Boar had brought Martin into his secret war room at the heart of the mountain, where he had computers and lasers and nuclears and an XBOX 360.

"Now I will show you how I knew about you before you came," he said. He turned on one of the computers and pulled up a website called . He typed "Bugs Bunny in Mossflower" into the search engine. "Take a look at this," he said.

Martin was astounded. It was a story all about him and Bugs. It told how they had escaped from Kotir together and journeyed to Salamandastron. "Who wrote this?"

"Somebeast called wweather. Nothing is known about him, but he has posted many stories on this website. Stories about you. Stories about my father, Lord Brocktree. Stories about the ponies in Equestria and lions in Africa. Even some stories that seem to take place in the future!"

"Does it say whether I defeat Tsarmina?"

Boar shook his head. "No, for this story we are in is not finished yet. Here, come with me and I'll show ye something else."

He led Martin over to another computer screen. This one had a camera on it which showed the ocean outside. A great black ship was sailing in toward land, getting closer and closer. At the tip of the prow was the bleached skull and fin of some large fish, standing out like a figurehead.

"Is that Ripfang's ship?" Martin asked.

"Aye, the Bloodwake. It should land on our shore this evening."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bugs, Gonff and Speedy entered the main hall, where the Long Patrol hares were eating breakfast.

"What's up, Doc?" Bugs said as they approached a table occupied by three hares.

"I say, what a quaint accent!" said one of the hares.

"Are you American? Cool!" said the second.

"Do you want to sit with us?" said the third.

"Sure. My name's Bugs Bunny, an' this is Gonff an' Speedy."

The three hares introduced themselves too.

"Hello chaps. I'm Trubbs."

"I'm Wother. Capital W and an O, don't ya know."

"I'm Ffring. Double F, no E. Howja do."

Boar and Martin came in. Trubbs, Wother, and Ffring began giggling.

"Well, does he know about you know what, eh, Boar?"

"I say, let's show it to him now, Boar. Be a sport."

"Yes, otherwise the poor old bean might keel over with suspense."

Boar turned to Lola, who was sitting nearby. "What d'you think? Is he ready for this?"

Lola waggled her ears humorously. "I suppose so. Anyway, we'll soon find out."

"Find out what?" Martin asked.

Boar went over to the forge. "While you were sleeping last night, my hares and I worked until after dawn had broken," he said at last. "I have made something for you, Martin."

The warrior mouse felt the hairs rising on the back of his neck. He gulped with excitement as Boar continued.

"One night while out on patrol, Lola saw a star fall from the sky. She found the spot where it landed. A lump of hot metal was buried deep in the sand. When it cooled she dug it out and brought it back to me. Last night I put sea coal and charcoal in my forge; more than ever before, I made Salamandastron glow so hot that it could be seen in lands far across the sea. I had to- half the night had gone by before the metal became soft. I hammered it out, oiled it, folded it many times against itself on my anvil, all the time reciting the names of every great warrior I had known or could think of. I spoke your name on the final hammer blow. Here, Martin. This is yours."

He gave Martin something wrapped in cloth. Martin unwrapped it. "You fixed my sword for me!" he cried. "Thank you, Boar!"

"Gee, I'd almost forgotten about that thing," said Bugs.

Double edged, keener than a razor, it lay glittering and twinkling, a myriad of steady lights. Its tip was pointed like a mountain peak in midwinter.

Gonff whistled admiringly. "I'd like to see Tsarmina try to break it now."

Martin held the sword straight out in front of him, letting the point rise slightly to feel the heft of the weapon. Suddenly he began sweeping it in circles, up, down, and around. The steel blade whooshed and sang eerily on its own wind. The bystanders followed its every move as if hypnotized.

"At last, my right arm is complete again!" Martin roared out above the voice of the howling blade. "Tsarmina, can you hear me? I am Martin the Warrior. I am coming back to Mossflowerrrrrrrrrrr!"