Sunflash was in his bedchamber when Rainbow Dash came flying in panickingly. She crashed into the glass because she didn't see in time that the window was closed.

The Badger Lord opened it for her. "Rainbow, are you all right?"

"No! Something terrible has happened! I was spying on Swartt and I saw him talking with Starlight Glimmer!"

"Who is Starlight Glimmer?" Sunflash asked.

"Starlight Glimmer is an evil unicorn," Rainbow explained. "A few months ago, my friends and I went to a town where she had stolen the magic from all the other ponies there. Me and Twilight and Fluttershy and the rest managed to defeat her and restore the magic, but Starlight Glimmer got away in the end and we didn't know what happened to her until now. Anyway, I heard her tell Swartt that she would take him back in time so he could kill you in the past!"

Sunflash digested this information. "If he killed my past self, would I die in the present?"

"I don't know," Rainbow said, "but I wouldn't wanna take that chance. What are we gonna do?"

The badger set his jaw resolutely. "There's only one thing to do. I must kill Sixclaw now before he has the opportunity to travel back in time. I always knew it would come down to this in the end, just him and me."

Rainbow Dash spread her wings. "But remember, you said I could be right beside you when you faced down Swartt Sixclaw in the final battle."

"Of course," Sunflash replied, hefting his mace. "Let us go hunting together one last time, my friend."

They stole out of Salamandastron without telling anybeast where they were going, not even Bella.

Down on the beach, Swartt Sixclaw and Starlight Glimmer were getting ready to head north to set up the time portal. Swartt had his switchblade and his heater and a whole carton of cigarettes. "I still don't understand why we can't do da spell right here an' now," he complained.

The unicorn was patient. "Because a time portal must be created in a large open space, and this terrain is too rocky and rough to be a good site. Up on the High North Coast, there is much more room, and the beach is smoother."

But then they heard a loud war cry. "EULALIAAAA!"

Swartt turned over his shoulder and saw Sunflash and Rainbow Dash thundering toward the vermin camp.

"Hurry, Lord. Run! I'll detain them!" said Nightshade, notching an arrow to her bowstring.

Swartt kicked Starlight Glimmer savagely. "C'mon, get goin', unless ya wanna be slayed by da stripedog!" The ferret and the unicorn took off running down the beach.

"Running won't do you any good!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Sunflash is 20% cooler than you! You can't escape from a Badger Lor-"

She was cut off in midsentence as Nightshade loosed the arrow into her chest. The Pegasus fell to the ground, mortally wounded.

"Rainbow Dash!" Sunflash cried. He averted his gaze from his fleeing enemy and rushed to the pony's side.

"Forget about me. Go stop the ferret…" Rainbow Dash said.

"Rainbow," the badger wept. "Rainbow, my true friend."

"I see sunny glades…" Rainbow's voice trailed off as her eyes closed.

Nightshade was loading another arrow when Sunflash suddenly turned around and swung his mace. The heavy club smashed the vixen's bow to smithereens with a single blow. Nightshade turned on her heels and fled, not realizing in her panic that she was running right into the ocean. When she finally noticed, she was too far out to swim back. A great wave crashed over her head, consigning her to the deeps forever.

As the remaining vermin closed in on him, Sunflash's eyes turned a darker shade of red than ever before. The fighting blood of his badger sires coursed in his veins.

Not all of Swartt Sixclaw's forces perished that day. Many of the vermin ran away. But one thing was for certain. None of that horde would ever return to molest Salamandastron again.