Dark Spirits

I opened my eyes only to feel as if they were still closed. It was so dark in the Dark Forest. But soon my eyes adjusted a little and I could see a little better. This world around was so depressing. It was as if death down here showed no mercy and killed any light that came.

Tigerstar walked up beside me. "Welcome to my home."

I couldn't help but scowl. "Sorry, but how do you possibly live like this? There's no light, no stars. Just . . . darkness."

He let out a small laugh. "Well with all honesty, the cats who live down here prefer to live in darkness than in light."

"Are you one of them?" I asked.

He didn't answer and started walking. "Come," he said turning his head at me. "There's something you must see."

I followed him as we walked throughout the Dark Forest. Chills made me shiver. Death was so powerful here. It wasn't anything like StarClan. In StarClan, I felt safe and free. But down here was like a dark prison where it seemed like no one could escape. Perhaps I made a mistake . . .

Why was I freaking myself out? I was just gonna find out a few things, and go home. Simple as that. What could possibly happen?

The tall dark oaks seemed like skyscrapers as I walked by them. Thick black mist circled at the bottom of all of them. A bush was filled with berries so red, it looked like they were dipped in blood. These sights sent chills, and I sped up my pace to keep up with Tigerstar. He snuck a peek at me little. "Why are you frightened?"

I looked at him as if he just asked me what the moon was. "Uh, could it be because this place is gorier than a horror movie?"

Tigerstar just shook his head. "You have nothing to fear down here. You're one of the more powerful things that walk these grounds."

A little spark of joy fluttered in me. He was right. What did I have to worry about? So what if the trees were foggy and the bushes bled? I was a powerful reincarnated half-Spirit! I could handle almost anything thrown at me (almost).

We continued to walk. The silence was so awkward and unbearable, so I decided to break it. "So what is it exactly that we're going to?"

"Someplace very interesting," he answered.

I nodded. "Well, do you mind if I ask you something first?"

"Go ahead."

"Why would an evil spirit put that green stuff in the pool in StarClan? What does it matter to them is Sol didn't take over the clan?"

Tigerstar suddenly stopped and I almost bumped into him. He turned to me, as if he didn't quite understand what I was asking. Then he had a face of realization on him. "She never told you about him, did she?"

I raised a cat brow. "Who? Mother Gana? Um, I guess she never did."

Tigerstar sat down, as if this might take a while. "It seems no one know the real story about Sol."

"What?" I sat down too, now giving Tigerstar my full attention.

"What do you think of Sol?"

I thought for a moment. I hadn't gotten far enough in the series to know about him yet. I was only up to Dark River. "Well um, by the sounds of it, he just sounds like a power hungry rogue."

"But he was never always like that."

I stared at him in confusion. "Power hungry or a rogue?"

"A little of both. To your surprise Violetmoon, you and Sol are a lot alike."

My mouth dropped a little in shock. "How?"

"Well," he explained. "Sol was never-how do I put this . . . . a cat. He was born in what you humans call the Middle Ages. He also happens to be a half-Spirit, like you."

I gasped so loud, even Tigerstar moved a little. "No way!"

He nodded. "Sol was born to a-oh what you humans call them-a Spanish, um . . . . someone who trades overseas and sells stuff?"

"You mean a merchant?"

He nodded again. "Yes, that. He was the son of a Spanish merchant. Sol's actual name is Alejandro. And as I said, he was a reincarnated half-Spirit. He was the youngest son of his family, and the weakest. Even those he was never taught much, he was incredibly smart. He found out about his powers when he was around your age. Around the same time, that man-whose name escapes me-set out to find land-"

"Columbus?" I offered.

"Yes! Anyway, Alejandro went off to join the crew. It was on that long journey that he was able to master his power to its fullest. Like I said before, he was incredibly smart. When they had finally found the island with Indians-"

"Tianos."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Tianos. That's the name of the people from the islands. I'm Indian, not them."

He stared at me.

