Meliodas held his sword so tightly his fingers started to cramp. The Forest flashed by, just a blur of green. Gloxinia was somewhere nearby and Drole was close behind, his resounding footfalls echoing through the trees. Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen. All Meliodas could do was hope she had made it back to the Light of Grace and found Rou and Gerheade.

As for [Y/n], she had only been visible occasionally, speaking to the hoard of Demons. But between one patch of trees and the next, she had disappeared. Meliodas pushed himself faster. There was no way [Y/n] would just fall out of the sky, she was much too good at flying. No, someone must have made her fall.

And that meant they were going to pay.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind that a light started to grow. It shone through the branches, much brighter and colder than sunlight. Meliodas stopped running and stared. The light burned his eyes and lungs. It bleached all the colour from the Forest. And up in the sky, only just visible through the leaves, the Demons trapped in its brilliance dissolved into nothing.

Meliodas watched blankly until the light faded. Then, still blinking afterimages from his eyes, he began to run again.

—

Elizabeth crouched beside a tree and tried to slow her heartbeats. The light had faded and taken much of the darkness with it. But there was still so much magical power pounding against her skull. Her hands were shaking and her knees didn't want to work. Where was her mother?

Fingers digging into the bark of the tree, Elizabeth stood. Her mother must be around here somewhere, right? She wouldn't just leave. Elizabeth took a shaky step and the world exploded into flames.

The force of the impact threw Elizabeth forward. She skidded along the Forest floor, hands scraping on rocks and twigs. Smoke and sparks and flames. Elizabeth looked around wildly, heart beating way too fast again. There had to be a way out.

From above came the sounds of shouts and blows as the Commandments fought the Archangels, but Elizabeth tried to block them out. The ground shook and she stumbled on. Up ahead was calm. The fire hadn't reached there. Elizabeth sped up a little, slipping on moss.

The calm space was a small clearing. At its centre was a glowing dome. Something about its light calmed Elizabeth and she managed to walk the last few steps quite steadily. Beneath the dome, looking peaceful and uninjured, slept Elizabeth's mother.

Elizabeth gasped and started forward again, but a sound from the battle made her stop. There was a strange chanting and feeling in the air. A dark sacrifice. A hopeful hopelessness. Elizabeth turned away from her mother and looked to the burning sky.

They rose above the trees, wreathed in darkness. They bore resemblance to the Demons from before, but they had been transformed. Elizabeth's heart leapt into her mouth and refused to return to her chest. Her eyes refused to believe what they were seeing. Such creatures couldn't exist. Shouldn't exist. She sank to the floor.

The Forest was screaming. The darkness was writhing. Elizabeth hugged her knees to her chest. She wanted to go home.

'There's [Y/n]!'

Elizabeth raised her head. She knew that voice. Her father burst into the clearing with Drole and Gloxinia in tow. They ran up to her mother, but Drole couldn't breach the barrier. Elizabeth dug her fingernails into her arms. Her father put down his sword, its blade burying into the grass, and took a deep breath.

'Hey, wait,' said Gloxinia. 'I wouldn't do that. You're a Demon, remember?'

That's right, Elizabeth thought, watching blankly. The dark and the light must destroy each other. They can't exist together.

But her father said nothing, just gritted his teeth and pushed his arms through the barrier. The light fought back. It burned his skin. First there were only blisters, but his arms became blackened fast. His cries pierced the air. But Elizabeth kept watching because her father kept going. And with one last defiant shout, her mother was free.

Elizabeth got to her knees and watched her mother and father embrace. Oh. She blinked. So it was possible.

—

'I've got you,' said a voice. A soft, kind voice. You wanted to listen to it forever. 'You'll be safe now.'

Wait. That was Meliodas's voice. Your eyes snapped open. There were warm arms around you and Meliodas's face right next to yours.

'Sorry.' Your voice was hoarse. Meliodas set you on your feet and you cleared your throat. 'I couldn't save them. I couldn't see ...'

'It's okay.'

You shook your head. 'It's not though.' You looked away from him, Gloxinia and Drole and scrubbed the tears from your cheeks. 'Is Elizabeth back at the Light of Grace?'

Meliodas frowned. 'We didn't pass her.'

Your heart started to beat faster. Your hands started to shake. 'What? But she left ages ago! She—'

Just as your panic threatened to reach new heights, a rustling came from the edge of the clearing. You tensed. Meliodas reached for his sword. Drole and Gloxinia took fighting stances. And she walked out of the tree line.

