A/N: Sorry for the long Hiatus, but finally, another chapter for "The Seven Deadly Sins: Sin of Vengeance" has finally arrived, picking up where the last episode left off. What do you suppose would happen a bit differently this time with Zarathos involved, huh? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out. By the way, this includes the rest of the flashbacks from the OVA Bandit Ban. And warning: while it may include some nudity (mostly for battle damage reasons), it'll only be at the top and in the fairy form, which is more child-like, thank goodness. Anyhoo, enjoy. :)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Sin of Vengeance
Chapter 8: The Fearsome Pursuer
Act I
Play SAO Alicization Music: "Coercive Power"
First, it showed Elaine spitting her blood out from her mouth in shock as King smirked in front of her before later, Elaine's wound regenerated back to normal, leaving her chest slightly bare on the sides of each breast as the hole on both sides of her dress was never fixed while Elaine brushed the blood off her mouth.
Narrator: "The 4th Deadly sin, King the Grizzly Sin, was alive."
"Because you just walked right into my trap.", King responded before then launching his blade towards Elaine, who had to keep it at bay with her wind powers as Elaine struggled to keep it from touching her before blasting the blade away back to King and preparing to use Titania as a small ring of wind encircling her on the ground appeared before it then showed the group are now in a land surrounded by crystal with a bright green sky as Elaine looked on in wonder before then noticing Ban in his usual clothes from when the two first met and gasping before flying as fast as she could toward him, not knowing that King was chasing after her with Zarathos chasing him before it showed Ellen and her brother looking on in wonder when lightning struck, behind the children, revealing two more people behind them, prompting them to turn and notice two Holy Knights, both of which are women and one of which had naturally closed eyes.
Narrator: "Filled with intense hatred overshadowed only by regret and grief for his sister, he relentlessly pursued Elaine. Meanwhile, Elaine was in pursuit of something else entirely. Along their journey, two mysterious women had been silently following them all."
"It seems the Necropolis really does exist.", one Holy Knight with a feminine voice spoke.
"Can you tell us how to get in there?", another asked.
"Do you know who they are, Luigi?", Ellen asked.
"Wait a minute. Are you two one of the holy knights?", Luigi asked before one of the knights with naturally closed eyes then picked the two children up by force.
"Guilla, no!", the holy knight shouted in behest.
"Please, don't…", Luigi groaned.
"I should be most grateful if you would please inform us how one enters the Necropolis?", Guilla asked.
"As if… we'd ever… tell you!", Luigi grunted in response.
"Brother… Can't…breathe…at all…", Ellen groaned weakly.
"Now, be a good boy.", Guilla only spoke.
"Guilla, this just went too far!", the holy knight scolded.
"If you share with the dead… your precious memories…, they will lead you into… the city!", Luigi grunted in reply to Guilla.
"I'm afraid I don't follow you.", Guilla responded.
"How couldn't we know any more about the land where the dead go…?", Luigi responded.
"The dead… Oh, I see. Very helpful.", Guilla responded before releasing them.
But no sooner had she done so that Guilla raised her hand, ready to strike, making the other holy knight gasp in shock.
"Don't…!", Luigi shouted.
Then, just as Guilla started lowering her arm, she was then promptly stopped by the other holy knight.
End SAO Alicization Music: "Coercive Power"
"Don't you dare do that…! None of that is necessary!", the other holy knight chastised.
"Would you kindly let go of my arm, Gale?", Guilla asked.
"Not on your life! You always do that; always take things too far! Well, no more! I care about you too much for that as I do the other knights.", Gale responded, puzzling Luigi and Ellen.
"Look, I know you're trying to get into the necropolis, but it's not going to do you any good if you kill yourself like this. There has to be a better way to get in. After all, there is for everything.", Gale responded, starting to calm down.
"With all due respect, who in their right mind told you that?", Guilla puzzled.
"You should know by now… It's our mother…", Gale responded with a sad grin in reply.
Meanwhile, the others were looking around for Elaine, King, and Zarathos.
"Elaine!", Meliodas shouted.
"King!", Diane shouted next.
"Sir Zarathos!", Elizabeth shouted next.
"Elaine, come back!", Hawk shouted next.
"Man, where'd those three run off to now?", Diane asked.
Just then, however, Meliodas stopped, puzzling Elizabeth.
"Is everything okay?", Elizabeth asked.
"I don't think we're alone here.", Meliodas responded before Elizabeth and Hawk both looked around for a moment.
"I don't think I see anyone around here, but us.", Elizabeth responded.
"Yeah, and no ghosts have appeared and tried to scare us or anything.", Hawk added.
"That is odd, but why?", Elizabeth puzzled before, after a moment, she and Hawk began to fear that they might turn up before the latter spoke up.
"There's obviously no point in hanging around here. Why don't we go look for these 2 now, what do you say?", Hawk suggested before the group started going forward.
"Sounds good to me.", Elizabeth agreed.
Meanwhile, Elaine was hastily running in a slight panic, still not knowing about King, who, likewise, didn't know about Zarathos chasing him by proxy.
"Does she really think she can escape me?", King spoke to himself before he maneuvered himself toward Elaine, who gasped upon turning to notice him.
"King!", Elaine squealed.
"Hello, again, Elaine.", King spoke.
"Look, I don't have time right now.", Elaine spoke frantically before taking off, passing him by only for King to turn quickly to her before he could see Zarathos and then head off toward Elaine.
