I, Bluecookiedough do not own Nanatsu no Taizai.
Back in the room everyone was relaxing. Some sandwiches had appeared on the table along with some apples, oranges, and pitchers of milk. Everyone was enjoying the meal for the most part, but the video was like a dark cloud hanging over their head. With the tension in the air it didn't take long for everyone to finish eating and turn their attention back to the screen. The video began to play.
The view panned up showing the castle of Lioness with the words 'Lioness Kingdom, Capital City of Lioness', and then 'One Month Ago'.
"Hmm, I wonder what happened." Merlin said. Gothor turned his head to look at her.
"I do not know." he said. Ban rolled his eyes and shushed them, they turned back to the screen.
The screen switched to show someone's fists banging loudly on a large wooden door. "Open this door!" A loud voice yelled. "There's nowhere left to run, Majesty!" they continued to yell, trying to bang down the door.
Elizabeth gasped a little in surprise, "Why are they trying to capture you Father?" She asked looking up at him from where she sat on his lap.
"I don't know dear. We'll just have to wait and see." They turned back to the screen.
"Majesty!" They yelled again.
"Elizabeth, you must flee." King Baltra put his hand on his daughter's head, bringing her in close from where she was kneeling next to his throne.
"What? Why would Elizabeth have to run away?" Asked Ban, extremely confused. Meliodas was also confused,
"Yah, why would anyone want to hurt 'Beth?" He asked. Elizabeth smiled at the nickname. Nobody had called her Beth before except her sisters.
"That's so true! Elizabeth is so cute and sweet!" Diane said. Elizabeth blushed a little under her grin and muttered a small 'thanks'.
"This is quite worrying but we shall just have to wait and see." Baltra said again. He had the feeling he was going to be saying that many more times during their stay here.
"I can't escape alone! You have to come with me, Father!" Elizabeth exclaimed, turning her shocked face up to meet his eyes.
"I will be fine my child."
"Yes but-"
"Go," Baltra interrupted "Before the Holy Knights find you."
Like before, this revelation caused to audience to fall into shocked silence, and like before the video continued.
The door flickered with electricity and started to crack.
Gill. Meliodas thought. Gothor caught his eye and nodded at him before they both turned back to the screen.
The door exploded and Elizabeth closed the secret panel to the throne room. She was now hiding in the walls. She turned, running as well as she could in her fancy ball gown down the secret tunnel, gasping in fright and wiping away her tears. The narrator spoke
"Elizabeth, third princess of Lioness, was driven away from the castle by the Holy Knights' traitorous uprising. To right this injustice, she searched for the legendary rebels, the Seven Deadly Sins."
"Ooh, we're legendary." Ban smirked.
"Legendary rebels." Meliodas chuckled back at him.
While the narrator was talking the screen showed scenes of Elizabeth's journey through meeting Meliodas through finding out he was the Dragon Sin.
"But the princess was being pursued by the Holy Knights." The narrator continued. "And just as she needed a helping hand, the boy from the tavern came to her rescue."
Meliodas made a face at the 'boy' comment, but didn't say anything.
"This was no ordinary boy however, he was the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins. Dragon Sin Meliodas!" The screen went black.
Nobody said anything so the video continued.
The screen switched on to show a view of a little cottage. Soon though, Hawk's Mom walked by making the ground shake with every step she took. She was carrying the tavern on her back once again. Elizabeth looked out the window of her room, watching the world go by. "Hey, Elizabeth." Meliodas called from behind her. Startled she quickly turned to face him.
"Oh, yes?" She asked. He smiled, gesturing over his shoulder with his left hand, the other stuck in his pocket.
"Could you come down stairs for a minute?" He asked.
"Of course." She replied following him down.
The scene switched to show Elizabeth in a skimpy outfit...a very skimpy outfit. "So what's this knew outfit for?" She asked. Meliodas looked a little uncomfortable.
"Well, since your old outfit was all ripped I decided to look around for some new clothes for you. These were all I could find, the box said it was a uniform. The guy I bought this tavern from must have had some shorter girls working for him." He shrugged apologetically. Elizabeth sensed his unease and quickly changed the subject.
Baltra, who was slightly pissed off that Meliodas had put his daughter in such a perverted outfit was mollified by Meliodas' explanation. Ban just looked at Meliodas in slight disbelief. There was no way that Meliodas could be that naive...right? On the other hand, nobody really knew what Meliodas was thinking. He turned back to the screen, putting the thought from his mind.
"So while i'm waiting on tables, you want me to keep track of all the rumors I hear and collect information about the possible whereabouts of the Seven Deadly Sins right?" She asked. Meliodas nodded.
"Some intel on the Holy Knights would be good to."
"Excuse me, Sir Meliodas? There's something i've been wanting to ask you." Meliodas turned around to look at her from where he was standing by the bar. "The Seven Deadly Sins, are you really that wicked? Are you all terrible criminals like the rest of the world says? And if you are, what awful crime did you commit?" She asked bringing her clasped hands up to her chest. Meliodas turned back around, folding his arms.
