Chapter 4: An Omen in the Breeze
Taka Pass was, predictably, cursed. Amaterasu made her way to a long cavern to get to a higher elevation where the Guardian Sapling was. Luckily, the bridge wasn't destroyed, so she just crossed to get to the withered tree. Beautiful cherry blossoms appeared on the tree and Amaterasu saw its power fighting off the curse. She breathed in the clean air but another wind began to blow. It was a cold wind that made her tremble as if something was behind her. She looks behind her but nothing was there.
A: A wind like that always means that there are monsters near by but...There's nothing.
She felt the ground shake and, AGAIN, Tutsoku appears.
"What is it NOW?!?! Can't you see we're busy?"
Tutsoku's eyes had anger in them and replied, "Don't raise your voice to me. I only came back to thank Amaterasu."
"You already did! It was at the ruins. Stop being such a kiss-up!"
"That apology wasn't worthy of Amaterasu. So, Amaterasu, you're a god, are you not? My father told me about you. Well, I want to give you a gift. Now, hold still..."
Amaterasu could feel his power. It was as if his power had turned to an unconcious hand that was scrolling through books that were her brush techniques.
"Amaterasu...I will increase the power of your cherry bomb. Just draw one cherry bomb and you'll see what it will do. I hope I'll see you again, Amaterasu."
"So, Ammy...Lets see what he did with your cherry bomb. I hope this isn't a trick! And I definitely hope that he was just saying that and not give you anything at all!"
A: You can be too suspicious, Issun.
Amaterasu drew a cherry bomb and there was definitely something different about it. It was as white as Amaterasu herself and when it exploded, the blast radius was tremendous. This power somehow looked familiar...Shiranui! Shiranui was the one who had this great cherry bomb brush technique. (In the game, you might see Shiranui draw a cherry bomb when you're fighting the two owls).
"Wow! That was really something! Guess we can really trust those dragons when they want to give us something."
A: You mean YOU can trust those dragons.
That wind began to blow again. Amaterasu looked around but, again, there was nothing. She began to think if Kusa Village was okay. She walked toward the direction of Kusa Village. It was strange, though, because that cold wind kept blowing. She just ignored it but then she heard footsteps right behind her...She quickly turns around and was greeted with those despicable eyes of the serpents. Except, this time, it wasn't the serpents but a strange, black lizard that looked like it lost its hind legs. Green liquid was dripping from its sharp teeth and it sizzled when it hit the ground.
"I think thats venom, Ammy. What ever you do, don't get bit!"
The lizard was growling and it began to circle Amaterasu. She watched carefully, not taking her eyes off this new hateful creature. She charged forth and struck the lizard. It rolled but it quickly got back to its feet and it did clumsy attempts to bite Amaterasu. Seeing this, Amaterasu ran away and it's not because she was afraid. The lizard just wasn't worth fighting and she didn't want to waste her time fighting such a pathetic creature. She was actually hoping that it would be a bit more challenging than the serpents. She let out a sigh and continued toward Kusa Village.
Amaterasu was hoping for a nice breeze in Kusa Village but not a whole lot of it! It was too windy and it looked like the wind will tear the roofs of the houses. She felt it. It was the coldness she felt before. This is where the cold winds were blowing from. Amaterasu looked up toward the big windmill. It was turning but there was a strange dark cloud around it.
"This looks bad. Maybe Princess Fuse knows what's going on here."
She ran to where Princess Fuse's house was but running was really tough to do since the wind seemed to try to push her in another direction. Every now and then Issun will be blown off Amaterasu's head and she had to go and get him. Finally, and with relief, the two of them made it to the Satomi House. They entered and were greeted with many happy barks of the Canine Warriors.
"Amaterasu! Thank goodness that you have finally come! I'm relieved to see that you're doing well."
"Hey, sweetness! Are the Canine Warriors still in line?"
"Yes, they are but the Gale Shrine isn't doing too well."
"You're talking about that weird black cloud, aren't you? Well, it's not going to be too hard for Ammy since she could do practically anything!"
"I was praying for Amaterasu to come and save us from this evil that has taken over the Gale Shrine."
"Before anything happens, is there a dragon in the shrine?"
"Why, yes, there is but how did you know?"
"It's a long story. I'm pretty sure what dragon is occupying the shrine."
"This new evil is too much for the Canine Warriors and if it is not stopped, Kusa Village will become a horrid cursed zone. That's why the windmill is still turning because the dragon wants the evil and darkness in the wind to blow throughout the land."
"And if it keeps blowing, the evil in the air will get stronger and eventually turn into a cursed zone. This dragon's a mastermind!"
"The dragon raised up a barrier and won't let anyone inside the shrine. We need to find a way to break through the barrier."
"Why don't we use the Satomi Power Orbs? I remember when they broke through the barrier when Crimson Helm was in the shrine."
"I have already tried but this evil power is not like I have ever seen before! Please, Amaterasu, save us with your divine light. Rid us of this darkness that threatens to curse the land!"
"Don't worry! We'll find some way or another to break through the barrier and get rid of that dragon."
