The Silver War
Attack on the Kingdom of Thunder
It was early in Jovian fall, and the planet's famous electrical storms were growing fewer and further between as the days wore on. On this cool day, the princess of Jupiter, young Makoto Kino, was with her best friend, Princess Minako of Venus, inside the flowery, fortressed walls of Castle Io. It was almost tropical on this moon of Jupiter most of the time, but this day was very temperate--the weather was absolutely perfect. Makoto and Minako laughed together over a small table outside, sipping tea.
"So how was Ganymede last night, eh, Makoto?" grinned Minako mischievously, squinting an eye. Makoto flushed with embarrassment. The chilly, nearly deserted moon Ganymede was where the finest Jovian lookout soldiers were stationed--and also where Makoto often ran away with her handsome knight-protector Seiji to play. The two young lovers had spent last night there in Makoto's miniature castle together in celebration of his 'promotion' to head commander of the Jovian army. And although she knew nothing 'went on' there, Minako loved to tease Makoto relentlessly about it. "You're lucky, you know," Minako teased, "Planet Venus has no moons, so my parents can always find me and Touma, we can't do anything bad!" She laughed as Makoto's face flamed.
"Minako, we don't do anything immoral, you sick little girl!" Makoto insisted with a certain level of disgust in her tone. "Do you and Touma ever think about something like that??" She shot back. Minako's eyes widened.
"Most certainly not!!" She replied incredulously. Then she laughed joyfully. "Oh come on, now, Makoto, this is silly. We both know each other to be totally innocent, so let's stop making each other mad about it, shall we?" Makoto smiled and nodded her agreement. Just then, a call came from the mainland. It was Makoto's mother, Queen Lita of Jupiter.
"Makoto, you must come quickly!" she said. Makoto was puzzled.
"But...why, Mother?"
"Just come!" she commanded, but not harshly. "And I think Princess Minako ought to leave for Venus now." The Queen's tone was quiet and sinister, and Makoto worried--this was completely unlike her mother.
"Um, all right, Mother..." she hung up. "Minako-chan, I think you had better go now. This sounds important. Oh, I hope Seiji is all right..." Makoto worried, as Minako started slowly toward the instant transportation chamber.
"He's probably just tired from all the screaming," Minako chimed in with a grin of hilarity. She laughed hysterically as Makoto shoved her rather violently into the chamber.
"Oh, get out of here, you perverted witch!" Makoto said, though she was chuckling softly, too.
"Bye, Mako-chan! I hope everything is all right!" Minako called, still giggling, just before she left.
"You, too! Bye!" Makoto replied with a smile and a wave. As soon as Minako was safely home on Venus, Makoto hopped inside and teleported to her house on the Jovian mainland.
When Makoto arrived at the house in which she usually lived, she found a note tacked up beside the transportation unit. "We're at the palace, Makoto, hurry," it said shortly. Makoto's face paled a little. Her parents had always made her live in a house like a normal child instead of royalty, so she didn't get spoiled (despite that the 'house' was a luxurious mansion). They never went to the palace, with or without her, unless there was some kind of military emergency. Makoto rushed back into the chamber and arrived at the palace in seconds.
"Makoto!" She heard her mother's voice calling her, and saw her as she hurried near. Makoto gave the Queen a fearful look of inquiry. "Oh, Makoto, it's terrible," she sobbed, "Queen Beryl is launching an attack on the Kingdom!" Makoto gasped.
"I knew this would happen, that witch! Are we going to be all right, can I help?" She searched the Queen's face frantically for some type of sign.
"No, Makoto, we're not going to be all right, and you can not help this. Even you can't withstand Beryl's attacks this time, she's too strong, and she has our army outnumbered by thousands!" The Queen was in tears now, realizing what was about to happen. "Our Kingdom will fall, Makoto...and I know it's hard to take in, but so will I, and your father as well. We must stay to control the Kingdom, to keep our soldiers under control, but in reality we can do nothing--we are powerless. Our army will try to hold them off for as long as possible so that we can warn the Moon and the planets before us to gather their armies and prepare for a battle against hundreds of thousands of soldiers...but Makoto, I want you to go to the Moon. It is safest there with our empress, Queen Serenity, and the Ginzuishou. You must save yourself, you are the only way through which anyone or anything about our Kingdom can survive."
"No, Mother, no!" Makoto said. "We can't give up!"
"We won't, my daughter...however, the situation is all but impossible. Run away, as fast as you can, before Beryl can find you." Tears ran down Makoto's face.
"No! Where is my Seiji?" Makoto cried out.
"He's outside the palace directing the armies. He has only been named the supreme commander two days ago, but our only hope is that he will come through as able in this situation as we know him to be." The Queen replied.
"Oh, Lord! When is he returning to the palace!?" The little princess was in hysterics now. She feared insanely for the life of the man she loved, and her mother's response did nothing to calm her nerves.
