.
Chapter 10 – Where Love Will Find You
.
First off, two men (plus one pig) warily watched as the heated argument between Diane and Elizabeth kept going. However, when their heated argument turned out to be the little skirmish, Meliodas and Escanor had to restrain the urge to bang their heads to the tree.
Diane huffed and stood, punching her fists "let's see how you fight with those skinny hands!".
Usually, Elizabeth was the pacifist one and preferred to not cause the unnecessary violence but this time Diane really had grated her nerves. She smiled confidently "okay. Just don't regret it".
"Elizabeth, not that I doubt your ability. I trust you", Meliodas waved his hand, he really meant it. After all, 3.000 years ago, Elizabeth was able to defeat the First Giant King "but should you two really fight?".
Elizabeth and Diane said in unison "shut up!".
"if you say so", Meliodas facepalmed, lifting his hand in mocking surrender as he walked backward. He sat near Escanor and Hawk before lifting his thumbs to Elizabeth "fight".
Hawk opened his mouth to protest "are you seriously gonna—?!".
Meliodas already clamped his mouth shut with a mischievous grin on his face "oh, shut up, porky. She's not known as the 'Bloody Ellie' in the Holy War 3.000 years ago for nothing".
Escanor and Hawk blanched. The former noted to himself to pester Merlin about it later.
Please wait for a moment...
Meliodas deadpanned "told you, no need to worry about her".
Hawk gawked "...I can't believe this...".
Yep. It was comically ridiculous. After Diane launched her fist to Elizabeth which only hit the ground beneath them, Elizabeth who had floated on the air with her wings flapping, she threw two large light balls of her Ark to Diane's head.
Looking at how Diane, lost consciousness, lying with her back on the ground within the giant-size crater which you could even see the floating stars above Diane's head after she got hit by Elizabeth's Ark, Escanor lifted his thumb "cool. I admit she's scary when she's mad. This is the first time I saw someone could beat Diane like this".
"now you know it, don't make her mad", Meliodas chuckled and whispered "oh, you also have to be careful. Merlin is also scary when she's mad, you know?".
After earning Escanor's flinch, Meliodas walked to Elizabeth with the intention to check her if she got injured or not "good job, Ellie. Kind of reminded me with when you defeated Dolor".
"speaking of which, Meliodas...", Elizabeth cleaned the dust off of her hands before turning with her overly-sweet smile as threatening aura surrounded her body "you deliberately didn't tell me about how Lady Diane has a crush on you, huh?".
Meliodas winced, lifting his hands nervously "I can explain".
Diane groaned as she got out of the giant-sized crater before rubbing her head. She realized her wounds had healed and wondered how, before Escanor stood in front of her with a smile on his face.
"good afternoon, Diane. I should admit, you're still hot-blooded as usual, especially when it comes to our Captain due to your jealousy. Unfortunately, as your friend, I should suggest you give up because you surely can't get in between the Captain with his wife".
"you haven't changed it seems, Escanor", Diane clicked her tongue out before his words came into her head "...his what?!".
"...looking to your reaction, I think you don't even know about the rumor, do you?".
After Escanor told Diane about the rumor (that their Captain eloped with the third princess Elizabeth Liones and yes, Elizabeth is his wife now), Diane was crying mess "just when I thought, finally, I could reunite with the man I loved, he's together with another woman already?! I'm so broken-hearted!".
"and do you think, how does Lady Elizabeth's feeling when she just reunited with her love? Well, I know it's not your fault, to fall in love with a 'taken' man. I think it's not the Captain's fault as well, due to his uncertainty of what's upcoming them on the future", Escanor wisely mumbled. Merlin had given all knowledge about what happened between Meliodas and Elizabeth, with a condition, that Escanor was not allowed to tell anyone. Oh, Merlin. The way she sweetly asked him to protect Meliodas and Elizabeth that she had considered as her parents figure in her stead due to her absence, it was cunning to win over his heart. Escanor pinched the bridge of his nose before telling Diane "but still, you owe an apologize to Lady Elizabeth. Despite your rude attitude, Lady Elizabeth even healed you when you were unconscious".
