Hooray for updates! One quick thing to note before we get started. Since I wrote this while the manga is still being produced, I had to write my own ending to the manga in order to make the story feel more complete. Also, as to the whole "is Crona a boy or a girl debate," my personal opinion is that Crona is in fact genderless. The reasons why are too numerous to mention, but since calling it an "it" looses its emotional connection as a human being, I call it a she. Okay! Now that that's done, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work! :D

Soul Eater (c) Studio Bones and Atsushi Ōkubo.

Ansom and other original characters (c) Me!

Chapter 3: Trapped Behind Silence

Soul's head throbbed like crazy. He listened as the cell door slammed shut behind him. He pushed himself up off the floor. It wasn't the same cell Medusa was in, he could see the other holding areas through the bars. It was much more like a prison than a dungeon, he figured. He only hoped Maka would have better treatment. Suddenly, his face contorted into a scowl. With his hands released, he was able to turn into a scythe again. His arms shook and glowed, creating two sharp blades. He ran up to the bars of his cell and sliced his arms one by one trying to break free. It was no use. He backed up and rammed into the cell door, trying to loosen it, but ended on the ground deviled over in pain. Damn, he thought. Of course this kind of prison would be hard to break out of.

He sat at the edge of the cell and took a breath. He would have to find another way. Sheer force wouldn't get him out of this one. He let his arms change back, bruised and cut from his escape attempts. He could probably get out if he harnessed the black blood but...he shook the idea off right away. He didn't have time to deal with that kind of complication. He needed a plan, like Maka always said. Though she never followed the plan when dealing with something she really cared about. Soul's stomach dropped. Where was she now? What did that man want with her? Why would Lord Death comply to this? Did he know he was in prison? Soul grit his teeth. He had lost her. How did that even happen? His eyes narrowed. They cheated, he thought. And they did. They shot her down from the sky. It seemed like they didn't care whether she was alive or dead. As upset as this made Soul, it confused him more than anything.

But what was weighing down on him now was the fact that he had failed her. He swore he would protect her no matter what. If they really didn't mind if she was dead they would have killed her right then and there, right? No, the must have needed her alive, just not completely unscathed. But for what? Soul couldn't wrap his brain around it. He slipped his head onto his knees and hugged them close to him. He should have just left with her while he had the chance, or Ansom should have taken him instead. The bastard didn't even know how to negotiate.

He listened to the water drip into a bucket on the other end of the cell. Drip...drip...drip...It was so quiet. Usually, Soul loved the silence. Maka used to feel like she always need to fill it with pointless chatter in order to keep him entertained. He smiled slightly at the memory. She had learned quickly, though, that he wasn't fond of that kind of idle chatter and neither really was she. Once they had figured that out, it was a lot easier to communicate. The silence was beautiful, a statement of their comfort with each other. On his own, the silence let his mind wander. He could clear his head that way, think better. But this silence was painful. Like a noiseless emptiness that emulated what he was feeling in his soul. Helplessness. No! His head shot up. He was not helpless. He promised Maka he would find her, and he didn't know how much time he would have!

His arms turned back into scythes as he rammed the bars over and over again. It was useless, but it was all he could do. Perhaps, he could loosen them. It wasn't pointless! He would get out! He would save her! It was his job as her weapon! But more importantly, as her friend. He sliced and kicked but they didn't budge. Still, he wouldn't stop. He didn't stop. Not until he collapsed to the floor without an inch of energy left. He had to think of a plan. How to detect where she was. How to find this Ansom guy and defeat him. How to hide her away so no one would ever use her again! She didn't deserve it: all the ridicule and pressure put on by her peers, all those girls who laughed at her because she wasn't pretty to them. Soul scowled. He knew how that felt. To never feel good enough. Maka was strong, it was true, but no one deserved to be treated like that.

"Hey! Soul Eater! You mind keeping it down? You're giving me a headache." Soul held his shoulder and stood up. There, in the cell across from him, was someone he had not expected to see.

"D-Death Scythe?" He said. Spirit, adjusted to a seated position.

"You're wasting your time, you know. Azusa designed these cells. They are completely inescapable for any weapon or meister," he said as he set his arm on his leg.

"What the- what are you doing in here?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Spirit put a hand to his head. Soul looked at the floor.

"I see. You tried to stop them, didn't you?" Soul grabbed onto the bars and squeezed them, whitening his fists. "She's in bigger trouble than I thought, then."