"Back in the past, this was the last thing I wanted for our reunion. But I was cats out. Suspected of treason against the realm. With nowhere else to go, I returned to my homeland. But what I found was the heartrending sight of my homeland burned beyond all recognition.", King spoke as it then showed a flashback of him wandering the road before taking his helmet off to see what became of his homeland before flashing back to the present with Elaine then suddenly restrained by a sort of pillow-like bear.
"When I was in the sins with you, I must admit that I never really gave it a lot of thought. Why you should be unkillable. Never once did I think you'd shirk your responsibilities as guardian of the forest.", King responded before he flew over to her and then spoke up again while raising his right arm.
"Chastifol 3rd configuration: fossilization!", King spoke before a swirl appeared on the bear with Chastifol appearing as a spear from behind Elaine.
"No… You don't mean…!"m Elaine gasped just as Zarathos arrived just in time for Elaine to get pierced from behind, making Zarathos gasp in shock with widened eyes as a dark flash erupted somewhat briefly in his point of view before Elaine started turning to stone.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Elaine…", King apologized.
Then, Elaine thought back to when she was guarding the fountain by herself again when all of a sudden, a book was presented in front of her, much to her surprise.
"Tadaa! You see that? This is the label for that Ale I was talking about yesterday. I mean, seriously, you gotta admit the sweet and sour smell from those wildberries down there are amazing! And no matter how much of that stuff you drink, the taste is just worth it.", Ban spoke.
"Ban! Wh-what's that?", Elaine asked.
"You mean this? It's just a little something I dropped when you blew me off last couple of times. In other words, a collection of every ale label.", Ban responded, making Elaine blink her eyes.
"No, not that, Ban. I mean why did you come back here?", Elaine asked.
"Well, I just thought I'd show it to you, so you people don't get bored. Honestly, though, nobody understands just how amazing that thing is.", Ban responded before Elaine eventually grinned.
"All right. I'd like to see more, please.", Elaine spoke before Ban started turning the pages excitedly.
"Now, we're talking! This book's totally gonna blow your mind.", Ban spoke excitedly.
"He's not so bad for a human.", Elaine thought before later, Ban was holding onto a vine as he was getting blown by Elaine's winds, laughing.
"Is this actually fun for you?", Elaine asked.
"You're darn right, it is!", Ban shouted with laughter before Ban then landed back on the tree near Elaine.
"And while we're on the subject of something fun, here's my idea.", Ban responded before then making movements with his hand, causing a wind to blow from below Elaine briefly, making her gasp while Ban grew puzzled.
"Ban, what did you just do?", Elaine asked.
"Wait a minute. You weren't wearing anything down there, were you, Elaine?", Ban asked.
"Uh…, I don't think I understand.", Elaine responded, blinking her eyes.
"Probably for the best that you don't. For now, anyway…", Ban spoke while walking away.
"Hey! What do you mean?! Just spit it out!", Elaine shouted.
Later, with the full moon in the sky, Ban was reading from his book again.
"Man, I gotta tell ya, that ale is something else. Yup. Just the memory alone is enough to make me sleepy.", Ban commented before setting the book down on his face with Elaine noticing.
"Geez. Who knew even humans like him could be such chatterboxes? We didn't even make it to the page 5.", Elaine commented before moving the book away only to inadvertently wake Ban up.
"All right, what's up? A human's face that unusual or something? Or do you have some trouble sleeping?", Ban asked.
"Well, it's not like I can't really sleep at all.", Elaine responded.
'So, what's that supposed to mean? That fairies don't ever sleep whatsoever?", Ban asked.
"No, that's not it, either. We do sleep… but it's just unnecessary to sleep just as frequently as you humans.", Elaine responded.
"Ohhhh, I see. So, that kinda makes you an all-nighter.", Ban guessed.
"But you see…, going to sleep even for a little while… would be a waste of time.", Elaine added before she was suddenly hugged by Ban, making her gasp, before Ban then tipped down to his side and landed.
"Ban…? Why did you...?", Elaine spoke.
"Could you please try not to be so childish?", Bana sked.
"Wh-what do you…?", Elaine began before Ban interrupted again.
"If you don't get enough sleep, you can't really grow up, now, can you?", Ban responded before he started sleeping.
"I told you; I'm not a child.", Elaine only responded before later going to sleep as well.
The next morning. Elaine woke up and turned around to notice a lone book on the tree just behind her.
"Ban…", Elaine spoke fervently.
Back in the present, King glared at the fossilizing Elaine with slight regret.
"Ban…, everyone…", Elaine spoke.
"If you have a deathbed confession, I'm willing to listen to what you have to say. But, of course, that won't mean I'm gonna forgive what you've done.", King spoke.
Then, Elaine started to shed tears, which only added to Zarathos' only anguish and sorrow building up into rage.
"I'm sorry for everything, brother. I hope that this will satisfy you…", Elaine spoke sadly before her petrification was now complete, which only made Zarathos shed tears for her himself.
"Good bye, Elaine… At least you had the decency to repent. But sadly, in the end, you'll still suffer. Alone for all eternity. Unable to move a muscle or to die. That's fitting since you condemned the forest to death. You've earned your place here.", King spoke as he then floated away, not knowing that his words only made Zarathos more and more angry as he growled before finally exploding,
"KIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG!", Zarathos shouted, not only unleashing a violent gust of wind from below as it was pushed away from the force of his voice, but also attracting the shocked King's attention before he turned to notice the livid Demon Sin.
"Zarathos?!", King exclaimed before said demon sin growled angrily at him.
