Chapter Twenty Five

She hoped Rowen wasn't too mad at what she did, not that it mattered much now. There had been many spirits in her dreams trying to give her power, but she had found Bastet underneath all of them. She made the deal herself, because she knew that she needed a way to stop the armors from draining any more energy from her. Her mind felt so clear, like she knew exactly what she needed to do.

The nether realm wasn't quite as she expected to be. She was expected dark, and demons but it was really gorgeous. Stars as far she could see reflected in the glittering water. She could see land in the distance, and smelled the cherry blossoms on the air. She looked at the form that she had changed with the Old One, Bastet, and saw her reflection in the water. She was an anthropomorphic deity, she supposed, but didn't expect it to be so beautiful. She was lioness like, with soft white gold fur, and long golden hair. Her eyes were golden red, with thick lined make up. She had a golden circlet on her head, and her hails were long hard claws painted with gold. She wore a soft white dress and her tail had a golden bangle on it.

She touched her face and opened up her mouth to see fanged teeth. She liked this form, much better than her own body. She felt no illness, no weakness, no damage, just pure energy.

She heard a giggle from the island and a soft jingle of bells. She stood up and walked between the lily pads and lotus flowers but the island didn't seem as close as she first thought it was. She started to run, and she eventually found the island. There was a single tree with cherry blossoms blooming, and a bridge that led off so far into the distance she couldn't see the next landmass. She heard the giggle of a child, and saw a flash of red hair from behind the tree.

"Hello," she said with her new mouth, and thought it sounded sensual.

The child peeked from behind the tree, her eyes were bright green and she had the sweetest little smile. She a work a black kimono with a ruffled collar and a bright golden cross hung a chain with bells.

"You came!"

"Who are you?"

The girl grabbed her hand started to pull her across the bridge, "I'm Suzunagi! And The Ancient said you would come to Elysium!"

"Is that where we're heading?"

"Yes, we're going to meet him," she smiled brightly, she tugged on her clawed hand so they could run.

Hoshi started running with the child, and although the bridge looked long, the unseen landmass was coming into view. She saw a large boat on the horizon landing at the island. It was a dark looking boat that made her shiver.

Suzunagi looked out that way, "Charon has brought some new souls for the Old Ones."

"They feed off souls?"

"No, not really, they feed off their happiness," she answered as land came into view. "Just like you would if you were really Bastet."

"You know who I am."

"Of course, and I knew you were coming because of the Ancient One," she smiled. "You are Hoshi the last of the oracles!"

Hoshi nodded like she understood, but she didn't really. At the end of the bridge stood an man wearing a kimono, with a large hat that covered his face, and carried a staff exactly like the one Kayura had. Suzunagi let go her hand and ran to the man, who picked her up and she hugged him. She looked back and waved for Hoshi to come meet him.

Hoshi greeted, "Hello?"

"It's a pleasure," the man said with a gentle smile. "The ancient one is waiting in the village, little one."

"Why does everyone call me," she asked and he laughed.

"Because you are," he answered as he said as he set Suzunagi down. He walked hand and hand with the child.

"Who are you," she also asked.

"My name is Anubis," he smiled. "I was a friend to the ronins when I was alive."

Hoshi nodded, neither of them seemed very talkative. She walked behind them and just looked around the beautiful land. There was cherry blossom trees almost everywhere and little huts dotted the landscape. Children ran through the silver fields laughing, and small birds and butterflies fluttered everywhere. It was gorgeous.

They passed village after village, for what seemed like forever til they finally came to an old beaten up temple. She saw an old man praying on his knees.

"Are you the Ancient One," she asked.

"I am," he said and turned around to face her. He had a soft face and he smiled at her, and she realized was blind.

"They will come for you," he said, "but you have a role here as well."

"What do I have do," Hoshi said.

"You must cross the river Styx, and go to the warlords," he said as he looked into the dark shrine and shook his head. "No, my lord, I cannot ask her to do this. I have asked too many warriors and people to sacrifice too much already."

There was movement in the temple, and Hoshi shivered as she saw the movement come forward. She squinted to see who it, and she gasped as the figure came forward. It looked like Rowen wearing a very old style of armor, but she knew it wasn't him.

"I have taken a form that you are comfortable with," said the man as he came down through temple and past the ancient one. He wore a long cape made of feathers and had a gold circlet on his head. "My name is Kronos, and I fear what you have been through is all my fault."

"Kronos, as the father of gods?"

"In a way," he said as he came up to her. "I never meant for any of this. I was a fool when I was young, and put the powers that made the armors into being. They created too much chaos, and I couldn't reign it in. The ancients were willing to help me, but it's almost too late. I need your help."

"What do I need to do," she asked, looking at the god who looked like her boyfriend made her heart ache.

"Please don't ask her to do this," the ancient said.

"She must," he answered as he took her hands. "Otherwise all of Earth will vanish."

She saw the ancient turn away and she asked, "what must I do?"

"You will go to meet the warlords at the void and help save them. It will take all of you to defeat the prince, but the journey won't be as easy as it seems. The journey there will take a long time, it will almost seem like forever because time here does not flow the same. You will forget who you are because of that flow, but you will remember your mission. It will be hard what I ask you to do next, but the Light can only be born again if the all the armors grieve. You must let your human form die."

"But Bastet!"

"She knew what she in for when you came to her," he said as he knelt down in front her. "but you see only can bring the Light, please do this."

She looked down, and realized it was either sacrifice her human body or sacrifice everything she had loved. Her friends, her lover, and even the ronins. She would still be alive, she guessed but without them what was she, "yes, but how do you expect me to fight, I have never fought anyone in my life!"

He held out a hand and a crystal orb appeared in a flash of light, "the armor of compassion will guide you."