Back at it! Once again, I don't own anything. Enjoy!


Chapter 4

"He'll be back, Elaine," Diane said to the pouting fairy.

Elaine sighed. "He said he would send word to us. It's been a month. Why haven't we heard from him?"

"He's probably busy with something," Meliodas said, placing a plate in front of the two girls.

"King can take care of himself," Ban said, sitting down next to Elaine.

"Well, I can't help but worry about him too," Elizabeth said.

"I haven't been able to sense King for a while now," Gowther said. "But there is some distance between us and the fairy realm so it is hard to say."

"If we need to," Merlin started. "We can teleport over to your home if he needs us. King probably got held up somewhere."

"LADY ELAINE!"

The group jumped as a fairy came flying in as fast as she could, stopping just in front of Elaine.

"Ende?" Elaine asked. "What's wrong?"

"You must hurry!" Ende cried out, gripping a rose tightly in her hands.

"Slow down there," Ban said. "Now, what is going on?"

"It's Fairy King Harlequin!" Ende cried again. "Gerheade and I found in in one of the Scared Nests!"

"No," Elaine breathed and stumbled back, Ban reaching out to catch her.

"Please, you must hurry!" Ende pleaded. "Gerheade is with him but..."

"We must get to the forest at once," Elaine whispered, clutching onto Ban.

Merlin nodded, understanding in her eyes as she teleported the whole group to the Forest of the Fairy King.

"Wow," Howzer breathed, taking in the huge forest.

"This place is amazing!" Griamore said, turning to take it all in.

"This way!" Ende said, flying toward the Scared Tree, Elaine right on her heels.

The other ran along, following closely.

"What is a Scared Nest?" Gilthunder asked.

"I'm not sure," Diane admitted.

"Something that I hope King did not get into," Merlin said.

"So, you know what it is?" Meliodas asked. Merlin nodded but remained silent.

The group continued to the other side of the Scared Tree. As they went to enter into the roots, Gerheade flew out, panic on her face. "Lady Elaine!"

"Gerheade?" Elaine asked, flying over to the other fairy. "What's wrong? Where is my brother?"

"He's gone!" Gerheade cried out. "A moment ago, he just disappeared into the vines!"

Elaine glanced around the forest. "The forest must have sensed our presence."

"What does the forest have to do with anything?" Ban asked.

"We need to split up to cover more ground if we are to find him," Merlin said, swirling her hand in a circle, producing three yellow beads. "These are communication beads. If you find, King, we will be able to tell each other and be able to locate you as well."

"How about us three?" Gilthunder said, taking a bead and gesturing to himself, Howzer, and Griamore.

"I'll go with you three," Ende offered. "You should have one of us with you just in case."

"That is wise," Merlin said, handing another bead over to Meliodas. "I will go with Slader, Gowther, Escanor, and Gerheade."

"Then it is the rest of us." Meliodas said, tossing the bead in the area, gesturing to himself, Elizabeth, Hawk, Ban, Elaine, and Diane.

"We must hurry," Elaine said.


"I don't understand what is going on," Howzer mused, keeping his grip on his sword. "What is this Scared Nest?"

Ende sighed, continuing to fly over the three knights. "We can explain everything later. I'm going to fly up and see if I can see anything from above." The three knights watched as the fairy flew above and disappeared into the trees.

"Damn fairies."

"Easy Howzer," Griamore said. "We are on a mission."

"Exactly," Gilthunder agreed. "We're here for King."

Before Howzer could respond, the ground around them rumbled as several large vines shot out, whipping around above them. The three pushed themselves to each other's backs, trying to fend off the vines. One giant vine raised up, crashing down on the knights. The three sprang back, putting space between themselves and the vines.

"What is going on?" Howzer asked, watching as the vines withered as they slowly parted. The vines drew apart, revealing a figure rising up in the air.

"Wait, isn't that...?" Griamore asked.

"It's King!" Gilthunder shouted, holding the bead to his mouth.

King hung in the air, vines supporting and wrapping around his body. His clothes were gone and his eyes were blank as he stared down at the knights. The vines wound around his arms and legs, holding him up in the air. The vines split and spread over his skin, covering his heart, waist, and over the left side of his face.


Author's Note: Hello! Thanks for all the follows and favorites and reviews. Shout out to multiple Guest for the reviews! I'm so glad people are reading and liking this. I'm changing the rating because I just want to be safe. Until next time!