Chapter 4 aka Poisonous Illusions

~Village Church~

People were gathered throughout the main hall of a candlelight lit church.

"Dear God, please return the young men of the village who were taken away by the kingdom."

"Dear God, I pray you'll punish the Holy Knights for what they've done."

Suddenly there was a sound from the sky outside the church, so loud that the men looked up in confusion. Gilthunder was hurtling through the sky, a blaze of lightning trailing behind him. He was thrown through the walls of the church, which collapsed in a cloud of dust, and again, a raven was seen watching from a tree. Gilthunder walked through the mess of the church. His armor shining brilliantly in contrast to the rubble and hurt men collapsed on the ground. He walked by, heedless of their pleas and calls for help.

'Forgive me for my actions. I hope one day you don't look upon me with hatred and that I may atone for my evil deeds.'

~Road to Baste Prison~

In Meliodas and Elizabeth's room of the Boar Hat, Meliodas was sitting on the bed with his shirt off, revealing the wound on his back caused by Gilthunder's sword. Elizabeth placed her hands on his back, a bright light shined and the wound was gone.

"There, all better now." said Elizabeth who was sitting behind him.

"Thanks." Meliodas was picking up his white shirt. "You know this reminds me of the old days."

"How so?"

"Me getting injured. You would fix me up, and usually since I was a good patient getting a treat of some sort." He looked at her teasingly. She gave a similar look.

"Oh? And what is my "good patient" wanting? A piece of candy… or a kiss by chance."

He gave her a look then pulled her closer. She held her breath as he came closer. Honestly she was starting to get excited.

He stopped an inch from her face and all at once, his hand grasped the underside of her chin then he reaches up and captures her mouth with his chastely, before he pulls her close into his lap, kissing her deeply almost feeling insatiable from the plump feel of her mouth and the reactive way she responds to him. Gods he doesn't even know if he's well versed in the act having refused to place his mouth on another besides Elizabeth. The emotions shared like this are too intense, meant for only someone he loves. Breaking the kiss as she sways slightly dazed he murmurs lowly grazing her mouth with his as his fingers skim her flesh under her blouse at her back. "Thanks for healing me again."

She leans away and gets off his lap as he pouts. "You're welcome."

Elizabeth looks out the window of their room. She sees Diane holding a piece of her hair, looking down as she walks, "Meliodas, what is Diane's relationship with King?"

Meliodas put on his red tie and then responded. "Well I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure that when they met to form the Sins, King recognized Diane. I asked her if they knew each other and she told me she didn't." He gives her a smirk, "She also said I was the only man for her." He chuckles. "She didn't know that she's not my type." Elizabeth looks at him with a fake innocent expression.

"What is your type?" He plays along.

"Oh I have a thing for gorgeous, kind, and intelligent Goddesses."

Elizabeth dramatically sighs, "Oh where could we find one?"

Meliodas gets a mischievous look on his face. He pretends to look around and then in the blink of an eye grabs Elizabeth in his arms and starts tickling her.

"Meli-Melio-Mel-Hahahahahahahaha-MELIODAS! STOP PLEASE!" She keeps laughing.

Meliodas is laughing as well. "Nope! I heard that you have to subdue a Goddess in order to keep one around." She finally gathers enough strength to pull his lips to hers to give him a kiss, which causes him to lose concentration and give her time to get away.

"That's enough Meliodas… come on stop pouting." It's true he started pouting. "You were telling me about King and Diane possibly knowing each other."

"Well, I'm just not sure. We'll have to ask Diane sometime."

Elizabeth shakes her head. "If she wants to tell us she will." Meliodas gave her a fond smile, kissed her hand and pulled her out of the room to outside of the Boar Hat. They come out to see Diane still looking distracted.

"Lady Diane!" Diane looks up to see Elizabeth flying not too far in front of her.

"Oh! Hi Elizabeth. You know you can drop the "Lady" thing right?"

"Sorry, it's a habit in this life." Meliodas starts laughing.

"I remember when you addressed everyone as Master or Miss! You kept calling me "Master Meliodas" no matter how often I begged you not to." Elizabeth blushes, while Diane watches amused.

"In case you have forgotten Meliodas, I was a serving girl in that life and I was required to call people by a title!"

"Hey Captain? Are you injuries all healed?" Diane asked looking at him.

"Yeah, Elizabeth's magic still works perfectly" said Meliodas looking at his love proudly as the Goddess blushes.

Diane then looked forward, "So where are we going first?"

"Well, I know you want to find out what happened to King, but Baste Prison is closer and Ban may be a big help in finding King."

"Alright..." Diane pouted.

"Why don't you tell me more about King, do your remember when you first met him?" asked Elizabeth smiling.

Diane smiled, "I found him injured a long time ago, he was floating down a river. When he woke up he had no memory of who he was. He's actually the one who made me these clothes." she said remembering those days.

"But one day, he remembered he was Harlequin, King of the fairies-"

"Wait King, is the Fairy King?" said Elizabeth surprised remembering her old friend Gloxinia.

"Yeah, but that same night, we could see from the cave we were staying in the village that was built nearby was on fire and so King told me to stay behind. The next morning I felt something hit me, that's when I lost the memory of our time together." Diane said now feeling depressed about the time lost.

"He was sad that he broke his promise to you." said Meliodas.

"What?" Diane was surprised at this.

"The people of that village were killed; I know it wasn't King who did it, but he took the blame because he blamed himself for all the suffering his fairy friend had to go through," said Meliodas remembering the day he met King, "I told him he was a splendid Fairy King." he said smiling.

"Yeah, but from remembering our time together as the Seven Deadly Sins, it seemed that he never broke his promise of always loving me." said Diane smiling.

"So I guess you love him as well?" Elizabeth asked from midair.

Diane nodded, "That's why I need to see him, so I can tell him how I still feel."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding and smiled at Meliodas, who gave one in return. "Hey Diane!" The giantess looked at her. "How did you meet Meliodas?"

Diane thought about it for a minute, "It was a long time ago back when I first left the Giant Clan. I was walking down the road when all of these knights surrounded me…"

~Flashback~

Diane standing in the middle of the road with five knights blocking her way.

"You're a monster and now you must pay!"

