[Y/n]? [Y/n], can you hear me? Meliodas waited, but there was no answer. He stared at the image Melascula had conjured. [Y/n] still hadn't moved. Blood still flowed from the cuts on her body. Her chest was still.

He dragged his eyes from [Y/n] to look at his ring. It couldn't shine, its colour muted in the darkness. Was that why it wasn't working? He could only just feel [Y/n] if he really concentrated. But it was especially hard to concentrate right now.

'No. That tainted child ... What unfortunate timing for her to awaken.' Melascula hissed.

Meliodas gasped and turned to her. 'Did you just say Elizabeth's awake?'

Melascula smirked down at him. 'Well, for now. Unfortunately the curse will probably kill her in three days' time.'

'And [Y/n]?'

'What do you mean?' Melascula giggled. 'You can see her right there.' She waved to the image. Meliodas's eyes flicked to it and away again quickly. 'Looks like it was you that killed her this time.'

No. Meliodas gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He wouldn't. He would never.

Melascula clapped her hands. 'I just had the most wonderful idea. If I can separate Elizabeth's power and destroy her Goddess side, then I'll be the saviour of the Demon clan. Wouldn't that be amazing?'

'Don't you touch her.' Meliodas's hands shook.

'Oh?' Melascula tilted her head. 'But if I do, then maybe the curse won't activate. [Y/n]'s already gone. She won't remember you at all this time. Elizabeth is all you have. Really, I'm doing you a favour.'

'Listen,' said Meliodas, forcing his voice steady. 'For the last time, let me out of here right now.'

But Melascula just laughed and vanished in a blink.

Meliodas was alone. Alone in the dark. All he had was the vision of [Y/n]'s lifeless body and the words of Melascula. And somewhere out there was Elizabeth in danger. Always in danger. Because of him.

No. He wouldn't let this happen. Not again.

He'd promised.

—

Even as your stomach twisted with worry for Meliodas and Elizabeth, you couldn't stop smiling. It was certainly an odd combination, but else were you supposed to do as Elizabeth stepped up to heal the others? She raised one arm and her power fell like soothing rain.

Diane opened her eyes, the blood gone from her face. King got to his feet with no trouble. Coland was quiet. It was almost peaceful.

Elizabeth beamed at you. 'What do you think?'

You nodded. 'Very impressive. You must've had a good teacher.'

'I did.' Her smile turned cheeky. 'Zaneri really helped me a lot.'

'Oi.' You poked Elizabeth in the side exactly where she was ticklish. 'You take that back.'

Elizabeth giggled and twisted away from your hand. 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.' Her smile turned kind of sad as she met your eyes.

So you swallowed thickly, nodded once and turned back to the others.

'Your magic power,' said Elaine, still leaning on Ban. 'I've never seen anything like it. When you showed us before, I couldn't believe it. But it is true, isn't it? You really are half-Goddess and half-Demon.'

You looked between Elaine and Elizabeth. Showed them before?

'But I'm a little confused,' Elaine continued. 'Which Elizabeth are you right now?'

Elizabeth looked to you before smiling at Elaine. 'It's hard to explain, but I'm both Elizabeth of the Goddess and Demon races as well as the Elizabeth who's a princess of Liones.' When no one said anything, she turned back to you. 'So where's Dad?'

'Ah.' You frowned. 'He's still in Melascula's cocoon. In the middle of the city, right, Merlin?'

'Merlin?' said Elizabeth. She left your side, walking to Merlin instead. 'Is it really you?'

Merlin didn't move.

'Um,' said Gowther. 'The princess and [Y/n] asked you a question. Merlin?'

Upon reaching Merlin, Elizabeth rose to her tiptoes. 'It is you. No fair!' The sudden outburst made everyone jump except you. You just rolled your eyes and huffed a laugh. 'I'm older than you so why are you taller now?'

'Huh?' King and Diane stared at each other.

'You're only older by a couple of days, Elizabeth,' you said, raising an eyebrow. 'And either way, it doesn't make a difference.'

Elizabeth pouted. 'I was taller.'

'Um, I— um,' said Merlin helpfully.

'Forget that then,' said Elizabeth, whirling back to Merlin. 'Do you remember my nickname? You used to call me Big Sis.'

Merlin's face was priceless. So was everyone else's as they echoed 'Big Sis?' in disbelief. You snorted, worry momentarily forgotten.

