Meliodas and Ayano decide to go into the town to help rebuild while the demons are down. As they walk into the town, they see that it's already rebuilt. Ban and Elizabeth looking shocked as well. The two walk to them.
"Morning" Ayano greets
"Hey did you do this?" Ban asks her
"Huh? No, I was at the tavern with Meli last night" Ayano replies "maybe it was Merlin?" she holds Meliodas's hand "let's go see her"
They walk to her temporary home
"Yo Merlin!" Ban calls out
"Up here!" Merlin responds
"Miss Merlin, how come the town is all back to normal?" Elizabeth asks as they walk in
They see Merlin in a bubble bath with Escanor washing her shoulders.
"All back to normal? Far from it" Merlin tells her looking up from her book "Indeed, I have restored all the buildings by myself overnight.. but that only accounts for a little over half the destruction. While it is well within my powers to restore said buildings, I do not possess the means with which to bring back to life those killed by the demons. Nor can I mend the hearts of all the people that have been scarred by the horror and terror..
Furthermore, all the holy Knights and people struck by that Commandment have begun a pilgrimage towards Camelot. Which can only mean that the current stronghold of the Ten Commandments is Camelot... So it is no exaggeration to say that this battle has only just begun. There is far more chaos to follow... But make no mistake, this last war's victory belongs to we Eight Deadly Sins... Nobody would hang you for rejoicing and engaging in a bit of revelry over it, Captain"
Meliodas looks down "Right.." he tightens his grip on Ayano's hand and she kisses his cheek
"Cap'n" Ban puts Meliodas in a headlock before rubbing his fist against Meliodas's head "Where the hell did you sneak off to last night, ahh?! We didn't even get to celebrate properly! I was looking forward to our toast!"
"Ban.." Meliodas looks up at him confused
"Sorry about yesterday.. I just didn't know what kind of face I was supposed to make or what I was supposed to say in a situation like that... But screw all of that... It's not like anything's changed between us, right?" Ban looks at him with a smile
"You have nothing to apologize for" Meliodas says looking at him
"That's true, I mean, the Cap'n is always the one sitting around with that stupid vacant look on your face, making everyone worry about y-"
Ban was cut off by Meliodas punching him, sending him into a wall, to shut him up. Ayano laughs at the two.
"O, my friend, noble wrath" they look at Escanor "If even a curse should afflict our bodies... It could never taint the beautiful rose which blooms in our hearts. O, my friend, brave heroic sin" Escanor recites "Ahh, please, it is not what you think... I dare not presume to understand the myriad of emotions running through the Captain at this very instant! I simply wished to state... Seeing as how they are cursed... The only they could understand the pain and suffering that it brings... Or something along those lines... So... Please... Try to cheer up if only a little bit?"
"I give it an 8" Meliodas says folding his arms over his chest looking at Escanor
"An 8?! Out of what?!" Escanor asks
"By the way... As far as beautiful roses go..." Escanor goes up behind Meliodas and Ayano "Well, it goes without saying that mine is Merlin... And yours is Ayano"
"Of course, that goes without saying" Meliodas grins "Escanor, Ban..." He turns to them, placing his arms behind his head with his eyes closed "Thank you!"
Meliodas ad Ayano makes it back to the tavern.
"It felt good to be walking around a bit today" Ayano smiles as she walks in
"I agree" Meliodas says happily "it was nice to see that Ban's back, all that's left is for King and Diane to return"
"Yeah I wonder what they-" Ayano suddenly feels dizzy and falls forward
"Ayano!" Meliodas runs over and catches her "hey!" he shakes her "wake up!"
Ayano opens her eyes, she looks to her left to see Meliodas walking straight ahead. Meliodas was wearing his outfit from the commandments and was holding his sword with the giant blade with ease. Ayano looked down at herself.
'it looks like i'm 13 or 14, this must've been closer to when I first joined the commandments'
"Little goddess, come on" Meliodas calls out "keep up"
"c-coming" Ayano runs after him
The two walk into a part of the forest where Gloxinia and Drole were standing.
"N...No way... It... It can't be...!"'
"Meliodas?! Ayano!?"
Meliodas grins at Gloxinia and Drole "Yo! You guys got here fast!" He says then blinks, "Hey wait how do you both know Aya? It's her first time meeting you both"
"well uh-"
"Meli" Ayano says nervously as she hides behind him
"No need to be shy princess" Meliodas chuckles
"This isn't possible... You..." Drole starts shouting while staring at Meliodas "We saw you die a month ago... Didn't we?!"
"You really need to expand on your repertoire of shitty jokes, Drole," Meliodas says "Would it kill ya' to give some pointers, Gloxinia?"
