"Oh, look at this, Madame. We have guests!" The mailed warrior piped up glibly from his spot on the bench in front of the fire. The young woman had showed up yesterday with a meager escort, and had spent the last several hours just staring at the fire, ignoring his previous attempts at conversation. For the first time thus far, she indicated she'd actually heard him and turned her attention to the large group nearing the fire.
"Oh, how heart-warming it is to see you all once more!" The man spoke with clear sarcasm. "Why, the young lady even fixed that whole bothersome hollow issue. Tell me, was the soul delicious? Did you revel in its taste? Don't get hooked, now. Or, do, it might be more entertaining that way," he continued with a chuckle.
"Go to hell, we're just passing through here again," Souls shot back, cutting Maka off before she could fire her own salvo. The man just shrugged.
"And it seems we've both made new, dearest friends as well," the man continued, giving Priscilla a fish eye. "So, what brand of monster are you?" At Priscilla's alarmed glance, he chuckled again. "Oh, never mind me. I suppose it hardly matters anymore.
"Yo, Solaire, let's keep going. Where we going?" Soul prodded the knight, who had been gazing off absent-mindedly into the distance.
"Oh, but of course. Come, come, I will lead the way. Take care, the staircase is narrow." Solaire gave a curt nod to the mailed warrior as he passed by him and descended a stairway that was somewhat hidden 'round a bend in the circular shrine.
"Well, don't get yourselves killed again!" The warrior called back. "Or at least wait until you can find another fire! This place is getting crowded enough as it is." He gave another unhappy glare back at the woman in white garb before him, who had returned to her meditation on the bonfire. Black Star, bringing up the rear, simply held his hand up as he followed down the winding staircase and gave the man a highly rude gesture as he descended out of sight.
Solaire held the group up as they piled into a small, circular chamber at the bottom of the stairs. A large, stone circular plate sat in the middle. "I would recommend staying close by, my friends. We must pass by New Londo on our way to the second bell, but we should not linger."
Maka raised an eyebrow at the warrior's sudden caution. "Any reason why?" She asked. Solaire had not yet expressed any reserve about fighting, so his caution seemed out of place.
"Truthfully, I am entirely sure what even waits in the old city. It was destroyed ages ago with a flood, and since then, any attempts to recover the city were absolute failures. People would venture to the city and never return. Even a few noble undead, who obviously would not be halted by mere death, simply vanished."
At his companion's unsettled glances, he continued again, back with his usual energy. "But that is neither here nor there, of course! We simply must pass by, so let us be on our way to recover the second bell! Once it has rung, the path to the Capital will be opened once more, and we can resolve this matter at last! Now, here, around me on the pedestal."
It was a close fit, but the group managed to squeeze around him. With enthusiasm, the sun knight slammed his heel to the center. The platform immediately plummeted downwards, taking the entirety of Solaire's new companions by surprise. After a short time, it locked back into place with a jarring click. Liz was the first to stagger out.
"I hate this place, I hate this place, I hate this place…" she muttered to herself as her sister cheered over getting another ride down Lordran's vaunted elevator system. Liz was not the only one in shock, however. Maka and Kid both stared out at the ruins of the ancient city in the distance. The thick fog that shrouded the physical structures didn't hide all.
"So many souls!" Kid said in shock. He turned to Solaire, eyes narrowed. "Solaire, you said the city was abandoned?"
"That it was, my lord. Yet there are souls still there?"
"A huge number…. It's like any normal city," Maka said. "They're still moving and everything."
"While I am curious about why anyone would still be in New Londo," Solaire responded. "It is, ultimately, not our destination. Perhaps when we've fixed the undeath matter we could come back, but… I would really rather not venture into that city yet. Come, come, the bell awaits!" He gestured to a nearby staircase which ascended upwards.
With a sigh, Kid looked back at the ruins one last time before following the rest up. Something wasn't right about the old city, the souls has an aura to them that felt wrong. But Solaire was correct; they had a task at hand. His curiosity could be sated later.
After a short ascent, they found themselves once again emerging into fresh air.
"Ah, you may wish to watch your step," Solaire added. The group collectively raised an eyebrow at him as they noticed a solitary wooden bridge linking across a bottomless chasm, assisted in no way by safety rails.
"Riiiiiiight…" Liz said slowly. "And this is the only way?"
"Well, it's either this or navigating the maze of Lordran's sewer systems. This will be much faster."
