Posting this super late, but if you read me on AO3, then you already know:

This time last year, while I was between jobs, writing projects, and life in general, I noticed BettyBest starting to publish a new NNT story. I had gleaned at We'll Meet Again so I knew of her talents when it came to writing, but I held off for a little while. Months later, after getting my life in order, I finally sat down and read it. It was probably the best and worst decision of my life. I laughed, I screamed, I gave lectures to the characters in my head (Jesus Christ, Meliodas and Elizabeth), and there were times where I cried a little.

So, when TheGreatLlamaFish and later lickitysplit told me about today, I knew I had to jump in. Originally, this fic was supposed to be something funny that turns into smut...but then, I had this other idea. One that just wouldn't leave me alone. And once I told lickitysplit, she basically told me, "You better sit yo' ass down and write this," (I've been yelled at a lot by her for a few days. It's hilarious), and so I did.

And it all started with a question:

What if Veronica won?

Disclaimer: I do not own Seven Deadly Sins, or its characters. I hardly even own this story, which is owed to to BettyBest2 and her baby Enlighten My Darkness. But I did my best, and everyone seems to enjoy the concept so far. So, here we go.

-Part 1: Old Story, New World-

With eyes wide and rounded, one blue eye showing while the other is hidden behind a curtain of silver bangs, Elizabeth stares ahead at the gigantic castle resting at the crest of the mountain she and her companion will journey towards. An ancient, obsidian castle with towers that coil high into the sky, much like a giant snake, or perhaps a multi-headed dragon. It's more like a fortress than a home for royalty—an evil fortress.

Elizabeth waits a beat, expecting the cloudy skies to strike lightning above the castle along with a clap of thunder, but of course it doesn't come. She tightens her hold on her hooded fleece cloak, her trembling, gloved hands balling into tight fists in the fabric.

"...My Queen?"

She jumps, not at the voice, but at the title. Elizabeth is still getting used to her heavy crown, despite not officially wearing it. She turns to look at Merlin, who has been walking beside her. Merlin narrows her gold eyes in concern.

"Are you alright?" She asks.

Elizabeth attempts to smile and replies, "Y-yes. But Merlin, you don't need to be so formal. Elizabeth is fine, as usual." 'Please,' she begs mentally.

"Alright then, Elizabeth. Let's go then," Merlin says with a small smile.

Despite what she said, the thought of moving closer to their destination makes Elizabeth's stomach churn. A little paler than normal, she looks up at the castle again and licks her dry mouth. Then, as Merlin turns to walk ahead, Elizabeth starts.

"W-wait, Merlin—!"

Merlin turns to look back at her from over her shoulder. She quirks a brow. "What is it?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Elizabeth gives a wobbly smile and says, "...D-do we really need seven people? Especially one who is a…" She pauses to look back at the castle, her gaze focusing briefly on the emblem painted on the one of the red flags flaring from one peak—a spiral of black, which flares like an inky sun—and she cringes briefly before smiling at Merlin. "I mean, do we really need him for Wrath? I know a few angry displaced Holy Knights who could fill the slot much better."

Merlin's eyebrows draw downward as she frowns, her expression becoming flat. She slowly turns to walk back to stand in front of Elizabeth. She stares down at the young Queen for a few moments, and then lifts a hand to flick a finger against Elizabeth's forehead.

"Ow!" Elizabeth flinches and holds the red spot growing in the center of her forehead. Pouting, she glares up at the older woman. "Merlin!"

Merlin flicks her again.

"Okay, okay, I get it." She tries smiling, shrugging sheepishly. "Couldn't hurt to try though, right?"

"Elizabeth, I swear on Liones I will do it again, and much worse." At Elizabeth's flinch, Merlin sighs. Her expression softens. "You are a Queen now, dearest. You cannot afford to show fear, not now. Not when we have to fulfill your father's last request."

Elizabeth exhales sharply, quickly turning her gaze away before she can reveal how her eyes are close to watering. Because, despite all her fears, Merlin is right. She's not the third Princess of Liones anymore, but the Queen. Elizabeth never thought such a title could be so heavy, but with everything that's happened...she knows she can't just shrug it off. She has to do right by her people, and what's left of her family; even if what she has to do terrifies her.

Finally, as she steels her nerves, Elizabeth turns to give Merlin a hard, determined look and nods. Merlin smiles, a hint of pride in the quirk of her lips, and the two restart their stride towards the castle.

"If we're eaten alive though," Elizabeth can't help but tease, if only to ease the tension, "don't blame me."

"Don't be ridiculous, Highness. Demons don't eat people."

