The Maple's Guardian Light Chapter 8: Dark Requests, Discoveries, & New Light, a Warriors + Hetalia - Axis Powers Crossover fanfic

Chapter 6-Dark Requests, Grim Discoveries, and Strengthened Light

Maplestreak glared at this mysterious violet-eyed tom who was a very dark grey with black spots that were almost invisible on his pelt and broad shoulders like some of ThunderClan's warriors. Despite the pain in his front leg from battling Hawkfrost, he had enough fight in him to protect the trembling Swallowkit, who is now gripping his tail out of fear. He couldn't blame her since she was kit-napped from her nest and almost killed tonight and now this tom came for God knows what reason!

The tom only sat calmly as he looked at the indigo-eyed golden tom with the brown streaks on his sides and back, the airborne curl and maple leaf pendant before speaking.

"I see those mouse-brained fools had already made a move tonight."

Maplestreak didn't budge from his stance, but he somewhat relaxed into guarded curiosity at the voice of this tom with the faded aura. It held no malice nor dark desires, unlike Breezepelt or Hawkfrost. Instead he strangely had regret lacing it as he continued.

"If only that stupid Tigerstar stayed alone and didn't bother his sons, or Mapleshade left Crookedstar alone then none of this would've happened. Not the past war or even these events…And I'm supposed to be the guardian of the Dark Forest like StarClan asked me to be…Some guardian I am…"

Maplestreak stiffened again. This tom was a Dark Forest Cat!

The tom noticed and gave a guilty smile. "Heh…can't blame you for wanting to protect that kit. I have no desire to hurt her so there's no worry. StarClan allowed me come here to ask for your help."

"My help?!" Maplestreak snapped in surprise and anger, not wanting to believe this cat after the events that happened. "A Dark Forest Cat like you asking for me to help?!"

"Hey I'm not with those pieces of Crowfood!" the tom snapped back. "StarClan made me the guardian of the Dark Forest after I died protecting my apprentice who was tricked to go onto a Thunderpath by another dishonourable warrior!"

He soon looked confused. This tom died an honourable death that allowed him to protect that dark place?

"Who are you?" he soon asked that mirrored the many questions in his head.

"My name is Darkstar," the tom answered calmly, not wanting to cause anymore tension tonight. "I was a past ThunderClan leader in the past long before the days of Bluestar, but a while after the Clans first formed. I was named guardian to make sure any cats that land in the Place of No Stars, now called the Dark Forest, would be forever alone to atone for their crimes…until Tigerstar and Mapleshade started meddling with the balance and all of these events started happening. I have no idea how they came back but they are stronger now so I need your help to stop them and their followers with a gift I'll give to you."

Seeing that he truly needed help, Maplestreak calmed down and asked, "What kind of gift?"

Darkstar soon smirked. "I'm going to give you an ability to send those mouse-brained fools back to the Dark Forest and keep them in separate groves alone to atone for their sins, and not able to control any cat whatsoever, or even visit them in their dreams, like before with just a slash of your claws or a bite of your fangs in something similar to a death blow. Do you accept?"

He took a few moments to think about it and as he looked at Swallowkit, who was still a bit fearful and the cause of him being there tonight, he soon said, "I accept your gift then. After all, StarClan asked me to help against those dark cats in the first place and if they allowed you here to give me such a gift then it would be unwise to reject such an offer."

Darkstar nodded as he walked towards him and touched his nose to the pendant. At once Maplestreak felt a power fill him; it wasn't completely dark for it had a slight warmth from StarClan with it that somehow healed the scratch Hawkfrost left. Soon the gift was given and Darkstar started to fade.

"Good luck Matthew," was all he said before returning to the Dark Forest.

Maplestreak sat there and allowed it all to sink in, but not before he soon realized the strong WindClan scents around him.

"Oh maple we're in WindClan's territory! Hawkfrost probably wanted to kill you here to cause another excuse for Onestar and Bramblestar to attack each other! We need to get you home before a patrol comes!"

"Uh I think we're too late…" she soon squeaked and he saw two WindClan cats coming towards them.

At first he was worried, until Crowfeather's scent hit his nose and he relaxed as they got closer and he could see them better, despite their similar dark pelts.

"Evening Maplestreak," he greeted them. "What are you and a ThunderClan kit doing here past the border?"

