Chapter 10: Baste Prison
It was quite a shock for Hadrian and Diane when seeing that the Boar Hat Tavern was on top of a giant green pig. Several hours later the two Sins find themselves talking while Hadrian sat on Diane's shoulder while she walks beside the pig.
"You have certainly grown Harry" Diane says amazed as she looks at the young boy who now looks like a teenager
"And you haven't" Hadrian retorts
"Yeah I didn't, but look at the wanted picture, I look so pretty" Diane squeals showing Hadrian the wanted poster
"You do, I won't lie when I saw the wanted poster of you I thought you became even more beautiful" Hadrian compliments
Diane blushes and smiles at Hadrian
"I guess now that you're older you became a bit of a flirt" Diane comments
"The amount of pick up lines I've gotten is ridiculous" Hadrian laughs
"Were you picking up girls during these 10 years?" Diane teases
"Actually I was being hit on by a lot of girls" Hadrian answers
"I can see, so what do you plan on doing once we save Liones from the Holy Knights rein?" Diane asks curious
"Don't know, I spent 9 years by myself and the other 1 year with the Druids but maybe I'll stick around if the Sins still feel like home" Hadrian shrugs
"You don't think it will?" Diane asks confused
"It took us a long time to get coordinated for all we know it might take a long time again" Hadrian replies
Diane hums in thought, understanding where Hadrian was coming from.
"Sir Hadrian! Lady Diane! Sir Meliodas is hurt!" Elizabeth calls out in fear
Both Sins look at each other and Hadrian jumps off Diane's shoulder and runs inside to see Meliodas.
At a town near Baste Prison everyone finds themselves watching Meliodas as he's being treated by a doctor
"How is he Doctor?" Hawk asks worried
"He should make a recovery soon" the Doctor answers
"Diane we should go get Ban while Meliodas makes his recovery" Hadrian says to Diane
"Yeah" Diane says halfheartedly
"Diane? Are you ok?" Hadrian asks worried
"Yeah I am. I think I am" Diane says with a far away expression
"Do you want to talk about it?" Elizabeth asks worried
"It's just. I can't help the captain, you can but I'm too large to help. I feel useless" Diane says saddened
"Diane. I cant do shit and look how small I am, size doesn't determine who you are and what you can do. It also doesn't change the love we can feel for others, or the compassion for our friends, it is just that. Merely size" Hadrain says, rubbing Diane's cheek with his hand, despite how small his hand is compared to Diane.
"Thanks Harry, I guess with time you grew in more than just age" Diane says with a small smile
"That's the spirit, now lets go free Ban" Hadrian says enthusiastically
Diane nods and stands up with Hadrian still on her shoulder.
"What's that?" Hawk asks upon seeing a swarm of creatures in the air heading towards the town
"The hell is that?" Hadrian asks, tilting his head.
As the creatures got closer Diane squeals in fear
Had to be bugs Hadrian sighed annoyed
Soon the bugs began to spit out odd liquid which ended up damaging whatever it touches
Are you fucking kidding me? Acid of all things! Hadrian thought angrily.
Looking around Hadrian sees that the bugs were everywhere and attacking innocent people
"Diane!" Hadrian calls out to Diane who is on her knees afraid of the bugs surrounding her
"No! I hate bugs!" Diane squeals in fear
"Diane, I need you to destroy these bugs with Creation!" Hadrian yells out
"I hate bugs!" Diane screams out
"Diane I need you to do it, if I focus on taking as many as possible out then I'll end up destroying this entire place, I'm either too destructive or too precise to make any helpful progress, only you can do it!" Hadrian explains to Diane
Diane hears it and puts her hand in the ground before raising it back up.
"Earth Pillars!" Diane yells and soon pillars shoot out of the ground killing all the bugs in the process
"Haha nice one Diane!" Hadrian laughs happily
Diane blushes at the compliment and turns to Elizabeth
"I need you to protect the captain, I can't help him but I can fight" Diane says before walking towards Baste Prison
"Not without me" Hadrian states jumping on Diane's shoulder
"Since when did you start using me as transport?" Diane asks cheekily
"Since we found you again, and when I was able to jump 30 feet in the air" Hadrian answers
"I am 29 feet thank you" Diane informed Hadrian
Hadrian shrugged as Diane walked towards Baste Prison.
