Things are getting heated up! I have drawn the first page of the manga that will go along with this fanfiction, so keep an eye out for that on DeviantArt under InuKagsluver4eva. It was taken on a phone, so if it's angled weird, that's why. Onward!
Ametrine cursed aloud as she hurried around her makeshift lab, vials and beakers being roughly shoved aside as she threw her journal down, frantically flipping through the pages. Things were progressing faster now that her suspicions had been confirmed; the Elder's were silently shuffling their guards around, placing more outside of the caves' entrance and throughout the town; even going as far as to begin calling meetings with her more frequently during the night. They were getting suspicious of her actions and it shortened her slim time-frame even further. Finding the page needed, a red nail traced down the paragraphs, searching for the words she desperately had to confirm. There was a certain passage in her notes that explained how to accelerate the effects of the madness by nearly three-fold. A downside to hastening the pace was the fact that the chance of a backfire was greater, something the witch really wanted to avoid.
"'In order to increase the rate at which the madness spreads, a sacrifice must be made, preferably one of pure blood, on the night of a full moon. The power of Asura should shine through the darkness and release the Kishin from his imprisonment, restarting the flow of madness throughout the world.'"
Releasing the Kishin… he had been sealed on the moon by Brew for a few years now. Would the sacrifice be enough to release him from his cage? Or would that damned DWMA student strike him down before she had the chance to absorb his full power? There was also the fact that her grandchild was sealed there as well. Grandchild…Chrona, was his name to be exact. Such a weak child, according to her surveillance over the years, though he did contain the newest experimental black blood, mad blood. Ametrine grit her teeth as she tried to think, nails clicking anxiously against the rusted table. She had to think of a plan, and fast, before an entire village of ninjas slaughtered her.
"Witch Ametrine,"
Ametrine froze at the voice, her nails pausing mid-clicking. Shit, maybe it was too late, maybe they had already decided her fate. There was enough magic within her to escape, if needed, but they were a force to recon with, especially in their own environment.
"Y-yes? Can I help you?" Magic surged at her fingertips, ready to discharge.
"Here is your nighttime meal, enjoy." A tray clanged against a metal table, the noise nearly deafening in the tense air. "The Elder's wish to meet with you tonight, within an hour. Do not be late." The ninja turned and left without a noise, leaving the witch alone once more.
Letting out a heavy breath, Ametrine slowly loosened her tense shoulders, heart pounding painfully against her ribs. She was getting sloppy, reckless. Tossing a glance at the bland food sitting a few feet behind her, she chose to ignore it and continue working. There was to be a full moon tonight; it was tight, but it would be possible to get done. Now the question was, to find a suitable sacrifice…
By the time Black Star had returned to Innopolis, the creatures had all been turned to dust, Maka standing next to Soul on a pile of rubble. Sensing his presence, the meister turned to glare at him, green eyes burning a whole through his forehead.
"Thanks for leaving a horde of creatures for us to take care of, Black Star." Acid dripped from her lips and the ninja felt a small chill go up his spine. "Didn't think to take care of them before you took off?"
"Oi, Maka, chill. I took care of the big one, didn't I? Besides, you can punch me later; we're meeting that snow bastard tonight in a discrete location. Told us he wanted Ametrine's head as much as we do."
Maka's face loosened as she studied her friends. Tsubaki seemed a little nervous, her soul wiggling in place while Black Star's was calm. There was something they weren't telling her, something they probably didn't want her to know.
"So, we're just going to go meet the dude, in the woods, at night, and sing kumbaya around the fire?" Soul snorted as he slid down the rubble, hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. "Yeah, doesn't sound like the plot to a serial killer movie at all."
"I think for now, we should trust him. He did give Maka those suppressant pills, right?"
"Where the hell did those come from anyways? How do we know they aren't poisonous or something? Maka, give me one of those."
"You're just going to eat them all at once and see if anything happens, aren't you." Maka deadpanned as she shifted the box out of his reach, grasping it tightly. "Whatever they are, they work to suppress the overwhelming madness from those pre-Kishins."
"We should probably separate a few of them in case something happens to the ones on you. Here, I have small baggies we can put them in." Tsubaki slid her backpack off, rummaging through it quickly. "Black Star and I will take two a piece while you and Soul can split it however you want. Fair enough?" They all nodded.
