Transformation

The next afternoon, Tiara and Sienna were finishing the final stage of the potion. It had to be chanted under the sun of late afternoon, or it wouldn't work. Nerves began to set in, and beads of sweat began to form on the young Princess's brow. Her fate was sealed as of today, soon she would be the next ageless, Divine Sorceress. With the task of guarding her world from invasion, she would watch as the other people she'd grown up with got old and died; while she, Graham, and Japolo lived on in the hills. Finally, she would choose a successor like Sienna did, and either die in battle or live in a time not her own.

"Soon, Tiara," Sienna wistfully stated, "Soon it will be time. I know it hurts to leave your friends behind like this, but you must be strong. The fate of the Guardian World rests in our hands. You're a truly brave young lady, to take on this responsibility." She looked up at the sky, and let out a sigh of her own.

'Even Sienna is nervous. Probably misses all the people she left behind a millennia ago. I wonder how long it will take before I get like this?' mused Tiara as she looked around. She saw Graham, Japolo, Miro, and Yami sitting on the lawn; watching over their Princesses in case of an attack. Lena and Leon were off near a gnarled tree, reading up on the Mihan Demons for reference. One day, they might be asked to help deal with an invasion of smaller ones coming in large amounts, since Tiara can't be everywhere at once. The Elder usually assigned missions to people who had experience in the field if it was one of the odder ones. Tiara did, however, notice something different about Lena, a strange look when she saw Leon.

Lena thought, 'Funny, in less than a day since Leon told me his feelings, I have begun to see him in a new light. Could it be, that I too are falling in love with him? Perhaps, if we live through this, I'll find out.'

Sienna put her thumbs and forefingers together, while crossing the rest. It looked as if the second fingers made a pyramid shape when she did this. Tiara copied her stance. The older woman smiled. "Now, we just have to recite the chant, and you will become the new Divine Sorceress. Close your eyes."

Suddenly, a roar erupted from behind them. In came a huge variation of the Ryami, much bigger than the one fought in the cave. Almost as if that one was a child, and this the parent. But Sienna's book told them differently, this was the Ultimate Mihan Demon, one that was only seen from afar by the people who fought the Mihan. Its name was Ryultima. No one could ever hope to win against such a demon.

First, the monster breathed a long jet of fire at Tiara and Sienna. Although Graham and Miro had run to the rescue and saved their Princesses, the potion was ruined. Tiara would have to get more supplies and start again, if she lived through this at all. Next, the demon knocked down the gnarled tree, narrowly missing Leon and Lena. Finally, he attacked Sienna from behind, badly wounding the Divine Sorceress.

Although she would live, Sienna was in no condition to do battle. With a nod from Tiara, she was taken into the house to rest. It looked like it was up to her and her Partners to stop this, but she didn't know how to use the sacrificial spell. Or how to even become Ultima again. It looked like the end was near.

Ryultima prepared to attack Tiara in the same way, hoping to kill the more vulnerable girl who had no powers of agelessness; which seemed to soften blows as well as stop aging. But before he could, Graham body checked Tiara, knocking the two to the ground. As they came up, Tiara found herself in the arms of the one she truly loved. Holding her closely, Graham looked on at the Mihan demon with defiance.

"No one harms Tiara," he yelled, "Not unless they want to get through me first." The two of them were well aware that this might just be folly, they may die anyway, but to be so close to one another as they perished would be the happiest way that either of them could think of to go out. He pulled her closer.

'Use the chant, and don't be afraid child,' a voice echoed in Tiara's head. Suddenly, she knew the words to say, the words to become Ultima. As she lay in Graham's embrace, with Japolo perched on her shoulder, Tiara chanted, "Three souls, three powers, join together. Only through us can we achieve victory! San no Noryoku!" Winds began whipping all around them, and as they cleared, Ultima stood in the wake.

Leon looked to Lena, who nodded. She began playing her flute, transforming him once again. Leon ran at the Ryultima, ready to supplement Tiara, no Ultima's, attack. Someone needed to draw the attention of the beast, so it wouldn't kill them off. It would take only a second to gather the necessary power for the attack spell she used, but even a second can mean the difference between life and death on a battlefield.

Ultima rose up into the air, preparing for her attack. "Power of the Universe, come to me now. I am Tiara, Divine Sorceress, and master of Ultima. Aid me in this battle, to slay the enemies that lay before me. Now, Obliterate!" Energy began building up in her hands as she said those words. When the chant came to a close, Ultima dropped it on top of the Ryultima. With an ear piercing shriek, the creature perished.

* * *

Tiara woke up in her bed that evening. She felt like the whole world had gone fuzzy, wondering what happened back there. But when she looked up, she smiled again. Graham was sitting by her bedside, as Japolo stood on her nightstand. Lena had brought in a vase of flowers, with Leon right behind her with a second one. Finally, Sienna and her Partners were in the doorway, the Divine Sorceress looking like she was much better after being attacked earlier. Tiara wanted to sit up, but she felt dizzy the second she tried.

"Back down in bed," ordered Sienna, "You threw much more of your power into that shot than you did back in the Land of the Dead. I would advise resting a little bit before returning home. Looks like your little stunt ended up destroying the Mihan Demon responsible for every invasion throughout the years. I consulted with the Elder, and he said you are free to live your life out as an ordinary mortal like the others."

"What about Graham? Will he die again?" she asked Sienna in a worried tone.

The Divine Sorceress replied, "No child, he will live on with you. Once he comes back, there's no way to get rid of him unless you kill him. Certainly, when Divine Sorceresses throughout the years were freed of their duties after finding a successor and winning the battle, they didn't have to send back the ones they rescued. Originally, Divine Sorceress was a title, not a position. It will be so again. You, Tiara, are a Divine Sorceress, and can live out your life in peace. May you and Graham find happiness together.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Word…

I've got an epilogue. Always do. Well, gotta tell how things turned out, it should be a short chapter. As well as set up for the sequel. Takes place 20 years from now, and talks about why in the world Kagetsu's been gone for so long. Oh, and I also have a soundtrack for the story. It will be up on my site following the epilogue. Here's a neater way to translate the fun phrases used for enemies and magic…

San no Noryoku: Power of three

Ryultima: Ryu=Dragon Ultima=Ultimate