Soul Eater: Legend of the Dragon
Atsushi Okubo is the creator of Soul Eater.
Heads and Tails: Chocolate Coins as Currency Among Friends?
A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body.
For a brief moment, Crona wondered if Hellcat was going to strangle him. But she released him after only a couple seconds. She smiled sweetly at him. "Thanks for talking to me, Crona."
He smiled back shyly. "Yeah. N-no problem."
"You sound distracted. Is something on your mind? You can tell me anything."
He gulped. "How is Professor Stein?"
She sat back and thought for a moment. "He seems… off. I think being exposed to the magnetic field on Lost Island for so long kinda got to him. Miss Marie told me he's been spending a lot of time alone in his lab. Why do you ask?"
Wh-what do I tell her? "Uh… Um… W-well, I, uh…"
"Crona, you don't… know anything about it, do you?"
"A-about what?"
She stared at him intensely, though not harshly. "His condition. You've had almost no interaction with him, yet you're asking about him." Her face took on a pleading expression. "Crona, please tell me you have nothing to do with it!"
"I-I…" The look on her face told him she had figured it out. He buried his face in his pillow, trembling. "I'm so sorry, Hellcat!" he bawled. "I couldn't refuse! I… I had to! If I said no, she'd take me away again! Please don't hate me…"
She slammed her palms on the floor with a loud SMACK. Her shoulders shook. "I knew it… I knew she was still alive… You can never trust a snake…" She wiped her eyes. "I thought I smelled venom behind it. Now I know." She stood up abruptly. "She can still manipulate you. Dammit. I let that gorgon get the better of me again!" She crouched in front of him. "I can't let myself keep getting fooled like this time and time again."
He braced himself for a strike. He gasped when she pulled him into a tight hug. "H-Hellcat?"
"She spreads her influence until it engulfs everything like a snake swallowing a paralyzed victim. She sinks her fangs right into you and doesn't let go until you're hers." She buried her face in his hair. "You're nothing but a puppet to her, Crona. Medusa in a lying, scheming monster. She does what she wants with no fear. So she continues using you as she pleases. But eventually you'll outlive your usefulness, and she'll cast you aside like a snake shedding its old skin. What further use will you be to a reptile that's outgrown its old hide?
"You'll be nothing to her eventually. She knows that. So she's milking you for all you're worth right now, before you split and fall away." She put her hands on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "Listen to me, Crona. Medusa may have given you life, but that woman is not your mother."
He sniffled pathetically. "Y-you're not mad?"
"Not at you, no. But Medusa…" She looked out the window and snarled at the grinning moon. "I've yet another reason to hunt her down and tear off her head. That vile serpent has bitten me for the last time." She took a soothing breath and calmed herself. "Hey, I have something I wanted to give you."
"What is it?"
She dug into her pocket and pressed something round into his hand. "Insurance."
He opened his hand. In his palm was a small object. Moonlight shimmered on the gold foil. "A… chocolate coin?"
She giggled. "I have a soft spot for milk chocolate. You gave me a lot of valuable information. In exchange, I'll keep it a secret from Lord Death and the others. You can keep the coin or give it away. That's up to you. But you'll still have my friendship and faith."
Ragnarok burst from Crona's back. "Hey, what about me?!"
She glared at the Demon Sword. "What about you?"
"Where's my chocolate coin?!" Ragnarok growled.
She sighed. "Fine, I guess you can have one too, Ragnarok." She flipped a chocolate coin to the imp and stood up. "I should be getting back to my room now. You guys behave yourselves, okay? I'll see you later." She left quietly, closing and locking the door behind her.
Crona listened to her footsteps fade. He stared at the foil-wrapped sweet in his hand. She's not going to tell Death what I did to Professor Stein? She's really going to keep it a secret? He clutched the coin and wiped the tears from his face. She didn't hit me when I told her. I know I can trust her.
…
"I'm gonna kill whoever did this to the professor," Black Star growled through a mouthful of food. "Of course, I'll have to eat first to build up my strength!"
"Hey, why don't we go visit the professor?" Maka suggested. She looked at Crona. "I'm sure he'd love to see you. Whaddaya say, Crona? Do you wanna come along?"
Crona trembled. "I… I…" He jumped to his feet. "I have to use the restroom."
"You can do that by yourself!" Ragnarok growled. "I'm staying here!" He pounded on Crona's head as he picked up his bag and boots and walked down the path. "Hey! There's still food to eat! Where are you going?! I wanna stay with the food!"
Hellcat sighed to herself. This can only end badly.
"That's weird even for him," Black Star admonished.
"Hmm." Maka stood up. "Come to think of it, I also have to use the restroom. Be right back." She slipped on her boots and followed after Crona.
Hellcat bit into a rice ball. Nice try, but I know you're going after him. I know that look.
…
Hellcat sniffed the air. Crona, where did you go? Once Uncle Death finds out you're missing… She bared her fangs and hissed quietly. This can only end badly. She saw Soul and Maka ride by on his motorcycle and loped after them. Soul has some idea of where he went. I can smell it. Her claws provided traction as she followed the motorcycle and her friends. The desert. Of course.