While Hadrian sits on Diane he hears a ringing sound, and Hadrian's eyes began to glow red slightly
"Odd, did you hear that?" Hadrian asks Diane
Diane stops and remains still
"Diane? Are you there?" Hadrian asks worried
Diane merely stands there, her eyes slightly foggy
"Diane, hello!? Are you there!?" Hadrian calls out waving his hand in front of her eyes
Just then another ringing is heard and Hadrian's eyes glowed a little bit more
What the hell is that ringing? Now that I think about it I also feel a little stronger Hadrian thought confused
"What did you do to Hadrian!?" Diane demands looking at Hadrian
"Excuse me, it's me Diane. Are you ok?" Hadrian asks confused
Diane doesn't answer and hits Hadrian off her shoulder sending him crashing into the ground
"What the hell?" Hadrian says confused pulling himself up and looking at Diane confused
"You think you can taunt me Holy Knight!?" Diane demands angrily
"What the fuck is going on!?" Hadrian exclaims annoyed dodging Diane who is attempting to stomp him.
Diane continues her attempt to hurt Hadrian while he continues to dodge her attacks
This is odd, ok think. I heard that weird ringing and her eyes got foggy and I felt slightly stronger. Could it be mind control? Hadrian wondered
Hadrian then gets punched while in the air sending him flying back smashing through the ground.
"Damn, I should really pay more attention," Hadrian sighed, pulling himself out of the crater with no scratches on him.
"Sir Hadrian!" Hadrian hears Elizabeth call out
Looking in the direction of Elizabeth's voice Hadrian sees Hawk, along with Elizabeth walking beside Meliodas who seems to be completely healed.
"Lady Diane!" Elizabeth calls out
Diane looks at everyone oddly before that fogginess in her eyes disappeared
"Hadrian? Elizabeth? Captain? Where's the Holy Knight?" Diane asks confused
"Holy Knight?" Meliodas asks looking around
"Sorry to break it to you Diane but you were hitting me" Hadrian informs Diane
"You? No it was a Holy Knight" Diane says confused
Just then ringing is heard once more and Diane and Meliodas' eyes go foggy and Hadrian feels stronger again
For fucks sake! Hadrian thought angrily
"Where are my friends, Holy Knight!?" Diane and Meliodas demand looking at each other
"For fucks sake!" Hadrian exclaims angrily
Meliodas and Diane then start fighting each other with everything they had
"Move you two, now!" Hadrian roared grabbing Hawk and Elizabeth getting them away from the Sins
"What's with those two?" Hawk demands confused
"They are under some illusion that's making them think that the other is a Holy Knight" Hadrian states annoyed
"But why aren't you affected, Sir Hadrian?" Elizabeth asks confused
"Because of my magical power, now let's find the person responsible for this and save those two from themselves" Hadrian states, getting the two out of harm's way.
"Sir Hadrian, look!" Elizabeth calls out and soon Hadrian sees an adult and a kid with an odd staff running away from the destruction
"Alright, lets go help them and find the person responsible" Hadrian states
Hadrian then runs towards the two
"Come on, let's get you out of harm's way" Hadrian says
"Oh thank you, kind sir" The man says grateful, while the child just looks around fearfully.
"Hey come on, we'll get you somewhere safe" Elizabeth says softly to the small child.
Getting everyone out of harms way Hadrian hears a ringing from the child's staff
It can't be, could it? Hadrian thought, narrowing his eyes at the bell on the child's staff.
"Focus Shot" Hadrian whispers, shooting a small black dot from his fingers which hit the bell, destroying it in the process without a sound.
"What's going on?" Hadrian hears Meliodas and Diane say confused
That's when Hadrian noticed the kids face changing from shock and confusion to anger and frustration when seeing the destroyed bell.