"How long are those things supposed to last anyways?" The blue haired ninja questioned as he examined one, closing one eye to see it better.
"A few hours, give or take. That's what he said, anyways." Soul took three of the small orbs and tightened his bag before attaching it to his belt loop, tucking it safely behind the belt.
Maka remained quiet, staring down at the medicine in her gloved palm. That's all it took, one pill, to ease the madness surging within her. It made the meister uneasy that there was such a thing readily available to combat the creature within her. Were there side effects to taking these pills? Would she be sucked into the darkness as the waves of madness crashed over her if she couldn't take them in time? What would happen if they failed? What would happen to Soul if she lost control? A headache kicked in and she winced, the throbbing sharp.
"Maka? Hey, what's wrong?" Soul's voice grabbed her attention and she slowly looked up to meet his gaze. "You've been spaced out for awhile now and we're getting ready to move to the meeting spot. Do you feel sick again?"
"I'm fine, just a headache started up. I'll be better in a bit, so let's head out now before it gets dark." Maka gave him a small smile before following after Black Star and Tsubaki, arms wrapping around her heavy coat in comfort.
Soul knew she was lying, that much was obvious; the way she smiled it off before walking away raised warning flags for the weapon, but knowing how stubborn she was, there was no getting it out of her anytime soon. With a huff of annoyance, the weapon followed dutifully behind her, mouth pulled into a grimace. Maybe Tsubaki could pull it out of her later.
~*B*~
By the time they had arrived at the meeting spot, the sun had slipped behind the mountain and the air became frigid in the dark woods. Black Star was complaining under his breath about the cold while Tsubaki, Soul, and Maka remained fairly quiet during the trek. The area appeared to be the ruins of a town; mounds of ancient rubble buried beneath snow drifts. There couldn't have been more than half a dozen buildings scattered throughout the region, all having long been destroyed.
"Tsubaki, this is the place, right?" Black Star quipped as he eyed the area. "There's no one here as far as I can tell."
"Yes, this is it. According to my watch, he should be here within a few minutes. It seems we were early. Let's keep moving, we still have a short way to go."
"It's almost too quiet here," Soul remarked as they weaved down the covered path, boots crunching softly through the snow.
"It's an abandoned village, I highly doubt there's anything out her—." A loud twang resonated through the air as Black Star stumbled over a concealed wire, triggering a trap.
"You were saying?" Maka growled as Soul transformed, swinging the scythe to her front.
"My bad."
The noise died out as the meisters tensed up, eyeing their surroundings warily. There was no wind, no snowfall, nothing. A wolf howled not too far in the distance, others joining in unison. A spark of wavelength caught Maka's attention and she shot her head around to see a lone wolf standing ten feet away, bright yellow eyes watching her hungrily. The woman froze in place, just staring as the wolf sniffed the air cautiously, eyes never leaving hers. A normal sized wolf she could handle, but this was no normal wild animal; It was massive, to say the least. Almost the double the size of a normal one, Maka guessed, and definitely a lot heavier. Its thick pitch-black fur rustled lightly as the wind started up and with a throw of its head, howled loudly.
"Damn, that's a big wolf. Maka, how many?" Soul asked, keeping an eye on the howling creature.
"At least ten…no, more than that, they just keep coming. Over...twenty—." The meister was cut off as the large creature launched towards her, snarling as it aimed for her throat. With a quick movement, the back of the scythe collided with its ribs, sending it tumbling into a tree. "Shit, this thing weights a lot more than I do."
"I don't think I've ever fought a wolf apart from that werewolf dude, this'll be fun!" Black Star cackled as Tsubaki shifted into Chain Scythe mode.
"Don't kill them, Black Star." Maka warned as she tightened her grip, watching the alpha wolf slink towards her once more. "They haven't done anything wrong."
Soul Perception triggered and her mind lit up with the entire pack of wolves' souls, surrounding them on all sides. There was no way out, they were completely enclosed in a small area. All that could be seen were the dozens of hungry eyes staring back at them, the moonlight illuminating them.
"We're completely surrounded now, stay on guard."
