Chapter 2

Sparklebelly made her way up the slope following close behind Brightstone. Tonight would be the night SkyClan gained a new leader, Deepstar had recieved his nine lives the day prior, a claw moon had passed since Darkstar's death, Crow's betrayal. Deepstar had taken his warriors back to ShadowClan, he had even appointed Grimheart as his actual deputy for his loyalty to Deepstar when Darkstar had exiled him and his Kin.

The cats of ShadowClan seemed pleased to return to their home under a real leadership. Shimmerstar has received her nine lives the night Darkstar had been killed, the she-cat had taken back her Clan, with the loss of some warriors. She had appointed Whitewater as her deputy. RiverClan had kept low from the other Clans while they rebuilt.

Sparklebelly was the last left to receive her nine lives. Would StarClan even give her nine lives? Crow was still alive and had lives left. So wasn't he technically the rightful leader of SkyClan still? Regardless she has to step up and be a leader to her suffering Clan. They looked to her so desperately for Leadership.

"we're here." Brightstone stopped, his tail swayed. "come StarClan is waiting for you. I can sense it" The tom meowed. ' well at least I know they're here. Maybe thats a good sign.' Sparklebelly thought.

"Touch your nose to the water and open your eyes when your nose turns ice cold." He meowed pointing the Moon Pool.

Sparklebelly took a deep breath and did as her medicine cat told her. 'Am I ready for this?'

"Yes." A voice echoed around the she-cat. She opened her eyes to see rows upon rows of stared cats. Their pelts glowed with youth, their eyes burned bright. However the voice came from an all too familiar toms voice. Ashwhisker.

"Ash-" The tom silenced her with his tail. "You've barely had your own apprentice. Yet you've come so far. You glow with wisdom and the ferocity of a leader. I never doubted your greatness for even a moment. I do not regret a thing." The ash colored toms eyes glowed with pride for his former apprentice.

"With this life, I give you the strength to fight all your battles with mercy. Just because the enemy is merciless, does not mean you should seek revenge." Her former mentor meowed. Pain like claws shot down all along her, making her twist on her paws.

Soon another cat trotted forward this time a she-cat. Sparklebelly welled up in tears at the sight of the black she-cat. Hollywhisker. Oh theres so much I have to ask you….

"My kit…. Im so proud of you, and I am so sorry you have suffered the consequences of my actions. With this life, I give you the ability of Good judgement. Use this gift to judge cats wisely, not by the color of their pelt, but by their heart. It will never lead you astray " the she-cat purred. Touching noses with her daughter. Memories of the love between her two parents before all the Clan's troubles flooded through her, the cold left her veins and she had felt more full of love than ever before.

Her mother dipped her head to her and backed away. Sparklebelly waited for the next cat to come forward, this time it was yet another tom, a former foe, and then.. a friend. Lightwing. The tom glowed, he know longer looked battered and weak like on the night of his death, he looked like a strong, confident SkyClan warrior.

"Hello friend. My how you have grown into such a wonderful she-cat. Im honored to be able to give you a life. With this life, I grant you friendship, not just in your own Clan, but among others, and even cats outside the Clans. Remember you always have friends. Even when you cant see them." The tom touched the top of her head gently and a wave of grief flooded over her. Almost like she was reliving the same night of the toms death. But then a swift feeling of courage flooded through her. The black tabby stepped back, purring.

Another tom stepped forward. This time she didn't recognize him. He was a sturdy gray tom with yellow eyes, sleek fur and muscles rippling under his pelt. He looked strong and confident.

"Hello Sparklebelly. I am Hawkstar. I'm sure you've heard the stories of when Leafstar and I lead SkyClan back to the Clans. I took her place after our noble leader gave her final life here beside our lake home, and now, I'm here to give you your fourth life." He meowed. Sparklebelly's eyes glowed she has only ever heard legends of the tom.

"with this life, I give you the wisdom of SkyClan leaders before you, we have all made mistakes, we have all had our trails, but our clans look to us for guidance, now use the wisdom of your passed leaders to guide them through these dark days." Hawkstar purred touching his nose to her forehead. A feeling so strong pulsed through her it almost made no sense at all. Pain, Fear, Happiness, Courage, Nobility. It felt like it all flooded through her through this tom.

Sparklebelly Gazed into this toms eyes for a long moment. There was something common between the two leaders. Sparklebelly dipped her head in gratitude.

Next a small, sleek, pumpkin colored tortoiseshell she-cat stepped forward. She had pale forest green eyes, small white paws, a fluffy tail and a pink nose that shined. Another cat Sparklebelly had never seen before.

