Vaizel

"This place hasn't changed at all." Estarossa said as he looked around Vaziel. Standing on the battleground where he killed Meliodas, Estarossa got lost in his memories. Raising his face to the sky, he recalled with some joy how he had skewered that son-of-a-bitch with his seven blades.

The feel of that first blade going through his heart, it was almost like it was going through mine instead, Estarossa thought. Oh Meliodas, I don't understand why you betrayed us. As each traitorous sword went through his brother Estarossa couldn't help but wish it was himself who was dying.

No! No! No! Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of thoughts like that. He didn't want to think kind or loving things about that bastard. And of course he felt like he wanted to die! His love had been taken from him and he mourned the loss without even knowing what he was missing.

But now I understand why he defected, Estarossa thought. Elizabeth. Now that I can remember, I would have done the same had I the chance to back then. But it was stolen, just like she was. The life we could have had together; we were cheated of it by that bastard brother of mine! No longer burdened by my commandment I am free to see who and what Meliodas really is, a traitor and a thief. I am free to hate him as he deserves, and I will make him pay for stealing what is mine.

So wrapped up in his thoughts Estarossa didn't hear the approach of his friend, not until she cleared her throat.

"Ahem." The mage said. "I hope I am not disturbing you?"

Facing her with a smile Estarossa said, "Not at all! I was just reminiscing about the last time I was here. Oh how I wish you had seen it! All the pain and death that occurred here was glorious." Pointing to a spot not far from where he stood Estarossa continued in a gleeful tone of voice, "And there, I killed my brother there! Not the one you met, but the one I'm going to kill again. He has a problem staying dead, but I think you just might be able to help me there." He finished with a wink.

With a small smile the mage said, "Of course, whatever I can do to help you my friend." After a short pause she continued, "But I would like to update you on what is happening with Elizabeth, if you would like?"

Striding up to her he grabbed her shoulders, "Where is she?" He asked, shaking her a little in his urgency.

"She is on her way here, do not worry, you will have your love in a matter of days." With that he lowered his arms. "I have looked and the curse I put on her has begun. She has lost her sight, and their mage cannot reverse it so she was given glasses to compensate." She said smugly.

Clenching his fists, "I want her here now! Teleport me to her immediately!" Estarossa said angrily.

"You must calm yourself. You know that they barred you from that place, if you try to get in there it will cost you your life." She lied. Her plan needed to go perfectly, and if he takes Elizabeth too soon then it will all go to hell. I need to keep him on track, she thought. "You are too dear to me for you to throw your life away when you are so close to being happy with her once again." She said hoping to soothe him.

Pacing away, Estarossa began to breathe deeply. Stopping and looking over the landscape he said, "This place will be the end of him once again. And this time it will be permanent."

Thank you goddesses, she thought. "I have more news if you would like to hear it?" She asked hoping that he would stay stable enough to hear this.

Without turning Estarossa murmured an affirmative. He was still distracted by thoughts of all the ways he was going to torture Meliodas, which caused him to think of all the ways he was going to enjoy Elizabeth. Maybe do both together? Yes, it would be delightful to see the look on his brothers face as he and Elizabeth fuc-

"I located the seal." She said interrupting his fantasies.

This caused Estarossa to whip back towards her, "That is wonderful news!" He said with a big smile. "I cannot wait to see Meliodas's face when he realizes what's going to happen to him." Beginning to laugh he said, "Let's see how much he likes being locked away, only this time he's never getting out." Laughing so hard he was bent over, Estarossa didn't see the hard look come over the mages face.

That's what you think Demon, she thought with gratification.

Many miles away, in the Boar Hat

Pushing Elizabeth behind him Meliodas shouted, "NO!" This caused everyone to abandon where they were and gather in front of their Captain.

"Well now, little girl," Ban drawled, "If you want the princess you have to go through all of us first. And trust me you wouldn't do well. Druid priestess or not you try and take one of us, we will put you down."

Elizabeth couldn't believe her eyes. Every single Sin is standing in between her and Lady Zaneri wanting to defend her! Tears escaped from her eyes in gratitude. They really do consider me one of them, she thought. Not wanting anyone to get hurt she spoke up. "Um, while I am very grateful to all of you for your defense, maybe we should hear her out first?"

After a little bit of grumbling, "Princess, we haven't had a good fight in ages!" "Oh man! I was just about to show her how Giants take out the trash.", Elizabeth chuckled at her friends. She calmed and addressed the Druid. "Well Lady Zaneri, would you care to explain what you meant? But know this before-hand, I am not going anywhere without Meliodas." Elizabeth said firmly.

