The first part of this chapter is about Elizabeth and Artemis learning about their families and friends. It was too cute to pass up. And the rest continues with the journey.
I'm sorry I haven't update in so long but, I promise to have more updates soon! Thank you for the love and support!
Please RR. Thank you and good day everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Seven Deadly Sins or Young Justice.
Thank you for your time. Happy reading!
A day before they got to the Forest of White Dreams, Elizabeth and Artemis had a chat in Elizabeth's room.
"Artemis?" Elizabeth called out to the blonde laying on her bed playing with the air. A trick she just figure out.
"Hm, what's up Princess?" Artemis said.
"Ah-h, you can call me Elizabeth."
"Hm... Nah! It's the nickname I gave you when we first met, I'm not going to change it." Artemis sat up to look the silver hair girl who blushes quite easily.
Elizabeth knew Artemis like giving out nicknames but what Elizabeth didn't know is when Artemis gives nicknames she feels like she can trust them and when she gets a nickname back, Artemis feels honor to be their friend but no one knows that. Not even the team, whom she now just calls by name, not the nicknames she gave them.
Elizabeth wanted to give Artemis her own because she is her friend, well more like best friend after a week of living with each other, how could you not get to know one another, "A-alright, then I'll give you one! What does your name mean?"
"Ha-ha sure Princess, Artemis is a goddess in my world, she's the goddess of the night and of the hunt, plus a master at archery." She smirked while explaining.
"So I'll call you... Goddess!" Elizabeth ardently said after a few seconds thinking about the prefect nickname for her best friend.
Artemis was surprised at the nickname, usually its Arty, Mis, or Tiger but she wasn't ever called Goddess because she felt like someone was making fun of her name so Artemis try to stop Elizabeth from using it, "H-hey, can you-"
Elizabeth quickly used her puppy eyes and pouted, "Please…"
Artemis knew she couldn't win and it was fair because she calls Elizabeth, Princess, because it's perfect for her. Artemis sigh and dramatically fell back on the bed, "Fine."
Elizabeth did a happy dance and Artemis laugh at her friend's silliness for making her a nickname.
After a few minutes of laughing Elizabeth wanted to ask something for a while now, "Um, can you tell me more about yourself, your family and team?"
Artemis knew Elizabeth was going to get curious and ask so she sigh and nodded, "Sure, the whole team thing is long and complicated so I'll save that for another time." Artemis saw Elizabeth nod and she released a sighed, "My family is kind of mess up as you heard before but I'll go into detail. My father, the bastard, his name is Lawrence. He trained my sister and I since we were five or six to become assassins or mercenaries, and our training was tough we had to fight with one another every two weeks, learn how to deal with hungry, cold, heat, poison, animals, plants, and so many others. It was a test, each and every time. If one of us don't do it prefect we had to get extra training from him plus a few day in the woods and survive. On good days it would be a hard slap or some type of physical abuse."
Artemis got up and paced the room but she kept going. "Those were the easier days…The bad days, those were not fun at all. When my dad had a bad day at work and had to train us right after, he wasn't in the mood for anything but perfection. One tiny mistake, that's all it took… We spent a week in the woods, what's even worst if my sister and I ever met in the same place we would have to fight and whoever won got what the other had to survive. In the woods he did give me a weapon it depend on the punishment, if I had a knife I was only a day away from home. A bow meant about a week or so. We also had to face mental abuse and learn how to control our emotions and take it whatever we get. And so on. Later when it was just my dad and I, he had to get creative with my training because I was learning fast. Faster than my sister ever did, so my dad quickly beat me into submission whenever I got mouthy or try to leave. Meliodas pointed it out to me once but that's when I realize my dad isn't here and I can finally make my own choices without him standing over me or asking for information."
