Chapter 3: The Guardian Saplings

-No one's POV-

We find our heroes on the path leading out of Kamiki Village passing by a lot of trees that still didn't leaves which made Noah begin to question just what kind of evil they were going to face since these trees look they charred making them look almost lifeless 'That's unsettling' the human till he saw the what the rest of the field was like causing him and Ammy to jaw drop by the sight of nearly half of the area looked like it was dead with it being covered in some kind of rest mist

-Cursed Shinshu field Okami-

"Huh? What on earth happened here?" Issun asked as the tiny artist turned toward his human companion "You probably already know this Ammy but Noah this is here is Shinshu field, the most beautiful field in Nippon. Or at least that's what it's supposed to be. But ever since that incident, I've been getting a bad vibe." the artist said looking back at the sight of the field letting out a sigh "Well in any case we should be careful while looking for those guardian saplings." Issun said earning a nod from the other two as they started exploring the curse zone staying away from the red mist as they see what looks to be another merchant but turned into stone then they spotted the first guardian sapling Sakuya marked "I don't think we can do anything unless you know some way to give the tree life Ammy." the human stated getting a firm no from the wolf before checking the map "well there's another guardian sapling that way" Noah said as he pointed to the large opening in the side of the mountain where the river seems to flowing to with that being their only option the group headed out to the next location of a guardian sapling before Issun spoke up "You know that Guardian Sapling was supposably a place for travelers to rest and recuperate but now that I look at it, it looked like it was going to fall at any moment. I don't know what monster did that but it'd take one with powers even beyond a god" Issun said this time Ammy questioning it since it was 100 years since she was alive, but the thoughts were put on hold when they across a man who was working outside chopping some wood

"I don't know what happened. I was just out here chopping wood with nature as usual when I heard a loud rumbling like an earthquake coming from the lake. Next thing I know there was a huge gust of wind coming from there but that one felt very unusual knocking me right now. When I came to the whole place." The man said finishing chopping the wood he was on resting the axe on his shoulder before turning to the trio "You wouldn't happen to know what's going do you, young man?" he asked getting a no from him "No sir, I'm just as lost in the dark as you." Noah replied with the woodcutter crossing his arms letting "great not only has this cursed zone messing with nature but my workshop has vanished because of it, the earth must be very angry. All I want to do is live with nature in peace. Anyways I noticed a figure running from the lake towards Kamiki. Whoever it was, man I hope mother nature kept them and that village safe." the man said to himself almost forgetting about the duo in front of him "Oh I forgot to say if you and your wolf are able to do something about this cursed zone, I recommend checking out Hana Valley. That is place always full of life so you might find something there. But be weary monsters own the place now. But there is a crystal ball enshrined there that helps make the plants grow." the woodcutter said getting a thank you out the younger man before he and the wolf walked towards the valley before the man yelled out "By the way I saw that Susano guy marching in there which is weird because he normally runs at the sight of monsters."

-Cursed Hana Valley-

"So, he saw someone running from the lake and if I'm guessing that was either before or after the roaring." Issun thought aloud thinking about what the woodcutter said as he was riding on top of Ammy's head "You think there's a connection?" Noah asked thinking about it as well with Issun shrugging "Most likely but who knows anyways let's go find that crystal ball" with that the three carried on through the valley slaying imps and as soon as they did some of the life returned to the area only to quickly go back to the decayed state it was at "Huh, we got rid of the monsters, so why did the gods' power disappear? Guess the curse on the gods of these lands must be really strong. They can't intervene till we do something about this stagnant air." Issun said as the trio continued with the silence ruined with Noah getting glomped by some kind of large nut causing him to fall to the ground with Ammy instantly looking back before running up to the human "Noah! Are you okay?" the wolf asked with the human responding by sitting up with a hand on his head "Yea I'm fine" he said as he noticed a weird looking tree a few feet behind the wolf goddess with some weird looking nut hanging from one of its branches but that's not all it looked a tree was alive "I think that's what did it." the human pointed to the tree as he got up "I have an idea" the wolf said as she walked up to the tree getting in a ready position as the tree threw the large nut at the wolf but before it could hit her she used Powerslash to send it flying back the tree stunning it from the impact with the wolf looking back at the human telling him to come on as they continued deeper into the valley having Ammy dealing with any other possessed trees till they came up to some kind of mural

