The next day, Reddust was true to his word, and met Flameheart at her room for training.

"We're going to be doing something slightly different, today. I'm going to teach you about the history of the Guarders." Reddust told his lovemate.

Flameheart groaned in response. "Really? History? Can't I do something fun, like learning to summon a lightning bolt or something like that?"

Reddust grinned. "Maybe next time. You really do need to learn the history of the Guarders."

Flameheart just sighed and resigned herself to her fate.

...................

When the two Apprentices arrived at the clearing, Flameheart noticed immeadiately that something had changed. "Hey, since when was there seats made out of grass?"

Reddust blushed slightly. "Since I asked Dustleaf to make it for me. I thought it might be more comfortable than just the ground."

Flameheart plopped down on the grassy bench and stretched her legs out. "Well, Dustleaf did a good job. Too good, in fact. I might just fall asleep on here, 'specially since we're doing history." She pronounced the word like it was a piece of Night Rider dirt.

"You know, Guarder history is actually quite interesting. Give it a chance." Reddust chided her gently.

Flameheart just rolled her eyes in reply. "I suffered enough history in the mortal world. I was looking forwards escaping it."

"Yes, but mortal history is b-o-r-i-n-g. Guarder history is not." Reddust pointed out.

"We'll see." Flameheart muttered.

"So. To make this more interesting for you, is there a certain piece about the Element Guarders and Unicorn Herd that you would like to know more about?" Reddust asked.

Flameheart frowned. "Well, I really want to know how the Successors for the Guardian and the Keepers are selected."

Reddust nodded in approval. "Good idea. The Successor Ceremony is actuall going to happen quite soon, so it would be good for you to understand what will be happening.

"The Successor Ceremony is very sacred, as it has to happen when the Royal Stars are in the correct place. The Stars only move into the position every 10 years, and with the war, the possibility of one of the Keepers being killed without having a Successor is strong." He paused.

"Even the Guardian, who can only be killed by the Dark Leader, must have a Successor. The only problem is, there had been no Guarder and Companion suitable enough to become the Successor of the Guardian of Elements. The Successor must be very powerful, and often shows signs of having more than one Elemental Gift. Each Guarder has one Elemental Gift, which determins what Element Companion Chooses them and which Element they control. For us, that would be the Fire Gift, whereas with Snowrush and Oceanfrost, they have the Water Gift."

"Do sibling always have the same Elemental Gift?" Flameheart interrupted.

Reddust shook his head. "No. Often they are, but not always."

Flameheart nodded at him to continue.

"For the Successors for the Element Keepers, it is often the most powerful Guarder of that Element. Until you came, that was me, and everyone was nearly certain that I would become the Successor to Flintstar, but now, they're not so sure. You are extremely powerful, Flameheart, but you just don't know it. Whether it is me, you or someone else entirely that will be chosen, no one knows but the Spiritstone and the Royal Stars"

"At the Ceremony itself, every Guarder and Companion gather at Moonlight Meadow. That is not the same clearing that the Spiritstone rests, but it is just as powerful. As the Four Royal Stars rise, they pass over the Keepers and the Guardian. The starlight shines on each Keeper, one at a time, and the Successor is surrounded with their element. It starts with the Keeper of Water, then the Keeper of Earth. Third is the Keeper of Air, and last is the Keeper of Fire. Once Successors of the Keepers are shown, the Royal Stars move directly over the Guardian of Elements. If her Successor is among the gathered Guarders, he or she will be surrounded by white mist. That is the essence of all four Elements combined."

"What about the Companions of the Successors?" Flameheart asked.

"They will be beside their Guarder the entire time, and will also be covered in their Element." Reddust answered, and went back to his story.

"This Successor Ceremony will be the second since Flintstar and the other Keepers have risen to that rank. As for Lightningstar, This will be her third."

"How old is Lightningstar, anyway?"

"No one knows exactly. She's been the Guardian for a long time, and she's had a tragic past. The Dark Leader, Nightstar, was her lovemate. She had a child with him, but she went missing 15 years ago. No one knows where she is, or even if she's still alive. Nightstar joined the Night Riders when Lightningstar was 5 months pregnant, and now has a son called Darkmoon. If Nightstar is killed, and so is Lightningstar, then Darkmoon will lead the Night Riders and continue his father's work."

