Fatal Fury Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Rifts ❯ Chapter 41: Briefly, Ayla's Filaments of Discord ( Chapter 41 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sailor Moon/Rifts Crossover (Revised Edition) By Simon Woodington

Chapter 41: Briefly, Ayla's Filaments of Discord

They had been beaten back for a time. Nasura's plea to the civilian
public had routed the most recent wave of shadowlings, to the point
that only four or five dozen or so remained, scouting and patrolling,
apparently for the next attack. The period for action was rising
quickly, and though Ayla desired to assist the growing Sailor
Resistence, Nasura insisted they conserve their strength. Destroying
the vortex crystal was to be no easy task. What of the military? The
shadowlings had nearly evened the battlefield with the introduction of
simplistic magic. Despite this, the ratio neared 4/1 at the peak of
the battle, four shadowlings banished for every single human killed.
At its end, not a shadowling struck back.

Some hours later after her conversation with Xalia, outside of the
Shirinaui home, she strode along a moon drenched porch which extended
around the circumference of the building. It was dark, cool, but not
unpleasant, nor unwelcome. For the moment, this was as she desired it,
peaceful, despite her vague sense of the emotional and physical agony
by which they were surrounded. Gazing into the light dotted sky,
heaven reaching to earth, or perhaps the opposite, she took a seat
upon a wooden bench and mused silently, letting feelings stir her
thoughts. Internally, she had become a stewing pot of conflict. And
Why Not? There was plenty for the first course, and seconds, if
desired.

And she did not desire.

There was the first, and the most distressing: Xalia. Strangely, while
the conundrum of the young woman pressed so powerfully, it was not an
immediate matter. In fact, there was not time enough to sort her out.
Moreover, she wondered why she had the time for her current respite.
With a sigh, she accepted it, taking what she could in such misshapen
times. So what was next? Nasura, obviously. Why had she approached
her? What was in the envelope?

She regarded it, her free hand hovering above the wax seal. There was
no spell upon it. Ayla cursed softly. It was a matter of trust!
Shaking her head, she slipped the white casing into a hammerspace
pocket. Time would tell, and damn him! That brought her to the third
problem. Time. Too soon they would face the shadowlings again, and
then the vortex crystal, which they somehow had to destroy. Alone, she
doubted very much they would ever live to see it so closely again,
much less shatter it. What had happened to the promised soldiers?
Maybe that was the matter which was sealed so tightly, resting in her
pocket. No. That made no sense. There was too much at stake for Nasura
to offer something she could not fulfill. She was not dry of such wit.
She would come through. She always did.

Okay, those questions maybe not answered, but nulled for now, what
else is there? Doubt. Usagi had exhibited such faith in Ayla's
abilities as a leader, even saying so. With her gone, she came back to
having a serious lack of confidence in herself. She had lost already
against a powerful opponent, one much less than those they dared face.
Where she had unfaltering faith in the Inner Senshi, she was in want
for faith in herself.

"You know, even Usagi had trouble facing Beryl."

Ayla glanced up, seeing someone with whom she was not familiar. The
figure moved with an easy grace and smoothness of motion, and by the
silhouette, was unmistakably female.

"Who are you?" Ayla hissed faintly, clenching her fist as a spike of
light formed within her palm. Wisely, the woman did not approach,
placing each white gloved hand on the opposing elbow under her large
breasts.

'I won't hurt you, Ayla sensei,' she replied in flawless Japanese.

Despite this, the young woman's eyes narrowed.

'How am I supposed to trust anyone?' she asked, of herself more than
the stranger who faced her. 'You could be another minion. Like
Jisuruka, or Yanei. Or even Xalia!'

'Hai. You're right,' she agreed, appreciative of the young leader's
observation. 'It's been so long... how would you know me?'

Ayla's mouth widened, and anger abated as the woman's face was
revealed by the sullen moonlight. She was a stark redhead, which
collected in five large spikes atop her head, and expansively built in
figure. Her countenance was one of deceptive kindness, which, while
sincere, disguised her sinister talents. Her blues eyes indicated a
wealth of stifled guilt, the leash of which she finally began to
release. About her slender neck was a silver pendant, upon which in
relief was a sparrow in flight, its eyes narrowed, as if pinpointing a
particular target.

'Zia?' Ayla gaped, standing and hesitantly approaching her. 'We
thought you'd...'

'Died? I know,' she nodded. 'Uh, the blast just kinda locked us in the
library. I won shortly after that. It gets kinda hard to explain...'

