Chapter 1 – New Girl
Meliodas and his group, along with Hendrickson and the three misfits were all in Istar. The blond man just arrived at the training cave after his test and just finished speaking to Hendrickson. Once he approached Jenna, a thought came to his mind and it didn't involve his lost powers.
"Hey, Jenna, where exactly is Arcadia? I thought she'd be here." Meliodas questioned, causing the others around him to turn to look at him curiously.
"Who is 'Arcadia'?" King asked in return before Jenna could respond.
"She's an old friend of mine." Meliodas just smiled brightly after speaking, causing the fairy king to be a little suspicious.
"I'll call her," Jenna spoke, before turning around. "ARCADIA! GET YOUR ASS OVER TO THE TRAINING CAVE!" Her loud voice startled everyone around her. "She'll be here in a few minutes. Go ahead in the cave with King for now."
So, that's where Meliodas went. He and King needed to have a chat anyway. So, as they chatted and fought each other, the girl made her way to the training cave. She wasn't happy about it at all. She'd been taking a nap.
Sure enough, once Meliodas and King exited the caves, the girl was walking up the path to them.
"Arcadia!" Meliodas yelled out excitedly, it was the same tone as when he would see Ban after a long period of time. Everyone turned to see the clearly annoyed girl walking towards them. She had white hair, like a druid's, down to her shoulders. She wore black pants and a black tank top with a blue cloak around her shoulders that nearly dragged on the ground.
"Hello, Meliodas. What do you want?" Her tone was the complete opposite of his.
"Everyone, this is Arcadia." Jenna interrupts before Meliodas can speak. "Arcadia, this is Gilthunder, Howzer, Hendrickson, and King."
"Um, hello?" The girl clearly was confused to why there were so many humans and a fairy there in Istar. It wasn't every day that there were so many outsiders.
"Arcadia here is a half-demon and half-goddess. She's a one-of-a-kind being!"
"What?!" Everyone was shocked at that, except Merlin and Meliodas. Due to those two not being introduced to her, it was clear that the girl not only knew Meliodas but Merlin as well.
"Come here, we need to talk." Meliodas then pulled the girl off to the side. "Listen, can you help us out. Fraudrin is back and causing a bunch of issues."
"I don't see why that's my problem."
"Wait, I don't mean to eavesdrop, but did I just hear you talk about Fraudrin?" Gilthunder questioned, approaching the two of them. The girl turned around to glare at the human, while Meliodas just nodded his head.
"You're correct, little Gil."
"Why is he any of her business?"
"Because I once... had a connection to him. So he's my problem. Why is it your business?" Arcadia purposefully avoided giving too much information to Gilthunder.
"My father was killed by that demon and Sir Dreyfus is still being possessed by him!"
"Well, before you two get into it, how about I get my powers back. You can ask her all you want later, alright, little Gil?"
"Alright then." Jenna summoned a huge goddess amber.
"So, Sir Meliodas's strength is in here?" Hendrickson questioned with awe.
"You have no idea what pains I had to go through to get it inside..." Jenna muttered, mostly to herself. "Now then, everyone, step back. Here it comes, Meliodas."
"Bring it!" The blond man instantly responded. Jenna then muttered some words that the humans didn't understand and the goddess amber broke. Darkness fell upon Istar as Meliodas's strength was unleashed.
"Wh...What's going on? It became night all of a sudden!" Howzer cried out, completely shocked by the events unfolding around him. Gilthunder looked just as shocked but said nothing.
"It's not the darkness of the night. This is Meliodas's power, released from the amber." Jenna explained to the humans around her. She then mumbled more words the humans couldn't understand, and then all the black began to pour into Meliodas. It sent wind furiously blowing around them. It knocked the humans backward, well just Howzer and Gilthunder, as Hendrickson hid behind a large rock. Quickly though, the two humans regained themselves and returned to the group. Only to see Meliodas begin to laugh.
"I've dreamed of this day for so long!" Meliodas began, "My strength has finally returned to me!"
"Meliodas?" Gilthunder hesitantly questioned as Howzer also said, "Hey! It sounds like he's turned evil..." Just as the humans began to be on edge, Meliodas smiled at them.
"Just kidding."
"What the hell? He hasn't changed a bit!" Howzer spoke up a little annoyed at the situation.
"Are you stupid?" King suddenly questioned the other blond man. "Do you really think he's still the same?" He was watching Meliodas carefully as the other man put his clothing back on. Once he was almost done with his task, he opened his mouth to ask a question.
