Battle against Ashfur

The battle against Ashfur was a battle that took place in A Light in the Mist in the Dark Forest, when StarClan, some Dark Forest cats and all five Clans united and defeated Ashfur.
==Summary==
===Premise===
:After moons of manipulating the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest, Ashfur has gathered his army of possessed spirits and Dark Forest cats in the Dark Forest, with hopes of keeping Squirrelflight by his side, killing her mate Bramblestar, and destroying the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest. However, Rootspring, Bristlefrost, and Shadowsight foil his plans by rescuing Squirrelflight and Bramblestar. Ashfur strives to destroy the living Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest, as a means of obtaining his revenge on those he believes slighted him as well as furthering his obsessive pursuit of Squirrelflight. Rootspring, Bristlefrost, and Shadowsight gather allies from the living Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest to stop Ashfur.
===Overview===
:After rescuing Rootspring from Ashfur, Bristlefrost, Rootspring, and Shadowsight discover a thick bramble barrier blocking the entrance to StarClan, with Leafpool informing them that StarClan is slowly disappearing. They also note dark water and thick fog destroying the Dark Forest as well. After learning that hope weakens the barrier, the three friends resolve to find more hope. Rootspring, with the help of Firestar's wandering spirit, recruits Silverhawk, a Dark Forest cat; Bristlefrost encourages Dark Forest cats Sparrowfeather, Maggottail, and Redwillow to fight to save their home from Ashfur; and Shadowsight convinces the Clan leaders to send cats from the living world to save StarClan.
:They reunite at the barrier with StarClan, and their continuous hope allows StarClan cats to enter to aid in the fight: Needletail, Onestar, Redtail, Larksong, Feathertail, Silverstream, and Firestar. They also recruit Berrynose, Willowshine, Stemleaf, and Juniperclaw. With Firestar leading them, the group confronts Ashfur. However, he shows no remorse for his actions and instead faults StarClan for their flaws. Ashfur's army arrives, including Darktail and several fresh rogue spirits, and the battle ensues. In the battle, Rootspring resolves to join ThunderClan to be with Bristlefrost whom he loves, Shadowsight affirms to Ashfur that he will no longer be manipulated by him, and Bristlefrost sacrifices herself to save Shadowsight by throwing both herself and Ashfur into the dark water, killing them both.
==Description==
===Ashfur's obsession===
:Ashfur longed to be with Squirrelflight after his death and held resentment towards her for choosing Bramblestar over himself. He spent moons in StarClan learning and waiting for the right moment to have his revenge. He discovered that StarClan's power comes from their connection with the living world, and he wanted to expose them as the frauds he believes them to be. He dug a tunnel into the Dark Forest, a secret entrance only he knew about, and began to draw in power from there. Ashfur learned of a brief moment after a Clan leader loses one of their nine lives where their body is an empty shell. Finding his chance, Ashfur manipulated good faith from his peers to let him return to the living world to monitor the Clans to ensure they were following the warrior code. He blocked off the entrance to StarClan and inhabited Bramblestar's body. Now back in the living world, Ashfur commandeered ThunderClan's leadership and began enforcing strict obedience to the warrior code with Bristlefrost as his vassal. With StarClan silent, Ashfur was the voice of reason, and he pitted loyal warriors against each other. To his surprise, Squirrelflight discovered the truth and faked her own death, retreating to a secret rebel group. Ashfur manipulated RiverClan and WindClan against ShadowClan and SkyClan in battle, but the Clans discovered the truth. It was Squirrelflight who pieced together that it was Ashfur all along, and the Clans prepared to kill him when Ashfur escaped, dragging Squirrelflight into the Dark Forest with him. He also trapped spirits into the Dark Forest and became powerful enough to control them with his mind. He also harvests dead rogue spirits to add to his army, and recruits several Dark Forest warriors to help him, luring them with promises of returning to the living world. Ashfur was surprised that Squirrelflight did not appreciate everything he had concocted for her, and she escaped along with Bramblestar. With Ashfur's influence and the border between StarClan and the Dark Forest blocked with a thick bramble barrier, both afterlives begin disappearing.
