"He must have drunk the demon blood" Meliodas glares at Henderickson
"We see that Meli" Ayano mumbles
"oh did I hear my nickname?" Meliodas teases
"not the time dear" Ayano says turning his head back
"This is a wonderful gift. A true unification within the demon blood greatly enhances the physical body and increases power. My research and experiments yielded great results... I have to thank the failures for that," Henderickson says as he holds his right arm around and his joints crack "Hand over Elizabeth. If you do that, I will let you live as a show of mercy to two of my own kind" he glances at Meliodas and Ayano
"Don't lump us together with you. You're neither human nor demon. You're just an idiot" Meli glares at him
"I expected as much," Henderickson smirks
King goes up behind Henderickson and readys an attack "Then did you expect this, too?"
"Of course," Henderickson replies
His answers catches King off guard, Henderickson isn't human anymore so his senses were sharpened. Someone else attacks King and Ayano look to where the attack came from
"another fairy" she mumbles
"You just died... Didn't you...? Helbram?" King says shocked
"There's no point speaking to him, so I'll answer on his behalf," Henderickson looks over to him with a smirk on his face "He was originally dead... You were the one who killed him 150 years ago, correct?"
"that's cruel" Ayano says
Meliodas glances at her to see her digging her nails into her palms, he could tell she was trying to control herself.
"The bodies of you fairies never rot, even after you die. His body floated around in the black market for close to 150 years, being sold and resold for high prices, but eight years ago, I bought him and gave him another life," Henderickson tells him, "The forbidden technique passed among druids 'Enslavement Of The Dead'.
He served me very well. Certainly worth the investment," He tilts his head frowning, "But you can only revive someone twice, and with each time, the soul becomes more eroded and their abilities decline significantly," He laughs at King crying and his screams of sorrow, "Be more joyful, Fairy King. I have you a great and rare opportunity! You can meet your friend three times and kill him three times! This isn't something that everyone can experience, you know?" He laughs again
"Henderickson!" Ayano shouts as her eyes turn red
"Ayano!" Meliodas holds her around the waist
"Sir Meliodas" Elizabeth calls out
They turn to see Vivian, the Holy Knight mage, holding Margaret and Elizabeth with her staff,
"Well done Vivian," Henderickson says
Ayano's eyes become completely black with red around the edges, a crest appears on her forehead and she breaks free of Meliodas's hold. She charges at Henderickson and kicks him straight in the chest sending him back into a wall.
"Ayano!" Meliodas shouts
"Captain what's happening!?" King panics
"Ayano's.. losing control" Meliodas looks worried
Henderickson stands up and charges at Ayano, she puts her hand out and shoots fire at him. He dodges it and kicks her in the stomach.
"Ayano!" "Ayano!" "Lady Ayano!"
Ayano grabs his leg and spins him around before throwing him into the sky. She puts her hand out and black orbs float around her before all shooting dark beams at Henderickson. Henderickson quickly used a magical force to deflect the beams sending them back at Ayano. Meliodas runs and catches her before she hits the ground.
"Ayano!" Meliodas shouts worriedly, he checks to make sure she was breathing and thankfully she was
"So that is the power of the famous sin of lust" Henderickson laughs "quite powerful indeed, if I didn't reflect that I have no doubt that I'd be in the same state she's in"
Meliodas glares at him and holds Ayano close to him.
"I wonder Meliodas" Henderickson walks towards them "how would you feel if I killed her?"
"Over my dead body" Meliodas points his sword at him "you won't touch her"
"Looks like.." Henderickson smirks "I found the great dragon sin's weakness"
"Stop!" Elizabeth shouts "I will go with you! But in return you leave them alone!"
"That's a good girl" Henderickson says and taking hold of Elizabeth then looks at them "I was going to let Meliodas and Gilthunder live but Ayano will just be a nuisance, I suppose I'll allow her to live"
"Elizabeth don't" Meliodas says
"Sir Meliodas," Elizabeth looks at him "You and Lady Ayano have saved me countless times, let me save you two every once and a while"
She disappears with Henderickson.
