"Experiment 3 is a failure. The subject died after the 6th injection. What a waste." Medusa scowled, "Erika! Have Free dispose of the body. Little Ogre can have it if he pleases." A small witch in a polka dot dress ran in, followed by a large man and a disproportionate red demon.
"Y-yes Lady Medusa!" The Little Ogre studied the body with a frown.
"Free, you can dispose of it. It isn't corrupted enough for my tastes." He turned to Medusa. "Speaking of corrupt, when are we going to get my juicy snack from that village? I'm tired of running circles around our wolf-boy."
"I believe you may just get your chance. I've picked up a certain interest in a travelling companion of his." Erika finished cleansing the operation table and looked expectantly to Medusa. "Free, go get the next subject. I have a few more things I want to try."
Soul dreaded mornings, especially when he had to wake up next to Maka and then gruesomely transform into an over glorified flea-bag. Though he got used to the pain, he couldn't help but feel guilty when he saw the look on Maka's face. She always looked so sad when he transformed. It was almost heartbreaking to him. He had to admit, though, her sympathy cuddles were nice. I just wish I wasn't a wolf so I could actually hold her.
A loud knocking on the door sent Soul darting out of bed. What followed after made his heart stop. "Get up! It's Medusa! She's here!" Maka quickly grabbed her weapons and ran out the door with Soul. Outside in the town was the Little Ogre, devouring the souls of the refugees and the townspeople.
"You're all so quaint. I need someone with real fire." His eyes locked on to Maka and Soul, filling him with glee. "YES! YES! You've finally come out to play!" It licked its rotting teeth and smiled. I've been so hungry, Soul. Won't you let me u?" It began to run at them, dragging its too-long arms behind it. For how short its legs were, it ran fast. Too fast.
Maka was just barely able to avoid its first attack, but was unable to dodge the swing of its arms. "Oops! I wasn't supposed to do that. Lady Medusa wants to have a looksie at you, deary." Soul wasn't going to let that happen. He ran as fast as he could and jumped onto the demon, sinking his teeth into its shoulder.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" It clawed at its back, reaching for Soul. "I'm gOIng tO KiLl YoU WOLfy." Its voice became distorted and loud. Maka clutched at her ears in an attempt to make the ringing from it stop. But the ringing was whispers. Too many voices were piling up in her mind, and she felt like her brain was going to explode.
Come here.
It's okay.
We won't hurt you.
This way.
One voice was left. It was a child. "Who are you? Why are you in my head?"
"We want to help you. We want to stop the witch." Maka slowly got up, her back aching from where she hit the ground. Soul was still attacking the demon, and she saw BlackStar and Stein coming to join him. She followed the voice, winding through the village towards the outskirts to find it. There, standing on the path, was a child. "You found me."
"You're a child." She looked at the black dagger they were holding; a strange aura was coming from it. "That dagger has a lot of power. May I ask why you have it?"
"It is a part of me. Mother wants it. She is calling to it." The child stared at the dagger, whispering to it. "She wants to use its power to hurt people." The child looked to Maka with desperate eyes.
"Who is your mother?"
"Medusa."
A loud screech came from the village, and Maka saw a large cloud of dark smoke appear and then disappear just as fast as it had come. Please be alright, Soul. She walked towards the child slowly, unsure of how to approach them. "People are going to have a hard time trusting you. They won't understand."
"We know."
She knelt down in front of them. "You keep saying we… why?"
The child held up the dagger, showing the elvish markings to Maka.
Ragnarok.
"The dagger has its own name? What's yours then?" The child's brow furrowed, as if they had to contemplate their answer.
"My name is Crona."
"Let's get you back to the village, Crona," Maka held her hand out to them. "I know a few people who would like to talk to you." Crona took her hand and walked alongside her quietly. They only spoke once.
"He is alright." Maka looked to Crona, a sense of relief and confusion washing over her. How did you know? They made it to the center of the village. There were only a few casualties, but that was still too many for Maka's liking. She spotted white fur and called out.
"Soul!" His ears perked up and he the direction he was called from. The moment he saw Maka, he started to run. Knocking her over and licking her face was his way of saying Where the hell have you been? We looked everywhere for you! You're lucky you're okay. It wasn't until after she had gotten him to calm down that he noticed the small child. He faced Maka again and tilted his head to the side questioningly. "This is Crona. Medusa's child."
Once night fell, the group made a decision to keep Crona with Tsubaki at the bar for the time being while Soul and Maka discussed some things in their cabin. "Soul I think you're being irrational about this!"
"I'm being irrational? Maka, they are the child of a fuckin' witch!" Soul was seething. What the hell is she thinking? Didn't they just say they wanted her? He pinched the bridge of his nose and sunk further into his slouch. "How can ye even think to trust them? This child has a magical fuckin' dagger and is the spawn of a crazy witch!"
"Soul, would you listen! Please?" He sighed as he slumped against the wall, clearly exhausted.
"Fine. I'll bite."
"If Crona was going to kill me, they would have. They had every chance in the world, but instead, they wanted to help. Crona is afraid, Soul. And I know you see it too." Soul looked up and groaned in defeat.
"I'm sorry I-" Maka placed her hands on his cheeks, pulling him down to look at her.
"I know. I would've probably fought you on it too, ye stubborn Prig." He cracked a small smile, and slid his arms around her waist.
"Yer always makin' fun of me." He nuzzled his head into the crook of her shoulder and hugged her closer to him.
Oops! I wasn't supposed to do that. Lady Medusa wants to have a looksie at you, deary.
He started to cry. I can't lose her too. I just can't. Please. He tried to tell her, to let her know, but he couldn't. Everything just came out in broken sobs. You're too weak to protect her. You can't save her. She's going to die too. "Soul?" Her words were too gentle, her touch too soft. I don't deserve it. Everything I care about dies because I'm weak.
"I'm-" His voice broke a little, words too hard to formulate, "Can we stay like this? Jus-just for a little bit?" Small hands ran through his tousled hair kindly. Soul could hear her humming something similar to the song he hummed for her before.
"Yeah. We can."