I sighed. "Sorry, but a pet peeve of mine is when people-or cats-say Indians instead of like natives or something. No racism involved, continue your story." I really wasn't racist. It's just it really irks me when people call the natives of a land Indians.

Tigerstar nodded, not fully understanding what had just said, and continued. "As I was saying, when they reached the Tianos, Alejandro had reached the height of his powers. But that didn't satisfy him. Somehow he knew he could go further. So, while on the islands, Alejandro discovered supernatural engravings written on stones of the natives. Being as intelligent as he was, he was able to decipher them. He read of powerful spirits, so powerful, even the power of the sun and the moon was weak compared to them. They once had helped humans try to take over the world, but the humans were weak minded, and fools. So they failed, and the spirits went back into their world. It was said they could be re-summoned, but only if a truly powerful being were to prove himself worthy would the spirits come out.

"So, naturally, Alejandro tried to summon these spirits. He wanted to be the most powerful and feared source the world had ever seen. This sudden growth of inspiration caused Alejandro's powers to increase, just enough to summon one spirit from the underworld. He was surprised to find such spirits did exist, and didn't question these spirits were evil. He lust for power blinded him from that. The evil spirit told him that to prove himself worthy for the other evil spirits to come, he would have to kill his whole family. His mother, his father, his brothers and sisters, their wives and husbands and children, all of them. Their blood will prove that the evil spirit could trust him."

I shook my head. "Surely he didn't . . ."

My stomach was in my throat when Tigerstar nodded his head. "He did. He slaughtered each and every one of them. Even his four-day-old nephew. Once he was done, the evil spirit them told him that before the evil spirits could come to him, he first must assemble an army. The evil spirit granted him a few of the skills he would need to build one. Alejandro gathered the men from two towns and built an army from that. The evil spirit then explained that they needed to see if he was truly powerful, and told him that if he could take over his whole country with that army, then the spirits would grant him the knowledge of how to extend his power.

"So Alejandro set off to take over his country Spain, and was almost successful. It was a bloody raid. He murdered anyone who got in his way. Women, children, old, young, anyone who would have the nerve to step in his way. This type of determination and violence pleased the evil spirits. Through his violence, they were being fed through blood and death. Alejandro was at the brink of becoming an all powerful being. But, there was one thing he hadn't expected . . . The Spirits. As it turned out, the Spirits had been watching Alejandro closely, making sure he didn't get out of control. Once they saw how he had actually managed to build an army strong enough to take over Spain, they went down themselves to stop him.

"They came just in time, and destroyed Alejandro's entire army, leaving the half-Spirit alone. But those foolish Spirits decided to leave Alejandro with his powers. However they did lock his powers, enabling him unable to use them, unless they were unlocked by another Spirit. The Spaniards threw Alejandro in jail, ready for him to die the very next morning. However, punishing a human by death is against the ways of the Spirits. So, without even consulting the other Spirits, one Spirit, snuck into Alejandro's cell. As punishment for his evil ways, she turned Alejandro into a cat, so he would no longer be an evil inspiration to the human race.

"She told him to fear the sun, for it was now the most powerful source of energy and would destroy him someday. Ashamed and humiliated, Alejandro fled far from Spain, traveling all over, trying to forget his past. As the years went by, he got into contact with the evil spirit he had summoned before his downfall began. The evil spirit told him that the evil spirits have decided to help him, since he almost did succeed in taking over Spain, had it not been for the Spirits. They took him to their underworld, where-through incredible strength and knowledge-he managed to unlock the powers the Spirits had locked many years ago. Though the evil spirits did not undo the curse that the old Spirit had placed upon him, they granted him immortality, so not only would his powers expand over the years, but so would his knowledge-an excellent tool for taking over any civilization.

