The cute prophecy at the beginning is irritating in its current placement, because it blends into the PREVIOUSLY ON ELEMENTAL section. That's okay. I'm warning you now. Be ready for that. Anyways, here ends Ivypool's story. She's my fave. I love her.

I don't own anything!

Chapter 31

Ivypool

The end of the stars draws near. Three must become four to battle the darkness that lasts forever. ~Sign of the Moon

"While Mapleshade held you hostage in the grey-and-white world, I expect it opened some sort of channel to the living world. It allowed the cats of the Place of No Stars to escape."

"So…so I can do the same for you, too," said Ivypool. "I can bring you to the living world and give you a form that will actually do damage. You could save the Clans."

"We have done our saving," said Mudfur. "Now we guide. We cannot fight."

"Yes, you can," said Ivypool. She took a deep breath, racking her brain for ideas. "You and I both know what that prophecy says. I didn't buy into it for a while, but now…now I see that I have no choice but to save the Clans. You are all so worried about guiding the Clans – well, if you don't come to their aid now, there will be no Clans to guide. Tigerstar was a cat of your generation. He lived and fought with you." She turned to Bluestar and Spottedleaf, to the ShadowClan pair, to the others as well. "Please."

"Tigerstar is our problem," admitted Leopardstar. "We should have destroyed his spirit long ago, and we have failed to account for what he has done now."

"You can still account for what he has done," said Ivypool. She took a deep breath, remembering the words of the prophecy. "There will be three cats, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws. A dark prophet will arise to complete the Good Four, light of light and the first enemies of the darkness. With starlight in their paws, they will defeat the shadows to save the Clans. I know now that the three are Doveheart, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze. I know that I am the fourth, the fourth of the Good Four. But I have never been…light of light. I was the last enemy of the darkness. My entire Clan got around to it before me.

"But still, I know that I have to fight," said Ivypool, realizing her path. "I have only been darkness, my entire life. I don't know what it's like to have starlight and the power of the stars – I lost my faith in the stars a long time ago. I am from a Place of No Stars, not from your Clan made entirely of them. But…you…you are the brightest cats there are in this universe. This prophecy calls me a prophet, so that is what I'll become. I'm telling you now what I foresee."

"Go on," said Bluestar skeptically.

"I know that I am not the light of light, the first enemy of the darkness," said Ivypool. "But I am the fourth, and I must arise to find those alleged heroes. Because you, all of you, are the true enemies of the darkness. You have battled it all of your lives and all of your afterlives as well. You made this prophecy in order to save the Clans, and I challenge you now to become a part of it."

"We did not make this prophecy," said Runningnose with a scoff. "Prophecies are not made. They simply exist."

"And I'm saying you simply exist in this one," said Ivypool. "Please, I beg of you. If you don't fight with us, the Clans are going to die. They'll cease to exist. Tigerstar and Hawkfrost and Mapleshade and all of the evil cats you locked up in the Dark Forest will be in charge, and their new order will mean that more cats will join your ranks than be left. I can't stand to see that day happen. Yes, maybe I said and did things that caused it to happen, but…"

She smiled, imagining the way Bumblestripe had licked her between the ears and sighed down at their two tiny kits, the kits that Ivypool loved and cherished more than anything else. She would protect them, no matter what.

"I know that there is no black and white," she said. "Things aren't divided that arbitrarily. It's a shade of grey, all of it. So who says you can't be a warrior and a guide? Who says you can't do something horrible like confining the Dark Forest cats to their dark forest just because you have to be light and happy all the time? You're more than that. You're Clan cats, all of you. You lead your Clans or healed them. I don't know much about what it is to be a leader, but I do know Firestar. I know that Firestar, despite the critiques I may have given him, is out to do the right thing for ThunderClan. So you…you must care."

"Are you saying I don't care about WindClan?" said the black-and-white tom. "WindClan is everything I have ever believed in."
"Then fight for everything you have ever believed in," challenged Ivypool. "If you don't, and Tigerstar wins…there will be nothing left."

