A/N: Thanks guys for reading! Your reviews mean so much! I'm still surprised that this is the only crossover between these two nexon games. Its been a struggle to write with all the updates occurring, but to set a point of reference for you all, I am sticking with the canon of the worlds from when I began writing this. For Mabi players that means Before Shakespeare after g11. For Maple players that means After releases of all heroes, before releases of that stardom place thing. I still don't understand the point of that update. It over-complicates things.

Anyway, that's all I have to say. I hope you'll all be patient with me during the time between updates. I've been in school and a tournament on devientart. com had taken up all my time. The contest is nearly over and I'm making sure to take time writing now. So I hope to not wait two years to update this next time. Again sorry for the wait! Enjoy!

Chapter 8- Return of Memories

"Oi! Slayer! You coming or what!? Horntail is this way!"

"I know already!" Demon Slay yelled as he flapped his wings trying to look menacing. The girl only laughed and ran back to tug on his arm. His snarling never had an effect on her. "Quit dragging me already! And who put you in charge anyway!? You know I'm the one who will do the actual fighting."

"Yeah but while you're fighting I'm the one that will be keeping you alive. Besides," she said, smiling up at him, "If I'm going to help you defeat the Black Mage, I need to get stronger. And the best way to do that is HORNTAIL!" She yelled that last word to the cave entrance.

The rest of the party laughed, "That's our crazy cleric."

Misumii puffed out her cheeks at the other boys in their party. "I'm a bishop not a cleric!" she huffed, but only the Demon Slayer was close enough to hear her whisper, "If this were Erin, horntail wouldn't stand a chance against me." Her voice was so soft that it was only thanks to his demon hearing that he could make out her words.

Even though he assumed she hadn't wanted to be heard, when the rest of the group went into the cave, Demon Slayer asked, "What is Erin?"

Misumii looked up at him surprised; her grip on his arm went slack. Surprise fell back into an awkward smile. "I always forget how good your hearing is," she said gazing off toward the horntail's cave. "Erin is my other home."

"You mean other than Ellenia?"

She shook her head, "I mean other than Maple world."

"What are you talking about, Maple world is everything."

Misumii sighed, "No one ever understands. Just forget it. We'd better catch up with the others," she held her staff tight and ran into the mouth of the cave. The Demon Slayer slung his ax over his shoulder and followed after her.

XXX

"GO MOVE!" Demon Slayer yelled to the group as he used his Demon Cry to push back the wave of monsters. The group ran behind him. All of them were bloodied and exhausted. Misumii was slung over Avlon's shoulders.

"Slayer! We need to get her out of here!"

The group's Shadower used Haste and the moment there was an opening, they ran.

It was supposed to be a standard Horntail Expedition. How could it have turned out this way? First the Black Wings, then Misumii suddenly passing out…

They were nearly out of the tunnel when the ground began to shake. Rocks crashed down covering the exit, and smoke blew in around them as the horntail stuck one of its heads into the area where they stood. The whole group thought they were about to be burned alive until a dark shadow settled in front of the horntail. A blinding light came into existence and the Demon Slayer found himself once again face-to-face with his past. "ARCAREM! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?"

Acarem laughed when he saw the Demon Slayer. "Well now, this is a pleasant surprise. I did not realize the traitor was acquainted with our little key holder."

"What key holder?" the Demon Slayer yelled as he discretely signaled to the remaining party members.

The old mage tilted his head. It was disgusting that he once again had to deal with this traitor, and yet it would make this moment in the Black Mage's rebirth so much sweeter. "Hmmm? Why the sleeping princess you have there." Their pitiful little party was exhausted and now terrified of the power surrounding them. Arcarem reveled in the nervous glances each of them gave at the girl who was meant to be their life line in battle, but instead could become the cause of their demise. "Won't you give her to me? If you do I shall let you live… for now anyway."

The monsters and Black Wings closed in around them. Several of them looked pleadingly at the warrior whom carried Misumii, they didn't want to die, but also did not want to be the one to betray a comrade. Only the Demon Slayer spoke out in defiance. "Arcarem! I will die before you will get your hands on her."

It began as a chuckle, changing into a full on psychotic laugh. "You fool, did you think you were included in my last statement? No. The traitor shall die here, and the key will be in my possession. It is the other weaklings of whom I have no interest." He was joined in his laughter by the surrounding armor. It was a sound great enough to shake the walls of the ageless cave surrounding them.

Demon Slayer could feel his comrade's eyes on him. They feared they would die because of his words, but was that not the risk of drawing a weapon? They should have been prepared to fight no matter the cost.

"Demon Slayer…" Despite the surrounding cacophony, he was able to hear the soft spoken words, and immediately looked toward Misumii. She pushed herself away from the warm back which had carried her from danger and stood by her own failing strength. She did not look at the Demon Slayer, but instead walked to the front to protect her friends, as it was her duty to ensure they all made it out alive. By now the surrounding army was silent. Again she whispered, "There is still a way to save me. Go to Erin and protect my other half."

