears and shook his head. "Oh, dear, somebeast help me please! I can hardly hear myself think with this bundle o' mischief hanging about!"
Mara thought the baby dormouse was adorable. "I can take care of him." She picked Dumble up and carried him out of the kitchen. "Come on, echo. Let's find some game to play."
"Whoa! You's like a mounting with fur on!" Dumble exclaimed admiringly. "Big wunnerful animal!"
When they were gone, Bellows heaved a sigh of relief. "Very good, very good! Now, we can get some real work done."
Joshy rolled up his sleeves and drew his wand. "Righto! Let's get to it!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The animals decided to have dinner outside that night. They brought a bunch of tables out onto the lawn and pushed them all together to form one big table. There were five different centerpieces. Everybeast had been expecting to see Friar Bellows' cake, which sat in the middle of the table, but there was also a giant Redwall jubilee trifle, a magnificent blackcurrant pudding, a high wobbling redcurrant jelly, and an enormous chestnut-and-plum pie. In between these dishes were assorted breads, salads, soups, and cheeses.
"Did you do all this, Bellows?" Abbess Vale asked.
Bellows shook his head. "I made the big cake, but Joshy here made most of the other stuff. It was incredible! He just waved his wand and said the names of dishes, and they appeared before my eyes!"
"Well, it looks too good for words," said Mara. Dumble sat at her side. She had been playing with him all afternoon.
Joshy blushed. "Always nice to get a culinary complement, wot. Especially from a badger maid as lovely as your good self."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's dig in!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
They had a delicious meal. When they were done eating, Rainbow Dash decided to entertain everybeast with flying stunts. She performed all sorts of complicated aerial acrobatics and even flew in circles around the bell tower.
Then Joshy got up and did some magic tricks. "What's that in your ear, laddie buck?" he asked Samkim.
"I didn't know I had anything in my ear," the squirrel replied.
"Well, it looks to me like a piece of… fried chicken!" Joshy exclaimed, seemingly pulling a chicken drumstick right out of the squirrel's ear.
Everybeast applauded. Joshy bowed. "It's as if I never left, wot wot," he said.
Right before everybeast was about to go inside, Baby Dumble climbed up on the table and fell into what was left of the cake. He got covered in frosting. He started to cry.
Mara picked him up again. "I think you need a bath, little fella."
She carried him inside and brought him to a bathroom. She put him in the tub and started washing him.
Abbess Vale came in and stood at the door. "Usually we have a terrible time getting him to take a bath, but he's not giving you any trouble at all. I think in your own way, you're just as magic as Joshy Stag Hare."
"I grew up at Salamandastron," said Mara. "I used to help give baths to the young hares all the time."
A twinkle appeared in the Abbess's eye. "You know, traditionally, it's always fallen to a badger to take care of the Dibbuns at Redwall. The last Badger Mother, Mellus, died some time ago. If you wanted to stay at our Abbey permanently, perhaps you could take on that role."
Mara beamed. "I'd be happy to!"