A-Z of Melizabeth by Fullmetal Pyromaniac

G is for...

Guilt

Guilt, Meliodas decided, was like a parasite.

Even the littlest pieces of guilt left a shock wave that occasionally coursed through you.

It burrowed its way inside your heart and slowly began eating away it it. It festered in you until it consumed you whole, leaving behind only a shell of your former self.

It dragged you down into the depths of hell, self worthlessness and depression, a black hole of which people rarely made it out.

At the bottom were hallucinations like no monster or nightmare. They taunted you, played with you like a puppet, took your weak spot and stabbed at it. They told you things. You just had to learn not to listen.

Then after years, the parasite left, leaving you to defend yourself from the hallucinations and escape the black hole. Also leaving you with a scar big enough to give you nightmares.

Meliodas sat on the grassy hill that overlooked the village they had briefly stopped at and sighed contentedly.

Scars littered his chest and arms, all momentos from his years in Danafor, as a sin, from many bar fights and from protecting Elizabeth.

Where many others had submitted to the hallucinations lies, Meliodas had disabled his demons and climbed out of the pit of depression. He was greeted with friends, green grass and fresh air when he did emerge. It was incredibly difficult, but it was worth it.

The scars that guilt left were large but faded over time, only occasionally hurting. It was normal.

Everybody carried some sort of guilt. Ban certainly did. Under his carefree attitude lay a wound over his heart, the same heart that cried for Elaine. King was more serious than Ban, the weight of abandoning his kingdom, Elaine, Diane and having to kill his friend Helbram three times often proved too much for the fairy king.

Merlin, Diane and Gowther were more allusive about the guilt they had. Diane had mentioned Matriona once before and never built on the subject. It didn't matter too much, Meliodas just hoped they weren't burdened too heavily.

But they were fighters, they were the seven deadly sins who had to bare their guilt on their shoulders like the armour they wore.

In return for their fighting, the sins were rewarded.

Diane and King had found each other, Ban had found a friend in Jericho who -despite what she shouted about him- clearly had some sort of attraction to Ban, Gowther -although their relationship was...iffy...- had found Guila and had formed an odd friendship with the Roars of Dawn.

And Meliodas was given Elizabeth. Clumsy, innocent, brave Elizabeth. Elizabeth who had risked her life multiple times for him. Who always tried her hardest and was kind to everyone who deserved it.

He then pondered if he would go back and change everything.

Meliodas nearly hit himself. He wouldn't. Never.

He had lost Liz, been framed, Ban and King had lost Elaine and they'd all gone through heartbreak but Meliodas wouldn't change it for the world.

If Liz hadn't died, he would never found the sins. If he never found the sins, they would have never been framed. If he had never been framed, Hendriksons plan would have gone unnoticed. Elizabeth would have grown up, got betrothed and married, probably unhappily. Then killed as she was used to open the coffin of eternal darkness.

She would have died alone, in the darkness, drowned in pain lying atop a stone circle as she bled out. Perhaps in her last moments she would have prayed for her family's safety. They'd never know where she went. Then in her last second, she'd see all hell break loose.

Britannia would have fallen into darkness and people would have died. He didn't even want to think about i-

"Sir Meliodas!" A voice snapped him out of his daze. He sat up and looked towards the Boar Hat, it was sunset, darkness was beginning to creep over the horizon.

Elizabeth was walking towards him steadily.

"Sir Meliodas? Are you okay? You've been out here for hours"

He grinned, not admitting to his grim thoughts, "Yep, I'm perfectly fine"

Elizabeth visibly relaxed and let out a sigh, "Thank goodness. I wouldn't want you to be upset, if you're unhappy so am I" her eyes suddenly snapped open and red coating covered her cheeks, she looked away. Meliodas' smile softened.

"U-uh anyway, I just came to tell you dinner was ready. Are you coming inside?"

Meliodas nodded. "Yeah, let's go" pans he took her hand in his and the couple walked towards the tavern where all their friends awaited.

Meliodas nodded to himself silently.

For now, when he was laughing and drinking with them, the guilt would be forgotten. There is no place he'd rather be.

The end

Sooo...here I am back again, it's been a while! In case you didn't know, school started back two weeks ago and I've had several French tests, a bunch of chemistry, maths and biology homework, tutors etcetera...so I've been so busy!

Currently, I'm ill, lying in bed with my laptop, a horrid cough, croaky voice and what feels like a golf ball stuck down my throat. But I've written another chapter! Updates will be kinda spontaneous for the next few weeks so sorry ;/\; I will finish this story. Once I've done that I'll focus on Stand By Me then I'll be taking a break from the Seven Deadly Sins to write for Miraculous Ladybug! I'll be back though ;)

Thank you all for being patient! You're the best!

Okay! Leave a review for me on here and on Stand By Me, it helps motivate me!

See you soon! (Hopefully)

-Ruby! xxx