As soon as Maka adjusted her foot, they attacked. Multiple at once, from all sides with their teeth bared as unleashed beastly growls. The smaller ones were easy, they were lighter and easier to deflect, but as she constantly batted them back with pained grunts, it became clear they had the advantage.
"There's too many, we need to start taking them out, Maka." Soul called out as he blocked snapping jaws, the sharp teeth grinding hard against the shaft. "We'll be killed if we don't."
With a grunt the wolf was thrown back, colliding with another pack member. Maka barely had time to shift back when something flew into her chest and sent her skidding back into the snow. Heavy paws pushed against her chest as the alpha snarled into her face, thick hot saliva hitting her cheek. With a grunt, she shoved the shaft of the scythe into its open jaws, arms shaking with effort as it pushed back. Pain shot into her shoulder and the left side of the scythe shifted down, bringing the wolf closer to her neck, putrid steaming breath hitting her face.
"Maka!"
She couldn't breathe, couldn't keep her arms up any longer as she locked eyes with the wolf. This is where she would die, that she was certain of. So many things she still wanted to do, to see, to experience with Soul…
No. Giving up wouldn't do any good, especially when she had a job to do; one that would decide the fate of the world once more. As her vision blurred from the lack of oxygen, Maka shifted her legs and curled them against her chest, ready to push off with all her strength. With a quick short breath in, she kicked as hard as she could. The wolf yelped as it flailed back, crashing hard against the frozen ground. Gasping for air, the meister hacked and wheezed as she tried to sit up, hand rubbing at the pain in her chest.
"Maka, you alright?" Soul asked, his concerned face appearing in the blade.
"P-peachy…"
"I've got you, Maka, so you just take it easy for a minute." Black Star suddenly appeared in front of her, Ninja Sword mode active. "Tsubaki, get ready; Speed Star."
In a flash he was gone, slicing through the pack with ease. All of the surrounding wolves suddenly yelped and darted away as blood sprayed into the air. While she couldn't see it that well, the sensation of something hot hitting her face was undeniable. With a grunt she got to her knees, using the scythe as support. The shaft suddenly glowed brightly and Maka felt an arm wrap around her waist.
"Black Star has this handled; can you stand?"
"My legs work fine…lungs, not so much." Maka panted as she straightened up, palm still rubbing at her chest. "There's still a…a few more nearby. Closing in…"
Crackling rippled through the air with small explosions following right behind. Bright flashes of light illuminated the darkness and the wolves seemed confused, halting their attacks before tucking tail and running away with cries of retreat.
"I am sorry for the delay, though it looks like I have arrived just in time." Soul and Maka looked above them to see Viktor crouching on a tree branch, eyes glowing bright. "This time of year, food is scarce for the wolves. It seems they had a hunting party doing a sweep in this area."
"Are Russian wolves larger than normal ones?" Soul asked incredulously as Viktor landed silently in front of them.
"Not usually, but there is an alpha in these woods that is nearly double the size of the others. She goes by Chernaya smert', or Black Death in your language. She can take down a grown bear with little trouble."
"Of course, that's the one that went after me," Maka grumbled bitterly.
"She must have seen you as a threat to her ranking if she targeted you. You are lucky to have survived her wrath." Viktor stood to his full height and pulled something from a shoulder sling. "If you are uninjured, we must hurry to the meeting point. There are two others waiting for your arrival."
Soul and Maka shared a quizzical look with each other, brows knitted.
"They're waiting for us, specifically? Who exactly are they?" Maka asked slowly, watching for any expression change in the stark white eyes as he handed her a small lantern.
"I cannot say aloud, but you shall soon find out. It is not too far from here."
Black Star appeared silently next to Soul, Tsubaki at his side. The ninja was glaring holes into the back of Viktor, lip curling into a sneer behind his scarf.
"I still don't trust him," Soul glanced briefly at his friend. "I can't tell if he's on our side or not yet, so don't put too much faith into him. Something about this whole situation is suspicious."
The walk was quiet for the most part, save for the occasional grumble from the annoyed meister. Soul kept his arm around Maka for support, discreetly wincing when he felt pain flare in his shoulder and chest. She was hurting, though she wouldn't show it; not like she had to with them constantly resonating. He had packed the pain pills just in case this time, knowing full well her shoulder still hadn't fully healed from the last fight. Even after years of being together, his meister still tried to hide invisible injuries from him. There was no point trying to bring it up; it would always end in an argument and he would leave the apartment to cool off while she locked herself in her room for hours.
