After Diane finally calmed down, Monroe slid down from her shoulder. She didn't want to take the chance of being sent flying or anything. Meliodas then had started explaining their reasons for being here with Diane listening calmly.
"So, to put an end to all the corruption and to stop the Holy Knights from rampaging, Elizabeth and Roe are trying to get the Seven Deadly Sins back together." Meliodas finished.
"I didn't know about that." Diane said looking sheepish. "Guess, I'm the only one who jumps to conclusions like that, aren't I? Forgive me."
She lightly knocked herself on the head while looking very repentant as she looked to Meliodas and Monroe.
"And I'm sorry I wanted to eat you, Piggy." She added to Hawk.
Hawk looked as if he was going to deny her apology, but a flick on the nose from Monroe silenced him. He did grumble under his breath though. Diane then turned to Elizabeth while narrowing her eyes at the princess who stiffened.
"You positive, you aren't having that kind of relationship with the Captain?" Diane asked.
"I—I'm not." Elizabeth said looking down.
"You know, you and I don't have a relationship like that either." Meliodas pointed out to Diane.
The giant girl whined looking completely crushed by Meliodas's words, which had Monroe patting her on the knee.
"Anyway," Meliodas changed the subject as he turned around. "I'm just gonna do what I can to help Elizabeth gather the Seven Deadly Sins. Cause I want to find them too. Then fight alongside Roe when the time calls for it."
"Well, if you're sure that's the case then I'll come along with you guys." Diane said as she stood up. "You'll have the help of the Serpent Sin of Envy—the Giant Diane."
Monroe smiled though had a feeling Diane would have come along even if Elizabeth and Meliodas did have a thing going on.
"Really?" Meliodas asked. "That's great."
"Thank-you for joining us, Lady Diane." Elizabeth added with a smile.
Diane just frowned down at Elizabeth again—obviously still not happy with her involvement in all this.
"But get this straight!" Diane said.
"Yes?!" Elizabeth questioned as she jumped.
"The only reason I'm doing this is because the Captain and Roe are with you." Diane said.
Elizabeth gave a nervous chuckle as Monroe continued to smile. She was sure the princess would grow on Diane soon enough. Elizabeth just had a way of getting people to like her. It was a gift. Monroe then looked to the Prankster Imps as they rejoiced Diane's soon coming departure. Poor creatures looked as if they've been through hell.
"They can be free now," Hawk said. "So, beautiful."
"I guess that's one way of looking at it." Monroe said with a quirked brow.
Suddenly a crow cawing could be heard through the forest, which had Monroe, Meliodas, and Diane all stiffening.
"What was that?" Elizabeth asked in confusion.
"It's strange." Diane said. "I thought there weren't any animals left in this part of the forest."
"There shouldn't be any." Monroe said as she rested her hand on her sword.
"Smells like it's going to rain." Hawk said then gasped. "Hey, look at that!"
He pointed towards the sky with his hoof, which had his companions looking up. Monroe narrowed her eyes when seeing the lightning and darkened clouds above them. He really was here.
"What's going on?" Hawk asked.
"Thunderclouds." Elizabeth murmured.
A large bolt of lightning then hit the ground barely missing the group of five. Monroe cursed when three electric rings incased her body. The others were in the same predicament. She frowned at the numbing feeling the currents sent through her body as the others were feeling it as well. The sound of metal clad feet hitting the ground reached the groups' ears, which had everyone turning to the newcomer. Monroe's eyes met the eyes of her cousin, the both of them having matching sets of blue.
"And you are?" Meliodas questioned the guy.
Monroe turned towards Meliodas wondering if he really couldn't recognize Gilthunder. Not many people had striking pink hair like her cousin.
"It would seem we meet at last, you deadly sins." Gilthunder said as he walked through the mist.
Monroe wanted to roll her eyes at his dramatics but held back the urge to do so.
"This power." Diane said feeling how much magic the knight had in his body.
