A month has passed since Estarossa killed Meliodas, there have been many with the strength, fortitude and will to oppose the demon race, but in the face of the Ten Commandments, there was only little anyone could do. As the days wore on, gradually the numbers began to wither and wane as a wave of darkness eroded away the might of Britannia.
With the terror of the Ten Commandments casting a towering shadow over all the people of the land... A certain act began to become prevalent among them. They were known for feasting upon the fallen souls, only the strongest souls, they couldn't care about the weaker ones. I began to notice that some would do their bidding to protect their families and others out of adoration for the Ten Commandments. They were offering people up, known as possible Holy Knights once as sacrifices, in hopes they would be spared.
The Seven Deadly Sins have been spread throughout the land helping out wherever they can. King was back at the fairy's forest to protect those their and the others are elsewhere. Elizabeth was at the tavern with Hawk tending to business like usual.
As for Ayano, she's there too, after all the tavern was Meliodas's business. While her fiancé was gone it was her job to keep the business together. Every night she would sleep besides his body, waiting for him to come back, just like always.
The bright light streamed through the window and Ayano's eyes fluttered open. She could hear cheers and laughter coming from downstairs. She looked over at Meliodas's body that was laying in the bed beside her. Ayano kisses his forehead before walking over to her closet and changing.
"HEY! We need another 5 mugs of ale!" she hears a voice shout downstairs
"I'll see you later honey" Ayano puts the sheets over Meliodas's body "it's time for work"
Ayano walks downstairs to see the tavern crowded, Elizabeth was serving tables.
"Sorry to keep you waiting" Elizabeth says walking up to the men and places the mugs on the table "Here you go! 5 large tankards of ale!"
Elizabeth quickly goes to serve others.
"Morning Ayano" Hawk look up at the stairs "We opened a bit early today since their were so many people around"
"Yeah yeah" Ayano sighs "I'll get to cooking"
"yes thank you" Elizabeth smiles
"A bar... It's incredible you're still operating under these... conditions..." a man says unsure
"No matter the conditions, people gotta eat! Eat and get piss drunk!" Hawk shouts and people around him agree
"Lady Ayano how is your wing today?" Elizabeth asks her
"It's fine" Ayano replies as she places a pan on the stove
"Does it still hurt?" Elizabeth asks as she places her hand on it
"Lizzy" Ayano turns around quickly "please don't touch my wing"
"oh right, I'm sorry" Elizabeth apologizes
"Isn't it dangerous to have a demon working here right now?" a man asks Elizabeth
"huh?" Elizabeth looks at him "oh you mean Ayano, no of course not, she'd never hurt anyone"
"My tavern my rules, if you have a problem with me being here then get out" Ayano glares at him "I run a business not a charity"
After a couple hours the tavern became slow and soon it was empty with only one man.
"Um, Lady Ayano" Elizabeth walks over to her "I found this man injured a while ago, I helped him but he's hungry and still healing.."
"Alright" Ayano sighs "Meliodas would allow it so I guess I can too"
The man sits down and looks at Ayano "You give off the same power as the demons outside.."
"yes" Ayano places a plate in front of him "that's because I am a demon, is something wrong with that?"
"n-no" the man glances at the bandage around Ayano's right wing
"So Golgius, how does it taste?" Hawk asks
"you.. If you knew who I am, then why didn't you kick me out?" the man asks grabbing the handle of his sword, "As a member of Weird Fang, I had crossed blades with you all as an enemy!"
"Settle down old man" Ayano says
"It's true that we once fought.. but why should we continue to fight when we're not enemy at the moment" Elizabeth questions "we're all fighting against the demons right now.. so why must we be enemies"
Ayano places her hand over her bond mark and walks up the stairs into Meliodas's and her room.
"Meli.. please keep fighting" Ayano kneels down next to him "you must come back"
Elizabeth soon walks into the room "Lady Ayano"
"I don't know how long I can do this Lizzy" Ayano starts shaking as she grips the sheets "I need him.. I-I"
"It's alright" Elizabeth hugs her "let it out"
Ayano turns around and hugs Elizabeth, sobbing into her shoulder and completely breaking down.
