Kyoya heard the screech of battle as he padded into camp with Sandra leaning on his shoulder, and Emma, Ryuga and Masemune right behind him. They made their way toward the medicine den. As they did they noticed how many cats were in the clearing. Some looked transparent and Kyoya noticed a badger. "Who are they?" he asked.

"The Ancients from before the Clans and Midnight the badger. They're here to help," Sandra explained.

"They helped us at the ShadowClan camp," Emma added as they padded into the medicine den. Alex and Madoka came over and took Sandra over to a nest.

"We'll take care of her," Alex promised. Kyoya nodded and turned toward the entrance.

"Come on, Masemune," he growled. Masemune gave him a confused look. "We're correcting a mistake."

"By?" Masemune pressed.

"Finding Brokenstar," Kyoya answered.

"Brokenstar?" Emma echoed.

"I'd be careful if you're after Brokenstar," Jayfeather advised. "He's really a really strong warrior."

"And I never beat him while we were training," Masemune pointed out.

"You haven't, but I have," Kyoya reminded him. He dashed out of the den with Masemune, Emma and Ryuga on his tail. They stopped at the den entrance and gazed in horror around the clearing. The Clan cats were outnumbered badly.

"This is great! We'll never beat them now!" Masemune complained.

"Quiet!" Kyoya snapped. "We may not be in the Dark Forest anymore, but you're still my apprentice, and no apprentice of mine will ever say never! We just need to find Brokenstar! Once he's dead, the other Dark Forest warriors will flee."

"You'll never find him!" growled a voice. Kyoya jerked his head to the side to see Sparrowfeather and Snowtuft, their eyes hungry for a fight.

"It's time for you two traitors to die!" Snowtuft snarled as he leaped at Masemune.

"I'll take you with me, Snowtuft!" Masemune growled, meeting his attack.

"My Clanmate will finish him off easily," Sparrowfeather sneered. And I get the fierce Lionfang all to myself!"

"Watch it! If you think you can beat me, go ahead and try, but you know that I've beaten Brokenstar before!" Kyoya retorted.

"That doesn't matter!" Sparrowfeather snapped. "You betrayed us, and that's all the matters!" Sparrowfeather crouched low, ready to leap. Kyoya unsheathed his claws and bared his teeth, menacingly.

"Help the others! Sparrowfeather's mine!" Kyoya growled to Emma and Ryuga. Emma nodded and dashed off. Ryuga growled as if he would've loved to fight Sparrowfeather but he followed Emma anyway.

"It's time to teach you a lesson!" Sparrowfeather yowled as he leaped at Kyoya, quick as lightning. Kyoya didn't have any time to react before Sparrowfeather was on top of him, jaws snapping. "Without the Dark Forest you are nothing! You used to be Lionfang, warrior of the Dark Forest, but now you'll always be nothing!"

"No!" Kyoya screeched, pushing him off. "You're wrong! I don't need the Dark Forest! I never needed to Dark Forest! All I need is a cat that loves me and my trusted partner, Leone! True, I am no longer Lionfang of the Dark Forest, but Lionfang of ThunderClan!" Kyoya leaped at Sparrowfeather slashed his ear and bit down into his shoulder. Sparrowfeather yowled and pushed Kyoya away.

"A cat who loves you? Leone? I don't know who Leone is but there's no way any cat here loves you!" Sparrowfeather smirked, charging forward to rake Kyoya's belly with his claws. Kyoya leaped away at just the right time.

"Leone is a fierce lion, proud and strong. And there is a cat that loves me! As long as she lives, there is no enemy I can't beat! I will not lose! Especially not to you!" Kyoya shouted as he leaped onto Sparrowfeather's back. Sparrowfeather screeched with pain and tumbled to the ground.

"I am not done yet!" Sparrowfeather growled. His paw suddenly came around and slashed Kyoya's cheek, making Kyoya loosen his grip just enough so he could escape. "You were trained well, but not good enough!" Sparrowfeather charged in, aiming for Kyoya's throat. Kyoya backed away just in time. Sparrowfeather growled when all he got was fur.

"Brokenstar's dead!" Thistleclaw's screech rang around the hollow. Kyoya and Sparrowfeather looked up and saw Brokenstar's body fading away into nothing. Kyoya noticed that the StarClan cats had arrived. Sparrowfeather stood rigid with horror.