"You're right," said Bluestar. She got to her paws, her blue eyes glowing with a look so determined it made Ivypool sick with relief. "We must fight for the generation we have left to handle this problem."

"I can open the channel for you to go through," said Ivypool. "I'll keep it open as I fight."

"You're with kits," said Spottedleaf. "You shouldn't fight."

"I must fight," said Ivypool. She closed her eyes and concentrated firmly on her own warm nest, but on keeping the stony hollow alive at the back of her mind. She knew little about StarClan, but she did know that they were allowed to come and go at will. They had to be. Then she sat up with a gasp.

Hazeltail and Ferncloud were standing over her.

"Oh, thank goodness," said Ferncloud, backing away. "We were so worried, Ivypool! You weren't waking up."

Then they both gasped.

"What?" said Ivypool. She glanced over her shoulder, and there, on either side of her, sat Spottedleaf and Bluestar.

"Bluestar!" mewed Ferncloud.

"Hello, Ferncloud," said Bluestar calmly. "What a warrior you've become."

"Can I trust you to watch Bluekit and Greykit?" said Ivypool to Hazeltail. The grey-and-white she-cat stood staring at the StarClan warriors for a moment, and then she nodded grimly. Ivypool beamed at her.

"Thank you," she said with every ounce of gratitude in her heart. "Thank you." She bent down and gave each of her kiss a soft lick. They squirmed, but Hazeltail wrapped her tail around them, and they didn't cry. Ivypool looked down at her precious children, at Bluekit and Greykit, and she smiled. She would protect them, just as she would protect all of this. All of ThunderClan. Even if it wouldn't take her back, even if most of it hated her, she could protect it.

Then she leaped out of her prison and took off, and StarClan followed her.

XXXX

Ivypool stared down at the wreckage below her, not knowing how to take any of it in. She glanced back at her fellows, and Bluestar nodded at her.

"You were right to call us here," she said solemnly. "I hope we are not too late."

"We need to get rid of the generals as well as Tigerstar," said Ivypool, turning to face them. "And Hawkfrost, and Brokentail, and Thistleclaw, and whoever else is here. But Mossytail, Breezepelt, and Redwillow will be leading the charge. If we get them out of the battle, the others will not want to fight anymore."

"Redwillow is already dead," said Spottedleaf. Ivypool blinked. "We'll handle the others."

"Find Doveheart and Lionblaze," said Ivypool urgently. "They will know what to do."

"What about you?" said Spottedleaf.

"I…" She sighed. "I will find Hawkfrost."

She had already picked out his distinctive scent, that horrible-yet-alluring flavor of blood and the dark mosses that grew in the Place of No Stars. When they first met, Ivypool hadn't identified it. Now she could call it out for what it was – what Hawkfrost had always been. Blood and darkness.

She found him standing across from Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt, who stared him down as he just laughed. Tawnypelt was leaning on her brother's shoulder, and even from far away, Ivypool could tell that blood had been spilled.

"You cannot injure me," he said, laughing. "You cannot even touch me. But I will wipe you out, both of you. You should never have been born." He spat the words, tail bristling. "I was the only kit Tigerstar ever wanted."

"Fine," said Tawnypelt with a growl. "Neither of us ever wanted Tigerstar either." She lunged at Hawkfrost, and he tossed her away with a snarl. Brambleclaw yelled out, but Hawkfrost pounced, knocking Tawnypelt further away.

"You monster," spat Brambleclaw. The two toms circled each other, spitting, but Ivypool tore down the hillside and threw herself in the middle.

"Ivypool!" cried Brambleclaw.

"What are you doing here, you stupid queen?" snarled Hawkfrost. "You're supposed to be holding open the gate for the shadow cats."

"What?" cried Brambleclaw. "You've betrayed us!"

"I am holding open a gate," said Ivypool with a smirk. "The gate to StarClan."

"StarClan!" said Hawkfrost, spitting. Brambleclaw was staring, his eyes wide.

"They'll confine you to the darkness and the shadows," said Ivypool viciously, stalking forward. "You'll never hurt anyone. Ever. Again."

