Warning: This chapter may get a little emotional. I know I cried.

Things were slowly returning to normal in Death City, just over a month after the battle with Ametrine. The city had been completely repaired, thanks to the hard-working citizens and DWMA students and staff, and life was calm once more. Lord Death had even gone to the Witches' Realm to aid them in their recovery, as well as speaking to them about the truce with the Hidden Shadow clan. It had just reached the peak of summer and the desert heatwaves were becoming torturous. Along with the sweltering heat had brought along the annual Summer Festival, where food stands, game booths, photobooths, and fireworks celebrated the life of the previous Lord Death. While Kid wasn't as fun going as his father was, he made sure that everyone in the city could relax and enjoy themselves for at least one night. Everything seemed to be back to normal, though for a certain meister, things were far from that.

Maka had spent an entire week in the infirmary upon their arrival, much to her protest, as Nygus and Stein ran every test under the sun, including drawing blood a few times a week. Soul had joined her for every appointment, sitting quietly in the chair resting adjacent to her bed. Very rarely he spoke up, asking about something before going quiet again. When asked if anything were wrong, he would shake his head, give her a lopsided toothy grin and make an excuse to leave the room. Maka felt the flood of emotions he was trying to hold back, putting on a façade she knew all too well. When Nygus and Stein had released her back to their apartment, Soul instantly busied himself once she was settled, trying to keep himself from falling apart.

"Soul, talk to me." Maka gently wrapped her arms around him from behind, feeling him still under her sudden touch. "Please."

They had always resonated consistently, so she felt when the walls around his soul began to crumble. Faster than she could process, Soul had turned around and engulfed her petite frame in his arms. He was shaking, trying to resist giving in to a complete meltdown. Gently, she ran her hand through his hair, saying nothing as she let him take his time. They sank to the floor as his legs gave out, becoming a crumpled heap on the tile floor.

"I…I…you died…Maka, you died…I watched you…" Soul wheezed out. "I can't…the image, I can't get it out of my head…"

"It's okay, Soul, I'm here, I'm alive." Maka pulled back to cup his face, gently wiping away the tears streaming down her partners face. It pained her to see him so broken, the grief nearly overwhelming her own soul. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. I never expected things to turn out that way."

Tears blurred her vision as she found herself sobbing as well, everything from the last few weeks finally taking its emotional toll. Soul placed a hand against the back of her head, drawing her seemingly smaller frame against his. Together they poured their emotions out, on the tiled kitchen floor, in a tightly wrapped tangle of limbs. The apartment door opened at some point as Blair came home, the feline stopping at the sight of the two teens asleep against the kitchen cabinets, bodies latched together. Deciding it would be better to leave them, she quickly grabbed a blanket and covered them, neither of them stirring from the movement. Scribbling a quick note, Blair gently left it on the kitchen table before heading back out for the evening. They needed the time alone to heal.

Maka woke first, the sound of the door unlocking dragging her from slumber. When she went to move, she found strong arms locking her in place. Soul was still sound asleep, his head tilted back against the cabinet, snoring lightly. Though he would vehemently deny it, her weapon looked pretty cute when he slept.

"Oh, sorry Maka-chan, I didn't mean to wake you up." Blair apologized quietly, setting a convenience store bag down on the table. "I brought you two some breakfast, if you're hungry."

"Thank you, Blair, you didn't have to do that." Maka felt Soul stir and hold her tighter, burying his face into her neck. The meister heated up while Blair hid her Cheshire grin behind a hand.

"Seems I'm interrupting something, I'll leave you two alone. I'll be at work all day today, so I'll see you tonight!" Blair bounded for her room to change, giggling to herself along the way.

"S-Soul, it's morning, you need to get up." Maka poked at her partner, trying to get him to release his grip. "I need to use the bathroom and Blair brought food."

"Whazzat? Food?" Soul finally stirred, the heat of his breath against her skin sending electricity down her spine. "Wha—why the hell are we on the floor?"

"Of course, the mentioning of food wakes you up. I need to go to the bathroom, so can you release me?" Maka tugged at his arms. With a few slow blinks, he pulled his arms back, dragging his fingers lightly across her bare waist in the process; somehow her shirt had shifted up during the night. Feeling the heat returning to her face, she threw the blanket off, rolled off of his lap and quickly headed towards the bathroom, a hand resting over her pounding heart.

Feeling her erratic emotions, Soul felt his face heat up as well, just now realizing the compromising position they had been in all night. Maka had ended up practically straddling his lap during their embrace but neither had noticed until now. Not that he was complaining about holding her like that…

Pushing himself from the floor with a grunt, Soul decided to distract himself with food, opening the bag and grabbing out an onigiri. It wasn't his favorite thing, but it would do until he could make some proper breakfast. A door closed and he looked up to see Blair getting ready to leave in her work clothes.

"How are you feeling, Soul?" She asked as she set her stuff down on the table. "I didn't want to disturb you two last night."

"Alright, neck is killing me from sleeping on the floor though." Soul felt a satisfying pop as he stretched his neck as he flushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think…after everything that's happened—"

"I understand. Bu-tan can tell," The feline winked at him with a knowing smile. "I was scared, for both of you, when I heard what happened. Spirit cries about it every night at the club, but I know he was really worried about both you and Maka."

Without another word, Blair walked around the table and pulled Soul into a hug. Maka walked back into the kitchen just then, raising an eyebrow at the oddly non-sexualized scene and earning a just as confused look from the scythe. Noticing her, the feline grabbed Maka and held them both tightly, nuzzling their heads.

