Chapters will still continue to be slow after this. They've got me working 50 hours a week and it's pretty draining. Plus, The Last of Us Part II came out and it. Is. INSANE. Seriously, go play it even if you've heard the spoilers.

"Kid, you can't be serious—!"

"Maka, I'm sorry, but I can't send out a meister who hasn't been medically cleared to return to missions. I will look into this matter personally."

"This isn't fair; this is my mess to clean up, I can handle it by myself. You have to watch over the city—"

"Witch Ametrine blatantly attacked the school and risked the lives of students and the residents of Death City. I have no choice but to retaliate to a direct threat that could have very well killed a large number of citizens. You know I can't take the chance, Maka, it's too much of a risk."

Kid stared up at the meister with a strained expression, his insides felt like they were twisting tightly at her pained face. Maka had burst into the Death Room early in the morning with urgent news, Soul right on her heels. Spilling everything she had experienced from touching the letter to falling back into reality, the meister remained silent as she waited for his response, those intuitive green eyes searching his soul. The name Mardella didn't ring a bell but The Witch of the Eternal Time did, an uneasy sensation settling over him. There had been a few times the Reaper had browsed through the forbidden books section in the library after his father had passed, though he never dared to remove any of them. Something about that name struck him as familiar and he made a note to brush through that section once more.

"I'm fine, Kid, I can handle myself on a simple reconnaissance mission. No fighting, no resonating, no strain on my soul." Maka planted her fists on her hips, blowing a strand of hair from her eyes. "You can't expect me to stay here and do nothing!"

"You are on medical leave of absence, Maka, you are not permitted into the field without mine or Stein's clearance. I can't risk losing a friend, no matter how simple the mission may seem. What if something were to go wrong and you tried to resonate? What would happen if you over-strained your soul's wavelength or if you got caught up in battle?" Kid was growing weary of this. He was well aware of how stubborn an Albarn could be, but there was no chance he was going to give into her demands. Not after what they just went through. "Stein gave me a copy of the medical report; you are not to do anything strenuous for another week or so to ensure your wavelength completely stabilizes. That includes any missions."

"Lord Death," There it was, the infamous Albarn venomous fury that sent a shiver down the Reaper's spine. "There's a witch out there with magic similar to Mabaa who has Ametrine's soul and Asura's madness, I don't have time to sit around here waiting for my medical leave to be dismissed."

"Maka, please, it can wait until you're fully healed," Liz pleaded from beside Kid, Patty eagerly nodding her agreement. "We already lost you once, we can't lose you again."

"This is nothing compared to the battle with Asura—"

"Maka," Soul grabbed her shoulder, shooting her a silent plea as she shrugged him off. She was shaking, the dam holding back her anger nearly breaking.

"Soul, don't you start with me either. This has become a personal matter; Mardella told me to open the box I was given, it would explain where to find this entity. If we don't stop them now then the whole world could be overwhelmed with madness."

Kid felt his already severely frayed nerves finally snap and he slowly pushed himself up from his chair, looming over the shorter girl. Liz and Patty took a few steps back, clinging to each other as their meisters emotions filtered through resonance. Maka lifted her chin defiantly as Lord Death moved to stand within a few inches of her, looming over her with a dangerous aura rolling from his body. Soul subconsciously shifted closer, a hand gripping the fabric of her shirt to pull his partner back if needed.

"This discussion is over, you are dismissed. If you continue to push this, Maka, I will suspend you from your meister duties indefinitely." Kid growled lowly, feeling the slew of emotions emitting from the startled meister. "Soul, I'll need you to stay for a few minutes to discuss an important matter."

The two stared each other down, daring the other to make the first break. Kid wouldn't back down, not this time. It was his duty to protect his students and friends and after the Russia incident, sending her into the field again so soon was a death wish. Golden eyes sent her a silent plea to back down before he was forced to hand down harsher punishment. With a clenched jaw, Maka broke her gaze first, glaring angrily at the floor before turning and storming from the room, breaking from Soul's grip. The door slammed loudly, and a heavy air fell over them.

"Liz, Patty."

"R-right. Let's go, Patty." Liz practically shoved her sister out of the room, leaving the Reaper and death scythe alone.

"If I hadn't done that, Soul, she never would have backed down." Kid sighed and looked towards the Tori gates as he felt red eyes burning into his head.

"Doesn't make it right to threaten her with suspending her meister duties." Soul huffed, stuffing his hands into his jeans. "All that did was fuel her resolve to find this entity before a full wave of madness is released into the world."

"Maka wasn't the only one to be contacted by the Witch Mardella Sipheron." Soul looked at Kid with a raised brow.

Pulling an envelope from beneath his suit jacket, Kid handed it to the weapon, pinching the bridge of his nose stressfully. "This was waiting for me after we all departed last night. No return address, no name written on the front or back. Though judging by what the letter contained, I have no doubt that she wrote it."

Soul's eyes darted over the aged parchment, rereading the bottom of the page with knotted brows.

"If I hadn't met her in person, I wouldn't believe bullshit like this, but considering I have, I know she's not lying." Soul lowered the letter to look at Kid. "This is a major problem, Kid."

"I believe Maka's words and yours, Soul, and if this is implying what I think it is then we're going to need backup. I'll contact Mabaa-dono and get started on pulling any information that I can on the matter. Flyorova as well." Kid plopped heavily onto his chair, dragging a hand down his face tiredly. "Soul, not a word of this leaves the room. The reason I pulled you aside separately is because you and I need to travel Africa to meet with Dengu in regard to possible pre-Kishin sightings."

"And you don't want Maka to know because she'll fight like hell to go." Soul finished, grimacing. That means he would have to leave her here, alone. The thought dropped his heart down to his stomach like an anchor in water.

"I know it's not ideal, but I need a Death Scythe who knows how to fight these creatures. It will only be a short mission, a week at the absolute most. We leave the day after tomorrow, early in the morning, so I suggest you prepare Maka while you can."

"Fine, but I'm not doing it tonight. She needs to take a break from this mess."

"Very well. I'll see you at the festival tonight then, Soul. Report back to me in the morning, eight preferably."

"You've gotta get over that damned OCD, Kid."

Soul turned and made it halfway to the door when Kid called out to him.

"I suggest you both update your wills… our luck doesn't last forever."

Timber crackled softly as flames licked eagerly at it, the bark turning black before falling off as the fire was prodded. A satisfied hum filled the air as aged floorboards creaked beneath heavy footsteps. Vials clacked and screeched against a wooden table as they were shoved aside, hands shuffling for their intended target. With a muttered curse and some fumbling, an oil lantern groaned to life, the flame flickering as it greedily absorbed the oil.