For a moment, Elizabeth allows herself to feel a sense of relief—

"They eat people's souls."

Elizabeth squawks, her bravado fading for the moment as she gapes after a smirking Merlin. She groans lowly and rolls her eyes up to the heavens, if the skies of the Demon Realm have such a place, and silently bemoans as she continues walking, 'I should have stayed back at the tavern with Hawk.'

~.~.~

In many ways, Liones was not that special of a kingdom. The people were generally happy, the economy rarely suffered, and they had a royal family who treated them well. Oh, it wasn't weak—how could it be, with two powerful Grand Masters and their respective factions of Holy Knights?—but it also wasn't a place you'd expect much to happen. Liones had little enemies when it came to other kingdoms or even clans. There was the occasional invasion, of course, but again, the Holy Knights were always powerful enough to defend against any foe. Probably the worst interactions people had was with the Demon Clan, but even those incidences could be dealt with. Overall, Liones was a peaceful kingdom.

Until three months ago, soon after Elizabeth turned eighteen.

At first, it had started with rumors. Tall tales of creatures—blood thirsty and dripping with an inky, caustic substance that could melt flesh right to the bone—coming out of nowhere and attacking people in the forests. Then, there would be reports of whole townships destroyed by...something, something that would leave behind endless gore and rubble, along with puddles of that strange, dark liquid.

Initially, everyone went to the most obvious answer: Demons.

It was an easy theory to cling to, for demons are known for craving blood and destruction. They'd attacked villages before, mad with an ancient bloodlust, even as they consumed soul after soul in a gluttonous show of power. These recent mysterious attacks had probably been sanctioned by the Demon King himself. Perhaps, after years of being unsealed, he had finally regained his full power and decided to continue spreading his legendary wrath across Britannia. Many stories had been told about him and his power, most of them tales meant to frighten children, so this was even easier to believe.

("Better go to sleep soon, Ellie. Otherwise the Demon King will steal you away and eat you!"

"Hey, don't say that! You know stuff like that gives me nightmares..."

"But it's true! He'll come out from under your bed, grab your leg and say, 'Roar! I've come to eat your soul'!"

"Veronica—!")

Of course, the more the Holy Knights saved and the more they did their rounds around the kingdom, it soon became surprisingly apparent that this was not the work of demons.

Most kings would have felt afraid under such a threat, especially as the attacks grew closer and closer to Liones; King Baltra only nodded solemnly at each report and had his Holy Knights tighten their security. Even when Elizabeth would voice her own worries, he would place a hand on her head and smile, saying with utmost certainty, "You will be fine, Elizabeth. This I promise you."

And because Elizabeth trusted her father more than anyone else in the world, she believed him.

...

...

...

...

Soon after, Liones was burning; lit with an inferno that was threatening to consume the entire kingdom. Along with the flickering of flames came the agonized screams of citizens being killed by the horde—bigger than ever described in any horror story—of snarling, tainted creatures, and the battle cries of Holy Knights. They had arrived just as the stories said, without warning and out of nowhere. And Liones was losing to them.

During this, Elizabeth was running through the hallways, desperately searching the west wing for her father and Margaret, while Gilthunder was searching the east. Veronica had gone with Griamore and Dreyfus to join in the fight against the beasts, so Elizabeth had trusted that she'd be safe. Veronica was (is) the bravest woman Elizabeth knew (knows). There was little doubt she'd fall.

In the end, Elizabeth wasn't the one to find Margaret. But she did find her father, collapsed and gasping in the center of his throne room, his sword across the room. From his chest, on which there were many deep and gaping wounds, blood was flowing to the floor—too much and too fast to be affected by Elizabeth's healing powers.

And standing above him, wearing a wide, mad grin Elizabeth had never seen on him and veins of darkness inking along his skin, stood the second Grand Master, Elizabeth's teacher and friend—Hendrickson.

Which has led to now, to Elizabeth traveling with Merlin to the Demon Realm, to them stepping up to the castle housing the worst of all demons, someone who should have stayed sealed in the Coffin of Eternal Darkness, along with the rest of his infernal race. To speak to the person King Baltra had told her to find, who would help lead the strongest of people in taking back Liones, possibly even Britannia herself: Meliodas, the Demon King.

~.~.~

"...Think they could make the door big enough?"

"Behave, Highness." Merlin gives Elizabeth a playful smirk before stepping to the side. She bows slightly at the waist and stretches her arm toward the front of them in a theatrical gesture, her eyes gleaming. "After you," she says.

Elizabeth slides her gaze back to the door to the castle's outer wall, hundreds of feet tall and made of stone. The door itself is made of wood, but looks as strong as the rest of the structure; in its center is a huge brass door knocker carved into the face of a snarling dragon.