Diane scoffs, "Yeah right! Come on you're the ones who did something wrong drawing your swords at a cute girl!"

A knight points his sword at her, "We don't see any cute girls here you giant!"

"Go home! As if there is any difference between girls and boys with things like you!"

Diane is pissed. "Screw you. Pretty big mouths for a wimpy race that is only powerful in large numbers!"

"Alright we've heard enough! Kill her!"

The knights charge toward her, when out of nowhere Meliodas kicks one of the knights into a tree. The other knights are dumbfounded.

"Where did this kid come from?"

"You attacked us knowing we're knights?"

Meliodas looks disappointed. "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves, a bunch of men ganging up on a girl like this." Diane is shocked.

The knights regain their senses. "You bastard! Do you want those to be your last wor-"

~Flashback end~

"Meliodas beat up all the knights, and asked me how I was. That was the first time anyone had ever asked me if I was scared. In the giant clan you were expected to be strong and not to be afraid of anything and when I was with King we were too safe to really need to be scared. I'll admit it caused me to have a crush on Meliodas until you gave me my memories back." Diane looked sheepish. "I'm sorry about my behavior Captain and to you too Elizabeth. I never would have acted that way if I had known about your relationship or if I had remembered King."

Meliodas just waved away the apology. "No problem Diane! You're actually the first person in 3,000 years I told about me and Elizabeth."

Elizabeth nodded, "Of course! No reason to apologize! I completely understand. I'm just glad to know Meliodas is still a gentleman after so long without me to remind him how to act." She looked at him with a smirk. He put on a fake offended look which caused both girls to laugh.

"Me! Whenever have I not been a gentleman?" Elizabeth raised her brow.

"Do you actually want me to answer that in front of Diane." Meliodas thought about it then shook his head no. "Didn't think so!"

Diane started pouting until Elizabeth winked at her, which caused a new round of giggles from the girls.

When they reached Damally, the village on the other side of Baste prison, Hawk's mom dug into the ground outside of the village.

"Alright time to rescue Ban!" said Meliodas as he got pumped to see his best friend, "But let's make this trip quick." He closed his eyes and when he opened them they were dark with his Demon symbol on his head. Then two dark wings came out of his back made from his power.

"So you really are a demon." said Diane in awe.

"You got a problem with that?" Meliodas was now flying into the air.

"Nope!" Diane shakes her head. "You have been my Captain this long and you haven't steered me wrong yet."

Elizabeth smiled at her brightly. "You wouldn't be the first giant to work with a demon." she said flying next to Meliodas.

Diane looks shocked. "Really who else has?"

"We'll tell you the story some other time. I think King should hear it as well."

"Wait! What about me?" said Hawk who was on the ground.

"Just try to keep up!" said Meliodas as he flew towards the direction of Baste prison, with Elizabeth beside him as Diane ran behind.

Elizabeth grabbed his hand. "It's been so long since we've flown together hasn't it Meliodas."

He squeezed her hand, "Yes it has. I think the last time we were both flying was right before we were cursed. We'll have to do it again soon." They share a smile and Elizabeth kisses him on the cheek.

~Baste Prison~

Jericho is delivering a message to the Holy Knights stationed at the prison (who were playing chess) Golgious, Ruin, Jude, and Fresia.

"I have news from the palace. Two Sins have been sighted in the Forest of White Dreams. As such it is believed they will come here to free him."

"Oh my! The Seven Deadly Sins are finally coming this way are they?" says the high pitched and nasal voice of Fresia.

"The question is will they come straight here or stop at the nearby town? Either way we should prepare to welcome them." Golgious made a move on the board as he spoke.

Fresia pouted at Golgious. "Oh phooey! You make the ickiest moves Golgious!"

He laughed, "Your turn Fresia."

Jericho is confused and Fresia noticed. "There's no need to worry at all Jericho dear. This prison is an experimental fortress built specifically with this upcoming battle in mind. It's not a place that can be taken so easily. Even by people like the Seven Deadly Sins."

Ruin butted in, "Indeed and besides we, the Weird Fangs, are here.

"Ye-ye-yes of course Sir Ruin."

"But still...I have to wonder if they really will come." said Jude.

Fresia laughed, "Jude. I have a hard time believing our prisoner's worth so much to them that they'd take on such a huge risk. He hasn't even seen a single ray of sunlight since we captured him five years ago. Nor has he been granted the freedom to move or utter a word. In fact he's hardly even eaten. He's being tortured slowly till his last breath."

Golgious adds "Their newfound companion not withstanding, we outnumber them still. It's almost enough to make one feel pity for the legend who was once known as the Fox Sin of Greed."

~Ban's cell~

The two guards on duty outside of the Sin of Greed's silent cell start to hear something.

"Do you hear that?"

"Yeah it sounds like humming. Where's that coming from?"

Ban just keeps humming despite all the spikes imbedded in his body and the metal in his mouth.

~Forest Outside of Damally~

They were almost at Dalmally when a buzzing sound filled the air, Elizabeth stops. "What is all that buzzing?"

They looked towards the direction of Baste Prison to see what looked like a moving storm cloud, "Storm clouds, but it doesn't smell like rain." said Hawk.

"No it's something else." said Meliodas squinting.

Elizabeth then noticed what was in the 'cloud', "It can't be… insects?"

The insects in the cloud started spitting down at the village which caused parts of buildings to melt, "Even worse, it's a swarm of poisonous insects!" said Hawk having caught up.

Elizabeth is shocked and disgusted. "This must be the work of a Holy Knight from Baste Prison!"

"They must have found out we were coming." Meliodas says pointing out the obvious.

Hawk comes up to the giantess. "Hey Diane you wanna take this one?"

Diane crouches down and covers her head, "Uh bugs are the only things I can't stand!"

"Really?!"

~Baste Prison~

Fresia is twirling around a whip from one of the ledges around the prison. "Come on my darling scarab beetles! It's time to give them the taste of your poison. Dissolve anyone who gets in your way!"

~Forest Outside of Damally~

Elizabeth looks at the coming swarm and her hands start glowing with a bright light. Meliodas sees this and just watches his Goddess while smiling.

