The Forest of White Dreams was cold. All the trees were dead and mist slinked between their finger-like branches. There was no wind, no birdsong, no sign of life. The only sounds were their footsteps. At least until Hawk began to talk.

'Hey, Meliodas?' he began. 'Are you sure about this? We've been out here three hours now. There's no sign of any animals, much less any humans either.'

'You're right, Hawk,' said Elizabeth. 'Sir Meliodas.' She turned to said man. 'Do you really think we'll be able to find one of the Seven Deadly Sins here?'

'Probably,' was all Meliodas said.

'You mean we came here without any solid evidence?' Hawk screeched. He looked around warily. 'I heard there's a terrifying monster who lurks around here, watching and waiting...'

Elizabeth screamed.

'What is it?' said Hawk quickly.

'There's something on my back,' the princess stammered with tears in her eyes.

'Hey relax,' said Meliodas pulling his hand away, 'just me.'

Elizabeth wiped her brow. 'Oh good. What a relief.'

Hawk peered at Meliodas but didn't say anything.

Mission accomplished.

Good job, [Y/n] replied, and watch out for those Hide-and-Seeks.

Meliodas loved days like these, days when both he and [Y/n] were wearing their rings. Especially when he had a mission to do. It was almost as if she were here beside him. Almost. She smelt good. He hadn't smelt her in ages. God did he miss the way she smelt.

Then he heard her laugh. Thanks, you smell good too.

'Well, putting that aside for just a minute,' Meliodas said, keeping Hawk from asking questions, 'I might have a little evidence. Travelling through the Forest of White Dreams on horseback is more difficult than you think. It's so hard to get your bearings that experienced travellers go around it.'

'This would be the perfect place for someone to hide out,' cheered Elizabeth.

All of a sudden a rush of emotions flooded Meliodas's head. Panic. Adrenaline. Anger.

[Y/n]! What is it? he asked, but there was no reply. Then the ring went cold. [Y/n]! He was all ready to drop everything and storm off (even though he didn't know where she was) but then her voice was back.

Sorry, sorry, sorry she said some bandits jumped out at me and-wait, there's more. Gotta go.

And the ring went cold again. Meliodas sighed and tried to slow his heart beat(s) back to normal. [Y/n] can handle bandits. But still...he couldn't help but worry as they continued through the trees.

'Now come on, slowpokes, pick up the pace would ya?' Hawk shouted from up ahead.

'Coming,' called Elizabeth.

'Hey, hold your bacon,' Meliodas said. 'Not a lot of fun travelling with a nervous piggy.' But then he stopped. Looked like [Y/n] was right (he didn't need the ring to know she'd be saying of course I was). 'Woah.'

Hawk had multiplied. They all said as one, 'What do you mean calling me a nervous piggy, huh?'

Then they all started to freak out. It was very odd. Meliodas remembered a dream he'd had like this before. It wasn't a pleasant dream. Or a pleasant reality for that matter.

'This is the monster of the Forest?' asked Elizabeth, confusion evident in her voice.

'I, for one, find it terrifying,' said Meliodas.

The Herd of Hawks started stampeding towards Meliodas and Elizabeth. Each one claimed to be the real one but Meliodas had other plans. He charged towards them, hitting each one. Then they just lay there, groaning and twitching on the floor.

'Hawk,' gasped Elizabeth. They all tried to hide behind her. But then something happened.

It went eerily quiet. A strange feeling filled the air and the mist pressed in on them harder than ever. And then there was someone in the mist. A lot of someones. They were all Elizabeth.

'Hi, Sir Meliodas,' the group chanted. Then, one by one, just as Hawk had, they each tried to claim they were the real one.

Meliodas just stood there. 'Wow,' he said. 'What a sight.'

'Leave this place,' said a sinister, disembodied voice. It drifted through the air like the mist. 'Leave. Get out of this forest, human.'

The Elizabeths were beginning to get a bit creepy. They stalked towards Meliodas and Hawk, snapping of branches and calling his name.