Meanwhile, Meliodas, Elizabeth, Diane, and Hawk gasped in shock.
"What was that?!", Hawk asked after squealing a bit.
"That sounded like Zar. He's starting to lose it again.", Meliodas responded.
"But what could've happened back there?", Diane asked.
"I don't know, but I doubt it's anything good. We have to hurry and find him!", Elizabeth urged before she and the others noticed 2 holy knights in front of them.
"Is that Princess Elizabeth?", Gale puzzled in surprise.
"Not sure. But more importantly, why does she have wings?", Guila asked.
"I have a feeling we'll find out sooner or later.", Gale responded.
"Who's that?", Diane asked.
"Hello, Meliodas the Dragon Sin. How do you do, Diane the Serpent Sin. My name is Guila. A holy Knight.", Guila greeted.
"And I'm her sister, Gale.", Gale responded.
"Wait, how did you two get here?", Hawk asked.
"That depends. How did you all get here?", Gale asked.
"Well, we were kinda brought here because Elaine shared her precious memories of Ban. At least I think that's what happened.", Meliodas responded casually.
"Well, in that case, the same way you all did, but with our mother who had passed away a long time ago.", Gale responded.
"Uh, did she just say they got here by sharing their precious memories?", Hawk asked.
"Yeah, I think she did.", Meliodas responded.
"Oink. I didn't think the holy knights even cared.", Hawk commented.
"Yeah, that is a bit strange seeing as the last ones we met didn't even bat an eye.", Meliodas responded before Guila drew her sword, causing a gust of wind to blow, knocking Hawk back.
Play My Hero Academia Music: "Enemy Strike"
"Hawk, you might want to get as far away from here as you can.", Elizabeth urged.
"Will do! You'll believe a pig can fly!", Hawk shouted before running as fast as he could while saying, "Piggy Trot" as fast as he could repetitively.
"Up… up… and away!", Hawk shouted while jumping across crystals.
Eventually, Hawk then noticed a big crystal nearby and screeched to a stop.
"Piggy brakes!", Hawk shouted as he stopped.
"This should be far away for now.", Hawk spoke before both Meliodas and Elizabeth suddenly crashed onto the crystal in front of Hawk.
"Ouch…", Meliodas groaned before he and Elizabeth noticed Hawk.
"What are you still doing here, Hawk?", Elizabeth asked in worry, her wings stretched out.
"Keep going, step on it!", Meliodas shouted.
"Are you kidding me?!", Hawk shouted as he then continued running before he got off only to notice Diane falling toward him up until he managed to catch her by the back as best he could with Elizabeth lifting her back up to help Meliodas.
"Captain? Elizabeth?", Diane asked in surprise.
"Are you okay?", Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah, but Guila's no joke.", Diane responded as the aforementioned enemy stepped forward.
"Of course not. Thank you for noticing, Serpent sin Diane.", Guila responded before Diane noticed her and Gale.
"Endowed with possibly the greatest physical strength of the sins, as a giant, a close bond with the earth and manifesting the magical ability of creation. I've been looking forward to seeing it in person.", Guila spoke.
"And? What do you think?", Diane asked.
"Frankly, a bit disappointed. It didn't quite live up to what I heard in the stories.", Guila responded.
"Then, let's see how you like this.", Diane spoke before she then made some sort of jutsu motions with her hands and placed them on the ground, suddenly causing Guila to sink into sand.
"Guila!", Gale spoke in worry.
"It's sand whirl! We can also take minerals and turn them into sand. Just a little FYI.", Diane stated.
"Oh, I see. Most informative.", Guila responded as she sank into the sand before then suddenly jumping out from it, much to her surprise before Diane then grabbed the crystal piece and tossed it at her, only for Guila to parry toward it, causing it to explode, knocking Diane back before Meliodas charged in toward Guila, who then had to dodge his attacks before Meliodas went for a chop with his hand only for Guila to block it with her rapier.
"And then, of course, there's the legendary captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, Meliodas. Your might does indeed live up to the stories I heard. But it's quite a strange thing. I noticed that you're not using your sword.", Guila spoke before she then jumped back and then prepared to dash toward him, rapier in hand.
"You think your bare hands can stop my blade?!", Guila shouted as she dashed toward him.
"Well, if you really wanna know…", Meliodas grinned, drawing his broken sword before Gale gasped in shock.
"Guila, no!", Gale shouted.
"Captain has her now.", Diane grinned before Meliodas then did a full counter, knocking Guila back, much to Gale's shock.
"Guila!", Gale shouted.
"You got her good!", Diane grinned.
"How dare you…?! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO HER?!", Gale shouted, preparing to attack when Guila spoke up.
"Stand down, Gale.", Guila ordered, puzzling.
"But…, Guila, he…", Gale began before the smoke cleared, showing that Guila is alive and well.
"I see. So, it seems your magical ability is Full Counter. If there's any offensive magic directed at you, it's reflected back at the caster at double strength. Fascinating. In short, the more powerful your opponent, the more fearsome your defense. But that also means its weakness is not being able to initiate an attack.", Guila theorized.
"I get it. You knew that, so you've been holding back on your own ability.", Meliodas deduced.
"What? Sis, you had me worried there!", Gale reacted.
"I knew I could take the blow this way, but I had to be sure what I'm dealing with, not that it'd be a problem.", Guila responded, earning Meliodas' smirk,
"Funny. That reminds me of what Elizabeth said to me earlier.", Meliodas thought.