"Be gone foul insects and leave these people alone! Arc!" The light incases all the bugs and they disappear.

"Wow! So that's the power of a Goddess." said Diane.

Hawk is gushing, "You're so awesome Elizabeth!"

Meliodas grabs her hand. "That's my Goddess! Gorgeous and powerful." He gives her a chaste kiss. "Let's get going." The four of them started heading towards Baste Prison again.

~Baste Prison~

Fresia is frustrated, "I suppose I should have expected power like that from a Sin. Oh no matter! We have other plans."

~Damally~

When the four of them reached the village, a man with glasses was looking into the air and spotted them. "Hey wait!"

Elizabeth was the only one who heard him, "Meliodas wait!"

"What is it?"

Elizabeth pointed to the ground where the man was waving his arms. Meliodas and Elizabeth landed on the ground in front of him.

"Hey what's the matter?"

The man started speaking frantically. "Listen, the Holy Knights said you were badly injured and would require medical attention, so they wanted me to-" but he was interrupted when a metallic male voice spoke.

"Why is he still alive?"

Diane started looking around, "Where is that voice coming from?"

"Please! I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill my end of the bargain! But please! Oh please return my daughter to me!" begged the man.

"No need to shout Doctor. I shall reunite you with your daughter." said a man in armour who appeared behind him. He was then stabbed through with a sword.

"What! No!" said Elizabeth, shocked.

"He got him bad." said Hawk.

"I shall send her to join you in the afterlife!" The knight Golgious said removing the sword which caused the Doctor to fall to the ground. "Now now, we can't have you ruining the Holy Knights good name about how we wanted you to kill him."

"No!" Elizabeth rushed to his aid as the man in armour vanished.

"Elizabeth wait! It isn't safe here! We don't know when that guy is going to show up next!" said Meliodas as he down kneeled next to her.

"Yeah!" Hawk tried to get her away by pushing her gently on the arm.

"Just let me heal him." said Elizabeth as her glowing hands over the doctors wound started to heal him.

Meliodas looked at Diane. "Diane go on without us! We'll catch up in a minute!"

She nods. "On It Captain you guys be careful." She started running for the prison.

Meliodas was on the lookout for any danger to his Goddess and saw the man in armour appear behind Elizabeth. "Look out!" He took out his dragon blade and intercepted the blow and Golgious vanished again.

Hawk kept sniffing around. "Dammit, he's leaving behind a metallic scent trail, but I can't track it!"

"You can smell that!" Elizabeth says surprised, while still healing her patient.

"Yep I can smell slop from a mile away! Gross huh?"

"A metallic scent trail huh?" said Meliodas as he blocked the sword again, but this time Golgious saw Meliodas's face.

"So you're the Dragon Sin of Wrath? I'd thought you would be older."

"People keep saying that." He then grabbed Golgious by the arm and threw him onto the ground creating a small crater. "Now you're going to tell me who you are and what your orders are or am I going to have to beat you more."

"Of course," he lifted his arms slightly, "I, Golgious of the Weird Fangs, surrender." Meliodas caught the throwing stars midair on their way to Elizabeth and the doctor. "How did you see those!" Meliodas gave him a dark look. "I said how did you see-" he was then lifted into the air by Meliodas who had him by the neck.

"You just tried to hurt someone who means more to me than life itself. I should just end you here and now." He gives him the full demon stare. "But I promised to not kill unless necessary so instead I will give you two options. 1: Answer my questions and then you may go or 2: You apologize to Elizabeth, answer my questions, and then we may get you some medical help. Deal?"

Golgious was shaking and nodding frantically. Meliodas dropped him and crossed his arms. "So what's it going to be?"

Golgious got up slowly. "I choose... none of the above!" He then disappeared.

"Damnit!" The shadows spread across his arms until Elizabeth put her arms around his waist from behind and he calmed down. She then grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the doctor.

The doctor's eyes opened to Elizabeth kneeling over him, "Thank goodness are you alright."

The doctor sat up and looked to Elizabeth and Meliodas who's back to normal. "Please! I beg of you to save my daughter!"

Meliodas looked contemplative for a second, then smiled. "Of course! Could you answer one question for me before we go?" The doctor nodded. "Do you know what Golgious's power is?"

"I believe his power is invisibility… I'm not completely certain of it though."

Meliodas nodded. "That makes sense. There were gaps in time between his attacks and he left behind a scent trail. He must have been moving on foot like me. That means it shouldn't be hard to catch up to him. Let's go Elizabeth!"

"But what about Ban?" asked Elizabeth as he gave her a hand up.

Meliodas just shook his head as they started walking toward the prison. "Don't worry about that lazy slug! Once he finds out we're on our way, he will probably break himself out of prison." They both started running and then took off into the air.

~Baste Prison Ban's Cell~

"Hey wanna bet on who will win?"

"Hmm?"

"The Weird Fangs or the Seven Deadly Sins? They're fighting in town right now."

"That's not much of a bet. From what I heard the Sins are just down to their captain and one other member. They're no match for the Weird Fangs so..."

"Well that's awesome news!" The knights are shocked. "Sounds like it oughta be fun!" Then the outline of a foot was shown in the door and it came crashing down. It's Ban still impaled by spikes, rockin' a beard and long hair, and he stretched as he continued to remove the spikes.

"Ahhhh! It feels so good to walk around after all that time in a cell."

"It's the Seven Deadly Sins Ban! The Fox Sin!"

"Damn you! How did you get out of your restraints and why now!"

Ban just continued to remove spikes, "Isn't it obvious? I kicked the door down duh! And why wouldn't I get out when you're telling me great news. The fact that our Captain is alive means something interesting is going to happen."

A voice came from down the corridor.

"What's going on?!" It's Jericho acting aloof.

"Jericho!"

Ban finally noticed her and dismissed her as a threat.

She began talking. "Ban of the Seven Deadly Sins… I don't know how you escaped your cell, but return to it at once."

Ban just laughed. "How about some respect kid. I'm not sure how you were raised, but is that anyway to treat a hero. And anyway, do you think someone who literally just kicked their cell door down would just go back in without a fight?"