"We have arrived," Viktor announced suddenly as he stopped a few feet from a rundown building nestled behind a thicket of trees. "I will secure the area, please enter the building. I will join you shortly." The ninja vanished into the darkness, leaving the two teams to stand apprehensively outside the doorway.
"Tsubaki, go ahead with them, I'll be back in a minute."
"Black Star, what are—" Tsubaki protested but her meister vanished as well.
"That idiot just wants to keep an eye on him," Soul shook his head before guiding Maka through the doorway, using his free arm to push back overgrown branches.
"I understand his intentions, but I don't feel he is a bad person." Tsubaki huffed as she followed suit. "He did give Maka that medicine and when we went after him earlier, he told us he wanted Ametrine dead as well."
"This will probably all make more sense once we meet with whoever is behind that door." Maka gently pushed ahead of Soul, taking charge and leading the way.
With a hand gripping the rusted doorknob, the meister took a deep breath before turning it and pushing the door open.
~*B*~
"I see you triggered my decoy wire." Viktor mentioned casually as Black Star landed on a tree branch across from him, face emotionless.
"Why are you suddenly helping us out?" The meister cut straight to the chase. "You went from helping that witch to suddenly switching to our side. What's your game?" Viktor eyed him with tired eyes before shifting his legs to sit on the branch. This would take a short while to explain.
"It is true; we sided with the witch Ametrine due to an ancient prophecy that was foretold by the fire. We believed what we were doing was right, as written by our predecessors hundreds of years ago. Our clan, eight hundred years ago, began manifesting madness to aid in the Kishin Asura's plan to spread madness throughout the world. Unfortunately, before we could begin to unleash it, Lord Death captured and sealed him away. Though we had produced some madness, there was nowhere to unleash it, so the Elders decided to slowly leak it into the village to adjust our people to it. That has been the way for the past centuries until now. When Ametrine entered our territory, she requested an audience with the Elders to once again spread Asura's madness upon the world. The threat of releasing it upon my people made the Elders cave to her wishes.
"At the time, it was foretold by the fire, so we granted her access to the labs hidden deep in the mountainside. For the past few weeks, she has been working nearly non-stop on her project; I have witnessed mindless people wandering towards her cave, their heads void of thoughts and emotions. I do not fully understand the process of her method, but it seems as if she is using the souls of nearby villagers to feed the madness. I fear my people may be sucked into her plans,"
"So, all those creatures…"
"I'm afraid they were innocent souls filled with madness and released back upon the world, yes." Viktor answered somberly. "Ametrine does not care for the lives she takes, only seeking to fulfill her own needs, no matter how many it takes."
"Can't you all just take her down? Being as skilled as you are, shouldn't you be able to kill her?" Black Star stood from his crouch to lean against the tree trunk, arms crossed.
"I would gladly take the chance to do such a thing, though the villagers are the main concern. We have been evacuating everyone to a safe location, far from her. It may be too late to launch a full-scale attack on her as we believe she has noticed our intentions. I have been told by the Elder's to prepare for an all-out war against her."
Black Star remained quiet, studying the person in front of him. As much of a hard ass the guy seemed, in the end the two were no different. They both wanted to protect their friends and family, no matter to the cost. He suddenly remembered something from their conversation earlier and turned to look at him.
"You said something about a girl earlier, Vika, right? What's your story on her?" He could see the man's shoulders sag slightly, a distant look clouding his eyes.
"Vika…she was a childhood friend of mine; we grew up together, nearly inseparable at all times. We…once I began the path of the warrior training, we lost touch as I was separated from the rest of the villagers for years. I had not seen her until just a few weeks ago…as she was taking her last breath beside me."
"Shit, sorry to hear that." Black Star apologized quietly, knowing full well he heard it. "I can't imagine something like that happening to Tsubaki."
"Your partner, she is a good one. I don't have to ask to see you love her with all your being." Viktor mused lightly as the blue-haired ninja turned pink. "I was the same, with Vika, but unfortunately I was unable to let her know before she was killed by the madness unleashed into the Witches' Realm. I found her confession on her body after she passed."
