Alright. Last real chapter. Here. It. Is. EEK! I am so nervous. I really really want you all to like it. I have to say, overall, I am pretty proud of this story and hope that all of the readers enjoyed it as well.

Keep in mind that I will have another chapter for sure that includes all extras, spoilers and facts about this story and the sequel. Also, I was thinking about this, and am pretty sure that I will since someone who reviewed last chapter brought it up. So I was debating about little chapters that were full of what-if scenarios Such as: what if Rainstorm and Ashfall had been together? What-if Dappleleaf had actually died as an apprentice? Tell me what you think!

I would like to send out a huge thank you to EVERYONE who has ever reviewed this story. You encouraged me to keep writing it. Without you, this story wouldn't have been written. Even if you are a guest reviewer, you contribute as well.

Fact: When I first started this story, I mentally made a sequel idea. However, it is not the idea that I am going with. It was going to be about Rainstorm and Rosethorn working to kill Dappleleaf.

"Okay, don't make this all about you, alright? I was just was as useful!"

Dappleleaf rolled her eyes, giving Ashfall an affectionate shove. He let out a purr, giving her a light shove back. Dappleleaf stumbled on her own paws, causing her to trip and land in the stream, sending chills throughout her body.

"Oops, my bad," Ashfall meowed, glancing her up and down. "Have fun drying off." He turned to start toward the pile of prey that they had both caught together.

"So will you!" Dappleleaf sprang forward, her claws lightly grabbing Ashfall and yanking him backwards, throwing him in the icy water. She dragged herself out before he had the chance to get back at her. "Oops, my bad," she mocked.

"Hey!" Ashfall cried out, his amber eyes widening as he realized what happened. "Oh, you are definitely going to pay for that." He clamored out of the water and shook out his pelt, spraying Dappleleaf in a shower of water droplets.

Dappleleaf let out a giggle, turning and running for the apple tree. In one swift movement she was up on her signature branch, staring down at Ashfall. "Come get me then!" she taunted.

Ashfall rolled his eyes. "Show-off!" he called, leaping at the tree and sinking his claws into the trunk. He swiftly scaled the trunk, positioning himself on a branch that was higher than hers. "Now look who's better?"

"I don't think so!" Dappleleaf laughed, bunching up her muscles and leaping up, her claws scraping wood as she landed triumphantly above him. "You couldn't climb this high to save your life!"

"Wanna bet?"

Ashfall was beside her instantly, nearly knocking her off her perch. Dappleleaf stuck her fluffy tail out to balance herself. She let out a mrrw of laughter and nuzzled her mate, her heart still fluttering like it had ever since they had met. "I love you," she murmured, shutting her eyes and savoring the moment.

"Not as much as I love you," Ashfall replied, resting his head on hers. They sat there for a while, captured in the moment. "I'm glad you're okay," he told her quietly.

"Me too." Dappleleaf knew exactly what he was talking about. Creamstep, of course. Her sister had been murdered by Rosethorn, and the death had torn Dappleleaf apart. What was worse, even, was that she had killed a cat herself, which also made her question who she was. However, after one visit from Creamstep she felt better and more like herself than ever. Her sister passed the message to her that she need to relish in every bit of life she had.

That's exactly what Dappleleaf had done. It had been a few moons since her sister's passing, and with time came healing. She now understood how precious life was, and she wasn't about to let hers fly by and suddenly find herself left alone.

Before Creamstep's death, Dappleleaf was living in a new clan and was not trusted by any of the cats. She had to constantly prove herself and never had any spare time to enjoy her life. Even before that, she had her sisters, but was apart from the cat she loved.

Now, despite the absence of her sibling, she was, for once, truly happy. Of course the fact that Creamstep wasn't there was depressing, but Dappleleaf knew that Creamstep was always watching over her.

"We should probably get back," Ashfall meowed, breaking into her thoughts. Dappleleaf blinked her eyes open, giving a slight nod. "I can't say I want to, but they'll think we have got ourselves into some more trouble." He got to his paws, careful not to disturb her.

Dappleleaf steadied herself as Ashfall leapt off the branch, causing it to wobble. He disappeared under the mass of leaves that had grown. Dappleleaf sprang from the branch as well and would've landed perfectly on the ground if Ashfall had not been standing there.

"Oof!" She felt herself rolling down the small, slick slope. Dappleleaf stuck out her leg to catch herself and eventually got a grip on the ground, heaving herself to her feet. "Now what was that?" she complained, noting how filthy her fur was.

"You were the one to land on me, may I remind you." Ashfall's whiskers twitched with amusement and his eyes lit up with laughter. "Come on." He picked up a few pieces of prey and beckoned her forward with his tail. "Let's get back."

Dappleleaf nodded, darting forward and snagging the last of the prey before trotting after him. It had been a perfect day, and she hoped the start to a perfect life.

"I'm tired. Let me sleep, pretty please?" Dappleleaf whined, rolling on her side to bury herself in the feathers of their nest. "I am exhausted." She swatted her paw playfully at Ashfall, who had suggested they stay up and go on a patrol.

"Okay, I declare that you are the laziest cat in this clan," Ashfall teased, giving her a nudge in attempt to make Dappleleaf get to her paws. "What will everyone else say? It's not even dusk yet."

"Let them talk about me in whatever way they like." Dappleleaf mumbled, already drifting off. She wrapped her tail over her nose and opened her eyes for a brief moment to look at Ashfall. "I love you."

"And I love you," he returned, leaning forward. Ashfall gave her ear a brief lick before rising to his feet. "Well, I am going to go on patrol. Sweet dreams, Dappleleaf."

