A/N: This time I've taken inspiration from a well known fairy tale: 'Little Red Riding Hood'. I love making different versions of this tale cause it's just so - I always fall in love with the story and how it can be twisted in different ways! Plus the dynamic between the wolf and Little Red is just - I'm just practically filled with inspiration and excitement. As a result you can expect many fairy tales to be twisted into little tales or drabbles (especially Little Red's) :P

However I may have diverged from the original source of inspiration... It kinda morphed into a tale of its own Xd

CaramelPenguin - Thank you for the kind reviews! The 107 point is true, however for some reason I feel like writing up 3,000 XD. I don't know why but the number just calls to me. Plus it's somewhere to put extra little ideas that wouldn't fit into stories. But it is a good suggestion. So thank you for it :)

I'll stop babbling now and let you guys read.

Till next time,

D.L.D


Frightening yet Familiar

Two young children ran about the field, laughing as one growled and stomped about as if he were a raging dragon. Small hands were arched like claws, his teeth bared as he chased the other. That child ran away squealing, saying that the scary dragon shouldn't eat her because she was his only friend. However she laughed as he chased after her, fresh tears of joy escaping.

"I'm gonna eat you!"

The boy tackled the girl to the ground, her blue eyes widening in shock as they both landed in the dirt and grass. It was a rather rough fall, tufts of green and leaves flying into the air, but the boy had made sure the girl wasn't injured, easily taking the brunt of the impact. He was much tougher than her after all. The impact being greater than he had expected, the fall winded the boy slightly and the girl took advantage of that.

"No you're not, Mr Dragon!" The girl laughed as she attempted to shove the boy off her form, more giggles escaping as he refused to budge. Pure cloud-like wings fluffed slightly, the girl trying to use the extra limbs to help her effort. "I'm going to escape!"

His own laughter joined hers, a crooked grin forming on his lips as she continued to shove with no winning results.

"Nope, you're my prey," The boy insisted, shaking his head of untamed golden locks. He then proceeded to tickle the girl, sending her into a fit of squeals and giggles as she rolled about beneath him.

"M-Meliodas! S-stop!"

The girl was now red-faced, her laughter becoming almost painful as she attempted to get the boy back for his fiendish ticking plot. He always went for the cheat, knowing that she was extremely ticklish. It was super unfair and sometimes the girl felt he used it too often. So moving as quickly as she could, the girl sat up and pushed the boy down, smiling as he actually toppled over. She was about to call out in victory, however the boy grabbed her by the arm and dragged her down with him.

The pair fell back into the grass, side by side as they laughed. Mr Dragon and Liz. Liz and Mr Dragon...


Elizabeth knows of the dangers that lurk in the woods. She knows of the monsters that feed on the bones and flesh of young maidens; of the creatures that are known to strike a man down with only a large, clawed paw. She knows of the evils that hide in the shadows of the trees; how the creatures feed on the darkness itself to gain powers beyond your worst nightmares. Elizabeth knows of how dangerous it is to go into woods.

And yet she is not afraid.

The young maiden stands before the thick border of trees, a basket tucked within the crook of her arm. Silver hair is concealed by a simple red riding cloak, only her fair skin and blue eyes being displayed to the world. Beneath the cloak is an extravagant dress, betraying that she is from the nearby kingdom of Goddesses. A kingdom that has tried many times to burn down the abomination known as the woods. The same woods that are used to create a new generation of the monsters that lurk within it and that Elizabeth stands before now.

Filthy creatures the monsters are called, though many know them by the simple name of Demons. They could sometimes be humanoid, other times not. Most often they take the form of horribly bonded hybrids, their features a mixture of all sorts of creatures one would not try to fuse. As a result they're known as the monsters of the world, the ones that no-one would want to associate with. However this one young Goddess, this one naive woman, has chosen to come to the border of their lands.

Blue eyes narrowed as the owner tried to make something out within the thicket of plants and bark. She wanted to catch a glimpse of these creatures that were supposedly lethal. These creatures that have killed so many for nothing but the thrill of the hunt; For nothing but blood-lust. Only she came up empty handed, only the trunks of the trees and the rustling of leaves meeting her eyes and ears. Even if she did feel the presence of being watched - Elizabeth saw no-one else.

"What are you doing here, Lady Elizabeth?"

"Jelamet!"

The young woman jumped, back straightening instantly as she heard the sound of her friend's voice. Her hood fell from her head, revealing the once-hidden silver tresses beneath. Teeth then began to sink into her bottom lip, hands anxiously interlocking as she brought her gaze to her unamused companion.

"You know that the woods are a forbidden area..." Jelamet sighed, lightly coloured hair shaking with her head. "It's very dangerous and therefore very stupid to even think of going there! What would Her Grace say if she knew you were even looking at the place!"

Elizabeth released a sigh at that knowing Jelamet's words to be true. The woods were somewhere the young Goddess should not be worrying about, least of all even bat an eye at. Therefore for Elizabeth to be staring at them, or even thinking about them was bad news. They were a place of trouble and nothing but. For the young Goddess to even think of going there was something close to treason, let alone sentencing her own death. Therefore it would be best to forget about the place entirely.

However the Goddess couldn't do that.

"I know, I know," Elizabeth nodded, sneaking another glance at the place. "But...do you ever think about what might be in there? It's known that the Demons aren't always there, so maybe the woods are empty."

To that Jelamet let out a laugh, snorting as she shook her head. Elizabeth truly had a lot to learn about the woods and how they operated. Even if there weren't any Demons inhabiting it now, they eventually come there. It's similar to how the Goddesses often went to a sacred spring in the mountains, the race often migrating there if they were ready to seek fulfillment within the Divine Light. As a result they were rather knowledgeable on how the Demons might use the woods. Therefore it was best to keep the woods as a restricted area all year round.

"Those monsters are crafty things," Jelamet spat, a sour look on her face as she looked at the thicket of trees. "I say they go there 'cause the land's already rotting and dying. You'd be better off if you stay away too, Lady Elizabeth. All that place has is trouble."

The other Goddess then continued along the path, expecting her silver-haired companion to follow. As expected she did.

"Trouble?" Elizabeth blinked, adjusting her basket as she tried to keep pace. "Do you mean...The End?"

To that Jelamet gave a solemn nod, her features turning grim as she continued on her way. The End was something not many Goddesses liked to talk about, the subject being particularly grim and gory. The End was something very few experienced, but when they did it was terrible and so no-one ever spoke about it. All anyone needed to know was that The End was undesirable and you should wish to never have it. Which is why Jelamet wants Elizabeth to forget about the woods.

She has a bad feeling about what this fascination will lead to.

"Just leave it be, ok Elizabeth?" The other Goddess looked at the silver-haired maiden, eyes filled with a vulnerability she rarely displayed. "That place is danger and I'm warning you now, you'll never get over the mistake of entering them."

The young Goddess looked at her friend, blinking and questioning, but also trusting. The response left easily, a smile passing on her lips as blue eyes shined with mirth.

"Ok, Jelamet. I promise not to go."


"Why can't I go and see Meliodas, mother?"

Elizabeth blinked as she tried to see past the glowing light surrounding her mother's form.

As always her mother was ethereal, silver hair falling in luxurious, wavy locks as it was scattered with jewels and pearls. A fine dress of silk sat upon her form, the material stitched with intricate patterns and printed with gold. Gaudy, shiny and perfect: Those were the three things her mother always looked like, the elder Goddess always seeming to know what was best. However Elizabeth disagreed this time, her outrage not hidden from her omnipotent mother.

Red rimmed her azure eyes, tears still pouring silently from the bitter news delivered that clear afternoon. Elizabeth was all set to go see her friend as usual, the young Goddess enjoying her 'adventures' with him a lot. The pair often explored the woodland between their two kingdoms, both adolescents finding thrill within going to such a dangerous place. After all, both weren't really meant to go the woods yet (Elizabeth especially). Like how the Scared Spring was not open to the younger Goddesses, the woodland was barred off for the younger Demons. As a result both weren't supposed to go exploring there, but the pair did anyway.

It was something they just did.

"Because his father is a very bad man, my darling bird," Was the reply, Elizabeth's mother's voice ringing soft, pure and true as she spoke. A hand tiredly swiped her youthful face, blue eyes fixed on her daughter. "He went behind his word as all Demons do. Keep note of that, dear: all Demons are bad and evil things. You'd do well not to associate with them."

