Mannnn! Noone fell for the fake end of story. You all suck for not being gullible. Well here's your next chapter fun suckers xp. Got a history lesson coming up so pay attention. RxR

Yup, in a tent. Laying in a mat. Not doing much of anything at all. I feel like I slept but when I woke up my body was still tired. Something kept me in the tent, not sure what, but I just waited.

The zipper to the tent is being pulled down and I sit up. A jean clothed leg forces its way in followed by a tired looking Liz. She looks up at me and her eyes seem to show a little more life and a little less...terror.

"Aw Liz, I'm so glad you were scared for me. I love you too." She rolls her eyes and kicks my leg softly.

"Please as if I would be scared for you. There is something way more terrifying than you dying in this camp." Before I can ask the door ruffles again. A figure with a giant blue tiki mask jumps in. In one hand it holds a maraca and it beats on a drum with the other.

"Ooo wha ya ya. Ooo wha ya ya." The figure is dancing over me as it chants and Liz slaps her palm against her forehead hard enough to leave a bruise. "Ohhhh great mother Mary, bless this incarnation of you and may she be reborn as they highest beast in creation…a cow."

"Patti?" I ask.

"See I told you it would work." The younger girl takes off the large mask and she too seems unharmed.

"You idiot that didn't help at all. You didn't even know what religion she was."

"That's why I just used them all!" I am slightly concerned about possible brain damage with how often she hits herself.

"Um, guys?" The sisters stop and look at me expectantly. "Anyone wanna tell me what exactly I'm doing here? I mean I love you all but why is everyone in here?"

The girl's eyes shift toward each other and look everywhere but me. My suspicion grows when Liz clears her throat. "You see-"

"Why didn't you tell me she was awake?" No one heard or saw the Prince until he spoke. We all jump and the sister's hands are resting on their guns. They relax almost immediately but I can't help but marvel at their demonic speed.

That's right. They are demons, you are Dead, Kid is a Prince, Liz is a wolf, Patti is a jellyfish-snake thingy, and Kid….

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" I leap across the space between us and tackle the boy out the door. I know the girls will be on me in a minute but I'm going to get at least one hit in.

"Maka wait-!" My fist interrupts him as it smashes into his jaw. I pull back and punch again feeling it crack. He grabs my hand to stop the next swing. He's staring at me and trying to say something but I am focused on the once broken jaw. The bones slowly stitch themselves back together, moving just under the skin and forming back into solid bone. Even the bruise is nearly faded away.

I rip my wrist away and slam down again and again. "Why! The! Hell! Won't! You! Stay! Broken!"

By the time Liz and Patti pull me off, the Prince should be a bloody pulp in the dirt. Instead he just brushes off the dirt and grass from his blood stained shirt as the bones and skin repair themselves. I try to dive forward but the girls hold me back. "Let me fucking go! That asshole just tried to kill me! Let me go! Damn it!"

The girls fly back and again I charge for Kid. He seems to have lost all his patience with me and just as I move into range he grabs my wrist tightly and swings it around behind my back. He moves so fast I am still lunging at his previous shadow. "No I did not TRY to kill you, I did kill you. Now calm yourself I have a headache and all of this is highly unnecessary."

"Highly unnecessary? You fucking tried to kill me!"

"I did kill you Maka. Don't you remember? I stabbed on of my twin needles through your skull and into the flesh of your brain and I have been itching to even things out. Do not test me!" He releases me and I fall forward ungracefully, landing in dirt.

"Now, if you will be civil and sit down like a logical being I will explain everything that happened in a calm and organized fashion." Too dumbfounded to do much of anything else I just do as he says and pull my legs up to my chest as I turn toward him.

"While it is true I did kill you there are 3 things you need to know. The first, as I said before, you are in the kingdom of Death, without my consent you cannot died until your spirit no longer wishes to live. Secondly the beast that attacked us were wild lower level demons that carry the Black. Thirdly the Black is a horrid plague spread through blood born infection that attacks the soul strands that are connected to the brain eliminating everything except for pain. The progression is excruciating for the first few hours and there is no cure. However, after the first few hours the pain decreases until it disappears leaving behind only a bit of bloodlust and anger. Knowing this I shut down your brain so that I could not feel pain in the only way I could. You were in no real danger and I had everything under control."

"You still fucking killed me…" He sighs and shakes his head. I have mine turned to the side and stare daggers at him from my one visible eye. I hold myself tighter to try to hide the fact that I'm shaking. He notices.