Soon the child began to grow and morph into a man with armour
"A Holy Knight, I should have guessed you would have used such pathetic tactics" Hadrian spat angrily
"So you are the Sin of Imitation, I must say that you are younger than the wanted posters show" the Holy Knight comments looking at Hadrian
"I am, but to take us on the way you did was cowardly" Hadrian states
"You think I am stupid enough to fight 3 Sins head on? Hehe" the Holy Knight says before charging towards Hadrian
"He who strikes first wins" the Holy Knight yells hitting Hadrian in the head with the staff.
"I-Impossible" the Holy Knight protests in fear as the top part of his staff snaps off and flies off in the distance while Hadrian remains unfazed
"End this now Holy Knight, you still have the chance to leave this place with your life" Hadrian warns
"Why would you spare me? What makes you think I would trust you after you all killed the Grand Holy Knight?" the Holy Knight demands angrily
Hadrian sighs saddened as a single tear falls down his face shocking the Holy Knight
"Zaratras. He-He was like the father of the Deadly Sins, when we did something wrong he would scold us before we all had a laugh and enjoyed our day" Hadrian chuckles saddened
The Holy Knight stares at Hadrian with disbelief
"And you?" The Holy Knight asks
"He-He was the closest thing I had to a father. We were just returning from our mission and we found Zaratras dead" Hadrian says as tears begin to fall down his face.
Hadrian then hears footsteps before he feels a hand on his shoulder, turning Hadrian sees Meliodas giving him a sad smile.
"We promised we will find the person who murdered Zaratras, it hasn't changed" Meliodas reassures Hadrian
"Thank you Meliodas" Hadrian says before looking at the Holy Knight "Holy Knight, you may not trust us but if we intended to invade Liones then we would have done so years ago" Hadrian says walking away with Meliodas following behind him.
The Holy Knight on the other hand stood there shocked and confused
Were they framed this entire time? The Holy Knight Ruin thought shocked
"Ruin, are you ok?" A female Holy Knight with pink armour asks worried
"Yeah, I-I think the Eight Deadly Sins were framed" Ruin informs his comrade
"What makes you think that?" The female Holy Knight asks confused
"Hadrian. He-He told me about the relationship between the Sins and the Grand Holy Knight Zaratras" Ruin explains
"He must have been lying to you" The female Holy Knight stated
"He was crying, Zaratras was the closest thing that the Sin of Imitation had as a father and he was crying over his death. After ten years. I think there is more to this than merely the Sins being framed" Ruin sighs shaking his head.
"So why are we here?" Hadrian asks confused as Meliodas, Elizabeth and Hawk look through cells
"Why do you mean?" Diane asks confused
"Aren't we supposed to be looking in the more secure part of the Prison then this part, look there's no security and it would be impossible to hold Ban in these shitty cells" Hadrian says.
Showing his point Hadrian flicks one of the cell bars which causes it to snap and be launched across the cell.
"Yeah, he has a point, why are we here?" Diane asks the three confused
"Here she is" Elizabeth says gesturing to the cell
"I don't think Ban is a she, did Merlin do something to him during those 10 years?" Hadrian asks curious
Diane snorts and shakes her head amused by Hadrian's question.
Soon Diane and Hadrian learned of the doctor's attempted poisoning and that he was doing it to protect his daughter who was being held captive by the Holy Knights.
"So now we look for Ban" Hadrian says smiling
Soon the group heard footsteps echoing through the hall. Turning to the direction of the footsteps everyone sees Ban step out of the shadows with only pants on.
"It's been a long time. Captain" Ban says, staring at Meliodas.
Soon both Meliodas and Ban stare at each other with anger in their eyes
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asks worried
"I think you two should get behind me" Diane informs both Hawk and Elizabeth
"Eh? What's going on?" Hawk asks worried
Meliodas and Ban continue to stare at each other not making any moves scaring Elizabeth and Hawk
"I don't like this atmosphere" Hawk says worried with Elizabeth agreeing with him.