Artemis was relax again but she tense up a little when she spoke about the next family member, "My sister's name is Jade, before she left we were close. We had our own secret place, our childhood Wonderland, somewhere in the woods. When our dad was away on a job, Jade would be Cheshire Cat and I would be Alice and for a little bit we would act or pretend that we're actual children for a few hours and not trained assassins. Jade would sometimes fill in a mother role and teach me how to survive in the fun and easy way with cooking, cleaning, dealing with annoying people and other stuff. I truly do miss those times but she left... She left me… God, she promised me, she promised to take care of me, to take me away from the life styles we were forced into because our parents were in the life but instead she left me. She left me with that monster… I had to suffer… I had to take on the pain he given me because she left…That's when I got my very first scar... at the age of 8… once he knew she left… he took it out on me… At first it was just small ones, but as I got older, stronger, faster I got larger ones from him and to those I was forced to work with. Due to the life style I grew up in, it was kill or be killed…"
Artemis pause for a second from the rush of memories before continuing while Elizabeth watch her friend with admiration and respect and didn't say anything about the tears pouring down Artemis's face.
"My mom, her name is Paula, and my sister is her favorite because of the hair. They both have wild black hair, and Jade takes after her more than I do, but mom was my protector from my father before she was put into jail. She was put into jail because she loved my father so much but with him...not so much. He left her while she was hurt, scared and paralyzed from the waist down. I used to sneak out and visit her whenever I was able. And we would just talk about everything under the sun but sometimes we would just enjoy the silences and remember what the other look like because we didn't know when we saw each again. The first year Jade went with me to see her but when she left mom got upset but still had on a smile when she saw one of her daughters visiting her when they can. I think my favorite is when she would tell me stories about the different places she's been to and the people she met and how one day she would show me the secret of the world. She hasn't yet but I hope so that would. But those days didn't really help me at all. Because after all Daddy Dearest sees everything."
Artemis finally wiped the tears off her face and lay down on Elizabeth's lap, "Believe it or not. This is the first time I've felt... Free. You, Meliodas and Hawk save me from the darkness inside me. I mean I still have some but the big part…the part I have been as afraid of… I let go of that fear and found the thing I always wanted..." Artemis had a faraway look in her eye but they got brighter again.
Elizabeth lean down a bit and smooth down Artemis's bang. (Just Meliodas did on that one night). "And what's that?" she softly asked.
Artemis had a beautiful smile, one that was spoke with peace, awe and joy and so she said, "A chance to actually start my life and... A family… siblings I always wanted to have… while it's small and kind of broken it better than what I have or I could have ever dreamed of."
Elizabeth chuckled and they sat in silences for a few minutes before Elizabeth asked Artemis if she wanted to hear about her family. Artemis nodded and so Elizabeth told her she was adopted, and has two older sisters and a loving father. Elizabeth spoke of her happy childhood and the times her father got hurt or sick because she wanted some attention from him.
She also talk about her older sister Margaret who was the lady of the family and talked about a boy named Gil, when they were younger and how they would play with Elizabeth whenever she asked. Gil was like an older brother and his best friend would come by and amuse them as well.
Next was her other sister Veronica and Artemis knew she would butt heads with her because they sounded alike plus she was also a tomboy. She loved to fight and practice with swords and cut her hair short to her ears. Veronica was the shortest one but made it up from her strengths and will to fight. Veronica would also call Elizabeth…Ellie.
Both of her sisters have their protectors and shields who are they're the princesses sword or bodyguards. The sisters also have purple or light violet hair and amber eyes.
Elizabeth looks up to them and hopes they are safe and happy and that her father is in good health.
Artemis got up from Elizabeth lap and pull her into hug, not long Elizabeth held tighter and cried her heart out for her family, for her kingdom, for peace, for finding the rest of the Sins and for Artemis. A beautiful blonde girl who open her heart after leaving it closed for so long and was finally able to set it free.
This was the moment the girls became best friends and they were on their way to becoming sisters but they had to deal with some problems and ideals later in the future. But with the sun setting, the two girls slept peacefully with their hands holding onto one another.
And now we continue the journey of The Forest of White Dreams.
In a decade forest with no signs of life or any animals, only death, silence and loneliness. Our travelers wander in further looking for... well... Anything.
"Hey, are you sure about this? It's been three hours since we entered the forest. There's no sign of any animals, much less people." The pig is shaking and kept looking everywhere because the forest is freaking him out.