"Bottomless abyss it is," she said, allowing Solaire, Soul, and Maka to take the lead across the bridge first. In spite of its apparent condition, however, the bridge proved quite sturdy as a frantic Liz followed the rear guard, scampering across.
"I advise staying close by," Solaire noted as he led them to a large tunnel in the face of the cliff. "Blight town was never exactly the safest place, even before the toxin overtook everything. It should be relatively abandoned, thankfully."
"Well, you heard him, let's go ring this stupid thing and get on with this," Maka said forcefully, yanking Soul by the arm and taking the forward guard.
"Jeez, not so rough," Soul complained as she dragged him on. "Or is this how you like it? So violent…" He whispered out afterwards with a smirk on his face. The smirk was quickly wiped off his face as she brought her wrath upon his skull once more. "Ow, okay, okay, cranky woman…" he grumbled as he staggered after her with Solaire and the rest following just behind.
The tunnel quickly descended into darkness, but oddly, a faint light seemed to keep total blackness at bay. The earthen floor soon became coated in a filmy, grimy layer of dirt. Finally, after a half hour's journey through the darkness, the tunnel opened up into a massive cavern. The earthen floor gave way to a wooden one as they found themselves standing on the top of a massive network of platforms. A few lit torches gave a small amount of light along the path before them.
"Crazy… it's like some kind of tree top village," Maka wondered aloud. "People built all this just to live in a swamp?" She asked Solaire.
"Of course. Where there is a will, there is a way. And the swamp used to be much nicer. Prone to flooding, which is why they lived on these elevated platforms, but otherwise not so bad. But, like so much of Lordran, it too has fallen," he noted with a touch of sadness.
"But that is a time long gone," he continued, shaking his head. "The bell is somewhere near the surface, if I recall, so we should navigate our way down."
Liz looked down the side of the platform at the immense drop down to the watery surface below. "Hey, Kid, any chance we could just ride this one out? Kid? Kid!" She snapped her fingers in front of his face, shaking him out of a small trance.
"Ah, uh, yes, of course, Liz."
"Thanks, Kid." She gave him a warm smile and quick kiss on the cheek before transforming to her weapon form and landing in Kid's hand with practiced grace. Patty grumbled for a moment about being such an awesome sister before acquiescing to Kid's symmetry obsession and following suit. Kid couldn't help but allow a short wave of guilt to overcome himself at his girlfriend's affection, but resolved himself to deal with the matter later when he'd sorted out his own self.
The group followed a ramp carved along the wall before coming to a stop at a large platform with several descending ladders.
"Solaire, I don't think this place is abandoned…" Maka began. "Pretty sure I'm sensing something out there in- OW!" She yelped as a sharp pain flared up near her right collarbone.
"What hap- Ow, what the hell?" Soul yelped out as a similar pain struck him just below his neck, square in the chest.
"Soul, now!" Maka commanded. Her only response was a severe cough from Soul, who staggered to his knees. So-"Maka was cut off as her voice simply quit working. Suddenly, the dim light of the cavern went completely dark, and the world began to spin. She was vaguely aware of her impact with the wooden floor below, and suddenly, she felt the familiar feeling of being pulled along, as though caught in an ocean current. ..
"Ugh…" The next thing Maka was aware of was finding herself lying face down on a stiff, wooden platform. With a groan, she hauled herself into a sitting position, finding a gentle, steady fire next to her. Her soul perception immediately went into overdrive as a huge, warped energy made itself known behind her. She spun herself around and found a dark, cloaked figure sitting just a few feet away from her, looking down at a ragged looking body with messy, white hair.
"Soul!" She moved to his side and gave him an urgent shake. His soul still stirred, she could feel it in his connection, but it was flickering in an unusual pattern. To her relief, he quickly gave a moan of discontent and opened his eyes. With a jolt he shot upwards and scampered back from her, shock in his eyes. With a growl, he sat back in a crouched state, glaring at her.
"Soul…" Maka intoned with a degree of severity. It had already started for him, as Solaire had described; his resurrection imperfect, now he sat before her lost in another world. She gave him a gentle tug on their connection. There was a wall of resistance, she felt, but she gave it a stronger push. "Soul, come on. You're better than this," she said sternly. She gave another strong push on the connection, and felt the wall crumble down. She could've sworn she heard a low grumbling for a moment before it dissipated.