"But what if Lightningstar has a Successor?"

"There has been no Guarder suitable to become the Guardian's Successor for over

30 years. Lightningstar is getting frailer every year, and this is most likely the last Successor Ceremony she will live through. If there is no Guarder selected, we are in big trouble." Reddust's face was grim.

Flameheart tensed. "Do you think that anyone will be chosen?"

Reddust hesitated, uncertainy flickered through his eyes. "No. I don't."

Something told Flameheart that Reddust was lying. She narrowed her eyes, attempting to use her Mind Talent, but Reddust was too well shielded.

"Okay then. What now?" she changed the subject.

"You want to go for a ride?" Reddust asked.

Flameheart shrugged. "Sure, why not."

Reddust suddenly tensed, his face becoming concentrated. Flameheart guess that he was speaking to Ashtail, his Companion. She watched her lovemate curiously, as his expression changed from confusion, to shock, and then delight.

After several moments, he broke out of the trance and glanced at Flameheart.

"You will not believe this!" He cried out.

"What? What happened? Is someone hurt or something?" Flameheart urged.

Reddust shook his head. "Nope. Ashtail's carrying foals!"

Flameheart's mouth dropped open. "You're kidding me. When will they be due? How many are there?" Reddust held up his hands as she fired the questions at him.

"Slow down! There's three, Unicorn Companions are a bit different to horses when it comes to foals. They can have up to three at a time, and they give birth at 6 months, instead of nine. Ash's three months pregnant, so they will be born in three months time" he paused

"It's weird, they'll be born around the same time as the Successor Ceremony"

"How long has she known, who's the father?" His eyes went distant as her talked to his companion.

"She's known for a month now, but for some reason she decided not to tell me." Reddust rolled his eyes.

"And the father... please don't freak out, but the father is Fireflame."

"WHAT?!?!? When the stars did this happen?!?" Flameheart shrieked. She had no idea when Flame could have had the time to see Ashtail during all the training they had been doing.

Reddust shrugged. "I guess soon after you arrived. You've been here for three and a half months now, so you were already a Guarder Apprentice then."

Flameheart gazed blankly at the grass. "Wow." She said. "Ashtail having Foals. That was certainly unexpected."

Reddust made a noise in agreement, but nothing more. After a while, Flameheart stood up and stretched, wincing as her stiff body woke up.

"Well I'm off to tell the others. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

"Bye!" Reddust called out after her as she shot off across the clearing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kennaspark! Guess what!" Flameheart burst into her friends room and barrelled right into Sungaze, knocking both him and herself into Kennaspark's bed.

"What in Regulus are you doing Flameheart?" Sungaze sputtered and pushed the other Fire Apprentice off him.

"Sorry! I wasn't looking!" She squeaked.

"Obviously." Sungaze muttered, climbing to his feet.

"Whatever. Can't an excited Fire Guarder have a break around here?" Flameheart was practically bouncing off the walls.

"That is a weird mortal saying, and you are way past the excited point. More like a hyperactive Fire Guarder." Kennaspark spoke up. "What's gotten your stars in a twist?"

"First of all, that is the weirdest saying I have ever heard, so don't judge mine. Secondly, I have the most amazing news!" Flameheart perked up even more.

"Well don't leave us hanging. What is this amazing news that caused you to shove me over?" Sungaze said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Flameheart frowned at him. Snowrush's attitude seemed to had rubbed off on his friends.

"AshtailishavingFoalsandthoseFoalsjusthappentobeFireflame'sandtheywillbeborninthreemonthstime." She rushed out in one breath.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Sungaze rolled his eyes. Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

"Ashtail is having Foals and those Foals happen to be Fireflame's and they will be born in three months time." Flameheart repeated, her mood not dampened in the slightest by Sungaze's mood.

Both Apprentices had they're jaws on the ground. "You're kidding, right?"

"Why would I joke about this?" Flameheart demanded.

No response.

"Uh, hello? You guys still with us?"

Sungaze and Kennaspark shook themselves out of their shock and blinked a few times.