"And you're looking tasty." One of the blondes said to the pig while looking around. The forest while decade it's dense with trees and fog making it hard to know where they are going or where they came from.
"Eep!"
"You're right Hawk. Meliodas-sama, is one of the Seven Deadly Sins really hiding in the forest?" The princess question.
"Probably." the boy said without missing a beat.
"We came here without any hard evidence?!"
"I agree with Pork." Artemis look at the blonde hair boy and wonder if he got dropped on the head as a baby. Artemis can be carefree and she does know who he was but seriously, come on.
"You know, rumors say that there's a terrifying monster lurking in this forest!" the pig yelled at the boy scared for his life.
"Oh calm down you piglet, we're fine except for Princess." Artemis rolled her eyes and pointed out.
"Wha-" Hawk was cut off by Elizabeth's yelp.
"What's wrong?!" Hawk started looking for a threat that cause her to make that noise.
"What did I just say?!" Artemis knew exactly what happen to the princess.
"S-something touched my bottom..." Elizabeth said uncomfortably.
"Relax. It's me." Meliodas said without shame and still had a hand on Elizabeth's bottom.
"Pipsqueak!!"
"Whoa, that's good news!" Elizabeth wipe her forehead in relief.
"Good how?!"
"Putting that aside..."
"You think that lets you off the hook?!"
As Pipsqueak explain that he does have evidence, sort of. About the forest is so difficult to travel on horseback and very easy to lose your bearing and that pretty much everyone goes around it. And that it's the perfect place to hide.
"And where did you get that info from genius?" While the blondes were sort of arguing, Elizabeth and Hawk saw some shadows moving around.
"Let's get moving you two!" Hawk said back to the two blonds.
"Don't be in such a rush. Nobody likes a-" Meliodas started.
" -high- strung piglet." Artemis finished. The Terrible Two said back to the high strung piglet.
"Who are you calling a high-strung piglet?!
"Well?! There's a herd of Hawks!
"A herd of Hawks?!
"What the..." Out of nowhere there was a pack full talking pigs who like look Hawk.
"This is the monster of the forest?" Elizabeth look at the pigs with concern and confusion.
"This certainly qualifies as terrifying..." Meliodas said pull out his broken sword and Artemis grab her bow and notch a few arrows without anyone noticing.
"Meliodas! Get it straight, I'm the real one!
"Says you, you fake!
"Shut up, piggy!" The piglets yelled out to Meliodas. While the argue Meliodas and Artemis did what they had to do, attack them all with no mercy.
"They're ruthless..." All the Hawks said to themselves.
"Hawk!" Elizabeth yelled out. All the Hawks hide behind Elizabeth for protection of the two heartless blondes.
"Elizabeth! Even my mom never hit me!" Hawk said but there was now only one Hawk.
"Hawk? Who's there?" Elizabeth saw a shadow of a person, who just happen to be...
"Wh- what the..." Artemis said getting ready to shoot but saw the next around of copies.
"I-it's me?" Elizabeth stammered out as she look at the look likes.
"Meliodas-sama!"
"You know it's me right?
"Hey, I'm the real one!
"No, I'm the real one!
"You are not!
"I'm the real one!" All the Elizabeths said to get Meliodas attention.
Artemis and Meliodas jump on a small cliff in front of the Elizabeths, Hawk just walk up without getting notices. Artemis look around and sigh because she didn't want to hurt her friend but she looked at them with concern because of the perv next to her. "Now this is terrifying. Hey Pip, I bet your in heaven, aren't you."
"It's a bevy of boobies!" Meliodas excitedly said with stars in his eyes as he eyed at the group.
Artemis face palm and wanted to slap him. "And we lost him..."
"This isn't the time!" Hawk scream at the blond boy who was still eyeing the sea of silver hair.
"Leave this place... Leave... Get out of the forest human..." A ghostly voice was heard but the travelers didn't pay attention to it at the time.
"Meliodas-sama!" All the Elizabeths said waving their hands.