'Huh, I really can't tell one from the other,' Meliodas said, crossing his arms.

The Elizabeths jumped as one, but Meliodas dodged.

'Oh my goodness,' he said from his new perch of an overhanging rock, 'however can I tell which of you is the real one?'

'That's me!' 'You can trust me; I'll do whatever you want!'

'Yes. Starting now I want you all to do exactly what I tell you to,' said Meliodas. 'What do we say?'

'Oh, of course,' chorused the Elizabeths.

Meliodas sat down. 'Okay, right hand up in the air.' The girls did it. 'Left one on your cheek.' They complied. 'Now call out my name.' They did it. 'This is amazing.'

Hawk shouted, 'Could you just find the real one?'

'Get out.' The sinister voice was back. 'Leave now. You will never make it out of this forest.'

Meliodas pretended to think. 'I've got it. One last thing. Jump as high as you can.'

The group of Elizabeths did just that. And then he spotted it.

Quick as a flash, Meliodas drew his sword and cut through all the fakes. The turned back to their true forms and sped away through the forest.

'Look at that,' said Hawk. 'They're just Hide-and-Seeks, Prankster Imps. We thought they were the Monster of the Forest?'

'After 'em,' ordered Meliodas. He began chasing the disappearing imps. But then he stopped. 'Oh yeah.' He reached behind Elizabeth and untied the chain he'd attached to her belt. 'I'll be taking this back now.' And then he sped off again.

The imps led them through the forest at a fast pace.

'Keep a sharp eye on them, guys,' said Meliodas as they ran. 'There's probably something they're heading for in that direction.'

'Wait, look,' Elizabeth said. A shape up ahead began to grow. 'It's a girl.'

Huh guess it's Diane thought Meliodas. [Y/n] will be happy. Diane was curled asleep on the floor. Guess her size shocked Elizabeth and Hawk. Meliodas was used to it by now.

'Lady Diane!' called the imps. 'Lady Diane! We accidentally let some Holy Knight trespassers come in. Lady Diane!'

Diane woke up with a start and got to her feet.

'Wait a minute,' said Elizabeth, 'is she the same giant who...?'

'Some Holy Knights got in, huh?' Diane said.

'Woah, she's huge,' Hawk squealed.

'N-no, we're not Holy Knights,' said Elizabeth. 'We came here-'

There was a big whoosh and Meliodas was snatched up by Diane. He looked at her face, which was screwed up in anger. Why didn't she recognise him? Was she still half asleep or something?

'You're in trouble, Holy Knight,' said Diane.

'You let go of Sir Meliodas!' shouted Elizabeth from way below them.

'Huh?' Diane brought Meliodas closer to her. 'Sir Meliodas?'

'Yo, Diane,' Meliodas said. 'What's it been, like ten years?'

Diane peered closer at him. If he hadn't known Diane so well, Meliodas might have been a bit unnerved. But it was going to be fine. Also, his ring had just warmed up which made him extra relaxed.

'Captain!' Diane's eyes began to sparkle. She held him close to her cheek and rubbed his face with one giant finger. 'Captain, captain, captain!' She was so loud. 'I've missed you so much!' The she caught sight of Hawk and bent down for a closer look. 'Captain, you thought of everything, haven't you? You remembered how much I love whole roasted pig.'

Hawk screeched and protested but Diane reached out the hand that wasn't holding Meliodas and, in no time at all, had Hawk roasting on a spit.

Ignoring the screams, Meliodas said, 'Well, something's starting to smell pretty good.'

But, well, Meliodas couldn't let Hawk die. So he explained to Diane who reluctantly untied Hawk. Also he didn't really want to face [Y/n] if she'd found out it was him who let Diane eat Hawk.

'All right, fine, but who's this girl?' asked Diane, turning away from the slightly singed pig to stare at Elizabeth.

'Oh!' Elizabeth faced Diane. 'A pleasure to meet you, Lady Diane. My name's Elizabeth and I've asked Sir Meliodas if he'd allow me to travel with him.'