"Brokenstar?" Darkstripe gasped.

"Retreat!" Thistleclaw stumbled toward the barrier with his patrol on his heels.

Once every Dark Forest warrior was gone. Kyoya glanced around the clearing. He saw three bodies lying around the clearing. Ferncloud, Mousefur, Hollyleaf. Sandra must not be too happy. She had seemed to have gotten quite close to Hollyleaf.

Shaking his head, Kyoya looked around in search of his friends. Masemune was limped back over to him with a wound in his hind-leg and shoulder. Benkei laid on the ground, panting, scratches covering his pelt, patches of fur missing, and his front leg was laying at a weird position. Gingka and Kenta were licking each other's wounds clean. Each didn't seem as bad as the others, but Gingka's paw was bleeding badly and blood was dripping into Kenta's eyes from a cut on his ear. Tsubasa supported Yu, who was leaning on his shoulder with a leg buckling underneath him as he walked. Nobody escaped without wounds, Kyoya thought.

"It's finally over," Masemune rasped as he stopped beside Kyoya. Kyoya's eyes darkened.

"No it's not," he growled. "Tigerstar isn't dead and neither is Hawkfrost. Plus, L-Drago is still out there."

"L-Drago?" Masemune echoed in a low voice. "He's here?"

"Remember Doji?" Kyoya meowed. "That was never Doji, but L-Drago."

"If that's the case, there's not way he gave up yet," Masemune replied, grimly.

"Exactly, which is why we've got to find him before he finds us," Kyoya growled softly. He then looked at Masemune's leg. "Or at least I will. That leg doesn't look to good."

"It's fine!" Masemune snapped. "I could still fight!"

"You sound like Ryuga," Emma meowed, coming up behind him. Ryuga growled behind her but didn't say anything, althought Emma knew what he was thinking. She looked at him with a defensive look. "What? It's the truth!"

The camp entrance then rustled. Kyoya and Masemune stiffened, waiting for L-Drago to come through but Hawkfrost did instead.

"Hawkfrost!" Kyoya growled, unsheathing his claws.

"The battle's over," Firestar growled.

"Not for him," Brambleclaw followed his half-brother in. "I found him in the forest trying to run back to his Clanmates."

Hawkfrost glared at Brambleclaw, his ice blue eyes filled with hatred. "Let me return to my Clan."

Ivypool suddenly darted forward. "You killed Hollyleaf!" She sprang forward but Hawkfrost slammed her away. Ivypool landed nimbly and turned on him again.

"No!" Dovewing charged forward but Firestar blocked her path.

"Let Ivypool settle this," he ordered.

"But he might kill her!" Dovewing protested. Kyoya clenched his teeth. Come on, Ivypool! You're better than him!

"You murderer! Liar! Betrayer!" Ivypool gouged Hawkfrost's eyes and raked his belly with her hind claws. Hawkfrost howled in pain and flung her off. He then crushed her spine with his powerful paws.

"You're the traitor," he growled. "And this time I'll kill you."

"No, you won't!" Brambleclaw flung himself at his half-brother and peeled him away. Before the Dark Forest warrior could twist free Brambleclaw sunk his teeth into his neck. The crack of bone echoed through the hollow and Hawkfrost fell, dead.

"At least he's gone," Masemune muttered just as a growl sounded from beside the medicine den. Kyoya whipped around to see Tigerstar appear from the shadows.

"Well done, Brambleclaw," he growled to his son. Brambleclaw stared at his father in horror.

Tigerstar turned his amber gaze on Firestar as the ThunderClan leader unsheathed his claws. "Not yet," he snarled. "We will meet in battle. But not until you've watched every one of your Clan die."

"The battle's over!" Firestar protested.

"The Dark Forest is endless," Tigerstar hissed. "It has more warriors than you could ever imagine. The battle is just beginning."

"But Brokenstar and Hawkfrost are dead!" Dovewing growled. "Why would they fight now? They have no leader."

"They have me," Tigerstar growled, his claws glinting in the moonlight.

"You're no leader Tigerstar," Firestar spat. "You never were."

"I'm a better leader than you could ever be," Tigerstar snarled.

