I DO NOT OWN ANY PLOT OF PRINCESS MONONOKE OR BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS. ALL RIGHT GO TO THE OWNERS OF EACH ANIME ITEMS!

Chapter 5

Runo's POV

When I woke up the next morning and found out Alice didn't come back yet, I got worried. 'What happened? Shouldn't have Alice have gotten back by now?' I thought.

When the others woke up and heard the news, we decided to go and wait by the forest entrance. Hoping she would come out.

Shun's POV

When I saw Alice asleep, I noticed how peaceful she looked. I couldn't stop myself from noticing her beauty. But it was strange to me. What was this feeling I had? How come I found her beautiful when I only met her two days ago?

I watched her, waiting for her to wake up. I was taking her back to her home this morning. She would be missed until she came back.

I turned to the sun. It was making its way into the sky. I noticed the Forest Spirit return to its day form. The Forest Spirit stands tall during the night as the Night Walker and during the day he turns into a deer like being with a humanoid face.

Thankfully the humans hadn't made it far enough that they reached the sacred section of the forest. It is where the Forest Spirit dwells and where he changes.

Alice began to shift and I watched as her brown eyes opened and shined in the morning light. "Good morning," I greeted.

"Morning," she returned.

"We better get you home," I told her. I held out a hand to help her get up.

"Is Moro taking us?" Alice asked me.

I shook my head. "Mother thought it would be best if we walked. Besides, you will get a chance to see the forest better," I told her.

"Okay," she said with a small smile. I took her hand and helped her down the hill. "How do you climb that every day?" she asked once we reached the bottom.

"I have climbed that since I was a small child. You gain some endurance over the years," I answered. "Come on, I can take you to a river to wash up."

She nodded and I led her down a winding path and through a thick blanket of leaves above us. As the wind blew, the leaves shifted around allowing the morning light in once in a while.

"It really is beautiful here," Alice mentioned to break the silence.

"It is. That's a reason as to why we protect it. The beauty of the forest cannot be replaced easily," I explained. "But we also protect it because the forests are the things that bring life to this planet. Without a forest, there cannot be air. Without air, there cannot be life. We protect it because this is our home and we all rely on it."

"I understand. I wish I could see it better. From your point of view," she said.

"That would be nice. But we understand why you can't. You have a life to live outside of the forest," I responded. I heard the trickle sound of the river. "Here we are."

We passed through the last bush and a river gently moved through the break in the forest. She began to drink some of the water and she blushed when her stomach growled.

"That's alright. Here." I handed her some cooked deer meat and she ate it. "It may not be the best food you ever tasted but it's better than some things we usually have."

"It's not that bad. Thanks," she said after she swallowed her last bite.

I took a drink and she followed the gesture. She got up and I gently pulled at her hand. "We should probably get going," I told her.

"Yeah," she sounded sad.

"Are you alright?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I'm just a bit worried I won't be able to get back here too soon. I want to be able to help you but my friends might not allow me," she replied.

"You must take control of your life, Alice. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. In reality, you can practically do anything if you allow yourself," I responded.

"Thanks for the advice," she thanked.

"Anything. You're helping us, so we should return the favor however we can," I responded.

We came around the final corner and onto the last path to the entrance. As we came closer, I noticed her friends were hanging out there.

They looked straight at us. I stopped and turned to Alice. "This is where we part ways for now," I said.

She suddenly reached out and hugged me. I was shocked by the sudden gesture and slowly returned the hug.

"Thank you for the best time of my life," she whispered.

"Anytime," I told her. She let go. I nodded to her and said, "Farewell, my friend." She turned and walked towards he gaping friends and I turned and walked back home.

Third Person POV

To say Dan, Runo, Ace, Marucho, Julie, Mira, and their bakugan were shocked when they saw Alice hug the wolf boy, it would be an understatement. Alice turned and walked towards her friends.

"Alice!" Runo exclaimed running into her. "Why didn't you come back?"

"Because it was too dangerous. The boar clan leader named, Okkoto, was killed and without another leader, the boar clan would be more dangerous during their scouting at night. They would've killed me if Moro, Klyn, Mana, and Prince Seishin didn't have me stay with them," Alice explained. She was careful not to use Shun's name knowing he wanted to keep it a secret.

"Prince Seishin?" Dan answered. "Is that the boy's name?"

"He uses the name so his identity can be kept a secret and safe," Alice answered.

"Do you know his real name?" Mira asked.

"Yeah but I promised I wouldn't tell," she answered.

Dan nearly fell backward from disbelief. "How come you trust them so easily?" he asked.

"Because they need me and I need them in a way," she answered vaguely.

