IX: Death - The Great War

Ria's prophecy was not without some reason. As the year progressed the Queen grew more and more sickly with her chest illness. It wore the Queen out; she struggled for breath with every step, with every movement. Her cheeks sunk in as her face became gaunt with her battle against the illness. She became a ghost, a spirit of the woman now famous within court circles for 'reasoning with invaders'. She moved like a ghost, ambling quietly throughout the Palace. Paled and grey she had aged rapidly beyond her relatively young 42 years.

The Princess grew up quickly. She understood her mother's urgency and lived with the assistance of Topaz within the Palace as she cared for her mother. Ria would not allow any physician near her, her belief in the Ancient Thetis gave her the principles that the process of death was natural and to alter it would be against Divine Will. It was her time, and it made the Princess incredibly distraught.

Ria's passing arrived on a cool late summer morning. The Queen knew, and the family were present as the Queen died. Esa stayed long after the others had gone, merely gazing in a trance at the serenely peaceful body of Ria that still lay among the white chiffon of her bed. She held Ria's hand, like they used to when they were alone. It reminded her of an argument they once had, in the Library, and Esa's stomach lurched.

The message had been sent. The Queen of Aquarius now stood in a darkened room filled with smoke from incense weaving its sinuous patterns through the air. She stared at herself in the mirror, red eyed and frowning bitterly as maids rushed around her. She felt alone, she did not notice anyone near her even though her room was filled with seven maids, arranging the glowing amber of the candles near the Queen or wrapping layers of black chiffon and silk around the Queen's figure. No she felt alone; she could only see herself in the mirror. Her eyes. Burning eyes.

The plan Ria had formulated worked neatly, Topaz would not stand for the betrothal of HIS Esa to some alien and Craxic was more than happy to arrange with his fellow Roman senators all of the necessary preparations for war. Esa was ordered by senate and Topaz to remain in the Palace and Cassandra was forbidden from visiting. Esa had no will to overturn this judgement, when Cassie asked her for her reasons she simply stated
'It would jeopardise my mother's will' in a tone so blank and lacking of emotion that it scared and hurt Cassandra deeply. The decision had left the Queen of Aquarius feeling sick, violently so. She was trapped, trapped and demanded upon like Ria had never been. The senate, her armies, Topaz, they had all gone to the Plains, as remote a place as possible for their war. Esa stared at herself again in the mirror. As Eleyna tightened one of the black ribbons around her ribcage Esa sucked in breath sharply then spoke in a grave monotone.
'Find me transport now Eleyna. I will not be defied anymore. I am a senshi, I have a starseed, I was born to protect the Millennium and I think it is only right if I protect my part of the Millennium'.
Eleyna, frightened somewhat by the tone the Queen used, obeyed immediately. She sent other maids to fulfil the Queen's wish as Esa simply stood glaring at her reflection with anger.

'What in the name of our great Queen Serenity...?' Topaz wondered as the Queen approached. She had arrived simply, alone and on horseback in the seifuku of the senshi. She smiled thinly down at Topaz as she drew up besides him.
'I have come to join you my Prince' she said lightly.
Topaz could not quite believe her; he was in some shock at her defiance. 'We asked you to remain in Mara' he viewed the girl sternly.
'And I asked you not to fight. But seeing as you have decided that you will, I shall as reigning monarch of this planet, have some say in the matters of my own Planet. You Earthians are so power-hungry. Is that why you are a divided world?' Esa asked.
Her annoyance at him could not be disguised. Even Topaz, the younger brother of Endymion, second in line to inherit the Earth, dressed in the imperial dress of a Prince of Earth and himself looking regal, could not fail to be humbled by the irritated Queen. She stared down at him. He had such a young face, like his brother. So young, naive almost, as he stared back with deep sapphire coloured eyes. He was the spitting image of Endymion, just a little younger and with a bluish tint to the dark hair. He suddenly looked away
'Fine then fight' he remarked petulantly crossing his arms.
'Don't worry I will my dear Topaz'

Craxic was equally surprised, shocked and a little dismayed to see Esa but he was far more humble than Topaz and accepted her presence. Vela was worried. He had come to the Plains, accompanied in his usual style with a great mass of parchment. Ever so conscientious, Parras and Alus had to poke some fun at the senator as he sat in the Officer's Mess tent later on that evening. The canvas walls were stained a dark brown from the heady mixture of wine, incense and smoke which filled the air. Inside it appeared almost seedy, a mass of bodies, a cacophony of noise and laughter moving around in the small smoke filled space. Vela had chosen a small circular table to the left of the bar and conveniently besides some barrels propping up the canvas wall. They provided ample space for him to think alone in the dark corner as well as room to spread some of his papers around.