"Bu-tan was so worried about you both! I can't imagine life without you both." She sniffled, squishing them both against her chest. "Promise me, that you'll both be more careful next time."

"I promise, we won't be so reckless next time." Maka vowed as she was released, grateful to be able to breathe once more. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Blair, we should have let you know sooner."

"I forgive you both," Blair smiled as she caressed their faces lovingly. "Bu-tan has to go to work now, though, so play nice today!" With a wink, she grabbed her bag and pranced out of the door, blowing them a kiss.

"She saw us in that position a while ago, didn't she."

"Yes, Soul, yes she did."

"She's got blackmail now, doesn't she."

"Definitely."

"Damnit."

"You seem to be doing better today, Maka, an improvement since last week." Nygus commented as she studied her chart. "Still, I don't want you to strain yourself more than necessary until we're completely sure your soul is strong again."

"I'm going to go stir-crazy if I don't do something physical, Nygus," Maka grumbled as she rubbed at the already bruising needle mark in the crook of her arm. "Can I at least punch Black Star if he's being stupid? Besides, Soul and I can resonate naturally without issue, so I should be able to –"

"Pushing yourself to see if you can resonate stronger again will only delay the healing factor and could further damage." Stein added as he spun around in his chair, cranking his screw. "Even now I can tell your soul is still wavering out of sync. At most, it'll only be a few more weeks or so until your wavelength is more stable. No excessive physical exertion, no battle practice, no attempting to resonate with anyone else, and punching Black Star is fine as long as it's justifiable, which most of the time it is. Just enjoy the peace, you've all earned a vacation."

"Stein…" Nygus warned, sharp eyes turning to him as she planted her hands on her hips. Stein just shrugged, knowing she wouldn't act on the underlying threat in front of a student.

"He needs it every now and then, it's fine, very therapeutic for the soul. You're free to go, Maka, just make sure to follow the discharge instructions." Stein handed her a note with her restrictions.

Maka sighed but nodded. Considering everything that had happened, a peaceful 'vacation' was deceitful. The pre-Kishin nightmares had vanished for good, thankfully, but a new scene took its place. The last time she saw Viktor alive, preparing to sacrifice himself for the sake of keeping them safe; all she could see was the soft look on his face as he turned to them, white eyes portraying his final wish. There were a few times she woke up in a cold sweat, the madness having overpowered the ninja and striking her through the chest. The alternate realities seemed to be fading as the weeks went on, becoming nothing but a distant memory. But no matter what, she could always feel the intensity of his eyes looking into hers, final unspoken words passing between them.

With her final instructions from Stein and Nygus, Maka bid them farewell before slowly walking down the empty hallway. Although everything seemed fine on the surface, those who were engaged in the war didn't return the same; Kid seemed to have emotionally distanced himself, throwing himself into his Reaper duties. Black Star was oddly quieter, something that unnerved the meister greatly, and Tsubaki always seemed to be deep in thought, often gazing at nothing in particular. Soul was glued to her hip, more than ever, and although it was comforting, there were times she wanted to kick him away so she could breathe. Spirit was worse; as soon as he realized she was actually alive, he latched onto her for hours, threatening anyone who came near them with a bladed arm. He had bawled as he held her, blubbering about being a bad parent and wishing he had gone with them, he should have been there to protect her, etc. Stein finally yanked him off when Maka sent him a pleading look, dragging the wailing death scythe out of sight with promises of new scars. Kim had gone to aid the witches and Jacqueline seemed to wander aimlessly while she was gone, her eyes blank. Kilik and Ox didn't appear to have been too affected, but there were times when their eyes met, and they shared an emotionless nod.

As she stepped outside, shielding her eyes from the blinding sun, Maka took in the view. The school grounds were repaired seamlessly, no signs of a battle having ever taken place. There were a few students milling around, though most were enjoying the extended summer break from classes. Kid decided to keep the school closed for the remainder of the semester, allowing time for repairs, and giving both students and teachers a break. The meister let a frown adorn her face. Kid hadn't made an announcement yet regarding the incident or the fact there was a new truce with the ninja clan. She couldn't blame him though; after everything that happened, she wouldn't want to bring up what happened so soon either.

As her foot hit the bottom step, a familiar rumbling caught her attention and she turned her head. The brakes squeaked as they engaged, the glossy orange bike rolling to a stop. Soul shifted the bike into neutral and the beast quieted to a purr. He said he had something to do during her appointment, so he would pick her up when she was done. It seemed odd, but the meister merely shrugged it off, though she missed the comforting presence in the infirmary.

"How'd it go?" Soul asked as she slid on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Right on time like always.

"Looking better, but still not strong enough to really do anything physical. Stein gave me permission to punch Black Star though." Maka grumbled against his back, lips turning to a smile at the thought. "I'm so freaking bored of being lazy! I don't know how you do it all the time."

"Oi, do you know how hard it is to act lazy? Takes a lot of energy to keep it up all day." Soul shot back as he kicked the bike into gear, secretly enjoying how she slid her hands beneath his jacket.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that excuse before."

