a/n: Rereading some nanatsu chapters and beginning to read the sequel (Nasiens... Really curious about Nasiens-), I gained back a little bit more motivation with this story (sorry for the long wait!).

This chapter was actually written when I first began writing moon catching, and I was meaning to post it as the very last chapter. Unfortunately, I don't have the drive to continue from where I left off (I'm afraid that if I try to continue it, I'll just get into a hiatus again) and while it does feel bad leaving it there, I hope this is okay (once again, sorry!). Just assume some epic stuff happened, the kingdom was saved, and the three apprentice knight trio became friends again and etc. Meliodas' still missing an arm, though! That, and...

This will be the final chapter I will be posting (both in this fic and this account, for personal reasons). I hope this will make up for the long absence, and thank you for being patient with me! Thank you for supporting this story despite the unannounced hiatus! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, please have a good day!

ko.

MOON CATCHER

When Meliodas was born, his parents were not expecting much.

As a child, he kept on crying- shedding tears as if for something unbearable. His parents could not understand, he could not understand. All he could do was to cry and cry and cry, nearly dehydrating multiple times in his childhood. When he got a little older, he didn't cry as much, but tears would well up immediately at the thought of pain.

Something (someone) was missing, but that was all he got from the feeling.

The flowers were in bloom. Meliodas gazed at the petals, observing as a tiny ladybug climbed up the tender plant. The moment it reached the peak, the little red thing took off, buzzing to the distance and beyond. For a moment, he wondered where it would go… And where it went.

It was so small.

"Grandmaster," a gruff voice said behind him. Jumping at the sudden sound, Meliodas quickly regained his composure and turned around.

"Ah, uh, yes? What is it again?" He said, cringing at the squeaky cracks of his voice.

The knight, standing straight and firm, lowered his head a bit. A subtle sigh was released (Meliodas could hear it so clearly).

"We need you at the square."

"Ah, yes, of course. The square," Meliodas replied stiffly. "I'll be right there! Uh, tell them that. Yeah."

After being left alone, Meliodas slumped down. He sighed into his hands.

"I really can't do this… Why am I the grandmaster, again?"

Meliodas, Great Holy Knight of Danafor, was known for his kindness and strength.

Danafor was a beautiful place. It was his hometown, after all, and making his trek down the streets of the kingdom, he returned greetings to fellow soldiers and friendly civilians.

But at the same time, he was known for being weak and incapable. Too soft and inexperienced.

At the age of fifteen, he joined the kingdom's knights. At the age of sixteen, for some reason, he ended up becoming the previous Great Holy Knight's protégé. The previous Grandmaster, his mentor, Meliodas would say, was almost like a father figure to him. Even though he was very strict, he was more of a parent than his biological ones.

However, four years later, the Grandmaster unfortunately got into an accident, forcing him to retire earlier than expected.

So at the prime age of twenty, Meliodas became the kingdom's new Grandmaster.

(Back straight and knees trembling, he stood shell-shocked as the freaking king of Danafor presented him with the title.)

He reached the kingdom square. Sighing, Meliodas gazed up, slightly distracted by the flags dancing around and the colors sparkling before him.

"I'm seriously too young for this."

"Is that so?" Jumping with a start (how many times will he get scared from behind, again? Come on, he was a holy knight, a Great Holy Knight!), Meliodas turned around, startled green eyes meeting soft, curious blue.

Eyes widening, Meliodas broke out into a shy smile.

"Liz!"

Liz smiled brightly. Long, silver hair draped over her shoulders, she held up a basket of food and delicacies. Tilting her head towards the busy crowd, colorful textiles were being hung up with flowers in full bloom.

A festival in preparation.

"Let's get working already, Sir Great Holy Knight!"

Meliodas smiled softly at her, his heart slightly clenching at the sound of her voice despite the use of that title.

"Yeah, got it."

-.-.-

Sword carving through flesh, Meliodas winced at the feeling of his blade hitting bone.

If only this was just cooking, it wouldn't be this bad.

But wait, I'm not that great at cooking to begin with.

Fighting against enemies was one thing, but Pase had been recently quite… Persistent, so to say. Before meeting Liz, knights and soldiers would fall so quickly. Meliodas was worried that it was because of his own faulty leadership. If it was the previous Great Holy Knight, so many people wouldn't have...

"Invigorate," Meliodas blinked at the sound of Liz's voice. Glancing to the side, he saw the druid (or… He shook his head, stop thinking about such things, Liz's just a druid) with her hands raised, soft light emitted as the wounds on the soldiers were healed immediately.