"And who is going to stop me?" said Hawkfrost. "You?"

"Yes," said Ivypool. "I've lived under your torture for far too long." She crouched, although it had been a long time since she had truly fought to his level. She could not fly back and forth between the worlds of the living and the dead. Now, she had one chance.

She shot Brambleclaw a glance, to see that he was still warily watching her.

"Tigerstar is still out there," said Ivypool. "Find a StarClan warrior and finish him. You can do it if you're together. I will handle Hawkfrost."

Brambleclaw hesitated for a long moment, and then he nodded swiftly.

"I'll leave it in your paws," said Brambleclaw. "StarClan seems to trust you." Then he turned and ran, scooping up a struggling Tawnypelt. Ivypool turned back to face Hawkfrost, sinking down into position.

"Oh, so you've finally figured it out?" sneered Hawkfrost. He sunk into an equally low crouch, his tail moving back and forth as if she was a particularly interesting piece of fresh-kill. Ivypool glared back at him, reading his weaknesses and remembering that he had none. "It's about time you realized your true purpose."

"I will save the Clans," said Ivypool. "I will defeat you."

A growl rising in her throat, she launched herself at him and dug her claws into his tabby chest, but he shook her off in a moment, following up with claws so harsh he tore them down her side and made her cry out. She rolled back to her feet and tried to ignore the stabbing pain, leaping back at Hawkfrost and clinging to the thick fur by his neck. He shook her violently, but she clung, kicking him backwards. Together they rolled, and Hawkfrost powerfully kicked her backwards. Ivypool went flying, and she landed harder than she had wanted to.

"So all along, you've been playing to their game," he said with a snarl. "I wanted to kill you before you proved useful. I will admit, getting Jayfeather into the Dark Forest was clever. You had me convinced for a moment there."

"Yeah?" said Ivypool, panting. "Well, I had things to protect." She spun towards him, hissing, and slipped to the side as he went to defend himself, twisting to the side in order to slam her hind paws into the side of his body. He skid backwards for a moment, but then recovered with a laugh.

"Oh, yes, your precious kits and your stupid kittypet mate," he laughed. "All despicable. When I'm done with you, I'll go find them, next. I'll drag them to the Dark Forest and make you watch as I rip out their throats."

"You won't lay a paw on Bumblestripe," said Ivypool, her fur puffing out. "And if you so much as look at Bluekit and Greykit, I'll explore every level of hell until I find one fitting for you and bind you there."

"Oh, I'm shaking," said Hawkfrost. He lunged at her, and as Ivypool ducked, he changed course, crashing into her back. Ivypool yelped as his heavy paws and thick, long claws dug into her back. She struggled in vain.

"Remember, Ivypool," hissed Hawkfrost. "I taught you everything you know."

"Ivypool!" Then the weight was lifted as Hawkfrost yelled and was tossed to the side. Ivypool sprung up, her back cracking dangerously as she stared over. Bumblestripe stood glaring at Hawkfrost, his tail thrashing back and forth and his teeth bared.

"Bumblestripe," said Ivypool. She couldn't bear to see him here, and as Hawkfrost hissed out with feral claws she screamed, batting Hawkfrost away with all her strength.

He staggered backwards and spat out a mouthful of ebony blood. Ivypool stood between Hawkfrost and Bumblestripe, crouching lower than she ever had before. Now she could see every place she had struck him, every scruff on his pelt and every tiny cut in his fur.

"This is between you and me," said Ivypool to Hawkfrost. "You leave him out of it."

"He attacked first," said Hawkfrost. The bigger tom grinned. "But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have done the same thing."

Ivypool hissed, her ears flattening as she visualized Hawkfrost going after Bumblestripe with teeth flashing and claws flying. She spat as she struck, and this time, as her claws dug into his chest and he shook her off, she closed her eyes, cut the connection between her and StarClan, and focused hard, hard on –

The air above the meadow, and Ivypool released Hawkfrost as they fell together, landing squarely on her feet as he landed on his side. After a moment, Hawkfrost look up with furious ice-blue eyes as he recognized their location.

