Chapter 10: Fall of the Dragons

"Look at the great god now! How pathetic!" said Ayako.

He circled her again. It made Amaterasu feel nervous when he was gone from her sight. She couldn't move because of the pain. From the corner of her eye, she could see the dark wolf spirit with the orb of her power in its jaws. It was not only the pain that hurt her but also her failure. The one thing she wasn't supposed to do and she did it. She knew she was going to die. Either from the loss of blood or from Ayako. Amaterasu could feel Issun tug at her fur, trying to make her get up. This hurt her even more. Her best friend was about to see her die. Amaterasu had the need to cry but she couldn't.

A: I'm sorry, Issun. I failed you, Ariya, and all the people in the world. Chaos has overcomed light.

Ayako had stopped circling her.

"It looks like my promise to you has been fulfilled. I thought you were going to be more formidable after that encounter in Taka Pass. Looks like I was wrong. Now, how should I kill you? I could let you suffer by leaving you like this or I could just kill you right away."

He stood there, thinking.

"I'll just kill you right now. Finally, chaos will rule."

He walked toward her and lifted up his claws. That same multicolored fire surrounded his claws. His claws were held up high. Amaterasu closed her eyes, waiting for him to end her life. But then she heard a roar from Ayako. She opened her eyes and saw a sword in Ayako's left side. Suddenly Ariya appeared and tackled Ayako. Amaterasu felt a hand on her head. She looked up and saw Waka. The sword was his. Amaterasu felt relief. She was relieved that her friends have come to save her. She could hear Ariya fighting with Ayako. Waka stood next to Amaterasu, still petting her head.

"What has happened to you, Amaterasu?"

"What does it look like!?" shouted Issun.

"This is no time for your attitude, my little bouncing friend."

Issun was surprised by this remark.

"Well, Ariya will be able to form a barrier around you, so I'll have to fight Ayako."

Waka went over to Ayako and pulled his sword out. His sword was covered in blood. Ariya quickly moved to Amaterasu and layed next to her.

A: Sorry...

"You shouldn't be sorry. All this happened because of me."

Amaterasu's ears picked up.

"I had the chance to finally end Ayako's life in our world. But I hesitated because I have never killed a fellow element dragon."

A: And he destroyed your world at that opportunity.

"Yes."

Amaterasu could see that Ariya was looking at the dark wolf.

"That wolf is actually the spirit that was supposed to take the power of Yomiumi. She lied when she told you that she eliminated the spirit. Only I can see the spirits from the other world."

Amaterasu's vision went a bit more blurry. She was barely hanging on to life.

"Amaterasu...There is only one course of action left for me to take. It will help you greatly."

Ariya got up and let out a soft roar. In a flash, the other dragons appeared. There was some worry in their eyes because of Amaterasu. Ariya looked at Amaterasu.

"Amaterasu, please don't forget the sacrifice that we dragons are about to make."

A: Wait! What are you going to do!?

Amaterasu saw Nagura disappear, leaving behind a yellow orb. Then Naoko disappeared. One by one, the dragons disappeared. Finally, only Ariya was left. Her eyes looked into Amaterasu's, and she, too, disappeared. All the orbs that the dragons left behind combined, forming a beautiful white orb of power. It entered Amaterasu's body. Suddenly, a blinding light surrounded Amaterasu. Issun closed his eyes. Waka and Ayako stopped fighting and looked at the light. Shortly, they closed their eyes as well. The wolf spirit that held Amaterasu's power exploded to small black particles, and left nothing behind. Ayako could feel the light burn his scales. Then the light dimmed a bit. Ayako opened his eyes and no longer saw a wolf.

Instead, there was a beautiful woman with silver hair that had black tips. She wore a white kimono with red flames all around it. There was a red obi around her waist and she held the Solar Blade in her right hand. Her amber eyes had nothing but fury in them. Issun and Waka were surprised that the white wolf had turned into a woman.

"You were a girl all this time? The god is actually a goddess." insulted Ayako.

Amaterasu walked to Ayako, so they could fight face to face. The multicolored flames appeared around Ayako's claws. He leaped into the air and attempted to slash Amaterasu. Amaterasu held up the Solar Blade, which clashed against the claws. But the blade extinguished the flames around Ayako's claws. The glaive's light struck Ayako's claws with great power. Ayako leaped back, blood dripping heavily from his claws. Amaterasu rushed toward Ayako and swung her sword valiantly. Each time the Solar Blade hit Ayako's flesh, it weakened his power that he obtained from the dark spirits. Thirty minutes passed until Ayako was gasping for life. Gashes were all over his body and his vision was a bit blurry.

"It appears to be the end for me..." said Ayako. "But remember, Amaterasu. Chaos will always exist, whether you like it or not."

Amaterasu's face gave a look as if she knew already. She held up her sword and swung it down. Then there was all this dark power around Ayako. Then the dark power and Ayako disappeared. It was quiet for some time.

"Ammy...You did it!!!" exclaimed Issun.

"Amaterasu, you have rid Nippon of chaos." said Waka.

"It looks like I can't call you 'furball' anymore!" laughed Issun.

Amaterasu smiled. At that moment, the Solar Blade shattered. A white cloud formed from the pieces and drifted peacefully to the Guardian Sapling on the darkened plain. The sapling suddenly bursted into petals and the black land under Amaterasu's feet began to breathe with life. The Guardian Sapling appeared to be bigger than before but it was no bigger than Sakuya's tree. Then a light surrounded Amaterasu. Her hands changed into paws. She transformed back into a wolf.

But she saw someone standing before her. It was Ariya. She was a spirit now and the other nine dragons were as well. They all bowed down to Amaterasu and soon disappeared.

I finally finished my first story! But there is still the epilogue. review my story please!