The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 8 – Shattered
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 this site 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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Hiba was startled as the adults landed on their bubble. She hadn't even seen them coming. But her mind disregarded where they came from as she watched in horror as the adults used their disgusting claws to tear at their light shield, trying to destroy their only barrier.

En had jumped back, a little started at their ravenous demeanor. They had changed. They looked voracious and beyond feral. They no longer even looked like any of the adults they had seen the day before. Whatever the case may be though, En hoped this was their final stage; the last time she would ever have to see them this frightening.

Zahi was struggling. He was concentrating hard and his armbands were glowing with an intensity that matched his determination to keep their shield intact. Zahi felt dizzy and felt his vision began to sway. He shook his head, trying to clear his vision, but it didn't help. Instead, for a moment, everything turned black and Zahi felt himself fall to his knees, straining to keep their light shield up. The floor of their bubble helped him regain his bearings, but his arms were shaking as his vision slowly returned.

"Ail!" Zahi yelled, struggling against the pressure and weight of the adults as their shield began to descend and they found themselves heading back down towards the ground and the churning waters.

"I need help!" Zahi yelled, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"I'm trying!" Ail yelled back, copying the maneuvers and arcs he had seen Zahi do just moments ago.

"Use your flute!" Zahi argued, thinking if the Makaiju had given them those gifts, then somehow the flute would be of use even now.

Ail extended his hand and in his mind he summoned his flute. A glittering orb appeared before him and the shape of his flute began to materialize from the void. Finally, it stood before him radiating with power. Ail grabbed his flute and began to play the same tune he had played before, but this time, there was an urgency to it. There was a stronger cacophony of sounds emanating from his instrument. It was a tune of despair and power. Unlike last time where he was playing a tune for En, this time, he was demanding obedience from the Makaiju to protect them. He had no idea if it would work. But he played his heart into that tune given the urgency and desperation of their situation.

At first, nothing happened, but Ail was determined. He would not allow the adults to survive. They were no longer even adults in his mind, simply mindless, killing beings that needed to be eradicated from whatever was left of their planet. One of the adults slammed its face against the side of their bubble, scratching and grinning sadistically as it stared straight into Ail's eyes.

Zahi continued to focus on the shield, but it was getting more difficult with so many adults attacking from all different sides.

That's when the weight of the adults overpowered his ability to keep the shield.

"Ail!" Zahi yelled, as his arms began to waver in struggling to keep the barrier up.

Ail glared at the adults before turning his menacing eyes on the Makaiju. In his mind, he commanded the tree to protect them otherwise he made a silent promise to destroy the tree himself. That's when he saw the vines emerge from up above. The vines wacked and felled several of the adults from their shield. However, one adult, a female, still clung onto their bubble and she slammed both her hands into the bubble, tearing her own skin and flesh in a crazed attempt to attack the children.

The four instinctively ducked down and looked up in surprise. Her hands had pierced the bubble and that's when she grinned callously before elongating her nails.

"Look out!" Zahi yelled as he flung himself to cover Hiba.

The blood splattered the interior of their bubble before it shattered to pieces, sending the four kids and the crazed female to the ground and onto the turbulent waters below.

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En landed hard on the ground, but despite the pain, she managed to pull herself up and dodge the fall of the others. Ail fell hard on one of the buttresses of the Makaiju, sending searing pain along his side and back as he rolled over in pain, trying and willing his body to get back up.

Hiba and Zahi landed on the ground like ragdolls. The female landed beside them but she too was struggling to get back up. Hiba rolled over and was crying for Zahi, calling out his name repeatedly. His right arm was impaled in multiple areas, torn flesh and broken bone exposed. Zahi was awake, but the pain was overpowering. He was screaming out and writhing in pain on the ground. The pain was too much. And try as he might, it wasn't subsiding. Zahi was gasping for breath, trying to will his body to calm down despite the damage to his arm. He could feel Hiba next to him, but despite her cries and touch, the pain would not subside.