"See what I mean, Ivypool?" he hissed. "You belong here. In darkness."

They stood there, in the place that they had met, among flowers and sunlight and tall grass. Ivypool didn't know how her memory had brought them there, or why she had chosen to bring him here instead of the pitch darkness of the Place of No Stars itself. This was its most difficult corner, the false one, the one that in all rights shouldn't have existed. It fit.

"We're here because I chose to be here," said Ivypool. "I've never pretended that I'm a good cat."

"Isn't it all shades of grey?" sneered Hawkfrost.

"Right now, it's you and me," said Ivypool. "I will defeat you."

"How terrifying you are," said Hawkfrost. He lunged at her, and Ivypool dodged to the side not quite quick enough. His paw came across her neck, tearing huge scratches in her skin. She hissed and spun on the spot, just in time to roll backwards and throw him when he moved to tackle her. He hung on, his jaws ripping, and Ivypool screeched as he dug his teeth into her ear. Furiously, she dropped and spun, and he dislodged himself. He spat out blood – her blood – and laughed a little bit.

Then they met in battle again, mentor and apprentice, and Ivypool spun and threw him and hissed as he raked his claws down her back and sides again and again. She rolled, feeling specks of her own blood flying as she maneuvered, and he came with her, pinning her.

"It's over, Ivypool," said Hawkfrost in a voice as icy as his eyes. "Your death is here. Are you ready to stay here forever?"

As his jaws came snapping down, Ivypool thought hard and –

Stood up before Crouchpaw in StarClan's hunting grounds. At once, her pains faded. Crouchpaw looked at her for a few seconds before leaning forward and licking Ivypool's chest.

"It'll be okay," she said, big blue eyes shining. "You'll defeat whatever monster you're fighting."

"How do I do it?" said Ivypool, her voice breaking. "He's so much stronger."

"Nobody's stronger than you, Ivypool," said Crouchpaw. "That's what Graystripe said to me, the moment before everything happened. He told me that nobody was stronger than I was, because I was fighting for ThunderClan, and for Bouncepaw, and for Molepaw and Cherrypaw and Mousepaw and Icecloud and Lionblaze and…and even you and the others that didn't want me in the Clan."

"But it wasn't enough," said Ivypool. Crouchpaw shook her head, still smiling.

"Not in the end, no," she said. "But you're fighting for something even more special, aren't you?"

The future. Ivypool could visualize her happy ending: she and Doveheart would laugh together again. Bumblestripe would be able to nuzzle into the fur around her neck and tell her he loved her, and she would be able to touch her nose to his and tell him that yes. Yes, she loved him. Bluekit and Greykit would bounce around their paws and cause mischief, and she would scold them. Hazeltail would laugh when Greykit pinned Rustkit for the first time, and she could speak to Jayfeather without fearing him. Maybe Graystripe and Millie and Briarlight and Blossomfall, the most important cats in Bumblestripe's life, would actually accept her.

She faced Crouchpaw and smiled again, and the white apprentice grinned back.

Then she returned, feeling her injuries fade away. Hawkfrost was sitting in their meadow still, facing away from her.

"Hawkfrost," said Ivypool. He turned around thoughtfully, and his eyes narrowed.

"Are you running from your fate?" he said. "I thought you were brave."

"I'm not," said Ivypool. "But I refuse to lose." She lunged at him, and this time, her claws me their mark. She dug into the back of Hawkfrost's neck, and as his claws came around for her, she twisted, pulling him down with him. She let go and tossed him, and he went sprawling. Not even pausing for a breath, she pounced, her claws merciless and her jaws snapping.

"You mean nothing," roared Hawkfrost, tearing her from his pelt and sending her sprawling. "Do you honestly think I chose you because I trusted you? Do you honestly think I gave you the lessons you deserve?"

"Is that what I was to you?" said Ivypool coldly. "A piece of a prophecy that could help you complete your plan?"

