The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 5 – Instinct
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.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
The current engulfed her and she was dragged under instantly, filling her lungs with fluid death. However, despite her fear, En became enraged. With several hard kicks, she managed to break the surface, gasping for air as another huge wave slammed against her, pushing water deep into her lungs. For a split second, she thought of the Cardians, but she knew she wasn't able to call them…she didn't have enough energy.
Her thoughts quickly returned to the one she couldn't be separated from…Ail.
Where are you?! Her mind screamed, as she continued to struggle to stay above the surface, while scanning the raging currents for any sign of him. Absolute hysteria claimed her mind. She would not let him die, but her resolve was quickly shaken by insecurity and fear…fear of losing him, fear of being alone, and eventually, fear of death.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
The tears wouldn't stop. She had been struggling to wipe them away, to continue their ascension up the giant tree and to safety…but they wouldn't stop. Finally, Hiba stopped moving and collapsed on a large branch and broke down. They were lost. They were alone. They had lost Fiore. Ail. And now En.
Zahi stopped climbing, as he too glanced at the raging waters bellow, thinking of those they had lost. He was tired. He was fed up. And above all else, he hated everything about the Makaiju and their planet. His feelings soon subsided though as he glanced at Hiba. She was balled up against the bark of the tree, sobbing silently for their friends. After making sure they were high enough and at a safe distance from the ever rising water, he moved towards her and sat by her side.
Hiba clutched the pendant in her hand just as Zahi put an arm around her shoulder.
"Please. You worked before right?"
Zahi eyed Hiba and realized that she was talking to the pendant she received from the giant tree earlier that day.
"Please. Save them!" Hiba wailed, as she closed her eyes and hugged the pendant to her chest.
"Hiba…" Zahi was at a loss for words. So instead, he pulled her against him and hugged her as tightly as he could, trying to convey that at least, even if all was lost, they still had each other.
Suddenly, Hiba gasped and the two moved slightly apart as a bright light shot from Hiba's oval shaped pendant across the landscape.
"It's headed towards..." Hiba whispered.
"We will find them." Zahi affirmed, but he had a more pressing issue on his mind. In scanning their surroundings, and with everything they had seen since Fiore's death, only one tree stood out in the distance…a Spinel-colored tree that they had left earlier in the day. Could that tree we were on earlier have been the… Makaiju? Zahi wondered, as he looked across the horizon.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
She couldn't see anything except for wave after wave crashing over her, threatening to plunge her underneath where she'd never be able to resurface. But En refused to give up. She fought her way up once again and gasped for air just as a giant bright light came crashing several feet away from her. And she recognized that light! It was the same light that had surrounded and radiated off of Fiore; the same light that had radiated from the Cardians; the same light from Hiba's pendant!
"Ail?!" En called, as she fought and swam in that direction before another wave slammed against her and pushed her underneath. The pain in her lungs was overwhelming. Never in her mind would her small body be able to sustain the pain flaring up within her. This was body numbing, brain shattering pain. She felt her body and mind go blank, and her vision clouded dangerously but she managed to find the surface once again and gasped for air. Just as quickly as she did though, she was hurled against something really hard. She was slammed against a giant boulder just before she went under once again.
This time though, she didn't struggle. It might have been a few seconds, or a minute, but it felt like an eternity since she had gone into the water in search for Ail. She was too damn tired and try as she might, she couldn't find him.
In the darkness and void of the water, En opened her eyes one last time, only to snap her head up as she caught sight of Ail, his body engulfed in a shimmering light…the light she had seen earlier from Hiba's pendant.
Her resolve and strength renewed, En reached out.
The water made it difficult; they were still being pushed along underneath the waves, but En never felt more joy or relief to push past the pain, extend her fingers as far they could and brush her hand against Ail's hand before intertwining them and then pulling him to her, embracing him once again in the circle of her arms. He wasn't moving in the water and En knew she had to get him up to the surface. The pain from the impact earlier seemed irrelevant, as the light surrounding his body faded away the moment their fingertips connected.
As they broke the surface once again, En looked around her and was surprised to see that the water had carried them very quickly across the landscape, for she could once again see the canopy of a very familiar, very large and very lush, spinel-colored tree.
"Makaiju." En whispered, as she soon realized that the water was no longer raging along.
Still holding onto Ail, she quickly looked down and realized that the giant buttresses of the Makaiju were clearly visible underneath the surface. It shocked her to know that somehow, all that water had now engulfed everything and as far as the eye could see. Only the very largest of trees were visible, scattered and sporadic along the horizon. On one of those trees, she hoped was Zahi and Hiba, unharmed by the raging waters that had engulfed all other life.
Unbeknownst to En, their planet had now transformed – the raging waters had engulfed her home planet and the only small island remaining was the one she had arrived at with the Makaiju. Everything else was underwater, except of course the handful of other large trees in the vast distance that were tall enough to remain visible.
