Prologue Episode 2: The Botanical Warrior! A Fated Battle!?

Last Time on Soul Eater…

Maka & Company have gone to a place in North America named The Witch Wood which is the home of a group of witches known as the Cycle Clan Witches. They were sent here by Death himself with orders to investigate a thing known as the Heart Tree. As they made their way through the woods they were blocked by a trent which was immune to even their strongest attacks and so they fled. As they fled they found their target and something much worse than a trent.

Episode 2: A Botanical Warrior! A Fated Battle!?

-Maka Perspective-

"Come Little Birds," The voice taunted, "Death is not such a frightening thing."

I was truly terrified of this being before me. His soul was massive in size and there was something strange about it. I could see its shape and while half of it was that of a normal human soul but with witch like qualities the other was that of some sort of monster but it wasn't a Kishen soul…it was something different something more. The creature was humanoid in shape and wearing black armor similar to a Feudal Knights armor, he was wearing a black round helm, a hood covered the helmet, his gauntlets were clawed like a beasts, and he had a full piece black battle kama on.

"I'm not afraid of you," Black Star yelled, "Do you think your silent act scares me."

"Silent act?" I asked confused.

"They can't hear him Maka," Soul told me, "He's only talking to us."

"W-w-what are you talking about?" Tsubaki asked stuttering.

"He means that the thing before us is capable of telepathy," Kid hissed.

"Whaaaaat," Black Star screamed, "Does that mean it can read our minds!?"

"You don't have to worry about that little mouse," The voice taunted Black Star, "You have nothing there to read."

"That thing just spoke!" Black Star yelled, "And it just insulted me!"

"I heard it as well," Kid whisper in shock.

"I'm surprised you can hear anything," The creature said now turning his taunting towards Kid, "through that thick ego of yours."

"I'm not going to dignify that with a comment," Kid snarled.

"As you wish," the voice told everyone, "I am done talking then…and your lives have considerably shortened."

He never moved from that spot I sensed something was wrong with this situation. We were three powerful Meisters and yet this…thing hadn't even batted an eye at that fact.

"What is he planning?" I wondered out loud.

All of a suddenly the ground behind Black Star erupted as a single root emerged from the dirt and ran Black Star through the chest.

"Black Star!" Tsubaki yelled the fear and shock evident in her I eyes.

As the bloodstained root withdrew from the now limp form of Black Star I couldn't believe what had just happened. In only a few seconds one of my friends and a powerful Meister had been defeated as if he was nothing.

"Black Star," I whispered in utter disbelief, "No he can't be dead."

I was in shock…this couldn't be happening…not now not here. How could Black Star have been killed…this was impossible.

"Maka," Soul said utterly devoid of emotion, "Let's kill this son of a bitch."

"Right," I told him feeling a strange since of calm come over me.

Soul transformed into his scythe form as Kid readied his weapon partners for a battle that was surely going to be one of the toughest of our lives. I rushed at him Soul held high to cleave the creature in two but it countered by launching a wave of vines from the ground which I barely dodged one of them had even cut me across the cheek. I back pedaled unsure of how to advance against the deadly defense this creature has brought to bear.

"I will bring you peace," He laughed summoning more roots from the ground in an attempt to skewer us, "Through death"

"What do you know about peace?" I yelled slicing through the roots with Soul, "You're nothing but a monster."

"Maka watch out," Kid roared shooting the vines that had erupted from the ground and aimed directly for my heart.

"You are nothing but a weak child," The voice continued to laugh launching another group of vines at me that were quickly shot down by Kid leaving himself wide open for my attack; "You're nothing but a cowardly fool."

"I am far from being a weak coward," I snarled bringing my scythe up to end him, "I'll end you here and now for what you've done to my friends!"

I brought my scythe slashing through his shoulder at an angle to cleave through him to his hip but something was wrong there was no resistance whatsoever. I looked at the creature and saw nothing but pink flower petals fluttering in the wind.

"Where in the hell did it go," Soul yelled.

"Maka," Kid yelled looking around, "Do you see where it went?"

"I've no idea," I yelled looking around wildly, "Where did it go."

I looked around unable to see where the beast had gone…it wasn't an illusion because Black Star was still lying there with a hole in his chest. I couldn't figure where he'd gone then something fluttered just in front of my eyes. It was a pink flower petal fluttering gently in the breeze now blowing through the woods. I was watching it simply flutter through the air simple and free it was beautiful almost hypnotizing.

"Ahhhh," Kid began screaming, "What the hell is happening!"

I whipped around to see Kid surrounded by a cloud of the pink petals, his screams of agony could be clearly heard, and so could the sound of slashing. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to help him but how could I, and I felt entirely power less as I witnessed my friend savaged like this. All of a sudden the petals blew away in a cohesive group as if they had a mind of their own and there stood Kid cut up and bleeding from wounds too numerous to count.

"Maka," He heaved, "stay on your guard."

And with those words he fell to the ground and did not get back up. I was beginning to panic, this creature had already taken down both Kid and Black Star, and to make matters worse I didn't even know where it was at the moment.