"Come, now, both of you. Try harder. We did think about or mother to be here.", Guila responded.
End My Hero Academia Music: "Enemy Strike"
Act II
Meanwhile, Zarathos was livid. No, worse than that, he's furious, seething with rage.
"Is this really Zarathos?! This power is incredible and sinister…!", King spoke in shock, having learned too late that Zarathos had been following him.
"King… You're gonna regret that…!", Zarathos growled before he then grunted angrily before finally roaring again, his dark energy exploding with rage, distorting the necropolis' very sky into a dark purple one, even making the crystals turn purple, his voice becoming more demonic by the second as King watched in horror.
Meanwhile, before Meliodas and Elizabeth could fight, they turned and saw the dark, demonic energy being released, much to their worry as it was notified by his angry, demonic roar.
Play Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Music: "Become a Pillar"
While Diane was just as scared, Hawk, who was elsewhere at the moment, was confused as he looked back with a slight oink.
"What an unbelievable and terrifying power! What's happening to Zarathos?!", Diane whined in fear.
"It's not Zarathos. Not anymore.", Meliodas spoke in adamant concern, making Diane gasp.
Sure enough, that's unfortunately the case as meanwhile, King couldn't help but stand still, paralyzed with fear.
"How could this magical ability be so dark…? So terrifying…?!", King spoke in fear before Zarathos glared angrily while roaring demonically, his hand over one of his eyes, which turned ghastly red in the sclera with his irises and pupils starting to crack apart as blood seeped down near it from where his fingers are on his forehead with Elizabeth adding to what Meliodas said.
"It's the literal embodiment of his sin known and feared by all, even the Demon King himself. Its name…is Vengeance.", Elizabeth responded.
Meanwhile, Hawk was getting shaken up by the winds.
"All right, what the heck is going on here?!", Hawk exclaimed before it went back to Elizabeth and Meliodas.
"But how did he get this mad? The only time that happened was when…", Elizabeth puzzled before gasping upon realizing something, thinking back to when she died in her previous life before flashing back to reality.
"We can't let this happen again, Meliodas. We need to stop him.", Elizabeth urged.
"Yeah.", Meliodas agreed determinedly before the two headed off after him with Elizabeth carrying Meliodas, much to Guila and Gale's puzzlement.
"Could that be…?", Gale spoke in shock.
"Well, well. It looks like Meliodas' brother, Zarathos, the Demon Sin of Vengeance, did get to the Necropolis after all.", Guila added in astonishment.
Meanwhile, Zarathos' condition was worsening as he then started to slam the ground with his two arms, each time releasing a stronger, corrosive dark wave that shatters everything in its path as it started breaking the crystals apart as Zarathos' irises and pupils started breaking apart piece by piece in conjucture with the purple flames starting to appear and be more prominent as they burned on his skin while King stood aghast in horror.
"If only I hadn't allowed Zarathos to see what I've done…! If I had known he'd react like this… And now…, Now, everyone's going to die… because of me…!", King spoke in fear with each smash taking place after each pause on King's part.
Just then, when all seemed hopeless, a bright shimmer of light appeared near Elaine's fossilized corpse (undead or otherwise) as King noticed, no longer frightened, for the moment, so much as puzzled.
"What is that? Is this something Elaine's doing? Right now, she should be totally powerless.", King puzzled.
Then, Zarathos roared again, forming a massive crater on the ground by then, bringing King's attention back to the full terror with his irises and pupils now dangerously close to shattering before he let loose another roar and was about to slam down on the ground, possibly for the last time when a sort of ghostly image of Ban kissed Elaine's petrified body, causing her to break free from stone, which stopped Zarathos in his tracks as he gasped before stopping his fists just short of its impact point, sending out a strong gust of wind instead which travelled upward from the crater, astonishing King as he was blown back some by it, the danger passing for now.
"What? The petrification, it's broken! But it looks like it finally calmed him down.", King guessed as Zarathos finally calmed down and stood up to notice Elaine is free again with Elizabeth and Meliodas, having caught up just in time, noticing Zarathos from above. By that point, confusion and puzzlement had all but replaced his rage as his irises and pupils started repairing themselves before the ghastly red glow on his sclerae dimmed down and turned white again, the flames also dissipating, revealing the burns on his body, before he collapsed slightly on the front before another wind erupted, this time, changing the dark sky back to normal before Zarathos glanced at his hands, which were evidently singed enough to leave red marks.
Meanwhile, as Hawk then fell to the ground once the winds stopped and Diane then sighed an exasperated breath of relief, Gale and Guila were surprised to say the least.
"What… what was that, just now?", Gale asked in shock.
"That, Gale, was the power of the Demon Sin of Vengeance himself. Be careful not to cross him in any way that appears dishonorable.", Guila warned.
"Got it. I prefer fighting with honor, actually.", Gale responded.
Meanwhile, Zarathos grew puzzled with what he just did.
"Hey… that power felt kinda… familiar.", Zar spoke before Meliodas spoke up.
"Hey, Zar, you okay?!", Meliodas shouted.
"Huh? Yeah, I guess so.", Zarathos responded, noticing him and Elizabeth in the air.
End Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Music: "Become a Pillar"
"How can that be?", King puzzled before Meliodas and Elizabeth landed, coincidentally near Hawk.
"A pig and a young girl with wings near Meliodas?", King puzzled.
"Um, excuse me. Sir King, right?", Elizabeth asked.
"And you are?", King asked.
"I'm Elizabeth. Long story, but I'm travelling with Meliodas and the others.", Elizabeth responded.
