When her head lolled to the side as he leaned her on his shoulder, Soul Eater Evans loses his cool.

"BLAIR!" he yelled, full panic mode. She was so cold in his arms. Just like the madness infected patients. He heard her human footsteps round the corner.

"Nyah, you finally need Bu-tan's hel—" she said then halted at the scene in front of her. "Maka?!"

"Hospital, now," he said desperately.

Blair jumped into action. With a snap of her fingers, she conjured a huge pumpkin with a magical seat and several seat belts. "Strap her in." They made quick work. She blew open Maka's windows and levitated herself and Maka outside and extended an arm to him. "Turn into a scythe now!" Soul did as he was told and Blair swung his blade over her shoulder. A cat and her kittens flew away as fast they could.

Upon arrival at the emergency room, the nurse staff were startled by a huge floating pumpkin entering the lobby but leaped out of their seats when they saw unconscious girl strapped to it. They called for wheelchair and blankets when they checked her temperature. They knew immediately that it was the Madness.

"Are you her guardian, miss?" one nurse asked Blair.

"No, just her roommate," she replied, unstrapping Maka.

Soul stepped forward, "She's my meister, I'll be her main contact."

"Soul? Blair?" It was Jackie who pulled up the wheelchair. Kim followed behind her with blankets. "Oh no, Maka!" she cried and rushed to her.

"Quick!" Kim said, wrapping her burrito style before sitting her in the chair. Jackie put her hands underneath the layers to begin warming them up. "Did this just happen?"

"Yeah," he croaked, overwhelmed.

"Maka is strong. Don't worry," she reassured. "Come with me. I have an idea."

The group hurried down a long hallway and into a spare empty room. It was extremely warm, with the heat cranked up to record highs in the desert. Soul and Blair laid Maka onto the hospital bed and then Jackie began preparations to keep Maka warm, with hot stones and a humidifier. Kim helped her while explaining her plan. "In the last few weeks, we've been experimenting with academy students to see if their partners could reach their souls. For the most part, they hadn't been successful. A lot of partnerships were new so they hadn't been taught how or whenever they tried, they were blocked off by the madness. Which means it's growing stronger.

"However, I know you guys," she said, pulling a nearby chair next to the bed. "You two are one of the best teams in the school, so if anyone can reach her, it's you Soul."

"I'm almost done with warming. You can start whenever you're ready," Jackie said, who brought in a portable heater from the closet. Soul sat down on the chair. The memory of Maka falling replayed in his head the whole journey there. He felt so helpless, being carried over by Blair. But now with Kim's words, he felt his purpose rise up again. He reached over to take one of her ice cold hands and covered them with his. A hand gently touched his shoulder.

"Bring her home," Blair said. "I'll contact Lord Death and Spirit while you do." He nodded and Blair walked out of the room. Soul turned back to Maka and closed his eyes, her frozen form etched onto his lids.

When he opened them again, the familiar void greeted him. In the far distance there was a doorway, gleaming like a beacon. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the door was stained glass but marred by growing ice. He opened the door toward him and a sudden gust of cold wind threw him back. Soul pushed against the wind, eventually climbing through the door. Unlike his Black Room, Maka's soul contained a black moon in the sky and a vast field of dead grass covered in ice. Storm clouds swirled and lightning flashed, revealing that the field was attached to a steep hill. It was so cold. Pulling his jacket closer to him, he headed towards the sound of crashing of water. Climbing the hill proved more difficult than he thought but when he reached the top, a restless dark ocean spread across the horizon. There was no sign of her. He began calling out.

"Maka! I know you're here somewhere!" he shouted. "Where are you?"

So you decided to join us Soul Evans. Welcome.

"Fuck me," he said

Now that I have both of you here, let's finish what we started.

The wind unveiled Maka before him. She suspended above the sea wearing a plain, white dress. Her ash blonde hair was loose and grew past her knees. Her eyes glowed a dull green. Suddenly, she raised her arm and a burst of air knocked Soul to the ground. Icicles jumped into the air and then came down to pin him on the grass, gripping his shirt. He attempted to get back on his feet, but then felt a hand gripped him by his collar. He and Maka were both parallel to the ground. He could not escape with her being so close.

Take his soul.

She plunged her hand in his heart. He choked from shock and felt her grip something inside of him. Ice cold creeped slowly from his chest. Her hair swirled around her, chaotic. It was strangely beautiful. He coughed painfully and tried to speak to her.