"I hear you took on Ansom by yourself. Pretty gutsy move, considering he's one of the greatest Death Scythes ever to graduate from the Academy," Spirit said. Soul's eyes widened.

"Then you must know what he's up to!" he shouted. Spirit lowered his head. "Tell me, Death Scythe."

"I'm not your superior anymore, you know. We're equals in this place. You can call me Spirit."

"I don't think I'm ready to take that step," Soul admitted. "You have to have some idea about what's going on and how we can stop it!"

"There is no stopping it, Soul Eater," Spirit mumbled reluctantly. "Even if we were to get out of this prison, we couldn't save my daughter from her fate." Soul's face turned bright red.

"What do you mean? What are they going to do to her?" he could feel himself getting worked up. Maybe if Death Scythe was here, he could direct the black blood.

"It's best I not tell you," Spirit commented. "I don't think it's really your business." Soul felt his heart turn to fire.

"Not my business? Maka is my meister and-"

"Was your meister, Soul! You're a full-fledged Death Scythe now! You don't belong to anyone! We've been over this!"

"No! I won't stop being her weapon! I'll never leave her! You're her father! Don't you care what happens?"

"How dare you! I love my daughter more than anything!"

"Then why are you just giving up on her? You don't actually think what they're doing is right do you?"

"Of course I don't!"

"Then tell me where she is so I can save her!"

"Oh come on, Soul! You haven't figured it out yet?" he snapped. Soul grit his teeth and wiped the drool from his mouth. "Think about it! What is that Maka has that none of the other students at the academy do?" Finally, things started coming together.

"The anti-magic wavelength."

"Ansom found out about it, that's why he's here. He heard about how she defeated all of those opponents using the anti-magic wavelength. He's using it to power his machine." Spirit gripped onto the bars. "Lord Death is desperate. He was trying to find a way to spread the wavelength all around so he could get rid of the madness that lurked within these witches. But Ansom wants to take it a step further."

"Wipe out all witches unassociated with the DWMA," Soul recalled, but Spirit shook his head.

"To wipe out all witches, period." Spirit breathed heavily. A bead of sweat dripped down Soul's face.

"Genocide."

"You've got it, Hot Shot."

"Can he do it?"

"As long as he has Maka, he'll be able to do whatever he wants," Spirit said. Soul sunk down in his cell.

"All the more reason to stop him," Soul stated. His mind felt numb. "We can't just let him do this. She's your daughter, Death Scythe. Talk to Lord Death, maybe he-"

"I already did. That's what got me into trouble in the first place."

"But-"

"If I do anything further I could completely lose my job."

"What's more important, your job or your family?"

"Then you tell me how to get out of this God-forsaken cell and help me find my daughter, Soul Eater!" Spirit screamed, on the verge of tears. "You tell me where she is or how I can reach her. Please I'll be glad to listen to you!"

"Listen, Old Man. I know you're in a tight spot. So here's what we're going to do. They should let you out in about, what, three days for good behavior? Probably put you under surveillance or something like that, right?"

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm on my own, aren't I? You need to keep Lord Death and the others busy while I find Maka."

"Escaping the prison is suicide!" Spirit protested.

"Good," Soul said brushing back his white hair. "Then at least I'll die with a shred of dignity. I'm not going to sit here and wait for my meister to be killed."

"I'm not sure if that's-"

"I don't care! I'm going to save her, Death Scythe! Even if I have to die to do it! I refuse to leave her alone like you and everyone else did!" He lowered his head and grabbed onto the cell bars. "She's all I have left."

Spirit looked at him from across the hall. True, he had hated the idea that Maka would be partners with a boy when they were first starting out, but as of right now he felt she had made the right choice. It wasn't like he never noticed how far Soul had gone to save his daughter. In fact, it frightened him sometimes. Soul's loyalty was scarily familiar. He dove in front of danger to protect her at all costs. And while as a Death Scythe, Spirit had to acknowledge that being that connected to someone was bad for a weapon's flexibility, as a Father, he had never been so grateful for Soul. And now, even when Spirit himself had given up, Soul was still willing to fight. His words rang deep into Spirit's soul. She's all I have left.

"I know," Spirit finally spoke, his eyes filling with tears. Soul looked up in shock. "That's the one thing we have in common." They sat in silence, feeling their souls connect for the first time. Soul had always known Spirit cared about Maka, but he had never seen him like this. Likewise, Spirit was starting to realize that despite all of the popularity, Soul was practically alone. Maka was the only thing the two of them could agree on, the only thing worth fighting for. Perhaps, they weren't so different after all.