The two cruised down the streets, ducking through alleys and back roads when the main street became too crowded. The festival was beginning to come together and by tomorrow, it would be filled with food, fun, and excitement. The wind felt good against her face as they moved, a now rare feeling of ease washing over the meister. Therapy had been set up for the group, and although it was difficult in the beginning, it seemed to be slowly helping. The letter and box given to her by Kid though, were still sitting on her desk, untouched. Part of her wanted to pretend it wasn't there; if she ignored it, then none of the horrific events ever happened and it was all just a nightmare. But every time she looked at the small white box with its red tag, an image of his eyes flashed in her mind. Maybe tonight she would look at it…

Maka jerked from her thoughts as the bike stopped, rumbling softly as it sat idle before turning off. Looking around, she noticed it wasn't their apartment, but rather the small woods that resided towards the edge of the city. It was where they had trained to use Chain Resonance all those years ago, before the battle with Arachne. The image of the imprisoned souls glowing in resonance flashed through her mind, her soul twinging at the thought.

"Soul?"

"C'mon, just follow me." He gave her a toothy grin, holding his hand out for her.

With a wary look, she took it and he guided her deeper into the woods, the trees swaying gently with the wind. Her perception picked up on the other souls and she shot a quizzical glance to her weapon. Feeling the stare, he just smiled and stepped into the opening. Black Star, Tsubaki, Liz and Patty, and Kid were all gathered, smiling and chatting with each other. Black Star noticed first and leapt from the stone wall, landing weightlessly in front of the meister with a huge grin, hands on his hips.

"About time! I was about to fight Kid out of boredom."

"Haven't we done enough fighting for one year?" Kid shook his head and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Besides, that's not why we're here."

"Why are you guys all here?" Maka asked warily.

"Well, since we got back, we haven't really had time together so we thought a gathering would be in order." Tsubaki smiled as she held up a large picnic basket. "Of course, there's plenty of food as well!"

"Soul even made those cupcakes you like, Maka," Liz winked at the meister, "It was a tough situation to go through, so why not heal it with food and friends?"

"And some booze!" Patty chirped as she pulled out two large bottles of wine from a separate bag, more hiding within its depths.

"Technically, the drinking age is twenty-one," Kid started, eyeing the wine with distrust. Everyone's shoulders sagged as they groaned. "But…I can overlook it this time. Just no getting wasted."

"Challenge accepted!" The ninja crowed as he snatched a bottle and made to chug it until Tsubaki grabbed it back, scolding him.

"Damn, this is top shelf stuff." Soul let out a low whistle as he examined the black and red label, intricate gold writing glittering in the light. "Reserves, even. Not bad."

"You'd be surprised what we have laying around the house," Liz grinned before motioning the weapon closer with a flap of her hand. "Took it from the hidden cellar beneath the kitchen. No one's been down there in years."

"Well, let's put it to good use then." The Death Scythe grinned as he transformed his arm and sliced the cork off, the bottle opening with a satisfying pop and aromatic plume.

The girls were setting up the blankets and food while the guys messed around, tossing around a football that Black Star had brought along. Patty managed to dive bomb on top of Kid and Soul, wrestling the ball from their grips before prancing away, holding it like a trophy. Maka leaned against the wall, arms around her waist, watching her friends relax for the first time in over a month. Now that she thought about it, when was the last time they'd been together like this? It felt as if nothing had happened a mere few weeks ago.

"Ya know, I'm always here to talk." She looked over to see Black Star leaning against the wall beside her. "I know we all went through hell and back, but you…what you went through was beyond that."

"I'm sorry, for what I put all of you through," Maka responded quietly, her eyes staring off into the woods. "I should have warned you all beforehand, but…"

"'How you do you tell your friends you're about to be sacrificed for a fucking psychotic witch in order to unleash madness upon the world?'"

"Something like that." She gave a dry laugh. "You know, I think I talked with Asura, when I was floating in the darkness."

"Yeah? What'd that asshole have to say?"

"Told me something about how my soul's wavelength had the strength to prevent me from completely succumbing to the madness. But I couldn't even fight it off when I was dragged further into it." Maka glanced down at her legs, the feeling of madness ghosting up her legs. "I wasn't strong enough to fight it off alone."

"I don't think he meant alone," Black Star added after a minute, resting his arms behind him on the weathered stone. "I think he meant that your soul is strong enough to do something others aren't capable of. Like your Chain Resonance with hundreds of souls; no one else could survive something as powerful as that besides you."

Maka placed a hand against her chest, feeling her heart beating strong against her palm. Her wavelength was flickering intermittently, still damaged from the excessive strain. It would be a long, slow road to full recovery.

"I can't ever do something like that again, Star, it nearly took my life."

"Can't is for quitters, and you, Albarn, are no quitter." She looked up at him. "You may be down and out for now, but you'll bunce back to your normal self once more. Give it time."

"I'd say you've changed a bit, grown a little more?" Maka teased as she tapped her knuckles against his chest.

"Viktor opened my eyes a bit more to the world, I think. He was an honorable man who valued his friends and family over glory in battle. Even when he was obeying orders, he felt what he was doing went against his ways; he knew something was wrong and shifted his priorities to save us all in the end. He sacrificed himself so that the rest of us can carry on his will. I've got a long way to go before I surpass him." Maka went to speak when a voice interrupted, ending the heart to heart.

"Foods ready! Let's eat!" Tsubaki called out, waving her arm to the two.

"We can mope later, it's food time!" Black Star pulled her against his side, hugging her tightly before dragging her to the blanket.

They ate, drank, laughed, and let their worries roll from their shoulders. Black Star, of course, challenged Patty to a drinking contest with the bottles of wine and was completely shitfaced while the weapon still seemed surprisingly sober. Liz pulled out a six pack of beer, tossing one to Kid, Maka, Soul, and Tsubaki before cracking open hers.