"you don't have to continue living everyday with a brave face, their will be days when you feel the weight baring down on you" Elizabeth tell her "I'm here and he'll come back, we all need him and you need him most of all"
"H... HE'S REALLY HERE! IT'S THE GHOST KNIGHT!" they hear Hawk yell from downstairs
Elizabeth and Ayano look at each other, and Elizabeth run downstairs while Ayano follows her slowly
"Grandmaster... Sir Zaratras!" Elizabeth says
Ayano reaches the bottom of the stairs to see him "Zaratras.."
"Been a long time, Ayano" the grandmaster smiles
"Za-Za-Zaratras?! You mean the former Grandmaster?" Who, 10 years ago, got shish-ko-bobbed into a human pincushion by the two current Grandmasters?!" Hawk questions
"That's right..." Zaratras says, "THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED! BACK THEN HENDI HAD JUST TREATED ME TO THE 'YAWN OF THE BLACK CAT'S' FISH PIES! I HAVE JUST STARTED MY NIGHT SHIFT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH... AND FACED WITH THAT HOT, FLUFFY, PLUMP, DELICIOUS FISH PIE... HOW COULD I POSSIBLY REFUSE!? JUST THINK ABOUT IT! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD POSSIBLY SAY NO TO THAT?! I DIDN'T CONSIDER EVEN FOR A SECOND THAT THE PIE MIGHT BE POISONED! GRANDMASTER OR NOT, I'M ONLY HUMAN! MY STOMACH HUNGER'S AS DOES ANYONE ELSE'S!" Zaratras exclaims
"And I thought Merlin's supposed to be the sin of gluttony" Ayano sighs
"This dude's gotta be an imposter," Hawk says
"Nope he's the real thing I'm afraid" Ayano tells him "Melascula brought back anyone who had regrets, unfinished business and so on"
"If only I had... I could have saved Dreyfus and Hendi from the dark abyss!" Zaratras shouts
"Ok old man settle down" Ayano makes him sit on a chair
Elizabeth makes Zaratras tea as he begins telling them about how he was brought back to life. He freaks Hawk out by letting the pig believe that he is looking at revenge on Hendi and Dreyfus, which scares Hawk.
"It sure would be simple if that's all there was to it," He says calmly again, "But truth be told... The only person I hold a grudge against is myself... For not noticing Dreyfus and Hendi were being controlled by manipulated by the demons... That is my lingering affection to this world. Pathetic, isn't it? I've truly come to despise myself for it..."
"So.." Elizabeth starts "Have you already met up with Gilthunder?"
Zaratras looks at her then leans over tearing up, "And how exactly would I face him if I did?! If his deceased father just suddenly sprung up in front of him and said 'Hello there!' He'd probably have a heart attack! And what if... What if... And it is a possibility... He doesn't even recognize my face anymore... If that were to happen, it might just be me who dies of shock!"
"Besides, Gil has always been far more attached to Meliodas than he ever was to me... ARGH! Just thinking about it is starting to tick me off..." He looks at Ayano "I wish to see Sir Meliodas, I've got several things I need to get off my chest."
"You can get things off your chest, but you won't get a response" Ayano tells him and walks to the stairs "Come on"
They walk upstairs to the room where Meliodas is in.
Elizabeth looks down "I went to the Captial of Dead, in hopes of seeing him and.."
"He wasn't there! Right?" Zaratras asks with a grin
"I've exhausted all of my options... Please... Advise me... Sir Zaratras..." Elizabeth says
"What would you say to ask Meliodas yourself?" Zaratras asks
Zaratras puts Meliodas on the floor and traces symbols over his chest, "Sir Meliodas truly is a mysterious man, his words, his thoughts, their true intent and meanings... Back then, I couldn't wrap my head around them at all... It was if... He was living in the far off past... While simultaneously worrying about the distant future... All his strange habits and nuances... It was as if he were constantly trying to grasp at clouds... With the luxury of hindsight, looking back on it now, I seem to remember so many instances that really should have startled and surprised me so much more. There was this one time, when he and Lady Ayano got drunk, which you may or may not know is very rare for them... They both rambled on and on to me about their deaths,"
"R-really?" Ayano asks "I don't remember that"
"heh, didn't think you would" Zaratras laughs
"Let's check once more and find out... From within the depths of his memory, everyone hold hands" He looks at Ayano "Will you be joining us?"