The Demon Slayer's heart fell. She had just given up? Hadn't she agreed to fight the Black Mage with him? After so many battles together, when was it he had begun to rely on her? But now she was just giving up, proving that he should have stayed alone.

"Arcarem! I will go with you. Let them be."

The smirk on the old wizard's face was of a sadistic joy. "Of course my dear. If you come of your own volition my army and I will not harm even the traitorous demon."

It sickened the Demon Slayer, and he would not stand idly by and let the Black Mage's army have its way. The next beat of his powerful wings was the strongest, or possibly the most desperate of his life, as he propelled himself forward to attack.

He had not expected Misumii to jump in his way and the attack hit her full force. Even Arcarem was fearful she would not stand up. Yet she did. Her arm broken, and some blood stained her tanned face, she smiled at the Demon Slayer. "A friend will come for you soon. Please. Be patient."

It wasn't so much patience, but a shock that kept him rooted in place as several of the Black Wings rushed forward to grab the girl. He nearly snapped out of it by the time the army was leaving the far reaches of his vision, but the others of his group rushed forward to hold him back. "There's nothing you can do for now! Stop it, Slayer!" He tried to fight them off, but like them, he too was at his limits. When he could no longer struggle, Demon Slayer fell to his knees.

The cave was quiet, save for the water dripping from growing stalactites.

"Damn it," someone muttered. "An anonymous sponsor for a Horntail mission… we should have known it was a trap."

"Hind sight does us no good. If Misumii hadn't saved us we'd all have died."

"Saved us?! She turned herself over to the BLACK MAGE! She's as good as dead now! And we just let her!"

The grumblings of the weak were not of the Demon Slayers concern. His thoughts were racing, thinking of what he could do to change things. It was not her that he wanted. No. He simply could not allow Arcarem to have his way. "Damn…"

"Why are you frightened?"

The young woman's voice startled him so badly, Demon Slayer dove for his weapon. The other party members saw his action and took their own stances, but when they saw nothing, each glared at the demon. "Who are you?" he yelled at the woman, whom his comrades could not see.

She looked so out of place in the dank cave. Her dark dress was delicately sewn and the cave winds blew her sleek silver hair which was held in two high pigtails. It was both painful and somehow comforting to look into the woman's eyes, but the Demon Slayer could not understand why. Her smile was sad and she looked only at him. "I am Nao, guide of the soul stream. If you wish to save your friend, I can help."

Demon Slayer didn't even know why he whispered the word so slightly, it was unlike him to allow himself to look weak. "Erin?" Nao nodded and held out a hand with more grace than even Queen Cygnus.

"Slayer? What's going on?"

This could be his chance to change things, but what had Misumii meant by her "other half?" He didn't have long to think as Nao spoke fearfully, "Decide quickly, I cannot stay here long. I can guide you to those who can help you find her."

"Fine." Demon Slayer nodded. Whatever this journey would entail, it would mean one more step on his path to revenge; he could feel it. Taking the girl's hand he felt a surge of energy, before a blinding light surrounded him and he vanished from the Maple World all together.

XXX

Demon Slayer's senses returned to him as a dark knight's shield slammed into him, throwing him to the ground. . Pain shot through his left wing from the poor landing. It was his years of battle experience that allowed him to ignore it. He kicked off the ground with both his legs and wings to dodge the next attack, and took to the air. The scene below him was a true battle.

Fanny dodged past and between the knights, releasing one arrow after another. One had already fallen, wounded, while three attempted to team up to match her elven speed. Two knights battled against Josh and a fish-being which fought at his back. Other similar fomors surrounded the Siren, whose flute echoed through the chamber.

Several archers fired a volley at the hovering demon. He was forced to drop to the ground behind the siren. "Do you have the key?" He whispered landing directly behind her. The flute remained pressed to her lips as she shook her head. "But you know where it is?" He asked. The siren nodded. "Is it with Heart?" She shook her head. Finishing her summoning spell, more Shahagin Soldiers appeared in puffs of black smoke and began attacking the dark knights.

With her spell complete, she turned to the Demon Slayer. "Katherine does not have the key. She is the key. You must save her before the door is found."

"Renes." The words was out of his mouth before he thought about it, and the siren's eyes widened. With further ferocity she turned back to the battle and waved her wand above her head, throwing a spear of ice at the nearest dark knights.

She threw more spears at the groups surrounding Josh and Fanny. "All of you! Run now!" Josh was cornered by the frozen knights and scrambled to crawl between their legs. Fanny grabbed him and threw him towards the room of the goddess statue. The Demon Slayer was already at the statue. "Siren come on!" Fanny yelled.

The siren shook her head, "I shall hold them off. You know where to go. Now Leave!" Shards of ice exploded as the spell's sealing effect ended, the knights were knocked back but now all their attentions was on the Siren. Demon Slayer grabbed Josh and Fanny before they could run to her aid, and touched the statue with his wing. The siren whispered a prayer to the gods for them as the goddess' power whisked them to safety.