===Entering the Dark Forest===
:After a long discussion, the Clans decide that they will send Willowshine to Dark Forest. However, the RiverClan medicine cat dies in her dream while trying, causing the medicine cats to put a hold on the Clans' plans of sending someone to the Place of No Stars. Shadowsight and Mothwing decide to try to get the former into the Place of No Stars, acknowledging the relationship the ShadowClan medicine cat has with the dark warrior. Shadowsight enters the Dark Forest, but he fails to concentrate on the barren land, prompting him to be propelled back to the real world. The dark gray tabby tom tries again, and he succeeds this time. He befriends Snowtuft, a Dark Forest spirit, who enlists Shadowsight's help to defeat Ashfur since his influence is also destroying the Dark Forest under heavy fog and dark water. Shadowsight distracts Ashfur long enough for Squirrelflight and Bramblestar to escape. Bristlefrost also enters the Dark Forest briefly and witnesses them escape. The pair wake up with Shadowsight yowling in pain.
:In the living world earlier, Rootspring, Leafstar, Tree, Graystripe, Jayfeather, Bristlefrost, and Lionblaze travel to the Moonpool, surprised on finding Mothwing, Shadowsight, Tigerstar, and Dovewing already present. The leaders argue for a few moments, but Rootspring is distracted as he sees Willowshine's spirit appears from the Moonpool. Without hesitating, Willowshine pulls Rootspring into the Moonpool against the SkyClan warrior's will, taking him into the Place of No Stars. Willowshine and Rootspring discover Ashfur harboring the possessed spirits on an island surrounded by dark water. They run into Squirrelflight who escaped thanks to Shadowsight, and prepare to make their next move when Ashfur arrives with his army, revealing he's been using Willowshine as a spy. Rootspring manages to escape but nearly drowns in the dark water, noting how its coldness threatens to drag him under. He meets Snowtuft, who agrees to help him, and Bramblestar's spirit who has also escaped. Bramblestar resolves to save Squirrelflight and reunite with his body. They formulate a plan to storm the island where Ashfur is keeping her, and Bramblestar successfully rejoins with his body. As they escape towards the Moonpool, Rootspring and Snowtuft are captured, and are forced to fight each other under Ashfur's command. Bristlefrost and Shadowsight resolve to save their friend and reenter the Dark Forest.
===Hope is our greatest strength===
:Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and Rootspring manage to escape Ashfur's clutches with Spiresight, Stemleaf, and Willowshine in tow thanks to Snowtuft's sacrifice. They discover a thick bramble barrier blocking the entrance to StarClan, having been manipulated with Ashfur's negative influence. The group discovers that hope—hope for the future, hope in their faith and success—weakens the barrier, with their efforts creating a small gap in the barrier for Leafpool, a StarClan spirit, to inform them of the dire situation in StarClan. With Ashfur hot on their tails, the trio decides to split up to gather more hope. Bristlefrost convinces Sparrowfeather, Redwillow, and Maggottail to help her save the Dark Forest since they deserve to have a home, Shadowsight returns to the living world to persuade the Clan leaders to send cats to help, and Firestar's wandering spirit aids Rootspring to kill his captor Darkstripe and recruits Silverhawk to aid them. 
:Bristlefrost leads her Dark Forest allies to the barrier, and their combined hope creates a gap large enough for Needletail, a StarClan spirit, to slip through. Ashfur and his army catch them, and their perusing chase results in Redwillow's death in the dark water, and Bristlefrost and her allies capturing Willowshine, Stemleaf, and Berrynose. As Ashfur and his army search elsewhere, his control over the three spirit cats fades. They reunite with Rootspring and Silverhawk. In the living world, the Clans send one representative from each Clan to enter the Dark Forest: Crowfeather from WindClan, Mistystar from RiverClan, Violetshine from SkyClan, Graystripe from ThunderClan, and Shadowsight steps up for his sister Lightleap when she is too nervous. At the barrier with StarClan, more hope creates another gap and Firestar, Onestar, Redtail, Silverstream, Feathertail, and Larksong. Juniperclaw, a Dark Forest spirit, also arrives, though the others question his motivations due to his past actions. Juniperclaw resolves to atone for the past. The living cats meet up with them, and together, the group sets out to defeat Ashfur.