"Makoto, we don't know when--or if--he'll be back," she said quietly. Makoto's tears thickened.
"I have to go," she told her mother. "I can't leave him out there when I know his life is in danger."
"No, Makoto, no! Please!" Queen Lita cried, suddenly embracing her daughter tightly. "You must go to the Moon. Seiji is a warrior, your protector, and commander of our planet's armies. It is his duty to risk his life for us, but as the princess it is your job to do just the opposite. You must stay alive. He told me to let you know that he loves you, and he wishes you to be safe--he, too, wants you to go to the Moon, where you may be saved by our empire's strongest defenses. Makoto, please. You must..." She started to cry now, and Makoto hugged her close, although her tears ran freely as well.
"I'm sorry, Mother..." she whispered into her mother's ear, gently lifting her up and escaping her hold. "I'm sorry." With that, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the long gown she wore. "I love you, Mother! Tell Father the same!" She called back, in tears. She would miss them so...but she had to find Seiji. She must be with him, even if she fell at the hands of Beryl. Makoto didn't see as her mother dropped to her knees sobbing, knowing that she would never see her beloved daughter again.
Makoto ran out of the palace to find Seiji. Where could he be? she asked herself silently. She ran toward the defense base between the castle palisades, where soldiers were gathered up in the darkness. Lightning crackled overhead and thunder crashed through the sky with a great roar. In a bright flash of light, she saw him--clad in a royal Jovian green suit of armor and holding in his hand a great sword of the finest metal alloys, Seiji stood atop a tower, shouting orders to thousands of Jovian troops lined along the fortified walls of the palace. Makoto saw that more and more soldiers were arriving by the second, dispatched from every station to gather at this place, and her Seiji was commanding them all. She felt so nervous for him as she saw him climb down dutifully from the tower into a small building, and the rain began to pound down.
Harder and harder the rain came down in the darkness that had enshrouded the entire planet. Makoto could barely see or hear anything now, but she heard the wind whip even harder as her dress and hair flapped, slapping her legs and face painfully, and she saw as a great shadow rose over all as the lightning struck once again. It was a monstrous, evil shadow from the dark reaches of Beryl's kingdom, she knew. Her eyes went wide, and she raised the henshin wand she had taken even before she left Castle Io.
"Great Thunderstorms of Jupiter, lend me thy strength!" Makoto shouted to the storm. "I am thy descendant, thy mortal incarnation, thy Princess--I command thee, my Lightning, my Thunder, my Earth, my Spirit! Bestow upon me thy undying power, let the Lord's will guide thine!" Her transformation was complete in just moments, and she ran to Seiji as fast as her boots could carry her in the rain, using her elemental power to aid her in speed. She felt bare without any armor, but was happy that it wasn't weighing her down. Her golden tiara, studded with an enchanted emerald, felt cold against her forehead as the rain splashed her trembling body, but strangely she didn't feel wet. Much to her surprise, she wasn't when she reached the tower.
There were deeply concerned and frightened guards at the small and informal gates, but they did not dare dispute who she was and what was her authority, though they knew she should be on the Moon as their commander and their Queen had both told them. They would not interfere, however--of this Makoto was certain even before they silently opened the gates. She looked around for Seiji, and her eyes found him rather quickly. He had gotten inside before the rain started up, and so his face was only damp, with nervous sweat undoubtedly, and his hair was almost untouched. He looked deathly pale and scared already, even though Beryl's army had not yet reached the palace.
"Seiji!" Makoto called to him. He snapped out of his horrified trance and rushed to her. His arms were around her immediately, and Makoto hugged him to her.
"Makoto! Oh, Makoto..." He was almost crying. "Oh, God, Makoto, didn't the Queen tell you? You must get to the Moon Kingdom, where you'll be safe!" Makoto ran her fingers through his hair, moving the part that obscured her vision of his right eye. She stared into both of his beautiful violet eyes to answer him.
"Yes, Seiji, but I couldn't leave you!" She cried, clutching at his arms. "What if I never saw you again, Seiji? I couldn't bear it! I'll sooner kiss Beryl's feet than leave you alone to die!" Seiji's expression became tender and his voice quiet.
"I am the commander. I have to do this; it's my duty to the kingdom."
"I won't let you!" Makoto raged, crying helplessly, pounding her fists against the chestplate of Seiji's armor, then sliding her hand down it despairingly. The thunder gave another violent crash as she yelled, and Seiji tried his best to comfort her, though he knew there was no hope. The Kingdom would fall, and he would die--with or without his princess. A tear fell from his eye as Makoto's soft brown hair brushed his face, and already he knew the pain he would encounter. Makoto was far too stubborn. She would never go back to the Moon Kingdom without him, she would stay here with him until the very end. He knew.
He only hoped he would be the one to die first.