Before he realized, the ache he felt during the battle also vanished into thin air. Upon having eye contact with the druid, the Great Holy Knight smiled sheepishly. He continued to the fight against enemy forces.

Liz was amazing.

Very, very amazing.

(And beauti-)

Yeah, amazing.

And on the other hand, Meliodas was not all that amazing.

"Sir Meliodas, about the arrangement for…"

"Great Holy Knight, sir, regarding division thirteen's training, do you think..."

"Sir, we recently spotted suspicious activity among the northern border, should we..."

"What of the artifact we found earlier, sir..."

"Sir, as you ordered, we had the knights train in first aid and medication… But regarding that…"

"Great Holy Knight, what do you think of this formation for the soldiers…"

Meliodas groaned, heart heavy as he slammed his head against the wood of the table.

They said that he was simply too young for the job.

"I want to give you something," Liz said, one day. Blinking slowly, Meliodas nodded.

In her hands was a sword. It wasn't anything special, but when Liz held it, it seemed so…

Meliodas took it, feeling the weight in his hands.

"It's beautiful," he said. You're beautiful.

Liz smiled, her gaze soft. It soon became his lucky charm, and maybe things wouldn't go that bad.

The town Meliodas was passing by was known to be one of the most vile places on the land of Britannia. Glancing at his surroundings, he could see why the rumors came to be. Sketchy alleyways with shady people… The gruff sounds of yelling and screaming across buildings and cracked, clouded windows…

Yikes.

Walking through the streets, a tuft of white hair caught his eyes. With that, he turned his head slightly, spotting a small kid getting kicked at his stomach by some angry... Chef. At least, the man looked like a chef. But the kid…

Grimacing, Meliodas made a quick u-turn, marching forward and grabbing the man's arm before he threw down another punch.

The chef looked very unimpressed.

Almost cowering from his glare, Meliodas mentally shook his head.

Grow a backbone, idiot.

"G-good day, sir," he said, cringing at the tremble in his voice.

The chef looked madder (good job, Great Holy Knight). "Whadya want, fancy boy! The brat stole my bread!"

Meliodas swallowed, letting go of the chef's beefy arm. Reaching to his waist, where his sack of coins innocently hung, he took out a few silver coins and handed it over to the chef.

"I'll pay for him, everyone's happy now?" He said.

The chef narrowed his eyes. "It costs five."

Meliodas strained a smile.

After the chef left with his five silver coins, Meliodas sighed again, crossing his arms. Glancing to the kid, who was rubbing his stomach, Meliodas gave a small, unsure smile.

"You alright, kid?" The holy knight asked, kneeling down. He tried to come off as friendly as possible- and since Meliodas wasn't quite the image of a Grandmaster, he supposed he could use that to his advantage.

The kid made a small whining sound. Red eyes staring curiously at the knight, there was a hint of distrust and wonder- before a split second later, the kid suddenly shot back to his feet and-

Ran off with his money.

For the third time, Meliodas sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Just my luck."

Although… There was a lot of fight in his eyes. A very strong kid.

"Maybe we'll meet again," he muttered quietly, later wiping the floor with some buff bandit who was harassing a caravan.

(Later on, that very bandit became a well known fighter in Vaizel.)

"I believe that this is the right course of action."

"Wha-no, definitely no," Meliodas said, trying his best so that his voice wouldn't waver. "If we do that, there would be too many needless sacrifices. To ensure the safety of the citizens and the soldiers-"

"The soldiers should be ready to die, Sir Meliodas," a piercing glare was shot at the holy knight. "And as the Great Holy Knight, it is also your duty to make sure that these knights are ready to fight."

Voice cut off, Meliodas gritted his teeth in frustration.

His mind was racing with words and retorts, proof to back up his thoughts, but-

He didn't know what to say.

Exiting the council room, the blonde sighed, back leaning against the wooden door. Upon hearing low whispers behind the door, Meliodas only frowned and stormed away instead.

He should've stopped to listen.

He knew he should've.

-.-.-

"Meliodas?" Liz was at the courtyard, long hair brushing against her bare back as she turned around.

"Hey, Liz," Meliodas greeted weakly. The druid smiled softly.

"Earlier, Barzad got bitten by a werewolf," taking a seat along the stone bricks surrounding an array of flowers, Liz continued with a relaxed tone in her voice. "The injury was pretty grave, you see."