It takes holding it with both hands for Elizabeth to lift the door knocker away from the wood, only to slam it against the door, the sound echoing through the land like a gong; when she and Merlin hear no response, Elizabeth grunts and repeats the motion twice more.

And then, finally: "...Who the hell are you?"

Elizabeth steps back to see two demons, one male with a thin mustache and the other a female with blonde hair sticking out around her head, sticking their heads out and glowering down at her from over the ledge. She withers under their glare only a moment before squaring her shoulders and glowering back, her hands clenching into tight fists. These demons can hate her all they want, but she's already resolved to go through with this mission.

"My name is Elizabeth, daughter of King Baltra, and acting Queen of Liones," she says in a hard tone that demands, the way Queens do, her blue eye glinting like steel. "And I have come to see your King."

She waits a moment, then longer than that. The two demons converse with each other, the female's mouth set into a sneer as she glares down at Elizabeth and Merlin. Her companion regards them as well, though his eyes seem to crinkle in amusement. After minute or so more of staring up at them, Elizabeth is certain she'll never get a proper answer, especially as a new demon joins the duo above. She can't see much details about him, other than his round, soft looking face ('A child...?') and spiky black hair. She watches as he stares down at her with cold black eyes that seem to gleam—Curiosity?

But she has no time to think about it, for the demon hops over the wall's ledge and leaps down to meet her. As he lands on his feet with not even a cringe, Elizabeth watches him stride toward her with the sort of confidence she doesn't expect from someone at his height (five feet, maybe even five-two), let alone with that childish face. But Elizabeth doubts he is a child, given the hostile edge of his jaw and the blade tied at his hip.

Once he's in front of Elizabeth, head tilted upward as he narrows his black eyes and turns down his mouth in a curious frown, the demon with the slicked back, spiky black hair mutters, "How the hell are you still alive?"

Elizabeth blinks wide eyes, her mind going blank, except for a very intelligent, 'Huh?'

He snorts at her blank look, his mouth forming into a smirk. "What's the matter?" He asks her. "Don't recognize me? I'm a little hurt, honestly."

After throwing a disturbed look to Merlin, who shrugs, Elizabeth turns to face the demon again. Her blue eye is still round as she clenches her hands beside her.

"I-I'm sorry, but," she says, "am I supposed to...? I've never been here before."

He stares at her some more, blinking his black eyes slowly. Then, as Elizabeth's unease grows more visible, his smirk shrinks and his eyes narrow. He takes a step back and stares at Elizabeth some more, as if to reevaluate her. But why? Elizabeth can't help but wonder.

"...I suppose I could be mistaken," he says softly, as if to himself. Then he hardens his expression towards Elizabeth, his gaze turning into a glower. "Why are you here, human?"

"I-I'm here to..." Elizabeth pauses to clear her throat and shrug off the awkward moment. She closes her eyes, calls back to that steel and command, and then opens them to regard him with a cool look as she tells him, "I am Elizabeth, Queen of Liones. And I am here to see your King on an urgent matter."

His brows draw downward. "And what is this 'urgent matter' you want to trouble our King with?"

"That's for he and I to discuss."

The black-haired demon frowns deeper, just barely a scowl. But after what seems like a moment of contemplation, he nods in acquiescence. Then he tilts his head to look behind Elizabeth, where Merlin is standing.

"And you?" He asks her.

"I'm her escort," Merlin says, stepping closer to Elizabeth. She slides her gold gaze to the younger woman, and while her expression remains her stoic, the warmth there is as reassuring as always. "And she will not be going inside, or anywhere else without me near her."

He sneers a little, and for a moment Elizabeth is terrified that she'll have to go inside alone, but then he scoffs. He glares off to the side in thought, and then gives a curt nod.

"You will be allowed inside the castle, but I cannot guarantee the King will see you. He doesn't really respond well to...uninvited guests," he tells them, sliding his glower from Merlin to focusing on Elizabeth, his tone firm, "While inside, you are not to leave my side for even an instant. Do not touch anything, do not go inside any rooms, and don't speak to anyone, not unless you get the King's approval. Understand?"

Elizabeth nods frantically and surprised, because well—'I honestly didn't think I'd get this far the first time around.'—while Merlin quirks a brow, her mouth a straight line. She has no plans to do as the demon says, especially when she'll be around so much information and research on demon lore. Elizabeth notices this with a frown and very gently elbows her friend in the side. She cares not what Merlin does with her time, for the woman seems older than time itself and just as wise, as long as she makes sure not to risk any harm towards her. In the weeks since coming to Camelot, Elizabeth has grown very close to the Royal Mage; she would hate for any harm to befall her. Merlin rolls her eyes a little, but nods as well.