"Yeah, there's no doubt about it." Meliodas said. "Holy Knight, aren't you?"
"Gil…thunder." Elizabeth murmured. "Gilthunder, is that you?!"
"Of course, it's him." Monroe said. "I'd recognize pretty boy's face from a mile away."
Monroe and Howzer both used to tease Gilthunder about his pretty boy looks. It was the best way to goad him into a fight when they were kids. Now, it barely got even a fraction of a second worth of his time just to notice the jab.
"What are you up to?" Elizabeth asked. "Why are you doing this?"
"You know this guy?" Meliodas asked.
"Melly, it's Gil." Monroe said looking to the blonde. "You know, my cousin. He used to follow you around like a lost puppy."
Recognition appeared in Meliodas's eyes as Elizabeth was the one confused now. She had no idea that Gilthunder knew the Seven Deadly Sins as well.
"You know him too?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sure, I even gave him lessons occasionally when I found myself at the castle." Meliodas said. "Wow, you've really grown up. Then again it has been ten years since I've seen you."
"If you have the time to prattle on in this manner, it might be better spent trying to escape those bonds." Gilthunder advised coolly.
Monroe looked down to the electricity rings around her. She almost forgot about them. But the numb feeling was getting annoying really quick.
"Hey, this lighting's familiar." Hawk pointed out.
"I know what you mean." Meliodas said. "When a certain someone blocked the Bernia's water supply, and then tried to blow the village way, that was you, wasn't it?"
Monroe frowned. She had had her suspicions it was Gilthunder who caused that trouble in Bernia village. The magic signature infused with the sword had felt familiar. Not to mention, the attack he had sent at them that caused them to pack up and leave so not to endanger the villagers.
"Sir Meliodas, it can't be." Elizabeth said. "You're wrong. Gilthunder wouldn't—!"
"It was him, Princess," Monroe interrupted. "Gil, you've really become a real piece of work, haven't you?"
Gilthunder just glared coldly at his cousin, which had Monroe's lips twitching up into a smirk. Though her eyes were narrowed as well with clear intent. If either of them made the wrong move, the other would try to kill them. Elizabeth shook her head thinking it was wrong seeing two cousins who were once so close looking at each other with the intent to kill.
"As if you have room to talk," Gilthunder said. "You betrayed the kingdom. You sullied your name as a Holy Knight. Uncle Asthore must be turning over in his grave."
That seemed to hit a nerve since Monroe's eyes narrowed another inch and her gaze hardened. This wasn't the Gilthunder that she knew. The one she grew up with. Though ever since his father's death he began to change, and he turned colder and colder. It caused the two once close cousins to drift apart and even become hostile towards each other when in the same proximity.
"Perhaps you're right," Monroe said. "I could send you off to meet him, and you could ask him yourself what he thinks about all that I've done."
She shifted her stance as she said this with Gilthunder doing the same despite his cousin still being bound by his magic.
"Both of you just stop it!" Elizabeth ordered. "You're family! Family shouldn't treat each other like this."
"This is none of your concern." Gilthunder told Elizabeth making her flinch.
The two cousins continued to stare each other down but looked up to Diane as she tried to break her bindings.
"These can't hold me!" Diane said as she strained to break through the electricity binding her wrists.
"That's useless." Gilthunder told her.
Diane gasped as the magic Gilthunder put around her became stronger while tugging her wrists down again.
"Diane, just save it." Meliodas said. "Don't bother."
"Captain," Diane whimpered as the numbing became worse.
Gilthunder then moved without warning to place himself between Monroe and Meliodas with his sword to the latter's throat. And his back against Monroe's. Monroe glanced over her shoulder at her cousin's back before looking forward again. Her eyes zeroed in on a lone crow resting on a tree branch with its eyes a deep red. It seemed odd to see such a creature as this forest had no animals. Made Monroe wonder what it was doing here.