"And I'm the order of Scraps…", Hawk began, exhausted, before King Interrupted.
"The captain?", King puzzled.
"Yep. That's me.", Meliodas responded, chiming in.
"Harlequin, I'd like you to meet Ban.", Elaine spoke, introducing what appeared to be a body of bright lights to everyone else.
"So, you're Elaine's older brother, huh? You don't look any older then her, but what the heck do I know, right? But enough about that. Where'd you get that scar from, anyway?", Ban responded.
"And I thought the dead would watch over us from the other side. But I guess not.", Elaine giggled slightly.
"Just what is going on here?", King puzzled.
"Brother. If you want to know what really happened in the forest, I'll show you.", Elaine responded, letting her brother fully read her heart and saw what really happened behind the destruction of the Fairy King's Forest a long time ago.
Inside Elaine's mind, King was brought to a lush, green landscape that used to be the forest.
"Huh? What happened? How did I get here?", King puzzled before then noticing Elaine's past self as she flew down the tree and started looking around for someone.
"Is that… Elaine…? Why would she…?", King puzzled.
"Ban! Where are you?!", Past Elaine shouted before suddenly noticing a family of mushroom people just up ahead and floating back down.
"Oh! Good afternoon. So, what are you all doing in these parts?", Past Elaine greeted before one of the mushroom people spoke to her in an indecipherable language.
"Wait. You want to know what I've been doing here? Well, you see, I've been taking a stroll.", Past Elaine responded before the mushroom person spoke again.
"What? A hundred years? Time sure flies, doesn't it?", Past Elaine spoke nervously before one of the mushroom people spoke again, prompting Elaine to stop and turn around.
"I don't quite know who Ban is. I wasn't even looking for him.", Past Elaine responded before the mushroom people then left.
"I'm right here, you know.", Past Elaine spoke, apparently overhearing what one of the mushroom people were saying.
"I don't get it. Why was she looking for someone…?", King puzzled.
Later, sunset approached with Elaine back on the tree.
"There's no way Ban would've left behind his Ale label collection on purpose. He'll come back. To think that every day lasted this long…", Elaine spoke.
Then, all of a sudden, past Ban's voice spoke up.
"Hey, now. Don't tell me you're sleeping already.", Past Ban spoke up before Past Elaine then opened her eyes and noticed past Ban holding a bottle of ale.
"Ban…!", Past Elaine spoke before turning her head away after a moment.
"It would've been better if you didn't come back.", Past Elaine responded as Past Ban then got closer to her and then presented an ale bottle to her.
"Well, wanna drink?", Past Ban asked, puzzling Past Elaine.
"What? You're asking me?", Past Elaine asked.
"Well, since you already know about it, I think it's best if you taste it yourself.", Past Ban responded before opening the bottle with bubbles and fizz escaping the top of the bottle, which was then handed to Past Elaine in wonder.
"And now, a toast.", Past Ban spoke before then drinking from the bottle and then laughing as soon as he finished one drink.
"Just like I thought, huh? This Aberdeen Ale is totally the best!", Past Ban grinned, puzzling Past Elaine before she decided to take a drink herself only to be less than satisfied as she groaned, turning pink, before Ban laughed.
"This isn't funny, Ban. And neither is leaving without telling me. If you were going to leave this tree for a bit…, you could've told me!", Past Elaine spoke, in a slight drunken haze before Ban laughed.
"It's fine, I get it. You've just been waiting 700 years for this.", Past Ban guessed before drinking again.
"I just said this isn't funny!", Past Elaine shouted in response before drinking again, only to have the same reaction with Past Ban laughing again, but this time, after a moment of glaring, Past Elaine laughed, too, puzzling King.
"I don't get it. What did she even see in that insufferable man…?", King pondered.
Then, without warning, King found himself noticing Past Ban bathing in the water, much to Past Elaine's puzzlement as Past Ban saw her.
"You could dip with me if you want.", Past Ban offered only for Past Elaine to turn away with a blushing gasp while King gasped in shock before then finding himself at night with Past Ban, now back in his clothes, speaking with Past Elaine.
"So, your brother's the fairy king, huh? Guess that makes you a fairy princess.", Ban guessed.
"Yes. I am a princess. And because of that, he normally acts tough instead of opening up, let alone shedding tears.", Past Elaine responded.
"You two don't see eye-to-eye much, do you?", Past Ban guessed, puzzling the fairy princess.
"Huh? What do you mean?", Past Elaine puzzled before Ban started sleeping again with King growing a bit more fascinated, but still unsure all the same.
Then, he found himself in the memory with Past Elaine reading the book when Past Ban spoke up.
"Hey, Elaine. What's wrong? 7 days and you're bored already?", Past Ban asked.
"N-No, that's not it, Ban! It's just that since I don't drink, I just can't help but feel this knowledge is in vain.", Past Elaine spoke before Past Ban then understood.
"I totally get it.", Past Ban grinned.
"But, all the same, it's been very fun. Whenever I hear your stories, it's almost as if I'm right there with you in your journeys, Ban.", Past Elaine spoke, moving her finger across the grass before Past Ban started getting up.
"Ban?", Past Elaine puzzled before Past Ban then walked out.
"I'm gonna go out and look for something to eat.", Past Ban stated.
"Okay.", Past Elaine spoke before Ban jumped off the tree with Elaine eventually going back to her book.
Later, however, a sort of demonic being was on its way toward the forest as Elaine was reading the book.
