The pain was blinding. Meliodas felt his brain squeeze in his head, white flashes appearing before his eyes even as he shut them tight. The noise was deafening: the rush of wind, the buzz of the Commandments as they flew around his body and the booming voice of his father, the barks of cold laughter echoing in his mind. It was all he could do to remain standing, but he forced his limbs to do his will, even as they trembled so that he felt he would fall to his knees. In a rush, Meliodas realised that was what the demon king wanted, had always wanted: children not just obedient to his will but perfect instruments for wielding his power.
He grit his teeth as the laughter grew louder. He could feel the king trying to force his way into his body, his muscles tensing against the intrusion, every sinew and nerve fighting to keep the malignant presence at bay. "Elizabeth!" he screamed as the pain intensified, desperation clawing at his insides. He loved her, desperately, and he would protect her, he would save her whatever the cost.
With a snarl, Meliodas pushed hard against the black power that was threatening to engulf him, straining against the demon king's advance with all his might. It was not much, but it was enough to make the king falter, and he summoned his powers to him, ready to fight and fight until he could no longer stand.
"This is futile, son," the demon king boomed, his voice bouncing off the inside of Meliodas's head and the walls of the cocoon that he had created. The king, it seemed, was everywhere, his father's looming presence dominating the space, dark tendrils is power both surrounding Meliodas and consuming him, trying to tear at his innards and sear his mind. The king continued over the crackle of noise, "Without the Commandments you cannot hope to defeat me, and with them you cannot expect to resist me. They are my power, they are a part of me. Your only choice is to embrace your fate."
"No!" Meliodas yelled, summoning his blade and batting the Commandments away as they tried to approach him, weaving expertly and at lighting speed through the air. His sword sliced back and forth, sending the orbs scattering, only for them to twist mid-flight and dive at him again, and each time he managed once more to deflect them. But it was no use. Focusing on keeping himself clear of the bundles of power left him vulnerable to the king's attack. Lightning flashed around him, a fierce wind whipping his clothes and battering his skin as power singed the restless air, the smell of flames and ash cloying in his nostrils.
Then to his surprise the king suddenly stumbled, the dark, brooding image before him shivering, its form fading round the edges as it sparked with blue light. He felt a great pressure leave his mind and he filled his lungs with the air, feeling relief at being able to inhale freely. The king bellowed, then turned away from Meliodas, the anger that throbbed through the space completely unmistakable. It was then that Meliodas saw the dim shapes of two men, one short and round, the other tall and lean, both seemingly set in the middle distance, and his hearts thumped in his chest. The masters had been true to their word. Chandler and Cusack had come to his aid.
"What is this?" the king hissed, his voice unnaturally quiet.
Chandler stepped forward, his gait slow as he leaned heavily on his staff. "We have come to challenge you," the demon said calmly, as he looked the king square in the face, the thin skin around his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
"Indeed," Cusack intoned as he drew himself to his full height. "The time has come."
"Master Meliodas must be protected," Chandler agreed as he threw his staff away, his hands coming to rest on his hips. "Are you ready, Napping?"
"Of course," Before Meliodas could truly appreciate what was happening the two demons flew together, their bodies breaking down and reforming as they collided with a smack. The pair of them fused, reshaping, rebuilding, a roar of triumph resounding as their power exploded, making Meliodas's limbs tremble with the force.
The beast they formed was huge, its white flanks like those of a powerful horse, impossibly bulky and heaving with muscle. Atop sat the body of a demon with an equally powerful physique, his torso clad in armour, four arms holding several weapons and a burnished shield. Meliodas stared, wondering where he has seen this beast before, his mind tracking back to his childhood days, sunlight dappled on faded parchment in the dusty old library where and and Zeldris would idle time away as they studied.
Meliodas felt his jaw grow slack as his memory lurched into life. "The original demon," he gasped, as he watched the horse steady itself, hooves clopping on the ground as if it was preparing to charge. "But… you were banished, centuries ago…"
"We were broken in two." The voice sounded both loud and quiet, sonorous and harsh, its pitch simultaneously high and low. "The punishment for our betrayal was a lifetime of service to the demon lord, to prepare his sons to be the perfect vassals for his power. You did not expect that we would come to care for them," the demon said steadily as he stared at the king, and though its eyes were hidden, Meliodas thought he could detect a smile playing on its lips. "You did not expect that one day we would place them before you."
"You dare to challenge me? Again?" The king laughed, the sound almost alive with genuine amusement. "That worked out so well for you last time you have come for a rematch? Think carefully, Sinner. This time your life will not be spared."
The demon did not bother to reply. Instead he launched himself at the king, his swords of darkness held aloft as he charged. The distraction was just enough for Meliodas to gain control, to send the Commandments away from his form. "I love you, Elizabeth, I always will," he murmured to himself as he too surged on the king, the bright white of her aura filling his mind with a comforting light as he surged on his parent. "This is for Elizabeth," he yelled as he took an almighty swing, aiming his sword to slice his father's eyes.