Elizabeth pouted slightly at that, unbelieving that her mother was so distraught over something so trivial. Over something so...petty.

"But you always let me - "

"You will not go anymore!"

Elizabeth flinched as the words left her mother's mouth, soft and yet booming at the same time. Guiding and yet demanding. No words of menace had been uttered, nor any act of violence, but Elizabeth couldn't help but back away slightly as she looked at her mother. She couldn't help but wince.

A deep frown was pressed into the elder Goddess' soft features, blue eyes seeming to reach into Elizabeth's very soul as the matriarch studied her cryptically. They were cold and expecting, hiding that side behind a wise and concerned facade. Bejeweled fingers tapped as her mother awaited an answer, the rhythm becoming faster as her gaze sharpened and time waned on.

"I-I understand mother," Elizabeth finally nodded, quickly leaving the room and hiding her soft sniffles.

Her vision began to blur, tears still forming from the bitter conclusion delivered. From the terrible discovery that what had been told to her was true. Tears fell freely as the young Goddess clumsily dashed away from the hall, thunder clapping in the distance as rain began to pour.


It was a very bad day today. At first the weather was bright and warm, convincing the people of Britannia that it was the perfect day to be out. Clear skies, fluffy white clouds and barely any signs of rain were the perfect indicators for a perfect day. But now that warm and pleasant weather had ended, rain and fog gathering in the eventual blast of a storm. Pellets of ice mixed with the water as thunder struck, driving Elizabeth into a nearby cave hidden within a tangle of trees.

The young Goddess had been taking her usual route to the human settlement not too far from her kingdom, but the rain, thunder and lightning had caused her to go off course. As a result she sighed as she sat within the cave, removing her sopping cloak and clothes as she sat at the cave's mouth. Her slip became her clothes, the waterproof material of the sleeveless dress surviving the heavy rainfall and revealing her four fluffy wings.

It was just her luck to be caught in the storm. Just her luck to be alone and almost naked.

She had no wood to start a fire, meaning that she couldn't stay warm or even dry her things. All the young beaut could do was sit and wait, watching as the rain, thunder and ice mixed into a dangerous cocktail. The wind howled and chilled her bones, leading the Goddess to try to fix the cool chill with her healing light. However the chill would inevitably return, causing her to shiver as damp hair clung to her forehead and neck.

Hours had to have passed like this, Elizabeth sitting in the cave and waiting for the storm to lighten up. When the last of the rain and ice had fallen, the young Goddess found that her hair and cloak had dried, allowing her to put the riding hood on once more. However her clothes still hadn't dried. An odd thing since they weren't as wet as her cloak, yet when she checked the Goddess learned that she'd placed them in an area where water leaked through the cave's walls.

Once again just her luck...

Despite being happy that her cloak had dried, it also worried Elizabeth as that meant significant time had passed. After all, her cloak had been sopping wet, the thick fabric taking the brunt of the rainfall as she rushed for shelter. That meant nearly a whole day had to have passed.

"It's nighttime..." The Goddess breathed as she exited the cave, the gentle light of the moon and stars bathing her skin.

Teeth gnawed at her bottom lip, eyes dancing with worry as the young Goddess regarded the deep, blue sky above her. Stars dotted the darkened canvas, their silver light doing little to illuminate in comparison to the large, circular moon. Its surface glowed a thousand times brighter than any star, indicating that it was close to its peak. That meant it was close to the prime time for the monsters to come out and play.

'It's a good thing I didn't enter the woods,' Elizabeth grinned to herself as she collected her wet clothes, carefully folding them over her arm. 'Then I'd be in real trouble.'

It was as she did this that she noticed that nothing in this area looked familiar. The young Goddess didn't remember seeing trees so tall and thick anywhere she often went, nor did she remember the sloping mountains she could spot far in the distance. Elizabeth couldn't recall the river she heard not too far away either, nor could she say if she remembered anything about this cave she had stumbled into. Even the path to what looked like a city seemed unfamiliar to her, the outline of it strangely alien. In fact the Goddess had no idea where she was. She had not the slightest clue.

Elizabeth was lost. Utterly lost.

"I'll be fine," Elizabeth whispered to herself as her wings stretched themselves out. Pure, white feathers ruffled as they extended behind her back, allowing the Goddess to lift into the air. "I can't be too far from anywhere safe. I only took one turning..."

As the Goddess continued to ramble to herself, she gradually lifted above the canopy of trees. A sea of darkened leaves stretched before her, all below them concealed within a blanket of darkness. No birds glided past, no creatures of the night even appeared. Only the clouds, moon and sky were there to greet the Goddess, the sea of leaves being the only sight Elizabeth could spot for miles around. Well, the sea of trees and the quickly approaching Demon.

The creature wore a snarl, its face hidden by armour that looked like a mixture of what looked like a bat and something humanoid. Large wings protruded from the Demon's back, black and menacing with their spiked edges and demonic appearance. In it's clawed hands was a sword, the edge looking rather jagged and dangerous. It'd be painful to be stabbed with something like that.

Shrieking, the creature dived straight for the Goddess, causing Elizabeth to squeak as she ducked below the canopy once more. Feathered wings roughly collided with thick branches as she shot downwards, a snapping sound following as a sharp pain stabbed at her back.

Elizabeth tumbled to the ground, her former clothes now gone and cloak tattered at the edges. Blood and dirt stained her pristine wings, twigs and leaves caught between fine feathers and twisted into her hair. The leather slip still remained, her revealed flesh now illuminating the ground around her like a dim light of hope within a sea of despair. It was the only thing that was still the same, Elizabeth's arms and legs littered with tiny nicks and bruises from her rough landing.

However the Goddess did not have time to dwell on her injuries. Not when she was now in the den of monsters. So she quickly got up from the ground, ignoring the intense throbbing of her wings and back as she ambled across the ground. Bare feet stumbled over roots and thorns, slight winces being uttered as the Goddess stepped directly onto thorns or roughly tripped over roots. Several times did she fall only to pick herself up once more, the fear of what would happen to her being too great.

As a result the maiden ran, fearing any darkness that inched its way into her small circle of light. Over roots, through brambles, scampering up trees or even traversing across small brooks, the young Goddess ventured deeper and deeper into the den of nightmares.

Once she was certain the armoured bat creature had not followed her, Elizabeth slid down into a ditch. Roots and brambles framed the edges of it, the steepness of the drop driving away anything that could possibly wish to climb down. The depth also hid the light her form generated, and so the Goddess thought it was the perfect hiding spot. The perfect place to try and plot her escape.

Breathing heavily, Elizabeth sat herself down in the dirt. She easily began to check over her body, using much of her already depleted energy to heal her snapped wing. After that Elizabeth sat in the ditch for some time, recovering her energy and thinking of ways that she could possibly escape this crazy maze. She knew that flying was too risky and she also knew that walking through the woods would be just as dangerous. As a result that left little options left: waiting out for morning seeming like something that was impossible for her to do.

So instead the Goddess decided to chance it out with walking through the woods, knowing that she should be able to protect herself with her knowledge and natural gift of light. So Elizabeth climbed out of the ditch, walking through the brambles and thorns but ignoring the sharp pricks and stings they brought. Instead she walked through them without making a sound, intrepidly heading towards the sound of running water. Running water meant a river after all, and rivers often led to settlements or somewhere safer to be.

So with renewed hope, Elizabeth walked through the shadowy woodland. Leaves brushed against her thighs, sending slight shivers as her bare feet padded against a thickly vegetated ground. Multiple times, Elizabeth was sure that she heard something move or break, but nothing did and so she continued. Oddly nothing else bugged the young Goddess and the only scare of the night was that armored Demon.

Elizabeth had now reached the source of the water sound, a small river winding through the woodland. A few animals were by the running water, most notably a russet fox which instantly scampered away with the appearance of the glowing Goddess. The rest of the animals then began to disappear back into the undergrowth of plants, leaving the Goddess alone as she looked at the inky surface of the river.

