The Makaiju Arc
Chapter 13 – Rebirth
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 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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Their confrontation was inevitable. Ever since they arrived on Earth, they had been acting strangely. Both could easily admit to that. Ail desired Usagi as En desired Mamoru.
By definition, it was simply the human definition known as lust.
"So you love that girl more than me after all?" En finally asked. Ail could see the hurt behind her fierce eyes.
"You have it all wrong! It's different from my love for you." Ail tried to backtrack…yes, both he and En harbored desire for the human pair, but it wasn't really love…it was an attraction, yes…but Ail couldn't help thinking that aside from lust, that's all it was.
"Enough! I don't want to hear it anymore!" En shouted, as she desperately tried to hide the hurt. She knew she was also being hypocritical…accusing Ail of harboring feelings, when she herself was battling with the ones she harbored for Mamoru. She still wasn't quite sure why she even had them in the first place. She had always cared for Ail. She could never imagine her life without him by her side.
As the two continued to argue with one another, they started to confuse the Makaiju. Both were giving orders to the tree, demanding it obey their orders. In a sign of frustration, the tree finally moved and pushed the two away with an energy blast as it started to suck the energy from its two captives. Once Ail and En had recovered from the shock of the Makaiju turning on them, they both went towards the human pair. Just then, the Sailor Senshi arrived and the two found themselves naturally, instinctively moving closer, uniting together and forming the defensive and protective bond they had built over the years. They were an excellent team together after all, and they easily fell into synch, speaking simultaneously and perfectly in unison.
Easily defeating the Sailor Senshi, Ail and En laughed together, leaning unconsciously together as they watched their enemies fail in their attempts.
"Lowly animals!" En laughed.
"Know your limits!" Ail chimed.
The two then moved their hands, each movement perfectly in synch with the other. They were arguing just a few moments ago, but when put together and forced to defend themselves, they were each other's backbone and cornerstone.
Just as they were about to finish off the Sailor Senshi, Usagi transformed into Sailor Moon. Ail was frozen on the spot. He could not believe that the young lady he had harbored human emotions for was none other than his arch-nemesis, Sailor Moon.
But Ail's stupor was not an emotion he would suffer with alone. En was just as surprised when she realized that Mamoru was tenderly holding onto Usagi's hand. Their connection, whatever it was, was clearly a unique one.
That's when Ail asked her something that struck a nerve.
"Then, let me ask you this. Has he ever tried to hold your hand before?"
The answer repeating in En's head was a resounding 'No.' The only person who ever held her hand, who caressed her face, who ruffled her hair, and who would hold her close…it was always Ail.
"Forget about him, En." Ail added. He knew he was being harsh. He knew that En could easily turn around and say those exact same things to him about Usagi, but his pride at that moment wouldn't let him stop. He had to show that he somehow had the upper hand.
"How dare he?!" En shouted.
Ail was a little taken aback at her reaction but he knew he had won in their argument. He managed to come off as calm and collected whereas En appeared to be functioning based on pathetic human emotions. That's when she turned and blasted both Usagi and Mamoru. However, the two would not let go of each other.
"You insolent worm! Time for you to die!" En yelled, taking out her anger on the two down on the ground. Ail made his way to En's side. He realized in watching Usagi and Mamoru, that whomever he would meet in the future, it would be pointless to feel anything towards them. Life was cruel and the only way to guarantee his future with En was to take what they needed.
"Farewell, Usagi Tsukino, the Andromeda of my heart. No, our enemy, Sailor Moon!"
En had flinched when she heard Ail say 'Andromeda of my heart,' but she relaxed when he acknowledged that she was their enemy…no longer an object of his affection. En turned her eyes to Mamoru…it was true, she felt the exact same way now about Mamoru…he was the Andromeda of my heart…but not anymore…
As Ail gave the order to the Makaiju to obliterate the planet Earth, the Sailor Senshi went after him. He easily defeated them in seconds and that's when Usagi went after him. Don't you dare! En thought, as she turned her attention to Usagi and easily defeated her, guaranteeing Ail's safety. I won't let you ever lay another finger on Ail.
