Lightning Rose.
I stood at the grave of a man who I had never met, who had died a week
before I realized my destiny as a senshi. My friends told me that he had been a
good person at his end, sacrificing himself to save Naru. I can't remember him.
They said he had long red-brown hair, full of waves. Blue, piercing eyes, they
said. I can't remember. A kind voice. Still, I cannot remember. Should I? I
looked down at the faded drawing of him still in my hands, paper just beginning
to fade, the colours long since lost. And so, as the rain started to fall and
lightning began to crack through the grey skies, I looked into my soul to see
if I could give final respects to this man I did not know, under the lightning
filled skies.
I was sitting in a rose garden I had grown myself in the forest of the
castle. The sun filtered down through the dense foliage, and I sat alone by a
beautiful stone I had named Mount. Rose when I was younger. Carefully I clipped
one from the nearest bush. Prince Endymion would be happy to add it to his
collection.
"Princess," a voice called.
"Yes," I answered warily. You never could tell if danger may be near.
"Your father requests your audience." I stood up, brushing off my long
green gown.
"Very well."
The castle of Jupiter itself was reminiscent of something called Greece
on Earth, many pillars, and a white stone. Lightning cracked in the sky above
me, which I was used to. My father was sitting on his white thrown, his staff,
which was mounted with the Jupitrian Gem, was in his hand.
"Daughter," he said, his brown hair moving with his voice, "I have bad
news.
"What is it?"
"An evil queen named Metallia has broken free from her bonds and is
expected to attack the Silver Millennium." My father would bother to ask?
"I leave for the Moon in an hour. Good luck guarding our home." I said as
I left.
The Moon was still peaceful and happy when I arrived, no sign of a war
about to break out. I spoke briefly with Princess Mars, who I saw upon my
arrival, escorted by a handsome young man with blond hair, whom she introduced
to me as Jedite. Princess Mercury smiled as I walked up to her and asked where
she believed the greatest danger lay. Her answer was startling.
"In the towns," she said simply.
"They've already started the invasion?!?" I yelled, a bit too loudly
since everyone in the area looked my way in fear. I sheepishly said, "False
alarm..." Mars gave a funny look to Venus. Mercury grabbed my arm.
"The Queen wishes to speak with you. She's sending you on some sort of
mission."
"What sort of mission?"
"There are spies gathering in the towns, turning the people into members
of the Dark World. You have to go and make sure that no riots break out. The
Queen told me that since lightning spreads a wide range you'd be the most
useful if the people rallied."
"Great." Two minutes on the planet and already I'm going to work. What a
life.
The Queen was standing near the Crescent Moon Wand when I walked in. I
gasped when I saw it, a rare honour.
"Don't be so surprised, Jupiter," she said kindly, "I allow anyone who
wishes to see it see it."
"Still, my Queen, you wish to speak with me?" She glanced out to the sky,
her reflection almost glowing on the glass floor.
"Has Mercury informed you of the present dangers here on the Moon?"
"Yes."
"Then you will accept this mission?"
"Of course."
"Leave now. I know that Prince Endymion has sent some of his people out
to the search, so I hope you don't run into any of them. I wish you luck." she
smiled once more.
"Thank you."
Yet an hour later, tracking through knee high mud in the middle of a
silver tree forest. Yet another day in the life of Jupiter, I thought to
myself. What a mission.
The first village I visited was Tranquillity, about a two hours walk from
the Moon Palace. People there were normal enough, but an old women in a
shimmering green robe pulled me inside her small crystal home. Inside, there
were shelves of pots and glasses, all filled with the strangest looking
concoctions.
"You seek the village of the Dark Kingdom?" she said in her old raspy
voice. I nodded. "Follow the Earth for a day. When you come to a gold tree
follow it's shadow. The village is not far. I hope you can stop them. Mad, are
they. Mad." She shoved me out of her home, leaving me sitting in yet another
puddle on my gluteus maximus for all I was worth. I began to walk.
Little did I know then, but I was being followed.
When I reached the tree, I could sense the dark energy radiating. The
tree itself was not the source, leaves made of the finest gold and lightly
carved. I stopped to wonder who would have put it there, but I would have to
find out another time. I was told to follow it's shadow. I wondered briefly how
the old woman would have known which way the shadow would be pointing, but it
occurred to me, as I looked down once again, that the shadow was pointing
North, when all others I could see were momentarily pointing South. I guess
that solves that, I thought to myself.
The village wasn't far, as the lady had proclaimed, about an hours walk.