The black haired demon stares at them some more, before tilting his head to yell at the other two demons, his voice like gravel, "Open the gates! We've got company."

While the female demon sneers, the male next to her nods and gives a mock salute. Then they both disappear from the ledge. After minute or so, the sound of cranks and gears turning fills the air. Slowly, the giant doors begin opening.

Once they're fully open, the demon inclines his head in a gesture to follow him. Elizabeth immediately steps a few paces behind him, while Merlin walks behind her. The walk up the castle steps is silent, too silent; Elizabeth decides to break it with a question.

"Um, excuse me?"

"What is it?"

"W-what is your name? If you don't mind me asking, of course," Elizabeth says, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

The demon does not turn around, let alone falter in his steps. "Zeldris," he tells her, after a moment of silence. "My name is Zeldris."

~.~.~

If there's one thing he will never enjoy when it comes to being King, it's the piles and piles of paperwork that come with the title. Many of them are complaints from the lower class, as to be expected. Even while left with little restrictions, especially when it comes to violent encounters with other races, they are rarely left satisfied. But a King must do what he must, even with problems that are below him.

He lifts the steaming cup of tea left for him by a servant and takes it to his mouth. For a moment, he basks in the bitter taste and the warmth that flows down his throat. Then, as soon as he places it down, he starts reading through the next stack left on his desk. The more he reads, the more reports he leafs through, the more his black eyes narrow.

"Disappearances, huh?" He can't help but mutter, his interest heightened as he reads the reports more closely. "By whom...?"

"What are you doing?"

He freezes at the small voice. From a fringe of tousled blond, he shifts his cool gaze to the left and sees the head of a teddy bear sticking out from behind his desk. The stuffed animal is a mangled thing, with fangs glued to its mouth and stitches along its body, souvenirs of sharp little teeth and small hands constantly tearing it apart, only to ask someone to put it back together. The frost in his eyes melts for only a fraction of a second as he observes that the little bear is now lacking a button eye; he'll have to ask a servant to sew a new one back in. Then he shifts to look at the small pale hands holding the teddy bear up, shaking it expectantly.

"I'm working," he answers her.

She hums under her breath, likely pouting and puffing her cheeks. "You're always working. But what are you doing?"

"King's business."

"What kind of King's business?"

His mouth twitches, almost quirks upwards, even as annoyance runs through him. The way it always does whenever she sneaks into his study. Speaking of which...

As his eyes narrow, he asks, "How did you get in here?"

"I played with the lock," she admits so casually, shaking her bear to make it look like it's also speaking. "I was bored."

He quirks a brow, his tone dull as he asks, "Don't you have a mother and father to bother?"

"Daddy's doing his rounds. Mommy is in her piano room. She's," the child pauses, as if searching for the right words. "She's...having one of her bad days."

At this he tenses, but again only for a moment. He props his chin along his curled knuckles and tilts his face downward to hide his eyes further.

'Bad days...of course,' he thinks with a deep frown. He swallows the feeling welling up from his chest, refuses to call it a name, and then turns his attentions back to the teddy bear. Finally he allows his mouth to quirk, allows himself to wear a crooked smile.

"Come," he tells her.

A small gasp, sounding like disbelief, and then a giggle. The teddy bear is pulled down and then a pair of little feet pitter-patter on the floor as she nearly stumbles around the desk. The child is wearing a dark green dress with short, poofy sleeves and a white lace trim. She is still small, enough to reach past his knee, enough for even that bear to look huge in her arms. Her pitch black hair is plaited in a French braid that hangs long against her back, and her blue eyes gleam like crystals as she smiles up at him. He leans down to gently grasp under her armpits and lifts her to sit on his lap.

She giggles sweetly and looks around the desk. "Is this your work?"

"Yes it is," he answers her.

"What is it? What are people writing to you about?"

"The usual, really. Conflicts between demons, conflicts with other races. Complaints about taxes and the like."

She twists her mouth into a pout, her eyes narrowing as she mutters, "Sounds boring."

'Oh, little one, you have no idea.' He chuckles deeply and tells her, a bit of mischief twinkling in his eye, "Oh, but there is something rather interesting. Right here, in these reports."

"Really? What is it?" She asks, blinking wide eyes at the papers.

He glances again at the reports again, feeling an eerie weight along his chest. Like he's facing something familiar.

"These are reports from some scouts in Britannia," he explains. "Of some of our people going missing."

"Missing? But...who's taking them?"