'So it's just the two of you then?'

'Plus a talking pig,' said Meliodas.

'Oh, is that so?'

'Yep, and we-'

But before Meliodas could say any more, Diane hurled him to the ground. Well that was certainly a surprise. Perhaps he should've explained where [Y/n] was before Diane spotted Elizabeth. He got up slowly but Diane wasn't finished yet.

'How could you hurt [Y/n] like this, Captain?' she wailed. 'But, I guess since you're my friend too, I should hear you out.'

Meliodas walked up to her. 'Honestly, there's not a-'

But Diane started pummelling him. 'I don't want to hear your excuses!' she screamed as she pounded him further into the ground.

If it weren't such an uncomfortable place to be, Meliodas might have been happy. It was nice to know [Y/n] had such good friends. He'd have to tell her when Diane finally stopped trying to punch him into the centre of the Earth.

The dust sent flying from Diane's last attack had almost dissipated by the time Meliodas finished explaining the story.

'So to finally put an end to all the corruption and stop the Holy Knights from rampaging, Elizabeth's trying to get the Seven Deadly Sins together,' Meliodas concluded. 'And [Y/n] should be back any day now.'

'I didn't know about that.' Diane hung her head. 'Guess I'm always the one who jumps to conclusions, aren't I? Forgive me. And I'm sorry I tried to eat you, piggy.'

Hawk bristled. 'Think that makes it all right? You stuffed my belly full of fruit and burned up my backside.'

Guess we should've thought about Diane before we got a pig laughed [Y/n].

Oh, you're back. You okay?

Yeah, those bandits were nothing.

Meliodas smiled to himself but was quickly drawn back to the situation at hand when Diane started staring down Elizabeth.

'You positive you're not having that kind of relationship with the captain?' the giantess said.

'I'm not.' Elizabeth did her best to reassure.

'You know, you've known me long enough to know I'd never cheat on my wife,' Meliodas said, exasperated.

'But you're such a pervert, Captain,' Diane protested.

She has a point.

Shut up.

'Anyway,' said Meliodas out loud, 'I'm just gonna do what I can to help Elizabeth gather the Seven Deadly Sins 'cause I wanna find them too.'

'Well, if you're sure that's the case, then I'll come along with you guys.' Diane got to her feet. 'You'll have the help of the Serpent Sin of Envy, the giant Diane.'

'Really? That's great.'

'Thank you for joining us, Lady Diane,' Elizabeth said.

'But get this straight,' said Diane sternly. 'The only reason I'm doing this is because the captain's with you.'

Meliodas sighed. Guess Diane's not going to let up until [Y/n] gets back. That could be a pain.

'Thank goodness.' It was the Hide-and-Seeks. 'Finally we can live in peace again. For years she's been threatening us, saying she'll make us all pay if we didn't give her shelter.'

A crow cawed, its raspy call echoing in the sudden silence. Meliodas tensed. Something was coming. Or rather, someone. Someone with a lot of magical power. He looked up at the sky.

Lightning flashed down. It wrapped around his body like rope, rope that was hot and sparked and seemed sort of...alive.

'What's this?' He tried to look down at it.

There was another flash and suddenly everyone was wrapped in the same kind of bonds, Diane, Elizabeth, Hawk, even the Hide-and-Seeks. How peculiar.

Footsteps. Metallic. They were here.

Meliodas looked around. Tall. Pink hair, blue eyes. Just like Mead's story. But it couldn't be.

'And you are?' said Meliodas to the newcomer.

'It would seem we meet at last,' said the knight, 'you Deadly Sins.' His sword was drawn and he walked steadily towards them like a Sword Wolf stalking its prey. Around his swords blade crackled the same lightning that bound Meliodas and the others.

'This power...' said Diane.

'Yeah, there's no doubt about it,' said Meliodas, 'Holy Knight, aren't you?'