Jericho's offended. "I am an apprentice Holy Knight! You dare call me kid! That's pretty disrespectful for a prisoner who's at death's door." She addressed the knights, "Go to Sir Golgious and the others at once! Tell them all… Jericho had to take out the Fox Sin when he tried to escape."

"Yes Ma'am!"

As the knights left Jericho drew her sword and lunged at Ban. It looks like she finished him. Ban's groans of pain turned into smug laughter. He was cleanly shaven and had a shorter hair cut.

"Do you think I had you cut off too much? Well I like it better than before you did it… I'll work with it. You're a good barber kid you should make it your day job!"

Jericho was shocked. "How did you dodge my sword with all your wounds?!" She then looked at him again.

"What wounds are ya talking about?" Ban's looked around at his limbs showing off the lack of injuries.

"That's not possible! Just a moment ago there were holes in most of your body from the steel spikes that were driven through them!"

Ban's smug again. "There's something you need to remember kid… there's only one wound on me," he pointed at his neck "and it's this scar and you could say that one is a special case."

~Flashback Ten Years Ago~

The Sins are bedded in for the night around a campfire.

"Hey Cap'n, c'mon what's the big deal!" The Sin of Greed was staring intently at his Captain sitting across from him. Actually, his sight was more on the dragon hilt sheathed behind his back. "Just let me see you sword already!"

"What's so exciting about seeing this hunk of junk?" Ban smirked. So, he really was going to pretend he didn't know. Two can play at that game.

"… Last I checked you were the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins..." The Captain still ignored Ban. He took a long sip of ale as Ban continued talking. "Sooooo why the hell you walking around with a sword like that?" Ban starts walking toward him. "I mean did you really think I wouldn't be curious about it eventually? Hmmm."

The Sin of Greed got behind the Sin of Wrath, touched his shoulder, put a hand on the handle and gave Meliodas a small smile. "Let me see it." He slowly started to drag the sword from its sheath, missing how Meliodas' mug started to dip. Meliodas grabbed hold of the hilt.

"Let go." Normally, Ban would listen to the Captain's command. But not this time. The Sin of Wrath's mug full of ale clattered to the ground. A rustling sound alerted Ban to a certain giantess' presence. The Sin of Envy sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Captain...? Ban...? You're still up...?" Her voice was heavy with sleep.

"Just step away Ban," The Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins ordered a second time. "...Don't wanna make me angry."

The Sin of Greed chuckled to himself. "Make you angry? You, serious Cap'n? We've been hangin' around for many years... But I've never seen you get angry once..."

"I mean it Ban...Let go..." Meliodas ordered a third time.

"That reminds me… I'm also interested in how you got to be called the Sin of Wrath…"

"BAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE CAPTAIN!?" Diane's question went ignored.

"If you're saying you'll get angry... Then I want to see it that much more..." Ban grabbed hold of the hilt with both hands now, staring with hunger at the hilt. He'd finally get to see a pissed Captain. It was his dream come true.

"...No, I WANT TO STEAL IT!"

A millisecond later Ban was flying backwards, a stinging sensation going through his neck. He slowed himself to a stop. He looked up just as Meliodas was sheathing his sword once more. "Heh... Whaddya know the Cap'n's secret rage...awesome!" Ban's singsong voice echoed through the clearing, not even holding a slight hint of pain.

"Sorry about that Ban, but this sword is..." Meliodas decided it was best not to tell him why his sword was so important. He walked out of camp into the forest.

~Flashback end~

"Anyway enough about that, let's get to the point. I'm going to walk out of here and you're not going to stop me!"

Jericho drew her blade. "No you are not!"

One embarrassingly short scuffle later. Ban was holding up Jericho by the head with one hand and she was unarmed.

"Just finish me! Get this over with already!"

He brought her closer to his face. "You know what barber boy… I like your armor. I'll take it." 'I hope it's not too small.'

~Between Baste Prison and Damally~

Elizabeth and Meliodas were flying toward the prison when Diane appeared in front of them.

"Whoa what's going on?! Diane!"

Elizabeth flew toward her face. "What are you doing over here? Weren't you going after Sir Ban?"

Diane stared blankly ahead. Then she blinked, "Hey weren't you helping out the Doctor?"

Meliodas and Elizabeth looked at each other in confusion. Then they heard the sound of a bell. Diane started raising her right fist.

Meliodas noticed the change first. "Look out!" He pushed Elizabeth out of the way.

"There's a Holy Knight here! Captain! You and Elizabeth go on I'll dea-! Hey wait where did they go?" She looked around, then back at Ruin. "What did you do to my friends!"

"They're all at my mercy."

She got ready to kick him. "Give them back right now!" She raised her fist and punched Meliodas who deflected it.

Elizabeth and Hawk head for him. "Meliodas! Are you alright?!"

He nodded to them and then looked at Diane. "She's gone berserk." Meliodas saw the blank look in her eyes. "Those eyes, she can't see us at all even if she wants to!"

The pieces clicked for Elizabeth. "She's under some kind of illusion?"

"So what do we do? She's a giant mountain of a woman who thinks we're the enemy!" said Hawk.

Meliodas grabbed Hawk and Elizabeth. "We get away from here!" They started flying away.

When they were flying through the forest they saw two people, a man and a boy. Elizabeth noticed the boy holding a staff with a bell on it.

Hawk was the first to say something. "Crap there are people around!"

"Hey! If you don't want to die you better start running." Meliodas yelled at the two of them.

The man and boy saw Diane chasing Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Hawk. They were spooked and started running.

They were all now hiding from Diane. "You can't hide forever Holy Knight! When I find you I'm going to twist you like a pretzel!"

Elizabeth turned to Meliodas. "Meliodas, I think you should go out there without your full power."

"Why?"

"I know you can control it, but if someone starts to control you while in that state you could seriously hurt someone and I know you. You would regret it forever if someone got hurt."

Meliodas thought about it, closed his eyes, and locked his demon symbol away for now and his eyes went back to their normal green. He then smirked, "Let me guess… while I fight Diane you're going to defeat the enchantment. Just don't give away all our secrets yet okay."

Elizabeth beams, "Of course! No one ever suspects me of anything." He kissed her on the nose and got out from their hiding spot. Then the sound of a bell rang through the trees.