Soul shook his head and stared back at Maka, in no better state than he. "Huh… that was, uh… thanks, I guess…" he trailed off.
"How fascinating."
Maka's attention whipped back to the cloaked figure behind Soul. He gave her a confused look before looking around behind him.
"Uh, Maka, whassup?"
"So, you can see me, young woman?" The voice under the hood asked. "Interesting. First you calm an undead out of a potential frenzy, and then you react to my presence. Perhaps I've not had my last pupil yet…"
"Who are you, witch?" Maka demanded. The hooded figure made the first real motion, shifting slightly in its spot.
"Wait, a witch?" Soul barked. "Where? Goddammit, I hate these tricks…" Soul still scanned fruitlessly around the fire trying to figure out who or what Maka was talking to.
"Ah, well, I suppose it would make things easier, wouldn't it?" With that, two slim hands lifted up to its hood and removed it, revealing a pale, youthful woman with straight, shoulder length black hair.
"What the hell?" Soul demanded as the woman's spell lifted and she appeared before him, sitting with a serene smile.
"So, tell me, undead, how do you know I am a witch?" She asked with a narrowed glance. "I have not been acknowledged as such in a very long time."
"I can see it in your soul," Maka said, still on guard. Though the woman had been cordial thus far, witches were rarely to be trusted. "I can see the corruption waiting to take hold."
"Fascinating. I've never met an undead that could actually see my soul. This must be a new development," the woman mused. "Ah, my apologies, how rude of myself. My name is-"
"Quelana?!" The broad voice of Solaire boomed out from behind them. Soul and Maka turned around to find him leaping down a good ten feet from a platform and landing with a resounding thud.
"Soul, Maka!" Kid's more refined voice rang out as he swooped down from atop Beelzebub. Liz and Patty made their re-emergence and immediately surrounded Maka for a massive hug.
"Oi, not cool!" Black Star yelled out in irritation as he came in just after, landing from above with practiced grace. Priscilla followed a short ramp down just after him, opting for the safer route down. "Just because I can't sense souls doesn't mean you can go showing God up!" he narrowed in on Kid.
"Not now, Black Star, we've got a situation," Kid slapped his hand off in irritation as Tsubaki joined the girls.
"What the hell happened?" Soul asked them. "I just remember a pain in my chest, and then I blacked out, and now… goddamn, this…" He trailed off, looking down at himself in disgust.
Kid held up a dart between his hands. "There were hollows in the distance. Toxic darts. Thankfully, me and Priscilla were immune to the toxins."
"And me and sis went right to weapons when we saw you guys go down," Patty said with a frown.
"And as if I was going to allow myself to get hit by something so pathetic," Black Star boasted. "A true assassin never gets touched."
"Not. Helping. Black Star," Maka gritted through her teeth.
"Anyways, once we found them, they weren't difficult to dispatch," Kid continued, trying to head off a fight. "They didn't have any other weapons. After that, I had to figure out where you two got dragged off to." He looked around at the large, rotting platform in disgust. "At least it was not far."
"My, my, Solaire, it seems you've finally found yourself a new batch of lively friends again," Quelana chimed in amusement, causing the Death City residents to whip around, having forgotten her. "Still adventuring to save the world, are we?"
"You know me too well, Quelana," Solaire responded with joviality.
"Yes, if you're here with… gaggle of undead," she said with a small grin on her face. "You must be after the bell, I take it?"
"You're quite observant, witch," Kid answered for Solaire with a hint of hostility. He rounded on the knight. "I suppose there's a reason you're friends with a witch, Solaire?"
"I must beg your pardon, my lord. Is her being a witch problematic?" he asked, raising a hand to scratch the back of his helmet.
"Hah! FINALLY! COME ON TSUBAKI!" Black Star bellowed. His partner immediately followed through, transforming to her demonblade form and landing in his grasp. "We can finally do it, Tsubaki," he said with huge smile. "We'll finally have your witch's soul."
In a blink, Black Star leaped to Quelana's spot, bringing Tsubaki's blade in an overhand strike. In a flash of fire, the witch vanished, reappearing on the other side of the platform.
"Black Star!" Solaire immediately stood between the two, arms held out. "Desist! She has not harmed anyone. What is the cause for this?"
Kid answered for him. "Witches are inherently dangerous creatures, Solaire. The grasp of magic leads them to chaos and madness. You yourself even mentioned something like this happening here, didn't you?"