"You should really update this place, such a filthy hole you live in." A snide voice rang through the air, almost staticky in sound. "I'm surprised you even still live here, considering it's a stone's throw from one of the Realm portals. Mabaa banished you centuries ago yet here you are, still within range and hiding in plain sight beneath their noses. Intervening a battle to the death, stealing another witch's soul, a powerful one at that, and for what exactly?"

No answer.

"Ignoring me now? Your reputation of egotistical tendencies definitely precedes you—"

"You know," A gravelly voice rasped, interrupting the ranting one. "I really do enjoy a nice frog dinner, especially ones that are filled with an energetic soul. Something about it really hits the spot."

"Threats won't get you anywhere, hag, you still need my soul."

"I never said I would kill the frog as I ate it. Feeling every anguishing bite into its legs, slowly tearing them apart, ripping the muscles and tendons while breaking the bones into little tiny pieces. I do like to savor the legs most of all, so delectable."

"No wonder Mabaa banished you from the Realm, you're fucking insane. Those old tales must be true then; you're the—"

"Unless you want the very essence squeezed from your soul, I suggest you shut up." The voice snarled as glass shattered against the wall. "Your crimes are nothing to be proud of either. Unleashing Asura's madness upon the Realm, disgracing and destroying the Coven, killing hundreds for your experiments, blowing up Death City, getting on the bad side of Lord Death, alliancing yourself with the Hidden Shadow Clan in Northern Russia just to submerge the world in overwhelming darkness. May I remind you, Ametrine, that you failed. You got sloppy and let your guard down, letting a child defeat you so easily is pathetic and disgraceful to the witch lineage. If it were not for me saving your wretched soul, then you would have been erased from this world. Bring up Mabaa or my crimes once more and you shall see why no one exists after my power is used."

Ametrine's soul wiggled gently in its cage, translucent tail flickering angrily against the magical prison. If her face could appear within the orb, crimson eyes would be blasting holes in the ancient witches' head. The witch shuffled various jars and bottles around on the table, jaw clenched tightly as she arranged everything back into order. An oversized cloak covered the witches' frame from head to toe, concealing her true form. The thick dark fabric rustled across the floor, stirring up years of settled dust as she moved about the small cottage. It was dilapidated both inside and out, maintaining an abandoned vibe to deter nosey people. On occasion, someone would enter the crumbling cottage only to find it filled with debris and moss.

"You know…"

"Do not make me waste my energy on vaporizing you."

"Again, you need my soul. What exactly is your plan if you encounter Maka Albarn? She isn't that easy to take down. Came back to life, even after I put that curse on her body."

"The Deathbell Curse? I have not heard of that being used in eons." The witch mused while pulling a bulky book from a warped bookcase. "There are a few lesser known rules that apply to the curse and using it correctly. One; the intended target, if they so possess a powerful anti-demon soul wavelength, can overcome the effects of the curse, therefore purifying it and causing it to fail. Two; if you do not correctly write the scripture upon the victim, the curse shall become void once activated. Judging by the lack of insults coming from you, I would say you neglected to read the spell in its entirety."

"I didn't exactly have all the time in the world to read everything. Besides, I did do some damage to her. It seems her resonance has become unstable, meaning—"

"Yes, yes, it means she cannot resonate without the risk of doing permanent damage to her body. Who do you think was watching that battle in order to pull your soul from its crippled vessel?" The witch cut Ametrine off, raising a brow when she heard the faintest of scoffs. "I created that curse centuries ago, I know the damaging effects of its power. The fact that she remains alive is intriguing, to say the least. Those with Grigori souls certainly are special."

"Soul 'Eater' Evans is her partner, a Death Scythe. The last one to be precise. Separating them would be best, considering the pair are nearly inseparable. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if Lord Death were to continue to hold his annual festival in say…less than twelve hours?"

Ametrine tried to steel her nerves as the woman slowly approached her, curiosity getting the better of the witch. As powerful as she was, the fact that an ancient witch with the power to distort time and space stood before her was terrifying, to say the least. A few strands of black hair slipped from beneath her cloak as she moved, changing from dry and ratty to luscious and full in a shimmer of light. Deep sea blue eyes peered at the wavering soul through a curtain of locks, light flashing across them almost unnoticeably. She reached out to Ametrine, the skin of her hand soft and supple as it grasped the edge of the box. Full pink lips parted to reveal impossibly perfect teeth as the witch became eye level with the orb.

"Oh? You are more useful than you appear. Now, my little caged birdie, tell me what I want to know, and I may even let you have a temporary body to enjoy the show."

"The snakes and spiders never lie, Witch Esadora, parting gifts from my dearly departed sister and child. Take a seat and I'll tell you everything you want to know."

Ametrine felt a smirk growing on her non-existent lips. Witch Esadora was an incredibly powerful witch who conquered many lands in her younger days, leading the Coven to many victories with minimal casualties. Though she used to be an admirable leader in battle, the woman certainly loved to toy with the humans, even going so far as to open, most often, deadly alternate realties in space for them. With her controlling the madness and the stream of time, there was no telling what would happen. No longer was Ametrine able to seek her revenge against the DWMA and that damned Scythe meister Maka Albarn…. but if there's a will, there's a way.

"I'll start from the beginning."

This had better end well.

Mardella froze mid quill stroke, a cold sensation creeping through her spine as the hairs stood on the back of her neck. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Past, present, or future, she wasn't quite sure yet. All she knew was that it could alter the timeline and drastically veer the course of time off track. Shoving back her chair loudly, the witch sprinted from her study and into the warmly lit hallway of her cottage, racing for the main stairs. A closed door above her suddenly creaked as an unnatural force pushed against it from within, the thick wood bending. Light spewed from beneath the door, nearly blinding the girl as she turned the brass knob and swung the door open.

There, in the center of the room, sat a glass orb atop a pillar, resting in the center of a plush pillow. Mardella watched in horror as a tiny crack appeared in the smooth surface of the thick glass, light refracting through the dozens of miniscule jagged edges. For most of eternity, it had sat there quietly, flashing live feed of natural disasters, mass killings, war zones all across the world. But it also showed momentous points of time; countries forming their independence, abolishment of slavery, beginnings of equality, neighbors helping neighbors, heroic acts of everyday people. History from the very beginning of time was recorded into the ball, capturing every moment in time from the first signs of life to the first evolved human and to the current strife's between neighboring countries. Another small crack branched from the first, sending the witches' nerves into overdrive. This wasn't supposed to happen. The orb was composed of celestial minerals, the toughest substance in the entire solar system. Someone was distorting time itself.