"My crime huh? Well…"
"Seems to me, they just don't understand what kind of person you are. After all, you endeavored to save me, even though you had no idea who I was." Meliodas remained silent. "Or is the truth, you committed a crime so terrible you can't put it into words."
"Maybe." Meliodas said. But Elizabeth didn't get a chance to get a straight answer because at that moment the tavern suddenly tilted wildly to the side, flinging them all to the ground."
Meliodas let loose a barely audible sigh of relief. It wasn't that he didn't trust the people in this room with him, it was just that the pain was so fresh and raw that he didn't want to get into it yet. Or at all really, but he knew better than to think that his sin would never be explained. Ban looked over at him, being the only one close enough to have heard the sigh. He gave Meliodas a onceover and resolved to be there to comfort him when his sin was eventually revealed. And thought they didn't know this, all of the other Sins were thinking along the same train of thought. They turned back to the screen.
Meliodas caught Elizabeth around the waist, keeping her from falling to the ground. Hawk's Mom snorted, the jolt caused by her sudden stop. "Hey, we're here." Meliodas said as the view panned to show a small town. "This is our next wellspring of information, Vanya Village." They all disembarked and Hawk's Mom dug down under the ground leaving the tavern looking like it was built on top of the hill.
Elizabeth giggled and Ban snorted at the sight.
"I usually buy all my liquor wherever I can find it but Vanya's stuff is special.
Ban smiled, "Definitely."
"The best water you could find is here in this village." Meliodas continued as they walked into town. And with the gruit growing down by the river it's used to brew Vanya Ale. It's got fans far and wide." They stopped at a bridge, looking down at the dry creek bed.
"Well it used to." Said Hawk, "Now all those famous waters of theirs are bone dry." Elizabeth leaned over as well,
"Look those herbs along the bank are dead." She noticed.
"What's going on?" Meliodas asked. Nobody had an answer.
"I wonder what happened." Meliodas said.
"Yeah," Ban answered. "That ale is good."
"We'll just have to watch and see." Baltra said. Once more resigning himself to being the one to say it every time someone else freaked out.
They all turned back to the screen.
The view panned down to show a large group of people gathered in a courtyard of the village. Elizabeth laughed, "Just look at all the people out there. Do you think it's some sort of festival?" Meliodas walked over to the crowd,
"Hey, what's up you guys." A man in the crowd spotted him and muttered to his friend,
"Oh it's the barkeeper."
"What's this festival for today?" Meliodas asked. The man gasped,
"This look like a damn festival to you?" He asked, angrily shaking his fist. The scene switched to show ropes tied around a sword stuck in the ground. Dozens of people pulled on them, trying to pull the sword from it's resting place in the middle of the square. "We're trying to pull out a sword a damn Holy Knight jabbed into the ground!"
"Isn't that Gill's sword?" Elizabeth asked.
"Aw Little Gill, what have you gotten yourself into now?" Meliodas sighed.
"But why do they want it out so bad?" Diane asked. Hawk shrugged,
"Maybe it has something to do with why the water's dried up."
"Good idea Hawk, let's see." Elizabeth said. They turned back to watch.
The view switched back to show Elizabeth and Meliodas. "He stuck it in the ground?" Meliodas asked. "Why'd he do that?"
"That's what I wanna know!" Ban muttered under his breath. Meliodas chuckled and shushed him quietly. Ban rolled his eyes but complied and turned back to the screen, Meliodas soon followed suit.
"Days ago a Holy Knight brought his wrath down upon us." They turned to see an old man had suddenly appeared and had apparently overheard their conversation. "He infused his sword with mana, pierced the ground, and locked away the water under our village." The screen showed the sword in the ground, arcing lightning throughout the ground.
"So it was Gill!" Diane exclaimed. Merlin nodded,
"Yes. But why would he do that." Gothor turned to look at them all, looking quite puzzled.
"Acts such as those do not appear to be in his nature." He said. Merlin put a hand on his arm in a gesture of comfort. She glanced at Escanor,
"What do you think, Escanor?" She asked, but he remained silent. "Escanor?"
A note appeared on the table, Hawk was closest, having relocated back under the table a while ago. He read it out loud.
"Since Escanor doesn't appear for a long while in these videos, I have silenced him until he does. Have fun." Hawk frowned, "That doesn't sound very fun." Elizabeth nodded from her father's lap. The other Sins however, were much more worried than they let on. Some of them might not be as close to Escanor as some of the others, but he was still a teammate. A Sin. And that meant he was as good as family. But there was nothing they could do to stop it, so after sending him reassuring looks, they turned back to the screen.
"If we don't do something about this soon, we'll lose our water and our groot to!" The younger man continued.
"And we won't have any more Vanya Ale!" Another man broke in. "Damn!"
"A Holy Knight?" ELizabeth asked, looking worried. "Do you think it might be that man you defeated the other day?" She asked Meliodas he turned to look at her.
