The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 3 – Innocentiae
By Lebnaniya
Disclaimer
I do not claim any rights to the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon series in the animated format or the manga books. All copyrighted materials belong to their respectable owners. The following story is entirely fictional and pays tribute to the amazing characters developed by said owners. As a fan, I am writing this out of respect to the owners as well as to elaborate on this couple because I don't think the series gave Ail and En enough attention.
Commentary
I'm excited about this story but I will admit…I'm a little nervous because I don't know many people who are fans of this couple. Take note, that lists them as "Ali and An" but if you watch the subtitled anime, the actual spelling is "Ail and En" – the creators did this as a play on the world "Alien," so I'm going to follow their example. I know some of you have been waiting a long time for me to update this story and I am sincerely sorry. But, I am pleased to say that I am finally in the process of finishing up this story. To those of you who have followed, reviewed, and encouraged me to continue, I thank you very much for your support.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
"What are they?" Zahi asked, as he finally approached the two.
Ail tucked the flute under his arm as he grabbed the two creatures that were sitting on his head and held them at eye-level to examine them. One of them was a miniature-like clown, who sat comfortably in his hand as she twirled a miniature-like umbrella and opened it, providing herself some shade as she stared back at Ail.
"That's Bipierrot." En said, as she approached with the other miniature creatures all hovering in the air around her. The other two that were sitting on Ail's shoulders quickly floated over to En.
Ail then turned to the second creature in his other hand; this one, unlike Bipierrot, was kicking, squirming and struggling to get out of his hold. It even sank its infinitesimally small fangs into his finger but she was so small that he barely felt anything.
"She's feisty." Zahi commented.
Ail purposely gave her a little squeeze as the creature yelped and continued to kick, trying to get free.
"Amanju," En smiled, as she opened Ail's hand and removed Amanju from his grasp. En chuckled as Amanju turned around in the palm of her hands and puffed up, clearly agitated at Ail's behavior. She then shot up into the air, crossed her legs and sat down in mid-air, frustrated and cranky at her ill treatment. The other creatures circled her. Falion approached her ever so cautiously before rubbing her head against Amanju's shoulder. Falion looked like a white and pink lioness, with a heavy mane. The other creatures also floated in the air as they waited for Ail to release Bipierrot. Noticing their gaze, Ail realized they were waiting for him to release her as well. He opened his hand and Bipierrot drifted up into the air with her umbrella, before reaching the others and they soon began communicating in their own language.
"How'd you know their names?" Hiba asked. En turned to her and noticed the oval shaped pendant she had obtained from her glowing sphere.
"I just know. I can sense their names." En said, as she glanced upwards to look at her thirteen miniature creatures. Why everyone else received objects and she had living creatures was beyond her knowledge, but she knew that she already liked them.
Glancing around their surrounding Zahi spoke to Ail. "I don't like this."
Ail turned questioning eyes to Zahi.
"It's too quiet." Zahi added, as he glanced around. If we're at the center of the forest, then where is everyone?"
Ail shrugged his shoulders before realizing that his flute had disappeared. Concern etched his face but he somehow felt like the flute was near. Not sure what to make of it, and unwilling to dwell on it for too long since they had more pressing matters to attend to, Ail started making his way down the magnificent tree.
"Hiba. En. Let's go." Zahi said, as he waited for the girls.
"We're leaving? Why not stay here?" Hiba asked.
"It's not safe to stay in one place for too long, given our situation."
Hiba nodded in understanding as she made her way down. Zahi following soon after. En remained as she glanced at the thirteen creatures still comforting Amanju.
"Come on." En said, as she turned to look up at the canopy of the magnificent tree that had, for a brief moment, been a place of comfort. The spinel-colored tree was shimmering and glowing in the light and she felt a very strange tug in her chest before she whispered, "…could this be the Makaiju?"
"En!" Zahi reappeared, frustrated that she had not followed.
"Coming!" En turned around and started making her way down.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
En frowned.