It was colored black, the trees above blocking out much of the moon's naturally pale light. A few stones formed a pathway across the water, the tops slick from the rushing river as it gushed along its banks. It all looked normal - as it should - but Elizabeth couldn't help but notice how quiet it was here, only the rushing of the water filling her ears. No twigs snapped and no leaves rustled, not even the wind seemed to howl as the young Goddess stood before the water's edge.

This unsettled her greatly.

A shiver crept up Elizabeth's spine, the young Goddess not being able to shake the feeling that something sinister was watching her. Something sinister that drove off all the threats that could have possibly killed her before it did. The familiar feeling of a pair of eyes watching her caused Elizabeth to shift slightly, bare legs feeling extremely cold and exposed. The air suddenly seemed a lot more chillier, imaginary fingers running down her flesh as the female backed away slightly. As she did, something popped out of the bushes, no two somethings, and they tossed and thrashed about.

"The Goddess is mine!"

"No mine!"

Both voices melded into one, both figures breaking into a fight as the Goddess could only back away in surprise. Fear coloured her baby blue irises, pink lips parting in a perfect 'o' shape as she stepped backwards, ready to run away. As she did she bumped into something solid, the young Goddess tensing as she met the face of someone else.

Someone oddly familiar...

Wild blonde hair crowned his head, flying in all sorts of directions as if it hadn't been combed a single day in his life. The Demon's face looked awfully youthful, suggesting that he was young, but when Elizabeth looked a little more closely she could tell that he was no child. Despite the lack of facial hair or a hardened and more squared jaw, Elizabeth could tell this person had passed adolescence. A pair of pitch dark eyes matched with the swirling mark above his right eye. The black symbol spiraled around his brow and forehead, large and prominent with the edges flaring out chaotically in spikes. They matched with the patch that bled into his eye, the mark only seeming to grow as Elizabeth stared at it.

Muscles also adorned the stranger's form, only adding to the fact that this person was a more manlike Demon. They were well-defined but not overly bulked, only making Elizabeth all the more fearful, and yet strangely inquisitive, as this stranger grabbed her by the arm.

"This way."

He whispers it into her ear, his voice rough but not aggressive as it sends a shiver through her form. Instead of driving her away, the blonde Demon's voice is simply convincing, the young Goddess deciding to follow this strange blonde who was leading her away.

Her mind can't help but feel clouded and foggy as she tries not to focus on the way he gently holds her arm with hands that can easily kill. She tries not to focus on how this one Demon was leading her away from danger instead of taking the chance to kill her now they were alone. How he was saving her instead of harming her.

But it wasn't that simple.

There was something odd about the way this Demon could look so attractive despite being a creature of darkness and evil. How he had such likable and familiar features despite their race being the most unlikable and unfamiliar. Elizabeth knew there were Demons who didn't look entirely like monsters. She knew there were the few exceptions who looked a lot like humans, the only differing feature being their empty eyes and marks of darkness. However Elizabeth always imagined them to be the humans who were a just a tinier bit uglier than usual. She imagined the evil showed through things like hooked noses or big foreheads; Yet this one Demon, the one who had her by the arm, looked as if he didn't have to try hard to find a female admirer. The thought alone made her blush slightly.

Everything about this person seemed frightening and yet oddly familiar...

The pair soon approached what looked like a clearing, the thickness of the trees decreasing. Moonlight easily flooded onto the grass below, raindrops catching the misted light as they rested on flowers. As Elizabeth had believed, the Demon was showing her a way out. However the young Goddess couldn't be certain of that as he let go of her arm, the feel of his touch still lingering as she looked him in the eyes. In his deep, dark, ageless eyes.

She felt like she'd seen them before, but in a different colour. A brighter colour.

"Um...thank you," Elizabeth bit into her lip, unsure of what to think as she absentmindedly rubbed her arm. For someone reason she missed the feeling of warmth there... It was as she mentally scolded herself that the Goddess noticed that she had backed herself against a tree, face flushed and eyes slightly widened as the Demon was awfully close to her. She could almost feel his nose touching her own, lips just inches away from her own.

"W-what are you doing?" Elizabeth flushed at this, her mind swimming with thoughts that she was too flustered to make sense of.

"I don't think you're aware of it, Goddess, but you've just walked into the middle of something," He looked right at her, trapped beneath him and unable to escape what was coming. The tone said it all, a hint of something unknown hidden beneath its hues.

He had waited a long time to do this. A very long time.

Of course the Demon knew that by doing this he would cause a lot of trouble. The Goddess would never hear the end of it and the Demons themselves would not be happy that their prince had even considered such a thing. But it was all too late. His inner demon had been piqued, and there was no going back once that was called. A shame since the Goddess was rather pretty, but now he had little restraint. Not after years of waiting. Everything he did now was all instinctual even if a part of him tried to hold it all back. The roaring darkness inside of him was too strong right now.

"A-and what's that?" Elizabeth squeaked slightly, almost too scared to know the answer as her mind began to overheat.

She already had an inkling that she had stumbled into the woods at the wrong time. Something about her 'lucky' streak indicated as such, especially when those two Demons came out of nowhere and began to fight over her. The two options were either food or...you know. Plus with the way this blonde devil was hovering over, Elizabeth could get an idea of what would follow. However despite the fear that yelled to be expressed, all Elizabeth could feel was hesitation, the warmth of familiarity snuffing out the chill of trepidation.

Blue eyes peered timidly into onyx, the female watching as his demon mark bled further across his skin. A mark that seemed extremely familiar too... She felt like she had traced it so many times with her finger, the pattern ingrained into her mind.

"Mating season."

The Demon then roughly pressed his lips to hers, the Goddess left stunned under his hold.


Meliodas never intended to participate. No he never did. Not after growing bored of the whole reason why this 'season' was set up. He never wanted to have an heir anytime soon, nor did he find many women attractive in that sense. No only one person held that special place in his hearts. So the prince of Demons never intended to find someone during this time where he was unpredictable to even himself. He usually waited it out until the urge had passed and then would go back to how he usually was. His self-restraint was one of the best. But this year had turned out differently.

All because of Little Red.

It was surprising to see her when she came crashing down from the canopy above. Her white wings had been stained red, her face filled with a slightly pink flush as she quickly scrambled away from the scene. Long, creamy legs had stumbled over roots and low rocks, her short dress and ripped cloak doing little to conceal her voluptuous curves. Of course her silver hair and the feathers in her wings betrayed who she was, causing interest to immediately spike in the already hooked Demon. It was unheard of to bed a Goddess - but how could he resist when she had so easily captured his attention? He had seen her watching and waiting for several years now.

As a result Meliodas had only needed a quick glimpse of the short dress beneath her tattered cloak to know that he would give chase. That he would actually participate in this year's mating season if it meant capturing this Goddess that had so innocently wandered into the woods. This Goddess who seemed to interest and plague his mind so much. The same one who didn't seven seem to know who he was even though they were really close.

So Meliodas had followed her. He chased after her fleeting form, watching the glow from her illuminate the otherwise dark lands. The Demon watched her every move through the maze of trees, attempting to unknowingly lure her to somewhere where he knew he wouldn't be disturbed. But of course there were the greedy ones who wanted a taste of the innocent beaut too. That meant he had to deal with those two ruining his plan, before adapting and managing to lure her away.

Leading to where he was now.

The blonde Demon let out a defeated sigh, black eyes glancing to the young woman beside him. The Goddess was now asleep, silver hair spread about her face as she let in slow and steady breaths. Her form was still clothed, her cloak graciously replaced by the Demon in an attempt to stop himself from doing anything while she was asleep. Somehow Meliodas had stopped himself from actually doing anything with the Goddess, a finer scheme forming in his inner demon's mind when he found that she truly had no idea who he was.

So instead Meliodas let her fall asleep, deciding to go with his impromptu plan as it seemed like a bit of entertainment. As a result he was now here, away from the woods and filled with thought. Lots of thoughts raced through his mind as he looked at the peacefully sleeping Goddess and wondered how such a creature could capture his attention. How she, a simple and naive thing, could have caused such a protective and innate reaction within someone like himself.

"You should be frightened of me, Little Red," Meliodas spoke as he turned away, trying to ignore the darker callings of his mind. However he failed, having to place a kiss on the corner of lips - close to where he really wanted to kiss her. But if he did, he'd probably wake her and that'd ruin everything.