With those thoughts in mind, En continued to attack Usagi; this time, Mamoru was getting caught in the crossfire but she could care less. Ail continued to watch but did not intervene. He too, could care less if those two perished right then and there. However, when Usagi thrust herself in front of Mamoru, protecting him from an incoming attack, Ail couldn't help but question her motives.
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
En stood still. She too was confused as to why the girl would risk her life to protect Mamoru. The shock and indecision of sending another attack was written all over her face, but she was grateful that Ail was behind her, so he couldn't see her warring with herself about what to do next.
"If it's for the person I love, I'll risk anything, even my life." Usagi said, as she glared at them both.
Ail felt a chill run down his spine; his fingertips felt numb. He had forgotten. It had been so long since they were able to express themselves so honestly and openly…to believe in the concept of love in a universe engulfed by pain and suffering.
The flashback of a memory…a distant memory from so long ago of En standing tall, protecting them by using the Cardians. And her loyal and loving words: "I can handle it, as long as you're by my side." It was a powerful memory. A memory he had buried deep so long ago because of their traumatic past.
En sent another powerful attack at Usagi but she did not falter as she stood before Mamoru.
"I don't care what happens to me, but please don't kill Mamoru."
En laughed, raising a hand towards her face to help cover the waiver she felt when she heard those words. Once upon a time, she would have said and done those exact same things for Ail, but their emotions and feelings had been growing slowly apart. They had forgotten what it meant to live for another since they had lost everything precious to them.
In an effort to mask her hesitation, En quickly recalled the actions of all those adults from her childhood and all their opponents they had to fight against in order to survive. "There's nothing more important than one's own life." She purposely excluded Ail and herself from this argument.
She attacked again, but this time, to her shock, Mamoru had blocked the attack, taking it for himself as he protected Usagi. En could feel the hesitation creeping into her heart, telling her to stop, but that fleeting moment of mercy, that fleeting moment of insecurity, that fleeting moment of showing any form of compassion only increased her anger. I'm not weak! I'm not weak! I'm not weak! En kept thinking, as her body instinctively continued to attack the two.
Ail was shocked. He had not expected Mamoru to defend or protect Usagi. Their relationship had been so aloof, and at times, slightly distant, but it was clear that the man cared, no, loved Usagi. It was obvious that Mamoru would protect her with his life.
This brought a flood of suppressed memories as Ail recalled their trials and tribulations when they were on their home planet. Everything he did for En. Everything Zahi did for Hiba. Everything Fiore had done for them. Ail could feel himself wavering and cursed his indecision. Just then, Mamoru took another hard hit from En and collapsed into Usagi's arms. She continued to cry and hold him, as she called his name repeatedly in hopes that he would show he was alright.
Ail found himself remembering their childhood. Those ever brief moments of tenderness; those fleeting moments when he and En weren't running for their lives and just enjoying each other's company. They had suffered and endured, but along the way, in order to survive, they had forgotten what was most important. It wasn't entirely their fault…they were children trying to survive in an incredibly unfair and unbelievable environment, but they had lost sight of what was important.
They had lost sight of each other.
It was Usagi and Mamoru's feelings for each other that helped him remember. Ail and En were destined to be together…but they had forgotten how to love each other in the face of evil and hatred that had surrounded them ever since they were children.
"Beautiful…" Ail whispered, as he recalled the emotions he harbored for En. The emotions he finally remembered. The emotions that Usagi and Mamoru shared with one another. "It's so beautiful."
"So, this is love." Ail continued. He and En had lost sight of it along the way, but now, staring at it, he could identify it loud and clear.
"En, love is not something you take by force." He paused, as he glanced at her. She was clearly frustrated by his inaction. To prove that they were strong, they always had to kill and dominate, show no mercy to others in order to ensure their own survival. And they would have continued down that path, had it not been for Earth. Yes, this planet truly would forever be precious to them both, even if En didn't realize it just yet. It was the planet that would help them realize that being loved by someone makes you strong, but loving someone gives you courage to survive.
"Love…love is something you nurture by caring for one another."
