Kaitlyn Sinclair (Sailor Mana) and the Mana Senshi
*Sighs* Rough day...
Straight from the mind of a young lynstraine comes…
Title: Sailormoon: Clarity
Writer: lynstraine
Canon: Unknown, but has elements from Secret of Mana
Rating: 2
Name: Kaitlyn Sinclair, Kiera Kasmira, Jada Lucia, Lani Lysander, Azura Adina, Roan Serafine
Senshi Title: Sailor Mana, Sailor Shade, Sailor Lumina, Sailor Sylphid, Sailor Undine, Sailor Salamando
Hair:
Kaitlyn: Green ringlets (or wavy), shoulder length
Kiera: Black
Jada: White
Lani: Purple
Azura: Dark blue, short
Roan: Flaming red, long
Eyes:
Kaitlyn: Blue
Kiera: “Bloodred”
Jada: Green
Lani: Lavender, wears glasses
Azura: Blue
Roan: Orange, the left eye is darker than the right
Unusual Markings/Colorations:
Azura: A thick English accent.
Senshi Outfit:
Kaitlyn: Picture by Etoile “She wore a gold tiara that had a green gem in its center, and the outfit she wore vaguely resembled that of a sailor’s, with an extremely short purple skirt, and a blue bow that had a circle shaped green clasp on it. Her lapels and her armbands were purple, topped off by a pair of green boots on her feet.”
Kiera: Picture by Etoile “a fuku made of the colors of black, bloodred, and purple.
Jada: Picture by Etoile “a sailor sort of outfit, made of the colors of gold, white, and ice blue.”
Lani: Picture by Etoile Purple themed
Azura: Picture by Etoile Not described
Roan: Picture by Etoile Not described
Possessions:
Kaitlyn: A beautifully crafted purplish blue transformation pen with a circle inside it. (“The circle was divided into four sections by a cross, with another, smaller circle behind the cross.”), a white car given to her by the government for her birthday, a “gnarled wooden staff”, and the Exitium Heart, a heart made of purple diamonds.
Kiera: A transformation pen made of black metal with an eye carved into it. The Shadow Sword, a sword that looks similar to a scimitar. “Its blade was black, long and curved, with a dark blue stone set into its silvery hilt.”
Jada: A pen made out of white metal with the eternity symbol on it. The Lumina Sword, a long sword with a white blade and a gold hilt.
Lani: “an exquisitely crafted purple pen with a lavender thunderbolt inscribed on it.”
Roan: “a decorative metal staff with curved blades at either end.” and Hikaru, a salamander that can’t talk.
Guardians:
Kaitlyn: Umi (AKA Jigoku Gaijin), a (male) “silvery scaled, green-eyed fish”
Jada: Fuu, a… talking ball of fluff… (“The creature looked to be almost a complete ball of fluff, except for its head, which boasted long whiskers, a catlike nose, and small beady eyes, shadowed by locks of its thick white fur. Jada knelt on the floor to get a closer look, and noticed little paws poking out of the fluff. She reached to pet it, and it moved away, unraveling a long, fluffy tail as it did so.”)
Origin:
Kaitlyn: California, her parents died in a “mysterious accident” when was 4. At the start of the story, she leaves the orphanage that she had been living in and takes up residence in her parents’ apartment that the government had reserved for her before moving to Vinton (which I assume is also in California). She was the leader of a group of priestesses who were sent to Earth with the 3 shards of an item called the Exitium Heart. Said shards are in the animus crystals of humans.
Kiera: Her family owns a mansion.
Jada: Mom’s a doctor, Dad’s a lawyer. (Just like the Huxtables, only flipped) She has younger sister named Rana.
Lani: Vinton, she has a twin brother named Thani.
Azura: Vinton, mother is a heart surgeon
Roan: Vinton, her family owns a mansion, her mother is dead, she has a lab assistant named Reiko.
Connections to Canon: None
Senshi Moves:
Kaitlyn: Radical Healing: “An iridescent beam burst forth from the emeralds embedded on the staff, enveloping Sylphid and healing her wounds.”
Kiera:
Dark Force: “Small dark spheres of energy filled the air, glimmering as they surrounded the creature. The energy gathered, forming a great ball as it slammed into the creature, causing their enemy to splatter all over the walls.”
Shadow Sword Summon: Summons the Shadow Sword
Dark Force Consume: Not described
Dark Gate: “a swirling mass of energy [appeared] behind Riordan. It poured forth in streams, wrapping around his arms and legs like binds.”
Jada:
Lucent Beam: Beams of pure energy are shot at the target.
Lumina Sword Summon: Summons the Lumina Sword
Lucid Barrier: “A wall of light sparkled around Mana as Riordan brought his pike down, preventing him from finishing his attack.”
Lani:
Sylphid Air Blast: “golden shurikens of wind surrounded Sikari, screaming and tearing at his body.”
