The world spun, and dizzying colors flashed in front of Marie's eyes. The stab wound was deep, and it stained her dress an unsightly read. She stumbled for a few seconds in disbelief, and then fell to the ground with a dull thump. She coughed weakly into her hand. A faint red mist splattered across her palm. From the angle Stein was frozen in, he was only able to see her backside, and the devastating wound that punched clean through her torso. "No..." he managed to choke out through his utter horror. A single tear traced down his face. He heard a snort of disgust from above, and felt a sharp jab in the ribs.
"I was right. You have grown weak." Medusa sneered, looking disdainfully down the bridge of her nose. "Crying over a pathetic fool like that? Pitiful. No, not even that. Despicable." She delivered another swift kick and this time it hit him squarely in the jaw. His face twisted into a grimace. "What's wrong? You won't fight back?" she cackled. She continued to batter him with various kicks and punches, not intending to cause him any real harm, just drive him to the breaking point. Once he broke down, it would be unbelievably easy for him to fall into her clutches once more. Or, more accurately, the grip of insanity.
A faint cough came from Marie's direction. "She's still alive…" Stein murmured. He closed his eyes and focused on her soul. It was the same powerful size it was before, but its once electric yellow pigment had faded, and its edges were flickering. Medusa looked over her shoulder and regarded the injured Death Scythe distastefully. "I was originally going to finish her off, but I decided you would enjoy this more if I let you watch her die. Watch Stein. Watch as she bleeds to death and you can't do anything about it." Medusa laughed wickedly, throwing her head back. Stein racked his mind. There had to be something he could do. Anything! This couldn't be the way it ended. The first time insanity had pulled him in it wasn't this tough to escape. But now…after he had thought of all the theoretical possibilities, it seemed hopeless.
The madness sensed his loss of faith. It peeled itself off of the void-like walls of the room and approached him steadily. The feeling was invisible, but Stein knew it was there from the biting cold he felt, and the characteristic breathy voice of insanity. Suddenly, he had the feeling he had slipped, even though he remained in the same place. A wide, maniacal smile stretched across his face, despite himself. Medusa looked on hungrily, knowing she had succeeded. Stein suddenly found the whole situation hilarious. He convulsed with laughter, his torso shaking violently. Marie, barely conscious, allowed the tears to flow down her face. She had lost him again. And in the process, she had lost herself as well. Maybe she could try to talk to him, console him out of the madness. But no, if Medusa heard, she wouldn't hesitate to end her life then and there. Marie realized there was only one option left.
Soul Resonance.
Stein heard a sweet melodic voice rise above the chaos that engulfed his mind. "Stein? Can you hear me?" Stein attempted to nod, but his neck was stuck in place. So instead he spoke back in his own mind's voice. "Yes. Please help." Because his mind was in tatters, it took quite a bit of effort to reply. His forehead creased with the strain. "I need you to calm down. I need you to breath deeply. I'm going to connect our souls. But it won't work unless your mind is cleared. I could get hurt unless you keep your mind blank. OK? Can you do this?" Stein struggled to suppress the clutter that crept its way through his mind. The dark thoughts retaliated with a painful screech that only he heard. Sweat dripped down his face from the effort of fighting the invisible entity. The shadows gathered around him in a dark spiral, attempting to encase him. Stein gritted his teeth, holding back the insanity as long as he could. "Do it now, Marie." He felt their connection like a pulsating wave, drawing their souls together. Her weakened soul took shelter within the powerful connection they had established. A wind only they could feel stirred their hair and clothes. Slowly, Marie levitated off the ground, like a puppet on strings. Her eyes glowed a pure white, fighting off the shadows that grew at the edge of the room.
"What the-?" Medusa yelled. Too late she realized what their strategy was. An electric pulse shot towards her, sending her tumbling back. Medusa smashed into the back wall, but quickly steadied herself. "I hope that's not what you're going to try." She said shakily, masking her fear. Marie's skin glowed with a pale light, and the air around her crackled with static. Another pulse of white light directed itself towards the witch. Medusa retaliated by sending an arrow towards the attack. Both attacks dissolved with a scorching explosion. Stein braced himself against the powerful wind that the explosion produced. Marie grimaced in anger, and charged towards her, jumping into the air and slashing downwards. Marie flew backwards and lashed out with her fist, missing, but sending electricity sprouting from her knuckles. Medusa landed in a cat-like position, balancing her weight evenly.
Marie flew forwards rapidly, and they collided, creating another detonation. The match was a stalemate. They weaved back and forth, dodging and retaliating. Medusa did a flip, suspending herself in the air for a brief moment. "I'm tried of this." she hissed. Medusa turned herself towards the incapacitated meister, focusing her attack in his direction. "Vector Arrow!" she screamed, "Times 3!" Dozens of small obsidian arrows sprang from her palms. Without hesitation, Marie threw herself in front of him, taking the full force of the attack. The majority of the arrows were dissolved by the powerful aura that surrounded her, but several plunged into her chest. "Gah!" she screamed. The arrows felt like sharpened knives.
"Marie!" Stein yelled with newfound energy, "Soul Resonance!" Marie gave a nod of comprehension and focused her energy. She bowed her head in concentration and clasped her hands in front of her chest. The white aura that had surrounded her was drawn in. Suddenly, her head whipped forwards. "DEMON HAMMER!" Marie and Stein screamed simultaneously. A hologram of a gigantic hammer surrounded Marie, and it shadowed her actions. "Judge's Gavel!" Marie yelled, and with ferocity, the hammer swung itself down on Medusa. Smashing her forcefully into the ground. The floor splintered around her, and the shock of this caused Medusa to lose her grip on Stein. He fell over, relieved of his paralysis. Shakily, he righted himself. "Marie," he murmured, "Weapon mode."
Marie transformed into a hammer, and flew into Stein's hand. He paced steadily over to the incapacitated Medusa. "I'm in the position of power now, Witch Medusa." He said casually, looking down on her. Medusa smiled with narrowed eyes. "Indeed you are," Medusa said weakly. Stein rose the hammer high above his head, preparing to strike down and finish her off. Medusa closed her eyes, bracing for impact. "Goodbye, love." She murmured. Stein hesitated for a brief second, but brought the hammer crashing down into her chest. His soul wavelength spread from the impact site, and she convulsed for a brief moment before bursting into a bloody black rain.
Marie returned to her human form, and rushed towards Stein, sobbing frantically. He held her close to his chest, and she curled her head under his chin. He looked off into the void pensively. Stein would never forget Medusa. But he could move on now. He looked down into Marie's soulful eyes. She needed him as much as he needed her. This was typical of weapon and meister pairs, but their own bond was much more than that. And finally, he realized that. He remembered the day almost a year ago where he had declared he would never feel love, but perhaps he was wrong.
Marie drew herself up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Stein pressed his lips against her own. It felt soft, warm. All the shadows that had previously threatened him dissolved in a new light. He drew back, and looked at her clearly. Maybe, he thought, maybe he could love after all. Bright light consumed the two of them, and they were thrust back into the waking world.
The mad scientist was all put back together again.