Ayano nods hesitantly and sits beside Hawk then take hold of his other foot. Zaratras chants and they are transported into his memory. They all stand up and look up, to see a type of explosion,
"Is it the destruction of Danafor?" Ayano questions
"The place Sir Meliodas once lived with Liz"" Elizabeth says
"hm?" Ayano looks confused
'ah wait, Liz was the previous incarnation of Aunty'
"This is awful! I can't believe what I'm seeing!" A young version of King Bartra on a horse says
Zaratras and a couple other knights are there as well
"Father?!" Elizabeth questions shocked
"They are merely his memories... Memories from his past, they can neither see nor hear us," Zaratras tells her
"This is where we all first crossed paths together" Zaratras says "Lady Ayano wasn't here though"
"oh so that's why it doesn't look familiar" Ayano mumbles
"Over there! I spot a young man!" Past Zaratras shouts "Hey! Just what happened here in this land?!"
"It... can't be... That's..." Elizabeth starts.
Meliodas was walking out of the debris with infant Elizabeth
"...Don't touch her. Don't you dare lay your hands on my woman" Past Meliodas threatens with his sword pointing at Zarastras
The scene changes and they're in Liones, a tavern with past Zaratras and Meliodas.
"The Lord of this kingdom has a magic called 'vision' which allows him to foresee the future and his majesty had predicted that the baby that you stumbled upon the other day at the destruction of Danafor would become his third daughter. His majesty has become completely enamored with that child" Past Zaratras explains.
"I see, but under the condition that he hires me" Past Meliodas smiles at him.
"Errr... Well... I'm sorry, but we already have nanny" Past Zaratras says
"That's not what I meant, I meant as a Holy Knight" Past Meliodas replies
Zaratras starts laughing, only for Meliodas to instantly hold a sword to his throat and a dark power comes from Meliodas.
"I... Yield!"
The memory changes to Meliodas playing with Elizabeth as a child.
"With our recommendation and seal of approval, he was introduced to the royal family and was promoted to a Holy Knight so that he could ultimately watch over you, Lady Elizabeth. Though you probably have no recollection, when you were a baby, you were really attached to Sir Meliodas" Zaratras explains "It was shortly thereafter that his majesty predicted their arrival."
"But where is Lady Ayano?" Elizabeth asks confused
"Ah.. I think I was out traveling" Ayano replies looking confused as well "Me and Meliodas did have a time we were apart before we reunited with the sins.. but I don't remember"
"You don't.. remember?" Zaratras asks concerned
The memory changes to the throne room with Bartra, Zaratras, and Meliodas. They watch as past Zaratras shouts at Bartra and Merlin walks up, we watch as the first two of the "Seven" Deadly Sins are decided.
"So... Do you two know what kind of people the other 5 are, Merlin?" Past Meliodas asks
"As far as their races go, each one of the 6 is from a different one... But as far as their talents are concerned, they all excel" Merlin explains
"6.. but aren't we the 7 deadly sins?" past Melidas asks "if their's already us two then-"
"of course your fiancé will be joining us as well" past Merlin smirks
"...Ayano" past Meliodas's eyes widen "you can find her!"
The scene changes to outside the palace, Zaratras, Meliodas, and several other Holy Knights stood there watching intensely in front of them.
"wait what's happening?" Elizabeth asks confused "why does everyone look so concerned?"
"Well.. this is where we all meet Ayano" Zaratras tells her
"huh?" Ayano watches the memory
Past Merlin is seen in the distance walking with a perfect cube flying above her, she looks like she's concentrating. Past Merlin reaches the group and inside the perfect cube, is past Ayano. Past Ayano's eyes were black with her demon crest on her forehead, she had black devil horns and she had no wings.
"Ayano" past Meliodas's eyes widen "w-what happened to her?"
"I found her in Camelot" past Merlin tells him "she was on a rampage destroying things"
"that can't be true!" past Meliodas shouts "...she's not that kind of demon"
"Now Meliodas, do you think you can save her" past Merlin looks at him amused "if not, we'll have to kill her, she is a rampaging demon after all"
"NO!" past Meliodas yells then grips his fists "I can save her, just let me in"
"if you say so" past Merlin opens a small hole in the perfect cube
Past Meliodas rushes in, past Merlin closes the perfect cube behind him. Past Ayano goes to attack him but Meliodas quickly grabs her wrists and pushes her to the ground.