Hiba quickly turned in that instant, just as the female stood up.

The female adult ran forward, raising her clawed and mangled hands.

Hiba grabbed her pendant and her eyes turned red.

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As Hiba grabbed her pendant, she demanded from the Makaiju the power to destroy the adults. The power to destroy life. Red swirls engulfed Hiba within seconds. The water surrounding Hiba began to vibrate and churn, sending ripples all around her as the energy of her hatred began to unfold. The female adult's hand ricocheted off her body upon impact. Hiba had a barrier all her own protecting her and she used it to advance on the female.

I hate you. I hate you. I hate you!

Light engulfed her body before shooting out around her. The beams of light pierced the female but not with the intent of killing. Hiba wanted the adult to suffer. Suddenly though, Hiba's vision swam and she found herself swaying on her feet. She knelt down on one leg. Since when did that happen? She wondered before realization hit her. En had used her energy before with the Cardians and appeared weak thereafter. It must be the same for her, even if her object was a necklace instead of the Cardians.

Hiba's pendant continued to glow as she held it in her hand and concentrated. She focused on her breathing, watching the adult struggle to get back up. She found herself smirking when she realized how much it was suffering. Good! That's for Zahi. But then, to her dismay, the adult finally got back up and started running towards her. She knew she needed time. Just a few more seconds to recover. But that wouldn't be enough time.

"Ail!" Hiba yelled.

Ail grabbed his flute once again, anger coursing through his veins as he saw Zahi crumbling on the ground in pain, spasms rocking his body. He demanded obedience once again from the Makaiju, as he played the shrill tune on his flute. He had just moments ago recovered from his fall and witnessed Hiba impale the adult with her magic. But it somehow still found the strength to get back up.

As Ail played his flute, the music quickly reached a high pitched note as the adult turned to look over her shoulder just as the vines engulfed her and raised her up into the air, choking the life out of her body.

"Slowly!" Hiba yelled.

En stared for a moment at Ail and Hiba as they slowly crushed the female adult, her body twitching before slowly going limp. En quickly snapped herself out of her shock and ran towards Zahi tearing off some leaves from the Makaiju just as she knelt by his side. The water was already washing away most of his blood, but he was in pain. Zahi grit his teeth before crying out as En began wrapping his arm in leaves in order to help stop the bleeding.

"En." Zahi choked.

"Don't." En commanded. She didn't want him exerting any energy. After wrapping his injured arm the best she could, before her eyes lingered on her own hands covered in his blood. En moved one of her hands and gently caressed his good arm, trying to soothe his pain. What had they done wrong? What had they done to deserve such a fate? Were they that insignificant and pitiable that the gods ignored their pleas of desperation? What had they done wrong?!

"En. I'm…sor..ry…" Zahi chocked, trying to convey his regret at not being stronger.

"Zahi." En's eyes found his and they stared into each other's eyes.

"We'll make it." En said, her voice firm and confident. "We'll survive. The four of us. Together." En asserted. And Zahi smiled. He believed her. And for a brief moment of respite, Zahi felt hope.

Suddenly, Zahi's eyes flew open, fear etched on his face as his eyes focused on something just behind En.

Just as Hiba and Ail had finished the female adult, the adults who were flung off their bubble from earlier landed on the ground and charged them.

Despite the pain, Zahi threw his left arm forward, his armband glowing with the intensity of his will as he shielded both Hiba and Ail. They were already prepared for the attack though; Hiba's body was already glowing in red which was now reinforced with Zahi's barrier. Ail had momentarily stopped playing his flute and arched his hands crating a solid bubble around themselves.

En glanced over her shoulder when Zahi sat up. She got up on her feet and positioned herself in front of him. Zahi was gasping for air but he was no longer bleeding profusely. His breathing was labored and he was somehow controlling his pain. En set her eyes on the adults. And just like Ail, she moved her hand forward and summoned her Cardians.