"What are you saying?!" En turned on him. He understood why she was shaking, balling her fists, and glaring daggers at him. She was confused. Their whole lives, they had to be ruthless, but now, thanks to this planet, and in seeing the relationship between Usagi and Mamoru, their view of being callous and merciless in order to survive was wrong. They had been wrong this whole time. And Ail understood, he knew it wasn't their fault…it was just the condition of circumstances that pitted them into the reality they had called life. But now, he was fully aware. He understood. En, however, had not reached that connection just yet. He would have to patiently guide her to his conclusion. After all, they were both victims of their environment.
Just then, the other Sailor Soldiers pitched in.
"He's right. If it's for someone we care about, we can face any kind of hardship with love and courage!" Sailor Jupiter stated.
En was just about to attack when a white rose was aimed at her arm. They quickly maneuvered out of its trajectory and glared at the attacker. It was the Moonlight Knight. The white rose would have easily cut her flesh and Ail glared angrily at the attacker. He would not let any harm befall En.
"All creatures in the universe are brothers and sisters. Before you fight, you should open up your souls."
Ail and En quickly had an image flash before their eyes. It was an image of Zahi and Hiba. Fiore was there too. Brothers and sisters? They both wondered.
Ail felt torn once again. He understood, but that did not relieve him of his pain. He remembered his friends. Zahi, Fiore, and Hiba. He recalled the pain and suffering he went through upon losing them. He stared at the Moonlight Knight and wondered if they had ever had to endure such suffering.
Tears threatened to pile up in En's eyes but she refused to let them build and focused her anger on her new opponent. How dare he? How dare he? He has no idea! He has no idea! The images of Zahi and Hiba's deaths flashed before her eyes. Fiore's sacrifice. Their struggle to survive. Their bloodstained hands all for the sake of survival. The deaths of her Cardians…everything had been building up inside her and she had managed to keep them all bottled up, but now, she snapped. She felt herself lose control.
"You have no idea what kind of hardships we went through!"
This snapped Ail from his trance. She said "we." She was referring to the two of them and Ail understood immediately that she was recalling the same pain and fear they had endured as children. Had she also recalled the moments of tenderness and love when they were kids…those brief moments when it was just the two of them?
"For the longest time, we were all alone, wandering this universe!"
Yes, she remembered. But those memories were also filled with pain. Lots of pain. And that's when Ail noticed just how fragile she had been for all their years. She was visibly shaking. Fear had engulfed her heart. Pain had taken over. And anger had been her crutch in order to survive.
"En." Ail said, as he extended his hand. He wasn't sure how to comfort her. They had never allowed themselves to feel this much emotion all at once.
"We took whatever we wanted! Otherwise, we wouldn't have survived!" En shouted. Ail agreed. Everything they did in the past was in order to survive, but that's when the Moonlight Knight chimed in. "If you keep on taking, you will give birth to nothing. It will only bring hatred and pain."
If he had any doubts before, they were swiftly erased. It was true. They had to take in order to live, but in the process, they had felt only pain and suffering. Hatred had seeped into their hearts. It was all because they never learned what it meant to love and have compassion. He realized that now. And so did En when she reacted the way she did. She snapped. She turned on her opponent, telling him to shut up, as she blasted him with one of her attacks. Her voice waivered. She was trembling. She knew. She knew they had become what they feared the most …they had become the enemies.
And that's when the Makaiju reacted. It reminded Ail and En about the time when they were kids, when the tree had detached itself from their home planet. It was moving on its own. It was sentient. They had always suspected it, but never really knew for sure.
Suddenly, large roots and vines extracted themselves from the ground and started thrashing about. It knocked the Sailor Senshi aside and then turned on them.
"Watch out!" Ail shouted, for the first time raising his voice as instinct took over. He would not let any harm befall En. They had been wrong this whole time, but they deserved a chance to live. They deserved a second chance considering all they had been through.
As Ail shoved En aside, the vines and roots whizzed by within inches of where they once stood. Just then, as he maneuvered En to the side, another large root swung by viciously as it hit him across his side and lower back.