'I think our honourable friend wants to defeat these saiyans with paper' Parras commented to Alus taking a long drink of the wine in his hand. He laughed and sat back, fully dressed in the uniform of an officer. The elder Alus still wore his robes of the senate but was equally inclined to joke.
'I think a couple of knocks on the head with the documents on the ancient laws should do it. A couple of volumes would black out an entire army'
'Ah yes' Parras agreed with a grin on his face 'But that would destroy the paper. Far better we read it to them.'
'We don't want to commit suicide while we are at it.' Alus replied. 'You know I once knew a man, he was no senator but he had aspirations to be one. Not at all sickly either, except I read to him a volume of Ancialixus and I swear to you within two pages he dropped down dead. His family were in mourning for weeks. I tell no lie.' He offered up his hands.
'Oh I can believe you' Parras said. He took his cup and finished the wine quickly as a waiter came past their table. 'Another please' he nodded to the young boy. Alus nodded to Parras and indicated his cup
'And another. Oh and while you are at it one for my honourable friend here' he pointed at Vela.

'You're heading for an untimely death' Parras continued. He reached over the table flicking the huge pile of parchment. Alus laughed in agreement.
'Excuse me but some of us are trying to work!' Vela pushed Parras' hand away angrily.
'On what!' Parras exclaimed. The wine was going to his head and he was louder than usual.
'My concerns. We are fighting a war, not going to a dinner party. You are neglecting your duties.' Vela pointed out. Another senator, Demeyte had overheard. He turned to the trio with a smile. Leaning on the table, Demeyte's long brown hair hung down by his face, reddened by the wine. He was quite visibly drunk but wanted to mend the argument.
'Lishten. You...you..you are all my honourable friendsh and all exshellent shenators. Ash we all are. And we shall beat theeesh shay shay..'
'Saiyans' a friend corrected
'Yesh theesh shayans for the glory of the Queen and the world!' Demeyte stood up shouting. He was joined by a host of cheers. Parras and Alus burst into laughter as Demeyte tried to take a seat and promptly fell over.
'In the name of the lady Thetis I am glad he does not fight with us' Parras commented through tears of laughter.
'I would be glad if none of you fought at all! Do you have no cares?' Vela yelled standing up. 'I shall take my concerns elsewhere. What if she dies? What happens to the bloodline? What if Lord Topaz becomes our King! Then what. Or this Saiyan!'
Parras indicated to him to sit back down 'oh calm down do Vela. You work too hard and get yourself all worked up. What do you mean 'if she dies?'' Alus turned to Vela. The younger man look startled, his eyes wide and staring, he was truly fearful.
'Go and see Craxic to calm your nerves my boy' the older man patted Vela's hand encouraging him to go. Vela, shocked and naive looking, gathered his papers and quickly left.

'That boy I don't know' Parras took to take a swig of his wine. Alus watched Vela go then leaned towards Parras. His face was deeply earnest and serious.
'I must tell you Parras of something I have recently found out and something I was told a while ago. But it has to remain in strictest confidence if we want Lord Topaz's strength in our fight.'
Parras was deeply intrigued, he leant in closer to Alus' face. The melee around them was far too drunk to even notice their secrecy.
'The first' Alus began 'Concerns this war. A formal announcement will be made tomorrow. The Queen is fighting besides us' Parras nodded taking this in.
'And the other?'
Alus leaned in even closer lowering his voice to nothing higher than a whisper.
'A few years ago Vela, as you know, was even more of a worrier and naive, yet he was told something by Ria that he couldn't contain to himself but feared for his life were he to ever tell it'. Alus was building up his suspense magnificently and Parras was struck dumb by the story
'Go on...'
'Not even Craxic knows that I know, it is that much of a secret, and have kept it so since Vela told me. We, as you know, need Topaz to fight with us. He will assume Kingship of the planet upon our victory as the husband of our Queen. But Esa will not have plans for that. She was shocked that Ria was using Topaz but it seems she will too to her own ends. But the marriage will still go ahead, even though our Queen is already deeply in love. With Cassandra. Of Leo.'

