Moonmessi is still the man!


Chapter 10

The next morning, Moro, San, and I stood in a grove of trees.

The two brothers were off, leading Ashitaka out of the forest, and we were reviewing our options.

I hadn't been happy with sending Ashitaka packing, and I was in no mood to help the Boar Tribe commit mass suicide. San was all for joining the boars, of course.

"Pork-faced gits! They are charging into a fucking slaughter, and they were all for killing us when we tried to help them! If they want to die by the truckload, then let them!"

San wasn't impressed. "They are part of the forest, and one of its major tribes. We can't just let them die!"

I snorted. "There's a time for inter-forest loyalty, and there's a time for common sense. The problem is that this fight is more than just two armies having a go at each other. The battle is only a diversion."

Moro looked at me. "Go on."

I turned to her. "There's a small army of trained Assassins that's after the head of the Forest Spirit. Eboshi just wants the Spirit gone, so she's in reluctant agreement with those tossers, since she can't take on the forest by her lonesome."

Moro eyed me. "Your scouting seems to have paid off."

I shrugged. "I'm the best damn scout you've ever had. I may need her at some point. There's a certain warlord I want dead. I need her information, and I don't think I can kill him without her help. I might need to talk to her. Not that I want to give her anything!" I finished, as both glared at me.

After a long moment of gazing into my eyes, Moro nodded. "Do what you want, but give her nothing!"

San glared at me. I knew I would get it later, maybe a broken nose; she was that pissed.

Moro hummed. "I think that she will at least negotiate with you. She respects you and your abilities, and you are both human. If I didn't trust you as I do, I would tear your head off for even considering to speak to that bitch! As for that warlord; why do you want him dead?"

San was surprised to see his face darken and his jaw clench. She smiled ferally, despite her anger toward him.

Unlike that Susan person, San liked John's dangerous and violent attributes.

It was the Wolf in him.

"It's personal. He tried to kill my other family. I want to make him suffer!"

Moro bared her teeth in a savage grin. "And that's the reason why you make such a good Wolf!"

I smiled back, blushing slightly underneath my hood at the compliment.

And then Moro turned serious. "What do you suggest?"

I sighed. "Everything centers around the Forest Spirit. If he falls, bad things will clearly happen. Let's find him before anybody else does."

Moro nodded. "True, but the assassins have already joined forces with Eboshi, and they await the Boar Tribe. We will deal with the battle first, then see what they do after the battle."

I nodded, sighing. My promise to Eboshi was null and void, but I felt no guilt.

She was probably going to back-stab me anyway.

Just then, we were joined by the two brothers, one of whom gaze her a crystal necklace, almost like a dagger. At least, I think it was crystal.

They told her it was from Ashitaka, and I smirked at her.

She was taken aback, even touched by his gesture. I had the feeling we would see that kid again. We certainly needed the help.

Before we started out, I made sure to pray for help. I hadn't been praying enough anyway. "Father, a little help here!"

Christ's answer was immediate. "I will endeavor to assist in some way, since you had the humility to ask, instead of charging in without calling upon me. Your modesty and faith are still visible, the former surprising me more than the latter!"

Chuckling, I shook my head. I didn't know God had a sense of humor, but where else would comedy be from? Clean comedy, that is!


The humans had taken up camp on the high ground, and we would have to charge uphill to get to them.

Damn, our enemy had all the advantages!

I knew that I would be using Michael's powers a lot in this battle. There was no hugs or cuddles between our clan. For us, this was just another day on the job.

There were hundreds, maybe thousands of the boars milling about, and we announced our presence and our support.

Moro couldn't join us, so me and San rode on the backs of the brothers. I felt bad for Tommy carrying my body weight, but it didn't seem to affect him. Evidently, these wolves were tougher than other worlds.

I looked up the steep hill, and I could see Eboshi looking directly at me. I gave her a shrug, and she replied with one of her own, along with a smirk.

So, she did lie to me.

Game on, Hag!


I would never remember that much of the battle, which was probably a good thing.

We charged and charged the human lines multiple times, only to be repulsed by guns and explosives again and again, while I tried to shield our allies with my powers.