"Mocking the Spirit that said he would be destroyed by the sun, Alejandro changed his name to Sol, the Spanish word for sun. Since then, Sol has endless tried to takeover civilizations, even with his cat form. However, each time he fails, he gets stronger, learning from his mistakes and building on them. He's an extremely big threat to the Spirits, though they cannot kill him. That'll only make them weak, and the evil spirits stronger. His last attempt to try to take over a group was almost a success. He asked the evil spirits to put the green stuff in the pool to make sure no StarClan cat could talk to ShadowClan, thus making them believe their warrior ancestors had abandoned him. Then, when the time was right, Sol stepped in and took over. His unbelievable knowledge is what made the cats follow him, they've never been exposed to such power before. Even Blackstar was in awe of the stuff he knew. Sol intended to keep ShadowClan ignorant, making him the most powerful, so he would stay on top. Once he had ShadowClan fully hooked to him, he was going to attempt to do the same with the other clans, and try to build an army, taking over other groups of cats, and eventually try take over other species as well. That was his plan to the evil spirits. But things didn't turn out as planned, did they?"

Tigerstar looked over to me. I looked down at my paws. This was all too much to take in. Sol/Alejandro was one hell of a being. To unlock powers locked by Spirits truly made me in awe for a minute. But he was also a madman. To kill your whole family just for power was just downright madness, but these types of guys usually were. Thank God I had stopped Sol when I did! It scared me how this man was still roaming loose. Suddenly, I was glad I came down here with Tigerstar. He was giving me far more information than Mather Gana would've ever

"Do you know who the Spirit was that cursed him?" I asked.

Tigerstar opened his mouth to say something, but stopped and looked to the side. Something had apparently gotten his attention. He poked his head in between two bushes and looked out. Then, he gestured with his tail for me to come.

I walked through the two bushes. My mouth dropped and my eyes widened. There, sitting in the center of a barren field, laid a grey stone that was surround by a force field of blue. The power that surged off it to me almost knocked me off my paws. It was so powerful! Like something I've ever seen in my entire life!

Tigerstar led me closer to it, suddenly taking slow, cautious paw steps. As we approached it, that's when I began to hear them; the voices. Their squeaky, high-pitched, scratchy tones were like nails drilling into my head. It was almost as if a car was driving over my skull.

I began shaking my head crazy and banging my paws on the ground. Tigerstar stepped back and watched me as I struggled. Really? He was just gonna stand there while I was suffering a migraine from hell?

"Help please!" I shouted.

He shook his head. "I won't lift a paw."

My head felt as if it has split into two as the voices grew louder. "PLEASE!"

"You are strong Violetmoon!" he called to me, like a gym teacher sort of. "You are stronger than all them! Tell them to go away."

"Go away." I barely squeaked it through my pain.

"Louder!" he shouted. "Release your fury! Make them leave!"

"Leave! Get out of my head!"

"Power Violetmoon! Power is fear! Make them fear you so you never have to listen to them again!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Sparks of my fury raised from paws. "GO AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME AND NEVER COME BACK!"

White swirls had risen from my entire body and a giant glow swirled around me. Next thing I knew, all was quiet. The voices had disappeared just like that, and my head felt a million times better.

A smile was plastered on Tigerstar's face. I'm not too sure what he was happy about, but I didn't care. I was free! The voices were gone! Halleluiah!

I looked over to Tigerstar. "Thank you-for helping me get rid of the voices."

He nodded. "I did nothing it was all you . . . just you."

"Indeed it was all her."

I whirled around to see who the new voice was. Emerging from the shadows, a tall she-cat formed. She was strongly built, dark furred, and her eyes seemed to glow. Yet something else made me take a step back at her presence. I'm not sure what it was. I wasn't getting a good vibe from this cat.

Tigerstar bowed in a very respectful manner to the she-cat. She didn't even pay mind to him, her eyes were I me.

"Well done young one." He voice was soft as silk, but powerful.

I semi-nodded. "Well, um, thanks um . . ."

She smiled. "You may call me, Mapleshade. And may I say, getting rid of those voices is very advanced stuff . . . for a half-Spirit anyway. Now let's see if you're really powerful."