Paralysis: Freezes the target, no clue what it has to do with air though.
Azura: Cure Water: “A gentle, shimmering mist surrounded Sikari, healing his more minor wounds and filling him with a strong, peaceful energy.”
Roan:
Flame Bouquet: “Fire flowers danced around him, slipping through the pillars and searing his soft, white skin. Sailor Salamando laughed maniacally, reaching through the flames and defenestrating him,”
Fire Staff Summon: Guess.
Lava Wave: “A thick burst of liquid flame lapped at Riordan’s body,”
Other Special Abilities:
Kaitlyn: “since you were born of Mana, which resides in all things on this and every planet, you have the power to understand the language of any living thing, from human languages to plant languages."”
Annoying Traits: Occasionally, one of the characters will make a comment that breaks the 4th wall. Compared to the rest of the story, they seem out-of-place.
Comments: God damn, the layout outside of the main page hurts. *Rubs eyes*
I couldn’t get into this one. (That’s why it took me so long to finish this. I’m never waiting this long again.) Maybe I’m just so used to reading crap…
People, when you give me your stuff, please try to give me things that are complete crap.
Samples:
“Please don’t hurt me,” Lani cowered, already searching her pockets for her henshin pen. Shocked, Xin took a step forward; his eyes were cast down as if he had been stricken.
“I’d never hurt you,” he said solemnly, reaching to touch Lani’s hair. She recoiled.
“But…”
“Please,” Xin said. “Let me explain.”
He held his hands up slightly, his face pleading. Lani shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Nikolas-or, Xin, as she supposed that was his real name-had always been friendly to her. But now…
“Please,” Xin said again, his voice somewhat strangled. “Just give me a chance.”
“I can do that,” she thought, turning around and starting up the stairs, trying to calm the fear in her stomach.
“Come on, then.”
The two entered Lani’s room, settling themselves on the edge of her bed. They faced each other.
“Explain.”
Xin nodded and began, wringing his hands as he spoke.
“My name is Xin..Xin Nikolai… I’m nineteen years old. I work-or, I did work-with Sikari and a couple of other people…Our leader, Riordan, wants to use this thing called the Exitium Heart to purify the world. However, around the time of the Mana War the Heart shattered and since it belonged to the Priestess, its shards were sent to the future Earth along with her and the other elemental priestesses. Riordan gathered the three of us together and he used sorcery to take us to this future Earth also. We’ve been searching for the shards in the animus crystals of the people here, but so far we’ve found none,” Xin paused. “Um… are you getting any of this?”
Lani pondered.
“Not really…”
Xin’s temples ached, and the pain showed on his face.
“What? I don’t understand this Mana stuff…and what do you mean, traveled to future Earth? Where are you from? And what’s an animus crystal?”
“It’s a planet called Fa’Diel,” Xin answered. “Being that you’re Sailorsylphid, you probably originate from there as well. You just don’t remember. As for the animus crystals..well, they’re essentially pieces of your soul. Riordan found that a shard likely exists in three of these, and his magic led him to this area, which is why we’re here.”
“Okay… so..are you also looking for the Priestess?” Lani asked, laying back on her bed.
“Yes…only the Mana Priestess can use the Exitium Heart. But Riordan thinks that if the shards are collected, the Priestess will appear, drawn to the Heart’s energy,” Xin said. He wrapped his arms around himself, focusing his eyes on Lani’s carpet.
“Well…purifying the world doesn’t sound so bad..what does it entail?”
“The Exitium Heart was created to be used as a last resort. It will destroy a world and then revive it, but the world will be returned to its beginnings-thus purifying it,” Xin explained, the throbbing pain in his head swelling.
“Oh,” Lani said, wide-eyed.
“I…I went along, at first…Riordan threatened to kill my family…” Xin said quietly. “So I just did whatever he said…but..after everything we’ve done…and then Sikari’s suicide..I just c-couldn’t t-take it anymore.”
The ache and sudden rush of emotion he felt were too much to bear, and he began to sob miserably. Lani rose from her reclining position, hesitating just a moment before pulling Xin into her arms. [Xin and Aegis, (Riordan’s minions), and a man named Charon are the holders of the shards.]
----------------------------------------------------
“Oh God… I didn’t think to take it back from him,” Aegis thought desperately. The pieces reacted to one another, combining as they glowed a brilliant white. Moments later a heart fashioned of purple diamond emerged from the light, and Riordan took it in his hands.
“At last.. the Exitium Heart!”
“Oh…” Mana’s eyes deadened as she dropped the sword, enthralled by the shine of the Heart.
“K…Kaitlyn?” Etienne said, his cross shimmering. Mana’s uniform seemed to melt, reforming itself into billowing, green robes. Her ringlets grew long, falling from her shoulders to the tips of her ankles, and a shining emerald appeared on her forehead.