***

Kid stormed into his father's office in a rage. Something was going on and he was getting to the bottom of it. He walked ten feet in front of Liz and Patti who trailed behind nervously. They didn't see Kid angry often, but when they did, they knew to stay out of his way. Liz sighed. He had every right to be upset. She knew Kid admired Maka a lot for her bravery and practicality while the others tended to be slightly immature. She had been one of those to volunteer to save him from the book of Eibon. And Soul, Liz couldn't believe how they were treating him. She supported Kid's decision to confront his father.

They arrived at the end where Lord Death sat in a chair looking at his mirror. He could see everything from that mirror, Kid thought. He wondered if he could see Maka through there as well.

"Father! What is the meaning of all this?" Kid wasted no time in small talk. The God turned around to face his son.

"Kid, have a seat," he stated solemnly. Kid stood his ground.

"What's going on? I have a right to know the truth!" he snapped.

"It was a very difficult negotiation, but I think it will be for the best. Kid, as the Grim Reaper you will learn that sometimes we can't let our emotions impact our decisions."

"But the students at the DWMA are the top priority! What happened to that?" He looked at the floor. "I thought you said you needed her to be protected."

"She will be protected," Lord Death stated. "I have every confidence that Ansom will take very good care of Maka. That's why I asked him to take her with him." Kid's eyes grew wide.

"Y-you did?"

"If the DWMA gets attacked, the first thing they will want to do is exterminate the girl who defeated Asura. Maka is safer with Ansom."

Liz and Patti held Kid as he collapsed backward into the chair. "Then tell that to Soul, Lord Death," Liz piped up. "He's worried sick! If you tell him it's for her protection-"

"It's not," Kid said coldly. "And I can't believe you would lie to me, Father." He clutched the sides of his chair. "Ansom is going to use her to kill off all the witches. His machine, he told us, used a very rare and expensive power." His body began to shake. "How could you?"

"When you get older, you'll understand."

"Explain it to me now! If Maka really wasn't in any danger you would have told us that from the beginning! You would have talked to Soul and told him everything would be alright! You wouldn't have allowed Ansom to lock him up!" Kid spat. He scowled. "There's one thing I know for sure about you, Father, and it's that you're a horrible liar." His head shot up. "You didn't tell him because you couldn't honestly look him in the face and tell him she was coming back to him!"

"Kid..." Liz put a hand on his shoulder. Kid covered his face with his hands. There was nothing but silence for a long time. That's all Kid needed to hear.

"You're going to just let them do it," he muttered. "Why?"

"I don't have the power to stop them," Lord Death confessed. Liz and Patti gasped. "The machine can be targeted to anyone. Weapons, meisters, even Gods. There is no end to the destruction it can produce. We're only glad that when Ansom approached us, it wasn't as a threat."

"Then why don't you arrest him instead of letting him take advantage of you?" Kid asked quietly. "You are the God of Death, are you not? Surely one little Death Scythe couldn't cause you that much worry. Or is it that his offer was just too good for you to pass up?"

"He would have found her eventually, Kid. And when he did, he would have used the machine to destroy all witches, good and bad. This way we'll at least be able to save the innocent people."

"What about Maka? Where is he keeping her?"

"The same place the machine is, I suppose," Lord Death said. "But anyway, let's not talk about this serious stuff anymore, it puts me in such a sour mood."

"Fine, Father. Then I'm going to the library to do some studying. Help me get my mind off the situation." Kid stood up and signaled Liz and Patti to go with him.

"You and I are alike you know," Lord Death called back to him. Under his mask, he smiled. "You can't tell a lie either." Kid couldn't help but smile. Lord Death tossed a set of keys to his son. "While you're down there, will you let Spirit out? I'm feeling anxious without my Death Scythe around." Kid nodded and tried to figure out where to put them on his body so he'd still be symmetrical. It wasn't an easy task.

***

"So you were right, Death Scythe!" Soul exclaimed, chowing down on some of the dumplings Kid had brought him. "Hesh gonna ush her fer mash genoschide!" Spirit stood beside Kid, free from his cell. Soul swallowed hard. "What are we going to do?"

"I have direct orders from my Father to send Spirit to him for close observation, and right now they still think you're their greatest threat, Soul," Kid explained. This caused the boy to fall over laughing.