Looking back at Elizabeth, Meliodas couldn't help but step up and kiss her. Not wanting to embarrass her too much he made it quick. As he went to lean back she grabbed his shirt and brought him back to her lips, extending the kiss. This lasted for a few moments before she released him. Shocked silent, Meliodas moved back to her side and took her hand. Smiling he turned to face Zaneri, and the smile dropped from his face.

Red-faced and visibly angry Zaneri spat, "If you are quite finished embarrassing yourself princess, then maybe we could move on?" Not waiting for an answer, she continued, "Since we are the two most powerful Druids left it is up to me to train you in Istar. You need to learn your place in our world. You will be my second in command one day," pausing she looked straight in Elizabeth's eyes, "If you survive your trials." She ended with a smirk.

Why does she hate me so much? Elizabeth asked herself. I know she has feelings for Meliodas, but to hate me this much is absurd. She acts as if I stole him from her, but he has been mine for so long-

Interrupting her thoughts Meliodas said, "Watch yourself Zaneri! I have no problem kicking you out of here, or even letting my friends have the fight they wanted. I won't have you threatening the woman I love."

"So, she knows then?" Zaneri askes belligerently. "Oh now! Judging by your face she doesn't yet." Pausing she looks to Elizabeth, "But going by hers she is almost there... interesting." She begins to laugh at the look of anger on Meliodas's face. "I wasted so long hoping you would forget her and come to me." Shaking her head, she said, "Regardless of any feelings you may have, Elizabeth is going to be coming with me."

Holding out her arm to stop Meliodas from advancing on the Druid, Elizabeth strode up to her and looked into her eyes. "What game are you playing? Do you want him to use his wrath? Is that it? Let me tell you something that you obviously don't know." And saying that she punched Zaneri in the face, causing her to cry out. Turning from her she walked back to Meliodas and went on, "You can heal yourself from that quickly so stop crying. Now, I don't particularly care for training with you, but I will if I have to. What I don't have to do is put up with your nastiness Zaneri."

Meliodas was doubly shocked as he looked at Elizabeth. First by her behavior, and second by the insinuation that she was remembering. Please, not yet, he prayed. Seeing a slight glow to his side he knew Zaneri had healed herself. Speaking to the Druid but not looking at her he said, "You heard her. Now hear me." Now he looked at her, "This training has to wait," he put his hand up to stop her interruption, "I don't care Zaneri. We have much more important things to do right now than play your mind games."

"What could possibly be more important than the continuation of the Druids? Playing house with your girlfriend?" She screeched.

At that Merlin stepped in, "Calm yourself Zaneri, what would Jenna think of you?" She said with censor. "Now if you have some control I would like to know exactly why Elizabeth has to go right now."

Turning away from everyone she said quietly, "Istar is fading. Without powerful beings to help it stay hidden, it will fade into nothingness." Facing them all again she said defiantly, "My home is disappearing! Happy? Now you know! I'm too weak to hold it myself, I need goddess power," pointing her finger at Elizabeth, "and that's where you come in princess."

"Why couldn't you have just said that in the first place instead of being all mean?" Diane asked.

Not bothering to answer Zaneri walked towards Elizabeth and Meliodas. "I can help you, you know. I may not be able to lift the curse, but I can tell you what you can do to break it."

Grabbing her arm Meliodas yanked her away from Elizabeth. "How can you do that? Only the one who cast it can know how to break it." He said angrily.

Shrugging Zaneri said, "I've been alive for more years than I like to count. I know how to do a lot of things that should be impossible." Jerking her chin towards Merlin she said, "Just like your friend there, only I know more." She smiled at him and whispered, "I'm willing to give you another chance Meliodas. Just say the word and I'll make it so they won't remember either of us and we can be free of both our wretched lives."

Pushing her away he said with disgust, "Just tell me what we need to do to break the curse." Noticing that she's been quiet Meliodas wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist, he looked up at her and half smiled.

"Tit for tat Meliodas. Let me stay here and at least train her. You're going towards Istar anyway, so you can drop us off and continue with your whatever you're doing." Zaneri said.

Still facing Elizabeth, Meliodas shook his head, "You just don't understand. We cannot stop. We have to find Estarossa before he does more damage to Elizabeth." Noticing that Elizabeth wasn't reacting to what he was saying Meliodas shook her slightly. "Elizabeth are you ok?"

