Written on: 11/10/2020

Third person

||Burning Phoenix||

***
MANAKA STOOD THERE WITH WIDE EYES AS SHE AND THE OTHERS WERE WRAPPED AROUND BY LIGHTENING. Gilthunder walked over to them, holding his sword until he was in front of the blonde sin. He raised his weapon and held it under the captain's chin.

He began talking nonsense, about killing the sins, especially the captain will make him surpass his father. Meliodas told the pink haired man that he and the sins didn't murder his father.
"I'm now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins." Manaka scoffed at those words and wriggled around, trying to get free before a flash of white teared her lightening rope off. The redhead gasped in surprise, stumbling backwards.

Nervously, she glanced up to find a white dragon..wait dragon?! Manaka tried to remain calm. The little white dragon just stared at her with a blank look. Elizabeth turned look at her sister before screaming in fear. "Dragon?!" She shrieked, pointing shakily at it.
Manaka stood still as it turned to ber.

"Huh. Manaka? Ye remember me right..?" The unknown person asked, Meliodas froze at the sight of the redhead talking to a familiar dragon.
Manaka smiled happily and gave a small nod. The stranger grinned, "Thank the gods! I don't have to introduce myself again for the thousandth time. Also happy a year late birthday! Sorry my dude but honestly it took me a while to find ye—anyway, whats up Meliodas! I'm still surprised you actually—mphm!" A hand slapped her mouth.

"Karina! It's a secret!" Manaka screeched in fear and anger. "And no he did not!" She added, glaring at the dragon.
"Yeah..Yeah..whatever." Karina turned to Gilthunder who was staring at her with calm—not—blue eyes.
"Oh hello Holy Knight." Karina muttered, walking up to him. "Do me a favour will ya and piss off." She finished her sentence with a powerful  tail flick, sending him flying.

"Job done!" Karina grinned and turned, "This is about it! I can't do anything else for ya except telling you a little something. I know two locations of two sins. Ban of undead is in Baste Prison while according to the Holy Knights, Harlequin lies dead in the Capital of Dead." The dragon straightened, "Well, Meliodas. I apologize for doing this—but my leader has ordered me to do this—you do remember her right Manaka?—" The redhead shook her head to the girl's dismay, "—oh great! Now.."

The dragon started to walk towards the boy and glanced at Meliodas. Just as she was about to bite the boy's shoulder, Manaka pushes the demon away.

Pain strike down her nerves and she winced as the sharp teeth pierce through her side deeply.

Karina sweat-dropped, "I didn't think you had the guts to do that but thats my cue to leave. Bye!" And that, the White dragon quickly flew off.

Diane broke free from the ropes and crouched down by the redhead, "Princess are you alright?" The giantess asked desperately.
Manaka waved her off, "I'm alright! Whoop! I haven't felt a single pain since about a year ago or so."

Meliodas dusted himself as Elizabeth helped him up before racing towards her sister, "Manaka! We need to get you to the doctors!" Elizabeth anxiously looked around for the exit. The blonde sin walked over and saved Hawk from being roasted again and whistled.

Something loud and familiar made the redhead grin, "Hawk's mum?" She asked Meliodas, who nodded silently, his green eyes darkened at the sight of her wound.

Manaka felt pain in her head again and pictures began flashing through her head. Her eyes opened wide and glowed red before she staggered backwards and collapsed.

"MANAKA!" Was the last words she heard before the world went blank.

***
It's been half a day since Manaka had fainted due to her wound and a sudden return of her memories of her past. Elizabeth and the two sins with Hawk left the Forest of White Dreams to the next place to find a doctor that can save the young princess—a very innocent, jolly-good girl who has done nothing wrong in her whole life as a human.

Elizabeth had stayed by her side to keep a watch out for her sister. She then looked up to find Meliodas staring out of the window. "Sir Meliodas..uhm will we find a doctor soon to save my sister?" The silverette asked quietly, frowning at her sister's weak body.

The blonde demon turned and flashed Elizabeth a grin, "Of course we will! Every town and village has a doctor."
The grin Meliodas gave the princess was fake and forced.
Though he can't really hate her—even though she was a Goddess and he hates Goddesses— she did help him find Manaka 3000 years ago.

He still could remember the days when he and Elizabeth were searching for the redhead who had went missing and then eventually found her in a cave.

•*Flashback*• (Part One)

"Manaka!" Meliodas roughly called out. His dark eyes full of concern and anger towards himself and the girl who dared to go missing.

"Meliodas!" He heard Elizabeth—the pathetic yet helpful Goddess— shouted out to him, "I found something that you may want to see!"

Curiously, the blonde demon prince flew to where the Goddess was. "What?" He asked scornfully. Elizabeth tilted her head and pointed at something behind him.

Meliodas turned to find a cave, he felt confused why the Goddess had pointed at it until he felt powerful magic and aura inside. It was definitely Manaka's—which means she's either inside that cave or she's been in it.

"Good work—Goddess—I guess." The boy muttered and flew inside with Elizabeth. "Just remember I'm not doing this for you—Meliodas—but rather for Manaka." The silverette said sharply, staring ahead.

The demon snorted slightly and shook his head before landing. Elizabeth had also landed beside him and looked around. "Manaka?" The Goddess called.

"Odd, her scent and the presence of someone being in here is still fresh.." Meliodas mumbled then tensed when he heard a groan.

"Ow—oh gosh..." the voice hissed, "Damn..—it's broken." It muttered.

Meliodas narrowed his eyes and glanced at Elizabeth and jerked his head towards the source of the voice. She nodded in understanding and the two began quietly walking to where the voice was.

"Mmm! I'm glad I was hunting for food before I somehow got kidnapped..hmm..dragon meat eh?" The voice questioned loudly. "Ah! A taboo! Can't eat the meat!" It shrieked.

Meliodas was starting to get annoyed of the constant chatter and leaped into the area.
Before he could attack, his eyes widened when he saw the girl—no—it was no ordinary girl—it was Manaka the girl who had vanished when hunting for a dragon to cook for the demons. "Manaka!" He exclaimed, his powers deactivated and he raced to the redhead.

"Mel?" The girl cried out in surprise and hugged the demon. Elizabeth smiled at the sight, —demons can care then..no matter how evil and cold they are..they will always have someone to protect..even if their not demons..it seems Manaka has tamed the most deadly and coldest demon.

"Aw—so adorable—but I'm afraid I can't let you have her."

•*Flashback Ended*•

The memory made him smile softly. 'Oh for goodness sake! I have turned so soft'. The evil side of Meliodas thought harshly. He cursed under his breath and walked out. "Get ready. We're almost there." He ordered before leaving the room.

Elizabeth nodded slowly and walked over to the window, sighing softly. 'Oh just who are you, Meliodas and why do I never feel safe around you?'
She clenched her fist and glanced over to the limp body of Manaka. She smiled  and silently, she vowed to keep her little sister safe no matter what even if she has to die.

'I will protect you, Manaka, this I vow!'

***

THE SINS HAVE NOW FOUND DIANE AND FOUGHT GILTHUNDER. BUT A SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THE WIND GOD SHOCKED MANAKA AND MEMORIES ARE RETURNING TO HER SLOWLY. CAN THE SINS HELP MANAKA HEAL HER AND SAVE BAN FROM THE PRISON ALL AT ONCE?