"Haha! No one seems to be able to keep me in control. Not since I was little!" he said heaving on the floor. "What a couple of nut jobs!"

Kid cocked his head to the side. "Um...Soul? Are you okay?" He leaned against the bars. "This is kind of a serious matter." Soul stopped laughing and looked up at his ceiling. Grey and stone, just like he had imagined it would be.

"Cut me some slack, Man. I've had a rough day. I want something to make me smile." He sat up and stared at his hands and clenched them into fists. "Sometimes the mere idea of clobbering those goon's faces is enough to do it."

"Sorry," Kid replied. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright," Soul said darkly. His voice was deep and subdued. He kept looking at his hands, at the bruises and callouses. They were always rough from playing the piano. Rough and hard, he thought. Never soft like hers. Even with Maka's hands always being calloused, they were still soft. He didn't know why, but slipping his hand into hers felt like sticking them into a bed of lotion. Now he simply felt dry. Like his skin would turn to stone like the cell.

"I'm going to do everything I can," Kid continued. "I'm not going to let this man get away with threatening the DWMA. I'll give you all the information I can find." Soul didn't say anything. He didn't feel anything, but a deep spiraling hole in his chest. Even with Kid there, the silence remained. He clutched his shirt. "Soul, we'll find a way," Kid tried to reassure him.

"I finally thought the nightmares had ended. That I wouldn't have to be afraid of being alone anymore," Soul finally said. He never opened up to his friends like he did with Maka. But now he felt like there was nothing he could do. Kid was hardly ever without Liz and Patti. He might never get this opportunity again. Right now, he just needed someone.

"Spirit," Kid said cooly. "My father is expecting you upstairs."

"Yeah, but..." Spirit began to protest.

"Go, quickly. Do not keep him waiting," Kid demanded. The Death Scythe left without a word. He knew what was happening. Kid leaned against the other side of the cell, his hand over his leg. "I tried so hard to convince them to let you go."

"I don't care about that," Soul replied, his hand growing tighter around his shirt.

"I know you don't," Kid said. "But I do. The DWMA is under new management, Soul. We're slaves now to whatever this machine is going to do. Even though you're the one behind bars, you have to understand, we're all imprisoned."

"They just took her," Soul said under his breath, which was getting shorter. "I let them take her."

"You did the best you could," Kid contradicted. "In the end, we were at a disadvantage." Soul swung his arm turned into a scythe against the thick bars. Kid barely flinched. The sound rang for about a minute. None of them saying a word. Soul was the first to speak.

"I could have done something," he sputtered. "She's always doing things for me! Why can't I do things for her? Why can't...I..." He put his hands over his head, both in human form now. "Why can't I be strong enough to protect her?"

"It wasn't your fault," Kid reassured, but Soul wouldn't buy it.

"What if she does activate the machine, Kid? What's going to happen after that?"

"I-I don't-"

"What if she dies?"

"Stop that!" Kid stood up and towered over him. "This instant! I can't bear to hear your squabbling!" He spat. Soul slammed his fist down angrily.

"Squabbling?" he shouted.

"Do you want to save Maka, Soul? Yes or no?"

"What the hell are you-"

"Yes or no?" Kid repeated for emphasis. Soul flashed his teeth.

"Yes! Of course I do!"

"Then do it! Because you're probably the only one who can right now!" He shouted. Soul looked up at him in disbelief. "True, I can't get you out of this cell, but you've never been one to sit in one spot and wait for a miracle to happen, have you?" He kneeled down to look at his friend. "Last time was unfair. They caught you off guard. But as long as she's alive she'll be waiting for you. Isn't that motivation enough?"

Soul slowly stood up. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the cell door. "In that case, I might have something up my sleeve," he smirked. Kid gave a sigh of relief. Soul showed him a toothy smile and reached through the bars to give him a knuckle punch. Who would have thought of all people, Death the Kid would be the one to get him back on his feet. He grinned, but only for a short while. His mind was still plagued with Maka. There was a very likely chance Ansom did not intend to keep her alive for long. Determination filled his body once more. Kid was right. He was the only one who could save her, and he would. After all, he had promised, hadn't he?

Once I get out of here, Maka. I will keep my promise. I will find you and bring you home.