Attack on the Kingdom of Thunder
It was early in Jovian fall, and the planet's famous electrical storms were growing fewer and further between as the days wore on. On this cool day, the princess of Jupiter, young Makoto Kino, was with her best friend, Princess Minako of Venus, inside the flowery, fortressed walls of Castle Io. It was almost tropical on this moon of Jupiter most of the time, but this day was very temperate--the weather was absolutely perfect. Makoto and Minako laughed together over a small table outside, sipping tea.
"So how was Ganymede last night, eh, Makoto?" grinned Minako mischievously, squinting an eye. Makoto flushed with embarrassment. The chilly, nearly deserted moon Ganymede was where the finest Jovian lookout soldiers were stationed--and also where Makoto often ran away with her handsome knight-protector Seiji to play. The two young lovers had spent last night there in Makoto's miniature castle together in celebration of his 'promotion' to head commander of the Jovian army. And although she knew nothing 'went on' there, Minako loved to tease Makoto relentlessly about it. "You're lucky, you know," Minako teased, "Planet Venus has no moons, so my parents can always find me and Touma, we can't do anything bad!" She laughed as Makoto's face flamed.
"Minako, we don't do anything immoral, you sick little girl!" Makoto insisted with a certain level of disgust in her tone. "Do you and Touma ever think about something like that??" She shot back. Minako's eyes widened.
"Most certainly not!!" She replied incredulously. Then she laughed joyfully. "Oh come on, now, Makoto, this is silly. We both know each other to be totally innocent, so let's stop making each other mad about it, shall we?" Makoto smiled and nodded her agreement. Just then, a call came from the mainland. It was Makoto's mother, Queen Lita of Jupiter.
"Makoto, you must come quickly!" she said. Makoto was puzzled.
"But...why, Mother?"
"Just come!" she commanded, but not harshly. "And I think Princess Minako ought to leave for Venus now." The Queen's tone was quiet and sinister, and Makoto worried--this was completely unlike her mother.
"Um, all right, Mother..." she hung up. "Minako-chan, I think you had better go now. This sounds important. Oh, I hope Seiji is all right..." Makoto worried, as Minako started slowly toward the instant transportation chamber.
"He's probably just tired from all the screaming," Minako chimed in with a grin of hilarity. She laughed hysterically as Makoto shoved her rather violently into the chamber.
"Oh, get out of here, you perverted witch!" Makoto said, though she was chuckling softly, too.
"Bye, Mako-chan! I hope everything is all right!" Minako called, still giggling, just before she left.
"You, too! Bye!" Makoto replied with a smile and a wave. As soon as Minako was safely home on Venus, Makoto hopped inside and teleported to her house on the Jovian mainland.
When Makoto arrived at the house in which she usually lived, she found a note tacked up beside the transportation unit. "We're at the palace, Makoto, hurry," it said shortly. Makoto's face paled a little. Her parents had always made her live in a house like a normal child instead of royalty, so she didn't get spoiled (despite that the 'house' was a luxurious mansion). They never went to the palace, with or without her, unless there was some kind of military emergency. Makoto rushed back into the chamber and arrived at the palace in seconds.
"Makoto!" She heard her mother's voice calling her, and saw her as she hurried near. Makoto gave the Queen a fearful look of inquiry. "Oh, Makoto, it's terrible," she sobbed, "Queen Beryl is launching an attack on the Kingdom!" Makoto gasped.
"I knew this would happen, that witch! Are we going to be all right, can I help?" She searched the Queen's face frantically for some type of sign.
"No, Makoto, we're not going to be all right, and you can not help this. Even you can't withstand Beryl's attacks this time, she's too strong, and she has our army outnumbered by thousands!" The Queen was in tears now, realizing what was about to happen. "Our Kingdom will fall, Makoto...and I know it's hard to take in, but so will I, and your father as well. We must stay to control the Kingdom, to keep our soldiers under control, but in reality we can do nothing--we are powerless. Our army will try to hold them off for as long as possible so that we can warn the Moon and the planets before us to gather their armies and prepare for a battle against hundreds of thousands of soldiers...but Makoto, I want you to go to the Moon. It is safest there with our empress, Queen Serenity, and the Ginzuishou. You must save yourself, you are the only way through which anyone or anything about our Kingdom can survive."
"No, Mother, no!" Makoto said. "We can't give up!"
"We won't, my daughter...however, the situation is all but impossible. Run away, as fast as you can, before Beryl can find you." Tears ran down Makoto's face.
"No! Where is my Seiji?" Makoto cried out.
"He's outside the palace directing the armies. He has only been named the supreme commander two days ago, but our only hope is that he will come through as able in this situation as we know him to be." The Queen replied.
"Oh, Lord! When is he returning to the palace!?" The little princess was in hysterics now. She feared insanely for the life of the man she loved, and her mother's response did nothing to calm her nerves.
