Thank you all for reviewing! Always remember that your reviews are always appreciated, and that I love the support you all give to me for this story, even though it is sad and dark.

Nightstorm: She's just trying to butter you up for the ending.

Me: Shush it, Nightstorm. Just do the disclaimer.

Nightstorm: Fine. Born of True Destiny does not own Warriors. If she did, her name would be Erin Hunter, which it clearly isn't.

Chapter Forty-Three

"What do you mean, 'set things in order'?" asked Nettlepaw.

Ice smiled slyly. After tackling her friend to the ground she had gotten off of him and sat, to eagerly explain what she wanted so badly to tell him. Now she just had, and even though he didn't fully understand her, suspicion colored his words, and she couldn't wait to see his reaction when she told him the whole truth. "I mean what I said."

"Explain further, if you will," he replied, sounding uneasy.

"Well, like I told you, last night I had a dream, a dream that reminded me of what really transformed me into who I am. It wasn't the pure joy of killing, and it wasn't even the guilt. It was the pain that I was caused before any of that was even clear through my eyes," she said to him. "It showed me what to blame for this entire mess; for my agony of my soul and the agony of others as I hurt them."

"Ice..." Nettlepaw said with a warning tone. "You are responsible-"

"For my own actions!" she finished for him, a flash of anger igniting in her belly. "I know! But you said it yourself, I am too unpredictable. I can't control myself. The bloodlust and craving for power takes over in my mind. I thought we went over that. Many times."

He sighed looking to the ground. "Oh, why is everything between us so confusing? It's like I'm saying one thing but then the next moment it means something entirely different, or we just go back and forth, saying whatever is on our minds when what's really happening is the complete opposite. I need that to stop."

Ice swept her tail over the grass. "That's because neither of us know what's really been happening. It's only clear to me now why I hurt so bad. Let me explain this, maybe then, everything will be better."

Nettlepaw sighed again and wrapped his tail over his paws. Angling his ears toward her, he said, "Go on."

"Alright," Ice responded. "Well, the dream. It was about my past. I started out as a kit, and throughout it all, there was a beast, a lion, that must have represented my brother." Nettlepaw nodded, understanding. "As I grew, there were things around me, paths appearing, snow freezing me, crowds cheering, and as all of these things happened, the lion was doing spectacular things."

"So what does that have anything to do with 'setting things in order.'?" asked Nettlepaw.

"I'm getting to that. You see, maybe Lionfire was a great apprentice and warrior, but it wasn't just because they thought he was great that I was excluded and ignored." She paused, a growl rising in her throat. "It was also because I was small, and they saw me as useless. Back at the Clans, after killing Lionfire, I blamed myself, but then I didn't know who to blame. Well, now it's obvious. The Clans caused me this pain, and I'll make sure that they see what horrible things they have done."

Amber eyes bored into her forehead as Nettlepaw stared. He looked emotionless, other than the nervous twitch of his tail-tip. After several heartbeats, he let out a breath and looked to the ground. "Ice, that's ridiculous."

She was taken aback. "What? Why? They were cruel to me. They-they were cruel to you! How could you not see that they need to be punished for their mistakes?"

"Oh, I agree with you. They were ignorant fox-hearts at some point in time," Nettlepaw replied to her, gazing back up. "But what is it worth now? What is it worth ever? When you killed your brother, you felt guilt unlike you had ever known."

"That's because it was never his fault," snarled Ice.

"How long has it been since you left?" he asked.

"I don't know," she hissed, annoyed. "About two seasons."

"Well maybe over that period of time, they have realized their mistakes and have asked StarClan for forgiveness. Maybe they silently apologize to you and to me before they go to sleep."

"Nettlepaw, that's your weakest argument ever," she said. "They wouldn't ever feel bad about what they've done, in fact, I'm sure they rejoiced when they found out I was gone. I bet they don't remember me."

"Then what's the point?" Nettlepaw asked, "If they don't remember you. I know that this must have been hard, but we all have to move on at sometime."

"Move on?" she demanded. "Move on? Do you not see what those Clans did to me? They ripped my heart to shreds by casting me away when I was helpless. I tried to show them I was strong, that I could have been just as close as them, but what do I really get? Cold, blind eyes watching me sort leaves, that's what! And what if I actually had loving parents? Would they say they were proud at me for sorting leaves? Do you think so?"

"If you had loving parents, you wouldn't have-" he cut himself off with a grunt of surprise.

"You agree with me," Ice realized. "You just don't want to admit it. I'm alone, again! And there's no one out there who actually likes me enough to just take a risk, and be on my side for a change."

A look of anguish crossed over Nettlepaw's eyes. He winced. "Ice...you don't know..."

"I don't know what?" she spat.

He swallowed. "You don't know how much you're loved."

"Loved?" she echoed and then threw back her head laughing. "Yeah I'm sure that these Alley Cats can't get enough of me forcing them to fight in the scorching heat and scarring them when they make the slightest mistakes. Oh, and I am sure that every time I walk by, cats just drop whatever they're doing and stare after me like I'm a meaty piece of prey just waiting to be hunted. I'm sure-"

"I love you!" hissed Nettlepaw over her rage-filled yowls. "And I thought you had known that! Don't you remember me nuzzling you when I ran away, and when you found me?"