===The Lights in the Mist===
:The group of cats, both living and dead, search for Ashfur, and located him in a clearing. They surround him, but Ashfur's allies arrive from behind them. Darktail and several dead rogue spirits arrive, and the battle begins. Rootspring urges Shadowsight to hide in a nearby tree since he can't fight, and Stemleaf and Berrynose manage to overcome Ashfur's control. Needletail and Violetshine manage to kill Darktail's spirit while Thistleclaw and Mapleshade protect Ashfur from their opponents. From Shadowsight's perch, he spots the dark water dangerously rising around the clearing. Ashfur's army begins to flee while others give chase, allowing Firestar, Graystripe, and Mistystar a chance to confront Ashfur. Graystripe relays a message to Ashfur from Squirrelflight: she realizes she could never love him after he threatened to kill Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf, and she would always choose Bramblestar. Ashfur violently lashes out at Graystripe in anger, and the rogue spirits resume their attack. Shadowsight falls from his perch, and Bristlefrost saves him from a Dark Forest spirit.
:Ashfur connects to Shadowsight's mind and taunts him for being a failure to his friends, but Shadowsight remains resolved that he knows where he belongs. With Shadowsight unconscious, Ashfur begins to roll his body towards the dark water, hoping to finish him off as a cat who dies in the Dark Forest dies permanently. Bristlefrost notices this and resolves to save her friend. With one look at Rootspring, Bristlefrost dashes towards Ashfur, throwing herself at the dark warrior, and both of them fall into the dark water. For the first time in his tyrannical rule, Ashfur is scared as his spirit fades away. Bristlefrost is shocked by the cold, but manages to drag Ashfur deeper into the depths. Realizing she can't escape, Bristlefrost succumbs to the darkness thinking of her love for Rootspring.
===Deaths as a result of the battle===
===Deaths as a result of Ashfur's schemes===
==Aftermath==
===StarClan's return===
:Upon Ashfur's defeat, the barrier between StarClan and the Dark Forest is gone, and so has StarClan's connection with the living world. Shadowsight blames himself for Bristlefrost's death and Rootspring is devastated. The group arrives at Ashfur's tunnel between the afterlives, and they decide against blocking it incase it upsets the balance between the afterlives. Juniperclaw volunteers to guard the tunnel as the border guardian. Firestar allows their living allies a chance to view StarClan briefly before they return to the living world. As they leave, Graystripe begins to succumb to his wounds. The living cats return home and mourn Bristlefrost and Graystripe. The following night, the medicine cats are able to communicate with StarClan after several moons of silence. Bramblestar also names the cats who entered the Dark Forest to fight Ashfur as the Lights in the Mist.
===The broken code===
:In StarClan, the cats discuss changes to the warrior code, acknowledging how Ashfur manipulated it to fulfill his schemes. They brainstorm a proposed reordering of the warrior code, with the most important ones first. The proposed changes include removing the code about how the leader's word is the warrior code and possible additions to allowing cats to have mates in different Clans. StarClan gives the Clans three moons to decide formal changes to the warrior code. Three moons later, the Clans present StarClan with formal changes to the code: cats can leave their Clan to join another by performing a task by their intended Clan's choosing, and unjust leaders can be forced to step down after a three-fourths majority by their Clan and an agreement with the other Clan leaders. StarClan approves these changes, and the Clans formally adopt them, though not without dissenters from each Clan.
