The entire world was glowing in violent, electric blues and sudden shattering of sound. The winds swirled, throwing small stones and debris around like nothing. She had run through the jungle's edge, creating a swath of destructions most hurricanes would aspire to. She was a level five by normal standards. The only problem was she wasn't normal. The blood of a queen vampire ran through her veins.

Exhausted, Mikoto stared into the shadows of a black, rocky surface. The broken layers of sediment told of its history. Eyes following the crooked lines of the sheer face of a cliff. She had run so far. And found herself at the garden's edge, its formidable depth nearly two miles down or up. A prison buried deep in the stone to protect it from the violent winds. A place to grow the next generations of warriors and dinner. Bits of rock split and cracked and tumbled down., striking the electricity and exploding into dust. Muscles tensed, fist clenched, shaking and trembling. Anger and regret tore at her, As her power ran uncontrolled.

She felt the familiar stretch, the itch spread across her shoulders. The sensation grows and fades with familiarity. Great wings stretched from her back, like bony fingers reaching for the sky, opening up with a layer of skin between, and snapped fully. Large and small blood vessels swelled and pulsed with blood and bluish-white electricity. The tips of the fingers flashed as sparks lit the air between them. A smaller set of wings rose, pushing past the larger set. The bony spikes of fingers scraped across the dirt, leaving deep grooves spanning out along the ground as they spread. Electricity danced across the surface.

In her angst, her power was running wild and out of control. Threatening to overwhelm and consume her. Her face twisted in anger and regret. "Not again…" she growled. Remembering back as her eyes swirling in dark colors, blues, reds, and black. A snarl stretched across her face, teeth clenching. "Not again."

It felt dangerously seductive. The constant flood of power swelled around her like a blanket. The sense of…. No right or wrong…just power…without thought or consequences… it grew exponentially.

A snap. A branch? Or electricity. A deep dark breath. She heard something and looked over, staring into the flickering shadows of the jungle. Seeing nothing.

A flicker of birth sparked near her chest. A sphere of power formed and grew larger. Born of the fiery colors of destruction, bright yellow, whites, and blues. With eyes widening, reflecting the destructive power across her eyes, she knew. Had to control it…With her shaking hands, she reached out and tried to reign in the growing sphere. The small ball of heat surged and burned her hands, only regenerating. Its hunger grew as more power flowed into it. Stealing and feeding from her.

"Not again." She growled, veins bulging across her arms. Sweat poured over her as its size grew larger than a beach ball, smaller than a balloon. Power surged, eddied, and flowed.

She forced it to her will. Shrinking, squeezing it down, its colors glowing like a miniature sun. Fusion building. She knew it… had to get rid of it. Chaos reigned. Smothered by the swirling debris pulled into, feeding the sphere. Only the pulsing light visible through the swirling blackness.

Running the calculations in her mind. Seconds, microseconds. Hoping.

"Neeed to divide the sphere. To limit its destructive force …. can't stop it… gotta."

A smirk across her face, a satisfied calculation. "A risk… why not?" She screamed in searing pain. Flesh and bone burned and regenerated. She pulled the sphere closer until she held it like a jealous child. She would force the energy and take it in like a conduit. And reroute it.

She bucked and snapped back, wings stretching, the power surging through her and running along the veins and bones of her wings, reaching the boney structures and firing into the wind, tearing a hole in the black wind sky, sending the power into the atmosphere. She stumbled from the recoiled. One of her wings dropped and angled. The rays tore into the rocky cliff's surface, sheering the tops and exploding. Followed by landslides. The other, the jungle, shook and burned. The trees, taller than any skyscrapers, nearly two miles plus, bared the red-hot lingering lines and fell to the ground in thunderous crashes. She ignored the destruction, seeing the sphere losing its power, the edges becoming visible as she drove her hands deeper into the globe and tore it apart like cookie dough. She smiled, taking her left hand with a third of the power burning. And fired it. It booms along the curving rocky border of the garden. Exploded, burrowed, and disappeared. Her right hand moved, seeing the landslide tumbling in the distance, knowing it was close to the village. And fired. It rammed into the rocks, exploded and vaporized the surface material, kicked up, and disappeared over the edge of the gardens.

