Chapter 8: The Beginning of the End

The five Sailors with Ganymede entered the empty courtyard, peering into the shadows for any sign of enemies. The sound of their footsteps against the broken pavement was the only noise. Like the rest of Charon, this place seemed dead.

“This is the place,” Jupiter said. “This is where I am taken in my dreams. He’s nearby.”

“Good,” Callisto replied, eyeing the battered palace before them. “I can’t wait to get this over with.”

There was a rush of wind. Dust blinded them briefly before it settled. A woman with wild red hair was standing before the entrance of the palace. She walked slowly toward, studying each sister with interest of a bug collector.

“So, these are the daughters.” She circled the entire group, stopping in front of Callisto. “I shall enjoy defeating you.”

“Dream on,” Callisto growled.

“Save you energy,” a baritone voice called.

“Nadomus,” Jupiter said before the tall man appeared in the courtyard.

“A pleasure to see you so soon, Leda,” he greeted. “I thought I might provide some entertainment for you and your sisters.”

He jumped and floated in the air above the palace’s entrance. “You have already met Nova.” The red-haired woman made an elaborate bow. “Allow me to introduce the others.”

A man appeared dressed entirely in gray. His light blue hair shifted in the light breeze. He stared at the girls with no emotion at all. “This is Neptis.”

“And here is Nectra.” A woman with dark green pigtails appeared. She twirled a small staff expertly and struck a pose.

“Then, let’s not forget Necron.” A lanky man with pale skin and yellow eyes appeared. He bowed and then stood motionlessly.

“And let’s just throw in some Graysons for fun.” A group of fifteen gray figures poured into the courtyard.

He smiled, surveying the opponents happily. “Enjoy yourselves. And if any of you should survive, I’ll be waiting in the palace. Adieu.”

“I’ve got Miss Bad Hair Day,” Callisto announced, facing off with Nova.

“Neptis is mine,” Lysithea stated, approaching the blue-haired man.

“I’ll play with Pigtail Girl,” Io said, rewarded with a smile from Nectra.

“I’ll take Necron,” Europa said, following him to a corner of the courtyard.

“The more, the merrier,” Jupiter muttered, preparing herself to face the Graysons.

“So, you wouldn’t mind a partner?” Ganymede asked, taking a place by her side.

She smiled. “Of course not. After all, this is supposed to be a party.”

The battle began. The sisters were scattered throughout the courtyard, battling their enemies. Anger drove Jupiter as she began eliminating the Graysons, avenging Cynthia.

“Jupiter Thunder Crash!”

The first wave of Graysons was blasted. Those that were not completely destroyed were destroyed in the next attack from Ganymede. She gave him a quick smile of thanks before returning to face her enemies.

As they fought, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew Ganymede from somewhere else. The feeling was stronger now that she was fighting besides. But how?

Before she could pursue the thought further, she felt a knot in her stomach. “Callisto!” she called. She tried to run to her sister but the Graysons blocked her way.

“Get out of the way!” she screamed. “Jupiter Dragon Degeneration!”

She ran through the ashes, crossing the courtyard to Callisto. As she approached, she saw that Nova had a badly burned Callisto in a headlock.

“That was fun,” Nova mocked. “But playtime is over.”

“I agree,” Callisto answered. “Callisto Celestial Phoenix!”

“No!” Jupiter cried as a wall of fire surrounded the two. The fire and Nova disappeared, and Callisto collapsed unto the ground. Jupiter ran to Callisto. Kneeling, she placed Callisto’s head in her lap.

“Callisto,” she whispered, stroking her sister’s singed black hair. “Please stay with me.”

“Hey, Jupiter,” Callisto answered weakly, smiling. “I’d love to, but I think there are other plans.” Her eyelids fluttered once and then her eyes closed.

“I will destroy Nadomus for this,” Jupiter vowed, gently placing her sister on the pavement. Jupiter crossed Callisto’s arms on her chest. Rising, she surveyed the battle.

“Lysithea!” She turned and found her sister on her knees before a weak but smirking Neptis.