==Characters==
===Rootspring===
 
:Rootspring has the ability to see the spirits of dead cats, and was the first to see Bramblestar's spirit. Rootspring found himself in the Dark Forest when he was dragged by Willowshine, who was under Ashfur's control, into the Moonpool. They discovered the island of trapped spirits, and reunited with Squirrelflight. Rootspring and Squirrelflight hypothesized that Ashfur's control over the spirit cats weakens with distance. They were captured by Ashfur, but Rootspring managed to escape, nearly drowning in the dark water surrounding the island. Only his determination to be with Bristlefrost, the cat he loves, saved him. Rootspring worked with Bramblestar and Snowtuft to storm the island to save Squirrelflight and reunite Bramblestar with his body. However, as they tried to escape, Rootspring was captured.
:Bristlefrost and Shadowsight returned to the Dark Forest to rescue their friend, and he and Bristlefrost grew closer. As the Dark Forest threatened to poison his mind, Rootspring thought of Bristlefrost to help him. Rootspring was captured by Ashfur's cats, and he began to hear a voice in his head. The voice revealed itself to be Firestar, and he took possession of Rootspring's body to kill Darkstripe. Their combined efforts also convinced Silverhawk to join them. After reuniting with Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and reinforcements from the living world and StarClan, the group confronted Ashfur. Rootspring participated in the battle and fought alongside Bristlefrost, resolving to join ThunderClan to be with her after the battle. However, Bristlefrost sacrificed herself to save Shadowsight and kill Ashfur, and Rootspring heavily mourned her death. After her death, Rootspring pushed for changes to the warrior code to include a provision for cats who wish to have mates with others in different Clans, as he and Bristlefrost might have been together if they hadn't spent so much time worrying about their Clan loyalties.
===Bristlefrost===
 
:Bristlefrost was formerly one of the impostor's supporters, eventually becoming his deputy, and later a spy for the rebels. When Rootspring was dragged into the Moonpool, Bristlefrost worried over him and remained by the Moonpool. She convinced Mothwing to teach her how to dream into the Dark Forest over her desperate worry for Rootspring. She managed to briefly dream herself into the dark realm but was awoken by Shadowsight attacking Ashfur. Bristlefrost and Shadowsight returned to the Dark Forest to save Rootspring after Bramblestar and Squirrelflight safely emerged from the Moonpool. After reuniting with Rootspring, Stemleaf, Spiresight, and Willowshine, they reached the barrier to StarClan, and Bristlefrost was the first to realize that hope weakens the barrier. She and her companions split up, and Bristlefrost convinced the Dark Forest cats Sparrowfeather, Redwillow, and Maggottail to help her save the Dark Forest, reasoning that they deserve a place to call home.
:To her surprise, Bristlefrost managed to inspire enough hope within the Dark Forest cats to weaken the barrier enough for Needletail, a StarClan cat, to emerge. When Ashfur confronted them, Bristlefrost attempted to fight off Ashfur by herself but is delighted when Sparrowfeather, Redwillow, and Maggottail fight alongside her. Their attempt to distract Ashfur long enough for his control over the spirits wanes faltered when Redwillow drowned in the dark water, but they managed to free Berrynose, Stemleaf, and Willowshine. At the barrier with StarClan, they are joined with Rootspring, Shadowsight, living warriors, and members of StarClan and the Dark Forest ready to fight Ashfur and his army. As they searched for Ashfur, Bristlefrost came up with the idea of using a tree to create a bridge over the dangerous dark water. They confront Ashfur and his army of spirits in battle. Bristlefrost fought alongside Rootspring, and saved Shadowsight from a rogue spirit. Bristlefrost noticed Ashfur shoving Shadowsight's unconscious body towards the dark water to kill him, and sacrificed herself by throwing both herself and Ashfur into the dark water. Because of her sacrifice, both StarClan and the Dark Forest were saved from disappearing, but Bristlefrost's spirit was gone forever. Her allies commended her bravery, including the Dark Forest cat Silverhawk. Rootspring used his love for Bristlefrost to advocate for changes to be made to the warrior code in her honor. It is heavily implied that her close friend Spotfur named her daughter Bristlekit after Bristlefrost and her sacrifice.