'Remember?' Elizabeth continued, apparently unbothered by the commotion she was creating. 'We grew up together. We were basically sisters. But—' her smile turned rather smug '—I was the oldest.'

Merlin spluttered. 'You were only older by a few days. It hardly counts.'

'Woah, seriously?' said Diane.

'Big Sis,' said King again.

'Princess Elizabeth,' said Escanor, bowing slightly, 'I'd appreciate it if you could tell me more about that in great detail.'

'Hey, don't be so nosy!' Merlin turned to you. '[Y/n], do something.'

Oh. You blinked and felt the tightness in your chest lessen a tiny amount. You had forgotten what this felt like.

'Pardon me for interrupting this little chat,' said an unfortunately familiar voice.

You looked up and spotted Melascula hovering in the air like the petal of a poisonous flower. Meliodas was alone. Your forehead creased. Hopefully he wouldn't do anything rash. All he had to do was wait until you got there. But you knew he wasn't one to wait around and do nothing. Damn. You took your place in front of Elizabeth, holding out a hand to keep her back.

'Melascula.' Ban snarled. 'Damn you. What did you do with the captain?'

'Tch.' Melascula glared directly at you. 'This woman charmed and manipulated him and then led him to betray us, which inflicted fatal damage on the Demon race. The loathsome Goddess [Y/n] joined by the Seven Deadly Sins who dare to stand up to us. And then there's you.' Melascula's eyes turned to Elizabeth. You shifted slightly, staying between them. 'Take your rightful place among the Demons and this will all be over.'

It took everything you had not to attack Melascula right then and there.

'No!' That was Elaine's voice. You didn't look around to her, instead keeping your gaze locked on Melascula. 'Elizabeth's place is with [Y/n] and Meliodas. With us. Her family.'

Your hands stopped shaking.

'Oh,' said Melascula, tilting her head. 'I must confess I wasn't expecting to see you out here. You're that half-dead Fairy girl I granted temporary life to.' She started to descend, giggling madly. 'Now I, Melascula of Faith, on behalf of the Demon King, will punish you for your transgressions.'

Between on blink and the next, Melascula transformed. Her body was huge and scaley. Her eyes turned red with slits for pupils. Her forked tongue flickered over her needle-like teeth. You drew Cosain with one hand, the other still barring Elizabeth. And still Snake-Melascula grew, knocking down the walls of Coland. Dust filled the air, making your mouth dry. Your companion's shock was barely audible over the sounds of crashing. Transformation complete, Melascula roared.

Hawk screamed.

'I would have preferred not to take on this form,' said Melascula, her voice rougher than before, 'because it isn't cute.'

Ban laughed shortly. 'I think it's a major improvement if you ask me.'

Part of you, a rather large part if you were being completely honest, wanted to laugh too. Melascula certainly didn't find it amusing. She attacked Ban, causing dust to rise again. A strange noise behind you made you turn slightly and you sagged with relief. Merlin had conjured a Perfect Cube around her, Elizabeth and Gowther. That got rid of one worry.

Ban was trapped in Melascula's mouth, her tongue wrapped around his waist. His arms shook as he tried to stop her from swallowing him whole.

'Thanks to you, six of my hearts got pulverised and my jaw's been dislocated.' Somehow, Melascula could still talk with her mouth full. Quite unfortunate, really. 'You totally ruined my life.'

Wow. You rolled your eyes. Wonder what that's like.

'Mum,' said Elizabeth, her voice slightly distorted through the Cube.

Your eyes darted from her to Melascula. 'Don't worry, Elizabeth. You're going to be fine.'

'It's not that. Just ... If Melascula's distracted, shouldn't you go help Dad?'

You faltered slightly. 'I'm not leaving you.'

Elizabeth sighed. 'You just said I'll be fine.'

'Yeah, but ...' Your stomach twisted. 'If Meliodas just waits ...' You trailed off. He would wait. He knew you would come back for him.

Something changed. A sudden rise in power level. You turned back to the battle and gasped. It was Elaine. Her wings had grown along with her power. They glowed with a soft light made brighter by the gloom around you.

'Magic Power: eighteen thousand. Strength: fifty. Spirit: three thousand. Power level: twenty-one thousand and fifty!' Hawk screeched.

