A/N: Hey I'm finally back with a new addition! You'd think it'd be quick to write stuff like this...Ha if only! Anyway this time I tried my hand at a fairy tale like style. It was pretty nice to write a little story filled with symbolism and such, taking a simplified plot into a more complex and descriptive one. I may have also taken inspiration from little fables and stuff :P
Also any prompts or suggestions are welcome, I have a very long list to fill after all. There's a bunch of empty slots! But I'll just stop this pointless author's note and let you guys read now. *Nervous chuckles*
Till next time,
D.L.D
Once Upon a time...
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a big and scary dragon. He was cruel and callous, everyone within the realm fearing his fiery breath and unchecked wrath.
Prince Meliodas stormed through the castle halls, his pinched expression and large scowl betraying his bitter mood. Blonde brows were knitted, his dark eyes narrowed into a murderous glare. He had just received some news that had made his bleak existence all the more horrible, the usually unfeeling and cold demon now falling into a dangerous and murky wrath. A wrath that had forever been unchecked since the death of his mother, his father being the type of man to encourage these fiery tempers instead of douse them with the water of scolding.
So they only grew with age.
Darkness radiated from Meliodas' form, its tendrils spreading and raring to cause terror and chaos as the spiraling mark above his brow only seemed to grow. Staff scurried out of the way, many of them discarding whatever they were carrying to avoid the blonde's warpath. They all feared crossing him like this after all. No-one could go against it. No-one could even try. Therefore they all vacated the area, watching from the shadows as the leading Commandment charged towards the throne room, the only place he could go after receiving such awful news he wanted to contest against. To do that Meliodas had to go right to the very person who was one of the few to ever strike him down.
No-one could ever rival his father, the Demon King. As much as Meliodas himself was certain of his power, he knew he was still rather far away from being greater than his old man. But even so that didn't mean fury couldn't cloud his judgement, this news being something the prince could not just let slide. It was far too much to ask of him. No it wasn't just that, it went against everything he was taught to do from as long as he could remember.
So Meliodas had to do something about it. Even if he wasn't fully ready yet, he would try.
Unlike previous times, the enraged prince was prepared, lessons from his tutor swirling around like a dangerous kindling to his already blazing wrath. In his hand was a sword, specially designed and built to suit his unique and innate abilities. It was rather large and heavy, which the prince found odd since he thought speed was his best asset. Yet even so the broadsword didn't really hinder him. Despite being extremely heavy and large, Meliodas found it to be rather light to carry and so he didn't lose much speed. Plus it was a rare gift from the Demon King, the crafty devil most likely getting it with the intent of looping Meliodas into the stupid war with the goddesses. Of course at first the blonde prince was ecstatic with the gift, instantly taking it out for a swing and coming back with the best hunt he'd done in a while. For a time it was the light of his life. It was why Meliodas agreed to the war.
But now war and violence had become boring and tasteless to the heir.
All war was to him was what breathing was. Nothing really sparked a visceral reaction anymore, not even the desperate pleas of the enemy as he struck them down. All Meliodas was, was an empty shell. Grief, sadness, guilt, even happiness and anguish were lacking; he felt nothing. Meliodas couldn't count the number of times he'd tried to get a reaction from it all. How he'd try to see if anything would make him tick in any other way than pure, blind fury.
Hacking, killing, doing things that would even the most wicked of fiends would stray from had been attempted. However nothing ever worked permanently.
At a time hunting had worked. It brought off all the tension and frustration, liberated him and gave the blonde a sense of control. He would relish in the chaos and disorder he caused, taking pride in the bountiful goods he would bring back.
But soon the ruthless killing for sport became dull and obsolete, the young prince moving to something else. This something else was becoming the general of his father's most fierce and unopposed order of warriors: The Ten Commandments. This too calmed his stormy wrath for a time, giving him a sense of comradeship and perhaps even a touch of kindness. He grew close to the unit, but soon it all fell to ashes once more. It became prosaic and Meliodas saw it all as another dull and useless way to waste time.
Then came the discovery of sex and so on and so forth...
But even so despite all the pleasures, good and bad, he'd found in life, Meliodas still felt nothing. Nothing made him tick in the way where he would feel nothing but negativity and bitterness. Nothing made him not feel like a mindless worker bee. Not a thing at all. The only thing the prince had was his stormy and unchecked wrath, no-one but his father being able to reign in the stallion of a rage.
However even he was growing old.
