Sorry for the odd spacing in the previous chapter... But look at the cover! It's by @LightningStrikeTC and look how wonderful it is! Now, onto the story! That was my first author's note. Wow. Anyway, please remember to vote and comment! Thanks for reading! NOW, onto the story!
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"What are we supposed to do with him now?" Shadepaw made out the voice of a tom, his eyes fluttered open weakly and he made out the form of a big, bulky grey tom, talking to the tortoiseshell she-cat that had kidnapped Shadepaw. A wave of heat and dizziness flood through Shadepaw's veins, and Shadepaw closed his eyes once more. He had no power at the moment- and no consciousness either. Shadepaw felt his paws go limp and his head roll back.

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"Shadepaw," he heard a familiar hiss of the she-cat- Mapleshine, was it? "Shadepaw, open your eyes." Mapleshine demanded, Shadepaw could feel her breath tickling his ear and he twitched his ear to send the feeling away, not wanting to see where he was or what he had become, Shadepaw rolled his head to the other side.

"Shadepaw- you are in my control, this is no time for you to act stubborn." Mapleshine chided lightly, although Shadepaw could imagine the fury in her yellow eyes and her claws gripping the ground below them in frustration. Shadepaw was about to relieve a crack of the amused smile bubbling inside him when his mind registered something new.

Ground... Shadepaw realized, Mapleshine had no possession over him! He was on solid ground! A new burst of confidence surged through Shadepaw's bones, "Liar." Shadepaw hissed in the direction of the she-cat, without opening his eyes.

"I don't lie!" Mapleshine said smugly. But Shadepaw heard her mutter, "At least I'm not lying right now." Fear began to crawl up Shadepaw's spine and he felt like he wanted to double back into his fluffy black pelt and disappear. Shadepaw slowly opened his yellow eyes.

Horror-stricken Shadepaw found himself looking at the legs of Mapleshine, he has to tilt his head upwards to meet her bestowing gaze looking down upon him- literally. Shadepaw slowly swung his head around, to make sure he wouldn't go unconscious again in case of quick, rough movements.

He was not only on the ground- he was also in it. A fox-length of dried dirt and mud covered Shadepaw's legs, Shadepaw began to thrash around, earning a smug smile from Mapleshine. But the heavy layer of dirt wouldn't budge.

"What going on!?" Shadepaw hissed, his frustration beginning to show through his voice. "What have you done time you arrogant piece of loaded fox-dung?"

"I assured that your escape is..." Mapleshine paused, before looking at Shadepaw innocently. "Impossible."

Shadepaw began, "Mapleshine! You have better let-"

"My name is Mapleshade." Mapleshade interrupted, her claws and ears twitching irritably. Shadepaw looked up at her face.

That would have a better fit than Mapleshine. Shadepaw's mind pointed out. Instead he continued with his previous phrase, "Let me go, I have business to attend to."

"Like that little she-cat?" Mapleshade snorted, her tail waving dismissively. Shadepaw felt his heart slow and tighten. Mapleshade knew who Applekit was? That would cause problems for him, problems greater than Shadepaw could imagine. He could already see Mapleshade's victory smile as she stood upon a hill of the carcasses of her enemies. Shadepaw couldn't defend himself against Mapleshade, that both of them knew. But if he couldn't defend himself, how would he defend Applekit?

But Shadepaw kept silent, sending a look of defiance at the older she-cat, he made sure to keep his eyes cold, yet flaring at the same time. Shadepaw vowed that a scowl would permanently be on his face whenever he and Mapleshade would talk; to show Shadepaw's true commitment to representing his pure and utter hate towards her.

Mapleshade let out a dry laugh as she looked upon Shadepaw's face. In her perspective, Shadepaw assumed that he looked cute. Like little, tiny mouse trying to scare off a dog. "Relax." Mapleshade said, rolling her eyes at Shadepaw's so called 'patheticness'. "Your little kit is safe for now."

Shadepaw couldn't control the growl rumbling in his throat, "For now?"

"Would you like me to repeat it?" Mapleshade taunted, and to Shadepaw's despair, the phrase had hit his nerve.

Before he could think, Shadepaw retorted, "Yes, repeat it as loud as you can, to prove that your little army isn't strong enough to kill a defenceless kit!" Anger began to flare inside of Shadepaw, empowering each and every muscle he had.