"A leader puts his Clan first," Firestar argued. "Instead, your Clanmates are made to fight your battles, not theirs."

"Real warriors love battle," Tigerstar sneered. "I give them a chance to die for a cause."

"What have all your battles been for, Tigerstar? What cause is worth the lives of so many warriors?" Firestar questioned.

"Defeating you, of course," Tigerstar answered, his eyes burning.

"You haven't defeated me yet," Firestar snarled, metting the tabby's gaze.

"That's why I'm here," Tigerstar growled.

"The Dark Forest cats won't follow you," Firestar told him. "They know now that they can't beat the Clans. They won't try again."

"I don't need them," Tigerstar retorted, glancing around the clearing. "I only have to beat you. Then I can pick off your Clanmates one by one, moon after moon, till there's no one left."

"I'm not going to let you harm another of my cats, not ever," Firestar growled, his gaze flicking from Ferncloud's body to Hollyleaf's.

"Then you're going to have to kill me," Tigerstar told him.

Firestar narrowed his eyes. "Has it been worth it, Tigerstar? All the hate? All the death?"

Tigerstar flattened his ears. "Every moment." Eyes slitted, he attacked. Hooking his claws deep into Firestar's shoulder, he raked his spine with churning paws. "The moment Bluestar found you, I became nothing! I have waited all this time to have my revenge!"

Firestar twisted free and slashed at him. The dark warrior ducked back, head low, and grabbed Firestar's hind paw in his teeth. Biting hard, he dragged Firestar onto his belly, then reared up and slammed his forepaws onto the ThunderClan leader's spine. "When you're dead, I can rule the Clans or kill them."

"Never!" Graystripe darted forward but Whitestorm stopped him.

"No, Graystripe. This is Firestar's battle," he meowed.

Firestar hauled himself to his paws and turned to face Tigerstar. "I will not die until the forest is safe from you." He leaped for the dark warrior, swerving in midair and landing a whisker from Tigerstar's flank. He slammed his paws into the dark warrior's side as Tigerstar spun to defend himself. Unbalanced, Tigerstar staggered and fell. Firestar rained slashing blows onto Tigerstar's head.

Tigerstar writhed away and struggled to his paws. He lunged at the ThunderClan leader's throat. Firestar lurched backward but Tigerstar clung on, his claws spiking Firestar's neck.

Sandstorm leaped forward hissing with rage, but Sorreltail hauled her back. "You can't change his destiny, Sandstorm."

"Firestar can't die now!" Kenta exclaimed, pressing close to Yu.

"Firestar..." Gingka breathed. He stared on at the fight as if he couldn't look away.

Firestar dug his hind claws into Tigerstar's belly and thrust him off. Fur ripped at Firestar's throat and Kyoya's breath caught in his throat. No! Tigerstar can't win! Please say he won't win! No blood came. Tigerstar's clumsy grip had torn nothing but fur. Kyoya sighed with relief.

Firestar jumped to his paws. "You lived like a rogue. You can die like a rogue." Flashing like lightning across the clearing he flew at Tigerstar, aiming for the dark warriros throat. With a vicious snarl, he sank his teeth deep into Tigerstar's neck. He held on while Tigerstar thrashed and staggered and finally, collapsed to the ground. Firestar didn't let go until Tigerstar stopped twitching. Firestar dropped him and watched his enemy fade away.

"He's actually gone," Masemune breathed.

Thunder suddenly cracked the sky. A bolt of lightning struck the fallen beech beside Firestar. The tree exploded into flames and smoke rolled over Firestar. Kyoya and his friends tried their best to see the ThunderClan leader but they couldn't find him among the flames. Rain then pounded the hollow and the burning beech hissed and crackled as the fire faded and died.

"It's really over!" Dovewing gasped to Ivypool.

"Firestar!" Sandstorm yowled. Kyoya jerked his head back to the place Tigerstar had fallen and spotted a body laying there. Sandstorm raced up to it and Dovewing followed. Kyoya gasped with shock. No! It can't be! He raced up beside Sandstorm and stared at Firestar's lifeless body.

Sandstorm buried her nose into her mate's sodden fur. "I told you not to waste your final life," she whispered.