I slunk through deep green bush, making my way slowly around, to avoid being
discovered before the time was right. The village was about ten kilometres
long, and the same wide. A large monolith had been placed in the center of it,
and I observed quietly as people carved some sort of word into it. I picked
some dew berries off the tree I was next to and sat down to ponder my next
move. I suppose pretending to be lost is best, I thought. They may still take
in a stranger in hopes that they would join them, if they really are part of
the Dark World. If not, all the more reason to help me. I smiled. I would have
to get my `lost-in-the-wilds' look ready. I stood up, and an arrow came
whizzing at my head.
My reaction was pure instinct, and I summoned lightning to stop the
speeding projectile. I was now reletivly *upset*. Lightning poured from my
fingers, singing all the trees. What fools have tried to kill me?
"We have." A voice answered. Telepaths? THose of the Old Order? They had
been banished for years.
"Who are you?" I questioned, trying to see my attackers, who were either
very brave or very stupid.
"Your captors," one answered, as ten came out from behind the trees. "You
see, Princess, we are in need of your powers."
"You do truly belong to the Dark World, then?"
"Yes. Now, if you will come," one of the fools motioned the bow in a
menacing way, his thick silver beard twisting slightly.
"Not in a hundred millenniums," I said. Lightning swirled around me. I
heard screams, and began to run. I had used up almost all of my energy
reserves. If I didn't escape now, I was doomed.
I had run for almost half an hour, non-stop. I was busy allowing myself a
moments reprieve, chest still heaving, trying to take in more air, when another
arrow shot at me. I was facing it, and it was headed for my heart.
"Get down!" Someone yelled. I was too dazed to do anything when I felt a
heavy body push me aside. My head hit a rock, and the last thing I saw was
hundreds of blue-black blasts shooting my enemies.
"Wh..." I mumbled. My head was pounding. My mumbling was answered by a
`shhhh.'
"They've only been gone ten minutes. Give us some time, alright?" Ten
minutes? He, I think it's a he, I thought, must be the person who saved me. I
felt the pressure which I had not noticed before lift off my back. I turned to
face him. He had blue eyes, and long, reddish-brown hair. His hand was on my
back, in an attempt to keep me out of sight.
"Who are you?" I whispered fiercely. I was on a mission!
"Nephrite." He answered. A human? The Earth general? Interrupting my
work, and expecting me to help him?
"Get off!" I threw him until he landed, face first, into a silverthorn
tree. He responded with a comforting `ow!' Now that I thought of it, that hair,
those eyes...
"What in @$^& did you do that for?" He asked.
"You're blowing my cover."
"Right." He seemed more annoyed then anything.
"Did Serenity send you?"
"No, the Prince did."
"Did he not trust my judgement?" Aggravation. Lots of it.
"He thought you might need some sort of back-up." I let out a barely
audible growl. Somehow, he noticed it. "But, with an arm like that, I think
it's safe for me to leave." He looked at me. Those eyes!
"Uh, well, I could use some help."
"If you're sure."
"My names Jupiter." I stuck out my hand, which he shook.
"I knew that." He seemed to look at my eyes.
"Come on, we need to get in there." I glanced at the city.
"They'll know we're coming by now."
"So?"
Yet another hour later I was walking like an old grandmother, much to my
distaste, as Nephrite led me into the town as if he were my son. A women, her
eyes glazed over a dark black, dressed in a tight yet flowing blue gown
approached us.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes. We wish to join," Nephrite looked at her, as if asking what he was
supposed to say, "the...followings of this town." The woman seemed satisfied by
this answer.
"Have you signed the monolith?"
"Not yet. I was wondering if there was any reason I should... wait."
"Not in the least. Come you may rest at my house and tomorrow sign."
The house was clean, true, I thought, but a better word was probably
barren. No furniture, no paintings, nothing. Nephrite immediately sat down in
the corner and waited for some soup the lady was making. I joined him.
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
"That monolith. I think we had best destroy it."
"What could be so important about signing a hunk of rock anyways?"
"Maybe it's a sort of contract."
"Yeah, I hear you humans have a lot of those."
"Maybe too many."
"Do you think lowly on your race?" He took a moment in answering, the
hesitation clear on his face.
"I believe in the freedom of thought. Your people have mastered this."
"Everyone says that the Jupiterians are too aggressive." I thought about
this. "I don't see how that can make you think we have any more freedom."