"That was.... unexpected." Kennaspark said.

"I know, but it's so cool!" Flameheart squealed.

"You're very excited about this." Sungaze observed. Flameheart gave him a dirty look.

"Well of course I am! The Foals are Fireflame's, why wouldn't I be?!? Anyways, I'm going back to my room. See you later!" With that, Flameheart bounced out of Kennaspark's room and over to her own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whistling a happy tune, Flameheart skipped down the hall to her part of the wall and quickly entered her room.

"Hi Willowheart!" She said perkily, noticing her friend sitting on her bed, but not paying any actual attention to her.

"Hi Flameheart. I really need to talk to you for a second." The Earth Apprentice replied. Her voice was soft and worried, and her eyes were dark.

"Shoot. What is it?" Flameheart said, ruffling through her closet.

"Uh, it's about Reddust..." Willowheart started unsurely.

"Yeah? What about him? Oh yeah, did you hear? Ashtail is having Fireflame's Foals! Isn't it cool?" Flameheart chattered.

Willowheart's face changed from surprised, to confused, and then to apprenhension.

"What? Are you sure about that?" she said sharply.

"Of course I'm sure. Reddust told me himself."

"Listen, Flameheart. You can't trust Reddust. Please, listen to me! He's not who you think he is!" Willowheart cried out.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Flameheart stopped what she was doing and turned to face her friend.

Willowheart sighed in frustration. "He's a traitor, Flameheart! He's one of them. Reddust is a Night Rider."

Flameheart shoook her head. "No. That not possible. His whole family was killed by Riders. There's no way he would be one."

"He is! Flameheart, you know I have the Foresight Talent - I get visions about important events, and I saw one of Reddust betraying you! Please, you have to believe me. Don't trust him."

"But..." Flameheart trailed off. Then she shook her head in denial. "Willowheart, I'm sorry, but your vision must've been wrong. There is no way that Reddust could be a Night Rider."

"Fine. Don't believe me. But Flameheart, just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get killed." Willowheart gave up.

Flameheart placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Aren't I always careful? I'll be fine."

Willowheart sighed again, but she could tell that nothing she said would change Flameheart's mind.

"I'll see you later, then." She said in a hollow voice and walked quickly out of the room before she could hear Flameheart's reply.

But as she left the room, neither girl noticed the near-invisible shadow that followed her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The shadow slipped out of Regulus Hall and hurried to a small, secluded spot on Camp. No one ever went there and the shadow was certain that he wouldn't be caught.

Inside the shaded clearing waited a dark figure wearing a flowing black cloak. "Well?" it said. "What did you hear?"

The shadow dipped his head. "My lord, the Earth Apprentice is becoming a large threat. Her Talents are strong and she knows many things about us."

"She must be disposed of." The figure said. "I am entrusting you with this job. Make sure that Willowheart is dead before the Successor Ceremony. We cannot afford for her to be selected as the Keeper of Earth's Successor."

The shadow hesitated. "My lord, she might not be chosen. We could capture her and use her to our advantage-"

"No." The figure ordered. "She must be killed. Do not fail me, or you know the consequences.

The shadow shivered. He didn't want to even think about that.

"As you wish, my lord." He bowed his head.

"Then go. You have two weeks to complete this task."

Unable to disobey the figure's orders, the shadow turned and slipped quietly out of the clearing.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Flameheart was bored. She had nothing to do. Her friends were all busy and Reddust was nowhere to be seen.

She sighed. "I wonder what would've happened if I hadn't taken Cayley's advice to run away and-"

Flameheart sat bolt upright. "Cayley!" She cried. "I haven't thought about her for months! She'll be freaking out about me! Oh stars, how could I have forgotten about my best friend?!?"

:|Flameheart? What's wrong?|:

:|Flame, is there anyway that I would be able to contact my friend in the mortal world?|:

:|Send her a dream message. When you're about to sleep, think about meeting her and you should talk to her in her dreams.|:

:|Okay, got it. See ya later Flame.|:

Flameheart disconnected her link with her Companion and curled up on her bed. She followed Fireflame's intructions as best as she could and soon found herself in Secret Cove.