Ail cried out in pain. Never had he thought that the Makaiju would turn on them. Their lives had truly been one vicious cycle after another, but even so, his thoughts wondered about En. Was she alright?
En was surprised when the Makaiju started to move on its own. Yes, she always suspected that it was sentient but it had never really shown true signs of being fully aware. When the vines and roots were aimed at them, En was too shocked to move, but thankfully, as always, Ail had her back and shoved her to the side to protect her. Just then, another root slashed across his side and lower back and En allowed herself, for the first time, in a long time, to call out to him without hiding her emotions.
"Ail!" She screamed, her voice cracking and high pitched. She knew she was being vulnerable. She knew she was showing too much emotion. But she didn't care. Ail was hurt and that was simply not acceptable. She could not live without him. Even though they had been bickering this entire time on Earth, she had just brushed it off as human influence or human emotion, but in fact, it was simply their affections growing to a new level. They were growing up and that would inevitably change how they felt for each other. When they were kinds, they had loved each other because it was destiny. As they grew up, they shared a very strong spark together. But now, that spark had flourished into a powerful flame. I love him. The thought itself brought clarity to En's turmoil. She finally understood the meaning of those three words.
She turned just in time to see that the Makaiju had reared itself for another attack. No you don't! And it was as if she was standing on that branch once again, when they were kids, watching the violent waters run forth just as she jumped into the water to save Ail when she thought he had drowned. She finally understood what Usagi had said earlier, about risking one's own life to protect a loved one. She had done it earlier in her lifetime. And her body moved instinctively, just as it did all those years ago.
Before she knew it, she was standing in front of Ail's body that was sprawled on the floor. "Stop this!" En shouted, as she realized that the vines and roots were getting closer. But the thought of moving never even crossed her mind. I love him.
The vines and roots continued to get closer. En could distinctly hear the Sailor Senshi gasping in fear or shock, she wasn't sure which, but she didn't care about them. All her thoughts were focused on Ail. Her ears were trying desperately to hear any sound of him being ok. She would not move. If it meant that those vines would pierce her body, she would not move, so long as Ail was alive and well.
I finally understand Ail. I'm sorry I didn't understand before, but I realize it now… It's not that we can't live if we're not strong. That was all wrong. Only living shows that we are strong. And I can be strong for you…because…I love you.
Pain. That's all she could feel and think about as the root pierced her body, the impact sending her arms forward, pushing her body back.
Just then, Ail finally recovered but as he turned around, his eyes registered a scene of horror. En gasped, her eyes widening in pain before closing ever so slowly. Ail could not believe his eyes. The root had struck En in the chest.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. His eyes widened in fear at the realization that En had protected him. She had risked her life to ensure his survival and that thought alone tore at his heart. He could feel his heart constrict and stop several times. His breathing became shallow and his eyes focused on the body of his beloved as she fell backwards as the root finally pulled out, leaving her limp body to fall towards the ground, her beautiful hair engulfing her battered body.
In seconds, he was up and running to her. He was still in pain from the previous attack but those sensations were quickly replaced with a wild and erratic fear. "EN!"
It was the fear of losing En. He remembered those emotions all too well from his childhood. Emotions that he too, had suppressed in order to survive.
He caught her. She was laying limp in his arms, which frightened him all the more. "En…"
"Ail…" she whispered, and it brought tears to his eyes. Her blood stained chest, and the small trickle of blood falling down her lips. He never wanted to hear her voice like that. It was a broken whisper; one that only guaranteed that she would not be with him much longer.
He didn't know what to say. He was still confused about everything that had happened. The only thing that came to his mind was: why?
"En, why?" But in his heart, he knew the answer. He could see it in her eyes.
"Because… I love you…"
Beautiful. Fragile. Innocent. That's all that ran through his mind and he stared into En's eyes. He could see her now for all that she was. Her aggression and hate were all mechanisms in order to survive and he loved her even more, because underneath it all, underneath the facade, she was still beautiful, fragile and innocent given their circumstances.