"I can't tell which is which at all." Meliodas said as he sat down criss cross.
"Really now..." Artemis replied with sarcasm knowing he was going to do something dumb.
"Meliodas-sama...!"
"What to do, what to do? Which of you is the real one?" Meliodas said to the group.
"I am! You can trust me! I'll do anything for you!"
'Oh, how fantastic. Just what we needed, a group of girls telling a perv she'll do anything...' Artemis though to herself and rolled her eyes.
"Great! Then starting right now, I want all of you to do exactly as I say!" Meliodas said with too much glee. But the girls were looking hesitant at the request but Meliodas asked again, sort of. "Well?"
"O-okay!" The Elizabeths agreed after a slight hesitation.
"NOT OKAY!!" Artemis yelled at the blond who just hush her.
"Shh quite."
Artemis roll her eyes again, groaned and threw her arms in the air.
"Now, raise your right hand high! Put your left on your cheek. Now call out my name in a bashful voice!"
"Meliodas-sama!" The girls did what he said.
Artemis cross her arms and was fuming on the side of the display. 'Note to self: Remind me to hit him.' Artemis though it couldn't get worst.
"Now squeeze your boobs!" Artemis was wrong, of course it can get worst.
'Scratch that I'm going to kill him!' Artemis grab a knife out of nowhere and hit Meliodas on the head with the butt of the knife when he was being a pervert.
"A glorious sight!... Ouch!"
"Hurry up and find the real one!" Hawk yelled out and pull his hair again.
"Get out... Get out!" The ghostly voice got louder but this time Artemis heard it clearly and held the knife tight but loose.
"The hell..."
"You will never make it through this forest..."
"Watch me then!" Artemis argue with the voice.
Meliodas saw Artemis ready to jump and run so he stop his fun with, "Okay, one last order! Jump as high as you can!"
"Jump!" All the fake Elizabeths jumped.
"I'm sorry, I can't!" The real Elizabeth said sitting down and the fakes look in shocked, Meliodas and Artemis attacked the fakes and found out what they really were.
"Ack, they're Hide-and-Seeks! Prankster imps! These guys were the monster of the forest all along?" Hawk said in surprise.
"Hmm, maybe."
"Let's follow them!"
"Right!"
"Oh, right! You can have these back. I'm off!" Meliodas gave Elizabeth a small ball of cloth and ran away quickly from Artemis.
"I'm going to kill you Pipsqueak!!" Artemis yelled at him ready to kill him.
"So you stole them?!" Elizabeth yelled in surprise and embarrassment as she looked at her undergarments.
"Keep an eye on them! There should be something in the direction they're running!" Meliodas said to the group.
"Huh?"
"Is that..."
"It's a girl!"
"Oh, no way! You don't think they plan to attack her, do you?"
"Attack a little girl like her?"
"I don't think she's little..." Artemis slow to a jog and the others found her example as they got closer.
"Why do you say that...?"
"Little..."
"Woah, I was right!"
"Diane-sama!" The imps said to their mistress.
"Told ya she ain't so little." Artemis smirked but was still a little worry for what will happen next.
"Now, now there is no need to be hostile." Meliodas said to Artemis.
"Why you little-!" Artemis was about to hit him but cut off by the imps.
"Diane-sama! We accidentally allowed in Holy Knight trespassers! Diane-sama!" The imps said trying to get out of trouble and hoping the giant will kill the trespassers.
"HEY, I am not one of those-" Artemis yelled but got surprise by the giant getting up. "HOLY SH*T!!"
"Oh, hang on... Is she the Giant in the...?"
"Did you say Holy Knight?"
"Damn..."
"She's huge!"
"No! We aren't Holy Knight, we're-" Everyone said at once but before they could do anything someone got kidnap.
"Pipsqueak?!"
"Meliodas-sama?"
"He's up there!" Hawk saw Meliodas in the grip of the giant girl.
"You're a Holy Knight?" The giant asked Meliodas with a glare.
"Is she gonna eat him?" Hawk asked with a worry tone.