"Sadly, it is true, my army is very weak so far, they don't have the heart to kill." Mapleshade said, pretending to pout at her team's failure. "But they will learn soon enough. After all, killing a kit won't be a problem..."

Before Shadepaw could think about it, he send out another chain of taunts, "Then why don't you kill her right now? Admit it Mapleshade, you and your so can go rot here, you can't even defeat a helpless kit! This is what your planning, and I suppose you need moons of preparation for it! Unless you have a bigger plan to follow it or anything, but let's face, even you're to dull to think of it." Shadepaw's heart dreaded as he saw the smile appear on Mapleshade's just as finished, but forced himself to keep the resentful glare.

"You're very observant when you're angry." Mapleshade complimented cooly, a smug grin plastered on her muzzle, "Honestly, in our conversation right now, I think you're to dull to notice all the possibilities this capture has lead to-"

"Like what, arguing with a cat who, I may as well add, betrayed you?" Shadepaw interrupted coldly.

"No, arguing with a cat who has dug through the tunnels I have been thinking so long about." Mapleshade replied, the smugness in her voice was so terribly obvious, but the tone of her voice still sent shivers up Shadepaw's spine.

"What do you mean?" The uneasiness that appeared in his voice was becoming visible and his shaken look wasn't helping either. His scowl loosened, earning a proud look from Mapleshade. She had broken Shadepaw, and Shadepaw knew it too.

"I mean that you're absolutely right! That she-kit brings hope to StarClan, doesn't she?" Mapleshade exclaimed, faking her excitement. Shadepaw gulped heavily as Mapleshade continued, "If we were to crush hope, than attack! Wouldn't that be wonderful! But, alas, we cannot, for one of our own members will train this... Applekit. And perhaps we can not only destroy hope. But convince her to join us!"

Shadepaw snarled, "Don't be a mouse-brained fool, Mapleshade! Applekit would never join your wretched ranks. She has a heart, unlike you!"

Mapleshade frowned tauntingly, "Of course she has a heart, she's alive and I'm dead."

"That's not what I meant!"

"It doesn't need to be what you meant for it to be, because at the end of this battle, darkness will win, and the forest will perish forever." Mapleshade said as the big, bulky brown tom Shadepaw saw before approached them.

"Darkness won't win. Because now I fight for light. And I say with hopes and dreams and everything you cats have taught me to ignore... They mean something! They fill your veins with happiness and loyalty, so you can live your life for a reason!" Shadepaw hissed, it had gone against everything he had learnt in the Dark Forest, but a part of him still believed it, even now. But he couldn't help but think of the pessimist he truly was.

StarClan had crushed his dreams and shattered his reality, sending him into an abyss of darkness. Why was he even defending them? Even Shadepaw didn't know the answer to that yet.

And this time, to both revenge on StarClan and The Dark Forest. He'd make both teams win. And show the true dark and light side of both realities. Applekit and Shadepaw would bring a new reality into this world; one where both light and darkness would balance each other.

Shadepaw snapped out of his thought just as Mapleshade leaned down and whispered lightly in his ear. And just as the brown tom reached them, Shadepaw almost lost all hope. Almost all of it. A chill was sent through his spine as the words echoed through his mind.

"And remember Shadepaw, you don't have a heart either... Why do you think you were sent here?"

Mapleshade stood, and shook her pelt, sending little clumps of dry mud flying all over. She turned to the tom, "Release him."

The tom looked baffled, "Pardon?"

"I said release him, don't make me say it again. He is no use to us anymore." Mapleshade said coldly, eyes narrowing.

The tom dipped his head quickly, "We just need some water... I'll go get some."

"Then go along," Mapleshade said lamely. The brown cat scampered off as quickly as one could say 'mouse!'. Mapleshade turned to face Shadepaw, "And as for you," she said, "I'm sure we'll meet again soon."

Mapleshade turned around and walked off, her tortoiseshell pelt glimmering in the pale light that shone in the Dark Forest. And for once in his life, Shadepaw felt true resentment.

It was time for StarClan and The Dark Forest to balance each other. A new era to be born. It wouldn't be perfect, but it'd be good enough. It was time to heal the mistakes of the past, and look to the future with a new hope.

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And that's how I finished this chapter! Sorry, I had to!now onto the comments and voting! 3, 2, 1, and off you go!