"What in Regulus? How the stars did I get here?" she muttered under her breath.

"KELLY?" a shriek told Flameheart that she wasn't alone in the cavern.

She turned around and came face to face with the best friend that she hadn't contacted in months.

"Cayley?" she answered.

"Yeah. That's me." Cayley replied, her hands on her hips.

Here it comes. Flameheart thought. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN KELLY PATTERSON!?! I TEXT AND CALL YOU AND EVEN COME HERE TO FIND YOU, BUT INSTEAD I FIND THE PLACE FILLED WITH YOUR THINGS BUT YOU ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS, KELLY. 5 GODDAMNED MONTHS. YOU BETTER HAVE A DAMNED GOOD EXPLANANTION FOR THIS OR I WILL SERIOUSLY LOCK YOU UP SO YOU CAN'T DO THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!" At the end of her tirade, Cayley stands silent, breathing heavily, and waiting for an answer.

"Okay, look. I know I really should have contacted you before, but I really haven't had the chance. Something crazy happened that first night I was here, and eveything just went upwards from there." Flameheart said, treading carefully around her friend's temper.

"And what was that crazy thing that happened?" Cayley crossed her arms over her chest.

Flameheart hesitated. She had no idea whether or not mortals were allowed to know about Guarders, but she figured that she at least owed Cayley the truth about what had happened to her.

She took a deep breath. "Okay. I know this is going to sound crazy, and that you're probably not going to believe me, but promise me that you won't treat me any differently, please." The last part was practically a plea.

"That depends on what it is. But you will always be my best friend, Kelly, no matter what has happened." Cayley responded.

"Well, first of all, my name isn't Kelly any more. It's Flameheart. When I came here, a Unicorn Companion, Fireflame, appeared to me. He asked me to be his Guarder. I didn't believe him at first. But, I thought, why else would a talking horse appear to you? So basically, he took me to Camp, where I met Lightningstar, the Guardian of Elements, and her Keepers. They took me to the Spiritstone, and I received my Guarder powers. I'm a Fire Apprentice now. The first day at Camp, my new friends and I were attacked by Night Riders, the Guarders enemies. We managed to defeat them, and I discovered that I have the Battle Talent - I can pick up anything and atuomatically know how to use it in a fight. I also have the Speed Talent, and you can probably guess what that is. Everything I told you about the Guarders is only 3% of what they actually are. Seriously, I knew practically nothing when I was Chosen, and I still know barely anythting in comparison to my friends." Flameheart finished her shortened story, and waited cautiously for Cayley's reaction.

After a moment, the other girl sighed. "You're right. I don't believe you. That's outrageous, Kelly, even for you."

"What can I do to prove that I'm telling the truth?" Flameheart asked quietly.

Cayleye hesitated for a heartbeat. "I don't know." She said at last. "I just don't know. You go missing for months, then you turn up and give me this crazy story about being Chosen by a Unicorn Companion, in a dream, no less. So I can't even tell if this is real or not."

"Will this convince you?" Flameheart asked, and summoned a small Glow-light. Basically a tiny flame, but it shed as much light as you wanted it to.

Cayley's eyes widened. "How...?" she shook her head. "I must be dreaming, this can't be real." Flameheart clasped her friends hands in hers.

"It is real, I wish you could be here and see all the cool people I've meet and the things I can do now." She smiled at her friend.

"Then come and see me in person. I haven't seen you in 5 months, the least you could do is come and see me." Cayley crossed her arms and had a stubborn look on her face, a look that Flameheart knew all to well.

"It's not that easy-" she began but Cayley interrupted.

"You got there, so you can get back. Come to the park in three days. Please?"

Flameheart went to say something but Cayley was already walking away. "I'll see you when I see you, if I see you." She called behind her, before vanishing into the mist.

A/N

Hey guys! Long chapter thhis time, hoped you liked it! This last part was written by my actual bff, Cayley. Anywho. I just got back from Bahrain, where I was sailing for my country! I did pretty well, i think I came 94 out of 140 odd sailors, so thats pretty good. Jetlag sucks though, I'm still waking up at 2 am.

And now I've run out of things to say, so

BUBYE NUMNAHS

Tess