Daughter Of Madness [Kid X Fem!Chrona]

The Battle of Eibon (Part 1)

Gold fell from a sunset sky like rain. Kid awoke, his friends framed his vision, consumed with worry and relief at the same time. He sat up slowly despite the protests of his friends. He healed faster than they did, and he couldn't stand looking them in the face when just a few minutes ago he'd lumped them into one amorphous problem. There was no way they could hear what had gone on in his head, but he felt the guilt all the same. Black Star's gaze met his; neither said anything, but Kid nodded in silent thanks. They'd talk later.

"Are we still in the book?" Kid asked. His friends nodded.

"You were injured so we didn't want to move you." Liz said.

"How are you feeling?" Patty dropped to her knees and offered him a shoulder to lean on.

"Fine now," Kid got off the ground with her help. "So, how are we going to get out?" His friends didn't answer. "You do have a way out, right?"

"We didn't think that far ahead." Tsubaki said sheepishly.

"WHAT!" Kid ranted. "How can you plan a mission without exhausting all possible outcomes! There are specific steps to planning and one of them is to do so thoroughly. Is that how you make it to school on time? Not planning ahead? I always make sure to leave the house completely clean-" He looked at Liz and Patty with dawning horror. They'd been in charge of the manor for who knows how long. "The house is a disaster isn't it?"

"Yep, he's feeling better." Liz sighed with a smile. There was a small cough. The group, now alerted to the Index's presence, made room for it to enter the middle of the crowd.

"Since you're all here, I might be of assistance." It said. "Noah's opened the book a few times now. Should he open it again soon, I could push you out. That is, if you'll let me."

"Why couldn't you do that to begin with?" Kilik asked.

"I can only move the contents of the book. Were I to do as you suggested, only the Shinigami would leave and the rest of you would be trapped here. you willingly add yourself to the book's contents, I could let you leave."

"I don't see why not." Maka said with a nod. They didn't really have any other options. "Is that alright with everyone?" The group nodded. As each offered their consent, a white bar of light passed through them head to toe. The feeling was, in a word, invasive. Like cold hands flipping through every page and drawer in quick succession.

"So it is done." The book's avatar said. A hole opened up beneath the group, the children fell through and the hole sealed up above them. Eibon swayed, a worn tome hovering in front of it. "I hope you don't mind that I kept your copy of the book as collateral." Magic symbols surrounded it as a dim view of the outside world appeared before it. "As soon as I decode this algorithm you won't be able to access my realm again."

-8-0-8-

The group fell to the ground in a heap. They moaned in discomfort and untangled themselves from each other. A low growl emanated from above them. They looked up to see a fierce, blind lion. It fanned out large torn wings and roared. All around them the ground was littered with the fallen and injured. Those left standing were struggling to fend off the seemingly endless array of mythical creatures that had been summoned to fight.

"This enemy is too strong," their teacher Marie was on the ground, "run." Maka's eyes widened. Three gigantic fanged leaches arched up into the sky, their teacher in it's maw.

"Sensei!" Maka shouted. They were too far away to intervene.

"Who's doing this?" Kid said. A manticore charged its spiked tale poised to shoot poisonous spines at the group. Black Star drove its head into the ground with an elbow. Followed by Kid who broke the tail with his heel. A gold seal on the beast evaporated and the manticore rapidly began to age until all that was left was dust. The Book of Eibon was what kept them alive.