"I don't need to answer to my family's mistakes," Quelana told him coldly. "Solaire, since when did you operate with such intolerant individuals?"
"Out of my way, Solaire!" Black Star growled. Familiar black lines began to snake up his face, reaching around his cheek bones and up his brow. "Tsubaki and I need that witch's soul."
"Wait a minute, Black Star," Maka finally shook herself out of the shock of everyone reappearing so fast. "She is a witch, but… she seems different, actually. I don't think she's quite like Medusa or Arachne."
"I don't give a damn! I'm making Tsubaki a death scythe! What would you know anyways?" He turned around, shaking her hand off his shoulder. His eyes were wild, the whites having turned a dark black and the irises glowing a brighter blue than normal. "You're the perfect student anyways, you already made Soul a death scythe. I made a promise, and I'm going to uphold that!"
"Tsubaki, talk some sense into him!"
"Maka, we need this!" Tsubaki's shrill voice replied. "Come on, Maka, we're supposed to hunt witches down, aren't we? This is… this is right! I need this!"
"Oh, knock it off, you jackass," Soul sauntered up to Black Star and leveled him with a quick hook that sent the assassin to the floor.
"Soul, what the hell?" Black Star scampered back to his feet in an instant, but his eyes were already reverted back to their normal hues, and the black lines across his face were receding.
"Good, you're starting to look normal again," he said casually. "Now, like Maka was saying, I don't think we need to kill her, am I right?"
In a flash, Tsubaki reappeared by Black Star's side, looking extremely frazzled. "My apologies," she said sorrowfully, bowing her head to Quelana, who still stood on edge. "I don't know what overtook me," she said with worry. She put an arm around Black Star's waist and pulled him close. "We still have plenty of time, don't we?"
"Uh, right…" Black Star looked around, confused. "Yeah, well, it wouldn't be very godlike of me to go killing people when they haven't done anything wrong. I haven't started yet, and I won't now." Tsubaki beamed at him.
"So… what the hell was that?" Liz asked in confusion.
"It's that curse," Kid muttered aloud. "This land is still cursed. We need to break it, madness is omni-present."
"So, young warrior," Quelana motioned to Black Star. "You seek a witch's soul?"
"Uh, yeah…" Black Star said slowly suspicious of where this was going.
"And Solaire?" The knight perked up. "You seek the bell, correct?"
"Yes, Quelana. I believe I know what you're meaning. Queelag still resides in its chamber?"
Quelana sighed. "Yes… she is still lost to the world. I do not know what became of Quenna. But it is good you have come with so many companions. You will need them."
"Uh, some help here?" Soul asked.
"You are not entirely incorrect about witches," she said with a sigh. "Long ago, my mother and sisters lost themselves to chaos while trying to better the world. Most have since died. Queelag, however," she said wistfully, looking off in the distance. "She was always so persistent. Never backed down. And I could not save her…"
"You want us to kill her?" Maka asked in confusion.
"What she has become is not what she was. What now uses the bell's sanctuary as its lair is no longer my sister. She is a beast of chaos, still cunning and powerful, but lost to rage and her own strength. It would be a kindness. I… I tried. She is beyond my power to hurt, let alone kill."
"You want your witch soul, lad?" She asked Black Star again. "Slay her, and end the mockery to my sister's memory."
Black Star paused before giving her an unnaturally solemn look. "Yeah. Yeah, we can do that. Uh… thanks, I guess."
"Solaire, that you seek the bell means something has changed, I take it?" Quelana posed to him. "I can't imagine you would seek out Anor Londo otherwise."
Solaire sighed. "Gwyn's barrier is deteriorating. That my companions stand here now is a testament to it. At the least, his legacy should be upheld."
Quelana narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course, of course..." she mumbled to herself.
"We could use your skills, dear Quelana," he offered. "I am unsure what awaits in Anor Londo. You would be welcome to come with us. Right?" He remembered to ask the rest of his new travelers.
"Are you sure about that, Solaire?" Kid asked with a raised eyebrow. He had been observing the situation with interest. This whole situation was causing a needling of worry in the back of his mind. Black Star and Tsubaki's outburst obviously concerned him, but there was a whisper in his head, grinding in repetition, demanding he "fix" Maka and Soul.
The living live. The dead stay dead. This is natural order. They mock you. Put them in their place.