As she cautiously made her way down, the creatures were mimicking her actions, making fun of her slow pace. In particular, Hell Ant with her tentacles and Amaderasu with her strings were imitating her actions while Utonberino and Vampir were acting like they were asleep as they floated down. "Would you stop that!" En implored, as she finally jumped down onto another branch before finally reaching the trunk of the giant tree and climbed down.
As she landed on the ground, she noticed Ail, Hiba and Zahi were talking quietly about which direction to follow. It was still too eerily quiet if this was indeed the middle of the forest; Fiore had indicated that most of the violence occurred in the center because of the Makaiju's location. Just as she took one step forward, the miniature creatures appeared all around her, curious eyes gleaming as they kept looking from her and then back to the tree. En sensed that they didn't want her to leave the tree.
"We have to go. It's not safe here," she whispered. Four of them flew in front of her and dropped on their knees in mid-air, clasping their hands and shaking their heads furiously. En understood. They were afraid and didn't want to leave the sanctuary of the tree. She knew their fear. She had been privy to the overwhelming fear of death and pain since she opened her eyes.
"Come here, all of you," she said, the warmth in her voice even surprised herself, as she had not been able to share any compassion with anyone but Ail. They all floated to her as En opened her arms wide and encircled them all in her arms. She lowered her head so that she could hug them best she could before she whispered, "…if you want to stay here…" En then turned to the tree before looking down at the creatures as they all peered at her with glossy eyes, "…it's ok. I won't force you… I release you." En's voice quivered at the end. She couldn't understand the tug at her heart when she looked back at their confused faces. She opened her arms again, releasing them but they refused to let go. Each one grabbed onto a part of her arms and held on tight.
"I don't want you to get hurt," En added, trying to let them go. "I release you. I'm not your master." The creatures seemed to glare at her. She knew they understood, but it seemed that they would not leave her. "Fine." En sighed, "Do as you will," she said, as she let her arms drop to her sides as some of the creatures clung to her arms, whereas a few others climbed into her hair, settling in comfortably, while a few more simply floated by her side.
"The area is too heavily wooded. It would take much longer going by the trees so instead, we follow the river bed," Zahi pointed out, as Hiba and Ail stood by with their arms crossed. Following the river seemed like the most logical path to take, but they needed to remain close to the trees in case of any attack. They were also questioning if it was worth going on foot. Even if it took longer through the trees, at least they'd be safer. Besides! Where were they going anyway? They had no marked destination, so speed and time was somewhat irrelevant.
Ail glanced to the side and noticed En finally approach. His eyes watched her; she was oblivious to his quiet inspection. The creatures were still with her and he couldn't help but notice how her soft features, her warm eyes, and her playful personality was slowly making its way through the sadness and pain. He also knew that he had to control himself as well; he was finding himself angrier with each passing day, and at some points, he didn't even want to wake up or live, knowing the horrors and uncertainty that they would have to face.
Ail felt a warm hand intertwine with his own as he blinked in confusion. En was holding his hand, tilting her heard to the side curiously, silently asking if he was ok. Ail looked around and noticed that Zahi and Hiba had already started walking alongside the small river. Turning to En, Ail stared at her as his eyes roamed her face. He wasn't willing to live but if En was alive and as long as she needed him, he'd be there. He'd be there for her if nothing else. Squeezing her hand in return, the two walked hand in hand behind Zahi and Hiba as they searched for somewhere to call home.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
She lost track of time, but she knew they had been walking for several hours. Her eyes slowly glanced up to the sky and involuntarily widened as she eyed the light gray clouds above. "I have a bad feeling," Hiba said, turning to Zahi with a pointed look that clearly expressed her hesitation and insecurity about their situation.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it. We'll have found shelter by then."
Hiba nodded and then glanced apprehensively at the sky above. The clouds were almost black now and she subconsciously moved her hand and grabbed the pendant she now wore around her neck.
"I promise I'll protect you."
Shocked, Hiba stared back at Zahi as he had stopped and turned to face her. "I won't lose you. And if worse comes to worse," Zahi whispered as he ran the back of his hand down her cheek, "I'll be right behind you."
"Don't talk like that. I'm stronger than I look."
"I know you are. But I'm not."
"Liar."
Zahi stared, his eyes burning into hers. "I will not lose you, Hiba. WHEREVER you go, I'll be right behind you."