Exhausted, haggard, sweat falling and sizzling on the last piece of the orb. She pulled her shoulders back, glaring at the black wind rushing across the top. A sarcastic look.

"I'm tired." Hissing a breath as she stepped back. "Shit!" Tripping on some loose debris. The sphere exploded from her control. It shot forward and burrowed into the surface just beyond. Its size quickly expanded, growing from softball size to balloon in moments. Driving deep into the cliff's edge. Water and steam burst like a fire hydrant. Glowing orange, red and yellow, shooting like fireworks. Swirling geysers of fog, steam, and water covered the area in a heavy cloud of grey vapors.

A tired, exhausted Mikoto rocked back and forth as the explosion rolled over her. Her consciousness faded.

The cliffs collapsed, striking her automated barrier, cracking, shattering, and turning to dust and mud. She thought of the battle where she'd lost her friends. She thought of the ones she saved. Voices filled her darkness. She thought of Anastasia.

"Sorry, I'm such a baby.." she whispered, closing her eyes as she collapsed.

Little misaka relished the power of the claim. She grinned, feeling something close to what some called relief. Despite that, the tiny black streaks on her skin. Remained. She sensed the anxiety growing in Mikoto. The desperation as she ran. Running away, to somewhere, nowhere but somewhere. "Just stop it!" shaking her head, shutting her eyes. Knowing she didn't have the answer. "Hey! Calm down!" little misaka shouted. "It's ok… we have done nothing wrong!"

Mikoto's inner torments of losing them. They were her comrades and friends. She couldn't and wouldn't replace them. After arguments with Anastasia, they were her soundboards for ideas that she was right and Anastasia was wrong. "Yes, mistress…" they'd giggle.

They were gone now.

"Stop it!

"Get control of yourself… we can't have another meltdown!"

"Remember the paperwork! The glares, the snickers!"

"Shit! Leave the trees alone. What did they do?… ooohhh shit! That made a lot of noise!"

"Oh… great! Flaming bug kabobs!

"It's steaming in here… and I am not feeling my best?!"

She sensed it. Like she felt everything. She was a part of Mikoto Misaka. Ever since that fateful day when Mikoto had broken the plan to catch the rogue vampire running around Academy City. It was the day Anastasia Von Alucard had bitten, putting her venom into Mikoto Misaka's body to save her life. Little misaka woke, opened her eyes, and quickly attacked and absorbed the rogue's venom. But despite her best efforts, when certain conditions arose. It reemerged. That was the problem when someone was bitten by a vampire. They become a part of that vampire. An underling or servant. But if another vampire takes a likening to someone and bites to claim. A winner takes all that occurs inside the person. And usually, the stronger one wins. And a purebred queen trumps all.

She shook her head, holding out her hands, "Ooohhh shit, I look like a road map?" the black veins rolled and twisted around her arms, moving into her palms and fingers. "It itches… oh, for the goddess's sake? It itches…" she dug her nails into her skin and scratched.

"Damn it, Mikoto… we're a queen, and this is what we do!" she growled, furiously scratching her arms. "someone! Scratch my back!"

"Ha! You have no place to run now?"

"Uh… what the hell are you… oooooohhhhh craaaappppp! She gasped. That ball of…. that power will… we cannot destroy another…?"

She felt Mikoto struggling. Then…

A flicker of blue sparks, then a burst of blue flames.

"eh?!" little misaka cocked her head, looking much like a curious, confused kitten. "this isn't good?" it was something she hadn't seen in a very long time. Not since…

The federation of the Amercias rose to power after the second US civil war. An Authoritarian style government. All control was centralized, and individual rights were suppressed. And they had labeled vampires a threat to the Christian way of life. Even if you were human the day before and had been turned. Even though there was an antidote. If taken within three days, it would reverse the process.

