The next day, Maka felt uneasy being surrounded by her close friends after telling them the news.
"Oh wow Maka, this ring is just gorgeous." Tsubaki said as she held Maka's hand to get a good look at the metal band.
"I can't believe you'd tie the knot before me." smiled Blair with a teasing grin.
"Uh, guys a little space please?" she asked pulling her hand from Tsubaki's grasp.
"Hurray!" cheered Patty. "I call flower girl!"
"No fair." pouted Blair.
"Yeah, yeah, hip hip hurray and all." Liz said then looked to the bride to be seriously, "Listen Maka, I know it's none of my business, but don't you think you're rushing things?"
"Don't ruin this for her!" Blair and Patty shouted.
"I'm just saying what needs to be said." Liz countered. "You two never even dated."
"But they're close." remarked Blair.
"I know what you're trying to say Liz, but this is Crona we're talking about," Maka smiled looking down at the ring. "remember after he got back into the academy? He always offered to help around in anyway he could."
"Yeah I Remember too," Tsubaki said. "He even helped me get the money I needed to start my restaurant."
"I'm just wanting you to be absolutely sure." the elder Thompson sister persisted.
"I'm more then sure Liz. Crona's a really good guy, remember the christmas party two years ago?" Maka smirked. "You got so drunk that you wandered out into the city alone acting all flirty."
"Don't remind me." she groaned in shame. "If Crona hadn't been chasing after me some pervert probably would have had their way with me, or worse."
"Exactly, and Patty, who was it that stood in line at the theatre for three hours, in the pouring rain no less, just to get you a ticket for that movie you wanted to see so badly?"
"Crona!" Patty jumped. "An the movie was fantastic."
"Ever since Medusa died, Crona has been a good friend to all of us, he's helped every one of us and others, not even asking for anything in return."
"Alright, I get it." sighed Liz. "But what about Ragnarok, won't it make things awkward with him being a part of Crona and all?"
"Well maybe," Maka scratched her cheek. "But I can just try to ignore the little blob like always."
"Plus, your honeymoon might get kinky." teased Blair.
The librarian growled as she turned red, raising a book for a Maka chop.
"EEP!" monster cat changed her form and ran away.
"Well we should probably get going." Tsubaki spoke nervously as she stepped back.
"Yeah Kid probably needs us for something stupid." Liz dragged Patti who laughed at Maka's angry look while waving.
Maka took a deep breath to calm herself and put the book down.
"Excuse us."
She looked up to see the boy and girl from the NOT class walking up to them.
"Uh, can I help you two?"
"Your Ms. Albarn?" asked the boy.
"I am." Maka nodded.
"So you're the the girl Mr. Gorgon is marrying?" the girl asked looking over Maka. "I'm not impressed."
Maka held back her irritation so as to not get in trouble for harming a student. "And you are?"
"Nika Totsuka, this and this is my partner Tony Gilfree."
"And what business is it of yours that makes you question who Crona marries young lady?"
"None really, I just like messing with people with authority." Nika stuck out her tongue.
"That's not why we're here Nika," Tony said walking up to them. "I wanna know, how did Crona get back into the academy after getting expelled? Once you're expelled there's no getting back in, right?"
"Well yes, that's how it is with normal schools," Maka replied. "But in case you haven't noticed, the DWMA isn't exactly a normal school."
"So you can just get back in even after getting expelled?" Nika raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly, after a student is expelled they have the chance to take on the Return to Grace challenge. A nearly impossible task, but still doable. The objective is to collect ten kishin souls within one month and return before time runs out. Few have ever really completed the challenge in time."
"Sounds like a desperate measure." Nika put her hands behind her head.
"Mr. Gorgon was able to complete the challenge in under a week."
"What?!" exclaimed both students in shock.
"Yep, it shocked all of us too. I mean, I don't think any of us expected him to be back so soon with forty souls."
"FORTY?!" Nika leaned in. "How the hell did he get forty souls in just a week!"
Just then the bell rang.
"Sorry, but you'll have ask him yourself in class." Maka stood from her chair and pushed a cart of books she needed to shelve.
Both students sighed before leaving.
Crona walked through the halls with the same happy smiled he had all day.
"And I figured you would have gotten laid by now." spoke Ragnarok in his head.
"You know what Ragnarok? I don't care what you say." Crona said. "Right now nothing can ruin my mood today."
"GORGON!"
Crona stopped walking turned back to see Spirit running towards him with an angry expression.
The older man threw a punch that sent Crona through a wall and rolling across the courtyard.
"OW!" cried Ragnarok. "What's his problem!"
"I don't know." groaned Crona pushing himself up.
"You won't get away from me that easily you little punk!" Spirit jumped out after him. "You got a lot of nerve doing what you did!"
"Kick his ass!" Ragnarok growled.
"Mr. Albarn please, I don't want to to fight you."
"Well that's too damn bad, because you got one!" growled the weapon walking towards him. Scythe blades sprouting on his arms and back as he attacked.
Crona sighed as it looked like talk wasn't gonna work. He brought out Ragnarok and blocked the attack. "Mr. Albarn, please calm down."
"Considering you just asked my daughter to marry you, WITHOUT FIRST ASKING FOR MY PERMISSION, NO I WON'T!" he yelled before a blade came out of his right leg and he swung it up towards Crona's head.
Crona leaned back and jumped away.
"That's what this is about?!" shouted Ragnarok.
"Maybe we could just take a moment and talk this out?" suggested Crona one last time.