That meant that soon Meliodas would have no-one to stop his rampages and that may prove an issue to the future of the demon race. But then again the prince didn't just let it all out like a senseless imbecile. He let his wrath go when it had reached its peak and when he had reason to storm about in a terrible wrath that crashed like stormy seas. As a result he had no reason to fear his wrath as a liability - well to himself at least.
"Ah Meliodas!" Zeldris, the prince's younger brother, popped into view. He looked almost identical to his elder sibling, his jet black hair being the only distinction other than their differing ages and personalities. He wore a slight grin, but it fell short as soon as he spot the seething Meliodas. "I see you have heard the news...We can talk later."
No response was given, the elder simply stomping past while the younger watched with silent concern. It was the sort of concern their father abhorred, however Zeldris couldn't help but feel some. His brother was always falling into these terrible rages after all. They weren't at all healthy nor right. Plus he had noticed how Meliodas sunk into a reclusive and empty husk these days, the news he received most likely not helping one bit.
But even as concerned as the younger sibling was, Zeldris knew that it was simply as it was. Life had always been like this ever since the passing of their mother. But even back then life was bleak and filled with violence and bitterness. Their father had always ruled supreme and made that clear to his offspring from a very young age. None of them had a beacon of hope in this life. Not a shimmer of kindness nor hope.
Yet Zeldris himself was lucky as he had found a way to escape their vacuum of a father. He had found a light in his life. He found someone to fight and care for. But Meliodas had yet to find that, the elder trying and failing many times to fill that empty void.
So the rages grew worse and worse and one day the younger feared they would destroy the elder. They would burn him alive from the inside out.
"You idiot," Zeldris tsked as he paced away, knowing very well that Meliodas would get yet another beat down from their unwavering father.
One day the dragon met a princess, her beautiful melancholy capturing his attention. She was pretty and understanding, confusing the dragon as to why she should be so kind and considerate to a creature such as he.
After much deliberation Meliodas decided that he shall go to his thinking place to reflect on his father's offer. While he still abhorred and highly opposed the idea, the prince had agreed to consider it in return for losing against his parent once again. As a result he was now slowly healing himself, a terrible conflict occurring between himself and a rogue demon that dared to challenge him. Of course the prince had won with certain ease (even with his injured state), but even so the demon had manged to strike him quite powerfully.
Onyx eyes glanced down at the darkness covered wounds, knowing that it would take a while for them to regenerate, especially with the low amount of energy he had left. That meant Meliodas had to risk being out in the open, resting against a fallen tree that had been uprooted during the squabble. Its roots tangled together, odd branches laying about from where they'd landed all snapped and mangled. Leaves were scattered everywhere, only showing all the more that a tussle had occurred.
Now that the prince thought about, it was a rather good brawl. The demon was shown to be pretty knowledge and definitely not one of the lower classes. Its attacks had been slow and calculated, supplying powerful hits and almost perfect accuracy. It was no wonder how the creature how managed to strike a few blows on the otherwise untouchable prince, easily injuring him grievously but making the mistake of thinking the job was done.
When Meliodas had feigned his defeat, that was where he had turned the tables. Acting quickly and on instinct, the blonde had managed to subdue the rogue demon and put it out of its misery. All it took was a swift movement of his trusty blade; then the creature was put down permanently and his job was done.
But of course that meant his body then felt the injuries it had accumulated.
The blonde let out a slight groan as a short, sharp pain filled his chest. It was most likely the darkness trying to repair the deep gash he had received in his shoulder, which had been a particularly nasty wound. It spanned from the toned deltoid all the way across his chiseled chest, deep and stinging despite the wound's shallow looking appearance. If Meliodas recalled it correctly, the creature had managed to catch its claws on his shoulder. That left him with the large and painful wound that would most likely take ages to heal. But then again it gave him time to think on his father's offer. Even if it was ridiculous.
The offer was something to do with the war, the Demon King bringing it up as some sort of solution to the dwindling numbers of fighters. It was something about forming an alliance with the enemy, saying that he may very well offer Meliodas himself to seal the bitter schism. That was why Meliodas was so mad with the news. Not only was the Demon King planning to get along with the bastards who controlled the enemy, but he also was going to offer Meliodas as the ultimate bargaining chip. He was going to be the goose's golden egg.
The very thought of even being a pawn enraged the blonde, powerful hands clenching on instinct as a low growl slipped past his lips. They all dare to think that he should be used for bargaining? That he was nothing more than a useful pawn? That mistake would prove fatal. Most definitely fatal. But even so the blonde still had to 'consider' it, especially since the Demon King was pushing so much for him to agree.
His father was like a damn farmer whipping a stallion into submission: stubborn.