"I kind of hope so." Artemis said with no hesitation making Hawk squeal.
"Let go of Meliodas-sama!" Elizabeth brashly said hoping to get Meliodas back on the ground. Artemis pull her friend behind her just in case.
"Meliodas?" The giant asked with narrow eyes fill with questions.
"Hi, Diane! What's it been, 10 years?" Meliodas waved and said like he wasn't going to get eaten.
"Captain!" Diane, the giant, got a happy love stuck look and gave the blond her version of a hug.
"Damn, oh well." Artemis saw Meliodas not get eaten and shook her head but shrug.
"Captain! Captain! Captain! I've missed you so much, Captain!"
"Close your mouths." Artemis saw Elizabeth and Hawk's jaw drop at the reunion of the Sins.
They somber up and Elizabeth ask herself, "Captain?"
"Diane? Hang on, don't tell me this big chick is one of the Seven Deadly Sins! Diane, the Serpent Sin of Envy?!" Hawk realize what Diane is still staying to Meliodas.
"Captain, you shouldn't have! You remembered how much I love roasted whole hog!" Diane joyfully thanked Meliodas and with a very quick speed no one saw Hawk is tied up on a stick on top of a fire.
Artemis starting laughing and smiling, "I like her!"
"No, I'm not edible! That's hot!" Hawk try to get away from the growing flames that are close to his rump.
"Hahaha!"
"Right, I can't eat you unless I cook you first!" Diane spun the stick.
"That's not what I meant! My back's burning up!"
"Wow, something sure smells good." Meliodas commented.
"Damn right brother!" Artemis agree with him and grab spices from... Well who knows where.
"Hey, don't pretend that you can't see me down here! And Artemis stop putting spices on me! I know you can hear me!"
"Oh, Pipsqueak fully cook or medium?" Artemis asked Meliodas with a teasing voice.
"Oi!!" Hawk finally is free from the flames and Elizabeth try to help.
"Okay, but who are these girls?" Diane said with a slight sadness for not eating.
"H-how do you do, Diane-sama? I'm Elizabeth. I'm imposing on Meliodas-sama to let me travel with him." Elizabeth introduced.
"Sup, I'm Artemis, just traveling with these guys till I find my way back home." Artemis said with a laid back tone and sat down on one the rocks.
"They're all alone with you, Captain?" Diane asked with a curiosity.
"Plus one pig." Meliodas nodded in agreed not knowing the danger he was about to be in.
"Oh, really?"
"Really! Oh, also--"
"You filthy womanizer!"
"I DO like her! Ha-ha!" Artemis laugh at Meliodas getting pummel but from the force she's using Artemis got push back, "Whew...Too far!" Artemis laughed at Meliodas getting plumped but Diane's strong hits were making Artemis fly back because of her powers she is a lot lighter in this world then she was back home.
"Meliodas-sama!" Elizabeth yelled out with fear hoping Meliodas is still alive.
"I thought I'd finally been reunited with the man I love, but he's with another woman! You've shattered my delicate little heart. But if you have an explanation tell me now." Diane, living up to her sin name was still beating the crap out of Meliodas.
Artemis got flew back a couple of meters, "Damn that's too far, I can still hear them, good."
"What's to explain? I just--" Meliodas try to explain but Diane just got more frustrated with him and beat him even harder.
"Again seriously-- Holy Sh--!" Artemis got flew back even more and hit her head.
"None of your excuses! Captain, you pervert! You philanderer!"
"Meliodas-sama..."
"What's up with her?" Hawk asked to one in particular.
"Captain, you're such a jerk!" Diane said with one last punch before she calm down enough to listen what was going on.
"So anyway, to put a stop to the Holy Knights rampage, Elizabeth is on a quest to locate the Seven Deadly Sins and Artemis getting a ride so she can go home."
"Oh, I didn't know... I'm always jumping to conclusions, I'm sorry. I'm also sorry that I tried to eat you, piggy." Diane apologized.
"You think that's enough?! I had my belly stuffed with fruit! Wh-what the-- Hang on, if you lay a hand on me my mom's gonna let you have it!" Hawk said with a burn on his back.