"What are we going to do Soul?" I questioned the panic evident in my voice.

"I don't know Maka," Soul whispered the strain evident in his voice, "but we must maintain our cool."

"Two little birds left all alone," the voice began in a sing song speech, "they've flown so far only to die minutes from home."

Then the pink petals reappeared flowing and moving towards the ground in front of me. Then a shocking thing began to happen to them, they began to form themselves into a human shape, and then their fluttering stopped as a change began moving up from the figures feet to its head. When the change was over before me stood the monster responsible for the sneak attack on Black Star, the creature in the black armor, and the strongest opponent I've ever fought in my life so far.

"What the hell are you?" I shouted the panic evident in my voice.

"I'm the guardian of the Heart Tree," The monster said.

It took me a couple of seconds to realize that it was a man's voice that came from under the helmet and it took me another couple to realize that he had actually spoke.

"Why did you do this?" I asked trying to keep the tears from my eyes.

"You seek to harm the forest," He told me, "I am the guardian of the wood and I will not allow any to harm it,"

"We're not here to harm the forest," I yelled, "we were just sent to investigate the Heart Tree."

"The Heart Tree is the forest," He stated the calm never leaving his voice, "and I will die before I let a Meister from the academy defile the Heart Tree."

"He's not going to listen, Maka," Soul hissed, "Who knows how long he's been just sitting here."

"His mind has apparently been twisted by the witches," I sighed wondering if this creature before could have been different I sensed from his spirit that he was not an evil being but a creature with a strong sense of duty.

"Insult me all you want," He snarled his calm dissipating for a moment, "but do not insult my clan."

"What the hell does he mean his clan?" Soul asked me confused.

"Who knows," I sighed, "all I know is that he'll fight to the end to defend that tree."

"I recognize you as a worthy enemy," He told me his calm returning, "and as such I will give you no quarter."

Then he raised his hand and his fingers turned into thin almost claw like roots and extended to about a foot. I was stunned by this change as it seemed as if he could change individual parts of his body and that made me wonder as to what else he could do. I raised Soul as I prepared for his inevitable attack that he was sure to make…but he just stood there.

"What the hell is he waiting for?" I wondered out loud.

"I'm waiting for you to make the first move," He answered.

"What…why?" I questioned caught off guard.

"It's the only polite thing to do," He told me, "after all I'm a gentleman if I'm anything."

"Maka," Soul hissed at me, "I don't trust him but we can't let a chance like this just slip from our grasp."

"I agree," I told him.

With that I charged at him expecting him to shoot out more vines but he didn't he just simply evaded the slash and countered with his claw roots which I barely dodged. I saw some of my hair go flying by my face and I realized that he had been even closer than I expected. He then sidestepped to the left and stabbed at my side tearing the hem of my robe as I dodged his attack. I countered with an upward slash which he back flipped away from and as he did this he caught me under the chin with his heel sending me backpedaling.

"We're completely outclassed here Soul," I huffed out of breath.

"I know but we can't give up," Soul said trying to inspire me, "We can't let Kid's and Black Star's sacrifice be in vain."

"You're right Soul," I sighed trying to regain my breath, "but how are we supposed to do that."

Soul didn't have time to answer me as the enemy once again charged at us and began slashing so viciously that I could barely block them. Then I saw it his second hand had morphed just like his first one and he was preparing to attack my undefended right side. The claws sunk into my side and emerged from my back stained in my blood. I felt him withdraw the claws from my flesh and because of the force with which he did it I fell to the ground the blood flowing freely out of my wound. I looked up at him and saw from the way he held himself that I was finished.

"Looks like you've lost little bird," he chuckled coldly, "I will give you a quick death."

He drew back his arm to plunge the claws through my heart…I knew this was the end.

"I'm sorry Soul," I apologized feeling the tears run freely down my cheeks, "I'm sorry for being weak."

"Death is a natural part of life," the creature told me, "We must all face it eventually."

He was done talking and as his attack was rushing towards me I heard the clink of chain and the tearing of flesh.

Thwump.

I looked up and saw that he had taken a couple of steps back his other hand over the wound. His arm had been completely cut off and his blood was flowing freely from the wound.

"Who the hell did this?" He roared his composure completely shattered.

"I did," A familiar voice shouted, "I the amazing Black Star."

I looked to my left and there stood Black Star his chest wound somehow miraculously healed. The monster roared and launched several vines at Black Star which were then hit by several spirit bullets.

"Sorry if I worried you," Kid apologized his wounds also healed, "but for some reason I feel like a new man."

The strange thing is, is that the enemy didn't seem surprised that they were alive, but then he also did something very disturbing at this moment. He began laughing as he removed his hand from his wound and then vines began erupting from his flesh where they began entwining among each other till they formed a hand which then took on the appearance of what his arm originally looked like. He flexed his hand experimentally while retracting the root claws on his other hand. It was at this point while he was distracted I launched my resonance attack Witch Hunter. As it sped towards him he looked up and raised his hand catching the attack and in only a couple of seconds he had shattered it as if it was nothing.