A slight rustling from the undergrowth is what catches Meliodas' attention, the blonde instantly facing the source of the noise. It's as he does that he meets the gaze of a surprised goddess, her four wings fluffed with alarm. Silver hair frames her heart-shaped face, piercing blue eyes being her most striking feature. The demon could not deny that his gaze my have lingered on her full chest and voluptuous curves, but even so he had his reasons why.
However even as Meliodas critically studied the goddess, he couldn't help but notice how she seemed more nervous than frightened. In fact unlike most he had met, Meliodas could not sense fear or hatred from her, instead all he saw was a strange concern. A concern that made him shift, a terrible sensation snaking into his system as she gingerly stepped closer.
"W-wait don't move!" The goddess shrieked, her face twisting with panic as she froze in her spot. Teeth sunk into her lower lip, fingers twisting slightly as she looked at the wary demon. "You are injured and - "
"It would best if you leave now, goddess," Meliodas spat, the disdain clear on his features as he moved from her reach. "Didn't anyone teach you not to help the enemy?"
She wasn't too far from him, in fact she could just reach out and Ark him here and now. Yet she remained calm, her concern now linked to naivety in the blonde's mind. After all, no-one would willingly help someone like him. Not when they were part of the enemy and definitely not when this was a chance to take down the opposing side. He was one of their greatest assets after all, removing him would allow the opposition to plow through the chaos caused by his departure.
"But..."
The goddess stepped closer once more, now crouching before him and looking more anxious than before. Pleading blue eyes looked into impassive black, the goddess seeming on the brink of tears as she nervously twisted her hands together. This caused the demon to grimace slightly.
"But what?" The words leave a little gruffly, Meliodas both annoyed at the fact that he was not moving but also that he was actually entertaining this whole thing. He could just kill the goddess or injure her and have it all over and done with. But instead something stopped him from doing that, something odd that chipped away at the usually impassive demeanor he carried everywhere he roamed.
Curiosity filled the blonde, a brow quirking itself into a raise as he looked at the goddess expectantly. It was at that she burst into tears, suddenly hugging the once hostile Meliodas. Soft arms wrapped around his neck, the blonde wincing from the sudden shift of his injured torso.
"But even so I can't just leave you here!" Great tears fell from her cerulean depths, some of them splashing onto the demon's own face. "Not when you are injured like this. So please...let me help you."
Dark eyes slowly blinked, the owner stiffening slightly from the sudden contact between their forms. Coarse hands gently rested on her hips, still and frozen despite having the power to rush them with a heavy touch. Meliodas didn't know what to think of this. He didn't know how to react to an openly sobbing goddess that flew right into his arms all because he was injured and she wished to heal him. In all honesty he was stunned. Very stunned. It showed in the way the blonde remained still, his body oddly not attacking the foolish strumpet out of natural instinct.
So that confused him all the more.
He didn't know why he had suddenly stopped, why he had suddenly slipped into a still state. Meliodas didn't know what it was. Maybe it was the fact that the goddess had shown him genuine kindness when in all of his life he had only seen cruelty and malice; perhaps it was because the lack of energy was making him think in a hazed manner; it could even be that she had used some type of magic on him, as the prince would never allow this to happen if he were normal and sane.
Whatever the strange reason for it was, Meliodas strangely desired to stop this odd goddess' tears and agree to her ridiculous request. Even if it was just to shut her up - which was what he told himself it was for as she pulled away and wiped her tears.
"I'm sorry for that..." She gave a shaky laugh, a small smile forming on her pink lips. "I just - I can't stand seeing anyone in pain..."
Meliodas returned that statement with a hardened look, a hand stretching for the sword that lay just beside him. That was a foolish way to live life. All that lived was made to feel pain at some point in their life, even if they were just a plant or animal. There was no way to stop all from feeling pain and so you should simply accept it as one of the many cruel truths of the world. You should see it as reality. However before Meliodas could even land a strike on her, the goddess had already worked her magic.
A soothing light flowed from her hand, bright and warm as it came into contact with his skin. Almost instantly he could feel the agonizing ache and sharp sting of his wounds fading, the darkness that naturally hated such light somehow surviving the exposure. The ordeal was rather quick, the goddess healing the injuries at a rate his darkness never could. However that didn't mean the blonde trusted her, and as soon as she stopped and rough hand had her snatched by the wrist.
"What did I say?"
