Epilogue

The bright light protected Sirius as passed through the ages. Her thoughts were turned to Ashitaka and San. Even though she had only been able to meet them for a short time, it had made all of the difference for her. She did little to help prevent the destruction of the Shishi-gami, but she couldn't have done much. She was lucky enough to have even met Ashitaka and San face to face.
She wasn't there to help at all, just to learn. After everything that Sirius faced in her long existence, it was every rare for not to intervene with any war, especially one that an ancient god sent her too.
The senshi sighed and let her eyes drift shut, hopefully Hotaru hadn't missed her. Sleep consumed her before another thought filled her head.

"She's over here! Tsuta-chan can you hear me? Please wake up!"
Sirius's shoulders were being shaken violently by someone. Her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted by her purple-headed counterpart.
"Tsuta! Thank goodness you're alright!"
Hotaru consumed Tsuta in a breathtaking hug. A confused look covered Tsuta's face as her face turned blue.
"Hotaru...can't breath!"
"Oops sorry!"
The senshi of silence released her friend from the death grip and Tsuta gasped for air.
"What did you do that for?!" Tsuta asked a little mad.
"What? When I woke up, you weren't in the tent, so I went looking for you. But I couldn't find you so I told Oswada-san and the whole camp has been looking for you since last night."
"You mean I have only been gone one day?"
A confused expression washed over Hotaru's face. "Just what happened to you?"
Before the silver senshi could answer two men came over to them and helped Tsuta to her feet. One of them put a blanket over her shoulders, they both escorted the two girls back to their tent.


After the search party was called off and Tsuta told everyone a made up story about going for a walk and getting lost, she told Hotaru about Inoshishi and how he sent her back in time. She told Hotaru about Ashitaka, the Tatara Ba and Lady Eboshi, Gonza, Kouroku and Toki, San, Moro, and Jiko-Bou. Tsuta explained the Shishi-gami and how his head was supposed to be the key to eternal youth and immortality. Lastly she told about the Kodamas and how she looked like San.
"So you couldn't even destroy the Tatari-gami?" Hotaru asked.
"No, my attack went right through him. But it already happened, I was just there to watch and learn."
"To learn what though?"
"I know it has to do with Shiratori Uri and how he wants to destroy the forest in this time. But I can't just go up to him and ask him to leave to forest alone or evil spirits will try to destroy humankind."
"Well, there is always our alteregos."
"I don't think that would be a good idea. If the senshi got involved he would know something was up and he would be even more determined to get to the iron."
The two fell back on their cots and went to sleep.

The next morning, Tsuta's alarm clock went off. It was the very loud kind that hit two bells at a rapid pace. Hotaru groaned and put her pillow over her head. Tsuta sat up and smashed the alarm clock with one of her books. The clock fell to pieces, but an electric current went through the broken pieces and the clock fixed itself. It started to clang again.
"Fine we're up!" Hotaru yelled.
The clock stopped and went back to its innocent ticking.
"I don't get how you were able to make that thing fix itself," Hotaru said as she changed into her clothes.
"I didn't do it. This is about the hundredth alarm clock I've owned and the orb reinforces all of them with some kind of auto repair computer chip."
Tsuta changed into work clothes and followed Hotaru out of the tent. Just as the senshi walked out of her tent, she bumped into someone.
"Gomenosai!" she said. She looked at the person she bumped into. "Oswada-san, it is nice to see you again."
Hotaru and Tsuta bowed, Oswada did the same.
"It's alright. Actually I am very glad to see you two. Have you recovered from you hike in the woods, Sei-san?" he laughed.
"I think I have. I don't think I will go for a walk at night for awhile."
"If you don't me asking," Hotaru spoke up, "Is your cousin still planning to destroy the forest?"
"Yes he is. Now that you mention that, his wife called me not long after you two visited me yesterday. The strange thing is, she mentioned that Uri was having nightmares about a young girl with red tattoos on her face threatening to kill him if he destroyed the forest."
"Did you say a young girl with red tattoos?" Tsuta exclaimed.
"Yes, it reminds me of Mononoke-hime. Maybe he actually listened to my stories for once."
The silver senshi's eyes grew round and they started to shine. "Oswada-san, Hotaru and I have to go. It was nice to talk to you, sayonara."
Tsuta grabbed Hotaru's arm and raced back to their tent. She ran into the tent and let go of her friend's arm.
"What did you do that for?!" Hotaru scowled at the red mark on her arm.
"I think I know how to save the forest!"
"Did you have to yank my arm off in the process?"
"I paid you back for the hug."
"So how are you going to save the forest?"
"I just need some red lipstick and a black headband."
Hotaru raised her eyebrows and sighed. "Are we leaving then?"
"I think that would be good idea. I think we have done enough work here to earn extra credit for school."
"Alright, let's just pack out bags and find out when the next bus to Tokyo arrives."
Tsuta smiled and started to pack her duffel bag.