“The Priestess…” Riordan said softly. “So it was you..”
A black cross materialized on Etienne’s cheek as he watched Kaitlyn’s transformation, and his clothing began to shift as well. Thick bars of purple ran along his shirt as it changed into a long jacket, which was slit in the center to show his black, silk pants. Purple crosses decorated either shoulder, and a silver circlet encrusted with amethysts adorned his forehead.
“Yummy,” Xin thought, staring with wide eyes. Sylphid poked him and he blushed, hugging her. Aegis bowed on his knees before the Priestess, keeping his head down respectfully.
“Riordan…” Kaitlyn spoke, and her voice seemed mature and foreign to the ears of her friends. “Please give me the Exitium Heart…”
“Just a moment, Priestess,” he said, clapping his hands together. "Paralysis!"
“H-hey! No fair using my attack!” Sylphid cried, as they discovered that all but Etienne and Kaitlyn had lost their mobility.
“Release them,” Etienne said, his voice also tinged with a new maturity.
“Do you honestly think your magic stands a chance against mine? You might be a prince, but you are still just a lost little boy,” Riordan said.
Etienne scowled and raised his hands, but Kaitlyn touched his wrist, shaking her head.
“No…” she said gently. He looked at her, reading the words in her eyes as he lowered his hands. He nodded understanding and stood, quiet.
“Help me, Priestess,” Riordan said. “Take the heart and wish for the purification of the world.”
“I won’t,” she said, bowing her head. “Why do you want to do this?”
“Surely you of all people would be able to grasp my intentions, Priestess,” Riordan said. “I want only what is best for the world.”
“How is destruction going to help anything?” she asked.
“It’s not only destruction..it’s rebirth!” he cried.
“What could have driven you to this?” she whispered, her fingers pressed against her lips.
“I don’t have to tell you,” he answered, his expression suddenly guarded.
“That’s true… but I can never understand why you want to destroy this world if you don’t tell me why..” she answered softly. Riordan grit his teeth.
“Please…” she said.
“Fine… fine…” he muttered, drawing in a breath.
“Please tell me this is the last flashback…” Xin groaned, shrinking when he received a death glare from Riordan.
“Many years ago, before I knew the corruption of this world, I was a doctor. I had a wife and three daughters. My wife’s name was Lily, my daughters were Violet, Flora, and Rose…Lily and I married very young, and we didn’t have a lot of money, as I charged very little for my services. I used mostly natural resources and spells to heal, so I did not think to take any more than I needed. But we were happy, and idealistic,” he paused, as if he were unsure of whether or not to continue. Silence had befallen the room, and all eyes were focused on him, listening. For the first time in years, he felt vulnerable and afraid. Kaitlyn knelt next to him, brushing his cheek with her fingertips.
“It’s alright…”
“I…I had sent Rose out to gather some herbs I needed one day…myself and my family stayed behind, tending to a few patients. After a while a group of men stumbled in, each looking as if he had been wounded terribly. They implored us for help, and of course we began to treat them right away. But before Lily could even begin to examine the wounds, they tore off their bandages and jumped her… th..their injuries were fake…they tired me up and..they.. Violet.. and Flora and.. Lily…” he covered his face with his hands, shaking. The quiet weighed on him as he fought to suppress his emotion, swallowing thickly.
“Then those bastards killed them and would have killed me..but they had beaten me so badly that they assumed I was as good as dead anyway. They took what little we had and left. I lay there for some time until I built up the energy to heal myself. I buried my family… I burned my home.. then I went for Rose..I gathered her up, fed her some story. She was far too young to question me…All I can remember from then on is anger… so much anger, every day…I wanted to destroy everything. I didn’t understand how I could have stayed blind to the evil of the world for so long. The Mana War began then, and I found my work of destruction done for me. But still I wanted it..the Exitium Heart.. I took Xin, Aegis, and Sikari from their homes and I tracked the Heart’s shards to here. The moral depravity of this planet ran twice deep as that on Fa’Diel. I decided to forget about my old life and focus on this one. I want to use the Heart to destroy everything…then it can be reborn again..then it can be pure!”
“I…I never knew any of that about you,” Xin said softly. The knowledge of their condescending sympathy built up a rage inside Riordan, and he lashed out at Kaitlyn, sending her body crashing into the wall behind him. She screamed as he yelled,
“Shut up! I don’t need your pity!”
“Priestess!” Etienne cried. A line of blood slid down her chin. “Oh God…”
Riordan cupped his hand beneath her chin, pressing her against the wall.
“Holy priestess..if you do not wish to aid me, then it is your right..but it will be your death!”
[Snip]
“I won’t let you!” Etienne raised his hands again, calling out. “Diabolical Impulse!”