Black eyes glared menacingly at the stunned female, the dark mark imprinted on his forehead bleeding into his right eye. The goddess looked perfectly stunned, blue eyes wide as her own soft hands tried to pry her wrist from his tight grasp. Yet it was futile. Meliodas would not let go, not until he picked apart this odd feeling that was being invoked in his mind. However despite that bitter determination, Meliodas wasn't really hurting her. No...he strangely wasn't. Instead he simply had a grasp on her, his usually merciless grip being a little more kind to this peculiar goddess. Another mystery that arose that day.
"B-but I - I thought..." The goddess gasped slightly, tears once again pouring as panic flooded her features.
"Well you thought wrong," Meliodas grimaced slightly, his grasp relaxing although still secure around her wrist. "You should not help the enemy. Least of all me."
The goddess blinked at his words, a look of thought and slight confusion on her features. It was rather adorable, the innocence radiating from that one reaction showing how much of an airhead she most likely was. But even so the blonde patiently waited for her response, preparing to hear yet more nonsense about impossible ideals.
"You're wrong, everyone deserves help," The goddess shook her head slightly, a dull sadness creeping into her tone. "Even the cruelest of monsters are really those who need help the most. I wish I realised that sooner..."
This time Meliodas tilted a brow in confusion, dark eyes watching as the goddess sighed slightly and seemed to slip into a dream-like state. Out of all the things he had heard from people, out of all the lies and stories crafted just to preserve their life, he had rarely heard someone say an earnest truth like that. He had rarely heard a confession that resonated so deeply that even his stony heart could feel some pity or perhaps even empathy towards it.
Those confessions did hit close to home after all.
They reminded Meliodas of before he turned into this. They brought him back to before he was so callous and indifferent, to when he was younger and filled with a more vibrant and inquisitive life. The times when he would run about the castle and proclaim that he was going dragon hunting, causing all sort of silly chaos and catastrophic shenanigans just for the sake of it. It was when he felt more and saw a purpose to life and what it gave. But now he was dull and broken, the former spark of life gone like a tiny flicker of flame in the wind.
Yet this goddess gave him a glimpse of it once more. She was beginning to kindle the embers that still burned despite the raging breeze.
Meliodas, although he wasn't sure which one, didn't like that.
"Go..." The blonde released her wrist, his mind wavered but expression unchanged. Instead he gave a simple nod. "Before I change my mind."
The goddess nodded, another small smile forming as she looked at the blonde. Long silver hair swayed as she regarded him, a grateful look filling her azure eyes; or perhaps it was more hopeful. A hand was clutched to her chest, the slight smile spreading. It looked as if she wanted to see Meliodas once more, some sort of unspoken agreement going between the two of them as she clumsily stood on her feet. But maybe he was fooling himself. Maybe it was the embers of life talking instead of himself.
"Hopefully we cross paths again," The goddess grinned slightly as she slowly stepped away. "If not ask for Elizabeth."
She then disappeared into the undergrowth, the only proof of her existence being the white feathers left in her wake.
Unlike most the princess wasn't scared of him. She listened to the dragon and he was touched by her sincerity and kindness; while she sought for the kindness hidden deep beneath his onyx gaze.
Crossing paths often wasn't something Meliodas had expected to happen. He was never one to believe in the fates and their stupid cards and paths of destiny. In fact he always made Chandler stop talking if he ever blathered on about fate and how it keeps everything closely and yet also distantly connected. The older demon always told the young prince about it, even if Meliodas barely listened to what he said about it, and so the blonde had grown to hate it. He abhorred the very idea of fate.
Yet when it came to Elizabeth always popping up at the most random of times, Meliodas couldn't deny that something odd must be happening. It had to be. There was no way Elizabeth could know where he was as often as she did, plus she always appeared at the most convenient timings.
This bugged Meliodas to no end, the prince finding it extremely taxing to have to deal with her. Sometimes the goddess would be interesting, especially when she spoke about her views on the world or how she wished to journey far away; but usually she was boring and dull, her innocence and naivety shining through when she spoke about things such as the weather, flowers and even how Meliodas should try to smile more often. That comment actually made him frown more, making Elizabeth turn to trying to make him smile all day long.
Singing, dancing, playing games and even attempting to pull tricks had been her choice of weapons, all of which made Meliodas find more amusement in the situation. Of course he knew and perfectly predicted that Elizabeth would fail at the task, only managing to get a slight chuckle as she fell face-first down a flight of steps; but even so she still had a determination that burned brighter than any fire. She tried with all her might to make Meliodas smile and so he sought some usefulness and amusement out of the goddess.
In fact Meliodas had noticed that her childlike wonder and innocence was actually something worth having. The blonde had noticed that in his life as someone who was serious, controlled and formidable, he was rather lonely. Not many spoke to him, if they did they feared upsetting him, and he was always expected to do a lot. Elizabeth was a breath of fresh air compared to that. She spoke and listened to him, didn't show any fear or apprehension and never expected much.