***

It seemed like the car never stopped moving. Maka looked around the fancy limousine, surprised she wasn't forced between two body guards or anything. Her shoulder still had the bullet wound, but the bullet was a demon weapon bullet, a compressed soul wavelength, so it didn't set in like one made of metal. Still, it hurt like hell. It had been a good two hours before they finally reached their destination. Maka scowled as she looked out the window. How could such a horrible man live in such a beautiful place? It reminded her of when she visited Soul's parents and Wes' house. They had called it their humble home. She hoped this Ansom guy wasn't going to try and be modest. Fancy home or not, she was still his property issued to him by the DWMA. That did not mean, however, that she was going to act like it.

"Miss Maka Albarn, is it?" the man said opening the door. His black suit and tie were highly elegant. She felt like she was going to throw up. How dare he be polite to her after what he did to Soul?

"Yes," she said not looking at him. He held out his hand to her but she refused it, getting out of the car herself.

"You must be exhausted from the ride over here. Please, allow me to show you inside," he said sweetly. Maka bit her lip.

"Don't try to flower this up. What is it you want?" She wasn't going to take any shit from this guy. She wasn't going to be fooled with his hospitality.

"I want you to feel at home, Miss Albarn. That's all," came his response. She looked at him sternly. She may not have been excellent at deception herself, but she knew when someone was lying to her. "After all," he continued. "I went through quite a lot to get you here."

"Why? What reason could you possibly have for taking a student from the academy?"

Ansom grinned. "Smart and beautiful. And you must be very strong to have defeated the Kishin Asura. Looks like I've hit the jackpot." Maka cringed and cocked an eyebrow. Beautiful? She thought trying to process the word. Her? There was no way. She was plain and boyish, nothing feminine about her save her skirt and her pigtails.

"I didn't defeat the Kishin," she admitted. "Crona did. Swallowed him whole."

"But you defeated Crona," he reiterated. "That's right, isn't it?"

Maka stopped cold. Crona. That was a name she used to despise, but that was before she understood it. Then it was a name she held close to her heart. She had been Crona's first friend, the one charged with the task of murdering her. However, Maka could never do it. She could never hurt Crona and was convinced she would die trying to bring her back. In the end, she was able to exercise the madness out of her, but only long enough for Crona to realize the mistake she had made. In the end, it was Soul who saved Crona by allowing her to escape. It was thanks to him that Crona was still out there free from fear.

"You don't know anything about Crona," she spat. Ansom folded his hands together.

"Ah, I see. It isn't really important. Please follow me," he said. Maka did this, though the thought of Crona brought tears to her eyes. That's when she remembered.

"Soul..." She stopped walking and grimaced. "What happened to Soul!"

"Please, let's talk about this inside, my dear. This heat is beginning to get to my head and you must be tired."

Maka crossed her arms but followed him inside. The castle was even nicer on the inside than it was on the outside. It was grandiose with high ceilings and rich red paint on the walls with gold trimming. Ansom approached one of the servants wearing a simple black ensemble.

"Take our guest upstairs and get her something suitable to wear for dinner," he said. The servant nodded and lead her up the stairs to a room at the end of the hall. It was light blue with elegant blue and silver furniture. There was a large window that took up practically an entire wall. The sun was beginning to set. She couldn't see anything for miles. Nothing but fields of grass.

"Miss?" A woman said. She turned around to see another servant holding a towel. "The master is expecting you for dinner at 6:00." Maka didn't respond. She wouldn't eat with him. Not until he was honest with her. What was he up to? And why did he need student compensation? He had servants. It didn't make sense. Unless...her eyes grew wide. Unless he needed a partner. She bit her lip. No. Even if that was the case, she would not agree to such a proposal.

"I'm not entirely hungry," was all she could bring herself to say. She wanted to scream. Tell him she'll never eat with him or be his meister. She wanted to run away, go back to Soul and cry into his arms, but she couldn't. She had to be strong for him now, for both of them.

The woman looked at her with sad eyes. "I'm sorry." Maka turned around shocked. Did this woman know something? Still, at least someone here had some dignity.

***

Maka walked down into the dining hall. She wore a blue dress, simple and down to her knees. The woman had helped her pick it out. Her pigtails stayed, however. She didn't smile or even look at Ansom when she walked in. When she looked in the mirror she felt like a princess. Now that she was there, she was reminded of the truth.

"I'm here," she said in a stoic manner. Ansom, who looked exactly the same, looked at her as though she were a prize jewel that lay in a case on his mantel. She felt so used.