Now Escanor mentioned it, Diane was surprised. How kind of her, to heal her after their fight even if she was being so rude to her. Putting her clenched fist on her chest, Diane leaned down "where are the Captain and princess Elizabeth?".
Escanor and Hawk exchanged exasperated glances before pointing to the side, where Elizabeth walked without looking back as Meliodas followed her.
"Ellie. Beth. Bethany. Lizzy. Liz", Meliodas kept calling her nicknames before he gave up and whined "Elizabeth, why are you mad to me? Come on, I apologize for not telling you beforehand—".
Elizabeth cut him off with deep frown "—no, Meliodas. It's not that and you don't understand because it's complicated. I know it's not your fault when some women have a crush or fallen in love with you, considering a good man you are, despite what some people said about your pervert side. I wonder if it's my fault, for unable stay by your side and as a result, only Gods know how many women have fallen into you and here I am, wondering how could I not have known before about how heart-breaker my husband could be?".
Meliodas scratched the back of his nape "...wait, are you jealous?".
Elizabeth stopped on her tracks before she turning her back to him, earning his flinch as she walked to him furiously and yelling "the nerve you have? Of course, I am!?".
As the so-called 'husband and wife spat' between Meliodas and Elizabeth continued, Hawk shook its head in disbelief "honestly, they have been like that for about a half-hour".
Diane gawked "what?!".
Hawk thought it had been enough so the piglet called out "oi, you two, just continue your lover quarrel later somewhere?!".
"no need", Meliodas called back, wrapping his hands around her wrists before pulling her body down to whisper something near her ears. Elizabeth turned bright red before she mumbled incoherently about how cunning Meliodas could be as Meliodas grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to the group cheerfully "problem is settled! Now, let's go to the explanation part".
Hawk deadpanned "what did you whisper to her which successfully calmed her down?".
Meliodas smirked suggestively and wriggled his eyebrow "oh, you will not want to hear it, believe me".
"live it down already!", Elizabeth buried her blushing face on his fluffy head "I feel like I'm feeling jealous in vain...".
"Okay, better not to tell us, then", Escanor lifted his hand before pointedly looking back to Diane "now, I think it's your turn to explain, Captain".
Meliodas and Elizabeth only explained half-truth of what happened from their past (due to the Supreme Deity's conditions). Elizabeth thought it was unfair for Diane and the other members because Escanor and Hawk knew it, but the four others would be left clueless about their curses because of her mother's conditions to forbid them from telling anyone and keep it as a secret instead. Escanor and Hawk had been fed up by Merlin, Meliodas and Elizabeth about how important it was, to keep it as a secret due to Supreme Deity's conditions so they decided to only tell the half-truth to the four others, at least until it was safe enough to tell them and no need the secrecy between them.
Elizabeth told Diane that she had been Meliodas' wife ever since her previous life, that she died about 16 years ago on the Danafor Kingdom and she reincarnated as Elizabeth Liones now. Meliodas explained that he and his family had been the ones of their respective Clan who guarding the Coffin Of Eternal Darkness, the ritual relic to seal the Demon Clan.
"about 16 years ago on the Danafor Kingdom, there were people who tried to break the seal, to resurrect the Demon Clan and I lost my life when I and Meliodas tried to fight back. I remembered everything when I turned into 16 years old lately, though", Elizabeth squeezed Meliodas' hand, realizing his discomfort and grieve "I don't know how, but it seems they successfully infiltrated to the Liones Kingdom. They tried to break the seal and resurrect the Demon Clan again, but they thought Holy Knight Zaratras and the Sins would be a threat and the greatest obstacles to reaching their purpose".