A spiked shadow ran along the ground, entering Riordan’s body and causing a sharp jolt of pain to strike in his chest. His grip on Kaitlyn loosened as he coughed blood, and he clawed at his heart, which felt as if it were being crushed.
“S..Seems I underestimated you, Prince,” he spat.
“Stay away from Kaitlyn!” a new voice entered as the mansion’s great doors swung open. The storm that was still raging outside shook the house with a great roll of thunder as a man with shimmering, emerald eyes and long, silver hair strode into the room.
“Who are you?” Riordan snapped.
“Jigoku. Formerly known as Umi,” he answered, pushing Riordan aside easily as the other assembled blinked in confusion.
“Wow, fishboy ain’t bad looking,” Lumina grinned. Charon, who had been standing behind her and hugging his scythe until that moment, made a face. Jigoku pulled Kaitlyn into his arms, kissing her hair. “I’ll protect you…”
“Like hell you will,” Riordan drove his pike into Jigoku’s arm, pinning him to the wall. He screamed and uttered a very coarse word, grabbing at the pike as blood coated his skin. Etienne cast another spell, calling out,
“Dispel!”
The paralysis on the others was neutralized, and Undine ran forward as Jigoku pulled the weapon from his arm.
“Cure Water!”
Jigoku’s wound closed, and Kaitlyn opened her eyes slowly.
“Stop…don’t fight…”
“When will you realize that the only want to achieve your goal is to fight for it?” Sailorknight jumped down in front of her.
“Good thing this is a big house,” Xin said nervously. Aegis petted his hair.
“Why is the desire to solve problems without bloodshed so wrong?” Kaitlyn asked, standing.
“Because it can’t work,” Sailorknight said. She picked up the Mana Sword. “The only way to survive is through the blood on your sword.”
“No…I can’t believe that.. I won’t..” she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Why do you persist in clinging to this hope for the future? Are you blind to the moral corruption that surrounds you?” Riordan snapped.
“People like you… all you think about is that depravity. You don’t understand that there are good people in the world. But all you want to think about are the murderers, the rapists, the thieves. But for all of those, there are others. People who fight for what they believe in, decent people. Hope for this world is not lost, and even if it was, it’s not our place to say so," Kaitlyn answered, giving them both a look of steel calm. "Life was not created to have a chain placed upon it, no matter how ugly it becomes. Maybe the world would not enrage you so if you believed in it."
“How can you expect me to believe in a world that had betrayed me so many times?” Riordan demanded, clutching his injured chest.
“I don’t expect you to do anything. But do you think you are the only one who has suffered a horrible loss? And even if you did carry out your plan, eventually the world would return to its current state,” she said. “You only wish to delay the inevitable.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway,” Knight hissed. “I’m here to kill him. He’s a traitor.”
Kaitlyn blinked. “What? Traitor?”
“Look at us,” Knight said. “Do we not look alike?”
Kaitlyn’s eyes gazed from Riordan’s face to Knight’s. They shared piercing, yellow-green eyes and hair as red as the core of a fire. Their skin was toned similarly, with a healthy, ruddy tint to it. The significance of these features awakened in her memory.
“You..you’re both of the Mana Tribe…” she said, awed. Etienne stared at Riordan.
“A member of the Mana Tribe? How could you?”
Riordan said nothing.
“Yes,” Knight said. “He betrayed us by not only leaving Fa’Diel when it needed us most, but also by attacking you, Priestess. No matter what, it is our sworn duty to protect you and the Balance, regardless of our own opinions. Riordan has broken this law. Now he will die.”
“Wait-stop!” Kaitlyn cried, but Knight had already turned. She drove the Mana sword into his body without a word. Surprised by the sudden attack, he fell on the blade, gasping.
“N…no..”
“Death to the traitor,” she hissed, driving it in further.
“I..I wasn’t a traitor…” he coughed. “I just.. wanted what was best for the world.. I thought I was righteous..”
“You destroyed Sikari’s soul! What was righteous about that?” Undine’s voice shuddered in anger.
“I can’t answer that…but now I see.. my own corruption..”
Knight withdrew the sword, and he hit the floor, bleeding.
“D…Daddy?” Rose stood at the bottom of the staircase, her hair brushed and a white dress sweeping around her ankles. Riordan raised his head with difficulty, reaching a blood-slicked hand towards his daughter.
“Rose… I’m so sorry…I never took you to see your mother…” he close eyes, murmuring as his muscles relaxed. “I love you…”
“Daddy…” Rose whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. She stared at those around her father and the blood on the Mana sword for a few minutes before backing away, sobbing. She turned and then ran, swallowed by the darkness of the house. Kaitlyn and Etienne’s adornments faded and the other senshi were restored to their civilian outfits.
“Should we go after her?” Kaitlyn said.
“No..” Aegis said. “I’ll find her. Come on, Xin.”
“That was anticlimatic,” Jada muttered.