"Meli"
Meliodas looks down at Ayano, her eyes were normal.
"thank goodness you're ok" he says placing his forehead against hers
"...Meliodas" Ayano says seriously, she puts her hand on his cheek "I love you"
Meliodas chuckles a bit "you always do have bad timing don't you"
"Just to lighten the mood" Ayano says as she sits up
"Are you alright?" he asks concerned
"I'm fine" Ayano stands up "what happened?"
"You lost control, you were going to hit Henderickson with an attack but he used some sort of spell to deflect it back at you" Meliodas informs her "Henderickson wanted to kill you but Elizabeth went with him"
"...how did they disappear?" Ayano asks
"teleportation I think" Meliodas replies "what are you going to do?"
"Well, we got a princess to save don't we" Ayano smiles and puts her hand out
"wait" Meliodas quickly gets up and grabs her hand
"what?" Ayano looks confused
Meliodas leans forward and kisses her before pulling back and smiling "I forgot to tell you, I love you too"
"Idiot" Ayano blushes
"I'll meet you there" Meliodas says seriously "don't do anything reckless"
"heh this is me you're talking about Meli" Ayano smirks
"that's what I'm afraid of" Meliodas sighs
Ayano disappears and appears next to Elizabeth, who was safely behind Griamore's magic walls, watching Hendrickson and Dreyfus fight each other.
"What's up Lizzy" Ayano suddenly speaks
"eek!" Elizabeth turns and looks at her "Lady Ayano you scared me.. what are you doing here? Are your injuries ok?"
"I'm fine Elizabeth" Ayano assures her "are you alright?"
"y-yes" Elizabeth replies
Dreyfus attacks Hendrickson but something went wrong and the attack was heading for Elizabeth. Ayano quickly covers Elizabeth and takes the attack. The wall breaks and the power attack goes straight through her side.
"Lady Ayano!?" Elizabeth calls out
Ayano just puts her hand over her wound "god damn what's with me and getting hit today!"
"Lady Ayano!" Dreyfus runs over worriedly
"How unfortunate," Hendrickson says
"It's fine.. I'm fine" Ayano sits on her knees, she looks up at Elizabeth "are you alright, Lizzy?"
"I'm fine" Elizabeth begins to cry
"Don't cry" Ayano says "I'm not dead, it takes more then that to kill me.."
Elizabeth looks at all the blood pouring out of Ayano's side and cries more
"Meli..." Ayano closes her eyes "hurry up you idiot.."
"Lady Ayano!" Elizabeth shouts
Meliodas arrives on Hawk looking worn out and tired.
"Ah, Meliodas. As I thought "Acid" doesn't work on the Demon Clan because of their detestable powers..." Hendrickson says as Meliodas get off Hawk.
He sees armor on the ground but nobody "Dreyfus..."
Meliodas hears sobbing and turns to see Ayano on the floor with a large wound and Elizabeth over her crying.
"AYANO!" Hawk screams"You know that I am one of the druids of the forest, right?" Hendrickson says as he starts to walk forward, "We are a group which lives deep in the forest and reverses the goddesses and nature, and shuns the abominable demons," He stops in front of me but I don't look at him just yet, "Perhaps that is why... I felt traces of it from the moment I met you... The malevolent, massive power pulsating through you... You possessed power far greater than that of the Former Grandmaster Zaratras, and your thoughts could never be read. I took interest in you, I feared you and at the same time, I admired you"
"It's a shame Ayano has a kind heart and that she stepped in front of Elizabeth taking the blow," He smirks, "However, I now possess the same power as you both."
Meliodas teleports straight to Ayano and pick her up holding her close to "idiot.. I told you not to do anything reckless"
He takes hold of Elizabeth's hand and teleports to Hawk instantly. He release Elizabeth's hand and put his forehead against Ayano's.