"A Dark Forest Cat named Hawkfrost took her from her nest and wanted to kill her but I scared him off," he replied truthfully, leaving the meeting with Darkstar to himself.

"A Dark Forest Cat?" the other cat, a she-cat hissed. "It's almost like what happened to our son Crowfeather!"

Maplestreak and Swallowkit gasped at this before he asked, "D-did you lose a kit to them?"

Crowfeather looked grim as he replied. "Yes…Nightcloud and I did…it was my second litter with her…and I thought I scented Breezepelt on the body…when we found our dead kit near the Horseplace…"

Maplestreak felt shocked but Nightcloud had more to say. "It wasn't just us, unfortunately. I heard from a RiverClan patrol that they and ShadowClan lost a kit each. By the look of things only ThunderClan was spared because you were quick to realize that a kit was missing."

Sadly it didn't help the growing guilt inside of his heart. It made sense of what Hawkfrost said when he wanted to make Swallowkit a message. By adding her death to the other three kit deaths so far, it would cause more unrest between the Clans and weaken them even more so for another attack by the Dark Forest…with the Clans losing!

Maplestreak soon felt the tears roll down his face at this revelation…and the fact he found out too late about this plot.

Crowfeather noticed as he placed his tail on the younger one's shoulders in comfort. "It seems you didn't know and I can understand. This was well planned."

Nightcloud also added her tail in comfort. "Yes, very well planned, but they also failed now that you know."

Maplestreak gritted his teeth and unsheathed his claws into the ground in anger. "Yes I know…and I'll continue this mission, this fight. The Dark Forest Cats had crossed paths with the wrong cat…"

Both WindClan cats nodded at his quiet voice, laced with determination of not failing before Nightcloud gently spoke. "But for now I think it's best that you get this kit back to ThunderClan and get some rest. You both had quite the night and must be very tired."

Swallowkit soon yawned at that point so he calmed down and picked her up gently by the scruff of her neck after re-sheathing his claws.

"We will help you keep up with the latest news between Gatherings," Crowfeather soon said before Maplestreak started for ThunderClan camp. "Even if it means doing it behind Onestar's back. No doubt he'll use this as an excuse to cause something at the next Gathering in two days."

Maplestreak nodded in agreement, as well as gratitude to his new friends, before waving his tail and leaving for the camp, tired and emotionally drained.

"Hey Maplestreak?" Swallowkit soon asked when they passed the Sky Oak. "Why didn't you say anything about Darkstar to them?"

He stopped and put her down to answer. "Because I didn't want them to assume I sided with the Dark Forest Cats since he's the guardian of the Forest itself. For now, until even the medicine cats meet him in a dream or a get a sign about him, let's keep my meeting with him a secret. Especially since Crowfeather said Onestar may try something in a couple of days from these events."

"O.K. I will," she said with a slight yawn, then he picked her up again and continued on their way.

Of course he barely made it to the Training Hollow when Millie came bounding up towards them in tears, happy and relieved that her daughter was safe. "Oh Swallowkit! You're alright!"

He put her down and she wasted no time to get between her mother's paws. "Oh Mama it was so scary! A Dark Forest Cat named Hawkfrost wanted to kill me on WindClan's territory but Maplestreak saved me!"

A few other cats came out of the camp to see what happened; Greystripe among them since he just heard his daughter was rescued.

Bramblestar soon noticed the grim look on Maplestreak that was only slightly tempered by the joy of the family reunion. "Is there something wrong Maplestreak?"

He paused at first, hesitating on sharing what he heard from Crowfeather and Nightcloud, but the warning about Onestar helped make up his mind. "Swallowkit wasn't the only victim tonight…in fact she was the only lucky one."

"What do you mean?" the dark tabby leader asked and Maplestreak relayed what he heard from his WindClan friends, leaving out his meeting with Darkstar in case he loses his friendship with the Clan that had easily accepted him. "I see…it was well planned then. It seems they truly see you as a threat and decided to make their move quickly enough not to alert you until now."

"If only I got a better sign…" Maplestreak started in regret but Brightheart stopped him with her tail. "You didn't know so it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for what happened for it is only our enemies to blame."

He nodded tiredly as he also stifled a yawn but she did notice. "I think we should continue this in the morning since it's been a long night."