'Gilthunder,' whispered Elizabeth. Meliodas's hearts sank. 'Gilthunder, is that you? What are you up to? Why are you doing this?'

Meliodas looked at her. 'You know this guy?'

'Yes, since I was a little girl.' Elizabeth looked back at him. 'When he was my father's attendant, as an aide to the king and son of the Holy Knights' Grand Master, he was always at the palace. So I kinda grew up with him.'

'Son of the Grand Master, huh?' Meliodas remembered him. 'Hey, wait a minute. Are you Little Gil?'

'What? You know him too?'

'Sure,' said Meliodas. '[Y/n] and I even gave him lessons occasionally when we'd find ourselves at the royal palace.' He turned to face Gilthunder. 'Wow, you've really grown up. Then again, it has been ten years since I've seen ya.'

'If you have the time to prattle on in this manner,' Gilthunder said, 'it might be better spent trying to escape those bonds.'

'Hey, this lightning's familiar,' said Hawk from where he lay on the ground.

'I know what you mean,' Meliodas said. 'When a certain someone blocked up Vanya's water supply and then tried to blow the village away, that was you, wasn't it?'

'Sir Meliodas, that can't be!' protested Elizabeth. 'You're wrong! Gilthunder wouldn't-'

But then she saw the look on Gilthunder's face. It was a cold, dead look. It shook Meliodas. What happened to Little Gil?

Diane started to pull at her bonds. 'These can't hold me.'

'That's useless,' said Gilthunder.

'Diane, just save it, don't bother,' said Meliodas.

'Captain.'

Something cold was at Meliodas's neck. It was Gilthunder's sword, still with lightning writhing up and down its blade. Meliodas turned to look at the knight who had appeared behind him.

'Do you know why the Holy Knights are after the heads of the Seven Deadly Sins?' Gilthunder asked.

'Not really.'

'Half of them are seeking revenge and total eradication of the rebel Order that plotted to overthrow the kingdom. The other half want to do glorious battle and vanquish the legendary warriors to prove their own strength.'

Meliodas kept looking at him. 'And which half are you in?'

'Both of them.' Gilthunder's voice was cold. 'No, I want more.'

'Is that so?'

'Yes. To avenge the death of my father, Zaratras, Holy Knights' Grand Master, and to show that I am even great than he, the most powerful Holy Knight ever known. Killing you will prove that.'

'So you're under the impression that I'm the one who murdered your father, is that it?' Meliodas fought to keep calm and his expression clear.

'Are you saying you're not?'

'No idea.' Meliodas thought back to ten years ago. 'See, the thing is, I don't actually remember very much from back then. The last thing I remember is all of us being summoned to the old castle out on the edge of town.'

¾

A firework burst even though the sun was up. It was the best kind of day, sunny but with a light breeze. The perfect day for a festival.

Meliodas, [Y/n] and the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins were walking through one of the castle's corridors. From outside wafted the smells of different foods being prepared and the sounds of everyone's happiness.

'I was hoping to get in a few drinks to celebrate the founding of the kingdom,' said Meliodas.

'You've never needed an excuse to knock them back before,' King replied.

'Guess you're right.'

'Sounded like the Grand Master has something important to discuss.' Merlin tried to get the conversation back on track.

'Maybe he's going to give us a special reward for our excellent handling of that business with the Troll Queen,' Diane said.

'Reward? I think you mean punishment.' [Y/n] laughed. 'How much did we destroy this time?'

'Well, it's all the same to me,' said Meliodas. 'Let's get scolded then go celebrate.'

'You're so sure it's going to be a scolding,' Ban said.

They reached the two huge doors that led to Zaratras's office. Meliodas pushed the doors open and said over the creaking, 'Hey! We're here.'

And then he saw what was inside.

Zaratras was suspended a foot or so above the ground by dozens of spears. They pierced him from every angle, his blood still running down the shafts, down his armour, dripping a sickening rhythm onto the floor. Meliodas gasped and felt [Y/n] start to shake. He reached back and she clasped his hand in both of hers.

