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 Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:15 pm
Ilitzi had been prepared to deal with the immobilized human, letting Iya deal with the girl still on the loose. Energy, all these creatures were good for. And they needed all they could get if they wanted to save the Tree; these two who had come too close would hold off death for how long? Days? Hours? Or nothing more than minutes?
Absorbed in his thoughts, it took the tremendous cracking and swaying of the tree to snap him out of it. Heads turned, branches splayed out, and instead of the insufferable senshi girl caught in the Tree's grip, it was-
"Iya!"
Leaves were raining down, withered and brown and broken. They were all caught in some kind of diseased snow of them with every movement of branches and every groan and shudder of the tree. Ilitzi's hands let go of the branches immobilizing Eridanus as though possessed. His eyes were cast upward, horrified. In one swift movement he lunged forward to rescue the girl held high by the tree - his sister.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:33 am
Being shaken by an angry, dying tree made the evening that much more interesting. It was something like the carnival ride from hell, and he'd be glad later, he was sure, that no fried dough or cotton candy had been available to turn his stomach any more than it was already. The falling leaves didn't help either, a dizzying whirl that seemed all the more confounding for his exhaustion, and it took him a panicked moment to realize that it was Iya that the tree was gripping and crushing, and her who's shrieks were chilling his blood in his veins, not Corvus as he had feared.
Something was clearly wrong, not just bad, but really wrong. He could gather that much even foggy headed.
"G-get me down!"
Normally he wasn't prone to any form of stutter, but normally he wasn't being boogied around like a James Bond Martini after having an alien suck energy out of him.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:25 pm
Sailor Corvus had been prepared to back her words, standing still and strong even as she gave the other girl a confirmation nod. She would put herself in harm's way a thousand times if it meant that her friends, those that she cared so very deeply about, could be saved. She was ready up until the moment she heard the tree cracking.
In that moment she went from being ready to being frightened, heart pounding as she watched the tree writhe with its captives in hand. Do something... Do something... Do something! She was frozen, mind screaming at her to act.
Only when she saw Ilitzi bolt away from Eridanus did she move herself, snapping out of whatever daze she had been caught up in. She scrambled over to her team mate, grabbing for him with every intention of trying to tug him away from the tree's grasp. "Let him go! Please let him go... Eridanus, don't you dare let this tree get the best of you. I'll never forgive you if you do. Damnit, let him go!"
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:52 pm
The Tree was shifting, groaning loudly as the trunk appeared to be uprooting itself, moving and swaying angrily, the two captives still tight within it's grasp. The branches were twisting even tighter on both Iya and Eridanus, the senshi desperately yelling while the alien frantically screamed.
It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, everything just hurt as the bark dug into their skin, squeezing them tighter than anything either of them had experienced before. It was only then, only when they both thought they were about to pop from the pressure that the tree suddenly stopped.
Everything was quiet. Corvus and Ilitzi had stopped their hopping and grabbing, Corvus's hands now latched on to Eridanus's boot while Ilitzi clung to the hem of Iya's frilly dress. All eyes were on the Tree and all eyes grew wide as a voice entered all four of their heads.
Words of sacrifice are not to be taken lightly, child.
"M-Makaiju?"
Iya's voice was soft, barely a whimper. "Makaiju, is that you?"
Glances were exchanged between the group, the senshi in disbelief that a tree, of all things, was addressing them.
You have lost your way, children. You have lost your way and now it must end here.
Four additional branches lowered down to where they stood (or dangled), swaying gently. Two before Ilitzi, two before Corvus. Neither captive struggled, all of them captivated by the ancient tree's words.
All of you have a choice to make. Each of you must choose between yourselves who I will take. If you cannot decide, I will take both, I will take all. Show me that you know the true meaning of sacrifice.
The voice grew silent and both the senshi and the aliens knew what had to be done, at the risk of all of their lives.
It was time to make a choice.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:02 pm
Ilitzi's fingers slowly untangled themselves from the frilly material of Iya's skirt, and the alien composed himself. He stood tall in the face of the branches that descended before him, tall but ultimately dwarfed by the sheer size of the Tree. Leaves were still falling in flurries, swirling along the ground and making that papery crinkle en masse.
"Makaiju." True, he didn't sound certain of himself. It had hardly been twenty seconds after the Tree had addressed them all. Perhaps it was an easier decision for an alien. Not a single glance was given to the immobilized younger alien hanging above them all, though a slightly smug look was directed at the two senshi. Certainly he hadn't taken much time to consider his actions, and he was dangerously close to those waiting branches...
"Take Iya."
Iya was not Irre. But more importantly, Iya was not Ilitzi. Why bother to reap all this human energy for the tree energy at all, if he had wanted all this time to 'become an hero'? Their lives were bound to the tree, not to one another. Whatever affections he had for his siblings were superficial at best - especially when it came down to a choice of whose life was more valuable. Poor Iya. Her sacrifice would not be in vain.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:14 pm
"Take me."