Elizabeth could barely hear what was happening around her. Her mind was racing with these images of her and Meliodas doing things that they never did. She had memories of places she never was, people she had never met. Everything started to go faster and faster through her mind, she couldn't hold onto a single one to look at it clearly. Head swimming, she began to sway on her feet.

Clutching her, Meliodas prevented Elizabeth from hitting the floor. Cradling the unconscious princess, he shouted, "Elizabeth! Elizabeth wake up! Merlin what the hell is going on?"

But before the mage could answer, Zaneri spoke up. "She's remembering Meliodas." Starting to smile she said, "She's remembering who she really is and there's nothing you can do to stop it. You wanted to know what you had to do to break the curse? Well this is it. She has to remember," Taking a breath she finished, "Everything."

Back in Vaizel

"This is very good." Estarossa said after witnessing the events in the Boar Hat. "She has begun to remember her real life. Soon she will be here and you can make her remember our life together."

Still watching the figures in the looking glass, the mage said, "Yes of course I can." Everything is working out quite perfectly, she thought. I just need to get through the next few days and my plan will be complete. Looking at the Estarossa she said, "I don't see this new player to be a problem, but if she is then she can be easily eliminated if she becomes one."

Looking at the mage Estarossa said gravely, "As can anyone."

The Boar Hat

"I am sick of standing next to a bed, looking down at the one woman I love more than anything, laying there hurt." Meliodas said. Holding Elizabeth's hand in one of his, he swept her hair from her face with the other. Gods please, please don't take her from me again, he thought. I want more time with her, I wanted to try and have a normal life with her. Bowing his head, he prayed to the Goddess's to release her from this curse. From both of the curses, the one causing her pain and the one that will kill her.

"Captain, we need you downstairs." Diane said poking her head into the room. "I can stay with her so she won't be alone." Looking at her friends, one laying on the bed looking like she was having a nightmare she couldn't wake up from, and the other looking like he wanted to cry, or kill something. Diane wished that there was more that she could do to help them both, but she also noticed that there was a lot that nobody knew about the Captain and Elizabeth's past. King and she experienced some of what happened during the first holy war, thanks to Gloxinia and Drole, but they didn't tell anyone about that.

Kissing the hand he held, Meliodas laid it softly on the bed and faced Diane, "Thank you, I'll be right back." As he walked out he stopped at the doorway to face Diane again, this time with a hard look on his face. "Do not leave her alone. At all. Stay by her side at all times and if she wakes up or worsens before I get back shout for me. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Diane said. And with a nod and a last look at Elizabeth, Meliodas left the room. Turning back to her friend Diane said, "Well that's that then, finally some girl time. I hope that you wake up soon so you can tell me all about what's up with you and the Captain!" She said with a laugh. "Don't you worry about me though, I realized that I didn't really love Meliodas. Not like I love King." Looking around furtively she continued, "But shhh, don't tell anyone! I haven't even told King yet."

Sitting on the end of the bed, Diane looked down at her hands, "Elizabeth, I would really love it if you woke up. Meliodas is so worried, we all are. I don't know exactly what's happening, but I do realize that you and the Captain have a connection that reaches deeper than anything I have ever seen." Looking back up she saw King floating in the doorway. Shooting up she sputtered, "K-King how long have you been there?"

Tilting his head curiously he replied, "I just got here. Why?"

"Nothing, not a thing. Nope." Thank Goddess he didn't hear her. Letting out her breath she walked towards him, "So what are you up to?" She asked as she twirled her hair around a finger and then covered her mouth with it.

Turning red King said, "I came to look for you. Maybe keep you company while you watch over the princess."

"That sounds great, come on in." Diane turned and walked towards the small table and chairs in the room. "Come and sit with me King, we can talk about our next date!" She said with a giggle.

Turning even redder, King began to float towards his giant when he looked over to the princess. He could see her lips moving like she was talking to someone. "Diane, was the princess always doing that?' He asked.

Blasting up from the chair, she ran over to Elizabeth, "Elizabeth are you awake?" Laying her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder Diane gave her a little shake, when she got no response she looked up at King. "She wasn't moving her mouth before but it doesn't seem like she's waking up." Looking back down, Diane lowered her head so she could try to hear what she's saying. Moving her ear right over Elizabeth's mouth she can just make out what she's saying.