'Her intense feelings for the one she loves have been transformed into power now,' said Elizabeth. 'How beautiful.'

You closed your mouth and smiled a soft smile. Ban had always supported your relationship with Meliodas and now ... now it was his turn. When this was over, you'd have to find some way to tease him.

Melascula growled. 'How dare you steal my victim from me? You impudent little girl.'

But something strange was happening. You frowned. Melascula's voice was cutting in and out, like you were underwater and then above and then under again. You shook your head but it didn't help. A coldness started to spread through your body. It started from your left hand. You looked at it. Black flames were twisting around the band, angrier than you had ever seen. Oh.

The coldness reached your heart.

And you were gone.

—

Her mother slumped to the ground. Cosain fell from her grip, clanking on the floor.

'Mum?' Elizabeth knelt, pressing her hands against the Perfect Cube. 'Mama?'

But there was no answer.

'Merlin, what's happening?'

Merlin frowned. 'This does not bode well.'

A deep rumble on the horizon. It caught everyone's attention, even Melascula. Waves of power started to wash over the city. Elizabeth swore she could see them. Her heart sped up. At Merlin's command, the Cube floated higher.

'What's this sudden surge of evil?' said Gowther.

'There's no question,' said Merlin. 'It belongs to him.'

Elizabeth gasped. 'Dad.'

Her eyes flickered from the horizon to her mother still unconscious on the floor. They couldn't leave her. But ...

'We'll protect her,' said a voice. Elizabeth turned to see King hovering beside them. He smiled. 'Go.'

'You can count on us, Elizabeth.' Diane beamed and gave a thumbs up. 'You go find the captain.'

Elizabeth shut her mouth with a snap. She nodded firmly, looked one last time at her mother and then she, Merlin and Gowther were floating over Coland to the centre of the city.

The light was different here. It was red, not grey, as if lit by a raging fire. The ground had been carved by a crater and, at its centre, was Elizabeth's father. He stood, panting, his head bowed, Lostvayne clutched in one hand and wings of darkness on his back. The power pulsed in the air in time with Elizabeth's heartbeat.

Escanor landed lightly in front of her father and started to walk closer, Rhitta held loosely in one hand.

'Wait,' Merlin called. 'As he is now, the captain is too much for even you to handle, Escanor.'

Escanor didn't even turn. 'Your warning is noted. And while I may not look the part, I can actually be quite the babysitter, you see.' Elizabeth watched with wide eyes as Escanor stopped just a few metres in front of her father. 'And I think it will truly be worth my while to cradle this little one.'

Her father threw his head back and screamed. The power burst forward, shattering his armour and whipping through the air like a tornado. Elizabeth clutched her hands together. She wished her mother was here. The power got wilder. Stronger.

'Don't tell me,' said Elizabeth. 'Has he gone berserk?'

'If only,' was Merlin's less-than-optimistic reply. 'This is far beyond the other time's he's lost control.'

'Now, Merlin.' Escanor had to shout over the wind.

Merlin raised a finger. 'All right. Perfect Cube.'

The spell grew around her father and Escanor. It was massive, big enough to contain the whirlwind of power.

'He must have completely unleashed his magic powers,' said Merlin once the Cube was complete, 'a risk he had to take in order to break Melascula's spell, leaving him in this current state. It freed him, but he shouldn't have taken such a gamble when he's lost his emotions. Damned fool.'

Elizabeth looked away from her father to where she knew Diane and the others to be. 'Is that why mum fainted?'

'Yes.' Merlin looked at Elizabeth with such sadness. 'I'm sorry Elizabeth, but the next time you see [Y/n] ... It won't be easy.'

—

King couldn't look away from the captain. He knew that was unwise. Melascula was still there and [Y/n] was unconscious, but there was something morbidly fascinating about the power that tore through the air on the horizon.

'It's all over now,' said Melascula. There was something in her voice King couldn't quite place. It couldn't be ... It was fear. 'Both for you and for me. This is Meliodas in Assault Mode, something even we feared would happen when he led the Ten Commandments.'

Diane gasped. King looked at her. He could see the dark power reflected in her eyes. King looked at [Y/n]. She was still unconscious, her face twisted up. If he looked closely, he could've sworn her ring was glowing.

The sound of Meliodas's power faded slightly and King looked up to see it contained in a massive Perfect Cube. He nodded once and silently thanked Merlin.