Parras fell silent as Alus paused for a moment. He did wonder why he was being told. Maybe it was to understand Vela. He contemplated the ideas in his mind. He realised why Vela feared for the end of the bloodline. Then it struck him why Vela was so concerned.
'Please correct me if I am wrong Senator Alus but Vela is afraid our Queen will go mad doing something she clearly doesn't want to?' Alus nodded grimly 'I suppose you are right yes. That saiyan, she says she has accepted it, but I can tell that Craxic feels different. Vela has these fears too. We for that reason alone must win this war'
'We need to win for the Planet' Parras corrected. 'But if we do, this marriage need not go ahead.' Alus nodded in recognition. For a moment he cast his eyes around the smoky canvas room, checking to see if anyone had listened, or heard any of their conversation. The room was exactly as it had been the last time he had checked.
'I think her Highness should make a formal announcement' Parras was saying. 'We live in a matriarchal society anyway and I have no problem. Love is love is it not'
Alus turned his head back to Parras. He stared down at the oak table, scrutinising the dark blood coloured liquid of his drink. Raising his eyes he nodded his head and laughed a little.
'My friend you are quite drunk. But you are right, I do agree that the Queen should do what she chooses'. Alus paused in thought and sat back for a moment absorbing the atmosphere, the jollity of the place. It could hardly be believed these were troops preparing for war.
He pushed back his seat 'Well my friend I think it is time we took our leave'.
To this Parras nodded, he finished off his wine and stood along with Alus.
�Yes I think we should. And this should be our last because Vela is right. This is a war and I doubt we would win like this�.

The very honourable senator Vela had taken his concerns to Craxic only to have them immediately calmed by the elder. Craxic still commanded much respect and authority despite his weakness following a grave illness two years previous and his words could ease situations and fears very quickly. Vela�s concerns did alert the problem of the officers though, and it was something neither the Queen nor Topaz would allow. The astronomers had predicted the arrival of the saiya-jins in five days. For that five days the army was put to rigourous training with no late night drinking. The well-educated monarch herself took an active part in the planning, and remained true to her own word. She would not be defied anymore.

With an alarming accuracy, in five days the invaders arrived. The troops of the relatively backwards planet of Aquarius together with its Roman support did tremble with the sight of the technology the invaders held but the officers kept their mettle. They were perfectly organised, perfectly prepared in the art of war ready to launch and fight for their planet. Atop a hill a little way off the senators, the Queen and Topaz watched proceedings out of view. Topaz was to fight, he awaited his chance but he was annoyed that he had been forbidden entry to the trenches. Esa herself was even more annoyed, she had effectively been ordered by every male officer to stay well away from the battlefield. An order she did not wish to adhere to. As the saiyans approached from over a far ridge on the barren plain, Topaz left the small party to join the troops and to order the first wave of attacks.

Topaz was surrounded by a cacophony of noise as he rode gently into the assembled army. He sat up majestically in a proud show of his Presence and the long navy blue and red-satin lined cape hung elegantly from his shoulder brushing the dirtied faces of shoulders as he passed. Yet his passing was ghostly, un-noticed in the preparations for war.

He soon found a huddle of generals discussing their final tactics and trying to hear each other above the noise. The front-line was a bustle of men with blackened faces and hands holding their mythril tipped weapons nervously. The immediate front stood at alert and in silence, a perfect contrast to the noise in the ranks behind. They stood to prepare themselves for the onslaught, mythril spears and shields held firmly in their sweaty grips. They could see the cloud.

Topaz, from his lofty position could see it too, in the corner of his vision it appeared like a black cloud. Turning his head however he could make out the shapes, it was a crowd, an army and it approached fast. His mind suddenly clicked as he watched regiments file forwards compacting the front-line and scrambling over the dried earth. In the direction behind he saw the cannons being loaded, giant balls of an iron-mythril compound being heaved into the vast iron complex and the exhausted soldiers, two at a time, struggling from beneath the weight. Further back lay the catapults, equally being loaded by teams of men. He could even see the sweat, which pored down their glowing skin as the fires raged fiercely besides them ready for use. Then a little further back still he could make out a line of archers with metal smiths at their side refining and carving out the last few mythril tipped arrows.

The Aquarians had sought to use mythril as much as possible; the unique qualities of this metal gave unmatched strength and versatility. The mines had been in overtime producing layers of armour for the generals and intricate loops of chain mail for the foot soldiers.