"Maka… please talk to me?"

She cannot talk. She has given her soul to me and now she will take yours—

"Shut the fuck up, asshole!" he shouted and out of sheer will, he tore out of his shirt. His left hand gripped her arm in his chest. His right transformed into a lethal scythe arm and rested it against his own neck. His breath puffed in front of them and he knew he only had this chance. "There are only two people in this world who is allowed to touch my soul: Lord Death but most of all, Maka Albarn. If she wants it, she can have it."

Excellent. Take his soul my dear.

"You know what this means, right?" he said, ignoring him. "We die. And this is not a cool way to die, goddammit! I will end myself before you give him my soul. I will mangle myself beyond repair so that not even Kid can find me."

Foolish talk—

"If we're both dead," he continued. "You will never have the chance to save Crona. If we can't beat this fuckhead, they'll be on the Moon with Asura forever. Come on Maka, I know you're in there," he said. He felt himself growing weaker as each second passed. The madness was making him mindless and obedient. Soon he wouldn't be himself anymore. This was the Wizard's plan all along. Soul wasn't sure how he was going to mangle himself into pieces, but there had to be a way to snap her out of it.

Enough games. Finish him. Her hand gripped him tighter. The freezing pain made him breathless and there was nothing he can do. Was there? Cold seeped deeper into him and his vision clouded. Maka, the strongest person he knew, was giving up. What was he to do? Glancing at her face, there was no one home. Maybe he did fail to save her. Maybe this asshole took her soul after all. He looked around him. Ice grass and darkness engulfed them. This place was a shell of what it was. And he was dying in it. There was a curious pain in his chest and it was different from the madness. It felt like regret. He then realized something a little too late. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. He didn't stand a chance against the madness. And he didn't want to live in a world without Maka Albarn. He closed his eyes, her blurry image the last thing he sees.

"Goodbye, Maka," he whispered.

Goodbye, Soul Evans. I thank you for your cooperation.

He let the hand on her arm go slack. He readied his scythe arm for the final blow. Slash.

Clang!

He opened his eyes, startled. Soul wasn't dead. Instead, a glowing hand was cleaved halfway through the cutting path to his neck. Oh shit. He just cut through his meister's hand.

He looked up and saw her glassy, angry eyes streaming with tears. Her mouth frowned into a deep V-shape and her hair was at a standstill. She was displeased.

"How dare you?"

He blinked. "Uh, I'm sorry?"

"You stupid butthead!" she screeched and Maka-chopped him. He landed on the few inches of ground underneath him, groaning. Her left was no longer in his chest. He patted and peeked at it, just in case. It was completely whole. The despair he felt was quickly ebbing away as Maka grew brighter and brighter, enveloping him with warmth. "Idiot," she mumbled, and roughly wiped her face. There was that spark in her eye. And he knew they were in business. She held out her healed hand to him.

"Soul. Resonate with me."

He grinned. He transformed and danced around her. She gave him a good flourish before stabbing his staff into the ground. The ground crackled with light. The frozen grass melted into a healthy green in all directions. Storm clouds retreated away from the source of light. The laughing sun was revealed cackling happily and the dark ocean receded. It lapped gently onto the shore and a peaceful melody filled the air. Her Grigori soul emitted her natural anti-demon wavelength with the heightened strength from Soul, and both of them stopped hearing the Wizard in their thoughts.

When all was calmed, Maka let go of Soul and plopped herself down on the grass with her hands on her lap. She smoothed out her white dress and tied her hair into pigtails, which had become normal length once more. Soul joined her on the ground and admired her soul around them.

It's not as fancy and decorated like yours, but I like it here," she said, letting herself fall backward on the grass. He mimicked her movements and laid beside her.

"It's actually really nice. It's open and free. Just like you," he said, tucking one arm under his head while the other held her hand.

She snorted. "I'm sorry I haven't been like that lately."

"Stupid."

She slapped him and they squabbled for a bit. And then moments later, she mumbled, "I don't wanna live without you either."

He rolls his head to look at her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she said, embarrassed. It was a good thing they were already holding hands because he wouldn't have known how he was going to pull that one off again. She snorted again. Gathering her courage, she said, "We can talk about that later."

He pinked and studied the white clouds overhead. "Okay."

"Soul?"

"What?"

"I want to visit Crona."