"You're not scary at all, Mr Dragon," The Goddess laughed sleepily, wrapping her arms around his neck. She then held him close, pressing the Demon's face dangerously near to her chest as she nuzzled into his hair. "I know you're not..."

Meliodas froze in her hold, aware that she was sleep talking but also phased by how she so easily grabbed and embraced him. How she seemed to harbor less fear than she did when he had first encountered her. Odd since Meliodas was someone she should fear. Someone she should hate.

Also did she just refer to him as Mr Dragon? He hadn't heard that name in years...

Shaking his head and ignoring the urge to just stay there in her hold, Meliodas pushed away and gave a final glance at the sleeping Goddess. Her silver hair shone in the pale moonlight, porcelain flesh contrasting with the slight pink blush upon her features and the dopey smile sat on her full lips - things he would happily devour awake or not.

But unfortunately Meliodas couldn't do that just yet. So the Demon turned away, hoping that his plan would work and he had not just let his best chance yet escape.


"Elizabeth!"

Meliodas called the Goddess as he spotted her across the street, a red cloak thrown over clothes. She hadn't changed much over the years, her soft features still prominent and blue eyes being something that always stuck out to him. He had never seen a pair of eyes so blue...

However when she turned to see him, a look of confusion was plastered on her pretty face. A hand tightly grasped at the clasp of her cloak, pale and shaking as she stuttered over her words.

"W-who are you?" The female raised a brow, blue eyes widening with shock as she stared at the blonde. She then frowned slightly, gears seeming to turn in her brain as she looked at the mark upon his brow. "Do I...know you?"

Meliodas froze slightly at that, only slightly, the words leaving her mouth sending an unpleasant chill down his spine. He had always assumed that Elizabeth would remember him, the two of them being inseparable as children, but now it seemed she was talking to him like any other stranger who knew her name. Like he was any other Tom, Dick or Harry or lived down the street. She didn't greet him with a smile, or one of the hugs she'd usually tackle him into.

She didn't even seem to know his name.

All Elizabeth seemed was confused, the graceful Goddess looking at the blonde as if he were some sort of foreign object. As if she had never laid eyes on him, and yet also had.

"No, it's just a mistake," His voice went back to having a firmer edge, his smile quickly dropping as he shook his head. Dull black eyes directed back at blue, the blonde internally cursing himself for entering such an awkward exchange.

"A mistake?" The young woman hummed in thought, a finger tapping her pretty pink lips. "Well if it helps I feel like I may know you..."

The Demon perked up at that slightly, however he maintained the same standoffish gait. All he did was tilt his head a bit, a brow raised as his mind mused. Meliodas wasn't about to celebrate, nor was he going to make a scene. No matter how much he wanted to lift her into the air and scream that he knew that she'd remember, he couldn't. Not yet. Not when she seemed to be uncertain of whether she had actually met him before.

Instead all he could do was look slightly inquisitive as Elizabeth hummed a little.

"But then again we've never met have we?" Elizabeth giggled slightly, shaking her head. A simple smile graced her features as she met his gaze once more. "Silly me."

"Lady Elizabeth!"

Another Goddess called to the young woman, their expression rushed and worried. They also wore a red cloak, their lightly colored hair contrasting greatly with the slight scowl upon her painted lips. Eyes glared directly at the Demon, her expression anything but welcoming as she regarded Meliodas.

"One moment!" Elizabeth called back to them before turning to Meliodas once more. She met his eyes with a gentle gaze, soft, gloved hands covering his rough, calloused ones as she gave him a lovely smile. "I hope you find the right Elizabeth."

'But you are..'

The words were bit back, the blonde grimacing slightly as he mentally held them back. Instead he could only nod, releasing the softest of sighs as Elizabeth's hands slipped from his own with a slight squeeze. Another simple smile and she was then gone, evaporating into the bustling crowd of the street.


Elizabeth woke to find herself in a meadow filled with flowers. The sun was already high in the sky, its golden glow cascading all over the green grass below. All sorts of plants bloomed in the sea of green, pinks, blues, yellows and whites adding to the pastel theme. Cerulean skies met her own pure blue eyes, fluffy white clouds scattered across it in a picturesque scene. Everything was picturesque. The trees, the birds, the grass - everything. Everything seemed perfect and lovely and beautiful, like something that couldn't possibly belong to boring old Britannia.

But the most important thing the Goddess noticed was that she wasn't in the woods. Not at all. She was instead in a meadow that looked to be ages away from the dangerous maze of trees and plants, the river nearby being the only similarity between the two places.

Odd.

The young Goddess sat up with a refreshed sigh, easily picking up her cloak that lay beside her. The bottom of it was ruined from the mud and dirt, ripped and tarnished beyond repair. However on it was a reminder that the events of the last night were not a dream, a strand of blonde hair standing out against the red fabric. Fingers gingerly picked it out, blue eyes examining it closely but knowing that it was one of his.

"It really did happen..." Elizabeth breathed, a hand running over her neck and finding the tender spot which was most likely bruised. A light blush covers her features at the thought of the bruise, her mind aware of what had led to it being there. Something very impure.

It was then Elizabeth noticed she was alone, the last person she had been with now vanished from the scene. Very odd since he couldn't seem to get his hands off her, his self-restraint seeming to have vanished when he had her all alone. However now he was gone, leaving the Goddess safe and all alone when she had assumed that was the last thing she'd ever be. She'd assumed that she'd be dead or perhaps suffer a terrible fate.

But nothing had happened and The End hadn't come.

"I don't get it..." Elizabeth frowned as she got to her feet, head feeling slightly dizzy as she staggered. "Why would - why wouldn't he do it? Wouldn't it be easier to kill me? Or to even just sleep with me and - "

The young Goddess stopped her rambling as she spotted the form of another Goddess approaching, their wings standing out against the baby blue sky. Short, light hair framed her face, a diamond choker lining her neck and standing out against the simple armor she wore. A large frown sat on her painted lips, the red making the look all the more prominent. Nevertheless Elizabeth faced the approaching Goddess with dignity, her blush growing as she realised her neck would betray what happened.

"Lady Elizabeth!" Jelamet landed beside her friend, shaking her head she she studied the other Goddess' form. "What happened to you? You're all muddy and you were missing all night! Her Grace is worried sick and - "

"I got lost," Elizabeth answered firmly, placing her cloak on before Jelamet could notice the marks upon her skin. "I waited the storm out in a cave, but after I didn't know where to go and it was too dangerous to fly."

Jelamet raised a brow at that, skeptical but still allowing of the story as it did make sense. As a result the other Goddess only sighed, shaking her head as she guided her innocent friend back towards their kingdom. The journey was rather short and filled with little talk as Jelamet only studied her friend, eyeing how she clutched her cloak close and rarely allowed it to blow too much to reveal her legs or arms.

"Did anything else happen?" Jelamet spoke in a hard and firm tone, almost demanding as she looked at Elizabeth. Brows knitted as lips were pressed into a grimace, her gloved hand folded over her chest. "If so I need to know, Lady Elizabeth."

The other Goddess turned to face her friend at that, a slight smile on her features as she let a lie slip past once more. A filthy impure lie.

"No, nothing happened."

And the two continued in silence.


Elizabeth paced about her room, wings trailing the carpeted floor as she occasionally glanced out of her huge paned windows. Flowers grew just outside it, their sweet scent often escaping into the room when the window was open. Usually they would calm the young Goddess when she was in a state like this, pacing and repeating the one name that always escaped her lips whenever she remembered more than the beginning, however now they did nothing but aggravate her.

Annoy her.

"Mel- Meli - Melio - "

The door opened, cutting Elizabeth off as she spotted her friend, Jelamet, enter the room. The other Goddess frowned at Elizabeth's pacing, painted lips stretching as she only shook her head and set down a tray which carried a tea set. Steam curled from the porcelain teapot, the scent of something sweet and warm permeating the air as Elizabeth paced.

"Your mother told me you were distressed today, Lady Elizabeth," Jelamet eyed the silver-haired Goddess as she began to prepare the tea, easily using the small spoon to weigh out sugar. Eyes marked with the symbol of the Goddess Clan watched as Elizabeth paced, the owner measured as she prepared the tea. "Something about her messing with your memories."

