Monroe frowned down at the food in front of her as Meliodas called her and Elizabeth to eat.
"I think I'd rather go hungry," Monroe said as she pushed the plate away.
She remembers the monstrosities he used to make. This one might look pleasant, but she doubted it'd taste any good. Despite her harsh decline to eat the food he made, Meliodas just grinned and chuckled.
"Lady Monroe," Elizabeth chided. "That isn't a very polite thing to do."
"Might want to taste that first before you continue to scold her." Hawk cautioned.
Elizabeth blinked in confusion before going to take a bite out of the food placed in front of her. Monroe watched carefully as Elizabeth put the food in her mouth. When the princess gagged, Monroe knew she was right. Meliodas's cooking hasn't improved.
"What do you think?" Meliodas asked. "Awful, isn't it?"
"Ah, yes," Elizabeth said softly as if not wanting to hurt the Sin of Wrath's feelings.
Meliodas chuckled because he knew it would be. Monroe just shook her head as she set her portion down for Hawk to eat, which he did without hesitation. She patted the pig on his back as he ate while glad he was around to dispose of the culinary mistake.
"But still…it's delicious…more than I can say." Elizabeth said as tears ran down her cheeks.
She wiped at her eyes as Monroe, who was going to give Elizabeth's portion to Hawk as well, sighed. She decided to let the princess eat the food if she so wished. They were running a bit on empty as they haven't had the time to sit down and have a proper meal in a while. Mostly whatever Monroe could find in the forest, which was usually berries of some kind and maybe a small mammal or two, weren't really proper meals.
"So, what brings you all out here?" Meliodas asked.
"We're on a quest to find the Seven Deadly Sins," Elizabeth replied.
Meliodas stared at her with an unreadable expression before turning to Monroe who had turned in her seat and was down leaning against the bar.
"Why?" He asked.
"Maybe I just missed you all and wanted to see you," Monroe replied. "It's been ten years, you know."
He knew there had to be more to it than that. Monroe looked as if she was just stalling. Meliodas was going to press Monroe for an answer, but before he could, someone banged loudly on the door. The action causing Elizabeth and Hawk to jump. Monroe's brow quirked wondering who could be at the door.
"Open up!" A voice shouted from outside. "The villagers told us who's in there! We are the Order of the Beard of the Mountain Cat—serving under the Holy Knights from the foot of the mountain. Former Holy Knight Monroe— traitor of the kingdom and supporter of the Seven Deadly Sins—come out and do so peacefully!"
Monroe sighed. She should have known this would happen after she scared those villagers away. But she supposes there's no helping it now.
"What's the matter with everyone today?" Meliodas asked.
"Well, officially, I did kidnap the princess and flee the capital after causing some havoc." Monroe said as she stood up. "I'm a very wanted person right now, but don't worry. I'll handle them quickly."
Monroe, who was cracking her knuckles, started heading towards the door, but Meliodas reached out to grasp the back of her shirt to tug her back. Monroe glanced over her shoulder to look at Meliodas.
"Now, now, Roe, there's no reason for violence." Meliodas said grinning. "Let me handle this."
Monroe didn't think the blonde would be able to just convince the knights to leave through conversation but decided to step back anyway to let Meliodas by. He went the door as another voice demanded for her to come out.
"Please, hide in the back, Princess." Monroe instructed. "We can't allow them to see you."
Elizabeth nodded her head while quickly doing as she was told. Monroe moved over to the side to hug up against the wall to not be seen. She stopped near the door as Meliodas placed his hand on the nob. He looked at her with a look in his eyes that told her to behave. She snorted thinking he was the last one who should be giving her that look. Meliodas then opened the door.
"What's up?" Meliodas greeted the men outside.
"Who are you, little kid?!" One of them demanded.
"Well, I'm the owner of this place." Meliodas explained.
Of course, his claim was met with skeptical looks, but it seemed the knights didn't care whether he was the actual owner or not.
"Former Holy Knight Monroe is here—send her out." The same man demanded.
