"Here, let me see your hand," Monroe said as she sat down on a stool across from Meliodas.
After returning from the village, Meliodas had asked Elizabeth to clean up and Hawk to have his mom start making their way to the next town. As those two were busy doing that, Monroe had taken Meliodas, who had hurt his hand when catching the spear sent by Gilthunder, up to his bedroom where he sat on the bed and her on a stool, she had brought up from the bar along with somethings to take care of his hand with.
"You know it'll be better by tomorrow," Meliodas said though did as he was told.
Monroe just hummed in reply as she washed away the blood that was seeping from the cut on his palm.
"So, this information you said you had on the Holy Knights," Meliodas began as she worked. "What's so bad about it that you didn't wish to tell Elizabeth?"
Monroe frowned as she grabbed a few bandages to wrap Meliodas's hand up with.
"There are things I've kept to myself." Monroe said. "Things not even the King knows about. I wanted to collect more information and gather more allies before coming to the light with what I've found out."
Meliodas nodded in understanding as Monroe finished her task. She sat the spare bandages to the side before resting her hands in her lap.
"Right now, the Holy Knights are split into two fractions," Monroe said. "The fraction who follows under Dreyfus's command. Then the New Generation being creations of Hendrickson."
"Creations?" Meliodas repeated. "New Generation"
"That's right," Monroe said. "Hendrickson has somehow come across some demon blood and he's been testing the effects on willing Holy Knights look for more power."
Meliodas's eyes widened at that information. He couldn't believe someone like Hendrickson was doing such things.
"Many have died partaking in the blood." Monroe continued. "Those who live become part of the New Generation. While you can tell a difference in power to how they were before compared to how they are now, they aren't that strong. I can easily best one of them,but get enough of them together and they're trouble. If he starts making headway with his research and starts using the blood on more talented Holy Knights, we might have a real problem."
Meliodas frowned because that didn't sound good at all. The Holy Knights were already causing so much trouble. They even overthrew the royal family. If they become even stronger, all of Britannia could really be thrown into war.
"I wasn't able to get too much info on how well his researching is going," Monroe said honestly. "Though I did learn that the New Generation can be told apart from the other Holy Knights by their eyes. Because once they take the blood, their eyes turn black. Also, Hendrickson has been diving deep into the history of the first Holy War alongside Dreyfus. Demons being their main focus."
Meliodas didn't like that. It almost sounded as if the two were trying to revive the Demon Clan.
"Is there anything else you know?" Meliodas asked her. "What drew your attention to Hendrickson and Dreyfus anyway? I mean, they're obviously not flaunting what they're doing because they have the entire kingdom fooled."
Monroe sighed while running her fingers through her hair. Yes, she knew a lot more, but there were certain things she couldn't say. Things that he'd question how she knew. Like how she knew Dreyfus and Hendrickson were behind Zaratras and Asthore's deaths. Along with the with death of her mother and brother…and herself. She wasn't ready to tell him…or anyone about the deal she made. About what she has become to try and save those she loves. It might sound silly, but she was worried about how they would react. She was afraid of rejection. Though she did need to give some kind of explanation as to why she started watching them so closely.
"…It wasn't until after that incident with my family happened, but…I had overheard the two talking…arguing." Monroe lied. "About past sins they had committed. Two of them being the murder of my uncle Zaratras and my family."
Meliodas couldn't believe his ears. Even as the words repeated in his mind, they didn't add up. Dreyfus killing both of his older brothers…and his sister-in-law and nephew. And his attempt at murdering his only niece. The Dreyfus he thought he knew would never do such a thing. And Hendrickson was such a kind soul, and Meliodas saw how the man loved Monroe—his pupil.
"They had conspired to kill uncle Zaratras for reasons I still don't know," Monroe said, which was true. "And framed all of you. During the two years after that event, Father kept looking into the incident. Knowing you all couldn't possibly have committed such an act. His nosiness led to them silencing him as well. Along with the rest of us. Apparently, me surviving the attack had them shaken. They were worried if I knew anything or if my father had told me anything. Since they were so wary of me, they kept me at arm's length."
Her words weren't all falsehood. The two did keep her at arm's length in fear of what she knew, but how she found out about them wasn't how she told Meliodas.