===Shadowsight===
 
:After StarClan had gone silent, Ashfur manipulated Shadowsight into killing Bramblestar so he could inhabit his body. Ashfur attempted to kill Shadowsight, but when that didn't work, Ashfur instead manipulated Shadowsight when the medicine cat was punished to take care of him in ShadowClan's camp. Ashfur tricked Shadowsight into letting him escape, and Shadowsight's life was threatened by Lionblaze. Resolved to make up for his mistakes, Shadowsight used his connection with Ashfur to enter the Dark Forest in his dreams. He struggled with the darkness luring him in the Dark Forest, and distracted Ashfur long enough for Bramblestar and Squirrelflight to escape, though he was wounded in the process. Still, Shadowsight longed to return.
:He and Bristlefrost returned to the Dark Forest to save Rootspring. After the trio comes up with a plan to recruit more help, Shadowsight returned to the living world to convince the Clan leaders to send assistance. Shadowsight took his sister Lightleap's place as ShadowClan's representative when she began too nervous. Back in the Dark Forest, Shadowsight used his connection with Ashfur to decipher his location. During the battle, Shadowsight hid in a tree. He fell out of the tree, and Ashfur entered his mind once more, attempting to manipulate him into aiding him by killing Bristlefrost. Shadowsight insisted he knew where he belonged and refused Ashfur's offer, but remained unconscious. Ashfur nearly dragged Shadowsight's limp body into the dark water to kill him, but Bristlefrost stopped hm by throwing both herself and Ashfur into the dark water, drowning them both. Shadowsight blamed himself for Bristlefrost's death, but Juniperclaw helped him reconcile with himself. Leafpool revealed to Shadowsight that he always had a connection with Ashfur and he could never communicate with StarClan. Despite that, Shadowsight found his peace among the other medicine cats and began to heal.
===Ashfur===
 
:Ashfur spent his years in StarClan plotting his revenge against Squirrelflight and Bramblestar. He never forgave Bramblestar for taking Squirrelflight from him nor Hollyleaf for killing him. He began to draw in power from StarClan, and when Mistystar died, Ashfur realized he could slip into a leader's body to return to the living world. He devised a plan to seal StarClan off from the living world by blocking off his tunnel between StarClan and the Dark Forest with a thick bramble barrier that strengthened with negative emotion. In Bramblestar's body, Ashfur used Bramblestar's position as a respected leader and as Squirrelflight's mate to grow closer to her and manipulate the Clans by turning them against each other. He also manipulated and berated Shadowsight, and used Bristlefrost as his confidant. Ashfur continued to impose extreme punishments against those he deemed codebreakers, including exile and physical punishment. He wasn't afraid to get his own paws dirty as well, including nearly killing Shadowsight, and killing Stemleaf, Dappletuft, and Conefoot. After pitting RiverClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan against ShadowClan and SkyClan in battle, Ashfur's ruse was discovered by the rebel group. He purposefully taunted cats to violently attack Bramblestar's body when Bramblestar's corpse was a mere shell for himself. After manipulating Shadowsight into freeing him from ShadowClan's prison, Ashfur tracked down Squirrelflight, and after failing to convince her that he loved her, Ashfur attacked the cat he claimed to care about. With Squirrelflight nearly unconscious, and still in possession of Bramblestar's body, Ashfur escaped into the Dark Forest with Squirrelflight, intent on destroying the Clans, the Dark Forest, and StarClan for her.
