A/N: AHH!!  Major writer's block!!  Sorry it took so long to post, but that's why!  Here's the part you've all been waiting for!!  Well actually, I don't know that, but that's what I'd like to think.  Hmm...  Well anyway, I have to thank the people who reviewed Chapter 7.  That's Silver Spell, DreamDance, Rivendellgurl15 (a.k.a. Black-as-Knight14), Chriz, The Daughter of Tigress, and soulflyer.  Thank you all and I hope you like this one!

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Disclaimer: I'm going to introduce a few new Celestials in the chapter, so in addition to the characters that you know I own, I also own the ones that you don't recognize from the books.  Confusing?  Good.

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         The Sunchaser left Atalanta at the Crystal Pool and galloped through the lush fields of the valley, barely noticing their beauty.  Disturbed by the Dreamspeaker's lack of concern, he decided to take the ultimate risk to save the Celestials.  He sped across the plains toward the cave retreat of Numinor.

         Passing by a small grove of shade trees, the Sunchaser stopped.  Through the thick foliage he could see several small unicorns playing under the watchful eye of a toffee-colored mare.  Thinking quickly, the bronze stallion changed course and made his way through the trees toward the mare.

         "Rowenbe!" he called out as he approached.  The unicorn mare turned her head, revealing her rosewood horn and tiger's eye jewel. 

         She nodded to acknowledge the Sunchaser's presence, waiting until he was near before speaking.  "Good afternoon, Sunchaser," she commented softly.  "What brings you here, so near the foals?"

         Ignoring her question, the bronze stallion turned and gazed out over the playing foals.  Though there were many off white-colored newborns, the Sunchaser could easily pick out the one that was his son.  His green eyes stood out a great deal against his white head, and some green hairs could already be seen growing at various places on his small body.

         "That one," the Sunchaser said, motioning toward his son.  "Thianc.  I need him."

         Rownbe looked at him, confusion in her eyes.  "I, I'm sorry, Sunchaser.  I have orders from Numinor to release the heir to only himself and the Dreamspeaker."    

         "Well then forget them," the bronze stallion said forcefully.  "I need Thianc now.  This cannot be delayed."

         The toffee-colored mare shook her head slowly.  "I can't, Sunchaser.  My mate is on the Celestial Guard.  If I disobey Numinor, he will surely lose his position. "

         The Sunchaser was about to protest further when the universe shifted.  The ground lurched and the air blew strongly through the world.  The foals stopped their playing and ran over to Rowenbe, seeking refuge in the mare. 

         As suddenly as it had begun, the disturbance stopped.  The universe had settled once more.  "Shh," the mare whispered to the still-frightened foals.  "Everything will be alright."

         "No," the Sunchaser said softly.  "Nothing will be alright.  Because of your inability to see reason, the Shifter has come.  Do you hear me?  The Shifter has come!"  Leaving Rowenbe and foals, the bronze stallion turned and swiftly made his way back to the small glade where Ignitre was waiting for him.

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         "Quickly!" the Sunchaser urged his crimson friend.  "We must gather as many Celestials as we can.  We cannot allow the Shifter to complete his mission!"

         Ignitre nodded, understanding the seriousness of the matter at hand.  He and the bronze stallion departed in separate directions, racing against time to save their homeland.

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         From inside his cave, Numinor felt the disturbance as well.  Fearing the worst, he and the two members of his guard that were on duty left the cave and began walking through the fields of the valley.  This was where the Sunchaser found him.  "Numinor!" he called out.

         The Golden One greeted the Sunchaser with little enthusiasm.  "Sunchaser," he said stiffly.  "What is the meaning of this?"

         "There is no time to explain," the bronze unicorn yelled.  Getting no response, he turned and halted in front of the herd leader.  "Numinor," he said forcefully, an urgent look in his eyes.  "We must act quickly.  The Shifter is here."

         The many unicorns that had assembled around the two stallions gasped in alarm.  Whispers flew among them, but they soon quieted down to hear what the Golden One had to say.

         "What?!" Numinor whispered, glaring at the Sunchaser.  "If this is some kind of joke..."

         But the lead stallion didn't get to finish.  For at that moment, a great crash was heard near the Crystal Arch, followed by a deep splash.  Panic in his eyes, the Sunchaser turned from Numinor and began galloping toward the site of the disturbance.  "Follow me!" he roared to all the members of the herd.  "Come with me and fight this evil!  We must save the Celestial Valley!"