All she wanted to do was draw out the kindness hidden deep within his stony heart.
However Meliodas would never allow that to happen. Kindness was a weakness the foolish used. It was unnecessary, distracting and simply a sign of being immature and too simple-minded to see the cold reality of life. But even so, Elizabeth's kindness was becoming a slow exception to that and Meliodas found that day by day she was chipping away at his usually steely guard. But oddly it was only her who ever saw and was affected by these changes.
No-one else ever saw the kinder side of Meliodas and he would keep it that way.
"You may not think it but we are alike," Elizabeth spoke, watching as she swung her legs over the tree branch. Bare toes wiggled as she stretched her arms up, a slight hum escaping.
The blonde turned to face her, his thoughts broken by the sound of her voice. It was becoming very familiar to him, the sound of it being something he'd just accepted to always be within reach. Especially when Elizabeth was always appearing at the most random of times, always enthusiastic no matter what the pair were doing.
"Alike?" Meliodas frowned slightly before shaking his head. "You must be mistaken."
"No...I'm sure I'm not," Elizabeth pressed her lips slightly, legs halting in their swinging as she sat still for the first time that day. "You know beneath the mask you put up, you are actually pretty kind, Meliodas."
The prince stiffened at that, unsure of what to say or do. Unsure of what to think. However that uncertainty soon broke into laughter, actual laughter, as he realised that perhaps Elizabeth was right. She had seen a side of him that had been locked away for longer than he could remember. It had faded away long before Meliodas had even known if it was there, quickly being stripped away but somehow being dug up by the goddess.
This extremely peculiar goddess.
"I-I'm being serious!" Elizabeth squeaked, red blooming on her face from his sudden laughter. Legs were now tucked up onto the branch, her warm face hidden within her tucked knees. "It's not a matter to laugh about."
"I know it's not," Meliodas shook his head slightly, the last remainders of a chuckle escaping before he cracked a slight smile. The first smile. "But I'm sure you would not think the same if you knew all the terrible things I have done."
Elizabeth's expression softened at that, blue eyes creasing with concern as she stretched out her legs once more and placed a gentle hand on the demon's shoulder.
"I would not judge you for it," She gave a slight smile, cerulean eyes burning with unshed tears. "Because it is in the past right? People make mistakes in the past so they can make a better future. The past provides us with lessons to learn from so that we can be wiser later on."
The blonde blinked slightly at that, a snicker escaping as he looked at the suddenly serious Elizabeth. The Elizabeth who he had always classed as childish and idealistic, however now he saw that she had a hidden wisdom within her. It was the type of wisdom that came off as foolish, but was really what the cruel world needed more of.
"Or so they say..." Elizabeth flushed, her voice coming out small as she went back to her leg-swinging.
The pair then fell into a comfortable silence, the goddess pouting and the demon sinking back into his thoughts.
The pair soon fell in love, the princess and the dragon living happily with each other. But one day a group of knights came to save the princess.
Love is something a monster does not deserve. The warm, soothing feeling of being wrapped in someone's loving embrace was something a cold and cruel being should not understand. In fairy tales the villain is never shown the warmer tones of love. The witches, dragons, evil kings and queens are never shown what it's like to be with someone who genuinely loves them. They don't know what it's like to have someone to lean on, to have someone to talk to and protect.
The only thing they know is the freezing emptiness of their souls and hearts, cruelty, obsession and dullness deeply engraved into their very souls. They didn't care for fickle things such as love or beauty, they didn't really care for the nicer things in life. They only cared for themselves and their pompous pleasures.
But Meliodas was different. Maybe that's why he never truly felt like the villain of his story. He did see beauty and did care for things that most would not care for. He knew what it was like to have the soothing tones of happiness and love; he knew what it was like to be innocent. He had laughed and cried and felt; had the cruel fingers of death lure away someone he valued greatly. The demon prince was definitely not a villain, but even so he knew he was definitely a monster. A big, ugly brute of a monster who destroyed everything in his path.
That's why he didn't understand the situation at all.
He didn't understand how Elizabeth could love a creature such as he.
True to her word the goddess had not judged him when he let his dark secrets be shed into the light. Of course she noted its cruelty and non-necessity, but even so she did not let it tarnish the blonde she had grown to know so well. In fact one could argue that it made her adore him all the more, the kind goddess easily applauding him as being brave to tell her about such things. She had wrapped him into a tight hug, her concern and empathy reaching wavelengths that would many would class as magical.