"Now that I think about it, can Reapers get drunk?" Soul asked after raising a brow at the aftertaste. It wasn't the best alcohol he'd had, but it would do for now.

"My body can metabolize alcohol much faster than normal people, so essentially I can't even get buzzed." Kid grimaced at the beer with little interest before setting it down. "Though, in theory, if I continuously drank massive quantities twenty-four-seven…"

"I'm not sure there's enough alcohol in the world to be able to do that, Kid," Tsubaki chuckled as she sipped on hers. Her face remained impassive, neither confirming nor denying her approval for the alcohol.

"Probably not a good idea when you're the one running the city," Maka pointed out as she took a tentative sip, instantly cringing and sticking her tongue out in disgust. Soul snickered at her.

"Gotta step up that game, Albarn, or yer never gonna beat me!"

Black Star yelled from his spot on the ground, waving his arm around drunkenly, surrounded by at least four empty bottles. Patty stood next to him, emptying the bottle of wine in her hand before stomping a boot onto his chest, raising the glass in victory with a battle cry. Shaking her head, Maka set the beer down and opted to listen to everyone else's conversations. It felt relaxing to just sit and enjoy herself for once, even with a nasty aftertaste in her mouth.

"You okay?" Soul asked in her ear, his hand resting on the small of her back. A tingle went up her spine at his touch.

"It's nothing, just trying to remember the last time we were all together like this." The meister whispered back, leaning into her weapon. For being tall and lanky, he was pretty comfortable.

"Been a few months, I think."

"Mm. Hey, Soul, did you ever open that letter?"

"Yeah, a few weeks ago. I know you haven't opened yours yet."

"I've been…hesitant, to open it. Every time I look at the envelope…" Maka felt the image of his eyes flash in her mind once more.

"I think you'll be more at ease once you just do it." Soul rested his head against her shoulder, feeling the hesitation in her soul. "We'll open it together, once we get home, if it makes it easier." Warm lips planted themselves briefly against her cheek.

Maka sighed as she slightly turned away, trying to hide the pink tint creeping up her neck. Those damned irresistible lips of his… "Yeah, I guess I can't put it off any longer. We'll open it when we get home."

The group partied for a few more hours until the sun began drop lower, and they all went their separate ways to head home. Poor Tsubaki had to drag Black Star out of there while he slurred on and on about surpassing everyone, including God, in drinking. Patty just mocked him as she, somehow soberly, pranced her way home with Kid and Liz, carrying the wine bottles as trophies. Maka pressed her face into Soul's leather jacket as he revved the engine before taking off, a tingling sensation in the back of her mind. Something felt off about the sudden peace. Was there something she was forgetting?

The jerk of the bike brought her back and she noticed they were outside of the apartment, the living room light shining through the curtains. Blair must be home from work. With a swing of her leg, the meister moved from the bike and made for the complex door when she stopped, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

"Hey, what's going on with you? It's not like you to be so out of it." Soul asked quietly as he turned her around and pulled her close, cupping her face. "What's got you so uneasy?"

Maka sighed as she placed her hands over his, chewing on the corner of her lip. It felt odd, the sensations and images that repeated in her mind every time she looked at the box and letter. Nothing felt right about the whole situation; when she sliced through Ametrine, it was like there was nothing there, like her body was an empty shell. Keeping her gaze averted, she answered uncertainly.

"I don't know. I feel like there's going to be information in there that will break the peace we have. We just ended a war before it could start, I don't think any of us could handle another one so soon. There's one other thing; I feel like I'm forgetting something important, but I can't think of what it could be."

"Maybe Viktor wrote the clue in his letter?" Soul asked suddenly, watching her eyes snap up to meet his. "You never know until you open it."

"I was waiting for the right time to open it, when I was ready." She whispered. "Those dreams…it seemed like he was trying to tell me something. Through his eyes, he was trying to relay a message, but I don't know what it is. Argh, this is driving me insane!"

Soul pressed his hands against her face, making her look like a fish. Maka's eyebrow ticked as she tried to swat at him, failing against his longer arms. The weapon snickered as he dodged her kicks, easily out of her range. Spotting an opening, he swooped down and kissed her briefly, pulling back to see that adorable tinting of her cheeks. Death above, what this woman did to him…

"If you're that worried about it, then let's go read the letter. I'll even be nice and make you a cup of tea."

"What a generous partner you are," Maka rolled her eyes with a smile, smacking his hands away.

"I'm still waiting for my crown, ya know."

"Not happening," Maka laughed as she opened the door to the apartment.

Blair wasn't in the apartment, but she had left the light on for them before she returned to work for her second shift. Bypassing the kitchen, the meister headed straight for her room to where the box and letter rested on her desk. Viktor's eyes flashed again in her mind, the image stronger than before as she reached for the items.

Soul padded down the hallway barefoot, having exited his room after changing into shorts and an old tee, his leather jacket and jeans too hot for the summer heat. Maka's door was wide open and he stopped in the doorway at what he saw. She was standing there frozen, her hand resting on the envelope as if she were about to grab it. Emerald eyes were wide, staring at nothing while her pupils were darting side to side, similar to reading lines from a book.

"Maka?"