"Should have known you'd try to slither your way out of this, you're just like your mother."
Crona's eyes became cold and hard as he gripped Ragnarok tighter.
Students and faculty started running out the doors as word about the fight spread like wildfire.
Crona held Ragnarok out and ran at Spirit. He struck with enough force to push the elder back. Seeing him get sent back, he ran at him again. This time with a downward strike.
Spirit brought his arms up and blocked it with the blades that came out.
Maka pushed and shoved her way to the front of the crowd just in time to Spirit deliver a kick sending her fiance skidding back. "Crona!"
"Don't interfere Maka." lord death grabbed her shoulder. "This is a fight between a father and his future Son-in-law."
Spirit ducked a strike and went for a leg sweep.
Crona avoided it with a backflip and pointed his weapon at Spirit. "Don't EVER compare me to that witch Medusa!"
"Maybe I wouldn't have to if you just stayed away from my daughter you little son of a snake!"
Crona growled. "Alright, that's it! You want a fight? Fine, no more holding back. Ragnarok!"
"Right!"
"Screaming resonance!"
"PIYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Spirit groaned as the high pitched sound so close was making his head feel like thousands of needles were stabbing into it along with the others nearby.
Crona charged, ready to strike with a back hand.
"CRONA! STOP THIS!" shouted Maka.
Hearing her cry, Crona came to a halt. He looked to see Maka run down towards him. "M-Maka I..."
"I want to know why you and my dad are fighting right now?" she demanded.
"I can answer that one" Ragnarok spoke through the blade. "Your two timing cheater of a dad knocked us through the wall because Crona didn't ask his permission to marry you."
"Is this true?" Maka growled turning to Spirit.
"Uh... Well… you see sweety, it's the principle of it is all." Spirit away sweat dropped. "I just want what's best to you?"
Maka walked towards Spirit while slowly bringing a book out.
"Don't bother Maka," spoke a voice that made both father and daughter freeze and turn to the steps with wide eyes. "For as long as I've known him your father has always been thick headed."
"M-Mama?"
"Kami!" Spirit jumped
"I just can't believe my little girl is engaged and didn't warn me ahead of time. I'm hurt." teased Kami.
"You're Maka's mom?" Crona spoke up.
"Yes, Kami Albarn, but please just call me Kami. You are going to be my son-in-law?" she smiled.
"Uh, y-yes ma'am!" Crona straightened and gave a bow. "My name is Crona Gorgon."
"I know you. Maka talks about you so much in her letters."
"She has?" blinked Crona looking to his fiance who just blushed.
"Oh indeed she has. And that little cutie on your shoulder must be Ragnarok."
"That's me!"
"Now Maka, tell me why didn't you call to tell me about your engagement? I feel sort of ignored having to hear it from Shinigami-sama."
"Well I was just too stunned and had to deal with my job, so I kinda forgot."
"That's my girl!" Kami smiled. She frowned as she turned towards Spirit. "As for you, Spirit."
The elder Death Scythe cringed and sweat was raining from his pores
"Why did you go off and try to hurt an innocent young man? The same one who was about to marry our daughter. The one who would have given me grandkids." she asked with a sweet smile as she walked towards him while cracking her knuckles.
"Grandkids." the two paled.
"Kami, you know I love Maka more than anything." Spirit started backing away. "The thought of someone taking her away from me without warning- OOF!"
Kami slammed her fist into his stomach, making him drop to his knees.
"He's totally whipped." Ragnarok snickered.
"Let me make this clear. If you do that again, I WILL TIE YOU UP, SEND YOU TO STEIN, AND HAVE HIM OPEN YOU UP LIKE A FROG!"
"Yes ma'am." Spirit squeaked.
"Yep, that's mama for you. Sweet as sugar one minute, then hot as a pepper the next.." Maka smiled.
"Crona?" Kami turned towards Crona making the boy flinch.
"Y-Y-Yes?"
She walked towards him with a serious gaze that made even Ragnarok feel uneasy. Crona gulps at the darker expression then the one from before.
She stopped right in front of him before grabbing his hand as her expression became sweet again. "Please treat my daughter with respect. Otherwise, I'll have to do the same to you."
"Right!" he got out.
"Good, and make sure to give me plenty of grandkids." Kami smiled.
"MAMA! We're not even married yet!" Maka blushed with embarrassment.
"I don't mind if you two start early."
Both deadpanned at those words.
"LIKE HELL THEY WILL!" Spirit got back to his feet and ran over at a breakneck speed. "OKAY PUNK, YOU HAVE MY BLESSING, BUT IF YOU EVEN THINK OF TRYING ANYTHING BEFORE YOU TIE THE KNOT THEN I'LL-GAH!"
Spirit was stopped as Kami pulled him into a choke hold. "You keep quiet." she said. "I want something small and helpless to hold in my arms again, like when Maka was little."
"Yes….. ma'am." Spirit choked out.
"Shinigami-sama, I know this is a little sudden, but can you find someone to fill in for Maka and Crona for today," she smiled at Lord Death. "We have some family matters to work out."
"Of course, of course!" the Reaper waved, "After all, nothing is more important than family."
"Wonderful," she dropped Spirit before grabbing the two by the arms and dragging them away much to their protests. "We have a lot to talk about, and we're burning daylight"
'Oh boy.' groaned Maka in her head.
"Dammit!" Soul pounded his fist as he watched from the balcony. "I figured that if I told Spirit about the engagemenwould beat the crap out of Crona. Should have known better than to rely on that idiot."