"Hey where'd you come from?"

"I am the Holy Knight Ruin. Member of the Weird Fangs and destroyer of the Seven Deadly Sins."

"Hey tall and gruesome! You're the one who cast that weird spell on Diane, aren't you?"

Hawk looked between them, "Now he does know that's Diane right?"

After Diane punched the ground, Meliodas used the debris to get above the Holy Knight. "Now turn her back to normal!" he said hitting her fist which caused the ground to shake.

"I know this is hard to believe, but I think Meliodas is caught in the same illusion as Diane right now."

"I know."

Hawk is shocked. "What! Did you know this would happen?!"

Elizabeth nodded. "We both suspected it would, but while he causes a distraction I'm going to find the source of the enchantment and break it."

"Ohhhh."

Meliodas and Diane were still fighting hard. Kicks and punches flying everywhere.

Elizabeth started getting worried. 'I know this was part of the plan, but they might kill each other!' She jumps out from behind her cover. "Both of you stop this! That's enough!" They seemed to snap out of it.

Diane was confused. "Elizabeth you're here? And Captain you're here too? Where'd the Holy Knight go?" Meliodas looked around as well.

"Huh? No clue."

The little boy came over, "Are you alright big lady?"

"Yeah. Are you okay you're still here?"

Elizabeth stiffened, 'That's it!' Then she heard the sound of a bell and Meliodas and Diane start up again. 'Oh no! Not again! I have to get to that bell, but how?'

The boy started crying. "I don't wanna die please!"

'That's it!' "I'll protect you even if it means trading my life for yours!" 'Forgive me Meliodas… you're not going to like this plan. I know it.'

Fresia showed up behind her. "Oh how touching to see a princess who actually cares, but is that truly what you would do or an empty promise?" She starts to raise her whip, 'Wait are those wings coming out of her back?! What could have happened to the princess since she left the capital?... Oh no matter! On with the show.'

She called forth a tornado of poisonous insects and Hawk for one doesn't like it. "I can't believe another Holy Knight! What is with these guys!"

"Now go my little beetles and destroy them all!" The boy ran away in fear. "That kids whining is really annoying! You die first!" She surrounded him with beetles, and he cried out in pain.

'No! I need his staff! I don't want to give away the extent of my powers yet… I'll have to go in without them… This is going to hurt… dang.'

Fresia started bragging. "Let me see… 'even if I have to trade my life for yours' was that the phrase? For all your brave platitudes, you never believed you would have to follow through with it did you?"

"Oh that bitch! Hey Elizabeth where are you going?"

Elizabeth started walking through the cloud. 'Ow! Ouch! I made a promise to Meliodas that we would stay by each other's side and that I would break this enchantment. I will keep those promises regardless of the pain!' She made it to the boy.

"Elizabeth no!" Hawk yelled in a panic. Fresia dispersed the cloud with a crack of her whip. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" 'I have to get that bell.'

"So you would risk your life to save a young boy? That's quite admirable. However…" He dropped the illusion. "That is not the reality of the situation."

Hawk started rubbing his eyes, "Another illusion?"

'Okay Elizabeth act gullible and then try to go after the bell!' "You're the one behind all this…"

Ruin laughed. "Oh the great and powerful Seven Deadly Sins are nothing more than my puppets."

"Turn them back to normal!"

Ruin grabbed Elizabeth by the hair, kneed her in the stomach then threw her to the ground. Hawk tries to come to her rescue, "You bastard!" And he gets kicked away.

Ruin laughed again, "As we speak the two Sins are engaged in battle! They will both kill each other for us!"

Elizabeth stood up, "Release them from this spell now!" Ruin raised his staff. 'This is gonna hurt, but I can finally grab that bell!' He hits her in the face with his staff and sent her sprawling across the ground.

"Elizabeth!"

Fresia strolled up a little hesitant. "Uh… Ruin aren't we supposed to deliver the princess unharmed?" Ruin came to his senses and walked up to the injured Goddess.

"Of course. Princess Elizabeth, out of respect for your actions here, I will tell you the secret to my illusions. It's this bell on my staf- Wait a minute where is it?!" Elizabeth smugly spit out the bell. "You little bitch! I'll kill you!"

He raised his fist about to hit Elizabeth when his arm was stopped. Ruin looked over to see it was Meliodas. He was pissed! Even his mark was exposed. He was crushing the armor with his hand and moved Ruin's hand away with ease.

"Not a chance in hell are you going to hurt Elizabeth!" 'He thinks he can hurt my Goddess!' He punched Ruin away from them; it sent him flying fast towards Baste Prison. He kneeled by his Goddess, hid the mark, and then pulled her into his arms. "Elizabeth my love, what were you thinking! I said to keep some of our secrets not let yourself get hurt!"

She pulled away from him. "I knew I could handle it. Besides I knew you would save me once I broke the spell." He looked at her with fond exasperation and pulled her in for a kiss that was quickly reciprocated. "Now go after Ruin. He should be recovering from hitting the prison any second now."

"Yes, my love." He kissed her forehead, got her up off the ground, and went rushing after Ruin.

Elizabeth smiled after him fondly. 'He's so protective… it's sweet.' She looked over and saw Diane crush Fresia in her hand. 'Ouch!'

~Meanwhile In Baste Prison~

Ban was walking down a hall of cells. Guards were running around, yelling at each other.

"What's with all the racket around here lately? It's like someone broke outta prison or something."

A Holy Knight rose out of the shadows on the floor in front of Ban.

"Where do you think you're going, Ban of the Seven Deadly Sins?"

"Hey, what's up Holy Knight Jude." Ban said, seemingly completely unconcerned.

Jude stalked slowly towards Ban, his armour clanking. "I've come to destroy you. Prepare to take your last breath."

"So you wanna off me, huh? After all this time?" Ban jokes, as he stood his ground, his posture slouched, and his hands tucked into his pockets.

"You have no further use to us. You've adequately served your purpose as the bait to lure the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins here. Even at this very moment, two of the Seven Deadly Sin members, Dragon Sin Meliodas, and Serpent Sin Diane, are being eliminated at the hands of the Weird Fangs. And when I'm finished with you, that will bring the total to four Sins who no longer exist to wreak havoc upon this world."

