Contains spoilers...

This chapter is about Nightstar! Thank you Rosetail's loyalty (Icecloud) for giving me this idea! And I thank all who reviewed my story and gave me suggestions. I enjoyed writing this chapter, it was quite fun writing about a leader that is hardly metioned in other fanfics. This was fun. Enjoy.

I also added a special surprise for all you Raggedstar fans! Even though I don't believe he went to Starclan, I wrote him in this chapter as a Starclan cat. So I hope you all are happy.

Acceptance

"Nightpelt, I think you should lead. You're one ofthe eldest and the wisest of the clan." Cinderfur mewed.

Other yowls of agreement sounded out, although some cats still remained confuse.

"So tell me again, what happened to Brokenstar?" Wetfoot questioned.

Nightpelt straightened up and cleared his throat. His black fur gleamed under the moonlight making him look bigger and stronger than ever before. "Brokenstar is gone. There will be no more of his treachery. Shadowclan may now recover, there will be no more of Brokenstar's tyranny." The old tom announced proudly.

A young black queen stepped forward and purred with delight. "I agree with Cinderfur, I think Nightpelt would lead us well." She mewed proudly.

"Thank you Darkflower." Nightpelt bowed his head and licked her ear affectionately. "I'm so glad that you're my daughter and supporter of mine." He whispered.

Wetfoot still seemed doubtful. "Aren't you a little old to be leader?" he ventured.

"It doesn't matter how old you are you mouse-brain!" Ashfur spat. "I think Nightpelt would make a wonderful leader." The old elder stared at his friend with admiring eyes. "No one know Nightpelt better than me, we grew up with each other. I think he's fit for the role."

The other cats meowed excitedly. "Nightpelt! Nightpelt!" they chanted. Finally convinced, Wetfoot decided to join in the chant. Nightpelt would now be their new leader.

Runningnose came trotting up the old black tom. "I think you should leave soon for Moonstone so you can get your nine lives."

Nightpelt turned away from his warriors and faced the medicine cat. "Good thinking." He turned back to the other cats and cleared his throat once again. "Tomorrow at dawn I shall leave for Mothermouth and when I return, I shall be your new leader!" he yowled out proudly.

The other cats cheered. They've finally found a decent leader, they haven't had one in a long while.

The next day, Nightpelt prepared to set off for Moonstone. Right before he left, Cinderfur came padding up to him. The old gray tom was panting hard, he couldn't run as far as he used to.

"Excuse me, Nightpelt, but would you like me to come with you?" the old gray tom asked.

Nightpelt stared into his exhausted eyes and shook his head. "No, Runningnose and I will be fine. I need you to organize the clan. I'm putting you in charge while I'm gone. Can I count on you?" he asked.

Cinderfur's eyes lit up. "Yes sir." He turned away and dashed back to camp. A few moments later, Runningnose arrived. The two cats started their journey to Mothermouth.

On the way there, Runningnose was explaining some things to Nightpelt. "Now, once we enter Mothermouth you may not speak. Then press you nose against Moonstone and close your eyes. Then you'll start deaming, once you've awaken, you're not allowed to tell anyone what you saw, unless it's bad you can tell me." As he finished up talking, the journey came to and end.

They were at the entrance of Mothermouth. Nightpelt gulped nervously and waited for Runningnose to enter first. The gray and white tom was swallowed up by the large cave, Nightpelt's toes tingled with excitement. He slowly walk in and followed Runningnose to Moonstone.

The large white stone glowed under the moonlight. Nightpelt slowly approached the large rock and settled down beside it. He closed his eyes and pressed his nose against it. He suddenly felt a cold jolt. Then he heard a voice.

"Come here Nightpelt." The voice mewed.

Nightpelt opened his eyes and stood up. He looked around but saw nothing. "Where are you?" He asked.

"Behind you." The voice meowed. Suddenly a large dark brown cat appeared behind him. Nightpelt turned around and gasped. He knew exactly who it was, Raggedstar!

"Welcome to Starclan. I see you've come to get your nine lives and your new name." he said. Nightpelt still seemed shock to see his old leader, though after a few moments he began to calm down.

"Yes. I wish to lead Shadowclan." Nightpelt meowed and puffed out his chest.

"Shadowclan has been through dark times." Raggedstar meowed with his deep, chilling voice.

Raggedstar closed his eyes for a moment then sighed. "I'm sorry Nightpelt…" he paused and looked into the black tom's eyes. Nightpelt seemed confused.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked.