Everyone agreed with this idea since they were all tired from the search and it would still be a few hours until sunrise so they all dispersed, some still giving congratulations to Maplestreak for saving Swallowkit. He nodded in gratitude, but it was only slightly as he went towards his nest, only to be stopped by Jayfeather.

"Did you get hurt battling Hawkfrost?" he asked and Maplestreak was surprised so he lowered his voice.

"I did but it was taken care of…I'll explain privately in the dreaming world."

The young medicine cat nodded in satisfaction as he went towards the nursery to check on Swallowkit. Maplestreak soon went back to his nest, too tired to take off his pendant this time, and fell into a deep sleep.

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He found himself back in StarClan's grove and Firestar was there waiting.

"You know, don't you?" he asked the flame-coloured leader and he nodded before three new spirits came to him; the three kits killed by the Dark Forest Cats and he felt the guilt grip his heart even tighter.

A small black tom with blue eyes similar to Crowfeather stepped forward. At first he thought this kit would be angry, but he soon was surprised to see him nuzzle his right leg in forgiveness. The other two kits, a tortoise-shell tom with green eyes that carried the ShadowClan scent he was introduce to today on patrol and a dark brown she-cat with amber eyes carrying an unfamiliar RiverClan scent in her pelt, also followed suit and he soon broke down to his emotions. He now can see that these kits forgive him for not realizing the danger sooner.

"Don't cry Canada," the first tom kit, named Shadekit, spoke. "We don't blame you at all for not knowing."

"And even if you did find out," the second tom kit, Pebblekit, added, "you couldn't be in three places at once!"

"So we decided to watch you and help you here in StarClan to show we aren't mad at all!" the she-kit, Robinkit, finished and he felt nothing but relief.

"Thank you…all three of you…" he soon said as he hugged the three of them, completely relieved that they understood his end of the situation.

He suddenly caught onto three other scents that just arrived. He looked up to see a stiff-looking blonde German cat with serious-looking light blue eyes, a quiet black Japanese bobtail cat with calm sepia eyes, and an energetic brown Italian cat with his bright honey-brown eyes closed but sporting a familiar large curl that stuck out towards the right. He smiled to see Spottedleaf brought over his friends in the Axis Powers; Germany, Japan, and Italy, which the latter bounded over to him immediately as the other two followed, looking concerned.

"Ve! Ciao Matteo!" Italy said, cheerful enough to lift his fallen spirit. "Are you alright? Miss Spottedleaf said that you may need a few friends to cheer you up, ve! I would also bring some pasta but I can't really do it in a dream world, ve!"

Canada laughed at this. "It's alright Feli, seeing you, Ludwig, and Kiku just as good as you bringing pasta. After what happened tonight I do need a few friends."

"Vhat did happen Canada?" Germany asked with concern and Canada relayed the events that caused the clouds of guilt to grow in his heart, telling them of Darkstar's gift as well since he knows they wouldn't be able to tell the Clan cats until they find out on their own. "Hmm…a vell z'ought-out plan z'ey executed…and it vas almost successful if you didn't catch zis Millie's cry for help in time."

Although Japan didn't exactly show it, he was surprised at such a plot then turned his gaze to the three kits at Canada's paws. "Are these the kits that…?"

He nodded as Italy soon gave him a light nuzzle in comfort. "They did forgive me, though, since I didn't know until too late from Crowfeather and Nightcloud, who are Shadekit's parents."

"That also makes him my half-brother then," Jayfeather's voice sounded as he also strolled up to sit beside the northern Nation then turned and added, "I heard about Darkstar from Bluestar so there's no need to explain but I will keep it a secret until I get a proper sign from him."

"Ve? Who's this Matteo?" Italy asked with a cute tilt of his head.

"This is Jayfeather, ThunderClan's medicine cat and one of my good friends."

"Is being a medicine cat like being a hearer, Jayfeather-san?" Japan asked with interest, but the accent and honorific confused the young cat so Canada clarified on how other Nations speak and address others around them.

"Yes it is Japan," Jayfeather answered once he understood. "We heal the sick and wounded and read signs from StarClan. I'm a little more special being one of 'Three with the Stars in their Paws'; I have a special ability to walk in others' dreams and into the past to get answers when needed. The other two are my kin and they too have their own powers."