The threads of fate couldn't help but intertwine the pair all the more, Elizabeth's gentle nature slowly but surely reaching into Meliodas' carefully guarded heart. Views that were once dismissive towards her kindness soon became fond notions, criticism soon became observations and harsh scolding becoming teasing. Often the blonde would think of how Elizabeth's unique compassion had actually helped him to find the spark of life once more. He'd note how she had somehow melted the icy shell that encased him, the gradual shift somehow being undetected.
So when Meliodas noticed that he had perhaps fallen in love with her, he strayed away from the idea completely. He avoided it like a plague. The prince was aware that Elizabeth was something beautiful like a swan, while he was wicked and cruel like a hunter. Those two things never mixed and if they did, the callous one would always endanger the innocent.
It'd just be best for the prince to never tell her. That way she could be preserved for as long as possible, never having to be exposed to suffering due to his vile nature.
Nevertheless fate had other ideas, its threads weaving themselves into a nasty web.
.^.^.^.
The pair sat by a lake, the sun beaming down on their forms as the easily spoke at a leisurely pace. As usual Elizabeth was swinging her legs over the edge, laughing and spreading her chipper mood to the gradually softening demon. They were both in a rather comedic mood as Elizabeth had coerced Meliodas into a plot they named the 'Candy Caper'. Both had sneaked into the castle kitchens and raided it for whatever treats they could find, Meliodas somehow finding amusement in the action he would usually class as childish. But with Elizabeth childish things suddenly became enjoyable.
They became...worthwhile.
So the demon had to keep himself in check after excitedly picking her up and spinning her about in the air, the thrill of the 'caper' taking over from his usually stoic stance. In fact his eyes had even bled into a gorgeous clover shade, the dark demon mark fading as the pair laughed and celebrated. That moment had been magical. It had to have been. One moment Meliodas was his normal self, the next he was grinning from ear to ear, his lips inches from the goddess'.
That was when reality decided to kick in.
The pair had both awkwardly spaced themselves apart, one a pinked mess and the other giving himself the internal scolding of a lifetime. In that time Elizabeth had retrieved the dropped 'treasure', breaking the awkwardness by offering the prize they had so cunningly taken. That brought the pair to where they are now, sitting by the lake and halfway through the stolen goods of the castle kitchen.
"Meliodas," Elizabeth pressed her lips slightly, legs halting their swinging as she turned to face the blonde. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."
The blonde cocked his head slightly at that, blonde falling into his dark green eyes as he raised a brow. For all the time he had known Elizabeth, and that was a while now, he had never heard her take a tone of voice like this. In fact she only saved it for really serious topics, the softness and uncertainty being different from her usual bashfulness. As a result the demon figured he had to listen to this seriously (not that he didn't most of the time) so as to not offend her.
"You know you can tell me anything," The words tumble out before he thinks about it, a stone being tossed across the clear waters of the lake. It stops it skipping once it reaches the end, a small cloud of dirt and dust flying into the air from the impact.
"I know..." Elizabeth bit into her bottom lip, a hand nervously running down her arm. Her fingers then found his, delicate ones interlocking with rough. "Just promise not to run away."
Green met blue once more, just as land and sky meet, a sort of vulnerability being shown that Meliodas had never really seen before. Slight tears formed in the goddess' azure eyes, the sight making the blonde want to stop them immediately. He wanted to crush the cause of this sudden melancholy, wanted to wipe it all away so that he wouldn't have to see Elizabeth seem all upset. In fact every fibre of his being wanted to find out what had caused this. But to do that he had to stay here and listen.
He had to be there for her.
"I promise," Meliodas gives a nod, his genuine tone and clover eyes causing a slight smile to form on Elizabeth's lips. Or perhaps it was the thumb that traced circles on the back of her hand, gently soothing the suddenly emotional goddess.
"Well - "
"Lady Elizabeth, at last we've found you - what are you doing with that!"
The paired turned to see a group of goddesses approaching, armour and weapons at the ready as their venomous glares settled on the blonde demon. At the centre of this group was a tall being, his jet black hair spilling over his face and shoulders as he pulled a firm grimace at Meliodas. Golden armour rested on his form, most of it covered by a white material that was draped similarly to a robe or toga. Then there was the sword that rested on his hip, the gold and blue sheath doing nothing to disguise its danger and deadliness.
"Is that any way to speak to royalty, Ludociel?" Meliodas instantly went in front of Elizabeth, already knowing how to deal with pompous assholes like Ludociel. Since the goddess was an Archangel, Meliodas ran into him regularly on the battlefield, both often having to end their head to heads due to differing factors. As a result the two were well aware of each other, the tension obvious as it polluted the air between the goddesses and once relaxed pair.
