Fully dressed in all four heirlooms it was a now a question of how to get to the Silver Witch. She was residing in a pocket of time and space and Mina was nowhere capable of getting there. Hell, she wasn't even sure what the heirlooms were capable of. There had to be more than... protecting, stabbing and looking decorative.
"Ding-a-ling!" Mina shrieks in response and stumbles away. Of all the people... it's Ibuki. Wait. What? How the hell did she manage to get in here with all the fighting going on outside? Ibuki couldn't have seriously beat up all of those Jinjirus. No. She probably didn't but it's not like she was sitting in here waiting this whole time, she was the one who gave her the key after all.
"Ibuki... why are you here?" Ibuki smiles with serenity.
"I have come to guide you my child." Ibuki completely dropped her tic where she uses her name in place of I. She must have been serious... but why is she referring to Mina as 'my child'? "I have followed you for quite some time. I intended no harm when I watched your show. My children took this as warfare and they were swallowed by greed and selfishness. From distances I watched you grow and develop to where you stand now."
"Your children...You mean the Jinjirus?"
"Yes." Ibuki calmly closes her eyes. "I am their goddess. Willamina, once the fight ends, I wish for you to directly tell the Jinjirus what I desire."
"What would that be?"
"I want them to build a civilization where they can rely on each other, without a royal family. We Jinjirus can live for millions of years when in our pocket and despite lies they desire the return of the royal family, someone strong to command them. They don't know how to live without someone telling them what to do."
"What makes you think they'll listen to me?"
"All you have to be is assertive, show them who is the boss and what will happen if they do not follow your orders." Ibuki smiles once more. "I trust you are capable of winning this upcoming battle and you can steer that kingdom into a greater generation." Ibuki carefully takes Mina's hand. With a snap of her fingers the world blurs and it feels like everything is plunged into darkness.
Mina looked around her, there was no Ibuki, there was only one winding cobblestone path in all of this darkness. It was lined by old trees that were missing their leaves, under theses conditions they probably would not ever come back. Small lanterns hung from branches, illuminated with simple spheres of light.
Mina sighs. There's nowhere to go but forward.
She moves forward and time marches on. The path takes her to what appears to be a mountain summit. The lantern lit trees line the summit, illuminating the inevitable battle field in a dull light. There waits the Silver Witch, even up close she cannot see the true form of this... thing.
"I must admit, I'm impressed that you made it so far."
"Yeah, well, I had help."
"Such a strange child...Do you honestly think you can defeat me?"
"Like I have a choice. It's either you or me."
"That is true." the entity smiles.
"Why the hell do you look like that...?"
"Oh, this? You humans cannot grasp my true form and so your puny minds perceive some foolish image instead. I suppose it truly proves how tiny and insignificant you humans are..." she giggles. Mina makes a face. Fists curl tightly around the hilt of the blade, pointing a blade to the Silver Witch. The lanterns swayed as an non-existent wind came through. This was really it. It was all down to this. Striking down the Silver Witch befoe she could start this dreaded war.
She ran at the blot swinging, only to have the attack deflected as she was thrown onto her back, but quickly clambered back onto her feet. The Witch only giggled in its barely tangible reality blotting form. But the giggle was silenced flatly, as thunderbolts began raining down. Mina scrambled out of the way of the bolts narrowly evading many of them but still being struck by a few, forcing her to bear the brunt of the psychinetic electricity.
Mina staggered trying to focus a Life up on herself as the Witch created several lines of fire that began blasting their way towards Mina. The health PSI did the trick just in time for her to move out of the way of the next flame line as the rest began to go out.
She charged once more at the Silver Witch jumping over flames and attempting to attack the blot with her sword again, it deflected but only threw her partially off balance as she released a PK Rose in the witch's 'face'. This seemed to do damage as chunks of ice began forming around Mina causing a noticeable temperature drop. She switch to her Keytar and began bashing away the ice chunks before they shattered. She then tried to run but found her feet had frozen to the ground. She kicked at them but it was too late, the miniature icebergs shattered cutting away at her legs making her kneel. She whispered lifeup and slowly got to her feet. At that same moment an over head star seemed to twinkle strangely. Growing ever so bigger, followed by other stars following suit.
"What the he..."
A jetting light impacted with a tree leaving a crater as other lights, stars, impacted with the earth all around Mina. One aimed itself for her as she dodged just in time, but only to have another nearing impact right after, slamming into her, leaving her charred and beat up in a crater.
Mina staggered, forcing herself to stand. She cast life up on herself, and pulled herself out of the crater. The Witch seemed to be resting, partially vulnerable. Mina made her way over to the silver witch, launching a PK Rose in her face once again. And then again. And again. But it still stood. How...
Mina backed away. A feeling of hopelessness beginning to spread. She frowned and shook the feeling off. Now was not the time for that. There had to be a way. Mina drew her sword once more and began slashing away at the Silver Witch, many slashes deflected until one managed to finally break the counter and inflict damage.
This absolutely displeased the Silver Witch. Mina could tell something had jutted from the body of the witch, even if it was not visible. She's proven right when she feels something grab her around her neck, hoisting her into the air with a choke hold. She struggles to pull whatever was from her neck, while trying to keep consciousness. Her eyes were wide as she gasped and hacked trying to inhale. This was unacceptable. She was not going down this way.