"When I found out…I didn't know how to handle the information," Monroe said, which was true. "I remember wanting to cry, but I couldn't even get the tears to form. I remember wanting to scream, but I wasn't even able to find my voice. Then…I decided to keep the information to myself as by the time I found out they had already started gaining followers. Besides, it would have been my word against theirs, and I'm sure they would have used the fact that I'm grieving in their defense. People had already been brushing me off when I told them one of the bandits who attacked us wore the armor of a Holy Knight."
Another true part of the story. They told her that she must have seen wrong. That she probably got one of the Holy Knights escorting them confused with one of those attacking them. But it had been the escorts who started attacking them.
"So, I kept it to myself and started keeping an eye on the two." Monroe said. "I decided when I was finally strong enough and became a Holy Knight that I would set out to find all of you. I knew if I could trust anyone, I knew it be the people who I call my family."
Again, that was the truth, which made withholding information from Meliodas just a little bit less painful.
"Well, whatever they're planning, we'll handle it," Meliodas said. "And we'll find the others before you know it, Roe. So, don't worry too much, kay?"
He stood up at pat her head as he spoke as he walked out the door to go and check on how clean up was going. After he left, Monroe let out a sigh.
"Sorry, Melly," she said as she touched the mark on her neck. "But there's so much that I left out. I hope you can forgive me for it later."
Monroe, who had changed back into the clothes she had been traveling in before, let out a yawn as she walked slightly in front of Meliodas and Elizabeth with Hawk at her side. They were trekking through the Forest of White Dreams because Meliodas thought that another Sin might be here. Monroe hoped so. Besides, if she was going to be hiding from Holy Knights this is where she'd come.
"Hey, Meliodas, are you sure about this?" Hawk asked. "We've been out here for three hours now. There's no sign of any animals let alone any humans either."
"You're right, Hawk." Elizabeth said then glanced back at Meliodas. "Sir Meliodas, do you really think we'll be able to find one of the Seven Deadly Sins here?"
"Probably." Meliodas said casually.
Well, that was good enough for Monroe, so she kept walking up the slope with the others falling slightly behind her.
"You mean we came here without any solid evidence?!" Hawk demanded before huffing as he turned around.
"His hunch is good enough for me." Monroe said from her spot in the front of the group.
Monroe then stepped over a log as she continued to look around. She wasn't sure what kind of dangers this forest had, which is why she brought her sword with her today.
"I'd say once we're done here that we go to where Ban is," Monroe said. "If they Holy Knights realize the Princess and I are trying to reunite the Sins, they might try to move him."
Then it'd be that much harder to find him, and that thought didn't set well with Monroe.
"If you know where one of the Sins are, why didn't we just go there instead?" Hawk asked. "We don't even know if a Sin is here. This could be a waste of time."
"We won't know that until we look." Meliodas pointed out.
"Besides, I wouldn't bother with wondering if a Sin is here or not." Monroe added then turned her head to smile at her companions mischievously. "I'd be more worried about what else is lurking in this forest."
Hawk and Elizabeth both looked around nervously, which had Monroe chuckling in amusement as she looked forward again.
"I heard there's a terrible monster that lurks around here watching…waiting." Hawk murmured.
Elizabeth suddenly screamed out, which had Hawk and Monroe whirling around.
"What is it?!" Hawk asked.
"I…I can feel something grabbing me from behind." Elizabeth whimpered.
Monroe, who looked behind Elizabeth for this threat, had her hand on the hilt of her sword ready to draw it if needed, but paused when seeing Meliodas had his hand up the girl's skirt. Monroe huffed in annoyance as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Hey, relax." Meliodas said as he continued to grope Elizabeth's butt. "It's just me."
"Oh, what a relief." Elizabeth said sighing.
Monroe, who wasn't happy with Elizabeth's laid-back reaction, reached down to pick up a rock from the ground. She tossed it up a few times in her hand to test its weight before sending it flying at Meliodas's head. Meliodas managed to dodge the attack though the tree behind him wasn't so lucky. The rock that was thrown put a large whole through the tree, which caused Elizabeth and Hawk to look at it in shock.
"Well, putting that aside for just a minute." Meliodas said before Monroe could pick up another rock.
"Good, I thought you'd never stop." Hawk grumbled.
Meliodas ignored Hawk's grumbling as he stepped up slightly while looking around.