Soul was at her side in an instant, grabbing her shoulders to twist her towards him when strong electricity zapped at him, forcing him back. He tried again, grasping for her forearm with the same result. What the hell was happening to her? The scythe briefly contemplated calling Kid and the others over when the spell seemed to wear off. Maka's pupils ceased their shifting before her eyes rolled into the back of her skull, gravity pushing the meister towards the ground.

"Maka! Hey, wake up. Maka, open your eyes and look at me!" Soul begged as he lunged forward, catching the unmoving body of his partner. "What's wrong? Hey!"

Just as her fingertip entered the proximity of the envelope, sharp electricity shot up into her arm, travelling through her shoulder, neck, and finally into her head. The familiar scenery of her room suddenly crackled and morphed into one of darkness, twisted and malicious. Dark energy crackled and zapped at her skin, causing the meister to clench her arms against her chest, wincing as she was shocked. Everywhere she looked, it was an endless horizon filled with overflowing madness, twitching as if restless. Maka suddenly froze as her soul perception kicked in, whirling around to come face to face with a familiar soul. The blue orb wiggled in the air, peacefully, calmly, as she stared at it. It was the only light thing in the room, but as she looked closer, it seemed the edges of the soul were slowly turning darker.

"V-Viktor?" Hesitantly she reached out for the floating soul, pausing before touching it.

Maka's scream caught in her throat as she was sucked into the soul at dizzying speeds. The force of the pull was too strong for her to open her eyes, the wind slashing at her face ferociously. But as soon as it started, it stopped, the meister suddenly hitting the ground hard. With a grunt and a curse that would make a sailor blush, she opened her eyes to see a deep blue sky above her, big white fluffy clouds gently scattered about. A field, she thought, as she twisted around to check her surroundings, discovering she was sitting at the swell of a hillside. Down below sat a village, wooden huts scattered throughout a small area. A sparkling river flowed beside the bustling town, some villagers at the waters edge collecting the clear substance.

Pushing herself up, she slowly took in her surroundings as she made her way down the hill, a slight breeze tickling her skin and teasing her untamed locks. There was something different about the air, almost as if it were nearly pure in form, untainted. It felt refreshing. As she grew closer to the village, the noise level increased as she heard shouts of traders, gleeful screams of children as they ran along the dirt, drunken men catcalling the young women as they passed by. Climbing a small embankment landed her just at the edge of the housing and she tried to process everything in front of her. Everything from their clothing, their mannerisms, villagers squatting by the river's edge to relieve themselves, the filthy feet of the children running past her; there was no sign of modern technology anywhere.

"You are right about that," A deep voice chuckled and Maka nearly snapped her neck from looking over her shoulder so fast.

"Viktor…" The man gave her a warm smile, his face no longer concealed with a mask.

He stood behind her, dressed in a black kimono with a pink lotus flower pinned over his heart. A wooden necklace draped around his neck, intricate markings written in black on each individual bead. A rosary was wrapped around his right wrist, a silver bell adorning the red tassel, chiming softly as it moved. Blonde locks flickered freely in the breeze as he stared at her with contentment. His feet were bare as he lightly treaded the dirt to stand beside her, his eyes trailing back to the bustling village.

"I was waiting for when you would touch the envelope, Maka," Viktor glanced at her before motioning with his head to follow. "I had felt a bad omen coming, before we went into battle, and had Flyorova assist me in sealing a part of my soul within the letter."

"Where…when are we exactly?" Maka asked as they strolled down the path. She went to step out of the way of a small child barreling towards her when he phased right through her, unaffected by her presence.

"We cannot be seen, we are merely ghosts." Viktor mused as he watched Maka's expression turn to horrified confusion as she examined her body where the child passed through. "Well, I literally am, but that is not why we are here. This is over a thousand years in the past, long before the time Asura went insane and became sealed by Lord Death. This was the birthplace of the original Hidden Shadow Clan village before they slowly began conquering the land where the present generation resides."

"So, this is a memory of sorts?" How was any of this even possible?

"Ninja secrets, friend, that is the key to clan preservation. But there is a reason I have brought you here." Viktor stopped just outside of the largest building in the area, a three storied wooden sanctum with gleaming golden gables.

The shrine itself was impressive, towering over the rest of the village with its deep red paint and massive pillars that were traced over with intricate golden symbols. Large windows on the second and third floors allowed plenty of light while keeping dust a debris at bay with their paper barriers. At the top was a set of doors leading to a small balcony, a platform of sorts for announcements Maka decided. There was a commotion near the entrance, a small crowd having gathered near the shrine stairs. The village men had their swords drawn, shouting at a cloaked person being swiftly ushered inside, armored men pushing the crowd back with metal poles. The women and children stayed at the rear, armed with heavy sticks and rocks. A clang shot through the air and Maka watched in horror as a samurai deflected a katana attack before kicking the man's feet out beneath him and slamming the pole down over his chest. There was a sickening crunch, wide green eyes watching in horror as his ribs caved inward, blood gurgling from his lips as he twitched violently before slowly falling still, unseeing eyes wide towards the sky. Two more guards quickly dragged him away by his ankles, blood soiling the dirt as they were shifting the body out of sight behind a hut.

"How could they just—murder a man and then dump his body?" Maka whispered in horror, the sickening crunch ringing in her ears. The churning in her stomach made her mouth water.

"This era was constantly filled with violence, especially against those who are protecting a high-ranking person." Viktor patted her shoulder gently. "Samurai are highly trained warriors paid to protect those above the squalor of the poorest and they do not spare anyone deemed a threat. Even children have fallen at their hands."

