Laughter rings out through the square of the town as the festivities begin. King Baltra steps onto the stage and raises his arms above the crowd of townsfolk. "Good evening one and all!" His voice booming over the crowd brings everyone to a quite whisper now.

"I hope tonight will be one of fun, and not sorrow as we remember why we down these masks upon our faces. Circumstances with the neighboring kingdoms have become grim and to protect our identities we must now adorn these masks or may those who choose not to follow be imprisoned. Thankfully, we are a small community and need not know what lies behind them. Instead, we welcome them and hold special events such as these to remind us of how fortunate we are to be in the company of each other. Friends, family, and acquaintances who understand each of our hardships. So let's raise a glass and begin this splendid evening with happiness and a sky full of our most elaborate fireworks!"

Just as the king finishes his statement a bright ball of green sparkling flames bursts behind him and the crowd lets out a booming "Huzzah!"

"Hurry sister Veronica. If we are late again father will surely be cross this time!" Elizabeth cries out to her sister falling behind her.

"Wait for me please Ellie. I still have yet to put my other shoe on!" Veronica huffs back. Elizabeth, unaware of where she is headed due to the fact that her gaze is still on her sister, ends up tripping over a small boy in her hurry.

"Ouch!" she bellows out as Veronica rushes to her side.

"Oh gosh please forgive my little sister, Elizabeth please watch where you are going!" Veronica rushes her words together in a single breath and continues to apologize.

"Hey, hey, hey! it's alright no need to go apologizing so much!" The boy replies as he rubs the back of his head, wincing in pain.

"Sister! His face!" Veronica's stare is one of horror as she holds her index finger towards the boys unmasked face.

Elizabeth's first instinctive thought is 'His emerald eyes are gorgeous, face so flawless, and that hair so blonde!' Then she takes a closer look and a bitter taste fills her mouth as she notices he isn't wearing a mask

'He's a criminal! He doesn't wear a mask!' She shouts to herself in her head. She shakes it off as she remembers how late her and her sister are and grabs Veronica by the hand still facing the boy. She bows and rushes her words together like her sister did moments earlier, remembering to apologize for running into him "I'm terribly sorry, please forgive me." She then starts to hurry away from the boy with Veronica struggling to regain control of her thoughts. As soon as she does she snaps at her sister for her ignorance "Sister are we just going to say nothing about his..."

"Hush Veronica, it's none of our concern and we are very late. We have no time to waste on criminals like him" Elizabeth barks back, cutting Veronica off.

The two rush to their father's side as fast as they can manage, but he still senses their late arrival and they can see it on his face as his lips curl into a slight frown.

'O boy, here comes the lecture.' Elizabeth thinks regretfully to herself. Her cheeks turning pink under her silver crows face mask. She isn't hiding her feeling of fluster from her father at this point. She knows it's too late for that.

"No matter how precious you are to me my daughter, you are still not excused from your responsibilities as princess and may you never forget this." The king lets out through tight lips.

"Forgive me father, but Veronica was dragging behind and mother informed me that I was to wait for her." Elizabeth and the king turn their stare onto her sister as she speaks. Veronica still struggling to put her shoe on at this point.

"Maybe instead of thinking of thine own troubles, you might have been on time, had you helped her with hers." He retorts as Elizabeth hangs her head.

"Yes father." she finally replies.

As Elizabeth goes to kiss her father's brow and voice breaks through over the crowd.

"Baltra! I am sick of these festivals and your stupid nonsense of protection! As captain of the Seven Deadly Sins I know the truth about the neighboring kingdoms and demand you release the kingdom from these laws you call mandatory for our safety!"

Elizabeth's Face turns to shock and horror as she recalls the voice from earlier. 'It can't be!' She thinks as she starts to remember the boys voice from earlier.

"I'm Meliodas, the Dragon Sin of Wrath and I say these festivities will end now! Everybody better get the hell out of here if they don't want to see what possessed my sentencers to give me my name!" Meliodas continues to ramble on while the kingdom continues to laugh.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" He screams loud enough for people in houses down the road to hear, some turning on their lights, others poking their heads out from their windows, all adorned with masks. A booming laughter now turns into a thunderous cackling.

"Ah well if it isn't the pipsqueak criminal Meliodas," the king seats himself in his thrown as he speaks "you and I both know you will do no such thing Meliodas." Snapping his fingers three strong able bodied looking men appear from behind him.

"I'd hoped you wouldn't have shown your face tonight, but if it has to come to this than I have no choice but to let Gilthunder, Howzer, and Griamore have a little fun as well."