"I might have a little evidence." Meliodas said. "Traveling through the Forest of White Dreams through horseback is more difficult than you think. It's so hard to get your bearings that even experienced travelers go around it."
That was all true. Monroe would never bring a horse in here. She'd rather not put the poor creature through something like that.
"This would be the perfect place for someone to hide out." Elizabeth said beaming. "Hold on…something doesn't feel right."
Monroe glanced back at Elizabeth wondering what was wrong as she was touching her butt. Monroe turned to frown at Meliodas as he most likely did something, but he just kept moving as if he did nothing wrong, which she highly doubted.
"You okay?" Hawk asked.
"Ah, sure just fine!" Elizabeth practically squeaked.
Monroe wasn't completely convinced but shrugged it off as she continued trekking forward. She didn't even pause when Hawk turned to shout at Meliodas and Elizabeth to pick up the pace.
"Hey, hold your bacon." Meliodas told him. "Not a lot of fun traveling with a nervous piggy…whoa…"
Monroe turned around at Meliodas's stunned tone with her own eyes widening when she saw more than one Hawk behind her.
"Who are you calling a nervous piggy, huh?!" the Hawks demanded in unison.
The real Hawk squealed in shock as he looked around seeing there was more than one of him.
"It's a herd!" Hawk said. "They're all me!"
The other Hawks all started acting upset and talking at once as they moved around, which made it impossible for Monroe and the others to tell them apart.
"This is the monster of the forest?" Elizabeth asked.
"I—for one—find it terrifying." Meliodas said.
"I find it annoying." Monroe said as all the Hawks continued babbling.
Though all of them soon turned and started running towards Meliodas who was farther down the hill
"Meliodas, look, you've got to help me out here!" One of the Hawks cried. "I'm the real one!"
"No, help me because I'm the real Hawk!" Another insisted.
"Hey, zip it, Porky!" A third one shouted.
Meliodas hummed in a thoughtful manner before he jumped forward using his brute power alone to hit all the Hawks at once without the aid of his sword. They all fell in a heap around him with their ears ringing from the hit.
"He's not a nice man." One of the Hawks whimpered.
"Oh, Hawk." Elizabeth said in worry.
All the Hawks jumped up crying while hurrying to hide behind Elizabeth as Monroe moved down to stand beside Meliodas.
"Elizabeth, help!" The Hawks whined. "Please, even my mom would never hit me like that!"
Elizabeth looked at all the Hawks in uncertainty since she didn't know what to do or who to help. She couldn't tell them apart at all. Suddenly the Hawks started changing shape to take on the form of Elizabeth. Monroe frowned wondering what kind of creatures were capable of this magic. As Elizabeth and Hawk looked around in shock, Monroe and Meliodas exchanged a glance.
"This just keeps getting weirder and weirder, Melly." Monroe said as she stuffed her hands into her pockets.
"True, but I like this form they've taken on much better." Meliodas said grinning.
As he was saying that the Elizabeth copies all called out to him in unison while smiling. They then tried to convince Meliodas who the real one was as Hawk stumbled backwards to stand beside Monroe.
"Wow, what a bevy of boobies." Meliodas said appreciatively.
"Look, this is not the time, Man!" Hawk said.
"He's right we need to focus." Monroe agreed while pinching Meliodas's cheek. "I could ask them personal questions, but these creatures might have the ability to copy the original copy's memories."
That was true. Besides, they're wasting a lot of daylight because of this. Of course, it was nearly impossible to tell what time of day it was in the Forest of White Dreams.
"Leave this place." A voice called from somewhere in the mist.
"Leave," Another voice called out. "Get out of this forest, humans!"
Monroe didn't like their demanding tone of voice at all. Though before she could pinpoint where their voices were coming from, However, the Elizabeth copies were moving in.
"Sir Meliodas." They called as they got closer.
"Huh, I really can't tell one from the other." Meliodas said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Well, there had to be some kind of way to tell those girls apart from the real Elizabeth. If not, they really would be here for days.
"Sir Meliodas." They said again while jumping at him unison.
Meliodas grabbed Monroe to throw over his shoulder, which had her gasping. He then jumped up off the ground making the ground crack slightly, which had some of the Elizabeth copies falling over. Meliodas landed on a large rock behind the copies before sitting Monroe down behind him.