"Oh, that Twigo guy with the mustache? No, not a chance, he wasn't a Holy Knight." Elizabeth gasped a little, looking surprised. "Trust me," Meliodas continued, "The real ones are a whole lot worse."
"Only a Holy Knight has the power necessary to draw a sword belonging to another." The old man said. "Breaking the news isn't going to be easy. But i'm afraid this village is done for."
"Ok, who even is that guy? Why does he know so much about Holy Knights?" Ban asked.
"They say wisdom comes with age." Merlin commented.
"What? Who says that?" Hawk asked, poking his nose out from under the table. Elizabeth giggled and gave him a pat on the snout, sliding down her father's lap to reach him, then sitting on the floor.
"Lots of people." Meliodas answered, smiling down at the pair fondly.
"Oh no!" Elizabeth gasped, just then a small boy pushed his way through the crowd.
"Aw, gimme a break. What's the deal with all this moaning and groaning?"
"It's mead!" A random villager shouted.
"Mead? What kinda name is Mead?" Diane asked.
"A good one." Ban laughed back. Meliodas rolled his eyes fondly.
Mead put his hands on his hips, "A Holy Knight's sword stuck in the ground is nothing." He stated. "If my buddies, the Seven Deadly Sins, were here that sword would be gone by now."
The Sins looked at the screen incredulously, it didn't seem like they knew this kid. So why did he say they were buddies.
"Quiet Mead!" An elderly woman yelled. "And whose fault is it that we're all in this predicament in the first place?!"
"That's a bit harsh." King said, frowning a little.
"Yah. That's mean!" Elizabeth said, pulling Hawk to her chest, her small arms barely fitting around his tiny pig body.
"You're right Elizabeth. It's not nice to yell at children." The king said, pulling her up onto his lap. Hawk oinked in surprise and was carried along as well. Merlin smiled and Gother tilted his head curiously at Escanor who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Meliodas noticed and chuckled, before turning back to the screen.
The old lady was still yelling at Mead, "Of all the things to say, do you have to mention those criminals to?"
"Yeah, she's right!" Another man from across the crowd shouted, "We don't want to make the Holy Knight angrier!" A second man joined in as the crowd started muttering.
"Do you have a grudge against us or what?" He yelled angrily.
Why are they being so mean to him? Elizabeth thought, I know that's not nice, and Daddy agrees with me. Even if he did make the Holy Knight angry, they don't need to yell at him. He's just a kid, like me. Hawk, noticing how upset she was, turned around and nuzzled his snout into her shoulder. "It will be ok, Elizabeth." He whispered. She smiled at him and they turned back to the screen.
"No! Come on! That's not the reason I did it!" Mead yelled, looking progressively more upset. The man yelled back at him,
"We've had it with all your mischief and all your lying!" A young girl threw a rock at Mead,
"You're such a jerk!" Mead looked shocked,
"Wow… I hate you guys!" He yelled and stomped his foot.
"Yeah, well we hate you even more, Mead!" A man yelled as the crowd joined in, yelling and throwing rocks. Meliodas quickly guided Mead away from the crowd, back down the road to the bar, Elizabeth following close behind. The sound of crashing rocks fading into the distance.
The viewers sat there shocked. "Well… that escalated quickly." Ban said, snapping everyone else out of their thoughts. Elizabeth started crying and ran over to Meliodas, dropping Hawk who squeaked in surprise.
"Wh-why is everyone so mean?" He picked her up and sat her on his lap.
"Well," he said, stroking her hair, "It's just the way some people are. But these people are just scared. They like to put the blame on others." Gother looked over at the pair.
"It is human nature to find a scapegoat. They do not wish to admit that they were wrong, or somehow did something to bring misfortune to them, so they blame others to make them feel powerful." Elizabeth looked at him, before getting down onto the floor again and walking over to him. She got up on his lap and threw her arms around his neck. It was a little awkward as Escanor was still asleep on his shoulder, but she managed. Gothor made a sound of surprise as he jolted back from the surprise hug, his pink hair swinging through the air. He sat there, not moving, before tentatively moving his hands to gently place them on her back. The king and Meliodas shared a smile and everyone turned back to the screen, Elizabeth just turning to sit in Gother's lap.
"Sure looks like we picked a lousy time to come here." Hawk said to the village elder.
"Deep down inside he's really an honest well-meaning boy."
The scene changed to show the Hog's Head. Meliodas was standing next to Mead, who was sitting at one of the tables, laying on the top of it. "Well i've definitely done stuff that sucked less." Meliodas commented. "Tell me kid, why did they all-"
"Don't call me that, you're a kid to." Mead interrupted him.
Ban snorted and ruffled Meliodas's hair, as he pouted. "Why does everyone think i'm a kid? I'm not that short."
"Um, yeah. Your pretty short Captain." Ban said. Meliodas rolled his eyes and turned back to the screen. Ban laughed and did as well.
"I'm really not actually." Meliodas replied.
"What is this a tavern?"
"Yeah, the Boar Hat. It's my place."