"Do you know why the Holy Knights are after the heads of the Seven Deadly Sins?" Gilthunder asked Meliodas.
Monroe knew why they were told to go after the Seven Deadly Sins, but she knew certain knights had certain goals when concerning the Sins.
"Not really." Meliodas replied.
He honestly never really cared about why, and honestly most of what happened ten years ago was very fuzzy to him. As if his memories weren't what they should be.
"Half of them are seeking revenge and total eradication of the rebel order that plotted to overthrow the kingdom." Gilthunder informed Meliodas. "The other half want to do a glorious battle and vanquish the legendary warriors to prove their own strength."
"And which half are you in?" Meliodas questioned.
"Both of them." Gilthunder said. "No, I want more."
"Is that so?" Meliodas asked.
"Yes," Gilthunder replied. "To avenge the death of my father Zaratras the Holy Knights' Grand Master. And to show that I am even greater than he. The most powerful Holy Knight ever known. Killing you will prove that."
Monroe frowned. Maybe if she had told Gilthunder about what really happened, he wouldn't have gone down this path. Though she hadn't known who actually committed the act against Zaratras until two years after it happened, but by that point the cousins had already started drifting. Not to mention, she thought it best to leave as many people in the dark as possible. At least until she could actually do something against Dreyfus and Hendrickson. Maybe she waited too long.
"So, you're under the impression that I'm the one who murdered your father, is that it?" Meliodas concluded.
"Are you saying you're not?" Gilthunder asked.
"No idea," Meliodas said. "You see thing is, I don't really remember much from back then."
Monroe's eyes widened at that, and if Gilthunder wasn't in the way, she'd be giving Meliodas a shocked look. Diane seemed confused as well as Meliodas looked forward.
"The last thing I remember is all of us being summoned to the old castle out on the edge of town." Meliodas said.
Monroe remembers that day. She had seen them off. Telling them to take care and to come back soon, but they never came back. She soon learned they were enemies to the kingdom and accused of killing Zaratras. She lost a loving uncle and so many dear friends all in one day.
"I remember telling everyone to split up once the Holy Knights started attacking." Meliodas said. "Those words were the last thing I remember. The rest is blank. Then next thing I knew I was lying face down in a cellar somewhere. That's when I met Hawk."
"I knew it!" Elizabeth said. "You all weren't really the ones who killed the Grand Master, were you?"
"That makes no difference to me." Gilthunder said.
Elizabeth looked at Gilthunder in shock not believing those words came out of his mouth.
"What are you saying?" Elizabeth demanded.
"Rebels and traitors who plotted to overthrow the kingdom," Gilthunder said. "That's all you people are."
"Enough!" Elizabeth said. "You must stop this. Didn't you hear what he just told you?! They aren't the ones who murdered him. Don't you understand?!"
Gilthunder slowly turned towards Elizabeth to look at her over his shoulder as she was staring at him.
"Elizabeth, the kingdom wants you taken into protective custody." Gilthunder said. "And they want my cousin beheaded for kidding napping you."
"That's a bit extreme." Monroe quipped.
"But I haven't the slightest interest in that." Gilthunder continued as if Monroe hadn't opened her mouth.
He turned his sword on her while walking away from Monroe and Meliodas. Monroe frowned at Gilthunder's weapon being pointed towards Elizabeth though remained in place.
"Alive or dead—it's all the same." Gilthunder said. "To me you are no more than a grain of sand on the road that is being traveled."
He lowered his sword then dispelled the bindings that were around Elizabeth.
"Go away." Gilthunder said. "The Sins, my cousin, and I have unfinished business."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Gilthunder then rushed past him to place herself between him and her friends.
"I want let you hurt these people." Elizabeth said firmly.
Hawk's whining then got Gilthunder's attention as the pig crawled across the ground. He was looking a bit cooked from the lightning wrapped around him, and all he could do is manage to crawl as he lamented that his end was coming near. Gilthunder then kicked Hawk rather hard, which sent the pig rolling and bouncing away through the mist.
