Soul Eater: Madness Rising
An Alternative Ending
Maka
The sun was setting, and the temperature in the desert was dropping. Despite the cooler temperature, Maka was soaking with sweat, gasping for breath as she ran. She slipped on the loose sand, catching herself at the last second.
"Maka, take it easy," Soul said in his scythe form, his face appearing on the black and red blade. "You'll wear yourself out before we get to Medusa's lair."
"I can't," Maka gasped. "Miss Marie and Crona might be in danger, and we still have to rescue Stein."
"Miss Marie is a death scythe, she'll be fine," Soul said.
"But Crona..."
"Crona has the black blood to defend him, you don't. Now stop running so fast or you'll tire yourself out."
Maka bit her lip, grudgingly slowed her pace.
"And you're sure this is the right way?"
"I'm sure," Maka said. "Medusa wasn't using her soul protect; it was easy to sense her. I could find her with my eyes closed."
Crona, just hold on, she thought.
Crona
Crona shuddered as Miss Marie lead him down into Medusa's lair.
"Dammit, Crona, stop being such a crybaby." Ragnarök barked, his black blood body spilling out of Crona's back.
"Quiet," Marie said.
"Why be quiet? I knew you were here the second you entered." The stairs ended, and the heart of the Medusa's lair sprawled out to them. All around them were blocks of rock that floated in midair, each at a different height. In the middle sat Medusa, watching a crystal ball. Behind her, Stein was lying against a block wall, his eyes vacant.
"Crona, you brought a stranger into my house," Medusa said from her stolen body of a little girl. Crona cringed. "You'll have to be punished."
"We-we've come to take Stein back," Crona stammered, gathering his courage.
"'Take Stein back?' You make it sound like I stole him," Medusa said, feigning innocence.
"You did steal him from us," Marie said, taking a step forward to shield Crona. "You drove him to the brink of madness and you kidnapped him."
"I didn't kidnap anyone. Stein is here on his own free will," Medusa said, smiling as she brushed her short yellow hair out of her face. "Isn't that right, Stein?"
"Noise. Make it stop." Stein clutched the screw mounted to his head. It clattered as he spun it around and around.
"I'm sorry, but Stein isn't quite feeling up to chit-chat," Medusa said. "Once he gets over this little bout of madness, I'm sure he'll be feeling much better."
"Liar. You did this to him," Marie spat.
"Insulting me in my own house? And you call yourself polite." Medusa stood up from her crystal ball. "Stein, there are intruders here. Get rid of them."
"Noise. Too much."
"I'm sure the noise will go away once they're dead."
Stein stood, then launched himself at Crona and Marie. His fist crackled with electricity as he brought his soul menace down on them. Marie and Crona jumped away, avoiding the blow.
"Come on, Crona," Ragnarök said.
"I know." Crona could feel the blood leaking out of his hand, until Ragnarök was fully summoned in his blade form. He felt light in Crona's hand, his blade still slim.
"Crona, you go for Medusa, I'll handle Stein," Marie said, her arm transforming into a hammer.
"But-"
"Crona, trust me." Marie parried another attack by Stein. "I just need to get close to him. Go for Medusa."
Cringing, Crona charged for Medusa.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
Crona screamed as he lunged. Medusa deftly avoided the trust.
"Are you really trying to kill me?" Medusa spat. "Your own mother?"
"Shut up," Crona yelled, slashing.
"What an ungrateful child," Medusa hissed. Her black vector arrows materialized from her child's back and shot out. Crona jumping back, avoiding the arrows. "First you bring a stranger into my home, and now you try to kill me? You've gotten very naughty, Crona."
Medusa's vector arrows converged, forming a giant sword. She grabbed it with her minuscule hands.
"I-I don't need to fear you," Crona whimpered.
"Really?"
Medusa lashed out at Crona. He deftly blocked it, but stumbled backwards. The next slash cut into Crona's arm, drawing blood. Crona focused and the black blood turned into needles, then shot at Medusa.
"Did you think that trick would work on me?"
The black blood splattered harmlessly against Medusa's cloak.
"I made you into what you are. Did you really think that I wouldn't be able to control your black blood in case you ever turned on me?" Medusa grinned. "Ungrateful child."
Crona trembled as Medusa raised her sword, then he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Medusa!"
Metal met metal, and suddenly Maka was standing over him, blocking the killing blow.
"Your soul is mine!"
Maka
Maka pressed Medusa backwards with a series of slashes.
"Well, look who showed up," Medusa calmly mused. "And I thought you would be fighting Arachne with the DWMA, not running around on your own."
"I'm fighting you, Medusa. Stop lecturing!"
Medusa sprung back, narrowly avoiding a slash.
"Miss Marie, what's wrong with Stein?" Maka said.
"It's the madness." Marie blocked Stein's attack. "I just need to get close to him. Don't worry about me."
"Maka, you need to calm down," Soul said, his image flickering on the blade of the scythe. "You're already tired. You can't beat Medusa if you keep wasting energy like this."
Maka hissed, shifting into a lower stance. "Crona, are you okay?"
"You came for me," Crona smiled.
"Of course. I'd never leave my friends," Maka replied.
"How touching. I think I'm going to puke," Medusa hissed. Her vector arrows flashed out.
"Above us," Soul said.
Maka dodged. An arrow shaped plate materialized below her, propelling her across the room. Maka hit a rock wall, driving the wind from her.
"First a team of assassins, now a student comes to kill me. Did the DWMA really break the deal they had with me?"
"Shut up," Maka coughed. "We'll never cooperate with you."
"You might, but Lord Death already has. Why don't you be a good little girl and listen to your elders?"
"I said shut up!"
Maka lunged for Medusa, who countered. More vector arrows sprouted from Medusa's back, arching above and towards Maka.
"Get out of there," Soul shouted.
Maka stumbled backwards, but soon fell on her back. Arrows fell down towards her.
"Maka!"