"You really aren't in that kind of relationship with the Captain?" Diane asked with a quiet voice.
"Th-that's right." Elizabeth confirmed.
"You and I aren't in that kind of relationship, either." Meliodas said making Diane look sad.
"Eh..." But Diane was just sheesh at that.
"Anyway, I'm working with Elizabeth and Artemis to gather the Seven Deadly Sins." Meliodas continued.
Hawk notices Artemis wasn't around, "Artemis?"
"There's something that I want to learn, too." Meliodas said, Diane nodded that she understood everything her captain told her, "All right, fine. In that case. I'll go with you. Diane, the Serpent Sin of Envy will give you a hand. But where's this Artemis?"
"Great and she's right her--"
"Oh no--"
"Thank you Diane-sama and we have to find Goddess." Meliodas, Hawk and Elizabeth said at once.
"I'm only helping out because of the Captain." Diane said with envy in her eyes.
In a slight distance was a crow who was watching everything and flew away with the sound it makes.
Artemis POV Recap
'Damn that's too far, but at least I can still hear them' Diane punching the hell out of him. "Again seriously-- Holy Sh--"
--And we're back--
Gilthunder found Artemis slightly unconscious but she was waking up to a headache. "Mhm, what hit me...?"
"Who are you?" Gilthunder said surprising the blonde girl.
"Wh-?"
'He's hot'
"Artemis, and you are..?" Artemis look at the very fit man wearing fancy armor and a cape. Artemis saw he has pink hair and beautiful blue eyes but they were sad and hard at the same time.
Artemis realize that she didn't have her bow. "Where's my..."
"Gilthunder."
"Crap, you're a Holy Knight, aren't you?"
"Your injure."
"Really? I had no idea." Artemis sass to the man as blood ran down the side of her face.
"Come on." Gilthunder use his powers to get the blonde on his horse.
"H-hey! What the hell is this?"
"My power."
"So your the bastard that stop the river water and threw the lightning spear, thanks."
"Yes and for what?"
"Both times gave me a bloody hand!"
"So your the girl who loosen the sword. Interesting."
'Crap!'
"Oh well we're here." He knocked her out.
The crow show up again making a noise. He can hear them now. Gilthunder was waiting for the right moment to strike. He use his power to make a storm appear.
"What was that?"
"That's strange, I thought there were hardly any animals in this forest."
"I smell rain... Look!" Hawk said and everyone look up and the storm.
"What's that?"
"Thunderclouds?" They got hit with a weird type of lighting and tied around them like rope.
"What's up with this?"
"Captain?"
"My body's numb!"
"I can't move!"
"We can't move!" The imps said but everyone ignore them.
Everyone was looking at the man who's covered in lighting and holding a familiar sword.
"And you are? Airy?" Meliodas asked.
"We meet at last... Sins."
"This power..." Diane was testing out the lighting bonds.
"Yeah, no doubt about it. You're a Holy Knight, aren't you?" Meliodas asked.
"Gilthunder... Gilthunder, is that you?! Why are you doing this? Why would you... Why do you have Goddess?" Elizabeth asked the question to her once friend. He turned and saw the horse running and holding onto Artemis and move away.
"You know this guy?"
"Yes, he's a holy knight who was my father's attendant. He's the son of Zaratros, the Grand Master of the Holy Knights at the time, and he was a fixture at the palace. I've known him since we were little." Elizabeth explain to the group.
"The Grand Master's son? Hang on, are you Little Gil?" Meliodas said as if a memory just hit him now.
"You know him?!" Elizabeth yelled out in surprise.
( If you remember from the fourth chapter Meliodas told Artemis some things so she knows the stories and more.)
"Sure, I gave him lessons a few times when I was at the palace! Wow, you sure have grown! No surprise, it has been 10 years... By the way can you give us Airy back?" Meliodas said with excitement when he saw his old student all grown up.
"If you have time to pratting on like this perhaps you should spend it thinking of how to escape those bonds. She's fine, just unconscious." Gilthunder replied with no emotions.