"I'm not sure. But there seems to be some other trouble happening in Britannia—not sure how related that is yet," he adds as an afterthought.

"Do you think it's the humans?" She asks.

He lets out a snort, a cruel smirk growing along his face. "Doubtful," he tells her. "Of all the races in this world, humans are the lowest, practically insects compared to the rest of us."

She gives him a look, a sadness shadowing her eyes. "Even me...?"

He pauses, stares down at her with an unreadable expression for a long period of time. Then he again smirks down at her and rustles her hair, which brings her smile back.

"Of course," he declares confidently. "Zaneta, I have no doubt that you will be as mighty as any child in this kingdom. And anyone who says otherwise can come talk to me personally."

Zaneta smiles and leans back to snuggle her cheek against his shoulder. "Thank you, Uncle Meliodas."

Meliodas smirks down at his niece and pats her head once more. He opens his mouth to speak again, but then pauses. There's a sudden shift in the air, a new presence that's entered his castle-no, two. His eyes narrow, the gaze in them frosting over with suspicion and a little more than ire, as his arm unconsciously tightens his hold on Zaneta. Zaneta immediately notices the change and looks around before suddenly going still, her eyes clouding over.

"There's someone here," she says, her tone vacant, as if in a trance. "Two people. They're with Daddy. But that's not right, Daddy doesn't just let anyone in. He's too careful..."

"Yes, that is strange," Meliodas comments softly, frowning. He regards Zaneta with a stony look, recognizing what it means when her eyes are glazed over like that. "Can you see them?"

"Yes. They're two ladies. They came from Britannia," Zaneta answers. "One of them has a lot of...a lot of e-energy around her. It's old, but strong. The other has it too, but...I don't think she knows how to use it yet. They both look human, but...don't really feel like it. I-I can't explain it…I'm sorry," she cries out suddenly, blinking to reveal her eyes being clearer, more lucid. Her expression dims as she frowns. "I wasn't able to get more. Not even their faces."

Meliodas places a hand to her upper back and nods, his expression serious but not upset. "It's alright," he tells her. "You still did good. Are you feeling okay?"

"Y-yeah, but I'm also scared," Zaneta says, her eyes wide and mouth trembling. "Are we in trouble?"

"Of course not," he tells her, missing no beat. "We just have some...visitors, that's all." With that said, Meliodas places Zaneta down on the floor and gently pushes her towards the door. "Now, off with you! A child should be off playing, not sticking herself inside castle walls, much less a boring study."

Zaneta stares back at him, her eyes wide and curious, but then she nods. "'Kay!" She says cheerily as she skips out the door.

"Oh, and Zaneta?"

"Uh-huh?"

Meliodas regards her with a placid smile, his eyes guarded. "If your father asks for me, make sure to tell him I'll be in the throne room."

"...'Kay."

He watches as Zaneta closes the door to his study, keeping his smile up until the door clicks shut. Once he's certain he's alone, Meliodas drops his smile and the chill in his gaze fully returns. He places his palms on his desk and pushes off his chair. He steps away from his desk to the other side of his study, where he has a spare closet for clothing that carries more regality than his casual wear. After surveying the closet, Meliodas chooses a royal longcoat, red and charcoal with gold on the trimmings and some armored plating and feathers along the shoulders.

Meliodas fastens the coat closed with a series of brass buttons, leaving it open enough at the collar to show the white button-up he's wearing underneath. After smoothing the coat along his form, he shuts the closet and moves to the mantel over his fireplace, where his crown-made of gleaming gold, with blood-colored rubies encrusted around the circlet and along the peaks-sits along a velvet pillow. Meliodas regards his crown with a dull, almost bored looking expression, and then places it along his head. For a moment, he considers the first time it was placed on his head, in a rather rushed and almost desperate inauguration ceremony; after all, it had been after the Goddesses declared war on the Demons.

Back then, having this crown on his head felt like a victory, especially given the circumstances. He had been ready for war, to avenge his grievances against the Goddess Clan and whichever goddess who dared to take his everything. He had clung to the thirst for blood, the searing wrath born from fresh grief, and to his duty to his clan, his growing family.

Now, though? Meliodas contemplates the weight of the crown on his head with a small frown. Then he shrugs. It's just headwear. And he still feels nothing.

'Honestly, that's nothing new.' This has been his life since the seal was broken years ago. No, even before then. Meliodas knows that most of the feelings that made his hearts thrum, the very few good and the absolute awful, had truly died long, long ago.

And yet, as he walks out of his study, however, Meliodas allows himself to smirk with a cruel sort of hope. 'Perhaps these new guests will prove entertaining…'