"Makoto, we don't know when--or if--he'll be back," she said quietly. Makoto's tears thickened.
"I have to go," she told her mother. "I can't leave him out there when I know his life is in danger."
"No, Makoto, no! Please!" Queen Lita cried, suddenly embracing her daughter tightly. "You must go to the Moon. Seiji is a warrior, your protector, and commander of our planet's armies. It is his duty to risk his life for us, but as the princess it is your job to do just the opposite. You must stay alive. He told me to let you know that he loves you, and he wishes you to be safe--he, too, wants you to go to the Moon, where you may be saved by our empire's strongest defenses. Makoto, please. You must..." She started to cry now, and Makoto hugged her close, although her tears ran freely as well.
"I'm sorry, Mother..." she whispered into her mother's ear, gently lifting her up and escaping her hold. "I'm sorry." With that, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the long gown she wore. "I love you, Mother! Tell Father the same!" She called back, in tears. She would miss them so...but she had to find Seiji. She must be with him, even if she fell at the hands of Beryl. Makoto didn't see as her mother dropped to her knees sobbing, knowing that she would never see her beloved daughter again.
Makoto ran out of the palace to find Seiji. Where could he be? she asked herself silently. She ran toward the defense base between the castle palisades, where soldiers were gathered up in the darkness. Lightning crackled overhead and thunder crashed through the sky with a great roar. In a bright flash of light, she saw him--clad in a royal Jovian green suit of armor and holding in his hand a great sword of the finest metal alloys, Seiji stood atop a tower, shouting orders to thousands of Jovian troops lined along the fortified walls of the palace. Makoto saw that more and more soldiers were arriving by the second, dispatched from every station to gather at this place, and her Seiji was commanding them all. She felt so nervous for him as she saw him climb down dutifully from the tower into a small building, and the rain began to pound down.
Harder and harder the rain came down in the darkness that had enshrouded the entire planet. Makoto could barely see or hear anything now, but she heard the wind whip even harder as her dress and hair flapped, slapping her legs and face painfully, and she saw as a great shadow rose over all as the lightning struck once again. It was a monstrous, evil shadow from the dark reaches of Beryl's kingdom, she knew. Her eyes went wide, and she raised the henshin wand she had taken even before she left Castle Io.
"Great Thunderstorms of Jupiter, lend me thy strength!" Makoto shouted to the storm. "I am thy descendant, thy mortal incarnation, thy Princess--I command thee, my Lightning, my Thunder, my Earth, my Spirit! Bestow upon me thy undying power, let the Lord's will guide thine!" Her transformation was complete in just moments, and she ran to Seiji as fast as her boots could carry her in the rain, using her elemental power to aid her in speed. She felt bare without any armor, but was happy that it wasn't weighing her down. Her golden tiara, studded with an enchanted emerald, felt cold against her forehead as the rain splashed her trembling body, but strangely she didn't feel wet. Much to her surprise, she wasn't when she reached the tower.
There were deeply concerned and frightened guards at the small and informal gates, but they did not dare dispute who she was and what was her authority, though they knew she should be on the Moon as their commander and their Queen had both told them. They would not interfere, however--of this Makoto was certain even before they silently opened the gates. She looked around for Seiji, and her eyes found him rather quickly. He had gotten inside before the rain started up, and so his face was only damp, with nervous sweat undoubtedly, and his hair was almost untouched. He looked deathly pale and scared already, even though Beryl's army had not yet reached the palace.
"Seiji!" Makoto called to him. He snapped out of his horrified trance and rushed to her. His arms were around her immediately, and Makoto hugged him to her.
"Makoto! Oh, Makoto..." He was almost crying. "Oh, God, Makoto, didn't the Queen tell you? You must get to the Moon Kingdom, where you'll be safe!" Makoto ran her fingers through his hair, moving the part that obscured her vision of his right eye. She stared into both of his beautiful violet eyes to answer him.
"Yes, Seiji, but I couldn't leave you!" She cried, clutching at his arms. "What if I never saw you again, Seiji? I couldn't bear it! I'll sooner kiss Beryl's feet than leave you alone to die!" Seiji's expression became tender and his voice quiet.
"I am the commander. I have to do this; it's my duty to the kingdom."
"I won't let you!" Makoto raged, crying helplessly, pounding her fists against the chestplate of Seiji's armor, then sliding her hand down it despairingly. The thunder gave another violent crash as she yelled, and Seiji tried his best to comfort her, though he knew there was no hope. The Kingdom would fall, and he would die--with or without his princess. A tear fell from his eye as Makoto's soft brown hair brushed his face, and already he knew the pain he would encounter. Makoto was far too stubborn. She would never go back to the Moon Kingdom without him, she would stay here with him until the very end. He knew.
He only hoped he would be the one to die first.