And sadly, the true natural disaster and demolition of her planet was but a few days away. What they had just been through was just the precursor.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
En was exhausted but still managed to swim and inch her way, inch-by-agonizing inch, with Ail by her side to the only land surface left. Ail was dead weight in her arms, but she would not abandon him. If he was going down, so would she. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she managed to drag him across the roots and onto the wet soil. They both collapsed violently against the surface before En turned him over so that he was on his back.
And to En's great horror, Ail wasn't breathing. Immediately, panic set in. What was she supposed to do?
It was if by instinct, she moved her frigid hands, placing them on his chest, as she began to pump his heart. She knew she had to get him to breathe again, but how? A voice inside her head told her that he needed air. But how was she supposed to give him air?
She hadn't even realized it as she tilted his head back, pinched his nostrils, put her lips against his, and pressed air from her lungs into him, even though it caused her immense agony to do so. Her lungs were already screaming in pain. Her body was trembling from the exertion. And the cold wind only intensified the drop in her body temperature, as she knew they would have to also find someplace warm and safe in order to recover. A creeping image of crazed adults being nearby nearly sent her into shock, but she brushed that thought away; she wouldn't stop until she was sure Ail was alive.
Lifting her head, she whispered, "Please breathe." And then, just as she was lowering her head to touch his lips again, he suddenly convulsed beneath her, shuddering as a stream of water poured from his mouth before he started coughing violently. En lifted his head gently to give him better leverage, feeling a slow, small smile touch her lips, as tears streamed down her face, not even realizing how much pain she was in – mentally and physically.
Ail opened his eyes briefly, as he lifted his hand ever so slowly and caressed En's cheek with the palm of his hand. "En," he whispered, before his eyelids closed once again and he fell back into unconsciousness.
It didn't matter anymore. He was alive and that was all she needed. Her pain could wait. She quickly looked around and decided that now their safety was a priority and despite the protests of her body, she managed to pull Ail onto her shoulder, supporting him with one of his arms draped over her shoulder, as she dragged him towards the Makaiju. The buttresses were large enough that there were plenty of gaping holes that led underground. If she could find one, like a small underground cavern that would fit just the two of them, then they could squeeze their way through and stay safe and warm from the dangers outside.
She fumbled several times, her legs buckling underneath her, but she kept getting back up. A thought entered her mind, one that steadily grew in intensity - she hoped that those raging currents wiped out every single adult alive.
Finally, she found the most appropriate of small openings - a cavern underground that was just slightly bigger than the two of them. She lowered Ail to the ground, before peering inside. It was pitch black but it was nice and dry. More importantly, the little cave was narrow enough that only kids could crawl through. So, she positioned herself to crawl backwards as she dragged Ail's body inside the small underground cave beneath the roots of the Makaiju.
It was dark. It was so very dark except for the light emanating from the small entrance and a few cracks within the walls of the buttresses surrounding them. As she looked around, she pulled Ail and positioned him against the side of the cavern so that he was tucked in the corner, safe and warm before she curled up beside him with her head resting on his chest. The sound of his heartbeats lulled her to a very deep sleep, one that was very much needed if her body was to recover.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
His eyes felt heavy. He could feel the ground beneath him and the smell of roots and dirt. It was a strange, comforting smell that reminded him of the times they spent hiding in the forests of their planet. Inhaling deeply once again, Ail forced his eyes open. It was dark, but his eyes soon adjusted. His eyes immediately settled on En by his side. He wanted to wrap his arm around her and pull her closer, but his arms felt heavy. He paused for a moment, trying to assess where he was and what happened.
He was able to identify a small opening directly opposite from where he was laying. From the type of lighting at the entrance, he could tell that it was probably already dark outside. But the time didn't register with his mind. The last thing he remembered was losing consciousness on the vines, seeing En with an expression in her eyes that he never wanted to see again…he also remembered seeing En's face, covered in rivulets of water but he couldn't remember the circumstances of that memory.
Ail managed to finally move his arm and raised his hand to caress her forehead. Unfortunately, he didn't feel any better when he felt the high fever she had. Shifting slightly so that he wouldn't wake her, Ail managed to lower her head onto the bare ground beneath them. It was slightly damp and as he moved her to the side, Ail's eyes flew wide open when he felt a thick residue on her back and could smell a metallic scent in the air. No doubt about it. It was blood.
He looked at his hand but couldn't see anything in the dark. Crawling towards the entrance, he slowly and cautiously made his way out, looking around to ensure that it was clear. He quickly scanned his surroundings, ensuring that he was indeed alone, before he looked at his hand. His fear only grew. He could see his hand stained with a dark shade of En's blood.
Looking around, Ail recognized the roots and canopy of a very large and very familiar spinel-colored tree. And it all made sense as his eyes settled on the tranquil leaves fluttering in the night. This was… this tree was…
"Makaiju." Ail whispered. As soon as it registered in his mind he quickly looked around once again to make sure he was alone. He didn't want anyone to notice their hideout. Slowly retreating back into the cave, he crawled back to En and cautiously shook her. He needed her to get up so that he could access her injuries. He also wanted to know what happened. His memories didn't make any sense.
