Secret of the Princess

Chapter 15

Ashitaka and San reached the sacred pool of the Forest Spirit just as the sun set that evening. Although the land showed scars of the destruction that had been wrought on it not so long ago, the pool and island of the Forest Spirit retained a magical aura to them. San sat on a small sandy beach, and Ashitaka sat beside her. Her wolf brothers came up, and almost immediately, the distinctive sound of kodama clicking their heads came to their ears. Ashitaka and San watched in awed silence as the Forest Spirit approached and began to change into the Night Walker. A voice came to them from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Princess Mononoke, guardian of the forest, listen now, for your destiny has been chosen for you. The iron forge is trying to punch through the samurai. Whilst I do not take sides in your human wars, I shall advise this. You must appeal to the samurai sense of honour and challenge Asano to a duel. Only you must fight him, Princess. The fate of the forest rests on you."

As the voice spoke, the moon crested the trees. It was hard to tell, but it looked off colour, slightly reddened almost. The voice spoke again.

"The moon is stained the colour of blood. This night will see the death of many. Go forth, and ensure the safety of this forest."

The Night Walker reared up and walked off. San nestled up to Ashitaka, her single hand tightening on her spear. Ashitaka took hold of his sword. The wolves stood up, and turned towards Iron Town, and howled at the reddened moon.

At Iron Town, Toki was taking time to bandage Koroku's wounds. She shook her head as she wrapped a white cloth around his shoulder.

"Really Koroku, I'd have thought you'd know better than to get in the way of an arrow. Even if the arrow WAS heading right for me."

Koroku sucked in his breath sharply.

"I couldn't let you get hurt Toki. Ever."

Toki had the grace to blush as she finished tying off his bandage. She kissed his cheek and smiled down at him.

"Come on you, let's push these samurai back."

Even reinforced by Jigo's men, the people of Iron Town could only hold the samurai in an ever-weakening stalemate. Slowly, the samurai were closing in on the bridge. Once they got to there, they'd be forced to shut the gate and snipe all night long. Koroku looked up.

"I wonder if that rabid wolf girl will show up."

Toki gave a snort of derision.

"I don't care if she does. Personally I hope Asano skins that wild forest brat. Ashitaka is wasted on the likes of her."

Suddenly, the blood-chilling howls of wolves echoed across the landscape. Both samurai and villagers stopped as Princess Mononoke emerged from the trees with Ashitaka. She was holding the same sword she'd fought Asano with before, having found it in the river. Asano plunged his sword through the chest of one of the defenders and turned to his daughter, smirking.

"Well well, the spawn returns to kill her parent. Not that I'm in any way surprised."

San glared at him.

"I didn't think you would be, father."

Asano's smile broadened.

"So, you've accepted that you're my child."

"I accepted that straight off. What I won't accept is you being in my forest!"

"Are you going to fight me San? You only have one hand as I remember."

San gave a scream of rage and ran at her father. Her vaguely blue blade clashed against Asano's russet red katana. For several minutes, only Asano and San moved. Out of the corner of his eye, Ashitaka saw someone moving, but didn't see what they were doing until the arrow was buried in San's back. A red fog covered her senses, and she dropped to the ground. He wasn't aware of running to San's limp form or tugging the sword out of her hand. All he was aware of was demonic rage that flowed through him like the water in a river. But even with his demonic powers, he lasted an even shorter amount of time against Asano than San had. He fell next to his forest princess, bleeding.

Jigo had watched both San and Ashitaka fight and lose, and knew that this could be the victory that decided the fate of the entire area, maybe even all of Japan. He took his scimitar out of its' sheath, a long, curved weapon tinged with green. He walked up to Asano, pushing samurai aside as he went. Asano looked to be overconfident, and smiled at the short, tubby man.

"Master Jigo."

"Lord Asano."

"You have stood in my way for the last time."