Raggedstar gave the old tom a stern look. "You cannot be a leader." He announced. The brown toms face remained expressionless as he said those words. A few moments later he dipped his head respectfully. "I'm sorry to disappoint you."

The hope in Nightpelt's eyes had fled, all there was left was sadness. "Why not?" he mumbled.

Raggedstar licked his paw for a few moments then stopped to answer Nightpelt's question. "You much too elderly for this role. Starclan has a feeling that dark times are ahead and we think you're not the right one to lead the clan. You're a brave and noble warrior but you're not meant to be a leader."

Nightpelt sheathed his claws. He snarled and hissed aggressively at Raggedstar. The frustrated tom padded back and forth furiously. "Who's going to lead the clan then? No one wants to, everyone is still shocked about Brokentail. Does that mean Cinderfur is the chosen one?"

Raggedstar shook his head. "Cinderfur is not the chosen one. That's all I can say."

"Why not me? I am fit for the job. I can lead, age doesn't matter! If no one leads the clan, it'll be chaos. The cats will be confused and unorganized. I'm not just going to sit there and do nothing. Please give me my nine lives and name! I'm doing this for the clan!" Nightpelt begged.

"You're right Nightpelt." Raggedstar mewed coolly. "You shall lead Shadowclan until the real leader arrives. But I'm sorry, we cannot give you nine lives. You're not the true leader."

"But I--" Nightpelt paused and lowered his head. "I understand." He muttered.

"From this moment on you shall be known as Nightstar, leader of Shadowclan." Raggedstar announced.

"Remember Nightstar, you musn't tell you clan that you were the chosen one. Pretend that you have nine lives." Raggedstar whispered into the black tom's ear.

Nightstar nodded.

"Good. Just remember, Nightstar, you are a leader but not the chosen one." Raggedstar meowed. "Lead well my good friend, may Starclan be with you!"

Raggedstar faded away. Soon everything was black and silent. Nightstar sat down and lowered his head. He was alone now. He didn't have nine lives…but he knew that he'd have to lead his clan.

Now I have to lie. I have to lie to my fellow warriors and to my friends. I have to lie to my good friend Cinderfur and to my daughter Darkflower.

But why wasn't I chosen? Who'll take my place? I have done nothing wrong or evil in the past, I've been loyal to Starclan all my life and yet I can't be leader? This whole thing doesn't make sense…

Nightstar's eyes flew open. He could see the glow in the Moonstone dying away as dawn approached. Runningnose had just woken up too. He looked over at Nightstar and nodded. The two cats made their way out of Mothermouth.

Nightstar squinted as he stared at the rising sun. He sighed and lowered his head sadly. Runningnose stretched his legs and walked up to Nightstar.

"So how did it go? Did you get you nine lives and name?" Runningnose asked. "So, I may call you Nightstar, right?"

Nightpelt looked at the medicine cat with hollow eyes. The black tom looked even older and tired than before. His face told Runningnose everything. The medicine cat gasped.

"Another shall be chosen…I'm just a replacement for the time being." Nightstar meowed coldly.

"Do you know who?" Runningnose asked with curiosity.

"No. But the clan must not know that I am not a real leader. Chaos will destroy the clan if there is not leader. So I'm just a temporary leader." Nightstar nuttered.

Runningnose stared at the old tom sympathetically. Ever since the medicine cat was an apprentice, he admired Nightstar for his courage and good heart.

"You'll always be a true leader to me, Nightstar." He mewed, trying to cheer the old tom up.

Nightstar purred a little. "Thank you Runningnose." He mewed thankfully. "We must be on our way, the clan is waiting for us."

The two cats set off on their journey back home.

Even though I may not be a true leader, I shall still lead my clan as if I were one. Those nine lives I wished to have will never be mine. They belong to some other lucky cat, probably more noble and brave than me.

All I have is my one life and my spirit to guide me through this. I shall be a memorable leader and lead well until my time is up. I just realized something …

One life is all I need and I am thankful for having a long one…

Nine are too many…

Five are too many…

But one…

One will do.

What did you think? Poor Nightstar, I felt sorry for him. I liked him too, to bad he had to die... Next chapter will be about Brokenstar (thanks Rippednose, for the idea)! I'm not sure who I'm going to write about after Brokenstar, so go ahead and put down suggestions! Thank you for reading!