"And who are z'ese other ones?" Germany asked but Jayfeather just shook his head.

"I'm sorry but I was asked not to reveal anything until they meet some of you Nations…"

"WHAT?!" Canada shouted in disbelief. "How did that happen?!"

"I slipped it out by mistake when I went for a private meeting with them earlier today," he replied guiltily. "But they do understand your situation and since you are making a effort in healing our Clan, and soon the other Clans, they agreed to say nothing. I'll bring them along tomorrow night so they can meet the Nations Spottedleaf brings with her."

As surprised as he was that Jayfeather broke his promise, Canada understood it was an accident and the grey tom was willing to make up for it. It also provided the opportunity for him to finally see who are the other two since he hasn't done so yet.

He smiled gently to the medicine cat. "It's alright, I forgive you Jayfeather."

Jayfeather seemed relieved that he wasn't all that angry as Spottedleaf soon rose to her paws. "It's almost dawn."

"Oh!" Canada soon exclaimed as an idea came to mind. "Just a minute Spottedleaf! I need to ask Japan something."

"What is it?" the older one asked as the golden tom whispered into his ear a small request, causing an uncharacteristic impish smile to form on the bushido Nation's face. "It wirr be done by the time you arrive home, Canada-san."

The other two Nations and Jayfeather looked at each other and back to the smirking Nations as if to ask "What the heck are they up to?" before all said their farewells and the visitors left with Spottedleaf (with Italy singing of course).

Jayfeather soon turned to Maplestreak. "What was it that you asked of Japan?"

All he got was a quiet chuckle. "Oh, just asking for a favour so I can keep prepared for the Dark Forest Cats if they ever do make it to my world.

The grey tom said nothing more as they both went back to the waking world.

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Meanwhile, in the Dark Forest…

"I can't believe how much of a strong fighter he was!" Hawkfrost complained to a dark-grey tabby tom that sported a similar dark aura. "I had no idea he would be that quick on the uptake, Darkstripe!"

"How did Tigerstar take it?" Darkstripe asked in curiosity.

"He was angry that I failed in killing the kit and bearing this scar on my nose as a message but pleased that we had weakened Canada a bit in the end. We may have the upper hand in this."

"Don't be too sure," Breezepelt soon appeared, still looking nervous from his meeting with Russia. "That Canada isn't alone…I should know this because that Russia, or whatever his name was, still scared the living daylights out of me! I wouldn't put it past StarClan to bring over more of his friends to strengthen him again!"

A soft giggling was soon heard. "Oh you are most correct on that statement…My little maple leaf is now back to full emotional strength and is sharing it with the Clans even more so now as we speak."

All three Dark Cats turned to see a slender and pretty chestnut-brown she-cat with some very unusual black markings on her pelt similar to maple leaves and stars, a tan muzzle and belly, dark blue-violet eyes that shone with wisdom and impish mirth, and strangely enough, a white eagle's feather that seemed to be coloured with blue, green, and red stripes as well as some beads as it dangled off the right side of her head. She giggled again at the look of shock and suspicion at her and she can't blame them because they are her enemies.

"How do you know that?!" Hawkfrost growled at her, ready to attack and she looked at him calmly.

"I was watching him the whole time," she replied simply before turning away from them but still looked back to say one last thing before leaving. "Please pass this message to your father: 'He won't succeed in killing the light, for the light of many is stronger than the darkness he brings.'"

With that she left without a sound into the undergrowth.

Darkstripe went to track her, but he quickly arrived back with a very confused look on his face. "She left no scent! Who was that she-cat?!"

"I don't know," Hawkfrost replied. "But whoever she is, she won't make fools of us again!"

They left, not knowing the she-cat was laying high on a branch where she wouldn't be seen with an older long-haired blonde tom with serious green eyes, white markings in his pelt that somehow looked like an eagle with its wings spreading to his flanks, and a braid off the left side of his face, sitting beside her.

"You know z'ey vill take z'at last statement seriously," he spoke to her with concern in his voice. "You should be more careful."

She gave another mirthful giggle. "Oh Germania you are too serious for your own good! Unlike them or StarClan we won't die again or leave scents. I'm just doing what I can to help Canada and the Clans so we'll still have the upper hand! They don't understand that Nations can't be fully controlled even though we help the people who rule us so we have the advantage."