"I may not have known her, but I can tell you she died with honor. You should be proud of her for her sacrifice to protect others."
"I am, very much so. She was given a warrior's farewell and her body has returned to the earth. I can no longer protect Vika, but you can carry on her strength and will to save others. Your partner, Tsubaki, make sure to protect her with all of your power. For Vika's sake and mine."
"I'd never let anything happen to Tsubaki; I swear on my life." Black Star pounded his fist against his heart, eyes locking with the ninja. "I would gladly die if it meant protecting her. The same goes for my friends and family."
Viktor closed his eyes briefly, silently chuckling to himself. They were exactly the same. Pulling the bottom of his mask down, he looked at the child in front of him, seeing a younger version of himself standing there, confident and strong.
"You and I are alike, Black Star, and for that I am grateful. I do not fear for the future generations if you are there to lead it. I am honored to call you my brethren, tovarishch." Comrade.
"Feelings mutual," Black Star gave him his signature smile, hands on his hips. "Ready to go kick some witches' ass?"
"Definitely."
"Nyamuu~"
"Ma-Mabaa-sama…" Maka stuttered as she entered the room to find the Mother of the Coven sitting on a weathered stone bench, her assistant sitting across from her tapping her foot rapidly in annoyance. "I didn't realize…"
"Of course, you didn't, stupid human girl, this is a secret location." The feline witch snapped angrily, huffing her pipe rapidly. "It's all because of that damned Ametrine bitch—."
"Nyamuu." Mabaa said tersely, shooting a tired glance to the witch.
"I will watch my mouth, forgive me, Mother." The witch muttered quietly, tapping out the ashes from her pipe before tucking it away. "Let's get this started before we waste anymore time. Sit anywhere, or stand, I could care less." She motioned with a flap of her hand.
Soul decided to stand left of Maka as she occupied a worn wooden chair, the legs creaking under the strain. Tsubaki stood on her other side, hands clasped lightly behind her back respectfully. None of them dared to stare too long at the haggard state of the witches, an uncomfortable air filling the room. They both looked exhausted, physically and mentally, judging by the way they seemed to sag in their seats. The door opened once more and Viktor entered the room followed by Black Star, the two seemingly more relaxed than before.
"Forgive me for the delay, let us begin now." Viktor removed both of his facial coverings, blonde locks springing free from their confinement. "I will put this plainly; we are planning to wage war with the witch Ametrine for her crimes. We have until midnight tonight, when the moon is full, to take her down before she unleashes the Kishin Asura from his prison on the moon."
"W-wait, she wants to release Asura? Tonight?! How insane is this woman?" Soul gaped at Viktor, eyes darting to the witches to confirm this.
"Chrona sacrificed himself to seal Asura on the moon, what will happen to him if he's released?" Maka asked quietly, fists clenching tightly at her pants.
"Mother isn't sure what's going to happen to your friend if Asura is released. He was sealed with Brew so there is no telling what could happen to the one who activated it." The witch glared at the teenagers, sharp eyes shooting daggers at them. "Eibon would be the one to know, but unless you have him on speed-dial, we'll have to plan without him involved. What about the Reaper, has he received word from the Witches' Realm?"
"No, I don't think so, why?" Tsubaki asked hesitantly, unease coming over her. "Has something happened there?"
"When Ametrine was captured and awaiting trial, she somehow managed to release a concentrated form of madness throughout the realm. Within a week everything was corrupted and destroyed. I take full responsibility for her release." Viktor bowed deeply; arms stiff at his sides as he continued. "It was my mission to release her from the cell and return her to the village. It was also my mission to ensure the safety of the Mother. I cannot forgive myself for the actions caused upon both worlds."
"Nyamuu." Mabaa chirped quietly, earning a confused look from her partner.
"She says you were just doing your duty and you had no part in her destroying the realm, so rise. We can deal with punishments later," She took out her pipe once more, tapping tobacco into it. "Besides, our losses weren't the only ones suffered that day. We all lost someone from it."
"How long after she was captured did it take for her to escape?" Maka asked Viktor, green eyes searching his soul for wavering emotions.