"Heavens above, hear my call, my command." Mardella chanted loudly over the harsh wind tearing at her flesh, covering her eyes with her arms, cuts oozing translucent blood. "Feel my will, seal the rip in time lest the world be ripped apart. Heavens, my command is thine will, by blood, by body and soul. Chronos commands it; seal the tear in time!"

Silence sharply fell over the room as the winds died down and Mardella collapsed to her knees, panting hard as she wearily glanced up at the still orb. The chaos had calmed, leaving a warm shimmering glow in the room. The cracks seemed to have filled back in, save for the tiniest speck of a chip precisely centered on the front. With a grunt, she pushed herself from the floor, briefly examining her bleeding appendages. The wounds would heal themselves later. Eyeing the glass warily, she placed a hand gently on the orb, feeling the heat radiating from its core. Images flashed through her mind at warp speed, showing the previous moments of pandemonium. Something dark zapped her hand away from the orb before vanishing, nearly an illusion if it weren't for the scorching heat running along her palm.

Slowly, anxiously, Mardella twisted her palm upwards to see the marking. The sinking feeling in her gut told her what it was, but she had to be absolutely sure. A strangled gasp left her mouth as she stared down at the marking, lightly tracing it with shaking fingers.

There, engraved into her flesh, was the mark of Asura.

No, it couldn't be right. Asura was still sealed within the moon and the madness Ametrine harnessed failed to be fully released. Was it possible a trace amount made its way into the rip in space when Ametrine's soul was taken? The probability of it was low, but not impossible. If another person were to open a rip in time and not seal it fast enough shut, then it was possible. If madness had in fact entered into the void between rips in space, then it could certainly travel freely and corrupt any timeline it reached if there was someone opening a portal for it to enter. There was one other person in the universe who had the capabilities to do so at will and she was well known for destructive and downright enormity tendencies to the witch. This wasn't good.

"Witch Mardella, are you unharmed? You were not in your study." A samurai appeared suddenly and kneeled outside of the room, guarded eyes searching for intruders. "There was a disturbance in the field, and I came to check."

"I am unharmed, Hiro, thank you. There was a mishap with the orb, nothing too serious." Mardella gave him a tired smile, noticing the way he glanced at the fresh wounds. "Please ensure nothing has breached the perimeter from the inside or out."

"Very well, I shall do a perimeter sweep before returning to my post. Do not hesitate to sound the alarm." Hiro stood and bowed before silently disappearing.

The two samurai who accompanied her everywhere were part of the exceedingly small group of people allowed to know her true identity. Flyorova, Viktor, Mabaa-dono, Maka, Soul, and presumably now Lord Death were the only other people fully aware of her true powers. Lord's throughout Edo Japan assumed she was just an immensely powerful witch who could predict time, some even calling her a demon. As long as they didn't discover her true power, they could call her whatever they wanted to.

A heavy sigh slipped through pursed lips as the witch surveyed the room for any more damage. It was specially coated to withstand nearly a full orb explosion, something Mardella was grateful she did as a precaution all those centuries ago. Sear marks engraved themselves into the wood floor, small embers still burning at the aged resource. The walls themselves were completely charred, having taken the full force of the blast. Those could all be fixed, she thought, there were more important matters to take care of. With another quick glance at her burnt palm, Mardella squared her shoulders and strode from the room, her normally calm demeanor now darkened.

Plans that had been meticulously mapped to the very millisecond were now useless as the timelines for them had been corrupted. The consequences of such an atrocious and impetuous deed angered the witch with each step she took down the stairs, her burned palm clenched tightly at her side. Magic flared through her celestial robes, pulsing from her body in heavy waves. The drawer of her desk screeched as it was flung open by an invisible force, papers being sifted through hastily and without care. Nestled on the bottom of the drawer sat an iridescent origami of a butterfly, its wings fluttering lightly as it was carefully removed.

"Ananke, deity of Fate, hear my plea; guide this seeker to its rightful place in time. Protect it from those who wish harm upon the flow of space. Ensure a speedy journey to preserve the fate of time and space. Heavens above, hear my call to purge the evil from time and space. Divine Intervention."

Mardella gently blew on the butterfly, breathing life into the shimmering creature. With a shudder of its wings it lifted off, heading straight to the window. Without stopping, it phased through the glass, leaving behind a trail of celestial magic as it vanished into the time space continuum. Glancing down at her palm, the witch set her jaw before staring out into the starry night. She had done all she could from here. Intervening directly in the flow of time was taboo, regardless if she was merged with Father Time. It was dangerous to mess with Ananke and her powers of Fate, something the witch learned very quickly in the beginning as she tried to save a small animal from drowning in a river. The first offence was a slap on the wrist, considering the situation at the time, but any mishap after that was a sentence of fifty years in isolation. Considering this matter regarded the flow of time, she was confident the Goddess would make an exception and listen to her plea. Hopefully. Mardella lifted her head and prayed to the heavens above as dread filled her chest.

The rest was up to her.

"Maka, what do you think about this one?" Tsubaki held up a gorgeous summer yukata, cherry blossoms intricately weaving across the shimmering black fabric. "You would look beautiful in it!"

"I'm fine with anything, Tsubaki. They all look nice." Maka gave her a distracted smile before returning her gaze to the roped off streets below them.

"Does this have to do with this morning? You can't keep moping about this, Maka. You know Kid would never permanently remove you from meister duties. You and Soul are practically the highest-ranking duo in the school!" Liz planted her hands on her hips, staring down at the moping meister with knitted brows. "Kid is just worried about you pushing past your limits again. Everyone who was there is still struggling to come to terms with what happened; we're all just worried, Maka."

"Liz is right," Tsubaki spoke lightly as she sat next to Maka on the window seat. "None of us want to see you become injured again even if it is just a simple mission. It's best to just keep things slow and let your body heal."

"Party time! Party time!" Patty chirped happily as she began tearing through the plethora of bags littering Tsubaki's apartment floor.

"Easy, Patty, the festival doesn't start until five. We still have about five hours until then."

"Why don't we walk around and see what stalls they're putting up this year? I heard there's going to be a Kakigori stall to promote a new business opening up in the square." Tsubaki grabbed Maka's hands and pulled the meister up before she could protest. "Fresh air will do you some good. Plus, we can do a little shopping before we have to get ready. The boys are busy helping Kid get everything set up as well, so we could swing by there."