"Maka, I understand it must have been terrifying and that you must be very angry right now but I only did what I had to. Please don't be upset." He reaches out awkwardly to me and places his hand on my shoulder. His posture relaxes when I don't pull away.

"So um…." Liz is looking awkwardly around with her hands in her pockets while Patti is staring at us with a huge smile on her face. The older girl finishes her thought while staring at a tree branch. "Are we gonna leave or what?"

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

By the time we headed out it was midday. I expect to be arriving late in the night due to the unfortunate incident from earlier. I should be worrying over the delay in plans and our late arrival but there is something more pressing on my mind.

Maka still hasn't said a word to me.

She will sit back there and talk to the girls like normal but once I fall back she returns to silence. It is very strange and I wonder if it is a side effect from her death. The gash I made is still in her head and it worries me to see any wound still there after more than an hour.

I would never let it show to the others but I am still very worried about the girl's wellbeing. When she didn't wake up shortly after I thought I had gotten it wrong. That she could indeed die for good, I was even, dare I say it, scared. An emotion I never felt before sparked by a human I barely know. But there is something about her that is changing that small nearly unnoticeable part in me. Even when she had woken I was relieved, but not for my father or my kingdom, but solely for the girl herself, as if she was presented as some personal importance.

I remind myself I need to speak with her about the ball and in turn find an excuse to check on her, without the girls noticing. I feel like if I examine her more closely I can better understand why human emotions are so contagious.

"Maka." Bronte falls back into the rear position, letting the girls take the head. Maka's black stallion trots happily along with mine. I can't believe I didn't notice that something was wrong when they were using a show horse as a pack mule.

Her grip tightens on the reigns and I flinch inwardly. She doesn't respond but I can tell she's heard me and I sigh. "I need to talk to you. This is no time to be childish."

"…you killed me."

"But you are alive now so what does it matter?" She sighs and mutters something else under her breath but I don't quite hear it. "Well you and I need to have a serious talk about where we are going."

"Fine." She drops her head to stare at her hands as the horse follows the lead.

"Very well, what did my father tell you about The Spring Awakening?"

"Not much of anything at all. Just that he wanted me to show up so everyone knows I'm under your 'protection'. How ironic right?" I suppress a growl and continue anyway.

"We are headed to the Life kingdom. It is the spot in the center of the land that is supposed to be neutral ground." I pull open a map and point to the direct left of the center. "This is where we are in the Death kingdom, we will arrive in the Life kingdom late tonight and I need you to be ready for it."

"Real creative with the names down here aren't you?"

"First off, my father lied to you." I do end up growling at her comment. It sounds like she isn't even listening. "You are coming because he knows having another immortal on our side will intimidate the other kingdoms away from war. Especially the Life kingdom, being as how you still hold what they so desperately strive for."

"What's that?"

"Your humanity. In any event you must conduct yourself as a lady and be respectful. However, never accept a gift from anyone, no matter how they offer it. To do so would put you in their debt and that could be very dangerous."

"Why are you so worried about war? I thought it was neutral ground?"

"It's supposed to be. You see the land is split into five kingdoms with Life being in the center and the rest circling around it." I point to a spot just northwest of the center. "Hatred is a dark and desolate land filled with swamps and fog. It holds the Fall, your Hell."

I slowly drag my finger directly west to where we are. "As you know this is the Kingdom of Death and above that is the kingdom of Light. It is relatively safe there with sun and beaches covering the land. Next to that is the Kingdom of darkness. They command the night and the stars. And lastly the kingdom of Life. They control what is called 'Paradise' or 'heaven'. In reality it's just a large garden that seeps life from the ground."

"Spoiler alert much."

"What?"

"Nothing." The girl sighs but I can see a small glimpse of a smile. Something inside me warms and I clear my throat. "Wait, so are the life people angels?"

"No not exactly. Really they are highly regarded pure souls named as the exhalted. They are very… proud people."

"So they're pricks?"

"Please don't call them that in person, but yes. In any event only the true and completely cleansed souls can walk the garden and care for the human souls waiting to be reborn. However you will never meet one because once they enter they will never leave."

"What about this gray area over here?" She points directly South of the center. While the other areas were decorated with the kingdoms colors this large patch of land remains grey and unnamed.

"That is the Unwalked. Nothing grows there but nothing is dead it's just gone. Even in the Death kingdom we have short shrubs and small wildlife but there, the landscape is barren. Wild and ledgendary beast wander the land there, guarding it from any poor soul who dare wander in by accident. Different kingdoms have tried to cultivate it but all have failed. It has fallen out of our interest and just rest as unused neutral ground in the event that the Life kingdom is not in standing for treaties."