It was one of those things Oddy figured he would only have ever said in a stage try out. But he was saying it here, even though it made the pit of his stomach bottom out. He didn't want to become a hero, not at least in this regard. It almost felt selfish even. He didn't want to be Charys Murphy, loosing someone close, or as close as you could be not knowing what someone's other name was. She was pretty, she was strong, she was paradoxically fragile, and goddamn it, if he couldn't save all the people in the city that the Negaverse killed every day, he could goddamn save her.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:27 pm
Two decisions had been made so far. Two voices had spoken... But there were still two left. Her own decision was one of them and she didn't agree with either of the choices that had been made so far.
"No..." Her first word was to Sailor Eridanus, stormy eyes lifting to her partner; the one senshi so far who seemed determined to stand beside her one way or a goddamned other. There was a plea in her words; to him, to the tree. She wouldn't let that happen; couldn't let that happen. "You don't get to make that choice. Not for us. I..." She swallowed, voice getting softer as she continued to speak. "... I don't think I'd have the strength to keep doing this without you. I'm pretty sure Nightwing could make it on his own without Batman."
She managed to flash one sad smile at her partner as she released her hold on his boot, stepping away from him in order to move closer to the branches that had dropped for her, awaiting their choices. Before she took hold of them she glanced over at Ilitzi, feeling nothing more than scorn for him... And pity for Iya. "Why would you even try to save her if, in the end, you would choose to throw her away?"
Sailor Corvus spent another moment watching the two aliens before closing her eyes as she slid her arm around the branch closest to her. "I stand by my original offer. Let Eridanus go... You can have me."
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:30 pm
"Take Iya."
"I-Ilitzi?"
The tremor in her voice was unmistakable, wide eyes turning to stare at the taller alien, her face stricken with fear. It was true - there was no hesitance in his answer. As he retreated from the branches, her struggling resumed. His eyes were on the tree, though he took the time to answer the senshi who'd addressed him, "Look. It's one thing to play Robin Hood and do the whole rescue thing - I'm not going to ******** an hero over he-"
Iya shrieked his name as two wayward branches swooped down from above, aiming directly at the older alien. In a matter of seconds, their sharp ends impaled him from behind, slicing directly through his back and emerging out from his chest. The bark was bleeding, there was blood everywhere, the boy immediately falling down to his knees, his body slumping forward.
"Iya... I..."
His words were choked out, his eyes drifting from staring at the tangled girl down to the limbs jutting out from within his body. "I...Iya..." He was trembling, his hands moving up to take hold of the wood. Blood had begun to collect at the sides of his mouth, his face paling.
She was sobbing his name, the branches imprisoning her forgotten in place of the dying brother in front of her. Ilitzi's head dropped to his chest and she cried his name out one last time before breaking into tears. Corvus and Eridanus could only stare in horror at the scene before them.
Iya, child, you have not given your answer yet.
The small girl looked up at the tree, blonde curls bouncing with the movement. Her eyes were red and streaming with tears, hands still bound at her side from the branches that held her.
"I...but.. you don't mean... but...Ilitzi.."
She gasped suddenly, the branch holding her torso now moving up to tighten around her neck. It continued to tighten and her eyes began to bulge.
It seemed the Tree had little patience when it came to being answered.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:50 pm
The Tree could be capricious if it wanted, she had decided; it would never harm anyone. It wouldn't touch any of its children, not when they were trying so hard to save it. So, instead of acting out, instead of going to attempt to give some kind of direction, she had placed her hands on her hips and waited for Ishi to return. But it had become clear that, more than joking, the Tree really did intend to--what was it even trying to do?
She emerged from the surrounding cover just in time to see Ilitzi crumple. Ilie stared, hands dropping to her sides. The Tree didn't-- not really--
"No," she said incredulously. Her brother was dead, she'd failed there, but she was not going to fail again--it was a matter of pride now. "No." And Iya made a strangled gasp.
"No! Take me," said Ilie, partially born of impulse and partially from desire to prove she could lead better than Ilitzi.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:59 pm
Two eyes watched his brother crumple into a pile. Why would the tree do that? Why? They...they had been doing so well with gathering energy! He, Ishi, have even gotten some! And he was-
Two tubby legs propelled squishy Ishi to his pod mate, his sister, Ilie. Fat arms hugged the one he so idolized. "No, no, no! That's not how it should be! Ilie is the strong one! The smart one! She gets better energy! I-I-" He snuffled. Candy started to fall out of his pockets.
He looked at the tree, their beloved- "Makaiju....Ilie is brave. She's braver then me. Please don't take Ilie away. Keep Ilie! I'm no good, she...she should stay! Not me! I'll take her place!"
Tears were running down Ishi's face. He couldn't loose Ilie! Even for all the candy and sandwiches in the world, he couldn't allow anything to happen to his podmate, never!
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:30 pm
Irre was feeling good. Her plan was better than her siblings. She didn't have to wait until the dark to strike like the others, she didn't have to go out and find the energy needed. All she needed to do was sit back and wait, and let the energy come to her. It was the perfect plan and it was working! A smile curled about her lips as she pictured their shocked faces, the amazement, the praise. Irre, their sister that always criticized them finally backed her words! The moment would be golden.