"My apologies but I was not addressing you, prince Meliodas," Ludociel spoke through grit teeth, the words being as forced as ever as he approached the pair. A gloved hand extended to receive Elizabeth's, the other resting on the sheathed sword that rested at his side. "Now Lady Elizabeth, it's honestly pointless to abandon your duties to talk to that creature - that's unless he kidnapped you."
"Meliodas would never do that!" Elizabeth cried out, moving herself forward to stand beside the demon. Red dusting her milky complexion, her hand interlocked with his, delicate fingers supplying a firm and comforting squeeze as she sent him a gentle smile. "He's one of the kindest people I've ever met."
Ludociel frowned at that, his narrowed eyes seeming to widen as he glanced at the pair. His gaze then settled on their still laced hands, horror clouding his usually calm and collected features as he went to grab his sword.
"Don't be absurd!" The armoured goddess scowled, drawing out his weapon. "A goddess and demon in love? You two associating with each other like that! That is truly ridiculous!"
Meliodas tensed slightly at this, not only hurt by those words but also knowing the truth behind them. A long time ago, Meliodas himself agreed with the people who said such things. He always said that it was impossible for a goddess and demon to get along. The prince was exposed to the pride and prejudices of both sides, knowing that neither would ever admit to being in the wrong. Plus the two races were simply too different to get along.
But then he met Elizabeth...
She changed his view of it all. She opened his eyes and revealed a wisdom that so many lacked during these terrible times. As a result Meliodas began to see how a goddess and demon could get along - how they could fall in love. So the words of Ludociel only made the protectiveness and anger meld into an even more dangerous wrath. A sparking and quickly spreading wrath.
"It's the truth."
"I shall end this immediately!" Ludociel proclaimed, his sword drawn and glinting in the daylight. A ball of stunning light formed at its tip. "Starting with removing the head of this foul beast."
It was then the battle began.
They called him a monster and tried to take the princess away. Enraged, the dragon began to attack.
Things weren't looking too good. No things were entirely out of their favor. With the bonus of having backup and weapons while Elizabeth and Meliodas had nothing, Ludociel had left the pair with no other option but to run. Well, there was another option but Meliodas wasn't comfortable with it at all. In fact the last thing he wanted to do was resort to that option. So Meliodas had done the only logical thing left, grabbing Elizabeth and dashing off into the cover of the trees.
Elizabeth was safely tucked into his arms, her form pressed snugly against his as she attempted to try and get him to stop. In fact Meliodas was sure he heard her soft voice say something, something very important. However the blonde wasn't exactly there at the moment, all of his mind and instinct focused on protecting the goddess. On making sure Elizabeth was fine before going back to unleash his merciless wrath upon the foolish Ludociel.
All seven of his hearts hammered against his chest, their once musical pulse turning into a frantic thrumming. Once gorgeous green eyes had bled back into an ominous onyx, the spiraling mark on his tanned skin spreading at what seemed like an incredible rate. Darkness spread to places Meliodas could usually stray it away from, something shutting off the demon's mind from his actions and causing him to act on all he could assume was autopilot.
"Meliodas!"
Elizabeth looked right into his eyes, ignoring the dark tendrils curling their way up her arms. They felt cold, distant, like an artificial chill.
Concern filled her ocean eyes, the goddess never seeing the demon so lost within his hardened mask. Sure Meliodas had always been unreadable and stoic, but this version of him wasn't like that at all. It was different from the Meliodas she had gotten to know. It lacked the warmth that was hidden beneath the iron mask, lacked the humor and kindness that was disguised as cruelty and malice. This Meliodas wasn't Meliodas.
It was something else entirely.
"Meliodas please stop!" Tears were spilling down her cheeks now, a soft hand raising to cup the side of his face. "Please."
Those words seemed to do the trick, the blonde coming to a sudden halt as he blinked slightly. Dark eyes closed as he leaned into her touch, the darkness receding as suddenly as it formed. It snaked from Elizabeth's arm, swiftly going back to the swirling crest that rested upon his forehead. But even that seemed to disappear in the small moment of calm, his eyes opening to reveal a clover gaze one more.
"Elizabeth..."
Green eyes locked with capturing cerulean, both owner's seeming calmed by the small interaction. In fact all seemed calmed by it, the adrenaline and flurry of the moment dying with the sudden shift in Meliodas. Instead of panic and fear, a sense of calm washed over the demon, Elizabeth somehow dragging him out of his usually unbreakable trance. In fact he even cracked a slight smile, glad to see that she was safe and well.