"Kid will drive them both insane if he tries to make everything symmetrical. It would be funny to see Black Star snap and destroy everything." Liz tossed in, checking her nails.

"Do I really have to?" Maka groaned as she was dragged across the apartment, stumbling to keep up with the taller weapon.

"If you complain about it anymore, I'll let Patty draw giraffes all over your face." Liz snickered as the meister promptly closed her mouth, Patty cackling with glee at the idea.

After being dragged around Death City for hours and being forced into practically every clothing store there was, the group of women took a break by the Death fountain in the square with their hauls. Maka and Tsubaki nursing iced teas while the Thompson sisters enjoyed ice cream. They had briefly wandered by to see how the setup was going only to see Black Star blowing up an entire stand because Kid refused to admit it was symmetrical. Soul was leaning against a nearby tree, shaking his head at the stupidity of it all. Seeing him standing there in a black Death City tank top with his nicely toned arms and messy white locks pulled back into a small ponytail ignited the heat in Maka's core and she stopped, falling behind from the group to stare. Sensing his partner, Soul had turned his head slightly towards her, giving her a wink and a toothy grin. The meister quickly scurried out of sight to hide her inflamed face, cursing herself for not closing off the resonance while she ogled his body. Nearby shops soon began shutting down in preparation of the festival beginning, children running excitedly down the street.

"We should head back and get ready, the festival starts in less than an hour." Maka glanced at the thin silver watch adorning her left wrist. It was a gift from Soul last Christmas, one she only wore when they weren't on any missions to prevent it from being damaged. It was her most treasured possession.

"Alright. The boys know to meet us here in about an hour. It shouldn't take long to get dressed and do hair and makeup." Liz stood and stretched before grabbing her armful of bags, Patty snatching up the others.

"Makeup? I never liked the feeling of my face being caked." Maka grimaced as she grabbed her meager two small bags, nestling the handles in the crook of her arm. She had found Soul a watch with piano keys patterned in the center, the hands small musical notes. It wasn't a cheap item, having come from some foreign place according to the shop guy, but it was worth it to the meister.

"Maka, you have to wear makeup like, twice a year? You'll be fine, we don't have that much planned for you anyways."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Don't you want to look your best for Soul? We all know you were staring at him earlier."

The three girls tittered as Maka turned bright red, quickly snapping her attention to anything far off in the distance. She never used to blush this easily, not when it came to Soul. Things were different now, between them, a deeper connection than just weapon and meister. Maka could never fully understand the concept of love, having seen Papa completely ruin that for her, and even now it was still hard to wrap her head around it. It wasn't much different between her and Soul being partners for all these years connection wise. They started off rocky, her being head strong and in charge while he was arrogant and often lazy. But through thick and thin, they never failed to keep pushing forward, even when their lives depended on it, to become stronger than ever. Once he became a Death Scythe, a part of her feared he would become Lord Death's new weapon, leaving her partner and weaponless. A small flicker that surged into a roaring flame as younger meisters and weapons flooded him with love letters and partner requests. It was hard, watching those girls clamor over him, constantly pulling him aside to proclaim their love or request to be their partner. After a while of teasing Soul about being swarmed by a constant wave of hormones, the meister soon favored leaving the area as soon as they converged, a heavy weight nearly threatening to crush her lungs. Tears would threaten to spill over, but she always held them back until the safety of her bedroom. For the longest time Maka never understood what she was feeling, chalking it up to anxiety or stress. She had even resorted to locking away her feelings once Soul started prodding about the weird behavior.

Of course, the girls noticed and would try different tactics to pry it out of her to no avail. Blair, being intrusive as always, picked up on the distressed meisters' emotions and snuck into her room while Maka wasn't looking. Once discovered, the feline sat down and gently pried the heavily locked chest open. They had talked for a few hours, getting everything laid out so it could be organized more neatly. By the end, Maka felt like she could understand the emotions and how to handle them better than any book could suggest, even if it was advice from a cat.

Maka felt her lips twitch at the memory of their first kiss, nearly two months ago now. She wasn't entirely sure what she was thinking, but as their moment in Russia had been ruined, it seemed the perfect timing to try. While he was sleeping. The meister grimaced at the thought. Was that too creepy? Kissing Soul while he was asleep? He wasn't truly asleep if he had closed the gap between them, taking advantage of the moment. Was it his plan all along? To trick her into kissing him?

"—ka"

How different would things be if they had kissed back in Russia? Would Soul have been there when Ametrine attacked the DWMA? If she had been defeated then, would Viktor still be alive? Together with Vika? Innopolis could still be standing, the villagers still safe in their homes. They wouldn't be getting dragged into another war, just five short years after the battle with Asura.

"Maka—"

What if—

"ALBARN!"

Maka jerked back hard as hands gripped her upper arms, roughly shaking her from her thoughts. Glancing around, she noticed they were back in the apartment. When did that happen?

"What—oh, sorry, I didn't realize I had spaced out." The meister smiled sheepishly at Liz. The weapon gave her one more good shake for measure.

"Seriously, we've been trying to get your attention for like, ten minutes now. You need to get dressed so I can do makeup and Tsubaki can do your hair. Now quit spacing and go! We're going to be late meeting the guys."

A bag was thrown none too lightly at the petite woman before she was shoved into the bathroom, the door slamming behind her. Peeking into the bag, Maka noticed a cherry blossom patterned fabric folded neatly in the bottom. Tsubaki had given her the yukata from earlier. Quickly flinging her clothes off, she carefully pulled the soft fabric out, holding it against her chest as she eyed it in the mirror. It looked beautiful with its soft, yet vibrant coloring, silver and gold thread weaving around the petals. The material was noticeably light, good for sweltering D.C. summer days. An annoyed shout from the other room startled her and she quickly pulled on the barely solid colored slip before easing each arm into the sleeves, careful not to snag any loose threads. Grasping the front together, Maka took a quick glance at herself as the door flung open.

"Maka, you look amazing in that! I knew it was a good choice!" Tsubaki praised as Liz tossed the poor girl into a chair. "Soul is going to be speechless when he sees you!"

"Less talking, more beautifying, Tsubaki!" Liz grumbled around the lip gloss tube clenched between her teeth. "If missy here hadn't been zoning out—stop twitching—then we wouldn't have to be rushing. Patty, sandals?"