They released a video showing the killing of a small child who had turned, begging, and asking for help. Only to be killed by a bystander. A stake through the heart, laughing and high-fiving those around them.

Some celebrated, others offended. But nothing became of it. Then weeks later. After many warnings and offers to provide free antidotes. Even offering to take all the vampires. Nothing happened until she happened.

Mikoto Misaka appeared near the entrance of a former NORAD base, buried deep inside a mountain in the middle of the federation of the Americas. An event that was broadcast live around the world. As if to show the country's strength, The military quickly responded. She had waited for them. Wings spread, electricity flaring, consolidating her power into a small fusion sphere. And destroyed the mountain and 4 plus divisions.

Two weeks!" she yelled.

It was later discovered a right-wing vampire hate group had intentionally injected the little girl, thinking the little girl would go on a rampage to stoke the fires against the vampires. But she didn't attack. "she was…is a good girl." her mother had said on the news.

They found many of the group members hanging naked, dead from the power lines in the town square. The leaders of the groups turned into a vampire.

The area around her was covered in black, it surrounded her, the rage burning like midnight without a moon. A sudden dousing of blue flames, and it dropped like curtains on fire. little misaka gasped. The images played like memories of the past.

She was there, standing on the rocky edge of a calm sea. The clear sky, a quiet, inviting blue, and the breeze played softly with her long hair. She brushed it from her face as she turned around. And smiled. "I see you, little one." She gave a playful finger wave. Little misaka's heart surged. Wanting, needing, and doing her best to run to her. But the goddess shook her head. "know that I am waiting for you, my love."

How? She could only mutter at first. The woman smiled her eyes the perfect color of the sky and seas, hair the perfect shade of blond. Golden shining like the sun. Skin smooth and soft and smelled of the seasons. She moved with the grace of a predator. Dangerous and kind.

How?

The woman was Anastasia Von Alucard. Her true form. She was of royal blood and lineage. The Image of her mother, Titiana. The mother who'd given up her life to protect her child, Anastasia, and her kingdom. Anastasia had refused to age until she found someone who loved her, and she loved them. Four hundred years had passed. "A happy accident!" she'd exclaim with fists in the air. "Yeah, right," Mikoto would always answer, less than enthused.

"Liar!"

Little misaka fought not to cry. The tears filled and spilled over her cheeks. The struggle was hard, but she took her first step and then another. And the woman, too. "no matter how you struggle, you are too far from me." She said as she reached out as if to cup her cheek. Little misaka felt the warmth of her hand on her cheek. Running her fingers along her cheek. The woman smiled. slowly nodding, "I can feel you." Words trembling, the Image slowly fading. An explosion of strength and she rushed forward, hands out and reaching into the fading Image, a fleeting touch, and then it was gone. She stood, looking into the stillness. Bringing her fingers to her nose and sniffed. A warmth underneath blushed her cheeks. Her heart raced. Eyes glimmered. "I had you." She said.

Those warm blue flames, merely a thin line across the ground, rolled and swirled. Roared across, swallowing her and everything. The flames licked and danced across her skin, felt its warmth as she breathed and swallowed.

"No pain?" The blue flames flickered over her tongue as she spoke. She watched with blue-tinted colored eyes, holding her arms out, hands opened wide. The thin black lines running underneath her alabaster skin disappeared in streaks of blue.

And In a quick flash, everything was gone.

"Nothing like slash and burn your problems away?" her strength fading. Little misaka collapsed to her knees. Exhausted and short of breath. Kinda odd for an avatar. She inhaled deep, "sorry, I am such a baby," she painfully chuckled, closing her eyes.

Vita ignored the blade's sharp edge across her throat. She appreciated the professionalism of Aya's steady hand. It was just the right amount of pressure. But She knew it wouldn't matter. What was going to happen was inevitable.