Ban laughed, "I can't believe you named it the Boar Hat." Elizabeth giggled.
"Well it does make sense logically." Gother cut in. Meliodas smiled.
"See? Thank you Gother."
"Well, I'm hungry." Mead said.
"If you answer my questions, I'll make sure you get some food."
Merlin smirked. "No one wants any of your food Captain." Meliodas just rolled his eyes.
"Nope, food first."
Ban laughed.
Meliodas looked over at him. The screen jumped to a shot of a plate of steaming hot chicken being laid down on a table. "That looks great!" Mead said as he brought a drum stick to his mouth. "I can't wait to dig into this!" He bit down, briefly closing his eyes before opening them in surprise and quickly spitting the food out. Meliodas looked over at him from where he was standing by the bar. "I never claimed it was gonna be any good."
The sins laughed and Elizabeth giggled. "Good one Meliodas." Baltra said, chuckling.
"So," Meliodas said, as he sat down across from Mead at the table placing a drink for himself in front of him. "Is it true? All that stuff you said about being friends with the Seven Deadly Sins?"
"Your food gave me amnesia." Mead said stubbornly.
Ban laughed, "well that's one way to get out of answering questions."
"Wait a minute...are you drinking Vanya Ale?" Mead asked, leaning forward. Meliodas took a sip. "Should a kid your age really be drinking that?"
Meliodas sighed as Ban smothered laughter.
"I already told you I'm not a kid." Meliodas replied.
"Man, it taste really good doesn't it?"
Hawk snorted, "Well he's a bit of a hypocrite isn't he?" Elizabeth giggled.
"Yep."
"It's the best sweetest, full bodied mmm- or so I hear from the adults." The bell above the tavern door jingled as Elizabeth and Hawk entered. Meliodas looked over.
"Oh, you two made it back."
"Good to be home." Hawk said, as he shut the door behind him. Elizabeth walked over and leaned down to see Mead.
"So Mead," Elizabeth said. "I hear you're quite the prankster with a bad sense of humor. The chief in your village told me so." She raised her pointer finger, scolding him. Mead narrowed his eyes, "What's it to you? Who do you think you are my mother?"
Baltra's gaze turned a little it colder at that statement. Meliodas noticed and smirked slightly. Baltra was very protective of his youngest.
Elizabeth kneeled down next to the stool Mead was sitting on. "When I was young, I used to get scolded by my father for pulling pranks." She said. Mead looked surprised before schooling his expression.
"Yeah, and that means what to me?" Elizabeth just smiled.
"I really wanted his attention. He wasn't the father I was born to." She said. Mead's eyes widened again.
The Sins looked over at Elizabeth and Baltra smiling. They had already known this bit of news and were happy that the two could get past it. Elizabeth and Baltra shared a smile.
The scene changed to show a memory as Elizabeth's voice continued over the top. "And one day when I was a little girl I climbed a really tall tree in the garden, hoping to give him a good scare. He turned pale as a ghost, and started up the tree to try and save me. This man who had never climbed one in his entire life. And then he fell out of the tree and hurt himself, but luckily it wasn't serious."
The Sins once again looked over at their king, remembering the incident. It had happened fairly recently and was fresh in everyone's memory.
"But still," Elizabeth continued, the scene now showing the tavern again. "I remember it as though it was yesterday. If he'd died, I know that I could never of forgiven myself."
Mead suddenly spoke, looking desperate. "I don't do this kind 'a stuff because I don't feel for 'em. They're all real good to me." Elizabeth stood up and put her hand on Mead's shoulder.
"Then why do you?" She asked.
"My mom and dad were always going from place to place," Mead started, as the scene changed to his memory. "I was even born on the road. But when we stopped here in Vanya a few years ago, there was an epidemic. Then they got sick and died. That's when the people of the village took me in and raised me as one of their very own. And I was so thankful they did but- I wasn't apart of anyone's real family. I got jealous 'cause I knew I'd never get what they had." The scene changed back to Mead at the tavern. "I started lying and pulling pranks." He sniffed, wiping away tears.
"Is that why you put the bug in the Holy Knight's drink to?" Elizabeth asked as Mead rubbed his eyes. "'Cause you were upset?" Mead suddenly shouted, raising his fists in the air.
"No!" He slammed his fists on the table. "I did that because the Knight treated everyone in the village like they were crap!" Elizabeth and Meliodas looked surprised at his sudden outburst. The scene changed to show the incident with the bug. A man was pouring the Knight a drink of Ale.
"Our village is very proud of this year's brew. We truly believe It's our best one yet." The shot zoomed out to show that Gil was the Holy Knight.
"It is Gill." Ban said, raising his eyebrows. Meliodas nodded, looking at the screen with interest.
The man backed up as Gill raised the glass of ale to his lips, the town looking on.
"Disgusting." Gill said. The town gasped. "I'd rather drink horse piss than more of this swill." Gill said coldly. The old man gasped.
As did the audience.
"Gill!"