"Monsters…"

"History is a lot more violent and cruel than you might think. The person who entered the shrine is who we must follow. Come, you must see what happens in order to better understand why you are here."

They phased through the crowd with ease, their angry voices nearly deafening as they screamed slurs and threw anything they could at the samurai standing diligently at their posts. Maka looked into the dirty and worn faces of the villagers, sensing the desolation and despair within their souls. It was a rough life, poor and struggling to survive each and every day, never knowing when death would come with its sweet embrace to take you away. The massive iron doors resting at the entrance began to groan as they were pushed closed, three men on each side pushing the heavy slabs of metal with everything they had. Viktor and Maka shifted through them with ease, the loud metal boom echoing from behind them.

"Witch Mardella, I suggest you gain control of your men before I have you executed where you stand." A middle-aged man snarled as he swiftly stood from his throne centered in the room, regal black and gold embroidered robes snapping angrily around him. A medium sized fire burned just to his right, priests cloaked in white chanting and throwing bones into the hungry flames. A scrawny man stood to the left of the throne, eyes darting nervously between the two standing figures, scrolls filling his arms.

"Shogun Tsuchiya Sukejuro, your villager attacked my guard, it was within his right to defend himself." The young woman replied coolly, flicking her long silver hair over her shoulder. "If you are just going to waste my precious time by screaming at me like an ill-mannered child, then I will take my resources elsewhere."

Tension skyrocketed between the two, the samurai protecting both sides eyeing each other up, their grips tightening around their weapons. Magic seemed to flare at the witch's fingertips as she glowered at the Lord standing mere feet from her. Maka flinched backwards as her soul wavelength expanded, swirling with such power that an invisible wind had kicked up, nearly extinguishing the flames. With a clenched jaw, the shogun raised a hand, telling his men to stand down.

"Very well, I will overlook it this time. I am short on time, so please hurry this along." Shogun Sukejuro sighed heavily as he returned to his throne, dropping heavily into it.

With a scoff the witch pulled her power back, eyeing the man before her distastefully. Long black robes concealed her frame with intricate weavings of gold and silver thread depicting the night sky and constellations. While she didn't don a hat like most of the current generation of witches did, her robe had a matching hood nestled behind her neck. Though she couldn't quite see her face, Maka could sense the tremendous amount of power she held within her soul. There were wisps encircling the oddly dark purple soul, linked together like the chain of a watch.

"Her soul…there's something odd about it," Maka whispered to Viktor, eyes locked onto the unusual sight. "A chain of silver is encircling the soul, but that isn't all. It's dark purple; almost as if there were madness in it, yet not. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Ah, that is because she is no ordinary witch, friend, she is the Witch of the Eternal Time." Viktor spoke normally, watching the scene before him unfold with interest.

"Witch of the Eternal Time…?"

"In a simplified term, she is the true mother of all witches. She has survived for thousands of years, hidden away in a separate plane of reality, though she tends to wander this realm frequently. Lord Death never knew about her due to her nomad tendencies. She was created by an unknown being who messed with the laws of time and space, forcing the power of Chronos into her soul and creating the most powerful witch in existence. Ametrine, her power was perhaps around one percent or less compared to Mardella Sipheron."

"O-one percent…Ametrine's power?" Maka choked out, whirling to look at the ninja with wide eyes, her body trembling. "T-there's no way…she'd be—there's no way anyone could defeat her!"

"Why do you think the shogun backed down? Anyone who has challenged her or threatened harm to befall upon her was erased from time." Viktor felt uneasy looking at the shoguns face, a devious glint hidden within his eyes. "Mardella is not one who enjoys fighting or violence, hence why she has hired the samurai to do her dirty work. But she was known throughout the land as an oni, a demon, and many feared her. Many have fallen at the hands of her hired men."

Maka opened and closed her mouth, speechless as she turned back to look at the witch. For someone so powerful, she looked fairly young. Glancing at Viktor, she moved to get a better angle, legs shaking as she walked. It was the overwhelming sensation of fear that stopped her movement, her eyes trailing up to Mardella's slowly. As if sensing the gaze, the witch broke her glare at the shogun to stare in her direction curiously. She was definitely a beauty by any era's standard, a small petite nose, full luscious lips, flawless skin tinted slightly pink. It was her eyes that threw the meister off guard. A rich molten amber speckled with silver and black, an exceedingly rare coloring combination in any known record of genetics. But then again, was she fully a witch? Had she started out as human? A god?

"M-my Lord, if I may speak?" The scrawny man next to the shogun stuttered quietly, shifting the heavy weight in his arms.

"Speak."

"I-I have done the calculations, along with taking the advice from the priests, and I believe if our clan were to begin invading lands following the rivers, we would have the means to build up our forces large enough to overcome Lord Iwazaki of the East."

"Interesting. Witch Mardella, have you any visions to support this idea?" Lord Sukejuro shifted to sit straight on his throne, locking his fingers beneath his chin as he eyed the witch with a barely contained excited look.

Mardella's eyes darted back to him, sighing as she exhaled, bringing her palms up to rest against the center of her chest. An odd sensation poured over Maka as the witch began to chant beneath her breath, her cloak beginning to lift from the ground, without a trace of wind. A ring of gold began forming on the wooden flooring, lines of unknown symbols slowly lifting from the glow, the tendrils slowly vining around her body. As they linked together above her head, they suddenly burst into silver links of chain, moving seamlessly in rhythm as they raced around her, forming an orb. Reaching her right hand towards the closest chain, Mardella barely touched it when it suddenly dissolved into nothingness. Silver locks whipped around her face as wide eyes stared into the unknown, the color of her irises changing rapidly as time showed her every possible outcome.