"Hawk, no!" Elizabeth cried hurrying after him.
She disappeared into the mist after him, which was actually a relief to Monroe. She didn't want the princess to be pulled into the fight about to happen.
"Now that we've dispensed with that interruption," Gilthunder said while making his way back towards Meliodas.
"Are you sure about this?" Meliodas questioned. "In the old days, you were never able to beat me, remember?"
"But that was a long time ago," Gilthunder said as he leaned down into Meliodas's face. "I am now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins."
Monroe shifted slightly at those words as she stared intently at Gilthunder whose expression didn't change.
'Did I hear him right?' Monroe wondered.
"I don't know," Meliodas said. "Maybe you're right, but you could be wrong too."
Gilthunder straightened his posture as he stared Meliodas, who didn't seem to have a care in the world, down.
"Then we should find out." Gilthunder said. "First, I'll release your bonds."
"Well, I appreciate that, but I got it." Meliodas said.
He broke his arms apart, which had the bindings shattering away as if they were made of glass. Diane and Monroe broke out of theirs as well with Monroe rolling her shoulders. She felt so stiff now.
"Could have escaped whenever we felt like it." Meliodas said. "Though I am a bit surprised Roe managed to do it too."
Monroe gave the Sin of Wrath a look while feeling truly insulted by his lack of faith in her abilities.
"I might not hold the title anymore, but I was a Diamond Ranked Holy Knight." Monroe pointed out. "Please, try not to underestimate me, Melly."
Meliodas apologized with a chuckle leaving his lips. Monroe certainly has changed. Not the same little kid that used to follow them all around trying to get stronger.
"Just know if I felt like it, I could annihilate you instantly." Gilthunder said.
"Hmm, kind of doubt that." Meliodas said.
"I will use my sword to kill you." Gilthunder said.
"Then right back at ya, big guy." Meliodas said.
Monroe went to step forward to fight her cousin herself, but Meliodas placed his arm out in front of her.
"Don't interfere." Meliodas said. "You either, Diane."
Monroe frowned while looking towards her cousin as he narrowed his eyes at her. She stood rigid a second longer before finally letting out a sigh as she stepped back. She then went over to a rock to plop down.
"Ahh, you get all the fun." Diane complained.
"Don't want to risk my defeating you all at once?" Gilthunder questioned as he got into his stance.
Meliodas firmly placed his foot on the ground as well as he stared up at Gilthunder.
"Can't you tell when your elder is trying to be nice?" Meliodas mocked.
It was tensely silent for a moment before both men moved simultaneously. Gilthunder brought forth lightning from his sword to strike Meliodas as the latter drew his blade. The lightning struck, but Meliodas easily countered it back towards Gilthunder.
"Like, I said, right back at ya." Meliodas said. "Remember that?"
"And I told you," Gilthunder, who was suddenly behind Meliodas, began. "You'll be dead."
Gilthunder went to strike down Meliodas again, but Meliodas flipped up while using his sword to push of Gilthunder's.
"Come on!" Gilthunder taunted as he swiped again.
Meliodas dodged as he was landing on his feet before jumping back to put some distance between him and Gilthunder. Gilthunder followed in close pursuit, however, while discharging lightning bolt after lightning bolt. Meliodas jumped on top of a rock to give him the high ground as Gilthunder paused in his attacks.
"Gotta admit, you've really improved over the years." Meliodas said.
"Yet you still believe that you're superior to me." Gilthunder said.
Gilthunder jumped up with his blade clashing against Meliodas's broken one. The rock beneath shook from the power of the swing, and Monroe wasn't sure if it'd hold out.
"I can sense it." Gilthunder said. "You're about to feel a bit of fearing creeping in."
"Am I?" Meliodas feigned.
