The Heritage of a Queen

Getting a refreshing sleep for the first time since the weird "unlucky" and "imaginary" incidents as Ayumi decided to refer to them and consider them , and unbothered by the usual dream, the girl was ready for the awaited field-trip. The destination was an old forest with numerous springs. An opportunity for the high school girls to learn about various rare plants and flowers. On the bus, as this information sank slowly into Ayumi's realization, a sense of fear and dread was provoked in the young girl's heart. This place was the perfect territory for that deranged vengeful earth – controlling girl to exact her mysterious revenge. But no, she quickly omitted the thought from her mind refusing to give it any validation. Imagination it was, and imagination it will remain.

Upon arrival, the serene sight that welcomed the school girls was enough to bring easiness of mind and tranquility to any disturbed heart.

"This is magical! I have never been here before!"

Yuki exclaimed excitedly, eager to explore every inch of the place and ready to stray from the trip conductor and teachers at any available chance. Chisato extended her arms and back like a cat, inhaling the fresh air and teasing her friend's for her excitement:

"Yes indeed, it is the perfect spot for spirits and entities to hide, maybe you can perform some of your weird rituals to summon something later!"

"I would not miss the chance!!"

"And miss your graduation chance, and possibly your other cursed friend!"

Chisato joked nudging Ayumi who assured them that there was nothing to worry about.

"I am ready to enjoy myself to the fullest!"

The students were put in different groups, each with a teacher, to investigate the place taking turns in searching the scheduled places. Unfortunately Ayumi was not in the same group Yuki and Chisato ended up in, but that did not mean she could not enjoy herself. She followed her group's assigned teacher, listening carefully to the instructions then the information the teacher was explaining about some endangered type of plants. Some girls were trying to sneak with their boyfriends to make an adventure of their own but Ayumi ignored them, even as a boy from her class was trying to convince her to sneak away, she refused. She was not one for high school romance, although as an hour passed and the teacher never stopped for a moment jamming information Ayumi and the rest of her group could no longer keep up with, she began to consider the boy's offer. He was not a playboy type, maybe he really was trying to approach her nicely and she should give the topic of hanging out with boys and trying to get a boyfriend at least one chance, a topic she never included in her life at all. As the thought of acceptance was roaming her mind, her legs stumbled upon a large stone. No one noticed her cursing or hugging her bruised leg, the group went on and only that boy slowed behind waiting for her eyes to communicate a silent acceptance but before she rushed to him, she turned to glare angrily at the criminal stone who turned to be far more interesting to her than the poor boy.

The stone was round with smooth cut edges, placed on the ground like a little shrine offering, engraved upon it something that upon further inspection resembled some kind of seal; it was a sun emitting rays drawn like thunders conveying both warmth and power. An image stormed into the girl's mind involuntarily; the image of the woman from her dream holding a long spear carved at its end a similar sun. What were the odds? Zero! Ayumi was certain of this, then suddenly the conversation of the two strange girls popped into her thoughts along the name of the queen they mentioned and followed: Amaterasu, the sun.

Watching the girl being more interested in a stone than him, the boy sighed in defeat, yelled at his crush to follow the group so that she would not get lost and went after his other friends without waiting for her. Ayumi wanted to snap a picture of the stone, to make sure that another person saw the same carving she was seeing. To get a neat picture, she dusted the stone to reveal the symbol more clearly. However, the moment she touched the stone the small rabbit hole behind her started shaking, its entrance was hidden by entangled branches and roots which Ayumi should have recognized at first sight but failed to do so, distracted by the stone and in a moment, that opening expanded pulling the fear - stricken girl inside, as if devoured by the cave.

 ***

"Chiyasu!!"

Ayumi whispered angrily, unable to believe what had just happened, as she staggered to stand up, her knees abraded and her right sleeve torn.

"Chiyasu, is that you?!"

Ayumi raised her voice in a challenging tone, this was going out of control! After screaming the name a few other times, demanding the other girl show herself and stop hiding, Ayumi calmed down thinking she should not address the matter as if it is real and no more than just an unlucky coincidence. However, another voice, much stronger and gruff roared instead of the melodic yet sarcastic tone of that brown - haired girl affirming the frightened student that this was no coincidence and not the work of her imagination.

"Are you saying that the princess of earth is here as well? Is today my lucky day at last?!!"

"Who are you? Who is speaking? Is this a prank? "

"So cruel of you to have forgotten me, Queen Amaterasu! But it is not surprising considering you sealed and destroyed most of the demons around!"

"If this is a prank, it is not funny! Besides, I am not Amaterasu!"

Ayumi turned around terrified of the voice that did not sound human... it had an animalistic howl to it yet spoke in human language urging the girl's heart to beat ten times faster... she turned left and right looking from where it was coming unable to see anything in the dark. She called for help, as loud as fear could raise one's voice but her calls did not reach beyond the nest of branches and roots sealing the entrance.

"You have returned after all these centuries as a cowered I see! How disappointing! But it won't stop me from taking my revenge!"

