~(Not far from the Boar's Hat)~

"Whoa, you were right, Zinnia-chan. That didn't take… Pugo?"

Hawk had appeared from the shadow of a tree, and the tavern was just a little ways up the hill. He had only seen darkness for a moment, and then he was here. But, when he looked back, no one else was there. Except…

Darkness peeled away from the tree's shadow, taking the form of a fox. As soon as the form was complete, though, it slumped to the ground. Zephyranthes' eyes were slit in pain, and he was breathing heavily.

"Where is everyone?" Hawk hesitantly approached Zephyr. "... Are you okay?"

Does it look like I'm okay? Zephyr growled. He slowly pushed himself into a standing position and looked around. It appears that I failed to get everyone here… And I reopened my wounds, to boot. This is not good. I didn't think that my injuries would affect me so much. Suddenly realizing who had asked the question, the fox shade sighed. Why'd she have to send you through first? I could've dealt with Elizabeth-san, but you...

"Why do I feel like you just insulted me?" Hawk was unable to hear Zephyr's words. A suspicious look suddenly crossed the pig's face. "You separated us on purpose, didn't you?! So that Elizabeth-chan would have no one to protect her!"

Of course not! Why would I ever do that? Anyways, Zinnia's there, who could protect Elizabeth far better than you, anyways. Zephyr glanced around again and sniffed the air. We need to get back, or at least I do. I can't help feeling something bad is going to happen. We need to find Meliodas-sama and Harlequin-sama and tell them that I'm currently unable to bring anyone back here.

"I need to find Meliodas!" Hawk was saying, unaware that his companion was speaking. "He needs to know that you two can't be trusted…"

What?! Didn't you hear- Remembering that the pig couldn't hear him, Zephyr twitched his tail. Tch. Dammit! I'll have to do it myself. He tried to dive back into the shadows, but pain shot through his body, so he rested his paws on the ground again, only to see that Hawk was in the middle of running back towards the town. The pig was already halfway there, it seemed. It's been awhile since I've actually run anywhere. Zephyr spoke to himself as he stretched each leg in turn and began to limp slightly in his attempt to swiftly follow the path the pig had taken. Wait for me, Zinnia. I'll find you, and I'll bring help.

"You seem to be doing well, Ellie. But knowing you, I never doubted you'd be able to take care of yourself."

"Veronica-nee-sama…"

"Did you really think that's all I'd say to you, Ellie, you idiot!" Elizabeth's sister was standing over the poor girl who was now cringing in the one chair in the center of the room. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been since you snuck out by yourself?!"

Just then Griamore suddenly opened the door to check if everything was fine, but he soon returned to his post after being reassured. Elizabeth and Veronica continued to bicker back and forth, but I started to zone out the words, as they didn't seem to be getting anywhere.

Currently I was tied up and sitting on the only bed in the room. This wouldn't have upset me so much had they been more careful with my wings, which were now strapped tightly and painfully to my back. I didn't dare lie against the wall or bed. I was actually kind of surprised that they didn't do more to restrain me - I was a fairy after all. Restraining my wings wouldn't stop me from flying. Not that it mattered…

Even if I did do something, it would probably fail, as was showcased brilliantly last time I tried to help. All I seemed to do was drag Elizabeth and the others down. They were constantly having to look after me and take care of me, and the one time I had tried to repay them, I had failed miserably. Now we were separated from the group, and none of them knew where we were. Heck, not even Hawk knew, as he seemed to have managed to get through the portal that Zephyr had made. And Zephyr… my best friend was gone without a trace, and it was all my fault.

I had just been a burden since we found Elizabeth's wanted poster - wait, no - ever since Diane found me. And why was there a wanted poster for Elizabeth, anyways? Why were any of them wanted? I should have probably asked that before all of this started, back when I first pointed out the posters at the bar. I doubted that they would've told me, though. Was I going to end up as a criminal for this? Scratch that - I'd probably counted as one as soon as I started running earlier.