"I am Pumpkinhallow, I was Nightwhispers mentor many, many seasons ago. I have watched you, you struggle with respecting and listening to your medicine cats. I hope that changes now that you two will be relying on each other." Pumpkinhallow pointed her tail to Brightstone. She was clearly joking but Sparklebelly felt hot under her gaze.

"I grant you a life of good listening and good ears. A leader is nothing without the balance of her Medicine cats, always listen to them, always let them guide you, for StarClan shall never leave you if you do so." The she-cat finished finally smiling. She touched noses with the she-cat and pain shot through her instantly, but then as soon as it hit, the scent of herbs, herbs all around her it filled the air with their beautiful aroma.

Sparklebelly now only had four lives to go. She couldn't believe all the cats she had already seen, she wished she could speak with them more, she had so many questions for her mother, questions for Ashwhisker, for all of them, there were so many cats lined up unrecognizable that she didn't know who would step out next.

A large dark gray tom with glowing blue eyes stepped forward, his pelt was groomed, he looked young and strong. Sharpeye. Sparklebelly felt a pang of guilt that she should be standing before him receiving the lives of a leader when he was a far more experienced warrior than her.

"Hello Sparklebelly, Thank you. I knew you were there when I died, I knew you wouldn't let Crowstar get away with it. Its a shame, I trusted the tom, I watched him grow up…However before me is a very promising leader. I grant you a long lived and full life, with no regrets. When you may join StarClan in far many seasons I hope that you can walk amongst our ranks with happiness and fulfillment." He meowed gently a sense of sympathy in his bright gaze. The tom stood infant of her for a moment longer watching her shiver as she received his life, and finally retook his place amongst his StarClan Allies.

this time a a dark ginger lithe tom with amber eyes stepped forward. His pelt almost see through completely yet he still held stars in his pelt with pride.

" I am Rowanclaw. I have been here just a little longer than Hawkstar. Though long forgotten, shamefully… I am the former leader of ShadowClan from many seasons ago. When Darktail and his rogues first came to the lake and destroyed my Clan with his group. I was not strong enough to save my Clan from him, and then I was not strong enough to rebuild it." Rowanclaw began.

"I Stepped down from my position and let my son Tigerheart take over ShadowClan as their rightful leader, which ended up being the best thing for them. Sparklebelly. I have been burdened with the task of giving you some very unfortunate news about your nine lives ceremony." The tom sighed and continued on. "Crowstar is still alive, and still rightfully with two lives left, therefore we can only grant you seven lives if you're to take his place before his final life is taken from him. There is nothing StarClan can do, We accept you as a full leader of SkyClan, even if you may not have all nine of your lives." The tom meowed.

Sparklebelly's heart dropped to the hard cold floor around the moon pool. So am I really the rightful leader of SkyClan? Should I even be going through with this ceremony? The she-cat quickly shook the thoughts from her head. Of course she was suppose to be SkyClan's leader in Place of Crow! He left ShadowClan for The Kin, he denounced his leadership from SkyClan by leaving SkyClan. Sparklebelly was the rightful leader now, as she was his deputy and it is the warrior code that the deputy successes their leaders.

"For your final life, I grant you the strength, Courage, Bravery and wisdom to lead your Clan without fail. Do not let them destroy your Clan as they did mine. With this life… please Do better than I have." Rowanclaw meowed touching his nose to her head.

Sparklebelly felt her muscles ache, her sides heave as if she was experiencing her first loss of a life. Was this what it felt like for Rowanclaw? The tom stepped back and the cats stared at her. Hawkstar stepped forward.

"Sparklestar StarClan welcomes you as a full leader of SkyClan! May you lead your Clan for long seasons, through the harsh seasons, and through the wonderful ones. May you see to the end of this dark hour and let your Clan thrive!" He yowled.

All the cats that were lined up looking down on her from the ledges around the moon pool and the cats that had just given her seven lives all chanted her new name, and slowly one at a time… they all started to disappear.

Soon Sparklestar was jerked awake as the chanting died. Brightstone roused with her. Looking worried but also proud at the same time. Sparklestar knew that her not gaining all of her nine lives may bring her leadership short, but she was okay with that. Brightstone dipped his head to the new SkyClan leader, almost silently promising to keep her secret.

"lets go home." The new SkyClan leader purred, her paws felt tired but mentally she felt like she could take on a whole other Clan. She was happy with the lives she had received and who she had received them from. To meet so many new cats? It felt great, and to see old friends? It only made her prouder to be a SkyClan cat and now… Their leader.

NOTE: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter I felt Sparklestar's life ceremony should be its own separate chapter/ section.