Diane hummed in understanding "which is why they framed us as the main culprit of the one who killed Zaratras 10 years ago?".
Escanor huffed "kill two birds with one stone, huh?".
"but the last fragment is still with me, along with the last key to break the seal", Meliodas tightened his grip on the hilt of his green dragon-hilted sword. He explained further "to break the seal and resurrect the Demon Clan, our enemy will need to collect all the fragments, arrange it into one and the last key to release the seal is—".
"the sacrifice", Elizabeth calmly said, "they will need my blood as the descendant of Goddess Clan to release the seal".
Hawk gasped in horror, quickly clinging to Elizabeth's legs "no way in hell we will let them hurt you!?".
"that's why, we need to gather all the Sins and invade Liones Castle, to save Elizabeth's family and to prevent the revival of Demon Clan", as Elizabeth calmed down the distraught pig, Meliodas looked up with renewal determination on his eyes "right now, we ask you personally. Will you lend your hand to us, Diane?".
"Should you ask me, Captain?", Diane playfully asked and punched her fist on her palm "the Serpent Sin of Envy, Diane is on your service".
Meliodas clasped his hands "good! Now with Merlin, Escanor, and Diane with us, we only need to find Ban, King, and Gowther".
Diane looked around "where is Merlin? I didn't see her around".
"well, she—", Escanor felt it at the same time with Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Diane, looking up "seems like we have a guest".
The lightning struck them before the electric waves tied them all.
"at least, we finally meet, Seven Deadly Sins", Gilthunder came to the view, narrowing his eyes "and princess Elizabeth. So, the rumor is true?".
"Gilthunder", Elizabeth hissed "as I expected, although I don't want to believe this... but am I right to suspect that you were the one who caused the trouble in Bernia village and threw the magic-imbued spear which could have swept the Bernia village from the map from your magic power?".
Meliodas expected it, too. With having her memories of past-lives for 3.000 years, obviously Elizabeth was not a clueless and innocent princess like she was anymore.
"humph, it seems like you're not as innocent and clueless princess as the people thought of", Gilthunder scoffed before pointing his sword to Meliodas "but to elope with the leader from a bunch of criminals like him? Are you serious, Elizabeth? Your father and your sisters will not be pleased with this, at all".
Diane growled "hey! You have no right to protest anything about their relationship?!".
Meliodas said casually "knowing my reputation, any displeasure is understandable. Although, I expect it coming from mostly princess Veronica or princess Margaret and not from you, Gil boy".
"well, I can't help it. All of me only belong to Meliodas", Elizabeth said boldly and smiled innocently "and I believe my love life is out of your concern as a Holy Knight, Gilthunder?".
"...yeah, you're right, considering your position as the third princess, whoever you choose as your future husband should not be a problem because the throne is supposed to fall to the first princess as successor. You're supposedly allowed to choose and feel free to choose whoever your heart wanted. However...", Gilthunder raised his eyebrow, sauntering to behind Meliodas and pointing his sword to "if you chose this man and you, with his group, planned the coup d'etat to invade the Liones Kingdom, it would be a huge problem for us, including me, as a Holy Knight".
After Gilthunder gave a long explanation about what the motives of Holy Knights to aim the Sins and how Gilthunder had both motives, to seek for revenge of his father's death and to proof that his ability as Holy Knight was superior compared to his late father, Meliodas and Elizabeth exchanged glances before they both freed themselves from the electric waves.
"let me make it clear, Gilthunder, I'm not planning to do the coup d'etat like you said, only planning to gather them all so I can ask them to help me take back my home and family. As the rewards, I will help them to clear their names. Isn't it a healthy and fair agreement? Not to mention, I will need to clear his name if I still want to marry with him, otherwise, I doubt my father and my sisters will give their blessing", Elizabeth casually wrapped her arms around Meliodas' shoulders and leaned her head on the crown of his head "although, the idea to elope with him is soo tempting. It's not bad at all, I think".