Her gaze went from me, to the stone. Tigerstar led me up to it. Its power still managed to take my breath away.

I stared at them both, then to the rock. "What's this?"

"A portal," Tigerstar explained. "To another world. In order to answer some of your questions, I have to take you there."

I nodded. "Well then? What are you waiting for?"

"You."

I looked up at Mapleshade. "What do you mean me?"

She sighed. "Unfortunately, this portal can only be opened by Spirits."

I nodded. "And just where exactly do you expect we find one?"

"Right here." She pointed her tail at me.

"What?" I knew my mouth had dropped.

"You see," Tigerstar said. "We don't exactly need a Spirit, just their high skilled powers. And a half-Spirit like you as extremely high-skilled powers, powerful enough to . . ."

"Open the portal." There was a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was telling me this wasn't right. But I was desperate for answers, and Tigerstar obviously wasn't going to hurt me, he just helped me get rid of the voices.

I looked up Tigerstar. "What do I have to do?"

Tigerstar lifted a paw to the stone. He pointed at some weird engravings written on the stone. For some reason, I understand it perfectly, this foreign writing, like it was a second language to me.

"You have to read the inscription," he said.

"Focus all your energy on the stone," Mapleshade said.

I took a deep breath, clearing my mind. Squinting because of the darkness, I read the writing. Translating it, it came out to this:

Spirits rise from your darkened grave.

Make for the blood for which you crave.

Destroy those that cross your path,

make the weak ones feel your wrath.

Come now spirits, I set you free.

Come forth now, I command thee!

Suddenly the blue force field blasted into the air, sending all three of us back. It shot up into the dark sky. Suddenly, a giant white whole began to form in the sky. Winds began to build up at the whole got bigger and bigger.

I noticed that Tigerstar and Mapleshade were smiling, like little kids on Christmas morning. My stomach twisted in a knot. Something wasn't right.

A blast came from the whole in the sky. Suddenly, dark shadows began to escape the whole. They let out loud screeches that sound like mutated monkeys. There were millions escaping from the whole by the minute.

"My God," I whispered into the wind. "What have I done?"

Mapleshade jumped up to her paws. "Terrific!" She let out a terrifying, evil laugh. Then she looked down to me. "You gullible half-Spirit!"

I couldn't move. Shock paralyzed me. Yet, I turned to Tigerstar. "What is she talking about?"

Tigerstar had on his evil smile too. "You truly are foolish. What, you thought I might actually try to help you?" He laughed. His laugh felt like a slap in the face. "We've been waiting moons for an opportunity like this! A foolish soul to use to release this unbelievable power. Violetmoon, feast your eyes on the evil spirits!"

I gasped as I stared at the dark shadows that were now swarming the Dark Forest. Tear rose to my eyes as Tigerstar went on.

"I almost though I wouldn't be able to do it. I thought maybe your common sense would catch on and you would leave. But how wrong was I!" He laughed again. "That portal has been locked for two centuries. Now, you, a foolish young half-Spirit, have released what the Spirits imprisoned many years ago."

Oh how could I be so stupid! I now have a waterfall of tears running down my fury cheeks. No! Why did I let this happen? I should've been more smart. Of course Tigerstar wasn't trying to help me! My hunger for knowledge had blinded me to what he was really after: my powers. My powers of course! What else would a blood hungry dead leader want with a stupid little girl like me? I was so ashamed. Humiliated. I wanted to melt.

Mapleshade looked at me. "Thank you young one. Without your ignorance, this blessed event wouldn't come. Tigerstar come! We must gather up these spirits and tell me to-"

A violent shaking of the ground stopped Mapleshade from continuing. I froze in panic. Crap! What could possibly be happening now?

The wind picked up speed. It soon felt like a hurricane. But it wasn't. White little balls of light appeared. Before they reached the ground, each light transformed into either and animals or a human, some even stayed as lights.