"Hey, this lightning is..." Meliodas just like Artemis figure out Gilthunder was the one causing them trouble. "When someone blocked up Vanya's water supply and then tried to blow away the village, that was you both times, wasn't it?"
"That's crazy talk, Meliodos-sama! You're wrong! He would never..." Elizabeth try to defend her friend but she saw the look and don't want to believe he could.
Artemis woke up from all the noise and shock them with, "He would Princess."
"Oh no..." Elizabeth said with despair.
"Oh your awake." Gilthunder said when Artemis slip off his horse and horse was happy with no weight and run away from the upcoming fight.
"These can't hold me..." Diane use her strength to get out of the bonds but it didn't work.
"That won't work." Gilthunder confidently said to the giant.
"Diane, don't bother." Meliodas stop the giant in her tracks.
"Captain..."
With speed the Holy Knight appear behind Meliodas with his sword at the Sin's neck, "Do you know why the Holy Knights are after the heads of the Seven Deadly Sins?" Gilthunder asked the Sins.
"Not really." Artemis mumbled and Meliodas said with a strug.
"Half call for the eradication of the rebel order that plotted to over throw the kingdom. The other half want to do battle against the former legends in order to prove their own strength." Gilthunder explained to them.
"Which half are you in? Both?" Artemis said under her breath but the Sins and Gilthunder heard her.
"Both. No, I want more." Gilthunder replied.
"What more could you want?" Meliodas asked.
"More?" Hawk try to asked but he was on his side and his voice was muffled somewhat.
"Yes, I want revenge for my father, Zaratras, Grand Master of the Holy Knights. Killing you will show I've surpassed my father, celebrated as the most powerful Holy Ever." Gilthunder said with a glare.
'There's more to this.' Artemis though when she heard the story, it's almost like a piece is missing.
"So what you're getting at is that I'm the man who murdered your father?" Meliodas asked to pink hair man.
"Yup." Artemis just nodded making some of them look at her oddly.
"You claim differently?" Gilthunder shook his head and asked.
"Beats me. The thing is, I don't remember very much from back then." Meliodas said with no hesitation and a shrug.
'Liar.' Artemis raise an eyebrow at Meliodas and Diane was giving him a pity look.
"Captain..."
"Meliodas-sama..." Elizabeth whispered.
"Pipsqueak?" Artemis just continue to raise an eyebrow at the group.
"The last thing I remember is being summoned to the old castle on the outskirts of the capital." Meliodas started saying but Artemis didn't pay attention plus she heard to story already and they finally got to the part where Meliodas heard the apologize from a female voice and pay attention again, "Those words are the last thing I remember. The rest is a blank. The next thing I remember, I was lying in a cellar somewhere. That's when I met Hawk."
"I don't believe it... Then it wasn't you that killed the Grand Master?" Elizabeth asked.
"What difference does that make?" Gilthunder said with a no difference tone.
"A lot!" Hawk sass to the man.
"Gilthunder!" Elizabeth saw Gilthunder pull Artemis up and kept her from moving but Artemis so no damsel in distress and gave Gilthunder a piece of her mind.
"Listen up Sparky! You're wrong, Pipsqueak is many things but not a traitor. So sorry but I won't listen to a dumbass who doesn't have all the facts like you!"
"Well aren't you a little Rouge. A traitorous order that plotted to over throw the kingdom. That's what you people are."
"And I call bullshit."
"Gilthunder, you heard what Meliodos-sama said! They aren't the ones who killed the Grand Master!" Elizabeth try to convince her once friend.
"Elizabeth. The kingdom's given top priority to taking you into protective custody. But that is of no interest to me. Whether you are alive or dead, you are no more than a grain of sand on the road we are traveling. Go away. My business is with these Sins only." Gilthunder said to Elizabeth and moved slightly closer making the blondes of the group somewhat tense but all he did was release her from the lightning bonds.
"You mustn't lay a hand on them!" Elizabeth yelled with fear and concern for her kingdoms last hope.