The knight made a low chuckle, settling down beside her. "But I suppose you healed him right away, as usual."

Blinking at the blonde, the druid pursed her lips. There was a small beat a silence before she leaned in closer, deep blue eyes staring straight into the other's.

"Meliodas, did something happen?"

It sounded more like a statement rather than a question.

Making a weak laugh, he shook his head. "No, I mean… Liz, you're amazing, really amazing. Everyone likes you right away, and you're just… So, so amazing. There's no wonder, really. You heal people and have this aura around you and…"

"I didn't heal Barzad."

Meliodas blinked. He hesitantly looked up to meet the other's gaze.

"He fixed up himself, thanks to your discipline."

"... What?"

Smiling, Liz scooted closer, grinning at the slightly shorter blonde (it has only been a year, but Meliodas was catching up to her height). "It's thanks to you that Barzad is okay, Meliodas."

Pausing for a moment, Meliodas looked away. He stared off to the greens growing along the cracks of the ground.

"... Oh."

"You're a great Great Holy Knight, Meliodas."

"But…" The blonde started, looking unsure. After a small moment, trying to figure out what words to say, he sighed and scratched his head.

"I'm… I'm scared, Liz," he said, slumping down. "As you said, I am the Great Holy Knight, but do I really have what it takes to be a leader? I have to take care of my knights, but why does it seem like rather than helping them-I'm just making it harder for them? I can't even handle my own emotions, and I always get all over the place-"

With her arms extended, Liz embraced him gently, her cheek resting on the side of his head.

"You are capable. You have what it takes to be a good leader," her eyes softened, gazing at a memory of the past. "You are, believe me. Barzad thanks you… And I thank you, too."

Sinking into her embrace, Meliodas made a small nod.

They said he was too kind for his own good.

The first time the darkness manifested, Meliodas stared at his hands with something a little more than fear.

"What is… This?" He whispered hoarsely, bodies littered around him as the darkness shifted under his skin.

Upon his eyes catching the glint of his blade, cold sweat gathered as he looked down, staring at his reflection from the bloodied sword. Liz's sword.

You are capable. You have what it takes to be a good leader.

Orbs of darkness stared back at him, a strange marking engraved above his right brow.

Barzad thanks you… And I thank you, too.

He threw up afterwards.

(He stopped using that sword, afraid that the inky darkness would stain it.)

There had been whispers, tension building up under the happy façade of the kingdom of Danafor.

The Great Holy Knight could actually be a monster.

A demon in disguise.

"How are you feeling?" Liz asked, putting a hand over his forehead.

Face slightly heating up from her touch, Meliodas quickly backed away, a strangled laugh escaping from his lips. "No, no, I'm fine. Yeah, very fine."

Frowning, she shook her head, later staring straight into his eyes.

"How are you feeling," she said again, this time with a little more force.

Something bursting in his chest, he snapped out, pushing her away. "I said I'm fine, Liz! Stop it alrea-"

He paused.

Terror filled his eyes.

Did I just-

Liz hugged him, pulling him close.

"It's alright."

"No, no, no. It's, it's not, Liz, I just-"

"Do you really think that you're a monster?"

Meliodas paused.

"Even if you are, are monsters really that bad?"

Words stuck in his throat, his face twisted with grief and fear.

"But I'm still a monster, Liz. I'm a monster."

Liz held him a little closer.

-.-.-

"Do you know, Meliodas? That power can also be used to protect."

Meliodas laughed, shaking his head (he seemed to do this often, nowadays).

"Are you kidding? Of course not."

"Meliodas…"

"I'm not using that power, no matter what."

Settling down at the dinner table, Meliodas ate his meal with quick bites.

Hovering around the druid's side, Wandle tilted its head, squawking out loud as Liz shook her head, seemingly down.

"Idiot! Made! Liz! Sad!" The bird chidded, Meliodas shooting a glare at it as he washed his dishes.

"Shut up, Wandle."

The days seemed to wash by.

Like the sand in an hourglass.

But what kind of hourglass was this?

An hour long? A minute long?

Meliodas stared off into the distance, sitting on top of a boulder as he gazed upon the kingdom of Danafor.

Liz was sitting near him, gazing at the same, beautiful scene.

They went on like that, the serene silence accompanying them.

Sand washed away.

But Meliodas couldn't seem to care.

-.-.-

Liz would always teach him dear things. They were usually simple and trivial, from laughing to holding hands. Before meeting Liz, he never thought he'd be able to experience such… Normal and peaceful times. It was like he was finally living.