[Xin and Aegis promised Rose that they would take care of her.]
Straight from the mind of a young lynstraine comes…
Title: Sailormoon: Clarity
Writer: lynstraine
Canon: Unknown, but has elements from Secret of Mana
Rating: 2
Name: Kaitlyn Sinclair, Kiera Kasmira, Jada Lucia, Lani Lysander, Azura Adina, Roan Serafine
Senshi Title: Sailor Mana, Sailor Shade, Sailor Lumina, Sailor Sylphid, Sailor Undine, Sailor Salamando
Hair:
Kaitlyn: Green ringlets (or wavy), shoulder length
Kiera: Black
Jada: White
Lani: Purple
Azura: Dark blue, short
Roan: Flaming red, long
Eyes:
Kaitlyn: Blue
Kiera: “Bloodred”
Jada: Green
Lani: Lavender, wears glasses
Azura: Blue
Roan: Orange, the left eye is darker than the right
Unusual Markings/Colorations:
Azura: A thick English accent.
Senshi Outfit:
Kaitlyn: Picture by Etoile “She wore a gold tiara that had a green gem in its center, and the outfit she wore vaguely resembled that of a sailor’s, with an extremely short purple skirt, and a blue bow that had a circle shaped green clasp on it. Her lapels and her armbands were purple, topped off by a pair of green boots on her feet.”
Kiera: Picture by Etoile “a fuku made of the colors of black, bloodred, and purple.
Jada: Picture by Etoile “a sailor sort of outfit, made of the colors of gold, white, and ice blue.”
Lani: Picture by Etoile Purple themed
Azura: Picture by Etoile Not described
Roan: Picture by Etoile Not described
Possessions:
Kaitlyn: A beautifully crafted purplish blue transformation pen with a circle inside it. (“The circle was divided into four sections by a cross, with another, smaller circle behind the cross.”), a white car given to her by the government for her birthday, a “gnarled wooden staff”, and the Exitium Heart, a heart made of purple diamonds.
Kiera: A transformation pen made of black metal with an eye carved into it. The Shadow Sword, a sword that looks similar to a scimitar. “Its blade was black, long and curved, with a dark blue stone set into its silvery hilt.”
Jada: A pen made out of white metal with the eternity symbol on it. The Lumina Sword, a long sword with a white blade and a gold hilt.
Lani: “an exquisitely crafted purple pen with a lavender thunderbolt inscribed on it.”
Roan: “a decorative metal staff with curved blades at either end.” and Hikaru, a salamander that can’t talk.
Guardians:
Kaitlyn: Umi (AKA Jigoku Gaijin), a (male) “silvery scaled, green-eyed fish”
Jada: Fuu, a… talking ball of fluff… (“The creature looked to be almost a complete ball of fluff, except for its head, which boasted long whiskers, a catlike nose, and small beady eyes, shadowed by locks of its thick white fur. Jada knelt on the floor to get a closer look, and noticed little paws poking out of the fluff. She reached to pet it, and it moved away, unraveling a long, fluffy tail as it did so.”)
Origin:
Kaitlyn: California, her parents died in a “mysterious accident” when was 4. At the start of the story, she leaves the orphanage that she had been living in and takes up residence in her parents’ apartment that the government had reserved for her before moving to Vinton (which I assume is also in California). She was the leader of a group of priestesses who were sent to Earth with the 3 shards of an item called the Exitium Heart. Said shards are in the animus crystals of humans.
Kiera: Her family owns a mansion.
Jada: Mom’s a doctor, Dad’s a lawyer. (Just like the Huxtables, only flipped) She has younger sister named Rana.
Lani: Vinton, she has a twin brother named Thani.
Azura: Vinton, mother is a heart surgeon
Roan: Vinton, her family owns a mansion, her mother is dead, she has a lab assistant named Reiko.
Connections to Canon: None
Senshi Moves:
Kaitlyn: Radical Healing: “An iridescent beam burst forth from the emeralds embedded on the staff, enveloping Sylphid and healing her wounds.”
Kiera:
Dark Force: “Small dark spheres of energy filled the air, glimmering as they surrounded the creature. The energy gathered, forming a great ball as it slammed into the creature, causing their enemy to splatter all over the walls.”
Shadow Sword Summon: Summons the Shadow Sword
Dark Force Consume: Not described
Dark Gate: “a swirling mass of energy [appeared] behind Riordan. It poured forth in streams, wrapping around his arms and legs like binds.”
Jada:
Lucent Beam: Beams of pure energy are shot at the target.
Lumina Sword Summon: Summons the Lumina Sword
Lucid Barrier: “A wall of light sparkled around Mana as Riordan brought his pike down, preventing him from finishing his attack.”
Lani:
Sylphid Air Blast: “golden shurikens of wind surrounded Sikari, screaming and tearing at his body.”