"What is wrong with him!?"
Elizabeth started crying. Meliodas picked her up and comforted her, his gaze firmly rooted on the screen as Baltra calmed everyone else down.
The screen showed Mead glaring and then a grub falling into the Knight's glass. Gill glared and the glass was thrown to the floor where it shattered, as Gill grabbed his sword out of the scabbard on his belt.
"No-no don't!"
"Please forgive him!" The villagers yelled out as Gill's sword sparked with electricity. Gill raised the sword above his head and slammed it into the ground. Lighting blinded everyone as the villagers screamed. The scene returned to the tavern where Mead was still speaking.
"We just care so much about it! Everyone in the village put their heart and soul into making that ale. But he insulted them! Holy Knights are no-good bastards!" Meliodas cut in.
"Okay, and what about saying you're good friends with the Seven Deadly Sins?" Mead looked to the side sadly.
"Well, I lied." Meliodas leaned back.
"Too bad. Gotta admit I kinda had my hopes up."
"I wonder who you are going to run across next." King said. Diane nodded,
"Yeah, and what we all have been doing for the past ten years. Where am I?"
"We shall have to wait and see." Baltra said. Ban rolled his eyes as they turned back to the screen."
"What made you tell a lie like that?" Elizabeth asked looking at Mead.
"The Seven Deadly Sins are wanted by the Holy Knights, aren't they?" He asked looking to the side. "If the Holy Knights are going after 'em, doesn't that mean they're the good guys?" He looked at them imploringly.
In the room, the Sins all looked at each other. They hadn't forgotten the mystery of them being fugitives. They wondered if they would ever find out why there was a warrant out for their arrest.
Elizabeth and Hog looked at each other, and then at Meliodas. Meliodas was taking a deep sip of his drink. "What?" He asked, looking at Elizabeth, she giggled.
All of a sudden there was the sound of shouting outside, Mead quickly turned and ran out the door, "That's coming from the village!" He gasped.
"Mead wait!" Elizabeth called after his retreating form.
Meliodas looked worried as he watched the screen. Kind Baltra rubbed his chin as he looked on in concern.
The scene changed to show the square of the village, with the sword still stuck almost handle deep in the pavement. Two knights were standing in front of it shouting. "Listen up you peasant scum! If you haven't pulled out the sword by sundown, then we're gonna charge you 10 times the normal product tax!"
"They can't do that!" Diane shouted.
"Yeah! That's not right!" King agreed, glaring at the screen. Elizabeth looked upset as she glared at the screen as well. Meliodas and Ban shared an angry look as Merlin narrowed her eyes. The king just looked disappointed, how had it gotten that bad? He wondered.
The villagers started protesting, "That's insane!"
"With all the water dried up, we can't even make one bottle of ale! Much less 10 times the usual!"
The knights smiled evilly. "That's your punishment!" One crowed, "Not only did you insult a Holy Knight, you also claimed to be friends with those known criminals, the Seven Deadly Sins!"
"Damn," One of the villagers said bitterly. "If Mead hadn't pulled that stunt this wouldn't've happened!" Just then Mead sped by over to the stone. He strained, trying to pull it out of the ground.
"Mead no!" A lady shouted, as the knights turned to where he was still struggling.
"The little big-mouth, it isn't gonna be any fun at all if he's the only one." The knight said.
Merlin shouted, "This is your idea of fun? How dare you!" She looked ready to attack the screen. Meliodas looked over,
"Merlin, you need to calm down. There's nothing you can do, ok?" He looked at her in concern.
"Alright, Captain. Only for you." She sat down in a huff, still slightly aggravated. Escanor put his and on her shoulder in comfort. She smiled at him in thanks as they turned back to the screen.
The knight leaned it, "So we're gonna charge 20 times the tax now!" He said but Mead kept pulling.
"You know you can't pull out that sword!" A man shouted from the crowd.
"Stop it kid, you're only making things worse for us!" Another said.
"ALRIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH!" A man shouted, making his way through the crowd.
"Chief?" A voice asked as he made his way into view. The chief nodded and began speaking.
"Who insulted our great skill and wounded our pride as ale makers?" He asked. "Was it Mead? NO! Wasn't that boy only expressing the feelings we were all feeling deep down inside?" The crowd looked down in shame as Mead kept pulling, puffing in exertion. An old lady walked up to him and put her arms around his shoulders.
"Auntie?" Mead asked in surprise. She smiled at him,
"The village chief is right about this, you aren't the one to blame, Mead." Another boy ran over to them, the people looked at each other and nodded as they walked closer as well. The knights started shouting from where they were standing.
"Hey! You people hear what we said? Pour the beer out 'a your ears! It's 20 times now!" Some of the men walked over to where Mead and some of the other children were pulling on the sword.
"Leave this to the menfolk." They said as the old lady and the other children stepped back. The man put his hand on Mead's shoulder and said, "Ok Mead. Ok."