Then just as Monroe predicted the rock gave out with it grumbling into pieces on the ground. The two men battling jumped up into the air with Diane and Monroe watching them go. They started exchanging slash after slash on their way back down until Gilthunder gave a mighty enough swing to send Meliodas crashing to the ground. Meliodas landed on his feet with ease while looking a bit annoyed.
"Well, you're persistent." Meliodas commented.
His reply was Gilthunder going for his neck, but Meliodas managed to dodge. The landscape behind him, however, not so lucky as it too became dust on the ground as the boulder did before it. Gilthunder sent another streak of lightning towards Meliodas who went to block it. However, it turned out to be a faint since Gilthunder managed to get right next to him without him realizing. Gilthunder managed to hit Meliodas into the air before jumping after him.
"Too slow." Gilthunder mocked as he brought his sword down.
Gilthunder managed to strike Meliodas into the ground creating a large crater. Meliodas chuckled not seeming so worried as he got up off the ground.
"I can't believe you've gotten this powerful." Meliodas said.
Gilthunder then suddenly appeared behind the blonde with his sword raised up high.
"Don't worry. I'll bring the other ones down with you soon enough." Gilthunder said then brought down his sword.
Diane and Monroe both watched as Meliodas was cut down and hit the ground with a thud.
"Captain…" Diane whispered.
Monroe sat there with an unreadable expression on her face. Gilthunder used his boot to push over Meliodas, so the blonde was on his back. Monroe tilted her head wondering if she needed to interfere. However, Diane was remaining still, so she did as well.
"Meliodas—The Seven Deadly Sins' Dragon Sin of Wrath—do you have any last words?" Gilthunder asked.
"The sins…what happened to them?" Meliodas asked. "You must have heard something, right? Where…have the other ones gone?"
Gilthunder narrowed his eyes for a moment before making his decision as he sheathed his sword.
"Very well, I'll tell you." Gilthunder said. "For the remaining five, three of them still remain at large and are not accounted for. But the other two have been dealt with. The Fox Sin of Greed is kept under tight security at Baste Prison. The Grizzly Sin of Sloth has already been slain and is interned in the Necropolis."
'King slain?' Monroe thought with a frown. 'That doesn't sound right.'
"But you needn't worry," Gilthunder added. "I'll make certain they join you shortly."
"Thank-you." Meliodas said as he closed his eyes, but he quickly snapped them back open with a large smile on his face. "Awesome!"
He quickly jumped back onto his feet as Monroe realized he took the wound on purpose, so to get information. It was a gutsy move that was for sure and a stupid one as well. Especially since they only learned of King's possible whereabouts and no one else's.
"Little Gil." Meliodas said.
It remained tense for a moment as Gilthunder and Meliodas stared at each other in silence. Meliodas then grinned once more.
"Baste Prison and the Necropolis, huh?" Meliodas asked. "Good to know the information Roe managed to get on Ban was reliable, and now we know where to start looking for King."
He wiped the blood off of his cheek as Gilthunder narrowed his eyes at the smaller man. Monroe had her eyes narrowed at Meliodas as well. Looked as if he didn't put much stock in her as a source. Good to know.
"So that was it, was it?" Gilthunder asked. "You wished to know your comrades' whereabouts, so you allowed me to strike you down, right?"
"Why don't we finish this another time, kay?" Meliodas suggested.
Monroe could see Gilthunder was not going to go along with that since the pinkette was already reaching for his sword.
"I think not." Gilthunder said.
He unsheathed his sword while going to cut Meliodas down, but Meliodas quickly dodged while appearing behind Gilthunder. Gilthunder tried attacking again and again in vain since he couldn't land a hit on Meliodas. However, soon Gilthunder got Meliodas in a position where it seemed as if dodging would be impossible.
"This is goodbye." Gilthunder said while not even noticing that Diane was standing to her full height again.
"See ya." Meliodas said waving.
Gilthunder blinked in confusion at Meliodas's casual attitude before he was lifted up by Diane who held him in her hand.