“No one has ever defeated me,” he said, a ball of blue energy growing in his hand. “But you were the closest.”

“No, I will be the first,” she answered. “Lysithea Leviathan Liquidation!”

A huge serpent of blue energy appeared, coiling around Neptis. Realizing that defeat had come, he flung the ball of energy at Lysithea, who was too weak to dodge the attack. The two flashes of blue light were blinding.

Jupiter blinked her eyes furiously, trying to clear her vision. When she could see, she saw Lysithea in a heap on the pavement. She stretched Lysithea flat against the pavement. The pale face of her sister brought tears to Jupiter’s eyes.

Graysons surrounded the two, coming closer and closer. Blinded by tears and anger, Jupiter attacked viciously. “Jupiter Thunderclap Zap! Jupiter Dragon Degradation!”

As another wave of pain gripped her, Jupiter realized that this was another form of attack of Nadomus. She noticed that Io had already fallen, but Jupiter also saw that Nectra’s staff was lying on the pavement.

Turning, she found that Europa was leaning against a building for support, facing a partially frozen Necron. Jupiter ran to her sister’s aid, realizing that she was already too late.

“Try your Hatred Healing, Europa,” Necron sneered, black balls of energy appearing in his outstretched hands.

“I’ll show you a new trick,” she answered calmly. “Europa Death Siren!”

A strange hum filled the air as a black mist swirled around the pair. It was a moment before Jupiter realized that the screaming was from Necron. The mist disappeared, leaving no trace of Necron.

Jupiter caught Europa before she slid down the wall. “Elara!” Jupiter cried.

“Leda, it’s okay,” she said, weakly wiping away a tear from Jupiter’s face. “I must give you something.”

“No, Europa. You will NOT!”

“Defeat Nadomus for all of us.” She closed her eyes. “Europa Energy Enrichment!”

The yellow-green glow dimmed, lingering a moment around the sisters for a moment. Crying, Jupiter laid her sister on the ground as she had done the others. She rose, facing the palace where Nadomus was waiting.

“I am coming for you, Nadomus!” she cried as she ran into the dark entrance of the palace.