I could only do so much, though. Jigo's men practically fed us the villagers of Iron Town, using them as bait, exposing them to grenades, landmines, and our own forces.

Okkoto was the game-changer, for the worse.

He took many wounds, and went on a similar rampage that Nago had done, but it was into the forest that he went, instead of the surrounding countryside.

Before I could do anything about it, Tommy and I were buried under the stampeding Boar Tribe as we tried to rally them.


When I next woke, I was shocked to see Ashitaka standing over me. "What the fuck are you doing here? Clear off!" I growled, reaching for my sword as some villagers from Iron Town joined him.

We were on the outskirts on the Forests, and I could feel Tommy growling next to me.

"It's all right! There's no need for more violence!" Ashitaka said, coming between us.

I turned to Ashitaka, less than pleased at this interruption. "We don't have time for your pacifist bollocks. You're not supposed to be here. Matter of fact, you aren't supposed to be within ten blooming miles of this place! And why aren't they killing us?" I finished, gesturing to the villagers.

Ashitaka grabbed me by the collar, and pulled me in close. "Just be silent, and listen to me!"


Ashitaka had returned to find the aftermath of our fight, and realized that Asano had attacked Iron Town during that time, while Eboshi and Jigo had followed Okkoto into the Forest, hunting for the Forest Spirit, completely unaware of Asano's attack.

San and her other brother were in the forest, trying to protect the Forest Spirit.

I had to make a decision: help Iron Town and bring the fight to Asano, or go look for the Forest Spirit.

Bugger Asano, and bugger Iron Town. My sister and brother were in danger!


Traversing through the forest, we eventually found the injured Okkoto, who was headed to the pool that Ashitaka had used for healing, obviously trying to get healed himself.

Suddenly, we were surrounded by assassins wearing boar skins, posing as Okkoto's warriors.

The Head Boar was delerious, calling out to the Forest Spirit, and I drew my sword. "Hello, boys! It's time for you to die!"

As I cut down several of the assassins, San, and Ashitaka engaged Okkoto, trying to reason with him.

When I was finished, I found myself face to face with Eboshi, who had just emerged from the trees, carrying her massive rifle.

I raised my hand, as she aimed the thing at me. "Now, luv, before you try and off me, I've got a message from Iron Town: Lord Asano's samurai have attacked Iron Town. You have to go back!"

Eboshi lowered her rifle, her eyes narrowed, as she signaled for Gonza and her guard to hold their fire. "What proof is there this isn't a lie?"

I exploded at her. "What the bloody hell matters more: your people, or your ego? Use your fucking brain! Haven't I said, time and fucking time again, that you and the forest can co-exist? You know what your problem is? You're so stuck up and full of yourself all the buggering time that you inadvertently harm those who care more about you than you care about them!"

I heard Ashitaka scream San's name, and I turned to see Okkoto mauling her.

Still delirious, he was shrouded in purple light and covered in purple tentacles, and I realized what was going on: he was turning into a demon!

With a roar, I used Michael's power to teleport myself in front of her and Ashitaka.

"Get away from my sister, you demonic son of a bitch!" I shouted, desperation in my voice, throwing myself at him.

At that moment, I didn't care whether I lived or died, as long as San was alive. I had sacrificed myself for the Pevensies, and I would be damned if I didn't try to save San.

I felt the tentacles wrap around me, and then the pain hit me. It was all-consuming, mind-blowing, inexpressible agony, but I swung the sword again and again, screaming in pain and defiance as the tentacles wrapped around my limbs: "Try hurting my family now, you fucking arsehole!"

The next thing I knew, I was thrown back, my head hitting something hard and unyielding, and I blacked out.


"NO!" San screamed, as her fostor brother flung himself at Okkoto, protecting her from his wrath.

She screamed as Ashitaka pulled her back, but she was in pain as well, and could not help him.

All hope seemed lost, and that was when the Forest Spirit arrived.

Everything stood still as he padded up to Okkoto's rotting form, and touched his snout to it. The leader of the Boar Tribe fell dead, expelling the young warrior in a blast of power as the Boar fell dead, and then did the same for Moro.