"Ban!" Meliodas exclaims happily raising his arms high into the sky
"Captain!" Ban excalism happily and soon they both run to each other and begin to high five each other repeteadly
"What's going on? It looks like a game of Patty Cake gone wrong" Hawk says confused
"Captain!" Ban says before hitting Meliodas sending him smashing through multiple walls
"Hehe, do me, do me" Ban says happily and Meliodas charges forward head butting Ban sending him through multiple walls.
"Haha, looks like you still got it" Meliodas says happily as Ban picks himself up
"You too" Ban says and soon both get on the ground and lock their hands together
"Ready?"
"Go!" Meliodas and Ban began to arm wrestle causing the entire area to shake with their strength
"What is going on?" Elizabeth asks worried
"Yeah, what the hell!?" Hawk exclaims confused
"Those two have been like that for as long as I can remember" Diane says smiling
"Hehe, I don't think there hasn't been a time their not like this" Hadrian teased
The ground then breaks causing everyone to fall
"Wah!" Elizabeth and Hawk scream in fear while Diane gushes over how Meliodas looks while Hadrian remains unfazed as he falls along with everyone else.
Outside an army of Holy Knights stare in horror as Baste Prison collapses completely
"The Sins, just how powerful are they?" An Apprentice Holy Knight asks horrified
"We need to make a tactical retreat" A Holy Knight says before disappearing
"What? Don't leave me here!" The Apprentice Holy Knight demanded before running away from the destruction.
Later that day the Sins are celebrating the return of another member while the doctor and his daughter were providing the food as thanks.
"Look at you Hadrian, you have grown so much" Ban says hugging Hadrian
"Stop hugging me, you pin cushion!" Hadrian demanded
"No!" Ban refused still holding Hadrian
Hadrian growled and hit Ban in the chin causing his head to explode scaring the doctor and the daughter.
"What was that for!?" Ban exclaims his head completely healed shocking the doctor and his daughter further
"You wouldn't let go," Hadrian replied, drinking his Ale.
"That's not nice" Ban pouts his face red from the Ale
"Whatever" Hadrian shrugs
"And who are you?" Ban asks looking at Elizabeth
"Oh, I'm Princess Elizabeth, Sir Ban" Elizabeth says bowing her head
"Sir? I ain't no sir, just call me Ban" Ban says chuckling
"So it looks like its just the 5 of us against the Holy Knights right now" Ban says looking at Hadrian, Meliodas, Elizabeth and Diane who is standing beside the building with a giant mug of Ale
"Uhm, there are 6 of us" Hawk says confusing Ban
"Uhm, Captain you might need to learn how to count there are 5 of us" Ban says looking at Meliodas who is looking confused because of what Ban said
"Uhm, there are 6 of us, do you need to get your eyes checked?" Hawk asks worried
"Uh, who said that?" Ban asks looking around confused
"Down here" Hawk says and Ban looks down and his eyes widen in shock
"There's a talking pig here!" Ban yells before jumping back "Whoa man, talking pigs is way to much for me to handle" Ban says shocked
"I am no ordinary pig, I am Hawk the captain of the order of scraps disposal" Hawk says proudly
"Whoa I haven't even heard of that order" Ban says amazed
Even after all these years he's as bad as I was when I was 6 Hadrian groaned annoyed
"Yes, bow before me" Hawk says proudly.
"Whoa, look at that" Elizabeth says and we all look up to see shooting stars flying across the sky forming and X.
"It's so beautiful" Diane says amazed
"It is, it is so cool" Elizabeth says awed by the view.
Now that's something you see in only a single lifetime. If your lucky Hadrian thought with a smile as he stared at the sky.
In the Boar Hat tavern the Sins minus Diane who is outside walking beside Hawk's mum is talking about there next plan
"So King's dead huh?" Ban says saddened
"That's what I was told" Meliodas answers
Hadrian sighs trying to hold back tears at the thought of one of the people who helped him grow to be who he is being dead.