"Is she…reading time?" Maka asked breathlessly, feeling a tingling sensation within her soul.

"Yes. The power of Chronos lives within her, something that very few believed possible." Viktor seemed unfazed by the power of a God as he crossed his arms over his chest. "In this era, lesser known shogun would contact Mardella for her time reading abilities, in the hopes that they could overpower their enemies and reign over the lands. She can see any and all possibilities regarding her visions, yet only she knows which is true. Depending on what she was gifted depends on the outcome of the shogun's destiny."

"So, whoever bribes her the most gets the better outcome? That's ridiculous!" Maka seethed as watched the golden light and chains vanish from around the witch, her cloak settling noiselessly back against the ground.

"Look at it this way, Maka," Viktor turned his white gaze to hers, face neutral. "Whatever future she may read to them, in the end, they always choose the correct one. History does not change due to the fact she offers advice. Chronos does not have the ability to alter the timeline at free will, thus, Mardella does not either. If the two were separated, then the world we, you, know would never be the same. Chronos would be altering the world out of control and Mardella most likely would not exist, therefore the future generations of witches would have never come to be. Lord Death would not have created the DWMA, Asura never would have been born, demon weapons like Soul would not exist, you would never exist, at least the way you do now. Everything is planned precisely and with reason, down to the smallest microorganisms in the ground."

"It was destined for them to be merged together," Maka felt the gears turning in her mind. "Chronos, he has a daughter though, Ananke. The deity of fate, right?"

"You have done your history," Viktor smiled down at her. "Yes, Ananke is the daughter of Chronos, deity of necessity and fate. She aids with the decisions her father makes, as he was the one to self-create at the dawn of the universe and split it into the heaven, sea, and Earth, though she is not confined to the Earth as he is. The choice made here passes through Ananke before returning to Chronos, who then reveals the vision. Without her, there is no telling what the outcome would be."

Maka mulled the information over in her mind. But how did everything begin? How did Chronos become trapped in the body of a human? Being that Gods were the highest known beings there were, it must have been another God that punished the Father of Time for a crime and banished them to a life on Earth. Just from the history books she had read, at least a few dozen if not more, Chronos had once heard of a prophecy that his children would overcome his power, so he had swallowed them whole. Was someone punishing him for that crime, or was it something else?

"Your future has been decided, here is the scroll deciding your fate." Mardella speaking snapped Maka from her thoughts, the witch handing a small golden scroll to the shogun's aid.

"Ah, many thanks, Witch Mardella. I hope you will be able to aid us once more in the future." Lord Sukejuro beamed at her, clasping his palm over his fist and bowing. Mardella returned the bow before turning on her heel and heading for the door.

The shogun's aid scurried behind her, having abandoned his scrolls on a nearby tablet. A coin purse was tugged from behind his belt as they stopped at the entrance, waiting for the doors to open. With a series of bows and murmurs of gratitude, the aid handed her the bag, receiving a kind smile in return. The two samurai flanking her sides each received a bag as well, nodding slightly beneath their heavy helmets.

Viktor tapped her shoulder as he made to follow behind the witch, almost gliding across the floor. With one last look at the eager shogun unrolling his golden scroll, the meister jogging to catch up to her taller companion.

"What are you trying to tell me by showing me all of this?" Maka asked once they were outside once more, the crowd of angry villagers throwing their weapons at the hooded witch. "Does this have to do with why I feel like I'm forgetting something?"

"The reason you are forgetting is because your mind does not know what it is you are forgetting." Viktor clasped his hands behind his back while he walked, the bell on his wrist tinkling from the movement. "That is not the only reason you are here, Maka; I was not the only one who wanted you here, in this era."

"Wait, are you saying—?"

They had just exited the village, stopping on the outskirts of a dense forest path. In front of her, Mardella suddenly halted her steps, cloak swinging wildly as she turned. Time slowed to a halt, everything from the grass and trees to her guards freezing in time, their colors turning a dull grey. With a tug of her hood, the witch revealed her face once more, silver locks flowing freely behind her as golden eyes swirled with specks of white and black.

"Hello, Maka Albarn," She smiled kindly, tucking her locks behind her ear. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"W-wait a minute…" Maka sputtered as she looked between the two, eyes wild as her brain came to a screeching halt. "H-how did you—you stopped time? This doesn't make any sense! Viktor, what's going on?" The ninja merely shrugged though there was a miniscule twitch of his lips.

"Pardon my actions, but it was the only way I was able to contact you. Your world is unstable right now and my arrival would cause some…unintentional distortions. I foretold Viktor's ancestors that the letter I had bestowed upon them was to be passed down for generations until it reached your timeline. Ananke ensured it had a safe journey there."

"Since that letter had arrived just before the battle, I was able to seal a part of my soul within the letter she forged over a thousand years ago. It was given to Flyorova who passed it along to Lord Death. It was enchanted to bring you here, to the timeline where she resided." Viktor explained gently, the poor girl next to him looking like she was about to pass out.

"I am sorry, but there is not much time, Viktor." Mardella cast him a sorrowful look, her hands twisting nervously at her front. "Miss Albarn, I summoned you here to warn you of a disturbance in time in your era, one that my power cannot reach. You dealt with the witch Ametrine, you understand her desire to release the madness?" With a slow nod from the girl she continued. "From what my visions have foretold, her soul was not destroyed that day. In fact, I was watching when it happened and felt a warp in the time space continuum as you appeared to have destroyed her body. It seems her soul was taken, and a portion of the madness was taken out of that pocket of space by an unknown entity."