"You know what you want to stand for. Your people have and never will
rebel because they aren't forced to fight, but choose to." He leaned back
against the wall. I was about to thank him, (This is the first display of
respect for our `aggressive' attitudes I had seen in a while,) when the woman
walked back in.
"Here is the soup." SHe handed it to us. It was a thin, colourless liquid
with some beans floating around. I wondered how anyone could survive on this. I
should show her how to cook! She looked at us. "My name is Drakonite. Please
sleep here. Tomorrow, you may sign the monolith. I know how hard the wait is,
but believe me, life gets so much better afterwards it's worth it."
"Better?" The blank eyes burned in me.
"The Serenity will fall." She turned her back and left. I swear, I was
about to kill her. The word `mutiny!' rose in my lungs, and I stood up
straighter then any old women should be able to. A strong arm grabbed me. He
spoke softly.
"Jupiter. We cannot risk discovery."
"Are you afraid?"
"What good will we be to the Queen if we are caught?"
"We should leave, then."
"We can't. We have to destroy the monolith."
"I don't want any of your help." At this he looked surprised.
"Very well. I wish you luck, Jupiter." He stood up and left. Left!!!! I
was more furious then before.
"Where the * do you think your going?"
"Home. You clearly don't need me." Now he was amused. He walked out the
door. I followed. When I reached it, he had already disintegrated into the
crowds.
"Just great." I muttered.
The monolith loomed high above me. My nervousness was causing a light
rain, the lightning crackling in the skies. Strange, I thought, I wasn't that
nervous. Drakonite was behind me, looking into my soul with her cold eyes.
"Today you join us." It was a comment more then anything. "What of the
other?"
"I discovered he was a traitor. After my discovery he fled."
"We shall have to find him and destroy him after you sign."
"Yes." Nephrite was still somewhere in the base of my soul. The cold
winds blew a few leaves around my feet, and I thought of him. His smile. I had
known him only a few days, but I felt like he had been there forever, guarding
me from something I did not know, something I did not sense. I felt a feeling
when I thought of him. Trust. How could I trust a human? I felt the cold winds
again, and the storms come closer. Trust. Drakonite moved me closer to the
monolith. Where was that fool when I needed him?
THousands of names covered the monolith, engraved deep into it by a
chisel. It radiated with negative energies. Drakonite handed me a chisel. I
would not enslave myself.
"Supreme Thunder!" I screamed. Power was coursing through the air, but
not of my doing. I focused my thoughts, diving into the centre of my being, my
soul, and unleashed a fury of lightning. "CRASH!"
The resulting explosion sent people in the streets flying. Drakonite fell
back. I focused my energy on the monolith. The silver energy ran up and down
the stone, but in a few seconds I realized that I was not strong enough. I flew
back with the force of my own energy. I was facing the back of a tree again.
Lightning shoot out of my hands, striking down teams of villagers now once more
bent on my destruction. A voice called out.
"What are you waiting for?" It was above me.
"What took you so long?" Somehow, I knew it would be him. Black fire
shoot from his hands.
"I'll hold them off. Focus on the monolith." True to Nephrite's words,
the villagers began to fall back, knocked down the moment they got up by his
blasts. I summoned the thunder once more. It crashed down on the monolith. I
sensed the great structure shudder. I poured more power into it, but was
weakening. Suddenly, more blasts joined my own.
"Do you think we can do it?" I asked. This time I did not need to look
back to see who it was. In a moment he was standing beside me, his blasts
flowing into the lightning. I felt weaker. One of his arms moved behind my back
to support me. Nephrite's brow was creased in concentration. I would not let
the kingdom down. He was determined as I was.
"Supreme Thunder, bring the fires of the skies to rage down on this
abomination!" I relaxed, drawing in my power. He did the same. "Vanquish this
monstrosity. Thunders, CRASH!!!" Blue energy and silver wildfire crashed
together against the onyx stone. For a second, nothing happened. Then the
monolith shattered.
We were in the forest, walking home. The villagers had been freed the
moment the monolith was destroyed. As I had started walking home, he had asked
if I wanted company. I looked at him, and decided to say yes. Now, wandering as
we were through the green jungles, he spoke.
"I suppose humans aren't as bad as you thought, hun?"
"I'll live with you."
"Thanks." I bit my tongue. This was so degrading.
"Thank you for helping me back there."
"Your welcome." A second later, an emissary of the Queen, Euora, ran up
to us.
"General, Guardian!" Nephrite and I jogged up to her.
"What?" We both said at the same time.
"General Jedite has been taken by the Dark World!" Nephrite looked down.
"What happened?"
