Warriors: Beyond the Stars

"Highledge?" Rainbow Dash looked quizzically to Lionblaze.

"The big rock Bramblestar's standing on."

"P-p-prey?" Fluttershy's eyes widened in fear. "Y-you c-catch prey here?"

"Of course. What do you think we eat?" Lionblaze gave her a confused look.

Fluttershy's pupils dilated to the point of resembling pinpricks.

"Fluttershy, it' fine. I'll figure a way back home. Speaking of home, wasn't Pinkie behind the imagery capturer when it went off?" Twilight suspiciously glanced at the bubbly white cat prancing over to Highledge.

"Go to Highledge. Now, Bramblestar is waiting." Lionblaze nudged the five newcomers.

"Fine. This isn't over, kitty boy." Rainbow Dash warned him as she stalked off to Highledge.

The four remaining cats shared a look and walked over to Highledge.

Lionblaze followed suit once they were mingling with the ThunderClan-born cats.

The crowd murmured with surprise at the strange cats.

"That angry one looks like Bluestar," Graystripe whispered to Millie.

"That pink one hurts my eyes," complained Molekit.

"Hush, you be nice. They're new, treat them kindly." Daisy scolded.

Bramblestar waited among the rocks and pebbles on Highledge until the whispers died down.

"We have six new visitors joining us today. Please step forward." he meowed calmly.

The crowd drew back, revealing the confused six cats.

"Thank you. Tell us your names," Bramblestar coolly stared down at them.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle."

"Ah'm Applejack."

"I am Rarity."

"Fluttershy."

"I'm P to the inkie, P-i-n-k-i-e Pie."

"Rainbow Dash's the name, being awesome's the game."

Many cats looked confused at the names, some muttering about loose kittypets.

Bramblestar must have heard, for the seasoned warrior glared at ThunderClan. "Last night, Jayfeather had a dream. Firestar told him to accept six new cats into ThunderClan. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. Do you wish to train to become a warrior for ThunderClan?"

Rainbow Dash cocked her head. "That's cool, right?"

Several snickers answered.

Rainbow rolled her eyes and turned to the cats. "I take that as a yes." she faced Bramblestar again.

"Ah'm game." Applejack accepted.

"So'm I." Rainbow meowed.

"I'll fight for ThunderClan!" Pinkie bounced.

"Sure, I need a workout anyway." Rarity struck a pose.

Fluttershy stared at the ground while Twilight contemplated.

"I guess I'll train, but I'm going to look for a way back home." she decided.

"Fluttershy?" the other Elements meowed at once and turned to look at the cream she-cat.

"I don't want to fight, if Pinkie's right." Fluttershy crouched low to the ground.

Bramblestar was taken aback. "What?"

Fluttershy looked up to Bramblestar. "I don't want to hurt anyone." she increased her volume.

Jayfeather cleared his throat. "Bramblestar, Firestar told me that I had to take an apprentice."

Bramblestar looked from Jayfeather to Fluttershy. "Jayfeather, do you feel that Fluttershy is who Firestar meant?"

Jayfeather nodded. "I do."

"Psst, Fluttershy. That gray cat over there, I think that's Lionblaze's brother! He wants you to work as a medicine cat, not a warrior!" Twilight hissed.

"Oh, Bramblestar, is it? I think I want to be a medicine cat, that is if you don't mind. It doesn't matter, I'll just-"

"Fluttershy, a medicine cat may never kit. Are you sure?" Bramblestar warned.

"I'm sure," Fluttershy smiled.

Jayfeather stepped forward, closer to Fluttershy. "Cats of ThunderClan, as you know, I will not be around forever. It is time I took on an apprentice. StarClan has chosen Fluttershy for reasons I have yet to discover. Your next medicine cat will be Flutterpaw."

"Flutterpaw?" Rainbow Dash muttered.

"It's a very nice name." the newly christened Flutterpaw whispered.

"Flutterpaw, do you accept the responsibilities of being a medicine cat?" Bramblestar asked.

"I do." Flutterpaw meowed confidently.

"Then at half-moon you will travel with me to Moonpool to receive StarClan's blessing." Jayfeather told Flutterpaw.

"The good wishes of ThunderClan will travel with you." Bramblestar concluded the medicine cat apprenticeship ceremony.

Jayfeather leaned forward and touched noses with Flutterpaw.

Flutterpaw blushed.

Bramblestar peered down at the other five cats. "I suppose you all need a mentor. Twilight Sparkle, it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Twilightpaw. Your mentor will be Dovewing. I hope Dovewing will pass down all she knows to you. Dovewing, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Lionblaze, and you shown yourself to be brave and loyal. You will be the mentor of Twilightpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Dovewing padded forward and touched noses with Twilightpaw.

"Applejack, it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Applepaw. Your mentor will be Ivypool. I hope Ivypool will pass down all she knows to you. Ivypool, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Cinderheart, and you have proven yourself to be ready to give your life for the Clan and strong. You will mentor Applepaw and I expect you to pass down all you know to her."

Ivypool padded forward and touched noses with Applepaw.

"Rarity, it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Gempaw. Your mentor will be Squirrelflight. I hope Squirrelflight will pass down all you know  areto you. Squirrelflight, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Dustpelt, and you have proven yourself to be generous and kind. You will mentor Gempaw and I expect you to pass down all your knowledge to her." Bramblestar finished somewhat awkwardly.

Squirrelflight padded over to Gempaw and touched noses with a soft look in her eyes.

"Pinkie Pie, it is time for you, too, to be an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warriors name, you will be known as-"

"Stop! I want my name to be Skypaw." Pinkie interrupted.

"What?" Bramblestar looked curiously at Pinkie.

"Please?" she pleaded.

"From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Skypaw," Bramblestar continued. "Your mentor will be Foxleap. I hope Foxleap will pass down all he knows to you. Foxleap, you have received excellent training from Squirrelflight, and you have proven yourself to be understanding and loyal. You will mentor Skypaw and I expect you to pass down all you know."

Foxleap looked surprised as he wove through the ThunderClan cats to touch noses with Skypaw.

"And Rainbow Dash, the time has come for you to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Rainpaw. You mentor will be Lionblaze. I hope Lionblaze passes down all he knows to you. Lionblaze, you have received excellent training from Ashfur, and you have both great bravery and loyalty. You will mentor Rainpaw and I expect you to teach her all you know."

Lionblaze walked to Rainpaw. He stared evenly at her and touched noses. Rainpaw narrowed her eyes.

"Flutterpaw! Twilightpaw! Applepaw! Gempaw! Skypaw! Rainpaw!" ThunderClan called.

Rainpaw stood tall and proud, yet a cold feeling slithered down her back...