Dappleleaf blinked awake in a clearing. Well, it could've been anything, really, since it was surrounding in thick clouds of mist. She squinted to try and see anything around her, but failed miserably. Where was she?

"Hello?" Dappleleaf called, curious. Perhaps some other cats were there and could identify where she was located at.

"It is nice of you to join me."

The voice that spoke behind her sent chills up Dappleleaf's spine. She recognized the sound instantly, and she could never forget it. That voice belonged to the one cat Dappleleaf hated above all else. But how...? Please, StarClan, let her be gone for good. It's just a dream, anyway. Wake up!

Dappleleaf didn't wake up, but instead turned around to find her enemy standing in front of her. She looked healthy, and just as lovely as before she died. Dappleleaf never thought of her as pretty before because she knew the truth about how evil this cat was, but in reality, she was quite breath-taking.

Rosethorn's snow white fur glowed in the dim light. Her green eyes matched her bright fur, but no stars shimmered in her pelt, causing Dappleleaf to feel a wave of relief.

"Rosethorn." Dappleleaf spoke her name bitterly. She refused to break her opponent's stare. "You never made it to StarClan, I presume? So I guess you're stuck in the Dark Forest."

"Yeah, it's tragic."

"Not really."

"Well I think it is." Rosethorn looked away, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't really think I deserve to be here, do you? That's a stupid question. Anyway, there are some real bad cats here, Dappleleaf. I don't think I should be categorized with them."

Dappleleaf's fur started to bristle at the sound of Rosethorn piercingly cold voice. "You got what you earned. You are a cold, manipulative, and blood-thirsty murderer." She turned away, praying to StarClan that she would wake up soon.

"Ouch. That's offensive," Rosethorn snapped. Dappleleaf heard her get up and tensed, wondering if Rosethorn had any way of actually injuring her in a dream. She doubted she would be a match for Rosethorn, let alone be able to beat her. "You know, I have really, really missed home."

"No cat has missed you," Dappleleaf retorted, whirling around swiftly to face her. "I honestly believe that everyone is happy you're dead. Not to be rude, or anything like that. I know Ashfall is certainly pleased. He's happy, Rosethorn. If you truly cared for him then you would want that."

Rosethorn snorted, rolling her eyes. "It was never about him. Okay, maybe at first. But then it became about the competition. All I wanted was to beat you, kill you, or hurt you. I thought I did once I killed your beloved Creamstep, but with a wave of her tail you're all better."

"Leave it alone, Rosethorn," Dappleleaf warned, taking a hesitant step backwards. "You lost. You're dead. You cannot hurt me ever again. You cannot hurt any cat ever again. Just accept it. Become friends with all the other villains here."

"See, now what type of villain would I be if I left you alone?" Rosethorn sneered. She started pacing back and forth, seemingly puzzled. "But how in the name of StarClan will I do that? I mean, I am stuck here, dead, and you're out there, alive. Perhaps I should just torment you in your dreams?"

Dappleleaf now registered that it was mock confusion. Rosethorn had already devised a plan on how to continue to ruin Dappleleaf's life. It made sense, though. Multiple moons locked in some dark prison would give any cat time to think.

"Do I hear your clan calling?" Rosethorn asked, tipping her head to the side. "I'm afraid to have to let you go now. Bye, my lovely friend."

Dappleleaf jerked awake. She was breathing heavily, and found feathers scattered around her. Obviously her bad dream had controlled how she slept. "You're okay. You're fine. It was just a dream." she whispered softly to herself.

"Just a dream? Is that what you tell yourself whenever you have images of you murdering Spruce run through your mind?"

Dappleleaf stiffened. No. No no. No! She leapt to her paws, whipping around to find the source of the menacing voice. Standing before her was Rosethorn. The white she-cat looked smug and amused, making Dappleleaf's fur begin to bristle.

"They already removed my nest? I'm hurt," Rosethorn meowed casually. She got up and started toward Dappleleaf, who took paces backwards to keep the distance between them. "I'm so glad my plan worked. Think of how foolish I would look if I was still trapped there."

"H-How are you h-here?" Dappleleaf stammered, eyes widening. "You can't be...you're dead! You are supposed to be dead, and you're supposed to stay dead. W-What's happening? It's just my mind. You are not really here. You can't be. Keep it together Dappleleaf."

"Let's just say that I pulled a few strings in the Dark Forest." Rosethorn took another threatening step forward, resulting in Dappleleaf taking another wary step back. "Oh, and yes I am real." She reached out a paws and tapped Dappleleaf's shoulder.

Dappleleaf stiffened, feeling the frigid cold paw make contact with her. "Someone else will see. Everybody knows that you're dead. Your plan wasn't so thought out after all!"

"No, actually it was. It is. You're the only cat who can see me. Believe me, if I could terrorize everyone I would, but I can't. You're the obvious choice, though, if I had to choose one." Rosethorn took one more step forward, but Dappleleaf held her ground.

"You won't win," Dappleleaf hissed, flattening her ears. She lashed her tail and slowed her breathing. It can't last forever. At some point she needs to go back. I won't let her win. I can maintain myself. She thinks I am weak, but I know that I am strong.

"Oh, but I will. You'll get to see that, since I will haunt you until you die."

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! I am aiming for 420 reviews, but I will update once I add all the facts and tidbits that I can think of.

Next chapter: Spoilers and facts plus the official summary for the sequel, plus added facts about this story.

Question: Did you like this story as a whole? Are you pleased with the final chapter to the story (not final chapter overall)?