"We were defending much of the kingdom against spies when Beryl herself
appeared." The earth shook with these words. Beryl.
"Continue." I said. Nephrite was looking worse every moment.
"Beryl demanded that Jedite joined her. Jedite and the Princess Mars had
been sitting in the White Forest Gardens when it happened. Jedite refused and
drew his sword." Nephrite nodded, indicating that Euora should continue. "He
missed Beryl, and she said that she would make him join her, that he could not
resist. Then they both disappeared."
"Euora," I said, "Leave us. Tell the Queen we shall be there soon."
"Very well, Princess." Euora left. Nephrite turned his back and bowed his
head. I saw a single tear trickle down.
"We will save them," I said. I would be strong.
"She will make him become a member of the Dark World, just like those
villagers."
"He was a good friend, then?"
"My only friend." Once again, I fought the urge to bite my tongue.
"That's not true."
"What? You can't even stand humans." He sounded more sarcastic then
anything else.
"I can stand you. Come on. how are we supposed to help him if all you do
is sit around in this forest?" I started dragging him down the path. After a
few moments, I let go, and he walked with me. Friends with a human. This was
going to be one looooonnnng week.
A week later, Neptune was destroyed. We had had no luck finding Jedite.
Nephrite and I sat out in the gardens that night, watching the stars. I watched
him double over. I rushed up.
"What's wrong?"
"Zoisite... Malachite... Beryl has taken them." I could feel his loss. He
turned to face me. "Jupiter, I will be next." We sat down on a rock, as his
words seeped in.
"No," I whispered. I protected the Princess of the Moon. I was her
friend, true, but I had always felt more like her protector. Nephrite was a
true friend. "I will kill Beryl if she even dares to try." I suppose I must
have said it with foolish conviction because Nephrite laughed. A good laugh,
one of the few he had had in what seemed to have been weeks.
"Jupiter, I don't think I can beat her through fighting."
"Then another way." Black lightning struck across the skies. Evil
laughter filled the very air I breathed.
"General Nephrite, I have come for you." Queen Beryl said. Nephrite
glared at her.
"I shall not go willingly."
"Fine." She blasted him. "You know what happened to the others?"
"You forced them to join you." I sat through all of this. It was not my
time for action.
"Forced? Oh," she laughed, glaring harder at him. Gently I brought the
lightning into the space above her. "They came willingly!"
"Liar!" He yelled, throwing more blue-black blasts. Beryl made a fast
motion with her hands. The other generals shimmered in, looking as they had the
last time I had seen them. Something was wrong, though. The eyes.
"Nephrite," Zoisite said, her eyes still blank, "Come feel the power of
the Dark World. We shall rule." It was Jedite that made Nephrite move. For a
moment, I felt that he had given up. But, although it wasn't much, Jedite
nodded `no.' For a moment, light blue eyes replaced the glazed white ones, and
Nephrite stood up with new conviction.
"You shall not take me. I shall free them." Beryl seemed to take interest
in his words for a moment, and weighed the consequences.
"Die then." Black lightning gathered between Beryl's hands, growing
larger with every passing second. He was going to take it!
"No!" I yelled, shoving him out of the way as the blast singed my boots.
We were hiding in some bushes. He touched a strand of my hair.
"Princess Jupiter." He seemed sad. It was the face of someone who knew
their time had come.
"You will not be able to defeat her control." He looked up for a moment,
thinking. I let my shoulders sag. I cried. He put his hand under my chin, and
brought my face up. "On Earth, you always said we made to many contracts."
"I don't think they have ever helped."
"A promise, then." I looked up. "I promise to you, we will have our
freedom. We will not be bound by their darkness. Even if it shall takes us a
millennium, we will be free." I held his hand for a moment. We both stood up,
standing against the darkness of the night. I rose my hands to the sky, and
brought them down with a force I did not know even I had. Pure white light
crashed, and for a moment, the sky was clear again. Beryl shielded herself, and
the generals disappeared. Nephrite ran headfirst, lunging at Beryl. Screaming,
blue flames leapt from his hands. I put my hands out as far as I could, and
focused my last blast. I closed my eyes. Screaming, the ball of lightning
engulfed both Beryl and my friend. When I opened my eyes again, I was alone.
I closed my eyes, and let a tear trickle down my face. He had kept his
promise. In the end, we were both freed. I placed the faded drawing at the base
of the tree, and picked up a handful of leaves which I crumbled into dust, and
threw to the wind. The skies cleared, and the leaves rose to the clouds, free.
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