The ground beneath Ayumi's feet shook violently, causing her to fall again. In utter horror filling her eyes and mind, she witnessed a giant monster with long horns and scalded body slowly staggering in its rise as if trying to slip out of some chains while detaching itself from the rocks forming the walls of the cave as if it was made from them. 

"What are you?!"

Ayumi's voice barely left her dried throat, as the monster finally emerged from its confinement.

"What form have you taken, you savage murderous queen? How pathetic! And where is the princess of the earth? You called her name… she is no less cruel and ruthless than you were… I heard she's never stopped her crusade against my kind and has been killing and sealing my brethren all these past years! Where is she!!"

The beast roared demanding, and Ayumi barely managed to repeat the same words in a poor attempt at negotiating:

"I told I am not this Amaterasu person! Your beef is not with me!"

But as the girl predicted, the monster was beyond negotiation or talking, waving his giant hand in Ayumi's direction trying to crush her. Paralyzed with fear, all what she could do was scream as she embraced her undisputed demise until a similar sensation flew through her body, the same one from the time when her grandmother was in danger from the earth girl attack. In a desperate trial, Ayumi gathered her failing courage and cried like the warriors from the movies and anime extending her hands, and to her surprise and the beast's fear a pure bolus of light emanated from her hands pushing the horned monster back. Ayumi smiled in victory but her smile was quickly twisted into a painful grimace... Looking at her palms; they were burnt badly, and her whole body was shaking uncontrollably. 

"Amaterasu, even in this pathetic form, you have truly returned…"

The beast groaned in agony, his thin skin cracking and bleeding but apparently the attack was not enough to defeat or stop him as he went on in a sadistic disappointment:

"But this is not even half of your power!A similar attack like this one in the past would have obliterated me instantly! You have not recovered you entire power or perhaps it had been stolen! Either way, this is my perfect chance!"

The monster quickly regained his stance and repeated his attack. Ayumi's body was shaken with pain but her reflexes took precedence along her life; she rolled on the ground avoiding the first attack, then stood despite the pain coursing through her limbs and ran in the darkness. She did not dare look back but the steps of the giant leaving a loud echo were not easy to miss. He was after her, his only disadvantage being slow due to his size and body structure. There was no way Ayumi could pull another attack, it would shatter her body for sure, she herself was not sure if she had the energy to do so in the first place, even when her pride was provoked by the monster's repeated taunts of turning "weak" and "pathetic" and "behaving like a coward instead of the fearless queen she used to be". These taunts made her blood boil; first, she was not that damn queen. Second, what choice did she have? An ordinary human facing some rocky scalded monster similar to those from fantasy movies. Third and most importantly: how on earth was this happening! What was happening! Ayumi was pulled from her thoughts debating the actuality of what was happening as the darkness grew denser inside the cave, leaving the girl to run in utter blindness before hitting a wall, almost breaking her nose.

"There is no escape now!"

The giant beast jumped with an unexpected agility, joining both his grips to crush the girl who could only scream.

"Sorry to bust your fun, but this girl is mine!"

A familiar voice broke through the cave, a voice that at any other moment would not be considered welcomed by the high school student, but even as the earth girl was claiming the girl as her prey, Ayumi was happy to view her like a temporary savior as the latter emerged from the roots and branches sealing the cave opening.

"Chiyasu… the princess of the…"

Before the monster could complete his sentence, the cave ground blew a storm of soil and rocks pushing the monster miles away and knocking him against one of the cave walls. Ayumi barely surviving the attack herself by rolling to the opposite direction of the princess's attack though she ended up buried in the pile of fallen rubble.

"You might want to be more precise with your next attack!"

Ayumi panted as she dug herself up, only to see Chiyasu smiling viciously, declaring without words that her attack was meant for the beast and the girl, there was no discrimination in this fight and Ayumi cursed her luck. The beast staggered trying to regain his balance, but the earth princess granted him no such time, immediately wrapping him with robust roots before unleashing a second similar attack while gloating:

"I knew the seal that woman put on you was weakening by the time passage since her demise, and I sealed the cave especially to ensure you never awaken again, but you insisted on getting your demise and I will gladly give it with pleasure!!"

Ayumi's heart, though terrified and nearly killed by the same beast, fluttered in a different type of fear and softness. That girl was ruthless, enjoying the kill like a mad beast herself. And for a second, she felt sorry for the sealed monster but she knew he had to be dealt with, otherwise, if left free, who knows what destruction it was able of bringing along? And her friends and teachers were just outside… making them the closest and first targets. But in a last desperate try; she yelled at Chiyasu:

"Cannot you just seal him once more? More potently this time?"

The beast's eyes looked at the young girl astonished, but his time was up.

"He is already got his second chance, and I usually give none!"

Chiyasu declared finishing the monster with a single command of her hand, it crumbled down into pieces, shredded stones and dust. Ayumi took a step backward realizing she's the next target and Chiyasu wasted no time indeed. She turned with a supernatural agility directing another storm of rocks and soil at the girl, who knowing the risk tried to summon another light attack praying it would not be to no avail. And this time her body cooperated with her fear as pure light was released from her hands as she screamed in agony. Witnessing this light after so many centuries, the earth girl stood abashed seeing her rocky tornado shattering in every direction, there was even a rock that bounced back at her leaving a scratch on her face. Ayumi collapsed down eyeing her burnt hands in terror. Her breathing became ragged and she felt the soul leaving her body from the immense pain. But it was nothing compared to the immense disdain and rage that filled Chiyasu's green eyes.