Shiratori Uri sat at his desk and gulped down his tenth cup of coffee. For the past two months his dreams were filled with a young girl with red tattoos on her face and white wolves. In his dreams they threatened to kill him if he even removed one speck of iron from the forest.
"That girl," he muttered, "There has to be some way to find out who she is."
He poured himself another cup of coffee and polished it off. He leaned back in his black leather chair and put his feet up on his desk.
His entire office was black or gray, a black leather couch sat across from the desk. Gray file cabinets were in the two corners by his desk. The desk itself was glass and black legs held it up. A black computer rested on top along side, a pen jar, a nameplate, stapler, tape, a black fax machine/phone, and his planner. One of the walls was a huge picture window the showed the tops of the skyscrapers and if you looked hard enough you could have seen Tokyo Tower.
The intercom on the fax machine/phone came to life.
"Shiratori-san?" a female secretary said.
The middle aged man sighed and put his black coffee cup down. He pressed the response button and answered. "What is it Sakuya?"
"A girl is out here to see you."
"Send her away."
"Danna, I think she should really let her in."
"Why?"
"Well, she...uh...can I let her in?"
Shiratori rolled his eyes. "Fine."
The door slowly opened, a girl dressed in jean shorts and a navy blue T-shirt walked in. A black headband circled across her forehead and three triangular tattoos were etched onto her face. Shiratori gasped when he saw her.
"You're...you're... that girl from my dreams," he sputtered.
She gave him an evil smile. "So you recognize me. I think you know why I am here."
"Who are you?!"
"The humans call me Mononoke-hime."
"Mononoke-hime? You mean that girl in the legend my cousin told me about?"
"I am more than a legend."
"How can you still be alive?! Are you just some kind of joke my cousin's trying to play on me?!"
"This has nothing to do with your cousin!" she snarled. "I have warned you to stop your plans for the Shishi-gami's forest, but you did not heed them! So I think I should fulfill what I said I would do."
"Wait, how can you be Mononoke-hime, you dress differently!"
Out of nowhere a spear appeared in the girl's hand. "I try to blend in with the times." She held the spear to Shiratori's throat, she ran it up and down his neck as she grabbed the collar of his shirt. "I am not afraid to kill, I have done it before and I will do it again. Now will you reconsider your proposal on the forest."
"All I have to do is scream and..."
The girl pulled the collar tighter and pressed the blade into his skin, just close enough that it wouldn't draw blood.
"Were you threatening me? I have spent many a generation making sure that people like you don't destroy what is left of nature. People like you destroy the true beauty of the Earth. Now which is more important? Making a little yen or your life?"
Beads of sweat dripped down the man's face and onto his black suit.
"I..."
She pulled harder into the collar. "Well!"
"Shiratori-san, is everything alright?"
Shiratori and the girl both turned their heads, the door was slowly opening. As Sakuya opened the door, she saw Shiratori in the middle of the room with his eyes shut. He opened one of his eyes and saw that the girl was gone and he straightened his suit.
"Nothing is wrong, I was just uh..."
"What happened to that girl?"
"She left, you must not have seen her, well carry on." He walked back to his desk and sat down.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"No, I am..."
A wolf howled in the distance and he started to sweat again.
"Actually there is something you can do. I want you cancel the contract I have with the steel mill. Tell them the source of iron I have found is not very good."
Sakuya gave her boss a queer look. "Are you sure, Shiratori-san?"
"Of course I am sure! Now do it!" He slammed his fist down on the desk.
"Right away Danna!"
After Sakuya left, Shiratori shook his fist to try to numb the pain.
"I hope that satisfies you Mononoke-hime! You can have your damn forest!"
Another howl echoed in the distance and the middle aged businessman dove under his desk.

Back in the Past...
Ashitaka and San sat on a hill with Yakkuru and the Yama-inu. San leaned her head on Ashitaka's shoulder. He pointed to a single bright star in the sky, that twinkled as he pointed to it.
"The Hoshi no Inu!" San exclaimed.
"Is that what its called?" Ashitaka asked.
"Yes, mother told me when I was younger that if I was ever in trouble that star would protect me."
"It seemed to have done its job," Ashitaka smiled at her.
San sighed happily and closed her eyes. Ashitaka put his arm around her and held her close to him.

The End




There cannot be a happy ending to the fight between the raging gods and humans. However, even in the middle of hatred and killings, there are things worth living for. A wonderful meeting, or a beautiful thing can exist.

We depict hatred, but it is to depict that there are more important things.

We depict a curse, to depict the joy of liberation.
What we should depict is, how the boy understands the girl, and the process in which the girl opens her heart to the boy.
At the end, the girl will say to the boy,
"I love you, Ashitaka. But I cannot forgive humans."
Smiling, the boy should say,
"That is fine. Live with me."
I want to make such a movie.
- from Miyazaki's Project proposal for "Mononoke Hime" [1995] (Translated by Ryoko Toyama)


Cold iron has killed many of the ancients
From the mists of Avalon
To the rugged cliffs of Valhalla
From Mt. Olympus
To the floating isle of Meru
All once graced the thoughts of man
But many are long forgotten and lost in history
Never to be found again
Yet when all is lost
Maybe one can see what has been lost
And recover the ancient secrets of the past
Perhaps cold iron will not win
But I would like to see the day when those of the immortal blood
Return to a magicless world