"...what happened to your wings" Meliodas puts one of his hands against her back "somebody took your goddess half"
Past Ayano growls and struggles to get out of his grip. Meliodas quickly leans down and bites her bond mark, past Ayano stops moving
"easy Ayano" past Meliodas stands up "I'm just gonna help you"
Past Meliodas takes her necklace and magically pulls a large sword from it. He focuses his magical powers on it and it glows before turning into a smaller sword. He then puts it back into the necklace and it glows.
"LaLuna" past Meliodas puts the necklace back on past Ayano "restrain"
Past Ayano screams in pain as her demon powers are sucked into LaLuna, only leaving some power out. Past Ayano's demon crest disappears and her horns disappear as well. Past Ayano opens her eyes, they were now her normal red color.
"Aya" Past Meliodas says happily "you're ok"
"...Meli" past Ayano looks up at him "I was at Camelot and t-then this women appeared and sucked my-"
"well it looks like he did it" past Merlin releases the perfect cube
past Meliodas glares at past Merlin "you.."
"Now that we've found your fiancé we have another member of the Seven Deadly Sins" past Merlin smiles "right Captain"
"Meli" past Ayano says confused
"I'll fill you in later" past Meliodas picks her up bridal style "I'm just glad you're back"
"...did you miss me?" past Ayano lays her head against Meliodas's chest
"Of course" past Meliodas kisses her forehead "you're the one I love, no matter what.. so stop leaving me"
"I'm sorry" past Ayano looks down "..but my goddess side"
"Don't worry" past Meliodas glares at past Merlin "I have a feeling I know who took it"
They are transported into another memory and see past Ayano, Meliodas and Zaratras getting drunk, past Ayano is sitting on Meliodas's lap.
"Sir Meliodas, you really are a strange young man" Drunk past Zaratra says leaning over the table as Meliodas drinks "I mean, you've got such a babyface... Beautiful woman in your arms... But you act anything but... Ooooh? Your face is beet read! This is pretty rare... You rarely drink and I've never seen you drunk... But you're drunk now, ain't 'cha?!"
"It's been 3000 years since I've gotten to drink myself silly like this" Past Meliodas says and past Ayano snuggles into him, past Meliodas pets her head "3000 years is a long time to finally lift this curse, but I want to be free with Ayano and I don't think we can last another 1000 years in this curse."
We watch as drunk past Zaratras questions Meliodas about his words then watch as he starts playing with Meliodas's hair "I mean... If it were me, I'd never been able to deal with something like that! If I couldn't die on my own, I'd just get someone else to kill me!"
"We've tried it all" past Ayano says sadly
"We've tried suicide, killing each other, throwing a battle to try and die but nothing works! The curse won't allow it!" past Meliodas shouts frustrated
"Meli" past Ayano looks up at past Meliodas tiredly
"I just wanna.. not be forced to love her anymore" Past Meliodas hugs past Ayano tightly "I just wanna love you and only you Aya"
The memory changes to Meliodas and Ayano walking down the castle corridors and they see the child Elizabeth before going travelling.
"Will you be coming back to see Ellie soon?" Child Elizabeth asks and looks at past Ayano "I wanna play more"
"I know Lizzy" past Ayano rubs her head "I'll make sure we come back soon, I'll keep this idiot out of trouble"
"Don't worry, we'll always come back" past Meliodas agrees with a smile "both Ayano and me"
The couple wave to Elizabeth before walking away, past Meliodas smiles and holds past Ayano's hand. The two look at each other before past Meliodas kisses her on the cheek.
Finally they all are back in the bedroom, Ayano stands up and sits on the bed, holding back tears as Elizabeth sobs.
"I'm fine..." Elizabeth says and wipes her eyes "Sir Meliodas will surely come back to us. No matter what! Lady Ayano.. he made the promise that you two would always come back together and he will always finds his way back to you!"
Ayano looks at Elizabeth and smiles "you're right" Ayano kneels down and kisses Meliodas's forehead "come back soon honey"