An orb of light began to shine in front of En as she could see thirteen cards materialize and radiate into being in front of her as they fanned in a circle around her hand. En's eyes hardened as she spoke to her cards, remembering that they would drain her of energy, but also knowing that they needed to survive this fight at all costs.

"Zahi. I will protect you. I will protect you, Hiba and Ail!" En spoke.

Zahi's eyes focused on En. When had she become this strong? This bold? This inspiring?

"Cardians!" En yelled, throwing her hand up into the air, the cards followed her projection and ascended up into the sky. This attracted the attention of the adults and their focus shifted from Ail and Hiba to En.

"En! What're you doing?!" Hiba yelled?

Ail jumped up and started running towards En. He knew exactly what she was about to do!

"Descend to me now!" En yelled, as she willed the Cardians to transform. They did and within seconds they descended from the sky and En was surrounded by thirteen protective Cardians.

"Destroy them." En whispered, her eyes never leaving her target.

The Cardians immediately obeyed their master.

Running forward they engaged with the group of adults fighting viciously to protect the kids. Ail finally made his way to En, she was glowing with a white aura that had flickers of red radiating around her. "Don't push yourself, ok?" Ail said, the concern in his voice was palpable.

Smiling gratefully back at Ail, En responded honestly, keeping her eyes locked on him as she said: "I can handle it, as long as you're by my side."

Ail placed his hand on her arm, a simple attempt to convey that he was indeed and would always be by her side. Ail and En locked eyes, never breaking contact, as they concentrated on each other. They'd survive. They just knew it.

En was already feeling the drain of energy, using all the cards at once to kill and obliterate the adults. But she could handle it. Thankfully, they had rested their bodies for several hours, so despite the drain, En knew she could handle it. In those exact moments, Hiba had made her way back to Zahi's side. He was still sitting on the ground, too weak to move. But as soon as Hiba embraced him, Zahi put his one good arm around her, returning the hug.

"Hi..ba…" Zahi whispered, holding her close. His fingers then trailed against her, feeling her close. They were alive. They'd survive.

That's when Ail and En heard piercing screams that shattered their world.

The painful screams only lasted a few seconds but what crushed their world was the fact that the screams were from behind them… the heartbreaking screams of Zahi and Hiba.

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Ail and En turned around, the heartbreaking and chilling screams of their closest friends forever marking its place in the depths of their traumatic memories.

A lone male was dragging its paralyzed body on the ground as it approached Zahi and Hiba from behind. They had not seen it as it emerged from beneath some roots.

Oblivious to the danger, Zahi and Hiba had been embracing one another, their eyes closed in bliss at being back together and more importantly…alive, when the adult male extended its claws and pierced through Zahi's chest from behind, its claws elongating still as it continued its trajectory forward and pierced through Hiba's chest. They had been embraced in their last moments alive, and as the adult retracted its claws, they fell to the ground still in each other's arms.

Ail and En's eyes registered everything in slow-motion. They heard the agonizing screams of their friends. Turned within seconds only to see Zahi and Hiba slump together onto the ground, still embracing one another, as a pool of blood began to cascade around them.

They could still hear the Cardians fighting viciously against the adults. But all life seemed to move slowly now. Seconds felt like minutes. And the reality of what just happened finally sank in.

The male began to cackle before it started wheezing, gasping for air as it struggled to live. It then turned its eyes onto Ail and En who were shaking uncontrollably.

En fell to her knees, her hands shaking as she tried to cover her mouth. The tears were already streaming down her face as she grabbed her head and screamed.

Ail's shaking subsided but his countenance immediately changed. His entire body began to glow and his eyes turned red as he extended his hand towards the adult.

"Burn." Ail commanded, and just as suddenly, the adult's body jerked up and was engulfed in flames. It died a very slow and painful death, but it was not enough.