They had always been destined for one another, but that had nothing to do with it now. He had always loved her and she had always loved him. They had just forgotten.
"En…"
"Love isn't something I should take, is it?" En asked, trying to convey to Ail that she had finally understood. To show that she was strong, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Ail nodded his head, to show that he recognized what she was trying to convey. Yes, they knew each other very well.
"I just didn't want to lose you." En added, as she felt her chest get tighter and it was also getting harder to breathe. Now though, she couldn't stop the tears. She didn't mind. This was not weakness. This was being honest with herself. She was showing Ail just how much he meant to her.
"En! I don't want to lose you either!" Ail insisted. He had never allowed himself to speak openly of their feelings before, but now, he had to convey how he truly felt. He did not want her to die without knowing. For he knew, if she died, so would he. He would not be able to live without her.
Those words were precious to En. A warm feeling started to build up in her blood-stained chest as she hear d Ail mutter those words. "I feel something nice and warm inside me… I've never felt this before." She said, as the tears trickled down her cheeks. Its love isn't it? She closed her eyes ever so briefly, happy to have conveyed her feelings to Ail. She loved him and he knew. They finally confessed and the warmth in her chest continued to build up…that was the last thing she recalled feeling. How much love and warmth she harbored towards Ail.
She slumped in his arms and Ail felt his heart break. He could not recall when it was he started crying, but all he knew was that En loved him, and he had loved her this entire time. They had endured everything until this moment, and the warmth En was talking about, he had felt it too, but now, as she closed her eyes and slumped in his arms, he knew she had passed. She had left him alone.
He was alone. All alone in the vast universe.
Alone.
It broke his heart, and his body reacted instinctively. He cried. Shrieked out her name. It was a painful, heartbroken cry. His entire life, he never wanted to feel this way. He had been fighting his entire life to ensure she was by his side. But now, he had lost her. He was alone.
Just then, he heard movement behind him and recognized the woosh and rustling of the Makaiju vines and roots. It was getting closer. Barely caring, he managed to look over his shoulder and noticed the giant vine flying towards him, to end his life, to end his existence.
But that would also mean that he would not be alone. He would follow En to wherever she was. And that way, they would be together.
"En, I will be joining you soon. En!" Ail said, as he wrapped his arms tighter around her body. He pulled her close as he buried his face in her chest. He could still smell her. She was still warm, but he knew that she was already gone. That's ok, I promise to find you again, wherever you are…I will find you!
There was a ringing in his ears as he closed his eyes and buried his face deeper into En's chest. He could hear the roots and vines get closer. He also thought he heard Usagi cry out to the Makaiju, asking it to stop, but he wasn't all too sure. His thoughts were on En and refusing to let her go. They would die together. He was perfectly accepting of that concept. That way, they would be together.
That's when a strange and eerie voice finally spoke up. "So, you have finally learned."
He could feel a strong and powerful light engulf him, but he was also still waiting for the impact of the vine. It never came. Instead, he felt his whole body become engulfed in light and before he knew it, he felt like he was floating in space outside of his body. He knew he had not let go of En because he could still feel her in his arms, and yet, he was outside of his body… in a different dimension? "Is this inside the Makaiju's consciousness?" Ail asked, as he could see space and his home planet.
The memories of the Makaiju showed a sentient plant that had lived on an ocean planet all alone. Having grown lonely, the Makaiju had given life to his species. "So, we were born from the Makaiju?" Ail confirmed. He knew from Fiore, that the implication was there, but they never had any real confirmation. The Makaiju continued to explain how his species grew with the Makaiju…it was shocking to see images and memories of his species that were kind and gentle. He had never known such species when he was born.
That's when the Makaiju showed him what he knew. Over time, their species, for whatever reason had grown to hate and they had become malicious. They had destroyed their own planet by escalating their hatred. It had interfered with the ecosystem of their planet, creating more plants and trees to confuse others but then a giant flood had wiped out everything on the planet. Eventually, the Makaiju had decided to pull away from the planet just as it was destroyed. Their species had been fighting for energy when in fact all the Makaiju had needed was love and affection in order to sustain them.
