Iris came back to Time-Eaters world, dropped off the first memory, and jumped into the second time hole. This was the time when Iris and Mephiles had formed a shaky new alliance. He had assisted her in robbing a treasury, then she handed him the red chaos emerald she promised. Mephiles tossed the sack to her past-self with the stolen goodies.

"Why do you need all of these gemstones? What purpose can you use such simple stones for?" Mephiles asked as his blue crystal monsters circled hers.

"I have things that need tending to. Boring stuff, really. What do you need a chaos emerald for?" Iris asked as her beaked creatures screeched at his pets.

The first words to come into his head were 'death' and 'Shadow.'

"A personal vendetta of mine... Heel! Behave yourselves! Shall I replace you?!" Mephiles says as he's distracted by his creatures messing with hers.

The crystalline animals obey and whimper, laying down on their bellies. Iris' two pets fly back onto her and perch on her arm, nestling next to each other.

"Is that so? Well, I do need an ally. I assume you do to. Am I worth keeping?" Iris batted her lashes at him.

"For the time, I favor you. I hope our newly conceived alliance lasts."

"To make it official, since we are civilized beings, let's draw up a contract. Handshakes are good and all, but I'd like something more set in stone." Iris said as he started to leave the scene.

Mephiles turned back around with a hardcore poker face on.

"That sounds good to me. What will the terms be?"

"We can collaborate together while the night wanes. Just a general contract though, no in-depth stuff. Pretty much just no acts that may lead to betrayal between both our parties."

Mephiles scowled underneath is calm complexion. There goes his way out if he would ever need one. Although he could try and find a loophole.

"Sorry, but I can't place the cards of deception into your hands. Or mine for that matter. It could makes things difficult. I have to spoil your fun." Iris said as she waved him on. "I have a cozy little spot where we can talk privately. Follow me."

Iris led him to a tiny little shack not too far away from some local housing. Two crates were put by a gardening table with an almost spent candle burning. The two demons deliberated over what needed written down to make their alliance binding. When they were satisfied with themselves, they each bit their thumbs and let their blue blood mix together on the papers. The wax candle had melted down to nothing and extinguished itself. Two sets of demonic eyes were left glowing and staring at one another. They each took their respective paper and left, waiting to assist the other when needed.

Present day Iris collected this memory and moved through time, finding a more important memory of their relationship. It was the first time Mephiles had invited her over to his place. This was the point in time when they started to grow closer to one another. This was the day they had formed a friendship.

Past-Iris tracked down Mephiles' aura trial to a cave outside of Golden City. She approached the entrance silently and laid down the requested item. Mephiles' red and green eyes shone through the thick darkness of his cave. One of his crystalline hands appeared and dragged the wrapped item inside his home.

"Thank you."

Iris nodded her head and they observed each other in silence. Mephiles decided to take the next step. It had been irritating him for a week now and he needed to do it, to get it off of his chest.

"...Would you, like to come in? A rain system is rolling in from the next city over. Keep your makeup from washing off." Mephiles asked as he drifted aside. "Take refuge here for the time being."

Iris couldn't find any words to say. Her pale muzzle drew up into a happy smile.

"I'd appreciate that, Mephiles."

Iris and Mephiles talked for hours on end that night. They didn't even leave his cave to go hunting when the rain had far gone. He had told her his life story and she explained her situation to him. Then they both got into some very detailed opinions about the existence of life and the concept of creation. After going over one another's ponderings the sun had just broke over the horizon.

"If you'd like we could go hunting sometime. Anytime is fine for me really, you?"

"That should prove to be enthralling. Meet you at your cave tomorrow?" Mephiles asked.

"That will do."

And so, Iris continued picking up the fragments of memories throughout time. She collected the memories of their triumphs, failures, loves, and hates. She wasn't sure she wanted to collect the parts where they had been fighting. Especially the fight that almost separated them for good. She watched this part play out with a deep sadness and anger concealed in her heart.

"I can't believe you'd side with them! You dare stop me from murdering them all?!" Mephiles said, referring to the police officers he held in a deathly grip. "Why save them?"

Iris shook her head side to side as her curled quills swayed with her. "You don't understand what travesty this will bring upon our own heads. Can't you just erase their minds and leave them be? Enough blood has been spilled tonight. Part of being a good villain is knowing who to spare to save your own hide."

Mephiles started to turn crystalline and pointed a sharp blue crystal arm at Iris.

"I can do what I please, I am greater than you in every shape and form. Especially as a villian. You are so lowly you don't even deserve to be in my presence."

"Pride has always been your problem Mephiles, and now she's about to kick you in your arse if you don't shut up soon." Iris threatened. "Put that down before you make a terrible mistake."

Mephiles lowered his arm, but soon rammed it right at her. Iris caught his deformed arm and snapped the rough crystal appendage clean off. Mephiles howled in pain as his sclera turned red as stitch marks formed over them. He shot a dark chaos lance into her head. He then repeated the same action again. Iris felt the searing pain, but that didn't deter he from the fight. Blue blood rolled down from the slit in her head and unto her shoulders.

Iris' sclera turned black as cracks came from the corner of her eyes. Turning her back to Mephiles, she used her crystal porcupine quills to dig and tear into his stomach. Mephiles tried to pull her away but the more he moved the deeper the quills embedded themselves into his stone flesh. Iris roughly pulled away, leaving Mephiles bleeding now as well.

The gruesome fight continued onwards, the dueling demons paid no attention to their surroundings as they terrified the city. They were throwing one another into buildings, tearing up the ground on which they fought, and turning petrified onlookers into nothing but pools of blood and organs. Iris grabbed this last piece of the puzzle and solemnly returned to Time-Eater.