"Roger!" Patty chirped as she kneeled in front of Maka, yanking her foot up as she slipped tabi socks on. Wooden sandals were thrusted on next. The toe separation felt unusual and the meister wiggled her digits experimentally.

Tsubaki quickly set to her hair, brushing out sandy locks before heating and twisting them into tight curls and pinning them into a bun. Maka winced as bobby pins scraped her scalp, one after another, to hold the massive bundle of curls together. Liz was applying eyeshadow, taking a step back to admire her work every now and then. Patty danced around in her yellow and brown flowered yukata, making faces at herself in a mirror and practicing her punches. Somehow it reminded the meister of a giraffe. A cloud of hairspray rained over her and she coughed at the irritant.

"Maka, stand in front of the mirror so I can attach your obi, please." Tsubaki gave her bun a final positional pat before reaching for a thick cream-colored piece of fabric.

"Please tell me this torture is almost over," Maka grunted as the belt was tightened around her waist. Beauty was pain after all…

"Almost. Just this and…done!" Tsubaki clasped her hands together and nodded approvingly.

"Damn, Maka, when'd you get so hot?" Liz whistled as she and Patty joined in on the staring. "You're gonna give Soul a nosebleed! Or send the blood elsewhere. Good thing I've got my camera on me."

"As if this isn't embarrassing enough. I'd rather stick to battle ready clothing." Maka flushed as she took in her new look.

It was like looking at a model, something that made the meister oddly happy. There was just enough makeup to give her some color, but not overwhelming enough to worry about. The light coral colored lip-gloss paired well with her eyes and she briefly wondered if Soul would like it. She could hardly believe it was her own reflection as she carefully twisted about, viewing the yukata from all sides. It was lightweight and flowy, though the belt kept her midsection fairly rigid. It seemed to still be a bit long, most likely because Tsubaki owned it, and the fabric grazed the top of her feet. A small bag was thrust into her hands and she examined that as well, noticing the small orange, white, and black koi stitched into the center of the light cream silk.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. There hasn't been any sightings of madness lately. Relax, Maka, take some time for yourself for once." Liz reassured as she grabbed a floral hair piece, clipping it above her ear. Maka touched the pink flower curiously. "Now let's go, I wanna see some nose bleeds!"

"Let's go! Party time!"

"Dude, I'm getting hungry! Where the hell are the girls?" Black Star grumbled as he impatiently tapped his foot against the cobblestone. "We're going to miss out on the games too!"

"Chill, Black Star, they're probably not too far from here." Soul rolled his eyes. "Besides, what's the rush? No missions, no madness, no witches."

"Obviously, I have to get the best spot for the fireworks after winning all of the stall games! No one is greater than me!"

"Do you have to ruin tonight by tearing up the game stalls? You already destroyed one earlier, at least give some of the town the chance to win." Kid sighed heavily, hands shoved deep into his pant pockets.

"Do you expect anything different from him?"

They turned to see the group of girls approaching, wooden sandals clacking loudly against the stones. Tsubaki's yukata was midnight blue with orange and white koi fish swimming across the fabric, almost realistically with her fluid movements, and a light-yellow obi. Liz showed off her blue and white checkerboard styled attire with orange starburst patterns and a gray obi. Patty, unsurprisingly, had a checkered yellow and brown themed yukata with just a thin black fabric belt. The likeness to the weapons favorite animal didn't go unnoticed.

"Damn, all dressed up for us? Should've worn something more formal," Soul teased as Black Star froze up at the sight of Tsubaki, jaw hitting the ground. Kid was grumbling about the lack of symmetry between his weapons. "Where's Maka?"

"Oh, she was with us a minute ago—"

"Do you…know…how hard it is to walk in these things!?"

Maka stumbled around the corner towards them, cursing at the sandals that were causing her grief. The socks didn't help either, sliding all over the wooden surface of the shoes as she walked. Tsubaki hurried over to help the meister, apologizing for the lack of steady shoes and a shorter yukata. Once the two rejoined the group, Liz whispered something to Patty who smiled deviously before slinking out of sight.

"Are you sure you're okay, Maka? We can try to pin the bottom up some more." Tsubaki crouched down to tug at the fabric, thinking of ways to shorten it. "I'm sure we can also find you a different pair of shoes."

"It's fine, Tsubaki, this will all be over in a few hours. I can manage it until then." Maka shifted the pouch nervously in her hands, afraid to look up at the certain pair of eyes watching her. "Go ahead, I don't want to hold you guys back anymore."

"That's good enough for me! C'mon, Baki, we've got games to win!" Black Star grabbed his partner's hand before weaving through the throng of people, shouting for them to get out of his way.

"I have to make the opening speech, so I'll be leaving as well." Kid gave a short wave before merging into the crowd. "I'll meet up with you later."

Maka felt her face heat up as it was practically just her and Soul left, wide eyes looking at her feet intensely. It felt like her heart was about to burst out of her chest from nerves, the small pouch shaking in her hands. His emotions were neutral as he stood there, examining her; she knew he wanted to say something but was giving her time to collect herself. With a deep breath, the meister closed her eyes as she stood upright, preparing to look at him. Now or never. Just as she cracked her eyes, something shoved hard against her back and she felt her body begin to fall forward. Her eyes went wide as she stumbled to catch herself, though the long fabric of the yukata said otherwise as it caught under her foot. Bracing for impact, Maka was thrown off guard when something grabbed her left wrist, catching her from faceplanting into the ground. Jerking her head up, Soul looked at her with a bemused smile as he reached for her other hand to support her.

"Are you falling for me, Miss Albarn?"

"D-did you just—"

"Make that terrible joke? Yes. Did it work?" Soul gave her a genuine smile as her face heated up, his own face tinted as well.

"I-I…was this all part of your plan, Soul?" Maka sputtered as she straightened up, though she didn't attempt to pull away.

"That would be our plan, Maka. I caught the perfect reaction on camera!" Liz crowed as she danced around with a camera in hand. "I am so making plenty of copies of this! I'll mail you a few, gotta go, bye!" The Thompson sisters booked it into the festival entrance before Maka could stumble after them with a vengeance.

"I noticed Patty slink away, but I had no clue what they were planning." Soul raised his hands in defense at the withering look Maka was giving him. "I'm just here to escort a beautiful lady to the festival."

Maka was about to faint if her face got any hotter. That was the first time he had called her beautiful out loud. Soul chuckled at the color of her face, earning a sharp glare from his meister. With a smile still on his lips, he raised her hand up and kissed the back of it, never breaking eye contact. The sputtering spoke of his success in getting an adorable reaction.

