The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 4 – Gravity of Love
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.
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The ground rushed up to meet them as their heads slammed against the ground. Ail grabbed the hand closing around his neck just as he heard En's muffled cry of pain.
He glanced quickly to the side and noticed that she had landed on the creatures that were hiding in her hair and along her lower back and arms. Half of them looked unconscious while the others were struggling to get out from underneath her weight.
That's when a searing pain lashed across his side and he cried out in pain. The crazed adult had let go of En, but used its free arm to extend its claws and lash out at Ail. Through the pain and the feeling of blood soaking his side, he heard Zahi's and Hiba's screams. He couldn't respond though because the pressure around his neck increased and try as he might with all his strength, he couldn't pry off the adult's hand from his neck.
Ail couldn't really think with the pain but that's when a flash of light blasted the adult off of him. Groaning, as he struggled to sit up, he saw Zahi's outstretched hands with an afterglow shimmering along his hands and most especially around his armbands. Somehow, he knew that those armbands had given Zahi the power to drive off the adult, but not for long.
The adult roared as it turned feral eyes on the kids and charged once again. However, this time, it wasn't alone. Its mate had joined him and the two rushed towards the children. Zahi ran forward and extended his arms, focusing his will and power into creating a shield.
The impact hurt. Zahi could feel the blows that ricocheted off his shield but it worked. He had managed to create a light shield and protect Ail, En and Hiba. Circling his arms, he willed the power radiating from his armbands to encircle him and his friends, which only incensed the crazed adults even further.
"Ail!" Hiba called, as she helped him sit up. She quickly tore a piece of her suit and started bandaging Ail's side as to stop the bleeding just as En agonizingly, slowly, recovered from the impact to the ground. The back of her head, the back of her neck, her lower back, and most especially her arms hurt as she knew she landed on the miniature creatures. Gasping as she finally sat up and caught sight of Ail, she ran to his side just as Hiba finished bandaging him up.
"Ail?!" En grabbed his hand, looking deep into his eyes.
Ail winced from the pain but otherwise waved his hand. He would survive, but he was very weak from the loss of blood and he knew it. He felt dizzy but was still able to get on his feet. "We have to help Zahi," he managed to sputter.
"We need to get back to the tree," Hiba said, as she ran towards Zahi.
Ail turned to En as she nodded before running back to the miniature creatures. As expected, half of them were unconscious while the other half were visibly hurt but conscious. She started gathering them in her arms as Ail joined her side.
"I can't carry them all!" En choked out, as she tried desperately to hold onto as many as she could. She knew Ail wouldn't be able to help her even if he wanted to…they had to scale the tree for safety…they wouldn't be able to do it with the unconscious creatures.
"What do I do?!" En asked, as she noticed Zahi and Hiba were retreating slowly back towards them, the light shield still perfectly in place.
"En…" Ail started, but he couldn't finish the sentence. He couldn't tell her to leave them but at this point, they had no choice.
"En…" he tried again, but a pain shot through his body and he grimaced, falling onto his knees as he took in deep breaths.
"Ail?!" En ran to his side, still holding onto some of the creatures.
"Damnit!..." he gasped, as the last tremor of pain seemed to subside.
"Hiba! Zahi! Help!" En managed to cry out, knowing that she wasn't of any use to either the miniature creatures or Ail.
Hiba glanced over her shoulder. She had remained by Zahi's side, guiding him backwards as they retreated back to the large tree. The two crazed adults continued to attack the barrier but they were unable to break it.
Zahi. You've become strong…just like Fiore… Hiba thought, as she took one last look behind her. She knew they'd have to help Ail up the tree, but she also knew that the miniature creatures had suffered as well, and knew they wouldn't be able to hold onto them while trying to climb the tree if they were too busy with Ail.
"Let's stop here." Hiba said, as she left Zahi's side and ran to help pick up Ail. Turning quickly to En, her eyes softened for just a brief moment, understanding En's compassion but also realizing that their lives were still in the balance. The sound of raging water still impending.
"En. Leave them."
"What?!" En couldn't believe her ears. Ail shifted and managed to walk the few steps to stand by Zahi while Hiba turned away from En. "We can't take them with us…they'll only get in the way. If they were able to fly on their own like before, it would be different…they could simply follow us. But right now, they're nothing more than liabilities."
"NO!" En shouted. "I won't abandon them! They're just like us! Can't you see?!"
"Yeah. But just like us, no one cares!"
En glared back at Hiba. This was their first fight and she felt anger creeping into her heart. The combination was painful. It was a mixture of anger, pain, and despair cascading all around her.
"I won't leave them."