"Oh, my goodness, however can I tell which is the real one?" Meliodas asked.
"That's me." One said.
"You can trust me." Another said. "I'll do whatever you want."
"Yes!" Meliodas said. "Starting now, I want all of you to do exactly what I tell you to."
Monroe frowned not sure she was going to like what would be coming next, which she was sure going to be perverted. The copies all looked unsure when Meliodas said that with such a wide grin on his face.
"What do you say?" Meliodas asked.
"Oh, yes, of course." The Elizabeths said in unison.
"Okay!" Meliodas said.
He then sat down on the rock with Monroe still standing behind him with her hands on her hips.
"Right hand up in the air." Meliodas said with the copies doing as ordered. "Left had on your cheek. Now call out my name, and be naughty."
"Sir Meliodas." They called out while blushing shyly.
Monroe rolled her eyes because this wasn't helping them at in in finding the real Elizabeth.
"Now, squeeze your boobs." Meliodas ordered.
They all did that as well with mixed expressions on their faces. Monroe frowned. If King Bartra ever found out about this, he'd never forgive Monroe.
"This is amazing." Meliodas said.
Hawk didn't seem to think so since he jumped up to grab a hold of Meliodas while looking pissed off.
"Can't you just find the real one?!" Hawk demanded.
"Get out." The voices started up again. "Leave this place. You will never make it out of this forest."
Hawk squealed in fright as he latched himself even tighter onto Meliodas as if for protection. Meliodas didn't seem worried as he sat in silence with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"I got it!" He declared while moving his arm, so it knocked Hawk off of him.
The pig whimpered while moving to stand behind Monroe. She reached back to pat him on top the head in a consoling manner.
"One last thing." Meliodas said. "Jump as high as you can."
All the copies went up into the air at his command, but Monroe instantly noticed when one did the opposite and sat firmly on the ground. Looks as if they found the real Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry I can't do that!" She said with her head low and a blush on her cheeks.
The copies all seemed shocked that she didn't do as ordered but didn't have too long to dwell on it since Meliodas quickly took them out. They puffed up into smoke before creatures in dark cloaks popped out of the smoke. They made a run for it while quickly trying to disappear into the fog.
"Look at that!" Hawk said. "They're just Hide-and-Seeks! Prankster Imps!"
Monroe ran after the imps while not stopping when Hawk called out for her to wait up. Monroe vanished into the mist along with the imps as the others watched her go.
"Well, we better go after them." Meliodas said.
Monroe soon caught up to the imps and followed them further into the forest. As they went farther up in the terrain, Monroe noticed a figure through the mist. Monroe squinted her eyes trying to get a better look at the figure as the others finally caught up to her.
"Wait, look!" Elizabeth called out. "It's a girl."
Monroe saw Elizabeth was right, and a smile spread across her face when realizing who was in front of them.
"It's Diane!" Monroe said happily as she picked up her pace.
She couldn't believe after all this time that she now found two of the Seven Deadly Sins.
"Diane?" Hawk asked then gasped. "Do you think those imps might attack her?!"
"A defenseless little girl like that?" Elizabeth asked.
Hawk and Elizabeth trailed off with their worrying words as the group finally reached Diane who was snoozing away.
"Lady Diane!" One of the imps cried.
"Lady Diane!" The other two echoed.
Diane didn't move an inch despite the imps calling out to her in panicked voices.
"Man, she's big." Hawk said.
"Lady Diane, we accidently let some Holy Knight Trespassers come in!" One of the imps said.
At first Diane didn't stir again, which just showed what a heavy sleeper she was.
"Lady Diane!" The imps tried again.
Diane's eyes finally snapped open to reveal two purple irises as she finally sat up off the ground while slamming her hand into the ground.
"Some Holy Knights got in, huh?" Diane asked as she stood to her full height.
Monroe's eyebrow twitched in slight worry while certain things weren't going to end pretty if Diane continued to think they were Holy Knights.
"Whoa, she's huge." Hawk squeaked.
"No, we're not Holy Knights." Elizabeth spoke up meekly. "We came here—!"
She was cut off when Diane scooped up Meliodas into her hand to hold him up at her eye level. Elizabeth and Hawk looked around in shock wondering where Meliodas went.
"He's gone." Elizabeth said.
"You both might want to look up." Monroe said pointing.