It was like he was finally breathing, head no longer underwater.

It was beautiful.

(Just maybe, he'd accept that side of himself as well. Just maybe, for Liz.)

-.-.-

Something was bothering him, a tingle at the back of his mind. Frowning, Meliodas turned his head, the dark, grey clouds shifting in the skies.

Something seemed off-

An explosion.

Another one.

Screams.

He picked up his sword.

(Not Liz's, it disappeared somewhere. He lost it. He panicked for a moment, something unbearable clutching in his throat. But-)

Dear things. Keep the dear things in your heart. It'll be okay.

Believe in yourself.

Meliodas ran.

The artifact that they had uncovered, Meliodas realized, was a seal. A seal to a monster. And the idiots just went and undone it. That was what they were discussing behind that wooden door.

All behind his back.

Danafor has fallen-

Not yet.

It hasn't fallen yet.

I'm still here.

The Great Holy Knight is still here.

The Great Holy Knight is still here!

"Meliodas!"

He turned around, heart clenching when he heard her kind and gentle voice he loved her, he realized. He loved her so much-

Blood splattered. Meliodas' eyes widened.

"Li… Liz?"

Staring ahead, there was something stabbing through the druid's chest, red seeping through her clothes-he wasn't sure-

"You… You…! The damned traitor!" The monster's eyes had hardened with pent up anger, snarling as he stomped forward with pure hate. The rage-the malice- Meliodas could feel it down to the bone but Liz-

"I-what, I don't know-who…" Meliodas trembled (scared, afraid, terrified), sweat gathering in his hands as he grasped his sword tightly. Get a grip-get a grip, Meliodas! You're the G-great Holy Knight, stop t-trembling! L-Liz, she n-needs help-

Stop being so weak!

"It's all because of you!"

"Me...liodas…" Liz gasped, hand holding her bleeding wound-

She was trying to say something, mouth opened and-

The throbbing in his head worsened, his eyes were burning up. He was meaning to go protect Danafor-he was meaning to stop this whole mess. And he found the monster! He was going to fight it, defending Danafor behind his back, defending Liz- but the dark markings itching on his skin was moving and growing and changing and-

Elizabeth.

-.-.-

Mind numb, Elizabeth stared at the disaster painted before her.

How did it come to this?

She was caught off guard. She was too naive. She has gotten too lax, thinking that things would be alright. Merlin helped seal her wings because goddesses weren't supposed to exist. She didn't want Meliodas to hold any more burdens because of her existence.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Wandle, littered on the ground. Bloodied.

The castle, the buildings. Collapsed.

The colorful textiles that once hung across the kingdom, they were all tattered. Washed out.

Meliodas...

"E-Elizabeth…" The knight stood weakly, his back facing the goddess. "You're… Alright, you're alive-I d-don't know-everything feels so w-wrong but right- Elizabeth, what… What am I…?"

Elizabeth stepped forward. She took another step, closing the gap between the two as she reached out to hold him tightly in her arms.

"I-I feel so gross-Elizabeth, I'm so confused-the m-monster, he said that I am a traitor-Zel… My little brother-if only I had been by his s-side, if only I…!" Tears dropped one by one, the dark markings changing just like the moon.

"I'll always be by your side…" She whispered. They both fell onto their knees. "No matter what… We'll go through this together, until it finally ends."

Meliodas nodded. He continued to shiver.

Gazing upwards to the gray skies, Elizabeth felt the raindrops fall.

"... Do you remember that time… We first met?" Meliodas whispered.

"Yes…" Elizabeth replied.

"Then the time I fed Merlin the food I cooked…"

She chuckled. "Frog liver cakes, she cried that time."

"The time we spent in the remains of Heaven's…?"

"Yes, Meliodas. I remember."

"And the time…"

Elizabeth hugged him tighter, her eyes squeezed shut as tears she never asked for came.

"I remember… I'll always remember."

"... You're alive."

Elizabeth's breathing hitched. A small smile rested on Meliodas' lips.

"Thank you."

The markings on his skin swirled, and slowly… Danafor was swallowed, a lone goddess stepping out of the darkness as wings formed behind her, a small child held gently in her arms.

It was the first time he died before his three days deadline.

"...beth… Lady Elizabeth?" Blue eyes blinking open, it met with the other's green ones. Smiling at the young apprentice knight, Elizabeth placed her elbow on the counter, chin resting on her palm.

"Yes, Meliodas?"