It clicked in Maka's mind; when she sliced through Ametrine, there was no resistance, almost as if she had been a shell.

"How do I find this…entity then?" She asked slowly. The more they talked, the more confused she was becoming.

"They reside in the same timeline as you, on the same Earth. I can guide you to a broad area of where I presume they reside, but I cannot reveal the exact location." The witch shook her head, eyes portraying the unintentional restraint. "Your answer will be within the box given to you as well, another gift passed down hundreds of generations."

"Ah, the one mother showed me when I was younger." The light in Viktor's eyes dimmed as he thought of his mother, a painful ache in his heart. "Is she…is she okay?"

"Kid, Black Star, and Tsubaki were there, for your…service, and from what they told me, she considers us all family now." He barked out a laugh, running a hand through his hair.

"She always did that, considering everyone her children. Thank you, I know she will be alright without me there."

"Viktor, I must insist," Mardella pleaded, grabbing onto his sleeve desperately. "Time is beginning to sway, I cannot keep either of you here any longer. She must return to her timeline and you must move on, to be with Vika."

"Forgive me, Mardella, I got too excited." Viktor apologized with a quick pat on her shoulder. "Maka, I will escort you back to the hill where you entered. Mardella, thank you for your time and knowledge, I will ensure she is returned home."

With a curtsey, the witch smiled as she waved the two farewell. As soon as they disappeared down the pathway, her lips fell into a deep frown. Things were about to get extremely messy and the thought troubled her deeply. With a sigh, Mardella turned back around as time continued to flow, matching the steps of her samurai seamlessly as they entered the forest.

"Viktor, what does all of this mean? Ametrine isn't truly dead? And what about this entity? None of this is making sense!" Maka blurted out as she stopped in the center of the village, gripping the sides of her head tightly. "If I don't know who is causing all of this, then I can't figure out how to fix it! Please, tell me something that will help!"

Viktor slowly turned to face her, his eyes pitying. He felt his heart ache; he had not told her the entire truth. About everything. The visions and omens and bad feelings he had back in Russia weren't just his heightened senses; they were messages from Mardella. Though meddling with the affairs of the flow of time was a serious offense, one that could cause the world as they knew it to alter drastically, the witch had the guidance of Ananke whose guidance stayed true. Those pleading green eyes hit the soft spot he had for her and he let out a relenting sigh.

"Even I do not know who it is, but I can tell you that the power they possess is similar to Mabaa-dono. Her magic has the ability to alter with time and space, as you have seen, and we are to believe they are using Ametrine's soul to unleash Asura fully by alternating the timeline. Mardella will do everything in her power to stop it, but the rest will have to be up to you and your friends. I am sorry."

"I was right," She whispered, more to herself than him, "I had a feeling that opening the letter would cause the peace to end. How did I get mixed up in all of this? I just wanted a normal life; graduate from the DWMA, get married, start a family, keep the world safe for as long as I'm able to."

"And you will be able to do all of those things," Viktor enveloped her small body, much to her surprise, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "I cannot predict nor control fate, but you were put in this world for a reason, Maka. Your destiny is to protect the world, no amount of danger will sway it."

Maka felt the warmth of his words as she slowly hugged him back. It was his final goodbye. They would never speak or meet again after this timeline. After a minute, they pulled apart, wavering green orbs looking into peaceful white ones.

"Vika is waiting for me, so let us get you back home to your partner." His smile almost seemed sad and the meister nodded silently.

The remainder of the walk was quiet save for the rambunctious children of the village, running around the path with sticks and wooden swords, practicing their swings and blocks. Women passed them by, carrying large baskets of laundry at their hips, chatting cheerfully as they made their way home. A few traders pulled their carts behind them, hoping to set up in the small area, calling out their quality wares. A few dogs pranced around, hoping for scraps and affection. As they made their way up the hill, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, breathtaking hues of red, orange, and yellow making Maka pause. The world seemed so…peaceful.

"This is where we part, Maka." Viktor said quietly, watching as she slowly tore her eyes from the setting sun. "No more than an hour should have passed in your world. I…hope you can forgive me for the way I acted when we first met."

"There's nothing to forgive, Viktor, I assure you. I know you were just following orders. Friends forgive each other," She smiled brightly, moving to stand beside him. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, back in the cavern. If I had been stronger…"

"You are perhaps the strongest person I have met in a long time, Maka Albarn, and I can tell you have a strong heart and desire to protect everything around you. Fate was ready to take me, and I readily accepted. In a lot of ways, you remind me of Vika." He smiled before it faltered, his eyes distant. "Give Black Star and the others my regards."

"Of course."

"Farewell, Maka Albarn, it was a pleasure knowing you." Viktor extended his hand.

"Goodbye, Viktor, we'll never forget you. Go, Vika is waiting for you." Maka clasped his hand back tightly, giving him a watery smile as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Soul is waiting for you as well. We will be watching over you all."

As the familiar sensation of being pulled into the soul started, Maka could've sworn a figure appeared next to Viktor, locking arms and smiling up at him brightly. He returned the smile and the two began walking towards the sunset, together at last.

Oh man, I got a little emotional at the last part y'all. So sad! Let's keep moving forward!