Mina held out a hand towards the blot and wheezed, "PK Rose!"
The Silver Witch was stunned by the attack releasing her grip on Mina, after a quick recovery, heart beating, collected the sword and stabbed it right through the blot. Light shined through as the witch screamed and moaned and shook. In a swift attack the heart was pierced and life was extinguished.
"...Take that you bitch" Mina spits.
Hands tied behind their backs Val and Claus are thrown onto their stomachs before a soldier steps on their backs to keep them in place. They fought so hard and for so long. It was only a matter of time before this ended up happening unfortunately...
"Now, how to execute these two trouble makers...?" Hime coos. She uses her rapier to tilt Claus's head upwards so he may gaze upon her face. He grimaces.
"There will not be a single execution today! Let them go!" Everything quickly comes to a halt. Mina exits the Temple of Trials. The armor is dirty and scrapped from her previous battle and her blade is covered in an inky black goo that drips onto the desert sand. Hime giggles as Mina inserts her sword into the sand.
"Why should we listen to you?"
"This is order of your queen! I have exterminated the Silver Witch making me the most powerful being! My orders are absolute!" Sunned silence followed.
"De...defeated the Silver Witch?! How could that be!?"
"I am your queen. That is how. Now, I believe I issued some orders? I do hope you'll follow them." the warriors glanced among themselves, sweating a little. The fact she's wearing the heirloom armor is enough proof that she is their queen. The clover blade is soaked in the blood of her enemy, this only backs up the thought they all have, this truly is their ruler and she has defeated what they could not. Reluctantly the soldiers pull Val and Claus to their feet and set them free. Hime looks at her soldiers with disbelief.
"What are you fools doing?! How dare you listen to this low life human!"
"Human or not, she has done what we could not. She is far more stronger than we thought. I am starting to think... Melody was right all along. We can learn a thing or two from these humans."
"Don't bring that wretch into this!" Hime growls, clutching her rapier so tightly it would snap at any second. Even after her exile they think highly of her?! "I am the ruler of Jinjiru! Not that wretch! And most certainly not this human! The soldiers looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Such sounds only infuriated Hime even more than before. "Cease your laughter you fools!"
"It's just so funny! Ruler! She thinks she's our ruler!"
"Anyone with a brain wouldn't let Hime rule a thing!"
"What is the meaning of this!? I am obviously your ruler! I was the only who single handedly overthrew that wrench! I AM THE ONE IN CONTROL!"
"You used a captive. You could not kill Melody; you have no power at all. We simply allowed you to lead this mission, not to lead us." Hime's face was red with fury and anger. She was ready to blow in a matter of seconds.
"You've only proven how weak and desperate you are," Mina pulls her blade from the sand, pointing to Hime's backside. "Let's finish this." Hime began to laugh. She laughed and laughed to the scales of hysteria and madness swirls in her eyes. She faces Mina, swinging her rapier and shooting PSI to the girl. She's just a weak human. What is she to do? How is she to win against her?!
Dust and clouds fly from the point of impact. Hime begins to laugh assuming it's all over just like that. She prepares a mock only to be struck down, bleeding from a gaping hole in her side. Mina sheathes her blade. The Silver Witch's influence on the Jinjiru will dissipate in time, but she could tell this was a completely natural reaction. The Silver Witch never had a hold on this one.
"It's over." Mina looks to the remaining warriors. They all stood tall and attentive to their queen. "You all will carry out my final orders. First off, Khrystie Melody, no one will lay a hand on her or the family she wishes to have. She is to be left alone. She wishes for her ties to Jinjiru to be cut off completely. Respect that."
"Next, this woman." she motions to Hime, who is still bleeding all over the place. No one remotely seems to care although. "Exile her. I don't care how. Just do it but remember, we cannot have her bringing harms to whoever lives in where she is exiled to. Make sure where ever the hell she's dumped it is a place where she is alone."
"You cant do that to me!" Hime snarls as she is pulled to her feet and restrained.
"If it is what our queen wants, then it shall be."
"My final order, this shall stand as long as Jinjiru's live and may it be remembered for generations to come, the royal family will be no more. I want Jinjiru's to stand on their own. I want you all to rely on each other. Even without me to lead you, you will complete your everlasting goal to protect what is smaller than you."
"Are these three orders understood?" It took a moment for everything to sink in, even if they did not like it and showed no signs of dislike, the soldiers bowed deeply.
"Yes. We understand your orders your majesty."
Hime was dragged away into exile screaming profanities, Mina ignored her. She turned to Claus and Val smiling.
"So yer the heiress all along, huh?" Val teases. Mina sighs calmly with eyes closed.
"I was, I suppose. My rule is already over."
"You did a good job." Claus pats her back with a smile and juts a thumb over his shoulder. "Let's just go home. I want to finally spend my summer relaxing."
"I can agree with that."
The three of them exited the city of ruins and downfall. As they walked the Jinjiru soldiers cheered, recognizing their short lived queen, but long living hero. They exited out into the vast desert taking steps, one after the other. It was midday and the sun was comfortable. Distant silhouettes of our heroes began to blend with the sun. Peace had returned, their job, finished.