Your knees buckled. 'Elizabeth.'

'Thank goodness.' Meliodas made a sound that could have been a sigh or a groan.

Before you could hug her or scold her, Elizabeth ran into your arms. You blinked but automatically hugged her back. She was shaking so much. You held her tighter and stared wide-eyed at Meliodas. He frowned and crouched down beside you.

'Elizabeth,' he said, reaching out to stroke her hair, 'what happened?'

She just shook her head and buried her face deeper into your chest.

'It's okay,' you whispered, rubbing her back. 'It's okay now. We're here.'

Elizabeth took a shuddering breath. 'I'm sorry.' Her voice was muffled. 'I'm sorry. You were right and I ... I ...They all died and then the fighting and I was running and I was so scared and there was nothing I could do ... Just like you said. I'm sorry.'

Tears started to well in your own eyes as you listened to Elizabeth talk. You blinked them away. 'It's okay now,' you said again and held her away from your body so you could meet her eyes. 'So listen to me this time.'

Elizabeth sniffled, wiped her cheeks and nodded.

'Stay here.' You stood up.

'What?' said three voices. Meliodas just watched you closely.

'This lot will keep you safe.'

'But ... where are you going?' said Elizabeth.

You stood tall and raised your face to the smoke-filled sky. 'I'm going to save them.' And you bent your knees, ready to take off, but a hand wrapped around your wrist.

'Wait,' said Meliodas. You frowned. He let you go and turned to Elizabeth. 'You said you wanted to help, right?'

She nodded. You looked between them, trying to follow Meliodas's line of thought.

He gripped her shoulders. 'You can save them, Elizabeth.'

'No.' Your voice was strangled.

Elizabeth stared up at Meliodas. 'I can?'

Meliodas nodded. 'Your mother, stubborn as she is, will try to argue. But with your help, saving Monspeet and Derieri will be easier. And she knows it. But, Elizabeth—' he bent down a little '—it will be much more power than you've ever used before. So if you don't want to—'

'No,' Elizabeth interrupted. 'I'll do it.'

You pursed your lips and tried to ignore what Meliodas had said. 'Wait—'

'Please,' Elizabeth said. She looked straight in your eyes. 'Please, Mama. I can do this.'

You drew in a shaky breath. Meliodas winked at you. You blinked and saw Elizabeth as a baby, a little girl just barely able to walk and the child who saved wounded animals she found. But that had been a long time ago. Your chin trembled.

'Damn it,' you said, running a hand through your hair and smiling slightly. 'When did you get so grown up?'

Elizabeth smiled. Meliodas took your hand and squeezed it. You squeezed back before letting him go and walking over to take Elizabeth's hand instead. You told her your plan and at the end, Elizabeth nodded once, her face set.

'Okay then.' You smiled at Meliodas and nodded to Drole and Gloxinia. 'Let's go.'

The sky was warm from the fires that still raged below. So much of the Forest had been destroyed. Trees had been torn away. Their broken remains poked from the soil like shards of glass. You didn't let go of Elizabeth's hand as you flew even though she could fly as well as you now. Her eyes were hard and determined. One corner of your lips tugged up.

In front of you was Ludociel facing Monspeet and Derieri. The Demons growled low in their throats. Ludociel's robes glowed against the smoke.

'Shall we fight to the bitter end?' Ludociel was saying. 'How intriguing. Then in the name of the Four Archangels, I will strike you—'

'Step back,' you said loudly. 'Now.'

Ludociel gasped. You didn't give him a second glance, rising between him and the Demons, Elizabeth at your side. Derieri grunted. You didn't flinch.

'We're putting an end to this.'

~~~~~

Hey everyone :) 

So I had what I wanted to write here planned but then I logged on and saw 201 followers and was like :o 

Thank you! New and old followers or just readers, thank you so much 💕💕💕 strange to think how far we've come ... crazy ... Celebration ideas? Oh! And it's almost July which means almost discord time!

This chapter is early because I have two assignments due tomorrow and getting this up means I can ✨suffer✨ in peace 😊✌️

Also, if anyone has any favourite movies that have good portrayals of families, feel free to comment them here. Sort of like Wonder. Thanks in advance.

I think that was everything ...

Stay safe out there! 💕💕💕