'I would say that's a nice mural if it weren't for those red markings scattered all over it." just as Noah said that more imps appeared behind them along with a giant yellow one with a drum "That would explain it" he said as him and the wolf fought the imps till they were victorious, after the battle the red markings on the mural vanished now they got a better look at it before noticing a certain someone at the end of the path rubbing up against a rock "Hm? What's all that racket?" the 'mighty' warrior said as he turned around finding the trio standing behind him "GAH, oh it's just you two. What're you doing here!?" just as Noah was about to answer he was immediately cut off "Doesn't matter anyways I told you I'm not looking for apprentices! Anyways Hana Valley is no place for a kid and his mutt to wander around in. Beyond this point lies my secret training ground. It's the perfect place to hi- er I-I mean to train!" Susano corrected himself which still didn't go unnoticed by the trio "Now begone with you two" the warrior finished as went back to examining the boulder leaving the other three to themselves as they walked away seeing there wasn't anything they can do

"So, what do we do now because I have a feeling the guardian sapling is beyond that rock." Issun claimed as they started thinking with Noah taking a look back the mural noticing something was off since it looked it was supposed to look like something was sunlight to a plant "Is it me or is something missing from that mural?" the human said to the other two with Ammy noticing it too before getting an idea and using her Sunrise technique on the missing part of the mural which caused a sun drawing to appear on the mural with the same drawing to appear on the boulder before the boulder broke into many pieces which shocked Susano "What in heaven's name? Well now that the rock is out of the way I can go hide, er I meant go and train." Susano said as he ran off deeper into the valley as the three followed him with Ammy putting Noah on her back with him not up for this, but she said that she didn't mind plus she was the fastest one between the two as the three kept going they made to what seem to be the end of the valley with Noah hopping off of the wolf's back spotting what seems to be a large sprout on a platform "Huh not a bad training spot Susano has but wait where is that pile of logs anyways?" Issun asked as they the other two spotted a small cave opening covered by wooden pillar which Ammy immediately chopped down as they made their way inside following the path until they got to a small cave spotting Susano in his fighting stance "What are you doing now, pops?" Issun asked not getting a response from the warrior "You...You foul beast! How did you get in here!?" Susano asked as they all look towards the sleeping bear that was standing up perfectly on what looks to be crystal ball "You have some nerve sneaking into my private training grounds. Now you shall get a taste of my new secret technique." Susano said with Noah once again thinking if he's for real

Now enough talk! My blade thirsts for battle! here goes nothing! Susano-style SUSANO!" the warrior yelled out as he began slicing at the torches in the room with Ammy's help of course "SU! SA! NO! SUSANO!" as he finished with the torches, he turned his attention to the sleeping bear "Now for Susano-style...Exploding Implosion!" with that he sliced at the bear and with Ammy's help only waking the sleeping beast up before it fell over on its back rolling the crystal ball over to the heroes which Noah held with his hands

"Hm? Aha ha ha ha ha ha!" Susano laughed not even caring about the bear who was already fast asleep "That'll teach you, you foul beast! You're no match for my new secret technique!" the other three stayed quiet as Susano well caught up in his 'victory' before he reclaimed himself before coughing "Um uh Rest in pieces, foul beast. The great warrior Susano condemns the offense, not the offender. Anyways mutt, scout I must be off there are other monsters to deal with!" Susano said before he ran off leaving the three to themselves once again with nothing else here to do they rolled the crystal ball back to where the sprout placing the ball on a pedestal behind it watching as water started gushing underneath it suspending it in air since judging from what the mural showed the ball was used as a water source for the sprout "Ok so now we just need sunlight?" Noah asked before Ammy nodded using her Sunrise technique once again on the sky this time which caused the sun rays to shine on the crystal ball with rays reflecting onto the sprout causing it to start growing immensely into a tree that resembled a guardian sapling with some of the life around to return as well "Hey is this a Guardian Sapling!? It all withered up like the last one. So how are we supposed to fix it?" Issun questioned with his thoughts ruined when the group saw rays of starlight shining down on them as the place darkened a bit "Huh, who turned out the lights?" the tiny artist asked as the other two looked up to see another constellation in the sky signifying that there was a brush god here "Oh it's another constellation." Issun said before the trio saw the incomplete constellation letting Ammy started filling out the missing stars which caused the area around to turn into the same place as before with the celestial gods a monkey wearing some kind of pink hat holding instrument started twirling down in front from them before him and Ammy sat down

"Ah... Amaterasu. Origin of all that is and mother to us all... My gratitude for releasing my body from its slumber. Please accept my humble thanks in return for your great kindness. I am Sakigami, one of the triumvirate of flora gods known as the Hanagami. My brethren and I have been entrusted with the brush techniques known collectively as Greensprout. I now grant my humble power of Bloom to you. Use it wisely." with that Sakigami transformed into a rainbow orb which Ammy absorbed into her body with it glowing before disappearing with the world around them turning to normal