"Merlin, can you teleport me to where the Ten Commandants are?"
"Have you lost your mind!? Charging straight to the enemy?!" Gilthunder cried out, horrified at what his past mentor had just said.
"Take me along with you. I need to see him once again. I have to make sure he knows that I'm not going to just let him live this time around." Arcadia suddenly spoke up as she approached Meliodas.
"Very well. However, it will take some time before you can be teleported back here once you've been sent there." Merlin then explained how Meliodas and Arcadia would have to hold the Ten Commandants off for that time before they could return.
"Yep, let's do it," Meliodas responded happily. He had his sword back on him and everything. He was prepared.
"Sir Meliodas, just like Gil said, the Ten Commandants are too powerful!" Hendrickson yelled out next. Arcadia, however, just smiled up at him.
"Don't worry, it'll just be to say hello. That's all."
"Just like Arc said. It's going to be just a greeting." With that, the two people disappeared and reappeared in front of all of the Ten Commandants. "Yo!" Meliodas spoke to the group in front of them. Instantly Galand went into action and Arcadia quickly made her way to Fraudrin.
She allowed her wings to appear. The two on top were of the goddess clan and the two on the bottom were of the demon clan, totaling four wings. She flew to Fraudrin and landed in front of him as Meliodas and Galand fought.
"Arcadia, what are you doing here?" Fraudrin questioned as he watched the girl. He almost looked happy to see her there.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything today. I just wanted to say hello." Arcadia smiled up at the demon, however, the smiling didn't reach her eyes. "However, I will be coming for you."
"Who are you talking to?"
"The human, Dreyfus, of course." Arcadia stopped smiling and began to glare at him. "I will take that human back from you."
"You think so?"
"I know so. Well, goodbye."
"Wait, Arcadia-" With that, Meliodas and Arcadia were gone. The last thing Arcadia saw was Fraudrin reaching out to her with a strange look on his face. It wasn't one she was used to seeing on the demon, despite the different body he was in currently.
"Sir Meliodas!" Hendrickson called out as the two reappeared in front of the little group. "Arcadia, you too."
"Great, you're unharmed!" Gilthunder spoke next happily.
"I told you, I just wanted to give them a little greeting." Meliodas just spoke with a smile on his face.
"What do you mean, greeting?" Jenna questioned as she began to freak out. Arcadia noticed that Zaneri was there now and waved at the girl.
"It wasn't much. I just warned them that we'll crush them if they step out of line."
"You did what?!" Arcadia spun around in horror as the rest of the group reacted in the same way. "I didn't even notice that at all!"
"You were too wrapped up in your little world with Fraudrin." Meliodas teased as he smirked at the girl. She blushed and glared at the other man before turning her attention to the now screaming fairy king.
"What were you thinking?! You're out of line here! All you did was provoke them!" King screamed at the unimpressed blond man.
"Hmm, yeah, more or less."
"This is like waking up a sleeping baby! They were doing nothing, clustered in one place! What are you going to do if they start invading!?" Jenna cried out as she nearly towered over the blond man.
"Why are you so mad?"
"WHY WOULDN'T WE BE!?" Both Jenna and King yelled out in unison. Arcadia just giggled to herself, earning a glare from both of the yelling people.
"Britannia now has many countries and cities. In order to conquer it, it'll be more efficient to split up and spread out... is what they'll definitely think." Meliodas began to explain simply. "If the entire Ten Commandants stay together in one place, even I can't beat them. Even if I'm stronger now. That's why we'll make them split up and take them down one or two members at a time!"
"Oh? What sounds interesting. My nose is ready to go!" Everyone turned to the source of the voice.
"Oh? You're done with your training?" Meliodas questioned with a smile on his face. He just stared at the being in front of him. Which was Hawk but transformed into a monster. So, not wanting to deal with that, Meliodas just turned to Zaneri. "Yo, Zaneri! If you're here, then that means Elizabeth is done with her training too, right?"
"Ye...Yeah." She was too concerned with the pig-thing. Arcadia ignored the interaction between everyone and decides to look over at Hendrickson. She felt something from the druid and wanted to talk to him, but she'd let it go for now. As she began to hear a child crying. She turned her attention to a man with a mask holding a little boy.
"Gria-" Gilthunder began and was finished by Howzer, "-More?" Then suddenly there was a girl yelling out Meliodas's name.
"Lord Meliodas!"
"Hey... is that..." Arcadia was hesitant and kept her voice low to the blond haired man.