         Eager to help, the unicorns that had gathered around the two stallions turned and followed the fleeing bronze stallion.  Numinor trotted with them but stopped at the top of the ridge, watching the scene unfolding below.

         The Sunchaser was flying down the middle of the hill, followed by many-colored unicorns.  Halfway down, Ignitre galloped in from the right, also followed by a large group of Celestials.  Once the group reached the bottom of the hill, they flew to the base of the Crystal Arch. 

         When Numinor lay eyes on the Crystal Arch, his heart filled with sadness and rage.  The great path of translucent gem was no longer a complete bridge across the wide river; the part of the Arch that connected to the ground of the Celestial Valley had fallen and was lying half-submerged in the water below.  But what enraged the Golden One more was what stood on the portion of the Arch that was still standing.  There, at the break, stood Entia the Shifter.  Behind him, a great army covered the crystal pathway and spilled onto the ground.

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         The Sunchaser stood at the head of the Celestial Herd, his bronze coat glinting in the sun.  Turning to the right, he saw Ignitre approaching.  "Find Thianc," he whispered when his crimson friend was beside him.  "Leave someone with him.  Do not allow the foal to come here."

         Ignitre nodded, then turned and fled.  He made his way to the back of the herd and stopped before a huge plum stallion.  His coat was such a dark purple it was almost black, as was the amethyst at the base of his opal horn.

He's so much darker than I remember... Ignitre thought, but pushed the thought out of his mind.  "Awronqne!" he said urgently to the stallion.  Once he had his attention, he lowered his voice.  "I need your help."

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         Numinor appeared at The Sunchaser's side.  "What is going on?" he asked the bronze stallion, who was still staring up at Entia.

         "The Shifter has come," The Sunchaser responded, never breaking his gaze.  "He has come for the Valley.  And he will not leave until he has something for his toils."

         "What?" The Golden One asked, disbelief in his voice.  "Something for his toils?"

         But his question went unanswered, for at the moment, Entia's cold voice rang out over the assembly of unicorns, immediately silencing them all.  "Celestials!  The Shifter has arrived!"  The evil one's huge army erupted in a great shout behind him.  When the noise died down, Entia continued.  "Take a good look about you, Unicorns of the Light, for your precious valley is soon to be mine!"

         "Entia!" Numinor called out as he stepped in front of the Sunchaser to the head of his herd.  "The Celestial Herd will not fall as easily as our Crystal Arch.  You shall not have our home!" 

         The Shifter's lips curled in a small smile.  "Perhaps not," he said almost thoughtfully.  "Yes, I think I shall allow you to keep your Valley."

         The Celestial Herd let out a great sigh.  The Sunchaser trotted to the Golden One's side and whispered, "He lies, Numinor.  It is a trap!  Do not let down your guard."

         Numinor nodded and locked eyes with the Shifter.  "Why waste your time gathering an army and coming here, only to give up so quickly?" he asked in an even tone.  "Surely there is something else that you desire, something that you plan to take, unbeknownst to us."

         Enita chuckled, an evil sound that sent shills down the spines of the unicorns below.  "That is where you are wrong, Numinor.  It is true that there is something I desire, something else that the Celestial Valley holds.  But I will not take it."

         A sudden stroke of kindness? The Sunchaser thought as Numinor debated on how to respond.  What is Entia planning?  What does the Shifter have in store? 

         Numinor opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by Entia.  "Oh, but aren't you curious as to what it is I want?  Surely you want to know what your pathetic land can have that I want so badly.  Well, you don't have to go looking for it, because I have arranged for it to be delivered right here.  Awronqne!"

         The Sunchaser's heart froze when he heard that cry, and it began to sink as he watched the purple stallion approach the Shifter, dragging Thianc behind him.  The closer Awronqne got to Entia, the darker he became, until he was standing next to the evil being.  Then, the transformation was complete, and the unicorn who was once a deep, rich plum was now a dark, evil black with fiery eyes.

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         The entire Celestial herd gasped when they saw Thianc before the Shifter.  All eyes were on the young foal, all except The Sunchaser's.  Taking advantage of the moment, he broke away from the herd and moved to where he could see the back of the Shifter's ranks.  There, being held by two shadowy beings, was Ignitre.  His eyes blazed as he fought his captors, his crimson coat standing out among the dark hues of the army.  A third servant of Entia waved a spear near the unicorn's face in warning.