Brambleclaw crossed the clearing and stood beside her. "He didn't waste it."

"Fire will save the Clan," Leafpool murmured.

Graystripe pushed his way forward and crouched beside his old friend. "I would have taken your place, if you had let me," he rasped, his voice hoarse with grief.

"Firestar!" Dustpelt called, softly. "When you see her, tell Ferncloud I love her."

Purdy padded forward. "Is he dead?"

"Yes," Bumblestripe answered, wrapping his tail gently over the elder's back.

"It was his last life?" Tigerheart asked.

"Yes," Dovewing nodded, turning to the other Clan cats. "It's time for you to go home. The battle is won and I need to be with my Clanmates." She then slid quietly in beside Bumblestripe as the other Clan patrols made their way out of camp.

"Should we go too?" Emma asked.

"If you want, but this isn't over," Kyoya growled softly.

"We'll stay for a little bit," Ryuga decided.

Brambleclaw lifted his muzzle. "The battle is over. Our victory belongs to Firestar!" he yowled. The rained eased as he spoke and Kyoya caught the sound of paw steps at the entrance. His eyes darkened. He didn't need to look to know who it was.

"This isn't over yet!" he growled as he spun around to see Doji. That's not Doji!

"Doji!" Gingka exclaimed in surprise and rage.

"So nice to see you again, Gingka," Doji sneered.

Masemune darted forward. "Drop the act!" he snarled.

"What act?" Doji asked, a sly smile on his face.

"Drop it! Masemune and I know what you're doing!" Kyoya growled, coming up beside Masemune. "You're not Doji! You never were!"

"What are you talking about, Kyoya?" Benkei asked.

Kyoya didn't take his eyes off his enemy as he crouched and unsheathed his claws. "Why don't you show everyone who you really are?" he challenged.

"Looks like I can't hide it any longer," Doji growled. His eyes flashed red and lightning cracked the sky. The cats in the hollow all stared around in fear.

"What's happening?" Lionblaze asked. L-Dargo's face flashed in front of Doji's as his pelt changed to a shadowy purple and his eyes turned blood red. He lowed his head and smiled evily.

"Monster!" a kit exclaimed.

"W-What is that?" Kenta stammered.

"That's no cat I've ever met," Dustpelt growled, through beneath that tough act was fear.

"L-Drago!" Kyoya snarled, not taking his eyes off of his enemy. "The evil L-Drago!"

"But how? I beat him a long time ago!" Gingka exclaimed in shock.

L-Drago grinned evily. "Evil lives forever!" he sneered. "And now that the Dark Forest warriors have wounded all of you I can pick off you and your little friends, Gingka!"

Gingka tensed. "None of us are fit to fight him!" he murmured so L-Drago couldn't hear.

"I'll fight him if I have to!" Lionblaze growled.

"No!" Kyoya growled. "This is our problem, not yours!"

"Kyoya, we can't possibly beat him in our conditions!" Masemune protested.

"You're friend there is smarter than he looks," L-Drago growled.

"Hey!" Masemune snapped, glaring at L-Drago.

"Then you guys can stay out of it! I'll beat him myself!" Kyoya snarled.

"But Kyoya! You couldn't beat L-Drago before! You remember what happened!" Yu argued.

Kyoya glared at him. "I can beat him all by myself! Whether he's a dragon or not, he can't stand up to a fierce lion!" Turning to face L-Drago he leaped into the air.

"Fool!" L-Drago growled softly as he ducked under Kyoya's outstretched paws and crashed into Kyoya's belly. He almost pinned him to the ground but Kyoya moved away just in time. L-Drago turned and attacked. Kyoya slid under L-Drago's paws and tackled L-Drago from behind, but L-Drago quickly slid away. "Tigerstar trained you too well."

"I never needed him!" Kyoya growled. "I'm strong enough on my own!" He leaped on top of L-Drago and pinned him down to the ground. "Now I'll take care of you for good!" Kyoya lunged at his throat but L-Drago moved his head out of the way, aiming for Kyoya's neck instead. Kyoya pulled away but L-Drago still managed to bite down hard into his flesh dangerously close to Kyoya's neck. Kyoya yowled and that gave L-Drago enough time to escape from Kyoya's grip. Kyoya stumbled a little but it was enough of a distraction for L-Drago to leap on top of him and pin him down. Kyoya struggled beneath him but couldn't break free.