'Grand Master!'

'That's brutal,' said Ban.

'He's a pincushion,' said Diane.

'Who would do this?' said King.

Merlin was the only one to sound calm. 'More importantly, why did they target the leader of the Holy Knights?'

'You're right,' Ban agreed. 'The Grand Master is the linchpin of the kingdom's defence. He's practically a war god. Whoever killed him is a traitor who must be plotting to overthrow Liones.'

Diane leant forwards. 'And they knew precisely what his loss was gonna mean.'

'I sense something.' King turned fast. So did Meliodas and [Y/n]. The two ran over to the nearest window.

'Wait, what?' said Meliodas looking at the sight below him. 'We're surrounded by every knight in the kingdom!'

The rest of the Sins gathered behind the couple.

'There're too many of them out there to count,' said Diane kneeling so she could see. 'What are they planning t-?'

A huge boom split the air and made the walls shake.

'Damn,' said Ban, 'they've started their attack.'

Meliodas turned to his comrades. 'We'll figure it out,' he said, 'but for now let's split up. We'll meet again later.'

'Understood.'

They all split up but Meliodas held tight to [Y/n]'s hand. 'You're sticking with me.'

Despite the crumbling walls and impending sense of doom, she smiled at him. They ran off together.

Then everything went blank. Words scrolled across his mind like someone was writing them.

Captain...I'm sorry...

[Y/n] gasped and he turned and then...

...nothing.

¾

'Those words are the last thing I remember. Same for [Y/n]. The rest is blank.' Meliodas finished recounting what happened. 'And then the next thing I knew, we were lying down in a cellar somewhere. That's when we met Hawk.'

'I knew it!' said Elizabeth. 'You really weren't the ones who killed the Grand Master, were you?'

'That makes no difference to me,' said Gilthunder.

'What are you saying?'

'Rebels and traitors who plotted to overthrow the kingdom, that's all you people are.' Gilthunder's sword didn't waiver from Meliodas's neck.

'Enough. You must stop this! Didn't you hear what he just told you?' Elizabeth implored. 'They aren't the ones who murdered him, don't you understand?'

Gilthunder stared at her out the corner of his eye. 'Elizabeth. The kingdom wants you taken into protective custody but I haven't the slightest interest in that.' Gilthunder moved his sword from Meliodas and pointed it at the princess. Meliodas tensed but Gilthunder continued. 'Alive or dead, it's all the same. To me you are no more than a grain of sand on the road that is being travelled.' And he released her bonds.

Something's not right, [Y/n]'s voice whispered. Gilthunder would never ignore orders.

'Go away,' said Gilthunder. 'The Sins and I have unfinished business.'

But Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and ran forwards instead. She spread her arms and blocked Gilthunder from Meliodas and Diane. Well, Meliodas and about ten percent of Diane.

'I won't let you hurt these people,' she said.

It was silent at the new standoff but then Hawk crawled into view.

'It's over for me,' whimpered the pig. 'I feel numb, like I've been electrocuted.'

Gilthunder kicked Hawk. The pig flew through the air, bouncing off every tree and screaming all the way. Elizabeth left her protective stance and ran after Hawk instead.

She's out of danger. [Y/n]'s voice was relieved.

Some rescue attempt.

Leave her alone.

Gilthunder turned back to Meliodas and Diane. 'Now that we've dispensed with that interruption,' he said and walked up to them.

'Are you sure about this? In the old days, you were never able to beat me, remember?' said Meliodas.

'But that was a long time ago.' Gilthunder bent down so he was eye to eye with Meliodas. 'I am now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins.'

Oh!

Meliodas remained straight faced as [Y/n] started to rant in his mind. 'I dunno,' he said. 'Maybe you're right. But you could be wrong, too.'

Gilthunder straightened up, then clanking of his armour not drowning out [Y/n]'s continued threats on whoever was making Little Gil act this way. 'Then we should find out. First, I'll release your bonds.'