"That was Sakigami, one of the gods of flora! Apparently, the bloom brush technique can make flowers blossom." Issun explained with Noah thinking something "If it can make flowers blossom then what trees?" he asked as he looked at the Guardian sapling with Ammy questioning it too as she used her new technique on the Guardian Sapling watching a pink swirl of wind spiral around the tree as cherry blossom leaves started instantly sprouting all over its branches with the trio staring in awe that it worked watching a burst of energy exploding from it as life began to grow back throughout the valley ridding of any curse that was in the area with Ammy absorbing the praise that tree has given her "Wow everything really grew back. Sakuya wasn't kidding about the power of the Guardian Saplings!" the tiny artist said as he looked around before gazing at the sapling "So this is what Hana Valley's supposed to look like... Seems Sakuya's Guardian Sapling has lifted the evil curse. I'm not sure how weak the gods have become recently... But it must've taken some wickedly strong power to suppress this magnificent Guardian Sapling. Even if you are Shiranui reborn... we might have up against more than we bargained for! But we're not gonna let that us!" Issun said getting a nod from the other two before Noah remembered something "Oh, remember that first Guardian Sapling we saw in Shinshu field, what if tried using Bloom on it." Noah explained with Ammy pitching "And by doing that we can lift the curse zone there, too." getting a nod from the human as they made their way out of the valley but not before Ammy used her bloom technique on the evil trees that attacked them before turning them back to fully grown trees and feeding the wild life with the food that they bought from the merchant in Kamiki Village and as soon as they got out of the valley they saw that it started to turn night but that didn't matter as they rushed over to the Guardian Sapling with Ammy using Bloom on it watching the same result as the energy from the sapling got rid of the cursed zone plaguing Shinshu field with the trio letting out sighs of relief knowing that they don't have to worry about the cursed zone anymore "Now that's what I call Great Divine Intervention! If you two keep dispelling the evil curse like this, I bet the gods of nature will lend you their powers!" Issun said as they looked back at Sakuya's tree seeing that leaves were growing on her tree making a smile appear on our heroes upon seeing life returning to it "That's Sakuya's tree, right? Maybe she perked up 'cause you revived a Guardian Sapling? Well, we can stop by and see her later. I mean we're kinda on a roll. How about we take a look around Shinshu Field first? You've been gone for 100 years and Noah is new here. A good run around the place will do you two good first." Issun said as he lets out a yawn with the other two did the same since it was so late, so they decided to set up camp for the night with their small camp being a few feet away from the Guardian Sapling with a small campfire being between the three with Issun resting on a cherry blossom leaf from the Guardian Sapling while the other two were resting on the ground with Noah staring at the campfire holding onto his legs as he was resting his head on his arms that were also resting on his knees recollecting the time he's been here even though this was all still crazy to him as he was sitting on a matt that was with his camping gear

-At Dusk, I will think of you Kingdom Hearts-

"Hey Noah, mind if I as you something?" Ammy asked getting Noah's attention which signified the wolf to keep going "What was your world like?" she asked which didn't surprise Noah as he looked up at the night with the other two waiting for an answer "It was somewhat similar to this but a lot different" the goddess tilts her ahead a bit "How so?" she asked "Well for starters where I'm from we don't have stuff like curses or people tiny people, er no offence Issun" Noah said apologizing receiving a "Hmph' from the tiny artist since at least he didn't get called a bug before he continued "plus we're more far advance and while we still have gods they don't exactly come down to earth." Noah explained with the other two listening "What were you like there?" Issun asked which was what the wolf goddess was thinking too receiving a sigh from the human as he looked at the fire "It was ok, I guess. I was doing fine on my own and well you know the rest." he said remembering the day that he got sucked into the TV "And your parents?" Ammy asked receiving nothing from the human with her looking at the fire seeing that he doesn't want to talk about it "I'm sorry that you're stuck here must be pretty hard to being in a place like this" Ammy said with Noah shaking his head "You don't have apologize I'm sure there's a way back. And besides I have the Great Amaterasu and Issun here with me." He said with a small smile on face as he got onto his knees and wrapped an arm around the wolf's back gently petting her head as she was wagging her tail from the petting with Issun hopping on his leaf "And we got the guardian Noah here with us as well." he jokingly said trying to imitate what Sakuya said back in Kamiki which got a reaction from the human "Again with the Guardian title!? Come on." he said as he looked at the ground embarrassed a bit as the other two chuckled a bit from this before they turned their attention to the fire as it slowly died out with Noah sitting back down "Alright let's get some sleep we got a whole lot to explore tomorrow." Ammy said as the other two nodded with already passing out on his leaf leaving the other two to each other as they decided to spend the rest of their time awake to look at the night with the wolf staying right where she was with her tail unconsciously wrapping behind the human as he was gently ready to take on this journey seeing that he's got friends by his side before they found themselves falling asleep

(can end the music here)

-End of Chapter 3-