The young Goddess paled at that, nodding slightly as she knew that lying would get her nowhere. Instead she sat beside her friend at the window seat, wings neatly tucked and mind trying not to break into hysterics. Teeth gnawing her lip, the Goddess daintily placed her hands in her lap as she began to nervously twist her gloves.

"Yes, and I'm certain she is!" Elizabeth's lips pressed slightly, her blue eyes wide with convection and certainty as she spoke. "I've had dreams recently and they involve someone I cannot remember meeting at all! I used to call him Mr Dragon, but he had a real name..."

The Young Goddess once again slipped into thought, her brain uttering the first few letters of his name like a mantra. M...Me...Mel...Meli...Melio...Meliod - Drat and now she didn't know what followed next! All Elizabeth could ever figure out was up to the 'd' and that was it. She could never fully complete his name and when she got close, she would suddenly forget all about this mysterious boy she used to always spend her time with.

"You're being ridiculous," Jelamet shook her head, snorting as she stirred the tea some more. She then passed Elizabeth a cup, a grimace set on her features. "Here, have some tea. It'll probably help."

"Oh no! I couldn't possibly!" Elizabeth shook her head at that, pushing the teacup away. "I'm so close to remembering his name! I saw his face in a dream last night, so I must be close to knowing who Mr Dragon is. I can't - "

"Drink the tea, Lady Elizabeth," Jelamet growled slightly, jaw tense as she still held out the cup. She then grabbed her own cup and lifted it to her lips. "It's not poisoned, see?"

The other Goddess then downed her cup, easily swallowing the liquid and firmly placing the cup back down once done. She then looked at Elizabeth with a hardened gaze, urging her to drink the tea.

"Very well..." Elizabeth sighed, taking a sip from her cup but finding it awfully bitter. "Did you add sugar to this Jelamet?"

"Yes, just drink it up."

Another sigh and Elizabeth finished the cup.


"You remind me of someone I used to know..."

Elizabeth breathed, her eyes fixed onto the blonde Demon that sat beside her.

The two had ended up stumbling onto each other's paths once more, coincidentally ending up in the same human settlement to run some errands of sorts. That led to them talking and getting to know each other a little, the errands being forgotten the longer they stayed in each other's company.

However despite talking to the Demon for a while, Elizabeth's brain was still trying to figure out where she had seen his face before, the features and swirling mark of his face being something that jogged a memory that was stored deep down in her thoughts. Very deep down in her thoughts. She couldn't name it, but the curve of his smile and the shape of his eyes made her think of someone she used to know. It made her think of a smiling face and a boyish laugh that had been lost to the sands of time so many years ago.

"There's a lot of people who look like me," The Demon answered simply, shrugging slightly as he gave a sheepish grin. "It wouldn't be hard to mistake me for someone else."

"No, I'm certain I've seen you before," Elizabeth insisted, her blue eyes now hardened with concentration. She prodded his cheek with a finger, a serious expression on her face. "And I feel like you know too."

The Demon froze a little, just for a second, his spine feeling as if it was forced upright by an electric shock. However he didn't show that to Elizabeth, his many years of having to display the perfect poker face working in his favor as he bit into an apple. He wore a nonchalant expression, his youthful features playing it off wonderfully as he deflected her analytical stare.

"I don't know anything about that," Meliodas shrugged off her prodding, his dark eyes unblinking. He then booped Elizabeth on the nose, smirking impishly. "You need to stop thinking about it."

The Goddess gave a small defeated sigh in response, a smile still on her lips. She knew that the Demon knew something about her finding him familiar. She could tell from how he'd selectively picked her out of the crowd, even though she'd only met him once. That one meeting was during a particularly weird situation too, one where you wouldn't really seek out the other person involved, yet this Demon did. He recognised her and greeted her warmly - like she was an old friend.

That fact alone told Elizabeth that this Demon knew her. Perhaps she even knew him too.

"Well I'm determined to solve it!" Elizabeth grinned with triumph, not at all dampened by his evasive vocabulary. Her blue eyes were bright, cheery, as she folded her arms across her chest. They burned like a fire that had fuel to last for millennia. "With or without your help Mr Dragon, I'll find out how you know me."

"Mr Dragon?" Meliodas - Mr Dragon - raised a brow, pausing mid-bite as he heard the name for the second time.

He hadn't really been called that over the years, the name forgotten with the disappearance of the person who gave it to him. Liz, or Little Red as he called her now, was the one who gave it to him. She was the one who said she called him that because he was mean and scary like a dragon, but also protected everything precious to him really well. He was a greedy creature, something that didn't like to share. That had prompted Meliodas to think of Liz as his treasure - his one and only treasure - as he never wanted to share her and always aimed to protect her; however when she disappeared so did the name.

No-one called him Mr Dragon.

No-one but his Elizabeth.

"You remind me of him," Elizabeth hummed a little, a gentle smile on her lips. She turned the charm on her necklace in her fingers, a distant expression in place as if she were dreaming. "There's this person I used to see in my dreams and I always called him Mr Dragon. We'd go exploring and - that's it! You remind me of Mr Dragon!"

Elizabeth's eyes widened with realisation, a wide grin on her lips as the pieces snapped into place. This Demon did remind her of Mr Dragon! He was a lot like him and -

"Oh do I?"

The Demon then grabbed her chest, earning a high-pitched squeal as she stiffened. Meliodas only laughed in response, the pink flush that broke out on her skin only amusing him all the more. She was gathering the pieces, that was good. However he couldn't help but feel a little upset at the fact that Elizabeth only remembered him through dreams. That meant something else was going on. Something sinister.

"Are you listening, Mr Dragon?"

Meliodas snapped out of his thoughts to have Elizabeth tap his head, breaking him from the mantra of blinking and groping. But even so the thoughts still lingered, a bitter sadness spreading as Elizabeth continued to talk in her soft, tinkling voice. She had no idea what was going on. No idea at all that she had memories that were missing.

And what if she never got them back? Would Meliodas forever remember a childhood where they had caused trouble together and spent endless days hiding away from the adults? Would he have to deal with the pain of knowing the truth while she never will?

The Demon let out a long internal sigh as he looked at Elizabeth once more.

He had her now and that was good enough he guessed. If he had to remind her of why they were friends, then so be it. He'll remind her. He'll let her know exactly why he reminded her of Mr Dragon.


Elizabeth couldn't get the blonde Demon out of her mind no matter how hard she tried. And believe she tried everything. Dancing, singing, reading, going to boring meetings, even agreeing to shadow her mother for the day had not pushed the boyish blonde from her mind. Instead all she could focus on was how he had kissed her, how his rough hands could give such tender and burning touches and how she should be ashamed of wanting to do that again.

After all a Goddess shouldn't be dwelling on matters of intimacy, let alone with a Demon. It would be best for her to let it all be buried and forgotten within the depths of her mind. Remain a secret. But that was the problem.

Elizabeth couldn't forget it.

Everywhere the young Goddess went she would face something that made her think of what had happened. Trees were an especial trigger, the Goddess remembering how it felt to be pressed so close to him, or how it felt as he left one mark after another. She was constantly reminded of what had happened, her daily covering of the marks on her neck and even thighs being something that was leftover from the encounter. She could heal them, but Elizabeth didn't want to. Instead she wanted to keep them for as long as she could, especially since she would most likely never see that strange Demon again.

They had only bumped into each other by chance the other day, the pair of them both out to finish some errands. But in that time they had spoken for a while and Elizabeth was convinced that she knew this Demon. She was certain that she had known him before they had even stumbled upon each other that fateful night. She had to as her brain would not recall that spiraling mark of his so well if she had not seen it before.

However Elizabeth did not have time to solve this mystery. In fact she was running against a swiftly turning clock.

She hadn't been told prior, but today Elizabeth was meant to be meeting her betrothed. From early on in the day the young Goddess had been all prepped to meet the man who she would marry and most likely birth children for. And what do children come from?

Exactly.

Elizabeth had never been one to dwell on the matter of intimacy. She was never one to squeal and gossip over sexual encounters, or how attractive and dreamy a guy was, but after this weird confrontation with the Demon she dubbed Mr Dragon, the Goddess was beginning to see why people were like this. She was beginning to understand why people say intimacy can be something eye-opening, and she hadn't even done the deed with the guy! All they did was...well how does one define it? Not much?