He weighed her statement in his mind and then squeezed her hand. "Ready when you are." She squeezed back.

Maka surfaced from her soul sweaty and burrito wrapped in blankets. She sat up and a warming pack on her forehead fell onto her lap. Black Star, Tsubaki, and Kid, who all sat around her, jumped at her sudden movement, but then recovered when Black Star cheered.

"I knew she could do it! Who's the man?" he said and raised his hand for a high five from Maka, who couldn't reciprocate. Tsubaki crushed her in a tight hug while Kid sighed from relief. The curtain from the bed next to her pulled apart which revealed Soul, who looked like he was burrito wrapped as well, but he cut himself out. The sides of the blankets were cut open. He yawned and cracked his back.

"How long were we out?" Soul asked.

"About two hours I think," Kid said. "It kept Kim on her toes since your body started to become cold as well. Spirit and Stein should be coming in soon to check on you."

The sound of running footsteps came into the room. Kim saw Soul standing and Maka blinking at her. "Oh my god, Maka! Jackie, Jackie, look they're awake!" The pink witch vaulted and jumped onto her bed and grabbed Maka by the shoulders. "This is a miracle! How did you guys do it? Tell me your secret!"

"It was my soul?" she asked, arching away from her.

Kim cocked her head, "Your soul?"

"My Grigori soul," she clarified. "It helps me resist the madness."

Kim paused and lowered herself down to sit across from her. "Huh. I see. Special case then."

"Yeah. But I think I have a solution," Maka said and turned to Kid. "I have a request to make and I need your help."

"Oh? What's that?"

It was difficult to look dignified while swaddled in blankets, but she was determined. "I want to see Crona. I think it's time to rescue them."

"No, out of the question." Kid said.

"No, listen I've got a plan—"

"My decision is final, Maka," he said, crossing his arms. "I know Crona means a lot to you, but we can't just do whatever we please. We still have to consider that Asura is on the moon too. One madness is enough."

"There is a way to save Crona, contain the madness with Asura, and defeat the Wizard at the same time," she insisted. "You just have to hear me out. You're allowed to take suggestions, right?"

He opened his mouth and then slowly closed it. Her words sunk in. His brows scrunched up and he breathed in deeply, ingesting them. He un-crossed his arms and folded his hands together loosely. "Yes. Yes, I am. What would you do?"

"It involves Brew but I need to talk to Crona first," she said. "Here's my plan…"

/

The jet landed on the air pad and Spirit Albarn turned off the engine. The door unsealed and out came Spartoi, Stein, Marie, and Sid. Several of them shielded their eyes from the bright Brazil sun. Everyone were dressed in their battle uniforms and ready to initiate the first phase of the plan.

Patti hollered from the distance and ran at full speed. "It's Kid!" She glomped him the second he got off the stairs. "I miss you so much!"

"Finally, you guys made it!" Liz said, who caught up with her sister. "We desperately needed new company. Please stay forever."

"If everything goes according to plan, we shouldn't be staying long," Kid said, gathering his partners in a tight hug. "I missed you two so much."

"I have the witch's head coven ready for us," Liz said, pointing her thumb towards the canopies behind her.

"Awesome," he said and turned towards his team. "Alright, time to start the mission. Be sure your ear communicators are on. When I give the okay, get ready in battle positions. Kim, with me. Agreed?"

Everyone gave their affirmations. Kid, Kim and the Thompsons walked off while everyone else gathered inside the canopies to ready themselves. There were trays of light food spread out for energy. Though no one was very hungry, some took an apple or crackers. Maka sat at the foot of the entrance and scanned the skies. The Black Moon glowed dimly. It seemed to have healed its teeth since the last battle. She wondered how Crona was doing and if their plan could work. Soul sat next to her and they waited for their call. He munched on some cheese and crackers in contemplative silence.

He suddenly felt a weight on his side. Maka had chosen to lean on him and wrapped her arm around his, still looking up at the moon. The edge of his mouth curved up and slipped his hand in hers.

"What happens if your old man sees us like this?" he asked.

"Hmm," she hummed. "I don't care. I do what I want." He snorted.

"Heh, cool," he grinned, finishing off the last of his cheese.

"What do you think of the plan?"

He took a moment to lay out all the events that were to happen and what could go wrong. "Eh, risky and a little too daring. But if Kid signed off on it, I guess it's okay," he said, shifting closer to her.