The screen changed to show that three ropes had been tied to the handle of the sword. The men of the village were pulling them, grunting with effort. But no matter how hard they pulled, the sword didn't move an inch. The Holy Knights were in hysterics watching. "It won't even move a fraction of an inch!" They laughed. "We're gonna sit here chugging this cheap stuff and enjoy the show!"
Ban looked murderous, "I'll show you a show." He growled. Meliodas put a hand on his shoulder,
"Calm down Ban. I'm sure everything will be ok." He said.
"Yeah Ban," Diane cut in. "Captain is there!" The rest of the Sins nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure everything will be fine." Baltra said, as they turned back to the screen.
"Come out!" Mead screamed as he pulled on a rope. This sent the knights laughing even more uproariously.
"He looks so desperate! What a bunch of morons!" They shouted.
Elizabeth, who was under the table with Hawk again, started to cry. "Why are the Holy Knights so mean!" She sobbed. Baltra immediately picked her up and whispered soothing words into her ear, petting her hair softly. The Sins looked at her sadly but turned back to the screen knowing she was in the best possible hands.
Just as the knights were about to start chugging there drinks again, Meliodas walked by, snatching the cups from their hands.
"Anyone who doesn't appreciate good quality booze doesn't deserve to drink it." He said, walking towards where the sword was still buried hilt deep in the ground. The men pulled so hard that the ropes snapped, sending them all to the ground. The villagers gasped. Meliodas walked through the crowd of people on the ground, sipping the ale.
"That hit the spot." He said, placing the cups on the ground next to where Meas was lying on the ground. Then he walked over to the sword. "Sorry you guys." He said, "I don't have any money for that drink." He bent over and grasped the handle of the sword. "How 'bout this?" He said with a glint in his eye.
"Yeah, go Captain!" The Sins shouted with joy as they saw what Meliodas was about to do. Elizabeth smiled from where she was sitting on Baltra's lap.
The sword sparked with electricity as Meliodas pulled it out of the ground, holding it aloft above his head. The crowd was silent, staring at him in awe. "Impossible!" One of the men shouted. "Only a Holy Knight could pull that sword out."
"How did he do that?" One of the knight said in confusion.
The ground started to shake as the water returned exploding out of the well, sending a rainbow over the cheering villagers. Meliodas walked over to stand in front of the Holy Knights. "Think this is yours." He said throwing it at their feet. They jumped back in surprise. Grabbing the sword they ran screaming out of the village.
"Yea, and don't come back!" Elizabeth shouted, prompting chuckles from the adults as she glared at the screen.
The Elizabeth on the screen was looking at Meliodas in awe. "He's incredible." She thought. "The power of the Seven Deadly SIns."
Mead walked over to Meliodas. "Hey mister, that was so amazing! Are you really-"
"Yup." Meliodas cut in. " I am the proprietor of a fine drinking establishment. It's true."
"That's not what I meant!" Mead said. Meliodas leaned down.
"Yeah well, isn't there something you need to be doing." He looked over Mead's shoulder at the villagers. Mead turned around as well.
"Mead, what we did was wrong." The old man said. "Can you ever forgive us for treating you that way?"
"But what right do I have to forgive you?" Mead said sadly. "It's not like i'm part of the village." Meliodas shoved Mead forward gently.
"Go on." He said.
"Hey!" Said Mead. "What do you mean go on? Afterall, I really don't belong here." he said sadly.
Elizabeth looked at the screen nudged her in the side, causing her to smile and look up at him. He smiled back and they both turned back to the screen.
The villagers started calling out to Mead who turned his head, crying. He ran into their arms, as they all crowded around, hugging him.
Meliodas smiled at the sight as did the rest of the Sins. Merlin and Escanor shared a smile with Elizabeth. Baltra sighed in contentment at the sight of his daughter's happiness. He wondered what his other daughters were up to in the future. Were they captured by the Holy Knights as well? Are they on the run? Are they hurt...or worse? He hoped that he got to see what they were up to soon. He looked back at the screen.
Meliodas, Elizabeth and Hawk were watching the scene in happiness. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but there's no way you'll be able to fool your own heart." Meliodas said.
Back at the Boar Hat there were cheers as the moon rose in the sky. "A toast to Meliodas and the Boar Hat! Cheers!" Drinks were clunked forcefully together as Elizabeth stood in the kitchen.
"I-I'm not really sure if I'm ready." she said, "I've never done this before. I'm so nervous!" Meliodas looked at her.
"I understand, but you'll be just fine. Just focus on waiting tables today. Don't worry about gathering any intel."
Elizabeth shifted to look up at her father. "Do you think I'll be a good waitress, Daddy?" Baltra smiled down at her.
"Of course, you can be anything you want to be, darling." He replied, she smiled and turned back to the screen.
"Okay! I can do that." Elizabeth said. Meliodas watched from behind the bar as Elizabeth spilled a mug of ale that somehow managed to end up on the customer's head. She apologized, but the customer took it all in good humor. She proceeded to get confused as to who ordered what, trip, and spill the food right into the face of the man. Hawk walked over,
"Oh yeah, they'll be plenty of scraps for me tonight!" Elizabeth sighed. Mead stood next to her and laughed.