"Why are you worried about war? I doubt they've done anything that bad."

"That is a very long story."

"Well apparently we have a long night."

"Fine. I suppose you must know what you have so recklessly hurdled into."

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0

In the beginning there was only Life. She grew lonely and made humans to fill her days and share her love. However, as the humans wandered their new home they began to cry. She gave them eyes but could not see the beautiful world she made for them. She remedied this by creating the Immortal, Light, from one of the first women. She chose a kind and pure soul and gave her the job of holding up the sun for all of the humans.

This too caused problems. With the sun always in the sky the earth heated up and grew too hot for the humans. The fruit and grass also dried in the baking sun causing the humans to hunger. Life then created Darkness to give the sun and the world rest. She decorated him with stars and a moon as a reminder that the sun would always rise and that there was nothing to fear. Darkness and Light completed each other and fell in love as he chased her across the sky, day and night.

The humans lived happily like this for thousands of years and everything was perfect. As time moved on Life grew close to one human. He was a harp player and sang in a way that caused even the ever faithful Light to abandon her post for a day and allow Darkness and his moon to overlap her. Life was so taken by the man and the beauty his songs brought to the world, she took him as her lover.

Wishing to keep him by her side she made him an Immortal and promise to love and cherish him for all eternity. But, tragically, in exchange for his immortality and acceptance into their world he lost the very thing she loved most. His humanity. Seeing this Life worried for her humans. Slowly she watched as their fragile bodies faded away until they were just souls connected to piles of dust that could neither feel nor cry out when they were blown away in the wind.

Desperate to give her humans peace, she assigned her lover to the position of Death. When a human soul no longer desired to live, a string on his harp was to play a sour note and he would cut it, releasing the soul to be reborn in a new life. Eventually the two grew apart but not before Life could bear him a son, he wished for her to keep it as a reminder of their love but she could not. For in a battle of life and death, death will always outweigh her.

Millions of years passed and the humans were again happy. They lived long lives and were reborn soon after death to relive another life. As time passed Life found a new lover. He was again a human and she longed to be with him.

Not wishing to repeat the same mistake she only made his body immortal, leaving his soul intact and with it his humanity. Every night she would leave her temple and possess the body of her high priestess to be with her lover. The man lived many lifetimes and the children they made were holy and worshiped.

However, the man was still human and still was forced to live a human life. Time passed as nothing and he watched all the people he loved die countless times. He was even forced to endure the slow deaths of his own children crumbing out of existence.

One day, Death was playing his harp and the man's string made a different noise. It was higher pitched, like the string had been stretched to tight. Death observed the man for a while watching his reactions with the world around him. All the while hearing the string's note grow higher. He warned Life but she paid no head, content as long as the man loved her.

Much time passed and Death grew to forget about the string and he would always ignore it when he played. However, one morning, as he rose to play his harp yet again he found the string to be snapped. Cut on it's own from the sheer tension.

He went to find Life but she was already waiting for the man. His body was still breathing and his heart still pumped blood but his soul had left him a mindless living container, constantly asleep. Life grew withdrawn and depressed, even pulling her power from the earth with her in mourning. Eventually she would return but every year she would retreat to honor him.

Ages passed she grew weaker and weaker. One day Death was playing his harp and she called him to her. He sat beside her in her chambers playing for her for three days. One the third day she stopped him. She pulled at her immortal soul and produced a string for the man to play. He found it rang a sour note. With the last of her energy she gave life the ability to procreate before begging Death to let her free of her bonds, that she be reunited with her lover. Death gave her mercy and played her one last song.

As Life left the world the other Immortals felt it. They came to pay their respects in hopes that she had at last found peace. The humans felt some of the beauty leave the world and cried out collectively for their lost goddess. Generations passed and the humans forgot, but Immortals never forget.

The new leader of Life saw her death as a murder and not an act of kindness. Using her powers she demanded the followers of Life to rise up and attack Death. The god did not falter and did not demand anything of his followers but they fought loyally for his name. The war raged on for years and Death would never stop playing his harp.

As more and more died a new Immortal began to form. Hatred spread rampant across the land infecting the people with disease, famine, and drought. Seeing this power the new leader embraced it and created the Immortal from the very depths of evils of man. Hatred tainted the people of the land, turning family against friend, lover against lover, and child against mother. He stole their souls and dragged them to his kingdom to force them to live in pain for the sins he demanded they commit. He called this kingdom the Fall and the thought struck fear into the people causing only more violence and bloodshed.