He gave a quick hand gesture, and a sniper took a shot at Jigo. With reflexes that defied his frame, Jigo dodged the arrow and watched it sail harmlessly wide. Asano gestured again, and this time an arrow was fired from a different angle. But again, Jigo's reflexes saved his life as he batted the arrow out of the air. He frowned at Asano as he held his scimitar ready. Asano gestured with both hands, and two arrows sped for Jigo's eyes. But the monk was too quick, and grabbed the arrows out of the air. Contemptuously he threw them aside, and exhaled loudly.

"Your snipers are strong Lord Asano. I see you're not above being sneaky."

"I've become more powerful than any warrior in Japan," Asano boasted. "Far more powerful than you!"

Jigo sniggered at Asano's statement.

"You still have much to learn."

Asano looked at the monk.

"It's obvious we cannot settle this with our knowledge of tactics," His red katana was drawn from its sheath. "But our skill in battle should end it."

He twirled the rust-red blade and stood ready. Jigo held his scimitar to his right, and just stood there. Asano ran at him, but Jigo leapt clean over him and slashed at the samurai lord. Asano parried his scimitar away with his blood-red katana, and a furious fight developed. Jigo shocked everyone with his stunning agility. But he made one too many cocky moves, and Asano ran the monk through. Jigo stumbled back, and picked up San's blue sword as well. Asano laughed as Jigo came back to attack him. His laugh was cut short as Jigo thrust his sword up into his heart. Asano died instantly, and Jigo fell over. The samurai panicked, and many committed ritual suicide. A few escaped, but most of them were killed by the people of Iron Town. Above them, the moon was stained the colour of blood, almost as if reflecting the battle that had been fought below.

It was morning when San came to. She was laid out on a bed, and realised in an instant she was in Iron Town. Snarling, she tried to rise, but saw she was tied to her bed. Several women were tending to her battle wounds. She began to curse at them.

"Stinking humans! Let me go! Where's Ashitaka? What have you done with him? You will pay for this!"

The women laughed at her, incensing her further. One tied a bandage over her mouth and the others finished their work.

"Ashitaka is just over there. Say please and…"

The women stopped taunting San as Ashitaka shook his head. They left the couple be, and Ashitaka's first move was to take San's gag off.

"How are you San?"

She shrugged.

"Better. Can you let me up from here please?"

Ashitaka nodded, and untied San enough to let her sit up. San put her hands down and pushed herself into a sitting position, then froze.

Her HANDS?

Almost as if scared, she shut her eyes tightly, raised her right forearm to in front of her face, and then slowly opened her eyes again. A perfectly healthy, white-skinned right hand had grown as repayment for her saving the forest. She gave a squeal of joy and dragged a temporarily deafened Ashitaka in for a hug.

"We did it Ashitaka! I've got my hand back!"

Ashitaka hugged her back, and then rubbed his ears.

"I'll say when I've got my hearing back. Really San."

San laughed.

"I'm sorry, it's just not every day I wake up to find I've grown a hand. Can't you let me up so we can leave?"

Ashitaka shook his head.

"Not yet. I'm waiting for something to be brought here."

San flopped down on the bed again.

"It had better be quick. You know I hate staying in human habitats."

Even as she finished talking, two women brought in a package and left. Ashitaka took hold of something small on the top, and brought it up to San's eye level. He opened his hand and showed her what he held.

"San? Will you marry me?"

San looked at him long and steady.

"I'd love to Ashitaka. Just don't humiliate me during the wedding."

Ashitaka smiled.

"Would I do that?"

San grimaced.

"Do you want an honest answer?"

San freed herself and lay down on the bed.

"Anyway, I'm sleepy now. We'll arrange a wedding time tomorrow Ashitaka."

She curled up and fell asleep in minutes. Ashitaka walked outside to find Eboshi, hoping something could be arranged for San. Soon the two were in deep conversation over the matter of San's wedding. Eboshi surprised Ashitaka in suggesting it should be something to smooth out her opinion of people, since she'd had few positive encounters with humans ever. As the day progressed, they had the final touches all sorted. All over Iron Town, fallen loved ones were being buried as well as the samurai. By dusk, San's wedding was all planned out for ten days time.