Monroe rolled her eyes since she wasn't sure how Meliodas was going to talk himself out of this one.
"Sorry, but I don't know who you're talking about." Meliodas said. "The only other living creature inside my bar besides me is a talking pig."
"Who is calling for me?" Hawk said as he walked forward. "I am Sir Hawk the Captain of the Order of Scrap Disposal!"
Monroe almost chuckled in amusement at Hawk's claim as the men just denied the pig's words.
"Sorry about not having who you're looking for, but if you want, you can have this pig." Meliodas said. "Grill him up if you want."
"Give it a rest, will ya?!" Hawk demanded.
Meliodas was then lifted off the ground by one of the men who grabbed the blonde by the front of his clothes.
"You little punk!" The man hissed. "You've got some nerve making fun of knights like this."
Monroe was about to step out and just handle things like she said she would. However, she paused when she could have sworn that she heard the back door open.
"Alioni, look!" One of the man's friends shouted. "A girl ran out the back!"
As Monroe's eyes widened at the man's words, Alioni dropped Meliodas roughly.
"What?!" Alioni demanded. "We have to inform Sir Twigo. It has to be that traitor!"
They took off running as Monroe cursed. Of course, Elizabeth ran away. She probably thought Meliodas was in trouble and took off thinking it'd make things better. Monroe took off from the tavern right pass Meliodas and Hawk. Monroe wasn't going to let anything happen to Elizabeth. Meliodas watched Monroe go then looked to Hawk.
"Well, let's go after them." Meliodas said.
Meliodas hurried off through the trees to get a head of the knights as Monroe hurried across the ground.
"Wait for me!" Hawk shouted as he hurried after them.
As she continued her pursuit, Monroe closed in on the knight at the rear while kicking him in the side. He cried out flying into a tree, which snapped in half at the force. She then made it to two more of them while grabbing them by the heads to smash them together. As they fell, Alioni finally looked behind them with his eyes widening when seeing they were being pursued.
"If it's me you want, you need to turn around." Monroe said as she narrowed her eyes. "Though don't think I'll come quietly."
Though before she could attack Alioni, Hawk was suddenly running alongside her. He was moving pretty fast for a pig.
"You're not getting away!" He told Alioni.
Monroe came to a stop just at the tree line as Hawk hit Alioni head on, which sent the young man falling over a cliff.
"Not bad, Sir Hawk." Monroe said.
Hawk turned putting his head up high in the air as he let out a snort of pride. Monroe then turned her head to look up at the tree branch above her where Meliodas had Elizabeth.
"Thanks for grabbing her, Melly, the help is…" Monroe trailed off when seeing Meliodas groping Elizabeth's boob.
Monroe didn't hesitate to pick up a rock and throw it as hard as she could at the Dragon Sin. Elizabeth gasped as the object hit the boy square in the forehead. Meliodas lost his grip on Elizabeth who squealed as she fell from the tree. Though Monroe caught her easily. She didn't bother catching Meliodas who hit the ground with a thud.
"Pervert," Monroe grumbled as Hawk prodded the unconscious blonde with his hoof.
"Nice hit." Hawk complimented.
"So, tell me, why are you both looking for the Seven Deadly Sins?" Meliodas, who was conscious again, asked the girls.
"It's a long story." Monroe replied. "One I'd rather tell once we're on the move. I'm sure they sent for reinforcements. I'd rather not draw any more attention."
She knew she could take whatever sent their way, but she'd rather avoid any more fighting for now. The less people who knew where they are and what they were doing the better. Monroe then stiffened when the ground shifted underneath them. The cliffside then gave out just as Monroe turned to see some Holy Knight apprentice had cut the mountain. She frowned in annoyance as the cliffside started falling and crumbling away.
"Ah, give me a break!" Hawk cried as Elizabeth screamed in shock.
Monroe tched before she moved quickly. She grabbed Hawk as Meliodas grabbed Elizabeth. She was about to jump back up to the safety of the cliff when she saw Alioni down below. She cursed about to go after him, but Meliodas snatched him up instead.