"So, you'll choose them over Ail?"
That snapped her heart. The accusation was more than she could bear. She would never leave Ail…but she also couldn't leave helpless creatures alone either. It was all too much. Her anger rose and for the first time, En felt hatred. Pristine malevolence and pure hatred just like the adults. She glanced towards the two adults and glared. It was all their fault. The five of them had been fighting for their lives since they emerged from the sepals of their tree, and yet, no one cared. No one spared them a second thought. No one had pity, mercy or compassion. Concepts of altruism, selflessness, and empathy were just fictional ideas. The adults of her species had shown her that much and she hated their existence. She hated the adults. And she hated feeling so helpless.
The creatures that were awake could sense En's feelings. They started squirming in her arms and as she released them, the ones in her arms, as well as the ones she couldn't pick up started floating into the air.
"Wait! What's happening?!" En asked, her hatred and anger subsiding, immediately replaced with concern and fear.
The miniature creatures started to glow with an intense shimmering of light, before they all started to grow in size. As the light finally subsided, En gaped as she realized that the thirteen miniature creatures were no longer miniature…they were adult-size and fully grown. Powerful creatures that radiated immense strength and power.
"What's happened to you?" En asked, stumped at their transformation.
"We're the Cardians and we'll protect you… however, our strength is derived from your strength, and as you are but a youngling, we don't have much time. Thank you, En, for loving us and refusing to give us up."
"Wait!" En said, just as they all ran forward.
Zahi, Hiba and Ail were staring, amazed at the transformation of the sprites into fully grown "Cardians." They ran past Zahi, easily shattering and breaking through his barrier and out into the open field where they finished off the two adults.
The four friends were speechless. The Cardians had transformed to their adult-sizes because of En's power? But if they used her power that would mean…
Just then, En collapsed onto the ground. The three of them ran towards her and realized that she was exhausted. She managed to open her eyes slowly, but she felt dizzy as her vision swam before her. Ail turned around just in time to see the Cardians return. They were true to their word. They had protected them and the adults lay on the ground, inert and unmoving.
"Ail." One of them addressed him. "I'm Yamadakka. We don't have much time. But know that whenever you or En need us, you can use your flute to call us forth. However, also remember that we do use and rely on your life energy. So please…be careful and be safe."
"My flute?" Ail asked, still not sure how it disappeared after he tucked it under his arm when they were still on the spinel-colored tree. Just then, Ail understood. He could feel the flute nearby. He had but to will its presence and it would appear. And if that's how it was with his flute, then the same thing would apply to the Cardians.
En was able to sit up with Hiba's help. They looked around as trees started collapsing. They were at the base of the largest tree in the area, with vines hanging all the way to the buttresses of the roots, but they would have to hurry. En turned in time to hear Yamadakka's words before all the thirteen creatures started to glow once again, turning into orbs of light before all thirteen lights shot towards En. She crossed her arms in front of her to protect herself; the projection of all thirteen Cardians had startled her, but when she opened her eyes again she realized that they had transformed into cards and were now hovering in front of her.
She reached towards them, her fingertips brushing Seiren and Vampire just as they all disappeared. And while she missed their company, she could sense that they were still close by. What Yamadakka had said earlier was true; she could feel them so close, almost a heartbeat away. They would appear once again, whenever she called for them, and knowing that fact that they were alive and well was good enough. The only sadness that wracked her heart was the fact that they too, were no longer innocent. The Cardians had transformed and changed into their adult-sizes. They had taken two lives. And now, they were unable to return to their pure states as sprites.
"Move!" Ail interrupted her thoughts, as the four of them heard crashing waves. Grabbing onto the vines, the four of them started to climb just as waves started crashing by. The two bodies of the grown-ups disappeared under the floodwaters. Zahi was helping Ail as much as he could, as the two of them pulled their way up. En and Hiba were above, leading and clearing away thorns and branches that would hinder the boys' movements. As they managed to grab onto the nearest branch, the two girls moved aside as they helped Ail and Zahi up.
"The water's rushing from that direction over there!" Hiba announced, as she realized that the water was getting higher but that the force still wasn't letting up.
"It's going back to the center of this planet? Which means if any of us gets swept up against it, we'll be right back where we started earlier today…back where we received our gifts." Zahi concluded.
Ail was feeling dizzy and fatigued. The struggle to climb up the tree and use the vines was draining his already exhausted body.
"We have to keep moving." Hiba added, as she started to climb up, keeping an eye on En especially since she had just collapsed mere moments ago.
"Come on Ail." En added, as she waited for Ail to grab onto her hand.