"Only half of the book is done now. How I wish it had been me that Ban came to steal. Instead of the fountain of youth.", Past Elaine spoke.
The Grizzly's Sin of Sloth, however, only narrowed his eyes in ponderment.
"So, my sister wanted to be taken away by this 'Ban'? I don't know who he is but something's off about him. Almost like he's a bandit.", King spoke to himself just before, all of a sudden, Past Ban spoke up behind Past Elaine.
"Should I do that, too?", Past Ban asked while snacking on the berries he brought along, which prompted the past Elaine to shout in embarrassment with red color on her face with King turning to see the person his sister introduced to him moments before.
"Whoa! So, this is Ban?! He really DOES look like a bandit!", he exclaimed at the human's eccentric choice of attire.
"You…you said you were going to go off to look for something to eat!", Past Elaine exclaimed.
"Yeah. I found a whole bunch of lingonberries right over there.", Past Ban said before finishing his snacks and readying his stance to take her eagerly.
"Now, let's get started.", Ban spoke.
"Don't you dare, you scoundrel!", King yelled in brotherly instinct as he tried to tackle Ban only to phase through him.
"Darn. I forgot this isn't real. Those are Elaine's memories.", King stated.
"Don't tease me like that!", Past Elaine told Past Ban, who stopped in response.
"Huh? I'm not kidding.", Past Ban responded, which didn't really improve King's opinion on this human that his sister thought highly of; at least, not yet.
"I haven't had what you call luck getting along with the other humans much, but you really listen to me. And you take me seriously.", Past Ban explained, making Past Elaine blush bashfully as King started to feel regret, even starting to go so far as to shed tears.
Play Star Wars Rebels Music: "Thrawn's Web"
"No... You can't… I'm flattered, but… I have to protect the Fountain of Youth, this forest is...", Past Elaine responded.
"And because of me, my sister was left all alone. And now, her only company was this human bandit of all people.", the Grizzly's Sin of Sloth spoke as he even clenched his fists in an upset manner after witnessing it.
"Hey. Don't worry. I've got that covered.", Past Ban declared, surprising the past Elaine and King.
"I can just go look for your brother and bring him back out here. You told me about him once. You remember that? You said he left hundreds of years ago. But if he shows up again, you'll be free and clear.", Past Ban assured.
King watched his sister hug the human with touching gratefulness and affection.
"So, I see. Ban was the one who changed your life, Elaine, despite his insufferable attitude I've witnessed. He must've be a remarkable human to you. But what about the destruction of our home? If it wasn't you, who could have done it?", King puzzled before, right on cue, the Red Demon appeared and crashed on top of the Sacred Tree, sending both the past Ban and the past Elaine flying, right before the Red Demon unleashed its Purgatory Fire from its mouth that burned down the Fairy King's Forest and killing everything in its path, the fairy king aghast with shock and horror as he gasped.
"Ban, easy!", Past Elaine urged as Past Ban coughed a little.
"What just happened…?", Past Ban groaned before gasping upon seeing a red demon laughing demonically.
"What the heck is that?!", Past Ban puzzled.
"A demon.", Past Elaine responded.
"A demon?", Past Ban puzzled.
"Nothing can burn the Demon King's Forest. But the flames of Purgatory… I always thought…the goddesses defeated them in the Holy War and locked them away.", Past Elaine spoke in response.
"Oh, no, no, no! It wasn't Elaine! I blamed the wrong culprit! How stupid of me! How stupid of me to believe the Holy Knights and their lies! It really was that red Demon!", he said with a look of anger and guilt at his previous actions.
"Is the Fountain of Youth okay?", Past Ban asked.
"Don't worry. I made sure.", Past Elaine assured.
"Good. Then, you grab it and get out of here.", Past Ban urged.
"Wait, you need to come with me! The demon hasn't noticed us yet. Let's go now.", Past Elaine urged in worry.
"Shhh. I'm gonna do a little surgery while its back is turned.", Past Ban spoke before he then got out his nunchucks just as the red demon then fired another blast of Purgatory flames.
"Now.", Past Ban spoke before lurching his nunchucks toward the red demon form the back and managed to grab a heart right out of its body.
"Hah. Just one shot.", Past Ban grinned only for the red demon to turn to see him, much to Past Elaine's worry and Past Ban's puzzlement.
"No, Ban, no! A demon has more than one…!", Past Elaine shouted before suddenly, the red demon fatally shot both Past Elaine and Past Ban down as while the former had a hole going right through her, the latter only had a deep scratch from down on the right shoulder, much to Ban's horror.
End Star Wars Rebels Music: "Thrawn's Web"
"ELAINE!", King yelled with tears and floated helplessly in this memory as he could only watch the red demon laugh before past Elaine weakly went over to past Ban.
"Ban… Here.. you must… drink… the water… Please, Ban…", Past Elaine spoke weakly before Past Ban grabbed the chalice only to offer it back to Past Elaine.
"No… You drink it… If anyone… and I mean anyone deserves to keep living…, it's you.", Past Ban spoke as Past Elaine sadly shook her head.
"It's all right… Besides…, I'm not really sure if I have the strength to drink from that water anymore…", Past Ban added before, shedding tears, Past Elaine then weakly went for the chalice and drank the water.
"it's better this way…", Past Ban spoke before suddenly, Past Ban grew surprised as he widened his eyes upon Past Elaine trying to give the water to Past Ban via kissing.