Meliodas tapped her bicep "as tempting the idea to elope with you as it is for me, think about our kids later. It's kinda complicated when they enter the school".
"oh, you're right", Elizabeth giggled at the idea before pointing out the obvious "so, if you want to take me back to the Liones Castle, like because Margaret asked you, perhaps? Or, if you want to fight one of the Sins, especially Meliodas, I refuse to stay still and do nothing".
"Gods above, Margaret, I wonder what happened to your sister and I doubt if I can drag her back home as you asked. At least, I have to figure out what her purpose and how she can be so attached to Meliodas", Gilthunder twitched his eyebrow "and? What do you mean with you refuse to stay still and do nothing? Are you planning to fight along with him? You, who don't even know how to fight?".
"you're right. The naive, sheltered princess 'Elizabeth Liones' does not even know how to fight", she smiled as she spread her wings and reached out her hand, sending an Ark which only hit the tree bark after passing by Gilthunder's face "but I, the 'Goddess Elizabeth' knows how to fight. Wanna try?".
Meliodas started to think this was getting more dangerous. Elizabeth was not the type of someone who would show off her ability as the goddess and she only kept provoking Gilthunder to fight her instead of him. Ah, Meliodas understood now. She just didn't want him to fight, considering what happened on Bernia that night because she was still worried about his condition. As he stared at the fallen tree on the ground after getting hit by Elizabeth's Ark, Gilthunder's eyes dilated due to shock (could you blame him? Who wouldn't, after you saw your delicate little sister figure turned into savage warrior woman?).
Meliodas smirked and grabbed her wrist before wrapping his arm around her waist "Elizabeth".
Escanor blushed before turning his head. As a gentleman he was, he decided to give the privacy. Diane gasped and blushed furiously, mumbling incoherent words and cupping her cheeks before she decided to cover her eyes for her sanity. Hawk gawked as they saw how Meliodas kissed Elizabeth. Deeply. Torridly.
After earning the collective of moans and Elizabeth melted on his hands, Meliodas pushed her gently to sit near the tree "just stay put and be a good girl while I'm fighting, otherwise, I will attack you with more loving kiss to the point you're breathless, okay?".
"oh, you...", Elizabeth sent a blast which easily dodged by Meliodas "should you do it in front of them all here and now? You can just do it privately in our room when it's only us?!".
Hawk shook its head and facepalmed "...how could I possibly be angry to that pervert when she clearly rather enjoyed it?".
Escanor was the first one who recovered, not too surprising, as he watched Gilthunder who banging his head on the tree bark "I wonder what happened to him so suddenly?".
Diane blinked her eyes confusedly "trying to process if this is the reality or not, perhaps?".
After he regained his composure, with slightly flushed cheeks, Gilthunder cleared his throat "...I must say, even I am shocked by your boldness, princess. Even if it was Meliodas who attacked you. It seems I have to use a harsh way—".
Okay, Elizabeth blushed furiously at the notion Meliodas 'attacked' her when Meliodas clearly enjoyed it. Diane already prepared to fight, just in case, but it was Escanor who moved forward first.
"I must say, young man, if you think you can win against the Captain, then you're totally wrong", he admitted he was not too fond of the fight, unless it was his day version, but he had promised Merlin and there was no way he failed her so Escanor decided to move forward "between me and the Captain, it's always back and fort competition. I could say for sure that I am the closest in power terms with him. If you can't even fight against me, don't you think you can beat the Captain".
Diane, Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Hawk sat on the tree lines when it was clear that Escanor would fight Gilthunder and they cheered their comrades.
"Before we started our fight, care to tell us?", even if Merlin could inform them, Escanor tried to earn the information from him, in case the Holy Knights knew something they didn't "do you know where the others Sins' specific locations?".