The fight was relentless. Both the Sinner and Meliodas battered at the king in their separate locations, dealing as much damage as it was possible to inflict. The air turned sour as it whirled, and Meliodas choked the putrid wind, his lungs squeezing as the atmosphere soured. The king grinned, his dark eyes flashing as he raised his huge sword for the kill, and Meliodas stood still, a sudden calm washing through him, ready for death as the weapon swung down.
But the blow never fell. Instead Meliodas saw the demon king stumble, his father's roar of indignation enough to make shivers run up his spine. The Sinner had clearly landed a blow; the demon was panting hard, its flanks beaded with sweat, as it circled round for another attack. At the same time, Meliodas leapt up into the air, only to find himself smacked down to the ground, darkness crawling through his veins like worms as his limbs lay prostrate on the floor. His body it appeared was no longer his own, and he could not hope to counter the assault.
"Elizabeth!" he screamed as the pain grew, and he pictured the goddess as she stood before him, her starlight hair blowing softly in the warm breeze, her eyes full of kindness and understanding and love. He loved her! Had he not always loved her? It was as if when he finally stood with her, the long grass brushing against the leather of their boots, that he had finally found a missing part of his very soul. As he closed his eyes, giving way to the vision, he felt the goddess' light move through him, the bright glow expanding to fill his heart. He loved her. He would always love her. And he would never again let her go.
It took him a moment or two to register that he could move, and even longer to sense rather than hear the screech which tore through the space, and that was no longer on the inside of his head. The demon king was flailing, his body breaking down before Meliodas's eyes, the power of his darkness succumbing to the sudden light. The cocoon had cracked, the rays of the sun streaming into the interior, and his father did not seem able to withstand the force of the elements.
"Farewell young master, this is for you!" the strange voice called and Meliodas looked round in time to watch the Sinner launch himself at the demon king. The demon's weapon slid straight into his father's eye, piercing his head right through. The king yelled, anger and frustration mixed with fear, the sound alien, bringing both triumph and alarm. Meliodas bit his lip as the king collapsed to the floor, and the Sinner started to disintegrate, his form breaking apart, pieces of himself detaching and disappearing into the ether. "Remember us," the demon said softly as he began to fade. "We always did our best for you."
Then suddenly Meliodas stood alone in the clearing, feeling the wind gently ruffle his hair, hearing the sound of the birds and insects, the smell of water so fresh he could practically taste it. The cocoon was gone, the landscape a mix of green and blues, yellow flowers sorting the grass. The Commandments once more buzzed at his side, occasionally bumping into him in what felt to be a companionable way, the malice and intent gone from their movements. He had won. The demon king was no more. It was only left to him to consume the power which now fawned about him so that he could resume his place as leader of his clan.
"Not yet, sorry," he murmured to the orbs of power before scooping them up into his pocket. "We have a war to end," he added as he summoned his wings, ignoring the ache in his limbs as he prepared for flight.
"Mael!" Elizabeth screamed as the archangel somehow managed to stand, forcing his broken body to shield her from view. She quickly pushed out her powers, pressing her healing into his body, willing his injuries to vanish and his wounds to close. It was an effort, far more difficult than should have been the case, and Elizabeth realised her magic was running thin, the continued exertions having depleted her reserves.
Mael did not turn to face her, but continued to stare straight ahead at her mother who stood before the dais, surrounded by broken glass and smashed plaster, white powder covering the shining gold and polished marble. The queen's musical laughter floated sonorously through the room. Elizabeth cast a quick glance out of the window, trying to calculate how long they had to keep up the fight. But her brain would not work, her mind sluggish under the strain of the fight and the ever-present incense which made her head spin. She had no idea what to do, and try as she might she felt the call of sleep, the pull of dreams as she swayed unsteadily on her feet.
"That's it my children," the queen intoned, the fog in Elizabeth's mind spreading, creeping into every nook and crevice. "Relax, sleep. All this is a fantasy, nothing more than a nightmare. Sleep, forget. When you wake it will all have faded, will be nothing more than a dream. You are my obedient daughter, my dear future son. Relax, and let yourselves be healed."
Elizabeth felt her limbs go limp, her teeth and hands unclenching slowly as she allowed her eyes to close, the hypnotic music of her mother's voice soothing her soul. Why was she here, fighting the woman who gave her life? It must indeed be a dream, a nightmare, a trick of her warped imagination. How could she ever had dared to harm the queen, their benefactor, their god, the one who had saved their clan, the one who was the only true ruler of Britannia and all the lands around? Elizabeth closed her eyes, her head lying on clouds, the taste of honey growing strong on her tongue. She would do as she was told. She would sleep and forget. She would be the obedient daughter that was a credit to the queen, and never step out of line again.
