Chastiefol and Harlit glowed in the sky almost as bright as a new sun. The air crackled with power. You held Meliodas to your chest. At your side, Elizabeth gasped.

'Ohoho,' Chandler laughed, staring at the weapon pointed straight at his face. 'Now this would be quite ugly if you were to land a clean hit.' He shifted slightly. 'But it will never work on me. Gowther knows all too well exactly what I mean by that and what that means for you.'

'Hey, King,' said Gowther from up above where he sat on Hawk. 'The Full Counter attack Captain uses? Chandler can use it too.'

King faltered.

'Seriously? No way,' said Diane's voice. You frowned and looked closer, finally spotting the tiny Diane perched on King's shoulder.

Elizabeth sighed quietly. 'Thank goodness.'

Gowther hadn't wavered. 'But if you strike on my signal, you'll hit him for sure.'

'I'm ready.' King got back into position.

You tugged Elizabeth closer to your side with one hand as King drew Chastiefol back. But then something very strange happened. The anticipation in the air seemed to hiccup. You blinked.

'Full Counter,' Chandler shouted out of nowhere. It made you jump. He swung his cane at nothing.

'Er,' said Elizabeth.

Chandler's smug smile was replaced with open-mouthed shock.

'Do it now!' Gowther let go.

With all his might, King threw Chastiefol.

The spear fell, tearing through the sky like a bolt of lightning. It caught Chandler right in his middle. The Demon was thrown backwards, his body pushed in an arc across the night. When he fell somewhere on the horizon, an explosion. The darkness was alight with fire. The ground shook. Elizabeth clutched your shoulder. Heat leapt from the contact point, pushing relentlessly against your skin.

'Woah,' Hawk cheered. 'You totally nailed that fool!'

'Oh wow,' said Diane. 'That was amazing, you guys.'

Gowther let Harlit return to wherever he kept it. At King's command, Chastiefol became a pillow again. All the crackling power in the air disappeared. But there was still something. An unnerving prickle on the back of your neck. The silence in the wake of King and Gowther's attack pressed in on your ears. You watched the place Chandler had vanished and gasped.

'Don't fist bump just yet.' All the celebration had left Hawk's voice. 'Just look over there. A whole bunch of Demons are coming this way!'

Hawk was right. The Demons were getting closer, all eyes fixed on you and your friends. But even as the dark power swept over you, you frowned. It was a lot of power, certainly, but it wasn't the power of multiple lifeforms. In fact, there was only one sign of life in that whole group.

'Mum.' Elizabeth tapped on your shoulder. 'Something's not right ...'

Before either of you could do anything, King attacked. 'Spirit Spear Chastiefol Fifth Configuration: Increase.'

The daggers fell like stars, each one headed for a Demon.

'King, wait!' You raised a hand.

King looked down at you.

But it was too late.

'Full Counter.'

Each dagger bounced back, this time flying straight at their master. King closed his eyes and raised an arm, bracing himself. The daggers kept coming. They surrounded King, ripping into him. He cried out, his armour shattering under the barrage. And King fell from the sky, clutching Diane in his arms.

'Diane! King, no!' Elizabeth took a step towards where they had fallen but you caught her by the wrist. 'Let me go help them, Mum.' She whirled on you, face hard.

'I won't.' You shook your head.

She tugged against your hand. 'Why not? You were so eager to leave me before!'

You raised both your eyebrows. 'Excuse me?'

'I just meant,' said Elizabeth, faltering slightly as she backtracked under your glare, 'that they're my friends, Mum. I can't leave them if I know I can help.'

'They're my friends too, Elizabeth,' you said somewhat coldly. 'And I also know that right now they're putting everything on the line to protect us. If you start running around on the battlefield, you won't be helping them.'

Elizabeth stopped pulling against you. 'But—'

An interruption came in the form of Gowther's limp body falling from the sky. He crashed into the ground not too far from you and Elizabeth.

'Shit.' You gritted your teeth and yanked Elizabeth behind you just as Chandler descended before you.

'Wretched Goddess,' he said, glaring down at you, 'the time has come for me to kill you. Now return the young master and princess so we can commence with your demise.' He didn't even give you time to call him a rude word. 'Should I burn you? Boil you? Shred you? Pierce you, perhaps? Maybe gouge you? Or just crush you?'