Gilthunder stood in his fighting stance "well, to respect you, old man. What we gathered, two others still remain unknown but we know that Fox Sin Of Greed, Ban, has been seen to several places directing to the Necropolis, the City Of The Dead, after he broke out of jail, along with three other people who helped him to destroy Baste Dungeon. Two men and a woman who specifically resembled with the Boar Sin Of Gluttony, Merlin. The Grizzly Bear Sin Of Sloth, King, is dead already and he's on the Necropolis, the City Of The Dead right now".
Surprisingly, Diane shouted in shock "what did you say?!".
"don't worry, I will send you all to follow him there", Gilthunder raised his sword before launching one of his strongest moves. After all, he fought against one of two men who had been considered as strongest Sins "Iron Hammer Of Thunder Emperor".
"funny. Do you think you can win against me with your electric waves? Not a chance", Escanor cleaned the dust off of his clothes, unaffected "it's ticklish a little. That's all you've got?".
"of course not. I haven't forgotten the day I was taught 'the way of the Knight'. Your eyes are to discern evil, your mouth is to speak the truth, your heart is to be filled with righteousness, and your sword is to purge evil. However, you Sins have turned your backs on your own creed and betrayed the Kingdom, so I trained and fought harder to get stronger. Right now, I am stronger than any of the members of the Seven Deadly Sins".
The realization came to his head and Meliodas' eyes widened "oh".
Elizabeth eyed him, thinking to pester him later.
Escanor sighed "such big mouth of yours, brat".
"Okay, stop right there", before Escanor tried to kill him, Meliodas interrupted and lifted his hand as he came in between them "let's end this for now and continue it later, okay? See you again, Gil boy~".
Gilthunder was shocked when Diane lifted him off of the ground "what—?!".
"as Captain said, continue it later and see you again", when Gilthunder released electric waves around his body, Diane scowled "oh, don't do it to me, Mr. Sparky! Here you go!".
After Diane threw Gilthunder to the sky, she remembered Gilthunder's words. Looking down at her Captain, she narrowed her eyes "...Captain, do you think he's telling the truth?".
"that King's dead already? Don't think so", Meliodas waved his hand "of all people, Diane, I believe in King. He can take care of himself just fine".
"...you're right", Diane put the brave smile on her face before stood and cheered up "Yosh! Let's go and continue our journey to gather our group!".
Later at the night on their dinner, Elizabeth decided to talk properly with Diane. Elizabeth realized that the giantess seemed upset ever since they left the Forest and Elizabeth hoped she could do something to soothe her "if this is something have to do with me and Meliodas, I apologize".
"no, you shouldn't apologize to me, princess. Instead, it was me who came in between you two. Besides, I'm fine", Diane recited how did she truly feel when she looking at Elizabeth and Meliodas without a lie "deep down in my heart, I realize that I don't have the chance, I have no place in his heart and neither he will look behind over his shoulder to me, nor he will look at me as a woman".
"...I can't express it very well, but my brother once told me it kills you like poison but it's also the cure", Elizabeth smiled sadly "in the end, no matter how painful it has been for you, you can't help but to love him. I think it's what you called as true love. I hope you can find it as well, Lady Diane".
Unbeknownst for two ladies here, Escanor, Meliodas, and Hawk watched them over from far distance, and Hawk whispered to Meliodas "you are really such a heart-breaker, huh?".
Meliodas averted his eyes "I have no idea about what you're talking about".
"by the way, can I just call you Elizabeth? I'm not too confident with such honorifics and I feel like I want to be your friend. You also should just call me Diane".
Elizabeth beamed in delight as they agreed to drop the honorifics "sure!".
"...say, Elizabeth. When I was thinking and wondered, how it felt to have someone you love returning your love and how to experience the love that could have changed your life... suddenly, I remembered something, but I can't quite remember it", Diane told Elizabeth about what she couldn't tell anyone, about how she had lost her childhood memory "it feels like I lived somewhere with someone, happily, but he had to go somewhere and promised me that he would come back to my side. I don't know, I felt so sad as I waited for him but I never can remember it".