"Can you make it back up on your own?" Meliodas asked.
Monroe nodded her head then used some of the falling rumble as a springboard. She went up in the air to land on the opposite side of the knights. Meliodas was right behind her and threw Alioni to the ground once he landed.
"Look, it's Alioni!" One of the man's companions called.
Monroe sat Hawk down carefully as the knights continued to gawk in absolute shock.
"You there!" The apprentice called out. "How dare you survive without my say so. I will not be revising my death tally conclusion."
"Who asked you to, anyway?!" Hawk demanded.
He practically growled at the apprentice as smoke seemed to blow out of his nose due to his anger.
"Hey, you okay?" Meliodas asked Elizabeth.
"Oh, yes." Elizabeth said.
"When I signal to you, run into the forest." Meliodas said. "Got it?"
"There's no need for that." Monroe said as she started walking forward. "I'll handle things now. Won't take but a few seconds."
Elizabeth looked on in worry as the apprentice started walking forward as well to meet Monroe.
"You sure?" Meliodas asked. "You don't even have your sword."
"Don't need it." Monroe said.
Meliodas, who was curious to see how Monroe has grown, shrugged his shoulders as he stood in front of Elizabeth and Hawk for their own protection.
"Please, be careful, Lady Monroe!" Elizabeth called.
Monroe nodded her head once as she came to stand nearly toe-to-toe with the apprentice.
"Hmm, silver hair and blue eyes." The apprentice said. "And those distinctive tattoos—one of them being the runic symbol of death. There is no doubting the obvious resemblance between this woman and the wanted poster. Conclusion, you are the traitorous Holy Knight Monroe!"
"And you're some Holy Knight apprentice." Monroe said. "This won't be much of a challenge."
The apprentice growled as he glared down at Monroe who didn't seem too worried. He then brought his sword down on her, which had Elizabeth.
"Monroe!" Elizabeth called out in worry as the attack seemed to hit.
Dirt flew up everywhere—making it impossible to see if Monroe was alright or not. Meliodas watched on calmly sensing that Monroe was alright. Once the dust cleared, everyone gasped when seeing Monroe had stopped the sword barehanded. But what was also shocking is that the sword was oddly warped somehow as the end of it twisted back to face the apprentice.
"B—but how?!" He demanded.
"It doesn't matter if it's made of iron or flesh and bone, with my magic power known as Matter, I can alter the substance of anything." Monroe said. "I simply liquified your blade to twist it out of shape before hardening it again. Pity it seemed like a fine sword."
Monroe then shot her fist forward with the apprentice's armor liquifying around where her fist was targeting. Her fist hit his unprotected flesh, and the force behind her punch sent the apprentice flying. The large man crashed into the ground creating a fairly large crater.
"Sir Twigo!" One of the knights called in worry.
Twigo hurried to sit up, but before he could gain his bearings a shadow loomed over him. He looked up with wide eyes as Monroe stood over him. She reached down grabbing Twigo by the front of his neck to lift him up off the ground over her head. She brought his face close to stare him right in the eye.
"I want you to deliver a message to the Grand Masters." Monroe said. "If they're going to send knights after me, they better make them worth my time."
Monroe then tossed him up into the air. She gave a shout while delivering a strong uppercut to under his jaw. He went flying high with his subordinates watching with wide eyes when he was sent into a grouping of trees. He went through a few of them as they snapped in half due to the force. He finally stopped, but the tree he hit last, snapped in half as well while falling straight down onto his head. It cracked loudly before he fell over to the ground unconscious.
"I hope he remembers what I said after his head stops ringing." Monroe said as she rolled her shoulders. "Well, really time to go now."
Monroe blinked as the tavern swayed slightly. She's seen a lot in her years, but a giant green pig that carries a tavern on its back was new. And hard to wrap her head around.
"Well, now that we have some time, why don't you two explain what's going on, hmm?" Meliodas suggested. "Like, why you need to find the Seven Deadly Sins?"