Ail then turned around to look at the Cardians. They had finished off the remaining adults and were covered in the blood of their enemies. Several of the Cardians were injured, but they still approached the children and remained silent.

"Enough, En." Ail said, his voice wavering, breaking a little, knowing that he was asking a lot. He knew it was over. They had lost everything.

En stood back up on her feet, struggling to control her sobs, before turning to the Cardians.

They were silent for so long. Their innocence destroyed. Their childhood naiveté and curiosity of the wonders of life utterly decimated. They could no longer grasp the concept of goodness. The energy radiating off of their bodies had now turned a violent red. They were no longer kids despite their age. They were robbed of their childhood, dreams, and hopes of what life could bring them. All this erased and replaced with a surging rage.

"Before we die alone… I will have vengeance." Ail said, his voice shaking but his conviction was strong.

"Search for survivors. Kill the adults." Ail said, not even a shred of mercy left in his voice.

The Cardians nodded, even the injured ones, as they jumped into the Makaiju, searching for friend and foe alike.

En looked to Ail, their tear-stained eyes locking. They both were engulfed in the same red aura that had surrounded Hiba earlier.

En wiped her tears away before making her way towards Zahi and Hiba. They were lifeless on the ground, but still within each other's embrace.

"When I die, I want to die within your embrace." En said, as Ail joined her by her side.

"We won't die. Not now. Not anytime soon." Ail asserted, before bending down to touch Zahi's shoulder. He had not realized that he too was crying; not until he locked eyes with En. His hand lingered on Zahi's shoulder. He was still warm. Ail's heart constricted and he found himself hating their cursed existence.

"We're alone now. I feel it. There are no other kids like us…no other adults either." En spoke, glancing once again behind her. The Cardians had returned. All accounted for. She turned to them then.

"Return to me, Cardians." En commanded, stoically.

The Cardians obeyed and were transformed into a deck of cards. En examined them briefly, making sure they were all indeed there, before willing them to disappear to rest until the day she would need to call on them again.

Ail was finally able to step away from his friends. He looked up at the Makaiju. Glaring at the tree that had given them life, but a detestable and miserable one at that. "We need to get back up." Ail said, as he glanced around. The water was now receding and he could see giant tidal waves forming in the distance.

En stepped closer, staring at Hiba and Zahi. "We can't even bury them." En remarked. Her voice was emotionless.

"No. We don't even have time on our side." Ail responded. His words just as hollow. He had just barely finished saying those words when more roots finally tore themselves away from the island. It would be a matter of moments before the rest finally snapped away – the Makaiju would literally be torn away from the remaining island.

Ail and En turned to observe the tree. They hated the Makaiju on one level, but on another level, they had so much to learn about it. Ail was able to demand obedience from it during their time of need. Would he be able to harbor that same power again to control the tree? Would they be able to survive all alone in the universe? How would they?

As the tree began to pull away from the island, Ail arched his hands and formed a circle around himself with En by his side. A bubble immediately appeared and they began to float alongside the Makaiju. They stared at the tree momentarily before both of them simultaneously glanced back down to their friends. Their bodies still huddled together in an embrace surrounded by their own blood. Zahi and Hiba were dead. Just like Fiore. In Ail and En's minds, they had failed their friends and the guilt was overbearing. Their guilt turned to helplessness, which turned to anger leading to the next logical conclusion of resentment and hate towards everyone and everything.

Despite the rage and anger building and destroying their hearts and souls, there was one instinctive gesture that remained constant. Ail reached out and laced his hand with En's.

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Additional Notes
This chapter was not an easy chapter to write and I had several drafts and made multiple revisions to get it just right. The death of Zahi and Hiba was inevitable, as you already knew from the series that Ail and En were the only remaining individuals of their species to survive the destruction of their home planet (aside from Fiore of course). Despite their deaths, Ail and En still have so much to learn about themselves and the Makaiju. You'll see what I mean in the following chapters. And as always, don't forget to leave me a review.