Ice stared at him, dumbfounded. "Really? The way you talked to me, I assumed that you saw me as a naughty kit or something."

"You're wrong," Nettlepaw said miserably looking down at his paws. "And I'm so sorry. I know you don't want a mate. I know you said that we should just be friends." He looked back up at her, and she saw that his eyes were glazed with tears. "I really don't like the idea of getting revenge on the Clans, but I'd do anything for you..." he trailed off, voice barely a whisper.

"You would?" Ice asked. "You won't argue about it anymore?"

"After everything that's happened, oh I just don't know what's right or wrong."

"That's not important any longer," she meowed. "But you'll follow me, right?"

"Well...I just don't..."

"Shhh," she growled. "You'll follow me, right?"

Nettlepaw seemed to shrink under her sharp, cold glare. His own eyes dimmed and darted from one place to another, but never, for a fraction of a heartbeat, crossed over her. She tried to heavy the intensity of her gaze, and now his fur stood on end, he felt violated and afraid.

She bent over and whispered ever so softly in his ear, "You'll follow me, right?"

He looked to have been swallowing a bone, the way he swallowed, the way he stood there. His lips parted as he breathed, "Yes, of course."

"Slither, how about you show me what you got," Ice snarled. "I'd really like to see how you've progressed over the moons I've been here."

The scarred ginger she-cat looked away defiantly. "I refuse to do something so demeaning. Everyone knows that this will only show that you wish humiliate me."

"So what I'm hearing, is that you don't think you can do it," Ice hissed.

"Don't think that you can pull that one on me," spat Slither, eyes rounding in fury. "I simply refuse to fight you of all cats."

"Well then, I guess you really are a coward...scarface."

If Ice had learned anything, it's that Slither had a deep sensitivity to that name. Whatever was behind those deep red slashed across her nose and cheeks, they really meant something to her, and that's why Ice would use it. It was cruel, yes, but it had an affect.

Slither nearly fell off her own paws upon hearing that. She whipped to face Ice, and before she knew it, the ginger she-cat came racing at her. Slither leaped and tore her claws through the air, and then they connected with Ice's face. She cried out in surprise and pain as blood was drawn from the stinging scratches. She recoiled, watching as Slither landed with a grunt and then lifted her paws. Forcefully, she brought them over Slither's neck, pinning the Alley Cat.

She coughed weakly and then glared up at her opponent. Ice smiled mockingly and then put more of her weight down of the cat's neck. Slither groaned, and then made a surprising move. Using her hind legs, she lifted herself slightly off of the ground and then shot forward, barreling into Ice's chest. Ice shrieked at the impact and flew back. This time, Slither pinned her, and since she was larger and stronger, Ice could barely move.

Just barely.

She strained herself and reached up to sink her teeth into Slither's paw. Slither jerked back in surprise which gave Ice just enough time to roll, spring to her paws, and aim a powerful blow at the ginger she-cat's shoulder.

And just like that, Ice had the upper hand again, able to pin Slither in the right places to restrict any comfortable movement in anywhere other than her ears and tail.

"I have to admit," Ice said bitterly as Slither glared up. "You've really improved since I've been here. I guess I really am helping you pathetic Twolegplace cats!" She laughed as the she-cat below her seethed. "Submit?"

"Never," was the sour reply.

"Okay," she chirped. "I'll just stay here then."

Slither was silent and she made no effort to move. Ice narrowed her eyes and pushed her paw down the ginger cat's shoulder blade. There was a slight clicking sound and Slither cried out in pain.

"Oh, what was that?"

"You...you..." Slither moaned, voice a dark rasp of pain. "You dog-souled, daughter of a demon! I'd rather throw myself and everything I've ever loved off a cliff into some sharp stalagmites than call you my commander!"

Ice let out a laugh. "I'd love to watch you do that." She pressed her paw deeper into Slither's back and she shrieked again, this time with a haunting highness to her usually low voice. "Submit?"

"You..."

"Submit."

She was dead silent for a while, and still, not even a tremble to move her body. Then, just loud enough for Ice to hear, she whimpered her surrender.

"Thank you," meowed Ice, and she got off of Slither. The ginger cat let out a gasp of relief, wavering and slow. "Keep working on you battle moves."

Slither turned her head. "You aren't serious," there was more fury to her voice than anything. "You better be joking." She gazed into Ice's smug face for a while longer. "I...we...that's it! We don't deserve this? What did we ever do to deserve this? I'll get them to rise up. You'll see that we aren't helpless cowards! How do you sleep at night?"

Ice smiled. "Peacefully, scar-face."

Gosh...Ice is brutal. I hope you all understand why she is suddenly back at the top of her game. She knows what to do, so she has her confidence and bravery back. Which clearly means trouble for everyone else...

Nightstorm: I bet I could take on Ice!

Me: Trust me, you can't.

Nightstorm: I bet I could! You watch! *runs off*

Me: Wait! Have you forgotten?

Nightstorm: Oh yeah! Make sure you reviewwwwww!

~Destiny (and Nightstorm