"Look, it's Soul-senpai! He looks so cool and handsome in his leather jacket!" A first year shrilled from somewhere behind Maka, others loudly voicing their agreements. "Let's go talk to him!"

"Whoops, time to go." Soul gently pulled Maka behind him into the hordes of citizens eager to enjoy the festival. "They're like damn bloodhounds; everywhere I go they're following."

"Must be the leather jacket's charm," Maka teased lightly as they weaved between bodies, the shrill voices nearly drowned out. "They did mention you looking cool in the jacket."

"Maka, are you insinuating it's the jacket and not me that has the charm? Ouch," Soul feigned hurt, pressing his free hand against his chest. "And here I thought it was my outgoing personality and perfect looks."

Maka snorted in response, shaking her head. He could be such a goofball when it was just the two of them together. Of course, he had his façade on when around their friends, but when it was just them, he would relax and open up more, show her a side she yearned to know. The crowd finally parted as the stalls separated into two separate aisles, allowing more moving space, and they slowed to a stop.

"I think they're gone now. What do you want to do first? Foods that way and games are that way. 'Course, Kid is going to give his speech here shortly if you wanted to listen to him drone on and on." Soul shifted to face Maka, slowly taking in her appearance.

She was beautiful before ever putting makeup on and now she looked breathtakingly gorgeous. The black yukata suited her well, a sharp contrast with her pale skin and bright eyes, and even accentuated her curves with the belt. Her hair pinned back up drew even more attention to her flushed face, framed lightly by her bangs. The light coral color of her lips had the weapon resisting to kiss her right then and there. A stray curled hair had escaped from its binding and with deft fingers, Soul tucked it behind her ear.

"I-I'm fine with anything. I'll leave it up to you," Maka stuttered as the heat crept up once more. Wait, was this a date? Like, a date date?

"Your wish is my command," It was cruel to keep pushing for a reaction out of his meister, but she was just so damned adorable when she blushed.

They strolled together down the aisles, hands intertwined, browsing through the food choices and game stalls. A few times they had to duck between stalls to lose the horde of hormones, Soul pulling Maka flush against him in the tight spaces. She could feel his heart beating steadily in his chest, the rhythm soothing her twitching nerves. Sure, they had done stuff together all the time; going to the bookstore, groceries, movies, even appointments together. But being out at a public event, dressed up and just having a good time, felt so different than before. They were more than partners, at least she thought and hoped they were, after everything that had happened over the past few months. There were no official titles thrown around, just more…intimacy, of sorts. Nothing further had happened that night when both of their emotions were running high, but there were subtle things like intertwining fingers, sitting closer together, even the random kiss now and then. Things were still normal at home and school for the most part. Soul still got Maka-Chopped occasionally and the two argued over the littlest things like who burnt dinner again. So why did it feel so different but not at the same time?

"The fireworks should be starting soon, is there anything else you want to do before then?" Soul grunted from his spot next to her on one of the benches pushed back from the main aisles, stretching his arms behind his head. Corn dogs and popcorn had been the weapons dinner while Maka had gone for the more modest, and healthy, smoothie from a new local business.

"Hmm, I think we've seen everything around here and Black Star has destroyed nearly all of the game stalls." Maka shook her head at seeing the destroyed stalls everywhere. "I don't think I can walk in these shoes anymore though, my feet are killing me."

"You didn't bring any other shoes with you?" Soul frowned.

"No, they wouldn't have fit in my bag anyways." She dangled the tiny money filled bag in the air. "Besides, I can handle a bit more pain until the festival ends. I've already had to deal with walking around with limited movement because of this thing. I'm just not used to…dressing up like this, I guess. I'm so used to freely moving clothing that this all feels foreign."

"You should dress up more often, it suits you well." Soul muttered as heat crept up the back of his neck and to his ears. "Your other clothes are nice as well, but it's…you are…you look stunning in that." He blurted out before covering his mouth with his hand, face fully red as he looked down, finding a sudden interest in the dirt beneath his feet.

"O-oh, t-thank you." Maka stuttered as she heated up as well, also nervously looking for something to stare at. "I-I wasn't sure if you would like it or not…"

"Of course! I mean, I love seeing you in it and stuff…it's not something I get to see often." Smooth, Evans, smooth.

"Doesn't the black room dress count?"

"There's a difference between clothing like that and stuff like this," Soul leaned back against the bench, eyes drifting to look at the darkening sky above. "The black room is meant more for synchronizing with the black blood; there's no control over apparel in there. But you have full control of what you wear out here."

"Mmm." Maka just went silent after that, nervously fiddling with the pouch resting on her lap.

It was silent for a few more minutes, the two sitting together watching the crowds shuffle through. The sun was beginning to dip low in the sky, the darkened moon slowly rising to take its place.

It still creeped him out, honestly, knowing that the Kishin was hibernating within its depths, Chrona keeping a tight lock on the overwhelming madness. Soul often wondered what would happen if the seal broke loose and madness spewed over the world. They already had that close call in Russia thanks to Ametrine. A scowl adorned his face. The situation didn't settle right with him. That battle shouldn't have ended so easily; Viktor lost his life, madness began seeping into the world, Maka died. He still had nightmares about that night, watching as the life left her eyes before she hit the snow. Screaming, begging her to wake up as the battle around them raged on. The sensation of their resonance snapping still burned deep within his soul. Subconsciously he rubbed at his chest, a feeble attempt to soothe the searing ghost pain.

"Soul? Are you alright?"

Soul blinked and looked up to see Maka leaning over in front of him, hands gently cupping his face. Big green eyes filled with concern as they searched his, looking into his soul.

"Eh?"

"Your chest, is it hurting again?"

Oh. He was so lost in his thoughts that he forgot they were resonating. It was difficult to tell the difference between them anymore.

"Yeah, sorry, kinda dazed for a bit. M'alright."

"Soul, we can leave—"

"No, I'm fine, really," Soul gently took her hand, kissing the palm. "Just the madness reacting to the new moon. It'll go away in a bit."

Maka could feel the full force of the pain flowing from his soul and winced. Ever since the battle on the moon, whenever the new moon waned, the black blood would react more violently. He hid it well the first week or so, but on a night paired with a nightmare, the pure terrified screams coming from down the hall sent the meister leaping from bed and down the hallway faster than she'd ever moved. Soul was flailing, tangled in his covers as he grabbed at his chest in pure agony, screaming at the top of his lungs. Calling his name did nothing and the meister ripped the covers from his body and threw them onto the floor. With fast reflexes she caught his left arm and pinned it against her chest, quickly working to interlock their hands. It had worked after Chrona sliced him open, in the infirmary, giving him a ground back to reality. Minutes agonizingly crawled by before teary red eyes shot open, darting around the room before resting on his terrified meister beside him. Without a word, Maka crawled into bed next to him, holding him tightly against her chest as they both tried to calm down.