"It'll be over soon. After this, I'll fix everything and we'll run the tavern together like before and be a family again.. 'kay?" Meliodas says hoping she hears
Meliodas helps Elizabeth onto Hawk and hands her Ayano "Don't let her go ok?"
"Of course" Elizabeth agrees instantly holding onto her
"I can count on you to get them to safety right Hawk?" Meliodas asks
"Right" Hawk answers
"then get going" Meliodas orders and Hawk takes off running.
"Meli sooner or later your going to meet her again and forget all about me" Ayano crosses her arms
"That's not true" Meliodas argues calmly "a curse won't change us"
"It's changed us for thousands of years" Ayano turns away from him "you should've just sealed me away with the rest of them"
"No!" Meliodas shouts standing up "I'd never do that and you know it"
"...I want to leave" Ayano looks at him
"No" Meliodas takes her hand "Please don't leave, I'll do anything"
"You have the other Sins, you won't be lonely and I'll come back" Ayano argues "I want to go out and have some space"
"...you miss them don't you" Meliodas looks upset
"of course I do" Ayano looks annoyed "they were my family"
"well what about the sins!" Meliodas shouts "...I thought you liked them"
"I do Meli" Ayano tells him "Ban has become my best friend, King is fun to tease, Diane is the best person to talk to when I'm upset, Escanor is incredibly strong and sparring with him is fun, Merlin has become like a mother to me, and Gowther's become a better brother then ever"
"then why do you want to leave again" Meliodas walks over to her "I thought we were happy.. I thought our relationship was improving"
"Meliodas you're right, I have never been more happy with you then right now" Ayano smiles "the last time I was this happy was when we got engaged.. and back when we were with the commandments.. don't you ever miss those days"
"How could you miss those days?!" Meliodas says angrily before calming down "we were out of control, we were fighting in a war.. their was blood and death everywhere"
"Well what's wrong with it" Ayano giggles "I loved it"
"...Ayano" Meliodas looks into her eyes that were becoming darker and gasps
"what?" Ayano looks concerned
"Nothing, just you're not going anywhere" Meliodas crosses his arms then mumbles "or I'll lose you"
Ayano crosses her arms "well I'm going"
"No you're not!" Meliodas looks angry "that's an order Ayano"
"You can't just order me to stay here!" Ayano shouts "it's my life"
"You don't understand!" Meliodas shouts "It's for your own sa-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Ayano shouts turning to the door
"You're not leaving!" Meliodas grabs her hand
Ayano's eyes glowed red and Meliodas looked worried, her eyes haven't done that in centuries.
"I'd like to see you stop me" Ayano pulled her hand away from him
"she's already losing control" Meliodas mumbles "damn it I can't lose her"
Meliodas takes out his sword and stands in front of the door.
"Do you really intend on fighting me?" Ayano puts her hand out "I know you won't"
"Just stay Ayano" Meliodas says "It's for your own good"
"I'll decide that for myself" Ayano tells him
Ayano's eyes glow red and an orb appears, Meliodas readies his sword and goes to deflect the oncoming attack. His offense attack ends up going straight though her weak attack and hits her cheek, cutting it.
"Ayano!" Meliodas shouts worriedly reaching out to her
Ayano grabs her necklace and rips it off, throwing it at him. She then pushes him aside and runs out of the room. Meliodas quickly follows after her, the Sins downstairs watched as Ayano ran out the door. They all called out to her, but she didn't stop, she just ran out the door.
Meliodas stopped at the door and looked around to see nothing but trees, he couldn't even sense her magical power anymore. Ban suddenly punched him and held him by his collar.
"what the hell did you do!" Ban shouted at him
"I.." Meliodas has tears in his eyes
Ban let him go "..you're pathetic"
"I was only trying to protect her" Meliodas looked down "I didn't want to lose her"
"Captain" Diane says sadly "It's ok.."
"Yeah she'll be back" King agrees "she's our family"
Meliodas rubs his eyes and runs outside "Ayano! Ayano I'm sorry! I love you!... Please just come back home!"
Ayano opened her eyes and saw the sky moving above her "...it was my fault.."