"No, Solaire, that would not be proper," Quelana shook her head. "I have attempted to atone, to teach, to fix the errors magic sowed. All it has brought is destruction." She gestured to the swamp-ridden cave around them. "Not my work, but this was magic that brought about this blight. I have attempted to revert it, without success. I don't believe I was ever intended to fix. If I attempted to unleash my power… I would rather not find out," she finished lamely.
"But, bring me Queelag's soul, and I may have something to aid you all. Over there," she pointed off into the distance. "There is her lair, at the far end of the cavern. You will not miss it. And- oh dear, not this lot again. Slay Queelag and return here. I will wait." With a flash of smoke, Quelana disappeared.
"What was that all about?" Maka asked, confused as to the witch's sudden vanishing. She could feel her presence still somewhere nearby, but the witch had plainly distanced herself.
"Magniiiiiiiiiiificent," a voice drawled out from above, where Solaire, Black Star, and Priscilla had descended. A filthy man dressed in rags jumped down and began to circle around Priscilla with a look of awe on his face. "Hey, over here!" he called out. A small gaggle of people suddenly appeared from on high, each descending with gusto.
"What a miracle!"
"How did you accomplish this?"
"Is there another elder? Did he teach this to you?"
The group circled around Priscilla with greedy and astonished looks on their faces. Priscilla swiveled around on the spot, plainly uncomfortable at the attention being paid to her.
"I beg your pardon?" she asked.
"Enough!" A last, raspy voice called out as it slid down the ramp to their platform.
"What the hell?" The group asked in unison as a beastly humanoid approached. The voice was plainly that of a man, but it belonged to a body which stood at least seven feet tall, muscular, yet bony looking figure. Short feathers draped his arms down to his clawed hands. His head was elongated, angular, and lined with sharp teeth.
What alarmed Maka the most, however, was his soul. It was a twisted, crimson, swirling mass; a kishin egg.
"Soul, be ready for a fight," she whispered to her partner at her side.
"That won't be necessary," the raspy voice called back to her while not taking his attention off Priscilla. "We simply must introduce your… friend here to the Elder," he said. "He has done so much for me so I might attain his own status. My Path of the Dragon is almost complete, as you can see," he continued, snapping his head around to grin at Maka, baring rows of sharp teeth at her.
"The Elder?" Priscilla asked quietly. "That is surely not what I think you're referring to. The stone dragons have long since died."
"Indeed," Solaire spoke up. "They were vanquished over three thousand years ago."
"All but one," the draconic man responded. "Come, my lady. I don't know what you are, exactly, but Elder will be excited to see others of his blood!"
Maka and Kid gave knowing glances at each other. Maka knew Kid would have sensed the corruption of the man's soul. "I don't think that would be wise," Kid said slowly. "I think it would be better for us to find this witch, and-"
"No." Priscilla said in a calm, yet forceful tone. "I will see to this."
"I… admit, I am curious to this claim," Solaire piped up. "And did we not propose to have each other's back when we joined together in cooperation?"
"You're going to trust some freak dressed up as a monster?" Black Star scoffed. "Come on, this guy's just bluffing out his ass."
"This is not just decorative," the man whipped around on Black Star, glaring down. He snorted and a plume of fire left his mouth for show. "Come, lady, I will show you to him."
Priscilla looked around at the group with a pleading look, finally settling on Kid. "Please… I have had little opportunity to learn of my heritage. I promise this will not detract long from our mission."
Kid sighed, resting a hand to his forehead. "Fine. I say yes. But I'm keeping an eye on you," he glared at the draconic man, who simply shrugged.
"Are you sure, Kid?" Maka asked.
"I think we can trust Priscilla that this won't be too long," he said, giving the draconic woman a glance, who beamed at him.
"Fine, fine, let's just get this over with," Black Star grumbled, sensing he was outnumbered.
"Excellent! Follow me, my lady! You may call me Alind," he said with a sweeping bow.
"Just remember to keep an eye on him," Kid whispered to Maka as he followed the group up a separate, wide wooden ramp. "He's acting civil enough, but he's definitely a kishin egg." Maka gave a nod of affirmation before falling to the back to act as rear guard. Her mind began to wander, trying to figure what it really was they were even doing. What was even in this city that Solaire needed so badly? What were they going to do when they got there? She looked down at her withered arms and legs and gave a look of disgust. Her skin felt like it was crawling in this hollow form. Was this something they could even fix?