'For a minute there I was so terrified, my blood froze,' said Melascula. 'Thank you, you idiots. As long as Meliodas and that dreadful Escanor aren't around, I can have the rest of you for lunch.'

With a yell, Ban attacked. 'You think so, huh? Well, I'm about to thrash your last heart and finish you off. Get ready for Fox Hunt!'

'King.' At Diane's shout, King jerked around.

'What?' he said frantically. 'What is it?'

Diane just pointed.

[Y/n] was sitting up slowly, holding her head with one hand. King quickly landed beside her, reaching out a hand. '[Y/n]? Are you all right?' Before he could touch her arm, [Y/n] looked at him. King gasped. Her eyes were in their Goddess form, but the way they looked at him, with such cold disdain, made King fall back. '[Y/n]?'

'Fairy,' she said, 'where am I? Why have you brought me here?'

'What are you saying, [Y/n]?' Diane knelt. 'We didn't bring you here.'

'A Giant and a Fairy,' [Y/n] mused. 'Both of whom treat me so casually. Are you not aware that I am a Goddess?'

King looked at Diane. Diane looked at King. Before they could say anything, [Y/n] caught sight of something behind them and took off. King shook his head and followed.

[Y/n] was hovering in front of Melascula, her lip curled in distaste. 'You're Melascula of the Ten Commandments. What are you doing here?'

For some reason, Melascula laughed. 'So you really have forgotten everything. How delightful!'

'Stop your nonsensical babbling, Demon.' [Y/n] didn't even bat an eye. 'If you've broken the Truce then I'll kill you here and now.'

'[Y/n]!' Elaine appeared from nowhere. She clutched [Y/n]'s arm. 'Please, you need to help Ban. He—'

'Unhand me, Fairy.' [Y/n] shook Elaine off. King clenched his fists. 'How dare you presume to tell me what to do.'

'B—but Ban is—'

[Y/n] laughed such a cold laugh that goosebumps covered King's arms. 'So what? A human dies and the world moves on. There are plenty more. I suggest you give your affection to something with a longer lifespan next time.'

Tear spilled down Elaine's cheeks. King's whole body was freezing and it wasn't just because of the icy power rolling off [Y/n] in waves. What had she said before? That the Demon King and Supreme Deity wanted her and Meliodas to be how they were before they had met. But this was too much. How could their [Y/n] have been someone so cruel?

Melascula kept laughing.

—

The Perfect Cube vanished with a pop. Elizabeth insides felt like they were made of electricity, her power zipping and fizzing through her veins. The battlefield felt grimmer than before. A frigid light covered the scene. It was coming from Elizabeth's mother. She hovered above everyone, a twisted smile on her lips. Elizabeth forced herself to look away, instead walking over to where Ban was hissing ominously, his body screened behind a cloud of smoke.

'Elizabeth?' said Elaine. 'No. What are you doing?'

'Impossible,' Melascula spat. 'My poison isn't working on you?'

Elizabeth ignored them both. She held out both hands over Ban, one high and the other low. 'Withdraw.' The poison became a stream of darkness that wrapped around her hands. It tingled. 'And Invigorate.'

The darkness became light that split apart and rained down on Ban's ravaged body. Ban's wounds closed, his skin knitting back together.

'No way.' Melascula's voice sounded oddly strangled. 'My poison's being neutralised.'

Ban sat up with a grunt. Elizabeth's heart lifted and she turned to glare at Melascula.

'Damn you! You wretched child.'

The ground beneath Melascula's body began to erupt as Diane started to attack. But Elizabeth barely noticed because her mother flew down to float just above her. Elizabeth looked at her mother and her mother looked back with unfeeling eyes.

'Who are you?' she said with a voice like ice. 'What is that power you possess?'

Elizabeth winced. Merlin did say it would be hard but this was ... 'Mum, it's me.'

It was only for a moment, barely a second, but her mother's gaze became less severe. 'To which race do you belong? You bear the mark of the Goddess's but you've also been tainted by the Demons. How?'

Elizabeth met Merlin's eye through the commotion and took a deep breath. 'My mother is a Goddess and my father is a Demon.'

'Impossible. No Goddess would ever ... Tell the truth.'