Ban laughed, "Well I'm all for your dream coming true, man."

"Who was it that captured you five years ago, and has been torturing you ever since? Surely you haven't forgotten?"

"Okay, have a nice life." Ban said, as he started to walk past Jude.

A spear was plunged into his chest.

Ban looked at Jude, his eyes wide as he stumbled back to lean against the wall. Then he smiled.

"Are you really that sad to see me go?" Bad asked Holy Knight Jude, nonchalant despite the spear still stuck in his chest.

"It appears you haven't learned anything in your five years here, Seven Deadly Sins' Fox Sin." Jude said menacingly. "No matter how strong you think you are, you are completely powerless against Jude."

Jude pushed the spear even further through Ban's chest. Ban grunted and slumped against the wall of the prison.

"Would you like to know how it is you people were able to catch me five years ago?" Ban said, his posture nonchalant, though pain was evident in his voice. "Way back in those days, I was in the market for some pain. I wanted to wallow in suffering because I thought that might have made me feel I was alive."

He reached up to grasp the spear that was sticking out of his chest. "But, I'm over that now. Your pain has become boring."

Jude stepped back in fear.

"If the Captain's alive that means all sorts of fun things are about to start happening. So there's no reason for me to continue hanging out in this boring dump of yours." Ban stepped closer to Jude holding the spearpoint to his armored chest.

"Wait, are you...going to try to overthrow the kingdom like you did ten years ago?"

"Overthrow the kingdom...I remember something about that."

"Try it again, I dare you." Jude said, though his voice shook with fear. "Every Holy Knight in the land would leap at the opportunity to engage in an all out war against you Sins!"

Ban pushed the spear through his chest and blood spurted from Jude's mouth.

"Sounds pretty nice." Ban laughed. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm late for a meeting with my Cap'n. So stick around." He leaves Jude stuck to the wall and walks away.

~Baste Prison Outer Walls~

The knights on duty were at their posts when a man's body came flying through the air and hit the prison.

"What was that?"

"I think that was a man flying in!"

Ruin slowly pulled himself out of the wall. 'What the hell was that! He threw me all the way here with one punch!'

Meliodas appears in front of him. He then punches him in the chin and sends him back into the wall to the shock of the knights around him.

Ruin is gleeful "Alright! This is more like it! Wouldn't you agree, Dragon Sin Meliodas!"

The knights start backing away. "Wait! Is that guy the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins?"

Ruin starts taunting Meliodas. "Is that all you got kid! My armour is just a thin shell. My flesh is many times harder than stee- Ack!"

Meliodas punched Ruin's armour shattering it and his skin causing Ruin to bleed. The knights are shocked.

"I had no choice, because you tried to hurt someone who means everything to me. More than life itself." said Meliodas moving back his fist which caused the man to fall down forward, "And that... well that sin was yours."

"A Holy Knight! With one blow!"

"He must be one of the Seven Deadly Sins!"

"Run away!"

The Knights outside the prison started running away.

"Meliodas!" came a voice from above. He looked up to see it was Elizabeth still covered in scratches, with Diane and Hawk not far behind her.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" said Elizabeth while hugging him. Meliodas smiled and when he pulled back he notices her injuries.

"Elizabeth! Are you alright? You're still covered in scratches! Why haven't you healed yourself yet?" Meliodas was holding her shoulders gingerly.

Elizabeth blushed at the scrutiny. "I wanted to make sure you were alright first."

Meliodas shook his head."I love you, Elizabeth. I love you more than you could ever know. I just worry you won't take care of yourself if you think I'm hurt."

Elizabeth reached up and rested her hand against his cheek. "I know. But I'm always going to be worried about you. Even if I know better." She said smiling.

And she kissed him. A truly magical kiss, both figuratively and literally. As the two poured all their love and emotion into each other, Elizabeth began to glow as her healing powers started to subconsciously heal both of their injuries.

Diane was awed, "Whoa cool."

Hawk was indignant, "Hey you two! That's enough of that!"

The two broke apart still smiling at each other. Meliodas looked over at Diane.

"Hey Diane, What's that you got in your hand?"

Diane dropped it next to the knight Meliodas beat, it was Fresia all beat up and looking like a crushed bug.

"She was the one who sent those bugs earlier."

'She's the one who caused those scratches on Elizabeth.' "Did you get any information out of her?"

Hawk laughed. "She squealed like a pig. She told us they were keeping the Doctor's daughter in smaller tower, right before Diane squished her."

Meliodas gave Hawk a look, shook his head then led the way into the tower.

The four of them went up the steps that led to a big enough entrance that even Diane could go through.

Speaking of the giantess, "This place is weird. Not only is there an entrance big enough for me, but this place is deserted."

Meliodas agreed. "They probably built the entrance on the off chance they could capture you." He shrugged. "Also the knights probably ran away after Ruin was face planted into the wall."

~Outside Baste Prison~

"They've gone inside." Jericho observed. "What do we do now? Sir Golgious."

It's Golgious all dented up and limping a little bit. "I must admit I'm rather impressed. But the great strength that they've shown will soon come to an end, with an agonizing death!" He held up a black spell bead and threw it down. "It's a magic quarantine barrier. An indestructible eternal sealing spell, so powerful it could withstand ten tyrant dragons and not break. The Sins will die in there one by one."

~Inside Baste Prison~

Walking further into the prison they noticed most of the cells were empty. Elizabeth grabbed Meliodas's hand for comfort from the creepy atmosphere. He squeezed her hand and pulled her closer.

When they were about to pass a hallway of more cells, Hawk smelled something coming from a hall to their left.

"Hey guys!" They looked at him. "I smell something coming from the end of the hall."

Hawk and Meliodas reached a cell, there was a woman in common clothes asleep.

"This is her. The doctor's daughter, I'm sure of it!" said Hawk.

Meliodas looked around for a key. "Well! We better get her out. I can't see any key… oh well." He grabbed the bars with both hands and took the door right out of the wall.

The woman woke up to the door being removed. 'What's going on?' She screamed when she saw Diane and fainted.

Meliodas looked at the fainted woman and shrugged. "Hey Diane, think you could carry her in your bag for now?"

