Chapter 22 - The Dark World Adventures Part 1

Ashitaka opened his eyes, and found himself in a small field. There were many strange buildings in the background...buildings that Ashitaka had never seen before. Bright lights came out of small holes on the buildings. It was dark, yet Ashitaka could make out two shadows that were sitting on some sort of object.

(Of course, bring from his own time, Ashitaka did not know that the buildings he was looking at were skyscrapers, and that the object the two people were sitting on was a bench.)

He attempted to walk past the bench and move towards the buildings. As he passed the bench, however, he felt something hit his feet. He went to pick it up as one of the figures sitting on the bench approached him. It was a little girl, wearing nice clothing and had a smile on her face.

"Can I have that back please?" She said to Ashitaka.

Ashitaka took a look at the object. It was red, felt like metal, and there was something inside of it. As he shook it, something flew into the air. Catching it, Ashitaka was holding what looked like candy. The little girl motioned to get Ashitaka to eat it. It tasted like grapes.

He handed back the container, and the girl gave him a bow before returning to the bench. A man was the other figure seated there. As the girl sat down, the man nodded to Ashitaka and said "Thank you."

Before he could respond, a bright light shone around Ashitaka. It quickly turned to darkness, leaving Ashitaka alone with another figure. It was the same man who introduced Ashitaka to the Spirit World.

"Ah, I see you've managed to visit an Epoch," The man said.

"But I know why you're really here...you are here to find your companion. San, correct?"

Ashitaka hesitated for a second. "Yes. Where can I find her!?" His voice grew impatient, as if he had spent many hours in the Spirit World already.

The man looked around, as if he were able to see something in the darkness that Ashitaka could not. After a few seconds, he turned his attention back towards Ashitaka.

"The spirit you encountered was a Mononoke, or at least that's what you mortals would call it. Here, he has no name, but he does have a purpose..."

Ashitaka hesitated for a second, then asked, "What is his purpose?"

"To feed."

Ashitaka snapped. "Tell me where San is!"

After another look around, the man responded. "It's not a matter of where she is. She is right here. The matter, however, is when she is. The mononoke took her into the past...actually, it would be the future from where we are now."

Before Ashitaka could show his confusion, the man continued. "She is located in a time before your own, yet in a time after the one we are in right now."

"How do I get to her, then!?"

"Your powers allow you to travel between your own time and the spirit world, yes? You simply use it to travel to the desired location in the realm. Simply feel her presence, and your power will do the rest. Go on." The man motioned to Ashitaka's arm, which Ashitaka raised soon after.

He closed his eyes and tried to feel San's presence. As he did so, the pain in his arm increased dramatically. He could see visions of many spirits and souls, all across the Sprit Realm. Eventually, he found San.

Ashitaka quickly opened his eyes. In front of him lay another portal, similar to the one he used to enter the realm. He took a look at the man, who then walked right into the portal. Ashitaka did the same.

The two ended up in another plane of the Spirit Realm. The two were on the side of a mountain, with a great village down at the bottom. From what Ashitaka could see, San was nowhere to be found.

"What happened? I saw San, so why is she not here?" Ashitaka asked, feeling dizzy from his power.

"This power requires a great deal of energy, at a potential much greater than a mortal has. Spirits can use it easily because, well, they are immortal beings with immense spiritual power." The man said. "It also requires much focus. Try again...and if you fail, I will take us to her location."

"Why can't you take us there right now!? Enough of these games!" Ashitaka was starting to get impatient.

"You need to learn how to master these powers." The old man said. "I have seen your fate...and I have seen the great struggles you will face. This power is a necessary part of your future. Get used to it now."

Ashitaka sat down on the grass, closed his eyes, and tried again. He found San much quicker than before, meaning that he was at least close enough to her.

After opening his eyes, he saw yet another portal. The two stepped in this one.

As soon as Ashitaka stepped through, he fell straight down. Apparently he created the portal a few feet higher than the ground. The man floated gently down to the ground.

Ashitaka looked around. He was in a large cave, with blood and bones all over the place. There were dismal drawings on the wall, all showing a strangely shaped figure...the mononoke.

"I think this is the place." He said, although he was not proud that he found it.

A roar came from the southern part of the cave, followed by the scream of a girl. Ashitaka knew that it was San. He pulled out his sword and ran towards the noise.

The man stopped him. "I highly doubt your sword will do any damage against this mononoke. Not all spirits can be killed through mortal tools. There is another way, however..."

Ashitaka stood for a moment, put his sword away, then listened to what the man had to say.