"Hey," Soul nudged her with his elbow. "Quit spacing out, bookworm." She shook her head and actually looked around at where they were letting this pre-kishin lead them. They'd been going through an earthen tunnel leading out of the cavern, and now they were staring out at the exit. It was almost like a huge, hollowed out tree, with ancient, twisted limbs splayed haphazardly everywhere. There was a path running along the outside, going in a circular direction down. Way down. She could vaguely make out the bottom, but it was a long, long drop.
"You alright?" He asked as the rest began to make their way cautiously down.
"What do you think?" She asked sarcastically. "We're both technically dead, following some mad kishin-dragon thing into a bottomless pit while trying to figure out how to stop a two thousand year old curse. Yeah, fantastic… and my skin won't quit crawling."
Soul just put an arm around her waist and leaned into her as they continued the descent. "Look, it's pretty bad. I won't lie. But you know what. You're still you. It's just a, uh… temporary condition. That's just how we're gonna have to look at this."
"Oh, yeah, until we eat a human soul. You know, like Asura," she said darkly.
Soul frowned. "There's a difference, Maka."
"Oh really? Because I'm not sure it even makes a difference," she glared back, her voice rising slightly.
"He had a choice," Soul answered simply. "We'll do what we have to make it out of this. If we stay like this… well, we've seen what happens then. And when we figure this crap out, we'll be back to normal, and you'll still be the best meister in Death City."
Maka gave him a shifty look, her olive eyes suspicious.
"You're sucking up. Now I know something's wrong."
"Hey now. I can be nice. Sometimes," Soul defended himself with mock indignation. "Just don't let anyone else know," he continued with a grin. "But come on. No moping. It doesn't suit you. Now c'mon, bookworm. We're falling behind." With a huff of annoyance, Maka followed her new boyfriend down, picking up her pace. It was nice to see him be sweet, even if it wasn't really the time. But maybe, just maybe, if they got out of here, she could see this side of him when it was. Over a nice dinner back in Death City, at a classy restaurant. At least she'd have an excuse for getting him back in that nice suit.
"Wooooooooow…" Patty's awed voice echoed the group sentiment as they finally exited the old, hollow tree at its base. What they saw before them was nothing like the blighted swamp above. It was a pristine, sandy beach, straddled by two large lakes on each side. There was a damp mist that hung in the air, giving a ghostly aura to the otherwise pure landscape.
"It's beautiful, is it not?" Alind asked as he strode forward. He held his hands out to his side in a welcoming gesture. "This is what the Elder has given to us, those of us faithful to his legacy. A pure land in which to reside comfortably. Only when he decrees do we venture out for, er, supplies."
"Right, supplies," Kid said with a raised eyebrow.
"Enough of your impertinence, come, my lady, the Elder is not far."
Alind marched with gusto down the narrow beach path between the two bodies of water while the group marched with trepidation after him. The path curved and twisted along, at points almost losing itself to the tide completely. Gradually, Kid let himself fall towards the back of the group. Taking a glance back at Alind, he finally whispered back to Maka.
"Shouldn't we have sensed something by now?" he asked quietly. "I feel like a dragon's presence would be obvious. It wasn't hard to sense out Priscilla…"
"Yeah, that is a bit odd," Maka agreed. "Unless- what?" Maka's eyes shot up in alarm. Kid's eyes narrowed, aware of the same presence. "Well, I guess that answers that," she finished. A huge, green aura had suddenly flared up just at the far end of the path. In spite of its size, it felt tightly wrapped, as though it were bound.
And then, rather abruptly, the path simply ended. It panned into a large, vacant, circular area, with an enormous, rocky peak serving as the far wall. There was a small collection of people gathered in a circle around a fire giving them curious looks. Kid raised a brow in confusion- the soul was clearly coming from behind the peak. Was there a secret entrance?
"My lord, Elder, I bring-" Alind cut himself short as the peak suddenly shifted, and it opened up. Great, stone-encrusted wings opened up, revealing the cliff to, in fact, be the great, immortal dragon. It stood over fifty feet tall, its back covered with dark feathers, while the front was sealed by tight scales. Golden eyes scanned the group before them as it snorted, swinging its head down. Its gaze lingered on Kid, staring at him.
"Incredible," Solaire said in awe. "That one survived all this time."