Her pride was bruised more deeply and dangerously than her cheek.

"You… you dare… compel my own element against me?!"

The princess of the earth dictated every word with a venomous tone. Her pupils widening to an inhuman degree, glittering with a green light as the stones and the rocks from all around the cave spiraled around her midair.

"I WAS PROTECTING MYSELF! I DID NOT MEAN TO…"

Ayumi tried to explain through the pain, but the princess of the earth was no longer listening; it seemed that while she was conjuring her attack, she was trying to assume a new form, to merge with the elements of the earth, but in doing so and failing, evidenced by the agony and frustration distorting her face, her anger stemmed with even more hatred and cruel intentions and Ayumi realized there was truly no escape this time.

"Reiha…" Ayumi whispered in fear and upon her impending death, she shouted in a stronger voice.

"REIHA…."

In a second, a storm of wind blow the cave entrance destroying the barrier of roots and branches and a slim elegant figure, though still clothed in the same bland outfit, emerged from the wind; blond – greyish hair flowing synchronically with the blowing wind. Chiyasu did not back down, and the two storms of earth and wind clashed together. The cave shook and started to collapse. The two attacks cancelled each other, it was a close tie but while the earth princess was preparing for another attack, Reiha declared:

"This cave is about to collapse, we will survive but she clearly won't be able to…"

"Why not? Is she not the queen of light? If she was not, the demon would not have awakened to seek his revenge against the woman who defeated and sealed him!"

"You truly dare kill this girl, the holder of our queen's power?"

Reiha asked, a warning layering her clam voice, and for a moment, Chiyasu paused her attack and remained silent before bursting out:

"That woman is no queen of mine!"

"But she is my queen!"

Reiha unleashed another strong gust of wind, careful not to hasten the cave collapse, and while Chiyasu was busy dealing with it, the princess of the wind leapt to Ayumi's side carrying her with the ease of carrying a baby and jumped out of the collapsing cave.

Ayumi leached herself to the girl keeping her safe, as she landed outside, blowing away any rubble or rocks that came their way. Blushing at the closeness of her face to the woman's chest, Ayumi leaned back a little uttering her thanks. The wind girl replied with no apparent emotions.

"This is my duty, nothing more."

"But what of her, Chiyasu?"

Ayumi turned at the collapsed cave, that soon attracted the attention of the students groups. Reiha pouted in dismay, and Ayumi took the hint that her savior did not like dealing with humans. But before anyone could reach the cave, she asked Ayumi, showing as little surprise as her stiff features could show:

"Are you really worried about her? She wants to kill you, and won't back down."

"She's gotten me confused with someone else, I would like to clear this out, not kill her!"

Ayumi answered watching in sadness the cave.

"She is not after the wrong woman. She is just after the wrong body."

"What?!"

"And she won't back down despite knowing this."

"What do you mean?"

"And you need not worry about her."

Ayumi turned again at the cave following Reiha's gaze, and fair enough, the woman's words did not disappoint as Chiyasu rose from the rubble more furious than ever.

"If you insist on protecting this woman, then you are my enemy as well!"

"Cannot you see; the light she held? You can't defeat that! Be reasonable now Chiyasu and return to your senses."

Reiha firmly demanded but Chiyasu refused to listen, elaborating:

"Her current body cannot handle such power, she will be dead by the next attack she releases, but I won't! be!"

The princess of the earth challenged, taking her fighting stance. Reiha was ready, though bored already from these repeated futile battles wasting a precious time that could be used to discover how to unleash Amaterasu's power, and more importantly, the reason they have returned to this world. She looked with a sympathetic expression at Ayumi's hands. They needed this hidden power, but had to find a way to release it safely, not fight among themselves and by fight, she was clearly the one capable of it against the princess of the earth, and not the dazzled school girl. 

Reiha put Ayumi down, casting a barrier to prevent other humans from approaching and seeing what was going on.

"Do you really want to do this now?"

Reiha almost complained, but not shying from the fight to prove her point.

"I will settle this once and for all!"

"Please, please stop fighting! I myself still cannot comprehend what is going on!"

Ayumi pleaded, fearing for her life and the nearby students, she knew Reiha was not keen on harming humans but as for Chiyasu, she was still not certain.

"This is none of my concern!"

The princess of the earth spoke, stumping the earth angrily to prepare for her attack. Reiha sighed in frustration, a whirlwind surrounding her. Just then, before the two powers collided, a white light, shunning that of the sky engulfed the place inside the spiritual barrier, to which both princess stopped in their tracks surprised to witness it. Ayumi was wondering what was going to happen now but the white light boded no ill – intention. It was pure like the dusk gleam and calming like the moon's bright. Amidst the white light, a floating figure appeared standing on the rock with the sun seal on it.