Ashitaka, holding the injured San, saw Eboshi aiming her rifle at the Spirit, and only managed to fling his sword uselessly at her rifle before she fired, separating the head of the Forest Spirit from it's body.

Before her men could collect her head, Moro, in a last burst of energy, bit off one of Eboshi's arms.

It was at this time that I woke up.


Taking it all in, I tried to rise, but my head was pounding from the pain.

Ashitaka joined me, carrying San. I rose, and went to her, horrified at the pain in her eyes, and wary of the anger in them as well. "San, steady on-"

But San was too busy screaming in rage at Eboshi to do anything, who was lying in a pool of her own blood, her guards collecting the head of the Forest Spirit.

Pushing Ashitaka out of the way, I approached her. "Well, how stupid you feel now? I hope you're proud of yourself," I said, bandaging her as best I could.

"Don't waste your sympathy!" She growled, trying to push me away.

"I need you alive, so I'm going to keep you alive!"

Ashitaka and San joined me, the latter begging to slit the woman's throat.

I watched as Ashitaka tried to disuade her, and she rounded on him. "No! You're on their side! You always were! Take that damn woman, and just go away! I hate you humans!"

Ashitaka stepped forward. "Yes, I'm human, San, and so are you and John."

San shook her head, angrily refusing his words, and when he stepped closer, she used the necklace he had given her to stab him in the shoulder.

I winced, letting the now unconscious woman rest on the ground.

I was surprised to see Ashitaka hold her close, apologizing for his failure. San wept for the Forest Spirit, but Ashitaka shook his head. "Nothing is over. The three of us are still alive. Now, will you help me, San?" She nodded, and they both turned to me.

I wanted to join them, but I was still ravaged with pain from the demonic assault, and the headless Forest Spirit, now morphing into a huge, walking, man-like creature, that he always became at night, now seeming to search for something.

"He's trying to look for his head," Ashitaka said, and I nodded, realizing what needed to be done: get that head back to its proper place.

Sod's Law.


What followed was a long chase after Jigo and his assassins, Ashitaka finding and riding Yakkul, with us riding on the two brother wolves, warning Iron Town of the latest news on the way there.

I was worried for Yakkul, who had taken an arrow in his leg during Ashitaka's return, but other than a small limp, he wasn't impeded at all.

Using my Eagle Vision, I was able to spot him running away from the fight on one of the many hills near the forest.

Jigo and his friends, encoumbered by the tray and kettle holding the thing's head, were no match for our pace.

"Stop right there!" Ashitaka called out, the three of us surrounding him and a small group of his men.

"Oh, you're alive. How nice!" He greeted nervously.

Snarling, I drew my sword, and advanced on him. "I told you to leave by this morning, and it's already night-time, you mercenary bastard!"

Ashitaka stepped forward then. "I'm giving the creature back its head. Put the box down, and back away."

The man scoffed. "Give the head back now? Come on, boy, don't be silly. Now, when the sun's about to come up!" He said, pointing to the rampaging Spirit, a massive walking creature of destruction. "Look! He's a brainless, swollen, life-sucking god of death. At sunrise he'll vanish."

I snorted. "You won't live long enough to see it!"

The man was unpreturbed. "Look, everybody wants everything. That's the way the world is. But I might actually get it!"

San snorted, and glanced at the both of us. "Why are you wasting your breath talking to him?"

"Good bloody question." I nodded, advancing on the mercenary. "End of the road, you selfish twat!"


After a short fight in which resulted in the death of Jigo's men, and the incompacitation of their leader, we opened the box, and looked at each other.

"How the fuck are we going to do this?" I asked, and Ashitaka looked at me. "Human hands must return the head to it's owner."

I looked at him with a raised eye-brow. "And you know this how?"

Ashitaka ignored me, and raised the creature's head high above his own head, the two of us joining him in doing so.

"Forest Spirit, we give you back your head! Take it, and be at peace!" Ashitaka roared.

A few minutes later, as the creature bent down to retrieve his head, Ashitaka wrapped his arm around San, and I wrapped my arms around both of them.

"Ashitaka, if we die, I'm going to kick the shite out of your pretty face!" I yelled.

The next thing, a flash of light surrounded us, and I blacked out.

Again.


REVAMP!