Diane shrugged. "Sure!" She pulls it off her shoulders and puts the Doctor's daughter in it gently.

Elizabeth clapped her hands together, "Now we're off to help Sir Ban!"

"What's with this 'Sir Ban' business?"

The group turned as one to the source of the voice. There in the shadows was the sound of footsteps. They revealed a man, wearing red pants, a scar going up the right side of his neck, spiked up white hair, and a tattoo of a fox on his hip. A tension started building when he and Meliodas locked eyes.

"Ban."

"Hey Captain." said Ban. The two of them just stared at each other seriously. Meliodas gestured for Elizabeth to step back, but she just looked on in concern.

Hawk was glancing between the two of them worriedly. "They both seem upset. Is there something wrong? I got a bad feeling." Diane just sat back.

"You two might want to hide behind me. It'll be safer there."

Hawk and Elizabeth just hope she's joking.

Ban and Meliodas continued to stare at each other, then Meliodas grinned.

"Ban!" Meliodas cheered happily raising his hands in the air.

"Captain!" said Ban gushingly.

The two of them ran to each other hitting each other's hands, laughing all the while.

Elizabeth started smiling, while Hawk was still confused. "What are they doing? It's like a game of paddy cake gone terribly wrong!"

The Goddess just shook her head fondly. "This is the way friends like these greet each other after so long apart. They'll be fine!"

Diane nodded her head.

The boys were still at it. "Captain!" said Ban as he hit Meliodas and sent him flying through some of the walls to the left. Meliodas got back up unscathed to the sight of Ban who was waving his hands in the air, "My turn, me next, haha!"

Meliodas jumped towards him, head butting him and sending him through multiple walls.

Hawk was still confused. "Do I wanna know?"

Diane was exasperated, "Just go along with it."

Elizabeth was just thinking about how sweet it is. 'I'm glad he made such a good friend.'

The two men started laughing, "So great Cap'n, I thought you might have gotten soft on me!" Ban got out of the walls unscathed.

Meliodas was beaming, "You still got it!" The two of them grabbed each other's hand and got on the ground to arm wrestle.

Ban smiled a vulpine grin, "Ready!"

Meliodas was still beaming, "Go!"

The two of them started and Meliodas beat Ban easily, which confused Ban. "Okay, let's even the playing field." He used Hunter Fest to take some power and they started again, which caused the whole prison to shake and start crumbling.

Elizabeth and Diane kept watching, while Hawk started freaking out.

"Don't worry! Those two have been like this for as long as I've known them."

"Wait! They've been like what!" said Hawk who was in Diane's hands and looking around at the prison falling apart.

Diane waved off his fear, "Oh just typical boys so immature!"

The two of them were continuing to arm wrestle as Ban called out previous stats "720 times, if I recall correctly and I do, I beat you 361 of them!"

Meliodas scoffed, "You must have lost your mind, I won 361 times!"

The ground beneath them broke, but the two of them continued to yell as they fell. Elizabeth took to the air, while Diane and Hawk fell as well.

'Meliodas! You just had to over do it again didn't you? What am I going to do with you!' Elizabeth stopped and smirked evilly. 'I know just the thing!'

~Outside~

The prison started cracking and falling apart rapidly. The spell couldn't take the pressure and broke down.

"Whoa!"

"What are they!"

"That's impossible!"

Jericho was shocked. "The Sins! Just how much power do they really have?!"

Golgious left Jericho. "Strategic withdraw!" He disappeared.

"Wait for me!"

~Rubble Pile~

The boys dug themselves out and Diane shook off the dust.

Ban started pouting, "Damn, we never found out who won!"

"Oh well!" Meliodas shrugged it off and looked for Elizabeth. She lands next to Diane.

"Are you alright Lady Diane?" She got a look in response. "I mean Diane. Sorry."

"I'm fine Elizabeth."

"That's good! Where's Hawk?"

"Oh I put him in my bag as we were falling."

"Good."

Meliodas clapped his hands. "Come on we better bring the Doctor's daughter back!"

They start heading for the village, when Ban notices Elizabeth's wings.

"Hey, are those Goddess wings?"

Elizabeth nodded, "Why yes they are."

"We'll explain it later I promise." Meliodas interjected.

~Damally~

They returned to the village, where the Doctor's daughter was reunited with her father.

Meliodas and Hawk watched the reunion.

"Well we better get going! We have no idea when those knights might come back or how many Holy Knights may come here once they hear the news." As they turned to leave the Doctor yelled after them.

"Wait Meliodas! Let me make you and your comrades a meal as a thank you for everything you've done for us. Please I insist!"

~Roof of the Doctors' House~

The Sins gathered around waiting for the Doctor and his family to bring the meal up to the roof. Diane stood next to the building, leaning over the roof. Ban was now wearing a studded red leather jacket and matching pants. Elizabeth and Meliodas sat by each other holding hands.

"Alright Elizabeth! It's time you were formally introduced. This is Ban the Fox Sin of Greed!"

"Nice to meet you Sir Ban!" Meliodas gave her a fond smile. "I did it again didn't I?" She facepalmed at his nod. "I'm sorry Ban."

He waved off her apology, "Don't worry about it! We're not big on ceremony." He bowed. "Let's just be friends okay!" She nodded in agreement and giggled at his bow. Then Meliodas noticed his outfit.

"Hey Ban, where did you get that outfit or the money to buy it?"

Ban tried to sound innocent, "I kind of came across it. It was a total fluke!" He tries to hide the fact that he stole it. Diane sighed knowing he stole it. "So yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen you Diane." She scoffed.

"I could've been perfectly content not seeing you for another 100 years."

"Now for a very important introduction!" Meliodas turned to his lover. "This is the Goddess Elizabeth, but in this life she is known as Princess Elizabeth, youngest princess in the royal family of Liones."

Elizabeth blushed at the introduction, but curtsies to Ban. "It's nice to meet you Ban."

"You as well- Wait! In this life… what does that mean?"

The couple looked at each other and Elizabeth started, "Well it starts 3,000 years ago when Meliodas and I were cursed-"

"Wait! Cursed for what?"

"I betrayed my people by falling in love with Meliodas and Meliodas betrayed his people by falling in love with me in return."