On cue, the dragon's head swiveled over to the knight, giving him much the same glare it used on Kid. It sniffed the air a few times before finally relenting and settling on Priscilla. It offered a guttural growl. She responded with the same, eery crooning sound Kid had heard when connecting to her soul.
"Uh… translation?" Black Star asked, plainly confused. However, Priscilla was in a separate world, staring the elder dragon down.
"You poor creature," it had said to her. "I can see it within you. A pure, dragon's soul. But you were bound to this second soul."
"They are both me," she insisted back. "I am pure dragon, and pure god, and yet I am neither."
"The two, they twist, and yet are distinct. Why would you be assigned such a fate?"
"It simply is. The why does not matter."
"It is a shame that you are tainted so. It has been so long since I have seen another of our kind."
"I am not tainted. This other side gives me strength, as does my draconic."
"And yet, they weaken each other. Dragons and gods were never meant to be as such. You would be stronger if your souls were unbound. And you would be satisfying to me, if your divine half were absent."
"Why do you suggest such a thing anyways? There is nothing to be done about it. I am as I am."
"But there is. Your soul's properties… you change?"
"Yes, I am a weapon, designed to slay the gods. I can take the weapon's form. It is another part of me that simply is."
"A weapon against the gods? Fantastic! Allow me to separate your souls. They would no longer taint you. It would make you acceptable. You could become the pure dragon you are meant to be."
"Or become the pure god that I also am?"
"You will not wish to be as such when you have finally felt the strength of your dragon's heritage in true. But… these gods and mortals that you travel with." The elder dragon paused. "Why do you cavort with them? They are the reason you and I have remained hidden, shunned. They murdered our kind!"
"They are kind to me. They are not like the old gods. The memories of the first war have faded, it seems."
"Not from me. Slay them!"
"What purpose would it serve? If they no longer care of the old grudges, they will give us reprieve. You wouldn't have to hide."
"And deny the natural order? We dragons ruled the world! Our supremacy was ordained by natural law!"
"If it was, then why did we fail?"
Finally, the elder dragon paused. "What do you propose, then? That we abide as their pets?"
"No! I am treated as an equal, and so could you!"
"Do they?" The dragon leaned down closer, staring at her with intense, golden eyes. "Sickening… I can sense it. You desire the young god. Tell me, do you truly believe he wants a crossbred dragon? He will want his own god. Which I could help you achieve."
"He…." Priscilla paused. She had been about to say that Kid would obviously choose her. And yet, his hesitation in her soul world, even when the only alternative was a mere mortal girl…
"The bindings of your soul are weak. Allow me to sever them, and purify your power. All I ask is that you purge the hostiles. Perhaps these new gods can be manipulated to our advantage. Earn their trust. And when the time comes, I shall arise again. I will not need these pathetic undead to entertain me; I shall have larger prey."
"I… allow the chance for peace. Give me that opportunity," Priscilla demanded with a stern tone that betrayed her nervousness.
"Very well. I will 'give you this chance.' But when you have a true dragon's insight, I trust you will know what to do. Do you accept, then?"
Was this even right? Father had taught that it was her combined souls that gave her strength. But the world had always said very differently. Lord Gwyn had certainly not agreed. Her draconic half was the reason for her sentence in the Painted World. If she could banish it at will, she could truly live. Not as a spectacle, as she'd been in Anor Londo, or an exile in the painting. Kid mingled and coexisted among mortal friends; were the new gods so favorable to mortals they were able to hold real friendships? Was this the order of the world now?
And, if her draconic half could be unleashed, she could be truly useful in a fight. She could be more than just a tool, or an awkward, inexperienced combatant. She could be a force of nature not seen in thousands of years!
She looked at her new companions, assembled around her, each looking tense and confused. Of course, they had no idea what they'd been discussing. Still… they would understand. Surely. They had been mostly supportive of her, even when she'd failed Maka so poorly. Yes, they would certainly approve of her becoming less bestial. They adored their young god. And he would adore her. The answer felt clear.
"I accept, Elder Dragon," she said in the ancient tongue. "Purify my souls, and I will find you a place of haven. And if that is not possible, I will help create one."