The Goddess released a defeated groan as she fanned herself. Things were definitely growing complicated.

Nevertheless the young Goddess was nervous to meet her future husband, knowing that she couldn't possibly marry him because she didn't believe she could fulfill her duty as his wife after what had happened. Not when her mind wandered to a mysterious man she had met in a stupid midnight stumble. Not when she constantly thought of where she had seen that grinning face before.

But at the same time, Elizabeth also couldn't refuse the arrangement, as her mother spent years looking for the perfect match. This alliance through marriage was also the only thing preventing war between the two kingdoms. It was so rushed that Elizabeth had only learned of her betrothal this morning.

So naturally the Goddess was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Elizabeth sighed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, noting how her mother had done so well to dress her regally. Her sliver hair was piled into a fancy updo, curled tendrils framing her face to highlight her pixie nose and cerulean eyes. She wore a white dress, the off-the-shoulder neckline of it being lined with downy feathers. It revealed ample cleavage, showing that Elizabeth did not lack in supply, and matched with the voluminous, ruffled skirts that covered her heeled shoes.

A silver tiara sat in Elizabeth's hair, a blue jewel being the crown piece to it and differing from the pearls also intertwined with her silvery locks. Makeup had been a strict no from the Goddess, Elizabeth wanting to keep it all natural when she met her future husband. Therefore the only finery she donned was that of a princess, her fine gown and tiara speaking of her status.

Because she was a princess.

Elizabeth was the princess of her kingdom; and as the princess of her kingdom, Elizabeth had a duty to fulfill. She had to marry to strengthen her kingdom's power and form a healthy alliance. Therefore she had to marry this prince she had never met in order to solidify the friendly terms between her kingdom and his own. She had to do it even if she had dreams and thoughts about the strange blonde man in the forbidden Demon territory.

Yet still Elizabeth had one last wish. She had a simple wish to see this blonde one more time, and so she found a way to sneak out of the castle. With Jelamet's help, Elizabeth acquired another red cloak (which was actually part of the servants' uniform) and easily exited the palace gates with a basket tucked under her arm. She still wore her fine gown and her tiara was well hidden beneath the velvet fabric of the cloak, but the princess was almost unrecognizable with her guise as a servant.

She had no problems travelling down the path that led out of her kingdom's capital and towards the destination she had so often thought about. No-one stopped to ask where she was going and no-one even suggested that she was the princess. All anyone did was ride past on their horses or give a quick glance before going back on their way. One time a carriage passed and Elizabeth thought she had seen Mr Dragon within it, but he wasn't inside. It was only a lookalike, his jet black hair betraying that he was not Mr Dragon.

So the princess pressed forward, lifting her pristine skirts once she reached the border of the woodland, its thick trees lining the road that led to the kingdom beside her own. Looking in at the daytime, Elizabeth would've never believed that the woods were so scary at night. She wouldn't have thought about the atrocities that went on. The pretty trees and plants that made up the border were too gorgeous to even connote to danger, let alone the other things that went on in the place. But then again they always say not to judge a book by its cover.

"Mr Dragon!" Elizabeth called for the Demon at the border of the trees, hands letting her stainless white skirts fall. "Mr Dragon I have something to tell you!"

The young Goddess stepped forwards, letting the cool shade of the trees engulf her. Blue eyes remained determined, her hands tightly grasping her dress as the princess pressed onward. Now that it was daylight, the princess felt more certain and brave. She knew where she was going, she knew where to tread. As a result she easily went deeper into the thicket, not caring as she heard her dress' seams tear slightly.

"Please answer!"

The princess then stumbled down a steep incline, her shoes not helping at all with their pointed heels. She fell with a loud yelp, tears brimming as her elbows stung and ankle throbbed. Upset, Elizabeth then threw off her shoes, annoyed that the heels were hindering her search. She then got up to discover that her dress had ripped and gotten caught in some brambles. The severed skirt was now covered in dirt from her fall, the once pristine white fabric stained brown and green. All that was left of the fine dress was the shredded ruffles, a thin petticoat that jaggedly reached her midthigh, and the feather-rimmed bodice.

Nevertheless Elizabeth ignored these things, knowing her mother would later scold her for it, but still not caring. She had to see Mr Dragon. She had to see him before she never could again. Even if this was pointless, the woods not being the permanent living space of the Demons, she still had to give it a shot. Elizabeth still had to try.

"Mr Dragon please!" Elizabeth called out once more, soft features twisting with desperation as tears brimmed in her eyes. Mud was streaked on her powdery cheeks, smeared by her hands which tried to wipe away the bubbling tears. "I need to see you! I need to tell you something!"

The Goddess then staggered out of the steep drop, her once fine dress reduced to rags and only her cloak and tiara remaining. Tears streamed down her face as she aimlessly wandered through the trees, calling and calling as her hope began to dim. She walked and walked throughout the maze of natural towers, not once stopping her calling and pleading, until it had thinned out into an empty plane. An empty plane that revealed the city she had walked all the way to.

"There's no point turning back now," Elizabeth released a small sigh, her tired blue eyes fixing on the outline of the spired castle.

She then continued to trudge onward, her bare feet immune to the uneven feel of the dusty road.


Her smile was warm and sweet, like a ray of sunshine that formed within a sea of never-ending darkness. The way her blue eyes sparkled as they crinkled, the way her lips spread into an even grin, always made him feel as if he were at the centre of the universe. The centre of her universe. It was a feeling unlike any other, a feeling that had formed and made its permanent stay well before the Demon had even sensed it.

He felt it when she hugged him, heard it whispering in his ears when he made her laugh, and most importantly knew it when she went out of her way to find him. When she smiled at him.

That feeling, that sensation that bubbled and wrapped its way around his senses, is what made Meliodas believe that Elizabeth truly was precious. She truly was his treasure, his one and only treasure, that he would guard with a wrath and greed so frightening and ferocious that no-one would want to steal her away. No-one would want to try and take away the dragon's rightful keep and claim. The Demon believed that he would guard her with his life, he would hold her in a place that no-one else could ever take.

But he had never known that one day he'd never feel that wonderful sensation again.

"Meliodas..." She was crying. Yes, crying. Great crystal tears fell from her beautiful eyes, large and engulfing like crashing waves from the ocean itself. She had scrubbed them away fiercely, her face reddened from the smooth sleeves of her dress. "Please promise me something."

"What is it?" The Demon frowned slightly at the sight of her distress, never liking to see her looking so down. He preferred when she was more happy, more bright. When things didn't bother her so much that she worked herself into a distraught state that worried herself to near-death.

However Meliodas also knew that he could not eradicate sadness itself. All he could do was chase it away, hoping that it wouldn't return, but knowing that eventually it must.

Therefore he always tried to chase away the clouds that eventually began to swirl, the little puffs of misery that they were, before they could grow too large. He always chased away her worries before they could grow too large. Before they could consume her whole. But today they had; they had grown to a disproportionate scale, prompting concern from the blonde as he watched her cry.

"Promise me you'll keep searching," Elizabeth sniffed a little, wiping away a few more tears before staring him right in the eye. Hers were tinged with red, the usually pure blue irises seeming glassy and distorted as she spoke. "Promise you'll look for the right Elizabeth."

Meliodas frowned in confusion, not at all gathering what she could possibly mean by her request. 'Find the right Elizabeth?' - that was impossible to do since he had already found her. It didn't make sense to ask him to 'find the right her', not when the Demon believed he had found the right one. She was there right now after all, talking to him and trying to hold back a river of tears that never seemed to dry.

However regardless of whether her request made sense or not, Meliodas knew he would fulfill it. For her he would do anything, and so he already knew his answer, even if her prompt did confuse him. It didn't matter if it didn't make sense; it didn't matter if it was impossible: Meliodas would do it for Elizabeth. Be it to breathe underwater or to die and come back to life, he'd do it as she would do the same for him.

"I - "

But before he could say anything else, she was gone. Vanished. Her form had faded like smoke in the wind, her once distraught frame replaced with the familiar scene of his own room. He hadn't even gotten to respond, hadn't gotten to comfort and console her. All Meliodas got to do was see her cry, cry and cry about a problem he had no solution to fix. A problem he could never resolve.

"The same one again..."