"I'll be outside talking to Diane, I'm sure she would like some company" Hadrian says before walking outside
"What's with him?" Hawk asks confused at Hadrian's behavior
"The Sins was the first place he actually felt at home and I'm certain he sees all the Sins as family, so the thought of one of us being dead must hurt him badly" Meliodas explains feeling sorry for Hadrian
"What do you mean the first place he felt at home? What about his parents?" Hawk asks confused
Ban sighs as he thought about the day that Hadrian opened up to him.
"His parents neglected him because his twin was famous" Ban says shocking everyone who heard it
"Why would his parents neglect him?" Elizabeth asks horrified at the mere thought of being neglected
"When he was younger his twin became famous so his parents didn't value him as much as his twin so it lead to Hadrian running away and this to Hadrian meeting the Captain where it then lead to him being a member of the Sins, the first home he ever had" Ban explains
"And he lost that home for a whole 10 years" Hawk says making Ban's eyes go wide with shock
He spent 10 years without a home. A whole 10 years. The only home he ever had was gone and he couldn't get it back for so long. Ban thought, trying his best not to cry at the thought of a young Hadrian all alone and scared with no one to turn to for help.
"That must have been awful for him" Elizabeth says saddened
"Yeah, I guess when we split up we never thought of how Hadrian would feel" Meliodas says
"That actually might explain his slightly more aggressive behavior" Ban says remembering Hadrian punching him for not letting go of him.
Could it be that it got so bad that minor acts of affection make him uncomfortable now? Ban thought worried.
Once reaching the nearby town Meliodas clapped excitedly
"Alright everyone, I want you to gather some Intel on King while we're here. Diane i want you to attract the customers by being the Jumbo Billboard Girl" Meliodas orders
"Me!?" Diane asks excitedly with stars in her eyes
"Yep, Ban I want you to cook the food" Meliodas says turning to Ban only to see he disappeared
"How dare he? He should be working" Meliodas pouts with his goofy face.
"Hadrian?" Meliodas says turning to Hadrian only to see he was missing
"Hadrian too!? What is with them?" Meliodas asks, annoyed.
"I'm certain they will be back, they might be looking for some Intel" Elizabeth says smiling at Meliodas
"You know how to make me feel better" Meliodas says happily with his head under Elizabeth's skirt
"Uhm, sir Meliodas" Elizabeth says red faced
"Captain!" Diane yells angrily with jealousy mixed into it.
Walking around the town Ban looks at the area shaking his head
Stupid Captain, there's no one here Ban thought
As he walks a loud thud grabs his attention
Turning to the direction Ban's eyes widen when seeing a young girl with blonde hair on the ground
It can't be. Elaine? Ban thought rushing towards the child.
Sitting the child up Ban gets a closer look at the young girl
It's not her, hair is darker and she doesn't have the same features. Why would I ever be stupid enough to think she would come back Ban says slightly saddened
"Hey what are you doing to my little sister!?" A boy demands exiting from a house nearby with a pitch fork
"If she's your little sister then you should take better care of her" Ban states
"Get away from her" The boy demands with the pitchfork still pointed at Ban
"She could get hurt if you leave her unsupervised like this. Do I have to take her?" Ban asks, narrowing his eyes.
The boy gets angry and charges at Ban stabbing him with the pitch fork.
The little girl wakes up and sees her brother getting angry at Ban
"No brother he was only trying to help me" The little girl pleads horrified
"I'm so sorry, how can I atone for my Sin" The boy asks upset
"Sin? What Sin?" Ban asks confused
"I stabbed you" The boy says, before he was shocked when seeing all the wounds on Ban's body were gone.
"That wasn't a Sin, true Sins cannot be atoned for" Ban says.
Ban feels something pierce his chest and blood floods out of his mouth scaring the children stiff
"I'm glad you learned that Ban" A young boy says sitting on top of a spear that pierced Ban's body
"Wait? Who are you?" Ban asks unfazed by the spear in his chest
"You really don't remember me? Then perhaps i need to remind you" The boy says and the spear begins to spin and shoot through Ban's chest making a child hole.
The spear then flies into the air and the child stands in the tip of the blade
"If you don't remember me then maybe you will remember this move. Bumblebee" The boy says and the spear charges at Ban.