The Beginning of the End The five Sailors with Ganymede entered the empty courtyard, peering into the shadows for any sign of enemies. The sound of their footsteps against the broken pavement was the only noise. Like the rest of Charon, this place seemed dead. “This is the place,” Jupiter said. “This is where I am taken in my dreams. He’s nearby.” “Good,” Callisto replied, eyeing the battered palace before them. “I can’t wait to get this over with.” There was a rush of wind. Dust blinded them briefly before it settled. A woman with wild red hair was standing before the entrance of the palace. She walked slowly toward, studying each sister with interest of a bug collector. “So, these are the daughters.” She circled the entire group, stopping in front of Callisto. “I shall enjoy defeating you.” “Dream on,” Callisto growled. “Save you energy,” a baritone voice called. “Nadomus,” Jupiter said before the tall man appeared in the courtyard. “A pleasure to see you so soon, Leda,” he greeted. “I thought I might provide some entertainment for you and your sisters.” He jumped and floated in the air above the palace’s entrance. “You have already met Nova.” The red-haired woman made an elaborate bow. “Allow me to introduce the others.” A man appeared dressed entirely in gray. His light blue hair shifted in the light breeze. He stared at the girls with no emotion at all. “This is Neptis.” “And here is Nectra.” A woman with dark green pigtails appeared. She twirled a small staff expertly and struck a pose. “Then, let’s not forget Necron.” A lanky man with pale skin and yellow eyes appeared. He bowed and then stood motionlessly. “And let’s just throw in some Graysons for fun.” A group of fifteen gray figures poured into the courtyard. He smiled, surveying the opponents happily. “Enjoy yourselves. And if any of you should survive, I’ll be waiting in the palace. Adieu.” “I’ve got Miss Bad Hair Day,” Callisto announced, facing off with Nova. “Neptis is mine,” Lysithea stated, approaching the blue-haired man. “I’ll play with Pigtail Girl,” Io said, rewarded with a smile from Nectra. “I’ll take Necron,” Europa said, following him to a corner of the courtyard. “The more, the merrier,” Jupiter muttered, preparing herself to face the Graysons. “So, you wouldn’t mind a partner?” Ganymede asked, taking a place by her side. She smiled. “Of course not. After all, this is supposed to be a party.” The battle began. The sisters were scattered throughout the courtyard, battling their enemies. Anger drove Jupiter as she began eliminating the Graysons, avenging Cynthia. “Jupiter Thunder Crash!” The first wave of Graysons was blasted. Those that were not completely destroyed were destroyed in the next attack from Ganymede. She gave him a quick smile of thanks before returning to face her enemies. As they fought, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew Ganymede from somewhere else. The feeling was stronger now that she was fighting besides. But how? Before she could pursue the thought further, she felt a knot in her stomach. “Callisto!” she called. She tried to run to her sister but the Graysons blocked her way. “Get out of the way!” she screamed. “Jupiter Dragon Degeneration!” She ran through the ashes, crossing the courtyard to Callisto. As she approached, she saw that Nova had a badly burned Callisto in a headlock. “That was fun,” Nova mocked. “But playtime is over.” “I agree,” Callisto answered. “Callisto Celestial Phoenix!” “No!” Jupiter cried as a wall of fire surrounded the two. The fire and Nova disappeared, and Callisto collapsed unto the ground. Jupiter ran to Callisto. Kneeling, she placed Callisto’s head in her lap. “Callisto,” she whispered, stroking her sister’s singed black hair. “Please stay with me.” “Hey, Jupiter,” Callisto answered weakly, smiling. “I’d love to, but I think there are other plans.” Her eyelids fluttered once and then her eyes closed. “I will destroy Nadomus for this,” Jupiter vowed, gently placing her sister on the pavement. Jupiter crossed Callisto’s arms on her chest. Rising, she surveyed the battle. “Lysithea!” She turned and found her sister on her knees before a weak but smirking Neptis. “No one has ever defeated me,” he said, a ball of blue energy growing in his hand. “But you were the closest.” “No, I will be the first,” she answered. “Lysithea Leviathan Liquidation!” A huge serpent of blue energy appeared, coiling around Neptis. Realizing that defeat had come, he flung the ball of energy at Lysithea, who was too weak to dodge the attack. The two flashes of blue light were blinding. Jupiter blinked her eyes furiously, trying to clear her vision. When she could see, she saw Lysithea in a heap on the pavement. She stretched Lysithea flat against the pavement. The pale face of her sister brought tears to Jupiter’s eyes. Graysons surrounded the two, coming closer and closer. Blinded by tears and anger, Jupiter attacked viciously. “Jupiter Thunderclap Zap! Jupiter Dragon Degradation!” As another wave of pain gripped her, Jupiter realized that this was another form of attack of Nadomus. She noticed that Io had already fallen, but Jupiter also saw that Nectra’s staff was lying on the pavement. Turning, she found that Europa was leaning against a building for support, facing a partially frozen Necron. Jupiter ran to her sister’s aid, realizing that she was already too late. “Try your Hatred Healing, Europa,” Necron sneered, black balls of energy appearing in his outstretched hands. “I’ll show you a new trick,” she answered calmly. “Europa Death Siren!” A strange hum filled the air as a black mist swirled around the pair. It was a moment before Jupiter realized that the screaming was from Necron. The mist disappeared, leaving no trace of Necron. Jupiter caught Europa before she slid down the wall. “Elara!” Jupiter cried. “Leda, it’s okay,” she said, weakly wiping away a tear from Jupiter’s face. “I must give you something.” “No, Europa. You will NOT!” “Defeat Nadomus for all of us.” She closed her eyes. “Europa Energy Enrichment!” The yellow-green glow dimmed, lingering a moment around the sisters for a moment. Crying, Jupiter laid her sister on the ground as she had done the others. She rose, facing the palace where Nadomus was waiting. “I am coming for you, Nadomus!” she cried as she ran into the dark entrance of the palace.


Chapter 9: The Question of Faith Resolved Jupiter's Gone