Paralysis: Freezes the target, no clue what it has to do with air though.
Azura: Cure Water: “A gentle, shimmering mist surrounded Sikari, healing his more minor wounds and filling him with a strong, peaceful energy.”
Roan:
Flame Bouquet: “Fire flowers danced around him, slipping through the pillars and searing his soft, white skin. Sailor Salamando laughed maniacally, reaching through the flames and defenestrating him,”
Fire Staff Summon: Guess.
Lava Wave: “A thick burst of liquid flame lapped at Riordan’s body,”
Other Special Abilities:
Kaitlyn: “since you were born of Mana, which resides in all things on this and every planet, you have the power to understand the language of any living thing, from human languages to plant languages."”
Annoying Traits: Occasionally, one of the characters will make a comment that breaks the 4th wall. Compared to the rest of the story, they seem out-of-place.
Comments: God damn, the layout outside of the main page hurts. *Rubs eyes*
I couldn’t get into this one. (That’s why it took me so long to finish this. I’m never waiting this long again.) Maybe I’m just so used to reading crap…
People, when you give me your stuff, please try to give me things that are complete crap.
Samples:
“Please don’t hurt me,” Lani cowered, already searching her pockets for her henshin pen. Shocked, Xin took a step forward; his eyes were cast down as if he had been stricken.
“I’d never hurt you,” he said solemnly, reaching to touch Lani’s hair. She recoiled.
“But…”
“Please,” Xin said. “Let me explain.”
He held his hands up slightly, his face pleading. Lani shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Nikolas-or, Xin, as she supposed that was his real name-had always been friendly to her. But now…
“Please,” Xin said again, his voice somewhat strangled. “Just give me a chance.”
“I can do that,” she thought, turning around and starting up the stairs, trying to calm the fear in her stomach.
“Come on, then.”
The two entered Lani’s room, settling themselves on the edge of her bed. They faced each other.
“Explain.”
Xin nodded and began, wringing his hands as he spoke.
“My name is Xin..Xin Nikolai… I’m nineteen years old. I work-or, I did work-with Sikari and a couple of other people…Our leader, Riordan, wants to use this thing called the Exitium Heart to purify the world. However, around the time of the Mana War the Heart shattered and since it belonged to the Priestess, its shards were sent to the future Earth along with her and the other elemental priestesses. Riordan gathered the three of us together and he used sorcery to take us to this future Earth also. We’ve been searching for the shards in the animus crystals of the people here, but so far we’ve found none,” Xin paused. “Um… are you getting any of this?”
Lani pondered.
“Not really…”
Xin’s temples ached, and the pain showed on his face.
“What? I don’t understand this Mana stuff…and what do you mean, traveled to future Earth? Where are you from? And what’s an animus crystal?”
“It’s a planet called Fa’Diel,” Xin answered. “Being that you’re Sailorsylphid, you probably originate from there as well. You just don’t remember. As for the animus crystals..well, they’re essentially pieces of your soul. Riordan found that a shard likely exists in three of these, and his magic led him to this area, which is why we’re here.”
“Okay… so..are you also looking for the Priestess?” Lani asked, laying back on her bed.
“Yes…only the Mana Priestess can use the Exitium Heart. But Riordan thinks that if the shards are collected, the Priestess will appear, drawn to the Heart’s energy,” Xin said. He wrapped his arms around himself, focusing his eyes on Lani’s carpet.
“Well…purifying the world doesn’t sound so bad..what does it entail?”
“The Exitium Heart was created to be used as a last resort. It will destroy a world and then revive it, but the world will be returned to its beginnings-thus purifying it,” Xin explained, the throbbing pain in his head swelling.
“Oh,” Lani said, wide-eyed.
“I…I went along, at first…Riordan threatened to kill my family…” Xin said quietly. “So I just did whatever he said…but..after everything we’ve done…and then Sikari’s suicide..I just c-couldn’t t-take it anymore.”
The ache and sudden rush of emotion he felt were too much to bear, and he began to sob miserably. Lani rose from her reclining position, hesitating just a moment before pulling Xin into her arms. [Xin and Aegis, (Riordan’s minions), and a man named Charon are the holders of the shards.]
----------------------------------------------------
“Oh God… I didn’t think to take it back from him,” Aegis thought desperately. The pieces reacted to one another, combining as they glowed a brilliant white. Moments later a heart fashioned of purple diamond emerged from the light, and Riordan took it in his hands.
“At last.. the Exitium Heart!”
“Oh…” Mana’s eyes deadened as she dropped the sword, enthralled by the shine of the Heart.
“K…Kaitlyn?” Etienne said, his cross shimmering. Mana’s uniform seemed to melt, reforming itself into billowing, green robes. Her ringlets grew long, falling from her shoulders to the tips of her ankles, and a shining emerald appeared on her forehead.