Germania sighed in defeat, knowing she was right. "You have some good points z'ere Native America. Now let us leave before ve're spotted or Rome tries something vith Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt…again."

She nodded and they both leapt down from the branch to leave, but she took one quick look back towards the StarClan border and smiled.

*I'll always be there to help you my son.*

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Author's Notes:

O.K the plot bunnies were going nuts after that little cliff-hanger I left so I decided to conclude this little arc of the story so far. But first I'd like to thank nicolift, Elwyntaiga, and Time Traverser for the reviews on the last two chapters!

Here we finally learn that the dark cat that arrived is Darkstar, an OC I made up to be the Guardian of the Dark Forest. But here's the twist: He's on StarClan's side since they asked him to do so! Therefore Canada has an ally in the Dark Forest though the other cats are his enemies. Darkstar was an honourable ThunderClan leader seasons after the Clans were formed but YEARS before Bluestar was born so he's an ancient cat. He died when he was hit by a car saving his apprentice after that kit was tricked by a warrior to cross a Thunderpath in order to try to become leader. (That plan failed and he was exiled by the new leader, then killed by a dog that was loose before returning to its owner.)

Also he earns a gift to send those fur balls back to where they belong, taking away all dream-walking privileges and separating them to be alone for good, just like they were supposed to! How he would do it is like him dealing a death blow but since they are already dead and he now has a beef with them, he'll have no regrets! So it's win/win in Canada's case but lose/lose to the Dark Forest Cats.

Speaking of poor Canada, he learns that Swallowkit would've been death #4 if he wasn't as fast on his paws. When meeting Nightcloud after she and Crowfeather finds them on their territory, he learns the other three Clans weren't so lucky, especially since Breezepelt killed his new baby brother as an act of vengeance against his parents since they said they'll never grieve for him. (For the record, he met Russia after killing Shadekit.)

All of that is enough to weaken him, but not for long since StarClan saw everything and decided to fix his broken spirit by letting the kits forgive him, and having the Axis Powers visit him!

That's right! The Axis Powers makes an appearance! I figured that with Italy's bright heart and nature it'll help lighten up this dark chapter!

But Jayfeather slips out on the secret of Nations?! At least he was able to make up for it so Canada will learn about Lionblaze and Dovewing since he still doesn't know.

Also what's he planning with Japan? Well that's for you to find out after he returns home for the second Saga! But I'm willing to accept guesses.

And lastly I decided to add the Ancient Nations as well as make an OC for one of them: Canada's and America's mother Native America/First Nations!

O.K wondering the two names? Well when I was learning Canadian History back in grade 7, the natives were always called the First Nations People by us Canadians and later on I learn that the Americans calls them Native Americans so it should make sense since they are the same people. So when Canada and America will finally see her, other than "Mom", Canada will call her First Nations while America will call her Native America (just like Germania did since I'm guessing most of the world knows her by that).

Now for a brief bio:

First Nations (yes I'll be calling her that since I am Canadian) is a free-spirited Ancient Nation that represented North America (minus Mexico since it was part of Central and South America at the time) who is more in tuned with nature and spirits than even England was so she will know some magic. She's kind and outgoing, but fierce in battle when called for, especially with her knowledge of the bow, the hatchet, and the knife. Her friends are the animals and the spirits of the land and she taught her people about these things before the Europeans came. Before she disappeared, she gave birth to two twin boys who will represent her lands in the North and South and gave them freedom so France and England could find them and raise them, aware of the consequences that may happen to her people in the future. Despite all of that, her love as a mother hasn't faded and she still watches over her sons, occasionally coming to visit since some of her people still exist.

So in a way she's like the Prussia of the Ancient Nations in terms of existence to non-existence.

And as for Germania, well I just added him in for the heck of it. All of the Ancient Nations will have markings on them in Warrior form, minus China of course, as a way of showing them to be the "StarClan" of the Nations.

Well that's it, so I'll just leave the Nation/Human names right here:

North Italy - Feliciano Vargas

Germany - Ludwig (No last name but some people are giving him Prussia's last name of Beilshmidt since he did raise his little brother)

Japan - Honda Kiku

Enjoy and leave comments!