'Why!? I've got time, or don't you think your niece will understand?'
she snapped in harsh reply, her hands winding into fists.

Awkwardly, Ayla stood in place, angrily refusing the desire to hug her
lost relative. Zia held her eyes to Ayla's speaking clearly and
precisely.

'Ayla, the Clan... they needed me. It was a matter of honour and... I
had no choice.'

Ayla's eyes trembled as her mind whirled in thought and emotion,
tossed like a bird in a tornado. A gentle breeze swept into the porch,
wisping their hair, and nudging open Zia's long yellow coat far enough
to reveal the hilt of a traditional samurai blade. Instantly, Ayla
recognized the symbols.

'Nani...?' she bit into her words, as if she was striking her verbal
target. Moments later, she reached a dark conclusion that staggered
her back into her seat. 'SilverKnife... you did die. Don't lie to me!'

'That wasn't 'til later! Hear me out!'

'It explains your figure, though,' she observed with a faint grin.

She offered a tight, uneasy smile.

'Huh, well, not like I had a choice...'

Ayla wasn't sure quite what to say.

'You work with what you've got,' Zia shrugged her slender shoulders.
'Magic gave me my face back, and enabled me to be here, now, to help
you.'

Ayla's eyebrows knitted.

'You want to know something, Zia-san?' she snorted, snarling the
adjoining "san" derisively. 'Family is a matter of honour too! It's
not like we need your help now... We needed you three years ago...
when Jusoi died!'

Zia's white-gloved hand fled to her mouth, tears springing instantly
to her eyes.

'Nani? Iye!' she whispered, her voice tender and defenseless. 'What
happened?'

Ayla turned away, head bowed.

'She caught phenomena,' she replied in hushed, emotion fraught tones.
'Barely walking and she... ooh!' she whispered heatedly, pained. 'You
had the power Zia! You could have saved her! Mama doesn't have the
Gift.'

Zia gazed at Ayla meaningfully, eyes glistening with abundant tears.

'I'm sorry Ayla-chan. What can I... I knew something would happen, but
I...'

'You knew?!?' she cried, glaring at Zia with literal fire in her wide
eyes.

'Iye! I didn't know Jusoi would get sick!' she half-yelled, emotions
high, the foremost being a primal hurt. 'I knew you would be called to
war, and wouldn't have the strength, or the will to pull through... I
had a choice. Shimatta Ayla! Gomen-nasai!'

The young woman folded her arms over her chest and was silent.

:No differently:

'I had a choice, a sacrifice to make ...' Zia was cut off by a harsh
expression which said: "Don't Pull Little Miss Melodrama With Me."
With a fire in her soul, and a deeply rooted passion in her heart, Zia
found the words which with to stride forward. 'I did it because I love
my little sister, and her beautiful, gifted daughter. I did it because
I knew this was coming, and I wanted to be ready to help you when you
would really need me. That's all there is to it.'

Whether or not Ayla believed it, the fact was, she was there when they
most needed her. It was minutes, nearly five, as Ayla bashed the fifth
new problem about in her skull, finally slaying the robust creature.
She opened her arms and stepped forward, grasping Zia in a reluctant
but heartfelt hug. Tears shimmered on her cheeks as she felt the
glowing love of an intimate guardian, someone very akin to her mother.

'I forgive you, Zia-san,' she wept, holding her for some time more,
even more grateful for the support of someone she had long missed. 'I
love you.'

'I'm so sorry about Jusoi... was it bad?'

'It took weeks... and she missed you so much. After you died - hm -
went missing, she kept asking for you. I guess...' Ayla blinked,
wiping away tears with clenched hands. 'She must have known.'

'Oh Ayla...' Zia was silent with the effort of sobbing, the girl
having been very close to her heart. After the emotional encounter,
Zia pulled away, and spoke solemnly. 'I brought something that will
help, as well.... besides me, I mean.'

Ayla accepted the small, yellow seed, which had mystic symbols cut
into it.

'Don't eat it yet. It's risky,' she warned. 'It's a last resort sort
of thing.'

She scrutinized the strange looking little seed.

'Eat it? What is it?'

'A Yarrow Wine seed, enhanced by magic.'

'No, I mean the price.'

'It's different for everyone,' she said, blue eyes averted slightly.

'What about my Neo Senshi?'

'I brought enough for them too.'

'Good.'

:Ayla-chan, you are needed. Bring Zia with you:

Ayla blinked, stunned, as Zia looked upon her apparent confusion with
concern. Ayla shook her head.

'We're needed, apparently. C'mon.'

With a shrug, she followed.