Since then, when either one of them experienced a nightmare, the other would wake them up before scooting into bed, providing a comfort no other person could. It went on for months at intermittent intervals until they eventually began to die down, everything somewhat returning to normal.

"Come on," Soul spoke quietly, "Let's go before we miss the fireworks."

"Alright." Maka silently grumbled about having to wear the damned shoes even longer, her feet already sore and blistering.

As soon as she took a step forward, her body left the ground with a swift movement and was pulled tight against something warm. Maka looked up in surprise, heart skipping a beat as Soul gave her a small grin in response. The nervousness plaguing her soul melted away as Soul carried her bridal style down the empty side streets, heading towards the wooded area just up the hill. A cool wind had picked up as the sun finally fell beneath the horizon, the desert night in full swing. The meister suppressed a shiver.

The clearing came into view and Maka sucked in a breath of awe. While the moon nearly blended into the dark sky, the stars were blinding in contrast, twinkling brightly lightyears away. Soul set her down on the brick wall, standing behind her to block the wind. Carefully swinging her legs over the walls brick edge, she leaned back into her partner to look up at the stars.

"It's beautiful," Maka whispered, eyes marking out all of the visible constellations. "I never noticed the stars before, how vibrant they are."

"Figured you'd like it." Soul wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "No one else considered coming up here to watch the fireworks since Kid marked off an area for everyone."

"Let me guess; symmetrical?" Soul grimaced into her neck, earning a giggle.

"Do you have any idea how long it took to do that today? Over an hour, Maka, just to get the lines completely straight. Black Star was about to destroy the whole damn thing too if Kid didn't agree with it."

"Perks of being a Death Scythe, getting to be bossed around by your employer all day for the greater good of symmetry."

"I already have to deal with it at home, too, don't I get a break?" Soul grumbled as he settled next to her, leaning against the bricks to look at her.

"I don't boss you around that much—"

"Make my bed, pick up my dirty clothes off the floor, clean up the dishes, stop leaving my underwear everywhere—" He counted off on his fingers, giving Maka a deadpanned look.

"Hey! Those are all very reasonable demands—"

"Buy the groceries, carry your books, training, more training, schoolwork, Death Scythe duties," Maka was biting her tongue, holding back the laughter. "Fend off the savage horde of hormones chasing me, which you insulted me for, by the way; carrying you up a hill because I'm the best damn partner there ever was, and I brought you to the most secluded area in the city so you could see the stars and fireworks. Yet here you are complaining—"

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Maka burst out laughing, holding her sides as she tried to breathe. "I'll try not to be so bossy next time!"

A pop filled the air and a ball of sparks shot into the sky before bursting, scattering into a flower pattern before dying out. More fired off, filling the skies with bright patterns and designs. Maka felt relaxed for the first time in a long time, enjoying the show with the man she loved more than anything else. It had finally dawned on her, after that night's events, what being in love truly meant; being happy no matter what they were doing. Caring for each other. Being themselves together. Whether it was constantly running from freshmen girls, playing ball toss games only to end up 'accidentally' throwing one at Ox who laughed at her when she missed, laughing at Soul when his corndog turned out to be mostly batter. It was all the little things she never noticed until now, under the open night sky, with him by her side.

Maka shifted to look up at him, adoration swimming in her emerald orbs. There would be no more doubts, hesitations, fear. Lifting her hand to his face, she lightly caressed his cheek, lithe fingers tracing down his jaw. Her partner, weapon, best friend…lover.

"Soul,"

"Maka," Soul covered her hand with his own, leaning into the touch.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Just as their lips melded together, a powerful explosion shook the air, sending them jerking back in surprise. Panicked screams filled the air as another explosion triggered, chunks of wood blasting into the air. With a silent look, Soul transformed as Maka swung her legs back over the wall, ditching the shoes in the process. Catching the scythe swiftly, the meister began running through the trees, pulling at the obi with vigor as the explosions increased. Soul Perception tingled in the back of her mind and she narrowly avoided a magical blast, a nearby tree taking the hit.

"My, my, so sorry to interrupt your little date,"

"Show yourself!" Maka shouted as she slid to a defensive posture. The yukata made it difficult to move easily. She stilled as the wavelength felt familiar. This soul…

"Judging from the look on your face, I'm guessing you figured it out." The voice cooed from somewhere within the trees.

"Ametrine…" Soul's face appeared in the blade, eyes glaring dangerously. "Didn't learn the first time, did you?"

A tinkling laugh echoed around the meister, the source untraceable. "As welcoming as always, Soul."

"What is it you want? Revenge? To finish off the job because you failed the first time?" Maka's perception narrowed in on the source high up in the treetops. Witch Hunter could reach her, but it would destroy half the forest. She couldn't be reckless here. Not so close to such a large panicking crowd.

"Oh, nothing of the sorts, really," Ametrine sounded bored, the leaves shaking violently above them as though she were moving through them. "I'm merely here for some entertainment. I hardly have the power needed to take you down."

A shadow suddenly dropped from above and Maka swung with all of her strength. It seemed like a direct hit with the blade. No evidence of what she struck remained, sending the meister into higher alert. She could have sworn there was something there…no, wait, it wasn't, it was—

"Don't you realize, Maka? I can't be hit if my soul isn't in the body you attack." Ametrine's voice bragged from above. "For such a high ranking meister one would think you would know of that by now. Unfortunately for you, I have assistance this time."

"What?!" Soul snarled.

"Time to play, Maka Albarn!" A second voice hissed from behind the meister.

Maka swung around and came face to face with a witch, her grin crooked as piercing deep blue eyes locked into green. Pressure erupted into the meisters abdomen and she felt the air rush from her lungs in surprise. Looking down, a small jagged and elongated dagger protruded from her stomach, black blood dripping freely onto the grass.

"Maka!" Soul yelled as he began transforming back.

"Don't! Don't you dare!" Maka grit her teeth as she tasted metal. "Whatever you do, don't change back! It's what they want."

"You'll die—!"

"I won't. Not as long as you stay by my side and fight with me." Maka coughed, blood dripping down her chin. "Resonate."

"It'll—!"

"Soul!"