The blonde Demon frowned as he looked at his hands, knowing they were real but still feeling as if he were in a dream. Real life may as well be a dream for him, a perpetual nightmare in which he could never wake up to break.

Sweat had piled on his skin, the cold fluid indicating that he had gone through yet another dream of that last encounter. Yet another repeat of the last time he had seen Elizabeth. She had looked just the same, felt just the same, but he had been wrong yet again. It was another wrong Elizabeth, a phantom of the real one and her cryptic warning that seemed so obvious in hindsight.

"Then there's nothing to worry about then," She had smiled, a small bubble of laughter forming. However it sounded flat to the Demon's ears, like it was artificially crafted.

That was the last smile she had given him, the last expression that he would ever see from her pretty face. It was one that was halfhearted and filled with a hidden sadness. A smile and laugh that were created to deflect worry from herself, when really he should have known.

Meliodas should have seen it right away.

He should've seen the warning signs back then. He should've known that Elizabeth was in danger. He should've known that something was going on. But instead Meliodas was too trusting. He was too believing to even think of what might happen if he let their parents have their way. He thought he could protect her from everything and through that he had exposed a weakness. He had let down his guard.

But now it was too late to reverse what had been done. Too late to even tell her everything.

So maybe he deserved to be plagued by these dreams. Perhaps fate was right to punish him for not acting when he could, because now Elizabeth didn't know who he was.

She had forgotten about everything they had ever shared.


"Mr Dragon!"

Elizabeth brightened as she spotted the blonde and began to race towards him. For what seemed like majority of the night and day, the bedraggled princess had been searching the city for any signs of the Demon she had named Mr Dragon. Many times she had been misdirected, while others laughed in her face. Once a group of thieves had tried to steal her jewelry, the scuffle ending in the princess running away as she left them trapped within an alleyway.

However now she had finally spotted the Demon she had been searching for, the fire of determination being lit up much brighter as she raced towards him. Yet hesitation took over when Elizabeth paused as she spotted someone beside him.

The person looked older than Mr Dragon, although that wasn't hard to do, and was talking to him in a tone very much akin to a doddering old man. They were both seemingly dressed for an event that seemed awfully formal, Elizabeth seeming to recognise the calls of her royal duties that she had so easily abandoned for her search. Her face felt warm at just the sight of the pair; to come up to them now, dressed in what was essentially rags, would most likely result in a very negative response. She may even be arrested.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, the young Goddess stopped her approach, nibbling her lip as she instead hid behind a wall. Her blue eyes glanced around the solid structure to watch as the Demon she'd thought of constantly conversed with this other being, interested in piecing together the mystery of why he reminded her of the boy in her dreams.

"I need you to behave for once, Master Meliodas," The other being spoke, his tone highly cheerful but warning as he looked at the blonde. Thick brows tilted at a sharp angle, matching with the mane of hair that crowned his head. "This alliance has been carefully crafted by your father to set everything in place for a successful reign. You just need to marry the girl and everything will be sorted."

The blonde, Mr Dragon, Meliodas - or whatever Elizabeth should call him at this point, simply released a sigh, his expression oddly vacant as he regarded the simpering older Demon. He seemed rather bored, much unlike the Mr Dragon the Goddess had gotten to know. Right now he was a lot more stiff and cold, not at all like the mischievous and nonchalant person she'd linked to her dreams. She couldn't see the two being the same, not when Mr Dragon seemed a lot more fun to be around.

"Just like with the Vampires," Meliodas rolled his eyes, grumbling a little as he glanced towards Elizabeth's direction. His gaze only lingered for a split second, but even so the Goddess felt her heart clenching tightly as she quickly ducked and flattened herself against the wall.

"Yes just like - no this is very different!" The older Demon frowned, shaking his head as he looked at the blonde. "This race is not beneath us like the Vampires. They're equal. We need them - "

"To secure a hold on power and make sure this whole kingdom isn't burned down," Meliodas finished, his blonde brows furrowing as a grimace sat on his features. He then sent a sharpened glare at the older Demon, something being held beneath his darkened depths. "I know why I have to do this, Chandler. But I don't understand why it has to be me. Estarossa's also eligible to be married off."

"Excuse my words, but he is a power hungry snake, Master," The older Demon, Chandler, frowned once more. "He is different from you and Zeldris. Besides the current ruler wants a direct heir and nothing less. That way the kingdoms are united completely."

"And this came from their very mouth?"

"And this came from their very mouth," Chandler nodded, his expression grim despite his cheery tone. "However I can see why you hesitate to meet the princess. Many say she's simple minded and prone to wander."

A short but palpable silence formed, Elizabeth feeling her lungs and heart pause as she waited for the words to continue. For some sort of response to be said in return. However the small pause seemed to stretch for eternity, the Goddess feeling as if eyes were still drawn to the spot where she was hidden. Both Demons seemed to be aware of where she was, their gazes lasting a little longer than needed. But nothing came and soon they were talking once more.

"She is also rumoured to be quite beautiful, though," Chandler continued, a thoughtful hand stroking his beard. "A true gem for some, but not a dime on my dear Master."

She could still feel a gaze. The sort of gaze that was like a rope, traceable and tangible, and Elizabeth was sure that the gaze had caught her. It had spotted her through the wall, making out her racing heart and sweating skin as she tried to edge away from the wall's end.

"Enough with the flattery fool," Meliodas shook his head, glancing at Chandler but really having his attention caught by the strip of fabric he could spot from behind the wall. It was grayed and dirt-streaked, ripped beyond repair, but even so he had a feeling that he knew who it belonged to. Only one person would be crazy enough to eavesdrop on a conversation like this after all.

Elizabeth frowned as she heard her heart echoing in her ears, its constant beat seeming like a thumping drum as she breathed in shallow breaths. She was certain he had spotted her, certain that she had been well and truly caught, and it seemed highly possible. It was definitely probable.

The Goddess looked down at her feet to spot that her dress was sticking out from the wall, the fabric billowing in the small breeze. She went to move it, but she knew it was too late. They had most likely seen it and her cover was blown.

"Hey!"

A voice cried out as her arm went to tuck in the fabric. Her first mistake.

Not waiting to see what would happen, Elizabeth then took off in a full sprint, knowing fully well that something was pursuing her.


"I'm not drinking the tea."

The words left firm and resolute, like a mountain that blocked the rushing depths of a racing river. Pure blue eyes were hardened with resolve, the owner wearing a tight grimace as she cast her icy glare at the teapot that sat on its tray.

Smoke curled from the porcelain bowl, light and swirling like a flock of clouds, but the bitter taste and truth of the tea made that image seem like a mirage. A lie. The Goddess knew that albeit the pretty teapot and fragrant aroma of steamed select herbs, the tea was really a subtle poison. A hidden weapon. It was tool used to erase something very important to her that she had never really known the importance of until now. She had never gotten the chance to remember it until now.

But now that she knew what it was - now that Elizabeth knew what was once missing - she could not bring herself to drink the tea. She couldn't even will herself to face the sucrose deception.

However Jelamet was not pleased to hear this, her coloured lips twisting into a downwards smile. Her eyes were lidded, narrowed like pinpoints, two fists clenching in a tight hold as she kept them over her chest. A light growl emitted from her throat, but even so Jelamet appeared as if she were more concerned than angry. It was as if she were more afraid of what would happen if the Supreme Deity was disobeyed than furious at Elizabeth's refusal.

"But Lady Elizabeth, your mother - "

"I don't care what she asks of me Jelamet!" Elizabeth stunned herself as her voice come out loud and clear, like a precise strike to a piece of sonorous metal. It rang about the room, echoing as her cheeks reddened with frustration. A small huff left her lips. "I will not drink something that makes me forget again!"

"Lady Elizabeth..." Jelamet fell short on her words, her guilty gaze softening however her voice could not. It was instead tense and terse, like a tightened wire, and the growing concern on her features only seemed to be a mask for the volatile emotions brewing beneath it.

Jelamet reached out for her friend, her hand gently extend, but only met a small shake of the head.

"I'm sorry but I cannot," Elizabeth backed away from her friend, shivering as she stepped closer. Downcast blue eyes looked towards the ground, the young Goddess feeling a solemn sensation she had never experienced for a while. "I cannot betray my heart nor him like that. Not again."