She waved a finger in front of his face. "Or it could have been my excellent persuasion skills and logic."

"Sure, okay," he said, nudging her. She made a throat noise at him and pouted. He squeezed her hand. "How do you feel about being back here again?"

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Sad, but it's okay. We're going to save them. I refuse to leave here without them." She gave the moon those fiery eyes. It was then that they heard the static from the ear communicators.

"Meeting was successful. Maaba will cooperate. Go now," Kid said. "I'll see you up there."

Maka led Spartoi out of the tent and turned to face them. "Unless Asura shows up, stand on your guard. Soul and I will be entering the Moon."

"Good luck, Maka," Ox said. Everyone cheered for a successful mission. Maka beamed and then pointed at the moon.

"I'm coming for you Crona! Let's go Spartoi!" she yelled. She took the air with Soul followed by her shouting comrades. Her pigtails whipped in the wind. They flied faster than all the others and left them behind. Dodging several clouds and gaining speed, the dark moon grew bigger and bigger. Her white dress and piano scythe appeared and they braced themselves for impact. Soul's played his song and amplified her wavelength. She began to swing him, using momentum for her main entrance. "DEMON HUNTER!" she roared and sliced an opening in the Black Blood. With a squick, Soul pulled them forward and they were back once again into the void.

Madness of Fear seeped out of the cut. Black Star and Kid swept through the first belts of black blood launching for freedom. Kim flared heavy fire and incinerated a few others, leaving a heavy metallic smell in the air. Kilik and Ox shot multiple lightning bolts at a few stray belts. After a few minutes of work, the opening sealed itself up like new. And now they waited.

"Let's fly up further so we can rest on the surface," Kid said and led the team on Beelzebub to wait for phase two.

Meanwhile, Maka and Soul immediately felt the effects of the madness. It seemed different this time. Fear lived in this space now. Their instincts screamed at them to flee, to hide, to be anywhere but here. This madness affected Soul the most, but he shook it off with Maka's wavelength. She silently searched through familiar locations from the last battle. They dared not to make a sound. Asura and Crona were now one, sharing the same blood. Any false move could end the mission. Soul prodded Maka with a free hand. He raised a scythe eyebrow that asked if she sensed Crona yet. She measured a small distance between her thumb and pointer finger. Close.

They traveled passed the tooth where they got knocked into by Asura. The moon's unblinking eye watched them as they flew up its crescent. It sent shivers down their spines. Maka spied the faint outlines of Spartoi rising with them on the other side. All according to plan. They rose higher and higher until they reached the very tip of the moon. There was a small figure curled up on the edge. The closer she got, the more Maka urged Soul to fly faster. It was them! That was their soul! Glowing purple with a faded X, Crona Gorgon sat alone with their head hidden behind their knees.

Inching closer to them, Maka whispered their name, "Crona. Crona!" They finally looked up and their eyes widened. They pointed at her in amazement. She reached out to them with a finger and gently looped their fingers together, saying yes. Yes, this was real.

"I'm here, Crona," she said, tearing up. "I'm here to bring you home." She let go of Soul, who safely transformed onto the edge while Maka launched herself at her friend in a tight hug. She could barely hold in her sobbing. "I'm sorry I took so long to get you. I'm so sorry, Crona. Please forgive me."

"It's okay, Maka. I did it because I wanted to," they said weakly, holding her gently. Crona gave her a minute to breathe and to compose herself. She pulled back to look at them properly. Crona was deathly thin. Perhaps she shouldn't have hugged them so tightly.

They smiled slightly. "It's okay. I'm fine. I'm glad you're here, Maka. I knew I could believe in you." Maka lost composure at that and began to cry again. Crona patted her head with two fingers.

"It's good to see you, Crona," said Soul, crouching down to their level.

"A-ah, you too Soul," they said, taken aback at his attention.

He leaned in close to them. "Do you still happen to have Brew on you?" he asked, quietly.

"Y-yeah, why?" they asked.

"And Asura hasn't come after you for it?"

"B-brew helps me keep him locked up," they said. "He's in a jail I made with the black blood. Down there on the nose." They pointed down and Soul and Maka peeped over the edge. Sure enough, there was dark dot on the middle of the moon's nose. It almost looked like a birth mark from where they were. "I made it at the same time I made the barrier around this place. He attacked me when I sealed us here, so I made a jail. He did escape a few times. It's not fool proof, which is why I lost so much blood and body fat," they said, looking down at themselves.