"Who's taking care of who now?" L-Drago sneered in his ear.

"Kyoya, pal!" Benkei leaped at L-Drago with Kenta right behind him but L-Drago saw them. A dark wave came from him and knocked them away. Every cat stared in shock.

"Where did that come from?" Ivypool asked.

"Kyoya! Get out of there!" Gingka shouted.

"Don't you think I tried that!" Kyoya growled. He glared up at L-Drago's blood red eyes. How would he get out of this one?

Sandra's POV

Sandra heard gasps of shock and fear outside the medicine den. She looked up at the entrance of the medicine den. "What's going on out there?" she asked.

"I don't know. Probably still fighting," Alex answered. "Now be still so I can take a closer look at your leg."

Sandra thought for a moment. But Firestar died. I heard Brambleclaw say so. "No, the battle should be over by now. Firestar died. I heard it. Something's not right, and I'm going to go check it out!" Sandra pushed herself to her paws, ignoring the pain in her leg. I have to know what's going on!

"Sandra! Get back here!" Madoka growled, but Sandra ignored her. She got half-way through the entrance and froze, staring in horror at the scene before her. She saw a shadowy purple cat with blood red eyes pinning Kyoya to the ground.

"Who's taking care of who now?" the cat sneered. Benkei and Kenta tried to help but a dark wave knocked them both back.

"Looks like I win!" the cat growled.

"Yeah, right! You'll never win, L-Drago!" Kyoya snarled. Sandra gasped. L-Drago? That was who it was?

"Say goodbye, Lionfang!" L-Drago growled as he raised a paw, claws unsheathed. Sandra felt rage rise inside her as she dashed forward, forgetting the pain in her leg. She leaped forward and grabbed L-Drago's paw as he struck down.

"Sandra!" Kyoya exclaimed.

Sandra met L-Drago's fierce gaze. She narrowed her eyes and a flash of fear came to L-Drago's eyes. Sandra spun around and threw him by his paw across the clearing. Before he could get up she leaped on top of him. L-Drago used his paws to throw her off. Sandra landed on her paws but L-Drago leaped before she could turn and defend herself. She braced herself for the blow but L-Drago fell onto his belly before he could reach her. Sandra blinked to see Kyoya was up and had dragged L-Drago down by his tail. He rolled L-Drago onto his back and Sandra leaped on top of the dark cat, pinning him down. Kyoya walked up beside her.

"It's not me saying goodbye, but you!" he growled as he slashed L-Drago's throat with his paw. L-Drago growled but it caught in his throat and his paws flailed through the air, his claws still unsheathed. Sandra felt a burning pain in her neck and quickly back off L-Drago. She saw him fade away before suddenly everything went black.

Kyoya's POV

Kyoya stared up at the sky as he watched L-Drago's dark spirit fade away into nothing. He looked back at Sandra and gasped in horror as she fell to the ground, unconsious. He raced to her side and saw a wound in her neck. No! No! She can't die now! "Sandra! Get up! You've got to get up!" he urged but she wouldn't move. Kyoya could still see the rise and fall of her chest but it was faint, and quick.

Brambleclaw ran to his side. "Jayfeather!" he called but the blind medicine cat was already dashing over with Alex and Madoka right behind him, each carrying some cobwebs and herbs.

"Stop the bleeding, quick!" Jayfeather ordered. Alex and Madoka set to work right away and Kyoya reluctantly stepped back so they could have a little space. Emma ran up and gasped when she saw the wound in Sandra's neck. Ryuga saw her face and raced up to her side.

"What'a wrong? What happened?" he questioned.

"Sandra..." Emma began but her voice caught in her throat so she couldn't continue. She buried her nose in Ryuga's fur, seeming as if she were holding back tears. "She can't...die here...not like this."

Ryuga blinked and Kyoya expected to see a fierce look in his eyes but his gaze was soft as he stroked Emma's back in a comforting way. "It'll be alright. I promise."

"Kyoya? Ryuga? Emma?" Gingka padded up. "I know that this probably isn't the best time but we need to discuss how we're getting out of here."