You glared back at him, ignoring your heartbeat thundering in your head.

'All right, I've decided.' Chandler drew back his cane. 'I'll use Dragon Claw.' His cane grew, becoming some sort of scaley sword tipped with what looked like fangs.

Something stung your left hand, the one holding Elizabeth. You instinctively let go with a gasp before cursing yourself. You reached out, but Elizabeth had already stepped in front of you and Meliodas.

'I won't let you,' she said, clenching her fists. The shining lavender flames covered her arms.

'Elizabeth,' you hissed. 'Get back.' She was just out of reach.

Chandler's face softened. 'Ah, Little Princess. Your father's spirit comes forth in battle. Now show me how you share his power!'

The Dragon Claw tore apart the sky. It was headed straight for you. straight for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth spread her arms wide with a defiant shout.

Your knees scraped against the ground as you tried to get to her and keep Meliodas safe at the same time.

And something glinting silver in the light of Elizabeth's power sped towards you.

A resounding clang.

'Huh?' That was Chandler.

Elizabeth gasped. 'How did you just—?'

'Um,' you said. 'What just happened?'

Diane landed in front of Elizabeth, Heavy Metal fading from her body. She didn't look away from Chandler. 'No matter what he tries to do to you, I'll make sure you're all protected.'

'Diane, you're so cool,' Elizabeth cheered.

'You can't,' you said, finally reaching Elizabeth to pull her back again. 'Diane, please. Your body can't take it.'

Chandler harrumphed. 'I'd forgotten the Giant race's skill of turning their bodies into steel. It's quite impressive. From what I recall, this is how I used to deal with that inconvenience.' He raised one hand. It started to glow red. 'Implementing Crimson Requiem. Now you'll melt into a pile of sludge.'

A hand that belonged to King (because it was attached to his body) appeared and scooped Diane up. It didn't stop Chandler's attack. The earth cracked, bubbling lava heading straight for you. From behind you, a familiar 'Tch'. A gentle arm around your waist. You held Meliodas and Elizabeth tighter. There was a brief moment of weightlessness before the ground was beneath you once more. And this was solid ground, not lava ground.

'Why are you all such annoying thorns in my side?' Chandler turned around. 'First there was a Giant and then a Fairy. So who am I dealing with now?'

'I'm a human, punk,' said Ban. 'You got a problem with that?'

Ban let you go. You wished you had more hands so you could hold everyone behind you.

Chandler's eyes narrowed. 'A human. A Giant. A Fairy. And a Goddess.' As he spoke, fires blazed to life in the air around him. They looked like falling stars forced to pause in their descent. 'These are the four races that represent our sworn mortal enemies, who've been at war with the Demon race for the last three thousand years. With that being the case, none of you have any right to be interacting with my Young Master Meliodas or his daughter.'

His dumb speech was cut off with a grunt of pain. Chandler screwed up his face and held his head. Elizabeth stepped out from behind you but stayed by your side.

'Curse you, bastards!'

This time, Chandler was interrupted by Chastiefol in its Guardian form. The giant bear slammed a fist into Chandler's cheek and the Demon was knocked back, carving a furrow into the ground.

'No matter what you may think,' said King, 'the captain and the rest of us came together because we were meant to. Understand? We were destined to become friends!'

Despite yourself, you looked away from Chandler. Just for a moment. You looked down at Meliodas. Can you hear them?

'You honestly think that you and Young Master Meliodas were meant to join forces?' Chandler couldn't do the decent thing and stay down. Oh no. He had to float into the air like some overgrown bat. 'Ridiculous! Every one of you, including that immoral Goddess, needs to vanish from my sight. Now, Grudge Blade!'

A wave of green light shot towards you. With a wave of King's hand, one of Chastiefol's daggers collided with the light. They both vanished.

King's face was hard. 'We can stand our ground by trading blows. So listen. We will protect these three no matter what.'

Elizabeth's lips tugged up at the corner even as her grip on your shoulder got tighter.

'Such a cocky thing to profess,' said Chandler. He smiled a smile that was more of a leer. 'I just so happen to be extremely fond of shootouts bursting with blood spray and exploding flesh.'