“The Priestess…” Riordan said softly. “So it was you..”
A black cross materialized on Etienne’s cheek as he watched Kaitlyn’s transformation, and his clothing began to shift as well. Thick bars of purple ran along his shirt as it changed into a long jacket, which was slit in the center to show his black, silk pants. Purple crosses decorated either shoulder, and a silver circlet encrusted with amethysts adorned his forehead.
“Yummy,” Xin thought, staring with wide eyes. Sylphid poked him and he blushed, hugging her. Aegis bowed on his knees before the Priestess, keeping his head down respectfully.
“Riordan…” Kaitlyn spoke, and her voice seemed mature and foreign to the ears of her friends. “Please give me the Exitium Heart…”
“Just a moment, Priestess,” he said, clapping his hands together. "Paralysis!"
“H-hey! No fair using my attack!” Sylphid cried, as they discovered that all but Etienne and Kaitlyn had lost their mobility.
“Release them,” Etienne said, his voice also tinged with a new maturity.
“Do you honestly think your magic stands a chance against mine? You might be a prince, but you are still just a lost little boy,” Riordan said.
Etienne scowled and raised his hands, but Kaitlyn touched his wrist, shaking her head.
“No…” she said gently. He looked at her, reading the words in her eyes as he lowered his hands. He nodded understanding and stood, quiet.
“Help me, Priestess,” Riordan said. “Take the heart and wish for the purification of the world.”
“I won’t,” she said, bowing her head. “Why do you want to do this?”
“Surely you of all people would be able to grasp my intentions, Priestess,” Riordan said. “I want only what is best for the world.”
“How is destruction going to help anything?” she asked.
“It’s not only destruction..it’s rebirth!” he cried.
“What could have driven you to this?” she whispered, her fingers pressed against her lips.
“I don’t have to tell you,” he answered, his expression suddenly guarded.
“That’s true… but I can never understand why you want to destroy this world if you don’t tell me why..” she answered softly. Riordan grit his teeth.
“Please…” she said.
“Fine… fine…” he muttered, drawing in a breath.
“Please tell me this is the last flashback…” Xin groaned, shrinking when he received a death glare from Riordan.
“Many years ago, before I knew the corruption of this world, I was a doctor. I had a wife and three daughters. My wife’s name was Lily, my daughters were Violet, Flora, and Rose…Lily and I married very young, and we didn’t have a lot of money, as I charged very little for my services. I used mostly natural resources and spells to heal, so I did not think to take any more than I needed. But we were happy, and idealistic,” he paused, as if he were unsure of whether or not to continue. Silence had befallen the room, and all eyes were focused on him, listening. For the first time in years, he felt vulnerable and afraid. Kaitlyn knelt next to him, brushing his cheek with her fingertips.
“It’s alright…”
“I…I had sent Rose out to gather some herbs I needed one day…myself and my family stayed behind, tending to a few patients. After a while a group of men stumbled in, each looking as if he had been wounded terribly. They implored us for help, and of course we began to treat them right away. But before Lily could even begin to examine the wounds, they tore off their bandages and jumped her… th..their injuries were fake…they tired me up and..they.. Violet.. and Flora and.. Lily…” he covered his face with his hands, shaking. The quiet weighed on him as he fought to suppress his emotion, swallowing thickly.
“Then those bastards killed them and would have killed me..but they had beaten me so badly that they assumed I was as good as dead anyway. They took what little we had and left. I lay there for some time until I built up the energy to heal myself. I buried my family… I burned my home.. then I went for Rose..I gathered her up, fed her some story. She was far too young to question me…All I can remember from then on is anger… so much anger, every day…I wanted to destroy everything. I didn’t understand how I could have stayed blind to the evil of the world for so long. The Mana War began then, and I found my work of destruction done for me. But still I wanted it..the Exitium Heart.. I took Xin, Aegis, and Sikari from their homes and I tracked the Heart’s shards to here. The moral depravity of this planet ran twice deep as that on Fa’Diel. I decided to forget about my old life and focus on this one. I want to use the Heart to destroy everything…then it can be reborn again..then it can be pure!”
“I…I never knew any of that about you,” Xin said softly. The knowledge of their condescending sympathy built up a rage inside Riordan, and he lashed out at Kaitlyn, sending her body crashing into the wall behind him. She screamed as he yelled,
“Shut up! I don’t need your pity!”
“Priestess!” Etienne cried. A line of blood slid down her chin. “Oh God…”
Riordan cupped his hand beneath her chin, pressing her against the wall.
“Holy priestess..if you do not wish to aid me, then it is your right..but it will be your death!”
[Snip]
“I won’t let you!” Etienne raised his hands again, calling out. “Diabolical Impulse!”
A spiked shadow ran along the ground, entering Riordan’s body and causing a sharp jolt of pain to strike in his chest. His grip on Kaitlyn loosened as he coughed blood, and he clawed at his heart, which felt as if it were being crushed.