"It seems I've underestimated all of you," He chuckled, "but if you wish to see my true power then you should have just asked."

"What the hell does it take to kill him?" Kid asked incredulously.

"I don't know but we can't give up," I huffed getting to my feet after I was knocked down from the blast of the blocked Witch Hunter.

"Uh…what's he doing now?" Black Star questioned.

Our enemy was standing there chanting in a strange language which I knew it would not end well if we let him finish the incantation so I charged at him hoping to stop it.

"Edinbark," He yelled, "Arise!"

When he shouted this the ground began shaking, cracks appeared just behind him with light shining through them, and then the ground erupted in a geyser of dirt. The creature standing there was terrifying to behold. It looked like a trent but it had white bark and pink leaves.

"What the hell is that?" Kid shouted.

"This is not good," I shouted, "That's an Elder Trent…their only found in Witch Wood and there much worse."

"How much worse?" Black Star inquired.

"Their known to tear apart unruly trents," I told him.

"And I'm proud to say that Edinbark is much worse than that," the enemy snickered, "So I think I'll crush you now…Edinbark eliminate both Kid and Black Star…you're to leave Maka to me."

With this he began walking towards me as the Elder Trent charged Black Star and Kid…but one thing bothered me how did he know our names?

"Looks like you're all alone again," He snickered.

"Maka isn't alone," Soul snarled.

"Don't think I forgot about you little weapon," He laughed, "but I think I should even the playing field a little…Reveal yourself."

I looked around wildly expecting an attack to come from somewhere which is when I saw a man standing just on the edge of the willow ring. He was wearing a black set of hooded robes that were actually quite plain.

"It's time," He yelled as the newcomer began glowing before he transformed into a strange set of weapons.

"You're a Meister?" I asked shocked.

"You better believe it," He laughed the weapons held proudly in his hands; "I'm now going to go all out against you little birds."

With those words he charged at us and when he had closed the distance to about four yards he whipped one of the weapons at me and as it flew at me it spun and made a horrible humming sound. I barely dodged both of its attacks the one where it was heading for me and the one on its return but before I could even begin a counter attack he had thrown the second one which I also dodged but by now he had already thrown the first one again.

"How the hell can we attack if he keeps throwing those things?" I yelled at Soul

"How do you expect me to know?" Soul yelled right back at me.

That was all we got out because by now he had closed the gap and entered melee range with his weapons which are rings of black metal with several shark fin like sliver blades going around it and from what I could see there were no hand grips so I suspected he was just holding onto it by the ring. His weapons crashed into Soul with a vicious attack that knocked me back a couple of steps but almost as quickly he had closed the gap again and continued to pound on my defense which was all I could do. All of suddenly he dropped down and sweep kicked my feet out from under me. As I lay on my back looking up at my enemy I saw a strange glow under the visor of his helmet.

"It's time to end this," He snarled an aura of energy beginning to surge around him, "Now it is time to witness my Resonance attack…Botanical Blitz!"

With this his weapons changed appearance, the ring becoming green, and the blades merging into four blades that looked like pink flower petals. He no longer held them in his hands as they began floating just above his palms spinning sickeningly fast. He brought his weapon back to end this battle for the final time and there was nothing to save me now.

"Stop," A voice shouted over our minds, "They are not to be killed…Allow them to enter."

"Are you sure?" He questioned.

"They have passed child," the voice told everyone.

"Consider yourselves lucky," He sighed, "The Matriarch has deemed you worthy to gaze upon the glory of the Heart Tree…"

He stood there his weapons returning to his human form. I couldn't see under the hood but I suspected that the thing under there was human.

"I can't believe that you lost another arm," The hooded man sighed, "That's your third one this week."

"Just shut up," The armored creature snarled, "You people are to follow us into the Heart Tree to meet the Matriarch and know this if you defile the Heart Tree I won't hesitate to end your existence."

With that he turned and walked towards the gate in the trunk of the tree. While our weapon partners returned to their human form.

"Do we trust him?" Soul questioned me.

"He could have killed us," I answered, "but he didn't…I want to know why."

I followed the two men into the now open gates closely followed by my friends none of us knowing what we were going to see in there but all of us preparing for a battle.

To Be Continued

Here ends Prologue Episode 2: The Botanical Warrior! A Fated Battle!?

Preview of Prologue Episode 3: This is a Test!? A Meisters Loyalty!?

"Are you okay?" A witch questioned running towards the creature in black armor.

"You didn't have to worry," He told her, "I'm invincible while in the Witch Wood…You should know that."

"Still I worry about you," She told him.

"Don't expect him to how thanks for your worry," the man in the plain robes told her.

They walked off leaving the woman behind who quickly fell in behind us. She looked sad which was shocking.

"Are you all right?" She asked me.

"I'm fine," I told her shocked that she was asking me if I was alright.

"Are you sure?" She continued to question me, "It's just it looks like your side is wounded and I could heal it if you wished.

I couldn't believe that this witch was offering to help me…what was she up to.

Preview over

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