"I don't think you quite understand... I'm King and this here is Diane!" Gloxinia says
'it seems like my conscious was sucked into whatever magic Diane and King are under, though my words and actions match what I did in the past still, was this done on purpose? If so then why? So I can remember my past?'
"Some things happened and we ended up getting transformed into these forms..." Drole says
"'These forms' he says.." Meliodas sighs "Stop it, this is how you guys always look! Besides, who the heck is this 'Diane' and 'King' you're about? Did you two hit your heads or something?"
"Meliodas maybe this wasn't such a good idea" Ayano mutters nervously
'wait.. at this point i should already be a commandment'
"Ayano!"
'Elizabeth?'
"Aunty" Ayano holds onto Meliodas's arm and looks up
Elizabeth was flying over with her angel wings, she lands in front of them.
"See, I brought her as promised" Meliodas places his hand on top of Ayano's head "She's perfectly fine"
"Aya" Elizabeth's eyes tear up, she bends down in front of Meliodas and Ayano "do you remember me, i'm your aunt Elizabeth"
"Elizabeth she's turned into a demon, not lost her memories" Meliodas tells her
"Yeah i know.." Ayano stares at Elizabeth
"That's great" Elizabeth smiles
"Meli I wanna go home" Ayano pulls on his sleeve
"No way, Zeldris has been more of a creep then usual" Meliodas puts his arm around her waist "you're staying with me"
"I wanna train" Ayano glares at him
Meliodas sighs "that's not how we work anymore Aya"
"hmph" Ayano crosses her arms and looks away
"little one if you're not going to help then come and just stay out of the way" Meliodas tells her before turning to the others "Alright, you four! Let's head out!"
Meliodas's black demon wings come out, he looks at Ayano who refuses to take her wings out, he just smirks and picks her up.
"hey!" she shouts
"Stop being so stubborn" Meliodas says
"grr" Ayano looks annoyed
Meliodas flies in front of Elizabeth carrying Ayano, Drol and Gloxinia following. They look ahead as they fly onwards.
Meliodas looks at the others "As soon as we exit the forest, we'll be in the Valley of Fossils! You guys ready!?"
"Huh?! R...Ready? For what?" Drole/Diane asks
"Are you awake in there?! We've just received information that the human settlement located there was ambushed so we're on our way to check it out" Meliodas explains and Drole/Diane covers up her questions successfully.
When they get out of the forest they see the human settlement up in flames, lower-class demons attacking the humans. Meliodas sets Ayano on the ground before being the first to attack, killing multiple demons.
Meliodas turns to Drole/Diane and Gloxinia/King to see them looking at Karmadios, a commandment.
"That's one of the Ten Commandments! Karmadios of Betrayal! If you don't want to be stricken by his commandment, then whatever you do, do not run away from him!" Meliodas explains quickly
Meliodas blocks the fairy and giant, "Don't think too poorly of us, Karmadios," takes out his giant sword "Full Counter!" He sends the attack back at the Ten Commandment
"Karmadios!" Ayano jumps in front of him "Copy Cat: Full Counter!" she sends the attack back at Meliodas again
"Damn it" Meliodas curses and quickly dodges
"I don't get it, why is Ayano helping him!?" Drole/Diane says confused
"Ayano's the Commandment of Desire you know that already!" Meliodas replies
"Commandment of Desire!" Gloxinia/King shouts and turns to Drole/Diane "I thought she was the Commandment of Lust! Why is her name different now?!"
'I forgot my name changed..'
"Karmadios let's withdraw!" Ayano shouts
"Yes princess" Karmadios agrees
The demon forces and Karmadios began to withdraw.
"Ayano!" Meliodas shouts
Ayano sticks her tongue out at him "you're the worst!"
Meliodas growls in anger as Ayano grows her wings and follows after the demons.
"Why.." Elizabeth looks down sad
"that stubborn brat" Meliodas grumbles
"And I was dragged with him" Ayano sits with her arms and legs crossed "the nerve of that traitor father-in-law"
"I see I see" the demon king nods at her words "Meliodas has grown quite rebellious"
'I see I got along well with the demon king'
"I told you father" Zeldris crosses his arms "it's all because of that one stupid goddess, i bet he's fallen in love with her"
"hmph" Ayano turns her head away
"What?! I'm just being honest" Zeldris defends
"Silence children!" the demon king commands "I'm thinking"
"think about what father?" Ayano asks
"a way to correct that irresponsible fiancé of yours dear" the demon king replies
"A punishment?" Zeldris asks
"Ayano, how well is your training going?" the demon king asks
"Defeated Zeldris yesterday" Ayano smirks
"it was a lucky shot!" Zeldris shouts
The demon king laughs darkly "sounds wonderful.. I have a plan"
"A plan?" Ayano asks confused
The demon king looks at the two "listen up Ayano, your mission.."