“S..Seems I underestimated you, Prince,” he spat.
“Stay away from Kaitlyn!” a new voice entered as the mansion’s great doors swung open. The storm that was still raging outside shook the house with a great roll of thunder as a man with shimmering, emerald eyes and long, silver hair strode into the room.
“Who are you?” Riordan snapped.
“Jigoku. Formerly known as Umi,” he answered, pushing Riordan aside easily as the other assembled blinked in confusion.
“Wow, fishboy ain’t bad looking,” Lumina grinned. Charon, who had been standing behind her and hugging his scythe until that moment, made a face. Jigoku pulled Kaitlyn into his arms, kissing her hair. “I’ll protect you…”
“Like hell you will,” Riordan drove his pike into Jigoku’s arm, pinning him to the wall. He screamed and uttered a very coarse word, grabbing at the pike as blood coated his skin. Etienne cast another spell, calling out,
“Dispel!”
The paralysis on the others was neutralized, and Undine ran forward as Jigoku pulled the weapon from his arm.
“Cure Water!”
Jigoku’s wound closed, and Kaitlyn opened her eyes slowly.
“Stop…don’t fight…”
“When will you realize that the only want to achieve your goal is to fight for it?” Sailorknight jumped down in front of her.
“Good thing this is a big house,” Xin said nervously. Aegis petted his hair.
“Why is the desire to solve problems without bloodshed so wrong?” Kaitlyn asked, standing.
“Because it can’t work,” Sailorknight said. She picked up the Mana Sword. “The only way to survive is through the blood on your sword.”
“No…I can’t believe that.. I won’t..” she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Why do you persist in clinging to this hope for the future? Are you blind to the moral corruption that surrounds you?” Riordan snapped.
“People like you… all you think about is that depravity. You don’t understand that there are good people in the world. But all you want to think about are the murderers, the rapists, the thieves. But for all of those, there are others. People who fight for what they believe in, decent people. Hope for this world is not lost, and even if it was, it’s not our place to say so," Kaitlyn answered, giving them both a look of steel calm. "Life was not created to have a chain placed upon it, no matter how ugly it becomes. Maybe the world would not enrage you so if you believed in it."
“How can you expect me to believe in a world that had betrayed me so many times?” Riordan demanded, clutching his injured chest.
“I don’t expect you to do anything. But do you think you are the only one who has suffered a horrible loss? And even if you did carry out your plan, eventually the world would return to its current state,” she said. “You only wish to delay the inevitable.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway,” Knight hissed. “I’m here to kill him. He’s a traitor.”
Kaitlyn blinked. “What? Traitor?”
“Look at us,” Knight said. “Do we not look alike?”
Kaitlyn’s eyes gazed from Riordan’s face to Knight’s. They shared piercing, yellow-green eyes and hair as red as the core of a fire. Their skin was toned similarly, with a healthy, ruddy tint to it. The significance of these features awakened in her memory.
“You..you’re both of the Mana Tribe…” she said, awed. Etienne stared at Riordan.
“A member of the Mana Tribe? How could you?”
Riordan said nothing.
“Yes,” Knight said. “He betrayed us by not only leaving Fa’Diel when it needed us most, but also by attacking you, Priestess. No matter what, it is our sworn duty to protect you and the Balance, regardless of our own opinions. Riordan has broken this law. Now he will die.”
“Wait-stop!” Kaitlyn cried, but Knight had already turned. She drove the Mana sword into his body without a word. Surprised by the sudden attack, he fell on the blade, gasping.
“N…no..”
“Death to the traitor,” she hissed, driving it in further.
“I..I wasn’t a traitor…” he coughed. “I just.. wanted what was best for the world.. I thought I was righteous..”
“You destroyed Sikari’s soul! What was righteous about that?” Undine’s voice shuddered in anger.
“I can’t answer that…but now I see.. my own corruption..”
Knight withdrew the sword, and he hit the floor, bleeding.
“D…Daddy?” Rose stood at the bottom of the staircase, her hair brushed and a white dress sweeping around her ankles. Riordan raised his head with difficulty, reaching a blood-slicked hand towards his daughter.
“Rose… I’m so sorry…I never took you to see your mother…” he close eyes, murmuring as his muscles relaxed. “I love you…”
“Daddy…” Rose whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. She stared at those around her father and the blood on the Mana sword for a few minutes before backing away, sobbing. She turned and then ran, swallowed by the darkness of the house. Kaitlyn and Etienne’s adornments faded and the other senshi were restored to their civilian outfits.
“Should we go after her?” Kaitlyn said.
“No..” Aegis said. “I’ll find her. Come on, Xin.”
“That was anticlimatic,” Jada muttered.
[Xin and Aegis promised Rose that they would take care of her.]