How did we end up here, En? Ail wondered, as he gently shook her.
When she didn't wake up, Ail's concern grew.
"En." He shook her again, and this time, she moaned.
"En?" He needed answers and even though he hurt all over – his head, his limbs, and most especially his chest – he ignored it. He needed to make sure En was alright, especially with having confirmed she was bleeding, or had been bleeding since the taint of her blood was a nasty dark shade.
En could hear and feel Ail next to her but it was so hard to open her eyes. As her heavy eyelids finally opened, her eyes adjusted to the dark and she was able to see Ail leaning over her, concern etched on his face and eyes.
"Ail?" She rasped out. Her throat hurt. Her body hurt. And she felt dizzy just lying there.
"En. What happened? You're bleeding. I need you to roll over so I can look at you."
"Bleeding?" En rasped out, wincing in pain as she tried to sit up.
"Don't get up. Just roll over. You've got a fever or something. You're really warm." Ail said, as he touched her forehead once again. En sighed in contentment. His cold hands felt wonderful against her head. Now she understood why she was so dizzy. Damn fever.
But her mind quickly turned to Ail. "What about you?" She asked, placing her hand on top of his. "Are you alright?" Ail frowned. He didn't feel ok but he knew that at the moment, En's health took precedence.
"I'll live. That's beside the point. Roll over En. Your shoulder…"
"It hurts." En admitted. "I think it was that boulder…"
"What boulder?" Ail demanded, still confused about what happened. He was too afraid to even ask about Zahi and Hiba. He helped En roll over, before skootching her to the side of the small underground cave where they were closer to the entrance so he could see her back. Once she was lying on her stomach, he slowly pulled the material away to expose her shoulder. His eyes narrowed at the deep gash and sticky, dry blood around her wound. She was no longer bleeding, but because their clothes were still wet, her clothes were soaked in her blood. As he pulled the material back up, he placed his hand on her head.
"Where are we? What happened?"
En's eyes slowly fluttered open. She knew she would have to tell him what happened, but she was slightly ashamed of herself for leaving Zahi and Hiba. Would he forgive her?
"You fell." En said, her voice shaking slightly. The meaning of her words weighing heavily on Ail. He fell to his exhaustion. He fell against the life they were trying to survive. But more than anything, he fell at the feet of defeat for that one brief moment in his life.
"I'm sorry." Ail said, truly sorry for not being able to stay by her side along those vines. But then, his memory came back and he remembered seeing her holding on to the vines, climbing onto the nearest branch and extending her hand towards him. After a slight pause, he asked: "You slipped?"
Silence filled the small underground cave. En thought about how to honestly answer him. She was so very tired, but she knew she had to assuage his curiosity and concerns; he wanted to know what happened, to piece everything together. He was stubborn. It was the same stubborn attitude that made her jump in after him. It was another trait they shared in common. They were equally headstrong.
"No. I followed you."
Ail removed his hand and stared at En's back. He could tell that she was tense, waiting for him to respond, but he was utterly speechless.
She followed?
"You jumped in after me?" he asked, as En slowly turned over so that she was facing him.
"I'm sorry. I know I left them, but I wasn't thinking…I just knew that I couldn't...not without you…" En hesitated. But thankfully, she didn't have to elaborate. Ail lowered himself down and laid down directly next to her. His arms encircling her and pulling her close.
It hurt. Any kind of movement hurt but once that pain subsided, she felt warm and safe within his arms. "Thank you, En." Ail whispered, as he softly and lovingly placed a kiss on her forehead. En blushed, feeling dizzier, but she was also very happy even if it was for the briefest of moments.
"Are they…." Ail started, but he closed his eyes, unable to form the words. He was still too afraid to ask what happened to their friends.
"I don't know." En responded, as she closed her eyes, refusing to shed any more tears. "They were climbing up that tree, but the water was still rising."
"Let's sleep for now. We need to get our strength back."
En nodded. Tomorrow. Tomorrow they would worry. For now, they were allowed a moment of peace and quiet. Unbeknownst to each other, both kids were thinking the exact same thing. They both wouldn't mind just falling asleep in each other's arms and never waking up again. If they were destined to die, dying together peacefully in a cave wasn't so bad.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Additional Notes
Hi everyone. I know this chapter was slightly dark and intense, and it might seem difficult to imagine children going through these things, but just to let you know…there are children in the world today in the twenty-first century enduring pain, suffering, abuse, and a whole list of other problems that many people could never imagine. In many cases, sometimes death seems like the better alternative. So, I'm sorry if it does seem controversial for children to think death isn't so bad, but believe you me when I say, there are kids alive today who will attest that yes, sometimes, death doesn't seem so bad. Again, I'm not trying to make light of the situation, I'm just trying to convey the severity of where these two are at this point in their lives.