"You look ravishing," he said walking up and kissing her on the hand. She pulled it away quickly and looked him straight in the eye.

"So tell me the truth," she finally said. "What am I really here for?"

"You catch on quickly," he said pulling a chair out for her. "I would expect nothing less. You know, Maka, I used to know your mother." Maka's face flattened.

"You did?"

"We went to school together. When I heard a meister had defeated the Kishin, I thought for sure it was her. But when I found out it was you, I simply couldn't wait to meet you." He sighed. "You see, I need your help."

"Then why didn't you just ask me instead of kidnapping me?" she insisted angrily. "You put Lord Death in a difficult position." Ansom chuckled and poured himself a glass of wine.

"Your father wouldn't approve of my methods. He was my primary concern. That is, until I ran into that weapon of yours. He's quite the protective type, wouldn't you say?" He took a sip of his wine as Maka scowled.

"What did you do to him?" She snapped, standing up. Ansom didn't react. He sipped his glass calmly.

"If you must know I've had him put away until my experiment was over. Lord Death is taking good care of him." Maka's jaw dropped.

"P-put away? What do you mean?"

"I simply needed him out of the way. If I let him go now he would ruin everything." He frowned. "He's keeping your father company I'm sure."

"Papa too?" She gasped, straightening up. "Well I'm here now, so there's no point in keeping them locked up any more."

Ansom shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Then at least let me see Soul!"

"Out of the question!"

"But why?"

"Even with soul protect over the house, they might be able to find you. If they do, everything I've worked for will be for not. You understand, don't you?"

Maka's eyes grew wide. Soul protect? Wasn't that witch's magic? "No. Not if I talk to him. Soul will listen to me. I swear he will. Papa...I'm not sure. But If I tell them I'm safe..."

"And who's to say you are?"

Maka was taken aback. "Huh?"

"Miss Albarn, I simply said that I needed you to complete an experiment. That doesn't change your situation." He stood up, gripping her hard by the chin. She winced trying to pull away. "You belong to me now, body and soul. That was the contract I signed with the Shiningami. The girl with the anti-magic wavelength for the safety of the city. Seems like a fair trade."

Maka pushed him away ferociously. "Maybe you shouldn't have said that, Professor," she spat. "I would have been willing to help you if you had just let me. But you're wrong, I'm not powerful like you think I am. I only got to the point I did because of Soul. He's the strong one, not me." She looked at him for a long time. "I'm his meister. You may have my body, but he owns my soul!" SMACK! Maka felt her cheek burn from the impact. She dropped to the floor. It was like being slapped by metal. Ansom held his right hand in his left and puffed. He sat up and straightened his suit jacket.

"What kind of backwards notion is that? The weapon is owned by the meister not the other way around!" He looked around and scowled. "Marsha!" The woman who was dusting a lamp rushed to his side.

"Yes, Master Ansom?"

"Take the Lady upstairs," he said in a sinister tone. "Give her a chance to relax. It's been a long day. We'll postpone dinner." The woman came around and offered Maka her hand, but she refused it.

"You're horrible," Maka said under her breath. "Taking advantage of Lord Death this way." She stood up and glared at Ansom. "No matter what your plan is, as a student of the DWMA," her eyes narrowed. "It's my duty to stop you." With that, she got up and walked away from him, not looking back. Ansom grinned maliciously.

"We'll see about that, Miss Albarn."

Yay for intensity! So in case you're confused, I'll explain a little bit about how I ended the manga series for the purpose of the fanfiction. After all, it is a SLIGHT alternate universe. :)

Soul and Maka try to use Maka's anti-magic wavelength to free Crona from the madness like in the Black Blood Resonance Battle. However, it didn't work and Crona ended up almost killing Maka. The shock of that plus the wavelength snapped Crona back to normal and she (it) was able to defeat the kishin. Knowing that Crona was likely to be hunted, Soul lets her (it) and Ragnorok go as he feels it's what Maka would have wanted. Obviously Maka survives (because otherwise there wouldn't be a fanfiction, would there?) and everyone is convinced that Maka and Soul defeated Asura.

I hope that helped with the context! Kind of a cheesy ending, but it's kind of a cheesy show/manga so I don't feel bad about it. I hope the manga gets some good Spirit and Soul resolution when it does end.

NEXT WEEK: Chapter 4: Perfect Symmetry

Enjoy your week everyone! :D