"Precisely," said Hawkfrost with a savage grin. He lunged. Ivypool felt him move, felt his pawsteps shake the floor as he came towards her. She felt the artificial sunlight cold on her back, felt her own muscles aching. She heard the silence as he pounded towards him and felt his smell growing closer and closer. She knew this world. She knew its limits, knew its restrictions, knew that she didn't belong here.

And so when he charged towards her, she visualized herself being shadow itself, and when his claws sliced through her, she felt nothing, only turned and attacked. Hawkfrost yelped in surprise as her jaws, razor-sharp, sunk into the side of his throat. This time she shook, and when he went flying, he rose to his paws slowly. His eyes held something new, not quite fearful, but not his normal arrogant mal-intent, either.

"What are you?" he growled. "I didn't teach you to do that."

"You didn't teach me a lot of things," said Ivypool. She visualized, and then she was in front of him, raking her claws down his snout. "Like how to care about others. And how to help others. And how to fight with more than just technique."

"Technique? What else matters?" said Hawkfrost, reaching up and fastening his jaws in her throat. The movement was so fast, and the threw her. Ivypool screamed as her own blood flashed through her mind, making her scream as he came down on her. Three strikes: the first to her head, the second to her stomach, and the third to her throat. Blood stuttered in her vision.

"Die, Ivypool," he whispered, and everything went black.

She was flying. Beyond the worlds. Seeing stars. Stars in her eyes. Away from prophecies. Blood fading into her mind. Darkness and light fading into grey.

No. She was alive. She couldn't die in a dream. She wouldn't lose. Not when she had something to fight for, something to defeat.

And so she stood. She stood, alive, and faced Hawkfrost, who stared in horror as she rose through him. Her powers felt bigger than her, beyond the worlds. She was Ivypool, the Fourth of the Good Four, the Dark Prophet! In a dream that she commanded, she would not die.

So the dark prophet arose to complete the Good Four.

"Let me teach you something, Hawkfrost," she said, and her voice felt everywhere at once. Hawkfrost backed up, his eyes spinning around.

"What are you…?"

"I will teach you," said Ivypool as she stalked in front of him. "What it feels like to feel fear." Then she lunged from all directions, and she saw him fold under her claws screaming, and then she was one Ivypool instead of a million. Her jaws fit into his throat, and she pulled with all her might. She reeled back to stare at him, and Hawkfrost stared up at her as he collapsed.

"This won't…" He coughed. "Won't stop me. You can't defeat me." His own dusty blood bubbled up before her, and Ivypool kicked him aside.

"Then live alone in the darkness," said Ivypool. "And don't ever cross me again."

She lifted her head in the real world, and Bumblestripe was standing over her. His back was turned, and there was a shadow warrior that he was ripping apart.

"Bumblestripe?" The exhaustion in her voice echoed her entire body. It was worse than when she had kitted. It was…like her entire body was heavy as stones, and she was sinking. The shadow cat vanished in a cloud of dust, and he turned around. His amber eyes swum in her vision for a few moments, and he leaned towards her.

"Ivypool," said Bumblestripe. He touched his nose to her ear. "Are you alright?"

"I want to be," said Ivypool softly. "Hawkfrost will never bother us again."

"Hm?" said Bumblestripe.

"I beat him," said Ivypool. "Our family can be safe…"

"Our family?" said Bumblestripe. He was smiling. "Are you sure?"

"Shut up," said Ivypool. "Stupid earnest tom. I won't get the chance, but…you…and Bluekit and Greykit…"

"I'll get you to Jayfeather," said Bumblestripe. "When this is all over, I promise I'll defend you to the ends of the earth. We do have a family, and you're a part of it. I love you, Ivypool. I'll look after you."

"I love you, too," said Ivypool. She remembered his eyes getting big and the softest laugh erupting from her throat, and then, for the first time since she was a kit, she fell into a sleep without nightmares, without war, and without worry for the future.

Dang, if I didn't know better, I would say that I just wrote a character arc that ended happily. And it's not horrific or anything. On fire.

Next chapter is being posted right away. If you have any last thoughts about Ivypool or Bumblestripe, please let me know! I worry about how I portrayed them...

Thanks everyone!

~Elsi