Maka looked at them horrified. Crona continued to explain, not noticing this, "I was running out of time, so I even tried to contact you through dreams, but I'm not even sure if that worked or not. I've tried Maka. I did! You're not mad at me are you? For failing—"

"Crona?"

They winced, "Y-yes."

"I'm never mad at you. Nor will I ever be," she said, tears gone. "Do you understand? You did the best you could and you did great. The world owes a lot to you and Ragnarok. You two can finally rest now, okay? Just leave everything else to me."

"Are you sure?" they said. "But you don't have black blood anymore! Even Ragnarok is almost gone."

"What do you mean?" she said, alarmed.

"H-he offered to help!" they exclaimed. "Ragnarok is the reason I'm still alive! There isn't much of him left in me. I only have enough to make a small dagger." They concentrated and produced a small black baselard in their hand. On the blade was Ragnarok's mouth, but it was sewn shut. He seemed lifeless and didn't make a peep. He was like a dud, a fake weapon. Soul and Maka met their eyes. Time was running out. Phase Two need to happen now.

"We're going to need to borrow Brew, Crona," Maka said. "Is that okay with you?"

"Uh," they stuttered. "Yeah, that's fine. But then Asura will escape—"

"We have a plan. Don't worry," she reassured, standing up and helping them to their feet. "It's time for you to rest. You've completed your mission. I'm sorry I took so long on my half of the bargain. No one else could've done this. I'm really proud of you."

They rubbed their hands together, embarrassed but pleased. "Thank you, Maka."

Soul smiled as Maka happily explained to them the next phase of the plan. Crona nodded periodically and understood the steps. He leaned over to look back down at the black dot that contained Asura. He felt a wave of dread, which crept up behind him.

He pulled out of his pocket the communicator and voiced over to the team. "Spartoi, come in please, over."

A buzz later, "Everyone is here and ready. Are you? Over," Kid asked.

"Yeah, we're just about done. We have Brew. Asura is locked up in a Black Blood cage that Crona made, but once they give Brew to Maka, we have to be ready. Over," he said. Maka finished briefing Crona and the pair stood at the ready. Maka pulled another communicator out of her pocket to give to Crona, who inspected it and then put it in their ear.

"Copy that. You guys have 8.88 seconds to use Brew and to get Crona out of there. We'll reconvene for Phase Three. Kid out."

"Roger," Soul said and slipped his communicator into his pocket. "Ready?"

"Yup!" she said and held out her hand. He clasped it and transformed. Maka started to hover above the ground and gave out her other hand towards Crona. "You can hold onto me, okay? Don't let go."

"O-okay!" they said and climbed on her back, wrapping their legs around her waist and placed their hands on her shoulders. The trio began their descent down the moon. Crona trembled when they floated closer towards the nose. Maka placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder to comfort them. With a tilt of the staff, she urged Soul to pick up the pace. In a few minutes, they were back to where they started. She pressed on the communicator.

"I'm ready, Kid," she said.

"Alright, we'll back you up," he buzzed.

"Hold on tight, okay? Don't let go," she said to Crona. They nodded and they passed brew onto her. The Black Blood immediately started to dissolve. Asura's manic laugh echoed in his small prison. Maka concentrated and summoned the power of her Grigori soul. Her white dress glowed brightly. With Brew in one hand and Soul in the other, she used Eibon's knowledge to heighten her power. In a millisecond, information poured into her and she gasped. So much knowledge. Too much knowledge. She felt something grow within her. It felt like mania. Was this the Madness of Knowledge?

"Maka, concentrate!" Crona shouted. "Focus on one thing! Your wavelength!"

Right. Expanding it, she howled and easily cut through the Black Blood in front of her. Black Blood lunged forward toward her, but she banished them with a wave of an arm. With Brew, Madness was no match to her soul.

Asura's voiced boomed, "At last! Madness will consume!".

"KID!" Maka screamed, hurtling towards Earth at increased speeds. She clutched onto Brew, letting her powerful wavelength protect Crona from the Madness.

"Maaba! NOW!" he yelled into the communicator,

"Nyamu!" Maaba squeaked loudly into their ears.

And time seemed to stop as two powerful Kishins of Fear and Despair were let forth onto the Earth.

It is said that Despair Freezes Fear,

And that Fear Inflames the Despaired.

What is Death to Do When Both of Them Exist?