"You haven't done a day's work in your life, have you?"
"What?"
"Oh, it's totally obvious. You completely suck at this job." Mead laughed as Elizabeth blushed.
Elizabeth started sniffling, visibly upset. "Oh, I'm a horrible waitress!" She cried.
"Oh, no, darling." Baltra pulled her close, rubbing her back.
"Yeah," Meliodas chimed in, "I can't cook, no matter how many times I try. Everyone messes up on their first try."
Ban looked away, a smile from a forbidden tree flashed across his mind. He didn't say anything. Merlin looked over at Ban, but she didn't say anything either.
Elizabeth was greatly comforted, and she settled down next to Meliodas on the couch.
"Now Mead, boys who are too big for their britches get taken out and left in the Forest of White Dreams."
"Oh no! Not there!" Mead cried. Elizabeth had a confused look on her face.
"The Forest of White Dreams? What's that?" Mead turned around towards her
"It's a place so spooky even Holy Knights won't travel through it!" He shuddered. "Oh, Auntie! I promise I'll be good I'll behave anything but that!" He clasped his ands together, pleading.
"And just why should I believe you?"
"I promise! I swear!"
"Don't try putting one over on me, I've got my eye on you." She said as Elizabeth looked out the window.
The scene changed to show a tower, approximately seven miles northwest of Vanya Village. Fort Solgres.
"Fort Solgres? Never heard of it." Said Ban. Baltra chuckled,
"It's a little out of the way, we haven't used it in years."
"I wonder why they started using it again." Meliodas said, looking at the screen in contemplation. They turned back to the screen, waiting to find out.
"O-only moments ago, we received a report from our sources at Vanya Village." An offscreen voice began, "They say that an unidentified young boy has pulled your sword from the ground, Sir Gilthunder." The scene showed a knight reporting to Gill, who looked up at the news. The knight continued to speak, "It must have been some random fluke that allowed him t-" Gill cut in,
"So what you're saying is that a fluke let him draw out a sword placed by a Holy Knight."
"N-no S-sir." The knight followed Gill as he walked out to a room with a large window.
"Give me the range and heading of Vanya Village." Gill said, "Be exact."
"Yes Sir! It's on a direct line with the fort's four-o-clock. Distance- seven point three miles." Gill turned to another guard stationed in the room.
"Would you mind terribly, if I used your spear." He asked. The guard handed it to him.
"No Sir, please do." Gill waked over to the window.
"Should be about this angle." Gill raised the spear and charged it with electricity. The room was filled with light and the sound of sparks, making the other knights gasp. Gill stepped forward and through the spear out the open window. It shot across the sky like a shooting star, glinting in the night. Leaving a trail in it's wake.
"Woah."
"Awesome!"
"He's really grown up hasn't he?"
"Yes, Gilthunder has acquired much talent."
"Shh, I wanna see what happens next!" They all settled down and turned their attention back to the screen.
The scene had changed back to the bar where Meliodas was drying a cup he had just washed. Hawk walked up to him.
"Shouldn't you see what's up? We just had a princess panic here. Aren't you gonna make her feel better?" Meliodas smiled at him and walked out the back of the bar.
The camera panned down to show Elizabeth sitting on a hill just outside the Boar Hat. She jumped a little when she heard Meliodas walk up behind her.
"Oh, Sir Meliodas."
"Hey."
"I'm sorry. I know I'm still on shift. But when I saw Mead and the villagers, it brought up a lot of memories of my father." Meliodas walked by her to look out over the view.
"Is that right." He looked distracted as he turned his head searching the night sky.
"I just hope he's ok." Elizabeth brought her knees up to her chest, looking down. Meliodas mumbled to himself,
"Around here maybe?"
"I shouldn't do this, it's no time to mope around feeling homesick." Meliodas turned,
"A little more to the left?"
"Jeez Captain, what are you looking for anyway?" Ban asked, turning his head to look at Meliodas. Meliodas just smiled, not looking away from the screen. Ban rolled his eyes and turned back to the screen, mumbling under his breath.
"But I've seen so many good people oppressed by the Holy Knights. I know they're suffering. And with a princess like me their chances don't seem too good." Elizabeth said sadly.
Baltra hugged his daughter closer, pressing a kiss into her hair. "Your are a wonderful girl, and your are a wonderful princess." Elizabeth smiled.
"Well, you found me didn't ya'?" Meliodas said. Elizabeth looked up in confusion. "Come on, if you hadn't been trying to do everything you could to help your people and then stumbled into my place, they'd have no chance at all." He turned to look at Elizabeth.
"So you're saying...there's something I'm meant to do?" She asked. Meliodas smiled at her.
"Exactly." Then he frowned and turned back to the sky. "And right now I have something I'm meant to do."