You wrinkled your nose. That was just gross.

Chandler was still talking. 'Thanks to Gowther's clever ruse, more than half of my Magic Power has been drained. That should be enough of an obstacle for you.'

And he called King cocky.

Everything was still. No one made a move.

'You little runts.' Chandler held his staff tighter. 'I hope you're prepared for this.'

'We are.' King didn't even blink. 'So let's get this over with. The clock's ticking and we're running out of time.'

Elizabeth's breaths wobbled.

'If you think you're important to the young master's happiness, you're mistaken!'

Using that stupid line as a battle cry, the fight began again. Chandler's attack looked like hundreds of glowing green arrows. King countered with Chastiefol in its Fifth Configuration. Yellow collided with green. Lights burst. It sounded like ten thousand cutlery drawers falling down some stairs.

Elizabeth took another step, further away from your side. You narrowed your eyes.

Over the sound of weapons clashing, you heard Diane's voice.

'You don't know us all,' she said, 'because we do want the captain to be happy. But for that, he needs [Y/n] by his side.'

Enhancing you vision, you watched Diane run across the battlefield, small enough to move safely under the attacks in the air.

Seeming to make up her mind about something, Elizabeth moved away from your side completely. She even ignored your shouts to come back. Instead, she placed both her hands on King's back and whispered something in his ear. King smiled. His attacks got faster.

You pursed your lips and tightened your arms around Meliodas.

Across the battlefield, Diane leapt, bashing Chandler in the face. 'The same way that I need King to be by mine. The same way Ban needs Elaine to stay with him forever.' With each sentence, she punched Chandler again. 'The same way Gowther needed to be with Nadja.'

'That's enough!' A blinding light accompanied Chandler's shout. Diane was thrown back with a yell.

Ban appeared from nowhere behind Chandler. You blinked and looked to where he used to be standing. No one way by your side anymore. No one except Meliodas.

'King, do it now,' Ban yelled, catching Chandler in a lock.

Elizabeth's hands on King's back glowed brighter. King yelled. And Chastiefol rained down on both Ban and Chandler like metal rain. You could hear Ban's cries of pain and your whole face twisted up. You wanted to bury your face in Meliodas's hair and hide from your friends' pain and desperation. But that wouldn't be fair. They're waiting for you.

'So open your eyes, dammit!' Ban's voice was almost hoarse with how loud he was shouting. 'Wake up and come back to us!'

Blinking back tears, you put your hand on Meliodas's ring. Unlike the rest of his body which was burning with heat, his ring was just barely warm. You could feel him underneath, his touch as delicate as a butterfly's wing on your skin. They need you.

When you looked up again, Ban had gone. You knew he'd come back, but your heart still ached. King was still commanding Chastiefol. There was sweat beading on Elizabeth's face.

'Oh crap.' King turned to you. A bolt of light had slipped by him somehow.

It hit your back and you were thrown forward, a scream bursting from your lips. Over the ringing in your head, you heard Elizabeth and Diane calling out. You sat back up, gritting your teeth against the heavy ache radiating across your back. Thankfully, somehow, Meliodas was still safe in your arms. Elizabeth needs you.

Chandler's wild, high-pitched laughter echoed in your head. It didn't help. He kept laughing. A massive explosion didn't cover Elizabeth's screams. Your head snapped up and you spotted her being thrown back with King. Anger bubbled in your stomach.

'Despite all your proclamations, it appears that my love was stronger.' Chandler was panting heavily. Blood ran from his eyes and nose into his moustache. 'Yeurgh!'

You blinked and Hawk had appeared, licking Chandler's outstretched hand.

'Hey, hey, what are you doing?' Chandler cried but didn't move his hand. 'Stop it, you swine!'

Hawk did not stop. 'Ultra-Secret Skill: All Clean!'

'Knock it off.'

'Holy pork ribs.'

Your fists were shaking. All your friends were down. Even Elizabeth was struggling to get up again, her skin covered in cuts, her clothes torn. So, setting Meliodas gently onto the floor, you got to your feet. If Chandler liked all-out fights, then you weren't going to hold back anymore. I need you.