"Crona!" Maka called. "Crona!"
"You're sure this is the right spot?" Soul asked.
"I'm positive. I can feel his soul nearby. Crona!" She inhaled sharply. "Stop here, Soul." She jumped to the ground and ran to the edge of a wide hole in the sand. "Crona!"
Hellcat slid to a halt next to Soul. "You have a really amazing partner, Soul," she said.
Soul crossed his arms. "If you can really call it 'amazing'. 'Weird' is probably a better word for it. 'Weird' or 'crazy'."
"Everyone's a critic." Hellcat smiled. The fondness in Soul's eyes as he watched his Meister was not lost on her.
"Hey, Soul!" Maka called. "Give me a hand!"
"Always barkin' orders." Soul shrugged and rushed to Maka's side.
…
"Students who break the rules are expelled," Death said plainly, holding up the contract with Crona's signature on it. "That's the way it works. Making an exception for him would undermine the stability of the entire Academy. It can't be done."
"Crona knows what he did was wrong," Maka insisted firmly. "He already apologized for what he did. He feels awful about all of it."
"Maka," Spirit began. "This problem can't be solved by saying 'sorry'. What Crona did was extremely serious."
"You're a fine one to talk about loyalty," Maka growled. She whipped around. "You don't know what loyalty is! How many promises did you break when you and Mom were together?! How many times did you say 'sorry' only to do it again?!"
"Those two situations have nothing in common. Don't you understand the gravity of this?"
Maka turned away angrily. "No, I don't! If you got a second chance, so should he. I trust him not to do it again."
"Hmm." Death thought silently.
"Lord Death!" Sid rushed into the Death Room. "An urgent police report! Someone's been sighted in the city."
"Someone being?" Death prompted.
"… The snake woman has come back."
Crona trembled with a restrained cry.
Hellcat snarled and bounded out of the room. Come to collect your pawn, you forked-tongued bitch?! She loped through the halls, not caring that she gouged ruts into the floor. She bolted outside onto a balcony and glared down at the small figure surrounded by Death City police. There's no way she can get the better of me this time! And Death! 'No exceptions,' he says. 'No exceptions' my ass! He didn't expel Daddy when he attacked a DWMA professor for no better reason than to start a fight! And he has the nerve to say 'no exceptions'?! She straightened and screeched angrily to the sneering moon and panting sun.
…
Hellcat shivered and growled in the corner of her cell. The sight of Medusa walking free out of the DWMA made something snap in Hellcat's mind. The Kishin's madness was finally able to reach into her soul. Death ordered her to be confined.
There was a knock on the door. "Hellcat?"
She stopped growling. Soul? "You here to scold me too?"
"No, I have something for you." He opened the door. "Here, catch." He tossed something to her. "I heard ya like chocolate coins."
She looked at the bundle of gold foil-wrapped sweets. A package of three… "Why're you giving these to me? You know I'm a threat, right."
"You wouldn't hurt me."
She pinned her ears back and bared her fangs in a savage snarl. "What makes you so sure?"
He stared unwavering at her. "If you were gonna escape, you woulda killed me and made a break for it already."
Her snarl faded to a saddened smile. Her ears drooped and she looked away shamefully. "I'm… sorry Soul. I let the Kishin win. I… I can't keep fighting my madness." She looked at the bundle of chocolate coins. "I don't deserve your kindness. Or your forgiveness." She scowled. "You should go… I don't wanna risk hurting you…" Tears leaked from her blazing eyes and left damp stains on her cheek fur. She looked up at the sky through the small barred window. "The sky is stained red with blood. Soon, the whole world will follow."
She hissed and looked away from the window, sending tears flying. "You put too much faith in me, Soul Eater Evans."
He stiffened. "Don't say that ever again."
"I know you never got along well with your family. But at least you have a family. That's one luxury I'll never know again, thanks to Medusa."
"What?"
She growled. "Over thirteen years ago, my father and his partner were sent to hunt a powerful witch. They never came back. It was the week before my tenth birthday." She whimpered and hugged her knees to her chest.
"Hm." Soul closed the door and crossed the room in three easy strides. He sat on the bed next to Hellcat. "What happened?"
"They were found with snake bites in their shoulders." She sniffled. "They were sent to bring back Medusa's head. And she killed them both."
…
"Hellcat?"
"Huh?" Hellcat lifted her head. "Crona?"
"Here, take this."
Something slid across the hall and under the door. Her eyes widened. "A… chocolate coin?"
"It's the one you gave me."
"Why?"
"Call it… 'insurance'. You showed me kindness and acceptance. In exchange, I'll help find Professor Stein. You can keep the coin or give it away. That's up to you. But you'll still have my friendship and faith."
"Crona…"
"I'm going to look for the professor now. Take care of yourself."
She listened to his footsteps fade. This can only end badly.
Sid: This was a long chapter, but I only showed up once. Back when I was alive-
Hellcat: Next time on Soul Eater: Legend of the Dragon- Breaking Out: Hunting for the Snake Witch's Head? Look for it.
Sid: Wait, is that it?