Ail could see how the planet traveled the universe and visited many star systems. Searching for a planet which they would be able to settle on. Those memories came crashing down on him, and Ail felt defeated. After everything they had been through… it was a heavy burden to carry.
That's when the Makaiju tree showed an image of the last survivors … Ail and En.
Ail felt his heart constrict yet again, at the image of he and En as children. He could see the fear and loneliness they had been enduring when all they needed was love and support.
That's when the Makaiju voiced his inner thoughts.
"They knew nothing of true love, and their only means of survival was through the use of force. A pitiable pair."
Pitiable. Ail hung on that word. Were they to be pitied? Yes, but that word had such a negative connotation to it. Yes, they were to be pitied, but moreover, he felt that sympathy was a better word to describe their situation. Anyone, even the Sailor Senshi, could sympathize with what they went through.
"What I need is not energy, but love." The Makaiju stressed.
"Love?" Ail whispered, now back in reality, standing with En in his arms. How bitter. How cruel. How simple. If they had known that all the Makaiju needed was love, it would have been so very easy with Fiore, Hiba, Zahi, En, and himself to provide that for the Makaiju. Had they but known!
"I tried to tell you this by drying up my own body, but it seems you never understood."
Ail wanted to argue. How could children know that a dried up tree needed love in order to survive. It would never have crossed their minds. However, the bitterness of the entire situation was overwhelming. Ail was tired. He had lost En. He was all alone now. All he had left was the Makaiju. So he said the only thing that came to his mind. "I'm sorry."
"That is alright. At the very end, you finally learned the love of caring for one another." The words were almost hollow. He felt like he was being reprimanded for something they had never known to be wrong… it was like punishing a thief who only knew how to survive by stealing… or reprimanding a bird whose nature was to fly.
It was unfair. It was cruel. But he had lost his anger and just turned to En. She was gone and that's all Ail could think about. He wanted to be alone. He was exhausted and just wanted to be alone with En. He could care less right now about anything the Makaiju had to say. It should have spoken up years ago when they were kids. When they had begged for mercy and implored the heavens and gods above for any sign on what they should do.
"En…" Ail whispered as he buried his face in her neck, breathing in her diminishing scent. He could not love anymore. And he suspected that the Makaiju was well aware of this. For if he was unable to love anymore, the Makaiju would die. Yes. He knew the Makaiju was aware of this and he was still waiting to see what it would ask of him.
He could feel his body tremble slightly as he held En close. Tears still continued to trail down his face and he was helpless to stop them.
That's when the Makaiju addressed Sailor Moon and asked her to purify it. He kept his eyes closed, focused on the feeling of En in his arms. He felt that small sensation of bitterness and injustice creep into his mind…so he would be cast aside while the Makaiju was purified and revived. Just how unfair was life? Just how unfair and cruel would his life be? No, if the Makaiju lived, he would ensure that it was safe, but after that, he too, would die. Ail was resolved to find En, wherever she was. He would not live without her by his side. And he kept his eyes closed, keeping that secret to himself. He'd ensure the tree's survival and then disappear to join En.
As expected, Sailor Moon did not hesitate to purify the Makaiju. It cried out before a giant light engulfed it and everything around them. When the light finally disappeared, they were standing at the ruins of their building; Usagi was crying out and hugging Mamoru. Ail looked around, unable to locate whatever remained of the Makaiju when suddenly, En's body started to shimmer and glow. Ail collapsed onto his knees, frightened at the concept of losing her. Would she disappear as well?
"En!" Ail said, as he noticed the blood disappear from her chest as well as from the corner of her lips. Please don't disappear! Ail thought, as he stared at her. He wanted to be with her no matter what. That's when he noticed her eyelashes were fluttering and before he knew it, she opened her eyes.
"Ail?" En whispered, this time, her voice sounded like she had just woken up from a long and deep sleep.
"You've come back to life!" Ail stated the obvious, but he was stating it more for himself. Trying to convince himself that she was back. She was alive and by his side once again. Ail couldn't help the emotions he was feeling. Every bitter feeling, the cruelty of life, the injustice of their situation disappeared in an instant, as he embraced En and pulled her closer. "En!"