:Ashfur's actions resulted in the Dark Forest and StarClan slowly disappearing under thick fog and dark water. He convinced some of the Dark Forest cats to join him with promises of living a new life in the Dark Forest. Meanwhile, Ashfur learned to possess spirits and had them imprisoned on an island in the Dark Forest. His plans foiled slightly when Rootspring and Shadowsight rescued Bramblestar and Squirrelflight from the Dark Forest. Ashfur's obsession over Squirrelflight turned into rage, and he blamed her for driving him to destroy everything she loved. While Rootspring, Bristlefrost, and Shadowsight split up to gather allies, Ashfur gathered his army elsewhere, displeased that the dark water and fog rose to cover their former base on the island. He kept his plans to destroy the Dark Forest hidden from his Dark Forest allies, and conspired with Darktail to harvest recently deceased rogue spirits into his army. When he was confronted by a group of living and dead cats from StarClan and the Dark Forest intent on destroying him, Ashfur demonstrated no remorse for his actions and mocked StarClan for not being omnipotent as they claimed. In the battle, Ashfur sent his army of ghost cats to fight the enemy, and he remained hidden behind Mapleshade and Thistleclaw. When Graystripe relayed Squirrelflight's message to Ashfur, the dark warrior violently lashed out at the elder. Ashfur confronted Shadowsight in his mind and ridiculed him for failing his friends. He attempted to convince Shadowsight to help him kill Bristlefrost, but the ShadowClan medicine cat refused. Ashfur attempted to kill Shadowsight by rolling his unconscious body into the dark water, but Bristlefrost shoved both herself and Ashfur in the dark water instead, killing both of them. Following Ashfur's defeat, StarClan's connection to the living world was restored, and both StarClan and the Dark Forest were saved from Ashfur's destructive influence. Ashfur's manipulation of the warrior code led to changes to the warrior code being discussed.
===Graystripe===
 
:With Bramblestar and Squirrelflight gone, Graystripe was chosen to lead ThunderClan, having just returned from deciding that his place is indeed with ThunderClan. With Bramblestar and Squirrelflight's safe return, Graystripe returned leadership of ThunderClan to them. When Shadowsight returned to the living world to ask for reinforcements to defeat Ashfur, Graystripe insisted that Squirrelflight and Bramblestar should remain as Ashfur didn't deserve facing off against them. Instead, Graystripe volunteered himself as ThunderClan's representative. He happily reunited with Firestar, Silverstream, and Feathertail, and fought alongside Firestar as they used to. During the battle, Graystripe relayed a message to Ashfur from Squirrelflight that she never loved him and would always love Bramblestar. Ashfur attacked Graystripe in rage, fatally wounding him. He reunited with Millie and his other kin in StarClan, and his wounds began to weaken him. Graystripe resolved to say goodbye to his Clanmates first. Shadowsight shoved Graystripe's spirit back through the Moonpool to reunite with his body, and the Clans mourned him as he died. It is heavily implied that Spotfur named her son Graykit after Graystripe, who is also the kit's great-grandfather, and his sacrifice.
===Firestar===
 
:Firestar, along with the rest of StarClan, allowed Ashfur to return to the living world to ensure the Clans were adhering to the warrior code. When Ashfur's influence caused thick branches to block StarClan's view of the Clans, Firestar began to doubt their decision to send Ashfur. StarClan began to weaken, and Firestar found a way to send his spirit to Rootspring's mind. He aided Rootspring in taunting Ashfur and Darkstripe, and asked permission to possess Rootspring's body. Within Rootspring's body, Firestar killed Darkstripe, and remained in Rootspring's mind until Firestar joined the others in entering the Dark Forest to defeat Ashfur. Firestar led them in battle against Ashfur, and after his defeat, he allowed his living allies to glimpse into StarClan. He agreed with changes to be made to the warrior code and granted the Clan leaders three moons to decide on official changes.
==Quotes==
==Notes and references==
fi:Taistelu Saarniturkkia vastaanpl:Bitwa przeciwko Jesionowemu Futruru:Битва против Уголькаfr:Bataille contre Pelage de Granit
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:A Light in the Mist (book)
Category:Battles
Category:Events