As a member of Goddess Clan, Elizabeth was familiar with brainwashing stuff and she knew what this was "I'm afraid you're under the spell, Diane. Someone must have purposely erased your memory, but I can help you with it".
"really? You can help me to remember it?", Diane's face lit up before she fidgeted with her fingers "as thanks, what should I—?".
"no, you've done something for me, so it's my turn to return the favor", Elizabeth shook her head and smiled fondly to Diane who looked confused "you have willingly helped me and Meliodas. Also, you're my friend. It's only natural for us as friends to help each other, right?".
Diane smiled brightly "Elizabeth, you're so kind. Thank you, you're the best!".
As Elizabeth asked, Diane leaned down further and closed her eyes as Elizabeth touched her forehead with her shining hand. After Elizabeth returned her memory, Diane blinked away her tears as Diane remembered, "...how could I forget about him?".
In her head, she remembered about King. The happy life they had shared, how he fulfilled his promise to come back to her side, and to always love her.
"I will come back to you. I promise".
He fulfilled his promise but she forgot him. How could she?
When Diane turned into a crying mess, Elizabeth frantically asked, "Diane, what happened?".
Now Escanor, Meliodas, and Hawk joined them, Diane told them that the one she had loved was actually King. After telling them about how she lost her memories and how she lived with King in her childhood, she cried harder "what should I do, Elizabeth, Captain? If what the little Gil told us... true... then King, he's...".
Something clicked on Elizabeth and Meliodas' head when Escanor and Hawk tried their best to calm down Diane "AH!".
Diane stopped crying. Escanor and Hawk turned to them with questioning looks.
Hawk trotted to the couple "what is it?".
Elizabeth facepalmed "how could we possibly forget about her? Once we arrive on the Necropolis, as long as we have someone who shared a strong bond with the dead and me as the member of Goddess Clan, she can help us to bring the dead".
"I still don't think King's dead already, Elizabeth", Meliodas waved his hand "but she can become our last alternative".
This time, Escanor, Hawk, and Diane asked in unison "who?".
"Merlin has a little sister, the Priestess Iseult. She earned the title 'Holy Maiden'. Not only she has the ability to heal people, she also can bring the dead back to life through the ritual and with several conditions, of course. One of the conditions, she has to revive them when she's on the Necropolis", with resolve and determination on her eyes, Elizabeth encouraged "don't worry, Diane. Just like Meliodas said, perhaps Sir King is alive and even if the worst thing ever happens, we still can bring him back to live with her aide".
Meanwhile, King lazily floated on the air "Diane, where are you?~",
When something went flying above his head, King wondered "huh? The falling star in the middle of the day? Perhaps I'm mistaking it. Forget it, I have to go to the Necropolis".
On the Necropolis, as he expected, King met with Ban and they fought. Their fight was interrupted by the certain Captain and the fallen angel, though.
When King turned his back and was about to leave, Diane cried out "Harlequin, please don't go! You promised me that you will come back to me!".
King stiffened before looking back with a deep frown at the sight of her tears "Diane, you remembered?".
Not giving him a chance to run away, Diane wrapped her arms to catch King in her arms and kissed him "I love you".
As Elizabeth, Escanor, and Hawk gasped behind him, Meliodas whistled "oh, boy".
When King fell backward, unconscious, Diane was shocked "eh? Harlequin!".
A/N :
Okay, it's settled, then. I promise the touching (probably) reunion between Meliodas and Elizabeth's group with Lucifer's group will happen in the next chapter. Since I have the Baste Dungeon Arc were destroyed by Ban and Lucifer's group, we can go straight to The Necropolis (The City Of The Dead) Arc. If you want to see the details of what happened on the Necropolis including the fight scene between Ban with King and how they were interrupted by Lucifer and Meliodas, check it out on the next chapter~