'I am telling the truth, mum.' Elizabeth clenched her fists and took a step forward. Her mother looked like she very much wanted to fall back but she stayed. That meant it was working, right? 'One day, you met a Demon and you fell in love with him. With my father.'

Her mother sank to the floor. 'I did that?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'You've been in love with him for more than three thousand years. You started a family together. All this time ... He's stayed with you and so have I. Because we love you too.'

A resounding crash. Dust rose in the air so thick that Elizabeth couldn't see anything. She coughed, stumbling forwards blindly until a shape emerged from the darkness. Elizabeth blinked and the dust cleared and there was Melascula, looming over her mother.

Melascula's fangs had been snapped down to stumps. Her body was distinctly battered, covered in gashes. Diane and King had managed to take her down.

Elizabeth grinned, turned to her mother and stopped smiling almost immediately. Her mother's face was pale and twisted. 'Impossible,' she kept saying. 'A Fairy and a Giant with such power ... a Goddess in love with a Demon ... lies ... lies ...'

Merlin stepped up beside Elizabeth and folded her arms. 'That was quite foolish of you, Melascula, taking on that form. And doing so completely out of disdain is what did you in. If only you'd chosen to wield your true magic powers, you could have battled us and held your own easily. You were just too arrogant.'

The rest of the Sins watched coldly. Elizabeth looked back at her mother. She was staring with wide eyes at the Sins, lips trembling. Elizabeth clenched her fists. She had to help her mother remember. She had to.

'I never thought it would come to this.' Melascula panted. 'But I must retreat.'

'Tempest Falls!' Elaine's power tore through the air, whipping up more dust than ever. The wind snapped at Elizabeth's clothes and hair. 'No you're not, because we're ending this.'

'Elaine, wait,' Ban croaked. 'You're—'

Melascula smirked. 'You do understand, don't you? If you kill me, you'll die as well.'

Elaine didn't waver. Elizabeth did. She couldn't let her friend do this. There had to be a way. And then she gasped. If she did this right, it could even help her mother.

Merlin raised her hands high. 'Now, Endless Whirl!'

Elizabeth stepped between Merlin and Melascula. She met her mother's eye and her resolve hardened. 'Everyone and everything I care about are truly special to me,' she said, glad that her voice didn't shake. 'And I'll never stop protecting them. Let Me Share Your Burden!'

And Elizabeth pulled. The darkness clung to Melascula with millions of tiny hooks, but Elizabeth coaxed each one free. As she worked, she kept her eyes closed. Melascula struggled. Elizabeth didn't give up. When the spell was complete, she opened her eyes.

A tiny snake sat before them, blinking forlornly. It was quiet. Elizabeth smiled.

'This is Melascula, huh?' said Hawk, staring down at the little snake. Melascula turned to flee, slithering over the rocky ground and right into Merlin's test tube. Hawk laughed loudly. 'Had enough yet?'

Merlin set the cork in place with her usual smug smile.

Elizabeth took her mother's cold shaking hands in her own. 'A tiny poisonous snake is all she really is. Remember? Dad told us that she got her powers by bathing in the miasma of the Demon Realm for three hundred years.'

Her mother's eyes darted between Melascula, Merlin and Elizabeth. 'I— I—'

Merlin smiled softly. 'Way to go, Big Sis.'

'What?' Elizabeth gasped. 'So it's working right? She'll remember us soon?'

Merlin coughed. 'I'm afraid I don't know.'

Diane drooped and King looked away. Elizabeth gritted her teeth. She wasn't going to give up.

'Come on.' She started tugging her mother along. 'We'll go find Dad. If you see him ...'

Her mother shook her head. 'We can't go that way. Can't you feel it? That's where Meliodas is.'

Everyone froze. 'Huh?'

'You remember the captain?' asked King.

Her mother frowned. 'I don't know why you're so surprised. Everyone knows the Demon Prince. They say he's going to be the next Demon King. And I'm telling you, the power coming from that direction can only belong to him.'

Elizabeth exchanged glances with her friends.

'Look, it's not like I've ever met the guy. Why would I want to see some dumb, ugly Demon?'

Ban snorted into his hand. If she wasn't so sad, Elizabeth might have done the same. Ban was going to remember that.

'Trust me,' said Elizabeth with a smile, holding her mother's hand tighter.

Her mother blinked and more of the coldness left. 'I don't know why ... but I do.'

~~~~~

it's basically monday, right?

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