'Well I appreciate that, but I got it.' And Meliodas snapped the lightning as easily as he could snap a twig. Behind him, Diane did the same. In his head, [Y/n]'s rant was over, which was good for the battle he knew was coming. 'Could've escaped whenever we felt like it.'

'Just know, if I felt like it, I could annihilate you instantly.'

'Mmm, kinda doubt that.'

'I shall use my sword to kill you.'

'Then right back at ya, big guy.' Meliodas looked back at Diane. 'Don't interfere, all right Diane?'

Said giant put her hands on her hips and pouted. 'Aw, you get all the fun.'

'Don't want to risk my defeating you both at once?' Gilthunder got into position.

Poor Gil.

Meliodas matched him. 'Can't you tell when your elder's trying to be nice?'

They stared at each other. Meliodas drew his sword just in time to counter Gilthunder's first strike. The blast from full counter pushed Gilthunder back.

'Like I said,' Meliodas said, 'right back at ya. Remember that?'

Or he thought it had.

'And I told you,' said Gilthunder from right behind Meliodas, 'you'll be dead.'

Meliodas jumped and flipped, blocking Gilthunder's swing. Meliodas landed lightly and started to dodge all of the oncoming attacks. Gilthunder wasn't holding back. Each of his strikes was full of power and force. Meliodas kept dodging, jumping back through the trees, narrowly avoiding each lightning strike Gilthunder sent his way.

Meliodas leapt onto a giant boulder and looked down at Gilthunder. 'Gotta admit, you've really improved over the years.'

'Yet you still believe that you're superior to me,' said Gilthunder.

And he leapt too, putting all the strength into the sword. Meliodas blocked it easily and the two stood on top of the boulder, neither letting up.

'I can sense it,' Gilthunder said. 'You're beginning to feel a little fear creeping in.'

Meliodas smiled. 'Am I?'

The ground swayed and the boulder crumbled beneath them. It burst apart as easily as a crushed grape. Meliodas and Gilthunder jumped and continued to fight as they fell. Gilthunder moved so fast he blurred but Meliodas kept up, blocking and retaliating with his own strikes.

'Well you're persistent,' said Meliodas now back on the ground. Gilthunder replied with a vicious swipe.

A huge bolt of lightning headed straight for Meliodas. He blocked it easily but it was just a feint. Gilthunder was right behind him, ready with more lightning. The blow knocked Meliodas into the air.

What are you doing? [Y/n]'s voice was panicked.

You'll see.

'Too slow,' shouted Gilthunder. His next attack sent Meliodas crashing back to the ground.

Meliodas just laid there for a moment in the new Meliodas-shaped hole he'd created. Then he laughed and got up. 'I can't believe that you've gotten this powerful.'

'Don't worry,' Gilthunder was right behind him again. 'I'll bring the others down with you soon enough.'

Meliodas!

But Meliodas did nothing. Gilthunder's blade and lightning hit him full force. Meliodas flew forward and landed heavily, face down on the rocky ground.

'Captain?' Diane's voice was quiet.

Meliodas kept his body limp as Gilthunder rolled him over.

'Meliodas,' said Gilthunder, 'the Seven Deadly Sins' Dragon Sin of Wrath, do you have any last words?'

Meliodas opened his eyes. 'The Sins, what happened to them? You must have heard something, right? Where have the other ones gone?'

This was your plan?

Gilthunder sheathed his sword. 'Very well, I'll tell you. Of the remaining five, three have of them are still at large and are not yet accounted for. But, the other two have been dealt with. The Fox Sin of Greed is being kept under tight security at Baste Prison. The Grizzly Sin of Sloth has already been slain and is interred in the Necropolis. But you needn't worry; I'll make certain they all join you shortly.'

Meliodas closed his eyes. 'Thank you,' he said, voice raspy. And then his eyes shot open and he beamed. 'Awesome!' Meliodas leapt to his feet and turned to Gilthunder. 'Little Gil.'

Gilthunder did not return the smile.

You'rean idiot, Meliodas.