Then it hit her. A sunny smile, green eyes sparking in the morning light, a bright laugh, warm arms around her, warm lips pressed to hers. "Meliodas," she whispered as her lover appeared, his image growing sharper and clearer as loved bloomed in her breast. "I am doing this for Meliodas," she said with more certainty, her resolve growing as she focused on the demon she cared for more than anything in the world. Memories came flooding back as she opened her heart, the way he had first found her and allowed her to plead for the lives of her allies, the way they had stood in the ruins of the Sky Palace, rubble around them, the bark of a dog as it leapt into her arms, Estarossa's soft fur warm under her fingertips. The other was all lies, false comfort she had to resist, however painful the alternative may be.
Elizabeth suddenly stood, pushing every last ounce of her power out of her fingertips, putting all of her strength into the attack. "Meliodas!" she screamed as she channeled her magic, her energy speeding through the air like a bullet to smack straight into the queen's face. The supreme deity yelled, her once lyrical voice now harsh as sandpaper as she hurled abuse at her whore of a daughter. Elizabeth panted, sanity restored but unable to summon anything more for a further attack. She was spent, done, defenceless against the queen's wrath, and she shuddered, her heart beating wildly as the queen turned towards her. The supreme deity's face was completely obscured by her light, her power blooming like flowers, the air cracking as she prepared her lethal attack.
Then Elizabeth felt sudden rush of air, the blazing heat of the sun heating her through to her bones and making sweat break out on her forehead and back, trickles running down the line of her wings. The room suddenly seemed too small, the gold beginning to drip from the walls as the queen's white light was crowded out with golden rays. Elizabeth glanced to her right, only to wince, swinging her gaze to the floor as Mael rose into the air. Her brief glance had shown her that the archangel's body was larger than she had ever seen it before, his head held proud as he puffed out his chest, his wings unfurled and burning like fire as he rushed like a comet towards the queen.
She could not look. She closed her eyes tight, her teeth clenched hard as she willed herself to block out the sound of the screams. The hour had come: it was noon and Mael was invincible, his Grace so powerful he could not be defeated and she knew that the queen would not survive. The smell was her first clue that it was all over, the sickening stench of burning fat and hair making Elizabeth wretch, her stomach heaving as she fell to the floor, her palms pressed into the marble as she spat bile onto the stone.
How long she stayed like this she could not afterwards remember, but she was brought to her senses by the soft drag of her hair as it was pulled away from her face and neck, a comforting hand running in circles over her back. "I… I'm sorry," Mael rasped out, his voice little more than a choke. "I… I didn't… I had no choice."
Elizabeth nodded, her abdomen in knots but she managed to swallow enough to regain control of her body. The windows were smashed, the smell of the clean, clear air spilling into the room, displacing the odour of death and incense. But though her thoughts could come more clearly, she still could not process what had happened, could not seem to decide even what she should say in response to the man who had slaughtered her mother.
"Elizabeth," Mael murmured, "I am sorry, but you need to pull yourself together. Our army is in battle at this very moment. People will be killed. You are our leader now, and you have the power to stop it."
Peace. With a start, Elizabeth forced herself to stand, but she found she was unable to meet Mael's gaze. She nodded, keeping her eyes averted as she stretched out her wings, spreading her feathers as she prepared for flight. She would end the war, stop the killing, then lead her people to a brighter future. It was all she could do to atone for what she had done.
The ground was quiet. Meliodas stared, horror freezing him in place as he looked at the corpses which littered the ground. There were even more casualties than the last time: demons, goddesses, giants, fairies and humans, all of them slaughtered for a pointless war. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "I failed."
He did not look up as a shadow slid over the land, blotting out the sun as his gaze panned to the ground, his fringe falling over his eyes to obscure his vision. The visitor's energy was familiar, so dear to him that it was almost as if it were his own. He was not surprised when he heard a slight rustle of dry grass as someone landed lightly next to him, their presence so close he could almost feel the soft feathers against his own wings.
"I came too late," Elizabeth whispered, the pain in her voice making his hearts seize with pity.
"This is my fault," Meliodas said in a rush, the words tumbling over one another as he struggled to talk. "If I had just defected to your side as we planned, if I had only…"
"You can't know that." Elizabeth took a step towards him, and he started as he felt her hand curl over his own. "Maybe things would have been better, maybe worse. We cannot tell what are all the consequences of our actions, we can only learn to live with the sin we bear."
Meliodas swallowed, his hand clenched hard in a fist as Elizabeth tightened her grip. "But I failed," he protested. "I wanted to save you. I wanted…"
"We both wanted peace, a life without fighting, a life where everyone is free to live and to love. And I still want that, Meliodas. And I want you. What do you say? Will you join me this time? Will you help me rebuild our clans and our world?"
Meliodas swallowed, the lump in his throat painful, blocking any response he might have wanted to utter. Instead, he uncurled his fist, his and Elizabeth's fingers lacing together as he finally returned the pressure of her hold.
A/N: Thank you so much for sticking with this story. I really hope you enjoyed it.
In case of interest, I am pleased to be able to say that I have written an exclusive story for the first NNT Zine which has recently been opened for pre-orders. The artwork which will feature in this publication is truly stunning and a number of amazing authors have contributed stories.
If you would like more information about the Zine you can find it at nntzine on Tumblr or Twitter.