Elizabeth looked down at her lap as her hands clenched and unclenched into fists.
"We need them—you—to help us stop the Holy Knights." Elizabeth explained.
"Are you serious?" Hawk asked. "Why in the world would you wanna do that? The Holy Knights are the King's men. They're the knights that protect Liones. Real Heroes."
"They're supposed to be anyway," Monroe said as she stood up.
She moved over to one of the windows while looking out as the scenery went by. Her bothered expression reflecting in the glass.
"What do you mean?" Hawk asked.
"The other day except for the King himself the entire royal family was arrested and is being held by the Holy Knights." Elizabeth told Meliodas and Hawk. "Monroe had to fight through so many of them to get me to safety."
Elizabeth looked to Monroe while still feeling so guilty for everything the young woman has gone through for her and her family. Monroe had to fight so many old friends and in such a short amount of time.
"Does that mean the King isn't really sick in bed?" Hawk questioned.
"King Batra is in good health." Monroe said. "Though it isn't certain how long he'll remain that way. They have a mage on their side named Vivian. If they want to make their story believable, they'll most likely use her to do it."
Elizabeth's expression turned even more worried as she thought about her father and sisters.
"I don't know what they think they can accomplish to driving this nation to war." Elizabeth said. "But now they're drafting the people of the kingdom. They're taking men wherever they can get them. They're preparing for war everywhere you look. Soon their reach will extend all the way out here."
"That's not good." Hawk said.
"Yeah, tough break, huh." Meliodas agreed.
Hawk frowned at him for his desensitized tone as the short bar owner was cleaning the counter as if they weren't just told a war was coming.
"Wow, you don't have any empathy at all, do you?" Hawk scoffed.
"Anyway, Melly, that's why we're looking for all of you." Monroe said as she turned away from the window. "Not all the Holy Knights are in on this, but those who aren't are blind to what's happening. I cannot rely on them to help, and while I am confident in my skills, even I can't take on all the Holy Knights of Liones. So, some help would be appreciated."
She said all this casually as if it weren't a big deal, but Elizabeth knew how much this all bothered Monroe.
"What of Asthore?" Meliodas asked. "Surely he isn't in on the plot to start a war, and he's too smart a man to be fooled by others."
Meliodas noticed how Monroe's hands clenched into fists at her side as her shoulders began to shake. He frowned while turning to Elizabeth who had tears entering her eyes.
"Holy Knight Asthore was killed eight years ago not long after accepting the title of Grand Master." Elizabeth explained. "Along with Lady Cordelia and the young lord Feoras."
Meliodas's eyes widened at that news as he dropped the rag that had been in his hands.
"Lady Monroe had suffered severe wounds but was found before she lost too much blood." Elizabeth continued. "The doctors said it was a miracle that she had lived."
Meliodas's eyes shifted by to Monroe who had managed to stop herself from shaking any longer. The girl turned with her expression being controlled.
"How?" Meliodas asked.
"They were ambushed on the way to visit my uncle." Elizabeth said. "Grand Master Asthore had been ill the morning of departure. My father, who had wanted him to assess the knights under my uncle's rule, had asked him to wait a few days until he was better, but Grand Master Asthore insisted he go that day."
Elizabeth remembers seeing the family off. She remembers Asthore promising to return soon to the kingdom. She remembers Feoras's excitement and Cordelia's kind face, and Monroe…Elizabeth remembers that as the last day that Monroe smiled. At least stopped smiling as she used to. So carefree and happy.
"Father didn't want to disappoint us." Monroe took over the story. "He had been so busy after being promoted to Grand Master after the death of Grand Master Zaratras. He felt bad for not spending time with us, so he was going to make his assignment a little holiday for us. We were going to stay a week with Lord Denzel in his home, but on the way there, things went bad. I'll spare you the details."
Meliodas couldn't believe it. Asthore and his family were gone except for Monroe.
'Meliodas, you really need to slow down on your drinking. You'll stunt your growth even more.'