Soon, my tears of sorrow turned into tear joy. It was the Spirits! They were here!

I recognized Melkilo, and I also saw Adora standing in the back. Warmth fluttered in my stomach.

Melkilo wasted no time. He raised a hand and let out a battle cry. The other Spirits did the same

"Spirits!" he shouted. "Take down evil, and send it back to where it should rot!"

And with that, the Spirits all ran towards the evil spirits. The evil spirits let out shrieks, but soon also whirled towards the Spirits. The two groups clashed. The battle then began.

"No!" Mapleshade cried. Her eyes looked at me, burning with hatred. "You!"

She leaped up in the air and landed on me. Her strength was incredible as I tried to get up. She pressed her paw against my neck, choking me painfully.

"You brought them here!" she spat.

I tried to speak, but she wouldn't let me. I felt her unsheathe her claws. I closed my eyes and braced for death.

Suddenly, the weight lifted and I could breathe again. I looked up. Mapleshade was floating in the air, batting her paws in front of her.

Mother Gana stood behind her. Yes! Mother Gana was here to help! Thanks be to Mother Gana!

The Spirit turned Mapleshade towards her. "Shameful little mortal scum." She flung Mapleshade to the ground. "Be gone with you! Or you'll end up in the same prison as I put all the scum in!"

Mapleshade limped away, disappearing into the shadows. Mother Gana didn't have to do much to Tigerstar. With one stare at him, Mother Gana had Tigerstar running for his life. What a coward.

I felt as though I was being lifted. But it wasn't Mother Gana. I looked down and saw white swirls circling my paws. Within seconds, I was looking down at my hands. I stared in confusion.
"What? But how-"

Mother Gana's wrinkly old brown hand grabbed my wrist. She pulled me over to a tree. Tightening her grip, she looked deep into my eyes. Hers were filled with anger.

"How dare you!" she scolded. I was a bit frightened. I've never see her this angry before, not even that first night I met her.

"You not only followed an evil mortal spirit into this underworld, but you dare come here in your greed for knowledge!"

She threw me to the ground. "Humans! The most greediest things to ever have been created! You're never satisfied with what you have. No, you have to have more!"

Tears blurred my vision as she continued to shout. "Now, not only have you learned knowledge far beyond you, you've let out what we Spirits have been fearing the freedom of for centuries!" She pointed to the ongoing battle. "These Spirits were neither meant nor ready to fight this battle."

I looked down to the ground, ashamed. "I'm sorry." My voice was so low, even I couldn't hear it. I jumped up. "I'll help!"

Mother Gana grabbed my wrist again, so hard I flinched.

"No!" she gritted through her teeth. "You've done enough."

And with that the world around us went spinning. It disappeared, but then the world of the forest appeared. Light was shining through the trees of ThunderClan territory. It was just about dawn.

Mother Gana let go of my wrist. I looked up to here, tears rolling down my face. "Mother Gana . . . I'm so . . ."

I trailed off as she held up a hand. She shook her head. "I don't want to hear it Jani. I never thought you would do something like this. I'm really disappointed." She looked at me. "When I first saw you, I thought you were a strong character. I had my doubts because you were a human, but the power I felt from you made me look past that." She sighed. "Maybe I should've I have listened to my doubts."

My eyes widened. "No! Mother Gana, please, just give me another chance!"

"Another chance?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "You want me to give you ANOTHER CHANCE!"

I was knocked off my feet by her sudden roar. The even trees shook.

Mother Gana's nostrils flared. Her heavy breathing brought her voice back to normal. "Jani, go." She pointed across the lake to the house.

Sobs developed in my throat. "Please Mother Gana."

She looked at away. "Please Jani, just go."

I stood up. "Can I see you again?"

Again, she didn't look at me. "I'm not too sure now." And with that, she disappeared into the air.

I walked home slowly that morning, leaving a trail of tears behind me . . .

A/N: Cliffie! Sorry guys! Review please!