Amaterasu turned and ran outside. She ran across some small bridges and up a long path that led to the entrance of the Gale Shrine. Amaterasu and Issun looked at the barrier and, suddenly, the Solar Blade wielded itself and cut through the barrier. It had cleansed the barrier of darkness. It was obvious that the sword can be used for more than purifying dragons. The air inside the shrine was full of the powerful evil. Amaterasu walked through the cavernous shrine. She came across some pillars that collapsed but looked like a ladder to get to the inner shrine. The darkness got thicker and thicker the deeper she went through the shrine.
At last, they came to a big room. There were eight pillars and a great altar which looked empty now without the Serpent Crystal. Amaterasu looked around, but the room was empty...Or so she thought. She felt a strong wind blow and right before her very eyes, a tornado appeared. The tornado stopped and there stood a sky blue dragon. This dragon had no fore legs but stood upright. And, like the other dragons, it also had spines that streamlined its body. Its tail was rather short and had great, powerful wings. It seemed as if the dragon was all wing. The eyes were also sky blue but had a shade of dark grey in them and that also goes for the rest of its body.
"You are not an ordinary wolf if you were able to break through my barrier. You must have a death wish if you want to fight me!"
"Like your wind was going to slow us down! You will have to do better than that if you want to stop us."
"No matter for I, Akira, the dragon of the winds, will not be bested so easily. You will regret coming here and facing me!"
Akira began to flap her powerful wings and a great gust began to blow at Amaterasu. Akira then began to charge unbelievably fast with her jaws open, ready to seize the white wolf in its clutches. Amaterasu quickly used Veil of Mist to slow down the fast dragon. She saw that there was annoyance and frustration in Akira's eyes as if she hated to be slowed down. Apparently her only legs are very strong and long which allowed her to run so fast. Akira then crashed into a pillar, destroying it with ease.
She then took to the air and began to flap her wings once again. She made a small tornado but Amaterasu redirected it with Galestorm, sending the tornado back at Akira. Akira blocked it with her great wings but Amaterasu saw that it had weakened her a bit. This gave her an idea. Whirlwind is not a tornado but it will do for now. Amaterasu used her Whirlwind power which instaneously struck Akira's wings which she used to shield herself. Akira then crashed onto the floor but immediately stood up. She is too weak to fly now but even though she no longer has the sky, she still had her speed. She attempted once again to attack Amaterasu with her invincible speed. But then she felt like she was slowing down again.
"How is this possible?" she thought. "I only slow down whenever this mist appears. Unless, this is one of that wolf's tricks!"
Akira saw herself move incredibly slow compared to the quick and agile Amaterasu. Akira couldn't understand how she was moving slow but not the wolf. Amaterasu began to attack Akira as time was still slowing down. But when time was back on its normal speed, Akira then kicked at Amaterasu with her strong legs. Amaterasu fell back a couple feet away and looked at the wound the dragon's claws left her. It wasn't deep but it was bleeding. Amaterasu let out a snarl and gave a look that had a 'you'll regret that' look on it. She began to move with graceful agility and began to unleash combos on the dragon. If Akira tried to defend herself with her wings, Amaterasu might be able to break them in the state that she's in. Akira helplessly took the beating.
Amaterasu then stopped and looked at the wounded dragon. They both looked into each other's eyes and it seemed as if the evil in the dragon's eyes had begun to fade away. Amaterasu took up the Solar Blade and layed one, final blow to the wind dragon. Like Tutsoku, a black spirit split away from Akira, who was now a magnificent sky blue, and let out a defeated roar and dissappeared into air. The wind dragon layed on the floor as if it had been knocked unconcious but she woke up in no time.
"Who are you, white wolf? How were you able to save me from that black spirit?"
"This is the great god, Amaterasu! And we saved you thanks to the Solar Blade."
"Solar Blade? Hm...I sense my father's light inside this sword but also a more powerful one."
"That's Ammy's power right there. I think you should leave now because I think the people of this village might want to kill you."
"Thank you, the both of you."
"Hakuzo and your brother are in Shinshu Field, I should think. You know where that is, do you?"
"Indeed, I do. But before I leave I want to repay Amaterasu. Amaterasu, use this new wind in your grave quest. I know it will truly help you."
With that Akira dissappeared in a tornado of wind and was gone. Amaterasu used Galestorm and saw that it was more powerful than before. Amaterasu then headed out of the Gale Shrine and she walked down a path to the Satomi House. She entered it and was greeted with barks from the Canine Warriors and a face of happiness and relief from Princess Fuse.
"Amaterasu! You're hurt! Here let me help you. I'll bandage it and it won't take long, okay?"
"Don't worry about ol' Ammy here. This is probably nothing to her! She will be right back on her feet before you know it!"
"Still...It will be my way of thanking you two. The dark cloud over the Gale Shrine has dissappeared and there's no more evil in the air! It's the least I could do."
Princess Fuse bandaged Amaterasu and the Canine Warriors and the princess said goodbye to her. Amaterasu ran out of the village to Taka Pass leaving behind a trail of flowers. She had a feeling that a water dragon will be in Ryoshima Coast, and what worried her the most is if the Dragon Palace had suffered from the dragon.
A: I must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.