Chandler wiped his slobbery hand furiously on his robes. 'That was really disgusting.' Regaining his composure, the old Demon glared again. 'Now I will end this. It's time to die, Seven Deadly Sins. At this point, most of you don't even have the strength to stand.'

'So let's even the playing field, shall we?' You spread your arms wide and your powers burst from your fingertips. 'What's the matter, Chandler?' You smirked as Elizabeth and your friends stirred and got to their feet again. 'Realising you're a little out of your depth?' Your smirk was replaced with a glare. 'I refuse to let you have Meliodas and Elizabeth. I will protect my family. Every single one of them.'

The light pouring from your skin made its way to Chandler. He stiffened, eyes wide with pain or fear, you couldn't tell. You hoped it was both.

'Now, King,' Diane shouted. 'Here's your chance.'

King looked away from you and nodded. His attack sped towards Chandler.

'Too slow,' the Pacifier Demon jeered.

But just before King's attack could hit King instead, it swerved and crashed harmlessly into the ground.

You blinked. 'But what—'

'Mum, look over there!' Elizabeth pointed.

Gowther was standing not too far away, his hot pink power covering both his hands. Your mouth, open in shock, closed with a snap. You smiled.

King wasted no time, striking once more. This time his attack landed, colliding with Chandler head-on. The Pacifier Demon was launched backwards becoming nothing more than an enormous explosion.

When the dust cleared, you could see his body. Most of his stomach and chest had been torn away, an almost perfectly round hole drilled through his abdomen. Even as you nodded in grim satisfaction, your skin crawled and your stomach churned. He had wanted exploding flesh.

King sighed and sat down heavily. But you barely noticed.

'Mum.' Elizabeth ran over to you. 'I'm sorry about before, but—'

'Are you hurt?' you interrupted, looking over her body for any injuries you had missed.

She shook her head.

You smiled again. 'Good. You know, I'm kind of proud of you. Even if what you did was recklessly, amazingly stupid.'

Elizabeth laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head. 'Well, I am your daughter.'

'Excuse me?' You folded your arms. 'That all comes from your dad.'

'Sure.' Elizabeth rolled her eyes before becoming serious. 'How is Dad?'

A sigh fell from your lips and you sat back down, pulling Meliodas into your arms again. 'No change. But, somehow, I'm sure he knows how much everyone's waiting for him to come back.'

'Okay,' said King. You looked up to see him walk over with Ban and Diane. 'We defeated Chandler. Shouldn't Diane be back to normal by now? Not to mention, it's still fark here too.'

Gowther made a strange sound. Everyone stared at him.

'Sir Gowther?' Elizabeth took a step towards him.

'Something doesn't feel right,' Gowther said slowly. His arm bent the wrong way. That was probably it. Then his head twisted around three hundred and sixty degrees. You blinked. That too. 'Sorry. Looks like this is it for me.'

And with that, Gowther collapsed.

The others ran immediately to his side. You laid Meliodas down again before joining them. All of Gowther's joints were twisted unnaturally. He didn't say anything.

'His whole body's battered,' said King.

'What the hell's going on?' said Ban.

Elizabeth knelt at Gowther's side, her palms glowing. 'It's useless. I'm trying but I can't heal Sir Gowther's wounds with my magic powers.' She turned to you. 'Mum, can you—'

You shook your head slowly. 'This is more than just injuries. A dark power is all over him. Chandler must have done something.'

'So what can we—'

Elizabeth broke off with a gasp. In fact, everyone gasped. There, rising into the air like a fish on a line, the night sky visible through the wound in his chest, was Chandler. His eyes opened.

'Crap!' Hawk screamed, tearing over the ground to where you stood. 'That crazy codger's still alive!'

Between one blink and the next, Chandler transformed. He didn't look like a strange old man anymore. He didn't even look like an evil old man. His skin was purple, taught over bulging muscles. Two horns grew from his back and became leathery wings.

'We're screwed,' King observed, hands shaking. 'He's on a whole other level.'

The Pacifier Demon landed and smiled with a mouth full of fangs. 'Rejoice, sinners. For at this very moment, you've all come face to face with certain death.'

~~~~~

sorry this is later than i thought it would be 😬

hope you like it anyway 🥰

stay safe 💕💕💕