"Thanks Princess I feel the love." Artemis said with a sassy tone and roll her eyes at the situations.
"I'm a goner... Ya..." The imps said but no one cares about them.
"I've gone numb like I've been electrocuted..." Hawk said to no one but hope they'll take pity on him, so Gilthunder did... He kick him. Hawk flew very far away.
"Touchdown!" Artemis couldn't help herself but say it.
They also watched Elizabeth run after the pig, "Hawk!"
"Now we won't be interrupted."
"Oi! I'm not a Sin Sparky! So leave me out of this you son of a B-" Artemis try to leave but Gilthunder just pull her back by her hair.
"You have powers."
"Are you sure about this?" Meliodas asked with narrowing eyes.
"Watch the hair Sparky!"
"In the old days, you were never able to beat me." Meliodas said.
"10 years dummy." Artemis sang making Meliodas put on his mask. Gilthunder wanted Artemis to stop talking but he threw her at Melioda, making both fall on the gground but Artemis is glad her hair is free and she messaged her head. They both got up and Gilthunder got into Meliodas's face.
"That was then, this is now. I am now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins." Gilthunder said with no hesitation, only confidence.
"Maybe you are. But maybe you aren't." Meliodas just shrug.
"In that case, I'll release your bonds."
"Thanks, but I can do it myself." Meliodas and Diane got out of them smoothly like it was nothing.
"Showoff." Artemis wasn't in multiple bonds like them. She only had a single bond of lightning on her right wrist that kept her close to Gilthunder but she was able to move closer to the Sins.
"We could've escape whenever we felt like it." Meliodas revealed.
Gilthunder wanted to show off too. "And if I felt like it, I could annihilate you along with the entire forest."
Both blondes decided to be sassy with him again.
"Doubt it!"
"I doubt that."
"Then I'll simply cut you down."
"Right back at you. Don't interfere, Diane, Airy."
"Okay, Captain!"
"Whatever. I'm stuck to Sparky so I don't have a choice in the matter."
"You don't want to risk the shame of me defeating you both?"
"Can't you tell when your elder is trying to be nice to you?"
"Nope."
"Didn't I tell you? Right back at you."
"And I thought I told you I'd cut you down."
Meliodas and Gilthunder fought hard and fast.
"Wow they're fast... Ouch!" Artemis said with pain on her face.
"What's wrong?" Diane asked the girl.
"The band." The lightning band on on her wrist was moving the same way Gilthunder was and giving her burns up and down her right arm. Plus destroying her ribbon that is on her arm.
Not long Meliodas fell hard from the sky and made a Meliodas's size hole and chuckled as he got out, "I'm can't believe that you've gotten this powerful..." Meliodas praised his old student.
"Don't worry. I'll send the other six to join you soon enough!" Gilthunder told him with a powerful blow to the shoulder.
"Captain?"
"Pipsqueak?!"
Meliodas was laying on the ground, blood everywhere and he was barely moving. Gilthunder barely had a scratch, only missing his cape and walk towards Meliodas smoothly, kick him so Gilthunder can see his face and put his sword away, "Meliodas, the Seven Deadly Sins of Wrath. Do you have any last words?"
"I... Just wanted to know what happened to the other Sins..." Meliodas said with a weak voice.
Gilthunder thought about it and revealed what happened to the rest of the Sins, "Very well, I'll tell you. Of the remaining five, three are still unaccounted for. But two of them have already been dealt with. The Fox Sin of Greed is being kept under tight guard at Basta Prison. The Grizzly Sin of Sloth is already dead and is interred in the Necropolis. Don't worry, I will send them all to join you." Gilthunder explained.
Artemis didn't want to believe what she was hearing but something in her told her he wasn't telling the whole truth. "He's bluffing..."
"Huh?"
"He's lying."
"Oh-h..." Diane was unsure about Artemis but Diane knew there is more than what meets the eye with Artemis.
"No kidding... Thanks a lot... Little Gil..." Meliodas said and close his eyes with a smile on his bloody face.
Artemis, for the first time in years she felt a single tear escape down her face.
To be continue...