"Elaine… Stop…!", Past Ban spoke as the red demon approached and stomped on the ground, causing Elaine to drink the water herself instead by accident, making her gasp as she, herself, became immortal instead.
"NO! Ban, that was meant for you! Why has this happened to me?", Past Elaine spoke sadly before the red demon turned to her just as Past Elaine turned to it, livid in anger.
"YOU! You are going to pay for this…! So, now, let's see which one of us gets turned into MINCED MEAT FIRST!", Past Elaine shouted in anger as she drew out her scared treasure, Titania, jumped up and viciously attacked the red demon in a rage with a severe slash before blowing her fierce wind powers at where the slash happened to blow it into pieces, starting with its hands before its feet, and even its arms.
Eventually, Ban barely woke up to notice Elaine slashing at the red demon with vengeful abandon as she roared out, which was very rare.
"Who knew you were that cool…?", Past Ban groaned before closing his eyes again, but not before noticing a lone pink leaf with a seed on top of it as King looked in solemnness.
"Ban…", King spoke.
Later, Elaine emerged victorious in the battle of attrition as dark grey storm clouds gathered above the burnt tree, pouring down rain before Past Ban spoke to Past Elaine, who was sobbing for him.
"Take this. I noticed it just a few moments ago. It may be the last seed this forest had… Since the fountain of youth is gone, not to mention the whole forest, too, there's nothing keeping you from exploring anymore… Plus, you can start again with the forest…", Past Ban spoke.
"No, Ban! Exploring the world means nothing if I couldn't do it with you…! Stay with me, Ban…!", Past Elaine pleaded.
"I guess the forest… was right about you being the right one to guard it… as best you could…", Past Ban spoke.
"Don't say that, Ban…! Please, hang on! I was… happier than I've ever been… When you said you were going to take me away from this solitude…!", Past Elaine spoke sadly.
"It's up to you now… to plant it somewhere where it can grow.", Past Ban only responded while raising his arm.
"All right…, Ban…! Once I bring the forest back to life, I won't stop, nor will I rest until I…", Past Elaine began only for Past Ban to drop his arm, now limp before lightning struck and thunder rumbled as Past Elaine then sobbed again, her tear landing in his hand.
"Ban… You could've at least let me finish.", Past Elaine sobbed.
Later, Elaine was now wearing a black coat as she walked across the barren wasteland before she stopped with King noticing.
"This should be the spot. If there aren't any human settlements there, that means very few humans would come here.", Past Elaine spoke, reflecting back on Past Ban's dying words before looking back at the pink leaf and seed on top.
"It may be the last seed this forest had… Since the fountain of youth is gone, not to mention the whole forest, too, there's nothing keeping you from exploring anymore… Plus, you can start again with the forest…", Past Ban's words echoed.
"You were dying, Ban. Wasn't there any other dying wish you had for me?", Elaine spoke, saddened by his death, while crouching down before moving the ground away enough to form a hole and gently placing the leaf and seed inside.
"Please, work…", Past Elaine spoke fervently before pouring the remaining water from the chalice onto the leaf and seed, practically drowning them in it.
After a moment, the seed started to bloom into a tree in 5 seconds flat, amazing Past Elaine, as well as King, before it grew into a tree, soon set to blossom at a given time with Past Elaine shedding a happy tear.
"Thank you…, Ban.", Past Elaine spoke fervently with a smile.
Just then, returning back to the real world in the Capital of the Dead, King panted with tears remaining in his eyes before wiping them off.
"Elaine, I'm so sorry...", he said in sorrow and guilt at his sister.
"I know, Harlequin. I know it wasn't you there. You were given misinformation and controlled. It's those Holy Knights right?", the Fox's Sin of Greed reassured with a smile, glad that he snapped out of it before thinking to herself in anger.
"When I find out who did this to my brother, they're in a world of pain!", she thought in anger.
"Y-yeah, it was Gilthunder who approached me at the inn I stayed at for shelter... He told me that you were responsible behind our home's destruction. I was upset and didn't know what came over me. And then…", the Grizzly's Sin of Sloth responded in a hint of anger before Zarathos interrupted.
"Hold on. You said Gilthunder just now, didn't you?", Zarathos asked.
"Huh? Y-Yes. I did.", King responded.
"I thought so. Apparently, he wasn't the only one being forced into this.", Zarathos responded with a sigh.
"What?", King puzzled.
"Hold on. You mean someone was controlling this guy?", Ban puzzled.
"Yeah. And as far as I know now, the only question is… who?", Zarathos responded just before the Necropolis suddenly shook.
"Wait a minute. Was that a holy knight?", Elaine puzzled.
"Probably. I think we've kept them waiting long enough.", Meliodas guessed.
"Yeah. Let's get going.", Zarathos urged before Elizabeth nodded with the latter picking Meliodas up and heading over there with Zarathos getting there by speed and Elaine about to head there herself only for Ban to stop her as he spoke up.
"Hold up.", Ban spoke, puzzling her.
"Before you kids go, I gotta ask. Why did you get here, Elaine? How did you get here?", Ban asked.
"Because I've been thinking about you… And also because, I didn't get to finish what I was saying earlier. Once I bring the forest back to life, I won't stop, nor will I rest until I bring you back, too.", Elaine responded in determination before Ban gave a grin to her.
"Well, Elaine, go get 'em.", Ban grinned before Elaine went forward with Elaine looking back with a grin before heading off to help the others.
