The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 10 – Foreboding
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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He woke up several times, looked around to ensure they were still safe, and then went right back to sleep with En in his arms. Eventually though, he woke up and stretched before looking around yet again.

Alive.

Safe.

And with no energy left to live.

Ail turned to look at En. She had never stirred since she collapsed.

She was no longer burning up like how she was out in the rain but now she was just lifeless. The slow and steady rise and fall of her chest was the only indication that she was alive…that and her heartbeat that pulsed alongside him when he had his arms wrapped around her.

Ail looked up into the canopies of the spinel-colored tree. The Makaiju had started to turn a strange shade of purple. He wasn't sure what that meant, but he could care less. He had no energy to get up either. He wanted to stand, try and find something that would give them nourishment to survive, but Ail himself could not even lift himself off the ground.

He sat there for several minutes. His mind blank. His heart aching. And his body protesting for sustenance. His fingertips almost felt numb but he was still able to move them. His arms tingled as did his legs.

Without even realizing it, Ail's flute came to mind and he instinctively reached out to the glittering object that appeared at his fingertips.

As he held the object in his hands, memories of Fiore, Zahi, and Hiba came crashing down. His eyes shimmered with tears but he refused to cry. If fate was any indication, they too would follow in the footsteps of their friends and perish. His only wish would be to perish quickly and painlessly.

Maybe it was better for them to just die in this dimension at the base of the Makaiju. After all, they were born from the tree. Might as well die with it.

Ail glanced sideways to En. Rest En. If we go… we'll go in peace.

Ail lifted the flute to his lips, remembering that it was not so long ago that En had asked him to play a tune for her. It was a simple request and one of the very few things she had ever asked of him.

His lips brushed the instrument and Ail exhaled into the flute. It was a very soft and weak tune, but instinct took over and he played softly for En. His thoughts turned to her and he pictured her waking up to his music. Her eyes full of energy and the will to live. He would live for her too. If only just for her.

That's when Ail heard rustling from up above. Several leaves fell to the ground around them and a strange looking branch moved towards the two of them. Ail's eyes widened but he kept playing his flute.
What now?

One of the giant roots shifted and lifted ail up from the ground. He was shocked but continued to play. He was not afraid of the Makaiju. He never had been. So he allowed the tree to lift him up as he continued to play. Ail realized that he had been asking for a chance to see En live. He had asked for energy. And as he continued to play his flute, he saw another giant root gently lift En off the ground.

White light descended from the now pinkish/purplish canopies from up above. The light radiated down and engulfed En as the previous branch from before lowered down before transforming into the shape of a drop and flowing down to En. The glittering drop became transparent as it changed shaped, turning into an orb just before it entered En's body. Ail continued his song, his eyes never leaving En's body.

En's body meanwhile began to shine and radiate in pure, crystal white energy. To Ail's astonishment, another branch hovered directly in front of him, blocking his view. It too transformed into the shape of a drop before it turned into an orb and became transparent. The glittering orb entered his chest. Ail was expecting some type of resistance from his body but that never happened. He could feel the orb enter his chest and just like En, he could see his body turn pure, crystal white as well.

With the branch no longer blocking his view, Ail's eyes immediately sought out En. She was still lying gently on the root that had lifted her; her body encased in a beautiful white light. And to his astonishment, he saw her hands move.

Ail never thought he would feel joy again.

He immediately stopped playing and the flute disappeared from his hands. He could see that his body was also encased in that same white light but that didn't matter at the moment. He was about to jump forward when suddenly the root he was on moved towards En. Ail realized that the Makaiju had somehow given him energy. He could feel his life force strengthen and his desire to live was reinvigorated. As the root moved him towards En, he could see her stretch her legs and just as the root deposited him towards En's side, En's eyes fluttered open.

"Ail." En said, surprised to see him engulfed in a radiating, pure, and beautiful white light. And just as quickly, the light faded away. She began to sit up but Ail beat her to it. He grabbed her in his arms, pulled her forward, and hugged her tight.

En smiled, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him tight.

Somehow, she knew she had worried him. The last thing she remembered was seeing his beautiful hair flowing in the wind as they ran away from the monsters. En opened her eyes and looked around. She could see they were back in the dimension with the Makaiju. She felt guilty. She must have collapsed and Ail was the one who brought her back to the Makaiju. Back to safety.

"En." Ail said, as he moved back so he could look her in the eyes. She smiled gently at him before moving forward a kissing him on the cheek.

Ail thought he was overjoyed before when she first stirred, but now, his heart was thundering in his chest.

"Sorry." En said, "I don't remember much… but just now. You were glowing!" En said, remembering how he looked just moments ago encased in white light.

"So were you." Ail said, recovering from his overpowering emotions. He ruffled her hair, eliciting a small yelp and protest before he smiled at En. En was pouting before Ail's eyes glanced up at the Makaiju.

"En. I think I figured it out."

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They were trying to give it some nourishment but the tree's color wasn't changing. After explaining how he had brought her back to the tree, how they slept but their bodies did not recover, and how he eventually started playing his flute, both Ail and En realized that the tree was the source of their energy. They would live so long as the Makaiju lived. And if the tree died, so too would they.