"A week in the Witches' Realm is roughly one or two days in this world. She has been released for a few weeks already." The man stood back up though his posture was tense. "She has been working around the clock deep beneath the mountain behind our village. I have constant reports of her activity and it seems she is trying to hasten her efforts before the full moon."
"When the full moon emerges, Ametrine will have the chance to release the full effect of Asura's madness over the world, possibly himself as well." The witch supplied, blowing out a mouthful of smoke. "All she is missing, as far as we know, is a pure sacrifice to complete the ritual. It's an ancient one, something from over a thousand years ago, that was more of a theoretical spell than a perfected one. There are high risks with using it incorrectly. The backfire from it could cause the madness to go out of control and take over its host, essentially turning her into a Kishin."
"W-what the hell…" Soul grit his teeth, his hand gripping the top of the chair tightly. "So, if I've got this right; Asura could be released from the moon, possibly killing Chrona in the process, Ametrine needs a pure sacrifice to complete releasing Asura, and if it backfires on her, we could have another Kishin."
"Nyamuu."
"She said essentially, yes, that could happen."
"What the fuck." Maka suddenly stood up, anger filling her veins. "Why hasn't anyone tried to stop her before all this got out of control? If you knew," She turned to the stiffened ninja, green burning into white, "Then why haven't you killed her already! The whole world could be plunged into madness and you could have prevented it!"
"It is not as easy as it sounds," Viktor sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Our prophecies are something held deep in our hearts, it connects us to our ancestors and their traditions. Though we sometimes question their words, they have never strayed us off of the destined path until know. We weren't sure what Ametrine's next moves would be, and the Elders have just begun evacuating the village in preparation. The problem is, we believe she is aware of what we are doing and is hastening her efforts to release the madness before we can eliminate her. The Elders have the final say in the matter, unfortunately. We have the head of the Elders, Flyorova, on our side. She will speak to the others and convince them to abandon this prophecy for the sake of the villagers."
"We need to get a hold of Kid, then. If he doesn't know…" Tsubaki chewed on her lip anxiously. "Death City is still trying to recover from the attack by Ametrine and I'm not sure he can step away to help us."
"We believe our message was intercepted before it reached the Reaper, hence the lack of action being taken by him. Although you all are here, the question is whether or not you will be enough to take her down." The witch eyed them with a bored look.
"Nyamuu~"
"Mabaa-dono suggests you contact Lord Death immediately and inform him of the situation. His help could be the turning point in this war. For now, we shall adjourn this meeting and regroup with our sisters. Any information is to be directed through that man who will relay it to us."
The two witches ensured their message was received before flashing away. Viktor ran a hand through his hair, sighing silently.
"I apologize for dragging you into this war, but we have no other option. Maka Albarn, your black blood and anti-demon wavelength are urgently requested. Please, assist us with this war." Dropping to his knees, the ninja placed his forehead against the backs of his hands, bowing deeply. "I beg of you; help me save my people and destroy the witch Ametrine."
Maka startled at the sight of him bowing to her, opening and closing her mouth trying to respond. A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up to see Soul staring at her, a grin on his face. Tsubaki and Black Star wore similar expressions, their eyes reflecting her answer. Taking a step forward, the meister looked down at the man before her, shoulders squared, and eyes set.
"Of course, we'll help you. Your village will be saved, I promise you that." Viktor leaned back to rest on his feet, hands staying on the dirt floor. "Lord Death will be contacted immediately and informed of everything. If possible, I would like to visit with the Elders and discuss the details with them."
"Yes, the plan was to take you to the village tonight to discuss matters with Elder Flyorova. There is a tunnel system that leads to the back of the shrine, the entrance is located not far from here. It should take less than an hour to reach the village. We shall leave when you are ready."
Viktor left the room, leaving the meisters and weapons alone. Spotting an old mirror on the wall, Maka typed in the familiar numbers, waiting as it rang. The surface rippled before a clear image of Kid appeared. There were heavy bags under his eyes and his hair was disheveled, but his eyes were alert once he noticed the serious look coming from the death scythe meister.
"Maka, what's wrong? I take it this isn't a social call."
"I suggest you sit down for this, Kid, this is going to take a while."
I thought about making this chapter longer, but it's already pretty lengthy so it'll continue in the next one. Thank you!