Hiba shook her head. "I want you to live."
"As I you."
"Then we agree. Whatever happens, we'll keep living."
"No. Whatever happens, we'll be together."
"Zahi…"
Hiba stopped short as she felt a horrible tremor run through the ground. Zahi felt it too, as he grabbed her arm as they both tried to steady themselves on the shaking ground. They felt an enormous pressure shake the ground as the wind blew violently around them, the darkened clouds above seemingly darker than ever before. The trees around them started to shake. They glanced around wearily as Zahi searched for Ail and En. He spotted them not too far behind as they too were struggling to remain on their feet as well. As quickly as it happened, everything seemed to stop and silence filled the air. Zahi glanced at the tree tops, sensing which way the direction of the wind was blowing before he turned in its direction. Ail and En had finally made it to their side as the four of them looked to the direction Zahi was staring at. All four of them gazed in awe as trees started falling to the ground, crashing with enormous thunder and noise as they could hear the deafening roar that was crashing ever closer to them.
"RUN!" Zahi yelled as he grabbed Hiba's wrist and bolted forward.
En grabbed Ail's hand and yanked him with her, running hand in hand as they followed Zahi and Hiba, desperately trying to find a way to avoid the incoming rapids.
"What's going on?!" En shouted, running with Ail as they kept perfect pace with Zahi and Hiba.
"I don't know!" Hiba shouted, still clutching her pendant as she ran with Zahi.
"Whatever happened, I can sense water. Lots of it!" Zahi shouted, as he kept running, leading them forward, searching everywhere to find a big enough tree that they could climb. At this point, he was regretting ever leaving the giant tree they had left so many hours ago. If they had remained there, they might have been at a safer position since it was such a huge tree. But he knew what was coming. Water. He could sense the plunging nightmare approaching them as they all heard howls and screams echoing throughout the forest. And somehow, he knew. He knew that their kind, their species had caused the danger. The grown-ups had lost their minds and gone insane with a darkness in their hearts that he would never be able to understand. All he knew was that if they were all to survive, they would need help.
"Makaiju." Hiba whispered as she clutched her pendant. "Please help us!"
Suddenly, Hiba's pendant started glowing bright and a beam of light shot towards the left. They all came to a crashing halt and started at the light. "What does it mean?" En asked, as she instinctively glanced behind her to make sure they wouldn't be attacked even in this situation.
"What did you do?" Zahi asked, he had not heard her whispered plea.
"I asked for help." Hiba looked towards the direction of the light. They would not have gone in that direction and her instincts told her to follow the light. "I can feel it." She said, as she pulled on Zahi's hand and pointed towards the gleaming light. "This way."
Zahi's eyes bored into hers. He trusted her with his life and as such he nodded and turned to the others. "That way!"
Hiba smiled and ran forward, holding Zahi's hand as they followed her pendant's beam of light. Ail and En had no idea what to think anymore. They were fearful of what was happening to their planet. They could feel the ground trembling with amazing power and the black clouds continued to gather up above.
Just as they made their way to a clearing, they all spotted an enormous tree not too far away. The light from Hiba's pendant stopping at its base.
"Let's go!" Hiba shouted, as she ran forward.
She and Zahi ran past a boulder to their right, and as Ail and En were running, from behind the boulder, another one of their species propelled itself forward and tackled Ail and En to the ground.
Their screams echoed in the clearing as Zahi and Hiba turned in time to see the adult extend his claws and swipe at Ail and En.
"NO!" Zahi yelled as he ran forward. Hiba screamed as she saw blood stain the grown-up's hand.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Additional Notes
So, the title of this chapter is "Innocentiae" which is Latin for "Innocence." I'm referencing the innocence that is slowly being chipped away and lost due to the horrible, horrible situation the characters are finding themselves in. Also, just in case anyone was wondering… Zahi, is an Arabic name for boys that means/translates into "brilliant," while Hiba is an Arabic name for girls that means/translates into "gift." And one more additional thing, I'd like to say thank you to James Birdsong because at the moment, you're the only one leaving me reviews and I greatly appreciate it =)