Ban quickly dodges the flying spear before it hits him in the face, sending him crashing through a nearby wall.
Ban then appears behind the boy hitting him in the back sending him flying forward. The boy then flies upwards and Ban raises his hand directly at the boy
"I'm not going to say this again. Who the hell are you?" Ban asks annoyed
Just then a smack was heard and Ban was hit in the head with a mug
"Bad Ban" Meliodas scolds
"Uhm, Captain butt out" Ban says annoyed
"You shouldn't be ditching work just to fight some kid" Meliodas scolds
"What's going on here?" Diane asks walking towards the pair
"This damn kid just started attacking me!" Ban states angrily
"Kid?" Diane says getting a closer look at the kid who was floating in the air with the spear beside him
"King!" Meliodas and Diane say in shock and happiness
"That's King!? That can't be him!" Ban yells in denial
"I guess he did lose a little weight" Meliodas says getting a close look at King
"A little weight!? He looks like a completely different person!" Ban yells
"Oh it's so good to see you King, now you can join up with the Sins again" Diane says happily.
King looks at Diane before flying off.
"Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!" King yells smashing his head on a rock
"Why did I just leave? Diane probably thinks I don't like her. But she still looks as beautiful as before. Hmm now that I think about it the Captain still looks the same as he did 10 years ago. Ban, I will make you regret for what you did that day. I will protect Diane and Captain from you" King says, filled with determination.
Just then King heard footsteps nearby
"Who are you?" King asks, looking at a young man who seems to be 16 with black hair and green eyes.
"Hadrian, you?" Hadrian asks curious
Hadrian!? It can't be little Harry!? But it has been 10 years. But why does he look like he's 16!? King thought internally screaming with confusion
"Uhm, I'm Harlequin" King answers
"Nice to meet you Harlequin" Hadrian says with a smile
It is him! That's the same smile he gave us when he was younger. King tried not to cry out of happiness.
"What are you doing here, Hadrian?" King asks curious
"Not much, just wandering around" Hadrian shrugged
"Look Hadrian. It's me. King" King says shocking Hadrian
"Your King? You can't be" Hadrian says shocked
"It is. Ask me something only the two of us know" King asks
"When we went to the Royal Garden what did you say when you saw one of our Sins, you know who I'm referring to" Hadrian asks and King
Immediately blushes from embarrassment
Of all the things he had to remember! King internally screamed from embarrassment
"I said I wanted to marry Diane" King says completely red faced
"It is you!" Hadrian yelled out happily "It's so good to see you again King" Hadrian says happily
"It's good to see you again as well Harry, you have grown" King says teary eyed as he looks at the young boy that was part of the Sins
He changed so much. We didn't even get to see him during his teens. King thought upset.
Omake
"Hey Hadrian" King greets with a smile
"Hey King what's up?" Hadrian asks curious
"Not much, have you seen Diane anywhere?" King asks looking around
"She was outside, but be careful her legs a bit funny" Hadrian says walking off
Odd why would she be walking funny? King thought confused before walking outside
"Hey Diane!" King calls out, Diane who is human sized turns around and smiles when seeing King
"What's going on King?" Diane asks curious
"Not much, just wanted to come and say hi" King says chuckling nervously
"Oh that's nice of you" Diane says happy
"Yeah, Hadrian said that you were out here, but he also told me you were walking weirdly. Did something happen?" King asks worried
Diane chuckles slightly nervous
Damn you Harry! It's not my fault you're too big! Diane thought angry at Hadrian
"Not much, just had an accident that's all" Diane shrugs
"Fair enough, so is there anything you're doing later today?" King asks
"Yeah, I'm going to go see Harry and catch up with him" Diane answers
"Oh, I see. I hope you enjoy your day with Harry" King says with a smile before heading back inside
At least it's not someone I have to worry about, after all Harry was the little boy of the Sins so I'm certain Diane isn't doing anything like that King thought unaware of the relationship between the Phoenix and Serpent Sins.
Harry, I am so getting back at you for that one Diane thought as she went inside with an odd white liquid dripping down her leg.