"It is." Was all Meliodas spoke before turning his attention to Elizabeth. While Meliodas moved to greet the girl, Arcadia moved over to Hendrickson.
"So, you're Hendrickson, right?" Arcadia questioned as she looked up at the man.
"Uh, yes." He seemed a little shocked that someone was talking to him now. "Was there something you needed?"
"You were once momentarily possessed by Fraudrin, correct? I can feel it within you." At her words, Hendrickson seemed even more shocked.
"How did you..."
"I just can know. So, is that Dreyfus guy important to you? How did he end up being possessed?" Before Hendrickson can answer, Jenna pulls Arcadia away from the druid man.
"So, now that everyone is here, I'll re-introduce this girl. She is Arcadia, and is a half-demon and half-goddess." Jenna then told Arcadia the rest of their names.
"It's nice to meet you all."
"Arc here will be traveling with you guys!"
"I will what now?!" Arcadia spun around to look at Jenna, who was smiling like crazy. "The hell I will."
"Remember Arc, you are partially responsible for all that's happened since you didn't stop that demon of yours a long time ago." To Jenna's words, Arcadia just pouts and remains quiet for a moment.
"Can I at least go get my stuff?" Jenna nods her head and Arcadia's wing re-appear and then she flies off to go back to her home. It took a few moments but eventually, she came back with a bag in hand and a sword attached to her hip on her left side.
"Alright, is everyone ready now?" Meliodas questioned to the whole group. A chorus of yeses rang out as everyone had already put all their clothes back on. With the exception of Griamore who now had no clothing to wear.
"Do I really have to come with you?"
"Yup." Meliodas seemed happy to say that, while Arcadia was not at all. "Anyway, thanks for everything, Jenna, Zaneri."
"Stay longer next time you come to play, and bring Ban with you, too," Jenna responded happily.
"Yep. So, where's Theo?"
"Taking a nap."
"A nap? He really is a kid." After Meliodas spoke, Arcadia then turned her attention back to Hendrickson.
"So, you never got a chance to tell me your story yet," Arcadia spoke to the taller man.
"You can tell her later," Jenna spoke, yet again interrupting the two's conversation. "Listen, Hendy, the path of atonement will be difficult, but never forsake yourself." She patted the man as she spoke.
"...Yes." Hendrickson responded simply to the short girl.
"Thank you very much!" Gilthunder spoke next.
"Thanks, Lady Jenna," Howzer said after Gilthunder.
"Yes! Now go save the world!" Jenna yelled out happily to the group. "And good luck Arcadia!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Arcadia followed the group out of Istar and gasped at the outside world. "I haven't been out here in many years..."
"I wanna drink!" Arcadia heard someone yell out.
"Oh god, yes," Arcadia responded.
"No. You are too young to drink." Meliodas scolded the girl.
"Excuse me?! I've been alive for almost 3000 years! I'm old enough to drink."
"Meliodas, did you really get in a battle with the Ten Commandants?" Gilthunder questioned, ignoring the interaction between Meliodas and the girl.
"Hm? I just exchanged some light punches with this guy called Galand. I'd hardly call that a battle." Meliodas then turned to the two young adults. "Little Gil, Howzer, you two look stronger!"
"Di...Did you hear that, Howzer!?" Gilthunder excitedly questioned as he looked over at his friend.
"I don't really feel different though." Arcadia then zoned out and turned to Hendrickson.
"So, tell me your story now."
"Alright." Hendrickson then explained everything he'd explained to Gilthunder, Howzer, and Griamore before when he'd met up with them earlier on. He also explained all he and Dreyfus had done up until that point in time. It shocked the girl to hear his story and to hear all Fraudrin had done to him and done with him.
"I see... I'm sorry..." Hendrickson was about to ask why she was so sorry when she turned away from him and put her attention back to Meliodas.
"Next up on our agenda is... finding Escanor!"
"Do we really need to find another sin? Aren't you more than enough by yourself?"
"Th...Thirty-two thousand, five hundred!" Gilthunder spoke in disbelief.
"Escanor's even stronger than me!" Meliodas had a huge smile on his face as he spoke. "Actually, Arcadia is also even stronger than me."
"Oh really?" Hawk turned to look at the girl and gasped in disbelief. "Forty-three thousand, three hundred?!"
"Aw... I've gotten weaker over the years..."
"Weaker?!"
"Well, I am a pretty powerful being..." Arcadia felt bad that no one believed her since she looked like a young woman, but she'd show them one day. She would prove to them that she was strong and could protect them. She also wanted to help Hendrickson get his best friend back.