         "Ignitre!" The Sunchaser whispered urgently, rustling the bushes to get his friend's attention.  When he did, the bronze unicorn motioned toward the bushes next to him.  "Come on!"

         The crimson unicorn did not move, but simply hung his head in defeat.  "I have failed you." Shaking his head to silence his friend's protests, Ignitre continued.  "He has Thianc, Sunchaser.  Awronqne has gone to the Shadow.  He betrayed the Celestial Herd and took Thianc, while capturing me.  I was too weak to fight back."

         "Ignitre," The Sunchaser whispered, eyes sympathetic.

         "I have failed you," the captured Celestial repeated and looked at his friend.  "Entia will take Thianc with him, back to the Valley of Fear.  He will train him as a Shadow Unicorn, and then he will launch an attack on the good places of the world with an army second to none.  Thianc is the key, Sunchaser.  With your son, the Shifter cannot be defeated." 

         A moment of silence followed, while The Sunchaser fully digested what he had just heard.  "You are sure of this?"

         "It is what Awronqne told me as we were coming here with the foal.  He is the Shifter's principal spy; I would not shun his words." the crimson unicorn said quietly.

         The bronze unicorn, now sure of what he must do, called out to his friend once more.  "Ignitre!  Come here!  Quickly!  You can escape!"

         But the defeated stallion lowered his head and made no attempt to escape.  "Thianc is captured and the Celestials will fall, and it is all because of me.  I have failed you and all that is good in the world.  I have failed..." 

         Then, The Sunchaser watched in horror as his beloved friend raised his head and lunged toward the nearest guard, desperate to take some of the Shifter's army down with him.  Unfortunately, the spear struck his chest before any damage could be done.  As his front legs buckled beneath him and he slowly fell to the ground, Ignitre looked toward the hidden unicorn.  "Go now," he whispered, his final words.  "Go save your son." 

         A tear ran down The Sunchaser's cheek as the crimson stallion closed his eyes and lay still, never to move again.  "You die with honor," he whispered to his fallen friend.  "You have not failed."  Then, remembering Ignitre's final wish, the bronze stallion turned and set off toward the Crystal Arch.

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         Meanwhile, no Celestial had noticed The Sunchaser's absence.  Everyone's attention was set on the Shifter and Awronqne, who held Thianc between them.  Each unicorn held his or her breath, wondering what Entia would want with Numinor's son.

         After a few moments of silence, Entia spoke.  "Now Numinor, is this really too high a price to ask?  I come for your Valley, but leave instead with this foal.  Since you seem to have had such a productive spring, I don't think that the absence of one young one will be too detrimental to the herd."

         "Unhand him, Shifter!" The Golden One called out.  "For that is my son, and the heir to the Celestial Valley.  He shall not leave his home." 

         Upon hearing this, the Shifter began to laugh, a great bellowing laugh that rang in the ears of all who heard it, freezing the blood and chilling the soul.  "Do you really think that this is your son?" he said between gasps for air.  "How could this foal be the son of Numinor, heir to the line of Solaris?  Every unicorn that has descended from the Golden Line is a brilliant gold, not unlike yourself.  Am I correct in this fact?"

         "Yes," Numinor responded uncertainly.

         A wide smile broke over Entia's face.  "Then tell me, how can this foal be of the line of Solaris when he is clearly green?"  A great gasp broke out from among the Celestials.  The Shifter waited for the commotion to subside before continuing.  "Is it not obvious?  His eyes are of the deepest emerald, and his true hairs are already beginning to grow in."

         "What of his golden hooves?" a Celestial called out from the herd.

         "Copper" The Shifter stated simply.  "They will become green as well once he matures and they have time to oxidize and rust."

         These revelations caused a great murmur to rise out from the unicorns as each asked his or her neighbor if the Shifter's accusations were justifiable.  Numinor stood silently at the head of the herd, considering the situation.  If the foal wasn't his, then whose was it?

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         Suddenly, the air above the fallen piece of the Crystal Arch began to shimmer, and the Old Mare of the Mountain appeared on top of it.  The Celestials bowed respectfully, while the Shifter and his army stood, unimpressed.