"Stop! Please! Don't do this! Please we love each other, how is that wrong? Mother don't do this to us please! Meliodas, I love you! Promise me Meliodas. Promise me that you'll break this curse. I'm sorry my love. We'll find each other again don't be sad. Meliodas don't cry. I love you. I have always loved you, every one of me has loved you. Meliodas. Meliodas. Meliodas."

Lifting her head Diane looked up at King with a pale face and said, "Get Meliodas. Now."

Meanwhile, downstairs

"Say one more thing you bitch and I'll rip your throat out!" Meliodas growled at Zaneri. He could feel the dark mark growing on his forehead, the air around him swirled with his demon fire.

"But what would your little girlfriend think huh? 'Oh no Meliodas'" she says in a high pitch imitating Elizabeth, "'Why would you kill her? Can't we all just be friends?' She's pathetic and you deserve each other. You used to be so powerful but you let it go for her. You'll never break your curse you know, you both will live like this forever. Well you will go mad at some point, but she will just go on being some dimwitted mortal bimbo!" She began to laugh so hard she was crying.

Moving so fast that no one saw it, Meliodas jumped on Zaneri and wrapped his hands around her throat. "Do you think I care about power? I could have been the Demon King you stupid bitch! I don't give a shit about that! All I care about is her and I will break this curse!"

"Captain as much fun as it would be to try, we can't kill her." Merlin said calmly to Meliodas. Nodding to Ban, Merlin waited until the Fox Sin had the Captain in his arms to turn to Zaneri. As she lay on the ground coughing, Merlin placed her foot on Zaneri's chest to keep her down. "Now I have some questions for you. You can either answer them truthfully or I will have you answer them truthfully." Leaning down closer she said, "Trust me you don't want my help with that."

Breathing heavily, Meliodas never took his eyes off of the Druid. What the hell is going on? He thought. Why is she acting like this? This is not the Zaneri that I know, she would never have said such horrible things, especially when she knows about the curse. About to ask his own question Meliodas heard King calling for him.

"Captain! Something is happening you need to come and see." The Fairy said anxiously.

Running as fast as he could Meliodas burst into the bedroom to see Diane hovering over Elizabeth. "What happened?" He demanded.

"Captain she just started mumbling but she wouldn't wake up. I tried but she won't respond and I don't understand what she's saying." Diane said in a rush.

Feeling déjà vu Meliodas asked carefully, "What did she say? Exactly what."

Looking down at Elizabeth, Diane said to him, "She just keeps repeating it over and over. If you put your ear to her mouth you'll hear-"

"Stop! Please! Don't do this! Please we love each other, how is that wrong? Mother don't do this to us please! Meliodas, I love you! Promise me Meliodas. Promise me that you'll break this curse. I'm sorry my love. We'll find each other again don't be sad. Meliodas don't cry. I love you. I have always loved you, every one of me has loved you. Meliodas. Meliodas. Meliodas." Meliodas recited the words from memory. It started, he thought. Slowly he climbed onto the bed and laid down alongside her, placing his head on her pillow. "Diane, King could you leave us please?" Meliodas asked quietly.

At the sound of the door shutting, Meliodas couldn't hold it in anymore. Wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her neck he began to weep. He cried for Elizabeth. He cried for himself. He cried for everything they would never be able to do now. They wouldn't get married or have children. Meliodas had hoped to prolong her not remembering this time. He wanted to try to keep her with him longer, but it never works. Soon she'll wake up and remember everything. And once that happens, the countdown begins.

Three days. And then she will die.

Vaizel

"Are you sure that activating their curse is the only way to help her remember?" Estarossa asked the mage. He hated to see Elizabeth like this, even more so with Meliodas wrapped around her.

"It is. She would have to remember everything else to have me be able to resurrect her memories of you. Do not worry yourself," she said delicately, she didn't want him to go crazy again, "I would never let her die. You and she will have a long and happy life together once this is all done."

Turning away from the looking glass, Estarossa couldn't stand looking at his brother laying with her any more. "Just so long as we're clear. Meliodas and the others die. And stay dead. I don't care what you have to do to the others but leave Meliodas to me. I want to make sure he regrets going against me." Estarossa walked away from the mage after issuing that order.

Shaking her head the mage said softly, "I will kill them. I will even help you kill Meliodas. But you will die too Demon. You will go back to hell where you belong and stay there." With that, she raised her hood and disappeared.


I hope you enjoyed it! Don't forget to leave a review letting me know what you think and any suggestions that you have. I really appreciated every one I've gotten so far along with the favorites and follows! Thank you!