"You heard the Captain." Diane said as she was pulling back her hand to get ready to throw. "Some other time."
"Unhand me." Gilthunder ordered.
He tried to use his thunderbolt magic on her to get her to release him, but she barely winced as her brace was destroyed by the attack.
"Here's a tip for you, okay?" Diane said as she looked at Gilthunder in annoyance. "Girls get really annoyed when sniveling little runts try to shock them!"
Diane then threw Gilthunder faraway with Meliodas waving him off as Monroe jumped down from the rock.
"Hey, thanks." Meliodas said as he looked up at Diane. "Nice throw."
"But you might want to think about a replacement brace, Diane." Monroe added.
Diane blinked before noticing her ruined brace, which had her whining about it being broken. Monroe looked towards where Gilthunder was thrown with that troubled look on her face.
'Had I heard him right before?' She wondered. 'Or was it just my imagination?'
Monroe then looked to the side with Meliodas and Diane when they heard hooves hitting the ground rapidly as if some animal was running. Turned out to be Hawk as he and Elizabeth returned from wherever they had been. Absently, Monroe wondered how far the pig managed to roll.
"Hey!" Hawk shouted. "You've got a lot of guts kicking me around like I'm a little pink bouncing ball! But it'll be my turn next time!"
Monroe chuckled wondering what Hawk would do if Gilthunder was actually still here.
"The three of you weren't hurt, were you?" Elizabeth asked.
"We're good." Meliodas said reassuringly.
Monroe gave him a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me look considering he was the one with a deep wound on his shoulder after all.
"Where'd that swine go anyway?" Hawk asked as he looked around.
"Wait, aren't you a swine?" Meliodas asked.
"Who smells delicious." Diane added.
Hawk whimpered as he started shaking in fright. He really didn't want to become giant chow anytime soon. Elizabeth then gasped when finally seeing the wound on Meliodas's shoulder. She ran up to him while gently grabbing his arms.
"Sir Meliodas, you were hurt." Elizabeth said looking concerned.
"This?" Meliodas asked glancing at his shoulder. "Oh, it's no big deal."
"Oh really?" Monroe asked then hit his shoulder really hard.
Meliodas winced slightly since she hit pretty hard, and his wound was a bit tender. He turned his head to pout at her, which had her smirking in return.
"Lady Monroe!" Elizabeth chided.
"Sorry, Princess, but he does kind of deserve it for being so reckless." Monroe said. "You allowed yourself to be injured like this for so little information in return."
"Maybe next time it'll work out better." Meliodas said shrugging.
Monroe gave him a deadpanned expression though said nothing as Elizabeth looked to Meliodas.
"Sir Meliodas, you're covered in so much blood!" She said worriedly.
"Hey, would you stop getting all touchy feely with the Captain, already?" Diane demanded.
Monroe knew Diane wasn't talking to her, but still took a step back since she didn't want to be in the way if Diane started throwing punches again.
"Look, he's got himself a right-hand girl, and that job belongs to me!" Diane said. "If he's hurt, I should take care of him."
"Hey, aren't you guys forgetting something here?!" Hawk cut in. "I just got my butt kicked."
Meliodas went over to the talking pig to start patting him down as if looking for injuries.
"Over here?" He asked.
"Those are my spare ribs." Hawk corrected.
Meliodas moved to pat Hawk around his head, which was very far from the pig's butt where Hawk said he was kicked.
"Over here?" Meliodas asked.
"No, that's my pork shoulder." Hawk said then realized what Meliodas was doing. "Quit fooling around!"
Meliodas just grinned in return as Hawk was looking even more annoyed by the second.
"There, there." Elizabeth said gently. "I'll put a cold compress on it later."
Hawk ran over to Elizabeth to hug the girl as best he good with his short, stubby piggy legs.
"Oh, you're the only one who worries about me, Elizabeth." Hawk said.