         "I have followed this event from its beginnings," the ancient unicorn began softly, silencing everyone, the tone of her voice making every creature present listen to her words.  "The foal that links the two worlds of Light and Shadow.  Thianc is the one that the Fates forgot, the one who is in complete control of his destiny.  Both sides want him; both sides need him.  But he will only go to one.  Only one will succeed."

         "Who is he?" Numinor said loudly, trying unsuccessfully to keep his anger at bay.  "The Shifter says that he is not of the line of Solaris, yet he is my son."

         "Are you sure of that?" The Old Mare interrupted.  "Are you completely confident of Thianc's blood?"

           "But," The Golden One stammered, completely confused.  "I trust Atalanta.  Who else would she be with?"

         "Atalanta would only stand with someone that she knew would be concerned about his foal." the wise old unicorn said cryptically.  "Someone who would do anything to ensure his son's protection."

         Numinor considered this for a moment.  Suddenly, strange visions flooded his mind: "Atalanta," The Sunchaser said to the Dreamspeaker as he drew to a halt before her.  "Where is Thianc?" he asked frantically.  "Is he safe?"                                                                                                                               The Sunchaser stood at the head of the Celestial Herd, his bronze coat glinting in the sun.  Turning to the right, he saw Ignitre approaching.  "Find Thianc," he whispered when his crimson friend was beside him.  "Leave someone with him.  Do not allow the foal to come here."

         Then, the Golden One knew.  "The Sunchaser?  The Sunchaser is the father of Thianc?"

         The Old Mare of the Mountain nodded somewhat sadly.  "Yes, Numinor, it is true.  Thianc is not of the line of Solaris, but of the line of Hephaejin, Stallion of Metal."

         Upon hearing this, Numinor let out a great scream, ringing out over the Valley, carrying his rage and sorrow throughout his domain.  When he could scream no more, the golden stallion turned to the ancient unicorn, seething with rage.  "Get him out of my sight, out of my Valley." he said through clenched teeth.  "I will not allow that insult to my ancestors to remain here."

         The Shifter grinned once more.  "So then it is settled.  This foal, Thianc you call him?  Well then, Thianc is mine; I will take him off of your hands and out of your mind."

         Numinor was about to answer when Atalanta appeared by his side.  "Numinor, please consider this.  He is a Celestial.  No matter what his lineage, we cannot allow him to go to Entia."

         The Golden One gave the Dreamspeaker a poisonous glare before turning back toward the Shifter.  "Done."

         "Perfect," the Shifter said, grin still in place.

         He was about to go on when The Sunchaser galloped in.  He ran by the Old Mare of the Mountain and stopped in front of Numinor, next to Atalanta.  "No, Golden One!  If Thianc goes to Entia, the world is doomed.  Please reconsider!"

         When he didn't get a reaction from the lead stallion, he started to continue, but was stopped by Atalanta.  "He knows," she whispered to the bronze unicorn.  "Let it go, now is not the time."

         "Besides," the Old Mare said softly.  "Numinor has already given the foal to Entia.  It is decided: Thianc shall go to the Shadow.  For now."

         "Then our business here is done," the Shifter said.  "Come!  We make for the Valley of Fear!  Awronqne, keep a close watch over Thianc.  We cannot allow the newest addition to our herd to escape."  With that said, Entia turned and followed his army down the Crystal Arch.  Once all the troops were on the other side, Ru Krion stepped out holding Gully.  The haunting song rang out through the Valley, and the evil beings were gone.

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Still angry, Numinor turned from the herd and made for his cave.  The rest of the Celestials eventually left the Crystal Arch area, returning to the pastures, even though no one felt like eating. 

         Finally, only Atalanta and The Sunchaser remained standing by the river.  The Dreamspeaker nuzzled up to the bronze stallion and whispered, "Don't worry.  It will all be okay."

         "No," The Sunchaser stated flatly.  "No, Atalanta, nothing will be okay.  I promised that I would protect Thianc from the Shifter, and now he has him.  Ignitre is not the one who has failed the Celestial Herd.  It is me."

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Wow.  That was long.  *phew*  But I'm glad I got that done.  That's a load off my chest.  If anyone has any ideas, please tell me!!  Oh, and I have to give credit to Silver Spell for the idea of Awronqne turning black and evil.  Read her story under Unicorns of Balinor, and read the stories of Rivendellgurl15.  She changed her pen name; it used to be Black-as-Knight14.  Nope, I haven't stopped telling you to read her stuff.  So you better!!