Well, my life was now officially screwed. I was now going to be lumped in with a group of criminals. Not that my life wasn't messed up before.

I sighed dejectedly and allowed myself to tilt over and fall onto my side.

"Tell me where the Seven Deadly Sins are! Then we'll take it from there."

Elizabeth remained silent to Veronica's commands and tilted her head away. Sweat dripped down her brow.

"I see how it is. So you're not going to talk, huh? Then why don't I ask your friend over here?"

Hm? She's talking about me? I glanced up, my despair sharpening to annoyance at its interruption. Maybe I shouldn't have laid down on my side. It wasn't a very dignified position to speak from, but I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me sit back up just to speak to her.

The sound of light taps on the floor signalled her approach, and I looked up into her face to see that she was glaring at me. "So, fairy? Where are your companions, the Seven Deadly Sins?"

I contemplated telling her that I'd give her the information if she loosened the painful ropes across my wings, but seeing Elizabeth's resolve hardened my own. "You really think I'm gonna tell you when Elizabeth-san didn't? Ha! And I don't know what you think that the Seven Deadly Sins did to deserve all this, but whatever it was, I'm sure they didn't do it. They don't seem like the criminal type." Well, I could imagine Ban doing something, but never enough to be hunted down like this. I'm sure that my face being pressed against the cushion of the bed didn't exactly help me look confident, but I didn't care.

"How dare you show so little respect for Ellie - she is the third princess of this country!" Veronica exclaimed haughtily. Wait, she's a princess? I guess that makes sense, considering some of the comments that have been made… But that means that Veronica is a princess too! Oops… "And I don't know how you don't know what they've done, but let me enlighten you: ten years ago they tried to overthrow the kingdom. They killed hundreds of Holy Knights in the process!"

I doubt that. I held my words back and glared back at the princess.

She continued to look at me intently, as though that would somehow make me speak. Eventually she sighed, though. "Hmph. Fine, don't talk." She started walking towards the door. "Then I can't very well let either of you out of here."

Elizabeth suddenly stood and took an uncertain step towards her sister. "Veronica-nee-sama!"

The elder princess paused for a moment before twisting on her heel and reapproaching Elizabeth. She then lightly placed a necklace around the younger sister's neck. It appeared to be mainly made up of a chain and a large purple crystal. Her voice softened. "Take this. Father gave it to me to give to you. He says it's a present to protect you from evil."

"Is Father safe?!"

"Of course. Now stay here and behave yourself." Veronica turned back towards the door and exited. "Griamore! Watch over Elizabeth inside, and don't let that fairy try anything!"

"But I'm supposed to attend to you-"

"I'll be fine. I'm going to lie down." The door shut behind her after the holy knight stepped into the room. Soft steps could be heard, slowly getting quieter as they traveled down the hallway outside of the room.

Griamore took up a post near the center of the room, right next to the table. He was in between Elizabeth and I, and was watching out the window as though to keep an eye out for intruders.

Tired of seeing everything sideways, I started fighting with my ropes in an attempt to sit up. Wait… I levitated myself into a sitting position, mentally facepalming.

"Sooo…" I started. Griamore glanced over for a moment, but he must have decided that I wasn't worth his time and faced the window again. "Elizabeth-sama, huh? You're a princess? No one ever told me."

"Oh, yeah…" She scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "I guess that everyone kind of just forgot. B-but you don't need to be so formal! In fact, you can just call me Elizabeth." She smiled. "We're friends, after all, right?"

"I'd like to think so, Elizabeth." I returned the smile. "I guess that you can call me Zinnia, then."

"Also, I never got a chance to say it, Zinnia, but earlier when we got captured, that was the first time that I got to see more than just the tips of your wings. They were really pretty! I've never seen a fairy's wings before. Are all fairies' wings that big?"

I glanced at the foot of the bed, where the cloak that usually hid my wings lay in and untidy wad. "Ummm… thank you. No, they don't, actually." What's with this small talk? Well, I guess that it might take awhile for anyone to find us, so what's the harm?