By the time she did, though, Meliodas was lifted up with Diane's help before diving toward Guila, who blocked Meliodas' broken sword with her rapier as Elizabeth's ark swords clashed with Gale's own weapon, her trusty blade, with Diane then grabbing Guila only for an explosion to start erupting, knocking Diane, Meliodas, Zarathos, and Elizabeth back with Gale barely able to get away before it could knock her back, too.
"You really need to try harder. With paltry attempts like that, you can't fight my magical ability called Explosion.", Guila discouraged before her rapier was suddenly veering away from the top toward the right, causing Guila to turn to notice Elaine.
Play Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle Music: "True Heroes" (LR Tapion & Minotia's Theme)
"No, but I can at least stop you.", Elaine responded.
"Elaine!", Meliodas shouted in response.
"Are we glad to see you.", Zarathos grinned.
"It's Elaine, the Fox sin. Would you kindly let go of my rapier?", Guila asked.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. And technically, I'm not even touching it.", Elaine responded, moving the rapier a bit closer, urging Guila to try and keep it from being stolen.
"Oh, I see. This is your magical ability. Snatch. Very well. I'll give you something more appropriate for a sneaky thief like yourself.", Guila spoke before then firing a fireball, which stopped very close to Elaine before exploding very close to Elaine, the explosion of which prompted Diane to shield herself.
When the smoke cleared, Elaine was battered, bruised, and bloodied (at least across her belly, chest, arm, and face with her clothes now torn off at the top part, especially with her left sleeve torn completely while her right is partially torn, exposing her chest, which, at this point, was child-sized as she is in her fairy form.
"I had heard you're indestructible. But that should keep even you out of the fight for a little while.", Guila stated before Meliodas tried to sweep kick guila, only for her to jump up and notice him.
"Now, now.", Guila spoke before blinding him with a smokescreen, allowing her to attack form behind, blasting Meliodas away with Diane ready to catch him.
"Captain!", Diane shouted.
"Even if your Full Counter can potentially guard against all my attacks and reflect them, it still doesn't pose a threat to me if you can't anticipate their direction and timing.", Guila stated in discouragement.
"That's right, laugh it up.", Zarathos growled in response.
"Are you all right, Captain?", Diane asked as Meliodas was now on top of Diane's right breast.
"Eh, more or less.", Meliodas responded.
"Then, hurry up and get down from there, will ya?", Zarathos asked as when Elaine recovered, the pain fading, she turned to notice Meliodas on top of Diane's right breast, which puzzled her momentarily as Guila spoke next.
"I admit I'm impressed. Your indestructibility is very nice indeed. It's a shame about your garments, though.", Guila spoke.
"What…? My garments…? What do you…?", Elaine began in puzzlement before she suddenly looked down and noticed what she was talking about: she was now bare at the top half with her left sleeve completely torn and the right sleeve half as torn.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?! Why does this always happen when I get into a fight, it's like you people want to see me naked! And if that's true, then all of you people really are the same! You all have sick, little minds!", Elaine squealed in embarrassment.
"Are you serious?! You think I wanted to see you like this?!", Zarathos reacted in response.
"Why don't you guys save the chatting for later, okay?", Diane suggested before Guila tensed slightly and set off another explosion with Diane blocking it with her body, shielding both Meliodas, Zarathos, Elizabeth, and Elaine as Gale was knocked bacl this time.
When the smoke cleared, Gale rose up and shouted.
"Would you mind letting me know when you're going to do that next time?!", Gale shouted.
"Noted.", Guila responded before noticing something quite rare for her case.
"And what do we have here? Even if my explosion wasn't full power, I'm impressed you didn't just go flying with the pressure wave. The strength of you giants is something to behold.", Guila grinned.
"Hey, guys. You okay?", Diane asked.
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Diane.", Meliodas responded.
"Yeah, thanks.", Elaine added.
"I'd have weathered through that explosion myself, but yeah. Thanks.", Zarathos responded.
"This ends now!", Elizabeth urged.
"This is the legendary order?", Guila puzzled before Elaine, Zarathos, Meliodas, and Elizabeth all dove in toward Guila, who only forced Elaine back with a flame wave and knocked the two brothers back by blinding them with smoke and kicking them back while clashing blades with Elizabeth only for the latter to get forced back before piercing he rapier right through Elaine's neck, making Gale gasp in slight horror as it was dishonorable in her book.
"In the end, I suppose legends are mere fantasy, anyway.", Guila commented before Elaine was suddenly pierced through her back, which knocked Guila away.
"Guila!", Gale shouted before she went over to her just as Elaine turned to notice King on the other side.
"Hello, Elaine. Sorry for stabbing you in the back like this. Literally.", King apologized.
"Brother…", Elaine spoke in surprise before King glared at Guila and Gale.
"Get the heck away from my sister…!", King warned in a calm, yet, hushed and angered tone.
Then, it showed another flashback of Elaine's, this time, showing Elaine in a sort of court.
"The criminal alias is…Elaine the Fairy Princess. For your own selfish need to escape the responsibility of guarding the forest, which was affiliated with the kingdom, you've condemned it to destruction and drank the fountain of youth. Those are the worst kinds of sin, only worthy of death. Therefore, you are guilty! Any last words before your death sentence?", the judge asked.
"If I do have one request, you at least need to get one name right. As of now, my name is Elaine the Undead Fairy.", Elaine responded.
A/N: And it looks like the flashbacks from Bandit Ban stops there, but the adventure in the Necropolis is just beginning. Now, what do you suppose would (or should) happen differently in the next chapter? You can discuss that in your reviews if you want. :) Until next time.