Hawk and Elizabeth followed the path that her finger pointed to, and gasped when seeing Diane had a hold of Meliodas.
"You're in trouble, Holy Knight." Diane said glaring at Meliodas.
"Hold on, you're not going to eat him, are you?!" Hawk asked in concern.
"You let go of, Sir Meliodas!" Elizabeth ordered.
"Take it easy, Di." Monroe added. "Try not to break Melly."
Diane blinked at that nickname she hasn't heard in ten years before also noticing this young woman called the man in her hold "Melly" while that blonde woman had called him "Sir Meliodas", which were names Diane knew.
"Melly?...Sir Meliodas?" Diane murmured before looking closer at the blonde.
"Yo, Diane." Meliodas said casually. "What's it been? Like ten years?"
Diane was quiet a moment longer as she looked at Meliodas even closer as if still not sure. However, soon her entire face lit up when she really did recognize him.
"Captain!" She cheered in delight then gently rubbed her cheek against Meliodas's head. "Captain! Captain, captain, captain, captain, captain, captain! I missed you so much!"
Monroe smiled at the reunion as Hawk and Elizabeth continued to stare with flabbergasted looks on their faces.
"Captain?" Elizabeth asked.
"Wait, a giant girl with pigtails is one of the Seven Deadly Sins?!" Hawk asked.
"That's correct." Monroe said. "She's Diane the Serpent Sin of Envy."
Elizabeth and Hawk looked at Monroe in shock while not believing a giant was once part of the Holy Knights and one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Said giant looked in their direction when hearing them talking.
"Captain, you've thought of everything, haven't you?" Diane asked. "You remember how much I love whole roasted pig!"
"Hey, don't eat me, lady!" Hawk begged.
Diane went reaching for Hawk, but Monroe quickly got in between them with her arms held out.
"Sorry, Di, but Hawk isn't for eating." Monroe said smiling.
Diane blinked when she was called that nickname again. Did she know this woman or something? Diane tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes. Something about her was familiar. Diane's eyes widened when realizing this girl was an older version of Asthore's daughter.
"Roe!" Diane squealed happily before reaching down to scoop Monroe into her other hand. "You're all grown up!"
Monroe gasped at being picked up so suddenly, but she smiled at Diane as the giant held Monroe in front of her face.
"You aren't the cute the little girl I remember." Diane said. "Well, you're still cute, but not little. Well, I guess compared to me you're still little too."
Monroe laughed at Diane's rambling but did know what Diane was trying to get at.
"So, you're traveling with the Captain, huh?" Diane asked then turned to frown at Elizabeth. "And, uh, who's that?"
"That's Princess Elizabeth." Monroe said. "I promised the King I'd protect her, so I brought her along with me to search for you and the other Sins."
Diane hummed then turned to look down at Meliodas with an unreadable expression. She then placed Monroe on her shoulder, which had the younger girl blinking.
"So, it's been you and Roe and this girl traveling together, Captain?" Diane asked.
"Plus, a talking pig." Meliodas pointed out.
"Oh, is that so?" Diane asked.
"Yep." Meliodas said nodding.
Meliodas went to continue explaining, but Diane didn't let him say another word. She threw Meliodas into the ground hard enough to crack the ground and send dust and dirt flying everywhere.
"You filthy womanizer!" Diane shouted as he skipped like a rock across the ground before hitting a large boulder that caved in slightly at impact.
Monroe let out an impressed whistle from her perch on Diane's shoulder. Diane must really be mad now.
"Sir Meliodas!" Elizabeth called out in concern as Diane fell to her knees crying.
Monroe reached forward to gently stroke Diane's cheek in a consoling manner as the giant continued to cry.
"After all this time, I'm finally back with the man I love, and he's with another woman!" Diane cried. "You've just broken my heart into a million pieces. But still…if you have an explanation, I'm ready to listen."
"Honestly," Meliodas, who walked back up to Diane, began. "There's not a—!"
He didn't get to finish again since Diane started hitting him rapidly with her fists.
"Whoa!" Monroe exclaimed while having to grab onto Diane's hair tightly, so not to be thrown off.
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Diane snapped.
As Diane continued her attack, Monroe held onto dear life, so not to be thrown from the taller girl's shoulder. She should have saw this coming. Diane's jealousy strikes again.