"We can do it tomorrow!" Kyoya snapped, letting his anger show, but inside he felt angry and filled with grief. Sandra...don't leave me! Not like this!

"But Ryuga and Emma won't be here tomorrow," Tsubasa pointed out.

"We can meet at the island," Emma rasped, lifting her head. "The Clan cats won't be there because it's not a Full Moon."

Ryuga nodded his agreement and nudged Emma. "Let's go. We'll see you tomorrow at the island." He padded away with Emma following close behind, her head low and her tail drooping. Once they disappeared Kyoya looked back over at Sandra. She was still breathing, thankfully.

"I've stopped the bleeding but she's still at risk," Jayfeather meowed. "We've got to get her into my den where I can keep an eye on her." Alex and Madoka helped him carry Sandra into the medicine den. StarClan cats then came forward and crowded around Firestar's body. Kyoya reconized one cat as Bluestar.

"Bluestar?" Brambleclaw meowed.

Jayfeather stepped back out into the crowd. "These cats gave Firestar his nine lives," he explained. "Redtail, gave a life for justice." He flicked his tail at a russet warrior. "Silverstream gave a life for loyalty."

Graystripe got to his paws and stared at the beautiful she-cat. "Silverstream!"

Silverstream gazed back at him. "I'll be waiting," she whispered.

"Brindleface," Jayfeather dipped his head to a mottled gray tabby. "The life you gave was for protection. And Swiftpaw," he continued as looked at a small black and white tom. "yours was for mentoring."

Brambleclaw nodded. "Firestar was the best mentor I could have had."

Yellowfang gave compassion, Lionheart gave courage, and Runningwind gave tireless energy, which he used to serve his Clanmates through all his lives."

Jayfeather paused and Bluestar stepped forward. "Spottedleaf isn't with StarClan anymore," she began, her voice filled with grief. "But she gave Firestar a life for love."

A sob shook Sandstorm's shoulders.

"I gave him a life for nobility," Bluestar continued, "though he was born with more nobility than any warrior I ever knew. I knew that Firestar would save the Clan many moons ago. As fire, and then as the fourth cat in the oldest prophecy, he succeeded. He leaves ThunderClan in the paws of a new leader." She looked at Brambleclaw. "If you have half the courage and loyalty of Firestar, you will be a fine leader for ThunderClan."

The StarClan cats drew closer around Firestar's body, touching pelts and gazing down. A shadow stirred over the orange shape. Firestar stood up, as pale as moonlight.

"His spirit is leaving," Jayfeather murmured.

Firestar's gaze swept over his Clan slowly. "It's time to go," Bluestar meowed.

Firestar dipped his head to Brambleclaw and touched his muzzle to Sandstorm's. Her eyes glistened with grief as her mate turned and followed the StarClan cats out of the hollow. Hollyleaf, Mousefur, and Ferncloud's spirits all stirred and followed them.

Silence followed until Sandstorm stood up. "Bramblestar!"

"Bramblestar!" Lionblaze yowled, lifting his muzzled to the sky.

The whole Clan joined in as well as Kyoya and his friends. "Bramblestar! Bramblestar!"

Bramblestar looked up at the stars. "I will honor my ancestors in StarClan," he vowed, "but not those who have ever walked in the Dark Forest. Guide my steps wisely, warriors of the past." He lowered his head. "And warriros of now."

Jayfeather came up. "It's time to choose a deputy," he promted.

"Will you be my deputy, Squirrelflight?" Bramblestar asked, gazing at the she-cat.

"Really?" Squirrelflight gasped, staring at the tabby.

Bramblestar nodded. "There is no cat I trust more. Everything you do is for the best of reasons. I understand that now."

Squirrelflight dipped her head. "Then I accept."

Leafpool burst forward. "My sister," she murmured, pressing her head to Squirrelflight's. "You deserve this honor, and more. Thank you, for everything."

Squirrelflight licked her sister's ear. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Kyoya looked away from the cats and over at the medicine den. Sandra...

"Kyoya? Are you ok?" Benkei asked, coming up behind him.

"I'm fine!" Kyoya snapped. He got to his paws and raced over to the medicine den. He spotted Sandra still laying unconsious. He curled himself around her and closed his eyes. I will lay here as long as I have to. I won't let you die!