"Excellent…"
With no more warning, the elder dragon leaned down even further, and clamped his massive jaw upon Priscilla's left shoulder, the jaw encompassing her entire torso. Her companions immediately readied to combat before she held them back with a simple reassurance. "I will be well," she said offering a smile in their direction. A swirling, silver energy began to pool around her like a storm. After a few seconds, a portion of it shot to the sky, while the rest submerged itself into her. Then, bolts of the energy in the sky struck back to the ground and drew themselves into Priscilla as well. The dragon released its vice grip on her and stared in appreciation as she began to glow pure white. She began to grow, shooting skyward. Her tail grew out, her body elongated. Gossamer wings sprouted from her back. Finally, the growth halted, the glow ceased, and before her companions sat what only Kid and Maka had seen. Priscilla the scaleless reared back on her hind quarters and let loose a mighty roar.
"Holy crap! Uh, guys, maybe we should be high tailing it now…" Soul said, tugging on Maka's arm and backing away. Priscilla hopped up, beating her wings twice to give her the chance to turn 'round. Her companions looked equal parts horrified and concerned.
My god's soul, where are you? After a moment, she felt it deep within her, buried under her dragon soul. I need you now. Please, come out.
And in another flash of light, she felt the divine soul surge forth, overpower her dragon's half, and suddenly she was no longer towering over her companions. She was standing before them as a god. Her white dress was as it was in her soul world. She was short for a god, only slightly taller than Elizabeth, the tallest of the mortals. But, it felt good. She felt natural. Not as a freak, towering over everyone else, but truly as an equal.
"Priscilla…" Kid said awe. "He… separated you?"
"Your soul, it's like he split it in half," Maka said. "In your soul world, those really were both you?"
Priscilla nodded, giving a glance back at the Elder Dragon, who was watching in amusement. "I have always been both a dragon and a god. I don't know how, but he could see the bonds that tied them into the same entity I was. He wanted to free them."
"Why?" Kid asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously at the great beast.
"He wants succor. He has spent an eternity in exile, hiding in the gods, just as I did. He doesn't trust that the world is safe for him, but he trusts that I could help him. He doesn't wish to hide. Would this be possible?"
"Perhaps…" Kid trailed off, still not letting his gaze leave the dragon. "If he doesn't mind coexisting with us. He'll need a lot of space though. And that doesn't really explain why he split your soul."
"He is… not fond of gods, after they killed the dragons off. He…" Priscilla paused. She didn't wish to say that the dragon desired her own, pure form, if it might give Kid excuse to deny her. "And he understood what it was like to live in exile."
"You didn't need to split yourself into two, Priscilla," Maka said. "We weren't going to shun you out."
"Yeah, c'mon, you're not even the weirdest person we've ever met, right guys?" Black Star piped up.
"Black Star!" Tsubaki gave him an admonishing glare, her violet eyes teeming with disappointment; a far worse punishment than any Maka Chop.
"Uh, I mean, yeah, you're pretty cool, you didn't need to go out of your way to please us."
"I… thank you, that is nice, but I think this will be preferable," Priscilla said with humility. Perhaps she had underestimated her companion's ethical fortitude.
"Indeed!" Solaire spoke up, having been eerily silent during the whole spectacle. "As I said earlier, we invoked a bond of cooperation when we agreed to this! We all have each other's backs!"
"My lord!" Alind finally began to speak his own mind. "You have gifted this woman with the path of purest dragon! Yet, I have been nothing but faithful to you. I demand you purify myself as well!"
The dragon looked down with disinterest at the man.
"He is becoming bothersome. These undead, they feel themselves entitled just because I bestow a few, insignificant blessings upon them." With that, the elder dragon raised a clawed hand, and swept it down, catching Alind in his grasp, bringing the man up to his face. "Yes, it is time to cull the herd."
He squeezed the clawed hand gently, and still crushed the dragonoid human in his grasp, his claws piercing through the man's chest easily. With disinterest, he dropped Alind before them and pointed to another of the humans gathered at the fire before him, all having watched the events with reverence. A guttural roar signified his approval, and with a cheer, the woman accepted her new place at the head of the Dragon Cult.
"Your undead friends require souls," the Elder Dragon said. "He stored a few for himself, the greedy, worthless undead that he was." He swept his hand lazily down and pointed to a pile of cages near the far beach. A few small animals, rabbits mostly, inhabited most of them, but one was filled with small, pure white spheres- the souls of humans. "They are yours to have, along with the animals, if you wish. Be successful, Priscilla. I look forward to the world you create."