At least, that was how she pictured it.
Her slim, smooth fingers dug into the rough back of the tree she clung to, energy for the Makaiju forgotten. The voice, the presence... Sacrifice? Lost? What was going to end? She stared blankly, uncomprehending as the tree delivered its ultimatum.
She stared as the choices were made.
She stared as her podmate's life was taken.
The bark of the tree she clung to worked its way under her manicured nails as her eyes locked onto her brother's body. A trembling push sent her stumbling away from the tree as she attempted to gain her footing, taking one, two steps before teleporting to Ilitzi's slumped side.
Irre could barely make out her brother's face through the sudden fog that clouded her glasses as she gently ran a hand through his hair. The alien blinked, her trembling increasing as the hand moved from alien to tree, touching it lightly with her fingertips before dropping it to her side.
There were no words. No “Please wake up!” or “You're not dead yet!” or even an “Alas, poor Ilitzi.”
All she could do was throw back her head and howl her anguish.
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:26 am
As long as he lived he was sure he was never going to be able to erase the sight of another living being, another living, formerly SPEAKING being, and one that looked so human, dying in front of his eyes, filling him with a wave of nausea and terror.
There was so much blood! Was that what was going to happen to them?
He'd been hoping Corvus would retreat, if only in the hopes of finding other Senshi in the park, but he wasn't sure she would be able to now. "Corvus!"
There were now more aliens joining the fray, and he dreaded seeing any more of them cut down by the tree, any of them gathered here, but especially Corvus.
Was that wrong? That he valued her over the rest of them? "You were doing just fine on your own! DAMNIT!"
He didn't want -anyone- to die here tonight, which was a wish come far too late. Why did it always seem to come down to this? Why couldn't there be another option. "Whats WRONG with you??" He demanded, both of Corvus and the tree, trying to tug one of his hands free.
The aliens grief, the efforts of most to save each other, save the one hanging dead on it's branches...
God there was SO much blood!
He just wanted it to stop, for no one else to get hurt.
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:45 am
Her eyes had been closed as she had awaited her fate, wondering whether or not having her energy drained would be like falling asleep, praying that it felt nothing like the agony of having her star seed torn from her chest (or nothing like she had dreamed it felt). Sailor Corvus had taken a breath, held it, waited... And then she'd heard the blonde girl scream.
Her eyes shot open, holding wide as she turned to watch in horror something that she was unable to stop. Even if her powers worked she wouldn't have been able to save him. Vengeance couldn't save anyone, couldn't heal anyone. All it could do was make them pay.
The senshi's knees went weak and for a moment she thought she might fall to them, and most likely would have had she not heart her name. "Eridanus..." He was still alive, still safe. They hadn't lost the game yet. They hadn't lost anything yet... But someone had. That much was clear from the wail that carried through the clearing.
"This is wrong. Can't you see that? Can't any of you see that? It's killing people..." Her voice was still soft, a lump caught in her throat as she kept back the urge to scream, or cry, or something. This was worse than her nightmares.
"This is wrong!"
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:35 am
The branches ceased their tightening, Iya still frantically pulling in its grasp. Eridanus, thankfully, had been dropped to the ground as both the branches holding him and dangling before Corvus receded back into the tree.
I asked for all of you to make a decision. I never said I would act upon the choices you chose.
All the aliens fell silent as the tree spoke once more, save for Iya, who continued to whimper, and Irre, whose sobs were coming out in short hiccups by this point.
Did the Tree intend to kill all of its children?
The trunk shifted and groaned, leaves fluttering to the ground as the giant tree began to adjust itself, the conversation moving from the aliens towards the senshi.
I was once cleansed by your Moon Princess. It was through her that I was able to remember love, to remember what it is like to care and hold compassion for another living being. My children have never known this - the lesson died when the others passed on.
There was no emotion in the voice. No remorse over the lost Ilitzi, no sadness over its corruption.
I need to feel the energy of the Princess once more. I need to be purified so that my offspring may know what it feels like to love and care for one another.
"But we do understand, Makaiju," Iya pleaded from the branches above, struggling to gasp out her words with the vine around her neck, "Ilie, Ilitzi, Irre... we all understand! Please, please, Makaiju!"
Down below on the ground, Corvus was shaking her head, both senshi bewildered. "But the Moon Princess... she's..."
I need to be purified - purify me.
Nothing else could be said, every argument falling upon deaf ears.
Taking the silence as a refusal, the tree shifted its branches once more. It was only a matter of moments before the wave of energy hit both the aliens and the senshi - the tree was emitting a call, sending out a signal throughout the city for anyone who could feel it. If these senshi couldn't help it, then perhaps there was someone out there who could.
As the six remained frozen where they stood, helpless to counter the call, the power continued to surge through the air, going out for miles throughout Destiny City. The Tree was out of control as it continued to demand to be purified, demanded to be redeemed once more.
And there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.
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