They ventured outside again, collecting soil, water, foliage, anything they could think of to place at the roots of the tree. They were trying all different kinds of ideas and methods to give the tree energy but nothing worked.

At one point, Ail even summoned his flute again and started to play his tune for the Makaiju. He closed his eyes and focused on playing for the tree, hoping that his music might be able to give it some comfort. Anything. Unfortunately, nothing happened and more leaves began to dehydrate, before withering away and falling to the ground.

Their frustration was palpable but they would not give up. And while their failures at giving energy to the tree increased, their resolve never wavered. Their fate was tied to the survival of the Makaiju, and when it came to their survival, now that they knew they had a viable chance, they were both determined to live.

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Ail was running hard and his chest was starting to hurt. He was having difficulty catching his breath, all while forcing himself to get away. He crashed against the bark of a tree before pushing himself away, just in time as a light beam crashed against the tree he had just collided with. The spot he had occupied moments ago now burnt to a crisp.

Ail was running for his life.

Earlier that day, he and En had left the dimension behind the waterfall and ventured outside once again. They had their energy back and were able to traverse more space to explore their surroundings. As they were heading back to the waterfall, Ail noticed several strange looking bushes to the side. He told En he would be right back, as En started examining some strange looking moss nearby.

Ail made his way to the bushes. He looked over his shoulder; En was kneeling on the ground, inspecting some of the strange looking plants.

Ail took several more steps forward and before he knew it, he was falling.

The foliage was so thick, and the atmosphere so murky and dark, Ail failed to notice that he was walking right along the edge of a small hill.

He fell down hard, tumbled over several times before landing in mud. He could feel the wind knocked out of him.

"Ail!" En called.

"I'm alright." Ail managed to call up. Struggling to catch his breath.

"Hold on. I'm coming down." En said, as she glanced both ways, searching for a safe way to get down.

"En wait…" no sooner had Ail spoke those words when another hideous creature appeared several yards away. It reared back, baring its mandibles before a giant energy blast formed at the tips of its pincers. Within seconds, the energy blast came flying towards Ail and he just managed to jump out of the way.

"AIL!" En screamed, grabbing onto a tree to prevent herself from falling. Her eyes darted right and left, scanning and searching for Ail, all the while aware of the terrifying creature making its way towards them.

Ail managed to pull himself up again. En caught sight of him, releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding, before her attention snapped back to the creature still making its way towards them.

"En! Get back to the waterfall now!" Ail yelled as he darted to the left and started running around the hill.

"No. Ail!" En couldn't bring herself to leave. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving him outside in this chaotic wilderness.

"I'LL MEET YOU THERE!" Ail shouted, disappearing from sight. En hesitated for just a moment, before running back. She moved just in time because the creature had just slammed into the side of the hill. En could feel the ground shake from the impact as her feet carried her back to the waterfall. The entire time, she was praying to the Makaiju to protect Ail.

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Ail tripped several times, struggling to make his way on the muddy surface but was grateful when he finally reached around the hill and found an easy way up. He willed his body to keep moving, as the creature was just a few yards away.

Ail managed to duck under several large bushes and zigzagged his way in the underbrush. He was grateful for the foliage as it served as great cover.

At one point, Ail fell down hard, his leg snagging against roots and twigs. He furiously kicked his legs and got back up, the only thing ringing in his mind was getting back to En and the Makaiju.

I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die! The mantra repeated itself inside his head. Ail shut his eyes, as he held back an agonizing sob that threatened to break free. He was scared. But he had to learn how to overcome his fear. To harness it. And to use it to his advantage.

En.

His mind quickly pushed all thoughts of death aside. She was still alive. She was waiting for him. And if he didn't show up, she would be waiting for him outside the waterfall. He just knew it. She would be waiting and searching for him on this forsaken and dangerous planet. And that thought alone was unacceptable. He had to make it to her.

Ail made it to the edge of the foliage and knew he was about to be exposed in the open but he had no choice. He had to get to En and they had to get to the Makaiju.

He dodged another light beam that streaked past his head, only centimeters away. He quickly saw a very familiar opening. Rounding a corner, his eyes lit up as he saw En in the distance not too far away, having herself just stopped at the base of the waterfall before turning around.

"Ail!" She had seen him.

"En!" Ail called, thrilled that he had made it back to her.

As soon as he reached the base of the waterfall, En grabbed his hand and the two of them ran through the waterfall. They quickly made their way to the Makaiju and glanced at the waterfall that served as an entry and exit to their dimension. They had nowhere else to go except up the Makaiju tree. That would be their last resort. En knew the Cardians were no match for that creature. It was enormous.

They held their breath. Hoping that the creature had not seen them enter through the waterfall.

The seconds felt like eternity. They were holding each other's hands, standing behind the Makaiju.

They were safe.

Until the mandibles clicked and broke through the waterfall, before the rest of the giant creature walked right through and made its way into their dimension.

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Additional Notes
You know what? I really don't understand it. For several years, I've been trying to get this story complete but writer's block did its damage. Now though, suddenly reinvigorated, without even trying, I've got several chapters all done. How crazy! I would like to give a big shout-out and thank you to James Bird Song. You have left me a handful of reviews and I thank you for that. Hope you're all enjoying this story. Don't forget to add me to your favorites. LOL.