She didn't blink. If she had, she would've missed it. Mikoto Misaka moved in a violent explosion but took the little one gently in a single motion. Vita moved, slipping from Aya's grip, arms stretched as Mikoto placed her in her hands. "Maka," she said, her eyes fixated on the son of the king. She hit his chest, and he was gone.

She stopped just outside the longhouse. Bits, pieces of wood, blood, and flesh hung still in the air and dropped to the earth. She felt the familiar roll of her queen's intent over everyone. The air rippled and flowed as she made her claim

Vita smirked with a knowing nod. "Going to have a lot of work to do," running her nose through the wild mane, clinging tightly in her arms.

"Maka," she said, standing up. The little one curled protectively in her arms, looking nervously at Aya. Her arms were still in the position she had once held Vita in. the blade was still throat high.

"What?" Aya, quickly unaware of what was happening, whispered.

"I'll explain later," Vita said. "her name is Maka." Holding her out," It means love, affection, and favorite. Or splendor, flower…". Vita grinned, "or petal…" she laughed. "little petal," she said.

Aya quickly nodded. Dropping the blade, and took Maka in her arms. "Aya," she said, raising her voice and holding her, tears drifted down her cheeks. "this is Maka," she said, taking a step toward Gullam. She sat the bow and arrow down." Maka," she said, putting her hand on the little one's head. Nya grinned and stopped running the blade over the whetstone. Picked up her little one and guide the other little one as she walked over. "Her name is Maka," she said as she looked at her.

Vita looked over what remained of the front of the longhouse and those caught in the explosion of the son of the king slamming through the doorway. She'd watched him tumble through the air, hitting warriors as his body skipped like a rock tossed across the water, slammed into a tree, and slipped into the dirt. She shrugged. "he barely has a heartbeat."

"I have to go…" she said, without turning around.

"Go?" Aya quickly answered.

Vita nodded, worry filling her tone and expression. she fretted her brow, looking around. "Where is?" She looked to find Kea. But she was gone. Vita nodded." I have to go to my queen." She said.

"Queen?"

"Yes," she said. "My queen is confused and scared. I have to find her before… well before she does something I am going to regret.?" Feeling a rush of adrenaline, taking a few steps, and looked around the corner of the longhouse. "Talk about easy to follow? Mistress." Taking a deep breath, and ran.

She stopped at the edge of the village. And looking at the swath of devastation. She could see the bright flashes, the falling of trees, and the smell of electricity.

What had been a hunting trail was now buried under the girths of enormous trees. Trees that, when standing up straight, looked intimidating, majestic. As if they were holding up the sky. But these trees, felled by a small single fist, bases splintered, smoldering. They toppled onto each other, creating an obstacle course to her destination. Small bugs scrambled along the undergrowth and rushed up the pathway towards her in a mass of shiny black things. Giant bugs twitched and smoked like overdone fish. Bits of flame sparked and jumped. The villagers were awed by the destructive force. It took a moment to realize dinner and snacks were there for the picking.

"Time for snacks!" Vita yelled, leaping onto a shredded stump thicker than a building back home. Another leap, followed by another, and another. She stopped once she was at that top and looked down. The villagers were in motion, gathering what bugs they could. She could hear them shouting about who had done this.

"Mikoto Misaka!" she yelled. Laughing and chuckling.

Vita jumped down and landed on the pathway. Explosions and flashes, beams of light scattered along the rocks, cutting down the trees.

"Oh, crap!."

She moved swiftly as a tiger after prey, leaping over smaller felled trees, smoking, smoldering, and catching fire. The smell of burning wood was beginning to overpower her. Being a vampire can sometimes have its disadvantages. A strong sense of smell.

There was a sudden rush of wind, and the tips of wings rose about fallen trees. Pulsing bluish-white electricity, railguns firing. A shudder, and then they were out of control.

Vita's heart was pounding, her breath burning. She had to get there. To see her in all her destructive glory. A sadist, gratifying smile across her face. This is who Vita was and is. Long-lived and occasionally bored.