Death, who had remained passive, could no longer stand to see the humans treated so cruelly. And so, he did something that was a horrid taboo and a secret fear of all Immortals.

He threatens to cut the strings of all the Gods if they did not retreat. The war was stopped and humanity was saved, but at a cost. Light and Darkness went easily for with the creation of Hatred their love had died and they could no longer stand watching the human below revel in what they couldn't. So heartbroken they sunk into the new home Death had created.

However, Life and Hatred cursed the land, Hatred with a permanent plague that insures mistrust in every human at birth, forcing his way into their soul. The new leader could not bring her to hurt the creatures that Life cared so much for so she instead cursed Death. Marking him as terrifying thing to the human of which he cared so much. She cursed him to never sleep to pay for his everlasting presence.

Death took it all strongly. He opened the gate to another world that the gods be separated from the humans. When he locked the door none could enter or leave. Even death himself had no way out. As time passed the humans slowly evolved and devolved. They forgot the gods and instead grew new religions from the stories of old. The Immortals faded into obscurity…except for Death. Because of the curse he will always be remembered as a vile and cruel creature that no one could ever love.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"The baby was you." My voice was somewhat disbelieving and somewhat excited.

"Yes, a long time ago."

"How long?" The story filled a long portion of the ride and night fell pretty fast. The girls are still riding ahead but everyone once in a while they look back suspiciously. As if I could actually hurt him.

"In your earth years somewhere around three billion." His eyes looks tired and haggard. I have never seen him look as old as right now. It's almost like that story remind him of something he wished to forget.

"That's a long time for anyone to go without love. How did Light and Darkness live with each other?"

"They eventually moved on as all things do. He stands by her side but while they cannot forget the past they ignore it, he claims it's easier that way."

"What about you?" I am still staring at him, at his eyes. I want to see something in there, something that makes him human but they are as cold and solid as vault doors. As empty as death.

"What about me?"

"How do you manage without love? How can you and your father live knowing that it is gone?" Kid pulls his reigns to the left and his horse comes far too close to mine, his blue mane flicks coolly against my hand. We are less than a foot away and our feet kick together in a mindless rhythm.

"My father loves me. He has known this love and will never forget it not matter the curse. But as for myself, I have never loved. So what does it matter if I can't? I never felt it so I feel no sorrow for the loss of such a useless emotion."

"Kid… I'm so sorry. That's so…heartbreaking." My eyes begin to water and I can't help it. I feel like there are stones in the pit of my stomach and a hole in my heart. After only a moment I couldn't stand the pain. I couldn't imagine an eternity. I can't help it when the tears fall down my cheeks.

I make no noise but for the first time all trip the prince tears his eyes from the road. He reaches out curiously and brushes away the water. He stares at his hand and then my face and his eyes change. They brighten and his mouth twitches into a small smile.

"You would weep for me? You care for one who will never care back? Why?"

"I can't help it. I guess it's just because I'm human. I can't not care, it isn't in my nature." I wipe at the tears and his eyes unlock, only for a moment, but just long enough for me to see the dark and aching loneliness that resides inside.

Kicks his horses side the animal cuts ahead. "You are a fool."

I kick my horse to keep up, not yet finished with the conversation. The girls pick up the pace to stay ahead and look back with curious glances. "Why am I a fool? Why is it foolish to care?"

"You 'care' for someone who killed you without a second thought earlier today. You care for someone who cannot love you back. You care for a monster who can only bring you pain and death."

I shake my head as a large wall covered in ivy comes into view. I dry my tears trying to make myself halfway presentable. "You are the fool. You are far from a monster. You have saved me and you know that I would have gone mad without you by now. Thank you."

The girls fall back as the guards come into view allowing Kid and I to lead. I try to stagger back with them but he raises his hand. "You are an equal. You shall ride at the front with me."

I nod and smile. Just out of earshot of the guards I lean over and whisper, "Beside, love cannot be governed by anything other than love. Don't forget that Prince. For the moment you do, you have lost yourself the way they wanted you to."

Ooooo spooky stories. So there is the premise to explain this whole other world in existence. This was fun, I love mythology so making up my own was the bee's knees. Review and let me know what you thought.

Notes: The general lay of the land is that it's a circle cut like a pie into five big slices with a cut out in the very center. More like a doughnut.

Patti and Liz's story will pop up soon if you want it otherwise I will just kinda leave it as is.