"How do they need you?" Ace asked.

"Something's coming. And it will decide the fate between the humans and the gods," Alice replied.

"So how are you supposed to help them?" Dan asked. "How did they know you can help and no one else?"

"That is another secret that was entrusted to me. I can't break the promise," she responded.

"Come on! Is there anything you can tell us?" Dan exclaimed.

"Like do you know what is coming?" Mira asked.

"Yeah, I mean, if something's coming, we need to work together. Right?" Julie said.

"This is something that only me, Prince Seishin, Moro, Klyn, and Mana can do. The rest of you would be in great danger," Alice said. "I would like you to help but this is something I have to go alone on."

"No way!" Dan said. "Did that boy put something in your head? Because you should know you're not going in alone on this."

"Hydranoid, try to reason with Alice," Drago tried.

"I cannot. Alice is right. This is a danger you guys cannot face," Hydranoid said.

"Huh," came a voice. They looked up to see Skyress coming down. "So the legend of Prince Seishin is true after all. That poor boar god. I watched from the sidelines as that lady and her gunmen killed those boars. And that old one, Moro made the right choice."

"Skyress, what are you talking about?" Tigrerra asked.

"What was the boar god's name again, Alice?" she asked turning to her.

"Okkoto," Alice answered.

"Hello?! Tigrerra asked you a question!" Runo exclaimed.

"I was there when this woman, I think they called her Marou Hailer, came with a few men and guns. They shot iron bullets at the boars and killed many of them. Okkoto was old and lived a great deal until Moro, Prince Seishin, and the other pups arrived. Moro and Prince Seishin chased them off but I could tell the woman was going to come back. Okkoto's body began to grown slime like tentacles across his body. They spoke of how he was becoming a demon and Moro said she needed to kill him before he destroyed the forest himself. Then she slit his throat saying it was what the boar would've wanted. The girl pup said that without the leader, the boars would surely attack the humans without reasoning. Moro said they had to fight now to also keep the peace between the spirits and the gods," Skyress retold.

"No way. Are the boar gods really going to attack the humans?" Mira asked.

"They are already beginning to form for one last battle," Alice said. "It is only a matter of time before the battle begins."

She began to walk away leaving the shocked group. "Alice, wait!" Runo called.

She ran up and stopped Alice by yanking her back. But it was hard enough that the thrust knocked the arrowhead out from under her shirt. Alice quickly grabbed it and hid it in her hand.

"Alice, what're you holding?" Julie asked.

"Nothing," she lied.

"Alice, stop lying!" Runo yelled. "Just tell us."

"I made a promise to keep it a secret. I'm sorry," she responded.

Alice felt warm, comforting feelings being sent through. It calmed her down. 'Thank you Moro, Shun,' Alice thought.

"Alice, was that thing in your hand glowing for a second?" Mira asked.

"I, uh," Alice began nervous. She tore her hand away and began to walk away again.

"Alice, we just want to help," Dan said.

"I know but this is something you can't help me with," Alice said.

"Alice, please," Drago said. "Just listen. We want to help."

"Drago, this is her destiny. Let her fulfill it," Hydranoid said.

"Hydranoid, this may put Alice's life in danger," Tigrerra popped in.

"Yeah, no joke! What're you thinking?!" Preyus said.

"This is also her decision. I'll be there to protect her. Just as Moro, Prince Seishin, and his wolf siblings will," Hydranoid replied.

"Can you really trust these wolves?" Wilda asked.

"Yes, we can," Alice replied annoyed by the questions. "I am the one they need according to them and I won't let them down." She walked away again. This time the group behind her didn't saying anything.

"Do you think she'll be okay, Dan? I'm worried she'll get hurt. She's not a fighter," Runo whispered.

"Maybe, but when Alice sets her mind to things we all know there is no changing it," Dan replied. "But I wish I knew as much as she did about what's going on."

"I know. This is all very unsettling about the boar gods preparing to attack," Drago said.

"And what is Alice supposed to do in all this?" Percival said. "What's her purpose in this battle?"

"I don't know and I don't like it," Gorem said.

"Alice can take care of herself," Skyress chimed in.

"How do you know?" Dan asked.

"I can see it in her heart. She is dedicated to helping keep the peace between the gods and humans as Moro and her family does. She knows that if we don't end up killing each other first, we should try to get along. She and that Prince Seishin are quite similar," Skyress explained. "She feels she is ready for this and it is because of what she holds in her hands."

"Then… what can we do?" Runo asked.

"We can do nothing at the moment but watch and hope she does well in her quest," Skyress said. "That is all any of us can do."