The spear shot out of the sky, whistling with the sound of it's speed. It sped up to Meliodas who raised his hand and caught the handle, the force pulling him back with it. He shot down the side of the hill, which revealed itself to be a cliff. Elizabeth leaned down over the edge of the cliff. "Sir Meliodas!"
In the viewing room Elizabeth gasped. The Sins looked worried and Ban put his arm around Meliodas, pulling him to his side. Meliodas just smiled at them and patted Ban's arm in comfort.
Meliodas was pulled across the field, his feet dragging. He reached town and was pulled through the walls of many buildings, the sleeves of his shirt ripping.
Diane gasped, "Captain!" The Sins growled.
Meliodas slowed to a stop, whipped around and threw the spear back into the streaked back, leaving a trail in it's wake.
The scene changed to show the window back at the tower. Gill looked up. The spear streaked through the window with a crash. Dust poured out of the window and the tower shook. The smoke cleared as a bird flew off into the distance.
Baltra gasped at the destruction and Meliodas smirked at the bird.
A knight waded through the smoke. "Sir Gilthunder! Are you alright?" He gasped in surprise as he game across a chair where Gill was still sitting. His cheek dripping blood from where the spear had grazed his cheek, the spear was stuck in the back of the chair. Gill smiled.
"It's just as I thought." He said. "You're alive aren't you, Meliodas."
The scene changed again to show Elizabeth and Hawk running through town to where Meliodas stood. "Sir Meliodas! I'm so glad we found you! Did that spear belong to the Holy Knight who attacked the village?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.
"Probably so." Meliodas said, flexing his hand which had blood sprayed all across the palm.
The Sins jumped out of their seats with anger, yelling at the screen. Ban hugged Meliodas to his chest protectively fussing over his hand, while Meliodas just smiled fondly at his team. Baltra pulled Hawk and Elizabeth onto his lap to get them out of the way. The Sins had finally stopped yelling and making sure Meliodas was alright and they turned back to the screen.
"I think that's our cue to leave here while we can." Meliodas said.
"But," Elizabeth began, "What if Vanya Village is attacked again?"
"I think they'd be in a lot more danger if we stayed." Hawk broke into the conversation.
"It'd be nice if we could find someplace to hide out." Elizabeth put her hand to her face in thought.
"Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
"Earlier tonight, Mead said that he'd never go into the Forest of White Dreams. In fact, he said that even the Holy Knights stay away from the place."
"Really?" Hawk asked. "Sounds good to me!" Meliodas crossed his arms.
"That settles it then. Except that we're not gonna be hiding out. 'Cause we're gonna be doing exactly what we should."
"What?" Hawk asked, Elizabeth looked at Meliodas.
"You don't think-"
"Yup. And I bet one of us is living there." Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise.
Ban snorted, "Bet it's Diane." Diane huffed angrily at him,
"No way! I don't even like forests!" Merlin broke up the fight before it could get out of hand. "We shall never find out if you don't hold your tongues." Ban stuck his tongue out at her but they both turned back to the screen. Meliodas chuckled and patted Ban on the arm. Escanor looked at Merlin in admiration.
"Okay!"Said Meliodas as the screen showed Hawk's Mom walking off into the sunset. "Let's find another Sin!"
"Right!"
The scene changed to show a forest full of dead trees and fog. Eerie music played in the background.
"Is this the forest, father?" Elizabeth asked Baltra. He looked at her and smiled.
"I believe so, my dear." She smiled.
The camera zoomed in on a sleeping Diane, lying on the forest floor.
"HA!" Ban shouted in triumph, jumping up to meet Diane, who had jumped up as well. Gothor leaned forward in interest, as Meliodas stood up as well, only he did it more calmly.
"Diane, Ban." He spoke quietly, but Baltra got the feeling it would be heard even if everyone in the room was yelling. Diane and Ban exchanged another glare but slowly sat down, maintaining eye contact. Meliodas sat as well but he gave them a warning glance, before grudgingly smiling at their antics. They didn't mean any of it seriously and they all knew it, Meliodas knew it, and they also knew that Meliodas didn't mean any of it. They all bickered with each other all of the time, but they were really a family. Maybe not by blood, but brought together by circumstance, and bonded by experience.
Baltra, of course, didn't know that. What he saw was the odd occurance of Meliodas taking charge. It was strange to him that Meliodas was the leader and yet they were all so protective of him. He didn't get their dynamic, but hopefully these films would give him a clue.
Elizabeth and Hawk had fallen asleep in his lap. Baltra and the Sins looked back at the screen.
The screen zoomed in on Diane's tattoo of a snake on her thigh. Then turned black.
Some snacks appeared on the table in front of them.
"Let's take a small break before the next one, shall we?" Baltra asked. The sins nodded as the leaned forward towards the food. It hadn't been that long, but they were a little emotionally drained.
The mage smirked as she watched. They would need the sustenance, they were in for a little surprise with the next video, and with how protective they were of their captain, it would only be more entertaining for her to watch.
Meliodas looked up for a second as he felt a sudden chill in the room. Suddenly he had a bad feeling about the next video.