"Ail." En said, as she reached over and wrapped her arms around him, returning his fierce embrace.
That's when he heard Usagi say, "Look!"
There, on the ground next to them, was a small sprout with two leaves protruding on each side, a little piece of earth and seedlings towards the bottom, all of which was held within a glowing bubble. Ail immediately recognized it as the Makaiju. A sprout of the Makaiju. So that's all that's left of it? Ail's mind quickly thought about the implications of what he had seen. If the Makaiju had been purified, it means that the entire tree was corrupt to begin with. They had been born to a corrupt tree and the only good of it left was this infinitesimally small sprout. It was somewhat comforting to know that they had managed to maintain their sanity. They weren't evil… they were simply misguided and misunderstood.
En quickly cupped the sprout, worried about its condition. She wasn't fully aware of what had happened when she had last spoken to Ail, dying in his arms, to now where she was fully healed and holding a fragile sprout that was clearly all that was left of the Makaiju.
Ail positioned his hand underneath En's as she held the Makaiju with his other hand resting at the small of her back…he was still unable to let go of her for fear that this was all just a dream and that he would be thrust back into reality with her lifeless body.
"Makaiju?" En whispered? As she held the sprout closer.
"Yes, it is." Ail affirmed. "Let's raise this on a new planet." This time, we'll get it right…Ail thought. Knowing that this tree was their lifeline and vice-versa. Ail pulled En closer, staring into her eyes as he affectionately realized that this was their second chance.
En was mesmerized at Ail's compassionate eyes. Never had he shown this much affection to her since they were kids, and she felt warm inside. Before she realized it, she had somehow known upon waking up that what the tree needed was love. Was this knowledge gained from being revived?
"Yes. With the energy of our love." That's what would sustain them. That's what would sustain the Makaiju.
Ail and En got onto their feet and turned towards Usagi and Mamoru. For the first time, they felt something that they never felt before…contrition.
En turned towards Ail and handed him the Makaiju as she walked towards Usagi.
Usagi let go of Mamoru as she closed the distance between her and En. They stood within a foot of each other, as En extended her hands and held Usagi's hands.
"Usagi-san…" En hesitated for a second, but recognized what she was feeling. She was sorry and ashamed. And the only way forward now was to recognized mistakes, dust oneself off, and move forward.
"Usagi-san…I'm sorry." En said, lowering her eyes as she squeezed Usagi's hands, trying to convey just how remorseful and regretful she felt for all that she had done.
Usagi did not hesitate as she wrapped her arms around En and hugged her.
Ail felt his heart warm up. Never had he felt more pride in knowing that En was his and that she was strong enough to admit defeat and to admit when she was wrong. His eyes locked with Mamoru and the two nodded in silent communication. Ail was sorry for all that he had done and Mamoru understood and forgave them.
"Goodbye, Usagi-san." En said, knowing they would probably never see each other again. Her eyes quickly looked over Usagi's shoulder to Mamoru. Funny, now she felt nothing for the man, but she was happy that he was with Usagi. Locking her gaze once again with Usagi, the two smiled before they let go and En returned to Ail's side. Usagi's eyes locked with Ail's this time, and she smiled. She could see the affection and love he harbored towards En, as he watched En return to his side. He only had eyes for En.
As En made her way to Ail's side, Ail touched the bubble surrounding the Makaiju and the entire thing engulfed them in a giant sphere. It would hopefully help them find a new planet to call home. The sphere slowly lifted them into the air and soon they were losing sight of what was once their apartment building on Earth. They glanced over their shoulders once again at Usagi and Mamoru, grateful to have met them both.
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Additional Notes
Wow. This chapter actually had me all worked up regarding their emotions. I started writing this story in 2012, and to be completely honest, this chapter was one of the first ones written so it's been edited, revised, and perfected after all these years. I stayed true to the episode and am pretty sure that all the quotes were taken from the series word-for-word. Looking back at how far I've come with this story, I am very happy with the results. What do you think?