However that feeling melted in an instant, cold dread washing over him as she moved.
"Meliodas look out!"
She was gone from his side in a flash, instead pushing his form away from the danger. It all happened before Meliodas could do anything, his calm expression instantly flickering into stricken pain as he realised what had happened.
Blue eyes widened upon impact, crimson spilling from her plush lips as pale fingers just about clung onto his arm. Silver hair floated with her form, the strands falling lightly against her back. Once pure white wings were now a sickly pink, their feathers scattered about the ground and forming a halo around the stunned demon. The same demon who held Elizabeth close, a firm hand pressed to her wound while the other brushed her hair from her face.
"You idiot..." Meliodas breathed, tears prickling at his emerald eyes. The words leave in a manner he'd never expected, all harshness gone as he tried to stop the bleeding of her wound. Instead of being hard and cold they come out soft and pained. "Why would you hit take the hit? Why would you save the enemy?"
Elizabeth gave a slight smile at that, her own eyes watering as she somehow found the strength to wipe the tears from his cheeks. Unlike before her fingers felt cold, the warmth they usually held as scarlet plasma flowed. Even now, when she bleeding out, Elizabeth was still concerned for him. She was still trying to make Meliodas feel better and comfort him, ignoring her own troubles to solve his own.
Her fingers felt soft but cold against his skin, the feel of her touch forever being imprinted. It was forever ingrained.
"Because...I love you, Meliodas..." The words fall still on her lips, the final tones of colour fading from her supple skin. Blood still trickled from the wound in her chest, permanently staining the blue fabric of her dress and his now shaking hand. However all signs of life were gone, her hand falling limp against the blonde's cheek. His still tear-soaked cheek.
"Why? Why you?"
It was intended to be a whisper but instead comes out as a full outcry, the words laced with all the emotions violently swirling within the uncontrollable demon. Anger, grief, sadness and pain all melded into one, their dangerous cocktail providing the perfect ingredients for a terrible storm. For a terrible event that would be driven by emotion and instinct alone, the blonde already feeling his darkness surge at the thought of what would ensue.
He make them pay. He would make them all pay.
Elizabeth never deserved to be harmed. She never deserved to die because she fell in love with a monster like him. Even though Meliodas had vowed to never tell her; he still couldn't stop the danger. Even though he wanted to tell her, her kept it airtight. Meliodas kept it all in the dark to make sure Elizabeth would never come to harm. But now, Elizabeth was dead and it was because she loved him enough to sacrifice herself for him.
The demon let out a dry chuckle.
He didn't even get to tell her his response.
He wanted to at least let Elizabeth know that he returned it all. He wanted to let her know that he would always adore and cherish her. That even if he acted dismissive he really did love her. However such revelations could not always be shared, even when you want to share it - and all that replaced the pain of not being able to do anything was rage, deep, dark and blackened rage.
However he couldn't save his love and now forever wanders alone...
Dull black eyes stared at the rising sun, tears that had been cried too many times now completely dried up. Beaten hands clenched into a fist, legs trudging along despite the owner's sluggish state. Rain began to pour from the Heaven's above, the Gods themselves seeming to cry for the blonde's loss as he shuffled through the barren wastelands. His golden hair clung damply to tanned skin, the sky beginning to darken as clouds swirled in a mixture of grey, smokey puffs. Everything was bleak, just like the hope that was diminishing inside of the wandering demon.
For what seemed like eternity he had been walking along like this, facing the crime of his unchecked wrath. The wrath that was fueled by grief that seemed to run on as long as time itself. After losing it all, his sanity, his willpower and most importantly her, like the empty lands he wandered through, Meliodas felt nothing; not an ounce of pain or grief, not a slither of happiness. How could he? Not after such a loss he himself had had. Not after what had happened. Not when death and fate had so cruelly snatched away his goddess, his princess, his love...
"Elizabeth!"
Tears of rage and grief formed once more, the blonde calling out her name but knowing that it would result in nothing. She was gone, vanished. Dead. Nothing would ever bring back her sweet smile, or her soft, lilting voice. Nothing would replace the way her face covered in a delectable blush, nor would anything ever be equal to the way she always knew how to comfort him. He would never feel her warm embrace again, nor hear her musical laughter.
The princess was gone and the dragon was still left.
Alone and wandering. Wandering and alone.
Alone and lost is all he'll ever be.
So Meliodas continued to trudge across the wasteland, allowing the dirt and dust to cover his tracks as he tried once again to stop the tears. Stop the damned tears.