"Lovers quarrel? How cute," A second shadow dropped down from the trees, landing behind the crazed witch. "We already know what will happen if you resonate, Maka, because you're standing in front of the witch who created the curse placed upon you."

"The curse…?" Maka whispered. The curse that had killed her…she did it?

"Ancient Witch Esadora, at your service, Maka Albarn." Esadora curtseyed hastily, laughter bubbling up in her throat. "You are just in time to play a little game with me!"

Maka glared at the two witches, attempting to keep her breathing even. Fire was burning through every vein in her body, electrifying the entire network of nerves, making it difficult to even stand. Was the blade laced with something? She had to warn Kid and the others. Slowly, she expanded her Soul Perception, weaving through the hundreds of Death City residents, searching for the familiar souls in the area. To the untrained eye, it appeared the meister was just standing there with an intensely focused look in her eyes.

There! They were managing crowd control, directing people out of the area and to shelter. A dull throb pierced her soul as she reached out to Kid, connecting with his soul.

"Auh, uh," Ametrine purred as she moved towards the meister, Esadora gliding out of the way as she yanked the blade from Maka's body. "No calling for backup this time." Faster than she could process, Maka flew backwards through the air before colliding with the ground, rolling until her back hit a tree trunk.

"Maka! Get up!" Soul screamed at her barely moving form, eyes darting between the witches and her. "You have to get up, now!"

The connection severed after a few seconds, leaving the scythe meister groaning in agony face down in the dirt. She couldn't fight back, not with a gaping wound in her stomach and a quivering soul wavelength. Her body laid paralyzed in the dirt, nerves and muscle spasming uncontrollably. They were going to be killed, that she was certain of as she cracked her eyes open, watching as the world spun around her violently. Maybe Soul could still escape…

"If you're…going to kill me…then do it." Maka spat weakly, chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. "Leave…Death City… alone…it's me you want."

Ametrine sauntered over to the girl, heels digging into the dirt as she crouched down. Her figure was more of a young teenager's than a fully grown adult. A shorter version of her black dress fell just past her knees, a much simpler version of the usual apparel. Thick red braided locks swung freely down to her waist. No hat adorned her head this time, most likely due to it being destroyed in Russia. With a small hand, the witch grabbed Maka by the hair and pulled her head up to face her.

"That would be too easy! Instead, Witch Esadora has kindly agreed to send you somewhere fun." Ametrine released her grip, smiling manically as an audible thunk was heard.

A bright light filled the area and Ametrine stumbled backward as a blade connected with her neck. Blood flew into the air as the witch was decapitated, her head rolling away while her body twitched lifelessly on the ground, blood gushing from the neck. Soul stood in front of Maka, arms bladed and covered in blood. Pure anger contorted his face into a menacing snarl, red eyes narrowed dangerously at Esadora.

"I won't let you kill Maka," Soul snarled as he kept his distance from the newcomer. "Come any closer and I'll kill you too."

Esadora blinked before standing upright, releasing the dagger. She seemed to be studying the blades protruding from his body, interest gleaming in her eyes. It didn't seem like she wanted to fight, but nothing gave away what she genuinely wanted.

"I am not here to fight," She said after a few tense moments. "I am not that stupid. I may be an old witch, but I still have common sense unlike that pile of trash beneath your feet. I know what a Death Scythe is capable of."

"Then leave," Soul growled, widening his stance to better cover the downed meister. "Use your damn common sense and just go. Lord Death has been alerted to your presence here and will be here soon. Other Death Scythes will be converging here as well." Esadora briefly chewed on her lip, seemingly calculating the risk of staying.

"Unfortunately, I am unable to leave just yet. The experiment has already begun, and I am afraid I need to make sure the portal works correctly."

"Portal?" Soul had a sinking feeling and glanced over his shoulder. Oh no.

The ground beneath Maka had begun to turn black, swirling and churning like stormy waters. Tendrils of the darkness writhed around the meister, latching onto her body. Soul abandoned the blade on his left arm and hastily sliced at the tendrils only to discover they grew back immediately. Maka's body began to rapidly sink into the ground and into the unknown depths.

"Maka, you need to move! Fight it!" Soul begged as he tried to pull her from the darkness' grasp. "Fight, damnit! You can't give up this easily!"

Maka blearily looked up at him, an image of fuzzy red and white moving around rapidly. It looked pretty, as it moved about, almost like a flower swaying in the wind. A bright light above her shone brightly as it grew closer and closer and she feebly attempted to reach for it, her arm unwilling to move.

'Wings,' She thought as her vision shifted, everything around her becoming clear and warm. 'Such a pretty butterfly.'

Soul felt warmth rush over him as a small iridescent butterfly fluttered gently towards Maka, magic sprinkling over the motionless meister. It seemed to hover for a moment before its wings rapidly enlarged and encased them both in a protective shield. Esadora let out a nearly feral growl as she blasted magic at the barrier in an attempt to break it. The spells bounced off harmlessly.

"Damn you, Mardella!" The witch snarled, grabbing the knife with trembling hands. "You have no place in this world! Begone, back to your own space of time!"

With a flick of her wrist, the knife went hurtling towards the shimmering shield. Seconds before impact, the shield suddenly sunk into the ground, taking both Soul and Maka into the unknown. The blade lodged itself into the tree trunk, missing its target. Esadora panted as she stood up, eyeing the spot where the portal had opened. It seemed the both of them were transported into the alternate reality, something the witch hadn't planned on. Only Maka Albarn was supposed to fall through and eventually succumb to the madness overflowing from the lands. Now that her partner, a Death Scythe no less, was trapped in there with her, they could escape at some point. Chewing on her nail angrily, the witch stared down at the lifeless body of Ametrine. Stomping over to the body, Esadora crouched down and held her hand over the chest cavity, muttering under her breath. A blue glow began to seep through the black dress as it emerged free of its container.

"Your impudence has ruined my plans," The witch hissed at Ametrine's wriggling soul. "This betrayal will not go unpunished."

Ametrine said nothing, remaining quiet as Esadora tore a rip in time before stepping through. She couldn't hold back the urge to punch the meister, bloodlust still circling within her soul. Next time, the soul twitched angrily, next time Maka Albarn would be dead. A flash of red mixed with the ghostly blue of her soul briefly before vanishing.

If she survived being turned into a frog and eaten alive, that was.

Sorry for the delays, been swamped with work for the past few months. Things should move a bit faster now that I have some time and motivation again. The story continues! I haven't figured out when to stop, so it'll just keep going until I run out of ideas.