A cluster of tears began to form without command, freely flowing down the curve of her face as she recalled the last time she had remembered him. It had been a terrible parting, a cryptic goodbye that had been purposely uttered for the sake of hopefully letting him move on. Elizabeth had been so distraught that day, so upset, that she had failed at hiding the terrible truth she had come across. She failed at making it all seem ok.

But even so she had just brushed it aside as a silly promise, a small thing she wanted him to fulfill, in order to forget about her just as she will him. Elizabeth had wanted to make the pain of being forgotten, nameless, as numb as possible for him. But with the discovery of recent events and how they linked to the past, Elizabeth could not help but feel like she had done more harm than good in her concealment of the truth.

She couldn't help but feel that uttering that promise had made things a thousand times worse.

"You know I used to visit him all the time, Jelamet," Elizabeth gave a small smile, the distant warmth of those memories seeming to reach her from their far off post. "I used to make my way to our secret spot and bring a basket filled with stolen 'treasures'. They used to be little things like flowers, books and even a couple of trinkets I was given. Silly right? But we'd both trade them every now and again and promise to look after them for each other. In fact I still have them..."

"Yes I know..." Jelamet mumbled bitterly, quickly, her hands cupping themselves into little fists. "It was the one thing we could never take away."

Her eyes refused to meet Elizabeth's, instead glancing towards the carpeted floor in rage. Guilty rage.

It had never intended to go this far. It was never intended for Elizabeth to find out. The potion was made to protect her from the danger she couldn't see she was in. The Supreme Deity had trusted Jelamet to administer it as she knew Elizabeth the best. All of this was planned and executed to protect Elizabeth from making the greatest mistake of her life. It was done to help her.

But clearly it was always intended to fail. Elizabeth had always been too attached to ever have the memories erased entirely. They could only be fuzzed out into distant and displaced ones, always having the potential to come back when the potion's effect became too weak. That's why the remembering came back every now and then.

That's why she was doing this now.

"But why?" Elizabeth pleaded, her voice soft as silent tears still tracked their paths down her face. "Why would you and my mother want to take them away? What harm did they ever do?"

Jelamet remained poised, still, her body unresponsive to the emotion in her friend's voice, but her mind screaming out in dreadful remorse and anger. Her hands clenched and unclenched themselves, her jaw setting into a tight square as she could only grumble a response.

"...That is a question for you to ask Her Grace about," Jelamet spoke with a terse tone, her thin brows still fixed into a tight and steeled position. She then faced Elizabeth, the mark of their clan glowing in her eyes. "But know this, Elizabeth, going with that Demon is the worst thing you can do."

The Goddess then left the room, making no effort to hide her seething rage as the door slammed shut. A gust of wind followed, the door frame shaking from the impact but quickly setting back into place.

Jelamet was mad. She was beyond mad. But Elizabeth figured she could stay that way. Jelamet could stay mad at her forever because although Jelamet saw it as a betrayal to not drink the tea, Elizabeth saw it as a betrayal for Jelamet to keep a secret like this to herself. She saw it as wrong to deceive your friend in such a manner. To make them forget about someone they held very close and dear within their heart. Yet Elizabeth still forgave her friend.

Elizabeth still forgave Jelamet for hiding the truth.

"I hope your frozen heart thaws one day, Jelamet," Elizabeth whispers the words in a gentle prayer, blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "Maybe then you'll forgive me..."


"Elizabeth?"

Meliodas wasn't at all confused to know that it was her who had stumbled into his way once more. It was only Elizabeth who could be so careless to stumble into a place like this anyway, let alone listen in on a conversation many would die from eavesdropping on. She was just the sort to end up lost and alone, looking for someone even though she was risking herself for it. But what confused the Demon was the endless tears pouring from her eyes, her tattered clothes revealing her form no longer being a distraction to him. Instead he was attentive to how she was feeling, the stoic prince somehow wanting to make all her sadness disappear.

Just like all the times previous.

"M-mr Dragon," Elizabeth gulped, her tears seeming to pause as she looked at him. She then sniffled slightly, her crystal eyes settled in a glare shot towards the Demon as her lips set into a pout. "Or should I say Meliodas?"

"Just Meliodas," He sighed, a hand running through his already messy hair. He frowned slightly, knowing that she probably knew a lot more now that she had overhead his conversation with Chandler. It was pretty much evident from how her foot tapped frantically, not at all bothered from smacking the pavement so harshly with no shoes on at all.

"So when were you going to tell me?" Elizabeth raised a brow, her arms folding across her chest.

"When were you going to tell me?" Meliodas raised a brow, directing the exact same attack right back.

The Goddess flushed, her whole face covered in a ripe tomato blush. A small noise left her throat as all words failed, her mouth fixing into a defiant pout as she huffed and returned to her silent foot tapping. However her blue eyes were rimmed with a softness that he recognised, the sort that she had when he used to do things she disapproved of when they were children.

"Looks like we're both not innocent," Meliodas chuckled a little, a smirk settling on his features as he mused. "So princess, why did you decide to come back when you're engaged?"

Those words jolted Elizabeth out of her annoyance, instead sending her into a slight state of panic and fluster. Her blush spread once more, colouring her cheeks as she scrambled for words as to explain her thought process.

"Come back?" Elizabeth blinked, her hands absentmindedly playing with a loose curl of her hair. It slipped between her fingers, winding around the thin limbs. "Well I was hoping to run away. Or at least say goodbye to you, Meliodas. It wouldn't be fair to marry someone who I did not truly love if I didn't have any closure. But...how did you even know?"

"I have my ways," The blonde grinned slightly, a mischievous gleam reaching his eyes. "So you'd run away huh? Give up your royal duties."

"If it meant being with you," Elizabeth breathed, seeming to gather strength from some invisible force. Her voice was firm, certain, a determined expression sitting on her dainty features. "Then yes."

The Goddess then wrapped the Demon into a hug, tears spilling from her crystal eyes. Soft arms wound their way around his form, the action seeming so familiar to Meliodas even though he knew that she couldn't possibly remember anything. Not when she seemed so clueless as to what had happened between them. Not when she spoke so innocently and purely, casting everything that had blocked their way before aside as if it was nothing.

But even if she wasn't hugging him how she used to, even if she was only doing this because she felt she had to, Meliodas would return the action. He'd always return anything she did for him because she meant that much. Even if she forgot him. Even if she didn't truly know who he was. Meliodas would always be there for her. Always.

"I found out what happened..." Elizabeth whispered, her voice coming out soft as she closed her eyes. Her arms tightened around him. "And I am truly sorry if I hurt you at all. If I knew sooner I would have done something about it."

Her words caused the blonde to freeze, still, in her hold as they fell upon his ears. At first he felt to smile, to actually just be glad that she remembered him once again. The urge to pick her up and spin her about never been greater. But then came the crashing wave of relief, the rolling tears that threatened to form after having been held in for so long. It was something that made him want to hold her tightly and never let go. Something that called to preserve the moment.

But all of that paled in comparison to the third and final revelation. The one that combined everything within him in a great swirl of joy, relief, hope and love. Something that was so great that it overpowered all of the other urges within him and took over completely.

It was so great, that Meliodas had kissed her, the overflow of emotions too great for his brain. He had simply closed the gap between them, sealing his lips against hers in a true kiss that had waited too long to be shared.

"It's not your fault," Meliodas looks right into her eyes, his emerald green meeting her baby blue.

The two just remained there, linked in an embrace that could speak more than words ever could. It had been so long, so very long, since they had been able to do this. Since they'd been able to feel the other in their arms, or listen to their voice and see the familiar light of their smiles. So much time had passed since they could hear each other's laughter, since they could wipe away the other's sorrow and replace it with the happier feelings of support and love.

But now they had it again. It was back. She remembered him and he had found her again. They had been ripped apart but somehow they had found each other. They had been hurt, they had been lost and confused and angry and sad at the same time, but now they were together. Maybe they weren't fixed, but they were together again.

That's all that mattered.

However of course the small moment was broken by reality, the blonde Demon sweeping the stunned Goddess of her feet.

"Now let's return you to your kingdom," Meliodas grinned, a playful spark lighting itself. "They're probably going wild with your sudden disappearance."

The Goddess only giggled at his words, a soft smile settling as they set off.