'Look at you, Meliodas. You're filthy. Come, let's draw you a bath and get you fresh clothes.'
'When I grow up, I want to be a strong knight like you, Melly! Think I can do it?'
Their voices ran through his mind along with their faces. Asthore looking after him when he drank too much. Cordelia sternly trying to stop him from causing trouble and taking care of him as if he was her child. And little Feoras looking up at him as if he was someone amazing.
"Well," Meliodas began while keeping his tone light. "You both have found your first sin. So, listen, as far as the six others go, I've got some business to discuss, so I started looking for them myself. I've been using the tavern as a way to gather information. But if I had a couple of pretty girls to pull in a larger crowd, I bet we'd have a lot more info heading our way."
"So…so you'll help us?" Elizabeth asked with hopeful tears.
"Of course," Meliodas said as he hopped over the bar.
He walked over to Monroe while reaching up to pat her on top of the head like he used to do when she was a kid.
"Like, I could say no to our little Roe." Meliodas said with a chuckle. "I'm sure the others would kick my butt even if I tried."
Monroe's lips turned up slightly while feeling a bit of weight lift off of her shoulders.
'It's taken eight years,' Monroe thought to herself. 'But I'll finally be able to see them again thanks to you, Mors. I can't express how grateful I am.'
The mark on her neck warmed sending a wave of comfort through the young knight. Things were finally really moving. All her patience would finally be paying off.
"I refuse to wear this degrading outfit." She hissed as she glared at Meliodas.
Elizabeth leaned away from Monroe as a sharp killing intent rolled off of her in waves. Meliodas didn't seem too worried about the glare as he smiled at the girls.
"But you look good in it, Roe." Meliodas said. "Besides, it's the tavern's uniform!"
"Way to put your pervy thoughts on display, dude." Hawk said sarcastically.
Meliodas, who was circling the two girls, just hummed in reply not seeming at all insulted by Hawk's quip.
"While we're waiting on tables, you want us to keep track of rumors and collect information on the possible whereabouts of the Seven Deadly Sins, right?" Elizabeth said.
"Some info on the Holy Knights would be okay too." Meliodas said as he lifted Elizabeth's skirt.
Elizabeth squeaked at the invasion of her personal space as Meliodas stared at her butt.
"Oh, don't worry," Meliodas said. "I just need to conduct a size check."
He then grunted when Monroe hit him over the back of the head with her fist. A clear warning for him to knock it off.
"Control yourself," Monroe told him sternly. "Now as for information on the others, I do have a few leads myself. Not to mention, some inside information on the Holy Knights."
"Oh yeah?" Meliodas asked.
Monroe nodded while fiddling with the stupid uniform shirt. She tried to pull the shirt farther down across her torso, but it didn't budge though. She also didn't like how tight it was across her chest.
"Ban is in Baste Prison." Monroe said. "Apparently, he turned himself in."
Something she was quite annoyed about, but she'd deal with him and his dumb decision later.
"Merlin was last spotted heading towards Camelot." Monroe continued. "But that was some time ago. It's all I've got on her though."
Meliodas tilted his head wondering why Merlin would go to Camelot of all places. He doesn't remember her ever showing any real interest in that place before.
"As for the others, I don't have any leads." Monroe confessed. "And concerning the Holy Knights, it's a lot to explain. And I'm a bit tired, so I think I'd like to take a nap first before getting into all the details."
Really, she just didn't want Elizabeth around since there were certain things Monroe didn't want her to be burdened with knowing. Meliodas seemed to understand this as he saw how Monroe glanced at the princess.
"Well, there's a second bedroom upstairs." Meliodas told her. "You're welcomed to it, of course."
Monroe, who thanked the blonde, traveled up the steps while going to the second bedroom. She shut the door behind her while giving a sigh. She kicked off her shoes before going over to the bed to plop down on it. She hugged the pillow to herself as she stared at the headboard. She was happy to find Meliodas, but there was one Sin in particular she was very eager to see again.
"Ban…" She whispered.