"Can you make it?" Zahi whispered, as he helped Ail get up onto the next branch so he could grab En's hand.
"I will." Ail said, as he gestured up towards Hiba. "Don't leave her alone."
"I'm not leaving you." Zahi said flatly. So long as they were all able to keep moving safely, Zahi would remain by Ail's side.
"I've got En. Besides. The vines are helping." He lied. He was already pushing his body beyond its limit but just as Zahi was about to object, they both heard Hiba's scream as they looked up.
She was falling. One of the branches had snapped and she lost her grip on the vine.
"Hiba!" Zahi yelled. Within seconds, Zahi used the vines he was holding onto to kick against the trunk of the tree and swing around in time to catch her. As the projection carried them forward, they managed to grab onto another branch, slightly higher than where Ail and En were.
Hiba didn't move. She was shivering and shaking in his arms as she tried to steady her racing heart. She was terrified. When she lost her footing and her grip, she thought for sure she would fall and plummet into a watery grave. But once again, Zahi was by her side. He had saved her, yet again.
"I've got you." Zahi whispered, as he pulled her close into a tight embrace. Keeping her safe and warm in his arms. Looking down below, he saw En and Ail watching them with relief. They had all been through so much that the thought of losing just one of them would tear them all apart.
We have to make it. We just have to. Zahi's thoughts echoed in his mind, as he hugged Hiba tighter.
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Ail managed to inch himself up the branch before he took hold of another branch and made his way up. He was now on equal footing with En as they were slowly, yet surely, making their way to their friends up above.
En was about to use one of the branches when Ail stopped her.
"Use the vines. They might be safer…" he left the rest unsaid. If Hiba had lost her footing, then the next set of branches were definitely not safe. Their safest bet was the vines.
Nodding in understanding, she grabbed a vine, as he grabbed one for himself, and the two started to climb their way up.
Just then, another roar of dissonance and cacophony silenced everything around them and Ail and En turned to look at the source just as a giant wave came crashing against them.
"AIL!"
"EN!"
Zahi and Hiba cried out simultaneously, as a wave crashed forth and the water had now covered their friends up to their necks, as they were both struggling not to lose their grip as they hung onto the vines for dear life.
Ail glanced miserably at En; his strength was already draining and his injury was only adding to his fatigue. The overwhelming weight of wanting to just close his eyes and never wake up was overpowering.
En's face was covered in rivulets of water; she turned to look at Ail and struggled to comprehend the meaning behind his eyes. Her hands began to tremble as she pulled as hard as she could, lifting herself up and out of the raging water as she clung to the vines for her life. However, her thoughts and fears were with Ail. He was barely able to hold on and her greatest fear would be that he would not fall into the raging water below, but that he would let go.
She immediately turned to Ail and extended her hand.
"Grab onto me."
Ail turned miserable, tired eyes towards En. Yes. She would grab him. She would hold onto him. And she'd never let go even if it meant her own death. And that was something Ail could not allow.
"I'm sorry." Ail whispered, as his fatigue took over and darkness engulfed him. The last thing he remembered seeing were En's eyes widening in fear and pain, as she screamed out his name but he couldn't hear her anymore. He had lost consciousness.
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"NO!" Zahi and Hiba yelled from above. They had been trying to make their way down safely but they couldn't find a safe path that could support the four of them.
"AIL!" Zahi cried out before falling onto his knees and punching the branch they were sitting on. Silent tears poured down Hiba's eyes as she struggled to hold herself together. She stared at the water, looking for any sign that Ail would resurface and somehow swim against the current and back to the tree. It was all wishful thinking.
"En," Hiba choked out, before kneeling next to Zahi and putting a hand on his shoulder. They still had En right?
"YOU TWO BETTER LIVE!"
Zahi and Hiba snapped their heads up and looked down towards En. Her back was facing them but she stood perfectly still as her eyes were focused on the water. She was standing on the branch now directly parallel to the raging current.
"En?" Zahi called out.
She turned to face them. Her eyes shimmered with tears and determination, but what scared them was the glint of something more in her eyes.
"EN?!" Zahi screamed, as he soon realized that he had seen that look before…in Fiore's eyes. Ferocious resolve even if it meant death.
"En don't!" Zahi yelled, as realization hit him hard.
She took a deep breath, knowing she might not get another one, before she jumped off the tree and slowly disappeared into the raging water.
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Additional Notes
I hope this is getting exciting for you guys! This chapter helps give you all an idea of what happened to the planet that Ail and En were from. All we know from the series is that the planet exploded. This is leading up to that as I am trying to stay very true to the series. As always, please don't forget to leave me a review/comment. Don't forget to follow it too! LOL.