As for the men themselves they looked eager but at the same time nervous. They were unawares of the technology of these invaders and given that, the men were determined to win. He could see it by the way they obeyed their generals quickly, despite the heat from the fierce fires behind them, despite the multiple orders being shouted at once. It was a sort of chaos but an organised sense of chaos. In a moment of tranquillity, Topaz glanced once more up to the moorland ridge and the Queen. Even from that distance Topaz could tell she was not happy. She moved her horse agitatedly, roughly swinging the poor creature it in all directions. She was talking to Craxic and seemed quite annoyed by his words to her. Topaz merely shrugged, a battlefield, he told himself, was no place for a woman whether she be Queen, Senshi, Amazon or Goddess. It was not for her.

He turned back to the assembled troops and quickly made his way on horseback to the arsenal of cannon and arrow. The cloud drew ever closer.
'Otemoyt' he dismounted his horse and greeted the General warmly but hurriedly. 'How good it is to see you. Prepare these men to act on surprise. I will not give a loud warning, they may hear that. I shall send a message down to Parras to conduct the infantry on my behalf. I will remain here with you and we shall silently give the call'
'How good it is to see you too sir and I readily accept your order'
Otemoyt bowed deeply to Topaz. He turned to the men and addressed them
'We are to be silent and stealthy in our attack. We must act first but only when we are satisfied they are in range, our cannons can take out hefty amounts of their forces if used well but before we make a move. Your orders shall be duly given when you are to strike.' He stopped short. The plains had fell into an eerie silence and turning he saw what Topaz had watched with concern.

The ground fell away from the soldiers into a gentle u-shaped valley and then it rose again as a grassy moor and ridge after a shallow incline. Atop this ridge, the shadow had stopped and a lone figure made his way in front of his army. Their Prince. The armies of Aquarius tried not to tremble but the silence that had fallen was strange and terrifying. The Prince held out his hand, palm facing the Aquarians and as they watched in horror a small ball of white light collected in the hand then shot at the Aquarian troops. It exploded like a bomb, right in the centre of the Aquarian attack killing a few soldiers who lay in the heart of its intense power. The others scrambled away frightened, they had never seen anything like it before and unbeknown to them the Prince was smiling.

'Oh my Lady Serenity what was that?' Otomeyt stared aghast at the scrambling Aquarians.
'Energy. Only our most accomplished fighters can do anything like that' Topaz replied solemnly.
'He is a Prince' Otomeyt reasoned 'Quite possibly their best fighter'
'I hope you are right' Topaz said. He eyed the chaos below with dismay 'But it has frightened our soldiers. I only hope they have about as much intelligence as Ria said they have'

Luckily for Topaz his hope was soon realised. The saiya-jins, eager to fight used their Prince's shot as their start point and began to quickly make their way down the slope. They could all use energy and took out a couple more Aquarians but the mythril began to prove invaluable as shields placed up in a Roman tortoise managed to deflect the blows. The Aquarians still remained motionless. After some quick calculations Topaz ordered the attack. Each of the eight cannons and twelve catapults was set alight in someway from the giant fires. The cannon fuses were ignited while the alcohol doused boulders in the catapults were suddenly illuminated with the roaring fires. The saiya-jins were caught unawares as, like the Aquarians had never seen energy before, the saiya-jins had never had any use for weaponry so they didn't understand the complex set up of artillery on the Aquarian back line. Topaz silently gave the call and they fired.

The flaming boulders, reinforced by the mythril were far to dense to be exploded by the panicked Saiya-jin's attempts at blasting them. The few that did happen to collapse sent lethal debris of razor sharp and flaming mythril shards onto the saiya-jin army and together with the whistling of fiery metal plummeting to the earth came anguished screams as the metal tore through both uniform and armour and set the clothing alight. They began to panic a little but pride would not let them retreat. The Aquarian archers came next sending a furious rain of flaming mythril tipped arrows onto the troops. Their Prince was watching with horror at the strength of the Aquarians but he realised with a smile that their incredible bombs were finite in supply and close combat would begin.

The two sides began their advance to meet in the centre accompanied by the whistling of fire and arrow. The Aquarians used their organised training well but it soon became clear that perhaps they would not have the immediate physical strength to triumph. High upon her remote ridge Esa had watched their initial victories with a sense of satisfaction, now she became worried and desperate to get involved.
'My lady no. We cannot lose you!' Craxic yelled as she continued to pull her horse around.
'My people are losing, why, by Thetis am I more important than them?'
'That is a stupid question majesty' Craxic replied
'Hold your tongue' she ordered. 'I am a senshi, I have a starseed and my word will not be defied anymore.'