She'd helped to design and build the second vampiric empire. New cities in the new realms. Joined in the battles in the Antarctic, South America, and Europe. The fall of the new Chin and many excursions throughout history. She was that old.

Born in Mesopotamia, turned into a vampire as a young woman. She had followed the legions of Rome, Mongols, and Napoleon, to name a few. Enjoying the freedom and blood in mass.

But it was when she heard of a new queen rising in Japan. This new queen had taken down all those who grew to oppose her and accepted the warriors she had beaten into her ranks. She knew she'd follow her everywhere on earth and now in the other realms.

A battle junkie. she and Bast could fight for days. But to take on Mikoto Misaka was like a child to a dinosaur.

She stepped out of the underbrush, her heart in her throat. Terrifying awe, she felt the heat of the railguns threatening the sky, searing the ground. She was out of control, her wings shifting and waving, railguns firing from the bony tips of her wings. Trees toppled, and the cliff faces fell and rained debris. She watched Mikoto struggling with a single orb, finally tearing it into three pieces. One in her left hand and another in her right.

Her queen held her arms out and fired. The orbs hovering just above the surface, the heat melting the rock, hitting its mass, and bouncing up into the black wind. It scattered the debris-filled wind, a moment of silence, and a clear star-filled night sky. "Beautiful…" Vita thought, and just as quickly, it was gone. The wind returned. Another firing and destruction followed. Vita blushed, bringing a hand to her chest, breathing and tasting the devastation.

Another one hovered, almost hidden from view. She could see her Mistress exhausted, out of breath, struggling with the last piece of the orb.

She fell back. It shot forward and burrowed into the surface. Disappearing into the cliff's edge. Glowing orange, red and yellow, shooting like fireworks. Water and steam exploded and covered the area with a heavy haze.

Mikoto rocked back and forth. Her wings sputtered and quietly folded back inside. Vita had always wondered how wings that size could fit inside such a small body.

"no! I will not allow you to examine me!" doing her best to pry the thin folds of her Mistress's armor.

"Get your fingers away from that…. that's it…."

She'd wake up in a bluish haze.

Vita jerked, ready to rush forward as the cliffs collapsed. The barrier flickered as the destruction faded. A cloud of heavy dust consumed everything.

Mikoto's first set of wings was gone. The smaller second set, the bony appendages, slammed into the ground, bracing her up. Her head down, body limp. She faltered. Vita's eyes went wide, "no…no…no…."

She burst into a run.

The smaller wings quickly slipped inside.

"No queen of mine will ever touch the ground before…."

she slid across the muddy surface, catching Mikoto in her arms and falling to the ground. "before me…. My Mistress."

She was exhausted, dirty, sweat-stained, and softly breathing. Vita gathered herself on her knees and stood up. She held her in her arms. Her head slumped underneath her jaw.

Vita took a deep breath.

"you don't smell sour anymore.." she said, kissing her head.

Kea dropped her knife, following Mikotos as she ran from the village. She moved silently, jumping, dodging the trees and debris with ease. Her speed kept her close, but Mikoto was getting farther ahead.

An explosion hit close. Kea rolled and jumped to her feet and stopped behind a large tree. Mikoto was screaming, in pain, and confused. She wanted to go to her, to comfort her..she took a step and made a noise. Mikoto quickly looked over, eyes black and cold, and anger and fear reached out. "Stay away, little one."

She didn't recognize the voice. It was a voice of reason, warm and comforting. Trustworthy.

"You'll get hurt, and that is something she doesn't need right now."

Kea sighed, nodding. She slipped back behind the tree trunk. And watched from the shadows.

Mikoto sagged and dropped. Kea readied, but Vita had caught her. "so fast?!"

She waited until Vita had carried Mikoto back to the longhouse. Standing at the edge of the jungle, crowds of villagers picked up steaming bugs and assorted fruits rolling along the ground. "Have to tell mother," she whispered, turned, and faded into the jungle.