"Whoa hold on! If you're a Goddess... then what are you Captain?" Ban looked suspicious. Meliodas let out his demon mark and his eyes changed color. "Cap'n you're a demon!"

Meliodas released the transformation. "Yes I am, but I left that life behind when I met Elizabeth."

"Yes! He's not like the others, he was named a traitor by the Demon King himself!" Elizabeth came to stand in front of Meliodas. Ban waved them on to continue their story.

After Meliodas and Elizabeth explained their curse, Ban felt bad for getting suspicious at his best friend, "Sorry Cap'n. You've never did anything that would make me see you as a bad guy and I jumped to conclusions."

Meliodas waved it off and took Elizabeth's hand. Ban looked on with a little jealousy, but mostly just happy for his Captain. 'This explains all those times he ignored girls flirting with him.'

Diane looked at Ban for a moment. "So… I've got to ask. What's your problem with demons? It seems personal…"

Meliodas and Elizabeth looked at him. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to Ban."

He shook his head. "No I should tell you." He cleared his throat. "One day twenty years or so ago I was in the Fairy Kings forest looking for the Fountain of Youth. When I got to the top of the tree the holy woman guarding the fountain literally blew me off the tree." His audience gasped. "I wasn't immortal, but apparently the forest kept saving me, because I kept going up there and being blown back down. Until I finally made it up there and grabbed the fountain using Snatch. Well the woman strung me up using vines before I could drink it. She told me that if I drank it the forest would die, so I gave up. She told me her name was Elaine." He sighed dreamily here. "We spent a lot of time together and we fell in love."

Elizabeth gushed. "Awww that's so sweet!" Meliodas realized there's more and he's not going to like it.

Ban continued, "Then one day, a red demon showed up. It started burning down the forest. I tried to kill it by ripping its heart out, but when Elaine tried to warn me that it had more than one, we were both wounded." Diane was shocked and Elizabeth was crying into Meliodas's shoulder. "Elaine had grabbed the cup from the Fountain of Youth and told me to drink it, but I refused. I made her drink it. She did and I thought she was safe, when all of a sudden I was being force fed the water from the fountain." He chokes up a little and cleared his throat. "She died in my arms. I killed the demon and swore to Elaine I would bring her back."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Ban then looked at Elizabeth. "Is there any way you could bring her back?" She looked shocked, then contemplative.

"I think I can, but!" She yelled when he gets excited. "I can't quite remember how to do that. Just give me a little time and I'll figure it out! Okay? It's been 3,000 years since I've even tried doing something like that."

Ban nodded frantically. "So guess it's up to the four of us to find the others."

"You mean the five of us right."

Ban's confused. "Uh captain, you need glasses? There are only four of us." Elizabeth started giggling.

"There are five of us here stupid!"

"Huh, who said that?" Ban finally looked down.

"I did!" said the smug swine.

Ban looked calm, then surprised and started backing up frantically, "There's a talking pig here!"

The pig was pissed. "You're just noticing that!"

"No way! That's it! I can handle curses and demons, but a pig talking like a person is just too much more than I can handle man! Wait a second! You're King right! Of course, you were cursed and became an actual pig!" Ban remembered King was a fat guy.

Diane did not appreciate the comparison. "Hey don't talk about King like that!"

Meliodas continued on. "I heard King's dead. According to rumour at least."

Ban's confused.

Hawk defended his honor. "I warn you now, I'm no ordinary pig! I'm Sir Hawk! Captain of the Order of Scraps Disposal!"

Ban played along. "Wow! I've never heard of that order!" He winked at Meliodas.

The Doctor laughed. "You done with the introductions? Come dinner is ready."

Meliodas started running to the table. "I'm in!" Ban came up behind him.

"Hey! Don't start without us Cap'n!"

The doctor's daughter brought over a big plate, to where Diane and Elizabeth were, "Does it bother you standing by yourself."

Diane shook her head while grabbing her kabob. "No, I'm just happy to be able to eat with everybody for a change." she smiled.

Elizabeth smiled as she looked around. Meliodas and Ban drank together at the table laughing. She sighed, "I wish it could always be like this. This is such a perfect moment, but I know it can't be. We still have work to do."

Diane tapped Elizabeth's head with her index finger. "Don't worry about it! We'll find the others, save Liones, and have more moments like these!"

Elizabeth beamed. "You're right!"

Later on everyone had fun. Meliodas fed Elizabeth grapes, she fed him some too, they kissed and everybody talked.

Ban even tried riding on Hawk, while Hawk tried to get rid of him.

The doctor's daughter then looked into the sky, "Father look at the sky!"

The Doctor looked up, "Amazing!" Meliodas, Elizabeth, Hawk, Ban and Diane looked at the sky as well to see shooting stars going into the shape of a cross. "It's like the passage from one of Britannia's old legends. When shooting stars shine in the sky in the shape of a cross, it will mean a great trial is about to commence, between the light and the darkness."

Meliodas and Elizabeth looked at each other. 'This must be the reason why our curse was broken.'

~Later that night~

Diane had fallen asleep with her head resting on the building. Ban and Hawk fell asleep on the roof. Meliodas and Elizabeth were still on the chair where they fed each other grapes. Elizabeth had fallen asleep with her head resting on Meliodas shoulder and he had an arm wrapped around her as he fell asleep with one last thought. 'I will protect you, even if it kills me.'

~Meanwhile~

Gilthunder was talking to a boy in a rundown old house.

"Meliodas, Diane, and Ban have come together."

The boy floated in front of a window. "Hmmm. I wonder why they finally decided to take action?"

Gilthunder seemed skeptical, "Be careful not to betray the trust I have for you, King."

The Grizzly Sin of Sloth looked at him, then back out the window. 'At least I'll get to see the Captain and Diane again, before I kill Ban.'

A/N: I've been suffering from Seven Deadly Sins writers block. The few things I come up with lately have either nothing to do with this story/fandom or I'm just not sure where they could go in this story. In other words this story will be on a small haitus. It's just until I get back into Seven Deadly Sins. Give me until September and I'll probably have a few new chapters. One more thing! I'll probably be editing my story a little. (Mostly grammar and verb tenses)